0 comments/ 13422 views/ 25 favorites Lady of My Heart Ch. 01 By: Saxon Stonedyke This is a reworking of an older story. Estragon was the copy editor for the first version years ago. I've made some changes so if there are errors please do not blame him. ***** I awoke in the saddle during the first graying of the dawn. I was not going to miss this, the lifestyle of sleeping on horseback while traveling from one job to another, always moving, never being able to have pride in a home or know that it is safe. I reined in to the side of the path and dismounted to give my horse a break and his oats. I owed him my life several times over, this horse, but now he was getting old, as was I. I could always depend on Bore to get me through. He'd carried me wounded and out of my mind with fever to the nearest homestead, warned me of bandits approaching long before I would have known myself and fought valiantly with me in battle. This is to be our last job Bore and I, if we survive, I'm not going to kid myself on that. It is an all or nothing hope for the future I have always dreamed of. We are to join a group at the Whindershand caverns, I am to lead that group in the protection of the entrance while the wizard Vorlayin does something dark and mysterious inside at the full moon. The pay is outrageous even split eight ways between us it will be enough for me to purchase sufficient land to fulfill my dream retirement. The catch? The Guardians, of them little is known, what is known is that every wizard that has entered those caverns has not returned. Something or some things come out of the forest and no wizard has survived to tell the tale. There have been tracks seen after the fact and from local legend there are two sets of those big three toed tracks, but little else is said. The problem that goes along with the catch is my troops, Vorlayin has hired six other "warriors" so he says, instead of allowing me to pick my own trusted fighters and I am to be stuck with a mage as well. I have a large distrust of mages. A mewling, arrogant, ass of a young male nearly got me killed in my youth and I have distrusted them all ever since. You just can't depend on magic for fighting it is too uncertain and requires too much concentration. Show me a mage that can concentrate on the proper spell while their companion is being eaten alive by a Morkdjin 10 feet away and I'll kiss your ass before the Kings full Court. The only magic I have ever found trustworthy and useful is mind magic and it is not learned it is hereditary, and not of use in battle. I have it to some extent myself. I can communicate simple thoughts to animals and sometimes feel the strong emotions of humans but it won't block a sword and can't keep some ravening beast from eating you for dinner. I sling the saddle down off Bores back, steam rising from his hide in the cold morning air, and then I feel it, laughter and playfulness. I step back and look around, searching for the source. Bore stamps nervously and I unsheathe my sword in anticipation of trouble. Bore knows, he senses something dangerous, yet I feel the happiness in my mind almost as if it were coming from a playing child. She rounds the bend in the trail and I am transfixed. It is a tall voluptuous red head riding a hart of all things! How could one possibly ride a hart and how did she find one so huge? She sees me and stops mid trail looking at me. As she looks quizzically at me a black panther comes slowly striding from the forests edge to stop between us facing me. I can feel that she is her defender and none shall pass unscathed. She gestures and a wall of white light springs up before the cat. Ah, the Lady mage would protect her defender. I sense her deep caring for the beast. This must be my mage. I sheathe my sword and cross my arms over my breast trying to strike an authoritative pose. I know how this next small piece of time goes will set the precedent, and it could mean my life or hers or that of the others, later, when battle rages. I incline my head in recognition of her and gesture for her to join me on the side of the trail. She hesitates a moment them looks intently at the cat. Two pairs of green eyes meet and I sense struggle, then the cat turns and disappears back into the forest. She gestures and the white wall disappears as she rides on toward me. I continue with the rubbing down of Bore as she approaches not wanting to look overly concerned but feeling the prickle of her gaze on my back the whole time. As she dismounts I realize it is as I had thought on first seeing her, she is over a head taller than me. She dismounts and takes the blanket from the beasts back, she has been riding with nothing but a blanket. Once again she gestures and the hart's fur fluffs out, dirt and twigs falling soundlessly to the ground. She gives one curt nod to the beast and it wanders off into the scrub at the edge of the trail. She rounds on me, "So YOU are the Dragon?" I gave her my best indomitable blue glare. "Yes and you are?" She giggled. "But, but you are so little! I am Amynomne my friends call me Ames" I drew myself up to all of my sixteen hands height and opened my mouth as she said... "And how someone with mind magic as powerful as you has lived in your profession with so little training as to be spewing forth emotions to all and sundry is astounding. I felt your distrust and dislike of mages yesterday from leagues away!" That did it! "None of that matters now. What matters is that I command this group to do this job and if you cannot take direction and follow it to the letter then you can get back on your pet and disappear!" Fire blazed forth from those green eyes for a moment and it seemed the red of her hair darkened a shade. "I've signed on to be led and I will follow but if you do not learn to block your projection of your emotions the Guardians will know what you plan before you can finish the thought. We've a days ride before we reach the caverns I suggest you let me teach you to shield yourself. And why in the goddesses name did no one tell me you were a lesbian?" "Because it was none of their or your business!" On that last comment I felt a burning hot wave of desire wash over me only to be suddenly snuffed out. I turned and stomped to Bore to finish grooming him, I had much to consider before we started the days journey. I heaved the saddle back over Bores back and cinched it down, then reached into my saddle bags to take out jerky, cheese and hardtack dividing it before placing the bags over as well. "Here, breakfast is on me. Call your mount. Can you keep the cat far enough away to avoid spooking my horse? I want to hear more about this shielding". Throughout the long days ride we talked. I learned to school my thoughts and rein in my passion so as not to project to the world what I was feeling. To say that I was smitten with her would be an understatement, but that had no place here, riding into danger and I fought to keep it both hidden from her and from myself. I could not think of that and keep us all alive to spend the riches we would earn before morning. As we neared the caverns I again pulled to the side of the trail, this time to prepare myself for dealing with men. Men that thought they were warriors and that might not take to being led by a woman. I pulled from my packs my armor such as it was and unceremoniously shucked my shirt. The cold air made my nipples harden instantly and I looked up to see her watching, again I felt that wave of desire that was suddenly cut short. I slipped into a soft sleeveless shirt, followed by my breast plate and I pulled and tugged the laces tight. She gasped as I slid my trews off to don my leather and mail pants. I blushed, ashamed of the many scars that lined my legs. Last but probably the most important for this meeting of my men were my gloves, I'd had these specially made by a leather craftsman and sworn him to secrecy. They looked like regular leather finger less gloves but they were heavy as stones, it was the lining of finely jointed metal in the upper fingers and backs of the hands. Many a bard has sang the praises of the dragon's wondrous punch used in numerous tavern brawls in my younger years. Little did they know of how she came about it. We came upon the six all together, with no sentry posted, dicing before the cavern entrance. They passed a bottle among them as they watched us approach and several made rude noises at the Lady. I was sorely tempted to spur Bore and ride right through the middle of the mess swinging my sword using the flat of the blade. Instead I came to a sliding halt and dismounted in a fury. They rose as I reached them. I grabbed the first I came to by the shirt front and slammed him into the rocky outcropping beside us. "What in the hell do you think you are doing? Why is there no sentry? Do you not realize we need to remain concealed until the time comes to defend the entrance? Surprise was our biggest asset. You have lost us that!" The largest of them spat and rushed me, I dropped the dazed man I'd just assaulted and delivered one sharp right hand to the brutes chin as he lunged my way. Down he went and two more came behind him. At the same time the remaining two made to grab the lady from the back of her mount but the hart reared and they were dissuaded by the razor sharp hooves. I grabbed the first to get to me by the shirt and slung him onto the rocks face first behind me and caught the second with a left to the gut bending him double. I heard several syllables of a strange language and there was a flash of light and a small explosion between me and the remaining two men who had headed my way after being discouraged by the harts hooves. Everyone froze, the men looked at her like she was a demon and started backing up. "That is enough! All of you! The next explosion with be in some ones trews if you do not stop this instant!" Just as I was building up to explode over her usurping of my leadership she traipsed over to me grabbed me by the pony tail and kissed me hard and deep, in front of the men who were picking themselves up and dusting themselves off. "I am sorry to ruin your fun lover but we have a cavern to defend shortly, don't you think you should be planning a strategy instead of playing?" I looked around at the men, they were shocked. One of them shook his head. "I see from your tattoos you are the Dragon, a woman! And she, she is a mage and you, the two of you... No, oh hell no! I am having no part of this! Killed! We will all be killed I tell you! I am taking myself home to my family." He gathered his things and went to his horse tethered in the trees nearby to mount up, followed by two others. And now we were only 5. I looked at the other 3 men. "Anyone else want to leave? You know my reputation. Did it matter when I built that reputation that I was a woman?" There was much shuffling of feet and grumbling with heads down. "OK then, I want all of you in what armor you have and I want to see your weapons. Ames call the cat she needs to be properly introduced to everyone and I need to speak with her." We were all in our places as the sun set and in that red hazed moment of last light the Wizard suddenly stepped out of thin air into the small clearing before the cavern entrance. Without a sound he turned, looked at me and nodded in recognition then walked slowly into the cavern. I shifted in my place and looked over my shoulder to Ames, I'd put her in the most sheltered spot I could find, all of the rest of us would come before her if it came to that. I know I shouldn't have let my attraction figure into battle plans but I could not help myself. "Remember men no matter what happens hold your ground do not move from your places" The cat was patrolling the perimeter, I was thankful to have that and had expressed my gratitude for her joining this venture. In return I got images of Ames scratching her tummy. I guess I know where her priorities lie. As the moon reached its apex in the sky there was a piercing feline scream and the big cat streaked from the forest to Ames's side just as planned. They were coming. The first came out of the forest to the left, twice as tall as a man and looking to be half dragon half cat. It had one of the men by the middle screaming his last breath before any of us could react. The bowman was firing arrow after arrow but they just bounced off. "The eyes aim for the eyes!" The second came in from directly in front of me and I stepped in to meet it taking one last big calming breath and raising my sword high. It slapped at me with foot long talons and I parried the blow, nearly being knocked to my knees from the force. I heard a scream and an explosion from the left as I whirled and made ready to counter attack. The first beast had grabbed the bowman but had several arrows protruding from its eyes. It flailed wildly at the other swordsman trying to swat him away. A huge ball of fire hit the beast in front me and I went in slashing at the throat and then burying my sword deep in the right eye socket on the return stroke. The beast let out a horrible squealing sound and collapsed pulling my sword form my hand. I kicked its head sideways and freed my blade just as I heard the last man scream and saw him go down slashed across the middle by those long talons. Several explosions rocked the creature as I sprinted trying to get there before it moved in to finish it's kill. The man tried vainly to crawl away as it swatted and swiped in its blindness trying to find him. I ran full at the monster spearing its left eye with my sword and feeling it sink to the hilt. It dropped like a stone and I sank to the ground in exhaustion. The sun was just beginning to rise. I climbed wearily to my feet pulled my sword free and wiped it on the grass. The third man had died while I was killing the beast. At least he was avenged. We wrapped the men in their blankets and slung their bodies over their horses, they had come from a nearby village. We would have a sad arrival there this day but I would deliver their shares to their families along with their bodies. The wizard emerged shortly after day break and looked around, in his arms he carried a great round stone engraved with many runes of power. He gestured and the stone vanished and there sat in front of him a large chest of gold for our reward. Ames walked up to me handed me a mug of something with herbs floating in it and sniffed, yes, sniffed! "You smell! There is a stream near here. Cat will guard the gold lets bathe" I drank down her bitter brew, flung the cup at our packs and followed her into the forest. Around and down into the hollow we go. I begin to feel the humidity rising in the air and can hear a rumble, ah a waterfall! We reach the edge of the pool and I turn to her, and take her in my arms kissing her. She wrinkles her nose at me. "OK! OK!" I turn and start stripping off my armor hearing a rustling and then a splash behind me. as I kick off my boots my trews still bunched around them I turn and there she is treading water and washing her hair as the waterfall thunders behind her. Those big green eyes glow as she looks at me and again I feel that wave of desire but this time it is not cut short, it grows. I plunge into the cold water and it revives me, the drink she gave me has dulled the pain of my many bruises. I swim out to her under water and surface in front of her. Those eyes! Oh. those eyes! I take her in my arms and we tread water together, kissing wildly, deeply. I forget to kick and we start to sink and must break apart. I lead her to the edge of the tumbling water where a smooth flat stone hovers at water's edge and hoist her upon it, finding a ledge with my toes as I step up into her and our breasts meet. We moan in unison as they are pressed together with our kiss. I am wild and on fire, I kiss her eyes, her cheeks, and nibble gently down the side of her neck to her collar bone. Her moans spur me on and fan the flames. My hands roam her body as I kiss her again and she moans in my mouth. Again I nibble down her neck to the collar bone and then work my way lower, planting small tongue swirling kisses to her breast. I take the nipple in my mouth and she cries out in passion. I suckle strongly and lightly roll the other between fingers and thumb and she squirms. I switch nipples and she grabs my head pulling me into her. I break free and kiss my way down her stomach as she lays back on the rock. Her breathing is raspy and shallow as if she is nearing the end of a race. I run my tongue around her navel and down. Down to the junction of thigh and groin where I pause to plant a swirling kiss, she hisses in frustration and bucks her hips up at me. Back across her lower stomach I go planting kisses and she growls. I pause and look down at the beauty in front of me and she grabs me by the head and grinds herself into my face. Slowly, softly I tease her with my tongue, barely touching. She pulls harder on my head and bucks her hips exploding in my face. Just as the tension in her body eases I slide two fingers into her depths curling them and making circles. She arches and screams as I again find her with my tongue. She releases my head again and whimpers slightly reaching for me. I struggle to climb out of the water onto the rock with over tired muscles so she grabs me under the arms nearly throwing me across the rock and flipping me to my back. Our hard nipples grate together as she climbs atop me. I buck my hips trying to grind against her as she takes my nipple in her mouth. Her hand finds my heat and I arch my back as she enters me. She changes to the other nipple and I groan loudly arching still higher, about to go over the edge. Her fingers are pumping into me as she kisses down my stomach and I feel like my head will burst. I scream out her name as her tongue finds me and I explode in orgasm. I wake lying cuddled in her arms. She is singing softly in a language I do not know and rocking me like a child. Tears are running down her cheeks and I rise up to kiss them. "I thought I would never find you Lady of my heart." Lady of My Heart Ch. 02 Estragon was copy writer for this story years ago but I have made some changes so if there are errors don't blame him. ***** The Dragon's unease makes my spine tingle. Caution, wariness, and mistrust, almost to the point of paranoia, are leaking from her mind. Though I know it is not aimed at me, it still instills a bit of fear, fear for those who would attempt to harm us. I know now, exactly what this woman riding ahead of me is capable of, and I would be lying if I said I did not fear it. I also know without doubt if she ever finds out what I did while she was sleeping she will hate me forever, if not kill me outright. When she woke after our love making and asked why I cried and what I was singing, I lied. I must say, in my own defense, that I did what I did in order to help her. I told her I cried for joy and that I was singing an old lullaby. In truth I was weaving a bond, and the only way to break this bond is death. I should probably have never plundered her mind as she slept in my arms, but the temptation was irresistible. I've heard so many bards' tales and songs about her. No one really knows where she came from or how she learned her skills. I just had to do it. Now, I wish I had not. I thoughtlessly, leaped into the darkest recesses of her memory, expecting to find happy memories of a loving mother and a proud father. Instead I found that horror. Abuse, shame, and agony reigned. Playing in the forest alone, with an old branch, she learned the basics of swordsmanship. Defending against the viscous attacks of two older and larger brothers taught her to fight. The beatings from her drunken mother and worse still from her perverted father taught her to still her mind and leave the pain and her body behind. She endured and prepared. She grew stronger in body and in mind. She was a young woman of 18 years when it all exploded. I shudder still and nearly retch at that memory. The mother passed out by the fire, the father and brothers drinking and determined to have her. Have her they did, but when it was over something fractured in her soul and the violence was unleashed. They cornered her in the barn where she was caring for the horses. Afterward, they slept in the hay snoring like drunken louts. She took up her father's sword and she had her vengeance. When that was done she went to her mother. Her mother screamed and cursed her, blaming what they had done on her, so she'd killed her as well. She felt no joy or triumph as she stood and watched it all burn. In fact she felt nothing but emptiness and determination. An emptiness of caring for anyone or anything, and a determination that nothing would ever harm her again and live. She had taken from the house what little had been of value to sell, the horses and her father's sword. From what the sale brought, she had purchased armor, a new sword without memories attached, and a horse. She had named the horse Bore because, until she taught him manners, he had certainly acted like one. Together she and Bore had joined a mercenary band and the Dragon was born. I have to say I am proud of her, proud, because there has been much healing in the many years since that horrible night. The fracture yet remains though, and if she should come across the wrong evil that evil would have her in an instant. So I have formed a bond based on my own love for her and the tiny, budding, spark of love I found in her for me. Using that spark I will try to heal the fracture and can try to defend her soul if that evil should find us. - The hair on the back of my neck rises, and I feel uneasy. Ames must feel it too because she rides behind me silently. We ride, leading the horses carrying the bodies of our fallen comrades to the town where they came from. We have cached our shares of the gold and the Cat guards them for us. I will give their shares to their families, if we make it there. I fear ambush or worse from the three men that left us to fight shorthanded. Bore's ears twitch repeatedly as we near a pass in the ridge line and my right hand goes to my sword. I use my left to signal Ames that something is amiss and continue on, wondering what is about to happen. We round a bend and they are upon us. Two hit me from opposing hillsides attempting to pull me from Bore's back and another throws a blanket over Ames from behind as her hart rears and screams. I am unable to draw my sword but my left hand goes to my calf where my throwing knives reside, one of them goes down clutching his throat but the other succeeds in pulling me from Bore's back and we go tumbling across the ground. As I struggle on the ground with the ringleader, he has me on my back, my knife hand pinned. Suddenly there is a great snapping sound as Bore's hooves hit him where neck meets shoulders. I heave to get his bulk off me just as I hear a piteous keening from the man assaulting Ames. I turn and see that he is holding his eyes, and blood pours as she wins free of the blanket, then he collapses, silent and dead as she rattles off an incantation. I rush to her side, afraid that she has been hurt and she looks at me with panic, backing away a little. "Ames? Are you OK?" Why is there fear in her eyes? I try to touch her with my mind and I am repelled. I look down and realize I am still holding the knife and I am covered in blood. I drop the knife and hold out my arms and she comes to me at last. - Eraat peers from the bushes and revels in the blood and the pain. Master did not tell it that there would be so much fun this early. Master just sent it to wreak vengeance for the death of his pets and find out where the wizard went with Master's stone. Master must have his stone back! Eraat chuckles as he sees the mage back away. The plan is already working. To take the warrior would be easy, but not the mage. So Eraat will work and eventually the mage will kill the warrior and when she realizes what she has done, she will kill herself. Master will have a bright and vibrant new soul. Perhaps Master will allow Eraat to play with that soul before he makes it his own. As Eraat watches the warrior and mage collect themselves and make ready to move on, he eases back further into the bushes and runs for the town. Eraat has been working hard, and there will be lots of fun. -- I regret that there is no way to take the bodies with us but the horses cannot carry the weight. I know they meant to kill us, still, they were men, and I hate to leave the corpses for the scavengers. There is not enough stone here to cover them though and to bury them would be a waste of time. Animals are proficient at digging. I also regret there is no place or time to bathe. Ames seems to crave bathing; maybe that is why she seems to avoid me. We will stay at the town Inn tonight and I will pay to have their largest tub filled with steaming water! We will bathe together, and love each other till dawn. As we near the town I can hear a crowd. I guess it would not be unusual for the town to gather to welcome warriors home from battle, yet I still feel uneasy. Ames cries out to me in warning. We are surrounded by bowmen. I cannot fight for fear of them shooting her, yet it hurts me sorely to allow them to take my weapons. One of them has gagged her and her eyes are wild with panic. I can do nothing as they lead us to the front of the crowd. A magistrate sits atop a stool, on a platform, wearing stained velvet robes. We are lead before him and forced to kneel. "See! See my men? I have told you the murderers would come. Look at them, women, yes, women who think they are above men. Look at them now, helpless and cowed before me as all women should be before men." I struggle to try and rise and begin to yell "We are not murderers! These men were killed in battle with the Guardians of the cave!" I am knocked back to my knees and my head reels. I look over to see Ames' mouth moving beneath the gag and her hands twitch in her bonds. I know she is working magic but a man comes behind her and raps her on the head with the butt of a spear, knocking her unconscious. "Arrogant woman! Who lead our men, our sons, to that battle? You killed them. Aye, you killed them! In the morning you will pay for that, both of you. There will be hangings in the morning, men! All women will know that men rule and women serve as is right and proper!" The crowd of men cheers as we are dragged away to a small stone building and taken to a cell. I am left bound and my bonds affixed to a hook high on the wall, stretching my arms painfully. Ames, my beautiful Ames, is thrown to the floor still bound and gagged, among the filth and excrement of many past prisoners. My heart breaks for her and my mind boils with rage. I am helpless for the first time since I was a child and I seethe. I begin to focus inward, blocking the pain and the anger, inward, ever farther from this reality that I cannot bear to face. I am awakened by the cold slap of icy water in the face. Before me stand two women, a young woman with a bucket and an old crone in hooded robes. The young woman with the bucket bows to the crone and makes to leave but is called back. "Unbind her!" "But mother! She is dangerous!" The crone cackles, "She cannot harm me, daughter. Unbind her and leave us." I am cut free and rush to Ames, picking her up from the floor as best I can with numb and screaming arms. She is limp and unresponsive, her head bleeds and I fear she may never wake. I tear away her bonds and the gag, crying. "I can help her, warrior. I can bring her back to us, but if I do you must swear to help us rid this town of the evil that has overtaken it. It started at dawn yesterday, when you and the wizard took the stone. You have a part in this evil somehow warrior, both of you, and you must help us." "Anything! I will do anything, old Mother! Help her please! I cannot lose her, not now, not