The Ambition of the Dreadlord Raveres
Part I: The Hakseer Voyage
Episode Two (Censored)
"They've been gaining on us for two days!" The lieutenant rumbled.
"I know." the captain groaned, "We're going to have to lose them at the Araby shelf, and if necessary, along the coastline."
The first mate bit and chewed a piece of tough jerky as he quietly nodded along.
Raveres had finally come out of her cabin, but she remained quiet and distant. She couldn't quite explain it, but she knew that she'd be relieved and 'normal' as soon as they put into port and came to dry land. Her chest wasn't yet loose of the anxiety and tightness her first raid had left.
Thinking aloud she slowly found her voice and the three men immediately looked towards her,
"The Araby coast… are there any ports friendly to black sails?" She leaned towards the table nervously clarifying; "That is, are there any neutral ports which would permit our docking?"
The lieutenant quickly became more hostile towards her and then the captain,
"Oh, and the Asur on our tail, they'll what; not just simply wait for us to leave this port?"
Raveres furrowed her brow, she felt ire grow in her chest, and her fingers tensed at her side. Having finally killed someone she knew just how capable she really was, and if she wanted, she could drive her dagger right through the impudent lieutenant's uncovered neck.
Eyeing him hostilely Raveres warned him lowly, "I don't appreciate your tone."
The lieutenant scoffed, and then laughed,
"I don't give a damn! I said we shouldn't have done the raid, now we're laden with far more than we should have taken on, and we've got a determined Asurian Royal frigate on our ass!"
Raveres saw a flash of a satisfying vision depicting the lieutenant's lifeless body hanging by his legs from the bow with his throat deeply cut. A vision she could very quickly make a reality.
All but growling, she warned him again, "Hold your tongue Lieutenant Hathan."
Hathan stopped and straightened his back; he'd finally noticed her change in demeanour and her tense right hand, he also eyed the dagger at Raveres' belt.
At the same time the first mate interjected, "Cool heads now, we're officers and allies here!"
The lieutenant interrupted, scowling at Raveres, "Or what?" he asked defiantly.
"Will you fall over and vomit again?"
Raveres felt his words jab her ego. But more than that she felt a betrayal, three days ago she was close to calling the lieutenant a friend. But now the wretch showed that he was a coward and a weakly constituted, pusillanimous, fool!
Her eyes widened and her lip curled. She took a breath sharply and held it.
The captain raised his voice and tensed, "Hathan shut your mouth or I'll have you clapped in irons and lashed!"
The mate sat up abruptly at Dorath's voice and dropped his half-eaten piece of jerky to the cabin's floor. Raveres kept her breath in and stood silently, eyeing the lieutenant intensely.
Above the ship's bell rang in a two hit rhythm and the acting officer-on-the-deck loudly announced lyrically: "Fog a-head!"
The officers remained staring at each other tensely. Then Dorath cleared his throat and sternly issued an order, "Raveres, Hathan, stand down both of you!"
Raveres finally exhaled and reluctantly relaxed her muscles. Hathan scoffed and relaxed as well before quickly exiting the cabin first.
When the officers finally came to the deck, they saw a heavy fog rolling over top of the waves, rapidly approaching their vessel from the port-side.
"Well, Mathlaan be praised, this'll help us!" the first mate announced, his voice was somewhat forceful. Glad to now be out of the cramped and hostile cabin below.
"Aye." the captain agreed. He calmly breathed and remained stoic, but he was obviously thinking about the growing rift among his two integral officers.
The mate continued, his voice deliberately tinged with excitement and positivity,
"If we can maintain our speed, perhaps alter our course slightly, we might be able to out-manoeuvre these Asur twats!"
Raveres still remained tense and was not as optimistic about the fog. To her something about it seemed off… But she wasn't a sailor, if the captain, mate, and even the coward lieutenant Hathan felt comfortable sailing through it then who was she to voice any dissent?
Looking past the captain and mate in front of her, she eyed the back of the lieutenant's head. Thinking back to their friendly sparring bouts she felt an acrid resentment begin to grow in her chest.
The crew went about their work and the captain spoke with the ship's master seaman while the first mate turned to descend back below deck. Raveres brought a hand to her chest and felt her amulet of Khaine between the layers of her clothing.
She recalled her mother and one of her childhood lessons came back to her vividly.
…
"If any fool ever betrays your favour, make him rue the day he ever laid eyes upon you Raveres."
The teenage Druchii nodded and followed her elegantly dressed mother through the halls of the woman's solar. Her mother's dress was midnight blue and descended all the way to the floor, giving the older female the appearance of floating and gliding when she walked.
Raveres was groaning and petulantly rolling her eyes as she stepped closely behind the material of her mother's dark train.
"Yes… I get it; those who insult the family are to be destroyed…"
Her mother stopped and turned around, whipping her calf length hair quickly as she did so. Extending her hand, she took hold of her daughter's chin and stared into her eyes.
"We are Druchii… and the mother of our people Morathi has given us many a lesson to follow, and there exist many more examples to avoid…"
Raveres froze and held her breath as her mother inspected her face.
"I am your mother Raveres, and you will obey me until the very moment I die…"
Raveres sneered under her mother's grip and wanted to get out of it, but the tight fingers on her jaw remained in place.
"I don't want you to repeat the words your father and I have taught you like a slave!"
