Disclaimers: See Chapter 1
Additional Note (Please Read): This tale is a companion with, Xena & Gabrielle: A Turn of Fate. If you haven't read both story's chapters preceding this one, you should do so now.
The Conqueror & Ri,
A Twist of Destiny,
By, Ahkiken
Chapter 25: Objurgation
Several days had come and gone, bringing Ri seclusion plus solicitude. She refused to submit to the Chancellor's order of apologizing to Eramus. It wouldn't be undesigning because she was contemptuous of her tutor. The consequences of that choice caused Ri's containment inside her chamber. A Corinthian Guard was placed outside the door to make sure she wouldn't leave and servants brought her meals. Ri took the imprisonment hard for the first couple of days, but soon, morosely adjusted to the situation. Her irate feelings, directed at Meleager for not listening to her, weren't in the same measure compared to General Draco.
He'd also played a part in her decision to not be an apologist. Draco terrified Ri and after his threat of violence, she became comfortably safe within her house-arrest, making it easier to endure the punishment. She feared her unwillingness to comply with Meleager's ruling might bring Draco's wrath upon her and was greatly reluctant to leave the safety of her chamber. She thoroughly missed her freedom and privileges, though. Ri's privation composed of no visitation from anyone, she couldn't tell tales in the Audience room, and she'd temporary lost her apprenticeship to Aristotle.
Her trip to Athens was two days away and Ri fretted over its cancellation. The Conqueror's arrangement for her to enter the Academy of Performing Bards was wasted and that pained Ri more than anything. All the faith and trust the Conqueror had in her would be revealed to have been misguided from the start once she discovered what happened while she was gone. Ri failed her Lord before she got the chance to prove her worth.
'I'm sorry, Milady.' Ri mused as she finished writing on her third scroll.
During her forced confinement, Ri had written detailed information to the Conqueror, conveying her visions, their Cronus spent apart, Draco's abuse, and her undying love. Ri wasn't positive if she'd ever give the parchment to the ruler of the Realm, but she needed to vent out her frustrations and sadness. She wrote Joxer and just finished Iona's scroll as well. The storyteller had no idea how long her current predicament would last and she didn't have a clue if her missives would find their intended owners.
Folding up the parchment, Ri arose from her chair and opened the closet door. Opening the secret compartment that concealed the other scrolls, she set Iona's in it too. Shutting the compartment, Ri looked at her attire, choosing to bathe and change. Picking out another shift, the strawberry blonde trekked towards the bathing chamber when she heard a tap on her window. Ri disregarded it until a second rap sounded, then more tapping followed. Becoming intrigued, Ri moved to the window and saw Iona throwing small pebbles below. Ri pulled the glass open and gazed down at her friend with a smile.
"Ri!" Iona shouted, displaying a gloomy grin. "I tried to visit you, but-"
The storyteller quickly raised her forefinger to her lips, signaling for Iona to be silent. Glancing back at her door to be certain the guard wouldn't enter, she disappeared from Iona's view. The long-haired blonde was perplexed when Ri walked away. After Ri's surprise party, Iona went to see her the next day, wanting to inquire about her sudden departure from the Banquet Hall without saying farewell.
However, she was told by the sentry outside Ri's chamber that Ri wasn't allowed to have any guests because of confidential purposes. Iona presumed it had something to do with her travel to Athens, but when she wasn't permitted to see Ri on her second and third visit, Iona began to feel uneasy. In addition to not catching a glimpse of the petite woman in the corridors of the castle, Iona's uneasiness soared.
Iona informed her father of it yesterday, hoping he could give her answers, but Darnelle knew nothing of Ri's plight, causing the teen to resort to tossing miniature stones at her friend's window. Seeing that the whilom Handmaiden hadn't returned, her anxiety was growing whilst thinking she'd gotten Ri into trouble. Then, Iona's heart calmed when she came back.
