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Subject: {ASSM} The Overlords' Gambit 12/36 (MF Mf Ff ff Mdom Fdom toys bd rom magic oral rough spank)
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Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2007 10:10:02 -0400
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<1st attachment, "Chapter12.txt" begin>

WARNING: This is a work of erotic fiction. It contains depictions of
nudity and graphic sex.

Author: A Strange Geek
Title: The Overlords' Gambit
Universe: Narlass Chronicles
Summary: Amanda is again pulled into events that grow beyond what she
ever imagined as the Overlords plot against the Emperor, for the
changes in Oceanus will bring changes for herself as well.

Part: 12 of 36
Keywords: MF, Mf, Ff, ff, Mdom, Fdom, toys, bd, rom, magic, oral,
rough, spank

Copyright A Strange Geek, 2007

Feedback welcome! Please email me at astraYOURngegeek@comMINDcast.net
( lose YOUR MIND to email me )

Or to send anonymous feedback, use the form at bottom of HTML version:

http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/A_Strange_Geek/www/novels/Gambit/Chapter12.html



---------------

The water surged against the large rocks below, sea mist rising from
the breaking waves and making the foundations of Duric's palace glisten
in the bright morning sunlight. High up from the water's edge, where
the sound was muted to a gentle roar, Duric stood at the ornate metal
railing that rimmed the wide patio. The patio traced a path around the
curve that was the outer wall of his suite, where it lay near the back
of his palace.

Duric was a lover of the outdoors, and being sequestered in the palace
as the Keyas Province governor was not always to his liking. Having the
Governor's Suite moved from the dank innards of the castle to the outer
rim facing the ocean had improved his spirits admirably when he had
first taken the position.

As seagulls gathered near the water's edge, squawking as they jockeyed
for position and territory, the flustered form of Farro came around the
bend of the palace tower at a hastening pace. By the time he stopped
next to his Lord, he was slightly out of breath.

Duric paused, a small smile creasing his face as he looked out over the
vast expanse of ocean. He finally turned his head and raised an
inquisitive eyebrow.

Farro's hand shot up, displaying a parchment that flapped as the ocean
breeze tried to snatch it away, his eyes betraying an incredulous look.

"Yes?" said Duric innocently.

"This cannot be from you." Farro finally sputtered after several false
starts, brandishing the parchment. "You could not have possibly penned
this."

Duric's smile turned sardonic as he took the parchment from his
adviser. The wind blew it back at him, forcing him to use two hands to
hold it stretched flat. His eyes gazed at the black, cursive ink. "If I
didn't write it, we should hire the person that did," he said with a
small grin. "For the man can almost read my mind."

"This is not funny," Farro declared, snatching the parchment back from
Duric.

Duric's grin faded. "Things like this never are, Farro."

"Do the other Nobles know you are doing this?"

"Not yet. They will, however."

"When it is too late to ... to stop you, you mean." At the last moment,
Farro had changed what he had really wanted to say, which was "to talk
some sense into you." Already he was skirting what would have been a
thin line with any other Lord. He felt he was pushing the boundaries of
what ought to be acceptable behavior from an adviser.

Duric turned away from the ocean and leaned against the railing,
folding his arms. "The idea, Farro, is not so much to keep secrets from
the other Nobles as it is to keep it from the Emperor. The fewer people
that know, the less likely that the Emperor will find out."

"You are talking of treason to the throne!" Farro cried. "Civil war!"

"Treason? Maybe. If you go by a traditional definition of it. Civil
war? This is to prevent one, not start one."

"Traditional definition? Why should there be any other definition?"
Farro demanded, his voice cracking in his exasperation.

"Because, dear Farro, what is an Emperor supposed to do?"

Farro blinked. "Huh?"

"The Emperor is supposed to look after the nation. He is supposed to
act in its best interest. He is attempting to involve us in a war
against a virtually unarmed people citing some vague threat to Oceanus'
security. That does not sound like an Emperor who is doing his job."

"But to raise arms against him? Why are you even doing this when the
Overlords ..." Farro trailed off and stared. "Did it fail?"

"It failed."

"Impossible!"

Duric raised a single eyebrow.

"History, my Lord! When the Overlords have initiated a coup in the
past, they have always succeeded! Why fail now?"

"Hmm. Why, indeed! I suggest that alone may be cause for alarm."

Farro paused a long moment and then sighed deeply. He turned and took a
few steps away from his Lord. When he realized that could be seen as
insulting, he quickly whirled back around to face Duric, but the Noble
did not seem put out by this momentary breach of etiquette.

Farro lifted the parchment. "I'm still not sure we can do this."

"You don't believe we can find enough able-bodied men?"

"Oh, we have that in abundance. Now ask me if I believe we have any
that will go for this in the first place. Unless you intend to resort
to conscription."

Duric shook his head. "Only as a last resort. I want men who are
willing to go to battle first, not ones that have been drafted into
it."

"Then I return to my original statement. Once you tell them what you
want an army for, they're not going to agree to this. And you can
forget about keeping it secret."

