“It’s a good reason not to wear your armor,” Elian could not recall any time he had seen the Magus this relaxed with a woman or anyone else for that matter. As for Nelina, she was as in love as a woman could be and it was with the Magus.
Ru’ark with a gentle but possessive squeeze whispered, “You should say good-bye to Adar Sweetling.”
“Adar,” Nelina stepped forward and hugged him. “I will miss you, take good care of Elian until we come back.”
“Take care of me?” Elian feigned offense. “You don’t believe I’m capable of doing that?”
Adar, who was not one to laugh, chuckled as he let go of her. She was the first person his Magus had brought around that he bore a genuine like for.
Nelina shrugged, teasing Elian. “Well, you’ll have to watch over Claire while we’re gone, so it seemed fitting to have Adar watch over you, see?”
“Aren’t you the funny one today?” Elian would miss the two of them. “Well, I think you are both prepared for the journey.”
“Indeed,” Ru’ark clasped Adar’s shoulder. “We’ve not been separated since the waste, my friend, and you’ll know when I need you.” He took the reins of the horses.
Nelina hugged Claire one last time. “You’ve become a good friend to me, I’ll see you again when we return.”
Claire hugging her back, smiled. “You’ve been a friend to me too, I’ll miss you.”
Nelina climbed atop the large gray mare’s saddle.
Ru’ark mounted the black colt taking a firm hold of its reins and addressed Elian. “When I have need of you Adar will direct you along with a small force of your men to join us. We should be done well before the first harvest.”
Elian bowed low. “As you command My Magus,” He accompanied them up to the large gated doors of the Northern Barracks. “All will be as you left it, until your return.” He smiled to Nelina. “Be safe and farewell.”
By Elian’s command the guards pulled open the gates leading out to the cobbled street of the common district.
Nelina’s horse followed behind Ru’ark’s and she was elated to travelling with him. She had ridden here and there with Elian, but not with Ru’ark yet. The tranquility of dawn still hung heavy on the city as the clopping of horses’ hooves echoed from passing the nearby buildings. The street they were on continued out into the slave square. Although there was not the bustle of the midday crowds the morning preparations for the block and the incoming chains of slaves being brought up from the holding pens down at the docks below could be heard. As before in her times with Elian, they arrived at the massive city gates. Keeping their horses at a slower pace they went below the gates leading out onto the King’s road. The guards paid them little mind as their horses bore the seal of the city watch and their attention was riveted on the scores of slaves and their masters coming from the northern road and the cliff road leading down to the piers. As she had with Adar before the road took them between the massive black obsidian wall and the endless Waste. The road south held far less activity, than the steady stream coming from the docks. Because of the Waste, the nearest southern waystation was a solid half day’s ride from Danthamore.
The plume of smoke from of the Apostate camp could be seen on the horizon in the broad light of the morning as Ru’ark brought his horse alongside of Nelina’s. “Halt your horse.”
Nodding Nelina stopped her horse.
“Draw up your cloak.” He had heard plenty of this Apostate, and his camp followers, he would not have them disturbing Nelina or himself.
“Alright,” She raised her hood over her head.
He raised his own hood. “When we pass the Apostate camp, they won’t take significant notice of us, but your hood must remain up and you must stay close to me. If you get too far away the weaving becomes difficult to maintain.” Ru’ark’s eyes in their familiar fashion became pitch-black orbs as he touched her cloak and then his own. Each touch brought forth a thin veil from his weaving which covered their cloaks completely. His illusion would cause them to appear to others as uninteresting, forgettable, and they would not be inclined to pay any mind to them.
Resuming their journey on the King’s road they reached the end of Danthamore’s high walls where the view then opened up to the expansive Torbian Sea. The morning light of the day caught the sails of the ships heading into the city’s harbor. Off in the distance the plumes of black smoke from the from the Apostates’ camp was prominent and noticeable. As they neared the camp, they remained unnoticed and appeared as simple travelers with no one making any outward effort to interact with them.
There was naught but a flowing feeling of disgust from Nelina regarding the blasphemous apostate priest and the people he had chanting on the side of the road. “In the eyes of the Magus we show our strength to you,” all while self-flailing themselves. She watched as the young women and men of the Apostate camp approached merchants and single travelers alike with the proclamation that the Magus was a living god. As Ru’ark had told her they remained unnoticed with their cloaks pulled up tight as the Apostate’s followers approached every other traveler on the road but them.
With the Apostate camp behind, Nelina glanced over her shoulder, taking one last final look at Danthamore. From this distance the city looked like it was almost part of the cliff that jutted out into the sea, similar to a small mountain. Its high black walls surrounding the city were interrupted only by the even spaced squat towers with guards. The colors from the rooftops on the houses and estates making up the Noble and Merchant district were of a lighter color which broke up the overwhelming obsidian stone of the city and the cliff below. Standing above it all was the King’s Tower, which was double the size of the tallest building in the city. She recalled a similar view from over a year ago, when she had followed the King’s road from the north into Danthamore and her Uncle had sold her into slavery. How different her life was as compared to that day and the fears she was prepared to face in her slavery. Facing the road ahead, things for the first time in a long time, or at least in the time since she had lost her parents she felt good about the direction her life was going.
