Serpent Isle: Revealing Nights

Tall walls of gray stone, long worn by the ravages of wind, loomed before them like archaic sentries whose alliance remains unknown. Although the  Avatar and her companions had spent several weeks in the city of Monitor, the last several days had distanced them from civilization farther mentally than even physically.

Iolo lagged behind the other three, his face weary of  battle and full of images that he could not forget, his sensibilities being much more romantic than the others. Dupre walked closely to the Avatar, but slightly behind -- he did so unconsciously but it told so much of his character that it looked somewhat ridiculous in perspective with his stalwart, macho bravado. Shamino, the quietest of the troupe, was off to the left side opposite Dupre, and his gaze wandered to and fro for any signs of trouble.

The goblins wouldn't follow them though: they all knew that. The Avatar and her companions had killed every one of them. Nothing remained in the valley alive, save the flora that bore witness to the genocide. The prize, which the Avatar carried under her arm, was stained red just as they all were, practically from head to foot. The others didn't bother asking why she didn't wear it proudly into Monitor, who would no doubt hail her as their new Champion.

Iolo piped up as the guard behind the northern city gate finally came into view. "I am looking forward to a hot bath, especially now that we have the inn to ourselves. We all look as though we've fought a war!" His laughter died quickly, just as so many goblins did a few short hours ago.

None of them had slept the previous night, inside the cave leading into the goblin's valley, for it stank of rot from the green guards they had to kill just to get to that point. 'None of them would sleep tonight either,' the Avatar thought.

Dupre tried to joke, "Indeed, and thou shouldst go first, Iolo, Monitor can smell thee from here!"

None of them laughed, and they continued to the city in silence.

---

"Hail, the new Champion of Monitor!" the other two Command Leaders and Spektor applauded Caladin, who gave the Avatar a huge pat on the shoulder that would have sent some men to the ground.

She smiled despite her fatigue, and the feeling that no one should be hailed for what she had done that morning.

Caladin's voiced boomed in the large main room of Monitor's town hall, "Brendann, it looks as though thou art far better for thy new Wolf!"

The Wolf Command Leader responded, "Indeed, Ikone hath proved herself... most capable..." he trailed off.

His accent on 'most' and the way he was looking at her as he twirled the corner of his small moustache between thumb and forefinger, was so typical of the man, that everyone in the hall laughed, including Ikone the  Avatar. Her gaze drifted to Mersten, Leopard Command Leader and current leader of the City of Knights. Ikone noticed, too, Dupre and Shamino looking at Mersten with masked interest. The incriminating evidence they had found in the goblin's store room would have to be taken to just the right person in order to do any good, but who was loyal to Mersten? How far did the deceit  go?

She looked back to Brendann, who was still gazing at her with a desire that she had to admit was flattering. He was adamantly against both the Bear Command and Leopard Command, but he was power hungry and very cunning. Whether he could be trusted or not was still uncertain. Caladin, the Bear Command Leader, was a tough brute with an allegiance only to his Command and the safety of Monitor...

Ikone's train of thought got cut off as the laughter died down and Mersten spoke. "Well, milady. Tthou hast proven thyself beyond even the Knights Test, and have rightfully claimed thy title as our new Champion. We all thank thee for retrieving the most precious Helm of Courage, and wish you a long and triumphant stay here in Monitor. Thy companions as well as thou can go anywhere thou dost wish."

There was another round of applause and Ikone caught the warm smiles from her three companions covered in muck and blood, which stifled her mood again. 'Damn' she thought, 'I really could use that bath now.'

---

The four crimson-colored warriors walked wearily to the vacant inn, of which they now had free reign since killing off its keeper, a goblin disguised as a human.

Iolo asked, "I am surprised at thee, Avatar, why not face Mersten now?" He questioned their leader as soon as they entered, closing Monitor outside for the time being.

"It wasn't the right time yet, Iolo. We'll know when it is right, I'm sure. For now, let's just get some rest, shall we?" her Earth-accent sounding very out of place in the dimly lit foyer. She wondered how long it would be until she, too, was speaking as a Britannian. 'I guess I'm not in Britannia anymore, though, am I? Damn this Serpent Isle, its even more bloody than Britannia' she thought with a heavy sigh as she opened the door to the first room and threw her pack and cloak in.

