Sailing for Heresy: (40k, MxF+F Human x Eldar+Eldar, Vanilla, Kissing, Fingering, Oral:Male/Female, Vaginal, Earplay, Deep penetration, threesome)



Index: (ctrl+f the tag to navigate)

Prologue.
Chapter 1.
Chapter 2.
Chapter 3.
Chapter 4.
Chapter 5. (The heresy begins)
Chapter 6.
Chapter 7.
Chapter 8.
Epilogue.









Prologue.

The runes were always idle, no matter how many times she did it. The instructions of the farseer had yielded nothing previously and she doubted the new ones would change that. In spite of that, today she would try once again. 
The young warlock began as she usually does by closing her eyes and proceeding to carefully measure each breath. One by one every thread of her conscious mind shifted its focus to breathing alone; she continued by taking full inventory of her being before cycling out her senses one after the other. First, her vision fades; the dim orange of an artificial evening sun against closed eyelids faded to blackness. Then, the springtime song of birds and the sounds of leaves rustling in wind slowly grow quieter until they too fade away. Taste and smell left her until all that remained was sensation. She could feel her lungs expand her ribcage with each breath. Every inhale and exhale came in perfect rhythm with every tenth heartbeat. Sensation was always the hardest part to close out; it was the most powerful form of sensory input the eldar could rely on. 
	A novice seer would always find his or her first challenge here, but Eirella was not a novice anymore. Seeking to not even feel one’s own heartbeat was a discomforting but necessary effort in the quest to fully dislodge the mind and soul from the distractions of the physical body. In the end, as all sensation faded Eirella was free to probe her own mind and the Immaterium with complete focus. This skill illustrated the highest form of mental control in an individual; no other comparable organic species would even come close to the eldar in this respect. She erected her mental barriers as she began to wander the corridors of her memory until she found what she was looking for. She waited patiently, as instructed, until she felt the presence of farseer Macha at the far edges of her mind through the Immaterium. When her tutor had made her presence known, Eirella dove in.

The Vision she had on that fateful night almost two solar years ago existed in the depths of her vast mind; in her current roaming state she could re-experience it with as much clarity as she had the first time. It was a perfect recollection; she could cycle through every thought and sensation at will with her teacher in observance. Even still, there were many questions that remained unanswered. Who was the man? What was the ultimate meaning of his words? What was that light? And most importantly, why had she been able to move and feel as if it was a lucid dream? The last bit mystified her still; you should not be able to interact with your visions, but Eirella had been able to. An interactive vision was a very rare experience and was always the product of a joining of souls, as Macha had reminded her when she told her about the vision the first time. 
	Eirella had to this day not been able to discern by whom it had been sent. The circumstances of that night, such as they were, could not have had anything to do with it. Still, her farseer had been insistent and Eirella would do as she was bidden. As such, the tendrils of her mind steered her towards another bundle of memories close by, one that Eirella had tried to bury for almost two full terran years. After a moment of hesitation, she carefully tapped into them and was overwhelmed by the emotions; all focus on the vision poured through the fingers of her mind like sand. Her concentration broke, she felt herself pull back as the feeling of her heart returned; it had quickened in pangs of joy, longing and guilt, something which she had thought herself able to ignore until now. Everything blurred and she was blinded by the orange light of the setting sun by the treetops before her as she opened her eyes once more. She was sweating slightly, despite the pleasantly cool temperature of the air and breathing harder than she should. Macha sat facing her, cross legged and looking at her with a ponderous but sympathetic expression.

“I am sorry my lady,” Eirella broke the silence with a quiet voice. After a brief pause she continued, “I do not know why you insist on their relevance.” 

“We have gone over this before my friend,” Macha spoke calmly with an empathic look on her face, “You must not seek to smother your memories like that, especially if they tie in to such powerful emotions.” 

“What does it matter? And how could they possibly reveal the source of the vision or its purpose?” Eirella countered with a tinge of irritation, “You and I both know that Ca- that he was not a psyker. He could not be the source of the vision, or even its anchor.”

“You are correct in that, but he changed you, even if you do not wish to admit it to yourself. You can never say for sure you would have seen what you did had the two of you never met,” Macha spoke with certainty. 

She was right, Eirella could never know that. Even still that was ignoring the most obvious problem, “It is no use dwelling on what may never be; even if I sought him out my duties would force our parting once more and I would not have him risk everything for my sake.”

“Do as you will, your heart is not mine to command, after all,” Macha acknowledged before looking down in front of Eirella with a calm but resolute expression.

Eirella followed her gaze and saw to her astonishment that the runes had moved; two of them were aglow. The warlock felt as if something lodged in her throat as she recognized which ones were active; the rune of rejuvenation, the rune of Isha was aglow next to that of the anathema, the mon-keigh Emperor.





Chapter 1. Two weeks later

Despite the fact that there was little traffic today, docking was slow. Cadmus waited alone but impatiently by the observation post as he watched the large ship crawl ever closer to the void docks of Port Wander. The inquisitor let his thoughts wander away for a bit to pass the time.

Port Wander, it was known as the last bastion of imperial control before the infamous Koronus expanse. It had not changed one bit since Cadmus Alexis last set foot on it almost five years ago. He had found that people were milling about as they always had; embittered navy officers bemoaned their ungrateful deployment next to silent pilgrims or boastful rogue traders and every other manner of people to be found amongst the stations residents. The void station itself has an interesting history; it began like many of these stories often do with a decision made by the local sector command of the imperial navy. The Koronus expanse was at the time, and still is, a largely unexplored region of the Halo stars in the Calixis sector. Due to the large number of warp storms surrounding it and its location at the very edge of the reach of the astronomican, it is accessible only through the appropriately named Koronus passage. Port Wander was deployed at the entrance to this treacherous passage; whoever controls it controls the one access point to the area from imperial space. It goes without saying that this makes it an important, if far off location of strategic interest for the navy. What should not have been surprising was that other forces would recognize its value as well.
	Rogue traders had flocked to Port Wander in the decades that followed its construction, each wanting to establish a dominant position on the station so they could control access to what would eventually become some of the most lucrative trade routes in the Imperium. The potent mixture of excessive amounts of credits and a highly competitive environment had reduced the station to borderline lawlessness until the navy put its iron heeled boots down and reasserted control of the station. It hadn’t solved all problems, naturally, but at least now Port Wander could present a veneer of civility and lawfulness before imperial authorities. In practice, it meant that bribes were simply more expensive and that you need more connections to get your way than you used to.

The Ordo Xenos had always kept a close eye on the station; the large amount of rogue traders passing by coupled with the difficulty in controlling xeno activity on the far side of the Koronus passage had forced their involvement on more than one occasion. In order to monitor a region where the navy could not deploy in sufficient numbers the inquisition was forced to cooperate with the rogue traders operating in the area, and sometimes by their extension even xenos as well. The radical faction of the Ordo Xenos in particular had great interest in the station for this very reason. It was in such circumstances that Cadmus had first come into contact with the inquisition as a youth in service of rogue trader Julius Montgomery. 

Thinking of his past brought Cadmus back to his present situation; one week ago, he had received word from Julius that “special interests” had mentioned his name and were on the lookout for him. In their not so sophisticated code this meant that eldar were looking for him, and a childishly giddy part of Cadmus could guess who it was even though doubt ever gnawed at him. 
	After what became known as the Commrath exchange, Cadmus had relocated and spent his time doing work for the Inquisition in the Calixis sector; he told himself and his superiors it was due to his past in the area, but he knew the real reason why. Cadmus wanted to be closer to Port Wander incase Julius Montgomery called him regarding a certain someone. Weeks had turned to months, and months to years until Cadmus had spent almost two of them in the sector waiting for a message he had come to believe he would never get. He had not heard a peep about it until now; just as he had contemplated returning to fully integrate his operations with those of his old friend Julius. Fate had a very developed sense of punctuality, or so it would seem.  
	Julius Montgomery stood out like a sore thumb amongst rogue traders in the sense that he carried himself with an air of modesty. He would lavishly dote upon his family and close associates while he himself kept only what he needed to live a life of healthy abundance. He did not take to boasting, especially when negotiating, preferring instead to let his offers and reputation fulfill the same roles instead. Not only did it satisfy his ineffable sense of superiority, it often left him underestimated by his competition. In addition, the rather unique personality trait had helped earn him enough favor with the eldar operating in the area to be a regular customer. Hence the reason as to why Cadmus had dropped his name to Eirella before they parted on that fateful morning.

The sound of rumbling metal gears brought him back from his thoughts and announced that the ship of his friend was fully docked at last. Cadmus gave a sigh of relief and walked along the dock until he stood before the enormous airlock of his friend’s old Claymore-class corvette. Minutes passed until he could hear the gate crawl open to show him the familiar figure of Julius Montgomery, dressed in a well-worn and rather inconspicuous looking navy dress uniform. Emperor, it was almost like looking into a mirror in that regard. 

“You’ve aged, Julius,” Cadmus spoke his first thought as he looked upon his old friend. He had indeed aged, Julius was twenty years older than Cadmus at his fifty-one years and it was beginning to show. His curly blonde hair hung just above his shoulders and it was beginning to show the first streaks of grey at the roots. 

“It’s only been five years, you little shit,” Julius spoke even though he could not hide the smirk that snuck onto his face, “besides, rogue trader fifty is more along inquisition thirty.”

“Fifty-one,” Cadmus added.

“Details,” Julius waved him off.

“And here I thought you had to pay attention to them in your line of work,” Cadmus countered

“Whenever had I not? It is which detail you keep in mind that matters. Now come, we have much to discuss and I would prefer to do it with a more cost effective assurance of privacy,” Julius glanced over towards the arbites law enforcement officer in the distance behind Cadmus and motioned for him to follow.

Cadmus took in the familiar sight of the ship he spent his youth on. The Perseverance, as it was known, was initially the only ship that Julius had inherited and owned when Cadmus met him in his childhood; the fleet of his father had been whittled away by pirates and bad deals over the years. Julius had nonetheless endured and despite his youth, rebuilt his dynastic inheritance over the years when Cadmus stayed with him. There was a time when Cadmus was absolutely sure his fate lay as a rogue trader himself; Julius had taught him everything he had learned while growing up and Cadmus in turn had looked up to him as one would an elder brother. The two had seemed inseparable, until contact with the inquisition took him on a different path. 
	The split had been bitter at first, but over the years they had both found that they could complement one another much more effectively in their new positions than they had ever thought possible. Cadmus could call upon the authority of the Inquisition and Julius could rely upon his unofficial but highly useful contacts, they made a much more formidable team even though their friendship had taken a hit.

“It’s amazing to think that only twenty-five years ago this ship was barely space worthy,” Cadmus spoke as they walked down the corridor to the officer’s quarters, crews milling about in their duties around them. Each offered them both a respectful nod as they walked.

“Now it’s so much more than that, she is my pride and joy,” Julius finished for him. He could easily afford a cruiser by now to use as a flagship, but he preferred his old corvette; he had acquired a taste for subtlety over pomp. It had certainly rubbed off on Cadmus.

“I haven’t been here since I was an acolyte; everything is similar to how I remember it, even though you have obviously refurnished the ship since then,” Cadmus observed, his nostalgia made itself known. He reasoned Julius must have some connection to this ship beyond his self-professed image strategy.

 “Indeed, I hear you haven’t exactly been idle yourself since our interests and duties led us down separate roads,” Julius spoke with a tinge of curiosity, “I heard something about a young inquisitor conning Biel-Tan out of a precious relic at Commrath, you wouldn’t happen to know anything about that would you?” he finished with amusement creeping into his voice.

“Well, it’s nowhere near as devious as whatever story you might have heard make it out to be; I’ll have to tell you about it sometime,” with some details withheld, Cadmus mentally noted to himself with a hint of regret. The two had reached the door leading to the main officer’s room which he remembered Julius used as his main workspace.

“I’d love to hear it. Now, before we get down to business I should warn you that there are a gang of miscreants here who insisted I’d bring them along to see you after all these years. They have scores to settle you see,” the hatch opened as Julius pronounced his doom.

“What?” he couldn’t possibly mean…

“Uncle Cadmus!” two familiar voices cried out in joy as he was assaulted with a double envelopment before he could form a response.

“What is this? Who in the emperors name are you two!?” he could not believe it, they had grown so much.

“See, I told you he had not become a space marine, Julia!” the blue clad one spoke victoriously as she let him go.

“I never said that, Miranda!” countered the red one in frustration with her sister. 

“Actually, I’m still with the inquisition; besides who needs to be a space marine when you get to tell them what to do?” Cadmus intercepted the argument with exaggerated pride.

“The Inquisition?” the blue one asked.

“I was expecting you to have gone further by now, Uncle,” the red lady let her verdict be rendered, “there are no credits to be made there,” Cadmus thought he could hear Julius fail to hold back a snicker as his daughter spoke. Throne, they were just as adorably rude as he remembered them, even though they were not seven years old anymore.

“Girls that is not how we greet friends in this family,” a third much more mature voice scolded the twin girls. Cadmus looked up and saw the wife of his friend approach.

“Stella,” Cadmus bowed respectfully. “By the emperor’s eternal grace, you have not aged a day,” he kissed her offered hand lightly with his very best charming smile. Julius let out an exasperated sigh at Cadmus’s comment. The light-brown haired woman smiled before she retreated and stood behind her twin daughters. The two girls were the unholy union of a stuck up administratum line via their father and that of a merchant princess by their mother. Both of them had heart shaped faces with slender limbs just like their mother. The twins had on the other hand inherited their fathers blue eyes and curly, golden locks. Their height obviously came from their mother as well, the twins stood a full head shorter than Stella but they were hardly grown. She on the other hand was taller than Cadmus by a noticeable margin.

“Now, as I told you ladies before I let you come with me, we are pressed for time,” Julius intervened before continuing, “there will be time for you to talk later at dinner. For now I need to go over some things with Uncle Cadmus here before we can all sit down and relax.”

“Much has happened since we last met, I am very happy to see you again, Stella, Miranda and Julia,” Cadmus spoke as he looked each of them over before turning to Julius to give him a confirmatory nod. 

“Come now girls, like your father said there will be time for conversation later,” Stella spoke as she led her pouting daughters away. They obviously wanted to stay but were well mannered enough to obey their mother without vocal protest.

“Thank you for bringing them here,” Cadmus said to Julius as the door closed behind their backs. 

“It was against my wishes I admit; not that I mind the idea of you meeting them again, of course. It’s just that it’s safer leaving them behind for exchanges like this,” Julius was curt, which Cadmus knew from experience meant he was in his business state of mind.

“Still, I am grateful nonetheless,” their warm welcome brought forth memories of the time they had all spent together as a family when the girls were still young children, before Cadmus had left. They were fifteen now, well on the way to adulthood and he could still recognize them.

The two moved over to sit at the large conference table, on opposite sides. Cadmus was the first to break the silence once more, ”You certainly have done well for yourself,” he mentioned as he let his eyes wander around, taking in the ornate decor of the retrofitted corvette. Gold and crimson mixed with the typical starship grey and black. 

“Due in no small part to you, my friend; having inquisitorial aid can do wonders in terms of giving you an edge over your competitors,” Julius admitted with a smile.

“And having rogue trader contacts can certainly benefit an ongoing investigation into illegal activities of various sorts. Particularly those involving xenos,” Cadmus could only answer in agreement. Together neither had been able to really grow into their own man, it was better this way. 

“Speaking of xenos,” Julius began, “You cannot imagine my surprise when I heard through intermediaries that craftworld eldar were on the lookout for my old associate. This wouldn’t have anything to do with that Commrath stuff I’ve heard about?” 

“Not quite in the way you would imagine, no. When was this, by the way? Did they give you any names?” now Cadmus was intrigued, and a little hopeful.

“It was roughly ten days ago, and no names. I met one of their representatives to discuss some other business when your name was uttered in passing,” Julius explained with an inquisitive look on his face, “needless to say one thing led to another and just last week, before I sent word to you that is, I met the same representative to discuss arranging a meeting between you and another of their kind. I’m really curious here; who is this person, and what makes them so interested in you?”

“Do you have a physical description?” Cadmus ignored his question for now and pressed for details.

“The representative was male, dark hair, light skin and tall as they all are. He didn’t leave enough of an impression for me to remember every detail really; his negotiating skills were quite inadequate now that I think of it. It’s almost as if he just wanted the matter over and done with,” Julius blathered on dismissively.

“And this person I’m supposed to be meeting?” Cadmus tried to steer him back on track.

“I don’t know, you tell me. All I was told was to bring you to a point halfway through the Koronus passage and await an eldar shuttle there. Beyond that all I know is that the eldar in question is supposed to have met you before,” Cadmus felt his heart leap a bit as Julius finished with that detail. If he had noticed he gave no indication before continuing, “to me it smelled like a setup for a pirate ambush and I was about to treat it as such until your very eager reply convinced me otherwise. So, who is this mysterious visitor?” Julius finished, expecting an explanation

“One of the eldar from Commrath like you probably expected. Now, don’t worry; they do not wish to kill anyone,” Cadmus admitted, it was time to come clean. Or at least as close to clean as he could manage. He then went ahead and recounted the events of the Commrath exchange for Julius, while leaving out names and certain explicit details involving himself. Julius listened to his story with interest, never once interrupting for him; when Cadmus was done his friend had a bemused look on his face.

“So heretical archaeology finds huh?” 

“Yes. It was quite amusing, really. You should have seen their faces after we returned from the site when they had first found them,” Cadmus explained, “Naturally I had to contain the situation and all imperial personnel were left in the dark about our little find.”

“They were such prudes to just up and leave like that, typical craftworlders. At least they gave you what they promised as a show of good faith,” Julius summarized the events quite accurately.

“That pretty much sum up my opinions on the matter. I told one of them to seek you out and have you relay it to me should they wish to arrange for some other deal. I figured your diplomatic reputation would help; the fact that I trust you weighed in as well,” Cadmus explained before forgetting a minor detail, “Though, in hindsight it would have been more polite of me to tell you what to be on the lookout for in the first place,” he had to admit.

“No need to worry on my behalf. I’m merely glad to help,” Julius replied honestly and smiled, “Still, we should be at the rendezvous point in about six hours. I’d tell you to get some sleep given how tired you look, but the girls would never let me live if I sent you to bed before letting them talk to you.”

“I’ll survive, so what has that Nurgling nest you call a kitchen produced for dinner?” Cadmus was glad for the change of subject.

“Scintillan, you’ll like it.”

And like it he did, the good thing about rogue traders was that they certainly did not scoff at the prospect of indulging in the modest pleasures of life, to put it politely. The dinner was enjoyable and the company as talkative as Cadmus had expected. The twin girls had bombarded him with questions ranging from what the inquisition was like to if he had any ladies in waiting, as was typical of teenagers. Cadmus had replied to the best of his ability. Stella and Julius in turn had talked much of the goings on and current events of the Koronus expanse and their affairs; their fleet now numbered at twelve ships. Cadmus also learned they had frequent dealings with exodite eldar in addition to some of their craftworld protectors as was the case before. Cadmus’s assistance in uncovering illegal association with dark eldar amongst Julius’s rivals had earned them both a few favors with the exodites and their protectors. 
	Three hours passed as they had all sat, talking, laughing and reminiscing until Cadmus remembered the time and excused himself. He retreated to a luxurious guest room to get some quick sleep. He would not get a full night’s worth but a quick nap would recover some energy before they met up with this mystery contact. The lack of sleep didn’t bother him as much as it used to, it was commonplace to have to deal with it in his line of work to say the least.


As Cadmus lay in bed on his back trying to drift off to sleep he could only feel his heart race in anticipation. The prospect of seeing Eirella again after almost two long years seemed to turn him back into an anxious kid. After all, they had only known one another for one night. What would she say to him? How should he answer her? Where would they go? Throne, what would they do? He realized with amazement that he wasn’t even considering the nature of that one night they had spent together up until now; he had simply wished to see her again. Eventually, Cadmus lost track of time as he finally drifted off to some much needed sleep.




Chapter 2.

It was not a deep sleep; Cadmus would not have woken up to the quiet humming had it been. Idle noises like talking could not be allowed to disturb ones sleep even in safe territory; this was a fact of life for a lower hive-born like himself. As his mind collected itself, he could feel the unmistakable form of slender fingers examining the palm of his left hand. The touch had not jolted him awake as it normally would have, which perturbed him. His hand was resting on a soft but rather tense surface with the palm facing up. Curious, Cadmus slowly opened his eyes to see a hooded and robed but unmistakably female figure sit by the bedside. The robe she wore looked simple; it was a dark, almost black color and not embroidered. It might have looked nothing out of the ordinary, but Cadmus noticed the cloth was extremely finely woven. 
	As for the woman, she was sitting on the bed just next to him, facing away with his hand in her lap. She hummed a tune he did not recognize as she was inspecting his palm rather diligently with her smooth thumbs. Cadmus let her continue for a moment, wondering just who this person was and what this was all about. A few moments passed until he made up his mind and carefully pulled away to give notice of having woken up. When he pulled his hand back the woman seemed to freeze for a moment before carefully turning her head to meet his eyes. Her face was covered up to the eyes by a scarf of some sort. He could see right away that they were an unnatural shade of green; a pure, emerald color he recognized but could not place. Cadmus also noticed that her eyes were slightly angled; now that was certainly a familiar set of features. But, it couldn’t be Eirella; her eyes were amber colored and not as big, if memory served. 

“Who are you?” Cadmus gasped out as he decided to break the silence.

The woman didn’t answer verbally; instead she simply pulled her hood back and peeled down the cloth covering her face, revealing a smiling if slightly flushed face. She was eldar. She had the typical features of one; her ears were big and pointed, her face was long but soft and completely free of any blemish. Cadmus also noticed it was more rounded and human looking than the eldar norm. Her hair was a deep crimson and was kept inside the robe. The most noteworthy feature on her face however were the three parallel, red lines tattooed upon her jaw on each side. The lines ran up across her cheeks to end independently with a pointed tip. Cadmus remembered only one eldar whom he had seen with those markings.

“You are the farseer from Commrath,” Cadmus guessed as he crawled up into a halfway seated position, “Macha was it?”

Macha nodded, “inquisitor Cadmus, I am pleased that you remember me,” she answered with a tinge of pride in her voice.

“It hasn’t been that long, farseer,” Cadmus would not have his well-trained memory held in doubt even if one question lingered, “though, I must confess that when I heard of how eldar had reached out for me I was expecting it to be someone else’s initiative.” 

“Of course, but Eirella is not here if that is what you want to know,” Macha informed him as if she could read his mind. How much she really knew Cadmus could only guess.

“So where is Eirella then if not here? If you don’t mind me asking that is,” Cadmus still wanted a proper answer.

“She remains at the craftworld, waiting,” she gave the obvious answer.

“Naturally,” Cadmus averted his gaze in embarrassment as she answered the rather stupid question. He thought for a moment before deciding to press her on another issue, “on the other hand that does not explain why you are here, Macha.”

A twinkle seemed to appear in her eyes at his question, “why, I am here to collect you and take you to my ship as paid for,” Macha told him very matter-of-factly as she poked his chest with two fingers.

“And then what?” Cadmus had an idea but it seemed insane. Besides, Julius had mentioned nothing about payment.

“Onwards, young lover,” Macha sang out with a melodic voice as she held one hand to her chest and swept her other arm across an imaginary horizon, “to Biel-Tan.”

“Right,” Cadmus rolled his eyes at the overly dramatic gesture. “Wait, what?” did she really just say that? And what had she called him?

“We will depart soon my dear. For now, I need you to get up and meet me near the shuttle dock,” Macha instructed as she stood, “I will answer more questions once we are on our way and assured of some privacy,” she added with a wink as she made for the door and pulled her hood back on.

“Right,” Cadmus shook his head while failing to suppress a smile. He could not believe this day had finally come; the prospect of meeting Eirella again excited him. The fact that he would journey to an eldar craftworld did nothing to ease his tensions either; it was practically the fantasy of every radical like himself in the Ordo Xenos. One more question needed to be asked before he let her go, “does Julius know you are here by the way?” Cadmus asked her to distract himself.

“Yes, he will meet us at the docks,” Macha said as she stopped by the door and turned her head to look at him.

“Then give me a few minutes, I still need to wash off and fetch some recaf or I’ll pass out before I get there,” Cadmus was not joking when he said that, “it was sweet of you to volunteer to wake me by the way,” he added with a tinge of amusement as the possibility dawned on him.

“You better mind that tongue of yours, Inquisitor,” Macha gave him a smirk and pulled the cloth back up to cover most of her face before leaving the room. 

“Right, time to get ready,” Cadmus said to himself as he got out of the bed; he looked at the time and saw that it was only three hours since he passed out. Throne, he had slept in his clothes.

Walking always left some room for thought, and right now Cadmus was thinking that if half an hour was too long he would give the farseer a piece of his mind. He had really needed to wash and shave since he had barely stayed in one place for more than half a day for the last week. And as it turns out, his stay on this ship would not be the exception that breaks the rule. Cadmus could not shake the feeling of nervousness, his stomach preformed backflips and he felt tingling all over his skin. Gulping down two infernal cups of extra strong recaf had certainly helped but he doubted he could blame it all on that. He was really not expecting farseer Macha to have shown up, least of all here. He had so many questions for her, he struggled to try and organize his thoughts as he made his way to the shuttle docks amidst the night shift crew. A few of them spared him a glance, though he doubted any of them could recognize him. He realized with some regret that he could not recognize anyone. He may have been hive born, but it was on this very ship that he had come into his own; and soon he would part ways with his past once more.

When he finally arrived at the docking bay he noticed it was mostly emptied, a few of Julius’s more trusted crew worked with moving a few rather small containers that looked as if they had been offloaded from the shuttle that occupied the compact hangar bays center. The eldar ship was exquisite; it had a curved and sleek design to it and the profile did not match any ship which Cadmus could recognize. Granted, he was not a naval officer but he knew some designs, this ship obviously not a military craft though. He couldn’t see any weapon on it despite the fact that it was far too large for a fighter or bomber; it looked spacious to a rather comfortable degree. Cadmus looked around for Macha until he saw Julius standing by the ramp leading into the shuttle, conversing with the hooded farseer. Cadmus took a deep breath and walked over to the pair, whom noticed his approach and stopped talking before Cadmus could quite make out what they were saying. They both eyed him expectantly as he stopped in front of them, Julius’s expression was curious.

