"The Queen's Assassin" (closed)

[MarieDavisRPs]

Map of the Known World -- OOC thread

Second City
Outside the Secondary City Wall of the City of Yalla
Late Evening:

"Nina" -- as her friends and family called Ninaparrakania -- was helping put her little brother and sister to bed when she heard a stranger called out, "Clara...? Clara!"

Her father rushed out of the bedroom, followed by everyone else; Nina had been on the backside of the bed and was the last to make the doorway. She heard her father's pleas -- first in their native language, then in Common Tongue almost exclusively spoken in the City of Yalla -- for the stranger not to hurt the children.

Peeking out through the doorway drape, Nina knew exactly who the man who'd invaded their home was: Morrow, the former lover of the home's previous occupant, Clara.

"You live here?" Morrow questioned, following up after her father's silence, "Do you live here now?"

"Yes, m'lord," Nina said, stepping out into his view. "Is our home now."

She stepped between her mother and father, patting the heads of the little ones reassuringly as she whispered to them in the Virtish that they were learning alongside Common, "Do not be afraid. This man is not going to hurt anyone. I promise."

She continued out into the room, curling off to the right in an attempt to pull Morrow's attention away from the others; she might have been barely half a fortnight past her 18th birthday, but Nina considered herself just as much a protector of her family as her mother or father.

"Clara gone, m'lord," she told Morrow. She counted back in her head, clarifying, "Clara gone, six days." She continued moving, unaware of the effect the fire's penetration light was having on her dress, nor the effect that her silhouette was having on Morrow; she stopped near a box sitting atop a small table as she said about Clara, "She give cottage to us. To me. To family. I have paper, prove."

Nina's mother began ragging on her about the stranger in their house, wanting to know what was happening; her mother had made the assumption -- correct as it was -- that Nina knew who this man was and should provide such information to her parents. Nina instead told them to go back to the bedroom, put the kids to bed, and wait until she returned with an update.

In Virtish, her father asked Nina accusingly, "Is this him...? Is the man ... the one who you have to--"

"Yes, father!" she cut him off. Continuing in his language, she chastised, "Unless you have a better idea for keeping up in this home. Would you rather live on the streets again ... with the rats ... and disease ... and thugs?"

The argument continued a bit more before her parents finally took the other two children to the back room. She looked to Morrow again, smiling, then introduced herself, "I am Ninaparrakania. Nina. You call me Nina, please m'lord." She smiled again, asking, "You are Lord Morrow...? Morrow Tyne, Viscount of Orland." Then, pausing and smiling knowingly, added, "Clara's lover, yes?"

Nina turned up the wick on the lantern sitting upon the table, then opened the wooden box, dug around, and withdrew a piece of rolled parchment. As she approached Morrow, she pulled off the little bowed ribbon and handed the unrolled sheet to him. "Deed. To house. Clara give home. Paper says so she says."

Nina wasn't at all literate in Common, though, she did read and write in Virtish enough to get along. Clara had told her what the parchment said, and she assumed that it was legitimate. She asked with hope, "Is true, yes? Home belong me and family?"

She listened to Morrow's reply, then smiled and offered out her hand invitingly. When Morrow looked to her again, she said, "Can make pay now if want. Other night if want." Morrow looked confused, so Nina explained, "Clara give home to me, for me give sex to you. We sex now?"

 

[HumanBean]

Map of the Known World -- OOC thread

Second City
Outside the Secondary City Wall of the City of Yalla
Late Evening:

Morrow had understood some of the words that Nina had spoken in Virtish to her father. She"d been discussing living in the streets. That had been apparent.

Morrow had spent some time living there. He knew the dangers.

The two of them were alone finally. She introduced herself. "I am Ninaparrakania. Nina. You call me Nina, please m'lord."

Her full name verified what Morrow had already determined by their language. The family was from Vint. But then Nina surprised him.

"You are Lord Morrow...?" she asked knowingly. "Morrow Tyne, Viscount of Orland."
Initially Morrow thought she recognized him by his appearance. Morrow tried to keep a low profile generally. Being really recognizable made being an assassin or you difficult, obviously.

But there were people, particularly in the lower class, who knew him. Most were the intelligence contacts Morrow had made. Many others were the whores who'd sucked his cock.
Morrow gave the young beauty another long head to your ogle. He didn't remember ever having his cock inside any of her holes. And Nina Morrow would have remembered.
Then, she made this very clear to him. She smiled and said, "Clara's lover, yes?"

Morrow had misunderstood. He hadn't believed that Nina or her family had actually known Clara. She handed him a scroll of parchment.

"Deed," she said as he unrolled it. "To house. Clara give home. Paper says so she says."

Morrow began reading the document. It had been produced by someone other than Clara. She had been literate enough to write all the words Morrow was reading. But she hadn't known the legal context in which the words were used. Thus the unfamiliar handwriting.

"Is true, yes?" Nina asked. "Home belong me and family?"

Morrow got to the bottom. To Clara's familiar handwriting where she'd signed the deed. And left a personal note.

"Yes," Morrow confirmed. "The cottage belongs to you and your family now."

Nina offered out a hand. Morrow misunderstood. He offered back the scroll. But what Nina wanted was Morrow's hand. She said, "Can make pay now if want. Other night if want."

Morrow was confused. He was about to ask whether not the family had actually paid coin for the cottage yet. Paid Clara.

The cottage actually belonged to Morrow. He'd put out the coin for it. He had put it in Clara's name, though. The Republic of Y'all's was one of the few States in the Known World where Commoner females could own land in their own name.

Then Nina explained, "Clara give home to me, for me give sex to you."

Suddenly things became much, much clearer. Clara had traded the home to the family for the sexual service of the family's incredibly beautiful daughter.

Morrow couldn't help but laugh. That caught Nina off guard, resulting in a curious expression. He said, "Clara knows what I like, that's for certain."

Nina asked, "We sex now?

"We fuck now?" Morrow corrected in Virtish. She nodded her understanding. Morrow asked knowingly, "Clara said you and your family could have the cottage if you let me fuck you, yes?"

Again Nina confirmed.

Morrow asked, "How many times? How many times do I get to fuck you in exchange for the cottage, Nina? I mean, how much was this place, the house, the land--"

Morrow had seen some of the livestock still present when he arrived. He doubted that Clara had taken the time to sell off the stock. Luna would have given her enough coin before leaving Yalla to buy a thousand hogs, goats, or chicken.

He continued, "--the livestock, the cart. How much was it worth?"

Morrow wasn't asking because he was concerned that Nina and her family had underpaid or anything like that. For all he cared, Clara could have given it to Nina free and clear.

He was simply curious as to how much Nina had paid or was now willing to pay for the home. One fuck? A fuck and a suck both? Several of each?

 

[MarieDavisRPs]

Map of the Known World -- OOC thread

What was once Clara's Cottage
Second City
The City of Yalla
Late Evening:

Nina was relieved -- and somewhat excited -- to learn that Clara's reassurance about the deed to the property were legitimate; there had been a concern amongst her parents -- who were even less literate than Nina, even in their native tongue -- that the document wasn't worth the parchment on which it had been written.

"The cottage belongs to you and your family now," Morrow confirmed. He laughed when Nina offered to make payment.

Nina asked timidly, "What wrong, m'lord?"

"Clara knows what I like," he responded, "that's for certain."

Nina waggled her fingers invitingly at Morrow, asking, "We sex now?

"We fuck now?" he corrected in Virtish.

She might have been a young girl from the provinces, but Nina understood that word. She nodded confirmation, repeating in Common, "We fuck now."

"Clara said you and your family could have the cottage if you let me fuck you, yes?" Morrow asked. Nina confirmed, and Morrow asked, "How many times? How many times do I get to fuck you in exchange for the cottage, Nina?"

He went into detail about all that the family had been given by Clara. It was, of course, a lot. Nina's parents had had far less than this in Virt when they'd sold everything to buy passage on a boat to Yalla. And after arriving here, despite their hard work, they could never have been able to get this much either.

Despite the better living conditions for the Peasant and Commoner Classes in the Republic of Yalla, life was still hard here for the poor; taxes were still too high to easily get ahead, the law wasn't fairly administered amongst the Classes, and when emergency struck -- such as the recent floods, which has taken Nina's home -- the assistance from the Nobility and Royalty simply didn't go far enough.

Morrow stressed, "How much was it worth?"

"Is worth more I give," Nina answered, correcting, "More than I can give, m'lord. I can give only all."

At that, Nina pulled her sleeping gown off her shoulders and let it fall to the rug covered floor, gathering about her bare feet. She stepped out of it, closer to Morrow, the multiple light sources revealing her naked body as magnificent, with flawless skin, firm cantaloupe-sized breasts, a dramatic hourglass shaped body, and long, sleek legs.

She was Freakishly groomed, too, a result of her association with Clara; her prominent inner labia and even the to of her clit revealed themselves at the meeting of her thighs.

She gave Morrow a moment to admire her, then slowly turned fully around to let him see her backside, which was perfect as well. Facing Morrow again, Nina's expression became a bit more worried.

In answer to Morrow's question about how many times he got to fuck her, Nina said, "Always, m'lord." She paused, then clarified, "I am yours, Lord Morrow. For always. Until you not want anymore."

Stepping closer again Nina's asked, "I not be made with baby first time, no, m'lord? Seed not find garden first time...?"

 

[HumanBean]

Map of the Known World -- OOC thread

Nina's Cottage (formerly Clara's)
Second City
The City of Yalla
Late Evening:

Morrow stepped back as Nina dropped her sleeping gown. He wanted the best, full view of her. She was incredible. Indescribable.

She turned around slowly, presenting herself. Her ass was as perfect as the rest of her. Her Frenkish Grooming was a certain sign that the peasant girl had known Clara personally.

