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Da'Tara Saga Vol. 01

By: DesoulTales



Chapter 1

The tavern was bustling with activity.

Steel tankards crashed against one another and thudded into the surfaces of the thick wooden tables as drinks were toasted and then pounded to the table. The oil lamps hanging above the tables and lining the stone walls gave the room a soothing, warm orange glow and a thin mist of smoke from the lamps lining the rafters of the high ceiling.

The bar ran most the length of the long side wall, the massive hearth at the back of the tavern loaded with spits of cooking meat and trays of baking bread, the delicious scent mingling with the fragrance of mead, stout, whiskey and the sweetest wines this side of Seavale. A man wrapped in a tattered red cloak, trimmed in black huddled at the end of the bar, enjoying the warmth given off the by hearth while he cupped the large tankard of dark mead in his hands.

He drank slowly and spoke to no one, his hood pulled up over his scruffy brown hair. Every once and while his bright blue eyes would flick up to the barkeep and he would gesture to his glass, flicking a coin to pay each time his drink was refilled. On the wall opposite of the bar, a bard stood in the corner beside the heart, plucking a soothing tune on his lute.

"And their swords did clash and their shields did bash until the demons were beat, cowering like frightened sheep!" The Bard sang merrily, recounting a rather popular tale about the battle between cultists and the two Empires some time ago.

The traveler shifted in his stool, leaning closer to inviting warmth of the fire as he sipped his warm, sweet honey wine, the amber fluid making his body feel pleasantly light. A figure moved between him and his view of the glowing, warm coals, a pair of slender legs wrapped up to the knees in rabbit fur boots. He flicked his gaze slowly up, seeing the tight leather skirt that clung to the narrow hips, leaving the pale, flat stomach bare until reaching her breasts that were covered in a simple wrap of white fur that matched her boots.

The redheaded young whore wiggled her hips slightly as she extended her hands at her sides, palms out as if presenting herself. "Heya Mister. Suck your dick for two coppers?" Her heavily painted red lips stretched into a smile as she swayed her body enticingly.

Whores were just as common inside the taverns as they were on the streets, so it was a competitive market to say the least. At least this one was better looking than some of the ones outside, he thought.

"Sorry, not tonight." The man in the red cloak waved her away, sipping from his mug.

"Are ya sure honey? I promise my tongue feels better than any 5gp courtesan." The whore licked her lips as she reached up and hooked her already skimpy top in the middle with her thumb, pulling it down to expose even more pale flesh.

"Oi! Fuck off he said!" A sharp female voice came from behind.

The whore glanced up behind the man and snickered before turning and walking off.

"And wipe that look off of your face when you look at my friend or I will stick you head first in the privy and let you service the drunks for free!" The woman called out. The whore stiffened for a moment but then continued to walk away, quickly vanishing in the crowd as she was subjected to the laughter and jeers of some of the other patrons.

A young girl with dark red hair pulled together over her left shoulder climbed onto the stool beside him. Her bronzed skin glistened with a light layer of sweat that made the swell of her large breasts pressing against her mesh top glow invitingly in the firelight. She sat with her legs open, giving a magnificent view of her long, shapely legs that were covered in tattered and torn black stockings. Her palms rested on the seat in front of her, blocking any view of between her legs. She only wore a simple piece of leather studded with grommets and laces at the side, calling it a skirt.

"Well I'm glad to see you have my back Victoria, as usual." The man said, nodding his head slightly.

She flashed him a smile, her eyes, dark red like her hair, glittering mischievously. "I'm the only whore that gets to suck you."

"Yeah because you don't charge." The man chuckled.

"Oh I do charge, just not you. Doesn't that just make you feel so special Koal?" Victoria rolled her eyes as she spun on the stool, rapping her knuckles on the polished counter of the bar. "Cherry wine! Bring me a whole bottle!" She smacked her hand on the bar top, leaving a trio of copper coins.

The barkeep, a large, balding middle aged man with a thick black beard waddled over, eyeing the girl suspiciously as he placed the bottle on the counter, swiping the coins as he did. "If you drink that in here, no more bullshit like the last time." He warned.

Victoria's animated face compacted into a pout as she stuck out her lips, her eyes seeming to water up as she looked at the barkeep. "M-me, Melvin?"

"Yes. YOU, Victoria. If it weren't for Koal you would be banned from here, last time you drank a bottle of cherry wine you ended up puking in the hearth. It was a bitch to clean out and not to mention the bloody smell. You're lucky I don't have your ass." The barkeep frowned.

Victoria dropped the pout, making the cutest face she could muster as she slipped her knees up onto the stool and leaned forward, grabbing the barkeep by the apron as she planted a big, warm kiss on his lips. "There, I am sorry. And if you want my ass I run a special for it on third day." She winked and Melvin grumbled, walking further down the bar and leaving the two alone.

"He's right you know. You can't handle your drink." Koal grinned around his mug.

Victoria was now facing the fire, holding the bottle clamped between her thighs as she bit the corner of her mouth, her hands struggling with the cork. Koal watched her for nearly a minute, the girl shifting to and fro before she finally popped the cork out.

"Ah ha! Victory!" She exclaimed with delight, quickly bringing the bottle up to her lips as she guzzled some of thick, sweetly scented cherry wine.

"Where are Castor and Gerard?" Koal asked as he finished his drink and set the mug softly on the counter.

"Off somewhere with that cum-sucking slut-Mage I would imagine." The girl shrugged.

"Where?" Koal turned to the bar to grab his empty mug but found it gone; he blinked and then frowned turning to Victoria. "Hey put it back!"

"What? You never know when you might need a mug..." She pouted and produced the stolen mug, putting it back on the counter.

"Ugh. Are they at the Drunken Dragon? The Sunken Ship? The Green Lantern? Come on there are only so many inns in the city." Koal frowned as he pulled his cloak tightly around himself before getting off the stool.

"They're at the double D I think." Victoria shrugged, the Drunken Dragon was a rowdier inn that the others liked to frequent, while Koal preferred the cozy, quiet Cherry Blossom tavern.

"Alright, let's move." Koal slipped off the stool, his cloak billowing behind him as headed for the door, Victoria and her bottle of wine in tow. "Have a good one Melvin!" He waved to the keep as they exited onto the street outside.

The sun was still setting, all but obscured by the towering city wall and lookout towers. A cold wind swept over the citizens that were still out and about, most heading home or for the nearest tavern to spend the day's wages.

Koal kept his cloak pulled tightly around himself as the cold plucked at him, already shivering when they had only walked a block away. Victoria trailed along behind him, her cloak hanging loosely off her shoulders as she ravenously devoured the bottle of sweet tasting wine. He didn't break his pace though and in a few minutes and twists and turns later they were at the Drunken Dragon Inn. The broad, green double doors swung open as a drunk was ejected face-first and unconscious onto the stone-paved street.

"Haha! *hic* He couldn't handle his drink!" Victoria snorted as the two stepped over the man and headed inside.

Koal squinted as he looked around the inn. The lighting was much dimmer than it had been at the Cherry Blossom, and to make it worse the walls were painted a dark, sickly green color. After a few moments though he found what he was looking for. Huddled around a table in the back corner and making plenty of noise were some of the rest of his party.

There was a young elven girl with glistening pale skin put on display by her wide open cyan-colored robes and matching broad-brimmed hat. Underneath the robe she wore only a pair of thigh-high boots and a simple string panty and bra, all a matching white color. Her cheeks were flushed red, contrasting with her enchanting blue eyes and matching makeup. Her thick, golden curls bounced in time with the swell of her large, supple breasts as she tossed her head back, gulping down an entire flagon of sweet mead as the people at her table cheered her on.

She gulped the last drops out and then slammed the flagon on the table, swaying as she giggled. "I did it! I did it! I win!" Her speech hadn't slurred yet, the athletic elf could put it away with the best of them, but she seemed a little giddier than was usual.

The music here was much louder, a trio of bards in the corner, one singing loudly as he strummed a lute, one with a flute and one with an assortment of drums. They were belting out music that was as rough as the patrons and the sound of the thumping drum and bawdy lyrics blended right in with the activity of the rest of the tavern.

Koal and Victoria worked their way over to the table where the other four were seated and settled down into the remaining two seats.

"Koal!! Well the Goddess provides. Here's a big strong, sexy man when I am feeling all warm and relaxed." Moira grinned as she licked her lips at him.

"It's bad enough you draw so much attention with your loud mouth, do you really have to wear that ridiculous hat indoors?" Victoria scowled across the table at the blonde elf.

Moira looked up and adjusted the pointy, broad-brimmed hat and then nodded. "Of course I do. This hat identifies me as a mage, you know, the way those boots identify you as a WHORE."

The two women glared intensely at one another for several long moments before Victoria bolted forward, clawing at Moira and stopped only by Koal who had grabbed her by the belt and kept her from closing the distance between the two.

"Darling don't be jealous. I'm simply a sex kitten to your feral, mangy cat." Moira grinned over at Victoria, wiggling her index finger back and forth at the girl.

"Bring your grubby little cock-stroker closer and I will rip it off and feed it to you!" Victoria swiped across the table at Moira who promptly lowered her hand.

After she had settled down, another round of mead was brought over to the table and Koal rolled out a smooth, shiny gold piece onto the table. "Brings us food... Chicken, rolls, potatoes, the works." Koal settled into his seat as the waitress picked up the coin and headed back towards the counter.

"Whew." A short, pale, redheaded man whistled across from him. "What's the occasion Koal?"

The younger man had a scruffy red goatee, with long, shoulder-length hair to match and wore a perpetual grin. He was clad head to toe in all black which contrasted with his pale skin and bright hair.

"Oh it's not me Castor; this is all courtesy of Her Royal Majesty, Queen Petra." Koal shrugged as he sipped from his nice, warm mug of mead.

The other two members of the party were Gerard, a man in his early 30s and clad in a dark green and brown tunic and leggings with a thick black, fur-lined cloak draped over his shoulders. His dark eyes were passive as he surveyed the room around them, occasionally taking a sip from his mead or pausing to idly caress his thin, brown beard.

Like Castor, Gerard had a head of long hair, but unlike the other man who wore his hair loose, Gerard had his tied into a thick tail at the back, held in place with dark green ribbons.