She dropped a scroll, letting it fall on the ground and Iona picked it up while staring at her quizzically. Ri waved sadly at her prior to closing the window. Iona's perturbation purely strengthened from Ri's recent action. Unrolling the parchment and scanning its contents, the blonde adolescent cried.
{C&R}
"Who's accounted for?" The Chancellor asked his fellow Generals in the War Room.
"King Antigonus II of Babylon, Queen Boadicea of the Iceni, and Ming Tien from Chin has arrived." Vercinix responded. "King Leonidas of Sparta and Governor Cassander of Macedonia are still absent."
"Ming Tien and Queen Boadicea requests an audience with you when it's convenient." Palaemon imparted.
"They will have to wait." Meleager professed. "General Draco, how's the recruitment coming along for the Second Army?"
"Thirty-four new members have joined the Realm's Second Army. More are being reviewed as we speak." He answered.
"General Nale, how's your Army coming along?"
"Slowly, Chancellor. Lieutenant Oris isn't completely malleable in recruiting. He's always accompanying the Prince to the Agora and it interferes with the process. Merely six soldiers have been recruited."
"I suggest you get him up to date somehow, or find another second-in-command who can do so." Meleager reprimanded.
Over the past five days, the Generals noticed Meleager's change of attitude. His capricious behavior ranged from disinterest to spurts of objurgation.
"Of course." Nale inclined.
"Generals Vercinix and Darnelle?" Meleager implied the same question.
"Twenty-three for the Fourth Army, Chancellor." Vercinix pronounced.
Darnelle had a smug expression. "Twenty-five for the Fifth Army."
Vercinix smirked at Darnelle's impressive rejoin. The two long-haired men had a friendly rivalry with each other since the Gaul joined the Conqueror's expanding army.
"And you, General Palaemon?"
"None, thus far, Chancellor."
Silence filled the room till Meleager unleashed his disappointment. "You have no excuses for such results, General. If we relied upon your army to assist in interests of importance, gods help us, because you surely wouldn't."
The cropped blonde man accepted his comeuppance.
Sighing, Meleager knew he'd been acting out harshly. "That is all for today. Dismissed."
The five males stood and did their salutes, exiting the War Room. The Chancellor remained seated, wondering on the fate of Marcus Tullius Cicero. The Roman philosopher and politician was in a precarious situation, which Meleager couldn't fathom how to save him. Worse, the Conqueror hadn't come back from her progress to Crete, so Meleager had no intel on what happened between her and Brutus. She had no comprehension of the price that was being dished out from her decision to force Marcus Antonius back to Rome. If only Cicero could hold out 'til the Conqueror's return to Corinth, then he'd be able to make a move regarding his life.
Remembering jilting the vacation the Conqueror allowed him, Meleager went to Rome to learn what was happening in its government. Discovering the Second Triumvirate had basically collapsed and that Cicero sided with Octavian, the Chancellor was appalled when he found out his friend was speaking out against Antonius in derogatory speeches. He ascertained that the next phase could be Cicero's death warrant. His concernment to the Conqueror was downplayed by her.
['He is intelligent. I believe Cicero can take care of himself well enough.']
'Now he is in danger.' Meleager cogitated. 'Cicero should have left Rome with me.'
"Chancellor?" Darnelle inquired.
Meleager's wonderment vanished. "What are you doing here?"
"I received this from your Chambermaid who was waiting outside this room." Darnelle handed over the missive. "What is bothering you?"
Noticing that it hadn't come from Rome, Meleager set it down and rubbed his temple. "Nothing that concerns the Realm. You're dismissed, General Darnelle."
"I wanted to prod you privately apropos to someone."
"Go on." Meleager obliged.
"Iona says a guard barred her from visiting Ri. Is everything alright with her?"
Ri was another thorn in Meleager's conscience. She continued showing discourtesy, causing him to make her punishment stand, although it troubled him to do it.
"She's confined in her chambers. Ri is prevented from having visitors also."
"Why?" Darnelle couldn't discern how Ri could incur a severe castigation.
"That is none of your business."
