by A. S. Etaski
Thena cried out, dropped her pouch, and I barely had time to fall on her, rolling her into one of Jaunda’s holds. I wrapped my legs around from the back and hooked my heels at her knees, slipping my arms beneath hers and clasping my hands together at the base of her neck.
“Gotcha,” I said, and the Corpora screamed in shocked rage.
“Let me GO!!”
We rocked and thrashed for good long time, the jutting points of her armor and weapons bruising and scraping my nude body. Jael remained on the bed at first, watching but frozen with indecision.
“Been a while since we last fought, hasn’t it?” I panted.
“Get off, Sirana! I’m going to split your ass for this!”
“Whatever. So, where’s Suna? Surprised she wasn’t attached to your belt, too.”
“Don’t need her to get the croot from you.”
“So, she’s on a task and you’re looking for someone to alleviate boredom? Came to the right place. Hey, Jael? Start stripping her, would you?”
I saw Jael think about it, and she started moving toward us.
“No! Jael,” Thena warned, her voice rough in her intensity. “I’ll make it so much worse for you later!”
The novice slowed up, I saw her expression; she thought twice, and I even agreed. Neither of us had a working Feldeu or any other sexual equipment, so breaking Thena would be difficult. The novice would pay a high price later, and I wouldn’t have discouraged Thena one whit from trying to push her around. I hadn’t even managed to get Thena to stop forcing me to spread for her over this last turn.
I changed my instruction. “Jael, take off her belt and weapons, then step back out of reach.”
“Cunts!”
I accepted quite a lot of pain to hold Thena as her struggles intensified. If she could have gotten to any of my nerve points, it would have been over already, but my recent practice paid off. Thanks, Gaelan.
I managed to hold Thena long enough so that Jael completed what I told her, and I enjoyed the sight of her smiling, standing over us with Thena’s entire belt in hand, her naked thighs still glazed with her own lubricant which I’d drawn so patiently out of her.
Sexy.
“Now pull off that third pouch on the right side, the one with two knots side by side.”
“Sirana!” Thena yelled, her voice reverberating in the small room.
The Corpora gasped constantly from her efforts to break free, and I gained another deep bruise and a ringing head as she slammed us against the floor and snapped her head back, striking me in the ear. I’d turned my head just enough that she didn’t break my nose. The novice was holding up a familiar pouch.
“Agh, ow… Yes, that one,” I groaned. “Open it and sprinkle a pinch over her face.”
“I’m going to fucking kill you!” Thena seethed.
I laughed, impulsively kissing my captive’s ear while my left one throbbed. “Oh, come on, Corpora, sometimes we’re just in the wrong place at the wrong time. This is one of your times. Jael, make sure she breathes it in.”
I held my breath and closed my eyes as Jael followed through; Thena tried to do the same, but the youngest Sister took her opportunity. Jael punched Thena straight in the stomach, forcing her breath to explode and draw in air again immediately; the powder was already on her nose and lips. The elder Sister coughed and moaned and cursed us both.
Given enough time, Thena fell unconscious, going lax in my grip. I kept hold of her, breathing out, very slow, my mouth and nose pressed as low on her spine as I could reach, then inhaled with caution. My lungs burned for more air, but I waited to see if Thena was acting. Jael saved me some time by slapping the older Sister’s bloodied face, nice and hard. When there was no response at all and the Corpora was truly dead weight, I let go and pushed her off me to get to my feet.
Jael’s eyes were bright; she laughed softly, looking from Thena to me. “Now what?”
“Now we dump her and her equipment outside where other Sisters will find her, then we move over to Gaelan’s room.” My eyes flicked to her visible slit. “And pick up where we left off.”
“Naked?”
“Absolutely. Although keep the sleep powder and a dagger, just in case. Be ready to pass it to me.”
Jael nodded, thinking. “Why Gaelan?”
“She’s got stronger Wards on her door.”
“Ah.”
