The streets of the Holy City were packed with throngs of people. On the street corners, and on the steps of the countless temples that lined every square, preachers shouted prayers and prophecies of the hundred gods and a thousand and one paths to enlightenment. In the streets, pilgrims paraded, singing hymns. From towers above, criers called the faithful to prayer, while down below, zealots demonstrated their faiths by meditating, perfectly still on mats of sharp spikes, or dancing across beds of coals, a venomous cobra in each hand. Others sat, cross-legged, in nooks in the walls, or in alleyways, silently contemplating the divine. The Holy City was the first stop on a hundred different roads to truth and enlightenment. People came in their thousands, from all the known world, some pilgrims on a journey, some holy men seeking disciples, some merely tourists come to see the sights and take in one of the wonders of the age.
Alexa slowly made her way down the streets through the crush, employing elbows and apologies in equal measure. The young woman kept a tight hand on her bag as she threaded her way through the crowds. For a Holy City, there were plenty of hucksters and sneak thieves, come to aid the pilgrims and tourists on their journey to enlightenment by relieving them of their worldly possessions.
Her other hand clutched a scrap of paper, scribbled by her professor back at the University. It was the name of one of the temples in the Holy City; or less a name and more symbol; intricate and beautiful. The same symbol that had been on the book from the forbidden section of the library Alexa had been reading when she was caught by that professor. Instead of punishment, however, it had led to some rather…interesting conversations the two had in the professor’s office, in the afternoons after classes. Which is what had, eventually led the young woman here, to seek the Temple of All Learning.
“Now if I can just find it…” Alexa thought to herself, a little frustrated. She ran a hand through her short, light hair, trying to remain calm. The Holy City was over a thousand years old, grown up from shrines left on the mountain passes by pilgrims and travelers. The streets meandered and turned wildly, according to the whim of long dead monks as they built their temples and shrines wherever they pleased. Half the streets had no name and half had impossible ones like: “The Street of Heavenly Wind Which Blows with Enlightenment” or “The Avenue of the Jade Palace in Which the King of All Resides in the Summertime.” Alexa had also given up on asking for directions. Most saw it as an excuse to launch into a sermon to dissuade her from her destination and on to their preferred path to heaven. Those who didn’t apparently thought giving directions would be a disservice by denying her the path to enlightenment that came from wandering lost in the city with no idea where she was.
“Kamar-Taj?” One of the pilgrims asked Alexa as she passed by, showing her a scrap of paper with the name written on it?”
Alexa shook her head, giving an apology. She showed him her own scrap of paper, hoping he’d seen the temple. To her disappointment, he shook his head. The two pilgrims passed, heading in opposite directions.
In the end, Alexa found it, more by accident than anything else. She had stopped to rest, in the shade of an alcove and had sat for nearly ten minutes, when she happened to look up at the door behind her and saw, painted on it in simple, yet beautiful calligraphy, the same symbol she’d been looking for since her arrival in the city. Dumbfounded, Alexa leapt to her feet. Hesitantly, she reached for the latch. To her surprise, it was unlocked. She was about to go in, when she heard a soft cough from behind her.
Turning, Alexa saw another girl, about the same age as her, standing in the street in front of the temple. She had light brown hair, cut just above the shoulders. From her clothes and the satchel slung over one shoulder, it was obvious she was another visitor to the Holy City. In one hand, she was holding a card, which had the same sigil marked on it. “Excuse me?” The girl asked in a hesitant voice. “Is this Temple of All Learning?”
“I…I think it is.” Alexa replied, glancing up at the sign overhead. “I don’t really know. I’m just a visitor looking for the temple as well.”
“Oh.” The other girl said. She looked at the door. “Should we go in?”
“I guess.” Alexa said with a shrug. “We came this far, might as well. I’m Alexa, by the way.” She added as she reached down to the latch again and opened the door.
“Sarai.” The other girl replied. They stepped through the open portal through the wall. On the other side was a small, but very pleasant garden, of flowers and carefully tended shrubs and short trees. In one corner, a small waterfall filled a tiny pool from which a stream wound its way across the space. A small stone path led across the garden, over a narrow footbridge across the stream, before coming to a small, cozy temple building. As the door closed, the sounds of the busy street beyond faded to little more than a murmur at the edge of perception. Alexa was struck by how peaceful and serene the place was, in contract to the hectic business of the city outside.
