“It is a bit hotter,” Stefano laughed. “But thankfully it is not as humid as Priea. The jungles seal in the moisture, and if the right fabrics are not worn you would be constantly soaked.”
Joslynn waited while Nadyah went to one of the guards standing next to the platform where the king and queen were already seated. She spoke in hushed whispers and the guard pointed at a pile of weapons behind the platform. It must have been Adelina’s personal guard then. Once the courtesan was satisfied she drifted back to Joslynn’s side and the guard’s focus was back on the mingling nobility.
“I’ll have to thank the Lady Veri for taking such good care of you,” Adelina teased, running a hand down Stefano’s well-muscled arm.
Joslynn’s eyes nearly popped out of her head. She could see what the princess meant; she saw the way the fabric clung to every muscle. The male really was gorgeous with those Priean markings. Veri was a goddess and she knew it. Stefano wasn’t far behind in appearance. But for Adelina to say such a thing out loud and so boldly in public was extremely out of character.
A glance at the courtesan showed a proud smile and Joslynn shook her head. The culture on Draga Terra wasn’t much different than the culture on Pedranus, but they did not have courtesans, and they very rarely underwent a camerraleto as it required travel to attain a proper instructor. There was no book she’d found that properly described the camerraleto and what it entailed, but she assumed this must be part of it.
“Would you like to have some tea with me?” Adelina asked Stefano. She tilted her head towards the nearby pavilion where most courtiers were eating, drinking, and enjoying the shade as the Games were finalized. Adelina caught Nadyah’s eye and her courtesan raised a brow as if to say ‘go ahead and play.’
Stefano seemed pleased with the request and Joslynn could see why. A change had come over the sweet princess, and she practically oozed sex appeal. The princess led Stefano over to the pavilion and Joslynn wasn’t sure what to do.
Nadyah smiled and offered her an arm as a male would. “I need to stay by your side, Countess, but I must also watch over my pupil. Join me at the pavilion?”
Joslynn actually blushed, but she took the courtesan’s hand. “Is this part of the camerraleto?” she whispered. It fascinated her, but Joslynn was also embarrassed to ask.
Nadyah smiled wickedly as they trailed behind the princess and the gorgeously built male. “It’s practice. Adelina has been shy and reserved her entire life. Getting her to open up, relax, flirt, and seduce someone is not easy. She can learn how to perform every act in the bedroom perfectly, know fifty different positions with a female, a male, or both, or two males…” Nadyah trailed off.
Joslynn felt overwhelmed by all the possibilities, and couldn’t imagine studying such a thing herself.
“She can be the perfect lover, but if the princess cannot get them to the bedroom it is of no use and all that skill goes to waste. Adelina has to extrovert herself, and a lifetime of submission hasn’t made that easy. So we practice.” Nadyah gave Joslynn a wink. “Stefano is a lovely male to practice on, and it makes it a bit easier.”
Joslynn laughed as they passed by Lady Veri who was on Prince Asher’s arm. Asher couldn’t seem to resist the temptation of Priea either. Adelina gave Veri a wide smile and the female openly stared before grinning back. When the princess and Stefano reached the shaded pavilion he brought her to the table of tea and asked how she liked it.
Joslynn and Nadyah approached next and the courtesan brushed past Stefano to take a cup and then handed it to Joslynn. The male blustered his apology and Joslynn could barely contain her laughter. The courtesan had very purposefully brushed a breast against the poor male.
“This is Nadyah,” Adelina said. She paused for a breath and Joslynn wondered how she would introduce the courtesan. “She is my lady-in-waiting.”
Joslynn supposed there was no need to scare the poor male off, he was already flustered.
Stefano blushed as he bowed over Nadyah’s hand, kissing her knuckles. Joslynn wondered if that was a custom among the commoners. Rarely did they mingle with royalty so she was not sure.
Stefano stumbled over his words under the heat of Nadyah’s sexual appreciation. The lust in her eyes as she looked Stefano up and down made the muscles in Joslynn’s thighs tremble.
It seemed Adelina took pity because she threw him a life-line. “She is a courtesan, Stefano. I apologize if you did not know.”
The poor male mumbled something as Adelina made sure to place her hand in the crook of his elbow in reassurance. She gently traced her thumb over that sensitive skin. “What do you do for a living Stefano?” Adelina asked, watching as he poured her tea.
He nearly spilled the drink at her soft touch, but recovered quickly. “I build starships,” he replied, handing her the ice-cold tea.
Adelina sipped and her eyes trailed over Stefano’s muscles.
Stefano turned away from Nadyah and faced Adelina. It was the most respectful thing Joslynn had ever seen a male do around a courtesan. It also showed his inner strength and control. To ignore the feelings a courtesan evoked required intense discipline. Even Nadyah’s brows rose in surprise.
The courtesan kept them at a distance from the pair as they went on to gather tea and snacks. She leaned over to whisper as they watched the princess. “Putting him on uneven ground helps her soften him to her attentions, since her rank did not overly impress him. Creating a strong connection as quickly as possible is one of the most difficult, but truly wondrous courtesan traits. We use knowledge for power and persuasion in the subtlest of ways. I’m trying to teach this to Adelina.”
It was a lot to think about and Joslynn was glad she did not have to worry about such things. From the outside, the life of the third-born princess was easy and frivolous. Joslynn never thought she would do more than marry some lord, but the princess had other ideas in mind if what she’d seen during council meetings was any indication.
Then the personality Joslynn was allowed to see in private told her life as a pretty wife would never be enough for Adelina and she wondered how the princess would manage in such a restrictive situation.
“What Games will you participate in?” Adelina asked, her voice making its way back to Nadyah and Joslynn.
“I signed up for all of them,” Stefano replied.
“Even the galina races through the forest?” Adelina asked.
“Yes, we raise and train them on Priea for hunting. They protect us from the creatures living in the waters. Almost everyone knows how to ride.”
Joslynn had known about the monstrous things living in the oceans, lakes, and rivers of Priea but she hadn’t known they used the galinas to hunt them. On Pedranus very few rode, mostly the nobles as they tended to be more dominant.