ever!" "Be careful with your pledges, warrior, there are those that would take advantage in this world. I feel your love for her grow even as we speak, but you must ward your thoughts now, for evil lurks here. I will only say that I sense your paths will be together for some time, though rocky and fraught with trouble." The crone begins to chant and lays her hands upon Ames' forehead. I feel her stir in my arms! She is coming back to me! She opens her eyes and the crone staggers back, yelling. "Daughter, bring her water!" Ames sits up, recoiling from the mess on the floor and looking up at the crone. "What? Where? Oh!" "Just relax, sister in magic. You have had a blow to the head. It will come to you in a moment. Rest and recover." As Ames slowly recovers herself, aided by the fresh chilled spring water handed to her, the crone begins to speak with her of the evil and how to best fight it. "It is strongest in the magistrate. It began, I think, with him. He has the rest of the men in thrall. If we can cleanse the evil from him the rest should follow easily." "It is a magic like I have never seen, Old Mother. I am not sure what we can do." "The magic is demon born and fueled by hate, fear and pain. Something evil is near and it feeds on suffering. If we can but shut it out, away from the magistrate for a short time, they should all come to their senses. I have the knowledge and the skill but not the strength to do it. If the warrior can get us close enough to the magistrate and you can lend me your strength for a time we can do it." As soon as Ames is able to stand without staggering, the crone gives use both black hooded robes like she crone wears, to aid us in moving about concealed in the dark. Now it is time to do my part. First I must deal with the two guards outside the building. Ames must save her strength to aid the Old Mother, so I must do this alone. The others hover behind me as I sneak to the door and peer cautiously around the corners. One of the guards is asleep, which helps, because both must be silenced quickly before either can call for aid. I spring from the doorway and up behind the one that is awake, grabbing him by the head and twisting with all my might. There is a sharp crack and he falls soundlessly to the ground, his neck broken. The other is sitting leaned up against the building asleep. He opens his eyes gasping as I drive the heel of my foot into his throat. He struggles around trying to breathe for a moment and then expires. I take both their knives and one of the swords. I doubt being able to use the sword, but the knives are silent and quick. Across the town square we three scramble, clinging to shadows as we can. The Magistrate's house is two corners down, and we hurry to avoid any patrols. I begin to notice women here and there through the town, watching. It seems the crone has recruited them all as watchers, and distractions if needed. We reach the back of his house without incident and a woman of middle years lets us in the back door, pointing upstairs with one finger before her lips to caution us. Up the stairs we go as a group. As we near his bedroom, I hear feminine crying and whimpering. As I burst through the door I see that he is naked, and on the bed is a woman bound spread eagle. The bastard has been abusing her! I leap upon his back, putting a knife to his throat. "Silence, old man, or you die, and your throat will not be the first thing I cut!" Ames rushes to free the woman on the bed, as the crone tears linens from the bed into strips for me to gag and bind him. Once he is bound to the bedpost, standing, both Ames and the crone begin to chant and I ease outside the door to guard as they work. I realize it is working when I begin to hear women yelling, and men groveling. All over the town things are changing quickly. The screeching and cursing begins to be painful to the ears and as both Ames and the crone step from the room exhausted, the woman who let us in the back door is going in. I decide to leave him bound to the bed post. She can free him when she finishes screaming at him, if it pleases her to do so. I cringe when I see her take up the whip he was about to wield when we burst in the room. I think she is going to enjoy this. As we exit the house, the crone fades away into the darkness without a word and her daughter turns beckoning us to the Inn. Our horses are tied to the rail outside and I remove our packs, slinging them over my shoulders. Ames walks as if she is very weary. A very timid stable boy unties the horses to lead them to the stables in back. I wonder that he is not being berated by some female as well, but I guess he is too young to have done much to offend any of them. I have to laugh at the sight we behold as we walk into the common room at the Inn. The Inn Keeper and a cook are tied to chairs before the fire as bar wenches and maids take turns yelling at them. When they notice us come in they turn to us, one of the wenches taking charge. "Welcome Ladies and thank you! Are you hungry? Do you wish a meal brought to your rooms?" "We will just need one room thank you, but first a couple of mugs of hot water for my Lady to make her tea and baths! We need to bathe very badly." "Oh, I can do much better than just a bath in a tub! Ladies, follow me please; I will have mugs of water brought to you in the bath house. Bring your packs." "Bath house?" She giggles and leads us out the back through the kitchen to a tall stone building at the back. I notice the stable boy hitching two small ponies to a turnstile beside the building as we enter it. Inside the whole building is one big room with a balcony around the wall serving as a second floor. The floor of the lower room is smooth stone, with a big hole in the center. As the ponies began to turn the stile water begins to flow and run off a dip in the edge of the balcony above. The wench begins to explain how this works. "The cold water runs continuously from the power of the ponies turning the stile. Those big copper pots up there have small fires beneath and when you move this set of levers it opens them and adds hot water to the cold. Soap and drying cloths are on the rack over there and ah yes, here are your mugs of hot water now. Please relax and enjoy yourselves. You may pull this bell rope if there is anything else that you need." I lay our packs out on a bench in the dry corner of the room and Ames begins adding herbs to the mugs. I wrinkle my nose in anticipation. It seems to me that if she can make a brew to take away aches, pains and exhaustion she should be able to make it taste good but, no, even Ames has limits. Ames smiles at me as she hands me the mug and those beautiful green eyes are glowing again. I feel a surge of desire from her and wonder that she is able after all this day has held. We drink down the brew and walk together to the stream of water flowing from above. I play a bit with the levers, making it as hot as I can stand it. We come together under the water, wrapping our arms around one another, laying heads on shoulders and just letting the heat steam the pain and exhaustion from us. After a few minutes she stirs and I turn to take up the soap, stepping behind her to begin washing her hair. She moans and leans into me as I massage her scalp. I finish with her hair, and begin to move down her shoulders, soaping and massaging as I go. She turns and pulls me into a kiss that grows hotter and more passionate as our breasts rub together. She begins to move against me and I realize she is soaping me with her body. Oh, what a wonderful way to get clean! Her hands push down on my shoulders guiding me to kneel before her and she begins soaping my hair as I lean forward to tease her slit with my tongue. She leans back slightly spreading her legs for me and the water cascades over my head, washing away the soap and forcing me to hold my breath for a moment. I delve deeper with my tongue and reach up to cup her breasts as she moans softly. Plunging my tongue as deep into her as I can, I rub the tip of my nose back and forth across her clit causing her to gasp and I feel her body begin to tense. Her walls begin to clench on my tongue and she floods me with sweetness, thighs twitching, as her orgasm over takes her. As she begins to relax, I move my tongue up to her clit and thrust two fingers into her, deeply thrusting them, and swirling my tongue wildly. Her entire body locks up, and she squeals as she floods my hand, and then sags forward, almost falling. I guide her to the stone floor that is warmed by the flowing water, taking her in my arms and holding her. Stroking her wet hair and wondering how in the world I would live if she was ever taken from me. She is the Lady of My Heart and I know now that there will never be another to hold my heart as she does. She surprises me, rising up above me and straddling my waist. "Sh, no, rest love, you are tired." "I am no more tired than you, besides there is not a thing wrong with my tongue, lover." She ends her words in a kiss and I moan as she plunders my mouth, making my nipples harden and my thighs clench. She nibbles my ear and I tremble as she bites my neck and I feel wetness gush down my thighs. She works her way down, kissing and nipping as she goes to my breasts and my back arches in pleasure. She suckles strongly and swirls her tongue over first one crest and then the other and I begin to shake uncontrollably. The muscles in my stomach rise before her as she works her way to my center. I am racked with spasms as her tongue finds my clit, swirling and flicking and dancing across and around it. She enters me with her fingers and my hips rise from the floor, my heart pounding as I groan out my approval. Sucking my clit between her lips she grips it gently with them as she shakes her head I explode screaming in passion. - Eraat makes its way to the back of the building, high on all the anger and humiliation that is running through the town this night. As he draws nearer he is repulsed by what he feels radiating from inside. Love, lust, devotion and trust, no, this cannot be! He retches from the emotions he feels and runs far from the building. Lady of My Heart Ch. 02 Wait, Eraat must wait. They will leave here soon and it will watch, it will watch and follow. It will find a way to work and work some more and bring back the distrust and the fear in the mage. Master will be displeased! Eraat must hide and wait, yes wait, till the time comes again that it can work its magic. - Sitting cross legged on the bed, gnawing on the remnants of a haunch of roast beast, I belch, then blush shyly. "So, where do you plan to go from here, Lady? What will you do with your share of the gold? Will you ride with me to the mountains? I am of the mind to build my very own castle there, though I would like to stay here a day or two more. I want to talk to the Inn Keeper about how he built that bath house. I want one of our own, if there is anything left of him when the maids and the wenches finish, that is." Ames turns to face me from where she sits in the window ledge, brushing her hair as it dries, giggling. "Oh, I think maybe they will leave him and the cook alive, though just barely. I could be persuaded to ride to the mountains, the weather is so much cooler and nicer up there this time of year and I hear that if a woman screams out in passion it can be heard for miles and miles. I am not through with making you scream yet my love and I don't know if I ever will be." Lady of My Heart Ch. 03 Estragon was the original copy editor for this, years ago but I've made changes so if there are mistakes do not blame him. ***** Sun streaming through the window awakens me and I realize my left arm is numb. Slowly lifting one eyelid, I find that Ames' head is the culprit but I do not move. She is so beautiful lying there with her auburn hair all around her face. I think I might just be willing to lose the arm if necessary to keep from disturbing her. I lift my right hand and stroke softly down the side of her face with one finger. The emotions this woman raises in me are so new and so strong that it takes my breath away and scares me more than a little. I ease the sheet back from us, and marvel at the beauty I find beneath it. I can't resist reaching out to her nipple, lightly stroking, watching it stiffen and pucker. She sighs in her sleep. I grow more adventurous, popping a finger into my mouth to wet it, before teasing the other nipple as well. I play back and forth between the two, stroking, then lightly pinching and twisting, making her moan softly and arch her hips upward. I glide my hand in ever lowering circles toward her center, but with my arm pinned I can't quite reach my goal. Stroking back and forth over her lower stomach causes her to moan again, this time louder and I look up to see those beautiful green eyes looking back at me. "Is the treasure you seek just out of reach, love?" She raises her head and I slide down in the bed. Now I can reach her treasures and her nipple is conveniently right at my lips. I pull the stiffened peak into my mouth and begin to swirl my tongue and suckle gently as my fingers play teasingly with her mound and outer lips. I can sense her passion rising and she is soaking wet. "Oh, you little tease!" Just as I slip two fingers into her hot, wet, slit to find her bud, there is pounding on the door. "Dragon! Dragon, come quickly!" Years of mercenary service taught me to jump and run fast. I hit my feet dressing, grabbing my sword on my way to the door. Ames lets out a string of some of the saltiest language I have ever heard following behind. Mentally preparing myself for battle as I pound down the stairs, I come to a sliding stop at entrance the common room. I nearly fall at the sight. The room is filled with women, all of them holding bundles or packages. I stand agape, as they approach me with words of praise and hugs to deliver their gifts. Haunches of smoked meat, small crocks of jam from last year's berry crop, bags of dried vegetables and bundles of tubers, cheeses and loaves of bread, even two large fur sleeping rugs. Our journey will be a long one, and I wonder how we will carry so many supplies. Just as the last of the women kisses my cheek and hands me two bottles of wine, the stable boy motions for me to come outside. I reach behind me to take Ames' hand, but it is stiff and unyielding. I feel anger, resentment and jealousy radiating from her. In the street in front of the Inn are the three widows of the men killed by the Guardians. One holds the reins of two sturdy looking burros, the second two heavy traveling cloaks, oiled to ward off rain, and the third a fine horn bow with two quivers of arrows. "We want to thank you for bringing our men home to us and delivering their shares of the reward. Not all would be so honest as to do that." One of the women steps up to Ames, hugging her and handing her the bow and quivers. "I heard you can make use of these. I have no children to pass them down to, so I want you to have them." I feel her anger and resentment ease as she accepts the hug and I am relieved. I know that it was she and the Old Mother that did all the work to free the men from the evil influence they were under but it seems I am the one everyone wants to thank. --- Eraat ducks back behind the building across the street almost cackling with glee. It has found a way to drive them farther apart. The mage is jealous! Eraat will use that, yes, use it well. Lots of women will want the Dragon and Eraat will make sure to enhance it and stir the pot. The Dragon has had many women and she will meet them nearly everywhere she goes on this journey. There will be fun and more fun, lots of anger and jealousy for Eraat to enjoy. The mage will come to hate the Dragon for her philandering ways and distrust her even more, yes, Eraat will see to that! --- It seems the whole town has turned out to watch our leaving. Children run through the streets playing, and even the men seem happy and in good spirits. Perhaps they have all made peace with their women now. We ride for our hiding place and the cache of gold we left Cat to guard. The journey to the mountains will be long; the season will make it harder. We must cross the plains and they are plagued with storms this time of year. I once saw one of those great swirling storms pick up and fling most of an army. All that was left in its wake were a few broken tree stumps and the broken, twisted bodies of men and horses. Reaching the waterfall where we first made love, I hang back and allow Ames to go into the cave behind the falls. Cat knows me, but it is best if Ames goes in to meet her first. She beckons to me a few minutes later and I join her carrying the brace of large mocnive hens Ames took with her new bow this evening. Cat has not left the gold to hunt for two days and the gift will help to cement our friendship. We carry the gold to load it on our mounts as Cat enjoys her feast. The burros might carry the weight easier but neither of us is willing to risk losing it if something should happen to one or both of them. It is nearly dusk now. We both want to be back on the road as soon as possible to get away from this place before moonrise. We will make a camp when we are far enough away, to be sure that if any evil lurks here it will not find us. I cannot wait to make camp, I have some unfinished business to attend to. Several leagues down the road we begin looking for a likely place to set camp for the rest of the night. The Cat has been ranging far ahead of us watching for trouble, and I suspect hunting as well. Those mocnive hens were large but not nearly enough to fill that size belly for long. As we round a bend in the road I see her up ahead waiting. She seems to know that Bore and the two burros would spook if she comes too near. The hart, well, the hart is a different matter. Ames seems to have an affinity for the beast, but I have never in all my years seen a mount so totally without intelligence. If Ames doesn't guide it through the simplest actions it gets confused and simply stops, standing there until Ames begins guiding it again. I honestly think it would blunder blindly off a cliff if it weren't kept tethered. It doesn't even acknowledge Cat's presence. I suppose that great rack of antlers and its sharp hooves make for excellent protection when you are on its back, but I can't see it ever coming to anyone's aid the way Bore has done for me. When we draw near, Cat saunters off into the forest again. Now I realize why she stopped in this place. There is a small stream running a short distance from the road and a large clearing in the trees near it. Cat knows Ames well. Though the stream is not deep enough to bathe in, we should be able to wash in it. I begin unloading gear and setting up my small tent as Ames wanders off in search of wood for a fire. Between the two of us it does not take long before all is arranged, a fire crackling and a pot set to boil. Ames bends over the pot, adding smoked meat, dried vegetables, tubers and herbs. I can't help but watch her ass in the leather riding pants she wears. Dinner smells good but I hunger for something entirely different to eat. I lead the mounts and our burros down to the stream to drink before tethering them at the edge of the forest. Ames meets me, carrying soap and cloths to wash with and cocks an eyebrow at me. "The stew can simmer while we wash up. I've been simmering all day!" "You are not the only one. Perhaps after dinner you can help me locate the exact spot I was at this morning when the bar wench pounded on the door?" "Oh, I suppose I could help you to find it but I'd much rather enjoy you searching for it instead." She seems in good spirits, no longer upset at the way the women of the town thanked me instead of her. I find myself feeling protective of her and wanting to do anything just to make her smile. I've never felt this way before and I enjoy it. The women I've had in my life have always been just a quick way to slake my lust. I've never spent more than a few nights with one woman and these feelings are all new to me. I worry that I am not capable of love. I've never known real love and it worries me that I will not be able to be what Ames needs me to be. Our dinner is a feast compared to what I am used to while traveling, a savory stew, toasted bread with melted cheese, wine and even a bit of bread and jam for dessert. Of all our supplies the bread will be the first to spoil, so we must enjoy it while we can. I go to check on our animals, as Ames heads down to the stream to clean the dishes. Patting Bore and handing him a corner of bread as a treat, I see that the hart has managed to entangle itself in a bush. I am sure having a rack of antlers that size can be useful in a fight, but I have to wonder how the poor beast ever managed on its own. As I approach the tent I can hear Ames rustling around inside and my heart begins to pound. It's been a long trying day, but this moment has been in my mind the whole time. Crawling into the tent, I find her naked and grinning at me. Her beauty overwhelms me and my hands shake as I undress. I slide into the furs beside her, taking her in my arms, snuggling close and drinking in her scent. She captures my lips in a kiss and the excitement between us begins to rise exponentially. I rise above her and work my way down from her ear to her shoulder with tongue-swirling kisses. Nipping her shoulder lightly, I kiss my way to her collarbone, and then lick slowly over to the other under her chin, along her neck, making goose bumps rise across her chest and her nipples begin to stiffen in anticipation. I bury my nose in her cleavage and inhale deeply. She smells of flowers and passion. I begin kissing around and around the sides of her breasts and she arches her back, trying to get me to the peaks of them. She gasps as I take first one then the other in my mouth, alternately nipping them with my teeth and laving them with my tongue. I move onto my side beside her, sliding down a bit in the furs. My right hand begins to lazily wander down her ribs to her stomach and she moans and arches her back again. "Hm, is this the spot where I was this morning?" "Ah, no, not quite there yet, but you are getting closer." I begin to stroke her mound and outer lips, feeling the wetness there grow immediately. She lets out a growl and bucks her hips, wanting more. "Yes, I believe I have found the very spot I had to leave so suddenly." I drag a finger slowly up and down her hot, wet slit, teasing her further. "Dragon, my love, if you do not shut up and fuck me I swear will burst into flame!" "What my Lady wants my Lady will surely get." I plunge my fingers into her and circle her clit with my thumb pumping fast and hard. I curl my fingers upward and begin to thrust at an upward angle and she screams out in passion. Around and around my thumb goes and it is if I am winding a spring. I feel her entire body tightening more and more. Taking her nipple in my teeth, I bite down, and her back arches high as the spring uncoils. She lets forth a great sobbing moan as she is wracked with spasms. Not even allowing her to relax I slide further down and between her thighs. I know she is sensitive now so I very lightly begin teasing her with my tongue, burying my fingers in her once again. She groans loudly as I flick her clit gently back and forth, fingers pumping into her at a leisurely pace. She reaches down grabbing my hair and pulling me into her harder, signaling she is ready for more. I step up the pace with my fingers, again thrusting upward as I apply rhythmic suction to her clit. Her hips are rocking as she pulls my hair painfully, making me fear she will rip it out, then she screams again and holds me tight to her as I am flooded in her juices. I crawl up her body to rest above her on my elbows kissing her cheeks, her eyes, and finally those luscious lips. Her breathing slows gradually and I lay my head on her shoulder resting and listening to the pounding of her heart. She wraps her arms around me and rolls, coming out on top, kissing me and pressing our breasts together. I squirm and wiggle as she works her way lower. Taking my right nipple in her mouth, she pinches the left with her fingers sending waves of pleasure straight to my core. As she switches back and forth I feel as if I can't get enough air and wetness begins to seep from me onto the furs. It seems I am not the only one that can tease. The Lady takes her sweet and torturous time working her way down to nip and kiss up and down my inner thighs. I growl in frustration each time she gets oh so close, then retreats again. At last she moves to my center and blows her hot breath across my soaked lips. I cry out in anticipation of her mouth. Her tongue reaches out and slowly traces my outer lips and my heart pounds in my ears. Then it plunges into my very depths, causing me to gasp for air and beg for more. In and out and around and around her tongue swirls, making my back arch and my muscles begin to cramp from the tension. Suddenly it is gone and she looks up into my eyes as she enters me with three fingers, stretching me wide and making my hips undulate. She lowers her head again to suck my clit between her lips, darting her tongue around it in a maddening dance. I scream as waves of pleasure explode and radiate from the tips of my toes to the top of my head. Before she can continue I rise up slightly speaking in a voice gruff from moaning and screaming. "Turn around. I want more of you!" She turns lowering herself onto my face as we both begin pleasuring one another again. I am shocked as I feel her reaching out to touch my mind. Trustingly, I reach back and it is as if we are one in body and in mind. Jolts of pleasure arc back and forth between us and I am not sure which of us it comes from. She begins an intense assault on my clit with her tongue and I mirror her actions wanting to give as good as I get. I moan into her as the doubled feelings bring me close to the brink again. Trying to wait for her I take her clit gently between my teeth and flick my tongue back and forth over it faster and faster. Our minds are wrapped together as our orgasms burst forth from us and it is more intense than anything I have ever experienced. I am coming and she is coming and we are coming and then it becomes too much to bear and I know no more. Thunder rumbles and shakes the ground awakening me. I find it hard to breathe then chuckle as I realize that Ames is still atop me, her head buried between my thighs. Lightning flashes and this time the thunder is a tremendous cracking boom. Ames starts and jerks awake giggling when she sees our position. We both burst into outright laughter as we try to move and her face is stuck to my thigh, my breasts to her stomach. The rain begins to pound the outside of the tent in a deafening roar. "At least we will not have to go far to wash! Hand me the soap from my pack and let's go out a moment." We emerge from the tent into the chill rain, laughing and soaping each other playfully. Once we have washed away the remnants of our loving we scurry to get back into the tent. Ames hands me a cloth to dry with and begins drying herself as I reach into a pack for the half bottle of wine left from dinner. I shiver as I dry myself and she begins an incantation. The walls of the tent begin to glow softly and radiate warmth. I see her take out her hairbrush and take it from her, sitting down behind her among the furs, brushing her hair and passing the bottle of wine. As I finish with her hair, she turns to me smiling and I just have to say it. "I'm not sure how to say this, I've never said it before. I love you Ames, and though I have never felt this feeling, this love, before I can promise you I will cherish it and you as long as you will let me." She moves into my arms and lays her head on my shoulder. "I love you