The carriage rolled to a stop outside the large estate. A wide cobbled walk led from the dirt path to the entrance to the mansion. It had been a long ride. Several hours by her best estimate. She straightened her clothes, rumpled from sitting so long, and ran a finger through her hair, trying to get out the worst of the tangles and get it in some semblance of order.
The gates of the estate opened, and a small wolf, wearing what appeared to be pajamas, with a leather collar around her neck strolled out. Sagena could not help but notice that she had several toe rings and ankle bracelets on each foot. The small grey wolf walked directly up to her.
“Sagena?”
Sagena nodded nervously and replied, “Yes, I am here to see Agrecolus, he . . .” She was cut off by the wolf.
“I know why you are here. The Master is in the great hall.” She pointed through the gate to the mansion beyond. “Go through the doors, straight across the entrance hall into the courtyard, straight across the courtyard. Go inside, and keep straight through the double doors. They lead to the great hall.” With that she turned away from her with a finality that made it clear she was through talking to Sagena. For the thousandth time since she got in the carriage that Agrecolus had sent for her, she wondered just what it was she was getting herself into.
Mentally shrugging she walked through the gate and down the cobblestone walk. The mansion loomed up before her. Its gray stone walls and narrow arched windows gave the impression it was more castle then house. The impression was further reinforced when she walked through the arched entryway and realized the small room she was in was not part of the house proper. But just a small chamber with pillars on either side, and another archway opposite, beyond which she saw the courtyard. She noticed a portcullis hanging over the far archway and turned around. Sure enough there was one over the archway she had just come through. She shivered a little, realizing how easily she could become a prisoner here.
The courtyard was a pleasant place. The walls of the castle, for she could no longer think of it as anything else, rose up all around her. The walkway formed a small cross, with short sets of stairs leading up to doorways on each of the other three walls. Soft green grass filled in the spaces around the walkways, except to her immediate left, where several ducks (non-anthro) swam happily in a small pond.
Resolutely she marched across the courtyard, trying to ignore the feeling that people were watching her through the windows all around her. She walked up the steps and paused before the double doors a moment to gather her nerve. She pulled them open, and saw that they opened into a hallway. Directly across from her was a set of double doors. The hallway disappeared around corners to her left and right, and a pair of staircases rose to the next floor.
She jumped when the door behind her slammed shut. Then winced at the loud noise it had made. Hesitantly she walked across the hardwood floor to the doors that would lead her to her fate. She put her hand on the handle and found her nerve failing. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath and tried to steady her nerve. Finally, swallowing hard, she opened the door.
Sagena nervously walked through the double doors into the room beyond. The far end of the two story room consisted of floor to ceiling windows that looked out over a well-kept yard and gardens. Comfortable chairs sat around the edge of the room, vying for space with statues of various sorts. A grand piano sat off toward one side, and directly in front of her was the individual she had come to see.
The large ursine was sitting in a comfortable high back chair, wearing loose pajama style bottoms and a smoking jacket. His fur was a medium shade of brown sprinkles with flecks of white, his hair was a darker shade of brown, and kept long and tied back. The chair was flanked by two small tables, on the right was a tray bearing a bottle of some amber liquid, and two crystal goblets. To his left several items were hidden by a white cloth.
She stopped unsure of what to do. Nothing she could think of seemed right. He seemed merely content to watch her with an almost . . . amused expression, allowing her to be tormented by her own indecision. It seemed to her that she stood there for an eternity before he finally spoke.
“Come closer.” His words were accompanied by a beckoning gesture. Hesitantly she approached him. She realized as she did that his chair was located in the center of a throw rug decorated with abstract patterns, one of few such coverings on the polished hardwood floor of the room. She stopped at the edge, and looked him in the eye for only a moment. His own eyes gazed back at her with a calm assurance that almost bordered on arrogance. Sagena immediately began to feel uncomfortable, as if those eyes were boring into her soul, and seeing her deepest, darkest, secret desires. Blushing under her tawny fur she forced her eyes away, instead gazing at the rug before her feet. She heard him chuckle and dared to look at him again, but was careful not to meet his gaze.
“Please have a seat,” he said gesturing to the floor in front of her. Flushing even more, she stepped forward and sat down on the rug before this bear who seemed to be taking inordinate delight in her discomfiture. After she had settled into her seat, he spoke again.
“Why have you come to me?”
“I . . . don’t understand.”
“It is a very simple question. Why have you come to me?” he enunciated each word carefully as if someone speaking to a small child. Her embarrassment grew.
“I have heard that you . . . are good . . . experienced . . . in things I want to try.”
“And what sort of things would these be?” She became a little annoyed. She could hear the grin in his voice and knew he was playing with her.
