“I guess we could go after him and try to find out,” Charlie suggested although the idea of seeing Two face-to-face again made her stomach twist into knots.
Stavros shook his head. “No. I have the sense that we were given this link to Trin and Thrace and Two to observe, not to act. I think the Goddess will let us know when and if we should get involved.”
“Well, you started seeing them first so I guess you know best,” Charlie said. “Although you never did tell me what caused Trin’s bad dream.”
“It was what I saw in my own vision. I couldn’t see much because the room was dark but there was some kind of control panel. It had a row of vid screens and one of them was showing Trin and Thrace’s room,” Stav explained. “They were sleeping peacefully to start with. Then I saw a hand—I think it was a male hand—turning a knob on the panel. After that, a kind of black, swirling mist filled the area above their bed. Thrace breathed in a lot of it—more than Trin—but after that, she was the one who started thrashing around and moaning.”
“Dream gas?” Charlie asked. “Or maybe that nightmare vapor we saw coming out in some of the bubbles from that weird silver fountain?”
“Possibly,” Stav said.
“But if Thrace breathed in more of it, why did Trin have the nightmare? And who gassed them in the first place?”
“I don’t know.” He shook his head. “But I do know that they are not clear of trouble yet. I pray the Goddess will guide and protect them.”
Charlie sighed. “I guess that’s all we can do. But if I ever meet Trin in person, I’m going to give her a big hug. She could use it.”
Chapter Twenty-two
“Good morning.” Trin smiled as she seated herself beside Lady Malroth at the long table in the huge First Meal Hall. Thankfully, the first meal of the day wasn’t nearly such a formal occasion as dinner. The slaves were eating at a separate table, specially reserved for them, and the mistresses were on their own.
The menu included steaming bright green porridge which smelled sweet and bland and large, curving blue fruits longer than Trin’s arm. When the fruit was opened, however, it was revealed to be mostly thick blue peal. Inside were three to five tiny, tender morsels no bigger than the end of Trin’s thumb.
These sweet, juicy nuggets were apparently quite a delicacy and, after inquiring discretely to be certain they wouldn’t have any strange effects on her, Trin had eaten several of them. They were said to expand in one’s stomach and keep you from being hungry the rest of the day. An effect she was sure she’d be glad of if she had to spend anymore time at Dreaming Hills. Although she had been planning to leave today.
“Good morning, you say?” Lady Malroth demanded, frowning at her. “And what’s good about it, I’d like to know?”
“Well…I…” Trin wasn’t sure what to say to this. She’d been hoping that she’d fulfilled her obligations by attending the feast the night before as Lady Tam-tam had wanted, and that Lady Malroth would consent to make the deal. But Lady Malroth’s lips were pursed as though she’d been sucking on an unripe sour fruit—clearly she wasn’t pleased.
“I heard about your performance—if you can call it that—last night,” Lady Malroth snapped.
“You did?” Trin felt like she might faint from embarrassment. “Did you…see us?” Knowing they were probably being watched and actually having it confirmed were two different things. The idea of Lady Malroth watching her and Thrace do…intimate things made her feel sick with shame.
“No, I didn’t see it,” Lady Malroth snapped, to Trin’s intense relief. “Lady Tam-tam rarely allows anyone inside her private viewing room. But she told me all about it—she was very disappointed. Apparently all you did was let your slave suck your nipples and finger you a little. He didn’t even penetrate you with his tongue—though I understand he kissed you quite a bit!”
“Of course he didn’t penetrate me!” Trin exclaimed, feeling her cheeks get hot. “I’m one of the Unpenetrated—the elite of Zetta Prime.”
“Is that right?” Lady Malroth said nastily. “Well I’m afraid you’ll have to relinquish that title after tonight’s banquet.”
“What are you talking about?” Trin demanded. “I could never let my slave do that. I mean—”
“No, no—I don’t mean you should let him penetrate you with his shaft—we’re not all as depraved as Lady Needra. Imagine—letting her slave put his cock right in her pussy! And at the dinner table no less. Ugh!” Lady Malroth made a face.
