Here She Rules: The Chronicles of Erla: Book 1 (2 page)

“Wait! You know how I came to be here? How do I get home?” Cassie swayed and stumbled a bit. “I don’t . . . feel . . . so . . . good . . .” As she began to crumple to the ground, she was deftly caught by the warrior whom the Queen had addressed as Kara.
 

The woman placed her gently on the back of a horse while the others assembled a makeshift stretcher to carry their Queen back to their home.

“Warriors, let us return swiftly to the Palace to care for our guest, and get my physician to do something about this shoulder.” The Queen’s voice shook with pain. “Leave a detail to take back our wounded and bury the dead.”

“Yes, Your Highness. It shall be done.” Orders were given, and the main body of the regiment turned and headed towards the glittering city in the distance.

II

Cassie fought through layers of consciousness to find herself lying on an opulently draped bed in an elegantly appointed room which had a decidedly Middle Eastern flair. Her head ached unmercifully as she stared at the draping fabric above her until the soft sound of a door opening had her sitting up abruptly. The pain in her head intensified cruelly in response. She moaned and lowered her head into her hands, rubbing her temples.

“Forgive me, Lady.” The richly toned voice was melodically deep and soothing. “I did not mean to awaken you; I only wished to see if you were well.” The words were spoken by the man before her, who could only be described as beautiful.
 

Jet black hair tumbled across his shoulders as luminous golden eyes observed her shyly before he gracefully dropped to his knees on the floor beside the bed, head bowed.

“It’s all right; I was awake. Who are you?” she asked.

“I am called Mika if the name pleases you. If it does not, I will be called by whatever name gives you pleasure.” His head remained bowed. “Our Beloved Queen Nera has sent me to be yours—a gift for your valor.”

“A gift . . .?” Cassie swallowed convulsively.

“Yes, My Lady. If I may say, it is an honor to belong to so brave and beautiful a Mistress. Truly, My Lady, I am infinitely privileged to belong to one such as you,” he said.

“Mika, you know I am not from this world, don’t you?”

“Yes, My Lady. You came to us from the Portal,” he replied.
 

“On my world, things are very different from how they are here,” she said, and he nodded slightly, still kneeling and looking at the floor.

“Then, tell me, is it customary for people to own other people here?”

“Yes, My Lady. In this country, the men and lesser females are the chattel of the Dominant Females as it is in many other countries.” He briefly felt curiosity about her world, but quickly shrugged it away.

Cassie decided it was best not to comment at the present time; she didn’t want to commit a social faux pas which could possibly be her undoing.
 

If any of this was even real.

She briefly contemplated the potentially delightful ramifications of a country ruled by women with beautiful men serving them and providing for their every whim.
 

Alrighty then . . . 

She puffed out a breath, becoming more and more certain she was hallucinating or was actually lying in a hospital bed with a concussion, in a coma, or something else to that effect.

She suddenly looked down, realized she was naked, and snatched the sheet up over her bare breasts.

“Mika, where are my clothes?”

“They are being laundered, My Lady, but Her Royal Highness has foreseen your needs and has sent clothing for you. She charges me to say that if you need anything else, anything at all, you need only to say so, and your needs will be met immediately.” His voice, warm and silky, was creating sensations in her belly.

“OK. Well, will you get them, please? I would like to dress.” She hadn’t finished speaking before he gracefully jumped to his feet and moved to a dresser on the other side of the room, quickly returning with a silken pile of clothing.

He stopped beside the low bed, held up a short, deep red tunic which was cut in Grecian style and looked at her expectantly.

Cassie swallowed; she wasn’t comfortable being nude in front of a stranger—even one that was apparently now her property. She gathered her courage and dropped the sheet before rising to her feet beside him.

Mika gasped silently. His new Lady was beautiful beyond his hopes. His eyes surreptitiously ran down the length of her body, taking in her curves and defined muscles gained from years of martial arts training. Her hair was a deep brown, shot with red highlights, and her sparkling blue-green eyes captivated him.
 

She was so beautiful and powerful that he could not believe his good fortune. Excitement at the thought of lying with her had his pulse racing.