The sixth and final member was Narissa, a tall, voluptuous and athletic dark-skinned elf. She had the hood of her cloak pulled up over her head, masking the mane of beautiful, flowing white hair that was tied together with black ribbon and hanging down her back. She wore a simple black skirt and armored leggings and boots, her arms were similarly armored and she wore a simple mesh of enchanted chain and leather. Her violet eyes had been locked on Koal since he entered the tavern, but, she said nothing.

"She knows I won't buy into her schemes that easily, but she also knows a feast and couple bottles of wine and some whores will more than get you the rest of you on board and force my hand." Koal sighed, sipping from his drink.

"Well its true, cheers!" Castor said, tossing his mug and sounding a toast before downing the sweet contents of the mug.

"Ugh Treacherous dogs, all of you." Koal frown at the beaming Castor and Moira as the food was brought over by a few of the wenches.

A crock of soft butter was set on the table along with small containers of salt, pepper and various herbs as several baskets of fresh baked bread and rolls were set down. Three whole, peppered and roasted chickens were laid out on cutting boards as well as a basket of baked and roasted whole potatoes and fresh mugs of meads. As an added bonus, even a pair of freshly baked cherry pies was laid out for the group.

Koal passed plates around the table and once the serving wenches had left, Narissa leaned forward in her seat, slowly moving her hand just above the selection of food, moving from platter to platter as she looked at the rings on her right hand.

If any of the dishes had been poisoned, magically or conventionally, the respective gem on one of the rings would have glowed faintly in warning.

"It's clean, all of it." Narissa nodded to Koal without being asked.

"Good to know." He grinned and they dug in, the party descending on the extravagant feast like a pack of hungry animals.

Koal grabbed a chunk of meat and several rolls and a potato before settling in to eat. He felt a warm, bare foot brush up against the inside of his thigh and rest there as Moira winked at him from across the table.

Twice Koal had gone for a pinch of herbs to season his food, and twice he had to glare at Victoria until she removed the stolen jar from her belongings and back onto the table.

"Any idea what she wants?" Gerard asked, nipping at a piece of the chicken and savoring the taste of the juice that flowed out of it.

Koal shrugged as he plucked pieces from a roll and ate each bite slowly, his gaze distant. "Who really knows? She's been wanting me at court all week but it looks like I can't avoid it any longer."

"No telling with that woman. She may be all pouty lips and huge tits and cute giggles on the outside, but she's as cunning as a wolf and as dangerous as one starved half to death and cornered." Narissa said, looking into the bottom of her empty glass before reaching for another.

"Oh I agree with you, but what can we do? Usually her little tasks are easy money, and as much as I hate going to the royal court and mingling with the porcelain phonies, you have to admit the favoritism works out sometimes." Koal set down his glass, slowly moving his hand up to rub his temples as he felt Moira's foot slowly grate back and forth, caressing his inner thigh as she licked her lips.

"Damned if we do, damned if we don't." Gerard said, speaking for the first time as he shrugged the matter off.

"Ah the life of henchmen, could be worse. We could be on the city guard, scraping werewolves and vampires and harpies and void beasts off the city walls." Castor added, his fingers moving up to ruffle his furry chin.

"At least you boys have me, those city guards hardly get laid at all." Moira stated as she gripped one side of her open robe, using it to fan herself as she exposed a wealth of white-bikini covered cleavage for all to see.

"You get sympathy screws from them because your magical energy depletes without enough cock." Victoria scowled, now well into her bottle of the cherry wine. She wasn't tipsy yet, but her face was more than a little flushed as her eyes stayed locked on Moira as if a predator watching its next meal.

"Oh bitch please, I can get any man I want. Right Koal?" Moira batted her eyelashes coyly at Koal, causing Victoria to audibly hiss.

Koal yawned and stretched, sliding his chair out. "Big day tomorrow. We leave before noon I gather, so don't stay up all night drinking and whoring. I'll go pay out rooms and baths for everyone." Koal stood, slowly arching his back, he felt happily full from the meal and warm despite the bitter cold outside.

"And it should go without saying, behave, you aren't a bunch of children." Koal leaned down, plucking one of the few remaining rolls from one of the baskets before he headed off.

He counted out coin and paid the innkeeper before heading to his room, where he thankfully found a very large, round wooden tub filled with steaming hot water waiting for him. The rooms were large, certainly more than comfortable and above average but by no means extravagant.

There was a large bed with fresh linins that would comfortably hold two, a simple couch and chair in front of a large fireplace, complete with a warm, crackling fire and in the corner of the room behind a partition was the wooden paneled tub.

Koal quickly surveyed the room and then, sure that he was alone, locked the door and began to strip off his belongings, piling them onto the couch.

"Ohhhh by the Gods this is divine." He groaned as he slipped into the hot water, slowly letting himself sink all the way up to his chin before laying his head back on a rolled up towel.

Koal was completely relaxed but his mind was not. He began dreading the following day, the necessary evil of visiting the royal court and whatever assignment was being offered. To make matters worse the beautiful, yet lecherous Queen was his aunt. And sometimes, more than a little, it seemed like she delighted in tormenting him with weird sexual games.

He sighed heavily, putting the thoughts from his mind as he bathed. He was grateful at least to have something to do, a quest, and adventure, a purpose. Anything would beat sitting around the city doing nothing, and even when pleasant at times, it would only make him and the others soft.

Koal stood and toweled himself off, walking around the partition back into the bedroom as he rubbed the moisture from his hair with a clean towel, stopping to perk a brow as he was greeted by the sight of Narissa, lying completely naked across his bed.

He eyed the door which he had locked, and then sighed. "Always pleasant to be reminded that you could kill me in my sleep at any time you wish." He frowned and tossed the towel into a basket near the still locked door.

"I'm merely compelled to give the Spider Queen her due offerings." Narissa said, slowly rolling onto her stomach, arching her back up as she rested on an elbow, licking her white-frosted lips as she looked at him.

She was completely nude, save for the black ribbon tying up her vibrant white hair, and the thick black, studded leather collar on her neck that symbolized her servitude and devotion to the Spider Queen, a demonic Goddess of great power. Her breasts were large, but very firm, their bright pink nipples seeming luminescent in contrast to her chocolate colored skin. Solid gold studs pierced each nipple and glinted in the orange light of the fire as she curled her finger for him to join her.

Like many of the devoted of the Spider Queen, Narissa was required to mate with any exceptional warrior she met while carrying out her duties. Much like a spider, the sperm from her encounters was stored inside of her body almost indefinitely; holding it until the day she returned to the temple and allowed her collected offerings to fertilize the eggs of the next generation of racially superior Priestesses and Warriors of the Spider Queen's army.


Da'Tara Saga Vol. 01



Knees bent, her dainty, dark feet in the air as she innocently rubbed one ankle against the other, Narissa licked the supple swell of her frosted lips, curling her finger for the warrior to join her. "I'm more than willing to accommodate you my Lord." She said, slowly turning away from him as she lifted her hips up off the bed, her bright white hair pooling around her dark face on the bed as she looked over her shoulder at him. Her hand slid down between her thighs as she watched him watching her.

"I can use my mouth or my firm ass to give you pleasure, it's all the same. Just as long as you ejaculate your thick, potent seed inside this holy vessel." She stated, two fingers sliding through the plush patch of snow white hair between her legs, spreading open the glistening folds of her dark pussy. Spreading them to reveal the walls of hot pink colored flesh already glistening with readiness.

Koal grunted and bit his lip, despite himself he could feel his cock swell to stiff readiness, standing erect to point Narissa's proffered pleasure passages as the elf wiggled her hips from side to side, her violet eyes flashing in the firelight as she watched him over her shoulder.

Narissa smiled broadly as Koal's large hands gripped her narrow waist, pulling her back towards him at the foot of the bed. She arched her back sharply, holding her pert, shapely ass high in the air for him as a little bit of moisture cascaded down her bare thighs. He angled his cock against the moist, ready folds of her soft little pussy and pushed firmly into her, his thick, stiff shaft sliding as deep as it could fit with one push.

The dark elf let out a prolonged moan and then began to rock her hips back and forth, grinding her soft little ass against Koal's hips as he began quickly thrusting back and forth, their bodies slapping together loudly. Koal gasped loudly as Narissa began to skillfully flex the firm muscles of her tight stomach, her cunt clenching and holding his cock, stroking it with each and every movement he made inside of her.

Narissa's toes curled slightly and she let out a moan of her own as she felt Koal's thick cock tugging at the deepest parts of her, sending a warm rush racing up her spine where it spread across her chest.

"Fuck me Koal! Fuck me!" The little dark elf hissed through her teeth as she rocked her hips. The slippery warmth of her body grinding against his as she took his thick cock over and over again.

Her hands curled into tight little fists, both clutching a handful of the heavy quilt covering the soft bed as she was fucked hard. Koal grunted and groaned, quickening his pace, his balls roughly slapping into her glistening mound of plush white hair.

"Damnit you are tight!" Koal grunted through clenched teeth, pumping his hips furiously hard into the soft, willing passage she had presented him with.

Her eyes rolling up slightly for a moment, Narissa nimbly straightened her body, moving up onto her knees without displacing the thick, hard cock inside of her as she leaned up and tilted her head, kissing Koal firmly on the lips.

Koal moaned out loudly from the added tightness of her body shifting up against his, his lips hungrily meeting hers in a wet warm kiss. His hands moved up from her hips, sliding slowly up over her toned stomach to her pierced, heavy breasts. His fingers dug into the dark supple meat of her body, thumbs firmly pinching her nipples, causing the little elf to let out a whimper of pleasure as she arched her back, pushing her breasts firmly into his warm hands, encouraging him to continue.

"You can't even cum if it's not rough, can you?" Koal asked suddenly as he broke the kiss, his left thumb pushing hard against the gleaming piercing of her left nipping, tugging and stretching the soft pink flesh.

Narissa's slippery pussy became noticeably tighter as she cooed, tossing her head back sharply, her unnaturally soft white hair tickling Koal's bare neck and chest as he continued fucking her. "Do whatever you want as hard as you want. Don't worry about hurting me. Just do what you want." She hissed, her hands moving up over the top of his, her fingers slowly sliding over his as he put an intense almost painful pressure on him.

His fingers dug deeply into her supple flesh, her stiff, pink nipple being tugged sharply upward by the piercing as he dug into her, causing her to hiss and moan wildly. Koal continued to firmly knead her breasts, his fingers never ceasing to roll and pinch the soft flesh in his hands, his stiff cock swelling inside of her as he thrust harder and harder into her.

