All characters are fictional and over 18 years old.
"Quit the flickering. I want a lady, not a hummingbird," Iona corrected Princess Rhea, who was being trained in pleasure-giving. Rhea mumbled an apology into her maid's sex, but felt a searing pain across her ass as Iona struck her with a thin wooden switch.
"If I wanted you to speak, I wouldn't have my pussy in your face, would I?" Iona struck her again, making the younger woman writhe in her bondage and redouble her efforts to please the acolyte.
It had been three days since Rhea first submitted to her handmaiden. After finding out that her maid was an acolyte in the secretive Bonded order, a group dedicated to worship through intimate sexual discipline, Rhea started studying and practicing daily with Iona. The study normally involved reading philosophy and fables about the original Bonded disciples, while the practice usually saw the princess bound in tight, restrictive positions and tortured by her maid.
Today, Rhea was bound in
Oona
, a Binding used for oral sex. Her arms were bound behind her back, each wrist connected to an opposite elbow. This rope was tied into elaborate ropework around her chest, which presented her breasts in a beautiful, cross-crossed frame. Iona spent a while tying Rhea in this position, taking great care to make it symmetrical and properly knotted. Rhea loved that part. There was so much pain, pleasure, and passion involved in practice with Iona, and the naturally logical princess often felt overwhelmed by the end of a session. So it was the beginning, where Iona would massage her skin and carefully secure her with lengths of soft rope, that Rhea began to look forward to.
This serenity had all but evaporated now. Rhea's jaw and tongue were sore and her butt was stinging from the many corrective strikes she received. Iona reclined on the bed with her legs spread wide and her white robes hiked up past her waist. One arm propped her up so she could inspect Rhea's form, the other held a thin switch that left pink lines across Rhea's delicate flesh whenever she broke form. Rhea was on her knees and bent over, struggling hard to keep her head from dropping to the bed. The first few of Iona's orgasms were fun for the princess. The older woman tasted like pure sex; intoxicating and musky. Now, it was like wading through sticky syrup to get Iona off. Her once lazy tongue had to be equally fluid, precise, teasing, and direct.
"Ah, you lost it," Iona exhaled, her hips relaxing. Rhea tried to increase her tempo, but was met with two quick corrections from the switch.
"If you must start over, you must start slow. Do not bruise my flesh, little lady," Iona said, who proceeded to bruise the princess' flesh. Rhea was getting frustrated. It seemed like no matter what she did, Iona found an issue with it. And it wasn't as if she was failing to make Iona cum, she came four times already, it just took a little longer each time. Nonetheless, Rhea slowed down and flattened her tongue, using long, teasing strokes to rekindle the fire within her maid. Sweat dripped from her brow and through her lips, mingling with Iona's strong scent. She felt her own sex start to blossom with arousal; Iona's moans were contagious. Inch by inch, Rhea worked her tongue through Iona's folds, allowing herself to get lost in the art of it. She stopped fearing the punishment and started truly worshiping the woman in front of her. Iona didn't instruct her to, but Rhea created a light suction with her lips and lightly sucked her clit, pulsing gently. Rhea heard the switch clatter against the polished wooden floor and felt Iona's hands grab at the back of her head, pushing her clit hard against her face. Rhea didn't let up, continuing her light suction and using the tip of her tongue to draw small circles around the aroused bud.
"Yes... good... very good, little lady..." Iona's moans were sensual, almost sighs. Rhea felt her muscles twitch twice, then relax. "That's enough for now, thank you," Iona whispered, her eyes still closed. Rhea remained quiet, but she was beaming internally. Hearing such praise from a woman who used to always chastise and disapprove of her was immensely gratifying. She felt the same light, floating feeling that she did every time they finished their practice. Gods, it was addictive. Rhea could begin to understand how the Bonded had such a strong influence in so many cities.
Iona smoothed her robes down and sat against the headboard of Rhea's bed. She motioned for Rhea to come join her. Rhea shuffled forward on her knees, her arms still bound behind her back. She sat in between Iona's legs with her back to Iona's stomach. She leaned back and allowed the acolyte to wrap her arms around her.
"I could truly feel your passion right there at the end," Iona said. Rhea relaxed her muscles and allowed Iona's hands to caress and massage her body. She'd been with women before that were intense or caring but Iona was the only woman who was both.
"I hope I've been doing well, My Love," Rhea said.
"You have. Soon I'll have to train you to tie Bindings yourself."
"What do you mean? I thought it was forbidden for outsiders to learn them," Rhea said, perking up from her relaxation.
"It is. There is still some consideration to be had, but you may be eligible for Purification at the end of the next week. After that, you may learn," Iona said, stroking her hair.
"That's incredible! What changed? We've only been practicing for a few days," Rhea asked. She turned around in Iona's lap to look her in the eyes. Iona began untying the series of knots surrounding Rhea's shoulders and chest.
