experts on everything. There have to be experts on bondage and pain giving during coitus. I need this expert ASAP, and I will not even consider releasing Triniti until this expert is in place. ” Nefertiti pounded her fist on the table and screeched, “ I will not countenance another death of a concubine !” She shot out of her seat in a sudden motion that caused her wig to fall off her head. She appeared oblivious to the loss of it and began to pace about the room in an agitated fashion. Her bald head was blindingly white and reminiscent of the moon. “ The peasants are important to me; without them, we are stuck having to rely on slaves, which are too troublesome by half and tend to die a lot.”
Nefertiti could care less about the peasants, Briella thought with disgust. It was the C ountess who had sold some of their own people to Roman slavers. Nefertiti looked upon the concubines as sexual tools to be used for personal gratification purposes, and most of the time, she did not even bother to ask the name of the one servicing her. When Jules had mentioned the need for an expert on erotic matters, the idea had some merit. However, the notion of finding a licensed and credentialed expert was ludicrous. “We cannot produce a licensed expert on sexual matters if such a thing does not exist.”
“You must think outside of the box, Briella . If one does not exist here, it does not mean it exists nowhere. The world is not Flourda . I am of the highest confidence that such an expert can easily be found in Rome.”
“We are at war with Rome, C ountess,” Audra said.
Nefertiti smiled. “We are not at war with all of Rome, wise woman. There are some territories that are friendly to us. One of those contains the city of Eros. You can safely travel to Eros, can you not, Audrelia ?”
“It’s not that wise to travel right now,” Audrelia said. “There is still much fighting in the Roman occupied territories between the Romans and the natives. We would have to travel through those areas and we would still need to avoid the raiding parties of roaming Roman slavers.”
“That doesn’t sound too terribly difficult, not if I send an armed escort of eunuchs with the ladies,” Nefertiti replied. “I am not going to operate out of fear. I don’t fear the Romans and they cannot overtake my eunuch army or any of its members . I demand that an excursion to Eros be undertaken in order to find my expert. I will not lose another male of my harem to ineptitude and ignorance.”
Briella knew that pointing out the obvious solution would be pointless, but she felt she had to say it anyway. “You could just entertain yourself without the whips and chains. No one gets hurt, no one dies, and everyone stays safe. It wouldn’t require a dangerous trip to Eros.”
“That is not acceptable to me,” Nefertiti said. “I am entitled to experience the most ultimate of pleasures. I will not have the house of Avenal deprived of something that the other great houses are doing routinely. I will not be laughed at when I go to court because I remain ignorant of true pleasure. The only solution is to deliver me this expert, someone licensed in the art, or at least certified and credentialed. I will not be made a fool.”
Briella did not believe it for a minute that the nobles and royals at court were into bondage games, but she could not accuse her of lying without proof. She would have to ask Dev , who would be knowledgeable of the happenings at court. “Countess, think of the safety risks in continuing your chosen sport. If one of the lords should be damaged or killed, you would be charged with a criminal offense.”
Nefertiti stared at her with calculating eyes. “Safety is important to me, Briella . I see no reason why I cannot enjoy myself and experience anything I desire when the ladies will be ensuring a safe and secure environment. The lords, the concubines, the peasants, and even the