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 Alec Three

   The third installment of the long drawn out story.

   A pounding came to the door, and it jarred them awake.  Alec woke first.
He realized he'd wrapped himself around her in his sleep.  Oh, the
pleasure. He let his lips brush against her neck before he slipped his hand
from her waist to quickly don his coat.  He hoped she didn't mind his
intrusion, but he was too tired to care about decorum.  He'd barely gotten
his belt on when the pounding changed to an active effort to break the door
in.  Alec smelled no smoke.  Glen touched his arm to let him know she was
there.  Alec paled at the thought that she was awake when he kissed her. 
The door groaned under the stress of the onslaught.  Meta would break
through soon.  Glen quietly pointed to the trap door.  If they made it out,
they'd have to free Samuel and Nugget, the old mare that Meta gave Glen for
the journey.  They moved the bed to the door.  Alec grabbed up Glen's box
and heaved up the section of flooring.  The dark passage echoed the noise
of the upper room.  He tightened his boots and strengthened his thoughts
before lowering Glen down into the early dawn mist.  They rushed across the
empty yard to the stable.  Samuel was ready to go as soon as he was
cinched. Nugget quietly mouthed her bit and reluctantly followed Glen out
of the gate.  Glen mounted swiftly with a glance at Alec.  Samuel pranced
out of the stable with Alec's leg launched over his back.  They quickly
left Meta's property.  The sound of the horses drowned out the pursuers. 
If Alec let his horse have his head, they would leave Glen and the mare
behind.  Meta's men would catch up at this pace.  He turned the massive
beast around.

   "Keep going down the road.  I'll catch up!" He yelled back at her.

   As he rushed toward Meta's followers, he hoped to spook their horses. 
Samuel had taken him through a wall of lizards.  He'd surely ram a few of
those stable nags.  Meta and his cronies came quickly into view.  Before
Alec made contact, a strange sound came from behind him.  The five stable
horses reared up and threw two of the riders.  The noise came again.  The
horses bucked and thrashed the remaining riders from their backs.  The
horses trotted calmly past Alec and Samuel.

   Meta yelled up at Alec, "Give me my silver!"

   Alec tossed the bag down and looked at the others.  No major injuries.
They would follow for a little while.  Samuel snorted his disappointment at
the non-battle.

   "Me, too," he whispered as they turned around to catch up with Glen.

   On the way back, he noticed the horses from The Manger milled around
just within view in the early morning light.  At first, it unsettled Alec,
but he assumed they'd wander back home soon.

   "I hope I didn't disappoint you," Glen said from Nugget's back.  "I
thought I'd try my dinner call."

   "They didn't go home.  They're following."

   "No, they'll stay with us.  I am their home."

   "That's stealing.  Send them home."

   She boldly looked Alec straight in the eye and said, "They were mine.  I
bought them and raised them....when I was a boy.  Meta treats the boys with
some respect.  Not much, but some."

   She tried to control her anger.  He hoped she would calm some in the
convent.  They passed numerous fields and homes dotting either side of the
road.  Her silent defiance proved nothing to him.  The horses eventually
coalesced into a traveling herd.  He gave up and allowed the horses to
follow.  At night fall, Samuel pranced and cavorted for the mares and gave
the geldings a taste of his teeth.  Alec let the stallion assert himself as
he set the fire and started the meal.  He offered her a piece of jerky, but
she refused it.  She sat well away from the fire and scanned the woods.

   "No one followed.  You're free."

   She looked at him and a somewhat menacing laugh came from her lips.  "I
will never be free."

   "Gwena gave me the directions to the convent.  You'll be there in the
morning."

   "Without my money or property."

   "You've no status, girl.  You wouldn't be able to keep it anyway."

   "Are you truly so stupid?  The wasteland cares little for status.  I
would be an old woman by the time someone came to claim my parcel."

   "You wish it to be that way.  You don`t want to better your standings?"