as well my Dragon, and I will never tire of it." We snuggle down into the furs, still wrapped in each others arms and drift into exhausted sleep. It is not far till morning and the road awaits us. -- Eraat shakes itself and sneezes. Eraat hates rain and hates love and this place is filled with both tonight. Eraat has been busy elsewhere, very busy. They will meet soldiers on the road tomorrow and Dragon will be in trouble, yes, big trouble! The mage will not like what the soldiers will reveal about the Dragon. Fun, yes, there will be fun when they all come together. Eraat moves back to the road and begins to run again. It must find others to bring into the trouble it causes for the Dragon and the mage. -- Morning is a scramble to get all packed and begin the journey through the endless sucking mud of the road. We must stop to rest our mounts frequently as it is tiring for them. About the time I am ready to try and find a decently dry place to rest and have a longer break to feed the mounts we round a bend in the road and before us is a camp full of the kings men. I am greeted warmly by one and all as we ride up. I am immediately approached by a young page, asking to take charge of our beasts. Stopping to grab our saddlebags we both dismount thankfully and hand over our reins and the lead ropes of the burros. I know they will be groomed, fed and kept out of the worst of the weather during our visit. Inside the Captain's tent I am pleased to find my friend Captain Coby He slaps my back and asks to be introduced to Ames. "Ames, this is Captain Andrew Coby, we have served together in several campaigns. His father owns the inn in Brightview Village. We will most likely be stopping there in a few days' time." "Andy, this is the Lady Mage Amynomene, better known as Ames, the one that finally won my heart. You always told me it would happen and it has." Andy bows deeply, always the gallant. "Pleased to meet you, Lady Ames, I knew someone would tame the Dragon one of these days! Though I am not so sure how my twin sisters will like it." I nervously clear my throat, and shoot him a warning glance. I am not sure Ames needs to hear about his twin sisters and the last time I visited his father's inn. In fact, I was already dreading that stop on our route as my last visit did not end well. We all sit around his map table, and he brings out a bottle of fine brandy to share. "Dragon, I need to warn you. We are here because of a problem with bandits in the area. We've been after them for weeks and can't seem to catch up to them. They've robbed many, killed a few and taken hostage one merchant woman on her way to her daughter's wedding. I only hope we can catch them before she is dead too." Just as I am about to answer, the page sticks his head in the tent frantically. "Dragon! Your horse! He has bitten a page and will not settle down for anyone!" "Damn it, sometimes he lives up to his name. Excuse me, Andy; I'll go deal with him. Oh, and Andy, a word of warning, get frisky with my woman and she will fry your cods with a mage bolt!" I throw my cloak back over my shoulders and exit the tent to the sound of their laughter. Dealing with Bore was simple. The inexperienced young lads had put him too near a mare and he was showing out for her. Once he was moved, he buried his head back in his oats and began to behave. Lady of My Heart Ch. 03 Walking back to the command tent, I overhear something I fear will not be so easily dealt with. "So we had searched all through the night only to find both of them and the Dragon passed out in the barn, naked, in a pile, amongst a half dozen empty wine bottles. It took four of us to keep my father from throttling the Dragon, and that is the only time I have ever seen her run from anything." I entered the tent and looked over to Ames. She was laughing along with Andy but her eyes were not laughing and if I did not know better I would swear there was steam coming out of her ears. Oh, shit! "Uh, Andy perhaps when we stop in at the village, I should drop by and tell your wife about those two harlots down at Bailey Harbor, but then you were married when that happened and it's been three years since your father caught me in that barn. I might add that not only were we all three single and lonely at the time but they are your older sisters and I was not doing anything others had not done before me." I stand stock still in front of his map table and look him dead in the eyes. This can go two ways; he can laugh it off and admit he's been trying to make it look like I'd been deflowering his innocent sisters in the family barn or he could take offense at my mention of their age and questionable virtue, and we can fight. At this point I hardly care which, and since Ames is obviously pissed at me what more have I to lose. "Now, now, Dragon calm down, there is no need to bring my wife into this. I was simply telling the Lady of the only time I have seen you run. I did not intend to make you angry. Surely the Lady can understand that you've been a wild one for years and be proud that she is the one to finally tame you." I think to myself, 'Oh, but you do not know women my dear friend'. I am positive as soon as we are out of earshot of everyone I am going to catch hell. I can feel that she is angry and she is trying her best to hide it from me. Ames interrupts. "Tell us Captain, where did these bandits last strike?" "Their last strike was three days ago, not far from here to the north. We set up the command center here to try and catch them before they head south where the road is more heavily traveled and they will have more victims. We think they have been hiding out in caves during the day to avoid us. I've had men patrolling day and night along the roads, but so far no sign of them." "Well, Ames and I are heading south so if they have managed to sneak around you somehow, they may well make a go at us. How big of a band is it and how well trained?" "There are seven that we know of, and seem an undisciplined and slovenly bunch from all the accounts we have of them. Still, you need to be careful and stay on guard." Ames chuckles wickedly. "If they make a try at us, it is they that will need to be careful!" I am surprised. I did not realize she had it in her to be so eager to fight. -- Eraat hides just outside the cave and soaks up the suffering. Eraat is happy. It was able to take control of the bandit leader this morning. It is in charge now and the Dragon may pay sooner than Eraat thought. For now, Eraat is happy, the merchant woman is providing fun, lots of fun, but Eraat must be careful and not go too far so as to break this new toy. -- As we ride away from the guard camp, I am tense. I know Ames is still angry, though not as much as at first, but I'm more worried about these bandits that have been plaguing the road. I wonder how long it will take before Ames goes off on me. So far all I am getting is the silent treatment and I know the longer it lasts the bigger the explosion will be. Leagues down the road, as we begin to set camp for the night, she hits me with it. "Dragon, I understand you have been single and traveling for years. I can deal with the fact that you have had a lot of lovers, but two? At once? How am I to even attempt to compete with that?" "Ah, Ames, I am embarrassed to admit this, but honestly, I remember being in the barn settling Bore in for the night. I remember the two of them coming out to the barn with the wine, but the rest is all fuzzy to me. I cannot compare you to having two women at once because I do not remember what happened. The thing I remember most vividly about it is the old innkeeper trying to get to me to kill me. And I want, no, I need you to know that what happened between us last night is the single most soul shaking thing I have ever experienced. I will never, ever, risk losing your love for me by being with anyone else." She seems to be thinking that over. I know I can feel the anger ease in her but before I get a chance to say anything else, the bandits strike. Bore screams out as they are upon us and nearly knocks me over as I am in the middle of unloading him. I unsheathe my sword in time to meet two of the bandits that rush me. Parry, jab, slash, thrust and now there is only one to deal with. I duck, turn and a sweeping backhand slash takes his left leg, he goes down screaming. I cannot see Ames in the dwindling light but I feel her with my mind and I hear explosions and men screaming. Another man rounds on me, slashing at my head and I parry once more. Block, slash, jab, parry again; this man is good with a sword. I hear an earsplitting scream and the Cat is on his back riding him to the ground, mauling him. Bore is a bucking, kicking, biting whirlwind, as a man tries to take him and the packs he carries. His hooves make short work of him. I sprint towards Ames only to nearly trip and fall over the body of one man, his face a blackened wreck. "Ames! Ames, leave one alive, do not kill him yet. We will need to find the hostage." The last of the bandits is but a few steps from her but frozen in place, clutching his throat and struggling to breathe. As I yell to her, his breathing seems to come easier and I grab him from behind, disarming him and forcing him to his knees. "Tell us where the hostage is and I may let you live! Refuse and she will fry you like an egg." The man cries and protests, then realizes he is the last living and relents. The leader is at a cave but a short distance east with the hostage, but we must hurry or she may not live through his treatment. Leaving our prisoner bound and blindfolded, tied to a stake before the tent and the Cat guarding both him and all our possessions, we hurry off to the east in search of the cave. Finding it was not that difficult. I could smell the place long before we got there. Apparently none of the men had enough sense to know how to dig a latrine or just did not care to. The forest around their camp was dotted with things one would not wish to step in. As we drew even nearer I could sense the terror and pain of the captive and the glee of the bandit leader. At least she still lives, though I suspect is seriously damaged mentally, if not physically. As we make ready to try and draw our quarry from his den, Ames turns signaling me there is something in the bushes beside the cave entrance and I feel it. evil, pure unadulterated evil. There is a scurrying and it bolts back toward the forest but not before Ames losses an arrow at it. There is a shriek but it continues on as the leader emerges from the cave. A second arrow fells him, shot through the chest and a woman screams. We rush into the cave to find the merchant woman there tied to a rough wooden framework against a wall. Sylvie! I know this woman! "Sylvie, Sylvie it is all right now, they are all dead or captured." She is beyond comprehension and only screams and babbles as Ames cuts her loose. She cannot stand on her own so I lift her in my arms. Now the best we can do for her is get her far from this place as quickly as we can. "Ames, I will carry her, stay on guard! I don't know what that was that ran off into the forest but it may yet attack us." "Be gentle with her Dragon, there are injuries to her body as well as her mind; I will need to treat her when we get her to camp." Sylvie buries her head in my shoulder as I carry her. The trip back to the road is a lot longer and slower when you are carrying someone, and it take us quite a time to get there. Once we arrive, I lay her on the ground far from the prisoner and wrap her in my cloak to keep her dry while I finish unloading gear and setting up the tent. Ames sits with her and uses her magery to light a sputtering fire in what wet wood I could find quickly. She is brewing tea again, and I think I remember some honey among our gifts that should make it less bitter this time. We move her into the tent and Ames again set her spell upon the walls, warming us all and giving us light to work by. Taking out a small crock of salve Ames begins to treat the many scrapes, bruises, abrasions, and burns this poor woman is covered in. I try and talk to her but to no avail. "Sylvie? Do you remember me? I led the guard for your caravan this past summer. Sylvie, you are safe now. Relax, it is safe, you will be well now." I hear horses and men: the Guards' night patrol has reached us! Rushing from the tent, I hail them. -- Eraat scrambles farther into the overhang below a cliff. Pain! Agony! Eraat hurts! That bitch of a mage has shot its leg and it does not like pain when it is its own. Pay! They will pay and pay again for this! Eraat sniffs and smells a sulfurous reek in the air. Master! The Master comes. No! Oh, No! Master will be angry. Eraat has not made them pay. Eraat has not the stone. Master will be angry! -- We ride along with the Guard troop headed for the capital. There was a great reward offered for the bandits and we must attend court to get our reward. I dislike traveling with such a large group, as there is little privacy for us now and we have not been able to be alone for days. Ames spends most of her time trying to soothe and heal Sylvie. She must be taking a much-needed break because she rides up beside me now, looking tired and pensive. "So Dragon my love, I have but one thing to ask about Sylvie. If no, when she comes out of this is she going to be jealous? Have you slept with her too?" "No, Ames. I can honestly say that I did not. Sylvie has a great, hulking, red bearded husband named Ben and he would break me in two if I even thought of it." As we ride companionably down the road, I worry. I have not slept with Sylvie, but when we get to court there will be many that are not happy I am now attached. It may be a very eventful visit to the Court. Lady of My Heart Ch. 04 Lady of My Heart Ch. 04 Healing a Dragon and sealing a bond As I climb wearily from the wagon that carries Sylvie and a guardsman with a broken ankle, I look ahead of the column to see Dragon and Captain Coby immersed in conversation. Unhitching my hart from the back of the wagon, I mount up and ride toward them. I try to shake off the weariness. Healing is hard work and at this point I have done all I can for poor Sylvie. She is quiet now and sleeps a healing sleep. I hope that my father and the other healers there can do more for her, once we reach the palace. As I ride forward, I am worrying about what the Dragon is going to think of me when she discovers my secrets. I have not told her who I truly am, though she really hasn't asked me much of my life before we met. I could possibly keep it from her once we reach the palace, but I see no need to be dishonest about who I am, or rather, who my father and brothers are. I also don't see any point in staying at some flea-ridden inn outside the palace gates, when I have a perfectly good suite of my own inside. ----- Ames rides up beside me just as we top a small rise and see the capital city of Burchet laid out before us on the northern edge of the plains. The capital with all its spires and domes gleams in the evening sun. We pull our mounts to the side of the column, allowing them to pass, and stop to behold the view. At least the rain has let up for a while, though the roiling clouds off to the west herald yet more bad weather. “You look tired Ames; how fares your patient?” “She is sleeping now. I hope there is more help for her at the palace.” “Andy and I were discussing the selection of inns, it seems a few new ones have sprung up since I was last here, and there is even one that has a bathhouse!” “Well, we don't really need an inn. Let’s ride at the back of the column a while. I need to explain something to you.” Don't need an inn? Ames seems awfully nervous for some reason. I rein Bore around and follow Ames to the rear, wondering what it is that has her so anxious and what she has to explain to me. Approaching the end of the line, I give the rearguard an icy glare, sending them back to give us some privacy. “Now, what is it, love? You seem very anxious.” “Well, we haven't really discussed much of my past and I didn't see a need before now to tell you about my family. You see....” Ah, she is worried I will not find her family to my liking. Whew! I thought I was in for real trouble. “I am sure I will love your family, dear, no need to worry. I can get along with most folk and I promise to be nice no matter what.” “Dragon, you don't understand. We don't need to find an inn because I have my own apartments in the palace.” “In the palace? Ames, who are you?” “It's not me really, it's more the rest of the family. I am just a healing mage that learned a little battle magic from her big brother.” “But then who is your family? Why are you being so weird about this?” “Can we just wait till we get there and I can introduce you to them all? I know this is strange, but trust me please.” “Ames, you have my heart and I would trust you with my life in an instant. Say no more. I promise to love you just the same, even if you introduce me to an ogre as your father and a harpy as your mother.” ----- Eraat huddles in fear near a blackened and bloody stone altar on a ridge above the edge of the plain. It has done what had to be done. Now Master will have a way into this world. The earth trembles and lightning flares. Amid the tremendous crack of thunder, a hulking shadowy form emerges. Eraat screams in terror as the figure lets forth a tremendous howling bellow. “Eraaaaaat! You have failed me!” Eraat curls into as small a ball as it can manage and whimpers; it knows what is coming. “Master! Forgive me Master! The mage, she is too strong for me. I tried to use the warrior against her but I was foiled again and again.” “You think allowing them to reach the capital and join with the arch mage and the ass of a wizard that took my stone was a good idea? Now we will have to raze half the city to get the stone and my revenge. I promise you, I will have them both!” The hulking figure gestures. Blue flames crackle and pour forth to surround Eraat and it screams until it loses its voice and then screams silently. ----- Reaching the gates of the city, I begin to see what power and privilege Ames is used to. The gate guards wave Captain Coby and his men through, while Ames and I are asked to pull to the side. I fully expect to be questioned about my reasons for being here, only to find that a coach is readied. The two of us and all our gear are transferred to it. I am amazed at the change in Ames’ demeanor as she deals with the men. “Place our mounts in the royal stables please, my good men, along with the rest of the arch mage's beasts and tell the stable hands to treat the war horse nicely or he will show his ire.” Once we are in the coach and rumbling off toward the palace, I cannot help but question her. “Ames? The arch mage? Why the coach ride?” “Yes, Dragon, my father is the King's arch mage and in charge of the palace infirmary as well as regulating all the mages that travel with the troops in battle. All of the gentry are brought to the palace in coaches. It saves having to provide as many mounted guards through the seedier parts of the city.” Pulling down the shades on both sides of the enclosed coach, she moves over onto my lap and draws me in for a kiss. “Now, are we going to use the first time we have had alone together for over a week to discuss my family and palace policies or for something far more enjoyable?” How can I possibly pass up such an invitation? I return her kiss with the fervor of a lover denied pleasure far too long and slide my hand beneath her bunched robes, searching for her center. She shifts over to straddle my lap and reaches between our bodies to untie the drawstring on my trews, sliding her hand down inside to cup my sex. The kiss continues as we both find our goals and moan into each other’s mouths. She is so hot and so wet she seems to burn my fingers as they sink into her. I have to gasp as she enters me in one swift plunge, thumbing my clit. I break the kiss, sliding down her neck to her shoulder, biting gently there, and then laving the nip with my tongue as she seizes my earlobe in her teeth. The carriage begins to rock just a little more than it should as our motions, hidden with in it, increase in intensity. I feel a huge orgasm building in my loins and moan against the skin of her neck. She starts to clench around my fingers and I know that she is nearing release as well, then it happens. She reaches out to touch my mind and I reach back, the mental embrace doubling our pleasure and sending us both tumbling into ecstasy. Pleasure arcs back and forth between us leaving us both gasping for air as the coach comes to a rumbling stop, and we must hurry to right our clothing as someone raps on the door. Ames whispers into my ear as she climbs off my lap. “Just wait till I get you into my bed, I am not finished with you!” I scramble to keep up as she descends from the coach amid a gaggle of women that somehow knew of our arrival. “Bessimara, have all the bags, both hers and mine, taken to my chambers. We are going straight to the baths. Also, send for Stephan. I need to see him within the hour. If we are not back from the baths when he arrives, have him wait.” The woman servant sets to work. “Dragon, please tell me all of your clothes are not so travel weary.” “No, I have dress leathers and armor as well. Why?” “Good, you will need them! Ambrian! Find my mother, father and both my brothers. Tell them I wish to meet in my father’s study before dinner. Josanne, see to the unpacking, bring my emerald gown and accessories to the baths, and...Dragon, where is she to find your leathers?” “In the black pack with my ....” “You heard her, Josanne, the black pack, bring the leathers you find there to the baths as well. Follow me, Dragon, we have but a couple of hours till we must meet with my family.” Damn! She reminds me of one of the sergeants in the mercenary troop yelling orders at recruits. I think I might like this side of her that I have not seen until today. ----- Eraat huddles in the back of the cave, watching Master toy with the Shepherd. It was easy to find him leading his flock back towards the city at dusk and Master was pleased when it brought him here. Maybe Master will not be so mean to Eraat now. Master gestures and the Shepherd's body levitates rotating slowly, as Master drains it of both life force and information. As Master finishes the body drops to the floor, now only a shriveled dry husk. “Eraat! Go to the city. Do not allow yourself to be seen. Find the king’s younger brother Morbern drinking in the inn near the river. Bring him to me, alive and unharmed. We will need an army and an army needs a cause, even if it be a drunken jealous sibling.” Eraat scurries from the cave to do the Master's bidding. ----- I stand before a mirror in the baths. Ames is surrounded by several maids, fussing with her dress and hair. I take a quick survey of myself, hoping I will meet with Ames’ approval. Skintight leather britches in navy blue, a sky blue silk shirt that matches my eyes perfectly, topped by a navy leather vest and a sweeping navy blue cape embroidered with my signature dragon in gold. At my throat hangs the memento of my last trip to the palace some twenty years ago. It is an outsized replica of the king’s seal in gold, awarded only to those the king would praise for courage and honor in battle. I earned it while working with the king’s forces as a mercenary. I'd been sorely wounded and had apparently done miraculous and courageous deeds. I did not know then, nor do I now. I had not awakened from the wound fever until several days after I'd been brought to the capital for treatment. I have only vague memories of the battle that are strangely interspersed with erotic images of a fiery red haired lover. The maids depart and I turn to behold absolute beauty. The emerald silk of her gown is nearly as bright and deep as her eyes, and the combination sets off the fiery highlights in her auburn hair. The neckline plunges to just this side of propriety, displaying a breath-catching cleavage above her trim waist and the feminine flare of her hips. Looking at her and recalling that red haired lover of twenty years ago, it seems almost as if I am beholding the dream again in the present. As we look into each other’s eyes I can feel the love and lust flare between us. I take a step forward reaching for her, only to be gently rebuffed. “No time now, my love, we must meet with the family tailor in my chambers. Your leathers are magnificent but you are going to need several more sets of those if we are to be here for very long. I expect that my parents will try to keep us here several months just to make sure I am in good hands before we continue our journey.” She sweeps by me into the corridor, leaving me to hurry along behind. It seems when we are on the road and in battle I am the leader, but here she is in her element and takes the lead without a thought. ----- Jaxarina pours herself a drink and paces the study nervously, awaiting the arrival of her daughter Ames and her new lover. She is praying that the rumors being bandied about the palace already are not true, that it is not the same Dragon. Though her husband Bedrian has always known that she is bi-sexual and has no problem with her little escapades while on campaign, none of her children are aware of it. To have them discover it because she had bedded her daughter’s current lover, though it be twenty years in the past, would be an embarrassment, to say the least. For this reason she is here early, hoping to address the situation with her daughter and this present Dragon before the others arrive. ----- Bedrian and Vorlayin enter the King’s chambers, finding the monarch staring out the window at the gathering storm on the horizon. “We came as soon as we could Your Majesty; I assume you felt it as well?” “Yes Bedrian, one would have to be mage blind to have missed such an occurrence, surely. It seems our taking of the stone has brought this matter to a head before we expected. The demon we shall not name has entered into this world to retrieve his possession. I hope that you and your sons can protect the city.” “Yes, Majesty, that is why it took us so long to arrive. We have all the wizards of the university building wards as we speak. It's a shame we were not able to take the second and third stones before he crossed over. Without the three he would be weakened beyond being a danger to us. With just the one taken out, we will still have a tough battle on our hands.” “I'm ordering the troops to high alert. Though it's likely to be mostly a battle of magic, I can't rule out needing the army before it is over. I hear that the Dragon has come to the city with your daughter; are they aware of recent developments?” Vorlayin steps forward. “My father and I are to meet with them before dinner your majesty. As far as I know the Dragon is as yet unaware that they were followed here or where the interference along their way came from. In fact she likely has not discovered that I am Ames’ older brother yet either. When I hired her to guard the cave I did not feel the need to inform her. We are not sure what her reactions will be but if you say she is up to the task, then one could not wish for a better recommendation.” “If ever there was a warrior born to thwart a demon and its spawn, it is the Dragon. If half the tales of her are true, and I have no reason to doubt them from what I know of her personally, the demon does not stand a chance.” ------ Eraat leads the drunken Morbern toward the cave. Why must he move so slowly, and the smell. He reeks of drink and piss. Eraat hopes Master will be pleased. Reaching the cave Eraat shoves the drunkard forward. ----- I stop to open the study door for Ames, smiling as she passes through it and then following her, to find myself suddenly face to face with a memory. The woman standing