The Erotic Mind-Control Story Archive

‘The Vixen’ was freed from the ‘Tanith’ but did not move away from its prize. Much of its crew were arranged on deck with their weapons drawn, clearly expecting an immediate attack by the bondwomen. In contrast the deck of the ‘Tanith’ was now bare aside from the cage and its prisoners. With the pirates gone, Anya went to the cage door, and twisting her arms through the bars, was able to make short work of the lock using the tools she had concealed about her. Sophia felt surprisingly exposed as she walked away from the cage. Somehow it had begun to seem to her like a place of safety and she noted that Sharee did not leave it; Sophia guessed that she often would travel in a cage like the precious pet she resembled. Given the incidents that had happened since she had risen that morning, Sophia was rather envious of the sense of security that Sharee clearly had. She wondered if Netali could somehow fill her mind with that aspect of what Sharee felt.

The bondwomen’s ship had now manoeuvred so as to come alongside the ‘Tanith’ where the Dasma ships had recently vacated. Their tan sails were difficult to spot and already seemed close to the horizon. Sophia looked around for Sabetha but there was no sign of her. Then a gangplank was sent across from the bondwomen’s frigate which sat a little lower in the water than the ‘Tanith’. A unit of five bondwomen armed with crossbows and swords made it quickly up to the deck of the ‘Tanith’. Anya went forward and saluted the last one to step on board; Netali stood at her heel.

“Captain Anya Tricorus and Ensign Netali Rebtasj.”

“Major Hester Mawr; Lieutenant-Colonel Gravell sends her compliments. Can you tell us the circumstances? You are registered as protecting three ladies-in-waiting from the household of Duchess of Herill.”

“Yes, indeed. This is one of them, Sophia de Herillosor. Of the others, one lady is either on board still or was taken away by the Dasma. The other is a little complicated, she seems to have accepted an offer to become consort of the captain of that ship, Lizzie.” Anya nodded towards ‘The Vixen’. “She seems to have her identity removed and replaced by one which believes she is Lizzie’s personal cabin girl.”

“Mmm, that could be difficult. However, if there is no-one here that will answer to the name of the woman you were contracted to protect, we cannot reclaim her. It maybe that she is behaving out of fear and with us here she will change her mind.”

“You two search the ship for anyone else on board, whether they are part of this crew, the pirates’ one or this lady-in-waiting; what was her name?”

“Sabetha de Herilltor; the one on the pirate ship is Constance de Heralsan, though she is currently answering to Bella.”

Two of the bondwomen disappeared below; Sophia hoped they would locate Sabetha and they could begin to put this whole affair behind them.

“I’m going to speak with the pirate captain. We have no desire to intervene in their capture of this ship. We might beat them but the casualties would be too high to protect a ship we had not been bonded to guard. These ladies-in-waiting are different, we have a clear obligation to them.”

“There’s a merchant couple too.”

“Do they have ransom bonds?”

“While we were imprisoned they told me they had some: they are among their belongings, drawn on the Rudel bank in Kerans.”

“I can pay out on those; there are sufficient funds onboard. I am sure this Lizzie will take them in preference to the trouble of ransoming them herself. Knowing these merchants they have probably over-insured themselves and the pirate woman will get more money than if she demanded it direct from their company or their families. Good, we have grounds to progress.”

“There was a young cook’s apprentice in the food stores and this one, he looks a habitual drunk, below, confined to the brig.” The two bondwomen had returned with two of the crew of the ‘Tanith’; the younger supporting the ill-looking man. “There were these clothes just at the foot of the stairs. They look like the clothes of a lady-in-waiting.”

“They, they were Sabetha’s clothes.” Sophia interjected nervously.

“Miss de Herillosor?” Major Mawr asked.

The major looked about six to eight years older than Anya. Her body was bulkier and her face freckled and had large though flat features; her hair was a sandy colour. Though she smiled at Sophia, she felt that behind this warmth was a real strength of a woman who knew what she was doing and that made Sophia feel compelled to answer to whatever the major asked.

“Yes. Those are Sabetha’s clothes.”

“The pirates stripped her? The Dasma?”

“No, she changed, she was in a fight with one of the Dasma. She defeated her; erm, Sabetha won.”

