by Jack Bessie
“We must discover how the Eridians knew of our plans! We have never suffered such a betrayal!” Amein said, her voice angry and harsh.
“True, but there is another thing we must consider!” Kimarien suggested softly. Everyone stared at him. “Shocara...her leadership and quick thinking was amazing! She guided her men well, and her grasp of strategy is something we’ve never seen from the Eridians. We were well positioned twice to beat them down, but she guided them to elude our force! This whole battle smacks of brilliant planning, and we should not hesitate to confess it!”
“Well spoken. She gives them something they’ve never displayed before...an inventiveness and ability to improvise. We’re used to fighting Eridians who are simple and predictable, and she’s changed that! We must prepare better!” Amein declared. “How many did we loose.
“More than fifty...we were lucky to not lose more!”
“So...the Eridians drove us off, and their village was spared. They still have our people, and their own women and children?” Amein asked. Kimarien nodded.
“Then it seems the Eridians won this one, doesn’t it?!”
The commanders glanced at each other, before all nodded.
“What might you tell me of Lord Rasten?” she asked, and sat, scarcely breathing.
“His quick thinking liked spared us much worse casualties, Princess!”
“You said he was fighting Shocara when last you saw him? What can you tell me of that?”
“He was holding his own. She was trying to get him back deeper into the forest...likely to use it to her own advantage somehow, but...with the way the fighting was going, I had no time to watch! Neither of them were visible to me as we departed!”
“Were you fighting as you mounted your terranaks?”
“No..the Eridiains seemed to stop as we mounted up, and fled...what do you make of that?” Kimarien wondered.
“Only Shocara would have stopped them from trying to kill all of you! I’m certain she was someplace close enough to issue commands! You know what that likely means...” she ended, suddenly exhausted.
“Of course...but Rasten is a resourceful one...” Kimarien suggested, wishing to sound more hopeful than he felt.
“But even had he escaped Shocara’s blade, he would be alone, many leagues from our land, completely surrounded by Eridians!” Amein sighed.
They talked for a time, about the need to find the one within who had passed along such information, as well as the need to think better of their enemies deviousness. She finally dismissed them, and headed off to her rooms.
When she arrived, she found her mother waiting.
Hiverivi stood, and Amein ran into her arms, bursting into tears. Neither spoke for many long minutes.
“The evil part...is not knowing for certain!” Amein finnaly sighed.
“None saw him fall?” her mother asked, and Amein shook her head.
“None saw either of them,” she insisted, then explained what she knew.
“You are likely correct...but even captured or wounded...his chances of surviving the Eridians is slim. Should they discover who he is, his end would be terrible!”
“Probably. I’ve never hated the Eridians as much as I do now!” she complained.
“How much are you angry with yourself?” Hiverivi asked suddenly. This caused a new wave of tears, before Amein managed to stop sniveling.
“I will always blame myself! I...had no real reason for not going...I just wanted him to lead, without me looking over his shoulder!” Amein cried.
“I thought so. Your decision was wise, but will now torment you! You won’t heal from this for a long time, unless Rasten somehow escapes and returns!”
“That’s a fool’s hope...isn’t it?” Amein complained, wiping her eyes.
“Hope is never completely foolish or in vain, especially as it helps you function, while you heal. Your heart will know to let it go when it is time!” her mother assured her.
“I’m not sure I will ever find that time!” she sighed.
3
Shocara had gotten up, and put the mail garments on the table with the sword.
She returned, kneeling, and used both her hands to examine his body. She examined his maleness, cupping his balls in her hand.
“I make you nervous?” she asked, squeezing them lightly.
“Some,” he admitted.
“You look like a human...an Eridian with no beard, except for being pretty! That is because you are part elf?”
“Of course. Are you sure you don’t want to trade me for things of value?” he suggested, eager to find a way out of his predicament.
“Of course not! Besides, I have something I wish you to do!”
“And what might that be?” Rasten wondered.
