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Sorcerer's Treasure

By: cultofstrawberry



This is a fun little story for me. I enjoy futanari, and have noticed that much of that is futa on female (which I also enjoy) but there doesn't seem to be enough male on futa! So I thought I would try my hand at one. I welcome reviews, please tell me what you think! I have much more of this story planned out, but feedback always helps as this is my first time writing such a story!

All characters in this story are over 18, and this story is meant for consumption by adults only. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is coincidental. This story and its characters are property of CulktOfStrawberry. 

Prologue

o0o

"I'm sorry, Cedric. I would not have to keep saying no if you would cease with your proposals." Delia took a step back, not touching the gifts that he had tried to offer her.

"If you would tell me why, then -"

"I can't!" She gave him a fleeting look before she quickly looked down at the ground. "Please respect my wishes. We have known one another long enough." She wished she was in the library, so she could hug a book to her chest, silly as that might seem.

She resolutely looked away from the velvet jewelry box he had tried to press into her hands. Another woman would have accepted such a treasure all too eagerly.

"I have known you long enough, that is certain. That is why I am so resolute in my decision to have you."

She did not look back at him, and gave herself a tight, small smile before she spoke. "You will need to make a different one." Her position was envied. She had the attention -- and as he had made clear, ardor -- of the powerful court mage. Some might think, given his breadth of knowledge and magical skills, he was the power behind the throne.

Cedric however was above such things. He would advise the King when needed, and on occasion attend a council, but he preferred his studies to courtly and political machinations. Often dressed in blacks or grays, he was often a dark and imposing sight, especially with his height and dark hair.

Delia was by no means petite, but Cedric still seemed to tower over her. Her words did not come easy, but they had to. "I wish you happiness, but I can not be part of it."

"I will have you," he whispered, his shoulders knotting before he managed to calm himself, looking down at her with green-gray eyes. The late afternoon sky cast sharp shadows across his face, accentuating its angles and aquiline nose. Not for the first time did Delia note that she found him attractive.

There were so many things she wanted to say. She took a deep breath and said but one word, "No." She squared her shoulders and turned her back to him, retreating from the walkway. She gave the guard a quick nod of acknowledgment before descending the stairs and walking briskly across the courtyard. She'd made herself a good life here, doing something she loved, and she sincerely hoped that Cedric would not do anything to endanger that. She took in and replied to several greetings along the way to the kitchens, where her rumbling stomach led her to a savory stew of garden vegetables and rabbit meat, and thickly-sliced brown bread with butter and fruit jellies.

The meal provided her with a welcome respite from what had just occurred. She'd been able to politely reject all suits except that of Cedric's. It became generally accepted within the Court that she had taken some vows of abstinence or chastity, and she did nothing to dispute these rumors. Once she was sated, she retreated to the library. With twilight encroaching, she paused and pondered whether she should try to do some studying, or simply leave that for tomorrow morning. There was not much to do, since she was a quiet and efficient worker. A walk in the gardens would do, she mused as she stepped outside.

Her stride was casual but purposeful, and though she exchanged a few greetings, she did not stop for chitchat. As a chill evening breeze took hold, she drew her jacket-cloak shut and buttoned it along her chest. She had worked here long enough to be a familiar sight, with the guards and lesser servants acknowledging her with respectful nods. It was a peaceful evening, which should have calmed her thoughts. Cedric could make trouble for her if he were so inclined. There were rumors of his hand in the demise of a couple of well-known and powerful noblemen.

More than just her reputation was at risk. She retreated within the privacy of her apartment, which was located near the upper levels of the library. Back then, when rooms had been needed for scribes to copy books, these rooms had been the copying rooms to create rare and exquisite books. During the day they were fabulously well-lit from southern windows to facilitate the arduous task of copying.

Since the advent of the printing press, a couple of the rooms had been converted into semi-permanent residences which the librarians would sometimes live in. After locking the door, she walked across the room to the window, closing one of its shutters to admit less air into the room. There was still enough of a breeze to keep the room comfortable as she slid off her cloak and set down her bag.

She left her hair in its braid as she slid off her boots, and sat on the bed, glad to be in a place she'd come to seen as a refuge. With her... condition, a relationship with men was out of the question. Her grandmother had warned her that though there were kind people in this world, there would also be those who would hate and judge her for what set her apart from other women. She could achieve much with determination and a bit of luck, but one thing remained out of reach for her.

When she asked why she'd been born this way, her grandmother told her that the gods had seen fit to either bless or curse her. She'd been born with both sets of genitals, and as she went through puberty, took on the characteristics of a woman. Which was just as well since her grandmother had elected to simply raise her as a girl. They'd hidden this condition for as long as she could remember. Her father had no idea, and her mother had died when she was little.

Being the distant relative of a minor royal cousin had enabled her grandmother to reach out and use this network to secure her a position as a library assistant. It was a respectable position for a woman to occupy herself with. She had come to enjoy the job and the opportunities ir gave her to study rare material. That had been nearly ten years ago, and now she was a regular librarian, a rare chance for a female in a society that was still very much male-dominated. She was no part of Courtly intrigue, and her refusal to be involved with men lessened the notice of women who might have seen her as a rival.

She would need to stay out of Cedric's reach somehow. She had work in the library, but she could make sure an assistant was always at hand. She could arrange a trip into the city to the booksellers and see what rare or unique additions they might have for the Royal Library and use it as an excuse to stay overnight with family. Yes, that could be done. Who would question her? She'd proven her loyalty and diligence.

With that decided, she pulled the blanket over herself and blew out the lamp, settling into a somewhat restful sleep.

o0o

Cedric seethed in silent fury as he made his way through the Palace complex to his own apartments within the Old Tower. This tower had been typically inhabited by the royal mages and occasional apprentice, and that tradition continued. He went up the stairs to the second-to-top level, where the door opened into his apartments. Its condition and features befitted a man of his power and station.

He set the jewelry case on the table before giving out an incredulous huff. Why must Delia keep telling him no? That dark-haired, olive-eyed temptress haunted his dreams and desires. He'd known her nearly a decade, and she would even call him friend, but try for anything more than that and she would have none of it!

As time went by, his ardor for her only grew. Time and time again he tried to woo her, with words, with gifts, with promises, occasionally trying to steal a kiss or touching her. She seemed to like him, but refused to consider him in the same way he did her. Whatever held her back, she refused to divulge despite his entreaties and his promises of helping or trusting her as needed. He tried to not think of her, even going so far as to seek attention from other women, they couldn't satisfy him and his thoughts always returned to Delia.

He was a man used to getting his way. The Court respected and feared him. Even the King was wise enough to keep his counsel and actually follow it. As he had told Delia, he would have her. She would writhe under him and beg him for pleasure, which he would be happy to give. He imagined how her lips would feel on him, or her pussy, her warm skin under his hands, her tits against his face...

Cedric strode to the window, looking out at the sea that lay beyond Sapphire Point. That view had always managed to calm him, and it did this time somewhat. His shoulders slumped a bit, and he went to sit in front of the fireplace, which he had lit with a wave of his hand and a quick incantation. Many thought magic was easy because of the seeming little effort it took, but as he well knew, it took great concentration and physical energy to perform even a somewhat moderate magical spell.

Still, easier than having a servant fetch hot coals from the closest available source and starting a new fire with that, or start it himself with some flint and kindling. Igniting a fire by magic might take some considerable effort, it took much less time. As the flames danced, his eyes became half-lidded as he thought of how to best make Delia his. He'd tried the proper route at first, courting her. She at first pretended to not see his efforts, then started politely turning him down. He sought occasion to couple with her at social occasions like the Yule Ball. Such invitations were tacitly turned down. She always refused to divulge just why.

He would have no more of it. Whether or not she would tell him her secret, she would be his. He smirked and stroked his chin as he thought of various possibilities...

Sorcerer's Treasure Ch. 01



Cedric had resolved to take action, and took his time to formulate a plan, leaving the wary librarian surprised but pleased at his distance. However, when he had hoped to see her around supper-time or after, she was already gone. He learned she had left Sapphire Point, and was tempted to follow her into the city. He managed to rein himself in, and use the new found time to refine his plans.

o0o

It'd been three days and now Delia was back. She had several new books from the city, and was reading them all before she cataloged and added them to the library. She was taking advantage of the late morning sun to do this reading. She was so absorbed in her work that he was able to approach her almost to the point of touching before she looked up, startled. She blinked as she took note of his identity, and a flicker of a frown passed through her face before she collected herself.

"Sir Cedric, are you in need of assistance?" she asked politely.

"It occurred to me that today was the perfect kind of day to have a sup outside." he said in the most gracious tone he could muster. She glanced at him neutrally before looking back down at the pages. "I had a big breakfast, I'm not hungry but thank you." 

Refusing to be deterred, Cedric took a step closer. "Well then, tonight? I can arrange for a very nice private feast for us. I think you liked honey-mead?" he asked conversationally. He could see her shoulders stiffening.

"Sir, it would be improper," she finally said after several moments. He took a slow breath.

"It is two friends sharing a meal. Please allow me to show you my good will. You know I would never hurt you." He was pleased to see her face soften a bit, and decided to sweeten the offer. "I also have a book for you that I think you will really like."

She looked at him for several moments before giving a hesitant nod.

"Wonderful. I will send a servant for you at... when will you be done for the day?"

"Uh...around six, when it starts getting too dark to read comfortably."

"Expect a servant of mine, then." He bowed to her and retreated from view.

o0o

Delia's heart was racing as he left, and she silently cursed him. He kept finding ways... Should she feign illness? An upset stomach, perhaps? Hmph. Perhaps a family emergency? At around five, she decided to finish her work, she'd read through an entire book and wanted a rest before getting started on the next one. She made her notes and set the books aside, arranging them for the next morning before she left the study room, walking towards the library doors and confident she could slip away.

She stilled just before bumping into somebody. Taking a step back, she recognized Cedric's assistant, a young, lanky man in his early twenties. He was a student of magic, though his skill was almost laughable - no one said that to his face, of course.

"Is your work done?" Garrick inquired politely. She wanted to glare at him, but collected herself.

"Yes, it is. I was about to go talk to a friend," she said, hoping he would take the hint.

"Cedric awaits you," Garrick said, much to her irritation. "He said I was to bring you to him once your work was completed."

Very well, the earlier I get there, the earlier I can leave, she thought to herself as she went with him. Sapphire Point was an impressive place, almost like a mini-city into itself with the Palace grounds and orchards. She recognized the Old Tower as Garrick led her to it and sent out a silent prayer as she entered it.

Cedric had an impressive solar with which he used to receive guests. The table was set for two, and the lamps were slightly muted.

"What a delight it is to see you again, Delia. Were there family troubles?" he asked solicitously as he led her to the table. Garrick retreated from the solar, closing the door behind him. Delia was now uncomfortably aware of the fact that she was now alone with him.

"Oh, it was just a visit. I was looking for new books and decided to call on them," she replied innocently as she sat in the proffered chair and let Cedric push her in a bit. She noticed a bottle of wine, and a couple of covered platters. One revealed to be olives stuffed with cheese, rolled around in vinaigrette. The other was mixed nuts and candied fruit. Cedric poured them each a glass of wine. They made small talk for a while, having known one another long enough to bring up a variety of subjects they could safely discuss. She took a few olives and nuts, but kept her appetite under control despite not having had a luncheon.

After she spent what she deemed to be an appropriate amount of time on conversation, she decided to bring up a subject, since he did not seem in a rush for the proper meal.

"You said you had a book to show me," she prompted gently. He blinked and nodded, and she was almost certain she saw a ghost of a smirk flit across his features before he turned away and rose to go to a carved panel in the wall and opened it to reveal several shelves of books. Deftly selecting one, he returned to her side with it. She'd accepted books from him in the past, he started giving them to her before she knew of his interest in her, and it was the only thing from him she was comfortable with accepting.

"Thank you," she said graciously as she took the book and rose from her seat so she could read it under a lamp. It also gave her an excuse to stand.

The cover was nondescript, bound in black leather with fine, delicate goldwork around the edges. To her relief, Cedric did not stand too close, but she could still feel him watch her as he sipped his wine. Was she feeling light-headed from the wine, or was it just anxiety? She'd had bit one half glass of wine.

Deciding to focus on the book - a welcome distraction in this case - she lifted the cover and let the book open to a random page. She blinked, not quite comprehending what she was seeing for a moment. Her jaw went slightly slack as the image became clear to her - a skillfully-rendered illustration of a man and woman copulating - before she turned the page to see another picture of the couple in a different position. A couple more pages revealed variations of intercourse.

"Cedric," she gasped with a soft whisper before she quickly closed the book, blushing at the unbidden images of her in such positions. "This is... I can not accept it."

"Why not? You like knowledge. Here is a book of knowledge, on intimacy," he replied smoothly.

"It's not appropriate, I..." She blushed at feeling a stirring of arousal deep in the base of her stomach, a warm knot, and longing for the privacy of her own quarters. She put the book down on top of several others he had piled on "I think I have been here long enough. Thank you for the meal, I need to be leaving now." Her steps quickened as she approached the door, only to find it unresponsive to her tugs at the ring.

"You will not be running off this time, Delia," Cedric whispered, remaining where he was and sipping his wine.

"You can not do this," Delia replied calmly as she turned back to him, determined to not grovel before the sorcerer.

"I told you I would have you." Cedric set down his wine and approached her. She would not let him have that advantage, and quickly darted to the left before he could close in. His lips quirked into a definite smirk, and she swallowed nervously.

"We can make this easy," Cedric offered in a conciliatory tone as he stopped, letting her retreat. "Simply be honest with me, my dear. I do not believe you have committed any grievous crimes."

"Nor have I ever!" she replied automatically before biting her lip.

"Whatever it is will be of no effect on me. I can help you with it. Debt, a misbehaving family member, blackmail..."

"I will not speak of it, and I demand release, good sir. Be a gentleman and respect a lady's wishes!"

"Oh, I will give you release..." he smirked before lifting his arm and making a quick flick with his sleeve before blowing a pinch of dust in her face.

The light-headedness intensified until she was unable to tell top from bottom, and she sunk to her knees, grasping for something, anything for support. No, Cedric, not this. He would find out, and then... oh, the potential consequences were too much to think about! She felt herself picked up and then deposited on something soft. Still in the grip of vertigo, she was unsure if she should sit up or roll over, and instead stilled herself for a moment, trying to orient herself.

o0o

Delia had struggled in his arms when he picked her up, but she went limp on the bed. Cedric took a brief time to make note of her attire. She had on a plain, clean long-sleeved linen dress that ended at her ankles. It was a pale violet color. Over that was a short-sleeved, knee-length tunic of a heavier linen, in dark green with a red and purple sash around her middle, and a brown leather belt that matched her sandals. She had a couple of pouches at her sides hanging from the belt, one was for rolls of paper and ink so she could make notes, the other one was empty but could hold a couple of books, or other items of comparable size.

Slight movement of her hands alerted him to her gripping the comforter.

"Take a deep breath and rest now, darling. Let's get you more comfortable." Cedric said as he reached down to unlace her sandals and toss them aside casually. She squirmed and flexed her toes, trying to pull her feet away without success. The belt and pouches came next, not so casually discarded as he set this on a chair, and he unwound the sash from her middle. It'd accentuated her chest by cinching the tunic around her middle, an unintentional effect on her part.

A soft groan, and he saw her face contort with effort as she tried to sit up. He watched this effort for a few moments.

"Damn you, Cedric," she gasped as she flopped back gently, placing her hands over her eyes. He allowed a couple of minutes for her to orient herself, meanwhile contemplating the next step in unclothing her. He could always cut the dress off, could he? The thought of her coverings coming away so easily brought a grin to his face.

"Better now?" he asked, seeing her breathing slowed down a bit. He'd used a mild vertigo spell, not wanting to put her under too much influence. It would wear off after about five or ten minutes. She made another effort to sit up, and this time she managed it. Her thick dark brown hair was draped over her shoulder, several loose locks of it framing her face. She usually kept her hair back in a braid or bun, and Cedric was eager to see it loose.

She stared at him with her features somewhat scrunched up, as if considering what to say or do next.

"I only used a mild spell, and I would prefer to not have to use it again."

"Then don't," she shot back. She rubbed her forehead and cheek in the usual gesture of someone still orienting themselves a bit. "Cedric, I beg in the name of all the gods, to do the right thing and let me go. We will speak nothing of this." Her voice was quiet but steady as she focused on maintaining her calm, and he made note of these efforts. She recovered faster than he expected. Hm.

He had no intention of letting her out, at least, not tonight so he evaded the question. "Give me a good reason," he countered as he looked down at her. "Am I so undesirable to you?"

She quickly looked away. He leaned in a bit.

"Is it perhaps some birthmark on your body?" he queried, some people were rather superstitious about that kind of thing. He knew better, of course.

"Do not press the matter any further, I beg you."

There was something in her tone that offered him a tantalizing clue. He wouldn't care if she had a birthmark, or even a scar from burning or something else. His decision was made, he would waste no more time. Moving so fast she barely had time to react, he grabbed the neckline of her tunic and tore it asunder, parting to reveal the lavender fabric beneath.

"My lord!" she exclaimed as she jerked back, trying to bring the sides of her tunic together in a futile remedy.

"You may remove your dress, or I will tear that off as well," Cedric said in a firm tone, hoping that she would realize her situation in due time.

The dress was loose as it was meant to be worn under a tunic or at least a sash around the middle, so it would be no great task for her to divest herself of the garment. He3 gave her a few moments to comply, and to his relief, she did, albeit slowly. She shifted around, moving her legs and then rear as she lifted it off over her head and then cluthced it to her chest. She was now clad in a plain linen chemise and matching bloomers that ended just below her knees. There was something to be said about modesty, but he had no care as he held out his hand for the dress.

o0o

This can't be happening, she thought as she saw the hand, knowing what he was demanding. She thought to start shrieking for help, to try to climb out the window, pound on the door for guards, throw things at him and hope to knock him out...

"The dress, if you please," she heard him say. "And your underwear, of course."

"Please, my lord. You do not wish to see..." She stopped, fearing she had said too much. She could still get to the window! He had a lavishly-appointed bedroom, with a four-poster bed and canopy. The stone floor was covered with rugs to lend warmth to the room. Most of the colors were rich and dark if not black.

Her attention returned to the dark-haired man in front of her. Was she going to have to tell him?

"See what?"

"Please, please don't tell anyone. I beg of you." She looked up at him, pulse racing. He studied her for several moments before nodding slowly.

"Very well, then." Cedric's tone was all seriousness. His hand dropped.

"I'm... different. From other women." She was now looking at the comforter as she said this.

"How so?"

"Not in a good way," she replied, praying to the gods that he wouldn't need further explanation, but knowing that he would.

"In what way?"

"Please, I am embarrassed enough!" She scooted back on the bed. He moved quickly and wrested the dress from her hands, tossing it aside before he was on top of her, pinning her arms down with his hands, the weight of his leg keeping her own legs down. She felt his lips on her forehead, and gently moving along her temple and brow. She could smell him, a mixture of smoke, and some kind of exotic spice, and what she could almost swear were cloves.

"Cedric..." She tried to turn her face away, but he would not be swayed as he kissed down her throat and collarbone.

"I have waited too long for this, Delia," he whispered as he nuzzled her breast through the fabric of her chemise and breast-binding. His body against hers, though she wanted to fight it off, she felt another unmistakable sear of arousal within her core, hotter than before.

His hand slid down her stomach to massage her outer thigh for a moment. He was still so focused on the upper half of her body that it was his hand rather than his eyes that alerted him to her condition. His hand slid inwards, and she felt the pressure of his palm against the part of her that women were not supposed to have. It pressed up a bit before going slack, and he slowly lifted his head to look down at her. Wide olive-green eyes met surprised, then calculating eyes before he broke eye contact and looked down to her groin. The chemise was pushed up to her stomach, and the slight drape of the bloomers hinted at her endowment.

"Now you know what it is, please leave me be." She tried to sit up, thinking he would be sufficiently repelled or surprised enough to let her go. He pressed down with his hand, and she gave a soft gasp. The hand slid down further, groping a bit to ascertain of what was there.

o0o

"You're a hermaphrodite?" he whispered. Out of all the things that could be possible for her dark secret, he had never imagined this! After a bit of exploration, there was no mistaking what she had between her legs, and he felt the flesh twitch a bit as he gave the mound a firm caress.

This caused her to gasp and shiver a little. He felt his own manhood stir as he considered the various possibilities that could ensue from this.

Every man had his fantasy. Some men wanted a harem. Some wanted a huge cock, or a lover who obeyed their every command, but Cedric had one that was a bit more... eclectic. He'd never doubted that he enjoyed the sight and company of women, and the ones he'd bedded in the past could attest to his skill. However, sometimes he wondered what it would be like to have both sets of organs, and to have a lover with such characteristics. It was his most private fantasy, and now it appeared that it had finally become reality.

"My dear, if I had known about this... much earlier, we could have saved ourselves a lot of trouble, hmm?" he asked with a smirk as more shock became apparent on her face. Oh, she'd been expecting to be labeled a monster, a freak, an abomination? He'd show her otherwise.

"This is unexpected, but I assure you, not unwelcome." he said as he undid the drawstring of her bloomers and tugged them down without any fanfare. Hugging her shapely hips and privates was a loincloth that kept it all between her legs snugly. He reached to pull this down, and felt her hands on his wrists. She was looking up at him with confusion and curiosity as well as apprehension.

"I am not something to gawk at, sir. Please let me up." She spoke to him formally.

"Oh, I intend to do much more than gawking..." He sharply tugged her underwear down, revealing her uniqueness. She reached down to cover her groin with her hands, and he easily grabbed her slim wrists with one hand of his, keeping them pinned to her stomach. He held her hands there like that for a moment, squeezing them as a silent signal for her to keep them there, before he let go and divested her of anything that would cover the lower half of her body.

He positioned himself comfortably on the bed, his rear on the balls of his feet, as he grabbed her hips and pulled her up so that she was now straddling him, her rear end on his lap.

Her hands fluttered in surprise, and he shushed her gently as he hooked his left arm around her leg and rested his hand on her stomach, while his other hand slid along her left thigh before pausing just shy of its quarry.

The cock itself was average-sized while flaccid. The sac was smaller than what would be found on a man, but still distinct, tight against the base of her organ. He lightly touched the side of her penis with his fingers, and felt her leg muscles tighten against his sides.

"How did you come to be this way?" he whispered as he gently flipped the penis over so that it now pointed at her stomach. Just behind the balls, which didn't really hang down, was the vagina.

"Cedric, please..." he heard her breathe as he slid a finger into her. Tight and warm, and promising to be heaven around his already-aching cock. He felt her inner walls clench in response, and he added another finger.

"Tell me, where did this come from?" he ashed as he slid his fingers out and took a firm grasp of her organ. She whined and wiggled a bit, but his grip was inexorable.

"B...orn like... this." she managed to whisper as he gave her several gentle squeezes, feeling it spasm a bit in his grip as it tried to grow bigger.

"Anyone... else ever had you? Touched you like this?" he asked, loosening his grip ever slightly so that her cock could get bigger. She shook her head.

"Does anyone else here know?"

She shook her head no again, and he smirked as he started to gently pump her cock. It grew further under his hand, the foreskin soft and smooth as it slid up and down with his firm caresses, Once her cock was almost at full stiffness, he let go of it to plumb the depths of her womanhood again, two fingers gently prodding and massaging her inner walls. She tried to wiggle free, but his hand firmly pressed to her stomach put paid to that, and she placed one of her own hands on top of his. He pulled his fingers out of her and licked them, savoring the tangy musk of her sex.




Sorcerer's Treasure Ch. 01



o0o

Feeling herself be handled like that, with such a strong and firm hand, alarmed and excited her, as was made clear by the state of her arousal. She felt and saw him sliding away, her lower half placed gently onto the bedspread as Cedric prepared himself for further intimacy. He had been wearing a jerkin and loose blouse, and was now divesting himself of them. His toned biceps and chest would stir the blood of any woman, and Delia was no exception. His shoulder-length black hair swept off his neck as he leaned down to unlace his boots.

Next came his trousers and codpiece, and a loincloth, all discarded in quick order, his cock becoming semi-erect as it was freed from its confines. He had a light scattering of dark hair across his chest that tapered into a trail that led to his pubic thatch, which while thick, was neatly-trimmed.

She squirmed backwards as he climbed onto the bed, fierce determination in his eyes.

o0o

Thanks to everyone who left feedback for the first chapter, that really helps a lot. Wnything you wanna say about this chapter, let me know! I hope you enjoyed this chapter, as there is much more to come - literally and figuratively!



Sorcerer's Treasure Ch. 02



As he crawled onto the bed, Delia pressed one hand to her chest, taking small comfort that her breasts were still covered, which seemed silly given the situation.

"Cedric... heh..." She felt herself coming up to the pillows and headboard of the bed, and considering whether to move left or right. His gaze spoke of open desire, and under the shadow of his chest, she could see the passion he said he had for her.

"What is it, Delia? It's not like my attentions were a surprise. I know you do not involve yourself in courtly politics, but I also know that an intelligent woman like yourself knew this would happen eventually..." he gently tugged her hair free from its braid and ran his fingers through it, a glimmer of pleasure on his face as he felt the thick tresses between his callused fingers. His other hand casually found her penis, to stroke it gently, his thumb gently circling its crown, the light pressure was almost too much for her to bear.

She still couldn't believe that he was actually.. enjoying this. She'd expected him to recoil in horror, and here he was, taking delight in her uniqueness.

"I can't... we shouldn't..." She let out a quiet moan as his hand continued to caress her, feeling the expert, delicate touch to her crown, her nipples hard against her chemise and wrap. The loose, wavy cascade of hair made her seem more wanton.

"Delia, this can be the beginning of endless nights of pleasure. We can explore every page of that book I just showed you." She heard him chuckle softly into her ear as he nuzzled her hair and the side of her face. The pressure on her organ tightened a little, and she gave out a quiet moan before he let her go. Whether it was the remnants of the spell he had put on her, or the way he held her attention with his gaze, she offered no fight when he tugged the chemise off over her head, and undid the binding, letting her breasts bounce free.

He made no effort to hide the fact that he was taking her in visually, his hungry gaze roving along her lithe and curvy form.

"For too long I have waited for this. I intend to make up for lost time," he finally commented with a faint smirk before he leaned down, taking one nipple in his mouth, giving it several tender sucks which had her give out a small whimper. He lifted his head and reached to cup a breast in each hand, gently massaging them before sliding his palms along the sides and bottoms, and as she started to relax, he took her nipples and started tweaking and rolling them with practiced ease. She couldn't believe how much her entire groin area ached with arousal.

Almost as if her hand had a mind of its own, it idly slid down her stomach, and started to lightly stroke and massage her aching need, making it drool a couple of drops.

Cedric idly kissed the corner of her lips, and along her cheek and throat, hovering over each nipple and giving them a light kiss. He saw what she was doing to herself, and took her hand, pulling it away before kissing her belly, his face mere inches from Delia's throbbing need.

"There will be none of that, my Delia. I will be the one to give you all the pleasure."

o0o

Cedric had over ten years worth of desire he wanted to bestow on her. He finally reached between her legs, spreading them apart, and kissing at her silky inner thighs. His lips and tongue danced along the quivering flesh that surrounded her privates, feeling how soft her inner thighs were.

"Cedric, my lord... Please." Her eyes rolled back in her head as she took a deep breath, clearly longing for him to just bring her to completion. But he would take his time, and she could see that. Oh yes, he intended to have full enjoyment of her.

"Mercy, sir. Mercy, my lord, I beg of you." He could feel her body, and see the conflict in her face as she wanted to wiggle away, or wiggle closer to him. Her erection was average-sized, about six inches and a bit thick for its length, and fit comfortably in his hand. She had a thatch of curly brown hair above her erection, but her small, tight sac and pussy lips were smooth, with just soft fuzz.

"Mercy...? You never offered me even a glimpse of mercy during all our years together. Do you know what it is like to have the object of your desire dangled in front of you on a constant, even daily basis,.but never allowed to touch and feel...and indulge? You will be lucky if I bestow any mercy on you," he said in a husky tone. Before she could respond, he took her cock into his mouth, suckling gently while his other fingers teased and massaged her g-spot..

She arched clear off the bed, her thighs pressed around his neck as he tasted of her, his lips swirling around her cock and having her see stars.

"Gods help me! You are too much!" It was apparent to him that she'd never experienced anything like this, and was being overwhelmed by his ministrations. He found her hand in his hair, her fingers tangling in it loosely. It looked like she was using her other hand on the sheet to steady herself.

"Calm yourself. We're only getting started." He pulled back and lightly blew on the tip of her penis, loving to see her jerk in response to this gentle stimuli. His fingers wrapped around her 

"I beg of you to not be cruel to me, sir. You are overwhelming me." She twisted around a bit under his expert caresses. He smirked to himself and continued his attentions, going from one sweet spot to another, this was an excellent distraction from his own raging arousal.

o0o

Between his teasing attention to her cock and pussy, Delia was writhing around in anticipation and would have done nearly anything for this sweet torment to end. She was brought to the brink of orgasm several times, and was reduced to begging him for the orgasm she was literally aching for. Every time he brought his tongue and lips to her sex or slid his fingers into her, she hoped he would just finish her off.

Part of her wondered if this was a really intense erotic dream, but everything felt far too real. After another whimper of protest as he lifted his head from her organ again, he raised his head, bringing it closer to her own.

"You know I would never hurt you... and the prolonging will make the end far more intense and delicious," he whispered, his hot breath skimming over her nipple as he kissed around her pale breasts and finally latched on to one nipple, suckling gently, his tongue lashing across that sensitive nub. His fingers began to tease her womanhood again, sliding along the now slick folds and rubbing them for a bit before plunging into her quivering cunt.

Oh, gods. Every kiss, lick, and caress... Having been abstinent since she was old enough to understand such a thing, and conditioning herself to not respond to flirtations, the attention that was being laved on her right now was too much.

"I don't care about prolonging it. You are a cruel man, holding me captive and tormenting me!" As she squirmed, she felt Cedric's own erection against her thigh, hot and thick. She'd only caught a glimpse of it, and it felt bigger than it had looked.

"Now enough of that kind of talk." He looked at her with a mildly stern expression. "That's not how you should be speaking to the man who will show you what a wondrous gift you have."

He twirled some of her hair in his fingers, studying it for a moment. She could try to push him off while he seemed so distracted, but instinct told her better. He was a powerful man, and would be easily able to restrain her, through whatever means at his disposal.

A small but sharp gasp escaped her throat when he brushed the end of the lock of hair across her nipples, almost like one might do with a paintbrush. This teasing continued for several more moments as he took careful note of every response she made, and she blushed afresh under his intent gaze. He was a devilishly handsome man, and there were many women - and even a few men - at Court who would come to his bed given an invitation.

After he let go of her hair, he started kissing along her belly, lazily circling her navel before going further down, lightly blowing at the head of her aching organ.

"Beg me, Delia. Entreat me to give you relief, tell me that you belong to me..." He traveled further down, running his tongue along her slit just once.

Under this teasing, she found it almost too easy to do as he asked.

"Please give me relief, Cedric. I surrender to you. You wanted me, now you have me. Please, please, my lord, let me have release, I beg of you." His face softened a little at that as he raised his head.

"And no more denying me what you and I both so clearly desire. The energy and passion between us is only what others can dream of..." he whispered affectionately as he rubbed his cheek against her inner thigh.

o0o

Her words softened him just a bit, and reminded him of his own need. He'd held off for both of them long enough, and he had her just where he wanted her. He grasped her hips and shoved his face between her thighs, suckling her cock as deep into his mouth as he could, his tongue laving around the stiff heat in her mouth. He felt her twist under him in pleasure, and reached down to finger her again, plunging into her moist channel.

"Yeeees..." Delia breathed as she grabbed his hair and pushed his face enthusiastically into her crotch, though he could sense that she took care to not press down too hard. She moaned out his name several times in a way that absolutely thrilled him, finally approaching her climax, and this time he would not deny her. His ministrations were enthusiastic as he sought to give his lover pleasure, something he'd dreamed of for so long.

She arched as he felt her cock spasm a bit, her womanhood giving his fingers a sudden, hard clench as he was rewarded with her release. It tasted less salty than what a typical male would produce, with a note that reminded him of how her womanhood had tasted. The grip in his hair tightened for a moment, almost painfully, as he felt her spurt a couple more times into his mouth. He swallowed everything she had to offer as he felt her remain clenched for a few moments more before she started to relax, slumping against the comforter and pillows.

He swallowed the last of her seed and let the flesh fall from his mouth before he licked his lips, falling deep in thought for a minute as his fingers slowly slid in and out of her. True hermaphrodites were rare, and beliefs about them were mixed. Some people thought it was sinful for a man to dress as a woman or try to claim to be one. The fate of people with such issues, or these who physically developed mixed sex characteristics either in utero or puberty were varied. Nonetheless, some had managed to become very successful, becoming concubines or consorts of rich or powerful men, or if they were clever, they'd find a way for themselves, often reinventing their identities in the process.

Other fates were sadder. Though slavery was illegal, some parents might sell such children to brothels or freak shows. He'd learned of such people in his teenagehood, when as other teenage boys were expected, Cedric enjoyed sex and with his looks, it was relatively easy to get the kind of attention he wanted.

A soft moan from Delia broke the sorcerer's reverie, and he smirked faintly before he drew his fingers away, hearing a protesting whimper.

""Fear not. I am simply doing something that will make it easier for me to pleasure you." At these words, she relaxed a little, and he sat up, lifting one of her legs.

"I know you spend much time in the library, but it seems you might be limber enough to lift your knee to your stomach?" he prompted. Looking a little nonplussed, she was nonetheless compliant and did as he asked, reaching behind her knee with a hand and lifting up her leg so that her knee rested comfortably at her side, her forearm now draped over it. The view between her legs shifted, becoming a bit more open, and he grinned.