there is an older version of Ames and when she sees me all the color drains from her face. It is then that I realize this is the woman from the battlefield twenty years ago and I gasp at the implication. “Mother, this is Dragon. Dragon, this is my mother. Mother? What is the matter? Dragon? NO! How could you?” Ames whirls around, heading for the door. I step in front of her. She begins to pound my chest with her fists crying uncontrollably and I can feel her anguish in my own heart. “Daughter! Hear me out. Your father has always known that I am bi-sexual and enjoy short liaisons with other women while campaigning with the troops. Twenty years ago I had one pleasurable afternoon with a young mercenary warrior. That night she was wounded in battle but continued to fight valiantly, killing the enemy leader and saving the lives of many of our troops. She fell ill with the wound fever and was brought back to the capital for treatment. I have not seen her since the night she was wounded and from her reaction I do not think she remembered me until just now. I can sense the great love you have for each other. Do not throw that away because of one afternoon’s frolic twenty years in the past.” Ames buries her head in my shoulder, holding me now, and continues to cry. I try my best to send soothing energy to her with my mind but I can still feel a deep hurt within her. I wonder if it will ever heal and if I have lost her love forever. I fail to notice her mother’s shocked expression as I try to soothe her. As a mage she can sense that I am using the bond between us, though unwittingly. As if things needed to get any more emotional or upsetting her father Bedrian and brother Vorlayin enter. “What is going on here? Ames, what is wrong?” I feel her start at the sound of her father’s loud voice and try again to send her soothing strength. “You, you are bonded? Without benefit of the warding ceremony? Ames, what have you done?” “Sir, Archmage Sir, let me explain, you see it was twenty years ago and....” “Quiet warrior, this has nothing to do with that! She has bonded the two of you. Are you not aware of it?” Ames is literally cowering in my arms now and I feel not only the hurt but also fear, shame and dread emanate from her. “Bonded? I am not sure what it is you speak of. We are in love, Sir, and I swear to care for her and love her for the rest of my life. If that is a bond in your eyes, as it is in mine, then yes we are bound.” “Ames, you did this without telling her or explaining the consequences? And with no warding to protect either of you? Do you realize you have committed the most heinous crime that a mage can commit in doing this? This is a matter for the King to hear, and I hope he has pity on you for what you have done.” The arch mage steps up to take her from my arms and I am sorely tempted to resist, but Vorlayin catches my eye and shakes his head. I release her with great reluctance as her father pulls her away and toward the door. “Vorlayin and I will take her to the King. Jax, you need to inform Dragon exactly what has happened, its results and what the penalty for this might be. I would think that her reaction will greatly influence the King’s decision in the matter, so bring her along to the council chambers when you have explained it all. Dragon, you need to know I bear you no ill-will for events twenty years in the past, but whatever you have done to turn my daughter into a criminal is an entirely different matter.” “Father stop! I did it while she was sleeping, she had nothing to do with it. I just wanted to help her heal and to protect her. I did what I did knowing what could happen and I will face the consequences. The fault is mine and mine alone.” ----- “Hey, what? Who?” Master reaches out and grabs the drunkard, silencing him instantly. This is one of Master’s least liked acts, but in order to retrieve the stone and have revenge it must be done. A sickly green light surrounds them both, the drunkard screams, a faint light seems to rise from his head and then he goes limp. Master begins to fade into a shimmering light and the light enters the mouth of the drunkard. When all of the light is inside what was once Morbern, but is now the Master, it opens its eyes and shakes itself. Now it can enter the city and the palace. Now it can foment rebellion and raise an army. When the city falls and the kingdom is his to rule, his revenge will be complete. ----- As the door closes behind her husband and their two oldest children, Jaxarina goes to the sideboard and pours a glassful of brandy, handing it to Dragon. “Sit, drink and listen. I fear you are not going to like what I have to explain.” Dragon falls into an ornate armchair, a million thoughts roiling in her mind. What has Ames done? What will they do to her? If they imprison her is it possible I can break her out? If I can get her free where can we run? Jaxarina interrupts her thoughts with a question. “Dragon, do you know the difference between a mage and a wizard?” “No, well, I am not sure what you mean. I know that mages heal for the most part and wizards do battle but then there are some that do both like Ames and yourself.” “Mages deal with the magic of life force. They work with healing mind, body and soul, drawing their energy mostly from within themselves and their patients, though they can in an emergency, draw from life around them like a forest full of trees or a herd of deer. Wizards on the other hand work with the magic of the land, using channels of energy beneath the land itself. It is a much more powerful magic and also much more dangerous to the user. They use it for both destructive things like battle and for constructive tasks, like levitating the stones to build a castle.” Lady of My Heart Ch. 04 “What of the ones that do both?” “The ability to work with one or the other, both, or nothing at all, is something you are born with. Those of us that can learn to use both are rare and, as you can guess, much sought after for armies because we can both fight and heal.” “That I can understand. What of mind magic? I have a little of that and Ames taught me some about shielding my thoughts so that I wasn't leaking everywhere.” “There isn't just mind magic, Dragon. If you have those abilities you are simply an untrained mage. You could learn to be a healer if you wish.” I have to stop to ponder that for a moment. I had always mistrusted mages, and now I’m being told I am one myself. “Now, tell me what is it that Ames has done and how can I help her? I warn you if anyone tries to harm her I will ....” “Oh, do not worry about them harming her, they cannot, because if they harm her they will also harm you. What she did is called bonding because when two mages love each other they can interweave their very souls and bind them together. It is not done very often because of the consequences of it and when it is done it must be done with a ceremony. During this ceremony other mages assist with the weaving of the souls and incorporate wards so that if one is harmed, the other will not feel it as dearly as without the warding.” “So that is the consequence? If I fight in a battle and get injured, Ames will feel the wound too and is that why when we make love it is so intense?” “Part of the consequences is just that. If one of you feels pain, pleasure or any strong emotion the other will feel it just as if it is happening to them. The other part, the part you would not have at all if the wards had been placed, is that when one of you dies and your soul leaves your body it will draw the other along with it. What Ames did was wrong because she did not ask you first and she did not do it with the warding which means you will live and die as one and it cannot be undone.” Just as I am about to question Jax further, the door to the study bursts open and in scurries a pale, thin, wisp of a man. I recognize him immediately as the very reason I have mistrust for mages, and my dislike for this individual is just as strong today as it was over twenty years ago when he nearly got me killed in battle. Upon seeing me he darts behind Jaxarina with a feminine sounding squeal. “Mother! It is HER! Do not let her hurt me please!” “Calm down now, Cordial. I am afraid the two of you are going to have to learn to get along. Your sister is now her bondmate. Dragon, this is our youngest son, Cordial, whom you obviously know from his failed military career. He is now the head librarian for the kingdom, and very useful to the King as well as very dear to my heart, so please do not kill him just yet.” “As long as he is not assigned to ward my back in battle again, I can tolerate him. Now, please tell me what punishment Ames faces and what I can do to lessen it. If she asked me today to do what she did I would agree to it and if she dies I would not want to live without her. I do worry that my pain or death could cause hers because I would do anything to keep her from harm but if it must go both ways and cannot be undone, I guess I will just have to live very carefully from this point forward.” “Punishment? Mother, what has my sister done?” “Cordial she bonded with Dragon. She neither asked permission nor explained the consequences. There was no ceremony so no wards were placed. Your father took her to the King and we are about to go now to try and see what we can do to help her.” “I can answer the question of punishment, and perhaps help my sister in this with Dragon’s cooperation. Dragon, the punishment for a mage that does this in malice is to be stripped of their mage abilities and spend the rest of their life in confinement so that their death cannot cause the death of the innocent victim. However, there have been cases like yours in the past, where the victim is actually willing to live with it, because they are in love. In those cases the ceremony is performed immediately. The ceremony does not provide the wards, but it gives the impression to the Kingdom that everything is being done properly to begin with. Being joined at the soul without warding puts you both in greater danger if anyone finds out about it, so the utmost secrecy is required.” “Then it seems as though we are going to have a bonding ceremony and as soon as possible. Is there anything special I need to do to start this other, than talk with the King?” ----- My father's silence as we walk the corridors on the way to the King’s chambers speaks louder than words. His disappointment in me almost drips from the very air around us. I think, maybe, hopefully, they will understand once I explain, but in explaining I will reveal more about Dragon than she wishes anyone to know, so it bothers me that I will have to do it. We reach the King’s chambers and my father speaks to the guards at the door. We are ushered in, to find the king sitting at a desk, studying some maps. My father pushes me to my knees before him and the King looks up, surprised at his actions. “Bedrian, I did not expect to see you again so soon. I've been looking over these maps. It seems my younger brother Morbern has decided to leave his drinking and whoring in town for a tour through the countryside. I can't fathom why he would do such a thing. Rise, Lady Ames, you know you do not need to kneel before me.” “My King, I am afraid she does need to kneel, as she is now my prisoner. She has committed a grievous offense that only you can deal with.” “Ames, what have you done? I cannot imagine you doing anything heinous, you barely misbehaved when you were but a child knee high.” “Your Majesty, I bonded with Dragon, without ceremony, but I had a very good reason for doing it. I did not tell her because I did not want her to know why I had done it and I respectfully ask that my father and Vorlayin not be present when I explain this to you, for Dragon’s privacy.” “Bedrian, am I to assume your wife and Dragon will be along shortly? If so, then you can all assemble in the council chamber. You were right to come to me before assembling the council, and I think we need not assemble them yet, but we can only fit so many into my study. Ames and I will be there, once she explains her actions to my satisfaction.” ----- Eraat scrambles along the edge of the road just out of sight of the troops surrounding Master. There was no way he was going to be allowed to leave the city without escort and it makes things very difficult for Eraat. Master knows that all kingdoms have their malcontents and the poorest, most rural areas are the ones most likely to have large numbers of them. The king seemed suspicious of this tour of the kingdom so Master will have to be careful of discovery by his escorts. It takes time to build a rebellion properly, but Master has the advantage of his unique abilities. Eraat anticipates lots of fun on this tour, not the least of which will be what Master will do to this escort when they get far enough from the city to make discovery of his reconstruction of Morbern less likely. ----- I look around the council chamber impatiently. One does not rush a King, but I wish that this one would hurry up and bring Ames to me. It does not matter what Ames has done to me. I would forgive her anything. I am nervous about this bonding ceremony that must take place. I would never have thought I was capable of committing to just one woman, but I know deep in my heart that Ames is the one I will always love. As we sit waiting around the council table, Bedrian glares at me continually and I fear before the end of the night I may find myself on the bad end of a mage bolt or two. Just as I am about to say something to him, the doors fly open and the King enters with Ames in tow. We all rise and he waves to us to sit as he strides to the head of the table. “Dragon, I assume you have been told exactly what has been done?” “Yes, Your Majesty, and I am not against it. I would gladly do it today if it had not been done already.” “Do not be too quick to say that. I have some explaining to do as well; you were intended to play a larger role than you know. Vorlayin hired you to guard the cave while he took the stone for a specific reason. The stone he took was taken from a demon that has plagued the kingdom for some time. Ames was sent along to help deal with the demon if he should cross over during the taking of the stone. The stone is one of three he uses to focus his power. There are still two that must be dealt with before he can be neutralized. He has since crossed over and may well attack the city before we can get to the other two stones. Now, Ames needs to explain why she bonded to you. I am aware of her exact reasons but I am the only one, other than the two of you, that knows the details and it will remain that way if you so wish.” He sits down and Ames rises from her seat. Her nervousness floods me but she is trying to shield me from her true feelings. “Dragon, when you slept at the waterfall after the battle with the guardians of the cave I pressed on into things I should have left alone. I was in love and very curious about you. I discovered the great trauma and pain you held within you from the time before you became a mercenary. I could tell there had been a lot of healing through the years but there remained a fracture in your soul itself. Because I love you I wanted to be able to speed that healing, because the fracture makes you more vulnerable to the demon's evil. I bonded to you to help you heal and to protect you from the demon.” The significance of their words shocks me to my very core and I feel like I might pass out. She knows, they both know, what I have done. How can she still love me, knowing I am a murderer? Why has the King not ordered me sent to the dungeons for it? As this all sinks in, the King rises again. “Cordial, Vorlayin, your sister is not to be punished. That is all you need to know at present. I am charging the two of you to plan quickly a bonding ceremony, to be held as soon as possible. Your sister is my goddaughter and Dragon is a war hero, so plan something elaborate and appropriate to their stations. I would suggest you take counsel from the Queen. I've more to say that I do not wish the two of you to hear. Go now. Inform the kitchen staff that we will require substantial refreshments in two hours. We will need to regain our strength after this.” He turns to watch them go, making sure the door closes behind them, before he continues. “Dragon, the kingdom is going to need your help in dealing with the demon. The damage to your soul makes you at risk when dealing with him. We have in this room the four strongest healers in the kingdom. Yes, I am a mage myself, though not many are aware of it. If you will allow it, we can perhaps heal you, but you must know that in doing so we will all become aware of exactly what happened to cause it. We will need to take you back to that time in your memory and go through it with you, all of it. I realize you probably harbor some shame from that time. I want you to know that you have nothing to be ashamed of. You did nothing wrong in my eyes or in Ames’ eyes, and I assure you Jaxarina and Bedrian will feel the same.” “Your Majesty I...I am not sure I can do it. If I have to live through that again, will Ames not feel it as well through the bond? I would not want her to go through it.” “Dragon, we will all be there together, all of us will go through it just as if we were you. It is something healers must do to heal and we are all willing to do this, especially Ames.” Stunned, I look around the table to each of them and see only compassion and caring in their eyes. Even Bedrian now seems to be much less hostile. I realize I am more afraid now than I have ever been in my life, but if I must do this to defeat the demon and protect Ames, then I must do it. “If you all are willing to experience such a thing in order to help me, then I would be a fool if I did not allow you to do it. What do you need me to do?” “May I borrow your medal a moment? Thank you. Now, lay down here on this bench and watch the medal. Relax, yes, that's it, just relax and go back to your earliest memory.” ----- Two hours later the King opens the door of the council chamber with weak and shaking hands. Outside, he finds servants bearing food and drink waiting along with the guards at the door. “We are ready for the refreshments now. Bring them in quietly please, so as not to wake our patient.” I look over to see Dragon still laid out on the bench, sleeping. She looks more peaceful and at rest than I have ever seen her. I am proud of her for having the courage to face it all again and I can tell that both my parents hold her in greater respect. The damage to her soul is but a mere fragment of what it used to be, and she will no longer suffer from so much of her former guilt and shame. “Mother, Father, I hope you can forgive me now for what I did. I love her, I could not bear to see her suffering. I had to do anything I could to heal and protect her.” “We understand, Daughter, I just wish you could have waited to have the ceremony. I apologize for my reaction earlier. Your mother and I are proud of you for what you have done. Come now, eat and replenish your strength. If you are to have a bonding with such a mighty warrior, you are doubtless going to need it.” ----- Upon entering the royal apartments the first thing I hear is the queen screeching. That is all she seems to do these days. I often wonder if I did not make a mistake in choosing her as my wife. I understand that she is upset and frustrated that we have no heirs but taking it out on me and everyone else within range will not change that. “Rotomalo! Why am I to be burdened with the planning of a bonding for a mercenary warrior and a minor mage? Am I nothing more to you than a glorified secretary?” “Sabatarria my dear, I charged Vorlayin and Cordial to plan it. I only told them to seek your wise counsel, because I did not want two young men to make a huge mess of what will be the most important day in the lives of a war hero and my goddaughter. You do remember that she is my goddaughter, do you not? Why are they not here?” “I sent them away. You are correct, two men do not need to be in charge of planning a bonding. And you, Sire, need to remember that she is not your daughter, and concentrate on making one of your own! Now, off with you to your study to do whatever it is you do in there for hours on end. I've a guest list to arrange and the tailor to commission and the menu to plan and....” “The guest list can simply be the council members and their wives: we need not fete the whole kingdom, and this needs to be done as soon as possible. Dawn tomorrow would be a good time. I realize it will be difficult. Ames will not be fussy over what gown she wears or how much braid adorns Dragon’s leathers. We just need to get this done properly and quickly.” “Why such a hurry? They are two women. Surely it isn't because one is expecting a child. I think there is more here than you are telling me.” “The demon has crossed over and we will need both of them to protect the city and defend the kingdom. It needs to be done before the war begins. How long has it been since you spoke with Morbern? He has suddenly decided to up and take a tour of the kingdom. It's not like he would be any real help with the demon but I find it odd for him to leave the inn and the bar wenches alone to travel about.” The queen quickly turns away busying herself with something to avoid the King’s eyes. “Morbern? I...I haven't spoken to him for months. The last time I recall speaking to him was at that dinner for the envoy from the Oviz Islands. I cannot believe he drank to such excess as to make a total fool of himself in front of the entire council and the envoy.” ----- I am awakened by a rapping on my chamber door. I sit up in bed, looking around, not remembering at first where I am. “Enter.” Cordial enters carrying several packages, and drops them on the bed. One is wrapped like a gift and he holds it out to me. “Dragon, I just wanted to say that I am sorry about what happened before. I had no business on the battlefield to begin with. My...my stubborn father wanted me to be what I am not. Stephan and I, we are partners, and we made this especially for you and Ames as a bonding gift.” I take the package and tear it open, surprised at what I find inside. It is a fine leather harness with what looks like a phallus attached. The phallus is flexible and springy. “I've seen these before made of leather and bone but never like this one! What is it made of?” “It is a new material I have been experimenting with. It comes from the sap of a tree found only in the Oviz Islands. I have plans to make all kinds of things from it, wagon wheels and waterproof coatings and... well, I am an inventor as well as a librarian. I have a lot of ideas for this new material. We recently signed a treaty with them to trade horses and iron ore, as their islands have neither, for this tree sap.” “Well, Cordial, I can tell you the ones made of leather and bone are unyielding and uncomfortable for both parties, whereas this is flexible enough to make it comfortable. The next time the mercenary troops are in town talk with Sergeant Bell. I know of several of the troops that would pay a handsome price for one as fine as this. I thank you, and I am sure Ames will be appreciative as well.” “Stephan sent the rest of these packages. They are your finery for the ceremony, which is in about an hour in the main ball room. We moved you here to sleep after your healing, because with Ames and the Queen screaming at each other over the planning details, no one in that entire wing of the castle had any sleep last night.” “I thank you and him again, and do not be concerned about what is in the past. I learned yesterday that the past can eat you alive from the inside if you let it.” ----- I stand nervously on the dais at the head of the ballroom in front of the King’s throne, flanked by Vorlayin and Cordial. We await Ames and her father. I am told it is traditional and fashionable for the Lady to be late. A hush falls over the assembled crowd as the doors swing wide and they enter. Her beauty takes my breath away, and I feel faint. I do not know how Stephan managed to produce such finery for the both of us in one night, but he could not have done a better job of it. I step over to take her hand as the King rises. “My loyal subjects, we are assembled here this dawn to witness the bonding of Amynomene and Dragon. They wish to forever bind their souls together in love. Is there anyone who has a reason that this should not be done?” He pauses to scan the assembled dignitaries and council members, and when no one speaks up he continues. “Dragon do you willingly bind your soul to that of Amynomene, to feel her pleasure and pain, her joy and her sadness as if they were your own as long as you live?” “Yes, Your Majesty.” “Amynomene do you willingly bind your soul to that of Dragon, to feel her pleasure and pain, her joy and her sadness as if they were your own as long as you live?” “Yes, Your Majesty.” Jaxarina and Bedrian move to either side of the King’s throne as Ames and I kneel before it. They place a hand on each of our heads and begin an incantation in a language I do not know. The assembled guests begin a chant in the background and I feel tingling warmth gently flow through my body that fades away as the incantation ends. “Dragon, Amynomene you are now soul bound, let it be known to all in the kingdom that these two are bondmates from this day forward.” Lady of My Heart Ch. 04 The guests stand and begin to clap hands as Ames and I run the length of the ballroom to the door. A coach awaits us outside. The King has made arrangements for us to have a small cabin hidden in the royal gardens for several days to rest and enjoy the benefits of our bond. ----- We pile into the coach giggling and the driver pulls away. Ames is immediately in my lap and lets out a loud shrill squeal. “What is that?” “What is what?” She runs her hand slowly up and down my inner thigh and grasps what she finds there squeezing it. “That. It, it feels real!” “I think you know what that is. It was a special bonding gift from your brother Cordial and Stephen.” “I know what one is yes, but this one feels real! It isn't hard and rigid like the false ones I've felt before.” “Oh, you have felt a false one before, have you? How do you know what real feels like?” “I am a healer, Dragon, and the real ones do get injured from time to time you know. Quick slide your pants down, I want to see this thing.” “Now, now, patience love, you will just have to wait till we get to the cabin. I am not undressing in the coach.” She heaves a big sigh, seeming to pout, then leans forward and captures my lips in a searing passionate kiss. My heart pounds in my ears as she plunders my mouth. “You do not know how badly I have wanted to do this all day. I cannot believe such a short ceremony took nearly a whole day to accomplish.” The coach comes to a halt in front of a small cabin and the driver taps on the door. When he opens it to find Ames astride my lap and giggling, he smiles. “We have arrived, Ladies, and it looks as if it is none too soon.” Ames steps out of the coach ahead of me and literally drags me through the door of the cabin. Inside we find a huge bed turned down and a small dining table set with two place settings, candles lit. Beside the table is a cart containing several interesting looking covered dishes and multiple bottles of wine. “Would you like a glass of wine?” “Yes, please, and can you help me out of this gown? It may be beautiful but it is damned uncomfortable!” I pour two glasses of wine and hand one to Ames, putting mine on the table as she holds her hair to the side so I can get at the back of her dress. Surely Stephan must have been chuckling when he made this thing. There are a million tiny golden hooks running the length of the back from the neckline to the top of her ass. As I