Page 8 of Surrender

“Do as you’re told in the future. Immediately – and you might not become close friends with it.” She strode to the door. “Come along. We have work to do. Balam has set an ambitious timetable for this auction.”

Though she was hesitant to leave the safety of her cell, Talia followed. The female grabbed her arm and yanked her into the passageway then propelled her forward with another harsh whack on her bottom from the penis strap.

“Follow me. And no more dawdling.”

She led the way down an endless series of hallways, winding deeper and deeper into the caverns that lay below the palace. Dampness made the air feel even colder and Talia was shivering uncontrollably by the time they reached an ornate carved doorway.

The female threw open the doors to reveal a large square chamber. Torches lit the room, illuminating elaborate murals on the stone walls. Sailing ships, strange animals, battles between Norsemen and bizarre creatures. With its location deep in the foundation of the palace, where only a select few had access, Talia imagined the room had seen countless secret ceremonies. Rituals to beseech their gods for luck before battles and voyages of exploration. Victory celebrations or solemn wakes afterward.

Inside, three naked women huddled against the wall in one corner, while another tall, rail-thin figure in black strode back and forth in front of them delivering a lecture.

“Here’s the last of them,” her handler announced.

The figure turned. Talia stared. Though they could have been twins, something about this one told her it was a male. The chin was a bit stronger, the shoulders wider.

Her handler shoved her forward, toward the other women. Talia wondered if she looked as bedraggled as they did with their matted hair and bodies streaked with filth from the straw. Shoulders bowed, heads bent, they stood in poses of utter defeat.

The female took her place next to the male. “We are Sori and Leto, your trainers. You will address us as mistress and master, but only when you are ordered to speak. Our job is to prepare you for auction. If you learn well, you may be fortunate enough to be bought by a wealthy master, one who will make your fate bearable. If you do not cooperate, you will no doubt be sold to a Zarilian whorehouse. Trust me, it’s not a place where you want to spend what little will remain of your life.”

She looked them over with disdain. “I have no intention of touching any of you until you’re cleaned up. I’ve called for hot water. Plenty of it. You will bathe and then wash each other’s hair before we begin.”

Talia sighed in relief. The prospect of being warm and clean was enough to lift her spirits. She’d been fed, and she’d soon be free of the filth and the disgusting tracks of insects that had crawled over her while she slept.

The other women also perked up at the prospect of a warm bath. Before long, four of Balam’s men appeared at the door carrying huge wooden tubs, one for each woman. They were followed by an endless line of men bearing buckets of steaming water. They stared greedily at the naked women, but, under the stern gazes of Sori and Leto, they didn’t dare do anything except dump their burdens into the tubs and head back out the door for another round.

Despite the long journey from wherever the water had been heated, it was still warm when Sori ordered them in. Talia closed her eyes and sighed with pure pleasure as she lowered herself into the tub. She washed with the white lump she’d been given. It had a pleasing fragrance, as though it had been infused with flowers or herbs. Different from the chemically produced floral scents back home. She sniffed it. Lavender? Talia took her time, luxuriating in the sensation of being warm again.

Sori snapped out a command. One of the women stepped out of her tub, dripping wet, and stood behind Talia. “I must wash your hair,” she said in a soft voice.

With her face clean and her head up, Talia realized it was the woman she’d seen in the street the day she arrived. Talia felt like a voyeur when the image popped into her head of the gnome brandishing his engorged penis in the woman’s face.

“I am called Talia,” she said, her voice pitched low so no one else could hear. “What is your name?”

“My name is Irna.”

Talia heard the sharp crack of the mastodon penis against bare skin. Irna let out a wail.

“Silence!” Sori stood behind the woman, the whip in her hand. She flicked it again, laying another stroke on the woman’s bottom. “You do not speak unless ordered to do so.”

Irna stifled a sob and bent to pour a stream of water from the bucket next to the tub over Talia’s head. Sori drew her arm back to strike again.

Talia stood up. “I was the one at fault. She only answered a question I asked.”

Sori raised an eyebrow. “Shall I punish you too?”

“We haven’t learned all your rules yet. But if you must punish someone, punish me instead of her.” Behind her, she heard Irna gasp.

“Did you hear that, Leto? This oneasksto be punished.” Sori laughed in her toneless cackle. “Very well. The rest of you – watch and learn what happens when you break my rules.”

Chapter Six

Sori dragged Talia into the center of the room.

“You say you have not yet learned our rules. So, let’s begin your lessons. Rule number one – when you are to be punished, you will assume the proper position. Get on your knees. Now sit back on your heels. Head up, chest out. Keep your eyes downcast and your hands clasped behind your back.”

She walked in a complete circle around Talia, slapping the penis whip against her hand as she spoke. “You will stay in this position until your master or mistress informs you what your punishment will be, for hours if necessary. For this first infraction, it will be ten strokes with the mastodon penis. Bend forward with your head against the floor and present your ass high in the air. When I finish, you will kiss the penis and thank me.”

Talia shuddered but bent forward until her forehead touched the cold stone.

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