Shadows of Oss

The Eastern part of Eriagor to the North of the Great River is occupied by the realm of Oss, land of the Cult of Light, and the second largest realm of the land after Esk. Only Esk could compare in size to Oss, both in size, might, army, and land, but even though they are similar in size, that is where all similarities between both realms cease.

In the remote past, Oss was an integral part of the Eskian realm. Under the rule of the grand Moff Tarkon, Oss, which was part of the Eastern Moffate, was a source of pride to Esk on account of its many riches, plentiful people and fertile lands. All that changed, though, about five thousand years ago, when the first inklings of the Cult of Light came to be in the city of Tara. There, a man called Taegan had claimed that he had seen a revelation present itself to him. He had proclaimed that the cult of the Holy Five was wrong, and that only the Light, that which was, is, and always will, and only the light, was the true way of righteousness and salvation for all.

Taegan’s teachings were, to say the least, revolutionary. The spread like wildfire, conversions and vocations sprouted all over Tara, and soon that city became the epicenter of the so-called cult of Light.

The priests of the Holy Five quickly rose against the new teachings. Freedom for women… Preposterous! Only one deity… Ridiculous! The idea that love was the engine of the world and that the Light was the ultimate expression of love… Heresy! 

Many warriors from all over Esk coincided on the rebellious, heathen city of Tara. The Eskian army, come from the four corners of the realm, was aiming to crush the religious rebellion and pass through steel all the heathens. The Holy Five did not admit heresies.

And so it was that the Great Holy War started. The loyalists on one side, fanatically loyal to the Holy Five; the and the rebels on the other, fanatically loyal to the Cult of Light. The war raged for over 50 years, with no side gaining a definitive advantage, and it would have raged on for another 50 more had it not been that Grand Moff Tarkon was assassinated; leaving no heir, Tarkon’s dynasty was ended, and Eskian warriors had to sullenly withdraw from battle field: The Moff of the East, and the Moffs of the West, North, and South, had each one proposed their names to be selected Grand Moff. Electing a new Grand Moff took the council ten agonizing years, during which time many internal conflicts flared, and for a time it looked like Esk would fall. The followers of the Cult of Light on the other hand gained in followers and strength, and Esk, weakened and divided, had no choice but to recognize Oss’s independence. Since then, Esk and Oss have been bitter enemies, irreconcilable in all things.

While Esk is a harsh realm in which the will of the kar reigns supreme, in Oss the Cult of Light has shaped society in a much different way. The people of Oss could be called as enlightened: Nowhere else in Eriagor has there been more advancement in the arts and sciences than in Oss. In the Ossian academies, new knowledge is discovered every day: Sciences like alchemy, geomancy, oneiromancy, manipulation of elements, manipulation of illusions, and knowledge of the Arcanes are pursued in freedom, without the threat of witch hunts to cast a shadow upon these academic explorations. From the port city of Tar Oss, paved roads extend for hundreds of tala out to the various cities of the realm: Kart to the North; Ravenfurt to the West; Tar Oss, the most important port of Oss, to the Southwest; the capital city, Tilla, the City of Light, to the South; and, far to the east, the fair city of Phazôm, said to be made almost entirely of shiny white stones, nestled in the foothills of the Kadûm mountains, even at the feet of the mighty, sacred mountain Galaha, eternally covered in snow at its peak.

It is about thirty tala to the west of Ravenfurt that at a crossroads two groups of travelers meet:  A troupe of mummers, and a band of nomads, the Ruda people, commonly known as gypsies in the Common tongue.

The crossroads was very popular as it fell outside of the jurisdiction of any closer villages, but was too small to be considered a village of its own. It did not even have its own name as there was only two permanent buildings. One was an inn called the Dirty Dog, opened two generations ago and still run by the same family. The other was not so much a building as a large area of crowded stalls where merchants could set up wares to be sold covered by a large, waterproof tarp that was suspended on poles. Since there was no organized militia, each stall and the inn were an island unto themselves. The merchants had a first come, first serve mentality, and if a stall was found unmanned it would soon be taken. Unmanned also included, of course, fully stocked with merchandise but devoid of a merchant. Thieves were common but also wary, as the merchants only ever stopped fighting and waiting to backstab each other when there was a thief to unite against. The inn also had a trio of mountain orcs, large, fearsome warlike brutes who acted as guards and bouncers for free room and board. Oddly loyal for their race, they rarely ever left the inn alone, as there were a lot of local thugs who would love to reduce the inn’s orc population by one.

Surrounded by fields of rocks that were too stubborn to start a farm, it did have adequate water from the mountains. In one such field, as the stars began to show and the sunlight slowly bled from the sky, in that brief, long pause when it was no longer day but not yet night, a group of Ruda people stopped. Their caravan was made of 14 colorful wagons which had been parked into a large circle, creating a small fortification on its own. Five campfires illuminated tanned bodies and flowing, light silk clothing. Their trinkets, tarot cards, and tricks put away until the morrow, twilight was the time when the gypsies sealed themselves from the haurie, the non-gypsies, who they both detested for their treatment of them and needed for their business.

Music and food, wine and laughter, and stories told in the old style, through song and dance, all flowed abundantly in the lengthening nights of the latter part of the year, the waning season. Their shadows flickered above the wagons like ghosts as they danced around the fires. Eliana, the youngest daughter of the company’s woodcarver, twirled in youthful elation. A few weeks’ shy of her 20th birthday she had no cares and no worries. Beautiful even by the dark skinned, exotic gypsies’ standard, she had many suitors, all of which she skillfully teased and gave them just enough rope to lead them on. In truth she had no interest in the young boys of her tribe. Ruda law allowed the men to try and appease the women but it was the woman’s choice, as the families were, by tradition, led by women.

Eliana’s father worried about her. She should have chosen a suitable mate before her 20th birthday, or else he would have to choose for her. She had a volatile temper and he knew that his choice would only cause to create problems. But he had been waiting for 5 long years for her to settle down on 1 choice. This one was too tall, that one too short, one was too hairy and another had large feet. They were boring, or stupid, or laughed too loud, or flirted too much, or not enough. There was always a reason.

He patted the small case, a violin that was his greatest work. Made of cherry wood with black strings and fittings, its body polished and waxed to look like the darkest ruby, the instrument was his finest work yet. Its song was as pure as Eliana’s voice, and he hoped that the present would lessen the blow he would cause in choosing Hermano as her suitor. He rolled his eyes as he watched his future son in law swagger from his wagon. Tall, handsome, chiseled… And he knew it. How many villages had they been chased from because Hermano couldn’t get his lust under control and had to sleep with not just any village girl, but the princesses, or the mayor’s daughters? It was his hope that Eliana would calm his lust with her fire, and Hermano could settle down the wild spirit of his daughter with his talents in bed.

Gerth shook his head and put the violin case away. This was doomed already, and he knew it. He walked over to fire, casting a glance at the smallest of the fires, the one around which the elders, men and women, mostly women, from the 4 major families of the camp, had gathered. He wondered what they were doing: they had been secretive all day, but then dismissed it. If it had to do with him, he would know soon enough.

“How did the meeting go?” Jamilia asked. At over eighty years old she was the leader and her word was law.

“I met with the actors,” Pater said, settling his heavy form on a log. “They have a plan. I am not sure what all of it entails, they are keeping secrets of their own. Apparently we are to provide a distraction of some kind while they go for something else.”

“They said as much?”

“No,” he chuckled. “Tried to sell me on a fool’s errand, some wonderful artifact of wealth and power. A simple grab job, go in, take it, get out.”

“Yes, I see,” she nodded. “Obviously a trap.”

“That is what I thought as well, but I did some inquiries and learned that this Caer Durion place actually is holding some impressive holy relics, things that apparently were taken from Esk long ago. Everyone in Esk wants them back, they have been trying for decades; some even say centuries. They think they are in one of the Church’s main temples in the South, which is obviously what the Ossians want them to think.”

Warsta, the other matron, chuckled. “any self-respecting kar in Esk would pay through his bigoted nose for such treasure.”

“So we are to go after the Eskian treasures while the actors go after…”

Pater shrugged. “I have no idea, as far as I know, they think I am buying into their story. Whatever it is must be worth more than the Eskian treasures.”

“Or they are after the treasures and plan on using us to play decoy and face the gallows while they walk out with the treasure,” Martina, the seductress and fourth member of the elders added.

“Either way we will play along. Send in a small group to the fort, send in a smaller group to follow the actors, if they plan on backstabbing us we toss them to the wolves. With some luck we walk out with two treasures. Haurie, heh. Such simpletons! They are sorely mistaken if we Ruda will fall for such a crude trap.”

Not far away a smaller camp was made. The traveling group was smaller, consisting of only 7 wagons, one of which was not made for living in as it unfolded into a large stage. The horseshoe shaped camp was much quieter than the gypsies, the small group was gathered around the single campfire whispering in low tones.

On the ground before the fire, drawn in the hard dirt that refused to yield enough crop to allow settlers to make a more permanent dwelling, lay a rather detailed map of Caer Durion. It was a rather grand name given to a minor outpost. It was unlikely that any hostile forces would travel such a great distance through the harsh, mountainous terrain that marked the region, but in case they did the gates marked the northernmost chain in a series of forts that stretched along the western border of Oss. Largely forgotten, it was always last on the list for resupplies and frequently forgotten for relief troops. Often the king’s men in the fort consisted of rough, mountain men who could survive off the land if need to, those too mean and aggressive to serve in other companies, and a retirement post for those too stubborn to accept that their best fighting days were behind them. The spoiled rich son of a minor baron had decided, in his somewhat short-sighted wisdom, to spend his summers at the fort, learning to be a soldier, by his own reckoning, and traveling back south when it got too cold for him.

“From the crossroads it’s a three-hour travel, by river and game trails,” Hawthorne, leader of the acting troupe said. “We can be in, take the boy, and be out before anyone is the wiser. Esk will get the blame, as usual, and we set up here until the ransom is met.”

“Eskians won’t be payin’ ransom for a boy they ain’t got,” Wilfred said. A great singing voice and a quick hand at picking pockets had got him in the group, but Wilfred was low in the brains department.

Hawthorne smiled. “Don’t be worrying about that, Will. Monty and Kard are Eskian, and they will pose as the kidnappers when the time comes.” The two brothers nodded, flashing gold capped teeth. The brothers were knife throwers and played the parts of the villains in the plays, a role they both loved.

“What if we get caught?” Mama asked. The oldest of the troupe, she had the pudgy, sweet face of everyone’s favorite aunt, and was probably the cruelest of all of them. “I doubt the boy is going to go quietly.”

“That is where we send in Thelma,” Hawthorne said. “She can turn the head of any boy and make him think it was his idea to get kidnapped.”

“You aren’t sending her in alone,” Mama said sternly. “She has no stomach for fighting if things get sour.”

“The brothers will be going too, to shadow her and make sure she makes it through. And, just to be on the safe side, I set up a small distraction.” He chuckled and pointed toward the glowing beacon that marked the gypsy camp.

While the group spoke of their enterprise, a lute played softly in the background. The silhouette of a young woman in her late 20s was evident against the canvas of one of the wagons. The tune went on, mellow, melancholic, and then it stopped. A head of red hair, high cheekbones, and then a voice: “Are the plans laid out yet?” It was the voice of Thelma, a young trobairitz who had joined the mummers’ group during their stay in Kart, on account of she played a killer lute, had a melodious, sultry voice that poured melancholy rhymes, could woo even the hardest headed man… And was a master at getting into, and out of, places that were difficult to get into, and out of. Slender and athletic, but still luxurious in her proportions, Thelma had been the target of much courting, including by some minor nobles. She had however spurned them all, with the excuse that it would hurt her talents. That wasn’t exactly true, in her colorful past Thelma had seen the inside of men’s beds, and had moaned dutifully while being ploughed without much in the manner of courtship, but for someone whose way to make a living was at best uneven and at worst nonexistent, there had to be another way to make some coin reliably, and the world’s oldest profession was a sure thing to fall back to, and one Thelma had been proficient in in the past. “Am I right in assuming I’m to distract the guards?” Thelma’s question was more rhetorical as she had listened to all the machinations, but Thelma needed to know for certain what her job was.

“No, not at all,” Hawthorne smiled that million gold coin smile that charmed the suckers who came to see the shows. “That is the gypsy’s job. Your job is to lure the young noble from the fort. Once outside we bag him and go. Piece of cake, right?”

“Right,” Thelma said. “It sounds easy enough, but why do I have a bad feeling about this? I just don’t want to end up at the business end of a gallows, Hawthorne. I value my neck way too much.”

A similar conversation was being held not too far away. In Madame Martina’s wagon Eliana sat on a cushion, long, darkly tanned legs curled under her, listening to the plan unfold. Like Ruda she assumed there was much that was not being told to her.

“All I have to do is distract the guards, so the others can sneak in and the actors can sneak out? Why me? There are others who are more qualified to…”

“Because you are young, beautiful, and these…” The lusty bordello keeper grabbed Eliana’s breasts and lifted them, her fingers digging into the young girl’s flesh so hard the thin, silk top did nothing to protect her, and said saucily, “These are enough to fell an army, if used right.”

Eliana winced and slapped her hands away. It was hard to believe that she used to have a crush on the older whore. “I will do it, if for no other reason than to get away from all the suitors. I wish I could just pick a woman…”

Martina smiled and pressed forward, pushing the young girl back into the cushions and used her legs to push Eliana’s thighs apart. “Really dear, I am old enough to be your… Big sister.”

Eliana smiled coyly. “Hah, I only wish I look as well as you at your age. I am in, but I am not going to get into a fight with Ossian guards, no matter how old and slow. I do not harm those who are only doing their jobs.”

She managed, somehow, to wiggle out of Martina’s embrace and hurried from her vardo wagon. She told her father of the plan and he let out a loud sigh. “In three days’ time the wagons are leaving for the Sea Festival in the South. You will have to catch up, and I am afraid you will miss your birthday celebration, so… Here.” He handed her the dark, black wood box. She opened it and saw the beautiful violin, shiny and red like ruby, with a black rose pattern burnt into the base.

“Father, it’s beautiful,” she whispered.

“Yes, well if you do not find a suitor by your birthday I am taking it back,” he smiled.

“Ugh… Not this again, I will choose one when…”

“When what? You have had your choice of every eligible boy in the camp,” he stated. “There is no one left to choose from. You are forbidden by our laws from choosing a haurie, so you must choose. I will give you until next we meet. Otherwise I will be forced to choose for you. I do not wish to, I want it to be your decision, but you have left me no choice.”

“I could just grow old alone… And happy!” she screamed and threw her pillow at him.

The next day the gypsies walked over to the actor’s camp just as they were finished setting up. The children of the actors, known collectively as the rats, would spread the word about the mummers’ upcoming performances… And eavesdrop on conversations, learning bits of knowledge about the pseudo town and the people in it that they would then feed to Mordo the Magnificent, a con man who set himself up as a psychic.

It was mid-morning, and Thelma opened her eyes. She sighed softly. Another day, another coin to make… Or at least try to. Her chronically empty coin purse was screaming for some love, and though a trobairitz, Thelma was not a stranger to exchanging seduction and pleasure of the flesh for coin. Thelma got herself as beautiful and attractive as she could be, and headed to the crossroad’s inn, lute at her back. Perhaps someone there would enjoy her particular brand of seduction and pleasure.

There was a lot of movement in the inn. Thelma could see some of the rats, apparently playing around the tables, but in fact gathering information for Mordo. His act was very convincing, and people got fleeced out of many coins without even noticing. There was a caravan from Rothan, that realm to the West that was ruled by two queens. The caravan master looked prosperous… And hard up, Light only knew how long had he gone without. Seeing an appropriate target, Thelma came closer to him and sat, close, but also far, and gave him a teasing, seductive look.

Like Thelma, Eliana knew how to use her looks to her advantage. With thick, black hair, skin the color of coffee with cream, and eyes the color of honey, she usually wore wide, flaring skirts that would twirl up to her thighs when she spun and loose, silky blouses that showed off as much as they concealed. Her bare feet padded softly as she and three other Ruda took up position right in the center of where the two roads crossed. All at once they began playing, a fast paced song, that was well known and easy to sing to. With her violin tucked under her chin she began to dance around the other 3, spinning and laughing out the words. Eliana loved music and when she sang and danced she lost herself in it. The crowd was nearly mesmerized as they played, lost in the exotic flare of the young dancer.

The merchant had dismissed Thelma with a wave of his hand after the tersest introduction ever uttered by a Rothian: “Greetings, I am Tarl. I do not seek your wares… Lady… One worth ten times more than you can possibly offer awaits me at Port Telna” in a Common speech heavily accented with Eskian.

Thelma sighed, taking the rejection in was never easy for her. There was music outside, and having decided that the air at the Dirty Dog was far too stuffy for her, Thelma walked out. The music, fast and wild like all Ruda tunes, immediately caught Thelma’s ear, and she stayed to look. The dancer was very attractive, young, shapely, beautiful skin, an exotic color, and Thelma caught herself staring at her. Such skill, playing the violin and dancing! It reminded Thelma of her mother, in her youth, when Thelma was little.

Spinning and spinning, faster and faster, Eliana’s strong, shapely legs carried her, pushed on by the crowds cheering, the musicians speeding up the tempo. It was a test to see if Eliana could play and spin at the same time. Finally, the song came to a stop, and Eliana stopped on cue, dropping into a slight bow, with her head down, violin in one hand and bow in the other, outstretched. The crowd roared with applause, and the tinkle of well-earned coins dropped at Eliana’s feet. She brought her eyes up to thank the crowd and, despite her panting from the exertion, her eyes locked on Thelma’s and she forgot how to breathe. Her golden eyes widened, her mouth opened a bit more, as if she was about to speak, but no words could escape the clench in her throat. There was, in the crowd, the most beautiful woman Eliana had ever seen. As beautiful as Martina, but with an air of elegance and grace that Martina would never have. Eliana found herself smiling wider and gasped as she remembered to breathe again.