slowly undo each, trying not to damage the delicate little hooks, I begin to see an advantage to this after all. After every few hooks I stop to bend over and place a teasing kiss on her neck, then her back, as I work my continually lower. About the time I reach mid-back she throws her head back and moans. Mmm yes, I see the point in having all these tiny hooks now. When I swirl my tongue over the base of her spine she moans again louder this time and her whole body quivers, goose bumps rising over every exposed inch I can see. She shrugs her shoulders and the gown falls forward off her arms. I step up behind her reaching around to cup her breasts in my hands, nibbling on the side of her neck. Lightly pinching and twisting her nipples causes a gasp and another moan and she turns into my arms. I bend down and slide the gown the rest of the way down taking numerous underskirts and a pair of gossamer silk panties along with it. She steps out of it and I lay it all aside, turning to behold the beauty I have unwrapped. She moves into my arms again and I gently brush my lips across hers. She kisses me back with rising passion and I can feel the need in her growing. She begins to try and get at my clothing but a leather breastplate and false pauldrons are not so easily removed. I unhook the Dragon clasp holding my cloak in place, and fling it aside to begin unlacing the the sides of my breastplate. Damn it, do armorers and tailors not know that warriors would like to get naked in a hurry sometimes? Numerous laces and buckles later, I am standing before her in my sleeveless under tunic and leather pants. She grabs my under tunic and rips it over my head and away, taking me in her arms and pressing our breasts together. I moan as she seizes my lips in another scorching kiss, and begins to work her way down my body. She nibbles my neck and I feel moisture flood my center. She moves to my breasts and plays back and forth between them, kissing and licking and nibbling, and I think I will lose my mind. She swirls her tongue around my navel as she unbuttons my pants and I growl. I reach to get her under the arms and pull her back up for another kiss backing her, toward the bed. When it hits the back of her knees, I push her backward onto it and shuck my pants off. The bonding gift I wear pops out and springs up and down, making us both laugh. She lies back on the bed, and I reach to take her right ankle in my hands, pulling her leg up and nibbling my way from ankle to calf. I stop to swirl my tongue at the back of her knee and she squirms. As I bend to work my way up the inside of her thigh I reach out to her with my mind. Immediately the passion between us rises. I drop to my knees on the floor beside the bed and blow softly on her center, making her moan and thrust her hips. Slowly, gently, I run my tongue up first one outer lip and then the other, gathering the wetness I find there. I slip my tongue into her slit and search for her clit. Finding it, I circle it slowly, feeling it twitch and throb on my tongue. My heart races and my legs tremble, it is as if I am feeling every stroke. I reach down to enter her with two fingers pumping them and curving upward searching for that magical spot. Just as I find it with my fingers I suck her clit between my lips and flick my tongue rapidly back and forth over it. She arches her back, flooding me with her sweetness as I am racked with gentle spasms. She whimpers and reaches for me. I rise and slide into the bed atop her, gasping as our nipples catch together and drag. She pulls me down to her, kissing me wildly as she wraps her legs around me locking her feet together behind my back. Breaking the kiss, she buries her head in my shoulder and whispers. “Come on, my fierce Dragon show me what you can do with that thing before I die of wanting it.” Rising up to lean on one arm, I reach between us and position it at her entrance, gently easing forward with short thrusts of my hips. I feel her legs flex and she pulls me into her, burying it to the hilt. The base of it grinds against my clit and I gasp. I begin long, slow, pumping strokes and each time our bodies grind together it brings me closer and closer to the explosion I feel building in my womanhood. My speed increases as she moans and begins to rise to meet each thrust. She reaches out to touch my mind and I reach back, embracing her and joining our pleasure into one molten hot eruption of ecstasy. I slow gradually, and finally stop altogether, easing down to lay on her fully and rest my head on her shoulder. She takes me by surprise, seizing me by the shoulders and rolling to flip me and come out on top. Fumbling with the buckles of the harness she frees me from it and flings it to the foot of the bed. “Now it is my turn to tease you for once.” She begins nibbling at my left ankle and stroking my leg, making my passion rise again. Up my leg she goes, swirling her tongue and biting softly. Slowly, oh so slowly, she works her way to my center, and stops to look up at me. I have never seen anything so beautiful, her with her hair mussed and wild and those eyes glowing like huge green gems. In one swift motion she buries her tongue in me and I can't help but scream out in delight. I feel it wiggle and squirm within me as she reaches up to circle my clit with her fingers. My heart pounds and it feels as if the top of my head will burst as she switches places with tongue and fingers reaching for my spot. This time it is I who reach out to her and our souls embrace as the pleasure washes over me and seems to run back and forth from my head to my toes. She shakes me gently awake, and hands me a plate of food and a glass of wine as I sit up. “Have a nice nap, love?” “Mmm yeah, food! And I have a mighty thirst as well.” “Eat, drink and regain your strength, you are going to need it.” “Oh, and why would I be needing my strength, my love?” She opens the sheet she has wrapped around her to reveal a truly shocking sight. “You see, while you were napping I discovered that this bonding gift fits me just as well as it does you!” ----- Eraat now rides in a wagon. It works its way back and forth among the columns of marching men. Every time it feels the urge it cracks the whip, making men duck and dodge in attempt to avoid it and Eraat cackles with glee. Master rides at the head of his army. At each small village or town the army grows a little bit larger. Master promises food and shelter but gives none. Master tells them to wait. Master tells them tales of victory and looting to get them to join, then warps their mind with his evil making them unable to leave. Master smiles and rides on to the next village, knowing that soon he will have enough men to take back his stone and make the kingdom his own. Lady of My Heart Ch. 05 Estragon was copy editor for this story years ago but I have made changes so don't blame him if there are mistakes. ----- I awake to a light tapping at the door. Dragon sleeps on beside me, buried in the coverlets, nothing showing but the top of her head and one lean leg. I rise, donning a robe, and make my way to the door, a bit stiff and sore from the past two days' activities. I certainly don't have any regrets though; they've been the best two days of my life. I am expecting a servant delivering breakfast when I open the door, but that is not what I find. Instead I am shocked to find both my father and the King, who are the last people I would expect to find on my doorstep now. I tuck the robe a bit closer and make sure my belt is secure. Something must be very wrong for them to come here like this. "Your Majesty, Father, what is wrong?" "I'm sorry to have to bother you daughter, but we have a problem, a serious problem and we have to act now or it could be devastating." "Come in. No! Wait just a moment. Let me get Dragon awake and decent." The door opens farther behind me, and I jump as Dragon steps through it, half dressed. "Come in your Majesty. Archmage. Ames should know I couldn't sleep with her awake and anxious." "Thank you Dragon, and no need to be so formal; you needn't call me Archmage now. Bendrian will be fine." We move into the cabin and, since there are just the two chairs at the table, Dragon and I sit on the bed facing my father and the King. Both of them look very worried and the King delivers the shocking news. "My younger brother Morbern is a traitor. He has been traveling to all the small villages and towns along the border with the Cinos Empire trying to start a rebellion. He has a small army now and if that wasn't bad enough they have started raiding along the border with Cinos. They have crossed over and attacked several Cinos villages as well." "Your Majesty, I had no idea your brother could be capable of such a thing. The last I heard of him he spent all his time at the inns in the seedier areas of the city. Do you know exactly when this all started?" "No Ames, not with certainty. It was near the time that you and Dragon arrived when I last saw him and I'll admit I myself was surprised to see him sober. He was just leaving the royal apartments and at the time I didn't think anything of it. Now I have to wonder if he had been in my study, among the defensive plans for the city I was working on." Dragon shifts nervously on the bed. "Your Majesty, he has not captured any siege engines, has he? You know the Cinos are famous for them I am sure, and we do not need to find ourselves facing them here." "Yes, I am well aware of their weapons development." The Archmage clears his throat and interrupts. "Your Majesty, with your permission. That civil war is partly the reason we have bothered you today instead of giving you more time alone. The Cinos envoy has come to the palace to complain and refuses to speak with anyone male. Jaxarina is with her now but we really need the two of you to help deal with her." "But Father, why will she not deal with men? I am not aware of the circumstances of their civil war. I know they are a feline halfling race but little else." "Ames, Cordial could probably give you better information but it is my understanding that there has been a civil war raging in their kingdom between the male faction, the Ruoh, and female faction the Cinos, for several hundred years." "Ah, I see now why she will not speak with you then." "What we need you to do is make sure the situation is fully explained and try to get her to forbear from attacking us because of my brother's treason. I am almost positive the Demon is involved in this in some way and the Cinos have dealt with It as well, so that may be the key to defusing the hostilities. We also need to plan an attempt to capture the second stone as soon as possible. Since it is located near their border, she may be able to offer assistance in that mission." "But Your Majesty, Ames is just a mage and I am just a mercenary. We do not really have the authority to negotiate. She may not be willing to negotiate with us either." "Dragon, I would like to appoint you to an advisory position, no, both of you. I'll have the scribes draw up the commissions and post them immediately; that should take care of any qualms she may have on that account. You have my full confidence and full authority to negotiate anything necessary to prevent a war with the Cinos and to retrieve the second stone. Bendrian, Vorlayin and Captain Coby will be leading a contingent of troops to try and quash his army while you are after the stone. Hopefully that will distract him enough that you will not have to deal directly with the Demon until we weaken him further." ----- Eraat trudges away from the army pouting. Master sent Eraat away from all the fun. Master says to go to the second stone of power and enhance its defenses. Eraat would much rather stay and play with the troops. Eraat must go now into the land of the cat people. Eraat doesn't like cat people, they can sense his presence and it will be very dangerous for Eraat to play with them. The beast that guards the stone will be as dangerous but it cannot sense Eraat's presence like the cat people can. Eraat looks back one more time, hoping Master will call it back; but Master is busy with one of the cat people he captured. It is resisting Master's demands to build machines and its screams cheer Eraat somewhat. ----- Maids surround the Queen. She falls feebly to her knees as another wave of nausea assaults her, yet she smiles even as she heaves and retches again. "Fetch the King!" Queen Sabatarria chuckles to herself, as one maid cleans up the mess and another places a wet cloth to her forehead. 'I knew it was Rotomalo's fault we had not conceived! One tryst with Morbern and I am with child. No one will ever know; and what difference does it make? The child will be of the royal blood.' The Queen then screeches in rage when the maid returns. "What do you mean the guards say he is busy and not to be disturbed!" ------ Jax takes a deep breath and tries to get hold of herself. She busies herself with pouring two large glasses of chilled fruit juice for herself and the Cinos envoy Yelani. In all her life she has never found herself in quite this position. Oh, she has felt attraction and lust before but never like this. Turning back to the envoy she studies her from under her lashes once again. She is a perfect form in gold. Long honey blonde hair with cute triangular ears perking through above the temples, large almond shaped, golden eyes, short pale gold whiskers and every inch of her covered with a short, fine, gold fur that makes her look as if she is made of velvet. That the Cinos eschew clothing of any kind, and that this particular one seems to drip a raw, primal sexuality, has Jax struggling to maintain her composure. Yelani is trying her best not to purr aloud. This human, this mage, is entrancing. The long auburn hair with huge green eyes is an exotic combination and one she has never seen in a human before. Her whiskers twitch as she inhales the scent of passion permeating the room. Jax is aroused, obviously, and has no idea how intense the aroma is to Yelani's advanced sense of smell or what it is doing to her. Her whiskers tremble in excitement as she tries to control the twitching of her tail. "I understand that you have a traitor raiding across our border in order to cause trouble between us. But what assurances can you give my people that you will deal with him yourselves?" "As we speak the King and his advisers are planning both to meet his army with a force of our own and to attain the second stone in order to forestall the Demon. We are not sure exactly how it befell, but that the Demon crossed over at the same time as this traitor surfaced cannot be a coincidence." "We have dealt with this Demon in the past ourselves. The second stone lies very close to our border, some say it is within our borders. I demand that you allow a contingent of our troops to accompany any mission to retrieve it." "I cannot negotiate that with you, but the leader of that mission is on her way here now. You will need to agree with her. She has total control of the mission and which troops will be used." "Ah, yes, this Dragon. I heard about her bonding ceremony with your daughter; tell me now, does the mother have the same proclivities as the daughter?" With that, Yelani advances on Jax, effectively backing her into a corner and begins gently tickling her cleavage with the end of that long tail. Jax takes her last step backwards and mentally groans, breasts heaving and eyes dilating. The sexual tension between the two ratchets up yet further as Yelani leans in to place a soft, gentle, kiss on Jax's lips. Just then the door opens, and in walks Ames, followed by Dragon. The two spring apart but Ames' audible gasp indicates she sees what she is interrupting. "Dragon, Ames there you are! Allow me to introduce the Cinos envoy Yelani. Yelani, this is my daughter Ames and her bondmate Dragon: it is she with whom you need to discuss whose troops will secure the stone." Dragon bows over the envoy's hand and raises an eyebrow at Jax. The sexual tension in the room is almost palpable and Dragon is amused by it. "I am honored to meet you envoy. May I call you Yelani?" "Yes, you may. Now, what authority do you have to negotiate an agreement between our realms?" "I am an adviser to the King, authorized to negotiate in this matter and I will be leading the mission to retrieve the second stone. Ames' father Bendrian and brother Vorlayin, with several of our best commanders will be leading a contingent of troops to meet Morbern's army in the field. You are welcome to discuss battle plans with them, but as the commanders are all men, I do not know if you want to engage in those talks." The look of distaste on Yelani's face is almost comical. "That will not be necessary, thank you. I do however have some demands concerning the mission to take the stone. I want my troops on that mission, Jaxarina, Ames, you and myself along with my troops. The stone is either directly on the border or within the boundaries of my realm. I do not want your troops involved in it and no men whatsoever." "I can agree to all of those demands save one, and I must make one demand of my own. We will need the counsel of the palace librarian on this mission. He is the only one who knows enough about the second stone and its defenses to aid us in this matter. He is a male, yes, but he has no sexual interest in females in any way, and I can assure you he will be of no trouble to you or your troops." Yelani smirks at this, showing an abundance of long sharp teeth. "I have no doubt he would be no trouble to my troops; they would eat him alive. The problem will be keeping him safe from my troops and any citizens we meet if we cross into my realm. Is he prepared to face the risk of injury or capture should things go badly?" "That is a risk we all take in this. He is well aware of the special dangers involved in this particular mission and I have confidence he can handle anything needful in order to protect this realm. If we are in agreement, Ames and I will go to prepare for the journey. We leave at dawn." Dragon takes Ames' hand and starts for the door, and turns to make one last comment. "Have a good afternoon, my Ladies, and don't do anything we wouldn't do!" Yelani's laughter echoes down the corridor, as Dragon hauls a sputtering Ames along behind. ------ Looking up from stuffing my packs, I behold an enchanting sight. Ames is bent over her herb satchel and her riding pants show the perfection of her ass well. Though I will not deny I am looking forward to leaving the confines of the palace and grounds behind, I do wish we had more time alone. The days since my healing and our bonding ceremony have been the happiest of my life and it scares me. I've known little true happiness in my life and when I have, it has always come crashing down around me. Now that I know love I do not think I could bear to lose it, and am thankful for our bond. It may be wrong for it to be without warding but I would not have it any other way because I know that I cannot lose her to death, for I will follow her. "Dragon my love, I liked the emotions I was feeling from you much better when you were staring at my ass." "Uh? Oh sorry, I forget that you can sense my emotions so strongly now." "Yes, you will never be able to get away with anything in my presence and little out of it. Hm, do you think we are close enough to being packed that we might take a little...break?" She turns and moves into my arms, those glorious green eyes glowing. Even if I could not feel her passion rising through our bond those eyes would tell the tale. Her kiss is slow and sensual, then deepens and grows more urgent as I part my lips and invite her in. Her hands find their way to my ass, pulling me in close, parting my thighs with her knee. We grind together leisurely and I moan. Releasing my lips, she finds her way to my ear and nibbles at the lobe, her breath giving me chills. "Mmm, you taste good enough to eat, love." I try to answer, but she backs me to the edge of the bed, pushing me down on it and all the air rushes from my lungs. She seizes my shirtfront in both hands and rips it apart violently, buttons flying in all directions. She has never been quite this enthusiastic and dominant before, and it excites me. I have to wonder just how far she will go, as she climbs atop me to assault my breasts with her ravening mouth. My hands reach to tangle in her hair, but she seizes my wrists and pushes my hands above my head. "Nah ah ah, no touching allowed." My heart pounds almost painfully in my chest, as she works her way down my body. She stops to tease my navel with her tongue and I have to giggle. She unties the laces on the front of my leather pants with her teeth and I gasp. I don't know if I have ever seen anything so wild and beautiful as she, with her hair mussed, tugging at my pants with her teeth, those emerald eyes glowing. She frees me from the pants at last and settles in between my thighs. The heat of her mouth on my sex sends a surge of pleasure through me and my legs begin to tremble. Her tongue plunges to my depths and I moan loudly. Her thumb moves up to tease my clit, as her tongue drives me ever closer to release. As I hover on the edge of orgasm she slows, backing off, teasing me and I moan again. She takes me just to the edge and backs off several more times. The trembling in my legs spreads to the rest of my body. The tension is so high it's becoming painful and I whimper and beg for release. "Aaah, Ames please!" Just as she takes my clit between her lips she answers me with a question. "Mmmm?" The vibration of her voice sets off the inevitable and waves of pleasure crash over me as I throw my head back to scream and my back arches violently. I reach for her and she moves up into my arms holding me closely as my breathing slows and I regain my composure. There is no way to describe the perfect feeling of peace and love as my body slowly calms and I feel our hearts matching pace, beating together. When my hands begin to roam her body she stops me. "Sorry love, no time now, we have a meeting with Cordial and the others in fifteen minutes to discuss the second stone. We will have finish with this later." ------ Making my way down the corridor to our chambers, hoping to see my wife Jax before we must go our separate ways once again, I notice the servants I pass giving me sidelong looks and wonder what is going on. The palace has been rife with gossip of late; it must be yet another rumor circulating. I am surprised to find two Cinos guards lounging outside the door as I approach it. One of them hisses and blocks the door until the other shakes her head and pulls her aside. Through the door, I hear a piercing feline scream that chills my heart and I burst through it thinking the worst. I am stunned to find my wife and Yelani in our bed, my bed, locked in a sexual embrace. I step back, stunned by the sight as my wife turns to look at me, shock and apology in her eyes. I've always known she has her flings with women when away from me, but we had an agreement that it would never happen here, in our home. No wonder the servants looked at me that way! I am sure the rumors will be flying mightily now. "Bendrian!" Jax makes to rise and come after me, as I turn to walk away but Yelani pulls her back. The sound of my wife's moans and Yelani purring echoes in my ears and my heart as I make my way back down the corridor toward the council chambers. I cannot let this distract me from the mission. We have to stop Mobern's army before it gets any stronger. ------ I pace back and forth in my bedroom as Stephan fusses with my clothing. It must all be packed perfectly to suit him and there is no deterring him from it. I know it is just a sign of his anxiety, but sometimes I find it a bit irritating. "Stephan, I've been thinking, if, no, when I return from this mission I would like to ask a special favor of the King. I think he will be amicable to it, if you are." "What sort of favor? And of course you are coming back! How can you even imagine not coming back, Cordial?" "It is a very dangerous mission I go on now. Not only will there be the danger of what must be done but also the danger of being in Cinos territory. Yelani has promised to protect me but even she may have trouble with her people; they do not like men there." "Please don't make me worry any more than I already do. Now what favor are you going to ask the King?" "Well, I've never been able to ask you to have a bonding because you are not a mage but I think if the King were willing he could set a bond between us. It wouldn't be like a mage bond, but more one of commitment and love. After watching Ames' bonding, and now having to leave you here not knowing if I will return, I wish we had a bond between us." Stephan turns, taking me into his arms, kissing me and holding me close. "You know how much I love you surely? I would bond with you in any way that I can. I've been thinking of something myself that would perhaps bring us much happiness if you would like it." "You know I would do anything in my power to make you happy, my love, anything." "Well, I've seen how much you love working with the children at the orphanage in the city, and you know how much I enjoy being with my sister's children. I was thinking it would be wonderful if we could have a family of our own and I have come up with a way to do it." "Pray tell how are two men going to produce a baby? Have you discovered a way to grow a womb? You know I would love to have a whole regiment of children but I don't see how either of us is going to give birth to them." "We do not have to give birth, but we will both have a part in their making. You see I found that we can hire a woman to do it for us, a surrogate if you will. If we both lie with her at the same time one of us will father the child, though we will never know which." I pull back from him, stunned and a bit repulsed by the very thought of being with a woman in a sexual way, but perhaps if Stephan was there and I focused on him and not her, I could manage it. "I, I, just don't know if I can do that. I want to have a child with you, Stephan, but I do not know if I can be with a woman sexually. I find the thought of it a bit nauseating actually. Maybe with you there as well I could focus on you and block out her presence but I am not sure how we could work that out." Lady of My Heart Ch. 05 "It is not something you need to worry with right now in any case. We can discuss it and a bonding ceremony further when you return. You will return to me won't you, my love?" "I will do everything I can to come back to you, you know that. Now, if you have finished packing those bags for the fiftieth time, I have to go. The others will be waiting to discuss the mission." ------ Chill rain creeps in around the hood of my cloak in the early morning light as I look back over our strange assembly and have to shake my head. We have twelve Cinos warriors, Yelani, myself, Ames, Jax and Cordial. If the exotic appearance of the Cinos warriors were not enough, their strange mounts make an even more surprising sight. The Cinos mounts are a long legged, fast running bird, which, according to Yelani, can gut a man with one swipe of their sharp talons. I worry about how we will escape the city without incident, though Captain Coby has ordered the streets along our route cleared and a full company of troops to escort us out of the city. This is going to be a complicated mission. The second stone lies hidden beneath an ancient temple. I carry, strapped to my saddle, the Staff of Brynth, taken from the palace library's collection of rare artifacts, but the staff is not complete. The focal point that should crown it, a large emerald, is missing and Yelani says it is in the custody of a shaman of her people. Our first task will be to go to the shaman and repair the staff, because the