To Claim the Elvin Princess: Apprentice

by Jack Bessie

  “You’ve not sampled those? The Eridians have a strong taboo against same sex play, but we find that barbaric! The irony is that they will kill someone for doing such, but have no hesitation to marry a sibling, even though that is quite risky genetically for the humans! Has Amein spoken to you of such things?”

  “Yes. She has confessed to engaging in much play with other females, including her own sisters! But then, she says she practiced with her brothers also!” Rasten sighed.

  “Everyone does. The Elvin are blessed with no genetic flaws, and also the ability to not get pregnant unless the female chooses to. The poor humans have to be more careful. Our sorcerers have devised several things to aid them in avoiding pregnancy, but be advised, should you have a human female...many refuse to use them, especially if they can get an Elvin male naked. They greatly desire to have an Elvin male’s child!”

  “So I’ve heard, but it seems the Elvin females are much the same, at least in some regards...” Rasten suggested.

  “You’ve already got someone begging to have your child?! Does Amein know?”

  “Yes, her sister Nacein...Amein mentioned banishing her, but will not...she cares deeply for her,” Rasten grinned.

  “Good. Nacein’s behavior would be considered pushy and a bit...obnoxious...by most Elvin. But Nacein never let propriety stand in the way of what she wanted. She’s a naughty one, even by Elvin standards!”

  “You’ve had her?”

  “I’d guess everyone in the Citadel has had Nacein! She and her current partner are fond of...entertaining several at a time. Their get togethers are quite fun and much enjoyed by most anyone, who is lucky enough to get invited!” Kalida suggested, smiling wickedly.

  “I can see why that might be...she just slipped into my bath naked, and made her sexy plea. I made her mad, and she left, or she might have succeeded!” Rasten confessed.

  “She’ll be back, even if Amein has a fit! Nacein is nothing if not persistent! Just be advised, you have her once, she’ll be pregnant...there’s a lot of Elvin females likely eager for that with you!” Rasten cringed, remembering the innkeepers mother, but said nothing.

  Rasten had barely pushed his plate back, when the females reappeared, eager to woo him. They seemed merely friendly and playful, but within minutes, he was aroused and in danger of being had sitting at the table. Seeing his frazzled state, Kalida whispered to the ones occupying him, who looked delighted, and ran off to find the rest of their clothing, they being down to their panties and shoes. They reappeared fully clothed, and Kalida stood up.

  “Ladies, Rasten has duties to attend to! Perhaps I’ll bring him back with the Princess?” he teased. The ones busy attempting to seduce Rasten, looked disappointed a moment, but the prospect of having the Princess, as well as Rasten to play with, seemed too good to pass up.

  “That would be wonderful!” one declared, kissing Rasten deeply. They were soon outside, Kalida arm in arm with two of the Elvin females that had been teasing him. Rasten glanced at him and frowned.

  “I thought I should rescue you...I’d have stayed, but will just take my entertainment to my place!” he teased. “Sure you don’t want one of them?”

  “Sure I don’t need a fit from you know who!” Rasten sighed, wishing his erection would subside quicker.

  At the Citidel’s entry hall, Kalida took his leave going to his rooms with his sexy and eager females. Rasten trudged up to the large apartment he shared with Amein, encountering several of their attendants, who all beamed at him, delighted that he was always so nice, and more than a small bit desiring to be able to be naked with him. He dismissed them, one by one, wishing to just have peace and quiet. He tossed off his clothes, and slipped on a soft gown, intending to read a bit, but was soon bored and restless. He dimmed the lights, and went to the bedroom, tossing off the robe, and slipping into the large bed. Amein was not expected back for another two days, having already been gone five. He missed her attention, and just thinking about her luscious nakedness, made his maleness swell. He was idly fantasizing about her, stroking himself, when he felt the bed wiggle. A strong scent of Elvin female touched his nose, as a small giggle escaped. Reaching above his head, to touch and increase the light enough to see, he was confronted by Narimein and her sister Leinien. The younger one, had no hesitation to reach under the cover and take hold of his firm organ, as her sister slipped close to kiss him deeply.