"If you would kindly do so with your other leg, then I may resume my ministrations." She nodded and lifted her other leg,, and the view of her womanhood was much clearer. His cock twitched hungrily at the sight. He placed his hand on her groin, the hell of his hand lightly resting on her perineum, and his fingers on her sac and base of her organ. She was almost hot against his palm, and he lightly pressed it against her. She gave a soft moan.

"Always remember...only I can give you such pleasure..." He gently ground his palm against her, feeling the muscles between her two openings clench involuntarily. She offered no argument, and he lowered his head, sliding his fingers in her again as he tasted of her. He was relentless on her clit, which he had managed to locate. Her unique anatomy meant that the little nub was not as visible due to what sat directly above her womanhood, but once it was located, he attacked it with passionate fury, causing her to give out several shrieks which she managed to muffle with only partial success.

He was rewarded for his efforts in a short time, and lapped up her juices as they flowed, feeling her tremble a bit, her fingernails digging into the back of her thighs. With her position such as it was, it made licking her clean a relatively easy task, though one that he did not rush through, his tongue taking its slow time to familiarize itself with her soft folds. Delia's eyes were half-lidded and her head lolled to one side as she took deep, slow breaths.

When he had completed his sensuous task, he let his lips trail lightly along her rear end and thighs before he took her hands into his own, letting her bring her legs down again. The look of relaxation and pleasure on her face made it clear that she probably wouldn't protest the next thing he wanted to do.

"See what I can do for you. All these years you hid from me."

"It was no ordinary secret-"

"You're right. This is far from ordinary. But I desire you all the same, and I welcome this... surprise. Haven't my actions thus far proved that?"

She looked away shyly.

"Agree to be mine, Delia. No one else will every give you the kind of pleasure I can... and what you just experienced is but a glimpse of what I can bestow upon you... I would worship you..." He leaned forward, kissing along her collarbone before he nipped at her neck, kissing fiercely.

o0o

As she shifted around, Delia's thigh grazed his manhood. This time she pressed against it more purposefully, reaching down to stroke it, feeling how thick it was in her hand. He was definitely endowed, and compared to her own cock, she guessed it to be perhaps almost ten inches. Avoiding his question, she focused on his turgid flesh, rubbing and massaging it with her hands and feeling it twitch and throb under her attentions.

His hand slid to her wrist, capturing it in a firm but careful grip.

"Did I give you permission to touch me there Delia?" he hissed at her, eyes glazed over in lust.

"You have been touching me a lot," she shot back, her hand still wrapped around him, he seemed in no rush to move it. "I think it's only fair I get to explore your body." He had a handsome body, one many men would envy, with just the right amount of hair to add to his masculinity, but nowhere near overmuch. "You want to out this in my pussy, don't you?" she purred, barely conscious of this glimmer of boldness, "But it's so big, I'm not sure it will fit."

She saw a small smirk form on his lips, and she continued to massage his cock, admiring its size and thickness, feeling it strain against the confines of its flesh as she explored him. She felt a few veins, but his cock still had a pleasing smoothness to it, and his foreskin was pliant as she pumped him. She reached down to touch his sac, which was hot and heavy, and she could not help but imagine how impressive his orgasms must be. The tiop of his cock was wet with precum, and she slid her thumb along the hole, feeling a sudden twitch when she rubbed a bit more firmly.

Her womanhood was aching fiercely, slick and ready for something more substantial than fingers, and Cedric allowed her to touch him for a bit more before he nudged her knees apart.

o0o

"You made it clear to me that you have not been with anyone else. Since this is your first time, I will try to be... careful." He'd tupped virgins and experienced women alike, and knew that some women had a harder time their first time than others. The last thing he would want is for Delia to find her time with him painful in any way.

When he slid his fingers inside of her, he inserted a third one, feeling her clench a little before she tried to relax.

"Take a deep breath," he instructed as he scissored her, feeling her arch as he pressed her g-spot. He withdrew his fingers and sucked the juice off them before he straddled her, positioning himself at her quivering entrance. He was going to do this... take the woman he wanted as his, finally. It was almost impossible to believe.

He took hold of her hips as he slowly pushed forward, encasing his cockhead within her. Already it almost felt like he was going to come. He had to stop himself for a moment and simply savor it.

He took a deep breath and resumed his penetration, sliding in another inch. Her walls clenched and twitched around him as he continued to fill her up, attentive to her responses. She was looking back at him with half-lidded eyes, light tan skin bearing a delicious rosy flush under her eyes.

She gritted her teeth slightly, but he continued to patiently fill her. Her thigh muscles clenched against his hips.

o0o

Though it did hurt a bit at first as he slid in, and her body was made to accommodate him, the feelings of pain were replaced with those of fullness, and she gave out a sigh, her intense arousal letting her vaginal muscles relax around the thick intruder in due time. It was impossible to ignore him, every inch of her inner walls was aware of him, and fullness was followed by pleasure. Her organ stirred as it was pressed between their stomachs.

"And it's all for you my dear..." he whispered in her ear as she grew to accept his size. She didn't think she would have the depth to handle him, but he slid in all the way,, nestled firmly within her body. His hands slid up her sides to touch her face, cupping it as he looked down at her.

"You are mine," he whispered into her ear, breathing hotly before he nibbled along the earlobe, and she shivered at that. He started to thrust into her slowly, grinding against her.

She tried to speak, but he then sped up, her body thrilling each time he thrust deep. One arm was now wrapped around her, and his face had become a mask of fierce bliss. She gave out a moan, arching and twisting her hips to offer him a better angle, and he took it eagerly, his tempo increasing further. He leaned up a bit, their chests no longer touching.

She had never imagined sex could feel so good, she was practically incoherent in her thoughts as he pounded into her, her cock bobbing every which way, her tits jiggling as he rode his long pent-up desire into her smaller frame, giving her pussy everything he had.

Finally he reached his climax and roared in pleasure as his essence erupted inside her so hot and strong she could feel it almost sear her since her nerves had become so sensitized. She clenched around him, drawing out the pleasure as his cock twitched and spasmed.

o0o

He leaned back down and groaned against her, still thrusting into her, never wanting this sensation to end. He wanted to stay inside her forever. He kissed at her neck eagerly and back to her lips, as his fingers began to tease her arousal. He was pleased when she kissed him back and moaned his name as he rode out his orgasm, feeling his seed start to leak out of her.

As he stroked her, his thrusting came to a gradual stop, but he remained inside of her,, shifting around so that she now lay on her side, with him partially spooned against her from behind. He wrapped an arm around her middle and reached down to continue his ministrations to her, giving her teasing tugs. This lasted only for a bit before he started to pump her firmly, his other hand reaching down to fondle her sac as his cock remained hard within her.




Sorcerer's Treasure Ch. 02



She arched into him, and he kissed along her shoulder and neck as he brought her to orgasm. He brought up his fingers just in time to catch her release, the warm, slick fluid coating his fingers and palm as he used his other hand to continue jerking her off.

As he felt her start to soften, he pulled his hands away, most of it had landed on his hand, but some of it was on her stomach. Her head lolled back on his shoulder.

Finally, he slid out of her, and it felt suddenly too cold in the room after the warmth he'd just been enjoying, and went to his washroom for a towel after washing his hand clean. Using the basin to dampen some of it, he returned to bed, seeing that he was laying there in a state of mixed exhaustion and bliss.

She was quiet as he attended to her, using the towel to wipe her clean.

"That was intense, wasn't it?" he whispered. "Perhaps some refreshment is in order?"

Her eyes fixed on him after a couple of moments, and she nodded. "Water."

He'd been going to offer her wine or mead, but he would not push it at her. He set the towel aside and pulled on a loose robe of black velvet, tying it closed before he went to the cistern he had installed in this apartment years ago. It contained freshwater for drinking, so he did not need to have a servant fetch him some any time he was thirsty. Filling a tall cup, he brought it back to her, seeing she was already sitting up. The way she was reclining reminded him of a cat, and he could see one breast, appreciating the view.

She thanked him quietly and took several swallows of the water, pausing before she drank down the rest. He took the cup and set this aside as well. He was already getting hard again under his robe, and gently grasped her shoulders, puling her close. Her warm curves felt delicious against him, and he took a moment to savor the sensation.

"I have so much passion for you," he hissed into her ear as he caressed her shoulders with his thumbs. "I need you, more of you, and it is a thirst that will not abate." He led her hand to the hardness under the material.

o0o

Delia lay there on the bed, eyes closed as she heard him breathing next to her. He'd taken her two more times, as well as fellating or stroking her. She was more than ready for rest, because she'd had more orgasms in one night than she'd thought possible. After so many, and given their intensity, she had no interest in another one, being too overwhelmed to contemplate anything further than a good night's sleep.

She felt his hand on her arm, and barely stiffened. "Please Cedric, let me rest. You are very... ardent."

A soft chuckle met her ears. "Then rest." The blankets which had been pushed aside earlier were pulled over her, and as her body cooled down from her exertions, she came to be very grateful for this covering. Sleep claimed her, giving her a brief respite from Cedric.

She stirred awake hours later, and the darkness in the room signaled to her that morning had not yet come. The feel of the mattress was different - softer and thicker. What had happened, where was she? As she felt the sheets against her naked body and became aware of a warm body next to her own, the events that had recently transpired were recalled, and she felt her heart start to pound. The things he had done to her, the thrilling sensations he'd introduced her to...

Her bladder ached, and she recalled the glass of water she'd had earlier. In her own apartments, all she had was a basin which had to be filled with water from a communal spigot, and for other needs, she used the water closet that was shared by the female servants in this wing of the palace. She could make her way to either in the dark due to rote and memory, but she was now a stranger in a strange land. She was not sure if she should try to find a water closet herself, or wake him and make this inquiry.

As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she could make him out, sleeping on his back with the blankets about halfway up his middle. Carefully, she inched out of the bed, feeling a rug under her feet as she stepped out from under the comforter. She did her best to remember the details of his room from the night before, when there had been a couple of lamps lit. The sky started to lighten just a touch, signaling the onset of dawn.

With patience and care, she found the water closet. As quietly as she could, she did what she needed and started to creep across the room, searching for and gathering her clothes, drawing in every bit she could from the predawn light filtering in through his window to accomplish this task. She was about halfway done before she felt a strong arm wrap around her waist, pulling her back to bed.

"So anxious to leave, Delia?" she heard him purr as he turned her around so that she now faced him, straddling him as he kept his hands on her hips so she could not wiggle free.

"It is morning. I need to return to my own quarters," she protested gently.

"I know you have work to do, but you are not leaving so easily. We have time yet to further explore one another's charms," he stated lecherously.

"Please, Cedric. There is much to do in the library and I want to break my fast before morn." A good part of the staff had to be up before dawn, or were finishing their shifts around that time, and the kitchens were nearly always turning out some kind of food or another. The breads would have come out of the ovens now, and some of the kitchen helpers were likely chopping vegetables and preparing for the stews that would simmer all day for the evening sup.

"My, such a diligent worker you are," he purred, not relenting on her. "A proper work ethic is to be admired and appreciated, but there must be time for pleasure, as well." His hands reached down to cup her breasts, gently massaging them. She stiffened as she fought the urge to arch into his touch.

"All too often I dreamed of what it would be like to wake up with you in my bed." His hand slid down her stomach, stopping short of her navel. "Of reaching out and feeling you, of pressing your warmth into mine, to have you in my arms." His breath was warm, as was the rest of his body. "Of course, reality often disappoints after a person has had a dream for so long, and I am pleased to say that it is not the case here."

She looked away as he pressed kisses to the side of her neck and shoulder. "Now there is no need to hide from me or deny me, hmm?" His hand slid past her navel and stopped just short of her thatch. The proximity of his fingers to the most intimate parts of her anatomy caused a knot of warmth in her core.

Without warning, he slid away, and she remained still for a moment before she looked over her shoulder to see im pulling on a robe. "I can have a morning sup brought up here," he offered as he turned back to her.

She would never think to have a meal sent to her room. She was a librarian, and what touch of noble blood she did have in her did not amount to nearly enough for her to enjoy such privileges. She usually ate at the communal meals with the other librarians, or went to the kitchens to put together her own meal. On occasion, the king might hold a banquet, but she was not ranked highly enough to have an invitation for most of these.

Before she could respond, he spoke again. "The washroom has a shower-head and basin, so you can do as you need."

It somehow felt rude to turn down such an offer, especially since it would be private. She preferred to sponge-wash herself in the privacy of her room than use the shared washroom, not wishing to risk that one of the other women might learn her secret.

"Thank you." She rose out of bed and made her quick way to the door he gestured towards. There was a small window in the wall, big enough for her to climb through, but not by much. The glass was warped, giving a distorted view to anyone who would look through it. By now there was enough dawn light that she could navigate with relative ease, and she slowly turned around to study her surroundings. The walls and floor were both ancient stone, as was much of the structure at Sapphire Point, but she could see upgrades. 

There was a wooden washtub large enough for Cedric to comfortably recline in, and in the corner she saw the shower, a pipe with a head m. It was a cool morning, so she decided to not use the shower, the showers were considerably more welcome and oft-used in the summer, but as it got cold, people would either wash themselves less frequently, or use sponge or warm baths, usually the former because the latter was considerably harder to procure.

"The cistern that feeds the shower has been warmed," he informed her as if reading her thoughts. She nodded slowly and ventured to the corner, pulling the chain. The burst of water that hit her was refreshingly warmed, and she proceeded to give herself a quick wash. She took one of the towels that sat on a stool and rubbed her face dry before she wrapped it around herself.

When she came out of the washroom after pulling on a robe, the scent of a hot sup embraced her and pulled her forward. Spread on the dining table was a modest but sumptuous-looking morning meal.

To her relief, Cedric did not say much as they broke their fast. She was hungry, and thoroughly enjoyed the meal, having a couple of thick slices of brown bread with butter and strawberry jam, fried eggs, and thick slices of crispy bacon, to be washed down with good, strong tea. As she finished her last bite, she gave a quick, anxious look to the window, the sky was now a palette of colors, and the sun would be visible within the next quarter hour.

"Get dressed, and you can leave," she heard him say. She quickly finished the rest of her tea and did as he suggested, taking only a moment to mourn the damage done to her tunic before she picked up the ruined garment and tucked it into her empty pouch. She re-entered the solar, eyes fixing on the cloak she'd left near the door. She looked up to see Cedric standing in front of the door, a small smirk on his face.

Delia held back a sigh, she should have known that he would not let her off too easily. When he'd suddenly let her off the bed without any further demand for attention, she'd been too relieved to think of anything else. She wondered what he would do now. He beckoned to her, and after a moment of hesitation, she stepped forward.

"Delia, last night was far better than I ever dared to imagine. And I hope it was memorable for you as well."

She blushed fiercely and quickly looked away, at a spot on the wall above his shoulder.

"Don't you feel so much better now?" he prompted, and she felt his fingers gently stroke along her jawline before resting at her chin. She felt the warmth on her cheeks and continued to look over his shoulder, feeling her heartbeat quicken. He continued speaking, his tone becoming somewhat softer. "All these things we did... the things we can do..."

"Stop," she whispered. He looked down at her, studying her, and she shivered a bit as she felt the intensity of it.

"Never," he purred back. "I will let you leave, fair maiden. But I expect you back here tonight. Is that clear?"

She could only answer with a brief nod as he opened the door, and she darted through it.

o0o

After she disappeared down the stairs, Cedric cursed himself for not having taken that chance to give her a kiss. Oh well. There would be tonight. And many more.

He closed the door as he went deep into thought, his nimble mind formulating plans, as well as entertaining several arousing ideas for what he wanted to do with, and to her...

o0o

I am having a lot of fun with this story, and given the feedback I've gotten, others are as well! One reviewer asked if I take story suggestions/ideas. I am open to that, just leave it as feedback, or if you want it more private, e-mail me at cultofstrawberry at gmail dot com. Is there anything you would like to see happen between Delia and Cedric? A specific sex act or exchange, or just an observation or anything, really. I'm all ears, as I really value feedback and often learn from it, so by all means review or email me with what you'd like to see happen in this story!



Sorcerer's Treasure Ch. 03



o0o

Unaware of the surprises Cedric planned for her but still feeling apprehensive, Delia found it difficult to focus on her work as she did her rounds of the library. She and the other librarians had many important duties -- making sure the books were maintained, that they were all accounted for, and organized for easy reference. Some books could be loaned out, others couldn't. They were also to ensure that the people who used the library behaved with decorum, did not vandalize the books or try to steal them, and so on, acting not only as guardians, but enforcers. Of course, she left the enforcing more to the male librarians. Two or three of the males together was enough to scare off any would-be troublemaker.

There was translating to be done, but she had a hard time focusing on it. She kept thinking of the things that Cedric had said and done the night before. And the things she'd done to him!

The early afternoon nuncheon was a welcome respite from her work. She lingered in the library meal room, where hot stew, thick-sliced bread, and meat pie were enjoyed by the staff. It was customary for the Palace kitchens to provide the librarians, and other select members of staff, a simple nuncheon. Fortunately for the staff, the Palace was generally open-handed with its food. She took some stew and bread and sat by the window, gazing outside at the trees that lined the harbor of Sapphire Point. Some of the pines were visible beyond the walls that guarded the palace.

"Is something the matter, Delia?" she heard a voice ask from her side. She turned to see Davin, the senior librarian, look down at her with mild concern.

"I'm just having a hard time focusing on the translations today, sir."

"You are a hard worker, but minds need rest as much as bodies. Translation is not easy work, so I think you would benefit from a rest. You may put off your work until tomorrow. Take a walk, get some fresh air, make sure to get lots of sleep."

"Yes, sir." She would not argue, and lingered a bit, taking another slice of bread and spreading butter and jam onto it before clearing her work area and readying it for tomorrow. She would not accept an invitation from Cedric. If Garrick was sent for her, she would turn him away. She felt restless, so she decided to take Davin's advice and go for a walk, keeping up a brisk pace along the courtyards within the complex at Sapphire Point. The remaining flowers maintained in the expansive gardens proved to he a pleasant distraction. The orchards were at their time of harvest, the only fruit remaining being ones that were not considered yet ripe by the pickers.

It did feel nice to stretch her legs, and wondered if it was possible to take another trip out of the Palace so soon after her last excursion, Sapphire Point was serious about its security. The afternoon sun cast a pleasant light, brightening her mood a bit. She walked along the scenic routes and by the time she felt she had worked out enough energy, it was twilight. There was nothing special planned for Sapphire Point tonight, and if the King was entertaining anyone, it was apparently a private occasion. Not that such things should matter, she was just a librarian, not a courtier.

She took a quick sup from the kitchens and chatted with several other servants, lingering in chitchat, several of them had been here even longer than her and often had juicy gossip. When a capped tankard of strong mead was passed around the group, she took a couple of sips. The liquid warmed her throat and chest. The group dispersed in due time, and Delia went to the library in good spirits and more than ready to curl up in her bed. Once she was in her room for the night, she slid the bar across the door and settled in for the night, falling asleep almost as soon as her head hit the pillow.

o0o

Cedric clenched his jaw in irritation as he glanced at the clock. Dusk had come and gone a while ago, and she showed no evidence of doing as he had told her. After her wanton response to his attentions the night before, why should she have any reason to avoid him?

He looked down at the piece of jewelry he'd specially created just for her. It was simple yet elegant, and would suit her well. He couldn't wait to see the look on her face as he put it on her, as it was a rather... unorthodox piece of jewelry. Oh, it would look so lovely on her, the metal highlighting an intimate part of hers.

He considered going after her, marching to her apartment and demanding her presence, or sending a servant to do the same. Tsk, no. That was not what this situation needed.

He was besieged with memories and images of Delia and her luscious body, and what he'd done to her. Her cries and moans, the way she moved under him... oh, gods. He was already aching. He took a deep breath. No, he would wait until tomorrow. Let Delia think she had eluded him. It would make his conquest of her all the sweeter.

o0o

Delia found herself having an easier time focusing on her work the next day, and had a productive morning, but a note delivered by a servant shook her out of her good spirits.

"Be at the Tower at dusk" was all it said. She recognized Cedric's handwriting and bit back a small groan. No, no, no. She was not going to let Cedric dictate her life. With that firm resolve, she resumed her translations until shortly before dusk and cleaning up for the night. Pulling on her jacket, she stepped outside into the crisp late twilight. There were still people at this hour, walking back and forth on errands, people going to the kitchen for meals, guards doing patrol, and so on.

Suddenly, a hand took firm hold of her arm. She gave a soft gasp and turned her head, seeing Cedric in her peripheral vision. Gods, no. She tried to pull away, but his grip held her where he wanted her. He matched her pace, and when he veered to the left after a while, she tried to turn right, but his grip was inexorable.

"Cedric, please," she whispered. She didn't want to make a scene. With a sinking feeling in her stomach, she realized he was leading her to the Old Tower. She tried to jerk away suddenly, but his grip tightened.

Before she knew it, Delia was climbing the stairs of the Old Tower, her heart thudding in trepidation as he unlocked the door to his rooms and led her through.

"Damn you, Cedric," she hissed as she felt his grip loosen. He stood in front of her, a faint, cold smirk on his face. She took a step backwards.

"Did you really think you could ignore my summons, Delia?" he asked as he casually removed his cloak.

She lifted her chin, trying to maintain her bravado. "I am a grown woman who decides her appointments." By the gods, she was eight and twenty! That was more than old enough to be master of her own fate! No matter how powerful, or wealthy, or... handsome Cedric was, she had to remain strong.

"A grown woman does not hide like a scared child," Cedric retorted. She glared at him. He smirked back and moved forward to take her cloak from her. She stiffened her arms, but he tugged at the cloak sharply, forcing her arms from the holes.

"I suggest you get comfortable, my dear. I have a present for you, and time to spend with you. Now, I expect a proper greeting from you." Proper greeting? What did he mean? That was answered as he touched her chin, leaning in to steal a kiss. As soon as she saw what he was doing, she started to stiffen herself, to shore up her defenses against something she knew would not be easy to resist.

However, as his lips met hers, she found herself responding to it, wanting to press into it. After so many years of deprivation, her body welcomed Cedric's warm touches and attentions. It took all of her willpower to pull back, resolutely breaking the kiss.

"No, Cedric," she whispered. "I have been long at work, and require a good night's rest."

"I will permit you to rest... after I am sated for the night." His eyes gleamed with want, and against her will she recalled the things he did with his mouth and hands. He was hoisted up bridal-style and carried to his bed, setting her down gently. As he carried her, she caught the scent of his natural male odor, with a touch of cologne. It was not an unpleasant smell. After she was set down, she felt a hand on her breast, slowly massaging it through the fabric. Her face was peppered with kisses, and again her body ached warmly in response.

Despite her promise to herself to not fall for Cedric's charms again, here she was, responding to him, all the right spots on her body becoming warm as he explored her freely, and her clothes suddenly felt too restricting.

o0o

Having her here in person reminded Cedric all the more acutely of his own need, and he groaned softly into her mouth before breaking the kiss and pulling back, studying her clothes for a few moments before casually divesting her of the garments one by one.

"Please, Cedric..." she whispered.

"Hush now. There is no reason to deny me... or us. Surrender to me, and you will know no end of my attentions or pleasure," he whispered fiercely. "I have been plagued..." He continued to strip her in a slow but efficient manner, "by the image of your perfect and naked body." She was now in her underwear. "The sight... taste... smell... feel... sound of you..." he breathed as he pulled her chemise up over her head and tossing it aside.

Her face softened a little, to his gratification. "Cedric, you are a very desirable man. But..."

"There is no but," he shot back as the rest of her underwear came off. "There is only us, and the pleasure we will share." As he spoke, he started taking off his own clothes. He saw no need to waste time, and he wanted to arouse her further... he knew he was not the only one in the room who appreciated a good view.

The room was kept at a comfortable temperature by a touch of Fire-magic, warm enough to be comfortable naked for a time, but not so warm that they would become too hot later from their activities. The sight of a naked and slightly shy Delia, her eyes averted even as she blushed, was all he needed to become aroused.

"Look at me," Cedric stated, wanting her to take him in, and not feel any apprehension at even the thought or hint of intimacy with him. Slowly, she turned her face towards him, her eyes slowly coming into focus.

He stood before her, an impressive specimen of male, confident in his own strength and virility. He was well aware of the appeal he had, to women and even to men. His experience gave him confidence in his abilities, but it was Delia's reactions to him previously that made him happy.

"What you see is yours," Cedric said as their eyes met. He turned slightly to the side to give her a better view of his erection. Mind-reading was not among his abilities, but he was certain that at that moment, she was thinking od how he felt inside of her, and the fierce lovemaking he'd given her. He climbed onto the bed and started kissing her again, gently sucking on these pretty little lips as one of his hands traveled down to tease her nipple, lightly tugging it and twisting it. She groaned into his mouth, one of her hands reaching up to run through his hair.

He brought his hand further down, finding her organ and starting to fondle it. Under his persistent attentions, ir hardened, and he squeezed gently, feeling her shudder.

He finally broke the kiss, and looked down at her. "Delia, never doubt my affections for you, or my attractions. There is no need to hide from me."

"I never thought anyone would... find me, or that beautiful," she admitted, looking away with a fierce blush even as he continued to caress her. "Cedric, please don't tease me. I want you to fuck me, long and hard."

o0o

Delia knew that statement would please him, and her pussy ached at the thought and memory of him riding her long and hard the previous night.

Cedric smirked faintly as he looked down at her, his caresses slow and purposeful. "I know you do. I know you enjoyed our previous night together. However, you have to realize that while I do desire and worship you, I am also a fair man. You denied me for a decade. I know you have spent the last two days thinking of what we did."

She looked away again, and heard him chuckle softly.

"These feelings... I have felt them for a decade. I dreamed about you and ached for you... when all I wanted to do was love you." The gentle caress of her organ continued, and she bit back a moan as he spoke. "You have caused me much pain, but you will earn my forgiveness." As he said that, she felt his other hand at her sac, and suddenly she felt something cool wrap around the base of her sac.

Delia gasped and jerked away, and to her surprise, Cedric permitted it. He sat there on the bed, looking calm. Too calm, she noted.

She looked down, pulling her erection to the side to see what was a metal ring around the base of her sac, snug but not too tight. It was gold and platinum. She jolted again and tried to tug the ring off her body.

"What is the meaning of this! Get it off me!" she gasped, her cock bobbing a bit in her frantic wiggling around.

"Relax. It's a scrotum ring, one I made specially for you. Though it is metal, it is flexible, so will remain comfortable for you, the last thing I would want is for you to experience discomfort."

She glared at him hotly, and he continued, "Consider it a... token of our bond, hmm? That ring is also woven with protective spells."

Spells? Oh hell no. She reached down to try to squeeze her sac through the ring, to no success. If anything, the ring actually seemed to become smaller the more she tried to take it off. Once her efforts stopped, it resumed its original size and she almost didn't feel it there. Still, her heart pounded with panic as she became aware of just how much power he could have over her.

She felt him pull her close, brushing a few loose strands of hair from her face before he cupped her face and started to kiss her again. This time her response was somewhat less enthusiastic.

Suddenly, the ring started to vibrate softly, and she stiffened a bit as she felt her entire groin area warm up further. She reached down and indeed felt the metal vibrating, and warm to the touch as well. The sensations coming from the ring was causing her cock to ache for release as it seemed to grow just a bit bigger and fuller.

"Damn you, Cedric... you're not going to make this easy for me, are you?" Having not one but two sets of sex organs made her all the more vulnerable to Cedric's amorous attentions.

"You have not made it easy for me... do you think one or two nights of pleasure will make up for a decade's worth of admiring you from afar?" Before she could respond, he began to kiss at her breasts, his hand grasping her cock as he resumed his stroking of it.

She could see she had little choice, so she decided to simply surrender to him, and at least let him release her from this delicious ache he'd given her. As she had expected, her body was responding to him in the way he wanted. His hands and lips traveled along her body, making her sigh, moan, and whimper in pleasure at intervals. She was aching so much that Cedric could fuck her as roughly as he wanted to and it probably wouldn't make a difference.

A strangled whimper broke from her throat as the ring started to vibrate harder. The proximity of the ring to her womanhood ensured that her clitoris felt a bit of this vibration, and she twisted and moaned as he now started to play with her breasts, ignoring her nether regions entirely.

"Please please, Cedric. Don't tease me. I beg of you, take me and sate us both," she breathed as she looked at him with pleading eyes. She wiggled against his touches, pressing his hands to her body, rubbing his cock with her thigh as he pressed against her. "What will it take for you to fuck me? Do you want me to pleasure you?"

"I want you to say you are mine..." he hissed up at her before he latched onto her breast again sucking and kissing all around her nipple while the other nipple was flicked and massaged with his fingers.

"If that's what it takes..." She moaned, desperate and horny, breathing out before giving her agreement. "I am yours, Cedric. I submit to you for your pleasures, as long as you promise to keep me sated." She ran her fingers through his hair, pressing her body against his own.

"Always, Delia. You will have what you need." He chuckled and finally took her cock into his hands and fondled her, fingers working her expertly, occasionally reaching down to fondle her sac, the ring had subsided to a low vibration. Just as she thought she would finally explode, he pulled his hands away, and she wanted to scream in frustration as her cock twitched needily.

His fingers slid into her cunt, which was already hot and slick from arousal. She pressed into his hand almost without thinking. He wiggled his fingers, and had her wiggling and moaning before he removed his fingers and licked them clean.

She was pushed back onto the bed, and Cedric straddled her, penetrating her without preamble. Her slickness made it easy, and suddenly she was filled with him, clenching around him and seeing the flicker of pleasure on his face when she did that. The vibrating on the ring stopped, leaving her free to feel him without any distraction.

There was no time spent in building up a rhythm, he thrust into her hard and fierce, and Delia did not protest the way he displayed his passion. There was something about being thrust into so fiercely, to receive such intense attentions, that filled a need in her that she didn't know existed until now.

She moved against him in her own rhythm, clenching around him as she pushed back at him, grinding against him as she felt him fuck her eagerly. She drew him in for passionate kisses, running her fingers through his hair and along his chest and back as he thoroughly acquainted her body with his manhood.

o0o

When he approached orgasm, he ground against her relentlessly, groaning her name as he finally felt his long-awaited release. Her organ twitched against his stomach, but he was barely aware of it as he rode out his climax, muscles clenched, cock twitching as waves of pleasure overcame him. He started kissing her deeply as he reached down to stroke her, pumping her to completion. She moaned into his mouth as he felt her release against his hand.

He was far from done, and remaining hard, he started to fuck her again, making good use of her cunt. Guiding her onto all fours, he continued his thrusting from behind, skillfully riding her.

Delia, oh Delia. She was his, now and forevermore. He felt her brace against him as he continued to ride her mercilessly, his balls slapping against her own as he heard her muffle several squeals. This time, she orgasmed before he did, her inner walls spamming and clenching around him as she gave out a sudden shriek. The passion he'd pent up over the years for her came out in glorious force, and her receptiveness only increased his ardor.

This time, seed leaked out of her when he orgasmed, but he ignored this as he continued to ride her, savoring the feel of himself sliding along her most private areas. When he slowly pulled out, their mixed juices dripped from her quivering pussy, falling onto the blanket in sticky drops. A bit more observation showed that Delia had also leaked precum near that spot, and he reached down between her legs to gently stroke her. A soft moan was heard.

He gently pushed her side, causing her to flop down and roll onto her back. Such a delicious sight, he mused, seeing her loosely splayed, her erection hard and throbbing, rising from a body that was full of curves and feminine wonders.

He leaned down to kiss along her stiff need, before laving it with his tongue, hearing her sighs and moans. His mouth took her in, hungry and eager to please her. She draped a leg across his shoulder. His hand gently massaged her sac, and though he teased her a bit, Delia gained her release in due time, biting her lip as her cock quivered, releasing into his mouth.




Sorcerer's Treasure Ch. 03



H swallowed everything she had to offer while swirling his tongue around her, feeling her delicate shudders of pleasure. Finally, he was done, and raised his head.

"Gods, Cedric..." she breathed.

"Aren't you glad you finally gave in to me? I know I certainly am..." he grinned and kissed her cheek as he pulled her against his chest. "Now, get some rest, Delia. I would be remiss to not make sure you got the sleep you needed..." His eyes twinkled mischievously as he said that.

o0o

Betcha didn't see that little surprise coming, didcha? ;) I have several surprises planned for this story, and I was inspired by a few suggestions from various reviewers.

Kain -- I absolutely loved the various ideas you presented to me. I don't know when or if I will do an Azutara story in the future, but you did inspire an idea for an original futanari on female story (which would happen in the same world as my other futa stories) that is also inspired from Azutara.

I have another futanari story I started shortly after this one, also male on futa and happening within this same universe. It is called 'Blessings of a Healer' and if you enjoyed this story, then I think you will enjoy the other one as well! As always, feedback and reviews are appreciated! If you'd like to talk more to me, you can e-mail me.



Sorcerer's Treasure Ch. 04



Here's another yummy chapter for those of you hungry for more delicious action! Kudos to those of you who find/get the reference I made to an old show.

o0o

Delia stirred awake the next morning, for a moment unsure of where she was. Her eyelids fluttered open suddenly as she remembered where she was, and heard Cedric's almost indiscernible snoring from behind her back. She slowly turned her head, seeing him still sleeping, the blankets revealing his naked chest.

All the passion they'd shared... the relief she had felt when he finally gave her her orgasms... She felt herself start to stiffen at the thought and laid back, making herself comfortable as she felt her hand slide down her stomach to her stirring penis. On occasion in the morning she'd wake up with her manhood semi- or more rarely, fully erect. She usually tried to ignore it and got herself under control, but this morning she decided to go ahead and indulge herself as she thought of Cedric's attentions.