“Most peculiar.”

Anya stepped in. “The Dasma leader promised to give her the woman she defeated as her lover.”

“You think she left with them?”

“Well, I could see that life with the Dasma could be attractive to a woman usually mewed up in a mansion. It was the young woman’s insolence to her captors which triggered the challenge in the first place. She fought cleverly for a lady’s lady.”

“Shame we missed her; she might have made a recruit for us.”

“Give her a couple of years with the Dasma and she will be even more a valuable bondwoman; she’ll have the knowledge of both the society of Kerans and the skills of a pirate.”

“Well, it seems she is beyond our scope for now. These nobles should take steps not to put their ladies-in-waiting into situations where they might lose them in such ways. It makes our job harder.”

“These have been exceptional circumstances.”

“Granted.”

“But, but …”

Sophia staggered forward trying to protest. Not only would she miss her friends but she had no idea how she was going to explain all this when she arrived in Jarator. She felt a gentle grasp on her forearm and knew it was from Netali.

“There’s nothing you can do. I suspect it was really what Sabetha wanted. Once she was in Jarator how else would she escape from being a lady-in-waiting?” Netali muttered in Sophia’s ear, the brush of her lips over Sophia’s skin was deliciously gentle and yet sent a jolt of pleasure through her.

Sophia snatched away. “Why would they abandon that? The post they would have had, other women would kill for.”

Netali gave Sophia a look that seemed to be one of disappointment. Sophia imagined that their worlds were really too far apart for the two of them really to understand each other, however much she now found she wished they could. Sophia glanced around to see that the captain and major had clearly all they needed from Sophia and were heading to parley with the pirates.

“Not everyone sees such posts the way you do. Travel can expose you to many different things. Some close their minds off to what they witness, whereas others rush into new circumstances eagerly.” Netali persisted.

“Well, I’ve had more than enough new experiences. Sailing the Latchader was adventure enough but now I have been imprisoned by two types of pirates, one sort I had never heard of and the others I imagined were just myths. I look forward to an afternoon’s embroidery and a walk in the Marchioness’s garden with a hunger.”

“Alright.” Netali said, going back a couple of steps as if to signal she had conceded defeat.

Sophia realised how close they had been standing and as her breathing calmed after her outburst how full her nose was with the heady aroma of the rubber that clad Netali’s body. She was reminded of how different both Constance and Sabetha had appeared once they had exchanged the uniform of a lady-in-waiting for other clothes and how different a lifestyle that change had implied. The closest she had come was seeing herself in through the images that Netali had put into her mind. Rather guiltily she glanced over at Sharee, with a sense that, on principle, it was wrong to be jealous of her, but also feeling an envy for how secure and trouble-free her life was. She recognised now that that was probably was at the heart of her disquiet: they had been three young ladies travelling alone, with no matron with them, not to protect them in the way the bondwomen did, but to guide them through the challenges they would face while travelling. Sharee had no such concerns, that function was filled by Anya. A little startled at the implications of her chain of thought for herself, Sophia turned her mind to Jarator and the prospects it held.

“I am sorry. All of these events, they are alien to me, I am bewildered and disconcerted by what is happening.” Sophia apologise. “Now I feel alone and I recognise that I am seeking someone to not only protect me, but to guide me in what I should do …”

“You can have someone like that if you want. You just need the courage to ask.”

Netali’s posture seemed to have changed again. She stepped back closer to Sophia and reached to brush a strand of hair away from Sophia’s face.

“Sorry, no, you misunderstood, I did not mean one person, I meant I have you and the captain for protection and we need a matron here too. It was wrong of them to send us three alone. I know Lady Geraldina is busy, but Lady Isobella could have accompanied us. What do you mean courage to ask? You mean I can commission a guide myself, not through the Duchess’s secretary?”

Netali’s face froze for a moment and then she rocked back sending out, a pleasant laugh. “Sometimes I find it difficult to understand what you ladies are really referring to; you give such confusing statements, such mixed messages. Sorry, I mistook your meaning. I am still a relative beginner at this task and I might be able to fight with the best of them, but as Lieutenant-Major Ralas said at the Academy, you can take a lifetime to learn what different groups, different races mean even when they are using the same words in the same language as you. I am sure you find our bondwoman’s language difficult to follow at times too.”

