Her Highness, His Hostage

[haremfaery]

Jiya walked slowly into the room. She would have a nice long soak in the bath when she returned. Her mind was preoccupied with whether she should tell the princess anything that had transpired between the Baron and her.

Kormaldi looked happy and refreshed, and as darkly handsome as before in his velvet clothing.

"I am not hungry. Thank you." She did not dally, but launched into her reason for see Kormaldi right away. The faster she was away from him the less likely he would try to touch her again. Their agreement had been her maidenhead, not for them to be lovers. "I see that very little of the princess' clothing and jewels have been returned, and only two servants are in attendance in her chambers. I must meet with the others to ensure you have not lied to me." Jiya said the the Baron's broad back. She was not going to sit. This audience should not take long.

 

[IRP2011]

"I see that very little of the princess' clothing and jewels have been returned," Jiya said, her tone confronting, "and only two servants are in attendance in her chambers. I must meet with the others to ensure you have not lied to me."

Kormaldi glanced back to her, a sly smile upon his face. He liked this girl; she had spunk, spine, and knew what she wanted, for herself and for her Lady. If only she knew, the powerful Noble thought, eying again the body he'd spoiled with such delight the night before, just how vulnerable and dangerous a position she is in...

"Your ladies servants are fine," he countered, unwilling to give in to any demands this morning. "When you return to your quarters, question the servants I did give up ... by my own choice if you recall. They will tell you that all are at hand and being cared for."

She looked about to speak -- about to argue -- so Kormaldi turned away and continued on with a firm tone, picking at the platters as he made his way about the table. "I will need something from you today in regards to your Lady, Princess Hasini. It is a great deal to ask, but I dare say that a Countess has the fortitude to make this happen."

He popped a small tart into his mouth, grimacing at the sharp lemon flavor, then smiling at the pleasure of its delicious, thick filling. As he continued talking, he made his way slowly toward Jiya. "Yesterday ... shortly before I made you the the Countess of Ultach, an emissary from the Sultan arrived, a dashing young Lieutenant ... whose name I have suddenly forgotten ... this man arrived with only a small guard to question me about whether I had played a hand in the ... what was the word he used, it was very ... uncharacteristically European for him ... oh, yes, dastardly ... this dastardly plot to kidnap the Princess Hasini."

Kormaldi was now standing within arm's length of Jiya, but he made no moves to give the impression that he was about to repeat his performance of the night before. No, this moment was about diplomacy, not lust; lust would be found later, but a path to achieving his goals was at hand now.

"My man Jakob told this young Lieutenant -- who, by the way, asked about you by name as well ... Jakob tells me the man looked more concerned than he should have been for a servant." Kormaldi waved the thought away and continued about the room once more. "So, my man Jakob ... he told this man that he was unaware of any kidnapping and that I was not in the Keep but would be available this morning to see him. He and his men struck camp beyond the walls and are waiting for me to meet with them."

He turned to face her, once again slowly moving her way. "Which brings us to you, my dear Jiya. I need you to convince your Lady to tell this man that I played no hand in her kidnapping ... to tell this Lieutenant that my men saved her from the Great Forest Mercenaries ... that I personally rescued her from the clutches of their leader ... then brought her here for her own safety."

Jiya's reaction, her slowly changing expression was priceless, and just what Kormaldi had expected from her. Before she could respond, though, he added with a firm tone, "The only other option will be for my men to ride down this Lieutenant and all of his men, killing them in the most brutal fashion. After which, the Princess's female servants will be given over to the Forest Mercenaries, who will use them ... for their own personally means, before selling them. The Princess will remain here ... as will you ... no longer Countess Ultach, but just poor little Jiya, the Baron's next sexual consort."

He smiled once more, a wide, evil grin, before adding, "I say next ... because the Princess, herself, will be first."

 

[haremfaery]

((Just how dangerous a position is this for Jiya? I guess siding with Kormaldi alone is bad enough.))

"I was not by your choice that you did this, but by the deal we struck/ Do not act as if you did this out of generosity." Jiya said to Kormaldi's back as he turned from her.

Jiya listened and frowned at the mention of the Lieutenant.

Jiya swallowed. A lieutenant? She kept her face impassive. She could not be sure who it was unless she knew a name. And even then, she might not know him. They saw no men in the harem, although sometimes they would watch the throne room through the ornately carved wooden screens. Or was this another of Kormaldi's manipulations, telling her that the man asked for her by name?

Then she heard what Kormaldi planned on doing if she could not convince the princess to say Kormaldi was their rescuer.

Jiya swallowed. "What would you have have done if the princess was alone in her wagon? If you did not have me to convince her?"

