Into the Saracen (closed for haremfaery)

[saedo]

Diana stamped back up the path from the stream to where they'd stopped to camp last night. The sky was grey with slight streaks of orange as the sun neared the horizon. She'd have preferred another hour of sleep, but they needed to be on the road soon to be ready for the fair's opening.

Diana's steps were made heavier by the two large buckets of water clenched in her fists. The water from the mountain-fed stream was still icy cold, a fact she'd experienced firsthand when she'd taken a quick bath in it. Her robe clung to her supple curves in damp spots and her nipples jutted out like mountain peaks, but washing off the sweat and dust of the journey had been worth the cold.

She frowned as she entered camp. She'd awoken her companions before she'd departed to the stream, but there was no sign of movement as she entered. Diana set down the buckets and strode towards the wagon parked nearby.

Diana's fist drew back to pound on the door and awaken the sleeping inhabitants, but a sound from within stayed her hand. A low, pleasure-filled moan drifted through the wooden frame. Diana rolled her eyes; her companions were clearly not sleeping.

On another morning, Diana would not have hesitated to back barge in and drag the two of them out by their ankles. She could somewhat empathize; a common side-effect of reaching adulthood was a surge in libido. Still, Diana discounted the notion was a passing phase; rather, she ascribed it to a lack of discipline. At nearly a decade senior to her charges, she still felt the same powerful urges; she just knew how to resist such temptations.

Today, however, was a big day for the two novices. After spending their entire childhood in the sequestered homeland of the Saracen, they would be spending their first day amongst the outside world. As such, this morning's session would burn off some of that nervous energy and let them better focus on the day's events.

Fortunately, Diana didn't have long to wait. Both voices began to cry out with greater frequency and volume until each burst into a wailing announcement of sexual release. Diana found her own body aching for similar fulfillment, but stuffed her libido away; as leader, she didn't have time for such indulgence.

After giving them a short minute to enjoy the post-orgasmic bliss, Diana pounded on the wagon door. "I told you two to be up and ready to go ten minutes ago! " she bellowed. "If you're not out here in 20 seconds, it'll be a dozen lashes each!"

A tumult of activity exploded inside. As Diana counted down the final seconds, the door to the cabin burst open and the guilty duo stumbled outside. Cordelia had the lead, her long limbs letting her skip the short wooden steps. Gwendolyn more stumbled than walked, but managed to stay upright.

Diana glared up at them as they stood before her. Diana was unusually short by Saracen standards, so both her charges had nearly half a foot on her. Despite the disparity, there was no question who was in charge.

"Today is a big day, so we don't have time for lectures. Gwendolyn, put out the fire and pack up the gear!" Diana punctuated her command by swinging a leather strap against Gwen's plump backside which sent her scurrying. "Cordelia, tend to the horses and get them hitched!" Cordelia's leaner frame didn't offer quite the resounding slap as Diana's strap connected, but the young novice flew to action with similar speed.

The motivated girls made quick work of their tasks and in no time the wagon was ready to go. Diana then marched them both down to the stream and had them strip to their smallclothes to bathe. "You both stink of sex!" she growled. "I'll not be having today's customers think we're running a brothel." (Diana didn't add that she herself could do without the distraction to her own libido.) Diana kept them in the frigid water till both were shivering, then had them don fresh undergarments and clean robes. Though their short-hair - a sign of their novice status - was still damp, they were at last presentable.