They continued taking the King’s road south along the side the cliffs of Danthamore with the Torbian sea on their right, and the oppressive Waste on the road’s other side. It was not until well after midday that they started viewing the beginning traces of small trees sprouting up near the soft sands of the seashore. The side facing the waste remained barren and untouched, no matter the distance one traveled around it. The dark reds and browns of the landscape were now interrupted by patches of green.
A cool breeze came off the Torbian Sea, and the King’s road itself. With each step, they took they inched further away from the Waste.
With the sun dipping closer off in the horizon, the cliffs had faded and they were greeted instead with intermittent rolling sand dunes and hills.
Ru’ark directed Nelina to follow him off the road toward the sand and the crashing surf as he guided them past some of the dunes to an area that was within a stone’s throw from the water’s edge. Here, patches of high grass filled in the different spots between the hills seeking moisture, however the sand by the sea’s edge were choking it out. “We’ll take our rest here tonight,”
Nelina brought her horse alongside of his. “Do you want me to start setting up camp?”
“I have to do a weaving first, and then I’ll have you help me. In the meantime, would you mind, tending to the horses?” He dismounted his horse.
“I’d love to tend to the horses, they did well today too.” She climbed off her horse and then took the reins of Ru’ark’s horse. First, she unclasped the saddle bags and let them drop them to the ground, then led the beasts to be brushed and fed.
Walking a few feet away Ru’ark’s eyes turned black as he began his weaving. Raising his hands above his head, he started. From his shoulder to his wrist, his motions consisted of slow, rhythmic, gestures. His fingertips danced at a blinding speed to bring forth the smoky tendr
ils of power from the Waraeu. In a sharp movement with his shoulders, he brought down his arms causing the thick black strands to coil and dive deep into the ground. The ground remained unmoved as the weaving poured into it and vanished into the depths of the sand. Raising both hands upward the last thin black wisp retreated back to him. From the ground rose a large shimmering dome wider than two horses. Taking out one of the large blankets he walked inside passing through it as if it were not there. He arranged the blankets to press down on the high grass beneath to provide more comfortability than the sand by itself would. Afterward, he unpacked food and wine for them both.
Nelina after tending the horses with a sense of awe walked over to the dome, “Will it protect us?”
“Yes, as it did on the road it will here too.” With a simile Ru’ark stood and walked up to Nelina passing through the dome as if it were not there.
Picking up a handful of sand, she threw it at the dome while watching it fall off like water from a duck’s back. Playfully, she grinned. “Will it strike me in the face if I try to walk through it?”
“It will not hurt you Sweetling,” with a gentle hand, he took hers in his own, and led her inside. “Please, join me.”
“I’d love to.” Nelina after going inside slipped off the blade at her waist, leaving her dressed in the doeskin breeches and dark tunic.
Ru’ark cut off a few slices from the cheese wedge. “We made good distance today.”
“We did,” Nelina broke off a piece of the bread loaf with a sweeping glance of their camp. “This is nice, and I like that I’ll get to fall asleep with you more since we are travelling as we are.”
Try as he might, he could not hold back his smile. “It is, but you must remember that when we get to the Great Marsh, it won’t be pleasant.”
“I know it will probably be awful and horrible.” Picking up the knife she cut off a few slices of cheese to go with her bread. “But we’re not there yet and I want to enjoy what I can. I love you and if I should die then at least I will have these happy memories when I go to the afterlife.”
“You see things for what they are, that’s good.” He picked up the wine cups and filled them both. “However, you are right in that we have this journey together and we should savor it.”
Picking up her cup she washed down her bite of food. “I have faith in us Ru’ark,” smiling, she grabbed a piece of meat. “Well, more in you. You seem to have a plan and know what you’re doing.”
“You underestimate yourself, for I find faith in you, with strengths I didn’t think existed.” His brows arched upward. “Indeed, rather than love being a complete weakness, you’ve shown me its strength as I see and know how you feel for me. In turn, my own feelings have developed in ways I didn’t think was quite possible.”
She blushed. “You’ve taught me what it is to love and belong to you, and sharing things so intimate that it is forever a part of me.” Her voice cracked with emotion. “I can’t fathom not being with you for even a day.”
He took a drink of his wine and set it to the side. “Whenever it is within my power in this life to protect you from all that I can, I will. My heart will never cherish another as I do you, and in truth no other could hold such a place with me.” He moved closer to her with his mouth claiming hers.
“My day was spent hoping and thinking about you having me again, Magus.” Her reply was breathless as he maneuvered her on her back.
“That’s how it’s supposed to be,” his lips with a light kiss pulled at her soft neck. “Desiring your Magus is something I expect from my concubine.”
“I do,” she relaxed her hips spreading her legs further apart as he positioned himself above her.
He resumed kissing her and as his tongue became tangled with hers while his strong hand went to her breeches and undid them. He removed them, leaving the soft bottom half of her open and ready for him with the wearing just the tunic. She was far too covered up for his taste. His hands started at her hips, and then glided up to her waist, bringing the tunic up higher while moving to the sides of her breasts.
