Chapter 8

Shasta hurried down to Nesho's room and was surprised to find the door open and the guard missing. Sticking her head in the door she saw the three women were still there, sitting around talking.

"Something change here?" she asked.

"It seems we don't need a guard and have the run of the house and privies," Nesho said looking up at her. "Somebody came by and told the guard he was needed elsewhere. Do you know what that is all about?"

"Maybe," Shasta replied, she then filled them in on everything she had just heard.

"Hmm, sounds like they are having more problems than they anticipated," Nesho said thoughtfully. She smirked as she added, "I'll bet Dent has a lot to do with this. I wonder what is really going on."

"I'll bet it would be fun to watch," Sosho added.

"Just be glad you're not there," Nesho chided. "I doubt if anything is fun there right now."

Sosho sniffed at the thought, but then nodded slightly, acknowledging her mother's undoubtedly correct assessment.

"So what do we do now?" Clarise asked.

"Stay out of the way as much as possible, I would say," Nesho replied. "Help Shasta out as much as possible, but it would be best if they just forgot we were even here."

"Oh, that reminds me..." Shasta interrupted. "I was waiting for Jozsef to show up. I'd better get back down there and see if he's been here yet. If he hasn't what do you want me to tell him?"

If you get the chance, let him know what you just told us," Nesho replied thoughtfully. "Tell the villagers not to do anything -- if they have something planned that is -- at least until after those ships leave. Oh, have them send word to the Guild house; they'll want to know what is going on also. If it's true they will be leaving only those soldiers they now have ashore... Well, I'm sure the Guild will be able to think of something to do."

"Yes, Mistress," Shasta nodded. "If he comes, I'll let him know."

"Thank you, Shasta," Nesho said with a smile. "Shasta... ?"

"Yes, Mistress?" Shasta said as she was turning to go.

"Don't you think it's about time to stop with the 'Mistress'? It's a little silly given what we all know is going to happen."

"I-I-I don't know what you mean Mistress," Shasta sputtered.

"As you wish, my dear," Nesho sighed. "But you would make this a whole lot easier on all of us if you would just accept it. You feel it; we feel it; and when he returns, Dent will feel it. You can blame it on the salidin if you want to, and it may have something to do with it to be honest. It didn't for Sosho and me, and Clarise doesn't seem to think it did with her. But if it makes you feel better, by all means, blame the salidin.

"But," she continued her black eyes staring right into Shasta's green ones, "you know that when you see him again, when you look into those ice blue eyes, your heart will race, your crotch will be wet and it will be all you can do to stop yourself from pulling him into the bedroom, spreading your legs and begging him to force that nice fat cock so far up inside you can fee it in your throat. Then, oh yes, when he cums inside you..."

Shasta heard the intake of breath from the other two women in the room, but her eyes were riveted on Nesho. Like a mouse watching the swooping hawk, knowing there was nothing she could do to change her fate, she stood transfixed, unable to move, barely able to breathe. Already her heart was beating hard enough she thought it would bruise her ribs and the pit of her stomach felt empty, craving something she had never had before.

Visibly shaking, she looked at Nesho, tears blurring her vision, and whispered, "Why? Why are you doing this to me?"

Nesho stood up slowly and crossed the room. Standing very close to the trembling girl she brought her hands up and cupped Shasta's face, using her thumbs to wipe away the tears running down her cheeks. Nesho smiled, but it wasn't a smile of triumph, it was the sad smile of the mother who has to wash the cut on her child's knee, knowing it would hurt, but also knowing it had to be done.

"Because, dear heart," she said before leaning in to kiss Shasta gently on the lips, "you belong with him and with us." Suddenly Shasta felt two pairs of arms surrounding her from each side. Nesho allowed her to turn her head to one side where another pair of lips, this time attached to blonde hair and blue eyes, was ready to press against hers. This kiss lasted longer than the first and when she felt the soft touches of a tongue against her closed lips she opened slightly, allowing the fleshy intruder to gently touch the insides of her mouth.

Shasta heard a low moaning and finally realized it was herself making the sound. Her arms somehow had come up to encircle Nesho, clutching the older woman tightly to herself. Clarise broke the kiss and Shasta moaned again, this time in disappointment, but Nesho didn't let it end there. Gently turning Shasta's head to the other side Shasta was... assaulted... by another set of lips seemingly bent of tasting her tonsils! Shasta eagerly returned the kiss until Nesho finally drew her back around to face her. All four women were panting. Suddenly Shasta had a thought and her face clouded up and the tears began again.

"What is it, darling?" Nesho asked softly.

"He'll never want me!" Shasta sobbed. "I have been used for everything you can imagine! I'm just another used-up whore! By the gods, I was even forced to fuck a..." Nesho's hand gently covered Shasta's mouth.

"That is over," she cooed, "it's meaningless: another life, a bad dream. Now you are a virgin bride coming to her husband."

"Didn't you hear me?" Shasta whispered. "I've been fucked by everything, everywhere..."

