Groupon is finally among more than a dozen tech darlings that have made their trading debuts.
But it all hasn't been pretty. Among the most hotly-anticipated tech IPOs, only two are performing well. Most fresh IPO stocks are trading well above their IPO price, but they haven't reached the prices they held when they made their trading debut.
Groupon has finally gone public and is now trading at around $28 — 41 percent higher than its IPO price of $20.
Next on deck is social gaming company Zynga, which filed to go public in July and is looking to raise up to $1 billion. Zynga is one of the most profitable companies to file to go public this year.
Will Groupon be among the small group that's kicking ass? We'll find out in a few months. Until then, here's a list of some of the biggest tech IPOs this year so far:


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Mat Engstrom came up big on the boards pulling down 12 rebounds and pumping in 19 points to help th e Chelan Goats defeat a fine Lake Roosevelt Raider team at the ‘Turn Back The Clock’ game in the Community Gym last Saturday night.
Chelan Goats outpace LakeRoosevelt in
fourth quarter to win big
by Richard Uhlhorn
After three tough quarters of basketball, the Chelan Goats exploded in the fourth quarter to outscore an excellent Raider basketball team 28-14 to walk away with a 75-59 win.
Not only was the game a good one, but the entire ‘Turn Back The Clock’ evening was fun. Started in 2004, the “Turn Back The Clock” evening is gaining support of many people. Even the referees turned up in old clothes depicting the theme for the evening. And what could be more fitting then to play the game in the old Community Gymnasium, a place that all high school basketball fans love.
By the time the boys game rolled around at , the gymnasium was packed with fans, parents and students from both schools.
The teams seesawed back and forth throughout much of the first quarter until Chelan was able to build a 12-6 lead over the Raiders. Coach Joe Harris was not pleased with what he was seeing on the court and called a timeout to make some adjustments with remaining to play.
With remaining in the first quarter and Chelan leading 16-6, LakeRoosevelt’s coach called a time out when Chelan continued to put points on the board. By the end of the first quarter, the Raiders were able to get back into the game with Chelan in the lead 19-15.
After the break, LakeRoosevelt came out on fire and outscored Chelan 18-13 in the second quarter to go to the locker room at the half leading by one point, 33-32.
Both teams battled through the third quarter with Chelan gaining a two point lead, 47-45 to go into the fourth quarter of play.
Both teams forced 19 turnovers each, but Chelan was able to steal the ball 11 times to LakeRoosevelt’s six times. Offensively, Chelan shot .448 in the second half with most of that production coming in the fourth quarter.
Joe Harris was 8 for 17 from the field and 14 for 16 at the free throw line to lead the Goats with 31 total points. He pulled down eight rebounds, had six assists, two blocks and three steals.
Mat Engstrom turned in another excellent game with a double/double. Mat pulled down 12 rebounds with eight of them coming on the defensive end of the court. He also pumped in 19 points.
Also getting on the scoreboard were Aaron McQuaid with eight points followed by Evan Reister with seven and Derrick Talley with six points. Josh Burbery had four points on the night.
Chelan travels to Bear Country Tuesday evening, January 27, to take on Brewster. This should be one of the more competitive evenings of basketball this season. Like stat keeper Tracy Williams says, “With Brewster, Cashmere, LakeRoosevelt and us, it should be an interesting stretch to the League Championship.”

domain: sports


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CITY FOCUS: The textbook model for bucking a downturn
Pearson CEO Marjorie Scardino is at the helm of a strong ship
Perhaps it is more famous as the owner of Penguin books and the Financial Times - read by business leaders all over the world.
But it is the less glamorous world of textbooks and student assessments that makes the most money for publishing group Pearson, with education accounting for 62 per cent of its earnings.
Worrying, then, that the North American arm of this business has been hampered by the weakness in the school textbook market.
The economic downturn has put a squeeze on states' education budgets and US school publishing shrank by 4.4 per cent in 2008.
But it seems Barack Obama's recent arrival in the White House could provide just the lift this division needs.
He is pouring around £71billion into education as part of his economic stimulus package, including £28billion to roll back education cuts. It is too early to quantify what this means for Pearson.
Even chief executive Dame Marjorie Scardino isn't certain of the exact effect of the much-vaunted 'Obama boom' in education.
'The extent and timing of the impact on our business is unclear at this stage,' she said following the release of full-year results.
But the flood of money is expected to help modernise the US schooling system and should lift demand for the kind of technology that Pearson produces.
It also means more money for the education of underprivileged children and those with learning difficulties.
All good news for sales of Pearson's textbooks and online learning and assessment tools.
While Scardino cannot yet put a figure on the impact of Mr Obama's measures, she and the rest of the board are confident enough to buck the fashion of cutting shareholder payouts, lifting Pearson's dividend for 2008 by 7 per cent to 33.8p a share.
This signal of confidence comes after group pretax profits jumped 25 per cent to £585million in 2008.
Sterling's weakness against the dollar added £320million to sales and £76million to operating profits.
But even stripping this and the impact of deals out, profits were up 5 per cent.
Boom time: It is too early to know what the extra funding Barack Obama is pumping into education will mean for Pearson
The FT Group, which includes the newspaper and digital news services such as Mergermarket, lifted underlying profits 8 per cent despite advertising revenues falling off a cliff at the end of 2008.
Scardino has worked hard to reduce the group's reliance on advertising. Ad revenues account for just 25 per cent of FT Group revenues, down from 52 per cent in 2000.
Digital subscription services now generate more than two thirds of revenues.
Bestsellers such as the new James Bond novel Devil May Care and This Charming
Man by Marian Keyes helped Penguin lift underlying profits 4 per cent and it will publish new titles from the likes of Nick Hornby, Jamie Oliver and Clive Cussler this year.
The weak US school publishing market may be holding back Pearson's North American business but its international and professional education operations are
firing on all cylinders, with underlying profits up 16 per cent and 26 per cent respectively.
Products in the pipeline include English language testing technology that can tell how much a candidate understands just by the way they read a passage.
Scardino warned economic conditions were not expected to improve any time soon, but added: 'We do expect our company to remain hardy and aggressive.'
While the collapse in rival company valuations must make doing a deal tempting, Scardino insisted: 'The first call on our capital is investing in our business. Beyond that we might look at bolt-on acquisitions.'
She admitted looking briefly at The Wall Street Journal but said bigger deals had to make strategic sense. Buying the rival financial paper clearly didn't.
Pearson also wants to protect its debt rating. Its net debt has already risen 50 per cent to £1.46billion largely because of sterling's weakness.
Shares in Pearson fell with the wider market, down 6p to 653½p. UBS analyst Polo Tang believes they are worth 900p.
Perhaps with a little help from the new American president they will get there.
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domain: news


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Kenner will save five percent on monthly health insurance premiums next year after City Council on Thursday approved switching to a new carrier. The current carrier, UnitedHealthcare, is charging $476.76 per enrolled employee for the 2014 fiscal year, which ends June 30. That comes out to about $4 million for 624 city employees, who do not pay any part of their premiums, according to Chief Administrative Officer Mike Quigley.
The new carrier, Coventry Health Care, will charge $452.91 per enrolled employee next year, for a savings of approximately $200,000, Quigley said. He added that the total dollar amount depends on attrition and other unforeseen events and is therefore difficult to nail down. Still, the savings are significant for a city with a $58.4 million operating budget.
Coventry will provide the same level of coverage as United, Quigley said.
Kenner puts health insurance out to bid every year. United held the contract for three years running. Coventry submitted the lowest bid of four firms, including United, that bid on the fiscal 2015 contract.


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Awesome Graduation Card Box Ideas Shots - 25 diy graduation card ideas hative graduation is a great achievement but thats nothing compared to what life has in store for the graduate next with even bigger challenges and opportunities , graduation card box ideas. dream big graduation card holder box amazon com make sure this fits by entering your model number our dream big card holder box has black and white chevrons and a colorful polka dot design on the , graduation card box ideas.
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10 graduation party ideas and free printables for grads these fun graduation party ideas and free printable downloads will make any graduates day amazing 10 graduation party ideas and free printables , graduation card box ideas. 26 creative graduation party ideas the frugal girls planning a party for your grad check out these epic graduation party ideas making graduation unforgettable is going to be so much fun this year . , Awesome Graduation Card Box Ideas Shots.

domain: design


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This photo was taken below Bridal Veil Falls in Bedford Metroparks (Bedford, Ohio) using a specialty lens. The lens used is a Lensbaby Composer with Double glass optic. It's such a neat place to visit!
When I first purchased my first digital SLR camera, I decided to take a road trip to upper New York state for a road trip. Along the way, I stopped by the side of the road to capture a blanket of clouds rolling over the mountain. I look forward to my next trip to the North Eastern United States!

domain: hobby


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I first learned how to surf when I lived in Costa Rica. Little did I know then, surfing is possible right in my own backyard, back home on the Great Lakes.
Now it is one of my greatest joys to ride freshwater waves where I currently live, on the Georgian Bay in Ontario, Canada.
I wanted to share with you my personal and up-close experiences on what it’s like to surf the Great Lakes. It’s definitely not an experience for everyone and some may think the waves are far from perfect – but it’s my bliss to call these waters my home.