She scoffed and spat to her side.
"Any creature can recite poetry if beaten hard enough…"
She shook her head from side to side.
"No. You are my blood. You are my child, and I want you to internalise your hatred."
She nodded, "I borne you within me and each day I felt you grow. And now? Here you stand, formed into the perfect, strong…" Her voice rose as she continued, "terrible, beautiful, and dark woman you are today."
The ghostly pale Druchii mother smirked, "Your rage, your pain, these will fuel your wrath."
"Each slight, every humiliation, and any disgrace. Bear it…"
The woman let go of her daughter's chin and placed her hand through the V of the younger Druchii's dress. The warm hand touched Raveres' breast and pressed tightly to her ribcage until her mother felt her heartbeat.
"Here. Our rage, our vengeance, these are our most powerful magics. And rage is itself the greatest of anaesthetics. And vengeance is the sweetest of wines…"
Raveres nodded, "I think…" she began.
Moving her hand off her daughter's skin the mother began gliding down the hall as Raveres followed.
"I think I understand."
Her mother laughed, "Be sure that you do. Harnessing your rage is one thing. Controlling it is another. To a Druchii woman it is her immaterial child… Only birthed when she exacts her bloody revenge."
She raised a dark and thin eyebrow as she looked over her shoulder at Raveres.
"Vengeance and plots, these are children who require same amount of nurturing and care to mature. However."
She laughed again.
"Sometimes they can be raised and put to use much faster than the children from one's womb." Cocking her head to the side she nodded, "Perhaps you will see a moment such as this, if you have the wits to seize it."
…
Despite the distance and the years since the lesson she felt her mother's voice encouraging her onwards. She nodded and curled her lip once more as she drew her dagger from its sheath on her belt.
As she stepped towards lieutenant Hathan she brought her weapon up as her lips extended in a sadistic smile. The male Druchii widened his eyes and began to yell while attempting to jump away from Reveres' reach.
The sharp blade moved easily through the air and deeply embedded into Hathan's neck. The steel was now concealed within his skin all the way to the hilt. Falling away from Raveres coughing and gurgling loudly the lieutenant held his neck and painfully writhed as blood quickly poured out of the wide wound created by the serrated edge.
"Raveres?!" the captain roared.
Several of the crew began yelling in applause at the sudden violence. Descending to her knees Raveres watched with a sneer of satisfaction as Hathan breathed his last painful breaths. When the light finally left his eyes and his body relaxed the female Druchii took a breath. Reaching for her blade she pulled the serrated dagger from his skin and wiped the blood off the steel onto his tunic before sheathing the weapon.
The captain growled, "I don't care if he was sour to you Raveres, but he was my officer…"
His voice lowered, but the deck was still quite quiet as the idle sailors watched.
"I can ill afford a renegade aboard my ship."
Filled with fresh adrenaline her heart beat loudly as newfound confidence filled Raveres' chest. Standing up from the body of the former Lieutenant Hathan her voice deepened. Her body and tongue felt like they were moving on their own,
"As I recall, I am the one paying for the crew. I have the final say in whom we hire and who deserves what…"
The captain bit his tongue and his eyes darted to the motionless crewmen. Immediately at his expression the men went back to their work. Climbing rigging, tightening chords, and moving along the rails. Raveres' voice rose in pitch, and now sounded far more diplomatic. She knew better than to begin making sedition appear 'vogue' for the crew.
"Consider Hathan having been paid in full!"
Raising her voice, she informally addressed the crew within earshot,
"This sack of putrid filth insulted me and dared to touch me in a manner I disliked!"
The captain furrowed his brow and crossed his arms as she continued,
"See him now?"
The crewmen slowed and watched her again. Looking to the captain she bowed her head deeply and even gave him a small Druchii curtsy. The captain looked at his men and felt somewhat satisfied, quietly nodding at Raveres' display.
Looking through her bangs she slowly rose back up straight. Turning to her right Raveres pointed at two crewmen watching the situation and then pointed at Hathan's corpse.
"You two, throw this trash overboard."
The men nodded and immediately stepped forwards. The captain grunted and added an additional order,
"After he's away wash the deck. I don't want traitor's blood staining my ship."
Raveres knew she'd openly shown opposition to the captain, and there was now going to be the tense issue of power relations to navigate. But for now, the female Druchii was content at having taken care of a slight and having impressed upon the crew that she meant what she said.
The issue of Hathan had been rectified and in all honesty, Raveres felt far more at ease then she had since the raid on the Asur port.
…
The front of sea-fog had actually done its job and the elven ship which had followed them for three days was now nowhere to be seen.
'Perhaps the sacrifice of the lieutenant pleased Mathlaan?' Raveres thought as she stood on the deck.
She smirked.
'He turned out to be useful after all.'
The crew had developed a more palpable respect for their female financier, but captain Dorath maintained a far more cold and distant relationship with her. His pet names and familiarity had swiftly been pulled back and he now only spoke with her in a tone of complete professionalism, and only when necessary. The first mate however, kept on as he had before the killing, seemingly unbothered by the absence of Lieutenant Hathan.
…
After two more weeks on the open sea Raveres was about ready to go mad with boredom.
They'd passed a few merchant ships but regretfully had to let them go. They had no room for cargo or slaves not from their mission. And much to the dismay and disappointment of the men; heavy convoys of trade ships, visibly laden with treasure filled holds, began to sail past them with increasing frequency.
