They arrived at Richard Shawn Banon's estate a short while after, pausing at an ornate wrought iron gates and then continuing up a gravelled driveway winding through meticulously kept gardens. Richard Shawn Banon's servants greeted them as they pulled up to the main doors, helping Silva Marie and Anne alike from the carriage.
Anne stood by as Silva Marie ordered the servants to carry in her various bags, and glanced up at a muffled cough from above. Brutus sat there in the driver's seat, grinning down at her, beckoning with one large paw. She looked around, then snuck over, leaning up to Brutus, "Yes?"
Brutus chuckled, "Anne, I heard just how lovely you look in that dress. Lovelier than Silva even…"
Anne gasped at Brutus' familiarity with the femme's name as well as his comment, and he chuckled all the more, "Listen, listen, I'm gonna give you a bit of advice here, and you better listen good. Do a good job in there, ya know? Do your duty and all. But don't do too good of a job. If you look better'n Silva Marie, she'll take it out on you for the rest of your life. Got it?"
She paled and nodded, eyes wide. So that was why she was festooned in the shapeless smock, and why she was wearing the collar. Servants rarely wore collars outside the bedchamber; it was considered bad taste, an unnecessary proclamation of ownership.
Brutus chuckled at her and sat back. She turned just as Silva Marie came up behind her, snapping a long, splendidly worked brown and grey leather leash to her collar. The woman took in her lowered ears and wide eyes with a chuckle, misconstruing their cause, "You'll get used to it soon enough, girl," she said, flipping the leash so it snapped against her smock-padded chest and grinning.
Silva Marie turned on heel then and strode into the mansion as if it were her own, looking about for Richard Shawn Banon. A mouse femme in brown and green met them, leading them into a waiting room. She glanced twice at Anne's leash, out of Silva Marie's eyeshot, then into Anne's eyes. Anne gave her a small, resolute smile, then sat in a chair where Silva Marie indicated.
The servant brought out refreshments, small finger cookies and wine, treating both Anne and Silva Marie with equal respect. This appeared to bother Silva Marie, who tugged on Anne's leash and directed her to sit at her feet on the floor. Anne did so, and as the servant returned, she was given another sympathetic look.
"Master Richard Shawn Banon will see you now," the servant girl said softly, stepping to one side and gesturing to a door behind her.
Silva Marie stood, nervously smoothing her dress again and tugging Anne to her feet with several rough yanks on the leash. Anne stood as quickly as possible, gulping hard, lowering her tail nervously.
Silva Marie didn't even look at Anne as she squared her shoulders and turned to face the doorway. Leading her behind on the leash, she walked into the adjacent room, her step respectful yet full of purpose.
Servants opened the doors for them as they drew close, holding them ajar until Anne and Silva Marie passed inside and then closing them softly behind. Anne felt plush carpet between her toes as she remained obediently at Silva Marie's heel, trotting along behind her.
Inch thick carpet ran the length of the room from wall to wall, a delicate shade of green that enhanced the rich wooden furniture. Stained oak and mahogany made up the majority of the pieces, including a four poster bed set against the far wall, reflecting the fire light in the room with a warm glow.
A worn, forest green couch lay before a stone hearth in which a fire burned merrily despite the time of year, an unassuming table with a small chest resting beside it. A fur sat there, reclining, one leg crossed over the other as he lazed before the fire. He turned his head as they entered, smiling and nodding to them both and then turning back to the flames. He spoke over one shoulder, voice a deep, growling tenor, "Ah, Silva Marie. Come."
Silva Marie dropped Anne's leash, intending to leave her by the doorway, but paused as Richard Shawn Banon spoke again. "And bring your new pet…" She looked back at Anne, lip curling with obvious distaste. Anne bit her lower lip and lowered her eyes, bending to retrieve the leash and hand it to Silva Marie.
The femme snatched it from her and yanked, leading her over to Richard Shawn Banon. "As you command, Richard Shawn Banon," she said softly, dropping a curtsey as she came around the couch to his side. Anne did the same, if with less grace, and gazed at him from under a fall of dark lashes.
Richard Shawn Banon was a ruggedly handsome tiger morph in his early thirties, black haired and dark eyed. His fur gleamed with careful tending and care. His figure attested to a great deal of physical activity, generously muscled beneath the loose cotton robe he wore open at the chest.
He smiled at Silva Marie, then Anne in turn, nodding to them again and gesturing to the floor, "Please, have a seat. I have heard much about you," he said, his eyes shifting from Anne to Silva Marie so it was unclear as to which he was speaking.
