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Quincunx Ch. 01

By: Beatnic_jazzman



Imagine a world like ours circling it's sun in 378 days, overhead filling the northern sky is a galaxy that is hurtling to a collision in less than a million years. On this planet magic is real for the gifted few while most live a medieval life with Kings, lords and freemen and an underclass of surfs and slaves.

There were five 'class's' of magic matching the five day week, with five flavours of magic and five ranks. The magic's were Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Void. The five ascending ranks are: Lesser Mage, Mage, Wizard, Greater Wizard and Great Wizard. 

The five day week joins with four others to make a month, three months make a season and, you've guessed it, five seasons make the year with the three odd days being festival days. The first celebrating the turning of the year, the second the first day of Spring with the last day the final day of Harvest.

The five seasons correspond to Spring: the bursting forth of life. Summer: the long lazy days growing to maturity. Harvest: reaping of the fruits of your labour. Autumn: the dying season, leaves falling stems browning off. And Winter: the brief cold death of the year as it warms again into the new one.

Difference between mages and wizards is that the mages can use only one of the elemental magic's, with Lesser Mages being less powerful while Mages control one fully, Wizards command two with Greater Wizards usually commanding three or more rarely four with a Great wizard commanding all five. 

Command of the earth magic was most common; most of those could develop a power of healing. Fire and Air were the next most common with the magic of the void being the rarest.

One
Taking the long way home

The morning was a fine one after last night's rain, the smell of pine and the spring blossom of the heather was on the breeze. I felt replete with my fine breakfast of cinnamon flavoured porridge with a dash of maple syrup. 

All was right with my world as I stood and stretched to my full six foot still feeling the slight ache in my bones from the hard ground I'd slept on. This was my second solo journey and I'd had an enjoyable few days of complete freedom, a rare thing in my father's strict household.

I skimped on freshening up in the icy cold water; I could have a warm bath when I got home, luxuriate in it while my father stashed the fresh supplies away and mother retired to the kitchen to consult with the cook.

My horse was saddled and the donkey loaded with my tent and the goods I'd been to Bravermouth to buy. The panniers of Janaweed for my father and herbs and spices for mother. I intended to rest up on a comfortable chair and after that my own comfortable bed after my two day trek home.

I mounted and urged my nag forward, letting it pick its own pace. The ass brayed as the reins were pulled tight, dragging it reluctantly from the clump of ferns it was feeding on. I sat easily in the saddle as the horse ambled along; thinking about Webberli and the 'thank you' I might get from her for the beaded necklace that nestled in my pocket. 

The trail before me was levelling out and round the corner of the still white capped peak above me laid my home, another four hours or so of easy riding. Already I could see the sheep below me in the high pastures feeding from the new growth of the spiky mountain grass and stunted sage bushes.

As I rounded the scree my pleasant daydreams were forgotten as I saw a Traveller's wagon pulled over some half a mile or so further down the trail. That would not please my father when he heard of it. He would soon have his men at arms up here to move them on before too many sheep disappeared.

I let my horse meander on, wondering if I should stop and retrieve my sword from the donkey. From this distance all I could see was a woman and a young boy fussing round one of the nags that drew their wagon.

As I approached the woman noticed my coming and stood to the side the wagon while the boy disappeared round the back making me wary and cautious enough to stop yards short.

"Greetings," I said as I flexed my legs in the stirrups and readied myself for any tricks.

"Our horse has gone lame," she announced, indicating one of its forelegs. "It was fine last night and showed no distress this morning when I hitched her."

She looked to be in her thirties, fair skinned and with light brown hair tucked under her headscarf, well fed and still attractive enough with a well-proportioned body, not typical of any Travellers I had seen before with their hand to mouth existence.

I steadied my mind and looked again at her with my magical sight. I could see the feint glow of her aurora; it had the signs of a healer with the power of a lesser mage, the scene before me getting more unusual as I took it in.

I looked at the Mare and saw the simple spell she had used to try and ease the swelling of the fetlock. The scene and its surrounds looked natural and harmless and I eased myself from the saddle to see if I could help.

A cursory examination showed that the horse had a loose shoe and had somehow gotten a stone lodged under it, probably picked it up when they set out, crossing the edge of the road. No wonder it was lame, no real Traveller would have missed something that obvious and my suspicions rose again.

"The horse needs resting and a blacksmith," I said standing. "There's a stone wedged in its hoof, you'll need to get it out and tomorrow you can take it to Wensdale. The smithy there will reshoe it for you."

"Wensdale?" she asked, "Where might that be?"

"Three miles back down this road and another four down the southerly road. The Smithy's a good man and will ask a fair price if you mention my name, I am Davor of Pike Manor."

I knelt again and drew out my dagger to see if I could free the stone without having to remove the shoe completely. The woman was holding the reins of the snickering animal as I eased its foot up, looking under its breast to observe my doings.

Without warning I felt a quick arm go round my throat and the point of a dagger pressed into my leather jerkin, its tip digging in my side.

"We want your horse," a young girlish voice hissed in my ear, my thoughts leapt to the young boy I had seen.

I rammed my elbow back and felt it connect with his midsection, knocking the air from him. My other hand dropped my dagger and arched back to clamp on his wrist and pull the dagger away from my ribs.

Feeling him sag backwards from my blow I released his wrist and twisted on my heels to land another blow to his jaw. As the boy fell backward I flung myself upon him, taking his throat in my hand whilst the other gripped and twisted his skinny wrist to loose the weapon.

"Get off her," the woman behind me shouted.

"Wha...." 

As I turned to look I saw her swinging a large rock and felt it connect with the side of my head a split second later, dazing me and knocking me from the boy I had pinned to the ground.

As the blackness overtook me I heard her shout "Quickly Rash, go and get some rope...."

I slowly became aware of the lurching of the wagon, the salty taste of blood and the throbbing of my head. As I struggled to sit I found my hands and feet were bound and I was lying in a narrow cot in the semidarkness.

"Hey, untie me!"

But there came no reply, only the swaying of the wagon as it travelled the trail. The angle of the wagon indicated that I must have been out for a while as we climbed back up to the pass in the crook of the mountain.

I strained and struggled against the ropes that bound my arms behind me but they were fast enough to secure me despite my struggles. My legs were a different matter; whoever had bound them had left them just loose enough to let me work my legs free, though it took nearly half an hour to do so.

With my legs free I swung them round and over the side of the cot, almost trapping them in the chests that lay invisible in the gloom, sending myself tumbling against the door to the box. As I tried to untangle myself the door was thrown open and the light flooded in, half blinding me.

"He's getting free," the young voice of Rash shouted. "Give him some more potion."

"No," I heard the older woman say. "He's had enough for one day; we don't want to kill him with an overdose.

"Well we'll have to do something. If anyone comes along...." Her voice trailed off.

"Where's my little box?" she asked. "The one with the moon image carved in the lid."

"I don't know," Rash replied. "I think it was under your bunk."

"Why are you doing this to me?" I asked, as she clambered through the door and over the first chest to poke about under the curtained recess.

"I'm sorry," she replied. "But we need your horse. If you keep quiet we'll let you go in a few days."

She brought her hand out with a flourish. "Ah, here it is."

"What's that?" asked Rash.

"An enchanted slave collar," she replied, opening the box.

"It's controlled by this crystal," she said, fishing it out of the box and holding it up.

"Who are you?" I asked, struggling to get upright and catch a glimpse of it myself. My magic sight could see the glow of it but not the crystal itself.

"If you squeeze it," she continued, "it tightens the collar on his throat and he won't be able to shout out."

"Can I see?" asked Rash.

"Later," she said, popping it into the pocket of her dress. "I need to get the collar on him first, then we're safe."

She shuffled herself round to face me and opened the box again.

"Hold still!" she ordered as she removed the black leather collar.

"Who are you?" I asked again.

"The less you know the better, for the moment," she replied, opening the lock with a small key.

She bent my head forward and slipped the collar round my neck.

"If you wander too far from the crystal the collar will choke you. Stay close to the wagon for your own safety," she warned me, dropping the key into her pocket alongside the crystal. "And don't think you can steal it, while you're wearing the collar the crystal and key will burn your hand if you attempt to touch them."

"Now, let's get you back on the bunk," she continued, grabbing the leather of my jerkin and pulling on it as I pushed with my knees to help her straighten me up and roll back onto the cot.

She disappeared back out the door, closing it and leaving me in the gloom of the caravan. In a few seconds I felt us begin to roll along the track again.

My situation it seemed had gone from bad to worse, from highborn to untouchable, and with the charmed collar about my neck I was powerless to right matters. The magic in the crystal was bright enough for it to be a strong spell, one that I had no means to fight against.

I lay there in the gloom, the collar chafing my neck and the muscles of my arms tormented by the rope binding them, feeling every bump and dip in the track through the thin straw mattress jogging my bladder. I vowed there would be a reckoning to pay when I got free, if and when they freed me.

Finally we stopped again, the grating sound of the wheels and the clip clop of the trail lost as we pulled onto softer ground.

"Hey, you there, I need to relieve myself!" I shouted.

I felt the gentle rocking of the carriage as they dismounted from the box up front and then the sunlight streaming in as the rear door opened. The still nameless woman came bustling up the steps.

"We're stopping for food and to rest the horses a while," she announced, making her way to me. "You need to remember not to stray too far."

She reached behind me and pulled on the rope forcing me to roll face down as she untied me. For a moment I contemplated trying to overpower her but she only loosened the ropes and backed off, before reaching into her pocket and holding the crystal up in her clenched fist.

I wriggled my arms free and sat up to face her.

"Miriamni, come help me with this," came the shout from the young boy outside.

She turned from me and made her way to the door and the steps. I followed on and walked past her up into the rocky gully where they'd stopped the caravan, I was going to test the limit of this collar. Miriamni had been convincingly unconcerned with me walking away, that didn't bode well.

I walked further up the gully, picking my way around the boulders till about fifty yards or so in I felt it start to tighten. I stopped and took a step back bringing my finger up automatically to ease it, Miriamni was right to have confidence; the magician was competent in his craft.

I walked back down aways, dodging behind the first large rock I saw as I felt the collar start to tighten to drop my pants and ease myself.

When I walked back I could see them both setting up the hay bags and water for the horses.

"Can you build a fire?" Miriamni asked.

"Yes of course," I replied.

"We can't let him wander round like that!" Rash exclaimed. "He's supposed to be a slave."

"What?" Miriamni turned to look back at Rash.

"His clothes," he explained. "The way he's dressed is much too grand for any slave I've seen. Don't we have something more suitable for his new station in life?"

"Nothing, I never thought to pack slave clothes."

"Well we'll have to think of something, we can't let him be seen in those."

He turned to me. "You, Davor or whatever your name is, back inside now."

I looked from him to Miriamni questioningly.

"Do as you're told!" Rash shouted at me.

I shrugged and walked back to the caravan, seething inside that a young boy should have such power over me. Inside I lay back on the cot, listening to them as they prepared a midday meal, their voices indistinct except for a word or two here and there.

The young boy was the master here I reasoned, and it seemed as though they were fleeing from someone or some situation in some haste, which explained the need to kidnap me and commandeer my horse. Whatever it was, it was my misfortune to have met them on the road and become entangled with their escapade.

After a time Miriamni brought me a meal of journey bread and some boiled stock fish, with coftea to wash it down. Whilst she was in the caravan she opened one of the trunks and rummaged through to draw out a petticoat which she took with her.

With the horses rested and food in our bellies we were on the way again. Our brief stop had taken us less than an hour and without the ropes to bind me I settled down to endure the bumpy ride once more. 

I lay there, still pondering my fate as we proceeded onwards, the angle of the caravan telling me that we were branching up from the 'main' road to the seaport and continuing on the high road to the mountain pass on the other side of the valley.

Once up through the pass we pulled over into a wooded valley as dusk was falling. I took the chance and peeked through the rear door as I felt us slow and roll onto the softer soil. We were stopping at the 'Bandits Cave', cleared these two years ago by my father's men and the watch from Bravermouth.

Both Miriamni and Rash came through the coach door at the front, Rash with a length of cloth and a shank of thinner rope in his hand. As Miriamni lit the lamps Rash came to me.

"Strip your clothes off," he commanded me, laying the string and cloth down on one of the trunks.

"But...." I started to protest.

"Strip!" he commanded again. "Or Miriamni will use the crystal."

"Let her, why do I need to strip?" I demanded.

"Miri," she called behind her. "Come and deal with him."

I tensed my neck, remembering the tightening; it would be foolish to get choked, just to make a gesture of resistance. The look in his eye meant business; for one so fair in the face his stern eyes demanded obedience born of rank. 

Reluctantly I obeyed. In other circumstances I'd be please to show off my body, toned and firm from the farm work, I'd charmed many a woman stood stripped to the waist and with my tight britches on.

I started by removing my jerkin and unbuttoning my shirt, dropping them on the bed as I sat and removed my boots and then unbuckled the belt before standing to remove my pants and long johns.

I watched Miriamni eyes widen as my knob was revealed, hanging five inches in its flaccid state as I brought my hands to cover it. Webberli had told me that it was the biggest in the town, at least a half a hand bigger than its nearest rival making her the envy of the girls in her circle.

I sat and pulled my feet from the legs of my pants, feeling flushed despite the cooling evening air, when Rash scooped the cloth he'd brought and thrust it out to me.

"Cover your loins with this," he ordered. "Then tie it round with the string."

I stood again and took the cloth. It was part of the hem of the petticoat I'd seen earlier, still damp from its soaking in the coftea grounds that gave it a dirty pale brown colour. I slid it between my legs noticing both getting an eyeful as I pulled it tight into my crotch.

I sat again to string it, leaving a little flap front and back to preserve my modesty. This was the apparel of field slaves. I'd seen the like on farmer Brettic's farm, on slaves harvesting the wheat fields and threshing it in the barn.

"Now we can safely let him outside," Rash declared, sitting on the trunk and giving me the once over.

"Then he can start the fire while I see to the horses," said Miriamni, turning to leave by the rear door.

I followed her out and she showed me where the kindling was kept and left me to it.

The mountain air was cool but not so cold as to chill me as I worked with enthusiasm to build a fire to warm myself by before the night air could turn yet colder still. I had the fire started and was building the fireplace when Rash came over with the caldron.

I watched him as he walked back. His gait was strange; he was taking small steps like he was afraid to open his legs. I stood and followed him to the water butt roped to the side of the wagon where he was ladling water into the pot for coftea.

"So we're going to Potiau, the Magicians domain," I commented.

He whirled round. "How do you know that?"

I moved past him and picked the ladle from the butt.

"It's the only place this road goes," I answered, bending my head to sip the water.

"Urrg, how long have you had this water?" I asked after I'd spat out what little I'd tasted. "It's gone stale."

"I thought that was the taste of the wooden barrel," chimed in Miriamni, joining us after picketing the horses.

"He knows where we're going," put in Rash in a panicked voice.

"It doesn't matter," said Miriamni calmly.

Turning to me she asked. "Do you know of fresh water round here?" 

"Yes, I think there's a small stream with a pool up by the Bandit's Cave."

"Bandit's Cave!" Rash echoed getting more flustered.

"Yes," I addressed him. "But don't worry its safe now. They were all captured these two years gone." 

"Then you can help me carry the barrel up there so we can get fresh," Miriamni declared, then turning to Rash. "See if you can salvage the meat in the cook pot and throw that stuff in the pot away. We'll be back with fresh water soon."

It was only a short walk up the valley to the cave mouth and the little pond that was fed by the stream that came tumbling down the rocky side. The air was still and calm with the sweet smell of the early blooms of the gorse, a pleasant place if not for the grisly skeletal remains of the slain soldiers and bandits.

We flushed the barrel in the pool first, swilling it round with fresh water before filling it with the sweet water spilling from the cliff side. Thankfully, the short walk up meant a short walk back with the weight of the now full water butt.

Rash was sitting in the bright moonlight by the fire, feeding it with twigs and dead branches of the pine trees brought down by the winter snows. He stood and turned to us when he heard us coming. 

"Here, you can refill the cook pot from this," Miriamni told him as we eased it to the floor next to the fire. "Then we can see about making fresh coftea as well."


Quincunx Ch. 01



I sat next to the fire to warm myself, kneading my feet after walking unshod for the first time since I'd stopped growing and had my first pair of adult boots. Back when my moustache was first shaved and I had my magic test.

I was idly watching Rash as he added the ingredients to the cook pot balanced on the stones. With his tight cap removed I could see his tousled blond curls shining in the firelight. He looked too pretty in the flickering flames. I wondered what he looked like under those thick clothes that looked authentic but sat on him and made him shapeless. He was tall, but had the hairless skin of a thirteen, fourteen year old.

"Get the coftea pot and put it on the side," he said, glancing at me then continuing his stirring.

I sighed. I was dressed for the part I was playing, fetch that, go for this, and got up on my still aching feet and walked over to the side of the wagon and brought it, and the makings back over to fill it from the barrel.

I put it on and sat back down, this time with my back to fire to warm that. I noticed that my pack from the donkey had been laid next to where it was picketed with the three horses. My sleeping roll and blanket were stacked there along with my tent and the other goods, but my sword was missing.

My sleeping roll and blanket were the important things for now, tomorrow and the half day after that would see us over the last finger of the mountain and into the wizard's realm. By then their horse would be re-shod. They had baths and barbers in the mining town. A shave and a hot bath would be welcome but I doubted very much if I could get one, even with the money I had in my purse to pay handsomely for them.

With my back warmer I got up and retrieved my bedding, unfolding my alpaca-lined blanket. I wrapped it around me as I lugged the thick rush matting along as well. As the night was fine I didn't need the tent; if it did turn threatening later I could sleep under the wagon.

I dropped the mat and pulled the blanket round me and draped it over my legs, leaning forward to watch the flickering flames lick the sides of the pots sitting on it. The stew was bubbling, Rash still stirring occasionally to stop it sticking and the coftea pot beginning to steam.

Miriamni came up between us. "Coftea ready yet?"

"Ask him." Rash replied, straightening up and easing his back with one hand.

I leant forward and picked up the glove, lifting the pot and putting it down by the third stone from the fire, wondering only now were the cups were.

"Where's the cups?" she asked.

"Still in the cupboard," I cheekily exclaimed. 'Where ever that is,' I added silently in my thoughts.

She looked at me and took a breath holding her first thought with a little pause then. "Oh never mind."

She traipsed over to one of the lockers on the side of the wagon and brought out three cups. She filled hers with a taste when she returned, sipping it to assess the flavour.

"Needs a little bit longer to me." she remarked, looking and nodding at me to put it back.

I did so and stood. "I need to ease myself, so if you'll excuse me, I'll be a little while."

I wrapped my blanket fully around me and followed our back trail to where the woods thinned from harvesting, wondering just how far I could go. In the moonlight away from the fire my vision came clearer as my eyes adjusted, and I picked a clump of grass or two as I made my way into the gorse that had reclaimed the territory.

With my business finished I slowly wandered back, glancing up at the moon crossing the pinwheel of stars arcing around the northern sky behind the mountains, heralding the coming rainy season of summer. I should be lying in the arms of Websy, making love for the first time in nearly a week, a repeat of our goodbye frigging. 

I picked my way gingerly along the verge of the crushed rock from the mine tailings, through the grasses that grew at the edge, with the glow of the fire visible in the cleft valley as my target. I re-joined them, both looking round to me at my approach, frozen for a moment silhouetted in the fire's glow.

"I'm back," I said, as if I needed to announce myself.

They turned back to the fire and I gratefully sat down to rest my feet again. Seeing Rash on my return finally triggered the obvious that he was a she in disguise. I was surprised at myself for not having recognised it earlier.

Not that it changed things. They were running for the border and hoped to disappear, maybe even taking ship to cross to the southern tip and its anonymity. Rash, the girl in the lumpy clothes, was nobility, and Miriamni the trusted servant who looks like she organised this little charade.

My thoughts rolled on as I sat, still wrapped tight with my fingers gripping my blanket closed. I relaxed and let it slip open as I leant forward, elbows on knees, wondering how long till I could bed down. I was getting used to sleeping early and waking early.

I reached for the pot and poured coftea into my cup, the amber stream sparkling with the firelight. The stew would probably need another half hour yet. Beyond that there weren't a lot of things to do, the idea of games or music bringing a smile to my face as the thought flitted past.

I sat, sipping my drink and feeling sorry for myself, regretting our chance meeting and the capricious nature of life and what there was to suffer next.

The time dragged watching the fire and the dancing flames and Rash's occasional stir of the pot. She was half absorbed by it and by her thoughts, she was a lot prettier now that she was a girl. The question of what lay beneath the clothes set my cock twitching, and she looked past the eighteen years that made it legal for her to do the choosing.

"Is it ready yet?" Miriamni asked a little too loudly, making me look up.

Miriamni was getting the cotton glove and kneeling over to lift the pot clear while Rash quickly drew the ladle with a taster in it. We waited while Rash blew on it and Miriamni set the cauldron down on its legs.

She picked the strip of meat, tossing it between fingers as she blew on the end, continuing juggle until she was sure that the end was safe to nibble.

"It's eatable," she announced after chewing a few seconds.

We ate the meat and vegetable broth, and I put some more water on for a second cup while Miriamni washed the pot and bowls. Rash just sat wistfully watching the fire and I wondered again what she was running to or from.

The coftea boiled and I poured a cup for myself and offered the pot to Rash, who shook her head. The fire was starting to die down, the flames giving way to the ruddy glow of the embers. I warmed my toes but kept the cover of my blanket over my knees, hoping the others would turn in soon or I'd just set my bed up anyway.

Miriamni rejoined us having cleaned up and put thing in place in preparation for breakfast, stretching and yawning as she took her seat and reached for the coftea. I thought of what I would tell my folks and friends when I got home, and the teasing the true story would bring on my head.

Even with the charmed collar it begged the question of my manhood, and how a big man like me fell victim to the two women. I could see me exaggerating the powers of Miriamni to hold me charmed and even magically overpowering me in the first place.

As I put down my empty cup Miriamni turned to me.

"Go and fetch the lamp for me," she asked wearily.

I saw Rash stretch and yawn as I rose to retrieve it from the wagon, thinking I would roll out my mat when I got back and shave whilst Miriamni and Rash took their turn in the bushes. Then I could roll the stones back and sleep next to the embers of the dying fire.

I watched them walk off into the night, hoping that Miriamni would remember about the crystal in her pocket and not stray too far from the camp. I opened my toilet roll and was struck by the thought that my open razor could serve as a weapon, an oversight on their part.

I lay by the embers, curled up in my blanket looking at the great circle glittering in the sky, its curved arms marking the seasons. Over my shoulder I heard Miriamni and Rash came back talking quietly amongst themselves, going straight into the caravan.

I listened to the quiet of the night, tired but with my mind contemplating the chances of sneaking into the wagon while they slept. If i used the thick glove it would protect me from the magic and to Miriamni before she could get to the crystal, knowing that if I made the attempt and failed I'd probably end up hog tied for the rest of the trip, or even worse dead and left by the roadside.

I turned onto my back and finally drifted to sleep as the glow from the dying embers faded.

"Come; bring your bed for us to sit on. I want to talk with you in private," Miriamni whispered as she woke me.

I rose and followed her, bringing along my bedding as we walked a little way up towards the cave, till we came to a sheltered nook where she waited as I laid my bed out, she sat and patted the mat next to her.

"Have you a girlfriend?" she questioned me as I sat next to her.

The question's direction surprised me.

"Yes," I answered tentatively.

"Have you pleasured her?" she asked straight back.

Despite the euphemism her question was a bold one given the circumstances, not one I'd expect from a strange female.

"Yes I've frigged her," I replied back, being deliberately vulgar.

"Just frigging?" she asked back calmly, turning tables.

"I've played with her tits and fingered her cunny," I added still using crude 'common' words.

"You ever plated her?" she came back matching me.

The only oral had been Webberli sucking me off; I'd not persuaded her to let me try that yet.

"No," I confessed giving her the endgame.

"Then I'm going to teach you what a girl likes," she said rolling onto her knees beside me.

"Lie down," she ordered. "And unwrap your blanket."

It felt strange lying down with some woman calling the shots, taking the use of me for granted. I wondered where the crystal was right now. As I measured my length she opened her robe and hiked up her nightdress to reveal the hairiest minge I could imagine. Her pubes crept down onto her thighs all thick and curly.

She manoeuvred above me, her feet astride my chest, and then knelt down letting the flannel nightdress cover my head. The aroma assailed me and the hair was tickling my lips and chin.

"Stroke your tongue between my lips," she instructed me. "Just run it up and down a few times."

Inside the loincloth my knob was growing, pulling against the string holding it on. My hand slipped down to free it, pulling the bow open, then up to the hips of Miriamni feeling her bare warm flesh.

I pushed my tongue out, parting the tangled hair as its tip dove into her. After two or three strokes she stopped me.

"Wait now; did you feel the little nub at the top?"

"Uh huh," I grunted.

"That's where I like it most, but don't neglect the rest."

After a moment's pause she wiggled her hips on me. "Well carry on, then."

She widened her legs, her shins astride my shoulders with her feet on my chest. I pushed my tongue through to find the plump inner lips again and began to circle and stroke them, feeling her shifting to encourage my tongue to explore all parts.

I licked and slobbered, tasting her juices and finding her hunny hole and played with that as well, sliding my tongue in and out before sweeping it back up to her nub and stroking that. She was moaning appreciatively and wriggling the more as I struggled to follow.

She leant forwards, forcing my tongue to concentrate more on her nub as she became more excited. The aroma built as I felt the wetness of her juices on my chin, the warm folds of her plush lips sliding around and letting dribbles trace down my jaw.

Despite it being forced on me I was enjoying the taste and texture, my shaft standing tall as it throbbed with the want to frigg her. Her soft moans and groans encouraged me on as my tongue explored the silky skin and the hard little button peeking from the yielding hood.

Then she stopped, pushing herself upwards and backwards to squat above my stomach her hand reaching round to seize my throbbing knob then guiding it up into her as she eased herself down onto my shaft, stopping only to brush the head across her lips before squeezing down on it.

I felt the tightness grip me as more and more of me disappeared inside her, and raised my head to watch her body sinking slowly onto me. Even more surprising was seeing the pale face of Rash peering round the side of the boulder. She ducked back, but the moonlight on the golden curls made me sure she was the spy.

Miriamni rode me, pumping up and down wildly, her breath starting to show steam in the clear air.

I lay back and enjoyed the thrill of her riding me, my fat knob filling her as it plunged in and out, her frothy cum rimming the root, thinking of Webberli doing it, her breasts bouncing in front of me ripe for the plucking.

She came, shuddering as she dropped her weight on me, pushing my knob deep inside where I felt the waves of pleasure inside her. I could hear her soft sobs and panting breath as she leant forward, resting her hands on my chest.

My knob was still stiff inside her and I gave a hesitant thrust bouncing her up and down on my boner, she gulped and pushed herself back upright, starting slow with encouraging sighs and 'Mm's'. 

As I felt the pleasure once again building in my groin I looked at her. She had her eyes closed and her mouth open as she bobbed up and down, taking me fully into her. This time it was me thrusting as my orgasm swept over me, arching my back and lifting her and sealing her to me as my seed flooded into her.

I grunted and let out my breath, panting to replace it as I lay back down. My sexual pleasure was a warm glow around me, feeling the warmth of her flesh on mine, wondering what to make of my kidnap now.

After a little while my shrinking knob plopped out, stirring Miriamni to ease herself from on top of me. After she rose I sat up and used the loincloth to wipe the cold dribble marks and dry myself while Miriamni stood and straightened herself.

I was still retying myself when she turned to glance at me, a big smile in her face. "You can have another lesson tomorrow."

I was pondering my answer when she turned and walked off, leaving me to collect my bedding and follow, remembering again the pale face poking around it when I passed the rock on the corner.

By the time I make it back to camp she'd disappeared inside and I was left to reset my bed and drift back off to sleep, wishing it was Webberli I'd emptied my balls into.



Quincunx Ch. 02



Two
A teaching moment

Morning came and I was up and awake in the grey dawn laying the fire for the morning's porridge. It was strange walking around in the thick mist that was rolling down from the mountains above us; the silence was eerie as the slightest sound sounded overloud.

My thoughts were of Miriamni and last night. Being seduced by a woman was a strange thing; my knob twitched with the thought of it and the promise of more tonight. I got the fire started and squatted in front of it, warming myself in the damp morning air.

The coftea was ready and the water was simmering for the porridge. I was thinking of calling the others but I was still lay back warming my feet when Rash and Miriamni climbed down from the wagon, saving me the trouble.

"You can make the porridge now," Miriamni said as she seated herself and reached for the coftea pot. "We need to be on the road as quick as we can."

I shook my head at her assumptions and started on making the porridge. I was thinking of the going on the track when seeing ten feet was difficult. We wouldn't make much progress till it lifted.

Rash was standing, stretching as she rolled her head round looking about in the mist. Her hair was still tousled and the coat open, showing a white vest under it, where I had expected breasts there seemed only the slightest of mounds.

I sat and stirred the porridge, watching its consistency as it thickened. I'd put three times my single serving, but the water was hard to judge in the large pan and I'd erred on the side of caution. The porridge was thick and bubbling, cooked enough to eat; I rescued it from the hearth and began to fill the bowls.

"I've got cinnamon and syrup here," I announced, taking a pinch of spice and proffering the small sack around.

"I'll have some," said Rash, straightening and looking over at me from her perch on the stone.

I sprinkled some on hers and looked at Miriamni, she nodded and I obliged.

They all had the syrup as well and we ate in silence with the gloomy grey mist still enshrouding us. 

We'd got another two rounds of this to come, two nights of sleeping out in the open then I would get free at the border. I'd hoped that tonight would see us over the next ridge close to the border to give us time to make it down to some inn and resume my identity.

I scraped the last from the bowl and set it down. The two cups of coftea having refilled my bladder, my next pressing matter was to relieve myself again.

"If you ladies will excuse me again I must visit the bushes," I said standing.

I walked but ten yards and the mist swallowed them. I walked up to the nearest bush and pulled on the cord to loosen my cloth and heard the footsteps behind me. Turning and looking as I let my waters flow Miriamni's ghostly form emerged to walk up beside me and cover my hand with hers as I held my knob.

"Take good care of it," she whispered in my ear, wrapping her other arm around my dangling one and grasping that hand as it held the corners of the cloth up.

I shook the drips and released it, reaching my hand down for the string behind me, taking her hand with it. She released me and stood back as I pulled my loincloth into shape, adjusting the flap at the front and giving myself play in the crotch.

"Are we going on in this?" I said as I faced her.

"We have to...." she started to say as she half tripped on something, I jumped to help as she staggered, catching her by the waist as she recovered.

"Thanks," she gushed, standing a moment to catch her breath.

"You're welcome," I replied. "Look I don't know your story and I'm not asking for it. I want your assurance that you'll free me. Your horse is well enough to continue with a new set of shoes, or even only the one if you're that rushed. With luck we'll reach the Lucky Venture mine and the settlement around it by midday."

"The horse could be shoed there while we stop for lunch," I continued. "And still be up through the pass to the way station by night."

"You said 'ladies' earlier. You know about Rasyondi?" she asked back.

"Yes, is that her name?"

"Do you know it?" she asked stopping.

"I know one of that name from the town near me but I know nothing of yours, she is young to be on a venture such as this."

"She has had eighteen summers and is of age. She chose independence instead of a bad marriage and left before she was thrown out," she explained more. 

Her tale had a feel of some courage to abandon all, it left me wondering who could be so bad it could be worth this. I stayed silent as we approached the fire, thinking over what she'd told me. Rash passed pretty well at first glance, she could stay inside while I drove with Miriamni at my side.

We'd make an odd couple but the memory of anyone we encountered would not include a young person as a clue. Now if only this mist would lift or thin, it was still a bit chilly to go without my blanket.

I sat back down at the fire to a reflective Rash, sitting close to the fire and leaning back on the rock. She stirred and sat back up as we got there.

"There's fresh coftea in the pot," she sighed, clutching her own cup.

"Thanks," I said as I reached for the glove to take it from the side of the fire.

"Where's your cup?" I asked Miriamni as she settled herself.

She pointed to it on the ground and I bent and retrieved it, pouring for the two of us.

"When can we get started?" Rash asked.

"As soon as this thins enough to see the road," Miriamni replied, waving a hand in the air.

"We can go at a slow walk," I said. "I can walk if you give me my boots back, I could lead the horses to give us some progress till it breaks."

Miriamni nodded and rose. "Let's get things started then."

I rose and turned to the front of the caravan, taking a horse to hitch it to the shaft. Miriamni joined me with the second and we harnessed them up. She followed me to the donkey and helped me load that.

"What's that?" she asked, lifting one of the waxed canvas packs of my father's Janaweed.

"It's for my father to relax with, help him sleep at night in his old age," I replied.

She was sniffing at it and prising a corner open.

"To relax him," she quoted back at me, looking at me quizzically.

She pushed two fingers in and retrieved a leaf, bringing it to her nose to sample.

"This is aravig, how does he use it?"

"Its ground to a powder and added to hot water to cool, then he adds a sweet wine and drinks it as a nightcap some nights."

She laughed. "I should soak some and let you see what they really are." She said jokingly, stuffing the pack back into the pannier.

"What else have you got tucked away in here?" she asked, leaning on the pack as I went to collect my roll.

"Just some spices and things for the kitchen," I said over my shoulder as I stooped to wrap my mat.

My sword was something I wished they'd left handy but I doubted they'd return it.

"You going to give me my boots?" I asked as I secured my roll.

"Yes," she said. "I'll get them for you while you put your saddle on our horse."

As soon as I had my boots on I was out on the track. It might have been a trick of the eye but it looked to be beginning to thin already; there was less of a wind driving it.

I walked for half an hour before it thinned enough to drive through with another half before the sun finally broke through on me and Miriamni riding on the box. 

"What do you hope to do?" I asked after a while.

"Just get away for the moment," she replied, "Potiau's an unknown."

She was being a bit tight lipped to my casual enquiry, still Potiau was a strange place with its own structured society, and princesses didn't fit in without a king. The wizards ruled it. The old king some long generations ago died without issue and his succession had become a civil war, so the wizards intervened between two warring factions and ruled peacefully after the wars.

"If you've got the money," I started, not thinking it a sensitive matter. "You could go down to Rimbals and take a boat to Alsp and go anywhere from there."

"Aye maybe," she conceded.

I gave up and leaned back against the warming wooden wall behind me, rocking gently as we followed the track in the warm sunshine, the mountains curving away as we drove across the wooded plain. About mid morn we spied horsemen approaching up the track towards us.

As they came nearer I could see they had a wagon, like a freight wagon from the glimpses over the bobbing heads of the riders in front.

"Best move off and give them right of way," I suggested.

The riders were uniformed and I supposed them security for whatever load they accompanied. One of their number came over to us as they passed.

"Who might you be?" he asked. "And what be your business on this road?"

"We travel to Potiau," Miriamni replied, slackening the reins in her hand.

"Your slave will welcome it, they're not permitted there," he observed.