“I sent you an application. It has all of that information on it.”
He nodded and replied, “Yes, I have read it. But I want to hear you say it before we proceed any further.” She realized then, even though she had not yet agreed to submit to him, nor he to accept her submission, that he exerted a powerful hold over her.
Her cheeks burned as she answered, “I . . . want to know what it is like to be tied up . . . to be told what to do . . . ordered around . . . to be spanked and . . . tortured.” She paused and gathered her courage fighting the urge to flee. “I have heard that many women have come to you seeking these things . . . and more. And all have spoken highly of you . . . sir.” She added the honorific as an afterthought, but realized that it couldn’t hurt. She wanted nothing more then to crawl into a dark place and hide. Her cheeks burned beneath her fur, never before had she revealed so much of her innermost desires, and never to a stranger. She hoped he would not require more, at least not this soon.
He was quiet and thoughtful for a moment before speaking again. “Yes, I have . . . experience in the sort of things you think. All though I would not describe my ladies as many. So tell me, why should I accept you as one of my own?”
Sagena swallowed hard, she had imagined what would happen when she arrived, but so far things had turned out much different from what she expected. She tried to formulate response to his question.
“Sir, I really have nothing I can offer beyond myself.” Then in a flash of inspiration added, “That and my promise to be a quick and willing pupil in anything you wish to teach me.”
The answer seemed to satisfy him as he nodded and then asked, “And do you realize what you are asking? What you are getting into?”
“I think so.”
“Understand this, if I accept you into my service, your life, as you have known, it is over. As long as you remain with me you belong to me body and mind. You will have only two choices in all things, accept my word as law or leave my service never to return.” She blinked in confusion at this last and he nodded pleasantly. “Yes, you are free to leave at any time, you will not be a prisoner here, although at times it may seem that way. Any time you decide that my service is not what you seek, merely let me know, and your contract will be terminated and you will be free to go. But remember, if you should choose to leave like that, you will never be allowed a second chance.”
Sagena nodded. She had heard as much, indeed one of the women she had spoken to about Agrecolus had mentioned leaving in such a manner and having regretted it ever since. “I understand, and accept your terms.”
“Good.” He nodded and from behind her, a smallish canine she hadn’t noticed before brought a wooden tray to her, with a paper on it, and a pen and a bottle of red ink. “That is a standard contract. Take your time and read over it. If you have any questions or concerns ask them now. Once you are satisfied let me know.” She picked up the document hesitantly, and realized at once that it was on parchment, and that it was covered with neat, precise handwriting. After a short preamble, it was divided into two sections, the first explaining her status and her duties as well as what few rights she retained. That last part surprised her a bit. The second section explained Agrecolus’s duties and rights, mostly just mirroring the first section. At the end was a section for them both to sign and date it. The whole thing seemed very straight forward and surprisingly formal.
She reread the document to be sure and was certain there was nothing she didn’t understand. It seemed he had taken pains to use plain language and make everything clear as possible.
“I understand, and I have no questions.”
“Then the contract is satisfactory to you?”
“Yes.” She nodded.
“Good. Now understand this is the last time you will stand with me as an equal until such time as you leave my service. If the contract is acceptable to you sign and date it in the spaces provided.” Sagena picked up the pen and did as she was instructed. For a giddy moment she felt as if she was signing away her soul, a fancy encouraged by the crimson color of the ink. After she signed, the canine had her place her thumb print beside the signature.
The contract was then brought to Agrecolus who likewise signed and dated it and added his own thumb print. Then handed the contract back to the canine, instructing her to secure it properly. When she left, he turned his gaze back to Sagena who remained seated on the edge of the rug not knowing what would come next.
“Stand up.” The command brooked no disobedience and she hastened to comply. She looked up at him, but a glare made her look away again.
“From now on you will keep your eyes downcast except when instructed to by me. Do you understand?” Mutely she nodded.
“What was that? I didn’t hear you.” He sounded annoyed.
“Y . . .yes sir,” she answered as confidently as she could.
“Good from now on you speak only when spoken to. And you must end every sentence directed at me with sir or master. Is that understood?” She started to nod again, but caught herself.
“Yes master,” she said just above a whisper.
“Now remove your clothes.” She immediately began to undress as he continued. “You will have no need of clothes while in my house, and will therefore go without unless I say otherwise. Further in those situations that require clothing, I will decide what you will wear. Is that understood?” As he spoke, she was quickly removing her clothing, folding it up and laying it in a neat pile beside her.
“Yes master,” she replied as she began to climb out of her underwear. Her cheeks flamed even brighter beneath her fur. Finally she stood before him naked. She fought the urge to try to cover herself up, instead keeping her hands at her side, and her body square to him. He nodded in approval.