Silva Marie did not miss this, but continued on as if she had, "Have you, Richard Shawn Banon?" she asked with a smile, smoothing out the extensive layers of her skirts and taking a seat.
Richard Shawn Banon's eyes remained on Anne for a moment, taking in her collar and smock, then shifted back to Silva Marie. "Yes… I have heard you have much to learn about the ways of a Mistress," he said, allowing his words to hang as he stared her down.
She held his gaze for a good moment, jaw hanging, then dropped her eyes. "Have you…" she said again, voice barely above a whisper.
Richard Shawn Banon nodded, letting the silence remain for a long moment before speaking again. "Yes, I have. I have also heard that you are power hungry, and utterly disrespectful of your slaves and apprentices."
Anne heard Silva Marie's breath catch in her throat and looked up to see her eyes steadfast on the floor, the muscles around her jaw-line twitching with repressed rage. She shifted her gaze to Richard Shawn Banon, surprised as well. Never had she thought she'd ever hear words like this spoken to Silva Marie, justified as they might be.
Richard Shawn Banon caught her eye, and she flushed as he let his gaze trail downward over her body. "I have also heard that you have recently acquired a new slave with exceptional potential. Did you think it was coincidence that I sent for her by name along with yourself?" he asked, leaning toward Anne and giving her a grin. "No, I think not."
Anne tentatively returned his grin, gazing from him to her Mistress, unsure just what was going on. Silva Marie remained silent, paws clenching into fists at her side, jaw set into a grim line.
He crooked a finger at Anne in a come-hither motion, sitting back on the couch. "Come to me, Anne. Let me get this smock off you so I can get a real look. Perhaps my messenger was mistaken."
Anne lowered her ears, standing and moving toward Richard Shawn Banon. Her leash came up short, drawing painfully upon her collar. Silva Marie unclenched her fingers with effort and let the leather slide from her paw. Anne crossed the remaining distance and stood before him, fidgeting nervously, her tail curling and uncurling behind her.
Richard Shawn Banon gave her a friendly smile as he sat forward, lifting her smock and having her bend so he could remove it. His smile widened as he took in the dress, her body clasped within. "Ahhh…" he murmured, laying the smock down and drawing her close. "How beautiful you are…"
He reached up, cupping her chin as she lowered her eyes and lifting it, then trailing his fingers down over her collar to the sculpted hole resting at her breast. He lightly caressed there, brushing over the soft fur at the inner slopes of her breasts, and smiled appreciatively as she fiercely blushed and dropped her eyes again.
Richard Shawn Banon continued for a moment, noting Anne's nipples as they hardened visibly under the silken fabric of her dress, then dropped his paws to her hips and caressed them backward over her behind. She winced as his fingers passed over her tender welts, breath hissing between her teeth.
Frowning, Richard Shawn Banon bent and gathered her dress up in his paws, drawing her tail out of the way turning her to one side, lifting it far enough to see the welts under her fur his fingers had brushed over. His brow lined deeply with concern, and as his gaze fell upon Silva Marie once more it was with thinly veiled disgust.
"So this is how you treat your slaves upon their arrival, hmmm? How thoughtful. You show such restraint," he snarled, allowing Anne's dress to settle about her legs again, but not before he saw the welts upon her thighs as well. "I somehow doubt her virginity is intact any longer, as well."
Silva Marie glared up at Richard Shawn Banon, despite the obvious rhetorical nature of his words, and hissed at him, "She's mine, I can do whatever I may please with her. She is a simpleton, a Grey no less, of no consequence or value. She is worthless."
Richard Shawn Banon regarded her for a moment, rage, disgust and amusement fighting for control over his muzzle. Utter calm replaced them all as he sat back and turned to Anne, gesturing for her to bend over him. He reached up and unbuckled her collar. She couldn't help but rub at her neck. He then turned to Silva Marie, letting the collar dangle on its leash, swinging slowly before her disbelieving face.
"I believe it is time to show you the worth of a single person, Silva, be it you, me, or this innocent girl here."
Silva Marie shook her head, eyes wide. Richard Shawn Banon jiggled the leash once, to be sure his wishes were clear, and then stood and walked over to her. Bending, he looped the collar about her neck and cinched it tight, then pawed the leash end to Anne.
Sitting once more, he regarded the switch in roles with a sharp-toothed grin, clasping his paws, "Remove your clothes, Silva Marie, and show some class." He chuckled at his own twist of words and folded one leg over another, reclining back.
Anne blinked down at the leash in her paw, then over at Silva Marie. Brutus' words had done nothing to prepare her for this. To refuse a Green would be so much worse than to refuse a Brown, but after this Silva Marie would surely send her back to her mother, shamed.
