Artema has asked the three of them to a special training session but none of them expected to see the pretty blonde woman standing there beside their leader. The green tunic and breeches, black leather boots, green cloak, and thin sword at her hip told them she was the same sort of adventurer as the rest of them. But, based on her pointed ears and something different in the shape of her shining green eyes, they could tell she wasn’t from anywhere around Esterlin.
Standing beside Artema, dressed in her short white, sleeveless dress, purple vest and knee high sandals, the woman looked positively tiny. Her mighty arms stood folded, bright green eyes scowling, the purple haired warrior waited for them to stop in front of them before speaking.
The three she had asked to come could easily guess what sort of training they were in for. Luna, standing tall with perfect ebony skin, long pale blue hair tied back in a braid, grey eyes, was the first to stop in front of them. Her silken dress matched her hair, save for the darker blue trim around the edges, and showed off her pretty legs, splitting up both sides of her skirt. Also wearing knee high leather sandals, Luna’s were a mix of mostly light blue with a few spots of dark blue on some of the straps.
She knew it when she saw the other two. It was to be escape training. The three present were indeed the least skilled at escaping capture. Luna didn’t try to hide it. Though she hated to admit it, and trained just as hard as the others, she never was very good at escaping Artema’s knots.
Mirelle, Luna’s wife, stood beside her with a bright smile. The sweet woman couldn’t help but flash a smile at the pretty blonde, who returned her smile, though a bit more subdued than the wide one Mirelle had given her. Pale skin, bright hair the colour of mint green, kind and sparkling red eyes, dressed in her green and brown dress with matching brown leather boots, Mirelle simply waited for Artema’s instruction as always. She, too, knew this would be an escape training session. Unlike her wife, Mirelle readily admitted that she was bad at escaping and would always give it her all to learn how. Perhaps it was her diminutive size and lack of muscular strength that impeded her but, even taking in the lessons, she rarely escaped a tie.
The final member of the three was excited and eager to get going. Elyn, the sultry woman of short, thick orange hair, soft red eyes, pale skin and tall, well toned body, loved these escape sessions. She never practiced well, loving to stay tied up for as long as possible. She never really tried all that hard to escape when tied and, as a result, had no real knowledge of actually how to escape when she needed to. That had come back to bite her a few times but Elyn didn’t mind. After all, there was always someone there to rescue her. It was a good thing she had such loyal friends or she might have been in real trouble at some point.
Dressed in a silk dress much like Luna’s, red with black trim, the same split up both sides of her skirt, and matching red shoes with heels, Elyn just seemed to radiate energy whenever she entered the room. This was no exception when the blonde beside Artema, very attractive to Elyn’s eye, couldn’t seem to help but turn her intelligent gaze upon her.
Elyn stared back and smirked and, to her surprise, the blonde woman smirked back. Well then Elyn thought to herself. Artema found us a fun one...
With everyone finally settled, Artema uncrossed her arms and stepped forward, still scowling. Elyn noticed her mood right away.
“Something wrong, fearless leader?” she asked.
Artema remembered back to the tests she had put the smaller blonde woman through a few days prior to this meeting. Lathiira was her name and she continued to stay, for the time being, despite the fact she could have easily left for her own world at any time, in her own words. But neither Lathiira nor Lanala seemed to mind. In fact, Lanala got along very well with Lathiira.
Artema did take a liking to her and had to admit a certain respect when Lathiira managed to actually take her to the ground in a training duel. She always highly respected opponents who could do that. But Elyn had clearly picked up on something else that Artema hated about herself. Though she respected Lathiira, the defeat in combat stung her pride. Elyn had noticed it the last time it had happened, when Artema had lost her first ever joust to the Griffin Knight.
It was a foolish pride, instilled in her at an early age by her overbearing mother who wished Artema to carry on her legacy. Though she had largely stepped out of her mother’s shadow, that bit of silly pride her mother had taught her to carry stubbornly refused to leave her. So her rather grouchy demeanour in front of Elyn was apparent, though she hid it well from the others.
