by Daryl Devore
When the sounds of his footsteps faded, Leah stood.
"I do not need guidance," Branwyn snapped. "I got lost. What a rude, arrogant man. He did not have the upbringing to know to introduce himself."
"Dune Branwyn," whispered Leah as she led her into the castle, "That is Gon Lacke’s eldest son. He will inherit the castle, lands and people. There will be a feast tomorrow to honor his safe return. But now, I must get you to your room. You must be exhausted from your day. A bowl of mulled wine will soothe you."
Tiredness did not creep up on Branwyn, it ambushed her. Yawning, she followed Leah to her room. Sitting on the covers, she waited for Leah to return with her mulled wine. "Leah, stay and talk with me. I am so tired. My mind is awhirl. Please sit." She sipped the warm wine. Its fragrance swirled about her head.
"I cannot sit, dune. It would be wrong."
"Please. No one else is here. I have seen many things I do not understand, and I have no one to confide in. We’re of the same age. This is your land. You can explain things to me."
Leah gingerly composed herself on the floor.
"Are you injured?" asked Branwyn. "You sit as if it is painful."
"I received instructions twice today."
"Explain." Branwyn placed the empty wine bowl upon the table and slipped beneath her soft sheets.
"It is a serving girl’s duty to serve her dune, and if she fails she must be instructed."
"What is instructed?"
Leah stood, turned and raised her skirts. Her buttocks were tinged with red.
Branwyn put her hand up. "Cover yourself. Who did this to you, and why? You did not fail me. I am most pleased with your serving."
"I failed you by allowing you to err. You refused to bathe this morning. Cleanliness is important. It prevents disease and increases the pleasures between a man and his woman."
"You were punished because I did not bathe?"
"I was instructed, Dune Branwyn. I have learned I must help you to understand that bathing is important. Tomorrow, I will help you bathe in a way that is pleasing to you and proper for our customs."
"I saw you being spanked. That is what it is called in my part of the land. It is done to disobedient children to teach them to listen to their elders."
"That is how you seem, a disobedient child. It is my job to help you understand. I was also instructed because you spoke to Gon-Dra Malack."
"The stranger who rescued me? But I was lost. Alone. I needed assistance."
"Duna Trea told you to speak to no one unless spoken to first. I should have watched over you. I was wrong in allowing you freedom when you do not understand our customs."
"Forgive me Leah. I did not know." A yawn escaped her lips.
"It is not for me to forgive. I erred, and have been instructed. Tomorrow is soon upon us. Sleep now, dune. Forget about the confusions of today. Dream of pleasant things."
Branwyn’s eyes closed. Wondering what tomorrow would bring, she fell into a deep mulled wine-induced sleep.
Chapter Two
"I shall not climb into that basin!" Branwyn crossed her arms. She glanced down at the empty tub then back at Leah and shuddered.
Leah stepped into the tub. "Dune, please. You stand here and I shall pour the water from this pot over you and cleanse you."
"It is unsafe."
"I shall not pour the water too deep."
"I will not remove my clothes." Branwyn raised her chin and wrung her hands. "It is wrong to be seen naked by another."
"You may leave your shift on." Leah inhaled, released a deep breath then held out her hand. "Please, dune. Let me help you enter. It is my duty."
Reminded of Leah's discomfort from yesterday's instructions, Branwyn climbed into the tub covered in her white shift and stood next to her servant.
Leah stepped out and dipped her pitcher into a large barrel then poured the warmed, fragrant water over Branwyn's body. Lifting a section of the shift, she used a chunk of soap, made from mutton fat, potash, and natural soda, to rub into a lather to clean her dune.
"Leah, tell me about my rescuer. He is a handsome man. Brutish, but handsome."
Leah giggled. "The other serving girls have heard their dunes say he is the handsomest man in all the land. His name is Gon-Dra Malack. He will become Gon Malack when he inherits the castle and rules all."
"You said the gon will inherit the castle, lands and people. How can he inherit people?" Branwyn knelt so Leah could pour water down her back. "As gon, he will rule you. That I understand. But, own you?" She sighed. "Alas, again, I do not understand."
Leah rubbed soap into a towel and carefully wiped Branwyn's face then rinsed it. "The land is his to inherit."
