Foreign Exchange (The Concubine Chronicles Book 1) (5 page)

For most of the others, she was just . . .  there.  Like the flowers in the center of the table, like the servants, like decanters.  They would raise an eyebrow if Liera moaned, or laugh if Jalah made her do a trick—she had to hold a banana in her mouth, or try to collect grapes that were spilled in her cage with her lips and her toes—that sort of thing.  But then they'd look away, continue talking about other things, or pay more attention to the food or the music.

Occasionally, one of the guests would take more of an interest, have a whispered conversation with Jalah or the Krin, watching Liera writhe and moan.  A shake of the head, a regretful shrug of the shoulders, and then it was dropped, or Liera was given another humiliating trick to perform.

The tricks were bad, but her reaction to them was worse.  After Jalah had finally let her finish, Liera had felt like she wasn't going to be interested in sex for a week.  But now . . . now she was close.  Every time Jalah let her touch herself, she was thrumming with need, and she was squeaking with disappointment every time she had to stop, her legs still moving, twisting against each other.

The people at dinner were noticing, which made her more embarrassed, which got her closer.  Then the flute girl noticed as well, and matched her rhythm to Liera's—little fluttering trills as Liera got close, slower, languorous music as she writhed in her cage.  It took Liera a little while to catch on, but when she did, she looked over at the flute girl, hoping for some sort of sympathy, someone who'd see what was happening to her, and relent.

The flute girl was young and dark and intent.  There was just the faintest look over Liera, the faintest little knowing smile.  Then she winked, and looked back down at the instrument, keeping pace with Liera's every motion.

Finally, the tables were cleared, and the guests started saying their goodnights, heading out.  Most of them did.  On her way out, the Ossian woman stopped by Liera's cage to talk to Jalah.  As she did, she picked a stuffed fig up off the corner table, held it through the bars.  Liera reached for it, and the woman pulled it back.  "No hands, piglet," she said.

Liera flushed, but she was hungry.  She came up, craning her neck, and the woman let her nibble the fig from her hand.  "She is very charming, Jalah.  Wherever did you pick her up?"

"She is on loan from Maash—Maash Enari, you know her?  Only I believe that she has eaten quite enough stuffed figs in her life."

"Oh, but she's so nice like this; such a lovely round belly, and bottom.  You don't suppose Miss Enari could be convinced to lend her?"

Jalah shook her head.  "Maash is very young, and filled with foolish notions.  Perhaps I will convince her to relax her guard, but for now, no.  And no, not another fig, please.  The furniture is quite valuable, Arith; I should not wish to see it overstrained."

Arith laughed.  "Oh, she's a piglet, not a sow, Jalah."  She took one of the long-handled tine knives that they used for fish, and jabbed it in Liera's butt; Liera jerked and squealed.  "See?  A high pitched little oink, and while the flesh moves pleasantly, it does not fold around the fork."

Jalah laughed.  "Nonetheless, I do not wish to return her fatter than I received her."

"Oh, if you insist," said Arith.  "On your side, piglet; with your breasts up to the bars."

Liera looked at Jalah, who gave her an impatient nod, and Liera did as she was told.  As she expected, she was jabbed in the breast.  The left nipple, again, which was already sensitive.  She'd resolved not to make any noise, but there was nothing she could do; another little squeak got out.

"So lovely," said Arith.  "And she still blushes!  A very charming entertainment, Jalah."

Jalah smiled, bowed slightly, and Arith bowed in return, winking at Liera before she left.

"Such a delightful lady," said Jalah.  "And wonderfully cruel, even for an artist."

"Please, lady," Liera started.  She'd been too distracted to be hungry, but that fig. . .

Jalah held a finger up to her lips, and rang the bell again.  Liera moaned, her hand dipping back down between her thighs; she watched the last of the guests leave through something of a haze.

When they were gone, Jalah rang the bell again, and called over the flute girl.  "Tsui," she said, "feed my pet her dinner.  Greens, some peppers, and buckwheat.  Perhaps a fingerlength or two of fish, and a fruit at the end, if she behaves well.  When she is ready, bring her to the bedchamber."

