“A great race eh? Very clever young Sava. You neither won nor did you lose. And how will you reward us for neither winning nor losing?” The king asked with a sardonic grin.
“Sire I want to gift you my two best five year old colts by Zlatna.”
Yagya shot him a piercing stare. “The race was only a demonstration. It is not necessary to give away your good colts just to induce us to come to the council.”
“It would be my honor to know that my colts are being used to good purpose in Taurica.”
“You are most generous young Sava. And I accept. You can look for the Tauri at the war council. We will be there. So where do you travel next?”
“To Neuria my lord.”
Yagya’s brush hovered over the chestnut’s shining flanks.
“You are going to see those crazy Vukari Wolf People?” Yagya glanced over at Sava and shook his head.
“Wolf People?”
“Once a year at the full of the harvest moon the Neuri become Vukodlaki, Wolf People. In that manic state they will hunt down and tear to pieces any prey they come across be it man or animal.”
Chapter 28 – Pleasure in Your Embrace
The art of life lies in
Taking pleasures as they pass…
It is not abstinence
From pleasures that is best,
But mastery over them –
Aristippus, Greek philosopher 435 BC
“Ah, is there anything else I need to know about the Neuri?” Sava’s optimistic grin had fallen slightly.
“The Neuri rarely come down out of their Holy Mountains so I doubt they will join the alliance. But if you must go, do not drop your guard. Don’t eat or drink anything they give you. Just give them your message and leave. You can never fully trust the Neuri. They are sorcerers of the black arts. They can enter your mind.” Yagya said in his throaty voice.
Sava exchanged a grim speaking-look with Brata who had joined them.
“The Neuri might slip drugs into your drink that will reduce your brain to a quivering mass of fat. And don’t let those Vukodlaki wizards get close enough to blow their poisonous drugs into your face.” The king continued. “And if they should turn into Vukodlaki in your presence, they will tear you from limb to shivering limb like ravening wolves!”
“Is there a way to stop the Neuri from casting their spell net over us?”
“There is only one thing the Neuri fear – Velesh – Black Serpent of the Underworld. Take this as a sign of Velesh’ protection.”
The king motioned to one of his warriors who reached into a leather bag and handed Sava a gold pendant in the shape of a coiled serpent, head raised to strike, ruby red eyes gleaming.
“Wear this so the Neuri can see it. Take my ring too.” Yagya took the matching serpent ring with ruby eyes from his own finger. “Let them see you are under the protection of the Black Serpent. We will accompany you as far as the Boryesthenes. From there it is four or five days to the border of Neuria. Give them your message, then make haste and leave with all speed.”
Sava shrugged, feigning nonchalance. “I have been attacked by lions, demons and cannibals. So tell me - What is there to fear from these Neuri Vukari, besides a few magic spells?“
“Hah. Such a joker.” Yagya cuffed his shoulder. “You will find out soon enough. So,” he said, eying Sorsha. “You have made friends with our beautiful Sorsha eh?”
Sava nodded, smiling. “Sire, I ask a favor.”
“Speak.”
“I ask that you bring Sorsha with you to the war council. I ahh… I like Sorsha very much. I would like the chance to know her better.”
Yagya’s eyes glinted. “Is this your wish also Sorsha?”
“Aye Lord. It is my heart’s desire.” She gazed at Sava with glowing eyes.
“Then it is agreed, Sorsha will come. Just make sure you don’t get to know her too well – not until after the wedding.” The king’s lips creased in a knowing smile.
Sava swallowed, realizing the awkward situation that would arise when Sorsha arrived. I will have to break the news to Bari and my parents.
He would have some serious explaining to do. But right now he was delighted at the prospect of seeing Sorsha again.
“Your generous gifts are much appreciated sire. And I will have Zlatna’s two best five year old stud colts waiting for your arrival in Royal Skythia.”
“Good, but I will only take one of your colts. The other will be my gift to Sorsha as her wedding present.”
“Thank you sire!” Sorsha gasped, her face a sunbeam of light.
“Sava are you aware that I have received a marriage proposal for Sorsha from the son of a good Tauri family?” Yagya said pointedly.
“Aye, she told me.”
