6 comments/  35375 views/  11 favorites

To Catch a Merchant Princess Ch. 01

By: Darkniciad



Author's Notes:

© Copyright Darkniciad.  If this story appears anywhere except Literotica.com with this note attached, it is posted without my permission and is likely incomplete/improperly formatted.  Please go to Literotica and search for Darkniciad to find the real, authorized version of this tale.

This tale takes place in my fantasy world, and centers upon characters you might recognize from "Queen Alicia" and "King Thakkorias."  There isn't much sex in this story, and most of the heat comes in the later chapters.

Much as "Casting Off Convention," this story details early adventures in the life of my characters, long before the 'present day'.

Pardon the font size/face change during/after the block of text until the end of the page, if it appears.  I'm an optimist, so I just fire and hope that the programmers are going to track down that bug just in time for my latest to come through clean, despite knowing how much of a pain code bugs are to find *laugh*

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

Alicia fought to keep her eyes open, and thought that she was certainly going to lose the battle this time.  Oblivious to her waning attention, Alfred continued to drone on about his exciting — at least to him — day of trading.

He hadn't even noticed that she'd completely changed her hairstyle since he'd called upon her only two days earlier.

Alicia stared past him at the manicured lawn of her home, the beauty of the sculpted bushes and carefully chosen trees lost upon her in her irritation.  The sound of the songbirds couldn't cut through Alfred's endless oratory, nor could the smell of flowers overpower the miasma of the scented oils in his hair.

She knew that she couldn't possibly do what she wanted to do, which was to stand up and walk away without a word.  Her father would have an apoplexy, and Alfred would no doubt spend days decrying her lack of manners to anyone foolish enough to listen.  At a loss, she simply nodded and offered half-hearted smiles any time he paused, and spent the rest of the time fidgeting and twirling her finger into one blonde curl.

Alicia straightened as her father's carriage rolled in through the front gate of the low wall surrounding the property.  Alfred didn't even notice her audible sigh of relief over his continuing oratory.  As soon as he paused for breath again, Alicia interrupted him.

"I fear my father has returned, and I must return to the house to see if he has need of me."

Alfred froze for a moment as the next onslaught of boring recollection ground to a halt in his head.  Eventually, he managed to sort her words out of his own egotistical rambling.   "But of course, my fair flower.  May I call upon you again on the morrow?"

"I fear tomorrow finds me in the tutelage of the Baroness Gwendoline," Alicia answered.

"Ah, the fates conspire against us.  I will speak with your father on the morrow then, to determine when we might once again share each other's exquisite company."

"Yes, the fates are truly most cruel sometimes."  Silently, Alicia thought, And sometimes they do me a kindness I could never repay.

Alfred stood and whipped his hat back on his head, only to doff it to Alicia a moment later.  "Until we meet again, my fair flower."

"Farewell, Alfred," Alicia responded.  She even managed to avoid frowning when he took her hand and kissed it before turning toward the stables.

As soon as he passed out of sight, Alicia quickly removed the pin holding the top of her bodice closed to hide her ample cleavage.  Every gown her mother bought her seemed to border on the indecent, and she had no desire to display her attributes to the likes of Alfred.  If she'd left her bodice unpinned, he would not only have talked incessantly about himself, he would have done so to her chest.

She greeted her father and welcomed him home, knowing full well that he would have no time for her, let alone need of her.  His bookkeeper had met him at the massive oaken front door, as always, and they discussed the business of the day.  She fulfilled her customary obligation, and sat quietly upon a cushion-covered couch with her mother as the men discussed important matters.

For the last few years, this part of her day had set her teeth on edge.  While she had no real interest in the business of trade, she had nevertheless acquired a deep knowledge of her father's business through these evening sessions.  She frequently knew what her father or the bookkeeper was going to say before they said it.  Despite having no passion for the trade, she had little doubt that she could have easily stepped into her father's role and managed the business adequately.  At times, she'd even considered solutions to problems that eventually came to pass a few days later.  However, she knew that her idea would have met with immediate dismissal in the form of her father nodding absently without having heard a word she said.

Her only value to her father lay in the influential men seeking her hand in marriage.

Even as she thought it, she knew it wasn't true.  Her parents loved her, but didn't often express it very well.  Even those things that made her feel like a possession were born out of love.  Her father simply wanted her to have a rich husband who would take care of her as he did her mother.  He couldn't comprehend Alicia's independent nature and desire to make her own way in the world.  Such a thing was an alien concept to his limited worldview.

A servant announcing that dinner was ready ended the first trying segment of Alicia's evening, and began the next.

"Did you have a pleasant visit with Alfred, Dear?"

Alicia contained a sigh, having hoped that she might have more than a bite of her dinner and a sip of wine before the inquisition from her mother began.  "Yes, Mother," she replied with little conviction in her voice.

"He's quite handsome, and he shows great promise in expanding his family's prospects," Her mother continued, either ignoring the bland tone of Alicia's voice, or dismissing it.

"A fine choice for a husband," her father agreed from the opposite end of the long table after a sip of wine.

Growing testier by the moment, Alicia said, "He barely notices me.  All he does is talk about himself."

"Well, Dear, you're hardly drawing attention to yourself or encouraging him.  You must make an effort to accentuate your charms.  You have far prettier gowns, and you have barely made up your face."

Alicia pursed her lips as her mother spoke, and then retorted without a moment of thought, "I could meet him unclad and his first word to me would concern the trials and triumphs of his day."

Her father put down his fork, the ominous clink of silver on china causing the servants to stiffen and her mother to cover her mouth.  "I will not abide such uncouth language from you, Daughter."  He paused for a moment to regain his composure, and then continued, "Alicia, you must stop rejecting every suitor who comes to call.  Most women of your age are already two years married, with far fewer prospects."

"Is it too much to ask that I actually find my future husband interesting?"

That pronouncement prompted a gasp from Alicia's mother and audible swallows from the wide-eyed servants lining the tapestry covered walls.

"Is it too much to ask that a daughter respect the father who provides such a fine life for her?"

Alicia hung her head and apologized, "I am sorry, Father.  I spoke without thinking."

"See that it does not happen again.  You simply must abandon these fanciful notions of marriage that you have acquired from vagabond poets.  Those ridiculous writings are the rambling of fools addled by drink."

"Yes, Father."

"I hear that Baron Ranyer is having a grand ball, Husband.  Do you think we might receive an invitation soon?"

In a way, Alicia was grateful for her mother's change of subject, but it also reinforced the notion that she should obey her father without question, even in a matter of the heart.

The remainder of the meal proceeded uneventfully, and Alicia gladly took her leave once granted permission.  She stepped out onto her balcony in the night air to sigh and stare at the stars.

The distant sound of men's voices raised in anger drew Alicia's eyes toward the city.  Though she couldn't see the shouting men, she could certainly see the poor section of the town where they dwelled.  She felt a flash of shame for lamenting her own life when such obvious evidence of people far less fortunate lurked only a short distance away.

The sounds grew louder and more voices joined in, stealing away the serenity of the night.  Alicia stepped back in to find a servant awaiting her pleasure.

"Your bath is drawn, and your nightclothes are prepared, Milady.  May I be of any other service?"

"Thank you, Kylie.  Please, take your ease."

"Very good, Milady," Kylie responded with a bow of her head, and then turned to leave the room, her footsteps silent on the carpeted path.  Alicia knew that she would return before the sun to lay out Alicia's clothing for the next day, and assist her in fixing her hair and putting on her face.

Alicia removed her constraining gown with a sigh of relief and sank into the expensive ceramic tub.  Soon thereafter, she pulled up her down-filled comforter and drifted off to sleep.

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

Alicia awakened deep in the night with a gasp.  She panted for breath, staring into the gloom of her room and hastily pulling her hand away from her mound, where it had come to rest as she slept — and dreamed.

The images of her nocturnal fantasy lingered in her mind, refusing to go away.  She could not escape the touch of the devilishly handsome, perfect model of a man that had wooed her in her dream.  Her nipples were painfully stiff against her silky nightgown, her rapid breaths causing the cloth to caress them much as her lover had in the dream.  The warmth and aching tingle between her legs was almost maddening in its intensity.

Try as she might to ignore the screaming of her body and the rapid pattering of her heart, neither would give her respite.  Her cheeks burning with embarrassment, she let her hand drift back to its previous position, and surrendered to her need.

Soon enough, her silken nightgown crept upward as her arousal grew and her fantasy continued where it had left off.  As soon as the bunched cloth rose above her cotton panties, Alicia slipped her fingers beneath them to her wet heat.  Her back arched from the direct contact, and she choked off a moan as her fingers were replaced by those of her imaginary lover.

So unlike the real suitors who sought her hand, her dream man spoke of her, not himself.  Now, he admired her with a look in his eyes that bordered on worship.  Alicia's fingers traced her folds, the amount of slippery wetness surprising her.  Her fingers moved faster, and the man in her mind's eye did the same.  The flush in her cheeks deepened as her fingers danced over her sex, but from excitement rather than shame this time.

She pinched her lips tightly closed against the sounds of pleasure trying to escape her unbidden.  Her finger found the center of her pleasure, rubbing the swollen bud in circles as a warm point of ecstasy grew ever larger within her.  Her muscles contracted, causing her hips to rise ever so slightly toward her fingers, and thus those of her dream lover.  He looked deep into her eyes, whispering words she couldn't quite make out in an aroused, encouraging tone.

Alicia bottled up her cry of release when she came, a tight, quiet squeal in her throat the only thing she allowed to escape her.  Her head rose up from the feather-stuffed pillow and she trembled as the delicious agony of her orgasm shot through her body.  When it released her, after what felt like an eternity, she collapsed into the mattress to pant for breath.

As her fantasy and arousal ebbed, a slight frown darkened her features.  She wondered if her father was right, if such wonderful emotion was nothing more than a flight of fancy that only existed in the tales and poems of bards and writers.  With a sad sigh, she tugged and wriggled until her nightgown once more covered her, her bliss blunted by thoughts of reality.

Sleep once more claimed her.

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

The next day found Alicia in far better spirits.  She'd developed a close friendship with Baroness Gwendoline, a woman only a few years her senior.  Though Alicia had long ago mastered the courtly manners that she supposedly visited the Baroness to learn, the two maintained the illusion of their lessons to spend time together.  The Baron was a far older man, and thus had little in common with his young wife.  Alicia provided a welcome distraction from the boredom of the Baroness' life.

Even more than the Baroness' friendship, Alicia anticipated her secret lessons.

Gwendoline had some small skill in magic, which she agreed to teach when Alicia showed aptitude.  Though far from a wizard, Alicia could cast cantrips that she found useful on occasion.  She knew her father would never approve, and that provided the drive to learn every bit of magic she could.

In addition to her study of magic, Alicia had also found joy in another endeavor that she knew her father would disapprove of.  Gwendoline's mother had narrowly escaped an assault in her youth, and demanded that every woman within her sphere of influence learn the means to defend herself.  Gwendoline had demonstrated what she knew when the subject came up, and Alicia's strong interest had prompted the Baroness to suggest real self-defense training.

The middle-aged Master of the Guard had intimidated Alicia at first, but she soon grew accustomed to his gruff manner.  The exhilaration she felt as she learned even endeared him to her after only a few sessions.  In some ways, he paid more attention to her than her own father.

The Baroness also had remarkable skills with makeup that hid the occasional bruises Alicia sustained, which were virtually unavoidable.

Trell had steadily introduced new techniques and weapons into the sessions, far beyond the training he usually offered to anyone outside his own guardsmen.  Alicia had gained a great deal of competence with a knife, and now showed promise in using a sword.  His praise and her sense of accomplishment pushed Alicia to excel in an endeavor not usually associated with women, let alone those of the gentle class.

"Hold!"  Trell laughed as he parried an enthusiastic thrust.  As always, he was a little surprised by the amount of force the trim woman managed to put behind her strikes.  "You overextended again, Alicia."

His weighted wooden practice sword pressing against her side emphasized the point.

"Always assume your opponent is feigning weakness or lack of skill.  Seek your openings, but be ready to return to a defensive position in an instant."

Alicia nodded her understanding as she stood up straight, realizing that she was indeed off balance.  She took a deep breath and blew upward to dislodge a droplet of sweat clinging tenaciously to the tip of her nose.  Beneath her padded practice uniform, her clothing was saturated with sweat.

"That's all for now.  You'll have to rush through your bath to be ready in time as it is."  Trell held out his hand for Alicia's practice sword, which she handed to him with a deep breath.

"Outstanding, Alicia." Gwendoline applauded.  "I would adore seeing you challenge one of the younger guardsmen.  I do believe you match their skill."

"Truth to tell, so would I," Trell agreed, signaling across the courtyard to one of his men to come take the wooden weapons.  "You're a remarkable woman, Alicia.  If you go after everything the way you've gone after your training with me, you're going to carve yourself out a nice little place in the world."

"Thank you," Alicia replied humbly, now that she'd regained her breath.  She blushed, but her cheeks were already red from exertion, and so the change was virtually unnoticeable.

"That's not idle praise, either.  If I thought your father wouldn't have me hanged, and the men could deal with it, I'd ask you to train formally for the guard.  You'll be wasted as a bauble for some noble."

"I say, Trell," Gwendoline interrupted, her voice full of mock indignity.

Trell grinned at the Baroness and chuckled as he handed the swords to the guardsman.  "You can play the silly girl all you want, Gwen.  We all know that your hand is guiding the Barony as much as your husband's.  A damn fine day it was for us all when you married him.  Marcus means well, but he doesn't always think things through."

Gwendoline let out a musical laugh and waved to Alicia.  "Come along, Alicia.  We must get you in the bath and make you presentable for the popinjays again."

"Thank you, Trell.  I only wish I had opportunity to practice when I'm not here."

"Keep up with your exercises.  That will keep you fit, and you can pass that off as a way to keep your figure."

"I will," Alicia responded, and then followed the Baroness through the massive double doors back into the keep.

A short distance down the corridor, Alicia glanced away from the murder holes in the stone wall that always made her feel ill at ease and asked a question that she'd wanted to ask for some time.  "Do you love your husband, Gwen?"

The Baroness smiled.  "I do.  At first, our marriage was little more than a political necessity.  I've learned that there's much to love in him since then, however.  I'm content, which is more than many can say."

"Am I selfish to want the love that the poets and bards speak of?"  Alicia sighed.

"Of course not, Dear.  Unfortunately, you may have to settle, as I have.  Your father is on the brink of reaching a higher station, and you have a place in that.  I don't mean to be cruel, Alicia.  I just do not want you to spend your life dreaming of something you might never have."  The guard stationed at the door moved out of the way to let the two women back into the keep proper.

"I know.  I hope I can at least find a man that I can learn to love.  The suitors Father chooses set my teeth on edge."

"Don't give up hope, Alicia.  You never know where you might find love.  Keep searching for it.  Young men are full of themselves, but there may be more lurking beneath the surface, if you nurture it properly."

Alicia smiled and said, "I'll try."

"That's all any of us can do," Gwen responded as she stepped onto the polished marble floors beyond the ironbound door.

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

Alicia sighed and closed the curtains on her carriage, not really wanting to know how close she was to home.  Her visits to the Baroness were amongst the high points of her life in recent years, but that only made the return home all the more melancholy.

A chill ran up her spine when she felt a prickling sensation all over her skin, as though every hair had stood up on end at the same moment.  A second later, she heard a muffled thump from the front of the carriage.  She listened for a few seconds, but didn't hear anything else unusual.  She did notice that the carriage seemed to be slowing.

When the speed of her journey slowed to a point that she could no longer question it, she stood to speak to the driver through the window leading to the driver's seat.  She cried out in alarm when the carriage suddenly lurched to a complete stop and the horses whinnied in protest.  Thrown into the opposite seat at the front of the carriage, she nursed a sore elbow and a slight bump on the head.

The relief-carved door banged open with startling force, accompanied by the sound of low, nervous voices — and a curious chant.  Alicia stared into the open portal, unable to distinguish anything against the low-hanging sun's glare except the outlines of human bodies.  "Who are you?"


To Catch a Merchant Princess Ch. 01



She received no answer, but felt her head swimming as the prickly sensation she'd experienced just before the carriage stopped returned.  Too late, she recognized the touch of magic.

The sleep spell overcame her, and she knew no more.

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

Alicia struggled to open her eyes, which felt gummy and heavy.  Her mouth was dry, and she felt as though she was hearing the indistinguishable sounds around her from inside a barrel stuffed with cotton.

When she managed to open her eyes, she found that she could see little more than she had with them closed.  Sunlight burned into her brain, causing her to groan and try to shield her eyes from the light.
It was then that she realized she was bound and gagged.

Panic quickly overruled confusion, and she struggled against her bonds.  A shadow passing in front of an open doorway caused her to freeze in fear.

"My apologies for the restraints.  I fear it is a necessity, as certain objects found in your possession point toward a study of the mystic arts."

Even with the glare from the sun blocked, Alicia could still see little.  She realized that she was within some sort of boxy wagon, and that it was moving.  She was lying upon a low, narrow bed, and staring up at the silhouette of a man.  The man's voice was unfamiliar.  Even once her eyes adjusted to the light, she realized the man was wearing a hood and some sort of mask over his face.  She could see only hints of his eyes, which told her nothing.

"So long as your father cooperates, no harm will come to you."

The cowled man then turned and spoke to someone unseen behind him.  "Allow her to break her fast, but watch her carefully."  His voice dropped an octave and he spoke slowly as he continued, "Remember my orders concerning her person."

The unseen man answered in a low, smoky voice, "Yeah, we got it.  We don't like it, but we got it.  Not worth losin' pay over."

"Your pay is the least of your concerns if any man despoils her."

With that, the masked man stepped out of the wagon and two men replaced him.  The men were unshaven, and dirty.  Their clothing was well worn, and their leather armor dark with age.  Both wore lecherous smiles and stared at her body in a way that made Alicia's skin crawl.

Alicia recognized the voice she'd heard earlier when the dark-haired man of the pair spoke.  "We're gonna take out that gag and untie one o' your hands.  If you start to screamin' or try to start magic talkin', we'll tie you back up right quick."

Holding her breath against their smell, Alicia couldn't have responded if she'd wished to.

The scruffy man lifted her head while the other untied the gag.  Both took advantage of their position to stare down her blouse and chuckle.  Alicia clenched her teeth as tight as the knotted cloth allowed her to, her face burning with shame and anger.  The blonde rogue then untied one of her hands while the first man retrieved a wooden plate and a tin cup.

Despite her fear and disgust, Alicia accepted the cup eagerly.  Her mouth was as dry as a desert, and she was thirstier than she'd ever been in her life.  She drained the cup once, sipping slowly, and then drank half of another, doing her best to avoid eye contact with her captors.  Her hunger encouraged her to accept the bread and cheese provided, despite how questionable it looked, and the unclean nature of the men serving it to her.

As she ate, Alicia winced, realizing her bladder was full.  She clenched her muscles against the pressure, her legs already pulled tightly together against the men trying to see up her skirts.

The blonde man must have noticed, because he said, "Need to go water the bushes, do ya?"

Alicia nodded almost imperceptibly, the urgency of her need overwhelming her.

The dirty kidnapper laughed and opened the front door of the wagon.  "Our guest needs to have a piss."

The dark-haired man leaned down and said, "No trouble out of you."  He then tied the gag back over her mouth and blindfolded her as the wagon slowed, and then stopped.

"Come on then," he ordered once the wagon creaked to a halt and he untied her other hand.

Alicia managed to stand, her whole body stiff and sore from sleeping so long.  How long, she didn't know.  From the light streaming into the wagon earlier, she knew it must be at least the next day.

She winced when her captor grabbed her hand to lead her out of the wagon.  Blind, she had no choice but to accept his touch.  Once down off the wagon and away from the road, she felt tall grasses brushing against her skirts.  She quietly prayed that it would hide her as she answered nature's call.

"Go on then — be quick about it," her captor demanded as he released her hand.

Alicia's face burned as she reached up under her skirt to pull down her panties.  Even though she couldn't see him, she could feel the man's eyes burning into her, waiting for her to lift her skirt.  She heard his soft chuckle as she squatted and tried to avoid soaking her dress or herself.  The painful pressure in her bladder overcame her embarrassment, and she sighed involuntarily as she urinated.  She choked off a yelp when the man pressed a cloth against her hand to clean up.

Almost insensible with shame, Alicia barely remembered her captor dragging her back to the wagon, or it lurching into motion as he tied her to the bed.

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

A combination of the heat, pain from her bound wrists, and despair served to distort Alicia's sense of time.  She knew that she had eaten a few times, repeated the embarrassing ritual of answering nature's call, and even washed once, but the memories all jumbled together in a vague, incomprehensible morass.

A cup of water — cool instead of lukewarm as were all those previous — and the welcome relief of strong nighttime breezes served to clear Alicia's head for the first time in quite a while.  Light from the moon and a fire outside illuminated her surroundings, allowing her to notice her possessions from the carriage stowed on shelves at the front of the wagon.  Beyond that and the bed on which she lay, there was nothing more to see.  The glazed windows were too high for her to see anything save the sky, and the wagon's door was closed.

The sound of a horse broke the quiet sounds of the night and the fire, causing Alicia to take notice.  She also heard swords slipping free of their scabbards, causing both her mind and heart to race.

Hope surged as she considered that someone might be coming to rescue her.  Fear assaulted her when the possibility that the rider might be a highwayman entered her mind.  A multitude of possibilities and emotions crashed down upon her in the space of a few, rapid heartbeats.

Whistles approximating a birdcall were immediately met with muttering and the sound of swords sliding against wood and leather once more.  Whoever had arrived at the camp was not an enemy, and those outside were standing down.

"What news?"

Alicia recognized the voice as the cultured man in the mask.  He spoke quietly, but obviously stood near the wagon.

"Our demands are in his hands.  They have no idea where to look."

"Excellent.  Should good fortune smile upon us, we will have our coin, satisfy our employer, and be rid of our unwilling guest soon."

"What if he don't pony up?"  A gruff voice asked.

The masked man replied, "I am prepared to encourage him, if necessary.  I'll begin with a lock of hair taken at the scalp, and I'm afraid it may become rather gruesome from there.  I see little reason to doubt that he will pay what we demand, to ensure the safe return of his daughter.  Soon, we'll all be rich, and our employer will find far less competition in his endeavors."

Excited muttering greeted that quiet announcement outside.

Inside the wagon, the harsh truth of her situation ignited a spark of anger and determination within Alicia.  The continuing laughter fueled that spark, allowing it to sprout into a flame.  Her eyes narrowed as she bit down on the gag in her mouth.  Slowly, but steadily, that flame burned through her despair.

Chafed, rope-burned wrists once again pulled against the bonds holding Alicia to the bed.  Though she might accomplish little, she was determined not to meekly accept her place as a pawn to ruin her father.

Whatever the outcome, Alicia planned to fight.

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

"You do it.  I'm havin' my chow."

"It's your turn."

"What's it matter?  His mightyship isn't even here.  Let her wait."

"It's your hide."

Alicia listened to the first man cursing, the sound moving off into the distance.  She'd given up on trying to escape her bonds, even though she'd managed to loosen them tantalizingly close to freedom twice.  Whenever they retied her hands after eating or answering nature's call, she lost all her previous progress.

Her stomach growled, reminding her of how long it had been since she'd last eaten.  She suspected that the argument outside related to exactly that, and now knew why the predictable schedule she'd grown accustomed to had broken down over the last two days.  Someone — likely the masked man — was not with the group right now, and discipline was growing lax.  Laughter and boisterous voices hinted that the men had taken to drink this night.

The litany of curses she'd heard retreating into the distance returned in reverse, now growing louder as the man approached the wagon that served as her prison.  The wagon had not moved in the last two days, indicating that they'd reached at least a temporary destination.

"Goblin-whore of a door," the man outside cursed as he fumbled with the latch.  Alicia saw the reason for his difficulty when he managed to open the door — his attempt to carry both his own meal and hers.

He sat down a steaming bowl and a large tin cup on the floor, bringing over Alicia's cup of water and plate of bread and cheese.  These he plopped unceremoniously on the bed next to her as he mumbled curses under his breath and worked to remove her gag.  As soon as he finished removing the gag and untying one of her hands, he returned to his bowl and cup.

The smell of his stew overwhelmed even the stale, acrid scent of his sweat, making Alicia's mouth water as she ate.  She couldn't help but glance in his direction as he noisily ate and drank, the smell of meat and vegetables almost maddening.

He must have noticed the looks, because he paused and let out a mocking laugh.  "What, you want some of this?"

Alicia didn't answer, but instead averted her eyes and returned to her bland meal.

He stood up and said, "I tell you what, I'll give you some — but you gotta do something for me."  When Alicia continued to ignore him, he moved the bowl close to her, torturing her with the sight and scent of the stew.  "Come on, now.  I'm not gonna ask for much.  Smells good, don't it?"

Alicia turned toward him and defiantly stared into his eyes, ignoring the stew as best as she was able.

"Your loss.  I kin always get more, but looks like you're makin' do with what you have.  All I was gonna ask is for you to eat it with your tits out.  Give me a little show, and it's yours."

One of the more disquieting lessons Trell had delivered just before turning toward training with weapons returned to Alicia in a rush.  She could hear his every word as though he were speaking to her now, telling her what she must do.





To Catch a Merchant Princess Ch. 01



She tried to crawl carefully out from under the tree's dew-sodden boughs, but still managed to smear sap across her forehead and acquire a new tear in her gown.  As soon as she stood, she examined what was left of the dress, and knew that she had to abandon it.  The bodice was torn, revealing almost the entirety of her right breast.  The rest was more rips and tatters than gown.  Every tear could trip her up if she needed to run, and every trailing piece of material was something else to snag on branches and thorns.

The other dress in her bag was as ornate as the one barely hanging onto her lithe frame.  It might preserve her modesty for a short time, but would present exactly the same problems.  That left her carefully hidden practice uniform in the bottom of the bag.  She'd stayed too long in the courtyard to wash the garments, as she usually did before returning home, and the thought of putting it on caused her to instinctively crinkle her nose.  A shifting breeze pointedly reminded her that she smelled none to sweet anyway.

The form-fitting uniform was the only sensible choice.  While the padding was far from real armor, she couldn't ignore even that limited bit of protection.  If nothing else, it might stop some of the thorns and brambles from reaching her skin to add to the painful array of cuts and scratches already covering her body.

Alicia stripped off her gown, and tried to decide what to do with it.  In the end, she settled upon stuffing it back in her bag.  She found that she felt a little more at ease once she donned the padded pants and shirt of her practice uniform.  She could move easily, and swiftly, without fear of her skirts catching on every entanglement.  Her stolen dagger fit in the sheathe on her belt, if not perfectly.

A nearby stream allowed her to quench her thirst, but she had no way to carry more except for the tin cup she'd stolen from her kidnapper.  With no way to keep the water from sloshing out as she walked — let alone if she needed to run — Alicia drank her fill and prayed that she could find water again.  She considered washing some of the grime, sweat, and sap off her, but urgency and fear prodded her to move.

The woods was not large, and Alicia could see the brighter sunlight marking the edge of the trees, but she thought it best to avoid the open spaces beyond.  Her captors were likely looking for her, and any cover would make it more difficult to find her.  Since she had no idea where she was, following the stretch of trees in one direction at least gave her something resembling a destination, as well.  Decision made, she started walking, picking her way through the fallen limbs and undergrowth.

The endless mosaic of trees, ferns, and woodland creatures stretched on and on.  Alicia kept a brisk pace, glad that she'd chosen to do the exercises Trell had taught her daily.  If not for that, she knew that she would have probably collapsed hours ago.  As it was, her muscles all burned and ached from the prolonged walking and carrying the weight of her day bag.  As the sun climbed, she determined that she was moving more or less north.

Every snap of a twig sent her heart racing.  It took a great deal of willpower not to run, and even more to put her dagger away and move on afterward.  Just as her stomach started rumbling, she happened upon a mulberry tree.  Realizing that she had only her little bit of purloined bread and cheese, she supplemented a small portion of it with as many of the purple berries as she thought she could eat without becoming ill.  Then, she tore a square from her tattered gown to create a pouch, and filled it with berries as well.  She knew that there were many edible plants, but such was outside the scope of her education.  She could only trust those few things that she knew, such as the mulberry.  Another stream provided her with water, helping to restore her strength.

Alicia reached the end of the tract of trees shortly before sundown.  She stared out into the rolling hills, knowing that danger could lurk behind any of them.  Unfortunately, she knew all too well that the same dangers — and more — could very well surround her in the wood.

Tentatively, she hovered along the edge of the wood, just within the tree line, looking for any evidence of civilization.  She saw a road with a lone wagon following it, but feared to approach.  She might find aid, but she also might find her captors.  The wagon looked no different from the one that had served as her prison, from a distance.

Despair quite nearly enveloped her again, but then she saw something — a fence.  It looked ancient and ill maintained, but it was a fence.  Beyond that, she could just make out a turf house and a few outbuildings.

Alicia bit her lip and contemplated her options.  As with following the wood, any decision felt as good as another to her.  All presented danger, and all presented hope.  She decided to risk going to the house and asking for help.  She had some coin in her bag, so she might be able to purchase food, shelter, and perhaps even a way home.

After another long, careful observation of the surrounding countryside, she sprinted toward the house, trying to stay low so that the swaying grasses and surrounding hills would hide her.  As she neared the place, she slowed.  Something felt wrong.  She couldn't quite put a finger on what was giving her that feeling until she reached the fence.  From that vantage point, she could tell that the place was abandoned.

Winded, and with her hopes dashed, Alicia dropped to her knees and shook her head, her eyes misting over.  She took a deep breath and let it out in a dejected sigh before standing again.  If nothing else, the place offered shelter from both the elements and prying eyes.  Not knowing what else to do, she continued to the squat, mud and sod building, and peeked inside.

Once her eyes adjusted, she noticed a hodgepodge of cast-off items lying around on the dirt floor.  She guessed that travelers had used the abandoned house as a temporary shelter with some regularity over the years, and had left a few things behind here and there.  While the objects were refuse to those who had left them, they were treasures to Alicia.

A pair of gourds attached to leather straps were obviously crude canteens.  While both were cracked at the top, they at least provided her with the means to carry water.  A tattered, course bundle of cloth proved to be a blanket.  It was dusty, musty, and had what she thought were horse hairs clinging to it, but it was better than nothing.  A wooden pail that looked sound enough to hold water was the last of her treasures.

With darkness rapidly descending, Alicia decided to spend the night.  She doubted that she would find anywhere more comfortable or safe, and she could feel the exhaustion of her flight threatening to overwhelm her.  The bucket offered a temptation too difficult for even her weariness to diminish, however.  She warily carried it to a creek meandering through the valley near the house to fill it, and then returned to her shelter for the night.

The pail proved sound, as she had hoped, and she managed to avoid splashing out much of the water while carrying the heavy bucket back to the turf house.  Once inside, she moved to a corner away from both the doorway, and the area where she planned to sleep.  There, she stripped off her clothing and used another torn chunk of her ruined gown as a washcloth to remove as much of the filth covering her as possible.  Though she wished she could wash her clothes, she felt far better after the semblance of a bath.  She did use the last of the water to wash her panties, and hung those from a wooden peg set in the wall to dry, pulling out another pair from her bag.