It was still dark outside, but she sensed it would be dawn before the hour was over. She stared up at the ceiling, barely visible if at all in the blue-blackness, and her fingers lightly met the root of her organ. The pads of her fingers slid along the length as she felt herself stiffen further. Before Cedric brought her to bed, it was easy to not think of her sexuality, and keep her sex organs under control, but it was as if Cedric had awakened something within her core.

Her fingers fiddled with the foreskin for a bit before sliding back down along the underside, and she stilled as she felt the metal ring he'd placed on her. She'd almost forgotten about it! Oh, that bastard. Nonetheless, she continued to play with herself, her fingers exploring her most intimate parts, every curve, throb, fold, and tender spot. She started to pump herself at a slow, almost negligent pace at first, feeling the gentle ache in her cockhead as it brushed against the sheet it tented under. A quiet sigh escaped her lips as she picked up the pace.

o0o

Cedric went to bed sated, having released his pent-up desire in a way he'd enjoyed. He slept deeply, and when he woke, it was drifting out of a peaceful slumber. He heard the faintest of sounds – a muffled whimper, a suppressed groan, and slowly became aware of a faint up and down motion of the blankets next to him. Carefully turning his head so as to not alert Delia to his wakefulness, he watched as what he could see of her arm flexed a bit, and the rhythm was an unmistakable one. He smirked and allowed her to continue her self-ministrations for a while, knowing all; too well how nice it could be to just play with oneself in the morning.

However, after a while, he interrupted her, reaching and pulling the blanket down suddenly to reveal her hand around her erection. He heard her sudden eep, and caught her before she could roll away.

"Relax, I'm not stopping you, my dear. Just go on as you were," he whispered, making her out in the semidarkness. He gave her arm a reassuring squeeze, and she started to pump herself again.

"Yes, that's it..." The sight was arousing. "Seeing you do that to yourself is incredibly sexy, you know that?" he whispered into her ear, feeling her tremble ever so slightly. He allowed her to continue for several moments before getting between her legs, draping her knees across his shoulders before he proceeded to pleasure her, licking and kissing her organ, enjoying how she felt in his mouth. She arched and mewled as he pleasured her expertly, rewarding her well for her cooperation by swallowing her orgasm as he brought her to climax.

He licked her clean, laving his tongue against her a bit as she trembled, mewling in protest as she was always hyper-sensitive just after orgasm. Finally he let off, giving the tip of her cock a gentle kiss as he cupped it in his hand before letting it fall backwards.

"Oh Cedric, that is one hell of a way to start the morning..."

Oh don't I know it well, my darling, he thought with a faint smirk, licking his lips. Her hand slid down to her sac as she looked up at him imploringly as she gave the ring a slight but firm tug.

"This comes off, yes?" she asked cutely. He had to bite back a smirk at that.

"No, my dear. The ring stays on..." As he said this, dismay fell across her face. It was delicious seeing her like this, naked and knees slightly raised, her cock resting on her stomach as she pointed out the ring around her sac, her vagina just below the ring. There were so many delicious things he could do to her... with or without the ring.

"But..." she breathed.

"No buts," he told her firmly. The one piece of jewelry she could not take off would serve to remind her of who enjoyed her body and all of its charms, and who had also taken her as his, captive to his charms and skills. She was his, and while the ring would not interfere with her pleasure, it would also ensure that no one but Delia's master would be able to enjoy her charms. She would be safe from the wayward groping of horny teenaged noble men, or boorish servants. Drunken guards, or even spoiled noblemen would find a match in the protection that Cedric wrought to ensure that Delia would be the recipient of his affections and only his, nobody else's.

"I.. hey! You can't do that to me!" she gasped. He grinned at that. She sat up and looked down at what he had placed on her, the dawn light making things more visible now. He caught a glint of the metal through the light coming in from the window, inky blue and rosy purples and pinks.

"You like seeing this thing on me? As a reminder that it belongs to you?" she said with a fierce blush, "I can't belong to someone!'"

"You belong to me, Delia," Cedric whispered. "But remember this, you are the sole recipient of my attentions. None other share my bed, or will ever now that I have you. You have had my heart and soul for years, this you know. Now I have your body, and in time, the rest of you."

"Does this mean I can put a ring on you?" she shot back. He laughed softly.

"Cheeky wench. If you can figure out a way to do that, then we'll talk. In the meantime, shall we get ready for the day?" he asked, rolling out of bed. She blinked and nodded, climbing out of bed and quickly pulling on the robe she saw hanging off a stool. Cedric took his time looking for his own robe, making no effort to hide his nakedness, and oh it was an enjoyable sight indeed, he could tell from the sudden bkush that came to her cheeks and the way she averted her eyes. She took a deep breath to calm herself, and already Cedric's mind was buzzing with all sorts of ideas of ways to make her putty in his hands.

o0o

Delia took a deep breath as she started translation of the last paragraph in a chapter of a book she was working on. Sometimes the library would get very old books or books in another language, primarily from one of the other continents, and she was fluent in several languages, so one of her tasks as a librarian was doing translations. After she finished, she placed a bookmark in the book and left her pages to dry, weighted down by smooth, polished stones. Once all the pages were complete, her manuscript and annotations would be sent to the printers to be formatted into books and printed out. This library would receive at least one copy, and there would be more sent out to other libraries or individuals who wished for a translation of the original book.

She'd been able to work for most of the day in peace, but once every couple of hours, the ring would vibrate and heat up just a bit, causing her to curse Cedric, She didn't need to relieve herself since the vibrating was so gentle, but it definitely left her aching for the end of the day. She'd used the lavatory a couple of times and made more attempts to remove the ring while she was in there, only top be again confounded by the ring's ability to refuse to separate itself from her body.

Delia couldn't help but wonder what would have happened if she had told Cedric the truth a long time ago. How would their relationship have been? All the years she'd spent evading his advances, dealing with the frustration and loneliness that came from her self-imposed abstinence. She hated to admit that she sometimes felt a bit envious when she saw the happiness that other couples shared, the exchange of gifts or even shy glances and smiles, and of course, when someone got married. She'd been resigned to having none of that, had that been a mistake?

Her teeth dug into her lip as the ring started to vibrate again, and she took a deep breath.

o0o

Garrick had more shit in his head than sense, Cedric was convinced as he attempted to inculcate his latest lesson into his apprentice's head.

If he'd had any ability to see in the future, he would have turned down the opportunity to take on a new student and made up some excuse for it. Now that he had committed to Garrick's magical education, he had to see it through, or have a damned good excuse to cut the boy's tutoring short. The boy came from one of the more powerful noble families at court, so it seemed natural to ask the court magician, known for his ability, to have a hand in Garrick's education.

Biting back an exasperated sigh, Cedric tried to explain for the third time the balance between the seven different kids of magic that existed in the world. Even if a magician only had ability in one of the seven ways, it was still important for him to understand at least the basic principles of the others. This would enable the magician to better work with a magician who had a different inclination, or to defend oneself against said magic.

"Is it at all possible for an Earth Mage to work with an Air Master?" Cedric queried. Garrick's face went blank for a moment, and Cedric pressed on, patience wearing thin. At this point, he decided to just push and torment the boy, because why the fuck not. "What about Black and Fire? Water and White? Water and Air? Black and White?" His voice became more strident and demanding as he peppered his student with questions.

"I... aren't Earth and Air opposites?" Garrick asked after several moments of thinking, or what Cedric was fairly sure was thinking. "Isn't it impossible to work them together?"

"Have you not been listening to a single thing I said?" At the end of his patience, Cedric decided he was done for the day.

"You're supposed to teach me how to do magic, not..." Garrick gestured to the chalkboard, where Cedric had drawn several complicated diagrams on the relationships between the different kinds of magic. "I want to do magic like you!"

"Then pay attention to the lessons, and you just might become a halfway decent mage!"

"But you wave your hand, and just..." Garrick made a whoosh sound as he waved his hand through the air. Cedric barely suppressed a groan.

"Just because something looks easy, does not mean it is easy!" Cedric knew this all too well. It was easy to impress people with his magic, only another dedicated magician could ever truly understand the effort it took to master magic. He decided to try one more tack before dismissing his student for the day.

"I hope you know how to do your sums?" he queried.

"Of course," Garrick replied. "Though I don't like it." He wrinkled his nose.

... That would explain some, Cedric mused. "Yo don't like maths? Adding and subtracting? Multiplying, dividing?"

"Ehhhh.... no."

"So I can assume that algebra and geometry are lost on you?" he asked, barely restraining the sarcasm that threatened to drip from his voice.

"I hate it."

"Why? Arithmetic is a vital part of our lives!"

"Eh, I'll just leave it to others," Garrick said with a casual shrug. "I will inherit my father's land and wealth."

"You need math so you can manage your lands."

"The estate manager does that."

"You will need to count the money that comes in from your tenants or businesses."

"That's why we have an accountant," Garrick responded as if it should have been the most obvious thing.

"Then you're going to end up broke."

"No!" Garrick let out a contemptuous laugh, which died mid-way as he became aware of Cedric's cool glare.

"If the estate manager and the accountant can count and you can't, then you will end up broke."

Garrick's cheeks turned pink, and it looked like he was about to say something rude. However, what little sense he had prevailed, as he collected himself. "What does this have to do with magic, anyway?" he asked in a more polite tone.

"Because magic is a lot like maths. It might not require very much physical effort. However, it works your brain. Your brain needs to be exercised, just as any other part of your body. Just as it takes much physical training to lift a heavy weight, so mental training increases one's ability to wield magic. I can not continue to teach you effectively if you are not willing to put in the mental effort. I might be a great magician, but I can not make others great magicians. You can go now," Cedric said with a wave of his hand, his point made. Mutely, Garrick rose from his seat and retrieved his jacket and bag, leaving the second-floor chamber of the Old Tower.

Cedric wasn't entirely unsympathetic to young men. He remembered his own teenage years well. In most aspects, he was not different from his peers. He went through puberty like anyone else, and the changes, physical and emotional, that came with it. However, he was smarter than most of his peers and though he did his fair share of 'stupid' things that most teenage boys did, he'd also known to devote time to his studies, taking his own mentor seriously and putting his best effort in mastering his considerable abilities.

He however had no sympathy for teenage boys who were coddled and spoiled, not taken to task for their mistakes unlike their poorer peers. Idly, he wondered if he should place a mild hex on the boy. And maybe Garrick's parents as well.

He checked the time. There was no set time for a librarian to finish their tasks as long as work got done, but they generally preferred to work during the day, the sunlight providing the best light for reading and writing. During the winter months, he would use his magic to provide several lamps to the librarians that emitted a clear, bright light that made a candle seem nothing more than a flicker in the darkness, but the days had not shortened enough for that yet.

Cedric smirked to himself, stroking his goatee as he concentrated for a moment, knowing that the result of this mental effort would be felt by his lover. After the frustration he'd had to endure with Garrick, he was more than eager for a more intelligent sort of company.

o0o

Delia gave out a small hiss, almost choking on her tea that she was drinking to wet her lips after the hours she'd spent at the translation. She closed her eyes for a moment as she felt the vibrating, firmer than it had been all day. Damn that wizard and his devious – and yet oh so pleasurable – ways to arouse and torment her. She waited for it to pass, but this time it didn't. It continued to warmly vibrate between her legs, causing her to squirm as she quickly finished her tea.

She grabbed her cloak and quickly pulled it on before striding out of the library, already half-hard under her clothing. She knew she should try to resist, but that would only prolong her torment. She would bend over and grab her ankles if it meant an end to the pressure that was building within her core.

Her nipples were hard, and she became aware of the fact as she entered the Old Tower and made her way up the stairs, a rosy blush on her cheeks. She quickly opened the door and closed it, hanging up her cloak and turning around to see him approaching her, dressed comfortably in a plain loose white shirt and black pants. He cut an impressive figure when in formal courtly attire, but there was still a mien around him that spoke of his power despite his current attire.

Without hesitation, she stroke up to him and grabbed the collar of his shirt, pulling his head down. The vibration of her ring mercifully stopped, giving her a brief reprieve.

"Cedric, you are a magnificent bastard, so cruel to try to distract me from my work!" She ended this statement with a searing kiss, hoping that her eagerness would cause him to simply want to fuck her. She was in no mood to be teased or have her orgasm delayed for any reason.

She was gratified to feel him respond, his hands cupping her face as he deepened the kiss. She had several pins holding her hair back in a bun, and as they kissed, his fingers sought out said pins, plucking them out one by one to let her hair cascade in loose waves. One hand slid down her front, giving her breast a light squeeze before cupping her groin, his palm pressing against her, sending a delicious, fresh ache surging through her groin. A soft moan escaped her throat, and she gently broke the kiss, panting gently. He smirked down at her and closed in for another kiss, continuing to rub her crotch as his other hand went around to her back to hold her in place.

"You knew I would be like this by the end of the day... it is a daunting distraction to overcome... why must you torment me so?" she whispered between kisses and fierce nuzzles as she pressed herself against his hand.

"Of course I knew you would be like this...." he rubbed softly, causing her to give out a sharp moan, "My my...you are about ready to burst are you not?" he chuckled in her ear as he pressed her against his chest, and she could smell him, a faint mixture of cologne and his own natural odor.. "Go ahead and get undressed, and we can begin..."

Finally, she thought as he released his grip on her and took a step back. She was not long in removing her clothing, stepping out of her shoes before taking off her clothes and draping them across the back of the seat that was closest to her, feeling his eyes on her as she bared more and more of her flesh. She kept her front to him as she removed her chemise, letting him enjoy the view of her bared breasts. She smirked at him before she removed what remained of her undergarments, now naked, and quickly becoming fully erect as she became free of all confines. The obvious desire she saw in Cedric's face and eyes brought a small smile to her face.

She watched in anticipation as he slowly undid the drawstring on the front of his shirt, revealing some of his chest. She let out a slow breath as he pulled the shirt off over his head. For someone who apparently spent so much time on his books and studies, he was in fine shape, and the flicker of the lamplight illuminated his abdominal muscles and the tips of the vee that led to his groin. He slid out of the slippers he was wearing, now clad in just a pair of comfortable black pants.

She knew that many a woman here – whether noble or servant – would trip over themselves to see the King's magician as he was right now. At Court, his appearance was polished, his clothes and hair immaculate, a ring or two usually glistening on his fingers. Even without such fine accoutrements, he exuded a sense of confidence in his power and abilities, and coupled with his shirtless appearance, drew a deep yearning from Delia that she hadn't imagined could actually exist.

He held out his hand to her, and she approached him, taking it. He led her into the other room through the open doorway, motioning for her to lie down on the plush divan. It was upholstered in deep green velvet, which felt lovely against her naked skin as she reclined against it. Cedric knelt next to the furniture, and she looked up at him before he placed a kiss on her forehead, his hand reaching down to gently grasp her organ and fondle it, causing her to squirm a bit.

Wrapping an arm around his neck, she pulled him in for another kiss, reaching with her other hand to fumble at his groin, trying to get a good grip on what lay underneath the fabric. A soft chuckle escaped his lips, and he disengaged himself from her, though she could see that he was reluctant to do so.




Sorcerer's Treasure Ch. 04



"Not so fast. For so long I have ached for you, to explore you... and that is what I intend to do this evening, my love. I shall... study you... and you know what a good study I am. I will be thorough..." He kissed her hand before placing several kisses along her waist and the inside of her arm. "And make sure that I apprise myself your charms... over and over again. Some things do bear repeated study.... and you are worth a second... and third... and so on... look. Oh Delia, I will never bore of you." There was a downright evil edge in his voice, one that told her that he would enjoy making her beg for his attentions. Her release would not come so easily this time, as it had this morning.

No, no, no! Delia thought with frustration as she heard his words. Before she could protest, he lifted her hands over her head, gently pinning them to the back of the divan, her head resting against a cushion. He let go of her hands, but when she tried to lift her arms, she found that she was pinned. She blinked and looked up at him, seeing his smirk. Oh, that smug bastard.

"Yes, I am using my magic to keep you bound. Yes, I know it's not necessarily fair to you, but what can you do?" he teased as he stroked her cheek.

"No, please, Cedric!" She arched towards him, her need deliciously apparent. "I have been aching all day and wish only to please you and have you use me fiercely." she breathed. It couldn't hurt to be blunt, right?

"Yes, I know...and I only want to worship you as you deserve. But like all delicacies...they cannot be rushed or wasted...so I plan to take my time."

"No, no, please..." Delia begged, her voice taking on the edge of a whine, she knew how much of a bastard he could be, and his capability to hold her off from her orgasm until she was literally aching for release. Suddenly her ring started vibrating, and she let out an angry whimper as she writhed around on the divan. Oh, that bastard would pay for this one day. Somehow... oh, all she wanted to do was punch that smirk off his face. Why did he have to do this to her when she'd made it clear she'd let him have her?

o0o

Fuck. The sight of the woman he loved, naked and writhing on his divan, was a powerful temptation for him to do just as she wanted and simply take her, and tup her long and hard, but there was time enough for that. He would drive home the fact that she was his, and that only he would be able to give her the pleasure she enjoyed, and the release she ached for.

He was subject to a string of curses that he hadn't thought Delia might even know, and he let out a soft chuckle as he waved his hand, causing the vibrating of the ring to intensify. He stood there and crossed his arms, enjoying the show for a couple of minutes as she let out a keening cry that was a mixture of frustration and desire. She lifted herself off the divan by bracing her legs against the furniture, arching into the air, her cock bobbing as she moved about.

The image of her taut curves straining in the air was something Cedric would be hard-pressed to forget. She made several attempts to pull herself off the divan, but with her wrists magically pinned, she had no chance of freeing herself from her predicament. He allowed her to struggle for a while, knowing from experience that it could work to his advantage to let his captive lovers thrash around for a while and expend their energy, making them somewhat more pliable.

After several minutes, he knelt beside the divan, placing himself at her shoulder as he reached out to brush some stray strands of hair from her brow.

"I would never hurt you, Delia. You have my word on that," he whispered as he kissed her brow. "But you are right about one thing. I am a bastard."

She hissed at him, and he let out a soft chuckle before sliding over to her aching need. She offered no resistance when he slid his hand between her thighs to caress her womanhood before sliding in two fingers, and was rewarded with a low, delicious moan. He leaned his head down to place a light kiss on the tip of her blushing cock before blowing on it gently, and a frustrated whine met his ears as she squirmed around, clenching around his fingers

Cedric had bound and teased male and female lovers alike, and having a lover with both sets of genitals was an unprecedented treat. It was almost as if Delia was made, and meant for him. With his thumb, he gently massaged her clit, causing her to press into his hand.

"You're quite eager and ready for me, aren't you?" he whispered. She nodded, and he kissed along her stomach as he slowly fingered her, plumbing her heated depths.

"Please, Cedric. I am willing and eager..." she whispered in a husky moan. He smirked faintly at that.

"I wish you had said that to me years ago." His hand slid from her womanhood, and he gently cupped and massaged her balls, rolling them in his palm. "However, better late than never, I suppose. Now, tell me you are mine, and apologize for denying what could have been between us for so long..." He gave her a gentle squeeze.

o0o

Delia had no desire to feed Cedric's ego, but in her current predicament, she knew she had little choice.

"You know I am yours, my lord..." she whispered, giving a small whimper as one finger gave her clit a brief caress. Her legs twisted around as she tried to ease the ache deep within her stomach and groin. "Please forgive me, my lord. Accept my apologies..." she moaned as she felt a gentle tug at her sac.

"Well, since you asked so nicely, and I do love you, I suppose I can forgive you..." He pressed his lips to her brow, and she shivered in anticipation of deliverance. However, her hopes were dashed with his next words. "I must have my supper first... then we can wrap up with some dessert." His grin was wicked, and she knew that her dismay must be registering clearly on her face, because he gave out a small chuckle.

He retreated from the room for a moment before returning with a tray. On a plate were pieces of fruit, vegetables, and what looked to be pieces of glazed chicken. She couldn't discern the flavor of the sauce, though. She gazed at him quizzically before he smiled and pulled up a stool before picking up the tray again.

"I expect you to remain still, Delia. I could bind your feet, but I don't think you would like that, so I am giving you the opportunity to make this easy on yourself. You will be rewarded for good behavior."

"What..." Before she could complete her sentence, Cedric procured a pair of silver tongs, keeping the tray balanced on his lap as he plucked assorted foods from the tray and placed them along her body. She flinched a little, but remembered his warning, and remained still as she felt alternating sensations of warm and cool as various pieces of food were placed at strategic points along her torso and near her groin.

It was not until after several seconds that she realized the fruit was likely covered in honey or some kind of glaze, as she felt a bit of oozing here and there around the fruit. After the tray was empty, he dragged his fingers along the plates, glaze coming away on his fingers, which he used to drip onto her nipples and the head of her organ. He repeated this several times, cleaning the plate of its drippings and adding them to the melange of flavors he'd added to her body.

"Cedric..."

"Don't worry, I'm not selfish. At least, not always. I'll share dinner with you." He lifted his fingers to her mouth, and she didn't have to be told what he wanted. She parted her lips, and he gently inserted his fingers, sucking them off. She tasted honey, and something spicy, likely whatever was on the chicken. She took her time, sucking each of the coated fingers slowly as she looked up at him, seeing the expression of pleasure on his face. She swirled her tongue around them, remembering what he'd done with his mouth against her organ, and mimicking the motions. When a moan met her ears, she could not help but smile just a bit. As his fingers became clean and he started to pull out of her mouth, she sucked on the fingers, adding some resistance.

Cedric's fingers came free with a soft pop, and he started eating, delicately plucking a piece of fruit off her stomach with his teeth and eating it before lovingly licking the area clean. He repeated this process several times with seemingly random pieces of food, eating one off the underside of her breast, and another near her navel. She let out a moan as he ran his tongue in a slow, lazy circle around her bellybutton, deliberately ignoring her erection.

"I told you I would share," he said as he picked up a piece of fruit and delicately offered it to her, letting her chew on it before licking his fingers. Next came a piece of chicken, and she eagerly took it, needing no prompt. In this way he alternated between feeding himself and her, licking every spot clean after removing an item. She was amazed at the willpower she had, not whining or begging for him to hurry up with his meal so that they could have pleasure.

Finally, all the food was gone, and she let out a soft hiss of relief and enjoyment as he started on her nipples, licking off the honey and glaze he had left on them. Her cock ached as much as ever, especially after the thick liquid he'd dabbed on her slowly, ever so slowly dripped down the sides.

"Please, Cedric..." she whispered as he lightly nibbled at one nipple, rolling the other one between his thumb and finger. Her eyes were glassy with unshed tears, she couldn't tell how much time had passed, the torment seemed to have lasted almost an eternity.

He finally moved to her cock, laving his tongue along the length and finally cleaning it of the substance that had already been starting to itch, and she gave out a breath of relief. She closed her eyes, simply losing herself in the sensation of having her hyper-sensitive organ licked and sucked, and she shivered in anticipation of release, though dreading that this act was just another tease, and that he would stop before completion.

To her surprise and relief, he did continue his ministrations, bringing her to the release she'd been aching for all day. With a soft cry, she came into his mouth, all the nerve endings in her groin seemingly on fire as his lips and tongue continued their work, drawing out her pleasure and making her squirm. Her balls felt lighter, and her head lolled against one arm as she opened her eyes, seeing him lazily lick and suck her before letting it fall out of his mouth. It came to rest just above her stomach, still semi-hard.

o0o

Cedric slowly rose to his feet, and undid the drawstring that held up his pants. He had on no underwear, and he reveled in the desire he saw in her eyes as his erection came within her view.

"You want this, don't you?" he whispered, and she nodded firmly. Good, he thought. There was no hesitation or shyness, and that pleased him more than anything else at that moment. Reaching down, he gave himself several slow pumps, seeing how transfixed she was by the very sight of it. He grinned at her before stepping out of his pants and approached her, spreading her legs. He did not miss how pliant she was, and how he had to apply very little force to her legs as she willingly opened herself to him.

He'd waited long enough for his own pleasure, so he decided to waste no time, and knowing already how aroused she was, Cedric plunged into his lover's slick womanhood. She arched upwards, and he started thrusting greedily, deciding to forgo any slow attentions. One of his hands was on the seat of the divan to support himself, and he used his free hand to stroke her, bringing her back to full erection.

"Yes, yes... oh gods, yes... Cedric..." Her tits jiggled as he thrust within her, her cock weeping with joy as he pumped it, and Cedric himself was subject to no small amount of bliss as he felt her clamp down on him hard, her intimate muscles gripping him in such a way that made it clear just how much she was enjoying this.

He leaned down and latched onto her throat, placing fierce kisses along it, inhaling her scent, noting the mixture of swear, her own feminine musk, and a faint trace of perfume oil – jasmine and freesia – as he laved his tongue along the small hollow where her collarbones met.

Finally, his ardor became so much that it was hard to do anything else besides thrust, so he slid his hands behind her back and simply focused on fucking her as hard as he could. Though he didn't have a ring to tease him as Delia had, he'd been thinking about her all day, his passion still hot, even if he managed to keep it at a low burn all day. He'd been tempted to masturbate, oh so sorely tempted, but was able to exert enough willpower to not give in.

She wrapped her legs around his middle, and he nodded to show her his approval Her face became a mask of bliss and anticipation, and Cedric recognized the impeding orgasm. He simply continued his fierce thrusting, and paused only briefly as she clenched down hard in the throes of bliss.

He was not long in coming, and felt her inner walls spasm around him as he released his own load, his fingers digging into her back as his day-long tension melted away in the zenith of his pleasure. He crushed his lips against her own, and she parted her own, letting him slide his tongue into her mouth.

Even after the pleasant aftershocks of his orgasm passed, he made no move to pull out of her, and was content to simply continue kissing her, feeling her clench around him as if she didn't want him to pull out.

Slowly, he let his hands slide from her back, and reached up to lazily caress her sides and breasts, feeling her erection stir against his stomach. One of his hands reached down to languidly stroke it, feeling her squirm against him.

"See, Delia," he whispered as he nibbled along her earlobe. "You were made to receive such pleasures, and share them." Rolling his hips against her to emphasize his point, he smirked. "Aren't you sorry you kept saying no to me?"

"But..."

"Shh... no buts. That was then, this is now. There will be only us, and what we share, and will continue sharing." Slowly, almost reluctantly, he pulled her legs from his sides and slid out of her, leaving her spread. He could see a bit of his cum oozing out of her.

He undid the magical binds he had on her wrists, and scooped her up into his arms, carrying her to the bed and depositing her on it. He climbed onto the bed and reclined on several plump pillows before he pulled her into his arms, savoring her closeness.

"Have I sufficiently earned your forgiveness, Cedric?" she asked as he lazily played with her hair.

He smirked at that. "You will never finish paying your penance, my dear... but I will ensure that everything you do for it will be pleasurable for you. And me, of course."

"If I'd known that you would be accepting of..."

"We have plenty of time yet to make up for lost opportunities." He kissed her brow before looking down at her. Even at twenty-eight, she could still pass for a teenager with her youthful, soft face. It was said that futanari tended to age well, and now he would have the opportunity to see for himself whether or not this was true.

He smiled to himself as he thought about the information he'd come across futanari in his studies. The medical term for them was hermaphrodites, the word futanari being an ancient one which had meant, according to some sources, half and half, others said 'of two kinds'. The latter was the more correct meaning, as Delia didn't have merely half of one part or the other. The word had come to take on a slightly more flexible meaning, being used for people of an androgynous gender, or both. Such knowledge was still relatively uncommon though, the word futanari showing up only in his magical studies as medicine did not use that term. Ever since he'd learned of them, he'd had a curiosity and even attraction to the idea, and wondered if this was why he found male lovers charming in their own way. That the woman he loved was a futanari made it even sweeter.

"I prayed to the gods every night you would come to desire me as I desired you...." Cedric whispered to her tenderly, kissing along her shoulder, "Ever since I first saw you, and spoke to you, I knew it had to be you or no one else." He gently ran his fingers along her cheek.

She looked down shyly for a moment before returning her gaze to his face. "I was surprised that you kept coming back to propose to me, no matter how many times I said no. I did find you very attractive, though." she admitted. He smirked at that.

"Well, now you no longer need to hold back your attraction. I will give you all the attention you need... and want," he promised, feeling her shiver under his touch.

"You make it very easy to want you... even when you're being a bastard," she said with a cute little pout. A soft chuckle escaped his throat before he grasped her waist and pulled her to rest on top of him, her breasts pushed into his chest. His hands slid down to her rear end, firmly gripping both cheeks and squeezing, causing her to moan and wiggle. One hand slid down between her cheeks and past her perineum to stroke her slick inner lips, feeling their mixed juices.

"More already?" she said with a blush, thinking about how much passion he'd shown before. "And here I was thinking I'd maybe do a bit of studying," she teased as she rose to a sitting position, looking down at him as she loosely straddled him. This position caused her pussy to move out of reach of his hand, but he compensated by grasping her organ instead.

"The nights belong to me... the days are yours to do as you will...but when the sun sets to when it rises...you and your time are mine," he grinned at her, flicking the swelling head of her cock with his thumb, palming her testicles again. She gave a moan and wiggled against his groin with her pussy, trying to arouse him as well. Of course, she didn't even have to try, but he certainly appreciated her efforts.

With a flick of his finger, her ring started to vibrate, and she arched a little.

o0o

She moaned and arched, his hand and the ring ensuring that she was at full hardness. An image from the book of intimacy materialized within her mind, and she looked down at him again, feeling his other hand lazily massage her ass.

"Please... will you let me ride you? You can stay as you are, and let me move on you." she asked, full of passion despite their earlier activities. A flicker of surprise appeared in his eyes before being rapidly overtaken by one of pleasure and approval. He gave her a brief but eager nod, releasing his grip on her breast and cock so he could lightly rest his hands at her hips.

Thrilled at this, she shot him a grateful smile before lifting her hips and then lowering herself on him, her body welcoming him as she clenched around him slickly. She remained where she was for several long moments, not moving, simply savoring the feel of him inside of her. Despite having been well-fucked less than an hour earlier, her cunt still ached for more. After several moments, she felt Cedric shift around, feeling his hips roll upwards.

Placing her hands on his chest, she felt the light scattering of dark hair across his solar plexus, and the thick muscles under his pale skin that marked him as a powerful, virile male. A drop of precum from her cock dripped onto his stomach, just above his groin, not that he seemed to mind at all. She moaned softly as she looked down at him before starting to sway her hips in a circular motion.

o0o

Though Cedric tended to be the dominant one in bed, he was at times receptive to having someone else take the lead, and he was not about to object to Delia giving him pleasure. She was normally so shy and taciturn, and it thrilled him to see a peek of assertiveness here and there. He whispered words of encouragement, allowing her to set the rhythm so she could become more comfortable with this particular position. With a flick of his finger, the vibrating around her ring stopped so that she could focus more on riding him.




Sorcerer's Treasure Ch. 04



Her rhythm gradually increased, and with subtle cues, Cedric taught her different ways to move about on him as well as a couple of techniques to make the riding easier since the position could be wearying on a woman trying it for the first time.

She gained confidence, and her movements became fiercer and surer, her breasts bouncing up and down, the dusky nipples doing a hypnotic dance that had him mesmerized when her bobbing cock wasn't what held his attention.

Her movements increased to a hard and fast rhythm, anything that could jiggle or bounce on her body doing just that, making for a sight Cedric knew he would never forget, and would also ensure happened again and again in the future. Finally, he thrust up his hips and roared in pleasure as he exploded within her, cum leaking out of her after several seconds as she continued riding him. Momentarily, his fingers dug into her hips before he relaxed his grip, feeling her clench around him as she slowed her rhythm. Between her clenches and gradual decrease in her bounces, his orgasm was nicely drawn out, her eyes half-lidded as she looked down at him.

He cupped her face as he felt the tremble of her hands against his chest.

"That was perfect Delia..." he stroked her cheek with his thumb lovingly and then ran some of her hair through his fingers.

o0o

Delia shivered in pleasure as she looked down at him, feeling his other hand slide down her breasts and stomach to gently pump her. "I had no idea... that people were capable of giving, or feeling such intense pleasure." she breathed, smelling the mixed scent of perfume, incense, sweat, and sexual musk as she lowered herself. She was now propped up on her elbows instead of her hands, so she could touch his face and neck, still holding him inside of her, her cock snug in his hand as she raised her head to kiss his chin and jaw lightly.

"And I will share it with you, and only you," he assured her. His pumping became firmer, and she was happy that he didn't try to delay her orgasm this time. She came in his hand, some of it spilling onto his stomach in the process, not that he seemed to care. She whined and twisted around on him in the throes of her pleasure as he finished the job before drawing away his hand and licking his fingers.

Gently, he eased her off him, and she fell onto the bedding, slumped in pleasure and exhaustion. "I need rest now, darling. I am exhausted."

"You're the one who started all this!" she reminded him with a cute little pout as she leaned back to look at him. He was an alluring sight, practically oozing masculinity. What woman – or even some men – wouldn't want this in their bed?

"Yes I did start all of this...and now you have ended it for this evening..." he said with a soft chuckle as he stroked his goatee, looking at her. "But only for this evening, of course," he added, wagging his finger at her.

"Only if you don't torment me next time," she pleaded.

"Perhaps if I am in a generous mood, release will come to you easily," he promised. She hmphed at that and started to roll away, and his laugh met her ears.

"Come now, don't be like that." He pulled her close, and tugged up a blanket to encase them in warmth. "Rest, and know you are safe here, always."



Sorcerer's Treasure Ch. 05



Delia stared at her reflection, seeing the jewels glitter in the dawn light as she turned slightly from the right to the left. Though her grandmother was by no means poor, Delia knew that there was no way that anyone in her family would have been able to afford such an item, and she lightly ran her fingers along the biggest jewel in the necklace, the teardrop-shaped emerald that was the centerpiece of the piece of jewelry. It was the necklace that Cedric had tried to give her that fateful night she had rejected his suit the last time he'd made a proposal.