“No, it’s nothing,” Artema said, trying to soften her expression. Elyn grinned.
“Hang on... she didn’t... did she?” Elyn asked, her eyes darting to the blonde woman, whose name she still did not know.
Artema ignored her question and paced a bit, back and forth, in front of the three women.
“We’re back to escape training today,” Artema said.
They were, indeed, gathered in the lower dungeon of the Guild’s fortress, most often used for just this purpose. Though the cells often held struggling occupants focussed on their escape training, Artema had lined them up in front of their designated training room. She had no plans on making this exercise too complex, considering who was teaching it. In fact, her plan was to keep things simple to gauge Lathiira’s skill as a teacher.
“What’s the occasion? Is it my birthday already?” Elyn asked.
Artema stepped aside, ignoring Elyn’s question again. “This is Lathiira. She and I have an agreement in place that will allow her to continue your training in the meantime while I am away.”
“Away? Where are you going?” Mirelle asked.
“Lanala and I were supposed to go on vacation... but we can’t seem to agree on where to go... so further planning and discussion is necessary. Which is why I leave you in Lathiira’s capable hands.”
“That’s unlike you,” Luna said. “You certainly deserve a vacation but how in the hell did Lanala convince you to take one?”
Artema nodded in Lathiira’s direction. “This one helped.”
Elyn again noted the tinge of resentment in Artema’s voice, though she knew Artema would immediately feel bad for it. And, true to form, turned around to compliment Lathiira.
“She proved herself more than capable. In fact, in many ways, far more capable than I ever expected. You are in good hands.”
Artema nodded once to Lathiira, who managed a polite smile back.
“I knew it,” Elyn said. “She beat you, didn’t she?”
“Enough, Elyn,” Artema said. “I leave you in her hands.” She turned to leave but stopped once to speak to Lathiira.
“Lanala will be by to check up on things,” she said. “And good luck with Elyn.”
“Troublemakers don’t bother me, charming as they may be,” Lathiira said. “Everything will be fine.”
“If you say so,” Artema said. She put a hand on Lathiira’s shoulder. “Good luck just the same.”
“It’s not needed, but thank you for the encouragement.”
Artema patted her shoulder as she stepped out, heading back upstairs to her waiting wife. That left Lathiira alone with the other three.
“Right,” she said, locking eyes with Elyn. “You’ll be first.”
“Really? Artema usually makes me go last. Waste of time, she says, because I fail so much.”
“I have heard about you,” Lathiira said. “Artema warned me that you don’t seem to take such training seriously. But, in talking about you, I have learned a great deal and I arranged for something with Lanala’s help.”
She turned to the doorway. “You can come in now.”
A thin and beautiful, brown-skinned woman entered the room then. She wore a dress like Elyn’s except it was all black and sandals like Luna’s, except they were all black. Her elegant, raven locks were flecked with gold glitter and her intense, dark eyes bore straight into Elyn’s as she entered the room.
“Hello, my dear,” the woman said.
“Aurora... what’s going on?” Elyn said, suddenly unable to tear her eyes away from her girlfriend.
“I’m here for motivation. At your pretty new teacher’s request,” Aurora said. “I think it’s a wonderful idea.”
“Idea?”
Lathiira spoke next. “Artema believes in practice to achieve results. She isn’t wrong. It’s a tried and true method of training. But, hearing about you, I believe Artema’s frustrations with you have clouded her mind to more unorthodox teaching methods.”
“The potential for reward, mi amor,” Aurora said. “Artema’s trick is to leave you tied to meditate and think about ways to escape. But, at the same time, she is rewarding your failure. Which forces you to repeat the cycle of failure over and over.”
“Exactly,” Lathiira said. “Which is why I’m offering a different incentive for you.”
“Really? Is... Aurora my incentive?”
“I asked that she dress in some way that might attract your eye and she has succeeded, I would say,” Lathiira said. “So as to show you what awaits should you actually escape.”
“What awaits?”
“Me,” Aurora said. “You escape this bondage, and then you and I get one of these cells all to our little selves. For as many hours of play as we want.”
