the Leathermines

Back to Chapter 49

The breathing at the back of her neck was steady.  The cloak wrapped around her was warm and when she moved, the arm around her tightened, drawing her closer.

“Edgar...?” Laun mumbled.  The man in back of her stirred, but not like her Love.

Laun’s eyes were open and she was awake.  She saw straw around her, smelled horses.  There were blankets and the cloak and his arm under her head and andand...

The tears started flowing when she remembered.  The assassins.  Ithian.

Hunter woke to Laun sobbing again.  She had not slept much and what he had witnessed was troubled and fretful.  He drew his hand up and started to stroke her hair.  It had worked in the night, calming her and putting her deeper into sleep.  But this time, it was not working.

“Shhh.  You are safe.”  He put his arm over her and tried to pull her closer again through the layers between them.  There was a slight shudder through her body and he felt her start to try to move from under the blankets.  He also felt her stop, her back freezing and then slowly relaxing.

Her voice came from under the wool blankets.  “Did it really happen?”

He nodded and said, “Yes, Laun.” »Read More

Back to Chapter 47

A few words to Adelmar and a few of his performers and the entertainment for the tea was established.  A few requests of the kitchen and the food was set.  A few invites to a few of the officers, and escorts were arranged.

Laun was the last to arrive under the tent, Sergeant Hunter supporting her hand on his fist and keeping a slow pace to match hers.  She smiled, mostly feeling what she showed and enjoyed that the officers had already paired up with the women under the tent.

A chair had been set aside for Laun within the group and Laun sat, thanking her escort before he stepped back.  He excused himself, Laun having to pull her eyes from him as he went towards the stables.

Food was on the table, hot water kettles on several of the brasiers waiting to be poured into the waiting mugs.  Entertainers were warming up on the other end of the tent, at least one of them looking as though her head was spinning more than her body.

“Lady Laun!  This is delightful.  I hadn’t known we had officers from Henrich’s Vale in the ranks,” the noble mother smoothly crowed as one of the Sergeants nodded to Laun.

Laun nodded back to him and smiled a closed lipped smile before saying, “I wanted to make sure you were entertained before I arrived.  I seem to have much to attend to and I knew something would pop up to be handled before I could get here.  I hoped that our soldiers have been keeping you well amused?” »Read More

Back to the welcoming feast of the night before in Chapter 45

The morning was already good for Laun.  A good morning routine in the walkway, a light tunic on just to keep any watchers from being too offended.  A glass of milk from the pitcher to keep her stomach from rumbling.  And Ithian back between her legs.

His mouth on her womanhood had been a wonderful way to wake that morning.  She had started to stir, but feeling first his fingers and then his face trying to get below her belly had brought a smile to her face.  He had brought her to a wonderful peak and then he had made love to her as the light in the courtyard started to spill through the walkway and into the bedroom.  He had brought her to the edge and had asked permission to peak with her, as he had seen her servant do.  Laun had said yes and had the rush of her orgasm heightened with the power she seemed to have over him.

Laun cleaned up after her exercises and dressed, a dark set of tunic and skirt over a few of her found knife harnesses.  She was very happy that she had been able to find rooms that used the same keys that Del had given her for opening many of the guest chambers.  Finding another armory with the close arms was like a pastry shop for most other women.

It was still early in the morning, but Laun wanted to push her advantage.  She looked at Gem who had slept on the floor on the pillows and motioned with her chin at Ithian who had fallen back asleep in the bed.  “If you want to...”

Gem grinned and scrambled up into the bed.  Laun checked herself in the mirror and heard a surprised sound and then a gasp as Gem woke Ithian, and the rest of him. »Read More

Back to Chapter 43

The afternoon breeze was hot and the sun did not have any clouds to soften it as it beat down on the gathered people.

It had been close to an hour since the sentry with the fast horse had come with word of the group from the Capitol City.  He said there were at least two hundred people in the group, servants included.  Del looked like he wanted to panic, but his mask went over his emotions and he set about opening all the rooms that Laun had insisted be readied.

