Lenora woke dreaming about Dorian as she did almost every morning. The months passed slowly and throughout that time she had relived so many memories and created so many more it was becoming difficult to separate truth from fantasy. Only two months of this prison sentence to go, just a little more than eight weeks until freedom. She could go home.
That first meeting with Dorian was the most frequent subject of her imagination. With the passage of time the dreams of their reunion were becoming more explicit. The simple polite greetings grew to an embrace, then a kiss, to a more passionate kiss and confession of love - mutual confessions - and escalated from there. She didn't really believe that would happen. It was just fun to pretend.
The bedroom was quiet. Anise sat in a corner staring at a blank spot on the wall exactly as she had done for the last two days. No sign of Nabrina. She had a few minutes alone for a change. Lenora pushed her sheets over to the side. She shifted toward the edge of the bed to get up. The material was so smooth little more than a thought was necessary to slide across and drop her feet over the side. She stepped into warm cushioned slippers and adjusted her thin nightgown and stretched. She checked a few wounds that Talus had left on her shoulder and back from a training saber some weeks back. He was still more than a match for her but she did notice he exerted himself much more than when they started. The injuries were a good barometer for her progress. The better she got, the larger and more severe her wounds. The fact was he couldn't hold back and still defeat her.
Lenora paused a moment to see if Anise would say something this morning. Giving up she headed for the bathroom.
She had moved to Heques, Kote's capital, sometime after Talus left the planet to her. He spent most of his time on Rens and only traveled occasionally to his other properties. About once a week he came to Kote and trained with Norah Kae. There was no set schedule. He would arrive unannounced but not unexpected. As she started her day the thought struck her that he hadn't been by for more than two weeks. She could expect him any time now.
The bathroom on Heques was designed to Talus' proportions. A glass wall separated a large portion of the room. It formed essentially a wet room surrounding the centerpiece - an enormous bathtub. Lenora passed through a door in the glass wall and closed it behind her. With a few clicks on a control panel the tub filled with hot water. She dropped her nightgown on the floor and climbed in careful not to get her hair wet. She draped it over the side and floated in the tub while jets of water kept her suspended and massaged her body. With her eyes closed she thought she could fall asleep again.
The door to her bedroom opened and Lenora listened to Nabrina greet Anise and then make the bed. In a few minutes she found her way into the bathroom.
Nabrina entered the enclosure with the occupied bathtub. She picked up the nightgown and hung it on a nearby hook and then took a position in a seat next to Lenora's head. She picked up a brush and started to smooth out her master's long red hair.
"You got up before me," Nabrina said.
"I slept well," Lenora answered in a relaxed voice. She abandoned the voice disguise when in her own rooms but the Imperial accent remained. It had become second nature and she slipped in and out of it without much notice.
"The Kotes announced another parade in your honor in Tesor. A week from today. Will you attend?"
"Another one?"
"They love you, master. They seem to want you back in Tesor as much as possible."
"They sure love a parade, at least."
"I can arrange your schedule for you if wish to attend."
"Ok. That's fine. It's been a while since I've been back there anyway."
Nabrina put the brush down and started massaging Lenora's neck and shoulders. Lenora quietly moaned and Nabrina kneaded harder into her master's muscles after the positive response. Lenora sat up higher in the tub exposing more of her back to Nabrina's hands.
"I see that latest wound is finally healing."
Lenora was enjoying the pampering too much respond with anything more than a guttural sound that morphed into nearly a purr.
"It's been quite some time since Darth Talus has visited," Nabrina continued.
"Small mercy," Lenora answered shifting her position again. Nabrina responded by working the muscles of Lenora's middle and lower back. "He's letting me heal before our next sparring session."
Not today, she thought to herself. Any day but today.
Nabrina worked in silence for a few more moments. Her massage was interrupted by Lenora stretching and then sliding back into a laying position submerging most of her body. Once she settled Nabrina picked up the massage again on her neck and shoulders.
"I could lay here all day," Lenora said.
"If that is what you wish."
"No, I can't. I have too much to do. Let's get dressed."
Nabrina got up and pulled a towel from a nearby peg. She wrapped it around Lenora's body as soon as she exited the bath.
"I have an outfit pulled for you already in your dressing room," Nabrina offered and led Lenora to it. They worked together to dry her body and dress. The outfit selected was a one-piece black body suit. It covered her body but the tight stretch material left little of her form to the imagination. Nabrina tied a purple sash around Lenora's waist and then draped a long black cape around her shoulders. Lenora pulled on her black mask and choker collar voice disguise. Nabrina handed Lenora her lightsaber.
"I'm worried about Anise, master," Nabrina said.
"About what?" answered the electronic monotone.
"She hasn't eaten in a few days."
"Try spoon feeding her again today. Let me know if she still doesn't take it."
"I'll try. I'll let you know when you return, unless you want me with you today?"
"No, that won't be necessary. Do what you can for Anise and join me later."
"As you wish, master."
Lenora stared at the bright green eyes staring back at her in the mirror from behind the black mask. Her hair was longer than she ever remembered it being in her life. She used both arms and pushed all of her hair back over her shoulders. She didn't recognize herself anymore. Lenora Cyntesa was missing. When she stared in the mirror, a character stared back. An avatar - Norah Kae.