Interlude: Asha

4th Domusdae, the 27th day of the month of Semens (Sem), the 3672nd year of Salvation's Landing

Asha opened the massive ornate door into the library, then reached down and picked up the large basket. Walking quietly as one is used to doing, it was early enough that she was more than likely not going to bother anyone. This was one of the few spots that they had to go in personally to get the laundry, given that it was attached to the library. All the other living quarters were gathered up by the room maids and dumped into large hand carts.

Knocking on the office door, Asha did not expect any answer. That was the norm at this time in the morning. So, it came as a bit of a surprise when she heard, “Come in.” from inside.

Ducking her head and scurrying in, Asha hated herself just a little bit every time she took on such a posture. But that is what is expected when dealing with the pinnacle of society, “Excuse me, Magistricia. I’ve just come for the laundry.” She made a small curtsey with the basket in her arms and smiled as pleasantly as she could. This woman was making love, or at least, had made love to Reglin. And now she felt that desire. Would they be competitors? Asha certainly hoped that wasn’t the case. She felt entirely unprepared for that.

The Magistricia sat at her desk and looked up at Asha. Her eyes were not unpleasant in their gaze, just probing. Asha was struck by the woman’s beauty and bearing. She wore a maroon dress that showed more in the bosom than was the norm here, but not outrageously. With her exposing so much, the laundress could see her golden tan. She wondered how she managed that at this time of year. Before Asha started to feel uncomfortable looking at the gorgeous woman though, the Arcanist smiled and nodded, “Yes, of course. Come in, come in. Do not let me hold you up.” Her tone and demeanor were jovial. Asha didn’t know what to make of that. She had a job to do though.

Asha moved with alacrity heading back toward the living quarters but was stopped in her place when she saw a basket by the door full of linens, towels and other clothes. Not being able to help herself, she looked back at the honey-haired advisor to the King. When she did, she saw Tabitha looking at her warmly, “I thought I could help you just a bit…”

Asha was struck dumb for a moment. Once her wits returned to her, she gave another curtsey and enthusiastically said, “Thank you mistress. Though you needn’t have done so. I’m paid to do that.” She hoped that she didn’t sound so strangled to the Magistricia as she sounded in her own ears.

The stately woman just waved off her comments, “It is no hassle to me, my dear. After all, I have other ideas as to how you can spend that time…” the look that Asha received from the woman gave her a chill of uncertainty. ‘What does she want from me? Did he already talk to her about me? He said she made him go out with me last night. But maybe now that it has become more real, she doesn’t like it?’. “I-I don’t know how else I can assist you, mistress. I am just a laundress…”

Giving Asha a knowing smile, the woman rose from her chair and gave a small shake of her head, “Aht-aht-ah, my dear… Please do not be this way. You know why I have a wish to speak with you. Or at least a good idea, do you not?”

The woman was now gliding toward her in an effortlessly graceful fashion that made Asha feel like a draft horse compared to a sleek thoroughbred. And she hated that she let herself feel that way. Pulling the reins on those emotions, she met the Magistricia’s eye, “I suppose I do… At least, a good idea of why, yes…”

As the Arcane advisor came to stand in front of her, Asha realized that they were of a height. They were perhaps even of a build, with the more mature woman looking perhaps a bit more on the slight side than herself. Though something in Asha’s head told her that she was not so slight as she seemed. She had such an air of confidence and capability that it was intimidating.

When those green eyes of hers moved up and down her body, Asha felt like horse at market. When she shifted her feet nervously, the formidable woman smiled wider, “Please dear, do relax. I can see what he sees in you physically. Though, I have to worry if he’s picked up a body type?” She gave a snort of amusement at that, “But he also spoke of how impressed he was with your wit. I wonder though… Are you so unsettled by me? Should I tell dear Reglin that he was mistaken in his assessment?”

Asha knew what she was doing, but also knew that it didn’t matter, “Oh, I think Reglin has a good account of me, mistress. Though not as thorough of an accounting as he would like, I’m sure.” It was a petty statement, but this stopped feeling like high society verse servant and more like woman verse woman. ‘I guess adversaries it is… Sad really.’ She thought.

Another snort of amusement, “There you go, dear. Now if I truly was looking to be your enemy, I would make comment about how your attentions to our dear Reglin left him… pent up and what that led to.” She smiled in such a sweet way that there was no other way to take it but sardonically, “But I am woman of elegance and would never suggest such a thing.”

