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The Slave Lady Chapter 31

June 24, 2019 / posted in Chapter Book, Stories / No Comments

Back to Chapter 30.  Please consider keeping the WebMistress in chocolate by visiting her Tribute Page.

 

Gem had pitying looks from some of the servants as she went to see what could be had for dinner.  She played it up, holding her arm as she was escorted to the kitchens again.  She was glad to have the escort as the building had been added onto so often that it was difficult to keep track of all the levels, hallways and doors from one place to another.

It was a skeleton crew at the estate.  Even with the few servants sent from the Palace, there seemed to be just a few people here and there doing the jobs of dozens.  In the kitchen there seemed to be just two.

Gem came into the kitchen with her escort to see the two people there wrestling with an oversized leg of meat.  They didn’t seem to know which way either of them was going and seemed to be dropping it more than moving it.

“Hey!  The Lady wants dinner.  Is she going to get any?”  The household servant yelled and waved his arms to get the other servants attention.

“We only had a day to get ready!  We still have some of the bread from a few days ago and some preserves, but, if she wants anything else, she is going to have to wait for it like the rest of us.”  The harried servant was smeared with blood from the meat they were manhandling.

“Look,” the servant who had escorted Gem stepped towards the two kitchen people and lowered his voice.  “She has a bitch of a mistress and I don’t want to send her back without something.” »Read More

The Slave Lady Chapter 30

June 21, 2019 / posted in Chapter Book, Stories / No Comments

Back to Chapter 29

 

It seemed empty.  The last time Laun was there, there had been a tent city filling the landscape.

Laun pulled back the curtain and looked out on a grassy set of low hills.  It was peaceful as if there had never been any trouble.  There was even a large pond or small lake glinting in the distance.  Laun could hear geese somewhere close.

There was a small welcoming party from the main house near the entrance marker to the Hawkwell lands.  Laun saw Captain Leon talking to several people in the dark colors before motioning for the group to follow.  The carriage lurched forward and Laun held onto the strap anchored in the wall of the cabin to keep from falling into the footwell.

Laun was helped out at the same place she had been helped out of a carriage a year before.  She was escorted through the same receiving hall with the same murals.  This time, she purposely stopped and looked at them.  Yes, she was a Hawkwell.  Yes, Tressa and she looked remarkably alike, but the resemblance between Laun and Falmir now was even more striking.  She did see that the portrait had been done many years before.  Falmir now had grey in his brown hair and lines between his eyebrows.  Or, perhaps, it had been the year of governing that had done it.

Laun saw familiar things as she was escorted through the halls.  To a familiar room. »Read More

The Slave Lady Chapter 29

June 17, 2019 / posted in Chapter Book, Stories / No Comments

Back to Chapter 28

 

They had only been on the road for an hour on this stretch and Laun was signaling that she needed to stop again.  The carriage was tossing her from side to side and her back was spasming.

It was not just the carriage that had to stop.  There was the cart with her few things and some of the Palace servants.  There were the military officers on horseback.  There was the company keeping pace behind.  Not just Laun.

It was late afternoon and they had stopped four times already.  They had left from the Rosemond Embassy estate directly into the flow of early morning street traffic.  The Capitol City did not rest for long in the night and even at dawn, there were merchants and townsfolk about.  It had been slow going in the city and Laun had asked for their first stop just a few minutes from the outer gate.  They had met the military escort while Laun paced within sight of the King’s City gate, a curt greeting before the carriage had lurched forward again. 

She tried to ride and grit her teeth in the carriage.  She asked if she could ride in the wagon.  She laid in the footwell of the carriage.  Nothing seemed to keep her back from hurting.

This time, they were by a small stream and Laun was trying to pace and stretch to get some relief.  Her feet and legs were fighting her, too.  Her ankles were swollen to the point where she was not sure where her calf really started.  Even with both Gem and Hazalam massaging her, the feet she had did not look like her own. »Read More

The Slave Lady Chapter 28

June 16, 2019 / posted in Chapter Book, Stories / No Comments

Back to Chapter 27

 

Laun had made her way back to the green room.  Most of the things she had collected were already in traveling cases and chests.  She sat and thought.  She wrote only a few messages and gave them to the servant waiting to take them away.  She then wrote a message to Falmir.

“Lord Falmir-

“You have just sent me away.  We may never see each other again.  Not a threat. Not a promise.  It is just the way of things.

“I have need to tell you a few things.  Some may make things clearer.  Some will muddy the waters more.