Morrow wondered about the pair's relationship. Had they been neighbors here in Second City? Or had they worked together at the castle? Had this beauty been in the scullery, too? Morrow had thought Clara too beautiful to be working in a kitchen. Putting Nina in one was simply a waste of the Gods' finest work.

Another thought came to Morrow. Perhaps Clara's relationship with Nina was more akin to that that the two of them has had with Rosalyn. The tavern wench had provided some wonderfully erotic joy for the two of them, at Clara's invitation. Had Nina spent some time naked in a hot bathtub with Clara as well?

Morrow had asked Nina how many times he would get to fuck her in exchange for the property. Morrow was surprised to hear her say, "Always, m'lord."

"Always?" he repeated. "What does that mean, always?"

"I am yours, Lord Morrow," Nina said. "For always. Until you not want anymore."

Morrow just stared at the beauty. Was Nina really saying what he thought she was? She'd sold herself to Clara. To himself. For the cottage. The land. The hogs, goats, chicken, ducks.

He'd partaken of his share of sexual servants in his life, of course. Hell, Morrow had had ten men's share of whores. But he'd never owned one for more than a night. Maybe two. Maybe the length of a mission. But never always.

This arrangement made Nina his sex slave for life. If he was understanding her correctly. Morrow glanced at the note in the bottom of the deed. It was in Clara's handwriting. It said, Think of me at those special times, My Love.

He knew what times Clara had been speaking of. Those times when he was unloading his balls inside Nina's pussy.

The young beauty stepped closer. She questioned him with a concerned tone. "I not be made with baby first time, no, m'lord?"

Morrow initially thought Nina was concerned with him impregnating her their first time together. Knocking up one's sex slave the first time one fucked her was illogical at best.

But then Nina added, "Seed not find garden first time...?"

A thought struck him like a hammer on an anvil. "You're a virgin?"

She confirmed. The irony, of course, was incredible. Morrow had only had three, maybe four virgins in all his life. He wasn't exactly the kind of man pure women surrendered their maidenhead to. One had been an equally young vixen burning with lust as he had been. The others, though, had been payment for services rendered. Assassination services.

And now, he owned one? He was both thrilled and reluctant. Thrilled because every man wanted to be a young woman's first. Wanted to plant his flag in unexplored territory.

The reluctance came from the fact the Morrow already had a virgin's unexplored territory waiting for his flagpole: Stella's.

Morrow had never been a one-woman kind of guy, of course. If he passed on fucking Nina, it wouldn't be because of Luna's Handmaiden. But Stella was more than just a hole to plug with his tool. Morrow had fallen in lust with her the moment he'd met her. And he was beginning to believe that he was falling in love with her, too.

He looked to Nina's body again. He wanted her so badly. His cock ached for her. But with each passing moment, Morrow knew he wouldn't take her. Not here. Not now.

Still, it didn't prevent Morrow from stepping closer and reaching out for her. He found one of her young firm breasts. He caressed her smooth skin with his fingers. He gently groped her and ran his thumb over her nipple. It was already swollen but now grew significantly.

"Put your clothes back on, Nina," Morrow told her. He lowered his hand and stepped back. He gestured toward her clothing, saying, "Please. It's fine. Get dressed."

Once she was again in her gown Morrow said, "You belong to me, Nina. Clara arranged that. You agreed to it."

He gestured a hand to indicate the house. "This is yours because of that arrangement and agreement. This property and everything on it will remain yours. And I will provide you with coin when you need it to ensure that you are never hungry again. Or cold. Or afraid."

Morrow stepped closer. "On one condition. No man ever touches you the way I just did. You maintain your virginity. Your purity. Your innocence. As long as you do, you and your family can live here, happy and secure."

It was late. If Nina had nothing to delay him from departing, Morrow would turn to leave. First, though he would tell her, "You are the most beautiful creature I have ever met, Nina. I want to fuck you more than I ever have a woman. I still may. But not now. Not tonight, like this."

 

[MarieDavisRPs]

Map of the Known World -- OOC thread

Nina's Cottage (formerly Clara's)
Second City
The City of Yalla
Late Evening:

"You're a virgin?" Morrow asked with obvious surprise.

Nina was surprised at his surprise; she'd thought that Clara had told Morrow all about her, including about her sexual innocence. If she hadn't been so nervous -- and so naked -- Nina might have realized that if Morrow hadn't been informed that Clara had given the cottage away, he likely hadn't been informed about the chastity of one of the home's new residents.

The fact that she was innocent was why Nina thought Clara had made the deal in the first place, in addition to the fact that she was obviously a very beautiful young woman. Nina knew what some men would give for a chaste girl, whether it be long term as a wife or short term, as in just for a single fuck.

"Yes, m'lord," Nina answered the virginity question, expecting Morrow to be pleased with her answer.

And pleased Morrow seemed to be as he stepped closer to Nina, reaching out to fondle one of her breasts. Nina drew a deep breath at his touch, nervous and maybe even a bit fearful; Clara had promised Nina that Morrow would be kind to her in every way, yet she still feared this, her first interaction with him, knowing that it was likely going to very quickly result in her laying on her back or dropping to her hands and knees to have her pussy filled with his seed.

Despite her fear, Nina enjoyed Morrow's touch. Her breasts were very sensitive, particularly her nipples; they'd swollen to the sudden chill when Nina exposed them, but it was Morrow's touch that had caused them to grow to such a large, tight size that they almost hurt. No man had ever touched Nina's breasts before, let alone her other womanly treasure. She had touched that treasure, of course; she'd discovered the delights of masturbation in her mid-teens, and while it was hard sometimes to find a quiet, isolated place to do so, Nina did fondle herself to some very wonderful orgasms when she could.

A chill ran up Nina's spine as she thought of Morrow causing her such pleasure; goose flesh exploded over her arms, legs, and elsewhere, causing her to giggle, blush, and whispered, "Good feel, m'lord."

And then, suddenly and unexpectedly, Morrow stepped away from Nina, telling her to redress. "Please. It's fine. Get dressed."

Her stomach turned over anxiously as she wondered what she'd done wrong. She whispered as she quickly recovered and donned her sleeping gown, "I do not understand, m'lord. What did I do...? Did I do something wrong, m'lord?"

Morrow didn't answer her questions, instead explaining how she belonged to him, an arrangement and agreement that would keep her and her family in their new home. "And I will provide you with coin when you need it," Morrow told her, "To ensure that you are never hungry again. Or cold. Or afraid."

That hadn't been part of the deal made with Clara, but Nina wasn't about to refuse it. Instead, she said with obvious happiness, "Thank you, m'lord."

He stressed that no man was ever to touch her. She responded without hesitation, "No man will touch me, m'lord. I promise." As Morrow again turned for the door, Nina asked with a concerned tone, "Am I not pretty, m'lord? Is that ... is that why you do not lie with me?"

"You are the most beautiful creature I have ever met, Nina," Morrow told her. "I want to fuck you more than I ever have a woman. I still may. But not now. Not tonight, like this."

Nina couldn't help but smile; most beautiful creature he'd ever met, she thought to herself. She whispered, "Thank you, m'lord." When Morrow turned to leave yet again, she again spoke quickly, "I will wait, m'lord ... for you ... to return."

Nina watched Morrow depart, then returned to the tiny storage room that had been converted to her own little bedroom. Her parents immediately came to her, engaging her in a Q&A that became a fiery argument; they had not been part of the original discussion with Clara about what Nina was to give up for the family occupying the house, and it was only after they'd occupied the cottage that Nina had told them the truth.

She finally rolled away from them both, covering her head with the bedding; after 10 minutes of being ignored, they finally left her alone and went to bed themselves. Once they were gone, Nina rolled to her back to stare up into the rafters and review what had happened and to rethink what she'd thought of Lord Morrow. She hadn't known whether or not to trust all that Clara had said about the man, but now she realized that the other woman had likely been very correct with everything.

After a while, Nina pulled the front of her sleeping gown up, found her wet folds and that super sensitive nub of flesh, and drove herself to her first fantasy about Lord Morrow which actually included an image of what he looked like.

 

[HumanBean]

Map of the Known World -- OOC thread

The Castle of Yalla
Late Evening:

(OOC: This exchange between Philip and Imogen picks up from Post #199. It takes place in between when Morrow left the castle and when he met Nina.)

Imogen explained to Philip that she'd been in the City of Yalla about a year. It didn't surprise him that he'd never seen her. He'd only rarely come into the City while working for the now-deceased Viscount Ulronni. She talked about the horrific voyage getting here from the City of Nurva. (map)

"I understand your meaning, m'lady," Philip responded. "I once traveled by boat from the City of Lux, in the west. Between grounding in the shallows of the Great Steppe River Delta and being attacked by pirates. Plus a storm that put us aground in False Bay. I swore I would never travel by boat again."

He asked what brought Imogen here. She answered, "A marriage proposal."

"That doesn't surprise me," he said, smiling to her. "You are a beautiful young woman. Thousands of men across the Known World would love to wed you."

Philip almost said bed you but caught himself. "If it is not too personal a question--"

"I was to marry Prince Nellan," she said, "the Queen's brother."

"The Prince?" he reacted with shock. Philip's initial thinking was That horrific bastard didn't deserve you, Imogen. He said, though, "I had no idea that a wife had been chosen for Nellan."

Then he realized that Imogen might be feeling crushed by the change in plans, also known as Nellan's assassination. Philip said with feigned sympathy, "I'm sorry that this has happened to you, m'lady."

She explained about how her grandfather, Baron Wornal of Nurva, was the first cousin of the Frenkish Emperor, Dorian of Norla. Again, Philip was shocked. He was walking hand in arm with the granddaughter of one of the most powerful men in the Known World.

"Dorian has no children and no siblings," Imogen continued. "My father is his closest male relative and, therefore, the Heir Presumptive."

