by Hazel Hunter
“Remember that pain when you next speak to the Oracle of the Great Goddess,” the Oracle said. “That is the first blow you have from me, and if you persist on being stubborn and intractable, it will be far from the last. I can have you strung up on the wall and beaten until blood runs down.”
“Yes, Oracle,” Galia said, her voice remote.
The blow should have made her afraid, but for some reason, it did the opposite.
She can strike me. She can have me beaten until my blood runs. But that is all she can do. All she has is my body. All she will ever have is my body.
“Your gods were nothing compared to our great Goddess. You will learn that soon enough. You have the spark within you. I sensed it just as my own mistress sensed it in me. In time, the people will fear you, just as they fear me.”
Galia stared, aware that her mouth was hanging open. The Oracle smiled at her.
“The wheel spins. We stay on top or are brought down low. Let that be your first lesson.”
“Yes, Oracle.”
The Oracle examined her closely for a moment.
“Go now. Rhea will return you to your quarters. At dawn, you will come to me and we will begin our work in earnest.”
“Yes, Oracle.”
Galia could feel the Oracle’s eyes boring into her from behind. As she exited and the door closed behind her, she breathed a sigh of relief. Rhea’s eyes drifted to her swollen lip, but the tall woman said nothing. Instead they took a different route to the one they’d taken before. In only a few turns, Galia was lost. But finally Rhea turned a final corner, opened a door, and stood aside.
The room Galia entered was less sumptuous than the Oracle’s, but only barely. The bed took up most of the space, and she could see that it was a beautiful, carved frame, the bottom made of ropes that were woven into an intricate pattern to support the mattress. The walls were hung with lengths of orange silk brocade. On a sideboard were silver platters of fruit, roast chicken, and bread. There was a beautiful white pelt that warmed the center of the room, and across the far wall was a wide window that ran from edge to edge. When Galia crept up to it, she could see the lights of Tenebris blinking into existence as darkness fell.
“It’s so beautiful,” she whispered in awe.
“It is yours,” Rhea said. “More food and washing water will be brought to you in the morning, but you can sleep until then.” Then Rhea left.
As the door closed, Galia felt an unfamiliar pang of panic. She knew the fear of being hurt or killed. She knew the fear of pain, hunger and weariness. But she had never before been alone. In the small huts of the village or even the hold of the ship, there was not enough room to be alone. She realized she was trembling. She told herself she was being foolish. She wouldn’t die simply because she had been left alone. The palace was full of people.
I’m not alone, Galia tried to tell herself. I’m not.
Though she knew she ought to be hungry, it was the bed that drew her attention. All she wanted to do was curl up in a ball. She forced herself to remove the beautiful dress, careful not to brush her sore nipples. Then she climbed into the feather-soft bed. The covers were cold to the touch when she slipped between them. She rolled until the edges of the covers were tucked around her. It was close to feeling like there might have been someone next to her. She could pretend that it was Mina on one side and Strayke on the other.
But she couldn’t think about Strayke for too long. If she did, she might imagine the way his face looked when she betrayed him.
Despite her apprehensions, she could feel the tides of sleep tug at her. Some of the frantic energy that had kept her going for all of the previous weeks was leaving her now. No matter how dangerous the palace was, it was safer than a slaver’s ship or a mountainous wasteland. Now she could stop and allow herself to rest.
Galia’s eyes drifted closed. The covers felt wonderfully decadent. Her body felt soft and warm, a feeling she’d nearly forgot, but nevertheless was restful.
Chapter 6
When Galia woke it was to the sound of scratching. At first, she thought that there might have been a cat roaming the room, or perhaps a rat. In the village, animals had the run of the space. Then she remembered that she was not in the village. She sat up in bed, listening intently.
When the scratching came again, she draped a blanket around her, and made her way to the window where the sound originated. Puzzled, she undid the latch. Below the window was the city of Tenebris, the lights soft and warm. From the barest light in the sky, it looked as though dawn was still a couple of hours away.
“Hello, beautiful.”