“Firstly, Bregnan.  He has claimed responsibility for many deaths.  Not just for your coup.  He was the one who poisoned and killed your sister.  He used the same poison that killed Lady Hellon, and almost me.  He is deadly, and I fear he will go after me again to make sure you do not have any hinderances in your reign.

“Second, I was brought up as a slave.  You sent my mother into the hell of disownment, but Salam-Dir was there to take her in.  Lady Hellon knew you were my father and taught me.  Not as much as I should know, but she did not know she was going to die. »Read More

The Slave Lady Chapter 27

June 11, 2019 / posted in Chapter Book, Stories / No Comments

Back to Chapter 26

 

Laun was wrapped up in several layers of light linens against the bright sun.  She did not want to have any clothing on at all, but it was the best she could do without being even more scandalous than she was.

It was the first time in a week she had been outside and to the tent.  It was becoming summer hot and the breeze that went by held the sweaty funk of the city in it.  It was not as warm inside the Palace, but it had become stifling.  Laun wanted some fresh air that did not smell of dying flowers.

It had been novel for her to receive cut flowers as she was recovering.  And then it was a little too heady in the room, the scent overpowering her some times.  And then she had to have all but one or two bunches taken out as the flowers started to wilt and smell of decay.  The scent had lingered for days and was finally too much.

It was a different scent outside, but still not entirely pleasant. »Read More

The Slave Lady Chapter 26

June 7, 2019 / posted in Chapter Book, Stories / No Comments

Back to how Laun got in this condition in Chapter 25

 

The dreams Laun had were odd and vivid.  She was in the Great Hall with her people.  They were all celebrating.  She was not sure what they were celebrating and tried to push through the crowd.  She looked up and saw huge night creatures hanging from the rafters watching them.

Laun watched them back and found she was floating above her people and looking one of the night creatures eye to eye.  They looked at each other and she saw blood dripping from it’s mouth.  It spoke to her and told her of the plans it had to eat all her people.

Laun lashed out and felt her hand go through the night creature.  It turned from solid to nothing as her fist connected.  And then she was falling, but not onto the people below.  They had disappeared. The Great Hall had changed to the river and she was in the river.  The water was above her head and she could not breathe!

She had to breathe!  She struggled and her arms pushed the covers to the side and she sat, coughing. »Read More

The Slave Lady Chapter 25

June 4, 2019 / posted in Chapter Book, Stories / No Comments

Lost?  The Beginning of the Chronicles begins with chapter one of The Slave Warrior.  The Chapter before this is Chapter 24 of The Slave Lady.

 

There had been odd looks and a few rumors that even Laun had heard.  Something was happening inside and outside the Palace and it was starting to get Falmir in a very bad mood.

Ithian had stayed the night and was in the bed with Gem sleepily draped over him as Laun practiced one of the dance katas with Hazalam at her side.  He had taken it up and was very smooth with his movements.  She was starting to have to take it in chunks with the pressure the baby was putting on her back, but she made it through.  They had started the routine again when the door opened and Falmir stormed in.

Laun had only her halter on, Hazalam, nothing.  The assassin knelt and put his head down as Falmir paced the room.  Laun sat on the bench and waited for Falmir to calm down enough to be able to start a sentence.  It took him a few more minutes before he was able to complete a thought.

“If I hadn’t accepted you as my Daughter...  That fucking bitch...  You fucking whore!  Keep me from getting the Kingdom-  How the fuck did-”  He stopped and rounded on Laun with a fist threatening her.  “And we can’t even get close!”

Laun had learned to be very patient.  She sat, looking at Falmir, not saying a word and just a slight tilt to her head.  She knew the tilt to her head did something to him and usually set him off again.  This time it did and he approached her with hatred and venom. »Read More

The Slave Lady Chapter 24

May 26, 2019 / posted in Chapter Book, Stories / No Comments

Back to Chapter 23

 

Days.  Nights.  It didn’t matter.  They all were about the same.

There was now a routine to the time at the Palace.  Laun woke early in the morning, usually with bodies around her in the bed.  She would go relieve herself and then do her morning katas.  She was usually naked and usually alone.  Her girl and Hazalam sometimes would join her, if they were awake.  She would greet the sun with her stretches and be ready for the day before it was fully up over the horizon.

She would write the messages responding to those that had been sent to her.  She had a small pile of boxes with various gifts in them, many just looked at but not touched.  She would have the messages taken by one of the household servants without being sealed. 

She was enjoying the written conversations with Liam, the man with the boat who had traveled with such amazing adventures.  Most of the other messages were from those she saw while on the green, but Liam was one she looked forward to reading, and sending messages back.  It was odd, in a way.  He had invited her to his boat many times, but when she invited him to meet with her in the Palace, he graciously declined.