Aside from the two visitors, there was another person in the garden; a woman dressed in voluminous maroon robes. She was bent over one of the garden plots, carefully tending to the vegetation. As she heard the door close, though, she turned. Alexa was surprised to see the woman was only a few years older than her or Sarai, with light blonde curls framing a pale, serene but cheerful face.
“Welcome, visitors.” The woman said, in a melodious voice. “I am Mistress Morgana of the Temple of All Learning. Have you come to seek our wisdom?”
“We…er I am.” Alexa replied. Sarai nodded. “I am as well.”
“Then come.” The woman said, rising to her feet. She gestured for her to follow them up the path to the building.
“Is this really the Temple of All Learning?” Alexa asked as she hurried to catch up to Morgana. She eyed the building. It wasn’t much like what she’d read in the forbidden books. “I thought it would be…larger.”
“Size is no indicator of worth, child.” Morgana said, her smile softening the faint note of teasing rebuke. “But you are correct. The Temple is indeed larger. It is also a few day’s journey from here in a secret place. This is what you might call an…embassy, where the Temple can connect with the outside world and where seekers such as yourselves can come to find guidance.”
Approaching the front of the building, Morgana raised a hand. A few feet away, the heavy wooden doors slowly swung open. Both Alexa and Sarai watched, eyes wide with interest. Sure, Alexa had seen displays of magic before at the University, some more impressive than a neat bit of telekinesis, but it was evident that, at least this far, the stories about the disciples of the temple were true.
“In here.” Morgana said, directing them down a hallway, past several lighter, sliding doors. As they came to one, Alexa heard excited voices coming through the thin divider. “You two are not the only seekers who have come today.” She told them. The doors opened to her powers, revealing a comfortable room, with a table and cushions. The table was set out for tea and seated at the table were two other young women. Both were dressed in traveler’s clothes, and Alexa noticed a backpack leaned against the wall behind them. One of them had dark black hair, the other, lighter red, both shoulder length.
“We are still waiting for one more Seeker to join us.” Morgana said, gesturing for the two newcomers to take a seat at the table. “Until then, rest and converse with your fellow seekers. We have a lengthy journey ahead of us and you will need to gather your strength for the coming trials.” With that, she turned and left, the doors closing behind her.
Awkwardly, Alexa and Sarai took their seats, opposite the two other girls. Introductions were given as they poured tea from a porcelain pot into jade green cups. The dark-haired girl introduced herself and her companion as Kisme and Miriam. They were friends since childhood, and had grown up hearing stories from some of the women of their village about the Temple of All Learning and the power of the disciples. Now that they were women grown, they had come to the Holy City, to seek the temple themselves. “What about you two?” Kisme asked, taking Miriam’s hand. “Are you two companions?”
“er…no.” Alexa said, cheeks flushing slightly. Quickly, she explained how she had wandered the city for hours, only to find the temple by accident, and how Sarai had walked up just as she was getting ready to go inside.
“You’re from the University?” Sarai asked, after Alexa had told her story.” Alexa nodded. “I’d always wanted to go, but my family didn’t have the money for the fee.” She said. She quickly explained how her uncle, a scholar of the occult subjects, had left her much of his library of books and tomes, including the same volume which Alexa had discovered in the University’s library and set her on the same path here.
“Do you know any spells?” Sarai asked.
Alexa shrugged, face flushing red. “No…I’ve tried a few here and there, practiced with some of the professors with the gift…but I haven’t had any luck.” She’d hoped the disciples of the temple could teach her the secret to unlocking her own gift, someday.
The four continued to chat, enjoying the heavenly tea and the light, sweet foods laid out on the table for them. All of it tasted exquisite. About an hour after Alexa and Sarai had arrived, the doors to the room opened and Morgana reappeared, leading another young woman. She had long, dark hair and was dressed in loose, robes of grey, threadbare cloth. She had a cloth bundle slung over one shoulder.
“This is Mai, our final seeker.” Morgana said, leading the newcomer to the table. She took the pot and poured her a glass of tea, encouraging her to try the food as well. When she had eaten and the other girls had told her their names, their hostess bade them rise from the table and follow her out and down the hallway to another room. It was an antechamber of some sort. Opposite the door they came in was another set of heavy wooden doors, much like the ones all of them had come in. At the other two ends of the room were two large wooden chests, decorated with glyphs.
