PART 8

THE DEAD OF XISHAIKALOR

+++

Megan unfolded a map of the realm and put it on the table. They fixated it with goblets, ashtrays and cigarette packs. Everyone leaned forward and looked down on it. Dana noticed the islands of Mayut far to the east and shot a quick glance to Niyi, who just lit a cigarette. What beautiful lips the girl had, Dana noticed not for the first time. She shook her head. Concentrate on the matter at hand, silly thing, she chided herself.
“Well,” Megan said and continued:
“The third seal is located in a large valley east of the city of Aski-Ang, in the country of Zhu Leng. About 200 years ago, the people of Kai Ti lived together in a great empire, which existed for nearly thousand years. But then, a big civil war raged, and the once mighty empire split up in about 10 different states. Nowadays, these countries frequently are making war on each other, as each rulress wants to resurrect the empire under her leadership.
According to our latest intelligence, the state of Zhu Leng is at war with that of Fi Dong. So, the city of Aski-Ang and its surroundings may be war torn. Furthermore, it is probably not advisable to approach the area by dragon.
I propose we travel by dragon to Mung Hising, a city in the state Lai Tsai to the east of both Zhu Leng and Fi Dong. From there, we could continue on horseback, approaching Aski-Ang from the east, away from the war.”
“That seems to be a sound advice,” Tashmal said.
Dana asked:
“Are there regular dragon flight lines like in Arankalor and Rondakalor?”
“Yes, all states of the realm of Kai Ti, the former empire, are connected by those.” Megan answered.
“All these states share basically the same culture, as well as the race of the Kai Ti is the majority of the population everywhere. The Kai Ti are small, petite women, about Tashmals height. They believe in the Way of Ki, a legendary scholar of old times. She taught acceptance of ones position and fate in live, inner calm, meditation and an adherence to a strict order of society. Overall, the Kai Ti believe in order above all. So, their elites are very unhappy themselves with the current state of affairs in politics.”
Megan made a pause to light a Malego.
Marule intersected:
“You seem to know much about the Kai Ti, Megan. Research before we started our quest?”
“No, on the witches academy, I got fascinated by their art, especially their paintings. You know I paint and draw myself. Starting from there, I too wanted to know more about their culture. Naturally, the information about this current war is fresh from the Alboran intelligence service.”
“How do the Kai Ti look at foreigners, whiteskinns, redskinns?” Dana asked.
Megan answered, blowing out smoke:
“There is much trade between Rondakas and Kai Ti, and as Zusha has told me, many Rondakas serve as mercenaries in various armies. The Redskinns are known and usually received well.  Whiteskinns are less frequent in the realm, but not unknown, thanks to the dragon lines. In larger cities there are embassies, trade houses and the like. But we must be cautious. White slaves are very popular among the rich, so we can count on the odd slave hunter to lay hands on us, the more so as we are foreigners all alone and far from home, easy prey in their eyes.”
Tashmal chuckled:
“Oh, we are used to that, aren’t we? At least their motivation will be lust or greed, and I can understand that. I am getting tired of all these bitches trying to abduct my sugarmouth because she is something special.”
Dana leaned over to her and kissed her briefly. Turning back to the others, the blonde said:
“So we can expect everyone down there trying to get their ropes and gags on us. Tashmal is right, not really different from our past experiences.”
Megan nodded with a smile and continued:
“The real problem is Niyi. Mayutas and Kai Ti hate each other like Rondakas and death knightresses. They have a very long history of bloody wars and invasions. Its absolutely impossible for a free Mayuta to travel through Kai Ti lands.”
Heads turned towards the assassin, who sat there quiet among them, enjoying her smoke. The Mayutan girl took another drag of her Kigumo, laid her head back and blew smoke towards the ceiling. On lowering her head again, she showed a fine smile.
“Niyi knows that.” She said in her low, soft voice.
“She will have to go as a slave, and one strictly secured most of the time. This way problems will hopefully be minimal.”