"Time to go," Diana declared.

~~~~~~~~
The sun was almost fully above the horizon when they reached the Cavendish fairgrounds. Already dozens of vendors were setting up stalls in cool morning air. Diana directed their wagon to a suitable site and directed the girls to set up shop. A small tent next to the wagon was soon festooned with tables displaying their wares.

The Saracen's secluded homeland was also quite fertile and supported a rich agriculture. The Saracen was consequently renowned for its herbalism, including many plants grown nowhere else. Diana knew that as soon as word circulated of the arrival, she would be besieged by customers. Be it rare dyes for clothing, pungent spices for cooking, or various herbal remedies, they could expect to sell out their entire stock by evening.

Of course, not all such attention paid to them would be positive. Few Saracen traveled abroad and no outsiders were allowed in their territory, so their society seemed reclusive and odd to outsiders. That only young females appeared to venture into neighboring territories gave rise to all manner of rumor and tall tale. No doubt some of today's passers-by would show more suspicion than curiosity.

Gwendolyn and Cordelia had been fiercely trained for this. The Saracen had their secrets and sought to be left alone. The novices had been taught that their families depended on not attracting undue interest from outsiders. Today would be their first test of their skills.

Diana squared her shoulders. The girls would do fine. She'd been one of their trainers and had recognized their potential. With experience, they would become veteran Travelers as skilled as she.

The first customers had already appeared. Time to go to work.

 

[haremfaery]

Kasia woke very early. Her spirits were high. It was the first day of Market Fair. The first day was always the best because some of the merchants and artisans sold very quickly.

She enjoyed the festive atmosphere, but most of all she enjoyed all of the new people coming into town. She loved their strange accents and stranger clothing.

She had her list from the cook and a pouch of coins form the innkeeper. She grabbed a piece of bread to munch on her way. She loved the golden light of the early morning. It made everything seem gilded.

The sun also made her hair shine like burnished copper. It brought out the gold highlights in her hair. Her big brown eyes took in everything around her as she hustled to the marketplace. Her skirts were tucked up to keep from getting dirty showing a bit of shapely ankles and calves. She was about average height for a woman, but she was still young and her body had more filling out to do. But the bloom of her hips from her tiny waist promised she would have a fine figure. For now, she thought her breasts were a bit small.

The few men she had been with thought her more than adequate. When money was tight she had been known to do certain things for money. But mostly she had eyes for Jamey who was apprenticed to the blacksmith. She had often tumbled for him. And he promised when his time was through he'd take her away with him to open his own smithy.

She made her way through the fair grounds planning what to buy and in what order. She overheard some folk talking. The Saracens had come. That meant exotic herbs and spices. The Saracens were even more exotic than their wares, and the stories about them...

Kasia was sure that most of them could not possibly be true. Too many of them contradicted each other. Most centered around them having a society of women. She wondered what that could possibly be like. Women in charge of everything.

She definitely wanted to see what they had to offer. The innkeeper would be pleased. They were one of the better inns and known for their food. Having something unusual to spice a meal would add to their reputation.

She inhaled the wonderful scents of the market, fresh bread, fruits, flowers. Were she younger she would have skipped along in her happiness. She made her way to where she was told the Saracens had set up their wagon.

Their tables were already three people deep. Being rather small, she threaded her way through until she got to the front and could look at some of the things. But she forgot the spices for a moment when she saw the Saracens themselves. She had seen Saracens before, but they did not come to town often. She realized she was looking like a gape-faced fool and turned back to the wares. "Excuse me, how much for the white needle and the princess slipper?" She pointed to the items.

 

[saedo]

Diana put her hands on her lower back and stretched. She'd been on her feet for hours and her whole body felt it. As expected, they'd had a steady stream of customers most of the day. She and her assistants had been kept on the move almost constantly.

But the traffic decreased noticeably after midday. The crafters needing dyes had come and gone by late morning. Cooking spices had sold well all day, but eventually dried up in early afternoon; anyone interested in the culinary arts would by then need to begin preparing supper.

"Time to close up," she declared. "We'll not sell much more today." Gwendolyn and Cordelia eagerly agreed and began packing up.

Aside from the brisk sales, Diana was quite pleased with the performance of her charges. They had weathered the social challenges of the day quite well. Cordelia had encountered a rude man who'd called her "a greedy cunt" and spat at her feet when she'd not yielded to his price negotiations. She'd held her ground without showing anger or fear till the vile man stamped off in a huff.

Young Gwen had a different obstacle. A hardy young blacksmith's apprentice took a shine to her and had flirted quite openly with her. A bit rough around the edges, but under different circumstances Diana thought he might make for a pleasurable roll in the hay. Gwen had blushed furiously at one of his ribald comments, but had politely declined his entreaties without upsetting the lad.

Diana offered both praise and critique for the girls as they stowed away their much-reduced inventory. There had been only minor mistakes, but everything was worthy of improvement. This regional market was generally tolerant of strangers, but the Sisterhood didn't always travel to such pleasant environs. What here might be a social gaffe could elsewhere be grounds for drawing weapons. In other places, the Sisterhood traveled in disguise, so a mistake could destroy the facade. Learning from today's missteps could save someone's life down the road.

I also made sure to get their impressions. Despite their fatigue, each eagerly reported on the excitement and anxiety they had experienced on their first day amongst outsiders. Their biggest sale, their most challenging negotiation, the most interesting person they'd seen - all poured out of them in a torrent of words. I listened and nodded as our wagon began making the slow trek out of town.

"Hmm...," I mused. "But Cordelia, you haven't yet mentioned the redheaded maiden. Did you not find her interesting?"

Ordinarily the braver of the two, Cordelia grew oddly silent. A red flush crept up her cheeks as she stared down at her hands. "Yes, she was... interesting," Cordelia murmured.

"Tell us about her," I instructed.

"She bought some white needle and princess slipper and a bit of shepherd's thyme."

"Anything else?" I pressed.

Cordelia opened her mouth, but said nothing. Gwendolyn snorted and interjected, "Her name is Kasia and she's a barmaid buying spices. She also has the most amazing green eyes." She turned to Cordelia and giggled. "You'd know that Cordy, if only you hadn't been so distracted by trying to see down her blouse! "

Cordelia's blush reached her ears and she began to sputter like a tea kettle coming to boil. I intervened. "Cordelia, your fellow novice is right. While you hid your attraction to this girl quite we, you still let it distract you. A danger observed is often a danger avoided.

"Don't feel too proud of yourself, though Gwendolyn. I didn't hear you mention that Kasia works at the Shady Rest Inn or that it is owned by her uncle. Perhaps you were too busy admiring the barmaid's backside?" Now Gwendolyn blushed as bright as Cordelia.

I could empathize somewhat. Among the hordes that had passed our stall today, there had been a handful of attractive faces, but the young Kasia had been the clear stand-out. Her hair almost glowed with copper fire, quite unlike the brunettes and dark blondes that made up the majority of the Sisterhood. (My own hair, black as midnight in the long braid trailing down my back, was slightly less common, but not as unusual as a true red.) Outsiders also tended to be taller than the Saracen, so Kasia seemed quite long-legged by comparison. Kasia's bodice also put her breasts on display; while of only modest dimensions, they bounced and jiggled delightfully. The firm rump I noticed was contrasted by a waist almost as slender as my own, despite the fact that Kasia towered over me by several inches.

"At any rate," I continued, "given how much you two enjoyed observing the lovely barmaid, seems a shame to pass up the opportunity to do it again." I nodded my head towards the fork in the road ahead. "We'll take the east exit to town instead so we can stop by the Shady Rest for a pint and to see if their cook can put the herbs Kasia bought to any use." I smiled at them. "You had a good first day, so a little treat is in order."

 

[haremfaery]

Kasia brought stew and a mug of ale to the rather tall man sitting at the corner table. He inhaled deeply. "After a week on the road, any food cooked in a proper kitchen would be wonderful, but I must say, this smells better than anything I can remember in a long while." He flashed her a smile. "'Twill be even more wonderful to sleep in a proper bed." He paused, "The nights are still cold and it has been awhile since..." He paused suggestively and placed some coins on the table. "Any chance you'd come up later and make sure it's properly warmed?"

She took what was required for the stew and ale. He was not very handsome, but at least he was less aggressive than most who tried to buy her favors.

"I don't know. I shall be working late...and I was up early to attend the Faire and make purchases for my uncle." That was something she usually liked to let patrons know, just in case they thought she was easy, which she wasn't, even if she did occasionally take money for giving a patron a tumble. She still preferred Finn in the stables and expected someday they'd be married. She could do worse, she thought.

She pushed the extra coins back towards the man. "Not tonight, dearie. You be better off at the Blue Ribbon--They've many a girl who will take you to an upstairs room. We run a reputable establishment here."

She went back to the bar to get ale for a group at the other side of the room.

 

[saedo]

"The cook has some skill," Diana mused aloud. "Bit heavy on the pepper, but otherwise quite good." She chewed on another mouthful of stew as she watched her novices.

Cordelia and Gwendolyn were thrilled with their first trip to a tavern. The Sisterhood generally favored wine, so the frothy ale was a novel experience. So too were the patrons. The way outsiders behaved on the streets was quite different from how they drank and sang at the pub. Observing this unfamiliar social dynamic was fascinating to their inexperienced minds.

Seeing Kasia again was also a plus. She was one of five maids, plus the innkeeper and however many denizens worked in the doors to the kitchen. Clearly an old hand at the trade, Kasia expertly balanced trays of food and drink amongst the tables while conversing and flirting with the patrons. No doubt she'd been handling customers since she was but a child, for she had the grace and poise of experience as she glided through the room.

The novices naturally protested when Diana declared it was time to departure. "It's not even sundown," whined Cordelia.