And here it was. The threat. Kormaldi would kill the sultan's men and sully the princess if Jiya could not convince the princess to lie.

"That would leave the sultan with no choice but to send more men. You risk war. No, you invite war."

"Would you actually dishonor the princess? Would you sink so low?" Jiya's anger built. She closed the gap between them and slapped him hard. "You promised me that you would make me Countess of Ultach. We sealed that agreement. At the price of my maidenhead." She balled her hands into fists to keep from slapping him again. "Is this what the Baron Kormaldi's word is worth?"

 

[IRP2011]

"You promised me that you would make me Countess of Ultach," Jiya snapped at Kormaldi as she slapped him across the face. "We sealed that agreement. At the price of my maidenhead. Is this what the Baron Kormaldi's word is worth?"

He snatched both of her wrists tightly in his fist, so much so that she grimaced in pain. He stared into her dramatic eyes for a long moment ... then began laughing. "My dear Jiya. You express your concern for the Princess, as a servant should. But ... you finish your rampage with concern for your own future as a Noble woman."

With a sudden movement, he whipped her arms down and around behind her back, hugging her with not just his arms but, in a fashion, her own; he spun her where she stood, lifted the light weight girl off her feet and pressed her against the heavy, thick cloth tapestry hanging from the wall. He pressed his body to close to her, an intimate embrace ... should they have been in bed not against the Keep's wall, and should Kormaldi not have been giving Jiya a hard look from so close to her face that another fraction of an inch, he would have been kissing her.

"Jiya," he said firmly, adjusting his body against her own. She felt good against him, and he yearned to be inside her again. But he knew he wouldn't; knew he couldn't. "You will get what you want. You will get what I promised. Land, troops ... a beautiful, secure home on a hill, from which you can look out upon the peasants slaving away in the fields to earn the taxes the Sultan will demand."

He adjusted his body again, pushing his groin firmly against hers. He erection, rapidly forming, pressed between the meeting of her thighs. "And in return ... you will return to your quarters ... right now ... and you will tell your Lady that I will meet her for lunch."

He allowed Jiya to slide down the wall to her feet again, then released her arms and backed away. He was smiling at her devilishly; he knew he had the upper hand, and that she would do his bidding. She was a loyal servant and would not fail the Princess; and she was an ambitious, young woman, who had lived in the shadow of wealth and power, and now saw her chance to rise into that Noble sunshine.

He turned his back to her and began picking at the table of food again. "And Jiya. You will suggest to her that she be civil and polite--" He turned, and gave her youthful body a quick once over look before adding, "--and as compliant and generous as you have been yourself."

He popped a dried fig into his mouth and, wondering whether the girl would continue her outrage or flee from his presence, called out loudly, "Guard!"

 

[haremfaery]

Kormaldi's smugness made Jiya want to spit at him. She struggled against him and realized he only enjoyed it more. She was angry at him and more angry at herself to discover that despite everything she found him attractive. If he were not so arrogant, she might entertain thoughts of falling in love with the man. But that was a childish fantasy. She needed her wits about her.

She slid down the wall and once Kormaldi released her, she straightened her dress. She glared at his back wishing she had a dagger to plunge between his shoulder blades.

"The princess will not be 'compliant' as you call it. She is the princess and only child of the sultan. Her honour will not be compromised."

He popped a dried fig into his mouth and, wondering whether the girl would continue her outrage or flee from his presence, called out loudly, "Guard!"

Jiya jumped at little at Kormaldi's shout. But walked to the table anyway. She stayed out of his reach. "You will not touch the princess." Jiya picked up a piece of fruit and ate it trying to look nonchalant. "It will leave the sultan no choice should any harm come to her. I think I know what you wish to do. You are a hard man, Baron. A warrior. The princess is not a battle to be won. She is more like a...horse to be won over." She looked up at him coyly. "A man of your charisma could woo the princess until she begged the sultan to be married to you. I urge you," she looked at him with stoney eyes, "not to treat the princess as you have treated me."

She picked up a strawberry and bite into it brutally before turning away to follow the guard out of the door.

((And I'll do another post with Jiya speaking to the princess, but i thought that may take awhile, so here's this in case you get to it before I finish the rest.))

 

[IRP2011]

Kormaldi turned to watch Jiya depart, watching her tight, little ass sway a bit with a walk that seemed labored from the previous night's activities. He shook his head and, once the Guard closed the door again, laughed aloud at the girl's brashness.

So, she knew what the Baron wanted of the Princess; and she knew how Kormaldi should go about getting it, as well. He considered her presentation and couldn't help but wonder: in explaining to him the way to go about winning over Hasini, was she more concerned about the safety of her Lady or about the Baron getting what he wanted, which of course was a precursor to her getting what she wanted.

