Ritual Ch. 05
Keywords: Ritual, 05, Ch.,
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"Ritual will be the third book of this trilogy. Pervikar is the first and Rescue is the second. I wish to express my thanks to the readers who have sent me feedback and have voted for my stories. My special thanks go to sweetmirazh, who does my editing, and mack_the_knife."
"How do you feel this morning?"
Genese had been on the verge of waking up when she heard Karina ask the question. She opened her eyes and found herself lying in a king-size four-poster bed. Sunlight streamed through two large windows. The room was painted light blue with a mural of the heavens on the ceiling; scalloped edging framed the image. Genese slowly lifted her head off the soft down pillow to look at Karina.
Karina was sitting in a plush dark blue chair by the doorway sewing a piece of cloth. Sitting next to her was Lorilei, who was holding a mug of hot tea with a spoon that was stirring itself around in the liquid. In the opposite corner, sitting in her floating chair, was Princess Sophia. A large book was floating in front of her with a pixie sitting on top of it. Genese gasped when she caught sight of Princess Sophia and jumped out of bed only to find out that she was completely naked. She yanked the bedcover off the bed and wrapped it around her.
"Thank you, you are dismissed," said Princess Sophia to the pixie. The pixie flew up, marked the page, and closed the book. She then touched it and they both disappeared in a small flash of light. Princess Sophia turned her chair to face Genese. "Be at ease, Genese."
"How...how did I get here, Your Highness?" stammered Genese, looking around for her clothing.
"Genese, you passed out last night," said Karina, standing up. She led Genese over to the chair she had been sitting in and pushed the girl down into it. "Small wonder considering the small lunch you ate, no dinner at all, a hike up a million stairs, and then what happened between you and Prince Antonio. He carried you up here and you've been out ever since."
"Did he...I mean..." and Genese fell silent, blushing a bright scarlet.
"No, dearie, you didn't do the nasty with him," quipped Lorilei. "Not that you didn't get the juices flowing, if you know what I mean."
"But...but..." stammered Genese.
"Lady Lorilei, hush," commanded Princess Sophia. "Genese, by what you did last night, my husband was able to be intimate, able to recall all those feelings he kept suppressing. I think he was even beginning to suppress his love for me. I was finally able to please and pleasure him after you fainted. We're closer than we have been in a long time."
"Yes, Your Highness," said Genese, standing up. "I'm happy I was able to help both of you. If you will excuse me I need to get dressed and attend to my duties."
"Genese, I have to ask you something," said Princess Sophia.
"Yes, Your Highness, I know what it is."
"You do?" asked Princess Sophia, a little surprised by Genese's statement.
"Is it to enflame his passion again, Your Highness?" asked Genese. "It could break the slender bond you two have forged."
"Some bonds get stronger in heat," replied Princess Sophia. "My husband is correct. Sex is a participation activity. How long do you think that bond will last because of my lack of response to his caresses? How long before he tires of having to reposition me because he has to move a little? How long before he feels he's taking advantage of me because of my lack of mobility...before he's bored by the lack of variety?"
"I don't know, Your Highness," stated Genese.
"You two could switch bodies, just for the night," said Lorilei blandly as she took the spoon out of her tea. "It's not too difficult a spell."
"No," said Princess Sophia flatly before anyone could speak. "I would not subject anyone to my body's handicap for even a minute. Then, there would also be the desire to make the arrangement permanent. That option will never be discussed or brought up again."
"Yes, Your Highness," said Lorilei nonplused.
"This argument may be moot," stated Karina. "I need to talk to that priest of Hades...Coster...Koslas...?"
"Costas," corrected Princess Sophia. "He should be arriving soon, if he's not here already. Come, let us go downstairs and let Genese dress in peace. Genese, please, think over my request."
Karina and Lorilei followed Princess Sophia out the door and down the hallway. Princess Sophia's enchanted chair floated easily down the stairs. As they turned onto another hallway, Princess Sophia stopped and turned her chair around to face Karina.
"Will you let her stay, if she agrees?" asked Sophia with pleading eyes.
"I can not force her to stay anymore than I can force her to go with me," said Karina. "Only the Gods know how many times I've tried to send her home."
"Oh, please, dearies," griped Lorilei, rolling her eyes. "This is beginning to get tedious. Karina, you worry about Costas and what we may need for the journey. I'll talk to Prince Antonio and Genese."
