Chapter 21 | The Tale of Two Kingdoms

Emmae sat all forlorn in a tower of the castle the next evening. She had been left alone for most of the day, mercifully, but she knew Hildin and Gill would be back. She looked out over the city and farmlands surrounding the Keep, to the forests that spread far beyond. She thought of Warin, and wondered whether he would come for her. Would she be happy if he did? For after all, Prince Hildin said it was Warin who had enchanted her in the first place.

She shook her head. "I cannot believe he would do such a thing," she said to herself. "Take my memories and make me subject to all desire? Not my Warin. He is gentle and kind, and I feel sure he loves me. I know I love him. He shall come for me." And yet the doubt nagged in the back of her mind.

As the sun began to set beyond the three mountains to the west, Emmae sighed. Soon old Meg would bring her supper and talk with her for a while. She knew that Meg couldn't be trusted. Hildin was like a son to her-a son she spoiled rotten and who could do no wrong in her eyes. What he wanted, she wanted. But Meg was the only one of them who didn't want something from her, and she'd already grown to like the motherly little woman.

She stood, smoothing out the simple chemise that was all she was given to wear. There was no mirror in the room-nothing the least bit reflective-but she had no real interest in what she looked like. To her surprise, the door to the room swung open and an unfamiliar young woman stepped in, carrying her supper tray. "Where's Meg?" said Emmae to the girl.

The girl shook her pretty red curls with a smile and said, "I'm sure I don't know, miss. I am Jessa." The girl moved to the table before the window and began setting out Emmae's supper. The tray was carefully composed of food that she could eat without benefit of silverware, after Gill had caught her staring intently into a spoon whispering Warin's name. The plates, bowls, pitchers and cups were matte ceramic, with no chance of a reflection of any kind.

"Thank you, Jessa," Emmae said listlessly, turning away again toward the western window. The light from the setting sun turned the thin linen of her chemise transparent.

Jessa took in Emmae's soft curves and smiled. "Aren't you going to eat, miss? The prince will be angry if you don't keep your strength up." She joined Emmae at the window, offering her a cup. "Have a sip of wine, at least. Perhaps it will coax your appetite out of hiding."

Emmae reached for the cup with a sigh, and as she did, their fingers met. Emmae's eyes flew to the other woman's face, and Jessa gave her a sly smile. To her surprise, Emmae felt the familiar blush come to her cheeks. "Please," she whispered, "I would like to be alone now."

"Oh, I don't think you do," said Jessa. "I think you would very much like to be here with me." She took the wine cup before it fell to the floor from Emmae's suddenly numb hand, and tossed the wine back herself. "Consider me a present from Prince Hildin."

Emmae backed away from the girl. "You are a lovely girl, and perhaps the prince would be happier if you made a present of yourself to him."

"No," came an already-familiar and hated voice from the doorway. "I much prefer to be generous this evening. And Jessa wouldn't consider attention from me or any man as welcome as your attention-would you, Jessa?"

"Oh, I serve entirely at your pleasure, my lord," said the girl with a smirking curtsey, "but you are correct. I am a lover of women."

Hildin walked into the room with Gill at his heels, and settled in his accustomed chair by the empty hearth, the page at his feet. "Jessa knows your...predicament, Emmae, and is more than happy to take advantage of it. Aren't you, dear?"

"Most certainly, your highness," replied Jessa, loosening her bodice laces and advancing on Emmae.

"I beg you, if you know my shame and have any fellow feeling for a woman, to leave me be," said Emmae, her voice shaking. "Or else, your highness," she said, turning to the prince, "since it isn't enough that you force yourself and your page on me but now the serving women as well, will you please let me suffer in private?"

"Don't worry, sweet girl," soothed Jessa, loosening Emmae's hair. "You won't suffer in my arms. I promise."

"With every touch I have endured in this place, I have suffered!" cried out Emmae.

"And you suffer so beautifully, how could I not share you?" murmured Hildin as he petted the golden head at his knee. He sat up a little straighter and gave a commanding flick of one hand. "Jessa. Be at it. I am eager to see the performance."

Jessa slipped her hand around Emmae's neck and pulled her into a kiss. Emmae whimpered but opened her lips to the other girl's tongue. Jessa's lips were so soft after the demanding kisses of Hildin and even the kinder kisses of Gill. "Why are you doing this?" whispered Emmae when the kiss ended.

