“Yes, of course, Your Grace.” Sasha took one last look at her ladies, family, and friends, pushing back the tears at seeing them in such a state. She turned, with Trent and Vickie, and started towards the transport tubes, entourage of guards and servants in tow.
It was good to be home.
*********
The Grand Duke and Duchess's entourage exited the tube transport and made its way to the servant apartments onboard the ABF Sasha. Til'Ma followed closely with the rest of the servants, her mind wandering while contemplating the change that had occurred within her lady since her return; the Lady Vickie. Her behavior was unexpected, so completely unlike the lady she'd served for the past eight years, and though Til'Ma knew something awful had befallen her, it still didn't explain why she was silent and would not even acknowledge Til'Ma's presence. Though Til'Ma had a growing suspicion, having seen her lady like this once before.
When Lady Vickie had, over a year previous, first learned of her chosen husband, Sir Simwa, and his rather sick sexual appetite that made even Til'Ma squirm, she had buried her inner-self behind a thick wall of indifference. Rarely would she leave her apartments on the Planet Dwa, capital of the Dwa Mark, where Simwa's father ruled, and Til'Ma was forced to try everything in her power to release her lady from her uncharacteristic melancholy. But it was an accidental discovery that had allowed her to find the cure to what ailed her.
Vickie may seem a lecherous creature to those who do not know her well, even those who she has allowed into her closest confidence. But Til'Ma knew differently. Her casual sex with many different partners was done because it was expected of a paramour to become experienced, able to provide their future lovers an acceptable amount of pleasure. More recently, since she had fled Hulk'Zif and the most vile of the paramour behaviors, she'd continued the encounters because of the need for information gathering, acting more a romantic, and most importantly, as a way to turn the eyes of dangerous men away from those she cared about most. No emotional bonds or lingering attachments were ever born of such encounters. But deep inside, Vickie was very tender and sweet, with an innocence Til'Ma knew most wouldn't expect from her always mature and sensual demeanor. So when she was hurt by the man she planned on allowing into her inner sanctum, she'd fallen into a deep despair. Til'Ma spent more and more time with her lady, becoming closer than any, trying to understand the difference between the outside and the in. Until one day, she stumbled across it.
It was love.
The memories of their first night together made her blush. She never knew she could be attracted to another woman, and found that it seemed to only be the case with Lady Vickie, still finding herself drawn to the opposite sex. But that single night together brought out the lovely flower that was hidden within Vickie's soul, which Til'Ma watered until she returned to her normal, lecherous self. Of course, Til'Ma knew their love was different, that of extremely close friends that were able to share intimacies that were normally reserved for lovers. So when she realized Vickie had fallen in love with Sir Georigi, she'd been beyond glad, knowing that even with their different upbringings and values, they would be perfect for each other.
But something terrible had happened.
She knew Sir Georigi still lived, Til'Ma having been accessing the local common news services and watching the broadcasts announcing his rescue. Though it made little sense; why would he stay behind and let Vickie leave by herself? She wondered if it had something to do with the red headed lady who was now always by his side. Either way, she'd discovered the problem and knew the solution.
This time Lady Vickie had chosen others, those beyond even her abilities to ensnare, her lady and husband. But Til'Ma didn't care. She would allow her lady to indulge in the only thing possible to heal her heart, loving the ones she loved, which was now Sir Trent and Lady Sasha.
Silently, Til'Ma left the entourage, making her way to her quarters. It took only a few moments to locate the packets she needed; selecting three of the largest doses of Noble’s Delight, knowing from experience that after a certain quantity, the users were much more likely to think what had occurred to be a dream. She moved back into the hallway and made her way to the idling entourage, finding just the guards and servants standing outside Belia's quarters. Gil'Da turned to Til'Ma, her expression stern and gaze commanding, like always.
“Til'Ma. Lady Sasha and Sir Trent will be retiring after their meeting with Belia. They insist on skipping dinner but I would at least like them to have a nutrient beverage. I want you to prepare three, it appears Lady Vickie will be joining them, and bring it to their apartments...immediately,” Gil’Da instructed. Til'Ma couldn't contain her smile as she curtsied, then hastily made her way to the graces apartments.
