Chapter 9: Breakfast for two

Reyna tells me later what happened while I was locked in the dungeon.

The next morning, Reyna is tempted to feign illness in response to the summons she receives to have breakfast with Lord Giorgi. She is angry with herself after yesterday afternoon’s debacle. She should have stayed and defended me against Giorgi’s wrath. Instead she fled like a scared rabbit and now she feels ashamed. When I didn’t return to our room yesterday, Reyna tried to find out what became of me. Aybige told her that only Lord Giorgi can give her that information. It’s the only reason Reyna summons up enough courage to go willingly to Giorgi’s quarters.

Fortunately Giorgi allows Reyna sufficient time to prepare herself properly. Not like yesterday afternoon, when she and I were in a no-win situation. Reyna even has time for a visit to the baths. She would have liked to linger there and soak her troubles away. Reyna is careful not to say anything to the other women that might get her into trouble, and she ensures that she isn’t late for her meeting. Aybige escorts Reyna to Giorgi’s room and she is promptly admitted into Giorgi’s presence.

“Good morning, Reyna,” says Lord Giorgi in a pleasant tone. “Did you sleep well?”

“Not particularly, my Lord,” replies Reyna, deciding she wouldn’t take the coward’s route and lie.

“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. What was the cause of your insomnia? I hope it wasn’t my over-zealous interpretation of the rules yesterday afternoon. I promise I will be more tolerant of your failings in future.”

Reyna told me that she wanted to scream. The arrogant pig is trying to make out that it was Reyna’s fault that he had hit her. But she steels her nerves and remains passive. While she shows more backbone than she did yesterday, she doesn’t have the nerve to openly defy Lord Giorgi.

“No, my Lord,” replies Reyna. “I am worried about Rachael. She didn’t return to our room last night and when I reported her absence to the guards, they didn’t seem interested.”

“Why should you be worried about Rachael?” asks Giorgi. “She was with me when I dismissed you yesterday. Didn’t it occur to you that she might have spent the night with me?”

“But she didn’t,” says Reyna. “The guards would have told me had that been the case. They like trying make us jealous. Besides, she isn’t here, and your breakfast tray is only set for two people.”

“Don’t concern yourself about Rachael,” replies Giorgi. “She’s enjoying her breakfast as we speak. She should be back in your room by the time we have finished this little meeting.”

Meanwhile, I am indeed having my breakfast, although my surroundings leave a lot to be desired. A night in the castle dungeon is something every woman tries to avoid at all costs, and rightly so. The small cell confining me is dark and cold, but at least I have been given a mattress to sleep on. It’s the uncertainty around what further punishment Lord Giorgi might decree which is playing on my mind. For now, all I can do is eat what passes for breakfast in this dungeon, and try to keep my strength and spirits up. I’ve only twice witnessed a woman being caned on the soles of her feet. Afterwards, neither woman could walk for over a week. Of course, Giorgi may simply decide to have me executed. I hope that Lord Giorgi realises that disposing of a second concubine so soon after Maia’s demise would be difficult to explain to Tamaz and the other grey monks. I don’t doubt that Zurab and Lord Giorgi are relying on the Tamaz’s continued good favour and complicity.

Reyna is also faced with uncertainty. In her case it’s about Lord Giorgi’s motives. She has never seen him in this mood before, nor has she previously been invited to have breakfast with him. Fortunately, her recent training as a concubine guides her actions. After all, this is the sort of encounter which she has been taught to handle and she applies every skill that she can.

“Rachael says that if I treat you more gently, then you will please me beyond my wildest imagination,” says Giorgi while they are eating. Reyna nearly chokes on her food.

“I am your concubine, my Lord,” replies Reyna. “It is my duty to please you.”

“I know all about duty, Reyna,” sighs Giorgi. “My life is driven by duty. My question to you is, are you willing to go further than mere duty, in order to please me beyond my wildest imagination? I warn you that I have a very wild imagination.”

“I shall endeavour to do all that is necessary to give you the pleasure you desire, my Lord,” replies Reyna with as much sincerity as she can fake. She’s never liked the arrogant pig, but now she is his property. Reyna isn’t looking forward to another mauling at his hands. She makes every effort to hide her loathing of the man.

“I can see that you remain doubtful of my good intentions,” says Giorgi with unusual perceptiveness of Reyna’s mood. “I admit that I am inexperienced in the art of love. My treatment of you so far has perhaps been too harsh. With your help, I wish to correct the few faults that I possess.”

In Reyna’s opinion, Lord Giorgi has far more than a few faults in need of correction. But Reyna is his slave concubine, and she has no wish to suffer Maia’s fate. The Lord has given her an order and she must obey. “What of Rachael, my Lord?” asks Reyna. “Is she to help as well?”

“Yes, but in a different way. Rachael has made me realise that the two of you have different skills to teach me. When it comes to what occurs in the bedroom, you are a beautiful flower who can teach me the art of tender love, while Rachael is the warrior’s pleasure slave to be used as a red-blooded warrior desires.”

Reyna is both relieved and alarmed at Giorgi’s statement. Relieved that it could mean an end to his rough treatment of her, but alarmed that I will bear the brunt of his violent passion. Giorgi hasn’t promised to mend his ways ... he’s simply offering to channel his violent tendencies in a more specific direction. Reyna finishes eating her breakfast. She then realises that the Lord intends for her to start her instruction at once. She doesn’t hesitate to direct their conversation towards sex, fearing his anger might return if she’s less than perfect at her task.