Raveres didn't need a map to know that they were approaching the northern coast of Araby. The most active trade channel in the known world was between Ulthuan, the horn of Araby, and the southern coasts of what the mayfly's erroneously call the 'Old World'.
Standing closer to the bow Raveres watched the waves ripple a head of their wooden island, and the wind blew calmly through her hair and across her neck. Breaking her thoughts, the voice of the grizzled first mate loudly spoke beside her, his voice and sudden appearance rudely reminded her that she was far from alone on their small wooden world.
"We're almost to our destination, milady."
Then he snorted and spat a thick globule of phlegm over the railing, "Aye. Now we'll have to be on the lookout for pirates."
Then he chuckled and smacked the scarred and rough back of his hand on Raveres' shoulder, "We're not the only raiders on the seas milady."
Raveres nodded as she wrapped her fingers around the railing in front of her. Though he was significantly older than her father's bodyguard Riccard and looked nothing like the Northman, she couldn't help but be reminded of the brutish retainer every time she spoke with the Druchii first mate. As such she tolerated his jokes, his low manners, and even his occasional endearing touches.
Now, without acknowledging his statement Raveres sighed and released a pent-up whine, "Why is it so insufferably warm?"
The mate chuckled again and leaned against the railing, "We're getting closer to our goal. And, if you've noticed, the days are also longer."
Raveres furrowed her brow, "What? How is such a thing possible?"
The mate shrugged, "The closer we get to the middle of the world; that is, the point in between the two lands of ice, the longer the days, and the hotter the clime."
He smiled wickedly, "If you think this is warm just wait until we actually reach Araby."
Raveres nodded and rubbed her hand across the back of her sweat slick neck.
"How many more days of sailing?" she asked in a groan.
The mate pursed his lips comically and chuckled, "Soon milady."
Rolling her eyes, she looked away from the mate and back out the starboard side of the ship.
"Your insolence annoys me. 'Soon' is not an answer."
The mate dryly coughed and mumbled in agreement, then Raveres' thoughts turned to another subject of her irritation. After so long at sea Raveres was beginning to detest the ship's food. The lack of wine and fresh water also was also grating against her will.
And she would have been able to endure it all a little longer if the masculine company wasn't also so, bothersome to her. The crew, on the whole, smelled; and in addition to their sweaty masculine aroma, Raveres was confronted with how they looked.
Most of the crew ranged between revolting and plain. But there were a few who struck her as handsome. But then there was quartermaster Volish. A Druchii man whom every girl in Blacklight Tower would have considered gorgeous…
Every time Raveres saw the tall, muscular, Volish she'd shudder and long for the comforts of home; her bath, the attendance of her slaves, and her erotic literature. Occasionally if she passed Volish on one of the lower decks Raveres could catch a whiff of his unadulterated, raw, masculinity, and immediately she'd be put in an unpleasant mood for the rest of the foreseeable future.
Now that the days were getting hotter many of the crew would shed their tunics and work the deck shirtless, bare chests, scars, and muscles on full display. So, Volish, like many of the crew, had quickly developed a tan.
But unlike many of the pale Druchii, as Volish darkened, it suited him. For him, his tanned skin complimented the dark locks of his shoulder length jet-black hair; giving him an exotic and ruggedly appealing charm.
Though the quartermaster had few scars on his body, the best one he did have was along his left cheek. It was a small dueling scar and when he smiled it creased in a peculiar way. The most frustrated fantasy Raveres came up with was wondering what the scar would feel like under her tongue.
The first time she fantasised about Volish she felt pleasantly titillated at the idea of a passion filled evening with him. The forbidden nature of their tryst, the fact she'd be disregarding her father…
All of it excited her until she began listening to Volish speak with the other crewmen. To Raveres' everlasting disappointment she learned that he was duller than paint and thicker than oil. And such a revelation irritated her even more.
The frustration she was now feeling at the lack of homely comforts, and the fact that among the crew the only candidate for bedding was actually a pretty idiot had finally built to an unacceptable level. Raveres needed some form of release!
At home, whenever she desired it, she could bathe and have one of the slaves accompany her. And in addition to the intimate company, she'd have the slave recite from memory or read aloud one of Raveres' more smutty scrolls of poetry.
Raveres enjoyed this with almost each of the literate maid-slaves. But her favourite among them would always be the Asur Elianna. In fact, it was with Elianna that Raveres had her first kiss, and also her first sexual experience.
At first her bathing sessions with Elianna were simple; a massage accompanied by reading aloud. But as the two became older, so too did the intimacy of the bath, until the two explored one another's bodies in burgeoning carnal lust.
Though Raveres liked to use the other maid-slaves whenever she wished, there was always something powerfully erotic about hearing certain words roll off Elianna's tongue that could and would uniquely arouse Raveres. It was also with Elianna, in the erotic and soft touch of the Asur slave, that Raveres enjoyed the most decadent and private pleasure she could indulge in… Submission.
Raveres never had the same relationship or dynamic with any of the other slaves; with them she always had to be mistress. But Elianna? She was like, a friend, a confidant. She knew Raveres, and the two shared something special.
But without her Asur, and seeing all the men aboard the ship as inadequate or a mistake-waiting-to-happen, the pool of those able to help with Raveres' 'frustration' dwindled to just her hand.
