A tale of erotic fantasy.

[Bear]

The city lay before me as pondered my options this night. One thing was certain the view from Xegis’ quarters was rather magnificent. The library had been built on a hillside, and from the old sages quarters it gave an unobstructed panorama of the city and the western ocean that lay its foot. The moon was half waned, a sight that always lighted the heavy burden on me. In a few days the new moon would smother the effects of the taint, I would find the remnants of lost humanity once again on me.

I liked the dead of night, when a city slipped into a relative calm, In the pull of the taint my senses were taxed by a multitude of bombarding pricks of humanity. In this stillness I  could finally breath in its quiet elegance, think clearly,…. Well clearer is better said. The curse on me seemed to breath in subdued restraint when others were not about.

I turned to Xegis who sat quietly at his desk, for the most part stoic of attitude. His  eyes still failed to give any glimmer of recognition, and frail hope on my part ever pressing dimmer. For three days it remained as unfocused and purposeless of conscious reaction. Even though I had broken from my search lingering in small shapes to intervene on the meals the one named Caduceus brought to him. Now I released a heavy sigh bordering between frustration, and surrender grappling with the gnawing possibility that the great mind of Xegis had been lost simply due to age.
 It was echoing disappointment in that  I had wandered the city, searching for leads of the mysterious liquid. but met with failure after failure. Few could discern the light odor of the drug, none could  shed any light of its nature. The best lead had been a woman, a sentiment echoed by many, but I had entered her shop and found myself in maelstrom of oaths and curses the moment she set eyes on me. A half breeds life isn’t an easy one.

The phrase “Roseshackle” to the apothecarys met with vacant stares matching Xegis condition, …more frustration,  for I was certain… Xegis in that brief bind had tried to tell me what clouded his mind. None knew of it.

His words in that melding were few,  but direct clues in my mind as I tried to grapple with thee memory. I think I would have give hope up but for him naming Zierst, I was certain he held knowledge of value concerning the demon, otherwise I would have long slipped from the city. I had left a wake of death during the full moon and  such matters do not go unnoticed. They invoke a responses.  Naming Zierst was enough to dance in the possible repprucussions. The hints regarding the fate of Aldaris heavy chains on me to hold  me to the old man’s fate. There was no way I could leave this place, not with troubling allegations concerning her lingering in my mind.
I had to know,.., had to peel back that blanket on his mind.

I crossed the room again to him, naked feet in a soft padding on the wooden floors. Kneeling at his side as I reached up cupping his head. Another attempt at binding seemed necessary. With a resigned sigh, I shifted into my mind….found that core and reached to his…, my senses probing, but the walls too strong,… each press was shoved away, parried, slide away ineffective. I broke the contact, looked onto Xegis and saw a slight smile cross his face.

“You’re resisting me aren’t you?”

The smile disappeared as he spoke. “Soup,… soup help, I need ….soup”

I sat back on my heels,…the stern determination of his words hit me.  Broth was often seen as a aide to the ill,…perhaps he knew something it might dampen the effects of the drug, maybe purge the body of its touch.  I wrestled with the prospect,…he needed to be completely free of this place, free of any potential chance of the drugging. The only way to be assured would be to remove him, hide him and try to wean the effects of the drug from him. Feed him soup,.. hell, bath him in it if that’s what it took.

Rising I with the decision I moved quick to his wardrobe, yanked a couple of changes of clothes and crossed back, easing him up as I dressed him in the formal robes and slippers of his profession. My own nakedness a young concern, I might have borrowed his, but they were far too small. To creep the halls of the library naked with a babbling old man was not the most favorable of options.

I raised a finger to my lips for silence as I slipped into the consciousness of a creature from my far flung travels. Xegis hardly reacted as the Mountain Gorilla materialized, reached for him and lifted him over the coarse hairs of my shoulders. With a quick burst I scooted across the room leaped through the window clamping a hand on the sill, and swung down to a lower ledge,… leaped for another hand hold then dropped us easily to the ground, latching back to my natural form as I slide him from my shoulders and straightened his gown.
“Ready for soup?” I asked, the tone more in playful tease then fact.

He nodded eagerly,.. ”Soup! Yes soup!”

I shushed him again,…raise my hands as I backed into the bushes where my clothes lay hidden. “Soon enough friend,.. we’ll get you soup at the inn.”

He shook his head,.. ”No,.. no soup… need soup. Soup help! ” His eyes seemed frantic at my suggestion glancing nervous down the street.
“At the inn,” my tone holding to a gentle consoling edge, as best as I could. Xegis gave me a peculiar troubling look.

“They have soup there,… good soup.” I turned away stepping into the cover, slightly puzzled as I reached down for the jerkin. and slid the leather over my head.  “I’ve tried their soup, It’s particularly good.”

I reached for the leather pants, sliding one leg in, turning as I did back to Xegis. “If one doesn’t…”

,….or rather turned to where he should have been. A sharp curse slipped from me as I stepped from the bushes. A frantic look right ,.. left… no sign of the old sage. Stamped my foot… pants falling free.

[Bear]

Damn,… damn… DAMN… how the hell could an old decrepit  man suddenly slip from me. I slipped back into the bushes stripping quick again, angry at myself for such carelessness… reached into the memories as I jerked free of the jerkin… sliding comfortably into one that could help.
Had I been on the absolute cusp of the moon I would not have required it, but dulling senses meant to give over to forms with acute abilities. I trotted from the bushes on gangly legs, bent my head to the ground and let the bloodhound in me take charge. I hated the floppy ears that continually flapped over my eyes, but the nose was its essence… the power of the form, it honed on the scent of Xegis with  incredibly ease… a squirrel too,… molding sweet bread crumbs…a remarkable perfume in the air… back to the squirrel… I halted,.. steadying my control… as always some instincts take hold first with a form… and it takes a moment to gain purposeful control.

Refocusing, I latch to the scent of Xegis and nose to the ground send myself into the darkness on his trail.

It lead downhill, following the winding street, skirting the foreign district…a path straight of purpose hardly of mindless wandering. That I had not caught up to him quickly indicated intent on destination…,whatever end point he had in mind he made good time. I had confidence I was gaining, at least until the path lead into the docks,. and my nose was overwhelmed by a cacophony of odors. I crisscrossed the plaza of the docks… catching faint whiffs of the trail… weaving past burly night stevedores.. drunks,.. dodging heavy carts bludgeoning with wares. Found the trail skirting dangerously close to the dock edge…skirted under a heavy caged wagon…my ears picking up a womans cries.

Her gasps and pleas were enough to pull me in detour, I slipped beneath the heavy caged wagon,, drifting forward until I could peer about the wagon catch the sight of the huge man in ruthless action against a woman, her hands bound by ropes to the huge bars of the caged, head tossing in frantic response…lost in the ecstasy of the moment. Her high booted legs wrapped tight on his hips, skirts hiked high as she as she rode him in abandonment to lust. The loud slaps of his quick powerful thrusts, the heavy scent of sex in the air,.. enough to pull me forward… plant my hips to the ground and watch. Her body tightened , back arching as an orgasm took her,… which propelled her grunting partner into further action… I found myself …ahem.. well,… aroused by the sight of the hot lust and all…panting,…not even certain when my long tongue spilled lazily out to droop from my mouth… body tingling as I felt the slip of a hardness of my cock sliding from its sheath….

