WARNING: This is a work of erotic fiction. It contains depictions of
nudity and graphic sex.

Author: A Strange Geek
Title: Amanda's Choice
Summary: A 14-year-old girl with a troubled home life is swept away to
another world by an older female lover, where she must make the
ultimate choice between love and freedom.

Part: 13 of 19
Keywords: MF, oral, magic

Note: Story codes are for this Chapter. See Chapter 0 for complete list
of codes

Copyright A Strange Geek, 2005

Feedback welcome! Please email me at astraYOURngegeek@comMINDcast.net
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---------------

The heat of the day was loathe to disperse, the air remaining
uncomfortably warm and sticky even after the sun set over the waters,
the skies deepening towards dark indigo twilight. Rennis felt the
thickness of the air seem to cling to his lungs as he stepped out of
his guest quarters. No breeze stirred the air, making even the light,
silken robe that he wore around his lean body seem overly hot to him.

He glanced up at the skies, where the brighter stars had emerged,
though soon to be struggling against the bright light of the moon as it
rose above the darkened eastern horizon. As much as he enjoyed visiting
Roquan on occasion, he definitely preferred his own Manor. It was
situated on another island further north and on higher ground, where
the air would dry out at night and allow him to take leisurely walks in
comfortably cool air. He would return just as full night descended, and
enjoy a soft, warm companion in his bed until he was tired enough for
sleep.

As it was, he feared it was simply too hot for a walk, and his
prospects of a companion were dim, ironic as that was for an Overlord.
Protocol was everything to the Overlords, and one did not simply take
liberties with another's slaves without permission. Rennis had so hoped
to spend some time with Sirinna, but in his anxiety over delivering the
Disalla powder to Yanna, he had forgotten to request permission from
Roquan. It was far too late to ask now.

Rennis sighed and ducked back inside his quarters. Here it was cooler,
yet the air was no drier. It still felt distressingly humid. He
silently vowed to make Roquan travel to the D'glounaas Manor instead
next time.

Rennis appeared to be face no other prospect that evening save for
retiring early, as much as he hated it. He began to turn the lights
down over his bed, when there came a low knock at his door.

Not expecting any visitors that evening, Rennis took a moment to react.
He turned and smoothed out his robe to look presentable, in case it was
Roquan. "Enter."

The door opened, and a familiar figure slipped quietly into the room,
closing the door behind her.

"Yanna?" Rennis said, nonplussed.

Yanna gave her former master a soft smile and stepped more fully into
the room. "Good evening, master," she said.

"Yanna, what are you doing here?"

"I have been granted release for the evening from Master Vanlo."

Rennis looked at her in surprise. "Release? Why?"

"So that I may serve you tonight, master."

Before Rennis could reply, Yanna took another step into the room and
lowered herself to her knees. She dropped her gaze downward, and placed
her hands palms-up on her thighs.

Rennis was rather stunned. While Yanna was never a bad slave, always
doing whatever was asked of her the best she could, she never
volunteered her services. It was one of the things that made it very
difficult for Rennis to contract her to clients. If she had not already
shown some aptitude for the healing arts, he would have likely had to
sold her at auction. It was a lucky break that he could trade her to
Roquan and his master Healer.

Perhaps this was a show of gratitude. Perhaps Yanna was doing so well
here that she finally found a position that made her happy. Or perhaps
she had gone so long without true sexual intercourse that she wanted to
avail herself of the opportunity when she had it.

Rennis quickly realized that it did not matter to him. He wished
companionship, and here it had been presented to him. He fully intended
to take advantage of it.

He turned away from Yanna and stepped over to the dresser where his
personal effects lay. He intended no bondage with her. For what he
wanted, he needed Yanna unfettered. Yet this did not mean he wished to
leave her completely bereft of any reminders of her station. He opened
a drawer and reached between the folds of a cloak he never intended to
wear, its sole purpose to conceal yet another so-called "contraband"
item to bring to another Overlord's Manor.

As he approached the submissive Yanna, he held in a hand a triangle of
thin, silky material, very black in color, with a sheen like satin, the
magical enchantment upon it making his fingers tingle. He crouched
beside Yanna and reached between her open thighs. Yanna saw what was in
his hand and drew a deep breath, her skin flushing in anticipation, her
knees sliding further apart for him.