“Thank you!” she called out to the crowd, but her eyes were fixed on Thelma. “Thank you everyone. Please come by the Ruda field for more merriment, magic elixirs, and…” She couldn’t stop smiling and the rest of her well-practiced advertisement escaped her as she forced herself to look away from Thelma.

Thelma lingered, and waited for the crowd to disperse. When all were gone, she walked over to the group of Ruda. She smiled, and said musically, “Greetings! I am a trobairitz traveling with the Hawthorne’s Nightingales. That was a beautiful piece, that one was.” Thelma, dressed with leggings fitting tight to the leg and puffy thighs, an airy, multicolored women’s doublet topped at the neck with a small piccadill, and a basque with a feather on it, sure looked like the part of the trobairitz. “Thelma of Tilla, at your service,” she said after a pause, bowing as it was the Ossian custom.

Eliana giggled and mimicked the bow she had seen other Ossians make. “Well met, Thelma of Tilla, I am Eliana of… Well… The road, I suppose. You must be with that traveling actor group that came in last night. I see you are a musician as well,” Eliana pointed to the lute strung from shoulder to hip across Thelma’s back by an old, leather belt. “Do you sing as well?”

Eliana smiled, her eyes flashing with teasing playfulness as she tucked the violin under her chin and played a few, easy notes.

Thelma smiled and followed up to the notes, elaborating on the progression the Ruda had played. An easy follow up, and with a gentle smile Thelma looked back at Eliana.

The challenge accepted, Eliana played a slightly more complicated flurry of notes, relatively quickly. The idea was an old bardic tradition, and it caught the ears of those gathered around. Part test of each other’s skills, the challenge often turned into a duel of music where both players would end up playing off each other. It was a way for new friends to meet, test skill, and entertain at the same time. It was a game Eliana loved, but seldom got to play, as she rarely ever met a haurie musician.

Thelma looked at Eliana and smiled. She said, “that’s interesting, what do you think of this?” and built on what Eliana had played, and when she stopped she said, “when you’re ready to sing, we can counterpoint to that too.”

Eliana’s eyes lit up and as Thelma’s fingers plucked the last note Eliana’s violin immediately picked up on it and started playing the song, but twisting it into a new version, more lively and upbeat. Quick as Eliana, Thelma picked up the idea and jumped in, plucking away at the lute’s strings in perfect synchronization. Eliana closed her eyes, she could feel the music like a soft cloud and Thelma not only kept up but enhanced the song. Eliana’s voice rang out the words, her voice like the chime of bells and Thelma, as if reading her mind, started singing at the same time in perfect harmony. Eliana felt giddy and they sang and played so beautifully together than even the other Ruda were floored. The rats and almost everyone in the inn had gathered outside to watch.

Thelma and Eliana stopped their counterpoint, eventually, and the crowd applauded, with coins showering both women, more than either would have done on their own, for sure. When the crowd thinned out, Thelma said, “we’re an even match, Eliana, though you have a younger heart, and your music is more upbeat and happier than mine.” Thelma then smiled and sighed softly. “Maybe it’s the lute, it’s a melancholy instrument. By the way, I’m supposed to meet with someone later, someone called Pater, or so Hawthorne said. He failed to mention where should I find him, or how he looks, though. That man…” Thelma shook her head and continued, “That man sometimes doesn’t lose his head because it’s stuck to his body.” Thelma shook her head and concluded, “Maybe you know him?”

“Pater? Yes, I know him… Oh! You must be the other candy,” Eliana smiled, placed the violin carefully in its case and slung it across her back. “I overheard something about some mission nearby, priceless treasure and whatnot. Little concern of mine, but I am candy too.” She shrugged.

“Candy?” Thelma smiled as they started walking towards the camps. Eliana certainly looked like she was candy, succulent, sweet caramel one could spend hours tasting.

“Eye candy, a pleasant distraction for guards or whomever needs to be looking the other way.”

“Oh! Candy. Yes, I’m eye candy all right,” said Thelma. “The inner court guards, it appears, are all hard up mountain men, and I heard one of us is supposed to distract them, get them drunk, or both, so the group can slip in. Just another day at work.” The smile Thelma gave Amy was roguish and winning.

“Wow, that actually sounds complicated,” Eliana smiled, feeling her cheeks flushed. Something about this woman made her feel relaxed and tingly at the same time. “My job is simply to lure some mark who is visiting out into the woods. Piece of cake. I guess you and I are going in together then. Have you… Ever done anything like this before? This is the first time I have been included on a job.”

“I remember my first time, it was so scary and I almost fell from three stories up”, said Thelma, with a sly smile. “Being a decoy may look simple, but it’s very important, your first job is a big one.” In the silence that ensued, Thelma studied the young woman carefully, the dark skin, the unusual, honey colored eyes, the flowing, curly, raven hair, the ample and well-proportioned bosom and derriere, and the shapely sides… “Your chief made a wise choice.”

Eliana snorted, and retorted, “He is trying to impress me. My time of promise has come, and I have been given two weeks to find a suitable mate. I have spurned all the young men in my tribe and now the older, single men are trying for me.”

They came upon the turn off for the Ruda camp and Eliana turned suddenly and grabbed Thelma’s hands. “Come see my camp, we love visitors and you will like my father.”

“No time,” Pater said, emerging from the trees. “It is time to be going. Go get your things.” Eliana sighed and moved past him as Pater put on his charm and walked up to Thelma. “Hello, fair maiden. You made quite an impression on the townsfolk as well as our dear Eliana. I am Pater, welcome to our camp.” He held out a hand to take hers, a courtly, old fashion move.

Thelma smiled and took Pater’s hand. “Well,” she said, “it does seem like someone has not forgotten what courtly love means.” Thelma then smiled, and followed him to his camp and when she arrived her face assumed a mask of seriousness. Sitting down, Thelma said, “Let us get to business then. The sun is setting, that gives us some time before going in. We can work out the final details of the plan, so it goes without a hitch.”

Eliana was sent to get the rest of the actors who would be involved, then once everyone was gathered around the gypsy fire the plan was laid out. The Ruda’s plan made more sense than Hawthorne’s: Eliana and Thelma would go in together, Eliana to draw out the “visitor” and Thelma to draw as many guards as she could away from the eastern wall of the fort. Once done, Eliana would bring the visitor to the wall, and the men would grab the visitor. The Ruda would haul him away while the actors went to the exhibition room and grabbed the treasure. Eliana would go with them to ensure the Ruda would remain to cover the actors’ retreat, and then she and Thelma would make their escape.

Eliana walked behind Thelma, dressed in a simple, hooded robe. She would play the servant to Thelma, so the guards would be more focused on Thelma. As they approached she felt her stomach tighten in fear and anticipation. Breaking and entering, kidnapping, theft of valuable relics, such things were the stories of the Ruda, who only answered to their own law, and someday she would have her own stories to share by the campfire, starting tonight.

Thelma approached the guards playing the lute and the guards, tense at first, immediately relaxed. “Who approaches?” they asked, but not with the normal, gruff tones they would have used had it been one of the men who had approached. There were 4 guards stationed outside the door, 4 more atop the walls and 4 somewhere inside, sleeping, eating, telling stories. The pattern and rotation had been watched for a week while the Ruda had been camped a few miles away at the crossroads. Thelma’s playing and skillful rhymes wooed the soldiers that were on duty, and one by one, mesmerized by her melodic, melancholy rhymes, the guards came to gather around Thelma, to listen to the sound of her lute, and of her voice. Only the ones who were too far away to hear Thelma’s rhymes and music continued with their assigned patrol. It was a good opportunity to infiltrate the keep, and Thelma kept on singing; Unseen by the gathered guards, Eliana snuck in to the keep, to do her part of the plan.

Eliana edged around the soldiers, as planned they took no notice of a servant, and she stepped into the shadows of the keep without anyone attempting to stop her. The keep wasn’t large, there were only five rooms. The one to the jail was locked, the one to the living quarters was not. Thelma led the soldiers inside and Eliana smiled as her music pulled the guards from the east wall. Among the guards who gathered in the mess hall was a young man in blue livery, embroidered with gold thread. He was the only one who looked like a rich noble, and Eliana pulled him aside.

“What do you think…” he started and she pulled the hood of the cloak down. He looked at her face, honey colored eyes and the thick hair and his throat went dry.

“Forgive me my lord,” she whispered demurely. “I just… I wanted to say…”

“Think nothing of it, maiden,” he smiled a perfect smile and kissed her hand. “A maid as beautiful as you should be a princess. Maybe there is place in my father’s court for you.”

She blushed, pretending to be flattered. “I would love to hear more,” she said with as much sincerity as she could choke up, and guided him up along the walls. She could hear Thelma, still busy entertaining the soldiers, as they reached the easternmost edge.

“Oh, your highness,” she cooed and he turned to kiss her. She gave him a quick kiss and a hard shove. He toppled backward over the wall into the waiting arms of the Ruda and actors below. As the Ruda tied him up Eliana pulled the rope that was hidden under the cloak and tossed it down, tying the other end to a post.

The actors climbed quickly and she handed one of them the keys she had pickpocketed, then followed them to the ceremonial vault.

Thelma in the meantime had gone from poems of courtly love and bonding to earthier poems of lust and the flesh, perhaps less courtly… But far more appropriate to the environment of the guards’ common room. She would recite and sing and even dance, making sure that all the gathered guards were close and stayed close to her. As time passed, liquorous wine flowed, and the soldiers’ laughter became louder. At the end of two hours, most soldiers were passed out drunk, and only a few remained with some semblance of consciousness. Thelma took a bow, and quietly exited the room among the drunken, half-hearted protests of the remaining soldiers. “I must rest my voice, oh fine gentlemen” had said Thelma, and taking advantage of the almost unmanned keep she managed to get out of the main gate just as the last Ruda was slipping into the shadows.

Eliana and the acting troupe found the treasure. An ancient, gold and onyx crown in the colors of Esk, a royal scepter, and a coat in the ancient Eskian fashion. Eliana realized it wasn’t just a treasure, not to the proud kars of Esk, this was something far more valuable than just gold. Whoever had worn this had been someone important. She felt a twinge of consciousness, then pushed it down. It was not the Ruda way to put emotional attachments before duty to family, and she had sworn to Pater that she would get the actors out of the keep with the treasure.

As they snuck back out she heard the music die down, heard Thelma’s proclamation, and saw her shadow move towards the outer gate. She watched Thelma’s silhouette and smiled. That woman was so pretty, and Eliana hoped she looked that good in 10 years. She looked around and saw the last of the actors’ slip down the rope, she had fallen behind. As she moved towards the rope another sight caught her eye. In the darkness there was a growing light, torches coming up the road towards the keep. A lot of torches. It looked like an army, and it was heading right for Caer Durion. She turned and ran back down the stairs to the main hall, forgetting to pull her cloak up over her head. Thelma had just closed the gate behind her and Eliana heard a shout outside. Eliana pushed the door open and slid to a halt right beside Thelma, staring at the front end of an army.

Thelma’s surprise was genuine. It was not supposed to go this way; it was supposed to go smoothly… They had been betrayed. Someone had sold them down the river. If she survived this, she’d kill her boss. Aloud, she said, “Fair soldiers! I am Ritna, the Nightingale!” She bowed in her most courtly manner possible and then said, “And this lovely lass is my apprentice, beautiful Kala! we are traveling trobairitzes, how might…”

“Silence, woman!” the captain of the guard slid from his horse and drew his sword. He grabbed a torch in his other hand and stepped forward, holding the light high. “Your ‘apprentice’ is a Ruda, and wherever Ruda are something foul is happening. Sergeant, bind them and hold them.” One of the lesser officers walked up and grabbed Thelma’s arm and began pulling it behind her back, another approached Eliana and did the same. She looked around but aside from running in the dark through the forest she didn’t see a way out. Sighing, she resigned herself to being bound as the General led a group of soldiers into the keep.

Within moments he came back, dragging the keep commander and a couple other drunken officers with him. “Bind these two as well, conduct unbecoming, and send out search parties. Apparently someone stole the Golden Treasure of Light and the Prince of Hampton.”

“Maybe the prince stole it,” Thelma smiled.

“Treasure of Light?!” Eliana snarled. “That was the treasure of the royal family of Esk! oops.”

“Ah, so you did see it,” the general nodded. “Lock them in the dungeon.”

When the cell door had slammed, Thelma looked at Eliana. Aloud she said “This is so unfair! I was just entertaining the soldiers!” then, softer, so only Eliana could hear, she said “Work with me here.” Thelma’s voice was on edge, flat and nervous as she said softly, “your back to mine, I’ll use my fingers and try to untie you.” Thelma waited until she felt Eliana’s back against hers, and said in whispers, “Do you do that often?” Eliana, struggling to keep her back against Thelma’s, asked a little flippantly, “What?” Thelma responded, calmly, “You know, acquainting your foot with your mouth.”

Eliana worked at the knots until they were loosened. “Sorry, I guess I got carried away.” She pulled at the ropes from Thelma’s hands and then waited as Thelma untied her. Rubbing her wrists, she looked around. There were no windows, and there was only a single, hardwood shelf to use as a bed.

When Thelma’s wrists were freed, she turned and worked on Eliana’s bindings. While she did, she said “You know, I think we were betrayed. There was no way such a large force could’ve gotten here so fast unless someone whispered a word to the constabulary. Worse still… Neither your family nor my group are safe. I hope they are alright… There, you’re free. Not that it’ll do us any good.” Thelma sat on the bench and looked at Eliana. “What’s your story, Eliana? I’m betting it’s way more interesting than mine.”

“Story?” Eliana sat down on the dirty straw floor and leaned back against the wall. “Well, I have my father… I do not know who my mother was. She was a Ruda but from another tribe. I have lived with Pater, my father, since I can remember. He taught me the arts, entertaining as well as… Other skills. And now I am expected to pick a mate and take a husband and…” she sighed and shrugged, “and then that is it, the end of my life. I can’t see myself tied down.”

“We’re similar in that I do not know who my father was. My mother… She was a courtier at Duke Carrick’s court. I grew up with the taint of possibly being one of the many bastards sired by the duke. I refused to let that let me down, and instead of being tied down to a manor where I would always have the taint of probably being a bastard, I chose to learn a trade, the trade of a trobairitz. It turns out I’m good at it. I’ve… other talents too, mostly when it comes to, you know, the chamber, and I also have light fingers. Not that it will help me much after they wring my neck.” Thelma dangled a small bauble dangling by a chain. “This yours?” she said, smiling winningly.

Eliana touched her slim, bare throat. She giggled. “Good job, you would be a good Ruda. Um, what chamber? What do you mean?”

Thelma smiled and gave Eliana her bauble back. She said, “Why, the bedchamber dear, of course. When you’re on your own and there’s much need for food… A woman always has something to sell that men want.” Thelma stayed quiet for a little while and then she said, “You look so young, so spirited. You’re talented with the fiddle too. Who knows, maybe when we’re reborn you’ll play the fiddle and I’ll sing.” Thelma leaned back and bonked her head on the stone wall. “Shit!” she said, rubbing the back of her head. More to herself she said, aloud, “Teaches me not to relax too much I guess…”

“Well… no, I don’t really know. Pater has never allowed me to experience… chambers. And talent is more important than beauty. I have no experience in… anything really. I couldn’t survive on my own, out on the street. I would try to sell my body and probably get killed. I admire you. You are so beautiful, smart, and talented. I am 1 out of 3. But… well… I do have some skills.” She reached under her skirt and held up the key ring, the same one she had lifted from the guards earlier, the one that had got them into the ceremonial vault.

Thelma smiled. She said, “you’d be a great thief. Good job! Do you think there’s a skeleton key in that ring? We should try all of those keys, maybe we can get out of here when everyone’s asleep. I really, really don’t want to face the gallows, I value my neck way too much. We will have to be quiet, and we’ll have to be like shadows if we want to get out in one piece.” “I’m not a thief, and neither is my apprentice” said Thelma, loud enough for anyone outside the cell to hear.

Eliana sighed. “They got one guard posted outside, and another at the entrance to the gaol. I am not sure how we are to get past them without weapons. I don’t think seduction will work this time, they might be onto our wicked and wily charms.”

The door opened and two guards entered. One grabbed each of the women and pulled her out of the chamber, back down to the mess hall. 3 of the previous keep guard hung on ropes by their neck from the rafters.

“These were good men, with families. Men I knew. We had history,” the general said. “I have even less qualms hanging you both than I did them. So tell me why I should let a thief and a… gypsy,” he said with a sneer… “live another hour?”

Thelma gulped. She was nervous, but tried to maintain her calm, and mustering her charm she said, “Forgive me, general, haven’t you considered that my apprentice and I happened to be here at the wrong place and at the wrong time? Yes, my apprentice claims she saw a treasure, but in truth all my apprentice and I ever did was to recite ballads and sing and dance. I know nothing about any treasure whatsoever, sire.”

“Look, sire, it was me, I helped the thieves get in, and I saw the treasure, but I did not step foot inside the chamber to steal it! I know what I did was wrong, and I will agree that I should be punished, but Thelma did nothing…”

“Except provide a distraction that cost the lives of my soldiers,” the general shook his head. “You both were in on it, together.”

“How many times do you think I have done this?” he stood up to his full height and stepped up to the women. “How many harlots and vermin have I had the displeasure of facing?”

“Trial,” Thelma said.

“What!?”

“As a born citizen of Oss and a member of the court of Duke Carrick I demand the right to fair trial under the article laws written in…”

“I know of the laws, woman!” He turned on her. “You wish to drag out this…”

“I also… Demand the right of Home Trial,” she stood up straight and Eliana smiled, Thelma looked so much like a princess at that moment.

The general grit his teeth. “Sergeant!” The door opened and another man entered. “Prepare a guard escort. The prisoners are to be taken to the court of Duke Carrick for trial… and execution.”