"That makes you one of the Known World's most important young women," Philip said. Then, with an intentionally flirty tone, he added, "And one if its most beautiful."

She continued explaining about the now moot marriage plans between her and Nellan. Between the Frenkish Empire and the Republic of Yalla, put another way. "...Frenk's power and reputation of strength combined with Yalla's wealth and culture. The combination could return the greatness of both the Frenkish Empire and the Empire of Yalla, both of which began their collapses even before I was born."

"We have been having some hard times," Philip agreed regarding the Republic. "But I believe that Queen Luna will put us back on track. She did wonders for the City of Tiala as its Lady. She will do wonders for Yalla as its Queen."

He asked, "Have you enjoyed the City?"

He didn't expect her to smile up at him and say, "Not until now, no."

Philip looked down to her face, but Imogen looked away, giggling. He wanted to ask her if she was flirting with him. Instead, he asked, "Are you returning home now for a reason? Is the mission simply coincidental?"

"Are you asking if I'm leaving because, obviously, I cannot marry the now dead Prince Nellan?" Imogen responded.

Hesitantly, Philip began, "Well, I, what I meant was--"

She interrupted, "...or are you asking whether I asked to partake of your mission ... to be close to you, Lord Philip?"

Again, he looked into her face, but this time she met his gaze. He smiled, stopped them where they were, and turned her to face him. After a moment, he asked quietly, "May I kiss you, Lady Imogen?"

 

[MarieDavisRPs]

Map of the Known World -- OOC thread

The Castle of Yalla
Late Evening:

Imogen smiled, pleased with Philip"s compliment of how many men would want to wed her. It was true, not just a compliment. Imogen had been receiving marriage proposals literally all of her life. During her childhood, the offers had simply been Personal Unions, offers from Royal and Noble men alike; they were meant to join or incorporate her grandfather's barony with or into their own.

As she aged, though, and her incredible beauty in both face and body revealed themselves, the men began wanting more than just a connection with her grandfather's titles, land, wealth, and power. They wanted Imogen herself, on their arm at social functions and in their bed afterward.

When Imogen told Philip that she'd come to Yalla to wed Nellan, the Queen's brother, he was very surprised. Regarding the Prince's assassination, Philip said, "I'm sorry that this has happened to you, m'lady."

Imogen probably should have thanked Philip for his kind words but didn't; during her time as Luna's guest, though, Imogen had learned what her future husband had been all about and had concluded that his death had probably been best, for her, for the Republic of Yalla, and for her grandfather's barony.

Philip spoke of the hard times that the Republic has been suffering. To this, she chuckled softly. The Frenkish Empire had once controlled the majority of the Known World, of course, and that had included the Republic of Yalla at one point. No Really had fallen as far as the Empire had.

Of course, one has to go back several generations of Imogen's direct bloodline to find the last Frenkish Emperor, so it wasn't as if her family has suffered that loss directly. And even if her grandfather did gain the crown -- before he died of age or illness -- it wasn't as if Imogen herself would be next in line. She had both an uncle and an older brother who stood before her in ascending to the throne.

After they'd flirted with one another, Philip turned them to face each other and asked, "May I kiss you, Lady Imogen?"
She smiled, then blushed. Imogen had never kissed a man or woman; she had never explored the most basic act of intimacy with other girls during her youth or, like Queen Luna, had a long-term female lover, namely Stella.

Imogen knew that she should deny Philip his kiss; they had only just met and didn't know each other. Plus it was simply inappropriate for a Noble Lady of any social level to be kissing a man to whom she was not betrothed, particularly when -- like Philip -- he was of a lower social level, let alone not of the Nobility at all.

And yet, Imogen smiled and said softly, "You may, Philip."

 

[MarieDavisRPs]

Map of the Known World -- OOC thread

The Castle of Yalla
Late Evening:

(OOC: This continues from the (second section) Wallwalk portion of this post.)

As Stella entered Luna's quarters once more, she contemplated on Morrow's departure the next day and the half a fortnight or so that he'd be gone. Never in her life had she wanted to be with a man, let alone how badly she wanted to be with this man.

"How are you?" Luna asked upon seeing Stella coming her way. She could see that the younger woman's mind was deep in thought. The Queen took her Handmaiden into her arms, hugging her tightly as she asked with sincere concern, "Are you okay, Stella. Talk to me." She pulled back to look the girl in the eyes whispering, "Tell me, Stella. What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong," Stella said unconvincingly. Then, blushing, she whispered back, "I want to be with Lord Morrow, My Queen. But ... it's so wrong ... isn't it?"

"I'm hardly the person to be telling you who you should or shouldn't be sleeping with, Stella," Luna said, smiling.

"I made a commitment to you, My Queen," Stella reminded Luna. "I am to remain pure ... to be traded to a--"

"No, no!" Luna cut in, pulling the younger woman to her again for a loving hug. "Not traded."

Actually, that word wasn't entirely incorrect; Luna had planned to trade Stella to some Noble or Royal for something she wanted. It was simply the way things were ... or had been? Perhaps it shouldn't be that way, but the tradition of trading pure women of Noble birth for something of value had been engrained in most Known World societies dating back to pre-history.

Before she even realized that she was saying it, Luna told the younger woman, "I release you from your obligation to me, Lady Stella." They separated, only their hands still connected as the Queen smiled to her Handmaiden and clarified, "If you wish to be with Lord Morrow ... now ... tonight ... I will arrange it." As Stella's lips spread in a wide smile, Luna finished, "Do you want this, Stella? Shall I fetch Lord Morrow?"

Stella's eyes widened with surprise as she asked, "Fetch him...? To here ... your quarters?"

"You can use my bed, Stella," Luna told her, leading her from the Drawing Room toward the Bed Chamber. "It is a place with which you are comfortable." The two of them had made love to each other here more times than they could count. "The bedding is fresh, the air warm and scented. It's perfect."

"It's where we ... you and I..." Stella began, thinking the same thought Luna was.

"You will be more comfortable here because of what you and I have done here, Stella," Luna reassured her. "I want your first time to be comfortable ... to be without fear or worry. You have already enjoyed love here, Stella. You should continue to do so here ... only this time with Lord Morrow."

Stella stepped away from Luna, standing at the end of the bed, studying it for a long moment. She had a great number of memories here, many but certainly not all of them erotic in nature. Looking back to Luna, she asked, "Will this mean that you and I ... that we--"

"That's not up to me, Stella," Luna told her. "That's up to you and your husband. Once you begin sleeping with Lord Morrow ... with the intention of wedding him ... you are his ... his wife ... his lover ... his all. It is not up to you or up to me whether or not you and I ever make love with one another again. It is Lord Morrow's choice."

Stella looked back to the bed for a moment, then back to Luna. She smiled, then started forward. When she was very close to the other woman, Stella began undressing her -- as she would at the end of any night, with or without the prospects of sex -- and said sincerely, "If My Queen permits ... I would prefer to have some more time with her ... before I move on to my husband-to-be."

Luna matched her Handmaiden's smile, telling her playfully, "Your Queen permits this ... happily."

They would spend the night making love, knowing that it could be their last time driving one another to the heights of ecstasy.

 

[HumanBean]

Map of the Known World -- OOC thread

The Castle of Yalla
Late Evening:

Philip knew that his request to kiss Imogen was inappropriate. He very seriously expected her to say no, despite their earlier flirting. He wouldn't have been surprised to get his face slapped actually.

Instead, Imogen smiled to him and said softly, "You may, Philip."

His smile widened. She said 'yes'. Holy fuck!

He looked up and down the passageway for prying eyes. He wasn't worried about what might be said about him, of course. It was Imogen's reputation that was at stake here. He was a nobody. But she was potentially the next Empress of Frenk. Potentially the richest, most powerful person in the Known World.

(OOC: Imogen's profile was just posted here. It explains the girl's family tree. It's great, Marie! If anyone is following our story, take a look. )

Finally, Philip stepped closer, until his body ever so gently touched Imogen's. He leaned in and down, slowly. He was a full head taller than her. Then, ever so softly, he pressed his lips to hers. After a few seconds, he parted from her, smiling to her.

"May I kiss you again?" he whispered. If she said yes, Philip would press his mouth to hers, his lips slightly opened. He would go slow. He had no idea what she would allow. If he thought she'd permit it, his hands would find her waist. They'd actually be closer to her ribs, what with the height difference.

 

[MarieDavisRPs]

Map of the Known World -- OOC thread

(OOC: Thanks for the compliment above. I appreciate that. I worked on it a LONG time.)

The Castle of Yalla
Late Evening:

Philip's kiss upon her lips was so soft that Imogen almost didn't feel it ... at least, upon her lips; as soon as they touched, a chill ran up her spine that literally made the girl shiver with excitement, leading to a giggle as their mouths separated. She apologized almost so softly that Philip could barely hear her, "Sorry. I wasn't ... that wasn't--" She giggled again, then confessed, "You sent a chill up my back."

"May I kiss you again?" he whispered.

"Please," she whispered back, following up with an almost desperate plea, "Yes."

Their mouths met again, but this time it was different; Philip's lips were slightly parted, and -- from having snuck peeks at others when they kissed -- she knew that this was how men and women who yearned for one another kissed. She let her own lips part, following his lead precisely, until suddenly her mouth was opened enough that she was feeling his tongue gently touch her own. Again, a chill shot up her back, this time followed by gooseflesh exploding across her arms, her legs, Gods know where else.

Imogen didn't realize that Philip's hands had found her torso or that she'd laid her own upon his upper arms until she also felt their bodies pressing hard together; her bosom -- what there was of it anyway -- compressed against his muscular chest, and down further, she felt their bellies against one another, too.

Imogen suddenly pulled away from Philip, drawing a sharp, deep breath resulting from the sudden and previously unknown feeling of ... of ... lust for the man. She begged, "Forgive me, m'lord. I'm ... I didn't ... didn't mean to..."

