Here She Rules: The Chronicles of Erla: Book 1 (27 page)

“Forgive me, My Lady. I did not know it was you. I meant no disrespect to one of your exalted position.” The woman bowed and scraped in saccharine sweetness, and Cassie was sickened by her kowtowing.
 

“Since you have no wish to keep this slave, I will take him and find him a new household. If you would be so kind as to write me a transfer of ownership, then I will take him and go.” Cassie took five gold pieces from the bag at her waist, and the woman’s eyes nearly popped out of her head.
 

The sum Cassie had given her would have bought two young, healthy pleasure slaves, and this one was getting older; the woman no longer used him for her pleasure. She hastily wrote out the transfer and gave it to Cassie.
 

Cassie bent down and touched the slave’s shoulder, and he flinched, moaning. He looked up, cringing, and saw Cassie as she helped him to stand. Seeing the torn flesh on his back and the blood seeping through the remaining fabric, she was enraged. Tears continued to run down the slave’s face. His eyes were downcast as he quaked in front of her.
 

The slave appeared to be in his late forties with gray streaking his dark hair, but he was still quite handsome.
 

“Come with me. I will get someone to clean and bandage your back.” The slave nodded and then nearly fainted when he tried to walk, so Cassie put his arm over her shoulder and helped him away from the scene of his beating. She looked around and saw that she wasn’t far from Kara’s and decided to take him there.
 

Several minutes later, they made it to Kara’s door with Cassie half-dragging the injured slave. She pounded on the door, and one of Kara’s slaves opened it and hastily grabbed the man and carried him to a chair. The pressure on the slave’s shoulder made him cry out as Kara came running from her bed chamber and froze when she saw the slave and Cassie.
 

“What has happened?”
 

Cassie quickly told her what had occurred as one of Kara’s slaves ran to get a physician, and Kara called her other two slaves to carry him to a bedchamber. The men tried to be careful, but there was no way to do it without causing him more discomfort.
 

They finally laid him on the bed on his stomach and set about removing his ragged clothing, baring his wounds fully to their view. They all gasped at the bloody mess which was the man’s back. Just then, the physician came, saw the slave, and immediately set to work. Kara led Cassie to the other room and poured her a cold cup of fruit juice.

“So, you are saving strays now?” Kara quipped, her mouth quirked in amusement.

“It made me so angry, Kara; there was no need to do this to the man. If you are that angered or unhappy with them, sell them, but to indulge in this type of brutality . . . ugh! It was as bad as the Trevians, but this was worse because it was done to one of our own people
by
one of our own people!”

“I do not believe in abusing slaves. They are intelligent people. They can be reasoned with and trained to please. There is no need to beat them in my opinion,” Kara said. “Some women, I am ashamed to admit, however, simply
enjoy
beating them.”

“Well, I hope you will help me find a place for him.”

“You paid five gold pieces for a man his age and you don’t intend to keep him?” Kara was amused. “The likes of him could be bought for a tenth of that price.”

“Well, I have to admit I wasn’t thinking too rationally at the time. I really wanted to strangle the bitch. Besides, I can afford it,” Cassie said with a laugh.

“You could keep him as a house slave and get your money out of him.”

“No, my house is full, and my men care for it and me quite well,” Cassie said, smiling fondly.

“Well, it is your choice. I would take him on, but I just don’t have the need or space. If nothing else, we can always send him to the Centre,” Kara said. Cassie nodded. It was a good idea.
 

The physician came out and briefly told Cassie that his wounds would heal, but he needed rest and medicine. Kara told Cassie he could remain there with her, and her slaves would tend him.

“Thank you, Kara.”
 

Cassie shook her head. “Well, so much for my peaceful shopping excursion!”

“Did you come to shop? I would be glad to accompany you if you still wish to go,” Kara said.

“Yes. I definitely need to get my mind off of this. Let’s go.”

The women wandered through the market buying clothing, trinkets and foodstuffs. Cassie purchased candy for her slaves and new clothing for them as well. Kara laughed and said she was spoiling them—to which Cassie replied that they were worth it.

