Wonders

I stared up at the stars for a few more seconds. “Why me?”

“Come on back inside, let’s not tempt fate, it’s not entirely safe out here.”

Nallen held my hand as we walked back to the bedroom, “What do you mean, ‘not entirely safe’?”

“It’s the dragons’ mating season. It has been decades since a person was taken but every year a few livestock are lost.”

“You’re kidding ... dragons?”

“Not at all, you noticed how thick the walls are? They’re why.”

I grumbled as Nallen gathered me in his arms, then carried me back to the middle of the bed, very much like he did earlier. I wanted to be upset - still not able to do for myself - but it was also sweet in a way. He settled back, his head on a pillow, I curled against his side just like I had been before we went outside.

“So ... what’re we talking about? Giant fire-breathing reptiles ... near-immortal spell-casters ... something else?” I still wasn’t sure that the telepathic machinery was science-based.

Nallen chuckled, “Little bit of both, actually. Yes, they are damned impossible to kill with anything less than armies - and you’d lose most of the army in the doing. And, yes, they’re incredibly intelligent - most of the year anyway. The rut lasts about two weeks, they are entirely driven by instinct during that period. They aren’t exactly docile the rest of the year but are easier to drive off.”

“And fire-breathing, magic?”

“You’d probably call it magic, we did prior to a couple centuries ago.Now it’s called ‘thaumatology’, powered by the ‘Thaumaturgic Quantum Energy Field’.”

Nallen started rubbing the back of my neck, I hadn’t even realized until then how tight my muscles had become.

“So again, why me? I can’t do magic.”

“Not on your Earth you couldn’t.”

“What...”

“You had potential, now unlocked. Probably one of your ancestors came from this universe, I’ve no idea who or how long ago. It would have been a one-way trip without help from this side. Probably not that long ago, with each generation no more than half the children would remain carriers.”

“Wait, you know about genetics?”

“Personally? Probably about as much as you do. That is to say, not a great deal.”

“We keep getting side-tracked, I still want to know why me?”

“I used an augury, a spell of knowing, Our personalities are extremely compatible, greater than ninety-seven percent. The very best native match was only about seventy - that’s not unusual, most such couples are reasonably happy. There are perhaps five couples alive higher than ninety-five percent.”

I felt Nallen do ... something, I was sure it had something to do with this ‘Thaumaturgic Quantum Energy Field’ but I couldn’t say what.

I got my answer a few seconds later when Aneeka rushed in, bounced really, she was happy like a little puppy. She jumped into bed behind me, wrapping me in a tight hug, “Mistress!”

It was amazing how much more comfortable I was with Aneeka having the simple robe. She had dressed me earlier but then I had been focused on the clothes themselves and worrying about what was about to happen. That part of my fears really had been dispelled, being physical with Nallen would be no hardship. It was still nice not being naked.

“What do you mean ‘Mistress’?”

“Nallen is “master’, think about it.”

“Aneeka!” Nallen didn’t sound happy.

“Sorry, Mistress. I’m just excited!”

“You expect to have him, don’t you?”

“Well, really I think it is more he will have me. I’ve been looking forward to it.”

I looked up in shock, “I thought you...”

“The teacher is truly miraculous, I was taught what it would be to serve Master’s pleasure. I needed to know in order to guide you and then the learning was removed, as if I had never known. I remember knowing but do not actually know any longer. I’m looking forward to learning the slow way. ‘Real’ memories cannot be removed like that.”

I shook, terrified. To alter memory at that level, could I be sure of anything around me? Was I really Linda Piance? Graduate of the Yale School of Management? Lately of Manhattan? “But ... but why?”

Nallen jumped in, trying to reassure me, I think, “It’s complicated, but due to legalities. Aneeka challenged for my seat in the Landsmeir, not challenge by election mind you - which would bear no penalty for losing. Her loss meant she became my slave, could never be a wife - mine or anyone else’.”

I turned to Aneeka, “But you’re free now.”

“I do love Master, that wasn’t anything the teacher did. He doesn’t want slaves. I still can’t be his wife. You really will be - are - my Mistress. If you become unhappy with me it’s within your power to banish me after the wedding.”

Why ... why did you risk it? If Nallen were that bad I don’t think you could love him like you say you do.”

“There was no risk, there wasn’t even a fight - I surrendered, it was the only way to belong to Master. I was born Aneeka Broncetti Irraglu t’Laptrour, Nallen’s sister. I gave up power I never wanted and got everything I ever dreamed of in return.”

I whirled to Nallen, “And your parents... ?”

Nallen chuckled, “They knew before either of us. Father told me later he was surprised Aneeka held out so long. Legally losing the challenge stripped her family name, being freed afterward doesn’t change that.”

“And my name, even though no one will have heard it, that’s good enough?”

“I told you, thaumatology. When I say her family name was stripped I’m not talking about marks on paper. Even a newborn infant abandoned on the steps of the orphanage would have a name that could be uncovered. Aneeka does not.”

“But you haven’t had sex with her?”

“Again, legalities. Until I was at least engaged I couldn’t.”

I broke down in tears, my life had been completely upended and I was only Nallen’s second choice? That was, however, the moment I knew I was still myself. I might not be my own anymore but I was still me. If they were going to re-fashion my mind surely they would not leave me feeling so adrift, tumbling down a raging freshet. I didn’t believe Nallen could be that cruel.