domain: geography


text:
Twenty-seven-year-old Josey Cirrini is sure one three things: winter in her North Carolina hometown is her favorite season, she's a sorry excuse for a Southern belle, and sweets are best eaten in the privacy of her hidden closet. For while Josey has settled into an uneventful life in her mother's house, her one consolation is the stockpile of sugary treats and paperback romances she escapes to each night....Until she finds her closet harboring none other than local waitress Della Lee Baker, a tough-talking, tenderhearted woman who is one part nemesis - and two parts fairy godmother.
Fleeing a life of bad luck and big mistakes, Della Lee has decided Josey's clandestine closet is the safest place to crash. In return she's going to change Josey's life - because, clearly, it is not the closet of a happy woman. With Della Lee's tough love, Josey is soon forgetting pecan rolls and caramels, tapping into her startlingly keen feminine instincts, and finding her narrow existence quickly expanding.
Before long, Josey bonds with Chloe Finley, a young woman who makes the best sandwiches in town, is hounded by books that inexplicable appear whenever she needs them, and - most amazing of all - has a close connection to Josey's longtime crush.
As little by little Josey dares to step outside herself, she discovers a world where the color red has astonishing power, passion can make eggs fry in their cartons, and romance can blossom at any time - even for her. It seems that Della Lee's work is done, and it's time for her to move on. But the truth about where she's going, why she showed up in the first place - and what Chloe has to do with it all - is about to add one more unexpected chapter to Josey's fast-changing life.
I read this because it was described as a follow up to Garden Spells, and expected it to be a sequel; while it wasn't, I wasn't disappointed by what I got. I loved it almost as much as I loved Garden Spells. The plot had a familiar premise with some interesting twists, and I loved the way Sarah Addison Allen was able to explore subplots and other characters without ever getting off track. The story was perfectly paced, and although it wasn't suspenseful and took a few chapters to get into it, it kept me reading.
All of the characters were unique, dynamic, and just came to life. While I disliked some of them, I could also sympathize with them and thought they were brilliantly written; I disliked them as people, not as characters, which shows how real they were. Josey was an endearing main character, who was easy to relate to and root for, and her relationship with Adam and her friendship with Chloe and Della Lee were all believable and perfectly written. The sections from other characters' perspectives and the myriad of subplots added so much to the story and never distracted from the main plot. The ending was perfect and made so much sense.
This book was just magical story, and I loved it. When I checked it out, my librarian commented, "Don't you love her?" [Sarah Addison Allen.] Then, when I said yes, I meant, "I loved Garden Spells," which was the only book of hers I'd read at the time. Having read a second book by her, I feel justified in saying she's a great author and I can't wait to read the rest of her books.

domain: library


R7 Midi Sync OUT won't play
I have some trouble to make my Midi Sync Out working.
I have one Doepfer dark time connected via USB to a MACPRO. This is working fine with Logic.
I also have a Dave Smith Tempest connected to a MIDI Out of a RME Fireface UCX. This is also working fine with Logic.
When i select in the Midi préférences of Reason Midi Sync Out both Tempest or Dark Time won't play.
Maybe it's a misunderstanding between MIDI Sync and MIDI Clock...
Thanks for any help


text:
Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed is in the hot seat this week after ousting fire chief Kelvin Cochran for handing out copies of his Christian self-help book that condemns homosexuality as a perversion, the New York Times reports.
In a debate that pits the city’s old guard religious conservatives against religious liberals, Reed fired Cochran last week over the distribution of his 2013 Christian book, “Who Told You That You Are Naked?” which condemns homosexual acts as “vile, vulgar, and inappropriate.”
After the firing, Cochran issued the following statement:
“I am heartbroken that I will no longer be able to serve the city and the people I love as fire chief, for no reason other than my Christian faith,” Mr. Cochran said in the statement released by the Alliance Defending Freedom, an Arizona-based conservative legal organization that is representing him.
“It’s ironic that the city points to tolerance and inclusion as part of its reasoning. What could be more intolerant and exclusionary than ending a public servant’s 30 years of distinguished service for his religious beliefs?”
The mayor has defended his decision, saying he dismissed Cochran not for his religious beliefs, but because he failed to receive proper approval from city officials to publish the book and then spoke publicly during his suspension against the mayor’s wishes, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports, “Despite my respect for Chief Cochran’s service,” Reed said last week, “I believe his actions and decision-making undermine his ability to effectively manage a large, diverse workforce.”
The Journal speculates that Reed, 45, has larger political aspirations:
The fallout from Cochran’s firing has reached the Georgia statehouse, where a handful of lawmakers are hoping to push through a controversial “religious freedom law.” The bill seeks to prevent the state government from “burdening” employees’ religious freedoms. The bill failed last year, amid controversy around a similar piece of legislation in Arizona. Some said the Georgia bill was unfairly compared to the Arizona bill.
But Cochran’s dismissal has re-energized support for the measure, which has been presented as an example of what could happen in Georgia when freedom of speech is fully not protected under law, “This happened to me, but it’s really not about me,” Cochran concluded. “It’s a warning to every American that freedom of speech and freedom of religion are hanging by a thread, which will snap if we don’t fight to preserve these cherished protections.”
Atlanta Mayor Under Fire For Ousting Gay-Shaming Fire Chief was originally published on newsone.com
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ARSENAL fans have found themselves laughing at Jamie Carragher’s comments on why their team will never win the league.
The former Liverpool legend gave a pretty polarising reason as to why the Gunners won’t be able to lift the trophy come May.
Twitter @cbssportsgolazoJamie Carragher has revealed what he thinks is stopping Arsenal from winning the league[/caption]
ReutersHe has claimed that Arsenal can never win the league with Aaron Ramsdale in net[/caption]
And he’s pointed at one specific player as the downfall in Arsenal’s title ambitions.
Speaking on CBS Sports, he said: “Arsenal will NEVER win the league with [Aaron] Ramsdale in goal, no chance.”
His comments come after Mikel Arteta has replaced Aaron Ramsdale with David Raya for Arsenal’s last two games.
Arsenal fans aren’t best pleased with Carragher’s comments and have leapt to the defence of their goalkeeper who has made 83 appearances and kept 30 clean sheets for their club.
One said: “Even if Raya turns out to be the better keeper that is complete nonsense.”
Whilst a second added: “He arguably kept us in the title race last season. There was no need for this.”
Others laughed off the quotes by Carragher claiming he had no right to talk about winning titles after he spent 17 years in the Liverpool team, making 737 appearances and failing to lift the Premier League trophy.
GettyDavid Raya has replaced Ramsdale in goal for Arsenal’s last two matches[/caption]
Action Images – ReutersJamie Carragher has never won the Premier League[/caption]
One wrote: “I read ‘Jamie Carragher win the league’ and just burst into the biggest fit of uncontrollable laughter LOOOOOL”
And another chimed in saying: “Of course Jamie Carragher would know what it takes to NOT win the league.”
Raya joined Arsenal this summer on a season-long loan from Brentford with the option for a permanent move included in his deal.
But it feels as if the Spanish gaffer is leaning toward his new arrival after starting him in both of their last two games.
Mikel Arteta has a selection headache when it comes to his goalkeeperRichard Pelham / The Sun


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The Thai baht collapsed on July 2, 1997, and South East Asia entered an economic maelstrom. It wasn’t long before the IMF came to the rescue with an alleged elixir, floating exchange rates. With the exception of Hong Kong, which has a currency board‐like system and a fixed exchange rate, all the countries in the region allowed their currencies to float. And float they did‐downward! From the end of 1996 through December of 1999, the Indonesian rupiah lost slightly more than 66% of its value relative to the greenback. The other floaters also suffered large devaluations. They ranged from almost 26% in South Korea to about 33.5% in Malaysia.
The devastation wrought by these devaluations can be measured by the change in GDP per capita measured in dollars. Over the 1996–1999 period, the damage was greatest in Indonesia (-35.5%), the country with the largest devaluation, and least in South Korea (-18.4%), where devaluation was smallest. Not a pretty picture.
That’s not all. Devaluations disproportionately hurt the poor. In Indonesia, for example, the price increases that followed the massive devaluation of the rupiah hit the very poor the hardest, particularly those in urban areas. This little‐known face runs contrary to the conventional wisdom that the poor are so destitute that they are insulated from devaluation shocks.
What about Hong Kong, the outlier? Hong Kong, with its currency board‐like system, did not devalue the Hong Kong dollar. In consequence, it was able to mitigate the storm damage. In the 1996-199 period, its GDP per capita fell by much less than its neighbors (-5.6%).
If that omission wasn’t bad enough, Mr. Dawson confuses readers by invoking this year’s Nobel Laureate, Robert Mundell and his work on the “impossible trinity.” What Mr. Dawson skips over are Mr. Mundell’s conclusions. Mr. Mundell has repeatedly advocated currency boards and fixed exchange rates, not floating rates, for today’s emerging market countries (“Threat to Prosperity,” The Wall Street Journal, March 30), contrary to Mr. Dawson’s implications.
This is all par for the course. The IMF always has it right, even when things go wrong, as they often do. In this regard, the IMF has much in common with the pedantic Prussian Gen. Phull. In the service of the Russian Tsar in 1812, he would have won all of his lost battles if only the troops had followed his strategy and tactics. Gen. Phull’s fast and loose reasoning was immortalized by Tolstoy in “War and Peace.” Mr. Dawson also has a mission‐to justify the IMF‐but he should refrain from intellectual dishonesty.

domain: finance


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Royals Head To Isle of Wight For Royal Yacht Squadron Bicentenary
A number of royals descended on the Isle of Wight today, to attend events marking the bicentenary of the Royal Yacht Squadron.
The Duke of Edinburgh led the British contingent consisting of the Earl and Countess of Wessex, the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, and Prince Michael of Kent. They were joined by Norwegian King Harald V (on board the Norge), Prince Albert II of Monaco, Denmark’s Prince Henrik, and King Constantine and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece.
All the royals watched a Fleet Review of the 180 member yachts, undertaken by Prince Philip as Admiral of the Royal Yacht Squadron, from boats on Cowes Harbour, where the Squadron is based. The Duke took the Review on board a Royal Navy patrol boat.
Greek Crown Prince Pavlos and Crown Princess Marie-Chantal were also present for the Fleet Review.
Later in the day, a Beat Retreat on Cowes Parade was also attended by the royals.
The Royal Yacht Squadron was founded on June 1, 1815. George IV joined the Squadron as a member in 1817, and in 1851 began that sailing competition that is now known as the America’s Cup when the Squadron took on the New York Yacht Club in a regatta around the island.
Read more about the event here.Filed under Denmark, Greece, Monaco, Norway, The United Kingdom
Tagged Albert II of Monaco, Anniversary, Constantine II of Greece, Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece, Crown Princess Pavlos of Greece, Harald V of Norway, Prince Henrik the Prince Consort, Prince Michael of Kent, Queen Anne-Marie of Greece, Sailing, Sport, The Countess of Wessex, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Earl of Wessex, The Princess Royal, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, Yachts.