"Uh, I don't think that is a good idea," said Karina. Princess Sophia's expression clearly showed she thought the same way.
"You two will be too namby-pamby about it," said Lorilei. "That will mess it up even more, dearies. I...I will be, let's say, more brutally frank about the whole situation. Genese has already changed what it had been. Now is the time to move on to what it should become."
"And that is...?" asked Princess Sophia warily.
"A royal consort or mistress, if you prefer," said Lorilei blandly. "One selected by you with the Prince's approval...one who has no power or authority. Of course, the position would have to be temporary, no more than a year before you send her packing with some suitable gift. If she doesn't leave, then she can be buried in the royal graveyard."
"That's barbaric!" exclaimed Princess Sophia. "What sort of woman would put herself in that sort of position?"
Lorilei laughed viciously and said, "I could name hundreds, dearie. You mean you don't know any woman who wouldn't have a liaison with your husband, even a temporary one, for...one, to be known to have had a tryst with Prince Antonio; two, for a chance to use the situation to gain some power or reward; or three, to try and replace you while she is here?" Lorilei's face lost its smile and took on a serious expression. "Genese would be perfect, probably on a permanent basis. She's intelligent, subtle, and devoted to those she gives her trust to. It would be your responsibility to keep her safe and out of the court politics and intrigues. You'll also have to decide what to do when she becomes pregnant."
Princess Sophia was silent for a long time. She finally sighed, turned her chair around, and started back down the hallway.
"You're quite right," she said to Lorilei. "I would have sugar-coated it too much. I accept your offer, Lady Lorilei, to mediate this matter for us. I want Genese, but I want her to stay of her own free will. It took some...honesty for me to see the situation clearly."
"I'd be delighted to talk to both of them, if we return," said Lorilei.
"If?" asked Princess Sophia. "Karina, where exactly is Costas taking the three of you?"
Karina grimaced that Princess Sophia had caught Lorilei's slip of the tongue. She looked over at Lorilei, who also grimaced and shrugged her shoulders apologetically. Before Karina could answer, though, Genese walked around a corner and joined them.
"Sophia, do you mind if we find Costas before I answer you?" asked Karina. "He will answer your question for me."
"Of course," said Princess Sophia, miffed at being put off.
They went down the hallway and entered into a large room. An oval table with a dozen chairs spaced around it dominated the center of the room. Prince Antonio and Costas were both sitting at the table and rose to their feet at the ladies' entrance.
"Good morning, ladies," greeted Prince Antonio. "I hope you slept well?"
"Very well, Your Highness," stated Lorilei with a smile.
"Well, I'm sure you have things to discuss with Costas," said Prince Antonio. "If you will excuse Princess Sophia and myself..."
"Your Highness, I would prefer if the two of you would remain,' said Karina. "I want you to hear what Costas has to say."
"Are you sure, milady?" asked Costas, losing some of his jovial spirit. "What about the other two ladies?"
"They know where we are going, so that is not a problem," replied Karina.
Costas' face went blank in shock. His mouth opened and closed a couple of times before he found his voice.
"Milady, I believe there has been a misunderstanding. The invitation was for you alone. You are afforded a certain amount of protection by being invited. Your friends have no such protection and would be vulnerable to anything they meet."
"Where are you going?" asked Princess Sophia with trepidation in her voice. Karina looked over at her and saw that she had already guessed the answer, despite asking the question. Prince Antonio stretched out his hand and touched his wife's cheek to calm her.
"I have heard the legend that there was an entrance to...to your deity's realm somewhere on this island," said Prince Antonio. "I thought it was just a myth."
"No, it is not a myth, Your Highness," said Costas. "You will not be able to find it, though. Even I will not be able to locate it again after I have escorted Baroness Karina there."
"So, you are saying you will not take me with Karina on this trip?" asked Lorilei ominously.
"You may accompany us, if you wish," said Costas flatly. "Only Baroness Karina stands a chance of returning. Cerberus won't let you in while you are alive and he'll definitely keep you in after he has killed you."
"Enough!" exclaimed Karina, slapping a hand on the table. "Hades told me that death is a solitary experience. I am going to have to face this alone. No one will come with me and, if they follow me, I'll stake them out over an anthill until I return. Am I clear on this?"
Genese and Lorilei did not like Karina's ultimatum, but both nodded their heads to agree with her wishes.
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Keywords: Ritual, 05, Ch.,