His secret chapel

He had over an hour before dinner would be served. More than anything he wanted to return to his suite and wake his sleeping beauty, but what he wanted and what he had to do were two different things. A need more important than lust directed his steps.

Not far from his suite was a small chapel, the room was his private place to meditate and pray. None of his staff dared bother him as long as he was in this room of reflection. The restocking of supplies was done when he was at his other duties, but the room was always spotless and well stocked. Entering his chapel hesitantly Beldan carefully locked the door behind him. He moved past the alter with it's fine cloth and gold candlesticks and empty offering bowl.

Behind the alter, hidden by a spectacular wall hanging showing the seventh lander as it splashed into the water on the shores of a white sand beach, was another door, Beldan didn't know what the room was for or why it was there, nor did he care. He took the small key that hung from his neck and slipped it into the lock. His hands trembled as he turned the key and pressed open the small door. Inside was his private sanctum, none but Beldan would ever enter this room. He bent low to slip through the arch but did not straighten on the other side of the door, instead he dropped to the floor and shuffled forward the last meter awkwardly on his knees.

"I'm sorry I haven't visited you sooner Mother." His voice had a breathy wheeze and was even weaker than usual. "I brought you an offering." He added eagerly trying to deflect the disapproval he felt. He took Winlay's stained undergarment from his pocket and lifted it to the table before him - still not lifting his eyes from the floor.

"You'll like this one Mother, she is not like the others." Beldan could feel cold sweat dripping from his brow as he knelt in the dark. He waited trembling in fear waiting to hear her speak, to belittle him and remind him of his weakness. His knees ached from supporting his weight on the cold hard floor, but after a few long minutes of silence felt a little more confident. Perhaps she was pleased by his efforts.

Still keeping his eyes low, Beldan lit the thick candle in the brass holder at his side. Turning back to the table he could now see the legs of the statue rising from a mound of panties. More than a hundred of them covered the table; many were the rough linen of servants, some were silk lace worn only by aristocrats, but by far most were the white cotton undergarments issued by the Church to young initiates. Each of them were special, many were stained with blood and the ones that weren't had other special significance attached to them. When She let him, Beldan would sort through the pile, lifting the garments to his face and remembering the women who had worn them.

But not this evening, he could still feel Mother's stern disapproval. He lifted his face higher until he could see more of the statue. The idol was wrapped in a scarlet velvet gown. The dress was far too large for the statue, but it was Hers and it covered her more modestly than the thin garment carved into the marble artwork that exposed her right breast and nearly all of her upper thighs. The dress was covered in dust and grime but Beldan didn't dare remove it for cleaning, nor did he want to explain to anyone why the thirty year old dress had to be preserved.

"I spoke to Maria Glendal this morning Mother." Beldan waited expecting to feel the wrath of her fury - Mother did not approve of the emperor’s whore - but when she remained silent he continued rapidly. "She will help us, her friends will push the Emperor to war." When she still held her tongue Beldan finally dared to lift his head the rest of the way. It was a mistake.

A porcelain mask, made for a masquerade years ago covered the idol's face, but Beldan could see the contempt in the eyes and could hear the scorn in her voice as she spoke.

“You bumbling idiot!” The voice was cold and sharp he dropped his face to inches from the floor “You pathetic pencil dicked clown.” Mother knew how he failed, she always knew. He could hide nothing from her. “That whore is using you! She leads you around by the balls just like Victor, but you do what she wants without even getting to spread her slutty legs.” Her words crushed Beldan to the floor, he could feel them like a booted foot on his back grinding his torso to the ground.

“Please, I’m sorry!” He begged helplessly “Please don’t be angry!” But she was angry, and not just about his dealing with Maria; she was angry that he had failed to break the Oracle, and even angry that he had been able to claim Winlay so easily.

“She’s just another sluttish cunt you dolt! She’s nothing but a whore, but she’s not even a useful whore like the emperor’s strumpet.” Beldan tried to protest, he tried to defend pure innocent Winlay, but Mother mocked him.

“She moaned and begged for you to fill her virgin cunt!” Beldan collapsed again onto the floor tears flowing and his words coming in gasps as he sobbed about how perfect she was for him. He knew it, but Mother was unconvinced.

“Next time you flap her listen to what a whore she is!” Mother compromised “You’ll see.”