I, Eronemus, hereby set down in my hand the following account of my travels (and travails) in the land of Erkmark. Briefly, Erkmark is a long-settled land which had suffered the fate of many long-standing, decadent polities. In the centuries that preceded this account, the ruling order withered and disappeared to be replaced by a patchwork of local strong bosses, each holding absolute power within the finite limits of the lands upon which each managed to stake out as his own. This account concerns my perils in the territory of the Council of Ten, a matriarchy of female wizards ruling in absolute and despotic power.
I had been, at various times in past, a waghalter, bawd, agitator of the masses, scribe, clerk and sage of minor note. I am also ever-interested in the proclivities of enforced nakedness in the company of clothed women. Believing that I was a man of no mean skill and acumen, I dared to cross over into the Council's lands after procuring servants, mounts and supplies for a week-long road journey. Knowing what I know now I am astounded at the extent of my extreme naivety.
We crossed into the Council's lands on the afternoon of the first day and were left alone for three days thereafter. We passed rustic farms and villages peopled with folk of a cautious and fearful disposition. By twilight of the fourth day, we were accosted by constructs of burnished pewter bearing cruel weapons of great efficacy. Of my party of retainers, I have since not known what happened. After despoiling us of our mounts and provisions, our captors separated me from my companions and brought me to a looming edifice of ancient basaltic stone. This turned out to be the keep of the Council of Ten.
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I found myself in a large, dark cavernous hall. The floor was covered with flagstones of polished, smooth grey stone and the ceiling and far walls could only be guessed at, as I could not see them. It was a bit drafty and cool. I was standing in a space about thirty feet in diameter lit in soft golden light. At the end of my vision was a long banquet table heaped with sumptuous food and drink.
So far, I had been treated with kind indifference, seeing only more constructs who locked me up in a plain living suite. I checked out my suite and found a nice washtub and rather dignified-looking clothes in the closet. Seeing these, I lost little time in bathing myself and changing to the rather nice brownish coat and stylish velvet trousers which I could only assume were for me. It was right after I completed my ablutions that my steel captors took me to the hall.
Presently, there was a sound of large doors opening and dignified footsteps. At the edge of my vision, I saw that the seats behind the banquet table began to be filled. It was still too dark for me to see with certainty but I could reasonably surmise about more than five and less than ten of them.
Even from where I was, I could tell they were all female, and quite lovely to the extreme. Each was done up in elegant style quite different from the other. The one facing me appeared to be a ravishing blonde with a rouged complexion. Her shoulders and upper slopes of her delightfully ample breasts were bare, set-off by the cut of her exquisite gown. The sight of those delicious globes straining against the fabric of her gown stirred my loins and, against my better judgment, turned me on.
The one beside her was petite, with coffee-colored skin of sexy smoothness. She appeared to be just as elegantly dressed as her blonde companion and decked with pearls and gemstones. I hurriedly looked away as her eyes caught mine- and I was discomfited to have been caught staring at her shapely breasts and curvy form. I knew I could be in trouble if these (who I could only assume to be those commanding my captors) suspected that I was eyeing them in a vulgar manner. Something disturbed me as her lovely almond-shaped eyes met mine for a brief instant. Was it naked lust I caught in them? Or some hungry longing in her stare- the sort found in a ravening she-wolf just while she toys with her helpless prey.
I was in a flat area with nothing but floor space as far as I could see and reach. I felt open, alone and somewhat undressed as I grew conscious of the intensifying scrutiny of my largely silent yet intense female viewers. The silence was only broken by the clink and clatter of glasses and plates as they feasted on the provender laid out before them, as well as the occasional hushed words passed between one woman to another. They were very dignified and I was growing very much disturbed that they were scrutinizing me. Occasionally one would giggle in a girlish manner, which I found delightful. My cock appeared to agree as it would give a twitch every time this happened.
Attempting to take charge of the situation, I cleared my throat and broke out in salutation in the Common Tongue, hoping to provoke a positive, if not sympathetic reaction. I was still not clear if I was a captive or a guest, and I was hoping my status was that of the latter.
I was disappointed to hear no reaction as they all continued to carry on as if I had not spoken. Only when I attempted to speak again, this time with a tremor in my voice, did a response become manifest. The dark petite one raised her hand with her palm outstretched beckoning me to be silent. I could see her delightful almond-shaped eyes narrow as her brow furrowed giving her an intense pouting expression I found sexy.
"Quite an impatient one, this creature." Said the blonde with large breasts.
"He'll learn," Said another, who I glimpsed was a stunning redhead, seated at the far end of the table. "Deliver him to me for a week and I'll return him to you naked, tamed and eager to please."
This elicited some laughter causing the dark petite to remark, "I thought we agreed to share this one between the ten of us."
"I don't think he'll survive that long, given your proven appetites for cock." Laughed another in a tinkling voice off to the side.
"Still, he seems awfully small- not robust as the others we've had." Said the blonde.
"I guess we can find out what he's made of then." Said the dark petite making what seemed to be a casual gesture with her wrist and fingers. "Alfer stradum nikolegadus- zim!"
After pronouncing her last syllables quite forcefully and swiftly, I grew aware of a slight clanking noise, as if made by links of a light metal, coming from above. I looked up and saw two lengths of silvery chain descending slowly. Each length terminated in a fetter that seemed to fit my wrists exactly. I must have been gaping stupidly as the chains moved like they had a life of their own. So much so, that I failed to hear what the dark sexy petite was saying to me until she hissed in displeasure, snapping me back into reality.
"I shall not command you again little man-thing." She hissed. "Raise you arms up high and wait for the chains to take your wrists." I could sense the silvered chains hanging quite closely above by now. Somehow, there was movement on the floor near my shoes too, but I could not make out just exactly what it was.
I could only gape astoundedly in disbelief as I endured the scrutiny of these women. My heart was pounding and I knew I was I deep trouble.
"Very well," Sighed the sharp-witted redhead, the one who threatened to strip and enslave me. Swiftly, she made a motion with her hand, palms-up while muttering something that sounded like, "Glooferz geroom nakhaheem!"
At that, both my arms were pushed up by an invisible force. Try as I might, I was helpless to prevent their being forced up above my head and slightly apart, as if I were surrendering to an enemy. As my fingers brushed the links above me, I felt them slip silently onto my wrists with a life of their own. Then, with an ominous metallic click, locked me secure.