The servants responsible for the private kitchen within the servants section of the grand duke and duchess outer apartment, talked idly in the small lounge they were provided. They stood when Til'Ma entered, following her direction to prepare the nutrient beverage requested by Gil'Da. As they rushed about, Til'Ma located three exquisitely crafted mugs, filling each with a triple dose of Noble's Delight, before mixing in the provided nutrient drink. She thanked the kitchen servants, dismissing them till morning, and then moved back through the corridors of the apartment and into the sitting room just outside the master bedchamber. After a few minutes, Lady Sasha, Sir Trent, and Lady Vickie arrived.
“Ah...Til'Ma, we will not be dining this evening,” Sasha informed her, obviously tired.
“Of course, Your Grace. But Gil'Da asked me to remind you that you have been through much difficulty, and it will only take a few seconds for a refreshing nutrient beverage,” Til'Ma responded with a trained grace, noticing Vickie's eyes still vacant. Trent and Sasha looked at each other and smiled, obvious love in their eyes. A twinge of guilt tried to sneak into Til'Ma's mind, but vanished instantly, she knowing nothing could come between love that strong.
“Very well, thank you, Til'Ma,” Trent smiled, walking forward and chugging one of the mugs after handing the other to Sasha. The last Til'Ma rose to Vickie's lips, forcing her lady to gulp down the drink. When they finished, she quickly ushered the three into the bedchamber and sat them on the edge of the noble bed. Each started showing the affects of the laced beverage immediately and Til'Ma knew she didn't have much time. She stripped all three with a servant's skill, dressing both Sasha and Vickie in wispy night gowns, while dressing Trent in loose fitting pajama pants.
She lifted the covers, pushing Vickie in first, then led the embracing Trent and Sasha underneath as well. She exited, shutting down all the lighting and glimpsing for a moment the lumps beginning to shift under the covers, before closing the door shut lightly. After removing the mugs to the servants cleaning area, she returned to the sitting room, lying down quietly on one of the many couches, requesting a BC node wake-up alarm for early the next morning. But realized she would most likely not need it, Sasha's moans of pleasure touching her ears. But they were not alone; another voice joined the first, a mixture of love, loss, and new beginnings.
Til'Ma smiled.
*********
The scent of roses filled the air, attacking his senses as he awoke in his own bed for first time in what felt like years. He inched closer to the black haired beauty who still slept at his side, touching his nose to hers as he kissed her gently. The memories of the night before returned, of their unrestrained, animalistic love making, to the extent that he remembered almost nothing but their blind passion.
Their bond had come alive and new emotions intermingled with the familiar, ones of obsession and yearning, of love and loss, of hope and everlasting devotion. Trent knew something odd had occurred, but exactly what escaped him. He recalled returning to the bedchamber with Sasha and Vickie, but after that everything was a blur, masked by intense emotions. He glanced around the bedchamber, finding Vickie was no longer at his side, she having been a constant presence since he saved her from the marquis's horrific game, though a note lay on the adjacent pillow.
/> “Thank you, Trent and Sasha, for helping me when I needed you most. Lady Vickie.” Trent smiled as he read it, somehow knowing that Vickie's depression had now passed, and glad his and Sasha's lovemaking didn't make it any worse.
“Mmm......what happened to you last night? You were...incredible...” Sasha whispered into his ear as she kissed him, her voice still sleepy.
“You as well, my love. I feel so much better,” he couldn't stop grinning as he peeked under the covers.
“I think Til'Ma slipped something into our drinks...did Vickie...” Trent showed her the note. “Good...I think a good night's rest was all she needed,” Sasha smiled.
“I doubt she would have found that here, more likely watching and listening to us was all she needed,” he said mischievously.
“You mean she was here?” Sasha asked in surprise.
“At the beginning, I believe. But I think she may have left with Til'Ma. I don't know, my memory is fuzzy...and your emotions were so strong, I can still feel them coursing through me,” his heart began to race. He kissed her deeply before she could respond.
