After the Inquisitor had left, she dressed in a sumptuous silk robe, and immediately set about searching for any possible escape. But soon, she discovered she was quite imprisoned. The walls were thick stone, and only two doors exited from it. One led back into the Inquisitor's chamber of delights, the other she knew not where, only that it was locked fast.
On an ornate sideboard was spread a wonderful feast. Fruits and breads and cheeses, delightful grapes in thick fat bunches; wines and spirits and liquors in jeweled bottles awaited her. Soft light filtered down from some unseen window high above her, so it was not dark, but not bright either. Abundant candles danced their light round the soft fabrics and textures, and glittered among many beautiful bottles of exotic perfumes.
As she waited, a new perfume touched her senses, a bouquet she had never known before. As she breathed it in deep, her head swam a bit, and her vision took on a strange clarity. Most surprising of all, was that her skin was flushed, and her nipples had grown exceedingly hard. In fact, mixed with the lovely scent, she could detect her own warm fragrance, as she felt herself become warm and wet all over again. She had never before experienced such excitement coming so soon after such pleasure. But nevertheless, there it was, hot and hungry, just as before, when she'd succumbed to the Inquisitor's machine.
Shaking her head, she cleared away the perfume's heady effects, and found herself hungry, and sampled all of the wondrous delights before her. The grapes were bursting with flavors. She sampled cheeses, and then selected adram of brilliant green liquor.
After eating, she continued her search of her new prison. In a beautifully carved wardrobe, she found the most beautiful clothes, from fancy gowns, to the sheerest of cloth, which she was sure would barely cover any part of her body. As she discovered more and more beautiful clothes, she began to wonder about her captor. Why had he not condemned her to death, as the law decreed? Why had he instead brought her here to this prison of carnal delights? Why had he laid aside such wonderful things for her? Surely this did not match the tales of his evil she had heard.
As she made her way round her chamber, she came at last to the massive bed. She had never seen a bed so large before. She was certain it could hold six or seven people easily. Testing it, she found it the softest she'd ever felt, like sinking into a cloud of pillows and silk. It was indeed a far cry from her straw mattress in her home in the forest.
Just as the Inquisitor had said, around the room were several bookshelves. As she looked closer, she could make out titles she'd only heard whispers of. Tales of darkest Arabia, intrigues of court, novels and drawings, all filled with images of wanton lust and desire. She placed a finger on the spine of a beautifully gilded volume, but just as she was reaching for it, a low chime began to sound. Confused she searched round her chambers, trying to find its source. All the while the chime continued, low but insistent. At last, she remembered the command of the Inquisitor.
"I am finished giving in to his commands." She thought bitterly. Still the chiming continued, and she began to fear what the Inquisitor might do if she refused. Lay waste to her village, drag her to the executioner, her mind jumped wildly from horror to horror. Slowly, as she stood in her chambers, the chimes died away, leaving only profound silence once again.
"Now, I have done it." she thought. "Surely he will come and drag me to the block. Or send his guards to finally destroy my people." As tears welled up, she straightened her back. "I shall be no one's slave. If I am to be killed, so be it." She ceased her nervous pacing, and sat calmly on the bed.
Time passed slowly, and soon she decided he must not have been watching, that her little defiance had gone unnoticed, or perhaps that wasn't the chime he had spoken of. Whatever the case, she soon began to relax and doze upon the sumptuous bed.
She awoke with a start, the sound of heavy boots and the clank of keys still echoing about her. She clutched the covers up close as the heavy door was unlatched, and swung inward. With a swirl of rustling crimson, the Inquisitor stood in, followed by a smaller, hooded figure.
They entered her chamber and stood silent for a time. She could feel the tension in the air, and stayed still in her bed, awaiting her fate. Finally he spoke very softly.
"You have disobeyed me, princess. Did I not instruct you as to what you are to do when the chime sounds?" His voice was low, but did not radiate menace as before.
"I shall be no one's slave!" she cried, determined to be brave in the face of death.
"Ah, my dear princess, I have enough slaves already. No, I have a different plan for you." he replied. "Nevertheless, you have disobeyed me, and now you will be punished,"
With this, she stood from her bed, and held her head high. "What will you do to me, my Lord. What will you do, subject me to another of your machines. I have already withstood your first. I'll..."
A wave off his hand cut her off.
In the silence that followed, she once again noticed the other figure who had entered behind the Inquisitor. Now with a small movement, he motioned toward a chair in the room, and the figure removed their cloak and sat down.
Instead of another brute guard, the princess found the hooded figure was indeed a woman. She wore a soft green gown, laced up at the front with golden ribbon, and drawn back with a lovely golden sash. Her large breasts strained at the lacings, and her nipples shone through the gossamer fabric, hard and dark.
Her hair was golden, and brocaded with a fine golden string. Her skin was soft and pale like porcelain. She had a pixie face with very full lips, and a hint of blush at the cheeks. She sat demurely in her chair, and then gazed at the princess. Her eyes were kind, but with a look of determination.
The Inquisitor continued, his face still shrouded 'neath his cloak and hood. "This is Chrysanthemum. She will be your maid. She will attend to you here."
"You spoke earlier of my machines, he continued. "No, my dear, That will not be your punishment for disobeying me. In time, you will come to think on my machines as reward. Should I reward you now for your disobedience?"
While he spoke, she realized she had not yet seen his face. With each meeting, he had always been cloaked or shrouded in shadow. Though she feared him, a strange curiosity took hold. She wondered what such a man looked like. He surely cast an impressive shadow, and from what she could see from his cloaked form, did not seem fat or oafish, nor did he seem the malevolent beast she had heard so often.
"No, my dear princess," he spoke again. "You will not receive reward. You are to be punished, and your servant will be the one to mete it out. Your robe, princess. Remove it now, and place it neatly on the bed."
Silence once again reigned as the Princess and the Inquisitor stared each other down. She stood in her silk robe, fists and jaw clenched. After what seemed an eternity, he spoke again.
"Have you forgotten your oath in the Great Hall? Do you recall the punishment the others all clamoured for? I understand among your people, honor is cherished above all else? Will you bring dishonor to your own oath?"
With that, her defenses broke, and slowly she loosed the sash, and let her robe slip from her shoulders, and fall to the floor. She did not however pick it up and place it neatly on the bed, as commanded. There she stood in the candlelight, feeling his eyes, as well as the maids, look her up and down; taking in the curves of her body, her large, dark areolas and hardened nipples, the soft triangle of hairs.
The Inquisitor took note of her willfulness, but said nothing. Instead he motioned her toward the maid Chrysanthemum.
"For your disobedience," he began, "you will be punished by your own servant. Lie across her lap, on your stomach please."
At first, she was confused by his command, and stood still. He nodded to the maid who rose, took the princess by the hand and led her before the chair. There, the maid sat again, and guided the princess down, and across her lap, her naked skin bright against the soft green folds of the maid's dress, her round cheeks bare.