Soon after the escort, six armed guards, and both women set out, heading East. From the outpost to the court of duke Carrick is was a good eighty tala, a three days’ ride. By the time the sun was starting to set, the party was entering a dense forest. The going was not difficult at first, but the road became progressively more erratic and unclear. The leader of the escort said “Must get to a clea…”  but his phrase was left unfinished when three men emerged from a thicket, hooded, faces covered with cloth. One of them held a crossbow, leveled at the escort’s leader. “I wouldn’t move, were I you. Try to, and the quarrel in my crossbow will pierce your fine Ossian armor side to side before you finish lifting your arm. And yes, there is more than the three of us, if you are wondering.”

The sergeant looked around. “We are on a diplomatic mission to deliver 2 prisoners for questioning. We are not carrying any gold, and neither of these 2 have anyone who would ransom anything for their return. You are wasting your time, hoodlum. I suggest you try further down the road.”

“Carrying two prisoners for questioning. Hmm, I’m sure you rather mean ‘torture and then slowly kill’ by that, don’t you?” the man made a whistling sound, like a whippoorwill’s, and soon the whole party was surrounded by at least twelve men, all hooded and masked. “I think not,” said the man. “We’re going to ‘liberate’ your prisoners, and by that I mean ‘setting your prisoners free forthwith and immediately after tie the lot of you together with nothing on but your britches.’ Raven… Owl… take care of the prisoners. Crow… Robin… Swallow… you and the others, make sure our esteemed guests are made comfortable.” The man stood firm, eyes fixed on the escort leader, crossbow pointed at him. “I’m afraid,” he said, “I’m afraid I’ll have to ask you to order your men to drop your swords. You first, of course.”

“I see,” the sergeant said. He drew his weapon slowly, but instead of releasing it he charged forward. There was a twang as the crossbow fired but he deflected it with his weapon. The rest of the guards, though outnumbered, were better trained and the fight was on. Eliana untied the restraints holding her to the horse and leapt to the ground. She turned to help Thelma and saw she had already done the same. Together they darted into the trees to get away from the fight, but hadn’t gone too far when Eliana tripped over a rope that was hidden with leaves and dropped a weighted net on top of them.

While the fight raged on, someone walked closer to the net that had trapped both women. It was a hooded figure, with a mask. “Looks like we have caught ourselves two birds,” he said. “Fleeing the fight? or just fleeing?” the person’s eyes were flashing with intelligence and malice. “I think you two will be safer in our little manor.” There was a quick pull and before the girls could react their wrists tied, swiftly, but firmly. “Come now, quickly,” said the hooded character, leading both girls by the neck away from the battle. “We’ll figure out who you are, how much you are worth, and whether you’re more useful to us as ransom, as crew… Or as entertainment.”

“Crew!” Eliana chimed in. “I am obviously a Ruda, even if we had royalty no one would pay for my release.”

“Sounds entertaining,” he laughed as they were led into a dark area of thick wood. The trees grew thick and dark, so close together they were usually walking over their roots. After an hour they reached a large camp, where the trees had been grown and cleared to provide a wide open place for tents and a fire pit. There was more bedding set up on the thick branches overhead and a large group of the bandits had set up a small camp here. Eliana looked around curiously as they were led to the center.

“I could be crew or entertainment” said Thelma. “I’m a trobairitz, by definition I’m always broke.” At Eliana’s side, she walked and walked, and looked around her curiously. The camp looked well established, better stocked and very cleverly hidden. Curious, she asked, “is this a band of merry men stealing from the rich to give it back to the poor?” The hooded person didn’t say anything, but led both Eliana and Thelma into the center of camp. They didn’t have long to wait: Four hooded men reached the camp, one of them holding an arm, another one limping. The last man to come in said, “Well, that was… Unpleasant.”

Eliana sighed and looked around. “I am not sure if I am thanking you for a rescue. Are we being rescued or just moving from one sentence to another? And does this forest grow any mosswillow or aloe?”

They looked around curiously, then the one in the mask who addressed them earlier stepped forward. “You are our prisoners, until we deem otherwise. And what do you want mosswillow for?”

“Pain reliever, and helps wounds heal faster,” Eliana said evenly. “Something the Ruda learn, living out on the road.”

He studied her, then chuckled and nodded. The men brought them food and water, and Eliana brewed a paste which she used to tend to the wounds of those hurt.

Looking for something to do, Thelma spotted a lute. She moved to take it, and tested it. It was out of tune, so she put it in tune and after a few plucks she started to sing, not the songs that one would not normally hear either in courts or in taverns, but something… Different, something that contained elements of both styles. She went on for a while, until Eliana was done healing the wounded bandits. When the wounded were tended to, Thelma stopped. She said, “As long as I can sing and play the lute and seduce… I can be your prisoner.”

The leader removed his mask and sat down to eat, chuckling. “You two do not act like prisoners. You act like you are on a holiday.”

“Well, we were on our way to be executed. Now we are going to be alive,” Eliana smiled and dug into her soup, making a face. “This is disgusting.”

“I can fix that,” said Thelma. She approached the cauldron and tasted it. “Ugh,” she said, “what did you cook here, week old squirrels?” Thelma made a face. She asked, “Got turnips, leeks, taters and coney?” Thelma then picked up the cauldron and dumped its contents far away from the fire, and looked around rummaging for a water skin.

The bandits looked at each other, then at Thelma, then at the leader. “Well?” the leader waved them away. Soon Thelma had the ingredients she needed and the rabbit stew gave off a heavenly aroma that had everyone in the camp drooling. She had to make 2 batches as most of them came back for thirds.

“You can really cook!” Eliana exclaimed.

“This? Anyone can do this,” Thelma actually blushed.

“Some time I will tell you about the time I burnt water,” Eliana smiled.

“You can cook… and you can heal,” the leader said.

“Uh… well, that wasn’t healing, I just know what plants do,” the gypsy added, but the leader continued as if she hadn’t spoken.

“I think we may have ended up with more treasure than we bargained for, boys,” the leader called out and the camp erupted in cheers.

With Thelma acting as their cook and Eliana as their medic, the bandits were quickly in a much better position: Not being hampered by foraging, which was done by Thelma, nor by patching themselves up, they were able to become better at ambushing and at defending themselves. Thelma however had a faint feeling that these bandits were not ordinary, they were too… structured, more like a pirate crew than a common gang of roadside outlaws.

One afternoon, the chief of the bandits called both Thelma and Eliana apart.

“Sit down, ladies,” he offered, pointing at two tree stumps.

Thelma sat down on a stump, legs crossed, hand on her lap. “Hello, Roche. What’s new?” Thelma’s clothes were now a brown shirt, tight leggings, and comfortable, soft boots. Her trobairitz clothes were stuffed in the bottom of a bag.

“We’ll be moving out soon, ladies,” said Roche, sitting down after both Thelma and Eliana. “We’ve come to a decision about you, and we are pretty confident that you two can be trusted, so now I can tell you all about us, and why we are out here.”

“In this region there was a kingdom, belonging to a vassal king of the Ossian High King. you may not know about it. It is gone now, though only 20 years ago it was still there. The king was a peaceful man, a little too generous I guess. He saw his realm as a place where everyone would be treated with respect. He had a law, his first law he called it. Everyone was allowed to live in peace, how they wish and under their beliefs, as long as it didn’t interfere with the lives of another.

“His people loved him, but it didn’t make him very popular in the high king’s court. He saw what his vassal was doing and thought that it might be a good practice, but there were those in the court who saw it differently. To welcome in such freedom means allowing others to turn away from the Light. Imagine allowing Eskians to live their heathen lifestyle. What happened, it must have been the church of light’s doing, I would swear on it. They came in the night, killed my father, and ruined his name. The murder investigation, headed by the high priest himself, found evidence of what they claim were foul, demonic practices. I grew up in that home, and my father never believed in demons, nor did he believe in ghosts and spirits. Nevertheless, my family was put to death. I watched as the high king’s men… men my father fought for in the old wars, killed my mother, sisters, brothers, and my father. There were men who were loyal to my father though, and they got me out. Just me. We have been in hiding ever since. If I can find a way to prove that the high priest lied, that he framed my father…”

Eliana looked at Thelma and both mouthed the word “treasure” silently. Thelma looked back and cleared her throat. “Roche, we might be able to help you with that.”

Roche looked perplexed.

“Eliana and I were to be executed for stealing holy artifacts. They were supposed to be from the temple of Light in the capital city, but we discovered they were royal artifacts from Esk. Someone had hidden them in Caer Durion. I am sure the rumor to their nature was created by someone in the church so the high king wouldn’t snoop. If we can get the treasure and show it to the high king, he will be forced to open an investigation into the church.”

Roche was silent. “Do you think it will work?” he asked after a while.

“Well, hit and run tactics against his troops and merchants isn’t working, is it?” Eliana stated. “Honestly, what have you got to lose?”

Roche thought for some time, looking fixedly in front of him, then at last he said, “… Assuming I go along with this idea, you said you saw it, Eliana.” In the time Thelma and Eliana had been with the bandits, Roche and a few others had gotten close to the girls.

“If the guards of the Church of the Light haven’t caught up with them,” said Eliana, “The treasure should be with Thelma’s mummer troupe, which was stationed at Crossroads.”

“They wouldn’t be stupid enough to stay there,” Eliana said. “And I am sure the Ruda took their captive close enough to where they can ransom him off to his family. So where would the troupe go, Thelma. They can’t sell it, not as it is. They must be looking for someplace to melt it down or something, who would have a forge that they can trust?”

Thelma thought for a moment. She then said, “There is a master blacksmith in Ravenfurt, for whom the troupe has performed some odd jobs here and there. But Ravenfurt is too close to Caer Durion. My best bet would be Tar Oss, there is a large black market there and many blacksmiths will not ask many questions if one knows where to look.”

Roche sent some of his men to Ravenfurt, just in case. He, Thelma, and Eliana went on to Tar Oss, along with a couple of his men. Known as the Pirate Port, Tar Oss, the de jure capital of the Ossian kingdom, had seen better days. Once a flourishing port city, it was now a lawless, cutthroat town of teetering shacks, brothels, and ships, organically intertwined with crumbling ruins of a long faded glory. A massive, sprawling harbor, the largest in Eriagor, allowed for up to a hundred ships to dock, and the wharves were always crowded. Eliana was both terrified and excited to be here. There was no formal rule of law, the underworld bosses kept out any legitimate businesses and the few of the king’s troops to come here were always corrupt.

Thelma, wearing a deep hooded cloak, led the others through the throngs of people. They stayed together, safety in numbers after all. Roche did some snooping and bribing, and finally found a blacksmith who had been approached by Hawthorne. They had indeed come to convert some “family treasure into something more compact.” The blacksmith had agreed, and was waiting for Hawthorne to return with payment.

“Do you know where we can find this troubadour?” Roche asked.

“Nay, I do not ask such questions,” the blacksmith shook his head. “And he might find someone else to take care of his business, but not likely at the prices he was asking.”

Thelma whispered in Roche’s ear. “They might be camped just outside of town, shouldn’t be too hard to find.” Just as he nodded there was a loud shout and a scream. Thelma turned to look at Eliana, but the young gypsy wasn’t beside her, instead she was at a merchant stall. Her and a rotund man were having a tug of war over a dark, wooden case.

“This is mine!” Eliana was screaming. “It was stolen!”

“Everything in this city was stolen, you nutty brat!” the merchant shouted back.

“My father made this violin, for me, it even has my name on it!” She shouted.

“Ruda are happy enough to steal everyone else’s things,” the merchant shouted.

Eliana kicked him in the balls and he released the violin case. She clutched it to her chest and there was another shout as several merchants roared with anger.

Thelma was fast, she used her travel cloak to provide cover tor Eliana, and with a quick move she dropped the cloak over the first would-be pursuers, causing a disorder. “Quick, follow me” she said, and led Roche and Eliana through a sea of narrow and dark alleys stinking of putrid water until they were near a closed door. Thelma knocked a series of quick knocks: knock-knock-knock… knock… knock-knock… The door opened. “Enter, you three” said a voice behind the open door and Thelma practically pushed Roche and Eliana in. As the first voices of the angry crowd started to get louder, Thelma said, “Welcome to the Decadent Grove, guys. We can take a breather here, at least until things quiet down.” Thelma then looked at Eliana and at the violin case. The Decadent Grove was a safe have, known to very few, where people from all walks of life could hide in time of need. S ort of secluded, neutral ground right in the middle of the most divided, violent city in Oss, and one of the most dangerous in Eriagor. “Are you sure this is your violin, Eliana?” she asked with urgency.

Eliana flipped it over and showed them the burned in symbol of her father. “They must have sold it when they came here to sell off the Esk treasure, I bet they already have a fence set up for it.”

Thelma nodded. “Maybe, but in any case the fact that you recognize the violin’s brand gives you a stronger claim over it. We better see the prince of misers then, he’s the go-to man in this part of town,” said Thelma. “We’re in luck though, this is the decadent grove, kind of the headquarters for the prince of misers. We talk to him first about your violin, then we’ll find out about your family and my troupe. If they were in this part of Tar Oss, the prince of misers will know.”

Finding someone who could get them a meeting was easy, getting the meeting was another matter altogether. Thelma was told she would be contacted when and if the prince would meet with them.

“We cannot wait,” Roche paced back and forth in the small, cramped room they paid too much for. “If Hawthorne manages to scrape enough coin together to melt down the artifacts then all chance I have of defending my family in the eyes of the king are finished.”

“Not to mention that those belong to Esk,” Eliana added.

“We need to get them before Hawthorne gets the money, and it won’t be too hard, a handful of shows?”

“He needs to pay the troupe as well,” Thelma said. “But I agree, we have little time.”

“How about Thelma and me sneak into the actor’s camp and steal it first. You can go case the blacksmith’s just in case.”

Thelma smiled. “They will recognize me the moment they see me.”

“So? They don’t know you want the treasure for other reasons. We play along until we find it, then lead them back to the blacksmith. When the timing is right Roche and his merry thugs bounce them, we bob them from behind, and the Esk treasure is ours.” Her golden eyes danced with delight, then she quickly added, “… To take to the proper authorities of course.”

“Thieves stealing to do the right thing, I love the irony of it!” Roche laughed.

Thelma thought about the plan for a moment. She finally looked up and said, “you know, the plan is crazy enough that it might work. I’ll head to the theatre, and talk to the manager. In this part of town there is only one, near the fish market. I can find out where the mummers are keeping camp there.”

Roche left to the marketplace and Thelma to the fish dock. Eliana sighed and played her violin a little, but then boredom and curiosity got the better of her. She hated sitting around, and she felt totally useless. She tried to think of how she could help the others when there was a knock on the door. She frowned and walked to it.

“Who…” she started to ask when a slip of paper slid under the door. She picked it up and read it. “The prince will see you now. Step outside the inn and go left to the red dragon. If you alleviate from this course or bring a weapon the meeting is off.” She groaned and shook her head. She didn’t want to see the prince alone, but the others had left her there. She couldn’t wait, postponing the meeting the prince would probably not see them again. She placed the violin in its case and left it on the bed, then walked outside. Turning left she wandered down the street, her full, gypsy skirt swaying around her feet was a bright beacon of color on the dismal street. She saw a pedestal ahead, a statue or memorial of a soldier standing over a cannon that had been shaped like a dragon. The statue was made of red marble.

She turned in the direction the cannon was facing and stopped before a large building. The heat and steam issuing from it, along with the giggling of whores inside, made her curious. She had never seen a bath house before. Never even heard of them. Inside a beautiful woman, naked except for a small towel tied around her hips looked her up and down.

“I am here to see the pr…” the woman placed a finger against Eliana’s lips to silence her.

“Strip,” the woman said in a commanding voice.

“Sthwip?” Eliana said around the finger.

“This is a men’s bath house, sweetie,” the woman said with a smile. “Women must be naked at all times.”

Eliana sighed and shed her bright, loose fitting clothes. Completely naked, she followed the woman to the back of the bath house. Halls were filled with doorways that had only beaded curtains for doors. Moans and gasps of pleasure, real and fake, resounded from them, along with billowing clouds of steam. The entire place was thick with fog, hot and humid, and Eliana quickly found herself covered in beads of water and sweat.

In the back of the building there was an outdoor pool of bubbling hot springs. Sitting in a bath of hot water was a handsome man, fair of hair and tanned, with piercing blue eyes.

“Hello, sir… my name is Eliana.”

“Welcome Eliana, I heard you were looking for me.”

“Uh… yeah, well… my friends were, and I am not entirely sure why. Something about the merchants… and a blacksmith.”

“That altercation about the violin?” the prince smiled. “Yes I heard about it. I hear about everything that happens within my city.”

“Your city?”

“Everyone in it, and everything.”

“That violin…”

“Was a gift, from your father. That merchant bought it off someone who stole it, obviously. This is a city of thieves, you know. You took it back. Commendable. As far as I am concerned the matter is closed.”

“Then you don’t mind?”

“Mind? of course I do. You assaulted a merchant, they are not thieves and therefore must be shown some leniency. The men who stole your violin and sold it to him are the real criminals here. However, I settled it with the merchant and paid him what I am sure he agreed to was a good price.”

This brought out a chuckle from 5 large, brutish thugs resting nearby.

“Well then, I suppose I owe you my gratitude,” Eliana said softly.

“You owe me more than that, Ruda,” the prince’s jovial manner became cold and business like. “You owe me the money I paid the merchant to get it back for you. But have no fear, I know of a way for you to pay off your debt, without even having to leave this building. Which is a bonus, considering I don’t think you would get far, without any clothes, in this town.”

Eliana blushed, looking back down the hallway. She had no idea where her clothes had been taken. “What… do you want?”

The prince smiled and motioned her to the water, and the 2 girls who were in the bath with him quickly climbed out and vanished. He said, “First, we will wait for your friend Thelma; she should be here shortly. For now, you’ll stand near me and look pretty. For a Ruda, you are quite attractive, wench.”