I was mesmerized by the moment.. watching as he finally found that breaking point gripping her hips tight as he arched back and released his seed into her slick depths.. just the aromas to the sensitive nose was a powerful aphrodisiac,… I lingered watched her rolling on his hips, eyes locked on his sweating face as if in eager need of more. He back away, slipping from her…

“Insatiable…don’t ever change bitch.”  He kissed her hard. Stepped back to shove his package into his trouser. He turned away but I could here him shout, “Jarvis your're up!”

I heard the heavy clod of horses led by two men as the entered the narrow confines. The woman eyed them eagerly as they tied the saddled mounts up to a nearby wagon.
 
“About time ,”  grumbled one, “There’s a delay in raising the rest of the gear from the holds. Arn has nothing to do till the ships captain gets his thumb from his ass and gets the remaining gear off loaded. Figure a double dip might kill the time.”

The woman released a delicious moan at the suggestion as two big men slipped into view. Hard looking men, a swagger of confidence given to mercenaries who know their trade.

My tail wagged in eager anticipation.

One pulled a knife quickly slashing the ropes, stepped around her and freed the other hand, then tossed the knife into the ground before me.
“Hurry boys…” she coxed, her eyes locked on the man freeing her,  her gaze slipping past him lingering  in my direction, no doubt amused by the presence of the hound dog with a raging hard on. She laughed, until our eyes met…

The corruption is an disease the infected can hide from normal humans, but the waning and waxing of its effect is ever present, eyes are windows into the souls,… channels by which we of the corrupted use to touch into the receptors of another’s senses… or find the reek of the corruption in another.

I could taste it on her,… as she could taste it on me. I recoiled at it instantly.

The expression on her face was washed by confusion. I knew, she sensed it, knew the image of a dog was a pardox, for canines are not affected by the taint.  She began stuttering as hands grabbed her pushing her down to her knees.

I stared at the knife before me… shuddered as if dunked in a bath of ice water… silver…

Glancing to the string of horses, my eyes focused on a bandoleer of silver cross bolts. The heavy cage to which she had been bound.
The woman’s voice staining to redirect the men, “Boy’s… boy’s…”

“Com’ on luv’ lets see your talents again..” The were shifting,.. obviously unleashing their members.

“Goddamm it!…” Her voice raised in annoyance, the moments mood killed, “Enough!… Stop it! The dog!”

“What dog?”

I had already moved away slipping into the darkness, nails clicking on the cobblestones as I loped from the wagons and the ones I recognized as lycan hunters. My mind raced. The luxury of time had been twisted.  I had presumed 18 days before conditions dictated leaving the city,.. with hunters it would have been a delicate extension,… they are honed to pick up the aggressive natures as the moon approaches.. peg their targets. Myself as a hunter had always had the luxury of conscious knowledge in rooting out the corruption.  Yes we can look into another’s eyes and recognize it, some betters then others. I am very good at this,…but I have had decades of practice,  better too in that as the full moon approaches… there is a point when we can sense  the presence nearby… feel them across widening distance. On the cusp of the full moon is a common knowledge all share.

 I grappled with the time frame… a week,…ten days…I had to avoid the woman at all costs on the rising moon.  Maybe fourteen at best before the alluring call of the taint would connect us. I had never imagined that the one advantage I held in my hunts would at some point be turned on me.

I slipped from the docks, doubling my intent until I found Xegis trail again and moved quick to leave the threat of the hunters behind me. His scent  moved beyond the docks, climbed a small hill into the better residential district of the area… turning at last into a large house with finely manicured shrubs,… neat,… orderly,… light within still aglow even at this hour. I glanced to a wooden shingle squeaked in its hinges above me,…and understood….finally… FINALLY understood.

When faced with uncertainty and helplessness we seek that which brings us comfort,..,  lean on spouses, friends,.. lovers for that support we need. Even in the cobwebs of the confusion Xegis desired that. I had just been too preset on his words to understand… and so as I turned away from the house, my nails again clicking on the cobblestone as I wandered in thought,… for even in the wave of unsettling events  I found comfort in the realization of this discovery… I knew just where to find Xegis, instincts telling me he wouldn’t be wandering off. I headed back to my clothes forming a path to skirt the hunters… and return…to the structure with the business shingle out front that read,

“Madame Soopes House of Hospitality”

[TightFit74]

(The Brotherhood Monastery)

Leaning back in his chair, his eyes closed, his chest slowly rising and falling, the Frater Altum repeats his tantra’s. A routine repeated so often, it has become second nature, almost effortless. Yet, even after countless times, he finds it hard this time to reach the inner peace he is looking for. As he clears his mind, testing and preparing it, he breathes in the moist morning air, the small window behind his desk opened. Closeby, vaguely he hears the song of the blackbird and envelops it into his trance, as a thread leading to the conscience world.

Slowly plans start to unfold in his sharp mind, the one thing that hasn’t deminished with age. His years and experience, the harsh decisions he had to make, grinded his mind into a razorsharp blade, difficult to yield and impossible to read. His main tool for attack and defense. A dilemma is shown as he directs his thoughts to the Ranger. He knows the seductions of Libidinis, he had been there himself and struggled to swtick to his training and education. He knows the Ranger’s mission is threatened by the luring temptations of the city. He was wise to bet one more than one horse.

His second play has already been set to action, a message was sent to the Queen. As the Queen is the lawful reign of Litus Meridium, the lands to the south of Libidinis, the Brotherhood has tried to keep diplomatic relations at the highest level with her and had succeeded beyond expectations. In her quick rise to the thrown, years ago now, the Brotherhood had planted a spy at her castle, and due to a foolish neglect in the vigilance of the Queen, the spy managed to catch a glimpse of her mirror. She was compelled by the Brotherhood to offer her assistance in some matters, after they had confronted her discretely with their discovery. In exchange to guard her secret and allow a few outposts of the Brotherhood in her lands, they offered her assistance in legal matters and, in some cases, certain leverege to procure trade deals and dictate peace conferences. In return she  assisted in some discrete ventures of the Brotherhood, using her mirror to perform tasks

The message that was sent to the terrifying Queen, will inform her of a part of his plan, asking for her aid and promising her a great award. So great, she will understand that the matter is pressing and will demand her absolute discretion and secrecy. The time too short to expect an answer, the Frater Altum knows she will be willing to assist in the matter. The reward would strengthen her position considerably and provide a constant flow of income to her treasury. And she will be in Libidinis anyway. As she attends at the festival as the personal guest of the Prefect each year, to confirm the friendship between the city state and the kingdom. Besides that, she visits the baths of Libidinis regularly where she is welcomed with the upmost respect and attention, fulfilling her every desire. With her capacities in weaving a web of deception, the Frater Altum is convinced she will perform her task well.