"Thou hast first bath, Avatar. Thou surely deserveth it!" Iolo offered in condolence to her sigh and sullen countenance.

"Thank you, good bard," she smiled wearily at him. "I think I will, and then I can take first watch out here." Ikone tossed her bedroll against the wall in the foyer opposite the front door. She looked up to meet the questioning gazes of all three companions.

Shamino asked, "Surely tonight, Avatar, we do not need a watch?" He opened the door to the second room, and set his magic bow carefully inside.

Dupre chimed in, "Shamino is right, thou shouldst rest."  One hand was on his hip and the other rested comfortably on the hilt of a long sword. "Thou art hero and Champion!"

Chuckling to herself, she pulled off the kidney belt to be thrown nonchalantly into the room with her other gear, "Yes, but heroes often times have more enemies than the enemies! Besides, there are only three rooms, and as much as I like all of you, the beds here are rather small."

The men all looked at each other with a bit of annoyance, Iolo shrugging.

Dupre grinned, "Well then, milady, I have a solution."

Tthe Avatar looked at him in expectation of one of his lame attempts at a joke.

"Thou couldst share Brendann's bed to-night!"

Dupre let out with a loud belly-laugh, which Shamino tried not to join but couldn't help not to. Iolo scowled at him disapprovingly and shook his head in sympathy to the Avatar.

"Good Lord," she muttered as she leaned her broad sword against the wall next to the bedroll. "Maybe you're just jealous, hmm?"

It was then her turn to grin, and she caught the surprised look on Iolo's face out of the corner of her eye. Shamino, too, looked surprised but this did not help his attempt at stifling laughter.

Dupre continued smiling, "Perchance, milady, I am. Thou art most becoming in thy armor of red gore and goblin stench."

Shamino lost it, and he had to brace himself against a wall as he laughed. Iolo was now gaping, his amazed stare going between Dupre and Ikone like the pendulum of a well-wound clock.

Shaking her head, the Avatar suddenly gave the large man a warm embrace and patted him on the shoulder, "Yes, Dupre, and so are you. And so are we all. Thank you, once again, my dear companions for fighting at my side." She sighed  heavily again, her smile returning to one of fatigue and an attempt at being happy. "What we did today... well, I'm sure none of us know quite how to take it. Was it worth it? Maybe we'll never know, but I thank you, each one of you, for being there with me like always."

Shamino, having regained himself as soon as the Avatar did, smiled at her affectionately, as did Iolo whose mouth finally closed.

Dupre turned to face the other two, his arm around Ikone's shoulders, "Here, fellows, is a finer lass than thou willst ever find." With that, he suddenly gave her a small kiss on the lips.

The Avatar blinked and looked at him with a questioning gaze. Shamino, too, looked at the two but didn't say anything. All four of them had spent more time together and been in tougher situations than most marriages have to go through, and been in very close quarters with each other, and indeed knew each other better than most friends ever do. But there had never been any intimacy between them.

The was the first time she had ever been kissed by one of them, even if it  was just a small one and as a friend.

Iolo, having not really noticed, just smiled and nodded in agreement. "And with that, Avatar, I believe Dupre hath offered to stand the first watch if thou art determined that one is needed..." Dupre nodded and continued smiling down at the woman, a full foot shorter than he. Iolo continued, "...and thou can take thy bath. Shamino, help me to fetch her some hot water, hmm?"

Shamino watched Dupre and the Avatar staring at each other a breath longer, and then smiled to Iolo, going with him out the front door.

Ikone started to say, "Dupre..."

He suddenly cut her off with a tight embrace, pulling her to his chest, one hand on the back of her heavy armor and the other holding her head to his shoulder. "Do not say anything, milady. Surely thou doth already know the answer to thy question."

He let her pull away enough to look up into his brown eyes, and he stared into the deep blue of hers. She swallowed hard, not knowing what to say, wondering which of the many questions rising inside her she could possibly know the answer to.

Before she could say anything more, he pulled her close again and pressed his lips to hers. Both of them closed their eyes, and she didn't fight it.

