by Robin Roseau
I laughed. “All right, then.”
“I want you to do it this morning. Is that too many for you to do at once?”
“We’ll see what Allium and Claary say, but I know Claary took several during a Saturday event, one of her first. It was a big group event. She and another woman were the last two standing, or something like that. It was five or six she took home.”
“Wow.”
“It made her a legend. People still talk about it.”
“How does one person handle that many slaves at once? I bet they all wore red.”
“That’s the story. I asked her that once. She said she let them play together.”
“We should get up,” Shalendra said.
“Things to do, people to enslave.”
“That’s right.”
* * * *
Mariya and I took a little walk. I told her she didn’t have to go through with this if she didn’t want to.
“I do,” she said. “I’m nervous, though.”
“Why?”
“I’m not sure. Maybe…” She turned away.
I stepped closer and set my hand on her shoulder. “Tell me.”
“I’m afraid I’ll lose you some day,” she said.
“I know you’re doing the best you can to keep me safe while letting me live a life, and you’re giving me the skills to make that easier for you.” But then I realized… “That’s not what you meant, is it? Mariya, can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“Discounting this trip, when was the last time you took a lover?”
“It’s easier in Barrish,” she said. “You’re in the palace there, so I only need to worry when you’re going to be out and about.” She turned back. “I’m not complaining.”
“I know you’re not. You’re answering my question.”
“It’s been a long time since I’ve had a steady lover,” she admitted. “I’ve…” She turned away again.
“Do you think I’m going to judge?”
“It’s hard to be… just a woman with you, Princess.”
“Would it be easier if we go do this first?”
She snorted. “I’d rather you not ask this kind of questions when I can’t manage my answers.”
“I won’t,” I said. “Tell me, Mariya.”
“It wasn’t until we passed through Ressaline that I considered past choices.”
“I’m sure there was nothing wrong with those past choices.”
“I’m not sure you’re right. I’ve been making different choices, although it’s not always easy.”
“That’s cryptic. Please tell me.”
“I got my first kiss with a woman while we were in Dennaholst.”
“Oh? Who? Is that something you can tell me?”
“A woman in a bar. The barmaid. She’d been teasing me all night. I hung around far longer than I wanted to. She finally sat down beside me. We talked late, and then she told me she’d never wanted a kiss more than she wanted one right there.”
“That’s beautiful,” I told her.
“I told her afterwards she was my first woman. She immediately demanded another kiss.”
“Did you see her again?”
“No. She gave me a lot to think about.”
“This life I make you lead is hard for you.”
“I chose it,” she said strongly. “I chose you. You aren’t making me do anything.”
“Still, it’s a hard life. We know I’ll be gone a lot, which means you’ll be gone a lot.”
“Ressaline is easy,” she said. “But when we go other places, I cannot afford distractions.” She paused. “I couldn’t grow too attached to anyone who travels with us.”
“No, but when we’re safe, you could grow casually attached.”
“I don’t know what you’re saying.”
“I’m not really saying more than I’ve said,” I replied. “I’m acknowledging the difficult of your situation.”
“There will be time for that, later.”
“Mariya, I would rather you find pleasure and fulfillment where you can, when you can.”
“All lives are a compromise,” she replied. “We can’t be a carpenter and a royal guard in the same life.”
I stepped in front of her and looked up into her eyes. She didn’t turn away. We looked at each other for a minute. “You’re going to dress me in black.”
“Did you want something else?” I smiled. “Did you consider asking for red?”
She paused before answering, but then said, a husky whisper, “Yes.” She cleared her throat. “But I think that would be too confusing, Darfelsa. I think it’s a bad idea. But black are clerks.”
“Black seems to be a lot of things,” I replied. “I think there are different shades of black, or something. Shalendra told me something, and now I’m going to ask you. Don’t answer until I’m done.”
“All right.”
“She said I should ask Claary to help me give you some red. Here.” I brushed her collar. “Here.” I circled her wrists. “Maybe here.” I drew a line down her arm. “Maybe more than that.”
“What would that mean?”
“It means you would primarily be my guard, but you would also find pleasure in giving small pleasures. Shalendra pointed out that you’re part of the household, and that it was a mistake not to treat you like it. She’s right. I intend this for each of them, and I’m going to let them play together, as they please. It’s up to you, Mariya.”
“Could you… Could you let me do nice things for Tess?”
“Of course, Mariya, and the others, if you want.”
“You’re not going to make them all red?”
“No. Shalendra wants me to do her this morning. She’ll be red, for me. I don’t want to confuse my staff too much. Mariya, I don’t want to confuse you, either.”
“I think I’d like the red piping,” she replied. She smiled. “I think I’d like massaging your feet.”
I laughed. “You would, hmm?”
“During my First, she made me massage her feet every night before bed. I don’t know which of us enjoyed it more.”
“It won’t be as intense. It will be pleasant for you, or so I’m told.”
“I’d still like that.”
“Then we have a plan.”
“We have a plan.”
* * * *
We had breakfast. The tub was already set up, waiting. I didn’t see her disappear, but then Mariya was at my side, wearing only a white shift. Shalendra saw that, kissed my ear, and said, “I’ll be back before you’re done with her.” She would appear shortly, wearing her own shift.