Imogen didn't know what to say; hell, she didn't understand what had even happened to her ... between them. She backed another step, her heart pounding hard and fast as she suddenly spun and opened the door to her guest quarters and hurried inside.

But before she closed the door behind her, Imogen paused, contemplated what had happened, looked out to Philip, smiled, and -- blushing a fiery red -- whispered before closing the door, "Thank you, m'lord. Thank you."

 

[HumanBean]

Map of the Known World -- OOC thread


The Castle of Yalla
Late Evening:

Philip was thrilled when Imogen welcomed a second kiss with, "Please. Yes."

The second kiss was far more than he'd expected. The passion was almost instantaneous. In no time, their lips were parted, their tongues were dancing, and their bodies were becoming one. His hands upon her ribs slipped to her back. One went to her upper back while the other slid down to the small of it. They both pulled her tightly into him.

And then suddenly it ended as quickly as it had begun. Imogen pulled back, her chest swelling with a deep breath as if she'd just emerged from deep underwater. She begged, "Forgive me, m'lord. I'm ... I didn't ... didn't mean to..."

Philip began. "No, no, you didn't--"

But Imogen was spinning for the door of her quarters. She pulled it open, hurrying inside as Philip begged, "Please, m'lady. Don't go. You didn't--"

He went quiet, sure that she was disappearing. Sure that they'd finished before they'd started. Sure that he'd be hearing about his inappropriate behavior tomorrow from Rolph or Morrow or, Gods forbid, the Queen herself.

Then, expecting the door to slam between them, Philip instead saw Imogen's face look out to him again. She smiled to him. Then, with her face beet red, she whispered, "Thank you, m'lord. Thank you."

"No, m'lady," he said as the door was closing. With it closed between them, he smiled to himself. Also to himself, he whispered, "Thank you, m'lady."

Philip waited for the longest time before he departed. He was hoping for the unlikely. That she would open the door and invite him inside. Eventually, though, he turned and headed away.

He'd been provided a guest room in the castle, of course. But he didn't avail himself of it. He had a thirst that desperately needed to be quenched. He made his way out of the Castle and into town to the nearest clean brothel. There, he put coin down for an auburn-haired beauty, then a second one after her. He enjoyed them both. But it wasn't the same. He wanted Imogen.

 

[MarieDavisRPs]

Map of the Known World -- OOC thread

The Castle of Yalla
The next morning:

Luna exited the Castle, accompanied by Stella, Betty, and Imogen, as well as a handful of servants. They made their way through the Inner Ward to where Morrow, Rolph, and Philip and a dozen men were making the last preparations for departure.

"We brought you some things," Luna told the men, gesturing the servants to distribute some fresh foods, dried foods, and liquids. She joked, "You can't be living off Inn food your entire time away."

Imogen made a point of giving Philip his share of the goodies, offering him also a silk handkerchief featuring embroidery she'd only finished last night. She'd included her name, asking with the symbol representing lust in one of the Ancient Frenkish languages. She didn't think he would recognize it -- the language was dead and few people knew about it, let alone read, wrote, or spoke -- but the horny little devil inside her had driven her to do it.

Betty, of course, supplies her husband with goodies and a long, passionate kiss. She promised him more of what she'd given him last night once he came back safe and sound.

Stella did her part for Morrow, telling him, "Queen Luna has begun preparations for our wedding. She suggests the second moon after you return." Marriages in Yalla were always performed on the Full Moon, per the Ancient traditions from the Book of Un.

The men suddenly realized that Imogen's horses -- riding and pack, both -- had not been brought out with their own. Luna explained to Rolph and Philip, "There has been a change in the plan. You will have to do without her, I'm afraid."

She gestures Morrow aside, telling him, "I need you to complete your mission as soon as possible. I have something vital for you to accomplish."

 

[HumanBean]

Map of the Known World -- OOC thread

The Town of Riverport
At the Mouth of the Western Yall

Six days later:

Morrow's mission to Riverport turned out to be far easier than he'd expected. The mission: locate and eliminate the leaders of a band of pirates who'd been extorting coin and goods from boats of all sizes using the Western Yall River.

Locating them hadn't been difficult at all. They'd done nothing to hide their identities. They'd had such a free hand down here for so long that they'd feared no retribution from the Crown. Morrow hadn't initially understood that. Some of the boats being extorted had belonged directly or indirectly to the Crown itself. So why hadn't the Crown done anything about it?

At the time, the Crown had been now-Queen Luna's brother, then-Prince and now-corpse, Nellan of Yalla. Sure, the siblings' father had been King. But in recent years, Nellan had been doing most of the actual ruling. The King had become old and ill and infatuated with whores. He'd begun spending the majority of his waking hours in bed with them.

This had been made easier for him by Nellan, of course. His son had wanted his father distracted. Why? For the power, of course, but also for the coin. All across the Republic, Nellan had been taking a cut of the theft, graft, and other forms of corruption.

"Luna had been right to take power from her brother," Morrow murmured to himself.

"Excuse me, m'lord?" the man standing in the shadows next to him whispered.

Morrow looked to the other man, smiled, and said, "Thinking aloud, Remmer."

He looked toward the Inn across the empty, dark street. It was quiet, with one exception: the sounds of sex, coming from the establishment's second floor. He whispered to Remmer, "I envy those pirates. I bought them some of the best whores in the Town, I've been told."

The man pointed out with a wry tone, "They're gonna be dead in a minute, m'lord."

"Yes, but still," Morrow said, pulling his sword from its pommel. "What a way to spend your last minutes, right?"

A candle in a second-floor window was blown out. A minute or so later, a second one. Then a third, a fourth and fifth almost simultaneously. And finally, the sixth and last.

"It's time," Morrow whispered.

"M'lord, look," Remmer said, pointing to the sole remaining candle burning in a window.

Morrow smiled. "That one's waiting for me."

Morrow hurried across the alley. He was followed closely by Remmer. Remmer was followed by another dozen men. Each had a sword or dagger ready in his hands.

Inside the Inn, they very quickly dispatched the half dozen pirates there. These men had been there in tavern as protection for their pirate leaders upstairs. Should have brought more men, Morrow thought to himself as the last one gasped his final breath.

Morrow had wanted to quietly ascend to the second floor to finish the job. He'd learned that wasn't going to happen, though, when he surveilled the Inn himself days earlier. The two staircases were old and creaked like a ship in a storm.

So, as soon as they were ready, Morrow and Renner's men simply rushed up the stairs and began bursting through doors. From first step on the stairs to last pirate alive, the attack took less than a minute.

The whores hadn't known when Morrow hired them that this was coming. The Madam had, though. She'd been waiting quietly for it all to end. She now went to work calming the girls and getting them downstairs to her room.

Upstairs, Remmer's men stripped the men of anything valuable. It was part of their compensation: coin, watches, blades, even boots, coats, and hats were claimed in some instances.

While this was happening, Morrow had returned to the streets. There, he waved in a horse drawn cart. As it arrived, the pirate leaders' bodies began falling from the open windows above. An awoken woman screamed from within an adjacent building. Morrow did nothing about it. He wanted the town to know what was happening.

After ten minutes or so, the corpses were all loaded. They were delivered to the Town Square. There, Remmer's men hung the bloodied and now naked bodies from a beam normally used with a block and tackle to lift damaged boats.

From every direction, citizens and visitors to Riverport were arriving. Morrow let the word spread that the dead were the pirates who'd been pillaging the Queen's ships. He didn't quibble over whether the ship's had actually belonged to the Crown. To Queen Luna. It didn't matter to him or to Luna. The pirates were a menace. And they were preventing the Republic from prospering in the way it could be under new management. Under Luna.

Remmer and most of the men departed to begin phase two of the mission. The remainder of them, under Morrow's leadership, remained behind to continue their important work. They continued the propaganda campaign. They needed to paint the pirates as a menace that had needed to be purged.

The issue, of course, was that many of the citizens and merchants in town supported the pirates. Not because they liked pirates, of course. Because they liked the pirates' coin. Most of the money the pirates earned stayed here in Riverport. It went to boat construction and repair. It went to food and drink. It went to brothels. Particularly brothels.

Morrow stepped into the bed of the corpse-hauling wagon for all to see him and preached the word of a post-pirate Riverport. He spoke of new investment. He spoke of weekly food and supply deliveries. He spoke of jobs for all who had just lost theirs because their bosses were swinging naked from their necks.

And he spoke of Queen Luna, of course. He made sure that the Riverport citizens knew that she was supplying all of this to them. Despite being an assassin by trade, Morrow was charismatic and well spoken. He soon had the early morning crowd cheering his promises.

"How do we know this is true?" a man called from the crowd. Another cried out, "Why should we believe you?"

Morrow answered by gesturing for a nearby man to hand him a bag. Suddenly, he was showering the crowd with handfuls of Silver Sovereigns. The people went crazy with delight. The bag was so full that Morrow invited two children up to help him throw the coins. When they neared the bottom of the bag, he made sure that the girl and boy had a handful to take home to their parents, too.

Once his work here was done, Morrow headed for the docks. There he found that phase two was well underway: the pirate boats were all ablaze. Two dozen sloops, yawls, and other small raiding ships were aglow with flames.

Morrow had instructed Remmer to push the boats out away from the docks before lighting them up. He didn't want to burn Riverport to the ground. For the most part, Morrow's associate had done as told. There were two mishaps, though. One repair shop had gone up in flames. A storage building had, too.

Morrow put his men to work putting out the flames. He would make good with the owners of the buildings later, too.

By the time the sun was high in the sky, the fires were out. The town was jubilant. Its citizens were rallying around Riverport's new Lord Sherrif, put in place by Morrow, of course. Remmer's men were availing themselves of the same whores (and others) who'd earlier led the piracy conspirators to their doom.

