Next to the robed woman was a group of slaves, male and female. All were scantily clad and clearly not in their right minds. Their eyes were glazed over, and their faces were adorned in smiles that never made it to their eyes. If this was the idea of a reward for winning, then Kyle wanted nothing to do with it. Even if he hadn’t decided to focus on trying to build relationships, he had never wanted anything to do with hookers.
He turned to leave but then noticed a figure hiding behind the other slaves. Nyda was there. She was still in her normal slave attire, which was revealing if not as pointedly lascivious as the others, which he took to be some type of temple prostitutes. What struck him though wasn’t the delicate beauty she possessed in contrast with the wanton desirability of the others, rather it was the fear plastered across her face.
When Soren finished talking about how much he had done for them and how kind he was, he nodded to the priestess who stepped up. She pulled her hood down and her face showed a woman in her late thirties or early forties. She was still a beautiful blonde, if perhaps more mature than Kyle’s preference. Undoubtedly, she had been a real looker in her day.
“Grace and delight be to all you, my children. In the eyes of Begaer, slave or free matters naught, all have desires, and she is the answer to every urge. Your hard work, training, and victories have won you the right to a prize. Some of your new owners wanted to take you tonight, but it is a long tradition of the arena that the spoils must go to the victor,” she said as she looked over the assembled gladiators. Her gaze spoke of desire and debauchery.
Then she continued, “We have for your pleasure an assortment of slaves and you may choose which one you wish to enjoy. They will be yours to do with as you please until the sun rises. Sadly, because of the attacks that won’t be as long as we might have otherwise liked, so you will have to make up for the limited time with a greater gusto.
“We have a particular way that we do this as we wish to stoke your desires. First, let me say this, the trained pets here are accomplished in all the arts needed to please you. They will not disappoint, but in respect for the might of your arms, we have other options for you.
“Some men enjoy being first more than anything else, and so Nyda the elf is here to offer her maidenhead. You won’t get much skill from her, of course, but some don’t seem to mind that. And on the other end of the spectrum, if one of the winners wishes to know bliss beyond anything they have seen before, you may ask and I just might consent to teach you the ways of my lady, Begaer. I warn you, though, after that, every other lover will seem feeble and half-hearted.
“Now, we allow the losers to pick first but, know this. Whatever you pick can be taken away from you. Desire is best stoked when contested.”
As she finished speaking, she gestured to one of the human fighters who had lost in the first round. He quickly chose one of the pleasure slaves, a tall brunette with cocoa-colored skin and breasts that seemed both impossibly large and immune to the effects of gravity. The second followed suit and chose another of the pleasure slaves.
When it was Burke’s turn, he said, “Lady Priestess, teach me your arts. I chose you.”
She snorted and replied, “But I already made clear that I would only favor a winner. If you want this treat, then you must learn to leave the ring on your feet rather than your back.”
Burke’s face got red. A rage seethed within him and Kyle half expected him to try to attack the woman. Instead, he looked over at Nyda and said, “Fine, I will take the elf. Best she learns from a real man.”
Nyda’s fear only became more evident and instead of sauntering over to stand by Burke as the other pleasure slaves had once chosen, she tried to hide behind the others as though she could make herself small enough to avoid the cruel fate that lay before her.
Skrug was next but left while saying, “Skrug no want skinny twigs. Bring Skrug roasted pig. Then he be happy.”
Kierra bowed to the priestess and said, “This is not the way of my people. Mates must prove themselves.” Then she turned and walked away. Kyle couldn’t help but feel like she had looked at him as she walked away.
Gilthan looked at Burke and Nyda then back at the priestess. His face displayed conflicted emotions. “Priestess, if you are the master of these arts, then I would learn them.”
The priestess looked at Kyle for a minute but when he didn’t make eye contact, she looked away and then walked up next to Gilthan. She ran her hands over his chest and slowly licked the side of his face in a disturbingly sensual manner. “I accept, sorcerer. Perhaps we can teach each other something of pleasure. You have a pretty face.”
Then she looked at Kyle. “You are the last to choose. As the one to make it furthest into the matches you have the final pick. You may choose any that hasn’t been picked or take from one who has already chosen. Know, though, that if you take from another, then they will not get any. Their desires will prove to have been inferior and your desire will be all that much sweeter for the way it has crushed that of another.”
“It is simple. I choose Nyda,” Kyle replied.
“Ah, and so it
