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The Slave Princess Chapter 34

May 26, 2020 / posted in Chapter Book, Stories / No Comments

Back to Chapter 33

 

The line to get into the city was not long, but it took time as the negotiations with the Midlands guard at the gate re-started for each person or group that went through.

Senri led the group to the gate, his uniform dusty and mussed from the road.  He had tried to get himself in order while he was in line, but it was hard to do while on a moving horse.  He glanced at Laun and saw a line of blood still crusted on her neck, but not as obvious as before she had washed herself and her tunic in the stream they had passed at first light.  The dark splatter on the brown deerskin jerkin only really showed at an angle and mottled to a woodland pattern otherwise.

Senri was hailed by the guard, warriors grips from the back of the horse to the standing soldier.  “Lieutenant Senri, Fourth Logistics and Supply.  In to report and escorting these people.”  He motioned with his head and the Sergeant looked at the tired travelers.

There was a nod and the Sergeant saluted.  “I hope your roads were clear, Sir.  Come on in, but the civilians still have to pay entry.”

“What?  But I am escorting them in to the-”

Laun kneed Grace forward past Dougal, second from Senri in the line.  “How much.”  She was not going to do much negotiating if she could help it, but she knew how much they had in her pouch. »Read More

The Slave Princess Chapter 33

May 17, 2020 / posted in Chapter Book, Stories / No Comments

Back to Chapter 32 - If this is the first chapter you were directed to, start at the beginning The Slave Warrior. - Please consider Tribute as the WebMistress is out of chocolate.

 

“Milady, it’s not needed, but I thank you!”

Laun handed the silver to the man, the horses and the people having been watered, and some information about the troops that had used the man’s field just a few days before gleaned through conversation.

“Since they did not pay you for the use, it is only right that someone from the royal family take care of it, good farmer.”  Laun held out her hand and the man did not hesitate to give the woman in men’s riding clothes a warriors’ grip.

“An’ who are you?”

Silar spoke before Laun could.  “She is Princess Laun, daughter of King Falmir.”

Laun smiled at the man and quietly said, “I hope that your day goes well after we leave.”

The man held up the silver and nodded.  “It already has, yer Highness.”

Laun mounted and swung her palfrey to meet the others who had already mounted.  She waved to the farmer and they rode off.

“Was that the fourth or fifth troop camp?”  Fount trotted next to Laun and raised his voice to be heard over the hoofbeats.

“I am not sure at this point.  Could be fifth.”  Laun looked at the destruction left by the Rosemond military in the field as they went by.  “Erin, do you think this was one of yours again?”

The Baron moved up to pace Laun and said, “I don’t think so.  He said they went West when they packed up.  If they were from my lands, they were completely lost.”

Laun was quiet.  She put heels to her bay and came to the lead horse.  “The sun will be down in about an hour.  Hunter?  How clear is the road to the Capitol City around here? »Read More

The Slave Princess Chapter 32

May 14, 2020 / posted in Chapter Book, Stories / No Comments

Back to Chapter 31

It was close to two bells in the morning when the horses were being walked in a cool down circle on the green next to the Inn.  They were trying to be quiet, but Markle heard the horses and went to see what was going on.  He quietly welcomed the tired riders and brought them inside when the horses had been unburdened and partially brushed down.

Marie held a shawl around her, a long, loose night dress on her the only other clothing.  She stood in the main room of the Inn and greeted the late night travelers.  The shutters were pulled over the windows and lights were brought to full flame to light the room.

Laun was leaning against the wall, trying to keep upright until she knew where she would be sleeping that night.  She was too tired to talk to the couple who ran the Inn, the people who had been so important to her when she was on the road over the last year.  She wanted to give them the messages, but decided to wait until the next morning.

The others were also very tired, most leaning on benches and tables and not sitting.  The saddles were good, but they had been riding hard to get there.  The way everyone walked showed how much it would take to get their hips and backs to work properly again.

Marie had water for all of them as Markle cleared out a few things from the alcoves and opened the private rooms.  No one else was there that night, much to the relief of the group.  Markle motioned to Laun and she started to follow to the room she was used to, several of the men trying to follow.

Before she knew what was gong on, Laun was surrounded by men, all vying to be her companion that night. »Read More

The Slave Princess Chapter 31

May 12, 2020 / posted in Chapter Book, Stories / No Comments

Back to Chapter 30

 

“We should have left last night.”

Laun was furious.  Angry at the time of day.  Livid at not being on the road to the Capitol City.  Disappointed at herself for falling asleep and staying in bed until at least an hour after she normally would have been up and about.  She hadn’t even been up to nurse the babies, and she was upset about that.