"That is part of the bargain," she replied.

"Don't stay to long in town," he warned us.

"Long enough to get the horse shoed?" she retorted.

"Make sure you're gone by nightfall." He said as he turned his horse to rejoin the procession past us, linking with the riders bringing up the rear.

They passed by and Miriamni drove the wagon back onto the track, heading once more toward the village and the pass that lay beyond. 

I craned my neck looking as we drove the road through the village. There, at nearly the end was what I sought, the blacksmith. As we pulled up I jumped down and walked to the back where their horse was strung, along with my donkey

I had to let Miriamni do the negotiating, as I wasn't dressed for the part. Nor was I dressed for the inn; while Miriamni and Rash ate inside I was forced to eat at the backdoor of the kitchen, stuck out with the bathing cubicles.

As it was I finished first and was back on the box of the caravan waiting for them.

"Was your food okay?" Miriamni asked as she mounted the steps. Rash walked on and I heard her mount the backsteps.

"Yes, they stuck me out back, warm enough with all that bathtub water heating out there," I replied.

"Bath tubs!" Rash exclaimed, poking her head through the top door behind us.

"They've got cubicles behind," I confirmed. "They've even got a sauna by the looks as well."

"Miri have we got time for me to get a bath?" Rash asked breathlessly.

Miriamni looked at me. We had maybe half an hour till the horse would be collectable at the smithy, but we had paid already so perhaps a little delay wouldn't matter to him. The other concern was the time we had left to cross to the way station; judging by the line of the ridge it was a good six hours distant, and the position of the sun left us seven hours till dusk.

"We'll be cutting it fine," I commented.

Rash gave me a scowl and Miriamni glanced back to Rash.

"Okay but you'll have to be quick, no lazing in it," she announced.

Rash squealed her delight, turning and disappearing back inside. Miriamni shrugged her shoulders at me.

"Help me carry it!" Rash shouted from inside.

I shrugged my shoulders back at her and jumped down, heading around the back to see what Rash wanted. She stood there a little bag of toiletries and two large towels.

"You carry these around the back and I'll go and pay the landlord," she said, thrusting the stuff at me.

I strolled back around and waited, Rash and a harassed looking landlord appeared at the back door.

"Here they are, you can take your pick," he said waving his hand expansively at the four cubicles lining the back wall. "But I've no help to give you, you'll have to get your slave here to fill it and rinse you."

His words jarred me alert. He was expecting me to help. I'd be ok with filling the water, but Rash would be panicking about my being inside with her.

Rash's face was contorted as she fumbled for an answer.

"Okay." She agreed.

Even now my cock was twitching at the thought of Rash's enigmatic body. Things were going to get awkward. I wondered how she would deal with it, with an amusing flash of her blindfolding me. She looked at me then over at the cubicles, selecting one and started to walk towards it.

"This one will do," she said, peering around the door then opening it wide.

I followed her through and stopped on the threshold.

"Rasyondi, did Miriamni tell you that I'd figured out you were a girl?" I asked quietly.

She turned to me. "You know. For how long?"

"Since yesterday."

"Well I'm going to have a bath. I can't keep sending you outside, that might look suspicious, so you're going to stand over in that corner over there. Now go fetch the water."

I laboured over a quarter hour with slopping buckets, my bare feet slippery on the wet cobbles.

"Okay, that looks enough. Close the door and go stand in the corner," She ordered.

"We are two buckets short yet," I argued. "We need fresh water for rinsing."

"Oh, well hurry up and fetch those before this water goes any colder," she retorted.

I fetched the two spare pails and shut the door. Rash was sitting barefooted on the side of the tub. I walked around the other side of her and placed the buckets down and took my position behind the winged back. I leant forward on my hands, alternately raising each leg to ease my feet on the wrinkled wooden floor.

I heard her splash into the water and give a contented sigh, then quiet as she laid herself onto the winged back.

I "Herm hummed." 

"What?" she answered sharply.

"Are you going to wash?" I answered back.

"Are you nanny Miri now?" 

"If I have to be. We need to get back on the road." I reminded her.

"Where's the ladle then?" she asked.

"In the bucket." I answered back wearily.

All went quiet then I could hear the splashing as she ladled the water over herself.

I breathed a silent 'good'. If she only knew how jealous I was of her in that bath. I felt dirty and smelly, my legs coloured with the dirt and dust I'd walked through and under my arms was yucky. If it had have been Miriamni I'd have been in there with her.

I waited with patience, thinking of life back home. There would be concern that I was a day late; I knew that tomorrow first thing one of the good horses would be sent with the groom to meet me. Perversely, I wondered how much Webberli would miss me. I expected that she might stay with the family for a day or two but then there'd be the village and the boys.

"You're not peeking?" she asked as I heard her splashing out of the bath.

I didn't bother answering; shuffling my feet again I straightened myself up, bringing my arms back to my side. Listening to the soft sounds of the towel as she rubbed herself dry, then the rustle and scrape of her clothes as she dressed.

"Hey!" she said loudly to attract my attention.

I half turned "Huh?"

"Come and help me with the bandage," she said, insistence underlying her voice.

I turned fully round and saw her in a vest and holding out a long woollen scarf.

"Well don't stand there stupid gawping at me, come and help." She snapped.

I walked the two steps forward and took the scarf from her and she held up her arms. The tightened vest outlined her pert breasts, their centres marked by the small bumps of her nipples. I took the end of the scarf and placed it over them.

"No," she exclaimed. "You have to start lower."

She lowered her arms, growing her breasts larger almost to peach size, and wound it just under taking a third of the mounds, holding it and waiting for me to take it and finish. I leant in close and took it behind her back, twisting slightly and brushing against her erect nipple as I pinned the end.

I brought it round for the second turn across the top of her breasts this time leaving her nipples poking out the centre strip; I looked at them under the thin vest, their dark orbs highlighted under the tight material.

My cock was hard and pulling on the string as it tented the flap in front. I'd ducked around behind her as I took the third turn around, letting her bring her arms down and adjust it before I tightened it off.

She put the shirt and coat on and jammed her hat down over her still damp hair and turned to find me leaning over the bath.

"What are you doing?"

"Cleaning the bath behind us," I explained, "Leave it as we find it, ready to use again."

"Mm," she pondered a second and turned to the door. "Well don't be long; we've got a long day yet."

As soon as she let the door go I was standing in the lukewarm water sluicing it over my legs, I stood out again and took the soap and had a quick swill around my chest and underarms before drying myself on the towels she left for me to collect.

Rash was at the backdoor as I came around to the front.

"Miriamni has got the horse," she shouted the obvious, waving at it.

She ducked back shouting "We can go now," then more quietly to me, "Make sure the door's shut."

The wagon gave a jolt as we started, giving me the excuse to sit on the bed opposite her.

"You'd better get that cap off and your hair seen to before it dries," I told her, throwing her the driest of the towels.

"Then you'd best comb it for me," she replied pulling her hat free and letting the damp straggles hang down.

She rummaged in a bag and threw me a hairbrush. "Here. Now come sit behind me and be gentle."

Despite myself I smiled at the idea of ripping her tangles out, and moved carefully around the trunks in the aisle to climb behind her, wrapping my legs under me as I settled with my knees pressing her hips. My knob was twitching again, uncurling in the pouch of the loincloth.

I started at her crown, rising up to see. Gently I teased the tangle out, running my fingers through her damp hair as I brushed it, drawing the tangles to the bottom. 

Out of the blue she asked. "Were you having sex with Miri last night? Frigging her?"

"Yes," I answered candidly, more surprised by her forthright choice of words than the fact she brought it up. "I saw you spying as well."

"That doesn't matter," she retorted. "I want to know more about it, I didn't see the beginning so I want you to tell me."

"Why," I asked, letting my hand drop to her shoulders to gently massage them with my thumbs.

"Because sex is a man lying on a woman," she answered. "That's what I've been told, that fat slob laying on me in our marriage bed. Yet she was riding on top of you till she was satisfied."

"Miriamni was teaching me, that's the first time that way for me." I said, lifting my hands to resume brushing her tangles. "She was teaching me how to please a woman."

"Teaching you?" she asked. "That's what the 'Oh's' and 'Ah's' were about. She had your knob in her when she sat in your lap; she was in control and telling you what to do."

"Yes, but there was more to it than that. What you must have missed was me licking her cunny first to excite her. She had me lay down and squatted over me, she had me lick and suck till her juices were flooding out. That was when she swapped to frigg me and you saw us." I answered, wishing she'd drop the subject or get more details from Miri.

"What was it like? What did it taste like?" she asked

"What was it like," I repeated. "The taste and aroma was exciting. It was so soft on my tongue except for her hard nub."

My knob was getting interested in my memories, thickening in sympathy to my erotic reliving of last night's acts. I was still idly brushing her hair now, back sitting on my heels as I brushed the ends over my fingers, encouraging it to dry.

"So, frigging and making babies can be riding him like a horse, just sitting astride him? And it still gives you pleasure?"

"Yes."

"And what's the pleasure like?" she probed further.

"That's indescribable," I answered. "A tingling through the body, surges of pleasure. Honestly, it's hard to say."




Quincunx Ch. 02



She had a look of wonder on her face, as if trying to imagine it. I was amazed in that both of these women were so open in talking about sex, but then I talked such ways with Webberli and drinking with the boys.

She turned round to face me, kneeling on the bed opposite me. "This is beyond what I learnt. My mother instructed me on the duties of the bedroom and she mentioned no joy in the act."

She paused for thought. "Can I see your knob?" she asked, looking down at it tenting in my cloth.

"I've never seen an erect one, just some glimpses, soldiers peeing on guard duty and things. Never a proper look."

Her hand was hovering inches from the loose end that undid the bow, daring me to say no. Her head was bowed; otherwise she would have seen the smile on my face. She took my lack of response as acquiescence and pulled at the string, letting my knob burst out of its confinement as the fabric fell away.

"Oh, it's big," she exclaimed. "Will that go in my tiny hole? It's much bigger than the two fingers I use." 

She reached for it slowly and grasped it around the middle, giving it a little squeeze.

"It's hard as well," she observed, reaching now with the fingertips of the other to touch my throbbing head, brushing lightly over my slit.

"Ssss," I sucked the air in as the jolt of pleasure radiated through me.

"You like that," she said, smiling.

'Did the cat like cream,' I thought, wondering how much further her exploration would go. My cock felt like bursting, the need to jerk off building in my balls.

"Would you teach me how to please a man?" she asked boldly. "And show me the tricks Miri taught you?"

My knob twitched in her hand, the head brushing across her palm, sending another jolt speeding through me and giving my hips a twitch as I shivered from her touch.

"We could do it now, while Miriamni is driving," she carried on, releasing me and going for the buckle on her belt.

She unbuttoned and pushed her waistband down to her hips.

"Well, help me, then," she commanded, rising to her knees.

I took over and pushed it down to her knees and she sat back, flipping her legs out to let me slide it off her feet. She wiggled her toes free and laid her legs down past me, her hand firmly clasped in her crotch, covering her cunny.

I turned and laid her trousers, with the knickers still inside, over the chest at the side.

"She sat on top of me," I said dryly. "I should be lying underneath while you straddle me."

"Oh, okay," she replied, curling back up and flashing me her ass as she rolled and sat on the edge with her legs resting on a chest.

I eased into the center and lay back, shuffling up a bit to give her room for her knees.

"Ready," I declared. 

"What do I do?" she asked, shuffling up to sit next to my head and looking down at me.

"You have to sit astride me, your knees athwart my head and your mons resting on my chin," I instructed.

She swung herself around and climbed over me, all the while keeping her hand protecting her modesty, shifting into position with her fingers still covering here cunny and resting across my mouth.

I waited a second while I felt her hesitate as she slowly slipped her fingers up, uncovering my nose at the same time and letting me smell her aroma, still fresh from the bath. I brought my hands up and curled them over her thighs, pulling her in to my waiting, waggling tongue.

Her hair was softer and sparser than Miriamni's. I felt its smoothness as my tongue cut through it, flicking from top to bottom in her slit, running over the clump of her inner lips, opening them like a petal as my tongue slipped through the soft, yielding flesh.

I held her there as I heard the little cries of delight escaping her, licking up and down with just a little flick on her clit before dragging it down again to the juices collecting in the folds at the bottom. She gave a little wriggle, trying to press closer but I held her, still allowing me the room to move my head.

I let my tongue slip out, curling through the few tendrils of hair on her plump outer lips, making long strokes back and fore as I circled them. The big, lazy circle complete, I dipped my tongue in and pulled her forward as I circled it around her hunny hole and scooped up the fresh juices there.

The moans on her breath were louder and faster. She was starting to thrust herself hard against me, her soft pubes burying my nose. I lifted my hands to her hips and held her steady as I pulled her down and back till my tongue found her clit standing full and proud, rebounding up as the first stroke squeezed over it.

Her knees pressed on my head as a cry escaped her lips, her body stiffening in my grip.

My tongue crossed and circled it, flicking at it like a punch bag, enjoying its squidgy, stiff, slippery feel as it slid around, dodging my tongue tip. I had to drop my hands back to hold her as she started to rock, pressing in so all I could do was suck.

Her body trembled under my hands and then I felt it go rigid as she lifted from me and let out a scream. I lay there with her writhing above me, her cum dribbling down my chin as she slumped back down on me.

"Rasyondi! What are you doing?" shouted Miriamni, hidden from me, but obviously in the back with us as I noticed the lack of the jostle of a rolling wagon.

"Enjoying myself," she said expansively. "Finding out what life is all about."

She shifted on me, easing her legs open and pushing back down onto my chest, letting me see the red faced Miriamni for the first time as she stood glowering over us.

"Just because you're free of your mother and the court doesn't give you license to do as you please."

"But you did it with him, and you had a frigg riding on his belly."

"I'm an old spinster, my behaviour is expected. You just turned eighteen, adult in name only, and you should preserve your virtue for your husband."

"And what kind of suitor am I going to find, a prince charming for this new orphan? You enjoy sex, why should I wait as long as you? I'll keep my virginity but I can enjoy being pleased by a man. What just happened to me was the nicest feeling I've had in my life, better than frigging myself with my fingers." She paused to catch her breath.

Miriamni took the lecture in.

"Well," she said in a mollified tone. "You're your own woman now. You always were willful and impulsive. If that's your mind then I'll say no more. But I'll think that you'll be wanting to learn more than he can teach you, if you know my mind." 

Rash was twisting her leg around over me to sit on the side of the bed and reach for her trousers.

"We can share him if you want," she said. "That way I'll learn quicker by copying and practice," she finished with a laugh.

Miriamni laughed back. 'Copying and practice' sounded like a well-worn joke between them.

Rash was struggling into her trousers. I leant with my elbows propping me up, looking for my loincloth, thinking this a part of the tale I should never share, raising a hand to feel the now familiar collar around my throat.

Rash hauled her pants up and followed Miriamni back out onto the box; the motion told me we were underway again. I found my loincloth and tied it back on then lay back on the bunk and waited, my thoughts flittering around over the latest events.



Quincunx Ch. 03



Three
Practice makes perfect

We made the way station late into sunset, the sun already a disc a fingers width above the distant ridge we'd climb tomorrow. Unfortunately, storm damage from the winter had seen part of the shingle roof collapse and left the inside littered with leaves and detritus. 

The four-horse stable at the back was okay and we pulled in there, setting a fire in the brazier we found, using some loose stones to build our own fire and prepare things before the dark sky was upon us. 

Rash had taken no part in our tasks but had wandered away into the field and collected an armful of spring flowers, waltzing back in to find me tending the fire and the food while Miriamni was still tucking the animals up for the night.

"These will freshen the caravan up," she said walking past me.

I turned and watched her as she mounted the steps. Under that bundle of clothes she hid behind was a sweet little figure, the thought of which set my knob twitching as I wondered what the night had in store.

I turned back to stirring the pot and watching for the coftea to boil. Dinner was the same as last night, strips of meat and a vegetable broth to stew with it. The coftea was ready when Miriamni came back from the little stable and she sat and drank it, calling Rash to come and get hers.

"Last night before you make the border," I commented, making conversation.

"Tomorrow is another climb up to the horse shoe pass, no more civilization till we're there," she replied.

Though it was not local to me any traffic along this way would pass through our lands, along our paved trail of rock waste from the mine, laid long ago and trodden near smooth over years. It was really only tradition that kept it open except in the snows.

Rash didn't come out till dinner was cooked and Miriamni again called her. She then surprised us by appearing in a summer dress. Her transformation was jaw dropping, the young boy I first espied was now a beautiful young maid, no, her eighteenth birthday made her a young lady now. 

It showed off her figure, her hips, her slim waist and long legs. She had flounced out her golden hair and it glowed like a halo in the red rays of the dying sun. My heart gave a leap at her wholesome beauty, my pulse racing as she walked over and squatted on her toes.

"Do you think it's safe," Miriamni asked her as she reached for the coftea.

Rash hefted the pot and set it down to lift the lid. "Hey, there's only half a cup left. Who's tending it?"

"I'll do it," volunteered Miriamni, rising and stepping to pick the pot.

I continued to ladle the bowls equalling out our shares while casting sideways glances at Rash, the shape and form of her leg outlined by her dress as she squatted feet from me. I felt an excitement just looking.

The pert nose, too small for a boy, now just right and setting her mouth and chin off nicely, her bust filling the top and looking good handfuls, she was better looking than Webberli. With her petite frame and slim thighs she was turning me on.

Miriamni came back with a fresh pot as the food was ready.

"We should take this inside where there are seats," she said, standing from putting the pot on the edge to slow boil.

She stooped to pick hers and turned to the caravan. 

I picked mine and rose and followed, glancing at Rash's tush as she bent for hers, my eyes following the smooth curves of her body.

I squeezed in next to Miriamni, legs resting on the trunk. Rash came in and sat opposite, tangling her legs with mine. We sat quietly eating; the sound of spoons scraping wooden bowls the loudest noise. Miriamni was half way through when she disturbed us by insisting on checking the coftea and bringing the cups in for us when she returned.

I sat back, my belly grateful for the rations we had consumed, but still thinking of the rich meal I could be having at home. Miriamni was left eating hers as Rash put her plate aside and took her coftea. As I drank mine Rash twisted her legs and I saw a flash of her white cotton knickers, quickening my pulse again.

"I need to visit the bushes again," I announced, swinging my feet to the floor. "Have you got a candle or lantern I could take?"

Miriamni looked up and pointed. "I think you'll find a candle up there."

I looked and opened the top locker and found a thick candle at the edge. Lighting it, I stepped to the door and opened it. Outside there was another mist descending; I could feel the chill in the air.

"It's getting foggy again," I called back inside as I closed the door and stepped out into the gathering gloom.

When I got back Rash was lying on her bed and Miriamni lay in the corner on hers.

"Good," Miriamni stirred herself as she said it, crabbing down to the bottom and slipping her feet off.

"Come on Rash it's our turn," she exclaimed, rubbing her breasts across my chest as she squeezed past me.

I sat there in the corner of Rash's bunk, leaning against the back wall with my feet perched on the chest, grateful at first to be in from the cold air seeping down from the mountains to the north, with a watery showing of the great wheel. 

They'd taken the lantern and left me with the candle and the subtle scent of the flowers she had hung in bunches at one end. My knob was stirring as I thought on about tonight and the incredible turn on I was getting from seeing Rash in a dress.

Rash was the first back, flouncing in with her dress bouncing around her legs. She turned and lay next to me, her arm across my legs. Miriamni settled back on her bed and leant against her back wall.

"Well, do you want to start?" she asked Rash, flicking her eyes over me before focusing on Rash.

"Do you want to run back over it so Davor knows what his part is?"

"Oh, Rash," she complained.

"I don't want to do it in little steps, stopping and telling him what comes next," Rash replied.

"Oh, okay," she said a little exasperated, looking directly at me.

"When a man and a woman come together," she began. "First he must flatter and kiss. He must excite the woman's interest, then as he gets bolder and finds her agreeable to his advances he may let his hands stray to her breasts, teasing and playing with them through her clothes."

She paused and looked at us both, flicking her eyes between us. 

"After playing enough to arouse her nipples either he or she, with his help, should unbutton and bare her breasts, playing with them again but with his mouth and tongue now, licking, sucking and caressing them till he makes her sigh and groan."

I wished I'd started taking notes; she was rattling through it like a tutor with a well-worn introduction.

"If you haven't got the dress off do it now and start caressing down her stomach with a hand, go over her knickers if she's wearing any and gently rub her mons, letting your fingers find its form and creases as you press against it. She should take her knickers off and let you play and finger her until she's ready for more and you follow with your mouth and start exploring again with your tongue."

She was talking in a dreamy way as if she were following it in a vivid imagination, the perfect way she'd like to make love herself.

"After he licks her slit a while he slips it inside and she feels the wonderful sensation of it gliding over the sensitive skin. Then he knows it's time to play with her clit till she comes, shaking with her orgasm as he gently teases her."

She was sitting back in her corner, eyes closed and massaging her thigh with her hand. I listened as she excitedly chattered on. My knob had stiffened up with the erotic images it conjured up in my mind, Rash lying naked as I played with her body.

"Then he holds her and lies down turning so she's on top and she can guide his knob into her and she friggs him." Miriamni concluded.

I eased the string open, letting my bursting knob have air and freedom. Rash noticed and reached forward to grasp it. I felt a thrill as her cool fingers wrapped themselves around it. 

"Rash," chimed Miriamni, bringing my attention back to her. "You can play with that later."

Reluctantly she let go, and her disappointment found an echo in me.

"Now," Miriamni said pointedly. "Shall we start the seduction?"

Rash turned her head to me, lips slightly pouted, and leant in. I twisted to face her and brought my hand round to cradle her neck, my heart beating with excitement as my fingers brushed her skin and folded into place.

As our lips met my free hand slipped around her waist and I gently eased us back to lie on the bed. She pressed her lips against mine platonically, I parted my lips and let the tip of my tongue slip out, brushing it around hers, moistening them, shivering inside at how delicious it felt just kissing and holding her.

I opened my mouth a little further and covered her lips, drawing mine down to softly caress hers, then stroking my tongue across her still sealed lips. She responded with a sigh deep in her throat, and let her lips part a little.

I seized her bottom lip between mine and gave it a soft suck, running my tongue along the inside before letting her lip slip back out. Her hand moved from my shoulder where it had been resting and circled my neck, her fingers tangling in my hair.

With her lips still parted I circled my tongue around the inside and trapped her upper lip between mine, pulling on it gently and letting it slip back. Her hand tightened in my hair as she pressed herself against me, my throbbing knob pinned against her, feeling her body move under the fabric of her dress.

I pushed my tongue against her teeth, teasing them apart and let it glide over hers, feeling the excitement building between us. My hand had slipped up her neck and was massaging the back of her head, while the other was running lightly up and down her spine.

I felt charged up lying there with her, oblivious to the presences of Miriamni, lost in a world of sensations and delight with Rash's sweet body in my arms. My time with Webberli had rarely felt this good, my passion this high or my knob so hard and insistent.

Our kissing continued, our tongues entwined, my breath snorting through my nose and hers hot on my cheeks as our mouths twisted together. 

"Move your hand to her teat now," Miriamni commanded from some outer darkness.

I needed no further encouragement, my hand withdrawing from her back, snaking with my fingers trailing over the material of her dress till it found the rise of her breast, cupping it with the hard point of her nipple centred in my palm.

I pressed my hand against it, moving it in slow circles, feeling the firm nub roll under my palm. Her head dropped back slightly and she gave a small moan of delight and then pulled on my head to meld our lips together again.

Rash let herself slip sideways slowly, taking me with her till we were lying facing one another.

"Unbutton my dress," she whispered.

I kissed her neck, then her shoulder as my hand reached around to fumble with the small buttons. As I popped the fourth she moved back away from me and half sat as she shrugged the front down, quickly pulling her arms from the sleeves as she revealed her small inviting breasts in the half light of the flickering lamp.

I stretched my hand up to her neck and pulled her to me, my free hand skimming over her smooth skin of her back as I pulled her tight against me again, with my mouth urgently seeking hers. Our kiss was passionate as her lips crushed against mine, the hard nubs of her nipples pressed against my chest.

I was lightheaded and excited as my hand stroked the bare flesh of her back, over the hard ridges of her backbone and up to her neck as our tongues played and wrestled together. Her one hand held my neck whilst the other copied mine and her fingers trailed lightly down my spine and round onto my waist.

I broke the kiss and gave her a quick kiss on the chin then let my tongue slide slowly and smoothly down her throat and down over her Adam's apple, tracing a route down to the valley of her breasts. I could hear her breath quicken excitedly as I kissed between them, letting my tongue mount one to caress the proud nipple.

I savoured the feeling as my tongue circled her areola, gliding over its textured surface as my hot breath puffed over it, my tongue caressing the firm erect nipple enclosed by my lips. I brought my hand to her waist, gently urging her over onto her back, twisting on top of her with my knees straddling her hips, pinning her legs with the fabric of her dress.

As she settled back my hand moved to cup her free breast, while I sucked on the other, my tongue crossing and recrossing, pressing on it as she gave another groan of pure pleasure. I drew my fingers up till I had her nipple trapped between my finger and thumb, giving it a squeeze before tweaking it gently, twisting it left and right as a tiny shiver convulsed her body.

My knob, tangled in the dress, felt hard enough to snap as her hips wiggled against it. Her hands clasped my head as her fingers pulled on my hair. I swapped between her breasts, my fingers gliding over the wetted nipple of one as my teeth pulled gently on the other.

I felt her pleasure growing and wanted to please her more, swapping again and again as her shudders and groans came more rapidly. As her back arched pulling the fabric under my knees I quickly brought my hand around behind her back, seeking the last buttons to free her dress and let me slip it down her body to uncover her mound with its covering of sparse blond hair.

She pushed herself up on her feet letting me draw the dress down over her knees and I slid further down, pulling her legs free and opening them wide to reveal the glory of her moist pink cunny. I spent a second or two gazing in sweet delight, my knob twitching with the desire to enter her.

I bowed my head, blowing at the tousled hair that rimmed it before bending further to let my tongue glide over each side, brushing the stray hair free as my tongue circled the puffy outer lips and gathered in the dew drops of her juices that clung to it.

She shuddered as my tongue crossed the top and I felt the firm nub of her clit beneath the tip. I let my tongue circle further and found her hunny hole with its coating of juices; I paused there to suck and taste the sweet delicious cum while my nose buried itself in the soft hair and inhaled her fragrances.

I pushed my tongue inside while moving my hands up her inner thighs, dragging my fingernails lightly over her soft skin. Squeezing them past my cheeks till my fingers rested either side of her plump lips, I gently massaged them up and down as my tongue wiggled around inside her.

Her hips jerked against me and pushed my tongue up to make contact with her clit again. I pressed my lips in and gently seized it, fluttering my tongue over its tip as another shudder passed through her.

I teased and pulled at it as I felt her thrusting hips pushing at me, her moans and sighs growing louder as I heard her breath huffing and puffing. She screamed and pushed violently against me, throwing her hips in the air as her back arched and shudders wracked her body, jerking like a wild horse trying to throw its rider.

She collapsed back onto the bed, hands still grasping and squeezing her breasts with her nipples peeking through her fingers, abdomen rippling as she gasped for air and a look of contentment growing on her contorted face.

I gazed over her body as I eased back, letting her legs close as they sagged back onto the bed. Her slim figure was glistening with perspiration in the yellowing light of the lamp, stray strands of her golden hair stuck to her temples.

She sighed and bent her head to look at me, a broad smile even as she still panted for breath.

"Thank you," she said hoarsely. "Thank you for the best...." her words trailed of as she sought superlatives to describe her feeling.

Despite my stiff knob still throbbing between my legs I felt happy that she was happy, pleased that I had satisfied her so well. I leant forward to measure my length on her, balancing on my elbows as I brought my lips to hers to kiss her.

She clasped me around the neck, lifting herself to meet my lips with a passion that launched her tongue to twine with mine the instant they met. As she lifted I shifted my elbow and slipped my arm around her back, pulling us closer together.

As our bodies pressed together I felt my knob sliding on her mound, her pubic hair softly brushing against it. She gasped and lifted her legs and curled them around my thighs, pressing her wet silky smooth lips around it.

I groaned as she started jiggling her hips and sliding over my knob, bending and pulling at it. I started to roll her to the side but hit the wall of the caravan and had to twist her on top of me. She turned her legs to end up sitting astride my crotch, her cunny riding my knob still.

Rash rocked her hips, sliding along my length, with her head thrown back and her open mouth letting out a throaty groan. Each time she swung forward and stroked over my helmet the thrill electrified me. She had barely gotten a few strokes in when Miriamni reminded us of her presence.

"Rasyondi, if you want more let him lick you some more," she ordered. "That's too dangerous for a virgin."

Rash obeyed her and stopped, much to my chagrin. The look on her face wasn't a pleased one either, but her sense of duty overcame her desires. She rose, spinning herself to the side of the bed.

"Go on, sit on his face again, you can try it the other way round," Miriamni consoled her.

I lifted my arms to her, excitement growing in me at the thought of the intimate act of tasting and playing with her delicious cunny again. As she turned and looked her face softened and a little smile crept into the corners of her mouth.

I helped her position herself, my cock twitching with longing as I tasted her hot wet cunny. Her aroma was even more pungent with her pubes brushing my chin as she settled, her clit positioned on my probing tongue.

I flicked across it as I wriggled my arms comfortable, holding her hips as she leant forward, her elbows on my gut and her hands, or rather fingers, lightly teasing my stiff knob. I pressed my lips closer and fluttered my tongue on its tip, as her fingers grew bolder and brushed up to my head sending thrills through it.

I sucked on it, crushing my lips against hers as my tongue caressed it in its prison. She moaned and a shiver went through her, swishing her hips and rolling my head jerkily. Her fingers slipped around my knob as she squeezed and waggled it, mixing pain and pleasure.

"Lick it," Miriamni instructed her. "It's only fair to pleasure him back. Lick it and suck on his mushroom and you'll get better from him."

I felt her tentative tongue touch against my slit. Just the gentlest brush, then the next stroke with her tongue as a broader brush glide up from the rim, slathering over the top as she pressed it down. My knob twitched in her hand, the thrill surging down through my balls.

As she stretched forward I let her clit free and bent my head to trace my tongue down the folds and creases, exploring her nooks and crannies as my tongue flicked from side to side and ended up tracing the rim of her hunny hole.

I craned my neck and entered her with my tongue, swirling it round with my tip tracing lightly round. She took the next step as her hand waggled my knob. I felt her lips brush across the tip, sliding over my slit, the warmth of her soft breath a gossamer down its length.

I felt her shudder in my hands again, leaving her clit in easy reach, her nipples teasing my abdomen. My tongue snaked out to circle it a few times before flicking firmly across it, sending another shiver through her.

She pushed further down, my head squeezing through her lips as she widened her warm wet mouth to accept it, letting her teeth take its measure as it slipped in. The feeling of her tongue as it welcomed it seared a channel through my centre, giving me to gasp at the pleasure, snorting through my nose.




Quincunx Ch. 03



I could feel my balls tightening as she wriggled again above me, her thighs juddering as they pressed against me. Throaty sounds and sighs escaped her as she sucked and teased at my helmet. I pressed the tip of my tongue against her clit and massaged it, cupping the hood.

Her body tensed, muscles hardening under my fingers as she thrust her hips at me, crushing her cunny against mouth, then a shudder passed through her grinding her clit on my teeth. 

She arched her back, pushing herself with her free hand as her knees sprang in like a trap. Her hand dragged up over the end, squeezing my head as it slid through her fingers sending me over the edge as my head flipped back and I let out my own sigh. 

As her hand slipped off I erupted, spreading seed from her breast to her neck as it spurted. The second lanced up onto her stomach, filling her navel as if I'd aimed for it. The third was on her shoulder as she flopped back down on me, panting as I felt her heart thudding against me.

I lay there aglow, feeling such a surge of wellbeing as never before, the world and my troubles forgotten and the most wonderful girl in the world held in my arms. As I refocused back I saw her cunny in front of me still and was tempted to bend and lick the juices from it.

She stirred, rolling on me to straighten her legs, lifting and pushing herself down before rolling to the side with a sigh.

"Right, now that you've enjoyed yourselves you'd best get cleaned up and ready for bed," Miriamni announced.

I sighed as I accepted the real world back, reluctantly swinging my legs to the edge, waiting for Rash to respond. As she swung her legs over me, I moved mine along from under hers. As our bodies straightened I reached for her head, taking her face and turning it to me to take one last kiss.

My fingertips brushed her ears as my palms caressed her cheeks and out tongues entwined, responding with enthusiasm to the last fragment of intimacy we shared, closing the world around us to once again exclude Miriamni.

I felt the cold stickiness that had crept up on me, some of it dribbling down and thought of it doing the same on her, breaking the kiss to look for my loincloth to clean her. Miriamni almost made me jump, only a foot or so away as she knelt on the edge of the bed holding a towel out to me.

I took it, still a little spooked, and cleaned Rash down while Miriamni moved back to her bed, shuffling backwards across the trunk. Rash stood and gathered her clothes, tossing me my loincloth as she picked and folded her dress.

As I twisted sideways to put it on Rash stopped me.

"You needn't get dressed in that," she said neutrally, "We can sleep together naked."

My thinking hiccupped; my thought had been on my blanket and bed outside, I had not even unpacked yet.

I felt Miriamni gaze on me as she looked between the two of us. "Do you think that's wise?"

"I see nothing wrong in us cuddling like a teddy bear." Rash replied, dismissing it as a concern.

I was left half bewildered, stunned by the joyous thought of sharing a bed with her, looking at her still standing naked before me, imagining my hands exploring her. My eyes wandered the soft contours of her body as she opened one of the trunks and packed the dress away.

She took the towel from me and folded that away in a cupboard, her breasts flatning as she stretched up, her ribs and hips outlining and emphasising her figure, making my knob give a surprising twitch.

We snuggled together, she spooning me with her hand covering my pubes, thumb hooked around my semi rigid tool, her fingers cupping my balls, the slow breath of sleep wafting over my shoulder and her breasts pressed firmly against my back.

As she slept softly behind me I heard the steady breathing of Miriamni, the suppressed grunting and groaning of her pleasing herself long passed. I was stuck with a head full of thoughts, knowing my life had lurched into a different track, perplexed by the paths fate opened for me.

I lay quietly for a while longer, revelling in my closeness to Rash, wondering if I could keep her in my life and thinking how sweet that would be. I probably dreamed of her but the remaining fragments told nothing when I awoke and became aware where I was looking around the familiar insides of the caravan still with Rash cuddled up to me.

I lay there savouring it till Miriamni interrupted my quiet reverie by announcing loudly that it was 'Time to get up'.

I stirred reluctantly and Rash awoke behind me, clutching at me as I moved to get up. Her hand grasping my flaccid knob, triggering it to swell surprisingly fast by the triggered memory of last night.

She let it go and stretched out her arm to throw the cover back off me, climbed onto her knees and spun around to face it, her hand reaching down to take it back. She gave it a soft squeeze.