Yanna played her part well. She knew what was expected of a slave and
acted appropriately, though she did not believe herself to be a slave,
at least not as the Overlord would think. Yet Master Rennis dealt in
more heavily in enchanted items at his Manor than most, and there were
a few that Yanna needed no willpower to allow herself to enjoy, and
this was one of them.

Rennis fit the silken material to Yanna's mound, where it settled
against her tender skin in a tight, snug fit. It hugged her labia,
revealing every intimate contour. It settled deeply into her slot,
between her labia and into her tunnel, the nub of her womanhood
outlined clearly above it.

Rennis took one of her hands, and brought her to her feet. He reached
around her and lifted her breasts in his hands, enjoying their weight
against his palms, fingers closing and squeezing the flesh tightly.
Between Yanna's legs, the enchanted silk began to ripple and undulate,
like slow and gentle strokes against her clitoris. Yanna let out a soft
sigh, her eyes closing. His fingers rubbed her nipples, coaxing them
erect. Her feet edged apart as the silk teased and probed her tunnel.

The silk was as good as bondage to Rennis. It thoroughly imprisoned
Yanna's pussy. It would stimulate her exactly as he wanted. Nothing she
could do could alter that. He could keep her from reaching orgasm as
long as he wanted, or he could reward her with a very pleasant climax
and start her towards the next one.

Rennis continued fondling her breasts, having missed this simple
pleasure in his time away from his own Manor. He tended to prefer
large-breasted slaves, as did the clients to which he catered. Roquan
tended more towards shapely perfection rather than size. To Rennis,
size /was/ perfection.

Yanna started to pant as the strokes against her cunt increased, like
the touch of a skillful tongue. Her legs trembled at the rising
stimulation. Rennis sensed her growing excitement and arousal and
dropped his hands from her breasts. She turned and looked at him
expectantly.

"You remember what I like, Yanna," Rennis said softly, stepping over to
the bed and slipping out of his robe.

"Yes, master," Yanna said in a husky voice, watching as Rennis turned,
his penis long and erect, standing out from his body. "Where is it?"

"The top drawer of the dresser."

Yanna opened the drawer and spotted it immediately, a small vial of
clear oil. She took it in hand, her breath short, her pussy feeling
steamy behind the confines of the silk. When she turned back towards
the bed, Rennis had already lay himself down upon it, smiling in
anticipation at his former slave.

Yanna let her gaze momentarily sweep the room as she climbed upon his
bed, and she spotted the object of her search almost immediately. Under
the desk near the bed was an open satchel. It was roughly between the
bed and the door. Perfect. It was all she needed to know.

Yanna felt the silk probe more deeply into her tunnel, making her moan
and quiver as she crawled towards Rennis. She was rising slowly but
steadily, her hips writhing back and forth, as if moving in time with a
lover's thrusts. She slid over his legs, her breasts brushing his
thigh, making Rennis smile at her. She lightly grasped the base of his
cock with one hand, while the other popped the top of the vial and
poured the oil over his erection. It felt cool to his skin at first,
but quickly warmed when Yanna began to spread it over his cock, her
fingers moving slowly and deliberately, until its length glistened in
the oil. She bestowed one small kiss on it just below the head before
drawing her body up.

Yanna had to pause a moment, the silken strokes against her pussy
growing more intense.

"Now, now," Rennis said in a gently admonishing tone, though there was
a smirk on his face. "What have I told you in the past about focus?"

"Yes, master," Yanna said in a breathy, barely audible voice. She
looked down, positioning her body so that her breasts dangled under
her. She leaned forward and down, letting one breast touch his cock,
stroking it lightly until the head just disappeared under the ample
flesh, pausing, then sliding back. This moved her hips in such a way
that it seemed to amplify the effects of the silken patch against her
mound, her cunt tormented by a touch that made her rise with a slowness
that would drive her to beg for relief if he chose to stop it.

This was the one weakness she had. Every other part of her slavery she
could act her way through, but orgasm denial drove her insane. It
spurred her to concentrate very hard on Rennis' pleasure.

