Here She Rules: The Chronicles of Erla: Book 1 (7 page)

“When do you want us to start patrolling the borders?”
 

“Will two weeks be sufficient to train the women? They are already battle-hardened and well-trained,” the Queen said.

“It will give them enough of a start; I can begin with the rudimentary techniques, and I definitely need sword training,” Cassie responded. She was suddenly eager to begin training her warriors.

Her warriors . . . 

Excitement filled her. Bloodshed aside, this would be an interesting challenge.

Nera waved a hand, and three of her slaves picked up instruments and began to play softly.

The other slaves removed the table and gently wiped the Ladies hands with warm cloths as the women reclined back onto cushions which were deftly placed behind them.

Cassie sipped her Mull slowly as Nera resumed their conversation.

“You needn’t begin training immediately. If you require a rest, I can send patrols out now to do some peacekeeping.”

Suddenly, Nera sat up and clapped her hands, startling Cassie. “Either way, I would have you order patrols to comb the borders now; the information gathered will give us a better idea of what we face.” A slave ran up to the women and bowed.

“Tell the Lady Kara her presence is required immediately,” the Queen said, and the slave ran to do her bidding.

“You know Kara as she was with me the day I was attacked.”
 

“Yes, I remember her,” Cassie said. Kara was a tall, dark-haired bold woman with striking gray eyes as Cassie recalled. She possessed a strong sense of duty, and Cassie was relieved that someone so capable was to be her right-hand man—or woman—as it were.
 

Within moments, Kara arrived, and strode purposefully towards Nera and Cassie before she dropped to one knee before Queen Nera. 

“You sent for me, My Lady?”
 

“Yes, Kara. Your Commander has orders.”

Kara, still kneeling, shifted so that she faced Cassie. “My Lady Cassandra, it is my great honor to serve you and to serve with you,” Kara said as she bowed her head.
 

“Rise, Lady Kara. I am deeply honored to have such a warrior as you as my Second-in-Command.” Kara lifted her head, and her eyebrows rose. A startled look was now on her face.

Oh, damn! What faux pas have I just committed?

“Lady, you honor me too greatly. I feel I am not worthy of such a position!” Kara smiled widely at Cassie and the Queen, her face practically glowing.

Okay . . . I guess I just promoted her . . . I hope this will be all right with Nera!

“I know you will make me proud. Now, I wish for you to order patrols of the outlying villages, and tell your women to prepare for training. I will show them my style of combat, and I expect to learn yours as well.” Kara rose, bowed to the Queen and to Cassie, who advised, “Kara, make sure the villagers prepare themselves for the serious possibility of marauding Trevians.”

“It will be done, My Lady!”

“You may go now, Kara, and ready your troops,” the Queen said, dismissing her, and Kara bowed once again as she left the room.

“Nera, I hope I have not overstepped, I had assumed Lady Kara already held the position. . .” Cassie trailed off.

Nera waved her hand and said, “Not at all. It is a position she well deserves. Commander Sula's Second-in-Command also died in that battle. Another needs to be chosen and Kara is a fine choice.”

“I feel comfortable with Kara and her abilities; she will serve our people well I believe,” Cassie said confidently, inwardly hoping she was right.

“Indeed, she will. She is loyal and true, so I am quite pleased. The two of you will be a formidable team.”

“Thank you, Your Highness,” Cassie said as she stretched. “We will begin training tomorrow; I need no extra time off.”

“Excellent! I shall most likely come to observe for a time, and I wish to participate in some of your training.” Cassie nodded her head in acknowledgement. She had momentarily forgotten Erla’s Queens were also warriors.
 

“Your Highness, if it meets with your approval, I would like to take advantage of the remaining daylight and have one of my slaves take me on a brief tour; I have not yet seen the outside of the Palace.”
 

“Please do. If you have any questions, let me know.”
 

The women rose together. Nera embraced Cassie and kissed her on both cheeks before walking her to the door. Cassie bowed as she left the room.
 

As she entered her quarters, Cassie’s eyes lit on Aidan’s bright eyes and decided at that moment to choose him to take her on her tour. She very clearly remembered the feel of him in her arms and his intensity when he made love, and those memories sent little shivers down her spine.
 

“Aidan,” Cassie began as he sprang to his feet eagerly, “I wish for you to give me a tour of the castle grounds.”
 

Aidan smiled and moved to her side while the others had pretty pouts on their faces, which they quickly covered with bowed heads.
 

“We shall return soon,” she said to them, and they all lifted their heads to smile at her.
 

Aidan took Cassie outside to show her the beauties of the Palace grounds. She enjoyed the weather because although it was warm, it lacked the stifling humidity of Georgia in the summer.
 

The sun slid lower in a lavender-blue sunset, and clouds tinged with gold drifted lazily as Aidan told her the weather remained like this most of the year. They had a rainy season which consisted of two months, but otherwise, the weather was idyllic.
 

The Palace sat on a rise and, from their vantage point, she could see past the fertile farmlands and surrounding marketplaces to the darkness of the forested land which nearly encircled the city.
 

She remembered clearly the beauty of the jungle-like forest in which she had awoken from her coma after having passed through the rift leading to the Portal. She found herself hoping that if this was a delusion or a coma that she would never come out of it. This world seemed nearly perfect, and her old life seemed a million miles away.
 

Cassie held Aidan’s hand as they walked, swinging their arms lazily.
 

All of her slaves had begun leaving their hair loose, having observed her pleasure in it, and she admired the fading light in his russet hair. He looked at her shyly with his amazing emerald eyes.
 

“Mistress, you are so beautiful.” It was barely a whisper, practically a sigh, and Cassie reached out and caressed his face as he was so very beautiful himself.
 

“Thank you, Aidan.”
 