Edgar, Geralk and Laun were in the library, wedged in around the table.  Laun wanted to tell Geralk what had happened so that it could be recorded, since they had not gotten on the road the night before.  It was already mid-morning.  Morning meeting had an interesting twist when many of the people in the Great Hall moved away from Baron Bedral as he came limping in.  It had not stopped the meeting, but talking about the fishing that needed to be done was the last thing openly talked about.  Laun had grabbed Geralk and headed for the library as soon as the after meeting chaos took over.

There was a coded message she wanted to have made to give to Markle and Marie, an accounting of the gold that Gyrip had brought, the new crystals that had been found and a general note as to what really happened at Nestwood.  If it was to be spread, the greyworld was to have the accurate account. »Read More

The Slave Princess Chapter 30

May 11, 2020 / posted in Chapter Book, Stories / No Comments

Back to Chapter 29 - Please consider Tribute - The beginning of the story is in the first chapter of The Slave Warrior.

 

The noon sun was hot.  Several of the guards on the barrier wanted to know why there had been extra guards and watches when the only thing of note that morning had been a wild dog that had chased a rabbit past and back into the underbrush.

Their answer was shown to them as a call from the road came to them.  The rescue mission was back.  With a guest.

The gap was open for them when they arrived, call and response telling them that all was clear on both sides.  The group went through, the gap closed and the horses kept walking, knowing where their food and water was.

The soldiers stopped at their encampment, Erin and Edgar dismounting so the Baron could see his men.  The rest went to the keep, tired and sore from all the riding and work at Nestwood.

Gem was helped down off the back of Grace, Laun waiting until she was clear before climbing down and finding she was in Ali’s arms.  It had become a tradition for the farewell kiss and the welcome kiss, and one Laun heartily loved.  She felt a movement from within Ali’s rounding belly and smiled.

Orgia and Disa both were in the Great Hall, waiting with the staff with water and cider for the group.  Laun sat, several of the protectors helping to take off her boots, much to the chagrin of those directly downwind of them.  Laun liked sitting without moving.  The water was gone and replaced several times before she brought her legs up and lay back on the bench. »Read More

The Slave Princess Chapter 29

May 7, 2020 / posted in Chapter Book, Stories / No Comments

Back to Chapter 28 - The beginning of the Chronicles of the Midlands starts with the First chapter of The Slave Warrior

 

The Harvest Moon was full and red.  It looked like it wanted to take up half the night sky.

There had been harvests thruout the Summer, but the big grain harvest and the apple harvest were coming to a peak.  There would still be work, in the fields, in the streams, in the woods.  Tonight, the only thing being harvested was debauchery.

Fires were spread as far as the watch on the top of the Salam-Dir keep could see.  Each was a small gathering, a party that would flow and ebb to the next fire under the red moon.  Song could be heard drifting up to the walkway, the protectors on duty wishing their relief would get there early, their reliefs knowing they would be late.

A touch of chill was in the air that night, the fires not just for companionable light.  Capes and ale were openly shared between many.  It had been a hard week of work and through the tiredness, most were playing hard.

Clothing had started to come off even before the evening meal had come to a close, the Great Hall having several secreted studded oranges appear, leading to faces in cleavage within a few passes.  On Lady Hellon’s Hill, the scene was similar and even the soldiers opened their tents for guests of any kind. »Read More

The Slave Princess Chapter 28

May 5, 2020 / posted in Chapter Book, Stories / No Comments

Back to Chapter 27 - Please consider Tribute in these trying times

 

The carriage was hitched up, the wagon with the servants being loaded.  Many tired faces were among those in the dark green, most of those also with smiles.

They were waiting for Laun and the babies.  The common soldiers were not allowed onto the gravel surrounding the keeps black stone wall, but that did not mean there weren’t Rosemond military walking in the early day.  Several of the officers who had been with the women strolled by, low voices thanking for the activities of the day and night before, some placing a coin or trinket extra to make the Officers feel better about what they knew would happen in two days.  There were a few that stopped to nod at Verat or Franc, hands gripped in the warriors way, that left gifts for them, too.

Servants opened the gate before Erin escorted Laun out to the cleared area.  Servants trailed behind, the men of the household watching Gem as she carried the basket with the babies.  Hazalam carried a chest to the carriage and stepped in, the motion of it showing he was settling the luggage before himself.  Grace was being held loosely by the reins waiting for Laun to mount.

