by Robin Roseau
“Oh,” she said. “I’ll let you win.”
“Uh, huh,” I said.
“Fine. If you win, it’s until we’re headed to Charth, with a fresh challenge under terms that give me an advantage. If I win, it’s overnight, and we’ll come back again tomorrow and give you a second chance. I’ll do my best, but I want you to win. I’m sure Olivia can make that happen.”
“Of course, I can,” Olivia replied. “You can safely accept, Darfelsa.”
“All right, but we should address these four.”
“They don’t have the experience I have,” Valsine said. “Much less Bee or Dee. I think I should lose to Allium, and they should each offer a challenge to someone from her staff, with the agreement I help teach them after they lose.”
“That was sort of our plan,” Renishta declared.
And so, that was our plan. It took the afternoon, but soon we had completed those challenges.
Mine with Shalendra was decidedly one-sided. Olivia made it a grappling challenge, and I won that part easily. I then took my time while remaining out of the resin, and Shalendra crashed hard, mewing her pleasure as she did so.
She became entirely lost to the experience, and I needed help getting her to the Tebradine inn, but she became awake enough there to kiss me. “I love you, Darfelsa.”
“I love you, too, Sha-shi. Your cuddle lessons with Valsine begin tomorrow morning, but this afternoon and tonight, you serve my pleasure.”
She grinned and needed no more encouragement. I let her undress me, and then she surprised me. She led me to the bed, but she then took her time, offering slow, sweet, simple pleasures, letting them build. I thought she would be lost to her own passions, but she was remarkably controlled.
I loved being touched by resin-coated hands, and she found the things I liked, murmuring quietly as she soothed me.
When she rolled me onto my stomach, I let her, and then she stroked and touched, mostly innocently, but then leaned over me. “In bed, even when I am your slave, you are still mine, Darfelsa.”
“Okay,” I whispered.
“Tell me I may do anything I want to you, or make you do anything I want you to do.”
I giggled and repeated that.
She went back to touching, soothing, stroking, but eventually moving me onto my knees. And she took me that way, like she had before, but this time, she was wearing the resin, and I learned how much I deeply enjoyed being taken like that as she brushed her hands, her entire body against me.
I lay quivering for a long, long time afterwards.
And then she took her own pleasures, and shared more with me. At one point, she used my own hand while whispering the most delightful things to me. I came hard, and it was while I was still panting in my recovery that she took that same hand and began using it to pleasure herself.
When I tried to be more active, she told me, “Let me do this my way.”
I was in too much of my own bliss to argue with her. And so she used my hand to tease herself, but then she climbed atop me, lowering herself to me.
* * * *
Valsine talked to the new pleasure slaves, and then she orchestrated moving them around. She assigned Tess to Tenisi, Renishta to Ara, and herself to Laerdya. The others were assigned to some of the women who had come from Barrish with her. But of course, that rotated as well.
I watched all of this, and I saw the new women, previously nervous, begin to relax as they held a warm, lovely slave while heading east through northern Flarvor.
That night, Tenisi, Ara, and Laerdya came to me. “When do we get our turn?”
“Probably when we reach Charth,” I said. “You won’t be as functional your first time, so it’s different.”
“They’re so happy,” Ara said. “They’re so very happy.”
“And she feels amazing to hold,” Laerdya added. “I don’t know what it is, but it’s like all my cares go away, just from holding her. I remember Valsine. I never in my life would have expected this of her.”
“You’ll get a chance to hold the others, too,” I said. “And I’ll be interested to hear how you feel about them.”
“I don’t know if it’s the same,” said Ara. “But I could say the same things about holding Renishta.”
“You’ll get more chances,” I said. “But do you understand what we’re trying to do here?”
“They have open farmland, and we’re encouraging people to move north,” Ara said. “Why didn’t we recruit in Sharden?”
“We didn’t think the women of Sharden would be as comfortable with the weather,” I explained. “I need the three of you to appear very, very comfortable as we travel through the villages.”
“That would be easier if you let me keep Valsine,” Laerdya said with a grin.
“Cute,” I replied.
“Just overnight?” she asked. I knew she was teasing.
I smiled. “You know, the rules on the other side of the river are quite different.”
“The women in odd, red clothing suggests that’s true,” Ara said.
“Tenisi, how do you feel about this conversation?”
“I wouldn’t mind holding Tess all night,” she replied.
“Well then, here’s something to consider. Go find Lisolte. Offer yourself to her, or ask for her help offering yourself to someone else for the night. Tell her it was my idea, but if you do it, then you’re stuck with whatever she decides for you.”
“She’s the one with the red hair.”
“Yes,” I said. “And she’s as sweet a woman as you can imagine.”
“You know what?” she said. “I’m going to do just that.”
I smiled after her, then turned to Ara and Laerdya. “Neither of you need me to tell you what to do.”
“She’s right,” Ara said. “Race you, old lady.”
“Who are you calling old?”
I smiled as they ran off. And then Shalendra wrapped her resin-coated arms around me. “I love you, Princess Darfelsa. Tell me you’re mine.”
I turned to her. “I am entirely yours.”