Blinking and scoffing at her predicament she leant against the rail and thought desperately, 'Perhaps, I can make do with the memory of home?'
Swiftly, pleasant thoughts of Elianna came to Raveres' mind and immediately her sensual desires reminded her of the only other female aboard the ship, and subsequently the only real candidate for actually soothing her 'Tension'.
Raveres' eyes widened, 'That brunette slave!'
As she began to fantasise about the warm slave below deck, Raveres struggled to recollect the Human woman's name. Eventually she drew a blank and chuckled in surprise.
'I've been at sea this whole time and I've yet to use or know the creature's name?' Shaking her head Raveres chuckled again, 'No matter… an easy remedy. But, how will I be able to replicate such a bath at sea?'
Raveres thought about the logistics of what and how she wanted her afternoon to go;
'I suppose a simple bucket of soapy water could easily be secured.' She nodded, 'Just as well a bathtub or large enough wash basin would surely be aboard… A sponge bath would be just as soothing as anything!'
The thought made her breath increase in depth and her body readied in excited anticipation. Blinking and nodding to herself, Raveres smirked,
'Looks like I know what I'm doing now!'
Pushing off the railing Raveres turned to the quiet mate beside her and spoke lowly, "I'll be in my cabin reading should I be needed."
She made sure to make her tone sound suddenly aggravated, as if she'd remembered something offensive. This act would ensure that her pleasures were not about to be interrupted unless there was going to be a good reason for it! Raveres nodded to herself again, confident in her thoughts and excitedly anticipating what was to come.
The mate raised an eyebrow and leaned backwards,
"Aye… I doubt anything will come up, but if it's serious I'll let you know."
Walking across the deck Raveres descended the steps to the lower decks and easily found the slave woman. She was currently helping the ship's cook prepare the nights coming meal. Standing a few feet away, at the entrance to the small and cramped kitchen, Raveres cleared her throat and the Human woman and Druchii cook looked at her.
Growling her order Raveres eyed the slave aggressively, "You, bring soap and all else that I would need for a bath into my cabin."
The cook immediately began to protest in stuttered surprise, but before he got his words out Raveres cut him off,
"Find another assistant, the slave's mine until I release her back to the ship."
The cook held his tongue and bowed his head. The Human woman stood from where she was sitting and she wiped her hands on her short and stained rough-spun trousers. Her face was surprised at the sudden and random request, but she knew not to voice any opposition. She merely complied.
Her tunic was much too small for her and her pants had torn at the knees leaving her shins and bare feet visible. The material of the tunic was plain and unflattering, brown in colour with a deep V neck, held together across her bust by a thin piece of cord.
Raveres hid her gaze before it drew suspicion, but she couldn't help imagining the Human's exposed and nude body, lying before her, wettened and supple… Shivering with expectation Raveres scolded herself,
'Hold it together! You're not even in your room yet, gods, contain yourself!'
Walking away from the kitchen and towards her cabin Raveres stopped mid-stride to turn and look behind her at the Human. The shorter woman stepped out of the dark and cramped kitchen and into the better lighting of the passageway and Raveres immediately saw why such a slave was aboard the ship in the first place.
The woman's face was bright, her lips and cheeks were pink, plump, and flush with life. Her eyes were a bright blue and her body was pleasantly shaped. The skin of her arms was lightly tanned and she carried herself with a strange air.
Raveres had seen many a slave, even in her small town of Blacklight Tower, and some bore their servitude with dignity, others with resignation, some, and these lasted the shortest amount of time, with frightened wailing.
But this Human woman… she acted as if she wasn't a slave, and indeed despite her tattered clothing she had no bonds which indicated that she was actually the ship's property. Her walking suggested that she found her present circumstance as a 'minor inconvenience' at most, and Raveres wondered for a brief moment how long she'd been a slave so far.
But quickly the hint of the woman's thigh evicted such thoughts. Everything about the Human's appearance spelled and seemed to announce 'carnal pleasure'. Blinking Raveres wondered for a moment,
'Perhaps she prays to Slaanesh?'
Then Raveres raised an eyebrow and watched the woman make her way towards the stairs to the lower deck. Before she disappeared from view Raveres felt compelled to growl,
"Be quick about it!"
The woman looked up from the steps and nodded emphatically, her hair bounced as she then began descending with a hurried pace. Raveres walked down the hall and into her cabin, doing what she could to remain calm as she imagined the pleasant and cool water on her body and the fingers of the Human slave working her sore muscles.
…
The female slave carried the wide wooden basin back up the narrow steps awkwardly. Inside was a bucket filled with water taken from the ships reserves, a bar of soap, and a rough cloth she intended to clean her temporary mistress with.
She nearly fell as she came to the Druchii woman's cabin, but instead some water merely sloshed out of the bucket and into the basin. Speaking in her mother tongue the Human whispered under her breath,
"By Myrmidia!"
Then as she regained her footing, she tried to encourage herself, "Come on Mariana, the she-elf merely needs a bath."
Chuckling to herself the Estalian shook her head and tried to imitate Raveres' voice, "and 'be quick about it!'"
Eventually Mariana stood before the cabin door to the Druchii's chamber and cleared her throat before turning and pushing her hip and side into the wood. The door loudly creaked open and Mariana entered into the room back first, minding the narrow sides of the doorway as she carried the washbasin in.