“Keep that in mind. Don’t wait too long to claim her. Sorsha is a fine, high-spirited mare. She will bear strong, handsome children. More than one good Tauri man has his eye on her.”
Later, as they walked in the evening dusk Sava asked Sorsha: “What Royal Skythian clan was your mother from? Do you know the names of your mother’s parents?”
“My mother’s name was Mika, but I don’t remember her clan or her parents’ names. What are your parents’ clans?”
“My father’s clan is Serboi. My mother is Alani.”
They paused at a grove of trees set away from camp. Sava leaned up against a tree, his tall lithe outline cast in lengthening shadows. An overwhelming sense of happiness flooded his heart. What had begun with such magic the night before was not over. I will see her again.
“Come here Sorsha.” His voice smoky, seductive.
Pulling her close, he reveled in the warm silkiness of her skin. Her body resting against his thick heat, trusting him implicitly. He nuzzled her neck and shoulder.
“Hmmm, Sorsha you smell almost as good as my horse.”
“Almost?” She batted his shoulder. “Hah. You are a beast Sava.”
“But you have lured my beast from his lair. Now I intend to pick up from where we left off last night.”
“Ah so after watching the wedding dance you think you know what we Tauri women like?”
“Aye. I observed plenty. Which I will modify with our Sauromatian style.” Inserting his fingers deeply into her hair, he twisted and pulled, arching her neck back.
Sorsha’s lips opened and he kissed her softly, leisurely undulating his tongue with hers as his fingers tightened on her hair.
Ah. Her mouth opened wider in submission. He thrust deeper into moist velvet, twining his tongue indolently, lingeringly around hers.
Hmmm…Arms twined around his neck, breasts pressed against his chest, she sucked his tongue. A thrill shot through his body.
“But first,” he drew back, breaking their succulent kiss, “I want you to tell me all you know about the Neuri. Will you do that for me Sorsha?” Sava murmured, nuzzling her neck as his other hand molded and squeezed her breast.
“Sorsha…”Breathing her name he kissed her eyelids, cheekbones, working sensuous lips down her neck. “Tell me Sorsha… About these strange Vukari Wolf People. Anything that will help me stay in one piece until we can be together again.”
Chapter 29 – Adoni
Stir up his lust
Touch him, excite him
Open yourself to him
Show him what a woman is –
Epic of Gilgamesh, 1500 BC
“Sorsha, my beautiful White Mare…I cannot risk leaving you alone and with child. But I want to give you such pleasure in my embrace that you will never forget me.” Sava’s husky whisper tingled her ear.
Cupping her face in warm palms, he kissed her lips, his tongue twining with hers. His sensual lips tasted her peaked nipples under her kurta. He laved and nibbled her breasts until moist dark areolas shadowed the silk.
With careful, deliberate fingers he opened her kurta to reveal one sumptuous breast, then the other, replete with dusky pink succulent nipples.
“Ahhh…my Adoni.” Releasing a sigh she cup
ped her breasts with both hands, pressing the taut nipples together as an offering to her lord’s lips, tongue and teeth.
“I await your words. Tell me about the Neuri, Sorsha.” His voice a sinful caress.
Lifting her skirt by degrees, his supple fingers brushed along velvety skin to caress her inner thighs. Reaching into her most sensitive areas, he rubbed, fingering, stimulating.
Ahh… her soft moan a whisper of invitation. “How can I think when you are doing that?” Grinding her yoni against his hand, she sucked his tongue lavishly.
“Sorsha tell me about the Neuri, or I will be forced to punish you.” His sculpted lips curved in a warning smile. Fingers twisted in her hair, he forced her head back to gaze into his crystalline blue-green pools. “Surely you can think about two things at once, hmmh?...” His voice black velvet.
“Oh Sava…kiss, smack, tongue suck… Please don’t punish me.” Her lips curved in a salacious grin.
“Don’t tempt me to discipline your sweet round ass.”
Twisting her long black hair harder so that her back arched, he suckled and nibbled on a dusky nipple while his fingers rolled and pinched the other.
“Are you smiling? You are.”His sensual fingers stopped. He gave her bared thigh a sharp slap. “Stop playing. Now concentrate. Tell me what you know about the Neuri.”