"I dreamt about this last night. I was sucking it and it was spurting and I was trying to drink it," she said looking at it. "It tasted so nice I just wanted to hold it in my mouth and taste it properly but it kept coming and I had to swallow till it finished."

She drew a breath and continued, turning to look at me. "I want to try it again but you tell me when you're coming so I can get ready."

And with that I was amazed to see, and then splendidly feel, her tongue stroke over my helmet, giving me a little thrill that was but a foretaste of what was to come. Her tongue danced over my head, stroking and fluttering over it as her hand circled it around tracing her lips.

My knob felt alive in her hand, the tingle of her touch spreading a warmth in the centre of me. I lay back and put my hand on her calf, holding it and stroking her lightly with my thumb, enjoying the tingle feeling and the especial thrill of it being Rash.

I wanted to slow it, hold it back but the excitement build as time stood still, her lips squeezed over then widened as she circled my helmet rim before closing again as she sucked me deeper inside, her tongue forming a cradle to slide on.

She swung it from side to side, opening her mouth to lodge it in her cheek, rubbing it against cheek and teeth then swapping it to the other side for a repeat performance. Already my balls were shrivelling, the tingle sending shivers through me making my hips jerk.

I could feel it boiling. "Ready," I shouted, then continuing into a grunt as the first spasm of the breaking dam sent my seed spurting out, spraying over her face and into her waiting mouth. She gulped as the first stream exhausted itself to find a second that splashed on her lips, the third got drawn directly in as she leant and sucked at the tip.

She sucked and licked the last drops, setting my knob on fire as the pleasure overwhelmed me and I breathlessly screamed. "Enough!"

She let it slip from her lips, straightening while she still held it.

"It tastes nice, like that shellfish gliding down, the one with the half round she, you know, the pink one."

"Stoyest's." Miriamni volunteered.

"That's the ones, but a little less salty."

I gave a half laugh of disbelief and amazement at her analysis, sounding like a pompous connoisseur, some gourmet tasting a chef's creation.

"What." She turned on me, cum dripping down still as she dipped a finger and sampled a spot on her chin, scooping it onto a waiting tongue.

I got up, pulling my shrinking knob from her hand, standing and reaching for the towel in the cupboard, giving her the same sight of me as I'd had of her. I knelt on the chest next to her and carefully cleaned my seed from her, tenderly holding the nape of her neck to steady myself as I performed the service.

I leant back as I finished and then leant back in as I spotted my loincloth on the bed and reached for it. She mistook my motive and took my head, pulling me forwards to kiss me, twisting her head with passion as she smeared her lips on mine as they met.

I enjoyed the moment, her physical presence with my arms wrapped around her, but my bladder was making urgent demands and I had to break the kiss. Not bothering now with the loincloth I exited the caravan and gathering some stray clumps of grass made my way some distance to ease myself.

When I got back Miriamni was dressed and seeing to the horses and I saw my loincloth draped over one of the wagon wheels, next to the cupboard that housed the cooking and eating stuff, I took it as a hint and started on breakfast.

While I got the fire going, Rash surfaced and traipsed down the steps, heading out into the scrublands to see to her business. I set the coftea on it and took time to ladle some water into a bucket to freshen myself up before starting cleaning the pot for the porridge.

I was there stirring, Miriamni was getting the horses hitched up and Rash was still out in the wilds. Rash had taken me to a land of pleasure. Even thinking about her gave me a warm glow, and thinking of those moments of ecstasy sent shivers of remembrance through me.

"Davor," she said coming up quietly on me, breaking the reverie.

My head snapped up. Rash was walking not a yard from me, squatting next to me as she came close.

"That was nice last night," she said, undertones of excitement in her soft voice.

"Miriamni has claimed you for tonight," she continued. "But you can sleep with me afterwards."

I said nothing as she laid her arm on my thigh. I was angry that I was being passed and would have to service Miriamni, even knowing that I'd enjoy it when it happened. A few seconds later I heard Miriamni's voice.

"Is that coftea ready yet?"

"It's been ready a while," I replied, nodding my head at the pot on the stone grate.

Miriamni poured herself a cup, squatting on her heels next to us.

"By this day's end we should be across the border," she commented, looking at Rash.

Rash nodded as the smile on her face broadened, giving me a squeeze on the leg. I sighed; thinking of the decision that confronted me, once we crossed the border Rash was free to resume her true identity. She would find her place in society. How much would I mean to her there? Much as I wanted to follow, home was a better place for me.

We took the porridge inside to eat, sitting comfortably on the bed. Miriamni made some remarks about the weather, while my thoughts dwelt on home. The fast horse would be home by now; there would be both alarm and hope.

With my horse saddled and trailing along with the donkey, we started, taking a road that cut around the base of the mountains, following the trail through scatterings of boulders and streams of meltwater, making slower progress than I'd expected. 

After a while the track curved lower giving us clearer ground as we cut across, heading directly for the notch that marked the border crossing. I sat beside Miriamni on the box, taking in the boring view, drowsily letting my body sway to the rocking of the caravan as potholes and other signs of disrepair became more frequent.

As we approached the first rise of the trail to the pass, snaking up the slope before us, I turned to Miriamni.

"We should stop here and get a quick meal. We won't find many opportunities on the way up to that pass," I advised her, even though the sun barely marked noon.

"It'll have to be quick," she replied. "That looks like a long climb ahead. We need to reach it before sunset."

I knew what she meant. We had to get to the border post or we'd be forced to spend the night on the track. I looked at the track ahead as she stopped the horses on the road, turning to shout to Rash through the door.

"Rash, were stopping for dinner, can you help with the horses while Davor starts the fire?"

I climbed down as Miriamni bustled herself into the caravan, unlatching the cupboard that held the makings. I had the fire going and the soup on, the last of the bread and a pot of steaming coftea, as they sauntered over after feeding and watering the horses.

The meal was quickly done along with the repacking of the utensils. As I started to mount, Miriamni had me take the coachman's seat and drive. I urged the straining horses up the rise and started the climb.

All went easy till we met the first switchback, where I handed the reins back to Miriamni and climbed down to lead the horses round the stony track. Rash, hanging out the back door watching as it skirted the edge, decided that she would ride my horse while we climbed.

I continued plodding on, leading the horses up the incline to ease the load we carried, hoping that Miriamni would follow my lead. Rash slowed her horse after a little gallop ahead and waited for us.

"I wish I could ride on," she sighed as I drew level and she started to walk the horse. "But Miriamni would caution it's not safe."

I looked up at her. "I think I'd agree with that."

"We're much better sticking in a group." I continued. "The road isn't a good one to travel on your own."

Rash trotted a little way ahead and I followed on, leading my charges by a short rein. The climb was arduous and seemingly endless till we made the last turn, the dusk already fallen here as the sun disappeared behind the mountain and the view east showed the sky taking a darker hue.

I felt profoundly relieved to turn into the pass, the ground flattening and the guard post a couple of hundred yards further. Rash, who had been waiting at the turn took off for the building, urging her horse into a trot.

I looked at it warily. With the air of abandonment and the smokeless chimney, it was all too quiet to be manned. As I plodded on I could see Rash dismount and go to the door.

"It's locked," she shouted back, turning to face us.

"What's around the back?" Miriamni shouted back.

Rash led her mount behind her as she went exploring around the nearside, crunching over the crushed tailings. In the few minutes it took to close the gap she reappeared.

"There's a stables and courtyard like the last one," she announced loudly.

I led the wagon around to the back, following Rash and found the paved courtyard with it two horse stables either side. I stopped the caravan with its rear steps just past the corner, shielding most of the paved area from the breeze.

The atmosphere was funny, a feeling that this was the anti-climax. The guards had probable gone home. This was a remote pass and had few travellers, so not worth the bother. But it left us still in a kind of limbo, the stall at the penultimate step.



Quincunx Ch. 04



Four
Onward ever onward

I got the fire going and the preparations for supper started. Miriamni as usual tended the horses. Rash had taken a short walk in the gathering gloom, to the turn down the mountain at the other end of the pass.

In my mind I had decided to turn back and was saddened that this should be my last night. I wanted to frigg Rash, not Miriamni, still I might find her receptive and willing to engage in more. My thoughts turned to my arrival home, the tale I should tell, planning the expurgated version.

I heard Rash speaking but not her words.

"Huh?"

"I said I can't wait for tomorrow." She repeated. "I'm going to be free to do as I like, no more talk of protocol and duty."

"Yes," I replied unenthusiastically, looking over to where she sat on the steps of the caravan. "Tomorrow I get my life back."

She had the lantern next to her casting a soft glow, but leaving from her waist down in shadow. She'd changed again to another summer dress and the thought struck me as to the size of her wardrobe. Those two trunks were mostly full of her clothes. 

"You sound disappointed," she said, concern showing in her voice.

"No," I said smiling. "I was just thinking of the tale I'll tell when I get home."

"Oh," surprise showing in her inflection.

Thinking a second she added "It won't be believed." A smile coming to her face. "You can't tell them everything."

I laughed. "That I was captured by a mysterious lady who enslaved me with a magical collar, forced to help then take their wagon over the mountain into Potiau?"

She laughed with me, we were still giggling when Miriamni joined us.

"What's funny," she asked, helping herself to coftea.

"Just thinking of how I'll explain myself when I get home." I explained, keeping the joke private.

"It looks like we'll have a fine day tomorrow," Miriamni commented. "You can see clear across the sky."

She turned her head and nodded at the rising circle of stars, the tip of it climbing over the mountains to the east. I followed her gaze, wondering again of its nature.

""The air is clearer up here anyhow," declared Rash, getting her words in and drawing our attention back.

I fished some of the meat out of the pot to check on it, judging how plump the sun dried jerky was now.

"Is it ready yet?" Rash asked.

"Not yet, if you like your meat tender," I replied, dropping the piece back.

"Rash, I want to borrow one of your gowns, hang it as a curtain between us," Miriamni said turning to Rash still on the steps.

"Well yes, if you want," she answered cautiously. "But we'll have to be careful with it."

She stood and Miriamni stood and followed her inside. I continued to watch over the pot, giving the ladle an occasional turn round the pot, thinking again of the forthcoming performance with Miriamni and fingering for the first time in a while the collar round my throat.

I called them when the food was ready, passing each of them a bowl and spoon as they got to the fire, then following as we went to sit in the caravan. Rush sat there excitedly talking nonsense, idle dreams about how she would arrange her time, house and life, a pretty young girl with fancy hopes.

I brought my bowl out as I went to ease myself. As I turned I saw in the west a host of falling stars.

"Rash, Miriamni," I shouted back through the door. "Come and see the shooting stars."

They came bundling out, Rash first as I stood to the side and pointed.

"Make a wish," Miriamni clamoured in my ear as she caught sight of them.

I put my bowl down and answered the call of my bladder, taking a turn round the side to conceal myself. I stood and looked at the magnificent display in the heavens wondering what Grek, our astrologer, would be making of it.

Miriamni was sat by the fire, stoking it.

"Do you believe in fate?" she asked me.

"Sometimes," I replied, gathering the bowls and the pot to wash them for breakfast.

"A traveller once told me that I'd marry a rich man in a distant country, read it in the cards she did."

"My brother was told his wife would bear him three sons and three daughters." I replied matching her tale.

"I used to wonder what it would be like to travel."

I was listening but letting her ramble on.

"My Brart was against me going, he thought that Rasyondi should be bent over her father's knee. But I knew her stubborn streak, and old Brart found change in his pockets after buying the things she wanted"

She turned and looked at the caravan. "Two hundred gold wheels that cost."

"Two hundred?" I replied, prompting her on.

"That was including the horses," she added. "They're worth twenty apiece."

And I had fifty wheels worth of Janaweed in my panniers, five packs aside. The thought flicked through my head from nowhere.

"There you are," said Rash re-joining us. "They're still raining down."

I glanced over my shoulder for a moment. The display had only the background of the lesser stars and no moon to compete with making their brilliance all the brighter, lines of sparkling white cutting the sky.

They were beautiful, but I wanted to get the utensils washed and prepared for breakfast. It had been hard work sand scrubbing the pot for breakfast this morning. In another few moments I'd finished and walked over to the embers of the fire to join them.

"There was some star metal that fell three villages away from my home. My father got some for the armourer to make him a sword. It's heavier but has a much deeper bite and keeps its edge well." I told them, squatting with my back to the coals.

I could feel a chill settling in the air, and was gladdened by the thought that I would be dressed in my own clothes tomorrow. I'd have to journey on with them though first, I needed more supplies for the journey back. Providing, of course, that the villagers took my wheels.

I was beginning to raise Goosebumps, the hairs on my arms sensitive to the light breeze.

"I'm cold," I announced, rising. "I'm going back inside."

I walked, listening if Miriamni would stir and follow but the silence bore my answer. Inside, I was surprised by the gown; they'd strung it by the arms, its hem trailing across the chests. It was a rich silk, pale and lemony in the lamp light, embroidered with colourful semi-precious stones.

I tried to imagine her wearing it, flowing round her curves. I slipped my hand through the unbuttoned back, seeing the extra padding for her breasts, touching its soft smooth surface where her breast had lain.

I sighed, thinking about this last night of sleeping with her, her soft body pressed to mine. I felt my knob start to stiffen, swelling in the tight loincloth I wore, then fade back when I sat on Miriamni's bed waiting.

Rash came in, smiled at me, whispered "When she's asleep," then disappeared behind the 'curtain'. I lay back listening to the sounds of her undressing; the rustle of her dress, her weight shifting on the bed. She hummed a little tune to herself as I imagined her standing nude and folding her clothes.

Miriamni came in smiling herself, stripping the coat as she turned from shutting the door. She had a fine lamb's wool vest on, her breasts an impressive swell with the nipples showing through as little tents on the top.

She undid the coarse woollen skirt and let it fall, uncovering her voluptuous figure, naked from the waist down and showing enough hair to restock a bald man. She continued her striptease by crossing her arms and hoisting the vest off, letting her ample breasts spill out, her large coftea coloured areoles facing me.

She turned away, extinguishing the lamp and leaving us in darkness. I felt the bunk shift as she climbed on, her outstretched hands finding my neck and shoulders as her knee brushed into my leg. She ran her hands down me, steering along my sides till her hand found the string.

She pulled it while the other brushed the cloth aside and took my waiting knob, curling her hand around it and giving it a few strokes while softly squeezing. She released me and in the dark I felt her shifting around, her knees straddling my chest and her feet hooked over my shoulders.

I reached up and grasped the pliant skin of her thighs, my tongue already extended as she shuffled into position. My tongue met her bush and I wriggled it through to the smooth folds of her cunny, tasting the juices and taking in the rich aroma.

I felt her cool hand encircle my now rigid knob, twisting and turning it before easing her grip and beginning to stroke softly up and down its whole length. The warmth in my loins built, spreading up into the heart of me like a gently rising tide. 

My tongue was skimming around her outer lips, brushing the hair aside as I made the circuit. I moved in, stroking over the wrinkles and bumps of her inner curtain, splaying it open as I traced its centre. I felt the first tiny shiver in her and then her weight increasing, with her hand squeezing between us as her fingers burrowed through to take her nipple.

My tongue was working her hunny hole now, circling its rim, scooping up the juices as I dipped it in and out. A groan escaped her, her hand briefly tightening its grasp as she pushed against me, the hair on her thighs brushing my cheeks.

I craned my neck, my hand pushing on her thighs as I moved my tongue to play with her clit, burrowing into the hair to reach it. She gave a little jerk as my tongue found it, standing proud as my tongue tip brushed over it and flattened to lap at it.

Her forearms were pressed against my hips, one hand still slowly stroking me as the other tugged and stretched the skin of my balls. I could feel her nipples sliding over my abdomen, brushing through the thinning hairline of my pubes.

She bevelled her hips, flattening herself against me, her bush scrapping across my chin and my nose nestling into her wet folds. Her body was moving, twitching, as her arousal strengthened. A slick film of perspiration aiding her small jerks and trembles.

My tongue was teasing her clit, criss crossing it in a figure eight, measuring its bounce as it flicked back stiff and firm to the touch. A tendril of cum spilled down the side of my nose, laying a snail track down across my cheek and trickling past my ear.

She started jerking and thrusting, her cunny sliding across my mouth as she cried out, pushing herself up on her hands as she stiffened and let out another cry through her rasping breath. I felt her full weight on me as she flopped back down still panting.

I felt her hand take hold of my knob, grasping it firmly as her head lolled to nestle next to it. I wiggled my head into position and gently licked and cleaned her cunny, slurping the last of her juices.

She shifted a half turn, changing hands on my knob. Her nipple was a hard pebble pressed into my groin, her thighs held me firmly in place. I was waiting on her next move.

I felt my knob bend, her hair brushed across my leg as she pushed herself up, but not before leaning in and giving my bell end a big sloppy suck. I shuddered with the thrill of it as she quickly rose and twisted round to drop onto me cowgirl style, wiping my knob across her cunny to lubricate it before slipping it in to her hunny hole and sliding down it.

She let out a sigh and started to bob up and down on it. After the second stroke she leaned forward and put her hands on the bottom of my ribcage, speeding up after she did. My knob was tingling all over, a surging pulse of pleasure filling me as the head stretched the succulent silky tunnel as it plunged into her.

I slid my hands up her arms, her slick perspiration giving passage to her hanging breasts, taking her nipples as my fingers slid down onto them. She gave a groan as I twisted and pulled on them, tossing her head back.

I felt my balls tightening up as the pleasure in my groin grew. My knob sizzled as she rode up and down on it, my hips twitching as she jerked to a stop and threw herself back against my knees. I came with her as the contractions triggered mine, thrusting my hips hard against hers as my seed launched itself inside her.

As my knob softened inside her she rolled on a knee, bringing the other over to lie inside me, next to the wall. I twisted and grabbed my loin cloth to clean myself, stretching one knee onto the chest to wipe everything clean.

Miriamni's breathing had slowed as the minutes passed and soon enough she seemed asleep. I would give it a short while for her to settle then join Rash in her bed for the last time. 

"Mm," she said sleepily as I eased myself out of the bed. "Where are you going?"

"Over to Rash," I replied.

"What for?"

"She wants me to go over now and sleep with her."

Miriamni was awake now and leaning on an elbow looking at me as I sat on the chest, ready to duck under the 'curtain'.

"She's asked you now?" she asked quizzically. 

"No before," I said innocently.

"Before?"

"Yes, at breakfast this morning."

The way she murmured, 'Oh, alright' and lay back down, that told me she hadn't known about that clause in the agreement.

A wave of annoyance passed over me. Rash had misled me; the way she mentioned it this morning implied that Miriamni had agreed. Even though I was eager to jump into her arms, she'd bullied Miriamni using my voice. My ill-considered disclosure was cruel and that upset my sense of fairness as well.

My annoyance didn't extend to forgoing the chance to cuddle up to Rash. I eased myself to the bottom and slipped around the 'curtain' with some uncertainty in the dark, feeling my way up the edge of Rash's bunk.

She came sleepily awake as I drew the cover back, wondering if she had slept nude.

"Davor," she said softly, reaching an arm up to grasp my bicep.

"You feel cold, come and get in." She grabbed my other wrist and pulled on me.

I slipped in besides her, feeling her bare breasts against my back as she cuddled and pulled me tight, one hand snaking over my waist to delve down and take my half flaccid knob in is grasp. The thrill that ran through it as her warm fingers closed around it spurred it into rapid growth, swelling and forcing her fingers to spread as it sprang to attention.

"Mm," she giggled in my ear behind me. "Is it ready for more action?"

I could feel it throbbing in her hand as she gave it an experimental squeeze, then slipped her hand down to its root.

"I want some more practice sucking it while you lick mine," she said sexily, whispering still in my ear.

I turned my body to her. "Do you want me to play with your breasts first?"

She giggled again and gave a tug on my knob. "No, I want a taste of this."

I turned and lay flat as she scrambled to her knees and threw the cover back. She pivoted on one knee and straddled me. In the dark I imagined her cunny spread before me and leant my head forward, tongue out as she shuffled backwards.

I swung my arms over her thighs and pulled her onto my waiting tongue, finding I'd speared her hunny hole as she pressed against me. She gave a little shiver as I flicked it around, tasting her juices as it stretched the rim open.

I felt the soft caress of her tongue as my knob was lifted between her finger and thumb. She waggled it letting her tongue trace around it, bending slightly as her open mouth engulfed it and her lips sealed it in.

My tongue was dancing; slipping in and out of her hunny hole curled as tight as it could, sliding this way and that around the rim. My hands curved as they gripped her firm tush, holding her still as she wriggled with pleasure.

Her tongue was slathering the head of my knob as she waggled it around in her lips. Her thumb and finger stroked lightly over the skin, brushing the veins and ridges with a soft caress as she toyed with it. Oddly, I wondered if Miriamni was awake and listening to our noisy slurping and sucking.

My fingers dug deeper into her firm flesh as the shiver of pleasure coursed through me. My tongue, temporarily stilled, renewed its probing, meandering in its exploration of the nooks and crannies. Slipping over and around, tasting her sweet juices and the soft hair in the convoluted folds of velvety skin.

When my tongue wormed its way to her clit she pushed back, pressing her plump soft lips against my lips as my tongue slid over her hard nub. I twirled my tongue tip around it, testing its resilience before sucking it in and gently teasing it with my teeth.

Her knees tightened against me and her hand shifted to take my knob fully in her grasp as her head moved up, letting the hot gasps of breath stream down into my pubes from her throaty moan. I felt an extra thrill as her fingers gripped my shaft, and her probing tongue caressed my slit again.

I sucked on her clit and pumped it between my lips, letting it ease out as my tongue flicked across it, enjoying returning the pleasure she was giving me. My arms enclosed her sweet body and pressed it against me, her hot wet cunny nestled tight to my mouth.

My knob fell from her mouth as she groaned and shuddered, her hand gripping my shaft as her warm juices flooded my taste buds, leaking around my chin and dribbling down to my throat. I held her tight as my tongue fluttered over her clit, soliciting more cries and groans as her body jerked and writhed, her hard nipples jiggling on my slick skin.

Her back arched. She cried out incoherently as her hands jumped to my thighs, her hips jerking as her cunny squished itself on my lips. As she slipped back down, my hands stretched to cup her breasts, her nipples in my palms as I gently massaged them.

I laid my head back as she lay gasping, her hot breath wafting through my pubes as her head snuggled into the crook of her arms, her chin on my still hard shaft. Although she was in the land of bliss, she'd left me wanting.

I brought my head up and touched her clit with the tip of my tongue, then pushed it between her lips and gathered up her juices as I flattened my tongue and stroked it up to her hunny hole. She gasped, sucking in air with a hiss as her hips jiggled and she came alive.

I brought my hands back to her hips as she wiggled herself down to put her clit under my tongue, flooding my senses with her taste and aroma. She dragged her elbows back, one hand turning to grasp my knob as she pushed it into her mouth.

I played noughts and crosses with the tip of my tongue, letting it lazily circle and flick across it with a gossamer touch, feeling it stroke the side of my tongue as it passed under and out. She was bobbing her head, licking and sucking as it slowly slid between her pursed lips.

In less than a minute my balls were tight, the pleasurable pressure of the first load pushing to get out. My hips thrust against her, plunging it deep. She gave a flicker of pause and then as my hips dropped she focused on my helmet with her tongue.

I erupted with another jerk, ramming my head through her teeth as it spurted, groaning in pleasure as my head arched back. She clung on as my hips bucked again and then a last time as my fingers left dimples in her hips, still twitching as the waves of pleasure surged out.

It was my turn to pant and feel my heart race. I lay there as the glow faded, Rash teasing me by drawing her tongue slowly back and fore over my slit. I lazily rolled my hips to stop her and lent forward take her to her finish, once again the thought of Miriamni flashing through my mind. 

As soon as my breath wafted over her she thrust back, taking my outstretched tongue sliding down to her clit, I fluttered it gently, then pressed down on it, sucking as much as I could then tickling what I got.

She started squirming, my hands trying to steady her as my head wove around. I let it slip out and pressed down with my tongue flattened, giving it a circular massage. Her orgasm ripped through her, no screams this time, only gasping grunts as her body stiffened and pressed against me.




Quincunx Ch. 04



I lay back, blissfully serene, the last of her shudders leaving her lying limp on top of me. She lifted and stretched her legs down, her feet climbing the top wall as her head came to rest on her arms across my thighs, breathing more softly as she wiggled and snuggled down.

Cruelly I rolled her off me, sitting up to stretch my hands out as she stirred, taking hers as she twisted to sit up facing me. She leant in lips first and I moved to take her by the neck as our lips met. She kissed with a passion, grinding her lips to mine as she looped her arm around my neck.

She freed her other hand and cupped it over my wilted knob, her fingers curling around the shrivelled head.

"You didn't cum much," she half giggled as she broke the kiss.

"We can talk of that later," I murmured. "Let's get some sleep now. Tomorrow's a big day."

Tomorrow I would get my freedom back and lose this fantasy world of sex in servitude, as Rash rolled across me to swing her legs over I wondered what life would be like when it came to sex with Webbie, sex after this would never be the same again.

She snuggled into me as I spooned her, my shoulder on a damp patch as she laid her head to my neck. I felt her hand creep over to end short on my tummy, finger tips brushing through my pubes, her pubes soft and fluffy under mine.

I woke up with Rash still in my arms, my hand still cupping one breast, my knob fully hard and jammed between her legs. I gently tweaked her nipple.

"Are you awake?"

"Mm...," she replied, stirring in my arms.

"You feeling sexy?" I whispered. "Miriamni's still asleep."

She pushed back into me, letting her legs open and my erect knob to poke through.

"Are you offering," she whispered back with a little giggle.

"I'm in a giving mood," I came back, massaging her breast and working my free arm under her, to claim the other.

She caught my knob and pulled it tight into her crotch, pressing it against her cunny lips. I twisted myself over, pulling her on top of me as I shifted to the centre, starting back on her breasts as I got comfortable.

She lurched up, sitting on my tummy and pushing herself backwards to sit astride me, taking my knob in hand as she settled and positioned herself over my waiting tongue. Her cunny was aromatically enticing as I burrowed my tongue through the light hairs covering her clit, gently parting the lips to brush over the hood.

She slid her lips over my head, letting it just squeeze through to meet her tongue. The thrill surged down like lightning through a conductor, spiking to eleven as her tongue began its work. 

A groan rumbled in my throat as my fingers dug into her firm thighs, echoing in my lips as I sucked on her clit. I had it pressed hard and my tongue was rubbing across it scraping my taste-buds over its tip.

She was leaning on me, her elbows on my hips, letting her hands slip down my shaft, stretching the skin and releasing it as the other hand took over. And more delightfully her lips pressed round the rim as her tongue danced spirals on its engorged bell end.

We performed our act of love, lavishly swapping stimulation till the inevitable when I came first and managed to tip her from the precipice and into the roller coaster ride by erupting into her mouth. I lay in blissful exhaustion, Rash rolled to the side with a sigh, trailing her hand to embrace my flaccid knob.

We lay there sated till Miriamni announced it was time to get up. I insisted that she remove the collar and returned my clothes; they were at the border and had both horses healthy and capable, telling them that I would accompany them as far as the first town where I could purchase food for my journey home.

I saw Rash's face flicker as I said it, and felt a twinge of regret myself, our window of time together was being shuttered. She would go on to play princess with the fine folk there, whilst I would return to my humdrum life and wonder what might have been; hoping the heart ache of regret would soon fade as the old ways reasserted control of my life, leaving just treasured memories.

I dressed and went to ease myself, picking the softer centres of the scrub grass, performing my ablutions when I'd gathered enough. I built the fire and washed my hands to begin preparing my last breakfast with them, half dreaming of her already.

Rash came running back around the corner, clutching a blanket around her.

"It's cold," she shouted at me as she climbed the steps back in.

As I watched her disappear in Miriamni appeared and marched off to take care of the horses. I sat there dreaming of a future where Rash was turned back and came and lived with me, a happy ever after story.

"You're letting that porridge burn," Miriamni warned me as she led my horse out to be saddled.

I stirred franticly, scraping the edge to mix it back in, chastising myself for wishing for miracles, even if they did sometimes happen. 

Rash came bouncing down out of the caravan, an elegant flouncy dress and contrasting jacket, emphasising her trim waist, with three quarter sleeves and white gloves.

"How do I look?" She asked, stepping out the floor and giving a twirl that sent the dress spinning out and lifting to reveal her thighs.

I gasped, admiration taking my breath away.

"You think I should wear some jewellery, maybe my tiara?"

"Er no," I said, coming to my senses. "I wouldn't risk that, wait till your safe in the city."

She stood there, hands on hips. "That's what Miriamni said," she pouted.

I smiled to myself, dressed again as a lady she gave off an aura of privilege and authority, her beauty was enough to command you. I sighed, thinking of what I was giving up, the choices life brings us are never black and white, only shades of a drab gray.

"Is breakfast ready?" she asked, starting my arm reflexively stirring.

"Yes I think so," I answered, feeling the stiffness of the mix.

She bent next to me to retrieve a bowl, the scent of roses wafting under my nose.

"What are you going to do when you get there?" I asked.

"I don't know really, find somewhere to live, meet all the eligible bachelors and probably pick one for a husband." She said, looking at me from below her eyelashes.

"Lots of parties and things?"

"Yes," she said smiling at the nearness of the dream. "And picnics and theatres and music."

I gave a chuckle at her enthused description, hoping that it would work out for her. She'd made a bold move and deserved to reap the rewards. 

"Miriamni staying with you?"

"No, I think she is intent on returning to her husband."

"She'll help me settle in and then be off as I engage my own servants," she repied.

I wondered how much money she had to accomplish these things; did she bring gold as well as her fine dresses and jewellery? 

"Sorry we had to kidnap you; Miriamni didn't know what else to do once she knocked you out. We really needed your horse."

"Well at least the ride was a memorable one," I replied, a grin on my face as I remembered the morning wake up workout we'd enjoyed.

She giggled at my choice of words. "I'm glad we did it," she replied, her lips curling into her own smile.

"It's a truth that will be doubted," I said with a sigh. "If I tell it that is."

She giggled again. "It would haunt your children after you as well."

She blew on the porridge, delicately taking small moiety from the edge to nibble on, while waiting for it to cool. I looked around to see where Miriamni was, her porridge was cooling as well, I'd specially sweetened and flavoured it with cinnamon for our last meal together.

"You said last night to ask later?" Rash asked.

"Ask what?" I said taking a spoonful myself.

"Why you had so little cum."

I jerked my head around, stilled in mid chew. "Huh!"

"Oh never mind if you don't want." She said quietly, looking like she regretted asking.

I remembered her asking last night, when I was all sleepy and relaxed.

"It takes three days to recover your full potency," I explained. "Three days before you can father a child again, last night Miriamni took my best and I didn't have time to recover before you."

"Oh," she said, her brows wrinkling she thought it through.

"We could have done it then, I've got no hymen to break, horse riding took that ages ago."

My heart surged and I almost offered on the spot, my knob starting to stiffen and swell.

"Do you know anything about Potiau?" she asked spooning her own porridge down.

Truth was I didn't, hadn't Miriamni asked me that already. "Not much more than schoolbook stuff."

"It's an independent state," I continued. "The wizards rule as an autocracy is what I've learnt. We have no diplomatic ties with them, just trade agreements."

I could see why she chose it; she didn't think she'd get rendered back on some pretext. It also had no princes to charm, no ladies of the court, no landed gentry like my father. I began to doubt the reception she'd get; she would probably have to mix with the merchant class, where wealth brought strength to your wishes.

Miriamni made her appearance; she popped out of the door in her own skirt and blouse, short sleeved to the elbows.

"We're ready for the off," she stated. "Let's get breakfast finished and we can be on the road."

Rash stood with her three quarter eaten bowl as Miriamni squatted to take hers. I grabbed the pan and my own bowl and walked over to the water butt to clean them and pack them away.

Rash left me her bowl as she went to climb back in the wagon, as I was washing that I heard the sound of horses, clip clopping faintly but growing louder.

"Miriamni!" I shouted.

"Yeh, I hear them."

"Probably the guards, Dayshift for the border post."

She got up and came to stand with me, glancing to the corner where the sound was loudest. Four mounted men came around and pulled short as they saw us and the caravan.

"Who are you," the one in uniform asked.

"I am Davor of Pike Manor, this is Miriamni a healer."

"You look strange folk for travellers," he observed, easing himself out of the saddle.

"We're not travellers," I replied. "The lady wants to move to Lhamo Dondrub, she's run away from her father."

Rash appeared out of the back of the wagon. "I am Princess Rasyondi, youngest daughter of Harould of Skire." She said announcing herself.

The guard looked in askance at her. "We don't have no princesses here."

"No I'm the princess and I want to live here."

Two of the guards still mounted looked around.

"I want to go to Lhamo Dondrub," she said louder.

"We'll have to take you to see the mayor," the uniformed leader stated. "You can tell it to him."

I suppressed a snorted laugh, the first encounter was going well, she was being passed up the chain. The guy didn't have a clue what to do, I began to wonder what other traffic passed this way, or was this a sinecure posting.

He turned to talk to his men. "Two of you will stay here while I take these three over to Halpscraa, this is a case for Jacander, he can divine what to do. Mocjwe, you're with me." 

He turned back to face me. "Pack your stuff away then," he paused momentarily. "I hope you did your business out there."

I protested when he ordered me to mount, I was anyway but it was the principle, officially I was independent of them, secretly I was overjoyed at being co-opted with the prospect of another night together. If she was still willing to give it I would take her virginity as a finale.

The journey down was dreary, the leader riding behind us and his lad out in front. I trotted alongside where the road permitted but I spent most of my time trailing the caravan as well. Eventually the green patchwork quilt became farmlands, lining the road to the hamlet appearing along the road in front of us.

They let us stop briefly, becoming a one day wonder while they visited home, then the ale house before urging us on through yet more farmlands. We could see the occasional farm, the house and barns a dark scar amongst the spring greenery.

We stopped in a shady copse to take our midday meal, Rash walking around nervously while Miriamni and I cooked up a thick soup. The guards pulled out packed lunches from their saddle bags and bottles of dark beer and sat on a tree not far away.

The land turned to pasture and I saw livestock roaming free, an occasional herder walking among them. By mid-afternoon we were seeing the steady build-up of the town of Halpscraa, side roads appearing as we approached the centre.

We stopped outside a grand building while the lad opened the gates wide to admit us to the drive, then galloped ahead to alert the house. The drive took us to a magnificent wooden door, in my magical sight I could see spells across the threshold and carved into the wood in strange symbols.

The lad's horse was there, reins trailing on the ground and the horse drinking from the trough. The leader dismounted and went and rapped the knocker then standing waiting glancing over his shoulder at us.

The door opened and the boy came out.

"Look after them," he ordered, stepping inside himself.



Quincunx Ch. 05



Five
Journey to the center

After a minute or so a robed young man came out and invited us in with a wave of his arm, hand leading to the door he'd just exited. Inside was a magnificent hall, a desk stationed in front of the stairs and half a dozen seats next to it.

