the Leathermines

Last chapter is Chapter 18.  Start from the beginning of the full story with The Slave Warrior, Chapter 1

“He will not be allowed on this floor.  I have had guards posted.”

Falmir was taking yet another spoon full of the soured cream and fruit that had been sent up to Laun for her breakfast.  She had not eaten as much as she wanted, but she was willing to have him eat his fill.  It had been tasty.

“Thank you.  I am glad that I was awake when he came in.  I am not sure what would have happened...”

Falmir put his hand on her knee and was serious.  His thick brows came together as he said, “You are very well protected here.”

She had several comments she wanted to make, but said instead, “Thank you.  I am glad that the officer you had already assigned to me told you what happened.”

Falmir clenched his hand on her knee for a moment.  He narrowed his eyes and had a sour look on his face for a flash.  “Not much gets past you.”

Laun shook her head, smiling slightly.  “Many things go right past me, but someone with helmet length hair, the stride of someone used to a sword on his hip?  If he had just introduced himself, I would have been less bored last night.”

Falmir’s eye flicked to another of the male servants in the shadows.  Laun wondered if it was natural for him to check the people he had planted or if he was trying to lead her. »Read More

Back to Chapter 17

The storm had rolled in from the West with a blast of wind and a light show from inside the clouds.  The first lightning to hit the ground had a roll of thunder after it to begin the light and noise that went far into the night.

The rain hit the windows into the green guest room at an angle, carrying small birds and pieces of debris against and past in the wind.  It was loud without the thunder.  When the lightening lit the sky, the thunder shook the Palace.

Laun had put herself back to bed, first to sleep, then to have a warm place to watch the storm from.  She had not been able to luxuriate and watch a storm before.  Once she had woken up for the second time that day, she had just stayed under the covers and watched.

The young servant who had been asleep in the bed even as Falmir had been in the room finally woke in the mid afternoon.  She was next to Laun and had come up out of the bedding with a wide look on her face.  Laun ran a finger along the girls’ cheek and received a shy smile.

“I am not sure you have even been able to sleep that long since you have been in the employ of the Palace.  I hope it was worth it.”

“Lady...  How long have I been asleep?”

“It is past two bells in the afternoon.” »Read More

Back to Chapter 16

There were several messages and a box waiting for her when she awoke the next morning.  It was later than she was used to, the sun having been over the horizon for at least an hour.  She delayed looking at any of them until she had used the privy and did one of the open hand katas.

The screen was still across the door and allowed the male servants to be discreet as Laun was doing her morning routine naked.  Except for Hazalam.  He was kneeling by the bed watching her.  One of the women servants was still asleep herself, the comfort of the bed having drained all her willpower and ability to wake.  The other one had excused herself when the sun had come up, a frightened look on her face.  The men, except for her assassin, had been used and went away in the night, leaving Laun to play with the women.

Laun had to stop and start her kata over when she missed several moves because her mind was on the night before.  She forced focus, thought of killing Bregnan and did the kata swiftly and accurately.  Her legs were still a little sore from the night activities, but it told her that she needed to do more.

She wrapped a saddle blanket around her and sat at the table that had become her desk.  The food and plates had been taken away sometime while she had been playing with Ithian.  Her books and papers and the damnedable sewing was back on.

The envelopes were placed before her, one with the box under it.  Two of the envelopes had names of who they were from and she did not recognize them.  She put those to the side.  One had just her name on it.  She put that in it’s own pile.  The one with the box had the writing she recognized already as Ithian’s. »Read More

Back to Chapter 14

Laun was in the tub when Falmir came to the room.  Laun did not care if he saw her naked.  He did.

A screen was set up between them and he sat as they talked.  Laun was clean, but it felt good to be in the water, it taking the weight of the baby for a while.

“...for the third time, I had run all the way back to my room before I realized that I had left the book on my father’s desk.”  Falmir sounded both happy and wistful.

Laun laughed a little.  “I had a good time reading it.  I have to admit I was slightly insulted when I saw it was a children’s book, but I really enjoyed it.  Thank you.”

“I just pointed at a shelf and told the servant to take the books to you.”  There was a pause.  “I didn’t send you any state secrets, did I?”

Laun laughed again.  “None so far, Sire.  Except for your like of a certain flower.” »Read More

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The room had been changed slightly for evening.  The lanterns were lit and the gold highlights in the room glowed. The bedding had been pulled down and two of the three sides had the curtains down.