Morrow would have liked to spend the rest of the day in a brothel getting his knob shined. But Luna had said she had something vital for him. And this mission had taken longer than he'd expected. And then there was Stella. She'd promised Morrow that she'd take him to bed once he'd returned. With or without first being his wife. That was too important to be delayed by even a quick blowjob.

(OOC: I'm going to post for Rolph and Philip separately.)

 

[HumanBean]

Map of the Known World -- OOC thread

Somewhere near East Salfar Peak
Southwest of the City of Tiala.

A day later than the post above:

Philip rammed his cock deep into the woman on her hands and knees before him as his cock began pulsing. Slowly, as the euphoria overwhelmed him, he fell forward upon his lover. She ended up face down on the soft, wet grass with his heavier bulk upon her.

"Imogen..." Philip murmured as he kissed his lover on the cheek.

In response, the woman corrected him, "Emma, m'lord."

Philip heard the woman but paid her no heed. She could have been anyone, and yet only Imogen filled his mind.

The woman's voice was strained when next she spoke: "M'lord. You're. Squashing. Me."

Philip rolled off to his back, and the woman gasped for a breath. As he lay there looking at the stars, she corrected her clothing and rose to her knees. After a bit, he looked to her. She had an expectant expression on her face.

Philip dug into a pocket and pulled out a Sovereign Half-Gold coin. It was worth far more than the fuck he'd just enjoyed. But he was paying for more than just the use of her pussy. She'd also pointed Philip and Rolph to their next destination. The fuck had simply been a bonus for Philip.

He fixed his own clothing and returned to the campfire. Sitting around it were Rolph, four of their men, and eight young women. These were the first hostages located and freed. They had been locked in a barn awaiting transfer to a slaver from, of all places, Morbeth in the Meretheni Federation.

"Tomorrow, my men will take you to Tiala," Rolph was telling the girls. "From there, Queen Luna's own boat will return you to your homes."

There was a mix of excitement and relief at the mention of the Queen, muted and soft as it was. Philip sat next to Rolph, asking for the second, tenth, or hundredth time, "How are they?"

"They're fine, Philip," Rolph said, his tone a bit sharp. He leaned in closer, asking, "What the fuck do you think you're doing?"

"M'lord?" Philip asked with confusion.

Just then, from a different direction as had Philip, the woman he'd just fucked emerged from the forest. She only barely glanced at the men, a look of guilt on her face. She sat on a blanket near the fire, apart from the other girls. She stank of sweat and cum and likely knew it.

"We're supposed to be rescuing these girls from the very activities that you are now engaging that one in?" Rolph growled quietly.

"She was already fouled, m'lord," Philip reminded Rolph. Emma had already been sold to a brothel and begun working there. "I paid her well, m'lord."

"Not the point," Rolph told him, adding, "Not the point at all. How are these girls and women supposed to trust us if you're taking them off into the woods to fuck'em?"

Philip considered Rolph's point for a moment, then said, "It won't happen again. I just--"

He nearly said something he shouldn't have. No one knew about his kiss with Imogen. He couldn't tell anyone, not even Rolph. If Philip had known that Rolph had fucked his wife Betty before she was his wife, he might have felt more at ease to talk of his good fortune. But Rolph and Betty's moment in the coach on the way to her father's home to ask permission to be married wasn't something that Rolph talked about with others either.

"How do you do it, m'lord?" Philip asked Rolph. He clarified in whisper, "How do you go without your wife for this long?"

"It hasn't even been a fortnight, Philip," Rolph chastised before laughing. "My Gods! Learn some control."

In truth, Rolph had been slipping off to whack the mole on occasion since leaving Betty behind in the City of Yalla. And, honestly, he'd eyed one of the rescued ladies, too. But he'd resisted.

"Go to sleep," Rolph said, standing. "I'm going to check the Watches. I'll send them back one at a time. Make sure they eat and get some sleep and send out their replacements."

Philip acknowledged the order and watched his Lord-partner disappear into the darkness. The next morning, they'd send the currently rescued girls west to Tiala. Then, with just half the men, they'd continue east.

Their next destination was a village at Survival Bay. Emma had told them she'd heard one of the slavers speak of it. They'd been told that there wasn't much there. A dozen huts. A couple of ubiquitous businesses: boat repair, smithy, tavern, and the like.

The Dead Coast, on which Survival Bay existed, had been named that for a reason. Most people thought the name came from the fact that very few people lived there. From south of the West Salfar Peak all the way northeast to the waters of the Eastern Bight, there were virtually no people on the coastline. Even the pirates and fishers avoided most of them.

The Dead Coast's small bays and coves were too rough, rugged, and rocky for boat travel. The shoreline was mostly rocky cliffs. Some were only feet higher than the high tide. Others were hundreds of feet above the water.

Boats that ran into trouble there were never seen again. Hell, it didn't require trouble for boats to disappear there. Sometimes all it took was an unexpected easterly wind or an unexpected change in current to put a boat on the rocks.

That was the true reason the Dead Coast was named as such. Over the many, many generations of people sailing that stretch of water, hundreds or even thousands of boats had been lost there. The remains of some were occasionally found. Run upon the rocks. Or floating in the swells. But far more of them were simply never seen again, in whole or in part.

The one thing that did survive on the Dead Coast, specifically at Survival Bay, was the slave market. A handful of skilled sailors had learned to navigate the rocky bay. They used the small port at Survival Bay to collect and transfer slaves.

It was a good location for such illicit business. A brave, knowledgeable captain could bring his ship in and out of Survival Bay easy enough. The port city itself was surrounded by natural barriers: the sea to the east and swamps to the south, west, and north. The swamps were just as hard to navigate as the bay.

Just as there were captains who knew the bay, there were slavers who knew the swamps. They could easily transport their enslaved cargo by boat 50 kilometers to the swamp's northwest shoreline. From there, it was less than a 100 kilometer walk to the shoreline of the Long Sea.

The walk itself was easier than one might imagine. Here, between the Long Sea and the Survival Bay swamps, the land was relatively flat. It wasn't so to the west or east where the mountains made travel by foot difficult and by wagon or cart nearly impossible.

Rolph and Philip had considered ambushing the slavers on this path between the Long Sea and Survival Bay. But the odds were that the girls were being shipped out of the latter, not simply taken to the former. They needed to get to the small port before the girls could be sent off.

 

[MarieDavisRPs]

Map of the Known World -- OOC thread

Queen Luna's Castle
The City of Yalla
Republic of Yalla
At the Mouth of the Western Yall

The 3rd morning after the men left on their missions:

Luna took her place on the throne in the Great Hall, leading those in attendance to rise from their kneeling positions. She looked to right, asking, "Lady Stella, who comes before me to be heard?"

For three days, Luna had been holding Court, beginning with complaints and pleas from the Peasant Class, moving up to the Commoners Class, and now to the Merchant Class. Each session of Court had lasted four hours; any cases yet to be heard had been delegated to Advisors whom Luna trusted, while any cases yet to be settled were set aside for Luna's consideration over the days to come.

Stella had, of course, had been no more than Luna's Handmaiden from the time she was a child and -- from the time that Law allowed it -- her lover; she'd always been Luna's best friend, of course. Now, however, Stella was Lady Stella of Thrush, having been given title to the Thrush Estate located just a couple of miles to the east of the City of Yalla. As a landed Lady, she could now perform public duties for her Queen, which put her at Luna's side now.

"With My Queen's permission," Stella began, "We will begin with the case of Gillian of Southtown."

"Gillian of Southtown," Luna repeated with remembrance as Stelle gestured the young woman to come forward; with her in her arms was an infant and at each side -- grasping the fabric of her dress -- were a boy and girl who looked to be perhaps 5 and 4 respectively. Luna smiled, "Yes, Gillian. I remember you."

Luna looked to Stella again, nodding her to inform those waiting to either argue their own cases or simply listen in on the conduct of the Queen's business. Stella reminded one and all, "Gillian's husband joined the Standing Army to earn coin to support his family, My Queen ... but then, after sending only a handful of coins home, ceased supporting his wife and children in any form. Since then, Gillian has had to depend on relatives and friends and, after the birth of her most recent child, has resorted to alms from the church and begging on the street, My Queen."

"This is not what I like to hear of my soldiers," Luna said, leaning forward to look directly at Gillian and add, "And it is not the way a husband should treat his family." As the woman nodded and smiled, showing her agreement, Luna leaned back again and -- forgetting the specifics -- asked Stella, "And why are we hearing this case again now...? Did I not make a determination the last time Gillian was before us?"

"No, My Queen, you weren't able to do so," Stella explained. She looked to Gillian, gesturing her to continue the story.

"When I asked the Army if my husband was still alive or dead," she said, her voice filled with emotion, "I was told that he'd been killed in an accident, more than a year ago. But that wasn't true, Your Majesty. I saw my husband, just two Moons ago ... with his new wife and a child, My Queen."

Luna's expression hardened; she'd heard a great many hardship stories in Court, but this one really angered her. She looked to Stella again, who filled in, "You put your judgement aside to look for Gillian's husband, My Queen."

"And did we find him?" Luna asked.

Stella looked off to one side and gestured to the Warrior Elite Officer there. From an adjacent passageway, two Castle Guardsmen hauled in a man wearing a filthy Standing Army uniform and shackles. When Luna wrinkled up her nose at the scent wafting up to her, the more senior City Guardsman explained, "He attempted to flee through the stockyards, My Queen. We would have cleaned him up first--"

"No, that's fine, Sergeon," Luna said, referring to him by his rank.* "From what I have heard thus far, I don't believe he deserves a bath on our coin."

There was a roll of laughter through the crowd; even Luna smiled a bit at her humor. More movement caught her attention, and she sat back to watch two Officers from the Standing Army being escorted in by Luna's Warrior Elites; the pommels on the men's weapons belts were noticeably devoid of blades. Behind them, a woman carrying an infant appeared, followed by yet two more Warrior Elites.