As she stepped into her panties, Alicia rubbed her fingers over her mound and frowned.  The stubble irritated her, and was starting to itch.  The Baroness had suggested the grooming tip, and Alicia had come to enjoy the clean feeling of her baby-smooth labia, framed by trimmed, dark blonde curls.  With no way to remedy the stubble, she sighed and pulled up her panties.

She crinkled her nose against the smell of her clothing, and put it on as well.  She considered putting on her clean gown, but decided against it for the same reasons that she'd chosen the practice uniform in the first place.  She was far from out of danger.

After another portion of bread, cheese, and mulberries, she drifted off to sleep with her head resting on the bedraggled horse blanket.

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

Hope you've enjoyed this first chapter.  The second is finished, and I'll post it in a few days.  The third is underway, and I believe the full story will run four chapters.  I'd originally planned to wait until the story was complete to post it, but decided that I'd gone far too long without releasing anything.  This story marks a shift in my writing focus, concentrating on painting the world around my characters, something I've grown lax on of late.  I'm applying the same focus to the next chapter of Sisters of the Mists, for those awaiting the next chapter of that tale.

Apologies for the long wait.  All I can say is that I'm doing the best I can under the circumstances of my life at the moment.

Please do let me know what you think with your vote/comment.  I'm anxious to see whether my readers like the changes I'm making to my writing. 



To Catch a Merchant Princess Ch. 02



Author's Notes:

© Copyright Darkniciad.  If this story appears anywhere except Literotica.com with this note attached, it is posted without my permission and is likely incomplete/improperly formatted.  Please go to Literotica and search for Darkniciad to find the real, authorized version of this tale.

This tale takes place in my fantasy world, and centers upon characters you might recognize from "Queen Alicia" and "King Thakkorias."  There isn't much sex in this story, and most of the heat comes in the later chapters.

Much as "Casting Off Convention," this story details early adventures in the life of my characters, long before the 'present day'.

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

Alicia awakened with the sun, as she had the day before.  This time, however, she felt rested.  While the dirt floor was a far cry from her feather-stuffed mattress, it was a great improvement over sleeping on sticks and pine cones.

With only a little food remaining, and not enough knowledge to live off the land, she knew that she had to move on.  She could only hope that she was moving away from her kidnappers, and not walking right into their arms.  After a quiet prayer to the gods to that effect, and another that she might find civilization, Alicia gathered up her meager belongings.

She barely stepped into the doorway, and then almost immediately darted back inside with a gasp.  The man standing near the edge of the woods was obviously looking for something — or someone — and his manner of dress looked all too familiar to Alicia.  Unwilling to risk another look, she huddled into a shadowed corner and prayed he wouldn't notice the turf house, which blended into its surroundings to some degree.  Her hand found her dagger and pulled it from its sheathe, the naked steel in her hand giving her a small measure of comfort.

For long, agonizing minutes, Alicia sat in silence, her heart pounding in her ears.  Eventually, her nerves got the better of her, and she risked a look outside.  Her brief, darting glance revealed no sign of the man, but she couldn't summon up the courage to take a second, longer look just yet.

The minutes dragged on, and Alicia relaxed a little.  She smoothed back her blonde tresses, dislodging a few stray strands that had stuck to her sweat-dampened skin.  Her heart ceased to pound, and she decided to look outside once again.

Just as she leaned toward the door, someone appeared in the open portal and blocked the bright summer sun.  She couldn't see his face, but she recognized his voice.

"Well, here you are, Pretty."

Alicia screamed.

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

All three men in the camp perked up their ears when they heard the scream, and turned in the direction from which it emerged.  Two shrugged their shoulders and returned to their breakfast, but the third stood.  "Did you hear that?"

"Yeah.  Hope he's gettin' as good as he's givin' — lucky bastard.  I haven't got my dick wet in weeks."

"I hear that," the other man muttered between bites.

Thakkor grunted, scowling at his two companions on the road.  The more time he spent with them, the less he liked them, regardless of their reputation and the work that brought to him.  "That scream was terror, and you know it."

The first man shrugged.  "Yeah — so what?  None of our business."

"None of our business?" Thakkor asked incredulously, stepping toward the two men.

"None of our business," he replied, stressing each word in a tone that bordered on a veiled threat.

"You go running off playing the noble knight again, and you can just keep running.  We're tired of it," the second man added, gesturing with the dagger he was using to carve his meal for emphasis.

Thakkor drew his sword and growled, "To hell with the both of you."

As he turned his back on them and jogged in the direction from which the scream had emerged, the two men just looked at each other and shook their heads.

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

"Put it down, Pretty.  I owe you for stealing that, and for bustin' up my nose, and for losing me my pay.  I'm the one to drag you back, and maybe the boss'll at least give me my coin.  You don't put that down, and I'm going to make sure you regret it."

Alicia backed away, her dagger held before her in a surprisingly steady hand.  She could sense the wall behind her, and turned slightly to move toward the center of the tiny interior of the crude house.  She knew she was running out of room, and options.

He lunged at her to grab her wrist, but Alicia reacted instinctively.  Her lessons in the Baron's courtyard took control of her, moving the dagger in a deft slash that opened the man's arm.

He screamed, "Ah! You fucking whore!"  Clutching the bleeding cut, he growled in low, ominous tones, "Maybe I'll just have some fun with you, then cut your throat, and cut my losses."

Alicia glanced toward the doorway for a fraction of a second, the open portal calling to her.  Though she knew that she had little hope of reaching it, she prepared to try anyway.  Just as her muscles tensed and she tried to plant her feet to sprint, she stumbled over a bit of broken crockery on the floor.

He was upon her in an instant, his eyes full of malevolent triumph.  He grasped her wrist, but she managed to jerk one away before he could grip it firmly.  He continued forward, slamming them both into the wall and causing dirt to rain down from above.  Alicia's eyes closed from the pain, and she cried out.

When she opened her eyes, she saw surprise in his.  He opened his mouth and let out a coughing wheeze, a bubble of blood emerging to spatter her face.  He leaned away slowly, and Alicia felt a tug on her right hand.  She looked down to see a spreading dark stain on his chest, and the dagger she held dripping blood.

He fell to his knees, continuing to wheeze as his eyes glazed over.  Alicia stood paralyzed as he collapsed into an unmoving heap upon the hard-packed earth, a crimson puddle spreading slowly from beneath him.

Alicia's senses returned to her in a rush, a sobbing gasp bursting from her.  She quickly walked away from the man in the floor, gathering up her bag, gourds, and blanket again.  Now, more than ever, she knew she had to leave this place, as fast as her legs could carry her.

Once again, someone appeared in the doorway just as she tried to exit.  As before, she screamed, but this time she lashed out with her bloodstained dagger as well.

"Shit!" Thakkor cursed as he put his shield between him and the flashing blade.  He backed away, holding his sword out wide in what he hoped was an unthreatening gesture, but wisely keeping his shield between him and the wild-eyed blonde woman.  "Peace!"

Alicia stared at him nervously, not knowing what to do.  He lowered his shield and cautiously sheathed his sword, looking into her eyes and repeating, "Peace."  He was dressed well, if a bit dirty from the road.  His dark hair and beard were well trimmed, and he certainly looked nothing like any of those she'd seen in the camp of kidnappers.  Her white-knuckled grip on the hilt of the dagger softened slightly as she tried to decide what to make of the man.

"Not going to hurt you," he said as he pulled his hand away from his now sheathed sword.  "I heard you scream, and I thought you needed help."  Looking at the bloody dagger in her hand, and remembering the strength of her attack, he contemplated the dichotomy of that compared to her beautiful, lithe form.  Seeing her blue eyes soften a little, he said, "My name's Thakkor."  He waited for a few seconds, and then asked, "What's yours?"

"A-alicia," she finally answered, letting her knife drop slowly to her side as the adrenaline drained from her body.

"Okay, Alicia, are you hurt?"

"I...  No, not physically.  You're not one of them, are you?"

"I don't know who them is, but no.  I just heard you scream, and I couldn't ignore that."

"Can you help me?" she sobbed, breaking down and letting the dagger fall into the grass at her feet.

"I'll do my best.  What happened?"  He approached slowly, barely able to see the body on the floor of the turf house.  He bent and picked up her dagger, wiping it on the grass to clean it somewhat.

"I was kidnaped.  I have no idea where I am, or where I'm going.  One of them found me."  She gestured back into the low structure and then choked off a sob, her body trembling as she remembered the feeling of the man sliding off the blade of her dagger.

Thakkor finished wiping the blade clean with a cloth strapped to his sword sheathe.  "It's okay.  Let's get away from here and let you clean up a little.  I'll get your things."

Alicia nodded her head and walked away from the doorway as Thakkor hefted the bag and her other impromptu supplies.  "I think I saw a creek back there as I was running up here," he suggested, and led her that way across the overgrown remnants of a long abandoned garden.

Alicia knelt to wash in the cool, fast moving water, scrubbing at the blood on her hands and face, and feeling as if it wouldn't wash away.  She was glad for the presence of the man, Thakkor, and gladder still that he had the intuition to stand close enough for comfort, but not too close.

"I guess the best place to start is where you are.  We're a little south of Dalaria, in Ferrartene.  Where are you from?"

"Freeland," Alicia answered, the sound of his voice soothing, and helping to distract her from the events of the last few minutes.

"The country, or the city?"

"The city," Alicia answered.  "I don't know the name Dalaria."

"It's in the far south of Ferrartene.  You're a good ways from home, but not too far from the nearest garrison in Armand."

Alicia looked up at him, her cheeks warming a little when a small part of her mind piped up to remark about how attractive he was.  She pushed the thought aside and asked, "Could you help me find my way home?  I can pay a little now, and my father is very wealthy..."

"Whoa," Thakkor laughed, holding up his hand.  "Now, I wouldn't mind a little pay, as I just walked away from my meal ticket, but I wouldn't be much of a man if I left you out here all alone.  Let's just get you home for now, and worry about all that later."

"Thank you," she said, noticing that he had a very charming smile as they looked into each other's eyes.

He cleared his throat and looked away for a moment.  "Oh, here you are," he said, handing her back her dagger.  "Looks like you handle that pretty well.  You don't look the part, but I guess looks are deceiving."

Alicia apprehensively took the blade, remembering all too well what had happened the last time she'd held it.

"Just put it back in the sheathe.  It's never an easy thing to kill a man, even one that's rotten to the core.  If you need to talk about it..."

Alicia shook her head emphatically, but she did as he suggested and slipped the dagger back into its sheathe.  She felt a little queasy from the sense of comfort that the blade brought her, knowing that it had snuffed out someone's life only minutes before.

Deciding that the man was probably unworthy of burial, and assuming that she was in no shape to wait while he did so, Thakkor left the dead kidnapper where he was.  "Let's get walking.  There's a village not to far to the south, and it's closer to home for you.  We can get something to eat and a bed that's not on the ground there.  We can probably reach it by nightfall, and I doubt anyone is going to risk anything there with so many prying eyes about."

Alicia nodded and offered a wan smile.  Thakkor hefted her bag into a more comfortable position and gestured with his head to follow.  She fell into step next to him, a sense of relief flooding through her as she considered his friendly manner and the sword he carried with such ease.  He reminded her of Trell, and that sat well with her, indeed.

What was once a terrifying flight from an unknown fate transformed into a pleasant stroll through the unspoiled countryside.

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

"Hardly Freeland, but it's civilization," Thakkor declared as they crested a flower-spotted hill an hour or two before dusk.

Alicia breathed a sigh of relief.  Though the sedate pace was far less taxing than her previous, nervous flights, she still ached to the very bone.  The sight of people going about their daily business was a welcome one.

Thakkor felt his heart leap when he saw her smile. Damn me, but she's beautiful, he thought.  "Let's get on down there and see if we can get a room at the inn."

With a real destination in sight, the walk to the village felt even longer to Alicia than the entirety of the journey before it.  Relief flooded through her as they passed between the first of the two log buildings at the end of the muddy road bisecting the community.  Thakkor led her unerringly, obviously having passed this way before and knowing exactly where to go.

The tavern just inside the doors of the inn made Alicia nervous, as she'd never seen the inside of such an establishment before.  She'd heard numerous stories, however, and many of them were unpleasant.  When she relented and took a breath, she was relieved not to smell the unwelcome stench described to her in hushed whispers.  The floor and tables all appeared clean, and nothing looked as though it had been cobbled back together several times.

Though the relatively tidy and clean nature of both the establishment and the patrons lessened her worry, she stayed close to Thakkor as he crossed the wide-planked floor to the man behind the bar.

"We need a couple of rooms."

"Got a couple freed up just this afternoon.  Two silver per night, and we'll be serving supper here in a bit."  The barkeep eyed the stein he had just wiped clean as he spoke, and sat it down as he finished.

Thakkor reached for his coin purse, knowing that the cost was going to severely cut into his remaining funds.

"Please, let me.  If you will hand me my bag?"

"Okay," Thakkor replied, handing her the bag.

Alicia rummaged through it and located her small coin purse.  Thakkor's eyes widened when he saw the glittering gold and silver coins within the silk pouch.  While it was mere pocket change to Alicia, it could represent a full month's wages to him.  He wondered how it was that whoever had abducted her had not taken the coin the moment they had her.

Alicia placed the coins in front of the bartender and asked, "Do you have a bath house?"

A woman stepped out of a doorway behind the bar and answered, "Yes, Dear, we do.  I do washing and mending as well, if you're in need."

"Yes — thank the gods," Alicia breathed with a hint of laughter.

"Come along then, Dear.  Let's get you cleaned up and feeling better."

Alicia happily followed, and the barkeep said to Thakkor, "My wife.  We don't get many women, and she coddles them all like her own children."  He glanced back over his shoulder at Alicia and said, "Pretty one, she is."

Thakkor nodded, certainly in agreement with that statement.  "I could probably do with a bath too, but for now, I'll settle for a beer."

"We'll get along just fine," the innkeeper laughed as he reached for a stein.

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

Alicia didn't want to get up, but the water was growing chill and her fingers were wrinkling up like prunes already.  She'd soaked away not only the filth of the road, but a great deal of her fear and despair as well.

Sheltered by a large tree behind the inn, the bath house was comfortable and relaxing.  The simple, though expertly crafted wooden tub dominated the structure, the stained planks of the wall almost within reach of a bather.  Alicia had learned just how many buckets of water were necessary to fill a tub as she helped to do so, and developed a newfound appreciation for the servants that did so in her home.

She'd found the innkeeper's matronly wife a welcome companion during her bath.  The woman's calm, earthy conversation was comforting, although Alicia had blushed furiously during a few mentions of Thakkor, and how handsome the young man was.

"I can't save the one gown, I'm afraid," Bertina said as she handed the rising Alicia a hand-woven towel.  "Pity too, because I can tell it was beautiful.  Haven't seen such fine cloth in a dog's age.  All the things you were wearing when you came in need is a good washing.  I rummaged through a few of my daughter's trunks and found some things that I think will fit you."

"I don't know how to thank you," Alicia sighed as she toweled dry.

"You already have.  Don't get many women through here, and I get tired of gossiping with the same old hens all the time.  Where do you call home?  I'd take you for a noble by the way you talk, and the color of your coin."

"I'm from the city of Freeland," Alicia answered as she brought the towel to her head to dry her hair.

Bertina blew out a long whistle.  "Oh, how I'd love to see that city some day.  Long way from home you are, my dear."

"Not by choice," Alicia said in a small voice.

Bertina's expression hardened.  "If that man has..."

Alicia waved a hand to cut the woman off.  "No — I'm sorry.  Thakkor isn't responsible.  He was kind enough to come to my aid."

Bertina smiled and nodded her head.  "Good.  Damn pity if a strapping man like that had gone bad.  Now, let's get you dressed and see if we can't make him stumble over his own tongue when he sees you."  She winked and let out a laugh.

Alicia blushed at the insinuation, in no small part because the thought of him looking at her that way made her tingle all over.

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

A knock on the door awakened Alicia, long before she was ready to do so.  She'd enjoyed a real, filling meal for the first time since her abduction, and likely drank more wine than was really advisable.  It had helped her keep her mind off of Thakkor's reaction to her emergence from the bath house, clean and dressed in a flattering blouse and skirt.

Bertina's prediction was not far from the truth.

"Alicia, it's Thakkor," she heard from the other side of the door.

"One moment.  I'm not dressed," she answered.

Outside the door, Thakkor imagined that and felt a chill run up his spine.

Alicia pulled on a cotton dressing gown that Bertina had supplied in addition to several changes of clothing.  She only cracked the door, though the gown was long and formless enough to more than preserve her modesty.  "Yes?"

"I was talking with a merchant down in the tavern, and he's bound for Freeland.  He's willing to take us along, and he'll do it for the price of my sword added to the guards he already has."

"That is wonderful," Alicia sighed, finally feeling as though she might actually return home.

"He's going to leave before long, though, so we need to be ready."

"I'll prepare my things immediately.  Thank you, Thakkor."

"I'll be down in the tavern.  I'm already packed up and ready to go."

Alicia dressed and gathered her belongings, finding that her bag had enough room for the new clothing once she removed the tattered remains of her gown.  Bertina had also provided a few other essentials to tide her over until she reached home, all the little things a woman needs to feel pretty and comfortable.

She answered another knock on the door to find Bertina outside.  "Bless the summer breezes, these are all dry."  She handed over Alicia's practice uniform.

Alicia tucked it under one arm and pressed a gold coin she'd fished from her purse earlier into Bertina's hand.  Seeing the woman about to argue, Alicia cut her off.  "I won't accept no for an answer."

"Fair enough," Bertina chuckled.  "You take care.  He's waiting down in the tavern."





To Catch a Merchant Princess Ch. 02



Thakkor stood as she walked down the stairs, hefting his pack and adjusting the rest of his gear.  "Ready?"

"Yes.  I'm ready for this all to end and return home."

"Follow me then.  We'll be on our way as soon as we stow our gear in his wagon."

Alicia thought the merchant leading the two-wagon caravan looked familiar when she saw him, and thought she saw recognition in his eyes as well.  His two wagons looked much like tiny houses on wheels with a place for the driver, even having gabled roofs.  She and Thakkor put their gear into the first wagon, and Alicia noticed that it resembled the moving prison in which she'd awakened after her kidnapping on the inside.  The merchant's wagon had far more shelves and cabinets, however.  The apparent leader of the group then called Alicia up to the buckboard of the wagon.  "Fantil, at your service," he said as he helped her up.

"Alicia," she said, feeling just a little uncomfortable under his stare.

"Alicia?  Who's your father, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Abraham Nash, of Freeland."

Alicia saw the flash of stronger recognition in his eyes, and she thought there was something of greed there as well.  Fantil slapped his knee and laughed.  "I knew I recognized you.  I've done business with your father.  Thakkor explained to me what you've endured.  Rest assured that I will return you to your family safely, and with all haste."

"Thank you," Alicia said, thinking that the reward he expected for doing so far outweighed any other consideration.  She did have to admit that he'd agreed to convey her home before learning her identity, however.

"Let's be off then.  Hyah!"

The wagon lurched into motion.

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

The masked man cursed under his breath, knowing that reacquiring his prize had just become far more difficult — and dangerous.  "Ride ahead, and let none see you.  You will have further instructions when the time is right."

The men around him grunted their agreement, and then spurred their horses off into a perpendicular course to the road, gaining enough distance to safely parallel the wagon and pass it.

Once again, the masked man cursed.  This time, his ire turned upon his employer.  He could not fathom why the man demanded that the woman be unharmed — at least any more than absolutely necessary — and that he actually turn her over upon payment of the ransom.  It was those restrictions that placed him in his current position.

Mounting his own horse, he took heart that the guards surrounding his prize would face two-to-one odds.  Had she joined a larger caravan, he would have been hard-pressed to muster enough disposable men to do so.

He spurred his mount, riding to ensure that no further mishaps prevented his rise to prosperity.

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

Alicia smiled as she gazed upon the flag of her homeland flying over the fortification shadowing the wagons.  Though the farthest outpost of Freeland within the Protectorates of Armand, it marked yet another step in her journey home.  The fortress served as a waypoint for travelers, providing maintained campsites within the stone wall surrounding the utilitarian structure.

The group of merchants and guards chatted around the fire set in a ring of large stone, recalling past adventures and anticipating a profitable trip.  Alicia's heart raced as she listened to the tales of the guardsmen, revealing a life full of excitement the likes of which she could only dream.  With more than a little embarrassment, she realized that she paid far more attention to Thakkor than the others.

"With any luck, none of you will have opportunity to add to your campfire tales on our journey," Fantil laughed.  "Though I anticipate our fortunate acquisition of magewares will find us great profit in fair Freeland, I do believe that the cost of bonuses for drawing your weapons might very well offset the gains."

"Magewares?"  Alicia piped up, thinking of her lost spell book and component pouch — the one thing she had not found within the wagon serving as her prison.

"Some common magic items, roots, herbs, spell components..."

"Do you have any spell books?"

"A pair of what I'm assured are rudimentary texts," he answered.

Alicia stood, excited at the possibility of possibly acquiring new magic.  "May I see them?"

A little stunned, Fantil replied, "Of course.  Derell, fetch the chest, will you?"

One of the other merchants nodded and stood, walking across the well-trodden grass to the second wagon to retrieve a chest from inside.  When he returned, Fantil nodded to indicate he should let Alicia look through it as she wished.

Alicia immediately recognized the spell components of every cantrip she'd learned under the Baroness' tutelage.  Upon opening the most ornate spell book, she discovered that it was a slightly more advanced text than the one Gwendoline possessed, but still likely a child's primer.  It contained a few cantrips she had never studied, but the two spells at the back of the book were what brought a gasp to her lips — magic missile and flame arrow.  A quick inspection revealed that the necessary components for those two spells were also within the chest.

"If you see something you like there, or anywhere amongst our wares, I will of course accept your letter of credit.  Your father's reputation is indisputable."

The last thing Alicia wanted was her father to receive a letter of credit for the tools of a mage.  "It is but a silly girl's interest, and one my father does not approve of," she covered, realizing she'd already revealed far too much to someone who knew her father.

She didn't fool the wily merchant, however.  "Our fathers often do not approve of our interests.  That does not make them any less real.  Have you studied magic?"

Realizing that her attempt to misdirect the shrewd man had failed, Alicia answered, "A little."

Fantil winked and said, "I might very well see fit to forget any purchases you make, and make arrangements for payment — for a demonstration."

"Aye — some magic."

"Show us."

The interest of the men brought a blush to Alicia's cheeks.  "You won't say anything to my father?"

Fantil waved his hand before him in a dismissive gesture.  "Not a word.  Magicians are such tight, uppity sorts that they won't show you anything.  A little forgetfulness is a small price to pay to see some magic."

"I only know minor cantrips."

"More than I've ever seen," the merchant encouraged her.

"Very well," Alicia said with a smile.  She gathered up the necessary components and spoke the words of a fire cantrip.  The men around her applauded and asked for more when the little flame sprang up from her fingertip and she whirled it around.  The light from the flickering magical flame cause the shadows stretching away from the fire to dance erratically.

The men putting her at the center of attention encouraged her, and she cast a second cantip.  This one summoned up a miniature whirlwind.  Created as a means to quickly dust the shelves of a laboratory, it nevertheless created an impressive little tornado while spinning around the campfire sucking up the smoke.

Fantil laughed and stood up to clap.  "Well worth the price of keeping quiet, and the cost of what you used to work the magic.  If there's anything you want, you have my word that I'll not mention it to your father."

Once again, Alicia's pocket change was more than enough to replace her lost spell book with a more advanced copy, and to gain the components she needed to cast any spell in the new book, even those she had not yet learned.  Though she felt a little ashamed of the vanity inherent in the feeling, the attention buoyed her spirits such that her homesickness faded completely.

As she flipped through the book, one of the new cantrips stood out in her mind — mystic dart.  The cantrip was a weaker, elementary form of the magic missile spell.  If she could learn it, then she could likely master the more powerful spell.  With several days of travel remaining, she would have plenty of time to study, and little else to do anyway.  Alicia fell into the book, quietly mouthing the words of the cantrip and practicing the described hand gestures.

"The way you move your hands when you do that reminds me of a dancer I saw once."

Alicia looked up from her book at Thakkor.  "Hmm?"

"Just the way your hands move.  They sort of dance."

Alicia blushed, feeling a little giddy from the description.  "I'm simply performing the gestures as the spell requires."

Thakkor chuckled.  "Don't know about that.  I think you do it with a bit more grace than you give yourself credit for."

"Thank you," Alicia responded with a shy smile.

Thakkor smiled back.  After a few seconds, he blinked, and then cleared his throat.  "Well, I'm going to bed down.  I have the last watch, even though there's not much need of it when we're camped in the shadow of a garrison.  Only an idiot would attack us here.  Good luck with your magic, and good night."

"Good night," Alicia responded, and she found that her eyes followed him as he walked away.  She couldn't help but admire the play of his muscles beneath his clothing, which she found almost hypnotic.  He also had none of the swagger that the other guardsmen exhibited, or the pompous air that she was so familiar with from her suitors.  Graceful and powerful were the words that sprang into her mind.

A warm feeling rose up through her, and she looked away from him when the sensation centered mostly between her legs.  She quickly looked back at her book, but found that she couldn't focus on the words.  After a few more futile minutes, she closed her book and decided to find her rest within the wagon as well.

She couldn't help but take a final glance at Thakkor where he slept, however.

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

Fantil started when Alicia let out a sharp, high-pitched gasp shortly before he planned to stop for the evening.  "Are you unwell?"

"I...  Oh, I'm sorry," Alicia responded, a little shock on her face.  Her expression then changed to one of joyful accomplishment.  "I just mastered a new cantrip.  It gives me this sharp chill when I have it right."

Fantil nodded and said, "Ah.  Well, perhaps you will show us this new magic soon."

Alicia felt a profound sense of exhaustion sweep over her, also a symptom she frequently experienced upon learning a new cantrip.  "Perhaps after I've rested."

"You'll have that opportunity soon.  I know of a fine place to make camp for the evening, and we will reach it in a short time.  I'm afraid you won't have the luxury of using garrison jakes this time, though."

"I will endure, and I thank you for thinking of my comfort when we stopped yesterday."

"It is my honor to provide you with a pleasant journey home," he said with a nod of his head.

The location Fantil had chosen was indeed well suited to their needs, providing all the wood and water they could ask for, with several existing fire pits.  The banter around the campfire proved quieter, as all knew that there was no fortress full of soldiers looming next to them this night.  Alicia lay down shortly after the evening meal, feeling exhausted from the journey and learning a new spell.

When she awakened to a full bladder some time later, she knew the hour was near dawn upon rising to see Thakkor on guard.  He nodded to her, and her cheeks warmed as she moved away from the encampment to the concealment of the bushes.  As she returned from answering nature's call in the gloomy darkness, she approached the fire near where Thakkor stood.  She felt the need to chase away the imaginary creatures of the dark that her mind had conjured up while away from the circle of light in the encampment.

Thakkor nodded and smiled as she approached, but suddenly turned his head away and slapped his hand to his sheathed sword.

"What..."  Alicia began.

Thakkor snapped up a hand to cut her off.  "Go back to the wagon and stay down.  Something's out there," he whispered as he drew his sword.

Alicia hurried back to the safety of the wagon, instinctively reaching for the dagger she'd worn in her flight from the kidnappers.  She'd not put on the belt and sheathe after stopping at the inn, however.  Her steps quickened from the feeling of vulnerability that revelation awakened within her.

Just as she stepped up into the wagon, Thakkor shouted at the top of his lungs, "Ware!"  Alicia turned to look and saw him planting his feet.  The firelight reflected off the swords and buckles of several men rushing into the clearing from the ebon shrouded forest beyond.

Chaos erupted as men cast off their bedrolls and snatched up weapons.  A heavy-eyed Fantil leaned into the wagon to fumble for something inside, emerging with a crossbow.  Alicia scrambled to her bag for her dagger in the darkness.

Shouts and the sound of steel ringing on steel broke the silence of the night.  Alicia hurriedly tore through her bag, finally locating her dagger.  She snatched it free of its sheathe, and then grabbed her pouch of spell components as well.  Despite Thakkor's warning, she crouched low and looked out of the wagon toward the battle now raging outside.

A loud twang startled her as Fantil's crossbow rang out.  A man let out a horrible scream as his chest sprouted a feathered shaft.  The merchant cursed as he worked the windlass to reset his weapon.  Already, two of the other attackers lay sprawled on the grass near Thakkor, and a third fell to another of the guardsmen.  Despite losing four of their fellows, the marauders still held the advantage of numbers over the caravan's defenders.

One of the guardsmen near Thakkor cried out and fell back, trying to keep his weapon ready while clutching a wound in his shoulder.  Somehow sensing the approach, Thakkor brought his shield in line to defend against the attacker that had stabbed his fellow.

Seeing Thakkor hard-pressed by two of the ill-kempt brigands turned Alicia's heart to ice.  She tore open her spell pouch with worried determination, pulling out the flint-tipped maple twigs that were necessary to cast her newest spell.  The words burned bright and clear in her mind, screaming for release.  Alicia chanted the words perfectly, if in haste, her hands flying through the necessary gestures.  As soon as she intoned the final word of the spell, she hurled the miniature dart toward one of the men facing Thakkor.

A streaking bolt of light hurtled from her hand, striking the attacker square in the back.  He screamed and flinched, but did not fall.  Created to deal with rodents, not men, the cantrip simply didn't possess the magical power to do more than cause pain. 

It did cause him to drop his guard for the fraction of a second Thakkor needed.  The quick young warrior blocked an overhand slash from his other opponent, and then cleanly stabbed the man Alicia's dart had distracted.  With a gurgling scream, the man fell away, allowing Thakkor to go on the offensive against his other opponent.

The guardsman who had taken a wound ignored it to return to the fight, preventing another attacker from joining his fellow against Thakkor.  Heartened that her magic had aided him, Alicia reached for another of the twigs to cast her spell again.  Just as she retrieved it, a slash of Thakkor's weapon felled his opponent.

The tide of the battle quickly turned as the odds evened.  Seeing another guardsman giving ground, Alicia cast her next dart at the man driving him back.  As before, the startled reaction to the pain of her magic provided an opening for the defenders of the camp.  Yet another of the scruffy attackers fell.

Fantil's crossbow rang out again.  Though the bolt missed, it was enough to send the man running back into the trees.  Others quickly followed, though Thakkor cut down one before he could break free of their clash to escape.  The guardsmen quickly gathered close to the wagon, their weapons at the ready and panting for breath.

Slowly, the men relaxed as no new threats emerged.  One man darted to the fire to toss on more wood, increasing the illumination of the clearing.  All of the warriors nursed at least one minor wound, but the guardsman who had fought at Thakkor's side leaned against the wagon, his sword falling to the ground.

Fantil tossed aside his crossbow and said, "Alicia, there is a wooden case just to your right.  Please, bring it to me quickly."

