All characters are fictional and over 18 years old.
It was beautiful outside, which was deeply upsetting to Rhea. The usual blazing sun was covered by a few fluffy clouds and a strong breeze from the ocean cooled the air. Having no excuse to rot all day, she got up, rubbed her face, and looked in the mirror. Her eyes were bloodshot and sunken, devoid of their usual sparkle. Her sunset-orange hair was frizzy and unkempt. She ran a brush through it, wincing at the pain as she tore through a patch of knotted hair.
Some women actually enjoy keeping themselves orderly
, Iona's voice echoed in her head.
The princess had a rough night last night. Her father, the king, returned home from a month of visiting other city states to gather alliances for his failing kingdom. He came back with one of Evernell's princesses and an expectation that Rhea would marry her, forming a powerful alliance between the two city states. Allowing her temper to get the better of her, Rhea ended up making a dreadful first impression with Nalia, her betrothed.
Rhea felt like she was hungover. It felt like her head was being pounded by all the people she disappointed: her father, Nalia, and most importantly, Iona. With the help of Iona's firm hand, Rhea was starting to understand that her actions had consequences, a lesson that came late to the stubborn princess. She preferred when the consequences were spankings and tight bondage, not seething disappointment.
While the idea of locking herself in her room was tempting, Rhea forced herself into presentable attire. She let her short hair down around her shoulders and slipped into a simple dress made of emerald-green silk. It was tight around her shoulders and chest, but billowed around her waist. Rhea tried to close the clasp at the nape of her neck, straining her shoulders and fingertips, but she could not reach it, not without Iona. Already frustrated with herself, Rhea was ready to give up and throw herself back into bed. Then, she remembered her promise to Nalia.
Walking down the steps of her tower quickly, Rhea hurried to Nalia's room. Loose around her breasts, she had to hold her dress up to preserve the modesty required by her position. A few servants shot judgmental glances as the princess rushed by half-dressed, but Rhea ignored them. She was used to these. Out of breath, Rhea stopped in front of Nalia's door and knocked twice.
"Princess Nalia. I'm here, as promised," Rhea said, and then winced at her own formality.
"And who is this?" Nalia's lyrical voice passed through the door. She knew who it was.
"Rhea. Can I... come in?" Rhea asked, her cheeks flush with embarrassment. While she liked a tease from Iona, this was painful.
"In a moment. I haven't dressed yet," Nalia said. Rhea groaned, her hand still pushing her dress over her chest. Down the corridor, she saw her father turn the corner, deep in conversation with a foreign merchant.
"Can I just come in? I'm not in the best state at the moment," Rhea pleaded. "I could use your help."
Rhea pressed her ear to the door, hearing nothing in return. She knocked again rapidly, her knuckles rapping against the wooden door. Running out of time before her father saw her, Rhea pushed open the door and slammed it behind her. No longer supported by her hands, her dress slipped down her sides, revealing her breasts.
Nalia watched the scene with raised eyebrows and an amused smirk. She was dressed in loose-fitting trousers and was in the middle of wrapping a lilac-colored top around her chest, which left her midriff and shoulders exposed.
"Come here," Nalia said, waving the princess over. Rhea felt like she was going to die from embarrassment, but walked over to the black-haired woman and turned around. Nalia pulled her dress up and closed the stubborn clasp. She smoothed the sides down, her fingertips brushing down Rhea's ribs to her hips. Rhea felt her skin ripple with excitement as Nalia's soft fingers pressed into the silk. But as soon as they were there, they were gone.
"Sorry," Rhea said, her voice softer than she intended. She stood awkwardly next to her royal counterpart, but Nalia stepped forward and took her hand, guiding her out of the room and into the bustling corridor.
"Don't be. It was cute," Nalia said. "Though I could think of a few other reasons that you would be regretful."
"I know," Rhea felt shame creep up her chest and into her throat. "I'm sorry for how I treated you. Truly, you did nothing wrong."
"I know," Nalia said. Gods, her tongue was quick. Rhea was going to struggle to keep up.
"I'm not finished. I want to say that you got a bad impression of me, but to be honest, I'm starting to realize that the woman you saw last night is who I've been," Rhea admitted. Honesty was a lot harder when it wasn't being forced out of her with a whip.
"What I'm trying to say is that I'm a bit of a mess, but I would like to get to know you," Rhea finished. Nalia stopped walking. They were at the massive stone arch that Rhea saw her first walk through last night, the exit out of the castle to Bronze Point. She turned to Rhea, taking both her hands in hers.
"I like a messy woman. Now, are you going to show me around?"
***
"Priestess, I apologize for the interruption..." Iona said, entering Mythra's worship room. She stopped, stunned by what she saw. It wasn't the bound, naked acolyte suspended from the ceiling that surprised her. Well, it was: the acolyte was bound in a Binding that Iona had never seen before.
Juli, a royal diplomat turned acolyte, was bound in an upside-down suspension with her legs forced wide apart by a series of knots around her ankles and thighs. Her dark maroon hair was tied in a tight ponytail and connected to a rounded, oiled hook that Mythra slid in her ass. Juli's arms were bound simply at the wrist and allowed to hang below her inverted head, but the rope binding Juli's wrists was connected to a heavy iron ball, which stretched her entire body towards the floor. The ropework was exquisite with each knot symmetrical and each length at the perfect tension to constrict Juli and torment her muscles.
