I remember now how my eye was drawn to him when he was merely one of my prisoners. Having no idea who he was, he nevertheless seemed... unique, dignified and strong even in chains. I paused and my generals paused with me. Their gazes followed my own.
"Ah, you recognize him, my Queen?" Auggie asked, drawing herself up as she met his glower.
"No," I replied, "Who is he?"
"He is King Kerk, the head general of all the Zeneesi," said Xenia, "Perhaps, if you wish it, we shall have him put to death, as an example for his people."
I looked at him, chained hand and foot, yet still with his head held high, a sneer distorting his sunburned face as he looked at myself and my generals. He was tall, far taller than the weak and sickened men of our planet, and more muscular than the strongest of my ladies. His dark skin was covered in hair—his chest, his arms, his thick legs. Rather than being bald, as the men I knew were, his hair was thick and black and hung knotted down his back. He was covered in mud and blood from this most recent battle—he and his people's final battle—yet I was drawn to him as though he were robed in gold. I had never experienced what I felt when looking at him when looking at a man. I was used to loving the strong arms and lovely buttocks of my women—Acratia, Jili, Karin—but here was a man stronger than they, larger than they, who in his gaze did not tremble like the men of our home, but was so insolent as to look full into my face—into his new ruler's face. I wanted him punished, but not in the way Xenia wanted.
"Bring him to my tent tomorrow evening," I commanded, "But first have him cleaned, fed, and given a night's rest. He will be the first. He will tell us whether this conquest has been in vain."
I turned and strode away, leaving my generals frowning. I shared their anxiety, but right at that moment I felt all the adrenaline of this final battle—and all the weeks and years of battles before this—drain away from me and I was truly exhausted. Victorious, but exhausted. I would sleep tonight as I hadn't in weeks, endless nights planning strategy. I would sleep and dream of my ladies who feasted in Valhalla.
"May you feast with Freya tonight," I murmured, gazing out into familiar stars, glad to see the stars of my home planet again at last. Near to stumbling, I made it to my rooms, shed my robes and collapsed into my wonderfully soft bed.
I woke, blinking into the strangeness of a different dawn. Smiling as I opened my eyes, I realized that what was "different" about this dawn was that it was Danthania's own, the dawn of my home planet. Stretching blissfully, I reached for the bell to ring my servants. I had a luxurious bath and was oiled and dressed. I fell on my breakfast with a relish that surprised even me. After I finished and pushed away from the table, I called for my priestesses. My victory over Zenis secure, I had something in mind that I knew they could help me with. I asked that they meet me in the library, a vast room lit by a wall of windows all along one side and containing all the knowledge my people had acquired over our 5,000-year rule. I began to pull certain volumes that my priestesses had brought to my attention before, wisdom that had played no small part in our decision to conquer the Zeneesi. The three priestesses—Ara, Quetrin, and Gildrend—entered and made their bows. I greeted them, embracing each in turn, pausing to murmur to Gildrend, whom I had taken to my bed some years ago, that she was looking lovely. And, indeed, she was, her blond hair a radiant frizz around her delicate features and cunning blue eyes. Perhaps I should invite her to my bed again... No, now was not the time.
"My ladies," I began, moving to the books I had laid out, "As you know, we have been victorious in Zenis and have brought a number of prisoners back as slaves." I paused and looked at each of them, confirming that they knew what I was about to say. "Thus, it is time to bring our talks of a year ago to fruition. We must see if the enchantments we've found and the magical elements we've amassed will be able to give us the one thing our planet needs that it cannot create itself: offspring." My ladies nodded, each of their faces a mix of serious and expectant. "I have selected one slave, their king, a man named Kerk, to try our experiment on. He not only has the stamina and strength to withstand this physical challenge, he will also be a symbol to them of their subservience to us."
Ara stepped forward, "My queen, I have carefully stored the objects we'd collected. Clearly," she gestured at the books, "you remembered the spells we'd marked. We are ready to proceed as soon as you give us permission." She bobbed a slight curtsy and stepped back.
I contemplated. Why not begin now? I felt the vigor of victory pulsing through my veins—surely there is no time I am more potent? I clapped my hands, "Then it shall be. Take the slave Kerk to the temple and perform the enchantment. Then, tonight, after the sun sets, bring him to my chambers."
As if one body, the three bowed in unison and swept out the door. I had every confidence in them—if this could be done, and it must be done or my people were finished—then they would bring it to pass.
Sighing, I sank into a chair. I would rest, I decided, till tonight. Then I would feast and drink and, after the sun set, I would see what the people of Zenis were truly made of.
I lounged in my chamber, watching the last of the sun's rays over the violet horizon. Doubt pricked my mind for the first time. Perhaps Ara and the others hadn't had everything they needed. Perhaps they had failed. But, no, as darkness descended, there was a quiet knock at my door.
"My queen," came Ara's musical voice.
I stood and opened the door, allowing her and the slave inside. He stood tall, his jaw set, eyes narrow. He wore a wine-colored robe, sleeveless and belted with a lavishly embossed strip of tan leather, nearly the color of his sun-hardened skin.
"Well?" my voice belied my nervousness, "Have you succeeded?"
Ara nodded and smiled, clearly greatly pleased, "Yes! Yes, my queen! If you check him, you will find what we have created." Doubt shadowed her face, "Only time will tell if this manwomb is functional, but everything seems to be in place."
I breathed a sigh of relief, "Leave us!" I ordered my priestess and my servants.
When we were alone, I walked all around him, drinking in his rigidly muscled form. Certainly he was entirely different from the men of my planet: weak and pale, unable to do any but the simplest tasks. They lived, all of them, in the farmlands, using the great machines we females had created to grow the food that feeds us and themselves. I had only seen these men a few times-- I was so disgusted by them I had decreed they could not enter the cities without express permission. But this man was as deeply muscled as the strongest of my women warriors, and his skin and hair were so dark. As I took him in, I felt my cock stir in anticipation.
When he spoke, I was startled out of my reverie. "I don't know what evil magic you have put me through," he hissed through clenched jaw, "or what you intend to do to me, but I can tell you this: you will be sorry."
"No," I paused before him, "it is you who will be sorry, you who ARE sorry. It is you who are defeated, and you who must submit to me and my wishes. You... and all your men."
He opened his mouth to reply, then shut it again. His great dark brow glowered.