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Starling was bent over her harp when Kettricken entered the Hall. She did not turn to look up at the queen. Her lack of adherence to the manners of the Six Duchies intrigued Kettricken. If she was another woman, she would have called it insolent. Starling usually was very eager to attend to Kettricken, to sing her praises and make the proper courtesies. What game was she playing today? Kettricken drew closer to her, curious.
Starling’s dark hair was left loose to tumble over the curve of her back. Her elegant hands lightly ran down the smooth body of the harp. It must have been new, as Kettricken had never seen it before. It was larger than usual, tall and narrow, and the polished gold-colored scroll at the top almost looked like the back of a woman’s head looking down at Starling’s dark head. The wood was light-colored, the lines clean. Starling paid it all no mind, and she carefully plucked the strings to tune the instrument. She would first run one long finger down the string, the crookedness barely noticeable, and then pluck the string. The taut string would vibrate, and a note would be released to fly into Starling’s keen ear. She would then reach to the peg and turn it, and then strummed the string again to hear its note. When she seemed satisfied for a moment with the tuning, she would move on to the next string. But she was not done! She would then move back to a string, and re-tune it in comparison to the rest. Her crooked fingers moved in this matter for some time. Kettricken was strangely entranced. She had tuned her own instruments before, of course. It was part of her education to learn music, along with embroidery, tapestry weaving, silver-work and other arts that brought beauty to the lives of others. And no Six Duchies lady was she, to ask others to do the hard work so she could reap the rewards. It was not the Mountain way. But something about the way that Starling did this mundane task seemed new and interesting, like a snowfall making the pots in her garden into new shapes each year, despite Kettricken having observed the snowfall every year of her life. It charmed her, irrevocably.
So perhaps that is why she did not tell Starling of her arrival, and instead watched her tune the harp. It was not until Starling was nearly done did Kettricken notice the half-smile curving on her face. She was enjoying this! Well then, let no one say that Kettricken was impatient. As a girl, she had leapt too early in the hunt, she had scorched her fingers at the forge, she had pricked her finger with the sewing-needle. As a woman, she now knew how to lie in wait. So she sat next to Starling, and bade her ladies to sit with her, and waited. Only when Starling was finished would she lift her head, and she would sell this victory dearly. Or perhaps she struggled with the tuning? Winterfest was coming soon, and it was her right to preen her feathers and make a good show. Otherwise, she would feel as if she had shamed her queen. It was something they shared, that sense of stubborn pride. As a girl, Kettricken was often admonished for this. But humility can only exist in comparison to pride, and pride in contrast to humility!
Kettricken had some time before she would be neglecting her duties. If Starling persisted in her game, she would give up because being a Sacrifice came over everything else, be it love or self indulgence or pleasure. But for an hour or two, Kettricken could wait. And wait she did.
Eventually, even Starling had to declare defeat. She lifted her dark head, pretended to “notice” Kettricken, and then said “Oh my queen!” and made her Six Duchies obeisances.
Kettricken then smiled, and accepted these obeisances graciously, and all the while thought of the insolent curve of Starling’s red-painted mouth and the viper-quick things she said to the other courtiers when she thought Kettricken could not hear. Such a skilled mouth and tongue it was, for it could in one moment make every courtly noise and motion; ones of disdain, ones of courtesy and ones of beauty. Kettricken wondered if she could even coax out ones of pleasure!
“Starling, I have a task for you today”
“I would be honored, my queen”
“Do not be too hasty now. This task is not simple”
“My queen, that only makes me desire to serve you even more!” said Starling.
Kettricken bent down, and whispered her
“I am presiding over a court. This court is a special one, and its resolutions are secret. It is a court of love, and I need you to act as the minstrel”.
Starling did not reply, but she nodded pensively and her dark eyes grew thoughtful.
“My queen, it would not be an imposition to me. You the most gracious and wise queen, would never lead me astray or misuse me”
Her courtesies charmed Kettricken. She knew that if Starling felt overworked or underappreciated, she would leave in an instant, hoping to get ahead of the disappointment like a messenger trying to out ride a storm front. So she was satisfied.
Her court would be held seven days hence, and so she sent Starling to inform those who wished to attend. Until then, Kettricken ruled the Six Duchies, which involved receiving petitions, listening to advisors, sorting through their advice, sending trusted agents to report on distant events, and sometimes riding out herself. A minstrel accompanied her, either waiting to witness an oath or a case, or riding out ahead to announce her intentions. Sometimes it was Starling Birdsong who rode out ahead, the pennant on her standard-pole horse streaming in the winter wind, her head lifted high in pride. But just as often it was grizzled old Jackdaw with the deep voice, and Wren of Bearns, a newcomer to court. Although, Jackdaw was more likely to stand next to Kettricken in the warmth at court, instead of stressing his old bones in the winter months.