“Erm, no, it seems fine. I guess there is little point in finding me a guide as I imagine our next stop will Jarator itself and there I will be in the hands of the Marchioness’s staff.”

“No, we’ll be heading to Serafold first. The ‘Lance’ is a patrol ship not a merchant vessel. There seems to be too few crew left alive on the ‘Tanith’ to complete this voyage. You can take a ship from our port to Jarator. It will add some days to your journey, but I imagine you will prefer it there to being in the hold of a pirate ship for months waiting for your ransom to come through. As I am certain I know Serafold far better than you, let me offer myself as your guide; ask me, ask of me anything you realise you need. Erm, it might feel a little strange being on a ship full of warrior women, if you’d erm like it, I could sleep in here, to help you feel safe.”

Sophia was not really listening to what Netali was saying. Her dreams of reaching Jarator and safety soon, now seemed to be dashed. Serafold lay on the North shore of the Latchader. Whilst not as bad as going back towards Furtal, it would certainly delay her journey. She acknowledged on reflection that Netali was right and things could have turned out much worse. She tried to envisage what Sabetha was experiencing among those brutal Dasma, or Constance, unless Major Mawr could get her released, having to serve Lizzie. Then Sophia remembered her manners and realised Netali was only doing her best for her.

“Thank you, I will remember that.” Sophia said distractedly, not having taken in what was being offered.

“Ah, I trust the ensign is reassuring you, Miss de Herillosor.” Major Mawr walked back from the ship.

“I was just explaining what will and what could happen depending on what she chooses.” Netali spoke to her superior but Sophia noticed Netali’s gaze was focused on Sophia herself and the speech ended with a small smile.

“Good, good. I have to tell you, Miss de Herillosor, that the woman who you know as Constance no longer responds to that name. She swears she is Bella, the cabin girl of this Captain Lizzie and has no desire to leave her. That means our care of Constance ceases as we are not contracted to save any Bella from anyone, certainly not someone she wants to stay with.”

“But she’s been drugged, hypnotised, something. She cannot even remember her own name.” Sophia spluttered.

“There may be many reasons for this situation and I have tried my best, but I am sorry, it is a question of military logistics, I cannot risk challenging that ship over the fate of one young woman. If we found her shackled in the hold and screaming for help, it would be a very different matter, but standing there fondling the captain, not even looking like a lady-in-waiting, I have little option. Imagine if I took her, what would happen when she reached Jarator? Surely the Marchioness’s house would not have her and she would soon be slipping away to find this Lizzie anyway. As things stand, you are our remaining client here and we will focus on you. You should be grateful; you have a whole bondwoman frigate and its contingent of troops to guard you now.”

“And the Jenbors?”

“Yes, they are coming too. I arranged to have their ransom bonds redeemed.” She nodded to the bondwoman crossing to ‘The Vixen’ with a small metal casket. “And they will come with us to Serafold. You may be able to find a ship to Jarator with them if you choose. The captain and her ensign remain assigned to you until you reach Jarator.”

“But Serafold? It will add days to the journey.”

“Yes, yes, but it is the only option. You could have been sitting here becalmed for days anyway. This route is the fastest one open to you.”

“And the crew of the ‘Tanith’?”

“You worry yourself about everyone don’t you? They will be left to this pirate. Some may join her crew. I doubt she will want to haul this ship around the Latchader for too long; it’s not that valuable. She’ll strip what she can sell and leave them to reach one of the Rees Islands to re-supply. A number of the ship’s officers went in the fighting and this ship will struggle to make headway. I do not advise staying aboard with the pirates in control of this ship, there is no guarantee Lizzie would not try to ransom you again; you’re worth more than a dozen ordinary sailors.”

Sophia fell silent. She was reluctant to give up on Constance but it seemed she had no options. She realised she just had to look at this major as she would perceive a house matron; not forgetting this woman’s superior commanding the ‘Lance’, who was presumably still on board the frigate.

With a more confident air that she had managed to muster, Sophia responded. “Yes, Major. If my belongings are secure we should proceed to your ship. I will bring Constance and Sabetha’s clothes.”