"I presume you are Gillian's husband, soldier?" Luna asked unnecessarily. The man nodded, but when the Sergeon slapped the back of his head, he confirmed verbally. "Do you have an excuse for abandoning your wife and children, soldier."

The man didn't immediately answer, instead looking between his wives. Then, as if he thought it was going to help his case, he looked to his new wife -- who was so very much more beautiful and shapelier than he first one -- and said, "Look at her, My Queen. Wouldn't you abandon your wife for her?"

There was a combination of laughter and jeers from the crowd, all of which went silent as Luna glared disapprovingly at the crowd. To the man, she said, "How long were you married to your wife, soldier." Then, clarifying, she said, "Your first wife?"

To the first wife, Luna asked, "How many years combined are the ages of your children, Gillian?"

The woman looked to her children, did the math in her head, and answered, "Ten years, My Queen. Tamm is five, Flora is four, and my baby boy is almost a year."

(Part 2 coming)

 

[MarieDavisRPs]

(Part 2)

Luna contemplated, then said, "Soldier, are sentenced to ten years shackled labor on the Crown Farm." The Crown Farm was the organization that grew and harvested grains and more that fed the Army and, when there was a surplus, the Peasant Class. "You will wear a warning on your clothes for other men who might abandon their families as you have. You will also be branded on your chest and back as is appropriate for such a crime."

By the time Luna finished, the man was pleaded for mercy, something that ended with the Sergeon again cuffed him the back of the head. Luna looked to the second wife, asking, "Were you aware that this man had abandoned his family for you?"

"No, Your Majesty," the woman responded with a less than sincere voice.

"She did, too, Your Majesty," Gillian countered. "I told her, when I saw them in the marketplace. She slapped me." Gillian's eyes were filled with tears now as she added, "She slapped me, and then he told me that he would kill me if I ever--"

"That's a lie!" the husband cut in, only to again be slapped on the back of his head.

The second wife by now was sobbing, dropping to her knees to beg forgiveness. Luna looked to the two Standing Army Officers, asking Stella without looking to her, "And what about them?"

"These are the Standing Army Officers who told Gillian that her husband had been killed in an accident, My Queen," Stella explained.

They tried to tell their tale of not being responsible, but Luna wasn't buying it. She made a gesture, and the Warrior Elites guarding the men forced them to their knees. Luna contemplated the possible punishments, then looked to Gillian. "Do you love your children, m'lady."

"Oh, yes, My Queen, very much," the woman answered. The children clutched their mother's legs tightly, out of love, concern, or both.

"Could you learn to love another woman's child as much as you love your own?" Luna asked.

"My Queen...?" Gillian asked, unsure of what Luna meant. Then, with the realization suddenly striking her, she looked to the other woman and the child in her arms. She considered what she thought Luna was suggesting, then looked back and -- with her eyes again welling with tears -- said, "I could, My Queen. My only concern ... my worry--"

"Coin," Luna filled in. The woman nodded. "If I ensured you that your children would never go hungry ... that they would have a warm, dry home and clothes ... that they could wear to the Learning Center to learn to read and write and count ... could you love and care for four children?"

"No! Don't take my child!" the second wife was now pleading. "Please don't take my boy!"

Luna looked to her with a lack of sympathy. She chastised the woman for her part in what had happened to Gillian and her children. By the time she had finished -- with the woman sobbing uncontrollably and clutching at her child -- Luna figured she had made her point.

"I will take your child from you, woman," Luna said, pausing before she added, "But I will not take you from your child." She looked to Gillian again, saying, "Your husband's fourth child will be raised in your home. Its mother will serve you ... in your home ... in your garden ... wherever you need help ... Indentured for a period of ten years." Looking to the second wife again, Luna continued, "Your child will be raised knowing you as his mother ... so long as your service to Gillian is unflinching. Do you understand?"

The woman nodded enthusiastically, crying, "Yes, My Queen. Thank you. Thank you."

Luna looked back to Gillian, who -- knowing that the Queen was looking for her approval -- nodded and mouthed Thank you. Luna looked to the two Standing Army soldiers again, saying, "Each of you will be stripped of your ranks and any titles and properties, the latter of which will be turned over to the Crown for redistribution."

Luna could see the disappointment in their faces, but neither of them argued the ruling; they knew better than to do so. Luna continued, "You will each spend one year in Shackled Labor for each year that you have been in the Standing Army--"

"My Queen!" the most senior of the Officers cut in. She expected him to argue the sentence in its entirety, but instead he only gestured toward the other Officer and argued, "I have been in the Army for 10 years. He's only been in for 6 years. Why should I be punished more harshly?"

"Because you, sir, should know better," Luna argued, rising quickly from her throne to move closer to them. As she chastised the Officer about his corruption and dereliction of duty, she looked about herself to the other men of the Castle Guard, City Guard, Standing Army, and even her Warrior Elite. She finished with, "I expect every man and woman serving not me but the Republic ... to do his or her job just as they would expect those under them to perform them if they were Queen or King or Emperor."

The crowd responded with more cheers and applause. Luna looked to Stella, telling her to tend to the two women and their collective children; they were passed off to a Court Officer to deal with the details of the judgment. Once the offending men had been removed, Luna again looked to Stella, shared a happy smile about the case, and asked, "Who's next, Lady Stella."

(OOC: I was going to write more, but whoa, that went long, didn't it? Feel free to post more if you want for the men. I have to go shopping, so I won't post again for hours.)

 

[MarieDavisRPs]

Map of the Known World -- OOC thread

(OOC: Important note: Imogen's profile includes the succession information in more detail. All characters involved in interactive RP or sexual content are 18+ ... ALWAYS!)


Queen Luna's Castle
The City of Yalla

The 4th evening after the men left on their missions:

Luna stood atop a knoll watching a newly formed unit of the Castle Guard drilling on the field beneath her. The sound of hooves drew Luna's attention to the approaching Lady Imogen, accompanied by her protection detail, of course. As the first cousin twice removed of the Frenkish Emperor and potentially the Emperor's Heir, Imogen had not only her 6 man Bodyguard provided by her grandfather, the Baron of Nurva, but an additional 4 man Bodyguard from Luna's Warrior Elite.

"I'd like to speak to you about your future, Lady Imogen," Luna began once they were walking alone together. "That future was supposed to have included your marriage to my brother, Nellan, of course ... a future from which I believe we both have decided you were thankfully diverted. I've been speaking with my Archivists, Historians, and other Advisors about your path to sit upon the Frenkish Throne as Empress."

Imogen cut her off with a laugh, though, saying, "I'm sorry, Your Majesty. I intended no disrespect."

Luna gestured her to speak, saying, "Go on. Tell me what you were thinking, m'lady."

"Well, Emperor Dorian has no children and -- at his age, with his health issues -- isn't likely to birth a child before he passes," Imogen began, "This makes my grandfather, Baron Wornal -- who is the Emperor's eldest male cousin -- his Heir Apparent.

"However, if the Emperor was to perish and pass the Crown to my grandfather," Imogen continued, "it is my uncle, Duke Lorne of Tut, who would be next in line, not my father. Lorne is my grandfather's elder son; my father is Wornal's second son."

Luna didn't need any time to consider what Imogen was saying; she'd been studying the parchments documenting the Empire's line of succession from even before she'd claimed the Throne of Yalla and even before Imogen had arrived to prepare for the wedding that hadn't occurred.

"Your uncle, Duke Lorne of Tut, has no male children at this time, correct, m'lady?" Luna asked. Imogen confirmed, to which Luna continued, "So, if Lorne was to die unexpectedly before birthing a male heir...?"

Imogen was looking suspiciously at Luna now. "Then ... my father would become Baron Wornal's Heir Apparent."

"Correct!" Luna said happily, as if she'd given the other woman an arithmetic problem and received the correct answer. "And you would be in line for the Imperial Throne."

"No, no," Imogen corrected. "My brother is my father's Heir Apparent. He would be in line--"

Luna cut Imogen off with a blunt question: "Would you be terribly disappointed if your brother died, m'lady?"

Imogen stopped where she was; she was suddenly realizing that this wasn't just a thought exercise for the Queen. Luna continued on for a couple more steps before turning back to look at the younger woman. She repeated her question, "Would you be terribly disappointed if your brother died, Imogen?"

She paused to give the beautiful redhead a moment to consider the question, then -- with a more solemn tone -- said, "There are rumors as to why it is that you live with your grandfather, Baron Wornal, in the City of Nurva, and not with your father and brother in the City of Tut."

Luna paused again at the sight of Imogen's eyes beginning to glaze over. She stepped closer, taking the younger woman's upper arms into hers to pull her to her. It was the perfect timing for a sympathetic embrace as the girl began sobbing just then. Luna held Imogen to her for a long moment before the latter finally pulled back, wiping her eyes as she looked anywhere but into the Queen's eyes.

"I had sisters once upon a time," Imogen began, again telling Luna nothing she didn't already know. The next part was the rumor about which Luna had been speaking, something the Queen had believed was likely true, although she had no first hand knowledge of it. "My father ... he ... he used to visit my sisters ... at night ... in their bed chambers. They were--"

Another sob interrupted Imogen, but after a moment and another wiping of tears from her cheeks, she continued, "They were quite young. My sister, Cammaline, only escaped these visits when she died of the Blue Fever. She was 14 at the time of her death.

"My sister, Wanda, killed herself ... when she was 16," Imogen continued, "My father had been visiting her in her bed chamber as well. But it wasn't only him. My brother ... Bart ... my father's heir ... he was a year younger than Wanda, but he, too, began visiting her ... with my father's blessing."

Again, Imogen sobbed, wiped a tear, and -- now looking directly into Luna's eyes -- continued, "I was my father's youngest child. I ... I sensed that things were not as they should have been, but I'd been too young to truly understand. Wanda warned me before she killed herself ... but still ... I didn't understand.