“Good.”
* * * *
We passed through a dozen villages over two weeks, causing quite a sensation. It was unlikely any of these people had ever seen a member of my family, and so by myself, I gathered attention.
But these people recognized women from Ressaline, and most of them knew of conditions north of the border. They may never have seen a pleasure slave, or any slave at all, although I thought it likely some had. We treated each village identically, and so I’ll describe our interactions in a little village called Keafina.
Keafina sat on the south bank of the Verlies river. It wasn’t necessarily notable for any particular reason, but it was along our path, and so, we stopped.
I rode mounted. I would have liked to have my arms around Shalendra, but that day, she was riding with a talented silversmith from Barrish. From looking at their serene expressions, I couldn’t tell which of them was happier with the situation. But imagine, if you can, our troop.
Most notable was my coach, which I wasn’t actually using. But we were keeping it bright and shiny, and no one would mistake us for ordinary with a coach like that along.
The next most notable feature were our guards. We had my Royal Guards in their uniforms and Gionna’s honor guard. And while these villages had probably seen large troops of mounted soldiers, this was probably the first time they’d seen one consisting all of women.
Our next most notable feature would be the slaves in their bright red resin clothing. Really, when I think about it, in spite of my finery, I probably was barely an afterthought when it took to drawing attention.
And so, nigh on thirty people rode into the village. From the fields, we drew some attention, although I didn’t notice anyone follow after us. We would draw more attention when it became evident we intended to stay a bit.
The village wasn’t much. There was a central well, a simple pump handle in the center of a circle of stone pav
ers in the center of the village. There was a building that was clearly the smithy – not all villages had one – with a modest house beside it, presumably for the smith and his family. The smithy had a small stable, probably with no more than two stalls, from the size, and a paddock, currently empty. There were two other houses, both quite modest. And, of course, there were more in the surrounding farms.
And there were three children playing, who stopped and stared at us.
We dismounted and looked around. Someone saw to my mount; I didn’t worry about it. There was no public house, although there might be at other villages. I didn’t see a schoolhouse, either, but that didn’t mean the children didn’t attend school. It could be they went to a neighboring village, or perhaps one of these homes housed a teacher.
But then I stepped over to look at the children, staring at me. I knelt down. And then I waited.
There were two boys and a girl; the girl looked to be the eldest, but it was the two boys who pointed and then nudged one another. And they weren’t pointing at me.
But then the girl stopped her two playmates, shaking her head, and while I couldn't quite hear her, I thought perhaps she said something like “boys” in just that tone. We all know that tone.
She stopped perhaps a dozen steps from me, the two boys now crowding behind her. “Who are they?”
“Do you mean the women in red?”
“Yes. Who else would I mean?”
“Well, perhaps you meant the women in leather.”
“Those are Ressalines,” she said.
“They are,” I said. “The women in red are some of their slaves.”
“Slavery isn’t legal.”
“The world is a complicated place,” I offered. I smiled and held out my hand. “My name is Princess Darfelsa.”
“It is not!” she said hastily. “You shouldn’t say something like that.” Behind me, I heard a snicker or two, but I chose to ignore it.
“I wouldn’t lie to you,” I said. “Do you see those women wearing uniforms?” She looked over at my guards and nodded. “Is there one with two swords standing closest to me?” She nodded again. “Her name is Captain Felist. She’s in charge of those guards, and if I lied when I said I was Princess Darfelsa, she would order those women to catch me and string me up from my thumbs!” I held my hands in the air like I was dangling.
“She would?”
“Well, she might not do it from my thumbs. Maybe she’d hang me by my ankles. What do you think?”
She eyed Mariya “Is that true?” she called out.
“Quite true,” Mariya confirmed. “Being hung by your thumbs is quite uncomfortable.”
“So,” I said. “That’s my name. What’s yours?”
“I’m Ynaselle,” she said. “That’s Lyklor and Folre.”
“Well, I’m pleased to meet all three of you,” I said. Then I held up three small, silver coins. They weren’t much, only a quarter crown each, but to these children, it would be a fortune. “How would you each like one of these?”
“Really?”
“Really,” I confirmed. “Here’s what I want you to do. I want you to run around and tell people that Princess Darfelsa is here. Where do you live?” They each pointed in different directions. “Then you should each run home,” I said. “And tell your families. Show your mommy or daddy this coin, and tell them you have to tell your neighbors I’m here. Can you do that?”
They each nodded, so I held out the coins. Ynaselle took them and passed them out, but she cocked her head. “You’re really the princess?”
“I am,” I said. “But it’s even better.” I pointed. “Do you see her?”
“The Ressaline woman?”
“That’s the one. That is Princess Gionna. She is Queen Lisdee’s daughter. So there are really two princesses here.”
“She doesn’t look like a princess.”
“I think she looks pretty fabulous in her leather,” I replied. “But she looks a lot better when she dresses like she’s from Barrish.”
“She does?”
“Even she admits it,” I said. “But her leather is better for riding on a lovely day like this. Now you each made a promise to me. Run home and tell your families I’m here. Say my name.”