Laun was happy that one of the servants had brought up some more of the paper flowers.  They were needed for use with the privy.  There was need to use it as soon as she came in the door of the chamber.

She pulled off the green caplet and dropped it on the floor as she waddled.  She gathered up the skirts of the linen dress and by the time she was at the privy, all she had to do was sit on the ceramic seat.  It was quite a relief.

She felt the baby bounce around in her, kicking mightily all over her stomach as she sat there.  She rubbed her belly and tapped where she was feeling the movements.  She was not sure if she was really feeling the baby respond.  She hoped so.

Laun finished up on the privy and stood in the middle of the bathing room floor.  More soaps, and a few plain containers, had made their way to the table.  Laun smiled.  It was not for right then.

Laun started to unlace herself, seeing the stripes the pressure from the ribbon was making on her skin.  Almost like the scars, but they went away.

The scars.  Did she really have those feelings about her scars?  It seemed real as she was saying it, though she knew that the ones she loved did not care about the scars.  Did they? »Read More

Back to Chapter 11

Laun looked up at the commotion at the door.  The servants parted and Falmir stormed in.

The smile on the servant who was playing Sticks with her vanished and she scooted away and into the shadows.  Laun took in a breath and blinked as Falmir came towards her.  He leaned on the table, disturbing the playing field, the Sticks falling into chaos amongst each other.

He was red.  From the collar up.  It looked like there were many things he wanted to say.  He was so angry, none of them came out.

Laun waited.  She had a small smile on her face and folded her hands into her lap.  There was a moment where Laun almost spoke, but the comment went unsaid so that Falmir would have the feeling of the attack.

“What do you mean by it?”  It was a roar, not a question.

“I am sorry, sire.  About what?”  Laun was quiet and had a level voice, though she felt her fingers clenching together.

“The servants going about the Palace looking for soap as if you had nothing up here?”  He pointed at the bathing chamber.  “I stocked this guest chamber with the finest oils and gels-” »Read More

Back to Chapter 10 - Looking for the beginning?  Chapter 1  Register for the Novels Index page. Or start with the first in the series, The Slave Warrior

It was morning.

Laun looked around, confused for a moment.  She had been drugged?  No.  She knew the aftertaste to that.  She had just been so tired, and the food had stuffed her so much, that she had just slept.

The sun was starting to color the horizon on the eastern part of her window view.  It was beautiful, and now that she was rested and not cranky, she could enjoy what was outside the windows.  She lay there in bed, watching the colors grow in the sky she could see.  It was beautiful.  It was also lazy.

Laun started to move under the covers and she saw movement outside the bed.  She stopped and then saw that is was one of the blue and grey dressed servants.  Laun kept going to the edge of the bed.  She looked over the side and saw that it was a long ways down.  She swung her legs over and her feet found the step, hard and cold on her feet.

The rug runner was warmer, though the painted design around it not as much.  She was able to pad her way to the bathing chamber door before the servant was able to catch up with her and open it for her.

Laun was tempted to play with the privy.  Her body reminded her that it was a necessary thing to do, not something to play with.  Laun found the basket of paper flowers next to the privy and played with those instead.  She tossed one into the air and as it floated down tossed another up.  She had three in the air at one point until she could not delay using one of them. »Read More

Back to Chapter 9

Laun was too tired to cry.  She just sat on the window seat and leaned against the clear glass.  She knew the dark clad servants were waiting for her to say or do something.  She was just too tired.  Physically.  Emotionally.  Mentally.  Especially mentally.

It had taken all of her will power to glide through the Palace, gracefully smiling at those who looked in her direction.  Not cringing when she saw eyes go from her face to her belly and back again.  Sorting out why she said anything about her observations of the Ambassador.  Why he seemed familiar to her.

And now...  She had to ignore the servants who stood impassively in the shadows of the room.  She would not be able to forever.  Just for right then.

Taken away.  Given to her.  Taken away.  Her life went in surges.  She was not sure if this was a good one or a bad one.  How to turn one into the other?

She glanced out the glass and saw the Southern part of the Capitol City.  There was the Midland’s River to the South, a line of masts making a bare, moving forest.  The streets that seemed to point towards where she was, some with crowds, some empty.  The greens around the hill that the Palace was on, the rich and noble having homes and estates bordering that green.

It would have been awe inspiring if Laun had not been so tired. »Read More