"Then one night, my father came to my bed," Imogen continued, her tone shedding the sorrow and becoming slowly more angry, "And what he did ... what he attempted to do ... suddenly, I understood. I fought him off and ran ... and I haven't seen him or my brother since. People I trusted hid me. My grandfather learned of what had happened somehow, and--"

Imogen shrugged like a young child denying knowledge of something to which they didn't want to confess. "--he came for me ... and I have lived in his home in Nurva since."

Luna gave Imogen a moment to collect herself, then hit her with her blunt question again: "Would you be terribly disappointed if your brother died, m'lady?"

"Only if it wasn't I who got to kill him, My Queen," Imogen said with a firm tone.

Luna's lips spread in a smile. "Well, I do not think that that is going to be possible, m'lady. If you were to kill your brother personally, I would have to wonder whether or not you would be accepted as your father's Heir Apparent. The Baron's Council looks dimly on such things."

The Baron's Council was comprised of the Barons -- and a few special Nobles of lower rank -- who were vassals to the Frenkish Emperor. In the case that the succession to the Imperial Throne was ever questioned, it was the Council that would choose the next Emperor -- or Empress -- with the chosen person likely coming from their own ranks.

"You're seriously considering this, Your Highness?" Imogen asked, clarifying, "Having my brother killed to ensure that I am my father's Heir Apparent."

"Oh, more than that, m'lady," Luna said. "Much more than that."

The two of them turned at the sound of the practicing Guards calling out in unison, "Long live Queen Luna!" The Queen laughed, then waved her appreciation to the unit that had formed up perfectly. She pulled the sword that she more often than not carried when outside of the Castle Walls -- and even sometimes within them -- and held it up high above her. The unit performed a ritual salute that involved their own weapons, shields, and even stomping boots before they turned in unison and began marching off, accelerating into double time back to the barracks inside the walls.

With that all over, Imogen asked pointedly, "How much more than that ... if I can ask?"

"If your brother dies, you become your Heir Apparent to your father, Count Van of Lentfrenk," Luna recapped. "Then, if your uncle, Duke Lorne of Tut, dies, your father becomes Heir Apparent to Baron Wornal, who -- of course -- is Heir Apparent to the Emperor. Finally, if your father dies--"

"He doesn't have to die for me to be in line for the Imperial Throne, Your Majesty," Imogen cut in.

"If he births a son..." Luna corrected her. "Yes, I know; your mother died and your father has not remarried, but the reason he hasn't is that he has a son to follow him."

Imogen filled in, "But if Bart is killed--"

"Dies," Luna corrected. "Not killed. It is important that you have deniability in this affair. Your brother's death must appear to be an accident ... as must your uncle's ... and your father's."

"Accident," Imogen mused quietly, more to herself than to Luna. "Yes. I understand."

They walked in silence a long moment back in the direction of the horses and their respective protection details. Finally, Imogen asked pointedly, "What do you get out of this, Your Highness?"

Without hesitation, Luna answered, "I get an ally ... a powerful ally ... well placed to aid me in doing the things I want to do during my Reign." They walked a few more steps before Luna reminded the younger woman, "Yalla was once a large, powerful, wealthy Empire ... just as was the Frenkish Empire at one time. Both of our Realms were once much more than they are now. I believe that with the two of us on our respective Thrones--"

"Let's do this, Luna," Imogen said, correcting, "Your Highness."

Luna smiled, taking the girl's hand into hers and correcting the correction, "I'd like you to call me Luna, Imogen. You and I have something in common: we both once had sisters but do not anymore. I'd like to think of us as sisters as we embark upon this ... quest."

Imogen smiled, then moved close to the older, taller woman to slip her arm around her. She confirmed the feeling with, "Sisters."

 

[HumanBean]

Map of the Known World -- OOC thread

Queen Luna's Castle
The City of Yalla

Two days following the post above:

Morrow had sent word ahead of him that he would arrive today. His message has otherwise only read Success.

The leaders of the acts of piracy in and around Riverport has been killed. Their boats had been burned. Their warehouse of confiscated goods had been seized.

That had only been part of the mission, of course. The second part has been to reassure the people of Riverport that their futures were secure.

Morrow thought he'd done a good job of that, too. He'd distributed a large amount of coin to replace what the citizenry earned from the now disbanded pirate crews. He'd promised the people jobs rebuilding the fishing industry that had fallen apart a decade earlier, ultimately leading to the rise of piracy.

What had really pleased the people of Riverport was a promise that Morrow really had had no right to make: that Queen Luna would visit them inside a fortnight's time.

As Luna gestured him into the Drawing Room of her private quarters, he confessed to the vow he'd made. "Please forgive me, My Queen, if I went to far."

And then, there was Stella. Morrow had, of course, been hoping to see her sooner than later. He smiled happily at the sight of her. She was simply so perfect. The most beautiful woman in the--

And suddenly, Morrow recalled his encounter with Nina just before departing for the Mouth of the Y'all. The peasant virgin had offered herself to Morrow without hesitation.

And somehow, Morrow had resisted. Of course, he'd left her cottage and gone directly to a brothel But that didn't seem nearly the same as if he'd bedded Nina, claiming her virginity just days before claiming Stella's.

He went to his future wife, kissing her hand before saying, "I've missed you horribly, m'lady."

 

[MarieDavisRPs]

Map of the Known World -- OOC thread

Queen Luna's Castle
The City of Yalla

(I don't really have an image for the context below for Luna, so I just went with what you see below.)

Luna was becoming annoyed with the Lady's Maid who -- in Stella's absence -- was helping her dress for the arrival of Lord Morrow. Several times since releasing the girl from her obligation as Handmaiden, Luna had found herself wishing she hadn't, only to feel selfish and chastise herself for the thought.

"Let me show you," Stella's familiar voice sounded from the bed chamber's entrance.

Luna practically cried out in glee at the words of her best friend and lover, former or still was still undermined. She waggled one hand invitingly toward Stella while the other shooed the Lady's Maid away. The two women embraced in a tight, loving hug, after which Stella reminded her Queen that they'd seen each other less than a day and a half earlier.

"Doesn't matter," Luna responded. "It has still been too long."

She hadn't really thought of it until now, but since her teens had arrived, Luna hadn't gone without interaction with Stella -- first as a servant, then a friend, then a lover -- for more than 24 hours at a time even once. This was going to be hard for Luna, which led her to say with humor, "I've made a mistake letting you go. I've changed my mind. You must come back. I command it."

They laughed and talked like the lifelong friends they were as Stella helped Luna finish dressing. They'd only just finished when there was a knock on the Drawing Room door, followed shortly by the dismissed Lady's Maid reporting that Lord Morrow has arrived.

"I don't want him to see me yet," Stella said anxiously. Luna tasked the Lady's Maid with tending to Stella in the Bed Chamber while she herself went to greet Morrow in the other room.

They exchanged greetings, followed by Morrow giving a report on Riverport that was far more detailed than his previous message of Success.

Then he explained about committing her to an urgent visit to the Western Yalla River port town, apologizing, "Please forgive me, My Queen, if I went to far."

"You have, Lord Morrow," Luna responded with feigned disappointment, quickly followed by a smile and a more appreciative, "You did very well, Lord Morrow ... and I would love to visit the town and its people."

From where she was standing, Luna caught sight of her former Handmaiden first; her smile and glance casted beyond the man led Morrow to turn and discover Stella standing in the bed chamber's entrance.

Stella's smile was wide with delight as Morrow crossed the her, taking and kissing her hand before saying, "I've missed you horribly, m'lady."

"As I have you, m'lord," Stella returned.

The two simply stared into each other's eyes for a long moment before Luna's finally said, "For the sake of the Gods, kiss already. I'll be in my library, pouring warm drinks."

Luna headed for the adjacent room, stopping to peek back and find the pair in each other's arms, their mouths together, lips parted as -- presumably -- their tongues danced together. It made Luna smile with happiness for Stella while simultaneously feeling jealous; until Morrow's inclusion in her life as her assassin and black bag man, no one has ever kissed or held Stella like that except for Luna herself.

"I've missed you, m'lord," Stella repeated once her mouth left Morrow's. They kissed again before she told her future lover and -- as was planned -- husband-to-be, "Queen Luna has released me from my obligations ... as Handmaiden."

She assumed that Morrow understood what that meant, but after another passionate kiss, Stella spelled it out, saying, "I can sleep with you now, m'lord ... without violating my vows to the Queen."

 

[HumanBean]

Map of the Known World -- OOC thread

Queen Luna's Castle
The City of Yalla

"For the sake of the Gods," Luna said, "kiss already."

Morrow laughed at Luna's instructions. She told them she'd be in her library. He looked into Stella's eyes and said, "She's the Queen. We have to follow her commands.

He pressed his mouth to Stella's. It was a long, erotic kiss that caused his cock to harden quickly. The feel of her body against his and in his hands was simply too much. Morrow had had a lot of women in his life. Why did Stella affect him so much? He knew that part of it was her beauty. Part of it was her innocence, too.

"I've missed you, m'lord," she whispered to him. They kissed again before she told him, "Queen Luna has released me from my obligations ... as Handmaiden."

He knew what that meant even before she explained it: he could fuck her now. Morrow liked that idea very much. The embrace continued. He forced himself to end it, saying, "I need to speak to the Queen. But we'll get back to this soon."

Morrow told Stella he needed to speak to Luna privately. In the library, he continued with his report about Riverport. "I learned something interesting while speaking to some of Riverport's older residents, people who predated the rise of piracy. Most of the pirates had previously been fishermen.

"The fishing zones at the Mouths of the Western and Eastern Yall Rivers had once been the most productive in the Known World," he told her. "Then, larger boats from distant ports began fishing there. Boats from as far away as Lux in the west and Nurva in the east. They filled their holds with fish and took them home to feed their own peoples. The fisheries were fished out, essentially.