In the meantime, Thelma was looking around the theatre, when two cloaked men approached. “Lady Thelma, please follow us.” Thelma was about to object, but she felt something pointy at the small of her back. “It would be… unwise… to refuse, ma’am” said one of the cloaked men. Thelma gulped, and said, “Alright, I’ll follow you.” The men led Thelma through town and into a bath house. The girl that had asked Eliana’s clothes said, “you’re expected, lady Thelma. Please remove your clothes.” Thelma complied, and she was led past the same sights and sounds, to the sight of five large men, a naked Eliana, and a handsome, fair man, with piercing blue eyes. Unlike Eliana, Thelma was used to being naked, and showed no outward sign of nervousness. The fair haired man said, “Welcome, Thelma. I’ve been expecting you. As you can see your Ruda friend was so kind as to join us as well.” He smiled winningly. “I am the prince of misers, and I know you’ve been looking for me. Since your and your friend’s stunt at the market cost me a good amount of coin, and I know that you were involved in it… don’t try to deny it now, that trick with the cape was very good; amateurish, but good. Not bad for a trobairitz; and with those street smarts I suppose that you’ve been more than a trobairitz in the past, no?” His voice turned serious, and he continued, “your Ruda friend and you acted together, and the coin I had to spend to rescue the violin so Eliana could keep it was not insignificant. I reckon, you and Eliana both owe me at least that coin. Wouldn’t you agree, Thelma?”

Thelma gulped. “I… I guess I can see your point.”, she said. “What do you need us to do?”, she added.

He smiled. “You will both repay my men first. They went through a great deal and I owe them. There is 5 of them, so you can split your… selves among them. Then you will be taken to my home. I have some visitors I am entertaining and need a very attractive show. You two are both attractive and entertaining.”

With that 2 of the thugs stood and grabbed each of Eliana’s arms. She screamed and kicked as they dragged her off down the dark hallway to one of the beaded rooms. The other three guards walked towards Thelma. “You want to struggle? Run? Go ahead. A naked woman running down these streets will meet with a worse fate than what we plan on doing with you.”

Thelma was no virgin, she had been a courtesan in Tar Oss when she was young and penniless, and had worked the streets first, then the dock brothels, then the good brothels, before a troubadour had discovered her, so to speak. Thelma smiled her most winning smile and said, “Alright lads, there’s three of you and only one of me, so the question is, who wants it where? Don’t worry, I’ll be a good girl, you don’t have to be rough with me.” The bravado with which Thelma said that hid her fear, and while the thugs decided who would take which of Thelma’s entries, Thelma thought of Eliana. “So much for marrying someone or going back to her family if they take her virginity,” she thought. It was well known that Ruda women who had sex before marriage were considered impure, and could never marry a proper Ruda man. Such women were usually banned from their family and left to their own devices.

It was dark by the time the prince’s men had finished with them. Eliana had not gone as quietly or willingly as Thelma. She had a black eye, a split lip, and was limping when they dragged her back to the pool and threw her in. the prince laughed, looking over at the other bath where Thelma was just finishing with 3 of them, who were taking her for the second time, this time all at once. He pulled Eliana up by her hair and she gasped for air, then he plunged her down under the water. His manhood was at full mast and he rubbed her face against it a few times. He planned on using them both, later. For now, he was entertained with her struggles.

Finally, the men dragged a stumbling, sore Thelma over. Both women were made to stand naked beside the pool as the men got dressed. They were led naked through the streets. Thelma immediately saw the logic in this. As long as they remained close to the prince of misers, no one would touch them, even as naked as they were. Eliana walked along with her head down, eyes locked on the ground. She had been shown the ultimate in disgraces. She was branded a whore now in the eyes of the Ruda. The female was sacred, it was why the women led the families, not the men. A woman despoiled was lower than dirt, impure, and she felt it now. Her ass and vagina still pulsed painfully, as if they were still thrusting into them like wild animals.

The prince’s place looked to be a simple, one story building that was broken and on the verge of collapse. It was surrounded, literally, buy others, one and two story condemned buildings, all on the edge of crumbling to splinters. Except for the men who were mostly invisible, one to a door, that is all it appeared to be from the outside. But the men, most of whom looked to be beggars, were highly skilled assassins, and the broken down exterior merely a façade. Inside the walls between the buildings had been altered. The walls were sturdy, with doorways so move between the buildings, essentially turning the whole block of ramshackle hovels into an enormous, hidden, single palace.

The women were taken to a room, with makeup, perfume, and silks, and told to pretty themselves up. Other slaves where there, getting ready to serve drinks and whore themselves out to the prince of misers, his men, and his guests. If they had any pity on the two visitors, they didn’t show it. Eliana fell to her knees in the corner and started sobbing.

Thelma was in pain; her eyes were red and swollen and some bruises were starting to appear between her thighs, on her ass, on her breasts, and on her sides. She walked with a limp, and one eye was swollen almost shut; she had received a lot as well, and whimpered with every step. By the time the two had arrived to the prince of miser’s palace, Thelma was numb, but she saw perfectly the state in which Eliana was in, and when the Ruda fell on her knees and sobbed, Thelma went to her side, and held her tightly. “I am so sorry,” Thelma kept saying, holding Eliana close to her. Thelma tried her best to comfort the young Ruda, but it wasn’t long before two men grabbed them both and took them both through rug-covered, curtain-laden rooms to the prince’s chambers.

Compared to the last few hours, the rest of the night was easy for the girls. They were groped and fondled as they served drinks, clad with diaphanous silks that showed off their bodies and concealed the worst of the abuse, but that was the extent of it. Late in the night they did indeed put on a show for the guests, but it was with each other. Eliana looked nervously at Thelma as Thelma leaned in to kiss her, and from that point on Eliana lost herself. Time stretched out and the feeling of Thelma’s skin was amazing. Soft and warm, beautiful, delicious, and she smelled divine. Eliana couldn’t get enough of her, her hands and lips wanted to explore every inch, at the same time, forever. It was her first orgasm, followed by her second… by the time Thelma pulled a fifth from her she was completely exhausted, covered in sweat, and so weak she was trembling. She passed out in the arms of one of the guards as he carried her to a private room to sleep, and when she woke up in the morning she was in her bed at the inn, clothed and clutching a sleeping Thelma.

When Thelma woke up she was sore and her sex hurt. She felt a hand in her hand, and she looked upon Eliana. She smiled softly, almost apologetically, and said, “good morning… ack… How are you feeling Eliana?” By instinct, Thelma reached to fix Eliana’s disheveled hair. Thelma blushed and said, “I’m sorry about yesterday, I… I know how important your virginity was to you.” Thelma nibbled at her lower lip and said, “I… I have a secret, very few people know it…”

Eliana stared at Thelma, her eyes seemed to grow. Her lips opened in a small O and she nodded softly.

It took Thelma a few moments to gather herself; she finally said softly, “My story about the Duke’s court… it’s a lie, one that worked well for me for many years. In reality… In reality, I’m a half-blood. My mother was Ruda, she… she was… taken, before she could marry, by bandits. She was banned from her family, left to her devices in Tar Oss. A thatcher married her, and I am the product of their union.”

Eliana rolled on top of her and pinned her down, then started kissing Thelma over and over, covering her neck, lips, chest, and face. “Do you know what this means?” Eliana squealed happily. “I am yours! You are Ruda and I am impure, no Ruda would take me now, except… you! Please take me! Please, be my mate, I… I know we barely know each other, but I will let you be the matron.”

Thelma smiled. She said, “I will take you to be my mate, Eliana, I… I barely know you, but… Yesterday, when we were… um… performing, I… felt something, and I want to find out what that something means. When this is over, I’ll be happy to fast hands with you.”

The next many minutes were a blur to Thelma, she could only remember Eliana squealing and almost pouncing on her, and when she came to, both women were holding each other, naked, legs entwined between legs, and Thelma was feeling the familiar tingle that came with the aftermath of a powerful orgasm.

The girls eventually left the room, smiling and holding hands. The found Roche waiting outside. “I found them, and good news. They still have the treasures.”

“So if you had a distraction, could you sneak in and steal it back?” Eliana asked.

“Yes, I think so,” he nodded.

“Then let’s go see Hawthorne,” she turned to Thelma. “I think I know the distraction.”

They found the actors set up on the outskirts of town, close to the road in case of a fast getaway. Thelma and Eliana walked right into the crowd that had gathered as Roche led his men around behind the camp. Neither was seen. The play consisted of a young nobleman who fell in love with his maid. The small band of musicians began a mournful song, as the nobleman, played by Hawthorne, was walking offstage, his maid sobbing as his fiancé stood watching stone-faced. Suddenly a violin erupted from the crowd, blending into the mournful melody and adding a tragic undertone. Eliana walked slowly, playing along with the song, the minstrels immediately played to her. Hawthorne however had stopped, halfway to the backstage, turning to look.

“My love,” Thelma said sharply, stepping up onto the stage. “The war brings many changes, please be careful. Come home to me, the one who needs you.”

Cheron, the one who was supposed to be playing the fiancé, stared at her in rage. Chloe, the maid, looked up from her knees and broke out in a loud squeal, leaping to her feet and throwing her arms around Thelma.

“Thelma!” Chloe cried out. “You’re alive!” The performance quickly fell apart after that outburst, and the handful of people attending the performance vanished into the night.

Hawthorne went pale, then he stammered, “Yes! Yes! it is good to see you Thelma! I am glad you’re safe. We were worried about you when you didn’t appear after…”

“Spare me, Hawthorne,” said Thelma. “The Ruda girl and I had it grim there for a while, you know. A whole army was right on top of us, and their commander arrested us. He wanted to hang me and Eliana on the spot… I convinced him to get a trial for me and Eliana, but… We were going to be executed. Executed, Hawthorne.” With the tail of her eye Thelma saw Roche and two of his partisans slipping into Hawthorne’s wagon, and emerge from it a short while after with a large package. Thelma continued, “We were in luck, though. the armed escort run into some… difficulties… on the way, and Eliana and I got away. I have to say it, Hawthorne… I think someone sold the troupe out. I think I should make myself scarce for a while. So should you, and so should everyone in the troupe. Farewell, Hawthorne,” said Thelma, finally, when Eliana, tailing the group, made a sign to her.

Eliana smiled as Thelma left the stage, then stuck her tongue out at Hawthorne and followed Thelma through the stunned crowd.

“How long before he notices?” she asked when they were out of earshot.

Thelma glanced over her shoulder. “Not long, Roche said they were making the trade tonight. We must leave immediately.”

They raced back to the inn and found it had been ransacked. All their belongings, what little they had, was strewn about the room. Anything of value, except for the violin the Eliana had taken with them, was gone.

“Wha…”

“Roche,” Thelma growled. “He has the treasure; he doesn’t need us anymore.”

There was a crash from down below and both women turned and looked at the door before slamming it closed. Eliana ran to the window and looked out. “It’s the actors, I guess they discovered the treasure was missing.”

Thelma muttered a curse and they climbed out the window. They raced along the rooftops but Hawthorne’s people saw them from below and shouted. They darted into the second floor of a warehouse and came out in an alley. Thelma grabbed Eliana’s hand and pulled her along. They came out at the docks and Thelma pulled her into an open crate that was sitting near a bunch of others. Catching their breath, they listened, then felt the crate lifted, bounced as it was carried.

“Woof…ergin ben to’ick,” someone said. Thelma frown but Eliana turned pale, she had heard that language before.

“Messin tok,” another voice said. “Eben shee rosse.”

The crate was laid down with a loud thump and the voice walked away. Thelma peeked out and saw they were in the bottom of a ship. “Darling… where are we?”

“I fear we are on our way to Esk,” Eliana whimpered.

“Out of the pan and into the fire” muttered Thelma. “What do you know of Esk, Eliana?”

“Their religion is older than the Order of Light,” she said softly. “We sometimes travel along their borders and play, but they have a very… melancholy style of music. Most people consider it depressing, but Eskian music is not made for pleasure. Everything they do is steeped in ancient traditions, heritage. Daddy wouldn’t let me meet them, and the matron mothers would stay mostly inside their vardos when we went. Only when they were gone would the women venture out to sing and talk.

“Performing for the Eskians, the Ruda women would make music, but it was the men who sang. The women danced, but always naked, as were their customs. Women are treated like cattle, abused and beaten, all of them. Men rule everything, and they hate women.”

The next few days were very trying. The girls had to be very careful, and would venture out of the hold only to steal food and water in the dark of night. When the ship made port, the air was warmer than in Tar Oss, and somewhat drier. There were many voices, all of them in Eskian. Thelma was terrified. “We have to go back; we can’t stay in that country! they’ll kill us! they…”

Eliana put a finger on Thelma’s lips. “Shh, stay calm dear,” she said. “I think there’s a way out of this. Trust me.” Thelma nodded. “I… I trust you… darling…” said Thelma, resolved to follow her mate’s lead.

They waited until dark to sneak off the boat, which wasn’t easy as there was always someone guarding the ship. But they were looking for people to sneak on, not off, and were easy to distract.

However once on the dock Eliana dropped the sneaking. She and Thelma couldn’t hide from a whole country and she didn’t see the point of trying. They got stares from men, angry stares, as they walked up the dark street.

“I think this is even more terrifying than being in that prison cell,” Thelma whispered.

“Yes, but they seem afraid to speak to us,” Eliana said softly. “Ah, there we go.” She nodded ahead where a group of 6 armed men were walking towards them. The girls stopped as the men surrounded them. One man, apparently in charge, began to address them, in Ossian.

“You are out after curfew,” He said simply. “Where do you belong?”

“We are newcomers to your city and…”

“That much is obvious, that was not the question, girl,” the man seemed very agitated.

“Well…we don’t belong anywhere.”

“That much is obvious, but it wasn’t a where question, it is a who,” he reached out and lifted Eliana’s chin. “No collar. You are not a kisa. What do you wish here, girl, and be quick about it.”

“We wish an audience with someone in authority, we have something to trade in exchange for safe passage back to our home.”

“So you admit that you shouldn’t be here,” He brought himself to his full height. “How did you get here?”

Eliana looked back at Thelma. She had expected to be held until they could speak to someone, but she hadn’t expected the conversation to go so bad.

“O-on a ship?”

“Do you have boarding papers?”

“Uh….”

“As I thought, you are both under arrest for trespassing and espionage,” He grabbed her arm and 2 more grabbed Thelma.

Thelma barely had the time to squeal that a very large and strong looking man grabbed her by the arm. Eliana was grabbed by the arm as well, and both were taken to a small building just off the docks. Both were stripped naked and put in a cell; one of the guards said in broken Common language, “If you kisa be first we see. Why you clothes wear next we see. If you not kisa be then tell you where from come you and why. All to magistrate tell you will.” He closed the cell and then the building’s solid looking wood door.

“Never mind the fire, from the pan directly to the fire pit,” said Thelma. “T-They barely speak Common! Oh, light!”

Some time had passed, and both girls were languishing naked in the cell where they had been left. “Har! Telo!” there was a commotion outside, many voices were shouting at the same time. The door boomed one time… BOOM… then another… BOOM… then it shattered. A cloaked figure made for the door and spoke a few words, in a tongue neither of the girls could comprehend, and the shattered door went back to its place with a loud BOOM.

“That’ll hold them for a while…” said the person, then she turned and looked at both women. “Falam, kisa” she said. It was a woman, that much was obvious.

“H-How did you…?” said Thelma.

“Oh! You speak Common! Light be blessed, you were both naked, I assumed you were both kisa.”

Thelma looked at the cloaked woman with curiosity. “Kisa? What’s that? More importantly, who are you?”

“Kisa is how Eskians call women. It means at the same time woman, servant, wife, daughter and slave. As for me, I am Tess Nightingale, Sorceress.”

“Light be blessed, a sorceress! Please take us out of here?”

“I’m sorry, I can’t, I’m already in enough trouble as it is, I can’t help you. Besides, portals can’t transport three persons. I am sorry. Maybe I’ll come for you when things have cooled down. Gvella, glan!” After those words the sorceress disappeared.

Thelma looked down. She thought, they were prisoners in a foreign country, probably destined to some slave market, or worse.

As the sun rose the two girls huddled together for warmth. The night was sleepless, it was too cold and the cell was uncomfortable, with not even a cot to lay on. A small window in the door opened and 2 bowls were slid inside. A pair of beautiful brown eyes stared at them.

“Who are you?” Eliana asked.

“I am kisa,” she whispered, looking back to make sure no guard could hear her. “I was from Oss, long ago. Taken in a raid at sea. Please, no matter what they do, do not speak unless they give you permission.” The panel closed and locked and she hurried away.

The food was a bland, lumpy mush that could have been almost anything. Eliana ate hers slowly, as did Thelma. As the sun rose in the small window that was too far overhead to see through, the cell warmed up. They fell into an exhausted sleep curled up together.

They were kept there for three days, with only the brief morning gruel girl as a visitor. Despite Eliana’s pleading the girl did not speak again. On the fourth day they were woken as the door opened. Four guards entered and dragged them out, filthy and naked, to the jail’s main courtyard. Some gallows stood nearby, along with some metal cages containing the decomposed body of thieves that had slowly died in them.

A man in a white robe stood before them, scowling at them. The girl with brown eyes stood nearby. She was wearing a short, white robe that ended just under her ass, which hardly mattered as it was completely transparent and she had nothing on underneath. There were gold manacles on her wrists and ankles and small, gold chains that connected them to each other and the filigree gold collar on her neck.

The man in the robes started speaking in Eskian and the kisa listened, then looked at Thelma and Eliana as if in apology. “You have been tried and found guilty of treason and espionage, and crimes against the noble people of Esk.”

“But we didn’t…” Eliana was stopped short as the robed man backhanded her so hard she saw stars and her knees gave out. She would have fallen if the soldiers hadn’t been holding her.

“You do not speak unless given permission,” she stated, but only after the man told her to say it.

The man continued as Eliana’s face throbbed. “You will be taken to the slave mines of Thol Daruen, there you will carry stones and salt deep from the mines until your penance is paid. At night you will learn the ways of proper kisa and… entertain the male prisoners.” The girl turned pale. “It’s a death sentence.” She looked up at her master and said something in Eskian in rapid fire. He scowled and shook his head but she was talking again. Finally, he looked at Eliana and Thelma and then back. He spoke again.