I made for the seats and looked at the man seated behind the desk giving us a serious once over as we approached. The leader was standing in front, holding his cap in hand as he stared at us too.

I sat down, letting the ladies sit first and grabbing the seat next to Rash. I leant and stretched to take one of her hands where it rested in her lap, bringing it up to rest on my legs as I held her fingers tightly in mine.

She turned and gave me a flickering half smile and squeezed on my fingers. I smiled back wondering what ordeal we faced here. The wait wasn't long, some other robed individual came down and invited us to follow him through into a high vaulted library, with book lining the walls half way up, leaving almost no room for the windows.

Here we waited a while longer, interrupted only by a tray of snacks and juice brought to us ten minutes into our sojourn. We sat in a love seat arms entwined as she lent her head on my shoulder.

"Do you think we'll be here much longer?" she asked softly, not daring to break the peace in this serene chamber.

"As long as it takes," I suppose. "You've put him in an awkward situation; he's probably reading up on the rules right now."

"If it takes much longer we'll have to stay the night here."

"I'm sure they'll get it sorted out soon," I said, feeding her comforting words. "If we're staying I'm sharing your cell."

My time was dragging as I wished the minute's bye, confident of the opportunity to share her bed later. Miriamni had surprised me by settling in one of the leathered lounge chairs and looked as if she were sleeping, arms crossed below her chest.

We waited at least ten minutes more, Rash beginning to sigh loudly before an old man in gaily decorated robes made his entrance.

"I welcome you," he greeted us. "I am Jacander, Mayor of this little burg." He looked from me to Rash. "You are claiming asylum here, as Princess Rasyondi, daughter of Harould of Skire."

She nodded.

"Tell me your story," he said quietly as he settled into one of the easy chairs.

Rasyondi told a tale that left me astounded, telling of her resistance to her father's wish of a political marriage, how she wanted to live her own life and settle down in Lhamo Dondrub. 

"The guard tell me that your servant is a healer, a lesser one if I can judge. And your companion claims some knowledge of magic as well."

"They speak for themselves; both want to return hence they came."

"Woman, yes you, come forward that I might test you." He called out to Miriamni

Miriamni edged out of her seat, rising and crossing to stand before him. He handed her a disc such as the one used to test me.

"Just hold it steady in your two hands," he instructed her.

It glowed with a feeble light; I looked with my magical sight and saw Jacander outlined by a radiant light, a feeling of old wood and wine barrels permeating it. Miriamni had a feint glow as well, so did the spells enchanting the disc she held.

He reached and took it from her. "Here, you have a try." He said proffering it to me.

I took it and immediately felt it warm in my hands, the light glowing brightly enough to make me blink at its dazzling radiance. 

"My word!" he exclaimed, snatching it back from me. "What training have you had."

"None master," I replied. "I barely lit it on my childhood test."

"What magic do you have?" he questioned me further.

"I can see magical auras and the magic of spells," I replied.

"You can see my aura?"

"Yes, it stands out about a hands span and is a brilliant white."

"And you see the spells of others?" he asked looking me in the face.

"Oh yes, like a glowing band of words, plain enough to read." I assured him.

He stood.

"Wait, bear with me a minute," he said and turning walked to one of the walls of books, studying the titles carefully until he pulled a thin volume out and began leafing through the pages. He came slowly back to his seat, nose still buried in the book.

It took him a few minutes to read whatever the portion of the book that help his interest, his face studious as he scanned the pages and then more thoughtful as he closed it and laid it down on the low table before him.

"How do you see the spells?" he questioned me again.

"In all sorts of different ways, there are big solid ones like the protection spells embedded in the walls and fuzzy kind of circular ones like on the amulet." I told him.

He glance at the book on the table, thinking for a moment, then quickly back at me.

He put his hand out, as if reaching for the book, but he help it above it and I saw him casting a spell on it with a subtle movement of his lips as the spell materialised, writing itself with words of sparkling light on the cover of the book.

"Tell me what that one says," he asked, leaning back in his chair.

"Stay still and closed till I want you again." I said, craning to read the glittering words.

As I read them off my right hand tingled and the words faded, my lips parted and my eyes danced over the book trying to understand what had happened, as I'd read the spell back the words dimmed and evaporated like they'd never been.

The shock and surprise showed on my face, Rash gripped my arm.

"Davor, are you alright?" she asked.

My eyes flitted to the wizard seated opposite as he leant forward, he too was shocked and his eyes narrowed as he stared back at me.

"That's never happened before," I said hurriedly.

"No," he said dryly. "I never expected to see it done in my lifetime."

He slumped back into the chair, closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose as he took a moment of time to cogitate.

"You'll have to go on to Lhamo Dondrub," he announced, sitting forwards again and looking at Rash. "This is too big for me to rule on, the whole council will have to meet and decide for themselves."

Rash let out a sigh, her face crestfallen as I turned to look at her. I reached and took her hand, giving it a little squeeze.

"You will of course be my guests tonight; I'll have an apartment in the west wing prepared. And, if you please, I hope you'll join me for dinner."

Rash nodded her head glumly.

"Thank you, we'd be honoured to, a meal and a bath would be a delight after the privations of the journey and a soft bed to sleep in would be a welcome to these bones of mine." I replied, my knob already twitching at the thought of bedding with Rash again.

"Ah," he said. "The bath may take a little time if you want a hot one, I will order the water heated for you but the kitchen is busy with the evening meal for the moment, would after the meal be suitable?"

"Thank you yes," Rash said, recovering some of her poise and composure after her disappointing news.

He stood and picked the book from the table. "Then I shall see you later, I'll have someone show you to your rooms."

As he walked to the door Rash pulled my hand to her, clutching it to her chest as her shoulders slumped. "You'll come with us?" she asked.

"Yes of course if you want me too." I replied, bringing my other hand to her cheek as I turned to face her.

"It's not fair," she continued. "Why does politics have to rule everything?"

"Would your father let a squire decide matters of state?" I asked. "He's taken a judicious view of the matter; there may be more at stake than just giving you liberty to live here."

After a short while a servant in the ubiquitous robe knocked the door and entered.

"My master bids you to follow me, I will show you to your rooms," he announced.

Whilst my thoughts were on tonight's sleeping arrangements a little part of my mind was niggling me about the remark of the wizard, he'd not 'expected to see it done in his lifetime'. The way he said it was a little unsettling, it suggested that my talent was rare or outstanding in some way.

Rash linked arms with me as we were led through corridors and upstairs, finally coming to a fine door decorated with carvings of hunting scenes.

"If you please, would you like any of your things brought up from your caravan?" he asked, standing aside to let us enter.

"Miriamni, would you go down and select a dress for me for tonight," Rash requested.

I looked around the room, we had a sitting room with three doors leading off, while Rash plonked herself down on the settee I walked over to the first door and took a peek inside. It proved to be a private privy; the aroma strong enough to make me hastily closed it shut again.

The second door let into the maid's room. It was a small bedroom with a three quarter bed and a washstand with a chest of drawers alongside.

The other room was the master bedroom, a big canopied double bed with plenty of wardrobe space and a little mirrored dresser with an elegant seat. The mattress, when I tested it, was of soft feather with a fine cotton cover and a nicely embroidered counterpane.

I went back and joined Rash on the settee.

"This is a nice place they've given us," I commented, sitting next to her.

"Mm? Oh yes, it's alright. I'm more concerned about tomorrow and the council," she replied.

I took her hand in mine. "It'll all be alright, they've no real problems in granting you asylum, I'm sure it'll be a formality."

"Oh I hope so," she said leaning into me and resting her head on my shoulder.

I felt her soft short hair on my cheek as I leant my head on hers, her breathing slow and regular, I was going to miss her when this was over.

Miriamni arrived back with the robed acolyte, between them they were struggling with one of the chests.

"Oh good," said Rash standing. "You've brought the clothes."

With the chest on the floor before her Rash knelt and opened it.

"Have they got a flat iron here?" she asked of no-one particular.

"Not that I've seen," I replied, taking another glance around the room. "They probably do that sort of stuff in the laundry."

"Miriamni can you see if you can find one," she said looking up.

"It'd probably be quicker if you rang the bell," I said, indicating the bell pull by the door.

"What, oh yes, Miriamni would you?"

Miriamni dutifully rang.

"It'll probably take a while," I said. "You might as well relax."

Rash straightened and put her hand in the small of her back. "I could do with a lie down, my back aches, too much riding around in that old caravan no doubt."

"Go on," I said. "I'll see to things. Which dress do you want to wear?"

"The one with the blue trimmings," she said, as she walked over towards the small bedroom.

"Rash, the other door," I said, a smile coming to my lips.

I watched her as she walked across and exited, her slim figure framed by the light through the door.

I turned to Miriamni as the door closed. "I think I'll try to find my way back down to the library," I told her, trying to picture the way back through the corridors.

I made it back down to the library with only one wrong turn, seeing no-one on my travels or in the library when I found it. I went to the shelves I'd seen the old wizard examine, hoping that it might give me a clue as to the book he'd retrieved.

The books in that section were all ancient texts, some looking hundreds of years old, most were dealing with the history of the 'Wizards War', something I knew little about, it had been only a footnote in my lessons at home

I took one of the weightier tomes and made my way back up to our apartment, finding Miriamni with a hotstone warming and Rash's dress for the evening laid out over the settee ready to be pressed.

"She's been asking for you," she said as I walked in.

I dropped the book on the table as I walked through, giving a courtesy knock on the door before I entered.

"Yes?" I enquired.

She lay on her front, her dress on the back of the chair and shoes beside the bed.

"Davor, where've you been?" she said stirring and turning over.

"Satisfying my curiosity," I replied, grinning at her.

"Can you give me a back rub?" she asked. "I've got an ache right here."

She put one of her hands to the small of her back.

"Miriamni could do it better than me," I replied.

"She's being grumpy about it," she complained.

I looked at her lying there in her underwear, the thin cotton vest and long drawers outlining her figure, the plaintive look on her face, how could I not agree.

"Okay, I'll give it a try if you want," I said acquiescing.

She turned face down as I clambered onto the bed and knelt astride her thighs, feeling the warmth of them as she parted them slightly to press against my calves. She pulled the vest up revealing her smooth creamy skin.

This was my first good look at her in a good light, the curve of her waist flaring into her ribs, the swell of her hips, were all a delight to my eye. I leant slightly forward and rested the heel of my hand in the dip above her firm tush.

"Oh," she said giving a little jerk. "Your hand's cold."

"Sorry," I replied, withdrawing it.

"It's alright, just unexpected."

I gingerly put my hand back. "Here the right place?" I asked.

"Mm."

She settled her head on her forearms as I applied a gentle pressure, bringing my other hand on top and interlinking my fingers to rub gently over the spot.

"A little bit harder Dav."

I pressed harder, moving my hand over the same three inches, feeling the nobles of her spine riding under my palm as the flesh rippled.

"Mm, could you go a bit lower as well?"

"Your knickers are in the way," I told her, pausing my rubbing.

She lifted her head and brought her arms down to the waistband, lifting her hips to ease them down.

"Better?" she asked, bringing her arms up to rest her head on them once more.

The globes of her tush jiggled as she settled, the crease darkening as they squeezed together, pale white in the light from the window. My knob went from half to full arousal, tenting my pants at the sight of all that tender naked flesh.

I brushed my hands lightly down the slopes dragging my nails across the virgin skin and into the crook of her back again.

"Dav, when you do it can you use long strokes and use your fingers, dig them in and kneed them a little?"

I used my knuckles to rub up and down her spine, then my fingertips to press and squeeze, drawing the fleshy sides to my thumb, making dimples as they closed and inched up to repeat the cycle. She gave out a satisfied sigh, pulling a pillow down and snuggling into it.

I continued for minutes more, finding myself admiring her body, her tousled hair, her taut rounded arse. Miriamni shattered my thoughts, she may have knocked but suddenly she was behind me.

"Do you want me to do your trousers as well?"

I paused and turned to her. "Um, actually I could get my city clothes from off the donkey; if they're okay for merchants then they should serve me here."

I shifted down and swung my leg over, sliding myself to the side of the bed. My erection subsiding rapidly as I refocused.

"Oh," Rash complained. "I was enjoying that."

"I'll finish it for you later," I promised.

I went back down and retrieved my pack, my razor and things and gave the clothes to Miriamni when I got back. I also saw the book I'd intended to read, and picked that up to settle down with. 

When Miriamni passed me back my freshened clothes I decided that it was time to prepare for dinner, starting with stripping to my underclothes and washing with the cold water before finding my razor and shaving to finish the job.

When I turned to dress myself I found Miriamni absent, probably gone to help Rash. I finished dressing and sat again, picking up the book once more, waiting now for them and the summons to dinner.

Fortunately they came first, Rash appearing like a vision of loveliness with Miriamni still fussing with the hem.

"How do I look?" she asked.

"Too beautiful for words," I replied with a sigh, drinking the sight in.

She gave a twirl, pulling the hem from Miriamni's hands.

"This time I'm going to wear my tiara and necklace," she announced, flouncing back into the bedroom.

An acolyte came to fetch us, taking us further into the heart of the building, showing us into a private dining room insisting on Miriamni joining us as a guest as well. It wasn't long before the wizard joined us and the first course was served.

He asked Miriamni about her talent, she'd been untested, a village girl who was self-taught. He recommended that she look at getting some training and tuition while she was in Lhamo Dondrub. Then it was on to me.

"So, Davor of Pike Manor, what of your life, you are a gentleman by your title and dress?"

""I'm far more humble than that," I replied. "I'm only a second son of a country squire, well down in the pecking order. In a few years I'll be the new farm manager, taking over from my uncle in the family tradition. He's had me on every job in the estate, insisting I learn the work before commanding it."

"So you've had no chance to develop any of your magical talents?"

"No, not really, I never thought much on magic, though my little sister has been gifted with a green thumb."

"Well if my guess is right yours is an extraordinary talent, though you'll need to take care how it's wielded."

"My talent?"

"Yes, you most definitely need training, to ignore talent like yours would be a crime."

"What talent have I, I can cast no spells, nor have I Miriamni's healing or my sister's ability?"

"With training I think you'll amaze yourself, you've the ability to rank with any of our current crop, how you turn out is in your hands, or should I say mind."

I sat, somewhat bemused and yet picturing myself commanding the power of a wizard, mastering spells and walking around in the gaudy robes. Fate was leading me on a strange path, keeping Rash and I together and offering me a new life undreamt off.

Miriamni asked him to tell us of what the land and customs were, a task that lasted beyond dinner. He told us over a much better cup of coftea than our trail stuff, that he'd arranged for us to travel onto the capital in the morning by coach, letting us make the trip in nine hours with an hour's break.

As he stood to take his leave of us he mentioned that the bath should be ready, he'd order up the hot water for us now if we were ready. Rash of course was delighted, clapping her hands and anxious to be off, taking steps even as the door closed.

Rash of course was the first, stripping in the bedroom as the procession of buckets filled the wooden tub. When all was ready she came tripping out, teetering on her toes to the edge of the tub and gingerly testing the water before climbing in.

"Is there soap?" she asked.

I'd put the soap on the table and forgotten about it, the sight of a naked Rash driving every other thought from my head, her figure stopped my heart and induced a yearning in me that stilled all else.

"The soap's here," I replied, turning to pick it.

"Well bring it over, you can help me wash."

I jerked with excitement, to touch her naked body, my knob twitched wiggling the tent pole that her presence had caused. I tossed the soap from hand to hand as I crossed, the barest of smiles hiding the delight inside me as I saw her breasts bobbing in the steaming water.

"Start with my hair," she said arching her back and neck to lay her head in the water.

"I'll just free myself of my coat first," I said, dropping the soap and wriggling out of the sleeves.

She brought her head up as I leant over the tub, water streaming down, trickling over her shoulders her breasts. She edged round and back to lay her neck on the side, leaving me to start to work the soap into a lather.




Quincunx Ch. 05



She knelt, dipping her head under and giving it a shake till she came up gasping for air, her tush facing me and giving me a flash of her plump lips, the dark lips protruding like some dark fruit berry, curling open to reveal the pink stripe in its centre.

She straightened.

"Pass me a small towel," she asked.

I handed her one and I was treated to her breasts bouncing and bobbing before me as she dried and wrapped her hair.

"You can do my back now," she said turning and squatting on her heels.

I rubbed the soap over her shoulders, circling it and following with my other hand, tracing a zig zag path to the waterline at her waist. I scooped handfuls of water, cupping my hands to her back and drawing it up.

Then she stood and placed her heel on the rim, obviously expecting me to follow on, letting my excitement build as I washed upwards, ever nearer to my favourite part of her, an equal first with the rest but special between us.

I let my forefinger just brush her lips, I could feel her pubes brush my fingertips as they followed the curve, she twitched and then my hands were caressing her cheek in a swirling dance. She changed legs, turning to flash me a coy smile.

As I reached the erogenous zone for a second time she dropped her leg, turned to face me and said. "Take your clothes off and join me, I'll wash your back."

It took me minutes to undress, watching Rash soaping her abdomen and breasts as she waited. I stepped in sporting a shaft stiff enough to for her to swing on. She squatted; knees splayed as she dipped her hands between them and slashed the suds off.

I waited, watching, perched on the rim till she finished and stood.

"Turn round then and kneel down then." She ordered.

I turned and knelt, feeling the smooth hard wood, head bowed and waiting. She emptied her cupped hands, splashing the water over my hair, letting it run to my face. I brought my head up, expecting the second and was wiping the first as it spilled over.

She used her fingers, giving my hair a deep rub with the tips building up a good lather; I could feel her nearness behind me as she stood over me.

"Okay, you can rinse it now," she told me, stepping back.

I shuffled back, bending forwards to dip my head and splash water over it. When I started to straighten she had me turn and she started to wash me from the shoulders down, tweaking my nipples and grinning at me as her own breasts bobbed and swayed before me.

As she got to my waist, my knob lolling in the water, tip just peeking out.

"Stand up and I'll do the rest," she said, kneeling and leaning back on her heels.

I stood, my knob like a flag pole, jutting out at her eyeline. She dipped her hands to the water and brought them to my groin, holding my balls while she soaped them. 'If she delayed to long' I thought. 'My knob would explode on her first touch.'

She moved up, scraping the soap up along its length then circling it around the head before passing the soap up to me. She brought both hands to its base, her fingertips spread around, and started to see-saw them to the tip.

The thrill gave me shivers, waggling my knob in her fingers. She giggled and look up to me, a smile shining in her eyes as she played with it. When she got to the bell end and started stroking that, the silky soft feel of the soap set my knob on fire.

She dropped it; or rather let it spring back up. And, taking the soap back, she reached for my waist, her hands making circles behind it in my pubes as she began on my hips. My knob was still stiff and straining by the time she reached my knees and bade me turn, starting at my knees and climbing to my thighs.

Feeling the delicate brush of her fingertips as I parted my legs with her push, then feeling them glide through my valley, brushing over my rose bud. She slapped me on the tush, giving a little giggle as she told me. "You're done, you can rinse yourself."

I sat back down in the water, splashing it over myself as I watched her climb out the tub and take a towel to dry herself. As I climbed out I turned to Miriamni, asking her if she wanted, assuring her the water was still warm enough.

Rash sat and stretched her legs in the air, drying them and reminding me how elegant they were, beautifully tapered curves. When she was done she turned to Miriamni.

"Will you do my hair for me again?" she asked with that edge of command.

As Miriamni stood, Rash turned to me.

"Come and talk to me in the bedroom." She asked, clutching the towel to her to drape it across her front while holding her other hand out to me.

Rash went and sat on the chair, in front of the dresser mirror whilst I lay face down on the bed, watching as Miriamni combed out her hair.

"Will you take the classes?" she asked.

"Yes, but I'll have to find way to send a message home to my kinfolks, I'll have to tell them what's happening and try and get the Jannaweed back home. My father would kill me if he doesn't get it."

"You can ask the wizard to do it in the morning," she replied, turning her head and getting a scold from Miriamni.

"Yes, I suppose so, things are happening so fast I haven't had time to think." 'Except of her,' my thoughts carried on.

"And you?" she asked of Miriamni.

"Oh, I don't know, it'd be nice to get a bit of training, see what real folks do."

"Then stay, you can all share my house."

Miriamni finished drying and styling Rash's hair, picked up the towels and combs and silently departed leaving me and Rash alone.



Quincunx Ch. 06



Six
A first time with seconds

"Come on," she said enthusiastically. "You can finish the Massage now."

I watched her as she stood and let the towel drop, walking to the bed with a gleam in her eye. She reached out to me as I rolled and swung my legs out over the edge, pulling me up and leaning in for a kiss.

I put my arms around her, holding her tight in the kiss as I stood and scooped her up to lay her on the bed, pausing a second to admire her magnificence before straightening and climbing on alongside her.

She turned over to give me her back, drawing her knees up and resting on her elbows letting her back dip. I positioned myself between her feet, kneeling erect as I laid my hands to her spine once more. I started slowly, rippling her flesh with my thumbs as they traced up it.

"Mm, that's nice," She murmured.

Nice it was. My knob was lazily growing, responding to my desires for the body under my hands. The silky feel of her skin as my hands slipped sensuously over it, squeezing and moulding it.

"Do my shoulders as well," she asked, pushing up on her hands.

I stretched forwards as my hands slid up, she opened her legs and my knob slipped down between them, before I knew it I felt my bell end penetrating her. I jerked thrusting it in further at the sensation of her tight hunny hole clamping me.

She shivered with surprise and delight, a little squeal escaping her. She pushed back onto me.

"Let it stay in there," she complained as I started to withdraw. "Let me just feel it fill me for a moment longer."

I slid my hands around her reaching for her breasts and cupping them as my fingers and thumbs took her nipples. She pressed back into me wriggling to let me enter deeper as her nipples grew in my fingers, hardening to little pebbles.

She started moaning, splaying her legs further as she pushed in harder to take the last inch, I twisted my head around and nibbled on her ear, licking it and running my tongue round the inside, bending further to kiss down her neck then over her chin as she turned her head to me.

My fingers pulled and twisted her nipples as my knob throbbed deep inside her, she was pressed against me, her back moulded to me as she purred with pleasure. I felt her fingertips stroke the bottom of my shaft as she rubbed and played with herself, her hand squeezed between her legs.

I twisted my head to the other side, nibbling on that ear, licking the lobe. 

"Happy?" I whispered.

She brought her free hand up to clasp my neck. "Mm...," she sighed.

"D'ya wana sixty nine?" I whispered again, pinching her nipples.

Her "Mm," this time had a whine, "Staying like this is nice."

"But I want to eat you all up," I said encouragingly. 

"In a minute then, I'm still enjoying the feel of my first knob."

I gave a little laugh, kissing her on the neck as my fingers fondled her nipples. She wriggled on my shaft.

"Do you really want to lick me?" she asked provocatively.

"And have you lick me," I softly replied.

She pushed up, pulling her knees up as I rose with her. I held her, my hands cupping her breasts, nipples centred in my palm. I let her slip through my hands as she stood, my knob slipping out to stand erect and shiny with her juices.

"Lay down then," she instructed. "I'm on top."

I swivelled around, stretching out and lying on my back as she positioned herself above me, her legs seemingly stretching to heaven, the globes of her tush dipping into the shadows of her groin, a goddess poised to go down on me.

I reached up as she squatted, holding her waist as she shuffled and settled, guided by my extended tongue. She was already so wet, I licked around mopping it up, chasing over the wrinkly bits when I felt her hand encircle my shaft and the wet tip of her tongue tickle my slit.

My hips shivered and my knob twitched, bumping her upper lip.

"Mm," she mumbled as her lips clamped on it and she sucked it in slowly.

I gasped again as the fire lit in it as she swilled her tongue around it, feeling a longing to make love to Rash forever. To prolong this sexual union to the end of time holding the most beautiful girl in the world, it felt so special. This time would be a first she'd remember forever, my first had been a fumbling adventure in a hay loft, hers would be likewise magical.

I licked at the rim of her hunny hole, spreading it open as my tongue circled it, my chin nestling in her pubes. I flicked my tongue up and down gathering more of her juices, slipping and sliding in and out of the little crevices, rolling my head to sweep from tip to tip of her crinkly lobes.

I needed to cum, I wanted to frig her so much but I needed to empty my balls first, I could let her bring it back while I continued to pleasure her, then I could have my way with her. The delirium of arousal and imagination flooding me with a satisfied glow.

I licked on, pulling slightly to move her the half inch that brought her clit into play, and turned my focus to that. I craned my neck and pressed my lips to hers, pushing the hood down and fluttering my tongue over it, feeling the shiver that went through her.

My hips juddered, my shaft sending out waves of pleasure that was hastening my climax, growing the near bursting ball in my groin. Her head dipped as my hips jerked and I shot my first load, my hips thrusting up as I groaned and gripped hers, digging my finger in.

She sent me into an ecstasy of pain and pleasure, sucking and licking my super sensitive slit to gather the last drops. As I got my breath back I sank my head back in focusing on her clit again, pressing down on it and waggling my tongue.

She wiggled appreciatively, her hand giving an involuntary clench around my near flaccid knob, stirring some interest in it. I began to butterfly my tongue tip across it, flitting in a cross over down over it as I upped the pleasure for her.

She waggled my knob about, her hot breath puffing over me as she licked the underside of my deflated shaft, rekindling the fire in it. I needed to get her to her own peak, once she'd had it, my way to goal was open.

I redoubled my attention to her clit, pressing my lips in and suckling on it, kneading it gently. Her hips jerked, thrusting into my face, her pubic bone grinding into my chin. My hands gripped tighter as she bucked, a breathless scream tearing at her throat, her hand squeezing on my hardening knob.

I lay back my jaw aching from before, feeling my knob twitch again in her hand, ready to take the final step when she recovered.

"Rash?" I said softly as her breathing slowed.

"Mm," she said dreamily.

"Roll over, there's more to come."

"I want to ride on top, like Miriamni does," she said, a broad anticipatory grin on her face as she looked at me over her shoulder.

I lay where I was, watching as she got to her knees and swivelled around, throwing her leg over me. Settling on my stomach and pushing herself down, her slick cunny sliding down my now rampant shaft, then rising to squat back down and let the head find its own way.

She let herself sink slowly, savouring every inch as it entered her, her knees brushing my hips as she settled. The pleasure of her silky hunny hole squeezing its way down was exquisite, making it feel so tight inside her.

The look on Rash's face was funny, her eyes screwed up and her mouth open making an 'O' of her lips. I wondered what she felt like, a fat knob buried up to its hilt and about to have her first frig, I was certainly in dreamland with my gorgeous Rash astride me. 

She leant forwards, her hands on my ribcage as she began to bob, slowly rocking from her knees as her face relaxed into a picture of joy.

"I've been wanting this for days now," she said her eyes flipping up at me, an ear to ear grin decorating her face. I'd wanted it as well; I felt I could die happy now.

She was going faster, her juices coating my slick shaft as she bounced down to its root. Despite my recent exertions my knob felt hard enough to last forever, the pleasure surging though it. I laid back and settled to enjoy it, watching her small breasts bounce and jiggle as she pounded down.

Her stroke changed, her knees rose as she bounced on her toes, small cries escaping her lips, her body shuddering mid stroke as she collapsed on me, her head thrown back and a loud gargled shriek erupting from her lips.

I could feel the waves of contraction spread shivers through her, gripping and running up my knob giving me a secondhand share of her thrill. I let her raggedy breath slow, her head drooped on my chest creating a pool of warmth, wondering if my hard shaft still buried in her would encourage her to go again.

She stirred and pushed herself up, giving me a big smile. She closed her eyes and began slowly, leaning into me with her breasts jiggling. I reached out and took her nipples, cupping my hand to the sides and twirling them with my finger and thumb.

Her face relaxed as she opened her eyes and smiled at me, performing a slight shake of her head as she bared her teeth to me. I looked at her as she bobbed, my hands pressed to hold firm as I played with her nipples.

Making love was making me want her more; she was like no other girl I'd known. Her breasts felt warm and soft, squished under my palms, her nipples hard as I squeezed and stroked them. Her mouth was lolling open as she gasped, perspiration beginning to glint on her forehead.

My knob felt electric, gliding through her slick tunnel as she pumped on it, the waves of pleasure flooding through me. My head jerked back with a groan as my breath puffed out, my seed spurting deep inside her as my hips jerked.

I sagged back down as she flopped forward onto me, both of us caught in the warm fuzzy afterglow.

"That was wonderful," she said though her slowing gasps of breath. "Why did no one tell me sex was this nice."

"Only with the right man," I said, my chest still heaving.

She rolled off me, turning to lie next to me and cuddle up in my arms, her legs folded over mine. I lay quietly with her, feeling the joy in holding her snuggled to me, feeling her breathing slow as she drifted into the arms of sleep.

I nuzzled my head to hers, wondering when the strange twist of fate that had thrown us together would unravel, send us on our separate ways. I wasn't complaining, fate took you where it willed, I would be a nobody in the society she wanted to join, she told me herself she'd pick a husband there.

I thought also of my clothes, still down in my pack, I should get them and air them out before morning, something I should have done while Miriamni was doing her hair. I eased myself out of her arms, inching backwards, my arm slipping from beneath her.

I dressed in my underpants and trousers, tip toeing to the door with my boots in my hand, not wanting to wake sleeping beauty, turning as I quietly close the door I see Miriamni sitting in the easy chair before the now lit fire, still wrapped in towels from her bath.

"Miriamni are you still up?" I asked quietly.

"I'm still waiting for them to come and fetch the tub," she told me.

"Ah," I acknowledged, glancing as I passed to see the tub only had dregs of water left in it, they must have emptied it while we made love. I sat on the arm of the chair and wrestled my boots on

I crept down the now more familiar corridors, finding an acolyte sitting dozing in the hall.

"Ah hum," I said with a little cough.

He stirred and looked at me.

"I need to retrieve something from my pack, "I explained." Do you know where it is?"

"It's probably in the stables, 'round the side of the house." He told me standing. "If you wait a bit I'll get a runner to take you."

I waited while he pulled on a silent bell chain, its bell no doubt ringing in the quiet depths of the house. Within the minute an acolyte appeared from around the stairs.

"Can you help our guest find his pack?" he asked as he drew near. "It's probably with the donkey in the stable."

"Yes of course," he replied, turning to me.

"If you'll follow me," he added, reaching for the door handle and tugging it open.

We walked around the side of the house, me admiring the pinwheel as we rounded the corner, bright and sharp in the sky above. We found my clothes and I thanked him as he walked me back to the door, insisting once inside that I was familiar with the way to my room and needed no further help thank you.

When I got back Miriamni had gone to bed, leaving a single candle and the glow of the dying fire to light my way as I laid my clothes out after giving them a good shaking. I sat and took my boots and clothes off before blowing the candle out and walking to the bedroom door and the sleeping Rash in the ruddy glow of the remaining flames.

I crept to the bed laying my clothes at the bottom and eased myself carefully back on, sliding in to spoon her back and let my fingers nestle as I sank into a satisfied sleep. I awoke with a full bladder, its urgent need stirring me reluctantly from the warmth and softness of Rash. I tried to ease myself off again as she stirred and lazily rolled to face me.

"Where are you off?" she asked, bringing her fingers to her fluttering eyes to brush the sleep away.

"The crapper," I replied, swinging my legs over the side. "My bladder's bursting."

"Can I hold it for you?" she asked, stirring and sitting up.

"You'll have to be quick," I replied, already on the way to the door.

She twisted herself out of bed to follow me. "Wait then."

I opened the door to the privy, the smell wafted out. Instinctively I held my breath as I plunged in. Rash got to the door behind me and baulked.

"It smells in here," she exclaimed. "Are there any poesies?"

I'd lifted the lid and was easing myself , the pee arcing into the hole and splashing down the side.

"No," I answered, expelling my breath. "You'll just have to suffer it I'm afraid."

I pinched my nose and drew breath with my mouth, hoping to minimise it but the taste lingered. I shook myself as I squeezed the last drop out, turning and passing Rash stood back from the open door.

"Go on," I urged her. "It only gets worse thinking about it."

She turned and wrinkled her nose at me. "I suppose I must," she complained, taking a deep breath before taking the plunge herself.

I strolled back over to the bed after pushing the door closed to confine the smell. Moving the pillow over and sitting with my back to the headboard tucking myself behind the drapes of the canopy. She came rushing back in.

"The bowl...." she stopped and looked around for me.

My laugh gave me away as I popped out

"Oh you," she said, walking swiftly to me, arms raised to embrace me. 

Her breasts pressed against me as she snuggled her head against my chin.

"Can we make love again?" she asked in a simpering voice.

I smiled at her request, my knob stirring at the thought. 

"Yes, but how about we try it a different way?"

"Huh," she remarked leaning away from me and looking me in the face.

"Lay down on the bed," I told her. "Legs dangling over the side."

She freed herself from my arms, turned and did as I asked, a smile of puzzlement and anticipation flickering across her face. I went and stood at her knees, taking her hips and pulling her towards me, pushing her legs wide with mine as she slid forwards.

She stiffened and panicked a little bit as I slid her tush just over the edge of the bed, she looked in askance as I dropped to my knees, my hands caressing her soft skin as I drew them to the plump mounds split wide in front of me.

I stretched them wide, watching the moist glistening skin spread and ripple then switched my thumbs over, sliding on the slick skin. I began making ovals as my thumbs slipped over the little bumps and crevices, squeezing her mounds against my fingers as I skimmed up to nearly touch her clit.

I played and teased her, rimming her hunny hole then up to massage tantalizingly close to her clit, my fingers kneading at the sides of it. She was moaning and rolling her head, hands stroking up and down her body, pulling and tweaking her nipples.

I leant in, dropping my tongue smack on her clit, pressing it flat and flowing over it as I licked my way into her curly tangle. I flicked back down and then circled it, spinning my tongue around the hard nub, my hot breath puffing over it as I got more aroused by Rash's taste and texture.

Her hips began to buck, I clamped my mouth down, sucking on it. My thumbs slipped down and I softly penetrated her with my fingers. Pushing them deep and curling my fingertips I stroked gently, rubbing in a circle, teasing the root of her clit as my tongue fluttered over its tip, trapped between my lips.

She screamed, her cunny pushing into me as her back arched. Her hips jiggled as the shudder passed through her, squeezing my finger as wave raced out and brought a groan to her lips. As she fell back I moved my hand to her hips, rising into a crouch and nuzzling my knob between her lips to tease her hunny hole with its tip.

As her breathing steadied I pushed the tip in looking at her smiling face. Watching it dissolve with the ricture of pleasure. I let it slide in slow and easy, feeling her swell to take me, filling my knob with a fuzzy pleasure.

Sinking my shaft into her had an extra tingle with it being Rash soaking up the pleasure with me, her hips clasped by my fingers, hearing her moan sigh out. I felt her pubic bone on mine as our hairs tangled, her legs splitting wider as she drew them back.

I moved my hands to her knees, grasping the back of them as I began to stroke, singing my hips to get the measure before hitting the peddle. As my rate increased she squealed, her hands grasping at the bedspread as her hips began to synchronise with mine.

