Warlord's widow

[intriguess]

Marianna was a proud woman, and when word of her husband's death reached her, she rallied and took over. She never considered that her policies would make her popular enough to continue as ruler.

The called her "Lady of Light," which was funny considering her husband had been called 'The dark warlord' behind his back. The marriage proposals ranged from pathetic attempts to put their heir in her bed, to near death threats if she turned them down. The earlier she politely turned down, the latter, well she conquered them.

Women's rights had greatly increased, and more than a few sailors were going around with one less testicle. The punishment for sexual assault was highly effective. She had also abolished slavery, and that had gone over better than she had hoped. The people loved her, and her enemies feared that, and that her army had not fallen into disorder when her husband died.

Sex, it had been a long time since she'd had sex. Her servants were all too devoted for her to consider, as that kind of devotion was not a turn on for her. But the people were clamouring for an heir, and it had been a year since her husband had been killed in battle. Things had settled down, sorted out so to speak.

Then her least favorite warlord, who had been a close friend of her husbands, sent her a marriage proposal with a gift of a slave.

She'd been enraged, the slave looked like he'd been beaten half to death and starved. She sent back a polite reply that she was already engaged and that he should not expect an invitation to the wedding, and that his betrothal gift had expired.

Then she had to decide what to do with the slave.

He was not from any nation she knew of, her own lands were filled with dark haired, olive skinned men and women. He was pale, from his skin to his hair, and she had never seen green eyes before. He also spoke with an accent.

She had her best healer's work on his body, but she had a feeling the pain went far beyond the physical and she briefly entertained the thought that he could be an assassin. Marianna felt a strange sense of attraction and obligation to him.

She just wished she could pronounce his name, she refused to call him by the stupid slave name he'd been given.


OOC so looking for a pale slave who could be an assasin, or a prisoner of war, or an enslaved prince. It's upto you, please PM character ideas

 

[smoldering_passion]

With the golden rays of the sun shinning through the window, Varshan Esh'hyllic squinted painfully. It seemed to be a lifetime since his body had not been wracked with pain or numbed by the ache of weariness. The clothes provided to him restored him his dignity, even though the bandages beneath were still a poignant reminder of his captivity. Lying back in the bed provided to him, he was suddenly aware of his nakedness, something that had not really occurred to him whilst in captivity despite it's prevalence - the need to survive could reduce even the most dignified individual to an almost mindless automaton.

Now he drew the sheets about his waist and stepped out of his bed to hobble to the window. His strength was returning, but it had not yet reached its zenith. Outside, people went about their daily business, but with a joy and zest he had not seen in other provinces. The entire atmosphere was not as repressive and it was for the first time since coming across the ocean that he had a true chance to observe the people closely.

The people of this land were of darker complexion and hair than his own people, their olive-hued skin and dark hair, stark against his own features which were pale and light in comparison. The emerald hues of eyes added pointed difference as he surveyed his surroundings. When a column of guardsmen swung about on their daily duties, his hand absently went to his side, not because he expected trouble, but because to be ready had once been part of him, and now that his weariness was lifted, his brain had once again began to assume its normal functions.

Though he tried to remember the names, they were unusual to him, and at any rate, he had only ever had to use a perfunctory 'master' or 'mistress'. For a brief moment, his hands clenched, as a memory of anger took him, before he forced himself to relax, neatly tucking aside the anger in another corner of his mind. Unlike the people of this land, who wore their passions openly, his people considered the discipline of an iron mind to be the pinnacle of a civilised world. The wind briefly stirred his platinum hair, as he presented a picturesque otherworldly figure with the flowing sheets about his waist.

 

[intriguess]

She walked in the market, a few token guards nearby. Marianna paid when her subjects would allow it, and accepted their gifts when they would not. They were prosperous enough that a gift of a few flowers and a sticky roll would not bankrupt them. Her own cooks and such paid a fair market value for the goods served within the castle.

She found strolling in the market was good for moral, and she smiled when a herbalist gave her an herb known to aid conception. She turned away and drew her scarf across her face, hiding the sadness. A child was the one thing she did not have, and despite the vast array of offers she was hesitant to marry.