“He is willing to… Shorten the length of your sentence, and move you to a less forbidding location, if you have something to offer.”

Eliana swallowed and wrested her arms from the guards, but only so she could bow, lowering her arms to the floor, and her arms stretched out ahead of her, an Eskian kisa’s bow to ask permission to speak. She did remember a little of her brief visits.

The man looked from Eliana to Thelma, who slowly sunk to her knees. Copying Eliana’s pose the man spoke.

“You may speak, Ruda,” the girl said.

“We know where the ancient treasure of the Eskian Grand Moff is,” she said softly, and evenly.

The man in the white robe suddenly lost some of his hieratic pose and said out loudly, “Grand Moff Tarkon’s treasure? Where is it, kisa? Where!? Speak!” The kisa with the brown eyes translated it for Eliana and Thelma.

Eliana didn’t dare lift her eyes to the man, what she was doing was dangerous and would mean the death of her and Thelma, but slaving away in a mine, away from the light, and repeatedly raped was going to kill them anyway. Either this worked, or it would hopefully earn them a swifter death.

“My life mate and I found it, in an old tomb under a forgotten fortress in Oss. We were bringing it to you, well…to an Eskian emissary in Oss, when it was taken by a man named Roche. He takes it now to the king, if he hasn’t already, in an effort to clear his family name. We can accompany you to…”

The man interrupted the translation before either the kisa or Eliana finished speaking.

“That is out of the question. You will remain here, in the palace, as my prisoners and will behave and act as kisa. My men will travel to Oss and see this ‘king’ and take back what is ours.”

Eliana tried to think of a bargaining chip she could use. “Great king…if it is found and we were telling the truth….”

“You are kisa, this is a matter left to men.”

He looked to his kisa and barked commands, then turned and left the room.

“Fuck,” she mumbled. “Well, better than the mines. Come on, I have been given 2 days to teach you how to be proper kisa, and if you don’t act like a native Eskian woman within that time he will peel the skin from my back.”

Thelma looked at the former Ossian kisa. She said, “It’s like a mummery play, just… more immersive, right? I think I will be able to act the part, while it lasts, I mean I am a passing good trobairitz back home, and Elianna here is my equal in every way, never mind the color of her skin, she’s saved me twice and that makes her my mate, Ruda or no. So, how do we go about being good kisa?”

The kisa led them into a lush chamber filled with beautiful, shapely, naked women lounging on pillows. Some were sewing clothes and some were stringing beads. “Lesson 1…repeat after me. Ela Kar.”

“Ela Kar,” both of them said in unison.

“What does that mean?” Thelma asked.

“Yes Master,” the kisa said. “And for now that is all the Eskian you will need to learn. Kar actually means a lot more than just Master in Eskian, it also means man, and husband, and father, but for our purposes focus on Master. Now let’s see what I have to work with.”

The next few hours were spent walking. Back and forth. Armed with a small, bamboo rod the kisa smacked them in the hips and legs when they made a mistake. “Every movement, every breath, every blink of an eye is made to be appealing to men. You can’t even blink right! Focus, concentrate, lower and raise your lids slowly.”

“We want to be seductive so they can rape us?” Eliana, who was still young and except for the passionate night and following morning spent with Thelma, had any other understanding of sex said out loud, which earned her a firm WHACK on the ass.

“It isn’t rape! For one thing you have to pretend to want it, all the time. If you don’t act like a tavern whore in heat they will think something is wrong with you. And they would never rape you, that would be like someone breaking something that belongs to them. You are owned by the state, which means you will fuck whoever wants you. But don’t be too alarmed, Eskians aren’t as bad as all that. Yes, they have a backward way of thinking and treating women, but hey would never force themselves on a woman who obviously didn’t want it. Eskians, male and female, have a great depth of honor. Everything they do is done for the greater good of all, at least in their version. Do you know there has only been 15 murders in this city in the last fifty years? Not deaths, but killing just out of anger or madness. That is because Eskians just do not believe in such things. There is great… kindness in them, if you know how to see it. Now walk again until you get it right!”

For Thelma, walking how the kisa wanted was not difficult. She had used that walk, that way of winking, many, many times before becoming a trobairitz, at portside whorehouses and inns, and later at more upscale brothels, actually ran by a madame who took care of the girls and housed them, and made sure they were healthy and vetoed them in their fertile days… She did the walk, again and again, not for herself, but to show Eliana how to do it in a natural way. It took several hours, but at last she and Eliana met with the kisa’s approval.

“Good,” she said. “Now…” she said, pointing at Eliana, “what are you skilled at?”

Eliana took a step forward, then lifted her arms out and twirled, spinning on the tips of her toes. The kisa blinked a few times as Eliana started to dance around the room, startling the other girls who had been watching the lessons with amusement. Every movement was a fluid grace, moving into the next movement with ease and beautiful. Each step and lift was designed to show off long, shapely, dark skinned legs and arms, heaving full breasts, even her long, dark hair seemed to swirl with a mind of its own, following the movements like a river.

“Where… did you learn to dance like that?” the kisa asked breathlessly.

“All Ruda dance like that,” Eliana retorted.

The kisa looked over at Thelma. “Now you do it.”

Thelma stepped up and danced; her movements might not have been as gracefully liquid and fluid as Eliana’s, but they were not far behind her in seductiveness and grace. Thelma’s long, shapely, creamy legs were very adeptly showed off and caressed with fingertips, long, slender arms and ripe bosom playfully teased. With Thelma’s, fuller, richer figure, it was like seeing a lion of southern Eriagor moving: graceful, strong, agile, and Thelma’s red hair seemed to be a circlet of flame around her whenever she twirled.

The kisa walked around her as she danced. “There are no balls, no fancy events where you will waltz with a handsome prince. Eskian men do not dance, they see it as a waste of time and energy, but they do enjoy the seductive dance of women. Very good, you both will do well. Are you hungry?”

The kisa ate twice, depending on their activity. Those who were less active, such as the ones who knelt in the bedrooms, often all day and completely neglected, were only fed once. The mush they were given was identical to the slop fed in the dungeon. It was a gray-yellow, lumpy, and utterly tasteless. Well, that wasn’t quite true. Eliana thought it tasted like wet paper.

“The food has 2 uses,” the kisa said as she scooped out the contents of her bowl with her fingers. She didn’t shovel it in her mouth, even eating was a seductive exercise. She licked her fingers sensually. “It has everything we need to technically remain healthy and its bland flavor makes it so the kisa work even harder for the rare treat they do give us if we have done well.”

This made sense to Eliana and Thelma, who tried to mimic the kisa’s slow, sensual style of eating. After lunch was standing lessons, as there were different ways of standing depending on who was in the room and where. There was kneeling lessons, bathing lessons, and even lessons on how to beg properly. By the time they were done they were exhausted and fell asleep immediately upon laying down on the warm, fragranced pillow beds.

The next day was an exercise in what the kisa called the practical skills. They could move and behave like kisa, now they had to work and play like them. She skipped the cooking lesson, which would have taken a whole week by itself. She judged their cleaning to be acceptable. Then she took them to the “fun” room. Eliana blushed at the wooden phalluses and other devices, whips, chairs with no seats, frames with chains and cuffs.

Eliana nearly threw up as she tried to push the phallus into her throat. Each time she gagged tears would slip down her face. Finally, after 3 hours of trial and error, and a sore throat, she learned how to keep it inside her throat, while breathing slowly through her nose, and even how to swallow and use her tongue and throat muscles to massage it. Thelma, like everything else, picked it up quickly and had moved on to sitting on one that had been mounted on the chair. The kisa placed a hand on Thelma’s belly, feeling her muscles as she pushed it slowly up and down. Eliana didn’t know if she was more jealous of the phallus or the Thelma. She made everything look so easy.

Once the kisa was sure Thelma was doing it right she had Eliana do it. She kept crying so hard that she ended up falling to the floor and curling into a ball. When Thelma tried to comfort her the kisa smacked the stick against her thighs.

“If she behaves like this in a master’s bed chamber, he will likely think her mentally unstable and have her killed. And you won’t be there to help her because you will be in the next room pounding your ass with his friend’s member. She has to learn to do this, and she has to learn today. Now, if you are bored take that other one…the big one, and see how far you can take it in your ass.”

She turned to Eliana and smacked her ass with the cane too. “Get up,” she hissed in annoyance. “You are embarrassing all of us.”

Thelma grunted as the big phallus stretched her ass. The thing was large in all senses, in girth and length, but by controlling her breathing and relaxing, Thelma was able to take almost all of it in her derriere. She had taken large men before, and had asked for extra coin to do that, with good reason. It was painful, and Thelma felt her ass stretching, but soon she looked as sensual as an odalisque while riding the big phallus, so much so that the kisa stopped paying attention to Eliana to observe how Thelma rode it, with a twinge of envy. When Thelma noticed, she smiled and said softly, “maybe I can teach Eliana how to take phalluses, do you have a harness here?”

“No, women do not… for training purposes, it is needed, but the idea of women… it just isn’t done,” the kisa picked up the wet, slippery phallus and thrust it into Thelma’s hand. “But maybe she will come around if we start her out slow. Here, go ahead. But try to think like a man. The masters will not be harsh, even sex is a kind of art to them, but they will fuck her their way, they really are not interested in our pleasure. Well… that isn’t true. Sometimes they get into these contests to see who make a kisa orgasm the most before they eventually give into their own desires. So… let’s see what she can do.”

Thelma smiled softly. She said, “A phallus will do fine.” She came close to Eliana and stroked her hair. “Relax now Eliana, First, feel your pussy. Is it wet? If it isn’t, just rub here a few times discretely…” then Thelma touched Eliana’s clitoris gently and rubbed it a few times, and said “you’ll be wet after a few moments of rubbing, try it.”

Eliana was nervous and anxious, and at first could only muster enough courage to just spread her legs. Thelma encouraged and led Eliana, showing her how to rub the clitoris, the outer labia, the inner labia, to get Eliana lubricated. “Remember how this feels, and try to relax while thinking about this feeling,” said Thelma. To encourage Eliana, Thelma rubbed her mate’s pussy a few times, and when it was moist enough, she slipped the phallus in, like a man would insert his penis.

Thelma felt Eliana’s very tight passage resist against the phallus. “Relax your crotch, or he’ll thrust harder and it’ll be more painful.” To demonstrate her point, Thelma pulled the phallus back, then pushed it in harder. Eliana squeaked in protest, then Thelma said, “spread your legs wider, you’re tight, you’ll need to open yourself wider for him.”

Eliana nodded and opened her thighs as wide as she could. “I cannot believe we do this for procreation,” she grumbled, but managed to close her eyes. She remembered Thelma’s touch, the soft kisses and gentle licks, and she relaxed. Thelma smiled and slid the phallus slowly inside and Eliana let out a large gasp and arched her back.

Thelma slowly started to move it in and out and Eliana bit her bottom lip and started moving. The faster Thelma moved the more Eliana responded. It took several long moments, but soon she was pounding the phallus in and out so fast and hard her arm was burning. Eliana thrashed and screamed, then suddenly erupted in a warm jet of her own juices. The orgasm seemed to last forever and when she came back to her senses Thelma was gently licking and kissing her slit.

“Uh….ok….” the young Ruda smiled. “I think I can do that…”

The kisa finally smiled and nodded. “Now her ass.”

Thelma nodded and turned Eliana around. She said, “Remember whatever it was that got you going before, this feels… similar, but different.” Using some of Eliana’s juices, Thelma lubricated the phallus and Eliana’s sphincter, and slowly penetrated her, but again doing it like a man would. “Keep your butt relaxed or you’ll crush him,” said Thelma, “remember the real thing is hard but not unbreakable, and yes, you can break a penis if you move too hard, so keep it controlled. It’s very painful for him.” Thelma used the same technique to get Eliana used to being taken from behind, slowly at first, then faster.

“Like hurting him back is a bad thing,” she grumbled. This was harder, the men that had raped her in Tar Oss had taken her anally, but it had been brutal and terrible. She tried to push that memory down, it was Thelma, Thelma wouldn’t hurt her. The kisa frowned and stepped forward, slamming her hand in the back of Thelma’s and driving the phallus deep on the first thrust.

“Now hold it there, you will be able to see her sphincter contracting around it when she has adjusted,” she whispered in Thelma’s ear. “That is how an Eskian would open a virgin ass.”

“I hate you,” Eliana whimpered as her stomach cramped.

“I am trying to save you, all of us,” the kisa took a step back. Thelma relaxed her arm but the kisa was right, she could see and feel Eliana’s tight sphincter relax, then tighten again and relax. Eliana moaned and lifted her head off the ground and back onto all fours, then Thelma began to slowly move it back and forth. Soon Eliana was rocking with it, panting deeply, her coffee colored ass was shaking as Thelma smiled and began to twist the phallus a little inside her, but this caused the kisa to smack her in the back of the head playfully.

“Don’t be cute, a man’s cock doesn’t move like that,” she smiled.

“Sorry, got carried away,” Thelma smiled.

“I don’t think I can orgasm this way,” Eliana said breathlessly. “It isn’t that bad anymore though.”

“Good,” the kisa pointed to a bucket of water. “Go clean them, then make sure your insides are clean too, that is what that large water bladder with the nozzle is for.”

After cleaning the wooden phallus and themselves they walked down to the harem room, the kisa watching and correcting their walk when they started to slip up. They sat in seductive, but relaxing, poses and she attempted to teach them a few phrases in Eskian. It wouldn’t be enough to hold a conversation but they could say “yes Master”, “thank you Master,” and “girl is happy you chose her for the night Master.” She hoped this was enough to get them by.

The kisa’s teachings were literally a life saver. Thelma and Eliana were not collared, because they were not Eskian and had not been accepted, so they were kept in the harem. The kar, who was the Moff of the East, used both of them, often the first nights, then less often, preferring first the darker-skinned Eliana over Thelma, then Thelma over Eliana; this went on for many weeks, so much so that both girls Thelma especially, were starting to think that this would be their new life.

Life as a kisa was hard, but life as a palace kisa was not so bad. Sometimes they were sent to bring pleasure to guards, but often it was just to keep them warm on a cold night. The men were, though Eliana would never admit it, accomplished lovers and seemed to take great delight in making them moan and squirm in pleasure. Not once, with any male, did Eliana not experience at least two orgasms, often times more. And while kisa were to be silent, meek, and obedient at all times, they were allowed to express themselves in sex to the fullest. In sex Eliana found a freedom she needed to keep her sane. She also learned the difference between rape and sex, and sex and love. True to her word, the kisa had been correct about the Eskian men. They were loud, boorish, and rude but they were also protective, honorable, and gentle when bedding a woman. It was like she was trying to service his needs while his entire focus was on her.

But in the end it was always Thelma she longed for. They spent a lot of time together, working and dancing, sometimes shared by the men. The palace guards understood they were both scared and alone in this land and did nothing to separate them, as Eliana had feared.

The weeks turned to months, and Eliana fell into her role as slave with ease. It was so much easier, she came to see, when all she had to do was please and be pleasing, and had no worries about her life or her safety. The guards would not let anything happen to her. Her Master, the Moff, was obviously had his favorite, the brown eyed kisa. Eliana was like a pet, a cute dog or cat that often made him laugh with her antics. They even gave her back her confiscated violin and would listen to her play.

Thelma also blossomed as a kisa, though not in the same way. She was quick of mind and sharp of eye. She learned fast and within a month could speak conversational Eskian, within 2 she was speaking it like a native. She was put in charge of others and was made the new trainer, so the kisa would not have to spend 2 days away from her Master’s side. She was given some measure of authority over the newcomers and earned a kind of respect from the guards, though she was still just kisa in their eyes. But she was a mean little kisa at times, and they enjoyed watching her train the new kisa how to walk and stand and sit and dance. Thelma supervised the training of at least 20 new captive kisa, and the guards and others started calling her “kadin”, which in Eskian means “chief”, while they called Eliana “kelsi”, which in Eskian means candy.

The Moff in time grew fond of both girls. Not fond in the way Ossian men grew fond of women; that would be unthinkable for an Eskian man. Love between man and woman was forbidden, and the penalties for that were severe for both the kisa and the kar. Being a man of honor, and a pious man, the Moff, whose name was Karlen, treated his female prisoners as the Holy Five mandated, as kisa, because there was no place in Eskian society for a woman that was not a kisa, not even a captive stranger. But he applied the Code to all things Thelma and Eliana did, and based on their talents, he gave them tasks them. Thelma had a strong, domineering streak, and the Moff liked that in her.

One day, a year to the date when they were sentenced, the Moff called for them. He was dressed in red and black. and his kisa was wearing a short, sheer, red and black garment, open at the sides. He said, “Your stories were correct. The relics were found. The Ossian king has agreed to surrender them, in the interest of peace between Esk and Oss. Now you have a choice. Return to Oss or accept your state.”

Thelma asked permission to speak in the customary way, and when it was given, she said, in Eskian, “kisa is grateful for having been spared from the mines, kar. She knows kar could have easily had her killed, but you spared her. kisa begs humbly to be released, if it will please kar.” Thelma stayed knelt and bowing. The Moff nodded, and said, “You blossomed, kadin. The Holy Five smile. Does kelsi have something to say?”

Eliana remained still and quiet. “Kisa is scared. She never dreamed this life would come to mean so much to her. She has found a peace she never knew. She feels shame for the false beliefs she had been told in her youth about the wonderful Men of Esk. But girl’s place is at the side of the one who holds her heart. She will return with kadin, if it pleased the kar.”

Thelma gave a glance to Eliana. She blinked at her words. She couldn’t say anything, but just smiled, and did so in such a way that only Eliana saw the smile. The Moff nodded. “Your sentence is served, and your penance complete. You are free to go. You are also banished, under penalty of death. You have until tomorrow at sundown to leave Esk.” As a parting gift, the Moff gave both of them simple traveling clothes, and a pouch to each. Unknown to the girls, though, the Moff had put twenty gold coins in each of their pouches, instead of copper or silver coin. The amount in each pouch was enough to guarantee their livelihood for many years. “I am not a heartless man, you do not go destitute,” he said. “These pouches will be of help.”