   "So, I've been brought here for a lecture?"

   He got up and handed her a bedroll.  He walked away and set up where he
would sleep.

   "I would never lecture someone who doesn't wish to be lectured," he
soothed.

   She wanted the man to get whatever it was over.  The way that he spoke
was too calm.  Too caressing.  He showed too much respect for her.  If all
men spoke to her this way, she would be so unsure of her place.  He should
show the disdain he feels and be done with it.  Alec watched her settle
into sleep.  Her face was dark with worry as she fidgeted uncomfortably. 
He spent the entire night absorbing the fullness of her lips and the sad
almost beauty of her.  She was nothing like his fiance.  The complete
opposite he supposed.  He would treat her better than he was inclined to.
Perhaps, she would soften and make a better prospect for a life outside the
convent.  When the dawn came, he didn't want to wake her.  She'd settled
into a peaceful rest.  He made a hand gesture and Samuel came in like a
dog. The horse snorted as his gear was tightened back up.  Alec went to
make sure no one was following.  When he was satisfied there were no
trackers, he returned to find Glen missing.  The horses were gone, too.  He
went up the road and the herd eventually came into view.

   He parted the horses and came alongside Glen.  "What do you think you
are doing?"

   "I'm heading for the convent."

   "Did it ever occur to you..."

   "Look, I can find it on my own.  I thought you'd headed for home."

   "I promised to get you there."

   "I'm sure you did."

   Alec rode ahead and made Samuel block the way.  She stopped Nugget and
returned his stare.

   "We're wasting time, Sir."

   He let her ride next to him and glanced at the stubborn girl sideways on
occasion.  She returned the slightly angry glance, but they never looked
eye to eye for long.

   They camped outside the massive stone wall of the town and he tried not
to be as mean as he would have liked.  He gave her the spot by the fire
again and said a soft goodnight.

   The morning crept slowly over the wall and settled on her cold tired
face.  She'd watched him the entire night.  He didn't even stir.  He wasn't
worried in the least about the obvious watchers on the wall.

   **

   They walked their horses through the gates and were quickly greeted by a
tall overly thin woman.  She introduced herself as Frances.  She would be
our guide.  The women of the Convent looked up and then stopped their
chores as Alec and Glen passed by.  The place buzzed with silence as the
acolytes asked for permission to speak.

   Frances explained, "Many of the young ones have not seen an unattached
man.  You must forgive them if they stare.  Do not mistake them, because
they only have interest in you for the initiation process."

   "Initiation?" Glen guided her mare along the path to the stables.

   "We do not allow a woman to proceed with her initiation until she has
known a man.  We accept many widows and discarded women, so this request is
not hard for many of them to fulfill.  We do not encourage the behavior,
but one must know what is being missed," Frances elucidated.  "I myself
have done this, and my husband is clear on my commitment to the sisterhood.
We do not frown upon the exploitation of our gender.  We accept it as part
of a whole life."

   "So, what you are saying," Alec cut through the memorized speech, "is
that you have a man take their virginity, so that they will be just like
everyone else?"

   "Not exactly.  We are never like everyone else.  As a member of this
society you would be given every opportunity to reach a higher level as a
virgin, but we would not trust in your commitment in our society.  What
would happen, if some man came along and opened her to the possibility of
sex?  Wouldn't she be more grounded if she knew what it was like and made a
conscious decision to be here?"

   Alec shook his head, "I believe that a woman should have every
opportunity to make a decision that she can live with.  If she was a whore,
I don`t care.  If she was a virgin and gave up her right for a standing
husband, I think that is another thing all together."

   "Let us not rush into any swift judgment of us.  You've only just
arrived."

   The two set their horses in the holding paddock and were led to a main
dining area.  Frances offered the opportunity to take a shower.  The tanks
were just refilling, so the shower would have been cold.  They both
declined and were placed at one of the long tables for the mid day meal.

