Coming Together: Special Hurricane Relief Edition

by Alessia Brio

  "Will you walk with me, Captain?" said Lady Melna.

  "With pleasure, Lady Melna. Where?"

  "To my quarters in Lady Allina's holding. I wish to wear my own clothes for the dinner tonight, rather than these borrowed robes, splendid as they are."

  I bowed. "I am yours to command," I said.

  I thought I heard her speak, but decided I must be mistaken. 'If only', is what I thought I heard her say. As her escort, she took my arm and we walked in silence for a moment or two, until we went out into the street, busy, bustling, a normal day in Rorus. The threatened rain had yet held off, but from the look of the sky it would not be long. She turned to me as we walked.

  "Do you have a Companion in Ko-Ro-Ba, Captain?" Her tone was light, but I thought I detected a tremor. Probably my imagination, I decided.

  "I have no Companion, Lady Melna. A warrior rarely does."

  "Of course. You will no doubt have your pick of captured women, those taken as slave."

  "I do, if I wish," I said. It is good to have a naked slave in one's arms, yielding.

  "I thought so," she said, almost inaudible.

  I opened my mouth to speak, then closed it again, silent. What does a warrior tell a free woman about the pleasures of having a slave? "Are you not pledged to someone, Lady Melna?"

  She laughed, short, perhaps bitter. "No one is interested in a penniless free woman, warrior."

  "None? " I said, surprised.

  "My parents were killed in a caravan raid, their fortune taken. I escaped only because my father hid me. I was ten years old. My uncle, the Lady Allina's father, took me in. He was kind to me, and Lady Allina is as a sister to me, but I subsist only on her charity." She paused. "No one has considered me worthy of the Companionship price."

  "You are candid," I said.

  She smiled up at me as we walked. I could not see her mouth behind her veil, but I sensed it crooked. "Why hide the truth?" she asked.

  I had no answer and we walked in silence for a while, until we turned in at the gateway of a holding. An older guard came to attention. "Lady Melna," he said, "it gladdens my heart to see you safe."

  "Thank you, Relius," she said. "It is good to be safe." She turned to me. "Relius was one of my uncle's guards."

  "And right glad to hear that the ladies were safe, Captain," he said. "Pel lied to us."

  "Relius," said Lady Melna, "this captain is the one who rescued us, he and Tullius."

  "I am honoured to know you, Captain." He saluted, then opened the gate for us. Lady Melna led the way inside, and into the holding. People were about, both free and slave, busy. Lady Melna led the way into a quieter part of the holding, obviously residential because of the hangings and furnishings. A young slave girl came around the corner and let out a cry.

  "Mistress! You're safe!" She pattered across to us, barefoot, in the sleeveless tunic of the slave girl, worn a little longer here in an area where free women were likely to be, a smile of delight on her face. It was only then that she spotted me and went swiftly to her knees. "Forgive me, Master. I did not see you." She seemed terrified, and I wondered what other nastiness Pel had created.

  "Rest easy, slave," I said. "It is understandable, seeing the pleasure with which you greeted the Lady Melna."

  "Thank you, Master," she whispered.

  "Julie is my body slave," said the Lady Melna.

  "An Earth girl?" I was surprised.

  "No, Master. My last master named me so," the slave said.

  "Ah." I studied her. Young, about the same age as her mistress, I conjectured.

  "May a slave speak, Mistress?"

  "Yes," said Lady Melna.

  "In the capture, that which took you and the Lady Allina?"

  "Yes?"

  "Who else survived?" There was a tight note in her voice that told me she was thinking of someone in particular.

  "The captain, Claudius Flavius, and a young guard, Tullius." The slave, Julie, let out an audible sigh of relief. "Were you not told?" said Lady Melna.

  "No, Mistress. Only that you and Lady Allina were rescued, the Captain, and another. We were not told who else."

  "It is Tullius. He and this gallant captain were the two who freed us from our captors."

  "The priest-kings be praised," said Julie. "Though worthless, being from a slave, my thanks also to you, Master." She turned to Lady Melna. "May I continue my duties, Mistress?"

  Lady Melna signed assent and Julie came easily to her feet and pattered off.

  "Interesting," said Lady Melna.

  "What is?" I said.