Early the next day, two cloaked figures boarded a ship bound for Tar Oss, and they would not emerge from their cabin for the two weeks that the trip lasted. Only when the ship moored at Tar Oss did the two figures emerge. One led, and the other followed. They went quickly, navigating their way through the dangerous maze of streets that was Tar Oss, and would not stop until they reached an inn called “The Southern Maid.” There, the leading cloaked figure put on the innkeeper’s counter two pouches, and said, “Change them. At fair rate too, or else.” Her voice, for it was a woman’s, was soft and harmonious, but it had a ring of authority that made people move heaven and Earth for her. The other cloaked character kept looking around her nervously, and would cling to the first one as if her life depended on it. The innkeeper checked both pouches and whistled. Then, apologetically, he said, “Lady, I am very sorry, I cannot change these coins.” The first cloaked character said, “Why not? Is there something wrong with them?” and the innkeeper replied, “No, Lady. Nothing at all. Only, I am just an innkeeper, and not a banker.” The innkeeper took out one coin out of one bag and said, “With this coin you can stay here at my inn for three months, in my best room, with two hired servants each for you and your companion, and I can offer you the best in my house, and it would still not cover everything. There are forty coins between both pouches, Lady. You do the math.”

The cloaked character pulled back her cloak’s hood, and flame-red hair billowed out of it. Thelma, for it was she, said, “I am as surprised as you are, master innkeeper.  I’m sure there’s a way I can repay you?”

The innkeeper smiled. Being a married man, he chuckled. “I am flattered, Lady, but my wife would not appreciate me taking advantage of a good customer. I can see that you have means, so this is what I offer. You may stay this night, for free; tomorrow you can go to Carter’s bank, in the moneylender’s district, and I am sure he will be more than happy to assist you. If you would follow me, I’ll show you to a room.”

Thelma nodded. She said, “Thank you, master innkeeper. Come with me,” she said to the other cloaked person. She said softly, “yes, ma’am,” and followed Thelma and the innkeeper.

The room the innkeeper showed both women was on the second floor of the inn, and was large and comfortable. There was even room for a trunk, not that they had one, but it was there. Perhaps in the end they would both have trunks with clothes and things… Thelma mused on those thoughts as she looked at the room. There was just one bed, large enough for a couple. When the innkeeper left, Thelma sighed, and said, “Now you can remove your cloak Eliana.”

Eliana, for that is who the second cloaked character was, slipped out of her cloak. Unlike Thelma, who was wearing travel clothes, Eliana was not wearing anything under her cloak. Always surprised by the beautiful, brown color of Eliana’s skin.

“You’re so beautiful,” said Thelma. “Help me undress, then we’ll sleep. Remember to lock the door also.” Eliana said softly, “yes, Thelma”; she then went and locked the door; then slowly undressed Thelma, cloak, shoes, shirt, leggings… until Thelma was standing naked in front of Eliana.

Thelma shivered. “I had forgotten that we’re well to the North of Esk… It’s… not hot here.” She pattered over to the bed and dove under the sheets. “come, Eliana, warm me up,” she said. Eliana smiled, and slipped under the covers.

The morning after, both women were locked in a tight hug, body snuggled against body. It was Eliana who woke up first. Naked, she threw her cloak on, set eyes on Thelma with a longing gaze, and went downstairs. She would return a few minutes later, carrying a tray with a hot breakfast and hot spiced tea. Thelma smiled, and, wrapped around the comforter, she sat on the bed’s edge. “You’re bright and early, Eli,” she said. “What have you brought for breakfast? Did you bring enough for you too?”

Eliana smiled. She said, “Yes, I have brought enough for both.” Thelma frowned and examined the plate, then shook her head. “You made enough breakfast only for me again, remember there’s no kar here to feed you Eli. I’ll split my breakfast with you, but from now on, make enough for me and for you as well, is that clear?”

Eliana looked down and said, “please forgive me, I…” Thelma stopped Eliana’s speech by putting a finger over her lips. “Shh. I know, it’s hard, I miss that simple life as well. It was easy, wasn’t it, to just be a plaything of the men, no worries, no responsibilities…” Thelma set aside the tray and knelt in front of Eliana. She bit her lip, and said, “Love… we’re not in Esk anymore. We have to be responsible for ourselves. I know that being a kisa gave you freedom. I felt that freedom too, but I couldn’t accept it. Tell me… do you want to go back? You know what the kar said. We cannot go back; we’ll die if we do.”

Eliana looked into Thelma’s eyes. “I know, it’s just that…” she looked down, and finally said, “I need someone to… to… to own me… I need someone that I can serve, and have no worries of my own, only the worries that my owner allows me to have, worries that could make me serve my owner better and more fully. T-Thelma… I… I want you to own me. Please.”

Thelma’s look was almost comical. She was flabbergasted, astonished, amazed, startled, and 45 kinds of surprised. Finally, she said, “I’ll be glad to own you Eliana, I’ll be happy to be your owner.”

Eliana hugged Thelma tight, and later in the morning a fickle guest staying in a room near Thelma and Eliana’s would complain to the innkeeper about “loud moans and squeals coming from the room in front of his, and would he be so kind as to let the couple there know that they rut so loud they could be heard across the hallway?”

The two would descend closer to the fourth hour, cloaked. At Thelma’s insistence, Eliana had worn some clothes beneath the cloak. Thelma glanced at the innkeeper, who nodded his head. He said, “Good morning, Lady. The moneylender’s district is past the inner wall, on a side of the main square. There’s no way to get lost, all roads past the inner walls lead to the main square.”

Thelma nodded, and leading Eliana she went as fast as she could towards the inner walls that separated the low part of the city from the noble part of the city. The guards took a look at both women and let them pass, and after a brisk walk of a few hundred tela, Thelma and Eliana were at the main square. They reviewed each banker’s stall carefully; the most prosperous and well frequented one was the middle one, Carter’s Bank. Carter himself was a wealthy man, and it appeared by all accounts that he was a good money manager.

When Thelma and Eliana approached, he said, “welcome, welcome, how might Carter Evans help you this morning?”

Thelma said, clearly, “good morning, master banker.” Then, she put the two pouches on his table. “I need to know how many Ossian coins will these two pouches get us.”

Carter looked at the pouches, then emptied them onto the counter. He whistled. “Lady, I don’t know who gave you these, but he gave you a fortune. Eskian double suns! Forty of them, too! I… will have to see if I have enough coin to fulfill your request.”

Thelma blinked. “What’s so special with these coins?” She was truly surprised.

“These don’t circulate much outside of Esk, and more specifically, outside of the Eskian circle of Moffs. This is the only coin they ever use. One of these… It’s said to be worth about a hundred Eskian gold coins. And today the exchange rate is an Eskian gold coin for two Ossian gold coins… You have 800 Ossian gold coins there, Lady.”

Thelma leaned forward, but just to support herself on the counter. Her head was spinning. 800 gold coins? It was an unbelievable amount. “H… how… what…” Eliana quietly stepped close to Thelma and supported her. “C-could you please exchange these coins and give me a small amount for my expenses for today, master banker?”

Carter smiled. “I will certainly do that. He wrote on a ledger, and showed it to Thelma. “Here we go. Amount given, 40 Eskian double suns, equivalent to 800 Ossian gold coins. Delivered, 5 silver coins. Remaining balance, 799 silver coins and 45 silver coins over. Please sign it to show that you accept.”

Thelma signed, automatically, with her name. Her hand was shaky and the quill almost slipped out of her hand.

With a lighter pouch, and a significant amount in the bank, life for Thelma and Eliana seemed set. There was one thing left to do, but a cloaked figure bumped into Thelma. “Oh! I am terribly sorry,” she said. Thelma squinted her eyes, she had heard that voice before. “Wait a moment, I have heard that voice.” Eliana said, softly, “so have I.” Both said in unison, “the sorceress at the port in Esk.”

The sorceress, for it was she, said, “I’m sorry, do I know you?”

Thelma said, “no, but we remember you at a port town in Esk, you entered a warehouse by breaking a wooden door and refitting it in place… and told two prisoners there that you could not help them. Those two prisoners spent a year of captivity and enslavement in Esk. Those prisoners… were me and my mate.”

The sorceress looked down. “I am sorry, I didn’t mean to leave you there, I was… no, I still am pursuing a quest.”

“What manner of a quest?” Thelma looked at the sorceress with curiosity.

“It’s a delicate quest, one that might take me several years to compete,” said the sorceress. “In fact, I might need some help to acquire an item I need to complete it.”

Eliana crossed her arms and looked somewhat annoyed. “Why would we help you? You weren’t all that much help to us when we needed it?”

“I know, and I promise, I will make it up to you both. I am Tess Marigold, of Tilla. Aspiring sorceress of Yen’s magic academy. Help me, and I’ll do whatever’s necessary to make up for my inaction.” Tess looked at Thelma and Eliana hopefully, almost pleadingly even.

Thelma thought a moment, then said, “I have to do a few errands, one of which is important to me. In the meantime, I will think of your request, Tess Marigold. Tonight, meet me at the inn where I am staying, the ‘Southern Maid’, after second vigil. You’ll have my decision then.”

Tess nodded. She said, “I’ll be there.” Thelma then said, “I’ll see you then.” Then, Thelma said, “come, Eli. We need to take care of something personal.”

Thelma led Eliana across the square from the banker, and entered a metalworker’s shop. The owner, a lithe man from southern Oss, welcomed them both. “Welcome to my shop, how might I assist the ladies today?”

Thelma said, “Master metalworker, I need to have a choker manufactured. It needs to fit her neck.” Thelma pulled down Eliana’s hood so he could see her neck. “Made of gold. Snug, with an O ring that can take a gold rivet. The choker itself is filigreed, with an inscription: ‘Thelma’s’. “

The metalworker nodded. “I have a pretty good idea of what it is you want, Lady. I will be able to give you the finished product in five days.”

Eliana gasped. She had always wanted one of the gold, filigree collars, but because they had been slaves of the state they were not awarded with collars. Only truly desired, and therefore permanently owned kisa, were given them. It was a sign of a kar’s bond to his kisa that she would wear a collar, a symbol of her eternal servitude to 1 man. The fancier and more precious the collar the more love it showed, and the fancy, thin gold filigree was the cream of the crop. Her eyes filled with tears and she covered her mouth.

“Oh Thelma, really? Seriously? I mean… for me? I will never, ever hide it! I will show it to everyone proudly!” she squealed and threw her arms around Thelma, an act she would never be allowed in Esk, but she wasn’t Eskian anyway.

Thelma smiled. She said, “It’ll be for you, Eliana. We should hear this sorceress, and I am a sucker for treasure, you know.” She said, “What do you think, another adventure? This might be interesting; sorceresses have always intrigued me.”

“I don’t know,” Eliana sighed. “The Ruda have no great fondness for wealth, and Master gave us more money than we will ever need. I suppose… IF her need is great, and for the good of… more than herself, I am willing to hear it out. And of course, if you decide we go I will follow.”

Thelma smiled. “I like how that sounds, Eliana. I know it isn’t much, but…” she looked at the ready rings for women the metalworker had on display, and chose two. She said, “master metalworker, how much do these rings cost?”

The metalworker appraised them. “2 silver coins each.” Thelma took out her pouch and counted the four coins. “Can you alter them to fit our fingers, please?”

“You two must be very close,” said the metalworker.

“We have mutual life debts,” said Thelma casually.

“I have dedicated my life to her happiness,” Eliana said softly, she was very shy talking to men.

The metalworker measured the women’s fingers and altered the rings. On one, a green stone was set, an emerald. It sparkled beautifully under the sun. The other one had a red stone, a ruby, which shone just as brightly. Thelma took the rings and put them inside the pouch. “For later,” she said shyly.

The remainder of the day was spent replacing their lost wardrobe, buying clothes that would be forbidden in Esk to women, traveling pants that Thelma had to almost threaten Eliana into buying, long, regal looking gowns for special occasions for Thelma, and light, silky blouses and dresses for Eliana to wear when she wasn’t at home.

With most of the coins spent, and enough wardrobe for both women to fill a trunkful each, Thelma and Eliana headed back to the “Southern Maid”. Two hours after sunset, there was a slight whoosh outside the inn and a figure literally materialized on a side alley. The character slid off the cloak’s hood: It was the sorceress, just in time.

She entered the inn and went to the common room; there, she found Thelma and Eliana, sitting in front of each other at the far end of a common table near the crackling fireplace.

Eliana looked up as she entered. She approached the sorceress and bowed. “Please, come with us.” Thelma led them to their private room. The moment they entered Eliana stripped naked, folding her clothes and setting them on the floor near the door, she walked over and knelt to remove Thelma’s boots as the two women started talking.

Free of her boots, Thelma sighed softly. She looked at Tess and said, “Now what can we help you with, Tess?” Then, looking at Eliana, she said, “stay close to me Eliana.” Eliana looked up and smiled, and knelt near Thelma.

“That’s… unusual to see, a naked Ruda kneeling for an Ossian,” said Tess, trying to break the ice.

“Our story is complicated,” said Thelma. “But we aren’t here to talk about us. Instead, I’m curious about your… predicament, Tess.” Thelma smiled, but looked at Tess carefully, with fixed eyes.

“It’s… Embarrassing,” said Tess. “My quest… It’s not for me, but for the school. Years ago, a valuable artifact was stolen from the academy. I’ve tracked it down after much labor to an auction house, here in Tar Oss. Problem is… I… I can’t get it personally. The artifact is kept sealed in an electrum box that disrupts all magic around it. In short… I can’t get to it with magic. If I can’t recover the artifact… well, the academy can’t initiate sorceresses and it’d mean the end of Oss’s magical tradition… Please, you have to help me.” Tess looked at Thelma with an earnest look.

Eliana looked up at Thelma, tilting her head curiously. Her hands were busy rubbing Thelma’s feet, she loved Thelma’s feet and could play wit her toes all day if she would let her. She smiled as she already knew Thelma was going to accept the challenge, not for the money, it was all about the thrill.

Thelma played it cool though. She didn’t show any outward interest, nor did she show boredom. She studied the young sorceress and asked, “How much is in it for us, and why come to use in the first place?”

“You somehow lived through your own execution at Ravenfurt, survived in the streets of Tar Oss, and a year as palace slaves in Esk,” Tess said. “You two are somewhat famous, in the underground, and since I had already met you… I don’t know, I like you both. And, well…i don’t have any money….”

“Can you teach us basic magic skills?” Thelma smiled.

Tess looked back and forth between them. “I… I am not really skilled enough to teach….”

“But you know someone who can, someone you can trust, and who isn’t in the school?”

Tess thought about it. “Yes.”

“Then let that be our payment for retrieving the artifact. We retrieve it for you, and you get us in touch with someone who can teach me and Eliana some basic, defensive magic.” Thelma shifted, and her foot caressed Eliana’s thigh, slowly, up and down.

Eliana had lost all sense of humiliation and inhibitions in Esk. She cared not that Tess was in the room, or that they were conducting business. She felt the soft caress of her owner’s foot and took it as a signal, opening her thighs lewdly and running her finger gently up and down Thelma’s calves and thighs.

Tess stared at the display and turned bright red. She opened her mouth but was unable to think of what to say.

Thelma looked at Tess turning bright red, and looked down at Eliana, exposed and naked, showing off… pretty much everything, with no shame. “As you can see, Esk changed Eliana quite a bit. She found freedom in being a slave. When we finally got out of Esk… She committed herself to make me happy, and I repay her. And I have a life debt to Eliana. And…” Thelma smiled and shifted her foot a little more so her sole rested on Eliana’s lap. “And I’ve found that I have feelings for her. Strong ones, like the feelings that bind the two Rothian queens. I digress, though; we’ll do it. We’ll recover the artifact for you.”

Tess beamed. “Oh, thank you, thank you very much!” She smiled at both women and said, “may your bond be strong through all the years of your lives.” Then, she stepped back a few steps and disappeared in a flash of light.

Thelma looked down to Eliana and smiled. She said, “It looks like we’re up for an adventure, we’ll have to study the auction house and attend a few auctions to know the layout and the security, inside and out. We’ll have to be like shadows, of course; and there will be much ability involved. After that’s done… I have something in the pouch that belongs to us, and of course that collar I ordered earlier today; but I’d rather do it right instead of being secretive. After we recover the artifact… The choker, and one of the rings, is yours.”

Casing the auction house was not difficult. It was a renovated two story building on a corner of merchants’ row, and a transversal secondary street, in the northern part of the noble district. During the day, it was inconspicuous enough, and there were no guards to be seen. At night, though, the auction house was on a road well-traveled by patrols, which went by the auction house every 15 minutes, carrying torches.

Posing as potential auction goers observing the lots on show, Thelma and Eliana could see that the items were simply kept on display, without any additional security. Cinching the artifact, a plain, dark blue box on display in the middle of the room, would be easy. Entering the auction house, though, would be more complicated. The only possible way to go was through the second floor. There was a balcony facing the alley. Maybe climbing there, between patrols… Rope and a hook would be needed, as well as dark clothes and something to hide their faces.

It took a few days to get everything, and in that time Eliana’s choker was also completed. Thelma picked it up from the metalworker, and hid it in her room, for later. The next night was new moon, the darkest night of the month, an ideal time to sneak around with little chance of being seen.

Eliana sat on the edge of the roof fidgeting with the rope, she glanced down and smiled. Dressed all in black, with no moon out, she was invisible in the dark night sky. She gently played out the rope, making sure there was no tangles or knots as Thelma stood behind her, fiddling with the huge, heavy crossbow. The arrow for it was thick, heavy iron and barbed with a loop to hold the rope at the end. It had poor range, but it would travel the distance between the cobbler’s roof they were camped on and the top of the auction house across the street.

“Remind me to take archery classes,” Thelma grumbled. “I hope I hit under the window and not inside it.”