Asha felt her cheeks heat in embarrassment and anger. The squinting glare of her eyes put forth much the same. “If our situation was different, you would not have had any leavings from me… I would have made sure of it! He’s a discerning man. You’ll have a difficult time dissuading him of my worth. Just because I wash your dirty linens does not mean I have no value beyond that!” Asha surprised herself with the vitriol in her voice and tried to pull it back, “I have work to do, mistress. You may order me to stay here and take whatever taunts to wish to throw at me, but I would rather be about my business. I’m sure Lina is wondering as it is…”

“So, you can show whatever respect you may hold for the station, but you will fight me figuratively over a man you met just two days ago?” incredulity sounded heavy in the woman’s question. She stepped closer still, well within arm’s reach now, “I have no intention of basing myself with physical altercations. Though, that would be your best bet at success with me, would it not?”

With her patience running thin, Asha let out an exasperated sigh, “What is the problem exactly? He told me that you encouraged the meeting between him and I. He even spoke of a woman telling him that she liked my looks. As the night went on, I figured out that the only woman that would speak to him of things like that would be you. So, you wanted him to meet me. You know why he’s attracted to me. He gives me an endorsement to you and now this? I am really trying to puzzle this behavior out.” She turned to get the laundry basket of the Magistricia’s, “I appreciate the bit of help this morning, but if are trying in some way to scare me off from Reglin, I don’t know what to tell you. I know it’s only been two days. Trust me, I am questioning myself almost constantly about that. But still, I want to try, and I will try. If you want things between him and I over, you will have to try to convince him. And for some reason, that’s a task that I think you will fail at.” Asha dumped the woman’s dirty linens in to own carrying basket while she stared a challenge to those green eyes.

It was a silent and tense short bit of time before the honey-haired woman looked to finally deflated with a long sigh. Her back even slouched a bit to show the decompression, “Oh dear, you have no idea. I have no chance in that. The b-, ummm… the man is hard-headed in ways of the heart.” She slapped her thigh through her dress, looking the slightest bit annoyed with her thoughts. Asha’s bewilderment must have been apparent, for the Magistricia smiled in a truly warm way, “I apologize for this. All those things you said were true regarding my feelings about you and Reglin. Even still, I must make sure my star pupil is not a trophy or some trivial dalliance for a woman who would not appreciate what he has to offer…”

Feeling her own spine relax, Asha did not realize just how tense she had gotten. She set the woman’s backet back where it was, giving her some time to think, “For a fleeting moment I thought this could be a test. But you got the better of me. You turned me into a jealous cat ready to claw at you. I’m sorry that I let myself get to that point.” Asha was disappointed in herself.

Starting Asha, the Magistricia came right up to her and cupped the laundress’ face in her hands, “Dear girl, this was not a test of your reasoning. It was a test of your mettle…” She let go of the familiar gesture, “You challenged one of, if not the highest Arcanists in the Kingdom over the affections of a man you met two days prior. Any normal person outside of the two of us would think you mad, you know?”

A snort of humor came from Asha. When framed in that light, she would be seen as daft for certain. She nodded, “Yes, I can see that…” She gave a long melodramatic sigh then, “I know, but there’s something telling me to not give up. To stop trying to scare myself out of it.”

“I’m sure that the man well over six feet tall that can loom or leer over a room and makes you shiver whenever he touches you doesn’t weigh into those thoughts at all, does he.” The woman in the maroon dress laughed lightly in genuine mirth.

Asha’s eyes widened at the Advisor’s words, “He does that to you too, doesn’t he?” the level of wonder in her voice could not be mistaken, “It’s like nothing else I’ve experienced…” She showed a bit of embarrassment, “I mean, I’ve had kisses that were wonderful and touches that draw out gooseflesh. But Reglin does that with every kiss and every touch. It’s almost… overwhelming.”

“My dear, he is special… I can’t tell you how. Not yet anyway. But I will have you know that I have wished for someone that I could cross-reference noted with relating to those reactions you speak of. I know it is not lady-like to kiss and tell and the like, but I think this particular venture warrants it. For posterity’s sake.” To Asha, the woman sounded like the teacher that Reglin spoke of and she could see why he was so enamored with her teachings. There was spirit and **** in her words. Like that is was their duty to find out these things.

She couldn’t help but laugh, “So, I will be doing my part in your studies by just being Reglin’s paramour and telling you about the fruits of our… passion so to speak. I must say, with no real proper education, academics sounds like it might be easier than I first thought.”

The Magistricia followed with her own laugh, “Of course, if that were the extent of it. And I know it sounds ludicrous, but I do believe in its importance. So much so that I would be willing to take on yourself as a pupil as well. We can delve into whatever subject you find most appealing. I can give an hour a day I believe, barring any Royal duties of course.”

Looking poleaxed at that, it took a bit to recover from that, “So you will teach me? Could that possibly lead to something that would bring me out of the linens?”

The woman shrugged and smiled, “That would depend on your aptitude and what you learn. You will not be given anything in this world. It is all trade in some fashion. Your job is to make sure others have a need of what you offer. But I would think that would be a viable outcome.”

