Thread: The Queen's Harem! ...er...I mean...Retinue! (Javorcek X SomethingEsoteric)

Astor, why dont you go tell your girls you will all be allowed to stay here tonight? Danika put on her best hostess face and tried to shoo the slaver away and out of earshot. Good God, she had already said that she was going to pay for Faith! He didnt need to poke, prod, and fuss over the pretty blonde any longer. Perhaps he was just afraid the Queen would find some fault and change her mind before gold reached his fingertips. Though, at the prospect of food and shelter, he seemed rather glad for the show of hospitality and rushed over to his merchandise to tell them the good news theyd have a night of pampering before returning to their route. There! Much better, now there werent any mother hen slavers over their shoulders Cheer up Faith, smile. I promise living here is not so bad. And catering to me is not the worst fate you could have. Danika spoke kindly to her newest purchase in an attempt to lighten up the darkened mood that haggling usually caused. As glum and as proper as the girl appeared, the Queen was fairly certain that her intuition was right in choosing Faith to fill the empty spot in her harem. She certainly had never owned a girl with any sort of remarkable pedigree perhaps a civil lady would help bring some balance to her retinue and keep the matron from growing grey. Though, if you do find it awful, you only have to serve for one year in my Retinue. On this day, next year, you will be asked if you wish to stay or go. And if you go, you will be paid for your services and let loose with my blessing. See? Dani wasnt a terrible person. She just liked sex-lots- of sex. And while a normal human being might just go get married to a person who had a comparable libido, Dani had had the hardest time finding a girl that could hold her attention for more than a month or so. So! She had just come up with the solution to keep more than one girl around. Brilliant solution! Yes? Of course it was a brilliant solution! She was the queen! And so she kept twelve girls, all of them with some trait unique to themselves. And while she did have her three favorites, even they seemed to struggle to keep her attention at times. Hmm the only one who had really- ever given her heart a run had been Clarissaso of course Dani had promoted her to the head of her harem in an attempt to put a more professional barrier between them. Almost like the one that the queen kept with the captain of her guard. Although she found Alvera quite handsome, even a complete and utter lecher like Dani knew that lines had to be drawn somewhere. And now she rarely called upon the matrons personal services anymore. Hum... even less now that every time she did, it made Alvera mope about the castle as though someone had poisoned her warhorse. What funny people her friends were. Wouldnt it be much simpler if they took a more carefree approach as she did and slept away the problem of loneliness? --- This was foolish, why did she have to go fetch Clarissa? Now the queen was all alone in a room with a slaver a bunch of strange women!! The realization that she had left her charge alone hit Alvera about halfway down the hallway and she turned about, biting her lower lip in indecision. What if Dani was too distracted by a room full of beautiful women to pay attention to the large Slavic man? What if he kidnapped her? Ransomed her off? What if the girls werent slaves at all, but actually assassins?! Damnit!!!! Alvera began pacing back and forth in the small stretch of hallway she occupied, torn between obeying a command and protecting the woman she had been sworn to watch over. Wellall things considered, the Queen had given her a command and the captain supposed that she should obey it. Besidesthe Queen knew how to wield the ornate sword she kept at her sideso it wasnt as if she was totally- defenseless. So with another, more frustrated sigh, Alvera continued down the hallway in her search for the matron of the retinue. The Queens high libido always puzzled Alvera. Twelve girls? Was that really necessary? Wouldnt it just be safer to take a wife? Judging by how all the girls fawned over and clamored for the Queens attention, Alvera couldnt understand why she didnt just marry one of them each girl seemed willing enough. Or if Dani was worried about appearances, perhaps a princess from one of the neighboring kingdoms would be better suited than a slave girl? That was how it workedright? Nobles married for the sake of alliances? Not for love? All these thoughts of Danis love life of course made Alveras mind wander until it rested upon her own relationships. Er- ahor lack there of. Love was so confusing full of madness, jealousy and complex rituals. Why would anyone subject themselves to such things? The prospect of finding someone to be at your side forever was not a strange idea to Alvera. She fully expected to be glued to Danis hip until the Queen passed away or she could no longer lift her own sword. Just the ideas of courtship, romance and marriage were. While they all seemed like fine notions, she had no idea how they -really- worked. And wasnt that all time consuming? How does anyone have hours left in the day to do their job and- keep a spouse? So she tried to imagine, to think of what would happen if someone else was thrown into the picture that as of now, only included her Queen and her career. Did she have time to split between her duties and a personal life? Hmmphno. No time for love, she had protecting to do. And this was what Alvera did dove head first into her job, her duty, her routine so that she didnt notice how lonely her heart truly was. Before she knew it, the Captain found herself marching down the long hallway towards the wing where the Retinue was housed. She hated this part of the Keep, sometimes the girls were out of control which was what appeared to be the case because she could hear their shouting from all the way down here. Wellat least they werent chasing one another down the hallways wearing next to nothing while screaming profanities and death threats. Ughthat week that Danika had allowed Clarissa some vacation time had been absolutely horrendous as poorly as their jealousy made them behave, the girls were about fifty times worse without their matron was not around to talk some sense into them. Shouting caused her brisk pace to slow down into a hesitant trot. She knew that voiceit belonged to Clarissa. Perhaps she should just turn back around? Go hide somewhere until Clare was finished giving the girls a tongue-lashing? Or maybe just leave a note somewhere.... As the guard was contemplating her next move, the matron had apparently sensed her presence and now turned around. Damnit, shes spotted me! Alvera stood up a bit taller, as though ready for inspection. Inspection?! She- was the one that did inspections!! But something about greeting the Matron made her stand tall with her back stiff as a board, as though she were waiting to be judged. Why does she look at me so? The young Captain wondered as Clares beguiling eyes fell upon her, making her heart race and her uniform feel uncomfortably hot. Those blue eyes that were usually so cool and calm like frozen water appeared to rise in temperature until they appeared as though they belonged to the hottest part of a flame. Godhow she hated this part of the Keepshe always felt so out of place amongst all these delicate women. Oh erI didnt mean to umintrude. Alvera said in a quiet voice as she fiddled with the hilt of her sword, just for something for her hands to do. Ahyes. The Queen has chosen a new girl, Maam. Er- M-miss Clarissa. She wants you to come collect the girl. Just shove both boots into your mouth why dont you! While mentally kicking herself for being as articulate as a bumbling idiot, she bowed her head slightly to signal she was ready to follow the Matron back towards the throne room. Once Clarissa began to move, Alvera took up post behind her, trailing slightly off of her right flank just as she did when she was with Dani. Even though she was not assigned to protect Clarrisa, whenever she was to escort the matron somewhere, Alvera just fell into the position of shadow. Youre very good with the girls, Miss Clarissa. They are lucky to have you to guide them. Alvera complimented after awhile, only because the walk back to the throne room was quite long to be doing so in complete silence.