Before anyone asks, the figure to the right is not a slave but a hundtlan (cf. German "Hündlin" = bitch). In some ancient North European tribes, a hundtlan was
a young male from a noble family who did not have the necessary
virility or strength to become a warrior. As soon as this condition was
assessed, the family handed out the youngster -along with a generous
dowry- to any nobleman who would accept him.
From then on, the
hundtlan
was considered to be just another female among the nobleman's wives.
Her duties spanned from taking care of domestic chores to joining the
party of women and slaves that, each night, gave sexual pleasure to
their lord. A
hundtlan was usually taken by her husband to the
battlefield -where, on the basis of supersticious beliefs, born females
were not allowed. There, she lighted the fire, prepared and served her husband's meals,
attended his clothing, provided for his sexual relief, and was often shared for
sex with other warriors. Unless she was unable to satisfy her husband,
in which case she was returned to her family, a
hundtlan would usually remain with him along their whole lifespan.
