Chapter 4

Niarah and I were going to have a come to Jesus moment later. I asked for a tour and she brought me right to the Maidenhall, my guards joining us on our short hike, just to the opposite end of the passage from my quarters. I was essentially being presented to my harem.

She’d shown me an array of clothing that was provided for me - a closet with several plain tunics and robes that were reminiscent of judo gis - all with some kind of red ornamentation. A few pairs of pants that were all the same - basic hippy fare. Loose, drawstrings, square front pockets. My jeans and t shirt and belt were also there, but none of my other personal belongings had made it to my room. Nor my shoes.

I pulled on my t shirt and a pair of the off-white hippy pants. I felt at home in gi tops but it was a little warm for them.

The girls in the Maidenhall were all of a type - pale, waifsh, and very pretty. All young and all in the plain shifts that Niarah wore when I met her. It seemed that banging me had elevated her status among the other girls.

“M’lord,” Niarah began, “this is the Maidenhall, where many of your,” and here she said a word that I didn’t recognize - Na Queevawn? -” reside in waiting and preparation.”

“My what?” I leaned in and asked quietly.

“Ah,” she ducked her head, blushing. “For you to get with child, m’lord.”

I looked around, nodding to them, all standing demurely, feet together, hands clasped, eyes on their feet. “All of these, for me to, uh - “ I made a vague gesture with my hands. There were nine girls in front of me. Niarah nodded, still not looking at me.

“More will come if all is well with mine, m’lord.” Her hands went to her belly.

“Hello, ladies,” I said as cheerfully as I could muster. Not that I wasn’t looking forward to experiencing the delights of this prison sentence, but I still had questions and the whole thing was surreal. Or disturbing. I wasn’t sure which yet. “I’m Nick.” I waved and smiled. They curtsied in return but didn’t look up.

“If it please, m’lord, I will show you the hall for it is to be as your home as well,” Niarah took my hand and gave a gentle tug for me to follow. The girls trailed behind like silent ducklings.

The anteroom we entered was filled with low couches and many large pillows. There were shelves full of books and on the walls hung tapestries and various musical instruments, some familiar, some bizarre. A couple of windows were set in one wall. There was much red - pillows, couches, carpets, tapestries, all with lots of red. I dragged my fingers across the strings of a lute-like instrument as we passed it, creating a bright thrum.

“Do you play, m’lord?” Niarah asked.

“Not this, whatever it is. But a little guitar, which is similar.” She beamed at me.

“We are all taught the fundamentals of musicianship as part of our training. Any of us would be overjoyed to sing or play for you - you have but to ask, m’lord.” I nodded.

We walked through an arch into a large room with rows of simple beds. Each bed had a cabinet by the head and a small chest at the foot of it. It was quite uniform and seemed like a barracks or an orphanage.

“Our sleeping quarters,” said Niarah as our train walked down the middle of the beds to the far archway.

Beyond it was a much larger version of the pool in my room, but otherwise very similar. Hooks lined the wall and were hung with towels and robes. There were numerous baskets of bottles about.

“How long have you guys lived here?” I asked.

“Years and years, m’lord,” smiled Niarah. “We have been waiting for you for a great while.” Years?

Back in what I thought of as the living room, with the couches and books, all the girls lined up expectantly.

“With whom would you begin, m’lord?” Niarah asked.

“What? Now?” I hadn’t thought to begin my sentence so immediately.

“If it please you, m’lord.”

“What would please me most would be to learn more about this place and its customs before I get in any more trouble. I’d like to see the rest of the place and wander outside a bit.” I tried to sound patient and pleasant but there must’ve been an edge to my voice. They all stiffened uncomfortably.

“M’lord,” Niarah reached tentatively toward my arm but stopped short, “I am to aid you in your task as best I can, but I cannot ... it is not ... m’lord!”

I took her by the shoulders gently. “Kiddo, I’m not just a stunt cock. I need answers to some very pressing questions before I get to work. I don’t want you to get in trouble, so why don’t you just wait here while I poke around?” Her face screwed up in dismay and her eyes darted around the room. The other girls shrank in on themselves.

“I ... but ... I do not ... m’lord!” she danced in place like her bladder was full to bursting. I smiled at her.