Elyn’s eyes darted between her girlfriend and Lathiira. “Are you serious?”
“I am,” Lathiira said. “Think of it as a form of delayed gratification. Escape now, even if you don’t want to, so you can be tied even tighter with and by someone whom you love dearly. What do you say?”
Elyn smirked again and, once again, Lathiira was equal to it. They stared at each other for a few moments before Elyn spoke up again.
“Why not? You have interesting ideas, bard.”
“Who told you I was a bard? I don’t recall Artema mentioning it.”
“Your words. The way you speak, the poetic rhythm of a well-trained voice... that and there’s a lute over there on that table and it doesn’t belong to any of us.”
Lathiira eyed her lute on the table outside the training room and smiled. “Ah. Yes. That does make it rather obvious then, doesn’t it? Well then... shall we begin?”
“I believe we shall,” Elyn said.
...
Four women sat in silence outside the training room awaiting the results of this training. The time was nearly up. Lathiira had set two hours for Elyn to escape and that time was fast approaching.
She had kept things simple yet effective with Elyn. Knowing she was not very good at escaping, she didn’t put Elyn in any difficult positions. Thinking back to when she was alone in the room with Elyn, Lathiira found herself feeling quite pleased with how Elyn looked in rope.
First she had wound a long rope around Elyn’s wrists, keeping them parallel behind her back, cinching it in the middle and finishing off with the knot only just within reach of Elyn’s fingertips. She normally wouldn’t have left a knot there but someone with lacking skills like Elyn could use the advantage. And, Lathiira mused to herself, the advantage was negligible at best considering the knot would move every time Elyn would try to reach it so it would only just stay in reach of her fingertips. It would require some clever dexterity and patience to reach and fully untie.
Next came a couple of ropes to bind Elyn’s arms and torso. Lathiira cinched these as well, under Elyn’s arms, and perfectly framed her captive’s chest. In that moment, Elyn caught her staring, but only for a split second.
“Like what you see?” Elyn asked.
Lathiira gave her a wry smile. “You’re very observant.”
“So you do then?”
Lathiira chuckled. “Yes, I’ll admit it. You look very nice. With or without the ropes.”
“That’s the plan,” Elyn said. “And coming from a woman like you, I do appreciate the compliment.”
Lathiira sighed. “Don’t try to distract me now. I won’t make this easy.”
“Oh, I hope not. And I have to say...” Elyn tested her bonds while Lathiira got to work tying her ankles together. “You know your way around a knot, Lathiira.”
“I have extensive experience on both sides of the knot,” Lathiira said.
“Both? I must say, I’d pay to see you in rope.”
Lathiira grinned. “Promise?”
Elyn chuckled. “I knew I liked you when I first saw you...”
Lathiira finished bundling up Elyn’s ankles, moving to her thighs next, enjoying the sight of Elyn’s pretty legs. “So you enjoy this stuff too then?” Elyn asked.
“On occasion. Depends on the circumstance. I hear you enjoy it regardless.”
“For the most part. There have been one or two times things were... less than pleasant... but just because I didn’t want to see my friends hurt.”
“Understandable,” Lathiira said. “It’s hard to enjoy something if you know there’s a chance someone could be hurt.”
“That’s very true,” Elyn said. “So you have a... partner you do this with?”
“I do. Not as much as you and your partner, as I hear it, but she knows how to keep me humble.”
“Sounds like a fun girl,” Elyn said.
“She is. And your partner is... intriguing. She’s a witch?”
“Here she is, yes,” Elyn said. “The Thief Witch, they call her. Wasn’t always one of the good ones, either. But I straightened her out.”
Lathiira smirked again. “I imagine you did that... creatively.”
Elyn sighed. “Oh you don’t know the half of it... what a night that was...” she said, dreamily.
“I’ve had my share of nights like that with my partner. She’s very... skilled, let’s just say.”
“She must be, if she pleases an immortal dark elf...”
Lathiira paused as she was winding the last rope around Elyn’s thighs, their eyes meeting again.
