Please forgive for this question, but Ive got to ask it, I said, relaxing in a bed as two strong arms road on my back.
What is it? The familiar voice of Domina called back to .
My eyes were closed as I relaxed into the massage, feeling the tension of the day disappear.
Your husband arrived almost an hour ago, arent you curious about his trip? I tried to say it in the safest way possible.
It is not a very easy thing to say why are you here with when your husband just arrived from a trip?. Especially when I was lying buck naked with a generous amount of oils spread on my back. The massage was decent, however. I could notice the obvious lack of knowledge in anatomy but in general strokes, they were on the right path.
Just a bit less effective at targeting deep knots and their ilk.
No wonder all of them were so perceptive to my massage techniques.
Domina sighed. I am extrely curious, especially about the envoy. Her arrival wasnt planned at all. But we will discuss this later.
Which ant later in the bath, when her entourage would leave us alone. Right after the massage was over.
It was the middle of the day and I was getting front row tickets to the inner life of the wermage bathing. For my own sake, Aikerim pulled all the stops. Including the most important one - her own ti.
I wasnt observing her usual bathing routine at the manor. The one designed for efficiency and speed. What we did now was reserved for Dominas partners and allies. If they would ever prefer to attend her private baths instead of eting in the city. Which ant that the level of luxury was cranked to the maximum as well as the anities provided.
The clandestine discussions during these etings were part of the norm, which is why a large chunk of soaking and relaxation ti would be only shared by us.
A perfect ti to discuss a snake in the garden.
A perfect ti to apply conditioner to her hair.
And on the point of my husband. Do you really expect to et him right away? The voice of Aikerim continued, coming from my side, His arrival is a grand affair and both parties have traditions to uphold. It is a show of respect when Domina takes ti to prepare herself for the eting. It also gives them ti to relax from their voyage and reacquaint themselves with the Manor.
The precious ti of Domina, huh. What an interesting tradition. I humd in thought.
To be able to display that Domina is showing you respect while at the sa ti centing her position as the one above you. Traditions of Emanai had their own particular nuance to them, shaped by the won in power and the magic they possessed. Perhaps there was so weight in Albins passion. Unravelling such tidbits of the past and looking back at where they ca from.
I should probably do sothing for him too, in the near future. His eccentricity aside, the phistopheles managed not only to save my hide but provided with essential information and a training toy for Irje. While promising to supply in the future with sothing close enough to be called guitar strings.
The orb alone had made his assistance extrely invaluable. It was the toy that attracted my attention, most likely dragged over the table by Irjes Flow. Who knows how many more nights we wouldve spent completely unaware. And if we did find out - how long it would have taken us to see so real progress.
But what could I give him? What could a slave murk give to the Speaker? Pretty much nothing. Most likely even Erf couldnt. But Erf could give things to a historian.
Not a printing press, Domina would skin alive for sothing like that.
But I could tell him stories. Not the tales of the past, for them - unknown, but tales about history itself. He might recognize the similarities in the works of Herodotus and Thucydides. He would also appreciate the ideas of Cato the Elder. But these wont be gifts. Just discussions on things he was most likely aware of.
I would start with the works of Ibn Khaldun.
A man who was considered to be the founder of disciplines that would eventually cover almost all social studies. From sociology and economics to the things like historiography. The study of the thods in developing history.
I had a feeling he would appreciate it well.
That would be enough. Leave us.
The hands, that I started to appreciate, pulled away imdiately.
Rubbing my eyes, I forced myself to get up and stretch.
While all this is pleasant, we have no ti for you to simply doze off. Domina continued.
Forgive , but I was actually thinking about an appropriate gift for Albin, as he had assisted greatly and I cannot appear ungrateful to soone of his status.
And what did you co up with? Aikerim promptly asked, getting up from her massage bed.
Another thing that my front row tickets included was a buck naked Domina. Who was more curious about the words about to co off my lips compared to the sight already burned in my eyes.
My eyes stayed on her face. Stories. About history and society. Sothing not so groundbreaking for a Speaker of Shebet, but extrely attractive for the Historian Albin. You will get a copy of course.
Aikerim smiled and walked toward the baths. Almost dragging behind with her tail.
Looking at her I could see there was not a lot for Anaise to grow into. But hot damn, woman. Spare so sanity for a poor Erf. You might have grown up surrounded by attendants, but I wasnt. She also didnt have the sa issue as Anaise had. Most likely from the frequency of her public bath visits, which required her to maintain the expected level of customs. Which also didnt dull with her boldness nor the impact on .
Speaking of plucked hairs.