The necklace was made of an array of emerald, peridot, and citrine set in gold, setting off her rich olive complexion and green-gold eyes. Her wavy dark hair was tied back loosely, showing off the earrings that glittered at the sides of her face, and her arms were also adorned with the jewelry that Cedric had bought for her over the years, continuing to buy these gifts for her over the years regardless of the fact that she had rejected each and every one of them. On her hand glittered the ring he'd tried to give to her the first time he'd proposed to her.

Last night, he'd put all of the jewelry he'd ever bought for her on her, gleefully adorning her naked body with a not-so-small fortune in precious metals and gemstones. Despite the amount and value of the jewels, they were still tasteful and elegant, displaying Cedric's own taste for understated finery. The fact that she was naked seemed to show the jewels off even more, making her look like some sort of exotic concubine.

But you are his concubine, she reminded herself. For the last three weeks, Cedric had commanded her attentions regularly, making good on his word of making up for a decade of longing. He showed no signs of his attentions abating, and though she worked as usual at her library duties, once these were over, Cedric had usurped much of that time for his own pleasure.

This can not go on, she told herself. She had her own life and dreams, and she had no desire to live at Cedric's beck and call. She was to report to the library today, but tomorrow would be her off-day. All the servants in the palace got one day off during each half a week, which was a five-day period, and the librarians, like most of the other servants, got their off-days in a rotation. Her last off-day had been spent in the Old Tower, held captive by the sorcerer who made it clear he didn't want to be parted from her company. Though much of the day had been spent on non-sexual activities - such as sharing meals, having literary discussions on books, or him talking to her about magic - she'd been reminded again and again in subtle and not-so-subtle ways of the power he had over her.

She started to remove the jewelry, setting each item down on the vanity in front of the mirror one by one, feeling a bit lighter with each piece that came off. Once that was done, she pulled on the robe that Cedric had gifted her with, a green satin robe with gold threading along the edges of it, feeling much better once she was covered, even if it was in something that was from the sorcerer.

"Mmm... where oh where are you, my treasure?" she heard Cedric call out. She turned to see him in the bed, the blankets covering the lower half of his body. He was a handsome sight stretching out in the early morning light, his hair rumpled.

"I believe your eyes give you your answer," Delia replied. Cedric smirked at that before he rose out of bed, doing nothing to shield his nudity as he closed the distance between them, placing a searing kiss on her lips before going to the lavatory. When he was done, he had on his own robe, and Delia felt relief. He'd been rather fierce the night before, and she was a bit sore from it, hoping that this morning would pass by uneventfully.

"Might we have breakfast now, or should I leave to feed myself?" she asked, feeling a small rumble in her stomach.

"So eager to part from me, are you?" he lightly chided.

"I have work to do, and I'm sure you do as well," she reminded him. He gave her a small, playful pout before he nodded.

"You may break your fast in the kitchens," he conceded. Yes, Delia thought in relief, looking forward to the company of the servants, and helping herself to some freshly-baked bread.

"Certainly." She dressed herself in her normal garb, pulling on the familiar, comfortable clothes and pulling her hair back with a sash.

"Aren't you going to wear one of my gifts?" Cedric said, placing his hands on his hips.

"What would a librarian be doing with this?" She lightly picked up an emerald and gold bracelet before putting it back down. "We both know that my wages would come nowhere near purchasing even the cheapest thing here." Not only that, but she didn't want to feed the gossip should she be seen wearing an item that was better suited for a noblewoman. She knew that it would be impossible to hope that her trips to the Old Tower would not be noted, as discreet as she tried to be about these trips, and she didn't need to add fuel to the fire. The last thing she wanted was for people to think that she had chosen to abandon her vows of abstinence.

Cedric was silent for a moment before he gave her a brief nod. "I will keep your jewelry safe for you."

"Thank you," was all Delia could think to say.

"As I understand, tomorrow is your off-day, is it not?" he asked. She hadn't told him, and silently seethed in fury as he made his next utterance, "I do have some errands and meetings to attend, but knowing you will be here, waiting for me, will make the day more pleasant."

"Maybe I want to do other things," she shot back before she could help herself.

"It is very cold today, and it is going to be even colder tomorrow. I want you where you will be warm and safe," Cedric smoothly replied, his tone leaving no room for argument.

She could only bite her tongue and nod, removing her robe and pulling on her regular clothing. She sat down on a stool near the door to pull on her boots and lace them up. Before she could complete this task, a shadow fell over her, and she looked up to see Cedric, wondering what he might want.

His finger trailed along her jaw, but she remained silent as she finished lacing up one boot, her hands moving to the other.

"What is it?" she asked, taking no pause in her task.

"Come now, after all this while, why must you still resist me?" he tutted gently. Delia wanted to give out an incredulous laugh at that, but she bit her tongue.

"I did everything you asked of me last night," she reminded him.

"Obeisance does not mean acceptance."

She couldn't think of a good response to that, and simply tied her boot before rising to her feet and grabbing her bag, slinging the strap over her shoulder before pulling her cloak off the hook on the wall and pulling it on.

o0o

The library was a more than welcome refuge, especially after what she'd experienced the night before. A book didn't touch her in ways that had her seeing stars, or whispered things into her ear that made shivers run along her spine.

Cedric was right about being it cold, however, and the windows bore the night-s buildup of frost, especially along the corners. She went to one of the windows, seeing the piles of snow that had drifted into the corners of the courtyard, and the beaten snow that crisscrossed the space, demarcating the paths that people took to get from one place to another. Because of the cold, some people were even taking longer paths within the compound to avoid going outside, though there were still hardy folks that were braving the cold.

She couldn't help but think of Cedric's rooms, and how warm they always were. Not even one draft, however windy it was outside, ever made it into the Old Tower, she mused. She didn't doubt that Cedric used his considerable magical talents to make his quarters as warm and comfortable as possible which... well, she couldn't blame him for. Her own room - like all the other rooms inhabited by the librarians who lived here, and most of the other servants, she would expect - was cold, as these rooms had not been built with fireplaces. In the winters of past, she'd had to resort to bundling herself up warmly before going to bed. In Cedric's bed, she could sleep naked, and thanks to him, she often did.

She fed the fire several pieces of wood, basking in the warmth as she stretched her fingers towards the flame. Despite the obvious advantages of being in a relationship with the sorcerer, she could not help but feel resentful of him, and the power he had over her.

Once the fire was successfully banked, Delia rose from it to resume her usual duties. If she wasn't helping a patron locate a book, she would be organizing the shelves, translating, or sometimes cleaning.

When Garrick entered the library, she surmised that Cedric had a message for her, but to her surprise, the young man was there to study. He approached her, looking somewhat sullen.

"Can I help you?" she asked politely.

"I'm looking for a book. Principles of Magic."

"Oh, I can find that for you," she replied, masking the mild confusion she felt at the request. She didn't know Garrick personally, and as a servant of Sapphire Point, she did not have much occasion to interact with the nobility, even as a librarian. She'd had a few come in here looking for this or that book, or help with research, but that was the limit of her experience with courtiers. Most of what she knew about the youth before her came from Cedric, who she knew was Garrick's teacher.

There were in fact a couple of copies of said book, as it was a very basic one, one might even call it a magic book for children. She'd read it herself out of curiosity years ago. The book outlined the seven different paths of magic, their practical applications as well as strengths and weaknesses, and treatises from the author on how different kinds of magic could be worked together. The book also contained very simple spells for all of the seven paths, which could be used to discern what kind of magical potential one had - if they had any - and to enable them to start to understand their magical skill. Amongst the magical community, it was considered an excellent primer for children.

Within several minutes, she had procured the book for the young man. "Here you go. Do you intend to check it out?' she asked in a polite, friendly manner, the relatively light volume in her hands.

"No, I will study here," he replied.

"Certainly, just go to our study area. I presume you know where it is?"

"Yeah, sure," he mumbled. For whatever reason, he was unhappy, but she decided it best to not ask. She had an inkling that Cedric had either ordered Garrick to study the book, or Garrick himself was so frustrated with his mentor and not understanding his studies, that he was starting from scratch with a book that was regarded and respected as beginner's material. Given Cedric's complaints, she suspected it was the former. Over supper several nights ago, the powerful sorcerer had blasted his student as a spoiled brat who did more thinking with the head between his legs than the one he had on his shoulders' and that he had done something to force Garrick to use his upper head more than his lower. Delia wondered if this meant that Cedric had placed a ring on his student as well. It certainly would explain why Garrick looked unhappy.

That thought unsettled her. She'd known for years that Cedric was powerful, and capable of great deviousness at times, according to rumors and stories she'd heard over the years. It was not until he'd taken her to bed that she'd seen just what he could be capable of.

How could she escape him? She'd made a couple more attempts in the last few weeks to remove the ring. Had she any magical ability, she would have tried using that, but she'd shown no inclination for any magical talent whatsoever. Cedric wasn't the only magician around, she knew that, but as far as anyone knew, he was the most powerful one at Sapphire Point. Would a lesser magician be able to undo the spell wrought by a powerful sorcerer? And what was more, how would she explain her predicament? Had she been an ordinary female, it would be easier for her to seek help. Being how she was, made certain decisions in her life all the more precarious.

You know what, fuck it, she thought to herself. She'd answered Cedric's every summons over the last month, and now the sorcerer doubtlessly believed that he could have her at every beck and call. He'd stated his claim on her body more than once, and the nights were dictated by his desires and moods.

This couldn't go on forever. She had her own life, and dreams. She'd done the best she could given her unique condition, and had expected to be working with books and other scholarly pursuits for the rest of her life, whether or not she stayed at Sapphire Point. Perhaps it was time to leave, and seek a pursuit elsewhere.

"What did Garrick want?" she heard someone whisper as she was returning several books to the shelves. She turned to see Hilde, one of the younger librarians, and one of but three women on the staff.

"He came here to study," Delia whispered back, studying the other woman. At nine and ten, Hilde was the second most junior librarian, having only worked here for two years. She was one of several daughters of a modest noble house, and an unfortunate accident in childhood left her with scars along the lower left side of her face, which blighted what would have been an otherwise pleasant face. Very few men wanted a bride with such an obvious deformity, and Hilde might have been sent to the convent if she hadn't proven to be a bright mind in her studies.

Though Hilde did not have the most outgoing or amicable personality, she was pleasant enough to get on with, and the two women often shared intellectual conversations about this or that, especially history. Though Holde did not have the same propensity for picking up languages like Delia did, she had a keen mind for literature and the classics that made her a go-to for patrons looking for a good read, or for someone to help them understand the subtext or meaning of various old stories and ballads, and even on occasion tutored noble girls in this subject.

However, as history had proven time and time again, even people who lost themselves in the pursuit of books were just as susceptible to the needs of the flesh as anybody else, and Hilde was no exception. Unfortunately, her face made it much more difficult for her to expect reciprocation for these desires. It wasn't fair, but it was the way of the world. Nonetheless, Delia would help her, or at least try to.

"Garrick is frustrated with his magical studies. He is reading Principles of Magic now, have you read that book?" Delia asked. The tall blonde nodded eagerly. It wasn't too surprising, since Principles of Magic was a well-read tome through the kingdom, especially along the scholarly class, regardless of whether that person had magical potential or not.

"You do so well in explaining difficult to understand texts, I am sure that you could do the same with this book." Delia suggested. Hilde's blue eyes widened in delight at the idea, and she scurried away. Delia wasn't sure if she had done the right thing or not - Garrick, given his bad mood, could be rude to Hilde, but then, that rudeness might cause Hilde's affection to wane, and she might be better off for that. Only time would tell.

o0o

Cedric's smile was polite and tight as he listened to the courtiers petition the King. The winter solstice was approaching, and with it, the end of this year, and the beginning of the next one. With the year's end approaching, many people liked to complete matters they considered important before the solstice passed, so as to start the new year 'fresh'.

For some, this was religious. It was considered auspicious to end the old year with ended business or problems solved. There would be fasting and prayer among the monks and nuns, and rites and services performed at the temples. More practical folk saw the end of the year as an opportunity to make changes or amends, not so much to please some deity but for their own personal satisfaction. Tradition was often an easy way to facilitate this, and Cedric listened with half a ear to the drone of a nobleman who had some feud with another noble over a little piece of land, and of course, they wanted the King to decide the case. He almost smirked as the volume of two voices increased, their bickering sharpened before the exasperated voice of the King commanded their silence.

"I have many cases before me, and do not have the time to listen to childish bickering. I will turn the matter over to my mage, and he will use his powers to draw the truth from the stories you have told me."

Cedric bit back an irritated groan, and nodded towards the King to show his acquiescence. His status did come with a price, after all. The power and respect he commanded from the King had been duly earned, so at least the mage had the satisfaction of knowing that unlike most of the nobles here, his position had actually been earned. A spell for detecting truth was easy to utilize for someone of his power and experience, but that didn't mean he had to enjoy being called upon in these cases.

As he expected - having been the court mage for over a decade - he had several more cases handed to him. It was the same near the end of every year with the amount of petitions spiking around this time. He'd be called upon to resolve disputes between two or more parties, or respond to petitions that the King felt his mage was better qualified to handle.

Well, one thing he could look forward to was the fact that his petitioners would try to bribe or offer him favors in exchange for a favorable verdict or result. For his own amusement, he was not above fucking around with one or another, especially if he felt they were stupid enough to warrant it.

The King ordered a pause in proceedings so that he could have his afternoon nuncheon. Cedric was happy for the opportunity to have some hot tea and a big bowl of stew to warm his stomach. As he started to make his way out of the throne room, he heard someone call out his name. Closing his eyes for a moment and taking a deep breath, he pulled a polite smile onto his face and turned to face Lady Gilly.

Garrick took after his father in appearance, but it was clear to Cedric, after his first time meeting the wife of Lord Gilly, that the boy took much of his personality from his mother. With mousy brown hair and a rotundness around her middle that couldn't be merely attributed to the typical thickening that came with middle age, the lady looked especially dowdy in her lacy collar and puffed sleeves.

"What is it you need to discuss?" Cedric asked quietly, as the two of them sidled into one of the alcoves formed by the pillars that lined the hallway. He might have gone outside, and knew many others would have done the same, if not for the prohibitive weather.

"It's about Garrick."

Of course it's about him, Cedric mused. He supposed this meeting was inevitable, and decided to simply cut to the chase, so as to not waste time. "My lady, I have had several students in the past, and have done my best to teach all of them, to bring out their abilities to their potential. However, success comes with not just talent, but hard work. Your son seems to... have a difficult time grasping that concept."

"Can't you just... make it easier for him?" the lady asked, fluttering her hands. Cedric clenched his teeth for a moment.

"There is no way to make magic... easy. Magic takes hard work, it only looks easy. Really, magic is not very different from any scholarly study. Medicine, chemistry, studying a language, and so on. One doesn't master these without many hours of study." He felt like he was explaining things to a child.




Sorcerer's Treasure Ch. 05



Lady Gilly's face fell a bit. "Isn't there... some way?" Her pampering of her few surviving children was well-known. She'd suffered many miscarriages over the years, and while he could understand how this would lead a woman to treasure a surviving offspring, there was no excuse for raising spoiled children. He was tempted to tell her that her children were spoiled little shits. He took a slow breath before responding.

"I can assure you my lady, no such avenue exists. If it did, anyone would be able to master a field of study in no time. Nothing can replace hard work and dedication."

Before the lady could speak further, he continued, "If your son does not apply himself, then there is nothing I can do for him. I can only teach. I can not do his learning, or studying, for him." Not that I would want to, he added mentally.

Of course, he didn't mention to Lady Gilly the curse he'd placed on Garrick. Exasperated with the youth's reticence to spend time studying, several days ago he'd finally resorted to the drastic measure of laying a hex on the organ that Garrick treasured the most. Unable to become erect, the boy could no longer pleasure himself, much less chase after a servant girl or noblewoman. And frankly, Cedric thought that the women were better off.

Cedric had told his student, in no unclear terms, what had become of his manhood. Garrick of course had screamed and fumed over it, and threatened to tell his father. The teacher had merely reminded him that worse things would befall him - and his family - if Garrick tried to retaliate against him in any way. He then offered Garrick a way out. The curse would remain on him until the spring solstice. He could choose to study or not, but at the end of that time, if he'd shown no improvement in his studies, then Cedric would be done with him and find other students more willing to take what it needed to master their abilities.

It was not an easy choice for the youth. He would have to buckle down and study, or be known as an idiot. He then sent Garrick away after telling him to do a thorough study of Principles of Magic. It remained to be seen if chastity was a sufficient motivator for the young man, but either way, Cedric felt satisfied with himself.

"Now, I must be going, my lady. I have quite the itinerary, and the work of a loyal servant never ends." He gave Lady Gilly the barest of bows before he retreated down the hall.

o0o

The heat of his apartments welcomed him, pulling him into a warm embrace as he stepped through the door. Cedric took a deep breath before pulling off his thick and heavy cloak and hanging it before he did the same for his jacket. He stepped out of his boots, the snow slowly melting off the leather as he left them near the door. It'd been a very long day, and there promised to be more of them for a while.

It was like this every year, so it wasn't as if he didn't expect this, but still, he couldn't wait for the winter solstice celebrations to be over.

At least this time, I will have someone to celebrate it with, he mused happily. Every year, as part of his goals and resolutions for the year ahead, he had always vowed to himself that he would win Delia over. Ten times he'd made this promise, and now his efforts, after what seemed almost like forever, had finally come to fruition. There were occasional times where he almost didn't believe that he'd finally gotten the woman he had desired for so long, or that she had a little extra to her that made intimacy with her much more enjoyable.

"Delia?" he called out. He had come with several books that he was certain she would enjoy. He glanced at the clock to confirm the time, it was not too late, but late enough that she would have been done with her duties and had supper a while ago. He called out her name again, and was greeted with silence.

A thoughtful frown passed over his face as he entered his bedroom, nursing the hope that perhaps she was simply sleeping, but his bed was empty. There was no evidence she'd been here at all since this morning, either.

He could not help but be surprised at this blatant gesture of disobedience. She'd been so compliant as of late, her rebelliousness seemingly limited to her innermost thoughts with a rare flash of it here and there in small outward gestures or looks. 

Perhaps he shouldn't be so surprised, after all. Given her feelings, he should have known that these feelings would come to a head in due time.

Well, there were things he wanted to try with her in eventuality, and this action of hers would he the prefect opportunity to try them. A slow grin spread across his face as he imagined the ways that he would discipline his treasure for her rebelliousness.

o0o

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Sorcerer's Treasure Ch. 06



Delia couldn't recall a time where she'd been so relieved to enter the comfortable haven of her grandmother's townhouse. The faint smell of herbs hung in the air, mixed with the potpourri that sat on the counter. Though outside, the winds were howling and snow whipped around in every direction, Delia had been determined to escape the Palace, and find refuge in her childhood home.

Of course, she worried about what Cedric might do to her, but she was determined to push him out of her mid, even for just one day.

"I didn't think you'd come here with the horrid weather outside!" Noren said with a chuckle as she hustled her granddaughter up the stairs to the living area.

"It's been too long since I saw you, Grandmother," Delia stated. It'd been a little over a month, and though she and her grandmother wrote letters and kept in contact, events as of late made her really ache for the comforts of home. Though she'd lived at Sapphire Point for a decade, this was the place she considered home.

This house was where she'd been born, and where she'd spent her childhood years until being sent to Sapphire Point to be a librarian. Her younger cousin had come to live with them, and could count most of her childhood years in this place, both of them raised under the firm and loving care of their grandmother, ending up in her custody in different circumstances.

"Elie, look who's here!" Noren declared as they emerged onto the second floor of the house. The smell of strw emanated from the kitchen, and a young woman who bore a passing resemblance to Delia burst out of the kitchen, wrapping the older woman into a fierce hug.

"Let's get that off you," Elie stated as she pulled off Delia's snow-dappled jacket. Delia had managed to shake off most of it just before she entered the house, but some of it had stubbornly clung to the thick wool.

"How on earth did you get here in this weather?" Elie exclaimed as she hung up the jacket.

"I was able to catch a ride on Alec's cart," Delia replied conversationally, blowing on her fingers, which had suffered from the cold despite her wearing mittens, Alec was a man who had come to Noren for his wife's difficult pregnancy, one that might have resulted in her death if not for Noren's skills as a herbalist and midwife. He was also a merchant, who sold supplies to the Palace, mainly fuel. Though Noren had been paid properly for her services, Alec still felt indebted to her, and gave Delia rides to or from the Palace whenever she was able to catch him, since his route passed within several blocks of Noren's house. If she had not been able to catch Alec or one of his sons that night, she would have likely stayed at the Palace, due to the severe weather. Thank the heavens for small favors.

"Ah, bless his heart," Noren said with a smile. "I'll have to be sure to send some of my cake his way. Speaking of food, I am sure you're hungry."

"Famished," Delia said with a sigh, Though the meals provided to the servants were filling enough, nothing could surpass her grandmother's cooking. After a big bowl of stew with some of Noren's pumpernickel bread, Delia was warm and happy. She sat near the fireplace in one of the well-worn seats, her stockinged feet soaking up the heat from the flames as she leaned back. Noren pulled out some knitting, and Elie went to mending. Delia listened to the crackle of the fire, the whooshing of the blizzard outside, and the almost inaudible clicking of her grandmother's needles as she sunk into a quiet respite.

What could she do about Cedric? He had more power than her, in more ways than one. Should she try to go against him, he could make her life miserable indeed. She shuddered to think of all the ways he could do so, and wondered if perhaps it was time to move on. She'd worked in the Palace library for ten years, and though she liked the work there, her current situation cast her future into question.

There were other libraries, to be sure, but the one at the Palace was the most up-to-date one. The King prided himself on having such a library, and his third son, quite the avid scholar himself, was the one who directly oversaw the library and was responsible for its upkeep. The Prince had very little chance of ever inheriting the throne, but he seemed content enough to reign over the tomes rather than people. He had a passion for obtaining books from other lands as well as the one his father ruled over, whether they be ancient or modern, in whatever language they may be. Delia would miss working in such a place, where her intelligence was able to flourish in an opportunity afforded few men, much less women.

A quiet sigh escaped her throat as she pondered her options. She could become a governess, given her years studying, but she didn't want to deal with little children, or the sass and attitude of older ones - a couple of the librarians she worked with were former teachers who told her stories that made her wary of such an occupation. She could hide in a convent and become a nun, but such a life did not appeal to her any more than that of a governess. She could try other jobs that had nothing to do with books - such as a chef, maid, gardener, or the like. Only she couldn't cook for shit, as her grandmother well knew. Though she didn't look down at maids, she knew that such an occupation would bore her quickly. Gardener - well, that wasn't the worst thing she could do. Thanks to Noren, she had a good knowledge of herbs and vegetables. And following in her grandmother's steps - how could one become a midwife if one felt ill at the sight of blood? She'd nearly fainted the first time she'd seen a baby crown from a woman, and the woman's own pained screams only caused her to reach levels of anxiety that were difficult to recover from.

No, Elie was the one who would follow their grandmother. Noren was a White Adept - someone blessed with a touch of white magic. Though she generally couldn't use her magic to heal more than a simple cut, sore, or bruise, a little magic was better than none, and Noren was clever in figuring out how to use her limited magical abilities to assist her in the task of delivering babies, and healing women of other ills.

Though there were plenty of medical practitioners who lacked magic, those who possessed even just a touch of white magic were frequently encouraged to go into the profession, for it was the most practical application of their magic, just as those who had Earth magic were encouraged to take up farming or other jobs related to the soil. Elie had inherited her grandmother's talent, something which on more than one occasion made Delia jealous.

Why was Elie gifted with something that was useful, and that could help other people, while she was cursed with... this? Delia shifted, feeling it between her legs as she crossed one leg loosely over the other. Maybe she should just cut it off and be done with it. Then she would have nothing to hide.

"Is there something you wish to discuss?" Noren asked quietly, and Delia opened her eyes, looking up. Elie was gone to bed, so it was just the two of them in the room.

Delia had known her grandmother long enough to know that Noren's inquiry was less of a question than a statement. With a sigh, Delia rose from her seat and went over to her grandmother, sitting at Noren's feet and resting her head on the older woman's lap. Without hesitation, the old woman started stroking Delia's hair like she had when she and Elie were little, her fingers running along the thick, dark waves.

"I just... wish I was normal," Delia whispered. "Sometimes I feel jealous of you, or Elie," she admitted.

"Jealousy is not a healthy emotion," Noren commented, though there was no admonition in her tone.

"I know. I would never wish for anything bad to befall you or my cousin that might take away what I envy. But I can't help but feel... upset sometimes, that Elie was born with something wonderful, and... I was born with something else."

A low sigh met Delia's ears. "Yes, I can understand your frustration, but think on what you do have. We can't read or cipher as quickly as you, and who do we know that is as quick on picking up a new language as you?"

Delia smiled a bit at her grandmother's encouragement. Noren had always tried to do what was best for her granddaughters, and if not for Cedric, Delia would have been perfectly content with her lot. "It's not that, Grandmother." She took a deep breath before she continued, "There is... someone at the Palace with a keen interest in me. I have continued to rebuff him, but he will not be swayed."

The hand stroking her hair stilled.

"I've always been able to dampen the glimmers of interest I've seen in the past from other men, but this one is... tenacious. I'm afraid that I might have to leave Sapphire Point."

"Who is he?" Noren asked softly.

"Cedric."

Noren was quiet for a moment. "Cedric? You mean the Cedric Mosan? The King's mage?"

"... Yes."

"Oh dear." Noren leaned her head back, thinking, her hand resuming its previous action. "Weren't you friends?"

"Well... that's what I thought. He's very much a scholar, and we often talked about books. But apparently, that is not enough for him."

"Yes. I can understand how someone like him could create problems. Men, especially those with considerable power, can be very... ugly when they have to deal with rejection."

"I don't want to leave the library, but what can I do? I don't wish to continue with things as they are." Of course she didn't. She had her dignity, and had no desire to be a kept woman, to be used as Cedric pleased and desired. She couldn't help but feel angry at him. It wasn't fair!

"Life does not always go as one plans. Things come up which force a person to think about their future, and make changes that they may not want, but sometimes one does what one must do. You are an intelligent woman, Delia. I should know, since I raised you." 

Delia could not help but smile a bit at this.

"I've no doubt that you will find a way to resolve this. It might not be something you wish to do, but I doubt you would do something rash. Just remember that I am always glad to listen to you, and discuss things with you." The glint in Noren's eyes told Delia that the old woman suspected there was more than her granddaughter was letting on.

"I know, Grandmother. I just needed to get away from the Palace, and have some time to myself."

Noren was silent, but she continued stroking Delia's hair.

o0o

The blizzard lasted for another three days, and Noren would not hear of Delia going out in the blizzard back to the Palace. Delia was not overly concerned, since she had let the head librarian know she was leaving the Palace for her off-day, and the blizzard was a perfectly workable excuse to stay where she was. The raging winter weather meant that there would be considerably less visitors to the Palace, and there were enough librarians to keep the place running in her absence.

Finally, the snow abated, and Delia could not help but feel trepidation as she rode Alec's heavily-laden cart into the Palace courtyard before climbing off it. Though she'd enjoyed the respite of her grandmother's house, she could not help but feel a sense of dread at what Cedric might do to make his displeasure known. She'd expected him to torment her with the ring, but to her surprise, the ring had done nothing, and she wondered if she was too far away for Cedric to work his magic on it. It was one of the basic principles of magic - the weaker a magician was, the closer they had to be to their subject to work magic. She saw the evidence in her own grandmother and cousin - to be able to use their magic to help someone, they had to touch the person, the physical contact enabling the magic to flow and do its work.

If that was indeed the case here, then she could simply flee Sapphire Point, and remain hidden from Cedric so that he wouldn't be able to find her, much less do anything to her. He'd never stated how strong his magic was, and she knew that much of his power came not from his sorcery, but his cleverness and tenacity. Perhaps he simply made his magic seem greater than it was, and that would be a clever thing to do.

It felt good being back in the library. She was long familiar with its smell and spaces, and being surrounded by books brought her a pleasure that only other bibliophiles could appreciate. Despite the blizzard having abated, there was still a relatively low amount of visitors, bringing a quietude to the library that its custodians appreciated.

Delia was at that moment taking the opportunity to read one of the books the Prince had just acquired from overseas. With the absence of the clouds that had brought two feet of snow to the city, the sun shone through the windows, and the feel of the warmth on her hand as she read was a welcome delight after the gray skies which had matched her despondent mood.

She looked up as the head librarian approached her, a folded parchment in his hand. "This came for you just now," he said gently as he placed it on her desk. The paper and wax seal were nondescript, but she had a very good idea of who had sent it, and with trembling hands, she broke the seal, wondering what the paper would say.

Come tonight, when you are finished with your duties.

There was no signature, but she recognized Cedric's handwriting. With a small huff, she tore up the paper into several pieces before rising from her seat and going over to the fireplace, watching the off-white paper quickly shrivel up ans turn black as the flames licked at it.

The day came to a close, and as it became too dark to read without the aid of a lamp, Delia rose from her seat. Her stomach rumbled faintly with hunger, and a trip to the kitchens procured for her a hearty slice of meat pie and a salad of winter greens.

She was well aware that she risked Cedric's wrath by disobeying his letter, but she knew that if she simply did anything he asked, whenever he asked for it, he would take her for granted. Well, he already did, and she needed to break that pattern. For someone who said that he cared for her, his actions spoke otherwise. Had she been able to go back ten years, and do things over, she would not have even become friends with him. It mattered not that he was skilled in the arts of pleasure, for even these searing moments of bliss were not worth her dignity.

"Delia!" She heard her name called out by one of the cooks, and turned to see a middle-aged woman that she was familiar with. "I have something to ask of you."

"Certainly, Sarah. What is it?"

"I hear your grandmother is a skilled midwife and healer. My daughter be expecting soon, and she has never had the best health. I worry after her."

"Just as any good mother would," Delia replied kindly. She lingered to talk with Sarah, listening with a concerned frown as the cook told her of her daughter's woes. Delia was no healer, but she'd learned enough through the years to be able to give some practical advice and recommend a few herbs that would help various ailments. Suddenly, she felt the ring vibrate, and silently cursed Cedric with some of the most colorful expletives she could think of. Starting to get flustered, she quickly excused herself, telling Sarah where her grandmother lived, so that when the time came, Noren could be located.

As she departed the woman's side and made her way through the building, the vibrating intensified. She took a deep breath as her stride increased, and she pulled on the cloak that had been draped across her arm before she went through the courtyard, using the pounded-down snow to get to the other side of the compound, where Cedric lived. By the time she approached the Old Tower, the ring was vibrating so warmly that she was almost brought to her knees. Oh, she had quite a few things to say to Cedric!

She stepped into the tower and stopped for a moment to catch her breath, shivering from the cold outside as well as her own increasing arousal. She was now semi-hard, and instead of welcoming the sensation, she dreaded it, knowing just how well Cedric could exploit her desires. He could be all too thorough and relentless when he was in the mood, reducing her to sobbing and begging for release.

Once she had managed to collect herself the best she could under such circumstances, she nearly stumbled up the stairs to Cedric's apartment, happy that there was no one to see the chaste librarian in such an incongruous position. She nearly yanked his door open, her cheeks flustered with the heat of anger and arousal.

She blinked as she saw that the apartment was empty and quiet. The fire was banked low, casting just enough light in the room for her to see things clearly enough when her eyes adjusted to the semidarkness. As she took in her surroundings, the vibration stopped, leaving her disoriented for a moment as she calmed herself, relieved at the end of that torment.

"Cedric?" she whispered, wondering if he was waiting in bed for her. It was something he'd done several times before. Before she took another step forward, she heard the door closing behind her before the telltale click of the lock being set met her ears. Her heart seemed to leap into her throat before she started to turn around, seeing Cedric in the corner of her eye before he moved quickly, closing in on her and grabbing her arms, pulling her wrists behind her back.

"Cedric, what is the meaning of this?" she demanded when she felt binding placed around her wrists, and from the broad and somewhat pliant feel of these bonds, she deduced them to be leather. She tried to yank free, but her hands were soon enough secured, with a short chain attaching the leather straps to one another.

"You can't-" Delia started to cry out before her chin was firmly grabbed, Cedric's chest against her back as she felt something placed across her mouth. She thrashed her head, having a good guess of what it was Cedric was trying to place on her, but as with the wrist bindings, Cedric was too strong and quick to be dissuaded, and the librarian found herself gagged with what felt like a leather rod passed between her teeth, shaped almost like a bit one might find in a horse's mouth. She bit down on it, feeling the faint give of leather, and released her grip as she tried to push it out of her mouth with her tongue, but the bit-gag was secured in place as she felt Cedric buckle it at the back of her head near the nape of her neck.

She let out an angry whine and tried to pull away.

"When I give you a command, I expect to be obeyed," she heard his silky whisper at her left ear, the scent of his cologne making itself known. She jerked her head away from him, trying to pull free of his grip, and she felt him give her a sharp tug at the chain that held her wrists together.

"Ehhhk uuuuu!" Fuck you, Delia tried to argue. This was an all-new low for her - Cedric was giving her no chance to speak and defend herself!

She was forced forward, and found herself in the bedchamber, her palms sweating as she pondered the things Cedric could do to her. He released his grip on her, and came around to face her, looking down at her as he touched her chin, lifting it up. Firmly, she kept her eyes averted, refusing to surrender so easily.

"Tsk tsk, Delia. Why must you fight me, and the bond we share?" Cedric tutted. Delia clenched her jaw, teeth digging into the gag for a moment. He started to undo the clasps that held her cloak shut, and slid it from her, the fabric sliding from between her arms before he tossed the thick garment to a stool.