But will this all be enough to release Libidinis from the clutches of the house Mercator? Even though they governed the city well for centuries, the future of the city is looking bleak. He has heard of the deranged mind of the young man, the son of the Prefect, Comes. If his father had procured more offspring, he would have left the city unmeddled. Now he feels compelled to influence its future dramatically. Letting the city fall into the hands of the deranged son, would bring inreperable damage to the properties and diplomatic ties the Brotherhood has so carefully build up in the City and the lands surrounding it. This kind of damage considered unacceptable. Soon, if things go as planned, the city will be stable for at least the duration of Queen Julia’s reign.


The Castle of the Queen

“My Queen, a message has arrived” With large steps, the herald walks towards the centre of the large hall, the centre of the Queens power. As he arrives at the steps, leading to a black marble stage where a large throne of palisander and teak sits. The back and seat of the thrown are lined with deep purple velvet, her weapon embroided with goldthread, the edges laced with a thick golden cord. With a bored look, the Queen tilts her head and stretched out her arm in a slow, almost bored motion. The long sleeve of her dress, half opened up to the elbow, slides down her forearm, exposing the pale white skin. Her crossed legs slide apart as she sits upright, exposing the softness and paleness of her long legs, a shadow hiding her bare sex.
“Give the bird to me” Her long, slender fingers open like a claw, the manicured, sharp nails dig into the feathers of the pigeon as she clutches it in her hand. The pressure of the blades against its small body, makes the bird tremble but stay still, the panic increasing as she squeezes slightly.. Teasingly slow she unties the thin thread that binds the message to the bird’s leg. She clutches the bird firmer, increasing the pressure until panic grips the bird’s mind and in a frantic attempt to escape, he flaps his wings and pecks at her fingers. As she pierces deep into the guard’s eyes with her cold, amber eyes, she squeezes the bird until a soft snap is heard and the bird goes limp and the life floods out of it. The little scroll of paper quickly hidden in the palm of her hand, she drops the dead bird in the hands of the herald and waves him off in a nonchalant gesture.

As she opens the small piece of paper, breaking the small seal carefully, her eyes squint, almost closing as she concentrates on the small letters. From behind a small secret panel, she retrieves a booklet, parchment and a small fountain pen. She opens the booklet and starts deciphering the message. Within minutes she has translated the code and read the content of the message. She leans back again, hiding the booklet, parchment and pen and crosses her legs. She pulls on a small chord hanging to the side of her thrown and folds her hands in her lap as she waits for the captain to arrive. Her mind concentrated on the message she just read, she doesn’t notice him until the soft clanging of his sheathed sword brings her back to the present.

“Have all preparations be made for leaving for Libidinis?” The captain, a large man with broad shoulders, thick eye brows throwing shadows in his pale green eyes, stands at attention with the posture of a veteran. The big scar across his face a reminder of the battlefield. His deep voice echoes through the hall as he answers the Queen. “Yes my Queen, ready and waiting for your order” He bows his head, his chin touching his bronze-plated chest. “Make sure to leave in an hour and let noone disturb me until then”  “Yes my Queen” The captain puts his arm across his chest as a salute and starts walking backwards out of the hall, his chin touching his chest.

As she is left in solitude in the large hall, she raises her slender body of the throne, tightly wrapped in a black, velvet dress, the high splits revealing her long, pale legs. Her cleavage showing her ample breasts, the laced hem only just covering her perky nipples, her areola’s slightly seen through. She decends the platform and strides to a curtain at the short end of the hall, touching two small wooden panels simultaniously. With an almost silent click, a secret door opens, revealing a hidden chamber. A long oval shape is hanging from the far wall, covered by thick, black velvet drapes, only two large candles lit leaving the room in twillight. Carefully she closes and locks the door behind her as she steps in, before pulling the drapes open. A large mirror, the length of a man, is revealed, its surface as black as the night

The Queen stands in front of the mirror and closes her eyes, her hands sliding up and down her hips uncontrollably as she concentrates on her spell. “Mirror, mirror on the wall, show me none and show me all, show me the man that has to fall” Her wide mouth moving almost invisibly as she mumbles the words, her jaws clenched. The drapes lining the mirror start vibrating as the surface of the mirror start waving like the sea, emitting an eerie green light into the dark room.

[Janine Dee]

Many marvel at the talents a veteran warrior displays. I know I once did. The way they can hear their enemies in the earth, or scent them on the wind. What I now know is that there is no magick to it, no spirits scouting for their masters.

 At least for the most part. Every sizable army knows the value of spellslingers in their ranks.

No, one just learns to stop ignoring the signs all around them.

When putting one's ear to the earth if you can hear marching, but can not see the marchers you know there are a great many to create such a sound, but you can also make guesses as to how far they are by if they march in the steady rhythm of an army able to march in unison, or if their steps seem harassed by any rough terrain between them and you.

Or when scenting smoke in the wind. Wood smoke on a grassy plain is a sure sign of people, while grass smoke could be indicative of a wild fire.

It is no different in the city.

Such as now I find that not only are there more guards then a city would need even in a festival time such as this, but the guards carry themselves with  a swagger that comes from employers trying to emphasize how important their jobs are, but mainly just giving their hired guards an undeserved swagger.

Veterans don't swagger, our eyes are low, keen, not up in the air following the line of our chins. Our weapons are clean because we maintain them, knowing that in the heat of battle their are our first and most reliable of ally, not because they are still fresh from the forge.

We'll be the first to step aside in a crowd because not only do we not seek to fight unless necessary, but we know that a tangle of people is a horrid place to have to fight.

If they all wore the colors of the city guard I might just worry about a ruler developing an iron first, but they wear the standards of numerous houses.

Which leaves me to worry the city is ready to tear itself apart.

Yet even that is not the only worry, for I pass numerous stands offering silvered weapons at a cost that might not even make up for the expense of their creation.

Stopping to talk to one of the more well supplied stands the merchant tells me how they have already had victims of a changer, how they now had hunters in the city, and the reward they are seeking, and how even at such low prices he was still making a killing.

Always keeping an eye open for opportunity I decide to pick up some more silversheen, an alchemic compound that can be applied to a blade that makes it as good as silver without needing a second weapon. Though I also make note to sharpen my silver dagger as changers are not always polite enough to hold off while I treat my bastard sword with a substance that can kill them.

Getting to the hotel the women of the baths had directed me to I find it much as I expected, still in a state of revelry, but with the more subdued revelry of the higher class. They also have a room because, again as I expected, those looking for rooms are often just looking for a place to pass out between debauches.

I first secure the room, checking the window to see how easily one could climb to it, and still securing the shutter with a coil of wire in spite of the sheer surface surrounding. The walls are sturdy timber, and once the door is locked and a chair braced to the handle I allow myself to strip down and climb into the bed, but even still I take advantage of the warm climate to sleep unimpeded by covers, with my sword already unsheathed and ready for a quick grab.