domain: history


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Raja Ram Mohan Roy, often referred to as the “Father of the Indian Renaissance,” was a visionary social reformer, scholar, and thinker whose contributions reshaped the course of Indian society during the 18th and 19th centuries. His life and work left an indelible mark on various aspects of Indian culture, religion, and social practices.
Early Life and Education
Raja Ram Mohan Roy was born on May 22, 1772, in Radhanagar, Bengal Presidency (now in West Bengal, India). He came from a progressive Brahmin family that encouraged learning and critical thinking. His early education included the study of Persian, Sanskrit, and Arabic, which laid the foundation for his future scholarship. Roy was not content with traditional learning; he sought to explore broader horizons.
Advocacy Against Sati
One of Raja Ram Mohan Roy’s most significant contributions was his relentless advocacy against the practice of sati, a deeply entrenched tradition where widows were expected to self-immolate on their husband’s funeral pyre. Witnessing the horrors of sati firsthand, he dedicated himself to eradicating this barbaric practice. His efforts bore fruit when the British authorities enacted the Bengal Sati Regulation Act in 1829, which marked a turning point in the struggle for women’s rights in India.
Promotion of Education
Recognizing the transformative power of education, Raja Ram Mohan Roy worked tirelessly to promote modern education in India. He founded the Atmiya Sabha in 1815, an organization committed to promoting literary, scientific, and social reforms. Under his guidance, several schools offering a blend of traditional Indian and Western education were established. His vision of education as a means to empower individuals and transform society remains relevant to this day.
Advocacy for Women’s Rights
Raja Ram Mohan Roy was a trailblazer in advocating for women’s rights at a time when women had limited social and legal standing. He challenged the prevailing norms of child marriage and fought for the right of widows to remarry, recognizing the plight of women who were often condemned to a life of suffering. His progressive ideas laid the groundwork for later movements aimed at improving the status of women in India.
Religious Reforms and the Brahmo Samaj
In addition to his social reforms, Raja Ram Mohan Roy made significant contributions to religious thought in India. He believed in a rational and inclusive approach to religion. In 1828, he, along with Debendranath Tagore, founded the Brahmo Samaj, a socio-religious reform movement. The Brahmo Samaj aimed to promote monotheism, reason, and the rejection of idol worship and caste distinctions. This movement played a pivotal role in challenging the orthodoxy of the time and fostering a more enlightened and compassionate approach to spirituality.
Raja Ram Mohan Roy’s legacy is profound and enduring. His tireless efforts to eradicate social injustices, promote education, and reform religious practices left an indelible mark on Indian society. He bridged the gap between tradition and modernity, advocating for a more enlightened and progressive India. His influence extended far beyond his lifetime, inspiring future generations of social reformers, thinkers, and leaders.
In conclusion, Raja Ram Mohan Roy’s life and work epitomize the spirit of the Indian Renaissance. His commitment to social reform, education, and religious tolerance laid the foundation for a more enlightened and just India. He remains an icon of progressive thought and continues to inspire individuals and movements dedicated to the betterment of society. Raja Ram Mohan Roy’s legacy shines as a beacon of hope and enlightenment in the annals of Indian history.
A Short Bibliography
- Raja Rammohun Roy: The Reformer” by Sivanath Sastri – This biographical work provides insights into the life and contributions of Raja Ram Mohan Roy.
- “Raja Rammohan Roy and the Indian Reaction to the West” by Kalidas Nag – This book delves into Roy’s interactions with Western thought and his role in shaping India’s response to Western influences.
- “Sati: A Historical and Philosophical Enquiry” by Uma Chakravarti – This book explores the historical and philosophical aspects of the practice of sati, which Raja Ram Mohan Roy vehemently opposed.
- “Rammohun Roy: A Religious and Social Reformer” by S. G. Tendulkar – This work offers an in-depth analysis of Roy’s religious and social reform efforts.
- “Raja Rammohun Roy and the Making of Victorian Britain” by Lynn Zastoupil – This book discusses the impact of Raja Ram Mohan Roy’s ideas and activities on Victorian Britain, highlighting his significance in the global context.
- “Raja Ram Mohan Roy: The Renaissance Man” by Amiya P. Sen – This concise biography provides an overview of Roy’s life and contributions.
- “The Brahmo Samaj and the Shaping of the Modern Indian Mind” by David Kopf – This book explores the history and influence of the Brahmo Samaj, the reform movement founded by Raja Ram Mohan Roy.

domain: sociology


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Sex with Kings, the title, captures the essence of this… documentary. Chronicling five hundred years of kings who, as was the fashion, kept mistresses, or as the french called them, maîtresse-en-titre. Eleanor Herman does not about their military battles, nor about their rare stallions they kept. It does talk about their plumage, and touches on their ability to reproduce, but does not chronicle their lineage nor does it elaborate on their vaults of the finest jewels known to man.
I think the most fascinating things is clearly how deep into this history Herman has gone in her approach in learning everything their was to know about this sub-culture monarchy cultured.
When one thinks of Kings they think of monarchy, of ruling ruthlessly, of chopping off heads on a whim, of peasants, of riches that no man can dream of without forfeiting their sanity, but that was only part of the story.
It turns out, that in many empires, this book focuses on the French and the English mainly, it was considered fashionable to keep a mistress, or a few for good measure.
Some, like Charles II, kept many mistresses, but in the end, it seemed that most kings would be captivated by one, and they would stick.
What I found most interesting was how Herman illuminated the fact that the Kings main interest was primarily with the mistress, and not the Queen. The Queen was someone who the family felt was best suited to marry, often times for property, name, uniting kingdoms etc., but the mistress was somebody who captivated the King, who interested the King so much they would be together nearly every day, debating, talking, influencing.. Often times the mistress had so much power that they would sit with the ministers and make decisions that effected the entire state of the country.
Perhaps these Kings knew what they were doing, when, on their dying beds, mistresses would risk their lives and all they had to hold the hand of the King, full well knowing that after the king died, there would be no more fancy balls or prized jewels from the treasure chests. You see, as Herman points out, nearly always after the King passed the Queen would then get her way and demand that the mistress was outcast, was forbidden from the palace walls, was stoned, was be-headed, for after all, the mistress was the exact person who took their King away from them.
If you ask me, it was worth it. These mistresses would get it all. To top it off, if they birthed children (preferably boys), the children would often be given titles like Duke, or Baron, or Count, gifted a castle, and made Lord of some land in the kingdom. Perhaps it was just the mistresses family that would get it all. Perhaps this is also why fathers would be proud and go to a big trouble to get their daughters in the right position to become a mistress.
In summary, this book is great. It’s filled with juicy gossip that just hasn’t gotten old. It’ll give you a new gait in your step next time you peruse the nearest historical fine art gallery, it’ll give you the insight you never thought would be surfaced about the Kings that have come before.
One thing I found that I did each and every time a new paragraph started with some new facts to unearth, was I wanted to see the people that it was talking about. I suggest having google at your fingertips as you read, for although there are a few portraits in the middle pages of the book, they just don’t do it justice.
Have you read Sex with Kings? I’d love to hear how you felt about it.

domain: literature


'Leeds fans should be delighted' – Exclusive: Keith Hackett on EFL update for clash v Barnsley
Former Premier League referee Keith Hackett has said that “Leeds United fans should be delighted” that Jarred Gillett has been appointed by the EFL for the game against Barnsley on Thursday.
It could be the game when Leeds finally secure promotion back to the Premier League and a solid referee can only help in that regard.
Talking exclusively to MOT Leeds News, Hackett thinks that’s exactly what Leeds have got.
“First of all the Leeds fans should be delighted he’s been appointed,” Hackett said.
“He’s a very competent referee. He’s very experienced and a former FIFA referee. He’s a good decision-maker and very firm.
“That’s why he’s on the game I think, he doesn’t suffer fools gladly. He’s a great communicator and that is something I think we’re lacking in the Premier League at the moment.
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“I’ve given the PGMOL a lot of stick so I will give them credit here for recognising the quality of this referee and getting him involved in the Championship – he’s not disappointed.
“With a bit of luck, before the end of the season he will get given a chance in the Premier League.”
Well, that’s great news for Leeds who play the game on Thursday in front of the Sky Sports cameras again.
It’s a high-profile game that will be great for Gillett’s profile, too, and we’re expecting him to let the game flow and referee with an even hand.
It looks like he could be in charge for more Leeds games next season in the Premier League.
In other Leeds United news, David Ornstein delivers bad news to Leeds United fans after key PL update


text:
State registration of pesticides and agrochemicals in Russia and CIS countries is a procedure aimed at preventing substandard and counterfeit goods from entering national markets of each country.
Stages of registration
The registration of plant protection products and agrochemicals is a complex and time-consuming process lasting from 1,5 up to 4 years depending on the object of registration.
The registration of pesticides and agrochemicals in the Russian Federation is regulated by the Federal law 109-FZ, dated 19.07.1997, “On the safe management of pesticides and agrochemicals” (as amended and supplemented)” and consists of the following stages:
- The filing of the application for inclusion in the schedule of registration tests of pesticides/agrochemicals of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation;
- Development of the registration tests programme;
- Research aimed at ensuring biological effectiveness and safety of the pesticide/agrochemical under registration;
* As per “Methodological guidelines on registration testing of pesticides with regard to the biological effectiveness” (Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation, 2019), research and testing for all pesticides and agrochemicals filed for registration after January 1st, 2019 is conducted over the course of two full cropping seasons in one, two, three or four soil and climate zones for each crop.
- A range of tests on the toxic safety of the pesticide/agrochemical
- A range of tests on the ecological safety of the pesticide/agrochemical
- Submission for the state ecological examination as per the Federal law 174-FZ, dated 23.11.1995, “On ecological examination”
- Development of the Safety Data Sheet (Safety Passport) of the pesticide/agrochemical
- Outlining recommendations on transportation, application, storage and labelling of the pesticide/agrochemical
- Examination of the registration dossier by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation
- Obtaining expert reports on:
- 1) The results of the registration testing of the pesticide/agrochemical;
- 2) The pesticide/agrochemical application regulation;
- Issue of the State registration certificate of the pesticide/agrochemical
- Registration of container labels with the assignment of an individual identification number
On completing the above stated procedures, the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation includes all registered products in the State catalogue of pesticides and agrochemicals permitted/authorized/registered for use on the territory of the Russian Federation. The catalogue is issued annually and is updated in the course of the year.
The result of the state registration
Once the State Registration Certificate of the pesticide/agrochemical is obtained, the company possessing the Certificate is entitled to import, distribute and use plant protection products on the territory of the Russian Federation.