Galia gasped to see Mina perched on a ledge outside, as if she was sitting on a bench. But her delight turned to shock when she realized how far up they were.
“Get in here before you fall to your death!”
Mina laughed as Galia pulled her into the room, shutting the window after her.
“Are you surprised to see me?”
Galia couldn’t stop a relieved smile from stretching over her face.
“You have absolutely no idea,” she said. “What’s happened to you?”
Mina’s smile was wide.
“So many things. They fed me good food. They let me wash. They gave me clothes, and that woman, Rhea, sat and talked with me. We figured out that I would be terrible in the kitchen or at the seamstress’s, and then she suggested that I should join the guard.”
“You’ve always done well with the stick-fighting at home.”
Mina snorted.
“Rhea took me to see the guards. These people, men and women both, they’re warriors. Some of them have been training since they were children. But Galia, they say I can be one of them.”
Galia fought to keep a smile on her face, happy at her friend’s happiness. But then Mina frowned.
“What happened to your lip?” she said, stepping close. Before Galia could look away, Mina cupped the side of her face. Her thumb lightly drifted against Galia’s mouth. Then her face screwed up furiously. “Who struck you?” she demanded. “What cur deserves to die?”
It was a heartfelt blast of concern that was pure Mina. It had only been hours, but how Galia had missed her.
“Oh, Mina,” Galia said, falling into her arms.
Mina held her close. “You’re trembling,” she whispered, running her hands over Galia’s bare shoulders. “No wonder. You’re freezing.” She checked over Galia’s shoulder. “Back to bed,” Mina said. “Let’s get you warm.”
At the side of the bed, Mina began to strip. Though it was nothing the two of them hadn’t done before, especially to keep warm, Galia hesitated.
Mina was throwing her new clothes to the foot of the bed but paused. “What is it?”
Slowly, Galia unfurled the blanket. The nipple rings glinted gold.
“By all the gods!” Mina exclaimed. “Galia, what did they do to you?” Tears came to Galia’s eyes, and her throat was suddenly tight. “Oh my poor Galia, what have they done?”
In moments, Mina had gently ensconced them both between the sheets, and pulled the thick covering over the top of them.
“Come close, if you can,” Mina said, their noses already almost touching. “Here,” she said, lifting the covers a little.
But as she and Galia both shifted, and Galia nuzzled close, her lips brushed against Mina’s.
It was innocent, of course, but both of them stilled. Mina’s soft eyes, looked into hers. She seemed puzzled at first, and then surprised. It was as if the same question were playing through her mind as played through Galia’s: Had that been intentional? But in truth, in that moment, Galia didn’t know.
What she did know was that something was about to change. As though a line were drawn somewhere in the air, Galia knew they were about to cross it. Once they did, nothing would be the same. Galia knew that she should get up and send Mina to her bed. She knew that there might be trouble if they were caught together. Yet when Mina smoothed her fingertips along Galia’s face, all
those thoughts fled from her mind. She knew that Mina had done that before, but she could never remember it being so tender. Mina’s fingers drifted back to Galia’s thick hair. They combed back to the nape of her neck. She held Galia still and slowly pressed forward, and when their lips brushed again, there was no mistaking the intent.
Mina’s kiss was feathery-light, and Galia realized she was doing her best to keep away from the swelling. But when Mina’s clever tongue slid along her lower lip, Galia couldn’t help but gasp. Despite the pain in her lip, Galia kissed her back. Mina’s mouth was so soft and inviting. The luscious flesh gave in easily. In response, Mina quickly deepened the kiss, but Galia discovered something she’d never suspected. There was a gentleness about Mina that was heartbreaking.
Galia instinctively pressed close, but just as suddenly broke the kiss. The nipple rings had pushed into Mina’s chest. Galia hissed a little and backed up.
“Oh, Galia,” Mina whispered, her voice almost a cry. “Do they hurt very much?”
“No, no,” Galia said quickly. “It’s nothing.”
Mina frowned. “You should know better,” she said seriously.