"I understand. What is a king without land."
"What is a gon without people. Did your family not sell you?" Leah sat back on her haunches. She brushed the sweat off her forehead."
"Yes." Branwyn chewed her bottom lip. "Although I refuse to think about it that is exactly what happened to me. I was sold as my uncle would have sold one of his cows." She sat quietly mulling over what Leah had told her. "Leah?"
"Yes Dune."
"I am a dune and will become a duna. Gon-Dra Malack will become Gon Malack. But you have no title, or is Leah a title?"
She giggled. "No, Leah is my name. I have no title. I was not title born. I serve. I was trained to serve a dune. That is what I am."
"How many dunes have you served?"
Leah picked up the towels that were warming near the fire. She placed them next to the tub. "You are my third. But my first from a different part of the land." She poured three pitchers of water onto Branwyn's hair then wrapped a cloth around it to catch drips.
Branwyn stood. "Please, help me out." Leah held out a hand to help her. As water dripped onto the floor and puddled around her feet, Branwyn glanced down at herself. Her shift clung to her, revealing her body's curves.
Leah offered a towel and a fresh change of clothing. She brushed Branwyn's long, wet hair and placed it in braids, and let it hang down her back. When she was ready, Branwyn followed Leah to Duna Trea’s to begin her instruction.
The room was dark as Branwyn entered and she stood still a moment waiting for her eyes to adjust. Duna Trea stood next to a large mound of pillows and a recumbent Malack. She signaled Branwyn to approach, but to be quiet.
"These wounds are old and should have been tended to." She knelt next to the soldier to unlace and open his upper garments. "I should have seen these upon your arrival last night."
A small smile crossed his lips. "Only you, Duna Trea, would have the mettle to scold me as my mother once did. As I trust no one, but you to heal me, and the wounds did not kill me, they could wait." His head dropped back and rested on a pillow as his voice grew sleepy. "I was tired last night and wanted nothing but to find my bed. But I had to greet my parents and when the others arrived, I had to see that my men and horses were settled, then I could stand no more. Duncan offered me mulled wine. I do not remember if I drank it."
"The battles went well."
"The Gon owns many new lands. The men we fought were like children. They possessed no strength. No cunning. They feared us. I left my younger brothers, Nalar and Pettra, to rule and protect Uplands until I return."
Duna Trea dabbed healing paste on his shoulders and chest, then rubbed the mixture into his skin. "And how are the women in these new lands?"
"Bah. As weak as their men. So fragile, I would break them in bed."
"Rest your eyes and your head. Let my herbs soothe you and make you sleep so you will be strong." Duna Trea massaged his chest, arms and neck, not resting until he was in a deep sleep. "There now, he will rest. Dune Branwyn, please come sit over here. Did you rest well?"
"Most wonderfully, Duna Trea. And you?"
"Excellent. Now we begin your first and most important lesson - tragor. In your language it has many meanings. But I believe duty is a good word. Through your duty, you must submit. Submission is your tragor. Do you under
stand what that word means?"
"Yes Duna Trea. I am a very obedient person. When my aunt or uncle requested I do something, I did it without question."
"But yesterday I told you not to speak to anyone unless spoken to first, yet you disobeyed me. And did it to Gon-Dra Malack."
"I am sorry," said Branwyn. "I was frightened and confused. I…I did not know who he was. But Leah explained these things to me."
"So, do you state that you understand tragor?"
She closed her eyes and nodded.
"Then stand and remove your upper garments. Unlace your bodice, let it and your sleeves drop to your waist."
With trembling fingers, Branwyn tried to comply, but the laces refused to undo.
Duna Trea waited while Branwyn fumbled with the laces. "Now your shift. Expose your body."
Branwyn’s muscles stiffened. A chill swept through her. "But I will be naked! One should not expose one’s body to another. It is against the—"
A flash of anger filled Duna Trea’s eyes.
Remembering Leah’s instructing and her discomfort, Branwyn did not want to cause any more pain to her. Surely, Duna Trea knows it is wrong to expose oneself. She paused, hoping her duna would rescind the order.
"Tragor." One anger-filled word hung in the room.