domain: biology


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text:
Shadows of the Soul
Gabrielle slipped into her new cubbyhole, one ear cocked to hear Xena’s orders to the staff outside. She paused in the center of the room and looked around, surprised but pleased at the space around her. The ceiling was high, and the room, closet really she reckoned, was almost square and the walls had lots of little shelves and alcoves in them to put things in. Where her previous space had obviously just been a forgotten curve in the wall, this had light, and even a worn but respectable rug covering a good part of the stone floor.
Her cot was against the wall along with the small chest, and she went over to it and started stripping off her livery.
Her mind kept returning to dinner, though, and she found herself reliving the horrible moment that had ended it, not so much the vision of Xena killing the duke but the heart rending scream of the wife he’d left behind. It resonated with her, and reminded her strongly of the moment when she’d seen the arrow pierce Lila’s chest and she was having a hard time getting past the image again despite the fact that she knew Xena had done what she’d thought she needed to.
Just like with Lila. Gabrielle smoothed her fingertips over the yellow hawk, caught again by the paradox her life was rapidly becoming.
By all rights, Xena’s nature, and her cold hearted willingness to slaughter should be repelling her. And yet Gabrielle felt herself being drawn closer and closer to the dangerous and deadly queen despite all logic to the contrary. Even watching her dispatch the noble had only jolted her empathy for the man’s wife, rather than stirred up horror at the man’s death itself. Was she starting to get used to it? Gabrielle sat down and removed her boots. Was Xena right? Was she even getting a taste for the excitement of it all?
She stood up and removed her leggings, then slipped out of the buttery golden shirt, folding it neatly and laying it over the overtunic. The stone walls held a chill that raised goosebumps on her bare skin and she rubbed her arms absently as she tried to make sense of it.
And realized there was none to be had, at least at the moment. She hated the violence, and the deadly games of the court. But even though Xena was the core of it, Gabrielle knew it wasn’t in her heart to hate the queen.
Far from it. She closed her eyes in quiet confirmation. Could she hate everything Xena stood for, and love Xena herself? Her ears caught the sound of Xena moving into the bathing room, and she felt her heart skip a beat.
Well. That wasn’t fear stirring in her guts, virgin or no she knew that much.
She sighed as she tucked her boots under the cot and stood up, running her fingers through her hair as she went to her little chest and removed a shift to sleep in. She pulled it over her head and put her livery away neatly folded, then paused as she started to stand up when she spotted a small, neglected looking box tucked back in the corner of the space.
Curious, she walked over and crouched next to it, lifting the latch and opening the top to peer inside.
For once, she wanted hot water. Xena dipped a finger into the gently steaming liquid, giving the two slaves who had brought the buckets and approving nod. “Great. Now get out.” She told them, watching the guard herd them out the door and into the hallway. She waited for the door to close then she wandered back into the bathing room and rested her forearms on the edge of the marble tub.
“Hm.” Xena regarded the water for a minute. Then she walked over to the stone alcove set into the wall and picked up a small jar, removing the top and sniffing warily. “Eh.” She muttered. “It’s better than flowers.” She walked over and sprinkled a bit of the bath salts into the water, releasing a light scent of sandalwood and nutty cinnamon into the air. Putting the jar back, she went to her closet and untied the ornate belt on her gown, noting the blood spatter that dotted the fabric in a swath from her shoulder to her hip.
With a grimace, she removed the gown and draped it over a wooden stand in the closet. Studying her choices, she selected a brief, silk robe and eased it over her shoulders, tying the thin woven cord loosely around her waist. She studied her reflection in the mirror, then ran a hand through her hair to fluff it’s bangs a trifle.
One eyebrow lifted in dire sarcasm. “Ohhh… you’ve got it bad.” She accused her reflection. “Last time you primped it was for your horse.”
With a half disgusted shake of her head, she turned her back on the mirror. Barefoot, she stepped silently into the bedroom and leaned on a cornice outside the door to the space she’d had Gabrielle’s things put in.
It was a small cubby, a closet really she’d never used that the castle’s prior occupants had stored their volumes of rich clothing and personal trinkets in. It was larger than the alcove outside in the hall, though, and it had a wall sconce for a hanging oil lamp that lit the interior with a pleasing warm glow.
It was quiet inside. Xena unfolded her arms and walked to the door, peering inside. Gabrielle was sitting on her cot, leaning back against the wall with her legs folded up under her. She had piece of parchment in her hands and she was reading it, seemingly completely absorbed but it’s contents.
Xena smiled at the sight. Then she put her fingers between her teeth and let out a piercing whistle, causing Gabrielle to nearly levitate off the cot and onto the floor.
“Yow!” The slave yelped, grabbing her chest. “Oh!”
“Heh heh.” Xena entered and looked around, putting her hands on her scantily clad hips. “Well, it beats the broom closet out there.”
Gabrielle caught her breath, then lost it again as she caught a look at the darkened blue eyes watching her. “Uh… yes… it’s… I like it.”
“Do ya?” Xena strolled over and took a seat next to her on the cot, making the mattress rustle and the straps under it creak. “What’s that?” She pointed at the parchment.
“Oh.” Gabrielle looked down at the writing. “I found it in that box over there. It’s a poem.” She offered it to Xena. “It’s beautiful. Did you write it?”
“Me?” The queen burst into a wry laugh. “Gabrielle, I’d sooner skin rats with my teeth than write poetry.” She mouthed the last word as thought it were a curse. “Poetry? Me?”
The slave put the parchment down on her lap and scratched her jaw. “I’m sorry.” She apologized in a soft voice. “It had an ‘X’ on the bottom so I thought…”
Xena snatched the parchment and examined it. “X must be for unknown.” She said finally, tossing the parchment back. “I’ve never seen it before.”
Gabrielle fingered the hide. “Is it okay if I keep it?”
The queen folded her arms over her chest, and eyed her. “It’s not mine. Why should I care if you do?” She could see the smile starting on Gabrielle’s face and decided to change the subject. “I have a hot bath waiting.”
The slave folded the parchment carefully and put it into her trunk. “Would you like me to wash your shoulder?” She asked.
“I’d like you to get in the tub with me and wash me all over.” Xena answered, with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. She watched the green eyes facing her widen to an almost comical degree and saw the muscles on either side of Gabrielle’s face relax as her jaw dropped. With a smirk, she reached over and tipped the slave’s head to one side. “Think those are your brains dripping out. Careful.”
Gabrielle closed her jaw with a slight clicking sound as her teeth met. She remained silent, however, her eyes wide open and borderline fearful.
Not what Xena wanted. “Hey.” She patted Gabrielle’s cheek. “It’s been a long day, and I’m really too tired to sadistically rape you. Relax.” She watched the girls’ expressive face. “Gabrielle?”
Gabrielle exhaled. “Um.. I’m.. sorry. That just.. sort of surprised me.”
Xena pursed her lips. “Come.” She got up off the cot and held her hand out. “I don’t ask for hot water often, and it’d be a crime to waste it.”
Shyly, Gabrielle stood and took her outstretched fingers, clasping them as she followed Xena out and through the bedroom into the bathing chamber.
Steam was rising faintly over the tub, and it smelled wonderful. Gabrielle felt scared, and excited and her heart started doing somersaults in her chest as she felt herself drawn towards the marble basin.
“It’s just a bath.” Xena cupped her cheek gently. “Don’t pass out when you get in there, or you’ll drown and it’ll just ruin my day, okay?”
The humor helped. Gabrielle dropped her eyes, knowing she was blushing, but nodded.
Xena held back a wry chuckle, as she untied the laces on her slave’s shirt, and tugged it over her head. A moment later, she added her own robe to it, and tossed them both to one side. Then she stepped over the edge of the tub into the pleasantly warm water and steered Gabrielle to do the same.
Which was hard, since the kid still had her eyes closed. Xena took the opportunity to study her bare body, noting the pleasant proportions as well as surprising, few scars in addition to the one on her leg. The girl took in a deep breath and her ribs expanded, easily visible under her pale skin.
Xena reached over and touched a faint bump on one of them, causing a slight gasp to escape from Gabrielle’s throat. This was not, the queen decided, the time to probe for the pieces of this particular puzzle however.
There would be time for that.
“Hey.” Xena patted Gabrielle’s cheek, and watched the pale lashes flutter open. “I’m not a guide dog.” She pointed downward. “Sit.”
The tub was more than large enough for both of them, and once settled, Gabrielle seemed to relax a little. She looked around her, touching the side of the tub with a sense of wonder.
As well she might. It was rose marble, and admittedly the nicest bathtub this side of Rome. Xena leaned her shoulder against the stone and lifted the soap off it’s holder, releasing some lather into the water. Playfully, she blew some of the floating bubbles towards Gabrielle and as they reached her chest, the girl finally looked up and met her eyes. “So.”
Gabrielle had apparently moved past embarrassment. “So.” She responded, her voice slightly husky.
“Here we are. Naked, in a tub full of hot water, romantic candles burning nearby…” Xena remembered to grin so the kid would know she was playing with her.
“It’s beautiful.” Gabrielle answered softly. “I’ve never been in warm water like this. It feels great.” She lifted her hand out of the liquid and let it run through her fingers. “I was… in our family I was the oldest, so I ended up with pretty cold water, in a wooden trough and my sister to get cleaned up.”
“I ended up in ice cold streams most of the time.” Xena admitted, with a chuckle. “Until I conquered everyone and took over this place. Now I can have hot water whenever I want, and damned if I ever ask for it.” She reached out and captured Gabrielle’s hand, scrubbing it lightly with the soap. “Besides, it’s a boring tub to be in by yourself.”
Okay. Gabrielle felt her heart settling down to the business of actually moving her blood around inside her instead of trying to climb out of her throat. It’s just a bath, like she said Gabrielle. You’re here, it’s nice, she’s just being playful… it’s okay. Her body relaxed and she decided to try a little playfulness herself.
Gabrielle inched a little closer and took the soap, getting some lather on her fingers and cleaning Xena’s hand with it. “You have really nice hands.”
Xena’s eyebrows lifted. “I have paws the size of a bears that can break walnuts or choke a horse, Gabrielle.” She opened her palm, exposing the muscular palm and long fingers.