Turning around she came to finally see the most mysterious room on the ship; but it was just as plain and unassuming as every other cabin. Mariana couldn't help but feel a small measure of disappointment. That was until she saw the room's owner.
The female dark elf was sitting on a chest by the small window of the cabin enjoying the warm sunlight for her reading. She'd shed her previous attire and was instead wearing her undergarments; her chest was covered by an undyed light cotton blouse, and her legs were seemingly bare, except for a pair of shorts which, like her blouse, was a plain undyed material.
The elf's legs were crossed and she leaned against the wooden beam jutting out of the wall which formed part of the ships' overall frame. Her feet were above the floor of the cabin and she was periodically extending her toes as she rhythmically bounced her right leg on top of her left. The bouncing made her right calf swing back and forth.
Mariana felt at first embarrassed to have so suddenly seen the Druchii in such a state of intimacy. Raveres however, appeared unfazed by the presence of the slave. Looking up from her scroll the dark elf raised a well-groomed eyebrow and watched her. At first Mariana thought nothing of it and went about her work.
Quickly shaking off her embarrassment as she thought, 'She's a haughty noble, probably used to being served by slaves even in the nude! Don't let it get to you…'
Placing the basin down onto the floor of the chamber Mariana then lifted the bucket of water out and onto the floor beside the wooden basin. Picking the bar of soap up Mariana wrapped it in the cloth and dunked it into the cool bucket of water. Switching from Estalian to the dark elf's tongue of Druhir Mariana announced that she had finished her assigned task,
"Here you are milady."
Raveres rolled her scroll back up and dropped it to the floor beside her. Mariana bowed her head and turned to leave the room but the Druchii quietly retorted,
"I haven't released you."
Turning back around the Human nodded, "Of course… I, I apologise."
Uncrossing her legs Raveres stretched out both limbs and placed her hands flat on the chest below her.
"Close the door."
Mariana nodded and wordlessly complied. Then Raveres smirked,
"When I said you were to bring all I would need for a bath I thought it would have been obvious."
Mariana turned back around after closing the door.
"Bolt the lock."
It was an order, but Raveres' voice was smooth and seductive in tone. Mariana raised a brow suspiciously,
'Is she… does the elf expect me to?'
Then her thoughts became irritated more than anything, 'Oh by the gods…'
Mariana watched Raveres stand and begin to pull at the ribbon holding her hair in a ponytail.
'She does expect me to wash her!'
Narrating what she expected Raveres continued, "Open my chest and find my comb. In addition to bathing me I expect you to comb my hair."
Mariana nodded and complied. Stepping away from her trunk Raveres finished untying her hair and sighed as the thick white locks fell down her back. Mariana stepped past the elf and stooped to lift the lid of the unlocked chest open, inside were a few silk sheets, a leather pouch, and some intricately carved wooden boxes of varying sizes.
"It's in the black one."
Raveres tone betrayed her impatience but Mariana nodded servilely and took hold of the only black box in the trunk. It was narrow and when she opened it an ivory carved hair comb greeted her.
Clearing her throat, the Estalian slave reluctantly risked a question, "Would you like me to wash your hair as well, m-my lady?"
Raveres sighed as she stood over Mariana. Then she smirked predatorily, "That would be lovely."
The Human nodded and placed the comb's box onto the cabin floor. Taking a deep breath, Mariana risked another question, "So milady, how will this-"
Raveres raised a hand disinterestedly, interrupting her, "What is your name?"
The Estalian nodded and quickly answered; "I am called Mariana, or Maria if it please you."
Raveres nodded and whispered the name to herself; noting with a smile the unique pronunciation of it. Then she nodded,
"Well, Maria, I will tell you how this will go: You will strip me, you will bathe me, comb my hair, and massage my weary muscles."
Then Raveres surprised Mariana by crouching to her level. Smirking she raised her brow and looked downwards at the Human leeringly,
"In addition, I hope to see what's underneath these rags…"
Raveres extended a hand towards Mariana's collar and the Human's eyes widened in surprise at the bold and unexpected advance. She recoiled from Raveres' touch and fell from the balls of her bare feet onto her buttock.
Raveres' expression seemed like she was desperately holding herself back from sadistic laughter and she stopped while Mariana struggled back to her feet and profusely began to apologise,
"Please forgive me my lady! I, I was merely surprised I… I didn't expect, I mean…"
The more flustered she became the thicker her accent and poorer her Druhir. Interrupting her, Raveres moved her hand to press against Mariana's lips and she silenced as Raveres begin to examine her face. They were uncomfortably close and Mariana breathed loudly through her nose as she watched Raveres continue to scrutinise her.
"I don't believe I've ever seen a Human like you before…"
Raveres wasn't so much talking as she was thinking aloud, her expression suddenly cold and clinical. After removing her hand from Mariana's mouth, the Estalian stayed still as Raveres began running her fingers along the side of her neck. Taking a lock of the brunette's hair Raveres brought it to her nose and smelt it, then she smirked,
"You smell of smoke, and salt." she breathed in again, "And something else? I can't quite place it…"
Mariana remained silent as Raveres let the hair fall through her fingers and sighed. As quickly as she descended the Druchii stood,
"Now, undress me. I've spent as long as I can this dirty."
Mariana nodded nervously and quickly stood up. Noticing that her heart had been racing in apprehensive fear the whole time, and only upon standing did she realise just how scared she had been of the she-elf.