Marianna had looked at the laws and discovered that since she ruled by popular regard, and not royal birth, she did not need to marry a royal, or bed one. She could take a lover as a consort or just take a lover. Their would be no need to formally declare anyone as the father of her child(ren).

She headed back to the castle, ready to face the relatively light afternoon of cases. She looked forward to dealing with people, she was able to bury her troubles by involving herself in theirs.

She listened to the few local squabbles, then hearing that the former slave was stirring she excused herself to go look in on him. She had put him in a more secluded area, for his peace and recovery. Her deep forrest green gown showed off the golden glow of her skin, her dark hair done up with a net of tiny perfect pearls. She wore little in the way of jewelry, preferring simplicity of style.

She encountered a servant taking food, and she smiled and dismissed them, taking the food herself. She felt responsible for Vershan or whatever his name was, personally responsible, and she checked on him almost daily, seeing he was resting with clean bandages, his skin unnatturally pale now that he had been cleaned up.

The guard on his door bowed before opening the door.

"Are you hungry?" she asked. She knew he spoke the common tongue, even though with a lilting intonation, she wondered if he'd been a musician even as his body screamed warrior.

The tray contained a loaf of bread, a jar of water, and a broth based soup, that smelled quite good.

 

[smoldering_passion]

Even though his face was composed, the arrival of another into his room whilst in his state of undress had startled him, so that for a moment, he could only stare blankly. The common tongue of these lands was unfamiliar to him despite his time here, for his education had been hasty and brutal. Despite the hunger that gnawed in the pit of his stomach, he forced himself to kneel down.

“My apologies Mistress, I did not know that you approached,” he mumbled, for despite the months and years, submission did not come easily to one as proud as himself. It was probably also the reason he had been far more than the slaves, for his former owners often not like the tone of his voice. “If it pleases you, I will eat.”

Vershan did not know all that much about the woman who stood before him. He did know that she was not well liked by the other nobles and warlords for she followed policies contrary to their wishes. What they were, he had not been informed, or rather he had been kept away from such, and so he could not know that she endeavoured to have peace and justice in her lands – to his eyes she was just another corrupt member of the elite, despite whatever veneer of civility. Marianna being a woman did not soften her in his eyes, for his former owners had been both men and women, and all had left the impression of callousness in his mind.

Marianna had not deigned to shout or command him, and so he had some opportunity to examine her more closely. Whatever beauty she had was not apparent to him, for in his eyes beauty was associated with skin as fair as milk, and locks of silver or gold, and for now his eyes were quite indifferent. Despite this, he thought her an impressive woman nonetheless, and realised, with irony, that in his homeland she might have been displayed as some exotic deviancy, just as he was presently.

Even in the slave pens, other slave had formed relations for comfort as it were, but women kept clear of him – not that he would have cared of course – but it likewise reminded him of how long it had been; and if he could not remember the last time off the top of his head, it had certainly been too long.

The scent of the broth reminded him of how hungry he was and the resultant protestation of his stomach caused him to lower his head in embarrassment. He wondered briefly why the lady of the realm herself had brought him in person, briefly wondered if some cruel game were being played. Until he was certain, he was not about to make any move towards the platter of food, and his eyes quickly searched for signs of sneering guardsmen.

 

[intriguess]

Her servants were a superstituous bunch and had declared this man as a demon sent from a devil. She had gotten them to stop from making the sign of the cross, but still it was unnerving how primitive their belief system was. So she had taken a personal interest, and since he had not eaten yet, she deigned to sit down.

The guards were still jumpy, and any who had seen the damage done to this poor man had felt that by surviving he must be in league with some evil demon.

She took a small drink from the pitcher, took off a bite of the bread, showing that it was not poisonous. "I hear you are well enough to eat solid food," she was sorry she couldn't offer him exercise, her guards were jumpy enough with her keeping him in this room, much less letting him roam free.

Every thing about him screamed evil to them, from the color of his hair and eyes, to the slant of his ears. She was just glad he didn't have a tail. Lady Marianna smiled at the thought and held out the bread to him.

"If you are a vegetarian I can have a different soup brought..." her voice trailed off as she had thought it was the scent of meat in the soup that had caused his reaction.