I varied the stroke, short and sharp to long and languorous as she began gasping, hands torturing her breasts, squeezing and pulling in abandon. I swivelled my hands, pulling her legs to wrap them around me, then bent in forwards till her breasts were in reach, sliding my hands under hers and taking possession of the hard stubs atop the round globes.

Stretched out I could only manage short strokes, bringing me on too quick, I straightened and slowed, driving it deep as her legs twitched and squeezed me. I ran my hands along her thighs, my thumbs curling around the inside.

She screamed again, breathless and throaty, a pale imitation of her last. Her hips joined to mine as her legs gripped shudderingly tight, pulling me into her. I relaxed into the glow of sensations, the ripple of her hunny hole contracting and feeding me joy.

Her legs relaxed as she recovered, she let them drop as she pushed herself onto the bed.

"Let me suck it," she demanded, sitting up and reaching for me,

I laughed, turning to lay on the bed.

"Come on then."

She giggled as she leant forward reaching to take my still stiff shaft. I lay back and watched as she directed it into her mouth, the thrill of her soft lips gliding over it giving me shivers. She brought her tongue into play curling it around to the underside and giving it a gentle rub.

She was knelt square to me and I reached out to pull her.

"N-Not yet," she burbled past my head, wriggling around away from me.

I drew my hand back and just let it take me, her tongue working magic as she licked and sucked on it. I felt the ball building in my groin, my body trembling as my hips juddered. The pleasure exploded up, driving my seed into her waiting mouth, her lips squeezing with ecstatic pleasure on the rim as she swallowed.

I shut my eyes and luxuriated in the waves of pleasure rolling through me. Rash was still making my shaft twitch and dance as she licked it clean. Then she was lying over me, her breasts pressing into me as she snaked her hands around my neck.

"That was most wonderful, you keep getting better," she whispered in my ear, as she snuggled her head into my shoulder.




Quincunx Ch. 06



"A free man's better than a slave compelled," I replied, taking a sly jab at her. 

I wrapped my arms around her, hugging her tight and feeling on top of the world, rash in my arms was all I wanted or needed.

"I'm a slave to your knob now," she joked in return, wriggling her hips against mine.

I would be her bedroom slave forever, I thought, giving her an extra squeeze.

After a short while I stirred.

"We need to be up and dressed, we've got a long journey ahead of us today."

"Oh, don't remind me, going to face the council inquisition." She replied pulling a long face at me.

I twisted free and rolled to the edge of the bed, finding the wet spot where I'd licked her. I grabbed up my underclothes and left her sitting naked on the side of the bed.



Quincunx Ch. 07



Seven 
A Case is put

Miriamni was already up and dressed, sitting patiently in the chair as I entered, she rose up as the door swung wide. She picked up Rash's clean clothes and gave me a strange look as she passed; leaving me to dress in the ones I'd laid out last night.

I wandered down meeting the acolyte sent to fetch us for breakfast, I let him carry on up, telling him the ladies were still in the bedroom dressing. I had a good look round with my magical sight, seeing spells new and old, especially now that I looked closely at the very faint magic of the strange symbols.

It was near ten minutes before they joined me, still being led by the acolyte. As I joined them, Rash smiling broadly at me, she came and linked arms to walk with me. I felt on cloud nine, almost stuttering my words as I asked how she was.

Breakfast was porridge and preserved fruit, soon taken as the master was already halfway through his and giving orders to a succession of robed assistants. We exited to find a waiting coach, four horses fit and prancing in the spring light.

Both Rash's chests were bound to the roof, along with my pack and my panniers.

"What's happen to our horses and thing?" I asked of one of the standing robed helpers.

"We will send those on later," he informed me. "This is much quicker."

Rash, with Miriamni's help was already boarding the coach; I hurried over to catch up, helping Miriamni to mount before climbing in myself. I was roomy inside, wide enough for six seated three aside. I looked out through the window, Rash cuddling up next to me and looking with scant interest herself.

We waited a couple of extra minutes before the master appeared, talking in earnest to another wizard with a gaudy robe. I wondered if there was a choice of colours and shapes or were they bound by rank or something.

He climbed up to join us, clutching a portfolio of letters and things.

"Well are we ready for the off?" he said taking is seat as the coach lurched forward.

We journeyed for at least an hour, the horses eating up the road, before our wordless companion knocked on the roof to call a toilet break, feeling pleased with relieving myself in clean fresh air I climbed back in and let Rash cuddle in with her legs curled under her, arm around my neck as she lay her head on my shoulder.

I half dozed as we travelled on, happy with Rash snuggled next to me, letting my mind chase fantasies as the scenery flew past. By lunchtime we'd entered the outskirts of some small town and were stopping for food and to stretch our legs.

When we reboarded the coach there was a fresh team straining in the harness, eager to be off. Rash pushed herself between my legs, pressing her back to me as she drew my arms around her, brushing the inner one deliberately over her breast to tease me.

As soon as we were rolling again I used the cover of our motion to slip my hand up and cup her inner breast, my thumb and finger tweaking her nipple to tease her back. We lay back dozing again as the miles passed under the galloping hooves, the rocking motion like a swaying babies cradle.

The sun was low in the sky when the road noise changed on the now cobbled streets of the city we were entering. I perked up, deliberately squeezing Rash's breast to alert her and tease her at the same time. 

"Wha...," she asked playfully.

"We're here," I replied letting my arms slip to her waist. "Lhamo Dondrub awaits your pleasure."

We were another fifteen minutes negotiating the sometimes narrow streets before we pulled into the drive of a mass of buildings set in wooded parkland.

"Ah the university," remarked the old wizard in the other corner leaning forwards, clutching his portfolio close to himself.

"We'll sort you out some rooms first, then see about a bite of supper or something." He said rising from his seat as the coach bounced to a stop.

We followed him in through the great door, many more spells visible here, some lodged in the oddest spots. There were also traces of the older spells, some like ghosts they were so faint.

"Wait here," he commanded, pointing to some seats lining a wall on one side. "I'll just be a minute or so getting things rolling."

It took him a good half hour before he came strolling back with yet another acolyte in tow.

"If you follow him he'll take you to your room, I'll have something sent up for you to eat," he announced. Waving us to hurry along as the young boy turned on his heel and led us away to the bottom corner and to a set of steps curling up behind a curtained doorway.

I waited for the girls to ascend, following Miriamni bustled tush as the stairs seemed to circle upwards forever. We emerged on a landing leading to a long corridor glassed panelled along one side and with three doors spaced down it.

The second door proved to be ours; it was much the same arrangement as the one we'd left behind accepting the toilet had the fresh poesies, neutralizing any other odour with their sweet smell. The decor was similar enough to suggest a bureaucratic hand in setting them up, a stylized VIP guest room.

Rash flopped into one of the chairs.

"I feel tired with all that bouncing and bumping, my tush aches," she complained, settling in and curling her legs under herself. "Miriamni can give me a massage with her healing touch before bed."

I looked at her, she was still the princess, her world revolving around her, I wondered how she would cope swimming in the big fishes pond here, she had no powerbase just a name. And then there was me, how soon would it be till I was on my way home?

I sat in one of the chairs, resting myself and wondering about the pack and my goods which had been stowed on the coach, I had only the two sets of clothes, both of which were now travel stained and in need of some tlc.

While I sat there feeling the rides effects on my own aching body was a knock at the door.

"Come in!" Rash shouted.

In came a procession of acolytes, the first delivering our luggage from the carriage, then others followed with a pail of hot water and towels, fresh robes for us and before we could settle again food, , a plate of sandwiches with an invitation to visit the kitchens once we'd freshened up.

Rash went first, stripping to her underclothes while I rummaged in my pack for my razor and things. I watched her as she splashed water over her face, rinsing it, her breasts bouncing under the thin cotton vest the nipples tracing circles.

Then it was my turn to shave and freshen up, Miriamni and Rash retired to the bedroom, leaving one of the chests open and taking a jar of cream for the healing session I supposed. When I'd finished I changed into the fresh white robe they'd given me, wrapping it round me and finding it soft and warm as I belted it up.

I sat again, letting my idle thoughts wander, there was a few privacy spells scattered around the doors but none of the old magic script. I let my mind follow the thought of my magic talents, the old wizard had intimated that it was something special; I could see his point in a place like this.

What intrigued me most were the faded spells, I could feel their specialness, the power in them shaped and crafted with skill. I though again of the spell that had vanished as I uttered it, undoing its magic, could I defeat spells by reciting them?

Before I could make my mind up to test it out, Miriamni and Rash reappeared. Rash dressed in another fancy dress that showed off her figure, making her small breasts into more than they were with clever trickery in the construct of her bust.

I sighed as I saw her, my heart melting with my delight.

"Davor, are you ready for the promised food?" she asked.

I stood as she reached out her hand and joined her, walking back the way we'd come to find ourselves in the entrance hall once more. As we walked out through the curtained door I caught the attention of one of the robed helper waiting idly by the main door.

He led us through to a still bustling kitchen where one of the cooks served us with a hot meal of stew filled with tender morsels of a gamey meat. I ate mine with relish, watching Rash daintily eat hers, a little spoonful at a time.

I wiped the final drops from the bowl and gobbled that down, feeling fuller than I had in days, lying back sasated in the chair when I'd finished, feeling bloated enough to need a lie down. Miriamni finished after me and we both sat there a while waiting for Rash.

While we were waiting one of the kitchen helpers brought us a tray with a coffee pot and cups and took our empty bowls.

"That's the first half decent meal I've had since I left the palace," she declared, pushing her bowl away.

I chuckled at her imperious manner, the meal had been as good if not better than any our cook had made, she was too used to the good life and getting her own way. It was the one thing I could fault in her.

We finished our coffee, Rash commenting on how everything was much better in the palace kitchens, no one here curtsied to her or addressed her by her title. I almost laughed out loud at that, what with both me and Miriamni using the familial Rash when talking to her.

Still, she was trying to reassert her noble bearing after her intrepid days on the trail dressed as a boy. Though the endearing nature had worn thin as she prattled on about it. I glanced again at Miriamni who still maintained a stolid insensate face, her eyes flitting briefly at me to meet mine for a split second, but still betraying nothing.

Rash stood, pushing her cup to rest with the discarded bowl.

"I am ready to return to our rooms now," she announced, her eyes flashing at mine with a smile in them.

We followed her, she pausing as we left the kitchen for me to catch up and take her proffered arm. I could see Miriamni frown, the Rash that I had got to know was becoming Rasyondi again, a princess emerging from the travelling cloths she'd adopted.

We walked back up, my tush still slightly sore, to the apartment. My dirty clothes still lay folded on the floor, I wondered how to go about having them washed, no doubt I would find the opportunity tomorrow sometime.

Rash sat herself down and I took the chair next to hers, her chests still littered the room, this was just another way station so it wasn't to my mind worth her unpacking, we should just move against the wall and walk around them.

Miriamni pottered around in the open chest while Rash and I relaxed back.

"Will this one do you for tomorrow?" Miriamni asked. "The rest need to be pressed and hung."

"I want you to address me as Princess or your Highness in future," she admonished her. "Take my things into my room and we'll sort it out in the morning, I need to look regal tomorrow, you can do my hair as well and I'll need my jewels." 

It wasn't my place to say anything, Miriamni was a free agent, she could, but then I thought, she couldn't actually, she would be penniless with no means of returning home herself. I would have to find a way to tell her that she could travel home with me; I could cover both of our expenses if she rode the donkey.

I watched as Miriamni took the clothes into the bedroom, I didn't know where she was putting them; I didn't remember much wardrobe space. I fancied getting a drink, a couple of beers or maybe a cheap wine, something to make me merry enough to ease the day's stiffness from my bones.

"I'm going to find an Inn, anyone want to join me?" I announced, leaning heavily on the arms to stand.

I turned and looked at Rash. 

"Um, no, I was wondering if I could get another bath," she replied with a twinkle in her eye.

"I'll ask the doorman downstairs to send someone up shall I," I said, pre-empting her.

She gave a vague nod of the head, "Yes, that'd be okay," she sighed.

I headed out, as much to find some solitude as for the drink, speaking to the doorman to tell him of Rash's request, and to ask directions to a decent drink. I strolled out, the great wheel rising and enough moonlight for me to see my way.

The beer was decent, though I did have some argument over my coins, my Skirian gold was worth less because the bankers charged a premium to cash it in. there was a general grumble, an upwelling of muttered agreement when I declared the bankers to be cheating, gold was gold after all.

After an agreeable evening, getting more questions ask of me than mine answered and sampling two more types of the local brew I meandered slowly back. I wasn't drunk but I had a pleasant glow that eased my cares.

When I got back the sitting room was empty, I took my shoes of and tiptoed over to Miriamni's door, knocking gently and going in. She sat up in bed, the candle on the washstand flickering,

"Yes," she enquired.

Standing just inside the closed door I told her. "I just wanted to tell you that if you want you can accompany me home when I go, you'll have to ride on the donkey and sleep in a tent, but I've money enough to feed us and see you home."

The door opened as I finished.

"What are you doing in here?" Rash asked accusingly.

"I was just talking to Miriamni about the magic in the wizard's disc," I explained. "If she going to spend time here studying."

"Oh I see," she sniffed. "Well I want you to do my back again."

"Okay," I interrupted her. "Just give me a minute."

"Why?" she asked plaintively.

"Because," I answered.

"Well I want you, my back wants you."

"Rash," I said exasperatedly.

"You should call me My Lady."

It struck a chord in me. "You may be the daughter of my king but you don't command me here. I need to reassert my independence here, I'm no longer that slave with a magic collar I am a freeman now."

My annoyance setting my heart beating as I awaited her response, my eyes narrowing on her.

She looked at me with anger building in her face then turned on her heel and marched into her room.

"She'll hold a grudge for that," Miriamni said, drawing my attention back to her.

"She was trying to bully me," I argued. "She's been spoilt, this new life of hers won't be as easy, she's going to get lots of No's in the future, mark mine as the first."

"Well, whatever about that she won't be pleased you've taken my side," she replied. "She'll be in there door locked, sulking."

I fell asleep on the floor, with my rush mat and cloak, the hard floor uncomfortably enough to make my sleep fitful.

Rash found me in the morning, she came out for the large jug of fresh water the servant had delivered.

"You can go home now," she said standing above me in her undies. "You've done your duty and you needn't stay any longer."

"That's if the tribunal this morning agrees with you." I teased. "Besides I'd like to learn more of my talent."

"What's so important about seeing magic, I hate you mages and things for that, the way you secretly think you're better because you can do things we ordinary mortals can't."

"Hey, I'm just an ordinary mortal who can see magic, I can't do any." I shouted at her retreating back.

'Oh well,' I thought. 'I was warned.'

I got up lazily and followed her back to her door, knocking and waiting for an answer, I knocked again and felt my impatient annoyance growing. Then there was a little shriek inside, I burst in and found her topless with her knickers sopping wet where she's spilt the bowl of water down herself somehow.

"What are you looking at," she shouted at me. "Get me a big towel."

I turned to do it, hiding my smile and my attempt to contain my amusement at her discomfort.

I handed her the towel and glanced at how much was left in the jug, still enough for Miriamni and I. I ducked out the door and went to sit at the low table, waiting for her to re-emerge.

Miriamni and I were both seated, still waiting for Rash when the door knocked.

"Come in," I called.

I was surprised to see my first female acolyte; if her femininity and voice had been bland her clothes wouldn't have given her away. She told us that breakfast was ready.

"Rash!" I called, after I thanked her.

"Rash are you ready for breakfast'" I called again, standing and walking towards her door.

"In a moment," she shouted through the door, a petulant tone to her voice.

I nodded to the waiting maid and she retired, pulling the door close as she stepped back into the passage. She emerged with a painted regal smile stiffen on her face, I turned for the door, Miriamni standing as Rash swept past the pair of us leaving a faint trace of perfume trailing in the air behind her.

We made our way down in an awkward silence, if she wanted to sulk so be it, our paths diverged from here anyway. The breakfast room was a big refectory, seating maybe fifty, we almost walked straight to a table but for me looking round and seeing the small queue.

Breakfast was a porridge of crushed grain and fruit, we found room on one of the long benches, me sat on one end of our trio, Rash at the other. The wizard next to me, in a dark green robe, turned to me.

"Greetings stranger, what brings you to our fair university, why do you wear the white robe of an appellate yet sit here in the master's dining room?"

"My own clothes are soiled; these were laid out for me." I replied.

"You are a guest here then?

"Yes, I'm with Princess Rasyondi."

"Rasyondi?" he said searching his memory.

"Oh yes, I remem.... Oh you're...," he lowered his voice and leaned in.

"Be careful telling that story," he said cryptically.

I nodded dumbly.

"Where you not tested as a child?"

"Yes sir, I was tested when my sister first bled, my fine 'tache was enough to shave."

"I fear you were not tested well enough, was your voice broke?"

"Near enough," I said defensively.

He nodded wisely and turned his attention back to his breakfast. I idly turned to Miriamni, who was quietly eating her breakfast.

"Well you think she's ready for it?" I asked, scraping the last from the bowl.

"Um?" she queried spoon paused half way to her mouth.

"Rash. This tribunal or council thing," I explained.

"She's face down her father often enough, she's brave enough to have faced down a bucking horse."

"And if they say no? What then?"

She turned back to her breakfast and I picked up the water jug and sat back after filling a glass. I didn't think there were any real grounds for refusal, she wanted to live her as an ordinary person might, she hadn't formally renounced Skire, but had virtually done so by seeking refuge.

I hoped they'd tell us the state of affairs, how soon the panel could be reasonable be assembled. I'd rather it sooner than later, give me more time to find lodgings before tonight. If it was going to take time then I'd best be independent.

We sat there as the dining hall emptied, the room quietening as I leant back my eyes seeing the myriad of old transparent spells, one of the oldest ones still with a faint glitter over the arch of the door.

"Shall we go back to the room?" I suggested casually, sitting back forward.

Miriamni turned and looked at Rash.

"They'll find us there as well as here," I added, leaning my elbows on the table.

Rash stood and turned from the table walking to the door without ever looking at us. 

I stood and followed on catching her as she paused looking left and right to decide which way to go. I walked on calmly taking the turns while she was one pace behind me. When I got to the door I paused, opening it to let Rash through first.

We settle in the chairs while Miriamni went into her bedroom, leaving us alone. I settled back into the cushioned upholstery and focused my eyes on the corner of the ceiling, wishing I could be out hunting for a room in some inn.

It was quite some time, an hour at least, before the knock on the door reassured us that we'd not been forgotten.

Rash beat me to call "Come in."

It was an older wizard accompanied by two acolytes; he entered while they remained outside.




Quincunx Ch. 07



"Harrumph," he cleared his throat. "Princess Rasyondi."

He paused, waiting for a response.

"Yes," Rash said tentively.

He unrolled the scroll he carried. "You are commanded into the presence of the grand council," he read. "You may present your plea for refuge before them for adjudication. The audience will be held in the high chamber in one hour."

He looked from Rash to me as he finished reading the summons, letting the scroll roll closed.

"Can someone show us the way?" I asked.

"Yes of course," he said. "The acolytes outside will show you to the side room where you may prepare yourself."

I raised my voice and called. "Miriamni."

We followed the acolytes down, my heart racing, Rash looked calm enough and I wondered what was going through her mind. We walked downstairs then up the central staircase, down a well furnished hallway and off into a side room at the bottom.

There were snack and drinks on a side table, I turned from the others and poured myself a coffee before sitting provocatively on the other end of the settee. I took a sip of the coffee and set it down, both on edge about the hearing and wishing it was over, the minutes now began to drag.

We were shown to a small table with three chairs set before a raised dais. On it was a curved table with seven seats all facing in towards us. As we sat another side door opened and a black robed acolyte walked in and unrolled a scroll.

"Be upstanding and give attention, the grand council attends and sits in deliberation in the matter of Princess' Rasyondi's application for asylum."

He rolled the parchment up as one by one they entered and took their seats in the semi circle around us. As they sat they turned up name plates:

Gyatso.

Tenzin.

Yeshe.

Lobsang.

Ngawang.

Jamphel.

Jetsun.

In my magic sight they were blinding, I had been looking at all the spells and watched as they assembled, switching back to my normal sight as the group tightened in their seats. As they revealed their names I was struck by Lobsang, it felt somehow familiar.

Rash was asked to present her case, while Miriamni and I on either side of her sat down as she started with an eloquent quote about freedom.

"How does the Meadow flower its bloom unfold? Because the lovely little flower is free down to its root, and in that freedom bold."

William Wordsworth.

She went on to explain her situation. She was good, basing her argument on her rights to her own life and the liberty she could find here to pursue her own happiness. I sat there impressed and cheering for her, under the spell of her words.

The wizards cross questioned her, throwing their own concepts of freedom at her "The only freedom which deserves the name, is that of pursuing our own good in our own way, so long as we do not attempt to deprive others of theirs, or impede their efforts to obtain it." Came from one.

"You have the freedom to choose your actions, you don't have the freedom to choose the consequences of your actions." Quoted another. There was a wry comment from the only woman on the panel Yeshe. "We have to call it "freedom": who'd want to die for "a lesser tyranny"?" (~Mignon McLaughlin, The Neurotic's Notebook, 1960).

It was all getting a bit technical and I'd stopped fully listening, the mention of my name brought my attention back as Rash sat back down.

"Yes," I answered standing.

"You accompanied the Princess from Skire, do you support her in this?" asked the third wizard over.

"She was in disguise when we met," I answered. "One of their horses was near lame, I let them use my horse till they reached the Lucky Venture mine, by that time I had seen through Rash's disguise and offered my help to the border, another days travel."

"You're not some secret suitor she's run off to marry?" was the first of the questions I had to parry, it felt weird lying in the face of all these wizards but I'd done it straight-faced to my father many times.

Miriamni merely had to confirm that she was Rash's nurse and was here of her own free will.

And that was it, Lobsan was the spokesman, announcing that the verdict would be considered, they would retire for their deliberations. 

As they stood and filed out again I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned to see an older female wizard at my elbow.

"Davor," she addressed me. "I'm Heen'll, professor of history here."

I turned standing; I could see that both Rash and Miriamni had people attending them, a healer for Miriamni and a white coated young lad.

"Yes," I said facing her.

"You've been assigned to my care," she said smiling. She took me out via the main door and back down the stairs. I thought she was leading me back to the kitchen but we ducked into another doorway and up another flight of stairs.

We emerged in another long hall, this one more utilitarian with doors letting off every fifteen yards or so. She marched of down with me following on gawking like a tourist as she greeted various people. She stopped at the bottom of another stairwell, glancing to check on me, before climbing them.

This stair leads us to a seldom used part of the building where we left dusty footprints. She opened a door. "What spells do you see in here?"

I peered into the dusty office, seeing plenty of faded old magic but no new glittering spells.

"Only old spells that have lost the power to be effective," I answered.

"What do they look like?" she probed further.

"Silvery streams with the symbols floating on them," I elaborated.

"What sort of symbols?" she pressed.

"Like sigils or some old lettering," I answered, following her line of thought.

"Okay," she said thoughtfully, backing away from the door and leaving me to close it.

I followed her back down again and further along the corridor and through a door where we found another set of stairs taking us down again.

"I need to arrange accommodation," I said conversationally. "And find somewhere to wash my soiled clothes."

"You can take your clothes to the laundry," she said without breaking stride. "And we've plenty of rooms here in the student hostel."

"Thanks," I answered in acknowledgement.

She led me finally to a door with her name on it in fancy script. Heen'll, and under it her rank as professor of history. Inside papers and books cluttered the surfaces, her desk and the two chairs standing out as the only oasis of order in the study.

As we'd entered she'd pulled on a bell rope before bidding me sit, I looked around the room as I walked to the chair. There were shelves of books adorning every wall, sheaves of parchment and scrolls were stacked on the small table and yet more books were laid out across the window ledge.

She made herself comfortable in the chair behind the desk, leaning forwards on her elbows across the bare top.

"Jacander says that you can cancel spells, make them vanish into thin air."

"Yes," I admitted. "Though I don't know how it's done. I've never practiced magic before."

"Macann said that you were tested too early."

"Macann?" I queried.

"You sat next to him at breakfast," She replied.

"Ah yes." I nodded, remembering the green robed wizard who questioned my appearance with Rash and Miriamni.

"Can I see you do it?" she asked.

"What spell do you want me to eliminate?" I asked. "One of these spying spells in here."

Before she could answer there was a gentle knock on the door.

"Come," she said loudly, a look of frustration flashing across her face.

A young acolyte came in balancing a tray on one hand as he swung the door.

"Good morning Professor," he said cheerfully as he crossed. "Do you need a cup for your guest?"

"Yes thank you." She said brusquely as he set the tray down on the desk. "And bring something we can nibble on."

I watched the acolyte leave, like most I'd seen he had the glow of a lesser mage. 

"What spying spells? I've got counter spells that should stop them being set." 

"There's one on the tray he just brought in." I said stifling a smile.

I read it out to her and watched it fade, the focus for someone to scry from.

"There's also one on that book over on the window ledge...."

"What book!" she broke in.

"The one in the second stack with the green bindings."

She stood from her desk and went and cautiously took it, turning over as she read the title.

I recited the words and banished that one too, watching as she looked up with a studious expression her face.

"Point out the rest to me," she asked.

I eliminated two more scrying spells split by the arrival back of the acolyte with the extra cup, and after at her insistence, the one listening spell, lodged on the bell rope. With one book she obviously knew from the startled expression when I identified it on the small table.

She sat again after the run around the room, elbows back on the desk, hands clasped.

"Do you see any of the Sigil spells?"

"Yes, there's an old one on the scroll stuck up in that corner."

"Where," she said, standing again.

She retrieved it and brought it with her to sit once more, carefully teasing the ribbon open to unravel it.

"Hmm," she remarked after a few seconds study, letting it roll itself back up.

After a few moments spent in reflection she stood and clutched the scroll before replacing it on the desk.

"Wait here, I've got to see someone a moment. I'll give you a book I'd like you to read," she said with a smile coming to her face. "It's all about how to make magic."

She went and looked through a section of older books and selected one, bringing it to me as she collected the scroll and waltzed of out the door. I was left looking at the book in my hands, 'On the Means and Methodes of Magic.' The title read, 'The Philosophy of Ban dalf'.



Quincunx Ch. 08



Book Two

One
New Friends

I poured myself a cup of the cooling cofftea and pulled the chair closer to the desk to dutifully read the ancient text before me. I sipped the cofftea till it was cold, intrigued, but we were controlling and twisting the forces of nature, making a new reality, however temporary, right down to its smallest particle.

I continued reading till the same cheerful acolyte came and told me that the council had invited me to dine with them. They were already seated around the table, several still quietly debating some point. My entrance brought all their attention to me.

"Davor, come, welcome to our table," Lobsang beckoned me from the far side of the table.

I went and took the vacant seat next to him, next to the apex of the oval.

"So, Davor, what say you of our free state? Where our council rules instead of a king."

I sat for a moment, assembling the disparate thoughts as they crowded my mind in response to the unexpected, probing question. And so began an evaluation of my understanding and position on aspects of ethics, politics and justice. At one point we touched on a hypothetical of Rash's case, the appellant's plea without a defendant to rebut and present the opposing case.

I used the argument of each case's circumstances to backhandedly argue to Rash's benefit that while the politics of international relations seemed the primary focus, no person should be prevented from exercising free will and no law in any ostensibly free country should negate that right.

I was surprised when I was asked my opinion of the ethics of Rash's case, the centrality of human rights as the foundation of her reasoning. From the top of my head I poured out my thoughts

"If she were not born to it, I would agree, but then the permission would be implicit in the contract. You cannot have free will if you inherit; one of the words in your motto, your brand statement is liberty." I paused to narrow my thoughts.

"Liberty to pursue your life the way you want as long as it's a private life and it's kept private and consensual. Her choice is to renounce her inheritance and live a free life here. She has money enough to do it so why deny it to her and condemn her to a life of servitude to her family obligations."

I was relieved when the questions ceased as we moved through to a library replete with lounge chairs where cofftea was served. The two that had been debating before ensconced themselves in the far corner of the room while the other five split three/two, with the two joining me.

The two huddled together left first, joined shortly afterwards by the three. The two that had joined me had once again inquired about my talents, low key questions as to what use I thought I could put them to.

We were still talking when Heen'll appeared through a door to join us.

"Gyatso, Ngawang," she greeted my companions, coming to stand beside us.

"Heen'll," they echoed back. 

She flashed a smile at me.

"Lobsang thinks you should return," she informed them respectfully.

She turned to me. "And you, I've got a few more books I'd like you to read."

I pushed myself up, following my companions, who were already standing.

I spent the rest of the afternoon mentally wrestling with philosophical arguments on the nature of magic. Some became obvious observations but gave no deep insights while the few stretched the mind with possibilities.

Her acolyte interrupted my studies to bring me a mid-afternoon beverage and some biscuits to munch on. This kept me going till he informed me again that the evening meal was about to be served.

The three of us were again present for the meal. Rash has been shopping for clothes, Miriamni had been practicing healing and learning the proper techniques. With Rash still not speaking to me, I talked about the weather here with someone who was eager to praise it, letting Miriamni talk mostly to Rash. She complained about the price of things in the shops.

I was finished and lying back in my chair, still thinking of the pleasant comfort of a full stomach. 

"Davor," Heen'll said, suddenly standing next to me.

I turned to look at her.

"Come, we have things to attend to," she said plainly but firmly, like a nursemaid to a child.

I followed her out of the chatter and into the quiet of the corridor.

"Your belongings are being moved to your new room. If you come with me we can talk while I show you where it is." 

I followed on as she turned slowly and started down toward the far doors.

"Do you want to learn magic?" she asked casually as we approached the exit.

"What sort of magic? Like how to use my power?"

"No, regular magic, how to cast spells, how to conjure apparitions, fun things that anyone with strong magic can do."

"Yes," I said, picturing myself in Wizard's robes. "I'd like to do that, have real magic at my fingertips."

"I'm going to put you in the senior students block. I think they've got another four weeks left before they graduate, but never mind. You should come to my room tomorrow morning and I'll start you off."

"I need to get a message home, is there any way to do that?" I asked. "I'd like to let my family know that I'm alright."

"I think the messages have already gone out, one to your village magician and one to the court magician at Harould's court."

"Oh," I said, a little startled at the thought of using magic, wondering if it was a talent I might learn.

We walked on through the grounds, a mix of grass and isolated trees, paths weaving through them. We were walking to two round houses, fifty, sixty yards across and joined by a covered walkway, my presumed new home.

We entered a circular space, Heen'll shouting 'Hello' to the echoing walls. She stopped and looked around.

"There's your room," she said, pointing at a door with a number seven nailed to it.

There looked to be eight rooms in all, four on either side, split by the entrance and a mini kitchen opposite. In the centre was a low table with half a dozen chairs scattered around it. 

"Your things should already be in there," she carried on. "Except your clothes, which have gone to the laundry. There should be a clean robe for you to wear, though."

By this time I was at the door. Inside was a single bed, a chest of drawers and a bedside table with a candle holder and half a dozen candles. My things, such as they were, were strewn on my bed. My panniers were at the side of the door along with my tent and sleeping things.

"I'll leave you to settle in, see you in the morning," she said, backing out of the room and closing the door behind her.

I tidied my things away in the drawers, noting the absence of my sword again. I unrolled my shaving kit and then flopped down on the bed to see what books came included. I was still reading when I heard voices coming from the common area. As I listened I heard three distinct voices.

'Two girls and a boy if I'm not mistaken,' I thought. I rose from the bed and walked to the door and walked through.

"Hi," I said, drawing their attention. "I'm Davor, I've been given a room here."

"Well, it looks like you passed, then. Didn't they give you a new robe to wear?" he said sizing me up. "I'm Grepp, these two are Bemnie and Xentha."

He rose to greet me as the two girls who'd had their backs to me turned to look over their shoulders toward me. I walked around the group and took a chair next to Grepp. 

"Where are you from?" asked Bemnie.

"I'm from Skire, a Skirelander," I informed them, leaning forward, eyes flicking from girl to girl as I sized them up. They wore the same brown robe as Grepp, both had pretty faces and I could see that Bemnie's breasts were on the large side.

"I'm from Waest Kikkle, Brusburg to be exact," Bemnie answered back. "Xentha is from Ormskirk, lives on the Great Orm itself, and Grepp's from Fingerport."

"I come from a little village called Pike. I live in Pike Manor," I added.

"Xen, can you start the fire for cofftea?" asked Grepp. "I'm sure our new friend here would like one."

"Do it yourself," chimed in Bemnie.

"But she has better fire magic than me."

"It's okay, I'll do it," said Xentha, standing. "But you can make it when the water boils."

"Fair enough," Bemnie rejoined.

She turned to me. "Oh, and we'd better warn you about Kenval, he likes to play tricks."

She looked at Grepp for support. "Watch out for things like making your chair tip you out."

"Making water leap out of the sink to soak you," Xentha said in response.

"Beer mug handles falling off," Bemnie added.

"Carpet tripping you up," retorted Grepp.

"Alright, that's enough, I'm sure he gets the idea," Bemnie said.

My smile had gotten broader as his pranks were revealed. I thought of the surprise he'd get finding that I could see and neutralize them.

"Oh, I'll be a harder mouse than you to catch," I said, my smile turning to a chuckle.

"A silver says he'll get you before bedtime tomorrow," said Grepp.

It made me think and realize that I had only limited funds. I should see if there was any way Father could send more. My thought turned to how long I might stay here.

"How long have you studied here?" I asked.

"I'll take your bet. He'll have him by tomorrow morning, at breakfast or something," Bemnie said eagerly.

"Save your money," I said, trying to break in. "I can see spells. Unless he knows how to hide those, he can't trick me."

"Huh," exclaimed Xentha.

"It's true. I can see spells and counter them."

"How?" Xentha pressed me.

"I just see them, some of them are like ribbons and others are like balls, sometimes squished flatter," I explained further.

"So, if I cast a spell, you can stop it?" asked Bemnie.

"Yes," I replied. "Try me."

"Alright," said Grepp, taking up my challenge.

His spell was a simple one, rising up the four branch candlestick in the centre of the table. As he uttered the words in a mumble, I recited them back, seeing the spell fade before it was even complete.

He looked slack jawed at the candlestick then at me. "How did you do that!" he exclaimed.

"I told you, as you spoke it, so I countered it."

"But how?" he asked again.

"It's my talent, I can just do. It's how my magic works."

"I've not heard of that before," Xentha said quizzically.

"Nor have I," echoed Bemnie.

"So, what spells can you see in here?" Xentha asked.

"There was a scrying one on the candlestick," I stated.

"Ha, you should get your money back," broke in Bemnie, turning to look at Grepp.

"Would you check my room for skrying spells?" asked Xentha.

"Yes, of course," I replied, seeing her thoughtful look turn to a frown.

"And mine," chimed in Bemnie.

"Anyone and everyone's if they want."

