Lady Patience

"Come in." You hear her say, She must be bored today.

The Matriarch of the family is Lady Patience. She's a grand old lady, over 190 years old. She's gentle and kind, as her name indicated. She wears fine silk clothing and exotic jewelry. She has a great collection of trinkets, from all across the world.

She was the one who made her family into such a powerhouse. In her time she was an adventurer and a warrior. She pushed the tenebrous out of the Midlands and recovered many Mals from their hateful grip.

She's quite a nice person really. You love her very much and would do anything for her.

You enter and place the tray down on a table. You bow and say "breakfast is served my Lady."

She never takes it in bed. She says that the day she can't rise for eggs is the day she must die. You think it's a joke but you never say it, who knows. You help her up and hold her arm and pull the chair for her. She sits down at the table and says "Sit with me."

You hesitate and say "But My Lady, I'm expected back in the Kitchens."

"Sit!" She says in a tone that brooks no arguments. Then more kindly she adds "I don't want to eat on my own."

You sit and she takes the top off the silver covers. They reveal honey glazed fruits and warm croissants. It's more food than you could eat in one sitting.

"You're a pretty young thing." She says. "Here, have a croissant."

You reach out and take one before remembering your manners. You blush an awful shade of magenta and stammer out an apology.

She laughs a kind laugh and pats your hand "Don't worry, Serfs aren't expected to know table manners." She reassures you. "Besides, you're very polite."

You blush again and look at your own lap.

"Now, don't be shy....what's your name again?"

"Andrew, my lady."

"Ah yes, you're the one they always talk about." She says.

You look down again, not knowing what to say.

"How old are you Andrew?" She asks.

"I will be of age next your My lady." You say.

"Ah...a mal soon. A fine age. And how big are you?"

You are very confused now, but you manage to say "I don't understand My Lady."

"Your manhood, it is very large isn't it?"

You nearly fall off your chair. Is this what she meant by big? You blush up to your ears.

"Oh come now, there is no need to be shy. Were I fifty years younger I'd find out for myself." She says. You stare at her blankly. "Don't worry, I would fall apart now if I tried to ride a young buck like you." She says with a wink.

"But I'm right aren't I?" She asks again. "Your manhood is large?"

You think you are going to disappear under the table.

"Well?" She says. "You know lying to your liege is a grave crime." She adds a tad more seriously. "Y...yes My Lady it is." You manage to squeak out. She smiles at you and pats your hand again.

"See, not so difficult to answer." She smiles at you. "Good looking and endowed, polite young mal." She says "We shall seek a good match for you." You wish you could disappear under the table. Lady patience is casually referring to your shame as if it were natural to talk about. Nobles have a different set of rules but still. It's disconcerting.

"You're shy, that's sweet too. Don't worry, I'm discreet. We have plans to make regarding your future."

You love this woman you realize.

"At my age, I don't have a future, but I enjoy helping to shape your own. You're too good to be bonded to a Red House." She pauses for a moment and rubs her chin.

"Yes, yes there should be some unbonded free Womyn on my lands seeking a husband."

You don't believe her but you don't want to insult her so you just shake your head no.

"Why not?" She says.

"The Goddess teaches that a Mal’s shame is between his tights." You recite. "I am not good enough for a free womyn. I am afflicted." You explain on the verge of tears. "I will be a burden to any womyn I bond with."

The Countess is silent for a bit then chuckles "You are far too hard on yourself." She says. "Let me explain something to you my dear."

She continues. "Most Womyn enjoy a bit of meat on their husbands, it fills us up rather nicely when we wish to be. Tiny Mals may be more pious in the eyes of Goddess but large ones are more fun." She laughs at her own joke and you don't know whether to laugh or not.

"Just because you're afflicted, doesn't mean you won’t please your wives." She says. “To the contrary.”

You can't contradict her as she's your Lord and Liege but it makes no sense to you. You've heard different things your whole life. The size of a man's penis is directly proportional to his shame in the eyes of Goddess. It's scripture.

"Now you listen here." She says pointing a finger in your face, shocking you back to attention.

"Don't let any one of my dumb daughters climb on top of you before you get bonded." She wags her finger. "Even if they beg you for it!"

She pauses and looks around the room before leaning in close to you. "The largest ones are the best in bed." She whispers.

She sits back and says "You will bond with free Womyn." She commands. "But for that to happen you must remain chaste."

"You're unbroken aren't you?" She asks.

You look down at your lap and slowly nod.

"Good." She says. "Perfect."

Then she sights and says "Ah, were I fifty years younger."

You think she's forgotten you're in the room.

"I'd ride that like a bronco." She says, still staring off into the distance.

She snaps out of her thoughts.

"Now go." She says as she waves you off.

You walk back to the kitchen deep in thought.

There are no other Mals among the Serfs in the townhouse. There's a few at the country estates of the family but you're the only one they took with. Most Mal Serfs end up in Red houses. You're not sure what the exact purpose of Red Houses is but you know it's the worst fate that can befall a Mal, your mother told you so.

She promised you would never go there.

"There you are." Your mother says. "I was wondering where you wandered off to."

Your mother is a short stocky woman with light brown hair and a round face.

"Go to the yard and rake the leaves, then set up cakes and tea in the gardens." She instructs. "The ladies are going to be out soon."

You nod and run off.

You rake the leaves into piles and set up small cakes and tea just as your mother said.