Silva Marie stood with what dignity she could muster and struggled with her clothes. She had been put into them by a gaggle of servants--getting out of them on her own would prove to be quite a task. Anne moved to help her, but came up short as Richard Shawn Banon shook his head.
They remained there, watching as Silva Marie fought with her dress, finally getting the corset unlaced and slipping out of it. She stood there in her underclothes, frowning, then removed those too as Richard Shawn Banon nodded to her, forced to slide them downward due to Anne's holding her leash.
Anne blinked with surprise as Silva Marie's true form revealed itself. This femme was no goddess; this was an aging fur, breasts sagging and body going to fat beneath all her glamor.
Richard Shawn Banon gestured to Silva Marie, a grin on his lips, "You see, beyond her caste she is just like you or me. No more, no less, Anne. Do you understand?"
Anne nodded mutely to Richard Shawn Banon, gazing from him to Silva Marie in astonishment.
Richard Shawn Banon smiled at her, and reached over to the table beside the couch and into the chest there, selecting a flat, well worn paddle. He hefted it, testing its weight, then pawed it to Anne. "Here, let us see how you do."
Anne stared at him, dumbfounded for a moment. He inclined his head to Silva Marie. "You want me to… You want me to paddle my Mistress, sir?" she asked, tears shimmering in her eyes.
Richard Shawn Banon chuckled at her distress, "Don't worry, Anne, I assure you, no harm will come of it. I promise."
Anne looked from Richard Shawn Banon to Silva Marie who was standing there equally disbelieving.
Richard Shawn Banon nodded again, gesturing from Anne to Silva Marie, "On your knees, Silva Marie, make the job easy on the girl."
Silva Marie huffed, but grew quiet as she realized Richard Shawn Banon spoke in all seriousness. She glared angrily at Anne, dark green eyes cold with fury, then slowly turned and bent, going down on all fours.
Anne whimpered to herself, the paddle heavy in her paws, looking back at Richard Shawn Banon beseechingly. He simply smiled to her and nodded to Silva Marie's lifted tail and bare bottom, leather leash trailing from her collar over her back. "Go ahead Anne."
Biting her lower lip, Anne moved over to Silva Marie, the leash loose in one paw, paddle gripped in the other. She bent, and hesitantly brought the paddle close, giving the woman's ass a soft little pat. Silva Marie yipped as if struck, her entire body shuddering.
Anne looked up at Richard Shawn Banon, almost losing her nerve, but he smiled at her and gestured for her to continue, "You're doing well, Anne. Try to catch her under the curve, there, where each cheek meets the thigh. It's especially tender to the will of a paddle."
Nodding, Anne bent and angled the paddle upward, clumsily smacking Silva Marie once, and then again, making her ass cheeks jiggle with the force of each blow. The femme hissed, fighting back a whimper.
"Good, good!" she heard, looking up to see Richard Shawn Banon smiling, leaning forward and watching her, elbows propped on his knees. "Now again, several times in the same place. As each blow lands, the sting increases. You need not put a lot of force behind it, Anne…" he said as if teacher her how to knit, "A little force applied repeatedly can render an equal if not greater effect."
Anne nodded, bending farther over Silva Marie, her hair threatening to fall from its bun. She brought the paddle down, feeling the shock run softly through the tempered wood as it struck the femme several times in succession upon the fleshy part of her ass.
Silva Marie whimpered and writhed, fighting hard to remain in place. By the fifth blow she moaned and squirmed, pulling away.
Richard Shawn Banon chuckled at this, "Ah, it has been a very long time indeed since Silva Marie has felt the blow of the paddle. And I bet she wonders why, hmmm?" he said, standing and moving over to both of them.
He guided Silva Marie up onto her knees and had her settle back on her heels facing the couch. She glared angrily at the floor, flushed hotly with anger and arousal. He gestured for Anne to get down on her knees. She did so, assuming a position similar to Silva Marie's, then blinked as Richard Shawn Banon shook his head at her.
"No, Anne, do not assume you know my mind. There, take that leash you're holding and loop it between Silva Marie's legs," he said, moving in front of Silva Marie and spreading her knees slightly.
Anne jumped to do as she was told. At this point, nothing could save her from Silva Marie's wrath. Her best chance would be to please Richard Shawn Banon enough to be afforded his protection. Leaning forward, she slid the loop of the leash through, the leather length barely long enough to reach Silva Marie's inner thighs.
"Good, that's good, Anne," he said, slipping his fingers around her upper arm and lifting her to her feet. "Now, Silva Marie, you remember this part, don't you? I'm sure you've had some training, as meager as it must have been."