“How... do you know that?” Lathiira asked, her stare now probing Elyn’s for... anything.
“I’m full of surprises.”
“You’re... a reader, aren’t you?”
“In more ways than one. And I’ve done my share of research in my life.”
“But Lanala told me elves don’t exist in your worlds...”
“Not that we know of,” Elyn said. “And there’s more to our worlds than just the research within it. I’m a... studious woman.”
“But how did you know... about...” When Lathiira spoke, she didn’t seem surprised. Or really even concerned. She was, more than anything, deeply intrigued at how much Elyn just seemed to know. And she had felt no telepathic spells reaching out to her mind. How did Elyn know?
“Your comb,” Elyn said. “Now doubt Lanala’s mentioned it.”
“She’s asked about it. But she’s never pried.”
“I can feel it from here. Masking you.”
“So... then what does that make you think of me?”
“Nothing different. I’m sure you’re just as pretty with silver hair and dark skin.”
Lathiira smirked again, resuming her tying job. “Oh, you are a charmer.”
“I try to be.”
“So how did you know about my age...”
“It’s in your eyes. Long before I could do any magical reading, I could always read faces. Makes me a mean card player. I’ve even beat Meryn once or twice and she’s the best among us.”
“Yes, I’ve heard of her too. Artema speaks of her fondly. But you... got all that from my eyes?”
“There’s an ageless quality in them,” Elyn said. “Like time has ceased to have meaning. As though you’ve lived a hundred lifetimes. I can see that. The pain, the joy, the things you know... it’s all there. There’s a reason they call the eyes the window to the soul.”
Lathiira pulled the rope on Elyn’s thighs as tight as she could, after cinching it and not even trying to hide her smile as she brushed her hands between Elyn’s elegant thighs to pull the cinch taut. Finishing off the knot, she stepped around behind Elyn with two cloths in her hand.
“You are a remarkable woman, Elyn. I’ve met many who are similar... but you’re one of a kind.”
“And don’t I know it.”
Lathiira smiled as she bent down and crumbled up on of the white cloths in her hands. “We’ll have to silence that confidence of yours.”
“Oh don’t worry. I don’t mind. This is my favourite part.”
“Open wide then,” Lathiira said. Elyn complied and Lathiira stuffed her mouth the cloth, pulling the other tight over her mouth, tying it off behind her head and stepping back.
“Not my most thorough work but for an escapist without skill... it will do.”
“Hmmpph...” Elyn said, already enjoying her bondage.
“Now now. Remember... your lady love awaits on the other side of that door,” Lathiira said, pointing to the closed door of the training room. “You want to experience her pleasures, don’t you?”
“Mmm hmmm....”
“Well then you have two hours. Good luck, Elyn. I look forward to seeing you again.”
The whole while waiting, Lathiira was still rather impressed with the intriguing conversation she’d had with Elyn. Though, as the two hour mark neared, she wondered if her teaching methods would work at all.
With an audible gasp from both Mirelle and Luna, the door opened.
“Oh wow... this has never happened...” Mirelle said. “She did it!”
Elyn stepped out of the room, holding several neat coils of rope in her hands with two damp cloths restring on top of them.
“Sorry I took so long. I got out about twenty minutes ago but...”
“You organized the ropes?” Lathiira asked.
“Force of habit, I guess. Any true bondage lover knows how to take care of her equipment. And I was hoping I could use it again...”
Lathiira stepped aside, revealing Aurora behind her. “Be my guest. And enjoy your time together.”
Elyn smiled as she handed Aurora the rope and cloth. She bowed her head slightly to Lathiira. “Thanks for the chat.”
“Likewise,” Lathiira said. She watched the two of them saunter off together toward an empty cell and just smiled to herself.
Turning now to the remaining two women, she picked up some more rope and cloth from the table. “Now it’s your turn. Together.”
“Together?” Luna asked. “Why?”
“I have something similar in mind...”
...