They parted ways at Kara’s door after checking on the injured slave, and Cassie was followed home by a for-hire slave, who was loaded down with her purchases. When she arrived at her chambers, she could hear the men in the bathing room.
 

She had the slave place her items on the sofa and dismissed him, walking to the bathing room and looking at her men while they washed themselves.
 

They smiled when they became aware of her presence, and Cassie told them to take their time. They needed the soak because their behinds were sure to be sore after their riding lesson.

Cassie was still feeling restless, so she left her chambers and walked through the halls, studying the murals which covered the walls. As she reached the end of the corridor, an arm snaked around her waist and a hand covered her mouth with a foul-smelling cloth. She instinctively began to fight to extricate herself when her vision blurred and she lost consciousness.

XVII

Nera rose and stretched. She was smiling and feeling joyful that the accord had been reached and that the visiting royals would leave the following day. She made promises to visit their Kingdoms in the near future, but she wasn’t sure just how soon those visits would occur. As for the immediate future, she did expect Nyles to “visit” her personal chambers tonight as he would leave early in the morning.
 

She turned to a beautiful female slave and told her she would be attending her Queen as well as the King of Serlenn this night, so she needed to clean and prepare herself. The girl smiled and nodded, honored to have been so chosen.
 

Nera’s thoughts shifted to Cassie, and she decided to visit her friend and put her mind at ease regarding the outcome of the talks—as positive as they seemed. When Nera reached Cassie’s chambers and knocked, the door was answered very quickly by Mika, and she smiled at him, running her hand across his bronzed chest as she entered.
 

Mika returned her smile and bowed low.

“Where is your Lady, Mika?” she asked while scanning the room. All of Cassie’s slaves had arisen from the sofas and were making their obeisance to the Queen.

“She has gone out, Beloved Highness, but she did not mention where.” Mika bowed again and smiled into Nera’s eyes.

“You are too beautiful, Mika. As are the rest of you. Your Lady is a fortunate woman.”

“Forgive me for contradicting you, Beloved Highness, but it is we who are blessed to have such a wonderful Mistress.” Nera smiled affectionately at his devotion and patted his cheek. The other slaves directed beatific smiles at the Queen.

“So you are, and I am blessed to have her as my friend and Commander.” She turned to go, and as Mika held the door for her, she added, “When she returns, tell her I wish to speak with her.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Mika said, bowing as the Queen swept out.

The following morning, Nera, Kara, and a group of Erla’s high-ranking courtiers stood on the steps of the Palace wishing the departing dignitaries a good journey. Nera was peeved that Cassandra had not shown up. She understood there may have been some awkwardness, but for her to shirk her duties was uncalled for, and it reflected badly upon the both of them. It disappointed her because she thought Cassie was above such infantile behavior, and she inwardly vowed to have a long talk with her.

King Nyles bowed to Nera and kissed her hand. This action was swiftly copied by Prince Nall and then by King Darien.

“We are saddened that we are unable to say farewell to your Commander. Will you pass along our regrets to her?” Nyles asked.

Nall murmured something similar and quickly mounted his horse. King Darien bowed and said his farewell before leaping onto his horse’s back.

"I'll pass your sentiments along, and I apologize on behalf of my Commander for her absence; it is surely something important to keep her from bidding you farewell. Goodbye, My Lords and safe journey."

Nera lifted her hand in farewell, mentally heaving a sigh of relief that mingled with her irritation at her Commander’s absence.

Kara was suddenly struck with a very bad feeling as she watched the delegation prepare to leave. She had been concerned about her friend’s strange absence, but her instincts were telling her that something was very wrong, and the stilted goodbyes of Nall and Darien seemed very strange to her all of a sudden.
 

The noblemen took the front of the line, and their combined forces fell in behind them. King Nyles turned in the saddle and lifted his arm in farewell, and the procession slowly left Erla accompanied by the cheers of the onlookers. Frowning, Kara’s eyes fixed on the rigid backs of Darien and Nall as a sense of foreboding overtook her.