“Good, ah, it is midnight isn’t it?” Cadmus decided to speak first, failing to smother a gasp and a shiver as he did so.

“Yes, you all right Cadmus?” Julius asked with concern, “you look a little jittery.”

“Oh you know, Cadian recaf hits you like combat stimms, I’ll be fine,” Cadmus waved him off. “Now, I take it you have met miss…” he trailed off as he gestured to the farseer, not sure how much she had revealed about herself.

“Mairel,” Macha interceded with a polite nod. Cadmus pretended not to notice the lie, so she was using aliases here? Very interesting, one part of him did not approve of deceiving his friend but at the same time he could respect a farseer’s desire for anonymity on these kinds of errands. He decided to make nothing of it.

“So, this is it,” Cadmus turned to Julius with resignation and a smile as he moved to stand next to the farseer at the ramp. 

“I suppose it is. I still wish you would let me in on the details, I do not enjoy dealing in unknowns,” Julius let his doubts be known.

“I fully respect that, Julius Montgomery,” Macha injected to the conversation, “I assure you if there are developments that would be of any concern to you in any way, you will be the first to know,” She added diplomatically as she turned and began to ascend the ramp. 

“I’ll hold you to that, Mairel,” Julius responded with sincerity and turned to Cadmus, “you take care of yourself out there.”

“Oh don’t you worry about me old man, make sure to kiss your wife goodbye for me,” Cadmus reached out and shook his friend’s hand before turning and walking up the ramp after the farseer.

“Keep dreaming boy,” Julius replied from behind Cadmus before calling out to the farseer, “Don’t be too hard on him Mairel, even if he act like he’s twelve at times,” he pleaded to the eldar woman as she walked. She merely gave a small chuckle at his jab before she disappeared into the ship.

Once Cadmus had ascended he heard the ramp retract and close the entrance hatch shut before he had a chance to turn around and wave Julius off. He snorted at that, someone is in a hurry. Cadmus took a deep breath as he collected himself; he had just entered an eldar ship. It was not with a Deathwatch kill-team at his back, nor was he dragged kicking and screaming into a Dark Eldar slave-pen to be sent Emperor knows where. He was here at the friendly invitation of farseer Macha of Biel-Tan, the whole situation he was about to embark on was insane to say the least. Speaking of farseers, before Cadmus had a chance to take in the strange interior of the ship he could see Macha settle down into a chair at what was probably the piloting area of the ship. Not really knowing what else to do, he began walking over to where she was seated.

As he walked he took in the new surroundings. The ramp Cadmus had ascended led into a wide hallway which had a door on each wall about halfway to the pilot’s seat. Next to the doors Cadmus could make out what were obviously ladders leading up into what looked like a closed hatch. The ship had a second floor. The shape of the interior in general but especially the ceiling was rounded unlike the sharp angles of an imperial ship. Everything about the vessel that he could see had a distinct xeno feel to it. 
	The interior was lit by a pair of long stripes running along the ceiling which emitted a soft white light. The walls were a soft yellowish white set to a red floor, so as not to be disorienting. The walls themselves were decorated with what looked like green eldar runes near the ceiling and floor; it looked almost as if they had been carved into the metal by hand. The hallway itself was remarkably Spartan, aside from the decorative runes; he could see only what must have been a pair of benches of some sort protruding from the wall on each side just before the hallway narrowed into the two pilot seats. Cadmus could see that Macha had discarded her robe on one of them. The inquisitor decided to take his own coat off and dropped it on the bench opposite to the one Macha had left her garment on.

“Mind if I join you?” Cadmus asked her.

“Please do,” Macha answered and gestured to the seat next to her as she beheld the slowly opening hangar doors through the transparent glass-like material in front of her. Cadmus took the seat next to her and tried to think of what to say.

“Nice ship you got here,” he spoke casually as he looked around the interface in front of him. It seemed to consist mainly of holographic panels with runes and other animated things he could not make any sense off. “I take it I should not touch any of this stuff.” 

“No need to worry, friend; the controls on your side are disabled. And besides, this ship will navigate on its own once we enter the webway,” Macha spoke before she took a swig from what looked like a glass bottle. 

Cadmus raised an eyebrow at that; she must have had it on the other side of her seat. “Right, if only the imperial navy had it that easy,” he smiled at the thought of a navigator not being needed. “Still, I’m impressed that a ship this small can travel such distances. I hear Biel-Tan is quite far from here,” he added.

“It is far as the Imperium travels,” the farseer started explaining before putting a hand in front of her mouth as her chest and shoulders rose in a hiccup like motion, “the webway is a far more efficient way of travel than the warp; we will arrive in mere hours,” Macha informed Cadmus as she turned her head over to him with a smile and offered him the bottle she had drank from.

“Convenient, and thank you,” Cadmus said before he heedlessly took a big gulp. As he swallowed he could register the burning sensation in his mouth and throat; he almost coughed it back up, “throne, what is this stuff?” it tasted like really expensive Scintillan Amasec Liquor but it was clear like water, much stronger and not as dry.

“Saim-Hann wine, one of my favorites,” Macha spoke with strain to her voice as she stretched her arms, almost poking his eye out in the process.  

“Kinda strong,” Cadmus admitted as he cleared his throat, “should you really be drinking that right now?” he inquired. 

“Of course not,” Macha replied as she snatched the bottle back with one hand and took another big gulp. She gasped for breath as she finished and put the bottle down beside her opposite to Cadmus. 

“How reassuring,” Cadmus deadpanned. He shook his head; she didn’t even seal the damn thing. Macha then placed both her hands in front of her and began moving her fingers in a motion that reminded him of tapping buttons. He did not know if it was the fatigue and liquor that had hit him but he could not feel the ship lift off when it obviously did so and began to slide out the now open hangar doors. It must have artificial gravity despite its small size.

Cadmus looked through the window and could see the corvette he was previously on as the eldar ship circled around it. He noticed the glass like material was so clear that it almost looked as if it was not even there. The shuttle eventually settled parallel to the corvette and accelerated to blinding speed in the blink of an eye. The scariest part was that he could not hear any creaking of the ships internal structure or engine sounds. All he could hear was the faint electrical hum seemingly emitted by the displays in front of him. The silence spoke volumes of the structural integrity and sophistication of the ship, especially given how small it was. 
	Cadmus then turned his head and looked Macha over. She was gazing intently out the window in concentration, her emerald eyes dropping down to look at the interface in brief moments. Cadmus could see that from this side her profile looked a lot more human than he previously realized, aside from the strange markings on her cheeks and long, pointed ears. Her lips were the same pale color of her skin and more pouted than he remembered Eirellas to be; the rest of her facial features were noticeably less angular, but still as graceful and elegant as any other eldar. Cadmus looked down and saw that she wore a bodysuit very similar to the one he remembered Eirella had worn. The difference was that it was white and looked a little bit thicker, it also had green and red lines outlining the limbs. The rune of Biel-Tan was visible like some sort of insignia just over the left breast. On the other hand, the suit looked no less form hugging than the other one he had seen and that was not all bad.

“So, when will we enter the webway,” Cadmus decided to shake off the unwelcome mental image by starting up some conversation after a few moments of silence.

“There is a portal hidden not far from where I picked you up; hence why I choose that place as a rendezvous,” Macha explained to him.

“I’m glad neither of us like to waste time,” Cadmus noted. He could always appreciate efficiency. He could see from the spectacular blurred lightshow outside becoming more coherent that the ship was probably slowing down. Just as he could see the stars again there was a snapping sound as the ship entered what must have been a tunnel of some sort. The stars were replaced by swirling clouds forming a tube like passage through which the ship now traversed, it wormed its way beyond the horizon in front of the ship which seemed to follow the passage perfectly. Cadmus could see the end of a turn always lead to another turn as the ship darted through the labyrinth with such precision it had to be automatic. He could scarcely believe what he was seeing, it was dizzying.

“As you might have guessed, this is the webway,” Macha’s voice shook him from the hypnotizing sight. 

“Amazing,” Cadmus shook his head and blinked before turning to meet the farseers expectant gaze. 

Macha didn’t answer right away, instead she rose up from the chair before speaking, “come now, this sight makes one quite nauseous after a while. Let us retreat somewhere gentler on the eyes.”

“You don’t need to tell me twice,” Cadmus laughed at her statement and got up to follow her. As fascinating as this was he doubted anyone could stand to look at the spectacular whipping sight of the webway tunnel for very long.

Macha started walking towards one of the doors down the hallway as she began speaking over her shoulder, “This ship is a diplomatic transport of sorts, it has all the accommodations we both need for a comfortable if somewhat brief stay.”

“Sounds fantastic,” Cadmus commented as they reached one of the doors which slid open into the wall upon the farseer tapping a panel next to it. 

“Guests first,” Macha turned and motioned for Cadmus to enter once the door was open.

“Thank you,” Cadmus bowed respectfully before he entered the room. He noticed before he did that Macha was almost the same height as him, she stood only a few inches taller. As he entered he could see that the room had a few panels on the far wall covering what probably was a window view of space. On his left he could see what looked like quite the collection of drink in front of a bar like structure. Two hatches were visible in the wall next to the crystalline shelf; Cadmus guessed they contained food of some sort. Over on his right he could see an oval table surrounded by comfortable looking backrest chairs, behind that was another set of those benches he saw out in the hall. The room itself had the same color theme as the rest of the ships interior. The only décor visible was a tapestry on the wall at the far side of the table to his right. It had the rune of Biel-Tan embroidered on it along with quite a few others he could not recognize. Overall the whole setup looked like it was meant to accommodate maybe four or five people based on the number of chairs.

“Would you like anything to eat or drink?” Macha asked as she entered behind him and turned towards the bar.

“I ate quite the dinner earlier, however I don’t mind a drink if you’re having one,” Cadmus answered her.

“Any requests?” Macha called out from the bar.

“That Saim-Hann wine was not bad,” Cadmus told her as he took a seat by the table. Throne, this chair was comfy.

Macha smiled, grabbed a bottle and brought over two glasses to the table. She pulled off what looked like a plastic film from the top and filled the two glasses before taking the seat opposite to Cadmus.

“I take it the bedroom is opposite to this one,” Cadmus spoke first as she sat down.

“It is complete with a bathroom, the crew quarters are on the level above us,” Macha explained as she rolled the drink around in her glass. “So, we both have quite a few questions for one another,” Macha began as she took a sip.

“I was expecting that part to be more one sided to be honest,” Cadmus admitted as he too took one, “but since we’re both curious, I propose a session of quid pro quo.”

“What does that mean?” Macha asked curiously with a quiet voice as she rested her chin in her hands and beheld him with a bright expression. 

“It’s high gothic. It essentially means, I rub your back if you rub mine,” Cadmus replied with a smirk as he placed his palms against one another in front of him on the table.

“R-really?” Macha’s stuttered out with widening eyes at the clarification before she looked down at his hands while a blush appeared on her face, “You are very direct.” 

“What?” Cadmus reacted at the sudden shift of the mood, wait a second here.

“I mean, I feel quite tense about all this as well,” she fidgeted as she tried to explain herself, “I really would not mind, that is if you want to…” Macha trailed off looking as if she was trying to think of what to say.

“Ah, I think you misunderstood,” Cadmus stopped her awkwardly before this misunderstanding went any further, “what I meant by that expression was a favor for a favor, a question for a question and so on.” 

“Oh,” Macha looked down into her drink in embarrassment, “I see,” she idled there with her eyes for a moment until she reached out, grabbed it and downed a decent gulp.

“So, you may ask first,” Cadmus tried to shift the mood as he too tossed it back to match.

“Hmm,” Macha muttered as she seemed to ponder her choice, “how often do you deal with eldar?”

“Formally speaking, Commrath was actually my first time, at least with you craftworlders. I have fought Commorrite scum in the past though,” Cadmus spoke with unintentional venom at the mention of dark eldar. 

“That makes two of us,” Macha admitted with a solemn tone.

“What about you, do you deal with humans a lot?” Cadmus asked his counter question.

“Not as much as I would like. I find your kind more agreeable than most of my brethren, especially so amongst Biel-Tan born,” the farseer added as she lingered with her eyes at his glass.

“That I definitely understand,” Cadmus added, “I was very surprised when I heard you had approached the inquisition with a deal. It was especially interesting given the recent history of that planet. Needless to say it was a satisfying change of events; I always welcome a friendly exchange,” Cadmus smiled while taking another sip of his drink as he finished.

“I heard it was quite satisfying indeed,” Macha implied something with a smug tone as she narrowed her eyes at him just a little which caused Cadmus to cough. 

“Urrgh, excuse me,” Cadmus apologized as he cleared his airway of the offending liquid, “What do you mean?” he asked before nervously taking another sip.

“Well you seduced my young apprentice for one, quite a bold act If I may say so myself,” a mischievous expression crept unto Macha’s face as she casually spun what little was left of her drink in her glass without looking at him directly. 

Cadmus nearly spit the eldar wine through his nostrils as Macha revealed her knowledge of the affair. He collected himself before resigning, “She told you did she?” he muttered quietly as he refilled his glass with a visible tension to his hand. 

“Yes and by Isha, relax. I would not have brought you here if I did not have some sympathy for the two of you?” Macha scolded him with an amused tone as she took the bottle and poured herself another one.

“Eirella does not know I am on the way does she?” Cadmus asked the question that had been on his mind for a few hours as he met the farseers eyes. The pleasant tingle of the alcohol began to take hold of him at last, calming his nerves.

“No,” Macha confessed quietly and averted her gaze.

“Throne, did she ever ask you to find me, Macha?” Cadmus asked with a tinge of irritation.

“No. But Eirella has kept an eye on you, as far as she is able. She thinks I have not seen it,” Macha explained as she tried to ease his mind, “she really does wish to see you again.”

“You seem very certain,” Cadmus commented skeptically.

“I can see it in her every day and it is painful to watch her try to deny it,” Macha assured him, “why she would do that to herself I do not know.”

“Neither do I for that matter,” Cadmus felt rather helpless to this whole affair.

“She reminds me a lot of myself when I was her age, except a key difference," Macha put some emphasis on those last words. "Because of that, if there is even the faintest chance to ease her heartache by letting her see you again, I am willing to take that chance,” She was sincere in her words. 

“I hope you are right, Macha. I want to help, I’m just worried about upsetting her by barging into her life again uninvited,” Cadmus could not shake that troubling thought from his head. 

“I knew it,” Macha beamed at his confession.

“Knew what?” Cadmus raised an eyebrow at the outburst.

“You are compassionate; it is a rare quality in a human male,” her glowing smile warmed him somewhat.

Cadmus actually laughed at that comment despite himself, “Macha my dear, I’ve been called quite a few things in my life and compassionate is not one of them.”

“Brush it off if you wish, Cadmus. I believe I can see some of what Eirella must have noticed in you,” her observation did give him some pause, Macha was serious.

“Then I accept your observation,” Cadmus acknowledged with courtesy. “So, quid pro quo, I believe it was my turn,” he took another sip, time to slow down a bit.

“Not a chance, It was my turn,” Macha corrected him.

“Worth a try all the same,” Cadmus confessed.

Over the course of their conversation, Cadmus found Macha to be a very pleasant conversational partner. She would not rant about things with no end to her sermons; instead she was brief but descriptive in her answers and clear with her questions despite her increasingly intoxicated state. She asked Cadmus about his past with Julius and how he ended up in the Inquisition, which he gladly recounted. He in turn asked her how she ended up a farseer. She mentioned that her visions often concerned the Imperium and began to appear at an early age. They had also been, in her own words, disconcertingly accurate. This caused her to take the path of the seer at an early age; Macha was only a hundred at the time. 
	Cadmus learned to his astonishment that she was fifteen hundred years old; her youthful appearance gave no indication to her advanced age. Cadmus mentioned that without trying to sound flirtatious, but she brushed him off with her musical laughter and a comment about some farseers being more than three times her age. Macha in turn had the gall or possibly good humor to ask him for details about his liaison with Eirella, those were questions which Cadmus naturally refused to answer even after a few glasses of wine. When he in turn inquired as to her own romantic affairs she changed the subject with awkward haste. This made Cadmus rather curious but he did not press the discussion any further. The pair talked back and forth for about two hours before they both decided to get some sleep before they arrived at Biel-Tan. Macha told him it would be in about seven hours which would give them both some much needed sound sleep. She had retreated after some seeming hesitation to a bed on the upper level while Cadmus had occupied the one in the room from across the one they drank in. Cadmus had passed out to blissful, dreamless sleep almost immediately upon laying down in the silken caress of the bed sheets.




Chapter 3.

The first thing telling him that he was awake was the warm surge of energy that coursed through his limbs with typical morning gusto. The rustling sound of textiles spoke of a long awaited night of well-deserved rest. He detected a morning salute from below the belt which reassured him that old age was still many years ahead. The only blight on an otherwise decent waking up was the dull throbbing in his head making its presence known. It reminded Cadmus that even social drinking sometimes came with recoil. He kept his eyes closed as he brought a hand up to pinch the bridge of his nose with a pair of knuckles in hopes of forcing the headache away. It was not fair; he could remember the drinking and the conversation, a sign that not nearly enough alcohol had been consumed to warrant such a harsh response from his body. Cadmus slowly opened his eyes to stare up at the strange but pleasantly dimmed light emitting from the stripes in the ceiling. He was joined by a warm but slender hand on his forehead; it seemed to smother the righteous penance of the hangover somewhat before it withdrew after the loveliest of moments.

“Splendid timing! I was reflecting on how to proceed, I hope you rested well,” a familiar voice exclaimed with some hint of relief from his side.

The woman’s announcement shook Cadmus from his stupor, “I suppose a good morning is in order,” he muttered out with a yawn.

“It looks very good indeed,” Macha teased with some amusement to her voice.

Cadmus remembered his current state, worked his way to a seated position and put the soles of his feet against one another while trying to ignore the embarrassing feeling creeping through him. “Sorry about that, morning and all,” he finally managed as he turned his head to look at the farseer in silence. She was dressed in a white, flowing and elegantly woven robe with small green and red runes decorating the sleeves. It clung to her delicate waist, secured with a golden sash featuring a red gemstone as its centerpiece. She sat on the chair to his right where Cadmus had hung his pants before he dove for the covers.

“Are mornings often so invigorating for humans, or is it the company?” Macha asked with amused curiosity as she moved some of her red hair back behind one of her long ears. 

“Often enough darling, and let’s not resort to self-flattery,” Cadmus replied while trying to look away and think of a subject to swap to in place of morning wood, “so, are we there yet?”

“In less than an hour, and there are a few minor things I need to go over with you before we arrive. Besides,” Macha paused with some hesitation and a sly smirk, “I suspected you might want some time to relieve yourself if necessary.”

He sighed and looked away. Great, Cadmus thought, just perfect. Even if he would never live this down, it was time for a counterattack, “keep it up and you can just forget about that back rub you wanted.” 

“Hmpf!” Macha frowned at that and raised her chin up, “you are a, how to say it, firm negotiator,” she tried her best to mock him with a bemused tone while taking on a haughty look.

“Fine! Be that way,” Cadmus threw his hands up in the air at her persistence, “I’ll just have to tell Eirella you tried to take advantage of me.”

“Such aggression!” Macha exclaimed with some excitement before her retort, “Here I am, a beautiful farseer prepared to remedy the drinking ailments of an honored guest only to be rejected so harshly,” she closed her eyes and put one of her hands to her heart in a familiar, overly dramatic gesture.

“Drinking ailments?” Cadmus interrupted her, “Remedies?”

“I will just have to take my cures elsewhere then, such a pity,” Macha explained with resignation as she stood.

“Stop right there,” Cadmus declared which did stop the farseer, “you should have mentioned you had something for my headache first.”

“Very well, but it will cost you,” Macha reminded him in fairness.

“If it works, I will gladly pay any price,” Cadmus pleaded. If there was a cure, he had to have it.

“Close your eyes,” Macha instructed.

“Dare I?” Cadmus asked hesitantly, suspecting some form of sorcery. Before the farseer could respond he closed his eyes and waited, thrilled with interest.

“Drink some water,” a soft voice soothed close to his ear before he felt wet lips plant a quick kiss on his cheek.

Cadmus burst out laughing at himself for falling to such a simple trick as Macha left the room humming a strange melody. The farseer’s mark lingered pointedly on his cheek as he got out of bed. He took a few minutes to get dressed and ready, unorthodox excitement boiling up at the fact that he would soon set foot on a craftworld. Many humans feared the eldar greatly, and hated them because of it. Over the years and especially after Commrath, Cadmus had discarded such simple prejudice. They had their saints and their sinners just like the Imperium, the more time you spent investigating them the more obvious it was. And it was not just any craftworld he would soon arrive at; it was the ever infamous Biel-Tan, where Eirella was waiting unsuspectingly. Cadmus had done as advised and drank from the bottle of water she had left by the bedside before he made his way to Macha who was at the helm.

“Whatever you put in the water it worked, I can’t feel a thing anymore,” Cadmus complimented the farseer as he took the seat next to her.

Her expression took on a small smile, “just a few carefully selected minerals, it was nothing really,” Macha brushed off the praise while keeping her eyes on the webway tunnel. 

“You mentioned you had things to go over,” Cadmus cued her in as he looked outside. The tunnel was no longer whipping with sharp turns but continuing in a straight line.

“That I did, but first you should know that we are exiting the webway any second now,” Macha explained as the two of them looked out.

Before Cadmus could respond, there was a blue flash as the transport left the webway and entered the materium again. The first thing he could see was a big star in the distance, a blue giant. Below their ship he could make out what was obviously the topside of an enormous vessel. It was massive and undeniably of xeno make. From this vantage point he could see that they sailed at a comfortable distance from the outer layer of the ship, yet it was still wide enough to stretch outside his field of vision. The ship was golden in color and had what looked like massive, glowing bio-domes of varying size across its surface, all arranged symmetrically. Cadmus presumed they were habitats of some sort; they could probably house hundreds of thousands of eldar at a minimum if his eyes did not deceive him. To call this leviathan a ship was almost an insult, it had to have the mass of a moderately sized moon. The vessel itself must have had a triangular shape; Cadmus guessed they had emerged near the aft section of it because far out in front of him he could make out the pointed bow. Cadmus had studied what little was known about the eldar craftworlds, but seeing one like this defied all expectations, “I don’t know what to say,” he admitted. 

Macha looked over at him with a longing expression that surprised him, “It is my home, a glorious remnant of the eldar empire of old,” she beamed with some pride in her tone. 

“How did you build these things,” Cadmus let his curiosity and amazement get the better of him. He looked back out and could see hundreds, probably thousands of smaller vessels flying in formation around the craftworld as their shuttle made a downward turn and accelerated towards one of the larger domes below them. There had to be half a sector fleet worth of ships flying about, many were quite large but dwarfed by the mighty craftworld.

“The knowledge and capacity to do so has long since been presumed lost,” Macha confessed, “but Biel-Tan has always fought to heal all wounds and restore that to our people.”

“That is no idle goal,” Cadmus commented. As they approached he could make out ships similar in size to their own leave and enter the dome through a gateway of sorts. They were approaching it fast.

“No it is not,” Macha smiled when she spoke. “Now, before we land there are a few things I need to mention,” the eldar began.

“I’m all ears,” Cadmus clarified. They had gotten close enough for him to see the strange phenomena, it looked as if the outer layer pulled open, almost organically, as they got close enough to pass through. The moment they did so sounds were audible outside, they had entered its atmosphere.

“You are not the first human to set foot on Biel-Tan even if it is a very rare occasion, so do not panic if you are spotted,” Macha explained to him. “However, I can still not afford to have you wander around without a guide so you are not to leave my residence without company.”

“Yes mother,” Cadmus quipped.

“I mean it Cadmus,” Macha scolded him with a glare.

“As long as you don’t force me to hold your hand in public; now, where is your residence by the way?” Cadmus asked her. He looked around at the amazing sights before him as the ship approached the surface. He could see a lake make up the center of the dome as the ship leveled out; there were enormous meadows of grass and all manner of wild vegetation surrounding it. At some places he could make out spire like structures coalesced into tight groups, he guessed they were habitats of sorts surrounding the lake. They looked very identical to one another and probably housed tens of thousands each at a bare minimum.

“My home is just ahead near the edge of that one,” Macha pointed to the habitat in front of them, “It is called the Farel’naar habitat,” she added helpfully.

At ground level he could see a decently sized forest surround the habitat as they flew over the treetops. He could not see any major roads on the ground; the individual habitats were probably connected by tunnels. It’s that or the residents relied on flight to travel between them. “This place looks so spacious, are these ecosystems fully self-sufficient?” Cadmus asked her.

“Yes, every craftworld can support its population independent of any planetary resources. All we really need is starlight and peace,” Macha explained as the ship began to slow down drastically. 

They were really close now; the habitats main spire probably reached over two kilometers in height. It had several smaller ones near it arranged in a circular fashion around it, each circle of spires were shorter than the inner one before it until the ones at the edge of the city reached what looked like only a few dozen meters in the air. They also took a more cylinder like shape; Cadmus guessed it was for living space. Cadmus could make out flying vehicles passing over them, most heading to and from the central spire in various directions. “Interesting, how long is your night and day cycle by the way?” Cadmus could bombard the farseer with questions but they were closing in on what looked like a lone residence by the forest just outside the main city.

“Twenty-six terran hours,” Macha replied, “which reminds me, it is late afternoon here so our daily rhythm has been offset somewhat by our absence.” 

“I’ve gotten used to stuff like that years ago, but it’s good to know,” Cadmus thanked her as they came to a stop at a clearing not far from the building. It too was cylinder shaped but with some similarly shaped additions on the lower structure. It also had what looked like an open terrace on the roof decorated with potted plants of some exotic origin. The transport slowly lowered unto a stone platform below them until they finally touched ground. The two of them just sat there for a while as a bird of some sort flew by, the whole area seemed surrounded by trees. Cadmus followed the bird with his eyes until the view disappeared completely. He looked over to the farseer and noticed she tapped something on the illuminated panels in front of her. He realized it was not a window they had looked through, but a screen of some sort.