He reached down and unhooked the chain from one of her bindings, only to re-bind her wrists in front of her before he lifted the chain to the ceiling, and she felt the links catch into something as she was forced onto her tiptoes. She gave a frightened whimper, and the pressure slackened just enough to allow her to stand on the entirety of her soles - just barely. She looked up, seeing a chain hanging from one of the beams of the ceiling, and wondered just how long he meant to keep her in this position.




Sorcerer's Treasure Ch. 06



She blinked back tears as she looked back at him, seeing the smug smirk on his face. He was dressed comfortably, in a loose white linen undershirt with a darker overshirt that was either very dark green or blue, if not black; it was hard to tell in the semidarkness.

"There are things I enjoy doing, and things I've wanted to try with you, but had not yet had the chance to do so, since I was taking my time with you. I think tonight is just as good a night as any to try a few of these things..."

No, no. Why me, Delia thought with a small whimper as he approached her. He knelt down, and removed her boots and stockings before sliding his hands up her dress, lifting the hem as he found the waistband of her pants. In such cold weather, many women took to wearing leggings or pants under their dresses, and Delia was no exception.

She shook her head with another whimper as Cedric slid the garment down her legs, the dress dropping back down in place as he tossed the pants aside.

"Plead all you want, Delia, but I have been lonely these last few nights without you to keep me company... how could you choose to go out in the blizzard rather than share the warmth of my bed?" he chided. She glared at him, unable to form a coherent response.

He reached up her dress again, his hands sliding along her bare legs as he did so, his eyes half-lidded as he took in the sensation of her flesh, and Delia could only stare at him with apprehension as she felt his hands reach up to cup her behind before he made short work of her undergarments. Another pleading sound came from behind the gag, and she tried to wiggle backwards, but the chain held her where she was, giving her no slack.

"I can see that I won't be able to so easily remove the rest of your clothing, so I guess I will need to cut it away."

A horrified gasp was partly muffled by the gag, but both of them heard it clearly enough, and he grinned at her before he slid a knife from the inside of his overshirt. It was a small one, and the polished metal gleamed in the firelight. Delia shook her head again, instinctively shying away as the blade approached her.

"Be still, Delia. I promised you would never come to harm at my hands, and I am a man of my word."

A tear slid down her cheek as the knife touched the front of her dress, and Cedric dragged it down in a smooth gesture, bisecting the garment from collar to hips, the fabric falling open to reveal her breast bindings.

"Mmm. A tempting sight you are, bound and looking like that," Cedric stated, stroking his goatee as he took a step back to admire his handiwork. Oh, how she wanted to slap that smug smile off his face... perhaps if she kicked him in the groin, that would make it clear to him just what she thought of him and this situation...

"Of course, what's even better than the sight of you, is the feel of you," Cedric commented as he closed the distance between their bodies, his free hand sliding up her side to come to rest on one breast, giving it a gentle squeeze. She managed to bite back a moan, and looked away resolutely as his hand slid up her throat to cup her face, touching the cheek that was turned away from him. She closed her eyes as she felt his lips on her other cheek, his warm breath tickling her ear as he nibbled along it.

"I have missed you too much, Delia," he whispered, stroking the bridge of her cheek with his thumb.

"U haak uh eeeaaaah ayyy ah oeeeen eeeeh." You have a strange way of showing it. Damn, if she could only speak! She felt the tug of the dress's material at her shoulders and sides as Cedric took hold of the garment, cutting down the rest of the way, baring her lower half to him. Though she had nothing Cedric hadn't seen, she still blushed afresh as she felt his hand slide down to gently cup her groin. Her breath hitched in her throat as he gently grasped her cock, stroking it to full hardness.

"Have you missed this?" he whispered, teasing her with languid strokes, each caress sending a fresh ache through her, especially since she knew that tonight would not be one in which she could achieve release so easily. His hand slid past the base of her organ, finding her other sex and stroking her outer labia as she bit back a whimper. She buried her face against her arm as he slid a finger, then another, inside of her, wiggling them around and causing her to twist around and arch. Expertly, he plumbed her depths, rubbing against the spot deep within that caused a moan to explode from her throat despite her efforts to remain silent.

"How I have ached to feel you around me, and against me." He pressed against that spot one last time before his fingers slid out, and he brought them to his lips. "Why would you deny me, my darling?"

Delia twisted her arms, but of course, the restraints didn't give, not that she really expected them to. She felt the fabric around her breasts tighten for a moment before it fell away, and opened her eyes to see Cedric looking down at her. Bound and unable to speak, Delia felt more vulnerable than she'd ever had, and it was a decidedly uncomfortable feeling. She wondered if Cedric had ever been in her position, bound for someone else's pleasure.

Now there's a thought, she mused, before she was brought back to reality by the feeling of a thumb rubbing her nipple. She looked him in the eyes as he did this, and even though his face was mostly obscured in shadow, she could still see a ghost of a smirk on his face.

"Did you miss me?" he purred as he rolled her nipple between his finger and thumb, and she bit into the gag, the nub of flesh hard under his touch. He tugged at it several times before going to the other nipple, giving it similar treatment. She could feel the fabric of his shirt brush against the tip of her erection, and she curled her toes against the rug.

Cedric stepped back again, silhouetted in the firelight. She let out a small whimper, looking at him with pleading eyes.

"Do you have any idea of the effect you have on me?" he asked.

Why do you keep asking me questions when you know very well I can't answer them, you stupid bastard, she silently raged. She took a deep breath, praying for the night to be over quickly. Her nipples were taut, and her erection ached as did her womanhood. Cedric was a master of erotic torment. A frustrated whine made its way past the gag, and she tilted her chin, hoping he would take the hint and remove the gag, if he really wanted an answer to his questions.

If he caught on, he showed no sign of it as he started to slice along the sleeves of her dress so that he could remove it, leaving her completely naked. She trembled as he walked in a slow circle around her, his fingers trailing along her stomach, rear end, and back.

o0o

I got several GREAT comments in the feedback from the last chapter. I don't want to say who or what, since that might be too spoiler-y, but I can say that these comments hit the nail right on the head.

Don't worry, the sizzling action will continue in the next chapter, the original chapter was getting too long so I had to split it up. I will post the next chapter as soon as I finish it. As always, feedback is very much appreciated.



Sorcerer's Treasure Ch. 07



Delia stared ahead as she felt Cedric's hands slide down her hips, knowing that the curve of her hips was one thing he especially liked. She closed her eyes for a moment, hoping that perhaps he'd spent his sadistic streak and would be gentler with her now. His hands reached down to cup and squeeze her rear end, and she relaxed, enjoying the massage.

"I am going to unhook you from the ceiling, and I want your cooperation," he said as he reached from behind to massage a breast, pressing his groin against the top of her rear end, making his own arousal evident to her. At least with her gag, he would want to relieve himself in her womanhood instead of her mouth. Or at least, she hoped. If he commanded her to be silent, she doubted she would be able to follow that directive.

She felt a tug on her wrist bindings before he lowered her arms, and came in front of her before he hooked them together again.

"Get on the bed, on your hands and knees," he instructed. After a moment of hesitation, she obeyed, the soft blankets a welcome change from standing with her arms stretched over her head. When she heard some rustling behind her, she wondered if he was simply undressing so that he could fuck her, and startled a bit when she felt his hand on her ankle, wrapping a cuff around it.

She looked over her shoulder, making a sound of protest. There was what appeared to be a metal bar near her foot, and a heavy feeling settled into her stomach as he attached a cuff to her other ankle, and pulled them apart, forcing her to spread her knees as well. Her eyes widened as he attached the bar to her ankle restraints, one at either end, so she could not press her ankles together. The bar appeared to be nearly two feet in length, and she experimentally brought a knee forward, feeling the pull of the bar on her cuff. She wouldn't be able to run, and if he made her get up, she would walk with an awkward gait. She let out a quiet sob as she stared forward at the headboard.

"Tsk. You shouldn't be afraid to try new things," she heard Cedric murmur. "Trust me, I know what I'm doing."

Well, I don't! Delia thought furiously. She looked over her shoulder to see him fetch a vial from his chest, and she wondered what it could be. Was it warming lotion? She knew all too well how it could be used to enhance, and frustrate one's pleasure. She looked over her shoulder as he uncorked the vial and poured some of it on his fingers, rubbing it between his thumb, index, and middle fingers.

Propped up on her elbows, she watched as he brought his hand close to her privates.

"There's something I've been wondering about you. It's obvious you have the external parts of a man, but I wonder if you also have the internal part."

"Hnnnh?" She made a quizzical sound, her eyebrows furrowing in confusion. Women had an internal part for pleasure, as he'd shown her multiple times. But men? How did one get to that part?

That answer to her question dawned upon her as she felt him rub the bud of her rear opening with one finger, getting the puckered opening slick with the oil.

No. No, no, no. He wasn't going to... Oh gods, why me, she thought as she felt him tease the opening, sliding one finger just around the rim of the opening, and she tried to wiggle away. This earned her a light but sharp slap across her rear end.

"Be still, or you will have no release tonight."

She made a piteous sound as she again looked over her shoulder, and heard a soft chuckle.

"Just relax, and you may end up enjoying it." He continued to gently massage her, and to her surprise, after a while, she started to relax. The gentle prodding and firm caresses didn't feel so bad, as long as she didn't think too much about where he was touching. She closed her eyes, letting her head hang low as she reached up with her hands to touch her gag. It was just as she thought it was, a leather-wrapped bar, and her fingers revealed a small metal hoop at either end of the bar which connected to straps similar to these on her wrists and ankles. She looked down at her wrists, seeing that they were fastened with a thinner outer strap that had buckles and holes like a belt, allowing Cedric to fit them on her comfortably. She noted that they were very well-made, and wondered if whoever made these was aware of their purpose.

A small whimper bubbled up in her throat when she felt him start to prod her with a finger, sliding the tip inside. Her hands balled into fists as she clenched around him, trying to expel the intruder. She couldn't believe this was happening to her, or that someone who claimed to care for her was doing this. If he truly cared for her, he wouldn't be so vindictive, damnit. She would tell him that as soon as she could.

She looked down at her wrists, there was enough length in the short chain to allow her to touch the buckles of either cuffs, and she realized that she could undo them. If she could get her hands free, she could attack him, but she would still have her ankle restraints to contend with.

Her nails dug into her palms as she clenched her fists, feeling his finger delve in deeper, wiggling gently as if he was looking for something. This is ridiculous, she thought to herself as she shifted around.

Then, it happened, His finger found a spot within her that responded to his touch. Her eyes widened, and she went still for a moment before trying to relax, acting as if he hadn't found anything. She had to concentrate on keeping her breath regular as another finger joined the first, ruthlessly working inwards. Within several moments, he was massaging that spot with gentle but firm strokes, causing an involuntary shudder to pass through her as she bit into her gag.

o0o

How exciting, Cedric mused to himself. He hadn't been sure if she had a prostate or not, and was delighted to find one. It meant a new way to tease and please her. It was smaller than the ones he'd found in his male lovers in the past, but the feel of it was unmistakable, and he could feel Delia trying to restrain her reactions to his attentions.

He leaned down as he massaged her, kissing along her back, burying his face within the small of her back for several moments as he took his time to savor the smell and feel of her.

He'd been so tempted to storm after her in the blizzard and drag her back to the Palace. It wasn't as if a mere blizzard would be a major inconvenience to someone with his magical abilities, The first night, he'd seriously debated with himself whether he should go after her, since he knew where her grandmother lived, or if he should leave her be and let patience be its own reward. One day had stretched into three due to the weather, and he'd managed to keep himself busy with Courtly matters, getting much done in anticipation of the Yuletide celebrations. With so much of his workload cleared, he was able to better focus on tonight's pleasures, and his cock ached within his pants as he ran his tongue along the delicate valley that was made by the joining of her back and pelvis.

He was thrilled when he'd first laid claim to her, finally able to express his desire to the woman for whom he'd pined for so long. What he hadn't predicted though, was how addicted to her he'd become. When she wasn't in his bed, he ached for her, even if he wasn't in the mood for sex.

He felt her ring clench around him as he started massaging her more firmly, hearing a moan come from her as she squirmed around. Reaching under her with his other hand, he lightly brushed his palm against the tip of her erection, feeling a bit of precum seeping from it. When he pressed into her firmly, a muffled whine met his ears, and she started to pull away.

"I think not, my darling. What is it, is this too much for you?" He pressed his palm against her erection gently, sliding the slickness of his hand against the tip of her aching need as he continued to press into her, feeling her clench around him in an attempt to expel the intruder. "It obviously was too much for you to obey me before," he reminded her sternly.

His free hand trailed from his erection to her stomach, pressing into it as he resumed kissing along her back, making his way up to her shoulders, burying hid face in the thick waves of her hair, which was at that moment pulled back in a loose braid. "Why on earth would you disobey me, when you know the pleasure that awaits you? I have accepted you for what you are, why should you continue to resist me?" he tutted. At that, she angled her head to glare at him.

"Pouting will do you no good." He smirked down at her as he continued to tease her for a bit, his fingers alternating between gentle and firm as he felt her shudder around him, obviously doing her best to not let his ministrations get to her.

He heard a sigh as he withdrew his fingers.

"You really do have a lovely rear end," he commented, caressing the curves with his other hand, sliding his palm along the curve of her hips and buttocks.

Rising to his feet, he reached for one of the items he had on the ready, a washcloth, which he used to clean his fingers.

"I do believe I've teased you long enough. I'm sure you know how much I ache for you." When she looked over her shoulder at him, he reached down to undo his pants, pulling his erection free and stroking it several times. "Have you missed this? While you were gone, did you think of how this felt in you, and how incredible it feels to have me deep within you, giving you the pleasure you've denied yourself for so long?"

Her response was to lift her hand within view, and he saw that only the middle finger was raised.

"Haha! Delia, that is exactly what I plan to do to you! But first things first..." He picked up a small object that had been lying next to the oil and washcloth. It was about five inches in length, and nearly the width of the two fingers he'd just been sliding within her. One end terminated into a gently-curved tip, while the other had a flared bottom. It was made of the same metal that encircled Delia's sac.

He held it up in the air, the polished metal glinting in the firelight, and Delia's eyebrows furrowed in confusion and fear. Never had he introduced any toys within their play before.

"Since you seemed to so much enjoy what I was doing to you, I figured, why should that stop just so I can have my own fun?" He climbed back onto the bed, and gently worked the toy between her rear cheeks despite a muffled squeal of protest. The dildo narrowed a bit between its base and the rest of its body, nestling itself firmly within her shapely ass as her sphincter closed around this narrow point. He gently pressed against the base and wiggled it several times, and was met with several exclamations from her, made incoherent by her gag.

He waved his hand, and the dildo started vibrating, having the same capacity as her ring to warm or buzz against her, and the young woman suddenly arched her back, her ass sticking up in the air as she wiggled it around in an apparent effort to expel it.

"Shhh... relax, and just enjoy it. Doesn't it feel good? Perhaps I should make your ring vibrate as well?" he asked. And so he did. Her toes curled so hard that he was almost certain she would have dug her toenails into the soles of her feet had her digits been long enough.

Cedric unhooked her ankles from the spreader bar so that he could position himself comfortably, and quickly removed what remained of his clothing, gripping her hips as he settled in behind her.

Despite her protests, she was wet, and he had little difficulty in sliding in between her slick folds, giving out a small groan as he sheathed himself within her.

"Oh, Delia..." he sighed. The buzzing of the ring and dildo could be felt within her velvet walls, and he remained still for a bit, simply enjoying how she felt around him as he kept his hands on her hips. "I have missed this too much."

o0o

Delia was nearly cross-eyed from the vibrating that was assaulting two sensitive areas of her anatomy, and she wanted to plead for him to stop. It honestly was just too much stimulation for her, and she could feel her cock weeping precum. Her cunt was also practically dripping as well, a fact that was only reinforced with how easily Cedric had slid into her. She had gone beyond pleasure, and was now bordering on pain because it all simply was more than she could bear.

Make it stop, please make it stop. She was barely aware of the whining and pleading noises she was making, or the way she was thrashing her head back and forth.

She was so lost in sensation that she was barely aware of him moving, sliding in and out of her, taking but a few slow thrusts before he quickly picked up his pace. It frustrated her to no end that she could not effectively vocalize her distress, and was all the more determined that once this ordeal was over, she would find a way to be free of him, come hell or high water. A man that she'd once trusted, someone she'd seen as a friend, was revealed to be a monster.

Though he ride her for a decent amount of time, his orgasm was soon in coming, although she was barely aware of it due to the vibrations. She let out a moan when she registered the feel of his seed pouring into her before his thrusts slowed, and she let out a relieved sigh. Hopefully he'd declare an end to tonight's 'fun'. Hopefully.

Of course, as she had learned all too well, Cedric rarely let off so easily. He slid out of her, and pushed her right hip, causing her to gently roll over onto her left side. She closed her eyes as she felt him rub along her side and hip, his fingers running along the curve before the vibrations came to a gradual stop. Even after the toys had actually stopped their function, she could still feel a phantom sensation of vibrating.

She closed her eyes, not knowing how long this respite might last. As he continued to pet her lightly, she chose to remain silent, hoping that if she was quiet, and appeared tired, he would leave her be. Her cock still ached though, and it took all of her willpower to not reach down and stroke herself; something in the back of her mind told her that it was not something he would permit. He would not allow her to achieve orgasm so easily.

Her fear was confirmed as Cedric pushed at the front of her hip, rolling her so that she was now on her back, her erection pointing upward. She fought the urge to try to cover herself up, and rested her hands on her stomach, taking a slow, deep breath as Cedric's eyes moved up and down her body, his hungry obvious in his gaze despite the fact that he'd just recently had an orgasm.

She made no sound as he casually reached to one of her breasts, massaging it gently. She closed her eyes for several moments, before she felt his lips on her other nipple, and she allowed herself a small sigh of pleasure as he played with her breasts, his fingers and tongues expertly flicking across her nipples, making them as hard as they could ever be. She was tempted to reach down and stroke herself while he was distracted like this, but his chest rested lightly on top of her hands.

When he started kissing along the underside of her breasts and made a trail down her stomach, she dared to hope that he might use his mouth on her. She knew she shouldn't hope, but she ached so much for relief that she couldn't help but silently pray that he would do what she wanted, for once. She opened her eyes, watching him as she stiffened her jaw, tasting the leather as his head moved down... lower, please, lower...

Yes. She felt his warm breath on her erection, and when he placed a gentle kiss on the tip, she almost saw stars. When he started swirling his tongue around the swollen head of her aching need, she almost buckled into his mouth. Her loins seemed on fire, and she had to make a conscious effort to control her breathing, failing a couple of times with quick pants, as he pressed his palm to the underside of her cock near the root, massaging the sac that felt even tighter than usual due to her pent-up need. She could not help but squirm around a bit as he took her into his mouth, going down on her with slow, long sucks which had her moaning behind her gag. She could feel the wetness of her pussy, its juices sliding along her perineum as he slid a finger into her, probing her walls, his fingers becoming slick with the essence he'd left inside of her.

She upturned her palms to him, as if in supplication, as he regarded her, his eyes twinkling as his head bobbed up and down in a slow, measured rhythm. When she reached up to lightly rest her hands on the top of his head, he did not push her away, and when she ran her fingers through his hair, he made his enjoyment obvious.

Good, good, she thought to herself. It wasn't so much that she was touching him because she knew he liked her attentions, but she hoped that this gesture, and any others she had the opportunity to make, would put him in a better mood, and less inclined to prolong her torment.

Her breathing quickened as she felt herself approach orgasm, and she started to dig her fingers into his hair, before she stopped herself, not wishing to take the risk of pulling too hard. Just as her eyes begun to roll back in her head and she tensed for her long-awaited pleasure, she felt a gentle tug on her sac, and he lifted his head. As soon as she realized what he was doing, she tried to push his head back down, but he was too quick for her. Pulling his head to the side, he let out a soft chuckle.

I will make you pay for this, Delia promised silently, making no attempt to hide her irritation ans frustration as she felt him continue to finger her languidly. Finally, he withdrew his finger, and pulled himself to his knees, revealing his erection.

Fuck you, bubbled up her defiant mind as she started shaking her head, pressing her knees together. If he would not allow her satisfaction, she would not contribute to his.

"What did I tell you about cooperation before?" Cedric asked as he looked down at her, speaking to her in a chiding tone as if she were a petulant child. At that, she lifted her middle finger again, making it clear just what she thought of his authority. She'd tried submission, and that brought her no reward.

"I already told you before, that is what I intend to do..."

At that, Delia made a furious sound behind her gag, and brought her hands together in the motion of wrapping them around someone's throat, making the choking gesture. This caused him to laugh, and she glared up at him. He waved his hand, and the vibrations around her sac and within her started up again, causing her to arch off the bed. Quickly collecting herself, she quickly sat up and tried to attack him, placing her hands on his chest in an attempt to shove him off the bed.

She found herself shoved back onto the bed, unable to breathe for a moment before she saw Cedric's face looming above her own.

"I can see submission will not come easy to you, but then, I shall take great pleasure in reminding you that you are mine," he whispered in his velvety voice, his face mere inches from hers. "I promised you exquisite pleasures, my darling, and you shall experience them, but I do demand a fair exchange..." As he spoke, he pushed his knees between hers, and entered her in one swift thrust.

Between his thrusts and the vibrating, Delia found herself overwhelmed again, wishing that Cedric would let off on her entirely, just so that she could collect, and even pleasure herself. Her hands were trapped between their chests, and Cedric pulled them up over her head.

"One of my favorite views of you is with your hands over your head. It makes your breasts look more open and inviting," he said between thrusts, and she could see that he was enjoying the sight of her tits jiggling with his thrusts. She pondered putting her fists together and bringing them down on his head or at least against his face. As if he read her mind, he fixed his eyes onto hers.




Sorcerer's Treasure Ch. 07



"Keep your hands above your head, and I may forgive your earlier transgressions," he stated as his pace increased. Her breasts were not the only thing that jiggled with his thrusts, and she was reminded constantly of her aching hardness as it bounced with his thrusts, hitting his stomach when he leaned over to place kisses along her face.

To her surprise, and immense relief, he removed her gag, so that he could kiss her lips. She gave his lower lip a sharp bite, earning her breast a light slap as he looked down at her.

"There is feistiness, and there is defiance. You will learn the fine line between the two, and I certainly hope to see more of the former in the future. We will work on the latter."

Her breathing had become too ragged at that point for her to make out a coherent response, and she stiffened as he let out a groan, the familiar sensation of his seed filling her accompanying this, and she clenched around him involuntarily, letting out a gasp and whimper, her fingers tangling in her own hair. She could feel a drip of precum seeping from her turgid flesh, biting back a groan of frustration as she felt it bead before starting to ooze down the top side of the crown.

Cedric remained within her for several moments, looking down at her, his hands on the outside of her thighs as his breathing slowed. She didn't doubt that he could feel at least some of the vibration that she was subject to, and wiggled against him. Silently, he reached down to her cock, lightly flicking the tip with his finger.

"Please, let me... I need to..." She breathed in frustration and pent-up desire.

Remaining inside of her, he leaned in to give her a deep, passionate kiss. When he broke it, he whispered into her ear, nibbling along her earlobe.

"I needed you, but you weren't here," he retorted as he reached down to massage a breast. At that, bitterness rose in Delia's throat, burning it like bile. She took a sharp breath before she brought her arms down, jamming her elbows against his shoulder.

"To hell with what you need!" she snapped at him, seeing his startled look before he winced in pain. "You have no care what I need! Get off me! Now!"

Suddenly, the vibration stopped, much to her relief, before he pulled out of her, staring down at her. She refused to be cowed, and glared back at him fiercely.

"Is that what you think?" he asked in a low voice.

"Go to hell, Cedric. You know it's true. Ever since you took me, it's always been about you. What YOU want, what YOU need."

"That is not true!" he protested. "I've given you great pleasure!"

"On your terms, not mine. You tell me that you know what I need, but you never ask me what I might want or be in the mood for!" She pulled herself up to a sitting position, blinking back tears, her emotions tumbling out as she was finally able to voice her frustrations. "And I absolutely hate it! I hate how you're punishing me for simply not doing what you demand! I hate you!"

As the words tumbled out of her mouth, she was gratified to see him wince again as she made her final declaration.

"You can't mean that. Everything I've done for us..."

"No! Everything you've done is for you! You gagged me tonight so I couldn't protest against your scolding! All I am to you is a slave, to bow to your whims, to obey your demands, to be a means to your pleasure!"

Having just been on his knees, Cedric sunk down, resting on the balls of his feet as he placed his hands on his knees, seeming somewhat confused.

"That's not what I... no. I want you, but... I..."

"Well, I don't want you. I don't want any of this!" She held up her wrists. "I respected you once, and now I can't even..." She gave out an angry groan, looking away.

Without a word, he rose to his feet and left the room. Delia's heart thudded in fear, wondering if he was going to find a way to punish her further. She started to slide off the bed, her hands shaking as she fumbled to undo the buckle on one wrist binding.

o0o

Cedric entered his washroom, where there was a copper bathtub full of water. He'd had the servants fill it with eater earlier that afternoon, and approached the vessel, looking down at it. It was roomy for one person, and was large enough to fit two, if just a bit snugly. He took a deep breath, calling upon the reserve of magic within him, pressing his palm to the metal and focusing his power through it, feeling the copper heat up under his hand.

Though Fire was not his native element, he was a skilled and clever enough magician that he could tap into any of the elements, provided that he had enough reserve magic to do so. The act of heating up water in a tub was a simple enough task for him as he'd done it plenty of times before, and within several moments, steam rose from the water's surface in wisps.

When he returned to the bedchamber, he saw Delia sitting at the edge of the bed, her wrist free from one cuff, her hands already at work on the other one. Her head snapped up as he cleared his throat, and she shrunk back a bit.

A pang of regret pierced his heart, and he held back a sigh. "Let me take these off you," he said in the gentlest tone he could muster, approaching her. Her arm was stiff as he took hold of her forearm, as if she was ready at any moment to flee. Saying nothing, he removed the cuff before kneeling down to remove the ones at her ankles.

He scooped her up in his arms, feeling her become even more rigid than before, almost like a statue. When he looked down at her, her face was turned away from him. He pressed his lips gently to her temple, but she made no response.

Entering the washroom, he gently lowered her to her feet for several moments, bending her over his arm so that he could remove the plug from her pert rear end. There was an almost imperceptible relaxing through her body, and he set the toy aside. He picked her up again before he deposited her in the tub before sitting near the back of it, seeing he mess of loose dark waves that cascaded down her shoulders. He ran his fingers along it, brushing it from her neck before resting his hand on her shoulder. She flinched away.

"Delia..." he sighed. "I promised you before I wouldn't ever hurt you."

"You did hurt me," came the response in a low, angry hiss. He closed his eyes for a moment before he opened them. Not one to simply admit that he made a mistake, Cedric's stubborn pride refused to allow him to issue a real response to that.

He picked up a sponge, and soaked it into the bathwater before he lifted Delia's hair from her shoulders, massaging her with the sponge. She remained stiff, but to his relief, she did not climb out of the tub or otherwise attempt to stop him. After a while, when it was obvious that a massage was not going to calm her, he set aside the sponge and let his bare hand slide along her shoulder. Having rolled up his sleeves, his hand slid down her front, dipping into the hot water as his fingers slid along her stomach. He heard her breath hitch in her throat.

"Shh. I know you ache, allow me to relieve it," he whispered, leaning in a bit so he could reach her more easily. His chin rested lightly on her shoulder as he found her hard flesh, feeling its needy throb within his fist. His pumps were slow and languid at first, massaging her, but he did not prolong this treatment anymore than what was absolutely necessary, his pace quickening within several minutes. A soft moan escaped her throat, and he kissed the area where her neck met her shoulder.

"That's it, my love. Let it go..." His hand moved in a smooth and swift pace, and he could feel her arch against him, the back of her head pressing against his shoulder. Her hands clutched on the sides of the tub and forming a white-knuckled grip before she gave out a sudden cry, spilling her essence into the water. He continued to pump, at a gentler pace now, as he hummed into her ear, his other hand loosely wrapped around her shoulder.

Slowly, her grip on the edges of the tub relaxed, and her breathing slowed. As if she realized where she was, and who she was with, she stiffened again, pulling away from him. He relinquished his hold on her.

"You are free to soak in the tub for as long as you like. You know where the supplies are," he murmured as he rose to his feet. She did not acknowledge this statement, but he knew she heard him, and he retreated from the room.

o0o

Wow. This chapter was not easy for me to write. I don't mean that in a bad or negative way. Normally, I don't go into this kind of thing, but I wanted to push myself, and see how well I could pull this off. I want to write a variety of stories, instead of just the same thing over and over like I've seen some authors do, so it took a lot of thought and planning to figure out where this story should go, and what should happen between Cedric and Delia. I have several surprises in store and I hope y'all enjoyed this chapter! As always, feedback is more than welcome and appreciated!



Sorcerer's Treasure Ch. 08



There were no words to describe the relief that had washed over her with the same profoundness that her long-awiated climax had. Delia stared up at the ceiling, the old but sturdy wooden beans looking almost black in the gentle glow of the lamps. Her body sunk into the tub until just her head and hands were above the water, and she let the heat soak into her trembling limbs. Hot water in winter was much rarer than cool water in the summer, and she was determined to not let this opportunity go to waste.

With a few back and forth movements of her knee, she dissipated the traces of her cum, and reached over the side of the tub to the ledge she knew was there. A couple of drops of oil were carefully dripped into the tub, letting the sharp yet soothing scent of citrus waft into the air. She'd always enjoyed the scent and flavor of citrus fruit, and it was always such a treat for her when the kitchen made lemon bars or orange cream cakes for a celebration.

After some consideration, she added a couple of drops of jasmine and rosemary, and closed her eyes, basking in the warmth. It was definitely better than taking a bucket of water with her to her small room and giving herself a sponge bath, never being completely naked as the rooms were far too cold this time of the year for that.

Her hands slid along her body, and she shivered as she ran her fingers along the shaft of her now limp flesh. She was exhausted yet still on edge, with an odd mixture of numbness and sensitivity in her affected areas. The door to the washroom was slightly ajar, but Cedric was nowhere to be seen.

Many would say she had no reason to complain. She was well-fed and cared for, kept in comfort and given more than a modicum of freedom and education, even if Cedric had no direct hand in much of that. Given such care, sex was a fair exchange in the eyes of many. Pragmatic folks would consider it a mutually beneficial arrangement.

Her hand slid down to the ring around her balls. It had never actually hurt her and was what he had promised - responsive to her body - it still felt odd to her, especially if she touched herself down there. It was a foreign object to her even after all this time. This has to come off, she told herself. It was a constant reminder of what she was to Cedric, and even though no one else could see it or know it was there, it was just as bad to her as having a collar around her neck.

She took a sponge and started ministering to herself, relishing the feel of the hot water against her skin, feeling a twinge of envy against Cedric for his considerable magical talents. She didn't doubt she was the only one who felt that way, however. Magicians could all too easily become objects of envy and scorn, especially if they used their abilities to cause mischief or lord it over others. Her grandmother was careful to augment her own talent with actual knowledge of medicine, learning as much as she could from other healers who had no magical skill.

When the water had cooled down to a point where its temperature no longer soothed her, she climbed out of the tub and dried herself with a towel before putting on the dressing robe that hung on a hook near the towels. It was of a heavy black satin, and while too big on her since it belonged to Cedric, it was very comfortable. She tied it closed before going to the mirror and pulling her hair out of its braid, running her fingers through her messy locks to beat them into some semblance of order before re-braiding. She took a deep breath as she stared at her reflection before approaching the door.

She slowly pulled it open and stepped through it, seeing him sitting on the divan in front of a newly-stoked fire, his back to her. Slowly, she approached the side of the divan, seeing him in profile, his expression distant and thoughtful.

"Come sit with me," he whispered as he glanced over at her, patting the empty space next to him. She shook her head in a negative response, and he raised his eyebrow.

"Take it off me," she demanded.

"What?" His eyes moved along her body, making her feel self-conscious even though she was well-covered in his robe. A small smirk crept across his lips, and she could see just where his imagination was going. She hmmphed and crossed her arms.

"Not the robe, Cedric! The ring!" To her disappointment, he started to protest.

"I put that on you for your pleasure..."

"You put it on me to control me! Like earlier tonight, when your letter didn't work, so you used the ring to force me to come to you."

"How else was I supposed to get you to come here?"

"I didn't want to!" Delia snapped with exasperation. "Just because you want something doesn't give you the right to make others do it!"

Cedric was quiet for several moments, stroking his goatee. Finally, he fixed his eyes onto hers, holding her gaze.

"Would you have been truly happy if I had never taken you to my bed?" he argued in a tone obviously meant to keep the conversation calm. She narrowed her eyes.

"That's not the point." Delia didn't doubt that Cedric was skillful at maneuvering himself in Court, but that didn't mean she had to like, or appreciate it when he did the same to her. "And I don't want to hear you whining about how lonely and needy you were without me!" she added quickly.

"Whining?" Cedric asked, with a small snort.

"Don't think that I don't know about your other lovers! You had however many opportunities to find satisfaction with other partners. You were... are normal! I'm not! I wish I hadn't been born this way, but I was, and I had to accept it, and the limitations that came with it! If the wrong person knew, my life would be a living hell! You've had however many partners, and I didn't have that option!" She blinked back tears, not wanting to break down in front of him. "And you feel the need to punish me for that? To make me beg for forgiveness? Go to hell!"

"Delia..." Cedric rose to his feet, reaching out to her, placing his hands on her shoulders. "You needn't have been afraid to tell me..."

"How was I supposed to know that?" she snapped, jerking free of his embrace. "It's not something that people would easily... accept, or forget. You could have just as easily been disgusted and repulsed by it as you were.;.. fascinated by it."

