Heir, page 15
part #5 of Ressaline Series
“She got cocky and lost a permanent challenge.”
“To you?”
“No. By then, I was being careful, and the chances of losing to her were too high. She underestimated one of the Charthans. I won the Charthan in question the next time she participated in the monthly event.”
“So she had to give you her slave?”
“No. I made sure she had a very, very nice time then, after she had recovered, I asked her to trade.”
“What happened to her slaves, the other glassmakers?”
“When someone loses a permanent challenge, all her property follows the line of inheritance, just as if she had died. Her property would have gone to her daughters, but she had no daughters who were citizens, so her slaves become the property of the duchess.”
“So Olivia has them.”
“Not Lady Olivia. The duchess. Well, the duchy. Olivia has the choice of freeing them or offering them to others. She sold them to me, partly a trade, partly a portion of my business, and partly in goods. I didn’t have the amount of money that would have been required. I’ll be paying that debt for a few more years, but I have as many slaves as I want now. Almost all of them as glassmakers, but I keep two for the household.”
“No pleasure slaves?”
“We don’t tend to keep pleasure slaves. We put them to complete duties. When I want a pleasure slave, I look for a practice challenge.”
“That’s what Lisolte told me.”
“On any given night here, there are a dozen new slaves, for the night, anyway.”
I nodded understanding then lifted my lips. She took the hint, and we spent several minutes kissing.
Then she said, “I know what you told Olivia. I want to ask you a favor.”
“Holliahta, I don’t want to get between your daughter and my sister. Maybe they are really only friends, but they’re kissing friends. That probably means more to Darfelsa than Gretchena.”
“If you believe that, you’re wrong,” she said. “My daughter is besotted.”
“So when it is her time for her First, your name is at the top of the list.”
“Absolutely not. That would drive a large wedge between my daughter and me. But if I am your First, then our families will be closer.” I didn’t say anything to that. “I had a speech planned,” she added. “I’m nervous, and I lost half of it.”
“I don’t need fancy speeches. I need to make the right decision for my sister.”
“True, but you also need to make the right decision for yourself. I am asking this as a favor, Princess.”
“Don’t call me that,” I said. “Not when asking personal favors.”
“I have reasons why this would help me,” she said. “I’m struggling to find compelling reasons for you.”
“I’m listening, but I’m leery, Holliahta.”
“You like our kisses.”
“I am happy to be here, but it is only for a while.”
“Perhaps so,” she said. She stroked my face.
“Tell me your reasons,” I said after a minute.
“Prior to Darfelsa and Gretchena beginning to spend time together, I don’t know if Lady Olivia knew my name.”
“And now you have social standing.”
“Borrowed social standing. I know it was Allium who recommended me, or I wouldn’t even be here tonight. Gretchena has been invited to these events, twice, but I have not.”
“You’re asking me to elevate your social standing.”
“Yes. That sounds a little…”
“It’s fine,” I said. I wasn’t sure it was.
“It’s not for me, Ahlianna. It’s for Gretchena and Darfelsa.” I thought about that, and then she said, “We don’t really worry about social standing. Well, I never have. I am a glassmaker, Ahlianna. That is all I am and all I aspire to be. I enjoy attending events like this, but it is not like I can’t find joy when I want it.”
“I suppose.”
“We keep two homes; we have a very nice house, and then we have the house attached to our workshop. Most of the slaves stay there. I stay there often enough. If I am your First, Gretchena and her sister will stay there. You’ll see them, but they won’t stay overnight under the same roof, and I can even move the household slaves to the other house. They would still see to their duties, but we would be alone, if that would be easier for you.”
I sat up. She didn’t want to let me, but I sat up and moved to the other end of the sofa, although I turned to face her. I touched the blindfold. “How long do I keep this?”
“Until I remove it or you decide it’s time to return home. Have I offended you?”
“No, I am stalling,” I admitted.
“I admit: I’m asking this largely out of selfishness. I would be a very good First for you. Would you like to learn glass making?”
“So I would work in your shop?”
“It will depend upon how alert you are. We’ve found that with people not born to this, they spend much of their time completely lost in the bliss of being a pleasure slave, and assigning them duties more complicated than making a bed is impossible. If you are too lost, then I will stay with you. As you become more capable, I will begin to bring you to the workshop with me, but I’ll set you somewhere you can’t get hurt. Do you know how you’re going to pick?”
“No. I may not. I may simply ask Allium and Olivia to pick from a shortened list.”
“Please let me stay on the list.”
I thought about it and finally nodded. “All right. Did you also hear the things Gionna and I discussed?”
“Yes. She talked to each of us.”
“Do you want to take me home with you?”
“Yes,” she whispered. “You’ll wear the blindfold.”
“That’s fine.”
Chapter Seven
I stood in Holliahta’s bedroom as she slowly undressed me. She left the blindfold where it was, but she helped to guide my fingers, slowly removing her leather.
