The Queen's Harem! ...er...I mean...Retinue! (Javorcek X SomethingEsoteric)

Ten years ago, King Aiden Kolev was lost in the Great War between the kingdoms of Trinil and Heidelberg. He was a military man at heart and of course, despite the warnings of his Generals, he wished to be on the front lines with his men. Besides, how could he expect his people to follow his lead if he was always ordering them around from the safety of back? As fate would have it, Aiden died on the warfront. But at least, before he passed away, he had managed to secure Trinil’s safety and independence from those damn invading Heidelbergians.

The only family that King Aiden had left behind was a daughter: Princess Danika Kolev; the sole heir to the Trinl throne. Unfortunately, little Dani was only 15 at the time. And so Viceroy Alexander ran the nation until she came of age.

Seven years ago, Danika had turned 18 and was finally, legally, allowed to rule. However, the Viceroy had grown very comfortable living out a noble’s lifestyle. And of course, when Danika had -politely- asked him to get out of her throne, the Viceory had refused; claiming that a young woman was not fit to rule such a large kingdom. And so, Danika had not-so-politely ran him through with her sword in response, effectively terminating his position as Viceroy.

Her father would have been –so- proud.

Six years ago, a year after the Viceroy’s death, the people of the kingdom seemed to be happy enough. Perhaps it was Danika’s ‘If you don’t like it, you can get out’ attitude. Unhappy citizens left, curious ones looking for a change of pace took their place. What was most of note was that many men had left, and women had been the ones to take their places. The thought of having a Queen rather than a King seemed to entice many independent or strongwilled women to take up residence in Trinil.

Today, Queen Danika Kolev, (known as Dani by friends, ‘M’lady’ or ‘Your Majesty’ by her lessers, and ‘That Bitch’ by her opponents), could be found lounging in her throne room; patiently waiting for her afternoon appointment with a slave trader that was passing through the area. Dani’s 20th birthday present to herself had been the creation of a Harem. And today, on her 25th, she celebrated the occasion by allowing whoever wished to leave the harem to do so, as she did every year, and purchasing herself some new faces to fill their spots.

Ah and here came the trader now! Perfect, right on time. Dani was so excited to start filling in those spots-- well… -one- spot she had open in her Harem. Erm…not Harem, ‘Retinue’…at least, that was what the Madam that oversaw the health and happiness of the girls liked to call it. And perhaps the word ‘retinue’ was more correct anyways; Dani didn’t keep mindless slaves around to sleep with. Most of the women she ‘employed’ were quite bright and/or talented: able to provide the Queen or her visiting friends with various forms of entertainment, not all of it carnal. Almost all of the girls enjoyed her company and over the years, quite a few of them had chosen to stay in her service. But every once in awhile, someone would want to leave, to start a life and start a family, and Dani was more than happy to give the newly freed harem girl a lovely chunk of back-pay and all the well-wishes she could muster.

“Your Royal Mayesty! Ees honor to see you again.” Astor bowed low as he greeted the Queen in her rather simple throne room. His thick, Slavic accent made him difficult to understand at times, but Dani had gotten used to the way the man spat out his English with each annual visit he paid to the castle. The graying slaver had been in this business for many years, and always brought Dani a very diverse selection of girls to peruse.

“You’re right on time Astor, very good. I’m glad the weather didn’t keep you.” Trinil was experiencing an early winter. Snow on the ground and it was still technically fall! But she was glad that the recent snowfall had not kept the slave trader, she did hate to be waiting. “So! Let’s see what you’ve got for me this year.”

Once the slaves were finishing shuffling about and lining up in the grand, but simple throne room, Dani very carefully began the arduous task of examining each and every one. Thankfully Astor had only brought her 15 girls to examine, otherwise she might be here all day! The 3 that had dropped to their knees and refused to look at her, even when she attempted to tilt their heads upwards were immediately sent away. Mindless subservience was not something Dani wished for in a new toy. She carefully examined the remaining faces and quickly took note of their limbs: ones with broken noses or poorly mended bones were probably prisoners of war, and Dani had no need for a fighter. Her Captain of the Guard was already over protective; she knew that if she took a warrior into her Retinue the Captain would have a heart attack and claim that the girl was ‘too dangerous’.

Pffft…too dangerous! Dani stood at 5’10”, her lithe body lean and covered in toned muscle. She was fair with a sword and quick with her tongue…there were very few ‘dangerous’ problems she couldn’t stab to death or talk her way out of. But still, the Captain was one of Dani’s closest friends, and the Queen would not give her friend such a headache by filling in such a silly indulgence. So two more girls were sent away for having the markings that told her that they were once warriors or slaves that were kept as guard dogs or pit fighters.

Now just to check their teeth… One’s mouth was very important to Dani. That’s usually where she was looking when she was talking to someone. Eye contact was such an aggressive behavior…one she had never quite gotten used to. So she usually looked at someone’s nose or mouth when they were speaking to her. That being said, a mouth full of crooked or missing teeth didn’t rest well with her. Not only was it a bad visual, but it usually meant the slave didn’t know how to properly take care of herself. With a surprisingly delicate touch, the brunette carefully grasped each girl by the jaw. One by one, she coaxed their mouths open so that she could examine their teeth. One of the lovely ladies attempted to bite her, which made the Queen chuckle. She did love ones with a bit of fight! As she moved along down the line of remaining girls, some of them trembled under her touch, and others seemed to be soothed by a hand that was politely insistent, not rough or overpowering. A handful more girls were sent away, leaving her with just five more to inspect.

“The last five of you, remove your clothing so that I may inspect you more closely.” Five left! Well…this last bit of testing should only take a moment. Dani wished to see how responsive the girls were to her touch in more…erogenous places. Plus she needed to make sure they weren’t covered in lashings. While she’d take a girl that had just come from an abusive master, she wouldn’t take one that was going to fight her every step of the way. Training new harem girls on how to satisfy her needs was fine…but preferred it to be an enjoyable experience for both parties rather than a major headache for everyone involved.

Behind Dani, Astor glared at the women and motioned menacingly towards his whip. The girls would be getting a very rough whipping later if they made him look like a fool infront of the Queen by disobeying one of her orders!

It all felt so surreal to her, then again – life had been surreal to Faith since the age of eight years old. She’d spent many years in a gilded cage, watching it wither and die, oxidize and tarnish with patina she did not recognize till the silver and gold she was so lavished by was entirely stained by time, blacks and greens, sable splotches where once ivory had been like rust on stone, dirt apathetically smeared where once nothing short of pristine had been acceptable… time had-had a toll on the grandiose home she’d become the matron of at just fourteen years old, now on the edge of her nineteenth birthday, time and disuse, complacency from all others. A fourteen year old girl not fit to rule left behind by a pigheaded man who was no different.

