Instructing the Novice Read online

  Frowning, he pointed. “What’s that?”

  Karx turned his head, a scowl on his bearded face.

  “Not any business of yours, Novice. Now come—my lady awaits.”

  They passed the tarp and went around a curving corner and at last came to a black door bound in bronze. There was an elaborately scripted plaque on it reading, Mistress Superior.

  “Enter,” Karx said, swinging the door open. “Stay here in the main greeting area—I’ll go fetch my Mistress.”

  They walked into a kind of sitting room and looked around. Though all the rooms in the Tower were beautifully decorated, this particular space wouldn’t have been out of place in a palace, Lone thought. There were richly carved couches with scrolled arms upholstered in some kind of expensive-looking fabric—possibly Cambrian silk—and a thick Tishan rug worked in dark reds and blues and golds covered the flagstones. Pricy works of art—many by artists he recognized—were scattered around the room and rich tapestries were hung on the walls.

  Looking up, he scanned the ceiling. The glittering chandelier hanging above, spreading a golden, dappled pattern of light and shadows over the opulent room, appeared to be made of gold and platinum. And unless Lone was very much mistaken, the large, sparkling crystals hanging from it weren’t crystals at all but diamonds.

  To Lone, it looked like the Mistress Superior had created her own little kingdom here—he just wondered how much it had cost her to outfit her private chambers in such lavish style.

  Apparently, Lizabeth was having the same thoughts.

  “It’s gorgeous in here,” she murmured to Lone, looking around. “Wonder how much all this cost?”

  “Good question, Mistress,” Lone murmured back. “It can’t have been cheap to transport it either. I was under the impression that the Tower was supposed to be a place of learning—not extravagance.”

  “The Mistress Superior, Lady Verlandah,” Karx’s rough voice announcing his Mistress’s entrance interrupted their whispered conversation.

  They turned to see the Mistress Superior wearing her white gown without the elaborately embroidered cape-vest over it. Her dark nipples poked prominently from the holes cut in the silky white fabric and the mound of her pussy was on display as well, under the high slit in the gown. Lone noticed that she appeared to have an elaborate tattoo done in golden ink where her public hair would have been if she hadn’t removed it. Apparently she felt the need to have every part of herself and her surroundings adorned.

  “Ah, Mistress Paige,” she said to Lizabeth, inclining her head gracefully. “Do make yourself at home and take off your modesty vest. We are quite private here.”

  Lone saw Lizabeth’s eyes dart to Karx and saw her bite her lower lip pensively. He knew exactly what she was thinking—she didn’t want to be put on display the way the Mistress Superior was. Didn’t want to expose her nipples and pussy around a strange man. Still, she had already been forced to do as much the day before when he took the oath of loyalty to her and had given her the kiss of obeisance. Lone knew it would make her uncomfortable to do it again, but she would have to in order to keep the peace with the Mistress Superior.

  His guesses were right. In the end, Lizabeth unclasped the long black vest- cloak and Lone drew it down her arms smoothly, folding it neatly and placing it over the back of one of the plush couches. He frowned as he saw her exposed—were her breasts looking fuller than usual? If she had a needing attack here in front of the Mistress Superior things could get awkward.

  “Now, then—let’s get comfortable, shall we?” Mistress Verlandah settled herself on a couch opposite and studied Lizabeth speculatively with her iron-gray eyes. They looked as hard and cold as flint, to Lone. “Come, Karx,” she said and snapped her fingers at her Novice who was still standing silently beside her. “I require pleasure. Why do you make me wait?”

  A flash of some complicated emotion went through the Friezen’s dark eyes—something like lust mixed with resentment, Lone thought. But he only growled, “As my lady wishes,” and sank to his knees before her.

  Mistress Verlandah spread her thighs casually and motioned for him to get between them. Without a word, Karx positioned himself between her legs and began to lap at her pussy in a way that was both hungry and angry at the same time.

  “Mmmm…that’s better.” The Mistress Superior purred with pleasure. From the couch cushions she produced a long, thin, black riding crop and used it to swat at her Novice’s backside lazily. “A little slower, Karx—this is not a race, you know,” she remarked. Then she turned her attention to Lizabeth, whose face was impassive. “Do have a seat, Mistress Paige,” she said.

  “Thank you.” Lizabeth sank down on the opposite couch, her thighs pressed together and her arms crossed over her breasts.

  Despite her blank expression Lone could tell she was bothered—her cheeks were a dull red which denoted embarrassment to him. Lizabeth might enjoy letting him help her with her needs when they were alone together, but she wasn’t the kind of person who got pleasure from watching other people performing acts that ought to be kept private in public.

  Lone tried not to watch what was happening on the couch opposite them but it was difficult, especially since he could scarcely control his envy. He couldn’t help wishing that Lizabeth might order him to worship her pussy the way Karx was worshiping his Mistress’s. The last time he had tasted her had been all too brief—barely a kiss before he was forced to stop. He longed to spend hours worshipping her with his mouth and tongue—bringing her pleasure and drinking her sweet juices right from the source.

  As though she had read his mind, Mistress Verlandah motioned at Lizabeth with her riding crop.

  “Well? Why do you not have your slave service you?” she demanded. “It’s extremely rude not to when your host is being serviced by her slave!”

  “I thought they were Novices—not slaves,” Lizabeth protested uneasily.

  Mistress Verlandah waved her objection away airily.

  “Yes, well—most of us come from Yonnie Six here at the Tower,” she said, swatting at Karx’s backside again with the long riding crop. “We know what males truly are—no matter what we call them here. Slaves. That’s all they’re fit for—isn’t that right, my love?” She swatted Karx again who licked faster, his broad, hairy shoulders set and angry.

  “I don’t feel that way about Lone,” Lizabeth protested. “He’s more than just a slave or my Novice. He’s a friend—my best friend. And…and I care for him deeply.”

  Lone felt his heart throb with hope when he heard her speak like that but he tried not to show it on his face. Instead, he stood impassively beside her, his arms crossed behind his back, waiting for orders.

  “Oh, please.” Mistress Verlandah made a derisive and rather unlovely snorting sound. “Don’t tell me you’ve fallen into the same trap as Anarrah—please don’t say you’re ‘in love’ with your Novice.”

  Lizabeth’s face went red though her features remained calm.

  “I…never said that,” she protested. “I just meant that Lone is very dear to me. I don’t want to use him like a slave.”

  “What if he desires to be treated and used as a slave?” The Mistress Superior lifted one eyebrow at her. “Have you ever thought of that? Part of his loyalty oath was to entreat you to use him and he didn’t appear insincere to me when he spoke the words.”

  Lizabeth’s eyes flicked up to Lone’s and he met her gaze steadily, letting some of the heat he felt fill his eyes. Oh yes, he would be more than happy to be used by her. Gods, would he!

  Lizabeth cleared her throat and looked away.

  “I don’t understand your emphasis on ‘using’ someone here,” she said coolly to the Mistress Superior. “Why is it so important to you to dominate your, uh, slave?”

  “Because sex—really good sex—is all about power,” Mistress Verlandah said promptly. “Who has it…who can get it…who is willing to give it up and be powerless. Without the power play, what is sex? A few pumps, a