…
Though Raveres said she felt filthy Mariana couldn't help but admire the blemish-less and clear skin of the female Druchii. Now the she-elf sat in the wooden wash basin and groaned with satisfaction as Mariana rubbed her wet shoulders.
"Harder! There, dig your thumbs in! Ooh yes… Gods…"
Complying with the order Mariana pressed into Raveres' flesh and rolled her wet and soap covered thumbs into the Druchii's back while she moaned in gratitude.
Leaning away from the Human's touch Raveres rolled her shoulders and stretched her arms out widely to her sides, the action was accompanied by a long moan before she turned back around. Mariana nodded as she acknowledged that her tasks were nearly finished; Raveres was clean, she'd been massaged, now all Maria had to do was comb her hair and she'd be released.
The contents of the bucket had been emptied into the basin and the water came to about Raveres' navel when she sat still, but whenever she moved it slapped upwards and speckled Mariana in soapy suds.
Loudly sloshing around in the water, Raveres came face to face with Maria and raised her eyebrows quizzically,
"Tell me, Estalian… Do you find me pleasant?"
Mariana choked on her tongue as her eyes widened, 'What on earth?!'
"Uh…" she loudly responded.
Raveres chuckled lowly and leaned against the edge of the wooden tub. Pressing her breasts against the side as she extended her hands to touch Mariana, quietly remarking,
"It makes no difference to me… But I was curious."
Bringing her wet right hand under Mariana's chin Raveres used the side of her index finger to 'pull' the Human's head closer. Mariana complied because she knew that she was to do whatever the Druchii desired. For Maria, the fear was that if she offended Raveres, the Druchii could easily have her lashed, beaten, or sold in the first port they landed in.
Now the two women were just a few inches away from one another's face and Mariana's breath nervously became louder.
Raveres looked back at her and remarked mockingly, "I feel rather anxious myself."
Yet Mariana remained speechless. Extending her neck forwards Raveres closed the distance between her and the Human and pressed her lips against those of the slave's.
As Raveres closed her eyes and committed fully to the gesture but Maria remained rigid, barely participating or giving in, to the kiss. Mariana was so nervous that she didn't know what to do, and her heart beat so hard and fast she feared that Raveres was going to hear it.
When the she-elf finally finished her wet kiss she took a deep breath and leaned away from the slave. Cocking an eyebrow Raveres smirked before asking, "Do you fear me?"
Mariana nodded and Raveres sneered, "Would you be more at ease- no. How might I put you at ease, hmm?"
Mariana swallowed as a strange feeling rose in her chest.
'Independence'
'Hope?'
'D-do I dare ask? Do I dare answer her honestly?'
Maria nervously stuttered and closed her eyes, reddening with embarrassment. Raveres moved her hands from the Human's skin and watched on with interest, awaiting the Estalian's response.
"I would be far more…"
Maria looked down, and reopened her eyes.
"I'd happily offer my body to you, if you'd…"
Her hands shook with fear as she tried to make eye contact with the beautiful Druchii.
"If you would free me as soon as we reach port."
Raveres' eyebrows rose in complete surprise. Then she leaned backwards in the bathtub and laughed. A shrill, sadistic, and insulting laughter.
Mariana felt a cold chill and nervous shiver roll along her body. Fear began to infect her as she now awaited Raveres response… It was a ludicrous request, and a horrible trade but Raveres calmed herself before answering 'no' outright.
Chuckling and grunting her laughter away, she eventually recovered and silently watched Maria squirm under her gaze a few seconds longer.
"I admire your honesty Human."
Mariana tensed and gulped as she continued to wait.
Then Raveres nodded, "Consider yourself now my property! I will inform the captain that I've purchased you from the ship in exchange for a portion of the raid's spoils."
Mariana felt somewhat relieved, but at the same time she didn't know what it really meant, and Raveres elaborated,
"I have no issue in taking you along with me in my travels. But outright emancipation?"
Raveres clicked her tongue and put her elbows on either side of the small wooden tub.
"That's stretching your worth a little too thin I fear."
Mariana nervously took a breath and stood up. She'd made a resolution in her chest and her body and thoughts agreed,
'I haven't an opportunity like this again. I will be set free. This elf will set me free!'
Her hands took hold of her tunic and she quickly pulled the tight and awkwardly fitting garment off. Raveres smile dropped and instead her expression froze as she watched the Estalian undress.
Finding her voice Mariana spoke, "I bid my lady stand."
Raveres was so surprised at the sudden stripping that she didn't even register that the slave had insolently issued her an order. Looking over the Human's naked body Raveres took a breath and enjoyed the round and smooth curves of the woman before her.
Mariana had a sizable bosom and her nipples were a few erotic shades darker than her tanned flesh. And with the light entering the cabin through the small window, Raveres saw the glistening sweat and water along Maria's skin. Running down between her breasts and all across her belly.
Staring at her naked form, Raveres couldn't help but become transfixed at how different Mariana's pigmentation was. In comparison, it was drastically different than Raveres', and the Druchii couldn't help but feel a new and exotic arousal at the sandy, olive-like, colour.
