0 comments/ 23545 views/ 3 favorites Harold Saves Her Husband Pt. 01 By: oggbashan This is a sequel to the earlier story "Harold Plays The Hero" ******************************** Copyright Oggbashan June 2006 The author asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work. This is a work of fiction. The events described here are imaginary; the settings and characters are fictitious and are not intended to represent specific places or living persons. This is the first part of the sequel. I have posted it to encourage me to complete the story. ********************************* Chapter 1 An East India Company Office Princely India 1850s It had been a boring day at the office. I had been writing reports that might reach London in three or four months' time. When they did, they would be out of date. Such was the reality of mid-nineteenth century communication. I had just finished the last one and was relaxing in a cloud of pipe smoke, with my spurred boots resting on the desk, when there was a knock at the door. "Sahib!" a voice called softly from the partly opened door. "Yes?" "There is a Royal Messenger here for you." I brought my feet down from the desk in a hurry. I knocked out my pipe and stood up. "Send the messenger in." "Yes Sahib." The door swung open and a closely veiled sari-clad woman entered. She had my full attention. Only Queen Serena would use women as messengers. When she did, it was for very secret matters. She had a small group of women who were her close confidants and the Goddess's priestesses. They were her secret service. If Serena had sent one of them to my office the message must be important. The woman unveiled. It was Pushpa. I bowed to her. "No, Prince Harold, you should not bow to me." "Why not, Pushpa? You are a beautiful woman, a priestess and Queen Serena's closest friend. You deserve a bow for each category." I bowed twice more. Pushpa spoilt the effect by giggling. I took her hand and kissed it, keeping hold of it afterwards. "Is that a better greeting?" "Perhaps? But would Princess Lisa object?" Pushpa asked. "No, she would not. She knows that you are our friend." "Then, friend and Prince, here is my response to your greetings." Pushpa wrapped an arm round my neck and kissed me full on the lips. That was pleasant. A kiss from Pushpa is to be treasured even if only a friendly one. "And now, O highly esteemed Royal Messenger, what is the message that your Queen has sent to my humble self?" I asked. "Only an invitation to dinner tonight at the Palace for you and Princess Lisa." Pushpa replied. "Dinner tonight? Of course, since it is a Royal Command, Princess Lisa and I will be delighted to accept. Is that the whole of your message, O trustworthy counsellor?" Pushpa giggled again. "Yes, Prince." "Then, O Matchless Pearl of Wisdom, I do not believe you." "Is my Prince suggesting that I, a Royal Messenger, could lie?" "Yes, O Vision of Beauty, you can lie, and that cannot be the whole of your message." "Oh ****!" was Pushpa's unladylike retort. She whispered in my ear "Queen Serena told me that you would suspect something. I underestimated you. She didn't." Pushpa looked serious. "She needs your advice and help, and Lisa's." "Then she shall have it." I whispered back "Why the formal invitation?" Pushpa's reply was equally quiet "Because she cannot admit openly that she needs you, not this time." "Thank you, Pushpa, Princess Lisa and I will attend the dinner in our best finery. Are my sword and pistol necessary?" "I don't think so, Prince Harold." Her whisper sounded doubtful. "If even the highly intelligent Pushpa is not sure, then I shall wear my sword and pistol with my full uniform. What Princess Lisa will bring I know not but I am sure she will prepare herself appropriately." I spoke in a normal voice "Will you convey our formal acceptance to the Queen?" "Yes, Prince Harold." Pushpa dropped into a low curtsey, splaying her fine draperies wide across the spur-scarred boards of my mundane office. Then she rose lightly to her feet, kissed me again, veiled herself and swept out of my office in a swirl of silken skirts. Serena must be in real trouble. If she was, so were Lisa and I. Sending Pushpa, the head of her secret service was a message in itself. So was the need for Pushpa to whisper even in my office. That was a sign that even my office was NOT a safe place. There must be a spy on the staff. The trouble must be urgent. Lisa and I met Serena once a week as the official representatives of John Company and Her Majesty Queen Victoria. We are a Prince and Princess in Serena's state that caused some amusement with my fellow John Company officers but our status was real as far as Queen Serena's realm extended. The titles of Queen Serena and her King (Consort) Vishaladeva and Princess and Prince for Lisa and I were a complete break from the local traditions. After the last Rajah had led a failed revolt against the English, he and his heir were executed by their wives who were then strangled by Serena. She had ensured that her husband, who was the late Rajah's second son, did not take part in the revolt. She also made sure that it would fail. Then she had rescued the Englishwomen under siege in the zenana. Lisa and I with Jane and George had helped. For services to the state, Lisa and I were made nobles ranked immediately below the heir to the throne. There had been some dispute with the realm's courtiers about our exact titles. Serena had settled the matter out of hand by appointing us as Prince and Princess. Neither of those titles actually mean anything in the state's traditions, but then Queen and King don't either. Serena was the actual ruler of the state. King Vishaladeva was her consort in practice but notionally they were equal rulers because some of Serena's subjects could not accept the idea of a woman as head of state. Three months after her coronation they were beginning to accept the idea, reluctantly. They still had difficulty accepting Serena's eldest daughter as heir to the throne. They saw Serena as an anomaly that would end when her son succeeded, when one was born. Outside Serena's realm, I was apparently just a volunteer officer of John Company troops, but I left the real soldiering to the Colonel and our friend George. I was the diplomat, and I admit it, the spy. My real task was to make money for the Company. As long as I did that, whatever else I did didn't matter to them. I tidied my office, called a messenger to get those reports on their long journey to London, and called in at George's office. "Afternoon, Harold? Anything the fighting soldiery can do for the gallant courtier?" "Yes, George." I looked around. Unlike my office that was surrounded by others, George's was at the end of a blank walled corridor. Anyone approaching it could be seen. Overhearing our conversation would be impossible without being seen. George noticed my scan of the surroundings. "Feeling that you are being watched, eh? Wondering who knows things they shouldn't know?" I nodded. "That's why I choose this room for myself. You cannot be overheard. What's the problem?" "Queen Serena has invited Lisa and me to dinner tonight." "What is so unusual? You are friends." "Yes, but she was due to meet us officially the day after tomorrow. Whatever it is can't wait that long." "Um. So what do you want from me, Harold?" "I think Lisa and I ought to arrive in style and