Express uncertainty about her role

Abbie decides it probably would not be best to tell Delphan that she was smiling about his missing nuts. Instead, she says, “I’m just filled with wonder about my situation. I feel so unprepared for what awaits me, and I do not want to disappoint the king.”

Delphan studies the young woman and says, “I wouldn’t worry if I were you. His Majesty may be the king, but he is first and foremost a man. And you know how to please a man, I assume?”

He looks at her steadily, and Abbie feels her face grow warm. She is quite unaccustomed to having strangers talk so openly about such intimate matters. Refusing to cower, however, she says, “Only vaguely.... I mean, girls talk, but....” Her voice trails off, finding it more difficult to express herself than she thought.

“I see,” said the elf in a enigmatic tone. “So you are truly a virgin in every respect? You have not been with a man at all?”

She shook her head. The only man she would have even considered being with in that way was Ben, and she didn’t even know if he felt anything at all for her. How she would have loved for them to learn from each other! That was all moot now as the carriage continued on, carrying her to a man who would likely not care at all about her feelings or her pleasure — it would all be about him!

Delphan slowly strokes his chin. “How rare! Even in these remote villages, it is difficult to find someone who is totally novice in the ways of the flesh. Are you saying you have not even licked the manhood of some suitor? Or felt his finger split your thighs?”

Abbie gasped at the brazenness of the questions. She was rewarded with a chuckle from the elf. “I can see from your expression that you have not! Well, this is an interesting development!”

“How do you mean? Does that mean I am unqualified?” she asks as she gets over her shock at the question.

“Quite the opposite, I should think,” says the elf. “His Majesty has probably not had anyone so untouched in years. I imagine he will he quite pleased. Assuming, of course, that you are not so prudish that you resist his tutorials.”

She looks at Delphan, attempting to discern his meaning. “His tutorials?”

“If the king asks you to do something you have never done before, he’s not likely to want to spend a lot of time coaxing cooperation out of you.”

She nods, still feeling very uncomfortable about the subject. “I understand.”

“Do you now?” The elf continues to stroke his chin thoughtfully. “Suppose I were the king, and I asked you to pleasure me with your mouth right now. Would you hesitate? And when the king ejaculates in your mouth, will you obediently swallow, or will you make a mess by spitting his seed all over the carriage floor?”

He asks the questions casually, as if he was interested in nothing more personal than her technique in brewing a cup of tea. The words sear Abbie like hot irons, however, and she is so outraged that she cannot find words.

“As I feared,” said Delphan. “You will need training before meeting the king.”

The carriage clears a thicket of trees, and Abbie gets her first look at the palace, towering over the horizon. The sight hits her as Delphan’s words begin to sink in. What was this training he is suggesting? She remembered the way he worded one of the hypotheticals: “Suppose I were the king...” Was he suggesting she should do exactly that and perform oral sex on him? But as a eunuch, what would that even be like?

She looks again at the nearing palace and makes a decision.