"Yes, Lady Jalah," said Tsui.  "May I . . . "  Her hands made a small movement, like she was grabbing at something.

"Oh, Tsui," said Jalah with a small laugh.  "I'm afraid that only the Krin and myself are to handle her directly.  But whatever else you feel is needed in the course of your assigned duties is to be done, naturally."

"Of course," said Tsui.  She bowed deeply to Jalah, who touched her forehead with her thumb, and swept out of the room.

There were a few other servants left, clearing the tables, putting out the lights.  Tsui ran over, talked to them for a bit, and then returned with a pail of greens and a small dish of buckwheat.

Liera wasn't particularly fond of either greens or buckwheat, but she was hungry.  Tsui had set the dishes in front of the cage, so she pressed up there, hopeful.

Tsui kept them just out of reach, her eyes sparkling with mischief.  She speared a length of frilled lettuce with a fish fork, extended it into the cage.  Liera bit at it, but it was back out of reach.  Tsui laughed, put it back in.  Again, nothing.  The third time, she let Liera bite it loose.  Liera chewed her lettuce, watching Tsui resentfully.  Tsui laughed.

"There, there!" she said.  "Oh, Lady Jalah's pets are all so much fun.  Would you like another bite?"

Liera wasn't sure what she was supposed to call Tsui, and didn't want to get punished for guessing wrong.  She nodded.

"Well, here, if you could just . . ." There was a spear of asparagus.  There was a butter sauce on it, and little flakes of something fried.  Liera wanted it more than anything, but it was just outside the bars.  Tsui waved it back and forth slowly.  Finally, Liera stuck out her tongue, and she was allowed to lick it.

Tsui giggled.  "If you clean the whole thing without biting, I'll give you three spoonfuls of buckwheat."

It was pretty long, and it was hard to have it in her mouth and not just bite it off, but Liera cleaned her stalk of asparagus, and then had three spoonfuls of buckwheat.

Liera didn't get a lot of food for dinner, and it took a long time for her to eat what little she was allowed.

When she'd licked the last of the buckwheat from the bowl, the rest of the servants had gone, and only the lamps near Liera's cage were still lit.

"It is a pity that only the Krin and the Lady Jalah are to handle you directly," said Tsui.  "But I am supposed to ready you for the bedchamber."

Liera flushed, bowed her head, and Tsui giggled again.  "It may be that all she meant was that I had to feed you, but . . ."

She undid the belt on her robe.  it was hard to see, with the dim light, and the shadows, but Liera could see the curve of her breast, the darkness of her nipple.

Tsui loosened the chain holding Lierah's right hand in place, and then moved around to the back of the back of the cage.  "Still hungry?" asked Tsui.

Liera nodded.

"Well, maybe I'll give you a shiny red apple if you behave.  Move back here, piglet."

First Jalah, then Arith, whoever she was, now a flute girl.  Piglet wasn't a cute name to start with, and now . . . Liera wriggled to the back of the cage.

Tsui looped her belt through the bars, over and under, and tied it taut.  She hadn't touched Liera, but she'd trapped her completely, pressed up against the cold metal of the cage.  Then she stepped back out to where Liera could see her, holding one of those fish forks.

It had two long and pointy tines, and she had already been poked in the ass and breast with one.  Only now, the way that Tsui had tied her, there were considerably more vulnerable parts that could be poked, and she couldn't get away from it.

"Please," said Liera.  "Please don't, I've been good, please?"

Tsui giggled.  "Please, or please don't?"

"Please don't," said Liera.  "I don't. . . nnngh."

Tsui was behind her, and had started stroking her inner lips with the handle of the fork.  "Sure about that?"

Liera didn't answer.

Tsui laughed again, softly.  "Oh, but you are an eager little piggy."  She was touching so softly, and Liera couldn't move against it; she was tied so tightly that her hips couldn't thrust at all.

The touches stopped, and then Tsui was back around to the front of the cage, holding the fork by its tines.  "And now you've gotten the handle all slippery," she said.  "I'll tell you what; if you'd like me to use the other end, you can clean the handle off.  If not, we'll get you out of the cage, and over to where the Krin and Lady Jalah are waiting."