with a show of strength to indicate John Company's backing for her rule. Can you provide some of your troops to escort us, and to stay around in case they are needed?" "Maybe. But what is the threat?" "I don't know. All I know is that it could be serious and it is urgent." "Right. We will have a nice night exercise around the palace. You will get a flashy escort of lancers, but they will be backed up by vicious looking troops with blackened faces playing around. I'll take a leaf out of Sir John Moore's book about the uses of light infantry, but I'll add a few cannon for effect. Napoleon showed the effectiveness of cannon in street fighting. A few meaty 9 pounders should deter any possible threat." "Thank you, George. It may be nothing, but..." "...but if it is, it is better to look silly than be unprepared." "Exactly, George." "Warn Queen Serena what we are doing as soon as you arrive. We don't want her thinking that we are going to overthrow her government, do we?" "Will do, George." "Right. Get going. I've got a lot to do. This will shake up some of the junior officers. Get their minds off their Gin and Tonics and Polo. It could be jolly good fun. See you." Chapter 2 The Cantonments I left the office at a fast trot, scattering people in the crowded streets, and extended my waler into a gallop as soon as we were clear of the town. If Lisa and I were to be ready in time to arrive in state we had to move fast. As soon as Lisa heard the speed at that I was arriving she dropped everything and ran to the door. Most unladylike! She should have waited for one of the servants to announce the arrival of her husband. I thrust the waler's reins into the groom's hands. "What's up, Harold?" Lisa asked. "We are invited to dinner at the palace - tonight - and we have to arrive in state with an escort." Lisa needed no more hint than that. She spun round in a flurry of crinolined skirt and rushed in, calling for her maid. I bounded up the stairs yelling for my valet. I had a cold bath as quickly as I could. I had no time to wait for the water to be heated. The valet laid out my official uniform, then asked whether I had any special instructions. "Yes, please make sure one of my big revolvers is fully loaded. I'll need its holster and belt, and my sword - the one for use." As a good valet should, he did not query my instructions. By the time I was fully dressed my revolver was loaded. He fitted the gunbelt round my waist. It was a nuisance with the sword as well. Usually I wore one or the other, not both. It took a precious five minutes to get both adjusted so that I could draw either. I walked through to Lisa's dressing room. Lisa looked at my revolver. "I see," she said, "I thought it might be that sort of invitation. I have my Navy Colts and a few other useful things." I looked. Lisa looked as if she was being formally dressed en grande tenue for an evening out. Her dress ballooned out over her largest crinoline. The low cut bodice revealed her cleavage in its full glory. She had an embroidered overskirt looped up in four places, looking suspiciously bulky in front. "Lisa. I know, and you know, that you are expecting but does it need to be so obvious?" "Harold, you know it doesn't but it is an excuse to cover these." She lifted part of her overskirt to show her gunbelt with two Colt's Navy .36 calibre Holster Pistols. Those ten shots might be useful. They weren't manstoppers like my Walker Dragoon, but they could be concealed. My gun couldn't. It was massive and heavy. I had two but I never wore both. I needed both hands to fire one. Lisa's guns had been mine but now I relied on the Dragoons. The Navy Colts were effective weapons but too light for serious use on a battlefield. It had been unfortunate that we had left our personal firearms at home at the time of the last Rajah's revolt. Except for target practice I had used a Dragoon only twice. The first time I had used a Dragoon was to kill a bull that had been mauled by a tiger. The shot had smashed the bull's skull, satisfyingly stopping its rampage, but I didn't admit to the awed natives that my aim had been the bull's heart. The second time had been on the North West Frontier visiting my old regiment and had gone along on a "showing the flag" expedition. We had been ambushed but the ambushers came off worst. I had fired the Dragoon at a charging mob of hashish crazed tribesmen fifty metres away. The man I hit had been knocked backwards, dead of course, with a large hole blown through his chest. I had nearly lost hold of the gun from the shock of the recoil. By the time I had re-cocked the Dragoon a volley from the troops' Brown Bess muskets had blown away the tribesmen. Finally, Lisa was ready. Our carriage was waiting outside with George's lancers forming up as the escort. Lisa's maid draped a shawl over Lisa's bare shoulders. As we left the house the escort saluted and our personal standard was unfurled. In the distance I could hear the tramp of infantry and the rumble of the gun carriages. If our assessment of Queen Serena's need was wrong, we would have annoyed a large number of our troops unnecessarily. I could take a phlegmatic view. Any military complaints would be addressed to George. Chapter 3 The Royal Dinner We entered the town with a blare of trumpets that sent the locals scattering. The lancers clattered ahead and formed up beside the main palace entrance. Already there, either side of the gateway were two of George's 9 pounders. The linstocks were alight and the firers ready for action. Each gun was attended by a small group of infantry with their Minie rifles resting on improvised barricades. They looked ready for war and made a stark contrast to the dress uniforms of the lancers. The streets around were empty. The locals had decided that the area by the palace was likely to be unhealthy. Lisa and I descended as if we were attending a normal social occasion. Apart from exchanging greetings with the Gunners' Captain we ignored the presence of so many soldiers. As we entered the gate Queen Serena's Major Domo came to meet us. "Thank goodness you are here, Prince and Princess. We were concerned about the cannon outside." "What cannon?" Lisa asked innocently "Is that what they are? I understand that our soldiers are playing some of their games this evening. Is that the correct term, Harold?" "No Lisa. What the Princess means is that the troops are taking part in an exercise. It is part of their training. I am sure Queen Serena will understand the need to train soldiers." "If you say so, Prince," the Major Domo replied. He understood very well that training did not usually happen in the evening, nor with loaded and aimed cannon. He looked pointedly at my Dragoon and the "for use" sword. They are not pretty. The sword has a plain oiled wooden sheath. The oiled wood keeps it sharp. The dress sword's fancy silver decorated sheath blunts the edge. The Dragoon looks like the killing machine it is. He sighed and led the way to the Audience Chamber. The crowd of courtiers parted before us. Queen Serena and King Vishaladeva came down from their thrones to greet us. Serena whispered in my ear. "Don't be surprised by Visha. He's drunk too much." King Vishaladeva was enthusiastically kissing Lisa's hand. She looked closely at him, then kissed him on the cheek, before giving her cheek to Serena. Serena spoke aloud. "Princess Lisa, will you