The months that followed Clara’s death were not at all what Roland expected. As he was recovering from his punishment, he thought that his relationship with Eliza would revert back to when he first started living at the castle. She would use him for gratification every couple of weeks and then ignore him the rest of the time. Strangely, though, this is not at all what happened. Instead, Eliza became much closer to him than before. The sexual mentoring stopped completely and she spent nearly every night with him. Even during the day, she would often have him by her side. He found this to be incredibly boring as he no longer had the same freedom to explore the castle as he did before. His life had been reduced to that of a prop: on display during the day in meetings and used at night in the bedroom.

Prior to Clara’s death, he had spent many hours thinking about how he would escape from the castle and flee the kingdom of Serene. However, during his convalescence he reworked his ideas. Yes, he was still going to escape, but he also wanted justice. In pursuit of this, he was going to try and end Eliza’s life even if it cost him his own.

During another interminable council meeting he decided that today would be the day that he would put his plan in motion.

As the last minister left the meeting, Eliza told the guards to close the door and leave the two of them alone. Without looking up from the documents that she was still reading she commanded, “Howl, you may undress now.”

When he was done, she continued, “I’m sure noticed several new councillors at the meeting today. One of the keys to being an effective ruler is to ensure that bureaucrats and administrators don’t become complacent or corrupt in their posts. My father would rotate them to new positions every few years. The results were very successful.

“So much so that I’ve extended that principle to my servants as well.” She paused and looked up at him. “I’m sure you’ve noticed the absence of your usual playmates and the presence of many new faces.”

She smiled, “Don’t worry, you’ll be exempt from the rotations.”

This made no sense to Roland. How could the queen’s personal servants be moved to different posts? They would know far too much personal information about Eliza and the day-to-day operations of Serene Castle. Although Clara had said her contract here would end in a few years, that also made no sense to Roland. As she was illiterate, maybe she didn’t even know what she had signed up for?

“Do your servants go and serve another queen?” Roland joked. He didn’t really care where they went at this point. Even if she proved to him that they all retired into a life of luxury, it wouldn’t change his opinion her.

“Howl, sometimes you’re as cute as a baby bobble. I don’t keep track of those details and it’s really no concern of yours.”

“Apologies for my poor attempt at humour.”

“Remember why you are here.”

It would be hard to forget as he was standing naked during this lecture.

“Speaking of which.”

She slid her underwear down her legs and kicked them aside. Smirking, she leaned back in her chair and raised her tunic above her waist. Exposed to Roland, she invited him over with her hand. Roland approached her open legs and got on his knees. This routine was very familiar to him.

Eliza tilted her head back and closed her eyes. She then continued, “These meetings are the worst part of being a queen, the paperwork is endless. Every year it only seems to increase. The one problem for which there seems to be no solution.”

As Roland moved his tongue around, he tuned her out and his mind wandered elsewhere. He began to go through the steps of his plan from the beginning. Although it was complicated in its totality, the individual parts were fairly straightforward. If something went awry he could simply try it again later.

“What are you doing down there?” said Eliza.

Roland realized that he wasn’t paying any attention to what was right there under his nose.

He pulled his head back, “Apologies my queen. I’m not used to this environment.”

Eliza stood up and bent over the table. “Continue.” This was one of Roland’s least favourite positions as it made his neck incredibly sore. But this time he was more focussed. After several minutes of moaning, Eliza patted him on the head, “Good.”

“Perhaps I will spoil my favourite toy?” said Eliza as she got down on her knees in front of him.

“Imagine,” she said as she stroked him. “A queen kneeling before her servant!”

She laughed at her own comment and he let out half-hearted chuckle before she began to use her mouth. He never understood why she enjoyed this, but she certainly seemed to. He could take as long as he wanted and she would never tell him to hurry up. When it came to sexual acts, Eliza was very generous. He recognized that this was a weakness that he could exploit. His mind returned to his plan and the fiery grave that awaited Eliza. He was so exhausted by the charade of being her “lover.”

Although it took much longer than usual, physical sensation finally overwhelmed Roland and he finished.

“Such a bitter taste today,” said Eliza after wiping her mouth. “I did notice that you helped yourself to extra amberfruit at lunch. It’s quite acidic, perhaps that’s the source?”

She poured a glass of wine and took a sip, “Shall I make a ribald comment about the pairing of the two tastes?”

Laughing again, she sat back down, “Now I will indulge you, why are you so distracted today?”

“Sorry, I was thinking about a book I came across in the castle’s library.”

Eliza squinted at him. Roland was hesitant to bring up anything he read in the library in front of Eliza, but he knew that she’d be interested in this. They also both understood that he would never ask her any questions about magic or the Chosen again. So she waited for him to continue.

