“I don’t think that she cares or has really put any thought into it. As long as she is with Seth, though, she will be happy, Seth will see to that. I’m just afraid how it might affect them if they are separated,” Garret said, relieved to finally speak the fear that had been hanging around his neck like a weight. “I really hope they get to stay together.”
This time it was Sasha who nodded her understanding, and with a sad and knowing smile she ceased her questions.
“I hope the ceremony goes well for all of you,” Sasha said earnestly. “I have to admit, from my experience it seems everything happens for a reason, though we may not realize it for many years. I think it will all turn out just fine,” she added, almost as if to reassure them.
They sat silently for a while, all of them caught up in their own thoughts of their pasts or futures. Felix returned, carrying with him two plates and a triumphant smile. As he approached, the trio at the table stirred from their thoughts and one by one greeted the man, eyeing the food he carried. Setting a plate in front of both Ashton and Garret, Felix asked if he might join them for a while. They happily accepted his company and he quickly seated himself.
CHAPTER 104
Felix
Felix knew he had a talent for food. He enjoyed preparing it. No matter how many thousands of meals he had created, he enjoyed making each one as if it were his first. But what he enjoyed even more than cooking was watching the reaction people had to his food. This was the reason he actually asked to join the boys this morning, though he did also find the group intriguing. It was odd to Felix how all four of the companions had quickly decided to let him make their meal choices for them. He enjoyed being able to choose what he would prepare, since more often than not he ended up cooking the same things again and again. Yet this group had seen to it that he could prepare whatever he liked for them, and he appreciated the kindness they had shared with him in letting him do so.
CHAPTER 105
Ashton
Ashton looked to his plate in anticipation, watching Garret smile as his plate was lowered first. Upon each was a steaming pile of some sort of golden flat bread. Several of the round pieces were stacked one upon the other, and drizzled across the top and down the sides was thick honey-brown syrup. They each thanked Felix for the meal, which he told them was named pancakes. He also told them that each subsequent layer was cooked with a different fruit mixed in the batter. Felix and Sasha watched the boys’ faces as they took their first bites, and couldn’t help but smile at their reactions to the medley of flavors.
Like an explosion of flavor went off in his mouth, Ashton closed his eyes with an appreciative moan, tilting back his head as he chewed. Looking to Felix, before even his second bite, he assured the man it was the best breakfast he had ever eaten. Felix took the compliment with grace, and continued to smile as the boys devoured their food. Devour it they did. It was only a few moments until both boys were scraping the last remaining crumbs from their plates, wiping their mouths and patting their full bellies.
“Don’t even give Seth and Sara an option when they come for breakfast,” Garret told Felix. “Just make them some pancakes. That truly is something they need to experience.”
“You are truly kind, Master Garret. I will see your will done when at last they awake,” Felix replied smiling.
CHAPTER 106
Garret
After breakfast, Garret chatted quietly with Sasha, Felix, and Ashton about the city and the inn as the early morning grew less and less new. Garret and Ashton asked many questions about the festivities that would be in full swing later in the day and received some very informative answers. They also learned much about the lay of the city. They now understood that it was divided into blocks, and several blocks that looked the same was called a district. The further you traveled into the center of the city, the older the buildings became, and the larger the districts sprawled. Garret and Ashton learned the location of several places they hoped to visit, including the many temples of the gods and the healing order’s tower, as well as the knight’s training grounds. Sasha told them if they became lost in the city to simply continue straight down any road until they either reached the city’s outer wall, or one of the four main city streets that each led from the outer wall to the palace. This in mind Garret worked at devising a route they could travel through the city to visit all the locations they intended to see. Their route sorted, Garret again joined the others in small talk about the city and its origins. They spoke for nearly an hour until a pair of the inn’s other guests entered the dining hall, at which point Sasha and Felix each rose from the table to excuse themselves. Sasha greeted the newcomers and spoke to them briefly before disappearing down the hall. Felix too greeted the guests and took their meal orders before he too vanished.
The newcomers had seated themselves across the room from where Garret and Ashton sat, and being a large room, it was hardly even evident that anyone else was in the room with them. They spoke for a while about the conversation they had just had with Sasha and Felix and waited as patiently as was possible for their remaining companions to join them.
CHAPTER 107
Seth
Seth awoke feeling better rested than he could ever remember. Keeping his eyes closed he relived the previous night in his mind and could not help the smile that soon appeared on his face.
“What has you smiling before you even open your eyes, love?” Sara asked Seth. Startled to find her awake, and watching him sleep, he turned and opened his eyes to take in her beauty.
“You,” Seth stated simply.
“Me? What about me has you so amused?” Sara asked trying to sound innocent.
“Not amused, my angel, just happy that I have you, and amazed by the power you hold over me,” Seth replied, finally opening his eyes.
“What power is that, love?” Now Sara tried to play ignorant, knowing exactly what he spoke of.
“You know what I’m talking about,” Seth told her, smiling once again.
“I’m afraid I don’t understand, Seth, could you explain it to me?” Sara asked.