“Well, I’m glad you see it the same way I do,” Trin said carefully. “But I wasn’t really planning on being at the feast tonight anyway. I was hoping we could conclude our deal today.”
“What—so you could leave? While Lady Tam-tam is still in such a terrible mood? I don’t think so,” Lady Malroth said flatly. “You will attend tonight’s banquet and you will wear the ritual uniform as will we all.”
“What uniform?” Trin looked down at herself. She had on another of the ridiculous Yonnie Six dresses. This one was scarlet with black lace across her breasts and crotch. It had tiny red and black panties to match. She hated it but could something worse be in store for her? The idea of some kind of “uniform” sounded ominous.
“It’s the celebration of male submission so you must wear a phallus,” Lady Malroth said. “If you didn’t bring your own, you can get one from the slave set up in the corner as you leave. He’s handing them out to everyone who needs one.”
“A phallus?” Trin had heard of such things—the mistresses of Yonnie Six often called such an accoutrement “the rod” and used it to punish wayward slaves. But she’d never thought to wear one herself. “You mean the kind that straps on?” she asked.
Lady Malroth gave her a very unpleasant smirk.
“Among other things.”
“But what if I don’t want to wear one?”
We’re all going to be wearing them tonight—you will as well or the deal is off. You have to at least look like a proper mistress, even if you’re not going to act like one.”
Trin stiffened in her seat.
“I don’t like being threatened, Lady Malroth.”
“And I don’t like being made to look a fool in front of my most important business client,” Lady Malroth snapped. “Your crystals may be good quality and cheap but there are others in the universe, you know. And if you don’t behave like a proper mistress—if you don’t wear what everyone else is wearing and act like everyone else is acting and most important, please Lady Tam-tam—then I will be damn sure you never have an opportunity to sell those crystals anywhere.”
With that, Lady Malroth got up and flounced away, leaving Trin to sit and stare after her and wonder what she was supposed to do. Aside from strapping on a phallus, that was. Please Lady Tam-tam, Lady Malroth had said. But if their “display” from the night before hadn’t made her happy, Trin didn’t know what would. Or rather, she did have an idea of what might please Lady Tam-tam but she didn’t think she could go there.
“Well, she doesn’t seem too happy.” Thrace’s low voice in her ear startled her and she turned to see him standing on the other side of her, a concerned look on her face.
“She’s not,” she said and sighed. “And she doesn’t want to do the deal. Not yet. Not until we ‘please’ Lady Tam-tam by attending the feast tonight.”
“About that,” Thrace growled. “I have some bad news for you—it may be a deal breaker.”
“I know.” Trin’s cheeks felt hot. “I’m supposed to wear a phallus.”
“Huh—thought you’d be more upset about it than that.” Thrace looked surprised.
“Why? I mean, it’s sure to look ridiculous but every mistress is going to be wearing one. Apparently it’s the ‘uniform’ for tonight’s theme.”
“Right—the beauty of male submission.” Thrace sounded grim as he helped her up from the table.
“Don’t worry,” Trin said, squeezing his arm. “I’m sure it’s just for show. I would never use it on you.”
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“I would never let you,” he growled.
Trin raised an eyebrow. “What happened to your oath that there was nothing you wouldn’t do for me?”
“Within reason.” He shuttered and for a moment his big hands curled into fists. “I would give you anything in my power, Mistress. But some things…are beyond me.”
The strange look on his face struck a chord with her for some reason. For a moment Trin felt something nibbling at the edges of her memory…she seemed to hear voices echo in her head. Say it—say the words… Stop—don’t do it! Leave him alone… But when she reached for the disturbing thought, it vanished like a puff of smoke.
“I understand,” she said gently. “I feel the same way about such…penetration, as you know.”
“I know.” He took a deep breath and seemed to shake off the strange mood that had come over him. “Which is why it surprised me that you didn’t mind wearing a phallus.”
“What are you talking about? It just straps on. I mean—”
“Good morrow, my lovely lady. And how did you sleep?”