Duric considered this. "Then I guess you have your work cut out for
you."

Farro stared, a stricken look on his face. "Pardon, my Lord?"

"I need you to find a way to rally them around my banner, Farro. Or
rather the banner of myself and Roquan D'ronstaq."

Farro's eyes opened even wider, and he took a half-step back. "I'm sure
I heard that wrong."

Duric shook his head. "Farro, that is how bad things are right now.
Make no mistake about this. Z'haas cannot be tolerated on the throne
any longer. He will be deposed, period."

"This is unprecedented. There's never been a case of an Emperor removed
by force!"

Duric managed a small smile. "Then I suppose we'll be making history."

Farro sighed and shook his head. "This is not the kind of history I
wanted to be known for." He paused and took a deep breath. "Well ... no
point in arguing this any further, is there? Not once your mind is made
up."

"I want /your/ mind to be made up about it as well," said Duric
adamantly.

Farro hesitated but slowly nodded. "I should have realized this was
coming. After everything that's been happening. And the terrible
killings at the Imperium ..."

"I thought you had not heard that the coup had failed."

"I had heard about the executions," Farro said in a hollow voice. "I
had simply held out the vain and foolish hope that I had heard wrong,
or that they were somehow not related to the coup. Great gods, it is
one thing to crack down on a conspiracy, but to deny the basic right to
trial and pass summary judgment ...!"

"Exactly."

Farro looked over the parchment again. "My Lord, as much as I want to
help, I don't see how you're going to get this past the Emperor. I
don't see how you're going to be able to approach the Imperium with
anything larger than an regiment without being spotted and intercepted
before you even come within sight of the Imperial Palace. Or ..."

He paused and stared in astonishment at something near the end of the
missive.

"/Or do it all in one moon's time!/"

Duric clasped a hand on Farro's shoulder. "That's why I need you. You
have a tendency to think unconventionally at times. I need you to find
a way to do it."

Farro shook his head again. "That's a tall order even in the best of
times, my Lord. Do you think the Emperor is intending to move that
quickly?"

"I am working under the assumption that he has been building an army
for awhile now and revealed his plans only recently."

"If he has that much of a head start on us, I daresay this may be a
fool's errand. We may be money ahead to come up with a diplomatic
solution. This Caucus for instance ..."

"... will be a colossal waste of time," said Duric. "Except for the
fact that it gives me a chance to secretly inform the other Nobles of
my intentions if I so desire it. And it gives me someone to place
inside the Imperium at a crucial moment."

Farro gave Duric an odd look. "Crucial moment?"

"I need to know exactly when Z'haas' troops will leave the Imperium, as
that will be the time to strike. Janna will provide me that
information."

Farro looked aghast. "Great gods, you're going to use her as a spy??"

"Do I have any other choice in the matter?"

"If the Emperor discovers her ...!"

"I am aware of that," Duric snapped, his voice growing cross for the
first time with Farro. "And she is as well."

The latter statement was not spoken with nearly as much conviction as
the former, but Farro did not pick up on this. Instead, he said, "But
he may not launch his army when Janna is still there. He may send them
sooner. Or wait until the Lords have left."

Duric shook his head. "Emperor Z'haas strikes me as someone who wants
to set an example. That is why he acted as he did against the coup
conspirators. He wanted to send a message that he was in control and
that he could do as he pleased. He may not have wanted the Caucus, but
now that he has it thrust upon him, he is going to take advantage of
it. He is going to launch his army in full view of the Nobility."

"That is insane."

Duric smiled humorlessly. "Now you get it."

Farro swallowed. He had been in denial about it, but no longer. It was
a frightening thought that the man that controlled the most powerful
nation in Narlass was mentally unbalanced.

A realization came to him, and he gave Duric a horrified look.

Duric furrowed his brow. "What is the matter, Farro?"

"It ... it can't be done!" Farro cried. "What you want of me ... it
simply can't be done!"

"I already told you, I need you to think unconventionally and ..."

"Blast all that! I thought you had wanted an army ready to march in a
moon. Now you tell me you want an army /at the gates of the Imperial
City/ in a single moon!"

There was a long pause before Duric finally answered, "Yes."

Farro threw up his hands in exasperation, nearly losing the parchment
in the process.

"You have to make it work," said Duric. "Find a way. We have no other
choice."

Farro considered for a long moment before turning back to his Lord with
a brooding look in his eyes. "It will take a moon just to form an army
and get it into a remotely cohesive state. And even then it won't have
staying power. You want an army, but about the only thing I can give
you is something short of a single legion."

"It doesn't need staying power, and it doesn't need to be impressive in
terms of size. I'm not looking for a siege. I'm looking for a surgical
strike. In and out. In by dawn and out by dusk with an interim Emperor
on the throne."

"Fine. I can give you that. Somehow. But there is still the problem of
getting the army there. That ..." He paused. "Wait. We are allied with
the Overlords?"

"Yes, I stated that."

"All of them, not just Roquan?"