[Lover]

A city. A new city. Right in front of my eyes. I know I’ve never been here before. Yes, I saw this city in my mind some days ago. Like most of the cities I ever have visited.
Something is new. I was so very tired after my vision of this city. Sure, I always am tired when I see the future. But this time it was not the same. Something changed.
Whenever I see the future it’s clear, I see details and know the time, too. This time it has been dusty, blurred and confused. Confused? Yes, it’s the right term. This time I am confused. Something inside of me is driving me. Driving me to this city.
I’m a traveller. So my folk is. We are travelling, following our intuition. Intuition. Oh my god – I can’t hear this any longer. “Follow your intuition” Wonderful. What, if my head says no? What, if the brain says “You’re stupid. There is much more than intuition. Listen to your mind.”
My ancestors told me, our destiny is to save life. We’re travelling to protect people. Pah! Protecting people. And then? Some years later they die. Anybody has to die! So why do I have to save them?
And how do I save them? “You know it” they say. Great answer?! How do I know it? „It’s in your gut“ they say. Ha! There is much more in my guts, but I never saw an answer coming out.
What did I do last years? I tavelled. I followed my guts. I followed my inner voices. And probably I followed my folks’ destiny. Always on the search to find a logical explanation for my knowledge.

A new vision is coming as I follow the path to the city. Seeing the future is something I’m able to. Of course, I can’t see the whole future. But I know what will happen next days every time I haven a vision.
I always thought, everyone is able to. Until I was told just few folks are able to. You never ask yourself things that seem to be logical. I was surprised. Why is not everyone able to see the future? It’s so easy; you don’t have to do anything. It just starts. An idea – is this my mission? Am I able to teach people to see the future? This would be a big help. I would be able to settle down, stopping travelling around. I teach them to get a vision and they can help themselves. My head is burning. This is it!! I teach them… „No, it doesn’t work!“ Looking around. I’m alone. Sure I am. I know this voice. It’s my own voice. My inner voice. It speaks to me „This is not an ability you can teach. You can this or you can’t. Ready!”

So true. I tried to show it Ardienne. Ardienne… my eyes are flashing, I feel drunken when I think of her. I saved her life. She was very grateful. Very grateful…

Some month ago I arrived to a small village. When I saw her I had a vision. Rain, storm, fire – and she in the middle of it. She just was saving a child in a burning house when the roof was crushing down. Just one day later it will happen. “She gives her life to save another one” I think. Ok. This is the reason you are here. “Stranger, may I help you?” Two deep blue eyes are looking friendly. If you knew.. I’m here to help you I think by myself. But I’m not allowed to tell her. “Yes, please. I’m a… walker. I’m very thirsty and hungry. I’m very tired, too. Is there an inn to spend the night?”
She smiled „Sure. It’s at the end of the road.“  I read her mind, to say it more exactly: Her emotions. Friendly, honest, bright. She does nothing. She is so innocent.
After eating my diner I went to bed. The long walk and the vision made me very tired. And – I knew I had to get up early. The storm will begin next morning!

Thunder made me awake. Oh, I slept much longer then I wanted to. Remembering a dream I had. Hm. I didn’t dream for years. Sure, I have visions, but they come at day. A dream… I saw this beautiful girl. Oh! In this dream, she and I have been together. Not only together – we have been a couple. No, that’s not possible. I am a traveller – alone, like every traveller is alone. But in my dream I was…… happy. Strange. Happy? Me? Pah. Being happy is for the silly ones! Luck is just a cheap whore, following anybody who is willing to pay.

Go out. Go and do your job. Then go on. Like you ever did, like you always will do.

When I left the inn, the thunder was rolling. Heavy rain and flashes made the world around very dark, though it was high noon.
I ran to her house. I saw Ardienne, also running to this house. Just in the moment she arrived, a flash crashed into the roof. Fire!!!
I ran through the open door, looked around… a very young child, almost a baby, was crying.
Suddenly I hear a voice. “Bastian!” Ardienne’s voice. She was running to this house, trying to fetch her brother. She arrived when the roof crashed. That didn’t stop her. Calling her brother she ran inside. Smoke, fire and also rain through the open roof. She saw her brother sitting under the table.
I hurried. When I was just few steps away, a peace of wood fell down – onto her shoulder. She was knocked down. I threw the wood away and carried her outside. Again I ran into the house and fetched Bastian. He was ok. When I turned to Ardienne I heard a big noise!
The house – only some pieces of burning wood!
Some people arrived at the same moment, Ardienne opened her eyes. “Bastian!” She shouted. “He is ok!” I replied. “He is safe, you are safe, too.” “Our house?” I closed my eyes and turned my head. Then I recognized Ardiennes’s hand in mine. “Thank you” She whispered. Her look made my heart melting.
Some neighbours brought her to a house and took care of her. As I habe been there at once, she just had small injuries.
Same evening we walked around , reaching athe forest and a small lake. We lay on the grass near the water. She looked at me and seriously she said “You saved Bastians and my life. I’ll never forget this!” Then she kissed me. Thunder and flashes came back. But they were just in my head. Stars exploded. Her kisses so unique, so clean, so wonderful.

Her hands stroked my breast. I put my arms around her, holding her so close to me. Suddenly she stood up. Looking at me she slowly undressed. I was speechless.
“And you?” She asked smiling. In less a second I was nude. Took her in my arms, we slowly went down, kissing and stroking each other. I started to kiss and touch her lovely breasts. She moaned when she felt my tongue on her nipple. Bending her body she pressed her breast into my mouth. I sucked it, rubbing my teeth in her skin. “MMmmmmm go on” I heard her soft voice. Did the same with her other breast. After few minmutes she turned me around. Now as I was on my back she rolled up to me and placed herself on my little friend. Oooooo wonderful. She was so hot, at once she began a fast ride. Didn’t least long and she bent her body, closed her eyes and the birds around heard silent screams.
The stress, the fear, her hurts – everything left her soul in this one moment. She was living and also had this little death at once. Her nails scratched my body. It hurt, but it was a wonderful pain. Ardienne showed her deepest emotions and I was the one to live it! I was proud, happy, unable to think – and unable to read her minds in this moment, but this I noticed much later.

She fell down and kissed me. Slipping down my body she kissed my breast… then slowly went deeper and deeper til she reached my dick. Feeling her hand jerking before her lips and her tongue made me breaking through the sky…I was sure she didn’t have much experience, as me too. But she did it with such love, she made everything right. A nature talent…
Again and again she went up and down on my tail. It was soo wonderful to feel her tongue, her warm and soft lips… she sucked while her eyes send me the deepest look I’ve ever seen.

