Battle of Forces

by Ali Vali

  “Thank you for the welcome,” Piper said when Ming straightened up.

  “Is everyone ready for the mob we’ve got coming?”

  “Their rooms are ready, and we have a variety of meals planned we hope will be to everyone’s liking. We put all the books that arrived for Lenore in the grand library, along with a few letters from the Elders for Lenore, and some for you.”

  “Thanks, I’ll go through them later.” The other cars were close and more staff members had come out with umbrellas for the light rain that’d replaced the mist.

  “Will you require anything other than what we talked about for this evening?”

  “No, but remember one important thing.” Ming came closer as the cars stopped. “It’s Kendal Richoux who’s here for a visit.”

  “Lord Wallace?” Piper whispered. “How do you remember all these names?”

  “Years of practice,” she said as she held the large umbrella over both of them. “You’ll get the hang of it.”

  Piper nodded and stood smiling as her grandparents got out with Hill. One of the things she’d planned to do before dinner was to find out what was bothering her grandfather. He’d clammed up after the lunch at Oakgrove, and no amount of asking had made him talk.

  “This is a beautiful place,” Molly said when she switched places with Piper.

  “It’s prettier in the spring and summer when everything’s in bloom.” Kendal pointed to the gardens where a few men were still working despite the weather. “Mr. Li the butler tries to add bulbs every year, so they’re putting them in now.”

  “What kind?” Molly asked as she walked with Kendal to where the men were planting. “Maybe I’ll steal a few for Riverbend.”

  “I can see your bug is still alive and well,” Piper said to Mac as she slowed him down to let Kendal and her grandmother get ahead of them.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “The bug that’s crawled up your—”

  “That’s enough of that, young lady. I’m just worried about you and all this.”

  Finally some progress. “All of this what?”

  “The house, the diplomatic greeting, the money—it doesn’t add up to what I thought Kendal was about.” He didn’t sound angry, but she could tell he wasn’t happy either. “I thought she came from humble beginnings.”

  “All of us have something to prove when it’s our turn to make our mark in the world, and Kendal isn’t any different. She did that, but if she’d failed I guess there was family money to fall back on,” she said, and wiggled her eyebrows, getting him to laugh. “How much she is or isn’t worth doesn’t change who she is.”

  “Does that mean she has a contingency plan for everything, including her personal life?”

  “I don’t care what her business plans are, but her personal life is all sewn up.”

  He stopped them when Molly stopped to talk to a gardener and accepted a bag from him that Kendal carried for her. “We haven’t really talked alone since you got back, so I want to make sure you’re all right. Are you sure about all this?”

  “I thought you liked her and you trusted me. My judgment hasn’t disappeared because I fell in love.”

  “If we didn’t know about all this, what else don’t we know about her?” he asked as he lifted his arm up as if to point at something, then just dropped it.

  “You’re right that we haven’t had a chance to talk except for our car ride home, but let me set you straight.” She led him away from the others. “I know about every house she owns, all the assets in her portfolio, and how many pairs of underwear are in her suitcase. I also know that she’s successful, ambitious in an honorable way, and loves me and my family. That she had her legal team draw up papers while we were in Venice that gave me half of everything she owns wasn’t necessary, but it proved to me that I was more important than her possessions.”

  “Is everything okay?” Kendal asked, but didn’t come closer.

  Piper glanced at Kendal and winked. “We’re fine. Pops just isn’t a plant person.”

  “You own half this place?” he asked as he stared at the house.

  “This place, Oakgrove, and a few more. I picked well because I found someone I’m crazy about and it’s mutual, and the fact she’s made me filthy rich doesn’t really matter. It might count for something when I take Gran shopping in London, but that’s not why I’m deliriously happy.”

  “That’s good enough for me, then. I was only worried because that’s my job, and I wanted to make sure my replacement is up for the task.”

  “She is, believe me.”