Rowenn asked, obviously puzzled:
“You have no problem being a packaged slave for weeks?”
“Niyi will enjoy it. It will definitely be much more enjoyable then the last five weeks on the back of this evil animal.”
“Hu?” made Rowenn.
Tashmal said, grinning:
“She is talking about her horse. And she is right, I gladly would choose some weeks of strict bondage instead of riding.”
“Niyi was very unhappy that no other Mayuta accompanied us to apply the powers of Lo Zuki to her tortured buttom cheeks,” the assassin said deadly serious.
Everyone laughed, although Dana had the feeling Niyi hadn’t meant it as a joke.
Now it was Megan again:
“Well, yes, it will be best we keep Niyi as a packaged slave in populated areas, cities and on the dragon journeys. One other thing: Kai Ti are very reserved and polite, at least on the outside. Worse than we Alborans or even our Niyi. They even seldom smile in public. Show of emotion is bad manners. As foreigners, much of our behavior will be tolerated, but we should be careful, lest we insult someone. Especially, never laugh and show your teeth, that’s a sign of aggressiveness in public.”
“What about the cuisine?” Tashmal asked.
Megan chuckled:
“Don’t tell me you don’t know…”
“I have brought the issue up to enlighten the others.”
“I see, Tashmal. Ohh, its said Kai Ti eat everything, even snakes, ants, bugs and so on. From what I have read, that’s really more the truth than prejudice. “
Tashmal said disapprovingly:
“They even eat spiders. One of their loveliest recipes is spider legs in sugar.”
Zoet grinned:
“So we better watch out what we order in the inns, especially you, Tashmal.”
The Achaian shuddered. They laughed again, but Dana could herself think of better things to eat than spider legs. She felt a light queasiness and quickly lit a cigarette to counter the vile taste in her mouth.
Megan watched her light up and said:
“Uhh, and before I forget… there are very many Kai Ti, they are the most populous race on Matria. The cigarettes there appear in holy places controlled by the Sisters of Ki, a nun order dedicated to the principles of Ki. They give the sticks to the rulers of the land, who sell them further. The problem is, there are much too few cigarettes for all the Kai Ti. As a consequence, only the rich and mighty smoke as much as for example Arankian whiteskins. The simple citizens of cities and towns and even more so the peasants in the countryside are always short on sticks.
So, while slave hunters will be after us for ourselves, simpler people might try to steal or rob our cigarettes. It would be advisable not to smoke too much in public in Kai Ti.”
No one liked that piece of information, especially Dana, who smoked the most of all of them.
“We will look for a Dragon passage southeast in the afternoon, after a hot bath,” Rowenn proposed.
Everyone agreed, and Megan took up the map again. The girls finished their smokes, and then left the table, heading for the bath chamber. Zusha send Lina upstairs to watch after their luggage.
Dana asked in her mind:
“Any additions or comments, oh mylord Sirf?”
“What? Oh no, not at the moment. Excuse me, I am introducing myself to a lovely young lady, the cat of the inn mistresses oldest daughter.”
“The bitch behind the counter? If her cat is as arrogant and foul tempered as she herself, watch out for her claws.”
“I didn’t notice that about the girl.”
“But I did. The poor inn maids are suffering under her.”
“So you have still an eye for those you once belonged too.”
“I do. Sometimes I wish I would be an inn maid again.”
“I know, Dana, and I understand. But if you would excuse me now? Have to organize my nightly pleasures…”
“Go ahead, will you, and show her the best…”

+++

“Uuuh, that was sweet. Give us Malegos, will you, sugarmouth?”
Tashmal fell back into the sheets and breathed heavily. Dana reached out for the Malego pack and matches. They had made love  and were both exhausted from it.
It was the night of the same day. They had booked a passage on a dragon going out tomorrow morning, and everyone had retreated relatively early for the night.