Duric hesitated a moment before answering. "I am assuming so. I can
check with Roquan to make sure this is indeed the case. Do you have an
idea?"

"Perhaps. I'm not sure. I don't know all the details of how the
Overlord Manors work, but I may have something." He looked up. "With
your leave, I wish to get started on this task. The sooner I get to it,
the sooner we'll know if we will fail miserably at it."

Duric smirked. "That's what I like to hear, Farro. A positive
attitude."

Farro just shook his head and turned away, heading back the way he had
come.

Duric watched his adviser leave and allowed himself a small heartfelt
sigh when the man was out of earshot. He did not like having to dump
this on Farro. Yet Farro always came through for him no matter how
impossible the task sounded. And to be honest, the man always made a
fuss like this when given something huge. It was his job to make sure
his Lord really considered this a wise course of action.

Sometimes Duric could be persuaded to adjust his demands. There was
simply no room for that here.

Duric walked a little further along the patio and headed back into his
suite through a pair of wide glass doors, placing him inside the
suite's elegant morning sun room. The frosted glass of the doors
diffused the light into milky radiance that gave the chamber a soft
glow against its muted earth tones.

Duric heard a familiar panting moan as he turned from the doors. He
followed the sound through an open, gilded door that led to one of the
smaller rooms off from the sun room, which guests would use for private
conversations during a large gathering. Or for more intimate reasons.

When he stepped into the room, he discovered that it was more the
latter this time.

Janna was seated on the plush sofa that lay against the opposite wall.
She looked up at Duric's approach, giving him a small smile as one hand
gently stroked Tanyee's hair. Her dress was open, her bosom bared to
the young slave. Tanyee was slowly and sensuously sliding her tongue in
and around one of Janna's nipples, her hands gently fondling both
breasts.

"Mmm, very good, Tanyee," Janna said in a sultry voice. "Very nice.
Keep that up, and I may let you cum."

Duric tilted his head as he saw that Tanyee was quivering constantly,
her hips writhing back and forth. Her breathing was also rather
labored, almost desperate. Yet both of Janna's hands were within view.

Janna smirked. "Yes?"

Duric raised an eyebrow. "My dear, are you torturing my poor slave with
one of your little toys?" he asked in a tone of mock-reproach.

"Oh, now, would I do something like that?" Janna said, blinking in
mock-innocence. At the same time, she gave Duric a sly smile. She
reached between Tanyee's thighs and ran a single finger over the
smooth, black material that had been fitted snugly over the slave's
pussy. Tanyee shuddered and moaned, the magical material stroking her
faster but continuing to prevent final release.

"You are incorrigible," Duric said with a small laugh.

"Besides, all Tanyee has to do is please me if she wants to cum, that's
all. And she seems very good at that."

Tanyee moaned softly again and shifted her mouth to the other breast.
Janna lightly pressed her hand into the back of Tanyee's head. Tanyee
closed her lips around Janna's erect nipple and drew it into her mouth,
sucking lightly and licking at it with her tongue.

"Mmm, very nice ..." Janna murmured.

"Will you be too distracted to talk, my dear?" Duric said with a grin
as he leaned against the door frame, folding his arms.

"Is there that much to talk about? I trust you have spoken with Farro."

"Just now. He's not very happy with me."

"I can imagine. You're asking the impossible of him."

"And do you consider your role impossible, Janna?" Duric asked, his
tone serious. "Because I need to know now if you do."

Janna appeared to consider for a moment, though at the same time her
breathing grew a bit more labored, so it was more likely increasing
sexual excitement that made her pause. Her legs parted to relieve the
growing pressure in her own sex. "Not impossible," she finally replied,
letting a hand play slowly down Tanyee's side. "Dangerous, perhaps."

"I know. I don't like asking you to do this."

Janna shrugged as she slid her hand around to Tanyee's rear and
squeezed one of the slave's ass cheeks. "There isn't much choice now,
is there?"

"How far are you willing to go with him, Janna?"

Janna looked up. "From the tone of your voice, I don't think you're
referring to his bed chamber, now are you?" She drew Tanyee closer to
her, urging the slave to suck more deeply on her breast. "I'll do
whatever you need me to do, Duric, it's as simple as that."

"Even outright deceive him?"

Janna appeared to pause in her movements for a moment. When she
resumed, she did not answer right away. Instead she lay her hand across
one of Tanyee's and gently guided it between her legs. Tanyee slid her
hand under Janna's dress and undergarment, fingers sinking into Janna's
steamy sex. Janna closed her eyes briefly and drew in her breath
sharply. She held it for a second and let it go with her next words.
"Oh, now, 'deceive' is such a harsh word ... I prefer to call it 'being
creative with the facts' ..."

"I'm serious, Janna."

Janna moaned softly as Tanyee started slowly stroking her. "Mmm ...
you're /such/ a wet blanket, Duric ..."

Duric shook his head. "Janna, just come see me when you're done." He
turned and left without another word.

Janna watched him curiously as he left. It was unlike him to be that
serious about anything. Was he truly worried that something bad was
going to befall her?