Again giving them two hours, the time was getting close to the wire. She had other things to try and teach them if they failed but she continued hoping they would escape. Lathiira had tied them both the same way as she had tied Elyn but added a rope connecting their wrists and ankles, hogtying both women. She also added dark cloths over each woman’s eyes so finding each other in the spacious, empty training room would be more of a challenge.
With the two of them working together, Lathiira mused that the added teamwork would negate the added challenge of more stringent bondage. But, so far, that had proven incorrect.
Remembering the time in the room, the conversation was a little lighter and less intriguing than it had been with Elyn. But Mirelle was a sweet, chatty girl who just seemed to adore everyone and Lathiira couldn’t help but admire her bubbly optimism.
Luna was reserved, only occasionally helping answer questions, but Mirelle was willing to chat about anything and everything. After their brief conversation, Lathiira found herself promising both a story and a song to a delighted Mirelle before she finished tying and gagging them, leaving them both to figure their way out.
The pair of them struggled for a long time, squirming around the room and trying to call out to each other through their gags to meet somewhere in the middle. Because of the open space, they both wound up getting lost and couldn’t find each other for more than an hour, hampered and slowed by their hogties. In that time, neither woman made any progress on her bonds, helplessly squirming and struggling.
Both sweating, tired, and with aching muscles, eventually they just settled in and tried idly picking at each other’s knots, both failing miserably. Even with Lathiira’s added incentive they just couldn’t get themselves free.
Lathiira promised that, if they escaped, she would find them a nice cozy cell and tie them together, inescapably, to simply enjoy each other’s company. Using the knowledge Artema had armed her with and noticing their deep relationship, she formulated this similar idea to Elyn’s training.
When time was up, she stepped into the room.
“Sorry, ladies, time’s up,” she said. “Though I commend your efforts. I suspect I made things a bit too difficult this time.”
She untied them both and helped them to their feet, letting them stretch and rest their aching muscles.
“That was fun, at least,” Mirelle said, her joy still unquenchable. “Wasn’t it, Luna?”
“Only because you’re here. If I hadn’t found you it would have been miserable.”
As she let the two women rest up a bit before the next session, Lanala entered the room. The tall, athletic woman of strawberry pink hair, soft orange eyes, caramel skin, dressed in a black sleeveless shirt, short and tight breeches, and ankle high sandals, smiled at her newest friend.
“How are things going?”
“Well enough I suppose,” Lathiira said. “Elyn escaped.”
“No way! Artema is going to be so impressed!”
“Perhaps not,” Lathiira said. “Because these two didn’t.”
“Ah, that’s okay. Can’t win ‘em all,” Lanala said. “The fact you got Elyn to escape is a borderline miracle.”
“Well, at least my methods worked on one,” Lathiira said. “I was about to begin another bit of training. And I could use a bit of a break from all that tying and waiting. Tell me, ladies, how is your ropework?”
Luna spoke up first this time. “Mirelle’s is great, I can tell you that.”
“Well... maybe...” Mirelle said, blushing slightly.
“You kept Taria tied up for how long? And she never escaped.”
“Oh, Luna, I still feel bad about that.”
“And how many times have I gotten out when you’ve tied me up?”Luna asked.
“Um... I can’t remember,” Mirelle said.
“Exactly. So Mirelle is very good.”
“Hey! But so is Luna! You remember that time we tied up Artema and Lanala in the training cell back home?”
Lanala sighed. “Ugh, don’t remind me...”
“Oh right. We had them pretty helpless. Artema didn’t really try but she would have had a hard time if she did,” Luna said.
“Yes! You’re great at it too!”
Lathiira nodded. “Very good. So then you two are going to tie me up,” Lathiira said. She bowed her head politely to Lanala. “Care to join me?”
Lanala smiled. “Haven’t we spent enough time tied up together?”
“Only a few hours, by my count. And I always enjoy our chats. It’s a perfect opportunity for one.”
Lanala sighed. “Oh, all right. Tie me as tight as you tie her. Remember, we both can use magic.”
“But we don’t like to rely on it. Right?” Lathiira said.
“That’s right. And we both have been tied up so many times I don’t think we can count. Isn’t that right?” Lanala said.