accept the King as your partner for dinner?" Lisa bowed her acceptance, then moved to the King's side. I held out my arm. Serena tucked her hand in it and we followed the King and Lisa to the dining chamber. It was arranged unusually. Normally the King and Queen sat in the middle of one side of a long row of tables. This time they and we were directed to a raised dais at the end. There was a wooden screen at the front of the dais. The diners below the dais would see only our heads. There was another oddity. Normal protocol would have sat the King and Queen together, then Lisa beside the King, and me beside the Queen. This time Queen Serena was sitting in the centre beside Lisa, with the men on the outside. I was beside the Queen. We watched as the diners processed in and took their seats. As the meal started to be served the conversation level in the chamber rose. Queen Serena whispered in my ear, loud enough for Lisa to hear. "Harold, the King is not himself tonight." Lisa cut in. "I know he isn't. I've had to stop his hand wandering twice already. He isn't Vishaladeva. Who is he?" "I thought I couldn't deceive you two," said Serena. "He is the King's second cousin, Ranjit. He is an amiable and loyal friend but he likes women too much." "I know about that already. He might get a surprise if his hand wanders much further," retorted Lisa. "Please be discreet," hissed Serena. "It is important that he is recognised as the King tonight. It won't be for long. This dinner is a simple one by our standards. Afterwards the four of us will retire and then Lisa can kick Ranjit in the balls or take whatever unladylike action she likes. Until then he must appear to be the King. Ranjit doesn't understand English." "I see," said Lisa. She whispered in Ranjit's ear in his own dialect. That shook him. He looked terrified and nodded his agreement to Lisa. "What did you say to him, Lisa?" asked Serena. "He looked just like Visha does when you tell him off." "I told him that if he didn't behave I'd slice his balls off with my husband's sword and serve them to the guests as shish kebab." "I think he believes you." Serena said. "He should. I'd do it." "I know you would," said Serena, "but not until afterwards, please, for my sake." "If that's what you want, Serena. His hands have stopped wandering." "I should not be surprised, Lisa, but that is probably the first time in Ranjit's life that he has ever accepted "no" from a woman, except his Queen. Despite that I like him. He is a loyal friend and would die for me." "I hope it doesn't come to that, Serena. You may have been told about the training exercise outside." "Yes. They terrified most of my court. I knew that was Harold at work." "George, actually. Harold asked and George arranged for a demonstration of our support." "Is that what it is? Some of my guests thought they had been invited to a massacre instead of a dinner." Serena lowered her voice. "Ranjit and I will leave soon. He will have a slight indisposition. You two will continue as the hosts until you signal the end of the dinner and the guests leave. Then you can come to our private chamber for the real business of the evening." Soon afterwards, Serena summoned her Major Domo. He announced the King's slight indisposition. The King and Queen withdrew. The meal continued with a few curious looks at us. It was the first time that we had taken any formal role in Serena's realm. Lisa noticed Pushpa signalling to us from the far end of the chamber. I summoned the Major Domo who asked Pushpa to attend us. She mounted the dais, bowed low, and spoke very quietly. "Prince and Princess, there is likely to be trouble when you tell them it is the end of the evening." "What trouble?" Lisa asked. "I don't know. It can't be too serious with all your troops outside. Without them, it might have been." "Thank you, Pushpa," I said. "We are as prepared as we can be." Pushpa bowed again and backed off the dais. I don't know whether she has to walk backwards when leaving a Prince and Princess. I shouldn't think Pushpa knows either. We are the first she has met. The rest of the evening passed quietly. Just before I rose to make my announcement I drew my Dragoon, cocked it, and held it in my right hand. It was concealed from the guests by the screen at the front of the dais. The Major Domo asked for the guests' attention. I rose to my feet and announced the end of the evening. I thanked the guests for coming. A man stood up and shouted that he wasn't going to take orders from an Englishman. There were murmurs of support. I replied that I was not present as an Englishman but as a Prince of the realm. He shouted back that he did not recognise me as a Prince nor the right of a Queen to rule the state. That did it, as far as I was concerned. He could insult me, but not the Queen. I lifted the Dragoon and pointed it straight at him. Harold Saves Her Husband Pt. 02 Copyright Oggbashan November 2013 The author asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work. This is a work of fiction. The events described here are imaginary; the settings and characters are fictitious and are not intended to represent specific places or living persons. ************************************************* "Why is it called The Dancing Room?" Lisa whispered to Queen Serena. I could hear Lisa's question and Serena's reply. "He couldn't call it a Ballroom, Serena whispered back. "We, and particularly he, don't do that sort of dancing. Dancing is mainly a sexual display for men only. You will notice that you and I are the only women in this group." When we reached the Dancing Room it was obvious that this was a place for sexual titillation. The wall paintings, the erotic statuary and the furnishings were overtly sexual, celebrating dance as a means of seduction. We four sat on cushioned gaddis. The rest of the company spread themselves on cushions against one wall. Musicians in a curtained gallery began to play, softly at first, then louder with a sinuous rhythm. Veiled dancers entered quietly from both ends of the room until the floor in front of us was covered with silk swathed bodies that began to writhe to the music. The music became more insistent and the dancers' veils were discarded. Their long hair whipped around them as they gyrated. Their hips thrust aggressively towards us. One dancer appeared from the mass. As she did, another dancer pulled away some of the silken material to reveal a finely muscled midriff. All our eyes were drawn to her navel as she wriggled sensuously. Another length of material was removed to show her legs in translucent pantaloons decorated with gold coins that clinked as she danced. She was joined by three other dancers, similarly revealed. All four positioned themselves before the four gaddis and directed their dancing at each individual notable. They gradually came closer and closer until they were within touching distance. Their midriffs wiggled in front of our faces for a few seconds before they retreated to be replaced by another four dancers who repeated the exhibition. Soon all the men and the two women were confronted with almost naked dancers clothed only with gold embroidered panties. The jiggling breasts were mesmerising. Lord Mohan clapped his hands. The dancers stopped before retreating a few yards. "Honoured guests," Lord Mohan said, "That is as far as I am prepared to let my dancers proceed