“Good, good. I am glad it is all clear to you now.”

Sophia returned to her cabin quickly. She avoided the gaze of anyone who she passed, uncertain how the kind of temporary truce between the pirates and the bondwomen functioned. She bundled those of Sabetha’s belongings that had been left out into her trunk and began hauling it across the cabin. Then a young bondwoman appeared at the door.

“I have been sent to assist you. The major said you might need help.”

Sophia was reluctant to accept the help but recognised that if she did not then she would have to abandon her friends’ things. She knew there would be many questions to answer when she reached Jarator as it was and hoped that not losing all the belongings they had left Furtal with might help take some of the pressure off her.

“Yes, just those three trunks.”

“Fine.” The bondwoman picked up Sabetha’s trunk and balancing it on one shoulder, headed out of the cabin.

Sophia glanced around the cabin one last time and followed. Within a few minutes she was on board the ‘Lance’. She waited while her and Constance’s trunks were stowed in her cabin, before being led to it herself by another bondwoman assigned to her. Though the ‘Tanith’ had been a working ship there was something even more utilitarian about the ‘Lance’. The only natural light inside came through narrow slits and torches in glass cylinders fitted to the walls along the corridors; in the cabins these provided the main illumination. Sophia followed the bondwoman deep into the body of the ship. It appeared that all the passenger cabins on this war vessel were buried here, no doubt out of concerns for safety and to keep the non-combatants away from where violence may occur. Sophia was concerned that if the ship sunk it would make it difficult to escape, but given how sealed the whole vessel appeared, she imagined that would have been a challenge no matter where on board she had been located. The cabin was fortunately large enough to hold the three trunk and still allow Sophia to move around unhindered. It had two beds but Sophia quickly realised that she was going to have it to herself; the Jarabors would be accommodated elsewhere. Whilst it still felt claustrophobic contained within the ship, the fact that she would not have to share the space was a little relief. The cabin even had its own separate room with a secured water ewer and a garderobe which took waste somewhere below rather than leaving the passenger with any lingering aroma.

Suddenly the ship jerked and all around her Sophia heard a thudding sound, rhythmic and repetitive. She realised this was the bondwomen rowing the ship away, back to Serafold. Sophia cursed having come on this voyage, why had it been their ship that was picked upon? Now she realised that if Constance or Sabetha had still been with her then she could have been a little consoled or at least shared woes. She wondered if she should seek out Netali, she had seemed so considerate, but Sophia worried that she would appear weak in front of the bondwoman and for some reason she did not want to seem like that. Complying with what she was told to do, that was what she felt bondwomen liked from civilians, and staying in her cabin would seem to fit that better than stomping around the ship whining. Anyway, this was a working ship, a battleship in fact, and she was sure Netali had official tasks to carry out while onboard.

Sophia lay back on her bed. The sound of the oarswomen around her was surprisingly soothing and she found herself thinking about their hot rubber-clad bodies thrusting back and forth over the oars and soon sleep took her.

When Sophia awoke she had no idea how much time had passed. There was a knocking on her door and she opened it to find a red-faced woman standing there. She wore the usual bondwoman uniform but with a black leather apron on top and she carried a tray of food balanced in one hand and at her legs stood a fresh ewer.

“Miss de Herillosor?”

“Yes.”

“Your meal and fresh water.”

“Thank you.”

Sophia took the ewer and fetched the old, barely used one, for exchange.

“The advantage of sailing the Latchader is that we’re never short of fresh water.” The woman said cheerily, implying that on salt seas it would be tougher.

“How far is it until we reach Serafold?”

“A day-and-a-half, miss.”

“Thank you.”

“Just leave the tray outside the door. I’ll be around to collect them in an hour.”

“Right.”

Sophia had no idea how she would know when an hour had passed, but she guessed there were ship’s bells and things if she knew what each of them designated. The meal was plain as she would expect on a warship, but filling enough. Sophia spent her time reading: she now had Constance and Sabetha’s books as well as her own. She also began making notes about what she had experienced. Ladies-in-waiting, she knew, were often called upon to recount their voyages and she would have a lot to tell.

“Serafold!” The shout went out through the ship.