Do you mind answering another question of mine, I asked when the red blob resurfaced from the pool of water. About your hair.
Just as her daughter, Aikerim had most of her hair braided. And just like her daughter, the braids hid a lot of volu of their hair. With long red bands coming down on her chest and a figurative red cloak at the back, she looked like a rmaid within a risque picture. Just enough to show the curves, yet hiding the peaks of her breasts.
The rmaid raised an eyebrow.
Ive heard that wermage hair doesn't get cut as easily, yet it still reacts well to the soap and conditioner, I said as I started to bring all the cleaning and hair-care products.
Because it is magical?
Perhaps, I conceded, But magical how?
Aikerim thought for a second then shrugged and offered a lock, See for yourself. Do you have a blade?
Eagerly, Ive retrieved the blade that I got from Wrena and tried it on the tips of her hair. Ive tested the sharpness beforehand and Wrenas words were true - it was sharp enough to cut hair on my skin. Yet not Dominas. The blade made its way through the hair painfully slow, facing an unusual resistance.
I pinched the blade, running my fingers through the bottom half of it, and tried again. The blade went through like butter.
How peculiar.
What did you do? She pulled her hair back, surprised at the outco.
Hmm? I used a sharper portion of the blade. I murmured, engrossed in few hairs Ive cut off. Now, even the original blade was capable of splitting them with ease. Whatever resistance they possessed, when they were still attached to Domina, was now utterly gone. What I had in my hands were just strands of human red hair.
Curiouser and curiouser!
Can you sharpen any blade like that? Aikerim pressed on.
Not really. The blade is too sharp to last long - it rusts very quickly, I replied, still occupied by the tiny strands. To hold a near-monomolecular edge for extended periods of ti you need regenerative blades. And you are correct, your hair is magical. Was magical to be precise. As soon as it was cut whatever influence Flow had on it was lost.
Regenerative? You an alive? Or magical? She asked incredulously.
Ah, no. The na might be confusing but they simply rebuild themselves from the air. Just like a cup would refill itself if you put it underwater.
The molecular self-assembly and nitrogen deposition werent simple topics to explain in a few sentences. Especially to a person who grew up believing that all matter was made with just four elents and glued together with the magical fifth.
And can you make these? Aikerim was relentless.
I chuckled ruefully, Not even close. I need tools to make tools to make tools To even consider sothing like that as a possibility.
And by that ti any bladed weapon would be archaic at best. But I preferred not to go into weapons research. I had a few nasty vials from a market and a few tiny pouches with neurotropic powder. Enough to kill and enough to incapacitate if I had to.
Pity. But I would be extrely interested if you do co up with sothing. Domina nearly purred.
I sighed and put her cut hairs aside. And grabbed the lotions instead. Aikerim noticed my actions and moved as well, giving access to her mane.
Honestly speaking. I hope that I will never have to. I spoke as my hands began to work. I would prefer to make you richer rather than deadlier.
Aikerim leaned into my fingers. You will. One way or another. Hope is not enough, and so things require power.
Power, yes. But for power to actually affect others they need to believe in it too. To do that you have to show it to them in action. Repeatedly. I would prefer to rely on your power instead, and make it stronger in my own way. I gently tried to steer the conversation away.
Yes, I would prefer it too, that you would continue to rely on my power. She sighed but accepted my polite rebuke. This conversation can wait, for we have other topics to discuss today.
Indeed. I eagerly jumped to the pressing matter on my agenda, The snake.
Aikerim snorted, Do not call her that in her presence or when in public. I do not wish to see how you look inside out. Just because my uncle and Albin Chasya let you do it doesnt an that every other wermage in the hearing range will let it slide. Especially if you casually refer to them like that.
So she is a wermage herself?
She would be, otherwise she wouldnt have co here so easily. Emanai is too cold for them even in the sumr. Especially at night. If she couldnt guarantee her survival with Flow she wouldnt be here at all. Or she would have a much larger entourage.
I nodded to myself, as my hands started to rinse off her hair. That ant she was powerful and had a lot of practice in Flow. Heat regulation? Or, maybe, generation. Whatever she did - she has most likely been doing it for years non-stop. Which made her even more powerful in my book.
But she did co.
She did, Aikerim smiled at the sheen of her hair and passed the comb to . And I do not think it is a coincidence either. I had made enquiries to my husband about the flux they might be using. She had most likely been made aware of it.
I grimaced, That could be it. For soone well versed in glassmaking even subtle hints about ingredients could be extrely obvious. Especially the ingredients they hold secret.
She frowned, I have sufficient trust in my husbands abilities or I wouldnt have ntioned it to him at all. Despite his appearance, he is very capable at being discreet.