Dana knelt down across Tashmal, her legs to both sides of the Achaians body, und put a cigarette between her lovers lips. The brunette took the second one from Dana and shoved it delicately between the blonde lips in turn. Slowly, they lit each others Malegos with matches. Dana went down a bit with her hips and rested her sex lightly on Tashmals belly.
Both groaned slightly, hot again. Dana took a second drag from her Malego before taking it between her fingers and started:
“Ahhh, Tashmal? There is something I want to talk with you about…”
“Yes, sugarmouth?” Tashmal mumbled.
“I… well.. ufff… today, as we watched the punishment on the marketplace.  I got very hot by the sight. And I… I imagined you and me being in the place of the two convicts. Bound, gagged, fucked, lashed, publicly humiliated. It aroused me immensely, this fantasy.”
Tashmal took her cigarette and ashed into the tray beside the bed. She smiled:
“I will tell you a secret. I had the same fantasy about us two.”
“Really? Ohh. I mean, I often have such thoughts, and when I am abducted or otherwise packaged, I am so hot by everything about it. As I was abducted back in Lashayette out of the library, I was led through the streets, and was forced to orgasms and humiliated by my abductors and passersby. It was maybe the hottest experience of my life.”
“I see.” Tashmal still smiled.
“So… I have started to wonder if I am a slave at heart. If I want to be a slave for life. I am at odds with myself. On the other hand, I loath slavery, and I want no one to be a slave and subject to other peoples will and the whip and so on. I myself want to be free… so…”
“You are disturbed about your feelings. You think something is wrong with you.”
“Yes. What do YOU think of this?”
“I often dream to be YOUR slave, blonde maid. In my fantasies, you are mistress of a large inn and I am your slave. You keep me in strict bondage, nearly always rubberized, gagged, and I must work the whole day, menial, humiliating tasks. You often lash or switch or kick me in front of your guests. In the night, you rent me to the guests, who have their fun with me. I have no knowledge of Majavet in this fantasy, so I cant find sexual relief myself. If ungagged, I often beg you to take me and let me climax. This fantasy is currently my favorite one, and I am getting very hot by it.”
Dana was puzzled, staring down on her lover. There was this smile again on Tashmals lips, not her sarcastic smile, or her cruel one, no, it was a kind of smile Dana hadn’t seen before.
Finally the blonde managed to say:
“So you have such fantasies too? And you are aroused by being treated as a slave?”
“Yes and yes, my sugarmouth. And most women share this with us, believe me. I often think its our biological heritage, being slaves of the males for thousands of years.”
“But…”
“But then the males will do us a favor by enslaving us all? No, Dana mouse, because this slave thing is sexual. It has to do with what we want to be when having sex. Sex is an important part of life, but its not the only part. Do you think I want to stop eating what and as much I like because a male master has planned a diet for me or doesn’t want to spend the money on an all-you-can-eat spell? Or want to go where I please and package other girls when I feel like it? Do you want to stop playing Kerkor because a male master disapproves? Okay, these are all perfunctory things, but one can easily think about more fundamental ones.
Despite my fantasies and my sexual desire for slavery, I still long to be respected as a person, to be free to follow my dreams. I accept slavery in the Matrian cultures, I have Ugumbe as a house slave myself, but fundamentally even I, the evil whore, know that slavery is a bad thing outside the games of the sleeping chamber. Don’t look so surprised. Its true, your little evil klish has a conscience after all. But please, don’t tell this anyone else, I have a reputation to lose.”
Dana was totally perplexed. Not about what Tashmal had said, it sounded right to her, but THAT she had said it. Never before the Achaian had really opened herself to the blonde. She felt joy, and a sudden, overwhelming feel of love for her petite milkskin.
Tashmal, on the other hand, looked like she felt to have said too much. She hastily dragged on her Malego and blew a cloud of blue smoke between them, as if to hide her face.
Dana leaned forward through the cloud and kissed her softly.
