003 - 005 - Escape

Elyria awoke to the sound of rustling cloth and the shuffle of soft footsteps on thick carpet. What little light was in the pavilion was defused by the pale pink netting curtaining the bed in which she lay all alone. She was warm and nested in the down pillows below, over and around her. Her naked skin tingled against the smooth surface of the silk fabric covering the comforters and quilts. When she shifted her limbs she caught the faint fragrance of roses and lavender. If she did not suspect that something was very wrong with this group of beautiful people, she could easily allow herself to luxuriate in this mindless comfort. She continued to relax in bed, pretending to be asleep until she thought the tent was empty.

When she sensed she was alone, she raised herself up on her elbows. Her head swam in a massive wave of dizziness. She lay back down and turned to her side, curling up in a fetal position until the room stopped spinning. Whatever herbs they had put in the wine she had drunk last night were not sitting well with her body and head this morning. She wondered if it were still morning as she lay there waiting for equilibrium. She couldn’t tell the time of day from where she was.

This time she rolled over and up from her side, her movements slow and deliberate. The silk covers slid off of her body like water, pooling at her feet as she stood up. If she didn’t move her head fast, she was steady and clear headed. She parted the bed curtains and stepped into the room, which was warm and draft free. The large bathing tub had been removed and the carpets that were under the cooper container had been replaced with fresh rugs. There were no signs of an indentation or the water that had sloshed out while the women had been bathing.

There were no other people in the pavilion. Elyria could not find any clothing either. She wanted to dress and sneak out of the tent and down the mountain to the village where she could be sure of safe haven from these unwanted visitors to the mountains. Since she was intimately knowledgeable of the area she felt certain she could escape without notice and be away before they could figure out which path she had taken. Going naked would not be the way to leave and go unnoticed.

She would have to make do with what was at hand and there were plenty of things to choose from here. She would need to work fast before any of the slaves or their masters returned. She used her teeth to rip the seams on a silk comforter, making two large bolts of material. She tore a hole in the middle of one of the sheets of silk and draped it over her head. She tore strips from the second piece of material and used these to tie and wrap the material around her waist and pull the hem up so it did not drag the ground and trip her. While adjusting her makeshift gown, she heard the clang and jangle of metal just outside the tent entrance. She rushed to the bed, crawled under the piles of covers and held her breath.

She heard voices and movement muffled by the blankets over her head. The sounds got closer and she could make out the voice of a woman and of a girl. The netting around the bed shifted and one of the two stroked her hair from her forehead.

“The wine must have been too strong for her,” said the woman.

Elyria thought this was Silva.

“I think we will need to put fewer herbs in tonight’s cup, although the display was quite lovely last night.” Silva chuckled low and with little true mirth. “This one is a good distraction for the ladies.”

“It was good to be able to sleep in peace last night,” said the girl. Hers was a voice Elyria could not place.

“Do you think she would do for the men, too?”

“Only if the Mistress tires of her and I do not think that likely to occur anytime soon. There is something about this one that The Lady wishes to possess.”

Elyria tried to suppress the shivers beginning in the core of her being. Now, she was more determined than ever to escape immediately, if only these two would leave.

“Place the water pitcher on the table and leave her things on the stool. We must go see to the finish of the platters for the evening meal before The Lady returns. They should be back soon. It is almost full dark.”

“Should I wake the girl?”

“When we are done with the food, we’ll come back and get her ready. Come.”

Elyria held her breath for ten heartbeats. She dared wait no longer. She rose up, throwing off the covers. The slaves had left. She did not have much time. She looked for her things on the stool. Everything was there, cleaned and laundered. She took her makeshift dress from her body and threw it on the floor, covering herself with her own shift. Her knife was on the pile too along with its belt. She grabbed them, went to the back of the tent, placed her ear on the wall and listened. She did not hear anything. Using her knife, she stabbed the tent wall and cut down, making an opening large enough for her to step through.

The back of the pavilion faced the woods. A short open distance was between Elyria and the trees. She sprinted for the safety of the dark shadows. She ignored the stones and twigs that gouged her bare feet. She reached the first trees and then cut off to the left and the downhill slope. She ran without looking back, staying deep under the cover of the spruce, ducking low hung branches. She ran until the sharp pain in her side forced her to stop. She found a clump of bushes and sat down behind them, catching her breath. The sun had set behind the mountain peeks and any light shining up from below was blocked by the thick tree limbs. She took the time for her eyes to adjust to the low light. She would need to stay within the forest the whole way down the mountain to make sure she was not followed and caught.