“I would like to take sword fighting too,” Eliana whispered. “Guards. get ready…”

Thelma nodded and hefted the crossbow. The weight of the iron arrow would drag it down considerably. She would have to aim high and hopefully hit just under the window. The powerful hit should embed the arrow into the stone wall, the barbs should hold it while they snuck over on the rope.

Eliana watched as the guards, who were dressed in the lighter colored armor and easily picked out of the darkness, walked directly underneath her. She lifted a hand softly and Thelma took aim. The guard meandered slowly down the street, then turned a corner. The moment he vanished from sight she dropped her hand, they had roughly 15 minutes from that point. Thelma squeezed the trigger and the crossbow jerked in her hand. The THUNK of the arrow hitting stone was barely audible, much less than Eliana had anticipated, but they still watched a few precious seconds to make sure the guard didn’t return.

Thelma tied off one end of the rope to an iron spike they had already planted and Eliana, with a second rope, slid off the roof and crawled upside down along it over the street. Once on the other side she waved to Thelma who followed.

The window was large and as Thelma was making her way over Eliana unrolled the tube she had across her back. Inside was an ingenious, and simple, burglar tool. It was 2 sheets of wax paper sandwiching a thin layer of sticky resin. Balancing on the edge of the window sill she peeled back one layer and flattened it against the window. Thelma reached the window sill just as Eliana smashed her elbow into the panel. The glass of the window shattered, but was stuck to the resin, leaving a large hole in the window without any broken glass falling to the street. She tossed the glass covered piece of parchment up onto the roof overhead and Thelma slid inside.

They had mapped out the interior so studied it so well Thelma could move through it blindfolded, which was good because it was pitch dark inside. With no moonlight the interior of the auction house was as dark as an underground tomb. Eliana tied a rope around her waist and dropped the other end down to the floor. Bracing herself in the window frame Thelma slid down the rope. She skillfully made her way around the display boxes, bumping into 3 of them so lightly they didn’t even make a noise. She smiled and worked the latches on the display glass, lifting it carefully and placing it on the floor. Her fingers told her it was the item she was after. Placing it in a small black bag hanging from her shoulder she replaced the display cover and latched it back down, then made her way back to the rope. Up she climbed and shimmied back across to the cobbler’s roof as Eliana wound the rope and placed it around her shoulder. With Eliana on one side and Thelma on the other they watched as the guard came around the corner right on time. He passed under the rope without even seeing it. As soon as he was gone Eliana reached down and yanked the arrow out of the wall under her. She gripped it tight and leapt off the window, swinging across the street and hitting the wall under Thelma with her legs extended. Between Thelma’s pulling and her climbing she made it onto the cobbler’s roof easily and coiled the first rope, adding it to the second. Thelma bagged the arrow and the eyebolt, hefted the crossbow onto her shoulder, and hand in hand they walked to the other side smiling.

“That was a little too easy,” Eliana whispered as they climbed down the far side of the cobbler’s building, into an alley that had no patrols.

“Careful planning,” Thelma said. “Easy now because we spent days practicing. We are pretty good at this though.”

Eliana rolled her eyes but was giggling. “Yeah… and for some reason it made me horny, can we go home now?”

Thelma smiled and looked at Eliana with a complicit gaze. “Of course, master thief Eliana”. Item in the bag, the pair walked sneakily, avoiding the main streets and staying to side streets and back alleys. Reaching the “Southern Maid” took a bit longer than what it’d usually take, but eventually at the beginning of eighth vigil the pair was in their bed, and Eliana was showing Thelma the extent of her horniness, and Thelma was more than happily enjoying the demonstration.

The next morning, a very tired, but satisfied Eliana and Thelma were having breakfast. The sorceress would not come until sixth hour, so they had some time to have a light breakfast. After that, Thelma looked at Eliana. She said, “I have something to give you Eliana”.

Eliana lounged back in her seat, her legs curled under her, feet tucked under her. “Something… besides that beautiful collar? What more could I possibly want?”

Thelma looked into Eliana’s eyes. She said, “Yes. There is something besides that collar.” Thelma took out a small package. “When you told the master you were following the one who held my heart… well… I… I got thinking. I feel a strong connection to you Eliana, and we’ve been through so much. I… I love you, and I want you to wear this ring as a token of my love.” Thelma opened the package; inside it the ruby ring glittered like a small red star.

“There is also one for me,” said Thelma, “it’s here in this box.” She gave a small box to Eliana. “I want you to give it to me when I make good on a promise I make now to you… That… That we’ll be alright, and we’ll have our happily ever after.”

Eliana looked at the ring in her hand, then squealed and screamed “I will!” and threw her arms around Thelma, smothering her in kisses. She slipped the ring on and smiled huge, it seemed to sparkle. “I will always be yours.”

Thelma smiled brightly and kissed Eliana on both cheeks. A bit ahead of time, Tess arrived to the inn. She entered the common room and looked at both women. With a half-smile, she looked at them, in their unawareness of being watched from the far end of the room, then approached the two. She said, “Good morning ladies”.

Thelma gasped and turned around. “Tess! you’re early, let’s go to the room, we have business to discuss.”

Once again Eliana followed behind and stripped naked. The room had a more permanent, lived in look with some new dressers filled with clothes. Eliana knelt beside Thelma as Thelma took the stolen box from her dresser and placed it in Tess’ hands.

“Here’s the item you asked, Tess,” said Thelma. “It wasn’t easy to obtain it, but we cinched it for you.” The dark blue box glimmered like congealed lightning. Tess could not hide her excitement and opened it.

“Light be blessed! you found it! it is the Light of the East!” She looked at both women and said, enigmatically, “You are in.”

“We’re in?” Thelma’s expression was almost comical. “What do you mean, we’re in?”

“You’ve earned your entrance to the League of Shadows,” said Tess. She was being cagy, and Thelma frowned. “The League of Shadows? What are you going on about?”

“It would take me an eternity to explain; but in short, the League of Shadows is a group of select people that are trying to prevent Oss from becoming an Eskian vassal state. We have found out a web of agents from Esk infiltrated in key positions in court. Now, though, we need outsiders with a grasp of Eskian customs, and since as far as I remember you were captive there, your services are invaluable to us. But I digress, follow me, and your reward will be given.” Tess smiled and opened a portal. “It’s much quicker this way,” she said.

“And if we want to return?”

“All in due time,” said Tess. Go on, you first Thelma.”

“Dress up and follow me Eliana,” said Thelma. She then donned a cloak, draped it over her shoulders, and stepped through the portal. Thelma disappeared with a flash of light.

Eliana grabbed a dress she kept nearby for hasty covering, it was an Eskian design and slipped over the head, falling to the tops of her thighs. A plunging neckline and the slits on the side that ran all the way to her hips exposed as much, if not more, than it hid. As she stepped to the portal she gave a quick tug to 2 small drawstrings at the small of her back and the dress tightened around her stomach to hug her curves. She emerged right behind Thelma.

Thelma felt dizzy for a few moments and then heard a “whoosh” behind her. It was Eliana; Thelma could smell her, cinnamon and a hint of sweetness… she stepped to a side and looked to her left. Sure enough, it was indeed Eliana, in a very revealing Eskian dress, cinched around the stomach. A few moments later, Tess emerged out of the portal, and it disappeared. The three women were in an octagonal room, with tall windows all around. It had a commanding view of the city below; only, it was not Tar Oss. “Where are we?” asked Thelma.

“Welcome to the White City,” said Tess. “This is the Room of Light, where the academy of magic counsel is held. And that,” she said, pointing to an empty support, “that is where the Light of the East goes.” Tess opened the electrum box, and placed the item inside it on the pedestal.

For a moment, Thelma and Eliana were able to observe what they had… stolen? liberated? fully. It was a diamond, and a particularly large one. It hovered over the support, then pulsed with light and shone brightly, so brightly that Tess, Thelma and Eliana had to look away from it. It was a moment of blinding light, and then it died down to a pure crystalline glow. The room, however, was radically transformed.

It was as if they were in the middle of a grove in midsummer. cool and fresh; willows, oaks, birches, poplars, and under their feet fresh, pristine grass. Eight thrones of pure light stood where there was nothing before, and everything felt as if it had been just created. Very quickly, eight portals opened, and eight more sorceresses appeared.

“The Light of the East is returned,” said one.

“The Council can work properly now,” said a second one.

Six other sorceresses sat on the thrones, and started speaking quickly in a language Thelma could not understand.

Thelma and Eliana stood aside as Tess walked forward.

“The Light of the East rests once more in its proper home, and with it the Council of Light is once again able to do its work.”

The council members talked to great lengths about the League of Shadows and what they thought the Eskian plans were, but it had little to do with Eliana and she eventually sunk down to sit in the soft grass. After what felt like hours Tess approached them with a big smile.

“For your services the council has decided to accept you both for tutelage under Master Svenson,” she said. “He is a nice, old guy. He will teach you all you need. Also they would like to call on you, in case they need your skills in the future.”

Master Svenson’s tutelage went on for what felt like months, learning about the energy that flows from the world, how to harness it and how to use it to protect oneself; what spells to cast when, and how to heal damage. Healing damage was something Eliana was already skilled at, and after initial difficulties, she understood easily what was needed to heal magically. Thelma, it turned out, was skilled at casting barriers and wards, and when they both were deemed ready by the Master, they were brought to the council room. There, they were initiated, Eliana as a healing sorceress, and Thelma as a warder. Tess was there, and smiled. Shortly thereafter, a portal opened. “You may now return to Tar Oss. you will both be needed soon,” said Tess. “Be mindful of those around you; especially of those who claim to be close to you. Also, remember: The sign for a member of the League of Shadows is, ‘the sparrow cannot fly in the shadows’ and the countersign to that is, ‘but the owl thrives in it.’ Remember it well, It’s important. Farewell!” A council member said, “May the light bless you both.”

Thelma bowed, and so did Eliana. Both women stepped through the portal, Thelma first, Eliana next. When they emerged, they were in their room, and it felt as if they had just left. There was no accumulated dust, things were all where they had left them, and no one had looted their treasure.

Eliana removed her clothes, which had long ago been traded for a tight fitting wizard robe, which she had modified to be more Eskian. She checked their room and shook her head. “I don’t think any more than an hour has passed here since we left.”

“Time distortion, that is a powerful spell, and hard to master,” Thelma sighed.

“So what now?”

“Like you said,” Thelma smiled. “Weapons training, just in case.”

Eliana stepped up and slipped her arms around Thelma’s neck. “I meant about the wedding.”

Thelma kissed her softly and slid her arms around Eliana’s waist.

Time got distorted again, because what felt to Thelma and Eliana as only five minutes of making out turned out to be over four hours of passionate, heartfelt lovemaking, that brought both to ecstasy several times over, leaving them exhausted. In full post coital bliss, Thelma looked at Eliana and stroked her hair, naked bodies touching each other, glowing. “You can give me the other ring whenever you want, Eli,” said Thelma, “but it’d be more meaningful to me if you gave it to me when we’re out of an inn room and in a house of our own that we can call home. But… there is one thing we can do that doesn’t need our being in a home, and one I feel you want as much as I do.”

Thelma stood up lazily, her naked body silhouetted against the rays of the setting sun entering their room’s window. She walked over to the trunk, crouched near it, and took a box. “come on over, Eli. kneel before me.”

“We should look for a home then,” Eliana knelt at Thelma’s feet. “We can even go to the capital. We have enough money.”

“I like that idea.” Thelma opened the box and smiled. She then said, “hold the box a moment Eli.” Eliana raised her arms and held the box for Thelma, and Thelma took out from it the choker that she had requested to the metalworker. Barely containing her emotion, Thelma said, “Put the box down and pull your hair back for me Eli.”

Eliana was shivering like a leaf with excitement, fear and anticipation, and Thelma was about to place the accessory on Eliana’s neck, when there was a knock at the door.

“Please excuse me ladies,” said the innkeeper’s voice. “There is someone downstairs that requests to speak to you both.”

Thelma rolled her eyes. Delays, delays, delays… Always something had to come up right in the middle of something important. “We are busy right now, can he come back later?” said Thelma, irritated.

“I’m afraid it can’t wait, Lady. He was rather adamant that he sees you today.”

“Alright. We’ll be down in a moment.” Thelma sighed and put the collar away. “For later, Eli,” said Thelma, apologetically.

A few moments later, Thelma and Eliana were down at the inn, looking for the person who had summoned them.

It was evident who it was, standing near the innkeeper’s counter, a cloak covering his head, a pipe glowing under it.

After a puff of smoke, the stranger said, “The sparrow cannot fly in the shadow.” Thelma blinked, then she said, “But the owl thrives in it. How can I help you, sir? let’s… go up and discuss things where it’s quieter.”

“That would be wise, indeed.” The stranger’s voice was grave and deep. The three made themselves comfortable, and Thelma stopped Eliana from stripping with a slight not of her head when she started to undress.

Eliana sighed, if she had her way she wouldn’t get dressed unless leaving the inn. It wasn’t like the innkeeper hadn’t seen her naked. She answered the door naked all the time. She tried not to appear peevish, pouting was not becoming on a kisa, so she went to the small woodstove, the room was the only one that had its own woodstove, and made some tea for all of them.

The cloaked man took off his cloak and looked at both Eliana and Thelma. “Tess was right. You are unusual.” He grinned roguishly. “I am Arlo, of Tar Oss.” He stood up and went to the window, and peeked out.

“Forgive my jumpiness. I have been acting in secret for a long time. The capital of Oss is a nest of vipers, politically speaking, and more so when some of those vipers would see Oss a vassal of Esk… or worse.”

Thelma leaned forward and crossed her left leg over her right one; she looked into Arlo’s eyes and gazed over to Eliana while she made tea.

“What do you mean, Arlo?”

“I mean that the Ossian court has been infiltrated by Eskian agents.” Arlo said those last words in a whispered, conspiratorial way.

“Why do you need us, Arlo?”

“I need you… Because I can’t stay in the high court any more. I think I may have been compromised.” Arlo looked pained. “And besides… Some of the more… interesting conversation happens in the court’s baths. Except for the court members, only women or eunuchs are allowed in. And… ehm… I am not a eunuch.”

“That can be fixed,” Thelma smiled and Eliana shot her a grin as she brought tea for her, then offered some to Arlo. “So you want us to go spy for you? Try to figure out who the Eskian agents are?”

“You both speak Eskian fluently, are familiar with their customs,” Arlo pointed out.

“And what is in it for us?”

“It’ll be dangerous job, but the rewards of saving Oss… well, I think the High King would grant you anything you wanted.”

“Assuming we’re in, how do you see this happening?”

“I have already set up my departure from court, thanks to some ‘unexpected family troubles’ that call me away. I will leave a good word for two new courtesans to enter in the service of the baths, and I have a trusted liaison who will let me know of anything you find. Then, the league of shadows can make its move.”

Thelma looked at Elianna. “Courtesans, eh?” she said. Then, looking at the man, she said, “You know, I think this might even work, Arlo. I’m in.”

Eliana smiled. “I don’t know, a Ruda as a courtesan? I think I will be the first Ruda in history to step foot inside a castle, let alone live in one. But I could be Thelma’s hand maiden, I think that is the only possible way anyone would believe us, plus servants say things and hear things because those rich snobs think we become as deaf as the furniture they like to think we are. So yeah, I am in.”

Three days later, their affairs settled in Tar Oss, Thelma and Eliana departed south and east towards the capital city of Oss, Tilla, the City of Light. The capital of Oss was three hundred tala away from Tar Oss, and it took Thelma and Eliana one full week and the better part of another to arrive. On the road, Thelma and Eliana practiced to get in their roles: They were both “courtesans,” a polite term for women that were of dubious morals, often in the employ of bathhouses and upscale brothels to give off a classy appearance. Thanks to “connections” made by Arlo, both girls were placed in the royal bath house, run by a man called Dex, who had the distinction of being one of the few court eunuchs who had been able to earn back his freedom through favors rendered to the king.

Dex inspected both women once they reached the royal bath house He had them strip, then show off their bodies, in all manners of sensual poses, some of them rather provocative. When he was satisfied, he said, “My, Arlo certainly went all out this time. The girls he procures are good, but even for his standards, you two are exceptionally good looking.” He giggled a bit childishly. He then continued, after a thoughtful look, “Has either of you been with child or had a child?” Both Thelma and Eliana shook their heads emphatically. “Great, I can place you as available for ploughing then?” Thelma grinned and looked at Eliana. She said, “I wouldn’t mind doing that. As long as I don’t get a royal bastard inside me, that is.”

“That can be arranged,” said Dex. “There’s a herbalist in merchants’ row that can make for you a decoction, I hear it’s foul tasting, but it’ll keep you barren for the length of one bleeding cycle. I don’t know when your bleeds come, so you’ll have to take care of that yourselves. I think he markets it as the barren decoction or something, you’ll identify it easily, look for the queue out of his stall.”

Eliana nodded. “I will go get some, love. I need to go for a walk anyway.”

She stepped out of the offices. The air around the bath house was thick, muggy, but the air outside was clear and fresh. She was wearing her flashy, gypsy skirt and a light blouse tied into a knot under her breasts. She was getting a lot of attention as she walked down the street, but wasn’t really aware of it. She didn’t like this assignment, didn’t want to share Thelma, and, despite her months screwing Master and his guards at Esk, was still uncomfortable around men. She had hoped, in leaving Esk, she would be able to stop the act, but now it was Esk all over again, fawning over strange men, offering them things she didn’t want to give up, and this time without the sense of freedom from responsibility being a kisa held. But she would do anything for Thelma, and supposed it was necessary. Still, she felt more Eskian than Ruda anymore, she fought constantly not to fall back into the role of a kisa, and to hunt out Eskian… spies? supporters? agents? Who were they hunting anyway? She didn’t want anyone to be brought to harm.

She walked into the herbalist’s shop and bought all the flasks of the anti-pregnancy potion he had, then hired someone to deliver it to the bath house to be distributed, for free, to anyone who wanted it. A woman who didn’t want to have a baby but had to have sex to stay alive shouldn’t have to pay and lower herself more than she already is. Eliana walked back to the castle feeling better about herself.