I was short before cumming. But now I wanted to taste her, so I pushed her onto her back. Place myself between her legs, kissing her moist lips… She pressed my head closer to her delicious pussy. My tongue was deep inside and I licked her full of passion and love.
Her moaning showed me I’m doing right. She also was short before cumming again. I slipped up to kiss her, pushing my dick inside and moving it forth and back. “More, more, more” She moaned. I wanted to give more. I wanted to give everything. Yes, I wanted to give my heart and soul. Faster, faster, faster…
 
Though we both didn’t want to finish, our passion was much too big. Just few minutes later we both came at the same time…
We lost the world around. No singing birds, no rustling trees, only our gasping was heard.

We spent the whole night at the lake. It was warm and no memories of the storm. Bright moon and shiny stars have been our roof. We talked for hours and I tried to awake her intuition. It didn’t work as she never used it before. She didn’t believe it, as she thought her life is lead by the gods.
Then, lying in my arms, she feel asleep. I didn’t. “What has happened to you?” I thought by myself. “What is this? You cannot read her emotions though you feel her.” I never had this before. Strange… my brain was searching for a logical explanation.

The sun was awakening a beautiful day. Ardienne awoke, too. When our eyes met, we both knew we had to follow our own paths. She had a mission in her village, as she must take care of her father and little brother and also to renew the house.
I – I had to follow my intuition. There is a mission I have to do.
I left.

Now I find myself here at the foot of this city. The vision is forming…
 

[Janine Dee]

Normally when I wake up I tend to be unpleasant. In camp the men learned to leave me alone for the first hour upon waking simply because I preferred to wake in stages. Even my Lady tended to wake me gently, though she always did so with a fond smirk.

That was when I was waking up peacefully however.

Now when my eyes snap open my mind is clear and my blood is already starting to pump in response to possible danger. Rolling off the bed silently I look to my bastard sword and decide it too large for the tight confines of the room. Instead a draw one of my daggers from my gear, the keen blade's point reaching almost to my elbow as I grip it firmly in my hand and tight against my forearm.

The sound that woke me came from the lock on the door. Not only would a member of the staff announce themselves before entering, the person is taking too long to be trying to enter  with the key the staff would have readily available.

More likely a thief thinking my gender leaving me an easy target.

So I wait, and once I hear the click I kick the chair out of the way while using my free hand to grab the door handle and yank the door open wide.

The free hand then grabs the still kneeling figure by the hair and pulls his head into the doorway. As I do this I realize there is a second figure with them so I use my knee to quickly slam the door shut again on the head of the first one before I use my hand hold to shove him back hard against his comrade.

Following I slam a hard open hand to the middle of the second mans chest to drive the wind from him. Keeping the hand there I use it to push him into the wall where I bring my dagger to his throat.

Once it's there and my threatened feeling calms enough to take a more detailed assessment of the situation my eyes go wide at the coughing, grinning figure I'm holding at blade's edge.

"Sorry Janine, come at a bad time?"

His clothing is now cleaner, and more elaborate then he would wear back when campaigning, just as his shoulder length brown hair and beard and mustache show a greater level of care then one was able to find in the field my old comrade was unmistakable.

"Marcus?"

[Janine Dee]

I feel my heart start to slow to a more regular rhythm, but I still look up and down the hall warily. The young man accompanying Marcus follows my eyes, obviously wondering what I am looking for, but Marcus doesn't flinch, undoubtedly keeping a similar awareness of his environment.

Letting the dagger slip to an easy grip I place my empty hand on my bare hip. "So what do you want?"

He smiles ruefully. "It's really a matter of need rather then want, but do you think  you could put something on? I think it's taking my young friend here enough time to recover his wits as it is."

I wasn't buying. "I'm sure he's seen a naked girl before."

"No doubt." Was Marcus' reply. "This is Libidinis, but here beautiful women such as yourself tend to be content to pursue lives of being beautiful women, rather then growing up to be feminine vessels of destruction such as yourself."

I smirk, turning around to walk back into the room, and wrapping the bed sheet around myself as I sit down on the mattress and Marcus lets his dizzy young friend take the chair while he remains standing. "Already laying on the compliments? You must really be desperate. What's wrong? I don't imagine you have some virgin who's innocence you need to me safeguard."

That got a laugh, but then Marcus expression got serious, and I found myself getting the same look as he started speaking. "Nothing so pleasant for you. From what I picked up from my friends on the guard you arrived here today, but I'm guessing you've seen it, felt it, here in the city?"

Yeah, I had. "Not just the changer?"

While it had been a question, the tone let him know I knew the answer, even as he nodded the affirmative. "I don't think there is a sell sword in a hundred leagues that isn't employed by one noble house or another at this point, and the houses aren't worrying about quality as much as quantity, giving farm boys with delusions of grandeur new swords and  half dozen drills before putting them to work glaring at the house's enemies."

I met his eyes. "And your stake?"

Since the last time I saw him had been when I was forced out of the unit the unspoken question was obvious. "While our Lady had always taken good care of us I managed to live long enough to realize I wouldn't live forever, but I still was a warrior by trade so I sought what I had thought the best possible city to set up in and found a position as captain of the guard of a noble close enough to the throne to need security, but far enough to never need that security to do much of anything."

I couldn't help but interrupt. "You got made captain right away."

The grin slipped back on his features. "Master Thomas is an excitable lad, but my predecessor had spent a lifetime protecting one noble or another and still hadn't developed the level of skill I had in our Lady's Army. When I asked if they would be needing a guard he took me in for a time, but when he was sure of me he recommended  me as his own replacement and retired to be a tavern keep."

Probably for a tavern frequented by the town guard or the like as no one ever FULLY retired until they expired, but the story was sound, and Marcus seemed sincere enough to convince me.

I let him continue.

"The changer is just a symptom Janine. A year ago the Guard would have requisitioned guards from each of the houses to take up a search in their respective parts of the city and this thing would have been run down and destroyed. That's the damnable thing about this Janine. Libidinis has always run on the cooperation of it's citizenry. People tend to come together when there is a problem, but then leave each other to be peacefully the rest of the time, but that's gone now. It's everyone for themselves, and even the merry making that I'm guessing drew you here as much as it drew me seems more people trying to drown out their senses rather then reveling in them."

His next sentence chilled me to the bone. "It feels like Telmiah."

I remembered Telmiah. I remembered loosing a thrid of our number to a noble who needed our skills, but didn't have the coin to pay for them, so after throwing us as the fiercest of the fighting he had his armies turn on us after we had earned him the victory. I remembered our losses reaching half before his armies were dead and his keep in flames.

I could never forget Telmiah, and the hollow tone told me Marcus felt the same. It also told me that a brother in arms truly needed my help, and I wouldn't turn from that.

[TightFit74]

Tavern The Anvil

Suddenly I sit up straight in the bed, screaming out loud as the images start fading. My body wet with cold sweat, the sheets thrown to the floor, the silence of the night only broken by my heavy breathing. I shrug my shoulders, trying to get my trembling body under control, shaking off the blurred images that have not yet faded completely. As the shroud of sleep slowly slips from my mind, clear thoughts begin to form, realising where I am the first valuable one. My eyes, slowly geting used to the darkness in the room, slide to the shuttered windows, the silence leaving a deafening echo. Silence... Since I entered the city, a few days ago now, the night has never been silent. People walking the streets at all hours, coming from or going to one of the countless parties and festivities in the city.

