by Robin Roseau
“Darling,” Shalendra said. “This isn’t recognized in Ressaline, but it is elsewhere. Purple is the color of royalty. And that’s not yellow. That’s gold. It looks like gold, and we use gold for many reasons.”
“I think of myself as a spoiled princess?”
“No, or at least I don’t think anyone else does.”
Valsine stepped forward. “You are the head of your household, Darfelsa, a royal household. It’s that simple.” She closed the distance, took one hand, and kissed the fingers. “I am so proud of you, Princess Cousin.” She grinned. “And I like that you added red, too. I think this is simple but also complicated. But the red is for pleasure, and you can decide for yourself what that means, but to me, it’s a very good sign.” She kissed the fingers again and grinned. “And if you weren’t my cousin…”
I laughed. “You’re a brat.”
“Always, but you’ve grown to love the new, improved brat I’ve become.”
“You’re right,” I said. “I have.” I pulled her in for a quick hug then held my hands up again. “So this is a good sign?”
“A very good sign,” Kavrala said. “My recommendation is that you embrace it.”
“Is it going to come off if I let my hands dip back into the resin again?”
“Only if you want it to.”
“Our resin doesn’t flow away, but we were wet practically to our shoulders,” Dee said. “You’ve seen.”
“Right,” I agreed. “The other half of that: will it complicate what Shalendra hopes to happen?”
“What you mean to ask,” Gionna said, “Is whether you’re going to get caught up in the magic.”
I laughed. “Yes.”
“I don’t know. Kavrala?”
“I’m not sure I’m any more expert than anyone else here,” Kavrala said. “I think from what we’ve seen of Shalendra, and if Bee and Dee help again, you’ll be so far ahead of her, there’s very little risk.”
“If this starts to go the wrong way,” Gionna said. “We can help pull you out of it until you’re ready to assert control again. But my guess is that Shalendra is going to last a minute and a half.”
“Hey!” Shalendra complained as Gionna grinned at her. “I’m going to last longer than that. Three minutes. I swear, it will take at least three minutes.”
“All right. Gionna, you said your guards had suggestions.”
“Princess Darfelsa,” replied Captain Alixyra, “perhaps I could ride beside you once we’re on the road.”
“I’d enjoy that,” I said.
“My recommendation for now is that you keep the sergeant close. If she wants to touch you, let her. And you are welcoming in your touches. Continue that. We can talk more later.”
“Excellent. Thank you, Captain.” I turned to Shalendra. “Still want to do this?” I held up my hands. “I seem to have a magic touch.”
“Literally, now,” she replied. “Yes.”
We had already done paperwork, and so I helped her into the tub. “Relax there for a minute,” I said. I turned to Claary and pulled her to the side. “I gave Mariya a pattern.”
“You did,” she said. “Very well done, Darfelsa.”
“I should be able to do that with anyone.”
“During a challenge, it can be a mistake to worry too much about that,” she replied. “Unless it’s deeply one-sided. But yes, at least in this situation, you seem to have that ability. It may be that you already are possessive of your household members. It may be harder with Shalendra, as you see her differently, and could be even harder if you tried to do this in a challenge when you hold less claim over the woman.”
“Maybe someday we’ll find out.”
“I hope so, because that means you’ll be back in Charth for it. I am very interested in seeing what you can do, Darfelsa.” She gestured. “You don’t need me for this one, but if you want to add some swirls when you’re done, I’m happy to help. Dee says the swirls feel really good.”
“I imagine she’s right.”
“Go see to your lady,” she suggested. “I think everyone is curious what you do with her?”
I took Shalendra not that differently from how I took Mariya, although at the end, it was my own hand pressing at her center, giving her deeper pleasures.