But for now, I focused on Mariya. I stood and took her hands. She looked into my eyes. I could see she remained nervous. But then, without any prompting, she lowered herself to her knees, bowed, and said, “Princess Darfelsa, I wish to do this to help me solidify my focus to you. You are my princess, and I have vowed myself to your service. To me, this is an important ritual, sealing me to your service.”
“Mariya Felist,” I replied. “I hear you, and I am touched by your faith in me, and by the sacrifice you make in your life to help ensure I keep my own life. I have never taken your service lightly, and I vow I will do my best to make myself worthy of your faith in me.”
I stepped slightly closer, looking down at the top of her head. “This is a Ressaline custom, but this group, my household, we have decided to adopt certain Ressaline customs. There is one you and I have not shared, but I find that I wish us to, beginning now.” I used a hand to lift her chin, and then I leaned down and brushed cheeks. “Thank you so much, Mariya.” I gave her ear a kiss.
“Service to you is not a sacrifice.” She paused a moment and then said, “I love you, Darfelsa.”
“I love you, too, Mariya. I’ll be disappointed if you don’t kiss my ear.”
She offered a nervous giggle, which wasn’t a sound I’d ever heard from her before, but she did, indeed, kiss the ear, and sweetly besides.
“Stand
now,” I ordered, then helped steady her as she did, which was undoubtedly entirely unnecessary.
I steadied her again as she settled into the tub. She smiled and looked up at me. “This may be the most indulgent thing I’ve ever done in my life.”
“Sat in a tub of warm, magical resin?”
“Yes,” she confirmed.
“It feels good, doesn’t it?”
“Quite.”
“Mariya, I want you to close your eyes.”
And then Bee, Dee, Claary, and Allium were there. “Darfelsa, you don’t need our help,” said Dee. “But Mariya is special, and I think she would enjoy this more with us.”
“I would love your help, if Mariya is comfortable.”
“It won’t change what I’ll be for you, will it?” Mariya asked.
“No,” Claary said.
“Then I’d like that.”
“Claary, can you guide me.”
“Yes. Come sit here.” She put a stool at the head of the tub, behind Mariya’s head. Bee and Dee took their own stools at each of her hands, and I didn’t worry very much about what they were doing. “Mariya,” Claary said. “This will be a little strange for you at first. I’m going to be whispering to Darfelsa, but you’ll probably hear. She’ll be whispering to you. Do your best to ignore my voice and listen to hers. Eventually, I should be able to withdraw. I want to warn you both; this may not work the first time. Doing different colors isn’t difficult, once you’ve done it, but some women struggle with it. I can make adjustments if we need to, once this is done, so if Mariya still comes out in red, I can change it.”
“Thank you, Claary,” I said. “How do you feel, Mariya?”
“Nervous, but comfortable. What Bee and Dee are doing feels nice.”
“We are an extension of Darfelsa,” Dee said.
“Think about me,” I said into her ear. “Think about serving me.” She offered a little nod.
Then Claary leaned and spoke into my ear, one hand on my shoulder to steady herself. “This is about intention, and how you see her,” she said. “If you see her as a playmate, she’ll come out in red.”
“I want some red,” I said. “Mariya protects me, but she is also an important part of my household, and I want my household to be able to share pleasures together. Guess who taught me that, Claary.”
“It’s possible to give two colors from the beginning, but for me, it’s easier to add them after. But you can try seeing her that way from the beginning, and maybe you won’t need my help at the end. That’s how most people do it. It’s not as precise in placement, but it’s what Gigi does.”
“That part doesn’t matter.”
“So think about her as your protector. Envision in your mind a representation of that. You could make her bright pink, if that’s how you see your protector. The colors used are traditional, but it’s not that red makes pleasure magic. It is your intention.” I nodded understanding. “Set the image in your mind, a physical image that matches your intention. And then begin talking to her, keeping that image in mind. Touch and stroke, like you would normally. You have enough control now that you won’t be overtaken by the magic, especially not with Bee and Dee helping.”
I nodded. “Mariya,” I whispered. I gave her ear a little kiss. “You are my vision of strength, security, and protection, an integral portion of my household. You protect me, and by extension, the entire household, our little family.” I began touching, stroking, dipping my hands into the resin and swirling it, then swirling it over her shoulders.
I continued like that, and then Claary whispered, “Good. Also think about your position as head of this household, as Princess Darfelsa, King’s Envoy, as Princess Darfelsa, Right Hand to the Crown Princess.”
I whispered. I touched. At one point, I ordered, “Untie her shift. I wish to see her entire, glorious body.” And in my mind, she did have, indeed, a glorious body, strong and powerful, as befitting her duties.
I talked about her as my trainer, as the woman who carried my sword so I didn’t have to. From time to time, Claary whispered, but it became nearly entirely encouragement.
“Prepare it,” I whispered. Even though she wouldn’t be a pleasure slave, the process was the same, and the magic required the focus from the device. And so Dee didn’t simply prepare it, she gently slid it in place, holding it until it settled. When I glanced at her, she smiled.