At the time Faith had little to give to her name sake, of course, when her mother was still alive they held hope all would be well given time, father would return from his bloody conquest with riches and pride in excess but as time yielded no results save the passing of seasons and civil unrest in the court below their keep. When winter had placed blight on mother, there was no maester who could help her, a miracle was in need and a miracle was not delivered, only a pyre. Faith was alone, entirely alone to allow her doubts to eat at her, she felt as though she were the trees in the court, leaves withering and spiraling to the ground in the arrival of winter, her luscious bark turning black and hardening, appearing as though she were dead and listless only creaking in the strongest of winter winds… spring would come one day however, she would blossom a bloom… -or maybe she was the bear on their family crest, only hibernating? –her journal gave no insight, what it did, in time however show was she’d become resigned.

Faith no longer relinquished or regretted the realizations no good awaited her, her father would not return, even if he did he’d return to a throne of dirt and thorns, she resigned herself to the fact all she could do was wait… she became the dormant tree, the hibernating bear, the blade of grass beneath a sheet of snow, protected herself and her emotions till numb to them entirely. Her mother’s death meant little anymore, she’d been young but not so young such things were truly tragic, the ebb of servants and riches that once fortified their standing’s ebb meant little as the less men and women stood beside her the less riches she need to house them, the less men and women of the court wished to pay taxation the less they could provide for them – it was a slow match toward the end she could only prolong so much, resigned to that she was too.

When one day, her father’s had was place in her lap – she did not scream, she did not cry out hysterically, she turned him to face her and could only look into dead eyes with scorn for condemning her to this creeping normalcy, to condemning her to a death of one thousand cuts as it were – she expected her head would soon meet his, free of body, the final gash however was one that never arrived. The words were a loss on her, long had they been a loss on her, they mattered very little – a long public speech, a public pandering of how their conqueror was merciful and kind but not to be crossed, an appeal, Faith was given her life but none else – banished from her home, exiled to the wilds.

A lecherous knight did find her, one she knew well, thought she knew well… his words were far more cauterized in her mind. He promised her safe passage, he would not have the daughter of his Earl freeze to death or be dishonored by men of the wilds she’d one day be happened upon by if not for his protection, his final act of honour before he lay down his knightly mantle after failing her father in war. If the coming of her father’s folly, the coming of the man who’d bested him was like the first ray of sun – a relief her dormant state was over… and relieving, in all truth it had been, than the knight’s gift was the first day of a premature spring, she the first flower, just as likely to bloom as to wither – the knight’s true motives would be the final weeks of winter that brow beat spring back.

He did not seek his honour made whole, only his purse. He’d taken her as far as a new country, one she’d never known, one of slavers and hierarchy she’d no understanding of. She was sure he’d received quite a purse for her sale to the Slavic man.

-and here she was, ten years and change to the day her father left on his steed bound by furs, steel and leather.

Faith had remained dormant an entire spring and summer, fed and clothed by the Slavic man, denied time and time again by men and women who had no interest in paying his asking price for a virgin exiled princess – lofty offers that reached her ears sat odd in her stomach, sometimes she was sickened, others maybe flattered by the denominations she didn’t fully understand. Each time they examined her, she stared forward with cold lifeless eyes, hibernating, it was almost a warmingly familiar ritual, Faith liked to imagine it was like she was home again, her hand maidens preparing her as she was a little girl, dressing her and painting her features with chalk, berries and ash salves so she’d appear beautifully for mother, father and their guests, for her people, so lavished she was.

Her teeth were perfect, her skin without blemish, her hair was long and likened to spun gold by many minstrels, eyes a vibrant blue grey like the sky above her homelands, she was lithe and taught, small perky breasts and a modest behind accentuated by posture uncommon of a slave, while she looked browbeaten and cold there were no scars of what had left her this way and everything about her had an air of regal eloquence just as uncommon as her posture. Given an order she followed, almost as if for the first time seeing her surroundings she looked around with a small hissing breath as it were, feeling the chill of the chamber reach her as she removed the clothes the Slavic had provided, while she did look confused and maybe slightly alarmed she did not cringe away from her setting anxiously – while she did not feel belonging she appeared it.

“Yes, yes, yes – Faith,” the Slavic chortled joyously as the Queen reached the pale girl in her bluff. “Reads, writes and speaks as royalty,” he assured – the sales pitch beginning his brows raising as he clapped his hands together and rub them together as if already grasping a mound of gold between, “Why you ask?” he added, “Royalty she is. –fine addition she would make to any collection, yes? –virtue intact, beautiful body, adoring submissive mind surely. A gift, however, she is not. A man paid entirely too much for little Faith to simply give her away! –for my queen, a small dowry would suffice.” Faith did not cringe at the idea of being sold, did not whimper or shy from the touch, just another long since realized resignation this all was – she’d been sold once already and as it were, amidst all those who’d appraised her, this woman seemed by far the greatest choice of all the worst circumstances.

-and so she spoke, with grace and tact “An honour to be in your presence my Queen, I am Faith Alvarnah Draschkt, the Slavic is mistaken – I am no princess, I am an exiled daughter of a late Earl to the North.” Her words frank but honeyed, even after the slaver hissed angrily for his sales pitch being stifled.

Naked women! Now this was a sight that Dani loved to see. Hum…now which one to keep… These choices were just so hard to make. Well she’d just let her hands do the choosing for her! Fingers that were slightly calloused from heavy sword practice began to lightly caress along the bodies of potential harem girls. The first two slaves recoiled from her, which, in all honesty, Dani was used to. Even slaves have their own religions, beliefs, and preferences. If they did not want to be bedded by a woman, she would not force them to. So with a wave of her hand, those two were sent away to stand off to the side with the rest.

And now there were three. Well, in reality, there was really just –one- that caught her eye. The two girls nearest to her had freckles and well…Dani didn’t particularly care for freckles. It was strange, she knew, but that’s just how she was. But furthest from her was a young woman with hair the color of wheat and eyes that were so light, they were actually quite unnerving and a little ghostly. But perhaps what drew Dani most to the girl was her posture. She didn’t stand tall and stiff like a soldier, nor did she slouch about like a girl who had never been taught how to walk properly. She was regal, elegant in her stance. That little detail was enough to make her green eyes linger on the girl; long enough that Astor seemed to notice the way her eyes appreciatively meandered along every inch of the stranger’s body.

Ugh…and here came the sales pitch. While it wasn’t a bad one, it did leave Dani with many doubts. A girl who seemed to be on the older side…well…not –that- old, but definitely of age, a virgin still? And a princess, pha! Though when the girl opened up her mouth to speak, the voice that came out…it’s pacing and the articulation of her words…yes she definitely spoke like someone of at least noble birth.