  They joined Kendal and Molly as they finished their talk with the garden crew and they all followed Kendal to a side entrance that led to the grand library. Mac moved to the fireplace to warm his hands and glanced down to the book Lenore had been engrossed in since they’d taken off.

  “Did you enjoy the grounds, Mr. Marmande?” Lenore smiled up at him.

  “It’s a beautiful place. We may need a crowbar to get Molly to leave once Kendal’s done. As much as I love anything that floats is how much my wife loves flowers.” The writing on the pages didn’t look like any language he’d ever seen. “What do you do for Kendal?”

  “I’m a librarian, but I also do research for her.”

  “What’s Morgaine do?”

  “I’m a security expert,” Morgaine said from next to Lenore. “Lenore’s the brains and I’m the muscle.”

  He took off his coat and sat in the wingback chair close to them. “Don’t take this wrong, but are there any men on her payroll besides Charlie?”

  “Feel free to ask her.” Morgaine pointed in Kendal’s direction. She was helping Piper and Molly take off their coats. “Whatever you want to know, she’s usually forthcoming.”

  “Usually?”

  “When it’s about her personal life, she’s not too loose with the facts, especially if she thinks it’s none of your business.”

  Both women seemed devoted to Kendal, and that they were both beautiful made Mac wonder if that’d be a problem for Piper in the future. He had attractive people on his payroll, but they didn’t stay over.

  “Thanks for the advice. I think I’ll follow it.” Before he could ask to talk to Kendal, Ming and a maid brought in tea for everyone.

  As they sat and talked, Kendal answered a lot of his questions in the conversation without prompting, as if she’d overheard first him and Piper, then him and her employees. They continued their tour of the inside of the house and ended at the door to their room.

  “This could be your twin,” he said when he noticed the painting in the hallway. The young man in the painting standing next to a large white horse was dressed casually in riding pants, boots, and a white shirt opened at the collar.

  “That’s actually Lord Henry Wallace, the first owner of the house,” Kendal said.

  “I mean, he could be your twin.”

  “Good genes was my father’s opinion,” Kendal said as she opened the bedroom door. “You two have time for a nap before dinner, if you like.”

  “Do you have time for a private talk later?” He ignored Piper and Molly’s frowns. “I have some questions about Marmande and wanted your input.” And a few other things, he thought, but didn’t say that out loud to save himself a few slaps to the head.

  “I’ve got a few calls to make after dinner, but I can have Ming set us up in the solarium for breakfast in the morning.”

  “You’ve got a date.”

  “If you two are done, I need Kendal to show me something,” Piper said as she pushed Kendal toward the stairs. “Were you finished, Pops?”

  “She’s all yours, sweet girl.”

  “And I’ve got the papers to prove it,” Piper said, and laughed.

  “Let’s hope you’re right.”

  “Macarthur Marmande, get your ass in here now,” Molly said sternly.

  “At least she’s got enough money to give me a proper burial if I’m wrong to worry.”

  *


  “Is he still giving you a hard time?” Piper asked Kendal whey they reached the landing.

  “You can’t blame him, can you?” Kendal took Piper’s hand and glanced up to make sure they were alone. “All this and how fast we left after being gone for so long has him in overdrive. Add Morgaine and Lenore, and he’s got no choice but to start to ask questions. It would’ve been better to stay in London, but my apartment’s not that big, and we’ll need the ton of books Lenore brought with her. Besides, I hate hotels, especially for long stays.”

  “If you don’t mind talking to him, Pops will be okay. Macarthur Marmande sees things in black and white. He’s just an old-fashioned guy.”

  “Not as old-fashioned as me. I’ve just aged well.”

  “I was talking about the beautiful women running around here. He’s worried you might have a roving eye, and if you do, he’ll make you black and blue.”

  “You’ve got no problems there. I need them here to help us find out more about what you saw, not because of anything else. You understand that, right?”

  Piper backed her against a wood panel and pressed her body against Kendal’s. “I understand, but did they both have to be so good-looking?”