Galia gaped at her a little. She hadn’t wanted them pierced. “But it wasn’t me that–”
Mina gently put a finger to Galia’s lips. “You should know better than to lie to me,” she said. With a slight pressure on Galia’s shoulder, she said, “Lie back.”
As she did, Mina’s small hand gently palmed her breast from below.
“I’ve always thought your breasts were beautiful,” she whispered, and lowered her face to Galia’s chest.
With the same feathery kiss Mina had used on her mouth, she kissed the side of Galia’s breast.
Galia’s eyes fluttered closed, as she sank into the softness of the bed. After all the pain, the caress of Mina’s warm, moist mouth was like heaven. She exhaled in a shuddering sigh. With a slow deliberation, Mina placed a succulent kiss on the other side of the tender nipple, then above and below.
“That feels so good,” Galia breathed.
But as Mina’s mouth hovered over the nipple, Galia tensed and Mina paused.
“I want to comfort you,” Mina whispered, her soft breath slipping over and around the pierced tip. “I want to take this wounded part of you into my mouth.” Galia’s heart leapt into her throat. “But not if it will bring you pain. Not–”
“Do it,” Galia whimpered. “Please, just do it.”
It was beyond all reason, so soon after being lanced, the wound so new and vulnerable. But Galia was beyond reason now, desperate only for the succor of Mina’s mouth. And then it was on her.
Gods, the silky feel was incredible. Mina’s mouth covered the tip of her breast, enveloping it in soft, moist heat. Galia’s back arched a little, and her belly flooded with unexpected warmth. Gently, Mina moved with her, as though staying connected to the tip of her breast was all that mattered. Her gentle mouth was soothing and Galia felt a tightly strung chord somewhere deep inside her let go. She was safe with Mina, and so cared for.
Slowly, Mina shifted her scant weight, rose from the one breast, and moved to the other. It already ached for her attention, and Galia partly rose to meet Mina’s mouth. The connection was just as wonderful, as Mina gently suckled and warmed that injured part of her. Another shuddering sigh escaped from between Galia’s parted lips.
Mina’s hand gently massaged her other breast, slowly slid down her ribs, and spread over the flat of Galia’s tummy. But when her fingers glided down and cupped Galia’s mound, Mina froze. To Galia’s dismay, Mina released the tip of her breast and looked down.
“They shaved you?” she whispered hoarsely. Galia could only nod, as Mina massaged the shaved flesh. “You’re as soft as a baby’s bottom.”
As Mina’s slender fingers slid over the edge, Galia moaned and squirmed. Her own hand found the apex of Mina’s thighs, smoothing into the soft curls, and then Mina’s slick folds. Mina whined a little, shifting her body over Galia’s. The slender woman straddled Galia’s leg. Then she slipped her smooth but muscled thigh between Galia’s. She could feel Mina’s soft skin against the bareness of her shaved mound. Galia was already a little slippery, and now her folds opened slightly to allow the bud of her pleasure to stroke against Mina’s leg. She could feel Mina grow wetter as well. But more than that, she could feel the way that Mina needed her.
When Mina started to rock against her, Galia’s eyes nearly rolled backwards in her head. The pleasure of the movement, the heat and sweetness, made her breath come faster. Now that Mina had showed her the way of it, Galia was certain that she had never needed anything more. She rocked against Mina as hard as Mina pushed against her. She wrapped her arms around Mina’s sinuous body, needing to be close above all else. She ground herself on Mina, as Mina did the same. Tension blossomed in Galia’s mound and wound tighter with each passing moment. A storm of pleasure swirled there, that Galia barely understood. The low shaking in her belly almost caught her by surprise. She clung hard to Mina, and Mina to her, both of them breathing hard.
When she climaxed, she was torn away from her body. The release was overwhelming. She flew through a shower of stars and sparks, and when she came down on the other side, her cheeks were wet with tears.
Galia felt it when Mina found her own release. The other woman’s taut body clutched her with all the strength she possessed. She could feel Mina’s wet flesh against her thigh, she could feel the way the pleasure spread through Mina’s body.
