Chapter Text
Enough is enough, Yennefer thought as she headed to the Rectoress’s study followed by yet another pair of snickering voices. This type of punishment – no, torture! – was centuries out of use in schools. She was forced to exist with this humiliation for far too long. Six months and the gossip and finger-pointing had yet to die down. Fucking Sabrina! Of course, after the irritating bitch learned that Tissaia was taking on Yennefer as an apprentice, she dug all the dirt she could on her and tattled to the Rectoress, just before leaving for Kaedwen. Cunning little twat.
The young mage came to a halt before the heavy wooden door. It would be ill-advised to barge into Tissaia’s office as usual. No, this time she had a plan.
“Come in,” was the answer to her sound knock.
The arch-mistress sat behind the desk, impeccable as ever and deeply engrossed in her reading. Yennefer walked right up to her and spoke in a brusque, self-assured voice.
“Mistress, I shall be going to town this afternoon.”
“Why?” Tissaia kept reading the dusty parchment that barely held together.
“The supply of hide gloves needs restocking before your lesson on mandrakes tomorrow.”
“That is correct.” She finally looked up. “Hmm.”
Yennefer blocked her thoughts from the piercing blue eyes of her mentor. Not being above bribery, she said “I also noticed you’re running out of leaves for your pipe. I shall get you some, it’s no trouble.”
Tissaia’s eyes darted to the nearly empty satchel next to her pipe. “How thoughtful of you.”
“It’s nothing, really. I shall be going, then.”
“Not so fast, Yennefer. Aren’t you forgetting something?”
Shit! “Forgetting what, Mistress?”
Tissaia was unphased. “Raise your skirt, Yennefer.”
Just a few short months before, when she was a mere adept, she wouldn’t dream of saying anything more at this point. However, one thing she noticed during her six months of apprenticeship was that sometimes, Tissaia didn’t mind debating with her peers. On rare occasions she seemed to even enjoy it. Maybe, just maybe she could try it and it would work.
“Mistress, I just don’t see how that is necessary.”
Tissaia poised her hands for casting “Raising your skirt is necessary, of course it is, otherwise I might sever your legs!”
Yennefer reached down. “If you wish to waste your chaos, fine by me.”
“I won’t have you fall pregnant. You’ve come too far and I won’t allow you to hinder your progress.”
“Mistress, all I want to do is get that shopping done and come right back. There is no ulterior motive here!”
There was an ulterior motive. The stable boy from the Giancardi bank was very much expecting her for their afternoon snog. Yennefer was done with the over-the-clothes groping. A few frantic kisses, bites and nips to her neck and a squeeze of her nipples followed by rubbing him off with her hand just wasn't enough. She wanted a cock so badly it hurt.
“Forget it, Yennefer. You shall wear the chastity belt and that is final.”
Gods, she’s irritating! This much Yennefer had expected. There was still one card left to play, her last attempt.
“Alright, fine, you discovered me. I yield.” She raised the skirt over her hips, as she always had to do for the Rectoress to magically lock her into chastity. “I wasn’t aware that bedding another woman could lead to childbirth, but since you’re so adamant, who am I to argue?”
As she expected, Tissaia paused the casting. Her eyes scanned her curiously. Yennefer stood her ground. “Are you telling me you have a preference for women?”
“Yes, that is correct, Rectoress.”
Tissaia folded her hands on the desk. Yennefer took it as a sign to drop her skirt back down. The growing quiet was interrupted by the screams of the gulls. Don’t squirm, don’t squirm, come on, you can sell this!
“And exactly what was your plan for today? Seeing that you’re so adamant I sent you to town chastity-free, I assume there’s a woman waiting for you there? Even though you live on an island crawling with women and bar the students you’re free to engage in a sexual activity with any of them?”
“Ehm…” She had no plan for this. She didn't think she would get this far. “I wanted to get someone worldly and experienced. The other girls here are either too busy pining for boys or they are awkward and clumsy. I have higher standards than that.”
“Have you indeed?”
Ehm… “Yes.”
“And you have no interest in lying with men?”
“Precisely. Never again.” Her mind shielded the blatant lie as best as she could.
“So all your unauthorised trips downtown when you were a student, all that consorting with stableboys and sons of tavern keepers were…?”
“Those are in the past. You know men. They couldn’t find a way around a woman’s body with a map!” The last time she had sex she had three orgasms and nearly bit the bloke’s shoulder off as she tried to stop herself from screaming too loudly. That had been six months ago, before that wretched bitch told on her.
“Is that so?”