“Gmmmbl!” Tashmal made surprised, then said:
“Attention, silly maid, our cigarettes. This daughter of the inn mistress will not look lightly on burn marks in the sheets.”
“I don’t care for this slut. By the looks and behavior of her she needs a strict packaging and gagging, and maybe an hour on the market place together with these two cat burglars.”
The Achaian laughed:
“You may be right. Bitchy and evil girls often act the way they do out of sexual frustration.”
“Ahh, that’s it with you, Tashmal. Now I understand,” Dana smiled and rubbed her pussy a bit on the brunettes belly.
“I think you are right about slavery and sex in contrast to freedom and other aspects of life. I feel much better now.”
“Ohh? I thought you felt better because I am so mightily fondling your boobs…”
“That too, little klish.”
“You have already finished your Malego, avid suckress you are. Wait, my blonde, a last drag, mmmhh, and I will kill my filmu too. So… now whats next?”
“What about fulfilling your fantasies a bit?”
“Ahh… that would be nice indeed.”
“Good.” Dana rose abruptly from the bed.
“Kneel, slave slut.”
Tashmal looked up at her, shuddering. She hastened to obey. The exmaid smiled, then put on a stern face again.
“Turn about, face the wall. Put your arms behind your back. Good.”
Dana took ropes from one of their bags and started to strictly bind her lover. She was a bit brutal on purpose while doing it. The Achaian groaned deeply and struggled weekly in the tight bondage. Finished, Dana hit her lover with the flat hand on a buttom cheek, hard.
“Ohh!” Tashmal cried out, shivering delighted.
The blonde hit her again, and as Tashmal screamed once more, Dana stuffed a latexa packing into her mouth.
“UMMPPH! MUMMMGGGSCH!”
Quickly she secured the gag with strap and band. Tashmal tried to come to terms with the sudden gagging, mmppffing wildly. Dana gripped her breasts from behind and cupped them.
The brunette pressed her back against Dana, which started to massage the small breasts of her lover.  After a while, she retreated from Tashmal.
“Don’t move, slave.”
Tashmal knelt there, very much in heat
“Lean forward, put your face into the pillow. Good girl.”
“That’s for starters, slave.”
“UMMMPPFF!” Tashmal turned her head and tried to look back at Dana.
The blonde smiled. She was determined to make this night very memorable for her cute little whore.

+++
“Ahhh… Dana?”
“Yes, Megan?”
“Uhhh… its…”
“What, Megan?”
Dana smiled at the witch, looking up from the Achaian love story she had borrowed from Tashmal. The two girls were sitting on couches like the others. Well, most of the others.
Niyi and Tashmal were kneeling before the couches, their legs spread wide, naked save for latexa stockings, gloves and corsages, black for Niyi and blue for Tashmal. Both were strictly tied up with white rope, gagged with three part latexa gags. Niyi was quiet calm, but Tashmal groaned into her gag and wriggled in the bonds.
“Well, Dana, look, its about Tashmal. I mean, why is she…”
“In bondage? A private thing, darling. “
“Ahh, I see. But… she is clearly much in heat. Why doesn’t she use her Majavet skills to…”
“She is forbidden to climax today. Arent you, little Klish?”
“MMPPHH! GMMSCH!”
“Ohh, I understand. Well, good we have talked about that.”
“I agree, my dear,” Dana smiled.
Zusha made a disapproving sound and looked from Dana to Tashmal and back. She seemed to be in a fool mood today, being even harsher with Lina than usual. Megan meanwhile eyed Tashmal curiously, if not as if herself in heat.
The dragon had left Omka Ogl one hour ago, onboard the friends and 17 other passengers, mainly Rondakas, but also 4 Kai Ti. Dana had watched these without staring to openly at them.
