Ized- the Ancestors

by Esther Barvar

  »Probably, he is not even aware of how much he loves you. That must be pure torture for him to know you so close and yet so unreachable. He would give his life for you, Maioshan. Nobody will do anything to you here in the city. You are safe with him. He is a warrior and still much too young for a long-term relationship, but he loves you. He loves you more than his own life. Adar will defend you to his last breath.«

  Befen noticed how she trembled.

  »I feel a lot for him,« she whispered and blushed. »But I can’t stay, I would put him and your whole country in danger. You do not know how dangerous the Red is. Well, it could take years, but when the Red is healthy again, he will look for me. And he will destroy your country in his search for me.«

  »Maioshan, what are you talking about? You are safe here. Choose Adar, and he and all the magicians of the land of Ized will help and protect you. Here in Farsie, you will always be safe. No one will hurt you here. Come with me to my residence and consider whether you can stay with him. Come and have a wine or tea with me. You need to rest, calm down, and clear your thoughts. You should think about all this in peace« He smiled friendly, offered her his arm, and led her to his residence. Slowly they strolled along the path. They took their time, and Befen told her how he had met Adar while he was still teaching fighting techniques at the university. He told her how much he had admired Adar for his self-control and self-discipline even at a young age. Only sometimes, this disciplined behavior was something that stood in Adar’s way.

  Arriving at the residence, he led her into the study. Chairs stood in front of and behind the large desk. Near the window, there was a comfortable suite. Befen led the young woman there.

  »Forgive the mess, but I only recently moved in here. Most of the books here belonged to my predecessor. I’m sorting them now.« He pointed to crates and piles of books on the floor in front of the shelves and cupboards. The Administrator did not yet know how he wanted to design his study, so he left the furniture as Lord Sangen had left it. He only looked at books and files and decided which ones he wanted or had to keep.

  »Tea, wine, or perhaps a coffee, Maioshan?« he asked her.

  »If you don’t mind, I’d like a cup of tea,« she replied cautiously.

  Befen rang for the servant and ordered tea for both of them.

  Maioshan still seemed confused to him, but perhaps it was more the exhaustion. He pointed to one of the armchairs. »Sit down, please, and let’s see how we can protect you.«

  But she stepped to the window and looked out. Befen noticed how nervous she kneaded her hands. She seemed worried. But he couldn’t imagine what scared her so much. There was also Adar. Befen wanted to help him, and that meant he would do anything to convince her to stay here in Farsie.

  »If you feel anything for him, stay with him. Or is there someone there and therefore it is not possible? Are you already in a partnership? Is there someone waiting for you in your homeland?« he wanted to know.

  Maioshan shook her head. »No, there is no one. That is, there was someone, but that was a long time ago. My husband Dagon was killed by the Red a long time ago,« she whispered, embracing her upper body with her arms.

  »Hm, the Red seems to be a dangerous being. You already speak of him repeatedly.«

  »You have no idea of him. The Red is not only dangerous. He is insane and kills everything that gets in his way. I’m afraid he could kill Adar if I stay with him,« she whispered. Her gaze wandered in the distance.

  Befen laughed bitingly, tearing her out of her lethargy. »Adar? Are you worried about Adar? Maioshan, he has become one of the strongest warriors in the country. Oh, what do I say. No one can compete with him,« he explained to her exuberantly. »If the battles for the office of Supreme Lord took place today and he participated, he would almost certainly become the new head of our homeland. You need have no fear for him. If anyone can protect you, it’s him.«

  Maioshan had to smile. No one here even suspected that she was capable of defending herself. Her possibilities were not comparable to those magicians, but they were far more effective. But something in her told her not to explain it. Thoughtfully she looked to the ground.

  Adar, this warm-hearted man, loved her. It was tempting. After the long years of loneliness, she longed for love, for security, for a partner. No one in Emeishan was prepared to accompany her on the priest’s way. But Adar, he - she not only longed for security, but she also wanted him. The last weeks she had been with him almost uninterruptedly had been so beautiful.