With Jael’s help, I managed to drape the unconscious Sister facedown over my shoulder, and the novice opened the door, followed me as I carried Thena out deep into the Cloister. It tested my endurance, but we managed to find Mela and Graer again; they sparred in a practice room near Qivni’s room. I kneeled in front of them to lay Thena on the stone, managing not to crack her head, though she deserved it.
They blinked and stared at me, seeing the clear marks on me from the struggle, noting Thena’s bloody lip and nose, and the fact that the elder Red Sister was still fully clothed. Jael tossed her belt and weapons on top of the bested Corpora and stepped back behind me, holding on to one sheathed dagger and the pouch.
I said, “Please tell Lead Qivni I may be a little longer with the novice but will bring her to her quarters when I’m finished.”
After a silent moment while I waited, ready for any response, Mela covered her smile behind a glove. The two each looked at the other, and Graer said, “Sure, Sirana. We’ll let her know.”
I bowed, a bit Court-like, with a clear smile. “This interrupted cunt thanks you.”
They chuckled, watching as I hooked Jael’s waist with one arm, taking the dagger from her, which she surrendered willingly, and I pulled her away with me. I listened for movement at our backs, but no Sisters approached. My witnesses had decided to let me keep what I’d earned, and it was up to them what to do with Thena.
I felt as if I was floating, able to punch straight through a stone wall. There were no words as we made our way quickly to Gaelan’s room.
I’ve never done anything like this before.
Gaelan grudgingly answered the door, probably with Reishel’s prodding, and they let us inside where the defenses against another walk-in were stronger. Jael watched and listened to us share remarks with quips and familiarity, and I could sense genuine excitement in her. I slid my hand down to cup her rump once and squeezed; again, I heard that soft laugh.
Jael enjoyed laughing. She just didn’t know it until now.
“Can’t fucking believe it,” Gaelan said as I set both of Thena’s tools on a nearby flat surface.
“This one’s going to burn,” Reishel agreed.
“Hope it causes blisters in her cunt,” I said, folding my well-toned arms with a smirk.
Jael couldn’t wait any longer. She approached me and lunged into a kiss, pressing herself close. I reacted on instinct, clutching her hard and keeping our mouths locked, stroking inside hers with my tongue.
“Whoa! Okay,” Gaelan said. “Get on the pallet, you two. If I’m not going to sleep, at least let me watch.”
More chuckling in the room as I pushed Jael to step backward toward the bed. She explored my back and my backside as we went, squeezing and scratching with her fingernails. As we settled onto the pad on our knees, facing each other, she leaned down to suckle my breasts, and one hand reached to stroke me between my braced thighs.
Jael sure knew what to do with a cunt.
“Fuuuck,” I moaned.
Her intense enthusiasm left me spinning, it was so different from her behavior before. My skin was bruised in many places and my bedmate pressed many of those sore spots without thinking, yet I couldn’t help chortling, kiss after kiss. Something buoyant and powerful remained in my chest; it surged now and then as Jael whispered that she wanted me, wanted to please me, and did I like it this way—?
I groaned, threading my fingers into her loose hair, her fingers inside me, and soon I felt not a lick of pain that didn’t blend with pleasure. Then Gaelan took my wrist, gently tugged it out so she could lay some
thing cool, smooth, and firm in my palm. My fingers closed around it before I recognized what it was.
“Initiate her, Red Sister,” murmured she who had initiated me, a tone both lurid and wry.
“Yes!” Reishel agreed, breathless with her own fingers between her legs. “Then fuck Gaelan again!”
“What,” I said, getting the cock in place, “to pay her back for the safe room and the prong?”
“If you insist,” the mage snickered, “I accept.”
Gaelan touched her breasts as I laid Jael upon her back, as our newest Sister clutched at me in tense anticipation, glancing at the two other Sisters. Her eyes were wide, almost orange as she stared up at me, spreading her legs while I leaned between them, the head of my phallus parting her hairless lips. Her mouth opened as I slid in, but I was the one who groaned loud.
I paused, trembling, waiting. No pain in my head yet. No voices in the room except for my Sisters. No Dwarven words in my head.