“We have arrived,” Macha announced as she turned her head and looked at him with a gentle smile.

Cadmus took a deep breath, “So we have,” he swallowed nervously; this was it. He got out of his seat and stood behind it, looking over at the farseer expectantly; “lead the way, Macha,” he offered with a smile. The farseer smiled at his invitation and offered her hand expectantly. Cadmus took it as she gracefully stood up and moved past him, he barely had time to reach for his coat on the bench behind him before being dragged away. 

“I do not have guests often and there are many things I wish to show you,” Macha’s smile was audible as she led him along towards the ramp at the back of the ship, gently squeezing the offered hand as she did so.

Macha never enjoyed living far removed from nature; she had never found reason to live inside Farel’naar’s main habitat, even if it gave her an undeserved reputation as a recluse. She walked along the short forest road towards her home, birds sang like they always do in spring. Her homesickness was strong when she was away so she always enjoyed the welcoming sounds upon returning. Macha meant what she had said to Cadmus; guests were a rare thing in her life, as were good friends even though she did not mention it.
In her youth she had been a zealous follower of the craftworld ideal as inspired by her mother, to herald the rebirth of a ruined past. 
	But it was not to be that way for long, her affinity for mankind and divination had manifested at a very early age. It was clear from then on that she would walk the path of the seer; even after having but a few decades as a howling banshee aspect. The path of the seer was lonely and hard; she was unprepared for taking that challenge at such a young age, just like her apprentice Eirella had been. It is one of the reasons she care so much for her young pupil. For the first few centuries on the path her human centric visions had made her an object of outright scorn or ridicule, she was given the mortifying title of exalted mon-keigh seer in mockery. Macha had to suppress a jolt of anger at the memory; she had hated her reputation much more than she ever let on. Such a title was not conducive to a less lonely life; early on it had made her bitter and angry, especially when it came to the humans themselves. Now, halfway through her second millennium of life she found less and less reason to entertain such anger anymore.

“Something bothering you? You tensed up,” Cadmus’s question interrupted her thoughts as her home was just in view.

“No, I was remembering a few things,” She answered half honestly but with a smile. Ah Cadmus, there was something about this inquisitor that defied the norm for men of his order. He seemed genuinely curious about eldar ways, if in a somewhat reckless way. Few amongst her kin were as open minded about the Imperium and mankind in general as she had grown to become, especially on Biel-Tan.

“Nice place you have,” Cadmus commented while looking around as they neared the entrance. The house was surrounded by an open garden with all kinds of exotic plants that Cadmus had never seen. The stone paved road branched to the sides going around the residence itself, probably connecting on the other side.

“Thank you, I have collected and grown all these plants myself. It took me almost thirty years,” Macha informed with some pride in her voice as she gestured around. “Some are ancient breeds from our old worlds, others I have gathered on my travels,” she added.

“Quite the collection, does it surround the whole building?” Cadmus asked while looking from side to side. The plants were mostly flowers ranging in size from as small as his hand to the size of a young tree. The trees he could see planted were also quite small and like the big ones that made up the forest they had mostly pointed blade like leaves hanging from thin branches. They looked a lot like feathers as they were formed.

“It is not yet complete. There is a small field of grass on the other side where I have not planted anything,” Macha answered as they entered the main room of her home. She drew in the familiar smell of incense mixed with the garden bloom of outside. 

“This is not an everyday sight,” Cadmus confessed after a whistle as he looked around the home of the farseer. The interior was quite spacious and could probably fit dozens of guests without feeling too compact. There were quite a few places to sit even if only one truly stood out. At the center of the room he could make out what was obviously a table surrounded by a couch of some sort. It had three openings in the ring made up by the backrest to allow residents to take a seat. On the table stood a small red vase filled with sticks of what looked like lit incense. Everything in the building seemed to be made from some kind of metal, with the exception of the potted plants and the textiles decorating segments of the walls and furniture. He could not see any doors closing the home off from the outside; eldar must be trusting of one another to leave everything so open. 
	The rounded walls stood out compared to imperial architecture with its sharp angles and boxy construction. Cadmus could make out steps protruding from the wall at his right, starting not far from the door where he stood. They led to what he assumed was a second floor. On the far side of the table in front of him he could make out an entrance leading onto a green lawn which must be the one Macha mentioned. The colors of the walls and décor reminded Cadmus a lot about the interior of the ship, everything was a combination of some white-ish color highlighted with green or red and sometimes golden yellow. The floor lining of the walls had similar runes to what Cadmus had seen on the shuttle, the lighting stripes were also present running along the ceiling. On his right side, between the entrance they had stepped through and the one on the far side was another doorway. It most likely led into another room in the adjacent building that Cadmus had seen before they landed. 

“Let me show you around and where you will live,” Macha added and again offered her hand.

“How kind of you,” Cadmus politely intoned and accepted her invitation with an eager smile. Curiosity was a natural trait with an Inquisitor and he had never seen an eldar home before. Aside from the cylindrical architecture, the furniture along with the rest of the interior was surprisingly similar to how a human would live.

After a quick tour of the bottom floor which included what Macha called a main hall, a small armory and the cooking area she led him upstairs. The second floor featured a corridor stretching around a walled off center which had a total of three doors spread at an even pace as they walked, Cadmus assumed they were bedrooms. Macha led him to the last one before the stairs led up to yet another floor and pressed a panel that looked similar to the one on the ship.

“Here is your room,” Macha said as she stepped aside and gestured for Cadmus to enter.

The room was quite large and conformed much to the same theme as the rest of the residence; the bed was oval, quite big and obviously fit two people with plenty of room to spare. There was a door next to it which most likely led to a washroom of some sort. Cadmus walked close to the bed and reached out to get a feel on the textile of the green covers. It felt a lot like silk, only a little bit coarser. He placed his coat at the foot end of the bed, having grown tired of carrying it around under his arm all the way from the ship. The temperatures he had encountered so far hinted at it being completely unnecessary. 

“I trust everything is to your satisfaction,” Macha inquired expectantly as she followed him in.

“More than enough, darling,” Cadmus answered honestly as he sat on the side of the bed to test the matrass and looked at her. One idea would not leave his head, “forgive me for asking but this home of yours seems quite large for one person. Have you always lived alone here?”

“No, this was my mother’s home initially. I have lived here alone after she fell in battle a long time ago, with one recent exception aside yourself and Eirella,” Macha’s voice lit up at that last bit.

“Oh my, any scorned lovers that could return that I need to be aware of?” Cadmus asked playfully.

Macha laughed at that, even if she now sported a small blush, “no nothing like that. My sister and her mate lived here and used this room for a few years with their daughter. They moved out not long before you and I first met, during the Commrath exchange as you call it,” she explained.

“Right, do they live nearby?” Cadmus asked with curiosity, he never knew Macha had a sister. 

“No, they now reside in another dome and would not visit unannounced so there is no need to worry,” the farseer explained. “That reminds me, he left behind some spare clothes I believe should fit you, Come,” Macha gestured for Cadmus to follow her.

They walked back the way they came over to the door in the middle of the hallway and went inside that room. It was obviously a rather sizeable closet, Cadmus realized. At the far end of the room was a mirror, along a hollow to the left wall hung all manner of dresses and robes. They were packed rather tightly, some of them where slightly shorter in length than others but Cadmus could only make out two sizes in total. Upon closer inspection some matched the one Macha wore right now, they most likely hers. Though, the smaller ones had to belong to Eirella as they seemed to match her height better. Next to the hollowed out space for the dresses Cadmus could see what looked like shelves. They held all manner of folded and stacked pants, some shirts along with what looked like those bodysuits he had seen Eirella and Macha wear under their robes. There was even a silvery one Cadmus could recognize the design of. On the shelf next to that lay something odd; it looked like rather risqué female underwear. Throne, was that an Aquila on the front? Cadmus raised an eyebrow at the sight.

“Do you see anything you like,” Macha teased as she saw where he was looking.

“What? I wasn’t…” Cadmus trailed off as he tried to think of what to say, “I just thought eldar wore those bodysuits under your clothes.”

“We do, but they are mostly for protection,” Macha explained as she walked over to the shelf with a pronounced sway of her hips that Cadmus wish he hadn’t noticed. She turned around and smiled at him when he met her eyes, “normally we do not wear anything underneath,” she added playfully as she crossed her ankles and leaned back against the shelf, “it is far more comfortable.”

Too much information, “Right, they look a lot like what a human noblewoman might wear if she wanted to impress an admiral or something,” Cadmus explained awkwardly as he averted his gaze. Macha was not wearing a bodysuit as far as he could tell; damn it’s warm in here all of a sudden.

“I acquired these from a human trader once, actually,” Macha told him with some amusement, “your females have interesting tastes.” 

“I’ll attest to that,” Cadmus admitted as he tried to shake the mental images of the farseer wearing them. Where in the emperor’s name had that come from? He turned around and looked over what was obviously the male section of her wardrobe. There were no dresses, just a mixture of robes, some shirts and trousers. They had similar color and motif to the clothes he had seen Macha wear so far, except some of the robes which were black. One thing stood out though, “these look rather thick for an eldar,” Cadmus commented as he lifted the arm of one of the black robes. Eldar males were strong but had denser muscles than their females and human male counterparts; this gave their limbs a slender and long look just like their women. 

“Some of us prefer loose clothes,” Macha explained after some seeming contemplation. 

“I’m not complaining; they will fit perfectly, my compliments to your sister’s husband,” Cadmus clarified as he turned around to look at the farseer again.

“Mate,” Macha corrected him, “and I am pleased to hear it. There is one more level and then the terrace to show, follow me,” she instructed as she motioned for Cadmus to follow.

The level above was mostly a large study area, filled with all kinds of arcane objects, paper scrolls and databanks. Most of what the farseer explained about it was rather incomprehensible to Cadmus as he was not familiar with warp sorcery. Macha calmed his worries by explaining that nothing dangerous was ever done in her home, or on the craftworld at all for that matter. They continued on up to the terrace which Cadmus had seen from afar when they landed. It was decorated with all kinds of potted plants which were similar to the ones he had seen in the garden outside. Cadmus walked over to the edge and leaned in with his elbows resting on the wall. The view was quite spectacular; he could see the large habitat close by on one end with its many aerial vehicles flying to and from it. On the other side he could see above the treetops of the forest all the way to the big lake he saw from above. He could see a light in the distance; it looked a lot like a sun.

“I have always enjoyed this view, especially at night when the stars are made visible.” Macha said as she walked up to lean in next to him. Her arm faintly touched his where she stood.

“The view is never the same, right?” Cadmus asked.

“Quite accurate, as the craftworld journeys through the vastness of our galaxy the view is always a little different,” Macha illustrated with clarity as she narrowed her eyes at the sight. 

“Our Galaxy? I believe the emperor might have a thing to say about that,” Cadmus commented with feigned haughtiness.

Macha just giggled and responded with a playful shove of her head against his shoulder, “We are all children of the same stars, Cadmus.” 

“I know,” he smiled at her unorthodox response before continuing, “Your home is beautiful, as is the craftworld. This dome reminds me somewhat of a fringe world I once visited,” Cadmus had always wanted to see a place like this. The craftworlds had fascinated him for as long as he’d known about them.

“My home is yours for as long as you wish,” Macha confessed as she placed a hand on his forearm in a reassuring gesture.

“Thank you for that,” Cadmus replied with sincerity as he placed his other hand on hers before contemplating how to politely ask what he needed, “I noticed Eirella was absent. Didn’t you mention she lived here as well? I thought I saw some of her clothes downstairs,” Cadmus inquired as he turned to look at his host. Her head was leaned back and had her eyes were closed, her hair fluttered gently in the wind behind her as she basked in the sunlight. Cadmus had to admit she looked stunningly beautiful like this. Wait, was she even listening? “Macha?” Cadmus decided to test her when a few moments had passed. When she didn’t answer he withdrew his hands and brought one up to gently squeeze her shoulder on her far side. This seemed to rouse her attention after about a second as she yanked her head back straight. Cadmus quickly pulled his hand away and stepped back, “Sorry.”

“There is no need to apologize; I merely forgot to mention that we are quite sensitive when we roam,” Macha explain as she fidgeted slightly.

“Roam? Do you mean…” Cadmus tried to find the words. Was she talking about sorcery?

“I was searching for Eirella, she is meditating nearby,” Macha clarified with her interruption.

“Where?”  Cadmus asked as patiently as he could manage. 

“Do you see the small clearing of trees over there?” Macha pointed towards an area where the treetops disappeared about two hundred meters out towards the lake.

“Yes, is that where she is?” Cadmus asked for clarification, his excitement was growing as he turned his head to look at her.

“You are correct. It is a glade where we usually exercise and meditate. Do not worry about disturbing her, I am sure she will be glad to see you,” Macha added with a warm smile.

“You have done more for me than I deserve,” Cadmus confessed as he pulled her into a brief embrace without really thinking. The farseer stiffened slightly at the contact before relaxing just as fast. “Thank you, really. I’ll return with her soon,” Cadmus declared as he gave the farseer a quick peck on the lips before heading back inside. Darn, that should have probably been aimed more to the right.

“Take what time you need,” Macha called out after him too quietly and far too late to be heard. She slowly brought two fingers up to her lower lip to trace the sensation; her emerald eyes were wide in disbelief. 

She closed her eyes to shut her disorienting feelings away and hopefully slow the hammering pace of her heart. Calm yourself Macha; not all visions are accurate, even if it was not supposed to happen like this. When she finally moved she walked over to the ledge with careful steps and looked down. Cadmus had exited her home and just disappeared on the dirt path leading towards the glade where everything began. Macha looked at the life sized statue he passed that made up the centerpiece of the grassy field. It always warmed her when she looked upon it; her mother had made it after her daughter was born. It was her most important keepsake. She thought back to the path she had foreseen; one thread of the visions never faded as she examined it over the past two years. Even still, everything had gone as she foresaw save this and for once it was not a disappointing feeling. Isha, could this really be it?




Chapter 4. 

Cadmus walked along the path with his jacket under his arm while enjoying the cool evening air flowing through his shirt. The ecosystems of the craftworld and its bio-domes seemed to have such diversity and richness that they almost matched an untamed paradise world. Cadmus could hear birds singing amongst the treetops and some sort of insects chirping all around him. In the not so far distance, he could make out the clearing which Macha had mentioned. The dirt path leading through the forest towards the glade was surprisingly neat, no roots protruded from the ground to trip the less mindful traveller. The path itself felt as natural as anything Cadmus could recall as it slithered its way between the trees on towards the glade. Once he made it to the edge of the clearing he could see that it was not that large. The glade was made up of a field of obviously untended but short grass. It featured a remarkable centerpiece, an evergreen tree of some sort stood proudly in the middle. As Cadmus walked towards it he realized he could not place the species amongst the others; he had not seen the type anywhere else in the forest thus far. The crown was wide and it reached about the same height as the rest of the trees. From the main branches hung lesser ones clad with small, thin blade shaped leaves. They flowed evenly down towards the ground until they hit a low point of about three heads higher up from the ground than Cadmus himself. Occasional gusts of wind produced a rustling sound as the green branches dangled in unison. When he rounded the thick main stem he could not help but stop momentarily as his heart almost skipped a beat.
	On top of a dark green blanket, facing the tree, sat a seemingly meditating figure. It was a very familiar one. After almost two agonizing years Cadmus could easily remember why he had risked so much to come here, everything about her was breathtaking to him. The eldar warlock had an aura of saintly grace and beauty in her relaxed state that he found hard to place. He could not recall having felt anything similar when it came to even the holiest of the Sororitas with their devotion to the lord of mankind. Cadmus carefully inspected every detail as he cautiously approached her, wanting to sear the image into his memory for the rest of his life. She was clad in a robe similar to the one Macha wore, except it was composed of a yellowish-white color, black sash and chest piece with golden highlights. Her chest slowly rose and fell with measured breathing. She was the very picture of serenity as she sat with her legs folded and her palms resting on her knees. Strange runestones formed a wide crescent above her as they floated completely still in the air; each end of the crescent starting and ending outside each shoulder. 

Cadmus came to a stop in front of the eldar woman, wiped his slightly sweaty palms on his legs and sat down with his back against the tree, scarcely more than an arm’s reach away from her. He hoped to smother his sudden nervousness before seeking her attention. He sat there for a few minutes just admiring the beauty of her being, the perfect calm of her current state; she had shown no signs of having noticed him. Her relaxation infected him and his anxiety seemed to wash away as he beheld the eldar warlock he had only seen once, two long years ago. Her hair was the same dark brown he remembered it to be; it was let down unlike the first time they had met. The straight mane cascaded down freely behind her back aside from a small bundle of strands coming down across her chest on each side. Two pointed ears marked her as a supposed enemy of mankind, but that definition had long since lost its meaning to Cadmus. He smiled, remembering what the farseer had said; do not worry about disturbing her. Naturally, Cadmus reasoned, that remained to be tested. Let us see if a servant of the most high can rouse an eldar from her practiced meditation.
	Cadmus tossed his jacket to the side and looked around for ideas and inspiration. An open satchel lay conveniently placed to her right on the blanket. Cadmus picked it up and inspected it; the larger of the satchel’s two slots was empty. The smaller one contained a quill alongside a sealed vial of what Cadmus guessed was ink of some sort and a blank, white stone. No doubt she would inscribe something on the stone with the ink; it did not look all that different from the ones floating above her. However, quills had other uses; Cadmus smirked to himself with childish glee as picked up the white feather by its clear end and held it in front of him. Throne, it was such a crude writing utensil, only the most pompous of aristocrats would fail to see its holy purpose as a mighty tool of skin stimulation. Cadmus set the satchel down next to him and looked over the unsuspecting xeno; he would probably regret this at some point.

Cadmus tilted his head to the side and hesitated for a moment before steeling himself, he remembered a blessed edict. Reason must not be allowed to impede a true pioneer of the emperor’s cause; such were the words of the Explorator Tech-Priests. Now, what Cadmus was about to do could be extremely dangerous and he would not recommend it under ordinary circumstances. Provoking an eldar female either during her more amorous moments or when she is in trance could result in lost limbs and fried nerves, if you were blessed with good luck. Fortunately for him, this xeno was known to be tame. Cadmus carefully reached out with the feather and gave the female’s neck and jawline a few experimental strokes to fish for reactions. Nothing, she did not even seem to register the touch. Frowning at her resilience, Inquisitor Cadmus resolved to aim higher. He brought the feather over once more and intended to assault her ear with a pointed two stroke combination going up and down the length of it. Her ears flinched reflexively at first contact near the tip and the Inquisitor thought he could see movement underneath her eyelids. Cadmus stopped, he grinned at the familiar weak point, but he also remembered the nature of the ears and decided to experiment elsewhere like a true gentleman. 
	He danced the quill away until it reached underneath her nostrils and waved it back and forth in quick succession to see what happened. The reaction was telling; it caused the female to frown and her upper lip to twitch in sync with her nose as if she was bothered by a persistent insect. Cadmus narrowed his eyes with determination to exploit the newfound weak point and renewed his efforts with an intensified assault. The ever increasing rhythm of the angelic dance eventually began to get the better of his opponent. 

“Hahh,” the young eldar softly vocalized on the inhale as she flinched backwards with a freshly opened mouth, almost there. A split second later several things happened at once. Cadmus speedily withdrew the feather as the warlock reeled back before lunging forward with a powerful sneeze; the runestones dropped to the ground around her except one which unfortunately bounced on her scalp before landing neatly in Cadmus’s lap. “Allai’reth shie-keigh!” the warlock muttered a string of acidic eldar words that sounded suspiciously like curses. She still had her eyes clenched shut and her brow formed an irritated frown. Cadmus smiled and brought a hand to her shoulder, steadying her. The touch caused her to stiffen briefly.

“I almost didn’t want to do that, but you really make it too easy sometimes,” Cadmus commented as he put aside the feather near the satchel and helped her straighten back up. The eldar woman was still for a brief moment until she slowly brought up a trembling hand and covered her mouth before taking on a pained expression. “Still, I must admit my curiosity have gotten the better of me in the past,” Cadmus stated with honesty as he lifted her chin up gently. A stab of an emotion he could not place shot through him as he saw tears trail her cheeks onto her delicate hand. Part of him wanted to simply pull her into an embrace at the sight but he restrained himself.

“How?” her wavering and muffled voice had a miserable tone to it as her question sounded through her hand. She kept her eyes squeezed shut, as if refusing to believe what she would see.

“Farseer Macha came and spirited me away,” Cadmus stated flatly as he leaned forward and reached out to gently remove her hand from her mouth by the wrist, “open your eyes if you don’t believe me,” he added with a teasing tone.

“Cadmus…” the eldar lady began; if she felt anything like him, he suspected she had no idea as to what she wanted to say. 

“Glad to see you to, Eirella,” Cadmus responded with a sly smirk as her almond shaped eyes slowly opened to reveal a pair of beautiful amber irises.

A thousand questions raged in her mind and thundering heart alike as she stared at the human in disbelief. Macha had brought him here, was she out of her mind? Eirella shook all over as she slowly stood on her knees while two years of emotional repression came crashing down. She hesitated somewhat when she saw the questioning look he gave her. A moment had scarcely passed before she reached out and pulled him with all her strength into a tight embrace which he returned without hesitation. “I have missed you,” she whispered into his neck as she took a calming breath, inhaling the familiar scent of the human she had not seen in what felt like an eternity. She could scarcely believe what was happening.

“As did I,” Cadmus confessed with relief as he held her trembling body tight. Throne, he really owed Macha for this. “By the way, tulai don-de fala’ aruna’me? You couldn’t hurt me if you tried?” Cadmus inquired before making his point, “I don’t know if I should feel insulted or take that as a compliment,” he explained with feigned hurt as he gave her a playful slap on her upper back. Eirella merely shook silently, if she was laughing or crying he could not tell.

“So you did manage to translate it,” she stated with relief as she ran her fingers across the back of his head, indulging in the familiar sensation. “Well done mon-keigh,” she complimented him with a childish tone as she gave him a kiss on the cheek as a reward before reluctantly breaking their embrace while wiping her tears away on her sleeve.

“If I didn’t know any better I would think you doubted me,” Cadmus commented dryly as he sat back down against the tree and folded his arms in front of his chest.

“One must never doubt the stubbornness of mon-keigh,” Eirella intoned as she sat down on her heels. 

“Truer words had never been spoken,” Cadmus said in agreement. There was a brief pause before Cadmus broke the silence, “Eirella, I’ve wanted to ask something that’s been on my mind for a while,” Cadmus wanted to sort out his doubts on a specific issue. 

“What is your question?” Eirella asked in turn with a ponderous expression.

It was a question that had been on his mind since all of this began. “I’m sorry to ask this so suddenly, but, why didn’t you contact me? You only had to send word and I would have met up with you as soon as I was able,” he finally aired his ponderings. 

Eirella’s lower lip trembled as she averted her gaze hesitantly, thinking about her reply, “I…” she began with her voice barely a whisper, “Isha I wanted to, but…” her voice broke as renewed tears flowed from her eyes.

Cadmus did not really know what to do, but it pained him to see her like this, something was obviously bothering her. He got back onto his knees and pulled her back into another embrace, “Hey now, you don’t have to tell me if it’s that hard,” he reassured her while rubbing her back soothingly, “I’m sorry.”

Eirella gave a relieved sigh after composing herself, “no, you have a right to ask,” she clarified as she opened her eyes and rested her cheekbone against his shoulder, relaxing somewhat as her forehead touched his neck.

“So what was it? I can certainly sympathize with having doubts about all this,” Cadmus said with complete understanding of any doubts she might have had.

Eirella hesitated somewhat and took a deep breath, “I was with child,” she confessed with a quiet voice, “It was yours,” she mumbled into him as she carefully gripped his shirt behind his back with trembling fists.

“Well that’s certainly not a bad reason…” Cadmus’s heart froze in his chest, “Wait, what?” he could barely believe what he was hearing. She had been pregnant with his, a human’s, child? He put his hands on her upper arms and carefully broke their embrace, “how in the… is that even possible?” Cadmus was baffled as he tried to find her eyes.

Eirella slowly let go of his shirt, wiped her new tears away and met his eyes, “It is. Unions like ours are rare. Offspring are even rarer, especially so because the unions are not often voluntary,” she explained with some resignation while looking away. She shivered somewhat with the wave of relief; she was glad Cadmus was not revolted at least. He let her go and looked at the ground in front of her.

Any other human might break into panic at this moment, but Cadmus had been conditioned to collect himself and focus in moments like these. He shook his head and took on a questioning expression before asking what first came to mind, “You said you were with child, what happened?”

“We eldar are different from mon-keigh in that regard,” Eirella began as she briefly met his eyes before breaking away once more, “A cycle requires more than one union in the early stages to bear fruit or it will fail,” she explained as she swallowed. 

A potential father? Cadmus had never even entertained the idea before, only to be confronted with a reality like this. He could not pinpoint his confused feelings, half-eldar were little more than rumors even in the Imperium’s upper echelons. Not to mention it was the high watermark of heresy to mix blood with xenos. Cadmus collected his thoughts, Eirella’s explanation lacked in detail but he got the gist of it. “And I was not there,” he said, understanding now why she had reacted the way she did, “I am so sorry.”

“Do not apologize, it was my choice,” Eirella began and again met his eyes. There was a resolute intensity to her look this time, “I did scry the future to the best of my ability. I searched for you; it was when you were in the middle of chasing those druchii raiders. To interfere with that and stop you would have had dire ramifications for more than just both of us in the end,” she finished with a calm voice. Eirella had seethed with inner rage at the cruelty of her fate once she learned what her desire to pursue him would bring. To throw away a chance at a child was no easy decision; but now she understood the wisdom of restraint. If by pure luck or Isha’s grace, she had been given a second chance.

Cadmus understood the implication and nodded while he averted his eyes. He felt an unwelcome impulse of anger at the mention of that investigation; it was his first case after managing the Commrath exchange. And such a mess it had been; dark eldar pirates had disguised themselves as traders to lure entire families into their disgustingly well-manicured clutches. It was an awful and highly unusual story he was not fond of remembering. Cadmus sat back down against the tree with a sigh, “Macha mentioned that you had kept an eye on me, I now understand what for and why you did what you did,” he reassured her as he looked Eirella in the eyes warmly.

