By the Manor Owned

by Phair

Disclaimer: Consider this Uber. The characters may have a physical resemblance to a late warrior and her bard but that is as far as it goes. No infringement is intended and no profit will be gained.

Warnings: Violence, sex (f/f, m/m, f/m), rape, bad language, nasty characters and angst driven situations. Basically, this is for adults only!

Why: This is for all the nice folks who asked for a sequel of TO THE MANOR SOLD. To understand this story, you really need to read that one first.

Feedback: p.phair@comcast.net and you can visit my web site at www.phair1.com

Part 4

"You didn't have to do that. I would never ask you to…, never in front of other people," Tess muttered once they were clear of the governor's booth. "I wouldn't want to embarrass you," She offered lamely.

"Embarrass?" Jordan giggled, "Sex is what I was trained for. It would have looked strange if I didn't pleasure you during the governor's orgy," Jordan kept in step behind Tess. "Besides, maybe I wanted to."

Tess stopped short. Her initial reservations burned away with a renewed desire to take what was her own. She whirled around and caught Jordan in her open arms. Seizing trembling, slightly blue lips, Tess placed a searing kiss on the young slave. Several hoots and calls of encouragement echoed around them. Jordan heard none of it as she melted into the warmth her lover provided.

"And maybe," Tess whispered after breaking the her passionate hold, "maybe I wanted to do that."

"Alright by me," Jordan blushed as she regained her breath.

An insistent whistle in the distance returned Tess' thoughts to business. L'tish was whistling and waving at them from the cashier's table. The man appeared excited but definitely not happy.

"What now? Let's hope he finished so we can be on our way," Tess gave a gentle tug to Jordan's leash as they set across the courtyard. "I want to get you home and warm," Tess flashed a wicked grin, "and wet."

"Well, you got two out of three so far," Jordan smiled sweetly as she fell into step behind her Master.

A mud covered L'tish greeted the pair with harsh, rapid gestures betraying his anger. He pointed to two burly guards chuckling a few feet away and the woman clerk at the cashier's table. The clerk watched the silent, one sided conversation with a smug expression. Had she bothered to look at Tess, her overconfidence may have been shaken. Frowning, the Master of Westerly was clenching her fists as L'tish painted a picture in the air of his dilemma. When L'tish finally let his hands rest by his sides, Tess gave him an almost imperceptible nod.

Jordan had tried to keep pace with the message. She was still learning L'tish's physically beautiful language. Each finger and hand twist with or without a corresponding facial expression conveyed a word, emotion, or thought. The profanities were obvious and of no use to Jordan as she tried to piece the events together. Some details were plain; other Master, want first pick, guard say yes, me say no, push, mud, big laugh, take pick, we short one.

"Now, I just gonna tell you this one time," Tess turned her full fury on the foolish cashier. "If I send an employee to carry out my purchases then I expect he be treated as I would be treated. He's never to be harassed and demeaned! As a land owner and invited guest of the governor, I have the right to demand restitution for your insult to my household."

"For God's sake, he's a slave! Another land owner liked one of the studs he picked out. Your guy wouldn't let the Master have his pick so the guards had to 'reason' with the boy." The woman smirked, "After that, we had a little fun with the slave ourselves. No real harm done, right?"

"Idiot, you should have read his papers before you had those goons toss him in the mud. This man is my blacksmith and a free citizen."

The three became suddenly somber. The implication of Tess' words chilled them more than the late fall wind cutting across the courtyard. Hitting a land owners' slave was considered pleasant sport. An added perk to working the auctions. But, hitting a free man was a crime punishable with prison.

"No, he's a slave. Your father cut his tongue out years ago. I remember him," the woman prattled.

"I freed him," Tess stated calmly and waited.

The air seemed heavy with the smell of fear. One of the guards stepped away from the other as if to distance himself from the situation. The clerk rose from her chair and made several attempts to speak before the words finally came.

"Okay, we're sorry," she swallowed hard when Tess sneered, "It was stupid of us. Childish, in fact. But, you can't mean to press charges?"

"Oh, no, I don't intend to press charges," Tess waited until they all breathed a sigh of relief before continuing. "L'tish would be the one to do that. Wouldn't you, my friend?"

L'tish gave a broad smile at the reckless trio.

"Can't we work something out?" The clerked nearly begged.

Tess turned back to L'tish and winked. The big man, feeling some of his pride returning, made several deliberate signs. His very last remark was a one finger gesture that needed no interpretation.

"He'd settle for a ten pound sack of grain," Tess raised an eyebrow.