"Time we were on the road, youngling," Diana snapped back. The girls reluctantly gathered their things and returned to the wagon parked in the yard. Diana tossed a coin to the stableboy - a rather appealing young lad in his own right - for caring for the horses and flicked the reins. The Saracen wagon lumbered out into the gathering twilight.

Diana, however, did not take them towards the main highway. Barely a mile outside town, she directed the horses off the road into a small woods.

To her confused novices, Diana said, "As you pointed out, Cordelia, the night is still young. And I think we would all agree that none of us has seen quite enough of the redheaded barmaid." Diana smiled cruelly. "Gwen, prepare dartura root, silver lotus blossom, and a tincture of iocane." Gwendolyn's eyes lit up and Cordelia gasped as the novices recognized their leader's intentions, then each set to work.

Diana reflected on this darker aspect of her people as she removed her robes and put on her dark leather armor. The Saracen generally approached outsiders with a caution bordering on fear. But there were those, particularly among the Travelers, who found such constant need for humility to be a yoke that should be occasionally shed. History showed that the outsiders would destroy the Sisterhood if they lived openly, so many things were denied to them by being confined to the shadows. But what the Saracen could not have openly, sometimes they took in secret.

"If I am not back by dawn, return home without me with all haste," Diana instructed, then departed into the night.

Diana set into a moderate jog that ate up the distance without tiring her. She kept away from the road, her dark leathers and their disjointed dye pattern making her silhouette all but impossible to see in the shadows. In half an hour, her dark shape was sidling along the north side of the Shady Rest Inn.

The stableboy never had a chance. Though Diana's petite size and unlined face made her look like barely more than a youngling, she'd been a veteran Traveler since before the boy had been born. He had barely time for a confused "Oof" as her body launched itself from the hay loft and landed atop his. He had a brief glimpse of a masked face with strangely colored eyes before a damp cloth covered his face. The arms pinning him proved strong as oak while his own fumbled at his attacker. A piercing sweetness filled his nostrils as he struggled and his muscles began to feel like jelly.

Diana stood up from her victim. Dartura root made for a potent sedative. The stableboy would wake up in an hour with some bruises and a hazy recollection of how he'd gotten them.

Kasia proved even easier prey. Diana had observed at the inn that the young barmaid was often dispatched to retrieve items from the storehouse. After fifteen minutes patient waiting, Diana's redheaded intended exited the inn on just such an excursion. Five minutes later, the unconscious barmaid was slung across a stolen horse that Diana was quietly directing into the darkness.

Once outside the range of hearing, Diana set the steed into a steady canter towards the wagon. She glanced down at her captive and smirked; unlike the stableboy, Kasia would be waking up to far more than bruises.

 

[haremfaery]

((Lol, I just saw Princess Bride on the big screen earlier today and it was iocane that was put into the poisoned drink.))

Kasia was disappointed but not surprised that the Saracens kept to themselves and spoke little. She was hoping to gain at least some snippet of information or her brief encounter with them to share with the other patrons after they left. It might have helped her gain higher tips.

Earlier she had brought Finn, the stableboy, his dinner. She had no time to chat with him. The tavern was busy. She would be oin her feet all night fetching and carrying. She had little enough time to flirt to tease out higher tips from the patrons. She would sleep the sound sleep of exhaustion tonight, that was certain.

She made yet another trip out the kitchen door to the storehouse for more hard cheese. She thought she heard something, behind a tree, but decided it was probably someone taking a piss.

Then a hand was holding a cloth to her face and that was the last she remembered.

 

[saedo]

Diana dismounted from the horse a half mile from the wagon. Slinging the unconscious Kasia over her shoulder, she smacked the steed on the rump and sent it trotting off into the darkness. No doubt it would seek out more familiar surroundings and likely wind up at some nearby farm or even back in town.

In all likelihood, she was being overly cautious. No one was likely to link tonight's crimes with the Saracen. After all, they had departed the tavern hours before the mysterious attacks. Moreover, if history was any guide, the stableboy's fragmented memory of his assault would most likely yield a description of large and powerful attacker (if not a small band) since he'd inherently assume only someone bigger and stronger could have laid him senseless. But the Travelers amongst the Saracen knew well that trusting to avoid all bad luck was a fool's game; better to prepare for the worst and be pleased when nothing came to pass.

Diana opened the door to the wagon and carried her cargo inside. Gwendolyn and Cordelia sprang up, eager to see all had worked as planned. Diana surveyed the interior and nodded. The alchemical materials she'd instructed them to prepare were set out on a small table. They'd also cleaned up the interior, clearing a large open space in the center of the wagon. Upon this they'd stacked blankets and a few pillows. Diana grinned; that would make for a comfortable platform for tonight's events.

She slung Kasia off her shoulder and into Cordelia's arms. "Set her down gently. She's starting to come round, so we need to get the potions into her." Indeed, Kasia's eyes remained closed, but her breathing was now ending in low groans.

Gwen handed her a pair of vials. "I followed the recipe to the letter, just as you taught us," she said anxiously.

Diana nodded. Ordinarily, she'd have prepared the potions herself. Both of the key ingredients were potentially very dangerous. Iocane was actually more commonly (at least among those skilled enough to distill it) as a potent poison. In sufficient concentrations and particularly when combined with alcohol, it brought swift (albeit relatively painless) death. But given tonight's tight schedule, she had to delegate and trust that Gwen could perform the task without direct supervision.

"Hold back her head," she directed. Cordelia did so and Diana used the opportunity to tilt the first vial into Kasia's mouth. Kasia was still not conscious and offered little resistance. Diana held the redhead's jaw closed afterwards to prevent any natural instinct to spit out the silvery liquid until she swallowed it down.

Diana repeated the process with the second vial, the contents of this a translucent yellow. Diana gave her just a sip of this one, leaving most in the bottle. Kasia swallowed more readily this time. Only then did Diana relax.

"Lay her down," she directed. "She'll be up soon." Diana sat down at the edge of the blanketed area. "Cordy, why did I give her those two potions?"

Cordelia looked surprised for a moment, but recovered quickly. Diana was one of the most respected Travelers amongst the Saracen, in part because she tested her novices in any circumstance. "The silver lotus in that concentration will induce a sense of warmth and mild euphoria. It will also make her more prone to suggestion. As such, she will be disposed to obey our commands and remain docile, making her easier to control."

"Very good," pronounced Diana. "And the second?"

Cordelia began uncertainly. "Iocane in this form tends to induce amnesia, so she won't be able to remember what happened to her . . . ."

"Any why is that important?" pressed Diana.

Cordelia was at a loss, so Gwen spoke up. "Because we can't have her remembering us tomorrow. Not if we intend to release her alive."

Diana nodded. "Remember that. As an outsider, she is less than us, but that does not mean we must treat her without mercy." Diana's views were typical, but not universal amongst the Saracen. Some Travelers hewed to the old ways, which preached that captive such as Kasia was better disposed of with a sharp blade across the throat. Diana wanted to make sure her novices used violence as a last resort. If all went to plan, Kasia would be sore, and confused when she stumbled back into town tomorrow, but she would be very much alive.

The redhead in question managed to sit up. Her green eyes had a half-lidded aspect to them, partially prompted by the potions she'd ingested. It gave her a sultry look that even Diana admitted was rather appealing.

Kasia looked confused initially, but then her face broke into a broad smile. She waved congenially at everyone as she sat up.

"Kasia, hi," Diana broached. "You just took a little nap, but you're feeling much less tired now, aren't you?"

Kasia yawned and stretched as if just waking up, then opened her eyes fully. She smiled and nodded.

Diana nodded. "You did well, Gwen; the potions are working as planned."

Cordelia licked her lips in anticipation. "Ooh, then I want to go first!" She reached for Kasia's blouse, then snatched it back when Diana slapped it.

"No need for that, Cordy!" Diana snapped. "You're no longer a youngling; show some restraint. Besides, Kasia here will be glad to assist us."

The raven-haired veteran turned back to Kasia. "I'm glad you're feeling better. But you know, it's a bit stuffy and warm in this wagon, isn't it?" Diana waited for Kasia to nod in agreement, then continued. "I bet you would feel much more comfortable if you were wearing less. Why don't you stand up and remove your clothing. Nice and slowly. . . "

Kasia smiled and gave her assent. As prompted, she stood up in the center of the blankets. As her three captors watched with eager anticipation, Kasia's fingers reached for the buttons on her blouse.

 

[haremfaery]

Kasia slowly unbuttoned her blouse watching the three women. She let it hang open then unfastened her full skirt and let it slide down her legs puddling around her feet.

She unhooked her corset and sighed a little as she tossed the constricting garment aside. She stood in her pantaloons and chemise. One strap of the chemise slipped off her shoulder. Her rosy nipples showed through the light fabric.

There was a warmth coursing through her body. She felt happy and at peace with the world. There was a languidness and a sensuousness that filled her. Like the heady wine from Iberia.

She smiled at each in turn. They were such pretty women and friendly. It was so nice of them to let her in their...she looked around. Where were they?

She got distracted by the feel if the pantaloons and rubbed her palm on her thigh. "Shouldn't you get undressed too, if it's so hot in here?" She untied the drawstring at the low rounded neckline of her chemise and then undid the few buttons. It gaped open showing her round firm breasts. She had a scattering of freckles across her chest.

 

[saedo]

Gwendolyn was the first novice to break her awed silence. "She wears so many layers," she murmured, eyes still on Kasia.

Diana chuckled. Kasia had already removed as many articles of clothing as Diana wore, yet the barmaid was baring little more than her calves. Compared to what the Saracen typically wore in their homeland, Kasia seemed heavily encumbered.

"The outsiders are slightly cooler to the touch than we, so I suspect that they are more prone to being chilled. Also, they are not as sophisticated with textiles as we, so they often wear rough but durable outerwear and then an inner garment that is soft against the skin."

Cordelia spoke up as the tops of Kasia's round breasts were revealed. "Her breasts are quite full. Does that mean she's given birth?"