But no sounds disturb the night now... An eerie feeling creeps up my spine, mixing in with the terrifying images that are still remaining present in the back of my mind. Flashes of torn flesh, blood spraying around, a feeding frenzy of creatures I have never seen, only heard of. Shape shifters, lycans... I rub my eyes, sleep has faded from my body completely. My mind is going in circles to understand what provoked this dream. I never dream, or at least never remember what I have dreamt. The Brotherhood taught from day one, that dreams are dangerous, trickery of mind and should be discarded. Yet, these images were so vivid, so real, following a certain story. As if they were directed to maximize the effect.

The Queen’s Castle

Her body jolting violently as she gasps for air as she releases the hold on the mirror. The mirror ripples with wild waves of pulsating green a last time, then suddenly it calms, leaving the black surface stirless, the image of the Queen reflected in every single detail.

She opens her eyes, lashes flutering as she regains her composure. The intense concentration, needed to yield the power of the mirror, has drawn all color from her pale skin. The blue veins laying underneath, form an intricate web, enhancing the cold look she perfected after years of effort. Her entangled fingers start to relax and unfold as she looks at herself in the mirror with a content smile curling the edges of her broad, thin lips. Her amber eyes burn fieverishly as she releases the last thread of power that she weaved between her and the ranger’s mind.

With a jerk of her shoulders she breaks the staring gaze of her own eyes, steps forward and closes the black velvet drapes with two decisive moves, covering the mirror. The candles are extinguished with an aimed jet of air as she pouts her lips and exhales. She opens the secret door and leaves the chamber. Carefully locking the panels behind her, she strides through the great hall and leaves on the other side, making her way gracefully to the waiting coach.

Tavern The Anvil.

I slide off the bed, having to keep myself from falling as a sharp pain shoots through my ankle. The drop off the roof of the house last night, has left it’s mark. I clench my teeth and carefully place my weight on it, knowing nothing is torn or broken, just stretched when catching my own weight. Slowly I walk to the pitcher of water and drink, quenching the thirst and washing away a sweet, metallic taste that fouls my mouth. The taste of blood...

Suddenly a high pitched, ghastly scream echoes through the narrow street that ends at the kitchen of the tavern. The hairs in my neck stand up straight as the sound suddenly dies away, as if it was cut off in a violent manner. Without a sound I shuffle towards the window and carefull open it to a small crack. The night is dark, the moon hidden behind a veiling of clouds, and all sounds are sucked away in an all-embracing silence. After what seems to take an eternity, suddenly doors are opened and lights cast over the cobbled stones of the alley, voices start filling the night and the echoes of footsteps, heavy boots bouncing off the walls of the houses.

The tone of the voices excited, angry, chaos resonating through in each outcry,  but more than anything, the stench of fear fills the air and smothers the city. A passionate scream of pain and sorrow rips through that shroud, followed by excited outcries of anger and fear.

“Lycans!”

“Lock your doors! Call the guards!”

“Bloodhunters are here!”

“Hide!”

At that first outcry, chaos hits the people that have collected in the alley. Screams of fear and horror cascade down the narrow street, people start running aimlessly,  blades glistening when drawn, catching the light of latterns. Ghostly shadows are cast on the facades as a group of men form a defensive circle, lanters held outwards to light the shadowed corners. One man seems to take control as he barks out orders, authority resonating through with each harsh word. Runners are sent for the city guards as the group slowly starts to move through the street, methodically searching through all possible hiding places.

A soft knock directs my attention to the door of my room and almost immediatly a second knock sounds, more urgent, louder, almost demanding. I slide my hand under my pillow and unsheath a small dagger before slowly moving towards the door. A third knock sounds, then the soft voice of a woman seeps through the small crack that parts the door from the post.

“Please, let me in.. Please... I am so scared”

I open the door slowly, leaving my foot to block it as I pierce through the small crack, letting the dagger drop into the floor. The wet, red eyes of Sinah are wide open, fear has taken all color from her normally tinted face, her body trembling, only wrapped in a short, cotton, white singlet. She pushes against the door and as I move my foot, she falls into my arms. Quickly I slide my arms around her and walk her to the bed as she clings to me, writhing her body against mine, her arms tightly clenched around my neck.

Attempts to pry her arms away from my neck failing, her body clinging to me as she burries her face against my chest, her lips moving, kissing, touching, seeking consolation and divertion. My ankle starts to burn as she leans her weight more and more into me, her leg sliding up mine, moving over my hip as she pulls herself further into me. Forced to sit down, I let myself fall to the bed, allowing Sinah to climb into my lap. Her face moves up as her lips trace my neck, find my mouth and are pushed hard against me. Her tongue is pushed inside my mouth as she starts to grind her hips into me, rubbing her bare sex over my pelvis.

Overtaken by her fear-driven eagerness, the will to resist disappeared after the chase and the terrifying dream, I let myself fall back to the bed, allowing her to open my pants and uncover my member. With her eyes fixed on mine, she takes my member in her hand and squeezes it, before she rolls it around in her hand, carefully, skilled, nurturing it to an erection. As she starts to stroke my growing shaft, her hips start to buck against her hand when she lips it between her legs, her fingers hidden underneath the linnen singlet, her thighs straddling my legs. Before I reach a full erection, she moves herself up my body, hovering over me as she guides my member to her entrance. As the tip touches her sex, it is coated with her warm, flowing juices and without hesitating she slowers her body onto me.

She takes me in easily, her inner walls coated with her slick juices, allowing her to push her body all the way down on me, her lips stretched around the base of my cock. Quickly she starts to move her body up and down while my member is still growing inside of her. Her eyes now closed, her face distorted with the forced concentration, her hands on her thighs balancing her upper body as she throws herself down on me.

I endure her need for our bodies to connect, the physical pleasure having its effect on me, but I am looking at us from a distance, having detached my mind from my body as soon as I sensed her sexual urge, fuelled by her fear. The images in my mind are clinging to the back of my conscious thoughts, almost too faded to see them clearly. They feel intrusive, imposed.. as if someone forced them into my dreams, forcing me to see them. With what purpose?

I watch her pushing her body down, her mouth twisted as she collects her sexual energy, her breathing fast and shallow, moans forced through her throat. Within minutes her body freezes, every muscle in her body tightening as she screams a silent scream, reaching the pinacle of her climax. Her hands squeezing, her chest heaving, sweat glistening on her face as her body start to slow down, then comes to a halt on top of me. Exhausted she falls down on my chest, her hot breath sliding over my chest, slipping into a deep sleep while we are still connected...