Shamino watched them through the far window, the sound of Iolo struggling with the large bucket of hot water in the background. His mouth opened slightly as they kissed, his eyes closing along with theirs. His head hang to his chest, and it took a conscious effort to look back up at the two. They were just standing there now, looking at each other. His heart swelled along with theirs. But there he was in the dark, outside, looking in. He had, of course, always thought the Avatar a strikingly beautiful woman; long golden hair, oceanic blue eyes that could hold your gaze for hours, and a figure that would be hard to best. However, when he saw Dupre kiss her the first time, a spark of desire rose in him for this woman he had known for so long. He longed to be in Dupre's place now, to feel her against him. And then his longing turned red hot with envy. His eyes  narrowed and focused on Dupre. 'Why should he have her? The obnoxious brute,  he hath none of my integrities, he hath not the true appreciation for her as I do! His fist clenched around the handle of the bucket, so hard that his knuckles turned white.

"Dupre..." she started again after their lips at last parted. She had no idea what to say, and just looked at him.

He suddenly grabbed her ass and roughly kissed her again, this time with more passion. He let her go and took a step back, looking her up and down.

"Thou art right as always, milady, now is not the time. Thou shouldst know my true feelings though, for the right time may never come. Today... before  the goblin King..." he looked at the dingy carpet, searching for the right words. "I thought that I might lose thee, Ikone. This land has far more enemies for thee than Britannia even, and I am afraid for thy safety."

With that he quickly turned from her and half-ran into the third room, quickly closing the door behind him.

The Avatar stood there spellbound, not knowing how to feel or act. She ran her fingers through her hair and felt a sticky mess. Bringing her hand before her, she saw globs of red and green. "Damn, it's even in my hair. Iolo!"

The old man quickly poked his head in the doorway.

"Thy bath, milady, 'tis just being finished by the Ranger," Iolo smiled at  her and came inside for warmth.

Ikone pulled off her plate armor and leggings, and headed out back. Her mind raced with the lingering taste, feel and scent of Dupre as she walked. Her gaze was on her boots as she walked mechanically... right into Shamino as he rounded the corner.

"O' Avatar! Thy bath is run," Shamino muttered, roughly brushing her bare shoulder off where his chain mail marked her with dirt. He took in the soft feel of her skin, and his fingers slowed over her shoulder. His thoughts racing towards places all over her body he would rather touch.

Ikone lifted an eyebrow at him as he stood there with his hand on her shoulder, staring at it.

"Are you okay, Shamino?"

He quickly pulled himself back from her, a surprised look on his face that recessed back into a shadow.

"What were you  thinking about just then?" she asked.

He stammered, finding it hard to concentrate in the presence of her, so unexpectedly. The burning in his stomach and loins made it uncomfortable to stand before her, and he was thankful for the growing darkness. Her Earth-accented speech aroused him even more for some reason and he shifted his weight from foot to foot.

"Shamino, what's wrong?"

"Nothing!" he sputtered, trying to keep his hand away from the growing bulge in his pants as he watched the moon play with her bare shoulders and  legs. He bit his lip as his eyes wandered the creases in her orange tunic. "I, uh, am just tired. As tired as thou art, I'm sure, milady." He chuckled nervously.

She came closer to him, trying to scrutinize his features in the moving shadows of candlelight trickling through the open window. A small sigh of desire in check passed over his lips, the longing to touch her almost irresistible. He almost fainted when she reached out and took his hand.

"Yes, we're all tired. Thank you for all your efforts today, old friend," she smiled and gave him a small embrace, and he felt her entire body suddenly tense just as his flashed with heat. 'Either he's got a hard-on the  size of a club or the hilt of his sword is poking my thigh' she  thought, 'Do I look down or pretend I don't feel that?' She looked down.

"Avatar, please forgive me! I... I... saw you and Dupre," he motioned to the window, the shadows unable to mask the crimson in his cheeks as he tried to pull his chain mail over his hips.

"What the hell is going on here?" she demanded, looking completely confused, "Everyone suddenly has the hots for me!" She rubbed her forehead, trying to shake the undeniable lust from herself. "I'm supposed to be the icon of virtue, and all I can think about is..." she trailed off and her gaze fixed on the front of his trousers.

Shamino collapsed against the outer wall. "Ikone... thou mayst be the Avatar, we are but men. Thy beauty is undeniable, and..." his desire started to fade, faced with the reality that she did not share his feelings. 'At least,' he thought, 'she doth appear to have no feelings for that clod Dupre either.' He looked back at her hopelessly, and with no further answers.