She nodded and set her pouch of spell components down, easily locating the box and handing it to Fantil.  He opened it, retrieved a bottle from inside, and scurried to the opposite side of the wagon where Thakkor supported his groggy fellow guardsman.

Alicia watched with nervous worry as Fantil helped the man to drink, and then sighed in relief as color returned to the guardsman's face.  He stood up straight, and nodded to Thakkor, who stepped aside to let him stand unaided.  Thakkor bent to retrieve his fellow's sword, and the man grunted his thanks as his fingers closed over the weapon again.

For another hour, everyone remained on edge, expecting another attack to happen at any moment.  Finally, the sun rose over the horizon, and swords returned to sheathes.

"I am of two hearts concerning these men," Fantil said, gesturing toward the fallen brigands that Alicia was taking pains to avoid looking at.  "None deserve to lie unburied, but I fear to remain where we have already faced attack."

Unconsciously, Alicia glanced toward the bodies, and let out a startled gasp.

"What is it?"  Thakkor asked.

"I...  I recognize that man.  He was one of those who brought me my food when I was captured."

"I am of only one mind, now.  The danger to us, and the black hearts of these men convince me to leave them as they are.  We leave immediately, and will break our fast with simple fare as we go."

The guardsmen and merchants acknowledged Fantil's proclamation, turning to the task of breaking camp and preparing the wagons for travel.  The work proceeded quickly, and they were soon on their way.

Once moving, Fantil signaled for Thakkor to jog up next to him.  He then said, "You will receive pay equal to that of the others who fought in our defense this night."  He then turned to Alicia.  "I consider the cost of your passage paid in the welcome aid of your magic."

"I owe you one, too," Thakkor acknowledged with a smile.  "I was having a bit of trouble until you zapped that fellow trying to carve a hole in me."

Alicia's face flooded with color as she remembered what had prompted her to act, in light of his smile.  The thought of the handsome warrior falling was simply too much for her to bear.  "I did what I thought I must," she responded, smiling back at him.

"Well, you have my thanks," Thakkor said, bringing his hand to his brow in a salute of gratitude.

"You're welcome."  Alicia's eyes locked with his.  In that moment, she felt something she'd only read about previously.  Her heart fluttered as feelings she was beginning to think she'd never experience welled up within her.

"And you have my thanks, as well," Fantil said, breaking Alicia out of her almost reverent study of Thakkor's face.  Her blush deepened as she realized that she'd been staring.  "Little did I know that my passenger would become a warrior."  The merchant let out a loud laugh.

Alicia found it quite difficult indeed to take her gaze away from Thakkor for long as their journey continued.

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

The masked man kicked the corpse at his feet and snarled in frustration.  He'd lost too many men in this abysmal failure, and only a fool would provide him such an opportunity again.  The merchant and his prize traveled into ever more densely populated regions by the moment, making the probability of successfully recapturing the woman now a remote possibility, at best.




To Catch a Merchant Princess Ch. 02



"Strip these of anything useful," he snapped to his remaining thugs.

"You ain't suggestin' we leave 'em for the wolves an' vultures, are ya?"

I am suggesting exactly that, you unwashed peasant, he thought.  "Very well — bury them if you must.  Know that I ride in one hour, and any man not at my side can consider his services no longer necessary."

The scruffy brigands rushed to rob the dead and bury them, unwilling to risk losing the pardon that kept them from the hangman's noose.

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

Fantil and the other merchants carefully scrutinized their maps after the noon meal, plotting a course that would keep the caravan well within populated areas through the rest of the journey, and stop at towns or soldiers barracks each night.  The roundabout course would add better than two days to their journey, but knowing that the men who had attacked them specifically sought Alicia warranted more than a little extra caution.

A large part of that extra time resulted in a long distance between their next stopping point and the one beyond.  Fantil chose to abandon the road for the day, remain within the safety and comfort of the town until first light, and then undertake the extended leg all at once, rather than a short hop and a longer one.  The day of rest, recovery, and cleaner conditions would aid in the healing of the guardsmen's injuries, as well.

The decision sat well with Alicia, who almost immediately sought after a bath house, and discovered that the inn had a well-appointed, although expensive one.  Fantil paled at the cost, however, and jokingly asked if there were any ponds nearby.

Once again, though expensive by most standards, Alicia still carried enough coin to pay for everyone in the tavern to have a bath.  Seeing the scowl on the innkeeper's face from Fantil's jest, she smoothed things over by offering, "I will cover the cost of any in our party who wish to bathe, if I may."

"Is that a subtle hint?"  Fantil laughed.

Alicia blushed and let out a little giggle.  Though not her real reason for the offer, she nevertheless said, "We are all a little fragrant."

"If you're sure..."  He waited a moment, and when she nodded, he added, "I will let everyone know, and I imagine they'll all accept the kindness to our noses."

Seeing the amount of coin in her purse when she opened it to pay for her bath, the innkeeper agreed to wait for payment until all in her party decided whether they wanted a bath or not.  He also quietly suggested that she be more careful about displaying such wealth, and that she might keep her purse in a strongbox he kept in the back room.

Alicia agreed to put her purse in the strongbox for at least the duration of her bath, and thanked the man for his suggestions.  She then hurried to the bath house behind the inn, and gratefully sank into a tub that allowed her to stretch out to her full length.

She felt a little self-conscious about the man standing just outside the thick curtain that served as a door to the enclosure around her tub — one of four in the bath house — but could see from his silhouette that he faced away from the curtain with almost military discipline.  She soon took an extra measure of comfort from him guarding her against prying eyes.

After washing, she shaved her legs and nether lips with a razor provided by the bath house.  She felt far more comfortable with the unattractive and irritating stubble gone.  A woman stopped to ask if Alicia needed more hot water just as she finished shaving.  With the cooling water returned to a luxurious temperature again a few buckets later, Alicia lay back to soak, and simply relax.

Her eyes popped open when she heard men's voices and laughter entering the bath house.  She immediately recognized one of them as Thakkor, and noticed that he took the tub right next to hers.  She covered her mouth and blushed when she saw his shirt fall to the floor through a gap at the base of the enclosures, quickly followed by his boots and trousers.

Alicia couldn't tear her thoughts away from the thought of him naked, only a few inches away.  Her imagination took over, connecting an image of his well-muscled body to the feet she could see through the gap, and she looked away in embarrassment.  Though she closed her eyes and tried to relax again, the image only grew stronger.

Water sloshed as Alicia jerked her hand away from her freshly shaven nether lips.  Her face felt as though it was on fire, because the mystery man that had always wooed her in her dreams now had a face, and that face was Thakkor's.

She glanced first at the silhouette of the man outside, and then toward the gap near the floor, praying that she saw no evidence of anyone having even a hint of her touching herself.  She realized that the water had grown chill as she fantasized, though she'd not noticed it.  Her head awhirl with a mixture of shame and arousal, Alicia quickly toweled dry and put on her clean clothes.

She breathed a sigh of relief when she escaped the bath house without encountering Thakkor, and yet she was a little disappointed that she had not.

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

As the caravan prepared to move out the next morning, the sound of horses cantering toward them from the far edge of town caused all heads to turn toward the noise.  Horses moving at that speed would have been unusual in such a sleepy town at any hour, but were almost ominous at the crack of dawn.  Alicia saw hands grasping swords, and Fantil moving his crossbow into easy reach.  She followed their example, opening her bag to reveal her dagger and spell pouch sitting on the top.

The men came into view around a corner, and everyone around Alicia relaxed.  The riders were obviously soldiers, wearing near pristine armor and riding fine steeds.  As they drew closer, one of the guardsmen said, "Freeland light cavalry."

The horsemen slowed as they approached the inn, one of their number pointing toward the two wagons and those surrounding them.  The group deviated in their course to ride up next to Fantil's wagon.

"Looks like them," one of the soldiers remarked as the horsemen reined in.

The man to whom the first had spoken nodded, both his bearing and the markings on his tabard proclaiming him as a leader.  "We seek the merchant, Fantil, and a woman, Alicia Nash."

"I am Fantil," the merchant acknowledged with a bow of his head.

Alicia leaned out through the low exit to the buckboard and said, "I am Alicia Nash."

"You have friends in high places, Milady.  We are to provide you escort, to ensure the speed and safety of your return to fair Freeland."  His voice carried just enough disdain to reveal that he felt this mission beneath his station.

"How did you discern where to find me?"  Alicia asked, feeling a little irritated by the man's tone.

"The garrison at the border sent word of your plight by magical means to the homeland.  It was a simple matter to determine the course such wagons as those in which you travel would take."

Her carefully studied manners came to the forefront, and Alicia curtsied to the soldier.  "I thank you for your aid, Sir."

"I am simply following orders," he responded with little feeling.  "If you are prepared, we shall leave at once.  Time already slips away, and we will have to slow our pace for the wagons."

"We were about to leave when you arrived," Fantil offered.

"Excellent.  Let us be on our way, then," the soldier declared, and then rode off to the side.  His men likewise cleared the path to the road.

Fantil shrugged to his fellow merchants in the other wagon, and snapped his reins.  The wagons set off, bouncing on the less than perfect road, mounted soldiers falling into neat ranks around them.  The guardsmen of the caravan, suddenly finding their presence unnecessary, jogged up to the tailgates of the wagons to ride.

Alicia glanced back, and then sighed when she realized that Thakkor had chosen the other wagon.  She climbed up on the buckboard next to Fantil, knowing that she would soon be home, safe and sound.

For some reason, that prospect didn't bring her the joy that she knew it should.

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

Hope you've enjoyed this second chapter.  Please take a moment to vote/comment, as that's the motivation that keeps me writing despite the trials life throws at me.



To Catch a Merchant Princess Ch. 03



Author's Notes:

© Copyright Darkniciad. If this story appears anywhere except Literotica.com with this note attached, it is posted without my permission and is likely incomplete/improperly formatted. Please go to Literotica and search for Darkniciad to find the real, authorized version of this tale.

This tale takes place in my fantasy world, and centers upon characters you might recognize from "Queen Alicia" and "King Thakkorias." There isn't much sex in this story, and most of the heat comes in the later chapters.

Much as "Casting Off Convention," this story details early adventures in the life of my characters, long before the 'present day'.

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

"Welcome home," Fantil declared as the wagon crested a hill, revealing the sprawling city of Freeland. The bright noonday sun sparkled on the Groen Sea and the river Lionsfare, framing the city in a glimmering halo. Roads converged upon the city from every direction, filled with wagons, horses, and travelers on foot, all seeking the wonders of the magnificent city. 

Though still many miles distant, the sight of the city filled Alicia with relief. She couldn't yet distinguish her own home, and so turned toward a closer vision of familiarity, the soaring spires Osterfayre. She'd never seen her home city from such a distance before, but the castle where Gwen dwelled looked much the same as it did when approaching from the opposite direction.

Mounted men stood marshaled before the castle, and the group sprang into motion only a minute or so later. Alicia recognized a carriage, pulled by four white horses, at the center of the approaching entourage. Her excitement only grew, knowing that the carriage was one Gwen had taken as her own. Within a few minutes, the two groups would meet, reuniting Alicia with her dear friend.

Fantil clucked his tongue and shook his reins, urging just a bit more speed from his reliable team of chestnut draft horses. "It would seem that I will lose the pleasure of your company soon, Alicia."

"I want to thank you again, Fantil. Knowing my father, it is all too likely that I will not have opportunity to do so later."

"It was my pleasure, Alicia." The merchant leaned around the side of the wagon and gestured. "I know your father as well, and have little doubt you are correct. I should imagine there is someone else you wish to speak to before time slips away."

Thakkor jogged up next to the wagon, offering Alicia a nod of greeting and a radiant smile. Alicia smiled back, and fought the warmth rising in her cheeks with all her will.

She only partially succeeded.

After a couple of hops, Thakkor managed gain the steps leading up to the buckboard and a grip on the wagon.

"I don't know how to thank you for all you've done, Thakkor."

"Couldn't hardly leave you out there alone, though you were doing pretty darn good for yourself. Besides, it looks like I'm set for work, now."

Fantil laughed. "Indeed. I would be a very great fool not to retain your sword before a competitor steals you away from under my nose."

His eyes never leaving Alicia's face, Thakkor said, "Too bad we can't convince you to come along. Those little magical arrows sure did come in handy."

Alicia couldn't fight her blush this time. "Thank you."

"Thank you, and you're welcome," Thakkor responded.

For long seconds, Thakkor and Alicia simply looked at each other. Fantil sat between them, glancing back and forth with a knowing smile, though neither noticed. With the group of Baronial soldiers nearly upon them, Fantil snapped the reins and called to his team, "Whoa."

Thakkor and Alicia looked away from each other, both looking quite embarrassed. Alicia saw Gwen waving from the window of her carriage, wearing a joyful smile. When both the carriage and Fantil's wagon rolled to a stop, Gwen flung open the door of her carriage, nearly clipping the footman reaching for the door in the face as he dodged away.

The footman attempted to reach for the steps, but the Baroness shooed him away. "Damn propriety," Gwen declared, before hopping down from the carriage and pulling up her skirts to avoid tripping over them as she hurried toward Alicia. The footman affected a hurt, indignant expression, forcing Alicia to stifle a laugh as she climbed down from Fantil's wagon.

Gwen wrapped her arms around Alicia, hugging her close and saying, "I'm so glad to see you. When I heard of your disappearance, I feared the worst." She released her friend and said, "Come. I simply must know what happened."

The cavalrymen that had accompanied Fantil's caravan rode away toward the city, replaced by Gwen's soldiers. An officer rode forward, his powerful black warhorse snorting as the rider reined in. "We will accompany you to the Nash estates. Master Nash is most eager to reward you all for the safe return of his daughter."

Gwen's eyebrows shot up, and she turned Alicia toward her carriage, pulling on the blonde's hand to encourage her to hurry. "Who is that devilishly handsome young man? The one who can't take his eyes off you?" Gwen whispered.

Alicia glanced over her shoulder, and knew there was only one man Gwen could have meant. "Thakkor," she answered, her whisper carrying far more emotion than she intended.

"Oh my. Now we certainly need to talk," Gwen teasingly responded. She turned to her footman and said, "You know, your face will stay like that if you keep it up. Do relax. If it will make you feel better, I'll let you open the door and put the steps out twice next time."

Alicia chuckled and covered her mouth with the fingers of one hand, unable to contain the mirth caused by Gwen's over-the-top tone. The footman cracked as well, his scowl fading into a slight grin.

"That's better," Gwen said with a nod. "I do apologize. I simply could not wait."

The footman bowed and said, "Thank you, My Lady," before offering his hand to assist the two women in ascending the steps.

The door had barely closed before Gwen sat down on the plush red cushions and folded her hands before her breasts. "Let's start with this Thakkor," she said with a knowing grin. "Whatever did you do on those dark and lonely nights on the road?"

"Gwen!" Alicia gasped, her face burning from the implication. "Absolutely nothing improper happened." Though she tried to sound indignant, she knew her friend was teasing, and couldn't keep a touch of laughter from her voice.

Gwen sighed. "Pity, that." Her expression then turned serious. "I know I shouldn't tease, but I was so frightened that I must to keep from crying. You are well, are you not?"

Alicia nodded, "I'm fine. I have to thank you for encouraging me to learn magic and how to defend myself. Both have served me well in my ordeal."

"Tell me what happened — as much as you are able, please," Gwen requested.

Alicia discovered that she did feel a need to talk about what had befallen her. She took a deep breath and began her tale with the attack on the carriage.

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

Her face ached from forcing the appropriate, demure smile to remain on her face throughout the day. She was certain she would never walk again from the pain of wearing the tight, high-heeled shoes that none could even see beneath her voluminous, ornate teal gown. The gown stifled her, leaving her feeling as though she would faint at any given moment.

Somehow, she remained standing and smiling as the last of the guests and well-wishers left. Alicia glanced at Gwen, who stood a few feet away with her husband. Without even looking, Gwen squeezed her right hand tight, and then traced a tiny smile in the air, their secret signal for Stay strong and smile — it will be over soon.

Though she dared not look at the men directly, she could tell that Thakkor and his fellow sellswords appeared even more uncomfortable than her. Thakkor in particular fidgeted enough to give her the impression that he was ready to run away screaming from the pomp that he'd endured all day. For just a few moments, her smile was genuine as she considered that a man who could face death without a second thought looked ready to offer unconditional surrender to speeches and platitudes.

Fantil and his merchants appeared at ease, a testament to the skills that made them successful in their trade. Alicia had nearly spoiled her performance when she happened to see the evidence of the men's true feelings out of the corner of her eye earlier in the day. One of the merchants had mimed stabbing a dagger into his own gut, crossing his eyes and sticking out his tongue while one of Alicia's long winded suitors tried to dazzle the gathering with his verbosity. Fantil and the other traveling salesman had nodded their heads while fighting back laughter.

Alicia's father turned to the merchants and sellswords. "Again, we must express our undying gratitude for the safe return of our beloved daughter. You are, of course, welcome to guest with us this evening."

Fantil stepped forward to speak for the group. "We would not dare impose upon what will surely be an emotional evening of private reflection. Your most generous gratuity for the pleasure of accompanying your lovely daughter home is more than sufficient to provide us with fine lodging in fair Freeland."

"Then we wish you safe journey and good fortune."

Fantil nodded and walked toward the stables where his wagons awaited. The rest of the group followed, but Thakkor looked toward Alicia before falling into step with his fellow warriors.

Alicia's eyes locked with his and her breath caught in her chest. He was about to leave, and she would likely never see him again.

"Do you think you will feel ready to resume our lessons next week?" Gwen asked, snapping Alicia out of her trance.

The Baron added, "I will send soldiers to accompany you on your journey, so that you might never fear such misfortune again."

Alicia knew that the Baroness had purposely distracted her — and just in time. Her heart still thudded in her chest, the strength of her feelings having nearly overwhelmed her. "Yes, of course," she answered, fighting the urge to seek out Thakkor again.

"I shall see you then. Welcome home, Alicia."

"Thank you, My Lady," Alicia responded with an appropriate curtsy.

"Come, daughter, before you catch a chill in the night air."

Alicia accepted her mother's hand, masterfully negotiating the stone path in her heels, eager to shed both the painful shoes and the suffocating gown.

She was far less eager to walk away from the sound of Fantil's wagons rolling out of the stable.

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

Alicia paced the gravel paths of the garden, the morning dew dampening the hem of her gown. From the moment she had awakened in her own bed for the first time in so long, she felt as though the walls were closing in on her. Even outside in the garden, she felt imprisoned.

Thankfully, she had an excuse to turn away suitors — for a time. She knew that her father's patience would soon run out. After only a week, she could see irritation in his eyes whenever she asked for permission to withdraw early from dinner or feigned indisposition from her ordeal to chase away the strutting men seeking her hand.

When she heard the sound of horses and carriage wheels approaching, Alicia pulled up her skirts and hurried out of the garden at a speed just below a jog. She slowed only at the last second, resuming a stately walk once beyond the welcome seclusion of the flowers and fruit trees, picking up her day bag from a stone bench along the way.

The carriage appeared to barely move in Alicia's eyes, seemingly taking hours to cross the grounds, mounted soldiers of the Baron riding alongside. Knowing that someone was always watching, she contained her urges and waited for the carriage to pull up and turn around, rather than running for the door as part of her screamed to do.

"Glad I am to see you well," the driver said with a smile.

"As am I, you," Alicia responded, returning his warm smile.

"Nothing more than a crick in my back from the unanticipated nap, Milady."

The footman opened the door and set up the steps, which Alicia ascended almost before they could settle. Less than a minute later, Alicia let out a great sigh of relief as the carriage rolled toward the gates of the estate. Even so, she still wished she could ride with the driver, up where she could feel the wind on her face and see the countryside.

Upon the first, small lurch of the carriage wheels onto the cobblestone courtyard of the castle, Alicia looked toward the massive double doors of the fortress. Her brow wrinkled in confusion when she saw a servant waiting there instead of Gwen. The Baroness had always met her at the front door, and Alicia wondered why things had changed.

Once the carriage rolled to a stop and the footman put out the steps, the servant bowed and announced, "My Lady has asked me to convey you to her in her chambers."

"Very well. Thank you," Alicia responded, still confused. She followed the man through the halls, though she knew the way probably as well as he.

Alicia's guide knocked upon the relief-carved door and announced her.

"Do come in, Alicia," Gwen called from inside.

The servant opened the door, and then bowed before taking his leave. Alicia crossed the threshold, and instantly knew the reason why her friend had not met her as usual.

"What do you think?" Gwen asked, modeling her blouse and skirt.

"It's very becoming," Alicia answered, and then giggled. The Baroness had obviously taken a cue from the clothing she'd seen Alicia wearing upon her return, though Gwen's outfit was made of expensive purple silk trimmed in gold thread rather than plain linen.

"My husband thought so as well, though he is too scandalized to allow me outside my room when I'm wearing it. I'd nearly forgotten how comfortable this is." She then bent to pick up a bundle resting upon the cushions of the cherry wood couch next to her. Holding out a nearly identical outfit in blue as Alicia approached, she asked, "Join me?"

Alicia nodded, more than willing to escape her gown. She removed it carefully, draping it over the back of the couch so it wouldn't wrinkle, and then pulled on the blouse and skirt. The silk felt wonderful against her skin, and fit perfectly.

Gwen clapped her hands and sat down on the couch. "Now, show me your new spell."

Yet another request Alicia was happy to oblige, she sat down her day bag and sifted to the bottom until she found her spell component pouch. Once she removed the miniature arrow, she said, "I actually need to cast this cantrip at something for it to work. It's not very strong, but I don't want to ruin anything."

"The logs in the fireplace?" Gwen suggested.

"Good idea," Alicia agreed, and turned to face the fireplace. She cleared her head, and then started the chant.

"Marvelous!" Gwen declared as the blue-white bolt of magic hurtled from Alicia's hand to explode in a spray of sparks against the half-charred logs. She then beckoned her friend to her and said, "I have some gifts for you."

"Gifts? On what occasion?"

Gwen beckoned again, more insistently this time. "If you must have an occasion, then your safe return. In truth, I simply wished to."

As Alicia approached, Gwen held up a cedar box about the length of her forearm, and perhaps one quarter as wide and deep. "What is it?" Alicia asked.

"Open it and find out." The Baroness stretched out her arms, offering the box.

One look at the dainty silver hinges and latches told Alicia that the box wasn't really meant to be opened or closed frequently. She carefully lifted the lid and gasped in surprise when she saw the sheathed dagger within.

"I thought you should have one more befitting of your station," Gwen explained, and stood up. "The man who sold it to me swore that it is a wizard's dagger."

Elaborate scrollwork decorated the leather sheathe. The grip of the dagger was equally ornate, sporting a crystal quartz pommel stone. Alicia accepted Gwen's silent offer to hold the box while she removed the dagger. When she slid the blade out of the sheathe, she found the same scrollwork decorated the gleaming, double edged weapon. Though short — only a little longer than her middle finger — the blade nevertheless appeared quite dangerous.

Two soft leather straps dangled from the back of the sheathe at the top and bottom, passing through metal grommets. A loop in the center was obviously for securing the sheathe to a belt, but the other straps perplexed her.

Knowing exactly what Alicia was thinking while twirling one of the straps between her fingers, Gwen said, "Let me show you."

Alicia gasped in surprise when the Baroness hiked up her skirt, and then let out a little laugh when the action revealed the purpose of the straps. Gwen had a similar dagger strapped to her thigh, pommel down.

"It is a little awkward at first, but I've grown accustomed to it in the last two days," Gwen said as she let her skirt fall back down. You should be able to find the proper place if you put it on while sitting down."

Once again feeling the security of a weapon in her hand that had washed over her during her flight from captivity, Alicia sat down on the couch and bunched up her skirt.

"A little closer to your knee. Now up a little," Gwen instructed as Alicia placed the weapon against her thigh. "There, that looks right. See if you can buckle it on."

Alicia clamped her thighs together to hold the dagger in place, and then pulled the straps around her leg. Once she cinched up the buckles, she wondered how the blade would remain safely within its sheathe when she stood.

As soon as she considered the conundrum, she noticed the two small leather loops. These hooked over protrusions extending from the joining of the blade and grip of the dagger. A gentle tug on the dagger reassured her that it would remain in place, but only a flip of her finger released one of the leather loops. She could draw the hidden weapon in a matter of seconds.

"Try to walk a bit," Gwen suggested.

Alicia smoothed her skirt back down and stood. After only a few steps, she found that the dagger felt perfectly natural — and very comforting — riding securely against her thigh.

"It seems to agree with you. I had to concentrate not to walk bowlegged for most of the first day." Gwen laughed and asked, "Do you like it?"

"I adore it, Gwen. Thank you," Alicia said with a vibrant smile as she sat down, the dagger again not hindering her movement in any way.

"Now, for your second gift." Gwen reached to the tabletop next to the couch, retrieving a small silk bag and a palm-sized book.

"New spells?" Alicia guessed, eagerly reaching for the book and bag.

Gwen nodded. "I spoke with the woman who taught me magic, and she said that you might be able to cast these, since you managed your new spell. I'll never have the aptitude."

Color flooded into Alicia's cheeks when she opened the book and realized the nature of the first spell. The magic discerned whether a woman was in a fertile part of her cycle. The next spell increased a woman's natural wetness. Every page in the book detailed another spell that had something to do with fertility, sex, birth, or child rearing. She closed the book and remarked, "This must be the naughtiest spell book ever written."

Gwen laughed and nodded in agreement. "If you can learn the magic, it will certainly come in handy some day. The first and last, especially."

Alicia tucked the book pouch of spell components into her day bag, along with her other tools of magic. Gwen's mention of the final spell — a magic to lessen the pain of deflowering — caused Alicia's cheeks to burn even hotter. As soon as she'd realized the nature of the spell, she had thought of Thakkor.




To Catch a Merchant Princess Ch. 03



"Just learn them," Gwen said with a wink.

Though she tried not to think about it, Alicia could almost hear the new spells calling to her.

"Will you cross swords with Trell today? I do know he is anxious to see you."

"I certainly wish to thank him," Alicia replied. Her fingers brushed across her practice uniform, the garments a little worse for the wear after serving in a capacity far beyond their intended use. She'd nearly left the uniform in its hiding place at home, uneasy about engaging in mock combat so soon after circumstances forced her to utilize those skills in a real life or death situation.

As she considered it now, the frustration of returning to her old routine weighed down upon her. After her first taste of true freedom, albeit an unwilling one, Alicia found it nearly impossible to endure the tiring, meaningless ritual of her life.

"Alicia?" Gwen asked, concerned by the frown on her friend's face and the long pause.

Alicia snapped out of her dark brooding. "I'm sorry, Gwen. Yes, I think I will."

The Baroness smiled. "Let us have tea then, to fortify you for the exercise."

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

Alicia's wooden blade smacked against Trell's in a diagonal, two-handed cut. The well-trained warrior pushed Alicia's blade down and launched a slash of his own. Alicia felt the satisfying shock of her weapon deflecting the stronger man's blow, her body moving almost of its own accord to bring the wooden blade into proper position. She immediately thrust directly from her blocking position. Though she could put only a portion of her strength into the attack, it forced Trell back and into a hasty, sweeping defense.

Every ounce of Alicia's irritation and the lingering traces of fear from her kidnapping surged from her into her blade. Sweat poured from her body, threatening her vision, but she pressed on. For the first time, she maintained an even footing with her instructor far more often than she retreated.

Faces appeared in the windows and doors of the castle, anyone who heard the clatter of the pitched battle unable to look away. Trell's soldiers filed out of the barracks, their expressions showing astonishment at the spectacle. Alicia noticed none of it, and continued to press her attack.

"Hold!" Trell called out.

Her heart pounding and her eyes still narrowed in concentration, Alicia suddenly realized she'd scored a touch on Trell's weapon arm. She drew back her blade and stared at it in near disbelief.

"Magnificent, Alicia!" Trell declared. He let his weapon drop to his side and rubbed his upper arm, the angry red welt there a testament to the strength of Alicia's blow. "You weren't thinking, were you?"

"What do you mean?" Alicia asked between deep, rapid breaths.

"You weren't thinking, 'I need to bring my sword up to defend against this attack,' you just did it, didn't you?"

Alicia wiped the sweat out of her eyes and considered for a moment. "I did feel as though I was already moving before I could consider the proper parry."

Trell held out his hand for Alicia's wooden sword. "That's not all. I threw a few things at you that you haven't seen before. Do you remember?"

Almost instantly, Alicia recalled a low, one-handed thrust, and one occasion where Trell had actually switched his sword to his off hand for a slash.

"I can see it in your eyes," Trell said, and then laughed. "You were improvising — modifying what you've already learned to deal with the flow of the battle. You've reached a new plateau, Alicia."

Untying the thong holding her blonde tresses back in a tail, Alicia asked, "You truly think so?"

"I know so. I'll look forward to sparring with you even more, from now on." He gripped the welt on his arm. "Though I fear this will be the first of many bruises I'll nurse for it. Now, off to the bath with you. Wouldn't want to invite bad luck by getting carried away, as we did last time."

It was at that moment that Alicia realized she had an audience. Her flushed cheeks grew even redder when she noticed the looks of surprised pleasure on the faces looking out into the courtyard.

Gwen knew Alicia well, and hastened to extradite her embarrassed — but still proud — friend to the safety of the castle.

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

Alicia breathed a sigh of relief as the door closed, finally giving her time alone again after returning from her visit with Gwen. She'd hastened through her bath, eager to have the time away from her parents and the servants that bedtime granted.

A look out the window revealed that the rain continued to fall in sheets, eliminating any possibility of enjoying the night air out on the balcony. Alicia unpacked her day bag, carefully hiding her practice uniform and placing her new dagger atop it. Fortunately, even her mother wouldn't dare violate the small cedar chest where Alicia kept her diaries — and what Gwen mirthfully called her contraband.

As Alicia placed her silken pouches and spellbooks into the chest, she found her fingers lingering on the new book Gwen had given her. The spells almost seemed to be calling to her to learn them.

Her cheeks warmed as that call carried with it an image of Thakkor.

She nearly put the spellbook away, concerned that she was letting her baser desires overwhelm her, but her fingers refused to release the book. He's gone away with Fantil, so what temptation do I have to fear?

With that rationale firmly set in her head, Alicia closed the top of the chest and carried the book to her dressing table. Opening the book on the table to the first spell, she reached for her ivory-handled brush. As she brushed out her long, golden tresses, Alicia thought, How much easier might it be to give my future husband a child if I might know when I could conceive?

The steady litany of good reasons to study the magic Alicia contrived overwhelmed the other, shameful thoughts that emerged in her head as she looked over the spell. With her hair brushed out and her conscience salved, Alicia took the book to her bed to study in earnest. She pointedly ignored the part of the spell description that stressed the magic served a second, naughtier purpose. Quite naturally, a spell that could tell a woman when she could become pregnant could also tell her when she could not.

Alicia knew that this spell would not come to her quickly. Even the first word made her tongue feel as though it was trying to tie itself into a knot. The challenge only strengthened her resolve. The patter of the heavy rain outside helped to focus Alicia's mind, drowning out the sounds of the night and those few still awake within the house.