What about your son? He looked absolutely enamoured by the envoy.
It was ti for Aikerim to grimace instead. That could be a possibility.
With a groan, she stood up and sat on the edge of the bathing pool. Her tail plopping into my lap with a wet sound. I hoped he wouldve grown out of that age by now, I guess I was wrong.
She stopped speaking for few seconds, to hum contentedly at my ministrations, and then grumbled, The rashness of young males was written even in legends. Can you teach him restraint?
I dont think any teacher can do that. What is needed is ti and experience. But what should we do about Shahin Esca? I kept working on her tail as I spoke.
Compared to her daughter, she had much better control over her appendage. Or she simply didn't register as a potential mating material. Her enjoynt was palpable but that was as far as she went.
She will be welcod in my Manor as all guests would be. But the attendant of my daughter will be too busy with his other tasks to appear often. Especially during als when the guests are invited. I will need to speak to my son about his dalliances. If your words are true then I will have to postpone his tutelage with you.
Ive implied that I am an assistant of Virnan Shah, who is actually educating your daughter. And that he agreed to teach her Flow due to her insight, which helped him achieve a breakthrough. I supplied her with additional details as I gently rinsed her tail with running water.
Even wet, the tail was a beauty to behold. The water running through the hair made it look like liquid fire flowing through my fingers. Despite our serious conversation, it was an enchanting sight. Despite my notions of human beauty, the additional appendage fit her body shape perfectly. Her athletic back, slim but with a hint of muscles reminded of what my fingers felt when they caressed her daughter. Minuscule but now-familiar bumps at the small of her back, unusual for humans. Muscles that either helped the tail to move or made it stable instead. Perhaps identical to what we would develop if we had tails to move all the ti.
She turned her face to with a raised eyebrow. And how much of that is true?
I blinked. All of it, I would expect even the Orb to confirm my words. Your husband is eager for a celebration too.
Aikerim humd in satisfaction and turned away, giving access to comb her tail once again.
Despite your reluctance, you have a way with words. It is a pity that the presence of Shahin Esca is throwing rocks under the wheels at the mont. But no matter, Virnan is notorious for refusing students so I would not need to co up with any intricate explanations.
Should we stop the work while she is here?
Her eye ca back to look at . What day is it today?
I tilted my head in confusion. The twenty-fourth of Sumr? The day of your husbands arrival.
She smiled. Exactly, the twenty-fourth of Sumr.
No other explanation was given as I was trying to rember any important dates, Anaises birthday was coming soon but nothing imdiate. Yet she expected to understand, judging from the profile of her face.
I intentionally tried to ignore the rest of her profile due to how distracting it was. But still, nothing ca up, it was just a normal day
Ah.
I smiled ruefully in understanding, This is a normal occurrence for you isnt it?
Indeed. If I were to stop anything as soon as a pair of inquisitive eyes crossed my door, nothing would be ever done in this Manor. Moreover, a quick cessation of work would actually bring more unwanted attention. Everyone talks, especially if the routine changes quickly.
Domina stretched and got up, twirling around and admiring the new look of her tail.
This is rather effective. She nodded in satisfaction. Co, Erf. I don't have a lot of ti and neither do you. I rember you ntioned so other glass inventions, unknown to Emanai?
I rose up myself, Yes I have a few, you actually want to start at them now?
The amber eyes t mine, this ti she wasnt happy, pleased, or satisfied. Domina was serious, She is a wermage, as such I do not see her risking her life and position to target, steal or kill a murk. But I would prefer to be prepared for everything. Keep at least the guard or Irje with you at all tis when you are at the workshops or in the city. And in case she tries political leverage, I would need proof that what we have wasnt stolen from Esca.
I nodded in agreent and understanding. I will make at least two, both yet unknown.
Good, She nodded, Let us go.
XXX
It was still early afternoon when I walked out of the baths. For the rest of the bathing ti, we were surrounded by the horde of slaves. Putting all our clandestine discussions to a halt. As such the rest of the ti was spent with Domina getting ready herself and familiarizing myself with the practice.
As soon as that was done, she set off to et her family. While I marched to et mine. The news about the envoy werent received with joy, especially by Yeva, but Irje took it in stride. My cougar promised to keep an eye out for any snakes slithering around, especially if she got close to workshops. She did mildly grumble about the convenience of the visit but resolved to spend her ti working as an overseer.
Both of my ladies also agreed with Domina on the matter of my safety. Demanding a similar promise to always have Viter or Irje with when I leave the manor or work in the workshops. They even asked to limit my ti in the alchemy lab and co sooner to my ho, but the curve of their lips told that there was another reason behind it.