  “Exactly what are you two up to now?!” he demanded.

  Narimein, wiggling his maleness, gave a small laugh. “You are missing Amein, and we’ve come to take care of your urges...and we aren’t taking no for an answer this time!” she declared, as Leininen pulled the sheet down. Rasten had Narimein impaled on his organ before he could even respond, her wet, young Elvin pussy seeming on fire.

  “You can explain this to Amein when she has a fit!” Rasten sighed, knowing he wasn’t saying no to their attention.

  “We will...she would never punish us...at least not too much!” Leinien sighed. “I hope!” she added, belatedly.

  46

  Word of the Eridian attack on Usaritein reached Alarinad swiftly, and did much to please the Elvin at large. The idea that the Eridians had suffered a substantial loss seemed perfectly just, and the word that only a handful of Elvin had perished seemed even better news. Amein seemed less pleased, when she returned, the Elvin death toll being a half dozen and all warriors. None of the non-fighters had been killed, unlike the attack on Alarinad, wherein most of the casualties had been non-combatants.

  In spite of this, she was frustrated and angry, the temptation to retaliate and wreck vengeance on the Eridians strong. Only the possibility that the Elvin captives might be made to suffer gave her pause. That and Rasten’s teasing.

  “Oh, so I’m told to reject vengeance, but it’s fine for Miss Elf?

  “Of course not!” she declared, and stuck her tongue out at him, to display a childish sense of annoyance. “But we have to do something to punish them!” she complained.

  “It looks like they did a good job of punishing themselves! If the reports are accurate, they lost a lot of people!” Rasten insisted.

  “We managed to save two of them, and have them captive. I’m sure they are not pleased! They were moved here...shall we go pay them a visit?” Amein asked, smiling slightly.

  Going out, they made their way through the Citadel, coming to the place where such captives were held. The two captured Eridians were being kept separate, having no idea the other was anywhere near. One was still weak, and recovering from his wounds, but the other had done better, and was sitting up. He looked up, curious, wondering if he might have a chance to escape. He was unfettered, and frowned, to see the door slide open and Amein and Rasten both enter, seemingly unconcerned. He was sitting on one end of his sleeping platform, and Amein stepped close, sitting beside him. She could sense his consternation, and confusion easily.

  “I am Princess Amein, and this is Lord Rasten, Sayarin’s son. What might be your name?” she asked, her Eridian flawless. The warrior seemed astounded, that the leader of the Elvin might be within arms reach and he suddenly made up his mind to try and take advantage of this, intending to grab Amein’s neck with his strong hands. He soon regretted this.

  Amein merely looked disappointed, as she touched his neck lightly, before his hands could even exert the least pressure.

  “Behave,” she said quietly and a sharp burning pain exploded through the Eridian’s body. “Now, I would know your name,” she repeated. The Eridian seemed more inclined to obey, gasping for breath a moment, before nodding.

  “I am called Lucerto,” he managed to confess, no longer believing that Amein was an easy target to be overcome.

  “You are from Shocara’s tribe?” she asked, and received a nod.

  “Why did you attack Usaritein? Do you know?” The captive shrugged, gesturing slightly with his hands.

  “I suppose because we could...we heard that a large mass of flyers had departed the city, and hop
ed we might have a better chance.”

  “But that was not the case? The warriors knew you were coming!”

  “But how?!” Lucerto demanded. “Is there a spy among us?!” he demanded, offended.

  “Nay...we have many powers among our people, with which we might give warning of such a thing,” she declared simply, wishing to keep him uninformed.

  “Then we are doomed,” he said, his terror plain.

  “Lucerto, I am sad that your people died. We have no desire for this war! All the Evin have ever wanted is for there to be peace, so that your people might prosper, and have no lack, no need, as you do now. Your lives can’t be easy, with all of the loss and disruption that the constant fighting brings!”