Alicia barely found the presence of mind to hide her spellbook away many hours later.

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

Stephan droned on and on, his passionless recital making an already bad poem all the more awful. Weary from her long night studying magic, Alicia's patience had eroded within minutes of his arrival. Even the elation of having learned both the first and last spells in her new book over the last month couldn't overwhelm Stephan's irritating presence. The boorish cousin of a Duke obviously believed he was the god's own gift to womankind, and treated the servants little better than dogs.

She could finally bear him no longer when Stephan moved close and delivered his next line of prose while staring down into her cleavage without the slightest hint of shame or tact. Alicia gasped and covered her bosom with her hand, immediately rising to dart around him. She didn't look back as she tried unsuccessfully to hide her irritation. "Please excuse me, I'm feeling rather indisposed."

Alicia could just hear Stephan's indignant snort over her mother calling to her. Ignoring them both, she crossed the sitting room and stepped out of her painful heels as soon as she passed out of the room. Gathering up her skirts, she hastened to the stairs in the entrance foyer and ascended the curving stone steps at nearly a run.

Almost as soon as she slammed her oaken door shut, Alicia covered her face with her hands and lamented her foolishness. She knew full well the consequences she would face for such a graceless display. Her already stifling routine would now include the angry stare and constant chastisement of her father for weeks to come.

Hearing her mother's heels clicking on the stones of the hall between the carpets, Alicia slid the iron locking bolt closed and crossed the room to sit down heavily on her bed.

"Daughter, you will come make your apologies to Stephan immediately."

"I will not!" The final word emerged as an angry shout, accompanied by an irrational desire to hurl something at the door.

"Your behavior is inexcusable, Daughter."

"That preening lecher staring at my breasts is perfectly acceptable, of course," Alicia retorted.

"You are imagining things."

"You are ignoring them!" This time, Alicia didn't resist the urge. She picked up the delicate glass vase of summer blooms next to her bed and hurled it with all her might toward the door. Water and flowers scattered across the floor, quickly joined by shards of glass when the vase shattered against the stout portal.

Alicia flopped down on the bed in tearful frustration, not even acknowledging her mother's warning about the forthcoming consequences when her father returned home. Only a few minutes later, she dried her eyes and summoned up her composure, embarrassed by her spoiled, childish display.

She nearly relapsed when a knock on the door interrupted an attempt to fix her makeup without starting all over again. "Please go away," she managed to implore with a fair amount of civility.

"I heard glass breaking," Kylie said from the other side of the door.

Alicia winced, glad she hadn't snapped at the young woman. "It is of no matter. I will attend to it."

"If you wish, but I have gloves where you do not. Your mother has retired to her chambers."

Alicia knew that the last was meant to reassure her that it was safe to open the door. "One moment," she acquiesced, and retrieved a pair of shoes from the racks in her closet. She picked her way through the shards of glass and slid back the locking bolt, allowing Kylie to enter.

The young woman nodded and smiled. She wore gloves, and carried a tin pail to dispose of the broken vase. Inside the pail was a new vase, and flowers to fill it.

"Thank you, Kylie. You are too thoughtful."

"Anticipation is half of the task of those who serve," Kylie responded as she closed the door and locked it again.

"I fear my actions this day will create unpleasantness for you as well — for all of the servants," Alicia lamented as she accepted the vase from the brunette and placed it on her bedside table.

"Perhaps, although I believe many of us would consider Stephan's hasty departure worth the trouble," Kylie said while handing Alicia the flowers.

Alicia couldn't help but grin as she arranged the flowers in the vase. Kylie pulled a cloth from the pail, knelt to pick up the flowers closest to the bed, and then blotted the water spots from the carpet and floor. "If you wish, I might quietly bring you something from the kitchen for your meals."

"You are too kind. I would not trouble you so beyond your normal work," Alicia responded as she finished with the flowers.

Kylie waved her away as Alicia started to kneel to help with cleaning up the mess. "It is no trouble."

"It will be if my parents were to discover that you offered me comfort beyond your duties. No, I will face my punishment."

"As you wish. For whatever comfort you may take from it, there is no need for shame in your actions. I fear I would not have managed such restraint were I faced with the prospect of Stephan courting me."

The contempt with which Kylie said Stephan's name caused Alicia to chuckle, bringing her a small measure of comfort as she sat down to work on her smudged face once more.

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

The day proceeded much as Alicia had anticipated, with one welcome exception. Her father's anger was so overwhelming that he could find no words to chastise her. Alicia retired early to watch the sunset from her balcony, leaning against the stone railing in quiet contemplation.

Her sense of duty and proper behavior warred with her independent nature, neither side able to gain any ground over the other. Once, she had nearly accepted her lot in life, taking advantage of the comforts afforded to her with the lack of care expected in her station. Then, her father's choice of suitors had reawakened her rebellious side, and the ordeal of her kidnapping and escape had further strengthened that part of her.

Torn between what she had always known and what she truly desired, Alicia could not resolve the conflict within her. The crimson glow of the setting sun faded, replaced by the pale light of the full moon. Softly humming romantic songs helped to quiet her mind, allowing her to enjoy the sounds of the night and the cooling breeze.

As though summoned by her quiet rendition, Alicia saw a couple walking hand-in-hand through the garden below. She recognized the young woman as an assistant to the cook. The older man worked for her father as a driver. The couple obviously had eyes only for each other, and Alicia doubted that either realized she was standing on the balcony above them.

Alicia sighed as the couple sat down on one of the benches in the garden to kiss. The surrounding foliage likely shielded the pair from nearly any other location in the house or on the grounds, but Alicia's balcony overlooked the spot from just the right position.

Though she tried to ignore the couple and the bittersweet feelings the sight of them summoned up within her, Alicia frequently found her eyes returning to the tender scene. On one such occasion, Alicia covered her mouth and stepped back toward the balcony door. The couple had progressed beyond simple kissing, and the bright moonlight plainly revealed the man's hand beneath the woman's blouse, and her hand in his lap.

Alicia's cheeks burned as she quietly opened the door and slipped back into her room. She had watched the passionate scene for far longer than could remotely be considered appropriate in her surprise, and the reaction it caused in her only reinforced her shame.

Her nipples stiff against the chemise beneath her dressing gown, Alicia tried to shake away the lusty emotions surging through her. Despite her efforts, the insistent tingle in her loins only grew stronger by the moment. As always since meeting him, thoughts of Thakkor melded with the surging arousal that threatened to overwhelm her.

After a few minutes of pacing in front of the balcony door, Alicia peeked out the window almost without thinking. When she noticed the couple had abandoned the garden — probably for somewhere even more private — she stepped back out onto the balcony. The cool night air proved a marked contrast to the heat she felt, causing her to shiver despite her woolen dressing gown.

The lights of the city called to her eyes. Freeland never slept. Even now, some were only just rising from their beds. Though she'd daydreamed of visiting the city unescorted many times, the desire was especially strong this night. She'd planned her escape many years ago, but had never found the courage to undertake the adventure. Whispers of thieves, drunkards, rapists, and other dark elements of society had always caused her to abandon any thought of venturing to the city alone.

Such considerations seemed trivial now, after facing the wilderness alone with murderous men seeking her. Guardsmen patrolled the streets of the city, maintaining law and order. Bright lamps lit the street corners, keeping the thieves at bay. True, the dangers were real, but far less so than those conjured up in Alicia's mind over the years.

The moonlight further illuminated the city, revealing a building she'd often heard the servants speak of. The bright red stain of the wooden shingles stood out from the nearby buildings. The roof hearkened to the name of the place, the Red Dragon Inn. A popular destination for its affordable accommodations and the congenial atmosphere of the taproom, the well paid servants of the estate frequented the Dragon.

How could I bring any more trouble upon myself? Alicia thought, curiosity overwhelming her arousal. She stepped back into her room, instantly feeling cabin fever despite her opulent and spacious surroundings. In a surge of determination, Alicia pulled off her dressing gown to absently discard it on her turned-down bed. Her chemise soon followed, falling in a pool of silk to the floor as she bent in front of her chest of drawers.

From the bottom drawer, Alicia retrieved a blouse and skirt. Despite frequent admonitions to discard the garments she'd obtained on her flight from her captors, Alicia had adamantly refused to do so. Alicia pulled on the simple linen garments before her nerve failed, and then walked to her cedar chest. From this, she retrieved her new dagger, spell pouch, and a small purse of coin. With the dagger securely strapped to her thigh and the two pouches tied to loops designed for exactly that purpose at the top of her skirt, Alicia took a deep breath and stared at her door.

She almost surrendered to fear as she had so many times before, but managed to summon up the courage to approach the door. First, she listened for sounds of anyone outside in the hall. Then, she cracked the door open and peered out into the corridor. She knew her best chance lay in speed as much as stealth, and thus she slipped out into the hall almost as soon as the thought crossed her mind. A few steps down the hall, she pulled on a handle disguised as an ornamental hook, sliding back the door to the servant's corridors.

When necessary, the servants could move throughout the entire home without ever appearing in the halls, with one notable exception — Alicia's father had sealed the door leading to her room. The hidden passageways were rarely used, only pressed into service during grand parties or when important guests stayed overnight at the estate. Thus, the corridors were currently empty — and pitch black.

Alicia centered her mind and spoke the words of a cantrip, her fingers dancing through the necessary gestures as she held the miniature candle. The tiny wax replica vanished, replaced by a hovering sphere of yellow light in her palm. Wearing a triumphant smile, Alicia tiptoed through the narrow corridor toward the steep stairs she knew lay a short distance ahead.

The stairs creaked enough to give Alicia cause for alarm as she descended. While she didn't feel as though the steps were unsafe, she feared the noise might alert someone to her presence. When she reached the bottom of the wooden staircase, Alicia quickened her pace. Having explored the corridors often as a girl, she knew them as well as she did the rest of the house. She reached what the servants called the mud porch without incident, and didn't see anyone when she slowly cracked open the door to exit the secret passages.

Knowing that some servants were always awake and at work, Alicia exited the hidden passage and crossed the small room to the door. Once through that portal, she stood in the side of the estate grounds, set aside for the growing of vegetables and herbs. Though offering little cover to conceal her, this side of the grounds had few windows facing it. She had to hurry and hope that none of the servants chose to look out the window during her escape.

Feeling alive, with the night breeze whipping her blonde tresses, Alicia jogged across the grounds, putting what little bit of vegetation and outbuildings she could between her and the house. She had an almost uncontrollable desire to giggle when she closed the servant's gate behind her, having completed her escape.




To Catch a Merchant Princess Ch. 03



Alicia had to fight the urge to skip as she hiked to the road a few hundred feet away, and then toward the city. A few minutes later, she passed between the guard towers and into the city proper.

Having never visited the city at night before, Alicia was surprised by the number of shops still open for business. Around half of the storefronts and booths were shuttered with closed signs, but the rest looked as though they would remain open the whole night through. Though the cobblestone streets bore only a portion of the daytime traffic, people and carts still moved from place to place in large numbers.

Some places thrived in the night, advertising their presence with bright torches, lamps, and in some rare cases, magical lights. The inns, taprooms, and brothels drew a fair share of the traffic moving through the city. For the first time, Alicia heard the sounds of Freeland's nightlife from a more personal perspective.

Plunging necklines dominated the attire of the women — especially the prostitutes. Despite the ample number of well displayed chests, Alicia noticed more than a few men turning her way with glances that ranged from curiosity to outright, debauched lust. While the attention made her tingle all over, it also carried with it twinges of uneasiness. Only the sight of a guard on patrol nearby calmed her nerves, allowing her to proceed toward the Red Dragon.

Alicia turned a corner amidst the sound of loud feminine laughter coming from a pair of ladies playfully fleeing two men chasing them. She had to step aside to avoid a collision with the first of the women, and caught her first sight of the Dragon as she did so.

As the owner intended, the first thing that she saw was the Dragon's primary advertisement. The red stone statue stood in the middle of a ring of fire that illuminated it, upon an island in a small pond in front of the inn. The dragon statue's head pointed toward the sky, its mouth open in a toothy snarl. Real flame danced in the night breeze, emerging from the stone monster's mouth.

Alicia fell into step with two or three other patrons approaching the inn, and a wide smile broke out on her face as she entered. The atmosphere reminded her of the small town taproom she'd entered with Thakkor as her first taste of civilization after escaping her kidnappers — if a bit more crowded and loud. A troupe of minstrels played in one corner, and several couples danced in front of the musicians in an area obviously set aside for such.

"First time?"

Alicia jumped a little from the voice, and turned to find a busty brunette barmaid standing next to her. "Yes, it's my first visit."

The woman laughed. "Come along then. I'll get you set up at the bar where we can keep an eye out for you while you get comfortable."

"Thank you very much," Alicia responded as the brunette waved for her to follow.

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

"You are absolutely certain?"

"Oh, it's her, it is. Gone to the Red Dragon all alone. No soldiers or ladies in waitin' or nuthin'."

Coins changed hands, and the roughly dressed man scurried off to spend it, leaving behind his benefactor — who wore a wide, dark smile.

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

Already nervous from the unwanted advances of a drunkard that had accosted her, Alicia felt even more unsettled when she stepped outside. Many of the lamps and torches had burned down, leaving only islands of light in the previously bright streets. A quick glance behind her through the window revealed the barman and one of his toughs still dressing down the drunkard, at least giving her the piece of mind that he would not follow her.

Alicia tried to take comfort in the pleasant evening she'd spent up until that unfortunate encounter. Fascinated by the interaction between people not caught up in protocol, she would have been content to people-watch. The single men would have none of that, though. Fortunately, Alicia's own coaching in manners and her pleasant demeanor meant that most of those men left her side feeling only disappointment, and nothing worse.

Nevertheless, the darkness made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. Without even realizing it, Alicia quickened her pace. Only now did she consider that she still needed to travel the road home after midnight — alone. She briefly considered asking a guard to accompany her when she reached the gate, but realized that such had a far greater potential of reaching her father than anything else.

Resigned to the short but frightening journey, Alicia hurried toward the gate. As her eyes adjusted, she was glad that the full moon actually left few places completely hidden in shadow.

Just as she started to relax, a voice emerged from an alleyway as she passed it. "Well, look who we have here."

Before Alicia even realized what she was doing, she'd set her feet and snapped her dagger from its hidden sheathe.

"We've got to stop meeting like this," Thakkor said with laughter in his voice as he took a step back and held up his hands.

"Thakkor?" Alicia asked incredulously.

"Yep. Uhm — you can put the dagger away now, if you want."

Alicia blushed when she realized she still stood as if ready for battle. Her blush only deepened as she considered what she would have to do to sheathe her dagger — which she'd already done as she retrieved it. Thakkor turned away to give her a measure of privacy, only confirming that he'd certainly seen several more inches of her thigh than the skirt intended. Alicia slipped her dagger back in place. "I'm terribly sorry."

Thakkor laughed. "Don't worry about it. Nice dagger, by the way. It suits you better than that skinning knife you tried to gut me with last time. Surprised to see you here in the city."

"I'm surprised to see you as well," Alicia said with a smile, absently smoothing back her blonde tresses.

"I was just heading back to the inn. Ran into an old friend and went to have a couple of beers with him."

"I was just returning home."

"Alone?"

"Well, I..." Alicia trailed off, not really knowing what to say. Her heart knew exactly what to say, and screamed at her to ask him to accompany her.

"Snuck out, huh? Can't say as I blame you." He laughed again, the deep sound full of mirth. He pointed a thumb over his shoulder toward the gate and asked, "Want some company on the walk before you sneak back in? We're in town for a couple of days, so there's no rush for me to get back."

Alicia nearly swooned, her heart thudding in her chest and tingles running up and down her spine. "If you don't mind," she answered, pleased that none of her excitement had crept into her voice.

The couple turned toward the gate, walking side by side. Some scandalous part of Alicia's mind willed him to reach for her hand.

"Been coming here often?" Thakkor asked, and then winced. "Damn, but that sounded much better in my head."

Alicia laughed, having heard a very similar line in the Dragon. "This was the first time I found the courage, actually. I think I might try again tomorrow night, though."

"Any place special?" Thakkor asked as they passed through the gate, sounding a little nervous.

"I'll probably go to the Red Dragon again. I enjoyed my evening there," Alicia responded, her smile growing wider.

"I've heard about that place. Never been there."

"Perhaps I'll see you there tomorrow night."

"I'll make sure not to sneak up on you this time."

Thakkor and Alicia both laughed at the same time, and then continued down the road, chatting as they walked.

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

With the couple now well out of earshot, one of the men huddled behind an outbuilding asked, "Why'd we let 'em go?"

"Ah, let us not be so eager. Preparations made in haste are only appropriate when there is not opportunity for a studied approach." He gestured for his men to follow, and then muttered under his breath, "Tomorrow, I will have satisfaction."

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

Hope you've enjoyed this third chapter. Please take a moment to vote/comment, as that's the motivation that keeps me writing despite the trials life throws at me. The fourth chapter is already in editing, and I'm working on the fifth ( and what I assume is final ) chapter of the story. It was supposed to be four chapters, but Thakkor and Alicia had other ideas *laugh*



To Catch a Merchant Princess Ch. 04



Author's Notes:

© Copyright Darkniciad. If this story appears anywhere except Literotica.com with this note attached, it is posted without my permission and is likely incomplete/improperly formatted. Please go to Literotica and search for Darkniciad to find the real, authorized version of this tale.

This tale takes place in my fantasy world, and centers upon characters you might recognize from "Queen Alicia" and "King Thakkorias." There isn't much sex in this story, and most of the heat comes in the later chapters.

Much as "Casting Off Convention," this story details early adventures in the life of my characters, long before the 'present day'.

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

Alicia sat cross-legged beneath a cherry tree in the garden, blissfully savoring a few of the ripe fruits, plucked directly from the tree. As with the day before, her parents were simply too stunned by her sudden shift in behavior to articulate their disappointment. She knew the reprieve wouldn't last long, but she planned to take advantage of every moment.

A beam of sunlight shone upon her spellbook, open in her lap. The spell to soothe sore and chafed nipples from nursing a child intrigued Alicia because it had potential to cure the same caused by her often elaborate and uncomfortable wardrobe. Though still a little weary from her late night in the city, she still felt giddy from the trip — and the subsequent reunion with Thakkor.

She could still see the look in his eyes as he stood with her in the moonlight at the servant's gate. For a moment, she'd thought for certain that he was going to kiss her. In fact, she'd actually felt irritated when he didn't, instead returning to the city after saying that he hoped to see her there the next evening.

Enough of that. Study, Alicia, she silently chided herself as her body reacted to the memory of his face and how badly she'd wanted that kiss. Her recent lapse in manners would eventually fade from her father's mind — taking up with a vagabond sellsword certainly would not.

The words of the spell she studied were quite similar to the other two spells she'd mastered, and Alicia found that this magic came to her easily. After only an hour or so, she felt confident that she knew a little over half of the spell. The encouraging results pushed her even harder, reducing her world to the spidery words on the pages before her — until the snake slithered out from under a patch of violets on the opposite side of the path.

Whether alerted by the sound, a flash of movement in her peripheral vision, or pure intuition, Alicia looked up from her book just as the serpent appeared on the path. She recognized the venomous reptile by its copper-colored head and attempted to scoot back, around the tree.

The action caused the snake to rear its head up in an ominous posture. Alicia froze in place, her eyes locked on the snake. Her hand rested against her spell pouch, providing her with a possible solution. With slow, minimal movements, she withdrew one of the miniature arrows from inside the pouch.

The snake remained in front of her, well within striking distance, seemingly daring her to move. Alicia raised the arrow in front of her, prompting another frightening change in posture from the serpent. She whispered the words of the spell, moving her fingers through the few gestures necessary to call up the magic. The magical darts probably wouldn't kill the snake, but they would certainly stun it and make it think twice about coming near her.

Just as Alicia completed the spell, she felt a tingle in her thigh that she knew came from the dagger sheathed there. It distracted her for a moment just as she whispered the final word and directed the tiny arrow toward the snake. The arrow vanished, and again Alicia felt the tingle — stronger this time.

Curiously, Alicia knew the magic hadn't failed. She could feel it within her dagger. Somehow, the weapon had contained the magic and held it there. With the same slow movements she'd adopted since the snake appeared, Alicia unsheathed the dagger. She pointed it at the snake, concentrating on the strange sensation of magic there. Her magical dart leapt from the dagger, striking the snake right in the head. The creature curled up with a hiss and rolled over on its back, twitching from the bite of the magic.

Alicia wasted no time in scurrying to safety.

Once a safe distance away, seated on a limestone bench, Alicia examined her dagger. Gwen had suggested that the dagger was made for a wizard, and that certainly seemed to be true. While the ability to hold spells and release them with a thought was useful, it could also prove troublesome if she couldn't learn how to control it.

Alicia retrieved another arrow from her pouch, looked around to make sure that no one was around, and cast the spell at a brown, curled leaf lying upon the ground. Again, she felt the tingle from her dagger, but ignored it. When she finished casting the spell, the dart hurtled from her fingers and blasted into the dried leaf.

Pleased with the result, she decided to try to contain a spell within the dagger. She pulled one of the miniature candles from her spell pouch and cast the light spell she'd utilized to navigate the servant's corridors the night before. This time, when she felt the dagger reacting to the magic, she opened her mind to the weapon. The tiny candle vanished, and Alicia could feel the presence of her magic within the dagger, awaiting her call.

A second casting of the light spell yielded the same results, and Alicia could feel both of the spells distinctly within the dagger. At least I won't have to speak the words of the spell when I sneak out to the city tonight, she thought.

Continuing to experiment, she cast another dart spell into the dagger. She could tell the difference between all three spells, and knew she could call up whichever she wished with nothing more than a thought. On a whim, she cast first the fertility divining spell, and then the spell to lessen the pain and discomfort of deflowering into the dagger. With the last, she had a sense from the weapon that it could hold no more.

Alicia sheathed the dagger with a wide smile, appreciating Gwen's gift even more, now. She couldn't wait to reveal the secret to her friend. She sheathed the dagger and decided to return to her room to continue studying the new spell. The encounter with the snake made her too uncomfortable with the thought of focusing on her book in the garden again.

As she stepped out of the garden, Alicia smiled at the sight of the sun sinking toward the western horizon. She hoped she could remain hidden away in her room as much as possible, because she didn't know if she could contain her anticipation for her venture into the city tonight. With that pleasant thought in mind, Alicia hurried to her room.

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

Her mood buoyant, Alicia stepped from her bath and prepared to dress for bed. She considered changing into what she planned to wear into the city, but thought better of the notion. Her mother might decide to finally confront her about her recent behavior, and finding her not dressed appropriately would raise questions she couldn't answer.

Once she toweled dry, Alicia slipped into her silk chemise and retrieved her new spellbook once more. She felt as though she was on the cusp of mastering the spell, and she was eager to do so.

Before she could open the book, she heard a knock on the door. Quickly slipping the book beneath her overstuffed pillow, she called out, "Yes?"

Kylie answered, "I have some of your laundry."

"Come in, Kylie."

The young woman entered carrying a woven wicker basket, and Alicia offered to help. After removing her panties from the top of the basket, Alicia's eyes widened at the sight of the clothes she'd worn out last night in the bottom. She'd carefully hidden the clothing away, planning to wash it herself in secret.

Kylie whispered, "Your escape didn't go entirely unnoticed. Don't worry, we're not going to say anything. If you plan to go out tonight, it would be nice if you'd tell me, though. The stairs in the servant's corridors are just beyond the wall behind my bed. I entertained all manner of nightmares about ghosts and thieves until I discovered the true source of the sound."

"I'm sorry," Alicia apologized with a little smile.

"I thought I might go into the city this evening as well. I would truthfully feel much better if you'd let me go with you."

Alicia sighed inwardly, not happy about having anyone go with her into the city.

Kylie's voice dropped even lower when she whispered, "I know about the young man who walked you home, as well. That secret is mine alone, and I will neither interfere nor speak a word of it to anyone. I'm quite happy for you, actually."

"He just offered to accompany me," Alicia quietly protested.

Kylie smiled knowingly. "Of course. Will you let me come with you?"

Alicia nodded. "Yes."

"I'll slip something under the door when I'm leaving and wait for you by the servant's gate."

Still not overjoyed with the intrusion on her clandestine excursion, Alicia accepted the necessity. She knew that Kylie would have only found some way to follow even if she'd refused. Kylie took her assignment as Alicia's personal servant very seriously.

Her spellbook once more in hand, Alicia sat back against the oaken headboard of her bed to study until the hour grew late enough to make her escape.

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

"Got someone with her, she does. A pretty little thing, too."

"It is of no matter. The woman is a mere servant. We are prepared for far more dangerous opposition."

"We allowed to play with that one, once we got yer prize?"

A sigh emerged from deep within the man's hood. "She is irrelevant. Do with her as you will. Should your foolish indulgence interfere with my goal, rest assured that the consequences will be — unpleasant."

"Of course, Milord," the unkempt brigand replied with a wide, evil smile that revealed his yellowed, broken teeth.

The hooded man turned toward another in a voluminous robe of dark blue. "You have her, I trust?"

"Of course, Lord. My trinket has latched firmly onto her shoe. She will neither discover nor dislodge it."

"You will have your payment once she is in my possession. Stand ready and remain hidden until the woman returns from her nocturnal visit to the city. Do not fail me."

The brigands surrounding him nodded and grunted their agreement, sounding all too eager for the task put before them.

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

The common room of the Dragon hummed with conversation, music, and laughter. Smoke from many pipes hung in the air, made tolerable by breezes from the frequent opening and closing of the door, and open windows near the dark-beamed ceiling intended for exactly that purpose. The smell of cooking wafted from the kitchen — venison this evening.

Alicia returned to her corner table with Thakkor after convincing him to join her in a dance, the smile on her face so wide that it felt almost unnatural. Though he had absolutely no experience with dancing, he'd proven more than willing to learn, and caught on quickly. The physical contact made Alicia feel giddy with delight.

Kylie had left Alicia to her man almost immediately upon entering the Dragon, seemingly content to see her safely inside. That suited Alicia well, quelling her fears that the other woman would hover protectively over her the entire evening. From what Alicia could see, her personal servant was garnering no small amount of male attention herself.

"That was actually sort of fun. I probably looked like a complete idiot, though," Thakkor said as he pulled out Alicia's chair. He then chuckled as he walked to the opposite side of the round table to sit down.

"Nonsense. You did quite well for your first time. Dancing isn't all that different from fighting, when you think about it. You just practice until you get it right, and then you can do it without thinking."

Thakkor took a drink of his beer, and then wiped the foam from his closely cropped beard and mustache, having learned early in the evening that Alicia found the sight of foam in his facial hair amusing to a point that she couldn't ignore it. "Never really thought about it. It's been a long time since my Pop was whacking me on the head when I set my feet wrong, but I felt about the same way out there a minute ago as I did then."

Without even realizing what she was doing, Alicia twirled one of her golden curls between her finger and thumb. She did notice Thakkor paying attention, though. Her heart thudded in her chest as he admired her — his gaze unthreatening, not lewd as were those of so many men, and filled with touches of wonder. "I am quite sure you will find it easier each time."

"Well, I have a good teacher — and a beautiful one at that."

Alicia's rapidly beating heart skipped one beat upon hearing him say those words. She blushed, almost overwhelmed by his first unquestionably romantic compliment. "Thank you."

"Just the truth. If dancing is like fighting, I'm not sure I'd want to square off in a fight with you. You float like your feet aren't even touching the floor out there." He hiked his thumb toward the area in front of the musicians set aside for dancing.

"Alicia, it's after midnight."

Alicia turned toward the voice to find Kylie wearing an apologetic smile. Alicia glanced at the water clock above the bar and sighed, seeing that Kylie was telling the truth. She then looked back at Thakkor and said, "I suppose I should be going."

"Want me to walk you home?"

"I'd love that," Alicia answered. The widening of his smile made her tingle all over.

"I think I'll stay for a bit since you have someone to walk you home — if that's okay?"

Alicia turned back to Kylie, knowing full well that the young woman was giving her space. "That's fine. Thank you for accompanying me to the city. I had a good chat as we walked. We will have to do it again soon."

"Perhaps tomorrow," Kylie responded with a knowing smile and a wave. She then returned to the bar and the men doing their best to attract her attention.

"I could do with a walk in the night air to get all the smoke in here out of me, anyway," Thakkor said as he stood. He stepped over to pull out Alicia's chair, and then offered her his hand to help her rise.

Alicia couldn't fight her blush, or her grin. Every story she'd ever read about knights in shining armor flashed back through her head, thoroughly embodied in the handsome man standing before her. For a few seconds, the couple stood staring into each other's eyes, and then Alicia acted on impulse, maintaining her hold on his hand as she stepped toward the door.

Thakkor's remark about floating felt very real to her as she walked hand-in-hand with him across the hardwood floor. His grip was somehow both strong and gentle at the same time. His expression took on an almost boyish cast, a sharp contrast to the confident, seasoned warrior she knew. Alicia didn't need one ounce of womanly intuition to know that he was enamored of her, it was written on his face as plainly as words on a page.

No words passed between the couple as they walked through the darkened city streets and out the gate, though both certainly spoke volumes with their eyes. Alicia's mind raced, wondering if he might kiss her at the servant's gate this time. The thought of that nearly made her swoon, and it was all she could do not to stop, stand up on her tiptoes, and kiss him. She quickened her pace unconsciously, and Thakkor matched her perfectly. Moving almost as if one, the pair passed out of the circle of light from the city, toward Alicia's home.

About halfway between the city and her father's estate, Alicia felt a chill run up her spine — and not a pleasant one. At her side, Thakkor tensed, his expression darkening and his eyes roaming the moonlit countryside.

"What is it?" Alicia whispered.

"Something isn't right out here. I don't know if I heard something, or saw something, or what. Stay close, and be ready to run if I tell you." Thakkor released her hand and reached for his sword.

At that very moment, men burst from small copses of fir trees on either side of the road. Thakkor snapped his sword in front of him, doing his best to put his body between the men and Alicia. Propriety forgotten, Alicia drew her dagger, adrenaline surging through her body in a torrent as she set her feet, warily watching the men approaching.

She barely heard it, but Alicia recognized the cadence of someone casting a magic spell somewhere nearby. She had just enough time to warn, "Magic!" before the spell wrapped around her.

In a flash of light, she and Thakkor vanished, leaving behind four very confused men with bared swords.

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

"Where are they? What have you done, you incompetent fool?" The masked man snarled, cuffing the wizard next to him hard in the side of the head.

"I... I don't know. I cast a simple sleep spell. I assure you that I cast it correctly, and I have no idea what happened."

"Find them!" The masked man ordered his men. "Find her with your magic, if you can manage to do so without causing another catastrophe," he then growled to the wizard.

"Of course, Lord. At once."

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

Alicia jumped, staring at her dagger in fright. The weapon spit arcs of purple lightning, but she felt nothing when the miniature bolts touched her skin. She did feel her stomach churning, though. At her side, Thakkor looked no less surprised, or green.

"What the hell?" He quietly asked, letting his sword drop. "What was that? Where are we?"