And the resin climbed higher on my arms, and there was far more red, but that was perfectly fine by me. Now that I’d unintentionally done it once, I realized I could control it, and once Shalendra finished surrendering to me, and she lay in the resin, panting, I concentrated on my arms, and I realized I had quite a bit of control over the resin, with the lingering magic from claiming Shalendra helping, and the wet resin helping. But then the period ended, and the resin settled as it was. But I smiled and looked at Shalendra.
Her eyes were open, and she was watching me, a deep smile on her lips. “You are so beautiful, Sha-shi.”
“That’s not what anyone else has called me.”
“I don’t care. When you are my slave, you are Sha-shi. Say it.”
“Sha-shi,” she whispered. “I love you, Princess.”
“You may call me that,” I told her. “But I prefer if you call me Darfelsa. You may also call me by the sort of pet names used by lovers, for we are most certainly lovers. How are you feeling?”
“Really, really good,” she replied.
“Come from the tub, then. Bee, please help her.”
We got her up, out of the tub, and then she knelt to me, wrapping around my waist. I stroked her hair. “Sha-shi, you are more than a sex slave. You are a pleasure slave, and a member of this household. You may offer gentle pleasures not only to me, but to all members of my household, as you mutually enjoy.”
“Thank you, Darfelsa.”
I lifted her lips and kissed her, then whispered, “You are mine now, entirely mine.”
“I love you,” she whispered back. “Thank you, Darfelsa.”
I helped her stand and looked over my handiwork. She was red, nearly entirely, but there were swirls of silver. I smiled then traced one of the swirls. “This is just a design,” I said. “You are my pleasure slave.” And she smiled, setting her hand over mine.
That was when Tess stepped forward. “Princess Darfelsa?” I turned to her. “I know everyone is anxious to get moving.”
“What is it, Tess?”
“Could we do me?”
“Oh, Tess,” I said. “Yes, if you want.”
“I want us to change my duration to match Shalendra’s.”
“I may release you the night before her.”
She nodded. “Whatever you feel is best.” She smiled. “I don’t need a shift.”
“Bee and Dee,” I said. “Do you want to help her undress?”
They giggled and set to it, and soon they had Tess giggling, too. They helped her into the tub. “Get her started,” I said. “Gionna. Kavrala. A moment.” I stepped way from the tub, standing near one of the wagons at the side of our camp. Gionna and Kavrala joined us, with, of course, Mariya, standing tall and strong.
“Did you see what I did with the resin?”
“That I’ve never seen,” Kavrala replied.
“The ability to do it was tied to the active magic. I lost authority as the last of the magic faded.”
“The magic doesn’t fade,” Gionna said. “It just… settles, happy with the results. But we understand what you’re saying. It’s wilder during a challenge.”
“Not wild so much as fluid,” Kavrala clarified. “Oh, it can be wild, but nothing you did today was wild. It was fluid.”
“She’s right,” Gionna said. “That’s a better word. What are you thinking, Darfelsa?”
“I felt like I had significant control. I wouldn’t say absolute, but significant. But I don’t know if I should experiment further, and I don’t know what I should do with it.”
Gionna looked at Kavrala, who shrugged. “I’ve seen it, but I’m not an expert. Princess, I think you’re going to be the expert here.”
“You
’re still more experienced than I am,” I said.
“I would suggest, Princess, that if you yield to the most obvious temptation, you could end up enslaving yourself.”
I laughed. I’d been thinking of fully encasing myself. Gionna figured that out and smiled. “We’d take care of you,” she said with a grin.
“I think, but this is only an opinion,” said Kavrala, “Is that if it were me, I’d think about what I wanted. Do you want them this height?” She gestured.
“There’s part of me that would love to encase myself,” I said. “But I think you might be right, and I’m not at all sure I could get rid of it later.” I looked at my arms. “I think I can brush this off if I wanted, but I don’t want to.”
“Then don’t,” Gionna said. “Do you know what I would do?” The question was rhetorical. “I would keep the gloves this high.” She clasped one arm, just below my elbow. “This is classy. I’d pick colors. These colors fit you, I think.”
“I like that there’s more red than the first time.”