“Mistress?” Aneeka sat up, leaning forward, her arms wrapped around me. “Master wasn’t alone in choosing you. He let me decide, knowing the power you would have over me. I knew you could be my friend as well as lover. There was actually an even better match on yet another world - over ninety-eight and a half percent compatibility - but she would have been terrible to me. You and I are eighty-eight percent compatible, she was under thirty.”

I really wasn’t sure what to think of any of this. I mean come on, cross-dimensional ‘spells of knowing’? Ninety-seven percent personality compatibility - eighty-eight percent with a woman? hell even dragons being mentioned with apparent seriousness. I would have rejected it all but there was that night sky and the ‘teacher’ ... The teacher wasn’t anything of my Earth, not even anything close. The ‘prisoner rack’ could have been faked, mostly. That was simply great engineering, but the ‘teacher’ had done so much more, not just an entire language but also activating apparently latent telepathic capabilities. I couldn’t even reject that as some kind of fake because everything else simply fit, even the toilet responding to interrogation.

Aneeka brought her hands up to my face, turning me to face her. She leaned closer, finally kissing me with exquisite tenderness. Nallen drew me onto his chest, Aneeka scooted into the vacated space.

My breath tightened. I tried lying to myself, telling myself that it was being so close to Nallen, that it was remembering what we did earlier. But even as I continued trying to convince myself I knew otherwise, that it was Aneeka’s lips exciting me.

Nallen chuckled beneath me. “Looks like the augury was right, definitely at least the potential for chemistry.”

I buried my face against his chest, my cheeks blooming into a fresh blush.

“I ... I can’t believe I’m saying this but okay.”

“Okay?-” “What?” I’m not sure which said what.

I buried my face even further in Nallen’s chest, “He can have you!”

“Yayh!” Aneeka pushed like she meant to have him right that moment.

Nallen put a hand to her chest, “Hold on there. Tomorrow is soon enough. It’s still Linda’s day ... And I’m going to want her to prepare you.”

Aneeka pouted but did subside.

I smiled at Nallen, “How about I dress her like the princess?”

Aneeka’s mouth fell open.

“Better close your lips, you’re going to catch flies like that.”

Now it was her turn to blush, hiding her face against Nallen’s shoulder.

Nallen was chuckling again, “Good, there’s the Linda Piance that so intrigued me.”

His hand slipped down to my rear, I began having a very strange feeling inside.

“Wait ... what’s...”

“Simple healing, it’ll be like several days passed. Otherwise, even if nothing else happens tonight you would likely wake sore.”

“And if something ... did happen?”

“Very sore.”

I tipped my head up, trying for a teasing smile, “Are you saying you want something to happen?”

He started kneading my ass in a deliberate manner, “I’m not opposed. I believe the Boy Scouts of your Earth have ‘Be Prepared’ as their motto. Very wise, don’t you think?”

I tried for a thoughtful nod, although I’m not certain it worked, what with how Nallen was squeezing and my being sprawled out on his chest, “Yes, very wise.”

Nallen’s robe had fallen open some, showing where his neck met one shoulder. I darted down, sucking at that spot then running my tongue over the slight mark after releasing my lips.

Aneeka was really pouting now, “If you two are getting sexy again there’s no way I’m staying. Not if Nallen is waiting until tomorrow for me.”

“Maybe we should make her stay? After all, you said I’m supposed to be her ‘Mistress’.”

“We probably should.”

Aneeka looked even more shocked than when I suggested dressing her like the princess from Nallen’s picture-book.

Nallen leaned up whispering in my ear, “But I’d really much rather concentrate on you tonight.”

I turned my head resting my ear on Nallen’s upper chest, giving Aneeka a wide smile, “Alright, I suppose tomorrow will come soon enough.”

Aneeka - not taking any chances - started sitting up, getting ready to leave.

“Come here a sec.”

She turned with a curious look in her eyes.

“No, no. Come close.”

Aneeka looked to Nallen like he might rescue her from whatever I had planned but he just lay there smiling at the two of us. She was very hesitant but did approach, stopping barely within my arm’s reach.

I stretched out one hand, sliding it around the back of Aneeka’s neck, using this hold to pull her down to my lips. This wasn’t any of the playful tender kisses we had already shared - I was trying to assert dominance over her, if only a little. Her lips parted, I delved between them and she welcomed my tongue. We were both breathing hard by the time I let go. She drew back as if dazed, but not quite far enough. Nallen grabbed her before Aneeka was out of reach, pulling her in for an even steamier kiss. I think she just about came from that - I know not really but it was a /very/ hot kiss. Hot enough that I was squirming on Nallen’s chest just watching them. Aneeka reeled away with a dazed look.

“Those ought to hold you until tomorrow.”

“Oh yes, Mistress!” She did a sort of wave starting at her shins, ending with her hands pushing at the mattress propelling herself off the side of the bed. With one more smile for Nallen and I Aneeka skipped out the door, closing it behind her.

As soon as Aneeka closed the door we both broke down laughing. We just about had it under control when I looked at Nallen. The way his lips kept twitching was enough to set me off again, he followed moments later.

I closed my eyes, willing myself to relax. I kept them closed even after reducing to the occasional chuckle.

“Wha ... what were you laughing about?” Nallen’s voice was a mellow rumble beneath me. I continued keeping my eyes shut, just knowing if I looked that I’d be off again.

“Aneeka’s reaction when you said we should probably make her stay. How ... how about you?”

“How uncertain she looked when you told her to come close.”

I couldn’t help it, breaking down in giggles again. It didn’t take as long to recover this time, “That ... that was precious!”