"I don't know," Alicia replied, recognizing nothing as she stared off into the horizon, which seemed to stretch out forever. In every direction, fields stretched out to the horizon, occasionally broken by the ghostly specter of what she assumed were trees and bushes.

Thakkor groaned and held his stomach. "Well, at least we don't have a bunch of swords pointed at us. I feel like my beer's about to come back up, though."

Alicia nodded. "I feel nauseous as well."

Thakkor sheathed his sword, but didn't tie the peace knot, revealing that he certainly didn't think that the danger was over. "I think we're out somewhere on the Great Plains. Never seen anyplace this open except for there."

"But how?"

"Like you said — magic. Doesn't make much sense, though. If I was going to magic someone somewhere, I'd at least be there waiting for them."

"I believe it was an accident. My dagger is magical, and I think it interfered with someone's spell."

"So far, it looks like a stroke of good luck. I'll take lost in the wilderness at night over staring down swords any day." Thakkor looked up into the night sky and studied the stars until he found his bearings. "Well, I'm pretty sure I'm right that we're on the Great Plains. That means that Freeland is north." He pointed off in one direction and continued, "So we need to head that way, and look for some sort of shelter."

"How far away is Freeland?" Alicia asked, feeling strangely alive despite the complicated circumstances.

"If we're on the northern edge of the plains, about four days. If we're anywhere south of there..." He trailed off and shrugged. "Plenty of water out here, lots of game, and edible plants. We may not be terribly comfortable until we get back to civilization, but we shouldn't have to worry about eating."

Alicia smiled, thinking that several days alone with the handsome warrior wasn't an unpleasant prospect. "I'm glad you know how to live off the land. I'm afraid my education is rather lacking in that area."




To Catch a Merchant Princess Ch. 04



"Looks like there may be some trees up ahead, and we need to go that way anyhow. Good chance we can find what we need to make a shelter, or maybe even a dry cave that isn't already inhabited."

Alicia turned away and sheathed her dagger, though she was tempted to do it in full view of Thakkor. "Shall we go, then?"

Thakkor laughed. "That's the spirit. You ever consider taking up the life of a vagabond sellsword?"

If it meant being with you — in a heartbeat, Alicia thought, and almost immediately blushed a vibrant red. Fortunately, the pale light of the moon hid her embarrassment. "My father would have an apoplexy."

Thakkor signaled for Alicia to follow, and started out as soon as she did. "My Pop did when I decided to sell my sword instead of taking up with the city guard. He got over it. Fathers do that, though it may take a while."

"I'm not so sure about mine," Alicia responded in dismissive tones, wary that the tall grasses could conceal snakes, or any number of dangerous animals.

"I may need to beg your Pop for a job when we get back. Fantil's never going to take me back after vanishing like this."

"Trouble seems to follow me wherever I go of late."

"C'mon now, where's that spirit of adventure you had a minute ago?" Thakkor asked, taking Alicia's hand and raising it high as the couple walked.

Alicia had no trouble smiling. "You are right, of course. Let us adventure."

The adventure, however, involved little more than a stroll across the seemingly endless sea of rolling grasslands. Alicia quickly wished she was wearing her practice uniform rather than a blouse and skirt, because even if the tall grasses didn't hide dangerous animals, numerous plants determined to cut and scratch her bare legs certainly lurked there.

Alicia ignored the discomfort and kept pace with Thakkor. He'd walked slowly at first, but picked up speed when it was obvious that Alicia could keep up. The woodlet he'd mentioned loomed ever larger, until the couple finally reached the small woods. A wide trail led into the trees, culminating in a large circular clearing at the center.

Thakkor turned to Alicia and smiled. "Good news, I know this place. We're at the far north edge of the plains."

"That is welcome news," Alicia agreed, thinking that the clearing within the trees actually looked inviting.

"Not much in the way of comfort here, but the weather looks good, so we can probably bed down on some pine needles."

The handsome warrior's choice of words sent a rush of aroused heat flooding through Alicia's body, centering in her loins. She stepped closer to him, lost in his blue eyes, her lips slightly parted.

Fortunately, the couple's intent gaze meant that they were not looking directly at the flash of brilliant light when the brigands appeared.

"Kill him. Take her," Alicia heard a cultured voice demand.

Alicia pulled her dagger just as Thakkor intercepted an attack from the first of the four swordsmen. Steel rang out on steel, shattering the quiet of the night, accompanied by the grunts and snarls of the battle-joined.

A cry of pain erupted a moment later as Thakkor's parry opened a wound in the first attacker's arm. He had no opportunity to press the attack, as he had to defend against a second swordsman an instant after inflicting the cut.

One of the men reached for Alicia, but she turned away from his grasping hand and slashed. Her fine, sharp dagger opened the man's palm and his wrist. With an almost womanish scream, the man dropped his sword and grabbed his wrist, which was spurting blood at an alarming rate.

The fourth swordsman, previously seeking an opportunity to attack at Thakkor's back while the other two kept the warrior occupied, turned on Alicia when his wounded fellow fell back. She feigned a stab with her dagger and the man stumbled backward, obviously surprised and wary.

A gurgling cry accompanied one of the other murderous men collapsing to the ground. Thakkor's bloodstained sword instantly whipped into a parry of his second opponent's blade.

Recognizing the danger of the quick, skilled warrior, the man facing Alicia turned on Thakkor. The unkempt swordsman leapt toward Thakkor, his blade raised high for a double handed cut.

Alicia only realized she was moving when she felt her dagger bite into flesh and jar against bone. The man screamed in pain, twisting away and wrenching Alicia's dagger from her hand.

Seeing the movement in his peripheral vision, Thakkor took advantage of having pushed his other opponent back to snap the hilt of his sword into the stabbed man's temple. The blow caused the man to stumble toward Alicia, and she reacted with the only weapon she had available. She brought her knee up hard into his crotch, and he crumpled to the ground with a whimper, still struggling to remove the dagger from his side.

With only a single opponent left standing, Thakkor pressed his attack. His skills far outweighed those of the man facing him, and Thakkor opened the man's throat in a combination of two blows.

Alicia snatched up the sword the first man to reach for her had dropped and stabbed the man she'd put down with her knee. Hearing the sound of chanting, she snapped her gaze toward where the men had appeared. She saw a well-dressed man holding back from the battle, and a man in the robes of a wizard. Realizing the danger, she dropped her appropriated sword and jerked her dagger free.

With the wizard obviously building toward a crescendo, Alicia and Thakkor both took action. Alicia concentrated upon the magic stored in her dagger and released the dart spell. At the same time, Thakkor drew his own dagger, flipped it in the air, and caught the blade between his fingers and thumb.

Alicia's streaking dart of magical energy burst against the wizard's robes, doing little more than stinging the man. It did, however, distract him enough to fumble his spell at the last second. The magic, which would have surely taken Thakkor out of the fight, never sprang into being. Thus, when Thakkor snapped back his arm and hurled his dagger, the spinning weapon lodged perfectly in the wizard's throat.

The other man hissed a curse under his breath and jumped aside when the wizard sank to the ground. He slowly drew a finely crafted longsword and muttered, "Incompetent cretins." Holding the weapon with apparent skill, he stalked toward Thakkor and Alicia. "Well, my dear, you've certainly caused me no end of trouble, and now you will force me to sully my own hands."

Alicia gasped, those words sparking a memory of hearing them before. "You used to trade with my father. I heard you say that very thing on the day he broke his ties with you, Armand."

The man threw back his hood. "Indeed. The compensation for your ransom, while quite lucrative, is second in my mind to retribution for the slight you and your father delivered to me."

"He serves a minor noble with an enormous debt, and shares the count's propensity for gambling. My father also refused to allow him to pay suit to me," Alicia explained to Thakkor with contempt. She then gasped again, the identity of the man who ordered her kidnaping suddenly clear. "Count Yeltsin — he was the masked man."

A wide, disturbing grin spread across the opposing swordsman's hawkish face as he continued to circle the couple. "Oh, how I hoped you would make all the connections, you cunt. With those words, I now have permission to kill you."

"You are welcome to try," Alicia snapped back, her voice full of fire and confidence.

The swordsman laughed, seemingly distracted, but then suddenly sprang into action. He darted toward Thakkor, his sword flashing in a vicious slash.

Thakkor's sword intercepted the blow with a clang and a hiss, forcing the other swordsman's blow high. Alicia quickly realized that her dagger offered little protection or opportunity to strike against the man and his longer weapon. Even as Thakkor interposed his body between her and his opponent to parry another blow, Alicia took a step back, passed her dagger to her other hand, and knelt. As though summoned to her hand, she felt the hilt of the sword she'd appropriated earlier in a single blind grasp. 

Knowing nothing of fighting with two weapons, Alicia let her dagger fall to the ground. Her mind raced as she considered her training, trying to decide how best to aid Thakkor. As quickly as she formed the thought, Alicia moved to Thakkor's left side and faced the disgraced nobleman's servant.

Thakkor blocked an overhead slash, and then used his superior strength to push Armand back, countering with a diagonal strike of his own. Off balance from the strength of Thakkor's shove, Armand had to dance backward to avoid the blow. Alicia noticed the man's eyes darting toward her just before he lashed out at her.

Her body moving before her mind could catch up, Alicia turned sideways and swept Armand's sword up high. She felt a surge of elation when she saw the surprise in his eyes. That emotion rapidly turned to fear, however.

Seeing Alicia in danger, Thakkor abandoned a position of balance in an attempt to intercept Armand's strike. Armand recovered from the surprise of Alicia defeating his attack to take advantage of Thakkor's miscalculation. He spun on his heel, his sword hissing through the air. Thakkor jumped back to avoid the blow, but nearly stumbled over the body of the man Alicia had stabbed.

Despite the surge of fear for her handsome companion, Alicia's training surged to the forefront, and she did not abandon her footing when she lunged forward to launch a stab at Armand.

Once again surprised by Alicia's skill, Armand barely had time to continue his spin, almost accidently intercepting Alicia's appropriated sword on the hilt of his own weapon. He jumped back, now wary that he faced not just one trained swordsman and a spoiled girl, but two capable swords.

Thakkor planted his feet, his look of surprise mixed with one of distinct admiration. He faced Armand, his sword at the ready, seeing Alicia doing the same in his peripheral vision. "Put down your sword," he growled ominously, sliding his foot forward.

Armand loosed a scream of rage and frustration, and lunged toward Alicia. His sword cut down for her left shoulder, but Alicia intercepted the blow. Her muscles strained against his far greater strength as she held him back. Just as she thought that she must surely break, the pressure vanished.

Thakkor let out a grunt as he attacked, aiming for Armand's sword arm. Armand whipped his sword into position, blocking the blow, and slashed at Thakkor's midsection.

Already in the process of stepping back, Thakkor easily avoided his opponent's sword. He then pressed his attack, his sword crossing with Armand's overhead. Knowing that Thakkor possessed the greater strength, Armand disengaged just in time to feign a blow toward Alicia.

Alicia broke off her attack and brought her sword up to defend against the attack that never came. Once again, Armand took advantage of Thakkor's overprotective instincts, opening a wide cut on the warrior's upper left arm.

Thakkor had just enough time to notice that Alicia hadn't needed his help. He focused his willpower toward ignoring his automatic reaction when seeing her in danger, and concentrated on his opponent, praying Alicia would continue to exhibit such astounding skill and luck.

Unused to anything resembling a fair fight, Armand panted for breath as his sword flashed, defending against a flurry of blows from both Thakkor and Alicia.

As she had in the courtyard against Trell, Alicia fell into the rhythm of the battle, striking and countering without conscious thought. Her hair whipping into her face and sweat threatened her vision, but she pressed on. Perpendicular to her, Thakkor took Alicia's lead, his strikes and parries perfectly complementing hers.

Armand fell back, looking for any opportunity to escape the punishing assault. A fleeting second of unbalance provided him a chance. Thakkor stepped into a gopher hole hidden in the tall grass, stealing the strength and accuracy of a powerful overhand blow. Armand took advantage of the minor stumble, forcing Thakkor's sword wide with his parry. When Alicia's sword stabbed toward him in the next heartbeat, Armand grabbed her leading wrist and jerked her in front of him.

Alicia yelped. She stumbled as she felt her fingers going numb from the strength of Armand's grip, his fingers digging between the bones in her wrist. Tears of pain joined the sweat blurring her vision. He pulled her arm up high, further stealing her balance. Barely maintaining her grip on her sword, Alicia snapped out her free hand and grabbed her numb fingers, allowing her weight to pull Armand's hand down. Standing on her tiptoes, Alicia turned to a weapon that Trell had stressed early and often in his training.

Armand screamed in pain as Alicia's teeth sank into his knuckles. He released her arm and simultaneously whipped a half-closed fist into her face.

Her vision nothing but red surrounded by encroaching darkness, Alicia fell. As she hit the ground hard, she had just enough presence of mind to snap a kick up at her opponent, praying to ward off the killing blow she knew must surely be coming, even if she couldn't see it.

As Alicia fell, Thakkor attacked. Armand was no novice, and knew that his second opponent would strike as soon as the obstruction of Alicia's body was out of the way. He brought his sword into position, ignoring the downed woman for the moment.

It proved his undoing.

Alicia's foot connected with uncanny accuracy, straight into the V of his legs. The jolt of mind-numbing pain from his crushed testicles caused Armand to falter, his sword out of position by little more than a few fingers width. That tiny space provided Thakkor with all the opportunity he needed. His sword slipped past Armand's guard and into the man's chest.

Blood instantly darkened Armand's shirt as his sword fell from his nerveless fingers. Thakkor withdrew his sword, and Armand stumbled back. He stood for a few seconds on wobbling legs, and then fell to his knees. With blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, Armand fell face first onto the earth, vanishing into the sea of grass.

"Alicia, are you okay?" Thakkor asked, kneeling down next to the groaning woman. He noted with admiration that Alicia still maintained a grip on her sword.

Alicia blinked the tears out of her eyes and groggily asked, "Thakkor?"

"It's okay, he's down. Can you get up? Let me help you."

Alicia accepted Thakkor's hand and let him help her into a seated position. She could see Armand lying face down in the grass in front of her, obviously dead. She released her sword, letting it fall to the bloodstained grass, and leaned against Thakkor's muscular chest, her head still swimming from Armand's blow to her nose.

After a few seconds, Alicia nearly forgot about the pain and the battle. The feeling of her cheek resting against Thakkor's chest and his arm around her back erased all her cares.

"So are you okay?" Thakkor asked again, his hand caressing the small of her back.

"I'm fine," Alicia answered, though wonderful was the word that actually sprang to mind as she relaxed in his arms.

"There's a stream near the clearing in the woods. You could clean up a little while I... Well, take care of things." Unfortunately, that reminded Alicia that she was sitting in the midst of a field full of dead bodies, which certainly soured the mood.

"C'mon, I'll come in with you."

Alicia nodded and tried to avoid looking at the carnage until it was behind her. Thakkor showed her the stream and started a fire. Once the flames danced cheerily, he nodded back toward the edge of the wood and said, "I'll be back in a few minutes."

Alicia washed as best she could, but she knew that she could never completely remove the blood spatters on her blouse and skirt. She then sat down by the fire, her eyes heavy now that the excitement had ended.

Thakkor returned just as Alicia thought that she would need to find more wood for the fire. A few pouches dangled from his arm, and he carried a sword in his hand. "I found your dagger, and I thought it would probably be a good idea for you to hang on to this sword. I grabbed a scabbard and belt for you, too. They had a couple of canteens, but not much else." He held up a tooled leather bag and said, "The wizard had this, but I can't open it."

Alicia recognized a few arcane symbols on the bag. "It must be magical. Only the owner can open most of those bags."

Thakkor shrugged. "We need a tent more than bat poop and dried rose petals anyway." He then handed Alicia the sword, scabbard, belt, and her dagger. "I'll show you how to put on the belt."

An idea occurred to Alicia, and she asked, "May I see the wizard's pouch?"

"Sure," Thakkor answered, and handed it over.

"You might want to stand back. I can't be sure what might happen when I try this."

Thakkor's eyes widened. "Uhm, then maybe you shouldn't try it at all — whatever you're thinking about."

Holding her dagger near the pouch, Alicia opened her senses to the weapon. "I don't think it will be dangerous. I might be able to open this, since my dagger does strange things to magic."

"I still don't know if it's such a great idea," Thakkor countered.

The more she felt the magical energy flowing between the dagger and the pouch, the more convinced Alicia was that she could safely open the wizard's bag. "Trust me?" She asked with a sweet smile.

Thakkor looked as though he was about to protest again, but the expression melted off his face in light of her smile. "Okay, but be careful."

Alicia gingerly touched her dagger to the buckle on the wizard's pouch, unleashing a shower of red sparks. Both she and Thakkor jumped from the display, but when the sparks faded away, Alicia saw that the buckle was open.

Her smile growing wider, Alicia opened the flap and knew instantly that there was far more space inside the bag than should have been possible. Thakkor stared incredulously as Alicia removed silk bags, books, wands, and even a staff several feet long from the small pouch. She then discovered a curious sculpture and took it out. The sculpture looked much like the command tent she'd seen Gwen's soldiers set up in the courtyard to air it out after a long period of storage.

Alicia turned the sculpture over in her hand and noticed a word carved into the bottom. As soon as she silently pronounced the magical word, she felt a jolt pass up her arm. In a fraction of a second, she knew what the object was.

"You okay?" Thakkor asked, moving closer and reaching out to her when he saw her jump.

"I'm fine, and I think I may just have the solution to our accommodations for the evening."

Thakkor stared at the carving, recognizing it as a tent as well. "Little small, don't you think?"

Alicia erupted in a silvery laugh and stood up. She walked a short distance from the fire and sat the carving down on the ground. She then returned to Thakkor's side and said the command word.

"Fuck me!" Thakkor shouted, jumping back a step as the huge tent blossomed from the tiny sculpture. He then looked over at Alicia and apologized, "Sorry. Startled me a bit."

Alicia laughed again and opened the door to the tent. Thakkor followed her inside, staring in wide eyed wonder. "Is that a tub?"

"And a real bed," Alicia beamed.

"It's cool — comfortable," Thakkor observed. "Sure as hell beats carting around a roll of canvas on your back."

"It will warn us of intruders and dangerous animals approaching, and the walls are impossibly strong."

Thakkor poked the tent walls experimentally and remarked, "So we can actually get some sleep."

"And I can have a proper bath," Alicia gratefully sighed.

Seeing the wistful smile on Alicia's face, Thakkor nodded and said, "I'll go gather up plenty of wood for the fire. We may not really need it, but I'll feel better with a fire burning. Just let me know when you're done. I could probably use a bath, too."




To Catch a Merchant Princess Ch. 04



"I didn't want to say anything," Alicia said in over-the-top innocent tones. She then touched a glass globe hanging from the ceiling, bathing the interior of the tent in soft, white light.

Thakkor shook his head at the incredulity of the sequence of events he'd experienced since hearing Alicia's scream in the night. With a little chuckle, he stepped out of the tent to gather wood.

As soon as the tent flap closed behind him, Alicia touched the runes on the tub to fill it with warm water, her clothes falling to the floor a second later.

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

Thakkor returned with a final armload of wood and grunted in approval, believing he had more than enough to last through the night. He looked over at the tent and the wood fell from his arms, one of the logs bouncing painfully off his foot. He winced and picked up his foot to shake it, but his eyes remained locked on the silhouette outlined by the light inside the tent.

Alicia stood next to the tub, the shadow of her on the tent wall so clear that he could see her nipples and the curls adorning her mound as she dried her hair. Her breasts jiggled in a manner that made it impossible for him to ignore, and when she stretched with her arms overhead after dropping her towel, the image nearly took his breath away.

Thakkor stood transfixed until Alicia pulled on her skirt, and then finally realized what he was doing. He rubbed his throbbing toe against his leg and turned away with some mental effort, lamenting his rotten luck. To find a woman as beautiful as Alicia who was good in a fight was the dream of any sellsword. Unfortunately, Alicia was a member of the upper class — a merchant princess. He knew he didn't stand a chance against the barons and other rich, powerful men that certainly vied for her hand.

He couldn't resist a final glance as Alicia pulled on her blouse, once again hiding the most perfect breasts he'd ever beheld, even in silhouette.

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

Alicia stared at the bed as she strapped back on her dagger, feeling far better with the magical weapon within easy reach. Her heart beat rapidly in her chest as she considered what the single bed suggested, causing her to think about the enchantments stored within her dagger.

She must have thought about those spells in a little more detail than she'd intended, because one of the spells activated. White motes of light danced on Alicia's palm, and she hesitantly brought her hand to her tummy. The light emerging from beneath her hand changed from white to blue, signifying that she couldn't become pregnant right now.

Despite her best efforts to suppress the urges, Alicia felt the chilly tingle of wetness flooding her sex and her nipples hardening in arousal. She turned away from the bed so fast that her hair whipped around to cover her face, but it did little to dull the intense emotions surging within her.

Alicia pulled back the flap of the tent and stepped out into the night air, which was still warmer than the inside of the magical tent. "You can have the tub, now."

"I won't take too long. I'm sure you're exhausted," Thakkor said as he walked toward her.

Alicia's heart pounded in her chest, and the hot ache in her loins surged. Without realizing it, she stared into Thakkor's eyes.

"So, I'll be out in a few minutes."

Alicia realized she was staring, and felt heat swelling in her cheeks. She nodded and turned toward the fire to sit on one of the logs a previous traveler had obviously selected for exactly that reason. She heard the tent flap open as she turned to sit down. Thakkor spoke to her every desire — both physical and emotional — and she found it harder to resist her growing arousal by the second.

When she discovered the effect of the light from inside the tent, as Thakkor had before her, Alicia stifled a gasp with her hand. The sight of him pulling off his shirt to reveal his muscled chest forced her to squeeze her legs together to tame the need she felt. A second later, her eyes and mouth both opened wide when he dropped his pants.

His cock stood out erect from his body, longer and thicker than anything she'd ever imagined. She almost felt afraid of the huge phallus, wondering how it could possibly fit down there. She only snapped out of her trance when he sank into the tub, and she realized that her right hand was between her legs, pressed tight against her throbbing clit.

Stop it, Alicia. This is all wrong. It cannot be. Her attempt to think rationally proved futile, however. Her arousal surged, and the shadow image on the tent wall transformed in her mind's eye. She could see him standing before her — naked, hard, and wearing an expression of both admiration and desire.

She could feel him touching her, his hands so gentle, yet so strong at the same time. Unconsciously, she rolled her bud beneath her finger, deepening the intensity of her fantasy.

She nearly stood up and walked directly into the tent when he emerged from the bath, his shadow revealing that he was still hard. Her brain a fog of sexual need, Alicia wondered how she could possibly resist. The shame such thoughts of surrendering her virginity felt tiny and insignificant in the face of her need. She barely had the presence of mind to pull her hand from between her legs when Thakkor walked to the entrance of the tent. A chilly kiss of night air told her that her panties were wet.

"Looks like there are enough blankets for me to make a pallet on the floor in there. Now, if we only had something to eat, this could be a pleasant little outing."

Hungry for something else, Alicia hadn't even thought about one of the other magics of the tent. She smiled and stood, praying to whatever god would listen that he wouldn't notice her walking funny because her panties were caught in the cleft of her nether lips for the first couple of steps. "If what the sculpture told me is correct, there should be some simple fare in one of the boxes."

"Simple is fine with me, I'm a simple man."

Simply gorgeous, Alicia thought as she crossed the canvas floor to the box. As her impression of the magical tent's powers had informed her, she found bread and dried meat within the box. She brought it over to the simple table and declared, "Dinner is served."

Thakkor laughed. "After midnight snack is more like it, but I'm famished."

Alicia couldn't keep her eyes off of him as they shared the plain meal. He smiled at her, his expression a little embarrassed and boyish despite his mustache and beard. As she finished her bread and took a sip of water, Alicia tried to distract herself in conversation.

"What is it like — to be able to come and go as you please?"

Thakkor shrugged his shoulders and responded. "It's a good life, but a hard one. You don't always know where your next meal is coming from, or where the next attack is coming from. Once you're outside of Freeland, the critters rule the land more than man does. Not all of them are friendly — or scared of people."

"Is it..." Alicia paused and ran her fingers through her golden tresses. "Is it lonely?"

Thakkor leaned back in his chair. "Can be at times. Even when there's other people around, you're alone, sometimes. You don't always hook up with men who enjoy comradery." He sighed and added, "Wasn't all that lonely with Fantil. His bunch always has a story to tell. I'm gonna miss that."

"Perhaps he'll take you back, if I explain what happened."

"Maybe, if he's even around."

Alicia yawned, unable to hold it back in her weariness.

"We should probably get some rest. We still have a few days walk ahead of us."

Alicia nodded, the thought of bed once again sending her sexual desire to a new peak. She couldn't believe her own words when Thakkor reached for some of the blankets to make a pallet on the floor. "The bed is more than large enough to share."

Thakkor shook his head. "I wouldn't want to make you uncomfortable."

"Nor I, you. I cannot bear the thought of forcing you to sleep on the ground, after all you've done for me."

Thakkor paused, looking into her eyes for a moment before he said, "I don't want you to feel guilty, either. You have my word that I'll stay on my side of the bed."

What if I don't want you to? Alicia thought, and wondered for a moment if she'd uttered the words out loud, considering that her tongue was acting long before she'd given it any direction. She simply nodded and touched the glass globe to dim it, unable to find any words to answer him.

Alicia turned down the coverings on her side of the bed and slipped in. Her heart skipped a beat as Thakkor did the same. She could feel the heat of him beneath the covers, and she found her fingers tracing the edge of the depression in the mattress from the weight of his muscled form. Only her state of exhaustion kept her from giving in to her desire — at least in the waking world.

Her dreams were another matter entirely.

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

Hope you've enjoyed this fourth chapter. Please take a moment to vote/comment, as that's the motivation that keeps me writing despite the trials life throws at me. I'm working on what should be the last chapter.



To Catch a Merchant Princess Ch. 05



Author's Notes:

© Copyright Darkniciad. If this story appears anywhere except Literotica.com with this note attached, it is posted without my permission and is likely incomplete/improperly formatted. Please go to Literotica and search for Darkniciad to find the real, authorized version of this tale.

This tale takes place in my fantasy world, and centers upon characters you might recognize from "Queen Alicia" and "King Thakkorias."

Much as "Casting Off Convention," this story details early adventures in the life of my characters, long before the 'present day'.

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

Alicia awakened to the sound of birds singing and the scent of flowers on the wind. Her eyes fluttered open and she smiled as she beheld Thakkor asleep in the bed next to her. Her cheeks warmed a little as she considered her thoughts — and dreams — about him.

Though she wanted nothing more than to snuggle up next to him, Alicia resisted. Whether she'd worked out her physical needs in her half-remembered dreams or simply had more willpower now that she'd rested, Alicia found the strength to slip out of the bed.

Thakkor stirred a little, smiling in his sleep. Alicia tiptoed across the thick canvas floor of the tent to go outside. The trees filtered the morning sunlight, but Alicia could see down the trail to tell that the sun was fully above the horizon. Not especially skilled in determining time, she had no idea what the hour might be. Her rumbling tummy suggested that it was time to break her fast.

A disturbing squawk caused Alicia to turn back to the trail leading out of the stand of trees. The blood drained from her face when she saw a vulture swoop down from the sky. Her eyes dropped to her blouse, still showing the rusty colored stains of spattered blood that she hadn't been able to completely wash out before they set.

Alicia's stomach churned again, and not with hunger this time.

The flap of the tent opened behind her, but the sound of Thakkor's footfalls had subliminally registered in Alicia's mind, so he didn't startle her. "You okay?" he asked, seeing the direction of her gaze and the carrion bird.

"I suppose."

Thakkor put a hand on her shoulder and said, "You did what you had to do. They certainly would have killed us."

"It still feels wrong — wasteful and sad." Alicia sighed and shook her head.

"Don't ever lose that, Alicia. Taking a life should never be a small thing, even when you don't have a choice."

Alicia turned toward him, keenly aware of his touch. "Does it make you feel ill?"

"Sometimes. I've been attacked by starving highwaymen before, and I had to choke down bile the whole time I was fighting. I knew they were just trying to survive. I did my best to convince them that the cost was too high, but they were too desperate."

Alicia shuddered, prompting Thakkor to wrap his arm around her in comfort. The reason for her shudder changed almost immediately. "I feel like we should chase those evil birds away," she said as another landed.

"I buried them the best I could with nothing but one of their swords to work with. It should be enough to keep the vultures away, if nothing else. The vultures are just doing what comes naturally." Thakkor cleared his throat and let his arm fall to his side, looking as though he'd just realized where it was. "We should probably get going. Staying here and dwelling on it isn't good for you."

Alicia nodded and gave him a slight grin. "There should be enough bread and dried meat for us to break our fast."

"Then we'll get moving again. I'll show you how to wear that sword. From what I saw last night, I'm going to feel a lot safer if you have it where you can get hold of it in a hurry. Someone teaching you?"

Alicia pulled back the flap of the tent, her smile widening from his praise. "Trell — Baroness Gwendoline's Master of the Guard. He's taught me to defend my person ever since my Father sent me to the court on my tenth birthday."

"He's a damn good teacher. I've fought beside greenhorns that were earning a living with their blade and didn't have half your ability," Thakkor said as he followed Alicia into the tent.

"You exaggerate," Alicia scoffed.

"Nope, you handled yourself well in that fight. You don't look the type, either. That's probably as dangerous as your blade."

Her cheeks warming, Alicia said, "Thank you," and opened the pantry cabinet to retrieve what would pass for breakfast.

A short while later, Alicia returned the magical tent to its tiny traveling form while Thakkor put out the fire. After breaking camp, Alicia belted on her acquired sword.

"Walk around a bit," Thakkor suggested.

Alicia's brow furrowed as she walked. "I'm afraid it may drive me mad, bumping off of me with every step."

"You'll get used to it before you know it. Try guiding it with your hand on the pommel for a while."

Alicia followed the suggestion and found it did keep the sword from slapping against her thigh.

Thakkor nodded and adjusted the two canteens hanging over his right shoulder. "There you go. Ready to head out?"

"Yes, let us go."

Thakkor led the way, pointedly taking a much narrower, winding trail out the opposite side of the woodlet to avoid the scene of the previous night's battle. As Alicia stepped from the shadowed canopy of the trees, the true vastness of the plains dawned upon her.

The grasslands had looked endless to Alicia in the moonlit night. With the full light of the summer sun shining down, she felt as though she was on another world. Only the occasional hill or stand of trees broke the endless sea of swaying grasses. No matter which way she looked, the same scene greeted her.

Alicia's fingers tightened around the hilt of her sword when something huge, hairy, and dangerous looking crested a small rise in the distance. "What is that?" she asked, nudging Thakkor.

"Buffalo. They're nothing to worry about as long as we don't do anything stupid like get in its way or torment it."

Alicia let her fingers relax and followed the buffalo with her eyes as she walked at Thakkor's side. With his reassurance that the animal wasn't a bloodthirsty monster, she decided that it was beautiful and majestic. "I have the finest education available, but I feel as though I know nothing out here."