She was not surprised that her lady farseer had found out, even if she never brought it up. “I was also worried you would be revolted or angry that I had not mentioned our compatibility,” Eirella confessed with a hesitant smile.

“Revolted?” Cadmus scoffed, “as an Inquisitor I have seen far more revolting things in my short life than an unorthodox belly bump,” he explained dismissively as he lifted slightly to pick up a runestone from underneath him. It had burrowed into his ass cheek without permission when he sat back down.

Eirella gave a soft laugh, “I can only imagine,” her voice was merrier now that the unpleasant doubts had been lifted. She glanced over to the runestone in Cadmus’s hand curiously. 

Cadmus noticed her look and held it out in front of him to inspect it, “Hmm,” it featured a golden laurel wreath set against what looked like a star or something of that sort. It was certainly not a symbol Cadmus recognized as eldar. He held it out to Eirella expectantly, “Is that leaf crown what I think it is?” he asked with a bemused look.

She took it and gave it a look, “It is the rune of the Anathema, the Emperor,” Eirella clarified as she shuffled over to him. Cadmus could see her bare knees touched the soft grass as pale thighs poked out from gaps in the robe when she approached.

“The emperor?” he was curious now, “why would you have such a rune?” Cadmus asked with interest as Eirella settled up close, in between his legs and rested her back against his chest. He closed his eyes and smiled as the familiar, soft shape of her body snuggled up against him. He brought his arms around her waist and rested his hands against her abdomen; taking in the feeling of it expanding and retracting slightly with every breath she took. 

“Yes, we do have a rune to represent him. His presence is found almost everywhere in the warp given the nature of your so called astronomican and the size of the Imperium,” Eirella explained as she held the rune out in front of her between a thumb and a pair of fingers. “This reminds me, I had a vision on the day we met that I struggled to make sense of. I investigated it for some time and I am now certain it involved your Emperor,” she added.

“Is that so,” Cadmus commented, intrigued and content to listen to her talking, “what makes you so certain?”

“I know how he is depicted in your histories; it matches our own impression well enough,” Eirella began as she shifted backwards, causing Cadmus to tense briefly as her delicate form pressed up against him. The warlock continued, “I saw him standing upon a white shore, staring off with a concerned look on his face into a warm source of light, far away in the void.”

“Go on,” he insisted. The description did sound quite familiar. 

Eirella closed her eyes as she brought the images to the forefront of her mind, “I saw countless lights drift towards it in unison. As the vision faded, I realized that the lights were souls. But, before I could make out what they were, he spoke to me,” she explained.

“What did he say?” Few individuals could ever boast seeing the emperor in a real vision, Cadmus was thrilled with interest. He never knew eldar could sense the emperor’s grace.

“I asked him who he was and where we were,” Eirella rolled the rune in her fingers; “he said it did not matter, the only thing of importance was that I was there. He also urged me to not be afraid,” she gave her summary as accurately as words could manage before resting her cupped hands in front of her. “I do not know what he meant by his words,” she finished.

“Neither do I, but the vision sounds more pleasant than foreboding. I believe you have little to fear with it,” Cadmus gave his opinion as he brought one of his hands to squeeze her hands reassuringly. “As for the big light you described, it fits a well-documented description of the astronomican itself. I have never seen it as I am no psyker, much less a navigator. But what you claim you saw sound almost exactly the same.”

“It is as I suspected then,” Eirella concluded as she brought his hands back to rest against her abdomen again, the small but pleasant increase in pressure helped calm her, “Cadmus?” she asked.

“Yes?” he rumbled.

“What of your duties to the Imperium and your Inquisition?” Eirella began with a hesitant tone as she ran her fingertips across his hands, “I would assume you cannot stay for long,” her chest fell as she let some of her other worries air. 

Cadmus thought for a moment before answering, “You know, I was told for most of my life that I cannot do this or that, for every reason you can think of. It started as early back as I can remember,” Cadmus explained.

“What do you mean?” Eirella inquired and turned her head back a little towards him, the side of her face touching his cheek briefly.

“It is a long story,” Cadmus began, “but I’ll keep it as brief as I can,” he explained. He took a deep breath and continued on, “I was only seven years old when my parents were killed suppressing a riot on Scintilla. They were low ranking officers in the imperial guard you see. So from that point on, as a low born Guard orphan, I knew I was destined to be taken into the Schola Progenium,” Cadmus finished as a bitter taste settled in his mouth. 

“You were not?” Eirella asked, now interested in the story. A feeling of sadness took her as she understood he was orphaned at such a young age. Seven, it was unfathomable to craftworld eldar except in the most dire of cases.

“No,” Cadmus intoned after a sigh, “Instead of accepting my fate I ran away and spent the better part of a year in the streets of the lower hive, hiding from the authorities. It’s not as if they bothered looking for lone orphan runaways in the middle of a hive, not that I knew that at such a young age. It was by the end of that year where I met the Julius Montgomery for the first time.”

“He was the rogue trader you mentioned before, on Commrath, correct?” Eirella asked him, silently apologizing for the interruption.

“Yes,” Cadmus acknowledged, “he was only a shadow of what he is now but he took me in and raised me as If I were his younger brother. It is probably for the best, the particular Schola I was supposed to be sent to was going nowhere. I heard it was closed down by the Ecclesiarchy a few months ago after the sister superior who headed the order was involved in one too many sex scandals,” he finished with some amusement in his tone.

Eirella almost doubled over as she brought a hand to her mouth to suppress a laugh, “what did you say?” she managed after a moment.

“You heard me,” Cadmus stated monotonously as he gently flicked one of Eirella’s pointy ears, “I never bothered to dig out the rest of the details after I read about the oiled up altars, needless to say it had probably gone on for a while.” Cadmus let his mind wander a bit, “now that I think about it maybe I should have attended  after all,” he mused out loud with a chuckle as Eirella let out an exasperated groan and fell back against his chest heavily. 
“Ouch,” Cadmus censured, “anyway, I spent the rest of my childhood and adolescence with Julius. I acquired much of my view of the universe from him, hence my lack of, um, hatred towards craftworld eldar,” he finished while hoping that the explanation made some sense.   

“Remind me to extend my gratitude if we ever meet him,” Eirella commented with coyness in her voice.

“He’ll just want credits or some other goods from you, trust me,” Cadmus dismissed her compliments aimed at his old friend. “Besides, I learned what you really appreciated all on my own,” he added pointedly as he gave the tip of the previously flicked ear a quick kiss. Aside from the involuntary twitch, her only response was a soft bash of the back of her head against his ribcage.

“You have not yet answered my question,” Eirella reminded him with an audible smile as a familiar heat worked its way up to the tips of her ears. Isha save her, she dared not even imagine how insufferable he would be with some wine in him.

“I am getting to that,” Cadmus assured her, “eventually, after coming to a few conclusions about myself and my desires I was presented with an opportunity; one Lord Inquisitor Lucius was collaborating with Julius and myself on a mission if his. After we were done he offered to make me his acolyte. Needless to say I took him up on the offer and entered into his service. I was nineteen, Julius did not approve of my decision.” 

“I expect you reconciled eventually,” Eirella commented with a solemn voice. Parting with a dear friend was never easy.

“Correct, during my years as an acolyte we did cross paths to mutual benefit several times; I could use my newfound powers and he his connections. We could accomplish a lot more together as we were from then on,” Cadmus answered her truthfully. 

“He saw the wisdom in your decision?” Eirella asked, expecting the answer.

“Yes. Either way, I should probably not even be alive right now,” Cadmus gave away with some guilt. “Especially if my life after my parents died had turned out as it does for so many children in the same situation,” he admitted with remorse in his voice. 

“I am very glad it did not,” Eirella admitted without a shadow of doubt in her mind. Her heart fluttered in her chest, she could not regret meeting this human. 

“Yet I live nonetheless,” Cadmus noted on an uplifting tone. “There are so many things in my life that have turned out for the better, if it is by the emperor’s blessing or blind luck I do not know. Even still, It has all led to this, and I for one will not shy away now,” Cadmus confessed to her as he stroked her hand with his thumb. 

“I am glad,” Eirella’s voice was quiet and heavy with emotion as she closed her eyes and leaned her head back.

“As for an actual answer to your question,” Cadmus continued as he took in the flowery scent of her dark hair, “I made some arrangements with Julius. If the inquisition ever bother to ask about what happened to me they will find out that I am acting as his representative on a long errand. I could probably stay here for as long as I am welcome, provided that I can communicate to the outside via intermediaries,” Cadmus explained truthfully. 

“I am sure something can be arranged,” Eirella spoke with a sense of awe at how her life was changing as warmth spread in her chest. Even if it had not been a long time by eldar standards, she thought for almost two terran years that she could never see Cadmus again; only to find out he had secured such freedom of action. She would forgive Macha for acting on her own initiative when next they met, and she would apologize for her youthful insubordination in regards to the vision. The farseer had been right about her as befitting of her station.

“What about you, how did you spend your childhood here?” Cadmus interrupted her thoughts when he spoke.

Eirella thought for a moment, she would be happy to tell him, “I am afraid my youth is not that eventful,” she admitted. “My mother was on the path of the healer when I was born, she died in battle when I was fifty. I joined the aspect of the striking scorpion to honor her memory shortly thereafter.”

“And your father?” Cadmus asked, he never figured Eirella for having been of that particular shrine.

Eirella took one of his hands out and held it between her two palms and tried to think of how best to sum up her father, “he had been a Dire Avenger all his life, but after my mother died he turned to the path of grief,” she mentioned with sadness in her tone. “A few decades later he later set upon the path of the outcast and left the craftworld over one century ago. It was just after I set upon the path of the seer on Lady Macha’s insistence,” Eirella continued as she entwined her fingers with his, “I have not seen him since.”

“Did he ever tell you why he left?” The question was an obvious follow-up and Cadmus hoped it was not too intrusive.

Eirella shook her head, “No, he never gave his reasons. I understood that he grieved my mother’s passing very much, just as I did. But for him it was probably too great a burden to carry,” she looked out towards the sky and remembered all the good years she had as a child when her family was still whole.

The pair sat there against the evergreen tree and talked for a long time. They traded stories and laughs as they recounted a few noteworthy events of their lives. Cadmus had spoken much of Julius and their rather complicated relationship before and after he had joined the inquisition.  Eirella had inquired about Julius’s family and their personalities, and aptly heeded Cadmus’s warnings regarding the twins. She also told him much of life on the craftworld as well as the character of the major habitat they lived nearby. He in turn had asked Eirella about her teacher-pupil relationship with farseer Macha. Cadmus learned to his surprise, and mild amusement, that Macha was almost kicked off the seer’s council as a result of the embarrassing outcome of the Commrath exchange. It would seem it had caused some rather flustered arguments amongst the craftworld leadership in regards to how the Imperium would react to the find. Eirella had moved in with Macha in her remote abode while the rumors and discussions died down. Much to Cadmus’s relief, none of them had involved Eirella. As time passed with their conversation, Cadmus eventually noticed that the now orange dome sun was beginning to set.





Chapter 5. (The heresy begins)

Cadmus wiggled his toes, enjoying the feeling of the warm air as it brushed between the tiny digits; he had worked his boots and socks off over an hour ago but could still not get enough. 

“You never told me, but,” he began as he pondered how to phrase his next question, “when did you become so open minded about us humans if you don’t mind me asking, was it your parents? It goes against Biel-Tan norms to say the least as far as I know,” he finished as he explained his reasoning. Despite the craftworld’s reputation, the only two eldar he had talked with at length seemed to contest every expectation he had built so far in his life.

Eirella thought about her reply for a moment as she looked at the dancing leaves, “When it comes to Biel-Tan, everyone accepts the reality that mon-keigh are preferable to orks. We steer clear of the Imperium as much as we are able unless they threaten our Exodite brethren. As for me, lady Macha was an influence over the years. It was most definitely not my parents; they were very traditional in that sense,” she answered in detail with a rather pointed tone at the last sentence. 

Cadmus clicked his tongue, “I knew it; you only used me to get revenge on papa, didn’t you?” he joked as he pushed against the eldar’s left cheekbone playfully with two fingers.

Eirella lifted her back from his chest and turned slightly, fixing him with a scandalized look over her shoulder, “I most certainly did not, Inquisitor,” she replied with an amused tone. With inhuman fluidity to her movements she rose up slightly and settled herself onto a new position halfway up on Cadmus’s left thigh. She leaned back into him and traced his bared collarbone with her thumb, opening his shirt slightly before clarifying, “I bedded you for a very different reason,” she said with a suggestive tone.

“And what reason might that be?” Cadmus inquired with honed calm as he stroked his left hand along her back, the supple outline of her toned muscles barely sensible through her robe. He felt giddy as he took in the softness of the Eirella’s form while she replaced her legs over his other thigh and crossed them, partly revealing the outer one in the process as her robe parted just a little. Cadmus brought his own legs together to provide a more stable base for her, and to hopefully delay the inevitable somewhat. Pious thoughts of devotion were forced to the forefront of his mind.

“Curiosity,” Eirella answered as she ran an index finger in small patterns on his chest. She closed her eyes and savored the outline of his surprisingly soft muscles as they touched against her side. Warmth began to build in her belly as memories of all the wonderful sensations their previous union had produced erupted to the forefront of her mind. “What of your reason?” she let her thoughts escape on an exhale and hoped he was feeling something similar.

“Curiosity,” Cadmus mentioned as his heart rate kept building, “and attraction,” he confessed as he leaned his head back until it touched the bark of the tree. Her light touches left faint tingles on his skin as her small fingertip gently plied the hair on his chest wherever it went, he could feel her cheek drag into what must have been a smile. He sighed, impure thoughts are so much better.

Eirella smothered a grin and felt heat rush to her face as her heart leapt in her chest, “Naturally, mon-keigh,” she cooed while her thumb gently explored the firm hairs on his throat. She rested her ear against his shoulder and sighed dreamily as he stroked her jawline with two of his thick fingers; attraction was certainly mutual. The human had a deliciously primal nature about him with his rough and somewhat exaggerated male features. Her own appearance was rarely emphasized by others, except for when it came to her rather lacking height. She could certainly live without that reminder. Eirella smirked as she had an idea on how to proceed; she opened her eyes and leaned back out, parting from his torso and turned her head to face him, “I wish to ask you something,” she explained as she sought out his eyes.

“Go on,” Cadmus answered as he met her lidded gaze. Instead of asking a question, her first action was to lean further back and place her hands just over his knees for support. Cadmus let his hands fall down to his sides when he felt her shift. He was surprised by the sight of the underside of a bared leg dexterously going past his field of vision, just brushing his nose and lips long enough for him to feel her body heat linger briefly. Eirella lifted herself up and inched even closer to him, her eyes firmly focused on his own. Cadmus sucked in a sharp but small breath through his teeth, his heart drumming away when the weight of the eldar woman’s toned rear and inner thighs pressed lovingly against his groin and sides as she settled. He carefully brought his hands together on her lowermost back to support her as a familiar rush of blood began to build in his loins almost immediately. 

He broke off from her almond shaped eyes and looked down along the black sash holding the robe closed over her abdomen; the crimson gem centerpiece protruded softly with her every breath. He cautiously brushed the outline of the gem with a thumb, the solid form in sharp contrast to his hand stroking against her soft side. The eldar’s delicate form rippled with life in every measured breath. Cadmus looked down and saw that her robe had parted almost fully below the black cloth once she straddled him. Her smooth inner thighs were revealed along with some sort of milky white loincloth disappearing down between her thighs and out behind her, concealing her hairless treasure. His mouth felt dry as he noticed that the silken cloth was pulled rather tightly against her outlined mound, the piece having dragged along his trousers underneath her when she approached. His thumb journeyed downwards; throne, what would it feel like to touch once more? Cadmus bit down on both of his lips; this could not be healthy for him, two damn years. He thought he could make out a faint twitch as his thumb gently brushed against the line where the skin met the cloth. Emperor’s grace, she was quite limber; her legs were spread wider than he had ever seen anyone manage. 

Heat spread through her whole body, Eirella’s stomach tingled with barely restrained excitement over his growing bulge and roaming eyes. She would have everything, this time on her terms. With her breath somewhat burdened, she carefully brought a hand up and placed a finger under his chin to lift his face up. He met her eyes; his own were wide with awe. It was a look that saw through her soul and lit the embers of her heart, her gaze bore into his chestnut eyes, “Why have you have not yet kissed me, mon-keigh?” she teased with what little composure she could still scramble. 

Cadmus stared into the eldar’s smoldering amber eyes and felt his chest tighten at her assertiveness, “Well,” he began as he saw her eyelids drop, her soft lips parting just a little in expectation, “that’s a good question,” he finished with a low voice. Cadmus lashed out and pulled her towards him with all his strength as she let out a jovial cry. He placed a hand on the back of her head and pulled it down to his own as he locked his lips with hers, loving the feeling of her velvety hair between his fingers.

Eirellas heart all but burst from her chest as she returned the kiss with furious intensity. She folded her calves back against her thighs and lifted herself slightly from his bulge when two years of restraint washed away. A burning feeling spread across her skin all over her body as he hugged her tight. Her tongue wrestled that of her mate for dominance; she moaned into his mouth when he brought his hand over from behind her head and stroked her ear firmly between his fingers. She could not wait any longer, she miraculously willed herself to grab his head and break the kiss while she fought to regain control of her breathing, “Mate with me,” she whispered commandingly between labored breaths with her eyes still closed.

Emperor have mercy on him, there was no going back. Her hot breath washed across his face as she bared her desire, “Here?” Cadmus whispered back as he turned his attention to her neck, leaving a trail of kisses as he went ever eastwards towards her earlobe while squeezing her soft but sculpted buttock through the surprisingly thin robe.

“Yes,” Eirella hissed with her head leaned back as his mouth nibbled her ear and his large hand explored her hindquarters, “I will not wait,” she continued as a shiver tore through her when he brought the hand up and around to knead her tender breast. By Isha, she had wanted to feel this again; much more than she had ever allowed herself to believe. Eirella opened her eyes and reluctantly reached behind her to remove the other arm holding her in place, the human complied without resistance. Eirella hurriedly arose on shaky legs and took a step back as she helped haul the male up to a standing position. She held his wrists firmly as she led him towards the blanket just behind her while eyeing him with an intense glare. 

Once they both stood on the textile surface she pulled his arms behind her back, bringing him in for another deep kiss as she closed her eyes. Her tongue sought his out to wrangle it into submission. Eirella moaned hungrily as she felt her mate’s powerful arms envelop her waist and press her lower abdomen against the large bulge in his breeches. How could something so wrong make her feel this way? She reached back as dexterously as she could manage and guided his hands towards where the sash was fastened on the back of her robe; she helped him pull it free as he tossed it aside strongly. Eirella yanked her eyes open when he suddenly broke the kiss and spun her around to press her back tightly against his chest; his thick right arm enveloping her torso just below the pert swell of her breasts. His other hand found its way to her nipples before pinching one experimentally, coaxing a small yelp from her. When he let it go and held her for a moment without action she finally spoke, “What is it?” she complained with a heavy breath as her nipple seared in protest at the aborted stimulation. 

“Nothing at all,” Cadmus commented humorously while moving her hair aside before planting a light kiss on her left ear, sending a shiver down her spine.

Eirella suddenly felt him move his left hand away from her breast, sneaking her robe open even further as he dragged it down across her skin, around the curve of her hip and back onto her abdomen before slowly going ever lower. She closed her eyes in joy and leaned into him while resting her head against his neck as she realized where he was going. Eirella felt a throbbing need pulse at the apex of her thighs when the human hand trailed cautious fingers slowly downwards while tracing the outline of her supple abdomen before pausing just above the loincloth. Her pulse rushed like the wind in her ears as she curled her fingers on the back of his head expectantly. The hand sprang into action and wormed its way through between her skin and the silken, white covering. A shivering moan escaped her lips when two of his fingers reached her aching arousal; they pried her swollen outer lips apart as they made their way underneath her, across the length of her wet entrance and back up to the sensitive nub at the top for a few delicious strokes.

“Isha,” Eirella moaned with a ragged exhale as her abdomen contracted reflexively; the two of Cadmus’s fingers spread her yielding folds apart as they moved across them in quick stretches. The hand kneaded the blazing flesh of her slit from side to side with a circular motion. She gasped and spread her legs unconsciously when the two fingers changed pattern and found their way inside her hungering body. She brought both her hands to cling on to her partner’s arm as it firmly held her tense back against his wide chest. Eirella was sent to her toes with a soft yelp as the two digits separated inside her, stretching her moist canal teasingly while her hips thrust out in welcoming. A jolt shot up her spine; she arched her back and whimpered in delight as the coarse fingers stirred her sex with the hand’s strong movements, causing her pelvis to sway with the motions as her stance became unsteady. The pleasure shooting through her nervous system tore at her focus; Eirella reached in under her robe with a shaking but quick right hand to untie the string holding her covering in place over her hipbone while she still could. With a heavy pull she loosened the knot; sending the cloth falling to the ground silently, baring her heated inner thighs to the cooling caress of the wind as it as her heart hammered her self-control away.
	Eirella threw her head back and gasped for air when her lover withdrew from her dripping tunnel and began to firmly rub the erect length of her sensitive hood with his two digits, compressing it between them. Warmth and pressure started to rapidly amass in her lower abdomen with every repeated motion. Her skin lit up with shivers when her ear brushed against his cheek. Isha please, so close now, “I… almost,” she whimpered with desperation in spite of her irregular breathing, writhing the side of her face against his bristled cheek in ecstasy as each slippery stroke sent shockwaves of pleasure through her body. Tiny, soft sounds increasingly escaped her in ragged bursts as the mounting tingle in her nub climbed painfully close to her peak. Eirella’s eyes shot open when a cry caught in her throat, she felt warm wetness envelop her ear just as the digits entered her depths once more; every muscle in her body stiffened simultaneously as pleasure burst from her flaming core. Heat rushed to her face while darkness briefly crept in from the corners of her vision; she subconsciously dug her nails into the powerful arm locking her to her mate. She swayed as her ecstatic nerves pulsed in accordance with her rhythmic convulsions against the intruders. Eirella’s lungs finally expelled with a trembling cry as she regained control of her breathing. Her knees almost buckled beneath her as her orgasm steadily kneaded the tension from her muscles with every wet contraction.
	She came down panting as her skin flushed with a pleasant sensation; relief washed over her as she savored the kisses being planted on her neck. The fingers gently slid out from her flushed opening as the heated hand left her mound, exposing it to the cooling air. Eirella’s eyelids dropped as she basked in the quivering sensations of the afterglow, she took in the sound of the evergreen leaves rustling above in the light gusts of wind; her back was subtly massaged by the breathing of the sculpted form it rested against. She felt herself being turned until her exposed front rested against the comfortable warmth of a male form, she was dimly aware of her head lolling forward to lay against the same, living surface while her breathing eased somewhat. A gentle hand cupped her cheek tenderly and tilted her head slightly back; she felt lips press against her own softly for a sweet moment before parting, leaving a trail of warmth lingering on her lips. 

“Throne, it seems to me like you really needed that,” a heavy, masculine voice sounded soothingly in her ears as gentle fingers combed her hair behind her back, “You all right in there?”

“Cadmus,” Eirella whispered in recognition. He had no idea. She had certainly needed that, if only for the emotional connection. Not that she had any complaints about the physical aspects on the other hand, what he lacked in delicacy he more than made up for with other attributes. She felt a small trace of shame at her indulgence, far longer periods without release than two terran years were not uncommon amongst eldar. Love, as unbelievable as it was, should be treasured. Smiling to herself, Eirella leaned back and opened her eyes; she almost stumbled, still slightly lightheaded from her climax. She looked at Cadmus and noticed that he beheld her with a warm expression. 
	Though, there was a hint of self-satisfaction on his features as well; a joyous but competitive side of her leapt at the realization. With energy returning to her limbs, Eirella sprung forth and sought him out for another kiss. Her heart leapt into action and sent renewed vigor coursing through her being; she broke the kiss and trailed new ones along his neck with those intoxicating hairs. He was a paradox, a balance of brutishness and caution, power with restraint. It was maddening. It ignited a fire within her that she had never felt for anyone else. She pressed her body against him, delighting in the sensation of her nipples brushing against the somewhat coarse shirt. The familiar bump against her abdomen made her shiver with anticipation, she needed more. With an unseen smirk she broke away and sent her hands and eyes roaming downwards towards his belt as he loosened his embrace and cupped her shoulders cautiously.

Vaul, this insolent garment was beyond forgiving; how dare it bar her way? Having skillfully made her way past the belt, Eirella managed to get by the button without much of a contest. The first challengers were simple enough for her dexterous fingers and eldar wits. The last obstacle was more difficult, the jagged metal seam would not give, no matter how she tore at the two ends where the button had fastened above it. Eirella growled with frustration at the impractical device, stupid mon-keigh clothing. A hand reached down to stop her; Khaine, what now? 

Eirella heard Cadmus snort with restrained laughter, “It’s a zipper not a ration wrapping, here,” his fingers pointedly guided her thumb and index finger to a small handle which hung from the locking device at the top of the metal seam, “like this,” he yanked up and urged her to pull the handle down. Eirella frowned in irritation and restrained her indignation at being ordered around like a child. She bit her lower lip, the handle opened up the metal seam as it travelled downwards, unshackling his concealed bulge all along the way. She managed to reach the bottom of the seam with great calm despite the slight resistance and irritation, “Not bad for a first try, seriously,” Cadmus commented and rewarded her with a peck to her scalp, obviously amused with her ignorance.