"I've helped raise Ri, too, Chancellor." Darnelle reminded him. "What has she done to bring forth this punitive?"
"She insulted Master Eramus." Meleager stated. "Undermining his teachings."
"Is that it?" Darnelle was skeptical.
"What do you mean, 'is that it'?" Meleager's ire began surging.
"Forgive me, Chancellor. I recall talking with Ri during Lieutenant Oris' ceremonial dinner, and she apprised that Master Eramus repeats the same lessons to the point of boredom."
"Even so, that doesn't give her the right to fall asleep in his class whilst taking a test." Meleager rebutted.
Darnelle chuckled. "She went to sleep?"
"This is no laughing matter, Darnelle." The Chancellor's voice harshened, "She'd shown utter disrespect and remains in her chamber because she refuses to apologize to Eramus."
"Chancellor, if I may share some overlooked insight with you, you'll see that Ri has exceeded her tutor's teachings."
Meleager was hesitant, but conceded with a nod.
"Iona confided in me less than a half fortnight ago that Eramus keeps Ri from excelling." Darnelle predicated. "He recites knowledge that she already knows and uses. She'd recently asked him if she could write her own tales, and in lieu of encouraging his prudent student, he told her no, declaring she isn't ready."
Meleager became disgruntled from learning what was being said. "He is her teacher. Defaming him was wrong."
"He's useless, Chancellor. Master Eramus hasn't ever seen one of Ri's performances. What kind of mentor does that to their pupil?"
Recurring thoughts of Ri's plea surfaced in Meleager's memory.
['He rarely listens to me, and the few moments he did, he'd always take what I said as an insult to his knowledge. He's holding me back, Uncle Meleager.']
"Go, General." Meleager commanded. "I will take what you have averred under advisement."
"Chancellor." Darnelle saluted him and walked out of the War Room.
If what the General of the Fifth Army claimed was true, Meleager would be discouraged by his impulsive acts towards his niece, forcing Ri to spend days locked up in her room. The Chancellor would get to the bottom of it all once he read the missive that laid on the table in front of him. Lifting the parchment, his eyes widened in shock from what he read. Rising from his chair, Meleager ran to a nearby sentinel on guard.
"Soldier." He garnered the man's attention. "Find my Generals and bring them here. Tell them it's an emergency session."
{C&R}
Tessa had grown weary of waiting for Iona's arrival on the practice field and went to search for her. Their Cronus together in training was cut short 'cause of the recruitment drive the Chancellor ordained and the Lieutenant of the Fifth Army had to oversee zealous warriors whom were ardent to join the Conqueror's army. After probing everyone in sight 'bout the young teenager, Tessa finally found the girl sitting underneath a tree, close to the Corinthian gardens.
"There you are!" Tessa shouted. "We had a scheduled..."
Approaching closer, she could tell Iona was crying and halted her chastising. Tessa sat next to her and the sobbing blonde-haired girl leaned on her.
"What's wrong, Iona?"
Iona didn't answer, nor ceased her tears, instead she showed Tessa the crumbled scroll in her hand. The Lieutenant took the proffered parchment and had begun reading it.
[Iona,
Sorry I did not say good-bye to you in the Banquet Hall during my gala. I was summoned to appear before the Chancellor; it seems I've made a critical misstep when I belittled Master Eramus. Though I'd spoken the truth, the Chancellor of the Realm decrees that I am to suffer for it. I'm constrained within my chamber and granted no permission for visits either, unless I give my sincere apology, which I cannot do wholeheartedly. My food and drink is delivered to me thrice a day, plus I have scrolls for reading, as well as ink for writing to help with the constant loneliness. Howbeit I am miserable, Iona. I don't know how long my freedom will elude me if I do not submit to enunciating and writing an apology to Master Eramus. This solitude has solely been in effect for five days, nonetheless, I fear a fortnight or longer will break me; subverting my spirit to do the shameful act. I don't deny apologizing to my current instructor out of selfishness, but indignation because he's full of malice. He wants to restrain me and has succeeded. My acceptance to the Academy and apprenticeship under Aristotle is postponed until Master Eramus deems me worthy. In closing, I want to thank you and the others for arranging the party for me, although it was unnecessary now. I love you and await the day to reunite with you again. So long.