Eyes squeezed shut, and bottom lip trembling, she reached for the bow to loosen the front of her shift, tugged on the right sleeve and removed her right arm. She gripped the material in her underarm and lowered the left sleeve. Placing her arms in front of her breasts, hands clasped under her chin, she raised her elbows, letting the material drop.
"Lower your arms."
Three simple words cut Branwyn like knives. She tried to drop her arms, but the muscles refused to obey. Tears slipped between closed lids and trickled down her cheeks.
"Tragor, dune."
With every muscle fiber fighting the motion, Branwyn lowered her arms, but held her hands clasped before her.
"Place your hands behind your back. Complete exposure. Good girl. Now step this way."
Duna Trea stood next to Malack.
Wiping her eyes with the back of her hand, Branwyn stepped over and stood next to Trea. "Have you ever touched a man?"
Her eyes widened. She covered her gasp with her hand. "No. It would be wrong."
"I thought not. Some lands lack the knowledge needed to properly train young women. Touch him. Run your fingers down his chest. Experience what a man feels likes."
"But…" Touch him. Must I? He is very handsome. Strong. Maybe just a quick touch.
"My herbs lulled him into a deep sleep. He may stir, but he will not fully waken."
The magnificence of the man sleeping before her outweighed her fear. Branwyn wanted to touch him. Angry wounds and faded scars told stories of hard-fought battles. Solid muscles proclaimed he had won those battles.
Trea knelt slipping her hand along his arm. "Feel the hardness of his body. It is one that knows how to kill men and pleasure women. Many women. And yes, women can derive great pleasure from a man. You give pleasure to them and they give it back."
Following Trea's example Branwyn knelt and skimmed her fingers across his chest and down his arm. Rubbing her fingers together, she felt the oiliness of Trea’s healing pastes. Sniffing her hand, she recognized the aroma of lavender and yarrow—herbs that induced sleep and contained healing powers. She brushed back a fallen curl of thick black hair. As her nerve increased, she stroked his stomach with her full hand, watching her fingers rise and fall as they ran over the ripples. He sighed.
"Now, repeat what you have done with your breasts."
"Duna Trea?" Her breathing increased to near the beat of her heart.
"It is not your body. Soon it will be your master’s and you must willingly touch and be touched. These repeated protests must stop. Do not argue. Tragor."
Her voice rose an octave. "But this man is not my husband. It will be a sin. I must not."
With closed eyes, Duna Trea rubbed her forehead and sighed. "To please your master and to be pleased in return, you must lose the thoughts that run through your head. In your land, your body was evil and the cause of sin. In our land, it is a joyous object—something to be cherished and honored in many ways. In your land, as your master’s property, you believe you must give him sons. Here, we believe you must give him pleasure and through that, the sons will arrive. If you are unacceptable he will not join you in bed."
Trea wiped the oils from her hands and dropped the cloth next to her chair. "Gon-Dra Malack is not your master, but he is a man and you must learn how to touch one and pleasure one before you are given." Trea looked down at the sleeping soldier. "Trust me Branwyn, when I say there is not a finer man in this land or anywhere. Step here, across him."
Her step was hesitant, but Branwyn moved forward. She chewed her bottom lip to steady her nerves.
"Now, lean over and run your breasts across his chest. Watch me." Trea untied the ribbons that held her bodice and shift and lowered the material to her waist.
Branwyn steeled herself not to flinch.
The duna leaned over, placed her hands on the pillows by Malack's shoulders and brushed her nipples across the breadth of his chest. She straightened and turned to Branwyn. "See how they respond." The dark pink nipples were erect. "The nipples on which a baby suckles also please a man. They can also pleasure you."
Branwyn's brow furrowed. "I do not understand?"
"You will." Trea checked that Malack was peacefully sleeping then continued, "When a man suckles your breast, it causes pleasurable feelings within your body. You will be glad to offer them to him." She cupped Branwyn's breasts with her hands.
Branwyn stiffened.
"And these are full, round, healthy breasts." Trea bounced her hands up and down feeling the fullness of Branwyn's breasts. "Any man would desire them. See, they respond even to my touch. Now, bend over as I did and rub them on him as I did."