“But then I’d probably be a little playful,” she added. “This may not fit you, but I’d at least think about this.” And then she traced a finger on my cheek. “Or maybe here.” She traced a line on the outside of my leg. Then she grinned. “If I were doing this to you, it would be this.” And she set her open hand on my bottom.
I laughed and pushed her hand away. “Stay close, would you, and tell me how it looks.”
“Sure.” She hooked my arm, and together, we walked back to Tess.
I made her black, but with quite a bit of red. Shalendra helped.
For myself, I agreed with Gionna. I lowered the resin to below my elbows, and I included equal parts of the three colors, which pleased me. But then I lifted my hand and brushed under my eyes, thinking about what I wanted. I looked at Gionna. She smiled. “That’s perfect, Darfelsa.” She gestured on her own face, a vaguely-triangular shape, two points under the eyes, coming to a curved point along my jaw. “It’s black,” she added.
“Good.”
And then I focused on Tess.
* * * *
There were no more that day, but over the next several, the remainder of my staff all asked for their turn.
Alixyra offered good advice regarding Mariya. “Keep her close to you,” she said. “And make sure you tell her when she’s off-duty. She’ll resist that, but remind her she needs to remain sharp.” She laughed lightly. “I thought I was going to have more to say, but you seem to be doing fine without my advice. Keep doing what you’re doing.”
“Thank you, Captain,” I said.
I only kept Mariya a few days, releasing her in the evening. Once that was done, she urged me to sit, then knelt before me, her head in my lap. I stroked her hair and worried. But then she said, “Thank you, Princess.”
“You are welcome,” I replied. “You are off duty until morning. After that, you remain off duty until you come to me and tell me you are fully able to resume authority over your squad.”
“I’m ready now.”
“And yet, you are off duty until morning, and I’ve already told your squad.” I leaned over and kissed her head. “Everything I’ve told you stands, Mariya. Tess is waiting for you, and you have a tent of your own. She knows where it is. Go to her, and share with each other as most pleases you.” She lifted her head and looked at me. “You are a member of this household.” I’d been saying that a lot. “I expect you to see yourself that way.”
“I do, Princess.”
And then she stood, turned, and walked from my tent, not wearing a stitch. It grew quiet outside, but then I heard a giggle, and later, other sounds.
* * * *
Tess came to me the next morning. She knelt beside the low bed. “Good morning, Tess.” I had decided that when they were my slaves, they would carry their names. “Is all well?”
“Yes, Princess,” she replied. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, Darling,” I said. I rolled to her and caressed her cheek. “Did you have a nice time?”
“Yes,” she whispered. She looked up at me.
There was something in her eyes, a hunger, I thought. “Would you like to cuddle between us, Tess?”
“Yes.”
She climbed over me, which made me giggle, and then Shalendra helped her slide under the covers. I was the only one wearing nothing; they were both in their resin. But we cuddled together. “Tess,” I said. “Mariya came to you.”
“Yes.”
“I want to be clear about something. She may not always turn to you.”
“We’re a household, and her place is special. She can’t afford split loyalty.”
“If others of you form partnerships, I will support you, but she cannot do so.”
She nodded. “I don’t want a partnership yet. Did you just say we may continue to share, not just Mariya, but all of us?”
“As you find mutually agreeable,” I said. “It would be awkward if someone forms a relationship with a man, but if that happens, when we go places a man can’t go, then either they must be apart, or she will remain here, to tend my affairs in Barrish. I imagine I will begin to have such affairs.”
“I don’t want to be left behind.”
“That may change in the future. If it does, I will always have a place for you, Tess. Please make sure the others understand. With me, or remaining in Barrish, I will have places for you.”
“Thank you, Princess.”
I kissed her cheek. “You’re welcome. Are you all right?”
“I wanted a cuddle. Is that wrong?”
“No. It isn’t at all wrong. Shalendra, are you jealous?”