If the kingdom was like a grand estate, Buckkeep Castle was like the kingdom. The processes and proceedings for ruling the kingdom was made small in ruling the castle, and as the seat of her power, the running of the castle ensured her success in ruling the kingdom. And in order to run the castle, she needed to manage her ladies in waiting, along with the servants, the guards, and the courtiers.
It was a practice of the Six Duchies for ladies of noble birth to be serviced by their female servants. When Kettricken first learned of this custom, it had seemed strange to her. Two women lying with each other? She had never heard of such a thing! And more importantly, the practice of summoning servants to serve their masters in such a way went against her Mountain sensibilities. She was taught from birth that to be Sacrifice was to be the servant to her people, and that she should rather be the meanest servant than live off the cream of the crop. Still, in the Six Duchies, she had come to live by even stranger customs. The issue was more that these ladies professed courtly love with knights and also dallied with their maids, all the while afflicted with love-sickness and causing strife as men and women alike competed for their favor. And some of these knights! They would say to one lady “I love thee” and yet be seen escorting another lady, or even, getting her with child! If Kettricken should rule, then her deputies should not be backbiting and doing petty war under her nose. So she set a day for a court of love, and said all that have woes in love should attend.
When the day came, she went to the smaller audience hall she had set aside. Starling was there before her, next to the small throne. Many petitioners had similar issues. They had jealous husbands, lovers who were unfaithful, lovers who left them for another, jealous wives, and even cruelty. Kettricken weighed each case as thoughtfully any other petition. People liked to feel heard.
The last petitioner was an interesting case. Wren of Bearns came up to her throne last. She bent her head humbly, and said “My love is as distant and lofty as the mountains. She has a cold beauty, and yet her nobility is without peer. She is my lady, and I am lucky, for as I must pine, I can openly name her my muse, as she is my queen as well as my lady. For a minstrel without peer as myself, this is the finest gift of all!
A shocked murmuring arose among the crowd. Starling was mouthing the words “minstrel without peer” to herself. This could turn ugly.
“Wren of Bearns. The court has heard you. In matters of love, you must earn the regard of the beloved. There is no comparing, for while one lady may appreciate one track, another may not. In matters of music, no one can say they are “without peer” when, much like love, it is a matter of preference. However, in matters of the state, much like the beloved, I decide. When a minstrel witnesses an oath or birth, it is her memory that matters, not just musical skill. And unlike music, that is not a matter of preference".
Wren of Bearns nodded thoughtfully.
“I thank the court for its ruling”
Starling stood straighter next to Kettricken. Such a competitive thing!
Soon after the court ended, she came to Kettricken.
“Wren of Bearns is very young, is she not?”
“Yes she is. And I do not want to be rid of her, not when I have need of minstrels for the kingdom. Besides, has she not seen how I favor you, when your mouth is so free?”
“I will give her her competition, then. Don’t look at me like that! Us minstrels thrive on competition. I won’t harm her. And besides, a lady such as yourself warrants such competition. They say that all lovers are immortal. Well so are minstrels!”
So the court of love did not exactly solve the issue of petty wars. Still, it should divert the energies of her court in the boring winter months.
Wren of Bearns made her first move two days later. After the evening meal, she sang a song of love. It was an old lay, and the refrain was the beloved’s lovely dark hair, her graceful carriage, and her feminine petite stature. This time, the lady had golden hair, was tall and long limbed, and graceful. It was a fine opening move.
Next came old Jackdaw. He played the pipes, and sang a new composition of devotion to his lady. The song detailed how she was kind, beautiful, gracious, humble, and noble in bearing as well as blood. Kettricken did not think he was competing for any reason outside of minstrel pride, but she appreciated the effort.
Starling’s approach was different. While she made war with her harp and voice, it was a fight of artistry, as she promised. But that was not all she did. She also took over as many opportunities to attend Kettricken at her duty. She was the first to volunteer to ride out, the one to preside over the record keeping at the courts, the first to help Kettricken in many small and great ways. One day Kettricken was inside her rooms when she heard the sweet voice. Starling was serenading her!
My Lady is kind and gracious
Why must she be lonely?
My Lady is a widow
Why must she be lonely?
My Lady is young and beautiful
Why must she be lonely?
My Lady has many admirers
But only I can sing the sweetest!
“Well then Starling Birdsong, make well on your promise!”