“Fuck me,” Jael pleaded, rolling her hips to entice.
Growling low, I did, and I wouldn’t stop until all four of us had peaked at least once. Until we would fall to a pile, a Reverie inspired by afterglow. By then, we all knew the Sisterhood was one more Davrin strong, and I had attained some new heights to defend.
I looked forward to the next test.
No demons but us.
CHAPTER 11
“House Itlaun.”
“Pardon, Elder?”
D’Shea frowned a little. “Curgia, the Second Daughter. Have you visited her and her family lately?”
Braqth’s Bobbling Tits.
“The last time was while you were at the Sanctuary with the Prime and Elder Rausery,” I said. My body flushed with a sick feeling; my Elder noted it. “I have a report waiting on that, still.”
She lifted her brows. “Oh? Did you forget?”
I cleared my throat. “Within my Elder’s limited availability and other recent urgencies, Elder. Yes.”
“Fine qualifier.” The Sorceress was smirking.
“I am ready to report now, if you are ready to listen.”
“Something noteworthy, then?”
“Yes, Elder. While I watched, Curgia proved distraught enough to use a weapon on herself.”
“To kill herself?”
“No, Elder. To end the pregnancy Priestess Wilsira forced on her, but it was not well thought through and resources were limited. She may have died by accident digging up inside herself.”
D’Shea expression showed comprehension. “If?”
I tried a smile. “If I hadn’t shown myself to her. We talked a bit.”
Her eyes burned through me; she was still for three, long breaths. Then she rubbed her face with one hand. “And this interaction is how old?”
I wetted my lips. “Three spans.”
“How time flies,” she sighed, tapping her stylus against her desk. “Tell me what you said. What she said.”
I confessed the speculation I’d been doing about the Priestess’s intentions toward the demonblood in Curgia’s belly. I described how Curgia had listened to me and agreed to wait until Wilsira made another move toward her, and that the young Noble expected me to call on her again.
“You said the Valsharess doesn’t allow the Sathoet to breed, Elder,” I said. “How could the Priestess intend anything other than scare tactics against an ignorant youth without being caught in treason?”
My Elder nodded once in acknowledgment of the logic, but then shrugged. “Never underestimate an old Davrin in lust with her own son, Sirana. But it would be time to check on the Second Daughter again. See if she still lives and carries, at minimum.”
“At once, Elder.”
“Then, go. Now. I will see no delays in your report this time.”
“Yes, Elder.” I paused. “I also identified the invisible wizard from my trials, the last time I was at the Tower. The Headmaster’s son, Shyntre.”
She nodded curtly. “I am aware, Sirana. Gaelan told me.”
Of course. My own fault for not being able to hold it, and the Sorceress was ahead of me, as usual. Any possible response she didn’t want me to see was blocked.
“She also said the Prime ordered his involvement,” I said. “Is that true?”
Her frown became a smirk. “True. It wouldn’t be his first time working with the Sisterhood.”
“Pleasant duty,” I remarked. “Explains why he hates our uniform.”
D’Shea’s shrug was nonchalant. “The Wizards have many old connections with the Sisterhood, even if we can trust them about as much as we can trust the Priesthood. Kerse was ‘on loan’ from Priestess Wilsira as well, you already know.”
I considered that. Jael and I had faced the half-bloods of the Sanctuary. I wondered about Gaelan, as a mage, how her test might be different?
“Is every recruit tested by Priestesses as well as Red Sisters?”
“Frequently enough. The Sanctuary likes to know a new Sister’s face, if she makes it.”
“But you’re not required to share trials.”
“No, but it’s noted, and cooperation elsewhere becomes difficult. It’s also not unheard of for the Sisterhood to assist with novice discipline for the Priestesses.”
Ah, politics.
“House Itlaun, Sirana,” D’Shea said then, cutting off the tangent and returning to her script. “Come right back afterward and tell me what’s changed, if anything, since you last spoke with Curgia. I’ll make time.”
“Yes, Elder.”