  “Our lives are hard, but what else might we do...if we didn’t fight, we would soon become weak, and unmanly!”

  “But there are others, who are evil that you might fight, wielding your weapons beside us. You could win great renown in such fashion, and keep your skills sharp! But your people, your families would be safe and secure. Does that not seem more desirable than what you endure now?”

  “Princess...who am I to understand such weighty matters? I am a simple warrior, who does his duty, and tries to survive. Now I am doomed. I am not afraid to die, but who will tend my animals, and care for my family when I am gone?”

  “It is not my desire that you perish here. I would have you carry a message to Shocara for me, speaking of these things, not to try to undermine her, but to entice her to consider a better way.”

  “None of our people have returned to us...why should I be different?” he asked, suspicious.

  “Because I wish it. All of the others we’ve captured are still alive and well, living among us free and unfettered.”

  “How can this be?!”

  “They found that life free of war and suffering is quite desirable, and choose to stay; you could do the same, but if you wish to return to your people, I will permit it, as long as you promise to take my words to Shocara,” Amein sighed.

  Lucerto, had expected to be questioned about things related to war, such as the number of warriors and flyers the Eridians had, but he was amazed to be asked none of these. Instead, Amein and Rasten asked him to describe his life and village, his family and how they lived. He could see nothing that might be used against them, and so answered, finding Amein to be warm and seemingly sincere. This disturbed him much, later after they had departed, their manner much different than he had imagined the Elvin might be.

  When they were returning to the main area of the Citadel, Amein thought to ask Rasten for his observations.

  “He is much disturbed, we seeming different than he expected,” he suggested.

  “Was he truthful?” she wondered.

  “Yes, in spite of not wanting to be. He was afraid to lie, for the most part. Our reputation for having wicked powers does much to encourage honesty, at such moments!” he chuckled. “What did you do to him, that stopped him from strangling you?” he suddenly asked.

  “He wasn’t intending to harm me...he wanted to be able to use me to bargain for his freedom! Come here and sit!” she insisted. Rasten did so, reluctantly. “It’s a simple spell, that you should learn...” she said, reaching out to touch his neck, as she whispered a small series of words.

  “Shit!” Rasten managed to half yell, half gasp, as a sudden sharp shock exploded from his neck down to the base of his spine. Amein’s giggle did nothing to make him less annoyed.

  “You found that unpleasant?” she teased.

  “That made my asshole hurt! You need to teach me how to do that!” he demanded.

  “Only if you swear not to use it on me!” she laughed. “But if you do, be advised...I can do something even more painful!”

  “Great!” Rasten complained. A quick kiss from Amein made him less annoyed.

  “So, do you trust him to convey a message honestly to Shocara?”

  “Reasonably...but she will dismiss it, at least at first. Oh...I didn’t tell you! Our people in Usaritein report that they believe Shocara was wounded...apparently someone got her with a throwing knife! How are you doing at mastering that?”

  “So, so...it’s a lot harder than it looks! Can you hit anything?”

  “About half the time...I’m much better with a sword, than a throwing knife! But it’s important that you try to master it...” she teased.

  “Really? But you get a pass? Who decides such things?!” he demanded.

  “I do...and you will obey me!” she insisted, before erupting into giggles. “No!” she shrieked, as he began tickling her.

  They sat quietly for a time, Amein perched on his lap, content to be held.

  “I feel sorry for her...I know how terrifying it has to be to be wounded. I also know what it feels like to lose people under you. She lost a quarter of her force, and had she not had such a number in the air, she’d no longer be a problem!”

  “You sound more relieved by that, than upset. Still think she’s the key to finding peace?”

  “Of course. I just hope they don’t do something evil to her for getting her butt beat! We understand little of how they think,” she complained.

  “Our captive wasn’t all that helpful at explaining them either,” Rasten suggested.

  “Hardly...they have a pretty basic view of the world; Eridians, good, Elvin, evil! They fight us, hoping to win, to attain some level of vengeance, we beat them well, and give them more reason to want vengeance! But if we don’t beat them down, they get bolder, and do more evil. Only if we can get past this stupid cycle will we have a chance for peace.”