Either way, Kormaldi knew she was correct; he would soften his stance, alter his approach. If Jiya thought he needed to woo Hasini, he would.

As he ordered the Guards to invite the Princess and all of her entourage to a feast that evening, then set the staff to preparing it, he considered Jiya again. Kormaldi had elevated at least half a dozen women -- Nobles and peasants alike -- to titled positions within his realm; and -- to this day, when he made his quarterly tour of the Barony -- he still bedded most of them. He would enjoy continuing his relationship with this feisty girl, even long after each of them had their own spouse.

 

[haremfaery]

Jiya returned to the princess' rooms with the guards in her wake. They opened the door for her. The two maids in the room backed away toward the true princess.

The senior guard cleared his throat."The Baron Kormaldi cordially invites Her Majesty, The Princess Hasini, to a feast tonight to be attended by her entourage." he bowed and left with the other guards.

Hasini looked at Jiya. "What does this mean?"

"I must speak with you. In private." Jiya took her hand and pulled her into the bathing chamber. "We may speak while you prepare yourself."

"But--"

"He knows. Kormaldi knows. That you are the true princess. I think he may have known all along." Jiya said quietly. She undressed the princess deftly. "He is a clever man. be wary of him, but...He does not wish to bring more fighting to the Empire. That I do believe."

She poured oils into the bath, scenting it with vanilla and jasmine, sandalwood and essence of apricot. Hasini stepped into the warm water.

"Let me speak, you must know this before you meet the Baron tonight." Jiya went on. The Sultan has sent a small group of his men to confront Kormaldi. The Baron will kill them all to the man if you do not speak to the Lieutenant and tell him that we were rescued from the mercenaries by the Baron."

"That is horrible! How could I tell such a lie. I was taken against my will. Why hasn't the Baron made ransom demands of my father?"

"Princess, the baron has made a brash move to be sure, but I truly believe he wants peace. I think he is interested in you, my princess, but he saw no other way to gain your notice than to keep you from your meeting with Prince Dayen ((did I give him a name already?))."

"That is preposterous!" Hasini slapped the water making a splash. "If the Baron wishes to be a suitor, that he should have spoken to my father, not stolen my away like a thief. He killed soldiers of the crown!"

"To show he means no harm, he has brought all of your retinue close by and has your clothing and other goods stored safely." Jiya took a cloth and stroked the princess' back with it. "Give him a chance Hasini, he means well. I expect the rumours of your beauty has driven him to rashness." She said flattering.

"So you are saying the Baron kidnapped me in order to force my father to do what?" Hasini demanded.

"I think the princess should speak to the baron herself. I am not privy to his thoughts." Jiya held up a towel to dry Hasini.

"If you do not tell the sultan's lieutenant that the baron came to our rescue...He will kill them all. He can be a brutal man."

"And what did he do alone with you?" Hasini searched Jiya's face.

"He toyed with me. He knew I was not the princess and sought to make me admit it on my own. Or perhaps he was not certain and wished to be totally convinced. He threatened that he would let Jacob rape you, because you are just a servant. I had to tell him then."

"I see."

"Find me the richest gown you can, and jewelry. I am very curious to meet the Baron. Help me with my hair." Hasini sat before a dressing table. "And tell me, now that you have seen the Baron when not frightened out of your wits...did you find him handsome?"

Jiya called the other servants in to help ready the princess. She prayed that she was doing the right thing.

((We can skip ahead to the feast. Will the Lieutenant be there? When will Hasini have to speak to him?))

 

[IRP2011]

Kormaldi was already in place in the Dark Room when the Guards returned Jiya to her Lady. He listened to the invitation for dinner being offered, then listened with great interest as the true servant informed the true Princess of the morning's happenings, and the day the the Baron had prescribed to occur.

He also took keen interest in seeing Hasini strip once again, stepping up into the bath tub that was practically within arms reach beyond the viewing slits hid within the wall's decor. As his penis grew to size again, he knew that if he hadn't had Jiya already, he likely couldn't have waited to take Hasini, and that rush to lust would have destroyed all he had spent months planning.

"I think he is interested in you, my princess," Jiya explained to her Lady, "but he saw no other way to gain your notice than to keep you from your meeting with Prince Dayen."

Ahhhh, so that was the reason for the trip, my Princess. Kormaldi had heard rumors of an impending, royal wedding, and he knew that there had to have been a reason for Hasini to be traveling such untamed lands with such a huge entourage and two wagons full of gowns, jewels, and other furnishings. A marriage between the Sultan's House and Dayen's would indeed be a political and military match ... and, of course, Kormaldi was not going to let anything like that happen. He needed this wedding, for his Barony, for his people, for himself, and for his heirs-to-be.

