There's no direct incest in this chapter, but there are incest themes.
*
Sir Belgrothian stayed five nights and Aina remained untouched. Which, as far as Katarinka was concerned, was another black mark against him; any red-blooded Amazon who was betrothed to as sexy a thing as Aina would have made sure they had sneaked in at night to test the merchandise (to put it in a way the merchants understood), few high-born thralls reached their wedding night a virgin, even if they'd been one when their engagement was announced.
Still, that was only the least of Katarinka's worries. She'd originally thought that Hugh's interruption of her conversation with his wife had been petty rudeness -- the type weak men like him excelled in. But since then whenever she'd tried to talk to Yulianna she'd been blocked, by servants, by guards, by Hugh himself -- she was asleep or too tired, in her toilet or being purged by the doctor. Each excuse was reasonable, but when Katarinka tried to find another time it too was never convenient. At first, she had accepted it, but as the week had gone on she more and more believed Hugh was deliberately keeping her from talking to the Amazon.
Luckily the manor had its compensations. Firstly, the serving girls might think up lots of excuses to stop her seeing her daughter-in-law, but amongst their number there were enough choice nymphets who were willing to tumble into her bed for a gold coin, that she'd fucked a different one each night and never been disappointed. Secondly, there was Aina.
Her granddaughter had grown from a gawky child into a winsome young woman, attractive and alluring with the fresh face of youth and an attractive unawareness about how sexily beautiful she really was, with her toothy wide smile and slender body, with her pert tits stealthily covered by the silks and satins she wore which exposed their shapes if not the details. If Katarinka had been Belgrothian, which thank the Goddess she was not, she'd have had the teen girl on her arm all during the day and on her back all during the night. But the man's failings were a boon to the Amazon, as she instead got the pleasure of teenager's company that Belgrothian forgo. The teen turned out not just to be a pretty face, but a witty conversationalist and raconteur, able to make even the most boring of tales entertaining -- funny or exciting -- depending on where she was going with it and surprisingly well-informed for a thrall, with a passing knowledge of other lands and their rulers, as well as the beasts which hunted them (mystical or otherwise).
More and more Katarinka felt a sexual attraction to the younger woman, incest wasn't common amongst Amazons and thralls, but nor was it rare and the Goddess blessed relationships between Mom and daughter and sisters as much as she did those with no blood relation. Still, however much she disliked Belgrothian the teen was betrothed to him and it would ill bode Katarinka to interfere, in this foreign land, especially by cuckolding him, even if Aina had been willing and whilst Katarinka suspected the teen felt an attraction towards her (she was a thrall, even if brought up in the land of men) she was also too well brought up to act on her desires, no matter how much she wanted it.
Still, Katarinka could dream and admire the teen and lead her onto the dance floor, to have her granddaughter close, her head leaning on the older woman's shoulders as they glided across the floor, their feet moving so in unison they were almost one. Katarinka guided her across the floor towards the top table, where Yulianna sat, though slumped might be a better description, over a still full plate. Hugh seemed to realise where she was heading and with surprising grace interrupted the dance, "May I have the pleasure?" he said with a smile which suggested it was anything but. For a moment Katarinka thought he was asking for his step-daughter, though she immediately realised that he wouldn't allow her a beeline to his wife.
"Me?" she asked.
"My lady, I've not had the pleasure since you arrived, I'll lead."
There was little Katarinka could do without causing a scene and if she did that, here, in this land, everyone would be on his side. She quickly swallowed her pride and allowed him to take her on a quick trot around the floor. He was clumsy and slow-footed, not a man who spent much time dancing she guessed, he had probably not done it since his wedding day. "I fear my wife is not long for this world," he said as they moved.
"The Goddess may yet be good," it was a platitude, Yulianna looked so ill and worn that even the Goddess's infinite goodness was probably not enough to keep her in this world.
The man shrugged, as if he didn't believe in the Goddess and even if he had it mattered little. "I think only days, she will not live for the wedding I am sorry. You will stay for the funeral."
"For the wedding," replied Katarinka, leaving it unsaid about whether she believed it would be before or after Yulianna was laid to rest.
"Of course, as Aina's beloved Grandmama, you'll be an honoured guest," he said. He broke away from her, successfully diverted from the top table, "I see my wife is tired, I'll arrange for her to be taken to bed."
He bowed and withdrew, and immediately Aina was on the dancefloor taking his place. "What did he want?" accentuating the 'he' with vehemence.
Katarinka didn't tell her, though the girl was not stupid, she knew her Mama was dying. "Just plans for your wedding," she lied.
"Hmpff," snorted Aina, giving her view on that supposedly happy day. She clung closer to her Grandmom, resting her head on her shoulder as if that was the place where she was truly happy. Katarinka let, her, slowing the dance and sliding her hands to the teen's naked back and stroking it gently, as if they were lovers in a moonlight copse, dancing under the stars.
*
There was a knock on the door. Katarinka wasn't expecting anyone, but nor was it unexpected. Over the last few nights, a succession of maids had found an excuse to come knocking and to be introduced to her woman's weapon. None had yet left without sampling it and with a gold coin in addition -- as a souvenir.