Her breathing steady and her heart beat back to normal, Elyria stood to begin her slow decent down the mountain. She took her time, keeping her tread light and pausing to listen for sounds. She picked up a sturdy branch to use as an additional weapon. She not only feared the pilgrims from Alexandria, but the animals that roamed at night looking for food. She stopped to pluck some onion roots from the ground. A stick snapped behind her.

003 - 004 - Bathing Beauty

Elyria turned to the slave and the woman nodded to her. Elyria lifted the glass to her lips and tipped it up draining the contents.

“My name is Silva.” The woman whispered in Elyria’s ear. Silva stroked Elyria’s hair.

“I will be your waiting woman,” she said. “Do as I tell you and it will be easier for you.” Silva braided Elyria’s hair and tied it to the top of her head. Silva left Elyria briefly with the drinking cup. When she returned the cup was once again full. Silva squatted in front of her and handed her the goblet.

“Look at me,” she said.

Elyria looked down into Silva’s eyes. Silva’s eyes were dark and heavy lidded and she looked back at Elyria with an expression of sincere desperation.

“Make things as easy as possible for all of us. Drink up again and you will be treated as a pampered pet. If you do not cooperate, the mistress will take it out on the rest of us and you saw how she treats anyone who displeases her.”

Elyria felt drowsy and her limbs felt heavy. Silva took Elyria’s feet in her hands and massaged them. When Elyria did not drink, Silva helped her lifted the cup to her mouth. Elyria thought about the young slave girl. She did not want anyone to suffer just because she would not drink the wine. She drank and Silva smiled at her.

The young slave girl return and she helped Silva stand Elyria up. Elyria had to lean on the girl. She felt very tired and dreamy. She stood docile as Silva took her dirty clothes from her body. She heard Rosalba and Rosalin giggle off to her right through a haze of rosy lights that added a beautiful glow to the low lights in the pavilion. Silva whispered in Elyria’s ear that the young slave girl was called Tonda and Tonda and Silva would help her into the waiting bath. Elyria floated between the two slave women, her toes kissing the warm soft carpets.

The stopped in front of Lady Pricilla’s chair, who put down a juicy piece of fruit she had been eating to brush her nails across Elyria’s flat belly. Goose bumps danced on Elyria’s skin and she moaned low in her throat as she slumped against her handlers. Her head rested on her left shoulder and from that angle she saw Rosalba and Rosalin rise up on their own from their cloudy perch, face each other and kiss, long and deep. Only far back in her hazy mind did Elyria wonder at the closeness of the sisters and she did not find it strange when they began to slip their gowns from their shoulders and let them cascade to the feather pillows under their feet. As she watched the sisters caress, she felt hands upon her own body, warm and soft and demanding. She dragged her eyes from the sensuous view of Rosalba and Rosalin in affectionate embrace to follow Lady Pricilla’s hands on her naked arms and waist and breasts. Elyria thought she might like to protest against this unusual treatment but she rather liked the feel of Lady Pricilla’s hands on her body.

“Get in the bath, my sweet,” said Lady Pricilla, “and we will join you.” She squeezed one of Elyria’s buttocks and gave her a little slap.

Tingles rose up Elyria’s legs and settled just below her belly button. Silva and Tonda helped her to the tub. Elyria could not climb into the bath. Her limbs were too heavy and did not respond to her. A male slave lifted her from her feet and slid her into the water. His hands were rough compared to Lady Pricilla’s and Elyria wanted that softness again. She wanted it so much that she whimpered. She almost wept when Lady Pricilla’s stepped into the water next to her. Elyria looked at Lady Pricilla like a starving man looks at a feast.

Lady Pricilla stood next to Elyria and allowed Elyria to look at her. Lady Pricilla scooped up some of the warm scented water and dribbled it upon her legs. Elyria licked her lips and her fingers itched. Rosalba and Rosalin stepped into the bath next to Lady Pricilla. They cupped water in their hands and smoothed it upon Lady Pricilla. She held out her hands to Elyria to lift her up to her. Elyria stood and fell into Lady Pricilla’s arms. Her wet naked body slipped and slid against Lady Pricilla. Lady Pricilla slipped her hands into Elyria’s hair, pulled her head towards her and placed her lips upon Elyria’s mouth, parting Elyria’s lips with the tip of her tongue. Her mouth became more demanding and she nipped at Elyria’s lower lip, sucking on it. Elyria’s skin was chilling from standing wet but parts of her were being warmed by small hands stroking her back and moving down her thighs while her mouth was on fire and hungry, moving on its power, following the lessons being given to her by Lady Pricilla. Her legs were weak and vibrated with a need she had never felt before. The feelings and urges in her body were so strong that she attempted to pull away from Lady Pricilla, but Rosalba and Rosalin kept stroking her and Silva placed another goblet in her hands. She drank in an attempt to quench her thirst but the wine only seemed to increase the heat between her legs.