"And what did he do alone with you?" Hasini asked Jiya suddenly, her gaze firmly upon the girl for any revealing reaction.

"He toyed with me," Jiya answered with confidence, surprising Kormaldi greatly. He'd expected her to tell all, from the near rape two nights before, to the loss of purity the night following, to the promise of land and title for her complicity in wooing the Princess. He listened to Jiya tell the rest.

Then, he listened with ever growing interest as Hasini asked, "And tell me, now that you have seen the Baron when not frightened out of your wits...did you find him handsome?"

Kormaldi waited, anxiously, for Jiya's response. But it never came; the girl busied herself with finishing her preparations of the Princess, and Hasini in turn did not ask the question again. Kormaldi couldn't help but wonder what the Princess made of her girl's silence. He also couldn't help but wonder why Hasini had asked the question in the first place. Did she suspect Jiya had fallen for his charm and rugged looks; or was she herself beginning to see in Kormaldi that charm, those looks.

He'd find out at dinner ... he hoped.



He was already in the Great Hall when the Princess Hasini, followed by Jiya and her closest servants entered and approached the long oak table; the rest of her entourage was seated in silence about the table, their unsettling glances at Kormaldi shifting to their Lady as they quickly rose in respect to her presence.

Kormaldi rose as well, stunned at her beauty. The Baron had seen this girl naked -- seen her lie in bed with the young woman he'd deflowered -- and yet here, now, he'd never seen any creature as beautiful and erotic as Hasini was this instant. He gestured her to her seat and invited her servants to occupy the empty chairs close to hers. Before she'd even had a chance to sit, he snapped his fingers in the air; from a half a dozen doors, servants flooded into the room with trays full of every food he could find on such short notice.

"Feast, everyone," Kormaldi said in a loud, inviting voice. He raised a wooden mug and toasted, "Feast well tonight, for tomorrow we may all die in battle, in bed, or in vain."

As he lifted the mug to his mouth, being careful not to obscure his vision of his future Baroness as he sipped long and slow at the thick, sweet wine.

 

[haremfaery]

Princess Hasini came into the room with a delicate tinkling like windchimes that was their jewelry. Hasini was loaded with gold jewelry, in her hair, around her neck, covering her arms. A chain ran from her left ear to her left nostril. Unseen, her feet were adored with ankles that sounded with every step. Her sari was ornate and heavily embroidered. Glimpses of bare skin on her midriff could be seen on her right side.

Jiya was dressed more sedately in comparison. The part of her sari that draped from hip to shoulder was sheer showing the embroidered choli beneath.

Hasini was happy to see her people looking safe, but wondered where the contingent from her father might be. But then, she had not yet told the Baron if she would lie for him. The man was brash. But that was the way of these people in the western lands. They lacked subtlety.

"I hardly think that an appropriate toast when entertaining the daughter of your liege." Jiya said. "Dying in battle may soon be your lot if this situation is not diffused."

Hasini's people did not touch their food or drink waiting as they were for her to begin.

"Princess, if I may propose a toast?" Jiya lifted her mug. "To Baron Kormaldi, without whose dramatic arrival in the forest, we would not be here at all." She looked at him over the rim and drank.

 

[IRP2011]

Kormaldi smiled -- more broadly than he meant to -- at Jiya's toast. "Toast ... to me!" He laughed heartily, quickly adding, "No, no ... I am of course having fun. I am but a humble servant to his majesty the Sultan, and, in kind--" Kormaldi extended his mug in the direction of the Princess. "--to his daughter. My arrival in the forest ... my victory over the ruthless, murderous villains who killed so many of my Lady's valiant men ... 'twas my duty."

Kormaldi raised the mug to his mouth, drinking long and slow as his gaze shifted from the hopeful Jiya to the angered Hasini and, face by face, to the servants who sat at the long table and the smaller tables -- for the lesser servants -- that had been assembled throughout the Great Hall. The Baron had little doubt that Hasini and Jiya would support his story when the Lieutenant came before them; they had to, as lives -- not just the lives of unknown soldiers but of close, personal servants as well -- we at stake.

But to truly pull this off, Hasini had to convince the others that Kormaldi had not led the attack; he had been careful at the forest kidnapping to only expose himself to those in the lead coach -- the Princess and the future Countess Ultach -- and to the soldiers escorting it, all of whom now were dead and buried in a hidden, forest grave.