In the end, Irje set off to keep order in her domain. While I stayed behind with grumpy Yeva.
I hate this. She murmured.
I agree, the arrival of the envoy is quite unfortunate. I gently adjusted my stance, letting her sit in my lap more comfortably.
Its not just that. I hate being powerless. Yeva mumbled as she nuzzled deeper into my shirt.
Are you really? She is just a guest and you are in my sadaq. I humd into her ear as my fingers slowly combed her hair. If she even dares to lift a finger on you she will be punished greatly. Either by or by Domina herself. You might not trust her but trust that I can make her do it.
She chuckled ruefully, But that is what makes it worse. All my life I feared for my safety. I thought it was the worst feeling in the world. And then you ca. You took that from , and I will be forever grateful, but now I fear again. This ti I fear for you and us.
Let tell you sothing. Sothing that is not well known among us murks, most likely because wermages do not want it to be known. Murks are resistant to Flow. I slowly started from afar, still holding her close.
Yeva grew still but didnt interrupt , allowing to keep talking.
Ive learnt about it by accident, first from Albin, the one who gifted the vibrator for Irje. I felt her tremble in quiet laughter from my quip, And then directly from Domina. Who explained why she kept my knowledge safe with . And now I am telling this specifically to you.
She scrunched her nose. You dont want Irje to know?
I sighed, I dont want soone else to know what Irje knows. And hurt her for it. From the words of Albin, one of the most prominent examples of our resistance is the fact that our minds cannot be read with magic.
Still, I feel like she should be aware.
And that is why I am telling you. Perhaps together we will be able to tell her enough to trust, but not enough for anyone, particularly interested, to glimpse too much. I won't be holding this private forever. Just until I can protect you, and her, and my family. Myself. Without Dominas help.
Her hand reached to my face so that she can look at in the eyes, Could you?
Perhaps, I cant say for sure but, from what I know so far, yes. I gently kissed the tips of her fingers instead.
She smiled but kept her hands on my face, content with my continuing kisses. You are a master at stating sothing outrageous and then turning it into reality. So what have you been hiding then?
My knowledge didnt co alone. It also gave the ability to raise my strength and shape my body.
Like your tongue?
I let it slide out of my mouth and lick her palm from the other side, making her giggle. Like my tongue. What matters is that everyone still sees as a murk. Including those who might wish to harm . But I wont get hurt as easily as an average murk. I also wont die as easily as an average murk.
Yeva humd.
Did you know that Irje yelled at Domina today? Because of the marks on your back.
I sucked the air in. Damn it. Is everything alright? She didnt hurt her or anything? Domina didnt ntion it to at all.
No. From what Irje told , she actually approved of her actions. But you see how your silence could have gotten us in trouble?
I know, Yeva and I am sorry. But I also know how easily it could backfire. On one of my earliest ventures into the city, I almost got caught by a wer mob because I tried to look like them. Ive seen and felt how easily sothing unusual could get you in trouble, lost a chunk of my ear too.
She gasped quietly at my words, as her hands reached out and checked my ears. Only after finding them whole, she breathed a sigh of relief. I guess there is a shadow for everything.
Two sides of a coin, I chuckled in agreent, It is hard to predict which option is the best one, all we can do is prepare for everything and make sure the worst doesnt co to pass. This is why I made it perfectly clear to Domina how precious you both are to . And this is why I am telling you all this right now. Both because I no longer fear for your safety in telling you this, and because I want you to be aware so that we all can plan better ahead.
Very well, I forgive you for your silence, She proclaid pompously and snuggled back in, But I still wish to share this with Irje. She fears for you just as much as I did. Or is there more, that you wish to tell?
Now that I told you about murks and Flow, I trust you to be prudent with what you say. So please do. Perhaps together we could put her fears to rest. About more things to tell - I cant really say much, mostly because the words won't an anything to you just yet. That is why Ive been teaching you chemistry and other sciences. Know that I can make my powers stronger than they are right now, but for that, I need to leave the city. This is why I am planning to retrieve my family personally.
Yeva climbed higher, her lips brushing against mine, As long as you will promise to co back.
I don't need to promise, because I will be back.
Her lips were soft and warm. Their gentle touch impossible to resist. I spoke to them forgetting the world around . Seeking that pliant flesh of hers, and giving in to her responses. A kiss that was not a kiss, yet. Yet so much closer.
All these things I do, I do them for us. So that we can be like this forever.
Her smile was delicious.
Reviews
All reviews (0)