“I would have you pleasure me, as I’ve heard rumors that some might experience. If you should do so, I will keep you alive; should you disappoint me, you will die!”
“If you would experience such a thing, I would need my hands free, Princess,” Rasten suggested, eager to be able to move. She eyed him sternly, idely touching his chest.
“I could do that, but you might choose to strangle me! I have no fear of such, as the three guards surrounding this place would cut you down on sight! Do you understand me?” she asked.
“Of course, Princess,” Rasten agreed, willing to agree to anything to be able to be unfettered.
Shocara left him tied, as she stripped off her leather boots, pants and vest. Seeing her in the lamp light, bare gave his organ a sudden thrill; Shocara seemed quite sexy and luscious.
When she again came close, to cut the rope on his wrists, she leaned over him. Rasten was assaulted by her smell, her unwashed, sweatiness, her dirty butt crack and her ripe puss were all overpowering. He moved his arms, rubbing his wrists, to get more feeling in them. Shocara slipped her dagger under the furs behind her, and slipped close against him. Her dark hair was thick and luscious, but dirty, it having been two weeks since she had last bathed. Like all of the Eridians, she was quite proud of her strong fragrance, having no idea that such might offend the humans or Elvin.
In spite of her overpowering smell, Rasten was determined to have her, hoping she might succumb to being had, giving him a chance to escape. He began by kissing her, finding her lips soft and responsive. A few minutes of this had her much delighted.
“Princess, will you promise not to be offended if I guide and instruct you a bit? I can teach you many things, which will make your pleasure greater, if you will permit me to!” he whispered.
“I should be angry only if you fail to please me!” she suggested.
Rasten got her to open her mouth, so he might be able to touch her tongue with his. She quickly mastered this, finding it thrilling, and as Rasten fondled her breasts, she touched his organ, delighted to find it fully erect. This promised her a better outcome, and she toyed with it, as he slipped his fingers between her legs, to explore her femaleness. Shocara gasped at these sensations, spreading her legs, to allow him freer access. Rasten found her to be sloppy wet and eager, and using his fingers, he began stimulating her vagina deeply, while teasing her swollen clitoris with his thumb, after wetting it well with her juices.
When Rasten felt her nearing an orgasm, he decided to slip between her legs, entering her with his hard organ. Shocara moaned with pleasure, and he slowly worked her, his cock deep inside. He pressed hard against her, making her more aroused, and only when he felt her begin to spasm, did he speed up, to join her in an intense orgasm. He held her tightly, staying deep within her, kissing her as she drifted, utterly delighted.
“Did you like that?” he whispered. “We can do more!” he suggested.
When she could again concentrate, she frowned at him.
“How is it that you are so skilled at this?!” she demanded, looking pouty and enticing in the dim light. Rasten shrugged.
“All the Elvin are able to do such...they are much devoted to the art of love, beginning very young to master it. Do
the Eridians not devote energy and study to this also?”
“This is another reason to hate the Elvin!” she moaned, before grinning at him. “You shall be my plaything! Please me again!” she demanded.
“Of course, Princess, but you may be embarrassed a bit by what I do next. Just close your eyes and enjoy it!” he suggested. Shocara was puzzled by this but curious, eager to feel more of such delightful sensations.
Rasten moved off her, and worked to position his body where he could lick her female self. His ankles were still tied together, but he ignored this, coaxing her to spread her legs widely, so he could part her furry puss, exposing her tender inner self. He began licking her, only slightly holding his breath, her puss overpowering in its female fragrance. At first she stiffened, shocked at his sticking his nose into her female parts, but as the sensations touched her, she was soon making contented sounds, and becoming highly aroused. Rasten worked diligently, probing her vagina with his fingers as he lapped her hard clit, until she erupted in an overpowering climax. She seemed helplessly delighted, and before she knew what he was doing, he had turned her onto her side, moved her upper leg up out of the way, slipped astraddle of his lower leg, and entered her wet puss, giving her long strokes. This caused more moaning. A few minutes of this, and he again moved her, entering her from behind, as they lay spooned together. He reached over her, and toyed with her clitty, as he had her, and soon had her erupting in an overpowering orgasm.