She moaned with how good his hands felt on her bare skin as he lifted up the tunic to take it off of her. Cooperating, she stretched her arms above her head as the garment slipped over her head.
Ru’ark instead of casting it off stopped instead at her wrists and wrapped it around tight, it was binding and her left her elongated and naked underneath him. “This is where we are opposites, being bound and at my whim excites you, yes?”
“It does,” Having no control and unable to have her hands free filled her with a thrilling rush from head to toe. “I don’t understand how or why.”
“I do,” his eyes were dancing as they trailed down the length of her. “That deep need you have, when you give over to it the way you do, is what every Magus wants in a pleasure slave.” He removed his robe casting it off to the side.
His body felt warm against hers and the end of his shaft teased against the opening between her legs.
“Your body is always so inviting,” she was already slick with her arousal for him.
“You have this effect on me that makes me like this.” She tightened her legs around him.
“Indeed,” His wicked smile toyed with her as he pushed his cock inside of her.
She gasped in delight lowering her arms, wanting to touch him.
“No,” He gently guided her hands back to where they were, then held them with his own hand, keeping her pinned and kissing her while letting his tongue curl with hers. His thrusts were slower at first. It was deliberate on his part to bring her to the edge of a climax.
She endured his sensual torment until she could bear it no more. Her long legs moved along his sides, then clenched around him, she almost forgot about her arms but caught herself. Inducing him to go faster to get to the release she wanted was to no avail no matter how she tried.
“You’re so close, right on that edge,” He kept his rhythm at the same place.
“Yes,” her response was instantaneous mixed with her desperate need of him.
“I like it when you lose control just for me.” His thrusts were faster, harder, and more demanding.
It was her undoing, as if on command she cried out “Magus” against his throat when she reached her peak with an explosive wave of ecstasy washing through her entire being as she trembled against him.
In that same moment Ru’ark with a low groan satisfied himself spilling his seed inside of her making sure he was entirely spent. Giving her a final slow kiss with a smile he undid the tunic pulling it back down over her.
With a smile of complete contentment she looked at him as he reached over and put his robe back on. She lay on her back until he joined her and turned on his side, pulling her next to him and holding her as he did each night.
“Sleep well,” he gave her a peck on the back of her head.
“You too, I have no doubt I will,” she was exhausted and shut her eyes to let sleep find her for the evening.
Nelina woke up to almost everything packed and ready to go. “I never hear you when you wake up.”
“Indeed, one of my more clever tricks I suppose.” He brought over some of the food he had taken out for her. He lowered himself to take a small piece of cheese and fed her a piece. “You my dear must eat. I am going to finish up with our supplies and the horses. Your armor is out for you as well.”
“Okay, but if you need me, I’m happy to help.” Admittedly, she had slept so well that she did not mind the time to shake the grogginess off her.
By the time, she had taken her last bite of food she had only to don her armor and get on her horse. “Thank you, I appreciate the leisurely morning,” She hugged him with a quick kiss. “I am lucky to have a Magus who cares for me the way do you.”
“You’re welcome Sweetling, I take it then that you are ready to start the day?” Ru’ark secured the last strap of the saddle pack on his horse.
“I am.” She slipped into her armor fastening the buckles up t
he side and then strapped her sword to her waist after Ru’ark helped her tighten the last two straps of her armor. When finished, she mounted her horse and waited until Ru’ark was ready.
“Good,” before getting on his horse Ru’ark went over to the dome and touched it, and in doing so the dome evaporated into nothingness as though it had never been there. He climbed on his horse. “We’re set to ride then.”
The day itself passed much like the one before with the rocky outcroppings almost disappearing by midday and along with it, the ocean breeze. The King’s road took them farther inland and no longer followed the coast. The dunes were no longer with them as they become the dark brown of the flat scrub only interrupted the occasional hill. The road which still lingered on the edge of the waste was not as close as that of Danthamore but its proximity allowed its warmth to keep the road passable even in the dead of winter. She had heard stories as a child of the upper kingdoms of their long summers and little snow, which was unlike anything she had seen growing up in Pinza. Pinza’s harsh winters at times extended past the first days of Leepseed.
It was late in the day when Ru’ark decided that they should make camp. As before, he had found them a spot with some of the lingering soft sand from the dunes.
The dark reds and purples of dusk created a tapestry of color across the sky while he set up the camp. Afterward, Ru’ark leaned back into the makeshift pillows he had fashioned for the two of them from the spare blankets they had brought. He pulled out a small thin kerchief from his sleeve, to act as a plate for the cut bread, meats, and cheeses as they ate their dinner together.
“Out of curiosity are there any members of your family that are decent, or are they all like your brother trying to take things that don’t belong to them, such as me?”
“There isn’t anyone in my family who would display kindness to you if that’s what you’re getting at.” He put the slice of meat he had been holding in his mouth.
“You said they are trapped, but that they need me, and can’t really get here without me, right?” She bit down on a piece of her bread.
The Magus (A Chronicle of Rebirth Book 1) Page 21