Asha felt her tummy leap at the prospects only to be flattened by reality. She looked to those green eyes that held a twinkle of joy and warmth in contrast to her own dejection, “Magistricia, I fear that any kind of knowledge I will be able to give you will be limited. Reglin and I are a bit short of options with how much affection we can give one another.” It was strange to think of how she felt when Reglin touched her as a point of study and talk of it as much, but it did help her cope with the flashes of embarrassment that came from it.

“Please, just call me Tabitha…” She moved in again, cupping Asha’s face. Though this time she leaned in and gave a gentle kiss to both of her cheeks. It felt almost maternal, like a mother kissing her child before they go off on the day’s adventure. “As to that, I have given Reglin some resources that I will leave him to tell you about. Suffice to say, I would like to have as thorough research as possible.” Her voice as soft as they were but inches away from each other.

Asha had to laugh, “I’m having a hard time making the connection of research with various hopefully pleasurable debauched acts. It’s a bit of a mental tumble.”

Tabitha chuckled, “Oh my dear, it will be pleasurable, I assure you that. And debauched? I have a feeling that our Reglin is but stepping his toes into the water on the beach. Are you willing? What if he asks of you such depraved things that it sets your cheeks on fire? Will you do it?”

Those were interesting questions. But she had so many internal prods pushing her forward, “Yes… I don’t believe that Reglin would do anything to hurt me. It might be naivety, but I truly think that.”

Brushing Asha’s cheek with the back of her fingers, Tabitha gave that soft smile of hers, “I think your instincts are right in that… And just know that if things continue down a path that may seem unsavory to most. Know that he is a good man. And we can make sure that he stays that way together. Now I know I have absorbed a good bit of your time, but Lina knows why so do not worry about that.” She turned and walked toward her desk.

Realizing that their talk was coming to a close, Asha picked up her basket and followed Tabitha toward the front of the office. Coming abreast of the woman, she slowed down and saw Tabitha pulling out a toppered glass cylinder.

Tabitha turned and placed the cylinder in her laundry basket, “That is for you. Reglin spoke of how you liked the smell of the sheets I say in. That they remind you of flowers. I make these oils as a hobby and I would like you to have a bit. If you ever want more, just let me know.” The beautiful woman gave a wry smile, “I apologize now. I’m afraid you may not enjoy the scent of this batch as much as normal… You really had him pent up, my dear.”

The curiosity was too much, so Asha raised the basket so that she could smell it. It had the same floral scent, but overpowering it was the musk of sex. These sheets must be drenched in juices that came from Tabitha and Reglin’s love-making. It sent a strong pulse down to Asha’s loins and she looked back up at Tabitha with wide eyes. “I-I think it’s… It’s a heady bouquet to be sure… But I like it.” She grinned as Tabitha arched a brow at her words, “Now I must be going. Thank you for all of this Mistress Tabitha…”

Tabitha leaned in once more and gave Asha a peck of a kiss on the cheek once more and nodded, “Of course dear… Have a pleasant day. We will talk again soon, I’m sure.” Smiling at her once more.

And so, Asha took her basket of sex-drenched sheets, the fragrance still in her nose and made her way to the door out to the library and paused. Taking a look out in the library to see if anyone was around and not seeing any, she turned back to Tabitha and spoke in a hushed manner, but loud enough to be heard, “Reglin spoke of having feelings for you. I’d go so far as to say he loves you, the way he talks about you. And it seems to bother him a bit that he both has those feelings for you and wants to see what we may have. I wish I could set his mind at ease. Is it odd that I fully expect him to care for others?” Her face took on a contemplative look, “I know this is not really my business. At least, not yet maybe… I don’t know. This is confusing. But… Do you love him?”

A soft laugh came from Tabitha that sounded ambiguous to Asha. It sounded a little sad, “I do… Much to my dismay, I think at times. Because, like you, I know that he has a path before him that will likely lead to more women such as you. Women who he genuinely cares for and even comes to love. And who may do that same in return. And my love? It might be but a spoke in his wheel, giving it support but possibly indistinct from any of the other spokes. I know he would never think of anyone is such a removed fashion, but in the end, that is how I feel sometimes when I ponder on it…" The woman somehow managed to look both sad and eager at the same time, "But we will discuss such things more. You carry about your day and know that he cares for you, so by extension you have me to count on as well…”

Those were some heavy ideas to have driven in at the very end. It made Asha feel almost sense of dread at the words Tabitha used. She nodded and said her good days and made her way out of the office and out of the library. Lost in thought carrying her basket out the servants’ door, Asha kept battling through the words Tabitha ended with. But then she caught whiff of flowers and sex again and that brought with it the cravings she had. She found herself wet and clinching her thighs together when she finally met up with Lina. Perhaps she could bend her ear on some of this in a very vague way? Pushing the hand carts full of laundry, the two women made off for the laundry house at the back of the estate.