Thakkor looked over, his smile making Alicia feel as though she would melt. "Learning's something you just keep doing. I could show you how to find food, water, and shelter out here as we walk, if you'd like. It will help pass the time."

"I would like that very much," Alicia responded, her face once more adorned with a smile so wide that she felt strain in her cheeks.

Alicia's education began immediately, with Thakkor pointing out a shrub decorated with pale, papery-looking husks. "That's a ground cherry. Not bad eating, and the fruit inside those husks has quite a bit of water in it too." Thakkor plucked one of the fruits and brought it to Alicia.

After a brief examination of the grape-sized yellow fruit, Alicia popped it in her mouth. "It's a little like a tomato with a bit of a pineapple taste."

"Pineapple?" Thakkor asked.

"It's a tropical fruit about the size of one of the canteens you're carrying. They look somewhat similar to pine cones."

"Looks like I'm going to get a bit of an education, too," Thakkor observed with a chuckle while looking deeply into Alicia's eyes. Intent upon Alicia, he managed to tangle his boot in the foliage underfoot and had to hop on one foot to avoid crashing unceremoniously to the ground.

The pair shared a laugh and continued on their way.

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

Alicia patted her tummy, sighed, and leaned back against the maple tree behind her. The sound of the small river that sustained this oasis of the plains gurgling combined with her full tummy to make her eyes heavy. "That was wonderful."

"Not too bad." Thakkor agreed, rubbing an irritating puncture on his left palm. "Can't say as I recommend wrestling catfish out of the water as opposed to fishing for them, though. Guess I paid enough attention to learn how to do it, though."

"Why do they call it noodling?"

Thakkor kicked at the pile of earth next to the fire pit he'd dug to cook the fish, burying the small fire to ensure it was well extinguished before he set out with Alicia again. "No idea. I thought that old man was a bit crazy when I saw him doing it. Now that I've tried it, I know he was crazy."

Alicia laughed, the sound carefree and content. Though she was dirty, weary, and far from home, Alicia felt exhilarated and alive.

Thakkor stood up with a grunt to shake and cinch his equipment back into position. "We should probably get moving again. I think that if we keep up this pace, we might just make it to within sight of the edge of the plains by nightfall. That should put us somewhere near the trade routes between the city of Sularan and Freeland. We'll try to hook up with a caravan again."

Alicia stood a little reluctantly, wincing as a cockleburr caught in her hair poked her neck. She tried to pull the prickly hitchhiker around to where she could see it, wondering how it had found its way into her hair in the first place, but met with little success.

"Let me get it," Thakkor offered.

Chills ran up Alicia's spine as he moved in behind her and gently parted her blonde hair around the burr. Her eyes closed and she had to fight the urge to moan in contentment as he worked the sharp-spined seed from her hair.

"There we go," Thakkor declared triumphantly, tossing the cockleburr to the bed of pine needles underfoot.

Alicia turned and said, "Thank you," keenly aware of the closeness of him to her.

"No problem," he responded, sounding a little distracted as he looked into her eyes. After a few blissful moments, a sharp nod of his head to the north broke the eye contact. "We should get going."

Alicia, on the verge of leaning closer and seeking his lips with her own, covered her embarrassment by turning in the direction Thakkor had nodded and agreeing, "Yes, of course." She closed one eye and winced a little at the edge of snippiness in her voice, evidence of her irritation with the interruption of the moment.

Only a few minutes away from the spot where they'd stopped to eat, Alicia heard a guttural voice. More sounds followed, punctuated by the sound of Thakkor's sword hissing free of its scabbard. Her senses suddenly focused, Alicia smelled something awful on the breeze. The odor conjured up images of sweaty men wallowing in a garbage heap within Alicia's mind.

"Goblins," Thakkor whispered to her. "The sound's coming from over there. If we just keep going, we can try to get past them without getting noticed."

A pain-filled cry, suddenly silenced, changed that plan immediately.

"Son of a..." Thakkor cursed. "Alicia, I can't just..."

Alicia drew her sword. "Neither can I. Someone is in trouble."

"Stay alert and stay close."

Alicia followed Thakkor's lead, her eyes roving the trees around her while she remained aware of where she placed her feet. The harsh sound of goblin voices grew steadily louder as the pair negotiated the maze of maple, pawpaw, and undergrowth. When he bent his knees to edge forward in a crouch, Alicia mimicked him and paused to avoid running into him.

Alicia's heart thundered in her chest as Thakkor gestured for her to move forward. He pointed through the undergrowth of saplings and bushes ahead to ask, "Can you see them?"

"Yes," Alicia whispered back, seeing two of the greenish-skinned monsters kicking something lying unseen on the ground.

"Just to the left of the bush. We'll charge through there. I'll take the one on the left. It looks like they just have clubs, but be careful."

Thakkor's unspoken confidence in her ability to handle the other goblin added a swelling of pride to the mixture of anxious energy and fear roiling within Alicia.

Alicia slowly stood back up straight as Thakkor did so, alive with nervous energy. Thakkor mouthed, on three, and then raised one finger. A second, and finally a third finger popped up. With that, the pair burst through the branches and leaves with blades bared.

Alicia instantly knew they were in trouble. In addition to the two goblins they'd observed, three more stood off to the left, and two held a struggling woman on the right. One of the goblins tore open the woman's dress at the neckline, baring her body just as it and its fellows noticed the intruders.

Alicia's eyes hardened with anger. The lust of goblins for human and elven women was well known, and the actions of the monsters left little room for doubt that these planned to live up to their reputation.

Alicia slashed the goblin on the right before it could raise its club, tearing through filth-encrusted cloth, skin, and muscle. The goblin's club fell to the ground as the creature gripped the belly wound. While the monster tried to push the entrails boiling from the wound back inside where they belonged, Alicia stabbed it in the throat.

At her side, Thakkor's powerful slash nearly decapitated the other goblin, allowing him to turn on the other three goblins charging into the fray from his side.

The goblin that had torn open the dark-haired woman's clothing turned toward Alicia with lust and hatred in its eyes, while the other maintained its grip on the prize. The goblin led with a rusty knife, moving with awful purpose toward Alicia.

A gurgling scream accompanied Thakkor's next stab, taking the nearest goblin in the chest. The remaining goblins held back, wise enough to look for an opportunity instead of blindly attacking.

The would-be monstrous rapist sprang toward Alicia, knife held high and yellow claws splayed wide as it reached for Alicia's blouse. The goblin barely managed to arrest its momentum and spin out of the way when Alicia responded with a diagonal slash aimed at the creature's weapon. Her sword bit into the monster's arm, drawing an angry line of blood.

The goblin screamed in pain and anger, lashing out with its claws. Alicia stepped back, but the monster managed to tear her blouse and dig into the smooth flesh of her abdomen below. The instinctive reaction left the monster off balance, and Alicia's answering stab caught the goblin in the side, digging in deep.

With little skill and even less cooperative nature, the two goblins facing Thakkor soon made a mistake. The second he saw the opportunity, Thakkor exploited it. He darted forward, easily defeating a clumsy swing of the sickle the monster had appropriated for a weapon. His following stab impaled the goblin, penetrating far deeper than Thakkor had expected. The other goblin charged in, wielding a woodsman's axe.

Thakkor's muscles bulged as he utilized the goblin encumbering his sword as a weapon. With a loud growl of effort, he lifted his sword and twisted his body, sending the nearly-dead goblin hurtling toward the other.

The monsters collapsed into a heap, and the bottom creature managed to extradite itself just in time to see Thakkor's sword come down.

Thakkor spun to see Alicia turn from her dying opponent toward the goblin holding the woman. He charged to Alicia's side and hissed, "Shit," under his breath when the goblin put a knife to its raven-haired captive's throat.

The goblin barked orders in its awful language, pulling back on the woman's hair to bare her throat to its blade. The monster pulled the wide-eyed woman backwards as it continued to hiss and growl commands.

Thakkor circled toward the creature's right, at a loss for what to do. With the pitted blade of the goblin's hunting knife right against the woman's throat, he dared not attack. He knew all too well that the monster probably planned to slash the woman as a distraction and run for its life, though.

Alicia faced the same conundrum, but a solution occurred to her in a flash of inspiration. Opening her mind to the dagger sheathed at her thigh, she called upon the magic housed there.

The goblin didn't even have time to react to the blue-white bolt of magic streaking through Alicia's skirt into its hand. Nerveless fingers dropped the knife, and a powerful hand fisted in its matted hair. Thakkor's muscled chest filled its vision, and then the goblin was flying backwards.

The goblin slammed into a tree, cracked its head, and stumbled. When the monster fell, it landed across a large, downed branch. Twin cracks from the branch and the creature's back rang out.

The branch proved the stronger.

With the goblin draped over the branch and certainly dead, Thakkor spun to Alicia and said, "Help her." The red-skinned plainswoman had fallen to her knees, nursing scratches on her back that the goblin had inflicted while trying to prevent its unwelcome flight into the tree.

He then jogged toward the plainsman on the ground. The man was badly bruised and cut, his breathing shallow, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. The wounds were serious, and Thakkor wasn't confident that the downed man would survive.

A frightened cry in an unfamiliar language caused Thakkor to glance back toward Alicia and the plainswoman. Alicia was attempting to pull the other woman's doeskin dress back up over her breasts, but the woman lurched away to scramble toward Thakkor, calling out what he assumed was a name.

Alicia hurried to follow, and couldn't miss the look of concern on Thakkor's face. The plainswoman knelt next to the man, examining his wounds and calling out to him.

"Is he...?" Alicia asked.

"It's not good," Thakkor answered, his tone grave.

The raven-haired woman let out a wail as her eyes welled up with tears, obviously having the same opinion of the downed man's condition.

Alicia's eyes widened as she remembered something from the wizard's bag. Dropping her bloodstained sword, she tore open the bag and rummaged around for a green silk pouch within. When she found it, she pulled it free and opened the bag to reveal the vial within.

"Thakkor, can you sit him up?"

"What is it?" Thakkor asked, seeing the vial.

"A healing potion. If we can make him drink, it might save him."

Thakkor nodded and knelt down on the carpet of forest detritus next to the two plains natives. The woman looked at him with a combination of alarm and anger, moving to hover protectively over her barely breathing man.

Alicia hurried to kneel down next to the woman, holding out the vial. "Please, I don't know if you can understand me, but this is magic. It can help. Please let us help him."

Thakkor closed his eyes and tried to remember a word that one of the plainsmen had said to him a few years back. Thinking he had it, he sounded out, "Nuh-woe-tee," and pointed at the vial Alicia held, praying that he'd said something close enough to medicine in the woman's language for her to understand.

The woman hesitated, but then sat back and gestured, speaking quickly in her own tongue. Thakkor took that for permission and moved in behind the unconscious plainsman to lift him into a seated position.

Alicia brought the vial to the man's parted lips and tipped it back. She let just a drop wash over his tongue at first, concerned about choking him. When his lips quivered, she added a second drop.

Though she wasn't sure if she was imagining it, she thought the plainsman's breathing seemed stronger. Encouraged, she poured just a bit more of the potion into his open mouth. When he swallowed, she tipped the vial more.

Shortly thereafter, the effects were unmistakable. The plainsman's bruises faded and his breathing regulated. Behind his closed eyelids, his eyes twitched. Alicia emptied the vial and sat back, offering a silent prayer to the gods.

The red-skinned man's lips moved, though Alicia couldn't hear any words. The other woman either did hear, or simply understood what he had attempted to say, because she let out a cry of relief and leaned in close to say what Alicia assumed was his name again.




To Catch a Merchant Princess Ch. 05



Over the next several minutes, the plainsman steadily recovered his wits, eventually able to sit up without Thakkor's assistance. Thakkor and Alicia moved aside, feeling as though they were intruding as the couple sitting on the ground talked and touched each other affectionately.

"He looks okay now," Thakkor whispered, his eyes roving of their own volition to the bottom of Alicia's breasts, exposed by the goblin's claws ripping her blouse. He tore his eyes away as soon as he realized what he was doing.

Alicia noticed, but she didn't feel uncomfortable, as she always did whenever a man admired her attributes. She looked back at the other couple to find the plainsman rising to his feet. After a few seconds to check his balance and a reassuring gesture to the woman at his side, he approached.

"I am called Redbear, in your tongue," the plainsman said, his words heavily accented, but quite understandable. "You have our thanks."

"Thakkor."

"And I am Alicia. We only did what anyone would have done."

Redbear shook his head, his long, dark hair swinging from side to side. "Not so. When we meet the white man, life is most often taken — not given. We owe you a life debt."

"Please, that is not necessary," Alicia countered. "We were glad to help."

The plainsman's brow furrowed in thought. He then gestured for the woman to join him. She'd managed to make her doeskin dress decent again, though it would certainly need stitching to remain so for long. "We must return to our people. Where do you travel?"

Thakkor answered, "North, to Freeland."

Redbear smiled. "We make our camp to the north. I would gift you with aid in your journey."

"We are traveling a little light and ragged." Once again, Thakkor's eyes found the tears in Alicia's blouse, raising color in both his and her cheeks.

"Come, then," Redbear said with a nod of his head, and led the way.

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

Redbear managed to locate his bone knife and stone-headed hatchet, but his fine bow was unfortunately beyond saving. His wife had little trouble finding her antler knife, as it remained lodged in the chest of one of the three goblins the couple had felled before Thakkor and Alicia arrived.

Alicia located a healing salve within the wizard's bag, which served to close the wounds she and the other woman had suffered from the goblin's claws. Redbear showed no inclination to tend to the dead goblins, and cracked a smile when Thakkor suggested that nothing in its right mind would eat the odoriferous monsters anyway.

While walking away from the stand of pines, Redbear explained that the goblins had lain in wait, ambushing the couple as they returned from a religious pilgrimage related to their joining as husband and wife. This explained both how the obviously formidable couple had fallen to the goblins, and why the couple had journeyed without the rest of their tribe.

In the distance, the hills marking the edge of the plains appeared over the horizon. Still days away, the sharp contrast to the miles of almost perfectly flat land was not lost on Thakkor and Alicia.

As she walked — and attempted to keep her breasts inside her tattered blouse — Alicia marveled at her lack of fear in engaging and battling the goblins. The thought of the monsters cruelly attacking someone who was already down had spurred her into battle. The sight of the monsters intent upon raping the plainswoman had replaced every ounce of fear with angry determination.

Unlike the previous fights circumstances had forced her to enter, Alicia felt no pangs of conscience about killing the goblins. Her sword now rode on her hip as though a part of her, and she was barely aware of it save for the sense of comfort and confidence it provided. She paced Thakkor and the couple of the plains without undue effort.

The sun moved from overhead toward the horizon, lengthening the shadows of the four travelers. Redbear let out a whooping call, announcing his approach to the campsite, composed of conical tipis.

Members of the tribe appeared wary of Thakkor and Alicia, but quickly warmed to the pair as Redbear offered a brief explanation. The women soon ushered Alicia and Redbear's wife off to a tipi to provide them with decent clothing.

Though a world away from home, Alicia felt a sense of familiarity from the gathering of women. She settled in to enjoy the comradery, aided by a few women with limited knowledge of her language.

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

Thakkor naturally had to tell his part of the story, translated by Redbear. He accepted the thanks of the tribe, comprised mostly of family members. The chores of the day continued all the while, including the preparation of a celebratory feast.

"How do your people feel about magic?" Thakkor asked with a little trepidation once he had a chance to speak to Redbear alone.

"We believe there is good medicine and bad medicine."

Thakkor scratched his beard and asked, "What about a huge tent that springs up out of nowhere?"

Redbear smiled and answered, "I will prepare the people — and await this wonder."

"Your people don't usually make camp this far north, do you?" Thakkor asked, noticing how permanent the settlement looked. From what he knew of the plains people, they were primarily hunter/gatherers. Redbear's tribe was obviously cultivating corn, squash, and other vegetables. From the detritus of previous crops he could see in the soil, Thakkor knew that this wasn't the first season of this camp.

"Since the coming of the Black One, our people must flee or face enslavement," Redbear explained, his voice tight with anger and resignation.

"Draxnog," Thakkor said with a nod of his head. "He won't press his hand much up here. He knows he's walking a tightrope with Freeland already."

"We risked much danger for our marital rites." Redbear sighed, staring longingly out into the vast plains.

"The world's changing, and a lot of it isn't good," Thakkor said, sympathizing with the pain of the proud warrior.

"And yet there is much of good to be found," Redbear said, his demeanor changing as he turned away from the sight of his ancestral homeland. He extended his hand to Thakkor.

Thakkor clasped the warrior's hand, sharing a firm grip with a newfound friend.

Redbear turned and signaled for Thakkor to follow. "You have chosen a mate of fire and of beauty, as have I. We share much in spirit."

"We're just traveling together by happenstance, we're not together," Thakkor responded.

The plainsman glanced back with a grin and raised his eyebrows. "My eyes are keen, and they tell me a different tale."

"I wish." Thakkor chuckled. "The rich and powerful are fighting for her hand, I wouldn't stand a chance."

"One must leave the safety of the camp to hunt, and even a failed hunt brings knowledge."

Thakkor glanced toward the tipi where the women had gone, easily discerning the meaning of the plainsman's words. "You may have something there."

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

Alicia stepped out of the tipi in her new doeskin dress. In deference to her lesser tolerance for the heat of the sun-baked days, the women had modified her dress with a far shorter skirt, and more exposure of her chest and back. Even so, it covered her far better than the torn blouse that the women were attempting to repair. Her sword belt also emphasized her trim waist, and Alicia wished she had a mirror so she could see how it looked.

A moment later, she found her mirror in Thakkor's eyes. He'd stopped in his tracks, his eyes wide and drinking her in.

Alicia blushed and toyed with one of the feathers in her golden locks. "What do you think?"

"Beautiful," he responded in a soft voice.

Redbear interrupted the moment by calling his guests to the feast.

The evening whirled by in almost a blur, beginning with the meal of venison and vegetables that Alicia ate far too much of. The evening's celebration encompassed both gratitude for Thakkor and Alicia's aid to Redbear and his wife, and the native couple's joining.

The odd beer brewed by the people of the plains didn't sit well with Alicia at first, but she drank it to avoid appearing rude. The strength of the brew soon overcame her qualms about the drink, however. A little tipsy, Alicia convinced Thakkor to join her in the dancing of the tribe. Already lightheaded from the drinking, she felt even more so from the admiration and attraction in Thakkor's eyes.

In time, the celebration wound down. The people would need to rise early to begin the next day's chores, and wisely didn't stay up too late. Redbear and his wife had an even better reason to retire early, as they could now consummate their marriage.

Alicia summoned up her magical tent to the amazement of the tribe, and soon thereafter, only she and Thakkor remained outside.

"Do you want to take a bath?" Thakkor asked.

"Oh yes," Alicia replied. "I need to clear my head, and I'm all sweaty from dancing. I won't take long."

"We probably should get in bed as soon as possible."

Alicia's mind construed that suggestion in a far different manner than that which Thakkor had intended. Those thoughts carried with her as she slipped into her bath a few minutes later. She stroked her fingers over her labia with a slight frown, wishing she had a razor to clear the stubble prickling beneath her fingers.

Redbear and his wife didn't help to cool the fires of desire within Alicia, either. The couple consummated their marriage enthusiastically, the sound of their pleasure mingling with others of the tribe sharing their marriage beds. Alicia quickly washed, unsure if she could resist surrendering to her own needs so long as she remained nude in the bath.

She found Thakkor wearing a slightly embarrassed grin when she emerged from the tent. "Not exactly shy, are they?" He said with a chuckle as one of the plainswomen erupted in a piercing cry of release.

"No, I should say not," Alicia agreed, her cheeks warm and her sex tingling.

"I'm just going to wash off the sweat and dust real quick. Then we can bunk down so we'll be fresh in the morning."

Alicia nodded and stepped aside to let him in the tent. Though she fought the urge, she couldn't keep her eyes away from the silhouette of him undressing. Once again, his manhood stood erect and proud in the shadow upon the wall. True to his word, he remained in the bath for only a couple of minutes, and then emerged — still hard — to dress.

Thakkor opened the tent flap to indicate that he'd finished bathing, and Alicia stepped back inside. Thakkor held her sword, which she'd not put back on after bathing. "This probably needs a touch of the stone to keep the edge. I'll show you how," he said.

Thakkor sat down on the bed and unsheathed the sword, pulling a whetstone from a leather pocket in the sheathe at the same time. Alicia sat down right next to him, leaving just enough room for him to work. The urge to be close to him was simply beyond her ability to control.

Thakkor explained the angle and how to examine the blade. He then demonstrated, drawing the whetstone over the blade for several strokes. "It's actually in pretty good shape. You want to try?"

Alicia nodded and held out her hands for the stone and sword. She placed the stone against the blade and asked, "Like this?"

"You're a little too parallel to the blade," Thakkor instructed. He then guided her hand to the proper angle, sending a chill through Alicia that she barely kept from turning into a shiver.

"There you go. You're taking to this better than I did when I was a downy-cheeked lad," Thakkor praised her as she worked the stone over the blade on her own. "You handled those goblins like a veteran, too."

"Thank you — and thank you for your confidence in me when we found the goblins."

"You've earned it," he responded dismissively. "When you're in my line of work, a wise man doesn't pay attention to anything except who he does or doesn't want fighting at his back when things get ugly."

Alicia held the blade up to the light as Thakkor had told her, looking for nicks and dull spots. "Would you have me at your back, then?"

"Any time," Thakkor answered. He leaned over and examined the blade as well. "Looks good. We should probably hit the sack so we can get you closer to home tomorrow."

"What if I'm not sure I want to return home," Alicia softly said before she could think better of it.

"What do you mean?" Thakkor asked, taking the sword and sheathing it.

"I..." Alicia paused and sighed. "I feel like little more than another commodity in my father's business when I'm home."

Thakkor suggested, "Maybe go stay with the Baroness — Gwen?"

Alicia shook her head. "In the end, it would be much the same. There, I would be Gwen's friend. I want to be Alicia, not an extension of someone else."

"You're talking about a tough road. You're either going to have to stand up to your father, or strike out on your own."

"And you don't believe I can do it," Alicia said, and looked away.

Thakkor cupped her chin in his hand and turned her eyes back to him. "That's not it at all. I think you can do anything you set your mind to, and do it well. You've proved that time and time again since I met you. You're a remarkable woman, Alicia."

The heartfelt tone of his voice and the genuine look of admiration in his blue eyes said far more than even his uplifting words. Impulse gripped Alicia. She cupped Thakkor's bearded cheek in her hand, closed her eyes, leaned in, and kissed him.

Thakkor hesitated for a fraction of a second before he responded, but when he did, it was with a tender passion that took Alicia's breath away. Though the kiss was soft and short, it felt as though it lasted a blissful eternity to Alicia.

As her lips and Thakkor's parted, Alicia finally remembered to breathe. Her eyes remained closed, and she could still feel his lips against hers, his hand moving from her chin to her cheek. Her eyes fluttered open and she sighed, never wanting this moment to end.

"Alicia..." Thakkor began.

Tears welled up in Alicia's eyes. "I understand. I am terribly sorry for—"

Thakkor cut off both her apology and her attempt to walk away from the bed. "Alicia, you have nothing to apologize for."

"I misunderstood your feelings toward me," she responded, unable to look him in the eyes.

"No, you didn't."

Alicia hesitantly turned back to him and asked, "Then why?"

"I don't want you to make a mistake that you'll regret. I'm a simple man. I'll never be able to give you palaces, jewels..."

"Can you give me love?" Alicia asked, her eyes filling once more. She sat down heavily on the bed, leaning into his muscular chest to weep, "Please..."

Thakkor surrendered, wrapping his arms around the sobbing woman. "That's all I can promise," he said, close to her ear so she could hear.

Alicia looked up at him, dried her eyes and sniffled. "Do you mean it?"

"With all my heart, Alicia. I've never met a woman like you." This time, Thakkor took the initiative, and kissed her.

Alicia's hands roamed over his back as he kissed her, his fingers caressing her hair. She felt as though she was hovering several inches above the bed, suspended on a cloud of bliss.

While Thakkor's hands didn't stray from Alicia's back, face, and hair, Alicia explored his muscular body, her arousal taking control of her. His breaths grew deeper as she touched him, his kisses spiking into ardent desire whenever she caressed his abdomen and chest. During one particularly strong kiss, Alicia's fingers strayed between his legs.

Thakkor groaned as Alicia's fingers found his hard organ and she gasped.

"Alicia, are you sure that you're ready to..."

"Do you want to make love to me?" She whispered while looking into his eyes, her fingers tracing the lines of his cock beneath his coarse trousers.

"Gods — yes, Alicia," he replied, unwilling to lie to her, despite his misgivings about taking this step so soon after admitting his feelings to her — and himself.

"I want you to make love to me, Thakkor. I... I want you to be my first." Alicia lowered her gaze, her cheeks bright red.

Once again, he raised her eyes to his. "I don't want to hurt you, Alicia."

"I know you won't."

"If it's your first time..."

"I know of the pain." Alicia glanced over at the pine table beside the bed and located her dagger lying there. Despite not having it on her person, she could still feel the magic within. Before she could change her mind, Alicia called upon the spell stored there that would lessen the pain of her deflowering. She felt warmth spread through her sex, and knew the spell had worked.

Alicia looked back into Thakkor's eyes and began her other spell, which would tell her if she were fertile. He offered a quizzical raise of his eyebrows, but otherwise didn't comment as he reached out to stroke his hand over her bare leg.

The sensation of his touch nearly made Alicia fumble her words, but she completed the spell. She looked down and placed her hand over her tummy and loins, revealing the blue glow she expected after having cast the spell so recently with the same effect.

"What spell is that?" Thakkor asked, curious.

"It tells me that I cannot become with child right now," Alicia answered, her arousal spiking with the knowledge.

"I was a little worried about that, too," he revealed, and leaned in to kiss her again.

This time, Thakkor's hands found her bottom as they kissed. He caressed her doeskin-clad cheeks and let his fingers glide down her thighs to her bare leg. She started a little as his tongue slipped out to tickle her gums, but responded in kind when the initial shock changed into a warm glow of pleasure.

Alicia let out a little moan as Thakkor's hand slid up her leg and beneath the fringed hem of her dress. She trembled as his strong fingers glided up her inner thigh to her panties. As if having a mind of its own, Alicia's hand came to rest over his erection, her fingers curling around the hidden girth of the organ. She could feel it throbbing as she looked into his eyes. The smoldering desire in those blue orbs caused her heart to thunder in her ears.

Thakkor's other hand crept beneath Alicia's dress, joining the first in a gentle caress that came close — so close — to the aching need building in Alicia's loins. She let out a gasp and squeezed him as he tugged the doeskin from beneath her bottom and bunched it up at her waist.

Alicia leaned back and tugged her arms into the sleeves of the dress, inviting Thakkor to remove it completely. The dress scraped her stiff nipples as he pulled it over her head, causing her back to arch from the sensation. He passed the dress to one hand and let it fall from his fingers to the canvas floor below.

"So beautiful," he murmured, and then cupped the firm globes in his hand, letting the weight of her breasts rest in his palm.

"Oh," Alicia whimpered as he slipped one hand behind her back, guiding her down to the mattress. She pulled on his shirt as she reclined, prompting him to discard it as soon as he lowered her to the mattress. He leaned over her, his eyes intent upon hers, and parted his lips. A soft, warbling moan passed her lips as his closed over the pink tip of her right nipple.

Alicia's back arched, thrusting her breasts toward him as he suckled her bud, his tongue gliding over it in a slippery caress. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, feeling the steel of his muscles holding him over her. He released her nipple, leaving it glistening with his saliva, and engulfed the tingling bud's twin.

"S-so wonderful," Alicia cooed, her body undulating beneath him.

He shifted his weight to one arm, reaching back with the other to tug loose the knot holding his trousers closed. Alicia let her left hand slide down his back to the loosened waist of his trousers, and wriggled her fingers beneath. Her hand moved lower, following the lines of his body, and she gasped as her fingertips found his naked manhood.




To Catch a Merchant Princess Ch. 05



Thakkor groaned around her nipple, and then released it. "Your hands are so soft — like velvet," he whispered.

Alicia tried to wrap her hand around him, but the angle made it impossible. Thakkor's muscles bunched as he levered up to his knees. He tugged down his trousers, and Alicia's eyes widened in fascination tinged with fear.

As he shifted to slide his pants down off his legs, Alicia sat up, her eyes locked on his cock. She wrapped her hand around it, her fingers barely touching around his girth.

"Gods, Alicia," he groaned as she stroked her hand on his shaft.

Fascinated by the texture and the throbbing, Alicia stroked a little faster, prompting another deep groan from him. A glistening drop, looking much like dew, welled up from the mushroom tip of his cock.

Her sex hot with need, Alicia felt as though she would suffocate if she didn't remove her panties. She reluctantly released Thakkor's cock and lay back, jerking down the damp cotton. The cool air kissed her nether lips, causing them to quiver.

Thakkor pulled her panties down from her knees, helping her to remove them. He then slipped his hand between her slightly parted thighs, covering her curl-trimmed sex in his hand.

Alicia shuddered from the touch, her thighs slipping farther apart as one of his fingers tickled her labia. She whimpered as first one, and then the other of his powerful hands nudged her knees apart and up, fully exposing her sex to his eyes.

A pair of short, convulsive breaths was all Alicia could manage as Thakkor put his palms down on the sheets and his head lowered into the V of her legs. Though she'd heard a few whispers about what she believed was about to happen, she was wholly unprepared for reality.

Alicia let out a sharp, high-pitched moan as Thakkor traced the tip of his tongue over her wet heat. The next stroke of his tongue parted her labia, causing her to gasp and her upper body to lurch from the intensity of the sensation.

Thakkor looked up into her eyes, his tongue wriggling over her folds. "You taste so sweet, Alicia," he said before lapping her again.

Alicia felt drunk, her head swimming from the feeling of his tongue seemingly touching every part of her at the same time. So different from her fingers, the slippery organ caused jolts of pleasure to shoot throughout her body. Her hips rocked up toward his mouth as she squeezed her breasts with her left hand. "Oh. D-don't stop," she pleaded as a hot coil of ecstasy built in her loins.

Thakkor gave in to his desire, sucking her folds between his lips and encompassing the sheathe protecting the center of her pleasure. Alicia yelped and trembled, squeezing her breast even harder while the fingers of her other hand fisted into the bedclothes.

Writhing from the ecstasy of Thakkor's oral ministrations, Alicia's breathing grew labored. Several times, she soared up toward her peak, only to have his beard tickle her and cool her fires just before she tumbled over the edge. His lips and tongue roved over her, hungry moans rumbling from his throat.

Lost in a fog of bliss, Alicia climbed toward her peak again. This time, just as she teetered in that perfect place of pleasure, Thakkor's tongue darted beneath her hood and wrapped around her clit. Alicia's thighs clamped down hard on the sides of his head as her orgasm exploded into being without warning.