The rougher he was with her, the more urgently she pushed back against him it seemed. Twice while he roughly groped and fucked her, her eyes rolled up momentarily. Her cunt clenched tight around him as a renewed surge of wetness leaked out of her body, coating his rapidly tightening balls and her dark, glistening thighs with a fresh coat of her juices.

"Shit!" Koal hissed, feeling his balls tighten up pleasurably as he quickly neared his orgasm.

The elf sensed it and began wiggling her hips quickly from side to side, her muscles clamping down around his cock like a vice, the movement of her body jerking his cock and sensitive, engorged head around inside of her.

Koal's hands tightened on her breasts so firmly that she thought one wrong move would tear one of her nipple studs out. They both moaned loudly, Koal's body jerking forward again and again as he came, the tip of his cock swelling up as he shot his impossibly hot load directly into her incredibly soft cunt.

His sperm splashed deep inside of her, completely covering the puckered entrance to her womb as the sizeable load collected and pooled against it. Slowly she ceased moving her hips, sweat now trickling down from her brow as she relaxed, nearly orgasming again as she felt the delightful feeling of his cum being absorbed into her reproductive pouch.

Koal slowly sighed, lightly kissing along Narissa's right shoulder before he slowly pulled out of her, his cock coming out clean and glistening, not one drop of sperm anywhere on it. He collapsed back onto the bed moving his hands up to his face as he slowly regained his breath.

Narissa sat on the foot of the bed on her knees, her hands slowly caressing her flat stomach. "Mmm the Spider Queen will be pleased with this offering." She turned and looked him over, her expression neutral. "You're rather potent... For a human."

"Is that so?" Koal grinned slightly, pulling the warm pillow under his head as he sighed.

Narissa said nothing, her hands still resting on her stomach. After a few moments she leaned forward and planted a warm, tender kiss on the tip of his cock before crawling back off the edge, leaving Koal to drift easily off into a deep sleep as she got dressed.

 

Chapter 2

The sun had barely begun cresting over the snowcapped mountains to the east when the winds picked up, carrying the bitter, frosty chill of the mountains into the foggy streets of the walled city.

The fire still crackling in the hearth, giving his room a cozy, comfortable heat to ward off the outside cold, Koal began to stir. Slowly he blinked open his eyes, struggling to bring the haze of his vision into focus. The curtain of blur from the mugs of mead combined with the ungodly hour of the morning began to part and Koal's frost blue eyes focused on the moving mass of his thick blankets.

With an annoyed expression he slowly rubbed his eyes. "I bolted the damn door." He groaned, tossing back the blankets to reveal the prone and completely nude figure of Moira lying between his legs. His stiff, glistening cock was planted deep between her full, cyan-painted lips as she sucked agonizingly slow on the engorged tip, batting her golden eyelashes up at him as she rolled her velvety soft tongue over his cock.

"Mmmhat? Mmmeded Mo Mmmarge mMMMmy Mmana?" She mouthed the words incoherently around his cock, the vibrations from the speech sending jolts of pleasure down Koal's cock and into his stomach.

Koal Groaned "You needed to recharge your mana?" Before lying his head back as he tightly closed his eyes and Moira began prodding the tip of her tongue into the opening of his urethra, causing him to squirm his hips side to side as he tried to relax.

"HmmMmm!" She smiled around his cock, her tongue skillfully working him over as the cyan colored nails of her fingers gently raked over his tight, heavy balls, causing them to flex even tighter.

Like any other Mage, Moira could rely on alchemical sources to enhance her magical abilities and power source. But unlike most other Mages, she was born with an odd, magical mutation.

Moira could siphon off the natural energy of other life forms to greatly recharge her mana, and do it significantly faster than the traditional usage of potions and charms and other magically imbued items. Usually the encounters left her siphons drained and tired, but otherwise unharmed. And the energy generated by a person as they had sex was usually the most potent.

So she had embraced the strange ability without despair because the elf knew she could get laid for free, but potions cost gold damnit!

Suddenly Moira began to bob her head, keeping her tongue pressed firmly to the underside of Koal's shaft as she rapidly moved up and down and sucked. The curly twin tails of her golden blonde hair gently brushing over his bare thighs as she slurped loudly at the shaft, putting forth all of her best efforts to make him cum as quickly as possible.

"Ah damnit!" Koal growled, withering beneath the elf as she serviced his cock, her eyes unblinkingly locked on his face the entire time.

His balls tightened up considerably, the tip of his cock swelling as it copiously oozed thick, creamy precum onto the blonde elf's pink little tongue.

Her body tingled, feeling him nearing the height of his pleasure, the energy flowing into her body, giving her more and more energy as she intensified her efforts.

Moira suddenly pulled her head back, leaving just the tip of Koal's cock in her mouth as she sucked quickly; twisting her head from side to side as one hand firmly squeezed his balls, rolling them roughly between her fingers. The other hand gripped his shaft and began quickly began stroking it from the base up to where her lips rested on the head, pumping it quickly as she coaxed him on towards climax.

Tossing his head back, Koal let out a groan of intense pleasure; his hands clutching twin fistfuls of the sheets a he cried out and came. His body jerked and shuddered as the tip of his cock spurted hot jets of sperm into Moira's urgently sucking mouth.

"Urgh damnit!" Koal cried out as Moira continued to suck. Even as she sucked, her tongue brushed rapidly up and down over the tip of his cock, catching each burst of his milky cum and quickly swallowing it as he thrashed about.

Finally, after several long, agonizingly pleasurable moments, Koal had finished his mind altering orgasm. He heaved for breath for several moments before getting it under control, though he continued to breathe very deep as Moira continued to gently suck the tip of his cock.

She brushed her fingernails gently up and down Koal's bare chest and stomach, smiling up at him with her eyes as her leader tried to regain his senses. The little elf knew she was skilled when it came to making men, and for that matter women, cum, but something about the gentle leeching of energy added an extra tingle of pleasure that washed over you from head to toe.

Slowly Moira sat up on her elbows, arching her back up as her full, heavy breasts lifted from the sheets. Pierced into the flesh of each soft red nipple was a golden bar, a tiny little orb on each side of each nipple glowed a faint blue color for a moment then returned to gold. This indicated that her reserve of energy was practically full.

Slow she planted a firm kiss on the shaft of Koal's cock, leaving the light blue imprint of her lips there with a grin.

"You just woke up, why the hell did you need to recharge?" Koal asked, still breathing deep, his body covered with a faint layer of sweat that glistened in the light of the fire.

Moira shrugged and then slowly crawled up the bed beside Koal, slowly shifting on her side as she deliberately lay across his chest. Her warm breasts rested on his stomach as she tilted her head and nuzzled her cheek against Koal's chest, letting one arm lazily drape over him as she shut her eyes.

Koal sighed, his left arm bending as he moved his hand up, very gently caressing the pale, satin-smooth flesh of Moira's exposed back with the tips of his fingers.

The two had been best friends since childhood, both having been raised on the grounds of Banneth Palace. And while they didn't share any romantic feelings of love towards one another, they did care a great deal about each other.

Moira sighed sleepily. "Mmm that feels nice."

Koal said nothing, gently brushing his fingers across her soft flesh as his eyes quickly closed and he too drifted off into a deep sleep.

* * *

Later in the morning the group met at the same table nestled into the corner of the ground floor of the Inn, though unlike the previous night the bar was now empty and spotlessly clean. Any drunks who had enjoyed themselves the night before were still sleeping it off in their rooms or back at their own dwellings. But Koal and his companions had business in the city this day and couldn't afford to lounge about.

Castor sat hunched over the table, his face resting in his hands as he groaned loudly, the long strands of his bright red hair pooling around the sides of his head to obscure the rest of face.

Gerard shook his head as he lightly scratched at his soft beard, grinning at the inevitable hangover that Castor seemed to carry around.

"Drinkin is all well and good, but is it really worth all that trouble lad?" Gerard asked softly.

"Oh by the nine-fires of hell stop yelling!" Castor growled through his clenched teeth, swaying for a moment in his seat.

A pair of wenches appeared at the table with trays containing the party's breakfast. Thick, meaty slabs of bacon and large, still sizzling sausages were laid out with fresh baked bread and a mountainous bowl of scrambled eggs.

Koal reached for a pitcher of fruit juice, some mixture of peach and cherry and slowly poured a glass, watching as his companions attacked the food like a pack of harpies on a shore washed sailor. After the frenzy had died down a bit he grabbed himself several chunks of the still steaming, hot meat and piled his plate with it before getting to work on it himself.

"The whole thing is kind of odd isn't it? I mean we just got back from the western Empire, why the bloody hell are we being summoned again so soon?" Castor asked, tearing into a sausage and washing it down with a swig from his mug of warm, golden mead.

"In the middle of the cold season to boot." Moira frowned, slowly running her fingertip around the edge of her cup of juice as she stared down at her plate, lost in thought for the moment.

"I really don't fancy traveling in the cold either, but who knows. Maybe we are being drafted into doing something local for a change?" Koal shrugged, sipping his juice.

"Wishful thinking laddy." Gerard said, sitting with his arms folded across his broad chest, tongue pressed into his cheek as he, like the others, pondered the nature of their summons. "Every time she calls us it's always to fulfill some wild-ass fancy of hers and send us running from one side of the Kingdom to the other."

Narissa said nothing, sitting with her arms resting across her stomach, the tip of one finger slowly tracing around her bellybutton.

"I have a bad feeling about this. I'm getting that strange aura of psychic alarms in the air, like before something bad usually happens." Moria sighed, setting her cup down on the table.

"The only thing in the air around you is that barnyard stench. My God woman! What did you get in to bed with an unwashed warthog or something?" Victoria snorted as she giggled, slapping herself on the leg as Moria's cheek twitched in irritation.

Koal jerked his head around at the words and glared for a moment at Victoria.

Seeing Koal's reaction, it finally dawned on Victoria just who Moria had bedded the previous night. And the little thief stopped laughing, scowling at the mage. "Oh you bitch."

Just then the front door of the inn swung open and in came a pair of tall, broad shouldered and very fancily dressed soldiers from the Palace. They looked like the run of the mill type of soldier: big, strong, eyes constantly scanning for danger. But the two of them were clad in a mixture of the best armor money could buy in this part of the world and uniforms made out of fine, embroidered fabrics fit for a nobleman. Not to mention the small fortune their enchanted swords were worth.