“Now,” Morgana said, her voice losing the cheerfulness and taking on a more serious tone. “before we proceed, I must ask all of you to think hard and decide if you are ready for this. Once you have entered the Temple of All Learning, it is not possible to leave until your training is completed. The path is not an easy one. You will face great hardships and restraints as a novice, like you’ve never experienced before. The Mistresses of the Temple require obedience and failure may result in punishment.” She paused, reverting to her earlier friendly look. “It is done only so that you will learn and gain the knowledge which you seek here. But if any of you do not feel you are ready for this commitment, you are free to leave now. If you choose so, you need not worry, you will be welcomed back should you ever change your mind. Do you wish to continue?”
Alexa thought for a moment. Then, she nodded. She was ready. Nearby, Sarai also nodded, as did Mai and Kisme. Only Miriam hesitated. Her friend turned to her. “Miriam, please. We’ve come so far.” She told her.
“Each seeker must decide for herself if she is ready.” Morgana chided Kisme. The younger woman turned, looking briefly confused, before she nodded.
“I understand.” Kisme said. She turned back to her friend. “Whatever you choose, I’ll stick with you.” She said.
“I…I’m ready.” Miriam finally said in a soft voice.
“Are you sure?” Morgana asked. The younger girl took a breath, but she nodded. “Very well. From this point on, you are all novices of the Temple of All Learning. You must obey all the instructions given to you by the Mistresses. They will be your guides and your teachers and you will follow their orders.” She smiled. “Your first order, remove your clothes.”
At these words, Alexa felt her cheeks flush red with shame at the thought. She wasn’t the only one to feel some embarrassment at this instruction. “Remove our clothes?” Kisme asked, doubtfully. “Why?”
“Because your mistress commands it.” Morgana answered, the stern serious tone edging into her cheerful demeanor. “And because it is the tradition of the temple. All seekers, rich or poor, arrive at the gates of the temple the same way: naked and bound.
“Bound?” Sarai asked, unsure.
“Yes.” Morgana told her. “As novices, you will spend much of your time restrained in various positions. It is part of the teachings of the learned Mistresses. When you lose control of part of yourself, it frees another part of you. While your body is restrained in bondage, your mind is freed to contemplate the secrets of magic. You will understand this better once you have arrived at the temple and begin your instructions, novice. Now, please remove your clothes.”
Hesitantly, the five began to strip naked. Alexa dropped her bag on the ground, then bent to untie her shoes, kicking them off. She pulled her jacket off and dropped it to the ground before unbuckling her belt and pulling her pants down. The young woman hesitated a moment, still clad in her underwear and socks, before she continued. She pulled her socks off, one then the other, and then reached behind her back to unclasp her bra, letting it fall off her arms. Her naked breasts bounced free of the cups. Finally, she grabbed the band of her panties and slid them down her legs, stepping out of them, and was left naked. She shivered, the cool air blowing across her bare skin.
Around her, the other new novices were also in the process of stripping off their clothes. To Alexa’s surprise, Morgana had also stripped, letting her robes fall to the ground around her feet. Underneath, she was completely naked, apart from a gold band around her left thigh, set with a large, purple gemstone. From her readings on the temple, Alexa knew this was the symbol of one of the Mistresses of the Temple of All Learning.
While the novices finished undressed, the Mistress walked over to one of the two chests in the room. “Place your clothes and things in the other chest.” Morgana instructed them. “Once you’ve finished undressing.” Meanwhile, she opened her chest. From within, she took around several long scarves, of brightly colored silk, five collars of finely sculpted bronze, and a several lengths of chain.
“Come forward to be bound.” Morgana ordered. Alexa was the first to step forward. The Mistress took one of the scarves and motioned for Alexa to turn around. The younger woman did, placing her hands behind her back to be tied. A second later, she felt the other woman grab them, quickly placing them together, palms touching. With expert skill, Morgana quickly had Alexa’s wrists wrapped with the silk band, each loop even and snug, without being too tight, and securely knotted off.
Alexa twisted her hands, exploring the odd sensation of having her hands tied. The wide bands dispersed the pressure of the tie, keeping it from being too uncomfortable, but never-the-less Alexa was sure her bindings were all but inescapable. Until her Mistress chose to release her, Alexa’s hands would remain trapped behind her back. She took a few awkward steps around, noting how different her gait was. With her arms behind her back, the young woman’s center of gravity was changed, her chest was thrust forward, her shoulders and neck bent back.
It had been a long time since the young woman had felt this sort of strange helplessness. Back when she’d been a first-year student at the University and some of the older girls had put her and the other nobs through their unofficial “initiation.” “Great. I get to go through first year all over again.” Alexa thought. From the sound of things, what the Disciples of the Temple had planned for their new novices would put the bumbling humiliations of the upper-level girls’ dormitory to shame.