"Yes?" Mythra said, turning to look at Iona. The tall, blonde woman directed her uniquely piercing gaze to Iona. She wore the standard billowing white robes common in the Bonded order and had a gold pendant around her neck, which symbolized her rank.
"What Binding is this? I thought it was an inverted variation of Yvar, but the arms would not be bound like this," Iona said and stepped into the room. She ran her fingers across the knot between Juli's wrists, checking its integrity. Juli gasped as new hands explored her bound body. She couldn't see Iona with her head bent backwards, but she could certainly feel the hook stretch and open her sensitive hole as she tried to get a better look.
"There's no name for it. Not yet, at least," Mythra said. She knelt and put her hands on the sides of Juli's contorted neck. She kissed Juli softly on the lips and checked in with her, ensuring that she felt comfortable enough to continue. Iona smiled as Mythra showed a unique kindness to the young acolyte. Mythra truly cared about a worship partner's comfort, despite her fondness for tight Bindings and uniquely sadistic punishment methods.
"Would you retrieve those clamps?" Mythra asked Iona, pointing to a small tray with dozens of small metal clamps. Iona did as she was told, but was stopped as she tried to hand it to Mythra.
"You do it. I know you're particularly good at finding the right places for a pinch," Mythra said. Iona beamed internally from the compliment, thinking back to her first session with Rhea and the clothespins. She felt a little guilty about denying the princess her punishment last night, especially while she was still in the early stages of training. As she closed the tight clamps on Juli's nipples and the skin between her ribs, Iona felt her guilt surrounding the young princess compound. How could she lie to a woman that spent her entire life trying to become Bonded? Even worse, how could she use Rhea as part of a greater plot to expand the Bonded's influence in Korum?
"What's on your mind?" Mythra asked, taking the tray from Iona. She took the final two clamps and tightened them between the first and second toe on each of Juli's feet. Juli screamed in delight and agony as the jaws tightened between her toes. Mythra quickly stuffed a small wadded-up cloth into Juli's mouth and secured it with a length of rope to keep her quiet while they talked.
"It's Rhea. Everything's changed," Iona said, speaking carefully. She didn't want to say too much in front of Juli, who was currently moaning into her gag and trying to keep her head straight so she didn't pull against the anal hook.
"Speak plainly, acolyte," Mythra said, catching Iona's caution. She grabbed the rope between Juli's ponytail and hook and pulled it, forcing the acolyte to look at the two clothed women. "You'll keep those pretty lips sealed, won't you?" Mythra asked. Juli moaned as the hook pressed into her delicate flesh. Mythra pulled the rope again and Juli quickly nodded, mumbling an affirmation through her gag.
"Yes, Priestess," Iona said. "King Chymer returned last evening with Evernell's Princess Nalia. Rhea is to marry Nalia, and I think he wants the ceremony to happen soon."
"I don't see the issue. We have plenty of married women within the order," Mythra said. She took out a sketching pad and began drawing Juli's Binding as they spoke.
"Need I remind you how impulsive Rhea is? We have no guarantee that she will remain discrete or loyal once she's part of a critically important marriage alliance," Iona said, watching Mythra sketch.
"Then perhaps we should call the operation off if you have doubts that the princess can be controlled."
"Perhaps, Priestess. But perhaps there's another option, one that would need approval beyond your authority," Iona said. She felt her face grow hot and her hands twitch with anxiety as she began to explain her idea.
"Beyond my authority?" Mythra raised an eyebrow, but did not stop sketching. Iona took this as an invitation to continue.
"Yes, Priestess. I assume there's a mistress that put you in charge of this operation," Iona began. She had never met the mistress of Bronze Point's enclave, but she assumed that Mythra was getting her orders from her.
"Go on."
"Well, we need the approval of her, Evernell's mistress, and finally the Lady for what I'm going to propose. Is that even possible?" Iona asked, fearing a negative response.
"It is possible," Mythra spoke slowly. Now, she put down her sketch and looked up at Iona.
"I propose that we expand the operation to incorporate both Rhea and her betrothed, Nalia. Think about it, what does having control of Bronze Point do for the Bonded? Sure, our travel will be easier between city states, but that really only affects priestesses and mistresses. What if we could envelop Nalia into the fold? What if the Bonded had influence in a real power? What if we could control Evernell?" Iona finished. She felt her heart pound, nervous to share the plan that she and Rani came up with. Iona did her best not to flinch as Mythra's piercing green eyes stared directly into her soul. What was she thinking?
"Stay here and finish my worship," Mythra said, leaving the two acolytes alone without an explanation. Confused, Iona knelt by Juli's head and undid her gag.
"Do you know what's going on?" Iona asked, looking for some kind of explanation.
"Respectfully, I'm a little preoccupied," Juli said softly, grimacing as the ropes continued to stretch her. Juli's voice had a noble air as if she spent time in royal courts. Maybe she knew something that could help the sexual-political scheme.