“I am sorry for your loss my dear. You are very polite though, all things considered…that is good.” Dani praised the girl with a gentle smile after she introduced herself. “Exiled noblewoman, you don’t say? Hummm…” The queen made a circle about the young woman, her cape made of wolf pelts rustling softly along the floor as she moved. Part of her was sorry that she was forcing the girl to be in the cold…though the other part of her was quite taken with how her pink nipples had formed into succulent, puckered points. As much as she wanted to reach out and touch this one like she had the others, she refrained from doing so. Sometimes, virgins cry, and the last thing Dani wanted was for the poor girl to break down in the middle of the throne room infront of everyone. “How much do you want for her?”

“I sell her for low price of six hundred gold. I assure you, Highness, is good deal!” Astor motioned to the girl’s pretty face. “See? Very beautiful maiden. Pretty maiden for a pretty Queen, yes?” He needed to unload this slave that would not sell on –someone-. Do you know how hard it is to keep a virgin a virgin?! Pretty damn hard! “How many other traders may boast of having such fine girl? You will not find one like this for long time.”

Six hundred?! Dani could buy five magnificent stallions for that price. What a preposterous amount to be asking for -one- slave! If Astor thought she was going to pay that much, he was out of his mind. While she wasn’t short on gold, it was the principle of the thing! She wasn’t going to be taken for a ride by a fast talking Slavic slave trader.

“Come now Astor, do you take me for a fool?” Dani was now circling Faith, as though searching for some fault. This was their usual game. Astor would ask for something ridiculous, and she would combat him by making an offer that was far too low, to the point that it insulted both him and his merchandise, and then they’d inevitably find some mid ground after. “She can read and write…that just makes it all the easier for her to run away. And she is so thin! So pale! Sickly looking infact.” Green eyes squinted a bit as she looked at the other woman, her gaze now cold and calculating. “I will give you three hundred.”

“Three hundred?!” The graying Slav’s brow furrowed in outrage. What?!?!? Did the queen think he sold dogs and not gorgeous women?! ”Nevkusny icha zmrzla!” Astor spit out the insult before he could think better of it.

Even though Dani appeared to walk alone, she never truly was. Her shadow was always somewhere; even if the woman was not readily seen, she was always readily available. And although the Slavic man had thrown an insult at the queen that she did not recognize, Alvera, the Captain of the Guard, had caught the gist of what the slaver had meant. The handsome young woman seemed to appear out of nowhere and was now situated behind the slaver. She kicked out the backs of his knees, sending him to the ground and then drew her sword, pointing the tip of her blade into the back of his neck. As slight as her form maybe be, Alvera was –fast-. And –nobody- used that kind of language infront of her Queen.

Ah but this brutish nature was why Dani loved Alvera so. Her friend was such a good guard dog. And a perfect gentleman too! …Er…gentlewoman? The Queen was convinced that the Captain of the Guard had been a chivalrous male knight in a past life. The Captain was always quick to defend the honor of any woman, not just the Queen.

“Alvera…come now…is that anyway to treat one of our guests?” Danika chided her friend gently.

“But he—“

Dani waved a hand dismissively to cut her guard off. “What did he say?”

“I rather…not…repeat it…”

“Alvera....” Dani’s voice held a warning, and a promise to say the words that they both hated to hear.

With a sigh, the Captain broke down and told her Queen before the woman decided to let loose the sentence ‘I –order- you to ___.’ Alvera was a good guard, she never disobeyed orders, always did her job, and if her Queen wanted to know what this impolite slaver had called her…well…then Alvera would tell her. “He called you a “Cheap, frozen cunt, Highness.”

“Really? I can’t say I’ve ever been called –that- before.” Danika snickered at the slaver’s look of horror that someone knew his language. Alvera was well traveled for one so young. And while she couldn’t necessarily speak languages other than English fluently, the warrior knew how to curse in several different tongues. “You’re lucky I am in a good mood today Astor. My guard has had no skulls to crack in a very long time, I’m sure she’s ready and eager to smash in yours for insulting me.”

“Highness! I apologize. Please…forgive. I…I will accept your offer of three hundred.” This country was so terrifying sometimes with giants for women! Such emotional creatures they were…dealing them was such a delicate matter; one that he was not sure was worth all the trouble.

“Excellent! Isn’t it nice when we all get along? I will add on an extra hundred, to apologize for my guard’s rough treatment. Alvera help him up please. Now…where on earth is Clarissa… Alvera, will you go fetch her for me, please?”

The Captain blinked. Go get Clarissa? She bit her lower lip…Clarissa made her feel…uncomfortable…to say the least. She never quite understood why, but whenever she was around the Matron, she had the sudden urge to run away and hide. Before Danika could question her about her hesitation, Alvera was off to search for the keeper of the Queen’s retinue.

There! Now that things were in motion and Astor was busy gathering up the girls that weren’t chosen while they waited on Clarissa to come by and take care of the payment, Danika looked over at the newest acqusition to her harem. Poor girl…she must be freezing. So the Queen took off her cloak made of pelts and wrapped it about the other girl’s shoulders. “Much better, yes? When Clarissa comes, she will make sure that you are taken care of… And then you will be sent to my chambers tonight for training.”

One couldn’t help, Faith couldn’t help but wonder what loss exactly it would be this one was sorry for was it the loss of her father or the loss of her nobility – because both were entirely separate instances. There was first the loss of her father at eight, the loss of her father to his folly – his greed and conquest, that was the true loss she may have been in need of soothing for… each and every loss that followed were all inevitable of course, she’d seen them on the horizon, marching toward her with each rise and set of the sun painting her sill. Still, regardless of it all – the apology for her situation was a generous offer of kindness and she accepted it along with the complements “I am gracious to your kindness.” Faith responded quietly, a response true not only for the apology and compliment but to the fact she did not further the theft of her dignity by groping or touching her body, now beginning to react to the cold.

Faith didn’t shiver but goose bumps did begin to march along her skin, up the backs of her arms, her nipples protested, standing hard atop her modest mounds. So began the negotiations, she almost felt them to be more demeaning than appraisals of touch could be. She’d been grabbed by potential customers, her bottom and breasts groped and tugged at, her hair caressed, one had even gone so far as to insert a finger into her most private of places before the Slavic demanded payment before such things took place – she cringed lightly at the memory, how he’d chortled and grunt at the tightness, how humiliating that had been... still, humiliating as it was, it wasn’t as humiliating as being bartered for like she was some sort of shiny bauble, shinier to some than others. Some were rough, some gentle and appeared kind, it was hard for her to distinguish how to feel about these people, the unknowns offering goods or services for her ownership – some seemed like they were capable of being very nice people, others she was sure were far from that – this woman she’d certainly deem as capable of kindness, after all, she had been very kind thus far. Regardless how any of them all behaved however, at the end of the day, they were purchasing her as a possession and that should say plenty on the caliber of person they were.