Could Hasini convince the others that they had truly been rescued? Would she want to? Would she feign her compliance so long as lives were at stake, and then once the others were safe, turn on Kormaldi and have him and his strung up upon the Keep's walls for the people to stare at and the crows to pick at?

Kormaldi knew he had had no choice but to take what Jiya called a rash move in the kidnapping. Without great change in the local and Imperial politics, the Barony of Kormaldi was doomed. So ... this was simply how things were to be.

He looked around again; the room was as quiet and lively as a morgue following a devastating battle. He called out the musicians and a trio of jesters; a pair of well-built men in loin clothes began performing feats of strength, while a quartet of lovely dancers in extremely sheer clothing began a choreographed dance that soon became little more than flirting with the men of Hasini's entourage.

And all the while that this was taking place, the servants were bringing in more food and wine and filling the guests' plates eagerly ... and Kormaldi, himself, was casually making his way from his end of the table toward the Princess's until he was standing directly behind her, clapping and singing and urging on the entertainers.

He leaned over the Princess and said in a polite voice, "The Lieutenant is waiting to speak to you, m'lady ... after dinner..." And leaning in a bit closer, finishing with a harder tone that he was attempting to prevent from sounding threatening, "...after you show your people that you are enjoying your meal ... the show ... and my company at my table."

 

[haremfaery]

((Those a new pictures of Hasini and Jiya in my previous post, to give an idea of what they are wearing. I forgot to mention that.))

Jiya thought her toast was clever. And true. If the Baron had not waylaid their coaches and wagons, they would be dining with Prince Dayan and the court of his father. However, it seemed Kormaldi had missed her carefully worded toast, either that, or he chose to ignore it and take it as a compliment.

Hasini looked at Jiya. Neither was happy to drink to the baron's 'victory' over the mercenaries. Many good men had been killed trying to protect the princess. Kormaldi's tactics, killing and risking war to bring peace to the empire was like fucking for virginity, Jiya thought ruefully. But in the end the princess drank. She smiled at her assembled retainers and servants.

"We must all give thanks to the Baron for his gracious hospitality." Hasini added and raised her glass. The assembled seemed confused, but drank with the princess.

The women, including the princess were not accustomed to feasting in a mixed group, nor of having male entertainers. Hasini was fascinated and embarrassed with the scantily clad men and their rippling muscles. She tried to focus on the jester's and their antics instead.

Hasini noted that her people were availing themselves of the feast. The two servants that had been brought to her rooms had told her they had been kept in the dungeons. She knew from Jiya that they were treading a thin line. She wished she was a clever girl like Jiya.

She took a piece of bread and scooped up some of the meat, some sort of fowl, she thought, and ate it.

She had been so busy avoiding looking at the strong men, that Hasini did not realized the baron had come up behind her until he spoke.

"I look forward to speaking to my father's Lieutenant." Hasini said. "And setting his mind at ease. My father must be in a state after not receiving any news of me." She turned to Jiya, "The Baron sets a lovely table, does he not? I am happy that the baron treats my people as if they were his own." Indeed the man was making an effort to make this a festive occasion.

 

[IRP2011]

The feast and festivities continued, and as they did so, to Kormaldi's surprise and delight, some of the Princess's entourage began to show enjoyment. The Baron invited the younger women about the table to participate in the dancing, but none would, only lowering their eyes submissively or looking to their Lady for direction.

Kormaldi looked to Hasini and, with a knowing tone somewhere between a command and a polite request, said, "I would be very pleased if the Princess and her ladies would show us one of their traditional dances."

He knew the reaction he would get from the Princess, so when she scowled at him, he wasn't surprised. He cast his gaze to Jiya, looking to her hard for support. Then he smiled, and looked back to Hasini ... and waited.

 

[haremfaery]

((Sorry it took so long to post--I got distracted watching belly dance videos/))

Jiya looked at Kormaldi, "The baron must understand that in the harem, no men are in attendance. Our dances are for women only. That we are at the baron's table, men and women together, already presses propriety. But out of respect for the Baron, for his efforts to rescue the princess, and for his generous hospitality, the princess has deigned to attend this feast." She looked meaningfully at Kormaldi. "Please do not press the princess in this way."

If this is the way the man sought to woo the princess, he needed lessons.

"However, since the baron seems so interested in our dances, with the princess' leave, I would be happy to demonstrate a dance. This is a flirtation dance and one that may be danced in mixed company." What did Jiya have to lose after all? Her honor and innocence had already been compromised beyond repair, what did it matter if she danced for him and those assembled?

Flirtation dance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vi5fa2ZLwo

And something more provocative http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Yg6Mcp7taw&feature=related If Kormaldi wants something even sexier, he will have to ask for a private demonstration.

