Thought for a moment--or perhaps was only lost in memory. "Yes, you shall."If Gabriele had any thought of the course her life would take, she made no ...ign of it. As heir to the throne (cousin-side or not), her days were not her own.On the same morning as Gabriele's menarche ceased, Lord Doland Basingame, Lord of the Echoing Vale, Marshal-Captain of the Silver Guard, First Lance to Throne Queen Meralina of Eretria, held up a scrap of cloth darkened with blood, and announced that his daughter was. .." I say as I slap my hand harder. Obediently he pulls down his pants and bends over the table. His eyes on the front door to make sure no one comes in. "Good boy Randy. Now grasp each side of the table with your hands and no matter what I do, do NOT let go. Understand?" I whisper sinisterly. He nods his head in compliance with a spark of anticipation in his eyes.I admire his body as he's sprawled across his desk. The desk is just the right height for his hip level and mine to merge. . He must have been in his early fifties, his greying hair was once strawberry blond and was worn long, as was his beard. He was sat cross-legged and had fallen forward when he expired. His chest and face lay on the floor. By his head there was a small patch of dried blood. This was the only sign of injury. The floor was bare and marked out with arcane looking symbols and there were four metal dishes placed around the body. These vessels must have been used as lamps, they were coated in a sickly. Why we’re here and how we got here doesn’t matter but we were really lucky to find that little diner on the way and now all we want to do is relax and unwind.It’s early autumn and the sun lights up the golden leaves on the trees outside as it slowly sets in the western sky. It isn’t especially cold right now but there’s a basket of logs by the inglenook fireplace and plenty of kindling so we agree that whilst you go upstairs to shower and change, I’ll set the fire and pour some drinks.It takes.