Janna was too excited to tell Tanyee to stop. She nudged Tanyee's head
from her breast and made a single, silent gesture. Without hesitation,
even as her pussy ached with the desperate need for relief, she
crouched before her Mistress. Janna opened her dress to give Tanyee
more access. Tanyee leaned forward and tugged the undergarment to the
side to expose Janna's glistening pussy.

Janna tilted her head back and closed her eyes as Tanyee began to lick.
She spread her legs wide and moaned deeply. She urged Tanyee to hasten
a bit with a nudge to the back of the slave's head. Tanyee responded,
pressing her lips to Janna's sex and sucking at her womanhood.

Janna's lips parted as she panted. A shudder of excitement passed
through her as she thought about Duric's arrangement with Roquan. She
had hoped to be at the palace when Amanda arrived. She loved the idea
of two young slaves tending to her at the same time.

Janna's thoughts momentarily dissolved as she rose higher. She let
Tanyee continue at the faster pace, her moans escalating. Soon she was
panting heavily as she neared the edge, her hand pressing Tanyee's face
into her sex. Tanyee lashed her tongue against her Mistress' womanhood
hard and fast. Janna rose over the top and cried out softly as she
came.

She eased the pressure against the back of Tanyee's head, letting the
slave girl back off slowly. Tanyee drew back from Janna, sitting on her
haunches, panting as her own pussy was continually stroked and held at
the edge.

Janna took a few moments to catch her breath before looking down at
Tanyee and smiling. She gestured for Tanyee to rise.

Tanyee stood, her legs trembling. She slid her feet apart as if in
anticipation of her reward. She started moaning, her hips writhing.
Janna watched this for a few more moments before reaching forward and
pressing her fingers into Tanyee's slot.

Tanyee gasped, then let out a cry as she came, her hips bucking against
Janna's fingers. Her orgasm continued for some time, Janna's magical
toy able to stretch out her climax much better than any finger, tongue,
or manhood could do. When she was spent, Janna stroked the material in
a particular way. It loosened and fell into her hand.

"Thank you, Mistress," Tanyee said in a breathless voice.

Janna smiled. "For removing this or for cumming so hard?"

"For cumming so hard, of course, Mistress."

"Mmm, good girl. Now, I need to go see your Master, so just run off and
get cleaned up for him. I shouldn't be but a few moments."

"Yes, Mistress," said Tanyee. She turned and left the room through a
side passage, still a bit shaky from her strong orgasm.

Janna stood up and made use of the adjoining sanitary to make herself
presentable again. She strode out of the sun room and down the main
corridor. Soon enough she was standing in Duric's office, where he sat
behind a massive oak desk.

Duric looked up and leaned back in his chair. "Janna, I need to know
now," he said in a heavy voice. "Do you really know what you're getting
yourself into?"

"Do you seriously think I take on any task without knowing what is
involved and what the risks are? I didn't get this far by being
careless."

"I know that. But this is the first time you're being asked to do
something outside your normal talents."

Janna laughed at this. "You really believe that?"

Duric raised an eyebrow. "Oh? So you've been asked to spy on the
Emperor before?"

"No, don't be foolish. While I wouldn't use the word 'spying' to
describe it, I am no stranger to gathering information on a potential
adversary."

"No 'potential' about it this time, Janna. He /is/ the enemy, period.
And this is not your typical rank-advancement venue."

Janna placed her hands on Duric's desk and leaned forward. "Duric, you
have no other options. Whether I know better or not about what I'm
doing matters not. You have no one else to send who would be half as
good at both getting information and misdirecting the Emperor at the
crucial moment."

"And you're not the least bit anxious about this?"

Janna snorted as she straightened up. "Only if I let myself think about
it too hard."

The truth of the matter was that Janna was a little frightened by the
prospects. But this was something she dared not let on to anyone. She
could not let anyone know, even someone she trusted as far as Duric,
what she really felt. She could not let people see that weakness, for
she would have to admit it to herself as well. She could not be
distracted by doubt.

"Duric, I have to go through with this," Janna declared. "That's all
there is to it. I will not back out of this now."

"You do know what the Emperor did to the conspirators?"

Janna took a quick, deep breath and let it go. "Yes, I do. What of it?"

Duric regarded Janna for a moment, as if looking for something. He
finally sighed. "All right. I just wanted to make sure. I've never had
to give orders that could potentially put someone's life at risk."

"And you're sure you're not just dwelling on the fact that I'm your
cousin?"

Duric gave her a stony look. Of course he was dwelling on that. Because
he had attained such a high position in the clan at so young an age,
resentment had made his relationships with blood relations rather
distant. Janna was the only one to whom he had managed to remain close.
Janna was very important to him far beyond just what she could do for
him, either in Keyas or the Imperial Palace.

Moreover, he cared about Janna more than he let on. He hated having to
ask her to do this for him. He wished he had someone else that was more
suited for the task.

When Duric did not reply, Janna shook her head. "I think you may
reading too much into it. Are you seriously worried the Emperor might
do something to me? A bunch of people conspiring to usurp the throne is
one thing, but a member of the Nobility?"