“But they’re pretty.” Gabrielle disregarded the words, running soap over the appendage in question. “They fit you.. they’re the right size for you. I remember this lady that lived in Potadeia.. she was kinda short.”
“Like you are.”
“Ah. A midget.” Xena’s eyes twinkled more brightly.
“Anyway, her hands were almost the same size as yours.” Gabrielle continued. “They looked really weird.” She examined her handiwork. “But yours are just right.”
Xena reached out and drew a soapy line down Gabrielle’s nose. “If you say so.” She watched the girl’s eyes almost cross watching her finger. “Know what?”
“What?” Gabrielle blew a bit of bubbles across the water in idle delight.
Green eyes gone round again blinked at her. “I am?”
Xena stroked her cheek, feeling the warmth erupt under her fingertips. “Yes, you are.” She answered seriously. “You’re adorable, and I really like that.”
Gabrielle went seriously tongue tied.
Xena’s lips quirked. “You’re supposed to say something nice back.” She instructed dryly. “And don’t mention my hands, that doesn’t count.”
The blond girl’s lips opened, then she paused and took a breath. “Um…”
“You’re the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen.”
Xena wiggled her brows. “Mm…. nice start.” She complimented her bath mate. “Now, let’s get washed up, so we can continue our discussion someplace drier.”
Gabrielle seriously wondered, after that, if she could possibly have floated out of the tub because she certainly didn’t remember climbing anywhere.
They ended up in front of the fire, sitting on the thick rug instead of on the chairs to spare Xena’s back the pressure. Sitting there in her woven shift, long legs crossed under her, the queen presented a far less imposing sight as she cradled a cup of heated cider in her hands.
Gabrielle suspected she was just getting used to adjusting to the whirlwind she now lived in. Instead of worrying about what was happening, and more important, what was going to happen, she simply enjoyed the feel of the sheepskin rug against her skin, the taste of the cider and the sight of this beautiful intriguing woman almost knee to knee with her.
She likes me. Gabrielle could almost taste the sweetness of the words. She thinks I’m cute. Even Perdicus, back home, who’d been the closest thing she’d had to a boyfriend hadn’t looked at her like Xena was right at that very moment.
Of course, Xena was way more gorgeous mussed and rumpled than Perdicus could have ever been on his best day and Gabrielle was pretty sure she hadn’t looked at Perdy the way she was looking at Xena either.
For a moment, she wondered what had become of Perdicus. He hadn’t been in Potadeia the day the slavers had hit them, and she felt a little awful thinking of him returning home to find everything gone. She looked up at Xena, who was studying the fire, deep in thought.
What would it have been like to see your family killed, when you were just little? Gabrielle concentrated and tried to remember what it was like when she was small, when her world had been simple; just mama and da, the baby she remembered Lila as, and warm blankets and sunshine.
She gazed at Xena’s profile, with it’s strong planes and uncompromising angles, and tried to imagine her as a little girl. It was hard.
As though sensing the observation, Xena shook off her deep thoughts and turned to meet Gabrielle’s eyes. She lifted her cup and sipped it, then extended it in silence towards the girl.
Gabrielle touched it’s side with her own cup, and they both drank. Xena shifted around so they were facing each other, her kneecaps just brushing Gabrielle’s. “So. Here we are.”
“Here we are.” Gabrielle repeated, with a tiny smile. “I’m.. um… “
“Not… really, no.”
Xena’s eyebrows hiked up. “Reeeallly?” She drawled, rolling the sound out. “You’re not afraid of me anymore, Gabrielle? I don’t believe it.”
Well… The blond woman shifted and focused on her cup, it’s gently steaming surface sending the rich scent of apples to her. She heard Xena shift, and then next thing she knew the queen’s fingers were sliding through her hair and giving it a gentle tug. “I’m not.” Gabrielle peeked at her erstwhile tormenter. “Scared.. I’m just a little.. um...”
“Hm?” Xena lazily traced one of her slave’s ears, a nicely pink well shaped appendage. “A little what?” She slid her thumb over Gabrielle’s cheekbone, and felt the almost imperceptible pressure as she leaned into the touch.
“Ne..nervous.” Gabrielle stuttered softly.
“Ahh.” Xena chortled, almost under her breath. “Why are you nervous, Gabrielle? You been listening to those old woman’s tales about the great mysteries of.. ‘down there’ again?” She teased. “Afraid what I might do to you? Think you could end up growing a second head or something?”
Gabrielle had to laugh, just a little, at the image. She forced herself to relax and met Xena’s eyes. The firelight softened the ice blue, and she could see again glimmers of humanity behind them. “Not really, no. I mean..” She fingered her cup and smiled. “I’m seventeen, not twelve.”
“Ahh.” Xena said again. “You know, I usually don’t have these little discussions with my nubile conquests.” She mentioned casually. “Patience is not my virtue.”
Gabrielle’s eyebrows twitched. “I kind of figured that out.” She said, studying Xena’s face. “I know you can do whatever you want to me, and there’s not much I can do about it.” She watched a wary cast shield the queen’s eyes. “So why don’t you?”
Xena was silent for a bit, sipping her cider as she considered. “Because I told you I don’t rape slaves, and it’s true. I don’t.”
“Oh.” The blond woman nibbled on her lower lip, then blushed slightly. “Well, is it really rape… if the other person thinks it’s okay?” She stuttered getting the last word out, and her blush deepened to a deep crimson. She snuck a glance at Xena’s face, and caught a mixture of emotion on it that surprised her.
“It depends if the slave is telling the truth… or just wants to gain my favor… or is just too scared to say no.” Xena replied evenly. “Which is it, Gabrielle?” She pinned the slave with a glare, fierce and intent now.
Gabrielle frowned a little, then tilted her head thoughtfully.
“Well?” Xena’s voice dropped to a growl.
“I’m just trying to figure out…” The slave said. “If you’re trying to scare me…” She took Xena’s hand in hers. “Or scare me off.” Holding Xena’s gaze, she lifted her hand up and very gently kissed the knuckles of it. “Which is it, your Majesty?”
And Xena was caught. She stared at Gabrielle for long, frozen moment.
“I don’t want anything from you except what you want to give me.” Gabrielle’s voice was serious, and heartfelt. “Yes, I am scared, and nervous, and I have no idea what I’m getting myself into, and I might even end up dead because of it, but…” She looked down at the queen’s hand, laying still in her own.
The hand slowly lifted, with her fingers clinging to it, and laid itself flat against her cheek. Gabrielle felt Xena’s thumb brush her cheekbone and in the tenderness of the motion, she found the courage to look back up into those fathomless blue eyes.
“But you want to do it anyway.” Xena smiled slowly.
Gabrielle nodded hesitantly.
The queen closed her fingers around Gabrielle’s hand and clasped it, lifting it up and studying it with a darkly feral intensity. Her conscience teetered on the edge for the length of a hearbeat, then plunged over with a sense of dizzying flight.
She closed her hand tighter and looked at her slave. “Me, too.” She uttered, with a grin. “So since you won’t scare off….”
Uh oh. Gabrielle drew in a breath, sensing the rising emotion between them.
“C’mere.” Xena slid her hand around to the back of Gabrielle’s neck and pulled her closer, leaning forward to kiss her. Words were one thing, but Xena knew better than most that the real truth was more often found in the silences between them.
She felt Gabrielle lean against her, a relaxed surrender to her touch that made a fire start in her own guts. She explored the blond woman’s lips, tasting the spiced apple on them as her fingers traced the outline of Gabrielle’s face.
Her body growled, desire pulsing up inside her as she deepened her kiss, allowing her other hand to touch Gabrielle’s side. The ribs under her fingers expanded sharply, and she felt the tiny gasp of air between their lips.
She made a more solid contact, and the warmth of Gabrielle’s body came through the fabric as she explored slowly upward, running her touch over each rib felt clearly through the skin until she reached the firm curve of the slave’s breast.
A small, half surprised sound emerged from Gabrielle’s throat. Xena chuckled softly and probed deeper with her tongue, almost making a refined squawk of her own when Gabrielle’s hand gently stroked her upper thigh.
There was reverence in the touch that charmed her.
Xena came up for a breath of air and watched Gabrielle’s eyelids flutter open, revealing mist green eyes gone almost hazel with passion. With a smile, the queen rubbed noses with her, surprising a tiny chuckle out of the younger woman as she attempted to catch her breath.
Xena realized she was breathing a little harder as well, and her body was urging her to continue, her fingers tracing a slow line over Gabrielle’s rounded breast and feeling the nipple in it’s center tense under her light shirt. “Like it so far?” She inquired.
“Uh.” Gabrielle had to swallow before she answered. “It’s.. um..”
“Intense?” Xena breathed in her ear, nibbling the lobe as she heard the air come out of Gabrielle’s chest in an almost subaudible groan. “Mmm… I like someone who appreciates what I do.”
Gabrielle shifted closer and reached out, then paused. “Is it okay if I….”
“Nah.” Xena told her, with wicked cheerfulness. “I’ll break your fingers.” She nibbled the tip of Gabrielle’s nose and met the blinking green eyes. “Just kidding… go ahead.”
Gabrielle grinned, just a tiny bit, and stroked Xena’s arm as she tilted her head to receive another, more passionate kiss.
Xena found herself enjoying the moment immensely. She suspected she was going to continue enjoying it, and her body was waking up to the sensation of Gabrielle’s hesitant touch. Half of her conscience still had misgivings, but a greater part of her was taking over, wanting the intimacy with a power that frankly surprised her.
Maybe it was Gabrielle’s innocence. Xena tugged the laces loose on the slave’s shift. Or maybe it was the way she responded to Xena’s touch as though she were playing a harp and the slave’s utterances were it’s music.
“Wow.” Gabrielle murmured, somewhere near her ear. “You taste nice.”
Or maybe it was that she was just so damn cute. Xena felt her reservations jump out the window. “Thanks.” She eased the shift off one of Gabrielle’s shoulders and got down to bare skin. “But you know what?”
Gabrielle had found the gap in the front of her robe and she ran a curious finger across Xena’s navel. “What?”
The queen sucked in a breath. “I’d taste a lot better on the bed.”
Xena put an arm around her and pulled her closer, exulting in the heat as their bodies touched. “Trust me.” She slowly stood, carrying Gabrielle with her.
“I do.” Gabrielle replied simply. “But I’m not really sure…”
Xena silenced her words with a kiss, pressing her body against the slaves and running her hand down Gabirelle’s side. “Don’t worry.” She whispered into her ear. “I’ll teach you.”
The bed gathered them in. Xena stretched herself out fully, then planned out her attack.
Gabrielle watched the candlelight frame Xena’s outline as she settled herself into the soft surface of the bed, her body tingling all over. Already the fear she’d been filled with was fading, being replaced by excitement and a tickling anticipation.