They were indeed as petite as Tashmal, and their carefully made up faces looked so fine like that of porcellaine dolls. Dana especially had noticed how small their noses were. The women wore colorful silken gowns with wide sleeves, their hair was arranged to knots or towers, with small ivory butterflies, flowers or dragons in it. When they smoked – these here obviously having no shortage of sticks – they did so very delicately and gracefully.  While sucking on the sticks filters, Danas sharp ears heard them always moan and whimper a bit, as if they were all smoking Malegos – but all had light brands like Laxagos or Jellragos.
All in all, they seemed so soft, that Dana could hardly imagine them in tight bondage – what she did nevertheless.
Rowenn came over from her couch and asked Zusha:
“May I take your slave with me, Zusha? I would like to play Kerkor with her. She has beaten me in our last game, and I lust for revenge.”
“Very well. Slave, give your best. If you lose you will be lashed tonight.”
“Yes, mistress. You know I always win.”
Dana herself hadn’t played Lina yet, but had seen her beating both Rowenn and Niyi, the best players of their group before.
There was pride in Linas voice on stating that she always won. Good, Dana thought, maybe all hope is not lost yet.
Suddenly Sirf said in Danas mind:
“Uhh, I like what I see here.”
“You mean Tashmal and Niyi hotly packaged?”
“That too, yes, but I am speaking of something else.”
“Will you enlighten me?”
“You and your Tashmal. The girl looks happy and relaxed despite her situation, and every minute she casts you a glance full of mindless love. And you seem quite happy too. It seems your relationship has grown in depth.”
“You are right. I am happy, and I think she is too.”
“What about this sacrifices for Agazut?”
“I no longer believe she kills human beings to worship this aspect. If she has done so in the past, I don’t care.”
“That’s very good to hear. Now that you have reached this stage, I think its ok to tell you that she speaks the truth. She always avoided to kill human beings, at least innocent ones, for this deity. As you should know, she doesn’t believe in goddesses. And you should know now too, that she isn’t more evil than any of us.”
“You are right. But thanks for telling me that. Feel yourself hugged.”
“Pahh. You could consider stroking my fur for real instead. Everyone has done so, even super cool Zusha. But the blonde heroine always ignores my bodily needs.”
“Its probably because I always have you in my mind. Pretend to go away now, as I want to talk with my love.”
Dana lowered the book and leaned forward to Tashmal:
“This evening, when we rest in an inn after the flight, I will ask the inn mistress if she can use your help in cleaning the dishes in the kitchen.”
“GMMBSCH!”
Tashmals eyes bulged at that. She stared at Dana, seemingly unsure if this had been a joke or a real promise – or threat. Megan eyed both of them curiously. Zusha abruptly rose from her place beside Dana and headed over to a window. She normally didn’t go about on a flight, due to her air sickness.
The blonde frowned and looked after her. What was it with Zusha today? She shrugged. Probably thinking about how to deal with Lina in the long term.  
She turned her attention to the book again. That works like these were Tashmals favorite literature was strange to say the least. Romantic and soft, or even sob stuff, this love story here. It was fun to read, but it was certainly not something you expected a sarcastic, if not cynical Achaian whore to read.
“I gather it’s a game between you too,” Megan broke the silence again.
“Care to join?”
“Uhh… I mean, its between you and Tashmal, and I…”
“Sure, sorry, Megan. But maybe you can ask your sworn combatter, pretty Rowenn, to play it with you. On the other hand, we should not become overly careless. There is danger ahead, and too much of us in bondage can naturally be dangerous, as they will be of no help in an emergency.”
“Yes, yes, you are right.” Megan hastily said.
But she licked her lips, stared at Tashmal, then over to Rowenn, who was playing farther aft with Lina, her head bent down over the Kerkor board.
Dana leaned forward and squeezed one of Tashmals breasts, which were accentuated nicely by the ropes. The helpless milkskinn sent her a hot glance and mewed into her gag.
Megan mouthed a Malego and mumbled the little spell to produce a small flame on a fingertip. It didn’t work. Dana grinned and resumed reading…