 

[smoldering_passion]

“That is not necessary milady; what has been provided is more than enough,” he answered shortly. His nervousness stemmed from something of the indecency of standing alone in the same room with a woman, naked but for the sheets wrapped about his waist. Long ago, meat might have repulsed him, but it had been sometime since his enslavement in these lands and he had since overcome it, though the practice was still distasteful. He took the food from her slowly, sitting at the base of the bed cross-legged, rather than on the chairs that had been provided.

It was somewhat unnerving to have her sit and watch as he ate, like an animal being observed whilst it went about its daily rituals. She had been the first to show any degree of interest in him that was not with sense of repulsion or fear. Though he had only know about her for a few days, or hours if one were counting the amount of time he was conscious, he seemed to recall that the servants named her as Marianna and he was curious about her intentions.

Carefully watching her as she sat before him, her gown as green as his own eyes, he was moved by the earthy sensuality of her sun kissed features and the hair that framed her countenance like a dark halo filled with the twinkle of pearls.

“Forgive me, milady,” he said pausing from his meal, “but may I ask the reason for this hospitality? Not that I wish to sound ungrateful you understand, but it is... unusual.”

He tried to speak the language as best as he could, though it would always be obvious that he was an outsider to the culture of his servitude. A wild thought of leaping through the open window and running for freedom cross his mind, even as he realised there would be nowhere to go, and his former life lay an ocean’s width away.

 

[intriguess]

She looked about the room, it was clean as were all her rooms, sure it was in a remote tower, with only one door and one window. All in all it was a rather nice prison, and she knew he must view it as such, she Marianna wondered how long he had been a slave.

At the same time she did not want to ask him about such things, but when he inquired, she opted to answer.

"You were sent as a gift, and while I did not exactly accept you as a gift." She paused a half smile upon her face, "You see there is no slavery in my kingdoms," she bit her lip as she realized she had just let her position slip. "So I told your former owner you were dead, and considering the state you were in upon arrival your survival was uncertain."

She stood up and paced as much as she could within the small room, "So I can not send you back, and I fear your own land is beyond my reach, and so I did the best to restore you so that you can make a choice for your future."

She turned to face him again, "I apologize for the accomodations, but you caused quite a stir in the healing ward." She sighed deeply before sitting down again, it was all so twisted and complicated, which part of her found fascinating as most of her life was rather simple and straight forward. Uncovering the truth, conquering evil warlords, expanding the realm.

His truth, well she was sure that was a long and complicated story. "If there is anything you would like let me or the guards know." The guard was mainly to monitor and protect him, already the children played a game of who could get closest to this room without being spotted.

 

[smoldering_passion]

“Please rest assured, I am not ungrateful for the accommodations granted to me,” he answered promptly. Having made her position clearer, a great many things had been made clearer to him. Having finished the meal before him, he placed his hands together in a gesture of thanks and stood up, walking to the window and subtly adjusting the sheets that had been somewhat loosed as he had arisen. Leadership of a country can naturally to him, and already his mind was shifting through the possibilities, despite the fact that he was all but naked before a noblewoman.

“To follow standards that are greatly different from you neighbours places you in a dangerous position,” he said suddenly. “You isolate yourself, and give them a target for their frustrations as well as an excuse to ally themselves against you. Frankly, you are not suited to fighting a war – your dream of a utopia, if I’m guessing correctly, will wither before it has the chance to bloom – and I’m certain as an ironic touch, your foes will spare no expense to see you taken alive and slavery yourself.”

It would be a sad end for her who sought to bring a measure of civilisation to these lands. He wondered if she was new at this; full of ideals and optimism, but perhaps lacking in the politics of war and peace. Did she not have a husband, or at least an advisor well versed in these matters? Surely she could have survived on luck alone. She did not have the look of a foolish woman, so perhaps there was more to her than she was showing – statesmanship was a valuable quality after all – but perhaps she should follow her policies using... other means.

A faint smile touched his lips now – it was refreshing to view, somebody with an emotion other than anger or contempt. It was a shame her people were not like her. A glance below revealed a guard doing his rounds, briefly glancing towards his window, and upon seeing him watching quickly turned away. Like most people of this land, they were afraid, afraid of all that was different, and now there was something that was different that lived and breathed and walked amongst them.