With each stroke of her breast, she pressed herself harder into him,
moving faster as her own pleasure rose. She moaned and shuddered, yet
forced herself to remain focused on him, no matter how much her pussy
was aching for release. She settled down atop him so she could bring
her hands up and squeeze her breasts around his cock, burying it
between her warm and soft flesh. She pumped herself back and forth,
stroking his cock between her breasts, panting heavily as she
approached the edge. "Uhh ..." Yanna moaned as she tripped over into
orgasm, her cunt throbbing hard, the first orgasm she had administered
by someone other than herself for some weeks. She faltered for just a
few seconds, but never stopped, Rennis' cock still thrusting in and out
from between her breasts.

"Very good, Yanna," Rennis said, his own voice husky as he began to
rise himself. "I'm impressed."

Despite her beliefs and her plans, Yanna enjoyed hearing the praise.

The enchanted silk against her pussy continued stroking her, keeping
her aroused. She knew what he wanted to do now. She slowed her pace a
bit, preventing him from going too far too soon. The silken patch began
to lightly squeeze and tug at her clitoris, coaxing it further out, as
if sucking on it. Yanna moaned deeply and was nearly overwhelmed by the
sensation, her body shaking.

It also meant that Rennis wanted something else now.

She drew herself up, her breasts shiny with the oil from Rennis' cock.
She slid back, grasping his penis in her hand, stroking it lightly a
few times before cradling it in her hand and running the tip of her
tongue along the underside of his shaft, methodically from one end to
the other, lingering near the head, licking at the sensitive spot right
there. She started panting again as she rose a second time, the
enchanted silk sucking on her womanhood more strongly, stroking the tip
at the same time.

Yanna's tongue pressed more firmly, the flat of it sliding up and down
Rennis' cock. When she reached the head, she leaned forward and took
him inside her mouth, closing her lips tightly around him, cheeks
dimpling as she sucked lightly. Her head began to bob slowly back and
forth on his cock. At that moment, the silk relented, loosening its
hold on her clitoris, its strokes growing more gentle, holding her at
her heightened stimulation instead of driving her further or letting
her fall back. She uttered a small whimper, but did not flag in her own
efforts, continuing to administer pleasure to her former master as if
he were her master in truth again.

"Excellent, Yanna," Rennis said softly. "You haven't forgotten
anything."

He let her continue a few moments longer and make him rise a little
further, before finally gesturing for her to stop.

Yanna settled back on her knees, panting, the silk continuing to stroke
her mildly but not driving her further.

Rennis smiled, taking his time as he shifted to one side of the bed,
finally gesturing for Yanna to move forward. Eager for release, Yanna
complied without hesitation, crawling to the center of the bed and
lying on her back. Yet Rennis did not remove the silk immediately, even
as he crawled atop her body. Instead, he lay himself down upon her,
letting his penis lay on her covered cunt, making Yanna utter a
desperate moan. He slid his hips back and forth, sliding his shaft
against her slot. She could feel it as if his skin were touching hers,
but it did nothing to stimulate her further, her noises growing more
urgent and frustrated.

Finally, deciding that Yanna had had enough, Rennis reached between
them and touched her mound. The silk came loose at once, and he let it
fall to the sheets between her legs. Yanna looked up at Rennis with
gratitude glistening in her eyes. The next moment, she drew in her
breath and tossed her head back as he entered her, sliding his sizable
length into her, making her moan loudly as he filled her.

His thrusts were long and slow, his length sliding in and out of her,
making her rise again. Still copiously wet from the silk, her cunt was
slick and tight, the two of them moaning softly as they coupled. As he
felt himself rising as well again, he quickened the pace, faster and
harder, more of him driving into her each time. Yanna clenched her
hands into fists beside her, her hips rising to him, desperate as she
was for release, even as she rose unimpeded.

Rennis groaned urgently, approaching the edge before Yanna. He tensed,
hammering into her very fast, sending Yanna soaring after him. He
uttered one last guttural groan as he went over, slowing his thrusts as
he started to throb inside her, sending himself deep. Yanna felt him
pumping hard against the insides of her cunt. She hovered
excruciatingly at the edge, pressing her hips to his desperately,
grinding and writhing in a high-pitched whimper. Finally, she burst
over the precipice, her pussy throbbing hard, making her cry out. He
stayed inside her, trying to draw out her climax as much as possible,
until his flagging erection would no longer stimulate her.