P.S. You look superb. I can see your defined muscles. Lieutenant Tessa will make a warrior out of you yet.
Your friend and sis,
Ri]
The brunette saw when General Draco grabbed Ri and led her out of the Hall. It was the last Cronus she had seen the storyteller. With the rush of preparing for the upcoming Tribute to the Conqueror, the guests' arrival, and the recruiting of new troops, Tessa was kept busy to the point she didn't have free candle-drips to see to Ri's welfare.
Tessa held Iona, offering her comfort. "It'll be okay."
"She's locked up in her chamber like a prisoner." Iona sniffled. "All because of some fucking senile old tutor."
Tessa began drying Iona's tears. "I will go to her."
"How?" Iona queried. "A sentry guards Ri's chamber."
"That's nothing I can't handle."
"Can you give her something for me?" Iona prompted, feeling heartened as Tessa nodded her head. "Come to the kitchen in two candle-marks. I have to get everything ready."
"Good. I have to meet with your father. There's talk that all the Generals' been called back to the War Room. Seems like something big is going on."
"Is it regarding the Conqueror and my mother?" Iona became curious.
"I don't know." Tessa replied. "But it's serious."
{C&R}
Night had conquered the day, bringing Helios out of the sky so Selene could take her position as its usurper. Ri tried writing one of her stories by candlelight, but she couldn't focus on it. This was her umpteenth attempt at trying to accomplish it and each try ended with her crumbling the scroll into a ball, tossing it on the floor of her room, leaving it there till the servants came to gather them up.
Deeply discontented with her work, the parchment Ri was working on met the same fate like its predecessors; discarded on the floor as well. The aspiring bard put the quill inside the inkwell and reclined in quietude, pacifying her mind. After her bath, she'd adorned her shift, knowing she wouldn't be going anywhere.
'Perhaps, leaving this world is for the best if this is to be my existence here; entrapped in this room for the rest of my life.' Ri ruminated darkly.
Committed to grouse over not communicating with Joxer, anent to her prophetic dream, it was interrupted by a startling presence at Ri's window. The shadowy figure entered the room and Ri let loose a scream.
"Quiet, Ri." The woman whispered. "It's me."
"Tessa." Ri deduced. "What are you-"
"Hey, what's going on in there?" The sentinel questioned outside the door.
"Nothing!" Ri fibbed, walking towards Tessa to hide her in the closet.
"I'm coming in!" He yelled, opening the door.
"I am not properly dressed." Ri made a show of covering herself with her white sheet.
The burly man observed the petite woman, disappointed that he could only see her bare legs. "I heard you holler."
"I swore a rat crossed my sight, but I'm mistaken. Cronus' late candle-marks must be getting to me."
"I'll check to make sure for ya." The guard affirmed.
"That's kind of you, notwithstanding, it's not required." Ri declined. "Again, I'm not decent for you to be in here."
Looking her over once more, so he could describe Ri's appearance to his friends when he bragged about viewing the storyteller covered in just a sheet, the man took his exit out of her chamber. Thus gone, Ri locked the door and Tessa abandoned her hiding place.
"I thought he'd never leave." She joked.
Ri remained puzzled by the unexpected visit, placing the sheet on the bed. "How did you get up here?"
"I have talents." Tessa grinned.
Ri giggled at the phrase. It invoked her to think of the Conqueror's repeated boasts that she had many skills.
"You scaled the castle's wall to see me." Ri hugged her tightly.
Tessa enjoyed the warmth of Ri in her arms, preceding their disengagement. "I have another surprise for you from Iona."
The Lieutenant reached into the pouch attached to her tunic, revealing a small loaf of nut bread with a note. She passed it to Ri and the strawberry-blonde descried the scribbled letters that formed endearing words.
