by Robin Roseau
"Oh, she'd be good."
"I'd send Belain's entire family, but that stresses your offer."
I thought about it. "I haven't discussed this with Mother. Perhaps Belain would take responsibility for everyone you send, and rather than live with Mother, they would live next door. Although Mother has room."
"You would let me send Belain, her husband, and three children?"
"And up to three others, but please, don't make it four full families. That's too many for me to thrust at Mother without even talking to her."
She nodded. "Indartha accepts your offer of galatzi trade, Cecilia Grace. Now, I have offered to ease your shoulders more thoroughly. I shall not take advantage of your body while I do so."
I accepted that offer, as well, and it was a close thing to not beg for more before she left.
Again
I met briefly with Belain and her family before Colonel Blue spirited my new galatzi apprentices off to my mother. They would remain on Centos Four for a decade before returning to Talmon. The timing of their return was perfect, but that becomes another story.
Hilopid declined. Sartine was deeply disappointed, as she felt he had squandered an important opportunity. However I met with him, and I decided his reasons were sound. He begged me not to tell Sartine, and so I will not write it here, either, lest she read of it.
* * * *
It was late, and while I should have been in bed an hour ago, I hadn't gotten there yet.
Being governor sucked. There was too much to do.
What staff I had told me I should delegate more often and begged me to take a vacation. I told them I had one planned, but wasn't sure exactly when I would leave.
The doorbell rang. I sighed, opening my eyes. I'd been working through Minerva, so anyone watching would have thought I was dozing. "Who is it, Minerva?"
"I do not know," she said.
I sighed and climbed to my feet, heading to the door. Opening it, I found several women all dressed in traveling clothes with a white sash stretching from shoulder to hip. I stared at them.
"I expected you three weeks ago," I said. "What the hell, Sartine?"
They piled into my house, and I backed away from them. She pulled back her hood and looked into my eyes. "Cecilia Grace, you are now my galatzi prisoner. Will you allow us to tie you, or do you intend to fight me? Again."
I put a hand on my hip. "I don't know. Are you going to let me get dressed properly first? It's a long ride to Indartha, and I wanted you to take our time. I need the break. But I'm worried about the snow." I realized I was babbling. "And where the hell's my kiss?"
She moved to me and pulled me into her arms. I was quivering with need long before the kiss completed.
She released me.
I punched her.
"Hey! What was that for?"
"Where have you been?"
She didn't answer me. Instead, all of them swarmed around me, grabbing my arms, but they didn't start tying me. Sartine stood in front of me.
"Going to fight?"
"Going to dress me before you tie me?"
They pulled me into my bedroom, and Sartine pulled my clothes into place, including my favorite traveling boots.
"This is taking too long," and I recognized Kilarn's voice.
"I'm already packed," I said. "It's in the closet by the front door." And I held out my hands, waiting for Sartine to tie them.
But first she said, "Minerva, override code seven seven nine four three one seven. Initiate sleep mode."
In my head, Minerva said, "Sleeping. Have a nice trip, Governor."
Cheeky computer.
"Hey!" I complained. "I needed her to tell my staff I'll be gone."
"Your staff already knows," Sartine said, and the two women holding my arms pushed back their hoods. It was Erica and Mallory.
"We worked hard, too," Mallory said. "We're taking a vacation."
"Congratulations, Cecilia," Erica said. And then they both pushed their hoods back up and tightened their grip on my arms.
But still Sartine didn't tie my wrists. Instead, she pushed my hands down and stepped towards me. I looked up into her eyes, as Mother had made me shorter than Sartine. "Say it."
"No."
"Say it. Now."
"Make me."
She grabbed my head and began kissing me again. It went on for a long time.
"We don't have time for this," Kilarn complained.
"Say it," Sartine said.
"I love you, My Vendart."
And that was when she tied me.
About the Author
A writer by avocation, Robin has a renaissance interest in many areas. A bit of a gypsy, Robin has called a few places home and has traveled widely. A love of the outdoors, animals in general and experimenting with world cuisines, Robin and partner share their home with a menagerie of pets and guests, although sometimes it is difficult to discern who is whom.
Robin can be reached via email as [email protected]. Robin's web site is http://www.robin-roseau.com.
Works by Robin Roseau
The Madison Wolves Series
Fox Run
Fox Play
Fox Mate
Fox Afield
Fox Revenge
Fox Dish
Fox Lost
Wolf Watch
Wolf Ways
Wolf Women
Fox Short Stories
Hunting Pups
Fox in the Water
Fox Rematch (set after Fox Mate and Fox Afield)
Fox Opponent
Other Books in the Madison Wolves Universe
Familiar
Seer
Seer: Thrall
Other Novels and Novellas
Blood Slave
Emergency Claus
Fitting In
Free to Love
In Custody
Lost in the Words
Privateer
Stark's Dell
The Interrogation
Tresjolie
Short Stories
Captured by the Raptor (writing as Rosetta Robins)
Cooking for Love
Southern Night
Galatzi Trade
Copyright 2014 by Robin Roseau
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system, copied in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise transmitted without written permission from the publisher. You must not circulate this book in any format.
This is a work of fiction. Names, places, businesses, characters and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, actual events or locales is purely coincidental.
* * *
License Notes
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