The deep, smooth voice belonged to Lord X who had somehow managed to creep up behind them without either Trin or Thrace noticing him, despite the big black boots he wore.
Trin whirled around, feeling her heart pound for some reason. She really didn’t like this male though she could give no actual reason for her emotions. A low growl from Thrace let her know he felt the same.
“Oh, forgive me—did I startle you?” Lord X smiled unconvincingly—the expression never reached those strange red-black eyes of his.
“No, we’re fine,” Trin said quickly. “Good morning.”
“Good morrow,” he repeated in that odd way of his. “You’re looking very well this morning, may I say.” Taking her hand, he bowed low over it. He was about to kiss it but Thrace grabbed her wrist and jerked her hand away before he could.
“No one touches my lady but me,” he growled.
“Is that right? A pity—I so wanted to taste her soft skin.” Lord X smiled. “May I at least inquire as to how you slept last night, my lady?” he asked Trin.
“Oh…well. Very well indeed,” she said. She knew she ought to reprove Thrace for yanking her hand away but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. She was too relieved not to be touching Lord X to summon any rebuke for the big Havoc.
“Really?” He raised one glossy black eyebrow. “No…bad dreams? No nightmares at all?”
“Of course no—” Trin started to say but the words died on her lips. There was a knowing glint in those cold, red-black eyes. Lord X knew about the horrible dream she’d had last night. But how? Had he been watching them in the private viewing room as well as Lady Tam-tam? The very thought made her feel ill. Apparently Thrace picked up on the idea as well.
“What do you know about it?” he demanded, stepping forward so that he was face to face with the other male. “What do you know about my lady’s night terrors last night?”
“Night terrors you say?” Lord X appeared not the least intimidated. He raised his eyebrows in surprise and made a tsking sound. “My, my—that sounds dreadful. I am so sorry to hear of it, my Lady,” he said to Trin.
“I said, what do you know about it?” Thrace barked.
“Why, nothing but what you’ve just told me.” Lord X raised both hands in a sign of peace. “Forgive me, but I think I see Lady Tam-tam motioning to me. Mustn’t keep our lovely hostess waiting.” With a final knowing smirk, he glided off, his large muscular body moving as smoothly as if he was on wheels.
“That bastard,” Thrace growled, glaring after him. “He knew. Somehow he knew!”
“But how?” Trin asked. “Do you think he could have been watching us? Lady Malroth said that Lady Tam-tam never allows anyone else inside her private viewing room but—”
“Private viewing room?” Thrace interrupted, his eyebrows raised. “Seriously?”
“Yes,” Trin said shortly. “It shouldn’t be a surprise, we knew she, uh, liked to watch.” She dropped her voice, making it for his ears only. “Where did you think she was watching from?”
Thrace shook his head. “I don’t know. I guess I just didn’t expect her to have a whole room devoted to it.” He sighed. “All right. Well, then I guess we should go collect your phallus.”
“I guess we should.” Trin grimaced. This was sure to be embarrassing. She just hoped she wouldn’t have to wear some huge, ridiculous, golden, engraved rod between her thighs for everyone to see. But it sounded like the kind of thing Lady Tam-Tam would require so she’d better get used to the idea.
“Honestly,” she said to Thrace in a low tone as they crossed the vast dining area to where the male slave was sitting in a corner behind a long table. “Speaking of the private viewing room, I’m more worried about the other part of Lady Malroth’s demand than the fact that I have to wear a stupid phallus.”
“What did she say? I only caught the last part,” he murmured, bending his head so they could talk more discretely.
“She said that our ‘performance’ last night didn’t please Lady Tam-tam.” Trin felt herself blushing again. “I mean…can you imagine? After everything we did she’s still not satisfied?”
“All I did was suck your nipples a little and rub your pussy,” Thrace remarked mildly. “Well, and pay obeisance to you with a few kisses. But if she’s used to seeing hard core performances from the likes of Lady Needra and Yorth, it’s probably not surprising that we didn’t please her.”