“You know…you have a way of getting your way with me. You know I hate to tell you no. You know if you push enough that I will give in. I think it is a bit unfair that you use my love for you against me. No matter how much I enjoy it, it still seems unfair,” Seth explained. “But it is adorable watching you do your worst to entice me,” he added as the smile returned.
“Oh, is that all?” Sara asked, returning his smile as she mocked him. “You know, love, I do not want you to do anything you do not wish to. But I do want you to do everything that you do wish to. Don’t be afraid to ask anything of me, my love. You have already done so much for me, so much that I may never be able to do for you. I only wish to make you happy, as happy as I can that is, and hopefully I can make you happy enough that you will always want me at your side,” Sara admitted.
Seth didn’t care for her choice of words. She was belittling herself, casting aside her self-worth. She didn’t realize how important she was. He knew she was simply stating the truth as she saw and felt it, but he hated that she thought so little of herself.
“My angel, you need to do nothing to earn my love, you have it already. I do now, and always will want to be with you, that much I can promise you. I am happy just being with you, knowing you are mine. You need not make yourself uncomfortable for me. I love you the way you are, and I do not wish you to change.” Seth carefully watched her expression, and noted the moisture in her eyes before he continued. “Do you understand Sara? Please do not do anything that makes you unhappy just because you think it will please me.”
CHAPTER 108
Sara
Sara nodded her understanding, all the while fighting back the tears that threatened to fall from her eyes. They were good tears, happy tears, tears formed by his promise to stay with her. Sara did not know why he loved her, nor why he was so attracted to her. She presumed she looked much the same as any other girl her age,
at least in body. Sara was also sure there were plenty of other girls with a more pleasant face. Yet for some unknown reason, Seth had chosen her. Not only had he chosen her, but he had also said he wanted to be joined with her and planned to be with her forever. Nothing could have made Sara happier, but she too was concerned. He had told her not to do anything that would make her uncomfortable as a means to please him. Did he think she had compromised herself last night in a bid to make him happy? She hoped this was not what he was thinking, but decided she had to be certain.
“Seth, my love, I hope I have not offended you with my actions last night. Perhaps I went too far and if I did, I am sorry. It’s just that…”
“No Sara, you have not offended me, I assure you I thoroughly enjoyed last night. I just hope that it did not cost you, emotionally, anything you did not intend,” Seth interrupted, not wanting her to feel guilty for an offence she had not committed.
“And I don’t want you to think that I have in some way damaged myself by giving you my affections. I love you Seth, and to be honest with you, I wish nothing more than to give myself to you in every way I can think of. Nothing I have done has cost me anything, and I wish to do so much more. I know you want to wait until we are joined. I will wait, though I know not how long that will be. I don’t want you thinking that you have somehow forced me into wronging myself. What I give, I give freely with no consequence to myself. I love you more than I will ever be able to tell you, and I only wish to share my love with you in any way that I am able.” Sara explained, hoping she had properly made her feelings known.
“I see,” stated Seth. “I hope you know how much I too love you, and that I have not set our boundaries for any other reason but to do right by you. I still wish for us to be joined before we give ourselves to one another. It feels to me like the right thing to do.”
“I know, love,” Sara replied. “And I shall try and be patient, and I shall try as well to be on my best behavior.”
“Like last night?” Seth asked jokingly.
“Exactly like last night,” Sara responded, her teasing grin from the night before returning.
“I don’t figure you are going to make this easy on me, are you?” Seth asked.
“Do you really, truly want me to?” Sara responded, nearly certain he enjoyed the teasing as much as she.
“No, I suppose not,” Seth answered with a sheepish grin.
“Well then, shall we pick up where we left off last night or do you have other plans?” Sara asked, anticipation in her voice.
“As much as I would love to pick up where we left off, it appears we have already missed much of the morning. I would guess that Garret and Ashton are waiting for us somewhere, ready to go exploring,” Seth replied.
“But darling, if they are already waiting for us, don’t you think they could stand to wait a few minutes longer? Then perhaps we could do a little exploring of our own,” Sara suggested, adding emphasis to the word.
Without waiting for a response Sara twisted her body beneath the sheets and flung herself atop the man she loved. Straddling his body with hers, she clung to him, forcing her body against his in pleasurable ways. Bringing her face a fraction of an inch from his, she traced his lips with the tip of her tongue before kissing him as hard as she could. Seth gave in without so much as a raised hand of protest, and for many moments they let their passions take them.
Panting for air Sara finally relented and smiled triumphantly. Seth too was breathing heavily when Sara released him.
“OK, now I guess we can go,” Sara smiled.
Seth rolled out of bed and Sara watched as he pulled his clothes on over his new silk undergarment. He strapped his belt around his waist making sure his sword was secure and turned to see Sara watching him.
“What are you waiting for now, angel?” Seth asked.
“Your help,” Sara stated. “I’m going to need a hand re-lacing my shirt.”
