Emperor

by Isaac Hooke

  “That explains the pact between Vorgon and Denfidal,” Abigail said. “In exchange for the ability to cross into this realm so that Denfidal can stage surprise attacks against other Balors, Denfidal has restored Vorgon to his previous power. At least for the time being. Though after Denfidal has destroyed them all, no doubt he’ll turn on Vorgon next.”

  “Yes, and Vorgon is no doubt trying to figure out how to stop the demon,” Malem said. “Considering that Vorgon must realize by now he’s handed Denfidal the key to defeating all the other Balors.”

  “We have to stop Denfidal,” Wendolin said.

  “Why?” Ziatrice said. “I say let them all war. Who cares if they all kill each other? We don’t need to get involved. Let Denfidal fight the other Balors. He’s doing us a favor. He’ll probably destroy Vorgon, too, at some point, saving us the trouble.”

  “If Denfidal continues on this path, the Black Realm will be his,” Wendolin said. “As I have told you, the Balors maintain a delicate balance of power in their realm. As each one falls, the others only grow in power. By allowing Denfidal to systematically extinguish all his competitors… well, let’s just say it’s a very dangerous thing to allow one Balor complete control of the realm. Denfidal will grow infinitely in power… and as with Vorgon, who conquered one of the nether realms, the temptation to subdue even more worlds will become too great. Denfidal will strike here once the Black Realm is his, now that Vorgon has opened the way to him. This I foresee.”

  “Then we’ll stop Denfidal, too, somehow,” Malem said. “I guess we’ll have to bring this up with the witch of Dark Wood.”

  “Assuming she can help us summon a Paragon,” Brita said.

  Malem inclined his head in agreement. “Assuming, yes. Though even if she can, something tells me she won’t be so eager to do so, given that no Paragons came to fight Vorgon, or even Banvil, before now.”

  “Probably not,” Brita said.

  “So, what do we do now?” Solan asked.

  “We camp here on this terrace for the night,” Malem replied. “It’s been a long day for all of us. Tomorrow, at first light, we proceed west, to the Dark Wood, and find this Grendel.”

  “Oh, I’m so looking forward to that,” Gwen said sarcastically.

  “Oh, and no campfires tonight,” Malem said. “Vorgon might have dragons searching these mountains for us.”

  “Then maybe we should camp in the cave,” Wendolin suggested, glancing at the tunnel set amid the cliff face.

  “No thanks,” Xaxia said. “How about you camp in the cave.”

  “I just might, at that,” Wendolin said.

  24

  Malem retrieved the tent from his backpack and pitched it. He did it mostly to calm himself, as seeing that Balor march north had unnerved him. He wasn’t sure if he was going to sleep in his tent, or someone else’s. So far, none of the women had propositioned him. They were all a little shaken, he supposed.

  By the time they had finished making camp, Denfidal was a thumbnail on the horizon, with most of its dark companions mere specks.

  Malem and the non-dragons retrieved their rations from their packs, and ate a small repast of crackers and dried meat. Meanwhile, the dragons made a quick food run along the rock face below—Malem guided them to a small herd of mountain goats.

  “Are you sure we can’t set up a cooking fire?” Xaxia said. “Then you can have one of your dragon buddies bring us a goat to share. I could certainly eat one myself! Crackers and dried meat… puh!”

  “Sorry,” Malem said. “I can tell them to save some of the raw meat for you instead…”

  “Uh, no thanks,” Xaxia said. “I don’t really want worms.”

  “You can’t get worms from raw goat,” Gwen said.

  “Uh, you can,” Xaxia said. “But go ahead and dine on raw goat if you want.”

  “I don’t really like the flavor,” Gwen said. “I’m happy with crackers.”

  When the Metals had returned and dressed, Malem instructed Solan to keep the first watch. Gannet would get the second watch and Brita, the third.

  “Stay close to the tunnel in the mountain,” he told them. “Not that I expect an attack to come from the undead or anything, but, well, I just want to err on the side of caution.”