  “They came before me, so maybe Rolla and his pals had an appreciation for beautiful women.” She kissed Piper and put her arms around her. “The only appreciation I have is for you, and you’re all I need. Now that I’ve reached my sap quotient for the day, would you like to see my sword?”

  Piper laughed and pulled away so they could start walking. “That would’ve been a cheap pickup line if it’d been anyone else.”

  “Cheap?” Kendal keyed in the code, then placed her hand on the glass panel. “Cheap would be me asking if you want to see my etchings, but I actually have some of those too.”

  The door slid open and Piper walked in first. It was similar to the room in Oakgrove, but much larger with the wall cases of swords, though broken with niches with mannequins wearing armor. The history locked away in here was amazing, but not as amazing as the fact that one person had made it all.

  “Have you used all these?”

  “Mostly all. A number of them are simply collectible pieces I’ve picked up through the years.” Kendal walked along in front of her and touched a few of the blades. “Like I said, most of the creatures I’ve faced can only be destroyed by piercing them through the heart with wood or a blade with the essence of wood incorporated into the metal. When I first got to New Orleans, the majority of Henri’s newer recruits didn’t seem to know how to fight because they were all unarmed. Only the older ones knew how to protect themselves.”

  “That’s still so surreal to me.”

  “It was to me at first too, but then in time, modern warfare became surreal. When I’ve watched footage of it on television, I’ve wondered how war would change if you had to face your opponent with only this amount of space between you.” Kendal removed a sword and thrust it into the empty air in front of her.

  Piper slid her hand down Kendal’s arm to her wrist. “As sexy as you look when you do that, I want to see the Sea Serpent Sword.” A strange current in this room was making her tingle in a way she’d never experienced, and it seemed to emanate from the middle of the opposite wall. “Wait, don’t say anything.” She thought it important to find it herself.

  The mannequin she walked to wore a layer of chainmail over what seemed to be thick leather, and the metal over the chest was woven in a pattern that formed a dragon. The dragon’s tail was uncoiled, and its mouth was open as if ready to devour something with the stream of flames. She reached out to touch it as she saw the same dragon stamped on the metal of the gauntlets and boot greaves. As well made as all that was, it didn’t compare to the prize laid carefully across its hands—the sword from her vision.

  This was the Sea Serpent Sword.

  “Why call it a sea serpent when it’s a dragon?”

  “The woman who gave it to me named it. Out of respect for her and the beautiful gift, I never thought to change it.”

  “It’s a sword, honey, not exactly something I’d call beautiful.” She ran her fingers along the pommel, which was so real she was almost afraid the dragon would come to life and bite her. “Not exactly a sexy gift either. I’ll most likely shop for lingerie to model for you for Valentine’s Day rather than get you something like this.”

  “Don’t form an opinion too soon because there are swords, and then there is this sword,” Kendal said as she leaned against the table close to her.

  “Okay.” She dragged out the word. “What do you mean?”

  Kendal pulled a sword from the barrel next to the cleared space in the room. “These are all practice pieces that are as good as the ones on the wall, but they’re missing the bits of wood I need to make them effective in the field.” Kendal started to warm up and stretch. “Come see.”

  Kendal moved her in front, so close their bodies still touched, and put her hand over Piper’s on the sword. “I’m going to teach you a basic warm-up exercise, and then I want you to do it by yourself.” They started slowly and Piper lost herself in the serenity the movements evoked in her. By the third time, Kendal stepped away and handed her the sword. “It doesn’t have to be perfect, but try to repeat the routine.”

  “How was that?” she asked when she was done. “Did I miss something?” She started again, but Kendal stopped her and took the sword from her.

  “That was great. You’re a fast learner.” Kendal removed the Sea Serpent Sword from the display. “I want you to do it again with this one.” Kendal held it by the blade and presented it to her with a bow.

  Piper was less tentative and could feel the difference even though she’d never held a sword before today. “I don’t know enough about all this to explain, but this one feels more balanced. Does that make sense?”

  “Perfect sense, and it’s perfectly balanced. The only way to understand it is to actually use it.”

