Chapter 9

I am so mad. An attempt was made on Husband's life last night and just as when my father, King Tybis, was killed the assailant killed himself once cornered. Unlike my father, this one failed before reaching his target. Husband came away shaken but unhurt. Also unlike my father's killers, this one appears to have acted alone. Several guards were injured but the assassin's blade was not poisoned and they will live.

We are all thankful that Husband was still wearing his knife. He was able to fight the man to a standoff just long enough for guards to pour into our bed chamber. I know Daryan's name, but Husband just sounds so much nicer. He is everything to me.

Anori sent Momma and the other slave to bed with him last night. I don't know how she chooses but it's always at least two of us and sometimes three. And in the morning it's always all of us in bed together, the ones she doesn't choose crawl into bed with him late at night. I've even been learning to enjoy the nights I can't be with him. I hope I never get to where I enjoy women more than Husband, but it can still be lots of fun. Momma isn't taking to it quite as fast.

That's only when she's not in bed with him though, when she is she is eager to do whatever he wants. Husband may have entered her life a bit too late for her to ever fully change. Only time will tell.

Dukken Tsine didn't appear at all happy to see Husband alive today. Troops had surrounded the Palace during the night, we were under siege! On seeing the sight, I remembered that while his words had said one thing, he had never taken a knee and pledged to Husband. Tsine was a special danger because he was one of the few Dukkens who could have sat on the throne in safety. Don't believe everything Momma tells you about how poor a job she did raising me. She did okay considering all the obstacles in her way. But Husband's concubines have taught me how to put that knowledge to use.

it was a good thing Husband had mixed his Praetian and Macean forces, I don't know if we could have trusted the latter if they had been left whole. But jumbled together they supported Husband's rightful claim to the last man. No other lords were visible on Tsine's lines.

Husband stayed ensconced in the safety of the Palace walls waiting to see if more troops arrived to support his foe. I told him about Tsine's family. He has a teenage daughter and an infant son. His wife, poor lady, died giving birth to the latter child and he'd taken no other wife or concubine. His fortunes had declined under Tybis' rule, but that was true for many in Macea. Using the glass of far sight it was easy to see that the besieging force's equipment was in ill repair. Even I, untrained wife than I was could see the poorly repaired shields and other signs of ill omen.

Tsine sent forth a messenger under a flag of truce at mid day, demanding that the 'usurper' surrender immediately and leave Macea, his household to remain behind. Failing this it demanded that he meet Dukken Tsine in single combat. Both demands were soundly rejected, Husband is not fool enough to meet a man in single combat that has already once (and possibly twice!) resorted to treachery.

A few arrows were loosed every now and then, but the stout palace walls kept us safe. Our archers launched a few in return each time. I don't understand the dance of warfare the way I'm coming to know the dance of love, but in this case it was both beautiful and terrifying to behold. I felt certain that Husband would find a path to victory.

That night Husband sent a harrying raid into the siege lines, more to cause unrest than damage. They set a few small fires, spilled all of one companies wine and then returned safely to our side. One man suffered a sprained ankle but his fellows did their duty and brought him back.

We spent a restless night all in one big bed.

The following morning fortune smiled upon us. Dukken Baric had arrived in the city with all his troops and was true to his oath. The besiegers were now besieged themselves! Trapped on both sides with nowhere to go, Tsine made a desperate attack at Dukken Baric's lines trying for escape. He might have made it had Husband not released his troops into Tsine's unguarded rear.

Most of Dukken Tsine' soldiers realized it was hopeless, and being comprised mostly of a conscript levy and ill equipped at that, they lay down their arms. A few fought on, until perhaps a dozen remained protecting their rebellious master. It drew to an uncomfortable standstill, Tsine and his most loyal troops surrounded by a ring of spears.

The ranking officer, looking at the odds turned to Dukken Tsine, "My Lord, this must end." He made to lay down his sword but Tsine was on him in a flash, decapitating the unprepared man.

The remaining soldiers (mercenaries most likely, contrary to popular belief Husband says they CAN be trusted, within reason) turned their weapons on Tsine. A single man of extreme bulk in complete plate armor strode up and beat the Dukken over the head, knocking him unconscious. It was a blow for the ages and the fight was over. The soldiers tossed down their swords and were led away. Tsine was shackled and he too was led away, in his case into the Palace.

I was nearby when Husband and Dukken Baric met up, "Well met, Dukken. I'm glad to see some men still give their word one day and keep it the next."

"Tsine was always a grasping man, Your Highness. But this, I had no idea he was capable of such duplicity."

"Dukken, I must make an example of him. I have no choice. But my wife told me what I need in order to soften the blow to the people."

Dukken Tsine was awake when we entered the audience chamber. I sat next to Husband as was my right. I was curious about what I had said that would allow him to show mercy. I noticed Tsine was gagged, he had forfeited the right to speak.

Husband kept it short, "Dukken Tsine, I offered you friendship but you returned it with steel. For these acts, I cannot allow you to live. I understand you have children. Your son I will adopt, in time to return the Dukky of Tinder Valley to be returned. Your daughter will join my house. That is all."

Tsine bowed his head, tears in his eyes. Husband could have easily sent all three to the killing grounds. Or even father and son and sold the girl into slavery or any number of things. Tsine was led away, Husband was merciful to us as well and didn't make us watch. I was told later than he had marched unassisted to the gallows and stood strong on the trap. And that it was as quick as such things are. Macea has never had a tradition of displaying the bodies of traitors, and Husband didn't start one with Tsine.

