Here She Rules: The Chronicles of Erla: Book 1 (17 page)

Cassie would have died if she knew exactly what was being said. It
was
hearsay because her slaves would share nothing of their personal lives other than to express their overall contentment and happiness with their Mistress.
 

This response, however, only added fuel to the gossipy fire.
 

A slave brought her a cold glass of Mull and then smiled into her eyes in invitation. She mentally cataloged the slaves in the room and saw nothing to compare to her own splendid slaves, so she was content to drink the Mull, eat the delectable food, and chat with Nera. Then, an elderly female slave brought forth a gorgeous little girl with chocolate brown curls and big violet eyes . . . the Queen's daughter, Danai.
 

Cassie had seen her on several occasions, but this was the first time she’d had the chance to talk with her. The child was charming and was very much her mother’s daughter. She was bright, loquacious, outgoing, and the Lady Cassandra was her heroine.
 

She chattered on for nearly an hour until a male slave with the same rich brown hair entered and bowed to the Ladies, saying to Danai, “Come, my sweet. It is time you were in bed.”
 

The child pouted, kissed her mother, and then, to Cassie’s delight, kissed her on the cheek as well before leaving with the man who was so obviously her father.

“I believe I told you before she would adore you; you are her idol,” Nera said, smiling.

“No. I think she likes me very much, but
you
are her idol. Do you not see how she mimics your movements and expressions? It’s too precious! She has your beautiful face and her father’s hair.” Nera looked up at this in question.

“You knew he was her father?” Nera asked.

“Yes, I could see a bit of him in her too, and she seems extremely fond of him,” Cassie replied.

Nera smiled ruefully. “He has always been one of my favorites. I am sure you will understand when I say that one must not favor one slave much over the others—if only to keep one’s house peaceful—but I do love him dearly.”

“I understand, Nera. I have tried to be equitable and not show much favoritism, but there are some of mine to whom I am drawn more intensely than the others. I do not mean to imply that any of them are not special to me of course. As an example, I am just coming to know Garen,” Cassie said.

“You will find that feelings will change a bit, but usually there is a special one or two that you will care a bit more for.”

Cassie thought a moment of how her flesh zinged when Mika and Taylyn touched her. Then, there was her sweet Aidan. They made her life so easy, so beautiful. She truly adored them all, but those three . . . She was forced to admit to herself that they
were
special to her. Now, she had Garen; he exuded raw sexuality, and she didn’t know how long she could keep herself from him.
 

Cassie grinned.

“You’re thinking of them now, are you not?” Nera queried with a smile.

“Yes, I am,” Cassie replied. “I astonish myself with how quickly I have left behind my old life and embraced this one.”

“I am so happy that you are content here, Cassie; I can no longer imagine my country without you.” Nera took Cassie’s hand and squeezed it, and Cassie squeezed back.
 

“I am truly happy here, Nera. I don’t think I would go back now even if I had the chance.” Cassie surprised herself with this.

“That is good because I have absolutely no intention of relinquishing you!” The women embraced, and Cassie rose, saying she would get up early and start working on the display for the Serlenn visitors.
 

“Yes. I wish for them to be completely in awe of our prowess,” Nera said, kissing Cassie on the cheek as the women said goodnight and each sought her own bed.

After a grueling week of extra training, Cassie felt confident in the display of fighting skills her warriors would put on for the delegation.

As Commander, Cassie would be showcased, and she and Kara had worked hard on their individual parts in which they would fight one another.
 

Cassie had no ego to stroke, so she was willing to allow Kara the victory, but Kara convinced her that, as Commander, she should be victorious. Kara privately believed Cassie to have the superior fighting skills, and Cassie was flattered by the respect her friend showed her.

Nearly a week to the day had passed when the second messenger arrived bearing a notice that the delegation from Serlenn would arrive in two days’ time. The Palace slaves were instantly in an uproar, beginning the process of making sure every inch of the marble sparkled and that there was not a speck of dirt to be found.
 

Rooms had to be prepared, food ordered, and slaves assigned to every imaginable task. Even Nera herself was showing signs of nervous energy upon receiving the message, while Cassie felt surprisingly calm. After all, this wouldn’t be her first encounter with chauvinistic men.

After the Serlenn messenger had ridden off, she excused herself from Nera and headed to her chambers. Stripping off her clothes, she headed straight to the bathing room to remove the training field grime from her body.
 

Garen silently appeared behind her, picking up each garment she tossed aside, and sensing him, she turned a bit and asked him to bring her some clean clothes.
 

She could hear the sound of her other slaves voices waft in from the terrace as she closed the door to the bathing room. Not bothering to wait for a bath, she used the waterfall and scrubbed herself clean. As she toweled off, Garen entered with her clean clothes. Having chosen her a suit of clothes in forest green, he helped her to dress. She was fastening the snug vest over her breasts when she looked up into his electric blue eyes.

Her stomach fluttered at the desire she found there . . . when his lips parted and he softly ran his tongue over them, Cassie found herself sighing gently; he was so damn sexy.
 

Her hands reached out to caress his shoulders and chest, thumbnails grazing his tight nipples.
 

Garen caught his breath and slowly wound his arm around her back, holding her softly as Cassie eased closer to him to take in the smell of his skin, delighting in him. She released his long hair and buried her fingers in it. He nuzzled his face in her neck and breathed, “Mistress, you are so beautiful. I want you so much, and I beg that you would make me yours fully.” Chills shot up and down her spine at his hoarse, raspy growl.
 

