The Lure of Power Ch. 2: Lingering
Her hips swayed with uncanny grace, the sheer silk of her skirt barely concealing the voluptuous curve of her delicate backside. A silver chain hung loosely about her waist, but Collin was uninterested in such baubles as he followed the servant, roughly his sisters' age, up to the second floor of the tower.
"How long have you served master Bardiche," He asked the young servant? Without glancing back she replied, "since my sixteenth summer. At times he can be a very...demanding lord, but I imagine most men are such." With a wry grin, the young warrior asked, "So you've never been with another man?" In response she hastened her pace. 'Gods be praised,' he thought.
At the second floor landing she abruptly turned and unceremoniously cast open the door to the immediate left of them. "Your room, Master Collin." Her cheeks were quite flushed, he noted with a dark chuckle. To quench the fire in her eyes he added, "Just Collin will do nicely, Mistress...?" "Kaira," she replied tersely. "May I draw you a bath?" Collins grin quickly returned, "I'd like that, Mistress Kaira.
The young woman slowly lit the candles about the room. Collins' eyes followed her every step. 'What spell has this maid cast upon me,' he mused silently. The room was rather largish for his tastes, but spartanly furnished, with only a single pillowbed, a small nightstand, a cabinet, and the candelabras. It was then that the young man spied the large, sunken bath. Three people could easily frolic in that blessing, but two were all he was concerned of at this juncture.
Kaira called another servant to bring heated water. It was then that Collins' meal arrived. He thought of ignoring it and trying straight for dessert, but thought better of it. That approach had failed him one too many times. Best to get to know the young lass first.
Collin unbuckled his sword belt, and stacked it in the corner with his hoplon. He then moved to the window and opened it, to allow the night air free passage through the ancient chamber. "Will you require anything else...Collin?" He turned quickly and noticed that the servants had arrived with supper.
"Mistress Kaira, please stay and talk with me. I must leave in the morning, and have a long and lonely journey ahead of me," the young warrior replied. Her face flushed again, "Just place the food and wine on the table and go." The servants hastily did as she commanded, and scurried away. "But why leave tomorrow? You've only just arrived!"
After a few moments reflection, Collin replied, "As I said, Elise and I were set upon by bandits just outside of Kolar. I dispatched them with little difficulty, but they stole my broadsword, Cameroon. It has been in our family for nine generations. The weapon I took from the fallen highwaymen is no substitute."
Her eyes locked on the dark rug beneath their feet, "I am truly sorry, I meant no disrespect. I only..." Laughing boisterously, Collin fell back onto the pillowbed. "Sit, and dine with me Kaira," he chuckled, patting the pillows beside him. And so they dined and talked until the servants returned to fill the baths.
After the servants departed once more, Kaira rose, and slowly drug her foot across the carpet in a semicircle, "I should go, my master and Elise..." "Are busy with initiation," he was quick to reply. "Do you have any oil, I am sore from my travels?"
He pulled off his boots and gauntlets, as the maid searched about the cabinet. Her pale skin and cascading black hair distracted him as he unlaced them. He removed his tunic as she turned. Her face flushed at the sight of his wiry, sun-browned chest. His broad shoulders rippled as he tossed the tunic aside. Kaira set the incense burners atop the cabinet, packed them, and set them ablaze.