The Queen’s people seemed happy though, well taken care of, maybe that said more – her people were anything but provided for by the end of her march toward this moment. Whether or not she was interested in slaves for whatever purpose – this woman was a better leader than Faith had ever been and for that she could respect her, for that she could fend off anxieties that may have otherwise nipped at her insides. She’d remained calm watching her fiefdom crumble, she could remain strong through this also… after all, was their really much to be hysterical over? Faith was being transferred from one gilded cage to the next; at least this one would be one with upkeep, on not tarnished by years of disregard.

Through the negotiation for the most part she remained quiet – staring forward with apathetic eyes not expressing the turmoil within. It was just like arguments and debates between her advisors and folks of the town, or well, she told herself it was – she approached it with the same thoughtful expression even in the event her mind was blank. It was best Faith blanked it out, she didn’t want to know how much she was worth in gold. “Hnng!” she did react however to the act of violence that happened just out of her field of vision, teeth clenching tight, nostrils flaring with several panicked breaths. It was a strange and surreal situation she was in, it all was but for some reason, like the winter that lasted ten years before this – she thought the constant ebb and flow of negotiations for her sale would never end, like she’d be trapped in another long lasting period she’d only ever wish to end! –and just like that, in a blink of an eye, with a little friction, the price was agreed upon and paid. Faith didn’t know if she was relieved or distraught and neither emotion had yet found her face… she just started forward hauntingly, breath evening again even as the world began to feel as if it were on a slant, even as her head began to throb and it felt like being submerged in water, the way it sounded and felt when ears were full of water, Faith knew what it meant, faint, she might just if she didn’t ball her hands to white knuckled fists and curl her toes against the floor.

Just as she felt herself begin to lean with the world the cloak of furs weighed down on her shoulders – nearly slipping off till she sprung, her hands reached up and took hold of the cloak, holding it tight to herself, a shivering breath making her lips vibrate without the grace she’d maintained till now “Thank you my Queen.” Faith hummed then swallowed hard, Faith was inertly polite and graceful, it would be neither of these things to ask what the Queen meant by training and why she need be placed in her chambers but she did understand, naïve she was not. She’d be too ashamed to admit it, but in reality, part of her held out a certain excitement for it. She was to be nineteen in a small handful of moons and her virtue was intact, she’d never been set to wed, her body screamed out for touch but circumstance made it impossible… in way, she was born for this. –then again… Queens and ladies were always in need of handmaidens. –little more than a sardonic joke to soothe circumstance, women with lust in their eyes like the Queen’s purchased slaves for one thing only.

Elsewhere in the keep Clarissa was fritting about like a woman possessed – there was so much to do and so little time! –this was always a hard time of year for her, not only because her Queen often purchased new slaves but because she let others go, so many arrangements needed to be made and atop that she was always busy sorting through her own convoluted arrangements. Clare had almost done it this time, she’d almost taken the chance to leave, to pursue other things… well, to pursue another thing, another woman… oh how she longed for those strong hands, tight lips, cold eyes, everything about her made the buxom matron cringe with delight. What could she do though? Ask her queen for her freedom and then what? Court the captain of the guard? It was all a satirical tragedy, one she’d often sigh and laugh about… besides, even if the woman she loved was even half as much tender toward her inside she was just too damn busy! The Queen needed her too much, she couldn’t leave now, Tamera was losing her mind in jealousy for a woman Dani hadn’t even bought yet because Dani may like her better, Esterii was distraught in the thought that Dani may not have time or desire to service her, Meghan, while she didn’t say it – was worried the new slave would be more caring and thoughtful and the Queen may not desire her company as often and of course there were the others and their own trials – but the three favorites of Danika always needed the most attention from their matron.

Then of course there were the easier sides of her role, making sure all her girls were clothed and fed, cared for like the prizes they were, their hair and makeup done, their woes consoled. “Clare! Claaaarissaaaaaaah!” came a familiar smoke and whiskey voice.

“Rosaline, be civil!” She snipped with a jerk of her head, baring her teeth slightly – Clarissa’s catch phrase as it were when it came to the girls and even the Queen from time to time.

“Yes Clarissa.” Rose hummed shamefully, kicking some dust up from the cobbled floor beneath. “It’s just… do you think The Queen will like fucking her new slut better than me?” the shameless little lush asked, then looked up with a dangerous grin “I doubt it, nobody fucks like me.”

“Rosaline… your insanity never ceases to amaze.” Clarissa sighed and shook her head, “-don’t refer to your sisters, particularly a new one as a slut and fuck is not a word for a lady. How many times do I nee-… I’m sure everything will be fine, now put some clothes on would you?”

Tamera groaned and looked up from her desk, “Rose, just because you are, doesn’t mean we are. -besides, The Queen told me she likes having sex with me more.” Tamera lied, “She likes refined women, not shameless whores like you.”

And so began one of the harder parts of her jobs, “Y’know girls, the Queen told me she loves peaceful dinners with me…” warbled Meghan from her wardrobe, both Tami and Rose hissing at her to be quiet before sizing each other up like they were prepared to start pulling hair.

"Everybody knows the Queen can't resist how undeniably adorable I am," Heidi boasted with a giggle from her bed.

"Yeah, adorable for someone touched in the head..."

“I-said-be-civil!” Clare growled from deep within her ample chest, lip curling back, nose wrinkling in aggression, all three chiming in uison Yes Ma’am… defeated. “Gosh, you’re all worse than children at times, I swear!” she continued to chastise, till she felt a presence behind her. Her face burned with embarrassment for her outburst when she realized who it was, heart flipping in her chest as she adjusted her corset and padded down her long firebrand hair, nibbling at her lower lip so it would be swollen and perfectly plump when she greeted the love of her life. Clarissa turned to face Alvera with and expression that begged understanding.

“Hello Alvera, has The Queen made her choice?”

“Astor, why don’t you go tell your girls you will all be allowed to stay here tonight?” Danika put on her best hostess face and tried to shoo the slaver away and out of earshot. Good God, she had already said that she was going to pay for Faith! He didn’t need to poke, prod, and fuss over the pretty blonde any longer. Perhaps he was just afraid the Queen would find some fault and change her mind before gold reached his fingertips. Though, at the prospect of food and shelter, he seemed rather glad for the show of hospitality and rushed over to his merchandise to tell them the good news: they’d have a night of pampering before returning to their route.