Neither one truly believed that. Both realized that the Emperor was
likely capable of anything at this point. Yet no further words were
exchanged on the subject.

"All right, Janna," Duric said in a more business-like voice. "The
Caucus is going to start in a half-moon's time. The Emperor insists
that we open as few Portals into the Imperial Palace as possible, so
you'll need to head to Selemas and Port over with some others.

"That's a few day's travel from here by coach. I'll need to leave in
not much more than a quarter moon's time." Janna paused and smiled
slyly. "Will I be here in time to ..."

Duric smirked. "Yes, Janna. I am sure you will have a chance to play
with Amanda a bit before you go."

"You are so generous, my dear Duric." She winked at him before heading
out of the room.



The mood in the Healer's office was solemn, at least for the majority
of those present. Amanda sat on the examination table with a slightly
sullen look, broken only by the occasional wince as the scar on her leg
stung. Behind her, Sirinna wore a face of equanimity, but there was a
sadness to her eyes. Vanlo displayed a look of simple concern as he
examined the ministrations of his cohort with a very critical eye.

Of all of them, only Lanno was upbeat as he crouched before Amanda,
slowly applying the salve he had created to the scar on Amanda's calf.
Occasionally his gaze strayed upwards, glancing at Amanda's bare pussy
with a small upturn of one corner of his mouth. He was already thinking
ahead to the evening. He fully intended to avail himself of Amanda's
company again, knowing it would be one of the last chances he would
get. He already knew that Amanda was being given to a client in a very
short time.

After the fourth time that Lanno's gaze strayed, Vanlo made a loud
coughing noise. Lanno appeared to ignore it, but his gaze remained
riveted on the scar anyway after that. The top of the scar, where he
had applied the salve first, was fading slowly even as he still worked
his way down.

Amanda felt the stinging sensation give way to a brief but maddening
itch, and then settle to nothing more than a vague tingling as it began
to heal. She glanced down and uttered a very small despondent sigh as
she watched the scar disappearing.

Lanno finished treating the rest of the scar and stood. "And there you
go," he said as he retrieved the cork and stoppered the vial with a
flourish. "Give it just a short while longer, and it will be as if you
never had the scar, Amanda."

Amanda did not say anything in response.

"Amanda," Sirinna said very softly.

"Thank you, Master Lanno," Amanda intoned dutifully. There was little
emotion behind it.

Vanlo observed Amanda's reaction silently, stroking his beard. He had a
feeling that Amanda would not be at all amenable to this surprise
change in her status. He had had suspicions of the feelings between her
and Sirinna long before the Overlord knew to what depth they went.

Amanda was indeed not at all happy, and not just about having to be
sent away. With the scar gone, she felt there were no more reminders of
what she had done for the Overlord. Somehow the scar had made her
special. She felt people would be able to look at her and remember what
she had done in the back of their minds. Now she looked like any other
slave.

Lanno turned to Vanlo and looked at him expectantly.

Vanlo paused a long moment before finally taking a deep breath and
letting it go. "Well done," he said simply. These words, too, did not
have very much emotion behind them.

Lanno nodded respectfully. He had hoped for a little more recognition
of his talents from the man, but supposed that he would have to settle
for this. For now, at least.

Vanlo folded his hands behind his back and turned to Sirinna and
Amanda. "Sirinna, I had completed my examination of Amanda before
Master Lanno began his treatment. She is in perfect health."

Sirinna managed a small smile and nodded. "Thank you, Master Vanlo."

Amanda nodded as well and gave the older Healer a faint smile. She had
been very grateful that Vanlo had insisted on doing the examination
himself. She really did not want Lanno touching her more than was
necessary.

Sirinna stepped over to Amanda and lay a hand on her shoulder. Amanda
slid off the table and onto to her feet, turning her back to Sirinna
and crossing her wrists behind her. "Will I need to bring Amanda in for
a follow-up, Master?" Sirinna asked as she secured the cuffs to
Amanda's wrists.

Vanlo had started to shake his head and was opening his mouth to say
something when Lanno cut in. "Oh, by all means! I should check to make
sure there is no residual discoloration of the skin."

Sirinna finished with the cuffs and began reattaching the chain to the
collar. "When shall I bring her, Master?"

Lanno smirked. "How about tonight?"

One of Vanlo's eyebrows rose. Amanda just looked on resignedly.

Sirinna understood immediately and smiled slightly. "You wish to
examine her while you enjoy your pleasure with her tonight?"

"I don't see why not. It won't take but a few moments time."

"Of course, Master Lanno. I will have her ready for you this evening."

"Excellent. Bring her around at twilight."

Amanda would have bristled at this if she had not already steeled
herself against any overt reaction. That would leave her almost no time
at all to read any more of the scrolls. It also meant that he intended
to have her all night. She was sure she would be sore by the time it
was over.

Sirinna finished attaching the chain and took the other end in her
hand. "Is there anything else, Master Lanno?"

Vanlo cut in quickly. "That is all, Sirinna. You may take her."