Yennefer seriously nodded. “Indeed. It was just bad, truly. I suppose I kept coming back because I wasn’t ready to face the truth about myself. But why am I still burdening you with my problems? I doubt you could relate to any of this. I shall waste your time no longer, Rectoress." She turned to leave. "I’ll come back soon with the gloves and the leaves.”
“I can, in fact, relate quite well.”
So close. Her hand was on the doorknob. “Excuse me?”
“I prefer the fairer sex, too.”
Is she serious? Yennefer turned around and stared incredulously.
“Always have.”
She was quite frozen on the spot, not sure where to go from here. Of all the scenarios she had imagined and planned for, this was not one of them. “Come, sit. Let us have some tea and discuss.”
Shit. “Of course.” She sat down on one of the sofas by the fireplace as Tissaia rang a bell to call a servant. Yennefer spared a longing glance from the window at the city of Gors Velen on the other side of the long bridge.
Soon enough, the arch-mistress was pouring them tea in an awkward, loaded silence. Will Pablo still be there when this is over with?
“I must commend your bravery, Yennefer. Not many dare to state their desires so blatantly, and at such a young age, too. Were you an ordinary woman, your preferences would undoubtedly bring you hardships. However, as a sorceress you’ll be able to do as you please.” She sipped the tea, eyes never leaving Yennefer. “I am glad to see that you are coming into your own.”
“Ehm, yes, me too.” How did I get into this? Now she will think I’m like that. Possibly for years. Fuck, what was I thinking?! Tissaia just smiled at her encouragingly. Well, that’s new. How could someone hate cock? “How long have you… I mean… Did you ever not? Ugh.” Will those eyes ever stop scrutinising for just one second?
“I always knew what I wanted. But we are not talking about me now, are we? We are talking about what you want. A woman of experience…”
...what?
“Yennefer, I know I can get absorbed in my work entirely too much sometimes, however, I am not blind. Nor am I unfeeling, despite the popular belief.” Tissaia de Vries put the teacup back on its saucer and turned sideways on the small sofa they shared, facing Yennefer. She reached out and traced the back of Yennefer’s hand with a fingertip. Yennefer tensed up, not daring to move a muscle. “I am very glad that you shared this part of yourself with me. As you might know, mentors and apprentices used to share quite a lot in the days of the past. It just sort of… fell out of habit, I suppose.”
What is happening right now? And why is it so warm in here? She eyed the fireplace, the flames were low and steady.
“You know what I am referring to, don’t you?”
“I mean I think… What?”
“I’m referring to the ancient practice of apprentices doing quite literally anything for their mentors, Yennefer. You must have read about it, have you not?”
Oh, she did. She read all about the ways of old and mentors having the apprentices pleasure them on a whim, personal sexual preferences be damned. Apprentices were always ambitious and if this was a way to get ahead, why not? “Yes. Yes, I read all about that,” she soldiered on.
Tissaia’s finger traced her wrist and she shuddered. “Come on, Yennefer, don’t play coy with me. I see what’s happening here. I must admit I’ve seen this for quite some time. And I think we should do something before all this tension eats away at us completely. Don’t you agree?”
“I… I do…” She couldn’t breathe. Tissaia was leaning forward. Her face was so close, she could smell her perfume.
“Unless…” Tissaia whispered, the tip of her tongue darted out to moisten the thin lips. Yennefer was entranced, her mind useless, her body pinned to the spot.
“Yes?”
“Unless you’d rather spend your afternoon with Giancardi's stableboy.”
Whatever odd spell the Rectoress had her under shattered. She blinked the confusion away. Tissaia’s expression was all steel and sparks. A challenge. Ugh, that bitch. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I don't do that anymore.” How the fuck does she know?!
Tissaia's voice turned all sweet again but this time Yennefer could clearly detect that hint of mockery. "That's excellent news. You know how I feel about rulebreakers and liars, Yennefer, don't you?"
"Then it's good that I am neither of those, Rectoress." I will get laid today, or so help me gods.
"Perfect. Now that we cleared that out, I believe you were in search of a woman of experience?" Tissaia leaned into her space once more.
Ugh! Is she fucking serious?! Alright, fine, if I must dust one ancient fanny to get shagged today, then so be it! And without further ado Yennefer put a throw pillow on the ground, knelt at it as gracefully as she could, put her hands on the Rectoress' knees and looked up. "Alright, let's do this."
"Come now, Yennefer, just how far are you willing to take this?"
"I said let's do this!" It cannot possibly be that hard. I've learned thought transference, this will be a piece of cake.
