Claimed by the General

by Sara Fields

  She quickly glanced in Lord Eiotan’s direction, nervous he would be angry that she said something, but she felt as though she had defused something that could have turned into something much worse. He met her eyes with a smile, a sense of pride shining through his gaze.

  “It will indeed be a wonderful evening,” Lord Eiotan said, as the table quickly finished their desserts, anxious to be free of this difficult situation. Servants cleared the table and the other nobles eating with them began to excuse themselves for the evening.

  Finally, only Ayala, Lord Eiotan, Moctezuma, and Cortés were left at the table. Moctezuma drained what remained in his glass of wine.

  “Well, I trust Lord Eiotan to care for you his evening, Lord Cortés. We will meet tomorrow for lunch, and much more wine,” Moctezuma said, while raising his glass to Cortés.

  “Hear, hear!” Cortés said gruffly, draining his glass as well. He looked expectantly at Lord Eiotan, who rose from the table.

  “Come, Cortés. Let me show you some of the great wonders Tenochtitlan has to offer!”

  The three of them left the room together and were guided out by other servants of the palace into the streets. The sky was beginning to darken, alive with the yellows, oranges, and vivid reds of the setting sun.

  Chapter Eight

  Despite Ayala and Lord Eiotan having been very nervous about spending the evening with Cortés, he seemed to be on his very best behavior. They brought him to the most beautiful temples in the city, climbing the stairs and allowing him to see priests in worship and the views of the quickly disappearing sunset. He seemed thoroughly impressed at the massive buildings constructed of white stone, looked genuinely interested as he inquired to their construction, and listened intently as Lord Eiotan or Ayala explained.

  After touring the temples, Lord Eiotan led Cortés to the armory, careful not to let on to the size or power of the Aztec army. He simply educated Cortés in some of the developments of new weapons, but strategically left out important details in either the construction or use of each one. He was very careful in the choice of his words.

  Cortés ran his hands across a bow and asked what kind of wood it was.

  “That one right there is from a young maple. It’s a hard wood that holds much power when an arrow is released from its string,” Lord Eiotan said.

  The tour of the armory went very smoothly, and Cortés seemed genuinely impressed. Ayala didn’t sense any more dangerous intent from him, and was beginning to enjoy herself. There was much about the city she was learning as well, since she had seen little of it during her time as a servant in the fields.

  “Now, Lord Cortés, unfortunately, the markets are closed at this time of day. But, if there isn’t anything else in the city you would like to see, I would like to show the side of Tenochtitlan that few non-locals ever get to see,” Lord Eiotan said, a sultry smirk taking over his face.

  “I think I would like that,” Cortés grinned.

  “Then let me take you to our famous House of Pleasure. There you may even find the woman of your dreams,” Lord Eiotan responded, excitement clear in his voice.

  Ayala gasped. She had heard whispers amongst her fellow slaves about this place, but had done her best not to pay attention to them. Regardless, the rumors had been that many women were constantly hand-picked for this place. She had worked hard to remain unnoticed, and focused on the jobs she was assigned. She had kept her clothes loose and ill-fitting, as to hide her womanly curves that quickly developed as she got older. Now Lord Eiotan was going to take her there?

  She tried hard to school her panicked face before Cortés saw it, but quickly realized she was moments too late. Cortés looked at her with a hunger that chilled her to the bone. She quickly looked away and grabbed Lord Eiotan’s hand, trying to appear excited about where he was taking them.

  He led them through the city, taking a few turns through dark alleys, until he came upon a place lit up with a soft red light. Gauzy semi-sheer red curtains were hung in the windows, with candlelight glimmering behind them, creating a warm and sensual environment. Lord Eiotan was welcomed into the foyer by women in sheer red garments that accentuated their busts, as well as their hips. Red bralettes draped across their breasts, and short skirts hugged around their womanly curves. The women all had bare stomachs, as well as bare and very long legs.

  The candlelight lit up the room enough so that Ayala could see straight through the sheer fabric. When one of the women turned around, she could see every round curve of her buttocks. Another woman had lush, full breasts, with small pink nipples straining underneath the fabric of her outfit. Ayala’s eyes traveled down her flat stomach to the juncture of her thighs. Neat trim hair was nestled there, clearly visible through the gauzy red fabric. She saw Lord Eiotan’s hands sweep across one of the girl’s breasts and he squeezed her nipples. She squeaked and giggled, playfully slapping his hands away.

  He clearly knew these women, she realized. And he knew them well. Her eyes narrowed, a strange anger beginning to simmer from deep within her.

  Lord Eiotan and Cortés began to chat with the women, and the three of them were ushered deeper into the building. Lord Eiotan sauntered in with a strange familiarity, as Lord Cortés followed, his eyes wide with wonder, trying to take in as much as possible.

  Music made its way to Ayala’s ears. Drumbeats flowed into her, matching her heartbeat as it began to quicken. They came into a large room, draped with much finery. Beds and pillows were strewn about. Men and women cuddled together. Some women were dancing for the men with the beat, and their hands were wandering all over each other—between each other’s legs, all over each other’s bottoms, and playing with each other’s breasts.