"Delia..." He let out a low sigh.

"Don't try to justify anything you've done. I don't care who or what you are. Your status and power mean nothing to me. I respected you before for your intellect and kindness towards me."

The corners of his lips tugged into a faint smile. "I know."

"Well, I no longer respect you," she replied coolly, staring levelly at him. His smile froze before his lips curved downward. "What happened... I don't even want to be friends with you anymore. I no longer desire any sort of relationship with you, and you have only yourself to blame for it. So take it off, now." Her heart was pounding as she silently prayed that he would do just as she asked, and not cause any trouble for her. A man in his position could make life here untenable for her.

"I do care about you, Delia." He reached out to touch her cheek, but she turned away.

"If what you say is true, then you will prove it." she said, her voice soft, but steely. He was silent for several moments, and she held her breath, silently praying that he would do as she asked.

"Very well. I will remove it."

She turned back to him, seeing him staring at her with a neutral expression. He closed the distance between them, and slid his hand past the edges of the robe she was wearing, and she couldn't help but feel her shoulders stiffen as she felt his palm against her groin. His fingers pressed against the ring, and she was not aware she had been holding her breath until he pulled his hand from under the material, the firelight reflecting on the polished metal.

Even though the ring had never been of any considerable weight, she still felt as if a great burden had been lifted from her shoulders, or in this case, elsewhere. She took a step back, as if she was afraid that he might slip it back on her.

"I need to leave." She didn't relish the thought of spending the night in a room that, with the deep cold outside, would be chilly at the very least.

"What? Spend the night with me. I removed the ring and your other bindings, what more do you need?" he demanded.

"Time to myself. Oh, and a new dress would be nice, since you ruined that and my chemise and breast bindings, as you will recall." She crossed her arms. "However, I will accept a tunic and undershirt."

"You do look good in my clothing," Cedric shot back. All he received in return was a deadpan stare. A small huff made its way from his throat before he entered his bedchamber, returning with a plain white undershirt and a long-sleeved tunic of fine dark gray wool. "Will these do?" he asked. She gave the garments a cursory glance and nodded.

"Good." He set the clothing on the arm of the divan and beckoned to her. "Please come to bed with me. I wish for the pleasure and comfort of your company."

"I would sooner be by myself," Delia replied, mistrusting of the sorcerer and his motives. She knew she would sleep much better when she was a good distance from him.

"There's nothing I can do to convince you to stay?" Cedric asked as she strode past him to collect the rest of her clothing. She remained silent as she pulled on her smallclothes before pulling her pants up, keeping the robe on as she did so, so as to not afford him any peek of her flesh. When it was time to dress the upper half of her body, she did so quickly, keeping her back to him. As she expected, his clothing fit her very loosely, but was nonetheless comfortable, and the tunic was plain enough that no one should question where she had gotten it from.

Before she could pull her boots on, Cedric was at her side again. "Please don't leave me like this." He reached out to touch her face, and she quickly pulled away before he could. Pulling on her cloak, she made her way to the door, pausing as she saw the lock. She'd seen him work it a couple of times, so she reached for the small handle and turned it, relieved when it gave way.

"Delia..."

"Good night," she replied firmly before he could say anything further, and she quickly exited the room.

o0o

As the year was approaching its end, the librarians were set to task at cataloging the books and taking inventory, making sure that all books old and new were accounted for, and adding this year's acquisitions to the bibliography. It was a undertaking that commenced in the twelfth month of every year, and something Delia was familiar with. Hilde was with her, and as a relatively new librarian. Delia worked as her mentor.

"Ugh, why don't the patrons take better care of these books?" the blonde snorted as she picked up a book, displaying several smudges on its cover. Delia sighed and shook her head as she took the book, seeing there were a few more along several pages of the book as if someone had read it while eating a greasy dinner.

"At least it's not an antique," Delia muttered as she noted the damage to the book on the sheaf of papers she had attached to a ledger. At the moment, she and Hilde were looking over the novels, and while a book was by no means cheap, at least the novels were easier to produce, and there were usually two or three copies of the more popular titles. There were also re-printings of old classics, and the advent of the printing press was a boon to librarian and casual reader alike, making books easier to obtain, and old texts made accessible.

However, it didn't gall Delia or the other librarians any less when a patron treated a book with casual disregard. This was no ordinary library, and the people that utilized this resource were generally either of the noble or scholarly classes.

"If I could find the nit who keeps leaving smudges on these books, I would give them a good what-for!" Hilde said, shaking her fist. Delia smiled, sharing the sentiment. The novels were more popular among the nobles, who read these books for entertainment, losing themselves in tales of romance, daring, adventure, and peril. Such books were also an interest amongst the servants, at least to those who had the ability to read, and the inclination to spend their free time with their nose buried in a book.

"As long as they stay away from the antique books..." Delia shrugged and they continued along the shelf, doing a cursory check of each book. After a while, it was time for nuncheon.

There were cold cuts, cheese, and bread, along with a cobbler made from apple preserves. The women retreated to a quiet corner of the room, balancing the plates in their laps.

"I just realized, you never told me how your... meeting with Garrick went," Delia prompted gently. She'd been gone for several days, after all.

"Hmmph." Hilde muttered before taking a bite out of her sandwich.

"I take that to mean it didn't go well?"

"Delia... I know I'm not too pleasant to look at," the other woman replied after she'd swallowed her bite. Delia had to stop herself from wincing, already guessing where this was going. "It's something I've had to accept ever since the accident. I've done my best to make up for it, and prove that I'm more than just my face."

"A man who would judge you on that is not worth your time," Delia replied, trying to reassure her friend.

Hilde let out a small snort. "So my mother would tell me, but Garrick..." She shook her head. "I found him, and asked him if there was anything he needed. He wouldn't look at me, so I wondered if he might just be embarrassed. You know how men are with not wanting to admit weaknesses..."

The dark-haired woman smiled a bit and nodded. "Wouldn't the world be a better place if men weren't like that?"

"Hah. Only if. Anyway, I said that I'd read that book myself, and I would be happy to answer any questions he had. After all, as I told him, it is my duty as a librarian."

That was smart, Delia mused. Offer help, but point out that it is your duty to offer assistance to anyone who might enter the hallowed halls of the library. It did help some of the more reticent patrons be more willing to reach out to a librarian for help, and as Davin pointed out, librarians shouldn't just categorize knowledge, they should also make it accessible. But then, Davin should know, since he'd been a librarian for over sixty years, and head librarian for almost thirty.

"I take it he still refused your help."

"Yes." Hilde scowled. "He was so rude! He would not look at me once, and told me he could manage by himself before he waved his hand..." At this, she lifted her hand in the air in what was obviously an imitation of Garrick's gesture. It was the kind of dismissal that a noble would give to a lowly servant.

"Ugh." Delia rolled her eyes. "Well, the problem is his, not yours. He's just a spoiled noble brat. And just remember, noble blood doesn't make you intelligent."

Hilde smiled at that. "But my father is a nobleman!" she shot back in mock offense.

"So you are noble and intelligent. More than a match for Garrick Gilly, see?"

Hilde let out a laugh before she collected herself. "It has been lovely having you here as my mentor. It took some time getting used to... living like this. I mean, it's not a bad life at all, but it was a definite change from my father's manse."

Delia nodded. Though she and Hilde come from families that were at different social and financial strata, she understood what the other woman meant. It'd been scary leaving her grandmother, and settling into her duties here, especially with the concern over keeping her uniqueness a secret. She almost didn't believe it when the Prince had chosen her to be one of his librarians after his interview with her, and had done her best to prove to him that he had made a wise choice.

"I know what you mean." Delia took a bite of her sandwich, chewing it as she became lost in thought, thinking of her past and future. She'd had an overall pleasant tenure here as one of the royal librarians, but she was not sure if she wanted to remain here for the rest of her life. There were servants who spent nearly their whole lives in the Palace, and were content with that, but Delia had no desire to simply be another name in a seemingly endless list of Sapphire Point residents and staff. She thought of her talk with her grandmother, and the upcoming New Year's. What sort of possibilities were open to her? What could she pursue that would bring her happiness, or at least stability and contentment?

o0o

Spring can't come soon enough, Delia mused as she lay under several of her grandmother's quilts, curled up on her small bed within the library apartments. The shutters had been bolted shut, and she'd stuffed any possible opening with bits of scrap paper, to keep out the cold.

Pressing the soles of her feet to the bed-warmer, Delia couldn't help but think of the comforts of Cedric's bedchamber, where there was always a fire blazing, the room, and the bed, oh so warm and inviting...

Damn. She gave out a small huff as she pulled one of the quilts partway over her head. It was something she would have to accept. She'd lived in this particular room for several years now, and had grown used to it. Winters were easy enough as long as she remained in the library or other warmer areas of the Palace, retiring to her room only when she was tired enough to sleep. If she'd lived through several winters in this room, she could endure another one...

Thinking about Cedric's bedchamber only made her feel all the more cold, and she shivered in frustration. Be strong, be strong, she told herself. The ring was gone, and she had her dignity back. Nothing could buy dignity, but damn if she couldn't help but wish she was in Cedric's bed, with its soft mattress, and thick comforters, and the sorcerer's body pressed against her own...

Her body responded to her private longings, warmth starting to seep through her core as she felt her cock start to harden. She tried to ignore it, and pull her thoughts towards other matters, like the work she'd done today in the library, and the work yet to be done. However, it seemed that the harder she tried to not think about Cedric, the more that damnable man haunted her thoughts, teasing her with the memories of the pleasure he'd given her.

Books she'd read and languages she'd learned, the words blurred together while Cedric came to the forefront of her reminiscing, his face in clear focus, his gaze illustrating his desire. She could not help but recall how his hands and lips had moved along her body, and how expertly he'd handled all of her parts. Her smallclothes felt too tight and confining, and she reached down with a hand to cup her groin, pressing her palm against it.

Even with the ring gone, it appeared as if she wasn't completely free of Cedric. Her hand kneaded her groin idly for several moments as she considered her next course of action.

Fuck it. The hem of her nightshirt slid up her thighs before she loosened her drawers, reaching within and pulling out her semi-hard organ. It hardened further once it was free of its confines, and she let her fingers trail along it lazily, taking her time. As she felt her fingernails lightly scrape along the underside of the throbbing organ, memories of Cedric doing the very same thing sent a fresh ache through her loins.

Delia shifted around, creating a small but comfortable space between her groin and the blanket by lying partially on her side. Keeping the quilts tucked firmly under her chin, she continued her languid explorations. Her fingers slid down to her testicles, noting the absence of the ring. Returning to her cock, Delia slid her other hand into her underwear, past the root of her organ and the sac that sat snugly against it. As she'd anticipated, her pussy was as wet as her cock was hard, and she slid her fingers along the outer lips, feeling the slickness that seeped from within.




Sorcerer's Treasure Ch. 08



Imagining Cedric's tongue in place of her lips intensified the heat within, and she could feel the slickness increase as she continued to stroke herself, recalling how skillfully her lover - or now, former lover, she supposed - could make his tongue dance along the moist petals of her flower to tease the nectar from her. And when he slid his tongue along the ridge of her cockhead, or sucked on the tip...

Lightly chewing on her lower lip, she slid two fingers within as she wrapped her other hand around her cock, pumping slowly with both hands. She'd rarely masturbated in the past, focusing on celibacy, even towards her own body. It'd made dealing with her uniqueness easier, by forcing her thoughts away from lust any time she caught herself starting to mentally wander down that path. It was something she'd learned from the nuns when she'd approached them, asking them how best to deal with impure thoughts.

However, ever since her first night with Cedric, it was as if all of that repressed desire that she'd felt for over fifteen years had been awakened from a long slumber. Since that fateful night, she'd rarely gone a day - or night - without at least one orgasm.

"You son of a bitch, see what you have done to me," Delia whispered furiously as she worked herself in a slow and methodical pace. Would her lust ever abate? Could she ever be like she'd once been?

Of course not. Unless she were to somehow suffer a bout of amnesia when it came to what she'd shared with Cedric, the memories of their intimacy would remain with her for the rest of her life. Of that, there was no doubt. Was it possible to find another lover, one who would accept her for what she was, and treat her with the respect that she deserved? Now, there was a thought, but for the time being, there were more pressing matters...

Her tempo increased as her grip around her cock tightened. Unbidden, her thoughts again turned to Cedric's ministrations, and she recalled how he would take her in hand, pumping her firmly, obviously enjoying the feel of her flesh in his hand, or around his fingers as he would plumb her depths, wiggling his fingers against the spot within her womanhood that had her writhing and gasping in pleasure.

She tried to find that same spot on her own, her fingers wiggling deeper and deeper as she sought her goal. Her digits slid in all the way up to their knuckles before she was able to find it, and pressed the spongy spot, shuddering faintly as she did so.. 

To her dismay, nothing felt as good as when Cedric did them. To be sure, the pressure against her cock gave her a measure of relief and pleasure, but she was unable to approach the very same heights of sensation that Cedric had been able to elicit from her tender parts. In frustration, she worked at herself harder and faster, pumping firmly as she finger-fucked herself, wiggling her fingers and massaging her g-spot as firmly as she could without stabbing it with her fingernails.

Previously, she'd been able to masturbate relatively easily, but now, having known Cedric's touch, it seemed like her own simply didn't satisfy her as much as it used to. When she stopped fighting her memories of Cedric, and allowed them to run free through her mind, her self-ministrations actually seemed to become easier.

She closed her eyes, thinking of him plunging within her, filling her with his cock and then his seed, or his mouth around her aching flesh, or even the vibrations of the ring when he activated it, and her hips started buckling frantically, her breath coming in fits as her hands moved rapidly against her body, thrusting and jerking in almost erratic rhythm.

Delia was lost in her memories and what she was doing with her hands, biting her lips to keep from moaning too loudly, or crying out, as she felt herself approach her release, arching her back as she thought about coming into Cedric's mouth.

Her eyelids flew open as she felt her loins tighten in the brilliant instant before she finally achieved her release. Her hand jerked around her erection as she writhed around, giving several small gasps, her limbs sporadically trembling and spasming as she floated down from the haze of her orgasm.

A trickle along her temple alerted Delia to the fact that she'd given herself quite the exertion, and it came with a benefit - she'd managed to distract herself from the cold, and warm herself up. Blotting away the sweat with the sleeve of her nightshirt, a half-smile appeared on her face as she stared at the wall, her hands now rubbing her lower stomach and thighs.

That smile was replaced with a grimace as she realized she'd just made a mess on her bedsheets. She lifted the covers, seeing her seed spilled onto both the top and bottom sheet, and gave out a groan of frustration. She didn't want to leave it there, but at the same time she had no desire to leave the cocoon she'd made for herself.

After a couple of minutes, prudence won out, and she dragged herself out of bed, going to the pitcher in the corner. Pouring a bit into the basin, she took a washcloth, shivering at how icy-cold the water was as she washed her hands, and scrubbed furiously at the sheets until she was satisfied, and returned to bed, re-wrapping herself in the quilts, shivering until her body heat warmed the blankets enough to get her somewhat comfortable again. Her hand found her groin, and she rubbed it idly.

At least she'd figured out a way to keep herself warm during these long, cold nights...

o0o

"The New Year's festivities are soon to be upon us," Garrick argued as he looked up at his teacher. "Can't you release me from this... curse so I can enjoy the celebrations?"

"Wouldn't it be more satisfying to begin the new year with some mastery over magic?" Cedric shot back.

"I've read Principles of Magic!" The young man huffed as he leaned back in his chair.

"And?" Cedric asked. For some people, their magical nature was easily obvious to them. It could often manifest itself in childhood by accident, or be something that the child simply felt, a natural inclination towards one of the seven paths of magic. Of course, not everyone became aware of their magical nature so easily. Garrick was... ugh. He was by definition a late bloomer, his magic not having manifested itself in childhood, at least not in any ways that anyone had picked up on. For whatever reason, the young man seemed to be unable to discern his own bent of magic, though Cedric could see it as clearly as day, in the aura that surrounded the younger man.

Of course, Cedric wasn't about to tell Garrick that. He didn't have anything against pointing something out to a student if it would help them in their learning or steer them in the right direction, but Garrick had had things handed to him his whole life, and it would do the boy some good to figure this out on his own.

"I can't make fire. I can't sense water. I can't find anything in the earth. I hear no whispers in the air."

"Then perhaps your magic is not of the physical elements," the older man said with a casual shrug. "Or you're not focusing enough."

The young man facepalmed, giving out a frustrated groan. "Meditation doesn't work!" He looked up at his tutor. "But if I could release this pent-up energy and frustration..."

The teacher gave out a mirthless chuckle. It'd been such a simple thing to curse Garrick. He had but to offer the younger man a cup of wine, to which had been added a potion which had the opposite effect of an aphrodisiac. The physical aspect of the spell was augmented by Cedric's own magic, which kept the herbs in Garrick's body longer, prolonging the effects that the herbs usually had. The potion was then administered roughly twice a week through water or wine that was kept in the classroom. He would sometimes pretend to partake of the same drink, so the pupil wouldn't suspect that such an innocuous substance could be the vehicle of his frustration.

This was the best way to work magic. Most non-magical people thought that magic was something that was easily done with the wave of a hand, but effectively working magic meant that you had to work with the physical laws of nature, not against them. Of course, the latter was possible, but it took considerably more effort, and led to a high chance of perverting the magician himself. Much easier to just give Garrick herbs and use magic to prolong the effects, than actually casting a hex on Garrick, as the young man believed he had.

"You know what I have told you before. Either a few women suspect you can't perform, or the whole Palace knows you're stupid."

"My father will not stand for this!"

"He knows better than to cross me," Cedric replied coolly, stroking his goatee. "Believe me, you do not want to fuck around with me."

The young man scowled and looked down.

"I tire of your spoiled, entitled attitude. Your parents did you no favors with how they've raised you. I have told you time and time again, that magic is not an easy undertaking. I promise you, there is nothing, absolutely nothing in this world that will make it easy! If you want to give up, go ahead, and spare us the aggravation of further interaction. Otherwise, I will not hear one more word of complaint from you. If you spent as much time doing what you're supposed to, instead of bitching about what you want to do, then you would have learned at least a few magic tricks by now!" His rage spilled out in a rare unchecked moment, and the young man stared at him with wide eyes.

Cedric took a deep breath and leaned back in his chair. Truth be told, he had enjoyed snapping at his student, and it was long in coming. He stared out the window, rubbing one of his temples with his hand, feeling his student's eyes on him.

"How can I focus? How am I supposed to clear my mind?" he heard Garrick ask after several terse moments.

"I've told you several ways to do just that, and Principles of Magic also covers that! How many times do I have to fucking repeat myself before I get anything through that thick skull of yours?" he demanded, his voice bordering on a shout.

"... Never mind. I'll study the book again," Garrick mumbled. "May I be excused?"

Cedric dismissed him with a sharp wave of his hand.

o0o

The library had always been a soothing place for the Court Mage. He'd spent many hours of his adolescence and ensuing years here, deep in study whether it be magic, or history, or any of a number of subjects that he read upon to expand his knowledge and understanding.

It was of course also the place where he'd met Delia for the first time. She'd been a shy girl, more interested in the books than boys, and for a reason he couldn't explain, he had found her charming. As a regular visitor to the library, he had multiple chances to meet Delia, and from that, their friendship grew as they discussed various subjects. She'd proved to have a mind as bright as his, and a hunger for knowledge that was second only to his own. His respect for a fellow scholar blossomed into a yearning to know her more intimately.

His advances had been repeatedly rebuffed, and he hadn't been able to understand why, back then. She was happy enough to let him tutor her in history, or discuss books with him, or bring to him books she'd just translated, and it was at these times that she was most open with him. However, when he brought up taking their relationship to the next level, he saw fear in her eyes. Not revulsion, or indifference, but fear. She'd of course try to hide it, but he saw through her facade.

He was silent as he watched her and her companion do their inventory of the books, making an occasional comment about this book or that. A ledger sat in the crook of one arm as she made notes in it.

Cedric leaned against the end of one of the massive bookcases, feeling the familiar stirring in his loins. It'd been three days since he'd last seen her, and though he was able to fill his days with work, and even his evenings, eventually he had to go to an empty bed. Her scent lingered in the bed, and he'd masturbated to the memory of the intimacy they'd shared, but naturally, nothing came close to the actual experience.

The women came to the end of the shelf, and Delia gave out a small sigh of relief. "One bookcase down, and three more to go before we're done with our section."

"At least we don't have to do the whole damn library," the blonde muttered. What was her name? Helen? Hilda? Something like that, he mused. He'd witnessed a couple other pairs of librarians doing a similar task in other sections of the archive.

"The quicker we finish this, the more time we have for New Years'" Delia pointed out. "So how about we do one more bookcase before we eat?"

Hilde paused, glancing at the books for a moment. "I'd rather get to the food before the others do."

"Heh, you have a point. Let's go, then." Delia closed her ledger, and the women walked side by side to the main room, which would take them past Cedric. Delia paused as she glanced at him, and the other woman gave him a polite greeting.

"Is there something you need, Sir Cedric?"

"Oh, I'm simply browsing, looking for something to read, but thank you."

"Please don't move the books around, we're doing inventory!"

"Duly noted." He inclined his head in a light bow. The scarred woman gave a short giggle before striding past him. Delia continued walking, and he reached out to touch her arm.

"I have missed you," he whispered as he looked into her eyes. He saw a mixture of emotion in them, and she looked away before he could read them. She tried to tug free of his grip, and he debated between holding on, and letting go.

"You asked to be alone. So I've let you be. But you knew there would come a time when I would come talk to you."

"Yes," Delia sighed. He released his grip.

"I long to be with you."

"I don't doubt that."

"Come join me tonight. I'll have dinner for us, and then afterward..."

"Is that all you think about?" She looked back at him, her expression unreadable.

"I do think about it a lot," he admitted. "But we don't need to be so... intimate. We can simply talk about books, like we used to."

She glanced away for several moments, chewing her lower lip thoughtfully before shaking her head. "I have work to do, and I don't doubt that you do, as well. I need to be going."

"All work and no play..."

"I don't want to play!" She took a step away from him, and despite the firmness in her voice, he saw hesitation in her body language. She squared her shoulders, looking back at him. "I must go."

He let her make her retreat, stroking his goatee.

o0o

Well, readers, I am thrilled you liked the last chapter. The feedback I got on it was just what I was hoping for, and I really appreciate you sharing your thoughts on this story with me.

There was one anon who had a particular piece of feedback for me, so I'm going to address that anon. Don't worry, kind anon, I don't really like that kind of thing, either. I never had any intentions of going into that particular thing too deeply/hardcore, but I wanted to add some variety to my stories, and felt that this story would be the best to explore that thing, if only just a bit.

A couple of readers have asked about Hot Days and Hotter Nights, and I can assure you, that story is far from over. When one of my stories is finished, you'll know it! I'm about halfway done with that next chapter, and have a new chapter in the works/already started for all the stories I currently have here on Literotica, it's just that my muse can be rather finicky, so I jump from one story to another as the inspiration strikes me, and I also have my books to work on - I have my forth book finished but it still needs to be edited, and my fifth book is almost done, so as you can see, I have a lot on my plate. Add to that a full-time job, and it's not always easy to get a chapter done as soon as I (or you) would like.

Rest assured, I do my best to make my stories good, and focus on quality over quantity. I know many of my readers wish I would update more quickly (and I wish I could get more writing done - I'd love to have that mind-reading typewriter from the movie Tommyknockers) but I assure you, I update my chapters when I can, and only after I feel that a chapter is good and ready to be posted, with quality writing and plot. Of course, all feedback is appreciated, so please feel free to share your thoughts on this story or others. If you want to leave an anonymous review, that's totally fine with me, but if there's a specific question or concern you have for me, it'd be helpful if you could leave a name so I know what to call you.

Have a lovely day! - M



Sorcerer's Treasure Ch. 09



The winter solstice came and went, and fortunately for Delia, Cedric was kept busy enough with his duties as the King's mage, having to participate in Court sessions along with the royal festivities. This gave her relative peace and quiet, and she went to her grandmother's to celebrate the New Year's, exchanging small gifts and blessings with her family. It was also a time for prayer and contemplation, as people looked to the new year, and the goals they wanted to accomplish. Delia wasn't a particularly spiritual person, but she did spend time in contemplation, considering her future and the possible directions it might take.

The library was relatively quiet when the staff returned from the New Years' vacation, due in part to another blizzard, and because unlike servants, wealthier people had the luxury of extending their Yule celebrations, going into several days or even a full week of banqueting and partying, unlike the typical one, possibly two nights if one was lucky, of revelry that most lower-class people typically were slotted.

Delia stood at one of the windows, gazing out at the courtyard, seeing an occasional servant or guard bustling about on some errand or another. Despite the holiday, there were things that still needed to be done. Bread had to be baked, animals milked, children tended to, meals cooked, the sick cared for, and premises guarded.

"Delia, Lord Gustav wishes to speak to the staff," she heard Davin say from behind her, and she turned around to glance at him quizzically. He shrugged, and beckoned to her. She followed him to the large and comfortable private study that Prince Gustav and the senior librarians often did their work in.

The Prince was sitting at the desk, his fingers steepled under his chin as he stared off in contemplation. She respectfully greeted him, and he acknowledged her with a nod. Glancing around the room, she saw most of the other librarians, and it appeared that they didn't know why they had been summoned. Several more trickled in, bringing the amount to nearly three dozen.

Though all of the people held the designation of 'librarian', some of them had different tasks than others. A few were involved in printing, preparing the press and setting the typefaces to make copies of books, which was a long process. One could easily tell who they were by the smudges on their fingers and hands, which remained on the skin through several washings. A few more worked as tutors or specialists in a certain field of study, and others were archivists, overseeing the lending out, return, and organization of books. There were also a few specialists, like Delia herself, who worked in translating books that were brought from other lands, like Dheim or the various countries of Aetl, as well as studying the history of said countries and cultures.

Typically, every librarian stuck to their own set of tasks, working more closely with the fellow librarians who shared similar tasks, though there was of course, a good amount of communication and working together across the different groups. Nonetheless, for them all to be here in the same room was rather unusual.

Gustav placed his hands on the desk, studying the room. "Good, you're all here. I have an important announcement to make, one that will affect the future of the library, and your own future as well."

Delia's eyebrows furrowed in worry, and she could see a few others exchange concerned glances.

"For some of you, this will be a wonderful opportunity. This Palace was built several hundred years ago, and one of the things that the King understood was that knowledge was important, so he made sure to have this space built within the Palace, to be a repository of knowledge, and a safe place for books."

A few people nodded with uncertainty. Delia was silent, staring at the Prince. He was a man in his early forties, average of height and a tad slight of build, with dark brown hair and a small mustache. Though Davin was the head librarian, Gustav had seniority over him, and was by default of his birthright, the master of the library. He was the one who selected the people to work here, and promotions did not happen without his approval.

"Over centuries, change is inevitable. That is unfortunately true for this library. As you know, we are running out of space."

At this, there were several murmurs of assent. Some sections of the library were getting very cramped, and to add new bookcases would only further the problem. The only solution, at least the most obvious one, was to stop obtaining new books, and get rid of some of the older ones. The old copy rooms were now full, with the junior librarians assigned two to a room, unless they could secure other arrangements. The printing room was getting quite cramped, with two presses.

"I foresaw this coming ever since I took headship of the library, so I have been making preparations for it. The magnitude of such preparations, however, was a lengthy duration. I am pleased to announce that the work has come to an end, and it is time for me - for us - to take the next step in ensuring that the knowledge we have accumulated, and will continue to accumulate, will have a future, and a safe place.

Did this mean that the library was being expanded? But how? And to where? Was the courtyard going to be converted into a new archive? That would be good news for the library... and bad news for nearly everyone else.

"Doubtless most if not all of you know the sad story of House Tul," Gustav continued. Delia did not know the Tuls personally, but she knew the story. Once a powerful House, over the last century, through a series of bad luck as well as mad decisions, the power and wealth of the ancient bloodline declined just as surely as the leaves fell off a tree in autumn.

Now, there were very few members of the house who still bore the name Tul, most descendants having married into other families, or having died off without any offspring, legitimate or not.

"Almost a decade ago, I bought Tul Manor. At that time, there were only two siblings who still bore the name, and were deeply in debt. Neither had any living children or descendants. Now, only the sister remains. I have been converting the manor and its grounds into a new library."

At this, several librarians looked at one another, eyes wide with interest, before the attention returned to Gustav, who now had a faint smile on his thin lips.

"There will be much more room in the manse, for everything. There will be a proper printing room..." Delia heard someone behind her hiss yes! "and more comfortable quarters for the resident librarians." This time Delia herself wanted to hiss out a yes of her own.

"And of course, in the future, should there be need for expansion, there will be ample room to do so, though I do not anticipate that happening anytime soon, at least hopefully not."

"So we're moving the library, then? What about the people here? Won't they find it troublesome to go to the new library for a book?" Devan asked, sounding as surprised as anyone else.

"Oh no, we will not be moving everything. The novels and some of our other books will remain here, for easy access. Several librarians will need to remain here as well. I have no desire to close the library here. My goal is simply to create a better archive of knowledge and study, free of... hindrances."

"Who will remain, and who will go?" Davin asked the question that was on everyone's minds.

"I feel that is best determined with volunteers, but I will say that we will need several archivists, and tutors, here."

"If I might be so bold as to say, I would prefer to stay here. I have been here for a long time, and at my age, it is not easy to contemplate such a move."

Gustav smiled benignly. "I understand, and I have no doubt you will run this library well in my absence."

"Thank you, my lord."

"I would like to move to the new library. Don't get me wrong, I have enjoyed my time here," Delia turned to Devan, "And you have been a very good mentor. But I think that I would be suited for the new library."

"I was actually hoping you would volunteer, Delia," Gustav commented. "Your language skills will be much needed, and welcome."

As the others started talking, deciding if they wanted to stay or go, Hilde nudged her friend.

"Won't this be exciting?" the younger woman gushed. Delia nodded, feeling a small pang of wistfulness. She'd lived here for a decade, and knew there would be things to miss about this place. She'd become long familiar with this library, and all its nooks and crannies. The scent of old books and new ink, seeped in the miasma of several centuries of knowledge, was a unique smell that could not be duplicated. She had volunteered to go to a new place, sight unseen.

o0o

Despite the inclement weather, Prince Gustav saw no reason to not start on preparations for the move right away. She picked up a book before wrapping it in cloth as tenderly as a mother might swaddle her baby. Most of the antique books would be going to the new library, and Delia was one of the people assisting in ensuring that they were packed properly.

This is really happening, she mused to herself. It was one thing to hear Gustav's announcement, and another to actually do make ready for the move. Since the announcement, she'd learned more about her destination. The manor itself would be the book repository, while smaller outbuildings would serve practical functions related to the archive. What was formerly the carriage-house had been expanded and converted to the printing building, with plenty of space and air so that the printers could work in a comfortable and well-lit space.

It certainly would be nice to enjoy all that space. It wasn't that the Palace was a poor place to live, but with so many people living or working in it, it was impossible for this place to feel like a proper home for her. Once the book was wrapped, she set it down carefully in the trunk, lining it up nearly with the other books already in it, before she moved on to the next book.

"Good morning," she heard a familiar voice say from behind her, and looked over her shoulder to see Cedric. It'd been nearly a week since she saw him, and she hated to admit it, but she'd missed him, at least some of the time. The rest of the time, she was happy for the peace. He was leaning against a partially-empty bookcase, his arms crossed loosely as he looked down at her.

She rose from her kneeling position, lifting her chin as she looked at him. He was dressed in Courly attire, wearing black leather boots and dark gray pants under a knee-length dark red velvet jacket embroidered with gold thread. The upper arms of the jacket were loose before tapering down slightly from below the elbow to halfway down his hands, and a bit of white was visible through the collar.

"Good morning, Sir Cedric. Is there a book you are looking for?" she asked politely, maintaining her demeanor as a librarian. Briefly, she wondered how he felt about the news of Gustav's library, and if he knew that she was one of the people who would be going with the Prince. He probably does, she thought to herself.

"I am looking for something, but it's not a book." He fixed his eyes upon hers, and she felt a shiver pass through her.

"Then you are in the wrong place," she replied lightly.

"I think not, since I'm looking right at you."

"Hmph. I have work to do."

"What, no kind words for me? No kiss or hug?" he teased.

"Cedric, please." Her tone was sharper than she had intended.

"So, that's it? You're just going to keep running away from me? I suppose you'll be moving to the new library so we won't have any more meetings like this." he half-joked, placing his hand over his chest and feigning a hurt tone.

She stared at him icily. "I would not make such an important decision regarding my life and future just to spite someone."

His face became serious, and his hand dropped from his chest before he approached her. She took a step back.

"I have work to do, and I'm sure you do, as well."

"Can you not spare me a few minutes?" he asked gently. She hugged the book to her chest before turning to face him.

"Speak your piece, then." Delia replied, determined to get it over with.

"My feelings for you have not waned the least bit. I want very much to be with you." He reached out to touch her face, and she stiffened a bit, fighting the temptation to lean into the caress. She looked away from his face, fixing her gaze on the gold threading along his collar.

"What's the matter? There's no reason for you to say no to me, now that I know your secret. So why hide from me?"

"Because I enjoy my freedom," Delia replied, lifting her gaze back up to his face, looking him in the eyes.

"Mmm. But what about pleasure?" he purred. Unbidden, thoughts swirled in her mind of the things he could do to elicit pleasure from her body... his hands... mouth... thick organ... even simply his body next to hers, sharing its warmth with her own. She tried to fight the warmth that rose in her cheeks, and found it a failing effort.

"Aha," Cedric's voice dropped even lower, "Are you content to go back to your old life? A body such as yours, was made to give and receive pleasure."

