Ch.3 Pt.02 Patience and the Cult
Patience the High Priestess had embarked on a physical relationship with the Prince. She tried to limit it to the experience of sex, to regard it as a necessary lesson for her so she would understand the people she served, and also as a service to keep the Prince, and through him the King, pleased with her, so they would continue to support her Cult and the work of the Goddess. But as soon as she began to explore the experience the Prince gave her she knew she wanted it. She had been wanting this, perhaps for a long time, but had not realised how much she wanted it and how much she needed it. He took her to the realms of ecstasy, again and again. She felt unmistakably wanted and desired, as she felt the Prince's strong passion for her, and realised her strong passion for the Prince. She loved his beautiful sculpted body and his handsome good looks. He was enjoying teaching her what he knew, and she was thrilled by what he taught. She could feel the love of the Goddess in his passion for her, in the way he ran his hands over her flesh, in the way she was able to share her passion with another human being. She no longer needed to hide her lustful feelings from him. He could share her thoughts and she revealed them openly to the Goddess. The Goddess could know her truly from the feelings which rose up in her.
When she was not in his arms and she went about her business managing the Priests and Priestesses, and caring for the people who needed help, there was a glowing about her. The Goddess shined even more brightly than before in her. She was not tired or dejected, but felt the power of the Goddess working through her. Instead of the selfishness she had thought sexual pleasure might have brought it gave her confidence instead, increased understanding and love for all who surrounded her. Her new pastimes were helping her to do her duty rather than turning her from her work. When she instructed the Priests she knew they admired and loved her. When she led Priestesses she understood them and their needs, and likewise with the people who most needed their help.
"Patience you must know how very attractive you are to most men in this Palace," said the Prince. You were saying how the love of the Goddess flows through you when you make love to me. You have also said that your loyalty is to the Goddess, not to a man. You serve the Goddess, and all the people of the Goddess. It would be wrong to turn you into a mere wife or mistress or concubine for one man, even if he were a Prince. I think you have love to give to all, the courtiers of the Palace, the Cult you lead, and the people you serve, the poor, the disabled, everyone. You can be free to serve the Goddess. As we have found that does not mean you have to be celibate, it does not mean you cannot use your body to be the person you feel like being. The Goddess is not stopping you. I shall not stop you, and your Cult must not stop you. You can be sexual, and you can be sexual with whoever you wish. I think you will find you serve your Goddess better by being free with those favours. Be your natural self, be generous, give of yourself. Do not be shy, reach out to those you wish to convert or to influence.
"You are on a journey of increasing confidence and generosity. You can spread the messages of the Goddess by your work and management, but you can also spread the word and the truth of the Goddess by the sexual generosity and example which you can give. I have seen your desire for courtiers and male servants, I can even see your interest in the wives and serving women. I know you admire Lady Riala and her abundant sexual generosity. You too can be like Riala, You can be generous, and give yourself to others in that way. You are free. The Goddess does flow through you, and she can take you wherever you want to go."
The Prince had the idea with Lady Riala of inviting the High Priestess into their bed. Jaspernon thought it was time to offer his friend Alixerand to Patience. Alixerand had recently been invited into Riala's bed, and the Prince and his friend had taken the concubine together, an arrangement which had satisfied all three of them immensely. Alixerand had hungered for the concubine, as most men at court did, but never thought he would be graced by the possibility of her tanned flesh, so he had been very surprised and excited when Jaspernon suggested the arrangement. He had been pleased to hear that the idea originated with the concubine herself. Riala welcomed the Prince's best friend into her own arms and enjoyed the keen attentions of both younger lovers at the same time. She was finding a taste for group liaisons which gave her the constant sexual action she desired, while in such moods.
"I think we should invite Alixerand and Patience to my room for sharing," suggested Jaspernon. "I think she is not yet ready to satisfy your desire to make love to her Riala. I detect that she does admire your beauty, but she is interested in men so far. You might well find she refuses to make love to a woman. I am sure that it may soon be possible for you and her to both share me at the same time, and that would of course be wonderful for me. I think to engage her in a communal activity the lure of Alixerand would be sufficient. Alix can take Patience while I take you, in the same room. That will initiate her into our sex games. Who knows where else it might lead? That would be up to her.
Alixerand has developed into a remarkably handsome and now confident courtier now that he has bedded you Riala and shared her with me a few times."
"What have you been doing today my Prince?" asked the High Priestess. She was eager for comfort after her busy day, supervising her Priests and Priestesses in their work with the sick and disabled. She had been reviewing the needs of those who attended the two hospices in the city, and considering whether more Priests and Priestesses should be earmarked for the work here. The demands on the Cult seemed to be increasing. She thought she would talk to the King and some of his Ministers again about the possibility of the City or the Royal finances funding a new Hospice to care for the sick. So many could not afford the Doctors and hospices of the city.
"Well I have had some very pleasant adventures," he replied. "In the morning Riala came to visit me. We made love, and then she took it upon herself to invite a serving woman and a male servant to join us, so I took the serving woman while the male servant took Riala on the same bed next to each other. I have to say it was very exciting to bring newcomers into our bed like that. It excited us both to break the taboos of the past. I feel as if I can have any woman in the palace, although that is not true. The memory of it will stay with me for a long time, adding to my sexual fire, and igniting my sexual experiences."
She was not surprised by the news he recounted. She knew well that Jaspernon and Riala too were on a journey of increasing sexual exploration. Neither cared any longer for the concept of sexual loyalty. Sexual sharing had become their new code of life. That was partly why the Prince had chosen to extend his loving towards herself. She knew he was keen upon her, never refusing or ignoring her, but she wondered at the speed of his adventures. How long would his favour towards her last, and yet she still did not doubt his obsession with her.
Her heart sank a little as he recounted some of the liaisons and entertainments he had already enjoyed today, when she was tired and in need of physical relaxation. But thankfully he did have enough sexual energy left to give her some of what she needed.
She found, to her own surprise, that her feelings, when hearing of his new conquests, were not of jealousy for the loss of his attention, but more the fear that he would have less energy to give her the pleasure she needed from him. She was actually excited to hear of his sexual exploits and those of Riala. She actually felt excited by the idea that they had picked servants to bed, against all the normal practice of the traditional court. She felt that by working she was missing some of the adventures which she could be having, although she believed in her work and would not want to give it up. She nonetheless felt the need of some participation in the adventures the Prince was able to have with Riala.