  "Julie, and Tullius. She sleeps in my antechamber, to be on hand if I need aught in the night. I doubt they've seen each other a dozen times."

  "Once is sometimes all it takes," I said.

  Lady Melna glanced at me. "I know," she said, so quietly I wondered if I'd heard her. She looked at me. "Would Julie be a fitting reward for Tullius?"

  "Do any of the guards have personal slaves?"

  "Some, yes. The guards have the use of the household slaves, save the body slaves of Lady Allina and myself, but some have purchased, or been given, their own."

  "In that case, if Tullius is interested in Julie, she would be a lovely gift. Do you wish me to ascertain his interest, because it would be cruel to both of them if he has none."

  "Please," said Lady Melna. We had reached a doorway and she stopped. "My chambers, Captain. My thanks for your escort. I look forward to your company at dinner."

  "And I to yours, Lady Melna," I said, bowing. I turned and retraced my steps. As I turned a corner, I almost collided with the slave, Julie, her arms full of towels. Apparently terrified, she knelt. "Forgive me, Master," she said.

  "Be easy, it was no fault of yours." I looked at her, more closely now that we were alone. She was young, slim, shapely in her loose tunic, brown hair flowing free, halfway down her back. "Julie, I wish to ask you a question. A slave must always tell the truth, but I want this answer to be from your heart."

  "Yes, Master, what is it?" she whispered, frightened.

  "Tullius. What is he to you?"

  "My master, as are all the guards," she said, confused, still frightened.

  "What if he were your own master, if you were his?" I said.

  She stared at me, her eyes enormous. "I would be his love slave," she said. It was a declaration, a statement and I knew within me that it came from her heart.

  I nodded. "Be on your way, slave girl."

  I went on my way and paused, confused, as I did not know my way around the Lady Allina's holding. Another slave-girl was passing and I held up my hand. She went to her knees before me, anxious.

  "Yes, Master?"

  "Direct me to the guards' quarters."

  "At once, Master. This way."

  As I expected, Tullius had made his way back and was in the guard quarters. He smiled to see me and gladly put aside his tasks when I asked him if he would walk with me a little.

  "Tullius," I said, "may I ask you a personal question?"

  He regarded me, curious. "Of course, Captain."

  "A moment. Do you have a slave-girl of your own?"

  He grinned and shook his head. "Not on a guard's wage." He shrugged. "I have the use of a kitchen slut, if I need a woman."

  "Are any in the holding of interest?" I said, casually.

  "Only one," he said, "but she is the Lady Melna's body slave and thus not available to a mere guardsman."

  "Julie?" I said.

  "Yes, she," he said, surprised.

  "A comely slave."

  "More than that, Captain," he said. "She is beautiful." He regarded me, curious. "What was it you wished to ask me, Captain."

  I laughed to myself. Discussion of a slave-girl didn't rank as a personal question. "I was talking earlier to Claudius Flavius. Your Captain thinks that he needs men with experience of tarns. There are no tarn teachers in Rorus. Would you be willing to come to Ko-Ro-Ba, to learn the tarn?"

  "Me, Captain?" He could not hide hi
s surprise. Or his pleasure.

  "Yes, Tullius, you. And three others of your choosing. Claudius Flavius thinks highly of you."

  "Indeed he must," said Tullius. "I agree, gladly, Captain. When?"

  "Soon. The Lady Allina will wish to be sure that the holding is functioning properly before you leave, but it will not be long. You know my father's home?"

  "Aye."

  "Seek me there. If I am not to home, I will leave guidance for you."

  "My thanks, Captain!"

  "A just reward, Tullius, my young friend." I grinned. "Who keeps the slave records here?" I needed a collar size, but Tullius didn't need to know.

  "I'll show you," he said, "this way."

  Later that afternoon I sought audience with the Lady Melna. She received me in her own quarters, lightly gowned, only her lightest house veil across her face as she opened the door, unpinning it as soon as we were alone.

  "It seems silly to veil myself in your company, Captain. I was face-stripped when you rescued me," she said.

  I bowed, acknowledging the truth of her statement. Too, she was lovely to look at. Dark red hair, green eyes, a slender figure, ill-concealed by her light indoor gown. She gestured to a couch.