Yanna felt herself drop down slowly from her orgasm, breathing hard,
her body settling back down onto the bed. Rennis withdrew and rolled
off her and onto his side. He drew Yanna into his arms, embracing her.
Yanna slid her arms around him, her breathing slowing.

"It is too bad that Master Vanlo is past such things in his life,
Yanna," Rennis said softly into her ear. "He would be quite pleased."

Yanna allowed herself a small smile. "Thank you, master," she said, as
it was expected of her.

She wondered with wry amusement if he would be recalling this night so
fondly after tomorrow.



Roquan stood stone-faced, shiny coins of silvery-gold making a loud
clinking noise as they dropped one by one from his hand into the
waiting knobbly-fingered claws of the old Mage, as if intending to make
him wait for his payment just that little while longer to spite him.

Finally, the last of the thirty coins lay piled in the magician's
withered hands, glittering in the light. "There, you robber," Roquan
sneered. "Three hundred."

Now it was the Mage's turn to spite the Overlord, as he stood and
counted the coins painstakingly for himself, earning a murderous gaze
from Roquan. Finally, the coins disappeared into a large pocket of the
Mage's robes. "Indeed, your Lordship," the Mage said in an oily voice
and a wry smile. "Three hundred platinum, payment in full."

"Perhaps next time you will not doubt the word of an Overlord when he
states that he will pay you when you have the job done," Roquan said
coldly.

The Mage appeared to ignore this as he picked up his staff, which he
had leaned against the hearth, and perched his hands upon it. "I am not
quite done," he said. "I have but one small adjustment to make, but it
shan't take long."

Roquan appeared to bristle at having just paid for a job that was
technically unfinished, though he had no reason to doubt that the Mage
would do what he claimed. "Fine," he snapped. "Do as you need, then
make haste to leave the Manor."

"I should inform you, your Lordship," said the Mage Q'yros, "that you
will need to wait a day before you attempt to begin powering the
Portal. The energies need a chance to settle to stability. I daresay it
was an overlooked imbalance that caused your difficulty in the first
place."

"Are you stating that this was /my fault?/" Roquan asked, fixing an
incredulous stare on the Mage.

Q'yros flashed the Overlord a crinkly smile. "You should know me better
than that, your Lordship."

"I do, which is why I asked it. The Portal failed on a return cycle.
Such things should be fairly automatic. I need not be personally
present for those."

The Mage paused suddenly. In a more cautious voice he said, "Ah, then
you make yourself present for originating cycles? Cycles that send
someone to a world rather than bring one back?"

"And is that so strange anymore? Oh, but wait, yes, that must be yet
another thing that the other Overlords no longer trifle with," he said
disdainfully. "Yet another tradition that they cease to follow because
it inconveniences them."

"Surely, your Lordship, the act of opening a Portal is so simple that
even a slave may ..."

"I teach none of my slaves how to open a Portal," Roquan declared. "It
is not their place. The Portal house is off-limits to them unescorted.
Return cycles merely need to be energized and left. It is not my place
to know of imbalances, Q'yros, because they should not be imbalanced to
begin with. If you wish to ascertain why it was unbalanced, I suggest
you look to yourself, for you are the one who last performed
maintenance on the dewomer, and after this experience, you can be
assured that I will inform the Mage Guild that you are no longer
welcome in this Manor, and that I will insist on another Mage should I
require one again in the future."

Normally, the Mage would be quite amused at the Overlord's tirade. It
was simply not an Overlord's place to tell the Guild who they should or
should not assign to Portal-keeping. If they chose to send Q'yros
again, then Q'yros it would be, or no one at all. Yet his mind dwelled
on the one fact that he had failed to see, that this Overlord still
supervised Portal openings personally.

"I am quite sorry you feel that way, your Lordship," Q'yros said
politely. "Ah, well, not all business relationships work out."

"I doubt we even had that," Roquan said. "Now get out."

"As you wish."

The Mage turned and walked out of the Overlord's quarters and into the
sodden air, not a single breeze to ruffle the edges of his robes where
they gathered about his feet. Overhead, twilight was giving way to
darkness, stars scattered across the velvet vault of the heavens. The
moon appeared over the eastern horizon, large and bright.