Erin held Laun’s hand to his lips and murmured something to her that made her blush, but also made her grin widely.  She waved a dark feathered fan at her self to try to cool off on that hot morning, the red and black dress drawing heat seemingly from the air. »Read More

The Slave Princess Chapter 27

May 3, 2020 / posted in Chapter Book, Stories / No Comments

Back to Chapter 26

 

The torchlight from the military encampments made the tents glow in the fields below the keep.  Laun was on Erin’s arm as they walked around the perimeter of the keep, her face turned to him though seeing more than just he.

The wind had come at dusk, cooling the Summer evening and making the trees hiss.  The night sky went from the blazing hot oranges of sunset to the cool purple velvet of night, clouds floating singularly across the waxing moon.  Stars blazed in the dark sky above, but they could not shine brighter than Erin.

He was not looking where he was walking in the cooling evening.  His eyes were only for the woman on his arm.  Her eyes glinted of gold as they passed by torches, her mouth naturally pink and soft as the roses he grew.  He was not really paying attention to the small talk, the mention of weather and phasma flies.  He nodded and smiled as she smiled.

She had come back from the bathing chamber in what she was wearing now.  Light and flowing and a silvery sheen to the linen that glowed against her tan skin.  The three pointed crown above her hair, a simple braid that came down her back, tied with the thong that had been on her wrist, the silver bell dangling soundlessly there.  He watched her come in and curtsey to him, use his honorific and tilt her head slightly to the side.  He had wrapped his arms around her and kissed her deeply for several minutes.

She reminded him, gently, that he needed to wash himself, also.  He tore himself away from her and almost ran to the bathing chamber, cursing himself for having it so far from the bedroom he had chosen. »Read More

The Slave Princess Chapter 26

April 30, 2020 / posted in Chapter Book, Stories / No Comments

Back to Chapter 25

If you have just heard of this set of stories, go back and start at The Slave Warrior, Chapter 1

Please consider tribute.  The Chocolate Larder is getting bare.

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The men of the Rosemond regulars and the mercs they had among them were easy and predictable.

The women of Salam-Dir had experience with soldiers.  They easily walked from the secure confines of the keep and castle of Nestwood and stirred the loins of most of the men they walked by in the tent encampment.  One of the women stayed in the keep to keep the men of the servants occupied as the rest that were not with Laun and the babies did their own infiltration of the Rosemond troops.

It was not just women who wore the green of Salam-Dir that were approached.  Laun’s rogues drew Verat and Franc with them to be the magnets for those who would not be enticed by the women.  Laun had talked at length with Verat and Sand Master’s own son to make sure they were comfortable with the mission, and the information they were to get and plant.  They had been dressed simply as any of the servants, but their attitudes towards each other showed that they were not as other men.

Offers were coming as soon as the nobles had gone into the keep, trailing servants behind them.  The women were used to blushing and looking over their shoulders at the others around them and putting the men off without telling them no.  The men had to learn on the run as they dealt with the light duties they had been assigned in the escort.

The time came and the best offers so far were accepted.  The women disappeared into tents, into wooded groves.  The men gave one last squeeze of the hand to each other as they let themselves get separated and led to their own assignations. »Read More

The Slave Princess Chapter 25

March 12, 2020 / posted in Chapter Book, Stories / No Comments

Back to Chapter 24 - Please consider tribute to the Web Mistress - The Chronicles of the Midlands starts Here, with the first chapter of the Slave Warrior.

 

It was early in the morning.  The camp had been awake and moving to get repacked since first light.  Laun was being groomed as carefully as Grace was as the mist of the morning glided around the men and women in the quiet camp.

The scouts came back and reported in low tones that the bridge had indeed been repaired, though it was obvious where damage had recently occurred.  The scouts went to the three squads loading up, the Protector archers amongst them checking the newly made arrows as they went into their quivers.

They were ready to mount up.  The sun was starting to burn off the mist as the horses were lined up, the carts hitched.  Laun was astride Grace, her skirts draped over the flank of the horse, her jewels and crown catching the early light.  The four assassins were spread through the group, Gem with the babies in the carriage as the men found places alongside the few guards and servants that were to escort Laun.

The group split into three as Laun led her group towards the river.  They had camped only about ten minutes’ ride from the river when they found that there wasn’t a guard posted on this side of the river.  Sloppy, and Laun used it to advantage.  They came to the top of the ridge before the river and looked down to the beach.

It was different from when the ferryman had pulled her across.  No flat bottomed boat rocked in the flow of the river.  No large rope drooped into the water. »Read More

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