Athelnia

The stone walls inside the entrance to the castle were hung with fine tapestries. Many featured scenes of people riding and hunting. Iron sconces lined the walls These held flickering candles, partially alleviating the darkness and gloom of the interior. I followed my owner as we entered the great hall, a large open living area that featured a huge timber table at its centre. Laid out before us were all manner of fine foods. Cooked meats, fruit, cheeses and flagons of wine. The aromas made me realise the extent to which my hunger had built throughout the day. I was led into the kitchen.

If the elderly cook bore any ill will to enemy soldiers she showed no sign of it. I was well fed, even given two large goblets of wine to wash down my repast.

Sleep that night came to me fitfully. I had been led down somewhere deep within the castle keep. Lady Athelnia had taken me there personally, still in my chains and shackles. I felt it quite significant that such matters were not delegated. My mind that night kept returning to our arrival at the castle when I had been ordered to prostrate myself before her and to kiss her boots. Although this was as yet unspoken I felt that some kind of chemistry was beginning to develop between us, although I knew that this was based, certainly on her part, on the imbalance of power between us.

The psychology of it was totally bewildering to me. I was a fine physical specimen, the tallest man in my village, broad shouldered and strong limbed, a fighting man. I told myself that this was the sole reason that she had parted with such a great sum of money to own me. But in a way it still didn't make sense, a good, sturdy labourer commanded only two Reals a week with absolutely no responsibility for his upkeep. It would take ten years for her just to recoup my purchase price. It seemed more logical that she had another, more personal reason for wanting to own me. Our scene outside the castle however gave me scant hope that I was intended to be a gigolo.

Having lain awake for what seemed like hours contemplating my situation sleep did eventually come to me. Wild dreams formed a maelstrom in my head. Images of the battle in which we had been defeated as well as of the man I had killed. Strangely in my dream he wore the red and yellow insignia that flew over Scranzenberg castle, despite the fact that, as a mere yeoman, the slain man did not display colours of the ancient dynasty.

When I awoke a small amount of light filtered into the cell from a grating high up in the wall. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes. A metal tray had been placed beside me with slices of black bread and a flagon of apple juice, a product of the many orchards of the province, most of which was fermented into a strong cider responsible for the many brawls that the inns of the province were renowned for. I ate and drank, grateful at least for the fact that while I was still shackled I was being looked after in a reasonable manner. Naturally I still had grave misgivings about my future in an enemy province where I depended for my welfare on the goodwill of Lady Athelnia. It was quite possible that, should she tire of owning me, I might be sold on to an owner who cared nothing for the well being of slaves, merely working them to death. This was an issue that would soon be addressed.

Lady Athelnia sat before me in the great hall in a throne like carved timber chair. We were alone in the massive open room. The high ceiling with it's heavy timber frame and oak beams formed an arch way above us, imparting a somewhat ecclesiastical atmosphere to the place. She began to address me as I knelt before her.

" I feel that despite our relative positions that you deserve an explanation as to your future."

She reached forward and retied the lace of her left boot as she spoke, winding it into a neat bow. I guessed that she was perhaps ten years my senior but nevertheless still possessed a superb body and finely muscled limbs. I had no doubt that she was an excellent horsewoman. She continued.

"You perhaps noticed yesterday that there was a rival bidder to myself, one who pushed your price up considerably higher than I had been led to expect that I might have to pay."

I nodded to confirm that I had indeed seen this other bidder.

" He is a well known dealer in these parts, a man with considerable experience in buying slaves. He was acting on behalf of a client and was only authorised to pay one thousand Reals. However, a messenger arrived this morning enquiring as to whether I might be prepared to sell you on, at I may add a very handsome profit."

She paused briefly to allow this information to sink in before continuing.

"The buyer in question owns a large number of orchards and needs more slaves. If I tell you that he won't negotiate with me directly because I am a woman it may give you a clue to his unusual inclinations."

I had heard rumours that the practice of using male slaves sexually by their owners was commonplace. Many dismissed this as propaganda intended to make our soldiers fight harder to avoid being taken prisoner. But her story had the ring of truth about it and I did not disbelieve her.

"So, if I am to reject this generous, some might even say rash, offer I need to know that you accept fully and unconditionally the situation that exists between us. Should you harbour any intention of being an unwilling slave then I would need to take this into account when deciding whether to accept or reject this offer."