in front of ladies. I suggest that we withdraw and let the dancers continue to the eventual climax which might offend you..." I felt that Lisa might object that she could watch anything. I touched her arm. She nodded. Lisa and I left with Queen Serena. Outside the Dancing Room Pushpa and Serena's other female attendants were waiting. "Mohan likes in-your-face sex," Serena said. "We shouldn't deprive him. While he's busy we can make our own plans. Pushpa? Is there anywhere safe we can talk?" "I think so, your Majesty. Harold's friends tell me that there is one room that doesn't have secret spy holes. It's rather small but..." "Take us there," Queen Serena ordered. Pushpa was right. The room was small. It was a dressing room, or probably a wardrobe, off Queen Serena's suite. With the five of us in there we were touching each other. Lisa's crinoline was jammed against my legs. "OK, Pushpa. What have you found out?" Serena asked. "It's rather what I haven't found out. King Vishaladeva isn't held in any of the rooms of the palace that Harold's friends have access to. They suspect that he might be in the old watchtower that is supposed to be derelict because they have seen men guarding it and food being taken into it. That hadn't happened until after the King was kidnapped. However they can't be sure. It might be a trap designed to catch us. They are still listening for any clue to the King's whereabouts but they suspect that very few people actually know about the kidnapping." "What about the attack on us?" Lisa asked. "That's due tomorrow evening. You and the ladies accompanying Serena, but NOT the Queen, nor Harold, nor me, are to be invited to the zenana for folkloric entertainment. While there you will be served drugged drinks. When you fall asleep you will be tied up and held in the zenana. Shortly before that happens, or at the same time, Harold will have been taken prisoner. He will be taken to the Goddess' temple to face the ordeal. One of the priestesses related to Mohan doesn't believe that Harold is beloved of the Goddess and intends to prove he isn't by subjecting him to the ultimate test -- the Ride to Heaven." Pushpa held up her hand to stop Lisa questioning her. "Queen Serena, Lisa and I will be guests of the Dowager Lady, Mohan's elderly mother. We should be safe with her. She doesn't approve of her son's activities. We might even find that she could be a willing ally in our search for the King. I have made plans with Harold's friends, the Goddess's worshippers. First, the drugged drinks will be switched. Our ladies will have unadulterated drinks. Their intending captors will be the ones to be drugged and they will also have been considerate enough to bring with them the bonds that can be used to tie them up. Once the zenana is secure some of the Archers can visit the watchtower, possibly disguised as zenana ladies, and find out whether the King is inside. If he is, they will smuggle him out to the John Company encampment. If he isn't, they might be able to find out from the guards where he might be." "The Ride to Heaven?" Lisa interrupted. "How dangerous is that?" "I'm sorry Lisa, and Harold. It is very dangerous and usually fatal. It is used to select the next Chief Priestess. The failure rate, and fatality rate, is about nine out of every ten riders. The outcome is supposed to be decided by the Goddess herself but I suspect that there is some secret mechanism known to senior priestesses that allows them to choose who shall live and who shall die. Harold, of course, will be supposed to die. Ambika is the current Chief Priestess but even she doesn't know how the Ride to Heaven works. The candidates for the post of Chief Priestess are drugged unconscious before the ordeal. Harold won't be. The plotters intend that he will know exactly how he will die." "But!" Lisa protested. "There is a but... Almost all the Goddess's worshippers and priestesses are on Harold's side. They will do everything they can to save Harold. Can we trust them? If Harold isn't kidnapped and apparently out of action we have little chance of finding the King. Mohan thinks that Harold is the real danger. He doesn't think that any woman is a threat to him. Once Harold is neutralised Mohan will relax and that will give the rest of us a chance. I think we can trust the Goddess's worshippers but Harold must decide. It is his life we are staking." "I'll trust my friends," I said, "because you need the opportunity that will give you." I kissed Lisa before she could protest. "Sorry, Lisa," I said. "I know that you, Serena and Pushpa can take advantage of my absence. The King is more important than I am." Lisa objected but was persuaded. We modified the plans slightly. As soon as I disappeared, the Archers would try to take the watchtower. If they found the King they would be free try to rescue me before I faced the ordeal of the Ride to Heaven. If not? They would have more time to search and/or interrogate the watchtower's guards. The next morning started slowly. Lord Mohan didn't appear until nearly noon. He and his nobles appeared worn and tired. Some of Lisa's noble attendants also seemed exhausted. When asked, one of them admitted that acts of sexual congress had continued all night long until almost all the men were completely spent. About one o'clock a messenger came for me. He conveyed Lord Mohan's request that I meet him in the gun room to discuss improving his sporting arms. I couldn't refuse. I suspected that this was a preliminary to my abduction. I warned Lisa and Pushpa. Pushpa would tell Ambika if Ambika didn't already know. The messenger led me by an unfamiliar route to the edge of the zenana's outer wall. He pointed along the wall. "The gun room is the first door after you pass through the passageway just around that corner, Prince Harold. Lord Mohan is inside waiting for you. Excuse me. Lord Mohan has asked me to bring one of his guns that was being cleaned. I have to fetch it now." The messenger turned on his heels and left me. I walked to the corner and turned into a narrow passageway. Just beyond the passageway ahead of me there were several zenana ladies examining material displayed on a table. Three of them were holding a sari length up to the light. I walked towards them, intending to pass to their left at the end of the passageway. I turned straight into another group of ladies holding up more material. Behind them I glimpsed a shrouded palanquin with women porters standing ready. The ladies ran towards me, enveloping me in folds of silk. The other ladies moved quickly behind me to cut off my retreat with their length of silk. Before I knew what had happened I was cocooned in layer after layer of silk being swiftly tightened around me. My belt was unfastened, my sword and gun whisked away. I was just able to sense long scarves being tied around my encumbered body and a knotted scarf was thrust between my teeth. I was pushed over to be caught by many hands. My legs and ankles were tied before I was carried to be thrust between the curtains of the palanquin. Face down, my head was clamped between silk clad thighs. More scarves tied me down to the base of the palanquin. "Breathe deep, Englishman," a sultry voice said. "I can cut off your breath just like this..." The thighs squeezed around my head. She was right. She could cut off any air reaching me. "Now relax and enjoy." Her hands pulled