I hope folks are enjoying the story so far. Please leave comments, as criticism both positive and constructive is inherently useful. Plus, I like reading comments, so that's cool.
The Tattooed Woman Volume 2 - Chapter 5:
The manse of House Varro was home to one of the oldest of the Great Houses in the Dark Elven city of Emain. It had been built during an earlier age and over countless centuries had withstood fire, flood, war, magical assault and even, if the ancient tales were to be believed, the burning venom of a mighty dragon. It was an elegant structure with outer walls of spell-crafted obsidian, dark marble and granite, that housed many galleries, observatories, halls and libraries among the countless other chambers, illuminated by tall stained-glass windows and witchfire lanterns. There were many whispered stories of ghosts haunting lost corridors and secret subterranean chambers, with purposes ranging from armouries, storerooms, bathhouses and alchemical laboratories where arcane mysteries were plumbed and even demons summoned.
Off one of the upper galleries, was a quiet nook, and a door that led to a comfortable chamber that oft served as an intimate dining room for family, and close friends. It had a tall window that overlooked the gardens and offered a fine view of the night sky. Tonight, the chamber rang with the noise of cheerful merriment, the muted clatter of plates and cutlery, the chinking of crystal glasses and the happy sounds of carefree conversation.
Ashunara found herself laughing as Tallis told her tale of how she found Lily and Muriah passed out together after their drinking contest. Her description of the dishevelled state of the two inebriated women was both lurid and inventive and even Aventine giggled at the Sunkissed girl's blushes and half-hearted protests.
Her embarrassment only grew worse as Tallis went on to describe the girl's subsequent drunken ineptitude when she was carried back to her chamber and made attempts at amorous embraces and slobbering kisses, only to fall into a drunken slumber almost immediately.
Lily protested, "At least I don't snore, like you."
"I do not!"
Ashunara laughed, "If it's snoring, you're after try sleeping in the same tent as Muriah. She sounds like a pregnant cow passing a particularly obstinate bowel movement. I swear I nearly smothered her in her sleep more than once just to shut her up. Is it any wonder I eventually made her sleep outside?"
There were five of them around the table having a quiet supper together and at Hildegard's suggestion, all the servants and guards had been dismissed from the chamber after laying the tables and placing platters and bowls of deliciously smelling food upon their boards. Leaving them to relax and simply enjoy each other's company outwith the prying eyes, needs and expectations of others.
By the time Hildegard had given her version of Muriah's "fight" with Ashunara and how the poor woman had all but tripped over her own feet and flattened the tent as she careened through it spluttering like an enraged drunkard Aventine could barely hold her fork for laughing.
Lily then told her story of how she had all but made good her escape only to find herself instead worrying so much about Tallis that she instead ran through a dank forest in the middle of the night to hide outside a cave in the pissing rain like a love-struck poltroon hoping to catch a glimpse of the girl while Azure casually walked up behind her and all but tapped her on the shoulder.
Waving a chicken leg at the girl Ashunara grinned, "Ha! Don't feel bad about that, the spooky bitch has been sneaking up on me for years. T'is a certainty she thinks it amusing, and her night is surely not complete until she's scared the Hell out of me at least once," she peered about the room comically, "best check under the table Aventine, the sneaky bugger could be in here with us and we'd not know it until she stole your dinner."
The room sounded with laughter and Aventine surreptitiously eyed the human woman seated at her sister's side. It had been Hildegard's idea to have the meal together, and she'd clearly made good on her promise to speak to Ashunara, for there was none of the cold anger that she saw so often in the woman's eyes. Indeed, her sister looked relaxed, and happy, though given how her spies among the household servants had whispered of the impassioned cries and sounds of delight that had been heard emanating from her bedchamber until long into the wee hours that was perhaps hardly surprising, and she found herself chuckling wryly in good-natured envy.
"Hildegard, my sister tells me you consider life as either nun or courtesan. For what it may be worth you need not feel constrained to these choices. You would be welcome here as my guest for as long as you wished," she chuckled, "it's not as if we are short of room after all."
The woman smiled, "That's very kind, Mistress Aventine, and the manse is more than lovely, but in truth, I would need something to occupy my time. It would sit ill with me to simply indulge upon your hospitality," she gestured around her, "as marvellous as that may be."
Aventine gave the woman a sly smile, "Oh, I'm sure we could find something useful to occupy your time if such was your desire."
"Such as?"
The Matriarch shrugged, "There are many positions within the household itself that require a skilled hand and a quick mind, but we are also a Great House. In addition to sponsoring a Free Company we have many financial interests and properties, we trade with other Houses, and other tribes, be they Orc, Dwarf, Gnome or Human. With suitable training and tuition, you could find value and purpose in any one of a number of niches, or in none if truth be told. If you desired it you could pursue some art, as opposed to industry or commerce," she smiled, "I make the offer because Ashunara is leaving to go north soon and as her guest, it would be ill of me to leave you in loneliness after she departs. Anyway, think on it, you would be welcome here for as long as you wished to remain."
"As a slave though?"
Aventine shrugged, "That is more to fulfil our cultural imperatives than any desire to keep you in bondage," she cast a shrewd eye at her sister and continued, "I suspect that if you wished it Ashunara would free you from that role whenever you asked it of her and only keeps a collar on you so that others know you are under her protection."
Ashunara grinned, "T'is true Hildegard," she chuckled, "though I admit to delighting in having you at my beck and call, for who wouldn't, the collar is more to keep the wolves at bay than anything else. They will see it and know what they risk should they offer you insult or abuse. Once you are settled and secure here it can be removed or exchanged for something more to your liking if that is what you wished."
"And should I wish to continue to wear it?"
Ashunara smiled, "That would please me greatly, I admit. But you do not have to Hildegard, when you offered yourself to us in exchange for the lives of those children I was well impressed by your bravery and selflessness. It is not something my kind are well known for. I said then that I would see you to some kindly station and not enslaved to some cruel Mistress, and I will be true to that bargain. It is not my desire to keep you in bondage, nor was it ever."
Blushing the Human woman reached to take hold of the Dark Elf's hand, "Oh, I have no desire to remain in chains all my days, but I admit you're not
that
bad. No whips or cruelty yet, but mayhap you seek to lure me with a false sense of security?"
Ashunara spluttered, "Whips? Chains? When have I ever even suggested such?"
"Oh, so you didn't threaten me with a thrashing for suggesting I would have an Orc pin you to my table so I could examine your leg?"
"I was jesting, wench!"