They all agreed that it would be a good idea if I swept the rooms for bugging spells. I started on Xentha's first, finding three. There was one on the corn dolly, one on the candlestick on the dresser, and the one that caused her to gasp most, on her hand mirror. I told her of the bad feeling I got from the spells and warned her to beware.

Bemnie's room was the untidiest. She had extra chairs and clothes scattered over them, unlike Xentha's room, which looked barely lived in. I found two, one again on the candlestick and one on a book.

Grepp's room, to his disappointment, was clear, though he did have a few defensive ones scattered around. We sat back down as Grepp dejectedly, at the prompting of Bemnie once more, got up to make the cofftea. 

We sat and drank cofftea. They were telling me about the different professors here, Bemnie impersonating their mannerisms. Xentha got up and started a pot for the next brew.

As she walked back Grepp asked. "Do you want to come out for a drink with us tonight?"

"No, not really, I'm still dizzy from all that has happened in the past few days," I said reflectively. "I think I'll have an early night. I've got another busy day tomorrow."

"Well," Grepp said, standing. "I need to change and get ready."

Both Grepp and Bemnie got up and left, leaving Xentha and me to sit and wait for the pot to boil. They did it differently here, they seemed to add the grounds after it had boiled and then let it steep whilst we put the grounds in with the water.

"Aren't you going with them?" I asked.

"No," she said with a little laugh. "I've got some studying to do."

"I thought you were all but finished?" I replied.

"No, I've still got orals left to do."

"Ah," I said and sat back to wait for the kettle to boil. At least here I had access to it whenever I  wanted, a bit more home from home. I wondered if I could use magic to light it.

I heard the hard clip clop of riding boots on the wooden floor and looked to see another young lad.

"Hi, you must be Kenval," I said, standing to introduce myself. "I'm the new resident here, Davor from Skire." 

"You're the one everyone is talking about, 'powers like the grand wizards of old.' Are you some sort of genius?"

"Good heavens, no," I said in disbelief. "I've got a talent for seeing magic, that's all."

"And you can negate it." I turned to see Xentha walking back with the cofftea-pot.

"Where did you hear this rumour then, Kenny?" she asked of him.

"Oh, around and about," he said dismissively.

"We found a skrying spell on that candlestick, and a few more in the rooms," she told him. "You and your friends play around with that stuff."

"Nothing here has got anything to do with me," he declared.

"Hum," she snorted. "Really, now who were you snooping on and what did they really say?"

"Fandoxx," he replied bashfully. "He'd been talking to one of the council and he was telling M'doud that Davor could be another Great magician."

"But I don't know any magic at all," I protested.

"Magic is about power," Xentha put in. "If you have the power inside you then you can learn the magic."

"Hence the question of genius," Kenval came back.

Genius, a know-nothing, no-account like me? I had tested very low as a child, but still, I had made the disc glow brightly enough for Jacander when he tested me.

"Well, we'll find out soon enough. Heen'll has promised to teach me tomorrow," I said dismissively.

"You'll be the talk of the campus by then," Xentha commented. "The word gets round like magic here."

"Where's Grepp and Bemnie? Changing for the night out tonight," he answered himself.

"Yes," confirmed Xentha.

"Ah, well, if I'm going to join them, best I get started as well. Are you two coming?"

"No," we said almost simultaneously.

"Oh, okay, I probably won't see you till tomorrow then," he said, walking off toward his room.

Xentha poured cofftea for us, and picked her cup up. "I'm off to my room," she said softly. "I'll see you later."

I picked up my cofftea and went back into my room, thinking of the stir my arrival had caused. Did I really have such a wild talent, a talent that could take me to greatness? It looked like my life was going to get even more dislocated.

I was still reading when I heard the other three chattering outside as they prepared for their night out. Not long after that I fell asleep, missing the warm feeling of Rash cuddled up next to me, the softness of her body pressed against mine.

I awoke with the birds in the morning, struggling from the cocoon of dreams with a raging erection and the memory of the taste of Rash in my head. I had dreamt of her and could still feel the ecstasy of our ethereal encounter.

I was lounging in a chair, waiting for the cofftea to boil, when I heard a door open. Looking around over my shoulder, I saw Bemnie almost creeping from her door.

"Oh, good, you've got the cofftea on. My mouth feels like I've been chewing the sawdust from the bar floor."

I gave a small laugh, remembering times I'd woken feeling like that.

"Sit down, it shouldn't be long now," I said, watching as her nightdress revealed a lot more of her body than her robes had.

She looked a few inches smaller than my six feet, with a voluptuous body. Her breasts were full, double handfuls, with a well-padded tush and a visible hourglass figure. She padded barefooted to the chair next to mine.

"Kenval says you're someone special," she said, opening a conversation.

"Well, no one's told me yet," I countered. "I think the rumours are running ahead of the facts here." Though, to be honest, there had been more than a few hints.

"Fandoxx is usually a man in the know," she came back.

"Well, I'm seeing Heen'll this morning, I'll put it to her and see what she says."

"What about Princess Rasyondi, has she really run away from home?"

I felt on safer territory here. "Yes, her father was pushing her to marry some stupid old noble to gain some political advantage."

We carried on talking while I got up and made the cofftea and took a cup back to her. As we sat drinking, Xentha put in an appearance.

"Hi," she greeted us. She, too, was wearing a nightgown. The figure that it revealed was much nicer to my mind. She was slim, with small to medium perky breasts, a waif-like figure who gingerly walked over on her toes.

She came and poured herself a cup of cofftea, sitting next to Bemnie.

"Well," she said, setting her cup down. "Wish me luck, I've got my last oral with Tromblint after mid-morning break."

"How was your night last night?" she asked, ignoring her rhetorical and continuing on. "How did Jaspher perform?"

"He was good, and Kiria got up and joined him for a couple of songs near the end as well," she replied.

I sat finishing my cofftea, and listened to the goings on of the previous night, thinking of whether an indirect or direct approach to my 'specialness' was the better tack to take, or indeed whether to wait and see if she brought it up.

"Are you always up this early?" Xentha asked.

"Me!" I replied, rejoining the conversation. "Yes, pretty much, you tend to wake with the dawn, if not before, in winter. I'd bet that most of my family are up and breakfasted by now."

"Yes," she said. "I lived on a farm one year. Spring is your busiest time. With all that lambing my uncle was working all hours."

Bemnie chipped in. "We never see either of those two up before the breakfast bell has rung for last serving."

"My younger sister is like that; her tutor always had to wait till she finished her breakfast," I added.

"Well," said Xentha, bending forward to pick up her cup, her long ash blond hair falling to hide her face. "I'd better go and get dressed. I've got a couple of hours in the library I need to get started on."

She stood and I turned to watch her walk away, her nightdress flowing around her and her lean, shapely tush.

"She's a nice girl," Bemnie said, following my eyes and drawing my attention back to herself. "A bit weird about being a wizard, but a nice girl."

Actually, she reminded me a bit of Rash, the way she walked and the swivel of her hips.

"What are you doing today?" I asked.

"Oh, nothing much. I'll probably go down to the Coach Inn, or The Bull to meet up with Razzie and a few of the gang."

As she was finishing saying it she realized my ignorance. "Razzie and the rest live in the other dorm, you haven't met them yet, have you?"

"No."

"I'll take you over after tea if you want. They're just finishing their first term exams and they'll be off home next week."

"Okay, thanks."

I finished the last of my cofftea and leant back into the chair, still clutching the warm mug, my thoughts straying to my eventual journey home, showing off my new powers, wondering if Webberli would still be waiting for me.

"I'm gonna get dressed," she said suddenly, standing and putting her cup down. "I'll walk you over to breakfast if you want."

"Yes, thanks," I said, sitting upright again.

I watched as she too retreated to her room, her tush flipping from side to side with the roll of her hips. I stood and walked back to my room, retrieving the book I had been reading, then came and sat back in the common room, pouring myself the last of the cofftea.




Quincunx Ch. 08



Both Bemnie and Xentha reappeared within minutes of each other. Bemnie was first, dressed in street clothes, a patterned skirt and a warm woolly jumper. As I answered her question of 'Ready?' by closing my book and standing, Xentha opened her door to join us.

She was dressed in the same brown robe as I wore, the weight of its padded top hiding her mounds, and her lustrous hair hidden in the cowl. She carried a satchel weighted with books.

"Well, I might as well return them now. I won't use them again after this." 

We made our way slowly, the sun now high enough to signal the start of a fine day. We were a little early and we sat and waited, Xentha fiddling with her books and Bemnie looking bored, glancing round at the other people as the lounge slowly filled.

Above the arched door was another of those old magic spells, just two symbols on either curve of the arch. Its translucence telling me it was an old spell, as were all I'd seen, I was beginning to add more things together.

A bell sounded high above us and seconds later the doors were thrown wide open. We stood and joined the mini-rush, hustling our way to the queue forming at the counter, then choosing from the array of waiting empty tables.

We ate mostly in silence, spending fifteen – twenty minutes munching away on the hot, thick, sweet porridge, me finishing first, then Xentha, who got up and bade us adieu. She took our wishes of good luck with her as she walked her tray to the soiled rack.

As Bemnie finished I stood with my tray. 

"I'm off to my studies as well," I announced. "See you this evening."

She nodded to me even as she herself stood and collected her tray.

We parted at the door. She gave me directions to find Professor Heen'lls office.

I made my way down corridors and up stairs and knocked gently on the door when I came to it. The lack of an answer made me knock louder, and finally, after another short wait, try the handle to find it open.

There were a fresh couple of books on the chair I'd been sitting in. One was a book of basic spells, the other on enunciation, ideal fare for a budding magician. I settled in the chair to read, being interrupted after maybe half an hour by Heen'lls young acolyte, asking me if I needed anything.

I took him up on a pot of cofftea and had it on the desk along with a few nibbles within ten minutes. The cofftea was long finished by the time the mid-morn bell rang. I got up and stretched, wondering where Heen'll was, wondering if I dare use the bell rope to summon the acolyte for more cofftea.

I took a walk to the student refectory, thinking over the simple spells I'd read and practiced when reading about the pronouncing of spells. I was very tempted to try. There had to be somewhere safe to practice my first bit of real magic.

I again looked up at the spell over the arch as I found the toilets and grabbed a cofftea and an empty table. There were students young and old speckled amongst the Greys of the acolytes. I wondered how many of them it took to run this place.



Quincunx Ch. 09







Quincunx Ch. 09



"Try her room, she reads in there quite a lot."

I put my cup down and stood, walking and knocking her door but waited in vain, turning and seating myself again. I sipped my cofftea as silence reigned perched forward on the edge of my seat, thinking of Xentha and the lessons in meditation.

Kenval yelped as he was startled awake with the cofftea spilling in his lap.

"O shize," he shouted as he leapt up from the chair.

Bemnie laughed, going from shock to snicker in seconds.

"Ballox," he hissed, swaying on his feet as he tried to shake his trousers.

"I'm going to get changed," he announced, stooping to retrieve the fallen cup.

He put the cup on the table and gingerly walked slowly wide legged away.

Her laughter subsided, Bemnie lay back in her seat.

"What will you do when you finish your training?" she asked.

"I'll be off home like you." I replied.

"Oh I'm not off home except for two weeks before I go to my new home in Honah Lee, a little seaside town along the coast, I'll do my Journey-mans time there." She corrected me.

"Well I am." I shifted a bit in my seat for comfort as I faced her.

I wanted to add I'd only be staying for a few weeks, I could see nothing here to stay for beyond my basic instruction, a quick 'how to' develop mindpower.

"What's life like in your country then? What do people find to do?"

"The same as here I suppose, we have music and dances, I like to read, people dabble in painting and poetry."

Sex was different though, it went on in secret in my world.

"Do you have wizards and mages?"

"Yes, we have a school like this in the capital, and a wizard serves our district. We have mages as healers too."

"I've heard our 'king of the castle' sometimes get sent to distant lands, Skire, the Southern Isles."

"Ah," I acknowledged. Leaving her to continue.

"Do you want more cofftea?" she asked out of the blue. "I could do with another cup, help sober up before tea."

"Yes, I'll join you, but I thought you'd be able to make potions to sober up?"

"Oh they're finicky, and you can't store them, drink within ten minutes or its gone sour," she explained as she rose and started the walk over.

I turned back into my chair and the book in my pocket pressed awkwardly in my side. I twisted and pulled it out. I looked again at the symbolic cover. The symbol of magic, the five elemental forces. Opening the book at random I was surprised to see one of the sigils, written in old fashioned King James under it was its meaning, under that again was the suggested usage.

I flicked further in and discovered a philosophy section, snapping the book shut as Bemnie came back carrying the cofftea pot. She put my cup in front of me and poured, pouring her own and then sitting back, balancing her cup on the arm.

"Do you want to prod me?" she asked.

It took me a second to comprehend what she said and meant.

"What now?"

"Why not, I'm in the mood and we've got plenty of time, besides I'll be the first to bed a foreigner and find out how they prod."

The book in my hands was tearing at my curiosity, and she wanted to take me to bed. My knob was already twitching and deciding for me.

"Okay," I agreed, delighted that sexual encounters were as easy as I'd hoped and imagined when she'd first broached the subject, hoping she wasn't especially bold with me because I was a novelty.

"Bring your cofftea," she said standing.

I stuffed the book back into my pocket and followed her facing both anticipation tingling in my knob and a curious thrill about the way it was so offhand, they're society of free love



Quincunx Ch. 10







Quincunx Ch. 10



"Who lives there?" I asked, pointing.

"That's the wizard's house, where Grobner's group we slaughtered. Their souls are still said to be trapped there."

That was three generations back, the last major rebellion if I remembered from one of the books I'd read.

"Souls fade when the body dies," I said, quoting my belief.

"People hereabouts won't go near it, even I cross the road twice to avoid it. You get a funny feeling type tingle if you get real up close."

Hers sounded like the voice of experience. It made the place even more intriguing.

"What's with this tower then?" I said, wandering over to look the opposite way.

"This used to be the palace. From here the astronomers of old would plot the sky and look for signs of wonder. You can use the setting sun as your focus, if you sit on the plinth." She gave a wave of her arm, inviting me to walk over to it.

I sat on the edge.

"No, sit right on and cross your legs. We should have brought a cushion because you have to be comfortable." She directed me till I was back against the tripod and staring with my eyes closed at the still bright sun a hand above the horizon yet.

Next was the breathing. As the sun provided warmth, the air was the essence of life, feeling it go in and out and flood my body with energy, slow deep breaths as I let the sun be my focus. I let the sun and the warmth on my face chase my thoughts away, withering them with inattention and disinterest as I found stillness filling my mind.

She shook me as twilight fell, the sun now only a finger or so left showing.

"We'd better get down before dark. You looked like it worked; the sun's moved an hour in the sky and you were sitting still with a peaceful look on your face."

"I feel stiff all over," I answered back as I unfolded and stretched cramped muscles.

"But your mind feels rested?"

My mind felt mostly normal. I felt the freshness of a satisfying sleep, an alertness with maybe a better edge. I wondered what I should expect. I was pleased she seemed pleased as it seemed I'd made some progress.

"A little less fuzzy, maybe, but, no, not really."

"Well, for a first time I think you may have mastered the basics. You've done a lot better than I thought you would. It may be part of your gift."

I smiled at her as I stood. "Do the cramps get easier?"

"I've got a liniment for that if you want. Just rub it in before and after. You can have it when we get back."

She lifted the trapdoor and we descended into the gathering gloom, the floor with the east windows showing a purple sky with the first few twinkles of the brightest stars showing. The candles were already lit when we got home. Bemnie was sitting, legs on the table and an extra cushion wedged in behind her.

"Oh, I'd hoped you were Curromo. She's taking her time," she said disappointedly as she stirred with our entrance.

"Where've you pair been?" she asked, sitting up straight, feet back on the floor.

"She's been showing me the sights. There's a splendid view from the old tower."

"Oh, that old place, I used to sit up there and chew phem. That was when I was learning to do imagination," she said, her smile no doubt turned inward at her reminisce of that time.

She caught my interest at the mention of phem, another new thing that sounded a likely tool to pick up on this magical mystery tour. I'd follow through on that with Xentha later. We joined her and sat, or at least I did; Xentha half sat then stood as she asked me, "Do you want cofftea?"

In all honesty, I wanted some quiet time in my room to read more of the book. Whoever had conjured that spell on it so long ago had meant it to go undiscovered. I suspected that it was a book on the old magic, one that had escaped the destruction of the proscription.

"If there's one made. I've got some reading to do before I see my tutor tomorrow."

"Tutorials on a Sapsday? That's a bit unfair," Bemnie said sympathetically. "Three out of five is enough."

"It's five out of five for farming. Days off are a new luxury to me," I said wistfully.

"Fresh cofftea in a minute," Xentha shouted over from the kitchen area.

The door behind me opened.

"Curromo!" Bemnie exclaimed, leaping to her feet.

"Bemnie, Davor, Xentha," she greeted us, a big smile on her face as she walked over. 

"Are you ready then?" she asked of Bemnie as she came to a stop and gave her a hug.

"I've been waiting ten minutes, you cheeky thing," Bemnie retorted as she returned the hug.

As they started to leave, Curromo turned to me.

"Don't forget the locatheot, it's the ..." her grin became a giggle, "... second best thing for sleeping."

My eyes did a quick flick to see if Xentha'd heard but she looked to be busy pouring the water. As I looked back, they walked off, beginning to talk to each other. Xentha spent another minute or so fussing with the cofftea before walking over with two cups.

She dragged details of my life back home from me, my family, my friends, my relationship to Webberli. She followed Bemnie's example and rested her legs on the table, skirt hanging from her knees, tempting me to try to sneak a peek.

I finished my cofftea and stood, excusing myself with the need to study, and walked back to my room via the sink for my cup. While I stood a moment, rinsing it, I wondered what Rash was doing, the request from Calorissa and Curromo flashing through my mind. I still had my sword as an excuse to go back.

"See you later," I said rhetorically as I entered my room.



Quincunx Ch. 11







Quincunx Ch. 12







Quincunx Ch. 12



I lay there and watched as she showed another side to me, her arguments sounding fiery and heartfelt, I was also getting an eyeful of her bobbling breasts with her animated display of rhetoric and my prodder was responding to the pressure of her cheeks, starting to twitch as it desired more.

"It's not fair what the merchants and bankers get...."

My prodder gave a good twitch and she felt it.

"Oh," she said with delight in her voice. "Are you getting hard again so soon?"

She wiggled her hips as I rapidly thickened and the head of my prodder pushed up against her hunny hole. She pushed herself up on her knees and her hand snaked under to grasp and guide it into her sweet tight cave again.

This time it was her setting the pace as she bounced in my lap, her stroke started with depth but soon shortened as she sped up, giving a little grunt as she bottomed with the slap of her tush on my thighs.

Her breasts were jiggling in front of me as she leant forward and I instantly bent and reached forwards, grasping one it each hand and taking the nipples with my finger and thumb. I began tweaking them as her grunts became louder, her face screwed up with joy.

As she prodded on her knees tightened on me then the first shudder took her and in seconds she was screaming again, her hunny hole massaging my prodder as the waves of pleasure coursed through.

I held her with my hands on her breasts as she sagged forwards, feeling her rapid heart and the hot breath of her pants, lowering her to lie on me as the final shiver ran through her. I still felt my prodder hard inside her as she settled on my chest, her head nestling into my chin with her ash blonde hair gleaming a golden yellow in the candle light beside us.

She stirred as my shaft started to shrink and lose its strength, reviving it as her movements pushed on it. She wormed a hand down to grasp it as she eased herself up and let it slip out into her waiting fingers.

She crawled backwards down till her head bent to let her soft lips encompass my helmet. Her tongue turned it into a tingle of continuous thrills as it caressed around the rim and along the bottom of my shaft as she took it deeper and deeper with slow deliberation.

When it filled her mouth the hand that had been guiding it started to stroke down to the root while her other hand fondled my sac. I lay there, her ministrations sending a tingle deep in my groin as I felt her lank hair raise Goosebumps on my thighs.

Within a minute my hands were holding onto her head as I urged her faster into the surging climax. My seed exploded into her as I threw myself back into the soft mattress, my back arched as my hip thrust and jerked with my cumming.

She crawled back up alongside of me and cuddled in, stretching a leg over mine.

"You feel like the best there is, never mind not having sex like this before, I never thought it could be as nice as you make it. You're spoiling me for my boyfriend when I go back, he'll never be as good as you," she confessed with a sigh. "Can we do this again tomorrow, please, can I come over when I wake up? I want you to start my day on a high."

She pushed herself up to look at me as she said it, giving me a pouting "Pretty please," as I hesitated. We could as well sleep together but for some perception that couples needed to be engaged to do that, marriage was with the birth of a child.

"Yes, it'll start my day with a kick," I replied enthusiastically. "You could come and stay the night if you want."

"By the wheel no!" she exclaimed. "You'll scandalise me jumping the broom with you, even my boyfriend stayed in a spare room when he came."

She sat upright. "We'd better get dressed now, the others will be back."

She rolled off me and climbed off to gather her clothes, I followed and silently dressed. Outside the common room was empty; she bustled of to make cofftea after I accepted her offer and I sat down facing the door, wondering if any were already in their rooms.



Quincunx Ch. 13



Six

Life gets more complicated

* 

Grepp was first in, Xentha and he fell into discussion about Milova's performance as he walked over to help himself to cofftea. I sat back nodding my automatic agreement to her points as they began to swap tales of the evening.

Kenval and Bemnie came in together and I took the opportunity to excuse myself, bringing my candle to light it and retire to my bed.

Xentha snuck into my room whilst I still slept but woke me as she slipped in naked next to me and reached for the morning woody I was sporting. We made soft gently love, each of us orally pleasing the other till first I came and then satisfied her minutes later by adding a three finger prod.

She muffled her screams and groans with her hand as she writhed beneath me. I looked down on the lightness of her pubes with the glistening drops dancing in them, the warmth of the soft smooth skin of her thighs beneath my hands as she shifted.

We had breakfast together, she playfully teasing and picking arguments as we walked back smiling with the cloudless sky promising a fine day to come. I had the Wizards House on my mind, I meant to explore it this morning and banish those defensive spells.

We stopped back in the dorm and met Grepp and Kenval as they were having their first cup, I stayed long enough to pick up the book before telling the white lie of needing to talk to professor Swapswisle to explain my rapid departure.

I made my way to the back of the garden and the tradesman's gate that should be there and found myself confronted by the same spell as guarded the front. It read 'Fear, alarm, suspicion, lassitude, failure, darkness' and two other I didn't know.

I looked the unknowns up and concentrated on then the whole phrase as I drew on its faded strength, feeling its tingling power gushing into my outstretched hand. Despite its age the power was richer, thicker that simple word spells, making my fingers feel somehow warmer.

The spell was gone and I felt refreshed and eager, the gate were closed but not bolted and I squeezed through. As I rounded the curve of the grass crazed drive I could see the court yard and yet more spells warding the house, the skin crawling effect lessening as I dissolved more.

The door to the house was closed but looked infirm, the wood worn and weakened. The lock splintered the wood as I gave it a shoulder push and it swung open two inches on squeaky screeching hinges, I pushed it open further, firmly enough to wonder if it might snap with the effort as the bottom hinge protested more, and slipped inside.

There were older spells embedded here, wards against malice, ineffective but remaining still, and an odd air of magic to the dim entrance hall. The dust was undisturbed excepting it was a wind sculpted inch thick around the sill of the door, raising tiny puffs as I stepped further inside to explore.

I circled round the staircase and ignored the doors left and right which were probably receiving rooms and took the already half open one at the back, pushing the protesting door left an arc in the dust.

I was in a dark passage lit by a mossy skylight; further down was an arch and a dim room undistinguishable from here. As I walked closer still raising dust clouds, the view broadened as I approached, showing me a kitchen with a tangle of vines growing over the room's only window.

I turned back retracing my footprints to confuse my track and walked to the stairs, and followed the glow of light up the right branch, there was a glass walled corridor with doors on the inner side, these must be their private quarters looking out across to the other side and seeing the same façade across the yard in the centre of the house.

The house inside was free of harmful defensive spells with the ones remaining only ghosts of their original selves, a residual image reminding you of its former power. I spent a while studying them, finding its page in the book if it was one of the many unknowns.

I stood at the bottom of the stairs looking at one of the oldest and friendliest of the old magic protection spells and rehearsed its runic sound in my head preparing to try my first act of magic, reviving the beneficial spells now that I had rid it of all the aggressive ones.

I pronounced the phrase firmly and was delighted when the sigils began to glow and sparkle and its magic field grew. I went around the house again reviving all the old magic, leaving footprints everywhere as I sought out every single spell and either restored it or absorbed its magic.

The dust was going to be a problem, the roof, from my cursory check while I explored, looked sound still, though in the half light of the moss encroached skylight it was perfunctory glance around for spells. From the looks of it some of the furniture and fittings might be salvageable as well.

I was hot and sweaty when I finished, dust coating my clothes and face. My stomach told me it was near dinnertime but I needed to clean myself up first. I was back to an empty dorm, I put a pot of water on to wash with and sat and read more of the book while I waited.

I got to the refrec before the second bell and took a wall seat to share a table with two acolytes. I thought about Rash and when to tell her about the house, Miri would probably be at her lessons and Rash wasn't one to sit around, evening was probably the best time to catch them which left me free till then.

I was walking out when the magic phrase I'd walked past so many times leapt out. One was the symbol for food, eating, hunger and the other was full, contentment, enjoyment in combination. I spoke them under my breath and watched as they took new form and substance.

On the walk back to the dorm I contemplated a trip around the buildings, especially the council chamber, to see what residual spells there were that were worthy of revival. Bemnie was there when I arrived, sat back in the seat, feet up and half dozing.

"A penny for them," I quoted as my arrival stirred her.

"What?"

"Oh just an old saying from my village, you were catching forty winks."

"Huh?"

"Oh never mind, how are you?"

"Fine, I slept in this morning, first time in ages I've missed breakfast. I had to go over to the market for pancakes.

"I was up early, I've been trying to practice my magic, I can't seem to get it straight in my mind." I replied. "Maybe I need to do a bit more of that meditation Xentha showed me."

"Oh it's easy, honest, you've just got to get your thinking right."

Curromo came in.

"Bem, I thought I'd find you here, how's Kenval?" she asked by way of announcing herself.

"I don't know, I haven't seen him yet."

She came to a halt in front of her. "Do you want to come for a walk?"

Bemnie shrank back into the chair.

"I've got some juicy gossip."

Bemnie gave a small laugh. "Okay, wait while I get changed."

Curromo turned to me as Bemnie rose. "Is there any cofftea on?"

"I don't think so, I'll make you one if you want."

"That would be nice," she said as she sat and I stood.

I busied myself for the few minutes it took to prepare and left it to boil, standing idly leaning against the sink as I waited.

"You went out with Xentha last night I hear, Cal is still annoyed but serve her right, the first boy to get an invite into her room and you walk off to bed."

I gave a chuckle. "I took a while to get to bed, at least my bed," I said, letting her read between the lines.

"You and Xen!" she half gasped.

"She's a nice girl."

"I know, but she was being celibate till she got home, saving herself for a good time with her boyfriend when she got there." Her bewilderment showing in her creased face.

"I think you might have had a hand in it, telling her all about the ten you gave me."

"I was telling Calorissa and she was there. She'd sworn off sex since she finished with Swapswisle two months back. I was just telling Cal that you were the one to give her virginity to, I've had a few prods in my time and seriously you're the best. For her to share her first time with you would be the best thing for her."

"Well Xen bluffed her way through, she seduced me when we got back here after telling me that Cal was angling to get me to prod her."

I felt a little bit guilty talking this way, I wanted to bed both girls but Xen was the prettiest to my eye and I suddenly felt defensive of her.

"Well take her tonight, take her out for the evening then prod her when you're both merry."

"Ah, I was going to pop in and see Rash after tea, then there's the meditation on the setting sun, we could stroll to the market and get a cup of locatheot, maybe buy a bottle or two of wine and come back here for cuddly evening."

"I'll suggest that to her."

The words were barely out of her mouth when Bemnie opened her door.

"Ready then," she announced, half turning to the exit door.

"Talk to you later," Curromo said to me as she rose and followed.

I finished up my cofftea and took the cups to wash. I was going to stroll over to the library and do a bit more rote memorization of the sigils and their properties, I had seen the way spells were put together full of sympathetic enforcement and I needed full command of the set to do that.

I spent a nearly uneventful afternoon; Heen'll found me there by chance and took me to the bursars office where I was given a small purse with the first of a weekly allowance. The money looked strange but definitely spendable, Cal could have a meal there on me as well now.

When I wandered in for tea the newly minted spell made the food and the atmosphere that much better, convincing me further to rework more of the spells around here. Surprisingly Calorissa found me and sat next to me.

"Hi," she greeted me. "Mind if I join you?"

"No, not at all, I was hoping to see you, I'd like you to take me down the market tonight, I'll treat you to a meal if you'll show me the good eating places."

"That's an easy favour, it's been a while since I've been there but Plete's is the best, I can take you there later if you like."

"I've got to see Rash and then I need to practice my meditation but I should be free just after sunset, shall I knock for you?"

"I'll probably be in the common room, knock if I'm not."

I wanted to tell her of my talk with Curromo, but I'd left it late. I didn't want her to get the wrong impression, so I had to breach it now.

"Curromo was over earlier, she came to see Bem, I can be terrible at catching hints, just a plain spoken farm boy."

She blushed, her cheeks colouring with the fork stopped halfway to her mouth.

"She told me how good you were and then Bem confirmed her opinion and Mo said she had another tryst set up. I've wanted to but I want it to be special as well, I'm just a notch to Kenval and the like and then you come along. I suppose Xen will be singing your praises as well after your session last night. I didn't think she'd change her mind about her celibacy thing but she clung tight to you. It was an anticlimax that shouldn't have been."

"I'm sorry, I had no idea, Xen told me you were hot for me outside but claimed the first option and I was aroused and went along with that. Tonight you're the one that's special, I'll do my best to make the night memorable for you."

Her smile broadened as she took the words in. "I know you will, you get full marks for tenderness and sharing from them as well. Ten out of ten."

I could feel my prodder reacting in my trousers, anticipating the evening's performance; it had never had it so good and was ready to prod her here and now. The excitement building in me at yet another pretty girl to make love to was asking to do it with me.

I finished only half my meal, joking about leaving room for later and pleaded my appointment with Rash, and yes I'd try to get them an audience, and left her smiling at me as I took my tray back. I navigated my way through and climbed the stairs to her apartment.

Miri was home, she answered the door and let me in.

"How's Rash?" I asked. "Is she home?"

"Not yet, she was to be an hour an hour and a half ago, we'll be eating in the kitchens again if she's any later."

"How's she getting on, I know of a house she could have, the locals think it's haunted and it's thick with dust but its right here on the parade and has at least six bedrooms and a ballroom."

"Oh that would please her, she can find nothing bigger than four beds, That's where she is now, getting introduced to someone who might have something."

"Well, I've come for my sword as well, I should have it even though I've got no use for it here, I've seen no one else wearing one."

"I've got it in the corner over here," she said turning. "It gets stares from everyone that visits, I'll be sorry to see it go in a way."

I walked over and retrieved it, fastening it to my belt and adjusting it for comfort.

"Tell Rash I'll be up to see her tomorrow after dinner, I'll take her to see it, a bit of tidying up and it'll be a fine place to live."

I bade her farewell and retraced my steps back to the entrance hall, heading straight for the tower and the climb to the top. The day was warm and bright, the sky at the eastern horizon was still to blue to show any stars but it was at least two shades darker than the patch left under the setting sun.

I spent some time looking around, drawing in the calmness that the perspective allowed. With the sun reddening my eyelids I let myself slip under, my breathing slowing as I found the stillness in me. I focused myself on the sigils, running them through and forming patterns, feeling the latent power in them and letting myself become part of the field that they formed from.

The sun was still a sliver above the horizon when my awareness came back, I felt refreshed and happy, I felt almost ready to try raw magic, pushing it past the symbols as my mind ordered its fabric.

Xentha suddenly spoke up behind me as I stood to stretch my muscles.

"You're getting good at that, there was an air of stillness that seemed to surround you, I didn't want to break it."

My heart jumped as I realised a little late who it was.

"Xen.... This makes me feel marvelous, it brings such clarity sometimes that lots of things make sense."

"We'd better get down, before it gets dark."

I held the trapdoor as she climbed down then followed as we descended into the gloomy depths. Out in the entrance hall she led me to a quiet group of table and chairs. She looked a little agitated, her face tense, her gait a little hesitant.

"Dav," she said quietly. "I'm going to be leaving early, my father has sent word that my brother will be here on business and that he'll take me home in a week when he leaves. I wanted to stay and attend the diploma presentation but he insists."

She leant forward conspiratorially. "So we've only got five days more, can I be naughty and ask you for another tryst?"

"Yes, and welcome, but why naughty?"

"Well.... More than once a week with the same person is... is...."

'Against custom and mores', I thought. 'Same as I can make love to Webbi but never share a bed with her.'

"Naughty." I answered for her, smiling.

"Well you know what people say about smoke and fire."

"Yes," I said with a chuckle.

"We can do it in the tower, it's the perfect place."

"That's fine by me, but we'd better bring some matting, I've got a bedroll that would be perfect."

"Can we do it tomorrow?" she asked enthusiastically.

"Mm, yes," I said, raising my eyebrows slightly at her as I wondered what it would be like to make love before meditating.

She was beaming now, her voice more animated and I could see the excitement on her face. I was as pleased as she was; making love to her was a sweet erotic pleasure.

"We'd better go, we've been her long enough," she said standing.

It was quite dark by the time we got home, Xentha magiced the candle alight and went to start the cofftea while I manually lit the other three. I settled down as the light grew brighter and looked at Xentha as she busied herself with the makings.  

She was attractive to my eye, she would make a fine wife and partner, better in many ways to Rash. And then there was Webberli, the girl from back home that I would probably marry. The world could be a funny place.

"Here we are then," Xentha said, breaking into my thoughts. "It'll be ready in a minute or two."

She sat in the next chair, curling into the back to half face me.

"Are you going out tonight? Grepp and Bemnie are going to the Lamb's Pen, I'm thinking of going with them, Curromo will probably be there as well."

"No, I've got other plans for tonight."

"Ah yes, last night's unfinished business with Cal." She said with a grin. "Bem said you spoke to her."

I felt a little disconcerted talking to her about prodding another girl, there were few secrets around here.

"Yes, she's taking me to the night market."

"Is that why you're wearing your sword? You'll need to watch your purse there; night is the favourite time for pickpockets and cutpurses."

"What, no spell to guard it?"

"Yes but no one really bothers."

The lid on the pot started clinking as the pot started to boil.

"Ah, cofftea coming up."

She stood and walked over to make the drinks. As soon as I'd finished mine I was intending going to call on Calorissa, my prodder was beginning to twitch at the thought of her sweet Furrie and the prod that would come after.

She brought the cups over, setting mine in front of me.