“Princess Darfelsa,” said the girl. Then she nudged the boys, who repeated it.
“Run home,” I said. “We’ll still be here when you come back.”
They each took off.
* * * *
I imagine the children weren’t believed, but people were sufficiently curious that a few rode into town. In the meantime, Allium stepped over to the smithy, and after a moment, she returned with a man in a leather apron, a younger man trailing behind them. He stopped and stared when he saw all the people just outside his place of business, but with gestures from Allium, he stepped over to me, staring.
I smiled. “We were hoping to stay the night. I wouldn’t suppose there’s a fallow field we could occupy?”
“Not mine to offer,” he said. He cocked his head, looking at me, then eyeing everyone else. “You’re all women,” he observed.
“That we are,” I agreed.
He gestured with his nose. “Pretty uniforms.”
I glanced to be sure then said, “Royal Guard. You won’t be able to tell the difference, but some of the women in leather are Ressaline Royal Guards.” I smiled. “Are you curious?”
“Maybe I am.”
“I am Her Highness, Princess Darfelsa,” I said. “And she’s Princess Gionna of Ressaline. The woman she’s talking to is Lady Olivia, Duchess of Charthan. And you met Lady Ambassador Allium Cuprite, my father’s ambassador to Ressaline.”
“You’re lost, Princess,” he said. “Ressaline is on the north side of the river.”
I held out my hand. “And you are, Mr. Smith?”
He looked at his hand, presumably to see if it was too dirty to touch mine, then we clasped. “Eroan Olaro,” he replied. “Begging your pardon, Your Highness, but what are you doing in Keafina?”
“Meeting people.”
“Meeting people,” he echoed.
“Yes. We hope to spend the night here. There were children playing here. I sent them home to tell their parents about us.”
“I imagine you’ll cause a stir,” he replied.
“I imagine you’re right, Mr. Olaro. Do you think you could give Princess Gionna and me a tour of your smithy?”
“It’s nothing special.”
“I’d like to see it, if you don’t mind.”
“Don’t mind,” he agreed. He turned and began walking. I called Gionna’s name and then hurried to catch up to the smith. My guards spread themselves about, which Mr. Olaro noticed, but he didn’t comment.
Gionna caught up to me, and I said, “I thought a tour of the smithy might be interesting.”
“I’ve never seen a smithy on this side of the river,” she replied. “I wonder if they’re the same as ours.”
“She talks funny,” said the smith.
“Princess Gionna, this is Eroan Olaro.”
“I am pleased to meet you, Mr. Olaro,” Gionna replied. “I imagine my accent is unusual to you.”
“Do you speak different words up in Ressaline? The few we get all speak normal, or normal enough.”
“No,” Gionna replied. “We just pronounce the words a little differently. When we write, it’s exactly the same.”
“It’s because Ressaline City is so cold,” I explained. “They’re afraid to open their mouths.”
“It is not!” Gionna said. Then she cocked her head. “Or maybe it is. I’ve never thought about that. And you two are the ones who speak oddly.”
“Not on this side of the river,” I said.
Our tour didn’t take long. The fire wasn’t burning, and Gionna asked about that.
“I was polishing,” he said. He gestured to a table with several tools laid out along with rags and what I knew was polishing paste.
“Do you get sufficient work, Mr. Olar
o?” I asked.
“I wouldn’t, but I’m also the farrier,” he said. “If your mounts need attention, you can put them in the paddock.”
“I’ll tell Captain Felist,” I replied. “But we checked them yesterday.”
“You don’t have an apprentice?” Gionna asked. “Or children?”
“They’re plowing,” he said. “My wife’s brother died, and my family helps her parents.”
It wasn’t a lengthy tour, but by the time we stepped back out, some of the villagers had appeared. We accepted more invitations, and Olivia said, “I have secured the offer of a field, and a barn for a dance.”
Gionna and I both spoke to people. More people arrived, and a few more. The slaves took attention, too, and I saw a few touching an arm.
But then I announced, “We’re going to set up our camp, but anyone who wishes to talk to us is free to visit. We’d like to buy food, if you have some to spare, and we’d like to host a little festival dinner. There will be a dance afterwards, but that will be only for the women.”
“Only women?” someone asked. “Who will you dance with?”
“Each other,” I said. And then I grabbed Gionna’s arm, pulled her to me, and danced a few steps around the well. “Maybe people will come,” I said. “If you have concerns you wish to talk to me about, we can do that. If you just want to gawk at the slaves, you can do that.”
I let Mariya handle the details of moving us. It wasn’t a long ride, the field was actually visible from the well, if one straightened in the saddle, and it was right behind the barn we were to use for our dance.
Everyone had their jobs. We had an open-sided pavilion that went up quickly, and then a table and handful of chairs set out, the only furniture we’d brought on our wagon. Allium led a team to ensure the barn was sufficient for the needs of a dance, and others set up our other tents.
Gionna and I sat, and when Shalendra and Ahm brought us tea, we accepted, then kept them close.
Some of the villagers did come, about half who had met us in the village followed us, and others would come back later. They sold us the food we would need for the festival tonight.