You must do it. You must not fail this tragor. Branwyn placed a hand on a pillow on each side of Malack's head. He is handsome. If he were to be my husband I would tragor. She giggled. Lowering her chest, she became mesmerized watching her flesh move closer to his. The moment her nipple touched his, she felt a flush of heat surge through her body. She swayed back and forth, letting her skin caress his.
A tingling sensation pulsed through her breasts. It was not unpleasurable. She swayed to the left and was leaning to the right when Trea's voice broke into her enjoyment. "Run one along his lips."
Branwyn leaned forward. His mouth was relaxed. His breathing soft. She lowered her right nipple near to his lips. She wanted to touch him. An urge in her pricked her to continue. She touched the top center of his lips and slid her nipple down toward his chin. It rippled over the ridges of lips and scratched along his unshaven face. She shuddered and became aware of an uncomfortable heat growing between her legs.
"See how firm it grows." Trea had bent over and examined Branwyn's nipple. "The firmer it becomes the more sensitive it is. Do you feel pleasure?"
Eyes still closed, Malack shifted then settled. "Hmmm. Trea?" His voice was low.
Branwyn stumbled back. Had he felt her touch him? Had he felt the same pleasure that she did? She had enjoyed being near him. Feeling her flesh touch his. The heat in her body made her place her hand above the mounds of her breasts and sigh.
The duna leaned forward. "Yes, Gon-Dra Malack."
"Who is the dune that Leah serves?"
"Her name is Branwyn. She is young and untrained."
"She is beautiful and desirable."
"By the smile on your face, and the rise in your garments, thoughts of her fill your dreams."
"Pleasure me. It has been awhile since a duna has serviced her gon-dra. The women there…had…no skills." His thoughts wandered as he struggled to rouse himself from the depth of sleep.
Trea rose and whispered in Branwyn’s ear. "Stand quietly. Watch and learn," Trea knelt between his legs, loosened his garments
and freed his partially swollen penis. She slid her hands up and down its length, urging it to grow. The skill of her fingers brought a quick and full response. She parted her lips letting the tip of her tongue slid along the flesh of his swollen penis. Trea reached underneath him and moved her hand back and forth. She slipped him into her mouth then rocked forward gorging herself on him. His head fell back, and a contented smile settled on his face.
Trea stood, lifted her skirts and straddled his hips. She wiggled her finger indicating Branwyn should move close. She placed her hand on Branwyn's shoulder, pulled her closer and spoke softly into Branwyn's ear. "This is his favorite way to be pleasured. It is a skill you will learn later in your training." She sat upon him, her hips moving gently. Malack’s body stiffened. His hips bucked up and down. Trea closed her eyes. Soft moans alternated between Malack and her. He grabbed Trea’s hips, thrust upward, inhaled then heaved a slow sigh. Trea sat a moment longer then rose. She held out her hand to Branwyn, who held it and helped her walk to her chair. She sat and rang a small bell.
Branwyn had many questions to ask, but Trea seemed to be napping. Peeking sideways, she noticed Malack's once stiff penis relaxed to a softer state. A serving girl entered. She knelt next to the gon-dra, and using fragrant cloths, cleaned and then covered him. She turned and cleansed Duna Trea.
"Tell Duncan to come to his gon-dra." Trea settled her skirts around her legs.
Moments after the girl left, a young man entered. He was shorter than the gon-dra with straight black hair.
Trea spoke to the young man. "He will sleep peacefully now. His wounds have been tended and his manhood has been pleasured." Trea turned. "Branwyn, this is Duncan, Gon-Dra Malack’s waiting-man. He serves Malack as Leah serves you. If you ever wish to communicate with the gon-dra send the message through Leah to Duncan. Never again speak to Malack unless spoken to first."
Duncan raised his eyes. Branwyn started to raise her arms to cover herself. She glanced at Trea and quickly lowered them. She forced a smile at him.
"Very good. You are learning." Trea nodded her head "Now, let us go for a walk in the garden. As a reward, you may cover yourself. If I request you to remove your upper garments, do so, and quickly." Trea led Branwyn from the room. They wandered in silence among the flowers, then sat on a bench next to tall standing white roses. "I know these past few days have been confusing to you. I know I have a difficult task preparing you. To help, you may ask me what you do not understand."