Deep emotions caused her to sit on the bed, holding back the threatening tears. "Iona sent you?"
"No, it was my choice." Tessa sat beside her. "Iona told me what happened and I wanted to see how you were doing. Minya supplied the sweets and Iona wrote you. I'm sorry you won't be going to Athens as expected, but you'll get there."
"I'd rather not talk on it. I'm getting better now anyway." Ri confessed while gazing at the endearing words that declared; Be strong & I love you. "Thank them both for me."
"I will."
"And thank you also, Tessa."
"It wasn't a problem." She shrugged. "I should get going."
Ri didn't want Tessa to go. She hadn't had physical contact with any of her friends for so long.
"Don't leave." Ri laid her head on Tessa's shoulder. "I do not wish to be alone and I would like to share my nut bread with you."
Tessa laughed lightly. "You've never shared your favorite dessert with me."
"I will now." Ri scooped a slice, giving it to Tessa and placed the remnants on her bedside table. "We have to be quiet, that way we won't alert the guard."
"I can speak quietly." Tessa murmured. "Do you want to try one of your games? We can play the question game, or who am I."
Ri's cogitation shifted to a different topic. "Whenever you're with me, you always indulge me and what I like to do. We've rarely talked about you. Tell me more about yourself."
"My life is mediocre. There's nothing exciting to express." Tessa chewed the baked snack.
"I don't buy that. Where are you originally from? Do you have any family?" Ri queried, laying on her once more.
Tessa finished eating and leaned her head atop Ri's with a sigh. "I was born in Argos. I had two parents and an older sister, Temari."
Ri recognized the past-tense mentioning of her family. "You don't have to disclose anymore."
"It's alright." The Lieutenant clarified, and continued, "My father was part of Argos' council, a wonderful provider for us, and kind from what I can recall. Mother was the home-maker, gentle, and beautiful, I think. It's sad that I can't remember their qualities accurately like I can with my sister. She had lighter green irises, unlike my own, long, ebony tresses, and told me stories. She would always have a fable to bequeath to me."
Allured by her voice, Ri snuggled firmly on Tessa.
"Temari once told me a story about the five powerful kingdoms of Terra." Tessa smiled self-consciously. "Well, Greece was the only Terra my sister knew of. They consisted of Sparta, Athens, Corinth, Macedonia, and Argos was at the center of them all. It was renown throughout history as the kingdom that withstood the might of the gods, for even the deadly sea serpent, Cetus, couldn't destroy it and devour its princess, Andromeda, thanks to Jupiter's half-god son, Perseus. With the city saved, Perseus married Andromeda, bringing prosperity and peace, eclipsing their rival in the Peloponnese, Sparta. Over a century, Argos domination flourished, but faltered soon after and Sparta grew in power. Nevertheless, the legendary King Perseus, along with Queen Andromeda had sons and their bloodline lived on in King Anaxagoras; the ruler that would make Argos great again."
"That was amazing." Ri apprised. "Did King Anaxagoras live up to expectations?"
Tessa frowned. "Only in make-believe are such things possible. Reality has a harsher bite and war can take away all you know."
Ri wrapped her arms around her friend. She knew what war Tessa spoke of.
"King Anaxagoras died in a hunting accident and his son, Prince Alector, became crowned." She elucidated. "It seems the blood of Perseus had dwindled over the course of its later generation, because Alector was a weak king and when the Peloponnese Purge bloomed on the horizon, it showed as he did nothing to protect his people. The council warned him and my father, participated in every meeting of theirs, conferring that they should ally with Sparta to repel Athens' attack. The King didn't heed advise and Argos was on the verge of getting crushed.