Diana shook her head. "Unlikely. You must remember that though she is approximately the same maturity as you, the outsiders take years longer than we to go from children to adults. Consequently, some of their physical attributes will naturally be larger. For example, that is why many of their kind seem so tall."

"Does that mean... that she's never lain with another?" Cordelia was trying but failing to keep the incredulity out of her voice.

Diana observed Kasia as she unbuttoned the chemise further, revealing the full depth of her cleavage. "Possibly, though again, unlikely. The outsiders are generally not as sexually active as we, but a young woman of her age is unlikely to be celibate. Do you remember from school about how they pair bond?"

Gwen was always the more studious one. "Yes," she piped up. "They call it marriage."

Diana nodded. "Correct. Within certain social strata, it is considered highly desirable for the female to remain a virgin. However, as a barmaid in a tavern, she would not be subject to such expectations. As such, it is more likely she has some limited experience."

The elder glanced over at her eager novices. "Come now, our guest invited you to join her in disrobing. Do not let her feel alone."

Gwen and Cordelia gave each other a glance, then rapidly shed the robes they were wearing. Beneath their robes, they wore the standard undergarments favored by the Saracen. Across their breasts, a simple band of katar cloth was bound. The plant was unique to the Saracen homeland and produced a fiber that produced a thread which felt much like cotton. More unusually was its natural elasticity; fabric made from it could be stretched many times its normal length, yet when released would shrink back to its default size. This property made it particularly useful for clothing which needed to fit snugly yet still allow movement. It also provided welcome support for breasts, particularly amongst the larger chested.

About their hips, the novices wore a similar arrangement of katar banding. Diana noted Kasia's eyes widen slightly as she noted the strange bulge beneath the cloth. Those eyes grew wider still when Gwendolyn and Cordelia shed their last coverings to stand completely naked.
Diana grinned. She always enjoyed this moment of realization on an outsider's face upon first contact with a nude Saracen. Gwendolyn and Cordelia looked for the most part like any naked female outsider. But above each of their hairless pussies bobbed a slender, pink cock.

Diana if Kasia had lain with men in her village, she would likely find these two on the small side. Diana's sexual history included a wide variety of both female and male outsiders, so she knew that young Saracen tended not to have quite as much length or girth. Still, judging by Kasia's reaction, she found the novices' slender shafts impressive enough by their very existence.

Fortunately, the drugs Kasia had imbibed had a calming influence. Diana knew that while Kasia might be confused and uncertain, any natural instinct towards panic and flight would be subsumed by the chemically induced sense of comfort.

"Kasia, you should remove the rest of your clothes. I am sure your muscles are tired and achy from your long day. Gwendolyn and Cordelia would love to give you a full body rundown to work out all the kinks. Doesn't that sound good?"

Kasia was still staring at the crotches of the Gwen and Cordelia, but she nodded mutely.

"That's better. Girls, help Kasia with her clothes and give her a nice massage." Diana sat back on the edge of the blankets and watched with interest as the three young women converged at the center.

 

[haremfaery]

"A rubdown sounds wonderful. I work so hard all day." Kasia said a little dreamily. She finished unbuttoning her chemise and shrugged out of it. She untied the drawstring on her bloomers and let them puddle at her feet.

She could stop looking at the two young women. So pretty. But little frown lines formed. She was confused. "Boys have penises." She said.

She let the girls pull her down onto the bed. She laid on her stomach, her round bottom looking as beautiful as a peach. Gwendolyn and Cordelia started working on her, rubbing their hands over her legs and back. Kasia wriggled and moaned with pleasure.

Cordelia worked on her legs stroking from ankles all the way up her thighs. She let her thumbs stray along Kasia's inner thighs. Gwendolyn massaged Kasia's back and down to her nicely rounded ass.

After awhile, when Kasia was relaxed not only from the drugs but the massage as well, they coaxed her onto her back and continued massaging. Getting more and more intimate in the process. Fondling her breasts at first, then kissing them until her nipples were hard. Their hands caressed her hips and thighs. Their fingers teased the flame colored hair on her mons.

Kasia moaned and spread her legs like a wanton. It was Gwendolyn who decided to kiss her full on the lips, slipping her tongue in gently before deepening the kiss. Kasia moaned again and wriggled.

 

[saedo]

Diana watched with amusement as a confused but complacent Kasia slowly yielded to the novices' attention. Diana found this gentle approach so much more enjoyable. Those among the Sisterhood's Travelers who preferred sexual conquest had always struck her as unnecessarily cruel and bloodthirsty.

After letting the girls fondle one another for a few minutes, she decided to move matters along. "Gwen, Kasia thinks only boys have penises. Show her that you are no boy."

Gwendolyn's eyes lit up at the prospect. She knelt down near the redhead's shoulders and spread her knees wide. Gwen grasped her slender cock in one hand and held it flat against her abdomen to give Kasia a clear view.

While Gwendolyn possessed the cock of a teenage boy, beneath it there was no lumpy, hairy scrotum. Instead, Gwen had the delicate pink folds of a vagina just like the one between Kasia's legs. Gwen lacked the dense curls of hair that Kasia did, but then all Saracen tended to be hairless in that region.

With her free hand, Gwen gently took Kasia's hand in her own. She carefully guided Kasia's fingers towards her displayed pussy. Kasia hesitated slightly, but Gwendolyn whispered, "It's okay. Please, touch me."

Gwen moaned softly as she pressed Kasia's hand against her pussy. "Oh, yes," she murmured softly.

"You see, Kasia, we have both sex organs. It makes it so much more pleasurable. Just look at Cordelia," Diana suggested.

Indeed, Cordelia had one finger inserted inside her own pussy. Meanwhile Cordelia's other hand was wrapped around her own cock. The novice stroked herself vigorously while staring at Kasia.

Diana couldn't blame her. Kasia was extraordinarily beautiful, even by Saracen standards. Diana preferred more curves, but even the experienced instructor felt the tinglings of lust gazing at the svelte outsider. Still, this was a night for her novices to enjoy, not for her own personal satisfaction.

"Both organs are also quite functional, too. Why don't you assist Gwendolyn so she can demonstrate. I'm sure that a healthy young girl like you has likely seen a hard cock before. Perhaps on that strapping stable boy at the inn?" Diana inquired, recalling the broad-shouldered lad she'd knocked out earlier.

Kasia blushed slightly at the suggestion. Diana smiled; if the barmaid hadn't had her slender hands around the stableboy's cock, she'd certainly fantasized about it. "I thought so," murmured Diana. "Then you know how much Gwendolyn would enjoy having your lips around her cock. Go on, give it a nice kiss."


Gwen shuddered in anticipation at the idea. She crept closer on her knees and guided the tip of her cock towards Kasia's face.

 

[haremfaery]

"Tim, the stableboy, yes." Kasia nodded and pink tinged her cheeks. "But it's Jamie, the smith's apprentice I truly care for." She smiled thinking of their stolen time together.

Lasia craned up her neck to kiss Gwen's cock. She giggled. "It's so...warm." She kissed it again then tsked. the angle was all wrong and it was uncomfortable for both of them. She pulled Gwen down onto the bed and settled between her legs. Now she could tend her cock properly. She kissed it again then licked it to get it wet. Finally, she took the head into her mouth. She moaned a little. She still could not get over just how hot it felt. In fact all of Gwen's skin felt hot. She pumped her mouth up and down a little then stopped. She looked at Gwen, "Is this all right?" She asked. She really wanted to please Gwen. She was not sure exactly why, but it seemed important.

She looked at the woman who had been directing her. It seemed important to please her as well. had she said her name? Kasia couldn't remember. In fact, there was little she could remember, only her and only now, and only how pleasant this all was.

Cordelia watched Kasia feeling a little jealous, but she was confident her turn would come soon. She watched Kasia wriggle her round bottom as she set back to work servicing Gwen.

 

[saedo]

Gwendolyn moaned loudly as Kasia sucked the novice's quivering cock. The redhead seemed to adapt quickly to her new partner. Despite her obvious unfamiliarity with Saracen physique, Kasia continued to rub Gwen's naked pussy while also sucking on her cock.

The sounds of delight emanating from her fellow novice proved too much for Cordelia. "I want in," she declared haughtily. Sidling up behind Kasia's upraised bum, Cordelia felt her way to the barmaid's own pussy. After a moment more, Cordelia thrust forward and gave a sharp cry.

Soon all three of them were groaning and grunting in carnal pleasure. Kasia's were somewhat muffled by her Gwen's cock, but the two novices moaned with explicit clarity.

"Oh gods, she's so tight! " cried Cordelia, now fiercely pumping her hips into Kasia's rump. "Oh yes! Take my big cock! Take it all!"

Diana bit her lower lip to keep from giggling. Cordelia's shaft was perhaps half an inch larger than Gwendolyn's and perhaps the largest among the current class of Traveler novices by an even more narrow margin. Cordelia was ordinarily subtle about it, but on occasions like this, she occasionally displayed how much pride she took in her size.

Diana, however, knew how inexperienced this showed the young novice to be. Younglings like her were sheltered from some of the more mature aspects of Saracen society, so Cordelia had no idea how modest her endowment truly was. In fact, if Kasia's proficiency at cock-sucking was any indication, she probably found Cordelia below average.

Still, Diana saw no reason to ridicule the ignorant girl. Let her have her fun. Diana could sympathize; she'd been young and foolish once, too.

Besides, watching the three of them was quite pleasurable. Diana's own nether regions tingled with lust seeing the sights and sounds before her. It had been weeks now since Diana had last lain with another, so the writhing bodies were proving most tantalizing. Despite her own arousal, Diana remained in her observational role. Tonight was for her students, not their teacher.

Gwendolyn was the first to break. "Ah! Ah! Ah! "she cried with increasing fervor. A gush of juices surged forth from her pussy, no doubt coinciding with a similar spurt from her cock into Kasia's mouth.

 

[haremfaery]

((Blah, I have a bad cold, but I'm on the mend now so I hope this won't sound too lame.))

A part of Kasia deep inside her mind thought that she should running. Frightened to death of this...abomination before her. But it was like hearing a voice in the far distance and knowing there was nothing you could do about it.

The cock really didn't bother her at all. She had sucked cocks before. And Gwen was so easy to please. Gwen. The girl with the cock. She nearly giggled which made her gag instead. But she had never been with a girl. Never even kissed one. Gwen was soft like a girl and hard like a boy.