“My duke,” she purred as she pulled away.
“My love,” their bond exploded open and newly freed emotions washed over him, and he let himself get washed away, into Sasha's unquestionable love.
*********
A calming aroma was carried on the brisk breeze that brought her awake in the meadow of Trent's mind. It had changed little since her last visit. The vast, rolling hills of green grass still intermingled with colorful wild flowers that spread beyond the distant horizon; a warming light caressing her skin from a never-ending sky. She crawled through the knee high grass surrounding her, searching for Trent, who she thought must be hiding, knowing he was usually close by. But this time, he was nowhere to be found.
“Trent!” she called out as she stood, confused, skipping down the shallow hill while twirling in her wispy dress of pure white, giggling like a little girl when her hair tickled her nose. She stumbled, falling with a plop as she tried to blow it clear.
Her mind was at peace. A peace she had not known since her and Trent left their isolation on Alutia'Earth. But even that peace was different, being from a time of exploring and learning of each other, both in body and mind. This feeling was born of actual peace, brought on by the final banishment of the last agents of the man who had been a thorn in her side since the day she left Tidelia; Duke Zehman.
With Don'Alutia under their control, they were now fully in command of the Alutia Duchy, or at least the known colonies, mining facilities, and fleet bases within the duchy. She sighed, knowing it was always possible Duke Zehman had bases strewn throughout the sectors of Alutia space that were once part of Hulk'Zif, which was why she planned on initiating a massive exploration campaign to fully map the more than 90 percent of the duchy that currently lay unexplored, the only reference data available from the 5,500 year old initial survey, which as history had taught, was rarely accurate.
She climbed to her feet and started forward, meandering through Trent's mind with no set destination, but finding herself drawn in a specific direction, the direction of the breeze. After a time, she crested a small hill that looked familiar, like the one they had climbed to meet Trent's teenage self, lost in despair brought on by a mind muddled with intoxication.
But this time, neither the young or old Trent were anywhere to be seen, though another being seemed to have taken his place. At the base of the hill, where the white landscape once stood, danced a woman in a pure white dress that shined as if emitting a light of its own. It was Vickie. She looked different, almost innocent in her movements, and the smile she held told not of the times of despair, but of a new hope, a new beginning.
“Sasha!” Vickie shouted as she noticed her approach, skipping up the hill in a way she would have expected to see her younger ladies, but not Vickie, the always maturely seductive.
“Vickie...you look well,” she smiled as they embraced.
“As do you, Sasha, I....I feel refreshed, like I never knew possible,” she released her with a giggle, twirling through the green glade, her wavy brown hair falling lightly across her bosom.
“I'm glad...but what brought on this change?”
Vickie blushed, a small mischievous smirk showing on her lips, the Vickie she knew. “Let's just say I've decided on who I am going to spend the rest of my life with, and such knowledge brings peace to one's heart,” Vickie leaned in and kissed her cheek, causing Sasha to blush as well.
“Who is this man you speak of?” Sasha asked, unable to hide her curiosity, and her concern, since Vickie's recent foray with Sir Georigi had ended horribly and the only other man she'd been around since was Trent.
“Not a man, Sasha...well one is a man, but the other is a woman. I've decided to devote myself to them, both in heart and mind...and body if one jealous duchess will ever let me,” Vickie tickled her as Sasha's mouth went agape, unable to respond due to her tickle born laughter. Being an expert at this game, she initiated a counterattack, tickling Vickie's sides relentlessly. Neither could hold their footing and the two laughing ladies started tumbling through the grass, attacking each other with wiggly fingers that seemed to know just where to touch. Sasha finally broke free, her uncontrolled giggling becoming painful, rolling onto her back to catch her breath.
“You are already my lady, Vickie. I am not...not certain what you mean by devote yourself to us...” Sasha asked between breaths.
“Ladies are fleeting...and are expected to marry away or inherit a noble title. I do not want either. So I decided to become a mazart,” the word twirled through her mind, not finding any reference to anything she knew.