my head to rest against her silk sheathed yoni. I felt the palanquin begin to move. I hoped that my abduction would give Lisa and Serena the opportunity they needed. I hoped that Ambika's and her helpers would rescue me in time. With my silk-swathed mouth and nose pressed against my captor's yoni I was only too aware how vulnerable I was. Her hands were stroking the silk around my head. Sometimes those hands would pull me hard against her, cutting off my breath. If she wanted to kill me now I was completely helpless wrapped tightly in layers of silken saris. Even the jolts as the palanquin bearers turned corners and mounted steps were a risk to me because my own weight thrust my face against my captor's warm yoni. Despite myself my lingam hardened. The transit seemed interminable. When we began to descend my breathing could ease as my body slid slightly away from that warm damp threat. Finally the palanquin came to rest. My captor swung a leg over me. "Wait there, Prince Harold," she said. "You have to. I've given you no choice. Just wait." Once she had left I tried to struggle. My frantic writhing was useless. My captor and her assistants had tied me too tightly inside the enveloping saris and then lashed me to the palanquin's webbed base. Exerting my full strength gave me little more than an inch of movement and seemed to tighten the knots holding me helpless. I relaxed and strained my ears for any clue about what might be happening around me. I thought I heard faint scuffling and the sound of silken draperies swishing nearby. "Now it is your turn, Prince Harold," my captor announced. "Everything is prepared for you." Many hands untied the bonds holding me to the palanquin. Many hands lifted me out, carried me, lifted me upright, placed my feet carefully and stood me leaning against a hard surface. Many hands bound me to what seemed to be a round pillar. A few hands slackened the wrappings around my head gradually letting a dim light reach my eyes before the final layer of richly scented silk was slid away. I could see but I was still tightly gagged. My eyes gradually adjusted to the light of many flaming torches flickering in a large pillared vault that extended into darkness on all sides. I was indeed tied to a pillar, my feet standing on the edge of its base. Facing me were five women, tied as tightly as I was, each to her own pillar. All were gagged. Four wore flaring blue skirts. One was dressed in a green and gold embroidered sari. I recognised Ambika's eyes and forehead above her tight gag. Beside Ambika stood my captor, dressed in a vivid red flared skirt. Ambika had warned me that a red skirt would be dangerous for me and that blue skirts would be safe. Something had gone wrong. Ambika and the 'safe' blue-skirted priestesses had been captured. I was in real trouble. Unless Lisa and Serena could find and release the King, no one would rescue me and my four allies. "Prince Harold, perhaps I should introduce myself," my captor said. "Although I have been a priestess of the Goddess, actually I serve another Goddess, not yours. I am the Priestess of Kali in her destructive death-dealing attribute. My real name, not the name that Ambika knew me as, is Kali on Earth. You should bow to acknowledge my embodiment as Kali but you are excused at present. Your obeisance will be required later." Kali walked over to Ambika's restrained body. "This fool spoke too freely in front of priestesses she thought were hers. They weren't. They're mine. So are these." Kali gestured at another woman previously hidden in the shadows. That woman came forward holding out my Colt's revolver and sword. She buckled both around Kali's body, struggling to support their weight as she tightened the gun belt around Kali's waist, much slimmer than mine. The result was ridiculous. My sword stuck out sideways at an angle. My revolver holster was canted by her hip bones so that the revolver's handle dug into Kali's side. She would have real difficulty if she wanted to draw either of the weapons. "Now, Prince Harold, you must wait. When I am informed that your English ladies and Queen..." Kali almost spat that word "...Serena's attendants have been secured we will proceed to your obeisance and introduce you to the Ride to Heaven. I know that Ambika has told you about that. What she couldn't tell you, because she didn't know, is that the priestesses of Kali control the result of the ride. Ambika was a mistake. She should have died with the other aspirants to be Chief Priestess to the Goddess. We don't know what went wrong. The Ride won't malfunction when you take it. Ambika will watch so that she'll know exactly what will happen to her when she follows you. Now I must leave you for a while. I have an appointment with the Dowager Lady. She will be expecting me to be there before your wife arrives. Your wife and that stupid bitch Serena will join you shortly. Meantime? I'll let my most loyal followers amuse themselves with you." Kali swept out of the room. Most of the other priestesses left too but about a dozen stayed. Four of them approached my pillar. "Prince Harold," one of them said sarcastically, "your position must be uncomfortable and inconvenient. We'll make it just a little easier." She laughed. "Easier for us, that is, not for you." She and the other two loosened the silk scarves tying me to the pillar. One grabbed my ankles and pulled hard. I slid down the pillar, banging my backside against its plinth. My still tightly-swathed legs were extended in front of me. My gagged head was now below the priestesses' waists. Another one of the three removed some of the layers holding my gag in place. I could breathe more easily but my mouth was still stuffed with silk. One of the priestesses whispered to the others. "That's a good idea," the first priestess replied. "We don't want those stupid women to see what happens to you. Their imagination will be much more inventive." The four left me to tightly blindfold Ambika and the four blue-skirted priestesses. When they returned to me the lead priestess raised her draperies above her waist revealing a naked, shaven yoni. She placed one leg on my shoulder, transferred her weight, and then her other leg pressed on my other shoulder. Her friends held up her skirts as she wrapped her legs and arms around my pillar. Her yoni spread open as she thrust it against my face. I took a deep breath through my nose before her warm flesh closed over my nostrils and mouth. She bucked hard against the pillar, banging my head against the stone. She used her fingers to hold the yoni's lips tightly sealed so I couldn't breathe. I tried to bite, anything to get freedom for a breath of air. The silk in my mouth made my bite wholly ineffectual. When the priestess felt my mouth move she thrust harder. I could feel my lungs straining for air, my face reddening with lack of oxygen. I thumped my swathed legs on the stone floor. I was unable to prevent her from doing whatever she wanted. At last she leaned back. I panted through my nose grateful for the air I desperately needed. A few seconds later her yoni sealed me in its pitiless embrace. Now it was wet as well as warm. Her fluids began to dampen the silk over my mouth. Again she took me to the edge of unconsciousness before relenting. How long she continued to torment me I have no idea. I was never unconscious but all I could know was that