The princess looked at Jiya and finally nodded her assent. Jiya stood with a cold smile to Kormaldi. She went to the musicians and in a low voice talked to them trying to find something they could play that would be appropriate for the style of dancing the women did in the palace.

It was not meant to be a provocative dance. She did enjoy dancing and once she began she forgot the tense situation they were all in and lost herself in the music. Hasini felt more at home hearing the music and dancing she grew up with.

At Jiya's invitation and with the princess' assent, a few of the servants joined her for a dance. It lightened the mood considerably. Hasini sat back and smiled. She drank more of the very good wine. She snapped her fingers in the peculiar way they had of doing it at the Sultan's court. She even smiled at Kormaldi.

 

[IRP2011]

Kormaldi enjoyed the dance. He'd been privileged to have had similar dances presented to him when first he vowed his loyalty in the Sultan's court. But it was much different seeing the very sensual dance performed by the woman he'd deflowered so recently; and seeing the other women joining in -- women also in his care, some of whom might not be as chaste and prude as the Princess and, formerly, her chief servant -- only helped in swelling his penis down below the thick oak of the dinner table.

Even more so than the dance, the Baron enjoyed watching Hasini. She seemed to thoroughly enjoy watching the dance of her own culture, of hearing his musicians' recreating -- to the best of their ability -- songs they'd likely only heard from the bands of nomads who'd begun traveling through the Barony after the treaties with the Sultan were signed years earlier.

She seemed happy -- or, at least, happier -- and Kormaldi needed Hasini happy. He would do anything he could -- short of releasing her -- to make her happy. She would never consent to his plan of misleading the Lieutenant if she didn't feel she could be happy, to some degree, within the walls of the Keep; she would never consent to a political marriage is she couldn't be happy with Kormaldi's treatment of her, her servants, and her people; and, more pressing -- whether they married or not -- she would never part her thighs for him, as Jiya had done, unless she thought that doing so would make her happy.

Happy, the Baron had decided, was the new goal...



The mood of the evening continued to lighten, even becoming festive among some of the attendees. Servants brought out platters of rich cakes, tart fruit puddings, and sweet berry and crisp wraps. And, of course, the wine continued to flow.

Kormaldi kept a sharp eye upon the consumption of both Jiya and Hasini ... as he himself, consumed just enough to keep his mood high but his control even higher.

(OOC -- Not suggesting that either girl is or is not drinking; just wanted to see what you would do with it.)

 

[haremfaery]

((I had originally thought that the princess would be the clever one, but since Jiya came on the scene, I think I will go with the trope of the brace and clever servant... And I think Hasini is more vain and shallow and naive... we'll see.))

Jiya drank judiciously. She could not afford drunkenness. The wine was sweet and went down easily. Too easy in fact. She noted Kormaldi also was not drinking deep.

Hasini seemed especially pleased with the desserts brought forth. She sampled many and urged some on Jiya feeding her with her own hand. Jiya could see the princess was feeling the effect of the wine and did her best to slow the princess down, but the servers kept Hasini's mug filled.

"Dance for me again!" Hasini stroked Jiya's arm. "The Baron is a man of arms, show him what the women of the East can do with a sword." Her eyes sparkled.

Jiya demurred. "The princess has had much to drink and should desist." She whispered. But Hasini pressed her and some of the other ladies joined in the urging. Jiya was known for her sword dancing.

Finally, Jiya could decline no longer. "If I can find an appropriate sword..." She stood feeling Kormaldi's eyes on her. She walked about the room looking at the guards' swords, but they were all wrong. Finally she spotted a sword on the wall and asked a guard to take it down for her. It was a curved Shamshir.

She went to the baron himself, "My lord, if I may have the use of your dagger for awhile?"

She walked to an open space in the room where Hasini and Kormaldi would have a good view.

((http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaNuIzmkRh8 and even more impressive... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCEJueA_JnU))

 

[IRP2011]

"Sire...?" one of the guards standing behind Kormaldi inquired as Jiya began removing one of the swords from the room's far wall. Kormaldi wasn't concerned; he had an idea of what Jiya was preparing for, having heard of but not seen dances that involved everything from swords and daggers to fiery torches and even huge snakes. "It's fine ... leave her."

The baron could feel the Guard's tension, could here his chain mail jangle as he repositioned himself as Jiya approached his master with the large weapon. The weapon had been used against a Kormaldi before, not that the girl nearing him could have known that. His father had been injured in battle -- a skirmish, really -- during the period when negotiations were still ongoing between the Barony and the Sultan's growing empire. The assailant had used the Shamshir to cut through the now-dead Baron's chain mail, leaving a neat little slice diagonally across his chest ... just before the Baron himself put his own dagger into the man's throat and, in a fit of rage, cut the man's head off and stuck it on a pole.