   "It's only ten in the morning.  We wake early," Frances smiled as Alec
looked at his watch and wound it up.  "We start the day before day break
and end it just after sunset."

   A strikingly beautiful woman came over and sat across from Alec.  She
glanced sideways at Glen and smiled.  Glen nodded in greeting.  She
introduced herself as Ana of the house of Logue.  She rested her arms under
her breasts to emphasize their size and leaned forward toward Alec.

   "Alec of the house of Carter," he responded with a tired air.

   She offered her hand to him and he shook it.

   "Is this your intended?"

   "No, she's not my intended."

   The look on her face changed to a carefully selected beauty.  She was on
the hunt and Glen was in the way.  She was more than polite and witty as
she weaved herself into his affection.  The meal was dramatic and well
prepared for the surroundings.

   "We have an introduction coming up." Ana's enlightenment had made every
conversation that they'd had clear.  "We will meet for it in the church. 
Will you be my guests?" The question aimed more for Alec than for Glen, and
Ana turned fully in Alec's direction.

   He looked up from his food and glanced sideways to be sure Glen was
still in place.  She'd moved far enough away to be hard to catch if he
needed to make a hasty departure.  Ana placed her hand on his wrist and
leaned in, "I'm sure it will be a good one.  The man is young enough to
make it interesting."

   Glen looked at the beautiful girl and thought of how similar she was to
one of her friends back home.  She'd been nearly trapped by such a girl. 
The way she urged a man to commit to the deed made her wish she was that
way as well.

   "I'd like to be a sister," Glen volunteered to the air.  "I need to find
a place to be, now that I can't go back home."

   "You ran away?" Ana finally focused completely on Glen's oval face.

   "Well, yes."

   "I'm sure I can speak to Frances and we'll set you with a room."

   "That would be great.  That way, he can get on his way home." Glen
pointed in Alec's direction without looking his way.

   A bell rang, and the sisters rose and headed for a small door across the
room.  Alec worked to keep Glen in sight as she followed the crowd out to
the courtyard in front of the church.  The massive facade of the entry drew
a whistle from Alec's lips.  He caught Glen's arm before they entered with
the others.

   "Are you sure you want to stay here?"

   "Of course, it'll be great.  I bet I can get a job at the stables
without much effort, and I don't have to worry about anyone taking what's
mine."

   "In case you have not noticed, there aren't many men or children here."

   "I don't know what you're saying."

   He shook his head and guided her in to a waiting chair.  The ceremony
started out quietly, with the procession of members lining the path to the
altar.  The robed girl walked calmly forward with a hand full of beaded
flowers.  She sat down on a bench facing the group and smiled down at the
front row.  The obviously high ranking women formed a ring above the seated
girl.  The flowers were waved over her body and brushed suggestively across
her fabric covered breasts.  The crowd hushed enough to hear a soft sigh
rise from her as they gently relieved her of the robe.  The chill air made
her pale pink nipples stand out on her chest and she went to cover herself.
A wave of disapproval stopped her in mid-motion.  Alec moved to stand up
and was grabbed by Ana and urged to sit back down.  Glen couldn't keep from
watching as the women massaged the girl's body and ran their long fingers
across her thighs teasingly.  She'd never know that kind of touch.  The
initiate gasped loudly as she was lowered to lay on the bench.  Her breasts
were covered fully by the lips and hands of the older women.  Glen watched
as the girls hips rocked up and down at their own pace.  The women suddenly
broke from the girl and looked toward the door she'd come in.  A young man,
maybe in his twenties, walked up to the platform and dropped his pants.  He
didn't look around him to see the hundreds of women looking on.  Alec
turned to see Glen's face flushed and her hands clasped tightly in her lap.
Ana, on the other side, stroked his thigh a little too close to his now
slightly firm cock.  She kept her head facing the action ahead, but the
smirk told her intent.  He pulled her hand off and held it to try to cool
down.  The young man pulled the initiate to the edge of the bench and
pushed into her.  The girl shuddered and then wrapped her legs around him.
He stroked forcefully into her and she moaned as the other women started to
caress the couple.  Alec stood up to relieve the pressure in his groin and
Ana followed him to the back of the room.  She blocked the exit and held
his arm.  She forced her hand into his pants and wrapped her hands around
his penis.  All he could do was look away as she rubbed and stroked it as
he heard the sound of the bench being forced across the floor and the girl
moaning.  Ana opened his pants and draped part of her dress over his red
throbbing organ.  She pulled on him with such an expert hand, he came in
her hand and all over her underskirt.  She raised two fingers covered with
his sperm to her lips and sucked on them.  He put his cock away and looked
around him.  This was being done around the room.  He even saw some girls
on their knees wiping their faces.  The ceremony ended with the man's
finishing grunts inside the newly made woman.  The man wasn't given much
time to come and he was dragged off to be dressed.  The higher sisters
parted the girl's legs to show the difference in her vaginal opening and
each in turn licked at the reddened area to the sound of the girls sighs.