  Should she dare? But what if the Red came? What if he also destroyed Ized? If he killed the people?

  The Red had been severely wounded. Much heavier than she had been. It would undoubtedly take him another few years to recover to the point where he could strike again. It would have taken her much longer to heal herself if Ized’s healers hadn’t done an excellent job. She would also have been unable to fight for years. But was she allowed to be selfish and give in to her feelings? Maybe for a while? At least as long as the Red was no danger? But Adar and all the other magicians of the country were never allowed to know who she was.

  And if the threat became too high… then she would leave in order not to endanger her and also to protect Adar.

  Befen’s servant brought in tea and a little pastry and put it on the table of the suite. Then he poured the drink into the cups.

  »Let’s sit and enjoy the tea,« Befen suggested and pointed to one of the armchairs.

  The comfortable furniture at the window invited her to sit down. Several armchairs stood around a low table. Maioshan sat down, the back of her armchair pointed to the door. Befen sat across from her and had the window in his back. The servant handed them the biscuits and then moved away.

  »When we found you, you were very severely wounded, Maioshan. The healers doubted whether you would survive the night. Adar was the only one who stuck to your healing and didn’t give up hope. He held you in his arms to transport you on horseback. He didn’t want to eat or sleep, just to watch over you. He did all this without knowing what feelings he had for you. Didn’t he also deserve a chance?«

  Before she could answer, there was a knock. The servant opened the door. »Administrator, Lord Adar wishes to speak to you.«

  »Lord Adar wants to talk to me? All right, let him in.«

  While he gave the order to the servant, Befen placed the cup on the table and stood up. He briefly put his finger on her lips to show her to be silent. With an equally small gesture, he asked her to remain seated. He walked over to the desk. From the door, someone entering the room could not see Maioshan, because the back of the chair covered her.

  The next moment Adar stormed in. In one hand he held a bundle of cloth. It was one of the clothes he had bought for Maioshan. He pressed it at himself. He walked restlessly up and down, waiting for the servant to close the door. He immediately held the dress against the administrator.

  »She’s gone, Befen. What shall I do?« he asked in a fragile voice. Then he leaned heavily on his desk.

  »What about you? Who is gone? Who do you mean?« Befen asked.

  »Maioshan, she is gone. I was just in my rooms. At breakfast, she told me she had to go, return home to her country. I was beside myself, touched her hard, and then just had to leave so as not to hurt her severely. But after I had calmed down a bit, I became afraid that she could leave and returned. But … she is already gone, just gone. Oh, Befen, I was a fool.« He let himself fall into the armchair in front of the desk and buried his face in the dress. »I never told her how I felt about her. I repressed reality and thought it would go on. She would stay with me forever. I was hoping she might eventually love me the way I love her. But now she is gone. Her closeness alone made me happy and soothed the beast in me.«

  Adar was still holding her clothes in his hands. He breathed the scent of the woman in the dress and groaned in suffering. »Maioshan!«

  Maioshan rose quietly and nodded to Lord Befen. He nodded back and walked silently over to the
door himself. Meanwhile, Maioshan stepped up to Adar, knelt beside him, and stroked his hair tenderly. He flinched, jerked up.

  »Maioshan? You … you are here?«

  »I am here, and I will stay here with you. I feel a lot for you, and if you want me, I’ll stay with you. But I can only stay as long as my presence does not endanger your people.«

  »I want you. I want you so much. I have loved you since the moment I saw you. I was just stupid not to have told you sooner.«

  He dropped the cloth, gently took her face in his hands, and came closer to her. Her lips touched tenderly. With closed eyes, he sank into the kiss.

  Befen left the study smiling and closed the door quietly behind him. His friend Adar had found love. He had always been something special. The Administrator was happy for him. But if Maioshan was right and it became dangerous, they would find a solution. He was sure of that. Finally, he was the Administrator of the country and could make critical decisions.