Eirella hoped her blush was not visible, but knew it unlikely as the human’s chest bobbed with silent amusement. His mockery would be forgiven, for now. Her mind was elsewhere; her heart kept thundering in her chest, she felt the warmth in her belly flare as the erection was finally freed from its restraints and tapped against her abdomen. She reached out and all but threw the breeches with the underwear to his ankles and beheld her prize. She grinned knowingly and looked up to look him in the eye expectantly once her hand found the base. Isha, he was rock solid with need; a need for her. Deciding to test the overconfident male she gave his shaft a hard squeeze, causing the human to draw a sharp breath in the process as his eyes closed. Eirella licked her lips before moving her grip up and down the thick member with a slow but firm pace, stretching the smooth skin along the hardened length. She dragged her thumb along the underside; it was crude, a little veiny and somewhat uneven, just as she recollected it to be. Before their first union she would never have thought a brutish organ like his could provide such pleasure. Heat flared on her face at another memory, and by Isha it gave a bountiful yield. She swallowed; it was time, she looked up and narrowed her eyes, “On your knees, mon-keigh,” she commanded.

“Pardon?” the inattentive male asked after a moment of hesitation with closed eyes. Khaine, as if her command was not clear enough! She let go of his organ and willed him down with a wave of her hand. His eyes shot open at the use of force and he looked at her with those rounded, pleading eyes. A spark of guilt weakened her resolve at the sight, but the sharp stab of arousal spoke for another approach. 

The lightness in her heart felt so strangely wonderful compared to what she was used to, she was tired of waiting. Eirella removed her robe quickly and tossed it away before turning her back to him. She needed him inside her; her deepest reaches ached with frustration for not having received any stimulation previously. Giddy with anticipation, she got on her knees and bent over at the hips until her breasts were planted firmly against the ground. She rested her forehead against the smooth blanket and tensed with eagerness and longing. The heat in her stomach felt as if it would burst at any moment; his earlier ministrations had left her more than ready for him. She waited, feeling her own wetness aching for attention, but nothing came. Impatience mounted at the lack of contact, Eirella aired her thoughts into the blanket with a heavy breath, “Must I command you to breed me?” and pushed her rear up for emphasis and crossed her ankles.

“Throne, just let me get my damn shirt off,” Cadmus complained while throwing his shirt off, having opened the final button at last. Eirella merely let out an excited snicker at his clumsiness. Her libido was incredible! She had almost thrown herself to the ground and had her ass raised high, Cadmus needed not be told twice to understand what she wanted. Still, he had to take a second to admire the view; every part of Eirella that he had seen was a glimpse of perfection. Her hindquarters were no exception, they were not as wide as a human woman’s, but no less well formed. Her toned, heart shaped ass framed a reddened vulva pressed between soft but strong things, the inside of both glistening wet with her arousal. Cadmus leaned aside to look for her face, he swallowed at what he saw; her knuckles were white as she gripped the blanket firmly. As for her face, it was planted on the ground and her hair concealed it from view, stewed about as it was. Nothing from this angle gave her away as a xeno aside the two pointy ears poking out slightly to the side of the dark brown velvety pile. Cadmus kicked his pants and boxers aside and moved up behind her while trying to make some sense of himself. This should not be as exciting as it was; their previous session started as little more than a coincidence. How can a xeno, an eldar of all the arrogant things in the galaxy, make him feel this out of his mind? What would a convenient excuse be for his newfound preference, an evolutionary attraction to a similar form? Heresy be damned, it’ll do for now.

Eirella was livid and amused at her own situation; she would soon get mounted like a wild gyrinx in lady Macha’s private glade, the audacity of it all was unprecedented. An undignified snicker threatened to escape her at the thought. She gripped the blanket next to her shoulders with excitement as she felt him shuffle close. Any moment now, please do not let it be interrupted. Eirella sensed that he stopped briefly, just after contact; she felt the tip of his member touch just over her tailbone.  She was about to voice her urge but felt a large hand caress the skin of her lower back, sending shivers across her body at the contact and relaxing her somewhat. Eirella barely had a moment to process the sensation before she felt the head brush down over her aching slit, applying pressure as he tested the readiness of her wet entrance with his tip. Isha, it was wider than his two fingers, just like she remembered. 

She felt an agonizing flare of frustration when he drew back as she pushed out to guide him in, “M-maybe we should take a break, it’s getting late and the birds are a little loud,” her tormentor spoke with a scarcely controlled tone.

Eirella couldn’t help it, if she shook with pent up lust or anger she did not know. She slowly pushed herself off the blanket while crushing it with an iron vice, “Mon-keigh…” she hissed with venom, intending to give the primitive a piece of her mind. Before she could vent her rage he pushed past her soaked, swollen folds and hilted himself inside of her, causing her to gasp sharply and push her torso fully off the ground. Eirella held her breath as she felt herself stretch to accommodate his girth. She could only stare wide eyed at the blanket below her as she gripped it tightly. She dared not move least it all end suddenly. The feeling was overpowering, to finally have him after thinking him lost forever sent a wave of emotion through her being that she could not remember ever having felt before.

Cadmus rumbled with delight and closed eyes at her clenching, wet embrace. Throne, she was just as warm and tight as he recalled. He opened his eyes and looked at the rear view of this fascinating creature he was falling for. He could not deny her beauty, xeno or not she was appealing to the extreme. Her back was arched in a supple curve, highlighting her delicate shape perfectly; lithe muscles accented her female figure with an exotic touch. Eirella was so similar to a human; soft, passionate, considerate and loving but with a fiery nature that defied his preconceptions time and time again. Cadmus brought both his hands to her butt and firmly kneaded her well-shaped rump, stretching the skin around her anus and sex. He tested movement, pulling halfway out and thrusting back in, forcing a small sound from the eldar woman. With a steady rhythm, he began to move in and out. Every thrust was eagerly met and coaxed soft moaning from her; the sensitivity she possessed was abnormal and fantastically arousing. He felt her inner walls clamp down on his member as she began to arch her back more and more, every thrust produced a wet smacking sound when their bodies met. Cadmus struggled to keep up his pace while holding off the building pressure in his loins; Emperor, it had been far too long. It was getting really hard to focus; he had to slow down least he finish prematurely. With reluctant restraint, he withdrew from her pink, silken embrace until his tip rested by the opening, drawing a desperate whimper from her. His shaft was completely covered by her juices.

Eirella writhed against the tip and trembled with frustration at his aborted efforts, she had been so close. She could barely hold herself up as she trembled. Then he moved, Eirella gasped for air when he leaned into her, his penis rubbed her sensitive nub as it slid past her entrance. Cadmus kept pushing forward, his weight forcing her to give way until her body lay pressed against the ground by his large form, his arms finding support for his elevated torso underneath each of her shoulders. Eirella’s eyes were wide; all she could feel was her heart drumming with an insane pace when she felt him lift off a little, his body stopping just shy of contact and leaving a warm sensation lingering on her skin. He brought his legs in between hers and pried them apart with his knees, spreading her wide. Eirella could feel herself instinctively tighten up and raise her hips in offering as she realized what he was about to do.
	After a shift of his pelvis to find alignment with her sex, he sank back down in spite of her body’s futile resistance until he bottomed out inside her. She could not place the sound she made; it was a cross between a moan and a wail. The sensations coursing through her were overwhelming; his bulging muscles against her back and rump, his member stretching her canal to the outer limits of pleasure. Eirella whimpered and ground against him in a desperate hunger for stimulation as he impaled her, this new depth and angle threatened to take the last bits of her sanity away. 
	The male pulled back with his hips as much as he could manage before thrusting back with a slightly upwards angle, pushing her to the ground and causing Eirella to let out a hoarse cry of delight. Her ear was washed with warm wetness when the human’s tongue ran across the sensitive length; the sudden assault shot a wave of pleasure through her body as he settled into his hard but well-paced thrusts against her slightly raised bottom. Her breathing became increasingly irregular as she felt pressure building inside her with every thrust, “Yes! Isha please yes,” she managed to cry out in spite of her ragged gasps. The harder than usual surface forced her body to absorb the full weight of every thrust, each reaching deeper than she ever thought possible, coaxing sharp yelps and mewling sounds from her lips with every breath. The pleasure of being filled so completely made focusing impossible; without realizing it, she bit down hard on the blanket and let out a muffled groan. All she could hear was her own ragged moaning, her heartbeat and slick, wet sounds as her sex clenched against her mate. Desperate moans escaped her as she clung to the last of her composure every time he pushed against her innermost blazing depths.

A powerful, tingling sensation rapidly built in her lower abdomen. Eirella’s breathing had almost stopped when she felt his girth throb once within, “Inside,” she pleaded in desperation, having released the blanket from her bite just before the cry lodged in her throat. Her back arched; heat blossomed in her belly, every muscle tensed as the most powerful orgasm she had ever felt took her. White, flaring pleasure blinded her, the human tensed and let out a hoarse grunt. With a final, heavy thrust he stopped and erupted inside her, warmth poured forth against her cervix. Eirella let out shuddering whimper when her breath left her lungs; every nerve was on fire with pulsing, unsurpassed pleasure as her feet lifted from the ground, her toes curling in the free air. She grinded her hips against him and moaned in ecstasy as she rode out her climax, greedily convulsing against his throbbing member, the feeling of his warm seed filling her sent shivers through her body. Soft spasms worked the tension from her muscles as she writhed against his solid form.

Warmth flushed her body as Eirella came down from her orgasm, the lovely feeling of fulfillment spread through her heart as she lay panting, one cheek against the woven cloth beneath her. Her mate’s breath danced warmly across the skin of her neck as his head nestled against her. She could stay like this forever, eyes closed and basking in intimacy with her beloved. Eirella felt the human slide out as he lifted off to settle beside her; no, she did not want that, “Cadmus, sirai yenna…” she managed as her satisfaction lulled her heart into slowing down at last. She felt an arm sneak under her chest and lift her up gently, another pulling her up against a warm body until her face lay against a warm shoulder. Her lover placed a reassuring kiss against her forehead as she reveled in caress of his wide hand against the naked skin of her back. Eirella brought her arm around him and snuggled up against the soothing form with a smile. Fine then human, she thought, this will do. 

Cadmus simply lay on his back as his erection faded away, throbbing gently in compliment to his find. Heresy it is, he was ruined for humans now. How in the name of the exalted guardian of mankind did he ever end up like this? Visiting an eldar craftworld at the invitation of a socially drinking, sassy farseer to go and see what he probably should have written off as a one-time thing well over a year ago. Yet here he was, on Biel-Tan itself, in all his naked terran magnificence with a beautiful eldar right next to him. Eirella lay against him, breathing softly as she trailed strange patterns on his chest with a fingertip. The few, glowing moments passing cooled his heated body back down to a somewhat normal temperature. Cadmus looked around and saw the sun barely visible over the treetops; it was about time they got back, “Hey, you awake?” he asked and shook his companion gently.

“Mhmm, belai’ar,” was all Eirella felt like saying as she listened to his slow heartbeat. It was almost as if he was half dead by eldar standards, but each beat was so strong.

“As much as I’d like to stay here, we should probably get dressed and head on back,” Cadmus stated with some regret, “and what did that mean by the way?” he thought he caught an eldar word in there.

“It means beloved, or dearest,” Eirella confessed and rose up to a half seated position, leaning on an arm for support as she looked him over with her warm amber eyes, “and you are probably ri-” she stopped speaking suddenly as her ears twitched and her look turned sharply. Her eyes narrowed, “Put your clothes on,” she instructed him in a hushed tone.

Cadmus did as she asked; he got up on his knees and reached for his shirt and underpants as a sense of dread built in him, “Eirella?” he inquired with a quiet tone as he hurriedly put the garments on. She didn’t answer but kept scanning the direction from where they had come with her keen eyes, still seated, “Did you hear something?” throne, what if they had been spotted? Energy surged to his limbs as his worry mounted. Cadmus lowered himself back down and turned his head over his shoulder to try and see what Eirella was looking at, “I can’t see anything,” he whispered. There was nothing there but she didn’t seem to care, Cadmus turned his eyes back to the warlock once he found his shirt.

“I sensed something,” Eirella whispered without looking back at him and slowly pulled her legs in as if getting ready to rise up. Her face was furrowed in concentration, “stay here,” she commanded.

“What?” Cadmus worked on buttoning up when his heart almost stopped in his chest, stay here? He was about to ask what she was planning when Eirella dexterously got to her feet, silently but with some haste. She was leaning forward slightly, bent at the hips about halfway to fully standing with her knees bent. Her legs flexed with tension, ready to spring into action at any moment. Cadmus raised his brow when he noticed Eirella had one hand cupping her womanhood and the other arm covering her breasts as if concealing them from view. Shit, someone must have seen them. Just as he was about to reach for his pants the warlock moved, she prowled forth silently, looking like a feline on the hunt until she reached just around the big tree trunk. Cadmus was frozen stiff with amazement as he watched her; she looked down, slightly towards the ground in front of her as her ears moved faintly with every turn of her head. It looked as if she was trying to pinpoint the source of a sound, was eldar hearing really that great? Cadmus could only hear the faint rustling of the leaves in the wind and the ever quieter song of the birds nestling in the treetops.

Without warning, Eirella sprang into action with speed that dazzled Cadmus. She turned almost one hundred and eighty degrees and bolted towards the far side of the blanket where he was seated. With a great leap, the warlock hurled herself into the air with her arms out in front of her and dove straight into the ground in a rather comical fashion. The inquisitor thought he could make out a yelp as Eirella impacted the ground, though he didn’t recognize the voice as belonging to her. With titanic effort, the warlock wrestled an invisible form as she rolled onto the blanket opposite to Cadmus. 
	Cadmus simply crossed his legs where he sat; he could only watch, stunned with disbelief at the ridiculous display in front of him. Eirella was on her back and had her legs locked around something Cadmus could not see, something that emitted feminine sounds of protest. The warlock’s arms flailed about as they fought their invisible opponents close to her face. Cadmus thought he could hear someone plead to his partner in what sounded like the eldar tongue as Eirella subdued her prey with fury in her eyes. She released her leg lock once both her hands had found a secure grip on whatever they had fought for and brought them in towards her chest. With great agility, Eirella planted her feet and shoulders into the ground and pushed her pelvis into the air, baring her intimacy for all the craftworld to see as she leaned to the side, towards Cadmus, and flipped over whatever apparition she was holding. Eirella followed though and ended up straddling the anomaly which obviously still refused to admit defeat if the movements on the surface of the blanket were any indication. 
	The warlock let out a final grunt in triumph and pushed her closed hands back together near a point between her thighs as the struggle finally stopped. For a moment, Cadmus expected a resumption of hostilities but was shocked to see a person appear from seemingly out of nowhere, right between the legs of Eirella. It was a figure he recognized instantly; on her back and stiff as a rod of iron, wrangled into submission between the legs of her student, with her wrists caught in each of Eirella’s hands, lay the farseer who brought him to Biel-Tan, “Macha?” Cadmus uttered in shocked amusement as she turned her head and pleading emerald eyes to him.





Chapter 6.

“I am sorry!” the farseer pleaded her case to him once more, “This is a terrible misunderstanding. I was going to ask if you two wanted supper but then she attacked me!” her face was clad in an expression of somewhat feigned remorsefulness, "I-I did not see anything at all, I swear to Asuryan!"

“Uh huh…” Cadmus muttered and narrowed his eyes inquisitively, finding the fact that she had hidden herself with warp sorcery a rather serious challenge to her alibi. Just how long had she been here? Cadmus turned his eyes to Eirella who mounted the abdomen of the farseer in triumph; the warlock met his eyes and tilted her head to the side with a wide eyed, comically slack expression that bespoke both amusement and an obvious lack of belief at what farseer Macha was saying. Cadmus looked back at Macha and raised an eyebrow.

The farseer slowly turned her head away in shame, "I swear to the Emperor..." she attempted in a quiet voice.

"All right, that's it!" getting caught with her skirt up was one thing, blasphemy was quite another. Cadmus had an idea, "where is that damned satchel!?" he asked out aloud as he looked around. He couldn't help but recall that it held a quill which might come in handy right about now.

“By the tree, belai’ar,” Eirella added helpfully with as flat a tone as she could manage. By the emperor, she could be a real angel when she wanted to. 


“You’re the best,” Cadmus acknowledged when he saw the satchel; it lay exactly where Eirella had said it did. Cadmus had placed the feather next to it, just after he had reintroduced himself to the warlock earlier. The inquisitor grabbed the feather and slowly worked his way towards the two eldar women before sitting down a bit in front of Eirella. Macha was stiff with her head turned back to watch him, her eyes bounced back and forth between his face and the feather intensely. Her elegant features held an expression of playful curiosity and hesitation coupled with a rather noticeable shade of red. Cadmus turned his eyes to the other eldar woman; Eirella was looking him straight in the eye and had the corner of her mouth drawn into a knowing but subtle smirk. The warlock was still gripping the farseers wrists between her legs where she sat. Upon arriving and sitting down next to the warlock, Cadmus turned his eyes back to seek Macha’s out as he twirled the feather in front of him between his thumb and index finger.
	She really was quite easy on the eyes; her lips were drawn into the smallest trace of a smile and they were almost the same pale color of her skin, only a faint shade pinker to match her blush. Her nose was petite and delicately pointed just slightly upwards, highlighted somewhat by the strange red lines on her cheeks. The farseer’s brilliant, emerald green eyes were aimed low; seeking his out. They were indeed a fair bit larger than Eirella’s but still sported the unmistakable eldar shape. A slow blink revealed crimson lashes set against matching eyebrows, accenting the warm eyes perfectly as they glistened somewhat in the reflection of the setting sun. Her head rested against the blanket, partly covered as it was by her lovely deep crimson hair. Breaking his stare with a shake of his head at the enchanting sight, Cadmus thought of how to proceed, “Macha darling, just how long were you watching us?”


Macha’s expression took one of exaggerated remorse, “I only just arrived when you were about to leave,” she jumped her eyes over to Eirella briefly before returning to him, “I did not mean to find you in such an intimate state.”


“You are not truthful, my lady,” Eirella interceded, causing Cadmus to turn to look at her questioningly. She turned to look at him as a decisive expression worked its way across her face, “Cadmus, I believe she must be punished.” 


“Tsch, how so? With that?” Macha commented in scorn as she tried to smother a smile while she eyed the feather curiously. She turned her head slightly, subtly offering one of her pointy ears in the process, “Do your worst, mon-keigh.”


“Tsss,”Cadmus sounded out, he was not impressed. The inquisitor looked over at Eirella for confirmation; the warlock merely smirked and nodded subtly. He turned his eyes back to Macha with a merciless grin, “As you wish,” and backed away on his knees towards her feet. The farseer in turn took on a confused expression as she watched him back away. Her confusion turned to shock when Cadmus placed his legs across hers to hold them down, he took pleasure in the barefooted convenience.

“They are insensitive!” Macha exclaimed in desperation as she realized her feet were next on the menu. Cadmus ignored her last ditch attempt to force the imperial efforts further north and brushed the underside of her delicate and pale toes with the tip of the feather experimentally, forcing a gasp from the farseer as her toes curled up. Insensitive, are they now? The inquisitor smiled as he felt her legs try to squirm away in protest at the touch. He brought the feather in and gently assaulted the soles of her feet with a flurry of sideways movements, coaxing flustered laughs from her, “Cease this!” but the barrage kept creeping ever onwards. “Please,” the farseer flexed her toes and squirmed with her hips, thighs pressed against one another in a hopelessly brave show of resistance, “I…” she pleaded with what sounded almost like a moan, causing him to stop suddenly.


“I what?” Cadmus leaned out to look at her, Macha had her eyes focused at the leaves above her with an excited expression; her lips were parted slightly as she took calming breaths. The inquisitor could easily make out two faint bumps at the peak of her breasts through the cloth of her robe. Throne, did she seriously enjoy getting her feet tickled or was this just the overall mood? From what he could see, Eirella in turn seemed to have her gaze fixed on her teacher, still holding her wrists securely.


“I confess,” Macha began with a flustered tone after a few precious moments to regain her composure, “I noticed you were indisposed,” her eyes dropped down to seek his out with a hint of determination, “I was intrigued.”


Cadmus crawled up behind Eirella and brought his arms around her waist while placing a kiss on her ear, “So, what do we do now?” he queried to the warlock as he rested his chin on her bare shoulder. He looked down at the farseer; she seemed to want to look anywhere but at them all of a sudden, “Should we send her back?” he asked. For a blink of an eye Macha looked surprised at his utterance, revealing her true colors to the inquisitor.


“Belai’ar, can you guess what lady Macha is sometimes called?” Eirella answered by taking the lead with an audible tease in her voice.


Before he could answer, the farseer protested, “Eirella, I will strangle you in your sleep!” Macha warned with finality as she locked eyes with her student.


“Hmm?” Eirella hummed with glee in spite of the sharp warning, “She is known as the maiden seer amongst the seer’s council.”


Cadmus lifted his head off her shoulder and got off to the side; Eirella’s statement gave him pause, maiden seer? Was she honestly implying what he thought she was? Macha switched her look hesitantly between Cadmus and Eirella when he sought her eyes out. Her, a virgin? It sounded ridiculous, especially given her age, beauty and obviously social nature, “Do you seriously mean to tell me that…” he couldn’t quite finish when he noticed the farseer rolled her eyes and turned her head away with a pained expression. Cadmus you damned sap, the inquisitor scolded himself mentally upon feeling a sharp throb in his chest.


Macha merely sighed in defeat and closed her eyes as Eirella spoke for her, “Yes, despite our unwritten tradition that a female is to try for a child before taking on her second path, Macha never did so.”


That Cadmus didn’t know, “And why is that?” he addressed to them both with curiosity.


“The nature of my visions made me fall out of favor in my, well, relative youth,” Macha explained with some irritation in her voice before Eirella could speak up. She spared him a glance, “They all insinuated I was too fixated on mon-keigh,” the farseer added with mocking sneer in her voice, “I told them all to smother my rear end with their dry lips.”


“You charmer,” Cadmus laughed despite himself; he had never thought eldar actually had expressions like that.


Eirella gave a small laugh, “I can now see another reason as to why the title is quite appropriate,” she turned her eyes to him expectantly and let the farseer’s wrists go, “lady Macha desires you.”


Cadmus felt too stunned and dry mouthed to speak; he looked over to the farseer who simply closed her eyes and brought both hands to her face as she tried to fight the crimson tide washing over her face. Almighty master of mankind, you had best be joking. After all the subtle hints had been there, he really needed to study eldar social norms in more detail now that he had the chance.


“Since she will most certainly not leave us alone, I propose we remedy her frustrations,” Eirella stated off handedly.


“What?” Cadmus and the farseer said simultaneously, both turning to look at the beaming warlock.


“You did not mishear me, Cadmus; I propose we claim lady Macha’s maidenhood,” Eirella explained further as she darted her gaze between the two with a greedy smirk on her face. Getting an opportunity to lord oneself above ones rank was a rare thing after all, it was to be savored. Cadmus commended the young warlock silently as she took advantage of the ensuing awkward silence and climbed off the farseer who seemed preoccupied with opening and closing her mouth as she tried to figure out what to say. Eirella took a seat right in front of Cadmus and tilted her head to the side questioningly as she waited for his response.


Cadmus sprang into action at the signal, looked over to Macha to try and get her attention, “Macha?” it didn’t work. The inquisitor felt his heartbeat accelerate somewhat; the farseer was certainly exquisite, and Eirella seemed perfectly fine with the idea of a third party if her expression was any indication. Were eldar not as monogamous in their relationships, or was this something else? Before he had a chance to ask, the farseer started moving.


Macha hurriedly got up to a seated position next to Eirella and crossed her legs before shaking her head to collect herself, “Slow down,” she began before turning and looking her apprentice in the eye, “Eirella, are you certain?” she asked. When the warlock merely nodded the farseer turned her eyes to the inquisitor, “I want,” she began while averting her eyes almost immediately, “I mean, I would not mind If you…"


Cadmus felt quite surprised and a little embarrassed at how easily his interest was piqued, “Absolutely,” was all he could say. Feeling like stretching his legs, he got up and offered Macha his hands to help her up on her feet. 


“Really?” she took on a warm expression; the farseer giddily accepted the outstretched hands and rose up, “I am very pleased with this turn of events,” Macha admitted with a suggestive tone. 


“Of course you are,” Eirella added as she stood up as well and looked to her teacher, “It is not as if you would scheme for an outcome like this would you?” the warlock tried her hand at sarcasm.


Cadmus smiled at her jab. His eyes dove low in a few quick glances upon noticing something at the edge of his vision; there was a rather visible stain surrounding the gem on the sash Macha wore to secure her elegant robe to her waist. How had he not noticed before? Cadmus felt heat rush to his face at the realization; it was a sticky looking and somewhat clear stain, smeared over the fine cloth where Eirella had sat. 


“Is something amiss?” Macha questioned and brought one of her hands down to feel where he had looked. Her eyes widened with surprise before she brought her fingers up to have a look at the strange liquid. The farseer seemed utterly transfixed at the sight in front of her, ignoring the warlock’s gasp of surprise as her two fingers examined the sticky substance.


Cadmus wished that he could burrow underground with his toes at this moment. And by the golden throne, what is with her expression? Macha’s eyes were dreamy and lidded as if sleepwalking while her mouth slowly opened. Cadmus had to intervene, “Macha, about tha-,” was all he got out when the farseer suddenly shoved the two fingers into her mouth without warning, “right…” 

After a moment of quietly sampling the substance, Macha pulled the fingers from her mouth and wiped them clean on her robe, “Eirella, it would seem you spilled his seed on my robe,” the farseer turned to face the warlock whom had averted her eyes in embarrassment. Macha reached down and removed the sash before holding it out to inspect it. 


“Yeah…” Cadmus just felt like saying something as he let his eyes soak in the sight of the farseer’s opening robe. Wearing filthy clothing is bad; it’s good that she’s getting out of it.


Macha ignored him, “I expect it cleaned by tomorrow,” the farseer added with a friendly smile as she tossed the sash to the warlock who caught it with her hands on reflex.


Cadmus threw Eirella a quick glance, “You made me spill it…” she muttered quietly as she looked down at the stain with a detached expression.


“Then breed him again tomorrow,” Macha commented offhandedly while she removed her robe and let it fall to the ground next to her, “By Vaul, your patience is as immaterial as your adult height at times,” she added as she placed her hands on her hips like a mother scolding a child.


Eirella looked up and locked eyes with her significantly taller teacher and tossed the sash away towards the robe, “your kissing privileges were just revoked, my lady,” she informed with a searing tone.


