A million thanks to a gloriously picky reader turned proofreader, Steve150177. His work has definitely improved the finished product.
As always welcome complaints, comments, and whatever is on your mind.
English words are italicized when they appear.
Enjoy the chapter! DW
*****************
I felt a warm hand on my arm and heard Master Christof's voice. "It is cold, Brothers. Give me the blanket," he said as I opened my eyes.
The room was mostly dark as Master Christof wrapped me in a blanket and picked me up off the floor. I was chilly. The fire had burned lower and the room wasn't so comfortable anymore.
My stomach took that chance to remind me it had not had anything since lunch and rumbled. Master Christof walked us into the table area.
"Did you eat an evening meal, Ciara?" he asked.
"No, Master Master Christof," I answered snuggling into the warm blanket. My never dressed state did not allow me to be comfortable in a cool room.
"It will become sick if we are careless," Master Kein commented wrapping his hands around my icy feet. "It should be in the sleeping room after the sun has set or at least in a room with a stoked fire."
His hands were warm and felt good, rubbing briskly he took the chill out of my feet.
Master Bane took something out of a cupboard in the kitchen area. The men all took some to eat. Master Christof held me in his lap and fed me. It tasted like smoked meat and quelled my restless stomach.
I looked up at Master Christof's face and was surprised how much better it looked. Across the table I could see Master Bane's wounds were also smaller. They healed so quickly. I commented on it and Master Damien smiled.
"Perhaps you are just a slow healer, Ciara," he told me popping more of the meat into his mouth.
"I'm not sure how we would survive the women if we weren't fast Healers," Master Evan said.
The question was leaving my lips before I could stop it, "Why do they hurt you at the couplings? Do you force them to have sex?"
"Force them?!" Master Damien asked, "They come for sex, but they enjoy fighting us almost as much. They separate us and take whichever man they want. They sometimes pretend to let us bind them to reduce our injuries, but not often."
"I don't see how the shopkeepers survive it," Master Kein said.
"I think," Master Christof said, "they treat us differently. I could not be sure, but I heard the large woman that owns us speaking to other women while I was in the mountains. She told them it was young shopkeepers at the coupling and to be gentle."
"Are you owned by just one woman, do you think?" I asked him.
"No," he told me, "we are owned by a group. I believe our services at the couplings are sold to different groups of women. Sometimes we service our owners and sometimes the women they loan us to."
"A big one with a vicious scar across her forehead named Nu-reeh is our main owner," Master Bane said moving his wounded arm around. "She stopped a particularly nasty one from taking off my arm this time."
We moved into the bedroom and Master Christof laid me on my back on the bed. It was so much more comfortable than the floor. Lazily, I stretched out on it. Master Christof had left me wrapped in the blanket and it slowly slid off my breasts, exposing me. I started to pull it back and was stopped by Master Kein.
Master Damien and Master Evan were both standing and staring at me. Master Christof, Master Bane, and Master Kein had sat around me and were also watching. I didn't move. The way they were looking at me was so strange.
"We are exhausted," Master Damien said.
"Yes, Master Damien, you look tired," I answered.
"You are meant to sate our thirst, not ignite it," Master Bane insisted authoritatively.
I wasn't sure what to say to that comment and just lay still watching them.
"We should not be feeling this now. It is time for resting," Master Evan stated running a hand through his hair.
They looked so confused, so perplexed. I wanted to help them, but I wasn't really sure what their problem was. I pulled the blanket back over myself a little and they seemed to relax.
"We need to rest, Brothers," Master Christof declared and everyone seemed to agree.
The men all put on their linen shifts and covered me with a larger blanket. A moment later they crawled onto the bed around me. The men stretched their sore joints and found comfortable positions. I listened to them settle on the bed and soon it was quiet.
Looking at the ceiling, I completely relaxed on the bed. It was so good my owners were home, I'd been worried about them. Sleeping with other men was not nearly as relaxing as sleeping here with them.
It was late, but I had my habits. I waited for them to go to sleep. They were all still, but they didn't sound like they were sleeping.