They spotted the companions and began walking towards that corner of the empty tavern.

"Aww here come the party-poopers." Victoria declared as her little red eyes darted around quickly, making sure anything she had stolen was tucked well out of sight. Satisfied that she was safe, the little thief put on a broad, gleaming and completely unconvincing smile as the two guards approached.

"Way to act natural." Moria whispered, shaking her head.

"Koal Da'tara, Her Royal Majesty requires your presence at an urgent meeting." Declared one of the guards, the senior of the two judging by his rank ribbons.

Koal scowled at the statement. "Required? Before I was merely requested, now you make it sound as if I have no choice in the matter."

"You don't Sir, not at this juncture." The senior guard answered, letting his hand rest very casually on the ornate hilt of his broadsword.

Narissa scowled. "Say the word boss and I'll cut him from his asshole to his eyeballs." The dark elf offered, her tone neutral, her words laced with acid as she too rested a hand on the hilt of her sword.

And she wasn't the only one who felt that way.

Castor lie with his head resting against the table, still very much hung-over. Despite that, he was alert and more than combat ready. One hand out of sight as it gripped a particularly mean dagger with a broad, slightly curved blade. Perfect for cutting.

Likewise, Victoria had palmed a throwing knife, and a dark grey bubble of neutral energy swirled around Moria's fist under the table, waiting for the mage to shape it into an element of her choice.

Even the quiet natured Gerard rested a hand on his thigh, right beside the sheathed spike-dagger. A particularly nasty little piece of blacksmithing that was designed to tear right through the plate armor favored by mounted knights and other heavy soldiers. With a direct thrust the fancy armor of the two guards would be less than worthless against it.

Even if they were the personal soldiers of the Queen, even if it meant their deaths in the darkest, foulest city dungeon, they would never let one of their own be taken against their will.

The two groups looked tensely at one another for several long moments, Koal sitting with his arms folded across his chest, his face passive. After a moment he shrugged and pushed his chair out, rising to his feet.

"I was just on my way out to the palace anyways." Koal stretched and eyed his companions, letting them know this was fine. Despite the consent not a single one of them rested their postures, the entire group still just as ready to attack as they were a moment ago.

Moira's light blue eyes flashed in anger. "Such a sad day when a member of the Royal Family comes under threat from his own men."

"Rest assured Lady Tamm, we're just here to see that he doesn't get lost. " One of the guards replied.

"Indeed because he would have trouble finding his way around the palace where he grew up." Moria retorted.




Da'Tara Saga Vol. 01



Koal waved both groups off and grumbled, tossing his red cloak back over his shoulders before clasping it around his neck.

"Come on, let's get this over with." Koal frowned.

* * *

The way armed men had come and taken away Koal under the implied threat of violence, and the urgency expressed, one would believe that the Queen had summoned him for something important for a change. But Koal highly doubted it. He had been waiting in the Queen's salon for nearly 2 hours now, utterly alone save for the scantily clad young women that came in to offer him a lavish assortment of food and drinks and any sexual favor he could imagine.

But of course he turned down anything offered. His aunt was a fair and very capable ruler, one of the best in recent history actually. And the Kingdom was simply flourishing under the guidance of her hand. Despite this though, she was still rather lecherous, favoring the younger men of the court whom she could ensnare, deflower and discard in short order.

Koal knew the servants were there to tempt him, sure they would give him any pleasure he asked, but the Queen knew he wouldn't ask for anything, hoping instead that the variety of firm, young flesh would arouse and weaken him enough to be susceptible to her charms.

One time he had made the mistake of accepting a goblet of wine as the Queen kept him waiting for number hours, only to find that the drink was laced with a tasteless, green powdered sex drug.

It had the effect of making its user orgasm almost instantly, their entire bodies becoming highly sensitive erogenous zones for a time after, depending on dosage. And the only sure way to burn through the drug was through rigorous sexual activity and stimulation. Even if the Queen had very willingly helped him work the drug out of his system, Koal had come roughly two dozen times in six hours. An arduous orgasmic hell that he wished to never visit again.

He sighed and reached down to his side, bringing up a small leather flask and sipping some of the warm, but none the less fresh water from it as he looked around.

Koal was a member of the royal family, though quite a ways down the line of succession. If the Queen were to die suddenly the next day, it's not like he would take up the fancy hat and start giving orders. It would take something more like a freak storm with winds strong enough to collapse the entire Palace, killing 75 or so of his relatives before his name might even be bumped up on the Royal rolls. Even then, he wouldn't want the job.

A number of members of the royal family held positions all over the kingdom. Cushy but still important jobs in the day to day running of things. Ministers, Dukes, Barons, Lords, Generals. If Koal spoke the words he could have a title, an estate and a whole company of military troops to enforce his authority. All these things were promised to him by birthright, but all of these things were blatantly refused by the young warrior.

Queen Petra had lost track of how many times Koal had snuck over the wall of the palace. Past trained soldiers who were the cream of Banneth's military crop, putting them to shame in the eyes of the court. Again and again Koal snuck off with Moria in tow, with nothing on their backs but their traveling cloaks and dreams in their hearts.

Finally the Queen gave in, recognizing a potential asset when she seen it. Since Koal wasn't a figure of immediate presence or prestige in the court, he easily escaped the notice of most of his other scheming peers. Koal had been trained like a Knight of Banneth. He was educated, skilled in chess, dancing, diplomacy, yet he could blend almost seamlessly in with the commoners and their caste.

Koal was family, and trustworthy, which meant he could carry out sensitive tasks discreetly for the Queen. Yet at the same time he was unimportant enough to be expendable should something happen during one of his assignments.

The arrangement worked well. The Queen would have a special party of skilled warriors at her beck and call, ones that she could send out on tasks others couldn't be trusted to fulfill and in return Koal could wander around, going on whatever little quest and adventure pleased him.

The young man was kind hearted and honest, the Queen knew, and it served to keep his integrity in tact by keeping him away from the court. And of course to bolster the Queen's reputation whenever Koal and his companions pulled off some feat of kindness and heroism. After all, he was still family, and his good deeds worked well in keeping the people happy and loyal to the crown.

"Aww bugger." Koal sighed, stretching his legs out as he shifted around on the plush, velvet covered lounger. He felt himself nearly nodding off when the wide double doors at the opposite end of the room finally clicked and swung open.

Koal slowly rose to his feet as Queen Petra strolled in and then promptly held up her hand, waving her attendants out into the hall before the doors shut behind her. She turned to face him, wearing an eloquent, yet revealing dark red gown that was trimmed with rich black fabric. The sleeves were cut low at the top to reveal her bare shoulders, the chest flared open to expose the silky curves of the tops of her breasts.

The Queen was beautiful, there was no debate about that. The trick however, was to avoid being ensnared by her, in more ways than one...

Petra raised one hand and gently brushed away the long, gracefully coiled curls of her hair as she looked her nephew up and down. "I've been summoning you for nearly a week now. What business could you have at a tavern that could possibly be that pressing?"

Her tone was neutral if not bordering on irritated.

Still, Koal's cheek twitched. He hated bowing to authority of any kind, one of the many reasons that Castle life just didn't suit him. "We were sampling some fine meads by the barrel full. You know, dropping large amounts of coin, trying to stimulate the local economy, Your Majesty."

Queen Petra frowned. "You are such an arrogant ass, Koal."

"Just trying to do my part, My Queen." Koal bowed curtly.

The Queen gestured for a small alcove with a window just above it where a large table and two padded benches sat, not unlike a booth. Koal nodded and walked over, waiting for a moment as the Queen took a seat before slipping into the bench across from her.

"So how is Moira? She's in good health I hope?" Petra asked as she picked up a small crystal bell and rang it twice sharply.

"As well as she can be for the moment. The wind and the snow, being bundled up in the city... It's all too much like a prison at this point. The weather is making it difficult to travel on foot so we've limited any jobs and tasks we take on to inside the city walls." Koal shrugged, folding his arms together across his chest.

A pair of servant girls came in, pushing a small car littered with covered silver serving dishes and numerous glass jars containing dried and preserved fruits, spices and other delicacies. Koal and the Queen waited in silence for a moment, their eyes locked on one another as the servants poured some fresh tea into their cups and then also poured out an extra cup of cool water for the each of them.

The two then laid out the small trays of food before humbly bowing and promptly leaving the salon.

Koal perked a brow as he looked over the assortment of goodies and reached for a glass jar of long candied peppermint sticks. They were a fine, if very expensive candy to produce given the massive cost of that much sugar and spice. Only the very wealthy could afford to have it made, and this particular batch was made exclusively for the Crown. Koal reached in, pulling out a fistful of 2 dozen or so of the candies before he wrapped them in a cloth and carefully tucked them into his tunic. Fully intending to distribute the small fortune in candy to any children he bumped into on the way back to the tavern.

The Queen gazed into her cup of tea, holding the saucer in one hand as she brought the cup to her lips with the other and slowly took a tip before gracefully setting both the cup and the saucer down. It had been hours since his breakfast was cut short, forgoing any concerns about being drugged and molested, Koal grabbed a small, carefully prepared finger sandwich and set it down on his plate. Nibbling slowly at it as he waited for the Queen to speak again.

"Travel won't be as difficult. You'll be provided armored war horses and the weather is much, much warmer where you are going." The Queen said finally.

"Armored horses you say? Just what in the hell could we be facing that would require such an expensive necessity?" Koal frowned, putting his food back on his plate as he again folded his arms across his chest, his attention now focused wholly on the Queen.

"Have you ever heard of the Dragon's Eye Gem?" Petra asked, bringing her cup up for another sip.

Koal narrowed his eye for a moment, his thoughts whirling around for a moment, but he could recall nothing. So, he simply shrugged. "Can't say I have. What is it?"

"It's reported as being a large ruby roughly the size of a grown man's clenched fist. And it's imbibed with an immense amount of magical energy. Supposedly it was created by a mage during the wars fought in the north against the Draconian Empire, some 500 years ago or so." Petra's brow furrowed for a moment as if remembering something unpleasant.

"Nothing is certain, but according to the elders and their archives, the gem drank in an unprecedented amount of energy before the mage unleashed it. The resulting discharge scoured the earth for a hundred miles in each direction. Wiping out a considerable amount of the Draconian Empire and turning the lush, green jungles into a dry, barren wasteland."