Once they were out of sight, Kara turned to Nera and said, “Something is not right here. Where is Cassandra, and why is it that Darien and Nall were acting so strangely?” Nera’s eyes widened. She hadn’t considered the idea of there being foul play involved in Cassie’s absence. The two women turned and moved quickly into the Palace, making a beeline for Cassie’s quarters.
 

They burst into the room without knocking and found Cassie’s slaves pacing. All of the men shared the same red eyes and tight expressions.

“Where is she?” Nera demanded.

From their looks, she immediately thought Cassie was ill or hurt.
 

They looked at each other, and then Mika answered, “My Queen, we have not seen her since yesterday. We have looked everywhere, and she is not to be found!” Tears slipped from his golden eyes.
 

The women looked at each of the men and noted their shared fear as well as the tears welling in all of their eyes.

“You must be calm. We
will
find Cassandra,” Kara said. Then, with a meaningful glance at Nera, they left. The women stopped when the door closed behind them, and they looked at each other grimly.

“They took her! I know it! They have taken Cassie, and I will kill them all!” Kara was snarling. She was livid; she was truly angrier than she had ever been.

“No! I claim that right. I go now to change into something more appropriate for the task.” Nera spun and headed to her quarters.
 

Kara ran out of the Palace shouting orders for two hundred of their best warriors to join them in the task of recovering their Commander. Soldiers sprinted to raise the Call to Arms, and the news spread like wildfire as Kara swung onto a horse and rode to her home to ready herself. A short time later, they assembled. Nera and Kara—both armed to the teeth—led the charge to overtake the departing Serlenn and Destian processions.
 

Within five miles, they met the rear guard. The foreign warriors, seeing who was approaching, allowed them to continue unhindered. Nera and Kara galloped wildly towards the front of the procession—accompanied by thirty warriors.
 

At the clamor, King Nyles, King Darien, and Prince Nall all turned their horses and gazed in astonishment at the women, who seemed hell-bent on committing some act of vengeance. Kara pulled her sword, and, stopping her horse, she leveled it at Darien’s throat. His eyes bulged as the steel nicked his Adam’s apple.

“What is the meaning of this?” King Nyles demanded as he was surrounded by the Erlan warriors, and the clearing rang with the sound of swords being drawn by every warrior assembled.

“We have come to recover what was stolen from us, Nyles,” Nera gritted out. Her eyes blazed as she held her sword to Nyles’ chest.
 

None of the royals had had an opportunity to draw their weapons, and all were being held at sword point by the angry women. All of the soldiers in the vicinity had their swords drawn warily as the drama unfolded before them.

“Nera, what in all of the gods’ names are you talking about? How dare you accuse me of thievery?! What is it you think I have stolen?” Nyles was now angry in his own right, and his eyes flashed blue fire.

“I will have the return of my Commander, or I will hand you your heart on the end of my blade!” Nera replied.

“What the devil are you talking about? Your Commander is not with us.” Nyles’ eyes widened as the implication sank in. “I am not in the habit of taking women against their will.”

“Wait! Are you saying Lady Cassandra is missing?” Darien’s voice rose and then lowered before Kara’s sword pierced his throat.

“What has happened? Are you sure she is missing?” Nall asked.

Kara and Nera looked at the men suspiciously. “Search the caravan. I assure you, Your Highness, you will not find the Lady Cassandra with us,” Darien ground out.

Nera narrowed her eyes, and then she motioned for the warriors to search for their Lady.
 

The assembled group sat silently, distrustfully watching one another as the procession was carefully searched by Erla’s warriors. After some time, Kara’s Second, Sama, returned and told Kara that there was no sign of the Commander. They looked at each other uneasily, and then the women slowly lowered their swords. There was a collective sigh as the entire company sheathed their weapons.

“Forgive me, King Nyles, King Darien. I jumped to conclusions, and it was most discourteous to hold you at sword-point. My only defense is my concern over the welfare of my friend,” Kara said, bowing in her saddle.

“You are forgiven, Lady. I understand the reason for your actions.”