Looking over at Master Evan I saw he was looking at me. I turned my head and Master Bane was staring at me from the other side.
"Am I upsetting you, Masters?" I asked quietly.
"We are fresh back from a coupling, Ciara, we do not need to use you," Master Bane explained, although that didn't make anymore sense than what he had said the first time.
"Yes, Master Bane," I answered him confused.
"However, we want to use you," Master Damien further explained.
I felt flattered. They actually wanted me.
"I'm tired, too, but I want you also, Masters. I'm glad you're back," I said quietly and to no one in particular.
Admitting how I felt about them made me nervous. Usually I was sure they didn't reciprocate the feelings.
"Of course you want us," Master Evan told me, "but you must rest now. We left you on the floor and without food too long."
Snuggling deeper into the warm, soft bedding my body continued to relax. Despite my habit, I think I was asleep long before they were.
I woke up the next morning and the sun was shining across the room. It was later than they usually let me sleep. Master Evan wasn't in the room, so they must not want me up yet. My bladder had determined it was time to get going though.
I glanced at the door to the bedroom and the leather flap was closed. Beyond the doorway I could hear voices in the main room. It sounded like my owners were talking to someone. If I hadn't had to go so badly I would have just stayed put.
Walking across the floor I peeked out the doorway. The men were standing and talking to a man I did not recognize. He looked like the villain from a pirate movie. Shaggy black hair and a series of cuts on his face gave him a fearsome appearance. I let the flap fall closed and just listened.
"You will have to touch it, Blain?" Master Christof asked.
"Yes," the stranger said, "it is better that way. I have done this many times and it seems better if I do it."
"It doesn't like to be touched by others," Master Christof said sounding troubled.
"You are sure you could not train us?" Master Kein asked. "My hands are very steady."
"I have done that before, but I can't guarantee the result under those circumstances," he said.
The door cover jerked opened and Master Evan was in front of me grinning. I jumped back and yelped lightly. I hadn't heard him walk up.
"It is up, Brothers. Ciara, why didn't you stay in bed until we woke you?" he asked.
"I had to go to the bathroom," I said quietly.
Now I really had to pee.
Master Evan took me to the bathroom and I heard the man comment it would be an easy job.
Master Evan let me use the bathroom, but then walked me back out into the main room. I kept my gaze on the floor, until Master Damien lifted my chin so I was looking in his eyes.
"Have you looked at this man?" he asked.
"Yes, Master Damien," I whispered.
"If you behave this morning, I will not take you to the posts for your disobedience," he promised me.
"Yes, Master Damien," I said feeling relieved.
My owners laid me down on a floating table and told me I could look at the man named Blain while he was in our rooms. I watched with trepidation as Blain took a long thick needle out of the bag he had with him. My eyes went wide when he plumped my breast in his hand.
They were going to pierce me. I turned my head to the side and closed my eyes tight. My breath was puffing out in little pants. I tried to do that breathing Rose had taught me, but it wasn't working. I felt light headed.
"Ciara," Master Christof said, "open your eyes."
I did and looked at him. "This will not hurt for long. We have a cream that will force you to heal quickly. We have used it before. Do you remember?" he asked me and stroked my cheek.
"Yes, Master Christof," I answered him with fear still lacing my voice.
Master Christof continued to look down at me questioningly for a moment. Suddenly he lowered his lips to my ear.
"We wish to do this and we will not let it hurt you. Trust us not to harm you. Please, may we do this?" he asked softly.
The choice shocked me as Master Christof stared back into my eyes. I would never had dreamed someone would ask me for my permission again. The pleading was evident in his face and I knew they would stop if I asked them to. The idea empowered me and I wanted to reward them for the generosity.
"Of course, Masters," I whispered taking a breath, "I wish to do this for you."
Christof looked thrilled as he reached down and took my hand.
"Shut your eyes," he instructed, "I promise you will not feel this. Blain is very good at his job," he stated confidently.
My eyes stayed shut tight and I waited for the pain. The man, Blain, just seemed to be playing with my breasts one at a time.