staff unlocks the hidden chamber where the second stone lies hidden. Cordial carries some charts and maps of the ruins of the ancient temple, but most of the knowledge we have of the second stone and its defenses is based on myths and is little better than fairy tales. When we reach the shaman, if we reach her, she may be able to work with Cordial to give us more accurate information. That is if we can convince her to work with Cordial at all. I notice Ames in heated conversation with Jax, as I pass by on my way to the head of the column. I can feel her irritation and anger. She is very upset with her mother over something. Though I've not been told what, I can well imagine it may be related to Yelani. I ride up beside the captain of our company of guards and he signals for the column to move out. ------ I approach the command tent in the gathering dusk, wondering if this is to be the end of our campaign and the end of the kingdom, as we know it. My men have fought valiantly this past week and Vorlayin has been a huge asset, using his battle magic to shield our troops but the wounded surrounding Bendrian continue to mount. It is obvious now that the Demon is in control of the enemy troops. They show little cognizance of anything save to kill and wound as many as possible. They will not stop, seem to be unable to stop until you literally hack them to pieces. I saw one today sprouting a dozen arrows plunge right on through the lines and take four men down before someone chopped off his head. "Captain! Captain Coby come quickly, Sir you have to see this!" I make my way to the front lines to see horror such as I have never experienced. Approaching us in waves are the dead, not just the enemy dead, but our own dead troops as well. The Demon has brought forth some foul magic to use our own dead against us. All I can do now is call a retreat and try to slow the advance of Morbern's army. I pray we can slow them enough to allow the others to take the second stone and weaken the Demon's power before they reach the Capital. I hail a messenger to send word to the King, so that he may prepare for this horror to reach them if we fail. ------ I watch over the servants moving the last of my necessary papers and some clothing to temporary quarters in the library annex. I have to have peace and quiet to work and that is no longer possible to find anywhere near the royal apartments. My Queen is overly proud of her pregnancy but it is wearing on everyone in the palace. I have never seen a woman with child so horribly ill and I am amazed at her rapidly growing girth. How the child within her can grow at all, with her able to keep so little nourishment down, is a surprise, let alone the rate at which the babe appears to grow. Sabatarria herself seems to be withering away but her middle is growing by the day. I am sure now that the Demon has possessed my brother's body, but whether he lives or was killed in the process I do not know. The accounts I have from survivors in the villages he has visited leave me no other explanation for his actions and abilities. He is no longer recruiting rebels. He is now moving in to take all capable of fighting with him, torturing and killing anyone not suitable for his army. I realize now that in the end my brother's body will have to be killed, if he is yet in it or not. ----- Eraat freezes in place. It must be very careful with the Nagini. It is master's servant and must obey but it is not just an ordinary serpent. It is canny and smart as well as huge and it will eat Eraat if he is not careful. Looking back down the tunnel leading to this place Eraat can see that all the ancient traps are still in order. Eraat was sent to make sure of them and to warn the Nagini of Dragon's approach and it has. Eraat eases back away from the Nagini and scuttles away. Eraat must go now to try and deal with the shaman. The shaman has the stone and Dragon must not be allowed to have it. Eraat trembles in fear. The shaman can hurt Eraat badly if she catches him meddling in her mind. Eraat dreads the days to come but master must be obeyed. ----- The sound of the river is deafening as I carry two bowls of stew, a loaf of bread and a skin of wine toward our tent. Inside I find Dragon oiling and sharpening her sword and knives yet again. She is meticulous with her weapons, though there has been little need for them as yet. If only a sword could fight off this torrential rain we would be in a much better position. She rises to help me through the tent flap and secure it behind me in an attempt to keep our bedding as dry as possible. "Ah, you brought food! How in the world has the Cinos cook managed to make enough fire to prepare a stew in this downpour?" "You do not want to know what she is burning, trust me. We can only hope it hasn't flavored the stew." "I will say no more then. Come, sit, let's eat and rest while we can. I fear tomorrow will be our worst day yet. We have to cross the river, and if the scouts cannot locate a better place it will be almost suicidal to attempt it." Dragon holds the food as I remove my cloak and settle down, then hands me my bowl and pulls the stopper from the wine skin with her teeth. We continue to talk as we eat and pass the wine between us. "I tried to find Mother, but Cordial was alone in their tent, poring over his papers and maps." "I think she is avoiding you. I know you are upset with her but surely you can understand. Sometimes an attraction is so strong as to make one do what one knows is not right." "I realize that, Dragon. It is just that she has hurt my father badly and either doesn't care or hasn't the sense to see it. I hate the thought of him heartbroken and dealing with all the wounded he will be faced with in battle at the same time. He would not have cared had she just waited till we left the city, but to him to see her with Yelani in their bed was a severe blow." Dragon takes my now empty bowl, placing it by the tent flap with hers, and slides over to me in the furs, taking me in her arms. "Ames, how long have your parents been together?" "Well, Vorlayin is nearly forty five now and they were together two years before he was born, so forty seven years." "Believe me, your mother just needs to get Yelani out of her system. Once this is all over and she goes back to your father they will work it out. They have not been together that long and not learned to work things out between them. Now, do you think maybe I could get you to concentrate on more pleasurable things for a while?" I lay back in the furs looking up at her in my best seductive pose. "Do with me what you will, my fierce Dragon, I am yours, now and forever." With a mock savage growl, she pounces on me, branding my lips with a searing kiss. I can feel the passion in her rising exponentially as I respond in kind. "Nah ah ah, no touching, I still must pay you back for that incredible experience the day before we left the palace. Now it is my turn. The pounding of the rain on the tent will drown out our moans and we may not get the chance to be so free again for a while." With that she begins undressing me, kissing and nibbling every inch as she exposes it. By the time she has me naked I am panting and trembling. It seems I am still to be teased, as she begins slowly licking at my ear. She knows my ears are my downfall and takes full advantage. Her tongue moves downward to my shoulder and strokes back and forth, before roaming across between my collarbones, raising goose bumps all along the way. She moves down to my breast and circles it, making me arch my back in an attempt to get her to take the peak. Around and around that hot, wet tongue goes, before moving over to the other breast. I whimper in frustration as she stops and withdraws to look down into my eyes. The fire blazing in those bright blue eyes shows she knows exactly what sweet torture she is inflicting, and how much it excites her. "My heart, my love, my life, there are not words to describe how beautiful you are and how much I love you. I am happy that I will never have to live without you. I can't imagine not being able to look down on you like this and feel your love and passion." With that she takes my right nipple between her lips, sucking rhythmically, and brushes the tips of her fingers across the left in rapid succession, sending dual jolts of pleasure to my core. I cry out and squirm as she switches breasts, my hips rising in the air seeking her. I moan with relief as she finally begins moving downward. I am on fire with wanting, and it is hard not to grab her head and push her down to the junction of my thighs where the fire burns hottest. She trails that teasing tongue slowly back and forth across my body as she moves lower, inch by inch. I cry out in passion as she reaches my womanhood at last, kissing it gently before delving in. With maddening slowness she explores every nook and crevice of me and I cannot help myself, I tangle my hands in her hair and begin to thrust my hips. She slips her tongue deep within me, resting her nose against my clit. As I grind against her face, I can feel her smiling. That wonderful, long, hot, slick tongue thrusts within me, driving me ever closer to the explosion I feel building in my center. I raise my legs, throwing them over her shoulders and she thrusts deeper still, reaching that magical spot. The dam breaks and I scream. It feels as if my very soul is bursting forth in a torrent of pleasure like I have never known. She moves up, holding me as I gasp for air. She lies atop me and I can feel a pleasant surprise. I did not know she brought that with us on this journey and now I know she is certainly not finished with me. I reach to grab her shirt pulling it over her head and nibble at her neck. She rises above me on her arms, and I stretch forward to take one hardened nipple in my mouth, sucking and laving it with my tongue making her moan. I switch nipples as she struggles with her trews, trying to get them down whilst balanced on one arm. "Over, turn over Dragon, I want on top!" As she rolls off me I rise to my knees and grab her trews, yanking them down and freeing our toy. I move over to straddle her and she grasps my hips guiding me. I look into those lightning blue eyes and settle down upon her. Reaching out to her with my mind, I gasp at the pleasure and passion it brings me. I lean over to kiss her as I begin to ride her, giving an extra little circular grind to my hips at the bottom of every down stroke. I can tell from her moans that I am accomplishing my aim. Raising up and leaning back I tangle my hands in my hair and get into my rhythm, putting on a little show for her. "Aaahh Ames you know what that does to me." "Yes, my fierce Dragon, I have you where I want you now and I am going to drive you right over the edge of sanity with my dance." Her hands go to my breasts and squeeze them lightly as I build up speed. Our eyes lock and our minds embrace as the pleasure builds in both of us. She grips my hips tightly now, and begins to thrust upward meeting me and throwing a little grind of her own into each stroke. I can tell she is not far from release now and I am going to be close behind her. Reaching up she takes my hands and looks deep into my eyes as her whole body locks up tight. Then I am drowned in pleasure right along with her, the echoes of our orgasms bouncing back and forth between us as we moan and cry out as one. ----- I look back over what is left of the troops I lead into this battle with sadness. I have lost many and will likely lose all before this ends. We retreat and then turn to fight again in a constant bloody scramble. The need to dispose of what dead we can slows us in our retreat but the Demon works with Morbern or within him and if we do not they will just return to fight us again in the night. I fear for Bendrian's sanity. That first horrible night of rising corpses he was surrounded and nearly lost to us. We had unknowingly placed all our recovered fallen in a tent next to the healers. If Vorlayin had not sensed his father's distress and blasted the lot of them in a rain of fire he would be gone. With the numbers of wounded they are treating, all of our healers are running on low reserves of strength and Bendrian seems the worst. For some reason he lacks any regard for his own welfare now. I know not why. I sent word to the King some days ago and hoped to have news of Dragon's mission returned to me but no messenger has come. I pray our messenger got through to the King. He needs to know we cannot hold back this ever growing army of Morbern's and that all dead must be burned before nightfall. "Captain Coby Sir! The scouts report troops to our rear." "Thank you son, run now and tell all the sergeants, they need to reinforce the rear guard. Now son go!" I ride to the rear and squint to see what is coming out of the glare of the sunset. It is then that I see it. Hope rides on the last rays of the sun. It is the King's banner! From the looks of it he has brought with him the entire population of the university, wizard and mage alike down to the youngest fledgling. We can burn the bastards now! ----- Eraat sneaks up to the entrance of the cave and peers cautiously around the corner. Strange chanting floats on the breeze and a silvery white figure sits before a fire rocking back and forth. In its lap rests a huge green stone and as the chanting escalates in volume and pitch the stone begins to glow. Eraat tries to slip distracting thoughts and disquiet into the shaman's mind, only to be soundly ignored. He tries to incite paranoia and distrust only to meet an impenetrable wall of calm. He tries yet again to pierce the shaman's trance and she turns toward him blind golden eyes aglow and hisses. Eraat scrambles to run away. She knows he is here and she can hurt him if he doesn't get far enough away quickly. Then Eraat realizes that what the shaman can do to him is nothing compared to what Master will do when he learns Eraat has failed again. ----- Dawn finds me talking with Yelani about the scouts' findings. They have located a place down stream that is somewhat safer to attempt a crossing. The rain has let up a bit but the river still rages dangerously. Yelani tells me the news she received from the King by messenger during the night. Morbern's army is routing our troops and the King rides with all available wizards and mages to attempt to stop him. The river may be dangerous but we must hurry to the shaman. The staff must be completed so that we can attempt to take the second stone and weaken the Demon. If we can weaken him now it will make things much easier for the army. I return to our tent to find Ames has us all packed up and it just remains for the tent to come down and be packed. We have become used to this routine of traveling but I long for the day that we can have a home of our own. The palace is a grand place, and I do love the freedom of the wilderness, but I want a real home for us. We move out and follow the scouts to the crossing as quickly as possible. I do not like what I see when we get there but we have no choice, we must cross. Yelani and I will both attempt the first crossing together. Each of us will carry a rope to span the river and allow the others to cling to it as their mounts attempt the fording. Taking my rope in hand, I lean over to whisper encouragement to Bore and he wades into the water. The current is swift but the depth is not so much that Bore has to swim, and he stays upright through the crossing. Yelani is having more difficulty because her bird is shorter of leg than Bore and has had to resort to swimming more than once in the crossing. Finally her mount clambers to the bank and we attach our ropes to trees this side of the river. The others begin crossing in pairs, each holding a rope so that if their mounts go down they can cling to it and not be swept away. I try not to smile as Cordial and Jax take their turn. Cordial has held up well to this rain and tough traveling but he is terrified of the river and it shows in his every move. Ames and the last of the Cinos warriors are up next and I watch as Ames' hart blindly follows her order forward. Halfway across the unthinkable happens. The Cinos warrior is dismounted when her bird stumbles and loses grip on the rope. As she is swept by Ames, she reaches for her only to have her hart stumble and send her plunging down river as well. I leap into Bore's saddle to rush down river in hopes of being able to help but just as I spur him forward I feel a tremendous blow to the side of my head and fall from the saddle choking and sputtering. I cannot breathe and then I know no more. ----- I am more proud this day than I have been in all the years since I took the throne. I look out on a horror of a battlefield and watch all of my loyal mages and wizards in action. From the lowliest fledgling mage folding bandages to the oldest and most physically fragile wizard they are each giving it their all. Each time a wave of enemy troops assaults the front line the wizards rain fire and lightning bolts upon them, decimating their ranks. Our warriors force the line forward bit by hard won bit and the tide is slowly turning. The most able bodied of the mages scurry amongst the battle in fearless rescue of any injured, hauling them back to be tended to by the more experienced of the healers. I turn from the battle scene and walk back toward the makeshift hospital they have set up. I must try again to reach out to Bendrian. Since my arrival he has lain on a cot and seems to be oblivious to his surroundings. I understand he was nearly lost at one point and has driven himself beyond exhaustion but I think it is more complicated than battle shock and fatigue. Something happened to change him before he left the palace, though what I am not sure. ----- I awaken and try to get to my feet only to be pushed back down again. I look up into large golden, sightless eyes, then I hear Jax. "Dragon lie still." "Ames! Where is Ames? I must get to her!" "No, not now Dragon, just lie still and recover. Do not fear, you are alive and that means she is alive. Tell me, are you in great pain?" "No. My head hurts and my leg, but not so bad that I can't function. Let me Go!" Lady of My Heart Ch. 05 "Dragon, listen to me. We searched down stream for Ames. We found her hart and all her gear washed up on the bank of the river but she was not with it. There were tracks, Yelani says it is the Ruoh that have taken her. Do you feel she is in distress? If she is hurt or frightened or being harmed you will feel it through your bond." "Let me up now! I need Bore and my sword. They will pay!" "Dragon listen, she is not badly hurt and you feel no great distress. We have to go on. We can all go to get her when we have the second stone, but we have to go on now because the army needs us to weaken the Demon. Warriors are dying, Dragon, in droves, we must weaken the Demon to help them. Rest now and recover your strength, Cordial and shaman Bregali will work to repair the staff, just rest." I fall back in the near total darkness of the shaman's cave and listen to Cordial talking, Yelani is translating his words to the shaman. I realize now that the shaman was the one behind those sightless golden eyes. That is why the cave is so dark; she has no need for light. ----- The Queen screams in agony and the two healers the King left with her scramble to her bedside. They look to each other over her hugely swollen belly and shake their heads. This is unprecedented. The Queen is about to give birth and there is no way the child can live, surely. It has not been long enough, no matter how large it has grown. "Rotomalo! Where is my King? Can he not be here to see his son born? Damn him!" "Just rest Your Majesty, the child comes and you must save your strength." Sabatarria whimpers and screams again as a contraction hits her. She is but a shriveled husk of a woman now. All of her being has gone into producing this child and she is angry and resentful of the king's absence. Her screams echo through the corridors of the palace, as she shrieks repeatedly. Then silence descends to be pierced only by the frail cries of a newborn. One of the healers pokes his head out from the chamber to yell to the guard. "Send word to the King. He has a son that may yet live but the Queen has expired." ----- I follow along behind Cordial, still chuckling. We have made it through the ruins of this ancient city, encountering nothing more serious than a few snakes and scorpions. I chuckle because Cordial is terrified of snakes and nearly pissed himself when the last one slithered from under his very feet. We pause and wait for the rest of the group to catch up to us, as we approach a large set of stone doors angled as to appear as if they lead downward into the earth itself. Yelani and the Cinos warriors will stay here at the doors as a rearguard. Cordial, Jax, Bregali and myself will enter to retrieve the stone. According to Cordial, there are complicated traps inside, designed to keep anyone from nearing the stone. The myths claim there is a guardian there as well, though we know not what kind. Cordial approaches the doors and peers up at the intricate carvings covering its surface. He presses his hand into several places on the stones of the doors and suddenly they swing inward revealing a deep, dark passage leading downward. Jax produces a small clear ball and tosses it into the air, chanting. It glows with a bright bluish light and floats along ahead of us, lighting the way. Stopping before he reaches a long, level, tiled section of passage, each tile bearing a symbol, Cordial unrolls a scroll to consult it. "Dragon, you will need to go on alone from here. See the platform there at the end? You will place the staff in that hole in the floor of it. No! Not yet! Let me explain." I pause and wait for him to decipher whatever is within the scroll. "Now, these tiles are part of a trap. I will tell you which tiles to step on. Do not go any farther, even by one step, than I tell you, and step only on the tiles I mention. Watch this." He takes a small rock from his pocket and pitches it out onto the tiles. When it lands on a tile it depresses slightly and immediately an arrow zings forth from the wall beside it. Had I stepped on that tile I would have been shot through. I drop all my gear, save my sword slung across my back and the staff in my right hand, stepping up beside him. "I am ready." "Step on each tile in turn diagonally left from center for five tiles then stop." I step out onto the first tile and when it depresses I am unbalanced and nearly step on a wrong tile in an attempt to keep from falling. Making it to the one he said to stop on, I balance precariously on one foot waiting for more instructions. "Go two forward, then four to the right and then six more forward." I complete the ordered maneuvers then pause again balanced on one foot. I am almost there now. "Four to your left, two forward, three right and seven forward." As I follow his instructions I find myself just to the back edge of the tiles. One more run and I should be there. "Six left, two forward, four right and step onto the base of the platform directly on top of the image of a snake." I complete the last sequence and find myself before the hole in the floor of the platform. "Cordial does it say what will happen when I place the staff in the hole?" "No, Dragon, it does not but I can only assume that it will open some way to continue on." "Is everyone ready? Here I go!" I slide the staff into the hole in the platform and there is a great grinding. Slowly the back wall of the passage begins to rise and I gasp at what is revealed. The stone of power sits upon a pedestal glowing faintly but it is what stands before it that makes me gasp and grab for my sword. It is a huge Nagini. It must stand eight feet tall at the least and its human-like head swings around to focus strange, red, snake like eyes upon me. It has the head of a human but the body of a snake, save the two large muscular arms each holding a sword. I brace myself for its attack. I parry blows from both swords with difficulty, for it is very strong and the blows vibrate through my sword, nearly stunning me. I take a calming breath and counterattack. Slash, parry, thrust, block, we whirl about each other trying to gain advantage. The Nagini seems angered by its failure to dispatch me immediately and begins raining constant blows upon me. It is then that I see it. When it strikes with the left sword it leaves an opening each time. I concentrate beyond the block and parry dance I am engaged in, and suddenly thrust for the opening, piercing the Nagini's defenses and running it through. There is a great sibilant squeal and it sinks to the ground, a pool of green ichor spreading around it. I reach to take the stone form the pedestal and reach for the staff. "No! Dragon leave the staff!. Oh shit, it is too late I have the staff in my hand and as I begin to work my way back across the stones the walls of the passage begin to heave and quake. The place is coming down around us. Cordial is trying his best to read the sequence to me backwards but just as I near the end of the tiles the quaking intensifies and I watch in horror as a scroll falls from the bundle in his arms and drops onto a tile. The arrow zings forth and he is hit in the right shoulder, going down with a scream. Jax rushes to his side and I make a giant leap barely clearing all the tiles and landing safely beside him. "Cordial! No!" Jax is applying pressure to the hole in his shoulder as the blood pours out of him, but we cannot take the time for that now, or we will be crushed by the collapsing passage. I hand the stone of power and staff off to Bregali and pick Cordial up in my arms. We all run out of the passage to safety just as it collapses. I lay Cordial down on the ground and Jax begins to tend him. She places her hands over the wound and begins chanting, then the shaman steps up and joins in adding her strength to that of Jax. Cordial reaches up to me and I lean down to hear what he wants to say. "Dragon, tell, tell Stephan that I love him and I am sorry." With that his eyes roll back in his head and he passes out. I look to Jax and her eyes meet mine. "He will survive, if we can get him to decent shelter. Send Yelani and her troops to the palace with the stone. We will need to move too slowly with Cordial, and that stone must get there as soon as possible to keep the Demon from regaining it." ----- The battle rages on. Though we are still steadily gaining ground we are also still taking heavy losses on the field. Suddenly there is a great howling scream and all the enemy troops stop in their tracks. I look over to Captain Coby to see if he knows what is happening. "Captain what is it? Have they done this before?" "No Your Majesty they have not. I have not a clue what is going on here. Men! Brace yourselves! We don't know what is coming next!" Then I realize what has happened. Dragon has taken the stone. The Demon's power has been cut in half and he can no longer control so many soldiers at once. As I turn to tell the Captain a messenger runs up from the rear. "Your Majesty I have news of the Queen." "Yes, what is it?" " Your Majesty, I am sorry, but the Queen has died in childbirth, and you have a son." ----- The wet nurse rocks gently in her chair as she nurses the new prince. He opens his strange eyes and looks up at her. Never in all the history of the kingdom has one been seen with such odd eyes. They are blood red with slits for pupils. ----- Eraat shrieks in terror as Master blasts him yet again with the terrible blue fire. "You have failed me for the last time Eraat!" "Master no Master, please no!" "I no longer require your assistance, I have a new servant to do my bidding. One that is stronger and will be of far more help once he has aged some. I will have my revenge