Nilok awoke to find himself immersed in a warm bath; the immediate area thick with steam, the soft feel of the warm liquid combined with his vision being impaired by the haze of aerial condensation made him check that he was not still within the realms of a dream. The fact that his wrists were bound behind him, and his ankles were secured in similar fashion, confirmed that he had at last emerged from the arms of Morpheus. As he wriggled against the bonds he realised he was suspended in a hammock-like apparatus within the bath; a hoist which simplified the task of cleansing the immobilised without risking drowning them.
As he surveyed the suspension mechanism with a view to any possibility of escape, a feminine face loomed through the warm mist. Nilok's loins tingled as he recognised the face of the leather clad huntress who had claimed him by the stream; she was now naked and covered with beads of perspiration as she enjoyed the sauna-like effect of the bath house that contained him. The vixen leaned forward to study her prize, droplets of water running down the length of her supple body and dripping from her erect nipples.
"You mustn't struggle, especially not in the water; I'd hate to lose a fine example like you to drowning. We'll soon have you out and dried. I intend to keep you close to me until you're processed at market. I only wish I could keep you myself." Nilok's erection swelled in the warm water as the lithe beauty turned and walked away again, allowing him a view of her supple and shapely arse and legs; the beads of perspiration running down her back to the cleft of her buttocks, as if to direct his eyes.
Nilok dozed a little more in the warmth of the bath and was suddenly awoken by an abrupt jerking; his eyes flashed open to view giggling females who were hoisting him clear of the bath. They half undid his tied ankles; the tie remained but he could now part his legs to walk, but could not run. They walked him through a door to a drying area; stacks of towelling adorned the area and several other male captives were enjoying the attentions of teams of three young ladies. In the central rear wall of the room a huge fire blazed from an inglenook fireplace. Nilok's attractive captor sat here in a towelling dressing gown. She smiled at him as the girls towelled and patted his naked body to dry him; one of them puffed a sweet smelling talcum powder over his nether regions, and he was then wrapped tightly in a dressing gown too, the arms of which flapped about as his own arms remained tied behind him.
The girls walked him to the warmth of the fire and the brown- eyed huntress stood up to greet them. The soft young females giggled; the act of processing slaves apparently as routine to them as working in a bakery.
"He's all yours now Marcia."Nilok now knew the name of the blow-pipe beauty, now holding a collar and leash which she buckled to his neck, leaning into his firm body as she did so. Nilok sniffed at her soft scent as she brushed her midriff against him, smiling as she felt his obvious excitement beneath his robe. She stepped back and gently tugged on his leash.
"You'll come with me now. I'll have you share my quarters. I don't want you catching anything from the other stock; I want you in prime condition the day after tomorrow at market. Nilok noticed as she walked him toward a small door ahead, the other newly dried captives were being taken through a barred gate, presumably to a communal dormitory. Marcia rapped on the oaken door, which was opened from the other side by two shapely sentries armed with crossbows, one blonde, and one red-headed. They eyed Nilok up and down, smiling. The blonde was somewhat scornful.
"Oh Marcia, you are always spoiling captives; you should leave him with the others. What if he's purchased by some fat bitch and kept in a lean-to with the pigs? A night at your boudoir will not prepare him for that; I don't know why you bother catching them in the first place!" The redhead simply smiled knowingly at Marcia as another crossbow carrying amazon came down the elevated walkway to take her place by the door. The redhead smiled at the blonde.
"Here come's my relief; I'm off with Marcia to do some spoiling." The blonde's jaw dropped as the redhead walked off with the two, rubbing Nilok's bottom as she went, and asking if she could take the leash and lead him. The shapely guard's physique and red hair made Nilok's balls tingle as he viewed the areas of exposed creamy white flesh, but it also made him think of Serena for the first time. What would she be thinking?
***
Serena had had plenty of time to think over what had become of Nilok. She looked sadly down at the blue collar, neatly sliced through. She could at least guarantee he was alive after the point at which he was captured. The poor mute girl would not venture further than 100 yards from the security of the farm she lived on, unless accompanied by others, she was so traumatised by the experience. Her description of the two that tied her up and took him was very descriptive indeed; a deaf person's visual recollection, noticing things that those blessed with the normal choice of senses would not register; the girl's guardian at the farm having learned to interpret her hand signs and gestures. Their stance, movement and techniques, as well as their general attire could mean only one thing; they were from Femina Bastia. This outlying citadel had a military edge, its Women all very warrior-like, a harsh unforgiving place in comparison to Ovum Fortis, or even Stellar Regina. The laws of the latter two civilisations being of little matter to those from Femina Bastia; slaves often went missing, never to be seen again.
Serena's girls cried continuously, comforted by Bella who remained strong before the girls, but shed a tear in private. Serena thought of venturing to this shady Sparta-like outpost to seek him out, but knew this would be fruitless at best, and possibly fatal at worst; other parties had ventured there to seek stolen indentured ones, never to be seen again. She looked at the collar again, and wished upon wish for a miracle.