We came together, touching and kissing, and then she pulled a slip over my head, and one for herself. She took my hand and led me to her bed.
We kissed; we cuddled. And we touched. She showed me some touches, tame touches, but quite pleasant, and we took turns offering simple pleasures that way.
Then I found myself in her arms, my back to her front, and we lay together. She traced designs on my chest, through the slip, and I closed my eyes, letting her do what she wanted.
“That feels so nice,” I whispered.
“I’m glad,” she replied.
I fell asleep that way, and later when I woke, we were both lying together, her arms around me as I lay on my side, deeply spooned. I kissed a hand and went back to sleep.
* * * *
We looked at each other, smiling. I reached over and set my fingers against her cheek. She turned and kissed them, and then we smiled at each other again. “Thank you,” I whispered. “I’m going to share my concerns with Allium and Olivia once more, but unless something changes, I’ll ask them to decide for me. However, she of the amazing red hair may sweep me away, and Olivia hasn’t applied any pressure.”
“She won’t,” Holliahta said. “I understand entirely, Ahlianna. Thank you.”
“Regardless, we’re friends now, right?”
“Right. There’s something I want to do before you go.”
“Oh?”
She sat up and then pulled me into a sitting position, partially facing her. “You have to take this off, anyway.” And then she began struggling with the slip. I laughed, but I cooperated, and she pulled it off over my head. “Lie down on your stomach.”
I did as I was told. A moment later, she began brushing my skin with her fingers. And then she added her lips and her tongue.
I closed my eyes. It felt very nice.
She worked her way down my back. I giggled when she kissed my bottom.
I squirmed when she kissed my tailbone.
“Let me do this, Ahlianna. Please.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Just this.”
And she began licking and kissing my tailbone. I began squirming, and then really began squirming, but she grabbed my hands and pinned them to the bed. I struggled a little with her, but I didn’t really try to escape, and I didn’t tell her to stop.
It drove me crazy. It was very intense and drove me crazy.
She kept that up until I was completely out of it, squirming under her, but making no other noises beyond moaning. And then she slowly stilled before kissing her way to my neck. She lay down beside me, her hand on my bottom, and she stroked lightly as I lay there, still panting. Finally, I rolled away from her, onto my side, and looked at her.
“That was intense. If you become my First, are you going to do that again?”
“Perhaps, but it is far more likely that is amongst the things you’ll be doing to me, although you’ll find that my pleasure is also your pleasure.”
“Was that a request?”
“No. Consider it a little promise.”
I laughed. Then I gathered one hand and kissed the fingers before moving towards her, climbing atop and pinning her to her own bed. I leaned down and brushed cheeks. “I had a lovely night. Thank you.”
Then I slipped from her and began dressing.
Chapter Eight
The household was up by the time I made it back to the embassy, and I had missed breakfast. Tyleeza was manning the foyer and said, “This came for you.” She held out an envelope. “There is a covered tray in the dining room if you’re hungry.”
“I am. Do I have time to bathe first?”
“I’ll make sure it stays where it is.”
“Thank you.”
I carried the note to my quarters and set it aside. I undressed, but the note was calling to me, so I opened it.
Princess Ahlianna,
I would like to call on you today and suggest two hours following the noon meal.
Lisolte of Charth
I considered the note. I had time, so I grabbed my robe and headed for the bathing chamber.
A half hour later, I sat at my desk, my breakfast on a small plate. I drafted an acceptance note then ate breakfast.
Tyleeza assured me Lisolte would receive it.
* * * *
I was in the library when she arrived. I stood, and she crossed the room to me. We kissed and brushed cheeks, and then she captured my hands and led me to the sofa. We sat, and Lisolte asked, “Did you have a nice evening?”
“I did. Holliahta caught me.”
“I heard.”
“I didn’t hear what happened to you.”
She laughed. “Bee and Dee were quite aggressive last night.”
“Did they catch you?”
“Yes, but not the way you think. They were converting hunters to prey. They got three or four. Then they tried to steal Corale from me.”
“And?”
“And, they stole Corale, turned around, and handed her to Mellta. And then Bee was in front of me, asking me to lead.”
“It was a trick.”
“It sure was. She took the lead from me a half song later, and then she walked me into Dee, who already had a blindfold ready.”
I laughed. “But you didn’t leave with them.”
“No. They danced me for a minute then handed me to Mellta.”
“What happened to Corale.”
“Corale and I went home with Mellta. It was a very pleasant evening.”
“Sex, sex, and more sex,” I said.
She laughed. “Offended?”
“No.”
“You need to understand something. As a society, we’re still in a little shock. We went from wondering if we’d have enough food to having plenty. Years later, and in a way, we’re still celebrating.”
“I can understand that.”
“And did Holliahta invite you home?”
“No. I invited myself home with her. And now I’m here with you.”
“Do you have duties?”
“Not a one.”
“Commitments?”
“Not a one.”