There! Much better, now there weren’t any mother hen slavers over their shoulders…

“Cheer up Faith, smile. I promise living here is not so bad. And catering to me is not the worst fate you could have.” Danika spoke kindly to her newest purchase in an attempt to lighten up the darkened mood that haggling usually caused. As glum and as proper as the girl appeared, the Queen was fairly certain that her intuition was right in choosing Faith to fill the empty spot in her harem. She certainly had never owned a girl with any sort of remarkable pedigree; perhaps a civil lady would help bring some balance to her retinue and keep the matron from growing grey. “Though, if you do find it awful, you only have to serve for one year in my Retinue. On this day, next year, you will be asked if you wish to stay or go. And if you go, you will be paid for your services and let loose with my blessing.”

See? Dani wasn’t a terrible person. She just liked sex…-lots- of sex. And while a normal human being might just go get married to a person who had a comparable libido, Dani had had the hardest time finding a girl that could hold her attention for more than a month or so. So! She had just come up with the solution to keep more than one girl around. Brilliant solution! Yes?

Of course it was a brilliant solution! She was the queen!

And so she kept twelve girls, all of them with some trait unique to themselves. And while she did have her three favorites, even they seemed to struggle to keep her attention at times. Hmm the only one who had –really- ever given her heart a run had been Clarissa…so of course Dani had promoted her to the head of her harem in an attempt to put a more professional barrier between them. Almost like the one that the queen kept with the captain of her guard. Although she found Alvera quite handsome, even a complete and utter lecher like Dani knew that lines had to be drawn somewhere. And now she rarely called upon the matron’s personal services anymore. Hum... even less now that every time she did, it made Alvera mope about the castle as though someone had poisoned her warhorse.

What funny people her friends were. Wouldn’t it be much simpler if they took a more carefree approach as she did and slept away the problem of loneliness?

---

This was foolish, why did she have to go fetch Clarissa? Now the queen was all alone in a room with a slaver a bunch of strange women!! The realization that she had left her charge alone hit Alvera about halfway down the hallway and she turned about, biting her lower lip in indecision. What if Dani was too distracted by a room full of beautiful women to pay attention to the large Slavic man? What if he kidnapped her? Ransomed her off? What if the girls weren’t slaves at all, but actually assassins?! Damnit!!!! Alvera began pacing back and forth in the small stretch of hallway she occupied, torn between obeying a command and protecting the woman she had been sworn to watch over. Well…all things considered, the Queen had given her a command and the captain supposed that she should obey it.

Besides…the Queen knew how to wield the ornate sword she kept at her side…so it wasn’t as if she was –totally- defenseless.

So with another, more frustrated sigh, Alvera continued down the hallway in her search for the matron of the retinue. The Queen’s high libido always puzzled Alvera. Twelve girls? Was that really necessary? Wouldn’t it just be safer to take a wife? Judging by how all the girls fawned over and clamored for the Queen’s attention, Alvera couldn’t understand why she didn’t just marry one of them; each girl seemed willing enough. Or if Dani was worried about appearances, perhaps a princess from one of the neighboring kingdoms would be better suited than a slave girl? That was how it worked…right? Nobles married for the sake of alliances? Not for love? All these thoughts of Dani’s love life of course made Alvera’s mind wander until it rested upon her own relationships. Er- ah…or lack there of.

Love was so confusing; full of madness, jealousy and complex rituals. Why would anyone subject themselves to such things? The prospect of finding someone to be at your side forever was not a strange idea to Alvera. She fully expected to be glued to Dani’s hip until the Queen passed away or she could no longer lift her own sword. Just the ideas of courtship, romance and marriage were. While they all seemed like fine notions, she had no idea how they -really- worked. And wasn’t that all time consuming? How does anyone have hours left in the day to do their job –and- keep a spouse? So she tried to imagine, to think of what would happen if someone else was thrown into the picture that as of now, only included her Queen and her career. Did she have time to split between her duties and a personal life?

Hmmph…no. No time for love, she had protecting to do.

And this was what Alvera did: dove head first into her job, her duty, her routine so that she didn’t notice how lonely her heart truly was.

Before she knew it, the Captain found herself marching down the long hallway towards the wing where the Retinue was housed. She hated this part of the Keep, sometimes the girls were out of control: which was what appeared to be the case because she could hear their shouting from all the way down here. Well…at least they weren’t chasing one another down the hallways wearing next to nothing while screaming profanities and death threats. Ugh…that week that Danika had allowed Clarissa some vacation time had been absolutely horrendous; as poorly as their jealousy made them behave, the girls were about fifty times worse without their matron was not around to talk some sense into them.

Shouting caused her brisk pace to slow down into a hesitant trot. She knew that voice…it belonged to Clarissa. Perhaps she should just turn back around? Go hide somewhere until Clare was finished giving the girls a tongue-lashing? Or maybe just leave a note somewhere.... As the guard was contemplating her next move, the matron had apparently sensed her presence and now turned around. Damnit, she’s spotted me! Alvera stood up a bit taller, as though ready for inspection. Inspection?! –She- was the one that did inspections!! But something about greeting the Matron made her stand tall with her back stiff as a board, as though she were waiting to be judged. Why does she look at me so? The young Captain wondered as Clare’s beguiling eyes fell upon her, making her heart race and her uniform feel uncomfortably hot. Those blue eyes that were usually so cool and calm like frozen water appeared to rise in temperature until they appeared as though they belonged to the hottest part of a flame.

God…how she hated this part of the Keep…she always felt so out of place amongst all these delicate women.

“Oh er…I didn’t mean to um…intrude.” Alvera said in a quiet voice as she fiddled with the hilt of her sword, just for something for her hands to do. “Ah…yes. The Queen has chosen a new girl, Ma’am. Er- M-miss Clarissa. She wants you to come collect the girl.” Just shove both boots into your mouth why don’t you! While mentally kicking herself for being as articulate as a bumbling idiot, she bowed her head slightly to signal she was ready to follow the Matron back towards the throne room. Once Clarissa began to move, Alvera took up post behind her, trailing slightly off of her right flank just as she did when she was with Dani. Even though she was not assigned to protect Clarrisa, whenever she was to escort the matron somewhere, Alvera just fell into the position of shadow.

“You’re very good with the girls, Miss Clarissa. They are lucky to have you to guide them.” Alvera complimented after awhile, only because the walk back to the throne room was quite long to be doing so in complete silence.