  She handed it back to Kendal and sat to watch her go through the same routine, but in its entirety. At the end the revolutions were so fast the blade almost disappeared, and she could see Kendal’s years of training in action.

  “I never thought something so deadly could be so sexy,” she said when Kendal finished and stood with the sword at her side. Whatever had made her tingle when they’d walked in was getting stronger, but now all she craved was Kendal’s hands on her.

  She stood and Kendal walked to her as if under the same spell, and before Kendal could lay the sword down, she put her hand over Kendal’s. The sensation Piper felt was instant and intense, and from the way Kendal’s pupils dilated, she didn’t need to ask if she’d felt the current that’d come from the sword. Whatever had happened wasn’t painful, but the best word she could come up with was lust. She hoped Kendal experienced the same thing when she grabbed her by the hair and pulled her head down to reach her lips.

  “I think we need to go upstairs now,” Piper said when their kiss ended, but that wasn’t enough. “We should, but I don’t think I can wait that long.” She put her hands on Kendal’s belt, so desperate she couldn’t get it undone.

  Her skin burned like a brush fire started by a bolt of lightning, and the only way to put it out was to press it to Kendal’s. As soon as the sword dropped from Kendal’s fingers, Piper wrapped her legs around her hips and hung on as Kendal carried her to the table. When Kendal put her down, she pushed her hands under Piper’s skirt, and it was almost too much.

  “Oh, God.” She brought Kendal closer with her legs. “I want to touch you, but I need you inside me now.” When Kendal put a small amount of space between them she wanted to be embarrassed because of the wet spot she’d left on Kendal’s pants, but the throbbing between her legs had become the center of her need.

  Kendal put her other hand under Piper’s skirt and ripped her panties off, and from her expression she appeared to want this as much as Piper did. She opened her mouth to ask Kendal to move faster, but Kendal kissed her—hard. Kendal’s ton
gue went into her mouth as Kendal buried her fingers deep. She put her feet behind Kendal’s legs, and the orgasm she wanted more than air started immediately.

  “Fuck,” she said in a long groan, “don’t stop.” Her command sped Kendal’s strokes and slammed Kendal’s thumb into her hard clit, the sensation making her want it to last, but she could no more hold back coming than she could the scream she let out when she did.

  As soon as the spasms stopped she ripped Kendal’s shirt open and bit down on her nipple. Kendal hissed—from pleasure, since she didn’t pull away and held her head in place.

  “I’m going to suck you until you come for me.” Piper finished with Kendal’s belt and unzipped her pants, letting them fall to her ankles. When she rubbed her feet down Kendal’s legs, Kendal wrapped her hand firmly around the back of Piper’s hair and tugged her head back so she could kiss her. The act of possession and Kendal’s tongue in her mouth made Piper want Kendal’s fingers inside her again, but Kendal’s needs were paramount.

  When she dropped to her knees, she buried her face between Kendal’s legs and found the rock-hard clit with her tongue. She smiled around it when Kendal grabbed her hair again with one hand and hung on to the table with the other. It was always such a thrill to make Kendal this crazy, but this was new. The sword had somehow lowered any wall, no matter how slight, between them, and all that was left was this raw, unquenchable desire.

  She sucked Kendal in, but if she didn’t get relief her skin would burn off, so she put her hand between her own legs to stanch the pounding. It was like she’d been sexually starved until Kendal had come along, and now they’d reached a new peak.

  “Wait,” she said when Kendal lifted her to her feet.

  There wasn’t another word between them when Kendal turned her around, bent her over the table, and pressed up against her ass. Piper reached behind her and squeezed Kendal’s butt cheek when Kendal put her fingers in place for her to ride to another orgasm even better than the first.

  The only sound in the room was skin slapping against skin, and Kendal’s grunts in her ear were making Piper crazy. It was incredible, and when Kendal paused and whispered, “I love you,” she let go and gave in. Kendal, and everything she’d brought into her life, would take an eternity to enjoy.