inexorable yoni swallowing me time and time again. I couldn't sense anything else, not the pillar I was tied to, the stone I was sitting on, the silken material holding me helpless, even my own body. All I knew was that I was drowning in her yoni, surrounded by her yoni, sinking into her yoni and swallowed whole by it. Finally I could breathe again for a few seconds as that priestess had satisfied herself. But another one soon replaced her and I had to endure being suffocated by another yoni. After the third and fourth priestesses had enjoyed humiliating me I was nearly unconscious. My gag was soaked with their juices and my face was dripping with them. I shook my head as far as my bonds would let me. My eyes took in the bound, gagged and blindfolded blue-skirted women. Our rescue attempt seemed doomed. While I was being used as a sex toy the other priestesses had left the room. The four using me were alone. They were standing in a close group whispering together. A familiar face peered around a pillar. It was Lisa. She put her finger to her lips. I thought that a distraction would help. I groaned and thumped my bound legs on the floor. I couldn't make much of a noise but it was enough. The four priestesses looked at me. Lisa led a rush of the Archers. The four priestesses were swamped by fit active Englishwomen who tied and gagged them mercilessly before they could raise an alarm. The priestesses were silk bound bundles struggling helplessly on the floor. Ambika and her blue-skirted allies were released. Lisa kneeled beside me. "Sorry, Harold." She whispered. "We found out this was going to happen, but too late to warn you. Ambika and her friends knew they would be rescued by us. Their capture, and yours, has made Kali and her colleagues overconfident. We have imprisoned all those women who were left with you. If our plan is to succeed we have to leave you as a prisoner." I shook my gagged head. Lisa kissed my yoni-slicked forehead. "You are too effectively bound to object, aren't you? We are going to replace Ambika and her friends, but we haven't got anyone who could be sufficiently like you to deceive Kali. Look." Ambika and her four blue skirts were stripping down to their underwear. With the help of many of the Archers the four red skirted priestesses who had used me were being dressed in blue skirts and tied, gagged and blindfolded, to the pillars vacated by Ambika's friends. One of the Archers was dressing as Ambika. Harold Saves Her Husband Pt. 03 Copyright Oggbashan July 2014 The author asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work. This is a work of fiction. The events described here are imaginary; the settings and characters are fictitious and are not intended to represent specific places or living persons. Although apparently set in part of 19th Century India, the locations, incidents, customs and activities are in a fictional world that does not, and did not, exist. These stories are set in an imaginary world. ************************************************* End of Part Two: "We have stopped Kali's attempt," I said, "but we haven't found Serena's husband the King. Or have you?" "No," Lisa said sadly. "We still haven't found him. Some of the more senior of Kali's priestesses will be interrogated and threatened with the Ride to Heaven, but I think it will be useless. I don't think they know, and that Kali didn't." "So we still have to foil Lord Mohan?" I asked. "Yes, Prince Harold," Ambika said. "We still have work to do." To be continued. ... Harold's Note: In this part my friend Jane tells about some of the activities while I was otherwise engaged. Thank you, Jane, but please stop giggling! Part Three: We met Pushpa and Queen Serena. The initial questioning of Kali's followers had seemed to confirm that Kali-on-Earth was acting independently of Lord Mohan. She was incensed that Lisa and I were 'favoured by the Goddess' and that Queen Serena was not a follower of the Goddess Kali. Kali's plot might have helped Lord Mohan. He might have known and aided it, but none of Kali's followers seemed to be aware that the King had been kidnapped. It was difficult to ask them outright, because the absence of the King still wasn't known officially. We knew, the kidnappers knew, but both sides were concealing that. "Where is the King?" I asked Queen Serena. "What! If we knew that..." she expostulated. "King Ranjit," I whispered. "Of course," Queen Serena whispered back before changing to her normal tone. "The King has a slight stomach upset. He is remaining at the encampment and being attended by the doctor. Some of my ladies are helping to make him comfortable." I knew what the ladies would be doing 'to make him comfortable'. Substitute King Ranjit would be sexually satisfied. "Is he likely to recover soon?" I asked. "I hope it isn't serious." "The doctor thinks that the King should rest until this visit is completed. He is in a darkened tent, well ventilated but the light levels are low." Which, of course, would help to preserve the deception that Ranjit is the King. Ambika joined us. "I have some information," she said. "Lord Mohan had encouraged and supported Kali's attempt on Prince Harold's life but most of it was her own idea. Her former supporters are being held in cellars near The Ride To Heaven, but many of them seem unhappy with the plot. We can't keep all of them imprisoned for long. Lord Mohan would find out and get them released." "Do we know the ring-leaders?" I asked. "Yes, Prince Harold," Ambika replied. "Most of Kali's priestesses weren't involved. They have identified the four who were in Kali's confidence." "Those four will have to die!" Queen Serena insisted. "They expect to," Ambika answered. "They are preparing for death by praying to the Goddess Kali." "Ambika? Do we know what Kali wanted to do?" I asked. "Yes. She and most of her priestesses are strict traditionalists. They opposed having a King and Queen, particularly a Queen. They don't believe a woman should rule, except indirectly. They wanted to kill you, Princess Lisa and Queen Serena. They expected to be executed by King Vishaladeva, but that was a price they were prepared to pay." "What would have been their reaction if they had been asked to kill King Vishaladeva as well?" Ambika was shocked at the suggestion. "Kill the Rajah, sorry, King! Never! That would be sacrilege and against all their beliefs. They would have defended him to the death, and they were prepared to die so that he could rule as sole Rajah." "Queen Serena," I said, "I think it might be an idea to tell Ambika and our friends the truth, why we are here." "Are you sure, Harold?" "I trust them. They have just risked our lives for us. We need allies if we are going to succeed." "Then yes. You can tell Ambika." "Tell me what?" Ambika asked. "King Vishaladeva has been kidnapped by Lord Mohan..." "But we saw him!" Ambika protested. "You didn't. You saw his cousin Ranjit. He is pretending to be the King while we try to find and rescue King Vishaladeva. We think that the King is held in the old tower, but we can't get near without alerting the guards. We don't want to kill them, particularly as we aren't sure that is where the King is imprisoned." "I think we can get into that tower, through one of the secret passages," Ambika said, "but it would be difficult to search the whole tower. Although it had some passages, one or two