by Riker Kane
“Try not to have too much fun,” Rhiannon said with a smile before turning back to the fire.
I walked with Zafina through the village, still not sure what I was going through. “I’ve had some strange requests before. This one might take the cake.”
“Is it truly so extraordinary?” Zafina said. “Ceah is a woman. Despite the exterior of these raiders, I can see in them their desire to establish a new home for themselves. Sleeping with Ceah will allow her the opportunity to set an example for the others and men may be invited to the camp.”
“I went from fighting a Herald in the mountains to teaching someone the birds and the bees.”
Zafina led me over to the edge of the village where a dirt clearing had been made. Rocks were piled around in a circle surrounding a bonfire that burned in the middle. It looked like a place where people sat around and told ghost stories when they were camping.
Ceah didn’t look like she was interested in telling any stories though, sitting with her legs crossed and her eyes focused on me.
“It is good to see you,” she said.
“Good to see you, too,” I sighed. I looked at Zafina and shrugged, trying to deal with the sudden awkwardness of the situation.
“I have spoken with Ceah,” Zafina said. “She must attain a certain level of arousal before she will allow you to consummate her proposal.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Uh… What’s that now?”
“She would like to watch first.” Zafina put a hand on my tunic. “I am here to assist you.”
Zafina was a Mana Seer who cast fireballs and healing spells when I was in battle. She gave me counsel when I needed advice. And even though I was as close to her as anybody, it was strange to be with her now with Ceah eying me so curiously.
That didn’t stop Zafina from taking my shirt off. I kept my eyes on Ceah, watching her eyes focus on me as Zafina moved down to my pants.
“You are strong,” Ceah said. “I can see it in your physique.”
“Must be the Mana,” I said. “Or what Cybil gave me. It’s hard to tell with all of the power-ups I’m getting.”
Zafina pushed my underwear down along with my pants, all the way to my ankles. My length popped up and she immediately grabbed it to make me even harder. Despite the cool air of the night, the campfire kept me warm enough to focus. But not completely.
“We’re just gonna do it out here, huh?” I looked around on the darkness of the plains. The moonlight shined down on the grass and highlighted an empty field that went for miles.
Zafina continued stroking me, kissing me on my cheek to increase my arousal. Then the blond moved down to her knees without hesitating and took me into her mouth. My body jerked for a moment as she swallowed me whole. She’d done this many times before but the feeling never got old.
“Yes… You are quite strong. I can see it in you.”
I didn’t know if Ceah’s commentary was turning me on or confusing me. But the desire in her eyes continued to the point that I slowly forgot about the absurdity of what was happening.
“You like what you see, huh?” I sighed a deep breath to enjoy the sight of Zafina skillfully bobbing her head back and forth.
“Yes…” Ceah got up to her feet and slowly inched toward me. “I think I do.” She reached behind her back and let her top fall off. A pair of tan breasts were on display. They were a handful, just big enough for me to squeeze, firm and perky. She kept moving closer, climbing out of her bottoms to reveal a slick mound between her legs.
“I think that will be enough.” She put a hand on Zafina’s shoulder to move the Seer away. “It appears you are ready, Virgil.”
“It appears so.”
I shifted my eyes between Zafina and Ceah, wondering what my next move would be.
“This is awkward—”
Before I could finish, Ceah pounced on me. Despite her small frame, her momentum made me fall on my back. I thudded against the dirt. A momentary pain went away quickly as she tangled her tongue with mine.
She was aggressive. Ferocious. Wild. She kissed me like she was trying to devour me. Her hands roamed along my chest, squeezing my neck and shoulders. Her legs wrapped around my sides like she was trying to not let me wriggle away as she straddled me.
I put my hands up and grabbed her slim waist, realizing just how firm she was.
My confusion was gone. The ridiculousness of her proposal was not so ridiculous. There was just us, underneath the moonlight and next to a roaring fire as we went at one another.
“Take me,” she groaned. “Be strong! I will not have someone so weak inside of me!”
Taking Ceah’s guidance, I grabbed her wrists and rolled her onto her back. I pressed the weight of my body down on her as we returned forceful kisses against each other.
“Yes,” she giggled on my lips. “Do it. Prove to me you are the god you claim to be!”
My desire had taken full control of me. I sat up straight and kept my eyes on hers as I pressed her knees to spread her legs apart. Her jaw dropped with a gasp, eyes fluttering in anticipation.
My tip pressed against her folds and I felt the wetness dripping out of her. I plunged into her as deep as I could, burying myself up to my hilt.
“Oh… Yes!” Ceah cried out as she grabbed my shoulders to hold me close. Our lips tangled back in a messy kiss as I proceeded to ram my hips into her. The sound of our bodies colliding grew louder, echoing loud enough to fill the air.
The pleasure was already ramping up inside of me. But it was just like she said: Ceah wouldn’t have me take her so easily.
She suddenly pressed her hands on my chest and rolled me onto my back. She straddled me hard, grinding her hips with unrelenting fervor. Despite the cold night air, her body was drenched in sticky sweat. Working so hard along with the fire roaring even hotter next to us made her look like she had been running in the sun for hours.