Macha tossed her hair and looked down at her pupil, “No, they were not,” she replied with a chilling tone as her eyes narrowed, “runt.”


Bloody crimson and dark brown strands of hair danced gently with the wind in the ensuing standoff. The rapidly heating cold war between the farseer and the warlock had shaken the inquisitor from his highly amused stupor; Cadmus cleared his throat, “Let’s not argue, ladies,” he intervened diplomatically while trying to smother a shit eating grin. 


They both broke their staring contest to look at him, “You seem pleased with something, mon-keigh,” Eirella spoke first with surgical precision as her eyes bored into him. Macha smiled and had an expectant expression on her face as she turned her body to face him.


Cadmus, with a hint nervousness, looked over at Macha while trying to ignore the piercing glare from the warlock, “Those colors suit you,” he complimented as he inspected the farseer from top to bottom. 


“I knew you would like them,” Macha beamed as she jutted her hips in demonstration. 


Eirella stepped out next to Cadmus and turned around to inspect the farseer as well, “Hmpf,” was all she uttered as she folded her arms across her chest.


The two eldar women’s brief bout had taken his attention away from the farseer’s choice of underwear. Gold and red were two of Cadmus’s new favorite things, especially on lingerie. And by the emperor, Macha must have had them tailored to fit her inhuman form perfectly. The farseer wore something similar to the rather risqué set he had seen back in the closet at her home; the two pieces were composed of a thin, silken but deep red fabric with elegant golden trims and highlights. The top piece supported her ample, for an eldar, twin orbs nicely; an embroidered, golden laurel wreath surrounded each nipple as they poked through the soft fabric. Cadmus felt blood rush to his face; the bra was not transparent in the slightest but thin enough so that it left little to the imagination either way. 
	The inquisitor let his eyes wander on down, Macha’s abdomen was leaner than Eirella’s. It was smooth with the faintest outline of her muscles visible beneath the soft skin as she breathed calmly. They were less pronounced than the warlock’s, but it was not as if hers were in any way exaggerated. Macha’s hips were slightly narrower than the warlock’s as well which gave her a more slender appearance due to her height, but not at the expense of her womanly figure. The inquisitor’s eyes made it to the apex of her thighs; the thong Macha wore covered her intimacy with sparing efficiency. A golden Aquila, set against the red background, proudly spread its wings as it stood watch over her pronounced mound, accented as it was by the gap between her elegant thighs. The most holy but blasphemous sight tugged at his most tender of heartstrings. He could feel Eirella worm an arm around his back and gently urge him forward a step as she leaned into him, causing Cadmus to look back up to the farseer. Her expression was adorably nervous but excited, a crimson color had settled firmly on her soft cheeks.
	The inquisitor felt that having to look up, even if just a little, to meet a pair of deep emerald eyes was a welcome change of perspective. With a knowing smile, the farseer reached out and cautiously brought forth her arms to grab the back of his hands with her slender fingers. Cadmus felt blood rush to his loins while her demanding gaze bore into him; Macha leaned her head forward slightly, she guided his palms across the smooth but subtle curve of her hips, her sides and around her waist until he was holding her at a chaste distance. Against his unspoken wishes, Macha dropped her eyelids softly; Cadmus’s heart soared as he felt the farseer tremble slightly when he slowly pulled her in. She let out a joyful giggle and released his hands as he suddenly squeezed her firmly against his body and kissed her. After a soft initial peck, Macha’s arms wrapped around his neck as she pulled him in with an open mouth to hungrily lock her lips against his, her eager and longer than expected tongue probed his teeth and delved in when he opened his mouth right away.
	Macha shivered with delight against his body as their tongues writhed with curiosity against one another. The farseer moaned lovingly into his mouth and entwined her leg with one of his, pressing herself against his fully grown erection as he urgently brought one hand low to caress her shapely behind. The farseer hugged him tighter as Cadmus’s fingers found their way in between the cleft of her rear underneath indecently small back of her bottom piece as his hand explored the curve of her lower back and rump. Throne, he could never get enough of that feeling; like Eirella, the farseer was impossibly lean compared to a human but at the same time womanly and soft to the touch.  


Macha suddenly broke the kiss and gasped for air against his neck, “So this is what you have been hoarding,” the farseer scolded her between labored breaths while Cadmus’s hands made their way up her back to unhook her bra. The inquisitor smiled as the elastic piece snapped open with little difficulty; the design was not unfamiliar after all. He reluctantly broke their embrace and stepped out to give the farseer some room to maneuver.


“Mhmm,” Eirella proudly intoned from behind as she gave Cadmus’s upper arms an appreciative squeeze. With great care, she traced her fingers over his back muscles and began to gently massage his shoulders, unwinding his tension with the skillful treatment. 


“How kind of you to share,” Macha added and with a shrug she let her bra glide down her arms and onto the ground before she kicked it aside and pushed her chest out subtly. Her eyes were keenly focused on his own while she spoke, if she addressed Eirella or him Cadmus could not honestly say. Perhaps because of his musings, the inquisitor could not prevent his eyes from turning to the recently bared skin. Her nipples were hard with excitement and together with the areolas they were just as pale as the rest of her skin. The lack of contrast, just like with her lips, gave her an exotic appeal. The farseer’s breasts were fuller looking and considerably larger than those of the much younger Eirella, this in spite of Macha’s more slender form. Was that an age thing with eldar, or did the farseer simply come from some very good stock? Still, her breasts were hardly sizeable enough to make a well-endowed human woman jealous, so the daughters of terra were safely ahead in that regard. The inquisitor remembered his manners, brought his eyes up to the farseer’s face and found that she had narrowed hers with playful intent at his stare. He really needed to remember his manners better.


Cadmus felt warm, but not because of the temperature; Eirella had leaned in to his back and stealthily worked her hands around his waist and under his loosely buttoned shirt. Her thumbs teasingly stretched the elastic band of his boxers as she ran them back and forth, just out of touch from his abdomen. The thumbs turned back just after touching his erection every time they journeyed towards the middle; her teasing caused him to throb with need for more and the inquisitor thought he could feel the warlock’s face form a smile against his back as she got increasingly bolder.
	Cadmus hurried for a distraction; he reached out and cupped one of Macha’s breasts. The farseer gasped softly at the sudden contact and in a blink of an eye she had pulled him in to passionately lock her lips to his. It put a stop to the warlock’s teasing as her hands were stuck between them. Cadmus closed his eyes and kneaded the ample orb, compressing it against Macha’s chest as her deep breaths expanded her ribcage. The farseer deepened the kiss and moaned appreciatively as he gave her firm nipple a gentle pinch and rolled it between his thumb and index finger. 
	He felt a pair of persistent but smaller hands try to break free from their confinement; the farseer eased her abdomen out to give her pupil some room. Macha broke the kiss and took a few calming breaths as the feeling of her exotic tongue and lips lingered in Cadmus’s consciousness. Meanwhile, Eirella dexterously wiggled her delicate fingers into his underpants and caught hold of his hardened member with both hands, sending shivers of delight through his body as she greedily examined the no doubt familiar shape. Slim palms cautiously pushed it to his abdomen while soft fingertips teasingly stroked the underside of his base; the slow but thorough exploration was amazing.	


Macha opened her eyes, feeling almost feverishly warm with excitement as she broke their kiss; the wider than expected tongue, the subtle exaggerations of his form were enticing. His closed eyes and blissful expression at their parting sent heat rushing through her body; as a farseer, she was not used to being considered desirable. Macha did not quite know what to make of these strange new feelings stirring in her heart. To further her confusion, she had never expected him to let it go this far; the memories of this night would remain in her soul until the very end. There was also the embarrassing fact that she had never kissed anyone with passion before; the closest to that she had ever gotten was a shameful bout of experimentation with her sister when they were both very young. The farseer looked down at the human’s chest and blushed at the memory; her sister’s jealous guarding of her mate was much more understandable to her now. 
	Some part of her was still torn as to why Cadmus indulged her secret desires; he obviously cared tremendously for the young warlock, she had garnered that much from listening to the two as they spoke by the tree earlier. Did the same care exist for her? Macha failed to fight down a smile at the thought, in spite of her doubts. Besides, Eirella was similar in mind to herself and Macha could understand the attraction she felt to the coarse features of this human. Her body was definitely in agreement; the heated tingle between her legs presented a competitive argument for simply enjoying what was offered. She blushed even deeper upon taking note of her state; the silken mon-keigh underwear would need washing. Macha loved the way this thong, as they called it, gently cupped her intimacy; it had been obvious from mirror observations when she first acquired the set that it was designed to highlight her features, especially those of her backside. Human females had dangerously appealing tastes; the inquisitor had certainly been flattered at her wearing them after all, something which pleased her greatly. Macha’s mind went back to the present as she looked over the shirt Cadmus still wore; she almost wanted to rip it open if it meant giving her a few more seconds to savor the upcoming events. 

“Here,” the human rumbled as he brought her hands down with his own and placed her fingers near the lowermost button that was still fastened. Macha glanced up for a moment and saw that Cadmus was looking at her expectantly. He showed her how to pry the button open while tenderly cupping her fingers in his large hands as if to comfort her. Macha swallowed down the ache in her heart, she had not even realized she was trembling. A mixture of adoration and unwelcome jealousy shot through her at his comforting gesture. She wanted nothing more than to reach out and entwine her soul with his, to envelop his essence with her own and bare her desires and feelings completely until he felt nothing but her. Yet she knew she should not; her path was set, Eirella’s was not and Isha willing there was still time for her. If her clouded visions were true, the human would have to leave eventually and Eirella would follow her heart. The farseer smiled; young love, such a shame to have missed it. Still, even if it was only for one night, she would let her heart claim that he was here for her as well, just once. 
	Macha was shaken from her thoughts as she was guided up to the next button where he waited expectantly. She touched her tongue to her upper lip and carefully mimicked his motion, undoing another button as her heart raced on in her chest. She blinked; transfixed with the unraveling before her as she continued on and worked her way up with an increasing pace; each button being undone revealed more of a well-muscled torso that she had longed to feel against her skin ever since she saw it the first time. 
	As the last button finally released, Macha ran her fingers across the bulging musculature of his chest while prying the shirt open. The hairs that covered his pectorals were softer than they had looked at a distance. The farseer looked further down and saw that Eirella had teasingly concealed the tip of the human’s member from her view with her hands as the young warlock held it between the lining of his underpants and his abdomen. Macha smirked as she realized the youth no doubt sensed where her look was; but she also felt a pang of worry, she wondered if the warlock had sensed her earlier musings. Macha had to muster her focus to tear herself from the mesmerizing sight of Eirella gently massaging the human’s large manhood right in front of her. Every relieved sigh he released at the warlock’s soft stroking made Macha’s belly flutter at the prospect of how he would react to her touch. There was however, a small issue to deal with beforehand; the impudence of her pupil would not be permitted any longer. However lonely the fate of a farseer may be, it still commanded a healthy dose of respect.

Macha had an idea; she looked back up into Cadmus’s lovely brown eyes, “Why not take this off,” she suggested and lightly tugged at his shirt. 

“Sounds like you have a plan,” the human agreed with a sly expression and leaned back to remove it fully, by doing so he forced Eirella to back away and withdraw her hands, exactly as intended. Macha had to fight down a giggle, if only he knew.

The farseer pulled the inquisitor in for an embrace after he tossed his shirt away. He returned it and held her tight while running one of his hands across her back, sending shivers of relief through her body. She sighed and felt tension leave her muscles as her confidence built, that hand of his was dangerously addictive. Macha closed her eyes as she took in the sensation of her bare skin against his body at last, “I have longed for this,” she whispered as his lips left a trail of kisses up her neck towards her ear. The first nibble sent a wave of pleasure through her nerves, causing her to bite her lower lip in a futile effort to contain a whimper. The slow, pulsing suction that followed made her whole being tingle with anticipation. Please do not let him stop. His large member poked her covered mound from behind the thin cloth of his underwear, sparking her wild imagination. Isha, she had not tended to her needs in weeks, if he kept going…

“You have scarcely touched her, Belai’ar,” Macha heard the warlock’s drivel, breaking her immersion, “yet she is getting so close,” the nuisance continued. When the inquisitor suddenly released her ear the farseer pried her eyes open and fixed Eirella with a menacing glare. 

“But we were just getting started,” Cadmus childishly complained as he gave her rear end a gentle pinch, coaxing a surprised yelp from her. The warlock returned her glare with a look of pride as if she had just brought Isha back from the gardens of Nurgle. Macha had to resist gritting her teeth; so, Eirella thought Cadmus truly was hers to command? Not in her glade.

Macha arched an unimpressed eyebrow at the arrogant youth, took on her sweetest expression and leaned out to look Cadmus in the eye, “I, um, wish to try something,” she spoke hesitantly and averted her eyes while pretending to be embarrassed. “B-but I have never done it before, so…” the farseer stuttered out and was surprised to find herself actually blushing, perhaps she was getting a little caught up in the act. Then again, she really hadn’t tried what she now had in mind.

“Don’t worry,” Cadmus rubbed her back softly in a reassuring gesture. By Isha, that was dangerous. Macha looked up to meet his irresistibly warm, empathic gaze, “What is it?” he asked. 

Macha averted her gaze, “Fellatio,” she muttered quietly with what she hoped was feigned insecurity. The farseer suppressed a smirk at the wave of surprise she could feel emanating from Eirella at her proposal. She was done for; her young student was going to kill her.

“Oh! Err, I didn’t really think about that,” Cadmus began and cleared his throat, “If you want to I guess it’s all right,” he finished hesitantly and sought her eyes. Her heart throbbed with excitement; by Kurnous, he was such easy prey she almost felt guilty. Macha bit her lip and nodded for confirmation.

“What is fellatio?” Eirella blurted out. The farseer looked over the human’s shoulder with a grin worthy of a harlequin; the warlock crossed her arms under her meager breasts and had her eyes narrowed with suspicion. 

“It’s a blowjob,” Cadmus explained with a little amusement while looking over his shoulder to watch as the warlock moved to stand at his side. 

Macha got on her knees and began to tug at his underpants, “But why would you want her to blow air, is that pleasurable?” Eirella asked while watching as her teacher began to slowly pull his underpants down, “Is something amusing you, my lady?” she aired her suspicions. 

“No,” Macha quipped and paused to summon every last ounce of her composure in order to not burst out in giggles at her pupil’s expense. She spared Cadmus a glance to his face and saw that his lips were pouted; he was trying his best not to snicker at the situation. This was getting better and better; Macha licked her lips and returned her focus to slowly pull the garment down while her heart kept throbbing in her chest. When the fully engorged organ finally sprung free from its confinement her eyes widened; it was thicker than she had expected based on its length. Macha blushed at her thoughts; her well hidden wraithbone rods would certainly not be needed anymore. The farseer hesitantly brought one hand to inspect it while pulling the underpants down as close to his ankles as she could manage with the other. Her lower belly flushed with anticipation as she took in the shape with her hand. Macha scrambled to remember what her sister had told her that one time after stupefying herself with wine. Her heart was racing; she swallowed reflexively upon aligning it with her mouth and tilted her head up to look at the human with a smug expression. 





Chapter 7.

“By Isha, what are you doing Macha?!” Cadmus heard Eirella ask with a scandalized tone when the farseer curiously peeled his foreskin back and licked her lips. She firmly secured his shaft by its base with a thumb and two of her delicate fingers while resting the other hand against his inner thigh. He glanced at the stunned warlock; Eirella had to know what oral sex was. He reasoned that her ignorance must stem from a shortage in her word supply. He looked back down at the farseer whom he found was eyeing him intensely, her deep but knowing gaze made the inquisitor suddenly aware of the nervous throbbing of his heart.

“You will see,” Macha explained in a sultry tone, and for a moment Cadmus thought he could see an amused gleam in her eyes as she slowly leaned in towards his erection. The farseer paused just shy of contact; she teasingly pouted her pale, succulent lips and blew a gentle stream of hot air at the bared head of his penis, sending tingles through his legs. She gave him a playful wink before she leaned forward and touched her lips to the tip. Cadmus tensed at the sudden contact; he heard Eirella gasp in shock as he felt his head get enveloped by a wet, warm, fleshy covering. He felt ready to explode; Macha’s tongue writhed against the underside of his shaft as she steadily devoured it with her delicate lips. The inquisitor sucked in a sharp breath and clenched his own thighs with his hands as the farseer’s free hand found his testicles. He felt her suck firmly as she withdrew just until the head touched the cooling air before she again took his length into the warmth of her mouth until her lips touched her grip by his base. Her beautiful and hypnotic eyes never left his as her head bobbed with the deliberately increasing rhythm. Throne on Terra, Cadmus knew that he would not last much longer if she kept this up. As if reading his thoughts, Macha stopped at the tip and swirled her tongue around the head before parting and licking her lips. 

He felt stunned, he had not felt a single tooth, “I thought you said you’d never done that before…” Cadmus managed, almost laughing as he felt himself throb with frustration.

“I am glad you like it,” Macha admitted with a coy smile as she gave his member an appreciative squeeze, clearing the length of her saliva.

“But why did you stop?” he had to ask.

“Hmm, that close were we?” the farseer teased as she gently fondled his testicles, “Well, it would be unfair to take this all for myself,” the farseer continued as she looked up to her side.

Cadmus followed her look and felt a little embarrassed; he had almost completely ignored the warlock as Macha preformed her so called test. Eirella nibbled one of her fingers as she looked Macha in the eye, the other hand cupped her slit as she trained her eyes to look at his saliva drenched member. Cadmus thought he could see a hint of glistening wetness on her thighs, had she been aroused by watching? The inquisitor’s brow rose as she gave the farseer a subtle nod.

“Come here,” Macha patted the ground next to her and moved over, making room for the warlock. Without hesitating Eirella dropped to her knees and moved over in front of him. “Just mind your teeth and try to mimic what I do,” the farseer instructed. The warlock nodded again and replaced Macha’s hand at his scrotum. Cadmus felt his heart thunder in his chest; he could not believe this was happening.

The two eldar looked at one another and smiled in what the inquisitor guessed was agreement. They looked up at him; Eirellas amber eyes contrasted Macha’s emerald ones magnificently. Cadmus felt nervous but excited; both of them were too damn much for him to handle right now. Macha’s eyelids dropped when she poked her tongue out to slowly lick along the underside his rock-hard shaft, sending a tingle of delight through his groin. Cadmus swallowed and leaned his head back a little; they were both too damn much for him to handle right now. He tensely held his breath as the farseer’s slim tipped tongue curiously swirled around the head before she enveloped it once more with the heated, wet embrace of her lips. He felt Eirella carefully fondle his testicles while her full lips darted along the side of his shaft with a trail of wet kisses as her other hand gently supported it. Their combined stimulations sent waves of pleasure through his body; it was getting hard to focus as he rapidly crept closer to his limit. He looked back down and brought a hand to an ear on each of them. 
	Both eldar narrowed their eyes appreciatively as they swapped positions while he gently squeezed and tugged at the tips of their sensitive ears. Macha released the head from her mouth with a trail of saliva briefly connecting to her lips and reached out to relocate her student while she replaced his hand from her ear to the warlock’s. Eirella shivered at the touch as she moved to take his member into her mouth, relieving Cadmus of the chilling feeling of the open air against his sensitive length. She hesitated for a brief moment as she locked eyes with him. Eirella’s mouth drew into as much of a smile as she could manage when she began to gently suck on the head while writhing her slim tongue against it. Cadmus groaned with delight as she steadily devoured more of his shaft with every motion until she took almost the full length into her warm, wet mouth. Throne, he was dangerously close now. The farseer smirked with satisfaction and moved up behind the warlock before beginning to fondle her breasts from behind. 
	Eirella’s amber eyes turned pleading as Cadmus gently twisted the tips of her ears, causing her to mewl softly with him still in her mouth. He sucked in a sharp breath as his legs tensed at the treatment. Macha turned her eyes back down to his shaft and bit her lower lip, urging Eirella to take even more of his length as she increasingly leaned into her. The inquisitor felt pressure build in his base as Eirella fondled his scrotum while she sensually moved her head up and down on his soaked length with a rapidly increasing pace. Oh throne, he’s done for, this is it, “Frak, I’m…” he grunted. Those spellbinding eldar eyes narrowed when he felt his testicles retract and his shaft throb. White hot pleasure shot through him as Eirella lunged forward to take the entire length into her mouth upon his eruption. Cadmus felt unsteady on his feet and grabbed her head for support, he gasped with pleasure as each blissful pulse of his shaft sent a wave of his climax down her throat. Eirella fixed him with her smoldering but lustful eyes as she leaned back and slowly eased his still twitching organ out of her mouth and leaned back with tightly closed lips, a trail of their mixed fluids falling down to her chin. Cadmus blushed with amazement when he saw her throat move as she swallowed pointedly and gasped for air, her chest heaving with each breath. Eirella wiped her lips and flashed a smug grin before she placed a soft kiss on his faintly throbbing head. Cadmus felt himself tingle in the aftershocks, “Holy throne…” was all he could manage to say as he looked into her captivating gaze in awe. 

“Well done, Eirella,” Macha complimented after a set of giggles as she moved away from the warlock’s back, “I am proud of you my dear,” she added and patted her head with pride.

The warlock ignored her teacher and kept her eyes firmly on him. Eirella slowly stood up and pulled him in for a kiss while pressing her naked, heated body into him. He felt her tremble against him as she leaned her head back when Cadmus deepened the kiss, ignoring the somewhat bitter aftertaste of his climax. Throne, he was still hard. When they broke the kiss he felt as if her eyes stared straight into his soul, his heart still raced, she was absolutely intoxicating. If there is one thing he had noticed in his observation it was that Eirella kept quiet when she was focused or had an idea she had yet mentioned. Cadmus smiled when she flicked her eyes to the side and nodded over her shoulder with a satisfied expression, “So, what of our gracious host?” he began.

“She desires you, but I can sense that she is nervous,” Eirella explained to him with a hushed voice as she looked over her shoulder at the object of their conversation, “I propose we… what is that curious expression of yours? Warm her up, I believe,” she smiled.

Cadmus leaned to the side to get a better view of the farseer; Macha was still on her knees, looking up at him with wide eyes while pretending not to have heard what they said. “You have a beautiful mind, Eirella,” he said, “I think we need to lay her down first.”


Macha blinked a few times before breaking her stare. She leaned out and looked past them, a shy smile taking hold of her face. The warlock moved past the farseer to grab her own robe, Cadmus followed her movements for a simple reason. He couldn’t pass up a chance to steal a quick glance at her shapely behind as she gracefully bent over at the waist to pick the robe up. Eirella slid it on until it simply hung open from her shoulders. She ignored the sash, Cadmus followed her with his head as she moved past him and over towards the far edge of the rather large blanket. He whistled playfully at the sight, her hips were not bad at all despite their somewhat compressed form. They swayed with allure as she walked, barely concealed by the thin fabric of her robe. Eirella spun around and eyed them both expectantly as she sat down with her legs spread wide, resting flat against the blanket. Cadmus smirked, that should give the farseer something soft to rest against. He turned around and offered her a hand.

“So courteous,” Macha said with an appreciative tone. She took the hand and stood up in front of him and smiled while she waited.

Cadmus reached out and gently grabbed her other hand while slowly leading her over to the warlock, Macha followed with small but eager steps as she looked him in the eye, her previous confidence had given way to something else. The inquisitor looked her over; he thought he could make out a vein throbbing softly in her neck. The farseer really was nervous but obviously excited as well. When they came to a stop he gently turned her so that her back was facing Eirella and got on his knees, pulling her down with him. Macha settled in so her knees just touched the inner side of his knee joints and lowered her gaze with a pronounced blush; she placed her hands on her legs and drummed her thighs with her fingers, probably not quite so sure what to do. Cadmus felt his skin heat up as he realized where she was looking; he reached out to gently cup her delicate jaw and bring those captivating emerald eyes back to his own. Now that was interesting; even though there was no variety in the tone of their color, her irises had their streaks of black and white just like a human’s. After a short moment studying her he decided to speak first, “Just relax Macha,” he attempted soothingly. 

The farseer blinked and took a deep breath, “You are not relaxed either,” Macha answered as her shoulders fell.

Correct, but Cadmus ignored her and traced his index finger along her right earlobe, “It’s a pity I can’t reach these from downstairs,” he commented with a suggestive tone. The farseer’s eyes widened subtly at the implication, “I might need an extra set of hands,” he added while leaning in to kiss her softly on the lips. 

Macha sighed with relief at the kiss, “I can reach them myself, stupid mon-keigh,” she complained with humor.

“That’s not what I had in mind,” Cadmus added with a smirk, “stupid farseer.”

“You mea-” Macha tensed exclaimed before he silenced her words with his lips. She slackened almost immediately, her trembling arms reached around his back as he greedily deepened the kiss. The farseer moaned lovingly into his mouth as he hugged her delicate frame even tighter and slowly pushed her over to the ground in front of Eirella. 

He broke off, leaving her breathing heavily and gently set Macha down so the back of her head rested high on one of the warlock’s thighs, “You’re fine with that?” he addressed Eirella as he looked up to her face. 

“Perfectly,” the warlock admitted as she combed the farseer’s red hair out on the other side of her thigh with her fingers. 

“Great,” Cadmus smiled and shuffled over to kiss her briefly. As they parted he felt a slim hand grab ahold of his still halfway erected shaft and gently tug at it a few times. The inquisitor leaned out and swatted the hand away teasingly, “Oh no you don’t. You’ve done enough for me as it is,” he scolded the farseer whom averted her gaze when he sought out her eyes.

“But it is softer now,” Macha spoke with some concern as she jumped her eyes between his own and the tree branches above them.

Cadmus shuffled back until he was face to face with her and smiled, “Don’t you worry about that,” he explained and stroked that wonderful hair of hers while she looked him in the eye, “tell me if it’s uncomfortable.”

Macha drew a shaky breath and closed her eyes, “Do as you wish and get to work, mon-keigh,” she stated curtly as her face reddened somewhat. 