"Confidence," Iona said. "I'm beginning to think that you could truly integrate into the order." Technically, it was the truth. Not the full truth, but Mythra, Iona's priestess, thought that Rhea wasn't ready for that yet.
"I thought that you weren't making the decision," Rhea pried, digging into Iona's half-truth.
"Well, I'm part of the decision-making process, so you should continue to be good for me," Iona said, a tone of finality in her voice. Rhea accepted this for now and let her continue to undo her knotwork.
"How long will it take to become an acolyte, like you?" Rhea asked. In her study, she learned the hierarchy of the Bonded, which was remarkably simple for an order that spanned cities. At the top was a sole Lady who governed how the order spent money, recruited new members, and allocated priestesses. The Lady was forbidden from tying Bindings, which served as a check on her power. If she wanted to participate in rituals, she had to submit herself to someone from a lower station. Below the Lady were regional mistresses, who oversaw local enclaves. Next were priestesses, who organized worship and trained acolytes. Finally, there were acolytes, who were the largest class within the order and generally only devoted part of their time and energy to the order. Despite power dynamics constantly fluctuating through worship, few conflicts arose within the hierarchy. When they did, they were normally resolved through some rather intense communal practice.
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves, little lady. You still have much to learn."
***
The next morning, Rhea's father arrived back at Bronze Point. Rhea saw him walk through the large stone arch to their castle with a black-haired woman by his side. She looked to be around her age. They disappeared into the keep and a messenger was sent up to inform Rhea of an evening feast. Gods, Rhea hated these.
Iona resumed her role of handmaiden, forcing Rhea into a dress and stiff corset. For the first time in two years, Rhea actually sat still and let her lace up her back. Compared to tight bondage and wooden switches, Rhea had no problem with a slightly constricted ribcage.
"Did you miss him?" Iona asked, running a brush through her hair.
"I suppose. When he's around, no one really pays attention to me. It's nice. When he left, all of the sudden people had issues with his only child wandering the streets at night," Rhea said.
"Those 'people' had legitimate concerns, little lady," Iona frowned, not picking up the sarcasm.
"I know. I wish he weren't so stubborn about the Bonded. It's not like you're trying to do anything more than spread your worship," Rhea said.
"It's a logical fear. We're a decentralized group with influence in many courts. To many kings, your father included, that's a threat to his power," Iona explained. "If you were the ruler in Bronze Point, how would you deal with an organization like ours?"
Rhea thought for a moment. Bronze Point was just one citystate of many within the fractured Korum nation. Compared to other territories, it was small with minimal influence. They leveraged their many adjacencies to highly-trafficked waterways to serve as a rest stop for weary sailors and travelers. There wasn't much that connected the people of Bronze Point in terms of culture, religion, or nationality. It was a city of merchants, stragglers, and the lost.
"It makes little sense to suppress the order. My father tries to weed you out, but he only cuts at the stems. I would leverage the Bonded's enclaves within other city states for information, alliances, resources... anything really," Rhea said. Iona smiled behind the princess, still dutifully brushing her hair. It was a great answer, better than Rhea realized.
"Is that so? I should've tried spanking you earlier if I knew how drastic of a change it would make," Iona said. Rhea had a sharp mind for politics, even as an inexperienced princess. Iona made a mental note to continue to develop her tact and political prowess. Iona finished fussing with Rhea and adjusted the neckline of her dress.
"I look like a fucking princess," Rhea complained, pulling at the cuffs on her sleeves in her mirror.
"You are a fucking princess. Let's go," Iona pulled her out of her chambers and ushered her through the winding hallways to the great hall. Lively music and drunken chatter poured out of the hall, echoing through the corridors. Rhea paused before entering, shooting a grimace toward Iona. The maid raised a single eyebrow as if to say, "I'll be punishing you when we return to your chambers." Rhea sighed and turned the corner into the hall, walking along the edge of the massive room to avoid attention.
She received it regardless. Heads turned and conversations halted as the princess walked by tables full of feasting men and women. She smiled politely at those who stared at her, dying a little on the inside. At the back of the room was a massive table reserved for the royal family and their guests. There was a single empty seat between her father and the black-haired woman she saw him enter with.
"Rhea, my dear! I've missed you," the king stood and walked up to Rhea, embracing her. She hugged him back. It was good to see him, even if she was annoyed at how long he was gone for. Iona walked behind Rhea and stood at attention behind the table.
"How were your travels, father?" Rhea asked, taking a seat next to him. The black-haired woman looked up at her as she sat, her eyes scanning the princess. Rhea shot her another polite smile and turned to the king.
"They were good. We had some difficulties establishing trade agreements with Thalinar and Bynan, but I don't come home empty handed," he said, taking a long sip of wine.
"Yes? You were able to establish some alliances?" Rhea asked. Her father, King Chymer, had left over a month ago to try and establish trading partnerships and economic treaties with other city states. Bronze Point was slowly falling apart, both structurally and economically.
"Only one alliance, but it should prove to be fruitful," the king took another long sip.