[hentaiboy69]

I can smell the gunpowder all around me .... after many days of fleeing, the hunters were able to push me through a gorge at the foot of the mountain. Despite the considerable power that comes from the demon blood running through my veins, i could not climb a wall so steep, especially considering the fact that I have reported several injuries. The only hope to break free is a frontal attack with great risk to the hunters rifles, ready to fire at any movement i can try ..... more i look around more i realize there is no other way to escape!

But i don’t want to give up ...... i don’t want to end my life in some cage like a circus freak! Because that's what normal people see in me, in my half feminine demon body! If it was just by the horns, I could hide them with a hood or an ornament, making them appear to be part of it .... no, the real problem has always been my legs ..... two powerfull legs with sharp claws instead of feet, which could pierce the body of an adamantine bear in a moment, if only I wanted!

I am ready to attack, even if i know the risks, when a noise caught my attention upward: hunters have caused an avalanche that is going to crash on me! Dodge the first isolated boulders was not difficult but i can’t say the same for the others .... there were too many and end up being overwhelmed, remaining buried beneath them.

When i get conscious, my head is so confused .... Where am I?! What had happened?! Appealing to my strength I try to get up, but something holds my body .... am i still trapped under the avalanche!? No, it can not be .... I clearly see the sunlight, even if my vision is still blurred and I'm sure it's not a crack between the rocks ..... is something different, maybe ..... yes, now I can make things more clear ..... the ones I see are .... bars!? What had happened while I was unconscious!? I try to get up yet, but nothing to do ..... I try to look around, moving my arms ..... these are also blocked, but from what?! Appealing to my few strength I try to lift my right arm .... a clatter of metal makes me finally understand what it is: chains! That's right .... At the end, the hunters were able to take me, and wrapped my body with strong chains, blocking, holding imprisoned on a wagon with which they are carrying me somewhere!

Suddenly, an unmistakable smell of salt air hit my nose. I have no doubt, we are heading towards the Berin Sea, where probably my new destiny is waiting me: to be exposed in a cage for the rest of my life! I can’t allow .... no, this is not the life I want, I do not want to live like a caged animal .... I too would like to experience what it feels like to have a partner who supports you in good times and comfort you in difficult times, but I know that for me this is impossible, no one could love an half-demon and more if he found out my secret ..... no, that would remain forever a dream, a beautiful, sweet dream. What expect me is rather harsh reality ....

When we finally reach the harbor, clearly feel that someone is opening the door of the cage, I hear squeaking distinctly, and I feel strong hands old tight my legs and drag me out, causing a huge uproar metal. For a moment I think this is my only chance to escape: I try to wriggle with all my strength, but the grip of those hands is surprisingly strong, so I am not able to escape it. I look up to this mysterious entity and what I see, leaves me stunned, breathless: a two meters and more figure, self-confident despite facing a being that many would not have hesitated to call "monster"! Watching carefully, I am impressed to discover that in reality it is a human! How is it that has so much power!? I had never meet one like him!

Suddenly, a voice distracts my attention from that awesome man.

"Horgus, take her in the shed reserved for fighters and take care of her wounds! These idiots hunters ..... do not even know what it means to capture prey alive! "

"As you wish, Lord Barton," he thundered, whit steady and strong voice.

Saying this, he charged me on his mighty shoulders, as if he was carrying a stick .... and I am almost two meters high! Everything seems so incredible .... I always thought humans were small, weak, cowardly, but not him! Horgus .... At least, i know his name now, a name that suit perfectly to a man of such strength and vigor .... I feel my heart jump .... is it possible that this man has impressed me so much!? I feel attracted to him!? I'm so lost in my thoughts that I hardly notice that we have reached a hut and he lay me on a straw bed, by removing the chains that imprison me ....

"Better you don’t try to escape ..... you are still weak and it would be too easy for me to catch you again .... do not worry, I'll take care of your wounds, and soon you will also serve Lord Barton! "
"Yeah, sure ...." are the only words I can say at this moment .... I can’t believe I’m acting like a little girl who felt in love for the first time, I that to survive I had to face many dangers and wild animals .... Horgus might have abducted my heart so much and so quickly!? A sudden shudder pervades my body .... Only after a few moments I finally realize that the hands of Horgus are caressing my body, cleaning it up from the mud and the blood gushed from my wounds.

"Take off your clothes, so I can clean up and treat yourself better!"

At those words, though they had no ulterior motive, an embarrassment pervades my body, making my face flush .... no one had ever said such words before, and that giant, despite its majestic appearance, he addressed me with a firm tone, but at the same time reassuring ....

"But .... but I really do not .... "my face looked ready to explode, as it was now red" .... I do not know if I can do it .... "

"You'll soon get used of it, because from today we will share this place and I will teach you everything you need to know to be a fighter". Hearing those words, my heart leaped again .... Sharing the same place!? With him? It seemed like a dream! "Now hurry up or did you want to be punished by Lord Barton!?"

 "Y-yes ......" hesitant and confused, I begin to remove the belt first, then my vest .... I let it slowly slide down my upper body, but when I feel it reaching my belly, agitation takes over ....

"Please, do not look! It is .... It's so embarrassing! I can’t!"  i suddenly scream, trying not to fall further my robe.

But he grabs my arms and forcefully removed my robe, leaving my body naked and completely exposed to his gaze. His eyes .... I can well imagine why now he is so surprised! Certainly, he could not imagine that beneath the tunic hiding a cock, which already is grown since Horgus started to touch my body.
My heart bump like crazy, I do not have the courage to look at his face .... how could I!? I can not get this thought out of my head, pounding incessantly to the point I do not notice what is happening .... a sudden chill comes over me body, while the powerful hands of Horgus gently caress me .... her lips touch my breasts, my nipples .... is a totally new feeling for me, something I thought I'd never felt .... her lips huddle around my nipples, his tongue gently caressing them .... is a feeling so intense that I can not suppress a moan of pleasure and Horgus have noticed it, i feel it by the vigor with which his hands touching me, exploring every inch of my body, eager, as if he is not touching  the body of a woman from long time.

I feel so lost and I think he has realized it, i feel his gaze on me, her hand caressing my hair .... I am overwhelmed by these new sensations, to the point I’m going lose myself in them. Almost without realizing it, his lips are on mine, in a long intense kiss! Instinctively, I wrap his neck with my arms in a gesture that seems so natural, but that seemed so distant to me until a few minutes ago .... an act to which he replied, holding me tight, as if to be sure that I do not want to get away or maybe it's just a way to infuse me some courage, make me feel desired, loved perhaps .... At this thought, I feel even more confused, agitated, and I feel my body shake, but not from fear but with excitement who grown every minute more! But at the same time I also feel fear, fear that all is a fluke and everything could end suddenly .... prey to this fear, I try to wriggle, to escape, but I can not make even one step that his hands grab me from behind and I hold me closer to him. I feel my face flushed when  my ass is pressed on his big and hard cock .... Oh God, I can not believe he want me so much!

"I-I do not ...."