"Thank you, Master." Sirinna snapped the chain once. Amanda hesitated
just a moment, as if in token defiance, before turning and walking
ahead of her Mistress.

Lanno watched the two of them go. When they had left, he turned to
Vanlo. Without altering his smile, he folded his arms and said, "So
what will you criticize me for this time, Vanlo?"

"Would it even matter to you if I did?" Vanlo asked in an irritated
voice.

"I won't spar with you anymore. There's no point."

"That is true. You do not listen, so there is no point."

Lanno considered. "Perhaps, in that way, you are correct."

Vanlo's eyebrows rose. "Am I?"

"Yes. At least where my personal business is concerned."

Vanlo could think of a number of different reasons by which Lanno's
actions were outside the realm of merely "personal business," but he
held his tongue. It would only lead to another impasse between them. It
was perhaps good that Amanda was getting some time away from the Manor.
Perhaps during that time, Lanno's attentions would turn elsewhere.

"Very well," said Vanlo. "Then let us instead speak of things that are
in my venue. Such as Healing."

Lanno sighed through his nose, but nodded at the older man.

Vanlo hesitated a moment before continuing. "I must commend you for
your work on the salve."

"Hmm? Really, now ..."

"Yes. Your salve worked very well where my treatments had failed. I
feel I must acknowledge this."

Admittedly, Lanno's first instinct was to push the point and make it
clear that his skills should never have been in question from the
start. Yet he detected the hint of a bruised ego in the older Healer's
voice, and decided that perhaps it was best not to exacerbate that.
Hearing this praise from Vanlo, as muted as it was, was far more than
Lanno had expected from the man in the first place.

"Thank you, Vanlo," said Lanno politely. "I am glad you are pleased."

Vanlo had his doubts about this, but accepted the statement at face
value. "Assuming there are no complications that arise -- and I doubt
there will be from the ingredients involved -- I shall make sure we
include it as one of our additional treatments for any more stubborn
scars."

"Actually, Vanlo, I was hoping to replace the current standard
treatment with this."

Vanlo paused. "Indeed?"

"This is better. It heals the scar faster and there is less
discomfort."

"Hmm, yes ... Well, if you are able to get the Guild to approve it,
then let me know."

Lanno frowned. "I beg your pardon?"

"Standard treatments are called such for a reason, Master Lanno," Vanlo
said with excessive politeness. "It is the job of the Guild to approve
such treatments for everyday use. Until they approve it, it is not
considered a standard treatment. I don't believe I can make it any
clearer than that."

Lanno fumed, his lips pressed tightly together as he exhaled noisily in
frustration. Vanlo did not react, and continued to regard the younger
Healer with a critical eye, as if daring Lanno to contradict him.

Lanno realized that Vanlo was technically correct. A treatment could
not be considered standard if the Guild did not approve it as such. It
was his understanding that most Healers bent that rule as it suited
them and their patients. He could not believe that someone like Vanlo,
with as experienced and as good as he was, would be one to toe the line
in matters like this.

But getting Vanlo to admit such a thing was likely impossible.

"Then may I ask that, if you ever get a case of a slave with a wound
that may leave a visible scar, that you will consider this alternate
treatment rather than the standard one in order to save yourself some
time?"

Vanlo stroked his beard for a few moments as if in thought. "I surely
will consider it, should the situation come up again."

Lanno nodded curtly. That would have to do. Lanno got his treatment
recognized as having merit, and Vanlo got to enjoy his little dig at
Lanno's expense.

It was a small comfort that he had managed to get Vanlo to stop
questioning what he did on his own time. He was starting to realize a
few things about Amanda, things that he intended to confront her with
that evening. He felt it was important to clear the air about how
things worked in the real world, especially now that she was being sent
to a client before her training was completed. He felt what he had to
say to her was vital for her success.

Lanno felt what he was doing with Amanda was part of his Healer duties.
The mantra at the Guild was "heal the mind as well as the body." This
is exactly what he was doing.

"If there is nothing else, Vanlo, I'd like to return to my duties.
There are some other slaves coming in for regular examinations."

Vanlo nodded once. "I will be in the lab if you need me."

Vanlo swiftly left the room. Once he was out of sight of the younger
Healer, he gave an exhausted sigh and rubbed the bridge of his nose. A
headache was starting to lurk behind his temples, the first time in a
long while as he continued to recover from what the ill effects of the
potion had done to him.

A potion that he was now very close to isolating.

He dropped his hand and stepped over to the apparatus where his latest
mixture was brewing. Depending on the results, he would know for sure
what he had already suspected from examining the partially brewed
potion. If he were correct, the implications were staggering.

As would be all the unanswered questions that it would generate.

Vanlo sighed again. He was not sure what he dreaded most: the
confirming of his suspicion in and of itself, or having to inform the
Overlord about it. And even then, it did not solve the two most crucial
questions:

Who?

And why?



Amanda had just started to turn back down the path that led to the
Circle when Sirinna abruptly snapped her chain. Not having expected it,
Amanda almost didn't come to a complete halt at first.