  “Don’t you imagine being wounded will make Shocara more inclined to hate us?”

  “Perhaps...but we can only hope such will make her more inclined to contemplate more deeply. She got her ass handed to her well on this adventure, and one would hope she’s wise enough to at least consider that she might be foolish. If she has to confront the idea that we want something other than war, perhaps...perhaps she might at least start on a road to a better place. Her people will be the worst thing holding her back. Traditions cuts deep among all races, and imprisons us in many different ways! It’s always been done this way! How often do we hear such a thing? The Elvin are not immune to this either!” Amein proclaimed.

  “We are all creatures of habit?” Rasten wondered.

  “Of course. Even worse, pride can keep both an individual and a people imprisoned in a pattern of doing! The Eridians have little else, but their strength in arms, to be so about. They are fiercely proud of their fighting skills, so much that one lacking them is treated as a second class person within their society. To have a choice of a mate, they must prove their worth as a fighter. Otherwise, family arranges who they will have, with no input from the ones, especially the male, involved. The women who can fight are highly prized, and often can only be had by being beaten with a sword, as has been reported many times!”

  “I suppose it’s good that I don’t have to fight you with a sword just to get in your pants,” Rasten teased.

  “Perhaps, but I’d likely let you win, just so I could be had!” she confessed, looking embarrassed.

  47

  Shocara had been weak, having lost more blood than she thought. She had fallen into a daze, and been carried to her cabin, where she lay, feverish and mostly unaware. Garen had sat with her almost non-stop, tending her, and wiping the sweat from her face. He managed to get her to drink, having to lift and hold her upright, she being too weak to sit up on her own.

  On the third day, her fever broke, and she managed to drink more, finally sleeping, calm and relaxed. Her fever had been accompanied by much upset and movement, as if she was being tormented by evil dreams.

  When she awoke again, in mid-afternoon, she was hungry, and Garen went to get her some broth and bread. The news that she seemed better was greeted well by most, who had worried what her dying might mean for their people. With no offspring to take her place, leadership would have devolved into
a contest of wills, likely causing many deaths before someone arose strong enough to keep all the tribes under their thumb. Shocara might have her detractors, but she was considered much the lesser of evils by most.

  While she ate, Garen waited, eager to tend her wound and see how well she was recovering.

  “Did I speak while I was unaware?” she asked.

  Garen frowned. “You muttered much, that I could not understand...at times you cried out...as if hurt or afraid. Did you dream?”

  “I seem to recall that I did...evil ones, mostly...” she sighed. She suddenly looked pale and distraught.

  “What? Something worse plagued you?” Garen wondered, speaking gently.

  Shocara wiped at her eyes. “I...in one I was confronted by the Elvin Princess...” she managed to whisper. Garen nodded, hoping she would continue.

  “Yes? Were you fighting her?”

  “No. I was...kneeling at her feet...sur...surrendering...and swearing...allegiance...” she managed to say this, her voice barely audible.

  “It was only a dream...” Garen suggested.

  “So was the one that warned me of our defeat at the hands of the Elvin!” she loudly declared, her voice an agonized hiss. “Have I seen the future? Are we doomed?! Dear Garen...how could I bear to be in such a place, to be the one to bring us to ruin, who must needs bow and make us slave to our enemies?!” she cried.

  “You will find ruin quicker if you surrender to mere dreams, and give up!” the old one suggested. Shocara considered this, and suddenly laughed.

  “You are so wise! Truly, my worst enemy is my own fears!” she said, eager to shake off her funk.

  While she finished eating, she allowed Garen to brush her hair as he had done since her childhood.

  “I am pleased that you survived...I could not bear to lose you!” he suggested.

  “You would be sad? I think I would be also, even in the land of the dead; I would miss your attention and devotion. Who would I trust without you?” she asked, having cared for Garen more than her father or other family.