Getting to know Coblaith

Once you've dined, you call Coblaith to you. Now that she's bathed and cut her hair more neatly, you realize when she arrives that she's an appealing little morsel: short, curvy, and with those hypnotizing tattoos. She bows her head when she enters.

"Dominus," she says, clearly using one of the relatively few Latin words she actually knows. You wave her over to you, and she comes to stand by your side.

"Greetings, Coblaith," you say pleasantly. "Am I saying your name correctly?"

Hesitantly, she nods.

"Good," you continue. "I hope that you won't fear me, Coblaith; not excessively, anyway. My house isn't overly strict. Please me, and you'll be rewarded. If I find you're lacking in discipline or refuse to please me..." you shrug. "Well, I'll have to punish you."

Coblaith shivers slightly. "Yes, Dominus."

You resume eating. "Good! We understand one another, then. Now tell me -" you point your knife at one of her tattoos. Most of them are covered by her simple tunic, but one trails down her arm and is visible to you now. "What's the story with these?"

"Dominus?" Coblaith looks surprised.

"The markings on your body, girl! What are they for?"

"They are..." Coblaith clearly is struggling with her Latin. "They are not 'for' anything, Dominus. They are...pretty. Some of them help me to remember things."

"What kind of things?"

"Um..." Coblaith looks down at her hand, at the tattoo you pointed to. "Things that happen. In my life. This one, you see? Looks like a...bird?"

You nod. "A hawk, I think."

"Hawk. Yes. This one, remind me of a time that I kill a hawk that was attacking our sheep. Is small, but important. Others speak of...my life. Father, mother. When I became a woman. Things like that."

You chuckle. "And what was it like when you became a woman, eh?"

Coblaith shrugs. "Is normal for us. After eight...teen? Years? Yes? Eighteen?" You show her on your fingers and she nods. "Yes. All who have finished eighteen years at midsummer in my tribe have a great festival on midsummer's night. We mark ourselves in preparation. Then in the great stone circle, the girls gather in a circle, on the ground. We wear only the woad - the plant we use to mark ourselves, yes? Then boys come together in procession, and they fuck."

"Jupiter's balls!" your mouth is hanging open, food forgotten, as you stare at Coblaith, who's recounting all this in a matter-of-fact way. "What...what is that like?"

She shrugs. "Is intense. But good. Good way to learn to be a woman. No feeling like looking around the circle at your...age-mates, yes? Seeing all the girls you grew up with becoming women at the same time. Lock eyes with a girl you know so well, and behind her see a boy you've known since childhood, fucking away at her. See him become a man, as the boy filling you becomes a man, as you become a woman. Man and woman..." she brings her hands together. "They complete. Each other. Is important to fuck, and fuck well."

"Intriguing barbarians," you murmur, delighted and more than a little aroused. Coblaith cocks her head, not understanding, and you clear your throat. "Ah...nothing. Sorry. Well. Your customs are unusual. But I'm sure you'll do well here, Coblaith."

She nods her head, and you wave your hand. "Very well, then. Go get some rest. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yes, Dominus."