"Your brother, serving in your father's stead," Morrow continued, "did nothing to limit or stop these boats from fishing the waters that should have been fished by Yallan's first. When the fish ran out, the only option remaining for the fishermen was piracy."

He took a moment, then put it plain and simple: "These pirates didn't come from other lands to rob and pillage our people. They were our people."

Morrow suddenly realized what he'd said: our people. He'd never thought of himself as being a citizen of Yalla. He hadn't come from Yalla. Hell, he'd only been in the Republic for a month or so before he killed the king, got tossed into a dungeon by that King's son, and then got pulled out by that King's daughter to serve her.

 

[MarieDavisRPs]

Map of the Known World -- OOC thread

Queen Luna's Castle
The City of Yalla

"I need to speak to the Queen," Morrow told Stella. "But we'll get back to this soon."

She feigned disappointment and sadness, pouting out her bottom lip and tipping her head to one side. She whined, "Without me?"

They kissed again before Morrow headed for his meeting with the Queen. She called to him, "Don't be too long."

In the other room, Luna listened to Morrow's thoughts on Riverport. She wasn't entirely ignorant about the issue, of course; once upon a time, the City of Tiala had once received a boat full of fish from the Mouth of the Western Yall nearly every day and another one about half as often from the Eastern Yall. Those boats had ceased, leading to a rise in the fishing industry in the Inner Sea, namely in the Long Sea.

And she'd heard of the piracy taking place at the Mouth of the Western Yall, too; you don't run a large city in the Republic of Yalla without hearing about such things. But she'd never known it was such an issue until Morrow had uncovered it. And she certainly hadn't known that her brother had been taking money from the pirates in exchange for allowing them to work. She was relieved to hear that Morrow had dealt with the situation.

"I will travel to Riverport, three days hence, m'lord," Luna confirmed. "I'll take food ... coin ... advisors. I'll listen to the people there, and I will act accordingly. I'll need names, please ... people with whom you think I should speak."

They made plans for Morrow to provide Luna with a list as she walked to her desk and retrieved a rolled scroll; the wax seal on it had been broken -- the message had been addressed to her, after all -- and it was now held closed by a red ribbon. She handed it to Morrow, explaining, "This arrived this morning. It's from Lord Rolph. He reports that they have rescued some of the girls, and that they are on their way to Tiala ... for eventual return to their families."

Her expression soured a bit as she continued, "He reports that some of the girls had already been sold ... and..." She didn't feel that she needed to finish that statement; Morrow would know that she meant that they'd been defiled by the men who'd purchased them. "He hopes to rescue most of the girls before they, too, are sold into service and violated." She waggled a finger toward the scroll, saying there's more in there ... for you."

They spoke more on Rolph and Philip's mission before Luna playfully dismissed Morrow with a wave, saying, "Someone else wants to speak with you ... among other things, Lord Morrow." She nodded her head toward the Library's entrance, beyond which an impatient Stella was waiting. "Go, Lord Morrow. And ... thank you for what you have done. You will be rewarded."

 

[HumanBean]

Map of the Known World -- OOC thread

Queen Luna's Castle
The City of Yalla

Luna told Morrow that she would fulfill the promise that he'd made in her stead. She promised they would rebuild the port town's economy.

She then offered him a message that had come from Rolph and Philip. It was wonderful to read that the mission to the east was going well. Morrow was sympathetic to the girls who'd already been sold and/or violated.

"Can I presume, My Queen," Morrow asked, "that there will be some form of comfort afforded to the girls and their families?"

Morrow meant coin for their pain and loss, of course. But there were other compensations that could be provided as well. It was Luna's choice what was done for the girls, not Morrow's.

"He hopes to rescue most of the girls," Luna continued about Rolph in particular, adding, "before they, too, are sold into service and violated."

Morrow didn't respond to the Queen's hopeful thinking. He had provided Rolph with the names of a score of contacts to the east. They would assist Rolph and Philip by Morrow's instruction.

But Morrow didn't hold out much hope for most of the missing girls and young women. Too much time had passed since their abductions.

Some had been taken as recently as the very day that Philip had told Morrow and Rolph about the kidnapping scheme. But others had been missing for months.

They might be found. They might be rescued. But by that time, their innocence would have been lost. What would he really be bringing home to the families?

"There's more in there," Luna said about the message, "for you."

Morrow unrolled the scroll further. Another, smaller scroll fell into his hands. It was still sealed by wax and Rolph's seal.

He considered opening it now out of respect to the Queen. Instead, Morrow slipped it into an inside pocket of his tunic, saying, "Thank you, My Queen."

Luna indicated the less than inconspicuous espionage taking place by Stella.

"Someone else wants to speak with you ... among other things, Lord Morrow," Luna said suggestively.

Morrow smiled, a bit embarrassed. Thankfully he didn't blush like his young future lover did so often. He asked, "Do you have any more need for me this evening, My Queen?"

"Go, Lord Morrow," Luna told him. "And ... thank you for what you have done. You will be rewarded."

Morrow glanced toward Stella again, then back to Luna. Smirking, he said, "I think I already have been, My Queen. Thank you. I couldn't mean that any more."

He bowed, turned, and strode to Stella. Taking her hand and heading for the Drawing Room's exit he asked, "Your bed or mine."

Whichever Stella chose, Morrow was going to strip her bare and do things to, for, and with her that she'd never done before. At least, not with a man.

 

[MarieDavisRPs]

Map of the Known World -- OOC thread

Queen Luna's Castle
The City of Yalla

Luna:
"Can I presume, My Queen," Morrow asked Luna, "that there will be some form of comfort afforded to the girls and their families?"

"Yes, absolutely, m'lord," Luna answered. "They will be taken care of."

She contemplated the many things that she could do for the families. The simplest, of course, was easing their financial woes with coin. But that would do very little to relieve the shame that could befall families whose wives, daughters, granddaughters, and nieces had been sold and violated

The girls themselves had done nothing wrong, of course. But most civilized societies saw a woman's purity of body as a great value.

"I am sure that there will be some families that will want to relocate," Luna said. She didn't say the reason out loud, though; she knew that Morrow would understand. Instead she said, "There may be more and better opportunities for the families and the girls elsewhere, and getting far away from bad memories..." She looked to Morrow with a knowing expression, saying, "l will make those opportunities available to them."

They talked more about Rolph, Philip, and the mission before Morrow returned to Stella.

Stella:

Morrow took Stella's hand and turned her in haste toward the quarter's exit, asking, "Your bed or mine?"

"Mine is closer," Stella said, giggling, "But only a door separates it from My Queen's bedroom, so..."

They exited to the hall and hurried onward toward the quarters that had been made permanently available to Morrow. Stella was excited about what was ahead of her, as well as a bit nervous.

When they finally reached it and we alone together, the excitement remained ... but the nervousness deepened. But Stella wanted this so badly that she would let Morrow take the lead and follow him with great anticipation.

 

[HumanBean]

Map of the Known World -- OOC thread

Morrow's Quarters

Morrow closed the door behind him, his eyes set on Stella as he ogled her hungrily. He'd imagined this from the moment he'd set his eyes upon the Handmaiden two moons earlier. Even now, he couldn't believe it was happening.

He stepped closer. He took Stella into his arms for another passionate kiss. He pulled her tight to him, his raging hard-on pressing against her belly.

"I must have you, Stella," Morrow told her in a firm whisper.

He immediately began undressing her. He removed her cape, dropping it to the floor. He pulled the tie at the small of her back, loosening the fit of her dress around her waist. The whole time, he continued kissing her, his free hand grasping, even groping her.

Turning Stella away from him, Morrow quickly pulled free the bow fastening the string zigzagging down her back. He only loosened enough to get her dress off her shoulders and down her body. Her shift went with it.

Morrow had expected another later of undergarment. And yet suddenly, Stella said before him in nothing but her fashionable, knee-high boots.

He took a step back, marveling at her perfect ass, her narrow waist. He whispered, "Turn, m'lady. Let me see you. Please."

 

[MarieDavisRPs]

Map of the Known World -- OOC thread

Morrow's Quarters

"I must have you, Stella," Morrow told Stella in a firm whisper.

"Please," she practically begged back. "Please, m'lord." She immediately realized how she'd addressed him, and corrected, "Please, Morrow. I want you to have me."

Her heart pounded wildly as Morrow undressed her, his hands taking turns between pulling free her clothes and groping her breasts, buttocks, or other places of interest to him. When he turned her to untie her dress, a chill ran up her spine that almost made her gasp. She realized that she could see him in the mirror on the wall; she studied his face as he hurriedly unfastened her, the hunger obvious in his eyes.

And then suddenly, she was naked. Well, her boots were still on, but the remainder of her body was exposed to the room's coolness, causing gooseflesh to erupt seemingly everywhere. Stella crossed an arm over her bosom, hiding herself as best she could while her second hand reached downward to hide her crotch. In the mirror, she watched Morrow ogle her, his gaze falling, rising, and falling again.

"Turn, m'lady," he instructed. "Let me see you."

She smiled to him in the mirror, to which his gaze had finally risen to find her studying him. He did his own begging, adding, "Please."

Stella paused a moment, then -- before turning, slowly moved both hands to her sides; she gave Morrow a moment to view the reflection of her frontside before she slowly turned to reveal herself. She was, of course, Frenkishly groomed, her kinky curl bush of light brunette hair now absent; her outer labia were well displayed and even as she stood there before Morrow, just a hint of her inner labia and her pleasure button were offered as well.

She gave Morrow a moment to appreciate her womanly features -- her breasts were average sized but firm, with pert nipples hardened by the cool air and hot situation -- before asking softly and anxiously, "Am I what you were hoping for, m'lord?"