   The shame fresh on his face, he shoved the girl aside and rushed for
Glen.  She'd been rocking in her seat to the rhythm of the ongoing frenzy.
He dragged her up, knocking over a chair in his progress, and moved her for
the door.

   The mood of the gathering abruptly switched and a wave of outraged women
blocked the way out.

   "You've ruined the iniates first time," a rather embarrassed Frances
tried to move Glen back to her seat with her fingers around the girl's
wrists.  "She won't ever get this back."

   Glen fought him for a moment then let him walk her around the room in
the direction of a side door.

   "Glen," the sister smiled down at her, "is this what you want to do?  I
sense you do not agree," with her grip growing firmer.

   "I want to take her with me!"

   "This is a house of God, young judge.  I expect you to treat it with
proper respect," Sister Frances softly chided.

   "She comes with me.  To a real church," Alec calmed.

   "And who will teach her the mannerisms?" The sisters spoke over each
other.  "And reading?" "Who will teach her to read?" "And the ceremony?"
"She must have an introduction ceremony." The group murmured in general
agreement.

   Alec asked, "And who of you are married?"

   They looked at each other in confusion.

   "None of you have a husband.  None of you will have a husband, because
of the ceremony."

   They shrank from his contempt.

   "None will have you, but the one chosen for the `privilege' of this
deed. Right, sisters?  And it always turns out to be some stranger, because
you have no men among you.  Well, not many would just try out the goods
once."

   Alec extended his hand to Glen.  She took it without hesitation and was
guided onto a chair.  He measured her reaction to his outburst and tempered
himself before he said, "She will manage without you Sisters."

   "You have no lesson books.  She'll not learn...," Sister Frances tried
to protest, but Alec stopped her with an upraised hand.

   "She's no need for lesson books.  She'll learn from the only book she
will ever need."

   Alec pointed to the stone arch above the door.

   "What does that say, Glen?"

   The words were far away, but she managed, "As we enter, so shall we
exit."

   "She can read?" An obscure voice from the back added her two nibs.

   "What does that mean?" Alec ignored the crowd.

   "It could mean many things.  The entrance is the exit.  As we are born,
so shall we die..."

   "And her mind is quick as well," the highest of the sisters made herself
known.  "You have great faith in her."

   The group parted to allow the old woman through.

   The old one smiled, "This is sure.  You will perform the ceremony with
her.  She will be your bride, and we can learn your teachings."

   "I have no teachings."

   "You are obviously under the impression that we are rigid and
unchangeable.  We would gladly accept you into our church."

   "This is a corrupt thing, not a church.  I will take her to Kleran, my
home."

   "With intentions to marry her?" The Highest Sister concluded.

   "To make her a judge!  Is all that you women think of carnal?" He left
the room to try and compose himself.  It wouldn't do for him to be lost in
anger.