If there weren’t too many missives to sort through, she would read one of the books she had.  A few different ones came to her, gifts and ones Falmir dropped off with her, usually having to do with a conversation they had the day before.  She was learning more than she thought there was to learn.

Some sort of food would be brought up to her.  Sometimes, Falmir would be there to help her take first meal.  He was not as subtle as he would have liked to think he was.  He usually seemed frustrated with something as he entered, and left frustrated with her, but with a smile on his face.  He sounded her out about a few things and she normally told him exactly what she thought.  She didn’t bother to filter things or gild things.  He had stopped asking if she was going to pledge to him. »Read More

The Slave Lady Chapter 23

May 23, 2019 / posted in Chapter Book, Stories / No Comments

Beginning of the whole story in Chapter One of The Slave Warrior

Back to Chapter 22 in The Slave Lady

If you have read this far, consider visiting the Tribute Page and keeping the Web Mistress in Coffee and Chocolate.

 

Laun walked into the room and saw there were envelopes and a few boxes on the small writing desk.  She put the flowers on the pile.  She paused and poked at one of the boxes before going to the bathing room.  There were a few women servants waiting for her, a bath drawn.  Laun thanked them and let the clothing she had borrowed be taken from her.

The color was washed from her face and her hair was brushed from the braid.  The lavender scent from the soap washed the nervous feeling and smell from her and she felt her back relax as the soap was being used as lubrication for the servant’s hands.  She was helped into the tub.  The little pains she had been ignoring came out and she breathed through it, deeply and with concentration.

The servants did not let her fall asleep in the copper tub.  She was happy about that, but also wistful as she stood and the weight of the baby was full on her back again.

They dried her off and put her into a different garment.  A robe that tied around her with room to spare, but without the length to trip her up as the white dress had.  Her hair was held up by a pin and her feet were in soft, shapeless slippers.  She ignored the men kneeling at the edge of the bed and went to the writing desk.

She opened and looked at and categorized the messages and little trinkets that had been sent.  Several others came in while she was at the desk, making Laun frown.  Most were invites to have a meal.  One was an invite to go see the harbor, and the man’s ship.  There were little pots of perfume that Laun put off to the side.  A small silver necklace was in one box, from the man who told her of his trip up the river.

And there was the paper from around the flowers.  Laun unrolled it and found a block printed flyer for a traveling troupe.  Laun expected that it had been the entertainers that had been hired for the evening.  There was a small scrawl that Laun could make out saying, “Ask for Adelmar.”

None needed to be answered right then.  It was far past first bell and Laun thought that anyone who expected an answer before the next day should wait on principal.  She was tired, but she felt she had something to do. »Read More

The Slave Lady Chapter 22

May 18, 2019 / posted in Chapter Book, Stories / No Comments

Back to Chapter 21

 

The scratch at the doorway told Laun that she was going to have to leave the relative safety and comfort of the green room.

There had been some preparation for Laun.  She had been pouring over the history books and the etiquette book when she was not sleeping or seducing Falmir’s officers.  They had been simple to spot and easy to get into bed.  It was a diversion, but just for a moment or two.

Laun was dressed in the bright green under the blue and green cotharde.  The veil was on and pinned into her braided hair.  A little color was on her cheeks and her natural color was showing beneath.  She stood from the vanity and nodded to her reflection.

Ithian was in the main room waiting for her.  He had spent the night, watched her do her morning dance and had left.  That was two days ago.  He was shined up and looked like the Ambassador of Rosemond in his black with the red rosette on his shoulder.  His blue eyes sparkled with just a little of the black and silver kohl around his eyes.  He held out his hand and bowed over hers.

There wasn’t need for talking.  Ithian was at her side, she was at his.  They walked slowly through the hallways of the Palace, the lanterns bright in the middle of the afternoon.  Several servants trailed behind, some of his and one of hers.  Little groups of people, servants and nobles, watched as they went past.

The reception was in the place called the Gallery.  It was also lit up and shone with extra mirrors and gilt.  People were at the bottom of the stairs waiting, talking amongst themselves as the reception was starting.  There was a herald at the bottom of the stairs that was announcing who was coming into the Gallery.

Laun looked at Ithian and he nodded once.  They made their way through the groups of people, Ithian introducing Laun once or twice as they went.  They were able to walk closer to the front of the line because of their status.  Laun heard Lords and Ladies names being called out, Magistrates and Dukes introduced.  Ithian pulled her forward with him and told the herald their names.

“Ithian Bedral, Ambassador of Rosemond.  Lady Laun Salam-Dir.” »Read More

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