Cassie was aware she was considered a pretty woman. Since her husband’s death though, she hadn’t felt very attractive or sexy. The combination of adoration and desire in this man’s eyes, however, was making her feel absolutely gorgeous.
 

She felt a pang of guilt.

This man is a slave . . . human property. How can I exist in a world where people are enslaved? Perhaps this is all just a very kinky dream or hallucination.

After Mika had finished dressing her, she admired the fabric of the tunic she now wore. It fell just to mid-thigh, her arms were bare, and there were no underwear garments. That was a fact which would take some getting used to!

Mika slid a golden bands, which were etched with rampant, fire-breathing dragons, up arms to rest on her biceps. When she asked about them, he told her it was the mark of the Queen’s Defenders, an elite force of warriors, whose duty it was to protect the Queen from danger.

Cassie frowned slightly—not understanding why it had been given to her. Apparently, she was now some sort of musketeer.

Her eyes landed on the bare skin of Mika’s chest, and he straightened his tall frame under her scrutiny.
 

Unable to resist, she reached out and touched his tawny, satiny flesh.
 

Her hand glided across his muscled chest, and she bit back a moan of sheer female appreciation. His breathing increased under her hand, and she had the distinct pleasure of watching those golden eyes turn molten.

“You are so beautiful, Mika,” Cassie said, smiling into his eyes, and he quickly lowered them, but not before she saw his look of pleasure.
 

“Are all of the men of Erla like you?”

“My Lady, the men here maintain themselves for the pleasure of their Ladies.”

“So, all of you have amazing physiques?”

Mika flushed deeply, his eyes still fixed upon her feet.

“I believe I am considered handsome, My Lady, but there are others you may find more pleasing than I . . .” There was a catch in his voice at the last, and a fearful look appeared upon his downcast face.

Cassie lifted his face with her fingertips, and his eyes met hers.

“Don’t be frightened, Mika; I believe I am well-pleased with you so far.” A broad smile covered his face at that, and he was so compelling that she felt a strong shaft of desire.

“My Lady . . .” he spoke hesitantly.

“Yes?”

“Her Beloved Highness requests you join her in the Throne Room when you are clad; may I dress your hair?”

“Yes, please Mika.  . . and hurry! I would like to know more about this place before I leave.”

“You wish to leave, Mistress? You have only now come through the Portal; I don’t think you will find a better place to abide than Erla, and considering you have saved the life of our Queen, you are exalted here!” His voice rose in distress.

Mika was alarmed—terrified really—at the thought of losing the woman before him. He dropped once again to his knees. He felt particularly blessed to have been given to this woman, and if he earned her pleasure, he might even become first amongst her slaves.
 

He was affected by her more than by any other he had belonged to previously. Her beauty, the scent of her skin, and her low-pitched voice all filled him with desire. To have such a woman as his Mistress was beyond any dream he had ever had.

“Well, of course I want to go back to my home,” Cassie replied with a slight frown at his all too apparent distress.

“Oh, Mistress, please forgive me . . . for I must tell you the unhappy news. The Portal opens only every one hundred cycles, and it has never taken anyone from our world . . . not that we know of . . .” He raised fearful eyes to Cassie’s face. He had been beaten for less dreadful news in the past. The blood drained from Cassie’s face, and she quickly sat on the bed, her headache roaring back in full force.

“You mean I can never go home? I cannot leave?” She dropped her head into her hands, rubbing her temples against the pain.

“Forgive me! Please, forgive me!” Mika spoke low, but urgently, his heart beating hard in his chest. He was certain she would cast him out now; he just knew he would lose his beautiful, strong Mistress and the better life she represented. Fear engulfed him, and tears gathered in his golden eyes.

Mika had been the slave of a high-ranking warrior in the Queen’s Army who had perished in the raid in which Cassie had saved Queen Nera. His Mistress had been cruel, often using him violently, and she was nearly always drunk when not on duty. He had been desperately unhappy while in her thrall.

Mika’s household skills were impressive, but he could never seem to satisfy his former Mistress, and he longed for a Lady he could love. He believed Lady Cassandra could be such a Lady. If she cast him out now, then he would be sold like the lowliest of field slaves.