"Hush," Nesho whispered back. "You have never been made love to, darling. What was done to you isn't the same thing. You will see. When your man takes you it's completely different from your master using you. I promise."

"I don't believe... can't believe..." Shasta started.

"Can't believe what?" Sosho asked from one side.

"I can't believe he will want me," Shasta finished.

"He will want you," Nesho said with a smile. "He already wants you, dear, and after he gets to know you he will love you."

"He didn't love me the first time he took me," Clarise added candidly. "With our bond that's not something that can be hid. But He came to love me; this I know. Just like he will come to love you."

"But how can the three of you invite someone like me, a stranger into your... family?" Shasta sighed. Even as doubt clouded her mind the warmth of the three women crowded around her, holding her, stroking her, infused her with a sense of belonging and affection she hadn't felt since her initial capture those ten seasons ago. Even the intimate times she spent with Katern seemed pale in comparison.

"We live for him," Nesho said leaning in for another short kiss. "What is right for him, we accept. In fact it is our duty to obtain it for him. You are right for him; we feel it, we know it, therefore we do it. Doing this brings us joy." Nesho leaned back slightly and gave Shasta a slight, very possessive smile. "You will find sharing our man is not much of a burden. You will find he has more than enough love to hold, and satisfy four women. In fact we were wondering if we needed another woman for him. Over the past few ten-day poor Clarise had to sacrifice herself beyond human endurance while the two of us were... unavailable."

"It was awful," Clarise chuckled. "But I would do anything for my sisters."

"Yeah!" Sosho smirked from the other side. "Like you would have let either of us even close while you were trying for a baby."

"That's another thing," Shasta moaned. "I'm barren. What would he want with a woman with a useless womb?"

"I seriously doubt Dent thinks about children when he's making love to us," Nesho replied. "Not that he doesn't love and appreciate them when they pop up, but you've seen that. Your fertility isn't a consideration; although I have some small skill at healing and we can look into that when the time is more appropriate. I'm sorry, dear, these," Nesho lifted her hand to touch her salidin, "have already told us where you fit in. You'll just have to accept it. You can try to fight it, but I'll tell you now it won't do you any good. Do you love him?"

"Of course I..." Shasta began, caught herself and began blushing. The three women just smiled at her.

"So," Shasta started again dryly, "you're telling me I have no choice except to be bedded and loved by one of the most impressive men I have ever met while being welcomed into his harem as a concubine by three of the most beautiful women I have ever seen?"

"Yep, that's pretty much how it's going to be," Sosho said with Clarise nodding.

"Except you won't be his concubine anymore than we are," Nesho added. "You'll be his wife also. Just another one of the girls."

"I still don't believe it," Shasta stated. "He will never say yes to that."

"We don't intend on asking," Nesho said. "We'll just tell him. He doesn't get the choice."

"You can't do that!" Shasta gasped. "He's the master! He would never let a slave tell him what to do!"

The three women each took a step back, looked at each other and started laughing.

"My dear," Nesho chuckled, "you have a lot to learn. He is without a doubt the master of our hearts and bodies, but that doesn't mean he doesn't know what's good for him. You will see."

"Now," she continued, "I believe you have someone to meet, if he shows up. But," she chided, "you must be extra careful now. You are one of us and we don't plan on losing you. Do you understand?"

"Yes Mistress... ah, Nesho." Shasta still looked dubious.

"Good, and better," Nesho said with a smile. "You will see it is all as it should be. Now scoot along. Now that we're allowed out a bit we can take care of our own necessities, but we expect you to be back here for bed. You will sleep with us now."

"Yes, Nesho," Shasta said looking at the floor. "I'll bring a mattress down this evening."

"Why would you do that, dear?" Nesho asked. "We've made up cribs for the babes and we have two beds that easily hold two. Why would we need anything else? Unless maybe you wouldn't want to sleep with one of us?" Nesho raised an eyebrow in question.

"N-n-no, I don't mind" Shasta stuttered. Remembering her times with Katern she again started blushing.

"Good! Then we'll expect you tonight," Nesho nodded, with a gleam in her eye.

"Just to let you know," Sosho teased, "we always sleep naked."

+ + +

Shasta walked the still-silent halls in a daze. Her eyes unable to focus on any one thing while her mind raced from one set of images to another. As she wandered into the kitchen area she noticed a gnarled old man sitting at one of the tables, a cup of tea in his shaking hands. Through the open door she could see a couple of the hostage girls unloading a small handcart with what looked to be fresh produce and unidentifiable baskets. One of the girls working at the counter turned when she heard Shasta enter.

"Shasta!" she exclaimed. "Jozsef here said he needed to speak with you before he left."

"Hmm, oh, yes," Shasta said, trying to dispel the fog still surrounding her mind. "Hello, Jozsef. You didn't have any problem getting up here, did you?"

"No, Mistress," Jozsef answered in a gravely voice. He started to pull himself out of the chair but sat down heavily when Shasta quickly motioned for him to remain seated. She sat down in a chair next to him and leaned over, allowing them to keep their voices low.