Kasia knew what felt good when she touched herself, so it was easy to figure out how to slip a finger inside the girl and tease her clit with her thumb. When to pump her fingers in and out faster. Coordinating her hands and her mouth took a little getting used to.

She heard Cordelia but didn't register what she meant until she felt fingers parting her own nether lips to make way for the cock that followed. The pushing made her gag more since she couldn't control the jarring thrusts or the moans it elicited from her.

When Gwen came, Kasia gagged again and tried to swallow, but most of the cum oozed out of her mouth and down her chin. She ignored it because Cordelia was still pounding away on her from behind and she could feel her own orgasm building.

She arched her back and pushed back to meet each thrust, moaning each time. "Ooh, yes! Yes. Please!" She howled as she came. Her orgasm went on as Cordelia continued to pump away inside her.

 

[saedo]

Diana suppressed a giggle as Kasia tried to moan and swallow at same time. The poor barmaid ended up sputtering out Gwendolyn's cum all over her own chin. Like the juices dripping down Gwen's thighs, the sticky substance was nearly transparent and quite runny - a further sign of Gwen's youth and immaturity.

Seeing the attractive redhead in such a compromised position sent another jolt of lust through Diana. She felt a tinge of envy that it was Cordelia and not herself who was not spreading Kasia's tender flesh from behind.

She sighed inwardly. On most such trips, she would not find herself so vexed with temptation. Ordinarily the Travelers went on trading expeditions using two or three wagons, both for carrying more trading stock and for having greater safety in numbers. This journey was ordinarily slated to include a second wagon tended by another veteran Traveler and two of her novices. Diana would thus have had a mature Sister to share her bed the past week.

But Lauren had turned her ankle the day before their departure and remained behind. Diana had consquently set out with just Gwen and Cordy. While there was no taboo against her bedding the novices, Diana felt that such behavior was a distraction for both teacher and student and preferred to refrain. Thus had Diana been trapped into an unprecedented bout of celibacy, to the point where she now felt jealousy towards the sexual conquests of her own students.

Diana gritted her teeth as another wave of jealous lust coursed through her as Kasia tilted back her head in orgasm. The copper-haired girl was quite vocal in her pleasure and clearly was enjoying the feel of Cordy's slender cock.

Cordelia was proving equally vocal about her own sensations. "Ye gods! Her pussy is so tight! She's squeezing me so hard! Oh gods! Yes!" Cordelia dug her fingers deeper into Kasia's hips and thrust eagerly into her.

Cordy's stream of invectives began to warble and twist as her own passion reached its crest. "Yes! Yesh! Yeeeesss! Yaaaaaaaa!" Cordelia suddenly froze at the end of one thrust, her muscles locked. Her modest breasts with their rock-hard nipples strained outward as her back bowed. A spurt of juices splattered down her thighs and onto the blankets below, a sure sign that a similar burst of fluid had just been pumped out her quivering little cock.

Cordelia slumped onto Kasia, drained by her efforts. Diana was amused to see that Gwen, however, had already found her second wind. "Move out of the way, Cordy," groused the shorter novice. "It's my turn now!"

 

[haremfaery]

Kasia barely had time to catch her breath after Cordelia came before Gwendolyn was forcing her way behind her to have a turn. Kasia wiped her mouth on the blankets and looked around. She caught the third woman's eyes. Had anyone said her name? The woman didn't seem happy, had she done something wrong?

Kasia didn't have time to ask because Gwen pushed her cock into her in one smooth movement, the way was already well greased with Cordy's cum and her own juices.

She was still looking at the other woman when her eyes went wide at the penetration. She cried out and finally closed her eyes as she fell into the rhythm of Gwen's thrusts. She pushed up onto her hands. Her breasts swayed with each thrust. She looked at the third woman again. She would not have dreamed of ever being in a situation where she was having sex while someone else watched, but she found it to be very arousing.

 

[saedo]

"Ohhh!" wailed Gwendolyn as she slipped inside Kasia. "It's so tight!" She pumped her cock gingerly in and out, an awestruck smile on her face. "Oh, Kasia! You feel incredible!"

Gwen began moving her hips slowly and carefully. In contrast to Cordelia's rapid thrusts, the shorter novice gently leaned into the redhead's pussy. Diana smiled; so different were her two students.

Cordelia confirmed this discrepancy after a few moments. "Good grief, Gwen, you'll take forever like that. Put your hips into it."

Gwen frowned. "But I don't want to go fast. Kasia's so tight and I don't want to hurt her!" she countered.

Cordelia snorted in derision. "As if she even notices your little dick after riding mine." Cordelia grabbed her flaccid member and stroked it for emphasis.

Diana restrained a guffaw at Cordelia's boast. Cordelia's ignorance about the true scale of her cock was quite amusing. Apparently amongst the young novices, half an inch was considered a vast difference.

Gwen turned a bright shade of crimson, but didn't cease her gentle thrusting. "I'm doing just fine, so I don't need your input, Cordy!" she hissed.

Cordelia grinned "Please, everyone knows that outsiders like it hard and fast, just like Diana says." Her grin broadened as her cock at last began to stiffen again. "Here, you pull out and I'll show you how it's done."

"Wait," cautioned Diana, holding up a hand. "First, I said that if you're unsure, go hard and fast. The male outsiders generally do, so it will at least be familiar to the females. But there is no reason to be unsure. If you want to know what Kasia prefers, ask her."

Now both novices blushed. Gwendolyn paused her hips and leaned down to speak. "Kasia? Are you enjoying this? Would you like me to do something else?" Gwen swallowed uncomfortably. "Would you like Cordelia to replace me?

 

[haremfaery]

Kasia shook her head. "No. It's your turn. I thought everyone was taking turns." She looked at the woman had continued to observe and frowned a bit in confusion.

"You feel good, Gwen." She said using the nickname she heard Cordelia call her. She wiggled her bottom and pushed back a little. "But you can do it harder. It doesn't hurt." A part of her that seemed a little coherent wondered how they made love to each other. Could they lie in a way to penetrate and be penetrated at the same time? She didn't know why, but she had difficultly putting thoughts together.

"It's your turn. I want you to finish." She looked at Gwen over her shoulder. "But my arms are tired...Can I lie down?"

 

[saedo]

"But of course," Gwendolyn responded. She withdrew from Kasia's warm pussy and held out her hand for support. Together they got Kasia on her back and comfortably reclined on the blankets.

Gwendolyn placed her hands on the barmaid's tender folds as she knelt between her bronzed thighs. Gwendolyn eased forward, gently slipping her cock back into Kasia's welcoming embrace.

Cordelia rolled her eyes at the proceedings, clearly impatient. She sighed a bit loudly as Gwendolyn settled back into a measured rhythm.

If Gwendolyn heard, she gave no indication. She proceeded to stroke smoothly into Kasia, burying her slender cock to the hilt each time. Her pace was measured and unhurried and her speech was filled with cooing praise for the luscious redhead.

Cordelia lasted a minute of this before she lost patience. "You'll take forever," she grumbled. "Fuck her like you mean it!"

Gwen shot Cordelia a displeased look before turning her back on her critic.

Cordelia harumphed at being ignored. "Fine then!" she groused. Her own cock now full erect, she crept in behind Gwendolyn. Before her fellow novice could react, Cordelia grabbed Gwendolyn's hip with one hand and guided her shaft into Gwendolyn.

Gwendolyn squealed at this surprise intrusion, though clearly not without some pleasure in it. Cordelia wasted no time in beginning to pump her hips into Gwendolyn. The force was sufficient to power Gwen into Kasia as well, causing both to cry out.

"Oh, you're almost as tight as Kasia, Gwen!" cried out Cordelia. "Hurry up and cum! I want to feel you climaxing on my cock while you fuck someone else!"

 

[haremfaery]

Kasia began groaning with each of Gwen's thrusts. She thought Gwen was more like a girl, soft and gentle for the most part. Not that she had ever been with a girl in that way. That was wrong, wasn't it? She was feeling confused again. Cordelia was more like the boys she knew, forceful and quick and wanting to get right down to things. But still the third woman just sat back and watched.

Kasia could not hold those thoughts for very long. Gwen was pounding away at her. She moaned and made little sounds with each thrust. Her sounds became louder and louder as she approached her climax. Her body was flushed from her face, across her chest and all the way down to where Gwen's body met hers. Her back arched, her hands clutched the blankets. She cried out as she came.

 

[saedo]

Kasia's orgasm combined with Cordelia's frenzied thrusting proved too much for Gwen. She gave a few shuddering breaths followed by squeaks of increasingly higher pitch, then keened as her body shook with climax.

Cordelia, for all her claims to staying power, lasted but moments longer. She grunted loudly with her final hip-slamming thrusts, then gave a long vowel-filled groan.

Diana grinned in amusement at the sweaty heap of nubile bodies before her. Their technique was rushed, but she couldn't fault their enthusiasm. The tingle in her own groin at watching their energetic couplings was proof enough.

As titillating as it was to watch, she couldn't indulge any further. "Alright, girls, time for bed," she decreed. "Get cleaned up and then it's time for shut-eye. We have a long journey in the morning."

Cordelia was the first to grumble, but Gwendolyn soon joined her in disputing the need to go to bed. Diana clucked her tongue disapprovingly. "You two sound like younglings half your age. You've had your fun, but now it's time to be practical. You two have put Kasia through quite the workout. I bet you're feeling very sleepy right now, aren't you, Kasia? Can barely keep your eyes open."

Diana kept her face sincere as she spoke to Kasia. No doubt the brief, but energetic fucking she'd received from two young lovers would be rather tiring. The drug cocktail she'd ingested also made Diana's inquiry into a powerful subliminal suggestion. The redhead nodded slowly and yawned in response, her eyelids drooping.

Gwendolyn and Cordelia sensed they were not going to make any headway against Diana on this. In truth, they were themselves quite tired from their own exertions. They quieted their grumbles and began tidying up. The stained blankets were folded up and stored away and clean bedrolls were placed down.

Diana put out a bucket of clean water mixed with a few fragrant herbs. Using a few sponges, Gwendolyn and Cordelia took turns wiping their own bodies down and then together cleaned up the now semi-conscious Kasia. The redhead giggled as they gently scrubbed her pussy and inner thighs till the last oozing trace of jism was gone.

The Saracen changed into their sleeping attire - loose cotton nightgowns that came to the knee. Diana dressed Kasia in one of Cordelia's spare nightgowns since she was the closest in height. She also made sure to position herself between Kasia and her novices. While Gwendolyn and Cordelia might be tired now, they might consider a second round after a nap. Given free rein, the novices would fuck themselves to exhaustion, leaving them too tired to work tomorrow morning. Diana's presence would discourage any late night escapades.