Xena’s robe was half open. Gabrielle wondered if she should loosen the belt of it, reaching out and taking hold of the soft fabric just as she felt Xena shift closer.
The next thing she felt was a tickle of cool air as her shift was slipped up over her hips, and the solid, almost shocking warmth of Xena’s hand as it touched her skin underneath. Her breathing started speeding up again, making her feel a little lightheaded. She kept hold of Xena’s belt as the queen gently rolled her over, achieving her own goal of pulling that robe open.
Oo. Gabrielle found Xena leaning over her suddenly. She saw a flicker of light, then realized Xena held a dagger in her hand. Her throat closed, and she felt her eyes widen as she gazed up at the queen wondering for a long horrible moment if she hadn’t just made a terrible mistake.
Xena must have seen it in her face. The dark haired woman’s head tilted to one side, blunting the intensity of her look and she winked at Gabrielle reassuringly.
The knife came closer, though, and Gabrielle couldn’t help but close her eyes as she felt the pressure of the blade against her belly.
She heard the sound of the knife penetrating the fabric of her shift, a soft popping noise that made her completely stop breathing. The pressure traveled up her body, but no pain followed it, until she heard the light snap as the blade cut through the laces near her throat.
Then it stopped.
She kept her eyes closed, her heart pounding so fast she couldn’t count the beats. It had stopped being fun, and definitely stopped being exciting.
She felt like crying.
“Gabrielle.” Xena’s voice was unexpectedly gentle.
Fearfully, she forced her eyes open. The knife was gone, and Xena was leaning over her.
“I’ve got a hole in my back. Wrestling off your dress wasn’t in my plans.” The queen told her.
Gabrielle let out a breath. “Oh.”
“Did you really think I was going to waste all that foreplay just to cut you to pieces?” Xena inquired, an odd note sounding in her words.
Gabrielle felt a touch foolish. “I’m sorry.” She whispered. “I didn’t know what was happening.”
Xena eased down next to her, brushing her body against the slaves. She slid a hand behind Gabrielle’s head and leaned close to her, until they were almost nose to nose. “Listen to me.” She captured the slave’s eyes, letting the reins loose on her own personality a little. “I won’t hurt you.”
Gabrielle exhaled, feeling some of the tension leave her. She very much wanted to believe Xena, and looking up into those candelit blue eyes there was something inside her heart reassuring her that she could. Hesitantly, she lifted her hand up and touched Xena’s cheek, exploring those strong planes curiously as she felt the queen smile under her fingertips. “Okay.”
“You believe me?” Xena asked, easing the cut shift aside and running a hand down Gabrielle’s now bare belly.
Gabrielle nodded, feeling her body respond strongly to the touch.
The queen dipped her head and nipped her slave very lightly on the collarbone, lifting up to meet her eyes again. “I could hurt you, if I wanted to.”
“I know.” Gabrielle whispered.
“But I don’t want to.” Xena said. “I want to make you feel good.” She cupped Gabrielle’s breast and ran her thumb gently over the nipple. “I want you to enjoy this, and not be afraid of me. Think you can manage that?”
Gabrielle brushed the back of her knuckles over the queen’s lips, her body already coming up with it’s own answer. She nodded, the need to lose herself again in those beautiful eyes becoming the focus of her thoughts. The fear faded, it’s lingering chill brushed aside by Xena’s lips as they touched hers, bringing that sweet taste back.
Xena’s body pressed against hers. Gabrielle’s hand brushed against the queen’s hip as she felt Xena’s touch slide up her belly, exploring her curiously.
It felt good. Gabrielle sucked in a breath, swallowing against a suddenly dry throat. Xena’s lips moved lower, suckling at the base of her throat as the queen eased a knee between hers. It felt very good, and she exhaled, a low sound vibrating her vocal cords unexpectedly.
Xena laughed softly, her breath warming Gabrielle’s skin.
Gabrielle felt that same warmth envelope her breast, then a jolt of sensation nearly made her eyes pop out of her head as Xena’s lips teased and nipped at her. It was an amazing feeling, like little bolts were flying all over her skin and it made her want more of it.
Xena seemed inclined to provide that, because while she kept doing what she was doing, she also started stroking the inside of Gabrielle’s leg and that…
Gabrielle could feel a fire igniting in her guts, warm and strange and more compelling than anything else she’d ever felt before. It set her heart racing, and she could barely control her body’s response. She tangled her fingers in Xena’s dark hair and curled forward, burying her face in the spicy scented skin of the queen’s neck.
A new coolness, as her underwraps were peeled off and Xena’s touch became very personal indeed. Gabrielle could feel a pressure building inside her that was almost unbearable as she uttered a groan.
“Hurting you?” Xena’s voice rasped in her ear, accompanied by a lick and a nibble on her lobe.
“N…augh… n..” Gabrielle didn’t know what Xena was doing, but her entire body felt like it was about to go into convulsions. “Oh!”
“I’m gonna take that as a no.” Xena chuckled, ducking her head and nibbling her way down Gabrielle’s body. She could feel the slave’s hands clenched in her hair and she explored the slim body with a sense of delighted pleasure. It was as though whatever she did, wherever she touched was just the right thing and place to drive her little friend out of her mind.
She’d never had someone be so responsive to her before, and the power was, even for someone as used to power as Xena, intoxicating.
“Augh.” The groan came out of Gabrielle’s guts this time.
Xena felt Gabrielle’s body pressed against her touch, straining as her touch became a little more insistent. She went a little deeper, and as she did she felt a strong grip take hold of her neck, surprising her with it’s power as Gabrielle’s body arced against her.
The slave let out a yell.
Xena fuzzily thought it was much more pleasant than a scream.
Gabrielle felt like her skin was turning inside out. She grabbed hold of Xena, beyond fear at this point, and clutched her as her body shuddered, convulsing with a sensation so powerful it made her hearing stop for a moment, narrowing down to the thunder of her own heartbeat.
It didn’t stop, but crested and rolled over her, shuddering through her and making her nape hairs stand up straight in an odd chill as the room’s air pass through them. For a long moment, all she could feel was heat, then her body resumed breathing as the sensation slowed and gentled, and Xena’s lips teasingly captured hers again and coaxed the breath from them.
Gods. All Gabrielle could do was respond weakly, her fingers stroking Xena’s cheek. “Augh.”
“Hmmm…. Is that good or bad?” Xena’s voice wound around her mind.
“Mm… sounds like a good to me.” The queen continued her touches, as her slave’s body relaxed against her.
Gabrielle nestled against Xena’s neck, breathing in her scent. “Amaz..ing.” She uttered. “Wow.”
Xena paused a moment, and glanced down as a thought suddenly occurred to her. “You like?” She felt Gabrielle nod. “Good.”
A tentative touch on her belly surprised her a little. Xena felt the girl’s fingertips explore her with hesitant curiosity.
“Will you teach me to do that?” Gabrielle whispered.
Xena chuckled. “Oh, I hope so.” She said. “We’ll take it nice and slow. We’ve got plenty of time.”
“Mm.” Gabrielle gave her a sudden, and somewhat unexpected hug. “Heard so many bad stories… wasn’t like that at all.”
“Of course not.” Xena kissed her, confident in her ownership now. “Those stories had men in them.”
“Mm.. yeah.” The slave agreed, tracing Xena’s lips with her thumb. “They don’t know what they’re missing, huh?”
The queen chuckled wickedly, a low, full sound that resonated through her entire chest. “Oh.. you’re a fast learner. Lucky me.” She chortled softly. “Ready for your first lesson?”
Gabrielle laughed with her, wondering why she’d ever been afraid.
But it had been a very long day, and Xena decided to postpone her little instruction session when an injudicious movement of her shoulder woke her abruptly to the memory of the injury she’d suffered. She settled for a period of warmly languid kissing and slow strokes of their hands as they lay quietly together.
Gabrielle had definitely caught on to the idea of saying nice things to her. Xena couldn’t recall when the last time was that she’d been told that often how pretty she was.
By someone who actually meant it. The queen eyed the ceiling, acknowledging her own vanity with a wry smile. But there was no sense in denying the fact that it felt good and her ego appreciated the attention quite a bit more than she’d thought it would.
Now it was silent, save for the soft popping of the fireplace logs, and dark. Xena was lying half on her side, one arm around Gabrielle’s relaxed body as she watched the faint, red flickers float across the room.
She was tired and almost sleepy. Soon, she would close her eyes and let the darkness take her, but it felt nice to simply lay in her bed and not be alone, for the first time in a very long time indeed.
Gabrielle was curled up, her body nestling against Xena’s and the queen could just feel the steady warmth of the girl’s breath against her ribs. In the dim light she could see Gabrielle’s profile , half hidden by her disheveled hair and the sight of the just barely visible smile brought a matching one to Xena’s face.
Gabrielle. Xena rolled the name around in her mind, liking it’s rhythm.
There had been many one night stands in her past. Xena preferred to find someone good looking, and take them to bed, relieving her pent up sexual energy and then tossing them out on their ass before the candles burned lowest.
But not this time. Xena rubbed a bit of the pale hair between her fingers. She had no desire whatsoever to toss Gabrielle out of her bed, out of her quarters, or out of her life. She liked this kid. She liked her spunk and her innocence, and the powerful heart Xena could sense behind the youthful veneer.
She wanted to keep her. Xena exhaled contentedly. And she always got what she wanted.
For a while, Gabrielle just lay there with her eyes closed.
So many things had happened, she wanted to have the time to look at each one of them before she let life continue to flow around her, and this quiet darkness seemed like a good place to do that in.
She could feel Xena’s arm around her, and the warmth of the queen’s body in the cool air of the room was very comforting, as was the now getting to be familiar scent that just seemed to be a part of her.
Gabrielle thought for a minute about where she was. The sureallness of it all almost made her head spin. What had happened to her the night before almost made her head spin.
Remembering how wonderful it had felt almost made other parts of her spin.
Now she really was what everyone thought she was. Gabrielle considered that seriously. The queen’s bedmate.
Her shoulders shook a little as an unexpected giggle emerged. They all said it like it was some kind of horror – Gabrielle suspected now that far from being a despised role, that everyone secretly was envious of it. Xena had been right – she was a gorgeous woman, and she practically dripped sensuality, so much so that Gabrielle could feel a tingle starting up in her again just thinking about it.