  Adar kissed her, wouldn’t let go of her. They knelt next to the armchair, while he held her. He felt like a thirsty man in the desert, and her kisses gave him what he needed to live.

  »I love you, my heart, my love. From the moment I saw you at the fountain, I love you«, he confessed. While he was kissing her, he kept assuring her of his love. »I am burning, Maioshan, I am glowing in love with you. I have never felt anything like it before«.

  She answered him with equally hot kisses, wrapped her arms around his neck. By the Stone Dagger, what was wrong with her? She loved him and didn’t care about all the strict rules between the sexes in her people. She desired him, wanted to explore his body, wanted to give herself to him, wanted to be taken away from him. Was it because of the ease with which man and woman in this people dealt with each other? The uncomplicatedness she had come to know here in the last few weeks?

  »I love you, Adar,« she whispered to him. She blushed again. Never before had she expressed this feeling so openly.

  He stood up, pulled her up, and close to his body, felt her warmth. Wild and greedy, he growled as he looked deep into her eyes. His body shivered, and his nostrils trembled.

  »Not here, come,« he gave a loud growl. Then he lifted her and left the residence with her. He carried her into his rooms.

  As soon as the door behind them was closed, he carefully put her down on the floor. Adar ripped his shirt off. Trembling with excitement, he stood naked in front of her, pushing her back into the bedroom, her hands resting timidly on his muscular chest. He kissed her, and his hands slid along her body. She was decidedly wearing too many clothes. He bared his teeth, growled with impatience.

  Desire!

  Quickly he began to free her from her clothes. When they finally stood naked in front of each other, he gently kissed her breasts and sucked on her nipples. He placed her on the bed. Quivering with excitement and swollen privates, he lay down with her. His hands explored her body. The tender touches also made her tremble with desire and enthusiasm. Her hands glided gently over the muscles of his arms and upper body. His mouth found her lips, and his tongue slid into her mouth. Hesitantly she replied. Now his lips stroked caressingly deeper, along her neck. He covered her entire upper body with light kisses and sucked her nipples again. She trembled towards him and trembled all over her body.

  Desire!

  He put a hand between her thighs. Hesitantly she spread her legs. A loving growl elicited from him. A look into her face, then he lay down on her, penetrated her. She moaned and wrapped her long legs around him so that she could feel him even more. It vibrated in her as her hands stroked demandingly along his back. She bit his shoulder tenderly. He realized that there was also a slight growl in her, or was it a reflection of his own? Then she moaned, and he moved faster. With each thrust, he drove her higher, higher, and higher over the waves of excitement, until they found salvation together. He poured his seed into her as she, too, was carried away by the waves of emotion. Adar felt the woman like he had never felt a woman before. He had the feeling that their souls would unite. He had never experienced anything like it. What he had felt with the whores had been satisfying. What he had experienced with Mehit had intoxicated him. But the feelings that Maioshan triggered in him … it had to be true love.

  Later they lay intertwined in each other on the bed. Tenderly he stroked the scars the wounds had left on her body. He raised his upper body to look at the countless injuries. They had healed well by now, and, surprisingly, the smaller ones were visibly fading. He bent over her, kissing each one. He painfully remembered everyone he had so often cared for with Lord Sors. Then he leaned on an elbow and looked at the being with whom he had almost merged a few moments ago. He had never thought he could feel so much happiness. It almost hurt him physically. Then he kissed her again and sank into that kiss.

  Adar had not bothered to prevent pregnancy. If this woman had conceived a child from him, he would marry her with joy. Since today he knew that even a young warrior was willing to settle down if the woman was the right one.

  Later in the evening they went for a walk together. At the three rocks in the park, he suddenly stopped and held her by the arm. She turned to him and looked up at him questioningly. He knew there would never be another woman for him. He did not want to live without Maioshan anymore. He would cease to exist, just die. He grabbed her hand and looked at her silently.