“All right then, milady,” Cadmus whispered as he leaned in and kissed her deeply, he savored the loving moans she produced as her tongue greedily writhed against his. Throne, she was too damn adorable for her own good. The inquisitor parted abruptly from her lips, soaking in the feeling her hot breath tickling across his face. Cadmus smiled as he noticed she still had her eyes closed; she looked so calm, even in this kind of state. He leaned in to kiss his way down her neck, wanting to explore more of her. Macha’s skin was soft beyond belief and he could feel her vein throb rapidly against his lips as he let them linger at that spot briefly. By the emperor, she was getting really worked up now. 
	She embraced his head softly with one arm and pressed her palm against his scalp, urging him further down as her slender but shapely thighs gently hugged against his sides. Cadmus shuffled back and reached her chest before giving her sternum an experimental lick, coaxing a shiver from her body. The sensation was crazy; he thought he could feel her heartbeat on his tongue. Cadmus turned his attention to her ample breasts, fondling both while taking a pale nipple into his mouth. Macha sucked in a sharp breath as Cadmus squeezed the full orb and swirled his tongue around the solid nipple before sucking it experimentally; he felt the farseer’s breath speed up as her chest expanded with more rapid intervals. The inquisitor felt blood rush to his member at her responsiveness, she definitely got to him. With a soft pull, he released her now somewhat reddened nipple and turned his attention to the other breast, licking its underside experimentally. 

“Ohh, melai’e…” Cadmus heard Macha utter something in the eldar tongue between ragged gasps as he took the other nipple into his mouth. He felt the farseer take another deep breath as he began sucking it with a gentle, pulsing rhythm. She pushed her pelvis down against his knee, grinding her infernally warm, silk covered sex against the hard surface before he finally released the nipple and backed away slightly. Macha whimpered with agitation at his withdrawal from the invitingly soft apex of her thighs. Cadmus tensed with excitement at the lingering wetness on his knee and how ready she must be for him. He looked up and saw that Macha was firmly caught in her excitement, eyes closed and biting down on one of her fingers while Eirella teased the tips of her ears via gentle brushings with her fingertips; the warlock gave him a satisfied smile before she nodded for him to continue down. 
	Cadmus smiled and turned his attention back to the farseer. He grasped her small waist with his hands while leaving a trail of soft kisses as he worked ever downwards, backing away slowly. Macha’s soft form heaved against his lips and hands with every deep breath she took; the breaths growing quicker as Cadmus kissed his way past her delicate navel. He slowed his pace the further down he got until he felt his chin touch the silken thong. Cadmus stopped and swallowed, he lifted his head back up a little to look at it. He smirked at the ironic picture of the golden imperial aquila as it gloriously stood watch over an eldar farseer’s hidden, succulent treasure. Cadmus felt his heart throb at the sight just below it; her covered mound was absolutely soaked. He could easily see the outline of her slit through the thin, wet fabric. Cadmus felt his erection twitch with eagerness, part of him wanted to simply tear the cloth off, skip the teasing and take her against the ground right where she lay. That very same part of him doubted she would protest.
	

The inquisitor composed himself; he reached out to the farseer’s hips and began tugging on the garment. Macha brought her hands down and cupped her sex with both of them as he pushed her knees together against her chest and pulled the soaked garment free off her ankles before tossing it aside. Her hands teasingly concealed her bared slit from him, neatly placed between her legs as it was. Cadmus parted her thighs and looked up; he saw that the farseer had her head raised. She blushed heavily as she dropped her head back down and turned it to the side instead of meeting his eyes. Cadmus smiled and shuffled his legs back until he could drop down with his abdomen against the blanket and take a good look at her. 

“And just what does Macha think she’s hiding?” Cadmus thought out loud as he spread her thighs and gently peeled her hands away. The inquisitor froze and had his eyes widen at the sight of what she revealed. By the Emperor, Macha was very pretty. She looked much like Eirella down there. Two reddened and swollen outer lips framed a delicate set of pink inner folds. Her vulva was glistening wet with arousal. Cadmus swallowed nervously, at this short distance he could almost feel the heat radiating from her. Macha’s clitoris was a little larger with its hood than Eirella’s, as were her inner lips. That was not the main thing that stood out though. Macha had hairs, a noticeable but untended rectangular patch of them reached from her mound to just above her slit. The fine hairs reached further down and parted as the thin lining sparsely covered her outer lips. Cadmus smiled at the familiar sight while he traced the crimson hairs on Macha’s outer lips with his thumbs; they felt much softer than those on a human and didn’t seem to be curled.
	Cadmus reached out and used his hands to spread the farseer’s thighs wider before he brought his thumbs down to her inner lips and began to gently pry apart her alluring folds. Macha’s opening twitched softly at the contact, the inquisitor smirked with self-satisfaction at the reaction. He could not see a hymen, or anything similar; he guessed that eldar either didn’t have them or that Macha had torn hers by her own means in the past. Either way it’s one less complication, Cadmus noted with some relief. The last thing he wanted was for her to feel discomfort with him. He withdrew his thumbs and felt his face heat up as her slit squeezed shut, forcing a small trickle of her juices to run down her bottom. His member throbbed with excitement against the ground at the sight; all right, enough playing medicae. Cadmus grabbed the back of her thighs to bring her knees up against her chest and spread her legs even wider as he leaned in and paused just shy of contact. The pleasant scent of her female musk was prominent and intoxicating. Cadmus heard her draw a deep breath as he lowered down and ran his tongue firmly along the length of her blazing slit, forcing her silken, pink folds to give way until he pushed past her sensitive nub. Cadmus felt hopelessly enraptured with her mewling noises as she failed to hold in her voice.

Macha tensed up as he greedily replaced his mouth on her vulva, “Nnnnh,” she moaned and trembled as his tongue writhed around her erect clitoris. Everything about the farseer was egging him on, he closed his eyes. Her salty taste, her supple legs flexing as he probed her hungry opening, her wet walls clamping down on his tongue as he forced it as far in as he could reach. Macha’s chest collapsed with a soft moan as he returned his tongue to her clit. He felt her shaking hands try to pry his away and reach to grab her knee joints, freeing his hands. Cadmus withdrew his mouth from her mound and gasped for air, “No, y-you…” she pleaded and writhed with frustration while he readjusted. Throne, she must have been very close. He hurriedly reached one arm around her leg to reach down and pry apart the soft lips protecting her nub with his thumb and index finger. She tensed up again when his other hand teased her opening with his fingers. Cadmus rumbled with delight into her flesh as he replaced his mouth on her vulva and entered her warm depths with two fingers. He fixed his eyes on the sight of the farseer’s body as it writhed in pleasure; from his low vantage point he could savor her responsiveness, every twitch of her womanhood, every taste, every scent.

“fffh, melai’e…” Macha hissed out with a soft voice as his fingers pushed down against her lower wall. She brought her trembling hands up to her face and tensed as her feet planted on the ground on next to each of his shoulders. She locked up when he started to rhythmically push his fingers down against her soft flesh, producing wet sounds every time it clinched against his digits. She let out a throaty moan and twitched when he thrashed his tongue against her exposed nub. The farseer’s nipples pointed proudly as her breasts heaved with effort due to her rapid, shallow breathing. Cadmus heart was thundering in his chest, her sensitivity and responsiveness was maddening, come on darling. Macha threw her arms around her face and cried out as she finally came. He saw her abdomen flex and her back arch as her climax took hold, her hips pushed slightly off the ground when she squeezed down hard on his fingers. Cadmus was forced to follow her movement to the best of his ability, dragging it out as her hips rolled tensely while she grinded her slit against his mouth. 
	With her last, tense, ecstatic moans Macha’s thighs slackened and fell back, he heard and felt her gasp for air as her butt dropped down to the ground, her vulva slipping from contact with his mouth in the process. Cadmus was left stunned with his chest raised slightly; he gently slid his fingers out from the hot depths of her womanhood as her heated wetness lingered on his lips. He smiled while bringing his hands to stroke the smooth skin of her abdomen, unintentionally smearing her plentiful juices on her skin. He closed his eyes, relaxed and lowered his face down to rest against her soft pubic mound. Macha’s crimson pubic hair tickled his nostrils as he blissfully inhaled her sweet, female scent. Cadmus sighed, dumbfounded with himself; he’s done for, an arch-heretic to the core. He could feel her lithe abdomen push out against his palms as she lay panting. He let a few moments pass as he felt her calm down a little and breathe more easily. The inquisitor shook with silent laughter at his thoughts; he’d be spent by thirty-four if he tried to keep pace with these eldar.





Chapter 8.

Cadmus dragged his hands back, tracing the womanly curve of her hips and lifted his chest up with his elbows and forearms to the ground. He placed a complimentary kiss against the farseer’s elegant patch of hair and looked at the creatures before him, “I thought eldar were all hairless,” Cadmus asked as he inspected the two eldar women. The farseer had her shoulders against the warlock’s leg so that her head could dangle a bit off the edge, she was still panting softly and had her arms thrown over her face.

“We get them when we reach venerable old age,” Eirella comment with a needlessly loud emphasis of the last three words as she withdrew one set of fingers from the farseer’s ear to support her head instead, the other hand settled between the warlock’s legs. Eirella seemed very amused at the sight of Macha’s red carpet, “I wonder why you did not have them removed, lady Macha,” she asked as she switched her look to Cadmus.

“I am not ashamed,” Macha began between her soft breaths, “of my body,” the farseer finished. Macha brought her arms back to fall limp at her sides. The farseer’s face rose up in the valley of her breasts to look Cadmus in the eye, “And I am not that old, runt,” she added with a small amount of irritation in spite of her smile and dazed expression. Her head dropped back down and Cadmus felt her fingers entwine with his, squeezing them somewhat hesitantly for comfort. He smiled at that, the sweet gesture was subtle but noteworthy.

“Well, you don’t look a day older than Eirella,” The inquisitor complimented the farseer before he reluctantly let her fingers go and worked his way back on his knees until they touched the underside of her thighs. The fact that Macha was old enough to be his dynastic ancestor felt unreal given how young she looked; everything from her smooth, unwrinkled and spotless skin to her warm and energetic eyes defied human perceptions of old age. Cadmus looked down towards her mound and felt warm, his penis certainly agreed.

“I am still hairless you brute,” Eirella complained as she scooped her forearm underneath Macha’s neck to support her better while she withdrew her leg from underneath her and gently set the farseer down against the blanket. 

“You are as smooth as a sister’s initiate before the canoness on inspection day,” he merrily answered Eirella when she made herself comfortable a small distance in front of the top of the farseer’s head, legs spread and her hands ready to move against her ears. Cadmus smiled and bent over, placing a forearm on either side of Macha before turning his look down into the half lidded eyes of the farseer. The inquisitor tensed with delight as her firm nipples softly rubbed against his chest with her excited breathing.

“Dare I ask what that saying entails?” Macha broke the silence with amused satisfaction in her voice as her eyes closed, robbing Cadmus of the wonderful emerald view while her arms snaked around his back. He could feel his heart throbbing in his chest when she suddenly pulled him in so that his erection was compressed against her lower abdomen. Macha’s lips parted with a soft gasp at the contact and drew into the loveliest trace of a smile as her hot breath washed over his face.

Cadmus’s reply was delayed even more when the farseer invitingly stroked one of her thighs along his side, “Nope,” he finally admitted as he closed his eyes and leaned in to wipe that smug expression off her face. He felt ready to explode when Macha averted her face and burst into soft, musical laughter as he accidentally kissed her red lined cheek. Cadmus let out an exasperated sigh and blushed at her spirited playfulness before he managed to adjust and silence her by locking his lips with hers.

Macha’s heart fluttered with joy, caught in a thermal updraft of emotion as he kissed her deeply. She had to admit she enjoyed teasing Cadmus, not because it left him agitated or embarrassed but because he responded in kind. She broke the kiss and placed excited marks along his chiseled jaw, she enjoyed the wonderful tingle those prickling hairs left on her lips. The farseer couldn’t believe her youthful libido; she had barely wound down from his consummate oral treatment and despite her moderately respectable age, she still felt a heated itch build between her legs as if she had not sated herself for month. 
	Macha blushed at her state and brought a hand to the back of his neck, bringing him in for more kissing; she adored his caring nature and his eagerness to take part in her childish playing. She felt as if she would burst with desire; so much about this human proved to unleash every suppressed need within her. The farseer pushed her hips out against him to feel his thick rod press against her lower abdomen. By Isha, she will have it inside her; she wanted to feel nothing but her mate. Macha wrapped her arms around his neck when he attempted to escape their kiss, refusing to let him go; she loved how protective and warm his large frame felt against hers. She dashed a hand past his small, shell-shaped ear and mewled into his mouth; she loved the feeling of his strong arms wrapping around her upper back to hold her tenderly. She sighed dreamily while savoring his warm embrace as if she would never feel it again. Nothing would stop her now; she would meld her passion with his. The male managed to break away from her much needed kissing with a chuckle; she hissed in petulance at being denied his lips and snuck a hand down between their bodies. 

Macha bit her lower lip with relish as her fingers coiled around his member and tugged it, forcing a light rumble from him. She swallowed at what she felt, he was as hard and smooth as wraithbone, all while throbbing in her grip; did she truly arouse him as much as he did her? A proud smile snuck onto her face as Cadmus placed kiss after kiss up along the drumming vein in her neck while she leaned her head to the side invitingly. The playful bite on her earlobe made the farseer shiver with delight as she tried to force the thick organ down to her aching entrance. Macha breathed heavily, she was beside herself with lust; the human leaned back and strongly gripped her wrist in his hand, pulling her away from his member to lock both her wrists behind her head with one of his powerful hands.
	Her legs twitched when he slid his organ past her sensitive bundle and across her wet lips. Macha heard a soft sigh above her, she opened her eyes and leaned her head back to glance at the smirking face of the warlock; she noticed Eirella had a hand between her legs and the other one cupping her breast. The farseer blushed at the sight and looked aside; well, that explains why her ears were left alone. Macha brought her gaze back down, meeting the open eyes of her mate; his almost pleading expression sent a wave of heat to her face. Her pulse rang in her ears as he ran his tip across her enflamed labia, the slick contact made her tingle with anticipation. She wiggled her hands free when she felt him slacken his grip and stroked them along his sides impatiently, urging him on.

“Ready?” he tested as he looked her in the eye. Macha squirmed with excitement and gripped the blanket below next to her hips, knowing what was finally coming. She licked her lips and instinctively spread her legs even more when he closed his eyes. Cadmus carefully pushed forward and parted her sensitive, wet folds with the thick head of his member. Her eyes widened in disbelief at the sensation of her entrance stretching to prepare for his girth, it certainly felt as big as it looked. Macha gasped sharply as he leaned in, pushing his member in with a single, steady motion until his swollen length was snugly fitted inside her. Her heart was stampeding in her chest; she felt feverishly hot when she saw his jaw flex and for a moment, she couldn’t breathe. The farseer released the blanket and brought her shaking arms around his back and neck to pull him in, resting his head next to hers; the sensations shooting through her nerves were unlike anything she had ever felt before. Isha, this was her moment, and it felt nothing like wraithbone novelty toys. The large and somewhat curved shape pleasantly stretched her flesh quite a bit beyond what she was used to. The warmth it gave off felt amazing as it throbbed with life inside her. Macha bit her trembling lower lip when the human placed soft kisses up along her marked cheek, slowly turning her into putty underneath him. She squeezed her eyes shut when her vision blurred at the lovingly tender gesture, failing to fight back the meaningless tears leaving wet trails down to her ears. Her chest tightened as his warm lips soothingly met hers at last, it had not even hurt; it was foolish of her body to shed them.
	

A breath later when she relaxed somewhat, her lover tested movement, quickly settling into an unexpected semicircular motion. Macha gasped at the tense, stirring sensation of having her filled sex stretched and pressured in such a way. She felt her face flush upon hearing the slick, wet sounds her passage produced. Macha wanted to cry out in protest when she felt him stop and retreat but tensed and failed to hold in a surprised moan as he thrust back in and reburied himself in her yielding, hot depths. Her senses were overwhelmed with his whole being, his masculine scent, his size, his tenderness. She heard the human suck in a sharp breath at the merciless tightness when she clinched reflexively around his shaft. He waited for a brief moment before starting to move in and out with a slow but firm rhythm.
	Macha breathed tensely against his neck and squirmed in pleasure as the thick shaft brushed against her sensitive nub, her whole body rocked with every powerful thrust. By Isha, this was definitely better than wraithbone. As his steady pace slowly increased, she felt the heat build in her abdomen, pushing her ever closer to the edge only to have him slow down and hold her there. She moaned in agonizing pleasure, Isha, so close now. She feebly thrust her hips out to match him and clawed at his back in desperation, urging him to speed up again and grant her the release she so desperately needed but the human kept his tortuous pace no matter what she did. Macha grew frenzied with pent up desire, it was becoming too much; the tight, heated sensations he produced hiked teasingly close to her peak yet denied her satisfaction with his measured intervals. The subtle, feminine giggle she heard in the background despite her heavily dimmed focus only made it worse. His powerful muscles flexed with restrained desire in every motion; the farseer felt agitated, her lover was holding back. Macha growled with frustration against him, it was not enough; she wanted more, she needed all of him. 


Cadmus could scarcely believe what he was feeling; she was incredibly wet, her tight, silken walls rhythmically squeezed him every time he thrust into her graceful hips. Macha’s inviting but surprisingly sharp moans grew increasingly strained as she writhed against him; he felt her nails dig into his back, probably to egg him on but the pressure building in his base told him he wouldn’t last long if he sped back up. The farseer pulled her warm, angelic face up against him, “Fuck me,” she demanded breathily but quietly into his ear. Cadmus tensed, almost stopping and felt his member throb at the unbelievable words she uttered. He had never heard an eldar swear in low-gothic, much less a farseer demand him to ravage her. The inquisitor eased out and slowed his pace to look at her; Macha’s flushed face was covered in a thin sheen of sweat and she flashed her teeth as her soft lips trembled with emotion, her emerald gaze was lidded and her pupils were dilated as they bore into his eyes. Cadmus felt his heart leap with excitement upon seeing the arousal that had taken her, she was impossibly captivating. Before he had a chance to respond Macha grabbed his jaw and pushed his head up to meet the sight of Eirella’s disturbingly excited, amber eyes, “Take me, mon-keigh!” the farseer desperately commanded into the base of his neck, tasting his skin with her soft tongue before she bit down, hard.

Her mate stiffened and groaned when she tasted his flesh, shaking Macha from her frenzy; she was dumbfounded by her actions and relaxed her jaw almost as quickly as she had bit down. Had she really just done that? The farseer worried that she had gone too far when the human eased out and fixed her with an inquisitive look. She was aching with frustration at her outrageous lapse of control; it was not her fault that his salty tasting and well-muscled frame fueled the fires of her untended desires when she was in such a desperate state of mind. Macha blushed heavily when the corner of his mouth drew into a knowing smirk; her traitorous heart soared, that smug look on his face made her boil with joyful impatience and indignation; she was a farseer, a leader, not some desperate young maiden out for a swollen belly.
	Before she had a chance to attempt further goading he leaned back and shot his hand out to grab her leg before hurriedly placing it on his shoulder. Macha licked her lips when he with equal impatience reached out and grabbed her other leg, placing it over the other one to cross her lithe limbs on the same shoulder. The farseer felt herself heat up when he caressed the curve of her thigh with an admiring, large hand; finally, she wanted nothing more than to experience the full extent of their passion, if only once. He fixed his eyes on hers, firmly grabbing her rump with two hands before he suddenly rose up to his knees and lifted her lower body off the blanket, teasingly close to breaking their union in the process. Macha yipped softly as her head fell back on the blanket; she bit her lip, pleased with his demanding handling. The farseer brought her forearms to her face in a vain attempt to conceal her building blush; what was wrong with her, how could this human even make her feel this way? 
	She almost flinched with surprise when Eirella suddenly grabbed her wrists and pulled her arms back over her head, firmly securing them on each side of her seated form. She gave the upstart, self-satisfied warlock a scandalized glance as Cadmus placed a kiss on her calf and ran his hand over the curvature of her hips and behind; Macha turned her eyes to him and smiled as her chest fluttered with silly satisfaction, she could tell by his touches alone that he considered her beautiful. She lifted her head up to look down at her thighs and felt her heart thunder in her chest when taking in the sight that greeted her. By Isha, Cadmus was big compared to an eldar, this lewd and undignified perspective made it clearer than ever; the sight of her gracefully curved, slim hips being gripped by powerful hands set against the background of her lover’s strong, male body made her tingle with anticipation as he teased her opening once more. Macha was amazed that she could take him fully; despite their roughly similar height her body was indeed smaller than his.

The farseer was shaken from her excited stupor as her mate pushed forth and hilted himself within her aching, soaked depths; coaxing a soft gasp from her as her head dropped back down to the blanket. Before Macha could react, her mate started moving and resumed his delicious circular movements from earlier; she closed her eyes, her chest and face flushing as the warm feeling of stretched fullness kneaded her body once more. Cadmus began to move in and out, taking on a slow rhythm, her thighs clinched against one another when she felt how deep he reached. Her eyes opened wide when the male suddenly worked his thrusts up to a much firmer rhythm, slapping his hairy base against her delicate behind with every powerful thrust. The sight of leaf clad branches above her began to blur as her focus dimmed, Isha she liked this angle. Jolts of warm pleasure shot through her body as he thrust increasingly harder, forcing her mouth agape in an inaudible, shallow moan, drowned as it was in the wet, sloppy sounds of their union. Macha thrashed her head to the side against her arm as her fingers gripped the open air, desperately seeking to cling on to a lover she could not reach, “Nhaa… please…” she heard a voice plead in desperation, sounding similar to her own in spite of her breathless arousal. 

The male responded by increasing his efforts, his thrusts quickened, turning harder and shorter but just as deep. Macha’s flexed against her restraints as her abdomen and legs tensed, her climax was building fast. Hot, tingling sensations gathered like a closing fist in her core, tighter and tighter with every rapid thrust. In spite of her desperate plea, Macha was not prepared for the force of her release as it slammed into her. She tensed up while a throaty cry escaped her lips; she flexed her hips, almost thrusting herself off her lover as her back arched when her long denied orgasm tore through her. She convulsed with warmth and pleasure as every muscle in her body contracted, sending wave after wave of ecstasy washing over her body and soul as his firm grip on her hips secured their union. Her mate’s slowing but hard thrusts drew it out, longer and longer until he stopped; Macha could barely register his groan as she flushed with warmth when she felt his seed burst forth against her innermost place. She rolled her hips, struggling against his powerful grip as she rode out the last trembles of her climax while her lover pulsed with virility inside her clinching depths. She closed her eyes with satisfaction as the sweet sensation of relief settled in her being at long last. By all the gods, she had really needed that, far more than she ever thought she knew.

Macha lay panting, barely capable of coherent thought; she could only bask in sensations and feelings as she felt the thick, softening member slide out from her wet depths, leaving a delicious ache as it vacated her sex. Her loving, tender mate eased away and gently put her rear down to rest on the soft surface of the blanket. She felt a pair of hands travel up her numbed legs before they gently spread them, softly gripping her knee joint to slide them off the torso that supported them, one by one until each limb was placed on the ground, limp and useless as they rested next to the powerful legs of her mate. The farseer felt a pair of fingers gently peel the sticky strands of hair from her moistened face, leaving a subtly lingering warmth as they withdrew; Macha opened her eyes and looked at the human as he leaned back out. She smiled when Cadmus welcomingly held his hands out to offer her assistance. The farseer felt her chest swell with joy when he fixed her with a satisfied look; she wiggled her trembling hands free from their loosened restraints and reached out to accept the gracious offer.
	Macha closed her eyes as she was lifted upright and collapsed into his embrace, she felt lightheaded and faintly aware of her surroundings. She sighed softly as she basked in the sweetness of the intimate contact; his body was so warm. She felt relaxed with satisfaction and feelings so overwhelming she could not recall ever having felt like this before. Her legs shook; she doubted she could support her own weight as she was if her human lover did not hold her with those strong but caring arms of his. A soothing feeling of fulfillment took her as she felt warm, sticky fluid trail down the inside of her left thigh. Even if she doubted Isha would bless her like she had her sister, Macha still felt undeniably reassured at the sensation. 
	The farseer felt a delicate, graceful hand stroke her back comfortingly. Before she could make out whom it belonged to she felt her lover’s arms relax and part as a female body joined in from behind. Macha smirked into Cadmus’s neck as her mind made the connection for her; she could recognize those tiny breasts anywhere, even when pushing up against her back. It was Eirella, the warlock snaked her slender arms in around her waist to embrace her gently from behind. By Isha, she could definitely get used to these moments, enveloped with warmth while emotionally and physically fulfilled. The farseer leaned out to seek a familiar set of lips, the feelings taking hold of her heart as he welcomed and deepened her kiss was beyond what she ever dared hope he felt for her. She felt nothing but joy and elation mixed with something akin to regret and awe, it was as if she treaded close to passing up on something which she may never taste again. She slowly lifted a trembling arm, seeking to coil it around his neck, wishing to savor this loving moment as if it was her last.

Macha gasped as she was yanked away and swatted down from her warm, soaring flight of desire; she frowned, the warlock had broken her perfectly innocent kiss. “That is quite enough for today my lady,” Eirella haughtily scolded her supposed greed from behind. She turned her head to the side when her student leaned out beside her.


Was she but a child? Her hand shot out like a lightning bolt, finding its target, “Is it not time for bed, young one? As I recall, you usually wake early in the morning,” Macha inquired, feeling her face heat up while pinching and wiggling the young warlock’s nose. “You will need your sleep if you expect to grow tall one day,” she added helpfully. When Eirella surrendered and broke off in a flurry of giggles the farseer felt herself get lifted up to her feet by Cadmus. He held her there, tightly, until she regained her footing.


Macha looked into the amused eyes of the compassionate, strange human whom had ended her solitude and felt another persistent throb of her heart; she could not help but steal a last kiss before she turned to seek out her robe. It was about time they got dressed, headed back home to clean up and have supper least she ended up starving to death before nighttime arrived. Macha smiled while she put on her robe; she felt nothing but warm over the unexpected turn it would seem her fate was about to take, perhaps a farseer’s loneliness was not an absolute of the path after all. 

At the very least, her sister would find warrant to stop pestering her, for now.









Epilogue.