“No,” she said. She smiled. “Tess feels very good.” She cuddled in more tightly. And so, the three of us lay together for about ten minutes before I said, “We should get going.”
* * * *
Mariya was waiting near my tent. As soon as I emerged into daylight, she crossed to me, offered a Ressaline greeting, then lowered herself to her knees. I leaned over and said, “I don’t want this part from you, Mariya.”
“Then it won’t happen often,” she replied. She raised her voice. “Princess Darfelsa, I am ready to return to my duties.”
“Stand up,” I told her. When she did, I looked into her eyes. “I am a poor judge if that is true, and from my own experience, I am unsure you’re any better.”
“That may be, Princess,” she agreed. “Which is why I have not left it to chance.”
That was when both Henra and Captain Alixyra stepped forward. “We have met with Sergeant Felist,” Henra said. “We judge her ready to lead us.”
“I have met with Sergeant Felist,” Alixyra said. “And I am anxious to share our combined duties with her. She is ready.”
“Then, Sergeant,” I said. “Thank you. You are authorized to return to duties as you see best, but you will also continue to operate as a member of my household. You will also determine how that applies to the remainder of your squad.”
“Thank you, Princess,” she said. “Captain Alixyra and I wish to speak with you and Princess Gionna.”
“I’ll see to breakfast and the camp,” Allium offered.
So four of us stepped to the side, and then we found seats in the wagon. “What’s up?”
“We believe,” Alixyra said, “That my team will serve as the inner guard. The Flarvorians will serve as outer guard.”
“That was how it was the last time I was here,” Gionna said. “I’m surprised Mother let me come with less fanfare.”
“A sign of trust,” I said.
“With your permission, Princess Darfelsa,” Alixyra added. “Sergeant Felist will continue to carry your primary weapon, for now, your epee. But as soon as you have chosen a new weapon for her to carry, I will assume responsibility for your epee. Between us, one of us will always be near with a weapon that is yours.”
“I thought perhaps Gionna could take my epee.”
“It may be that Princess Gionna will grow
accustomed to epee, but I actually find that unlikely,” Alixyra replied.
“I didn’t grow up learning to fence,” Gionna explained.
“We’re still learning what is best for her,” Alixyra continued. “If she chooses a weapon that she cannot carry during her daily duties, one of her guards will have it. That may be me, or it may be another.”
“I trust you to work that out,” I said.
“With your permission,” Alixyra said again, “Sergeant Felist and I feel I should join your morning practices. She has far more experience teaching the styles she is teaching both of you, but I believe the princess is going to wish to continue those lessons when we return to Charth.”
“I am,” Gionna said.
I looked at Mariya, who nodded, so I said, “Then you are quite welcome, Alixyra. I want to say this. Mariya’s rank is sergeant, and yours is captain. I have seen no disputes between the two of you. I would now like to know how you intend to work together, moving forward.”
“We have chosen to consider each other equals,” Mariya replied. “Irrespective of relative rank. She leads the close defense team; I lead the outer team. While inside Ressaline, if it is necessary to order the team as a whole, she leads. Once we cross the border, then I do.”
“She may never order me to leave Gionna,” Alixyra said. “And I may never order her to leave you. Frankly, neither of us would follow the order, but giving it would immediately break a unified team.”
“And during training?”
“She is the training master,” Alixyra said. “I am simply a gifted student and one of her aides. We feel that I have a different fighting style, however, and that gives us more variety to use in training.”
“You are aware that, once we reach Barrish, we also incorporate some of the men from the Royal Guard, the ones Mariya trusts with me.”
“I am aware, and I trust her judgment regarding Gionna’s welfare.”
“Well, well, Gionna,” I said. “It seems like your team and mine are growing as close as you and I.”
“So it would seem,” she said. “I approve wholeheartedly.”
“As do I. I would like to be kept apprised of any future developments, but I do not feel my approval is necessary, unless we are discussing adding new members to the team.”