He stuttered a bit as he hurried to get to the point, “It, uh, contained illustrations and details of hundreds of sexual positions.” He had her full attention now. “The author claimed it was a comprehensive resource. I’m not sure if that’s true but I went through it and there were many in there that we have never tried.”

“How lewd!” said Eliza, rubbing her hands together. “Of course, anything for my bashful bobble.”

She gave him a teasing smile, “This isn’t some pretext to introduce me to some fetish of yours is it? If you want to suck on my toes, go ahead. No need for the subterfuge.”

She leaned back in her chair and stuck her leg out into the air.

“Perhaps you’re going along for the same reason?” Roland said smiling back at her. Relieved that she wasn’t angry at him for mentioning the library, he stepped forward and began kissing her toes.

“Ha. I’m many things but being timid about my sexual interests is not one of them.”

Eliza watched him suck her toes for a bit before pulling her leg away, “Let’s hope that book contains something more exciting than foot worship. So banal.”

The bemused smirk on Eliza’s face gradually faded. Her mind turned to another matter.

“Although a queen is never supposed to apologize,” she began. “As your lover, I feel that I owe you one. I did lose my temper the other night. Can you forgive me?”

Roland was taken aback by this. Why would she bring this up now? Did she actually feel guilty about what she did? Or was this some attempt to manipulate him that he didn’t understand?

“Of course, my Queen. I could never harbour any ill will towards you,” said Roland.

Obviously this was completely insincere on his part. How could he ever forgive her for what she’d done?

“Good,” said Eliza as she walked over and embraced him. “I love you and don’t want there to be any lingering resentment about the past between us.”

Roland whispered, “I love you too,” as they kissed.

***

Roland sat at Eliza’s bedroom desk flipping through some of the earlier entries of the encyclopedic sex manual. He refreshed his memory on positions and acts such as ‘The Kantlin Archway,’ ‘The Rusty Basher,’ and ‘A Nectar Shower.’ Further into the book, someone had written the words ‘butt stuff - gross!’ at the top of a page. Gross? thought Roland. Relative to what exactly? There are all manner of acts involving every bodily fluid outlined in this book.

Eliza had just returned from the bathes and was sitting on the bed filing her fingernails.

“You know, when I was young and travelling incognito, a barmaid in Alster once told me about a patron who would pay her for ‘A Nectar Shower.’ She said that she greatly enjoyed it but could never understand what the patron got out of it.”

Eliza must have been flipping through the book when Roland wasn’t around.

“Ok, let’s just try one of these positions from the beginning that are new. Look at -”

“No,” said Eliza. She stopped him from showing her the page that he was looking at. “I want you to command me like I’m a school girl and you’re an older classmate I’ve had a crush on all year. Now we’re finally alone you’re about to have your way with me.”

She rolled on to her stomach and gave him a mischievous look, “I’m eager but also unsure and oh so very nervous! Guide your young lover as you take her innocence.“

“I guess you’re a natural because there is an entire section on role-playing in this book. Although some of it was written with class-change spells in mind.”

She took off her slipper and playfully threw it at him, “Try to stay in character please!”

Roland thought back to his study of Mallory’s erotic books in Dire Palace. The premise of so many of those involved sexual encounters between classmates, so it wasn’t too difficult to play along with Eliza. Although he’d tinker a bit with the scenario Eliza just set up.

He cleared his throat, “Young lady, I understand that you’re having difficulty with your anatomy lessons. It’s clear that the rote memorization that we’ve been trying isn’t working for this subject. I believe tactile learning is an approach that we should consider.”

Eliza burst out laughing, “So formal. Am I on trial? Also, ‘Young lady’? You sound like my uncle! Ha! It truly is shocking that you knew the joys of a woman before we met.”

“Completely intentional! I’m just trying to recreate the awkwardness between two young lovers exploring each others bodies for the first time.”

Eliza rolled her eyes and laughed a bit more, “Howl, you’re lucky that your touch feels almost magical because your charm and charisma wouldn’t do much to keep a girl around for long.”

Roland was caught off guard by this, “Magical?”

“Yes. Now, my tutor, I’m not familiar with ‘tactile learning’ what exactly does it involve? I’ll do anything you say to master the subject.”

Roland role-played a bit longer, “For this learning exercise you’ll need to undress.”

“Undress!? Tutor you can’t be serious!”

“I am. There’s no need to be embarrassed. I’m already very familiar with the female form and it’s just the two of us here. Perhaps you’d be more comfortable if I took off my clothes as well? It would certainly help with the lesson.”

As this ridiculous scenario played its course, Roland and Eliza quickly fell into their familiar routine. They were progressing through their usual sequence of positions when Eliza pushed Roland away.

“Howl, you were about to finish, weren’t you? We haven’t tried anything new yet!”