It wasn’t at all like what had gone on down in the barracks. Xena hadn’t treated her like one of the stable animals at all – she’d treated her like….
Gabrielle opened her eyes, the dim light from the window and fireplace showing her bare outlines of Xena’s body inches from her nose. It was hard to remember such a short time ago, when she’d been terrified of this woman.
Xena had treated her like someone she valued. Someone whose well being were important to her.
It was a very special feeling. Gabrielle knew she’d never experienced it before. At home she’d just been one more of the village girls, just another pair of hands, another mouth to feed.
Strange that she’d had to become a slave to experience what this felt like. That seemed so wrong to her, so backwards, but no matter – it was the truth and she was glad she now knew what it felt like to be cared for as just herself.
How long would it last, though? Gabrielle exhaled. Will she get tired of me now? Now that Xena had gotten what she wanted, would she send Gabrielle back to the kitchens, and select someone else?
Gabrielle almost jumped off the bed when she felt the light tap on her butt. “Errrguh.” She managed to strangle a yelp and roll onto her back, looking up at Xena. “Um…. Hi.”
“Why aren’t you sleeping?” Xena asked.
“Um.. I was just…”
Xena covered her lips with her fingers. “Let me prove my royal omnipotence. You were thinking, right?”
What about? Should she tell Xena, or would the queen think it impertinent? Gabrielle nibbled her lip as she thought. Something about the darkness, and the intimacy robbed her of any fear. “About what happens next.”
Xena chuckled softly. “Can’t even wait for the morning? My my.”
Gabrielle realized how that sounded and had to muffle a giggle. “That’s not what I…meant.”
“Mm.” The queen’s low voice burred against her ears. “You mean, what happens next to you, now that I’ve salaciously seduced you and taken you to bed?”
The blushing thing was really getting old. Gabrielle rubbed her face.
“You get tossed in the midden and used as a dishrag.” Xena told her. “And I move on to the next conquest.”
Gabrielle looked up at her, seeing the briefest flash of light of her eyes. “Really?”
Xena smiled. “No.”
Somehow, part of her had known that. Gabrielle found Xena’s hand lying across her belly and she took it, tangling her fingers with the queen’s.
“I don’t find people I can tolerate, much less like very often. I like to keep them around as long as possible.” Xena went on. “So don’t worry about it.”
“Okay.” Gabrielle snuggled closer. “I’m glad.”
“Oh, you are, huh?” Xena found herself chuckling. “Yeah, me too.” She found herself unexpectedly feeling an impulsive urge and gave into it, gathering Gabrielle into her arms and giving her a hug. She heard the a surprised gurgle come out of the kid, then Gabrielle was returning the hug with some enthusiasm.
Funny. It made her heart beat almost as fast as Gabrielle’s shy touch the night before. Xena felt a warm, nameless emotion rising in her, sweet as honey, and it intensified as Gabrielle put her head down on her shoulder and gave her a light, almost feathery kiss on the top of her breast.
Xena rested her cheek against the top of Gabrielle’s head and lost herself in the feeling. It was so different than anything she’d ever known before, not the fire of sensuality but something much gentler and more encompassing.
She liked it. It made her feel good for reasons that really didn’t have anything to do with sex. With one hand, she rubbed Gabrielle’s back. The girl had an arm draped over Xena’s stomach and it tightened in a light squeeze. “You keep doing that, and I’ll keep you around for the rest of your life.”
Gabrielle lifted her head, her eyes visible in the moonlight as she looked at Xena in surprise.
Xena raised an eyebrow at her.
The slave made a tiny, happy face, then put her head back down and gave Xena another hug.
Xena let her eyes close, and in the warmth of this novel sensation, allowed sleep to take her at last.
Gabrielle held her head up high as she descended the last few stairs into the kitchen. She was dressed in one of her blue work tunics, but it was thrown over her leggings and boots against the chill of the stronghold. The weather had turned again before dawn, and it was gray outside and storming.
Heads turned as she entered the room, and she paused a moment to take a quick look around for any of her fellow slave mates and take in a breath of air filled with the nutty scent of porridge.
Not spotting any of her friends, Gabrielle turned and made her way to the hearth, aware of the people edging away from her as she moved through the crowded kitchen. “Hello.” She greeted the cook in a quiet voice. “I need some breakfast for her Majesty.”
The woman, the same one who had cruelly lashed her and the rest on their first arrival, wiped her hands hastily and nodded. “Yes, of course. What is her Majesty’s pleasure?”
Oh. Gabrielle peered at the foods available Good question. She wondered if Xena liked porridge, which Gabrielle herself had never been that fond of. Perhaps it had been her mother’s version of it, which had tasted much like the paste the carpenter used to seal the joints in the furniture he made back in Potadeia.
However, there was fruits and nuts, especially the thick black walnuts she’d often collected in the forest to put on it and she figured a loaf of fresh bread would go a long way to making up for it if it turned out Xena felt the same way about cereal that she did. She watched the cook set up a silver tray, two others leaving their tasks and coming over to help.
Silver bowls, painfully polished were set on the tray. Gabrielle picked up a pitcher at random from the silver ones set by and went to the cider barrel, reflecting that Xena’s policy of eating from the common stock was probably a really really smart idea.
Stanislaus entered from the far side of the kitchen. He spotted her and hurried over, inspecting the tray with a jealous eye. “Good morning, Gabrielle.” He greeted her. “Is her Majesty awake, then?”
“Yes, she is.” Gabrielle answered, unable to quite repress a smile.
The seneschal studied her closely. “I see.” He murmured. “I have her day’s schedule. I must confirm it with her.” He bustled off importantly, his status apparently reaffirmed by the previous day’s events.
Gabrielle watched him go, looking around and realizing that the atmosphere was indeed different than it had been the prior few days. There was a quietness… a watchfulness that put her nape hairs up, and made her wonder at what Bregos defeat had really accomplished.
She kept an eye on the cooks as the filled the bowl with steaming porridge, and brought her jug of cider over as she picked up a loaf of warm bread on it’s platter with herb butter and set it next to the cereal as the porridge settled into it’s level. “Some of those fruits, please.” She pointed.
One of the helpers brought her a bowl, and she set it on the tray. Then she picked the silver salver up by it’s handles and turned. She saw all the eyes avert themselves as she walked across the kitchen to the guarded door, two of Xena’s men standing spraddle legged on either side of the bottom stair.
No one came within a body length of her. An awkward silence surrounded Gabrielle as she passed between the guards and started upward, her passage unhindered and unremarked by them.
She got to the top of the stairs in time to see Alaran crossing the round hallway. He was dressed in his court gear, and appeared slightly preoccupied.
He came over to her and inspected the tray, giving it a brief nod. “Did you watch the bowls?” He asked crisply.
“Good.” Alaran guided her towards the queen’s outer chamber. He opened the door and stood back to let her pass, then followed her inside and closed the door behind both of them.
Stanislaus was waiting in the chamber, peering out of the window and watching the weather worsen. Xena was nowhere to be seen, which wasn’t surprising since Gabrielle had left the queen in bed. She eased past the seneschal and went to the inner door, bumping it lightly with her hip to open it. “Excuse me.” She gave them both a brief smile, before she disappeared into the inner bedroom, closing them out with a sense of wry pleasure.
Xena looked up as she entered. The queen was still sprawled in bed, the silk top sheet draped over her naked body as she reviewed a scroll. “That was fast.”
“Well.” Gabrielle set the tray down. “It’s not like I had to cook it.”
The queen chuckled. “Can you?”
“Cook?” Gabrielle looked up from her task. “Sure.”
Xena rolled over onto her side and propped her head up on one hand. “Really. Hm.” She considered. “I think I’m going to have you cook dinner for me tonight, then.” She paused, watching the shyly pleased smile cross Gabrielle’s face. “Twice.”
The blond girl paused in mid motion and peered over her shoulder. Her expression was uncertain.
“Yes, that was about sex.” Xena drawled. “Y’know, Gabrielle, you need to get past that shepherd mentality.”
Gabrielle wrinkled her nose, and ended up grinning bashfully at her. “You have some visitors outside.” She indicated the door.
“Too bad.” Xena said. “Let me guess, Alaran and Stanislaus?”
Xena rolled onto her back and put a hand behind her head. “If I let them stew out there long enough, maybe they’ll come up with something useful to tell me.” She decided. “Is that cereal?”
“Yes.” Gabrielle mixed in some bits of fruit, and some nuts. Then she drizzled a little honey over the thick porridge.
“I hate that.”
“Me, too.” Gabrielle acknowledged. “But if you put enough stuff in it, it’s not that bad.”
“Mmmm….. “ Xena shook her head. “No, no… there’s nothing you could put in that bowl that would entice me to taste it, Gabrielle.” She paused thoughtfully. “Not even if you climbed in, I don’t think.”
Gabrielle’s shoulders shook . “Is that a challenge to my cooking skills?” She asked. “Well, I have some bread and fruit here, too.”
“Tch. Giving up so easily?” Xena found herself enjoying the banter immensely. “C’mon, you can do better than that.”
The slave picked up one of the bowls and approached, kneeling down on the carpet next to the bed with her offering. “Could you just taste it?”
“Grrrrrr….” Xena made a face.
Gabrielle grinned. “Please?”
“If I don’t like it, can I cut one of your fingers off?” The queen slitted her eyes and looked extraordinarily fierce for a naked women under a silk sheet.
“Um.” Gabrielle winced and flexed her hands. “If you really want to, I guess.”
Xena kept her waiting for a few seconds, then finally she spoke. “G’wan, if you dare.” She opened her mouth and lifted her eyebrows invitingly.
Encouraged, Gabrielle picked up the spoon.
“Ah ah ah.” Xena shook her head warningly. She wiggled her fingers.
“Oh.” The slave put the spoon down, then gingerly scooped up a bit of the cereal on her index finger. She paused to make sure it was going to stay there, then boldly extended her hand and delivered the stuff into the queen’s waiting mouth.
Xena’s teeth immediately snapped shut on her finger, and held tight.
Gabrielle’s eyes widened.
The queen grinned wickedly, keeping hold of her while her tongue worked at the bit of cereal. After a moment, she opened her jaws and released Gabrielle’s finger, then swallowed with a look of distinct surprise on her face. “Mm.” She licked her lips. “What did you put in that?”
“Did you like it?” Gabrielle examined her hand, which now had faint but distinct teeth marks on it.
“No I hated it, and I just want to make sure no one ever makes anything that tastes like that again.” Xena remarked dryly. “What did you put in there?”