Finally, he picked up the empty platter and cup and brought them over to her. He hadn’t realised she was shorter than he was until he was right up against her, her head barely reaching his shoulders. It felt somewhat strange to have to look down upon her, since amongst the people of the empire, his height was considered only above average. A brief gust of wind made his hair as a silver halo about his head before he put it under control, before he went on.

“It may be a while before I go home milady. I cannot leave these lands until I find something that I am looking for.” He as careful about giving out information, for the empire was in the middle of a succession, and was something that could be exploited by foreign powers. Not that he believed it possible of this country, only that rumours could spread to more powerful neighbours.

 

[intriguess]

"My realm of influence is expanding faster than I ever dreamed, which frightens my enemies who are growing fewer by the day." She smiled, ruthlessness was not a trait she was known for, but her remaining commanders were much happier with her rule than her husbands and had done an excellent job in protecting the kingdom.

Sure occasionally they let an emissary of peace slip through who was actually a spy, and she had been curious about what this latest message from what was probably the strongest threat to her empire. A marriage proposal was the last thing she expected, and she was begining to understand that marrying for an alliance could be wise or disasterous.

She had been looking at far flung trade allies, but most were hesitant to offer a match when her rule was still considered fragile.

Marianna had done a lot in the past year, and knew a child would strengthen her position, and offer hope and stability to her people.

"I wish I could offer you my resources in your search, but they are already stretched to maintain the peace." She picked up the empty tray leaving the water behind, "I can only hope what you seek lies within the realm of my influence, do you need writing supplies?"

She admired his resolve and wondered what he could possibly be seeking so far from home.

 

[smoldering_passion]

It was a curious experience to see someone offer aid so freely, and Varshan continually questioned the motives behind in his mind. This Lady Marianna might indeed be the charitable person she presented herself as, but he did not wish to classify her as a simpleton – her actions and resolve in the face of adversity had proven that. Nor was it his wish to accept aid so easily, or he might find himself at a disadvantage, as he had some years past which had led to his enslavement. Former enslavement, he reminded himself.

The aggressive streak displayed by her smile as she mentioned the expansion of her kingdom and the decline of her enemies might not have been an admirable quality in a woman in his own lands where women were expected to be demure and subservient, but Varshan found it secretly exhilarating that this particular woman was possessed such a quality... and if she were aggressive in this arena, where else might she be so? Despite himself, the faint semblance of a smile crossed his lips.

Even if his captivity had been wretched, it had not been without its moments. Some few minor warlords seeking to better themselves had thought him a cambion, a half human, half demon fiend, of sorts and had sought to enlist his aid in the arts; the use of women was often their payment, or the offer of their own bodies in the case of some of the braver female warlords. In turn he had impressed them with some minor thaumaturgy, but without access to some of the higher instruments of the esoteric arts, there was little opportunity to truly secure a position and in any case it was not a strong point of his.

For a brief space, Varshan was drawn back in remembrance of his lands – the almighty empire of Kai ‘Zun wherein purple towers of mystery rose from the verdant jungles, where jade lined the streets, and silver was as common as copper coins were in this land. In Kai ‘Zun, the great sorcerer-kings ruled the city states and warred against one another, even as they all bowed down before the Dragon-Emperor God. The memories brought a pang of nostalgia and Varshan turned to walk back to the window, so that she might not see the grief in his eyes. At that moment he remembered why he had permitted himself to lie with the women of this land – to forget such sorrowful moments in the bright joy of release. When he finally turned back, he had composed himself. Almost.

“Alas milady, whilst I thank you for your generosity and though for my wellbeing, I must ask that I remain in your care and yourself my custodian – I am far from home and without friends in your lands. For a while longer I must remain, though perhaps your aid might shorten that stay whilst I attempt to consult with the physicians and learned sages of your lands, for it is a cure that I seek.”

He did his best to explain simply the name of the wasting sickness he for which he sought a cure, though it was not easy, nor did he expect her to be able to do much about it, but he owed her for her hospitality and for her generosity it would be poor conduct on his part to keep too many secrets. With her at least, he wished to be as open as possible, without placing himself in a compromising situation.