Even if he was far from sleepy Cadmus could not deny the soothing effect of this view. The terrace on the roof of Macha’s home reached just above the treetops; from this vantage point he could make out the stretch of the dome’s forests and fields all the way to the horizon where the strange shell warded off the dark void of space. The great cosmic expanse was not quite visible as of yet though, the sky had slowly grown more transparent as the day passed; the dome sun was now barely visible on the edge of the horizon, Cadmus expected the night sky to come in full view anytime now. The inquisitor wished to see the stars from here, he took Macha’s word about the view seriously; a sight like that always aided in gathering his thoughts. A collected mind was exactly what he needed at the moment. As the minutes passed, he patiently waited for the reveal while at the same time finding some time in solitude to think at last. 

He understood with clarity that he stood just before a monumental crossroads, each path save backwards would take his life in an unprecedented direction. In a way it was good, even if it was an odd feeling; most of the time you only found out about those moments long after they had passed, with your choice already having been made. Even still, it did little to ease his worries despite the assuring words from his new eldar companions. In an effort to relax so he could return to bed and fall asleep his thoughts turned to evaluate the day which was now nearing its end. 
	After winding down from their tryst the three of them had put their clothes back on to the best of their ability before returning to farseer Macha’s humble abode; given the developments which had led Cadmus to the situation he now found himself in, the rest of the evening was surprisingly uneventful. No sudden imperial invasion fleet or horde of locals stormed in to ruin an otherwise fantastic day. Once the three of them returned they cleaned up and spent the rest of the evening preparing and consuming supper while Cadmus carefully prodded the two eldar women with questions about life in the craftworld and other such topics. Eirella and Macha were perhaps unsurprisingly not that keen on discussing these topics at the time and promised him all the answers he wished for in the days to come. Patient as he was, Cadmus had agreed and after their meal the two eldar had proceeded to spend what was left of the evening showing him the residence in greater detail than what was offered by the brief tour Macha had given him when he first arrived, all while peppering him with rather personal questions. Of course, he had been glad to answer. When Cadmus asked about Macha’s sister she had grown noticeably less inquisitive with her questions after she dodged answering it. Cadmus had made a mental note about her reaction to the topic, and guessed that their relationship was perhaps not as good as he had presumed.

Eirella had become visibly exhausted as the evening rapidly drew to a close and Cadmus had learned to his shock that she had been awake for almost twenty hours practicing her meditations on and off up until he arrived. The fact that she had managed to stay awake for that long without showing the faintest sign of fatigue until now was a testament to eldar endurance. After much nagging from both him and Macha, Eirella had agreed to go to sleep only on the promise that he would join her shortly. Naturally, Cadmus found her demand quite flattering and did join her only for the warlock to pass out like she had dared an ogryn to smack her, leaving him awake. Cadmus, quite unlike his blissfully snoring partner, was nowhere near as tired and after spending what felt like an hour staring into the ceiling he got out of bed to try to find a better way to relax. As it turned out, the time he spent lying awake had been more like fifteen minutes, what were the odds? Thusly he ended up here, dressed in a gloriously black xeno bathrobe, relaxing against the tender caress of the sunset breeze on the terrace of an eldar farseer’s residence. It really was quite an amusing turn of events. If the emperor could see him now, he doubted he would even dignify him with his rage; the lord of man would probably just be disappointed. Cadmus snickered as his thoughts turned to farseer Macha; she was on the same cycle of sleep as him yet seemed to have no problems with it. Cadmus briefly wondered if there was some eldar trick to it, or mayb-


“Can you not sleep?” a familiar voice interrupted his thoughts from just behind him.

Think of the daemon… Cadmus had to hold back a snort at the impeccable timing, “And here I was actually wondering what sort of sorcery you had used to put yourself to sleep, Macha,” he stated. Damn she was light on her feet.

“Wine is a favorite when the need is dire and the circumstances worthy enough of a celebratory indulgence,” the farseer explained, “otherwise I must confess that there are no secret remedies for youthful energy,” she finished. “You did not answer my question, Is Eirella to noisy perhaps?” Macha added with a tinge of amusement as the origin of her voice crept ever closer to his ear.

“She is not that loud,” Cadmus clarified, “besides, noise doesn’t bothered me like it used to; it comes with being raised mostly on starships,” he explained on but was interrupted by the slender arms snaking around his waist as the farseer leaned into his back, “I uh, I’m just not that tired.” 

Her arms gently secured her to his back, “Likewise,” Macha began as she took a deep breath and placed her head on his shoulder, “I wish to thank you,” she added after a long exhale. 

“Don’t even think about it,” Cadmus explained, “I’m the one indebted to you, not the other way around.” 

She shook with silent laughter against him, “Then I will expect you to honor that in the future, on several occasions,” the farseer answered coyly as she placed a kiss on the nape of his neck and withdrew.

“Duly noted,” Cadmus answered and stole a glance at Macha as she settled in next to him, leaning on the waist high railing, “so how long does this take?” he added. She was dressed in what looked like a green nightgown; it was thin but not transparent and hung loosely over her figure.

“How long does what take?” she asked, looking at him with a confused expression.

“The view silly,” Cadmus droned while turning his eyes back to the sky, “I seem to remember you saying that the stars would be made visible at night.” 

“It will shift in just a moment,” she answered while turning her eyes out to follow his gaze.


True to her word, Cadmus didn’t have time to answer. A few seconds later the last rays of the sun finally dissipated from the dome as the twilight color of the sky steadily faded out with small white dots growing ever more visible as the change occurred. The inquisitor watched with interest as the color kept shifting until the dome was as clear as if it had never been there. The view which revealed itself was spectacular; Cadmus could see a great blue planet set behind an asteroid belt, the stars were clearly visible through the purple nebula encompassing them in the background. Behind the planet itself the dwarf star of the system was clearly visible, casting the whole of the dome in a soft, faintly blue light, offering a good deal of visibility in the ensuing the darkness. He thought he could see the stars moving slowly, at an obviously faster rate than the rotation of a planet would offer; Cadmus reasoned that the craftworld was in a slow turn, breaking away from its orbit around the planet.


“That’s certainly not bad,” he offered, breaking the silence which had grown between them.

“And to think that in less than a week we shall most likely never see it again,” Macha added pointedly.

“It puts the idea of home into a new light,” Cadmus commented while turning to face the farseer and leaning his side to the railing; the craftworld eldar may have their home, but that did not change the fact that they were a nomadic race at their core. 

“It does indeed,” Macha intoned as she turned to face him; her crimson hair looked almost black in the lower light even though her pale skin and green eyes were still distinguishable. His eyes turned to her markings, they really stood out amongst eldar and he wondered what they meant.

“This might be a strange question but I’ve always wondered,” Cadmus’s curiosity got the better of him as he lifted a hand, “what are these anyway?” he asked, genuinely interested. He briefly traced his thumb over the soft skin of her cheek, just along one of her markings.

The farseer lit up with a smile at his question, “They are exodite clan markings,” she beamed, “mother did not like it when i painted them on as a child, even if we support the exodite cause,” she continued, “I decided to make them more permanent after I took on the path of the warrior in my youth,” Macha explained. 

Cadmus growled mockingly, “Oh dear, I take it mommy didn’t like that?” he guessed.

“No,” Macha looked to the side, she seemed contemplative when speaking of her past, “mother almost wanted to flay me alive,” the farseer laughed and brought her fingers to trace the lines where his had just been, “she complained and said that they made me look like a savage.” 

Cadmus had to hold back a laugh at that, “Your mother was a good judge of character, you are quite the savage,” he teased, clicking his teeth once at the end to emphasize his point as Macha fixed him with a scandalized glare.

The farseer’s cheeks took on a darker shade, her blush visible even in the dimmed light as she scrambled to find her words, “I would have you know that I am considered quite well tempered for a former student of Jain Zar’s teachings.” 

“Uh huh,” Cadmus didn’t believe her for one bit, “so which master should I speak to for counsel on love bites?” 

Macha opened her mouth and blurted out a syllable but stopped short of a single word. She snapped it shut in defeat and averted her eyes; she let out an exasperated sigh and shook her head even as her smile grew. 

“I rest my case,” Cadmus pointed out. 

As they came down from the ensuing fit of laughter, the farseer looked back at him with a warm smile and broke the silence, “I know you have many questions on your mind, Cadmus,” she cued him in. 

He had to admit that she was quite good at reading him; then again she was a farseer, “That I do,” Cadmus confessed. Where to begin? After a moment of contemplation he spoke, “If I am to stay here, I will need a way to communicate with the outside, with Julius more specifically.”

“Certainly, I can arrange for a safe transfer of messages should you wish it,” Macha acknowledged.  

“Good, It will be necessary to maintain his belief that I am working for the inquisition while at the same time keeping them off his back,” Cadmus explained. He sighed, it was never going to be easy, “Should the ordo xenos realize that I have gone missing and start an investigation, it will eventually lead them to him,” he paused, “even if they can’t trace me here I would never want him hurt, least of all on my account.” 

“Your unease and worry for your friend is understandable,” the farseer soothed. Cadmus looked at her and noticed that she seemed to fidget somewhat, as if hesitating with what she was about to say. Before he could prod her, she began, “If you are that worried about it we could make both him and the inquisition alike believe that you are dead,” Macha suggested after a moment of deliberation as she averted her eyes.

“That is…” Cadmus felt his heart skip a beat at her proposal, “that is not exactly a small choice to make,” he commented. The idea had occurred to him before but he never thought it would be necessary. Even if it might prove to be needed in order to protect Julius should he choose to stay, it would equate to abandoning his duties to mankind and the emperor for the sake of an eldar’s heart; he would be the worst kind of deserter.

“I would not have you make that choice if you are uncertain,” Macha added empathically as she sought out his eyes once more, “but you should know it is an offer I am capable of backing up.”  

“I’m grateful, Macha, I really am, but I can’t just abandon my species,” the inquisitor confessed. Even if he wanted nothing more than to stay here with Macha and Eirella, he doubted the universe would leave them at peace for long.

“You would not be abandoning anything, Cadmus,” Macha reassured him, causing him to arc an eyebrow. She saw his reaction and explained, “Eirella was not the only one who had a vision that night,” she added pointedly.

This was new to him, and the implications were quite apparent, “You didn’t just bring me here for companionship did you?” Cadmus aired his suspicions as the obvious sank into him. 

The farseer took a deep breath, “No, as much as I adore your company, I did not,” Macha confessed with a weak smile, “I think it is best if I show you.”

“Show me?” Cadmus queried.

She took a step forward, “Yes, now close your eyes.”

“Close my eyes? Can I keep my clothes on for this thing?” Cadmus couldn’t resist the small taunt as he closed his eyes. What exactly was she planning anyway?

He doubted Macha looked as unamused as she sounded, “If I did not know you, I would think you were mocking me, mon-keigh,” the farseer smiled, “you may remain fully clothed if that is your wish,” she added helpfully. Cadmus tried to swallow his nervousness and her next words did not help, “This will feel strange, but try to relax.”


Cadmus took a calming breath and waited patiently; he felt her thin fingers take a gentle hold of his hands, bringing them down to hold them out in front of him. Macha stood very close; he could feel her breath on his face. At first he noticed that it was strangely devoid of bodily smell, just like the wind. After that it became apparent that he couldn’t make out any scents at all, even the fresh smell of the dome’s plant life. Before he could evaluate this strange feeling, he felt the farseer’s lips press against his own. It was a sweet gesture and before he had a chance to react he felt something. It began like a soft, warm tingle crawling from his lips across the skin of his face before settling into his skull. The sensation then proceeded to crawl down his spine before spreading through his entire body. It was unlike anything he had ever felt and it made Cadmus feel fairly lightheaded, but not enough to put him out of balance. He felt his senses fade as he was steadily confined to his own mind. He noticed that he could no longer hear the sound of the forest in the background, or idly taste his mouth. He resisted opening his eyes to check if he could still see; when the sensation of Macha kissing him faded he found himself completely immersed in his own mind. He was utterly unaware of his physical surroundings, yet perfectly aware of his thoughts. It gave him unmatched clarity and focus at the cost of all situational awareness, it was both exhilarating and terrifying at the same time.
	Cadmus could not see it, but he sensed a presence all around him, it felt as if he was immersed in a warm cloud. In brief flashes, strange and misty images leaked through to his consciousness, alien and incomprehensible to him as the presence carefully prodded the barriers of his consciousness with its cloudy tendrils. It was slightly unnerving.


“Do not be afraid,” a familiar, soft voice whispered from the great cloud that enveloped him. It was Macha, he tried to answer but found that he could not speak. It did not matter, as if she heard his thoughts he suddenly felt his body again. But this time, he was not standing on a terrace. Cadmus opened his eyes; all around him he could see nothing but a distinct white fog, it enveloped his form, looking and feeling as if he floated in a vast cloud. It felt humid and left a warm sensation on his naked skin. He realized it was her presence, it felt intoxicatingly sweet and warm as it enveloped him completely. When looking around he noticed that the tender mist was pierced by countless blue lights here and there, all around him. Some were distant, others much closer. He was floated into one just in front of him and when he touched it, images flickered by his eyes; each contained shapes and forms he could make sense of. Even if incomprehensible, he understood that they were memories, the memories of a thousand year old mind. The immense cloud that represented Macha’s consciousness and essence was vast and unfathomable to him as made apparent by the countless blue lights that flickered to life before his eyes as he as floated onwards for his uncontrolled journey. Her being was breathtaking; this undeniable perspective brought the subtle but vast differences between them into a context clearer to him than he ever envisioned. 

As the moments passed, the more distant lights passed out of view, one by one until only one light remained visible. It was right by him, waiting. As he touched it, the mists gave way to the sight of a putrid shoreline. He felt himself stand on the muddied ground but found that he could not control his limbs; it was not his memories after all. Macha’s reassuring presence soothed his mind from the disjointing experience; it allowed him to focus on his surroundings. The sight all around him was staggering and full of contradictions. The water making up the sea beyond the shoreline was pure and clear, a sharp contrast to the fetid, muddied beach he stood upon. He felt his head turn down to look at it, he could smell its corruption; it reeked of death and decay. His gaze was moved back up. In the sky beyond the shore he could make out a bright, golden light set against a background full of stars. The great light looked almost like a sun but gave off no warmth at this distant observation point. As if sensing his question, he felt Macha’s presence flood his being with her warmth. Her unspoken answer was clear; Images of the emperor upon the golden throne flooded his mind. So this was the astronomican? Macha’s presence flared with warm confirmation. Cadmus understood clearly and felt his head turn to the shore. He felt moved to the point of shedding tears when he saw what greeted him. 
	It was the most pitiful sight imaginable. Just next to and a little behind him was a sickly, fragile looking eldar woman. She stood on her knees on the filthy shore while idly facing the horizon; her eyes were closed and her hands clasped together in front of her face. It looked as if she was in prayer or protecting something in her hands, traces of tears were visible on her cheeks. She looked weak and absolutely pitiful, her skin hung somewhat loosely from her bones as if she was severely malnourished. Her was a noticeable exception from her otherwise sickly frame; it looked thinned but was of a pure, silvery white in stark contrast to her otherwise decaying form. It was clear to him that she had once been a beautiful creature, before whatever tragic event had occurred to reduce her to this state. He wondered who she was, but Macha’s presence left him no hint. All he could feel was a wave of regret permeating his being from her presence. Before he could ponder it any further, the female’s eyes opened. The thin, wrinkled lids revealed a pair of irises, faintly aglow with the purest blue he had ever seen; they radiated with purpose and fire in sharp defiance of the withered, defeated form they were attached to. The woman parted her hands, and as she did a small but vivid blue light drifted from her palms out towards the horizon. Cadmus felt his gaze follow the glimmering sphere; it drifted towards the sun, the astronomican as Macha had shown him. It travelled slowly at first before speeding off, joining the myriad of stars making their way towards its clear, golden light. 

He thought the vision would fade as Macha began to withdraw, but when the blue light travelled out of view the rays of the golden sun flared, almost as if invigorated. Cadmus was overtaken by surprise, if it was his own or Macha’s he did not know. He felt his eyes narrow at the intensity of the glow, hoping to try and diminish the blinding effect of the light while discerning what he could. He felt its warmth reach him at last, his eyes closed in vain; the scorching light seared him, burning away the impurities from his soul and all of existence. He felt the depravity of the archenemy give way to restraint. He felt entire eons worth of hatred turn to empathy, the reek of death turn to the fragrance of a life and growth. He felt the conniving temptation of power turn to transparency and trust. Its intensity was overpowering, he felt hands cover his eyes but it did not help; he thought that he would be forever blinded before it faded just as suddenly as it had appeared. 
	His eyes were carefully pried open, revealing that the golden sun had turned into a new, whiter color. He noticed that the stars themselves no longer drifted, they stood in place. A wave of amazement flowed to him from Macha’s presence. He could see a few blue stars grow cautiously in number, mixing in harmony with the fainter but much more numerous whites. He felt himself look around, and saw that the shore was now white; the sand was cleansed. It was soft and yielding against his feet, not sticky and hindering like the mud which preceded it. The fresh smell of ocean salt had replaced the reek of fetid, dying marshlands. He heard a soft thud from nearby through the sound of the sea and felt himself turn; the eldar woman had fallen. 
	He felt as if he had been frozen stiff once he saw her. She looked nothing like the miserable creature she had been before. The female lay on her side against the soft sand, motionless; her now graceful form every bit as radiant, fruitful and glorious as it had been at the dawn. Despite this, Cadmus sensed that she was fading. He felt Macha give off profound regret and unmistakable guilt at the sight of the beautiful, dying being. Macha’s regret was joined with a tint of pride when she noticed that the female was smiling; her delicate lips had drawn into a small but blissful expression even as the last ember of life faded from her clear, once glowing blue eyes. They understood that she had every reason to smile; after all, the fiend tormenting her children had been vanquished at last.


Cadmus felt himself get pulled away as the vision faded from his consciousness; he was still enveloped by the remorseful cloud of Macha’s essence. Even if he did not fully understand who the woman on the beach was, it was clear to him that the premonition of her sacrifice weighed heavily on the farseer. Upon sensing his sympathy, her essence shifted, enveloping him with pleasant and grateful warmth once again. As they drifted, Cadmus tested reaching out for another memory. He stopped as he felt a tinge of hesitation from her presence. After a moment she allowed it; once he reached the blue light the images and sensations shifted before his consciousness once again.


He felt his body stand, the first thing he saw was what looked like an eldar infant beaming with joy as it was held in his arms. A tiny, curious hand appeared from the blanket enveloping it, reaching towards his face. A wave of joy shot through him from Macha as he felt himself reach out to greet the smiling little creature. He was surprised to see that his limb was slender and feminine; at that moment he understood that the eyes he was seeing this from was Macha’s own, unlike in the vision from before. The helpless but curious little creature grasped the offered finger, its young mind trying to make sense of the enormous creature towering above it. After a brief moment he saw another set of hands reach out for the bundle at the edge of his vision. 
	The farseer reluctantly wiggled her finger free from the infant’s curious grip and handed the youngling over to the other person. His gaze was brought up and the recipient was revealed to be another eldar woman. It was not Eirella, or any eldar he could remember seeing; she sported rich, jet black hair hanging down her shoulders and back. A gemstone hung down over her forehead, held in place by a thin metal link of some sort reaching around her crown. He noticed that her features were quite similar to Macha’s even though she did not share either eye or hair color. Her irises were blue and her eyes about the same size as Macha’s. The woman offered a warm smile before she looked down at her child and addressed it in the eldar tongue with a doting tone; she turned to walk away with the child towards the entrance of a building very similar to the one Macha lived in. The farseer turned her eyes down to look at her empty hands as the other woman disappeared inside, humming a gentle lullaby. He could feel a wave of longing wash through her just before the memory suddenly faded from view.


A Brief moment of darkness took him as her all-encompassing presence quickly withdrew, leaving him utterly disjointed before he felt his own senses return to him. He came to, suddenly aware of himself once more. He relaxed as his smell and hearing told him where he was; good, he was still standing on the terrace. Cadmus opened his eyes and could see night sky with what could have been red hair on the right edge of his vision. As his sensation returned he could feel that he was held in a supportive embrace by the farseer, his arms hanging limply from his side. Cadmus felt weak and swallowed, he brought his heavy hands to her waist; his throat felt dry as he cautiously broke away from her arms and met the farseer’s gaze. Her eyes and face looked relaxed and somewhat tired.

Cadmus tried to think of what to say, “How did you do that?” was all his hoarse voice could muster before he had to look to his side and clear his throat. He felt a wave of fatigue taking hold of him as he took a small step back. Throne, whatever it was, it was draining. 

“I enveloped your mind with my own, allowing you to see the vision I had that night for yourself,” Macha explained to him with half lidded eyes and a neutral expression, “It was more taxing than I expected it to be,” she confessed.

Even if he understood what had happened, it was comforting to hear her say that when he was his own again. Cadmus turned to his newfound memories of what the vision had showed, “That woman on the beach, who was she?” Cadmus asked with amazement as he gathered his thoughts and processed the information.

Macha had a thoughtful expression on her face as she averted her eyes, “I believe it was Isha, she is goddess of rejuvenation,” the farseer answered, “she has long been thought lost to us.”

“Rejuvenation?” Cadmus inquired, “She looked so sickly…” he had almost stopped himself from saying it as the painfully clear images returned to him.

“She was not always so, as we saw at the end,” Macha intoned with a hint of remorse, “I have long suspected that she was alive and that fate is tied to that of your emperor,” the farseer took on a small smile, “and by their example, the fate of both our races will be the same.” 

The idea was shocking, yet made a good deal of sense at the same time, “I see,” Cadmus commented as he digested the information. So the glowing light at the center of that sky had definitely been the astronomican after all. Another matter was on his mind as well, “But, how does the vision relate to me?” Cadmus asked. Even if the fate of the eldar was tied to mankind he did not see a reason as to how it all connected to him in a more personal way.

The farseer’s expression turned to one of pride, “The ending of that vision was hidden from me until now,” Macha confessed as she tilted her head to the side and beamed a smile at him.

The implication was quite stunning and almost left him at a loss for words, “So you cannot fully see those visions without me?” Cadmus asked. If true, it was certainly a good reason to keep him around.

“Correct,” Macha stated, “I do not know why that is the case or what fate has in store for either of us. However, if I am to have the faintest chance of divining a path to salvation for both our peoples I will need you safe and by my side, Cadmus.” 

“I understand,” the inquisitor intoned. It would neither of them any good if he died in the line of duty, however honorable such and end might be.

The farseer looked to her side, “It would mean a lot to Eirella and myself if you stayed here,” she began, “and not just in regards our paths,” she added as she glanced back at him somewhat hesitantly.

He was hopeless, “You present a compelling argument, farseer,” Cadmus confessed as he felt warmth settle in his chest, “I will help you in whatever way you want. Even it ends up meaning that I must abandon my duties to the imperium at some point.” 

Macha let out a breath of relief, “I was not sure if you would agree,” she admitted with joy creeping into her voice in spite of her trembling lip, “I am very glad.”                                                                          

Cadmus pulled her into his arms, sighing as she eagerly accepted his embrace. He closed his eyes, savoring this moment. As they stood there another question interrupted his relaxation, “By the way, what of that child and its mother in the other memory,” he tested, “who were they?” 

Macha leaned out and looked him in the eye, “That was my sister and niece,” she confessed with a smile. 

“Cute,” was all that he needed to say. Her showing him that vision had certainly drained him. Cadmus gasped, now was probably as good a time as any to go to sleep, “I should probably head back to bed now. Turns out I won’t need any wine.” 

“Likewise, it was surprisingly straining once the rest of the vision revealed itself,” Macha admitted. She looked at him expectantly as if waiting for him to say something, “before you go I wish to ask you for one small favor.”

“What?” It had better be quick, his eyes felt quite heavy.

“A kiss,” the farseer confessed as her lips drew into a playful smile. 

That he can still do, Cadmus leaned in as their lips met for a tender kiss. It was not hungry, greedy or awkward. It was a simple but honest gesture of affection from one being to another. Macha wrapped her arms around his back for a quick but firm embrace before they broke off. She brifly fixed him with her usual smug expression before she started walking towards the stairs. It was as if she was scolding him for the chasteness and brief duration of their kiss. Cadmus smirked and moved to follow her; he resisted an urge to remind her that he was actually trying to relax so that he could go to sleep as opposed to firing up his heart rate. The fact that her gracefully swaying hips now had a subtle hint of stiffness to them ever since their tryst in the glade did little to help with biting down his remark.


They walked quietly down the stairs all the way to the door of the room he and Eirella now shared. After stopping, Cadmus turned his head and looked at the farseer as she waited expectantly by the side of the sliding door. Her emerald green eyes were dimmed but clearly distinguishable in the weak nighttime illumination of the building’s interior. She was certainly an unusual case when it came to eldar, “I will see you in the morning,” Cadmus stated quietly. Macha smiled and gave him a polite nod before she excused herself and walked away towards her room. The door slid open without so much as a sound; after taking a deep breath, Cadmus stepped inside.

After having taken a moment to remove his new favorite robe; he stood before the bed in his underwear. Cadmus frowned as he looked over the sight before him, it would seem that he had work to do; Eirella showed every hint of being a blanket hog. It was not all bad news though, he noticed that the silk wrapped cocoon forming the shape of the eldar’s body had rolled onto her side and that it had put an end to her soft snoring, much to his amazement. It brought a smile to his face, and thus the solution was revealed to him at last; he would simply need to lay close so that she would remain in that position. It was only fair that not all problems were hard to solve. After crawling into bed and managing to unravel the coverings from his sleeping companion he shuffled over to her side and lay down behind her lithe form with the silken comforter covering them both. Cadmus inhaled the flowery scent of her hair as he settled in and realized that he found himself strangely relaxed and at ease in her presence. As he closed his eyes and wrapped his arm around her side he felt as if the crushing weight of his nigh impossible responsibilities no longer weighed on him as much as they used to. All in all, he had the faintest hint of a feeling that he had strolled down the right path, if not for the first time in his life. 

That is if the slender fingers reassuringly entwining with his own was any indication.







To be continued with some smaller stories in the same setting.