"Do not say anything .... I understand everything from how your body react, from your breath and your eyes .... I can read clearly the desire but also the fear, it is normal .... I do not want to hurt you, I promise! "

Saying these words, he move his body over mine, gently push me down and he start to move his tongue along my back, starting from the neck up to reach my butt cheeks .... I feel it linger for a while around my hole, greedy, but at the same time temptress, waiting for my reaction .... or rather, a reaction of my body. This reaction was not long in coming, as if it were the most natural thing in the world .... my body trembles at his gentle but firm touch, reacts with increasing force, the feeling becomes more intense, overwhelming! Is that what you feel when someone caresses your body, when he want you!? It's a unique feeling and so inebriant!

But Horgus leaves me no time to get lost in these thoughts .... while I think I've reached the apex of this feeling, his tongue slip into my hole, slowly at first, then more and more strongly, so much so that I can not hold some moans .... Oh God, everything is so amazing and fantastic! And while I am lost in this feeling, I feel something press against my hole, trying to break through a determined, yet gentle at the same time, slowly, as if to give further stimulus to my body, more intense and deep , to the point where they can no longer do without, to desire for more ....
In a desperate effort of lucidity, I try to understand what is happening, is that slowly works its way inside of me .... oooohhh, it all seems so strange! .... Horgus 's fingers are inside me, explore my body like no one had ever done before, even as I had never dared! I feel them move as if they wanted to dig deeper, trying to figure out how far they can go .... I feel the pain at first, but this feeling slowly fades, leaving room for a pleasure that is becoming more intense, to the point that I must bite my lips to do not scream, firmly and look away from his face.
I think myself is pushed to my limit when I feel his fingers moving out slowly, finally leaving to me a chance to breathe, to calm the beat of my heart .... but suddenly the hands of Horgus grab my ass with the strength and i can sense something new and bigger touching my hole tight, with determination, and opening up, slowly but surely, the road into myself.

"No, please .... I .... I do not feel ready for this! "

But I know I keep lying to myself .... Perhaps I am not mentally ready, but my body will be! My breathing becomes more heavy, meanwhile i wait for a word or something else from him ....

"If you really think you are not ready, I can wait .... I will not force you to do something that you really don’t want .... "as he said this, his hands loosened their hold on me, and move his cock away ....

"Forgive me .... I would, but I'm afraid .... afraid of this feeling unknown to me .... "

Without realizing it, tears flow from my eyes and fall slowly down my cheeks .... I feel like a little girl who looks out for the first time in a world completely unknown to her and she is afraid even if she want it so many times. Looking at my tears, Horgus move closed to me, gently dries my tears and hug me, wrapping me in a warm hug and kissed me, giving me another beautiful moment of great happiness and I lose myself in it, as long as his voice brings me back to reality ....

"I'll teach you everything you need to know, not only on fighting .... I like you, I want you .... but I do not want to see you suffer! We have plenty of time so we take one step at a time till you are ready to do it. "

" Horgus .... " That's all i’m able to say before he kiss me again ....

[Adera]

I stretch myself luxuriously when I exit the bathhouse, my stomach growling a little, I should probably find an inn or somewhere to stay. I look up and the street but I can't make heads nor tails about most of the signs visible outside the buildings. I choose a direction on impulse and starts to walk down the street looking curiously at the people and shops I pass by.

Somehow I can feel something odd prickling at the corners of my subconscious, as if there's something my magical senses should discover but is diverted from, but the problem is that it's very hard to hide something magical from a pixie. Almost by reflex my mind is subconsciously attracted by the tricky magic and starts unfolding it so it's brought to me at a conscious level.

Suddenly my mind gets through all the diverting and subtle magic and I can see it. There are threads of magic going between patterns spaced out far in between and they're pulsating with subtle magical power. It must be masterful magic since it took even me such a long time to notice it and I'm a pixie so by nature I'm very good at that. Oh well, let's go see what that glowing door hidden in the alley does.

I walk into the alley, the noise of the street getting kinda muffled, people doesn't really seem to care much about the alley for some reason... though it's filled with garbage. To my left is the glowing door, it's mostly just a faint light in the stone wall of a building, though that's how I'm perceiving it with my strong senses... nothing at all really gives it away unless you can see the magic in some way like me.

I can see that there is a ward on the door that hinders people from entering it. I lean against the wall so my ear is very close to it and then I can hear the small whisper of a boring spell of dry magical words that let's you enter, people around here really should learn how to make more beautiful magic than this. Muttering the dry boring spell quickly I can then enter into the door and I'm suddenly in a room and judging from the windows I'm now far up in a tower room somewhere else in the city... ooh this seems fun and I can't hold back an excited giggle from escaping me.

"Hrrmm!?" I jump at the sudden sound, turning my head to the side where I see an old man with a long silvery beard, funny hat and a long robe sitting by a desk and looking indignantly at me.

"Can't they ever teach you young ones to take the main gates into our grand establishment than use all these back doors, it's getting on my nerves to be interrupted during my most important work. I will have to take this up with the council this is getting out of hand, how do they expect me to unravel the mysteries of making fire that doesn't smell when it burns off of wood if I'm disturb all the time!?".

"Umm... I'm sorry but I'm kinda new here" looking at him apologetic with large eyes and he seems to calm down somewhat.

"New you say?" he looks me up and down uncomprehending at first, then after adjusting his spectacles "By the three hidden cities! You're no human, if my memory serves me right you're one of those fairy creatures?".

"Why yes, I'm a pixie to be precise" smiling proudly as I tell him what I am "I'm looking for a nice inn and preferably one where they serve blueberry pie".

He scoffs indignantly "Does this look like an inn to you young lady? This is the prestigious and hidden magical establishment of this frivolous city... why they placed it here I have no idea, must have been the council a millennia back. Those old..." I stop him before he rambles on.

"No no I didn't think that, I was wondering if you knew of one".

"Oh, I know of many fine establishments, once, 15 years back..." again I interrupt him.

"Like here... and now?".

"Right, well I was coming to that part" then he peers at me, his eyes glinting "You know, the problem with my fiery project isn't making a fire that doesn't smell, but to make the magic fire sustain itself simply by burning wood like an ordinary fire. I will have to test your skill since only those that are quite well versed in magic are allowed in here and if you manage to make a fire that doesn't smell and burns off of wood for a while I'd say it's fine" he hands me a torch and indicates that I should start.

"Oh well, this isn't going to be hard" I say confidently, I wave my hand around the torch, quickly weaving my spell and a bright flame erupts from the torch shining with a warm light and smelling a little of lavender.

He sniffs the air grimacing "it smells of... lavender... it shouldn't smell you know, though it is quite nice like this".

"I just thought that it would be nicer than no smell and this way I think I might have made it last for quite a while as well".

He peers at the flame, inspecting it carefully "You might very well be right about that, who would have thought".

My stomach suddenly growls loudly and he laughs with mirth "let's go find you some blueberry pie my pixie friend".