 

[intriguess]

"My healers have done much to ease your pain and heal your body," she gestured at him. She was hesitant to reveal too much of their secrets, which she only knew to utilize them. "I will have them visit with you as they have time." Marianna sighed, a sad sound of lost hope, "War brings casualities, as I'm sure you well know."

She straightened her bearing and glanced back to him, "Do you have any skills? Earning your keep would certainly ease some of the worst rumors." Her smile lightened, and she sucked her lower lip in as her tongue moved out to moisten it. The thought of taking him as her lover had briefly drifted through her mind, and she had for a moment looked at his body as a woman looks at a man, and not as a ruler looks at a slave even if that slave was to her enemy.

"I will also see that writing tools are brought to you, surely you will want to attempt to inform them of your state of health. I do not know if I will be able to see them delivered, but I have trade agreements with many lands across the sea."

She did not ask him to pinpoint where he was from on a map as a conquerer might, but she did find it intriguing that he was seeking a cure for some malady, without mentioning who he sought to cure, as she could not imagine a man risking his life for just anyone.

At least no ordinary man, she tipped her head slightly to him, before leaving his chambers. She heard and saw the guard take a huge breath of relief, and frowned as he made a sign against demons. She passed off the tray to the next servant she found and went about her duties.

Before going to sleep she sent a message to the royal physicians, and to the local guild for them to send learned men to speak with the prisoner. His name looked awkward in her glyphs, and she sent it out with orders for writing tools to be brought to him in the morning with his food.

She thought of him from time to time, during the day, making time at sunset to bring him his evening tray, and see how he was doing. Marianna had worried that her physician's would refuse to divulge their secrets to a foreigner, but the only one who seemed wary was her gardener, who grew herbs not food.

 

[smoldering_passion]

With more time on his hands than he had in what seemed a lifetime, he pondered his next course of action. He doubted any help was to be had from the guards or anybody in general. Without any tasks to do, it he became more aware of how alone he was in these lands, with only the Lady Marianna as the closest he had. Varshan wondered briefly what she wanted with him. Still somewhat thin from captivity, with proper care and food, he should be able to restore himself to full form.

He spent the day in meditation and light exercise, accustoming his body once again to the flexibility of smooth movement rather than the jerky motion of overly tense and tired muscles. His hands were hard from many years using the sword and the bow, but he was a skilled tracker and hunter. If he was to move about in these lands, he would have to reacquaint himself with that ability to move unseen. He did not know how such abilities would be useful her, but it was the best he had to offer and told her as much. The ability to use sorcery, he kept to himself, not being altogether comfortable with revealing it.

Once the writing materials arrived he quickly filled the page, though only two lines of it were of any significance, and addressed it to his family. It was bemusing experience to watch the servants take the letter from him at arm’s length and exit the room in almost the same motion. There was nothing that could be done about that then.

By the time Lady Marianna returned he was prepared for her. The clothes that he had been given felt strange, the most he had ever worn in these lands a loincloth and tunic, his original clothes having long since been lost. More at ease, he had time to look over her, and again she came alone without servants or guardians. Perhaps she had a great deal of trust in him, or there was some purpose that she required that could not be divulged before others.

Marianna was a noblewoman as it were and as such, much above the lot of common women. Even if he was not instantly attracted to her, her charms as a woman were obvious, having had better opportunities to preserve it. Even if he were not aware of it, his posture was straighter and his bearing prouder than was usual even before his captivity.

 

[intriguess]

She wore a much simpler gown this time, and had given up the few weapons she wore on her person, since her guards were concerned they could be used against her. However Marianna was well learned in the art of self defense, even though she had not used such skills against her husband. Perhaps she should have, but that was the past, and while she was glad to see him in much better shape.

"Well I am unsure if letting you roam will be wise at this point. I was hoping the healers that had worked on you would dispel the myths of you being a demon, but word has not spread as quickly as I hoped." She shrugged sitting down, letting her body relax, "My gardener, well my herb gardener, is completly against having you even breath in the vicinity of her precious plants. Many of which are used in healing, and a herbal remedy would be fairly easy to transport."

She bit her lip as if she was holding onto a secret, "If the remedy is not so easily transported," she let her thought trail off. She found herself not wanting to think of him leaving her, he unlike her people, or her enemies did not see her at salvation or damnation, but seemed to view her as a woman.