Cassie met those eyes again and felt her knees melt as she clung to him. Garen held her up and lowered his mouth to hers—testing, tasting, and running his tongue around her lips. Fire raged in Cassie’s belly as she pushed away from him, taking his hand and heading for her bed.
 

They quickly shed their garments, and Cassie enjoyed the incredible pleasure of Garen’s flesh pressed against hers. They kissed and kissed, deeply and hungrily. Their hands were everywhere. He slowly laid her down on the bed, and his hair created a cloak around them as he then let his mouth explore every inch of her, and she, in turn, explored him.
 

When their bodies at last joined, Cassie was incoherent with desire.

Garen threw his head back, and the muscles in his neck corded as he plunged deeply into her. Cassie met him thrust for thrust as passion burned between them.
 

There was no fear or hesitancy in Garen as his body performed as it had been trained to do, but his heart and mind were full of his Mistress and the joy of her ownership of him. The last vestiges of the brutal treatment by his Trevian captors faded away in the face of his Lady’s pleasure.

XIII

The following day, Cassie put her troops through their paces and had each warrior practice her part of the exhibition over and over. She did not intend to look foolish before the visitors; she wanted her warriors to look as good as she knew they were. Before dismissing them, she went over a few grooming tips and then asked them to shine their swords, shields, and other gear. Kara also made some suggestions, which were quickly accepted by the gathered women. They were expected to be on their best behavior in the face of what could be very bad behavior by the foreign men.
 

Instead of being tired after the long training session, Cassie was energized and had the groom saddle up her stallion.

“Care for a ride, Kara?” she asked.

“Count me in!” she replied before shouting for her horse.
 

The grooms ran quickly to do their bidding, and they soon returned leading both animals.
 

The women grabbed the reigns and leapt onto the horse’s backs. They spurred the horses into a gallop and rode like naughty children through the marketplace, scattering people and animals in their wake. The townspeople stared in awe after the beautiful, powerful women. Such a sight as this was rare—two strong warriors playing like little girls.
 

Cassie and Kara cleared the village and raced through the fields, having a care not to damage the crops. The wind whipped their hair out of their respective bindings, and it flowed behind them on the breeze. They laughed at each other and raced through the forest . . . unmindful of the eyes which followed their progress.
 

The three advance riders of the Serlenn delegation watched in awe at the beauty which flew by them. The men wore dappled green hoods on their heads, camouflaging them from the women’s eyes, and after they had gone, the men looked at each other and smiled.
 

Perhaps aligning themselves with Erla would yield many interesting benefits.
 

Cassie and Kara rode till their mounts were winded and they themselves were tired. Only then did the women slow their horses to a walk and head back towards the Palace.
 

Kara looked over and said mischievously, “How is that pretty new slave of yours? Have you taken him yet?”

“Mmm . . . Yes, I have, and he was splendid. He is working on becoming one of my favorites,” Cassie replied with a laugh. “And your new slaves?”

“Alas, I hadn’t the room for them, so I sold them, and for a pretty penny at that.”

“And you didn’t buy me a present?” Cassie mocked, and Kara laughed in return.

“I did, and I placed it next to the gift you got for me!” The women laughed again as they headed slowly through the fields, allowing the horses to recover with a slow walk.

“Kara, have you ever thought about having a baby? A daughter to carry on your line?”
 

Kara nodded and said, “Yes, but I wish to wait for a while. I would have to train lightly through most of the pregnancy, and I wouldn’t get to play ‘war’ with you. What about you Cassie? Would you like a house full of little Commanders?” Kara laughed.

Cassie’s face grew still, and she looked away. Kara’s smiled faded as she looked at her friend in concern.
 

“What is it? Was something I said amiss?” Kara asked.

“No. No, my friend,” Cassie said. “It is just that I am not able to have children.”

“How can that be? You are young, healthy, and strong. Who told you this?”

“In the other world, I had a husband, and we tried for a long time to have children. Medicine is more advanced there, and they discovered my ovaries are not viable. I menstruate like normal women, but there is nothing in me to fertilize . . . I’ve told only Nera until now. It’s not something I talk about much. I have always wanted children. . .”

“I can scarcely believe it. Oh, Cassandra, I am so sorry!” Kara was distraught for her friend’s loss, and she reached over to pat her arm.

“It’s okay, Kara. I have had a long time to deal with this, and I am at peace with the situation,” Cassie replied as she smiled at her friend.
 

She had learned this when she was twenty three and had been devastated. She and Michael had applied to adopt a child before he died, and afterwards, she couldn’t bring herself to do it alone. In retrospect, she was glad; it would have been horrible to have had to leave a child behind.
 

Cassie met Kara’s sad eyes and said, “Cheer up! You will have me as a doting aunt to the houseful of little warriors you will bear!” Kara summoned a smile and leaned over again to squeeze Cassie’s hand.
 

“They will indeed be fortunate to have us,” Kara said.
 

The horses had recovered, so they kicked them into a canter and headed back to the stables. The women parted ways with a quick hug as each headed home to a relaxing bath and the pampering of their slaves.

Early the following morning, Cassie stood before her mirror adjusting the breastplate of her new “Xena-style” outfit, which fit her like a second skin. Dark brown and accented with gold, it was still somehow comfortable even though the leather was thick. It helped that the leather shorts underneath were buttery soft and supple.
 

Arn knelt before her, lacing up the knee-high moccasin-style boots which completed her uniform.