“What is a mazart?” Sasha asked, her breath finally returning as she rolled up on her side, perching on an elbow.
Vickie's smile widened, face glowing and eyes twinkling. “An immortal companion...or so the voice told me,” she climbed to her feet, helping Sasha up alongside her, who couldn't hide her puzzlement.
“Vickie...what do you mean? What voice?” Sasha asked, beyond confused.
“Actually...is Vin here?” Vickie asked.
“Yes, Mazart Vickie Alutia,” Vin's monotone voice appeared in the air all around them. Sasha stared at Vickie in surprise, stunned by her mysterious new title.
“Vin, Tiana and I have been hearing voices in our heads since the first time we visited Trent's dream world. Do you have any idea why that is?” Vickie asked.
“Data is sealed, but permission has been granted to provide basic explanation of phenomenon. Bond between Grand Duchess Sasha Alutia and Grand Duke Trent Alutia is based on Program technology that is currently in use by the Emperor's Jewelry. When detection of foreign brainwaves in bond was detected, Emperor's Jewelry protection protocols activated, sending an investigation program back to the intruder. After investigation, program found suitable housing on the intruder and Emperor's Jewelry deemed it appropriate to create another weak bond to relay relevant information from the investigation program as required,” Vin explained.
“So it is a Program,” Vickie whispered.
“Vin, what housing does Vickie have that is suitable to hold a Program?” Sasha wondered.
“Information sealed or restricted,” Sasha looked to Vickie, who shrugged.
“Should be easy enough to figure out, I already have my assumptions,” her hand moved to her chest.
“Trent's gift?” Sasha asked with wonder.
Vickie smiled with a wink. “Now then, shall we try to-,” Sasha's perturbed look stopped Vickie midsentence. “Alright...Vin, explain what a mazart is to my dear lady,” Vickie shrugged dramatically.
“Yes, Mazart Vickie Alutia. The mazart is a female immortal companion to a pair of elevated nobles who are in line to rule the New Universal Empirical Human Alliance. A mazart gives, of their own free will, their heart and mind to the elevated nobles. Originally, mazart's were created to allow for multiple children of the elevated noble couple to be birthed at once due t
o fears of assassinations ending the Blood of Yu. Once the universe stabilized, mazart's went all but extinct and Mazart Vickie is the first in more than 50,000 years,” Sasha couldn't believe her ears. Vickie had sacrificed any possibility of freedom to become this mazart. Sasha wanted to yell at her, scream that she should be happy and live her own life, away from the horrors that would probably follow her and Trent for the rest of theirs. But the words froze on her tongue. The look of such bliss and happiness in Vickie's eyes, on her face, telling that this was a choice of her own freewill, one she made willingly and without regret. Sasha sighed.
“I like that second part...just as long as Sasha's eggs are implanted before fertilization, since it would take-,”
Sasha spun to the lascivious woman at her side. “Vickie!” she blurted at the thought, chasing after the retreating lady. “I never agreed to this!” she shouted after her, trying to force jealousy into her words.
“Oh...but Vin did...and so did the emperor!” Vickie heckled over her shoulder as she stumbled and fell. Sasha quickly caught up and froze, a frosty wind striking her dreamlike skin.
At the bottom of a grassy knoll sat a short woman with wavy blond hair, wearing a jet black, full length gown. In front of her, spreading into the distant horizon, sat many strange, aged stones of different sizes and shapes, partially buried in the ground, lined up in rows. Carved on their surfaces were names and numbers that she didn't recognize, seeming a mark of honor, a monument of sorts. Vickie recovered her feet and hurried down the hill to the blond haired woman, who Sasha didn't recognize at first, her appearance hazy, blurred. But as she approached, she quickly realized who it was.
“Tiana!” she exclaimed, ignoring the cold wind that continued to assail her flesh.
Tiana turned, her face a ghostly white and eyes vacant. “Sasha...are you dead too?” she asked, her words cold. Sasha almost cried out as she embraced her lady, her friend.
The Noble Petty, Complete Edition (Alutia Rising Series, Book 2) Page 75