  »What about you, Adar?«

  He smiled, breathed a kiss on her hand and kneeled in front of her, still holding her hand. »Would you honor me and become my wife, Maioshan?« he asked quietly but full of hope.

  She stared down at him, hesitated, breathed deeply. »I love you, Adar, but I don’t know if you can accept my past. I was already married once, and my husband was killed because he was my husband. I am afraid that you might be as well.«

  He shook his head. »Your past is your past. I also have a history. I am talking about the future, our future. I want to spend my life with you. I am not afraid of death. Because death has always been the companion of the warrior. Every life ends sometime. It ends when our life clock has expired. I am afraid of life without you. I can no longer imagine a life without your presence. If you don’t want to be my wife, I have to accept your decision. But then I ask you for the grace to be near you. I will stand by your side until my life clock has expired and protected you from all adversities. But if you do me the honor of becoming my wife, of starting a family with me, it would be the highest happiness for me.«

  »Get up, Adar,« she whispered, helped him up, and nestled up to him. »It would be a great honor for me to be your wife. But I will have to leave one day. I can only stay with you for a particular time. Only as long as your people are not in danger. I love you, I will always love you, even if I cannot be with you forever. Can you accept that?«

  Distraught, he nodded. He did not understand her concern. But that was not the point, only that she loved him as well. So he confirmed. »Yes, I can accept it.« The main thing was that she loved him and stayed. She would be able to settle everything else. He would never let her go again but would avert all danger from her.

  She leaned back, loosened the golden chain, and freed the two rings she wore around her neck on the chain. She took the taller of the two, slipped it over his ring finger, and handed the smaller one to him. He recognized the meaning of this gesture. A happy sparkle stepped into his eyes. His nostrils trembled as he pushed the ring over her finger. Now they were promised to each other.

  Adar wanted to talk to Befen as soon as possible. Maybe his friend would even hold the ceremony. And then he would travel with her to the marriage time. He remembered Lord Mor, who had told him about taverns that specialized in the particular period after the marriage, the intensive phase. Such places were necessary so that the magician would not kill anyone if he only obeyed his instincts. There were several taverns in Ized, which had such rooms.

  »I will ask Befen when he can marry us. Afterward, I will rent a place for the wedding period, if you agree.«
>
  She nodded and kissed him. She stood very close to him, and he felt her warmth. The kiss was hot and excited him again. Befen had to wait a little longer because first, Adar wanted his beloved to be satisfied. He lifted her and carried her home. Nothing around them mattered to him.

  Some of the residents stopped and, shaking their heads, followed the couple with understanding.

  Except one!

  Mehit happened to see them as well, and her hands clenched in rage. She became pale. Adar was fixed at that woman. He didn’t notice her, Mehit any more. She had to do something so that her lover could finally get away from the woman. The man belonged to her and only to her, not to this cursed stranger. If she had not appeared, Adar would look at her like that today. And if she did not do something quickly now, then it was too late.

  On the same day, Adar visited his father at his premises. Lord Kairos was a warrior, as well as Adar. Adar’s mother died years ago. Since the women did not have magical powers, they mostly died young. While a magician could become two hundred years and older, the women often only reached an age of sixty or seventy years. Adar’s mother also had a weak heart and had died when he was just eight years old. She had not survived the birth of his sister; neither does the child. It had been a difficult time for Lord Kairos when he lost his wife and daughter. His son was his only consolation. »Adar, my son,« he greeted him and grabbed his shoulders. »What have you done in the weeks of my absence? I have heard that you have found a wounded woman and taken over her care and the task of hospitality? Come, sit down, tell me about it.« He pushed his son over to the comfortable seating group. Adar followed the invitation, and both settled down.

  »Yes, father, all this is true. I found Maioshan together with Lord Befen when we were all invited to the hunting lodge. Although you were on patrol at the borders for the event, you heard correctly. This woman is healed now. But that is not all. She and I have come closer. Today I can bring you the news that I will marry her. Will you be my best man at the ceremony?« it gushed out of him.