"Because I want to. Because I can. And because you can't stop me." Jessa pinned Emmae against the bedpost and kissed her again, sucking Emmae's tongue into her mouth. She took the ribbon at Emmae's neck and pulled; her chemise fell from her shoulders to catch at her elbows, exposing her breasts. Jessa hummed in appreciation, pulling Emmae tighter. She took one breast in her hand and weighed it, deepening the kiss until Emmae's head swam. "You are irresistable," Jessa whispered as she caressed Emmae's breasts. "And knowing you feel all of my desire, and return it in spite of yourself, is delightful. The look on your face, ah!"

Emmae gasped for breath. Jessa slipped the chemise from her arms entirely, leaving Emmae naked in the fading evening light. "Gill," came the prince's dark voice, "the candles, if you please. I want to see this clearly." Emmae had almost forgotten the men were there. Gill rose gracefully from the floor, and moved about the room lighting the candles and closing the shutters.

Jessa pushed her gently down on the edge of the bed, and stepped away. "Boy," she said, "would you play ladies maid, please?"

"Gladly," said Gill. He stepped behind Jessa and finished undoing the laces of her bodice, slipping both it and her chemise off her shoulders. A quick tug at the drawstrings of her skirts, and Jessa stood naked, Gill's hands running smoothly down her arms. She was slight, small-breasted, full-hipped but sinuous.

Emmae closed her eyes and tried to breathe. So much desire filled the room. She could feel Jessa, Gill and Hildin watching her closely, and she burned unwillingly but thoroughly for all of them. She felt a soft touch on her face and opened her eyes. Jessa was kneeling beside the bed on a cushion, between her parted legs. One hand was on Emmae's hip, the other stroked her cheek.

Emmae looked down into Jessa's deep brown eyes and simply gave up, overwhelmed. She put her arms around Jessa's neck and tangled her fingers in the red curls now floating free. Jessa smiled triumphantly and nestled into Emmae's neck, pressing closer between her thighs. "See, sweetheart? So much better than men. I know what you want." She kissed and bit at Emmae's throat until the girl was panting and clutching at Jessa's hair, her eyes shut tight. Emmae felt the lips at her throat move steadily down until she felt hot breath against her breasts, and then a tongue softly lapping at them, fingers molding and kneading.

Teeth closed around her nipple. Emmae moaned aloud and her eyes flew open. Across the room she saw Gill on his knees between the prince's legs, head bobbing. Hildin kept one hand on the back of Gill's head and smiled hungrily at Emmae. "Beautiful, a beautiful picture you are, Emmae," he said hoarsely. "Let me see her bring you." Jessa pushed her back onto the bed, her legs still dangling.

Jessa's lips moved down her belly to her thighs, nipping and licking. A finger teased at her entrance, and Emmae cried out as it sank deep into her, followed by a second. Jessa licked delicately at her clitoris, then as the fingers moved faster within her, more firmly until Emmae was rising off the bed, screaming her passion. When she was done she felt the other girl pulled from her with a squawk, and a weight fell upon her. "You please me greatly, Emmae," Hildin's voice growled in her ear.

"I don't wish to," she choked out.

"Wish it or not, I don't care." He thrust into her, still splayed at the edge of the bed, pushing into her hard and fast until he found his release, dragging her with him over the edge once again. He fell atop her breast, breathing hard. When he'd regained his wind, he disentangled himself from her legs and tucked himself away. Emmae lay on the bed, shuddering.

Hildin turned to the two behind him. Gill was standing very still, but breathing very quickly, his hands clasped white-knuckled before him. Jessa stared at the prince angrily as she picked up her clothes and began to dress. "Do not forget yourself, girl," Prince Hildin said sharply. She dropped her fiery gaze to the floor. "You were both left wanting. Satisfy yourselves or each other, it's all one to me."

Gill looked hopefully at Jessa, but she scowled and finished tying her skirts over her chemise. She waited impatiently by the door to be let out and swept from the room. Gill sighed and turned to Emmae, who had fallen asleep, exhausted. "Shall I put her to bed, my lord?"

"Turn down the coverlet." The prince picked Emmae up and put her properly on the bed, running his hands down her sides. He turned her briefly to see the fading silver mark the Traveler Queen had left on her hip. "This little charm will wear off soon. If Warin takes much longer, I can present him his sweetheart with another man's child in her belly." Hildin gave Emmae's full breasts a final squeeze and pulled the coverlet over the sleeping girl. "And how much sweeter that will make his death to me."