He walked down the short path from the Overlord's quarters, which lay
nestled in a niche cut from the lush forest that surrounded the inland
border of the Manor, to where it joined with the wider path that
skirted the trees, the small torches along the sides dutifully lighting
for him as he approached. It was not enough for his elderly eyes,
however, and he reached into his pocket for something more appropriate.
He extracted a blue pearl, which he affixed to the end of his staff. He
waved his aged hand over it, and light burst forth. He held the staff
before him like a lantern.

Like a true Mage of experience, he rarely labeled his pearls. The one
he had extracted from his pocket was one of a dozen he carried, each
imbued with different enchantments. The blue pearl was so useful a
gemstone, able to hold any but the most powerful magicks, that it was
used exclusively to contain set magic spells, unless the magic required
a specific form in which to function. Most non-Mages etched symbols on
the pearls to tell them apart, but a true Mage could tell from the feel
of the magic that emanated from them.

Q'yros found the gap in the trees that led down the narrow, winding
path through dense foliage, and traversed it to a small stone and metal
building with a high, rounded dome as a roof, sitting in a clearing
surrounded by torches set on high poles, their pale blue light giving a
ghostly look to the area.

The Mage walked up to the double-doors and entered.

From a shiny reflecting pane of crystal in the center of the room rose
a golden column of glowing energy that rose upwards into the domed
ceiling, where it was anchored to a similar reflector suspended from
the center of the dome. At the center of the column was a large,
crystalline sphere, slowly rotating in place. Rings of brighter gold
emanated from the sphere like waves, pulsing along the length of the
column towards either reflector, which sent back the energy as bright
sparks of light that sped back to the sphere. Suspended in the sphere
was a bright red gemstone, its facets flashing brightly. The entire
apparatus thrummed with a slow beat in time to the pulses of energy.

Q'yros stepped up to the column and waved a hand in front of the
sphere, uttering a short incantation. The sphere stopped rotating, and
split in two. The Mage leaned forward, stroking his chin thoughtfully
as he examined the red gemstone dewomer, the heart of the Portal
Initiator.

No adjustments were, in fact, needed. No, he had everything already
set. Yet now no one would question his presence here. He turned and
gave a perfunctory wave of his hand over his shoulder. The sphere
closed and resumed its placid rotation.

He sighed and planted his staff to the floor, balancing his hands upon
it. Now, to wait.



Twilight deepened to full night, and the moon rose higher into the sky,
casting a silvery glow upon the landscape, the Manor silent and still.

Down the path from the Overlord's quarters, a figure stirred at the
door to the guest quarters. Yanna crept carefully into the muggy night
air, a leather satchel gripped in her hand. She paused, looking back
into the room, where her former master lay still and slumbering upon
the bed, his back to her.

Very cautiously, she closed the door, crouching quickly when it clicked
shut and dashing towards the main path. She cast a wary eye towards the
Overlord's quarters, watching for activity, but the windows were dark.
Once the trees obscured her view of the building, she broke into a jog,
quickly making her way down the path through the trees and into the
Portal building, where the Mage awaited her impatiently.

"You're late," Q'yros snapped, tapping his staff against the stone
floor in annoyance.

Yanna sighed. "Well, I would not have been if the fool had not spilled
half the Disalla in his trip over here!" she retorted, holding up the
satchel. "Do you think I can spirit this away from an Overlord by just
asking him?"

The Mage narrowed his eyes. "And what unnecessary risk have you taken
now?"

"Not 'unnecessary'." Yanna opened the bag wide and showed him the waxy
remains of the Disalla smeared along the insides of the satchel, having
been softened by the extreme humidity of the day. "My master should
consider himself lucky I thought of this. If Rennis has this come
morning, my whole plans are for naught!"

Q'yros took the bag from her and eyed the interior curiously. "Hrmm,"
he muttered. "Yes, you might be right about that. He does not know you
took this?"

"Not unless he does not sleep the night. I daresay he will, after
having satisfied himself sexually with me."

Q'yros' lips twisted into a smirk. "Yes, what you will not do for your
cause."

Yanna laughed humorlessly at this. "I am not a slave, Q'yros," she said
defiantly. "No matter what the Overlords think."

"Ah, but to your true master you are, are you not?"

"That remains to be seen."