have collapsed, or been exposed. Kali knew more about the tower than I do. There used to be a temple to the Goddess Kali on the second floor. It might still be there." "We need to know if the King is there. Would any of the four of Kali's priestesses know?" "They might, Prince Harold, but why would they help? They expect to die, soon." "But if they were told that there is a plot against the King? Would their loyalties to him override their antipathy to us?" "They might. But it would be a risk. They hate you, the East India Company and Queen Serena. Their devotion to the Rajah Vishaladeva could be stronger than their hate, but I doubt it." "Can we put them somewhere out of Lord Mohan's reach?" Queen Serena answered that. "The only place safe for that is your encampment. The buildings here are riddled with secret passages. A few we know about. Ambika knows many more. Kali on Earth knew others. I don't think even Lord Mohan knows them all." "How do we get our captives there? And once there, where do we put them?" "The troops have built a couple of stone huts already." Lisa said. "One is to be the guard room for any soldiers who misbehave. If we used that, and had a few Lady Archers assisting the guards, that would do. Getting them there? Queen Serena's official coach can have all the blinds closed. We could take four bound women in that." "Then we should, as soon as possible," I said. "But there are several things we don't know. We don't know where the King is. He could be in the old tower but might not be. The ladies kidnapped at the same time, including Pushpa's cousin Bhavini, are also missing. But the thing most troubling me is that we don't know what Sanji is doing. So far everything has been attempted by Kali on Earth or Lord Mohan. We haven't even seen Sanji, have we?" "No, Prince Harold," Pushpa said. "We have no information about the ladies. Sanji has been absent..." "...Sanji is said to be indisposed," Ambika added. "He has been in his zenana for days, even before you arrived. The court has been told that he has an upset stomach that is responding slowly to treatment." "Do we know if Sanji is actually part of the kidnap?" I asked. There was stunned silence. We had all assumed that, as he was supposed to be made King Vishaladeva's heir, he was a conspirator. "Serena, you know Sanji better than anyone. Is he ambitious? Would he want to be Rajah? Or would he be a puppet for others to use?" "I don't know, Harold. The ultimatum that Ranjit brought from Lord Mohan was most explicit that Sanji was to be Vishaladeva's heir. But if I really think about it, Sanji is unlikely to be that ambitious. He is more interested in the pleasures of the flesh than running his estates. He leaves the business to his agent and has a larger zenana than most young men of his age would have." "How much larger?" "A normal size for a noble of his status would ten or twelve women, some of whom would be maids to his concubines. He has twenty, more than the late Rajah had." Queen Serena said. "When he came here, he brought forty," Ambika added. "Forty!" Lisa snorted. "That sounds like a recipe for disaster. No man can service forty, or even a fraction of that." "True," Queen Serena replied, "but not all of them would be concubines." "Even seven concubines would be too many..." Lisa said. "...if they were like you, Queen Serena or Pushpa," I added, "but one a night for a week..." "...even one ordinary woman a night would wear any normal man out, into an early grave." Queen Serena suggested. "Then why does he need forty? Is the zenana something other than normal? Are some of them the missing women?" I asked. "We don't know, Harold," Lisa said. "We might be able to find out but first we must get Kali's priestesses to the encampment. Once there we can question them without risk of being overheard." Lisa was right. Within the hour four faintly wriggling silk swathed bundles were placed in Queen Serena's coach. I felt some sympathy for them. I had been bound just like them when kidnapped by Kali on Earth. I couldn't see or know where I was going and had little idea of what might happen to me. Neither did they. Serena, Pushpa and Ambika travelled in the coach with their feet on the squirming bundles. Lisa and I rode as part of the escort. At the encampment a few short words with the Colonel and we had the use of the guard house. The four bundles were carried inside and partially unwrapped. We left Pushpa and Ambika to do the interrogation, and to tell Kali's followers that Lord Mohan intended harm to the King. As we left the guard house a sergeant asked all three of us to go to the Colonel. When we reached his tent George was there too. "Queen Serena," the Colonel said, "I don't know who is in the guard house. I don't want to know. But George has some information for you. George?" "Your Majesty," George began, "we have been patrolling well outside our encampment to ensure that we are not surprised by an enemy force. That isn't likely. I have met their commander, Mahaj. We have agreed to keep our patrols away from each other except during daylight hours. Mahaj seems a reasonable man. His orders are to make a demonstration of force, just as we do. But today one of those patrols was approached by a young boy who wanted to speak to an officer. He insisted that a sergeant would not do. He was brought here and I spoke to him. He said that he was Hasit, the younger brother of Bhavini, one of Pushpa's cousins, and that he knew where the abducted noblewomen were being held." "Did Hasit say how he got out?" I asked. Queen Serena nodded. She wanted that question answered. "Apparently there is a partially blocked passageway. He was small enough to wriggle through where an adult could not. Hasit thinks, but he is not sure, that his absence will not be noticed because those guarding the women do not enter the area where they are confined. They pass food through a hatch in a door. Water comes from an internal well." "Where is Hasit now?" Serena asked. "Asleep in my tent", George replied. "He was tired and hungry, poor little chap. Once fed, he fell asleep." "How old is Hasit?" I asked. "I can't be sure," George said. "I haven't asked him. He might be seven, or eight. No older." "Tomorrow morning, when he wakes up, I'll ask Pushpa to talk to him." Serena said. "George, did he say exactly where the women are held?" "Hasit wasn't completely certain because it was dark and they were blindfolded when they arrived at the buildings. His blindfold wasn't wholly effective. He thinks that they are in cellars underneath the part of the zenana that is occupied by Lord Sanji's women. The only light in their prison comes from openings very high up near the vaulted ceilings. Even so it is so dark in there that there are lanterns burning all day and all night. He told me and can show where he emerged from the collapsed tunnel under some steps in a courtyard. That was a very long wriggle from where the women are. He wasn't very clear about measurement. All he knows is that it took him an hour from entering the passage to getting to open air." "An hour?" I said. "That could be anywhere in the palace complex." "Unfortunately that is true," George said heavily. "And I don't think that passageway would be much use to us. Hasit is very small and he found getting through it very difficult." George passed me a rough sketch Hasit had drawn to show where he