“Would you walk with me? Eventually we’ll have dinner, and there’s a small party tonight, just a few friends. You’re dressed perfectly.”
“I’d like that.”
* * * *
We walked. We talked. We held hands.
She kissed me on the village green.
We went to dinner. I don’t remember what I had. She took me to her home to clean up, which really meant we sat on the sofa making out for a while.
Then we cleaned up, and she led me across the street.
I met her friends: Mellta, Bernadette, and Aresht. Aresht and Bernadette brought pleasure slaves with them, two women near my age, dressed in red resin and deeply devoted to their owners. Five of us played cards, and it was my turn to learn a new game. The game ended, and I had performed poorly. “Well, now you have to pay your debt,” Mellta said.
“Oh?” I prompted. The others watched carefully. I glanced at Lisolte, but she said nothing. The others were watching me, but she was watching Mellta.
“As I won, you belong to me for the rest of the evening. Please let the pleasure slaves undress you.”
I laughed. “In my country, we agree to the terms of any wagers prior to the beginning of the game.”
“We’re not in Flarvor, and thus you are subject to our customs.”
“No,” I said. “I am subject to only one of those customs, and that one has not yet begun.”
“You risk violating our traditions?” she asked. “Wouldn’t that be some sort of international insult?”
“Quite possibly,” I said, “but the insult might be in failing to explain the complete rules of this game.” I smiled. “However, I do not believe that is the insult at all. I am fairly certain you’re making all this up, possibly in a game with me, but equally likely a game with Lisolte.”
“You accuse me of duplicity?”
“Oh, I definitely accuse you of duplicity. Either you are making this up now, or you knowingly kept the rules from me when I agreed to play. However, if I were a betting woman, I’d bet you were making it up.”
She looked away. “I overplayed my position.”
“You sure did. You might have gotten something smaller.”
The others laughed. It was Lisolte who said, “You’re normally better than this, Mellta.”
“She’s 18. She doesn’t know a thing. I thought she might be a spoiled princess who would swoon to belong to me.”
I laughed. “You did not.” I turned to my date. “Were you going to let her get away with that?”
“No way. You’re my date tonight. I only wanted to see her squirm, trying to talk you into it.”
“Would you have played if that were a real rule?” Bernadette asked.
“No. I came with Lisolte. I’d consider it if I had come alone, but probably not for a game I was just learning.”
“What if it were a partners game?”
“I don’t know. You can try sometime, but don’t be disappointed if I turn you down.”
She nodded, and I shifted my gaze. “Take me home.”
“Are you upset?” Mellta asked.
“No. I want to spend the rest of the evening with Lisolte. We have things to discuss.”
“Ah. To discuss. Important things, I imagine.”
“Very important,” I said.
Five minutes later, I tugged my date towards her own house. She grinned. “I thought you meant the embassy.”
“We could go there if you prefer, but this is closer.”
“So it is. You can barely see the corner of the embassy from here.”
“Are you seriously complaining?”
“No, no. Feeling playful.”
Laughing, we ran across the street to her home. She let us in, and then I took her hand. “I was very rude?”
“To Mellta?”
“Inviting myself here.”
She laughed. “Would you like to see my bedroom?”
“Yes. Am I spending the night?”
“Yes.”
Chapter Nine
Saturday arrived. Allium helped me decide what to wear, a similar outfit to one I’d wear to a horse track, complete with a hat. I knew I looked alluring in a hat, and I smiled at her. She wore her own hat, and I also knew the entire household was dressing. “Will they all sit with us?”
“No. They’ll be in the general audience. Are you scared?”
“No. Nervous, but not scared.”
“Ahlianna, you might begin to respond poorly.”
“If I do, no one will know.”
“If you do, Olivia asked permission to drug you.”
“Excuse me?”
“They have a tonic. It makes you calm and agreeable.”
“That’s the one Claary talked about.”
“Yes.”
“Did you give permission?”
“I don’t have that much authority.”
“Allium, the worst I’ll do is walk out.”
“I want to ask you something. What if it’s worse than that? What if you begin to respond poorly? Or what if you change your mind.”
“What are you asking?”
“Do you want us to let you make a scene?”
“No, but I won’t.”
“Change your mind?”
“I’ve made promises.”
“If you walk out, I bet you’ll have already changed your mind.”
“I made promises, Allium. I have no intention of backing out of them.”
“Frankly, I think this is a mistake, Ahlianna, and Olivia is convinced you’re going to run.”
I looked her in the eye. “Ambassador, I think for this conversation, you should be using my title. I wouldn’t be here otherwise.”
“You’re right, Princess Ahlianna.”
“What are you asking your princess to do, Ambassador?”
“I don’t know.”
“Yes, you do.”
“I don’t want to ask the princess. I want to ask my friend.”
I considered. “Ask.”
“Do you want us to let you back out?”
“Let?”
“Yes. Let.”
“I have no intention of backing out.”
“And Olivia is convinced you’re going to change your mind.”
“And you?”