Alicia screamed, her back arched off the mattress and the sheets tented in her tightly closed fists. Her scream choked off as a second, even more powerful wave of climactic energy wracked her body and stole her breath. She trembled, her face and breasts flushed with heat, her mouth wide open and her eyes tightly closed. Finally, just as blackness threatened to overcome her, Alicia found her breath again. She sucked in a great gasp of air and collapsed to the bed, her left leg twitching uncontrollably.

Thakkor's fingers touched her cheek, and Alicia forced her eyes open. "Are you okay?" He asked with concern in his eyes.

The almost painful pleasure of her orgasm now fading, Alicia smiled and nodded her head. The motion set off an aftershock, causing Alicia to snap her legs together and cry out, but the sensation rapidly settled into a blissfully warm afterglow.

Alicia opened her eyes again to see Thakkor looking down at her, smiling and still caressing her cheek. "Oh, thank you," she managed to say, long pauses between each word. "I've never felt anything so wonderful."

"And I've never tasted anything so sweet."

Alicia chuckled, feeling oddly silly in her post-orgasmic state. She raised her arm up and pulled Thakkor to her lips. She could taste her bittersweet juices as he kissed her, the tip of his erection brushing against her abdomen.

Thakkor settled in next to her when she opened her arms to hold him. For long minutes, the couple simply dwelt in the closeness of each other. Then, a feminine squeal and a masculine grunt of release broke the silence of the night. Alicia and Thakkor shared a chuckle and nuzzled even closer together.

Gradually, the feeling of Thakkor's hard cock pressed against her body stoked Alicia's fires again. She felt the tingling of wetness flooding her sex, and her heart rate increased in anticipation. An aching void deep within Alicia begged for attention, the feeling growing stronger by the moment.

Thakkor must have sensed her ardor rising, because his hand moved between her legs to tease her folds. "Gods, Alicia — I want you."

The restrained passion in his voice pushed Alicia over the edge. "Make love to me, Thakkor."

Alicia's eyes locked on his manhood as he sat up and moved toward the foot of the bed. Again, the teeth of fear clamped down on her. She wondered if her spell would be enough to counter the pain of his thick cock penetrating her for the first time. After a moment or two of hesitation, Alicia parted her legs, the ache within her superceding her fear.

Thakkor walked forward on his knees, his cock twitching in anticipation. Alicia gasped as he pushed her knees out wider, and up toward her chest. The fingers of his left hand then curled around her thigh, while he pushed down on the flared tip of his cock with his right thumb.

Alicia panted, able to see his erection edging ever closer to her needy sex. She sucked in a quavering gasp when the purple helmet pressed against her folds. It felt even more massive than it looked as Thakkor rubbed it up and down the parting of her lips, teasing her and wetting his tip in her juices.

When she felt the pressure increase, Alicia tensed for the pain that she knew was to come. She nearly balked and asked him to stop, but need for him swelled within her. She needed to be closer to him, to be one with him, to feel him deep inside her.

Alicia yelped from the sharp stab of pain. His thick cock stretched her nether lips wide, pushed through the tight resistance of her entrance, and tore through her maidenhead. Tears filled her eyes and her lower lip quivered as she half-sobbed, half-gasped through the agony of her deflowering.

Thakkor paused with little more than his tip buried in her virginal embrace. He winced, his heart breaking to see her in pain, tears rolling down her cheeks. At the same time, his cock throbbed and twitched from her walls clamping down on him. He stroked her inner thighs, doing his best to offer comfort to the beautiful woman lying beneath him.

The magic stole away Alicia's pain after less than a second, though it felt as if an eternity to her. Some distant part of her mind wondered how a woman could possibly endure this without the aid of magic. As the searing agony evaporated, Alicia felt a new sensation — one far more pleasant. The feeling of fullness sent chills up and down her spine.

Alicia opened her eyes to see the concern in Thakkor's features. With the pain now gone, the void in Alicia's depths demanded attention. She dried the tears from her cheeks with her right hand and sensually breathed, "More."

Thakkor's expression softened as he saw the pain vanish from her beautiful blue eyes, and desire took its place. He took a deep breath and increased the pressure, another inch of his cock slipping into her warm, wet canal.

Alicia groaned as he slowly penetrated her, feeling as though it was already in her belly, though she could still feel the nagging need in her depths. She looked down over her breasts, watching his cock vanish inside her until the curly blonde hairs on her mound mingled with the darker ones at the base of his shaft. Alicia threw her head back and moaned, "Ohh, yes!"

"Ah — Alicia — so good," Thakkor groaned as her walls rhythmically clenched down on his cock. He withdrew back to the tip, feeling her nether lips kiss the rim of his helmet, and then pushed back into her depths again. "Oh yes."

Alicia gasped from the hot friction of his withdrawal, and then groaned as he stretched her walls to the limit again. She reached between her legs as he pulled free once more to circle her fingertip over her hood with feather-light pressure. "So full," she breathed.

Feeling her resistance lessen somewhat, Thakkor thrust a little faster. Her wide-eyed look of ecstasy encouraged him, and he let his knees slip a little farther apart on the next thrust to penetrate her from a lower angle.

"Ah! Mmm!" Alicia cried out, her finger moving a little faster over her clit as she admired the play of Thakkor's muscles.

Despite feeling the hot itch of an approaching climax far more quickly than he'd ever experienced it before, Thakkor felt no sense of urgency. He admired the beautiful woman beneath him, her breasts jiggling from his thrusts. Alicia's vocalizations of pleasure grew louder by the second, and the finger rubbing the center of her pleasure blurred between her legs.

"Ah! Ah! Ah!" Alicia squealed as the deep, steady, powerful thrusts of Thakkor's cock pushed her to the edge of ecstasy. The fingers of her free hand curled into the sheets, even as her ruddy-tinged juices spattered from the fast motion of the hand between her legs.

"Come for me, Alicia," Thakkor grunted, concerned that he couldn't hold back the explosion of his seed for much longer.

Alicia breathed in staccato bursts, her mouth wide open in a silent scream. Just as she thought that she would surely die from the intensity of her pleasure, she reached her peak. Alicia screamed long and loud as an orgasm such as nothing she'd ever imagined gripped her. Her toes curled tight, and her clit throbbed powerfully beneath the fingers pressed hard over it.

Thakkor grunted from the nearly impossible squeeze of Alicia's walls around him. "Yes," he hissed, and then gave in to his own needs, his cock slamming home with all the speed and power he could muster for a pair of strokes. On the next thrust of his hips, he let out a loud, growling scream and spurted his cream against the entrance of Alicia's womb.

The couple writhed, twitched, and cried out, Thakkor's pulsating manhood filling Alicia full. His strength flowed from him with his seed, and Thakkor fell forward onto his hands to hover over the still climaxing blonde below.

Another shockwave of ecstasy ripped through Alicia's body, causing her to snap her arms and legs around Thakkor's back, pulling him down to her. He lightly kissed her neck, his breathing labored.

"Oh, thank you," Alicia sighed, and then giggled when Thakkor gasped and jumped from her intimate muscles tightening around his cock, still buried deep inside her.

"Gods, Alicia," Thakkor groaned, rolling to his side.

Alicia maintained her grip, keeping him inside her as she let him settle into a more comfortable position. For long minutes, the couple simply looked into each other's eyes, smiling and shivering in the afterglow of their orgasms. Finally, Alicia snuggled her head up against his broad chest and said, "I love you."

"I love you, Alicia," he responded wearily while stroking her hair.

"Do you mean it?"

"Aye," Thakkor responded. "You're everything I've ever dreamed of — and more."

"As are you," Alicia agreed, her eyelids growing heavy. Not long afterward, she drifted off into a contented sleep.

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

Alicia awakened with a quiet moan. A slight twinge of pain from her sundered virginity had awakened her, her spell having worn off as she slept. The next sensation she noticed was the cold, wet spot beneath her hip. The scent of sex wafted from beneath the blanket.

Alicia moved a little closer to the warm, handsome man beneath the covers with her. He draped his arm over her in his sleep, drawing another moan from her. Outside, Alicia could hear the people of the tribe already hard at work on the day's chores.

Thakkor slowly roused, and he hugged her even closer to him when he opened his eyes to see her smiling face. "Good morning, beautiful," he whispered.

"Good morning, love," Alicia responded.

"You okay?"

Alicia nodded. "A little sore, but it was worth it."

Thakkor let out a chuckling groan of agreement.

His morning erection twitched against Alicia's leg, causing a mingled stab of pain and pleasure to rise up in her loins. Only the sounds of people moving about and talking just outside the tent kept Alicia from reaching down to touch him.

"I suppose we should get up," Thakkor said, also keenly aware of his hard flesh against her soft skin.

"I don't want to," Alicia protested with a pretty pout, snuggling up closer to him.

"Neither do I."

Alicia looked into Thakkor's eyes and asked, "Did you mean it?"

He knew exactly what she meant and answered, "Yes," punctuating it with a kiss on her forehead.

"Say it again?"

"I love you, Alicia."

Alicia sighed, the sound full of unmistakable contentment. "You are right — we should get up."

Thakkor stretched and threw back the covers. The subtle undercurrent of arousal Alicia had felt since awakening roared into a bonfire of desire when she saw his body in the full light of day. She laid a hand over his erection, drawing a quiet groan from him.

Alicia caressed his member, wanting him deep inside her again. Little stabs of pain accompanied the tingle of wetness flooding her sex, however. Something else she'd often heard other women whispering about intrigued her, prompting Alicia to lick her lips and peel back the sheets.

"You are so beautiful," Thakkor breathed as she rolled over and let one leg cross his. The curls on her mound tickled his tummy and her stiff nipples pressed against his chest as she kissed him.

When their lips parted, Alicia's drifted lower to kiss his chest. He moaned and ran his fingers through her hair, watching her kiss her way down his abdomen. Finally, she hovered over his cock.

Again, Alicia licked her lips, looking down at the twitching organ beneath her. She kissed the tip, which caused Thakkor to grunt and his hips to twitch up toward her mouth. Encouraged by that reaction, Alicia kissed him again, and then let her tongue slip out to swirl over the head of his cock.

Alicia kissed and licked his manhood, exhilarated by the sense of control and the way he responded to her touch. She let those cues guide her until she engulfed his tip between her lips.

Thakkor blew out a great breath, and an odd, arousing flavor filled Alicia's mouth. The taste of his pre-cum spurred her on, and she took more of him into her mouth.

"Gods, Alicia — that feels so good."

She moaned around him and sucked her way back up to the tip. He twitched and groaned, his eyes closing as he instinctively tugged her back down on his organ.

After a few strokes, Alicia figured out how to keep her teeth from scraping him, and took him a little deeper. Though she took only a little more than a quarter of his thick shaft into her mouth, he appeared to be in perfect ecstasy.

Alicia sucked a little faster, receiving another drop of pre-cum as a reward. Thakkor's breathing quickly turned heavy, and his eyes snapped open. His expression spoke of surprise as he groaned, "Oh, Alicia."

Though her lips and jaw soon ached, Alicia refused to stop. She wrapped a hand around the base of his shaft when an involuntary twitch pushed him dangerously close to her throat, but paused for only the fraction of a second required by her instinctive cough.

"So good. Almost there," Thakkor revealed in tight, clipped grunts.

The pleasure in his voice and expression spurred Alicia to even greater efforts, her hair bouncing from the speed of her mouth sliding up and down his shaft. Despite his warning and the series of short, hissing growls that preceded it, Alicia was wholly unprepared for his climax.

She could feel the vein in his shaft pulsing against her lip and tongue as thick spurts of semen filled her mouth. For just a moment, she panicked. With only two options available to her, Alicia swallowed.

At first, she found the taste off-putting, and the texture even more so, but as his cream settled in her belly, warmth flooded through Alicia's body. The knowledge that she'd given him such pleasure overwhelmed her initial reaction, and she softly suckled him, drinking up every drop of his seed as he twitched beneath her.

Thakkor pushed on her cheek when he could take no more. She released him with a final, soft slurp and looked up into his half-closed eyes.

"Never..." Thakkor paused to gasp, his glistening cock rising up from his body and swelling. "Come that fast before," he finished.

"You liked it?" Alicia asked, feeling positively naughty and almost as satisfied as her man.

"Incredible," he replied.

Both jumped when a voice called from outside. "We break our fast, if you will join us."

Alicia's face turned bright red as she remembered that people were awake and going about the day's business only a few feet away. Recognizing her embarrassment, Thakkor leaned over the edge of the bed to pick up her panties and dress. She accepted them with a shy smile and stood to dress as Thakkor located his own clothing.

Once they were both dressed, Thakkor wrapped his arms around Alicia and kissed her. He then took her hand and led her out of the tent.

The corners of Alicia's mouth twitched upward into a smile as she beheld Redbear, wearing the same hints of wonder mixed with surprise on his face that adorned Thakkor's. She wondered if she bore the demure expression of satisfaction that decorated the face of Redbear's wife. Thakkor helped Alicia to sit where the tribe ate the morning meal, and then sat down next to her.

As everyone finished eating, Redbear signaled to a younger member of the tribe who appeared to be around twelve. He nodded and stood, as did an older man. A minute or so later, the two emerged from a tipi bearing several items, including a bow and quiver.

"I would gift you with these in thanks for coming to our aid," Redbear declared, taking the bow and quiver from the younger man and handing it to Thakkor.

"Haven't had much practice with a bow, but I'll wager that this one can split hairs without much help. Thank you, Redbear," Thakkor said with a nod of his head, and then examined the bow.

"We have prepared food, water, tinder, and other things that will aid you in your journey across the plains to your homeland."

The sound of a horse snorting caused both Thakkor and Alicia to turn. A young boy led two horses adorned with blankets across their backs and buffalo hide saddlebags. "These are even-tempered and strong. They will bear you well to your home," Redbear explained.

"Can you ride?" Thakkor asked Alicia.

"I have not done so often, but I know how. I've never tried without a saddle, though." She turned to Redbear and said, "Thank you. They're beautiful."

Redbear smiled and then accepted two beaded talismans from his wife. "These will mark you as a friend of the people. If you need aid, it will be given. Always are you welcome to share my fire."




To Catch a Merchant Princess Ch. 05



Thakkor and Alicia took the talismans, slipping them around their necks. "That goes both ways," Thakkor said, holding out his hand to the red-skinned warrior.

"You are welcome for as long as you wish to stay," Redbear finished as he clasped Thakkor's hand.

Eager to begin her new life with Thakkor, Alicia knew that she had to make peace with her old life, first. She turned to Thakkor and said, "As much as I dread to do so, I must speak with my Father."

"I'll be right there with you."

Redbear smiled and said, "May the spirits guide you and protect you. It is my wish that they will bring us together again in friendship."

"Same here, Redbear." Thakkor then put his arm around Alicia and asked, "Ready to ride for home?"

Alicia agreed with an enthusiastic nod and a smile. Shortly thereafter, she and Thakkor rode out to the northwest, a little unsteady on the saddleless horses, but gaining in confidence by the moment.

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

Hope you've enjoyed this fifth chapter. Please take a moment to vote/comment, as that's the motivation that keeps me writing despite the trials life throws at me. I'm working on what should ( seriously! ) be the last chapter.



To Catch a Merchant Princess Ch. 06



Author's Notes:

© Copyright Darkniciad. If this story appears anywhere except Literotica.com with this note attached, it is posted without my permission and is likely incomplete/improperly formatted. Please go to Literotica and search for Darkniciad to find the real, authorized version of this tale.

This tale takes place in my fantasy world, and centers upon characters you might recognize from "Queen Alicia" and "King Thakkorias."

Much as "Casting Off Convention," this story details early adventures in the life of my characters, long before the 'present day'.

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

Alicia rode at Thakkor's side down the hill, once more traveling on the well maintained roads of Freeland. After four days of easy riding, she and Thakkor were within a day's ride of the city.

As on their previous journey, Alicia's coin purse proved a welcome asset on the trip. Rather than spend the money on lodging, Alicia purchased serviceable clothing from a traveling vendor, and paid the man to pass a message to her father through a nearby fort. She and Thakkor rode on, ensuring that they would be far past by the time the slow wagon reached the fort. While she couldn't conscience letting her friends and family worry, she intended to avoid a military escort home this time.

A stop in a charming little hamlet netted the couple saddles for their horses. The animals balked at first, but soon grew accustomed to the feeling, and after a time, even seemed to approve of the better balanced riders on their backs. Alicia also purchased food and two bottles of wine to supplement the supplies Redbear had provided.

Each night, the couple adjourned to their magical tent, shared a bath, and then each other. More than once, the tent had arisen in a secluded section of woodland or field during the day, as well. Alicia toyed with the sculpture that summoned the tent and offered a sultry smile when she saw Thakkor's eyes following the bounce of her breasts caused by the horse's gait.

"Sorry, hard to ignore," Thakkor offered with an apologetic shrug.

"You are incorrigible," Alicia declared with mock indignity as she turned away with a haughty tilt of her chin.

"But you love me anyway."

Alicia couldn't maintain her pose in the face of those words. "Yes, I do."

"I need to water the bushes. We should probably make a stew or something to use up the last of those vegetables before they shrivel up, too."

Alicia pointed to a pair of trees some distance off the road ahead that she thought would probably have enough deadfall underneath for a cooking fire. "There?"

"Good a place as any — if I can make it." Thakkor turned his horse toward the trees and urged a little extra speed from the animal.

Alicia laughed as Thakkor vaulted from his horse upon reaching the trees. He hastily wrapped the reins around a low hanging branch and went to work on his trousers.

Alicia leaned in her saddle as she reined in, miming an attempt to peek at him as he answered nature's call.

Thakkor sighed in relief, and then noticed Alicia. "Now who's incorrigible?" He finished his business as Alicia laughed and dismounted her horse, and then said, "You know, I'm not even sure what that word means."

"Unruly — impossible to correct," Alicia explained.

"Ah, I get it." Thakkor finished tying his trousers and looked around for firewood. "Sounds like somebody took uncorrectable and made it sound nicer."

Alicia reached into her saddlebag and pulled out the tin pot she'd purchased. She then located the small burlap pouch of vegetables and walked toward where Thakkor had already dropped a promising dry limb. She knelt down on the grass near where she thought was a good place to dig the fire pit. "It's rather sad that I don't even know how to prepare these."

"Well, I'll teach you how to burn supper, and you can teach me how to speak cityfolk." Thakkor picked up another thick stump of a limb and flipped it over atop the first.

The sound of fast galloping hooves pounding the hard-packed road attracted Alicia's attention. She turned back toward the road and could just make out four riders in the distance.

"Somebody's in a hurry," Thakkor remarked, straining his eyes toward the approaching riders. "Looks like two men and two women. No — wait. Two men, one woman, and a man in a dress?"

Alicia stood and stepped to Thakkor's side. "I think that's a robe," she offered with a bit of laughter in her voice. "Perhaps he's a..." She trailed off and stared harder. "It can't be..."

One of the men pointed, and the horses veered from the road. This combined with Alicia's reaction set Thakkor's nerves afire. His hand snapped to the hilt of his sword as he slipped into battle mode. "Who is it? Someone else working for that Count what's-his-name?"

Alicia continued to stare in disbelief, doubting the evidence of her eyes. "No, it's Gwen."

"The Baroness?"

A feminine voice, still faint in the distance, sounded out, "Alicia!"

"And Trell," Alicia added when she recognized him riding a jet-black warhorse at Gwendoline's side.

Thakkor relaxed and pondered, "Wonder how they managed to find us?"

"The wizard, most likely," Alicia answered as the riders slowed.

"Alicia!" Gwendoline called again, waving as she reined in.

Alicia waved back, glad to see her friend, but a little disappointed that she wouldn't have one more night alone on the road with Thakkor.

Gwen slipped out of her saddle almost before her horse stopped, hurrying to Alicia's side to hug her with a complete lack of ceremony. "Thank heavens you're safe."

"Aye," Trell declared as he wheeled his horse in close. "My Lady didn't give me the opportunity to do more than snatch up Ronald here and ride out after her like we were running from demons."

Gwendoline looked back over her shoulder and declared, "I have apologized, Trell."

Trell dismounted and said, "And I accepted. It doesn't change the fact that if we'd ran into trouble, we were sorely unprepared for it." He then put his hands on his hips and smiled. "That sword looks fine on your hip, Alicia."

Gwen's eyes darted to Thakkor for a moment and she twitched her eyebrows, causing Alicia to blush. She then turned to Thakkor and said, "Greetings, Thakkor. It seems I have you to thank for Alicia's safe return, yet again."

"We took care of each other," Thakkor responded, reaching out to caress Alicia's shoulder for a second.

"Oh," Gwen responded while looking at Alicia out of the corner of her eye.

Alicia knew that her expression was confirming every naughty thought her friend was entertaining.

"I am famished," Gwen said to spare Alicia any more embarrassment. "Let us prepare food, and the two of you can tell us what happened."

Ronald and Trell joined Thakkor in gathering wood and preparing the fire pit while the Baroness sat down on the grass and gestured for Alicia to begin.

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

The Baroness let out a sharp little high-pitched growl as she rode alongside Alicia. "I cannot stop thinking about that blackheart, Count Yeltsin. I have always suspected his hands in black deeds, but this is absolutely unconscionable."

"We'll have the proof to have him arrested as soon as Ronald's detail makes it out there to dig up Armand's body and bring it home," Trell counseled, having sent the younger soldier riding hard back to Osterfayre shortly after Thakkor and Alicia told that part of the tale.

"I am of half a mind to encourage my husband to have the scoundrel publicly drawn and quartered," Gwen declared, the tone of her voice causing her normally docile white mare to nicker and roll her eyes back toward her rider.

"My Lady, Satin is getting a little riled — and if you can pardon my candor — we're close to home. You'll need to put back on the airs," Trell warned.

Gwen sighed. "You are right, of course."

"Let me have a chat with him before you lock him up. He'll happily rot in his cell for the rest of his life by the time I'm done telling him what I'd like to do to him," Thakkor suggested.

Gwendoline burst out into silvery laughter. "You are a positive delight. We shall have to see if that can be arranged."

Alicia smiled at Thakkor, knowing full well what had prompted his anger. His expression softened and he smiled back.

Trell said, "Shouldn't take too long. Ronald's sweet on your handmaiden, Denise. He'll push as hard as he can without making the horses unsound to get back in a hurry."

"You might tell him to press his suit — and soon. Denise is growing frustrated with his cautious approach."

Alicia let out a sigh and Thakkor took advantage of a wide spot in the road to ride up beside her. "You okay?"

"I'm simply not looking forward to this."

Thakkor said, "Wish I could make it easier."

"You are," Alicia responded.

"I think we'd better make camp, Trell suggested. "We lingered a little long over lunch, the moon isn't going to offer much light with that overcast creeping up on us, and Satin is looking worn down."

Gwen patted her horse's neck. "Yes, the poor dear simply isn't used to riding so hard, or for so long."

"Please," the usually silent wizard that Gwen had recruited to find Alicia begged. "This animal's backbone feels like a knife."

Thakkor sized up their location, the time, and the weather in his head. "Think you're right. We might be able to make Aldurvale a couple of hours after dark, but the road winds like a drunken snake laid it out up ahead."

Gwen piped up, "It will provide an excuse to see this marvelous tent you have acquired as well, Alicia."

"I would like to examine it and the other items of magic you acquired," the wizard added.

Thakkor pointed to a stand of pines off the road. "There. Should help keep some of the rain off of us if those clouds open up."

Trell nodded and turned his horse toward the trees, leading the way. "I managed to snatch up a tent before riding out, but it will only fit two of us."

"I can provide my own accommodations," the wizard Glanster revealed.

Trell grunted in approval and said, "Suppose that settles sleeping arrangements. Now, what do we do for food?"

A beating of wings provided the answer, the birds barely missing Thakkor as they took flight. "How does pheasant sound? Think I can bring down a few if I can spot them before they get off the ground."

"Keep an eye out for rabbits, too," Trell suggested.

Thakkor adjusted his bow as the group rode up to the trees. He could already see a perfect campsite just inside the tree line. "Good idea. Haven't had rabbit in a dog's age. Time to see if I'm worthy of Redbear's gift."

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

Thakkor's hunting proved fruitful, netting two rabbits and five pheasants. He even managed to salvage all but one of the arrows. Contrary to his earlier flippant remarks, he cooked everything perfectly.

Glanster ate little, too anxious to examine the magic items Alicia had acquired. He summoned up his small, dome shaped tent, which surprised everyone by vanishing as soon as it appeared. He likewise vanished upon crawling inside.

Alicia called up her tent, much to the delight of Gwendoline. The pair immediately retired inside to bathe. Gwen naturally pressed Alicia for details of her time with Thakkor not included in the earlier recounting. Reluctant at first, Alicia soon opened up to her friend, telling the Baroness everything in hushed whispers.

Trell finished setting up his tent, and then walked over to Thakkor, who sat tending the fire in the twilight. Thakkor chuckled as the older soldier approached and said, "You've been sizing me up since this afternoon."

"Alicia is as dear as a daughter to me," Trell said as he sat down.

Thakkor tossed another log on the fire, the remaining pine sap in the aged wood hissing almost as soon as it touched the coals. "It shows in how well you trained her to fight."

Trell smiled. "Glad I am to have shown her the skills she needed to escape the Count's schemes." He paused, and then asked the question Thakkor had awaited since the soldier's arrival. "So what are your intentions?"

"I'm going to stand by her side as she faces her father. Beyond that, we haven't really discussed it. Whatever we decide, we'll do it together."

Trell clapped Thakkor on the back and said, "That's the answer I wanted to hear, and what I suspected anyway. Alicia's a free spirit."

Thakkor relaxed, now confident that Alicia's teacher approved of him. "That she is. Never thought I'd find a woman that beautiful — let alone one that can hold up her end of a fight."

"She has natural talent. I knew it from the first time I crossed swords with her. She's not going to be happy just sitting at home waiting for you, you know?" Trell pulled a metal flask from a pouch on his belt and passed it to Thakkor.

Thakkor accepted the flask with a nod and took a sip, the potent liquor surprising him a little. "Going to be a hard road if she's going to take up selling her sword with me, though."

"Aye, true," Trell agreed as he took back the flask and took a drink. "Something tells me that the two of you can defy the odds, though."

"Think you're right." Thakkor looked over toward the tent, the sounds of whispering and giggling carrying on the night breezes. "What do you think they're talking about?"

"We probably don't want to know."

Thakkor and Trell laughed, knowing he was likely correct.

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

"I am so happy for you, Alicia," Gwen said, hugging her blonde friend. "My husband would likely thank you for telling me all the naughty details — if he knew that it was the reason I was ravishing him when I return home."

Alicia laughed, still blushing from relating the intimate parts of her relationship with Thakkor to Gwen. "You're terrible."

"I need something to tide me over until Ronald gives Denise stories to tell." Gwen's grin slowly faded as she considered something, which she then voiced. "I wish I could counsel you on some way to handle your father's displeasure every time Thakkor comes to call."

"I'm not going home," Alicia responded, a little surprised by her own words. Now that she'd spoken them, she knew them to be true, however.

"What will you do, Alicia? Surely you do not mean to become a simple housewife."

Alicia knew deep in her heart what she wanted. "I haven't spoken to him about it, but I want to travel at his side."

Gwen's eyes widened and her tone was filled with disbelief when she said, "A sellsword?"

"Yes. I want to share in every moment of his life."

"I... I simply do not know what to say. I fear for you, Alicia."

"You don't believe I'm capable," Alicia said quietly, and then hung her head with a sigh.

Gwen paused, seemingly at a loss for words. Finally, she said, "I do not know. Trell is honest in his praise, and surely you have proven your ability during the trials you have endured. Even so, it is so dangerous. You know the adage, He who lives by the sword, dies by the sword."

"Would it be better to wait for him to return, forever worried that he might not? Together, we would be all the stronger."

The strength of Alicia's conviction stunned the Baroness. "I know you more than well enough to know that you have come to a decision, and that you will not be swayed. I may not approve, but I will aid you in any way I can."

"Thank you, Gwen." Alicia smiled, and then yawned.

"We should seek our rest. Surely Trell will have us rising with the dawn. My husband will send out the entire army if we have not returned promptly on the morrow." The Baroness slipped beneath the covers, and then turned toward Alicia with a grin. "Do try to remember that it is I who shares your bed this night. You have grown accustomed to certain activities that I am quite incapable of."

Alicia slapped her friend's shoulder. "Oh, stop."

"And no sneaking out in the middle of the night, either."

Alicia sighed dramatically and joined the Baroness beneath the covers after dimming the magical light above.

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

True to Gwendoline's prediction, Trell roused the camp as the sun was just breaking the horizon. Alicia opened the tent flap and winced as dew dripped down to spatter on the end of her nose. She wiped away the water and then stepped outside so Gwen could exit. Thakkor immediately stood and walked toward her.

"Morning," he greeted her when he reached her.

"Good morning," Alicia replied with a wide smile, wanting nothing more than to gather him up in her arms.

"Oh, kiss her. We are all quite aware of your relationship, and you look positively silly standing there staring at each other," Gwen declared as she walked past.

Thakkor chuckled and leaned down to kiss his love.

Everyone jumped when the wizard suddenly appeared from his invisible tent, having almost forgotten about him. He looked heavy-eyed, but also excited. He reached back into the tent to retrieve Alicia's magical items and several sheets of paper.

"What a truly wonderful night. I have notes concerning the results of my divination. The staff has a remarkable array of offensive and defensive magics, of which I'm quite sure the previous owner was unaware if he did not carry it at all times. The stone amulet confers the same magical properties as the stone skin spell, upon as many as four people, and its magic refreshes after a day has passed."

Trell laughed and remarked, "I haven't heard that many words from you in all the years I've known you, Glanster."

"I... Oh dear, I do seem to be running off at the mouth. My apologies," Glanster responded, and then chuckled. He then walked over to Alicia and handed over everything. Thakkor had to help hold it as Alicia put the items away in her magical bag.

"My notes should be quite sufficient. If you should wish to sell any of these, please think of me first?"

Alicia leafed through the notes, rather stunned by the sheer amounts of magical power at her fingertips. "I will. Thank you for your hard work in this."

"Oh, no need. Fascinating — truly fascinating!"

"Well, unless one of them summons up breakfast, we should mount up," Trell suggested. "We'll break our fast in Aldurvale, and then return to the castle."

Thakkor said, "I know the perfect place. The woman's cooking makes me think of my dearly departed Mum's."

Gwen's tummy rumbled loudly enough for everyone to hear it. "Please do stop speaking of food until we have some."

Trell chuckled and pulled one of the stakes from his tent. "Strike the camp and let's move out."

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

Alicia felt both relief and dread as the towers of Osterfayre castle loomed larger with every beat of a hoof.

"I'll have a bath drawn, find you a gown, and have the carriage made ready..."

Alicia interrupted, "Gwen — thank you, but no. I will face my father as I am. It is the least of the revelations he will face this day."

Gwen nodded, her lips slightly pursed and her expression showing an edge of sadness. "Very well. I hope you do not think ill of me for my less than subtle attempt to steer you from your chosen course."

Alicia smiled and answered, "I know you simply wish the best for me, and fear my choice is the wrong one."

The Baroness shook her head emphatically. "Not wrong, just rife with difficulty and danger. I should not feel such worry, considering the recent stellar examples of how you handle such adversity."