"Thank you, Jozsef," Shasta whispered. Quickly she filled him in on the information she had. "Mistress Nesho is in agreement with me: if it becomes to dangerous, you are not to come anywhere near here, you understand?"

"Now don't you be worrying your pretty little head," he said reaching over to pat her hand. "Ain't nobody be giving this old man even a second look. They all seem to be a-buzzing about something else right now." He stopped to chuckle; it wasn't a humorous chuckle in the least. "I'm guessing them boys they 'lost' be giving them something to think about."

"You know about that?" Shasta asked.

"Oh, aye," he nodded.

"Well, don't tell me," Shasta insisted. "The fewer who know about it around here the better. Now, I have something else to ask about: These women here, the hostages: we need to get them out. Right now they aren't paying much attention to them because of those lost patrols, but when they find out they won't be coming back -- I'm assuming they won't be coming back?" Jozsef nodded and grinned, "They're going to want to take it out on someone. These girls have to get out of here, tonight if possible."

"Aye, something can be worked out," he said, nodding again. "Don't know exactly where they might be going, not sure they be welcome back with their families, what with everything been done to them you understand. Might be some already mourn them as dead, if you know what I mean."

"Well, let me tell you what I mean," Shasta hissed, "and you can pass this along to those sanctimonious bastards: anyone treats these poor girls with anything less than the respect and the love they deserve, they'll be dealing with me when it's all said and done! I'll have their guts on a stick roasting for the hogs to eat and if they don't take me seriously then they can think of what the Governor will do when he gets back! If that doesn't scare them, then they are fools and will be better off staying in those caves where they're hiding!" Shasta's eyes blazed with green fire and her hands curled like claws, Jozsef's eyes opened wide and he put his hands up as if he were going to fend her off.

"Please, Mistress," he whimpered. "I'm just saying what others have said."

At just that time Nesho came striding into the kitchen looking like she expected trouble, Clarise trailing on her heels.

"What's the problem," she demanded, relaxing somewhat when she saw Shasta still just sitting at the table. "Shasta, what has you so... agitated? We could feel something was wrong, but not what it was." Shasta jumped up and ran over to whisper in Nesho's ear.

"We were talking about getting these girls out of here tonight." Shasta glanced over to make sure the girl working at the counter couldn't hear them. "It seems those patrols are going to stay 'lost' and I'm worried the pigs will take it out on them when they finally realize it. Jozsef here was telling me they may not be welcome at home anymore just because of what was done to some of them."

"Is that so?" Nesho said frostily. "Fruzina?" She called to the girl at the counter. Fruzina turned around and see who was there ran over and dropped to her knees in front of Nesho as if a free woman kneeling to a collared slave was the most natural thing in the world.

"Mistress Nesho," Fruzina sobbed, wrapping her arms around Nesho and burying her head in Nesho's skirt pleats. "Thank the gods you are all right! It has been horrible! What are we to do?"

"Settle down, child," Nesho said soothingly, caressing the girl's head. "We will see what can be done. Don't you worry, everything will turn out fine. Now, would you please run outside for a bit? I need to speak with Jozsef for a moment. Clarise? Would you mind going outside with Fruzina here and maybe talking to the other girls if you can find them."

"Of course, Nesho," Clarise said, wrapping an arm around the girl as she stood up. "Come along, dear. Let's see if we can find everybody." She nodded to Nesho and Shasta as she led Fruzina to the door. They all watched as Clarise led the younger woman out, then Nesho turned back to the old man with a look that could have frozen water in a glass.

"I understand that this is not your doing, Jozsef," she said with a definite edge to her voice.

"Mistress," Jozsef was almost whimpering, "I just told the young mistress what I'd heard. I ain't said neither yea nor nay to it ever, I swear."

"Yes," she drew out the one word until it was almost a hiss. "But you are our messenger and as such I have a message for the villagers." Her eyes bore into his and Shasta couldn't help but think how utterly amazing that the same black eyes that could look so warm and loving suddenly became two pieces of obsidian glass: cold and totally without compassion or forgiveness. "These young women have suffered terribly. If they are made to suffer again because of a few hypocrites and gossips... Well, that will be remembered. Remembered by me, which may not worry some," Jozsef twitched when she said that, "but it will also be remembered by my husband when he returns. That should worry them. If they won't be taken care of by the families and community they grew up in, then they will be taken care of by their governor, who will remember why.

"Now," she continued, "Shasta is right. Because of what the village has done -- and done correctly, I will admit -- these women will be in danger. They must leave tonight. I want two things:[BM1] First I want escorts for them out back, behind the mansion, a little after full nightfall. There needs to be enough of them to possibly take care of any sentries that may be stationed there. Second, a diversion. I believe the majority of the troops ashore are billeted in one of the new warehouses down by the waterfront. It should be a simple task for seafolk such as yourself to approach by water and start a fire that would keep them occupied for a time. Understood?" Jozsef nodded. "Good! Then you had best be getting back. There are people to contact and plans to be made. The girls will be ready to leave as soon as we hear the alarm."