Go to the beach

Adella hesitates only a short time before saying, “I think a stroll on the beach this evening would be lovely.”

The other ladies leave her to change into something more comfortable. As Adella dresses, she tells herself that nothing inappropriate will happen on the beach. “I’m simply going to get some fresh air and to see a different kind of creature. Father told me to keep my eyes open and be able to report all the details of what life is like here. How can I do that if I remain cooped up in my room?”

Of course, she had no intention of reporting to her father the details of what it was like to have two hunks wait on her, bathe her, and ready, willing, and eager to sexually pleasure her. Some things had best be left unsaid.

A few minutes later Shasta and Shilette return, wearing clothing more suitable for swimming. Adella is wearing a similar outfit, lent to her by her new friends. The attire consists of a two-piece swimsuit that leaves little to the imagination. They also have robes to wear while not in the water. The material of the clothing is something Adella had never encountered. It is so lightweight that one scarcely notices having anything on at all.

“It is from the silk of the caomontigal worm,” Shilette explains. “They are like silkworms, except they grow to be up to eight feet in length. They make silk tents that cover 2 to 3 acres, and all of the silk from one of those tents is barely enough to make the material for your robe. As you can imagine, it is quite a luxury.”

Adella rubs the material with her fingers and marvels. “I can see it, but if I couldn’t see it I wouldn’t believe it is really there! It is so lightweight!”

Shasta says, “There were some rogues from Obscuria some years ago who stole some of the silk and went around to various kingdoms, trying to convince people that they were tailors who could make magic clothing — clothing that was not only as lightweight as this, but beautiful, ever-changing colors. They also said the material would appear invisible to anyone who was a fool.”

Adella laughs. “I have heard of this! No one wants to admit to being a fool, so they were able to get people to pay enormous sums for nothing, and then they would go out in public totally naked, thinking that everyone else saw them as splendidly dressed! So this is where they got the idea!”

Shilette laughs. “I even heard that they conned the king over in Niantia, and he went out in a royal parade, buck naked! I heard he was so full proud of his ‘new clothes’ that he led the parade, swaggering with such pride, that his ding-dong was waving in perfect time to the musicians!”

Adella joins the girls in laughing and says, “You are referring to King Bloughborton. I have heard the same thing, but I have also seen him. He visited Mirantia some time ago, and I can tell you that if he was keeping time with the music, it was entirely by accident. His belly is so huge that I am confident it has been decades since he has actually been able to see what he has between his legs.”

The princesses continue laughing as they make their way out of Adella’s quarters. “Of course, this is what happens when you let a man be in charge of a country,” Shilette says. Then, looking sharply at Adella, she adds, “No offense to your father, of course.”

Adella nods, and indicates that no offense is taken.

“Does it not seem odd, however, to have a man in charge of such important matters?” asks Shasta. “Of course, we assume it is your mother who is the true power behind the throne. We have found this to be true in all the countries where men are nominally in charge that it is the woman who truly rules — whether in the castle or in the home. But why go to the pretense of acting as if the king has true power? It seems an unnecessary waste of energy and a violation of the natural order of things.”

“I have heard that it is all sexual,” says Shilette. “What is it they say? ‘Power is the ultimate aphrodysiac’? I have heard it said that men are allowed to think they are in charge, simply so they will perform better in bed.”

“I don’t think that’s the reason,” says Adella. “But I do not know when the custom began for us. It has been that way for all recorded memory.”

The ladies make their way to an exit and find a young man on his hands and knees, scrubbing the floor. As they pass, Shilette and Shasta openly admire his hind end, and Shilette reaches down and gives it a pinch, causing the young man to jump with a startle. They continue on their way, without further acknowledgment of the man.

“That’s the proper place for a man,” says Shilette. “On his knees, serving women. Here in Obscuria, we have a saying. ‘Men are good for four things: muscle, meat, sex, and sweat.’ And that’s not sexism, by the way; it truly is the natural order of things. It is well known that men are easily turned on, and when a man is turned on, the penis gets engorged with blood, thus depriving the brain of the oxygen necessary to handle complex thoughts. Nature has equipped men for sex and for brute ****. It’s as simple as that.”

Adella is spared the need to respond as they step outside. She immediately feels the fresh, cool breeze off the ocean. They have emerged from the castle from directly below her guest quarters and are practically on the beach with their first steps.

“This is a wonderful idea,” says Shilette. “It has been too long since I have been with an Ashray. I rather fancy a bit of splashing!”

“Are you growing tired of the assistant chef already?” asks her sister. “Didn’t I see the two of you ‘splashing’ together near the fountains last night?”

“You mean Henri,” says Shilette. “Yes, he’s a very fine specimen, but the fellow knows nothing whatsoever about foreplay. That’s why we were in the fountains, so I could be sure to have one way of getting wet before he started in on me. Just think... if men were equipped like Ashrays, we would never again have to say the words, ‘I need a little more stimulation’!”

The ladies arrive at the edge of the waves, and Adella gets her first close-up view of the Ashrays. They are even more beautiful up close. One of them rises up in the water directly in front of her. It has the figure of a human male, but she can see through its body. It appears to be like a living, moving ice sculpture, except more fluid. It comes right to the edge of the water, looks directly at Adella, and smiles.

“Oh, you caught one already!” says Shilette. “And a cute one, too!” She takes off her robe and tosses it into the sand before she begins wading into the water. Her sister does the same.

Over her shoulder, Shilette says, “By the way, if you see anything out here wearing a hat, don’t get tangled up with it. That means its probably an Encantado, not an Ashray. They generally look like dolphins, but they can shapeshift. They always wear a hat, though, to cover their blowholes. Don’t mess around with one of them, or you will regret it.”

With that, she turns around and makes a beeline to the nearest Ashray.

Adella stands, open-mouthed. She had some thoughts about what might happen, but nothing like this. She takes another look at the Ashray in front of her. He remains silent, but his face is happy and eager, and he motions her invitingly to join him in the water.