Relief flooded their faces and she understood that Natillus knew how very improper this situation was and was grateful she was willing to accept him in lieu of the High Priest.
“Very good, Your Majesty,” he said and glanced up at Ty. “You must be the Kindred bodyguard we were told was coming. My wife and I played host and hostess to your counterpart, Commander Asher and his mate, Lady Lisa.”
“Yes, that’s me. I am Commander Ty’rial.” Ty nodded at Natillus and Lambada. “I am pleased to meet you. Can you tell me the protocol for this ritual? I need to protect my Lady and I don’t like this venue at all.” He nodded at the vast room filled with warm steam and swirling mists and frowned. “Limited visibility,” he muttered. “And anyone could be here.”
“The Holy Mists are a place of peace, warrior,” Lambada said soothingly. “Please do not worry—the Potentate will be quite safe.”
“I know she will because I’m going to make damn sure of it,” Ty growled. “But I would rather keep her in a place where I can see her and her surroundings at all times. This area isn’t good for that at all.”
“Generally during the Ritual of Humility, the Potentate makes exactly one circuit of the Holy Mists and then comes to the Mouth of Thufar to choose the candidate for her personal bathing,” Natillus said smoothly. “But we can skip the circuit if you’re worried, Commander Ty’rial, and simply go straight to the Mouth of Thufar where many people are already assembled.”
“All right.” Ty seemed to brace himself. “I still don’t like it, but it’s better than nothing. Straight there, pick a, uh, candidate, then straight back here. And I’m going to be in the purification chamber when she bathes whoever it is to be certain she’s safe.”
Natillus nodded gravely.
“If you think it necessary, you may serve as the official witness, though I or Lambada can also act in such a capacity.”
“My Kindred guard is very anxious to keep me safe, Natillus,” Ellina explained. “I think it’s better if he is my witness.”
“Very well.” He nodded. “If you would come this way, please my Potentate?”
“Of course.” And taking a deep breath, Ellina stepped into the swirling mists.
Ty still didn’t like the situation. They were in a huge room filled with strangers in extremely limited visibility. The Chorkay people seemed to appear and disappear into the heated steam that filled the immense area at will, all of them naked and completely unashamed. Ty had to content himself with walking beside and a little in front of Ellina, always no more than a hand’s breath away while Natillus and his wife Lambada covered her other side and her back.
As they walked, he kept a sharp look-out for any danger or would-be assassins but mostly all he saw was a lot of blue, naked Chorkay. The women all had three breasts and two vaginas and the men, (just as Ellina had told him) had a strange kind of corkscrew configuration at the top of their shafts, just below the head. Ty wondered if the spring-like shape made their male equipment more adapted to the purpose of being “battering rams.”
He didn’t like the idea of the equipment he was seeing between the legs of the male Chorkay going into Ellina one damn bit. But then, he admitted to himself, he wouldn’t have liked the idea of any male equipment going inside her—corkscrew, straight, curved, or any other configuration. He just didn’t like the idea of any male equipment breeding her at all.
Any equipment besides your own, you mean, whispered a little voice in the back of his head but Ty pushed it sternly away.
It went without saying that he could never breed the curvy little Potentate. He was an off-worlder and his Kindred DNA would never allow her to conceive a female heir with the Sacred Blue skin. And since the Chorkay seemed convinced that they were doomed without a female Potentate with Sacred Blue skin tones to rule them, that had to be the first consideration.
Then he wondered why he was thinking such things in the first place. He had no wish to bind himself to a female—any female—but especially one in power. For how would he ever know if his feelings for her were real, or simply the result of his altered DNA at work, urging him to find a Mistress and serve her all his life? No, he was better off single and as soon as his job was done here, he would leave.
He was almost certain of it.