Moments later Sophia heard a knock at her door. She was unsurprised when she opened it to find Netali standing there.

“We’re approaching Serafold.”

“So I gathered.”

“Are your possessions packed?”

“No, I have a few clothes and a book to put away.”

“There will be time. Come up now and see the entrance to Serafold.” Netali said eagerly.

Sophia imagined that it was alright for her to do so; there would be no urgency around her disembarking. All around them were bondwomen hurrying, clearly readying to land. Sophia wondered if she should simply stay out of the way, but now felt reluctant to refuse Netali’s invitation. As they came up the steps, Sophia saw that the deck was now open to the sky. The defensive shutters had been folded away or otherwise concealed. Ahead of the black ship rose up the cliffs that acted as the outer walls of Serafold’s harbour. Sophia had heard descriptions of this place and they had not been inaccurate. The city of Serafold sat at the back of a large cove; the cliffs around the natural harbour were high and sheer, a natural defence. As they proceeded to the gap in the cliffs Sophia could make out the huge gates that would be slid into place in case of attack. Anyone would find it impossible to assault the city from the sea. The small peninsula that Serafold sat at the head of and the surrounding coastline were also protected by cliffs. Attacks on Serafold, and there had been a handful in its history, had been by armies from the land side and they came up against the city’s man-made or, she imagined, rather, woman-made walls.

The ‘Lance’ was soon through the entrance and into the bustling harbour of Serafold. It moved directly to a berth alongside others of the same type. Behind, buildings looking like piles of children’s blocks clambered up the denuded cliff face to the top. Clear, straight streets, no doubt constructed to aid a military response cut through the structures. Like the harbour they were busy with people, vehicles and cargo. Sophia turned her gaze from the city itself and looked over the wharves, away from the armoured ships to the more reassuring outlines of merchant vessels, one of which she was keen to be on and leaving this city for Jarator.

“Is it not wonderful?” Netali asked.

“Certainly.” Sophia said dully, not wishing to depress this woman’s enthusiasm.

Sophia reflected how peculiar this was. Netali seemed to be behaving as if they were long-term friends and more the way Sabetha would have behaved, rather than the calm and cool attitude of a warrior that Sophia expected and had seen up to now. However, she guessed, that, at heart, though she was a bondwoman, Netali was still a young woman. To Sophia, Serafold just represented further delay on this trip, but she recognised that to Netali it was like coming home. As much as their armour and their slaves, this city embodied the essence of the bondwomen.

“Ensign Rebtasj,” the two young women looked around startled as Major Mawr approached, “is your charge ready for disembarkation?”

“Major, sorry, no, almost. I just thought she should see Serafold from the approaches.”

“Admirable, but she needs to be ready. It is proper that all the civilians go ashore as quickly as possible. We signalled to the lookouts as we came up to Serafold and there will be officials waiting to see to them. Please see Miss de Herillosor is ready. You will meet her again when it is time for her to leave the city. Your contract to protect is not complete until she reaches Jarator.”

“Yes, Major.”

The major gave Sophia a smile that seemed out of keeping with her standing. Sophia did not respond, she was looking forward to getting off this ship and mixing with people who were not dressed in bondwoman’s armour. Rather wearily Sophia followed Netali back through the ship. She was glad they were now in harbour so that the rocking of the boat and incessant noise from the oars were ceasing. Netali tried to help Sophia pack her remaining belongings, but tersely Sophia got her to back off. The bondwoman’s vibrant nature now that they were in port was grating. Sophia managed to despatch her to find others to help unload the various items of luggage she now had to have brought ashore.

Soon they were back on deck. Sophia could not shake her irritation at the way this voyage was turning out. She recognised, gradually, though, that the luxury of irritation partly came from the fact that, last, she felt safe. Up until now she had worried about the pirates and the Desma and simply about the ship being wrecked. Now, she was stepping ashore in probably the safest place on the two continents. She reflected that perhaps she had been harsh on Netali. After all, she was doing her job; Sophia could not fault her at that. In addition, she seemed to be aware of how challenging this must all have been for Sophia, and in a way, perhaps not the right one, but at least one with good intentions, she had tried to reduce the pressure of the journey a little for Sophia.