had come out under the steps. It was childish, but quite clear. "I don't want to know, officially, what you are planning," the Colonel said. "I wish you well. George can use the troops if necessary, but I would have to pretend not to notice." "Thank you, sir," I said. "We will continue our planning elsewhere." We started to walk back to my quarters. "But we do know where the Lord Sanji's zenana is," Serena said. "If Hasit is right and they are underneath that zenana, we have a place to start. And we have an opportunity. The English ladies have been invited to Lord Mohan's zenana tonight for folkloric entertainment." "But that is when we are going to be drugged!" Lisa protested. "And we should be there in an hour," Jane added. "We have forgotten that the zenana entertainment was supposed to happen after Harold's death on the Ride To Heaven. He was kidnapped much earlier than we had expected. The Archers are ready and we should leave in a few minutes." "I'm not invited," said Queen Serena. "Nor are Lisa, Pushpa and her women. It is for the English Ladies only. You'll be on your own, Jane. Do you think you can cope?" "Of course we can, Queen Serena. We are not going to drink anything provided in the zenana. The Archers have borrowed their husbands' hip flasks and as many more as they could find. We'll be drinking water, but we'll offer strong gin to the zenana ladies. The results should be interesting..." "Interesting!" Serena interrupted. "Zenana ladies rarely drink anything stronger than watered wine. Neat gin?" "...could be even more effective than their drugged drinks," Jane continued. "Sorry Jane," Serena said. "Even strong gin won't be that effective. Unfortunately the knowledge of how to produce powerful drugged drinks is widespread here. A couple of sips are enough to make someone unconscious for hours. Don't touch ANY of their drinks, unless to do a switch. Even then, they might drug both glasses." "We have to get ready, now," Jane said. "We can be fashionably late, but not that late. It's getting dark." She left to join the Archers. They would be escorted by some Company troops, but once inside the zenana they would be on their own. Pushpa sent us a message by one of Queen Serena's other ladies, Manika. "We have got some information from Kali's priestesses." Manika said. "Pushpa didn't tell them that Lord Mohan has kidnapped the King. We told them that he was plotting to kill the King. As you thought, Prince Harold, they were horrified. They told us anything they knew about unusual activities in Lord Mohan's palace buildings. The old tower is a diversion, a trap. The only people inside are Lord Mohan's soldiers. Their instructions are to let anyone inside then close the tower entrance behind them and hold the intruders by force." "That's very useful, Manika," Lisa said. "Anything else?" "They are puzzled by Lord Sanji's zenana. They knew that there is a large inner chamber on an upper floor that has only one entrance by a narrow staircase from the floor below and windows heavily barred on both the inside and outside. The outer walls are ten feet thick. No one inside could communicate with outside, and if they did get past both sets of bars there is a fifty-foot drop to a paved courtyard. Many years ago it was used for a Lord's mother who objected to his choice of a bride. He kept his mother in that chamber for twenty years..." "But if that is known, Manika, why are they puzzled?" I asked. "Because it is obviously being used to conceal or imprison people. Kali's priestesses had a spy hole. They could look into the lower chamber. Only half of Lord Sanji's women are there. The rest, and Lord Sanji himself, never appear. Some of the women carry swords and daggers. Our women don't do that normally. They seem to be guards, not zenana ladies." "Could the King be there?" I asked. "That is possible," Manika replied, "but I couldn't ask them that directly. They still think Ranjit is the King - and here." ... Later Note by Harold. Kali's priestesses and Manika were reporting details of where Lord Sanji and his zenana ladies actually were. They were talking about the real location. We didn't ask, nor check, that what we were being told agreed with the false information we had been told earlier, confirmed by Hasit, about the official position of Lord Sanji's zenana. ... "We need to get to that spy hole," I suggested. "Ambika is taking down details of all the secret passageways that Kali's women know around the zenana. She knows some that they don't and she will try to draw a diagram of them all and note how the entrances and exits are concealed, and how they are opened and shut. Ambika and Pushpa are surprised how cooperative they are, considering that they are expecting to be executed." "Tell Pushpa to tell them," Queen Serena said slowly and carefully, "tell them that their lives will be spared for their help in protecting the King..." "But Kali tried to kill Harold!" Lisa protested. "She failed. She's dead. I'm not going to execute her priestesses for following her orders. Any objection, Prince Harold?" I thought of everything I had endured at the hands of Kali on Earth and her priestesses. "No. If they are helping to save the King, we need them, and they should get some credit for that." Lisa snorted. "You're too soft, Harold!" "Soft? I'm sure Queen Serena will have some suitable punishment for them. They might see death as preferable." "Manika, please tell Pushpa," Queen Serena said, "Tell them that their reprieve comes from the King, not from me. They might be unwilling to accept my word." "I'm sure they will appreciate that. They may be cooperating to protect the King, but they continue to express their hatred of you, Queen Serena, Prince Harold and Princess Lisa." "Manika," I asked. "Would I be able to use the secret passages Ambika is documenting?" "You?" Manika was shocked. "No! The entrances are all in the zenana complex. You couldn't, shouldn't, be inside a zenana. It was bad enough in the earlier rebellion but we hushed up the presence of you and George, and remember that Queen Serena had to help to you leave unobtrusively. We can't do that here. Any breach of a zenana might cause a popular revolt against the rulers, even against King Vishaladeva himself." "She's right, Harold," Serena confirmed. "No man except the husband of the zenana ladies can enter. It would be sacrilege and considered as bad as forcible rape -- even to walk a foot inside the doorway. You can't go in. Lisa and I, and the Archers? We can. We will if we have to. But you'll have to stay away." "Thank you, Manika," Serena continued. "Please let me know if Pushpa and Ambika find out anything else useful." Manika bowed. She left to return to Pushpa and Ambika in the guardhouse. "The Archers will be on their way." I said. "I feel useless just waiting for whatever they can do. But what I could do is look for the passageway Pushpa's cousin used, or look for light from a cellar underneath the zenana." "What excuse will you have for prowling around in the dark if you are challenged?" Lisa asked. "I'll be looking for the Colonel's pet dog that has run away..." "But he doesn't have a pet dog!" Lisa protested. "I know that. You know that. But Lord Mohan's people won't know that. It will have to be a small terrier that might crawl underground. Called 'Rover' perhaps and a recent addition to the Colonel's household..."