She extended a booted foot, clearly an invitation for me to demonstrate my obedience and acceptance of her terms. I leant forward and kissed the proffered boot, partly because this was what was expected of me but in part due to the strange feelings that this act of submission engendered deep within me. To have said that I was an unwilling party in this would not be a fair reflection of the situation.

"You do need to understand that I will be a far from easy mistress to please. My expectations are very high, especially from a slave who has cost me as much money as you have. I admit to enjoying the control that I have over a strong man immensely, in that respect I am unlike other women. It provides a thrill like no other, rather akin to controlling a powerful horse. There may be times when I desire to punish you, sometimes harshly. Such things provide for me a pleasure which other women just do not understand. Do you still wish to agree to my terms?"

I thanked her for her frankness. Given the alternative her offer didn't really need much consideration. That of being owned by a man said not only to be in the habit of treating his slaves harshly but also reputed also to use them sexually.

Without hesitation I spoke. "Mistress, I accept your terms unconditionally."

I thought that I detected the hint of a smile about her lips as she heard and considered my response. quite clearly she was a woman very much used to getting her own way. She stood and crossed to the oak table in the centre of the hall, boot heels tapping out a tattoo on the stone floor. She returned holding a metal key, unlocking my metal collar and manacles.

Handing it to me she said. "Remove your fetters."

I did as she instructed, placing them on the floor beside the rest of the shackles. Now I stood completely naked before her for her inspection. I felt my cock twitch as I contemplated her booted and leathered figure. She reached out and touched my cock, squeezing it slightly within her gloved hand. It responded immediately, expanding considerably as blood flowed involuntarily into the shaft. This appeared to arouse a curiosity in her.

"You find your mistress attractive slave?"

There seemed no point in denying the fact. I nodded my confirmation.

"Well, while that is very interesting I must emphasise that I do not allow slaves the pleasure of any form of sexual release. I find that it tends to be bad for discipline. So you will be fitted with a device designed specifically to prevent you from indulging in any activity of a sexual nature. You will be locked into it and I will retain the key".

I listened with a degree of despondency to this. This was nothing however compared to my feelings when she produced the artefact intended to enforce her desires. The device was crafted of fine silver and consisted of a cage held in place by four concentric circular bands with a fifth at right angles.

" I personally designed this piece of equipment and it has become widely used throughout the province to control both slaves and prisoners. The best craftsman are charged with producing it, and it seems to work very efficiently."

She approached me and, taking my cock in her hand once more slipped the rearmost band into place around my scrotum, squeezing my testicles. I heard the distinct clicks of the ratchet as she tightened the ratchet. One by one the four bands were then closed around my shaft until my cock was completely encircled, locked within this impregnable silver cage. Lady Athelnia locked it with her key and stood back, admiring her handiwork, a look of satisfaction showed on her face as this part of her plan was successfully concluded. She checked the security once more by shaking the shaft and seemed completely satisfied.

"Yes, I am very pleased with how that works. I do of course understand that a man such as yourself has sexual needs but they are now very much subservient to the desires of your owner. It will be a very long time before you take any pleasure in that way again. From this point onwards your life passes entirely into my hands, that was the purpose of me buying you. I suggest that you view your current situation, particularly in regard to this delightful little device. as representative of your position within our relationship."

It wasn't very long before Lady Athelnia's cruel little device began to have its effect on me. In my cell that following night my mind was filled with thoughts of her. It would have been no exaggeration to say that the combination of her striking beauty and her unusual black leather outfits were mesmerising. I held no doubts that the relatively unsophisticated people of my own province would have characterised her as a witch for what they would have regarded as the spell that she cast over me, ascribing it to supernatural powers. The fact that she was a woman capable of doing this to a man would have been quite sufficient in itself to condemn her. Had they the opportunity she would have been arrested, tried and convicted. She would have been sentenced to either burning at the stake or thrown, bound hand and foot, into the village pond, either sentence having the same outcome.

This difference in attitudes between the neighbouring provinces underlined the source of the ongoing conflict. My own was a strongly patriarchal society where women were regarded as mere chattels to be owned by fathers and husbands, even traded like domestic livestock. The one I now inhabited had allowed females to both own property and to vote for several decades. The proof of the progressive nature of their society was before me. Lady Athelnia de Faverly was the titular head of their province.