Without a word, Roland grabbed her waist and moved the two of them around until they matched one of earlier depictions from the book. They tried out a few different positions before Roland could no longer hold back.

“Well, those certainly require more balance and physical exertion than lying on my back and opening my legs,” commented Eliza afterwards. “But they don’t really deliver any new thrills. Although the novelty does keep things interesting.”

“My back hurts after standing like an arched bridge while you were on top of me.”

“Yes, I did enjoy that one. Stretch next time.”

***

As the weeks went on, they got deeper into the book and escalated into more unorthodox sexual positions.

Eliza’s excitement for their progression was undeniable.

“One more,” she would often whisper when she knew he wanted to finish.

She would also tease him when he would come into the bedroom, “I didn’t peak at what was next. The surprise is half of the enjoyment.”

Some of the positions in the book involved one partner being tied up. Of course, no manner of restraint could hold down Eliza, but this was all a game so she would play along. The book mentioned “safe words” that should be used during bondage but Roland modified this to “safe phrases” and would just string together several nonsensical words. Not unlike those you’d say if you were casting a cantrip that required reagents. Eliza did not catch on to this small but significant modification that he had made.

After a few months of these activities, Roland was ready to enter the final stages of his plan. One night as they were getting ready to fall asleep he began his last ploy.

“My Queen, as you well know, I used to train as a gladiator.”

Eliza gave him a skeptical glare, but he ignored her and continued.

“During that time, I encountered many fighters who liked to brag about their sexual appetites and conquests. Most of the stories I heard were likely made up but there is one thing that I heard from multiple people: there is drug that could be taken before sex that would greatly enhance the experience.”

“An illicit substance?”

“Yes, something called `drake blossom powder.’ ”

“Drake blossom powder?” said Eliza. “I always thought that had a numbing effect on the body.”

“I had heard that as well. However, one pit fighter claimed that the sense of euphoria that he had when using the powder during sex was so exhilarating, it made it difficult to imagine having sex without it. Surely an exaggeration, but I’ve often wondered how much of an exaggeration.”

“I see,” said Eliza. “Someday you’ll have to tell me more about your past life as a deviant.”

Roland knew that he had piqued Eliza’s curiosity and didn’t say anything more.

Sure enough, the following week there was a tin on Eliza’s desk sitting beside the book of sexual positions.

“Oh yes,” said Eliza as she noticed Roland looking at it. “That has the powder you mentioned in it. Do you know how to use it? I’d like to try it tonight.”

Roland felt a rush of adrenaline. His plan was nearly complete.

As for the powder itself, he had only ever seen it used in the drawings inside of one of Mallory’s books, so he had some idea to take the drug but it was nowhere near as straightforward as the tincture that he’d drank last time.

“Yes, I think you lay some out in a line and snort it using a rolled up piece of paper. I’ve never done it myself, though.”

“Bizarre.”

“I think it gets absorbed through the nose, but I’m not sure how.”

“You’ll have to go first so that I can watch.”

This is what Roland had been building up to since Clara’s death. Tonight was going to be when his plan would either succeed or fail.

He took a piece of paper and tore it in half. Rolling it up into a small straw, he then tried to mimic what he remembered from Mallory’s book. After much awkwardness and fumbling he was finally able to snort some of the powder. Eliza carefully watched and then eagerly imitated his actions.

“Tie me to the chair,” said Roland. He already started to feel light in the head. “I’m not sure if the powder will make me lose my ability to freely move around.”

“Very well. Although I feel perfectly fine.”

He took off his robe and sat on the chair. She fastened his arms and legs with restraints that they’d been playing with over the last month.

“Oh I almost forgot,” said Roland. “My safe phrase today is Cinder Balance Interior.”

“Quiet Howl. I know when to stop.”

She got on top of him and began to move up and down.

A few minutes in she commented, “Nothing feels that different.”

“Kiss me,” he said. “Go faster.”

Fortunately, the powder did not numb all physical sensation. Eliza’s motions did their job and Roland was able to finish quickly.

Eliza then stood up, completely disoriented. She started walking towards the bed so that she could lie down. However, after only two steps in that direction, she collapsed.

Roland didn’t notice any of this, though, as his being was already lost in the same chaos and eternity that he had experienced when he took the drake blossom tincture with Mallory. When he awoke from this state, he found himself lying on the bedroom floor. Unnerved, he jumped to his feet and quickly scanned the room. Catching his naked reflection in the mirror filled him with a sense of disbelief. He ran his hands across his face, through his long hair and then over the rest of his now feminine form. His anxiety vanished and he turned his attention to the man tied to the chair. Staring back at his own face through Eliza’s eyes, a perverse excitement began to surge through his new body.