“It is,” Lathiira agreed. “Which means, collectively, we are pretty good escape artists. So make sure it’s nice and tight. And don’t spare the rope.”
Lanala nodded. “I agree. And anyway, it might be fun.”
“Very good then,” Lathiira said. “Let’s get started.”
...
Lathiira could only shake her head. It didn’t make sense. The tie she had put Mirelle and Luna in was an absolute cakewalk compared to... this. Those ladies were right. They certainly knew their way around rope. Without magic, she wasn’t sure she could even escape and it was becoming exhausting just giving it a try.
But it didn’t make sense. How could they be so bad at escaping yet so good at keeping someone tied up? People who usually knew their way around rope like this were the type of experts who could pick any knot and escape with ease. But these two... they defied logic.
She stared across the room to her identically tied fellow captive and admired the ropework Mirelle and Luna had done on her, too.
Her wrists were expertly and perfectly tied together, parallel, behind her back. Immediately after that, they set to work binding her fingers together, mashing her palms against each other, weaving thin ropes between her fingers in a complex web that held them perfectly in place. Cinching it all in the middle, Lanala’s arms were also tied above and below her elbows, fusing them together and causing her chest to jut out as she was pulled back by the tight bindings.
Making it even more difficult, they slipped a single sleeve, leather armbinder on over her arms, sealing her other bindings inside a leather prison. Her arms were tied to her back as well, with a harness of rope framing her breasts and holding on around her elbows. Her wrists were secured to her back with a rope around her waist as well.
Still not done with Lanala, they wrapped up her legs over and over with coil after coil of rope. Her legs were practically mummified, save for a space on her knees, with rope keeping them together from the ankles all the way up her shapely thighs. On top of that, they added several thick leather straps at the ankles, calves, and thighs, pulling them tightly into place.
Adding to it all, they fit her with a tight collar that kept her from turning her head too far. Stuffing her mouth with cloth, they strapped a harness ball gag into her mouth, covered that with bandages, and finished it off with a thick leather muzzle.
With Lathiira tied the exact same way, both captives watched helplessly as they high-fived each other and left the training room with smiles on their faces. Lanala and Lathiira struggled away, barely able to make any sound and completely helpless to any escape without use of their magic.
Though she had wanted to chat with Lanala, Lathiira agreed that it was only fair that it be used as incentive to escape this extreme restrictive tie so that they could. But there was nothing she could hope to do.
Grunting into her gag, squirming, writhing, and eventually just sighing and laying down on the floor, Lathiira stared up at the ceiling, now simply enjoying the feeling of her tight bonds. She suspected Lanala was doing the same.
Oddly, she felt some kind of pressure suddenly release from her face and around her jaw and... she could move it. She could talk. And she felt... power.
Struggling to sit up, Lathiira stared across at Lanala, who had a wry grin on her face.
“What?”
“You cheated,” Lathiira said. “You know as well as I do there’s no escape from this without magic. At least, very little chance.”
“It’s not cheating. I can just pop our gags back on later, if you get tired of me.”
Lathiira sighed. “Well, at least we can have that chat now... how’s it going for you?”
Lanala grunted and grimaced from the effort. “No good. Those girls know what they’re doing.”
“Yes. It’s odd. I tie them up with less than half of this stuff and they can’t escape. Then they turn around and now I can’t escape.”
Lanala shrugged as far as her bonds would allow. “We’re an odd bunch.”
“That much is obvious,” Lathiira said.
“Are you at least enjoying yourself?”
“Of course. I’m in your company after all. And the view isn’t bad either.”
Lanala giggled. “Lathiira, shhh! Artema would be livid if she heard you hitting on me!”
Lathiira smiled. “Ah, it’s just a compliment. More of an observation, really. No intent behind it.”
“Artema doesn’t know that, even if I told her,” Lanala said, still giggling.
“Promise not to tell?”
“Of course,” Lanala said. “And I don’t mind, really. It’s nice to hear. Artema is just, well... protective. I’ve managed to work it out of her but she’s still got a bit of her mother in her.”