"You're trembling."
"I'm fine." Her hands found the hem of Tissaia's dress and she dragged her palms up the soft calves, pulling the cloth upwards.
Tissaia looked down on her completely incredulous. Yennefer looked as though she bit an unripe orange as she lifted the skirt up over pale thighs, feeling the soft skin with shaky fingers. She hesitated after revealing the line of knickers and scraped her fingers down the thighs instead. Tissaia stopped her hands and held them in her own. "I am not above a little pain, however, you are not touching me with these claws.”
Yennefer was never so happy that she kept her nails in perfect shape, carefully painted and, most importantly, long. “Well, that is unfortunate. So I suppose I should just go shopping now…?”
“Why don't I take care of you? Let me unleash some of that experience you've been craving."
Yennefer wasn't even looking at her and her voice was off its usual pitch when she croaked out a meek "Alright." This will be easier. I'll just fake an orgasm, let Pablo fuck me all afternoon long and my life will go back to normal. Everything is fine.
Tissaia patted the sofa and Yennefer sat there, her thoughts hazy and reeling. When she lied back, she closed her eyes and thought of Pablo’s hands beneath her skirt, Pablo’s hands teasing the inside of her thighs. However, his hands were always calloused and rough from a hard day’s work. These fingers were so soft and gentle as they slowly riled her up, teased up and down the inside of her thighs. She never paid much attention to Tissaia’s nails, but at that moment she was acutely aware that they were carefully filed down, perfectly round. As not to scrape… Not to hurt when… Oh gods!
There was a whimper and she bit her lip to remind herself to be quiet. Fuck… This was Tissaia, there was no way to convince herself otherwise, especially when she hovered over her, filling her nostrils with a delicate perfume.
“Yennefer…”
She whimpered again. Finally, there was a faint pressure against her underwear and she couldn’t wait for the woman to tear it off of her. What’s happening to me? Too long… It was too long without sex. That is the only sound explanation.
“Yennefer.” A lock clicked in place.
Her eyes flew open. Gods, fuck no! The wretched chastity belt was sealed to her body once more. Whatever she wanted to say died on her tongue as the Rectoress looked down on her, the air around them swirling with residual chaos.
Her tone of voice took a turn. No more seductive whisper, just cold mockery. “The only reason I haven’t had you whipped right away for the blatant, stubborn lying was that I found myself rather entertained. Next time you might not be so lucky. You should be very grateful for being here, studying magic, because you’d make an awful thespian. Now go do your shopping. Take all afternoon if you like.”
Yennefer wanted to scream. The heat of her face could boil water. She pulled herself away and threw her skirt down, covering the torture device. Normally, she’d repeat to herself that this was just temporary and the apprenticeship only lasts a few years, but she couldn’t see past the red haze of anger. There were tears pushing forward, which was unacceptable, so she turned her back on the Rectoress and tried to keep her walk steady.
“And Yennefer?”
“Yes?” She answered without turning, her hand gripping the door handle.
“Don’t forget my tobacco leaves. I expect the very best.”
“Yes, arch-mistress.” She had to take a hold of her chaos for it threatened to overtake her. One deep breath and she was out the door.
The boy hadn’t had time for her that day, and she’d been too frustrated anyway. Their usual snogging and groping would likely bring her no pleasure. When she returned to Aretuza, she first delivered the parcel with the gloves to the greenhouse. Then she went to find the Rectoress.
Was her mind deceiving her or were people staring at her even more than before? All the finger-pointing and not-so-subtle gossiping… Could they tell what’s under her skirt?
She found the woman in the preceptress’ lounge, surrounded by people, engrossed in a conversation with a young, blonde preceptress, Mistress Laux-Antille. Ugh, that one never stops talking. That’s just perfect! She politely waited for a pause in the ongoing conversation before she let her presence be known.
“Ah, excellent,” Tissaia waved the package onto the desk in her study. Yennefer stood there empty handed, waiting. The air was thick and people were looking. “Is there anything else you need, Yennefer?”
The chatty preceptress snickered. She’s not gonna take it off… A deep breath in, and a slow breath out, she had to keep the chaos in. “Nothing, Mistress.”
“Then I shall see you tomorrow morning in the greenhouse, do not be late.”
Yennefer could kick a puppy as she stormed through the building and onto the nearest terrace, sucking lungfuls of fresh sea-air through her teeth. Her hands dug into the solid stone of the balustrade to ground herself. How long will she be kept like this? How will she even bathe tonight in the common baths? Oh, gods, no. No! It was time for another plan...