Before it happened, my sister talked of a hero who was given the strength of Perseus and would unite all of Greece, ending the war. But, that day didn't come fast enough." Tessa's dark green orbs watched the light of the candle flicker. "Fire is a strange elemental. When contained, it's a luxury from Prometheus. It warms you, illuminate darkness, cooks your food, and heated water feels better in a tub compared to cold water. But if it's allowed to roam freely, fire comes to life, consuming everything. It has a ravenous appetite, eating villages, crops, soil, even animals and people alike. A fourteen-year-old shouldn't ever see such sights. I lost my home, and during the chaos of terrified people running, trampling one another, I got separated from my family, losing them as well."
Ri shed a tear from Tessa's dreary tale. "They died in Argos?"
"I'd discovered later from a survivor that my father and mother was killed defending each other from the Athenian army. My sister was captured and taken as a slave."
"I'm sorry." Ri cried softly.
Realization dawned on Tessa that she was causing Ri's depression. "Don't cry. I know the war brought you pain too. I shouldn't have talked of it."
"My curiosity for wanting to learn of you is the cause of my tears, not you, Tessa." Ri avowed. "I'm glad you lived."
"Yeah." Tessa cast the rumination of her struggles without a guardian aside. "You could've had an unfortunate fate also if not for the Conqueror. Gods bless her."
"She saved me from the slavers of her own army."
"The Conqueror is the savior of all Greece." Tessa added. "She was the hero my sister foretold me about; our Lord is Perseus reborn."
Insurmountable sorrow gripped Ri and she wept anew. The Conqueror gave her everything, a life, a future career, and her love. Unfortunately, the petite woman paid her back with ingratitude.
Tessa tilted Ri's chin upwards. "I was supposed to bring you joy, not this."
"It isn't you, Tessa. I've shamed myself and Milady. She'll never love me now."
"What did you say?" Tessa questioned, thinking she misunderstood the storyteller.
Ri threw caution to the wind. "It is her that I pine for. The ruler of the Realm is where my heart lies."
The mystery person Ri had kept hidden was at last unveiled and it unsettled Tessa. "She is who gave you the necklace?"
"Yes." Ri answered.
"Does the Conqueror love you?"
"I don't know." Ri honestly replied. "I think she does."
Bringing her hand to Ri's wet cheeks, Tessa took a huge gamble. "What if I told you that I'm in love with you?"
Ri's tears suddenly halted, and she quivered from the amorous statement. Her heartbeat quickened while breathing became harder. The Conqueror didn't affirm those words, but Prince Lyceus did, however it hadn't compelled Ri to feel how she felt at this moment.
"I can't... I love Milady."
"And I love you, Ri."
"You... I... We." She stuttered. "You aren't saying this to just sleep with me, are you?"
Tessa's charms and confidence burst forth. "No, I am in love with you and I want to make love to you."
Then, a kiss ratified the heartfelt announcement. Tentative at first before Tessa slowly coaxed Ri's mouth to open slightly, slipping her tongue into the former Handmaiden's oral orifice. Tessa's tongue glided expertly on Ri's, tasting one another with delicate strokes. As Ri rested her hands on Tessa's waist, the Lieutenant deepen their kiss, her other hand began sluggishly pulling down the strap of Ri's shift. Ri grasped Tessa's sides from excitement and fear.
Once the strap was lowered, Tessa removed her hand off Ri's flushed face, placing it on the smaller woman's legs, caressing the milky colored appendages, coercing them to widen apart. Squeezing Tessa tighter, a moan escaped Ri and it drove the dominate warrior onward. Her hand rose higher up Ri's inner thighs and the other was eager to touch Ri's breast as Tessa gently grabbed it through the nightgown. Ri's breathing hitched and Tessa started losing control. This was what she aimed for since glancing at Ri and offering her to tell a fable during her substitution of Clydmus' class. Tessa's fingers ascended, feeling the heat of the smaller woman's sex. The conquest was nearly completed; Ri's virginity would be taken by her.