As the slaver gallivanted and guffawed about the throne room, joyously explaining the results of his deal with the other girls Faith felt more alone than she had in quite some time. As much as her time with the slaver had been a battle of contrition with her punitive little heart Faith was nothing if not adaptable and she could find the most twisted of comforts in ugly scenes and existences – her time with the Slavic had been no different of course, it was new and sometimes she enjoyed convincing herself it was an exploration an adventure into the unknown, she’d never been allowed to leave her father’s fiefdom before, no matter how much of her weight at the first daughter she threw around, the furthest she could ever get was the edge, rolling country sides with low fences more to herd cattle and mutton than to keep anyone out… yet like the livestock they so easily kept her inside did they not? The final border of the room that housed her gilded cage.

Astor left and behind him closed the door to the next but the fur cloak about her nude body made her feel less alone. Almost as if detached from the room she curled her neck, cheek lowering toward her shoulder – nestling against the fur that wrapped it affectionately. Faith loved the feeling of luxurious pelts and textiles against her alabaster flesh, loved how soft, tender, warming the embraces of such things could feel, it almost chocked her up, the nostalgia of it all.

Plaintive eyes shifted from her cloak to the queen, cheer up, she was told. Faith could do that for her. “I’m sure living here is a grace.” She responded coolly before letting her eyes shift back to the fur, a small smile tugging at her lips as she continued to enjoy the feeling against her face. A grace, an unmerited gift, to most at least – Faith deserved it by birth right, it was no gift really, it was more like a reprisal of sorts. This was where she belonged and whether she liked it or not one day it was where she would have ended up regardless – somehow leashed to on greater than herself for reasons and results far out of her control. “My deepest apologies for my behavior my queen. I’m afraid all my preparation for this inevitability… j’…” a small chuckle no less plaintive than her eyes made her lips tremble “I…” it wasn’t often in Faith’s life words escaped her and even less often she couldn’t force speech that was anything shy of graceful.

If she told her she would take that opportunity a year from now, gushed over the chance of it surely it would be insulting, if she stammered an agreement that she was sure it was okay to live here and it wouldn’t be awful she worried it may not sound genuine enough, if she said nothing at all surely it would be unfortunate all in all… Faith just raised her head and wrapped herself a little tighter, “May I have one of these my queen?” Faith asked, “One of my own?” it was all she could think to say and odd as it may have sounded from her own lips it was a desire she felt within, she wanted to have nice things in her life again.
-
The girls in the room beyond Clarissa all giggles and leered on Alvera with narrow eyes and curled rueful lips, it seemed Alvera was the only person in the entire kingdom that crossed the higher paths, specifically Alvera and Clarissa’s that didn’t realize Clare was madly in love with her, loyalty on both of their end of the complicated triangle held them back from truly realizing the depth of commitment they could find for each other. “Not at all Alvera.” She whispered before following her out into the hallway to begin their trip to the throne room so the new girl that had Alvera stammering could be collected and prepared for their first night together.

“Alvera,” Clarissa chuckled endearingly, “How long have we known each other?” She went on to tease, looking over her shoulder at the bumbling woman with affection so torpid in her eyes. “-and still you insist on walking behind me and more over…” an exasperated huff flared her nostrils Clare shaking her head. “-and I’m lucky to have you guiding me… now guide, stop following.” Her feet stopped and she fell in file with Alvera taking her arm from her and wrapping her own two around it so they were walking close by to each other – side by side. “-and please Alvera, call me Clare… at least once.” A longing request followed by an awkward chuckle to move passed it.

“Y’know, I almost agreed this year. –to leave. But you said it; I’m very good with the girls. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone else and I wouldn’t wish anyone less than capable on Danika’s hands. I couldn’t leave in good conscience if I wanted to.” Clare didn’t lament in saying it, she sounded amused in her resignation. “Besides, I wouldn’t get to have you playing my shadow every other day – would I?” more endearment in her voice and even more after in the tongue dipping passed her lips to waggle at Alvera as she squeezed her arm.

“When we are alone, you may call me Dani, or Danika if you prefer.” Although Faith’s manners were admirable, Danika would love for her to get to a point where she felt comfortable using the queen’s given name in private as soon as possible. After all, it was a little weird having girls cry out ‘My Queen!’ or ‘M’lady!’ during the throes of passion. “Though, when we are in public, you must address me by my proper title, as is proper.” The queen offered the gentle reminder with a smile. Pfffft…’her title’. Even –she- thought all the hoops that common folk had to jump through in order to show her some respect was incredibly ridiculous. But she understood the rituals for what they were: a symbol of her strength, of her power, and forced respect.

“Of course you may have one for your own. Keep that one until we can get one made up for you. Clarissa will explain more about how to order clothing for youself…but basically you will be given an allowance, just like all the other girls. One to spend on frivolties, lessons and clothing of your choosing.” Although she treated all of the women in her harem like treasures, she was quick to give them boundaries in order to prevent them from becoming spoiled little shrews. An allowance served as a reminder that they were –not- royalty or potential wives, but employees of the queen.

“Are you cold still?” She asked after a moment, apparently confusing the way Faith nostalgically nuzzled at the furs for her clinging closer to them in an attempt to get warmer. Without waiting for a response, Dani closed the distance between them and drew Faith straight into her arms. Soft cloths and fine leathers pressed against bare porcelain flesh as the queen coaxed her newest acquisition to allow her body to mold against her own. It took a few moments for the heat to build and pass between them, but when it did, it seemed that Danika was a natural furnace; perfect company for long, winter nights.

“Better?” The tall brunette purred sweetly, her fingers idly tracing along the small of Faith’s back. Not low enough to be all out lewd…but definitely glancing so close to the dimples above her rear that the blonde would not doubt what services Dani was going to request of her tonight.

---

Alvera’s boots thudded softly in the grand hallways, almost entirely drowning out the sound of Clarissa’s near-silent, graceful footfalls. Now that she was far away from the vulture-like gaze that the girls of the harem seemed to always give her, the guard felt much more at ease.

At least…until her and Clarissa actually started talking about more than simple pleasantries.

“I have known you since the day you first set foot in this castle.” Whether a rhetorical question or not, the guard still answered any question given to her truthfully. She still remembered the day that Clarissa has been dragged into the castle by a slaver. It had been incredibly cold, even for Trinil. Dani had been a lot more brazen, and Alvera had had a lot fewer scars under her uniform. God, even then, she had felt her heart flutter at just the sight of the redhead. But at the end of the day…what difference did it make how the matron made her feel or not? Clare belonged to Dani…and even though the Queen had generously offered the guard the use of her retinue for some ‘stress relief’, Alvera had declined every time. She didn’t want to be with a woman who’s job it was to please her. It was –impossible- for her to find any sort of…enjoyment with a passing stranger.