Koal slowly rubbed his chin, so far disliking everything he had heard. "What happened after that?"

"According to the texts, the mage locked the stone away inside of his tower and then buried the tower inside the expanse of constantly shifting desert sands his weapon had created, ensuring that none could harness it's power again." Petra sighed, shifting uncomfortably in her seat.

Koal noted her unease and found it rather alarming.

"So what does this have to do with anything? Why are you telling me this?" He asked softly, his arms unfolding as he settled his hands on his thighs, sitting more upright as he gazed over at the Queen.

"Because our scouts found the tower far to the north, in the desert wastes bordering the Draconian Empire." Petra replied.

A scowl set into Koal's features.

"There was no visible way in, our men rushed back and notified the guard. It's been kept under wraps and our scholars have been digging into the matter. But according to the descriptions given by the scouts, this is indeed the tower holding the fabled weapon of the old kingdom." Petra fixed Koal with a level, appraising gaze as she watched his reaction.

"And what's the catch?" Koal asked, his scowl sliding into a hard set frown.

"The Draconians believe that the eye of their Dragon God was plucked out by humans during the war, and that their God was so angry at their failure to protect him, that he reduced their lands to a practically unlivable waste." Petra paused for a moment before continuing. "They've been searching for hundreds of years for the Gem, believing that if it was found their God would be restored, and their Empire would be allowed to march into human lands to slaughter us all as a sacrifice."

Koal frowned "Why the hell would a God need his subjects to safeguard him?"

"They're lizard people Koal, they aren't very bright." Petra sighed.

"They make up for it in ferocity. So what does this have to do with me?"

"The scouts weren't there looking for the tower, in fact it wasn't even a concern until it was discovered on the return trip. We have reports of an entire legion of Draconian Soldiers marching in from the north towards the tower. It will take them several weeks to get there at the earliest, but probably longer with all the sandstorms and the like slowing their progress. Likewise however, the winter snows here in the south will slow the progress of our army as we move to secure the tower. Given the boarder is no under no threat at all, their pitiful force wouldn't be able to breech our line if it tried. We simply cannot weaken the boarder forts by sending units out to the tower, thus our forces will have to be drawn from further south."

Koal almost let a growl of discontent escape his lips as he realized the purpose of his being summoned. "But a small force could cover infinitely more ground and be to the tower before either of the armies arrive."

"You will be given anything you request and you will be allowed to keep the mounts and any equipment you and your companions take with you, in addition to a rather generous payment in gold." Petra nodded.

"In exchange for?" Koal frowned, he knew he wouldn't like the answer but asked the question anyways.

"You have in your party experienced magic users and people of less than reputable occupations. I want you to go to the tower and use your people to find a way in, if any, and secure the gem. You can then escape before any of the draconian forces arrive and make your way south to meet our army. With luck you can find the gem and be out of harm's way in a matter of days. But failing that, you are to stay at the tower and try to delay any attempts to capture it by the Empire until our forces arrive."

"That is madness. What do I look like? A Blade of Desoul? I can't stave off an entire army, much less in an open field. What you are asking is suicide!" Koal growled but remained seated with his hands in his lap. Tone was enough to get you killed on some days, he was already sticking his neck out and didn't need aggressive body language working against him as well.

"It is not a request, it's an order from your Queen. Should you refuse, you and your companions will be locked away in the city dungeon and left to starve until I can think of an appropriate punishment for traitors to the Crown." Petra let a smile creep onto her lips as she fixed her gaze on Koal, knowing that with no choice he would of course agree.

Koal's expression was that of purest hate, chiseled into the strongest stone. He was silent for several long moments before finally speaking again. "When did you become such a cold, calculating bitch Aunt Petra?"

"Koal darling, I have always been as such, you simply didn't realize it." Petra offered him a humorless grin.

"I'll hold you to your promise of everything we need. And I do mean everything."

"Of course darling."

"I'm serious, I think Victoria was saying she needed a solid gold crossbow that shoots bolts of dragon's bone tipped with heart shaped rubies."

"Enough. Oh there is one more thing Koal my darling... You won't be going alone."

* * *

It was late afternoon when Koal returned to the Drunken Dragon, the predicament he found himself in weighing him down almost literally as he wore a sour expression, his shoulders slumped.

He found his party where he had left them, at the far corner table in the back of the now boisterously busy bar. He could see Narissa, sitting with her back to the corner, her violet eyes scanning the crowd as the two approached.

Gerard was wearing a rather tranquil expression on his features as he held a small leather bound book in one hand, carefully flipping through it with the fingers of his free hand as if he were oblivious to the noise and activity around him.

Moira and Castor sat across from one another, mugs of mead laid out in rows in front of both of them as they raced to see who drink their glasses the fastest.

Koal noticed a pair of worn leather riding boots attached to a pair of slender, torn stocking-covered legs sticking out from under the table; seeing where Victoria was on her knees under the table rapidly bobbing her head up and down in Castor's lap.

Smiling awkwardly, Koal approached the table, Narissa nodding to him as he walked up. Moira and Castor frantically raced through a dozen drinks, stopping only when Moira reached 13 and became the winner. The pale, flush-faced elf slammed her empty tankard down on the grimy surface of the wooden table and belched loudly, pumping her fist rapidly up in the air in a gesture of victory as her robe slipped down to expose one shoulder.

"I win! I win! You suck Castor! I AM THE QUEEN OF THE INN!" Moira slurred as a thrown mug whizzed past her head and harmlessly hit the wall near her.

"Shut it you drunk bloody elf!" Someone yelled from a nearby table.

"That's Queen Elf to you asshole! You better watch it! I can have you killed!" Moira declared and waited a few moments, then when there was no reply she hiccupped and resumed her seat at the table.

Narissa and Castor both stared blankly at the grim faced Koal, even Gerard had carefully tucked his book back into his tunic and was now looking up at their leader, and the young woman standing beside him.

Moira looked across to the others, blinking rapidly as she fumbled for a glass that wasn't empty. Finally finding one she took a sip and then looked up to see what the others had seen.

Standing beside Koal was a notably attractive young woman with long, orange-red hair pulled into twin braids that reached down to her shoulders. A simple, ankle-length black gown covered everything from the neck down and a simple chain draped around her neck with the symbol of the temple of holy light that identified the woman as a devout sister.

Moira blinked rapidly as if trying to process this. She looked from the holy symbol and then up to Koal and then back again, noting the white mantle sewn into the blouse of the gown and the large white cuffs at the wrists of the garment. This woman was a Priestess all right, but what the hell was she doing here?

"Koal, I don't mean to seem rude, but you do know that nuns don't put out, right?" Moira asked, cocking a brow.

"Yeah seriously boss, who's the nun?" Castor asked perplexed, his brow furrowed as he tried to rationalize a reason for her appearance.

Koal frowned. "Listen up heathens, THIS is Sister Celestia Moonstone, and she is the newest addition to our group."

There was a loud THUMP and the tankards on the surface of the table rattled against one another as Victoria suddenly banged her head against the bottom of the table.

 

Chapter 3

"This saddle is chafing my ass!" Victoria grumbled from her mount as she shifted from side to side. Leaning heavily to the left and then the right, trying to find a comfortable position.

Koal sighed and shook his head, bringing a leather gloved hand up to slowly massage his temples as he held the reins to his own mount with the other. "It's because you are wearing a skirt, it's practically your bare ass resting on the cold leather of the saddle."

"I'm just wearing string panties under my mage robes and I feel just fine." Moria bragged, grinning over at Victoria as the thief squirmed uncomfortably around.

"Yeah that's because your ass is as hard and calloused as an old, grey-haired whore's!" Victoria barked back.

"Fuck you!" Moira growled. Her face flushing red with anger.

"You can't afford me bitch!" Victoria stuck her tongue out at Moria, the two glaring at each other for a long, silent moment as the horses trotted along through the thin blanket of snow covering the forest floor.

Suddenly Moria brought her staff up, whipping it around towards Victoria who had produced a pair of long, thin throwing daggers in her right hand, the well sharpened blades gleaming in the late afternoon sun.

"Enough ladies. No need to fight over me. I mean I am just the most handsome redheaded warrior this side of Karn and the most dangerous warrior in the party. But enough is enough." Castor trotted up between the two women on his horse, shielding one from any potential attack from the other.




Da'Tara Saga Vol. 01



"The kids are just tired and cranky; I suppose we will have to stop to feed them some milk and honey." Koal frowned and sat up a little higher in his saddle at the front of the formation.

Koal road side-by-side with Celestia at the front, with Moria, Victoria and Castor now coming in just behind him and Celestia.

Gerard was an experienced huntsman and ranger, so he was riding a few minutes ahead of the party. Likewise, Narissa was using her skills and higher than average level of perception and alertness she gained as an assassin to ride just a few minutes behind the main party. Covering the group and acting as look out, should anyone attempt to follow or trap them.

Moira glared at Victoria for several long moments before she frowned and lowered her staff, promptly turning her head to look back up the trail. Castor had more or less diffused the situation by acting as a two-way shield wall, and the two, though still angry, simmered right down.

"It's so nice to be wanted." Castor sighed happily, pulling the black hood of his cloak a little tighter around his pale face. It wasn't entirely freezing outside; there was a light snowfall and a light layer of it on the path before them. But despite that, he still had specks of frost and ice stuck to his well-groomed chin beard and the flowing locks and braids of his bright, red hair.

"I have to apologize Sister. Usually those two aren't quite that obnoxious. Something is making them a little more anxious than normal so please bear with it until it passes." Koal shook his head slightly as he heard Castor settle things down behind them in the column.

Koal pulled his tattered but very warm and very durable cloak a little more tightly around his shoulders. He was warm enough but resisted the urge to pull his hood up, preferring to keep his vision completely unobstructed as he watched the road for dangers. The roads were always dangerous - traps, ambushes, armies of orcs in heat. All were potentially around the next bend in the trail, so caution was never wasted.

"You don't have to be so uptight Koal. It's fine. I've served on many, many battlefields, so believe me when I say that the banter of your comrades is tame next to constantly inebriated ruffians." Celestia smiled over at Koal from her mount.

"Fuck-fuck-shit-damnit-son-of-a-bitch-son-of-a-bitch!" Victoria called out from behind.

"Pickled penis! Pickled penis!" Moira added.