This only served to excite her more. She undulated against his bulge. Deft fingers flicking open the loops of his kurta, she kissed and licked down his muscled chest and belly.
“Hmmh, you taste good.” Taking his hand she placed it over her left breast. “Feel my heart? It beats for you.” A laugh bubbled up through her lips.
“Sorsha…” His voice husky, warning.
She straightened and fixed him with radiant earthen eyes. “I warn you, my knowledge of the Neuri is limited. They are mysterious, secretive. Few have seen them.” Her nubile fingers traced the muscles of his bare chest. “Hmmm, so smooth, so hot.”
Arms coiled around his waist she ground her mound against his throbbing bulge.
Ahh, uh-h…He groaned, struck with throbbing desire. Piercing. Sweet. “Don’t stop. Keep talking my Beauty”
“They say the Neuri are very tall. Very strong. They are dangerous, unpredictable, like wild animals. It is said they guard a sacred temple high in the mountains. A temple built long ago by the Sons of Man.”
“The Sons of Man... I have heard of them. The Budini say the First Man was Targitaos. He came from above to sire the Sons of Man. But everyone has a different story.” Sava tried to focus, but his seething lust had other ideas.
“The Neuri say the Sons of Man were an ancient race of super men like Herakles”. Sorsha said between lush smooches down to his belly, her soft lips radiating heat as her hand rubbed and squeezed his tumescence. “They say the Sons of Man ruled during a golden age when there was no war. But they died out ages ago.”
“If the Sons of Man were so great, why did they fall?”
“I wish I knew.” She interspersed her words with licks, kisses and squeezes to his groin. “Some say it was a great flood or a blazing star that crashed into earth, sent by the gods to punish man for his sins.”
Uhh. He slowly rocked against her hand. “Tell me more Sorsha. What gods do the Neuri worship, Hmmh?” He cupped her ass to grind his throbbing bulge against her mound. “What gods Sorsha? Tell me. I am desperate to know.” His voice a seductive purr.
He took her breath, her mind. Laughter welled up, her lips pressed against his warm pulsing throat. She understood his need to tease, to tantalize. And she loved playing along with him.
“Ah, hmmh… The Neuri worship…the One God – He who rules my heart.” She breathed. “They worship only one god whom they call Jivan – God of Life.”
Their breathing took on a deep, simultaneous rhythm. Seeking his lips she sucked his tongue deeply as he rubbed his hard arousal against her throbbing core in a gentle seductive rhythm.
“Uh-hh.” Sava’s voice a low, throaty growl. “I have heard of this Jivan. One of the old gods… But most people have fallen away from Jivan. They worship the serpent gods now. Velesh and his minions.” Sava said between breaths as he alternately licked, sucked and pinched her nipples.
“Do the Neuri speak Skythian?” He asked.
“Mmmm, Ahhh… “ She moaned, rolling her core against his bulge.
“Answer me Sorsha. Don’t make me spank you again.” He smiled against her lips, his hand poised over her bare thigh. ”If the Neuri are the last descendants of the Sons of Man, do they speak Skythian or some ancient language?”
His voice coaxing, beguiling. She buried her hands in his hair, twisting hard to pull his head back. His lips partly open, submissive to her now. Looking into his eyes, she kissed his eyelids, then his lips.
“You will punish me unless I tell you more about the Neuri?” A knowing smile in her eyes.
“Aye. You will have to be disciplined. I am not a man to be trifled with.” His lips smiled against the shell of her ear.
“Then I will tell you no more.”
“Ah so you think you have figured me out eh? Then you will get no discipline either. Except this.“ He tweaked a nipple, sending a shot of pleasure-pain straight to her core.
Ah! Her back arched, throwing her head back. “Since you put it that way….Aye I hear the Neuri do speak Skythian, but with a heavy accent. Many years ago, they were forced out of their original lands by a plague of poisonous serpents. Thousands of vipers came slithering out of the steppes and attacked them. Some say the Neuri angered Velesh with their wizardry and the plague of snakes was a curse the god loosed upon them.”
“What time of year are the Neuri possessed by wolf spirits?”