Cassie was sitting, holding her pounding head, trying to digest the enormity of her situation when she heard him sniff quietly. He raised his tear-filled eyes to hers in silent entreaty.

“Mika, what’s wrong?”

“Please, My Lady . . . Please do not cast me out. I will do anything to please you.”
 

“Cast . . . Mika, don’t be ridiculous.” Cassie looked at him in wonder. “I am not angry with you. I am just upset because I cannot go home.”

Like a child, his face cleared immediately, and he sighed, happy again.

“It is not bad here, Mistress. You are esteemed, and I live to please only you. I am happy to do so. If there is anything you want, you need only speak of it, and it shall be yours,” he informed her, smiling radiantly into her eyes. Then, he noticed her continuous rubbing of her head.
 

“Are you in pain, My Lady? The Queen’s physician left a draught. It seems head pain is a side effect of Portal journeys.” He pulled a small, brown vial from a pocket on the belt which held up his brief loin covering and handed it to her.

“I will get you some wine, My Lady, for the physician said it would be very bitter.” He rose gracefully and moved quickly from the room. He returned just as quickly with a cut crystal goblet full of a rich red beverage.

Cassie uncorked the vial and sniffed cautiously. It had no strong odor, so she threw it back. The liquid was bitter and tasted faintly like aspirin. Once finished, she followed it with a sip of the sweet red wine from the goblet.

“Thank you, Mika.” She cleared her throat and set the wine down on the floor next to the bed. “Come, fix my hair. We shouldn’t keep the Queen waiting.” Cassie rose, and Mika deftly brushed her hair before setting a golden circlet atop her head to prevent her hair from falling onto her face.

“I hope you can be happy here, Mistress.” Mika smiled softly into her eyes, and Cassie melted.
 

Adoration like this is addictive.

She reached up to kiss his lips softly. Mika eagerly returned the gesture, and Cassie had to step back to keep from plundering his soft mouth and making them even later than they already were.

Cassie indicated Mika should lead her to the Queen, and she was amused at how uncomfortable he seemed in the act of leading her; he was definitely more comfortable in a subservient role. She recalled all the times her husband had taken her arm and ushered her wherever they went, and she smiled. It seemed neither she nor Mika were comfortable in their present roles.

They approached a huge set of doors, and Mika stepped behind her as they swung open to admit them.

Cassie’s breath caught at the grandeur before her. The Throne Room was sumptuously appointed in marble and gold. Beautiful statues which depicted armored women lined the walls, and cherubs smiled down from the ceilings. Rich cushions were strewn about, and elegantly clad women as well as those wearing warrior’s garb lounged or mingled throughout the room.
 

Cassie looked towards the end of the room and saw the Queen seated on a throne which was flanked by two smaller throne-like chairs.

Queen Nera stood when she saw Cassie approach, and silence filled the room almost immediately. Cassie found herself the object of every eye, and perspiration beaded on her lip, which she tried to casually wipe away without revealing her inner turmoil.

“Ladies,” the Queen’s voice rang out, “today, we welcome a Portal Traveler and heroine. This is Lady Cassandra. She came to us from the Otherworld and saved my life this very morning. The marauding brutes of Trevia were routed and the victory was ours!” Nera smiled and held her hand out to Cassie, who had just arrived at the foot of the throne.
 

Cassie accepted the Queen’s hand, and Nera smiled into Cassie’s eyes before she continued.
 

“Let us welcome her as one of our own, and let it be known that her status is of the highest due to her valor. Any desire she has shall be fulfilled without question.” The crowd of women—courtiers and warriors alike—cheered loudly and called out Cassie’s name.

“This day, I bestow upon her the dual ranks of Commander of the Queen’s Defenders and Commander of Erla’s Army if she will accept these commissions. Lady Cassandra, the former puts you in charge of the elite force of warriors dedicated to the protection of me and my family; even now, you wear the mark of the dragon, which is exclusive to this force,” the Queen said gesturing to the golden bands encircling Cassie’s biceps. Returning to the crowd, Nera continued, “Commander Sula, as you know, lost her life this day whilst defending her Queen. I can imagine no better warrior to replace her than the one who saw me delivered from those barbarians.” The women cheered loudly once more.