Rasten snuggled close, not allowing himself to finish, wanting Shocara to go to sleep, and not himself. She was soon snoring, her orgasms handily putting her under, utterly satisfied. Rasten let his organ go limp and slip out, and he slowly backed away from her, replacing his body with the furs. He felt under the bottom most one, and retrieved the dagger, which he used to cut his ankles free.
Rasten was eager to try and escape, but assumed the guards outside would at least be watching her door. He sat, rubbing his ankles, trying to get some feeling back into them as he considered what to do. He finally stood carefully up, taking the dagger, and made his way to the small table. He worked carefully to slip his mail back on, the chain so perfectly fitted and close that it made almost no sound. When he had the pants also on, he looked, but saw no trace of his boots.
A glance at Shocara’s bare form showed her snuggled deeply into the furs, having not moved since her final orgasm. She seemed amazingly beautiful in her naked splendor, and Rasten thought how marvelous she would be, clean and dressed like a proper Princess, and not hidden by the clothes of a warrior. If only they could abandon this stupid war, she might be able to be what she could, in all her beauty! Her skill with a blade was certainly not exaggerated, and neither were the reports of her appearance! If she was clean and well arrayed, she would make even the Elvin sigh at her loveliness! Rasten thought, before turning to escape.
Taking the dagger, he moved stealthily to the rear window, feeling to determine how it was fastened. It took him a moment to figure out how it was held in place, and more time, carefully and slowly prying with the dagger blade to get it loose. He sat it carefully on the floor, flat so it could not fall and wake Shocara or any other. Peering out, he saw no sign of any guards, the night being moonless. There was a slight glow from around the front of the cabin, from a dying fire, but nothing else could be seen or heard. He had played long with Shocara, and was hopeful that most Eridians would be asleep. Slipping back, he picked up his sword, but didn’t buckle it on, wanting to slip out the window first.
Getting over the wall, and down to the ground without making noise was hard, and he felt like he was making more commotion than a wounded beast. When he was standing on solid dirt, he quickly put on his sword, eager to have his hands free.
Rasten had observed the arrangement of the village when he was moved to Shocara’s place, and he had noted the area well beyond her abode, where the terranaks were kept. Slipping across the open area behind her small cabin, he moved between trees, making his way carefully through the gloom slowly, using his bare feet to feel his way, and to avoid anything that might make noise. He arrived at the place where the terranaks were kept, and moved furtively among them until he discovered one still saddled and harnessed.
Realizing that, like the Elvin, the Eridians kept at least one ready to dispatch at a moment’s notice, he grinned to himself. That’s quite handy! he thought, climbing the short ladder up onto the large creature. He fastened the lap belt, the saddles stirrups cold and hard without boots. When he was ready, he jerked on the reins, and was pleased to have the creature leap skyward in a flurry of wings. He heard distant yelling from below, but concentrated on making haste away from the Eridian camp.
He hoped to be well away, before any pursuit might be launched, knowing he was at least a day’s ride away from Eridian territory.
He flew in the darkness, watching the stars, thankful his instructors had made him learn the constellations. The lap belt chaffed his thighs, and his balls itched. Worse, his sweaty skin stuck to the leather understructure of his mail. He was thrilled to have escaped, especially with both his mail and sword, the idea of having lost such a treasure too much to bear. His face still held the strong scent of Shocara’s puss, as did his organ. This amused him, until he thought of Amein, and what she might be like, if she discovered he had pleasured her enemy.
I’ll need a bath, he thought, before seeing her. Or I’ll need to have a much better excuse! She’ll never believe I was raped! he understood, before he thought of the others they’d failed to find and retrieve. It somehow made having Shocara seem even more wicked.