Gabrielle guessed that she was being teased. “Some apple, walnuts, cinnamon, and honey.” She offered Xena a spoonful. “Did you hate it enough to try another mouthful?”
“Give me that.” Xena captured the bowl from her and pulled herself up in bed, the sheet keeping her only barely modest. “Go get your own.”
Gabrielle got up and went back to the tray, pleased at her success. It had been her one modest skill back at home, since she’d been lousy at just about every other homely craft. She fixed her own bowl and set it aside, then she cut off some slices of bread and spread the herb butter on it. She poured cider into one of the crystal goblets and brought it, and the bread over to Xena’s bedside.
Xena looked up at her as she knelt again. “You know what your problem is?” She asked bluntly. “You’ve got too many clothes on.”
“B..” Gabrielle bit her tongue accidentally. “Ow. Um… it’s cold.”
“Not under here it isn’t.” Xena’s eyes twinkled over her bowl of cereal. She chuckled at Gabrielle’s expression, then she leaned over towards her. “How does the hole in my back look?”
Gabrielle set the bread and cider down on the table and put a hand on the queen’s shoulder, peering at the injury on her back. “Oh.” She murmured in surprise. The swollen redness of the skin had greatly reduced, and the place where she’d sewn the wound closed was scabbed over and apparently intact. “Not that bad, really.”
“Mm.” Xena flexed her arm a little. “Feels better.” She straightened and went back to her cereal. “Just needed some rest… matter of fact, I think I’ll decree today stay in bed day.” She scraped the last of the cereal up and swallowed it. “What do you think about that, slave?”
“Well.” Gabrielle took the bowl. “Do I get to stay in bed too?” She asked, stuttering just slightly.
Xena ran a fingertip along the inside seam of Gabrielle’s leggings, up the inside of her thigh. “Of course.” She said. “Don’t’ you like to spend rainy days in bed, Gabrielle?”
Gabrielle turned and looked outside the window, where sleeting rain was now rattling the panes. “No, I never got to do that.” She admitted. “We weren’t allowed to stay in bed past sunrise, because of all the chores and things we had to do. I was in charge of the animals.”
“Well, this is your time for firsts, isn’t it?” Xena sipped from her cup. “Go get your breakfast. I’ll get rid of the small chittering animals in the next room, then we can induct you into the sleeping in the daylight club.”
Feeling a mixture of sensual excitement and embarrassment, Gabrielle retreated to the tray on the table and picked up her bowl, sitting on the padded chair next to the table and taking a spoonful of it. She was aware of Xena getting up out of bed and going to the bathing room, but she managed to force herself to keep her eyes on her breakfast and not gawk.
Moments later, Xena emerged in a scarlet robe, a thick woven fabric lined with a strip of soft, white fur. She tightened the belt around her waist and walked to the door, giving Gabrielle a wink before she slipped through it.
Ooo… Gabrielle took a bite of bread. Xena had a very sexy walk, and she wondered why she’d just noticed that now.
“All right.” Xena walked to her big chair and sat in it, facing her two servants. “Talk fast. I’ve got plans for today that don’t include either of you.”
Alaran bowed in Stanislaus’ direction.
The seneschal inclined his head politely. “Mistress, I had thought to consolidate your victory by assembling the loyal nobles for a luncheon with you today.”
“No.” Xena shook her head. “No audiences today. I won’t be attending court, or the ballroom for dinner.”
“Hearing going? Maybe you’re too old to be doing this.” The queen stated flatly.
“Mistress…” Alaran spoke up. “My esteemed colleague has an excellent notion. The loyal ones would be drawn closer by such an event.”
“I don’t give a damn.” Xena said. “Set them up tomorrow if you want. Not today.” She pointed to the window. “You think they’d like to travel here in that? I’d spend the rest of the winter season getting the stink of wet wool out of my chambers.”
“Most of them have stayed here in the stronghold, Mistress.” Stanislaus murmured.
“Good. Then have them served in their chambers, with my compliments.” The queen said. “Have the staff put something nice, like roses or maybe a dead rat on the tray. Something to show my gracious appreciation of their loyalty.”
Stanislaus fingered his goatee. Then he nodded. “It would be well, Mistress.” He agreed. “I will arrange for something delightful for them.” He said. “But for you not to appear today…”
“Will just have to be coped with. If anyone asks, tell them I’m spending the day reviewing the wagers my spies reporting everyone making, to see what punitive action I might want to take.”
Stanislaus grunted, blinking as he absorbed the message. “That will put them thinking.”
“I doubt it, unless they take their pants off and air out their brains.” Xena rolled her eyes.
“Very well, Mistress. Shall I have your service brought for dinner, then?” The seneschal asked. “I believe the cook acquired some pheasant, which she knows you favor.”
Xena grinned. “I have dinner plans already. Tell the cook no thanks.”
With a frown, Stanislaus gave up. He bowed. “Very well, Mistress.” He executed a neat about face and headed for the outer door, tucking his hands inside the sleeves of his tunic.
Xena waited for him to close the door. Then she turned to regard Alaran. “Well?”
The security chief folded his arms. “There are those who are very discontented, my liege, but they are but few in number, and afraid of your men.” He stated. “The revelry in the barracks last night was prodigious. The men are very pleased, and tell stories of your defeat of Bregos at every corner.”
“Good.” Xena relaxed. “I figured the fight put a cap on things. Keep an ear on those damn troublemaker supporters of Bregos, though. They’re too stupid not to want to try to keep stirring things up.”
Alaran nodded. “Tis possible, my liege. Though after last night’s supper, most of them are wearing high collared shirts.”
They both chuckled. Xena flexed her hand. “Ah.. been a long time since I did that. Felt good.” She admitted. “It all felt good.”
“And was quite impressive, my lady, as we all remember it to be.” Alaran smiled at her. “It was good, very good for those who were not with you in the field to see that prowess. Many were surprised.”
“Mm.” Xena nodded. “Good to remind them all once in a while.” She shifted, and leaned on one chair arm. “Anything else?”
“You are well, my liege?” Alaran asked quietly. “I thought I saw the bastard get a hit in on you during the fight.” He watched her closely, without seeming to.
“Never felt better.” Xena replied, in a soft drawl. “Gabrielle’s taken very… very good care of me.” She stretched her arms up over her head and laced her fingers behind her skull. The pull hurt, but not anywhere near what it had just the day prior. A good night’s sleep, indeed. “Keep your eyes open, Alaran. Something still doesn’t smell right to me.”
“As you wish, my liege.” Alaran murmured. “Though I think your actions truly did put a halt to the darker machinations.”
Xena’s pale eyes watched him like a hawk’s. “Oh. Well that’s good to hear.” She smiled. “Maybe now we can move on to more profitable ventures. Like expanding the eastern territories, and finding that mysterious kingdom who gifted me with that lovely box.”
Alaran smiled in return. “Just so, my liege. There are far better things for you to turn your attention to.” He bowed low. “I leave you to your rest, then. The little one, she is also well? Many noted her presence with you the day.”
“Gabrielle is spectacular.” Xena told him. “And you can spread the word for me that seeing her in my presence is something everyone better get very, very used to.”
Alaran’s eyebrows hiked. “Indeed, majesty?”
“Indeed.” Xena replied.
The security chief rubbed the toe of his boot across the stone floor of the chamber, pursing his lips before he spoke. “Majesty, if I might be so bold.. one of the issues that brought on Brego’s feeble attempt at insurrection is the uncertainty the nobles feel about the continuity of your reign.”
“Too bad.” Xena said. “Tell them I’ll leave the throne to the nicest looking donkey in the pits if I want to. I won’t have them dictating my life, Alaran.”
“OUT!” Xena lost her temper with shocking suddenness. “Leave me!”
Holding both hands up, Alaran backed off. “As you will, Mistress.” He backed all the way to the door and left the room, never taking his eyes off the glaring woman in the chair by the window.
Xena sat there until the flush of anger faded. Her hands twitched on the arms to her chair, and she closed her eyes, trying to rid herself of the roil of emotion Alaran’s protestation raised.
The inside door slowly opened, and Gabrielle’s blond head appeared around the edge of it.
Xena stood up and straightened her robe, then stepped down from her chair and walked to the inner door. “So much for that.”
“You know something?” Gabrielle opened the door for her and stood back so she could enter. “I don’t think I like those guys.” She told Xena. “I just don’t.”
Xena put an arm around her and pulled her close, delighted when that nice feeling happened again. “They have their uses, Gabrielle.” She told the girl. “Don’t’ worry about them. Now. Where were we? I think I told you to lose the clothes, didn’t I?”
Sleet rattled the panes of the window, and they both looked at it. Xena dismissed the irritation she’d felt moments before and concentrated on Gabrielle’s close presence. Alaran was an old worry wart, and had been for years. The nobles may grumble, but Xena knew when it came right down to it, they wouldn’t have the guts to challenge her.
Didn’t what happened with Bregos prove that? Who cared what they wanted?
“C’mere.” Xena bent her head and kissed Gabrielle’s lips, tasting the cider on them. She had what she wanted, right here.
To Hades with all of them.


Spotify is launching a new real-time lyrics feature in 26 markets today, including India and countries in Southeast Asia and Latin America, TechCrunch reports. Where available, users can access them by tapping the “lyrics” card at the bottom of the service’s “Now Playing” screen. The new feature uses lyrics provided by Musixmatch, and will be shown in the song’s language.
Lyrics have a complicated history on Spotify. The service has actually worked with Musixmatch previously, before breaking ties with the company in 2016. That same year, Spotify started working with Genius on its “Behind the Lyrics” feature, which gives background information about select tracks, alongside the lyrics themselves. It’s an interesting feature, but this background information gets in the way if you just want to sing along with a song. This new real-time lyrics should be a much better fit for karaoke sessions.
Where available, the new feature brings Spotify up to speed with Apple Music, which has provided lyrics from Genius since 2018.
TechCrunch reports that the following markets are getting the new real-time lyrics feature at 10am ET today: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Mexico, Peru, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, El Salvador, Uruguay, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Of these, TechCrunch notes that Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Mexico previously included some lyrics support from other providers, as does Japan.
There’s no word on if or when the new real-time lyrics feature might expand beyond the new markets. However, last year Spotify confirmed it was testing the real-time lyrics feature in markets including Canada, which hopefully means the feature could arrive in more places soon.