The current Baron smiled at the memory and, as Jiya approached and asked to borrow his dagger -- the dagger that had slain one of her country men just a few years earlier -- Kormaldi wondered whether knowledge of the weapons' pasts would add to or take from the presentation she was about to give.

He chose to keep quiet, turned over his weapon, and urged the musicians to fulfill the girl's need for accompaniment.

The dance was unbelievable, like nothing he'd ever experienced before. Before starting, Jiya allowed a layer of her gown to fall to the wayside, giving her freer movement -- and exposing a portion of her mid-drift, which caused some of the entourage's women to gasp and some of Kormaldi's men to salivate. Jiya's body twisted and curled like a snake working it's way through the trees, balancing the large Shamshir atop her head and writhing about the floor in ways most women would have been too embarrassed to do in his bed.

And while his attention seemed to most to be fully upon the beautiful girl on the floor with the shiny weapons, much of it was inconspicuously upon the other female of interest, who to Kormaldi's joy was handling her own shiny object, her metal cup of wine, which she had been raising to her lips with regular frequency since Jiya's departure to the floor.

As Jiya's performance continued, Kormaldi rose and made his way slowly to Hasini's position. He leaned over her and asked politely, "Could her highness spare me a quiet moment to discuss the future of her people...?"

Kormaldi had no intent of taking the Sultan's daughter tonight -- at least, not during dinner. But he saw an opportunity, his first since Hasini's arrival here, to be alone with her for a moment without having to bind her first, or lift her and carry her away as the Guard's had done with Jiya the night before.

As Hasini turned her attention away from the dance -- her wine again at her mouth -- he gestured toward a door just a few steps away.

"I assure you," Kormaldi said with his politest voice, "No harm or shame shall be visited upon the Princess. Shall we...?

 

[haremfaery]

While the baron was thinking about past uses for the weapons Jiya appropriated for her dance, she was thinking of the tale of Morgiana who danced with two daggers and ended her performance by killing one of her master's guests. A guest who was planning to kill the girl's master. She wondered how close she would be able to get to him before Kormaldi's own men stepped in. If they would act first or wait for orders. But killing Kormaldi would do nothing to help the empire in the long run, that she was sure of. It would plunge the barony into upheaval. There was no clear heir as she could recall.

She cast those thoughts aside as she needed to focus on her dance. The blades were sharp and a misstep would draw blood or worse. She lost herself in her performance feeling a little smug that she commanded attention from those assembled.

Jiya did not see the Baron approach the princess, nor did she see the two of them leave the room. The musicians continued to play no less inclined to have Jiya stop dancing than the audience was.

Hasini debated a few moments about going with the baron. It very well could compromise her honor, but she must speak to him to learn more about his plans. She was already resigned to tell her father's lieutenant that the baron has rescued her from the mercenaries.

"If any harm comes to me while under the Baron's care, my father will see him die a thousand deaths." She pronounced with conviction.

Hasini walked in front of Kormaldi. There was a strong sway to her hips, mainly to keep her balance. She had drunk quite a bit a wine and was not accustomed to it.

She walked through the door as Kormaldi held it for her. It opened on a small room, dimly lit with wall sconces.

Being this close to the baron, Hasini was acutely aware of how tall and broad the man was. She did not think that she had ever stood this close to a man other than her father. She looked up at him. She did think him rather handsome. He was not so swarthy as her own people, but his dark eyes were piercing.

 

[IRP2011]

Hasini teetered a bit, the strong alcohol beginning to take its toll on her small form. Kormaldi took the advantage and grasped her arm, then curling his elbow beside her, he slipped her hand into its crook. "Please allow me, Princess."

She resisted a bit, but Kormaldi held firm. He intentionally turned her a different direction, knowing it would throw her off balance and cause her to grasp the inside of his arm for support. "See? Better, yes?"

He pointed to a heavily shuttered window and said, I want to show you something. Leading her to the wall, he pulled a large pin and threw open the shutters.

Before them was the Barony of Kormaldi. A vast valley spread out before the Keep, with fields of every color of crop that the land would support, groves of nut and fruit trees -- some in full bloom, others already bearing their gifts -- and beyond it all, the Western Mountains; the sun had just fallen behind one of the large peaks, painting the entire landscape in reds and oranges.

 

[haremfaery]

Hasini's face felt hot from the wine. "I think Your Lordship is too familiar." Hasini said when Kormaldi took her by the arm. But she did not let go of his arm. It felt strong and firm and she had never been this close to a man, let alone touched one.

