"Katja, why don't you bathe first, then you can get some sleep. You look like you need it," Inez said kindly.

Katja was still feeling overwhelmed with all the changes in her life, but just nodded happily. She was constantly wiping away happy tears now and couldn't seem to stop. Medya and Inez, both hugged her, Inez having to get on her knees as she towered over Katja, until she was finally calmer. "I'm sorry, this is all so new. Even something as simple as going first in a warm bath is something I never had," she apologized.

"I'm afraid you're going to have to get used to this then, Katja. We're going to spoil you," Inez grinned at the tiny blonde who just giggled in reply.

They helped Katja get out of her ragged clothes, and Medya chided herself for not trying to find better ones before they left the inn, and then helped her into the warm water. Inez couldn't help but notice the bruises on her body with the clothes gone, and then the shackle marks on her wrist that Medya had mentioned earlier. She was much happier now that the tavern keeper was dead and wouldn't do that to another slave, though she knew others would. Once she was queen, she would ensure that never happened again.

Katja lay back in the water with a happy sigh, and then slid under the water, letting it roll over her body while the older pair laughed at her reaction. When she came back up for air, Medya handed her the soap so she could clean herself, and she happily set to it. Inez then washed her long blonde hair for her, and before long, Katja was as clean as she'd been in years, though the water wasn't. Stepping out of the water, Katja wrapped herself in one of the towels, but not before Inez noticed a brand on her right hip. A large X with a T and J on either side of it was raised in a welt on her skin, no doubt the mark of the tavern keeper. Inez inwardly fumed at the treatment of this girl once more.

"How old are you Katja?" Inez asked, as it had been bothering her since they left the inn.

She lowered her head before answering quietly. "I'm 16, but I look younger. That seemed to appeal to the innkeeper."

"You'll never need to worry about him again," Inez promised.

"Now, go get some sleep, make a nest in the furs and blankets in the tent, we'll join you shortly," Medya said, pointing over at the tent.

"Thank you, I will!" Katja replied with a yawn. Handing the towel back to Inez, she stumbled naked into the tent.

"Give me a moment, and you can go next," Medya said softly to Inez who had been watching Katja with tears in her eyes. Medya could feel the shame that Inez was feeling at her first true exposure to slavery. She could only hope that she had the power to change things in the future. That would be a history she would gladly read. Kneeling beside the tub, she took off her gloves and then put her hands on either side of the copper basin and concentrated.

Inez watched, entranced by Medya's actions with the tub. The water swirled, and then as she watched, the dirt and grime that had come off Katja and into the tub was flowing up and out of the water and into a pile next to the pond. Medya sat back, sweat on her brow, and took a drink of water.

"All clean princess," she managed a weak smirk, though Inez could tell that the magic took a lot out of her.

"Thank you Medya," Inez replied, placing her hand softly on her cheek lifting her face.

Medya glanced up at her, and then couldn't look away as the blue eyes captivated her once more. She didn't even realize that Inez was taking her clothes off as she stared into her eyes, but once Inez looked down to find the buttons on the tunic, Medya realized that she had already slipped off the breaches and was about to remove even more. Blushing furiously, she staggered to her feet, trying to turn away to give Inez privacy. She hadn't taken half a step before Inez's hand gripped her arm lightly.

"Please don't leave, wash my back for me?" came her husky request.

Medya shivered at the touch but could only mutely nod. They'd made great progress with the banter and flirting and working together in the tavern, but with all that it could all come crashing down so easily. Turning back to Inez, Medya found her standing naked before her, completely at ease in her skin. Her black hair framed her gorgeous face like a work of art and piercing blue eyes taking her captive as always. Her shoulders and arms were strong, as shown by the ease that she wielded the sword earlier and then her breasts stood firm and full, as though begging for attention. The cool air had her nipples erect, and Medya had to tear her gaze away only to look lower, past the toned stomach to the hips that flared outward for easy gripping and the patch of dark hair that covered her more intimate parts. Inez's legs were as impressive as her arms, muscles well defined for fighting or riding, and as dusky as the rest of her. She was, quite simply, a goddess.

"You should get in the tub, while it is still warm," Medya finally whispered, not daring to look her in the eyes, and knowing her face was flushed.

