A murmur of women's voices tugged at Leo's attention. He blinked, trying to sit up, but the motion triggered a wave of dizziness.
"Ah, the Journeyman awakes," said one. There was an unkind laugh from somewhere to his left. Leo rubbed his eyes, waiting for the world to stop spinning. When his vision cleared, he saw three women, two in Mage robes.
And he was completely naked.
Swallowing, Leo stood up carefully, executing his best bow. He was in a small chamber, with a single modest bed and little else.
"Lady Mages," he enunciated. His tongue felt thick. "I fear I have lost some memories. Is my Lady nearby?"
The laugh came again, from a brown-haired woman around forty, not dressed as a Mage.
"Which one?" she asked. "Your new Lady, or the weak one you left behind?"
Leo's heart surged. Had Lady Tur had escaped after all? He needed to play along.
"Lady Karlov left me little choice in the matter," he said cautiously. "I -- am I free of her then?"
Brown-haired woman laughed once more. "In a manner of speaking," she said. "Evelyn, is he truly potent as the Third suspects?"
A thin-faced woman fixed her stare on him. Leo could feel her coiled power, and that of the other, shorter Mage. His Seed stirred, and he forced himself to compare her to his Lady. Unsmiling, skinny, no hint of kindness or light. His Seed wouldn't respond properly to her, even if she demanded.
The Mage stepped closer, and he kept still, holding his posture careful. Deferent, like a Consort.
"I cannot say for sure," the Mage said eventually. "In a Journeyman it may wax or wane unpredictably. I feel little, however."
The second Mage spoke up. "This is a waste of our time."
Brown-haired woman turned, and both Mages quieted. So the other Lady was important, even if not talented.
"Perhaps it is," she said. "Rebeka, call in the usual servicers. Then you will sample him."
The shorter Mage's mouth dropped, and for a moment her brown eyes narrowed with annoyance. Then the expression was gone.
"Of course, Countess. I will do as you say."
The other two women filed out of the chamber.
"Listen, Journeyman," the remaining Mage said quietly. "If you have power, you had better demonstrate it to me. Things will go very badly for you if you do not perform well. I have no patience for games, or mundane joinings. Do you prefer men?"
He gaped, then quickly shook his head. Lady Rebeka nodded and withdrew, closing the door.
A few minutes later, two women some years older than Leo entered. He felt no power from them, and when they immediately began disrobing, he thought he understood. Servicers. He'd heard vague rumors of this, and the whole idea left him deeply uncomfortable.
"My Ladies," he said shakily. "There is no need --"
The rounder woman with curly hair giggled. "Hear that, Moll? We're Ladies now. What a polite one he is."
"But --" he stammered. The curly-haired woman had more hair between her legs than he'd ever known a woman could have. It was remarkable.
"Oh, your muff's snared another one," Moll said. "You want him first?"
Leo shook his head. "It's not correct. If you have herbs, I could --"
The curly-haired woman shoved him back towards the bed. "Now that's just plain rude. No, Moll, why don't you start, and I'll pout over here, where he has a good view what he's missing. Maybe I'll let him pet it, if he's a good Consort."
Moll laughed, finished removing her clothes, and stepped forward to embrace him with her body. Her entire body. Leo was frozen.
"Relax, Consort," she said in his ear. "Is this your first time being serviced? I'll treat you right, no fear."
She kissed him on the neck, and his legs went out from under him. He barely avoided bringing her down with him.
"Oh, Skies, give me some help, Zef."
Suddenly there were warm hands under him, helping him to his feet, depositing him on the bed.
"Poor thing," Zef said, stroking his chest. "Who knows what he's been through to wind up in this room. I'm sorry for being pouty. Oh, do you like my bosom? How sweet."
Before he knew it, her soft breast was pressed against his lips. Almost without meaning to, he kissed her fat nipple.
Zef giggled, pressing her breast harder, stroking his hair. "I like this one," she said. "Moll, why don't you -- oh, ahead of me as always."