Sophia was joined by the Jenbors. They seemed surprisingly sprightly given that they had lost their cargo. Maybe they were old enough to take a sanguine view of things, perhaps they were well covered in terms of insurance.

“Sophia, how was the journey for you?” Velnia asked, all smiles.

“Tolerable. I’ll be glad to be out of here and heading to Jarator. I imagine you feel the same.”

“It will take time to have the insurance money paid. We can arrange that quicker from here than Jarator. We will charter a small ship and restock once we have the funds.” Rikard explained.

“In the meantime we will just have to holiday.” Velnia giggled.

“In a fortress?”

“Well, Serafold has its entertainments, but the grasslands beyond are wonderful riding country. In the sheltered areas there are the rubber plantations too.” Velnia continued.

“Oh, I imagine the bondwomen get through a lot of rubber.”

Sophia spoke sarcastically. She had hoped to find allies in the Jenbors to complain to, but instead they seemed to have thoroughly enjoyed their time on this grim ship. Then she chided herself, she might be inexperienced in the world, but, of course, it was clear how a married couple would pass their time in such circumstances.

“Oh, their hooded riding capes are the best. I intend to have one made for me while I am here. You should invest in one. I hear the storms in Jarator can be heavy.”

“Well, my funds are very limited.”

“Poor thing, yes. Such a pity. If you are still here when our insurance funds are cleared, come see us, I am sure we can stretch to a little treat for you after all that you have been through.”

Sophia was now put out that they seemed to be treating her like a girl and promising her sweet stuff. She was a little disconcerted to think that manners could compel her to accept a rubber cloak from these people when she was happy if she did not see another woman in rubber again.

“Thank you, Madame Jenbor. I must press on now.”

Rikard took her hand and Velnia pressed a kiss on her cheek.

“Bondwoman,” Niggled by the Jenbors’ manner, Sophia forgot her resolution to be softer on Netali and instead addressed her formally, “please lead me to my lodgings.”

Netali seemed a little put out as if she was again having difficulty reading Sophia’s mood. However, she complied and soon Sophia and the range of trunks and bags she had collected were being loaded on to a small cart. This process seemed to take longer than the actual journey to the official hostel, simply called The Guesthouse, that Netali told her she was allocated to. Close to forty minutes had passed before Sophia had been allocated a room to share with two other ladies-in-waiting washed up in the bondwomen’s capital and her luggage taken up and stacked in there. The Guesthouse was clean and did not smell, all that you could really ask from an inn whilst travelling. Noise seemed to come up constantly from the streets but Sophia knew it was likely to decrease as evening approached. She trusted it would be only a matter of days before she would be leaving, there must be more than enough ships heading to Jarator.

Netali stood in the doorway.

“Erm, miss, erm, Sophia, is everything alright? Do you need anything?”

“Netali, no, thank you for all your help. Sorry about being rather brusque at the dock, that woman was irritating me.”

“She was making the best of a difficult situation.”

“Yes, yes, I suppose so. She’s lucky, she’s got her husband. Now with both Constance and Sabetha gone, I feel so alone.”

“You’ve always got me. Erm, what I mean is…”

“Netali, yes, I appreciate that. You have been fulfilling your duties wonderfully. I will commend you to the Marchioness, if I ever reach Jarator.”

“Thank you. I appreciate that. That was not what I meant though…”

“Of course, yes, well, I am sure I will see Captain Tricorus, I will relay my feelings about you, your work, to her.”

Netali looked a little frustrated but her next words were halted by the shrill voice of a young woman.

“Bondwoman, what are you thinking? What are you doing in our room?”

A woman with reddish hair dressed in a pale blue dress and hat of a lady-in-waiting bustled past Netali. She was probably a little older than Sophia, but to a stranger they would have looked to be of a kind.

“Attending to my charge.” Netali replied rather surly.

“Sorry, yes, I have just arrived. I am Sophia.”

The young woman’s face seemed to change as if she was delighted at Sophia’s arrival.

“Of course, they said downstairs that a lady-in-waiting would be lodged with me and Amelia. I am Jacqueline de Mesalmaran. You must be the one who escaped the pirates. They say your two friends were taken.”