I resolved to bring up Shyntre again once I came back, weave it into the follow-up as I had here. The Sorceress had acknowledged my find but offered absolutely nothing else, as I’d expected. I still wasn’t sure what I wanted regarding him, anyway.
When I arrived at the Noble lands of the Tenth House, I confirmed easily that both the Second and Third Daughters were still pregnant. It had been just over a turn, and they were just past the midway point. Bellies were showing now, and the Noble sisters would both be eating a lot, but their twin swells wouldn’t get really big until the very last quad-spans.
Unborn Davrin took their time to get up to size, I’d been told, but when they were ready to put on weight to prepare for birth, the Mother’s body worked to pack it on in a matter of spans. My Mother back at House Thalluen would soon be entering this stage, beating the Itlaun sisters by almost half a turn.
Kerse’s offspring can’t possibly make it that far, can it?
The quickest way to gain insight on current events was to ask the Royal Consort, but I had to rely on chance for when he might be alone. Unfortunately for me, he was not allowed to return to his quarters for the eve following a hefty dining experience with the cluster of females, which included the First Daughter, now present for a visit from Court, or wherever she had been—a detail I would need for my final report to D’Shea.
I watched the plantation from a couple different angles through the first two marks of our most common Reverie period. Activity was usually slow, although there always seemed to be someone awake and moving around at any point in the cycle.
When it became clear Auslan was wherever he was within the mansion for longer than this, I infiltrated the garden and the hidden passages again, eventually letting myself into the Consort’s empty bedroom. I enjoyed a deep sniff of the air, exhaling with a smile. I would wait here for a while. My exotic bua would be tired when he returned, and that might be the best time to question him as his endurance might be low, along with resistance.
Plus, if there are any marks of abuse on him from the Matron or Daughters, he won’t have time to hide them.
While I waited, I poked around. The basics I expected were here: fine bedding and clothes, a variety of self-grooming and cleaning options, decorations and gifts aplenty, some intended to be worn as jewelry and others just to clutter the room with added importance. In drawers by both the bed and his vanity, there were little locked boxes which might
contain potions, perhaps healing or ones related to fertility, but I wouldn’t know without breaking the ward and the lock and peering inside.
I didn’t have time to do that, as Auslan was soon escorted back by the House Guardsvrin. I flushed with excitement and hid myself inside the walls, my ear pressed to listen. A Davrin checked around, swept the place for female ambushers, like me. If I had moved anything too much, it wasn’t to the point this bodyguard would recognize it.
“Thank you, Jaezred.” Auslan’s voice was a quiet murmur. “Have a good eve.”
The Guardsvrin sounded amused. He was male. “Most are waking now. But yeah, you look like you should lie down.”
“I mean to. I appreciate the escort.”
“As I am bid. Good Reverie.”
I peeked out a crack as Auslan closed, locked, and warded his door. Smart to keep the female Guardsvrin from coming into his room alone, or I might have to put her to sleep if she loitered too long.
Now was my chance. I stepped out of hiding. He saw me in his periphery and spun to face me. The beauty’s gasp of surprise was as delicious as his mouth.
I grinned and signed, *Just me.*
I wagered his shoulders would have fallen into a slump had the weary groan I saw in his eyes slipped out from between his lips. This was excellent timing as far as I was concerned. I stepped closer to him.
*Strip,* I commanded. *Show me your skin.*
He closed his eyes and turned his head slightly away, taking a slow breath. His long hair was braided but a little sloppy, as if it had been redone without a comb.
*I am unhurt, Red Sister.*
*Show me.*
Auslan swallowed. *We agreed…* he began, then hesitated to finish.
I smiled. *I recall. It is still in effect. Show me. The sooner you obey, the sooner I leave.*
He pursed his mouth and reached to loosen the sash at his waist, soon shedding the silky, pale garment from his shoulders and arms and down over his hips and legs to step out of it. He kept his sandals on, his clothes tight in one hand, and let my eyes drink in the sight of him. He still had his white bush, trimmed and groomed tidy atop his hanging member. I could smell the musk of other females on him, not a detail I enjoyed but it was to be expected.