Ri couldn't help but enjoy the sensations Tessa was bestowing. Her body undulated of its own accord from Tessa's kisses, including the hand teasing her chest and the one that was idle on her undergarment. No longer able to tolerate the shift blocking contact with skin, Ri, nervously, pulled the strap off, releasing her right breast to be ravished and Tessa seized the opportunity. Using her finger to graze the pinkish nipple till it harden, Tessa broke the kiss, moving downwards to begin kissing and licking Ri's neck, tugging playfully on the effulgent necklace with her teeth, until she enclosed her mouth around the taut nub. Ri stifled a loud groan, letting a gasp out instead as her hands cradled Tessa's head on sexual instinct, clenching locks of brown hair. Leaning her head back in a sensual haze, Ri could feel the hot liquid permeating from her core.
Tessa jubilantly sucked Ri's breast while her dormant hand started sliding a forefinger against the sodden slit that was protected by the thin, silk barrier of clothing. A familiar burning flared within Ri, equal to the early morning she had masturbated for the first Cronus.
'I'm going to implode.' Ri thought.
Ri's muffled moans were increasing in volume and the mastication of her nipple didn't aid matters much in halting its escalation. When Tessa began lowering Ri onto the bed, cognizance of a sacred oath pierced the aspiring bard's mind.
'Milady will be the first to have my maidenhood.'
'What am I doing!' She rebuked herself.
Just when Tessa was ready to take the drenched underwear off, Ri pushed her hand away.
Tessa instantly ceased her ministrations. "Are you alright? Did I do something wrong?"
"I can't." Ri lifted her strap back on, straightening her shift. "I can't do this."
Tessa was vexed and horny. "Why? Did I hurt you?"
"You were perfect."
"Then why are we stopping?" Tessa inquired.
"Milady." Ri felt guilty for betraying her. "I promised myself to her."
'Fuck!' Tessa cursed mentally. "But I love you, Ri. I want to show you how much."
Touching Tessa's facial features, Ri pressed on, "I like you too, nonetheless, my heart belongs to Milady. This was a huge mistake on my part. If she ever finds out about this, I'll lose her. We can't be together, Tessa. Forgive me, I didn't intend for it to go this far."
"There's nothing to forgive." Tessa gathered her composure. "It's not your fault, Ri. I was the person who initiated it. Can you grant me a sole request before I depart for the night, though."
"Yes." Ri acceded.
Tessa climbed on top of her. "A final kiss?"
Ri raised up and her lips met Tessa's. She had to assent, the Lieutenant of the Fifth Army was an excellent kisser and knew how to use her tongue well. The memories of what they'd done were fresh in Ri's head and she ended it.
"If we don't stop, it will lead to other acts."
Tessa smiled seductively. "Mmm, it's nice to know I turn you on."
"Yes, you do." Ri blushed.
"This was fun."
Ri sucked in both her lips, nodding vigorously.
Tessa kissed her chastely and got off the bed, walking forward to the window. Ri stood, following behind her.
"Don't tell Iona-"
"I won't. No one will know." Tessa interjected, still smiling. "I will give her your appreciation for the nut bread and note. We have training tomorrow after the War Room conference."
"Oh, the War Room meetings for top classified secrets." Ri jived.
Tessa suppressed a laugh at the pretty female she'd damn neared fucked. "Talks of the Tribute to the Conqueror, among other important affairs."
"Like what?" Ri asked.
"You are gabby after intense foreplay."
"Maybe, or it could be because I am locked in my room." Ri looked dejected. "Any source of information about what's occurring in the castle is welcome."
"The Chancellor will come to his senses. You'll see." Tessa pecked Ri's forehead and opened the glass aperture. "We have more visitors here in Corinth; King Antigonus II, Ming Tien, and Queen Boadicea. More are coming as well."
Ri wanted to know who else was entering the Corinthian castle. "Who are the other guests to arrive?"
"Cassander and King Leonidas." Tessa confirmed, stepping on the outside ledge. "I heard from General Darnelle that warrior women may come too."
Ri was baffled. "Warrior women?"
Tessa glimpsed at the ground, then back at Ri. "Amazons."
To Be Continued...