I stared at her glistening tan skin as her breasts heaved up and down. The way she rode me was hypnotic.
A sudden soft slap against my cheek woke me from my lustful daze.
“What the…” I furrowed my brow in confusion. “Did you just… slap me?”
Ceah slapped her palm against my cheek again to confirm it. It wasn’t nearly enough to hurt me but she grinned like she meant it. “Show me your power.”
“I…”
Another gentle slap made me grab her wrists. We stared hard at one another, freezing in the moment. We were both still except for the beating of our hearts.
I looked to Zafina, who’d been watching this whole time. She stared blankly at me before a grin appeared on her lips. I smiled back at her before turning back to Ceah, who was smiling just as mischievously.
“All right… You want the Battle God… You got it.” I rolled Ceah onto her back and took my position on top of her, driving into her even harder.
“Oh, yes!” Ceah’s eyes rolled back and her scream filled the air. Her back arched as she pressed her hands into the ground to sit up in my lap.
There were no other distractions. There were no other directions. There was no more confusion. There was nobody else except for Zafina watching as Ceah sat in my lap and rode me.
Our grinding bodies were slick with sweat, so wet I had to firm my grip on her waist to stop her from slipping out. Ceah cradled her hands around my neck, pulling me close for another sloppy kiss. Her tongue twirled against mine. Her lips sucked and teased. Her teeth bit my lip softly, tugging them like she hadn’t been kissed in ages—which was probably the case.
Ceah made my heart race, igniting a fire that made me more than willing to give her what she wanted.
“I need to feel you.” Her breathy moan filled my ear. “I need to feel you. Let us fortify our bond.”
I drove my hips even harder, digging my length as deep as I could as the pleasure ramped up. There was no turning back now. Judging from how hard she was grinding, I knew she was at the same point of no return.
“Ceah…”
&nb
sp; “Do it… Do it now.”
Her body seized in my grip. Her jaw dropped, her moans stifled in her throat. Her eyes rolled back again before she convulsed with her orgasm.
Ceah’s body tightening made me lose control along with her. I let go and flooded her with everything I’d been holding back. Thick throb after thick throb pressed against her insides. The pleasure pulsed through my entire body, emptying my senses.
I held onto her as I came hard. I pushed myself to try and give her even more but there was nothing more I could give.
I finished and loosened my grip on her waist then nearly fell over. I didn’t have to though because Ceah pressed her hand against my chest and pushed me on my back.
“Rest,” she whispered before kissing me on my cheek.
Ceah stepped up, her body drenched and her eyes filled with satisfaction. She took her place next to the fire as content as anybody could be.
Zafina knelt next to me and put a hand on my shoulder. “Well done.”
With my desire cleared from my senses, I smiled at what I’d just done. “That was more fun than fighting a Herald. How about that?”
~ ~ ~
“Thanks.” I took the bowl Ceah held out to me. After our little romp, she put a cauldron over the fire to make a stew. She put her clothes back on, and Rhiannon and Lyra joined Zafina and me as we watched the blond with the braided hair stir the pot.
I took a spoonful of the hearty stew and chewed on the chunks of meat. “This is good. It reminds me of what Yuma makes.”
“This Yuma,” Ceah said. “They are from your town?”
“Navica. In the land to the west.”
“The land to the west… across the sea… You have traveled a great deal. You must be on a mission of great importance.”
“Everything is on the line, whether you want to face it or not. I have to do whatever it takes.”
“Even bedding the leader of a raider tribe.” Ceah raised an eyebrow at me as she prepared another bowl.
“Even that.”
I chuckled as she made a bowl for herself. The others declined some for themselves, already stuffed from what they’d had before.
“The Warriors of the Serpent,” Rhiannon said. “What can you tell us about them?”
Ceah nodded as she sat across from us. “When we left Qashia, those of us who survived divided into our own groups, as you know. The Nobles headed to the mountains in the north. The raiders scattered around the plains in an attempt to tame the land. Those in Haven remained to try and establish the peace that was lost. The women who followed me wanted to get as far away from the politics and disputes as possible. It was only women who would follow me, though I believe the others have seen we have the means to entice men to our encampment.”
“And the Warriors?” I asked.
“They are the most zealous of us all. They are devout. Firm believers in something greater than us.”
“Dangerous?”
“Everybody from Qashia is dangerous,” Lyra said. “The only question is how dangerous.”
Ceah nodded in agreement. “If you draw their ire, there will be consequences. However, they are not beyond reason. If you truly intend to reconcile those from Qashia and include the Warriors of the Serpent, I believe you will be the one to do it. Just know that they are willing to die for what they believe in.”
“There’s nothing wrong with that. That’s admirable.”
“Yes, it is. As long as you respect those beliefs, you will find the success you seek.”
“We have gained the allegiance of many of those from Qashia,” Zafina said. “Though it will be a consolation, our objective remains on building the Holy Light Cannon.”
“The Holy Light Cannon.” Ceah spooned some stew into her mouth, her eyes toward the sky in contemplation. “I hope this weapon of yours does what it intends to. I have already abandoned one world. I will not abandon another.”