While Alexa had been exploring her bonds, Morgana had moved on and tied each of the other girls with the same speed and skill as her. The five stood in a haphazard line, waiting further instruction. Alexa was at the front, with Sarai right behind her. Then Miriam and Kisme and, at the end, Mai. Morgana, meanwhile, had returned to the chest and grabbed the collars. A shiver ran through Alexa’s body as the other woman stepped in front of her, lowering the open collar around her throat. It closed, the free ends coming together with a click. Alexa could feel the heavy, solid, pressure of the metal band, but it didn’t dig into her or choke her. Indeed, the band seemed to fit the counters of her throat as naturally as if it had been made specifically for her to wear.
The other girls accepted their collars with similar gasps of excitement. When the last was fitted, their Mistress took the chains from on top of the chest. Using them, she tethered the girls into a caravan, the chains running from the back of one girl’s collar to the front of the one on the girl behind her. At the front of the line, Alexa had a length attached to hers which was left dangling, hanging between her round, naked breasts, to act as a leash when it was time for the Mistress to take them out of the temple.
Before that though, the Mistress returned to the chest for one more then. She took out a carved stone bottle, corked at the top. “We need to go through some jungle before we reach the temple.” Morgana explained. “This will protect you from the sun, and bugs and vegetation.” She smiled. “Among other things.” Alexa was trembling, slightly, as the older woman uncorked the jar and poured a small amount of a shimmering, golden liquid into her hand. The younger girl’s cheeks flushed red as her Mistress began to rub it onto her body, starting at her shoulders and working down. Skillfully, Morgana’s hands danced across Alexa’s naked body, rubbing and massaging the salve into her bare skin. Alexa gave a soft gasp when she reached her naked breasts, making sure to cover them all over with the salve and when Morgana reached between her legs, Alexa had to struggle not to moan.
“What’s happening?” Alexa thought, as Morgana moved on to do the same to Sarai. The young woman felt odd. Was it the salve, or the feeling of the other woman’s hands, running all over her naked body that had left Alexa tingling with excitement. She felt suddenly warm, and no place more so then between her legs. Unconsciously, she rubbed her legs together, suppressing another moan. Judging from the soft gasps coming from behind her, Sarai was experiencing the same sort of reaction to the salve as Alexa had.
Soon, all five had been prepared for their journey. Coming to the front of the coffle again, Morgana grabbed the dangling chain of Alexa’s lead. “Come, your journey begins.” She said, giving a soft tug. Obediently, Alexa stepped forward. As the chain between her and Sarai went taut, the other girl also started forward, and so on down the line. They shuffled after their Mistress, towards the door, which opened at a wave of her hands.
The back door of the temple opened onto one of the winding streets of the Holy City. Around them were crowds of pilgrims and preachers. Heads turned to follow the coffle of naked, bound women as they went by. Strangely, Alexa didn’t feel any of the earlier shame she’d felt stripping naked inside the temple. The warm feeling returned, growing stronger and stronger as she saw the faces watching her and the other novices with amazement. “You’d think this was something strange…” The young woman thought to herself, oddly detached.
Guided by their mistress, the novices marched down one winding street and then another, until they came, suddenly, to one of the many side gates leading into and out of the city. As before, the doors of the gate opened automatically as they approached and the caravan passed through. Beyond, a narrow dirt path ran from the city gate into the thick jungle. A hundred yards beyond, the dense vegetation swallowed them up and the city vanished from view. All they could see and hear were the trees, and undergrowth and the sounds of the jungle.
The coffle kept marching onward, through the thick forest. Morgana tilted her head back and started to sing and a melodious voice, strange songs with words Alexa had never heard before, yet all of them listened, in silence as they walked. It was midday and the hot sun was high overhead, burning through every clearing in the jungle. Yet despite the scorching sun, or the oppressive humidity they swam through, neither Alexa, nor any of the other girls in the caravan seemed to feel much more than a comfortable, sunny day. As promised, the swarming insects of the jungle gave the caravan a wide berth, and though the underbrush pressed close around the young women, none of them were scratched by the thorns and branches.
Instead, the girls had something else to occupy their minds during the long march. The strange sensation running through Alexa’s body since they’d left the temple had stayed with her, growing stronger and stronger with each step. There was a burning, like a white-hot sun, between her legs, making her desperate for release. Along with the other girls, Alexa could no longer keep back her moans of pleasure. Had her hands not been tightly bound behind her back, the young woman knew what she could be doing. The fact that she was denied this by her bonds only increased her frustrated arousal.