Sara lightly slid out of the bed then and glided halfway across the room towards the partition where she had changed the night before. Seth watched her go admiringly, and still watched when she turned to beckon him to follow. He joined her behind the partition, and not wanting to seem too eager, he stood behind her waiting.
Knowing Seth was directly behind her, Sara once again found an opportunity to entice him. Bending at the waist, she reached down to retrieve her clothing, completely exposing her backside to him. Hearing Seth’s sharp intake of breath, and knowing she had succeeded, she again stood, clothing in hand. Once again Sara found herself with an opportunity to tease him. She realized now that her normal shirt was open in the back, and her new undergarment was not. She would have to remove what she wore now, or else it would show through the shirt.
Holding her clothing in one hand, Sara untied the single tie beneath her breasts that held the shirt secure. Releasing the strings she let the top fall off her shoulders and down her arms. Sliding her free hand from one sleeve she switched hands holding the clothing and letting the lacy garment fall to the floor between her and Seth.
CHAPTER 109
Seth
Seth watched as the black lace slid down Sara’s shoulders. He continued to watch as she untangled her arms from the silk and allowed it to flutter to the floor in a heap. As he looked up from the black silk pile upon the floor, Seth studied the body before him. From this view Sara was completely naked except for two small strands of satin. One strand of black satin clung tightly around her hips, pulled down in the back where it met the other strand that ran down her backside and disappeared beneath her, between her legs. He was awestruck by the perfection of her body. She had flawless creamy white skin from heel to head. No blemish marked her perfectly proportioned body. Her long black hair lay over one of her shoulders exposing her elegant neck. In Seth’s opinion she had the body of an angel. As he continued to admire her, his musings were interrupted.
“Hmm…,” Sara made the sound, pretending to have just noticed something of interest.
“What is it, angel?” Seth asked.
Sara did not respond, but turned her head slightly as if examining something. Seth followed her gaze, and looking over her shoulder from behind, his gaze fell upon the tall mirror a few feet away from them. In the mirror Seth’s eyes met those of the woman he loved, and he saw upon her face the same teasing grin she liked to wear when tormenting him with her advances. Then Seth realized the reason for the grin, for before him in the mirror stood the opposite side of Sara that he had just been admiring, her upper body still exposed. From this angle Sara was also nearly completely naked. The only portion of her body that remained covered was swathed in a black silk triangle with satin cords leaving it at the corners to trace up over her hips and disappear behind her. Seth, though he tried not to, found himself admiring Sara’s now bare breasts in the mirror. He had thought the night before he had seen them well enough so that it would not surprise him when he saw her naked, but he was mistaken. He stood, gaze affixed. Sara began to giggle.
Seth quickly averted his gaze, and closed his mouth which had apparently fallen open. He tried to pretend he hadn’t been looking by turning his head, but knowing well that he had been caught, blood rushed to his cheeks staining them red.
“You don’t have to look away,” Sara said pleadingly, her giggles vanished. “Don’t be ashamed to look, Seth. If I didn’t want you to see then you wouldn’t be back here with me. Besides, I like the way you look at me, it makes me feel pretty,” she added.
“You are more than pretty, Sara. You are beautiful. You are perfect,” Seth replied, still looking away.
“If I am all that, then why do you turn your eyes away from me?” Sara asked smirking into the mirror at him.
“Because if I don’t, I won’t be able to concentrate all day,” Seth said, a smile appearing on his face.
Turning back to meet her eyes in the mirror, he reached his arms around her, and pulled her near naked body to him. He let his hands fall low on her waist. Sara, her back to Seth rais
ed her hands up and wrapped them behind his head, laying her own back upon his shoulder. They stood for a moment in each other’s embrace, admiring themselves together as a couple in the mirror. Seth finally released Sara, motioning towards the clothing she had dropped upon the floor. Sara too let go and again bent to retrieve her clothes. As she did so, Seth, unable to help himself, smacked her firmly on the bottom with the palm of his hand. Sara shot back up, clothing in hand, and spun to look at him.
“You naughty, naughty man,” Sara accused teasingly. “You will pay dearly for that tonight,” she added as a mock threat.
“I can’t wait!” Seth returned excitedly.
They smiled at each other a moment and finally Sara began to dress. When she was finally clothed, Seth helped her re-lace her tunic. She then picked up the silky top from the floor and after stuffing it in her pack, they together left the room to find their companions.
Seth and Sara discovered Garret and Ashton seated in the dining hall. The four greeted one another with a smile and a hello, and after a moment, all were seated in their normal spots around the familiar table. Garret and Ashton related details of their earlier conversation with Sasha and Felix, and explained the city’s layout to both Seth and Sara. Garret also told them he knew a route to several places they all wanted to visit, and the group decided that after Seth and Sara ate, they would leave to do some exploring.
It was not long until Felix rounded the corner from the hall. Spotting Seth and Sara he smiled broadly. He greeted them each from across the room by name, then without warning spun on his heel and strode back down the hall. Seth and Sara looked at each other puzzled.
Age of the Gods: The Complete, twelve novel, fantasy series (The Blood and Brotherhood Saga) Page 24