  “Always a good side to err upon,” Gannet agreed.

  Malem entered the tent and lay down on top of his sleeping bag. He stared at the canopy above him.

  So many dark days ahead. Just when I thought we were all free, and the world was safe, this has to happen.

  He reached out with his beast sense. There were a few animals nearby, mostly birds and other mountain predators.

  Nemertes was about ten miles to the south, judging from his sense. Likely nestled somewhere amid the mountains. Close enough to communicate with, though not much else.

  Nemertes, are you there? he asked.

  So you made it out of the mountain? the great blue dragon replied.

  We did, he confirmed.

  I’m not sure whether to be relieved, or disappointed, she returned. I knew you were still alive of course—you never released me. Still, I wasn’t expecting to hear from you so soon. You seem calm, so I take it you’re not ready to fly home, yet?

  We’re not going home, he sent. At least not yet. We’re heading west.

  Why, what’s west?

  I’ll tell you in the morning, he said.

  Ah, that’s right, you humans tire so easily.

  When can you be here? he asked.

  I’ll be there by morning, Nemertes replied.

  Can you come any earlier? he pressed.

  She didn’t answer right away. Then: Are you leaving earlier?

  No…

  Then I’ll be there by morning, she insisted.

  I just figured, we could use your might. In case something attacks in the dark.

  That’s right, flattery will get you everywhere, she said. However, you have six other dragons with you, so you’re not lacking in the might department. Besides, I just settled in after a nice meal of mountain lion. So. I’m going to sleep. And I’ll be there in the morning.

  And you complain that we humans tire easily… he said. But all right. Sweet dreams.

  Oh, they will be, Fucker.

  He shook his head, grinning. What a dragon.

  The setting sun cast shadows upon the fabric of his tent as the others moved around outside. He wondered who he should summon tonight.

  But then one of those shadows converged into the shape of a woman as a companion approached the tent.

  He felt a moment of excitement. Could it be Brita?

  He checked his beast sense, which told him it was Wendolin. That was a bit disappointing. He really needed to blow off some steam, and he wasn’t much in the mood for the usual sparring and sexual evasiveness she liked to engage in. But he allowed her inside anyway.

  “I’m not here for sex,” Wendolin said as she shut the flap behind her.

  “Not surprising,” he commented offhandedly.

  “I just want you to hold me,” she said, kneeling beside him. “After all the death we’ve seen, the undeath, I want to feel a warm body next to me. And remind myself what it’s like to be alive.”

  She lay down and wrapped her arms around him, and he returned the favor, holding her tight. She pressed her face into the crook between his neck and shoulder, and he felt her warm breath on the nape of his neck, and her breasts, so soft, crushed against his side.

  It turned him on.

  “Would you ever accept undeath to live forever?” she asked him suddenly.

  “I doubt it,” he said, pushing away to look her in the eyes. “Living that way… without a body of any kind—at least, not a true body—doesn’t seem worth it. Everything that the Blade Elves were was lost when they chose undeath.”

  “But they still have their memories,” she said. “As well as all the people they ever loved. That’s got to be worth something, hasn’t it?”

  “I suppose so,” he s
aid, partially sitting up. “But why are you asking me? You’re an elf. You already can live forever. Well, barring an unlucky brush with a sword.”

  “I ask because I’m afraid that one day I’ll lose you,” she said. “You’re not immortal.”

  He lay back. “Ah.” He remained quiet for a moment. “You will lose me to death one day. It’s inevitable. Just as all the others with me will die, save for you, Mauritania, and Ziatrice. But that time is far away.”

  “Is it?” she murmured. “Perhaps not so far away, given what we face.”

  “It almost sounds like you want me to make a pact with a necromancer!” he said.

  “No,” she said. “I wouldn’t dare. But I would still care for you, if that did happen. I want you to know that.”

  “That’s somehow reassuring, I suppose,” he said. “In a macabre way.”