"Please..." A low sigh made its way between her lips as her gaze moved downward again. She felt his lips on her forehead as she caught a hint of his scent.

"Please what? Let me give you the joy you so richly deserve." His hand cupped the side of her face, his thumb sliding along her cheekbone.

She grabbed his wrist, stilling the caress of his hand. "You want to pleasure me so badly?"

She saw a spark of hope in his eyes, and he nodded. "Let me show you how good I can be to you."

"Only if it's on my terms," she shot back evenly. A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips before he nodded.

"Tell me what you want, and I will give it to you."

She was tempted to tell him that she wanted him to fuck off, but his words and caresses had stirred her arousal, and she recalled how her self-ministrations could only take her so far into the realm of pleasure. He'd taken advantage of her before, and a devious plan formed itself within her mind as she felt him nibble along her ear.

"I want you to pleasure me."

"Mmm..." His lips traveled from her ear to the curve of her jawline just below it. "Then it is pleasure you shall receive. Would you like it now?"

"Now? But we're in the library, and..." she said, her voice trailing off.

"There are plenty enough places for us to steal some time together. I can cast a spell that will silence our noises, and create distractions to ensure our privacy."

"Then do it."

Cedric pulled back a bit, smiling down at her before he took her hand, leading her past the bookcase. Like her, he was well acquainted with the archives, and he was able to quickly locate a bend in the passage that led to a corner where some of the oldest books were stored, in the restricted section. Most of the books were gone, signifying the fact that they were already packed for their new home. There was enough ambient light from the window down the hall to provide this nook with ample illumination, and Delia felt herself ache with the now familiar warmth as she looked up at him, her heart pounding, a book still clutched to her chest with her other arm.

Cedric stood in the passageway that led to their refuge, closing his eyes and raising his hands. She was silent as he wove his magic, murmuring several unintelligible syllables before she felt a small whoosh of air. His fingers splayed out and he concentrated for several more moments before lowering his hands.

"You know, our intimacy in bed was - and is - something I enjoy very much, but I think there's something rather appropriate about us sharing pleasure amidst the books, hmm?" he asked as he turned back to her.

"I suppose. I'd never thought about it before," she blushed. She knew that copulation could happen in a wide variety of places, but the library had always seemed... sacrosanct to her.

"Well, as they say, variety is the spice of life." He took a step forward, and she took one back.

"Give me your word," Delia whispered, feeling stupid for not having secured a promise before she let him take him to this hiding place.

"My word for what?"

"That I decide what happens, and that you will comply."

"Delia, didn't I promise you before that I wouldn't hurt you?"

She gave him a level stare, needing no words to remind him of what had happened during their last night together.

"Very well, then." He swept himself into a bow. "The librarian is mistress of her domain, and I am but her humble subject."

"If or when I tell you to stop, you will obey."

"You have my word."

That said, Delia still could not help but feel wary as he closed in on her, and her back bumped against the shelves.

"I believe we won't be needing this," Cedric stated as he tugged the book from her embrace, laying it to rest on the shelf before leaning down to press his lips to hers. She felt a delicious thrum through her loins, as if she was a harp and Cedric had just expertly plucked a string. She more felt than heard her name whispered against her lips as his kisses became hungrier, and she placed her hands on his chest, further confirming that yes, he was here with her. She found the solidity of his presence to be oddly reassuring, and when his tongue gently probed against her lips, they parted to admit him.

Her hands slid to his shoulders, feeling the velvet under her palms as she dug her fingers into the fabric, pulling him in closer. He was all too eager to respond, his tongue sliding along her own with an easy familiarity as his other hand slid along her side before his arm encircled her middle, pressing her body to his own.

As the kiss continued, one of her hands slid to the back of his neck, and she lightly rocked her crotch against his thigh.

o0o

Almost regretfully, Cedric broke the kiss, looking down at Delia. Her cheeks were rosy, and her eyes half-lidded with obvious enjoyment at his attentions. Feeling her grind against him reminded him of his own ache.

He took several moments to simply study her. Her dark brown tresses were braided back in one long, simple plait, which if the possibility arose, would be incredibly fun to grab on, or gently tug. The limited light gave the gold in her hazel eyes a smoky amber sheen, and the green took on the tint of rich moss in the shade.

The had that had been touching her face made its way down to her covered breast, and he rubbed the right mound gently, feeling her arch into his touch. Further aroused by her compliance, he massaged the breast more firmly, his palm moving in circular motions as her head lolled back against the shelf.

"Mmm... how's that?" he whispered, leaning down to kiss the smooth plane of her neck as her chin lifted up.

"Wonderful," she breathed, and he smiled into her throat. The had that had been on her back moved down to her rear end, and his other hand soon joined the first, cupping and squeezing her buttocks. Her arms wrapped around his neck as she kissed him, and he was all too happy to surrender to her roving lips.

Using his grip on her, he pulled her up to his bod, feeling her raise one of her hands to run her fingers through his hair. When she broke the kiss, he offered her a warm smile.

"How I've missed you. How I've ached for you."

"Mmm. I can see that." Now on her tiptoes, she reached down for one of his hands, pulling it to her front, and he shivered in anticipation as he felt her arousal through the layers of clothing that covered her.

He released her grip on her rear end so that she could stand properly, and smirked down at her. "As eager as I am to pleasure you, I'm afraid that the presence of clothing makes the prospect to be... difficult, if not impossible."




Sorcerer's Treasure Ch. 09



"Oh, really. Can't you use your magic? Surely a few layers of fabric won't be a hindrance to you?" Delia shot back with a teasing grin.

"Magic can accomplish many things... but I prefer to use my own skills," he shot back. She let out a small laugh before starting to pull her skirt up, revealing shapely legs bound in loose-fitting dark green leggings. Once the fabric of her skirt and tunic were tucked to the side in her belt, she was about to undo the front of her pants when Cedric reached out, gently grabbing her hands.

"Allow me?" he asked. She nodded, and with deft fingers, he loosened the material and reached in to rub her crotch, hearing her give out a soft hiss as she pressed her hips down. His thumb firmly traced the outline of her semi-hard flesh as his finger reached past the base of said flesh to find the moistening cleft between her legs, feeling its heat through the thin fabric of her smallclothes.

"Have you missed me as much as I missed you?" he asked gently, continuing his languid ministrations, ignoring his own need for the moment. When she didn't reply, he stopped his ministrations, and she slowly leaned her head back down to look at him.

"Well?" Cedric asked.

"I admit nothing," she shot back.

"Tsk, why must you be so cruel?"

She smiled and said nothing, and he smirked back at her before he resumed his intimate caresses, rubbing her pussy slowly but firmly. He stood in front of her so that their bodies were only a couple of inches apart, before he placed a kiss on her forehead, and was gratified to feel one hand reach up to touch his face, cupping his cheek. Her other hand reached to undo the buttons of his jacket, and he nodded his assent.

The velvet parted to reveal a white shirt under a jerkin, and he shrugged the jacket off, placing it on one of the empty shelves. The jerkin was black leather, with silver buttons along the front, and extended to his elbows and just below his groin. It was tailored well, accentuating his physique without being tight.

"I will grant you this, Cedric. You certainly know how to dress well," the librarian commented, and Cedric basked under her admiration.

After several moments, he returned his attention to her, now pushing her underwear down so that he could touch her without anything in the way. Both parts of her were quick to come to full readiness, and his own pants felt too tight.

"Get on your knees," Delia whispered.

"Pardon?" he asked, having for a long moment been lost in the pleasure of feeling her in his hand.

"On your knees. I am in need of pleasure, and since you're so eager to give it..."

Despite the needy throb of his own manhood, the sorcerer grabbed his jacket from the shelf and folded it looselt before setting it on the wooden floor. He slid to his knees, resting his buttocks on his heels as he looked up at her. He tugged her lower clothes down a bit more, baring her thighs and further emphasizing her arousal. His hands slid along her thighs and the vee where her torso attached to her legs, the warm valleys leading down to her treasure. Just below a neatly-trimmed thatch of dark brown hair, her erection rose, stiff and proud, demanding his attention. Bringing his hand up to it, he slowly slid down the soft foreskin, leaning down and breathing out onto the swollen crown.

A shuddering whimper met his ears, and he brought his tongue out, flicking it along the tip. He glanced up to meet her eyes, seeing her face in a mix of impatience, and enjoyment.

He pressed his tongue along the slit, rubbing it in a firm but slow manner, and when he heard his name hissed out, he smirked. All in due time, my love, he thought as he started to kiss the tip of her cock, gently sucking around the sensitized opening. His hand slid down her shaft, giving her several slow pumps and enjoying the feel of her within his grip.

Under his measured attentions, he had her leaking a bit of precum, and as he looked up at her, he licked each drop as it seeped out. Her stare was glassy, and she was blushing fiercely, one hand on her hip as she rested the other one on the shelf behind her to steady herself.

He shot a smirk at her before engulfing the head of her erection within his mouth, firmly swirling his tongue around it. His name met his ears in another hiss, louder and more needy than before. The hand that had been on her hip moved to the top of his head as she loosely tangled her fingers into his hair, and her head lolled back for several moments as he felt her wiggle her hips a bit, fighting back the urge to thrust into his mouth. Yes, that's it, Cedric mused as he savored the moment, and the fact that he had her here with him, submitting to his attentions.

His own cock continued its insistent ache, and he reached down with his free hand to cup and massage his groin to give it some relief, when he felt Delia's grip on his head tighten.

"Nuh-huh. You need to be using that hand on me, I have other parts, as you will recall."

Cedric smirked around the mouthful of cock he had, but obeyed her, his fingers trailing up her thigh before finding her womanhood, which was now seeping as well. He slid his fingers along the lips in several measured strokes before sliding one finger in, feeling her clench around him. He slid in another finger, welcoming the familiarity of her slick velvet confines as he slowly thrust his fingers, taking more of her into his mouth.

"Yes, Cedric... that's it... harder..." she moaned as he took more of her into his mouth, taking in a few millimeters more with each bob until he had the entirety of her past her lips, his nose brushing against her pubic thatch. He smelled her arousal and feminine musk, along with the faintest hint of perfume. Whether she had applied any to her groin or elsewhere on her body, he was unable to discern, not that it mattered much at the moment. Rubbing the underside of her shaft with his tongue as he sucked, he was well-rewarded with sweet sounds and sighs of praise and encouragement.

The had that had held her cock was no longer needed for that task, so his hand rested on her hip, squeezing and caressing it under the drape of her gathered skirt, holding onto her for leverage, and to feel the twist and buckle of her hips as he continued his task.

"Oh gods..." she groaned as he curled his fingers in a come-hither gesture, pressing against that spot within her that multiplied her pleasure. His groin continued to ache, but since he was attending to her so ardently now, he was able to distract herself with the sounds and movements she made in response to the skilled ministrations to her tender flesh. She raised her other hand to a shelf above her head, gripping it firmly as her back arched, and he pressed harder with his fingers, almost ruthlessly plundering her with them.

A sharp gasp burst from her throat before she bit her lower lip, muffled whimpers meeting his ears as he started humming, knowing that the vibrations would drive her arousal even higher. Given how much pleasure she was able to receive, Cedric almost envied her for the fact that she had more erogenous areas to exploit than the average person.

"That's it..." she gasped, arching her back more sharply, her heels lifting off the floor as she thrust her hips at him, and he continued his pace, determined to remind her just how good it was to be with him.

A sudden cry filled the nook as Delia almost fell forward, some of her weight suddenly pressing on top of his head before she quickly righted herself, leaning back against the bookcase, panting slowly as she caught her breath, her eyes closed, her mouth slightly open.

Cedric swallowed his reward, continuing to suck slowly as he teased out the last drops of her orgasm, his tongue laving along her shaft and keeping her hard as he cleaned her off. Mmm. He'd actually missed the taste of her jism, and licked his lips as he lifted his head, letting her cock slide free from its all too enjoyable confines.

"Delia..." he whispered, squeezing his hip.

"Mm?"

"If you would bend over, I can lick the rest of you clean," he offered. She nodded slowly, and he continued to finger her casually, feeling her clench and tremble around him as he kissed along her thighs, pushing her skirts and girdle up so he could do the same around her navel.

Finally, she gently pushed his head away, and he withdrew from her, sucking his fingers as he did so. She turned away from him and bent over, pulling her skirt to the side to expose her lovely backside, placing her hands and elbows on a shelf, her head just below the shelf above it. She looked over her shoulder at him before wiggling at him, and he bit his lip as his arousal sent him a searing reminder of its need. It felt as if he was going to burst from his pants.

He shuffled forward several inches on his knees until he was situated comfortably behind her, and proceeded to do just as he had promised, his tongue swiping along her outer labia as he heard a coo of delight. That part of the task accomplished, he moved on to her intimate opening, cleaning her in long, sensuous licks that he was certain had her toes curling in her shoes.

o0o

It was just as she knew ir would be. Masturbation might bring temporary relief, and give her a release when she really needed it, but it was a poor substitute for the attentions of a dedicated lover. Delia pressed her forehead against her sleeve as she felt his tongue delve within her, and she felt her cock start to ache again.

This has to stop, she thought to herself. At this point, she was so supine in pleasure that it would be difficult to resist Cedric when he inevitably made his own needs known. The thought of him fucking her was getting her aroused again, and she almost regretted even allowing him to pleasure her. She took a deep breath, steeling herself as she felt his ministrations slow down before he moved from her womanhood, placing loving kisses along her rear end, massaging the cheeks.

"Stop," she whispered. It seemed to take all of her willpower to make this simple utterance.

"Hm?" he asked as he raised his head, seeing her face in the shadows under the shelf.

"Stop," she said again, this time in a slightly firmer voice before she moved to the side and lifted her head, standing upright. Cedric rose to his feet as well, and she imagined that after that time on his knees, it was a relief to him.

"Did you enjoy yourself?" he asked.

"I do believe you know the answer to that." She leaned back against the bookcase for several moments, gathering her strength, and willing her arousal to abate. She idly rubbed her thighs, letting her head loll for several moments before she looked back at him.

"Are you ready for more?" he asked, his gaze clouded over with lust as his eyes moved along her body and its exposed flesh.

"Hmm... perhaps. What would you do to me, in the library?"

"I would bend you over one of the desks... let my fingers plumb your depths until you are wet and dripping... before sliding into you... and pound away at you. Or I would pick you up and press you against one of these bookcases and have my wicked way with you, your legs wrapped around my middle as I bounce you up and down on me, feeling your luscious body writhe against mine..." Cedric stated. The mental images that his words provoked threatened to erode her resolve, and she swallowed thickly. Quickly, she diverted her mind to images that she knew would disturb her, like that time she'd seen a baby crowning from a woman that her grandmother was attending to, or the time she'd seen a broken leg with bone protruding from the skin...

It was no easy task to remain focused on these images with her sex still tingling from orgasm, and the promise of more from Cedric, but she took a deep breath, steeling herself, and fortuitously, she felt her arousal begin to abate.

"My, you have quite the fertile imagination, don't you, Cedric? I would think that you have had plenty of fantasies through the years..." Delia started to tug up her underwear and leggings, glancing at her would-be lover with half-lidded eyes, speaking in a deliberately casual drawl.

"Mmm... yes, I have," Cedric freely admitted as he looked down at her, a flicker of confusion passing across his features as he saw her covering herself up. His hair was loosely rumpled from where she had buried her fingers in it, and the look was rather becoming. "A few of them have become a reality, of course, but there are plenty of scenarios left that I am more than eager to try."

"Well, I need to be getting back to work," she replied, ignoring the slight ache in her pussy as she thought about the pleasures she'd shared with him, and the ones that he hinted at. She had to maintain control here. After what he'd put her through, she was in no mood to fall victim to him again. Her cock was softening, and she pushed it into her briefs before tying her pants closed..

"What? But Delia, I need you."

And I need more, Delia thought, biting back these words as she let her skirt drop back in place.

"You have a hand, as I recall. Or two of them. I also remember that you're skilled at using them, so..." She flitted her hand at him as she strode past him.

"You can't do this to me." He grabbed her arm, his need all too obvious in his tone.

"As you said before, I am the mistress of this domain. You gave me your word that when I wanted things to stop, you would comply."

He stared at her, and she could see that he was torn between honoring his word, and deciding to simply fuck it all and have his way with her nonetheless.

"... So I did," Cedric replied, swallowing as he stared at her. Oh, his frustration was so delicious, and the librarian had to stop herself from grinning widely.

"Hmm. Satisfying your own needs and leaving someone else in frustration..." She tapped her chin. "Turnabout is fair play, is it not?" With that, she reclaimed her book before she strode down the passageway to resume her work. To her relief, there appeared to be no one looking for her, so she simply wrapped the book she had been carrying, and continued to fill the trunk with more. The annex was silent, and Delia smirked faintly to herself, it wasn't hard to imagine what Cedric might be doing where she left him, but with his spell, she couldn't hear anything he was doing.

Finally, he emerged through the passageway and circled around the bookcase, looking down at her., his jacket back on, although he still looked a bit disheveled. She glanced back at him calmly, noting how flustered he appeared to be. He seemed about to say something, his lips twisting a bit. She raised her eyebrow. Finally, he inclined his head in a slight bow before he swept away, striding along the floor, his boots making a faint clicking sound whenever he stepped off one of the expansive area rugs onto the hardwood floor.

Delia allowed herself a small giggle before returning to her duties.



Sorcerer's Treasure Ch. 10



Quick note – While the people of the Ninelands follow a solar calendar, it is not the Gregorian calendar. New Years' starts around the winter solstice, as well as the first month of the year, called Firstmonth. The year ends on the last day of Twelvemonth. The months are divided into thirds, with ten days per week. The solstice days are an extra day at the end of each season, with the fifth extra day being New Year's. Leap days are piggybacked to the summer solstice as the New Year days are added to the winter solstice. Particularly religious people will also follow a calendar based off the number seven, but this is for personal use and is not enforced on society., much like various religions of today.

However, smaller increments of time (hours, minutes) are based off the same system we use.

o0o

Delia rose from her bed, sharp winter sunlight filtering into the room through the drapes she'd pulled across the window. Stretching her arms above her head, Delia luxuriated in the feel of the soft mattress under her body. It was far from the goose-down mattresses she'd heard that nobles owned, but it was certainly a step above the thin mattress she'd once slept upon. She lay there for several moments, blearily staring up at the wooden rafters of the ceiling before rolling out of bed, shivering a bit at the cold air before she pulled on a robe.

Walking over to the window and pushing the drape aside, she saw that the grounds were covered in a blanket of freshly-fallen snow, and the snow that had been shoveled several days before now resembled gently rolling hillocks along the pathways and edges of the courtyard.

It was now near the beginning of Twomonth, often one of the coldest months of the year despite the fact that the days were now getting longer. Nonetheless, she would look forward to taking a walk.

The Palace was a grand complex, but only the royal family could truly call it home, and even they had only a measure of privacy, what with the servants they employed and the guards that kept them safe. Anytime Delia left the library, there was usually a bustle of people going about on their errands and chores, and though she could retreat to the library or her own room for quiet, it simply wasn't the same as her grandmother's house. The morning bustle to get breakfast could be an arduous task sometimes, especially if the cooks made something particularly tasty that wasn't reserved for the royals.

Delia dressed at a leisurely pace before heading to the washroom to do her morning ablutions. She was alone, which was an exceedingly rare occurrence back at the Palace, and took her time washing her face and combing out her hair before pulling it back in a braid. It had indeed taken some time getting used to the quiet here at Tul Manor, where she was long familiar with the chattering of female servants as they used the washroom or lavatory.

Like morning ablutions, breakfast was a quiet and relaxed affair. Delia took some eggs, lightly-toasted bread, strawberry jam, and coffee before seeing Hilde wave to her, and she went to join her friend at the table, one of several in what had once been an informal dining room for the Tuls, but was now the meal room for the librarians. A little more than half of the staff currently occupied the room amongst the tables, having their morning sup. She heard one of the men grumbling about the snow.

Even with all the snow, Delia enjoyed it here. She'd only been here for about a week, and already this place felt like home. She had a bedroom with a pleasant view, and a study that by itself was nearly twice the size of her old bedroom. She almost couldn't believe her luck when she realized that all that space was meant to be hers, and had thanked Prince Gustav profusely for his generosity. All of the senior librarians were apportioned similar spaces, with men occupying two floors of one rear wing of the house, and Delia and the few other women occupying the upper floor of the opposite wing, with female servants taking up the first floor. Junior librarians or servants would share rooms, but even then, there was very little reason for anyone to complain. Each wing had their own common room, and Gustav had declared that they were free to roam the grounds, for a healthy body assisted a healthy mind, according to the Prince.

The main body of the house, all three floors, was dedicated to the library, though the bulk of the books were kept on the first floor. The second floor was apportioned into several sections, for classes or studying. It was clear that Gustav had planned this well, and the dilapidated old manor was given a new life.

Delia spread the jam on a sliced piece of bread, savoring the rustic yeast flavor mixed with the fruit preserves as she glanced out the window. At that time, the space before her was empty, but Gustav had said in the spring that he wanted to have a vegetable garden put in there, and even have some diary animals and chickens, so that there wouldn't be as much of a need to bring in supplies from the city. One of the librarians had a passion for horticulture, and was eager to assist the Prince in this undertaking.

"How are you liking it so far here?" Hilde asked.

"What do you think?" Delia shot back with a grin. The younger woman chuckled and nodded.

"You were at the Palace for a long time, weren't you?"

"A little over ten years, yes. I am grateful to the Prince for giving me a chance, but that place simply was not... home."

"Is that so?" Delia heard a voice from behind her, and flinched before she turned around to regard Gustav.

"My lord!" she gasped, feeling a faint blush come to her cheeks. He smiled faintly.

"I quite agree with your sentiment. I much prefer this place, as well."

Delia let out a slow breath of relief. "I didn't mean to sound so impertinent..."

He waved his hand, shaking his head. He was clad in tasteful but simple clothing, looking less a Prince and more like the librarians he employed. "Truth is not impertinence. The Palace was built as a place to rule from. It has its usefulness, to be sure, but these uses are limited. For people such as you and me, such a place is... not quite fitting. So I decided to create a palace of learning."

Delia grinned at that and nodded.

"Besides, I've learned from long experience that happy workers are productive workers. Carry on," he stated, the princely side of his showing for these few moments before he walked out of the room.

o0o

"Come now, take a step away from that book and come outside with me!" Hilde said as she tugged on her friend's sleeve. Delia looked up and blinked.

"You've been hunched over that book all damn morning, now get up and stretch these legs!"

Delia blinked again and glanced outside the window, seeing her friend was right. It was now early afternoon. She'd worked almost nonstop since her morning sup, having had a couple of cups of tea.

The cold air bit her face, but after several moments of sunlight on her skin, she barely noticed the temperature. The openness of the grounds still managed to impress her. After living so long in the city, it almost felt as if there was too much space. The manor sat well away from the crowded city, on a slope that offered a view of Sapphire Point. To the left, she could see the Palace, sitting on the rocky finger of land that gave Sapphire Point its name. This same finger curled partly around a harbor which at the moment housed several ships. On the other side of the harbor, bluffs gave the city partial protection against storms and wind. Going around to the back of the manor opened up a view of hills that ascended into gently-sloped mountains, particularly around the right side.

As she was lost in contemplation, a snowball hit her back, and she spun around to see Hilde grinning mischievously, already balling up another snowball in her hands.

"Oh, you!' Delia shrieked, leaning down to pack some of the light, fluffy snow into a projectile. Swinging her arm back, she just barely managed to dodge Hilde's second snowball before throwing her own, which hit her companion in the arm.

"Oh no, I am hit!" Hilde gave out a dramatic wail and collapsed into the snow, her woolen cloak pooling around her. Delia grinned and made another snowball, her boots crunching across the snow as she held it near the blonde's face, making as if she was going to drop it right there.

"Don't you dare!" the younger woman said in mock indignation before quickly rising, and tackling her friend to the ground. They tumbled around a bit, chasing one another and throwing snowballs, their laughter filing the space before Delia stopped, seeing Gustav in the doorway that led to the communal dining room, leaning against the wall to his side, his arms crossed. She wondered if she'd angered him by not being at the books.

"Is something the matter?" she asked politely, and Hilde stopped ans turned, regarding their observer.

"Oh, not at all. Just remembering when I was little and playing with my brothers and sisters like this. Please, don't stop on my account." He smiled a little. "After all, as I have said before, a healthy body..."

"...Provides the foundation to a healthy mind?" Hilde finished.

"Exactly. I should encourage the other librarians to come and play outside, as well. All work and no play..." He stepped out into the sunlight, his brown hair glinting shades of dark gold in the sun. Despite his apparent stance on health, Cedric remained pale. Delia was certain that his opinion of the mind and body came from his childhood experiences. It was said that he was sickly as a child, often beset with asthma. Even now, Gustav was lean in build, and was slightly shorter than average, which could make him look younger than his actual age.

"I'd like to see Roland in a snowball fight!" Hilde chortled, referring to the perpetually sour-faced archivist. Delia could not recall ever seeing a smile on his face, or anything close to it. It looked like he always had a lemon slice, or something worse, in his mouth, and when he spoke, he barely moved his lips.

"There's a first time for everything," Gustav responded cheerfully. He paused for a moment before he beckoned to Delia, and she approached him.

"I wish to talk to you later this afternoon. I presume you intend to continue your translations after you're done indulging in this fresh air."

"Absolutely, my lord."

He gave her a brief nod before retreating into the building, his cloak swishing behind him. Delia stared after him for a moment, wondering what he could possibly want, before a snowball hit her side, and she grinned as she turned back to Hilde. "That's not fair, hitting me when I'm distracted."

"All's fair in love and war," the other woman cheerfully responded, and Delia smirked before she chased her friend.

A couple of hours later, spent from her excursion, Delia settled behind the desk, surveying the spread of papers before her. Despite the relatively short days, there was ample light for a couple more hours work without a lamp. One of the improvements that Gustav had done to Tul Manor was the enlargement of select windows, to provide ample light to those within their vicinity. Without the tall walls of the Palace surrounding them with shadow at certain times of the day, there was more direct sunlight. She took a deep breath, inhaling the faint scent of lemon polish and newly-cut wood.

She missed the musty smell of the old library, but supposed this place would take on that scent in due time as it became more lived-in.

Turning a page of the book she was currently translating, she pulled out a fresh sheet of paper, setting the preceding one aside in a neat pile with the other pages she'd already translated. Translating was more than simply finding equivalent words, it was also about making the text accessible to would-be readers without losing the feeling, or subtler meanings of the original text. At times, she would add notes to the margins of the paper for future reference, and the printers would add these notes to the bottom of the page in subscripts.

She looked up as she heard footsteps, and saw the Prince approach the desk. The original translation would be bound in its own book and archived with the other hand-written translations.

"Sometimes I envy your ease at understanding different languages. I can understand some of the Dheim language, but the Atamaaiese language completely evades me but for a few words, like 'hello' and 'thank you'," Gustav said as he glanced at the Atamaiese script in the book she was working on. "So I'll leave the study of languages to you."

She smiled at that, easily understanding why the Atamaiese language was hard to understand. Dheim used almost all of the same letters that was used in the Ninelands lingua, but Atamaiese had a completely different set of characters, formed with quick strokes instead of longer lines and curves, and followed its own set of grammar rules.

"Anyway, one of my goals for this library is to have students come here to learn from us, and for us to learn from them. That's one reason why I want you to compile your own translation dictionary, in time."

"Yes, my lord." Delia rested her chin on her hand. Though Gustav didn't intend for this library to be a full-fledged university, he still wanted to host a limited amount of students and scholars here for higher education. Since her specialty was languages, and in due time, she was expected to create her own dictionary. That would not be for a long time, though, as such a project would require more years of study and mastering languages, as well as the history behind the cultures.

"There is a good chance that I will have a couple of people from Dheim, and possibly one from Atamai, here by the end of winter. As I understand, they have at least some command of the Ninelands language, but I believe they will also enjoy having someone here who knows their mother tongues as well."

"That would be a learning experience for me, my lord. I read and write these languages better than I can speak them!"

"Then they can practice our lingua, and you can practice theirs, or interpret for me."

"I look forward to the opportunity, my lord." She smiled at him. Most of what she'd learned of other languages came from translation dictionaries, having a sharp mind for memorization. This was further augmented with tutors who taught her the finer points of these languages. However, she welcomed the opportunity to practice her skills, especially with the spoken word.

"That's exactly what I was hoping to hear. I remember when I first met you. You were so eager to learn, and it gladdens my heart to see that has not changed."

"You are too kind, my lord."

"There is no need to say that so much," Gustav gently corrected. "I may be a prince, but I must admit, it gets tiring to be referred to as such so many times. I'm much more of a scholar than I am a prince. I prefer to reserve that title for formal or public occasions. Being called that here makes me feel like I am being set apart from my fellow scholars."

"That is interesting. I've long thought that you preferred to rule over books, not people." Delia mentally scolded herself after that, imagining that she sounded trite, but Gustav's chuckle told her otherwise.

"Think that way if you please, but call me by my name, as I do you and the others, or call me sir. I would like to think that you see me as more of who I am, not my title, especially considering how long you have been working for me."

"It's hard not to," Delia admitted. "You have been a very good patron, and you need not doubt my loyalty, but the fact that you're a prince is something that's... always there. Even here, in your palace of learning."

"Old habits die hard, hm?" He paused, smiling faintly. "Palace of learning? You know, that's hardly an inappropriate name for this place."

"Yes, and thank you... sir," she finally commented, catching herself before saying 'my lord'.

"That's better. I will leave you to your translation."

o0o

When Delia had called the new library a palace of learning, she had not really been off the mark. While Prince Gustav intended for the library to be a repository of knowledge, he also wished to not only accumulate knowledge, but foster its development. For that purpose, he'd selected Delia and several other librarians to a rank he'd newly designed. Delia was no longer a mere librarian, she now held the title of Scholar; her previous duties as a librarian would be gradually reduced so that she had more time to focus on her designated field of work. Though she enjoyed her work, the change was something she looked forward to. It gave her more of a sense of purpose in her life, something beyond simply organizing books and making them accessible.

For someone who had no expectation of having a normal life, she welcomed this opportunity. She closed her eyes, feeling the sunlight on her face. Despite the brisk temperature, there was barely a breeze, so the winter weather was pleasant. Her steps took her around the property, following the beaten-snow path.

"Delia?" She heard her name called out gently, and turned to see the Prince. Like her, he was dressed against the weather, though his head was bare.

"Do you mind if I join you?" he asked lightly. She was about to remind him that he was a Prince and didn't need to ask anyone for permission, before she reined in that thought.

"Not at all, sir," she replied. He caught up to her within a minute, going at a casual pace before slowing down just a bit to keep in step with her. She wondered if he wished to discuss something with her, or if he just wanted to walk and have some company.

"It is nice to walk, and not be hampered by walls," Gustav commented after a couple of minutes.

She let out a small chuckle. "It does take some getting used to. There are times when I wonder where the walls are, and then I have to remember where I am."

"Hearing that makes me all the more glad that I endeavored upon this project. It's been a lifelong dream of mine. Well, almost that long," he said with a small smile.

"I know you bought this old manor several years ago, but..."

"Ever since I was a boy, I've always preferred the library to being in Court. I found books to be better company than most people, and more educational, as well."

Delia could not help but smile at that. "What is Court like, if I may ask?"

"Boring," Gustav replied as they continued walking. "To me, at least, the whole affair just seems to be a lot of exchanging of favors, and seeing what you can get from others, how much you can get from them while offering them as little in return as you can while maintaining the veneer of politeness and civility."

"... Really? That bad?" She paused for a moment to wonder how Cedric viewed the same thing. But then, as she'd seen in her acquaintance of both men, they were of different characters.

"Yes. Most men would bemoan being a third son, but I find it suits me well. It gives me much more time and freedom to pursue my interests." The Prince was the third son, and sixth child, of King Staber VIII. His two older brothers were both well-liked, and partially for that reason, an intense rivalry existed between them. Unlike Gustav, the second Prince showed just as much, if not more, political ambition than their older brother, and it was no great secret that he resented his position as 'spare' behind the heir.

Gustav was all too happy to not be part of this sibling rivalry, and found much more productive uses for his time and energies.

"The Palace library is a fine resource, but even as a child, I had the feeling that it was somewhat... limited, and not simply in space. As I mentioned before, the Palace was built as a place to rule from. It was my vision to have a place where people could learn and study, without any interference from those who have different ambitions."




Sorcerer's Treasure Ch. 10



"If I may say so, you should give this place a proper name. Palace of Learning is a fine metaphor, but it doesn't sound,... quite impressive to outsiders." All the Great Houses, and most of the smaller Houses, gave their homes names, which were generally associated with that House's sigil, or some particular feature of their holdings.

Gustav laughed softly at that. "I can't say that I disagree. What would you suggest?"

"It depends on what you want to convey when people speak of it. There are many lovely words you can use. Citadel. Temple, Stronghold. Haven. Sanctuary... Of course, you could always go for something more unique. Like say, Bookkeep."

He stopped, staring at her thoughtfully. "Bookkeep? That's a... creative name." There was a faint edge of amusement in his tone, but she was relieved at the lack of condescension or snideness in his response.

"I came up with it only a moment ago. I'm sure I can come up with better ones."

"No rush, Delia. The proper name will reveal itself in time." They continued walking, sharing an easy silence for several minutes. Finally, he spoke again. "As much as I have enjoyed this discussion about the new library, I actually wanted to talk to you about something else."

"What would that be?"

"I must be honest, Delia, but I would like to preface this with telling you that I like and respect you as a follow scholar."

Delia slowed her pace by a fraction as she turned her head to glance at him with curiosity, and he continued as he stared back calmly.

"I admire your intelligence and work ethic. However, I must admit that I have come to admire other things about you."