The Eridians had well prepared for us a brilliant trap! Somehow they must have known we were coming! he thought, this idea as certain as it had previously been unthinkable. Do we have a spy within our place? How could that even be possible?! There are none of the former Eridains within the Citadel! Everyone present is an elf, or a human, who can trace their family back generations, having always been close and devoted. How could such a one turn against us enough to aid the enemy? Or has someone young and less wise spoken improperly to someone outside the keep, who has wicked allegiance to the Eridians somehow? Even a chance comment could have informed the Eridians, if carried to them timely. Shocara is certainly wise enough to use such a gift!
Rasten flew through the darkness, his mind darting from one issue to the next. He remembered his dream, which had seemed to well foretell what they had experienced. His vision too returned to give him pause, seeing now how parts of it had been a false display and which had been made real, by the choices he had made.
Listening to the Eridian in Shocara’s village was a mistake...was what she wanted. She guessed we would come eagerly in the darkness, wanting to use it against her. Instead, she was its master, being well prepared and ready. Had we not waited until daybreak, we would have been even more easily snared! he though, sighing as he scratched his itching self, the sweaty leather rubbing him unmercifully.
I need to never trust the words of an Eridian under such a condition! he thought, smiling. Consider that well learned...I likely won’t live through a second such lesson! he considered, as he shivered in the darkness, thrilled to be alive.
4
Amein had scarcely slept, tossing constantly while lying down, and interspersing this with nervous pacing. She had finally gone to sleep an hour before dawn, and was roused by the noises of the servants.
She emerged a mess, having tossed her hair back, not even touching it with a brush. Tossing on her battle attire, she had gone to get a drink, having decided to at least consider a new and more dire course of action. Seeing her, her family understood how near despair she was, it plainly etched on her face.
“Has there been no word?” her mother asked, quietly. Amein merely shook her head, too tired to even reply.
“You must be patient, and give the scouts time to...”
“Rasten likely has no time and you know it!” Amein shrieked, before turning away, and bursting into tears. Haiveri slipped her
arms around Amein, and pulled her tight.
“You know I understand your pain, so hear me well; you can not abandon duty or sacrifice the well being of our people for your own ends! This will perhaps be the greatest test you will ever face...to rise above your own pain, and to choose to be wise and strong. I would spare you this if I could, but that is beyond me. Only you can meet this challenge. Make us proud, dear daughter; you know we will love you no matter how it ends!”
Amein wiped at her face, and turned. “You words are reasonable and proper, yet they seem empty to my heart! I have never imagined I could feel so helpless and inadequate as I do now, and would rather lie down and die than endure such evil! If I can not save Rasten, then I would only desire to inflict destruction on those responsible, turning love into vengeance and retribution! Can you blame me?”
“And this from the one who proclaimed that her greatest goal was to find peace? Amein! Listen to your own words! The Eridians are prone to vengeance! Would you reduce us to their level?” Amein shrugged at this.
“Perhaps we have been overlong in our patience, too cowardly to do what should long ago have been accomplished! I am going to the Chamber of Ericaisin, to consider what I might do!” Amein bitterly declared, before turning and stomping off. Havieri stood motionless, aghast at this last proclamation. When Amein was out of sight, she motioned for Narimein to hurry close.
“Yes Princess Aunt?” the young one asked, eager to be helpful.
“Run as fast as you can, and summon Elder Midarini! When he asks why, tell him Princess Amein, Ericasin! He will understand.” she sighed.
Amein had accompanied her father to the Chamber of Eicasin only once, when she became officially of age. She had been taught the procedure for opening the doors, which were massive and beyond any sorcery to breech. He had explained how to unlock them, and described the opening of the next set of doors, much like the first. He had described what was on the other side, and what fearsome devices might be found within, all weapons and sorceries deemed too terrible to ever be unleashed against a foe, save under the most dire necessity. With his untimely passing, only two existed who could unlock this place; Amein and Elder Midarini.