  She smiled. “I guess… I guess I just don’t want to lose you. I’ve been trying so hard not to get attached to you, and now it’s happened. I realized that when we were back in the mountain, surrounded by those death knights: when their undead king appeared, I was ready to throw myself in front of the creature, if only to save you.” She closed her eyes and sighed. “I’ve been trying to avoid this moment since I met you. But it’s too late now. I’ve lost my power over you, Breaker.”

  “You don’t want to lose me?” he asked, a hint of amusement in his voice. I have her!

  She pressed herself against him once more so that her lips were next to his ear, and she whispered. “No. I just want this moment, with you in my arms, to last forever.”

  “Then we can make it last forever,” he said.

  She pulled away from him, her eyes wide, so very wide, reminding him of a puppy dog’s. She looked directly into his own, her face only a few inches from his. He smelled the sweet peppermint on her breath.

  Smiling tenderly, he touched his lips to hers in a gentle kiss.

  She returned his kiss passionately, but then he stopped, pulling away. Her expression was filled with a sudden fright, as if to say, “what have I done?”

  “We shouldn’t do this,” Malem said.

  “Why not?” she asked. “You’ll just take someone else to your bed if I leave.”

  He turned onto his back, and gazed at the canopy overhead. “You never did tell me why you don’t want to experience pleasure through our connection, when I take someone else to my bed.”

  “Because I don’t want to be reminded that it’s someone else you’re sleeping with, and not me!” she said. “I don’t want to be reminded that I have to share you. Why do you think I’ve been avoiding sleeping with you for so long? I’m reluctant to enter such a relationship.”

  “That’s exactly why we shouldn’t do this,” he said. “You’re a queen. You have elves waiting for you. Maybe you should just go home.”

  He wasn’t sure why he was telling her this. He was in a strange, self-destructive mood tonight. Seeing Denfidal had done it, he supposed. He felt like he was bringing these women to their deaths.

  So apparently a part of him had decided he was going to alienate them, one by one. Starting with the tree elf.

  Wendolin stared at him, wide-eyed. “You’re going to sabotage this? Your chance of sleeping with me? I thought you wanted this all along!”

  “Oh, I do,” he said. “More than anything. Don’t get me wrong. But consider what lies ahead. You could die. I’ll probably die. You said it yourself, death is not so far away, given what we face. Go home, Elf.”

  She folded her arms beneath her breasts, making them jiggle quite nicely. He found it very hard to maintain eye contact.

  “I told you, it’s too late for that,” she said. “I’m already attached to you. I’ve thrown in my lot with you.” She slapped his face. “Look into my eyes when I’m talking to you!”

  He glanced up, and rubbed his cheek. “That wasn’t very nice.”

  She made as if to slap him again, but he grabbed her wrist, then threw her down. “You want to get fucked?”

  “Yes,” she moaned.

  “Then you’ll get fucked,” he said.

  He hiked up her dress, and ripped down her panties. But then he hesitated once again.

  “What is it?” she asked.

  “Nothing,” he said. “I…” He shook his head. “I felt like the Defiler there, for a second. You pissed me off.”

  “As Xaxia said,” she told him. “We all have the Defiler inside of us, somewhere. But that’s the difference between man and beast. We can restrain our inner Defilers. Beasts can’t. That’s why we can build great civilizations, whereas most beasts and monsters live in caves.”

  “Did she really say that?” he said.

  “Oh, yes,” she told him.

  “Hm.” He glanced down. “Did you know your pants are still down?”

  “Oh, yes,” she repeated, her voice oozing sex.

  He smiled, and this time when he kissed her, it was not gentle. Their lips mashed against one another, and their teeth bumped. She groped frantically for the drawstring of his pants, but he resisted her, pushing her hands away, wanting to prolong her desire, and make her suffer a while longer.

  He pulled away, and planted kisses along her jaw line, all the way to her forehead. Then he paused at the ragged scar over her right brow. The only defect in her otherwise perfect face. “How did you get this?”