“Well what we did felt pretty ‘hard core’ to me,” Trin whispered back, her face flushing. “I never dreamed I’d do anything like that with a male. And yet I let you…let you…”
“You let me ease your pain and need,” Thrace reminded her in a soft growl. “Don’t start feeling guilty about it again, Trin. It was necessary.”
“I guess so.” Trin bit her lip. “It’s just…I never expected to do anything like that—you know.”
“I know.” Thrace’s face remained impassive. “Quiet now though—here we are.”
They had arrived in front of the table where she was to pick up her “uniform” for the evening’s feast. There was a male slave in Lady Tam-tam’s purple and orange livery sitting at it. Spread across the table in orderly rows were little velvet bags in different colors. He seemed to have some kind of system for keeping track of them because he was entering information on a lighted implant imbedded in his left forearm.
“Good morning,” Thrace said, addressing the slave who was typing rapidly on his left forearm with his right hand. “My lady Trin needs…ah equipment for tonight’s feast.”
“Forgot your phallus, did you?” The slave looked up from his tapping. “What size do you need?”
“Um…what sizes do you have?” Trin asked. She had a mental image of being forced to walk around with an improbably huge rod strapped to her crotch—probably the bigger it was, the greater the wearer’s status. How awful! “I mean, most likely the smallest but—”
“All right, my lady. It’s not uncommon for a mistress not to know her size.” The slave nodded at Thrace. “Come on—let’s see what you’ve got.”
“What do you want him to do?” Trin asked blankly. “How can he tell you what I should use?”
“Well he can’t really tell me. But he can show me, if you know what I mean.” The slave winked at her in a way that made Trin most uncomfortable. “I mean, we all know how mistresses aren’t supposed to allow their love-slaves to penetrate them. And yet somehow the size of the slave’s cock is almost always the size phallus she needs. So come on—let’s see it.” He reached across the table and twitched the black loin cloth that covered Thrace’s shaft to one side. What he saw made him give a long, low whistle. “Well, extra-extra large it is, then, Mistress.”
“Hey! Hands to yourself, you bastard!” Thrace made a snatch for his wrist but the slave was too quick. He was back across the table and pulling open a black velvet bag before Thrace could catch him.
“Here
we are, my lady. One extra-extra large phallus for your pleasure to wear at the Feast of Male Submission tonight.”
He drew a shining metal contraption out of the bag and handed it to her. Trin turned it this way and that—at first her eyes couldn’t make sense of it. It appeared to be two long shafts attached in the middle with a bumpy gold disk.
“I don’t understand,” she said examining the gleaming, curved surfaces. One end was clearly ornamental—it was smooth and gold with fine markings drawn in red and black on its shiny surface. It was fairly slim and very sleek and stylish—if such an implement could be labeled stylish, that was. The other end, however, looked like it was meant to be all business. It was thicker than Trin’s wrist and deep scarlet, made of some shiny material as dark as blood. “What is this?” Trin asked, frowning as she examined both ends.
“Oh—the material? The one side is gold—that’s the end you use on your slave. Well, if you want to, I mean. It’s not required,” the slave explained helpfully. “And the other side is carved from pure heart’s blood. It’s a very rare stone from Caprax Five—quite valuable but you may keep it. Lady Tam-tam says to consider it a ‘party favor.’” He tittered and winked at her. “It’s both useful and pleasurable—it warms to your body heat and stimulates you as it moves within you.”
“Within you?” Trin began to get a very bad feeling in the pit of her stomach. “What do you mean within you? Where…where are the straps to hold it on?”
“Oh, no straps are needed, my lady,” the slave answered. “Once the heart’s blood end of the shaft is inserted into your…ahem…womanhood, it remains in place no matter how, ah vigorous your activity, until you choose to remove it. It’s intuitive, do you see? That’s what makes it so rare and valuable. Oh—and the bumps on the central disk are pleasure-givers. They’ll stimulate your outer areas Your…ahem…love button so to speak.”
Through all his chatter, only a few words had made it through to Trin’s brain.