Sirinna snapped it again, and Amanda swiftly turned to face her
Mistress. She tilted her head slightly when she saw Sirinna giving her
a somewhat strained look. "Something the matter, Mistress?" Amanda
asked respectfully.

"Head to our quarters, Amanda," Sirinna said. There was a slight edge
to her voice. There was also something else to it. "We need to take
care of something first."

Amanda gave Sirinna a chagrined look. "Yes, Mistress," she said in a
softer, more subdued voice as she turned down the other fork in the
path, Sirinna picking up the pace behind her.

Amanda was sure now she was going to be punished for her disrespect at
the Healer's office. Yes, it had been muted and subtle, but as Sirinna
had repeated to her many times, tolerance for misbehavior, however
slight, was greatly diminished as she continued further in her
training. She was getting to the point where she would be expected to
act as a good slave all the time.

Perhaps even more so, now that she was going to be given to a client.

She took a deep breath, and for the first time it came without the
threat of a sob. Yet the sadness over leaving settled over her like a
weight that made her shoulders slump.

Amanda eventually realized what she was doing and squared her shoulders
back. By that time, they had reached the door, and Amanda was now
mystified as to why she had not felt the snap of the chain and an
admonishment to stand up straight.

Sirinna did not say a word as she marched her charge into the main
chamber. Amanda swallowed hard, her mind racing furiously in a vain
attempt to ascertain what she had done that was so wrong. Whenever
Sirinna was this quiet, it usually meant she was rather upset at
something Amanda had done. It was not something that happened often
anymore, but the few times it had Amanda remembered very keenly. Those
were the times she had been paddled the worst.

"Mistress, what did I do wrong?" Amanda finally asked when she felt
Sirinna practically yank the chain from her collar. She started to turn
around. "What ...?"

"Don't turn around yet, Amanda."

Amanda's mouth dropped open. No, this was not punishment. Not with as
choked up Sirinna's voice was, or the fact that she was removing
Amanda's restraints. Punishment was always done with them on.

Sirinna tossed the cuffs carelessly towards the bed. She missed the
mark, and they bounced off the edge and onto the floor. Before Amanda
could react to this, Sirinna touched her shoulder and nudged her to
turn around.

Amanda looked up at Sirinna and was too shocked to say a word. As much
as Sirinna was trying desperately to retain her composure, there were
tears trickling out of the corners of her eyes.

Amanda understood, and when she breathed in next, she felt a small sob
escape her lips as her own eyes glistened.

Sirinna reached out and pulled Amanda into a tight embrace. Amanda
could feel Sirinna's body trembling, and even though Sirinna did not
make a sound, Amanda felt tears splash against her shoulder.

Amanda had no words. Her own emotions were welling up too fast and too
powerfully for her to respond. Thankfully Sirinna broke the silence
between them.

"Great gods, Amanda ... I-I don't know what I should feel ..." said
Sirinna in a whispery, emotion-choked voice. "I f-feel so horrible that
you h-have ... have t-to leave ..."

For a few moments, Sirinna felt her throat threatening to close up. She
squeezed her eyes shut to try and stem the flood of tears that wanted
to spill from them. Amanda's arms tightened around her, and she managed
to find the strength to continue.

"But ... I'm so /proud/ of you, Amanda ... s-so very, /very/ proud ...
that a client asked for you /by name/ ..."

Amanda did not want to think about this. If she allowed herself to do
so, she was afraid she would hate Tanyee for it. Tanyee was the only
means by which Lord K'garon could have known about her. She realized
that Tanyee would not have known any better, but it would not have made
her feel any less bitter about it.

She felt Sirinna shudder, which jerked her out of her thoughts and back
to the present. "Amanda, i-is it so wrong for me to feel that way? Is
it wrong t-to want this for you as much as I want you to stay?"

The pleading tone in Sirinna's voice made Amanda's heart lurch. She
could no longer hold back her own tears now. She sniffled once before
replying. "Sirinna, p-please ... don't do this to yourself. Don't make
it harder on yourself. Or us."

Sirinna slowly broke off the embrace and wiped at her eyes. She looked
at Amanda and tried to compose herself. "I can't stop being a Trainer,
Amanda, I'm sorry," she said in a husky voice. She took Amanda's hands
in her own and squeezed them. "I have to think of these things, as much
as I don't want to ..."

"No, no, it's okay, Sirinna. Really. I understand. This ... this is
what I agreed to, remember?"

Sirinna took a deep breath and nodded. She sniffled and again wiped at
her tears. "I just don't think either of us thought we'd part so soon.
I guess ... I-I guess I didn't think any of this through ..."

Sirinna's eyes dropped from Amanda's.

Amanda was shocked. This was the first time that Sirinna had come close
to admitting that perhaps she had made a mistake in getting involved
with Amanda in the first place. Yet the shock was tempered by the fact
that this was something that had been in Amanda's thoughts as well at
odd times.

She hated herself for thinking of such things, for it made her question
her own feelings for Sirinna. Yet she really did love Sirinna. That
truly had not changed.