The determination in Ceah’s eyes was clear. From the moment I saw her, to talking to her, to sleeping with her, to seeing her eat—she made it a point to always appear defiant. Everything about her confidence was on full display.
I tasted more of the stew and nodded. “You’re a pretty good cook.”
“You have already bedded me,” Ceah said. “There is no need for flattery.”
The five of us shared a laugh. It was a peaceful night under the stars. A long day was over but another was right around the corner. The swamps were waiting for us.
23: That Sinking Feeling
Ilene led the way into the forest with her head held high and no fear in her eyes. She was a short-haired brunette who looked about the same age as Ceah, though she carried herself with a dignified maturity. She wore the same white linen shirt and leather pants the others in the village wore. Her high boots dug into the mud as she trudged forward, using a stick to guide her way through the forest.
“Are you sure you know how to get back?” I asked. “We set a Mana Point but do you know how to use it?”
“I was wondering what that thing was,” she said, turning back to me with a wry smile, her voice filled with the same confidence as Ceah. “But you don’t have to worry about me. I’m only leading you to the path that leads deeper into the marshes. I’ll make it back to the village before you run into any Warriors of the Serpent.”
After spending the rest of the night under the stars, we woke up the next morning to begin our journey through the southern forest. Pine trees lined the path, filling the air with a scent that reminded me of Christmas. The mud on our soles was black and sticky. I kept the Life Rune activated to make sure I didn’t have to worry about traction. Judging from how peaceful it was with the sun shining through the treetops, that was the biggest threat. There was no telling how long the peace would last though.
“Ceah says you’re here to gather resources,” Ilene said. “What could you possibly want to collect from the marshes?”
“The pine trees here are different from everywhere else in the Sol Lands,” Rhiannon said. “We can use the sap from the trees and mud from the swamps to create an adhesive. And if we can gain the trust of the Warriors, we can ask them to gather wood from the forest for us. We will need everything we can acquire if we are to finish construction.”
“You must collect as much as you can. I understand. You are doing something quite remarkable, nearing the land of the Warriors.”
“Have you had any interaction with them?” I asked.
“I remember when every camp split off. The Warriors were adamant about worshiping this new world. They believe it was their destiny to end up on this world—this Iorus.”
“I remember them,” Lyra said. “They said they felt the presence of the evil from the other world. They wanted to find a place where nobody would find them. The Nobles went to the mountains. I think they found the most remote place here.”
Ilene stopped in her tracks and turned around. “The Warriors have found a place even more secluded. I ran into one of them several weeks ago. They are indeed fanatics willing to sacrifice their lives for their beliefs.”
“Warriors of the Serpent,” I said with a nod. “Not afraid of a snake or two.”
Ilene’s piercing brown eyes focused on me, her wry smile still on her lips. “Good. You will need to be confident if you will find what you are looking for.”
We resumed our walk. Nearly half-an-hour had gone by and Ilene showed no signs of slowing down. Our journey was peaceful with the sun keeping us company and the air as pleasant as ever. This was despite the black mud sticking to my soles like tar.
We remained quiet, keeping our energy up and our thoughts to ourselves. I was so focused, I almost didn’t notice the change until it happened all at once.
“Wait a second…” I looked up and noticed underneath the green pine trees, the bark had become as white as snow. “It looks like these trees are dead.” I looked ahead down the path and noticed the ones ahead were leafless.
Rhiannon put her hand to a tree and sh
owed the stickiness between her fingers. “There is sap here. If we can gather those trees ahead in the marsh, it will save us time on construction since they are already dead.”
“Now it’s just a matter of hauling these things back,” Lyra said.
“Ceah promised to help,” I said. “It shouldn’t be a problem for you to come and get some of these dead trees, right?” I looked at Ilene but she didn’t respond immediately. “Right?” I asked again to make sure she heard me.
She shook her head. “This is where I leave you.” She pointed at the ground. It looked like ordinary mud but when I leaned in closer, I saw something else. The black tar of the swampland ahead was bubbling. There was a smell I couldn’t identify coming from it, too.
“What is that?” I said. “It looks like…”
“Venom,” Ilene said. “The land here is toxic, which is why the trees, the animals, or even the dirt itself cannot survive.”
Lyra put her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes in frustration. “Wait a second. You brought us all the way out here to a dead end?”
“Ceah asked me to guide you to the marshes… Welcome to the marshes.”
“When you said marshes, I was expecting something a little more… swampy,” I sighed.
“There must be a way around this toxic venom,” Rhiannon said.
“If there is, I am not aware of it,” Ilene said. “There was never a purpose for any of us to cross this line. I’m afraid this is where I leave you.”
“Thanks,” I said, realizing there wasn’t much else she could do for us.
The brunette bowed her head and began her walk back to the village.
I leaned down next to the venom bubbling like crude oil. “I wonder how the Warriors live out here with this around…” The venom went left and right in both directions like a stream cutting the forest in half. I looked further out and saw it went all the way across, making a black marsh where the white trees almost seemed to be sinking into it.
“What shall we do?” Zafina asked.
“I can fly across,” I said. “I’ll look for a place to land. If I don’t come back, return to Haven and wait for me there.”