~~~~
"Only a few more days," Diana whispered to herself as everyone settled down to sleep. The bridge over the Dayton River was a short ride away. They'd drop a befuddled Kasia off nearby to wander back to home while they crossed into neighboring Gosford. A few days more would bring them to the outskirts of Saracen territory. Hopefully soon thereafter she could find a willing lover or two - one that wasn't one of her novices.

At the outset of this journey, Diana had presumed that her experience and discipline would be easily sufficient to maintain her celibacy. She was no barely mature novice who could barely keep her hands off of her classmates. Diana was a veteran Traveler, mother of three, and a Breeder of renown. Setting off without a fellow Traveler and sticking by her personal principles by not sleeping with her students meant going weeks without sex, but that was hardly a challenge. Not for someone as strong as Diana.

Diana now recognized that her confidence had been as overblown as Cordelia's boasts of sexual prowess. The last time Diana had gone a week without any relief, she'd been alone and crawling her way out of the Fischer Marshes. Surviving the harsh terrain and unfriendly fauna had been more than enough distraction for her libido. But after the better part of a month with a pair of sexually eager novices, Diana's throbbing need for release had her close to the breaking point. That their return to Saracen lands was so near had been the only thing keeping herself in check.

"Just a few more days. Just a few more days." Diana fell asleep silently mouthing the phrase.

