Kalos' blood had begun to boil. He could not completely see her yet, but he was sure he saw a sword.

Marshal Mei walked around the bed and down the aisle. She stopped at the fireplace, a few steps away from him. Kalos looked up to see her.

He was struck by her size. She was tall. This trait was reinforced by the straightness of her posture and the hardness of her face.

Far from being frightened, courage flowed into every part of Kalos' body.

“Good evening," she greeted him.

He did not answer. She did not care.

“What is your name?" she asked.

Misunderstanding his silence, she said:

“You don't have to be afraid of me.”

“I'm not afraid of ya!" Kalos replied immediately.

Marshal Mei looked at him.

“Your eyes are filled with rage.”

“My hands are even more so!”

“Interesting.” Marshal Mei approached without a sound. “Do you know who I am?”

“Marshal Mei," Kalos replied with the most contemptuous of words.

“I didn't ask you what I was, I asked you who I was," she continued.

Kalos paused for a moment.

“Duna Mei.”

“Is that all?”

Kalos clenched his jaw.

“Duna Mei the Cruel.”

“That's good," she complimented him. “What is your name?”

Kalos clenched his fists. He had lost that first affront.

“Kalos.”

“Good, good.”

She took her black cloak off and placed it on the chair in front of the writing desk. Then, Kalos discovered her clothes. He was surprised at their simplicity. There were no ornaments to spice up the black clothes. Only a silver mesh ribbon covered Marshal Mei's chest and arms.

Then, she sat down on the chair and asked, “Were you sold by your family or were you caught?”

“My family died fifteen years ago," he hissed through his teeth.

Marshal Mei looked at him for a moment.

“Are you from the golden valleys?”

“Yes, I am.”

“How did your family die?”

“My father was a soldier. He was killed on the battlefield. My mother was stabbed like all soldiers' wives. My brothers and sisters died in a fire.”

Marshal Mei did not blink when she heard the fate of this family.

“I was personally in charge of the massacres of the soldiers' families," -she began- “So I killed your mother and your siblings died because of me.” - she moved her head towards him-“Do you hate me?”

“Yes, I hate you.”

“Good, good.”

Kalos was incredibly irritated by her attitude.

“How did you become a slave?”

“The merchant kidnapped me when I was working in the fields.”

Marshal Mei pouted.

“I think I am going to end my contract with her.”

“Agathos killed her.”

“Lord Agathos," Marshal Mei said automatically.

She ran a finger over her lips and smiled as she said, “Lord Agathos is truly a good person.”

Then, she looked at Kalos' entire body. She stared at his chest and crotch. Kalos noticed that the tunic was too short, and that part of his sex was visible.

He did not want to show that he was shocked and disgusted by Marshal Mei. So, he put the mask of defiance on his face.

“Stick out your tongue," she ordered him.

“No!" replied Kalos.

She knelt before him. He expected to receive corporal punishment, but it was not to be. Instead, she asked him a question, “Do you know the insult for 'male sex slave'?”

“Yes.”

“What is it?”

“Puppy.”

“Exactly. Do you know why?”

“No.”

Marshal Mei screwed her transparent eyes into Kalos' black ones.

“Puppies never disobey their mistresses, but more importantly – “She forced her fingers into Kalos' mouth. “They lick their bodies until their saliva runs out. Finding a good tongue is essential for pleasure.” She whispered, “Your tongue has a nice tip, very exciting.”

Kalos shuddered. He did not want to hear any more. He finally understood the sexual favors he would have to perform.

Marshal Mei let go of Kalos' tongue and wiped the saliva off his tunic, knowingly brushing his nipples. Kalos cowered. He hated the touch of that murderous hand.

Marshal Mei sat back in her chair after she finished.

- Good, good. Well, Kalos, let's make a deal.

Kalos warily looked at her. She elaborated, “Become my servant. In exchange, I will not touch you.”

“Liar!" Kalos retorted.

“I did not ask for a new paramour to fuck him every night.”

Marshal Mei had spoken these words with such harshness that Kalos' doubts were instantly swept away.

“I have no desire to be with a man right now," she rephrased more softly.

Kalos raised his head.

“What should I do?”

“I want you to become my armed hand in the shadows and protect me. I will teach you to read, write, count, fight and all the rules of the empire.”

A storm had risen in Kalos' head. The woman he hated the most in the world was asking him to be one of her men. How dare she?

Yet he could not refuse. Should he use this opportunity to...

“Of course, I will kill you if I have the slightest doubt about your loyalty," she finished.

The die was cast.

“I agree.”

After a long silence, Marshal Mei murmured,” Thank you Kalos.”

The softness of her tone confused Kalos for a moment.

“You can sleep with me in the bed if you want.”

“Thank you.”

“Would you like to change your clothes?”

“Yes, please.”

“You're polite now.”

Amused, Marshal Mei took out a normal tunic from a cupboard hidden in the wall next to the writing desk.

“First, I am going to mark you. Lie naked on the bed.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Normally, when I have sex with my paramours, I bite them and hit them. If you come out unmarked, the servants will notice right away and my plan will be immediately revealed.”

“You said you wouldn't touch me!”

“I won't. I will keep my promise. Now lie down.”

Kalos obeyed. Apprehension knotted his stomach. He did not want her to see him naked. He hid his face in his hands so that he would not see the scene.

He felt Marshal Mei gently approach him. She got on all fours over him, biting and sucking on his neck, breasts, and stomach. She spread his legs and bit him again on the inside of each thigh.

“It's over," she informed him.

She had stopped after seeing tears running down Kalos' cheeks. She could see that he was shaking all over.

“I'll leave the tunic on the bed.”

Kalos, his body in terror, heard Marshal Mei open the bay window and walk out.

He burst into tears. He had struggled to live with dignity. The merchant had captured and tortured him and now Marshal Mei was stealing his freedom.

He put on the tunic and slipped under the sheets. He was amazed at how good he felt again. Then, he forgot everything and fell asleep.

On the terrace, Duna Mei had just grabbed a bottle of rum.

To be continued