“Unpleasant woman, I take it?” Lathiira asked.
“From what I hear. Artema doesn’t talk about her much. They pretty much disowned each other a long time ago. Any time I hear mention of her, it’s through gritted teeth. And there are no kind words.”
“That’s... unfortunate. Though it explains her rather conflicted emotions.”
“Yeah, that was her mother and all the training. She told me about the training. So much training.... Artema had no time to just be a kid. Her mother pushed her so hard. And, worse... she, um, doesn’t approve of, well, me.”
“I see. She wanted Artema to marry a man then?”
Lanala nodded. “Yeah. Forced her into some awkward relationships, as Artema tells it. When we met, her relationship with her mother was hanging by a thread. And that thread broke when Artema decided to tell her about me. They disowned each other on the spot. We’ve been together ever since.”
“Well then her mother, quite frankly, can go to hell.”
“We’ve both said that. On numerous occasions,” Lanala said. “And, anyway, we sort of have that in common. I never knew my mother but I’ve learned about her and she’s, uh... not exactly great either.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Lathiira said. “At least you found each other.”
“Yeah... we did...” Lanala said, sighing and leaning back against the wall.
Lathiira tried struggling again but found the effort useless. “On a lighter note... have you decided yet?” Lathiira asked.
“Decided?”
“Where you’re going on vacation. I’ve eavesdropped on many silly arguments.”
“Oh, I hope we didn’t bother you with-”
“It’s no trouble. Actually quite amusing. You can tell by the way people fight just how much they love each other. And you two are madly in love,” Lathiira said.
“Well yeah... but Artema wants to go someplace warm with a beach. I’ve been arguing for the forest or the mountains where we can watch the pretty snowfall... but she’s all about sand and swimming, staying in shape, not going too far so we can keep tabs on things...”
“But you won’t budge.”
“Hell no! She deserves a chance to relax and I want her all to myself. I’m a bit selfish, I admit, but we won’t be able to relax unless we go someplace far, secluded, and peaceful. And she loves scenery! I don’t know why she’s being so stubborn.”
“Perhaps for the same reasons as you,” Lathiira said.
“Maybe...”
“Does she know the things you love?”
“Yes,” Lanala said.
“And do you love beaches and swimming and the like?”
“Well, yes, but she loves... oh. I see your point.”
Lathiira smiled warmly. “That’s really very sweet. You’re both arguing for a vacation you know the other will love. You both want to sacrfice your own enjoyment just to see the other enjoy herself.”
“Oh, and I’ve been mad at her this whole time and she’s been thinking only of me!” Lanala sighed. “I’m such an idiot...”
“No no,” Lathiira said. “You’re doing the same thing. You both stubbornly refuse to pick anything that is outside the ideal for the woman you love. I think that’s just adorable.”
“So... what do we do?”
“Find something you both love. Simple, really.”
“Well... lakes have beaches. And forests. There’s one in Central Esterlin, not too far from here, but it’s miles from any settlements so its pretty secluded... I’ll ask her and see what she says.”
“Is that something that sounds good to you?”
“It’s got a warm beach,” Lanala said. “So yes.”
“Well then I say you’ve found a compromise.”
Lanala smiled. “Good. So then... chat over?”
“If you like,” Lathiira said. “I was getting used to those gags.”
“I actually quite liked them all. It’s... cathartic. Screaming as loud as you can but barely making a sound. So much tension release.”
“That’s a good idea, actually. Let’s relax by screaming our silly heads off,” Lathiira said.
“Sounds good. Back on they go!”
In seconds, both women were as thoroughly gagged as they were before, struggling away and letting themselves relax. They both shouted and screamed, laughing and giggling away as they were utterly muffled by their gags.
They both chose to savour this moment. Someone would be by in a few hours time to untie them. But neither of them knew exactly when since they didn’t give a precise time to Mirelle or Luna. And Artema would be eager to begin their vacation discussion again so she would be on the lookout for Lanala. However much time they had left, they decided to enjoy it. And they both decided that this whole substitute teaching gig was a pretty good idea after all.