“Erm, yes, well, we were rescued by bondwomen. My friends, well, they, well one went with pirates, the other with the Dasma.”

“How exciting.” Jacqueline said eagerly as she entered. “Thank you bondwoman, you are no longer needed.” She pushed the door closed almost forcing Netali from the room. “You have to be forceful with them, it’s the only thing they respond to.”

However, once the door was closed the woman seemed to deflate. She slumped on the nearest bed.

“This place. We’ve been here a week and they say don’t leave the hostel, unless under protection, but once you’ve been here a week you want to, you have to get out. You must understand that.”

“Yes, I’ve been on a ship these past days.”

“Then, of course, one of these women, well, they’re not ladies, they’re perverse that’s what it is. Anyway, she comes to me, talking about how I should go with her, be ‘hers’ and I tell her, no I have to wait for my lady. We, me and Amelia, serve the Countess of Jasdil. I respect my lady, of course, but I wish she had not decided to go to Terzia and of course, we were not needed, just left here, an official hostel, not even a proper inn, until she returns. This bondwoman tells me to forget her and that my name is Larissa. I am sure she was drunk. Then I began to feel strange, but I managed to pull myself together and tried to find Amelia, but we were in this crowd in the market. I ran up an alley shrieking for her. Then this woman’s got round so she’s in front of me. I ran back and fortunately Amelia’s there and we get aboard a sedan chair. I’m not going back out there. They need to keep these women reined in.”

“It’s their city.”

“Well, someone ought to take it from them. This is more like a frontier town than Jarator is, even Arbinva is better than this. I curse the day I was selected to accompany my lady on this trip.”

“You know Jarator?”

“Yes, the Countess has a house there. Her lands are scattered across the Rees Islands. Very little to do there, but very beautiful, and the grandest houses you will see, rising up the hillsides.”

“I was going to the Marchioness of Jarator’s house. I worked for her mother…”

“The Duchess of Hersil. A wonderful position, but I imagine it will be more fun with her daughter.”

“Well, I think even the duchess felt that. She sent some of her younger ladies, me included, to her daughter. Now there’s only me.”

“If you make it out of Serafold.”

“I intend to only stay a few days. There must be ships to Jarator.”

“If you can find one that is not fully booked, this time of year with people coming to Serafold and on to Terzia or even Chenun and others from Omehip going to Jarator. It may take longer for them to find you a place because of who you are: they love having young ladies here in the hope they’ll recruit some.”

“I’m no fighter…”

“Jacqueline! Jacqueline!” A blonde-headed woman with a flushed face burst into the room.

“This is Amelia.” Jacqueline explained.

“Jacqueline, hello…” Amelia said breathlessly.

“I am Sophia.”

The two women exchanged formal nods.

“Please continue.” Sophia said.

“Jacqueline, a ship, I have a place for you. Some merchant woman has been taken ill. She was going to join her husband. It’s sailing for, oh, he did say, it was…”

“No matter. I don’t care, I just want to be clear of this place.”

“Are you packed?”

“All of things are still in my trunk anyway.”

“But there’s not time to get that to the dock. There’s less than an hour until the ship sails. Come, quick.”

Amelia hurried to a chest in the corner with a large canvas bag sat on it. She upturned the bag spilling drawing paper and pencils from it. Then she ran to one of a pair of trunks and tore it open. She bundled out a couple of dresses, undergarments and a pair of stout shoes, then squeezed a hat on top. She reached for the leather bag at her hip and pulled out some coins and pressed them on Jacqueline.

“Here, take this. I’ll take the rest of your belongings back to Jarator. They’ll be safe with me. You’ll probably be home before we are, whichever route you take. Our lady will probably even forget you came on this trip, but I’ll clear it with her, saying how ill you were. I am sure the Matron will forgive that, you know she worries for our welfare.”

“She’s a decent one. Thank you, Amelia.” Jacqueline transferred the coins to her own purse and them took up the larger bag.

“Come, we’ve no time to lose. If you miss this sailing it could take time to find another.” Amelia said, almost pushing her friend through the door. Then she turned back to Sophia. “I must apologise for this unorthodox meeting, I will see you on my return.”

“Please, do not concern yourself.” Sophia responded, but the two women were gone by the time she had finished.