At last they reached what Natillus had called “The Mouth of Thufar.” It turned out to be a vast painted carving on the ceiling—a depiction of the Chorkay’s three-eyed god with his mouth stretched wide, emitting billowing clouds of steam from its gaping maw. Every once in a while, one or two of the Chorkay people would stand directly under it and the mouth would come down in a vast stone cylinder to envelope them completely. After a moment it would rise again and they would leave and let others take their place.
Ty liked this new location even less—the visibility was considerably more limited. So he was relieved when Natillus raised his voice and said,
“People of the Chorkay, it is now time for the Ritual of Humility. The Mouth of Thufar will cease to emit steam for a moment so that all the candidates for the Potentate’s personal bathing may be seen clearly.”
At once, as though whoever was operating the vast mouth had heard him, the clouds of steam stopped billowing out and the mists began to clear.
Ty could see there was already a crowd of people waiting, clearly hoping to be picked for the private bathing by the Potentate. He was tempted to think they were all opportunistic bastards and perverts, just wanting a beautiful young female to lay her hands on them. But then he saw that the crowd wasn’t just males.
There all kinds of people—men and women, young and old, rich and poor, nobles and commoners together. Well, except for the nobles, who tended to clump together and avoid everyone else. Even though everyone was naked, Ty could tell who they were by the rich golden jewelry they were wearing, as well as the haughty looks on their faces. As Natillus led them closer to the waiting crowd, he could hear some of them murmuring together.
“Just look at her—wearing those purification garments as though they represented the truth!” one noble lady whispered to another, casting a sneering glance at Ellina.
“I know! Well, we know the truth, anyway. Remember when we came here as children and everyone wanted to know what was wrong with her?” the second noblewoman giggled. “Hennessy asked her if her missing parts had been chopped off!”
“Oh, I nearly died laughing,” the first woman murmured and put a hand over her mouth as though she was going to start laughing right then. “I know she has the Sacred Blue skin but honestly, do you really think a freak ought to be allowed to rule us all?”
Ty stole a quick glance at Ellina. But though she must have heard the unkind comments, her jaw was set and she was clearly determined to ignore them. The gossipy noblewomen, for their part, just kept on talking.
“Ugh—what if her horrid chewchie chooses one of us for her to bathe?” one whispered to the other. “I know it’s meant to be good luck to be chosen but I don’t want her nasty mutant hands on me!”
At this, Ty could stand no more. He took a step towards the gossiping, giggling women, glaring into their eyes.
“My Lady,” he said loudly to Ellina. “Shall I clear the crowd of any who dare to disrespect you? I can have some of my guards come to lock them away where they may think on their crimes and repent of their ill-chosen words if you like.”
The noblewomen went quiet at last, their mouths shut tight while their eyes grew wide. The two of them started edging towards the back of the crowd and Ty continued to glare at them until they finally melted away into the mists that still swirled in the background.
“Now, Ty—you’ll frighten away all the candidates,” Ellina whispered. But he thought her expression was lighter and her jaw was no longer clenched.
“Ahem.” Natillus cleared his throat for silence and the crowd, which had been murmuring after Ty’s words, quieted to hear him.
“Thank you, good people,” Natillus said. “The Potentate’s chewchie wil
l now choose one of you to go with her and be bathed by her own hands in this year’s Ritual of Humility. Please be perfectly still while he decides.”
The people grew quiet and suddenly Lor, Ellina’s chewchie, launched himself off her head and onto Natillus’ shoulder. From there the fluffy little creature jumped to Lambada’s head and then to the shoulder of the first male in the crowd.
Ty watched, his heart in is throat, wondering who the chewchie would choose. Don’t let it be a male, he prayed silently as he watched Lor jump from shoulder to shoulder in the crowd of people, all holding perfectly still as the chewchie searched among them. Just don’t let it be a male!
However, his prayer went unanswered. For at last, after making his way through the entire assembled crowd, Lor jumped from the head of the last person in the crowd…
And landed directly on Ty’s shoulder.
Sixteen
“This can’t be right, can it?” Lambada whispered to her husband. “Is the chewchie allowed to pick an off-worlder for the Potentate to bathe?”