“Come forward and kneel before me.” The first step was the hardest, but each successive step was easier. In only a few steps she was before him. She lowered herself to her knees, keeping her head bowed. This close she again realized just how big he was. Bears were large, but he was large even for a bear. He removed the cloth from the table to his left. There was a leather band, a collar she realized, and a small ornate lock. He picked up the collar and as he placed it around her neck, he spoke.
“I give you my collar, and you have accepted it freely. It is a token, a symbol that you are now mine. For as long as you wear it you will answer to me. You may not remove it except with permission from me, or as symbol that you wish to leave my service” The lock snapped shut with a sound that bespoke finality. Now for better or worse, she was in a sense property of this great ursine. She shuddered a little involuntarily.
He gestured to the canine who had returned. “Petroca will show you to your quarters. You will have one hour to settle in, then your training will begin.” For the first time, Sagena realized that the canine, Petroca, was likewise clad only in a locked collar.
Without a word the smallish canine beckoned her to follow. She shivered slightly despite the warmth of the house. Her conservative upbringing had instilled in her a need to be clothed at all times, except when necessary, such as for bathing. To walk around naked was a new experience for her, she found herself embarrassed, and a little scared, but at the same time she found herself beginning to enjoy the freedom of being without clothing. A little nervously she addressed the young canine as they turned down another corridor.
“Your name is Petroca right?” The canine did not respond, she merely shot her a baleful look before continuing on the way. Sagena was puzzled and wondered if perhaps the young canine felt jealous of her as a new arrival and an intruder.
The corridor they had just entered had some doors on either side of it. Petroca opened one, and gestured for her to enter. Upon entering she noticed that the bag containing the few personal belongings she had, and that had been brought with her, had already been placed on the bed. The room was rather small. A medium throw rug covered the flagstone floor. The only furnishings were a bed, a trunk, and a chest of drawers all fairly small in size. A single shelf ran most of the length of the wall over the bed. On it were a small lamp, and several books between to ornate bookends. Curious she moved closer to read the titles of the books and was startled when Petroca spoke.
“Were you trying to get us both in trouble?” Sagena flushed despite the fact the rebuke came from someone smaller and clearly younger then herself.
“I don’t understand. Did I do something wrong?” The canine looked at her in utter astonishment.
“Something wrong? The master just got done telling you not to speak unless spoken to, and what’s the first thing you do? You start running your mouth!”
A little taken aback Sagena tried to stammer a response.
“But I thought . . . I mean I wasn’t talking to . . .” Petroca impatiently cut her off.
“Look stupid, the Master’s rules apply everywhere in his house, even if he is not there. Unless you’re being addressed, you keep your mouth shut. The only exceptions are here in the submissive’s quarters we can speak freely, or if you need to speak in the performance of your duties.” The canine sighed and calmed down a bit, her expression softening and her tone becoming a little friendlier. “The sooner you get it into your head that you’ve stepped into a different world the better.”
Sagena felt a mix of emotions shame that she had made so foolish an error, guilt for misjudging the young canine, and a determination to get things right.
“I’m sorry,” she said softly. “You’re right. I wasn’t thinking. This is all going to take some getting used to.”
The young canine nodded. “I’m sorry too. I forgot that this is all new to you. I have been here long enough for it to become second nature.” Sagena relaxed and felt herself warming to the young canine.
“How long have you been here?”
“A little over six years.” Sagena was taken aback by this statement. The canine did not appear to be old enough to have been here that long.
“Six years? How old are you?”
The canine thought a moment before answering, “Twenty-two, almost twenty three.” Sagena did some quick math.
“But that would mean you were only sixteen when you came here. He would take in someone that young?” She began to wonder about Agrecolus. To do what he did with adult women was one thing, but to take in a child, even one who was close to being an adult was something else. She realized that Petroca was giggling and shaking her head.
“It’s not like you are thinking. When he took my sister and me in, it was to get us away from our father. He would not formally collar either of us until we were legally adults.” This put a new spin on things and Sagena found a multitude of questions coming to her mind. As if sensing what was coming Petroca shook her head.
“It’s a long story. I’ll tell you another time. Right now I need to get you to the bath so you can clean up. You wouldn’t want to be late your first day.” Sagena nodded in agreement and quickly grabbed a couple of combs and a brush from her bag.
Petroca led her the rest of the way down the hallway into a room that was filled with fragrant steam. The tub was large and sunk into the floor, and somebody had already drawn a hot bath for her. As if she had realized what she was thinking, Petroca quickly spoke up.
“Wash first then relax. I will return when it is time for you to get out.” With that the young canine left the room, leaving Sagena alone with her thoughts.
Copyright 2006 by George Embley.