“No, Mistress. Thank you. Thank you again and again for choosing me. I know men with my coloring are not very desirable, and I know not why you chose me; I only thank the gods for it!”
 

Cassie pulled Aidan towards her and wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him close. He sighed and embraced her tightly, his nose buried in her neck, taking in her scent. He was sublimely happy and so grateful for her precious affection.
 

His heavily muscled form pressed closely to her, and she reveled in his strength—strength which she alone controlled. She felt a surge of lust generated by the power she held over him. She wondered if this is how men had felt throughout the ages, enjoying their power over women.
 

Cassie decided she was finished with feeling guilty. This was obviously her life now, and she was going to enjoy it. She soothed her conscience by vowing to take care of them and to never be cruel.
 

She couldn’t change the way things were done here, but she could make her part of it good. In fact, she realized she no longer wanted to change it; the seductive charms of this world were something she no longer wished to fight.
 

They stood clasped in a tight embrace for several minutes before she stepped back, smiling up and into his face.
 

“Aidan, you are so beautiful that when I look at you, I want to touch you, taste you, and feel you inside me. Never feel that you are less than any of others. The Queen Herself desires you. Surely, that is praise enough in itself?”
 

“The Queen . . . She wants me . . . She desires . . . 
me
?” he asked. His voice was full of wonder and disbelief.
 

“Oh, yes! And, it will very difficult for me to not send you to her after my description of your prowess. She asked that I send you to her when I am ‘sated’ with you. I don’t think such a time will come soon, so I may just have to relinquish you to her for a night.” Cassie chuckled at his astonished face.
 

Aidan was so overcome by her words that she had bound him to her more tightly than any ownership papers ever could have.

They returned to walking through the magnificent flower beds in the Queen’s Garden. Rose-like flowers gave off the sweetest sultry fragrance, and it mingled sweetly with orange-colored blossoms which smelled like jasmine. Aidan named the blooms and told her if they had any medicinal value in addition to being beautiful.
 

As darkness slowly descended, slaves came around and lit torches, lighting their path back to the Palace, and they slowly followed the path in the torchlight.
 

Upon returning to her chambers, she found the others playing a card game with strange round cards, but she was too tired to even be curious. Cassie was very sleepy, and she knew she would have to be well-rested tomorrow for her first training session.
 

They looked up and smiled when she and Aidan entered, jumping to their feet.
 

She told them she would be training in the morning and gently kissed them each goodnight, ignoring the looks of longing they sent her way. She had neither the energy nor the desire to bring even one of them to her bed that night.

V

Cassie woke early the following morning and threw on her robe. She walked out of her bedroom and saw her men were just getting up themselves, having fallen asleep on the sofas.
 

When they saw her, they rose quickly, and she asked for some clothing for training, since she felt certain the silken outfits she had been wearing just would not do.
 

They brought her a leather ensemble consisting of a sleeveless vest and pants. The leather was soft as butter, and it didn’t squeak at all as she twisted. They helped her to put on soft leather boots, which laced over the pants, while she quickly braided her thick hair and tied it with a leather string. Kai strapped weapon holders on her hips and across her back as Arn came forth holding a broadsword and slid it into the sheath on her hip. Aidan handed her a long dagger, which she slid into the sheath at her waist.
 

“How do I look?” Cassie laughed as they stared at her in awe. Desire and admiration were plainly etched on their features.

“Beautiful, My Lady,” they chorused.
 

The sight of her in her warrior’s training gear sent thrills of desire through each man. Their Lady’s strength and prowess was very arousing to them, and they trembled in her presence. Cassie turned to leave, throwing them a kiss over her shoulder.
 

Cassie strode through the halls towards the training fields. Her progress was scrutinized by every slave she passed; some looked at her with fear and others with barely concealed desire.

Unbeknownst to Cassie, she was the epitome of what every male—and quite a few female slaves—desired. She had strength and beauty. Word was already out about her kindness. They all wished to be as blessed as her slaves.

When Cassie reached the training fields, they were occupied by hundreds of warriors, all of whom snapped to attention when she arrived.

Kara turned, placed one arm across her breast, and bowed.
 

“Good Morning, Commander!”
 

“Good Morning, Kara. Are we ready to begin?”
 

“Indeed, Commander!” There was a sparkle in her eye which gave away her love of her profession.
 

“Good.” Cassie turned and faced the warriors. Addressing Kara, Cassie instructed, “Line them up.”

Just then, the Queen approached, outfitted in her training gear.
 

“Commander, were you going to start without me?” Nera asked as she smiled at Cassie.
 

“Most certainly not, Your Highness,” Cassie said as she bowed to her.
 

Nera joined the warriors in the front row—much to Cassie’s surprise—and motioned for Cassie to begin.
 

Cassie started them out with basic movements such as kicks, punches, and blocks. They worked on these until it was time for the noon meal. Cassie was engrossed in her work and was so oblivious to the passing of time that it was only when slaves began bringing out the food for the midday meal that she became aware of her hunger. The warriors were in good shape and kept up with her, taking well to this new type of fighting.
 

She overheard many conversations between them, praising the new and different techniques and talking about how well they could be incorporated with their existing method of combat. Their words eased the tension within her.
 

Cassie went to sit down at a nearby table and was joined by Nera and Kara as slaves quickly brought plates of food and fruit juice and set the meal before them.
 

“So, how are we doing?” Nera asked as Kara remained silent, waiting for Cassie’s response.
 

“I am impressed by their positive attitudes, and I am very pleased with how quickly they are catching onto the new techniques. Your troops are in excellent condition, and their self-discipline shows in their training,” Cassie enthused, tearing into some roasted meat. Cassie was also very impressed by the Queen. She was catching on to the Karate style of fighting very quickly as was Kara.