“The full of the autumn moon.”
“Then it is to our great good fortune that this turning will take place after the war council. My beautiful Sorsha, you deserve a reward for such useful information…”
Taking her hand in his warm palm he sat her on a fallen log.
“Open your thighs.”
She complied, staring at him with luminous brown eyes. Not taking his eyes off hers he knelt between her legs. Bending his head he pressed sensuous lips on her yoni, still covered by her skirt, and lavishly kissed her, breathing warm wet air on her pearl.
“Can you tell me anything else about the Neuri my Beauty?” His mesmerizing growl sent flames through her veins igniting her throbbing core.
Pushing her thighs wider he lifted her skirt and began to tongue, nibble and suck her pearl. He paused to gaze at up her. His nostrils flared, inhaling her intoxicating, musky scent, his eyes heavy lidded.
“Hmmh? Search your mind Yeva. Any other details which could help my quest?” Inhaling her musky feminine scent he gave her core a long slow lick, his tongue flat and thick, then so gently sucked her pearl.
“Adoni… Oh my god…I will tell you more, even if I have to lie. We say the mountains of Neuria are haunted. Powerful spirits live up there.”
She grasped his thick, gold-shot chestnut hair, pressing his rocking head to her throbbing vulva.
“And? What kind of spirits – bad - good? Speak now or no more reward for you Beauty.”
“Ah, anything but that. They say Neuria is haunted by Ala, demons who bring giant thunder storms and avalanches of rocks onto the valleys below. But the worst are the strigoi - demons who suck a man’s soul from his body as he sleeps.”
“Are you sure?”
“No one knows for sure Sava. Maybe these are just stories made up by the Neuri to keep men away from their lands.”
“Interesting. For that you will be justly rewarded.”
Warmly kissing and sucking her pearl, he inserted two fingers into her cleft, drawing his fingers in and out of her hot velvet sheath as he licked and sucked her throbbing pearl with sensual lips and tongue.
All thoughts of the Neuri fled Sorsha’s mind, everything but this moment of total awareness. She was whirled into a paradise of feeling shot through with shudd
ering spasms of golden ecstasy.
She clutched his hair, rolling her pearl against his lips; uninhibited, wild, vibrating against his searching tongue.
“There can never be anyone else for me but you my Adoni. Never. You have it all for me.” She whispered in his ear. “Please…Allow me to satisfy you also.” She massaged his hard bulge with nubile fingers.
“Nay Beauty I will wait, counting the days until we meet in Royal Skythia. We Sauromatae are very fertile. I cannot chance leaving you here alone, pregnant and unwed.”
“But there are other ways…I can pleasure you…” She whispered, massaging his bulging phallus. “Please Adoni, I want to feel it…Taste it… Sit here.” Sorsha pointed to the log.
He did as she asked and spread his knees. She knelt between his thighs. Her nubile fingers slipped off his belt and untied the laces of his leggings. He sighed, giving in to her warm, magnetic touch. Reaching in she pulled out his hot thick manhood.
Hmmm… She hummed low in her throat, running her hand over his hard arousal, caressing him. “So smooth…and Thick... Beautiful.” She showered his throbbing arousal with tender licks and sucks.
”Beautiful? And you know this because you have you seen so many?” Sava’s lips curved in a sardonic smile.
She did not answer, simply pressed full lips over the broad mushroom head, kissing, licking, sucking his tumescent cock.
Oh ahh…Rasping out a low growl he leaned back, eyes half-lidded, focused on the intoxicating sensations. Wrapping his fingers in her long black hair, he guided her soft, moist lips and tongue up and down his engorged phallus.
“Are you going to ride me like you rode that mare today?” He kept a hand twisted in her hair, pushing her mouth down on his swollen, throbbing manhood as he lifted her skirt with the other.
She gurgled in response, sucking and pumping, squeezing and massaging with both hands. He caressed her inner thighs, reaching through to massage her pearl.
Smack – Ah!
He administered a sharp slap to her smooth fluttering golden buttocks, then ran sensual fingers thru and over her folds, rubbing and circling the pearl of her desire.
River God: The Horse Lords Page 14