   Glen watched him go.  The Highest Sister offered her hand to help her
down.  Glen walked through the crowd and out to find him.  He was nowhere
to be seen.  Was he interested in her?  She doubted it, but he was acting
strangely.  The Highest One put a hand on her shoulder.

   "Our commitment to God, is more than any bond he can offer you.  Look
around you at what The Sisters have created.  We can not offer you
children, but all of the other bonds of family are here to have.  If you
truly believe in his teachings, we will send a chaperone to accompany you
to his church and be sure he is credible.  You are a smart girl.  You would
do well here.  You alone must make this decision.  If you have any doubt of
his intentions, it is improper for you to go with him."

   "Any doubt at all?" Alec asked from around the corner.  "Even a twinge
of curiosity as to my intentions?" He drifted into view.  His quick smile
belied the stress in his face.  "I won't lie.  I am myself a bit confused
about you.  I have been so since I met you." His voice wavered, "I am not
sure I do this in clear conscience.  I only know that since our meeting, I
feel responsible for you.  I thought that you might someday, after your
education, choose to be a bride to the house of Carter.  Though, your age
may be an obstacle." She wanted to be angry at him, but his face was so
troubled.  He guessed her silence was a rejection of the idea and
continued, "I do not presume that you would choose me, because I am spoken
for.  If you wish to stay here, I will bring some of my brethren to this
church.  They will take wives from the students who have not gone through
the ceremony, and establish families for this community.  With a more
stable influence, perhaps there will be no need to condemn this group. 
And, the Highest Sister will prove that she was not just speaking of
acceptance, to receive your approval."

   "I do not need time.  I will stay here.  As for the ceremony, I see no
problem with it.  I just had a problem with the man.  A faceless stranger
would be better.  That way he`ll just make his way down the road."

   "You would allow...some man to..."

   Glen interrupted, "I offered it to you.  You didn't want me then.  I
wouldn't let you do it now, because you would want to marry me, or
something."

   "I do not want you to throw your life away.  There are two kinds of
women in this world.  The kind that wait and have families and the kind
that die miserable and alone.  No matter what is said, they are nothing
more than a one timer.  I am offering you a chance to have a life."

   "I will have a life here once you have gone."

   "That's it.  You're going home with me!  You don't have to settle for
this, when I can find you a good husband.  You've suffered enough..."

   "You don't know suffering!  A husband would be death for me!  I won't do
it!"

   "You were fine with me!  You'd be fine with some other man who could see
through you.  I know you could ..."

   "You don't know me!  You've done your job, now go!"

   "I'm not leaving you here," Alec gestured at the buildings around them.

   "Then watch as I become a woman.  I'll do it right out here," she
threatened with her finger pointed at his nose.

   "Fine!  Become a whore, like you were meant to be!  What a waste of 800
coin!!!"

   Alec saw her arm move back but she struck so quickly, he had no time to
dodge or deflect the blow.  Before she knew what she'd done, Alec was on
the ground.  They both felt the earth tremor.  Within a second, it was
passed.  He rubbed his cheek and looked up at her in more surprise than
pain.  They hadn't noticed the Highest Sister`s quick departure.  Glen
crouched down with a silent apology.  He stared at her.  The women gathered
around them.  The earth rolled softly again.  Everyone waited until the
ground stopped.  He gripped her arm and she helped him up.

   "You do care what people think of you," he softly said.  "You know what
people will think, if you stay.  They`ll figure you had to have been a
whore, because you`re too young to be a widow.  And the way you are now,
you`ll be left here with the older women when I return with my brethren."

   With sadness, she said, "I'll go with you.  I'm not going there to
marry. I'm going to study, and maybe learn to do things...sort of..."

   "Like a girl," he gently soothed.  "But, keep that punch.  You'll never
know when you might need it."

   End...  To be Continued...

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