Whatever the truth about my owner one thing was certainly true, I was totally overwhelmed and captivated by her beauty. The women of my homeland were forced by law to wear dowdy clothes and to keep their hair closely cropped beneath the ubiquitous headscarves that the various acts passed over the years made mandatory. The contrast with the fine looking woman who stood before me in her beautifully crafted had made boots and meticulously tailored leather outfit was stark. Her appearance created so much lust in my now securely locked loins. The elders of my province would have been scandalised by the amount of female flesh displayed within this province as well as such fashions as those chosen by my owner with their barely disguised suggestions of female power and dominance.

The following morning, the third of my captivity, unfolded with yet more revelations. Lady Athelnia fetched me from my cell and led me once more into the great hall. While she partook of her breakfast in the usual manner, seated at the table. Mine was put into a pewter bowl and placed on the floor at her feet. While this was a change from being fed in the kitchen or my cell it served to underline our respective positions. I was in effect being treated as an animal might be, although strangely I didn't find this objectionable in any way, it was almost as if I was being treated as a pet. I noticed from my position on the floor that she wore different boots today. These were still made of fine black leather and polished to a high sheen. They were riding boots without the long, tapered heel but they still had the criss crossed lacings extending from instep to knee. Once breakfast was completed she handed me a pair of shorts made of some rough black material and a heavy black leather collar.

"You will wear these at all times, except when we are alone when you will be naked apart from the collar. This signifies my right of ownership over you, underlining your status as a slave. Do you understand?"

I looked up into her eyes and said "Of course mistress."

"Good, I am pleased that we understand one another. It does make things so much easier when a slave accepts his position. There really is nothing more tiresome than a slave who fights against his inevitable submission. They all come to accept it in the fullness of time of course, even if that acceptance only comes under the duress of my whip."

I slipped the shorts on over my cock that was still straining against its cage, finding her cold words with their hint at her cruelty oddly erotic. She examined the fit of the shorts, declaring them adequate for the purpose of ensuring that I appeared decent in public. She buckled the collar around my neck and attached a leash, something that had a further effect on my cock, still fighting hopelessly against its confinement. She drew on her leather gloves and led me from the castle.

Now we were on the opposite side from that at which we had arrived from the auction. This aspect was a totally different one, the castle was constructed on top of a steep cliff with a panoramic view of the wide sandy bay spread out beneath us. It stretched out for possibly as much as a full league on either side. It was easy to see why such a position had been chosen, it would be very defensible and entirely impossible to attack from this side. Only a single narrow path, steep and narrow, led up from the beach below where a calm blue sea gently lapped the shore, far out across the expanse of flat, golden sand. The beach was dotted with vertical timber pillars driven into the sand to provide moorings for the fishing boats that now lay tipped on their sides awaiting the returning tide. She stood gazing out to sea.

"Of course you do have a choice of sorts as to how your life will pan out from this point on."

I looked up at my mistress, unsure of exactly where this was leading.

"Well the obvious one is that you will be sent to one of my farms where you will be put to work under one of my overseers, hard backbreaking work with no respite. They are of necessity cruel men. You will be worked hard, treated harshly with no reward apart from basic food. That will be your life for perhaps forty or fifty years."

She paused for a while allowing the next unspoken words to foment in my mind.

"Should you choose to cooperate with my desires fully however your life could follow a very different path. Better food and living conditions, maybe even the occasional opportunity for sexual release."

I nodded once more before bowing my head. Interested to know where this was leading.

"You will of course already have noticed that I am a keen horsewoman. It is a way of life that I have known ever since I was a child. Just riding however, pleasant pastime that it is, offers very little by way of a challenge. No the real test of equestrian skill is in the hunt, and to hunt one needs a suitable quarry. A quarry that is quick, intelligent, cunning even. "

My mind was processing this information, assessing whether I was excited or frightened by what I was hearing. Eventually deciding that it was a measure of both.

"Our province suffers from a lack of decent quarry, so my proposal is a simple one, that you should become my quarry. That would be your sole purpose. Should you agree the hunts would take place twice a week, allowing you adequate recovery time. Should you manage to avoid capture for a certain length of time you will earn privileges. You are clearly a fit man with good stamina, that was partly the reason I kept you in heavy irons for the journey to the castle, a test that you passed satisfactorily. I also think that you have a natural intelligence that will make you a challenging quarry, one that I will enjoy hunting very much."

I considered her words. It certainly seemed a better prospect than working on a farm for decades. And if I was being entirely honest with myself the prospect of being wanted by such a woman, even though it was not in a sexual way, appealed to me very strongly.

To be continued.