by Randi Darren
With a grunt, he reached down and pulled at her tail, easily dislodging it. Getting up, Vince stumbled to one side of the clearing, hunched down, and wrapped his head in his arms.
It’d been a very long time since he let his fury and rage out. A very long time.
Chapter 16
Vince got control over his breathing several minutes later. He could hear the faint sounds of people talking and moving around behind him as he did so. It sounded like Gert, Set, Ris, and Meliae.
Discussing what they’d just seen happen
Until he felt full control over himself though, he didn’t want to interact with anyone.
There had been times in the past where he’d not been able to master himself before speaking to others. Those instances hadn’t all gone poorly, but enough of them had to make him wary of doing so again.
His father had called it a berserker’s rage. His mother had called it a damn temper tantrum.
Smiling to himself at the remembered humor in her words, he wondered what she’d think of him now.
That they were grandparents even.
They went north, didn’t they? Maybe I should go after them. See if I can find what happened to them. Something had to happen, right? They wouldn’t have left me alone otherwise.
Would they?
“Vince, you feel like you’re settling down,” whispered Meliae, kneeling down beside him. “Are you well? Did something happen?”
Not wanting to hide anything from her, Vince nodded his head. “I lost control. That golem popped open that winged woman’s head as if it were a watermelon. There wasn’t any hesitation or time to act. It just… happened.
“The smell of blood was overwhelming. Then another golem got me. Was beating me. To death even. And I… I let go. I shoved my mind into a corner and… and let go,” Vince said, a shuddering starting up in his shoulders and chest.
He didn’t feel cold.
His body trembled all the same.
“Ok. Everything is fine, Sweetling,” Meliae cooed, bringing his head to her shoulder. “You called on something within yourself and used the grove to power it. You have nothing to be ashamed of. You felt you were in danger and acted out of it.”
Shame. Ashamed.
Vince hadn’t thought of it in that way, but she was right. He felt some modicum of shame in letting himself become a screaming embodiment of rage.
“You managed to subdue the Dragonnewt with force, but you didn’t hurt her. You let her go. Everything is fine, Sweetling. You did no harm,” Meliae whispered, nuzzling his ear with her lips. “Blue and Green are handling the Dragonnewt right now. She’s in pretty rough shape from her fight with the Valkyrie and magician, but fine. Come, stand for me. We need to get moving. We have no idea why they were fighting, but we don’t want to be here. That was a fairly loud and magically dense brawl.”
Nodding his head, he let Meliae get him to a standing position. Putting one foot in front of the other, feeling very drained, Vince was led back to the path and away.
“Vince…” asked a soft voice.
Looking up from the grass in front of him as he walked, he found Leila bobbing along in front of him.
“I don’t m-mean to pry but… how did you destroy the golems?” she asked.
“Broke their chests open. One with a rock, another with the arm of the first. Then the rest with one of their heads,” Vince said in monotone.
“O-oh. That’s… very, it’s amazing. For w-what it’s worth, I think it was an incredible feat,” Leila stammered out. “Especially the way you brought it all back under control. I could feel the magic rolling off you. You were a thunderstorm of power, striking wildly in every direction.”
That got his attention.
Vince blinked and gave his head a small shake. “Magic? I was using magic?”
“Oh yes. You positively reeked of life magic. I’d be surprised if there was a mage or life tuned creature for twenty miles who didn’t feel that. It was amazing! You even overpowered a Dragonnewt. I never thought that was possible,” squeaked the gnome in excitement.
Life tuned?
Turning his head, he looked to the three Dryads and the Dragonnewt.
Blue and Green were staring back at him, their eyes colored over and without pupils.
Meliae was curiously staring straight ahead, as if unwilling to meet his gaze.
“Meliae?” Vince asked.
The curvy Dryad turned in his direction, and he got his answer.
Her eyes were greened over, her cheeks flushed.
“It was so much power. I could taste it. I felt it. It ripped through me as if I were made of cheap paper. It turned me inside out, beat me with my own skin, and put me back together. I have never felt the like. From anyone, ever, or anything. We have to move because I think every Dryad for miles will be coming this way,” she admitted. “And if they find us… I’d rather not think on it.”
“Oh, sorry. Kinda holding us back, aren’t I,” Vince said. Giving himself a shake he picked up the pace to his normal walking speed.
“You’re not holding us back. I’m afraid the Dragonnewt isn’t quite capable of moving that quickly,” Meliae interjected as he began to outpace her.
“Put her on my back. I’ll carry her. Worst comes to worst we tie her wrists around my shoulders and she hangs there.”
Turning back the way he came, he stood in front of Blue and Green. The Dragonnewt was hoisted up between them, her eyes fluttering open and closed as she drifted in and out of wakefulness.
Blue nodded, while Green got down and started digging in her pack.
The next day and a half was spent almost at a continuous jog as they fled the scene.
And that’s exactly what they were doing.
Fleeing.
His scouts reported a number of disturbances and sightings that they dodged and went around. It wasn’t just Dryads heading towards the area they were fleeing from, but any and every creature of nature under the sun.