Perhaps that was why Alvera did not notice that Clare was madly in love with her: she just assumed Clare was sweet and kind to her because that was her job. The matron was here to put people at ease, to entertain (whether it be intellectually or physically), and to service Dani if she was called to the Queen’s chambers. Not to fall in love with a gentlewoman of a guard.

“I-“ Alvera gaped as Clarissa abruptly stopped walking, forcing the guard to fall into line with her. She immediately stiffened as a delicate arm wrapped about her own, making the leather creak and the chainmail rustle softly. Although she could not feel Clarissa’s touch, she –knew- it was there. Knew that the sleeve of her dress would feel silken and fine, that the skin underneath would petal-soft, and that Clare’s arm would start off feeling cool and then grow warm the longer they were bound together this way. Bright pink tinged her cheeks…

She shouldn’t feel this way! Damn this section of the Keep! It was cursed!

“As you wish, …Clare.” The name fell from her lips, coated in an unsure and timid tone as she tried the word out on it’s own, without a title infront of it. It was…different. A good kind of different though, she supposed.

“Well…I’m glad you chose to stay.” Alvera murmured after a few moments of reflection. The uncomfortable realization that she would -miss- Clarissa if she was gone caught her off guard. She had seen girls come and go from the retinue, and couldn’t say that she had missed any of them when they left. But if Clare was gone, she would definitely miss her presence. Not only because the matron’s resignation would mean that Alvera would have to worry about the girls of the retinue tearing the castle apart from the inside out, but because she actually really did enjoy playing the shadow for Clarrisa. Walking down the hallways as her faithful guard dog almost brought as much fulfillment that it did when she watched over the queen. “You definitely do brighten the castle up with your presence.”

So busy trying to not ram a boot straight into her unsure mouth again, Alvera had entirely lost track of where they were in the castle. She had opened the door for Clarissa, to head inside the throne room, but the matron was still on her arm! Gah!!!

The queen arched a delicate brow as her eyes fell upon the opening doorway. Alvera with a lady on her arm? And that lady was Clarissa?! Dani could count the list of lovers that her guard had taken over the past 10 years on one hand!

“I ah…am just…going to go…over…there…” Alvera stammered out. Fearing some teasing from the queen, the guard quickly excused herself and disentangled her arm from Clarissa so that she could go hide somewhere else in the room while the three other women took care of business.

“Clarissa! Good of you to come down here so quickly.” Oh it was everything Dani could do to keep a straight face. Were her two closest companions so oblivious that they did not think she knew what was going on here? Well…she’d let them both save face and pretend she had not noticed a thing, just as she always did. “I trust the girls are behaving themselves?” The Queen’s lips curled into a teasing grin as she drew the subject away from Clarissa and Alvera’s entrance and onto the business at hand. She knew that this time of year caused the young women of her harem to end up in a tizzy over nothing. “This will be your newest charge. Her name is Faith. And ah…please see to it that the girls are nice to her. She is still a virgin.”

Perhaps she should call Clarissa in to help her give Faith a demonstration of how she liked to be pleasured?

Hum…no…perhaps another time. After she had broken in Faith a little better…

But if she wasn't going to take care of Clarissa's sexual needs, who was?!

Faith looked at her Queen perplexed, a queen that didn’t want to be called a queen… how strange. In her land people loved their titles, they clinged to them, they made them the most important thing, made them more important than the fibre of their character, if you were a serf then maybe your title was one to avoid – however if you were a royal hand of some sort, a handmaiden or a judge, even just a third cousin of the inner sanctum of a house… it was everything. She was the daughter, the first born daughter, the only child – it never meant much to her personally and yet it meant everything to the world around her, it meant her location, it meant her lavish, it meant her penance and martyrdom, it was nothing and it was everything… so a woman, the queen, who had everything but wanted, sincerely, outside of the public eye to be referred to as nothing… it was odd in the least… then again, she knew being just someone could be a heck of a lot more humanizing than the title that came before it – even if that was no title at all.

“Lessons?” She asked her confusion only growing; it all was growing – at least in how surreal it felt. As they gap between them was forcibly closed Faith grimaced, Danika’s cloths were cool against her skin, but within seconds their collective body-heat did remedy, did warm her, -she felt comforted. The familiarity of lush fur couldn’t soothe her soul like that of a warming embrace, like another human body – woman, man, child, geriatric – whatever… just being held by another human – it felt nice, that felt humanizing.

It was amazing just how hot Danika was to the touch, Faith couldn’t help but curl in closer and closer till there was not but bunched clothing between their bodies. She held her tight, no longer caressing her cheek against the fur of her cloak but now upon Danika’s shoulder. Faith seemed a little detached, she was a little detached, it wasn’t like back home – trying to take comfort in the egregious, it was much warmer than that. Shouldn’t it have been harder to really feel that way though? Shouldn’t she feel cheap and shamed – she was a slave now… a slave from a lady, the hand on her lower back, finger tips tracing sensitive spots… and maybe it wasn’t resignation that made her tell herself she was ready for it too.

At least there was a light at the end of this tunnel, one she could put her name stake into. Resigning herself to the fact her father would never come home alive, resigning herself to the fact her days as a lady were numbered, resigning herself to the fact her head would probably roll side by side with his, these were all hard, they all hurt but with time she could become numb to anything – just the same as she could be excited, once upon a time. For the moment though it didn’t hurt, it didn’t sting, she wasn’t excited – that said – she wasn’t the sort of numb that glazed over the chilling sting of hurt either. She was warm, “Better.” –and numb to the moment, even if the fingers tracing her delicate skin made her squirm ever so slightly.

Clarissa thought back on that, her first day in this castle… she probably hadn’t been much different from the girl she was going to fairy away. Those days were over though, she was strong now, she was in control now, she was a sexual dynamo, she was poetry in motion, she was everything a man or woman could want and what they’d never understand, she was mysterious, she was seductive, she was what Dani, what the girls, what everyone needed to be… but she was also nothing to herself and sometimes it was hard not to hurt about the fact she seemed very little beyond a good friend to the woman she was sure she loved. Alvera always seemed a little off guard when she was around, of course, and by all rights any other acting that way around her may be clear evidence! –but after so many years dancing their dance without Alvera ever making a move or even hinting she may want to the discouraging nature of the times between began to brow beat her away from her own game. Alvera just seemed impervious to her, she seemed just as skilled at making sure her blows glance as those of anyone who would harm their queen.

It was all so maddening, maddening enough to make her want to scream! Their arms were linked and yet she couldn’t even feel the warmth of her skin she pined after, she said her name and yet Clare would have her cry it, they were close as close could be – and yet so very far.

Her eyes fell, Alvera was glad she stayed… well good, right?