It was then that Amanda realized what frightened her about being
separated from Sirinna. It was not that she would be pining for her
lover all that time, but the possibility that she might grow used to
being away from Sirinna. That perhaps the love between them was not
quite as strong as she would have liked to believe.

Had this been Earth, and had this been a more "conventional" romance,
many people would have told her to not get too serious now. After all,
she was only fifteen. That was too young to get so heavily involved.
Yet in Narlass, where girls her age were expected to engage in sex
multiple times a day with as many partners, the rules were different.

But changing the rules did not mean changing her emotions.

"Sirinna, /don't do this,/" Amanda finally said, her voice tinged with
exasperation. She swiped at her tears in annoyance. "You're not the
only one that got involved here, okay? I could have gone back. I could
have tried to f-forget about you ..."

Amanda couldn't speak anymore. Sirinna looked up. When their eyes met,
they realized that neither of them could believe the statement that
Amanda had just made.

"I won't forget you. I can't forget you," Sirinna said adamantly.

Amanda swallowed and nodded. "I know. I can't forget you, either."

Sirinna uttered a long sigh. "I so wish slaves were allowed Farviewing
pearls, Amanda. At least then we could keep in touch somehow."

Amanda had not even thought about it until that moment. Her only
experience with the things had been indirectly on the few occasions she
had seen someone else using one. "Wait, Sirinna, maybe Master Roquan
would ..."

Sirinna shook her head quickly. "I'm sorry, Amanda, but no. I can't ask
him to do that. And you can't either."

Amanda wanted to tell her "like hell I can't," but she understood what
Sirinna meant. It was simply not their place to ask such a thing.
Amanda was sure she had already taxed Roquan's generosity to its
limits. She was well aware that he did not approve of the relationship
between her and Sirinna. He would not do anything that would serve only
to continue that inconvenient attachment.

This thought made Amanda angry, but she contained it quickly. Sirinna,
however, as well-versed as she was with her lover's body language,
noticed it at once.

"/No,/ Amanda," Sirinna repeated, regaining some of her composure.
"Please, don't try it. He's been very generous to you as it is, what
with allowing you the scrolls and ..."

"I know, I know," Amanda replied with a sigh. Yet the idea would not go
away. Now she wondered if perhaps he just might ...

"Please promise me you won't do it."

Amanda blinked. "What?"

"Promise me, Amanda. You have been very good with your promises. I know
if you promise me something, you won't go back on it. Please promise me
you will not attempt this. Please promise you won't ask for a
Farviewing pearl."

Amanda gave Sirinna a sullen look, but it faded quickly. "All right. I
promise I won't ..."

She hesitated a moment. A new thought flickered across her mind.

" ... ask Master Roquan about a Farviewing pearl."

Sirinna hesitated, and Amanda worried that Sirinna had somehow picked
up on what she was thinking. Instead, Sirinna nodded. "Thank you,
Amanda. I'm sorry to do that, but as ... as much as it will hurt to be
apart from you ... this is what has to happen. It's not right to
interfere with it."

Amanda understood all this. She knew this would happen someday. She
just had not expected it to happen so soon. "Sirinna, Master Roquan
said this was a short contract, maybe ..."

"Yes, it is a short one, but Lord K'garon will have the option to keep
you after that time. And if you're a good slave for him, that's exactly
what he will do. And ... a-and I don't expect you to be anything less
than the best slave you can be for him."

Amanda could tell that it was hard for Sirinna to say that. She knew
that Sirinna was secretly hoping what Amanda was, that he would find
some reason to send Amanda back to the Manor. Yet considering what he
had done in sending Tanyee back that one time, she could not think of
how she could possibly come back to the Manor except in disgrace for
having displeased her Master somehow.

Amanda nodded to Sirinna. "I'll do the best I can. I promise."

Sirinna managed a small smile. "All right ... as much as I'd love to
spend some private time with you, we have to get back to training. I
want to try to teach you as much about muscle control as I can before
you have to go."

Sirinna managed to say this without choking up as she picked up the
cuffs.

"How long until I have to leave, Mistress?" Amanda asked in a somber
voice.

Sirinna paused to secure the cuffs around Amanda's wrists first. "Not
more than three days, Amanda."

Amanda inwardly cringed at this, but nodded.

Sirinna reattached the chain. "And you're going to be sent by Portal. I
know how you feel about that thing, but ..."

Amanda shook her head, causing the chain to rattle. "No, I'm fine with
it, Mistress, so long as Master Roquan is operating it. And to be
honest, I don't want to have to spend a bunch of time in transit with
little to do."

Sirinna gave the chain a smart snap. Amanda turned to face her.

"Very good, Amanda. Now ... let's get you back to your training."

Amanda nodded and started out before Sirinna.

Three days. That was not going to give her any time at all. And one
evening would already be occupied with Lanno. So less than three days
to obtain a Farviewing pearl. There was one consolation, however.

She knew exactly from whom she would obtain one.
<1st attachment end>


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