Flashing a half smile, Inez turned and stepped carefully over the edge of the tub, giving Medya a view of the stunning ass that had been hidden from her before, and making her drop to her knees. She crawled to the edge of the tub, fetching the soap as she did, so that Inez didn't realize that she'd literally been too weak to stand at the sight. The princess lay back in the tub, her knees pulled up since she was so tall, and moaned in pleasure at the feel of the water.

"Gods, this feels good. I think I got the better end of the deal, no matter what you ask for now," Inez claimed with a broad smile. Thankfully, her eyes were closed, so she couldn't see the blush that was still all over Medya's face. No matter how much she wanted to take the princess up on her offer, she could never ask for what she truly wanted.

She looked beyond Inez, out at the pond that looked so peaceful in the gathering darkness. It was too cold for fireflies to be out, but the stars and moon were bright, and it was a beautiful evening. She felt the soap being taken from her hand, and a soft thank you from the princess and nodded in response. She couldn't keep looking at her, especially when she was naked, or her body and heart would betray her. Looking out at the natural beauty of the woods and pond was the best she could do to distract herself. Hearing the water slosh around in the tub reminded her that right now there was a stunning woman running slippery, soapy hands over her naked body right in front of her should she dare look.

She didn't dare.

She was already too far gone in her desire, and if she looked now, she might never recover. It would be too much. Thankfully, other than a few appreciative moans, Inez was being quiet in the tub. Not that the moans were helping Medya's body stay calm, but it was better than being engaged in a conversation where she would be a stuttering mess.

"Can you do my back now?" Inez asked sweetly.

Well, there goes the no talking. Medya looked at Inez, who was looking at her over her shoulder while holding out the soap. "Of course." She whispered, taking the soap from her. Dipping the soap into the water, she slowly rubbed it over Inez's muscular back and shoulders. Inez let out a moan almost immediately, and Medya froze in panic.

"I'm sorry!" Inez exclaimed quickly. "That felt good, it has been a while since I had someone to wash my back."

"It's okay, I'm just jumpy I guess." Medya couldn't tell her that this was the most erotic experience of her life, that her heart was beating a mile a minute and that it was taking every ounce of self-control to not use soaped up hands instead of the soap itself to clean her. None of that would be appropriate, regardless of whatever attraction there might be between them.

Inez shifted in the tub to get onto her knees, lifting her lower back out of the water and giving Medya a much better view of her rear. She gulped harshly, and then gently washed her lower back as well, carefully avoiding going too low. This was torture, and yet she was loving it. Her body was moving almost against her will while running the soap over the strong and supple body of the princess.

"Here, you're clean." She handed the soap back to Inez, turning her back as Inez took the soap from her.

"Thank you, Medya." Inez said softly, finally realizing how hard this was for the thief. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean this to be uncomfortable." She placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, squeezing it lightly.

Medya nodded, then stood, walking a short way out into the woods to breathe in the night air because she was terrified that Inez might ask her to wash her hair too. When her heart finally stopped pounding, and her breathing was steadier, she turned and walked back to the camp, noticing the empty tub and the missing towel. Once more, she knelt next to the tub, using her magic to clean the water. When she was done, she was a little dizzy, but still had enough strength to add a little wood to the fire to keep the water warm. Having done so, she drank a bit more from the water skin, and then slowly peeled her armor and boots off. She hadn't been out of her clothes in almost two weeks, and she knew she was ripe. Stepping over the lip of the basin, she sank into the water gratefully, copying Katja by dunking her head under the water and letting it envelop her.

Inside the tent, Inez checked on Katja, finding her asleep wrapped up in a pair of the blankets with a broad smile on her face. She had felt an instant bond with the girl and knew that whatever happened she would do what she could to keep her safe and find a way to give her a much better life. She felt horrible about the way things ended with Medya, knowing she had pushed too far with the young woman, but unable to stop her own desires. She owed her an apology, probably many of them. They had spent every moment with each other over the last few days, and while they were still strangers to some degree, she had felt an instant kinship with her and truly enjoyed her company. Truthfully, she loved the way she moved under her armor as well, and her voice, and the way she purred. She was exotic and beautiful, dangerous but caring, a thief but honest.

She made her way out of the tent, the damp towel wrapped around her body as she approached the tub. As she got closer, she saw Medya rising from the water where she had submerged and smiled at the sight of her wet hair plastered over her cat ears. But the smile faltered into a frown as Medya's body continued out of the water and clearly showed the scars on her back that cut through her fine grey fur, and she couldn't help but let out a gasp.