Blue and Green were always within arm’s reach of the unconscious Dragonnewt that was practically Vince’s backpack. If he had to guess, they were fearful of her waking up and attacking him.
Fortunately, the trip wasn’t all running and worrying.
Leila helped him work out small cantrips that let him cycle power from his grove to his legs and lower back. They were small phrases no longer than a sentence or two that he didn’t even have to say clearly.
He’d almost managed it without talking at all and only thinking it.
The difference was remarkable though with only the first spell. He’d only ever been able to draw on the grove for energy and healing. Now though, he was using that power while calm and towards an entirely different end.
On the second day, perhaps an hour or two before nightfall, Meliae stopped dead in her tracks.
“Wait, everyone stop here. We’re at the boundary. I’d like to wait here until we’re officially invited in. She’s my mother, but she’s their leader first. She may not even know it’s me that’s come knocking,” Meliae said, brushing her hands against her tunic and pants.
Vince shifted the Dragonnewt around on his back. She’d started to sag down his back again.
She groaned and one of her horns slid into his neck, her silver hair covering her face. “Turn your head a bit, you’re digging into me.”
The Dragonnewt obeyed and rotated her head till her face was pressed into his neck. “Better. Nervous about your mom, Meliae?” Vince asked.
“What? Err, yes. I am. I’m showing up with what can only be described as a myth, that pumps out enough nature magic to overpower a Dragonnewt and golems in hand to hand combat.
“Oh, and by the way, the living myth made a grove for me because I asked. Second only to hers in size in under a year. On top of that, he’s also the father of my children. And I’m an equal partner in all things with him. Beyond even of all that, he actually loves me. So yes. A little nervous.
“Please don’t try to steal him fro
m me, mom, because I’d hate to have to kill you for trying.” Meliae said the last with a frown.
“I see. You think that’d be a possibility? An actual problem could come out of it?” Vince asked, looking around himself at the wooded area they were in. It didn’t seem any different than anywhere else.
Must be a Dryad boundary thing.
“No. It won’t. But still… none of this is normal, Sweetling.”
“Uh huh. Tell you what, if you can get us through this without too much of a problem, I’ll bed Blue and Green over there for the first time while you have to watch,” Vince offered up.
He hadn’t really truly humiliated her in a while. Having to watch some of the most junior Dryads be serviced while she couldn’t do anything would probably hit her just right.
“No, my liege, I believe I’m next. While I actually enjoy Blue and Green’s company, as we talk often already, I’ll not let you set me aside,” Elysia said calmly, while her fingers tapped against her ledger.
“I… ah… you’re right. You can watch me and Elysia, Meliae. Then you can watch Blue and Green clean Elysia up when I’m done with her,” Vince said, pointing a thumb at Elysia.
The High Elf scoffed and gave him a quirk of one dainty brow. “You think that bothers me? Do you have any damn idea the filth that you ran through my mind back on that first challenge night? You actually—”
Everyone froze and Elysia fell silent as a distant high pitched whistling sound could be heard.
“Someone will be coming. That’s the boundary alert,” Meliae said.
“They don’t know we were coming, but you assumed the role of emissary on their behalf.” Vince asked, for perhaps the thirtieth time, “Are you truly positive this was the best course for us?”
“Yes. It’ll be fine, Sweetling. We have our needs, and I know what they need.”
“And what do they need?” Vince inquired, not really expecting an answer. For whatever reason, she’d been close mouthed about what her mother’s grove needed.
Meliae said nothing, his lips pressing tightly together.
He never pushed her about it either and wasn’t going to start now. Thinking about it from her own position, Vince could only imagine it wasn’t easy balancing his needs from her and her mother’s needs at the same time.
The conversation stopped as several women with spears could be barely made out in the dying light of the early evening. They were dodging between trees and heading on a collision course with Vince’s group.
All three came to a sliding stop directly in front of them, their spears held loosely at their sides.
They were all Dryads of course. One of them even had a rather similar appearance to Meliae.
“Meliae, head of the Yosemite grove, would ask to speak with the head of the Wooden Heart grove,” Meliae said in a neutral tone.
It had no emotion in it whatsoever.
Silence fell over everyone once more. The three Dryads stared at Meliae while she stared back.
Eventually, the one who looked similar to Meliae broke the tension with a grin.
“I’ll go ahead and tell mother you’ve returned. Your old room is filled, but the guest house is open for the moment,” said the Dryad.
Letting out a slow breath Meliae ducked her head towards the woman who’d spoken. Bolting off, the Dryad was gone in a single breath. The other two Dryads relaxed and began to walk back the way they came.
Turning her head to Vince, she gave him a crooked smile. “Let me show you where I grew up, Sweetling.”
Not waiting for a response, Meliae trooped ahead.
Falling in behind her, he could only wonder what lay in wait for him.
“Most of everything this far out is simply a barrier. Trees grown and maintained to shelter the grove and give the defenders time to respond. I’ve only been gone from here for a short while, but it seems like forever.” Meliae’s voice carried easily and she seemed rather at ease. He could only imagine it was like going back to your childhood home for her.