"Do you have night markets where you come from?" she asked, sitting herself down.

"There was one in Bravermouth, but it was only a small one on the docks itself, there's only a weekly market in my village." I replied.

Our conversation drifted on about our homes and customs until long after I finished my drink, the arrival of Grepp saw me take the time to drop my sword in my room and bid them a good night as I exited and headed over top the other dorm.

Cal opened the door on my first knock, widening it as she saw it was me and inviting me in with a wave of her hand. The anticipation of having sex with her had my prodder stiff in my pants, I wanted to do it now but I also wanted to take her out and get to know her better.

"Let me just put a coat on and I'm ready," she said gaily.

I watched as she walked over, feasting my eyes on her slim figure and taut backside, her skirt swaying about her knees as her hips moved. I tried to picture her nude, her dark haired bush contrasting with her creamy thighs, her pink slit opening up at the touch of my tongue.

She put her coat on as she walked back, pausing and waiting for me to join her as she opened the door. It was a half bright moon and we strolled to the gates with her telling me about some of the food choices that would be on offer.

The market was light with rush torches, flames flickering and throwing shadows in the slight breeze, it wasn't as crowded as I'd supposed it might be from all the talk of it. We wound our way through, stopping by some stalls as she examined the wares, while I drank in the sights and sounds.

We ended at a restaurant where she led me inside. We talked of our backgrounds over a meal of grilled legs of some small game animal, the native name of Jugged Harei, meant nothing to me but it was tender and went well with the plate of veggies we shared.

We spent maybe an hour enjoying the meal, then after we strolled back by a different route. As we got near to the edge of the market I stopped her.

"Do you want to get as bottle of wine or something to take home?"

"We can get the wine at the Bullberry Bush; it's on the way home from here." She answered happily.

I let her lead me on till we came to a two story thatched inn, we walked through the outside tables and into the bar. I knew at once from the looks we got that this was a 'local's' bar, there was no outright hostility shown but there was a surely regard in the was the eyes followed us.




Quincunx Ch. 13



"Do you prefer red or white?" I asked her as I got to the counter.

"One of each please." I ordered as she hesitated over her choice.

I took them from the barmaid and paid, wanting to get out quick, not wanting to outlast any welcome in the place. We walked back to the road and eventually got back to my room, I grabbed two cups for the wine while she slipped quickly into my room.

She was lying half across my bed when I walked in, hands behind her head and feet dangling over the edge. She shifted position as I handed her the cups and sat on the edge to take my boots off. I squeezed on next to her and took the bottle of wine she proffered, pouring for us.

We talked more of our lives and our hopes, me telling her that this wizarding business wasn't for me; I wanted to get my quite life back. She told me that she was going to be an educator; she was going to teach some of the greater mages back in a local college in her district.

Her dark hair sparkled in the candlelight as the conversation flowed and the bottle emptied. When I asked about the second she gave a nervous giggle and asked me to 'Blow the candle out.'

I took her cup from her and put them on the floor, then reached over to pinch the candle out. As the darkness enveloped us she moved onto her knees and I heard her clothes rustle as she began to undress. I rolled to the side of the bed and stripped myself.

When I was naked I stood and reached blindly to pull the cover back slightly so she and I could slip under it. I sat on the edge and waited briefly as she finished, she leant across, touching my arm as she dropped her clothes on the floor.

I pulled the cover from under her as she clambered to get beneath it. I slipped in alongside her smooth body and put an arm under her neck and one over her waist. She rolled and put her arms around me, hugging me to her.

"I've waited so long to do this, Bem and Curr both tell me that you're as good as it gets, I so want it to be good."

There was a plaintive edge to her voice that made me hope that my best could fill her dream, she was a sweet girl and she was swaying me to put her in close completion with Xen, so far she'd not spoken of any boyfriend.



Quincunx Ch. 14







Quincunx Ch. 15







Quincunx Ch. 15



"Dav." The voice cut through my thoughts. "Ferlatio was asking how you were getting on, I gave you a poor report. Why I don't know but I think it pleased him."

"Thanks, I've been tinkering with the old magic spells, I've de-cursed the old Wizards House and done some reinforcing of others."

I waited for any reaction.

"I need somewhere where safely practice, somewhere unused. Are there any dungeons or deep cellars?"

"Dungeons, umm," he mused. "There are the wine cellars, we could use those."

I thought of our own cellars, just my father and the wine steward were allowed in there.

"No, I might damage the wine. Nowhere else, nowhere in the grounds?"

"I don't know the grounds that well, I think there may be some empty chambers, it was built as a palace so there was plenty of storage space. We keep books in two."

I let him take me down, after a bit of wandering we found a walk in arched lock up, some ten yards deep. He conjured up extra light as we shut ourselves in. He made stones for me to lift and move, torches for me to light, in the couple of hours I was still having to concentrate hard but I had the magic in my hands now.

It was our tummies that brought us up, his water clock showed that we were late for the first sitting but early for the second and we went our separate ways to eat. After the meal sat amoung the acolytes my next task was to face Rash, this time the news should be welcome. I walked up to her quarters and found Miri in.

"Rash should be in," she informed me. "She was expected half an hour ago."

She let me into the room and offered me a seat.

"Well, have you learnt any magic yet?" she asked.

"No, not much, I still can't get the concentration right."

"I've learnt a lot, in a couple of months I will be registered to practice."

"What's Rash been doing?"

"Oh, she goes to one of them Ecathloot café's, that's where the 'in' crowd hang out, she was trying to arrange a house through one of them. That's where she is now."

Rash was in a bad mood when she finally came back, complaining that the father should have made time to see her, now she was going to have to go back this evening. I waited out her rant and then told her of the house.

She was slightly leery of the idea, especially after I explained its reputation, but agreed to take a look. I told her that now was a good time for me, she pondered a second before telling Miri to 'Come along', then turning to me and saying. 'Well, come on then show me the way.'

On the way there I warned her that it was dusty and that most of the furniture and things would have to be replaced. She was even more skeptical when she saw the grounds, I encouraged her with the thought that a gardener would soon have it under control.

You could see my footprints criss crossing in the dust but she saw through that to see the potential in the design of the house. We three sat on the steps outside as she made her plans to hire maids to clean the place up, she would go and see the furniture makers.

After half an hour we left and took the short walk back through the university gates where I wished her well and we parted ways. I walked back to the dorm, hoping to find it empty so that I could take a well earned nap.



Quincunx Ch. 16







Quincunx Ch. 16



"Move round," she urged me. "I want you to take me from behind."

"I like it this way too," I said softly as I scrambled from beneath her.

I knelt between her parted legs, one hand on her buttock while the other guided it in.

She pushed against me as I entered her, taking me deep inside her, giving a whimper as my hips smacked her tush. I felt the smooth pressure enclosing my hard shaft while I paused to simple let it fill her and feel its presence.

I began slowly, holding onto the soft curves of her hips and giving her a long length as I found my distance. She gave another small groan as I speeded up, shortening the stroke a little as my sac thumped into her furrie.

I prodded her hard and fast, watching my shaft thrust in and out, shining in the coating of her juices. She pushed herself up from her elbows and started to ram her furrie into me, I slowed to match her stroke and slipped my hands to her waist leant further forward.

I continued on as a tremble ran through her and another small cry escaped her lips. I slowed as she started jerking, she let her hands go and buried her face in the bed as the first wave of convulsions rippled down my prodder and her scream was muffled by the bedding.

After her shuddering stopped and her breathing eased she reached one arm around behind her and laid it on my flank.

"Stay inside me while I turn and cuddle to you," she asked softly.

"I'll try."

She turned as I let my weight pull me to her and put one arm around her waist to pin us together.

She spooned into me, her hips on my inner thigh, and gave a little wriggle. "Play with my breasts please Dav."

I snaked my arm beneath her as my other moved up along her body to take the lower one. I took both nipples in my fingers and thumbs, twirling them softly as I stretched them out then let them slip free.

"Xen, lick my fingers for me, it's better when their slippery," I asked as I held my fingers and thumbs up in front of her.

She took my hands in hers and sucked on my fore finger and then a thumb, she let go as she moved onto the other and I brought my free hand down to massage the wetness onto the hard stub I found there.

We lay quietly, excepting her quiet moans and her wriggles in my lap. I began kissing and licking along her shoulder and watched as her hand slipped down to play with herself, I could feel the movement of her fingers on my shaft inside her.

She writhed and twisted as she pressed herself against me, her fingers teasing her nub while her other was covering mine as it toyed with her nipple. Her orgasm when it came surprised both of us, her cry of 'Yes' was as loud as any scream and her shudders took a minute or more to subside.

She was left sobbing for breath, holding both her arms over mine and her head thrown back on my shoulder. The spasms of her hunny hole sending thrills through my rigid shaft was giving me tingles all over, just holding her now felt so nice as she relaxed in my arms.

I let her lie a short while and then moved my head against hers to start kissing her neck, working up to her ear before she stirred.

"By the great wheel," she said, gripping my arms. "That was almost overwhelming, my cumming filled me like it wouldn't ever stop, I'm still tingling now with feeling you inside me."

She wriggled her hips to emphasis the point, causing my prodder to twitch. I dragged my hands down, playing her ribs with my fingertips and encircled her waist. She dropped her hands either side of my waist and announced.

"I'm going to turn over."

She pushed herself upward and backwards, letting it flop out onto my belly while she quickly flipped over and grasped it to reinsert it as she pushed herself back into my lap. I felt the tightness take it again as she slipped down it till her full weight rested on me.



Quincunx Ch. 17







Quincunx Ch. 17



She had the same spirit I had admired in Rash but hers was the bolder move, fighting on home ground, she jumped several notched in my estimation with her mettle weighed in the scale. If things were different I would willingly take her as a wife.

"Cal said you claimed me," I said turning the conversation.

"Did you know they were outside your door last night? They stayed to listen out for Grepp and Kenval and got an earful of us instead." She asked.

"Shizer! I'm...."

"It's alright, it doesn't matter anymore, in four days I'll be off home and all this will be behind me, just memories to look back on."

She stood and stepped in front of me, bending in to speak. "Shall we go home, I want you to hold me and cuddle me to you, and you can teach me to kiss like you did Cal."

"Yes, it'll be an appetiser for later, we'll have to take it easy though, my prodder's a little sore after last night."

"I can take care of that though Cal would be better, she's a really good healer."

"Ha, any excuse to get hold of it." I retorted, teasing her.

We had got to the main entrance, though the sky was brightening beyond the rain was still quite heavy, even running the couple of hundred yards around the side was going to see us get soaked, just as well we were stripping to jump into bed when we got home.

We left a dripping trail when we burst in, Xen walked to her door as I diverted to mine.

"Could we use my room?" she asked as we diverged.

"Yes, I'm coming, just leaving a trail to my door first."

I backtracked and followed her footsteps as she looked on from the open door, smiling in amusement at my performance.

With the door closed she began to undress and I stripped my own sodden clothes, she hung hers and picked mine up and draped them over the chair.

"I know the rules but I'm going to bend them this once," she said.

"What?"

For a reply she held her hand up and chanted a spell, I saw her words balloon out and cover the clothes, steam began to rise from them. She then turned to me with a grin on her face.

"Now come and show me where it hurts."

I laughed, my prodder was already half hard and though it had eased considerably there was a tinge still left in the prepuce.

She sat on the bed as I walked over, my shaft growing firmer and stiffer as I approached, waggling in front of her as I stopped. She reached out and took it, holding it lightly between her palms as she concentrated. I felt the pain easy and fade away.

She looked up at me as she grasped it and then with a smile bent forwards and began to suck it, her lips spreading to let it penetrate and meet her questing tongue. I felt the thrill run through me, and then redouble as her tongue slid softly down the underside.

"Oh," I gasped, sucking my breath in.

She released me with a giggle. "Back in full working order, yes?"

I squatted down, bringing us face to face. "Better than ever, I'd say." Then I leant in and kissed her on the nose. "Do you want to dry your hair first?"

"Mm, and give it a brush through."

We stood together, my prodder squashed between us as she gave me a hug and pressed her firm breasts against me.

Fetch me my brush please," she asked as she released me and turned to her cupboard.

She sat and dried her hair then made me sit and dried mine off, I took up the brush and had her sit between my legs while I detangled her hair.

"Cal's half in love with you as well, she won't admit it but I can see it in her when she talks about you."

"Cal? Are you sure, I mean I know she likes me, but it's only the sex with her. Isn't it?" I added querulously.

"She talks more about you than sex with you. She'd make you a good wife."

"No. She's got her plans and I can't see her as a farmer's wife."

"Do you still think you can hide yourself away, that power you feel in your fingers won't let you settle for the quiet life, mark my words one way or other it'll keep you at the centre of things."

"Not if I don't use it."

"So you've learnt..."

"Wait," I started to protest then remembered her specialty of reading people. "But honestly I don't want to play grand master here, I can use my power as needed without causing any great fuss, I'll be happy at home running the farm."

"Till people start calling for your help, you won't have the heart to say no." she shot back at me. "Your fame will spread."

"So what should I do?"

"You won't know that until you do."

"Huh?"

"Your path will become clear when you take your first step down it, I know mine did."

"Well that's as clear as a muddy bootprint," I said wryly.

"But you'll know it like it was meant to be." She countered.

"Will you help me cream my hair," she said, changing the subject as she leant forward.

She went over to the chair, sitting and taking a largish bottle.

"Plant saps and things," she explained, noticing my interest.

She poured two handfuls, applying them to the back on either side of the crown.

"Bring the brush," she called.

I walked over, flaccid prodder swinging between my legs, I could see the downward cast of her gaze as she watched me walk over.

"Do it from the front," she asked as she gathered her hair and hung her head to make it fall forward.

I started at the nape of her neck, one hand holding while I brushed the cream in. She reached forward and began to play with me, cupping my sac and taking my prodder in hand. I gave an appreciative 'Mm' as she gently squeezed and pulled on it, enjoying her touch as it stiffened and grew.

She just held it, giving it the occasional stroke, for the whole ten minutes till I finished her hair. I put the brush down and put my hand under her chin, she straightened up, looking up to my face.

"Time for cuddles," I announced softly. "And learning how to kiss."

She released me and stood, embracing me low around the waist. "Then let's go to bed."



Quincunx Ch. 18







Quincunx Ch. 18



"Nope. Still none the wiser." I said.

"Their probably only a local delicacy. We don't have them down my way either," put in Xen again.

"No, there from Grepp's district, I just wondered if he'd tried them. I've got to go up by there later and I was thinking of bringing some back." Cal explained. "If he hadn't tried them before I could get some for him."

"Thanks, I'll try anything once." I said, bringing their focus back on me.

"You'll like them, they make sweet ones as well which are my favourite." Xen added.

Then, turning to Cal she asked. "If you're going near Mama Weavebs could you pick me up some needles and white thread please?"

They went on about the dress that needed repair, with talk of possible alterations lasting until we arrived at the dorm. The two of them went to her room while I disappeared into mine. I stood just inside my door and put the picture of my bathtub at home into the focus of my thoughts, seeing it sitting in the space in front of me.

I felt the flow of power through my forearms down to my fingertips as the shape of solidified, the steam rising slowly from the water half filling it. I started breathing again and took a tentative step forwards to verify with touch the reality of my vision.

I wasted no time in stripping and was soon enjoying the luxury of a hot bath, after soaking myself for ten minutes or so and then having a through wash. Making it disappear after was as simple as taking the magic back, an exhilarating if not enervating experience not unlike an orgasm on a smaller scale.

I felt a new man, my mind magic had worked perfectly, a man whose strength and reach could now be tested and measured. I put on my better clothes and ventured out into an empty dorm and thence to seek the princess, her quarters first.



Quincunx Ch. 19







Quincunx Ch. 19



"You should, she has a good heart." I saw her face change. "Ah, here comes Grepp, we'll talk more of your kidnapping tonight, a strong man like you captured and tamed by two women, that has me curious."

"Xen, Cal, Dav," he greeted us. "You're the earlybirds. I was in the hall as the bell rang."

He took a seat and unloaded his tray.

"We were thinking of the Bull tonight, Kiria's performing," Cal said.

"We could go to the Goat Herder's tonight, Gaybella is on there. She's the one that was on at the Flowers the other night." Grepp replied.

"Make up for missing her is it? I don't mind but you'll have to convince the others," answered Cal.

"I'm easy," Xen put it.

"I'll be going out with Rash so my vote doesn't count." I said shrugging my shoulders.

"What's her performance, what type of songs does she sing?" asked Cal.

I'd finished my meal and reclined back as he went on to define her style. I was letting my food settle before going up to meet with Rash, this was going to be my first dealings with a banker, though as farm manager I'd been in on my father's negotiations when selling our produce.

We waited out the minutes then Cal saw Kenval and the others in the queue. As they came to join us I stood and excused myself, letting Kenval take my seat as I strolled off. 



Quincunx Ch. 20







Quincunx Ch. 20



"I know, but he'll have real guards and lots of spells so you need to practice, he might even have his own wizard there. You'll need to be careful."

"I will be, he might have a wizard in his employ but I doubt that he stands guard in the vault and I'm not afraid of any spell, I can counter those with ease."

"Perhaps you can but practice never hurt anyone."

"Okay, if you're that concerned then I will show you tomorrow how much practice I need."

"Thank you, and now shall we get on with tonight's business?"

We walked over to the main building and up the side stairs to Rash's rooms, I was feeling a bit self-conscious about the sword dangling at my side, the scabbard slapping my thigh. I knocked on Rash's door but got no answer.

Boldly I opened the door and called out. "Rash!"

I strode across and knocked on the bedroom door.

"Rash?" I called again.

I waited a few seconds and then turned to Xen.

"We'll knock again," I said. "And if there's no answer you go in and see if she's sleeping or something."

"Me, I don't know her well enough, you ought to look."

"A gentleman never enters a lady's bedroom uninvited, you should go just in case."

"Did you only make love to her in the dark then?"

"No, but I'm not her lover still." I turned and knocked again.

As the moments stretched on I turned back to her. "Go on, just peek around the door."

She gave me an uncomfortable look but reached for the door handle. She inched the door open and popped her head in. She drew her head back quickly.

"She's asleep on the bed, you stay here and I'll go and wake her."

I stepped back from the door as she entered. If I had come alone that would have been me waking her, I wondered how she was dressed.

"You can come in," shouted Xen.

I opened the door to see Xen and Rash sitting on the side of the bed. Rash was dressed in only her vest and knickers, the short kind they wore here that showed off her lovely long legs. In my trousers my prodder twitched at the sight of her exposed flesh.

"I didn't expect you yet, what hour is it?" Rash asked.

"The last eighth of the sun,"Xen answered.

"Well I'm glad you're here, Xen can help me dress now, if she doesn't mind" Rash said. "I can never get all the buttons at the back."

"I'll leave you to it then." I said turning to leave.

"If you wish," Rash said as I walked back out into the sitting room.



Quincunx Ch. 21







Quincunx Ch. 21



I got a thrill from touching her and having her touch me as we washed and again as we dried each other. Then still naked she had me comb her hair and pin it up again before we dressed. When we were ready she came and sat in my lap and just kissed and cuddled while we waited for the coach.

The ride was uneventful, I rode with her inside and saw her to the door of the grand mansion at the end of the street. From there I followed the coachman around and into the kitchen where I found cofftea and some snacks courtesy of the cook.

I sat in a corner chair and watched as the younger coachmen teased and courted the younger of the serving girls. I wondered but didn't dare ask what they thought of their masters, most of them were bonded servants who were unlikely to marry.

I spent the time dosing and thinking of home and being able to use magic freely, life there with any one of the girls would be perfect. Cal seemed the most loosely tied to her future, she could relocate and find somewhere to teach near my manor. The capital was only an hour's ride away, she could give classes at the university there, I could buy land and build a house half way if necessary.

I would take Rash if I thought she might come and more importantly she could live a quiet life, her identity would have to be between ourselves, though with my powers I could even challenge the King.

After my second cup I had to stir and find the privy, my voice and accent drew the attention of one of the coachmen as I asked directions, a small shack in the grounds behind a screen of shrubbery. He asked first about my sword, I politely put him off with my excuse of needing to ease myself.

He was waiting for me when I got back asking who I was accompanying. I explained that I was with Rash and my business was my business. With that I turned and went to my chair to retrieve and refill my cup.

I settled back down and took a sip, eyes scanning the room over the rim of the cup. He was across the room looking agitated, perhaps I should listen to what he had to say, something about my presence disturbed him.

I put my cup down and waved him over.

"You have something on your mind," I challenged him as he approached.

"Shush," he said as he got closer. "The wrong people are asking round about you, there is a man with your accent paying for information. Be on your guard if you stand for her."

"Just one man?"

"That's all I know of. Just be wary for he carries a sword as well."

"Thank you sir, I will take your timely warning to heart. How much longer will this last?" I asked, thumbing up to the ballroom above.

"Probably another hour or so, dinners done by now and the dancing started."

He gave a laugh as my face changed. "Not used to the boredom of waiting. This is free time for most of us."

"Aye," I agreed. "But I could be doing other things in, if you'll pardon me for saying so, better company."

"Ha, you should entice one of the maids behind the bushes with you."

I gave a laugh. "If only life were that simple."

He gave me a sideways look. "As you say, well I've given you my warning and I wish you luck."

He took a step backwards and returned to the throng.

I was left wondering at his words, was her father seeking such strong action as assassination, or could he be buying himself a gang to do the deed. Jaycintha would have to know about this and I would see what guard spells I could conjure for the house.

Rash was another matter, so was telling Xen or Cal. Rash didn't need the worry and the girls were bound to offer help and want to take over. I had no worries, I had my magic to fall back on if they were too many for my sword and I felt bold enough to pit my whits against his.

I sat back and began to think of ways to draw him out, we had visited the market this morning, we should do it again tomorrow to establish a pattern and see if he would use it as his attack vector. We could visit the tailors to re-clothe Jaycintha.

I was truly bored for the last half hour as the surreptitious drinks made the crowd too boisterous for me to dose. I looked around, several seemed to be couples as they sat around the large table and occasional snatches of conversation broke through as I idly watched.

There was a stir at the door that rippled out as people started straightening themselves up, I guessed the party was over upstairs and people were readying to leave. I stirred myself and strolled back around to the front door while the coachmen readied the transport.

I was waiting at the door as she walked out with her friends, following on as she descended the steps to the drive to await her coach. She hugged her friends as It drew up and I stepped forward to open the door.



Quincunx Ch. 22







Quincunx Ch. 23







Quincunx Ch. 23



He bid me good luck and I made my way to Gyatso's office, if he was set to dismiss me I wondered if I could squeeze a day or two more till Cal graduated and Rash's house was ready. I found the nameplate and knocked.

"Come in," called a sweet young voice.

The acolyte that sat at the desk inside had a round smiling face and long chestnut hair, she looked in her early twenties and looked happy with her life.

"Hi, I'm Davor, I believe Councilman Gyatso would like to see me."

"Take a seat," she said standing and waving at the chairs behind the door. "I'll see if he's free

She walked through the door behind her and left me studying the room. She wasn't long, standing in the open doorway and inviting me in after a few moments. I stood and walked in to face him as she closed the door behind her.

"Davor," he said as I took the few paces to his desk. "Swapswisle tells me your studies aren't going well."

"Well, to be honest I don't think I've got any aptitude for magic. I can't get the concentration and focus right. I've tried meditation but it just won't come."

"Yet you see spells and can neutralise them, there's a mystery in you if history is true. Only greats before now have had that talent. Yet here's you without any other magical ability."

"Well it's not strange to me, I've had no interest in magic, seeing spells was a novelty and nothing worth any real consideration."

"What do you suggest we do, Swapswisle tells me you want to go home,?"

I explained my need to stay because of the report of a countryman enquiring about Rash and explained my fears of kidnap or murder. He asked why I had not spoken of it before. The probability was small I told him, until I heard the coachman's tale, and anyway hearsay wasn't evidence enough to start a city wide search.

I then told him of my plan for Rash to move into the abandoned Wizards House, turn it into a home for her. He was surprised and somewhat uneasy at the idea, protesting that it was best left alone but finding no justification to overrule my argument of need and use.

He also argued that Rash should take a wizard bodyguard as well but could think of no suitable candidate off hand when I suggested an undercover young female one was needed and would 'look into it' as soon as our meeting ended.

He agreed to me staying in the dorm until the house was ready and said he would arrange to have fresh protection spells cast; he would also talk with Ngawang who ran the justice ministry. As our meeting finished I was pleased with the way things had worked out but a little guilty for using Rash to stay with Xen and Cal.



Quincunx Ch. 24







Quincunx Ch. 24



My hands ran up her thighs as I looked at the pink petals spreading invitingly before me. My tongue was first, lapping at the coating of juices then probing the depths of her hunny hole. I pushed her legs wide and rewarded her with my thumbs slipping in to massage her plump hairy lips.

I shifted to her nub as I felt the first tremble take her and had her writhing as my tongue played with it. She screamed as her hips bucked and her back arched, her body shuddering for long seconds before she collapsed and shuddered again.

I came up on my knees and took hold of my shaft to guide it into her, she gasped as my engorged helmet entered then gave a whimper as I slowly eased it in. I bent forward and took her waist pulling her to me as it slipped fully in, then lifting her I stood and turned and lay back on the bed.

My head was stretched across the bed as she clung to me and enjoyed the moment. I brought my hands up to her shoulders as she cuddled into me, turning her head to lie on my chest. She lay contented on top of me until the eventual happened.

I felt it softened and she gave a wriggle to let it pop out. She groaned and slipped to the side.

"Too soon for the aravig to work yet," she complained.

"I haven't drunk it yet," I confessed.

"Where is it then?"

"By the side of the bed," I answered propping myself up on my elbow so I could sit up.

I bent over and picked the cup up and drank it. "There, let the fun begin."

I dropped the empty cup and lay back down. She sat up and reached over to take my half supine shaft in her hand. It started stiffening immediately, growing fully erect as she held it lightly.

"Can we sixty nine?" She asked, already turning in anticipation.

"Yes," I answered, turning to watch as she stretched her leg over me and revealed her glistening furrie with the widening pink slit.

She settled on me, taking my shaft in both hands and pressing my head to her lips. I wrapped my arms around her thighs and pulled her into position, snaking my tongue out to circle her open lips. She moaned and let my head slip inside as she sucked and licked again.

I felt the build-up much quicker this time, her tongue sending thrills down the length as she stroked and caressed my head. I moved her slightly and let my tongue find her hard little nub and started playing with it, stroking over and around it.

I felt the pressure pass containment as my hips turned a shudder into a jerk, giving her warning before the first spurt filled her mouth. Her lips tightened on the second as she gulped it down. My head flopped back as I jerked again with the third load of seed exploding out.

She lay, still thrilling me as she licked at a last dribble. As I recovered my breath I pulled her to me and dived back in the hairy tangle to find her nub. The hand holding my shrinking shaft twitched tighter as the thrill of contact sent a shiver through her.

I began the alphabet and had her moaning and wriggling in a few moments, with G to H giving her her first shudder. L was as far as I got before the scream escaped her and I felt her stretch and jerk in my arms.

She collapsed down onto me her breath rasping as her soft body moulded to mine, her head on my tummy and her hair draped over my hip. My closeness to her added to dreamy state as we lay there entwined, I wanted it to go on forever.

She stirred and turned about to sit athwart my waist and lie with her cheek next to mine and her hands holding my head. I slipped my arms around her and gave her a hug.

"That was just what I needed, can we just snuggle a while." She said softly.

I let my hand brush up her back as I brought it up to nestle my fingers in her hair, happy to hold her like this, her hard nipples pressed into my chest. We lay a while, comfortable and relaxed in each other's embrace, letting time drift by.



Quincunx Ch. 25







Quincunx Ch. 25



"I'm ready my lady," Jay said, coming to stand at the end of the table.

"Shall we be off then?" asked Rash, standing and straightening her clothes.

Jay led the way with rash behind her and Cal and I bringing up the rear. Once we got to the hallway we stepped up beside her and accompanied her out into the fine morning.

"Will there be new students to replace you?" Rash asked head half turned looking across at Cal.

"They will be here in three weeks' time, there's only one girl among them, I feel sorry for her already."

"Oh I'm sure she'll be alright," Rash said.

I dropped back a pace while Cal answered more of Rash's questions about life here. We got to the market and stopped at the shie stall where I snacked on a pancake while Rash and Jay had two each and Cal took only coftea.

We went our separate ways as we got back into town, Rash to the merchants quarter while Cal and I headed back to the university to arrange for my horse to be ready and secure a little two seater cart. After that we strolled back around to the dorm.

Cal didn't know much about the countryside hereabouts and we planned just to take the road south and turn at the first side road. Kenval and Grepp were both up and sitting lounging when we got back.

"Bem around?" Cal asked as their heads turned to see who it was.

"Haven't seen her," Grepp answered.

"Is the coftea hot?" she queried.

"I doubt it, at least half hour." He said glancing over at the kitchen.

"But you'll have one if I make one," she predicted.

"Yes of course," he said with an undercurrent of amusement.

"Dav?" she asked turning to me.

I nodded as Kenval said. "Make that four."

While Cal went off to brew up I sat down. Grepp and Kenval both slumped back in their chairs, looking as though they were still suffering from the excesses of the previous night. Cal brought the drinks over and we sat silent for the most part, living the minutes till Xen returned and told us what was happening.

Bem turned up first and Curr followed shortly after, all that was needed now was the girl herself. Xen turned up after another fifteen minutes telling us that she was still waiting on her brother, she'd had no contact with him, she'd been all packed and ready for two hours, she'd been sat up in the tower watching the southern road.

As it was by now getting to half and the dinner bell Grepp suggested we all go eat, arguing that if we got there early we'd be back soonest. There were enough nods and murmurs of agreement that Grep stood and we stood with him.

We were there early enough to pull two tables together to accommodate all of us, me happily squeezed between Cal and Xen. We ate a hurried dinner and headed back, pausing only briefly while Kenval sprinted out to the main gate to check if there were any carriages stopped outside.

There was no brother waiting back at the dorm either and we all just sat around when we got back. It took only a few minutes for the boredom to set in and I was glad when Cal suggested that we sit outside on the grass.

I sat with my back against the wall with Cal sitting cross legged next to me. Xen was walking back and fore, focusing on the path, Curr and Bem were sitting with Grepp and Kenval. We must have waited a good fifteen to twenty minutes before a liveried coachman came striding around the corner.

Xen went forward to meet him while Curr looked over at us.

"We'd better get her chests out," she said getting up.

We were all scrambling to our feet, with Cal and Curr heading back to the door I joined the others walking slowly after Xen. With the time finally come I wondered what to say to her, I was thinking of visiting tomorrow night, see how she was doing with her father. 

That wasn't all I wanted to say, I had a feeling of loss already, a yearning for her company that reached beyond her sexual attraction. Telling her I was going to miss her would be understating it, if it wasn't for Rash I might have been going with her.

"Dav," Cal called to me from behind. She was guiding one of the chests as it floated along in front of her.

I stopped and waited for them to catch up. As she drew level I walked with her watching as she gently steered it one handed. Curr was bringing the other one along with the same ease. They were walking quite quickly and we soon outpaced the rest of the group.

Xen had already met the coachman when we caught her up and the girls dropped the chests as we joined them. The coachman eyed the chests looking in awe at the magic the girls just performed, and probably wondering if he might have to transport them onwards.

"Well this is it, the first leaf to scatter to the winds," Curr said as Xen turned to us.

"We'll take them onto the coach and wait for you there," Cal said.

"Okay. Why don't you take the coachman to show you where," she replied.

"I'll go with them," I said turning.

"No walk with me, there are things needing to be said. I want you so much to come with me, be my husband. At first I accepted that you wanted to go home but now with your command of the void you could share your nights with me," she began.

"No one need know and I wouldn't expect every night," she continued. "You don't have to answer now, you know where my bedroom is."

"You know I'll say yes to that, it's been on my mind as well. I'll come tomorrow late and you can tell me how you're settling in."

"My father you mean," she asked. "I'll be fighting that battle for weeks, his worst fears realised when I start to assert my own will."

The main gate came into sight with the girls already half way there. Behind us the rest of the group had nearly caught up to us and I paused to let them join us. We walked on and out to the waiting carriage and found both Curr and Cal leaning on the wall recovering.

The chests were loaded on top of the coach and being tied down, leaning out of the window was a slim fellow in a flat cap.

"Brother," Xen greeted him.

He turned from directing the coachman to look at us.

"Sister," he replied, his eyes flicking around the group of us.

"This is my brother Gregor," she said, then to him. "These are my friends."

"Greetings," he said, then to Xen. "Come on it's a long journey and I don't want to miss the last ferry."

"Brother," she chided him. "I have been ready two hours since; it is you who are tardy if we are late.

I could see the surprise and consternation on his face.

"Sister, such words," he said opening the carriage door. "Come bid your friends goodbye."

She turned and walked over to Curr and Cal giving each of them a hug and wishing them both good luck. Then Bem and then Grepp, she gripped his arms as he gripped hers and exchanged good luck wishes. She gripped my arms as she said a near tearful goodbye to me, much as saying goodbye brought a lump to my throat.

We stood over at the wall as she climbed aboard and waved her off as Gregor shouted. "Drive on."

They disappeared down the avenue as we turned and trooped back inside. While the rest went back towards the dorm Cal and I turned towards the stables and our planed ride. The ostlers had my horse ready and we soon had it hitched and were on the way with Cal taking the reins.



Quincunx Ch. 26







Quincunx Ch. 26



She gradually shortened the stroke and sped up, her breath beginning to strain as she worked her way down to the root and began slapping her tush on me. I felt the shudder run through her as she gave one last jerky bounce and planted herself on me with a half groaned 'Yes'.

She threw herself upright, her head arching back and her knees pressing into me. I could see the faint perspiration on her as she fell back into my arms, clutching at me as I drew her to me. Her heart pounded against me as I pulled her tight and began to stroke her back.

I got a breathy 'Umm' as her hand rubbed my shoulder, feeding my contentment. She wriggle to get comfortable and was reminded of my prodder still deep inside her and begging to be used. She gave another wriggle and put her elbows down to take the weight as she began sliding on me and prodding again.

She was soon upright and bouncing enthusiastically, her hands pressed into my tummy, her hunny hole sending waves of pleasure though me with her long strokes. As I looked at her I could see the pleasure in her face as she pumped me.

The moment felt perfect, I lay there and let the sexual ecstasy fill me as the world faded away, letting her fill my senses. The spasms rippling through her hunny hole pushed me over the top to join her gasping for air as my seed exploded out with the timeless joy of release.

She let herself down to lie on me, her head tucked under my chin and her hair spread on my chest. Gradually my shaft softened, shrinking till it inevitably popped out, she gave a soft moan and pulled herself up to cuddle cheek to cheek, her arms wrapped around my neck.

She turned to me and kissed my cheek, then another kiss as she worked her way around to my mouth. She kissed with passion and I responded in kind, my hand sweeping up to bury my fingers in her hair as I rolled sideways with her.