  "Please, be seated, Captain. What do you wish of me?" she said, seating herself beside me.

  Your body, and your love, I thought, fleeting, surprising myself. Aloud, I said, "Your body slave, Julie," I said, pushing my thoughts aside.

  "What of her?"

  "She wishes herself, not openly acknowledging it, to be Tullius's love slave. He, in turn, desires her but will not anger you, so does not pursue her."

  Lady Melna nodded, a rueful smile about her lips. "It appears then, that I must seek a new body slave."

  I smiled. "If you intend to reward Tullius with her as gift, then yes, I fear you must."

  I reached into my pouch and took out a slave collar, richly engraved, with yellow enamelling. I held it out to her. "Read it."

  "'I am the girl of Tullius'," she read. She looked at me. "For Tullius?"

  "For you, to fit upon Julie as you gift her to him, so that neither is in any doubt of your sincerity."

  "My thanks, Han Lero." She smiled. "I think, rather, that I will give this collar to Tullius, so that he may collar her."

  I nodded, agreeing. It is good for a slave to be collared by her master. I smiled. "I had begun to think you had forgotten my name."

  "Never," she said, her voice soft, her gaze on mine, "never do I forget the man who saved me from unwanted slavery." She smiled. "But what gift can I give you?"

  "I ask nothing," I said.

  She stared at me, her lip trembling. "Han Lero," she whispered. "May I come to your bed tonight? May I gift myself to you?"

  I regarded her, startled, not showing it. Could I, in honour, accept? Could I, in honour, refuse? "My Lady," I began, but she put her fingers on my lips, shaking her head.

  "No, Han Lero, do not deny me this."

  My heart was pounding and I could scarce breathe. I, who had been in battles. I nodded, finally. "My Lady, such can only be your decision. I do not ask for such reward, but nor will I shame you by refusal."

  She gave me a crooked smile. "Go now, Han Lero, lest I shame myself, by weeping."

  I stood, uncertain. "Have you been shown your guest quarters?" she said.

  "No, I have not. Are they far."

  "The end of the world. Let me show you." She pulled up the hood of her gown and repinned her veil, leading me into the corridor. She turned. We passed one door and she gestured. "My anteroom, where Julie slept until tonight." At the next door she stopped and opened the door. The guest chamber was richly furnished and fresh robes and tunic, in the scarlet of the warrior, hung waiting. Too, there was a cloak and Lady Melna smiled. "Did I not promise to gift you a cloak?"

  "You did. My thanks, Lady Melna."

  She gestured to another doorway. "That leads to my anteroom. Please leave it unlocked, so that I may gain your bed without embarrassing Lady Allina in her own home." She regarded me steadily, high colour in her face, easily visible through the light veil.

  I bowed, but said nothing.

  The dinner was enjoyable. Lady Allina had me at one hand, an uncomfortable Tullius at her other. Opposite us, Lady Melna had Claudius Flavius at one hand, Ban Taal, the Ko-Ro-Ban captain, at her other. His men were being entertained more robustly elsewhere in the holding. I knew that Claudius Flavius had rented musicians, and paga slaves, for their delectation. I suspected Ban Taal would rather be with them.

  Deliberately, we avoided the topic of the abduction, talking of sport, of music, of anything except the ordeal the ladies had suffered. When the eating was finished, and we were sat relaxing with a light Ka-La-Na wine, Lady Allina turned to Tullius.

  "Noble Tullius, I have not rewarded you for your service."

  "I ask for no reward, my Lady. Your safety is reward enough," he protested, embarrassed.

  "Even so. I have been talking with Claudius Flavius about reorganising my guards, and he tells me he needs a lieutenant of intelligence and courage. You are that Lieutenant, Tullius. From now on you are second only to Claudius Flavius among my guards."

  "But what of Relius, Captain?" said Tullius.

  "He nominated you when I mentioned a reorganisation," said Claudius Flavius, smiling. "He is happy where he is."

  "In that case, my Lady, Captain, I accept gladly," said Tullius.

  "I too have a gift for you, Tullius," said Lady Melna.

  "My lady?"

  She reached into a bag beside her and took out the slave collar I had had prepared earlier. She passed it to him and he took it, startled. "You will have private quarters as Claudius Flavius's second," she said. "No doubt that will be useful." She smiled at him as he regarded her, wondering, I think, what to say.