  “I fought in the First Balor War, with my sister,” she said. “This scar was from an orak arrow. It struck me, and deflected off my skull, but the blow knocked me unconscious. I was only out for a few seconds, but it would have been enough to kill me, for you see, I was surrounded by oraks, my magic nearly exhausted. My sister was bone weary, but she cut her way through the oraks and saved me before they could strike me down, and she dragged me to freedom. I woke up on her back, being carried to the safety of the healers.”

  “They didn’t do a very good job,” he said. “Weyanna can heal scars, you know.”

  “Oh, I know,” she said. “So can tree elves. But you see, I wanted this one. To remind me of my sister’s heroic actions that day.”

  “She survived?” he asked.

  Wendolin nodded. “She did. Though she left Dothloron a long time ago. Started an enclave of tree elves far to the east.” She pulled away slightly. “You think my scar is ugly?”

  He smiled fleetingly, and then in answer leaned forward and licked it. He caressed that scar with his tongue, while he reached his other hand down her shirt, and cupped her smallish breasts.

  He returned his mouth to hers and this time, when she struggled to undo his pants during their kisses, he let her.

  He broke away from her and gazed into her mischievous eyes. She smiled as he slid his pants down.

  Meanwhile, she reached down, grabbed the hem of her dress, and lifted it completely off.

  Her bra sat askew, and she removed it, too.

  Malem left her panties tied around her knees, partially restraining her, then he mounted her. He found her opening, and entered.

  Her eyes rolled up in her head. “I’ve wanted this for so long. I’m so glad I muted all of the pleasure until now. So I can have you all to myself. If only for one night.”

  “Many nights,” he said through gritted teeth. He was thrusting rapidly. He could feel her rising pleasure in his mind, and it magnified his own. That growing ecstasy was shared among everyone else connected to him, and each time it passed from dragon to half monster and back again, it grew in strength so that by the time it returned to him, it was magnified tenfold.

  He had to stop pounding, because otherwise he would have exploded right then. He wanted to draw this out for as long as possible, this first time between himself and Wendolin.

  So he rested there, on top of her, panting in unison to her own breathing.

  “Why are you stopping?” she gasped.

  “Beg,” he said.

  “Please keep fucking me,” she said.

  “You women are all the same,” he said.

&nbs
p; She frowned.

  “You all want release so soon,” he explained. “And yet you don’t understand, that most of the pleasure lies within the moments leading up to the release.”

  She slid a hand between their bodies and gripped his member, which was only partially inside, and squeezed it between her thumb and forefinger. Then she began rubbing up and down, very fast.

  He thrust inside of her all the way, and her eyes rolled up. He pushed her hand away. “Oh no you don’t. Sneaky, though.”

  “Had to try,” she gasped.

  He decided to have mercy on her, and began thrusting again.

  He gripped one of her small, bouncing breasts in his hand, and played with the nipple. He kissed her other breast, and then suckled it.

  She clenched around him abruptly, and her back arched. Malem was lifted off his sleeping bag, and he exploded at the same time.

  He moaned at the same time she did, and then the bridge that was her back gave, and he collapsed on top of her.

  He rolled off of her, and she promptly slid a hand to his groin, and began rubbing again.

  “We elves like to do it two or three times in a row,” she said.

  “Yeah, but we humans need to rest a bit in between sessions,” Malem said.

  “That’s not what I heard,” she said, continuing to rub. “I heard you could get it up again right away, if you put your mind to it.”

  She winked sensually.

  He chuckled, wondering who he should drain to restore his stamina, but then incredible, found himself rising to the occasion without having to take from anyone else.

  She looked down between his legs, and smiled lecherously, before pulling herself on top of him. Then she sat down on his groin, and slid him inside her. Then she began gently rocking back and forth, this while bracing he arms on his pecs, which she stroked with her hands. Her two arms squeezed her small breasts together, making them bulge pleasantly.