The daughter arrived late that afternoon, carrying her one year old brother.

Anori and Cayda spent that evening preparing the new arrival. The two slaves (Momma is wearing the title more proudly than ever) being mothers themselves, got to take care of the babe. Rank hath its privileges and all that, as Wife I got to 'assist.' Not that Husband ever really needs help when it comes to opening a woman's legs.

Husband was already waiting in bed, undressed, when I led Tamra in. He takes great pleasure in undressing a woman, but clothes on himself just get in the way. She had been blindfolded though, so wasn't able to discern this right away.

At nineteen Tamra was several years older than Anori, Cayda and myself. And her body showed it. Her hips flared wider, her ass was just a bit rounder. She was built like me upstairs, certainly more than a handful but not enough that it was grotesque. Her blonde hair fell to just above her rump. A collar was around her neck and I had been given a leash to lead her with.

They had bound her wrists and even chained her ankles. They had dressed her in prison stripes, sort of. The pants had a crotch only in the front, and the cut out area left her ass exposed as well. The top was long sleeved, but it had been cut short just beneath her chest. Little holes had been cut to allow her nipples to peek out. She flinched when I ran my hand up the back of her leg and then between, they had done an excellent job shaving her as well. A strong variant of the depilatory cream I was to learn later, she wouldn't need a touch up for almost a year.

I was surprised by how wet she was, but shouldn't have been, Anori and Cayda had been filling her head with visions of what Husband would do. That sort of talk would get a committed lesbian wet. I was dressed in a simple slip dress that ended just below my pussy and a pair of panties. Husband likes panties, he especially likes taking them off.

I made her stand right in front of Husband, he had a predatory gleam in his eye. I would consider feeding him a steady stream of fresh young women but I have a feeling that he would insist on keeping them. Besides, any woman who experiences him would be disappointed elsewhere. At least that's what the other slave says.

He slid his hands around her waist and held her wrists. He looked up even though she couldn't see him, "Hello Tamra, Before we begin, I must know, is there a man you would rather give yourself to?"

She shook her head, then found the words, "No, Great One, I feared Daddy might force me, but I didn't want to. He was always dirty when he made me... suck him."

"Do I scare you, Tamra?"

"Lord, your concubines got me so worked up, and they said you are always clean. Daddy was never clean." I can't even imagine how awful a dirty prick must be, Husband makes sure we are all clean before we do much of anything.

I could see his arms flex as he made her bend forward and down. She melted toward him when he caught her with his lips. Husband motioned toward the leash with his eyes and I unhooked it, leaving the collar in place. I knelt down to unhook the ankle chains, they were for show not for Husband's pleasure. He likes a woman to be able to move her legs. She was bent over enough that her muff was pushed out behind her, she jumped when my tongue touched her but Husband didn't let go. She had a slight cinnamon taste. I stood up again and he turned Tamra until she had no choice but to fall onto the bed.

Tamra Tsine plopped onto what had been my bed and now belonged to Husband. He had taken one look at Father's and declared it unfit for use. She landed facing him, her chest bowed toward him. I lay down behind her, making sure she couldn't push away from Husband. She moaned realizing she was trapped between us. I ran my hands up and down her arms, my lips danced along her neck.

Husband moved closer, pressing against her front side. We had created a Tamra sandwich! She groaned the moment she felt his naked body so close. I caressed her tummy and hips while he busied himself kissing her. I raised her top leg over his, she fought me but I wasn't going to allow her to win. I licked the back of her ear and could see that he was enjoying her mouth.

She wasn't fighting him at all the way she was me. Her lips had split just enough to welcome his gentle exploration, I caught her rubbing her dainty foot up and down his calf. Husband took me hands, guiding them under her tight fitting top. I busied myself playing with her breasts while Husband sliced open one of her sleeves. I noticed right away that she had big nipples. They must have been extra sensitive too because she began moaning after the slightest brush.

Her nipples didn't really stick out more than mine or any of Husband's other women, but they were bigger around. And her aureoles puffed out in a way I had never seen before. It was as if her nipples sat on their own little cones that sat on her breasts proper. I was afraid to tease her too much because Husband was still cutting away with his knife. I didn't want her to flinch and get hurt. He finished cutting her sleeve and the top fell open, it was still attached around her other arm, but was no longer in the way. His knife returned to its sheath with a click indicating it was locked in place.

I moved my hands out of the way as Husband moved closer, letting her peculiar nipples rub against him. I kissed her now bare arm and set my hand to drifting lower, pressing my palm against her mound through the partial crotch in the fake prison pants. He reached up and tore the blindfold away, she blinked a few times and then lost herself to his kind caring eyes.

Husband rolled onto his back, her eyes drifted down his body. I could feel that she was afraid seeing his hard cock, knowing he'd be using it on her soon. At my urging she sat up and knelt over his head, facing his feet. I sat on his ankles, rubbing myself against his legs while I bent down and took him into my mouth. Husband groaned and bucked but not enough to dislodge either of us.

I motioned for Tamra Tsine to join me and she did so, albeit will some reluctance. She eyed the pole standing between us with a mix of dread and anticipation. It didn't help her concentration that Husband had managed to get at her muff in spite of the cloth making it more difficult. It took some cajoling but I was able to get her to lick him a few times. She was about to take him deeper but his mouth on her caused such pleasure that she threw her head back and moaned.

Tamra sat up straight and I scooted up, still laying on him, "Husband, isn't it demonstration time?" I admit it, I was being a bit selfish, but it WAS one of the cues he told me to say.