  A woman was even tied up with soft silks to one of the bedposts while a man was kissing and fondling her breasts. Another woman sat atop a man, riding him in the most hedonistic fashion. The look of utter joy that passed over her face was intoxicating. The place was absolutely wanton. Ayala swallowed nervously and turned her eyes back to Lord Eiotan, watching him.

  The two men were led to a small sitting area adorned with pillows. They took a seat and were offered goblets of wine, which both men gladly took. A third goblet was brought for her, and she gulped much of it rather quickly.

  Two gorgeous dark-haired, very tan women made their way to Cortés and Lord Eiotan. Ayala drank the rest of her delicious red wine, and was brought another goblet. The women began to dance for them, twirling silk scarves about their bodies as they twirled their hips, dragging their fingers across their bellies and hips. The two men watched with interest as they turned around and bent over, allowing the men to get full views of their perfectly shaped backsides while they continued to dance to the music.

  The women began to touch each other for the men’s amusement. They kissed each other, and their bodies melded together, grinding each other. One of the women began to moan.

  Cortés could hardly contain himself and pulled the women onto his lap. Her hands began to wander and the women responded quickly to him, melting into his touch.

  Lord Eiotan whispered into Cortés’ ear.

  “This is my gift to you. Enjoy both women here however you wish. They are here strictly for your pleasure.”

  The wine began to course through Ayala’s veins and her anger began to take over. She didn’t want to see anymore. When Lord Eiotan was distracted, she quickly got up and made her way out of the House of Pleasure. She couldn’t stand to see the other women touching him, or even worse, him touching them when all she wanted was for him to touch her.

  She wandered through the streets, thinking little. She ended up in the market and made her way toward the place she knew best, the maize fields. The night was silent as she walked through the plants, touching them, feeling the life within the leaves. Finally she stopped walking as she heard sounds in the distance. Footsteps sounded behind her. She was not alone.

  She paused, her heart hammering in her throat, and looked behind her. A man was waiting, wat
ching. Her eyes opened wide when she realized she recognized the face.

  A black ponytail adorned his head, and heavy gold jewelry pierced through his nose. He was strong, big muscles popping out of the sleeves of his shirt. It was the man who had attempted to hurt that slave girl in the fields; the day Lord Eiotan had rescued her. He did not look happy to see her, and his face darkened as recognition crossed his features.

  “You… you’re that little bitch. Thought you were safe from me, huh? Do you know the whipping I received because of your little stunt?” He paused. “I think you should be made to feel the humiliation that I felt. Bitches like you should be punished. And I think I’m just the man for the job.”

  Ayala turned to run, but the man had already grabbed her arm and swung her toward him. He tore at her dress, ripping the ties and baring her chest to him. He roughly grabbed a bare nipple and squeezed hard. Ayala cried out, shock from the pain quickly racing through her body. He tore her dress further, and suddenly, she was standing naked before him. She quivered in fear, trying to fight back, kicking and screaming as he forced her down on her belly. She yelled out when she saw him unclasp and pull off his belt, looping and preparing to bring it down on her ass.

  Ayala closed her eyes and waited, all the while sobbing and yelling for help. She waited and waited, but the blow never came. She slowly opened her eyes and saw someone else behind the man holding the belt.

  The man looked back.

  “Lord Eiotan!” the man exclaimed, panic rising in his voice.

  “This is the second time I have caught you hurting my property. Put down the belt before I decide to sentence you to death, right now, slave,” Lord Eiotan said, emphasizing the word slave, almost spitting with hatred and disgust.

  The big man quickly lost his anger, quaking at the noble’s fury. He dropped the belt to the ground like it was on fire, and bowed deeply to his owner on his hands and knees in the dirt. He waited silently for judgment.

  “You are to be whipped and sold at the next slave auction. Your disobedience will be made known and the highest bidder will determine your fate. Is that clear?”

  The man wailed in response.

  “Please, sir, please, have mercy.”

  Lord Eiotan moved toward Ayala, draping her torn dress around her tiny frame. He helped her trembling body to stand and hugged her to him. A small crowd of slavers had heard the ruckus and joined them.

  “Take him to the cells and prepare him for auction. See that he is given a proper whipping. He will be taught his place in this city, once and for all. I do not want to see him again, is that clear?” Lord Eiotan commanded, fury dripping from his every pore.

  The slavers grabbed the man and dragged him away. Ayala and Lord Eiotan were left alone. He didn’t say a word and silently led her out of the fields and back to his home. His breathing calmed during the walk, but she could tell he was still very angry.

  When they finally walked into the door, he stood there for a moment, just observing her tousled hair and ripped dress. He ran a tired hand down his face, and his features hardened with anger as he began to speak.

  “Ayala. I can’t even think of how to begin. I am so disappointed and angry at your behavior, I cannot even fathom laying a hand on you tonight, for it would result in my taking my anger out on your very deserving backside.”

  He paused, and watched as Ayala trembled before him, afraid to meet his eyes.

  “First of all, you endangered yourself by not telling me where you were going and leaving of your own accord. Second, you put me in the awkward situation of having to leave Cortés unattended. I want you to go to your room and go to bed. I will punish you tomorrow and give you time to think about what you would like to say to me.”