without you, Eraat, you bungling little troll. I have a son to help me now." ----- I watch as the wagon with Cordial and Jax rolls away toward the Capital. Cordial is still weak but on the mend. As the wagon passes from sight around a bend, I sling myself up into Bore's saddle and reach out through the bond searching for Ames. I am coming my love, I am coming. Stay strong for me! Lady of My Heart Ch. 06 Estragon was the copy editor for this years ago but I have made some changes so please do not blame him if there are mistakes. ***** Sinking down by the fireside in an exhausted daze, I look out across the camp in wonder. A week ago the enemy army that had us nearly beaten suddenly turned into a mass of confused, walking wounded when Dragon took the Demon's second focus stone. My army, my loyal, compassionate, amazing people immediately switched from a fierce fighting force to a swarm of humanitarian aid workers. In the beginning I interrupted their work everywhere I went in an attempt to lend a hand. Finally they all came to realize that though I am king I am also a healer and stopped their ridiculous bowing and scraping to me. Now I walk among them more as a peer and am proud to assist wherever I can. These poor tortured souls, they have lost everything. If their families were not tortured and killed in front of them when Morbern took them from their homes, they were conscripted along with them. Nothing was left of their villages but ashes. We work now to heal their bodies but it will take years to heal their minds, if they ever recover. As soon as they are able to travel we will take them to the capital; it will be a strain on our resources but we cannot leave them alone with nothing. Captain Coby and Vorlayin are in pursuit of the Demon. It fled, still in my brother's body, with what remnant of its army it could control. I hope they can catch up to it and send it back to wherever it came from, though it may yet be necessary to capture the last of its focus stones. - As I cling precariously to the back of this damnable beast, cursing Yelani in four languages, I try to reach out to Bedrian through our bond. Nothing. I know he lives and yet I can feel nothing of him through our bond. Something goes very ill with my bondmate. Word reached the capital the day we left of the effects our mission had upon the enemy troops. Knowing Bedrian, he is so immersed in his healing it is affecting our bond in some way. I hate not being with him and I hated still more having to leave Cordial and his wound in the hands of the meager healing staff remaining at the palace, but my daughter needs me now. After discussing with Yelani the treatment the captured Cinos receive at the hands of the Ruoh, I knew I had no choice but to try and catch up to Dragon. My daughter will need a healer and her mother when she is freed. This is why I am now trying my best to cling to the back of an oversized fowl. The gait is nothing like that of my horse. It is almost like having to learn to ride all over again, but the difference in speed makes it well worth it. Yelani is more concerned, I think, with Dragon and what she may encounter in her search for Ames, than with my daughter. There is something out there in Ruoh territory that she will not speak of yet that worries her severely. - I try yet again to reach through the bond to Ames, but feel nothing in return. I have followed what tracks that I could find to this seemingly impenetrable wall of jungle and now I must go in. Traveling through this is not going to be easy or fast, and I almost wish I had left Bore behind at the Cinos village I passed through days ago. Unsheathing my sword, I begin to hack and slash my way through the heavy vegetation, Bore following on my heels like a huge puppy. I will have to cut a larger path to accommodate him but he is in many ways my best friend. I will not leave him behind, alone, at the mercy of the jungle beasts. Bore seems to be agitated and nervous. I know he is used to the open and to me riding him but a warhorse should be better able to handle odd situations. I have to wonder what it is that is bothering him. In the past he has alerted me to danger on several occasions before I was able to sense anything myself. The sun seems to be sinking rapidly now, so I will have to find a place to spend the night soon. I do not look forward to a night in this seething mass of life. I imagine the bugs will be fierce come nightfall, and the predators will all be on the prowl. It is then that I feel it, the hair rises on the back of my neck and a shudder runs through me. We are being watched. Something is stalking us, who or what I have not a clue but I can feel it. Just as I turn to check to make sure the packs are still secure on Bore's back he rears and begins to stomp and thrash about. Looking down I realize he is dancing on a snake, a brightly striped green and yellow snake and my mouth goes dry. It is a Bamam viper and the most deadly thing known. A bite from it kills in a matter of minutes. I try to step in to get at it with my sword but Bore's mad death dance prevents that. It is as if he is intentionally keeping me from helping him. As I step back to avoid flying hooves he lets out a sorrowful equine scream and goes crashing down. No! Gods No! The snake is dead but its fangs are buried in his left fetlock. I rush to him, pulling the snake loose and flinging it away. His breathing is labored and his eyes roll wildly as I try to soothe him. No! I cannot lose Bore! Ames taught me a little minor healing and I kneel beside him now and attempt to do what I can for him. His heart is slowing and his breathing becomes yet more labored. My heart wrenches as I try to concentrate and remember what Ames said about strengthening life force. 'Let him go warrior. You only prolong his agony and pain.' What? Who? Where did that come from? I turn searching around looking for the source. The voice is in my head! 'I know it is hard for a mage to lose a familiar but you must let him go now. He has served you well and gave his life to save yours. Honor him by letting him go.' I turn back and Bore has gone. I scream my grief to the sky. "No!" 'Back up little one, I need more room to land. I come in peace, put away your sword and back up to the edge of the clearing.' I back up without thinking, sheathing my sword and once again sinking down to my knees. I am racked with great shuddering sobs. Bore has been here for me my entire adult life. He was the first thing I ever cared about when the numbness of my exodus from home abated and the first ever to care about me in return. There is a great rush of wind and I look up, squinting through the blur of my tears to see the last thing I would ever imagine seeing. A dragon sails smoothly down to land before me. Not a large dragon, only about thrice the size of a horse, but nonetheless a dragon. I am taken aback. Though they are prominent in the mythology and legends of every known race, there has never been any actual evidence of their existence. Even through the haze of my tears I have to admire the softly glowing bluish grey scales and whirring brilliant blue eyes before me. The large leathery wings shake and flap a few times before settling to its sides. The short front legs with what looks like large hands tipped with long wicked claws reach for me. 'Come little one, let me offer comfort and solace for a while. You need to rest and grieve in safety. I will hold you through the night so you can mourn your friend. In the morning we will have much to discuss but for now let me comfort you as best I can.' I don't know why, but I trust this beast and I walk up to her and settle down in between those front legs, her wings coming forward and enclosing me in a cocoon that oddly smells of catmint. - Jingali pauses his work of mixing herbs and listens carefully. He does not turn to look; that would be too easy. He waits until the two foolish young warriors are almost at the captive before turning to hiss loudly, sending them scampering away. Idiots! They thought I would be absorbed in my work and they could have a quick go with the oddling. Why everyone seems so enchanted by this ugly, nearly hairless creature Jingali cannot fathom. For it to be claimed by the King is ridiculous. Why would a king want to make a cub with such an ugly creature? It makes no sense. Jingali has not spent fifty winters as shaman to the king to learn nothing. The King gets what the king wants and Jingali will not allow the foolhardy youths to touch the oddling; let them go to the pens of captured Cinos to slake their lust. Jingali rises and goes to check the incense burner beneath the oddling's head. The oddling must not awake again. Standing beside the rough wooden frame it is tied to, Jingali reaches out to run his claws through the long red hair. This one is dangerous, very dangerous. Jingali hopes the first attempt the King made was successful because it will be some time before the King mates with anything again. Shaking his maned head in disgust, Jingali moves back to his work, making herbal salve for the King's burns. He sinks down before the altar of the Dragon, remembering to chant the required prayers before beginning his work with the healing herbs. One thing is certain: if the attempt was successful and this one drops a cub, she will not live long enough to see it take its first breath. The King still roars in anger and Jingali does not blame him. - Vorlayin stares over the hill in disgust. It is as if the Demon and his army just disappeared. One minute Captain Coby was leading a mad dash to catch them and the next they were gone. Somehow, some way he must have been able to conceal his troops or transport them from here. The tracks just stop at the top of this hill and nothing remains to be seen of them. There is nothing left to do now but return to the King and the rest of the army. They must be in need of the extra hands to deal with the troops the Demon abandoned when he could no longer control them. It seems, like it or not, we will have to take the last of his focus stones before we can be rid of him completely. - The one good thing about having to deal with thousands of walking wounded is the effect it has had on my dear friend Bedrian. He went from lying on a cot in a near coma to being up and about healing for all he is worth in a matter of hours. He seems better now than I have seen him since he left the capital. Perhaps it was just battle fatigue and exhaustion after all. I approach him now with news of his family that is not going to be easy to deliver. I hope it is not enough to send him into another collapse. I find him bandaging the wounds of a boy that should never have been in battle at all. It seems whatever my brother has become cares little for the age of his conscripts. If it is strong enough to hold a sword or draw a bow he takes it, if not he uses it in his sick torture games, then kills it. "Bedrian, when you have a moment I need to speak with you." "Yes, Your Majesty, just a moment." He finishes with his patient and follows me outside and I break the news to him while strolling toward the cook's tent. "Bedrian, I guess you realize that Dragon and her group were successful in taking the second focus stone, but I've some news of them that is not good." "It is Ames, isn't it? I have felt that things were not well with her for a few days but then the bond between father and daughter is not as strong as between bondmates and with all the wounded and my issues with Jax I cannot be sure of my feelings these days." "Yes, Ames is in trouble and Cordial was wounded. Jax and Yelani brought Cordial and the stone back to the palace. He is there now if you wish to go to him. Ames was swept off her mount crossing a river in Cinos territory and has somehow managed to be abducted by a group of Ruoh. Dragon set out after them as soon as the stone was taken, Jax and Yelani are riding as fast as they can to catch up to her now. If you wish to go back to the capital to aid Cordial, I could use you there also to coordinate the preparations for all we will need to deal with these refugees. And if any news comes about Ames, I am sure you would hear it sooner there than here." "Yes, I think I will do that and I thank you for the offer. I'd also like to have my belongings removed to the healer's college for now. When Jax returns we have some things to work out before I want to be with her again." "I have not had the chance to ask what happened and I understand if you do not wish to speak of it, but it troubles me to have an old friend in so much obvious pain. Tell me, is there nothing that I can do to help?" "What happened is that she broke our agreement. We have always both had our little flings when out on campaign, but agreed we would be monogamous at home. For some reason she could not resist the envoy Yelani, and I walked in on them. It is not so much the fact that she broke our agreement that hurts, it's the emotions I felt through the bond when I walked into that room. Maybe I am a fool for letting it bother me so much; she obviously had the same or nearly the same feelings with countless others away from home but to actually feel it through our bond was just too much." "Ah, I can understand your pain then my friend. I have often thought that I was lucky in that the Queen had no mage abilities and could not bond with me. I find the thought of having a woman linked to my mind disconcerting. Not that it matters now, I received word yesterday that the Queen died in childbirth and I have a son. I would appreciate it if you would look in on the babe when you get back. I had word sent to the Queen's family. I am sure they will want to take care of her memorial. I know it sounds cold of me, but my people need me now and ours was never a love match. I married her simply to obtain an heir and cement an alliance. Frankly, now that I have a son I doubt I will ever marry again. As a queen she did not seem to care for the people at all, and that bothered me greatly. If I were ever to marry again, it would be to someone who, like me, puts the good of the kingdom and its people before all else." "I am both sorry for your loss and happy you have a son, Your Majesty. I would be honored to look in on him and will do so as soon as I arrive at the Palace. I shall report to you promptly." - Yelani has finally stopped for the night and I dismount stiffly from this damnable bird. I feel some slight guilt over my intense dislike for the bird. It seems to be an intelligent and loyal mount but its difference in gait has me feeling so beaten and bruised I cannot bring myself to feel any affection toward it at all. Yelani seems to sense both my discomfort and my mood for she quietly begins to set up a camp and prepare a meal of cold rations, leaving me to brood on my own misgivings. I can't help but feel that she is worried about something, and her unease seems to be getting stronger the nearer we get to Cinos territory. I watch her beneath my lashes and finally have to say something. "Yelani, something is bothering you. I don't know what but it seems to be getting worse instead of better. Will you not share it with me? If I cannot help the matter surely just getting off your chest would be helpful." "I didn't want to say anything, Jax, but as Dragon is surely gone into Cinos territory amongst our people there is really no way around it now. I can only hope it helps her instead of becoming a problem. You see my people have worshiped dragons for hundreds of years. It is said that they negotiated the terms of engagement we follow in our raids back and forth between the Cinos and Ruoh." "Yes, I see how that could be a problem for Dragon; she is tattooed with several of them. Will they take it as being a good sign or punish her for being blasphemous?" "I think that will depend on how the Shaman of whatever village she runs into reacts but it should be more of a boon to her. What concerns me most about it is the dragons themselves. I know your culture doesn't believe in them, but they do exist, and if they are offended it could be bad for my people as well as for Dragon." "Dragons? Real, living, dragons? I don't know what to say to that. Are they all wizards and mages like the fairy tales say they are? How big are they? Ah, now I have a million questions." As we crawl into our small tent for the night Yelani begins to tell me of her people's religion and its tenets. While it is mostly good news, it does worry me about how it will all affect my daughter's situation. If these dragons do truly exist, then surely they will find a way to aid her. Especially if Dragon is considered blessed, and it's known she is her mate. - Snuggled into absolute comfort, I wake, realizing what happened the day before and where I am, and I jerk in reaction, alerting my new friend to my wakefulness. She carefully unfolds her wings from around me and eases me to the ground. 'Did you rest well, little one? I apologize for calling you that but it would be just too strange for me to call you Dragon. Is there not another name I could call you by?' 'Not really, I had a name before Dragon but those days are far in the past and were not pleasant. I would prefer not to go back to that time in any way.' 'Then I will just call you sister, it is fitting and more respectful.' I stand, looking down at Bore's remains sadly, and realize that I need to remove my packs and gear from him. At first I am surprised no scavengers have been at him yet but then I remember that a dragon has been standing over him all night. I can't think of many things that would go up against a dragon just to get at a dead horse. 'You can call me anything you wish but what am I to call you?' 'The Cinos and Ruoh call me Bryynthde. You may call me Bryn. Don't forget to take the saddle and bridle as well, sister. I will carry you for a time now but you will also need a horse, for I will not always be with you. When you are ready, I will carry you to meet some of my kind. We want to come to an agreement with you and your people. It has been many years since we meddled in your kind's affairs, but that is about to change and rules must be agreed upon.' 'I do not know that I am qualified to speak for my whole race but if it means help in dealing with the Demon and getting Ames back I will gladly meet with anyone.' 'Ames is safe for now. The only one that could do any harm to her she has... neutralized or should I say neutered. I can take you to her as soon as we meet with my brothers and sisters and work out our agreement. This Demon troubles our kind too and we want to work together to deal with it once and for all. There is also the fact that I have become your familiar and so I will be visible among you. If it weren't for your people's attachment to daydreams and fairy tales of slaying dragons it would be much easier.' I hear a sound like a deep rumbling cough and realize she is laughing; at least my new friend has a sense of humor. 'Familiar? I am not a mage. Don't only mages have familiars?' 'You are aware that you were born with mage talent, yes? The reason you and Bore were so close and he did all the things he did for you was because he was more than just a normal warhorse. He was your familiar and as such there was a special bond between you. It is not the same as the bond between you and your mate, but similar in many ways.' 'So now I am bonded to you? How did you know what would happen? Can you read all my thoughts?' ' I know all this is new to you and I will explain while we go to meet with my brothers and sisters. We really must hurry now.' 'You said you are going to carry me? I can only assume we will not be running through this mess of jungle, so if I am to ride you in flight how am I to hold on?' 'You have rope there, do you not? We will make a way for you to hold on with rope for now, and do not worry, for even if you fall off I could pluck you from the air long before you ever came near the ground. Now let's get that rope! I am anxious to be on our way. Your Ames is safe but they keep her drugged and the longer she is drugged the worse it will be for her later.' Lady of My Heart Ch. 06 - Jingali sighs and settles down to meditate. It has been a wild few days; first the raid gone bad, then the capture of the oddling and all the chaos that created. Nothing has been as it should be. Meditation will be a welcome respite from it all. Inhaling the incense deeply, he begins to tap on his drum and send his mind down into the other world only to discover something there that is far worse than what has been happening in the village. The oddling has a mate and that mate is soul sister to Bryynthde! The shock of this knowledge is enough to send Jingali back to his body but not before he hears Bryynthde roar in anger and demand penance from all. Jingali jerks back to awareness and screams. He must inform the King and preparations must be made. Bryynthde is coming and soon. Jingali trembles in fear as he turns to look at the oddling strung up on the wooden frame. She must be awakened and protected. If Bryynthde is angered more by her treatment, she could raze the whole village or still worse all the villages. All across Ruoh territory, Shamans jump and scramble to hurry to Jingali's village. Bryynthde is angered and must be appeased. Whomever has done the thing that angered the Dragon God must be punished and quickly! - I pause and pull my mount to the side of the column, stopping to watch the young wizards trailing along behind Captain Coby and his men. The king has sent all the wizards back with us to the capital to facilitate the building of a refugee camp. The remnants of the Demon's conscripted army have no homes. All we can do is build a camp for them now, and try to assist them with rebuilding their villages later. I look forward to seeing my son Cordial again. We had word that his wound is not serious but little news else of him. I also anticipate meeting our new prince, though strangely this makes me uneasy. I am told Jax rides to assist Dragon with the rescue of my daughter. Though it pains me not to be able to help Ames, I am relieved to not have to deal with Jax and Yelani yet. I don't know why I feel so badly betrayed by my wife's indiscretion. To actually feel her emotions through the bond while they were having sex wounded me more than I can understand. I can only hope that when all this is over Jax and I can repair our relationship. We have been together too many years to let it end like this. - The work here has gone well, we will begin to make our way to the capital soon. I can only hope all the preparations will be in order by the time we arrive, but since a wounded mass of downtrodden refugees afoot is much slower than the mounted wizardry I sent ahead, all should be as ready as can be. I've received several strange and cryptic messages from the healers in charge of my son the prince. While all are confident in his health, there seems an underlying unease among them. When I sent a messenger back to ask if he had the look of me or his mother, I got no reply at all. I very much look forward to having a son though I've little experience with children. I am sure I can recruit plenty of aid to help me through the early years. I'd like to make Jax and Bedrian his godparents; they have certainly done well with raising their own children and, recent events aside, Jax would make an excellent mother figure for him. As soon as the refugees can begin their journey, I will ride ahead to see my son and to make sure of the preparations. There is also the matter of the Demon to deal with. Plans will have to be made to find and take his final focus stone, once all our heroes have mended and regained their strength. - I awake to find Yelani gone from our tent and stretch my stiff joints before even attempting to rise. I suppose it is to be expected. Any woman of over 60 years, with numerous battles behind her, would be faced with much the same pains. I do find the thought of finally ending this struggle with the Demon and returning to the palace a pleasant one. I know that Bedrian was sorely hurt by walking in on me with Yelani, and I pray I can repair that damage with time. I anticipate some happy news from Cordial and Stephan soon. Stephan has been asking a multitude of questions about conception whenever he can catch up to me and I had word from one of my maids that he has been asking around about finding a maid willing to bear a child for them. I think I will make a good grandmother, once I can settle down and stop this traipsing about healing battle wounded and chasing demons. Perhaps even Ames and Dragon will have children eventually, though the thought of Dragon playing at being a mother is somewhat comical. Finally making my way outside the tent, I find Yelani sitting in a meditative pose facing the rising sun. After studying her for a moment I realize that something is not right. Her breathing is escalating and she trembles visibly. Just as I am about to reach out and touch her to bring her out of her trance her head snaps up and she lets out a loud hiss jumping to her feet. "We must go, now!" "What? What is it? Has something happened?" "Yes! Bryynthde is angered! She has taken Dragon as her soul sister. I'm not sure when they will reach the Ruoh but when they do it could be very bad. If all of the dragon gods are angered by this it could even be bad for the Cinos as well. We have to get to them quickly!" - I am not afraid. I am not afraid. I am not afraid! Oh, hell why am I trying to fool myself? Until yesterday I'd never seen a real dragon and only about half believed they had ever existed. Now here I am clinging to one's back with a makeshift rope harness about to fly. Breathe, little sister, do not forget to breathe. Just think of Ames and how terrified the Ruoh are going to be when we land and you dismount to take back your mate. 'I am more concerned with how terrified I am now! You do realize I have never been particularly happy with heights? If I do fall off don't bother flying down to catch me. I will be dead of fright before I fallen a hand's-breadth.' 'What? The brave and noble Dragon is afraid of falling? Say it isn't so!' Once again I hear that deep rumbling cough that I know is her laughing at me. I am about to make a suitable retort when she takes me by surprise and leaps into the air, surging straight up out of the jungle at a speed that has me about to spew everything I have eaten for the last decade. 'Damn you Bryn! Aaaaaahhh!' I can feel the muscles in her powerful torso flex and bunch beneath my thighs as she flaps those huge wings flying straight up. Then she suddenly comes to an almost complete stop, folding her wings to her sides, so high up the trees of the jungle look like grass and I realize what is about to happen. 'Nooooo Bryn!' She turns herself downward and it is a plunge that has my cheeks (both sets) flapping in the wind. She pulls up just short of the treetops, making my stomach lurch worse still, and we hurtle off toward the rising sun. As I lean sideways to vomit I can't help but hope it plasters her tail! Now, now little sister, remember I heard that thought. 