Now the Mage laughed. "So that is his promise of a reward to you?" he
asked in amusement. "Your freedom?"

"He will have no need for me," Yanna said curtly. "Once he has what he
wants, he will no longer need me. He can train a whole new bevy of
slaves for his purposes."

"I should warn you, Yanna," Q'yros said, raising a finger. "I have
learned something that you have not taken into account."

"/Now/ what?" Yanna said. "It was bad enough when Vanlo managed to
figure out how Roquan's slaves were being afflicted. Had I another
moon, I could have damaged Roquan's slave trade beyond hope of repair."

Though she admitted to herself, she would likely not have had Amanda as
such a convenient pawn in her plans, so in reality, it was a good
trade-off. However, she was growing anxious to complete this meeting
and finally obtain the last of what she needed to set the ultimate plan
in motion, one bigger than just driving the wedge between Roquan and
Rennis.

"Roquan, it appears, is far more a traditionalist than you have been
led to believe," Q'yros said placidly. "He personally activates the
Portal when originating."

"/What?/"

"So you will not be able to use the opening of the Portal to Earth to
send the outworlder girl back as a cover for your actions."

"Oh, /hellfire!/" Yanna sighed and looked over to the Portal initiator.
"So what do we do now?"

"I have already done it for you," Q'yros said smugly. "You can activate
the Portal yourself with just a wave of your hand. I suggest you find a
way to get Sirinna here before the time Roquan is to arrive."

"Gods damn it, Q'yros!" Yanna exclaimed. "Vanlo is enough a magic
sensitive that he will know that the Portal has opened, and opened too
early!"

"He is an old man," Q'yros sneered. "And not a vital old man like me.
He has shamefully let himself go decrepit. And he is a Healer yet!"

"What's the point?"

"The point, my dear, is that you simply need to act fast. Get her
through the Portal and to your master before he alerts the Overlord."

Yanna sighed. "That will cut it close. I might not have time for
niceties."

"Use whatever means at your disposal, Yanna," Q'yros said darkly. "So
long as the goods arrive intact."

Yanna considered this. "If I do, he may wind up with more than he
bargained for."

The Mage raised a questioning eyebrow.

"The outworlder girl, Amanda. She may have to come along as well."

Q'yros chortled. "She is young, is she not? Your master will need not
just a slave Trainer, my dear, but /slaves/ as well. What better place
to start?"

"A good point. Now, we should finish this, so can get back before
anyone notices I am missing. Do you have what I need?"

The Mage nodded once and reached into his pocket, extracting a blue
pearl, which he handed to Yanna.

Yanna looked it over. "So this has an unlocking spell?"

"Indeed. It should work against any restraints they choose to use on
you."

"If I know Roquan well enough, there will be one punishment only for
this."

"And ... " The Mage paused, one corner of his mouth turning upwards.
"It also contains a Farvision spell."

Yanna looked at the Mage in surprise. "Farvision? Linked to whom?"

"Your master."

Yanna's eyes widened and she paled. "But why does ..."

"He wishes you to make contact with him," Q'yros said mildly. "He is
impatient for results."

Yanna's eyes hardened. "He will have to wait," she said. "I have no
privacy now to Farview safely!"

"I only tell you what I have been told to tell you," Q'yros said with a
sly smile. "I suggest you take it up with your master."

Yanna fumed, but did not complain further.

"Now, I must go," said the Mage. He eyed the bag in his hand and said
disdainfully, "I suppose you are expecting me to dispose of this."

"Unless you want it hanging around as evidence," Yanna countered.

Q'yros sighed. "Very well. This will be the last time we will meet. You
are on your own now to complete this mission for your master."

"I shall have little trouble with that," Yanna declared. "There is
little that stands in my way, now."



Sirinna lay in the dimness of her room, the lamp turned down to its
lowest setting, a blue flicker that barely illuminated her form, and
the smaller form of the one that lay silently snuggled up to her,
clinging tightly, her breathing steady but tense.

Sirinna was confused. Amanda herself had asked to enter Sirinna's bed,
yet gently refused any overture for more intimate contact. Now as they
lay still, the room quiet save for the ebb of the tides and the soft
songs of the crickets, Amanda started to quiver, as if cold, even
though the room was just pleasantly warm.