“No, it’s fine—the chewchie is guided by Thufar. Whoever he chooses must be the right choice,” Natillus whispered back.
Ty could hear other people in the crowd murmuring uncertainly, as Lor sat on his shoulder and contentedly groomed himself. The fluffy chewchie weighed next to nothing—he could barely feel it sitting there. Yet he felt an immense sense of gratitude towards the little creature.
Thank you, he thought. Thank you for not choosing some random male for Ellina to bathe. He didn’t honestly know if he could have stood by while such a thing happened—while she bathed some strange male. It would have been too much for him to bear when he felt so very protective and possessive of the curvy little Potentate.
“The Potentate’s chewchie may choose whomever he deems worthy for the Potentate to bathe,” Natillus said, raising his voice to be heard above the murmuring crowd. “It is well known that he is guided by the will of Thufar himself and so cannot make a mistake.”
This seemed to satisfy the nobles, most of whom shrugged and then began to dissipate. They hadn’t wanted the honor of having the Potentate bathe them anyway. Many of the common people, however, stayed to speak to Ellina. She smiled and spoke back to them gracefully while Ty kept a watchful eye on the situation with Lor still on his shoulder.
“Thufar bless and keep Your Majesty,” old elderly woman with sagging, wrinkled blue skin was saying. “I brought my granddaughters halfway across the city to see you today, so I did.”
“Why, thank you. And how are you today?” Ellina bent to talk to the two girls, one of which seemed to be about three while the other was nearer to seven or eight cycles, as far as Ty could tell.
The youngest was shy and hid behind her grandmother’s legs but the older one came forth boldly and bowed low before Ellina.
“Thufar’s grace upon you, Your Highness,” she said in a high, sweet treble voice.
“And upon you, my dear.” Ellina smiled at her. “It’s so nice to see you here today. What’s your name?”
“I’m Tutti, Your Majesty and I wanted to bring you some flowers but you’re not supposed to bring anything into the Holy Mists and besides, the steam would make them wilt,” the little girl told her in a breathless rush. “My grandmum grows the biggest, prettiest orange and pink yalla blooms in all the world! When I see you at the Grand Promenade, I’ll bring you some then, though. I promise!”
“Will you now? I’ll look forward to that.” Ellina smiled at her and the girl smiled shyly back.
“You’re really pretty, Potentate,” she said. “I hope when I grow up, I look just like you!”
For some reason, this seemed to make Ellina sad. Or at least, her smile seemed to falter a bit though she nodded to the little girl and said,
“Why thank you, Tutti. That’s the nicest thing anyone has said to me all day.”
It was clear the eager little girl would have been happy to stay and chat all day, but Ty gave Natillus a pointed look. With a nod, Natillus started wrapping things up.
“Well now, it’s time to go and perform the private bathing,” he said loudly. “Is Your Majesty ready to go?”
“I suppose.” Ellina nodded once more at the little girl and cast a quick glance at Ty. He saw her nibble her lush lower lip—that habit she had when she was uncertain or embarrassed—and wondered if she was happy or displeased that her chewchie had chosen him. And what exactly did the bathing entail? Would she use a sponge or washcloth on him…or simply her bare hands?
The thought of those slim fingers sliding all over his body made him shiver with desire and he felt his shaft begin to rise, though he tried not to let it. Goddess, what exactly were they about to do together?
He supposed he would soon find out.
Ellina couldn’t believe the choice Lor had made.
Not that she was upset—she had been dreading this first Ritual of Humility almost from the moment of her coronation. It seemed so awkward—the idea of washing and oiling a perfect stranger during the private purification ceremony.
Her grandmother had always considered this a sacred rite and lectured her about how it showed that she was willing to serve her people. Ellina, of course, was very willing to serve them—just a little less willing to put her hands on the naked bodies of strangers.