She did not hesitate. Starling strode through the doorway, not letting her slippered feet scrape the jam. She carefully set her harp down, and then turned and grasped Kettricken’s hands so she could bring them to her breasts. Even through the cloth, Kettricken was very pleased to feel them. They were ample, and she was going dizzy just thinking about how they would feel naked. She leaned down and slid her mouth across Starling’s. The kiss started out chaste, but Starling quickly deepened it, and slipped her clever tongue into Kettricken’s mouth. Two hands reached up to hold her in place, and two hands slid down to cup under Starling’s round thighs and lift her up. She squeaked cutely into Kettricken’s mouth, but her hands never faltered! Kettricken knew her rooms like the back of her hands, and she did not need to see to deposit Starling onto her bed. As she leaned down to kiss her, she slid Starling’s legs back so she was neatly folded in half. Now that they were on the bed, Starling moved her hands to try and pick at the lacings on Kettricken’s dress through the slits in her surcoat. Kettricken pulled off and laughed in joy. She helped Starling pull off her surcoat and undo the lacings on her kirtle. Off with her shift, and then they were kissing again. Starling took quick advantage of her nakedness. Kettricken made her own small sounds which Starling kissed away when she cupped her small breasts in her hands. She then pulled away and said,
“Kettricken, lets get on the damned bed!”
So they did. Kettricken could not help from smiling. Starling arranged them so that Kettricken was the one lying on her back, and Starling was kneeling between her spread thighs. She hesitated for a moment, nervous. Kettricken was not. She reached up and gripped her lightly by the back of her neck.
“You said you had the most clever tongue and fingers, did you not? Or was it... that Wren of Bearns? Is she the greatest, the most skilled?”
The sound of her rival’s name being formed by Kettricken’s breath and lips and tongue seemed to inflame Starling.
“Hah! As if!” snorted Starling.
She immediately bent down and put her mouth to the inside of Kettricken’s thighs. First she kissed her knee cap, and worked her way up and up her thigh as she sucked love-bites into her skin. Then, when Kettricken thought that, yes, she must get to it, Starling switched to the other thigh. It made Kettricken gasp, to feel her passionate kisses! And she felt a pulling in her belly, and a dampness between her legs. As Starling gently bit at the tendon that joined her leg and hip, her eyes flicked up to Kettricken’s, and a wicked smile appeared on her face. Such mischief! Kettricken couldn’t help but laugh. Just when she thought that Starling would surely kiss where she wanted it most, her red mouth curved again in a wicked smile and, with a sultry glance, instead slid two of her crooked fingers into Kettricken! They say that a slight curve was all the better in bed, and perhaps it was Starling’s clever harpist’s fingers, but Kettricken was pleased and more than pleased. She was so wet that it was no trouble at all for her to accommodate Starling’s fingers, and soon enough she was pushing to meet them. Still, she was not yet satisfied, not when her mouth had been taunting Kettricken for so long!
“Starling, you are truly a most wicked woman! Such an insolent mouth! Lets put it to good use!”
Starling laughed, and bent and did as she was told. Finally, thought Kettricken, that mouth can do no more mischief. It did not take long for her to peak, not when Starling was sucking on her and her fingers curling in the most satisfying way.
When she had caught her breath, Kettricken grasped Starling’s wrist, and said “You have said that it is your duty and pleasure to serve me. Well, now it is my turn!”
She flipped them around, and it was no trouble at all to lift Starling’s legs so she was pinned in half, and no trouble reach up and roll one of her small, dark nipples between two of Kettricken’s fingers, and she was so wet that it too no trouble, no trouble at all to slide one, two, three fingers in her. Kettricken paused. That was a lot of fingers.
“Starling, is this comfortable? I know you have said that you like them ‘as large as a horses cock’, but you do say a lot of things…”
The woman herself blinked her large, dark eyes at Kettricken.
“… Maybe try and just do two at first, my queen”.
Chastened, Kettricken did. She tried to move them in a way Starling would like. Evidently she did, because she said next in a low tone,
“Yes, just like that, my queen!”
Smiling to herself, Kettricken pleased her that way for a while. Soon enough, she grew bold and curious enough to try and lick between her fingers. The taste was not unpleasant. It was gratifying just for the way it made Starling give more stern commands and sly suggestions. So she grew bolder and bolder, licking and sucking and even sticking her tongue inside.
Her concentration did not falter even as her jaw began to ache and her fingers grew tired. It was all worth it when Starling clenched tightly around her fingers and threw her head back against the pillow in ecstasy. Kettricken wanted to feel it again, so she kept going until she did. This treatment made Starling gasp and swear filthily long and hard. Kettricken wanted to make her scream herself hoarse.
“If you keep screaming like that, your lovely voice will go hoarse” Kettricken tutted. She then covered Starling’s mouth with her free hand. They went on for some time.
Still, the day was only so long and Kettricken had duties to attend to. So she set down her play and rose to work. Starling sprawled out on the bed. When Kettricken brought her some wash water, Starling had recovered enough to say,
“Thank Eda you are here! Even though it was only a few moments, I felt as if my spirit would flee my body!”
Kettricken smiled fondly.