As the passion was sated the kiss's turned playful and she started teasing then rolled onto her back. I loosed her hair and lay back as well, letting her snuggle into my side wrap an arm across my chest. I let her enjoy her moments as my thoughts drifted to home.

The short visit had me longing for a longer one but with all that was happening I couldn't see when I could fit one in. my thoughts led on to Rash, and our skulking Skirian friend lurking and plotting somewhere in the city.

I hoped his timetable was a short one, the king would be wanting a speedy resolution to the matter, with any luck he might spring his trap tomorrow, probably on the way back.

"Mm," Cal murmured.

"Welcome back," I said turning my head to her.

"I wasn't asleep," she retorted, stirring and rolling to face me.

I leant in and kissed the tip of her nose. "Have you had enough practice kissing yet?"

She gave me a quick kiss back. "Never," she proclaimed.

"Let's see if my drink's cooled enough," I said breaking my e"Let's see if my drink's cooled enough," I said breaking my embrace.

I rolled over and turned to sit on the edge of the bed and reached for the cup. It was still warm but I drank it down and turned to roll back next to her.

"Three hours and counting," I said jokingly as I took her back into my arms.

She gave a giggle and leant in to kiss me again. It smouldered then burst into passion as our lips melded together and our tongues entwined. My prodder twitched back into life with her thigh pressing against it, edging under her as it grew.

She broke the kiss as her hand snaked down to take my swelling shaft.

"That was quick," she exclaimed.

I gave a short laugh. "No that was all you."

She twisted around and I felt her hair brush across me as she landed the first kiss on my head and began to lick it. I turned and took her leg and guided it over me, then bent in to probe the lips flaring open in front of me.

My tongue brushed over the smooth shiny skin with the tangy honeysweet taste exciting my taste-buds as I lapped at her juices. I let my tongue drift down to her hunny hole, stroking it before plunging my tongue in to its full stretch.

She responded by taking my head into her mouth while her tongue stroked the around the rim. We pleasured each other as our excitement grew and my cue came to seek out her nub. I pulled on her as my tongue curled around to let the tip stroke gently over it, evoking a groan in her throat.

She shuddered and pushed against me, arching her back as her hips trembled in my hands. Then she was rising and moving to plunge down on my shaft and prod me. I brought my knees up slightly for her to use for support as she continued her thrusting.

I felt the pressure build to take me to the edge and then the thrill of the ejaculatory relief as my hips thrust against hers. She paused while my hips bucked and I writhed under her and as I lay spent she started a slow rocking again.

As the sensations washed through me she sped up and took herself to her own orgasmic completion before collapsing over my knees. I rolled her and clambered around quickly filling her again with my prodder as I propped myself on my elbows above her.

She stretched her arms to encircle my neck and sighed.

"Why can't Potian men be like you?"

"You want an answer to that?" I asked, amused at her question "I couldn't even give you a wild guess."

"No male insights? Outwardly there seems no difference but their idea of sex is either a good suck or a quick prod."

"I like it, but I think it's a cultural thing, no, really I'm not sure, I can't see any reason for it that makes sense to me."

She pulled my head down and planted her lips on mine. As my head moved so did my body and my prodder inside her, she wriggled and I responded with a quick stroke. Her lips pulled from mine as she gasped.

"No." 

I froze. "Alright?"

"Just lie still with me," she replied. "We can rest awhile like this."

"Mm," I said as I leant down to finish our kiss.

A minute or so passed and she stirred.

"Dav?"

"Mm"

"Can we roll without you coming out? If you lift your leg I can put mine under and lie straight against you."

We rolled to put her on top.

"Mm that's better, now I can cuddle you."

She snuggled into me, opening her legs to encompass my length. As she settled I brought my hands under her arms to massage her shoulders. I let my thoughts wander and wondered if I was the odd one, the girls only regarded my big prodder and never in a million years would we talk of how.

Even amongst my men friend's technique wasn't brought up as a subject, which made comparisons impossible. If I was somehow special could it be that I had some sort of sexual magic as well? My thoughts were wandering into the wilds of wishes but every girl here wanted more.

She shifted on me in her sleep, jogging my prodder as she sprawled out and turned her head over.

How was I going to choose? My feelings lying here with Cal were the equal of my desire for Xen, their personalities were different but both were easy to get along with. Xen had an inner strength whilst Cal was caring and calming.

How would it work when I finally got home, morning to evening I would be on the farm, evening and night would be our time, time for visiting or socialising with the nights. Whichever, we would be married, and with wizards as parents our children might be gifted too.

My thoughts wandered to trivialities as I drifted off, joining Cal in the land of dreams.

I woke with her stirring on me, feeling my prodder still firm and full inside her.

"Umm," she sighed as I moved to look at her.

She began to rock her hips and pushed herself up, as my hands slipped around her I took her breasts and started massaging them. She prodded me vigorously as I began to match her with my stroke. She lasted a bare few minutes till she was sobbing for breath, her body wracked with the start of her orgasmic surge.

She climaxed on me, her tunnel spasming several times to the delight of my prodder as her cries matched her shudders.

She flopped back down on top of me. "Oh Dav," she gasped.

I hugged her to me as her body softened against mine, our nude bodies entwined. My prodder felt uncomfortable, a slight throb that was unwelcome.

"Cal," I stirred her.

"Mm," she responded.

"Can I have my prodder back, you can practice your healing on it."

She levered herself up and let it slip out then twisted to kneel beside me.

"Let me see," she said reaching for it.

As she took it I felt a warmth grow from her hand and pleasure surging back in.

"Oh that's nice," I exclaimed. "Don't stop."

It faded back to normal as she healed me, my prodder feeling fit and ready again.

"There," she said, releasing it. "Feel better now."

Her bedside voice made me laugh.

She turned and lay across me, leaning in to kiss me.

"Shall we sleep now?" she asked. "You can spoon me."

She slipped off me and turned her back then wriggled in to mould herself to me, opening her legs to take my shaft into her furrie, I looped my arm over and shifted my hand under her to take her hip. I thought again of the choice as I drifted off.



Quincunx Ch. 27







Quincunx Ch. 27



They played gently with it till it eventually softened and they left me lying naked while they dressed and gave my shrivelled head one last kiss with their goodbyes. After they went I lay awhile before dressing and checking on the time, the stars gave me a quarter night, too early to visit Xen or seek to recover Rash's money from the banker.

I was sat drinking coftea when a flustered Miri burst through the door.

"Davor," she cried, trying to recover her breath.

"What's the matter," I asked, jumping to my feet in alarm.

"Rash, she can't find her necklace, she thinks Svelt stole it."

I relaxed at the news, half fearing that there might have been a second attempt or something.

"Okay, I'll come over but it's too late to think of doing anything this evening."

"She wants to go there now."

"And listen to him deny having it, you think he'll meekly hand it back?"

We walked hurriedly over and Jay let us in. I listened calmly while she told me of her discovery and then put the case for doing nothing till the morning when she could raise a complaint with the ministry, if she had noticed straight away we'd have had more chance as it was he could claim that it had been stolen after he had returned it.

I left her feeling annoyed and angry at his arrogance and belief that we could do nothing to hurt him back. As soon as I got back to my room I sent an eye to see what I could find in his bedroom. I found his wife's jewels and a necklace such as Rash had described, the matching earrings were also there and I created a mini tunnel and took the whole box.

Downstairs I scouted out his vault and negated the spells I'd found, studying them carefully as I drew of their power so as I could reinstate them after I'd finished, and then floating his treasure chests though a new tunnel and back to my bedroom.

I opened up another tunnel, this one to my bedroom at home and shifted it all through; following them to bring back the money he's charged Rash along with her necklace and earrings. I wasn't sure yet how to return them to Rash without admitting magic was involved in their recovery.

The next thing on the to do list was my visit with Xen, it wasn't that I didn't want to see her but I was in such confusion with her and Cal that I half wished that I could stop time and take a week to think things out.

With my anger and excitement fading after my raid on Svelt's's house I decided to take a walk to the market and get a cup of tococaleth to drink while I thought about what to say to Xen. Even though my time had been filled her absence over the past day or so had left me wanting to hold and kiss her again.

When I got to the tococaleth stand I sat and sipped on my drink, my thoughts wandered back to my problem, it was pointless making pro and con lists in my mind, no matter how many plusses and minuses there were I had to let my heart be the judge and not some arbitrary score.

I sat there looking out on the night and the people still milling around this small portion of the market. What were their problems and worries, my lovesick struggles my own little part of that larger world, around me there were people making hard choices, why was mine so difficult.

I finished my drink and wandered home, Grepp and Kenval were there, drunk enough to be boisterous and insisting I join them for coftea. I told them I was tired and slipped into my room to their raucous laughter.

Locking my door I sat on the bed and again wondered about visiting Xen, I wasn't being fair to either of them. Though her questions seemed innocuous Cal seemed to be subtly hinting that she might come and live with me, something I knew Xen would never do. 

I looked up and pictured Xen's bedroom and tremulously opened a tunnel. I watched Xen scramble out of bed as I walked through, her nightdress flowing behind her as she rushed to hug me and plant her lips on mine. 

We kissed passionately as my prodder twitched into life, I felt it grow and press against her as the kiss went on.

"Oh I'm so glad you came," she said, holding onto my arms as she stepped back.

"Hard time settling back in?" I asked.

"No, I missed you," she replied.

"And I missed you," I said, admitting the truth to myself.

She drew me to her and gave me a short sweet kiss. "Even with Cal and the others begging to share your bed?"

I gave a quick laugh. "Sex isn't everything, sharing a bed isn't sharing a life."

I pulled her into my arms and lifted her, she wrapped herself around me as I carried her to the bed.

"I think I love you," I said as I set her down.

"And I love you," she replied. "I was afraid you were going to pick Cal, she's so in love with you as well."

"I know, I love her as well but you're the happy ending to my story."

An end to this story perhaps, but his new found skills were going to be put to the test in the next one.



Quincunx Ch. 28







Quincunx Ch. 28



"I feel bad breaking off with you like this, but I only became truly sure last night."

"Don't. I've known that you and Xen were a match for a while. I just didn't want to give up."

"It's all water under the bridge now. Life changes for us all tomorrow. For you and the rest here it's the start of your adult life, out into the real world full of responsibilities. I'm going to be convincing Xen's parents that I'm a suitable suitor for their daughter."

"That won't be hard for you," she said, a little gaiety in her voice as an unforced smile curled the corners of her mouth.

We passed through the doors as we continued conversing.

"I also need to go home and settle my affairs there, so I've got a busy few weeks ahead," I continued.

We talked on about the journey as we walked back to the dorm, Bem and Cur tailing along a few steps behind us. When we got there we separated, the girls wanting to change out of their robes while I promised a hot cup of cofftea when they got over.

Grepp was lounging in one of the chairs, a cup before him as I walked in. "Find her?" he asked as I strolled over.

"Yes, I invited them over for cofftea after they get changed," I answered, walking past him to check on the pot.

"Ah, that must be my cue to get changed," he responded, sounding like he was standing.

I glanced over my shoulder to see him crossing to his room as I got to the little kitchen. I added more fuel to the fire and topped the pot up then stood at the sink and daringly used my magic to float Grepp's cup over and rinse it.

With that done, I walked over and took a seat facing the door to wait for them. They came in together, their looks at me giving away the fact that Cur had told them.

"Welcome," I greeted them standing. "I think it's had time to brew. Grepp's changing and should be out shortly."

"This is probably another last, the last meeting of the cofftea clique," Cur commented as she sat.

"Yes," agreed Bem. "Even with half of us already gone."

"Yes, tomorrow as start our new lives, our times here will be relegated to memories of the good times," Cal put in, looking over at me.

I poured the brew and took Cal and Cur the first cups, joining them as I gave Bem hers and set mine on the table.

"So Xen's the lucky one," Bem said turning to me, breaking the developing awkward silence.

"If she'll have me. I haven't asked her yet, plus she's got an insular family to persuade," I answered. "I'm determined to overcome the odds if she agrees."

"Oh there's no question that she'll say yes. Especially if you move down to be with her," chimed in Cur.

"As I intend to. She could never settle for the rural life I formally led. I have no doubt I'll take her to visit. Besides, she has an important role to fill and I wouldn't want to deprive her of that"

"Ah," exclaimed Grepp as he walked out. "You made it."

"Are you looking forward to your new position?" asked Cur. "The change to a man of duties and responsibilities?"

"I'm more looking forward to the freedoms, setting my own schedule being the foremost," he replied as he made his way to the kitchen.

"Lucky you, I'm going to have a mentoring and teaching schedule, learning my role as I go," Cal countered.

"I'll have fixed hours too. It's being respected as a graduate and all that. Being someone who has a valid opinion on things," he explained further as he poured his drink.

"I think you need to add experience to the mix, but there's always the new man's fresh perspective," I chipped in as he walked back and took his seat.

"Well, I'm looking forward to new friends and new challenges," Bem added.

"I'm sure we're all going to thrive," Cal said. "We'll all find new friends and settle down."

"As long as you don't let life consume your dreams," Cur said. "I read that somewhere and it stuck with me."

"Who's in favour of getting a couple of bottles in before getting an early night?" asked Grepp. "One final drink to toast absent friends."

"If you want, I haven't got much packing left to do," Cal replied.

"Yes, let this be my treat as a thanks for accepting me as you did. I'll get some money and we can take a stroll after we've finished our drinks," I said, picking my cup up.

"Mm," Cal mused. "How about you and Grepp go, as it's his idea, and we can meet you after tea. Which will give us time to finish our packing," she concluded.

Grepp gave a chuckle. "Two of us should be enough."

I chuckled with him then took another sip of my drink.

"Right," Cal said leaning back and taking a sip of her drink.

I hurried my drink down, then stood. "I'll get my money, then I'm ready."

"Okay," acknowledged Grepp, before taking a sip of his drink.

I rinsed my cup, then retrieved a couple of gold coins from the banker's stash before returning to the table. Grepp stood as I approached.

"Ready," he asked rhetorically, already heading for the door.

"So what are you really doing?" he asked as we walked up the path.

"Going home to straighten out my affairs. You know they've invited me to stay on and put my powers at their disposal. Though I can think of few occasions when they might be needed, that would lead to an otherwise boring life."

"Your powers just don't make sense - no one else except grand masters have ever had them. You can control magic but not use it."

"Yes, it's like my magical side never fully developed. Its growth got stunted somehow," I agreed.

We fell silent as we walked through the gate. I walked with him as he led us to one of the lesser visited local inns. We bought six bottles, four whites, a red and a rosé. On the way home, I got to wondering when I might have occasion to revisit. Probably when Xen's work called for her to visit, I mused.

When we got home it was near tea time, so we left the wine on the table and went across to the girl's dorm.

"Anyone home," I called as we entered.

One by one the girls opened their doors.

"Time for an early tea," Grepp suggested.

"Ahh, I'm ready if the others are," Cal said, glancing to each of the others.

Cur and Bem both stepped forward with Cal joining them. Grepp and I turned and led the way out, letting the girls catch up as the path opened out. Early as we were, we weren't the first in the queue of three others.

I reflected on where I would be this time tomorrow, planning to be eating my meal in the inn, waiting to cross to Ormskirk the next morning. My day would see me traveling home and spending the day with my family.

The talk over dinner was about what food our next dinners would be in our new homes. My diet would be changing from an agrarian one to, I presumed, a seafood based one, one of the lesser changes I could expect on becoming a husband.

After we finished tea, we walked back to our dorm and opened the first bottle of wine. As we drank, they reminisced about their time here, most of it about Kenval and practical jokes that were long before my coming. 

I drank enough to be merry and enjoyed the atmosphere; indeed, I half-wished I could have spent some of those carefree times with them. By the time we hit the fifth bottle, the rest of them had reached the 'happy drunk' state.

There were lots of hugs, singly and group, sprinkled with good wishes when it came time to part. The party had lasted till mid-evening, a little too early to visit Xen yet. I decided to stroll up to the market and get some fresh air and a last cup of tococaleth.

As I walked out, the night was strangely dark; the accompanying chill wind was a strong enough warning of rain to make me turn back to wait out the time in my room. As I settled on my bed, I could hear the ungentle pitter patter beginning on the roof.

I had little to pack asI had taken most of my belongings back with me on my first visit, leaving only my donkey, my clothes and sword to carry. I would only need a bag of clean clothes, enough for a day or two, giving me reason for regular visits home.

My overnight visit to Xen was more about making plans for the future than making love, though that did come at the end, easing us into a peaceful sleep. I returned home for an early breakfast and found a knot of staff, students and graduates in the entrance hall.

"What's up?" I asked as I got to the edge of the crowd.

"There're rumours of an uprising in the Far Islands, that's all we know for the moment," the student informed me.

"Ah ha, thanks" I acknowledged before walking on.

I had a filling breakfast and then strolled over to the stables to pick up my horse and donkey, tipping the stablemen a silver each. As my direction was inconsequential, I headed north, the way I journeyed in those few weeks ago.

As soon as I made open country, I created a void and rode through into our barn. Even though I hadn't ridden far, I asked the groom to give him a quick rub down before putting him out to pasture.

I found my mother in her drawing room first, getting a quick hug from her before getting dragged into the kitchen to be added the dinner list. Next, we went up to father's office and I sat them down and told them of my plans to court Xen.

They, initially at least, wanted me to stay, bring my bride here. I explained that Xen had a job to do and my magical abilities, even though I want to keep them hidden, had changed me too much to live a normal life.

After I'd convinced them I knew best for my future, I had one more duty to perform: to tell Webberli I was leaving. I strolled over to her house, and feeling a little nervous, knocked the door. Webberli answered, her smile turning to a frown as she asked, "Where've you been?"

"Getting a magical education. I'm afraid my life, and the plans we made, have all changed. I'm going away again, this time for good. I won't lie to you, there is someone else and unfortunately I love her more than I do you," I answered boldly.

"They said this would happen, I told them no, I know he loves me and will return, what am I going to say now?"

"Tell them I was unfaithful to you and you rejected me. I won't be around to refute you. I can even start a rumour going amongst the lads when I see them later, if you want."

"That's small consolation for losing you. There are few good ones left to choose from," she complained.

"Sorry, events have forced this change on me, us. I'm no longer suited to the life I expected to lead. It would be futile for me to try," I replied.

"Well, you might as well get on with it and not bother me again," she said, closing the door on me.

I turned and walked off, glad to have gotten that one last worry off my mind. I could now return to Xen with an absolutely clear conscience. The walk back to the house set me up for the light lunch of beer and sandwiches.

I spent the afternoon getting reacquainted with the farm, meeting with the workers and telling them that I was leaving and discussing with them who they thought should be trained up to replace me as farm manager.

I also took time before tea to use the privacy of my room to send an eye to find a suitable dark corner to void through to and found a decent inn to book a room in. Whilst I was doing that, I made enquiries as to the sailing times of the ferry over to Ormskirk and where to book a ticket.

The first was at seven 'o' clock and was usually empty enough to buy a ticket on board. If I wanted to be sure however, there was a ticket office on the dock next to where it berthed.

I decided to walk down and familiarise myself with the route. The dock was far bigger than the one at Bravermouth. Enquiries sent me a good walk down to the pier and office where I paid for my passage.

I found another dark corner and transported myself back to my bedroom where I tidied myself up before strolling downstairs to wait for dinner with my mother, and listen to her talk on the responsibilities of marriage and having a family.

The talk over dinner was farm matters, with my junior brother learning of his new responsibilities as trainee farm manager in my place. I took my leave soon after, returning to the inn and having a beer there while I waited out the time to rejoin Xen.

Xen greeted me with complaints of her aches, she'd ridden out in the afternoon and ridden a bit far and spent too long in the saddle. After I'd massaged her painful parts, she cuddled to my back and we slept that way till morning.

We agreed that my visit would be unannounced, with her acting (only a little bit) surprised. All went to plan, me booking myself into an inn in town before going out to make my first call on them until I got down to the dock.

As I walked down to my ship, I came across a knot of people protesting around one of the piers. Asking what it was about brought up the complaint that the sailors were unwilling to take the ship to the Far Isles because of the rumours of the revolution there.

The news was travelling fast, thought it seemed that most of the would-be passengers hadn't heard or didn't care. Still, it was none of my business and I passed them and continued on down to my ship's berth.



Quincunx Ch. 29







Quincunx Ch. 29



Xen walked me back to the stables where we had a few moments while the horse was harnessed.

"Will I see you tonight?" she asked as we walked over to the fence.

"Yes, I was thinking that this time you should come stay with me," I answered.

"Huh?"

"I'll make the void and you come through to the Inn. That way the noise won't matter," I explained.

"That's a good idea, we can do that."

"Good. If he has house to let, I'll come and consult you; you know the town and where you'd like to live."

"Trollywood Hills," she replied gaily, "but it would cost a small fortune."

"I'll have to see then," I answered, chuckling.

She moved closer and wrapped her arm around mine as she grasped my hand.

"I almost can't believe this is really happening. You're here and my parents have accepted the idea of me getting married. That we'll be officially be living together in a matter of a week. Things I could only dream of, coming true," she said, her head canted towards to me.

"All of this is like a dream to me, my powers most of all. Meeting you and finding you loved me is the cream on top. Things have turned out so perfect; it's like my secret wish has been granted."

"Mm, yes. We're two lucky people," she said reflectively.

"Aren't we," I replied, pondering the chain of events that brought me here.

The whinnying of the horse drew my attention, glancing over I saw the stableman drawing the reins up to the seat.

"It looks like I'm ready. I'll call on you late tonight," I said, giving her hand a squeeze.

"I'll be waiting," she replied, returning the squeeze.

I walked the horse and cart back to the front of the house and we embraced and kissed before I mounted the cart and left. I was left to my thought, a mixture of gladness that things had gone so well and worry about the situation on the Far Isles.

I only had a vague idea of the direction and distance of the Far Isles. One of my tasks before I retired to my room to conjure an eye would be to visit the docks and find a sailor who would know.

Right now though, I was headed for the councilman's office, the sooner I could arrange accommodation, the sooner Xen could move in with me. I let the horse lead me to the stables and booked it for the next day.

With the directions fresh in my mind, I headed out on foot for the council offices.

The guard at the door barred my way. "State your business," he ordered.

"I'm here to see Councilman Blundl, I met with him this morning at the council meeting," I replied.

He withdrew his arm and I walked in. To my right were stairs, curling around the wall. In front of me, a desk and a man seated behind it.

"Can you direct me to Blundl's office?" I asked as I walked towards him.

"Up the stairs, third on the right," he replied.

Maintaining my dignity, I wheeled around and climbed the stairs. When I got to the third door, I knocked and waited, then knocked again.

The door opened, "Yes?" asked a young girl.

"I'd like to see the councilman, tell him it's Davor, from the meeting this morning," I replied.

"One moment," she said, before ducking back inside and closing the door.

After some tens of seconds, the door opened again and the girl said, "Come in," as she stepped aside.

I entered, seeing a smaller desk in the corner opposite and a much bigger one to my right with the councilman rising to greet me.

"Welcome, to what do I owe this visit?"

"Seanne, Xen's mother, recommended you. I'm intending to marry Xen and settle here and I'm looking for a house to either rent long term or buy," I stated, crossing to him.

He sat again. "Have a seat," he said, leaning forward on the desk.

We talked and he listed several and I picked out the two big ones, one with four family bedrooms and two servants, while the other had two extra guest bedrooms and four servant rooms.

I told him that I'd like Xen to look at them and after telling him I'd collect Xen and meet him at his office the next morning, he offered to collect me and then Xen in his carriage and then take us to view the houses.

With this all agreed, I thanked him and left. My next task was to get an approximation for the Far Isles, and I headed for the docks. I picked the first big ship I came to and walked half way up the gangplank before shouting, "Hello the ship!"

As I stopped at the top, a head appeared as someone climbed out of a hatchway.

"Hello stranger, what can we do for you?"

"I was wondering if you had any maps showing the position of the Far Isles?" I asked.

"Why would you want that?" 

"Does that matter if I'm prepared to pay for the information?"

"How much?"

"A silver or two," I answered.

"Ah, the magic words, follow me."

He led me up onto the quarter deck then across to the stairs to the poop deck.

"Wait," I stopped him as he mounted the steps. "You keep you maps out in the open?"

He grabbed my arm, pulling a dagger and bringing it threateningly to my face.

"Give me...." was all he had to say before the fire spell I'd cast on his dagger made it too hot to hold. "...Ow!" he shouted, throwing it aside and releasing me.

A wind spell threw him against the far rail and pinned him there.

"Do you have the maps?" I asked calmly.

"Yes," he gasped.

I dropped the wind. "Then let's try again shall we."

He got warily back to his feet and edged around me. "They're in the Captain's day cabin; you'll need his permission to enter there."

"Then take me to the captain," I ordered. "You don't want to upset me twice," I warned in my best menacing tone.

He kept his eye on me as he crabbed his way down to the door. Opening it he said, "The captain's cabin is at the end of the corridor."

"Lead on then," I prompted.

Very reluctantly, he ducked through the door and, still with his body turned to keep a half eye on me he shuffled down to the door with the Captain plaque on it. He knocked and stepped back as I edged forward.

"Enter," came a strong voice.

As I opened the door, the sailor hurried away behind me. The captain was a big man with a weather beaten face. "Yes?" he asked.

"I would beg a favour; I'd like to look at your maps and get an idea of the direction and distance of the Far Isles," I stated.

"That's a strange request..." he said his brows furrowing deeper wrinkles

"It is. You've no doubt heard of the troubles there?"

"Aye."

Well, I'm a newly-qualified wizard and I need to send a magical eye there. Trouble is, I don't know where they are, that's why I'm here looking."

"Ye don't want to seem foolish asking your fellows, hey? Well you're in luck, I've got the charts ye need, here take a look," he said, reaching to select one of the folded papers on the side of his desk.

Measured out, it was one hundred and seventy three times the distance between us and the mainland and almost exactly South South East. I left feeling confident I could find them and headed back to my hotel.

Up in the privacy of my room, I conjured my eye and sent it soaring aloft, pushing it as fast as I could. From the level of the clouds, I had a spectacular view of the shadow speckled ocean below. 

I kept a sharp look out in front as we past the fifteen minute mark even though I reckoned it would take at least twenty minutes. It took five minutes longer before a smudge on the horizon a little to the left proved to be what I was seeking.

I turned towards the islands and angled down, only slowing as I got near enough to make out the town and castle on the main island. I scouted around the town first, finding everything looking normal, then I turned my attention to the castle.

The keep was encircled in what I can only describe as darkness. There was a barrier that the eye couldn't penetrate. I was tempted to try a void but no doubt the wizard council had tried that as well.

After fixing a few views in my memory, I dropped the spell and lay back on the bed realising I was none the wiser. If I was to make a proper investigation, then it would have to be in person, not a step I needed to take just yet; the next move was the wizard councils to make.

My next objective was to learn more about the device. I wistfully wished I still had access to the university library, though no doubt the all relevant books would be in use already.

Gulic was my best source here, though I doubt he would have much on magical weapons from centuries ago. At least he was in communication with the university and would have the latest news.

I was tempted to visit Swapswisle, his position put him in the thick of things, but the risk of exposing myself was too great. I could leave a note on his desk for him to find in the morning and communicate with him that way.

If I could get him to leave one of the better books on his desk overnight, it would be easy for me to draw it through and read it. It was probably too late to try today but I could compose a note for the morning, I should ask at the desk if they have pen and paper.

I looked out, gauging the time to be near enough tea time and decided to try the Inn's food. I had a fish dish and a fruit pudding, along with a bottle of wine. Feeling satisfied with my full belly and the glow of the wine, I made my way back to my room to wait till it was late enough to invite Xen over.

After half an hour of gnawing on the bone of how to tackle the unknown weapon, I wondered if I wouldn't be better visiting home. I could use the opportunity to count out a thousand golds to cover the cost of the house.

I could leave it readily accessible for me to collect tomorrow with a quick visit to my hotel room while they waited for me downstairs. As I sat up I had a further thought, tonight was a likely night for visitors so it might be better just sorting the money.

Sitting on the side of the bed, I conjured a void before me and pictured the other end in my bedroom. I was surprised to see my younger brother, Ronier, in view as it opened out.

"Ron," I greeted him as I stepped out.

He looked at me slack jawed for a moment longer then replied, "What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same," I answered. "I'm here to retrieve some things I'll need tomorrow." 

"Good, we were going to store your stuff in the attic. I asked father, as you've moved out he said I could have your room," he stated.

"Ah, well I guess I'll be using the guest room on my next official visit."

I couldn't complain, I didn't need it any more and it was much bigger than his. 

"So what was it you wanted?" he asked.

"Gold from the chest, enough to buy a house," I replied.

The mention of gold got his full attention.

"Where have you got that much gold from?"

"I stole it from a thief, it's lucky I did now," I replied walking over to the chests of gold. "I'm hoping a thousand will cover it, it's in the expensive part of town," I explained.

Kneeling before one, I opened it and could only wonder how muck wealth was there. I grabbed a handful and counted out a stack of ten.

"I'll give you a hand," Ron said, kneeling beside me.

It took us ten minutes or more to count out the sum. Looking at the stacks on the floor Ron exclaimed. "You're going to need a strong bag to carry all that."

"A strong wooden box is more like it," I said wryly.

"One of the boxes the crockery came in would suit you. I've just seen them in the attic," he said excitedly.

"Fine, go bring a suitable one for me," I replied.

As he hurried off, I got up and moved over to the bed to sit there. He was back in less than a minute.

"The dinner plate one looked about the right size," he said, putting a squarish box down next to the stacks of coins.

"Is it empty?" I asked, standing.

"Yes," he said, lifting the lid.

"Stand back," I said, signalling with my hand.

As he did, I mentally commanded the coins to lift themselves up and into the box. Ron watched, amazed at the sight.

"Coolio," he said softly.

"Yes," I agreed. "You can put the lid back on now."

Though he would be up and gone by the time I needed to collect it, with a few spells it would be safe in my hotel room till then.

"Okay, that's me finished, thanks for the help," I said walking towards the box.

"Aren't you going to pop in on Mother and Father?" he asked.

"No, why disturb them for a quick hello goodbye; I'll be bringing Xen for a visit soon, so we'll have time then."

"Oh okay." 

I put on the performance of swirling my hand to open the void, then pointed my finger at the box and had it lift up and float through.

"I'll see you soon," I said as I stepped through after it.

I lowered it out of sight on the far side of the bed and then settled down on the bed myself. I mentally cast a few spells to glue it to the floor and armour it against even battle axe blows.

I wondered what Xen was doing and after a moment's contemplation, created an eye and sent it to her bedroom. It was dark and empty; with a twinge of disappointment, I quashed the spell and laid back.

There was nothing much to do now but wait for Xen to go to bed; I'd check again in half hour or so. My thoughts stayed with Xen, drifting from the promise of loving her tonight and onto her and I living together in a few days time.

When I tried next time, I found a lighted candle on the dressing table but all else undisturbed. I took it as a sign that she wouldn't be long and sat back on the edge of the bed, turning the eye to watch the door.

It took a few minutes for her to enter, and as she paused to close the door, I opened up a void between us.

"Oh!" she exclaimed, a little surprised.

"Hi, I missed you," I said slipping off the bed to stand before the hole between us.

"I missed you," she replied hurrying over.

"Wait, you'd better undress first," I said, holding my hand up.

"Huh?" she queried, stopping.

"Leave your day clothes here. If anyone visits they'll think you can't have gone far in your nightdress," I explained.

"Now one will disturb me, but why not," she replied with a shrug.

She began undoing her blouse then turned to present me with her back. "Undo my skirt, will you?" she asked.

I stepped forward and undid the buttons, letting it fall around her ankles. At the same time, she shucked of her blouse, catching it on one of her arms. Stepping out of the skirt, she turned and dipped down to pick it up.

Walking over to the bed, she hung the clothes over the footboard and sat. Taking her shoes off, she put them at the side the turned and picked her nightdress from the pillow. Slipping off the bed, she pulled the covers down the turned to me.

"Ready," she declared, approaching me.

My shaft had stiffened in anticipation and the erotic sight of her near-naked body. Her eyes caught the tent in my pants.

"I see you're ready as well," she said with a giggle.

"With such delights on offer," I replied, holding out my hand.

Taking it, I turned and stepped back through the hole, bringing Xen with me. I let the void fade as Xen stepped close enough to start undoing my pants. Eagerly, I took my shirt off while Xen teased my dangler as she undid the buttons.

She stripped my underclothes as well as she crouched to pull my pants down to my knees.

"Wait," I cried, tossing my shirt aside, "let me sit and get my shoes off."

"Lift your foot," she ordered.

Putting my hand on her head for balance, I lifted a foot and let her remove the shoe and push my clothes off. She repeated it for my other leg while my prodder hovered inches from her head.

With two feet on the ground, I bent forward, hands under her arms, to lift her. As she stood, my arms slipped around her back and I tilted my head to her upturned face to kiss her.

My prodder felt warm and hard between us and the little wiggle she gave as she pressed herself against me sent a shivery thrill through me.

"Let's get on the bed," she whispered huskily as she broke the kiss.

"Mm, yes," I said softly as I released her.

She kept one arm around me as I turned and walked her to the bed. As we got to its side, I turned and scooped her up, then placed her on the bed. I clambered up and swung my leg over her hips to straddle her.

"Let me take my nickers off," she said laughingly.

I lifted up to let her reach down and slip them over her hips. As she lowered herself, I lifted my knee back over her and slipped them off as she raised her legs. As I turned back to face her, she reached out and pulled me over on top of her.

Our lips met in a full on twisty kiss, our tongues shifting back and fore as they caressed. I could feel her hardening nipples pressing against me and lifted to slip a hand over her breast.

When she broke the kiss, she pushed my head down to let my mouth find her nipple. While I was suckling that, it wasn't long before my free hand found its way down between her thighs.

As I started to shift to go down on her she stopped me. "No, I want you to prod me," she pleaded.

My prodder twitched its approval of her words as I manoeuvred between her parting legs. Our lovemaking was short and frantic but sweet enough, especially at the end when her throbbing vagina took me over the edge as well.



Quincunx Ch. 30







Quincunx Ch. 30



"I know, but I do," she said squeezing my hand.

"Well, it should only be for a couple of days; I expect they've got most of it planned," I answered as we stopped at the cart and I helped her up.

She cuddled up to me on the ride back to the Inn, but we travelled silently, with me already reviewing my thoughts on how to move forward after the magical wall had been unravelled.

We ate dinner then relaxed in the bar over the remains of bottle of wine we'd ordered with the food. I took her home as the sun was setting and then rode back, leaving the horse and cart at the stables to walk back to the Inn in the gathering darkness.

Up in my room, I finally had time to devote to the book Swapswisle had sent. Jakes was a wizard to one of the nobles back in the age of kings; he was a tinkerer with magical charms and wards and developed a method of sharing his power through crystals.

Nothing was known of his methods or spells and the knowledge was thoughts lost, I discovered half way through the second chapter. I kept on reading anyway till I thought it was late enough to bring Xen over again.