When Eliana returned, Dex nodded at her. He said, “One moment, Ruda. Your companion asked that you two be housed together, it’s unusual but I’ll honor it. Your room is on the second floor, left at the stairs, sixth room down. Thelma is there already. Today and tomorrow you two rest and get acclimated. The next day, you’ll be assigned to a bath. Oh, by the way, I need to see you both later. Meet me at the bath house entrance at third guard tonight. Be sharp.”

Eliana went up to the room Dex had indicated her, and in it she found Thelma. There was a large mattress on the floor, a few pieces of furniture in the small room, room really for toiletries, and inside, there was Thelma. She smiled when Eliana returned, and said, “Thank you for the decoction, the boy from the herbalist came and distributed a whole lot of vials to every girl working here. That was a good idea, you know. Perhaps it’s something Dex doesn’t think of.” After a pause, Thelma said, “This feels odd, kind of like Esk… but not quite like it, don’t you think?” I wonder who our contact will be, and what will we be supposed to do, listen while they plough? make ourselves available to someone in particular? I hope no one gets hurt, what do you think Eli?”

They did not have much time to talk, though. Third vigil was fast approaching, and Dex had been adamant. “Be sharp,” he had said.

Once at the entrance to the bath house, Dex said, “follow me,” and took them to a house not distant from the bathhouse. Once inside, he closed the door, and said, “The sparrow cannot fly in the shadows.” Thelma responded, “But the owl thrives in it.”

Dex sighed in relief. “Thank the Light. The walls in the bathhouse have ears, and I have to act a hard part.” Dex relaxed and sat on a chair in front of a table. “Please, sit, sit, make yourselves comfortable.” When Thelma and Eliana sat down, Dex said, “my real name is not Dex. I am Derrick of Phazôm. You don’t have to worry about me, I’m safe. I am an eunuch, that penalty was imposed on me for messing with the wrong person’s wife. I digress, though. I knew that there were people coming in to substitute for Arlo. He barely escaped with his life, poor man. Our league was very nearly uncovered. There I am, digressing again. Anyhow, this is what you two will have to do. You will need to keep an ear peeled for conversations in the Eskian tongue and whatever you hear in those conversations, I will need to now it. I’ll assign you both to be bath girls for now, being a bath girl only involves giving baths, no ploughing, buggering or sucking is involved. And you get to have access to all places of the bathhouse. But remember, at the bathhouse I am Dex. I won’t go easy on you.”

Eliana smiled. “We each have our roles, and I will keep an ear out.”

“And so will I,” said Thelma.

In the two days they were acclimating to their new home, they realized just how monumental the bath house was. There were three large pools, one hot, one warm, and one cold. People first went to the hot pool, got scrubbed with oil, spent at least half a watch in the steam room, then were rinsed in the hot pool. Then, massages, a second oiling, scrubbing and cool down were performed in the warm pool and around it; and the final rinsing and drying was performed at the cold pool. The hot pool bath girls had a necklace with a tag on their necks; if a man wanted her services, he gave the necklace to an eunuch and was shown one of the private rooms.Bath girls in the warm and cold pools did not have those necklaces, which meant that they were not available to be ploughed. They could, however, be as sensual as they wanted with the man they were taking care of, and all bath girls were to be naked while in the area of the pools.Outside of bath hours, which were from sixth watch until second vigil, the bath girls were free to do as they wanted, and they all got paid, five silver coins a week, from which one silver coin a week was docked to cover for their rooming.

Eliana found it extremely easy. Bathing men was part of a kisa’s job and Eskians were frugal with water. Usually only the wealthy had a whole bathtub, most used a single bucket of water. Though Master’s palace had many tubs, Eliana and Thelma, like all good kisa, were taught both ways, as well as a strange bathing ritual that involved no water at all, just scented oils. That was Eliana’s preferred method and was constantly trying to get Thelma to do it, as it was very intimate. It required using all parts of the body to rub scented oils into the skin, in many layers until the skin was soft and pliable, them using a scraper made of soft wood or bone to scrape off the outer layers of skin, leaving clean, pink, and very soft skin behind.

She acted completely Eskian in her bathing, even adopting the kisa way of speaking of herself in the 3rd person. She figured this would cause anyone aware of the Eskian ways to take notice of her. It worked easily. After a week she was asked to prepare and bathe a woman. She was older than Thelma, but in just as good shape, with an air of authority about her. She slipped off her robe and slid into the tub and Eliana followed, settling behind her and gently scooping handfuls of water down her back.

“You have a peculiar manner about you,” the woman said. “I have been watching you. It is very formal… and submissive.”

“Girl hopes she is not offensive in her behavior, Miss,” Eliana said softly.

“Not at all,” she smiled. “Reminds me of a young girl I once knew. A servant of a man who worked for my husband. When I was in Esk. She was very good, but she conspired against me. She was jealous of me.”

“Girl can see why Miss,” Eliana rolled her eyes.

“I think it was because I wore gowns, my husband was a wealthy merchant, and she was just…well….like you,” the woman said in a haughty way. “She convinced my husband that I would be better as a kisa, and when I refused to lower myself to her….ow!”

“Sorry Miss, girl needs to trim her nails,” Eliana hissed through clenched teeth.

Eliana later sat naked in Thelma’s lap and recounted the meeting.

She might be a sympathi…an agent… umm… a spy,” Eliana said with a shrug. “I really don’t get what we are looking for. So what if there are Eskian….whatevers here. Isn’t Oss big on trying to mend bridges and whatnot? Isn’t that why they gave them back those treasures? I don’t mind stealing back things that don’t belong to someone else in the first place, but….we are rich! insanely rich. You should be living in a palace, not acting like a whore in one. What are we doing here?”

Thelma said, “You know, I’ve no idea either, Eli. The league of shadows needs us to be here, so we’re here. We’ll play bath girls until we find those sympathizers or spies or infiltrators… whoever the league wants us to find, then we get back home, and we’re done with the cloak and dagger. We should report about that woman you bathed to Dex, just in case.”  Thelma then laid Eliana on her back, and kissed her slowly, full on the lips.  After the longest quarter vigil, Thelma separated her lips from Eliana’s, hand resting over her lover’s sex. “I love you,” Thelma whispered, and the rest of the night was theirs.

They became very popular, especially together. At night Thelma could tell Eliana was tense. She was moody and short with her answers, snapped at others and sometimes a bitch. During the day she was as sweet as candy, flirty and happy, treating everyone with respect and warmth. Thelma knew it was all a sham though. Eliana was a good kisa but she was still Ruda and aside from their fiery passions Ruda were well known for explosive tempers. Being cooped up in the bathhouse was starting to take its toll.

Luckily they didn’t have to wait too much longer.

One day Dex told them about a group of five men who were having a private party. He believed they might be some of the men they were looking for. He was assigning them to the bath, alone with another girl to help out.

As they slid into the water with the naked men one of them wrapped an arm around Eliana and pulled her into his lap. She could feel his hard, long member against her leg. Reflexively she shifted to rub it with her thighs, as any kisa would do, as he smiled.

“Look at the dark skin on this little beast,” he said, one arm around her, pulling her up against him by her ass and the other petting her face, inches from her throat, as if warning her not to move. “I think she is a Ruda.”

“Ruda wouldn’t be caught dead in the capital, let alone as a bath whore,” a pale man with thick, red hair and beard said, enjoying Thelma’s massage on his shoulders.

Thelma looked at Eliana. She grinned, winked to her life mate, and stayed quiet, as a kisa would when performing service. Getting comfortable, one of the men switched to Eskian, a language that had no place in Oss, and had not been uttered anywhere in Oss since its secession from Esk.

“But seriously now, Terk, How have your efforts been?”

“Excellent, Karm. I have managed to ‘reorganize’ military communications in such a way that it will be, shall we say, impractical to send any military couriers anywhere without writing a lot of safe conducts.”

The other man laughed hard and slapped the water, spanking Eliana on her derriere in the process.  “By the Five, Terk, you are brilliant! The glorious warriors of the homeland will make easy work of these heathen armies like that. On my part, my efforts have also met with some success, let us say that I have managed to rewrite an ancient codex that defines how the high king is elected… From it being necessary the approval of the four kings, of the north, south, east, west, the temple of light by unanimity, now it reads that only a simple majority of the four kings is necessary. And thanks to my previous intrigues, they are all convinced that it is best to have a weak high king and stronger vassal kings rather than the current state of things, in which there is a strong high king and weak vassal kings.” He then said, in Ossian, “Do you know of a more sensual massage, bathgirl?” Thelma smiled softly and said in a gentle, sensual whisper, “I do, Sir, might she be allowed to?”

Terk grinned. “Too bad that these ones are not to be touched. I tell you, back home, I’d celebrate by taking this brown skinned kisa here who is so eagerly rubbing against me.” Karm chuckled. In Eskian, he said, “This one wants to impress me, but they don’t hold a candle to a true Eskian kisa.”

Eliana closed her eyes. She was trying to be a bath girl, an Ossian bath girl. But the Eskian kisa was taking over. It was even worse that her life mate was here, witnessing this. The disgusting male was rubbing up and down her mound and tummy, using her body to masturbate. She let out a lusty moan, and began to rub back. Shame and anger boiled inside her but the kisa knew she wanted it, HE wanted it. He was an Eskian male, His hands were on her ass, gripping, pulling…..owning. She began to rock back against him, hard. He knew how to move like a Eskian male, taking and giving, grinding up against her clit. Oh goddess by the Light, I am so sorry Thelma, she thought and started pushing harder, her hands on his shoulders, pushing into him.

The man was staring at her with lust filled eyes. “This one wants it,” he breathed heavily.

“She is off limits,” the one with Thelma chuckled.

“Money can buy anything, I want her, maybe I can buy her and take her home with me,” he moaned and closed his eyes.

“Don’t you dare!” the other man shouted. “I am not bathing in a tub full of your seed.”

The man grabbed Eliana and stood, rippling with muscles. She wrapped her arms and legs around him in fear of being dropped and he carried her out of the water. She looked over his shoulder at Thelma and mouthed “I am so sorry” before he disappeared into the curtain where the hot baths were kept.

Thelma whispered into Terk’s ear, “please Sir, please take me with you, certainly you would not want to be outdone in manliness?” Seeing Eliana behave like the kisa she had been had ignited Thelma’s own need, and she rubbed Terk very sensually, with her whole body, teasing his member, breathing needfully on his ears. Terk grunted, then said, “I’ll show you manliness, and your proper place…” right on Thelma’s ear, then he picked her up and took her to the hot baths as well. The moans of Eliana could be heard from one of the side booths, where the bathgirls usually serviced men sexually. Karm’s chiseled ass could be seen, pumping hard between a pair of wide opened, dark skinned legs. Terk laid Thelma bent over the bench, and spread her legs. He was inside Thelma, from behind, grasping at her fiery red hair, taking her completely, and Thelma reacted like an Eskian kisa, with need, and vocally, for Terk was well endowed, even for the usually well endowed Eskian men, and Thelma’s massage and pleads had ignited her arousal. Both women were thoroughly used, deep into the night, and in between ruttings the men would continue their conversation while their energy returned. Thelma looked at Eliana and smiled softly, she mouthed, “forgive me” and Eliana could see Thelma’s cheek blush bright red.

Eliana smiled at Thelma, blushing darkly. The men were out of earshot, heading to bathe in the hot pool after spending themselves inside both of them. “I love you, but I missed that. Maybe we should get a boytoy.” She turned serious and glanced over at the men. “We have the information we needed, we need to get to Dex. Before they really do buy us.”

Thelma smiled at Eliana. Both men were out of earshot, taking a bath in the hot pool. “Yes, we should. And I think it’s a great idea to have a boy toy.” Thelma then peeked out into the hot pool. “these bathgirls are thankful Sirs, please forgive them, they must clean up a moment.” There were tired mumbles from both men, Thelma took them for assent and said clearly, “yes Sirs.” Thelma then took Eliana’s hand and both quickly went to the bathgirls’ change room, where they both washed and cleaned each other, dressed, and went to Dex’s home.

When they knocked, Dex’s voice was clear. “Who is it at this time of night!” for it was fourth vigil. Eliana said, “The sparrow cannot fly in the shadows.”

“The door opened. “But the owl thrives in it. Come in, both of you.”

Eliana stepped in, holding the door for Thelma. “We found them. We just overheard them, speaking in Eskian in the bathhouse. They were… definitely Eskian.” Eliana giggled.

“They spoke of changing an ancient codex that defined how a king is chosen. Their names are Terk and Harm, but I don’t know what surnames they may have,” Thelma continued. “Furthermore, they mentioned that the way in which military runners was altered.”

“How did you get this information?” asked Dex. “Nevermind, I don’t want to know, I have an idea how. Well done, I guess. I’ll relay this information to the league. You’ve done Oss a great service.” Eliana said softly, “they also said something about buying us from the bath house and taking us home with them.” Dex chuckled. “This bath house has not sold a girl in over 200 years sweetie. You don’t have to worry about that.”

It would be another two weeks before an Eskian conspiracy was uncovered, extending its tendrils deep in the High King’s court. Eskian agents had infiltrated the court, and had been slowly but steadily eroding the foundations of Oss’s political and military stability. The heralds in the capital would not shut up about it. The Eskians, in chains, were taken to the castle’s dungeons.

The High King granted an audience to Thelma and Eliana. He spoke at length to them, and after he had heard the story in broad strokes, he said, “Oss is grateful for your services. You may ask anything you wish, and it will be granted to you.”

Eliana looked nervously at Thelma, who stepped forward and bowed her head. “We were once captured by the Eskians. We had… stowed away on a ship and mistakenly ended up in one of their ports. We were to be executed for treason, as are these men. We were spared by the will of the king, where we served him until we were released and sent home. Their crimes were greater than ours, but I cannot help but wonder at the coincidence of their fate and ours. I feel strongly that the Light sent this as a test of the people of Oss.”

“Well I want a palace,” Eliana crossed her arms. “Not a big one, but one with its own land.”

Thelma looked at her and smirked. Eliana shrugged. “I am Ruda,” she whispered.

“There is one property that was confiscated to a swindler who hung for his embezzlement. It is a house about 5 tala out of Tar Oss. I will put in a word to the vassal king of the west so he gives it to you. Any misdeeds you committed are also hereby pardoned. You’re unencumbered and free from this day forth.” Thelma bowed and said, “Your royal highness. I do have one request: Please do not let it be known who it was that helped uncover the plot. The High King nodded. “It is granted. Go, with the Light’s blessing.”

Thelma and Eliana departed for Tar Oss that same afternoon. It was a relatively quiet trip, their involvement in uncovering Esk’s treachery was never mentioned so they never got any undue attention from crowds along the way. Which was a good thing, because the last thing Thelma wanted was notoriety.

In Tar Oss, after a week’s travel, the heralds of the vassal king of the west hung an edict all over town: “LET it be known that the property belonging to Chet Madoff, the notorious swindler, has been assigned to two loyal Ossian subjects for services rendered to the kingdom.”

Thelma and Eliana took possession of the swindler’s house a few days later. It was more a small mansion than a house, and the land around it was large, enough to be called an estate, with fertile land, gardens, and even a small patch of woods, all within the enclosure, 50 karma of land.

The house underwent a total renovation. A hundred gold coins went into it, and after the renovation it was a completely different place, one that could not be called a swindler’s home.

The pair moved out of the inn after the work was completed, and during their first night in their home… their home! all to themselves, Thelma sat on a chair near the fireplace; and Eliana, naked, knelt besides her. The Ruda girl looked up, and siad, “Thelma? I… I have something I want to give you.”

“What is it, Elli?” asked Thelma.

Eliana blushed and swallowed hard. “The… your… the box you gave me, I…” Eliana stretched and picked it up from a low table, and opened it. “This… This is yours.” Eliana blushed very darkly. Thelma opened the box and gasped, then put the ring on her left ring finger. She smiles, completely at a loss for words. Thelma said, “I also have something for you.” She stood up, and disappeared a few moments. When she came back, she was holding that filigree collar that she had been prevented to put on Eliana’s neck when they had been called by the league of shadows. Unbothered by anyone this time, Thelma crouched in front of Eliana, and said, “I know you wanted this for a long time, so here it is.” She opened the box, and took the filigreed choker, and put it on the Ruda’s neck. The inscription was on the front of the choker and slightly to the left of the center. It read, “Thelma’s”. Inside the box there were two small gold pins, like rivets. Thelma picked them up, and put each pin in the small O rings to the sides of the collar.

Eliana’s eyes lit up. She lifted her thick, black hair and bent forward, offering her neck to Thelma. The gold was cold, and heavier than it looked. It fit perfectly, snug enough to be right against the skin, loose enough to allow her free movement. the collar came in 2 pieces, perfect halves that once together appeared seamless. The pins actually made a soft “clink” sound when they entered, and it was then and there that Eliana knew that the collar she was wearing would not be easy to take off.

Thelma held Eliana’s cheeks when she was done. She said, emotionally, “Nothing can bring us apart now Eli.”

Eliana cried softly, then hugged Thelma tight, kissing her all over. They were home, and they were together. Nothing would separate them ever again.

Although men, and a few women, would come and go from their lives, no one ever quite managed to settle them down to accept a third partner. They took over the countryside of Tar Oss and hired some ex-military knights to re-establish order in the pirate city. In truth, many of the “knights” were reformed pirates themselves. The city became a thriving port, making enough to supply the king with fresh taxes. He declared them their own duchy and Thelma and Eliana Duchesses. They were fair and just rulers and opened trade even with Esk. Many years later, the Duchesses of Tar Oss died at an old age, safe in each other’s arms, and the city was rechristened as Thel Eli in their memory, after a week-long funeral.

To this day, in the city of Thel Eli, their tomb is visited by those beset by misfortune; and in Thel Eli, betrothed couples exchange filigreed lockets and red and green rings, to mark that their love is strong, and can endure the harshest trials.