"Amanda," Sirinna said softly. "Is there something the matter?"

Amanda had dreaded her asking this question. Ever since she left Tanyee
in her bedchamber earlier that afternoon, she had been alternately
wracked with guilt and worry over what had transpired. She wished she
had never made the promise to Tanyee. She was sure Sirinna would hold
the answer.

But then again, maybe not.

Sirinna might just smile and tell her she was just being "sensuous",
that she was just getting used to how things are in Narlass. Amanda
would not have been able to get her to see that she cannot transform
herself like that in only two days. There was still so much she did not
understand, so much that she could not accept yet. She did not know if
she could accept it, not matter how long it took.

Amanda clutched at Sirinna tighter, like she had the first time she had
spilled everything about her father and his desperate straits. Sirinna
automatically drew her closer, all thoughts of anything more intimate
leaving her head for the first time. "What's wrong, love?" Sirinna
said.

Amanda paused another long moment. "I don't have enough time," she
finally said.

"Time for what?"

"Time to decide. I don't have enough days left."

Sirinna's mouth dropped open in the darkness, and she drew in a slow,
deep breath, her heart beating faster. There was still hope.

She cradled Amanda's head, stroking her hair tenderly. She wasn't sure
what to say. She could not -- she /would/ not -- beg Amanda to stay.
That might only push her away. She was finally understanding that
Amanda's spirit was far more delicate than she had believed. She needed
a lot more patience and understanding than Sirinna had been giving her
lately, and Sirinna felt very badly about that.

"Sirinna, can Roquan give me more time? Please?"

Sirinna winced, as if in pain. "I don't think so, Amanda," she said.

Amanda sighed. "Damn him," she muttered.

Sirinna opened her mouth to correct her, but quickly stopped herself
before she could utter a sound.

"This is not ..." Amanda began, cutting herself off.

"This is not what, love?"

"Nothing."

Amanda silently berated herself. Of course nothing was fair! Nothing
was fair back on Earth, so why should it be here? Nothing was fair in
her universe, so why should it be in the multiverse?

"Sirinna, make him decide," Amanda said.

Sirinna blinked in surprise. "What?"

Amanda raised her head. "Make Roquan order me. He's good at giving
orders, isn't he? Make him order me to go. Or to be a slave."

Sirinna sighed. "Amanda ... "

"He wanted me to go at first, didn't he? What changed his mind?"

Sirinna was not sure she would like the answer to that.

"What, Sirinna? What did it?" Amanda demanded.

"You did."

"/I/ did?"

"Something you said to him, love, when you talked to him," Sirinna
said. "Something made him want to give you a choice."

Amanda sighed despondently. "Great, it's my fault. Again."

"No, Amanda," Sirinna said. She raised a hand and laid it gently on
Amanda's face. "He just saw in you some of the things I did. Your
intelligence, your beauty, your cleverness."

At this, Amanda gave a humorless bark of laughter. "Sirinna, he said I
would be a challenge to train," she said. "Not exactly a ringing
endorsement."

"Look, Amanda, none of that matters," Sirinna said, stroking Amanda's
cheek. "Never mind why you have the choice. You have it. No one else
can decide for you. He can't. I ... I can't."

"But you want me to stay, don't you?" Amanda asked.

Sirinna felt a surge of affection for her. "Oh, gods, yes, Amanda, I
do," she said. "I love you, Amanda."

Amanda felt her heart freeze. "Wh ... what d-did ... what did you
say??"

Sirinna smiled. "I love you."

Somewhere in her mind, Amanda knew. She had to know. Everything Sirinna
did told her this. Everything Sirinna said. Sirinna broke with
tradition several times, even disobeyed Roquan, all for her. She did
know. Yet to conceive of it in her own mind, and then to hear it from
Sirinna, were two entirely different things.

Amanda collapsed back down onto the bed and burst into tears.

"Amanda, what's wrong?" Sirinna cried softly. "I thought ..."

"Oh God, Sirinna," Amanda choked through her tears. "Why did you have
to tell me that?"

Sirinna looked stricken, uncomprehending.

"You just made my decision that much harder!" Amanda sobbed.

Sirinna gathered Amanda in her arms, not knowing what else to do, and
let her cry herself to sleep.