Tracing her eyes downwards Raveres looked with interest at Mariana's pubic mound and the thick dark hair obscuring her womanhood from view. Raveres couldn't help but scoff in impression, she'd never seen such hair before. Her own body hair was thin, coloured a whitish-grey, and the Asur Elianna's was as blonde below as she was above…
But Mariana's was gently shaped, thick and curly, with a soft and almost mysterious quality to it. Swallowing licentiously, Raveres blinked and smiled widely as she began to imagine the hidden folds, and pink petals of Mariana's womanhood.
Raveres' repressed arousal and mounting titillation was too much to bear, and she all but growled with her breathing as she mentally resolved,
'I must see what she's hiding. No, I will, see what she's hiding!'
Snapping Raveres out of her licentious thoughts, Mariana's voice returned, but this time with more force and confidence,
"I bid my lady stand."
Raveres cocked an eyebrow in hesitation, but relaxed and resolved to play along. With a smirk, she slowly rose from the cool tub. Then Mariana extended a hand towards the she-elf and indicated that she was helping her exit the wooden washbasin.
Tauntingly Raveres warned, "You ought to know, you're not making a good impression with that tone of-"
Mariana quickly dropped to the floor and brought her face between Raveres' thighs silencing the Druchii. Then she exclaimed in surprise,
"What are you doing?!"
Then Raveres shuddered and quieted at the warm feeling of Mariana's breath against her skin. Slowly Maria brought her hands up to touch the sides of Raveres' damp and pale legs.
Mariana had played the role of 'courtesan' for the sailors, earning her better rations, and more grog; she'd even been able to hide away a small clutch of coins some of the sailors had given her. Yet she'd never been with, nor had she even imagined she'd ever have to 'please' another woman. But there she was, touching and pressing her lips to the inner side of a Druchii woman's legs.
"My lady, should I perform well, do I have your word you will release me?"
Raveres had gone so long without intimate company, or even touching herself, that she ached to see a mouth so close to her body, and yet she was being asked such a stupid price to pay in order to enjoy it?!
'How dare she even think to ask me that!'
Raveres' heart beat heavily as her breaths became shallower. She was far too excited to even attempt to make a level decision, and her natural perversions and desires began to take sway over her mind.
"You're b-bold, I will grant you that." she stuttered.
Mariana slowly ran her fingers up towards Raveres' hips and the touch made her shiver and twitch.
"I'd do anything that you would desire of me, the whole rest of the voyage. I'd lick your body; I would kiss you; I'd clean you. Anything you'd want."
She brought her bright lips to Raveres' skin and the Druchii shook at the sensation and at Mariana's voice. Adding to the performance, Maria loudly smocked her lips and looked upwards into Raveres' eyes.
Swallowing nervously, Raveres whispered, "Y-you…"
Raveres closed her eyes and took a breath before opening them and tentatively extending her fingers towards Mariana's head. In response, Mariana darted a hand upwards and smacked Raveres' hand.
Raveres' eyes shot open widely in surprise, "What? H-how dare you!"
Then she raised her right hand, preparing to slap Mariana. But Raveres hesitated. And Mariana noticed in the Druchii the briefest of emotions. Just before Raveres' surprise turned towards anger Mariana clearly recognised that the Druchii enjoyed the denial.
Before she was purchased by the ship's captain Mariana had worked in a brothel. She'd seen inclinations of all sorts from men of countless nations. And in that moment, she recognised the same expression on Raveres' face. No matter how briefly it flashed across her features, Mariana knew she had seen it, and now she knew exactly what she needed to do to get her way.
Before Raveres could slap her Mariana quickly growled, "You lay that hand on me Druchii and I will never lick you, or please you like you'd want!"
Raveres froze. Her breath caught and she shivered, whispering to herself, "W-where is this confidence coming from…"
Narrowing her eyes in victory Mariana coyly made a suggestion, "Why don't you sit, my lady?"
Now the Human knew she was in complete control. Raveres' eyes and expression became confused and flustered, her cheeks became bright red as the dynamic between master and slave became more tenuous, and more exciting, than she'd ever experienced before.
Dryly Raveres mumbled, "I… I don't…"
In response Maria ran her hands down Raveres' thighs and tapped her knees, "I said: sit."
Raveres stood motionless for several seconds until finally, she slowly and nervously complied; lowering herself to Mariana's level. Her face was strangely innocent and she appeared as expectant as she was aroused.
Maria nodded and smiled, "Good. Now lie down."
Raveres looked down at the wooden floor of the cabin and her eyebrows rose in defiance, "There? But I'm still wet! My hair is wet! At least put-"
Mariana leaned forwards and cut the Druchii off with a quick kiss, ending the action with a light push. Maria easily sent Raveres off balance enough that her weight made her stumble onto her ass.
Shrieking in protest Raveres growled, "You can't just-"
Mariana pressed a finger to Raveres' lips, silencing her, before she crawled closer.
"If you speak again, I won't lick you."
Raveres' eyes widened and she pursed her lips. Mariana fought the urge to giggle, her plan was working!
"You will communicate with nods, do you understand?"
Raveres' heart was beating rapidly and her chest was moving up and down quickly as she moved her head up and down in response.
"Good!"
Mariana smiled before she moved closer to Raveres' vagina. Pushing the Druchii's legs apart, Maria lowered herself into a lying position between Raveres' pale legs. Adding to the experience, her voice became a soft whisper,
"I can keep my word. Everything about what we do together will remain a solemn secret between us… However, I'm not as sure about you?"
