Techromancy Scrolls: Adept by Erik Schubach Read Free Book Online Page B

look of pride on her face. “You say he stayed his hand, but you are incorrect. I watched this little slip of a girl stand tall at the whipping post. She did not cry out as the whip cut unto her back. The magistrate struck more forcefully each time yet she still did not cry out. There were murmurings about the brave child for days after that.”
    I pushed that day out of my thoughts and said in a tight voice, “Mother told me to be strong, so I tried to do her proud and refused to show weakness.”
    She grinned at me and sat back on the bench and started washing up. She glanced at her fellow knight, “You should have seen her when confronted by eight marauders, unarmed. Instead of trying to flee or begging for mercy, she just stood there and threw their threats back at them.”
    Verna rolled her eyes in humor. “So you have told me, seven times now.” They got into a shoving match and I chuckled at their childish behavior. I made an odd realization at that moment. Knights are people too. I blinked at that. I have always seen them as these paragons of right, the larger than life heroes that kept evil at bay. But – I looked at the playful women – they can laugh too.
    I relaxed and grabbed one of the bristle brushes tethered to the benches and started scrubbing a week's worth of dirt and grime off of my skin.
    They got me talking about the surprise of finding the spoils and prizes of battle at my doorstep in the morning. About being able to purchase mother's medicines. How I was going to the castle after the bath to sell my finds from the previous day.
    Celeste brightened, “I'll accompany you if you don't mind. Until Bowyn recovers, I'm stuck at the castle for the next week or two, and I get ever so bored.”
    I blushed and looked down and nodded. She said as she turned her back to me, “Good! Now that that is settled, scrub my back for me would you? I'll do yours.”
    I was surprised by the wound on her left shoulder, it was only a series of angry red scars where the marauder's weapon struck. How could it heal so much in but a day?
    I shook my head then looked away from her shoulder and I blinked at the flawless skin she presented me. It was marred only by short scars in three places that, as I ran my fingers across them, I realized could only be sword entry wounds. I held my breath as I moved my hands down her back, feeling the smooth skin that I would associate with a noble.
    She said in a wavering voice, “Trying to make me swoon is not conducive to getting my back clean Laney.” I was breathing hard and felt flush as she glanced back with a demure look. She froze and whispered, “Your eyes. Calm yourself. Breathe.” I nodded and closed my eyes and pushed away the heat building inside me. I felt the power fade but the heat was still there. I opened my eyes and she smiled and nodded. I grabbed a brush and she turned and I started scrubbing. Verna seemed to be watching the whole exchange with great curiosity.
    After the sinfully erotic experience of having a Knight of the Realm wash my back and run her hands along it, we stepped out of the baths and wrapped in our towels. I kept my back to them as I quickly dressed. I know I will surely burn in hell, but I peeked as Celeste got dressed. Her long legs and shapely butt were... I bit my lower lip and looked away.
    I had an epiphany at that moment. Was that truly why I never wished to be wed like all the other girls? Why the thought of laying with a man repulsed me? Was I broken in some way? I couldn't deny the fact that I was extremely sexually attracted to a Lady of the Court. To a female Knight. Hell is too good a place for me. It was not unheard of for a man to lay with a man, or a woman with a woman, though it was exceedingly rare. I took another peek just to see her looking my way. Caught. I blushed and stood.
    I swear she was grinning but I refused to look directly at her after being caught looking. The women took out a hairbrush and brushed out each others