But I closed my eyes and went back to focusing on Mariya.
I could feel the magic taking hold of her. Bee and Dee withdrew, and so I remained the only woman touching my new slave, this woman who was so important to me, this woman without whom I couldn’t really do the things I did, as someone would undoubtedly have put a stop to it.
She began making little sounds, but it wouldn’t be a great, rushing surge of pleasure. It was really simply sweet acceptance. More than acceptance, but Mariya claiming her position in relation to mine.
But I felt when it was complete, and at that, she gave a long, low sound of fulfillment. She knew her place in the world.
I stayed here, at her head, my hands still in the resin, just touching her now, not moving, my cheek beside hers.
“Princess,” she whispered. No one else spoke.
Then, without prompting, she rose. We both stood. She climbed from the tub without help and then immediately knelt before me.
I looked down, and she was dressed in gleaming black, but more than black. I’ll come back to that. “Princess Darfelsa, I am yours,” she said.
I smiled. “It is customary for you to carry a slave name, and I know you’ve done so. But when you belong to me, you remain Sergeant Mariya Felist, head of the squad that protects my household, and an integral portion of that same household.” I set my hands on her shoulders, intending to guide her to rise, but that was when I noticed.
I stared at my hands.
I was encased in resin from my fingers to just before my elbows. And there were three colors. “Mariya,” I said. “Rise.” I steadied her but then held up my hands. “I think I need to understand what happened. Are you all right?”
“I need my weapons, Princess,” she said. “Then I’ll be all right.”
“Her weapons,” I ordered. “Henra, get her properly equipped. My sword as well.”
They hurried to it. I stood, looking at Mariya, and so I have a moment to explain her appearance. She was in gleaming black, as that was the image I had. But it wasn’t all the same color, or something. There were patterns in the black, and perhaps it wasn’t different color, but a different texture to the resin, the shiny resin reflecting the light differently. Shalendra stepped to my side, and I glanced to see her in her shift. “She’s beautiful, Darfelsa.”
It wasn’t all black. There was also red. I had given her red! Oh, it was predominantly black, but there were red swirls mixed in, narrow in some places, wide in others, and then it swirled into red at her elbows, so that both hands were entirely red. Maybe that confused her role slightly, but it helped to mark her as part of the family, and probably also represented the pleasure I took from knowing she was beside me.
Mariya noticed her hands. She smiled. “Thank you, Princess.”
“Thank you, Mariya,” I replied. I took one hand in both of mine. “You are so important to this household. Your primary duties are to protect me and the household, but you also must be a member of the household, and you must see yourself that way. These hands are to bring pleasure in their touch, pleasure to us and pleasure to you.” Then I lifted fingers and brushed her lips. “These are not for me, except in the simple greetings we share. But if these lips provide pleasure to others in this household, that is between you and her. When you are off duty, you may offer pleasure as most pleases you, and as accepted by the others.”
“Thank you, Princess,” she repeated.
By then, Henra had arrived with Mariya’s gear. She belted the weapons in place, and Mariya smiled. “Now all is proper.”
“All is proper,” I agreed. “You are not yet o
n duty, but you will be in a moment. Kneel to me once more, Mariya, and declare yourself.”
She knelt. “I am Sergeant Mariya Felist,” she said. “Sworn to Princess Darfelsa.”
“Sergeant Felist,” I replied. “You are my protection, and you are of my household. Rise, and assume your duties.”
She stood, and then she turned outward, but she kept herself near me at all times, never interfering, but always close.
Then I turned to Claary. I raised my hands. The resin had dried, like it would for a slave, but only to my elbows. And it wasn’t red, like I’ve worn before, or black, like Mariya now wore.
They were predominantly swirls of gold and purple, which I didn’t at all understand, but with lines of red as well. “Claary?”
She shook her head. “I’m not the expert on that.”
Gionna stepped forward. She’d been whispering to some of her bodyguards. “Darfelsa, two things. We’ll discuss this, then my guards have recommendations for your new slave.”
“What happened, Gionna?”
“I’ve never seen this. Kavrala has, and we’ve all heard of it. You tied yourself to the magic. You did this. Mariya is yours, but you also see yourself as hers. I think this is representation of your duties to her.”
Kavrala stepped up to flank Gionna. “May I speak?”
“Always, Kavrala,” I said.
“This is rare, but it is considered a good sign. Frankly, I’m a little jealous. I’ve never managed to make this happen.”
“You’ve tried?”
“Would you like to understand why?”
“Oh, most definitely.”
“Then I suggest you turn to your suitor and simply stroke her cheek, with your hand like this, or perhaps her arm.”
I understood immediately. I turned to Shalendra. I cupped her cheek with one hand, and she laid her cheek more firmly against my palm. I stroked her opposite arm with the other. And it felt amazing, through the resin. Shalendra smiled. “I like that,” she said.
“It’s very sexy,” Dee added.
I nodded. “If you’re right, Gionna, then you’re very right.” I looked at my hands. “What about the colors? Purple means artists. Yellow means a messenger. I suppose, in a way, I’m Father’s messenger.”
“How a Ressaline views the colors is immaterial,” Gionna said. “It’s how you view them.”