But the big Kindred wasn’t a stranger, she thought with great relief as Natillus and Lambada led them away from the slowly dispersing crowd. He was a friend—a trusted confidant. She could trust him to protect her and keep her safe—what more could she want from a bodyguard?
Bodyguard with the emphasis on body ,whispered a little voice in her head. A body you’re shortly going to be rubbing all over as you cleanse and purify him with the holy foam and consecrated oils.
But would he want her to rub him all over—to touch him at all—when he saw the truth of what lay beneath her purification garments? Ellina wished she could hide behind them just a bit longer, but they must be removed once the ceremony moved into the private purification chamber—anything else would be considered blasphemy.
Her heart was pounding in her throat as Natillus led them back to her private purification chamber and opened the golden door with a sweeping gesture.
“Your Majesty,” he said with a low bow. “You may enter and perform the second part of the Ritual of Humility. Would you like myself or my wife to serve as your witness?”
“I…” Ellina licked lips that were much too dry before she could continue. “I don’t think that will be necessary. Thank you, Natillus,” she said at last. “Ty—I mean Commander Ty’rial and myself—will go into the chamber and perform the rest of the ritual alone.”
“As you wish, Your Highness. And thank you for allowing us to serve you today.” Natillus and Lambada both bowed low as Ty and Ellina entered her private purification chamber. It was a small room, the walls and floor covered in creamy ivory tiles. In the center of the floor was a drain and there were three separate golden faucets above three golden knobs on the far wall. It was, Ty thought, rather like a large walk-in shower.
And as the golden door closed behind them he raised his eyebrows at Ellina.
“Well? What now?”
Seventeen
“Now, this.” Ellina had a determined look on her face as she began to peel off the skin-tight purification garments with the strange printing of genitals on them.
“Ellina…” Ty put up a hand to stop her. “You don’t have to—”
“Yes, I do,” she said grimly. “It’s part of the ritual. Besides, you need to see who I really am before you decide if you want to let me do this—let me bathe you.”
Ty wanted to protest that he knew who she really was but he stopped in surprise, staring at what was being revealed.
As the top of her garments peeled up and away, he saw that Ellina had only two breasts—just the two. The middle one was gone—or else, it never had been there in the first place. Instead, there were simply two, rounded globes with tight n
ipples which reminded him of ripe fruit.
Even stranger was what he saw when she peeled down the bottom of the suit.
For she only had one pussy—One sacred mouth, he corrected himself—since that was what they called it here. It was located between her legs in the normal position—well, what he had come to think of as normal anyway—and the space above it, just below her belly button was bare.
“There…you see?” Ellina asked in a trembling voice. She spread her arms in a gesture of self-display, as though she wanted him to know the truth about her.
“I see that you’re beautiful,” Ty told her honestly. “With or without your clothes.”
She bit her lip. “You’re just saying that. I have no third breast—no second sacred mouth. I am deformed…a freak, just like they all said.”
“No, you’re not!” Ty said immediately and forcefully. “Whoever said that is an ass. Who was it—those snotty nobles who have nothing better to do than gossip all day?”
“They might gossip all day but they’re right about me,” Ellina said in a low voice. “I’m lacking in some very important areas.”
“You look perfect to me,” Ty said softly.
“You’re only trying to make me feel better,” she accused.
Ty frowned. “Are you saying I’m lying to you, Ellina? Are you accusing me of being untruthful?”
“No, I… I don’t know.” She bit her lip, clearly not wanting to call him a liar, but still unable to believe his words.
“Look at me,” Ty told her. But when she looked up into his eyes, he shook his head. “No—look down. Look at my shaft.”
Ellina looked down at him uncertainly. What she saw made her eyes grow wide.
“You’re so big!” she murmured, shaking her head.
“And so hard,” Ty told her. “And do you know why? The sight of you completely naked has me throbbing, Ellina. I’m so fucking hard I ache and it’s because of you—because you’re so beautiful, little one.”
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