"That's more than the three of us get for working the whole auction!" The clerk's face began to redden.

"Yes, but so much less burdensome than prison time," Tess stated with the certainty only experience can provide.

"Fine," the clerk's hands were shaking as she gathered Tess' receipts, "it'll be put in your transport when we load the slaves."

"I'm still one short," Tess gave a half smile at the clerk's annoyance.

"Damn it! Here, take the daily special; twins, buy one get one free. They'll be great pleasure slaves because their sterile."

"Settled," Tess kept her thin, fake smile in place.

"Bring your transport around to receiving. Follow the road to the booth behind the cages," the clerk scanned the receipts into the computer as she spoke. Handing the tags to Tess, she dully intoned, "Have a nice day."

Tess snorted a sad laugh at the hollow words. Glancing at the papers in her hand, she felt a wave of fatigue from the petty battle they had waged. She threatened and bullied her way to purchases she did not even want to make. Her life seemed terribly pointless at that very moment.

Turning to leave, Tess caught sight of Jordan tending a small cut under L'tish's eye. The slave tore off a piece of her skimpy tunic to clean the wound. Tess could not suppress her smile at the simple kindness. Thoughts of the futile nature of life ebbed as Tess let her senses delight in Jordan's presence. It was the closest her heart had ever come to pure joy.

"Something wrong, Master?" Jordan was surprised to find Tess staring at her so intently.

"No, everything's alright now."

* * *

"Please, harder," Jordan panted.

She was flat on her back in Tess' compartment of the transport. Tess had barely drawn the drapes before dropping Jordan to the floor and burying her face between the slave's thighs. The Master's undivided attention had already brought on two orgasms and the third seemed to be one good suck away. Tess surprised Jordan with two fingers and a firm push but no bite.

"Harder," Jordan sobbed her agony over the delay.

Tess gave a throaty laugh before fulfilling Jordan's demand. The slave let out a squeal when the pleasure between her legs peaked. A chain reaction of warmth sparked across every inch of her trembling body.

"That'll do it," Tess' eyes glistened as she watched Jordan ride the rippling waves of pleasure.

"Thank you," Jordan moaned when she caught her breath.

"They're still loading," Tess began to strip her clothes away. "I think you could show me a few things, as an expression of your gratitude."

"Did you bring any teaching tools?" Jordan manage to pull open the storage draw under the seat without completely moving out from under Tess. "This again? You never get enough of this."

"Apparently, neither does my brother," Tess blushed as Jordan held up the large vibrator.

"You know, the way I remember it, you begged me not to use this on you that first time in the fishing house," Jordan teased.

"Yeah, well I was ignorant to your extraordinary talent for knowing the dark depths of my desires," Tess licked her lips after she tossed the last of her clothing aside. "Tell me what you want me to do?"

"Oh, you're gonna do everything before we get back to the Manor," Jordan announced as she saturated the vibrator with her own juices, "but let's start with you on your hands and knees so I can get to the bottom of that darkness of yours."

* * *

The newly purchased slaves were marched out of the transport into the courtyard of the Manor. L'tish lined them up so Tess could inspect them. It was a formality. The purchase directive was for strong backs and breeders. L'tish staid well within the guidelines. The group's wait in the cold was longer than one would expect. L'tish reasoned that Tess must be enjoying her privacy with Jordan a little too much. When Tess stumbled out of her compartment, clothing in disarray, L'tish had to stifle smirk at his correct assessment of the situation. A clearly satisfied Master of Westerly swaggered over to the group with Jordan in tow behind her.

"As you can see, I've got better things to do. I'll make this quick and easy," Tess wrapped her arms around Jordan, letting the slave cuddle against the warmth of her breasts, while she addressed the new purchases. "This is Westerly Manor and I am your Master. You will be obedient, work hard, and enjoy the fruits of this estate. If you fail to please me then you will be sold away. It's really that simple. L'tish will take you down to the quarantine cells. You'll be there seven to ten days to make sure you are free of communicable diseases. Any questions? Good. Off you go then."

Tess did not allow time for any of the new slaves to be stupid enough to ask a question. The line of slaves slowly made their way passed Tess. Their eyes were glued to the ground except for one auburn haired girl who dared a glance at Jordan.

"You," Tess released her hold of Jordan to pull the girl to a stop by her hair, "be respectful! You're lucky, I'm in a good mood today. Try something like that again and I might not be. Then I'd might want to blind you for such arrogance."

"Sorry, Master," but the girl did not sound sincere.