"Oh for fuck's sake it's not a contest!" Koal growled.

Victoria huffed. "Hey she called us tame!"

"Those are fighting words." Moira chimed.

Celestia chuckled lightly, bringing a small, gloved hand up to cover her mouth as she smiled.

Koal suddenly felt a strange, but very pleasant, warmth in his chest as he watched the graceful woman giggle. Despite being clad in fine armor and the black robes of her order as well as bearing the huge, flanged mace on her hip. She still managed a delicate, lady-like grace and manners.

"It's fine really..." Celestia smiled. "And please, you don't have to be formal, Celestia is fine."

"It's not like we are anti-social or anything. We're just not accustomed to having outsiders travel with us." Koal glanced over at Celestia, smiling as he tried to offer her reassurance.

"Well then, I will mark it as flattery that your people are already so comfortable around me as to be themselves." Celestia smiled warmly back at Koal who turned away, biting his lip.

Koal looked up ahead and suddenly held his fist up, motioning for a stop. The party immediately fell silent, their mounts trotting to a sudden halt.

200 yards up the road Gerard sat hunched over his mount, his eyes scanning the ground around him. In his hands was a simple looking, yet intricately crafted and well maintained bow, an arrow already knocked loosely in its string.

Very slowly the companions approached the ranger, trying to keep their approach as silent as possible as not to disrupt his attention to the scouting.

Koal sniffed the air, his eyes darting to the left and right of the trail as his mount quietly trotted up to the right of the man. "Wood smoke?"

"Mmmhmm." Gerard answered and then gestured down at the path. "People came through here not long ago, hour, maybe two... They were ambushed from the right..."

Koal's eyes followed Gerard's gaze as it moved across the path and then up the small incline leading up to the tree line and the darker depths of the forest.

There were lines of tracks leading down the trail in the direction the companions had come from, the neat set of tracks broken by a swarm of larger tracks from up the hill to the tree line. The ground was a mess from the scuffle, yet there was no spilt blood or anything left behind, as if the road were cleared to hide the more obvious signs of the ambush.

"Primitive boots, probably made out of wrapped cloth. Huge foot prints, this clumsy, almost shambling gait." Gerard ticked off his observations as Koal had a look for himself.

"I'm guessing they are big, green, bleed purple and are planning to rape, kill and eat whoever it is they captured here on the road." Koal frowned, shrugging the strap of his round, wooden shield off his shoulder as he brought it around, gripping the bar in the center with his right hand to cover the side exposed to the tree line. "And not necessarily in that order."

"Orcs." Gerard hissed.

"Orcs." Koal agreed and then turned his head as he spit on the ground.

About that time, Narissa was riding up towards the rear of the party and moved to Koal's right, her eyes catching the tracks immediately.

"Orcs?" She frowned, eyes scanning over the signs of the scuffle. "Since when did orcs have enough common sense to clean up after themselves?" She asked, scowling wearily as she ripped her sword from its scabbard at her hip, the blade hissing as it was pulled free.

"What's the plan?" Gerard asked as Koal turned his mount to face everyone.

"We're on an important errand, one from the Queen no less. We ride under her instructions and under her graces through her Kingdom towards our objective." Koal stated.

"Who gives a shit?" Victoria asked aloud.

"Exactly. Let's tether the horses in the trees over there and see if anyone is left alive to help." With that, Koal dismounted and his companions followed suit.

* * *

Madeline slowly opened her left eye and blinked through the tears streaming freely from the bright green orb. Her head was still spinning from the blow to the side of her head that had lumped her right eye over, swelled shut.

A searing pain burned across her shoulders from the strain of having her wrists bound together over her head and tethered to the side of the wagon and the young woman had to keep herself from crying out in pain as she shifted to try to ease the pain.

She squinted in the darkness, her one good eye adjusting to compensate for the blackness swirling around the edges of the large campfire a dozen yards away.

The hoarse screams that had pierced the cool evening air earlier had been reduced to muffled groans and grunts and cries of pleasure. Her people had been taken by surprise, the orcs had appeared so quickly, and there was so many of them...

The small band of a dozen or so pilgrims were making their way back south after having visited the shrines on the battlefield in the north, only to be overcome by the orc bandits. Armed only with daggers, staves and a pair of short hunting bows, the small group was easily taken by the vicious, axe-wielding bandits.

Once again Madeline began to sob, she had been tied to the wagon and when a pair of orcs had thrown her mother to the ground and began shredding off her clothes, Madeline screamed. And screamed and screamed, pleading for them to stop until one of the orcs had angrily stormed towards her and bashed her in the face. Not only knocking her unconscious, but effectively silencing her.

Her mother had kicked and screamed as her dress was torn off, the woman desperately trying to keep herself covered with the tattered fabric while at the same time fighting off her attackers. But now, now Madeline couldn't understand what she was seeing in the orange glow of the small bonfire.

Madeline could see her mother clearly, her bare breasts and chest covered with light bruises, a small amount of caked blood from a nosebleed and plenty of dirt. She was sitting astride one of the large green orcs, moaning out in ecstasy as she rocked her hips back and forth, her head tossed back as she cried out again and again, her body convulsing with delight.

"More! More!" The woman cried out, the massive creature of both fat and muscle that lay beneath her reaching up to firmly grip the woman's breasts. It's thick, green fingers digging into the soft, pale flesh as the orc roughly grunted with each swing of the woman's hips.

Another orc stepped into view beside the fire and reached down with its massive hand to tear away the small tatters of cloth it was using as a poorly constructed loincloth. Madeline gasped in horror as the orc's massive cock sprung into view, its long green shaft topped with a vivid pink head. Its unnaturally pink sperm was already trickling excitedly down its shaft as she watched it step over to her mother.

Even more shocking to the girl was how her mother turned suddenly, still eagerly moving her body up and down the first orc's cock as she turned her head and greedily sucked the tip of the second cock into her mouth. Both of the woman's hands moved up and gripped the unnaturally large cock, her head bobbing back and forth as she struggled to fit the head and an inch or two of shaft into her already filled mouth.

The potent, pink sperm that trickled onto her tongue made the woman's thoughts swirl around dizzily inside of her mind, her capacity for coherent thought reducing more and more each time the sperm was shot into her already dripping cunt or mouth.

But what Madeline didn't know what that the birth rates for orcs among the their own species was dismal at best, so most resorted to breeding with other species to quickly bolster the numbers of their war bands. To facilitate this, orcs had a very strange physiological trait which no doubt came from their twisted origins.

An orc's vivid pink sperm was almost narcotic in nature, as well as providing a twisted, but very potent aphrodisiac. No matter how reluctant the victim was at first, a few loads of the pink sperm would reduce them to slobbering, senseless wrecks. The sperm would absorb into the body, giving the recipient an insatiable desire to continue having sex with any number of partners.

After a few hours of being used as a plaything the recipient would slowly lose their mind to the narcotic effects of the sperm, eventually being reduced to an incoherent, completely passive slab of warm fuck meat to be used by its new Masters. Eventually the breeder would either die from over use or multiple, frequent births, but by that time they were too far gone to know anything but ceaseless pleasure and servitude.

The thick, wavy blonde curls of the woman's hair bounced and swayed as she eagerly serviced the two creatures, moving her hips and bobbing her head almost in unison. Her entire body undulated as she slurped and suckled at the fat, pink tip of one cock, the tip of the other massive orc cock buried deep inside of her. She could feel the thick, flared ridges of the tip of its cock tugging at her insides, the very tip of the cock slamming against her cervix over and over again, as if demanding entry to her very womb.

The woman suddenly began to choke and gag, her throat flexing and swallowing frantically as the standing orc emptied the contents of his massive balls into the woman's throat. The orc growled as it came, cumming again and again as it spurted its thick, pink load into her mouth, filling it completely almost as fast as she was able to swallow. A thick, pink trickle of orc sperm ran down the woman's chin and dribbled onto her breasts and spread thighs as she continued to suck and slurp, swallowing nearly a pint of pink goo before her orcish Master finished cumming.

She wore a stupid expression on her face, her hips moving all on their own as she stared blankly into the darkness, her mind all but fried by the sinister effects of the potent orc sperm.

There was a sharp hiss and warm fluid splashed across the woman's face and onto her breasts. She quickly opened her mouth to lick at the droplets cascading over her lips, but blinked into confusion. It tasted almost like iron, and was very salty, she moved her fingers across her chest and brought them up to closely examine them, seeing that they were smeared with thick, purple orc blood.

The orc she had just orally serviced gurgled and fell crashing to the ground, an arrow piercing its throat.

"Bragh! Attack!" One of the orcs shouted.

The orc under the woman reached up and tossed the clueless breeder aside, the woman hitting the ground before sitting up, remaining passive and not even trying to flee as a dozen more orcs swarmed in around the camp fire.

They were clad in simple cloth boots and loin cloths, but all wielding various axes, clubs and badly chipped but still very effective swords. The orcs looked around dumbfounded as another arrow hissed into the clearing, slamming into the skull of one of the warriors who tipped backwards and crashed in a heap atop of the raging bonfire.

A shower of sparks drifted up into the air as hot embers scattered around from the impact, the stink of burning hair and flesh quickly becoming prevalent in the small campsite as the fire crackled and hissed angrily.

"CHARGE!" Koal shouted from the darkness. Gerard fired a barrage of arrows, one after another as Koal emerged from the trees with the rest of his party.

Swords, maces and axes drawn, Koal, Celestia and Castor formed a small shield wall, Moira stood behind the formation, the top of her staff and her right fist glowing with red energy. Victoria stood poised beside the mage, a short sword held in a reverse grip in each fist, prepared to defend the other woman from any flanking attack, or as need be, use her superior speed to circle around and flank their enemies.

Slowly the formation advanced as the orcs abandoned their spoils and swarmed the party. "Dig in, here it comes!" Koal hissed coolly as the first warriors closed the gap.

A massive six and half foot tall orc wielding a huge wooden club rushed at the wall, heading straight towards Celestia as it flourished its massive weapon above its head. There was a flash of light and the orc's head exploded, leaving a scorched, smoking stump of a neck behind as Moira seared its head off with a fireball.

The decapitated body crashed to the snowy earth and tripped two of its advancing companions, causing them to stumble and fall to the ground. As they quickly scrambled to their feet, Koal and Castor broke the wall, moving forward as Castor swung his axe around, catching one of the downed orcs across the side of the head as Koal thrust the broad tip of his sword through the neck of the other.