 

[haremfaery]

((Ah, I see where my confusion came from. I read They'd as "They had," rather than they would."))

Kasia giggled frequently when the girls washed and dressed her. The cotton shift was very soft, softer and finer than anything she owned. She rubbed the cloth between her fingers and stroked it where it fell across her thighs. Her pink nipples showed faintly through the thin fabric still erect from her sponge bath.

But just as the woman had said, Kasia was very sleepy. She was asleep almost the moment she stretched out on the blankets.

At some point in the night, Kasia felt chilly. She scooted toward Diana's warmth and snuggled against the woman. She fell back to sleep feeling safe and content.

 

[saedo]

The morning had begun early and with frenzied activity, though not without some whip-cracking by Diana. Gwendolyn and Cordelia had both clearly wanted a morning session with Kasia. Kasia, for her part, seemed rather amenable to the idea as well. Diana, however, refused to budge and marshaled all three into breaking camp and heading up the road just after dawn.

Diana did not want to tarry today. They needed to drop Kasia off while still under the influence of Diana's alchemy. Usually the elixirs could be counted on to last about a day, but there was no exact science to it. A late start to the journey combined with an early recovery from the potions could mean Kasia's amiable willingness faded at a very inopportune time. Best not to chance it.

The plan was to drop her off at a spot not too far from the north crossroads. A small sedative and a suggestion she take a short nap before heading home would set her to sleep for about an hour. When she woke up, the amnesiac properties of the prior evening's elixir would have her encounter with the Saracen as no more than a hazy dream that would soon be forgotten. Though no doubt confused as to what events transpired since her last memories of home, Kasia was doubtless capable of walking back to town or perhaps hitching a ride with a passing coach. She'd never be able to explain how she'd ended up hours outside town, but she'd go back to her life otherwise unaffected by her time with the Saracen.

Such was Diana thinking when a passing pair of riders hailed them just south of the crossroads. "If you make for the bridge, good woman, then I advise you turn around. Spring rains in the mountains sent a dead tree downstream that has damaged the bridge. We were able to ford the river on horseback, but you'll not be able to cross on your wagon."

Diana thanked the rider for the information, but replied that she needed to see for herself. Alas, the better part of an hour soon proved the news correct. A massive oak log had slammed into the west side of the bridge. There was a definite list of the bridge planks in that direction that definitely forewarned that the bridge was unsound.

Diana cursed. The Dayton River passed mostly through rough, unsettled terrain in this area. Traveling by foot or horseback, one might find a safe spot to cross; however, she couldn't pilot a wagon over such uneven ground. The nearest safe crossing would be the Ebonhold Bridge miles to the east.

Unfortunately, that would add several days to journey to the Ebonhold, followed by several days backtracking west to return to the northbound road. That damned tree had just added at least two weeks to their journey.

After her initial ire faded, Diana remembered her concerns of the night before. She'd consoled herself to sleep believing she had only a few more days of her self-imposed abstinence to endure. Now that timetable was likely quadrupled.

Diana grit her teeth. A few days or a couple weeks. She could take it. She was Diana of the Saracen, renowned Traveler, veteran of harsh conditions.

But Diana glanced at Gwendolyn to her right and knew she was lying to herself. Diana looked at the concerned frown on her novice's face and instead found her thoughts imagining what Gwendolyn's lips would look like wrapped around Diana's cock. Diana shook off the image, but could feel that pent up lust bubbling under the surface. She might last a week more, but not two. Eventually her iron will would crumble and she'd be unable to stop herself.

It'd be worse if she waited. Diana had been cautioned about such things when she'd trained as a Breeder. Once such primal power was unlocked, it could never be caged again. It could be channeled, but not contained. Diana needed to act soon, before she lost control. As much as it pained her to violate her own principles, she'd rather voluntarily break that vow than to risk what she might do when her will was no longer her own.

Diana sighed. Damn log. In almost two decades of mentoring, she had never once broke her hands-off policy towards her students. Two decades giving them the trusting relationship she'd never had. Now it was all to be dashed because of a stupid log. She shrugged. But what other choice was there?