She walked with him to the window and looked out. The colors were beautiful, so many colors. "It's beautiful." Hasini said in a hushed voice. "I think our clothes in Parsa are so colorful because the land is so colorless. All dry and brown. The gardens of the palace cannot match this."

She turned to Kormaldi, "You said you wished to speak of the future." She looked up at the large man. This close she had to angel her head to see his face. She took a step back putting herself between him and the door.

 

[IRP2011]

Kormaldi looked out upon the landscape again, considering her words. "Ironic ... with the exception of the Nobility, our people dress simply ... decorate with the browns and greens and soft colors of our land."

He turned and approached her again; she seemed caught between wanting to stand her ground before the Captor Baron, and desiring to back away from the man. He slowed his approach, yet still approached. "Princess Hasini ... wouldn't it be interesting ... if we ... you and I ... were to bring our two peoples closer ... literally, and figuratively ... bring dull and bright colors both, of your people and mine, of your land and mine ... together..."

He wanted to continue toward suggesting a political marriage, but thought it too early; they were still at great odds with one another, and while the wine might have been relaxing her -- both toward him as her Captor and him as a man -- he still knew she harbored, and rightfully, great resentment toward him.

Let her imagine what you are putting forth, he told himself. Do not spell it out and destroy all...

In her state of inebriation, he wasn't sure whether she was even aware that she'd still been backing slowly as he had been approaching, but his gaze had been not only looking meaningfully into her face but glancing periodically toward the small step the dropped behind her, the mechanisms in his brain timing his words with the moment of opportunity approaching.

Hasini's heel left the stone and she began to flail for balance, and Kormaldi was there, grasping her arms and pulling her firmly to him -- against him -- and assuring her, "I have you...!" And then, softly, down into her surprised face as she looked up to him so inappropriately near, "I have you ... my Princess."

 

[haremfaery]

((Sorry for the delay, I was busy and also dealing with power outages from the hurricane. It really was more an annoyance than anything else.))

"But your barony is already part of the empire. Our people are already united." The wine had made Hasini's mind fuzzy or else she would have been able to understand what Kormaldi was hinting at.

She had been backing away from him, keeping a more appropriate distance between them. Why had she allowed him to take her away from the main hall?

The next thing she knew she was falling. Then Kormaldi had her in his arms, pressed against his chest. her heart thumped and her breathe stopped momentarily. Not from her proximity to the baron, no. It was because she nearly fell.

His chest was so broad. His hands so firm on her arms. She looked into his dark eyes. "The baron has me indeed. I am a prisoner here." She tried to step away from him. "I must return to the feast. I will be missed."

 

[IRP2011]

"I must return to the feast," Hasini said. "I will be missed."

Kormaldi let her pull away, still holding her wrist, then snapped her back into his arms; she was higher against him now, her breasts against her upper chest, her belly against him as his other hand pulled her in at the small of her back ... she was on the toes of her delicate shoes.

He looked deeply into her eyes, their faces only a kiss apart. He held her in a way that, back in the Empire Proper, would have gotten him castrated by a dull blade; her body off set from his just a bit, he could feel her thighs on either side of one of his own, could feel the belt hanging low on her waist separating their otherwise as-one bodies.

His sudden action seemed to disorient her; Kormaldi waited until her expression showed she fully understood how close they were before he whispered, "I ... will miss you, my Princess.

And then, with a hand raised to the base of her skull in a gentle grasp, he brought their mouths together in a passionate kiss...

 

[IRP2011]

deleted. duplicate

 

[haremfaery]

((I hate it when I double post.))

Hasini was mesmerized by the baron's eyes. Like the way a snake will hypnotize it's prey. His voice caressed her in a way his hands dared not.

Then he kissed her. Passionately. Hasini had been kissed before. The women in the harem frequently made liaisons with one another to sate their passions, but it was sensuous thing, gentle and delicate like a fine rain. Kormaldi kiss was a wind, a hot torrid wind whirling her about.

Hasini pushed against his velvet covered chest with her fists to make him stop.

 

[IRP2011]

The Baron had hoped to take advantage of the Princess' drunken state, to embrace her while her modern education of etiquette and propriety were vulnerable to the ancient, animal lust that was deep within every breeding age female. He thought he felt desire -- latent, sub-conscious -- in her lips, even if her hands fought to put distance between their bodies.

He wrap his free hand around behind her as he bent his knees to more match their heights; his mouth remained pressed to hers as he tried to persuade her lips apart with her tongue. At the small of her back, the hand pulled her even. Tighter against him as he again rose to height; Hasini's toed we're barely touching.

(OOC -- if hasini continues to fight, she will get away and he will release his hold; fyi for your posy)