She smiled and glanced back at Eiotan, then dried her hands on a cloth beside the washing bowl. He offered his hand and led her out of the house and in the general direction of the Spanish camp.
She remembered how he had held her all night, and taken care of her since the start. Her heart thudded at the thought of him, and her breath caught in her throat when he looked back at her. She loved him very, very much. No matter what happened today, she would trust him and remember his love.
Ayala took a deep breath and let it out as they reached the edge of the city and began to make their way into the enemy camp. She had to be ready for anything. A spanking from the hands of her lord was not the worst that could happen to her here.
Chapter Twelve
Cortés was waiting for them, not far into the Spanish camp. He had a malignant grin on his face, his beard making him look all the more sinister. Ayala slowed her steps, which Lord Eiotan noticed. He looked back at her, encouraging her along by tugging at her hand a little. She relaxed slightly and smiled in order to cover up her fumble, and then continued on her way as if nothing had happened.
“Lord Cortés,” she began, “it’s a pleasure to see you on this fine day, and in your territory no less.”
“It is a beautiful day, Ayala, and I must say, you look beautiful as well,” he said, his eyes appraising her. She smiled stiffly.
“So, we’re going to learn to ride horses today, are we?” Eiotan said softly, interrupting the palpable tension.
“That we are, Lord Eiotan. Come, I have chosen some of our tamest horses. Follow me.”
Cortés led the way, deeper into the camp. Ayala allowed her eyes to wander as she walked. She watched as soldiers sat around campfires, sharpening their swords, clad in their steel battle armor. As she walked by, they all stared her down, gazing hungrily at her body. She hurried to keep up with Eiotan and Cortés and noticed men were following them, guarding them. Ayala was beginning to get a very bad feel
ing about the events about to unfold.
She saw horses in the distance; some were grazing in a makeshift fenced field, and others were tied to posts within the camp. It seemed like they were very deep within the Spanish encampment. She shifted her eyes to look around her, and once again noticed the same guards that had been following them, standing at the edge of one of the fields.
Cortés walked up to one of the horses and patted her shoulder. There were three horses put aside, tied to posts. Ayala had never been near one before. Her people did not use them, and she didn’t know anything about them. There were two larger horses and one smaller one.
She approached the smaller horse slowly, admiring the collage of brown and white that mottled her fur and rippled as the horse stepped toward her. Ayala held out a hand to her, allowing the horse to rub her nose against her fingers. Carefully, she reached for the horse and stroked her long head. The horse snorted happily in response and proceeded to nuzzle her shoulder.
“She’s beautiful,” Ayala whispered, in awe of the large animal in front of her. She felt Cortés walk up behind her.
“Her name is Esperanza. In your language, this word means hope.” He paused for a moment before beginning again. “She is a gift for you. I wanted to give you a little something, for being a friend to me here.” Cortés waited, and she turned to face him.
“I couldn’t. She’s too much.”
“Consider it the beginning of a long relationship,” he said, danger edging into his tone. Ayala averted her eyes quickly and turned back to her horse. She ran a hand down Esperanza’s back and took a deep breath. She sensed something strange in his voice, like he had something planned.
“Thank you, Lord Cortés, for such a gracious gift,” she replied softly, forcing her starting panic away and smiling.
Lord Cortés returned to his horse, and showed Lord Eiotan to his. Other soldiers came up and began to put leather seats on the horses, which Cortés called a saddle. Ayala helped the men with her horse, making sure she knew how to put the harness and saddle on by herself. She watched as Cortés mounted his horse, and she followed suit. Ayala hiked up her skirts a bit, happy she had chosen one with a long slit up both sides of her legs. Glancing in Cortés’ direction, she noticed his hungry gaze looking upon the skin of her legs. She caught his eyes, and he looked away.
Lord Eiotan also mounted his horse, and other soldiers came and untied the horses from the post. Cortés showed them how to tell the horses to walk forward and how to direct them. He led them out, into the fields at the edge of their camp.
Ayala felt the raw power underneath her as she sat atop Esperanza. With one hand she held the reins, and with the other stroked Esperanza’s neck. Her horse was beautiful and elegant. The hours passed quickly as Cortés taught them how to trot, and then how to canter. Ayala was a natural and picked up on everything very quickly. Eiotan learned rapidly as well with his own stallion, who had a very calm demeanor. His horse was a large dark brown male, with a single streak of white on his head. He patted the horse’s neck when they finally paused to give the horses water in a nearby stream. Ayala dismounted and leaned against Esperanza.
She groaned as she felt the muscles in her legs, her inner thighs sore from squeezing the sides of her horse. She gave Esperanza a carrot, a little tidbit the soldiers had given her after showing her how to saddle her horse.
Eiotan dismounted as well, and Ayala giggled as he walked, a little more bowlegged than usual. They had come upon a small river, in the middle of the rolling hills. She led Esperanza to the water, and let her drink her fill. She then tied her to a tree and let her graze. Both Cortés and Eiotan did the same. She saw a look exchange between the two men, and she felt nerves begin to brew within her belly. Eiotan sat down on a large rock and sighed heavily.
“Ayala,” Eiotan began, his voice stern. Ayala felt her heart drop; she knew what was coming.
“Yes, sir?” she nervously replied, barely able to say the words.
“Cortés has requested to see how I take my wife in hand, so that he may learn for when he takes a wife.”
He waited, his eyes meeting hers. He stood and unclasped his belt, pulling it slowly from its loops, and put it aside on top of the rocks. Ayala gulped nervously. He was going to spank her with his belt.
“Take off your dress. Do not fight me,” he warned. Ayala’s eyes grew big, glancing back and forth between Eiotan and Cortés.
“But, sir. Please,” she begged, very scared of what was to come. She stood still for a moment, suddenly angry at the injustice being done to her. Ayala had told her lord that she would behave and submit, but she no longer cared. She glanced toward him, Cortés, and off to Esperanza.