“Up ahead is the center of the grove. Mother lives there with her oldest unplanted children. Spread out around that are all the various homes of the inhabitants.
“Truthfully, it’s a small place. Big enough for the grove and its needs, but not much else. Left to ourselves, we Dryads need for little.”
As if passing through a curtain, the trees were no longer there, and an open field lay before them.
Houses, fields, and small paths filled the center and grew out from there. Vince could easily see signs of expansion. Newer homes with different styles and wood that hadn’t been aged with time.
Using that as a marker, he could see the growth was steady, but slow.
“Dryads born here in the grove eventually have to leave of course. They can’t share in the husbands of the grove since they’re likely to be blood relatives.”
Which explains the slow growth. Only unaffiliated Dryads can remain.
Vince kept himself from sighing as Meliae continued on. He was tired. Very tired.
Carrying the Dragonnewt and constantly cycling his power had exhausted him mentally if not physically.
Meliae came to a sudden stop in front of him, her arm coming up to indicate the building they were in front of.
“…and this is where we’ll be staying. I doubt very much mother will be able to see us tonight. I imagine she’s tending to grove needs.”
Minutes later, Vince was happily sprawled out in a bed for himself, leaving everything else to his comrades.
They could take care of it, they were smart, enterprising people.
Right now, he just wanted to sleep.
Vince’s eyes popped open as the sound of his door opening brought him to wakefulness.
In the low light he could see Elysia stepping through doorway.
“This way,” she said to someone behind her.
Blue and Green followed her in, carrying what looked like a duffel bag between them.
Closing the door Elysia strode right up to his bed and smiled down at him.
“Good evening, my liege,” Elysia said. Glancing over her shoulder she indicated to the wall. “Right there. Then you two can leave. We’ll decide what to do with you after.”
Blue and Green set down their load and then hesitated.
“Oh fine, take a seat,” Elysia said with a sigh.
Both the Dryads dropped down to a seated position right there.
Looking at the duffel bag, Vince realized it was Meliae. She’d been hogtied, gagged, and bound tightly. Her eyes were wide and greened over completely, watching him.
I see.
Elysia reached up and undid the clasp of her cloak. The clothing hissed as it slid off her bare skin, revealing that she had nothing on underneath.
She wore only the collar he’d put on her, and nothing else.
“Just remain comfortable, my liege. I’m afraid you’ll not be slipping away this time,” Elysia said with a firm tone of voice. Leaning over she undid the button on his pants and pulled down his fly.
Grasping both the hem of his pants and his underwear she slid them down to his ankles.
“Hm, and what shall we do with this?” Elysia asked softly, her right hand cupping his half erect member. Her left hand slid down underneath that and gave his jewels a gentle squeeze.
Vince took in a slow breath, his skin prickling and his heartbeat rapidly increasing.
He had a number of aggressive women in his life, he’d just never expected it from Elysia.
She’d even gone so far as to include the Dryads for their own benefit, since she would get nothing out of them watching.
Unless she’s into that?
Elysia dipped her head down to his waist and slid her tongue along his shaft. Reaching the tip she moved back to the base and did it again, taking a different route.
Her warm and moist tongue left a wet trail as she went, his manhood leaping upwards at her attention.
“Oh, aren’t you eager,” Elysia said with
a soft laugh. Kissing the tip, she rolled her tongue down from there, under the shaft and across his balls.
“I’d considered making Blue or Green do this, but I think for my first, I’d like to be responsible,” Elysia said, staring up at him, her eyes sparkling. Turning her head to the side as she kept eye contact with him, she wrapped her lips around his head and then moved down.
Making her way along his shaft she paused at the hilt, her lips stretching as she sucked on him. Her cheeks flexed as she began drawing her head back, leaving his entire length coated in her saliva.
With a soft pop, he came free of her lips. She eyed him critically and then nodded. “That should be enough. Forgive me, my dear liege, but I’ll not be servicing you like that on our first night. Maybe our second. I promise I’ll make one of the Dryads clean you up after, while the other cleans me.”
Elysia moved then, sinking her knees down on each side of his waist.
She took a moment to position her hips, her left hand reaching down between her thighs.
Vince knew what was coming and got comfortable. He wouldn’t stop her, and he planned on enjoying it.
He felt her long fingers find and grasp him. She angled his tip, and he could feel more so than see when she placed his head against her opening.
Moving herself down, her slit parted for him as he began to enter her.
Pausing, she put her hands down on each side of his head and then smiled down at him.
“You’re mine,” she said in a throaty whisper.
The skin all over his body tingled at her words, his hands coming up to rest on her hips.
Staring into his face, she pushed down on him, his member entering her depths. Inch by inch he filled her, ripping her hymen, and spearing deep into her.
“All mine,” Elysia said as her hips came to rest in his lap, his length buried in her.
Her hips rolling forward with ease, he felt as her hot channel gripped and squeezed at him. Then she released her muscles and rocked backward before squeezing tight to him again.
Moaning, Elysia started to grind into him, her hips swaying back and forth as she rode him.
Digging his fingers into her soft flesh, he lifted his lower back and hips to give her a bit more to play with.
