During the next three days, after the women breakfasted and bathed, I showed them pictures and told them tales of the world outside our valley, then let them clean or garden as they would. I called back the Elves, Nymphs, and Dryads to help them and keep them company. My ladies found the magical creatures both fascinating and comical. When they grew weary, or even when they didn’t, I strategically offered massages to my maidens.
When not engaged with them, I attended to affairs of the valley, researching and consulting using magical messengers, watching for new plots being spun by the Kalnichovs. That family was reclusive, but when they chose to foray out, their considerable magical skill made them like adders in the night. Moreover, I needed to discover what was troubling the villagers so. Two out of three sacrificing honored young women meant that much was giving concern to my charges!
Each day the women fell more comfortably into their routine. They now offered their arms willingly to the ropes, ceased to be shy about losing their clothes at the pool, and offered their bodies willingly to my hands. Even though Adrijana still insisted I tie her for her massages, her body then followed my sensual cues as readily as the others. Knowing that my touch would bring pleasure at many levels, the women were feeling some rightness in their strange situation.
The fifth morning after Dragon Day, I told my ladies, “Your time of choosing between the Dragon and a life elsewhere comes at dawn of the fourth day from now. Before that time comes, you must each spend a night at my side. I tell you this now so that you may decide among yourselves the order of your sleeping the first three nights. I will choose the fourth night’s companion. And do not worry; you will each go virgin to the man in your new life or to the Dragon, whichever you choose.”
That evening, Marija stood at the door of the cell. She had picked a nightgown of sheerest muslin and done her hair in a tight braid that started midway up her head and snaked down to mid-back. Wisely, she was perfumed, and wisely, she had chosen no makeup or jewelry—she knew I would be all over her body and the makeup wouldn’t stand a chance.
“Bind her,” I said, and the other two brought up ropes. The three now made quite a team. Marija arched her back and slid her arms far behind her, where Ana wrapped her forearms while Adrijana wrapped her upper arms. She swung her head around, alternately watching me, the floor, and behind her, as her braid of raven hair moved like a sensuous snake and her soft breasts bobbed in time with the tightening of the ropes until, in seconds, her arms were covered with rope from wrist to forearm. When I opened the cell door, she glided out and I locked it behind her. Then I brought her to the large bed I had prepared just outside the cell, so that all three would learn from each night’s experience.
I guided Marija by her dark braid. Familiar with my touch now, she moved ahead of me in little steps, and changed her direction quickly and easily as a well-trained horse when I pulled right or left on the braid. When I brought her to a halt, she waited, patiently but expectantly. I circled her, enjoying her fine clothing and fine figure, brought up a hand and touched her, still circling. I freed the loose knot at one shoulder of the muslin gown, then the other, and the gown slid down around her feet. The sessions at the creek side had taught her well; she was no longer shy or embarrassed. I admired her excellent torso. She was slim, almost boyish, and the light highlighted the subtle crease that ran up and down the center of her chest and stomach.
I spun her to face away and loosed the ropes on her arms. She paused before she brought them in front of her and massaged her shoulders—bondage pleased her now.
“Remove my clothes,” I ordered her.
Marija turned, exploring my body as she undid the buttons on my gown, starting with the sleeves, then moving to my neck. I didn’t have to tell her to be sensuous doing this. I knew if she chose to live she would make a fine wife or concubine—and I didn’t doubt she would. As the last of my own clothes dropped off, I took her by the arms, kissed her gently, and sank with her into the bed.
When I woke, Marija was cuddled beside me, giggling. I saw that it was morning but not early morning. On the other side of the bars Ana and Adrijana were waiting, somewhat impatiently, for us to rise. They were already dressed.
“You could at least let us out to fix you breakfast,” said Adrijana.
“Hmm … not a bad idea!” I answered, and with a magical sweep of one arm I rotated the lock mechanism on the cell. “Have at it … while I have at this fair maiden once more.” I kissed Marija yet again, and rolled on top of her. She giggled again.
At the pond later that morning, Marija was quite dreamy and the other two had to dunk her a couple of times to wake her up. I became ever more certain she would choose life, and that it would be a good life for her.
That evening I was surprised to see Adrijana at the cell door. I had expected her to wait until the last possible day. She was entirely naked, her hair unbound, with just enough oil that it didn’t fly away but rather rolled languidly around her head and shoulders.
“Bind her,” I said.
But as the other two approached with ropes, she brushed them away and pointed at me. “If you want me, Your Excellency, you must take me!” Her tone was defiant, but there was great confidence in her eyes. I was already finding the situation exciting.
“What do you propose, my dear?”
“Strip wrestling. If I win, I get to take some of your clothes off. If you win, you can take some of your clothes off.”
I laughed at this straight-faced comedy from a woman who, just days ago, was to be Dragon-burned at the stake for revolutionary ideas. The world is indeed full of surprises.
“You’re on,” I said, and opened the door.
We faced off across the bed, and Adrijana launched into me. She did not win many falls, though she gave the wrestling full effort. She tried to control my limbs, she shifted her weight to gain an advantage, she dodged nimbly. She fought clean, not using pressure points or scratching, and fairly quietly, with some grunts but no screaming or cursing. In between matches, after I pinned and subdued her, she gave full effort to frolicking, too. Adrijana was a lot of woman! Yoked with the right man, they would shake their world.
And what endurance Adrijana had! When I woke late again the next morning, it was I who found myself as drowsy as Ana had been the day before. I joined the three women in the pool and let them bathe and massage me.
That day, I continually thought about Adrijana. She was exciting, but so independent that she would be very hard to place. And because she would make such a strong impression, the odds of Squirrel’s Perch discovering that she was alive were higher than I liked.