  She smiled at him. "Silly me," she said lightly, "that is of little use without someone to whose neck you may fit it, is it." She signalled to Lady Allina's steward, who had been unobtrusively overseeing our meal and he went out, quickly returning with the slave, Julie, her hands cuffed behind her. She looked confused. The Lady Melna signalled and Julie went to her knees beside her, head bowed.

  "Have I displeased you, Mistress?" she said, frightened, her voice quavering.

  "No, Julie, you have not. Even so, I have decided to give you away."

  "No, Mistress, please, do not!"

  Lady Melna smiled again. "I fear I must."

  I glanced at Tullius. The look of dawning hope on his face was incredible.

  Lady Melna unlocked Julie's collar and took it from her. "Go to your new Master, Julie, and submit yourself."

  "But who, Mistress," sobbed Julie, "who?"

  "Tullius," said Lady Melna. Julie looked at her, startled, then at Tullius who stood, the opened collar in his hand.

  "He?" said Julie.

  Lady Melna nodded, smiling. "He."

  The slave leaped to her feet and went to Tullius, swiftly kneeling before him and bowing her head in submission. "I submit me your slave, Master," she said, clearly.

  The click of the collar was clear in the silent room as Tullius closed it about the slave's neck. Her eyes closed and she shuddered, but I could detect, easily, the thrust of her nipples through the light silk of her slave gown.

  "What is your name, slave?" said Tullius.

  "Master has not yet named me," she said.

  "The answer is correct. You are Julie," said Tullius.

  "Yes, Master, thank you Master," she said.

  Tullius looked around at us. "May I be excused?" he said.

  Lady Allina smiled, clear behind her veil, and gestured assent.

  "Tullius," said Claudius Flavius, "you will find that your belongings have been moved to the lieutenant's quarters. Too, you will find all ready for you in those quarters. You are excused duty tomorrow, but I expect you as usual the following day."

  "Yes, Captain. Thank you, Captain." He bowed to us, then kicked, lightly, at his slave. "Pr
ecede me, slave," he said. Julie got lithely to her feet and went out, tears on her radiant face, Tullius following closely.

  Lady Allina sighed. "A generous gesture, my dear. We must get you a new body slave."

  Ban Taal stood. "May I, too, be excused, Lady Allina," he said. "I wish to check on my men."

  "And perhaps join them, Captain?" said Lady Allina lightly. She smiled. "Go, with my thanks. Attend me in my audience room at the eighth hour tomorrow, Captain, for your fee and your reward."

  "My thanks, my Lady. I wish you well. Goodnight." He turned and went out as we murmured our farewells.

  Lady Melna stood. "I think I shall retire," she said. "It has been a memorable day." Claudius Flavius and I stood as she went out. I turned to the Lady Allina. "With your permission, my Lady, I too will retire. I wish to make an early start tomorrow."

  "Of course, Captain."

  I bowed and went out. When I glanced back Lady Allina and Claudius Flavius were in close conversation. In my room I checked that the communicating door was unlocked, then washed. I stripped naked, trimmed the tharlarion-oil lamps to give the room a honeyed glow, and settled myself in the furs, to wait.

  I did not wait long. Scarce twenty ehn passed before the door opened and Lady Melna stepped through. She wore a light robe, silk, and from the way it moved upon her body I could tell it was her only garment. Her hair was unbound and brushed, hanging to the small of her back. She closed the door and leaned against it . She was lovely.

  "I almost did not come," she said, with a nervous smile.

  "There is no compulsion, my Lady." I prayed she would not leave. I wanted her.

  "There is, Han Lero, my own desire for your touch." She straightened, loosening the tie of her robe, casting off the robe behind her. I could feel myself hardening as I looked at the beautiful, naked, she of her. "Do I please you?" she said.

  "That is the question of a slave," I said.

  "Then use me as a slave, Han Lero. Use my body for your pleasure."

  "You do not know what you ask," I said.

  "Perhaps. I know what I want."

  "Tell me," I said.

  "I want your touch. I want to feel your hands on my body. I want to kiss you, to lick you. I want to feel you kiss me, to lick me. I want your hardness to pierce me where my body already weeps to welcome you."