  Ayala nodded, fully realizing how much of a mistake she had made tonight. Lord Eiotan was extremely angry with her, like never before. She gulped and stood still, staring at the floor.

  “Go” he commanded, pointing down the hall. She quickly scrambled away into her room and quietly closed the door behind her. She stood against it and breathed a heavy sigh of relief. As she let go of the tattered remains of her dress, she slid down to a seat against the door and hugged her knees to her chest.

  A gentle silent sob wracked her body as waves of emotions stormed through her. When her cries finally subsided, she rose and walked into the closet. She numbly put on a nightgown and crawled into bed.

  Exhaustion overtook her, and she fell right asleep, despite knowing she was probably going to get the spanking of her life over Lord Eiotan’s knee sometime tomorrow.

  Chapter Nine

  Ayala awoke to a bright room as the sun had already risen, and light was streaming into her window. It was much later than she usually slept. She groggily opened and closed her eyes, yawning in the process. She climbed out of her comfy bed and washed her face, rinsing out her mouth with the glass of water on the table next to her washbasin.

  Memories of last night slowly came to her and she groaned, remembering leaving Lord Eiotan in the House of Pleasure, and the attack from that man last night. She remembered how angry he was at her disobedience and shivered, glancing at the hairbrush and paddle on her nightstand. Making her way over to them, she picked up the hairbrush and felt its weight in her hands. Its heavy solid wood would soon be smacking her bottom, teaching her a lesson in obedience. Ayala brushed her hair with it till it shone, then held it to her breast. Reluctantly, she picked up the paddle as well, took a deep breath, and walked out of her room.

  She walked down the hall to see Lord Eiotan, sitting at the table and waiting, staring at his clasped hands. Hearing movement, he looked up at her, sternness passing over his features. He said nothing.

  Ayala slowly walked over to him and knelt before him. She lifted her hands, offered the implements to him, and waited.

  Lord Eiotan watched her showcasing her submission and acceptance of her coming punishment. She flinched as he took her into his arms, cradling her onto his lap, hugging her small frame to his large one. Eiotan held her close, running his fingers up and down her back.

  Ayala had known that he couldn’t stand to see her hurt. It was his job to protect her, to make sure that no one ever hurt her, but she had put herself in a bad situation. It was his job to teach her. As much as she just wanted to be held forever, she knew he was going to punish her, and that he had to follow through with that promise.

  He straightened and took the two implements into his hands. Both fearful and accepting of what was to come, she met his eyes,

  A sense of calm came over Ayala. No matter how much trouble she caused, she was always safe in his arms. She trusted him not to hurt her, knew he wouldn’t ever. He helped her up off his lap and had her stand up. He also rose, and took one of her hands.

  “Come. It is time for me to punish you for your bad behavior, young lady.”

  “Yes, sir,” she said slowly, accepting that she was about to get a spanking.

  He led her down the hallway, and not into her room as she expected. He led her into the room at the end of the hall, his bedroom.

  A massive four-poster bed stood in the middle on the room, draped in heavy red and black fabrics and many pillows. The walls were made out of many different types of grayish stones, giving the room a castle-like feel. He led her to the bed and carefully stacked three large pillows in the center of it.

  He turned back toward her, and bent down to lift her nightdress over her head. As the chilly air caressed her now bare breasts, her nipples peaked and she shivered. When Lord Eiotan grasped the waistband of her panties, she gasped. Slowly, he dragged them down her legs, leaving her completely naked.

  He stood up to meet her eyes, making her fully aware of her nakedness, and the fact that he was fully clothed.

  “Tell me why you need to be punished, Ayala,” he commanded, waiting expectantly.

  “Sir… I…” she began, then stopped, unsure of what to say.

  “Now, Ayala. Don’t make this harder than it needs to be,”
he said as he placed the paddle and hairbrush on the bed. Ayala gulped down some air, and began to answer him, knowing deep within herself, she needed this punishment. She needed to make things right. With courage, she began again.

  “Sir, I’ve misbehaved and should be punished for it. I drank too much wine, and acted out of anger. I left your side without permission, and left the establishment alone. I left you alone with Cortés, whom you had to leave in order to find me. I put myself in danger, which resulted in that man’s attack. I’m terribly sorry, sir.” She hung her head.

  Lord Eiotan was silent. Then, “Why were you angry, Ayala?”

  She blushed. “Please, sir…”

  “Don’t make me repeat myself.”

  “I… I saw you with those other girls. Them touching you, and you touching them. They knew you, and it made me angry… jealous. I didn’t know what to do, and I did the wrong thing.”

  “Kneel,” he ordered, and she immediately complied, keeping her eyes on the floor and waited, her breath coming heavy.

  “I want you to unclasp my belt, take it off, hand it to me, and I want you to ask me to punish you with it. Is that clear?”

  Her breath hitched as she answered a soft, “Yes, sir.”

  Her hands rose without thought to undo the clasp of his heavy thick leather belt. After she did so, she slowly pulled it out through the loops of his pants. Once it was free in her hands, she doubled it and held it up to him.