'Damn! Between you and Ames I will never be able to get away with anything ,will I?' Not very likely. Now, let us discuss my brothers and sisters and what to expect when we meet them. There is a protocol that must be adhered to. We want this to go as smoothly and quickly as possible so that we can get Ames away from the Ruoh and deal with the Demon. - Jingali hisses to bring the meeting of Shamans to order. The King, well, the one who was King, is now tied to the rough wooden frame that once held the Lady. There has been much grumbling amongst the Shamans about the events leading up to this, but it looks as if they can all finally come to an agreement. A vote is taken and the decisions made. The Lady is to be awakened slowly so as not to make her ill with the drug sickness. When Bryynthde comes he who was once King will be offered to her as a sacrifice of sorts and her soul sister is to choose the new King. Jingali looks over to where Ames now rests on a bed of catmint and flowers. She has been cleaned, dressed as best they could manage and sleeps peacefully. Jingali can only hope that she is none the worse for wear and will awaken from the drugs without sickness. It is still to be seen if she carries a cub and it worries Jingali that Bryynthde will be furious if it is so. Just as Jingali prepares to adjourn the meeting of Shamans there is a loud commotion at the far end of the village. Warriors race to their weapons, preparing for trouble but it is too late; the diversion has worked. The Shamans suddenly find themselves surrounded by Cinos warriors, bows drawn and ready. A long line of Cinos Shamans appears out of the jungle and comes to a stop in front of the Ruoh. - No sooner than I have dismounted in the courtyard than I am met with the two healers left in charge here at the palace. I realize there must be issues that only I as Arch Mage can deal with, but surely they could let me at least come inside before I am waylaid with duties. "Arch Mage we have an issue that you must see immediately. Please come this way. It is of the highest urgency." "What is it, Muyridian? Surely it is not Cordial! I've been told for a week that his wound was not serious and healing well." "No Arch Mage it is the Prince, please come quickly, I will have refreshments brought. I know you have had a hard journey after the battle but this cannot wait. I cannot really explain this, It is something you must see for yourself." I follow the two scurrying mages through a maze of corridors to arrive at the royal nursery. Several guards step away from the door to allow me to pass. Entering the room I see nothing amiss. There is a small bundle in the massive ornate crib in the corner of the room and I approach quietly so as not to wake the babe. The first thing that startles me is the striking resemblance to Morbern, then the babe stirs and opens his eyes. I am filled with sorrow and dread as I look into those two blood red eyes with slits for pupils. I know now that this is no child of our King but instead a child of Morbern while possessed by the Demon. "Arch Mage, we could not to bear to send word to the King and him in battle, and now dealing with the refugees. He has already lost his Queen and now this. What are we to do?" - It is with great relief that I ride out of the camp. The wounded are ready to begin their journey and the mages can handle everything now. I ride for the capital with a small contingent of troops. I may yet make the Queen's memorial service if we can travel quickly enough. I look forward to meeting my son for the first time. I wonder if he has his mother's icy northern looks or my dark southern ones. No one has seen fit to inform me of what my son looks like, oddly enough, but with all the commotion going on I guess it is a minor detail. A son is a son. I now have an heir and a child to cherish and watch grow. A half-dozen hours into our journey, I am surprised to be told that there are troops trailing us. It cannot be our troops so it must be the Demon and what army he has left. Now it is an all-out race to see if we can get to the capital and the safety of the walls and guards there before we are overtaken and captured. From what I have seen of how the Demon that was once my brother treats captives I pray we can make it to safety. - I was wrong when I cursed this bird mount for its gait. Now that we have entered the jungle I am truly amazed. Not only did Yelani find a trail through this mess of jungle, but now these birds are in their element. I've never ridden anything this fast before. It has to go easily at twice the speed of a horse. Yelani comes to a sudden bone-jarring halt ahead of me and I cling precariously to my bird as it follows suit. A Cinos steps from the jungle at the side of the trail and they begin to converse. I have begun to pick up a smattering of their language but I am not able to follow anything at all, though the animated waving of arms and hissing is a sign that it is not going to be good news. "Jax, we have to go into Ruoh territory now, so ready your weapons and be ready for a fight. The council of Shamans has decided to move on the Ruoh and try to get Bryynthde to renegotiate terms when she comes." "We are riding into a battle?" "No, my people were to set up a diversion and take the Ruoh council by surprise. At most there will be a stand-off until Bryynthde arrives. It is the journey to the main village that worries me. If we come across any of their warriors in the jungle we are subject to capture. I've been captured before and I will not go alive." "What does this mean for Ames? Is she in any worse danger than before?" "It means she now has all the Shamans of both Cinos and Ruoh trying their best to protect her and keep her from harm. No matter how much hate is between them they all know that if anything happens to Ames all the gods are going to be angered and our peoples could be wiped out entirely. I just hope we can get there in time for me to assist in the negotiations. You being there may well sway Bryynthde to our side." With that she turns to leap back on her mount and we streak off through the jungle again. I am not sure even in what direction we are going. I have to keep up or I will be lost forever in this maze of nearly undetectable trails and thick vegetation. - I've heard of volcanoes before but have never seen one until now. Bryn has climbed to such an altitude that I am shivering but still she climbs gradually. Ahead is a great smoking mountain and I see as we approach that it has a huge gaping hole where its peak should be. As we make our way to the edge of that hole I see how the dragons have managed to stay to themselves. It is a giant valley and in it are grass and trees; even a small river runs through it. There are several sets of bubbling pools throwing up steam, making it look like the mountain is smoking. Bryn circles around to the west side of the hole and I see a large cavernous opening. We enter that opening and I am shocked to see a dozen or more dragons arrayed around the interior. All turn to look at us as we land and I am suitably intimidated. I struggle to remember the exact wording of the greeting I am to give as I dismount when suddenly I am struck by such a clamorous cacophony of voices inside my head that I scream, sinking to my knees. They are all talking at once and it is more than I can bear. Bryn roars, and it stops, but I am still unable to rise from my knees and can only weakly give the greeting I was to use. 'Do not worry sister. They understand they have hurt you with their stupid bickering. You don't have to try and talk to them. Just think at them as you do me and we will work this out.' The largest of the dragons step forward and addresses me. 'As Bryynthde has told you on your way here we have known of this day for many years. We knew of it before you were born; we just did not know exactly when you would be born or how long it would take us all to reach this hour. Just as you were born to defeat the Demon, Bryynthde was born to be your familiar and to help you accomplish your fated task. Your mate has a role in all this as well. She will be the catalyst to bring about change to the peoples of the Cinos and the Ruoh. Watch now, small sister, and see what fate has in store for your kind and that of the other peoples of this world.' A shimmering oval of light appears before the large dragon and I see in it a village of people. I realize it is full of groups of Cinos and Ruoh living together as families. The image flickers and then I see a young girl playing in the palace gardens. She has long red hair and big green eyes. As she turns I see she also has a tail though in all other ways she appears to be a normal child of my race. A young boy runs up to playfully tug at her pigtail and then produces a bouquet of flowers from behind his back, handing them to her. As they talk and play together, I see now that he has bright red eyes with slits for pupils and walks with an odd gait. They are joined by several other children, some of them Cinos and Ruoh, and my view shifts, showing a group of adults nearby preparing a picnic. 'You must guard these children well, small sister, and teach them to live together in peace for they are the future of this world.' 'But I don't understand. Whose children are they, who are their parents?' 'In time you will understand. Remember this day and what you have seen. Now, there is the matter of our cooperation in dealing with the Demon. There are rules that must be followed. Bryynthde is to aid you and we have some special gifts to help you as well but it all depends on a treaty that must be made between our races. We will aid you in this task and Bryynthde will be with you when you need her for the rest of your life, but neither you nor your kind can ever return to this place. You cannot even speak of this place to anyone save your King. Our race prefers to stay as legend and myth to your peoples. We want no more foolish young warriors attempting to climb our mountain in order to slay a dragon and become a hero. Let them all believe Bryynthde is the only one. Can you get your King to agree to enforce this rule among your kind?' 'I am sure I can get my King to agree to these terms.' 'Good! Now, behold your gifts. They were made many years ago and have been waiting for you here. First of all is a riding harness for Bryynthde. It will allow you to fight from her back as well as carry your gear and one passenger if needed. This armor was made from the cast off scales of Bryynthde as she grew to adulthood. It is far stronger and lighter than any armor your kind can make. The helm was made from the cranial bones of our matriarch long dead and will also protect you from the Demon's attacks to your mind. And this sword, this mighty sword, was made from the tail spike of our fallen patriarch and king. The Demon killed him by trickery and it is fitting that his weapon be yours now. You will honor the memories of our ancestors when you use these gifts to slay the Demon and rid all our peoples of his blight forever.' I am delighted and amazed by these gifts! The armor is scale mail and the same bluish grey as Bryn's scales. The helm has short spiky deep blue horns, its body is a rich gold and gleams in the meager light of the cavern. The sword is long and wicked-looking, deep dark blue with serrations running the length of both its double edges. I step forward and take up the sword. It is light, not nearly half the weight of my current blade and when I take an experimental slash it makes a fearsome hiss as it cuts through the air. 'Thank you, Thank you all! I will be honored to use these gifts to avenge your dead and ours.' - Yelani and I skid into the Ruoh village just in time to see Ames rise from a bed of flowers and begin blasting everything in sight with fireballs. Cinos and Ruoh alike scramble for cover. I dismount, yelling to her and run to catch her in my arms just as she collapses. Easing her to the ground, the healer in me takes over where the mother is paralyzed by fear for her safety. As I assess her condition, I realize she has been drugged, and is still heavily under its influence. The rope burns at her wrists and ankles make my blood boil with anger, the scratches and bite marks to her back make me want to do some blasting of my own, but she is in generally good condition, at least physically. Finally, I am shocked to realize she is with child, though it is early and I cannot tell much about the babe at this point. It seems to be progressing well. I am to be a grandmother sooner than I thought. I try to soothe her into a deeper sleep in order to prevent her from venting her ire once again. I know my daughter's temper well and, though she has a right to be angry, to have her kill all the Ruoh present would not be helpful. Lady of My Heart Ch. 06 I turn to find Yelani in charge of all the assembled Shamans and yelling for the Cinos captives to be freed immediately. She begins to try to get the Shamans of both sides to calm down and discuss the situation with Bryynthde, when a sudden hush comes over the group. The oldest of the Ruoh Shamans points upward and makes a keening wail. A dragon is circling in the sky and it roars loudly before beginning to dive straight down into the village. - I think I have gotten used to this flying thing now. I grip the harness tightly as Bryn begins an all-out plunge into the Ruoh village. I can see Jax standing over Ames, and it is all I can do to keep from leaping off Bryn's back in midair. She pulls up, sharply landing in the midst of them, and I hear the harness creak with the stress. I am off her back and to Ames' side in an instant. She stirs as I take her in my arms and smiles. It is the most beautiful sight I have ever seen in my life. Then I see the rope burns and the bite marks and I roar in anger. "Dragon, she is not harmed badly, most of it is superficial. She is still drugged though and has been causing some trouble here in her intoxication. We need to try and keep her calm. If she feels your rage through the bond she will go off again. I beg of you, calm yourself." "Jax, I do not care how many she blasts. When I get through with the one that has done this to her there will be little left to blast anyway." We are interrupted by Bryn's mental shout for quiet. 'Enough! All of you, and especially you little sister, you know what our mission here is to be! Calm yourself and your mate. We have matters to discuss with the Shamans of both factions. This was against the rules and both factions have broken rules recently. None of it will go without punishment I assure you.' Silence descends on all assembled, so quiet that you can hear the insects buzzing in the air. Ames stirs again and begins to nuzzle my neck, embarrassing me. Jax steps forward and lays her hand on her forehead, soothing her back into sleep. 'First of all there will be no more raids. It is time you learned to live together as a race and raise your cubs in a more proper manner. From this day forward Cinos and Ruoh will live together in pairs! Because the Ruoh have transgressed by using drugs and other forbidden means of coercion, the female of the pair is to be lord and master of the home. She can, if she sees fit, throw the male out of the home, retaining all property and wealth.' Despite their fear both the Cinos and Ruoh begin to yell and argue amongst themselves. This one blames that one and the yelling escalates in volume and vehemence. Bryn watches it for a moment and then she has had enough. She rears up on her hind legs roaring and turns to blast a small hut nearby with a great gout of flame. The result is a stunned silence. 'I said that was enough and I mean it! Now, not only do you have to learn to live together as a race but you must also foster alliances and join with the other races in friendship. Your race has been isolated and backward far too long. Yelani has served the Cinos in the capacity of envoy. She has experience in dealing with other nations and has seen how pairs live and raise their children. She is to be Queen until such time as you are fit as a people to make decisions as a whole. When that day comes you will be allowed to choose leaders among yourselves. I will enforce these new rules most strictly until you are able as a people to regulate yourselves and then I will step aside and allow you to do so in peace. I am not a god, I am a dragon, and it is time I relinquish my control of your people. You will grow and become a legitimate nation of people in your own right without my interference.' A ring of Cinos warriors immediately surrounds Yelani and she begins shouting orders. I do not envy her this organization and commingling of villages and peoples. Lady Jax, I would ask that you depart immediately for your people's capital and inform the King of the happenings here. Little Sister and I will take Ames with us and stay with her in a safe place until she is free of the drugs' influence. The Demon prepares an attack on your capital this very moment and we will be there when it is time for us to strike and end his meddling forever. Come little sister, bring your mate and let us go now. Everyone has much to do. I scoop Ames up in my arms and climb clumsily on Bryn's back. All I can do is hold Ames in my arms and hook my feet into the harness. We will have to fly carefully or we will both go tumbling off. Jax calls out to me to wait and runs up clutching a small bottle. "Dragon take this, you will need it. The drug has ... side effects that you will have to help Ames deal with. This elixir will give you the strength and stamina to give her what she needs." I have only a moment to grab the bottle and puzzle over my mother's giggling wink before Bryn launches us into the air and away from the village. - I have never seen the like of the beasts that chase us now. I fear we may not make it to the city gates before they are upon us. The Demon has summoned them from where I know not, and they are not pleasant beasts to look upon. Great hulking beasts, with the head of a dog and the body of a many-legged serpent. One has caught up to the rear guard and snatches a screaming man from his mount's back. The gates swing open before us and archers rain arrows down among the beasts chasing us to no avail. It seems their ugly greenish hides deflect them like twigs. We pass through the first gate, the doors are slammed shut behind us and I hear them crashing into it in frustration. Making our way past the second gate, I give the signal and the portcullis comes crashing down. Surely that will hold them off. I make my way to the courtyard to dismount and a half dozen messengers assault me with urgent requests. The first to speak tells me the city is rapidly being surrounded and preparations are underway for a siege. The second tells me that Bedrian is in the royal apartments and requests my presence as soon as possible. There seems to be a problem with my son. The third brings news that mys are not happy with the memorial planned for the Queen and are threatening to declare our treaty invalid. I wave the rest away in disgust; have they no sense? If we do not fight off this latest attack there will be no kingdom to have a treaty with. Though it pains me to do so, I tell the messenger from Bedrian that he will have to deal with my son on his own because I cannot go to him now. I make my way to the wall to climb to the battlements and assess the situation. Just as I look out over the scene I see the Lady Jax and several Cinos warriors riding for the door and yell out to the guards to let them in and provide what covering fire they can. The Lady Jax is brought to me and sinks down to her knees in exhaustion. "Easy Lady Jax, rest, catch your breath. You cannot deliver news if you fall over dead. Guards, have someone bring the Lady water and a good stout brandy before she faints!" It takes her a few moments to regain her breath. She begins to tell me of all that has happened with Ames, Dragon and the Cinos and Ruoh peoples. It seems if we can hold off this siege long enough for Ames to recover, we will have powerful allies to assist us. - Ames begins to stir in my arms and I try and soothe her through our bond. Riding is precarious enough but she is not strapped to Bryn at all and I am terrified of her slipping from my arms. She opens those beautiful green eyes, looks up at me with a smile and my heart melts. I thought many times that I had lost her forever and I am just so happy to have her back in my arms that I cannot resist the tears that begin to flow freely down my cheeks. Ames begins to squirm again and I clutch at her in panic. She manages to get upright and swing around facing me, riding before me on Bryn's back. 'Careful Little Sister, she is still drugged and may get... frisky with you. The Lady Jax was giggling because the drug is also a powerful aphrodisiac. I am trying to get us to a safe place for you to flush it from her system as quickly as I can. Just hold on to her tightly and keep yourself anchored. I will fly as gently as I can.' Bryn is laughing again, though I fail to see exactly what is funny about this situation. Ames has other things on her mind it seems, she grabs me by the head and I am the recipient of the most passionate and fiery kiss I have ever experienced. Before I can react she has both hands sliding up under my shirt to cup my breasts and I gasp as she begins biting my neck and trying to squirm closer to me. 'Yes, it is time for me to block things for a while. I will land as soon as I can, sister, and will try my best to allow what privacy I can.' The thoughts barely register in my mind, Ames' hands are everywhere and I can feel her rising passion through our bond. She pulls her hands free of my shirt, only to grasp it across the front and literally rip it from my body, sending it flying off into the sky. Her hot urgent mouth assaults my breasts and I moan in pleasure. My hands now begin to roam too, as if they have a mind of their own. She is nearly naked anyway and it takes little effort to rip the tattered remains of her clothing away. She suckles strongly at my breast, dropping a hand to my trews, snaking inside to cup my sex, making me arch my back and curl my toes in pleasure. I mimic her actions and we are both moaning as we plunge into each other in unison, fingers pumping and thumbs swirling as the tension in us mounts exponentially. I reach out to her through our bond but the connection is ephemeral in her intoxication. I begin to feel the tension in her body coming to a peak and recognize she is almost there just as the first wave of pleasure washes over me. I struggle to keep going and drive her over the edge with me, both of us screaming out into the open sky. We collapse against one another panting, heads on shoulders and I breathe a sigh of relief that we did not fall off. I realize, as her mouth makes its way back to my breasts, that she intends to continue. There is nothing that I can do except allow it and continue as well. Our combined juices puddle beneath us and make my seating slippery, sending another jolt of fear through me. 'Bryn! How long does this drug last?' ' I do not know, little sister but I am about to land now. It is a small meadow with a stream and far enough from anything that you will be safe and private for as long as you need. I will stay nearby and guard your activities.' As soon as Bryn is firmly on the ground Ames clutches at me and tips sideways off her back into the grass. Before I can even react she is atop me and heading downward, her lips and tongue insistent in their demands. I vaguely notice Bryn taking off again, packs, gear and all, as Ames reaches her goal and my world focuses on that hot mouth working me into a frenzy yet again. I am barely able to get my breath enough to demand she turn so that I may return the attention before I am overtaken by another intense burst of pleasure. As I bury my face in her center I feel her through the bond, the connection is stronger now and pleasure washes back and forth between us in an ever-strengthening tide. I reach down between us to tease her sensitive nipples with one hand as I plunge two fingers to her depths with the other and circle her clit with my tongue. She moans into me as she spasms around my fingers and I am rewarded with a gush of sweetness. Back and forth we go and each orgasm seems to be stronger than the last; I cannot begin to count them. My limbs tremble with exhaustion and yet still she is not sated. I switch and begin to slowly gently slide my tongue in and out of her, worrying her clit with my fingers and she arches her back, rearing up to scream, her walls clutching at my slippery tongue and she crumples atop me in an unconscious heap at last. I wake to the sound of retching. Bryn is standing quietly beside Ames as she leans against Bryn and retches yet again. I rise stiffly and make my way to the packs now lying beside a small fire. Taking a cloth, I go to the stream to soak it in the cool water and bring it over to place it on the back of her neck. All I can do is hold her long hair back out of the way for her and pat her gently on the back. I feel helpless and small. Finally her sickness seems to ease and I take her hand leading her to the stream. I know my Ames well, nothing will please her more now than a bath. As soon as she is able we must get to the capital. If the Demon is attacking, I may be able to come at him from behind and catch him unawares. - Men scream and the walls tremble as yet another of the strange dog serpents climbs to the battlements as if they are nothing. A group of wizards blast it with fire and the warriors on the wall run at it, to heave and push it back over and it falls to the ground outside the walls with a sickening sibilant squeal. I am not sure how much longer we can hold them off and I see my brother's form pacing in the midst of his troops. The Demon is waiting for his moment to come. I turn to look back at our men on the walls and am suddenly struck with a loud commanding voice in my head. 'Prepare your men King. Bryynthde and Dragon are nearly upon you. We come to assist. Do not allow them to fire upon us!' A large blue grey form streaks in from the East and Ames is deposited in front of me as the form streaks again into the sky and straight for my brother's form. I can vaguely see Dragon on the back of Bryynthde and she wields a terrible looking blade. The first pass they make is off by just far enough that she cannot reach the Demon. He ducks and calls forth several of the serpent hounds to defend him. Bryynthde lands and sprays the hounds with huge gouts of flame as Dragon dismounts to run toward the Demon, her blade raised. My brother's form seems to shimmer in the air for a moment, and then splits apart in a sickening green cloud of mist. There stands the true Demon, towering above Dragon as she reaches it and attacks. The Demon lets forth a great spew from out of its gut, covering Dragon in its acid filth, but it streams down her armor harmlessly. She goes in for the kill, and the Demon raises a great armored arm as if to block her sword, but this is no ordinary sword and it slices through the arm like a twig. The Demon bellows in pain and anger; even the walls shake beneath my feet. Dragon circles and moves in again, thrusting, burying her sword nearly to the hilt in the Demon's middle, then hauling it free and making a great backhand slash that meets the Demon squarely in the neck sending his head flying. There is a great sucking sound and a rush of air and the Serpent hounds simply vanish, leaving nothing but the blood and offal of the battlefield behind. - I don't know who is worse, Cordial or myself. I am offended that the midwife felt the need to force me from the room. Cordial is pacing and nervous but refuses to go inside the room next door with Stephan and their surrogate. It seems we are both to become parents today. I never would have expected to become one but it has come to be. It took many months of reassuring Ames that I still loved her despite her condition and would love the child as my own and many mornings of holding her hair while she was so very ill but today we are to have a daughter. I think back now to that shimmering image I was shown in the dragon's lair and realize now who the little girl with the fiery red hair and tail was. It is nice to know that she and the new prince will be friends and that Stephan and Cordial will get their wish of many children. My thoughts are interrupted by the midwife calling me back into the room. The babe is almost here and I cannot wait to meet our daughter. I know she has her mother's eyes.