"Maybe we should head into the city and find a room before we go," Thakkor suggested.

Gwen didn't give Alicia time to answer. "Absolutely out of the question. If you will not remain on the Nash estates, you will guest with us here in the castle."




To Catch a Merchant Princess Ch. 06



"Up to you, Love," Thakkor said to Alicia.

Alicia shuddered and sighed. "Do feel free to call me that whenever you wish." She then turned back to Gwendoline and said, "We will return. Thank you, Gwen."

"You are quite welcome, and that invitation remains open from this moment into perpetuity."

Alicia laughed as the group reined in near the castle stables. "Perpetuity?"

"Yes — perpetuity." Gwendoline looked away and stuck her nose up high in the air. "I have waited weeks to use that word, and now you have ruined it for me."

"I pray you can forgive my opprobrious behavior," Alicia responded with a bow of her head.

Gwen's hurt expression faded in an instant and she laughed. "You are a delight. Now I have two words that will prove quite stunning when I speak of Count Yeltsin."

"And I don't have the foggiest clue what either of them mean," Thakkor said with a shake of his head and a hearty laugh as he dismounted.

"I'll make sure the horses are fed, brushed, and rested for you," Trell said and signaled to one of the stableboys.

Gwen patted Satin's neck and walked over to Alicia. "Speaking of the despicable Count, you should truly remain here until such time as we have charged him with his foul deeds."

"You're right, of course," Alicia responded.

"We can take advantage of the opportunity in the courtyard," Trell suggested. "The two of you could benefit from sparring together — and perhaps challenging each other."

"Not a bad idea," Thakkor agreed. "Getting to know each other's fighting style when we're not worried about dying in the process should help us work off each other's strengths."

The Baroness smiled as Alicia linked arms with Thakkor. "You speak as though of a brother in arms, more so than a woman."

"She's both, and that's what I love about her."

"And what I love about you," Alicia echoed.

Gwen wiped away a tear and said, "I grow more confident by the moment in the path you have chosen, Alicia."

Alicia leaned in closer to Thakkor and said, "So do I."

The Baroness gestured for the couple to follow and said, "Your horses are not the only ones who will benefit from food and rest."

Thakkor and Alicia joined hands, and followed Gwen inside.

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

Alicia reined in, her golden hair flowing in the summer breeze, reminiscent of a battle pennon in Thakkor's eyes. He urged his horse forward to her side, close enough to reach out and touch her.

From atop the small rise, the couple looked down upon the Nash estate, surrounded by its magnificent gardens and lawn. The great city of Freeland formed the backdrop, the travelers and merchants that served as its lifeblood flowing to and from the city along the roads stretching out to the horizons.

"Ready?" Thakkor asked.

"No, but waiting will only increase my anxiety."

He reached out to pat her leg. "There's still time to change your mind, you know?"

Alicia smiled at him, and then answered by urging her horse forward.

A strange, alien sensation crept through Alicia as she rode through the opening in the low stone wall surrounding her home. She absently wondered why there was no name for the opposite of Deja Vu, because that was the exact feeling that assaulted her.

A wide-eyed gardener dropped his rake as the couple passed, and then hurried toward the house after a moment or two of stunned surprise. Other servants reacted in much the same way upon noticing Alicia, and she could hardly blame them.

Years of conditioning caused Alicia to turn toward the stables, though she'd never actually ridden onto the grounds before. Her father strictly forbade horses beyond a certain point, to avoid damage to the decorative paving stones. Upon reaching the stables, the stablemaster and two grooms stepped out, wearing wide smiles.

"Good it is to see you alive and well, Lady Alicia," The stablemaster declared.

"Thank you, Noelt," Alicia said as she reined in.

Noelt stroked Alicia's horse's neck and said, "It'll be my pleasure to watch over these ponies for you."

"Hasn't been but a few miles since they ate and rested, and we rode 'em easy," Thakkor explained as he dismounted.

The stablemaster asked, "Should I unsaddle them?"

"I will send word," Alicia answered.

Noelt nodded, his suspicions confirmed, "Very good, Lady Alicia." He then directed the grooms to take the horses inside.

As the couple walked toward the house, Thakkor said, "Sort of expected everyone waiting for us in front of the house."

"Father expected us to arrive by carriage. Most likely, everyone ignored us because we were mounted. The servants will regroup and meet us in the entrance foyer."

Thakkor shook his head and remarked, "There's a back up ceremony for everything, isn't there?"

Alicia nodded, offering a half-smile. "Such is the necessity of politics."

The couple reached the three wide steps leading up to the house and ascended. At the midpoint of the final step, Alicia blinked her eyes as if to signal, and the door opened, right on cue.

"W-welcome home, Lady Alicia," the butler greeted her as she approached, his stutter a telling sign.

Alicia took a deep breath and turned to gaze at Thakkor for strength before continuing toward the portal. As expected, a collection of servants awaited in the foyer to greet her, forming a corridor leading to her mother and father.

Alicia's mother wavered, her eyes wide with surprise — yet another startling divergence from the rigid, perfect protocol to which Alicia was accustomed.

Alicia's father maintained his composure, though his eyes were hard with irritation. "It seems we are in your debt again — Thakkor, is it? Come, and we shall discuss proper compensation for the safe return of our Daughter."

Having recovered from the shock, Alicia's mother said, "Come, Alicia. We will find you proper attire while the men speak."

Alicia curtsied, though she knew the tiny deference to proper behavior would matter little after she spoke. "I'm sorry, Mother, but I have something to tell both of you, and it will not wait."

Her father's expression hardened to match his eyes. "Daughter, I will not hear such disobedience. Already you try my patience by arriving dressed as a vagabond — and under arms."

Somehow, his words burned through Alicia's reluctance and fear. For the first time in her life, she squared her shoulders and stood up to her father. "I'm afraid that you will need to grow accustomed to such, Father."

"Preposterous!" Alicia's father declared, sweeping his hand in a sharp, dismissive gesture.

"I have chosen to find my own path in life, Father," Alicia declared, growing bolder by the moment.

He opened his mouth as though to retort in anger again, but instead clenched his teeth. Without another word, Alicia's father turned and ascended the stairs.

Alicia sighed, knowing that the conversation was over. She turned to her mother. "I must follow my heart, Mother. I have found love in Thakkor, and in life."

"Where did we fail, Alicia? We have given you all that anyone could ask for."

Alicia walked up and took her mother's hand. "Mother, you haven't failed. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for what you and Father have given me. I hope you can come to understand in time."

Though she maintained her passive expression, Alicia could see her mother's eyes misting over. "Where will you go? How will you live?"

"We'll be fine," Alicia answered as Thakkor joined her. She took his hand and smiled, adding, "Together."

Alicia's mother took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. "This is foolishness, Alicia. I will hear no more of it."

Thakkor clenched his teeth as Alicia fought the tears welling up in her eyes from watching her mother ascend the stairs. After a quavering sigh, Alicia turned away from the uncomfortable looking servants.

Thakkor held his tongue until he and Alicia passed out of earshot of the servants, and then incredulously remarked, "That's it?"

"It's their way."

"Well, their way is wrong," Thakkor responded, taking her hand.

Alicia caressed his hand with her fingers and said, "Please don't hate them, Thakkor."

"I don't. In a way, I pity them. Do you think they'll come around at all?"

"I don't know, but it doesn't matter." Alicia looked up at him and offered a sad, half-smile. "I've made my decision, and I couldn't be happier."

Ever one step ahead of those he served, the master of the stables had already ordered the couple's horses brought out. He stood with the animals and said, "This will surely be a sadder place without you, My Lady."

"Thank you," Alicia said as she accepted the reins of her horse.

The stablemaster offered his hand to Thakkor along with the reins. "I'd tell you to take good care of her for us, but I don't think I have to."

"You don't, and I will," Thakkor responded as he shook the man's hand.

Once the couple had mounted, the stablemaster stepped back and said, "Fare thee well, My Lady."

Alicia nodded her head and said, "And you as well. Please convey my well wishes to all the servants — and my thanks for putting up with an ofttimes spoiled girl."

"I will."

Alicia then looked to Thakkor and offered another smile before nodding toward the gate.

"The horses seemed to have a mind to gallop on the way here. Want to indulge them?"

Alicia's smile brightened and she answered, "Yes — Let's."

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

Alicia awakened with a start, deep in the night. Though she'd tried to put up a brave front, the cold dismissal from her parents had affected her. For the last two days, she'd had little energy and felt melancholy. Thakkor, seemingly in perfect tune with her emotions, had sensed her needs and acted accordingly. Though she surely knew he wanted more, he had simply held her for the past to nights as they slept.

Her nightmare faded — a remembrance of the fight with the brigand in the sod house. She knew what had triggered it — the news that the Count had circulated a story concerning his dismissal of Armand. Trell and Gwen swore that such a flimsy excuse would not hold up to scrutiny, but Alicia had her doubts.

She shuddered from the fading dream image of the man dying from her blade, and snuggled up closer to Thakkor. Even in his sleep, he squeezed the arm draped over her even tighter.

Alicia reveled in the feeling of his muscular body and his warmth beneath the sheets. Her body responded to the closeness, tingling with powerful desire. She fidgeted as she tried to control the surging emotion.

Her movement awakened Thakkor, and his eyes blinked open in the moonlight streaming through the nearby window. His voice still heavy with sleep, he asked, "Are you okay?"

"Yes," Alicia answered, her face flushing when she could hear the restrained passion in her voice. "I had a nightmare."

Thakkor shifted and kissed her forehead. "It was only a dream. You're safe."

Alicia's tenuous control over her desire shattered with that kiss. Her liquid blue eyes locked with his, and she moved closer to kiss him — releasing her passion.

Thakkor let out a surprised moan as her lips found his, her tongue tickling his gums as she rolled over atop him. He returned the kiss with equal ardor, his manhood swelling.

Alicia broke from the kiss with a gasp, and sat up over him. She could feel his erection pressing against her bottom, and reached for the hem of her nightgown.

Thakkor breathed heavily and caressed her legs as Alicia pulled her gown over her head. She wore nothing beneath, her body fully revealed to him in the soft moonlight as she tossed the gown to the side.

"I need you," she whispered.

"I need you, too," Thakkor responded as she tugged down the loose cotton breeches he'd worn to bed.

Alicia caressed his swollen organ, feeling the contours and hardness of it as it twitched beneath her fingers. She leaned forward, angling his cock upward toward her already damp sex.

Thakkor's groan mingled with Alicia's shuddering whimper as she sank down on his erection, the thick organ filling her so full.

"You're so beautiful," Thakkor whispered, his voice husky as her velvety soft walls squeezed tight around him.

"S-so good," Alicia breathed, and then rocked her hips, emitting high-pitched moans as his cock stroked her depths. She undulated her body in a slow motion, feeling every inch of him, and letting him feel ever inch of her.

Thakkor's hips twitched up toward her with every motion, pressing him even deeper inside her. Alicia could feel a hot bubble of energy building behind her mound. She sat up straight with a gasp, giving her easy access to her swollen, demanding clit.

Alicia's fingers flashed over her bud as she gyrated her hips, stirring her depths with Thakkor's thick cock. He flexed his muscles, thrusting up into her as she stoked her fires even higher.

Alicia's heartbeat and breathing quickened, her fingers a blur over her clit. Small sounds of pleasure — whimpers and moans — bubbled from Alicia's lips as she built toward orgasm. Alicia had just enough presence of mind to contain the screams trying to escape her as she moved closer to the edge, realizing that the entire castle was sleeping around her.

She began to bounce over Thakkor's hips, in perfect time with his thrusts. Her bottom slapped against him with quiet smacks, her pleasure swelling with every thrust. She pursed her lips tight, trembling from the energy building inside her. Finally, she slammed down once more and froze in place.

A long, quavering squeal fought for escape between Alicia's tightly clenched teeth and lips. Her trembling body continued to move Thakkor's cock inside her, prolonging her ecstasy as her clit throbbed beneath the finger pressed tightly against it. When the first wave of orgasm released her, she sucked in a sharp breath, and then fell forward as that breath blasted from her.

Thakkor swiveled his hips, causing Alicia's orgasm to spike again and again. She whimpered and gasped with every swell of pleasure, finally collapsing atop Thakkor to pant for breath when he stopped moving to give her respite.

"Oh, Thakkor," Alicia moaned when she caught her breath.

Thakkor stroked her hair and said, "I love to watch you come."

Alicia let out a contented moan and snuggled up against his muscular chest for a minute or so. She could feel him throbbing inside her, begging for release as well. Summoning up a burst of energy, she pushed up onto her arms. She didn't have to say a word. Thakkor knew what she wanted.

Alicia groaned as Thakkor's fingers curled around her buttocks. She then let out a little oh in response to the first powerful thrust of his cock inside her. This time, Alicia could not contain her vocalizations, which built in volume and pitch along with the speed of his thrusting hips.

When she could manage to keep her eyes open, Alicia could see Thakkor's features tightening, evidence of his own approaching climax. Soon enough, her vision blurred into a fog of pleasure. The angle was perfect for his fast thrusting shaft to rub her bud with every stroke. Alicia climbed toward another orgasm, her whole world comprised of the pleasure coursing through her.

The world snapped back into focus in a moment, twin cries of simultaneous release bursting from her lips and from Thakkor's. Alicia's walls squeezed tight around him, letting her feel every throb and pulse of his cock as he spurted jets of warm seed deep inside her.

Alicia's next moment of clarity came with her next orgasm, a second climax hot on the heels of the first. She was lying directly on top of Thakkor, and could immediately feel that he was breathing just as hard as she was. He groaned as her canal gripped him again, his sweat-dampened body writhing beneath her.

After only a few seconds, he could no longer endure the tight squeeze on his over-sensitive cock. He jerked free of her with a gasp, followed by heavy, panting breaths. By contrast, Alicia squealed as the power of her orgasm doubled from the hot friction of his cock leaving her. She fell limp after the spike ebbed, occasional aftershocks tightening her muscles a few times as the minutes passed.

Thakkor groaned, looking just as exhausted and satisfied as Alicia felt when her eyes fluttered back open. His cream bubbled from her, dripping from her labia to spatter against him below her. She moaned when he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her neck.

"That was so wonderful," Alicia breathed once she recovered.

"Uh huh," Thakkor responded in an exhausted moan.

Alicia's blue eyes widened when she realized something, and her start drew Thakkor back out of his torpor. "What's wrong?" He asked.

"I... I forgot to cast my spell," Alicia whispered.

Thakkor winced. "I'm sorry. I should have reminded you."

"It's not your fault," Alicia said as she summoned up the strength to rise. His cream decorating her folds and the curls surrounding them served as a stark reminder of her forgetfulness.

A war raged within Alicia. Part of her dreaded the possibility of his seed taking root in her womb. She knew it would throw all of their plans into chaos. At the same time, she felt warmth spreading through her at the thought of bearing his child. Only one thing was clear — she had to know.

Alicia crossed the room to her magical bag and opened the flap. Thakkor reached down and retrieved his shirt to wipe away the evidence of their lovemaking from his body while she searched for the necessary ingredients to cast her spell.

A bright flash of light caused Alicia to snap her eyes shut. At the same time, she heard Thakkor curse and the sound of the bed creaking. When she opened her eyes again, she saw a man in a black, hooded robe aiming some sort of a crystal-tipped wand at her. Thakkor bounded to his feet in front of her from where he'd rolled off of the bed, and jumped toward the wizard.

The wizard vanished in another burst of brilliance, only to reappear in the corner of the room, once again aiming his wand. Alicia's hand had closed over the staff within the bag as she searched for her pouches, and she instinctively jerked out the magical weapon.

The wizard's wand discharged just as Alicia withdrew the staff. One of the myriad enchantments on the arcane object caused the bolt of energy from the wizard to dissolve into harmless, drifting motes. The assailant had no chance to fire a second burst, because Thakkor was upon him. The wizard tried to blink away again, but reacted too slowly. Thakkor's fist contacted the man's chin, and the wizard reappeared lying on the floor, shaking his head in groggy disorientation.

Thakkor let out a roar and charged the wizard. The man's eyes snapped wide open in fear, and he fumbled in his robes for something. Just as Thakkor reached him, the wizard hurled something. An ice blue nimbus of magic surrounded Thakkor, and he stiffened as though turned to stone. His momentum caused him to fall over, remaining in the same stiff position in which he'd frozen.

The sight both frightened Alicia beyond belief, and sparked memory — a command word, one of many documented by Glanster after studying her magical items. Alicia shouted the word, aiming the staff at the wizard, who had raised a second wand — one that crackled with ominous energy.

As had Thakkor, the wizard stiffened, surrounded by a blue nimbus. Flashes of light erupted from rings on his fingers, and the nimbus wavered. Alicia felt the staff grow warm in her hand as strong vibrations shot through it. She nearly panicked, fearing that the staff might explode in her hand and do the work of the attacker for him. Fortunately, such was not to be. The power of the magical artifact she held overcame whatever protections the wizard possessed. The man fell backwards and thumped into the wall, as stiff as a board.




To Catch a Merchant Princess Ch. 06



A second command word, the reverse of the first, burst from Alicia's lips. The blue light surrounding Thakkor winked out as she aimed the staff at him. He sucked in a great breath and sat up, trembling from the aftereffects of the magic.

Just as Thakkor rose, the double doors of the bedroom exploded inward. Both dressed in nothing more than their breeches, Glanster and Trell burst into the room. The former held a sparking orb, the latter a gleaming sword. Both turned their backs when they realized the danger was past, but not quickly enough to prevent Alicia's face from burning. Both had seen her standing nude in the moonlight, Thakkor's cum running down her legs.

"Are you both okay?" Trell asked with nervous embarrassment.

"Yeah, I think so," Thakkor answered as Alicia grabbed a sheet from the bed and wrapped it around her.

"Stand aside," Gwen demanded, and then rushed into the room. She scowled at the paralyzed wizard, and then turned back to Alicia. As she turned her head, her eyes widened and she pursed her lips in surprise. Thakkor walked unclad toward the bed, his impressive manhood swinging between his legs. Alicia's tales of passion took on a new dimension, forcing the Baroness to fight down a shudder.

"Did you use the paralysis enchantment in the staff upon him, My Lady?" Glanster asked.

Alicia nodded, and Gwen relayed the message as she sat down next to the blonde. "Yes, Glanster."

"We should bind him before the magic wears off. With a little time, I can contrive the means to question him without fearing his magic. In the meantime, we should strip him of his robes, bind his hands, and prevent him from speaking."

Thakkor let out a growl and turned around, seeing Alicia in good hands. "Not a problem." He walked up to the paralyzed wizard and grasped the neck of the man's robe. Thakkor's muscles bunched, and he ripped the robe from neck to waist in a single, powerful tear. A few more rips allowed him to remove the man's clothing completely.

Gwen pulled a sheet over her as well, as she was covered only slightly more than her nude friend. "We are covered," she announced to the two men waiting in the doorway, who immediately turned and stalked toward the wizard. Gwen glanced at the still nude Thakkor for a second, and then turned to twitch her eyebrows at Alicia.

The familiar gesture helped calm Gwen, though it deepened the color of her cheeks. She playfully slapped Gwen, but couldn't help smiling as well.

Trell bound the man's hands and feet with torn bits of his own robe while Glanster retrieved Thakkor's breeches so he could dress. Once he was covered, Thakkor asked, "Can he hear me? It seems like I could hear when he got me."

"Yes, he is simply unable to move his body. As you can see, he is blinking," Glanster answered.

"Good. Give me a second," Thakkor said as Trell prepared to put a makeshift gag in the paralyzed wizard's mouth.

Thakkor leaned in close to the man's ear and whispered something. The wizard's eyes widened, causing Alicia and Gwen to glance at each other in confusion. Thakkor turned away from the man with a satisfied smile, and Trell fixed the gag over the man's mouth.

A few minutes later, Alicia's magic wore off. Trell threw the bound man over his shoulder and carried him elsewhere for interrogation. Gwen and Glanster left as well, allowing Thakkor and Alicia to clean up and dress.

Perhaps an hour later, a weary-eyed scribe put down his pen when the intruder finished relating everything he knew. The count had sent him to kill Alicia in a last ditch attempt to prevent the inevitable accusations to come.

Gwen, now dressed in a far less scandalous manner, turned to Thakkor and asked, "What did you say to him? I would think that he would have resisted to at least some degree."

"I told him that he'd best sing like a bird or I'd slowly twist his nuts off with my bare hands and then feed them to him."

Every other man in the room stiffened and winced upon hearing those words, while Gwen and Alicia fought back chuckles. The wizard in question turned very pale.

Trell closed the cell door, confident in Glanster's magic sapping crystals to prevent the wizard's escape. "His testimony alone is enough to bring charges against the Count, but Ronald should be back tomorrow or the next day. The more evidence we have, the better."

"I agree," The Baroness announced, drawing a nod from her scowling husband at her side.

Trell suggested, "Let us return to our beds, then."

Thakkor gave Alicia's hand a squeeze and said to Trell, "Can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Certainly," Trell agreed.

Thakkor gave Alicia a brief kiss, and then said, "I'll be up in just a minute."

"I will accompany you, Alicia," Gwen offered.

Alicia nodded and said, "Thank you," knowing full well that Gwen's reason for doing so had everything to do with seeing the both of them naked earlier. She also felt more comfortable casting her spell, previously forgotten in the excitement, with Thakkor out of the room.

When the magic confirmed that she was not in a fertile part of her cycle, she wasn't sure whether to be relieved, or disappointed.

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

"Point!" Trell called, and then laughed.

Thakkor nursed the sore spot in his abdomen where Alicia's wooden sword had penetrated his guard.

Alicia, feeling some bruises of her own, stood with one hand gripping her mock weapon while the other supported her on her bent knee. Sweat soaked the clothing of both combatants, as they'd sparred for more than an hour under the hot sun of the cobblestone courtyard.

Alicia had scored the first point, taking advantage of Thakkor's reluctance to engage her with the fullness of his ability. After she admonished him for not giving his all, Thakkor tossed away his reservations — as much as he was able — and fought back to take the lead by one point.

Alicia's unexpected and skillful thrust from a kneeling position had just evened the score.

Around them, the soldiers of the barony applauded, feeling a little lax in their own efforts after watching the energetic spar between the two lovers.

"Draw?" Thakkor suggested, panting for breath and wiping the sweat out of his eyes.

Alicia nodded in agreement, desperate to remove the thick, dark blouse she wore. An attempt to preserve her modesty once sweat soaked her clothing, the blouse had also served to absorb the heat of the sun and hasten the process.

"Off to the bath with the two of you," The Baroness declared. "You must be ready for this evening. We will dine in celebration of Count Yeltsin's rightful justice." 

Alicia couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. Though he must still stand trial, Alicia had given her testimony. With the evidence piled up against him, the Count would surely spend the remainder of his life in prison. Justice in Freeland rarely meted out the death penalty, and even the Count's foul crimes were not enough to cause consideration of it.

More importantly to Alicia, the men sent to take the Count into custody had searched his home. The information there uncovered a far wider plot, one aimed almost exclusively at destroying her father. With that information in hand, he would be able to circumvent the disasters, some of which were already in motion.

With the last of her obligations now complete, Alicia felt the call of the road. After retiring for the evening, she fully intended to speak to Thakkor about leaving to seek their life together.

For now, the bath called to her. She could tell by the glint in Thakkor's eye that he was thinking about sharing the bath — and more — with her.

Already surging with excitement from the mock combat, Alicia wholly approved of that notion.

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

The dinner proved a lively and heartwarming evening. Alicia felt positively buoyant as the evening wound down to a close, and felt as though it was a perfect transition from her old life to the new one she would share with Thakkor.

Though he showed few outward signs, Alicia could tell that Thakkor was growing impatient and nervous as the night wore on. The connection they shared went deeper than anything she'd ever dreamed of, unto the point that she often knew what he was thinking. She also knew Gwen well enough to know that the Baroness was anticipating something, and was positively ready to burst waiting for it. When the Baroness started glancing with an obvious lack of patience at Thakkor, and Trell couldn't manage to contain a smile, Alicia narrowed her eyes and turned to her love.

"Exactly what sort of conspiracy is afoot?"

Thakkor cleared his throat and blushed, which caused Alicia's eyebrows to twitch upward. Thakkor pushed his seat back and stood, wearing a look similar to the one he'd worn during the ceremony marking Alicia's return home after her abduction.

"I've been doing some thinking," Thakkor began.

A thousand possibilities — most of them bad — flitted through Alicia's mind. Looking forward to finding her true place in life, she now feared that Thakkor had changed his mind. Yet somewhere deep inside, she knew the truth.

"You'll have to pardon me if I screw this up. I've never done it before, and I have no real idea what you're supposed to do." Thakkor reached into his pocket and pulled out something, keeping it in his closed hand. "Most people I know would probably call me a damn fool for this, but I think I'd be a damn fool if I didn't."

After saying those words, Thakkor cleared his throat yet again, and sank to one knee. Alicia's eyes filled with tears as the part of her that knew his heart cut through the dark ruminations attempting to dissuade her of his true purpose.

"Alicia, I've never met a woman like you, and I know I never will again." He opened his hand, revealing a beautiful, antique ring. "This was my mum's. I asked Trell to send someone to fetch it when we finished wringing out that wizard. Anyway — uhm — Alicia, will you marry me?"

Her heart soaring and tears of joy rolling down her face, Alicia slipped down out of her seat to kneel before him. "Yes — oh yes," she answered, wrapping her arms around him and kissing him.

The room broke out into applause and cheers as the couple embraced. As Thakkor helped Alicia to rise, his expression a mixture of amazement and fear, Gwen quieted everyone else with a wave of her hand. "You could not possibly know how difficult I found it to hide this secret from you."

Alicia chuckled and wiped her eyes, snuggling up closer to Thakkor at the same time.

"I absolutely insist that you have the wedding here — as soon as possible. I also have gifts for the both of you in honor of the occasion." She clapped her hands, summoning servants who wheeled in two sheet-covered objects.

"I will not take no for an answer, as I have already went to exhaustive effort to convince my husband to spend the money."

Alicia had to purse her lips to avoid laughing when she saw color rise in the Baron's cheeks. She had little doubt as to the method of Gwen's convincing.

Gwen nodded, and the two servants whipped away the sheets to reveal wooden mannequins displaying suits of shining chain, and swords.

"Gwen, I will be exhausted after a minute of wearing that," Alicia argued, though her face certainly showed how much she appreciated the gift.

Gwen shook her head. "No, no — I said no arguing. Now, go see — the both of you."

Thakkor led Alicia to the mannequins, and reached for the suit of chain obviously meant for him. His eyes widened in surprise as he grasped the chain. "This doesn't weigh more than a leather jerkin."

Alicia weighed her own chain shirt in her hand and had to agree. "I don't understand?"

"Magic," Glanster explained. "That chain is elf-forged, and imbued with fey magic. The swords are of the finest Dwarven steel, forged by master blacksmiths of that race and blessed by their gods."

Gwen walked over and took both Thakkor and Alicia's hands. "If I cannot dissuade you of seeking a life of adventure, then I will ensure that no harm befalls you while you do, if such is within my power."

"I don't know what to say," Alicia said.

"Thank you is usually considered appropriate," the Baroness responded in her instructor's tone, used so often over the years as she taught Alicia the ins and outs of behavior in proper society.

Alicia laughed and said, "Thank you, Gwen."

"You are quite welcome. Now, you should seek your rest. I fear I shall give you little opportunity from this point forward, until such time as I have you safely and well wed."

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

Gwen proved true to her word, and Alicia scarcely had a moment alone over the next several days. What few minutes Gwen wasn't pressing decisions about settings and flowers upon her, she spent with Thakkor. The days flew by, and before she knew it, Alicia stood outside the great hall, dressed in her flowing white wedding gown.

A servant rushed in as Alicia awaited the music that would signal her entrance into the great hall. At her side, Trell stood ready to walk her down the aisle and give her away in her father's stead. Gwen covered her mouth for a moment, and then whispered back orders.

"What's wrong?" Alicia asked with great trepidation, fearing as nearly every bride does that disaster was lurking, threatening to destroy her special day.

Gwen sniffled and dabbed her eyes with a kerchief. "Nothing, dear Alicia. Nothing is wrong. Quite the opposite, in truth."

The door through which the servant had exited opened once more. Alicia's eyes welled up with tears and she sobbed, "Mother."

"Alicia, my dear, you look beautiful."

"I thought... I never expected..." Alicia stammered, too stunned for words.

Alicia's mother took a deep breath. "I do not approve of the decisions you have made. I will not condone them or support them." Her expression then softened, and she smiled. "I will not, however, miss the wedding of my only daughter. Nor will I refuse to offer my blessing to a union borne of love."

"Oh mother," Alicia sobbed, throwing her arms around her mother, who reciprocated the embrace.

Alicia's mother pushed her daughter away a few seconds later. "Now, enough of that. You will rumple your gown, and you have already ruined your face."

Gwen clapped her hands and gestured for the servants to fix Alicia's makeup.

"Thank you, Mother. I'm so sorry if I've disappointed you."

"You do not disappoint me, Alicia. You are a fine young woman. I question your wisdom, but my parents thought no better of me when I ran off with such a miscreant as your father."

Alicia scoffed as she stretched out her hands so the servants could adjust her gown. "Surely Grandmother and Grandfather didn't think so of Father."

"Oh, they most certainly did. We proved them wrong. I hope and pray, despite my misgivings, that you do the same."

"I am quite sure that the guests are growing impatient," Gwen suggested. "I will ensure that you have time to reach your seat before the bridal march."

"Thank you, My Lady." Alicia's mother then turned back to her daughter. "I am happy for you, Alicia."

"I love you, Mother," Alicia responded, taking her mother's hand.

"And I, you. Now go. Your happy day awaits."

A few minutes later, Alicia stepped into the great hall with a heart made even lighter by her mother's unexpected blessing. Thakkor looked resplendent in his formal wear — if a bit uncomfortable.

Alicia floated across the red carpeted aisle, flowers strewn across her path, and there married the love of her life with a joyful heart.

After two days of celebrating their union — mostly between the sheets — Thakkor and Alicia donned their new armor, mounted their plains horses, and set off in search of destiny.

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

I hope you've enjoyed this story. I know I certainly enjoyed writing it. I already knew Alicia's history, but even I learned more about her early life as I wrote this tale. My characters really do live in my head, and I'm never exactly sure what they're going to reveal to me every time I sit down to write them.

Please do take a moment to vote ( and perhaps comment - I do love comments )

I'll take a minute to give you a bit of chronology ( as it stands ) for the stories in the "Nobles by Deed" series.

Casting off Convention

To Catch a Merchant Princess

Take Me Away

King Thakkorias

Blackhawk Hall

Queen Alicia

CoC and this story occur at almost the same point in time, while the remaining four stories occur around a decade later. I'll slowly fill in that gap as time goes along, as well as continue on with the sequel to Blackhawk Hall at some point.

All of these stories take place before "Danica" or "Sisters of the Mists" For those waiting on the next chapter of SOTM, it is in progress. As I must all too often of late, I apologize for the delays.