They quickly went back into formation, their shields overlapping as Gerard dashed out from the tree line, holding a 6 foot long short spear in one hand, his bow holstered across his back.

"Eh what took you?" Castor asked as he waved his long bearded axe back and forth almost hypnotically at the advancing orcs.

"Well I killed three of them." Gerard said simply, moving behind Celestia as he hefted the spear, pushing it out over the shield wall.

"I seen, that was some nice shooting." Castor said, swinging his axe around and burying it deep into the chest of one orc before ripping it free.

"No, with a knife." Gerard replied passively, jabbing the spear out at the nearest orc, causing it to stop in its tracks and swing its axe around, distracting it long enough for Koal to jump forward and slash open its stomach. Koal darted back into the wall and blinked.

"What?" Koal asked. "A knife?"

"Three of them ran into the trees to find the archer. I found them first." Gerard explained calmly, lashing out with his spear and driving it hard into the ribcage of another orc. The creature reared up and growled, the bones crunching audibly as it reached up and gripped the shaft of the spear, trying to rip it free.

But Gerard just pushed harder, driving the thick, 12 inch blade deeper into the orc's chest as Moira unleashed another blast of energy, burning a fist-sized hole clean through its belly and finishing the job.

Koal glanced around quickly, there were only 8 orcs left scattered around the clearing and they began to spread out, refusing to charge the line after seeing half of their number cut down so quickly.

"Alright, let's go 1-on-1, protect the person to your left if they need help. Scatter!" With that, the formation broke up, each of the companions dashed off across the clearing, snow and frozen blades of grass crunching loudly under foot as the orcish remnants let out their own battle cry and charged forward to meet the group.

Stone and steel weapons clashed and clattered against wooden shields as the group engaged their targets. Koal reached his first and brought his broad sword around across his shield, using it to deflect a blow from an orc's club before he lashed out, slamming the riveted metal rim of his shield into the creature's gut.

The impact jolted Koal's left arm all the way to the shoulder, nearly making him cry out. But the bulky green creature grunted and sagged as the breath was knocked out of it, Koal swiped the rim of his shield into the orc's jaw, sending it sprawling before he moved in and sunk the blade of his sword into its chest.

The bones of the ribcage cracked audibly as they were broken apart, the sharpened steel ripping through the creature's heart and stabbing into the ground beneath.

"Mines bigger!" Grunted an orc hefting a particularly nasty looking 2-handed axe which he brought around hard, swinging it across at Castor who jumped back out of the way and darted to the left.

Castor swung the haft of his own axe downwards, chopping through the axe handle of the orc's weapon as he snickered. "Ha! Not so big now are- oh shit."

The massive orc dropped the weapon and then lashed out, kicking Castor hard in the shield, causing him to crash onto his back on the frozen earth. Castor shook his head, blinking rapidly for a moment before he rolled out of the way of the orcs massive foot as it came stomping down he had been just moments before.

There was a flash of movement and Castor caught the glint of steel in the pale light cast from the remaining embers and small patches of flame as a pair of long, thin throwing daggers imbedded themselves neatly side-by-side in the orc's throat. A jet of purple-black blood jetted from the wounds in a brief, spurting geyser as the creature swayed and collapsed.

Moving in a blur almost as fast of the daggers she had thrown, Victoria darted past, snatching her blades from the creature's neck with one hand as she gripped a short sword in a reverse grip in the other. She ducked an attack from a second orc, moving with steps as graceful as a dancer's as she whirled around, slashing one orc across the back, opening up a deep furrow in its flesh.

The orc spun around, swiping its club at Victoria who nimbly rolled away, a bright, orange fireball lighting up the clearing at it crashed into the orc, bathing it in flames as it screamed and thrashed about before falling lifelessly on the ground.

Gerard weaved back and forth, avoiding a strike from the orc he was fighting, he lashed out with his spear, cutting a gash across the orc's chest, dodging another attack and then finally pushing the spear out, driving it through the center of the orc's flabby chest. No sooner had it hit ground before Celestia brought down her heavy mace, smashing the orc's head and splattering its brains on the frozen earth.




Da'Tara Saga Vol. 01



Ripping his spear free, Gerard looked up at Celestia and smiled, The Priestess nodded and smiled back.

"All clear!" Koal yelled out.

"Clear!" Narissa yelled from the opposite side of the clearing as she stepped into view, Madeline and another battered looking young woman in tow.

"Mother!" Madeline called out, rushing over to the still nude figure of her mother who was sitting between the corpses of two orcs. She had a blank, passive look on her face, her legs still splayed as she dripped orc sperm. Her hand slowly moved up and down between her legs almost as if unconscious of what she was doing.

"M-mom?" Madeline stared in horror at her mother, tears cascading freely down her cheeks as she knelt beside the woman, pulling a dark brown traveling cloak around her naked figure.

"There were only two survivors." Narissa stated as Koal approached her, the dark elf wiping the thick, purple blood from her long sword with a small shred of cloth she had taken off one of the orcs.

"What do you mean, there are three of us?" Madeline said, turning to look back at the man and the dark elf that had saved her.

Koal glanced at the two women and turned his head away, closing his eyes for a moment as he brought his hand up to massage his temples. "How long?" He asked, keeping his voice low.

"I put it at three or four hours." Narissa sighed, pushing her sword back into its sheath.

Koal rested his hand on the hilt of his sword as she looked down at the two women. All the rest of Madeline's party had been killed, and her mother was no doubt too far gone by now as a result of the demonic seed swirling around inside of her. Koal frowned, he didn't like the idea of a mercy killing, but he had no choice...

He tugged at the blade on his belt then stopped suddenly as Celestia put her hand on his shoulder, shaking her head slowly as she stepped forward.

Koal and Narissa watched at the young woman knelt down beside Madeline, the girl recoiling as she held her mother protectively.

"Don't worry, we aren't going to hurt you." Celestia said softly, laying her weapon in the grass. Her voice was low and soothing as she reached into a pouch on her hip and started rummaging around, producing a small glass flask which she packed some snow into.

She moved over to a patch of still smoldering embers and placed the flask on it, the snow slowly beginning to melt into water as she pulled out some herbs and crushed them in her fist, dumping them into flask. She picked up the melted snow water and swirled it around, the herbs sinking into the water and turning the mixture a dark blue color.

Celestia sniffed the contents and quickly exhaled as she turned her head away. "Your mother needs to drink this." She said, holding the small flask out to Madeline.

"What is it?" Madeline asked, looking from the flask up to Celestia.

"It's medicine. Your mother is poisoned, I don't know if she will make it or not, but this could save her. Only if she drinks it now." Celestia said firmly, holding out the flask which Madeline stared at for a moment before reluctantly taking.

"Koal, you might want to hear what this woman has to say." Gerard said, coming up behind Koal and Narissa.

They both turned to look at Gerard, a young dark haired girl with dirt smeared across her face, trembling underneath a thick cloak which Gerard had draped over her shoulders standing right beside him.

"Moira, get another fire going. Victoria, skirt the clearing while we make camp and Castor and Gerard... heap these dead orcs up in a pile away from the camp, we'll burn them later." Koal issued the orders, pulling his red hood up over his head as his head as his teammates set about their assigned tasks.

"What about the bodies of the pilgrims?" Narissa asked as she and Koal moved out of the clearing and back down towards the road to retrieve their mounts.

"We'll make a pyre for them. We'll be dead exhausted before the night is over but it's the only proper thing to do." Koal sighed as he began unknotting the ropes tethering the mounts to a nearby tree as Narissa worked on another.

"The body is an empty vessel; it should be treated as such." Narissa hissed.

"I won't squabble with you. If you want to believe that, fine. But I wouldn't let you or anyone else just rot out in the sun for wild animals to feed on. We all deserve a little dignity." Koal moved forward, the reins of two mounts in each hand as he led the four horses out onto the road and then up the small slope to the clearing.

"And what about the orcs Koal? Don't they deserve some 'dignity' too?" Narissa shot him a sideways glance.

"Moira will incinerate the bodies before we move on, interpret it however you'd like Narissa." Koal scowled at her for a moment before walking off ahead of her to secure the horses.

* * *

Koal and Narissa sat beside the now roaring campfire with Zoe, the young woman Narissa had freed from another part of the orc encampment. They were sipping cups of warm tea while a pot of herbs, vegetables and freshly hunted rabbits, skinned and chopped by Gerard, boiled in a large cooking pot.

"We were on our way to the north; to the great memorial to the long ago war. There are many shrines on the battlefield to pay respects to our people as well our foes who died. When we got to the boarder there was a small garrison of Draconian soldiers, they were watching for something..." Zoe said, pausing to take a sip of her tea, her hands still trembling.

"So you turned back?" Narissa asked, her violet eyes focusing intently on the girl.

"No, they let us pass." Zoe replied looking up from her tea.

"What? How?" Koal jerked his head around to face her.

Zoe flinched slightly as all eyes turned towards her. "We've never had problems with the Draconian Empire. Even though they have a reputation for fierce barbarity and xenophobia, they are a deeply religious people. They may not recognize our Gods but they seem to respect our right to worship them - as strange as that sounds. We've always gone into the Empire unmolested where pilgrimages are concerned. I mean it's like any other place where you can run into bandits and brigands but it seems that-"

"Was there a tower?" Koal asked suddenly, Narissa shooting him a venomous glare for discussing their mission in front of an outsider.

"T-tower?" Zoe asked.

Koal nodded once and the girl fidgeted around as she tried to recall specific details of her trek to the north.

"There was a black fortress that was never there before. It reeked of dark magical energy." Madeline said suddenly from across the fire as she stood and moved over to Zoe and sat down. Madeline's mother had finally fell asleep the girl was ready to just eat and go to bed after the nightmare she had lived through.

"What do you mean that was never there before? Was it just built?" Moira asked as she poked the fire with a thin stick, watching it catch on fire before tossing it in with the rest of the burning wood.

"We go once a year, this tower was huge, and it had a fortress built around it and a whole garrison of Imperial soldiers. It would have taken years to build something like that, even with the aid of spells. And I've never heard of anyone just summoning a small city before..." Madeline frowned, gratefully accepting a glass of steaming hot tea that was passed to her by Celestia.

Koal and Moria exchanged a quick glance with Moira who just shrugged.