It was a feeling she had not had for a long time, before her husband had courted her, as once he made his suit known, all other suitors had vanished thereafter.

"Varshan, may I ask you a question of a personal nature?" she waited, expecting him to agree.

"Did you leave a wife, or mate behind?" she licked her lips again, feeling a strange rush of exhileration at even asking him such a thing. She had seen him naked, during his convolescence, and could confirm that he was pale all over, and built like any other man.

 

[smoldering_passion]

Varshan blinked in surprise, though the full extent of the question did not settle upon him as he had no reason to believe she had interest in him. “Not as of present, though I have family members who are dear to me.”

Now, however, he mentally noted the herbalist, for like any human once denied by another human agency, naturally arouses curiosity as to what may be hidden. For now it was merely idle curiosity, until all other options were extinguished, and he made himself focus on his host before him. Her comment on recommending isolation made him wonder how much longer he was to remain in this tower, and to what purpose.

Despite this, her company was pleasant enough to make it bearable, and to expunge thoughts of escape from his mind, though he was restless enough to stand and pace.

“What of yourself milady? Is there anyone in your life that adds a measure of joy and excitement?” He ran his eyes over her in a quick glance. Undoubtedly she must have, at least from what he had judged in these lands, and woman of this calibre would not go single for a long space. He wondered what type of man she would choose as a partner. She would surely not choose a weakling as a partner, that much he was sure of, nor did he believe would she chose someone out of necessity for her position afforded her a luxury of choice; a partner that was maybe unique and offered flavour from the dreary monotony of familiarity?

There was a certain degree of irony to his thoughts, for he came close, but still missed the mark. Still he thought his thoughts might betray him and it showed as he avoided looking directly into her eyes, lest she see the train of his thoughts.

 

[intriguess]

"Hopefully by the end of the week you'll be able to have a few more privileges." She had his health at heart, and she realized that moving him to secure quarters close to hers might cause more of a stir. "I do have control over my other gardens," she bit her lip slightly, not bothering to keep such a tight rein over her face in his presence.

"I don't have a lot of unscheduled time, but I will see if some of the physicians might agree to meet you on the grounds. If nothing else, being seen out and about and not causing trouble will help ease concerns."

She heard his last question, Marianna had not considered that he would throw it back upon her. How to explain the devotion of those around her? She had considered among her personal guard, among the elite warriors, and all had this fervor in their eyes that turned her off.

There had been one ambassador, but his stay had been all too brief, and it was why she'd been making overtures to her trading partners. She wasn't getting any younger, her herbalist was offering her fertility and love potions on an all too frequent basis.

"Well my husband has only been gone for a year, so my official period of mourning has only recently ended."

 

[smoldering_passion]

It was something of a surprise that she would tell such, though he reflected that customs might vary, but it still left him more curious about her as a woman. It was a different side to a woman that he was experiencing now – not the demure soft-spoken women of his home, not the crushed repressed slaves he had spent company in, nor the cruel and spiteful mistresses he had endured. It was a novel experience to see a one strong-willed and confident. Perhaps she was a little trusting of her position, he might have been an assassin after all, but that forthright manner of dealing with others was refreshing and admirable.

“Your official period of mourning?” he inquired, surprised again that there was such a thing, but also caught on to one fact. “Does that mean that you are expected to seek a new partner now that such a period is over?”

A wild thought crossed his mind, but he quickly brought it to heel. He was one man in a strange land, and if people of another land did not truly appreciate, it was a foreigner to be seen interfering with their women. Unspoken did not mean un-thought, and would have to be careful how much time he spent with her in private, pleasant though it was. Realising the manner in which he was thinking about her, he ran his hand through his silver locks in consternation, but he was not able to keep the semblance of a smile from his lips, whilst he watched with emerald eyes from behind the silver strands that masked his face as he bent over to hide his face.

When he could finally look her in the eyes, he raised his head. He pulled ineffectually at the clothes he had, for they were uncomfortable to him, being much tighter than the robe-like accoutrements of his home or the flimsy tunic he had worn as a prisoner. He wondered whether they would at least allow him a sword of some type, as unlikely as he believed it to be possible – the people of this land were far too fearful of him to be giving them more reason to be afraid.