The soldiers were in loose ranks along the roadway to the manor.  Until attention was called, they did not want to spend too much time with their black leathers in the sun, but they could not stray from their positions in case their commander called them to readiness.  The men next to the horses were dealing with the heat for themselves as well as the mounts and the horses were getting antsy.

The performers lounged.  They found shade and kept their energy for when they needed it.  Laun was amongst them, exchanging quips and barbs as well as the belled twine.  It was a way to pass time, but it also made the entertainers feel more comfortable around her.  She was not above sitting with them or learning from them, her rank in the nobles meaning little to the troupe.  Charel was trying to teach the Lady without being made fun of by the others.

Laun was in a loose, light colored linen tunic and skirt, the natural color to the fabric good for reflecting the heat of the sun.  She had a belt with a pouch and a few other things on, the first she had worn since she had gotten there.  She needed a place to put the few extra keys that Del had given her over the last few days, in case there was need as the people with Falmir were put into the manor.  It was the pouch that kept getting fingers almost into it with the bell on the twine, but Laun had put another bell just inside the flap, and that caught most of the sleight of hand entertainers. »Read More

Ready for this chapter?  Wait, where did you start?  If you need to, go back to Chapter 42.  If you need to go back further, look at the The Slave Lady chapter list or the Novels Page (please register) to see where everything started in The Slave Warrior.

The message from Falmir noted that a few people would be coming with him.  Laun forced herself into the role of making sure that as many of the guest quarters were open and aired and stocked as possible, much to Del’s annoyance.  She moved things around, made plans depending on who came with her father and generally made people understand that while she was there, she was in charge.

The troupe tried to move out of the Manor.  Laun would not hear of it.  With the extra hands to help, it made setting the manor for the visit easier, and Laun planned entertainments with them, but that was not all.  The acrobats were put to the roof above the privy in Laun’s room to find the roof leak when there was another short shower and the leak had destroyed more of the cleansing paper.  Del gave them access to a storage area that had repair supplies and it was done in less than a day after Laun had been asking Del and Senri to get it accomplished for over a week.

The soldiers took time each day to mend and polish their uniforms.  It was fun for Laun to walk by lines of the men with needle and thread or wax and cloth.  There was a man with a knife shaving many of the men who did not have their own shaving kits.  Not all of them got away without seeing their own blood.

Laun made a point of visiting the medic every day.  He was unresponsive the first two times she went to see him, just laying with his back to her in the tent.  She would not talk of anything much, just the plans for the upcoming visit, the weather, and the state of her foot.  The second day, as Laun was leaving, he rolled over and looked at her.  The third day, he was sitting up on his cot while she was there.  Still, not talking back or being active, but he smiled as Laun stood to leave. »Read More

Back to Chapter 41.

It had been several days of Laun recovering before Kell decided she could try to walk on her own.  The healer did not know that Laun had been doing her morning routine while the soldiers had been sent off to the kitchen for first meal.  She also did not know that the sleeping elixirs that had been in the milk were starting to not work.

Laun had a cane in hand as she walked to the receiving hall of the manor.  She was happy and was surrounded by many of the troupe.  They said they had an entertainment they wanted to show her and Laun was happy to be out of the rooms.

A small tightrope had been set up.  It was about head high off the ground strung between two sturdy looking poles.  A sitting place had been created by the troupe for Laun by putting hay bales together and draping cloth they had borrowed from the laundry over it.  Laun sat and found that it was more comfortable than it had looked to begin with.

Adelmar did a few tricks, including pulling several bunches of flowers from various places and handing them to Laun.  His last trick involved flower petals that were pulled from his hat and scattered into the air to float down around Laun.

Laun applauded as the troupe around her jeered and whistled at him.  Several of the acrobats started to tumble and twist and contort while the tin whistles played happy tunes.  One of the acrobats climbed one of the guide ropes to the tight rope.  He stood on the top of the pole for a moment, making it look like he was going to fall off. »Read More