Lady Pricilla and Rosalba and Rosalin lowered Elyria into the warm scented water, laying her over some sort of couch that she had not known was part of the bathing tub. A pillow was placed under her head. Every part of her skin was alive with sensation and the only thing that stopped it from being painful was the hands and their caresses. She wanted relief from the continuous ache so she closed her eyes and gave her body over to them.

003 - 003 - Pretty Web

Elyria stared at the girls with her mouth hanging opening, until they reached out to her in unison and wiggle their fingers at her, becoming her to them. Elyria did not move but she did not need to. The slaves carrying the girls moved to her, one on her left and one on her right. The girls wrapped their thin arms around her, their skin sliding over her like a soft breeze. The blond girl placed a hand on either side of Elyria’s face and gently brushed her full lips against Elyria’s mouth. She turned Elyria’s face to the brown curled girl who was her twin in every way but hair color. With the blond still holding Elyria’s head in her hands, the brown hair girl covered her sister’s hands and then she kissed Elyria. Her kiss was moist, with her lips parted. When she pulled back, she licked her own lips. Both girls smiled at Elyria while they stroked her cheeks and shoulders.

“You are already close friends,” said Lady Pricilla. “Come, my sweets.” Lady Pricilla led the way to the opening of the large tent. “We will bathe and dine and relax and Elyria will have the opportunity to get to know Rosalba and Rosalin.”

Lady Pricilla paused before the entrance to the pavilion. Two female slaves rushed forward and held back the flaps. She entered the tent. Her hand appeared at the tent entrance and Elyria was pushed forward to take Lady Pricilla’s hand. Elyria was drawn into a space lit in pale pink light. Oil lamps in pink glass jars flickered from tables dressed in silks in rainbow colors. The ground was covered with carpets so thick, Elyria’s feet left prints as if she were walking in grass covered in morning dew. A small cooper pot sat on a brazier with sweet steam drifting into the air. Elyria recognized apples and oranges and roses, but heavier, earthier scents were mixed in. The roof of the tent was held up by two poles and between them in the center of the tent was a large pallet that looked like a white cloud topped with pillows in jeweled reds and blues and greens. A sheer net in pale pink draped over the bed making a tent within the tent.

The two girls, Rosalba and Rosalin, (Elyria wasn’t sure which was which) were laid on the bed with great care. They sank into the pillows and arranged themselves into a pretty picture while the slaves propped up pillows behind them so they would not need to strain to sit up.

Off to the right of the bed was a large copper tub the size of a small lake. It was still being filled by slaves bringing in large buckets of hot water. Lady Pricilla went to the tub to check the temperature of the water. A girl no more than ten years old carrying a bucket of hot water to big and heavy for her size, stumbled, sloshing some water on the carpet near Lady Pricilla. Lady Pricilla back-handed the girl across the face leaving a large red welt on the girl’s left cheek. Her cheek began to bleed where it was cut by one of Lady Pricilla’s rings. The girl never shed a tear or spilled another drop of water. Rosalba and Rosalin giggled from their cozy perch. Lady Pricilla rinsed her hand off in the tub water.

“I should have you empty and refill the tub,” said Lady Pricilla to the girl. “But as we are all tired I will punish you later in some other way.” The girl stared at her feet, still holding the full bucket of water. “Go get another bucket of water for this one. It’s cold.” Lady Pricilla turned from the girl to sit in an armed chair cushioned with pillows. A stool was brought, her feet were raised, her shoes removed and her naked feet placed on the stool while a glass goblet was placed in her hand. She drank the contents in one breath and handed the glass back for more. It was taken and filled and brought back to her. She gestured in Elyria’s direction with her free hand.

A different young girl and an older woman approached Elyria. They guided her to a stool next to a table. The older woman handed Elyria a full goblet. Elyria sniffed at it and took a sip. She placed the glass on the table. The girl was removing Elyria’s shoes. The older woman picked up the glass of wine and handed it back to Elyria. While standing behind Elyria to pull all of her hair back, the woman leaned close to her and whispered in Elyria’s ear.

“Drink all of that wine and quickly,” she said. “You will need it very soon.”