Duke Gorin sat at his desk shuffling through reports of his recently inherited holdings. This was his least favorite aspect of being a duke, well perhaps he did not dislike it as much as he did listening to all the sycophants and their petty disputes that happened throughout his lands. At least the paperwork did not whine and attempt to deceive him on a constant basis. He counted his blessings to have his steward Reynald whom was very helpful in managing many aspects of his holdings. A great deal of the review and preparation were done with his assistance. Come to think of it, should he not be here by now?
Just then the door to his study opened to admit Reynald. He walked over to stand in front of the duke's desk, "Pardon my tardiness your grace but I was delayed," he paused, "it seems you have an unannounced visitor."
"Visitor?" the duke asked. "Who comes this late in the day?"
"Well," Reynald's expression looked a bit strained, "the High Mother of the Temple of the Goddess is here about that matter we discussed earlier your grace."
Reynald's uneasiness now made more sense to Gorin. Several of his men-at-arms had taken certain liberties with a young priestess from the Temple of the Goddess. As far as Gorin was concerned she had asked for every bit of it. They paraded around in form fitting gowns displaying ample cleavage. They might as well work in a brothel for all their duties serving their "Goddess" entailed. In his mind they were nothing short of whores and his late father always seemed to keep them in check. Gorin would be no different.
"So did you send her away?" Gorin asked.
"Well your grace," Reynald's uneasiness seemed to increase, "I actually led her to believe that you would...well...speak with her," Reynald blanched as he said the last part.
"Why would you do such a thing?" Gorin was suddenly having trouble keeping his ire in check.
"Your grace," Reynald began as he fidgeted nervously in front of Gorin's desk, "while your father kept the members of the Temple under control, he did not ever let them be mistreated. It was an unspoken agreement he had with the High Mother."
"Your point?" Gorin asked, his impatience coming through all too clearly.
"Just a bit of diplomacy your grace?"
"Diplomacy? With that whore?" Gorin stood up his anger rising even more.
"Well your grace," Reynald answered, "there are many among the people who regularly attend the Temple of the Goddess. The High Mother does carry a great deal of influence among the merchant class and quite a few of the guilds as well."
Why did it always come to money Gorin thought to himself? Of course he could hear his father talking to him about how the economy made the kingdom. The stronger the flow of money, the more power one could acquire with it. Gorin looked down at his desk and took several breaths before looking up at Reynald, "And you think I should do what Reynald?"
"Just listen to her your grace and try to make some sort of peace...or at least...at least try to find out what she desires and then we can work out some sort of compromise later," Reynald stood waiting for Gorin's answer.
Typical Reynald he thought, always trying to be the voice of reason for Gorin. Trying to think what his father would do and emulate it, he deferred to his most trusted advisor, "very well Reynald," he motioned to the door, "send her in to see me."
"A wise decision your grace," Reynald turned and walked from the room.
Gorin sat back down at his desk trying to calm himself before meeting with the High Mother. He had met her a couple of times as he had grown up. She was a slight woman, not without subtle curves and though she was older Gorin could tell in her youth she was probably quite fetching. As she had aged her narrow face had taken on a more severe look, but at times her beauty was still apparent. All of the women who served the Goddess had a certain sex appeal to them which was why Gorin likened them all to whores. Their brash display of sexuality was totally improper in polite society.
His train of thought was broken by the sound of the door opening. Gorin looked up to see the High Mother walk into the room. She wore a maroon dress that hugged her slight form in all the right places and adequately displayed her cleavage. How was her bosom still so pert at her age he wondered. Her hair was dark, curly, and short. Her lips were full and she had painted them red to enhance their color. She was not a tall woman and Gorin thought soaking wet she might weigh 100lbs. "Your grace," she smiled giving a slight bow.
Gorin remained seated knowing full well the sleight he was giving to her station as High Mother by not rising out of his chair. To add to the insult he addressed her by her name rather than her title, "Angelica."
Rather than getting offended she gave a half smile as she looked at him, "so kind of you to see me on such short notice your grace." She remained standing and moved her hands up to her rest them on her hips. Her gaze was one of confidence almost as if she was the one in control of the conversation and not him. Gorin wondered how far he had to take this before he could be rid of this woman and her insolence. While she looked to be older than fifty she still had a certain appeal to the eye he could not deny. He did not want to get distracted by beauty right now. There was time for dalliances later.
"What can I do for you?" he asked, once again omitting the use of her title.
"I think you know why I am here your grace," Gorin still could not believe how calm she appeared. Not a hint of anger on her face. One of her priestesses had been raped yet she acted confident and collected. Was that the sign of a true leader? It is likely something his father would have taught him had he lived longer. Her full red lips curled up slightly, her chest slowly rising and falling. The choker she was wearing had a ruby in the center that he swore had a soft glow to it.
"The incident with one of your girls," he replied.
"Yes your grace," her smile grew to show her teeth, "I have come to discuss their punishment."
"Punishment?" Gorin felt his anger slip a little. "What makes you think I am going to have them punished?"
"I am sorry you misunderstood me young Gorin," his eyes grew wide at the slight, "the Goddess has already determined their punishment. Just have them sent to the Temple and we shall handle it."
Gorin could not believe the audacity of this woman. Beautiful she might be, almost irresistible really, no wait, he was the duke damn it. He was going to put a stop to this right now. Why was he having trouble standing? His arms and legs felt leaden. He looked up at her eyes widening. "What is going on?" his voice coming out weakly as the panic that was slowly setting in.
"Oh sweet Gorin," she had not lost that lovely smile since she entered the room. "Your father never let the Star of Alafell be worn in his presence," her hand went up to touch the ruby at her throat. "You see it allows me to channel the power of the Goddess," she slowly started to walk around Gorin's desk. "Right now you are feeling the overwhelming weakness the Goddess exposes in men," she moved up next to his chair and leaned down to speak close to his face. Her eyes were a deep green, her lips began looked so inviting to him. Hear nearness making the lust inside of him go from a simmer to a boil. "You see all men have cocks Gorin," her hand moved down and began to rub his cock through his pants. Gorin had not even realized how hard it had become. "Once your cock becomes engorged all reason leaves your minds," she held his gaze only inches from his face, "one moment you are creatures of great logic and pragmatism and the next," she squeezed his cock gently, "weak-minded fools who will do anything for more pleasure. So docile and lethargic now aren't you?"
"Reynald," he cried weakly finding his voice was becoming more difficult by the moment.
"Oh I wouldn't worry about Reynald sweet boy," she said with a glint in her eye, "he serves the Goddess, just as you soon will."