When the coffle had been walking for several hours, it began to slow as hunger, thirst and tiredness took hold of the girls. The first few times it did, Mistress Morgana merely tugged on the chain lead, urging them on again and again. “Just a little further, girls.” She told them, as miles of jungle trail disappeared beneath their feet.
“Please, Mistress.” Alexa begged, the fourth time she felt the chains tug. “May we stop and rest.”
“It’s just a little further.” Morgana told her, but relented. “But we have made good time, thus far. We can take a short break.” She led them over to a clearing on the side of the trail. The Mistress made no move to unchain her charges, or untie their hands. Instead, they sank to their knees, all of them breathing heavily, partly in weariness, partly of the effects of the salve.
Speaking of which, from somewhere, Alexa’s mind boggled trying to figure out where, the Mistress had produced the stone jar and was uncorking the top. A quiet moan escaped her lips. The young woman didn’t know whether she was eager to feel her Mistress rub it all over her body once more, or if she never wanted to see that damned bottle again. As she was chained and bound and couldn’t pull back if she wanted to, the former won out. Alexa moaned, openly now, as the older woman’s soft hands began the sensual task of massaging her body once more, easing out the aches and pains of the road with skill. When her hand slipped between Alexa’s legs, the young woman gasped and rocked her hips forward, hoping her Mistress would give her release of the desire that had been building within her for so long.
She whimpered as the Mistress pulled her hand away. “Not yet, novice.” Morgana teased her, enjoying Alexa’s look of disappointment. “This is part of your training. You must learn to master your body’s desire, to control it.” Alexa groaned as the other woman moved on to Sarai. As desire burned inside of her, Alexa knew she could do nothing to control it.
After she had reapplied the lotion for each of the girls, Morgana drew out another bottle from the same, impossible place she had taken the first. This one proved to contain a sweet, potent beverage, which she gave to each of the novices. The few sips Alexa was given were enough to take care of her hunger and thirst. When all had had their share, the Mistress once more took the chain lead and urged the coffle onward.
They kept marching until late in the evening. As the sun set and the light faded, Morgana found another clearing by the path for them to spend the night. The women lay close together, sharing their warmth through the night. The next morning, the novices were again given a dose of the fortifying brew, followed by another application of the golden salve. Alexa suppressed her disappointed moan as Morgana’s hands withdrew, having stoically resolved to fight the urges which burned anew inside her as the salve took hold once more.
Morning passed into afternoon the same way it had the previous day. The caravan marched down the winding path at a steady walking pace, Mistress Morgana singing gaily to herself while her charges followed, struggling against the desire that built up every time their crisscrossing legs brushed up against each other.
‘Will we ever arrive?” Alexa wondered in frustration. It seemed as if they were doomed to wander the jungles endlessly. The previous day, in the temple, was part of some lost past, while the hope of the Temple of All Learning lay in some distant future. Now was the march and the now stretched on, interminably.
Then, with suddenness, their journey reached its end. The trail began to switchback up a steep mountainside. The girls in the coffle groaned, the incline only adding to the rigors of the march. “Almost there, girls.” Morgana told them, though most had stopped believing her. This time, however, she was telling the truth. The caravan crested the top of the hill. The thick jungle broke, trees and shrubs giving way, suddenly, to street, and walls and statuary. Ahead of them, a staircase started the winding path down. Above it, a columned wall, topped by an ornately carved stone dragon, watched over the entrance to the hidden valley. Beyond, larger sculptures and temples ringed the edges of mountain. And below, stretched out across the bottom, lay the Temple of All Learning.
Morgana paused a moment, giving the novices a chance to look and see their new home. From her place second in line, Sarai exclaimed in excitement, turning to chatter eagerly to the other girls. But they paid her no attention. Behind her, Kisme and Miriam had taken the opportunity of slack in their chains to turn to one another, bodies pressed together as desire swept over them. At the front, Alexa’s eyes were closed, she pressed her legs close together, struggling with her own arousal. Opposite her in line, Mai’s eyes were also closed, a serene expression on her face, as she let the emotions wash over her.
“Novices…” Morgana thought with a faint smile, remembering her own arrival in the valley, many years ago, naked and chained just like these girls. All of them had strong potential, she thought. Soon, they would learn the secrets of the temple. But for now, their training awaited. “Come on, girls. Almost there.” She said, tugging on the chain. With quiet moans, the girls followed her down the stairs and towards the Temple…