Tsui held the fork through the cage.  Liera could see the shine of her juices in the light, Tsui's amused smile.  "Well, if you're sure," she said, and started to pull it away.  Liera leaned forward, took it in her mouth.

"See?" said Tsui.  "Good girl!  That's what you want.  Why do you pretend not to?  It wastes time, and sometimes people might believe you, if they don't know about you."

She pulled the fork out, held it up to the light.  "Very good," she said, and went around to the back of the cage, and hurt her.

The fork was on her inner lips, it was on her clit, it was prodding around her asshole.  It was very sharp, and Tsui seemed to know exactly how hard she could push without breaking the skin.  Then she would trap a fold of skin between the tines, and twist.  Liera yelped and squealed, tears starting to fall.  If she could've twisted away, she would have, but she couldn't.

Tsui stopped, just when it reached the point of too much.  She untied the belt, letting Liera drop to the floor of her cage; Tsui was breathing a little heavily when she came around to where Liera could see her, and there was a flush to her cheeks.  She saw Liera's face, clucked, and picked up a napkin.

"Here, piglet," she said, and Liera moved back to the front of the cage.  Tsui wiped her tears away with the napkin, her hand warm underneath the cloth.  Then she unlatched the cage.

"Follow, please," she said, and Liera followed.  She didn't even think about standing, until Tsui looked back at her, and doubled over laughing; then Liera flushed.

"One day with the Lady Jalah," said Tsui.  "And you're crawling rather than walking.  I think if she had you for a month, you'd forget how to speak!"

Liera's flush deepened, and she looked down.

"Oh, very well," said Tsui.  "You may crawl, if that's what you want."

Liera considered standing up and walking, but she knew that Tsui would find some way to establish what she really wanted, and she'd have to crawl anyway.  Besides, it was nice to follow behind Tsui's trim legs and cute little butt.

The bedchamber was up another flight of stairs, which was tricky.  Unlike Jalah, Tsui didn't go at a normal pace and wait for Liera to catch up; she went slowly, giggling as Liera climbed.  Finally, the arrived at the room.  The bedside lamps were lit, and both Jalah and the Krin were sitting in the bed, reading.

Jalah looked up at Tsui, who bowed.  "I cannot help but feel that you have strained against the limits of your brief, Tsui."

"I am sorry, Lady Jalah," said Tsui.  "She has been fed and prepared for you.  I am afraid that she did not earn a fruit during the course of these preparations."

"Oh?" Jalah's expression was neutral.

"She pretended that she did not want to be stabbed in her cunt with a fish fork, Lady Jalah."

During the course of the conversation, Jalah had kept her book on her lap. At that, she put it to the side. "Tsui," she said. "You must not abuse the kindness of my friends in this manner; the Lady Maash was kind enough to lend me her possession, and while the limitations she placed on the gift may well reflect the foolishness of youth, it is not your place to violate them."

Tsui bowed her head.

"It may be that you have not violated the precise wording of my agreement, but you have been coming up to that line. Amend your behavior in the future, Tsui, or you shall not be allowed the privileges to which you are accustomed."

"Yes, lady," said Tsui.

"And as for you, piglet," said Jalah, "You must not continue to pretend to be something other than you are. Now, I shall give you another choice, but I warn you, I shall not bother to extract from you an accurate answer; should you continue to pretend, you will not be given the opportunity to change your mind. You will next service both the Krin and myself with your mouth. You shall not be permitted to orgasm—that shall wait until tomorrow evening when my husband returns from his work. But you shall be under considerable discomfort during the entire time you are allowed to touch me with your lips, and when we are done using you, you shall be chained to the foot of the bed until morning."

"Yes, lady, thank you, lady," said Liera. It was deeply embarrassing, but thanks to the dinner and Tsui's attentions, that all sounded really good.

"Do you wish for your new friend to observe you as you are put to use?" asked Jalah. "I imagine there shall be a great deal of grunting and squealing on your part, and very little of the dignity to which you pretend. And Tsui will certainly be greatly amused by your skill and efforts."