She was unable to speak immediately. Was there any possible way for her to misunderstand what he was saying? Was the Prince actually interested in her? How many women, noble and common, would vie for a Prince's – even a lesser one – Interest?

"Have I offended?" Gustav asked gently. She blinked and shook her head.

"No. I'm surprised, to be sure. But no one should feel offense at someone expressing their interest." At least, as long as that person was polite and respectful, she thought, but felt no need to mention that. "I... would like you to clarify, though."

He smiled faintly. "Should I be more... blunt?"

"You might as well be."

"I would like to take you to bed." His tone was placid, almost as if he were speaking of the weather.

"So... it is not courtship you speak of?"

"No. Does that disappoint you?"

She shook her head. "I just wanted to be assured of your intentions, sir."

"Do you think less of me for it?"

She blushed more deeply. "I believe that you and I are aware that there are people who would frown upon this sort of arrangement." She took a deep breath. "However, I am hardly one to judge others on that sort of thing, within reason." She came to a stop, the two of them now a fair distance from the manse, although still on the property. "I am flattered that you would find me attractive..." The young woman hesitated. Though Gustav was discreet, he, like Cedric, had taken lovers in the past, and that was a fact she was aware of. If every rumor she heard was true, he had no discernment between the highest-born noblewomen and the commonest of the servants.

"But, what?" Gustav inquired, standing in front of her.

"I wouldn't wish to offend..."

"If I can be blunt with you, then I would ask the same of you."

"There are others you have taken to bed." She paused as he raised his eyebrow. "Not that I wish to pry into your history. But if I were to accept, and when you tired of me..."

"Ah." He raised a hand, motioning for her to stop. "Your work would not be affected. What happens in the bedroom... would stay in the bedroom. We are both intelligent adults, and I do not doubt that if we were to do this, we could maintain a working relationship."

"Is this something you've done before?"

"Yes." Gustav stated this calmly, leaving her no doubt he was telling the truth,. She thought of the pleasures she'd shared with Cedric, and wondered how Gustav would compare.

"As seeing that I haven't heard any great scandals involving you, I take it that this sort of arrangement has been successful." It felt almost surreal to be having this sort of discussion with anyone, let alone a Prince.

"The fact that you're even asking these questions rather than simply falling into my bed greatly improves my already esteemed opinion of you."

"You flatter me, my lord." She flashed him a brief, shy smile.

"Think about it, Delia. I won't ask for a decision right away. Do not let my position as a Prince cause you to feel pressured into anything. I have found, to my sorrow, that my position is capable of causing undue troubles not just for me but for others. I would like to know one thing, though. Do you find me attractive? Or at least, pleasant?"

Habit told her to tell him no, to dissuade him from nursing any further interest in her. After all, there was her... uniqueness. She stared at him for several moments. He was a pleasant and friendly enough person, and she could honestly say she liked him as a fellow scholar. Had she been an ordinary female, her response to his proposition almost certainly would have been yes.

"Certainly. Otherwise we wouldn't still be talking about this."

At that, he grinned at her. "Well then, shall we continue our walk? We don't need to talk if you're not up to it, I simply want to enjoy the fresh air." He offered her his arm, and she took it.

o0o

Cedric dismounted from his horse, and his pupil was quick to follow. After Garrick dismounted his own horse, they let the stable-hand take them away, the breath of beasts and groom weaving around their face in a fine mist in the frigid air. The path to the front door of the house was so well-packed that he did not feel the least bit of crunching under his boots as he made his way.

He welcomed the warmth of the foyer as he closed the door behind him, surveying his surroundings. It was the first time he'd been here since the library was officially opened, and he casually unbuttoned his cloak, letting it hang open as he made his way further into the building, seeing the books and shelves through the large, arched doorways on either side of the hall. As soon as one of the librarians took notice of them, he hastened over to them, regarding them with a quick bow. Cedric recognized him, though he could not immediately place the name.

"Greetings, my lord. What brings you here?"

"Prince Gustav has invited me here for an audience. Where can I locate him?"

"He should be in his private study. I have not seen him all morning."

"Very well. You may return to your duties." As the librarian returned to the shelves, he turned to Garrick. "I would suggest you acquaint yourself with this place. I trust you to behave yourself in my absence."

"I don't need to be told to behave."

"I'm not so sure about that, because apparently, someone is displeased with you," Cedric pointed out. He glanced towards Hilde, who had been about to walk past them with several books in her arms. She was staring at the young man with thinly veiled distaste, and the young man had the good grace to look away with a faintly sheepish expression.

"Good afternoon, Lady Hilde," Cedric said with a slight incline of his head. Her expression softened slightly, and she regarded him with her own nod, returning his pleasantry. "How are you taking to this new library?" he inquired.

"Quite wonderfully."

"That is good to know. I can see you're busy, so I should leave you to your duties, hmm?"

The young woman continued past them, but not before regarding Garrick with a sharp glare.

"And what happened between the two of you?" Cedric asked.

"Nothing. Just womanly fickleness."

Cedric remained silent for a moment. "Go find something to read."

o0o

Delia was sitting in the study room that had been assigned to her, notes and several books spread out before her. In anticipation of the visiting foreigners, she had come up with some questions about finer points of the Dheim and Atamai languages. It'd been far too long since she'd encountered a speaker of either language, and that was back when she'd still been learning them. There was a rapping on the door, and she looked up, wondering if it was Gustav, or perhaps a younger librarian seeking her assistance.

"Come in," she called out, setting her quill down. Unconsciously, her back became straighter as Cedric strode into the room. Impeccably dressed as he usually was, his presence did not fail to cause a stirring within the pit of her stomach. She knew that his coming to this place was inevitable, but it was still a small – but not unpleasant – shock to see him. She did not rise to her feet despite the difference in their status, because she was feeling confident. After her success with him the last time she'd seen him, she was reluctant to give up whatever power she might still hold over him.

"How have you been?" she asked politely as she saw him do a quick look-over of the room. A faint look of disappointment passed over his face, and she could see why – there was no other chair in here. The room wasn't tiny, but it was still modestly-sized, and she wished to leave the space as open as she could.

"Busy, but such are my duties. I have been eager to see this library, though. It looks so much more inviting with books and people in it."

"You've been here before?" Delia asked with mild surprise. He approached the desk and sat on the edge of the sturdy plank of polished wood. If he leaned down, he could easily reach out and touch her face...

"Yes. I suggested several items to the Prince, and also made a sizable investment into this venture."

"... You did?" Delia asked quietly, trying to restrain the surprise that she didn't doubt he could hear in his voice.

"Why should that be so shocking to you, my dear?" He was now smiling faintly.

"I simply thought that this was all from the Prince."

He gave her a brief nod. "I did ask him to not mention my involvement in this. Given my position in Court, I felt it wise to not have the nobles be aware of my interest in this. Like the Prince, I wish for this place to be devoid of politics. I deal with rather enough of that at the Palace, thank you."

She smiled a little at that. "But I thought you thrived off intrigue."

"Heh. Believe it or not, I also enjoy simpler, purer pleasures." There was a hint of velvet to his tone, and she quickly looked away for a moment. She felt a thumb caress her cheek, and her hand went up to grab his wrist, stilling the movement.

"I take it you're here to peruse more than books."

"And why shouldn't I enjoy both?"

"I suppose." Slowly, but firmly, she pushed his hand away. "I have work to do, as you can see."

"Surely you would welcome a respite? Much as I know you enjoy this..." He gestured to the papers and books before her, "I know you also enjoy this..." He then gestured to his own body, his hand coming to a stop above his groin.

"So you're here to pleasure me?" she asked teasingly as she looked up at him.

"Mmm. I'm happy to do that, but don't think that I will do so without any reciprocation." Cedric raised his eyebrow, and she smirked back at him.

"Ah. It was worth a try," Delia muttered with mock chagrin. This time, it was Cedric's turn to smirk.

"That was clever, but you got your payback." He reached up to caress her cheek again. This time, she pushed his hand away more forcefully.

"Oh, I'm nowhere near done," she replied, lifting her chin. "You had that damned ring on me for a month. Don't think that one instance of quick pleasure makes up for that."

"What about the years of waiting?"

She gave him a deadpan stare for several moments before turning away and rising from her seat. "Things were so much better when we were nothing more than fellow scholars." She had enjoyed talking about books and knowledge with him. If there was some way to go back to that, to where they had been nearly equal, where station had almost not mattered, and their love of learning was mutual, and tied them together in a way that only fellow academics could understand...

"Is that how you really feel? If things had stayed how they were, you wouldn't have known pleasure."

"There is more to life than pleasure. And more important things than pleasure," Delia coolly responded. She reached for the door before she found herself pressed against the wood by his body, warm and hard against her own.

"As I stated before... why limit yourself to one? Have it all."

"That is impossible with you," she replied primly as she looked up at him.

"What do you mean?" he asked with a heated whisper as he took hold of her hand, quickly guiding it to his groin under his doublet, the flesh twitching as soon as her palm was pressed against it. As if of its own volition, her hand moved in a slow, tight circle, feeling his flesh stiffen against its confines. A low sigh escaped his throat "Oh gods... Delia..." He reached up to cup her face, and this time she did not resist his touch, allowing him to kiss her. As she expected, his lips were hot and hungry, tasting of her.

Her hand continued its steady work, kneading and rubbing against him until the only thing that kept him from stiffening further was his clothing. By that point, he was rocking his hips against her grip in a tight, rolling rhythm. She was tempted to undo his pants and stroke him to full erection, but past experience had taught her just how impassioned Cedric could become when he was at full arousal, especially if she was the one who had stimulated him to that point as he'd had her do several times in the past.

She felt the slickness between her legs as she remembered his fierce whisper from their last encounter. How he'd finger her as she was bent over a desk before he fucked her... or hoisting her up against the wall...

Resolutely, she removed her hand from under his doublet and let it slide up his chest, coming to a stop above his heart. When she pushed, he took a step back.

"What do I mean?" she asked, cocking her head as she looked up at him. She recalled Gustav's own words as he made his offering to her. He had given her a choice, and assured her of fair treatment. Recalling Gustav's soft-spoken voice, and his level, honest gaze reminded her of the way Cedric had made her feel when the sorcerer had been at his worst.

Cedric had never hesitated to exercise his power over her, whether with overt or subtler means. Despite the incredible pleasure she'd experienced at his hands, it had not come without cost. Given his refusal to offer her any further pleasure without recompense – and she'd only received any pleasure last time because it'd been apparent he expected turnabout – she didn't see how she could have a real future with him.

"I can not have it all, because you're unable, or unwilling to give it. Get out." She moved to the side, opening the door.

"Delia, please..." he whispered. He had the same hungry look in his eyes that he had last time.

She took a deep breath, steeling herself against his plea. "I told you to get out. As you said before, I am mistress in the library."

"This is not the same..."

"It is a library nonetheless," she replied quickly, cutting him off. "Cedric, understand this. I don't want to be with you."

"But, why?"

"You're so smart, why don't you think about it," came the curt reply. Wearying of his obvious reluctance to leave, she grabbed the collar of his doublet, sharply jerking him forward. For someone who prided himself on being able to read and manipulate people so well, Cedric was being astonishingly obtuse when it came to the woman he claimed to care for so much. Had she been in a more forgiving mood, she might have explained to him just how she felt, but his words had put her on the defensive.

"And then what?" he asked, allowing himself to be pulled forward, but not quite enough that she could slam the door in his face.

"Then perhaps you will become a better person," Delia quipped before giving him a quick shove. She leaned against the door just in case he might try to force his way back in, but she heard nothing for several moments before his footsteps receded down the hallway. Once she was sure he was gone, she realized that her heart was pounding. Had she made a mistake in being so rude to him?

Perhaps. But if he did lash at her out of spite, it would only prove her point further. She took a deep breath, thinking of the Prince. Her mind was made up.

o0o

Garrick was silent as he wandered amongst the shelves, perusing the titles along the spines of the books, and on occasion, pulling one out and giving its contents a cursory examination. On occasion, he would come across one of the librarians, and one inquired if he needed anything. He gave the young man a polite dismissal. Hilde was nowhere to be seen, and he could not help but be relieved about that. He simply hoped that Cedric would forget about the encounter, but he suspected he would have no such luck.

"Time to go," he heard his teacher say behind him in a curt tone. He put the book back on the shelf and turned to see a very frustrated-looking Cedric. He followed the older man out of the building after they'd donned their thick cloaks.

"Is something the matter, sir?" he asked politely. "Did the meeting with the Prince not go well?"

"The meeting was fine," came the short reply. Garrick opened his mouth for a moment before experiencing a rare moment where good sense prevailed, and sealed his lips before he nodded.



Sorcerer's Treasure Ch. 11



It was a warm day – at least, warm compared to the bitterly cold snap they had just had – and Gustav was taking the opportunity to enjoy some fresh air as he tilted his face towards the sun, feeling fleeting heat on his cheeks. There had been another blizzard, but this mercifully lasted but a day.

Spring cannot come soon enough, the Prince thought to himself. He couldn't wait for the snow to melt away so that the gardens could be planted. The orchard trees had already been planted the year before, while the manor was being worked on, and should bear fruit later this year. The manor had come with several acres of land, and he was determined to make use of them to increase the library's self-sufficiency. He'd already arranged for several poor farmers to come live here in the spring, where they would work in cooperation with the scholar who was studying agriculture and horticulture. It would be a laboratory of sorts, though only part of the allotted farmlands would be used for experimentation, the rest would be put to practical, proven methods.

He had high expectations for this undertaking, and several years of planning had gone into it. He knew the nobles were curious about the new library, and he'd had to fend off several inquiries for involvement in it. The only reason why he had trusted Cedric to be part of this project at all was because the sorcerer had long ago proven himself to be a serious scholar, and given his solemn word that his interest was entirely intellectual, his political ventures kept entirely separate.

"Delia!" he called out gently as he recognized the thick braid and dark woolen cloak ahead of him. She turned around, her cheeks rosy, a dead branch in her hand that obviously served as a walking stick for navigation through the freshly-fallen snow. He tromped through the snow as he followed her footprints, hearing the fluffy crunch as his steps enlarged the path she had made. The manor remained in view, but they were now well out of earshot, unless either of them decided to yell.

"Good afternoon. How was your day?" Delia asked solicitously as she turned to face him.

"It has been going well, thank you." Their progress was relatively slow due to working their way through a thick layer of newly-fallen snow. "And what about you?"

"It has been quiet. Not that I am complaining, of course."

"Yes, I know moving here took some getting used to. Not that I mind," Gustav replied. She smiled warmly at that. The small talk having been performed to a degree he felt appropriate, the Prince decided to move on to more meaningful topics.

"Have you given any consideration to my proposition?" he asked casually, not wanting to sound too earnest. It'd been a while since he'd shared his bed, and he genuinely liked Delia. He hadn't felt this way for her back then, but she'd matured into someone he had an easy respect for, and in his case, he judged potential lovers more on the basis of maturity, mutual respect and likeability than appearance.

He saw her pause, her eyebrows furrowing slightly in what he thought was uncertainty.

"Your proposition flatters me, and I admire you."

"But...?": he prompted gently. "I hope I have assured you that this would in no way affect our relationship otherwise."

"Oh, it's not that." She continued walking, and he remained at her side.

"Three are herbs which prevent the natural consequences of intimacy," he commented, figuring this might be what concerned her. He knew she was a bastard, and didn't doubt that she might be concerned about bringing another one in the world.

"I figured you employed such, otherwise..." She gave him a faint smile. He chuckled at that.

"I have more patience for books than I do children, I freely admit that."

"There's no shame in being honest." She paused, looking a bit stricken. Gustav was quick to the draw.

"Simply tell me the truth, and I will not judge."

"That is easy enough for people to say," she said quietly. He nodded in acknowledgment.

"Unfortunately, that is true. However, I am a more open-minded one than many."

"You would need a very open mind."

It was Gustav's turn to pause. "Delia, how long have you worked for me? You have shown yourself to be a kind and respectable person. I sincerely doubt there is anything you could have done that would change my opinion of that."

"It goes deeper than that. It's not something I have done. It is something I have no control over."

"A mage cast a curse upon you?"

"I don't know. Perhaps." 

"Delia, I am not going to command you to tell me. However, the longer we talk, the more curious I am. If there is something I can do to help you... if this curse can be undone..." He paused, thinking about Cedric. Doubtless the powerful court mage might be able to offer some remedy to the situation, whatever it may be. His mind turned over the various possibilities. What could it be that plagued Delia? Unending menstruation? A vagina that refused to open for a man? Extreme pain upon the insertion of anything, or feeling aroused? Being an avid reader with a fertile imagination, Gustav had no difficulty in coming up with different possibilities.

"Promise me you will not breathe a word, or hint at this, to anyone."

He looked her in the eye. "I would do you no harm through word or action, for whatever it is you are afraid to tell me. You have my word."

She took a deep breath, the sunlight illuminating her light tan skin. "I am a hermaphrodite," she stated in a voice barely above a whisper, her words steady if spoken a bit quickly.

He let the words sink in, wanting to make sure that he'd understood her correctly. He knew exactly what a hermaphrodite meant. He'd come across mentions of such in literature, though he'd never encountered one in person – at least, that he knew of.

"You mean to tell me that you are a woman with male parts," he said calmly.

She nodded mutely, seemingly surprised at his apparent nonchalance.

"Even if I hadn't made you a promise, I wouldn't have done anything you needed to fear," Gustav stated gently. "Nonetheless, I can understand why you would be reluctant to share that... fact."

Though she remained silent, he could see the relief on her face. He reached out to touch her arm.

"I still wish to share my bed with you," he clarified.

"Have you ever been with someone like me?"

He shook his head. "No, but I've heard of futanari. Have you ever heard of a land called Biyes?"

"Yes. It's a land that is so far away it may very well be at the end of the world. I would like to study their language some day. As it is, my knowledge of their history is quite limited as I have spent my time studying lands closer to us."

He smiled a little. "Then it is fortunate for you that I have spent some time studying their culture. I will admit my knowledge is a bit limited as anything I have read has to be translated from Biesian, but over there, futanari are revered and seen as good omens."

"What?" Delia sounded faintly incredulous.

"I jest you not, provided my information is accurate, which I believe it is. I've had women and men in my bed. I will admit that I am curious as to what it would be like to have a futanari in my bed. Ever since I've heard of them, I've been curious about what it would be like, to have both parts." Already his mind was racing with the possibilities, and he became aware of a certain tightness in his breeches.

She gave out a small snort. "It is not easy, I can tell you."

"I can understand the pressure to keep this a secret, and the fact that there are people who would judge you harshly for it. But I am not one of these people, and you need not hide anything from me. I am curious, but I am not selfish. So again, I ask. Will you share my bed?"

"Yes." This time, her voice was firmer and more confident.

"Excellent." The warm feeling within the pit of his stomach intensified, and he found himself eager to share himself with her. They could go back to the manor and retreat to the privacy of his apartments, but there was time for that later.

"Shall we, then?" he asked. She smiled faintly and nodded, starting to turn towards the manor.

"Not so fast. We can do that later, but I have a different location in mind for this time." He glanced towards the woods.

"Oh?" She followed his gaze. "But isn't it too cold for that?"

"We are dressed warmly, are we not? And I find a certain thrill in an occasional adventure outside of the bedchamber."

His comment seemed to have roused some thought within her, as her gaze became distant for a moment.

"An adventure, hm? Very well, lead on," she finally commented.

o0o

Her grandmother had warned her multiple times throughout her childhood, to take the utmost care to not revel her secret to others. It seemed almost pure luck that the two men who knew her secret should be so accepting of it.

Gustav waded through the snowdrifts that had piled up near the low rock wall that functioned as a divider between the lands set aside for farming and cultivation, and the forest that made up much of the library's grounds. With the fresh snowfall, the forest held a regal beauty, branches heavy with snow.

"Over the last few years, while the library was being worked on, I would often ramble around in these woods. There's not much game since for years, the animals were over-hunted, but I made it illegal to do so once I bought the property. I suspected poachers continued to sneak around in the woods, as I still came across a trap here and there. I had Cedric place enchantments and wards to prevent hunters from being successful in their forays."

"... Oh." Again, Cedric's hand in this project, Delia mused. Though in this case, it certainly wasn't for a bad reason. It was nice to know that the renown and feared court mage could use his magic for something that served him no apparent personal benefit. 

As the grounds straddled the crags on one side of the valley that led to the bay, the path that Gustav led her on became a bit steep, but it was nothing she could not manage.

"When it's warm, there are several very good places to read a book," Gustav said as he guided her around a tree and up several rocks to a small clearing that was partially sheltered by a rocky overhang, and surrounded by trees that even though bare of their leaves, still provided excellent cover.

"In the autumn, this makes a nice place to build a fire and have some food with a particularly interesting manuscript, and a bottle of wine."

Delia could easily imagine how pleasant such a place could have, and the outcrop provided a bit of shelter from inclement weather. As she took a closer look, she saw evidence of a firepit, though it was covered under a thick layer of new snow that had drifted under the outcrop. This kind of privacy would have barely been afforded to the confines of the bedrooms and washrooms at the Palace. Here, having that kind of privacy out in the open was almost overwhelming.

He guided her over to a log that was barely covered in snow, and quickly swept it off with his mitten. It was set against the rock wall. Delia turned to the vista before her for a moment, imagining how this looked when sitting on the log with the fire going.

"Come, sit with me," the Prince invited as he sat down on one side. She was quick to do so, and he stared at her quietly for several moments, as if deciding what to do. She wondered if he was having second thoughts.

"Since we are about to become lovers, I suggest we start with a kiss," he said. She nodded, and parted her lips slightly, waiting for his next move. His hands reached up to cup her face as he pressed his lips against her own, gently at first before becoming firmer. His mustache tickled her upper lip, and she resisted the urge to draw back as he started to suck on her lower lip.

Even though she'd only been with one other person in her life, Delia had learned much from her time with Cedric, and relaxed slightly as her own hands reached up to the collar of his fur-lined cloak. Each man had his own particular tastes, that much she knew, but she was confident that she could enjoy herself here and find things that would please Gustav. Feeling how many layers separated their bodies, she quickly removed her mittens and set them aside before she slipped her hands into the gap of the cloak, feeling a tightly-knit woolen pullover.

His kiss deepened for a moment more before he lifted his head, looking down at what she was doing. She paused for a moment, thinking he disapproved.

"Go on," he encouraged as his own hands slid down under her cloak, his hands massaging her breasts gently. She gave a small sigh of pleasure, and he smiled faintly, his hands caressing and kneading her, the sensation enjoyable despite being felt through several layers of clothing.

"It's rather cold to leave parts of our bodies exposed, isn't it?" Gustav murmured. "However, there is mutual pleasure."

"I will admit that I much agree with your suggestion." While she was open to new experiences, she didn't want to leave her bum, or any other part, exposed to the elements. Because she'd gone out on a walk today, she'd opted for a knee-length tunic instead of a dress, and that would suit her to-be lover's purpose well. He shifted around before pulling her partway into his lap so that she loosely straddled him, one of her legs draped over his thigh. The hem of the tunic worked its way up to her hips, and he found the drawstring that held her leggings closed, reaching in after he'd tugged the cords loose. She shivered a bit as she felt his fingers brush against her manhood.

Looking up, she saw an expression of curiosity on his face as his fingers brushed against the length, and a faint blush came to her cheeks. What if he'd changed his mind? But he continued on, finding her sac, and moving past it to her labia.

"So, what is it like?" he asked as he looked up at her. "Have you ever had both parts stimulated at the same time?" His fingers caressed along her outer labia before delving in just a bit, and she shifted around to give him easier access.

"Yes." She closed her eyes for a moment when he slid two fingers within, up to the second knuckles, his palm now pressed against the underside of her shaft. They'd formed something of a space between their bodies and cloaks that even with the head of her cock exposed, she was still relatively comfortable. "It... it can be overwhelming sometimes."

He chuckled softly. "Oh, I can imagine." He wiggled his fingers while pressing against her with the palm and heel of his hand, her cock stiffening a bit. It'd been a good while since she'd been touched, and she found herself responding more quickly to the Prince's attentions than she had anticipated. "Already I'm getting some ideas for interesting games..."

"What sort of games?"

"Games we can both enjoy," he replied, his eyes twinkling. Before she could inquire further, he withdrew his fingers and started to pump her slowly, bringing her to full hardness. "Have you ever put this into anyone and ridden them?" he asked.

She'd received a fair amount of pleasure from Cedric's mouth, but she'd often wondered what it would be like to actually use her organ like a male did. She moaned and shook her head as he rubbed his thumb along the tip of her cock.

"Well, have you ever been pleasured?" he asked, his grip tightening. She nodded quickly as she squirmed, one of her elbows on the rock wall for support. She felt his other hand on her hip as he continued to pump her. After several minutes, his hand moved down to caress and massage her sac, squeezing and tugging at it a couple of times. "I almost envy you," he whispered. "There are so many ways for you to have pleasure..." His fingers slid into her, further than they had on their last exploration of her depths.

Not wanting to be the one at all the mercy, she decided to take some initiative and have her own knowledge of him. She leaned forward some, lifting her elbow off the wall to wrap around his shoulder as she moved her hand under his pullover. Obligingly, he shifted around so that she could pull fabric out of the way, and she found his belt, managing to undo it with one hand.

Her goal accomplished, Delia reached in with a bit of nervousness, not knowing what to expect. Gustav had given no indication to the size of his endowment, and Delia was quickly able to tell that he was smaller than Cedric.

Stop thinking about Cedric, she told herself. Here presented itself an opportunity, and she would not allow the past to haunt her. She took a deep breath and wrapped her fingers around him, a task easier done with this man, and started stroking him. His eyes became half-lidded, and his own hand stilled in its ministrations as he surrendered to her attentions. He was indeed smaller, but not in a drastic way, and his thickness was comfortable in her hand. As he stiffened further, she pulled him out of his pants, her eyes moving downward for a look at it. Even with the limited light between their bodies, she could see his flesh was darker, and he was more hairy.

Damnit, Delia scolded herself. The visage of Cedric, or parts of him, danced before her inner eye, inevitably forcing her to compare her current lover to her former suitor. To distract herself from such thoughts, she leaned forward to kiss the Prince, and from his responses, she could tell he was a happy recipient.

Her hand continued its work, pumping him at a slowly increasing pace, and after several moments, Gustav resumed his own ministrations on her body.

"Yes," Delia breathed as she broke the kiss. She'd missed the pleasure of having someone else touch her, and she wiggled her hips into his touch, drawing a larger smile from him. Their hands touched, and he gently tugged her hand loose before placing his hand around both of their cocks, though he wasn't able to close his fingers around entirely. She wiggled a bit against him, and he guided her own hand back to their organs, so that she had her grip on the side opposite his. He started pumping, guiding their rhythm, before his other hand reached down, fingers brushing against her thighs for a moment before finding her womanhood.

":Gustav..." she breathed, arching into his touch. Propping her free hand on the rock behind his shoulder, Delia pressed herself against him, pumping firmly.

He increased the rhythm of their pumps, his hips now on occasion pushing up against her, and she gave out a sudden hiss. "I'm... I..."

"Yes," he whispered, lifting his hand from her pussy and bringing it up to the head of her erection as he gave her the last few pumps she needed for release. She arched and gasped again as she felt his hand at work, her hips thrusting in small, weak spasms. His other hand was now solely focused on pumping her, drawing out her orgasm as she moaned out his name again.

"Yes... now..." His hand withdrew from her, and he lifted his cloak just a bit so that he could lift his remaining hand into the light. Delia blushed again as she saw her seed splattered onto his palm. He further lifted his hand, bringing his palm to his lips after giving it a tentative sniff. His eyes met hers as his tongue darted forward to take a taste of her essence.

"Mmm." He nodded before his hand went back down, and he started pumping himself, her seed slick on his shaft. Her hands fluttered as she pondered her next course of action, and she met his face with a questioning gaze. He shook his head, resting his other hand on her hip before digging his fingers in, giving out a quick grunt as he came, flicking his thumb over the tip of his erection just in the nick of time, ensuring that the ejaculate dribbled down on his fingers.

His head lolled back on the hood of his cloak as his pumping slowed. She leaned back to see a bit better, recalling when Cedric had done that to her once. She focused on the Prince's face to drive the sorcerer from her mind. When he stopped, she started to slide away, already feeling sore from the somewhat awkward position. He made no effort to stop her, and in a few seconds, she was seated properly, her booted feet resting in the snow. She twisted around as she adjusted her clothing, straightening her leggings and pulling down her tunic. Already, Gustav had wiped his hand on the snow near his feet.




Sorcerer's Treasure Ch. 11



He was quick to tuck himself back in his pants, his breath coming out in a mist. "Well, that was bracing, wasn't it? I suspect it will be easier once the weather warms."

"Nonetheless, it was a pleasing experience."

"Oh, of course, of course." He sat quietly for a few minutes, leaning back against the rock, and since he did not seem inclined to speak, she chose to not break the silence. This impromptu experience had been educational in its own way.

"I look forward to whatever we may do next," he finally said. "There is always a bit nervousness on my part, when having a new lover. And I don't doubt you were nervous too, given your condition," he pointed out. She nodded slowly. "All said, I think we find one another satisfactory?"

She smiled a bit at that. "A little more than satisfactory, I think."

"Indeed. Next time, I propose there be a fire nearby," he proclaimed.

"As you command, my Prince."

o0o

Ever since their last meeting, Cedric had found himself aching for Delia even more. He was silent as he sat at one of the tables in the formal dining hall. It was one of several things that had been kept from the original manor design, for the Prince understood the necessity of entertaining important guests on occasion. Many days, there were books and maps on the tables, but these had been cleared out. Several nobles were here, as well as members of gentry. All these men were considering sending their teenaged sons to work or study here.

Many of the boys would be rejected outright. Gustav had tried to make it clear that this place was meant to be a library, and a research center. Nonetheless, some people still persisted in the notion that it would also serve as a school for the privileged.

"It is as I told you, gentlemen. This is a library, not a school. There are enough qualified tutors and professors in the city to teach our youth the tenets of knowledge," Cedric tried to explain patiently. "In due time, when your sons are older and distinguish themselves in one field of study or another, they may be invited here, but no earlier. The Prince has invited you here to make that clear." He took a sip of his wine, raising his hand to quell the protests that tumbled from a couple of mouths.

How tedious dealing with nobles could be at times. "This is the Prince's endeavor, and he has set his goals for it. This is not a nursery." Cedric sat back, steepling his fingers, biting back a smirk at the chagrin roused by his statement. Though the Prince's face was placid, there was a faint twinkle in his eye. "I would think that the tour of this manor is evidence enough of that," Cedric continued. "It is getting late, and I am sure you will be wanting to get back to your homes before it is dark for too long." He returned to his wine.

"I believe enough has been said. I am honored you'd trust me enough to oversee your children's education, but I am ill-suited for childcare. The servants will help you out." He rose from his seat, and left the room.

Cedric took this as his own cue to depart. His steps were quiet as he made his way to an upstairs wing, where his bedroom awaited. Much as he hoped for it, he didn't expect to come across Delia. He'd had no chance to see her, given that he'd arrived after several nobles did. The librarians had stayed out of their way, and eaten separately. He was tempted to find his way to the womens' wing and give Delia a surprise, but after what had happened last time, he was loath to rouse her ire.

There's tomorrow, he mused as he kicked off his boots before padding over to the fireplace, flicking his fingers after putting together some kindling. In a couple of minutes, he had a comfortable fire going. This place wasn't the Old Tower, but it had its charms...

o0o

Delia made her way through the dark passageway. It was a couple of hours after the nobles had left, and he manor was quiet, especially in this part of the house, which was reserved for the Prince.

Lightly, she knocked on the door, and it opened to reveal Gustav's body, silhouetted by the flames in the hearth. She felt a hand find her arm, pulling her into the room before the door closed and he locked it.

She'd been feeling nervous much of the day, knowing of the banquet and the fact that Cedric would be there, but fortunately, the librarians had not been required to entertain their guests. It'd been several days since their first intimate encounter, Gustav had asked her to come to his room at a late hour, and she wondered if Cedric would see her. But she had made her way without impediment, and was now within the Prince's arms. Though her little trip up the mountain had been enjoyable in its way, she was glad to spend some time with him in a much warmer setting.

As he'd promised, his treatment of her as a scholar to another was the same as it had been before. There had been no mention of their experience together, or any talk of further intimacy until this morning, when he'd made his invitation. She took a couple of moments to look around, seeing a comfortably-appointed apartment.

"I've been looking forward to your company all night," Gustav said as he led her further into the room. 

I've come up with several things that we should find very enjoyable..."

o0o

Well, my lovelies, I'm glad by the responses I got to the last chapter. I try to keep my stories unique from one another and interesting in their own so that one isn't a repeat of another. Some of you have said what you would like to see happen between Delia and the Prince, or Delia and Cedric. I'm awfully tempted to give a direct response to certain comments, but I am afraid that would be too spoilerish, and I like keeping my readers on their toes. All I can say is, regardless of what you want to see happen in this story, I think – at least, I hope – you will be satisfied with the eventual outcome of this tale. As always, feedback and reviews are much welcome and craved.

Feedback is the kindest thing you can give to an author after reading and enjoying their work. Please share your thoughts with me on this story, whether simply pointing out something you like or think I did well (so I can continue doing it) and any constructive criticism you think I might need. I am always striving to improve my craft, and feedback is the best way for me to do so.

There are other fun stories I want to try. I've been thinking about one with a creature like the alien symbiotes from the Marvel Comics universe (primarily from Spider-Man) I think a lot of fun could be had with a creature of such capabilities, is it something people would want to read?

I would also like to add a het story to my collection, but I'd like to avoid usual cliches and tropes. Is there anything you'd like to see me write? It can be any kind of story, it just needs to be m/f.