Her presence brightened the castle… well that was wonderful for the castle’s sake after all.

Nobody could handle the girls like she could… but what about herself?

She was sure nobody could ever handle Alvera like she could given the chance.

“Alvera,” Clarissa squeezed her arm and tried to steal her eyes, “what if I st-“ and so did cruel fate twist. Before her explanation cleared her lips Alvera reached for the throne-room door. “I want to talk to you Alvera wa-“ for a split second as the hysterics cleared it was almost like you could see Clarissa’s infinite reserve crack giving way to disappointment. Her hands followed the knight’s arms like they just could not accept the parting of ways.

“I would not want to leave you waiting Dani, you know better.” She chuckled in an attempt to hide her sickly disappointments and woes. Woes for something, really, by all rights she shouldn’t even be allowed to be upset about. After all, she was a piece in the retinue, she was Danika’s, Clare didn’t get to be courted so long as she was Dani’s did she? “So this is the latest addition hmm?” her eyes narrowing slightly as she found it on Dani’s face… she knew, but she wasn’t making it known, it would probably go far over Alvera’s head… everything went over Alvera’s head! –maybe part of why she loved the woman so desperately. “-and no need to worry about the others so long as I’m here, is there?”

“Come again? –A virgin?” Clarissa chuckled and rolled her eyes, she had been too, that said, she hadn’t been nearly as much a mouse as Faith, the virgin did. “If I may Danika…” Clare paced across the room with grace and dignity as she took away Faith’s removing the cloak from her shoulders and gently coaxing Danika to part from her. Faith grimacing visibly as the chill of the room once again alienated her from comfort, even though her posture reformed to utter perfection she felt like slumping down to a mess like the girls she’d come with.

“Posture is perfect… since you picked her it’s fair to assume her teeth also. She was a lady… though she’s been destitute for quite some time, a hearty cooked meal would serve her well she’s practically withering away Danika.” Clare was watching for more than just her reactions to the odd poke or prod, if they failed her posture, they didn’t, “I don’t know Danika… are you sure about this one? –she’s a doll… and surely I don’t mean that as a compliment.” The matronly woman’s eyes parted from the alabaster flesh of their newest addition and found Danika’s – maybe just being cruel for the sake of it, maybe just being cruel because in a way… in a way she was beginning to feel as though the rest of the world was being cruel to her.

A long sigh passed her lips. “Would you receive her nude in your chambers or did you have something less sensual in mind? –whatever the case, she’ll need a bath and a light meal before anything.” If Danika, her oldest, closest friend intended to withhold something from her? –well, she’d drag out her chance to play with her newest toy for as long as she could, her little way of passing back a little repayment in kind. Sure, she was Dani’s doting and humble servant – but she also fancied herself a friend and after all, if not teaching each other lessons, what were good friends for? –her eyebrow raised so ruefully it almost seemed she was asking the internal question allowed.

As much of a complete and utter lecher as she was, Dani did truly love a more chaste cuddle every once in awhile. And Faith seemed to fit so perfectly into her arms that the Queen didn’t even mind that they were standing in the middle of a giant, drafty throne room and not curled up in a more cozy bed. Perhaps later tonight, if her new little toy was unwilling to part with her virginity they could just…

A small whimper escaped her throat. Damnit Clarissa!

Much like a dog who’s toy had been taken away, Danika also gave a subtle, displeasured whine and furrowed her brow when Clarissa took the maiden out of her grasp for inspection. But she regained her composure a split-second later…it wouldn’t do for a Queen to be pouting. A smug smile came to her lips instead; confident that Clare too would see that her choice had been excellent! …But it appeared that the most favorite part of her retinue was not on the same page as her.

Of course Clarissa was the favorite! Though that didn’t mean that Dani was in –love- with her. She was just especially fond of the redhead, since –usually- Clare never made her wish to pull out her hair in frustration. And they got along quite well; even achieving that level of frankness that one could have with close friends without fear of them becoming offended.

“I remember a certain scrawny little redhead being dragged into these halls years ago. Who would have thought she’d grow to be so critical towards girls that were very much like she had been.” She gently rebuked Clarissa for her rudeness. Faith would grow into something much greater than a pretty little doll, Danika could feel it! “You know me better than to think that I pick girls only because they are lovely to look at and have a subservient predisposition; I pick them because they have the potential to be so much more than what they are. Look at you and how lovely you have turned out.” She offered her friend a smile. Clarissa definitely was remarkable; though no one would have noticed her as anything other than a terrified looking slave years ago. Well…no one except for perhaps Alvera. Sometimes Danika thought that she had picked Clare not for herself, but for the Captain of the Guard.

Dani’s brow furrowed a bit as Clare listed off the things her new plaything would need. A bath and a meal…ugh…that would take forever! But she knew the matron was right: Faith had had a long journey in a slave caravan; she’d need to wash off the dirt from the trip, and the girl was indeed quite thin, a hearty meal would be good for her. But still, Dani couldn’t help but feel that Clarissa was going to take her sweet time getting Faith ready for tonight. “Hrrmmph. Well… take her then. I expect her back to me before I go to bed. Give her something to wear that she can sleep in, and that is easily removable.”

Now…who would be least offended if they were kicked out of bed and replaced with Faith to cuddle with…

“Send Rosaline to my chambers in the mean time.” Yes…Rose was always eager for a quick romp, then a bath, and perhaps another tumble in the hay before a real bath. And if her lust was sated, Danika would be less inclined to bed Faith before she was ready. Virgins were such delicate creatures and the girl already appeared to be in a fragile state. The last thing Dani wanted to do was break her newest toy. “Or you may come in Rose’s stead if you wish; perhaps it has been too long since I have had you and that is why you are so grouchy today? Or maybe I could volunteer Alvera for the task of attending to your needs since I am so busy. She is still single, if I remember correctly.” Dani couldn’t help but tease her friend. And she knew Alvera was probably slinking about somewhere nearby, had heard the comment, and was now slowly dying on the inside from a mixture of embarrassment and emotions that were too confusing for her to comprehend.

In truth it had been a little over a month since she had called Clarissa into her chambers; usually she called one of her girls in once or twice a week…but Clare had fallen into this rotten place where Danika actually felt bad for having her spend the night. It wasn’t often that Dani felt guilty for her high libido, but when she had to see Alvera’s downtrodden face on the mornings where she would have to escort Clare from Danika’s chambers and back to the rest of the retinue, she couldn’t help but feel a bit sad. If only Alvera wasn’t such a nitwit; one would have to be blind to not notice the attraction that the two had for one another. Alvera’s stoic facade was hard to break. Danika had to push many, many buttons to get her old friend flustered. But Clarissa could do it with just a glance and a smile!