Silva Marie frowned darkly, staring stubbornly at the floor for a long moment before reaching between her legs and taking hold of the leash's end. Pulled taut, the leather slid through the cheeks of her ass and the glistening lips of her sex, forcing her head up. She stared resolutely straight ahead, jaw trembling with anger and shame.
Richard Shawn Banon smiled, pleased, and nodded to Anne, "This position is very good for the disobedient. Their arousal and their obedience are forcefully linked together by their own paws."
Sitting on the couch once more, he spread his robe, revealing his naked body and hardened cock. Anne gasped, eyes widening as he gestured to her to come close. "Come here, Anne. Leave your dress on. Allow me to show you the pleasure of sex, a courtesy I am quite sure Silva Marie did not bestow upon you."
Anne moved tentatively toward him, spreading her legs as he instructed, and slid into a straddle over his lap. He lifted her easily, paws settling at her waist and guiding her down upon his erection, her dress riding up over her hips. She winced slightly as her welts made themselves known, but their pain added to the pleasure she felt as he slid into her instead of detracting from it.
He groaned and closed his eyes, resting his forehead upon her shoulder for a moment as she panted for breath, getting used to the odd feeling of his length inside her. Lifting his gaze, he brought his paws to the bun piled on top of her head and released it, watching with a smile as her luxuriant red hair tumbled over her shoulders.
Anne shook her head, cascading her mane of hair down over her back as she tentatively returned his smile and brought her knees forward. She rested them at either side of his hips as he began to move beneath her.
Silva Marie, forced to stare directly at them by her own paws, set her lips into a thin line of outrage.
Richard Shawn Banon guided Anne with his paws at her hips, motioning for her to put her arms about his neck as he began to thrust with strengthening force. "How… Does this… Feel, Anne?" he growled, eyes clouded over with lust.
Anne gasped with pleasure, her entire body tingling, feeling as if she were floating, "Good, Richard Shawn Banon. It feels very good…" she gasped in response, starting to bounce on his cock as his paws guided her into a faster and faster rhythm. She moaned loudly, curling her arms tight about his neck and pressing herself to his chest.
Richard Shawn Banon gave a garbled moan of pleasure and wrapped his arms around her, crushing her to his chest as he thrust deep into her and came, triggering her own orgasm. Wave after wave of pleasure crashed through her, leaving her breathless, her heart fluttering with the power of it.
Richard Shawn Banon lifted his head from her shoulder, loosening his grip about her slender frame after a moment and giving her a lopsided smile, "Mmm, sorry, I usually last a bit longer than that, but you… Mmm…"
Blushing, Anne dropped her eyes, then raised them again, grinning back at him. He lifted a paw and brushed her hair back from her eyes, smiling fondly. "I think I will take you on as my apprentice after all. And you may bring two of your choosing from Silva Marie's house to train under you. I trust your judgement," he said, lifting her from his swiftly softening erection and placing her on her feet in front of him.
Anne gasped at him, and again at the sudden empty feeling as his cock slid from between her legs. She fell back a step staring from Richard Shawn Banon to Silva Marie in disbelief. Silva Marie stared right back at her, mouth working, but without the courage to speak up in her defense.
Anne bit her lip, then looked back to Richard Shawn Banon. "Really?" she said, "Anyone I want?"
Richard Shawn Banon chuckled softly, nodding to her. "Preferably two you think would make good apprentices. They should no longer go to waste in Silva Marie's house."
He stood, loosely fastening his robe, and nodded for Silva Marie to stand. "You may go. Send the two of Anne's choice to my estate within one day. Anne will not be returning with you."
Silva Marie dropped the end of the leash and stood, still very aroused and very angry. Cheeks flushed, she nodded stiffly to Richard Shawn Banon. "Yes Richard Shawn Banon. It shall be done." She turned to Anne expectantly, as did Richard Shawn Banon.
"Well, Anne? Choose carefully, now, you will not be able to choose again," Richard Shawn Banon said.
Anne barely paused, her excitement sparkling in her blue eyes. "Emily. Emily at Brutus," she said.
Silva Marie gasped, then set her jaw into a firm line once more, refusing to comment. She lowered her eyes to the floor. "If that is all…"
Richard Shawn Banon chuckled softly and gave Anne an affectionate smile, "It seems you have chosen well, Anne. Anne Banon."
Anne blinked in confusion, then smiled, her smile growing as Silva Marie turned and gathered her dress in a heap then stalked out the door. The servants there opened it, sniggering quietly to themselves as she tried to retain her stately composure despite the fact she was nude, carrying her clothes and trailing a leash.