Trivalm sat on the floor, chained to the wall, with his head resting back against the cold stone. To say he was upset was an understatement. He could deal with being the slave of a decorated and very successful war General such as Ehrik, but to be reduced to a widow's bed toy was ridiculous. And not even for a very good reason! Yes, everybody knew that Drimelk did not enjoy the company of children, but to think he would ever harm one was ridiculous.
"So, Trivalm," Drimelk called across the room, laughter in his voice.
"Quiet. Raikol needs rest." Trivalm tried to postpone the good natured teasing he knew was to come. He knew it was inevitable, especially from Drimelk, but he just didn't want to deal with it.
"Raikol needs to laugh." Raikol called from another wall.
Trivalm still wasn't ready to play nice. "Laughing will only aggravate your broken ribs."
"Actually," Raikol sounded intrigued, "none of my ribs are broken. I hurt like hell, but nothing's broken. Not even my cheek or nose."
Trivalm was impressed, but not surprised. Of course Ehrik would now how to play rough without breaking his toys. He didn't achieve the rank of General as young as he had without being well versed in violence. He was more surprised at the other side of the war General that they had seen. The kind, compassionate, loving side that seemed reserved for his family. Part of Trivalm wondered if one of the sides were fake, an act on the war General's part, and if so, which one?
"So tell us about your such well known reputation in the bedroom." Drimelk didn't try to hide his amusement.
"Oh, dear friend," Trivalm gave into the inevitable. "I know it may be hard to believe, seeing as women are so adverse to your touch, but many of them,
many
of them, enjoy my company. Specifically my exquisite skill in matters of canal pleasure. One day, my friend, I will teach so that you may properly please at least one woman before your death."
Drimelk and Raikol both laughed. As the laughter died, the three men sat in silence for a moment, each contemplating their new station in life. Something like this had never been done before. Skirmishes happened often, and land or treasures were granted to the winner. Rarely were there full wars, and in those instances, if a peace could not be reached, the king and queen of the losing country were executed, along with the forfeiture of whatever treasures the winning country decided to claim. However, never before had war Generals been traded in turn for one of the royal's lives. They weren't even sure how it happened. All of the Generals that were now slaves were just arriving home, not even having had time to remove their armor, when they were restrained. They had feared the worst, knowing that the King and Queen's lives had been forfeit when the war was lost. Instead, the High Guard, the kings right hand in the palace, the only military man besides the king to outrank a general, had told them of their fate, as the queen sobbed and begged forgiveness. Then the High Guard was executed, and the Queen was taken away.
They were men of war, and although not happy with it, they could accept they had lost the war. The war Generals of the other nation had out maneuvered them. Everything that had happened after, those things were harder to accept.
Finally, Raikol spoke. "Alaliya said that the Queen offered us. Do you think that's true?"
"She is not a woman of war. She never saw the battlefields. And she was so young, twenty years of life, a child really, compared to our king. She wouldn't know anything except her impending death." Drimelk mused. "Alaliya very easily could have twisted what she actually said. The woman speaks with a serpent's tongue and a demon's intent."
Trivalm allowed his head to fall forward. "I wonder if anything Alaliya said was true? First she says our Queen is being raped in a dungeon, then says that she is enjoying it? No woman enjoys rape. Her body may lubricate itself in self-defense, but it is not pleasure, not enjoyment."
Raikol gave a humorless bark of laughter. "Wisdom from the man with the sparkling reputation in the bed chamber?"
Trivalm opened his mouth, but before he could respond, the door to the room opened and one of the Captains that had secured them entered, followed by six serving girls, each carrying a large bowl of steaming water.
The Captain spoke, his eyes sliding to each General. "You will not be allowed in to the great hall covered in filth and smelling of swine. You will allow yourselves to be bathed, or you will not eat this day. If there is any unbecoming behavior, I will see to the servants' safety. Is that understood?"
All three men nodded, understanding perfectly. If any of them made any type of threatening move, the Captain wouldn't hesitate to step in, regardless of the injury to the slaves.
Two women knelt by each man, running the warm cloth over the skin of their arms and chests before rinsing it, wringing it out and doing it again. Trivalm allowed his head to rest back once again, enjoying the simple pleasure of cleanliness. It had been days since he had been able to rinse. His bliss lasted only a moment before a pain-filled grunt broke him out of his reverie. His eyes snapped to Raikol, whose face was twisted with pain. The girls kneeling next to him looked scared, their eyes darting from the bound man to the Captain walking toward them.
"I'm sorry, my lord. I didn't mean...the blood has dried on his wounds..." One of the girls stammered.
The Captain gently took the cloth from the girl, his other hand smoothing back her hair gently. Carefully, he began to cleanse Raikol's face of the blood caking it in spots. The gentleness the Captain used was not missed by any in the room. Raikol actually relaxed under the man's ministrations.
The girl who had apologized spoke again. "Why does that not cause him pain? I was not being rough. I was pressing as lightly as you."
"You were moving across the cut, instead of with it, so every time you stroked the cloth along his face, you pulled the cut open, which moved the swollen flesh, thus causing his pain." That a Captain would take time to teach a servant surprised the bound men.
The girls all giggled as the first one silkily inquired. "And are you so skilled at bathing men, my lord?"
"Little imp." The Captain accused, a wicked grin on his face. "You will pay for that." With that the Captain caught her face and pulled it toward his to lock his lips to hers. "Finish up, my love. I need to think of a fitting punishment for such disrespect."
The girl sent him a saucy look over her shoulder, but obediently returned to cleansing the bound man.
As the girls finished with the men's chests and arms, they moved to remove their pants to cleanse their legs. All except one of the girls kneeling in front of Drimelk. Trivalm nearly groaned. Drimelk who couldn't keep his mouth shut if someone sewed it for him.
"Come along, sweetness. You heard the good Captain, I can't go to the great hall all
dirty
. And I'm
hungry
." As he spoke, Drimelk trailed his voice out, so that the servant, without even noticing it, leaned closer to hear his words. As the girl leaned close, he leaned his head forward to whisper something in her ear.
The girl's jaw fell open with whatever was said. Blood rushed to her face, turning it a bright shade of pink as she pulled away with a gasp. After a moment gaping at Drimelk, who grinned mischievously, the girl shrieked her shocked disbelief before dousing him with the water left in her basin. She jumped to her feet before tuning to storm out of the room.
The Captain just shook his head with an amused smile. "More brawn than brains in you, hmmm?"
Drimelk shrugged and continued to grin. "It was just an offer."
The Captain let out a bark of laughter. "A completely honorable one, I'm sure."
"Of course! What type of cad do you take me for?"