This is what we have needed for so long.
They lay tangled in each other, their breath slowly coming back to normal. There was something sacred about their silence. In this strange place together, they had found themselves. They had created something just for them. It was the closest Galia had ever felt to something greater than herself.
Mina placed a last, soft kiss on Galia’s waiting mouth, and slid off to lay at her side. They cuddled together as they had done so many other times.
“You’re beloved to me,” Galia said solemnly.
“You are beloved to me,” Mina responded.
The first light of early morning had crept into the room. Without a word, Mina slipped out of the bed, and dressed silently. Galia watched her, aware that she looked different. She was still beautiful Mina, and yet now she was so much more. She went to the window, and scissored one leg over.
Galia felt a pang of fear seize her and quickly sat up, drawing the blankets close to cover her.
“No, Mina, please!” Mina paused, and looked back. “Not the window!”
Mina made a face as though she were the most long-suffering person in the world. But to Galia’s relief, she climbed back in, trotted to the bed and kissed Galia’s forehead, then went to the door and was gone.
Chapter 7
After she had washed and eaten, Galia was escorted to a new door that opened to a wide room where one wall was made of pure glass. The morning light poured in like molten gold. Galia gasped at the beauty before she noticed that the Oracle was seated at a chair nearby, her white wolf sitting patiently at her feet.
“It is beautiful, is it not? The legacy of Tenebris’s beauty is something that drew me in, and it is one that I am still grateful for. How did you pass your first night here?”
“Very well, thank you, Oracle.”
The Oracle was quiet for a long moment, studying Galia as if she were a bug pinned under a glass. Galia refused to look away. If the woman knew about her and Mina, she would tell her soon. Either way, she had not lied.
“I am glad,” the Oracle said, sounding quite sincere. Whatever Galia had expected from the woman, that was not it. “You must understand. The priestesses of Tenebris must be beyond reproach. We are above others. If they wish to worship, we must guide them. We are not like them, and if we are, we lose power.”
Galia bit her lip, not liking the direction the Oracle’s words were taking.
The Oracle got up and walked over to a metal vase that Galia had not not
iced before. She pulled out a handful of long switches, shaking them lightly to rid them of the water.
“Mina must be punished for her insolence, and you need to be the one to do it.”
Galia recoiled as if she had been slapped again. “No!”
“Yes,” the Oracle responded coldly. “Otherwise, I will see her sold to the filthiest inn I can find, a place where she will curse herself for daring to touch the divine. There are such places and, even if you don’t know it, I can promise you that she will.”
The switches in the Oracle’s hand looked brutal. Galia imagined them descending on Mina’s slight and unprotected body. She could imagine the cries.
“You decide,” the Oracle continued. “Consider it an exercise of the power that you may someday wield. What do you want for Mina? A beating, or a lifetime overworked until she dies?”
In the end, there was no choice. Almost in a dream state, Galia took the switches from the Oracle’s hand. She noticed that they must have been soaking for a while, because they were heavier than she would have thought.
The Oracle went to the door, and Mina appeared as if she had been waiting outside. Perhaps she had. For a moment, their eyes met.
Why did Mina not run? Why didn’t she resist? Where was the sure fury that was always just under her skin? But Mina looked away.
“Very well,” the Oracle said. “At the end of it, if you have not suffered enough, you will be sent back to the Bondage Wheel.”
The threat was clear. This could be no show. It would be a real punishment. It would hurt.
The Oracle directed Mina to drag a tall stool with a rectangular seat from the corner. When it was placed in the center of the large room, the Oracle directed Mina to strip to her skin and bend over it. Galia could barely look at her. Only hours ago she had lain next to that lithe and slender body.
When she was bent over the stool, the Oracle stepped close to Galia.
“You have likely never punished someone before. It is safest to strike someone from the area above their knees to where the crease of their buttocks begin. It will sting and it shames them, but it will not interfere with their ability to work.”