"L'tish, half rations and two extra days in solitary for this one," Tess shoved the little viper back in line. "Come on, Jordan, I've had enough for one day."

Jordan stood mute. Her pale features were clouded with fear. Tess assumed her harsh attitude had frightened Jordan. Not wanting to discuss the matter in public, Tess put an arm around the shivering slave's slight shoulders during the long walk to their room. She had hoped to reassure Jordan but the slave did not unbend.

"I'm sorry," Tess finally spoke when the door latched closed behind her.

Jordan just nodded, not trusting her voice yet.

"It might seem cruel to punish for a look but slaves have to follow the rules. If they don't then it could cost them an eye, a hand or their lives," Tess crossed the room to face Jordan but the woman would not look at her.

"I understand," Jordan cringed inside knowing she should explain herself fully to Tess but remained silent instead.

"I'm trying to spare the girl and the others real pain with a gentle lesson in humility." Tess guided Jordan's chin up, "Is that all of it? Or is there something else you want to talk about?"

"No," Jordan answered a little too quickly. "I mean, the whole day was overwhelming and then, this, you know, at the end, and, L'tish," it was no longer merely an omission, Jordan had just lied to Tess.

"Easy there," Tess hugged the babbling woman. "I didn't mean to put you on the spot. Why don't we get cleaned up for dinner? A hot shower would do you a world of good."

"I'd rather take a nap," Jordan saw an opportunity to steer the conversation to what she did best. "You, me, an hour in bed. That might do us both some good."

"Okay," Tess feigned a sigh, "if you insist."

* * *

Five days after the auction and Tess was still worried about Jordan's mood. Jordan was distracted. At times, the little blonde was downright irritable. She tried to hide the changes but Tess noticed. After days of worry, Tess decided to act.

"Jordan," Tess was shrugging into a sweater to combat the drafts which whistled through the halls of the Manor, "Jordan, could you come out here?"

"Need something?" The towel clad slave hurried out of the bathroom.

"Good morning," Tess placed tender kisses on Jordan's lips, neck, shoulder. "You keep running around like this and I'll be late for my meetings."

"You call, I come, that's how it works," Jordan did not mean for it to sound bleak but it did.

"I have meetings all morning," Tess ignored the remark and continued to stroke her love. "I'm trying to hire a new overseer. It means I have to work right through the morning and most likely over lunch. As a reward for all my hard work, I was thinking the two of us could make an escape to the fishing house."

"When?" Jordan was cautious.

"Tonight, around dinner time. I thought you'd like the idea," Tess was stunned by the lack of enthusiasm.

"Oh, I do," Jordan rested her forehead on Tess' chest. "I don't know what's wrong with me. Time away with you is just what I need."

Tess could tell Jordan was forcing herself to smile when she lifted her head. It was an effort but at least Jordan was trying.

"I'll get Dinah to pack food for us and you get together some really warm clothes. We leave as soon as my last interview pulls onto the main road," Tess cooed in a soft, pink ear.

"Tess, can I ask a favor?" Jordan accepted the gentle hum in her ear as a yes. "I'd like to help Corey with he's rounds today. Would that be okay?"

"Why?" Tess stood back a bit in surprise.

"Why, not? Maybe I'd like to how to do something other than spread my legs," Jordan's pent up rage bubbled over. "Never mind!"

Jordan meant to storm away. Two strong hands stopped her from a hasty retreat. When Tess spun her around, Jordan was greeted with the face of her very angry Master.

"I have been patient with you," Tess hissed as she trapped Jordan's wrists behind her back. She forced the woman up on her toes, "You may not walk out on a discussion. You will deal with our disagreements in a mature fashion. Don't forget yourself again. While I am your devoted lover, I am also you MASTER!"

"I'm sorry, Master."

The tears in Jordan's eyes were real. The pain in her arms from the fierce grip was excruciating. She would not plead for mercy because, in her heart, she knew she did not deserve it.

"Tell me why you think sharing my bed is less important than treating wounds or tending the sick."

"I didn't say less important," Jordan whispered. "I would just like to be more valuable to you."

Tess released Jordan's wrists but kept the woman in front of her.

"Nothing you do could make you more valuable to me," Tess felt a wave a guilt at her rash behavior. "We both need this time to ourselves. Be ready to leave tonight. If you want to help Corey then you have my blessing."

Tess did not wait for a response from her sniffling lover. She left moments before Jordan crumpled to the floor sobbing.

"Might not get more valuable but I sure could get a lot less valuable with what I'm gonna do," Jordan mumbled through her tears.

TBC...

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