Without thinking Raveres began speaking and as the first syllable left her mouth, she immediately covered her lips with both her hands, her expression one of horror.
Mariana raised an eyebrow and began to rise out from between the Raveres' legs, "Oh?"
Then she laughed, "Looks like I'm not your slave after all."
Immediately Raveres' voice took on a tone of desperation which even surprised her, "Wait! I…"
Mariana remained still as she watched the reddening face of the she-elf.
'By the gods just how 'thirsty' is this Druchii?'
Raveres swallowed as she tried not to sound too pathetic, "I swear…"
Then Maria's heart skipped a beat, 'She's actually going to do it? By Myrmidia a little teasing was all that was needed?!'
Raveres gritted her teeth and finally acquiesced, "I swear to do as you say."
Mariana shook her head sadistically, 'oh how the tables have turned!'
"No. That's not good enough. Be specific, what will you do?"
Raveres nodded and wiped her brow and several strands of damp hair out of the way impatiently, "Okay, okay! I swear… to set you free."
Mariana brought her lips close to the Druchii's pale skin but stopped before making contact,
"How do I know you'll hold up your end of this bargain?"
Raveres huffed and ran her fingers through her hair as she began to really lose her composure,
"W-what? What else would it take?! How could I prove this to you! Y-you, you, insolent slave!"
Mariana furrowed her brow and immediately brought her mouth to Raveres' skin, baring her teeth she bit and twisted some of the Druchii's pale flesh as hard as she could. Raveres yelped and shrieked in pain, groaning and stifling a moan as she grunted,
"Ahh! S-stop t-that!"
Letting go of Raveres' skin Mariana spoke and the elf listened intently, her chest rising as her skin continued to blush red.
"I want you to invoke whichever is your principal god, and I want you to make a blood oath."
Raveres' eyes widened and she immediately held her breath, "Y-you, you can't be serious?"
Mariana nodded, "I am. I know how seriously your people take oaths, and how wrathful your gods are. That is the only way I will give you what you desire."
Raveres scoffed impatiently, "I c-could easily fight you down, pin you, and take you however I please!"
Mariana looked at Raveres' larger biceps and nodded, "Yes. But that's not what you really want, and I know it."
Raveres nervously swallowed and sat silent as she watched Mariana. Boldly, and with a small smile, Maria's hands started rubbing Raveres' inner thighs in slow circular motions. Getting higher with every rotation, she teased and kneaded the sensitive flesh as she came closer and closer to Raveres' vagina.
Breathing through her nose loudly, Raveres couldn't hide how consumed she was with lust and expectation. And the whole while Maria continued to taunt her, playfully oblivious to what she was doing.
Mentally anguishing over the demand that Mariana had made, Raveres felt entirely controlled by the insidious desires of her body. Then, with a low growl, Raveres finally gave in, her voice a pained whisper,
"I swear I will set you free…"
Mariana smiled and kissed Raveres' thigh before standing, "Good!"
Reaching for the Druchii's nearby belt Mariana drew a dagger from its sheath and locked eyes with Raveres. Tensing, Raveres' expression cooled as she realised just how vulnerable she was. But what was more surprising was just how aroused she still felt despite it.
Mariana slowly came closer towards Raveres and held out her left hand, while bearing the blade in her right, then she ordered, "Give me your hand."
Raveres begrudgingly complied, slowly extended her pale left hand towards the slave.
"Say whatever words you must to seal the oath, but I will be the one to cut you."
Raveres nodded and cringed as she felt the blade slit the end of her left index finger. Throwing the dagger behind her Mariana descended and watched Raveres' eyes as the Druchii, reluctantly, invoked Khaine,
"Dark lord of murder, hear my oath…"
She rubbed the blood from her finger into her palm,
"Under your eyes, I swear that I shall free this slave and that I will not have tricked her in any way. May my death be bloody and painful; pleasing to you should I break this solemn vow."
Mariana smiled and her eyes widened happily as she listened and watched, 'It worked… it actually worked!'
Finishing the circle in her palm, Raveres swallowed and nodded.
"There! I did what you asked, now-mmhmf!?"
Mariana lunged forwards and began kissing her 'master'. Raveres' body immediately weakened and she easily fell backwards to lie on the floor. Accepting Maria's kiss, Raveres wrapped her arms around the Human's back and moaned as she finally received her hard-bought pleasure.
XXX
(If you'd like to read this sexually explicit scene, and the chapter in its original uncensored format, please check it out on Archive of Our Own.)
XXX
"If you tell, another living soul, I swear…"
Mariana shushed her and pressed a finger to the elf's lips, "I told you before; your secrets shall remain safe with me, so long as you remember and keep your oath."
Raveres slowly nodded. She felt shameful, having had such a sexual proclivity revealed and so plainly identified by a slave she barely even knew. But what was worse was that she had sworn to set the creature free!
Yet, somehow the whole taboo nature of situation made Raveres at once, compliant and two strangely satisfied. Eyeing Maria hungrily she finally replied,
"Okay."
With an exhale, Raveres pushed Mariana forwards as she tried sitting up properly. With a scoff she shook her head,
"I don't know what to say now."
Mariana interrupted her with a kiss and slowly moved her right hand back between Raveres' legs. Moaning loudly and nodding Maria chuckled as she replied coyly,
"Then say nothing. That's often best…"
…