Madeline took a sip and then narrowed her eyes suspiciously at Koal. "What's your interest in this anyways?" She asked suddenly.

"Foods done!" Castor declared, changing the subject as he rattled a metal spoon against the side of the cook pot.

Narissa glanced at Koal and shook her head, Koal sighing as he rubbed his forehead. The group had been together for so long that simple gestures spoke volumes about what one was thinking. Either the information the Queen had given them was dated or false, or she knew that the garrisons were in place, and sent them anyways.

The evening passed as the group ate in relative silence, though those who weren't staring contentedly at the fire paired up for quiet small talk. Koal ate his soup and then rose, walking around the perimeter of the camp as he took first watch, everyone stood for roughly two hours before waking up someone else.

This way the camp was guarded through the night and everyone still got a good measure of sleep. Koal had awakened Gerard for the second watch before returning to his tent, surprised to find it occupied. He reached for his sword then stopped, seeing that the pale, nude figure sitting before him was Madeline.

Despite her swollen and gashed, face, the young woman was still very alluring. Her blond hair glimmered like strands of corn silk in the light of the fire as Koal crouched and entered the tent, kneeling before the girl.

"You saved my mother and my sisters from the orcs. I would like to...repay you...Sir Knight." Madeline's face flushed scarlet but she let the quilt she was holding over her chest fall, exposing the smooth curves of her pale breasts to Koal as she bit her lip, sticking her chest out as she tried to make herself more appealing to him.

Koal reached up and rubbed his head for a moment, slowly shaking his head. "Please, put your clothes back on Madeline." He asked softly.

Madeline bit her lip, looking as if the words had struck like a slap to the fist. "P-please my Lord. Do I not please you? Honor demands that-"

"Damn any honor that demands a delicate maiden such as you gives her chastity up against her will." Koal said softly, reaching out as he took the blanket and draped it over the girl.

Madeline bit her lip, fighting back tears and feeling humiliated by her attempt to offer herself to her rescuer. Slowly, Koal reached up and gently lifted the girl's chin with his gloved hand.

"You are very beautiful. And obviously a skilled and very well educated and well-spoken member of your Order. I am sure you make your temple very proud." Koal smiled. "I am a fighter for the people. Our deeds don't require payment, especially that kind. If anything I should apologize, I wish I could have arrived here sooner and saved all of your party."

Madeline reached up with the backs of her hands, brushing away the tears that were streaming freely down her cheeks. "You are very kind my Lord, I will not forget your kindness as long as I live."

Koal smiled and leaned forward, hugging the girl tightly for a moment before he pulled back and turned away from her. "Go ahead and get dressed."

Once Madeline had returned to her tent, Koal moved out to close the flap to his tent, looking up to see Celestia who stood before him, arms folded over her breast plate.

"I couldn't help but overhear you two..." She said, smiling warmly down at him.

"Err, well I uh..." Koal bit her lip.

"Shh. It's fine. I just wanted to say I am pleased to see such a noble gesture, such things seem to be so rare these days, and it helps me rest assured to know the quality of those I travel with." Celestia smiled, inclining her head ever so slightly.

"Well if she had wandered into Moira or Castor's tent, things might have played out a bit differently." Koal grinned. Celestia chuckled at that, but Koal didn't bother to insist that he was actually serious when he said that, but he let it lie.

"Well goodnight, Koal." Celestia nodded to him and turned, walking off to her tent as Koal climbed back inside of his to prepare to sleep for the night.

Celestia bit her lip as she walked away, feeling a warm rush of excitement just behind her bellybutton...

 

Chapter 4

Before settling in for the night, Koal had roused his companions to discuss the dire news about the tower being occupied. After a brief discussion it was decided that Gerard and Narissa would ride ahead of the main group, straight to the tower if need be. So, an hour before dawn the pair of scouts left camp, the main group leaving just after day break and sending the people they had rescued away with what food and provisions they could spare. 

The remaining companions rode at a fast pace towards the north, the snow gradually fading from plush drifts to thin, spotty patches showing the grass and dirt beneath. The biting cold giving way to a mild, itchy humidity as they neared the outskirts of the desert.

During the first and second day of riding, Koal was able to easily spot the markers left behind by Narissa and Gerard, confirming that the area had been safe when they passed through and that they would continue on. 

On the eve of the third day, Victoria spotted a marker, this one warning of dangers in the area, something quickly confirmed by the numerous tracks found on the road.

Koal scowled as he examined the large, almost paw-like prints in the tracks. "Draconian soldiers alright. The patrols look to be getting more frequent..." He frowned. "I wonder why we haven't come across any yet? The tracks are all fresh, but no other signs of them." 

Victoria was leaning to one side in her saddle, her eyes flicking back and forth along the tree line. "We're less than a day away now. I think we should take our mounts into the woods and creep the rest of the way in, just in case."

"Agreed. At least in the woods we can lay out a proper ambush if need be, make our numbers count." Castor nodded from the other side of the road, he too was watching the tree line. 

Koal slowly ran his fingers back through his hair, as he quietly pondered a strategy. His eyes watching the road and the patches of forest that were becoming less dense the further north they traveled. "I think the closer we get to the tower, the easier we will be to spot. We should push as far ahead as we can tonight and rest up in the morning. I think it would be more prudent to move under the cover of darkness. Gerard and Narissa will be watching for us, Draconian soldiers wont be. So, with luck we'll meet up in the next day or so and go from there."

"Sounds good boss." Castor nodded, his hand resting on the haft of his axe as he cautiously scanned the surrounding trees without moving his head. To any hidden observer it would look as if he were just starting off into space when he was in fact searching diligently for any signs of danger. 

"Draconians have a natural aversion to the cold. I think the night would be safest way to move around." Celestia dipped a slender, glove-covered hand into one of her saddle bags, producing a small chunk of bread that was well wrapped to keep it fresh. She peeled away the layers of wrapping took small, careful bites from the roll as she watched Koal. 

"True, even bundled up, they are still big lizards." Koal grinned up at Celestia as he climbed back onto his mount, pausing to reach out and gently pat the mare on her neck and give her mane a soft stroke before tugging lightly at the reins, leading the group into the woods. 

* * *

Deep inside of the ancient tower, in a chamber behind the ritual hall was a room with a great, swirling pool of water fed by a massive waterfall that flowed from the center of the high ceiling. A thick, foggy mist wafted over the polished stone floors and blanketed the area around the massive, circular pool. 

All around the rim of pool were figures lying prostrated, each clad in simple loincloths of a thin white fabric. The huddled figures chanted quietly and in sync, their words an incoherent mutter. A massive black shape moved almost gracefully just beneath the swirling surface of the silvery waters.

The grand double doors of the chamber parted to admit a figure clad in simple, flowing white robes. Hard scales of dark red and green served as flesh for the reptilian figure who strode wearily into the room, the curved, razor sharp claws of his feet clicking on the stone floor as he approached the pool. Much like their name sake, all peoples of the Draconian Empire were reptilian creatures like this one and the figures huddled in worship around the pool. 

The priest moved forward and then knelt beside the pool, resisting the urge to tremble in fear as he bowed and lowered his scaled forehead to the rim of the pool, pressing it flat into the stone floor. 

"Hello R'xxor. Have you found my gem yet?" A metallic voice that was neither male nor female seemed to echo around the chamber, the massive black shape under the surface of the water swimming closer to where R'xxor knelt. 

"N-no Divine One..." The priest's long, forked, pink tongue flicked nervously out over its scaled mouth. 

"WHY NOT?!" The voice boomed and echoed off the high chamber walls like an explosion, the priest visibly flinching as he clenched his eye slits shut. 

"Divine One...T-the chamber is well hidden. We haven't-" The priest stammered, terrified. 

"You have one day R'xxor! If you do not find the gem so I can complete the ritual, then I will have you flayed and staked out in the sun to rot! Let one of these other acolytes take your place." The voice growled. 

"Yes Divine One! We will find it!" The priest trembled, and then remained silent, the chamber quiet save for the sound of the waterfall and the dozens of chanting acolytes. 

The hulking figure beneath the water swam in a slow, graceful circle a few times before speaking again. "Very well. Now get out of my sight! My generosity will not be extended a second time..."

"Yes Divine One! Yes! Praises to your name!" The groveling priest frantically kissed the smooth surface of the stone surrounding the pool before he crawled backwards and then turned to leave. 

There was a loud sigh from the figure beneath the pool as it swam back towards the waterfall and vanished beneath it. 

R'xxor's slow, groveling retreat turned to a fast, almost frantic trot after he exited the ritual chambers as he made his way towards the dungeons in the lower part of the tower. 

Everywhere were armed soldiers, the best and most hopeful the Draconian Empire had to offer. Once the fabled tower had risen from the sand, a great crusade had been taken up to secure it. The dozens of warring tribes and small city states put aside their centuries-long squabbles and the Empire was united for the first time since the war with humans that all but destroyed it. 

The prophecy was at hand, the vessel which would hold the holy essence of their God had appeared in the tower and all that was left before the Draconians could begin their campaign of revenge against the humans and elves was the Gem. The Dragon's Eye Gem was the missing piece that was direly needed to complete the ritual. The Gem served as a catalyst, a conduit that would channel divine energy into the holy vessel and make it as a living God. Then and only then would the tattered armies of the once fierce Draconian Empire be able to have their revenge against the warm bloods. 

After several minutes, R'xxor found himself in a broad, high-ceiling corridor that ended with a massive, single stone slab covered with numerous engravings. A trio of acolytes was pouring over the runes and intricate carvings, trying in vain to decipher any part of the puzzle that served as a door to the treasure chamber. 

Upon hearing the scratching and clicking of R'xxor's claws as he approached, the acolytes all turned to fearfully face their master. 

"What have you found?!" R'xxor hissed coldly. 

"It- It appears that- That..." One of the acolytes began, shuffling nervously from side to side.

"The only way to open the doorzz izz to have a human or an elf usezz the wardzz." A second, less fearful but still terrified acolyte explained. 

"Then we had better find a human or an elf or the Divine One will have my scales! You had all better pray that this door gets opened, otherwise you will certainly join me in death!" R'xxor hissed venomously. 

"Thizz tower izz ancient. The wizzard who built it wazz prepared in case The Great Empire captured it. Owning the tower meanzz nothing, we will not be able to open the doorzz." The acolyte hissed, his eye slits narrowing.