Her eyes went wide. There was another choice. In her emotional turmoil, she'd forgotten that Kasia was still aboard. She'd driven the wagon right past the crossroads without setting the redhead out in her haste to see the bridge.

Diana looked back at the barmaid, who sat smiling in the back. She was a very pretty girl, to be sure. A little on the slender side, but then so were the novices. As an outsider, there would be some additional difficulties handling a mature Saracen like Diana, but such a price seemed insignificant relative to preserving Diana's principles.

Of course, it would take more than one night for Diana to fully exercise her pent-up needs. Kasia was in no way capable of handling that much at once. But given the distance they'd travel in that time, Kasia would be stranded leagues from home. They'd need to keep Kasia for the weeks necessary to cross at Ebonhold and then backtrack west on the north side of the river.

Keeping her that long was a minor issue. But how to then release her? Diana knew that they didn't have the herbs to keep Kasia permanently drugged for that extended period. But they couldn't release Kasia and have her telling tales of being kidnapped and raped by Saracen. The Sisterhood had survived by not attracting attention to themselves and thus hiding in plain sight. A Kasia who remembered was too great a risk to bear.

The obvious solution would be to kill Kasia; she would tell no tales then. But Diana hated to save one of her principles by violating another. She mused for a moment.

There might be another way. The iocane in smaller doses disrupted recent memories, but with a larger quantity and a few additional herbs, a more potent concoction could be created. Known as the Grey Death, this potent mixture obliterated memories retroactively as well. If successful, Kasia would likely awake unable to remember anything in the past month.

The Grey Death, however, was no light remedy. The "death" portion was not entirely symbolic. The mixture was quite toxic and produced fever and unconsciousness in its recipients. Most would awake a day later with a terrible headache to accompany their amnesiac confusion ; however, sometimes the fever proved too much, killing the victim. Diana doubted a young, fit girl like Kasia was in any serious danger, but the risk was there.

Still, better a slight risk than certain death. Diana nodded. The new plan would proceed.

Diana turned to Gwendolyn. "I expect Kasia is still tired from last night. Suggest she take a nap while we travel. Perhaps prepare a mild sedative to help her sleep. Use a bit of mint to cut the bitterness.

"When she is sound asleep, you and Cordelia will bind her wrists and ankles and gag her mouth. Use the cloth strips; she'll likely struggle when she awakes, so this will keep him rubbing her skin raw against her bonds.

"We'll need to keep her confined from now on. We don't have enough herbs to drug her the entire way. I will explain her situation to her tonight. In time, she will learn to accept it, but for now, we will keep her restrained and silenced. Understand?"

Gwen nodded and retreated into the wagon. Diana turned her attention to the road. They had a lot of ground to cover before tonight.

 

[haremfaery]

Kasia took the drink from Gwen with a smile. "You are all so nice." She smiled. "Where are we going now?" She sipped her drink and Gwen suggested that a nap would make the time pass more quickly. Kasia curled up like a kitten in the corner of the wagon and fell into a deep sleep.

Gwen and Cordy did as they were told and had Kasia bound and gagged. The girl barely moved the whole time, though she fussed a bit about the gag before settling to sleep again.

Hours passed and Gwen and Cordy took turns checking on the redhead to make sure she was all right. They slyly used the opportunity caress her and thinking about the fun they would have that night. They wondered what it would be like to take her when she wasn't drugged. Would she fight them? Would they have to keep her tied up? Cordy thought she liked that idea.

It was dusk when Kasia stirred. Her head was pounding and her body felt heavy. There was a bad taste in her mouth. In fact, there was something stuffed in her mouth. That brought her to her senses. She struggled against her bonds. Her grunts were muffled by the gag. She rolled back and forth in the wagon trying to free her hands. The gag was tied around her head and she could not get free of it.

 

[saedo]

Diana and the two novices entered the wagon carrying a lantern to ward off the impending twilight. Diana clucked her tongue disapprovingly as she beheld their captive. Gwendolyn had a talent for knots and her handiwork had proven far too complex for Kasia to untangle. The barmaid looked up from her awkward position on the floor, her face flushed nearly as red as her hair from her fruitless struggles.

"That position looks most uncomfortable," chided Diana. "I am sure you would prefer sitting upright." She gestured to Cordelia, who promptly righted the trussed girl from her semi-prone position.

"Much better," pronounced Diana. "Now, I suspect you have questions and concerns about your present situation. Let's chat." The petite leader sat down next to Kasia. Even sitting, Kasia's taller frame meant the diminutive Diana had to look up into the young girl's anxiety-ridden green eyes. Diana smiled warmly and patted Kasia's knee, though the girl seemed to draw no comfort from the gesture.

"First, I expect you're presently feeling rather poorly. Gwendolyn here has quite a way with knots, though, so I assure you that if you don't struggle, you can sit quite comfortably. As for the headache, grogginess, and dry mouth that you're likely feeling, that's an unfortunate side effect of the herbs, but it will fade away in an hour or so."

"Now I'm sure you are feeling rather confused right now. Aside from the obvious 'tied up in a wagon', do you know where you are? How you got here? Do you know who I am?" Diana watched closely as Kasia slowly shook her head in response to your queries.

"But it's more disconcerting than that, isn't it?" continued Diana. "At the back of your mind, you have the vague sensation that you ought to know the answers to those questions. The wagon, the three of us - it all seems somehow familiar, even though you have no memory of any of it."

Diana smiled again as Kasia's eyes widened; her predictions were on target. "Well, I will do what I can to fill in some of those gaps," Diana promised. "To start, the basics. My name is Diana. These are my two students. The shy one over there is Gwendolyn and the taller one here is Cordelia. The three of us kidnapped you yesterday and brought you with us."

"We can explore the why a bit later. For now, suffice it to say that you are our involuntary guest for the next two or three weeks. How these weeks go for you is entirely dependent on your actions. Do as you're told and you'll go home at the end of this little worse for wear. Resist us and it will be far worse." Diana's delicate features sharpened ever so slightly, giving her beauty a menacing cast. "Far worse," she repeated.

Diana's features softened. "Now I'd like to take that gag off to let you have some food and water, but I expect you're feeling a bit anxious. Maybe even a bit terrified. Perfectly understandable, of course, but it means your first instinct will be to scream for help. I assure you that we're currently camped too far away for anyone else to hear you, but I just know you'll scream anyway. So here's what I'm going to do. We'll loosen that gag a bit and then step outside to have dinner. You can scream your head off while we eat. After you've realized I'm telling you the truth and that no one is
going to rescue you, we can sit down and continue our conversation."

Diana patted Kasia on the knee again and stood up. "Excellent. Gwen, tend to the gag on Kasia. Cordy, check on the soup; it should be ready soon. I'm going to check the horses." Diana strode out the wagon's rear door, Cordelia following.

Gwendolyn stepped over to Kasia and tugged slightly at the gag's knot. "There, you should be able to work that free on your own." She stepped towards the door, then glanced over her shoulder. "I'm so pleased Diana is letting you travel with us a bit longer," she said, blushing slightly. Gwen then exited, leaving Kasia alone.