Ikone closed the shutters, wrapping them both in the gray tones of darkness outside the inn. Moving directly in front of him, her boots nearly touching his own, she leaned her entire body into his and kissed him.

Shamino's mind went blank as the fire in his loins rekindled; he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her in closer, the front of his trousers pushing against her harder.

Ikone moaned softly into his mouth as she opened hers, slipping her tongue along his as she finally reconciled the tension between what she felt as the Avatar, and what she felt as a woman.

"Let's get our bath over with," she whispered into his ear.

They walked hand in hand to the back.

She pulled off his chain mail and then his shirt, rather roughly, to his surprise. Running her hands down his chest she smiled at him, whispering conspiratorially, "We should try to do this quietly."  

Before he could respond, her mouth was probing his again. Her hands unfastened the buttons of his trousers enough to slip her hand inside. He shivered as her hand grabbed his cock, and then found his balls to play with. Disbelieving what was happening, he found his hands feeling the body he so longed to have for himself. He started pulling her tunic up slowly, and then she helped him practically rip it off. The moon shone down on her bare skin, making it glow. She was even more beautiful than he had imagined all these long years.

Grinning, she climbed into the waiting hot water of the large bathing tub. She dipped her head under the water as he finished undressing, and joined her. They embraced at once, her hands holding tight onto his back as he moved on top of her. His right hand held her up in the water and his left hand massaging her mound. The tub was shallow enough that she could comfortably sit on the bottom with her shoulders still out of the water.

The Avatar spread her legs, resting her ankles on the edges of the wooden tub. She reached down to grasp his cock again, and pulled Shamino closer. She rubbed the head of his cock up and down her slit before guiding him to her entrance.

He locked  eyes with her as he pushed the head of his cock in just enough to feel her inner heat. She melted under him with a shiver and he pushed the rest of the way in. She pressed her lips against his hard to stifle a moan, and kissed him even rougher as he began thrusting inside her. Her surprisingly soft, yet muscular body aroused him severely, and he wasted no time with this dream come true. He cupped his hands over her breasts, feeling her hard nipples against his palms.

The hot water rocked in the tub in time with Shamino's hips, covering them in steam in the cool night air. Her hands clutched his shoulders and she rolled her hips to meet every incoming thrust. He arched his back and held his cock inside her as he pushed his pelvis against her pearl. Then he began thrusting again, probing her tight wetness deeper and faster.

The  Avatar bit her lip to stop a scream of pleasure from escaping. She rocked her hips opposite Shamino's, pulling his cock deeper in her with each penetration. Her nails dug into the back of his arms as her hips shuddered with orgasm. He didn't feel the pain in his arms, because he was focused on her inner muscles squeezing him. He gazed wordlessly at her open mouth as she grunted her orgasm. Knowing that he did that to her, caused his arousal to peak and it was his turn to grunt open-mouthed. His cock twitched and he deposited hot cream deep inside her.

Shamino fell back against the far side of the tub. The wood creaked with the strain, and even more water sloshed out.

Ikone pulled her exposed legs back into the water and winced at the heat of the water. Her cunt felt empty when he withdrew, and it was sore from the pounding, but she grinned despite herself.

Shamino, a somber look on his face, watched the curvatures of her body as she tried to regain control of her breathing. She watched him back, wondering at what had just happened. In all her years in Britannia, she had made a conscious effort to not only be an Avatar of the Eight Virtues, but dedicated to virtue in her personal life as well. With so many opportunities to partake in such bodily pleasures in this world, she had remained chaste.

Dupre appeared, standing over them. "What the hell is going on here?"

Ikone and Shamino were suddenly broken out of their capsule in time and pleasure. They  hadn't even noticed him walking up. Dumbfounded, they stared at him without thinking to even cover themselves.

His voice boomed again, his face glowing red in the darkness, "What the HELL is going on!"

Shamino slowly stood, pulling up his wet trousers and tucking his manhood inside. "Dupre, thou must understand..."

"Understand what, thou... thou... Bastard! Thou hast taken the Avatar! My love!" He lunged at Shamino, knocking him clean out of the tub and onto the dirt next to the back wall of the inn.

Ikone yelled, "Dupre, stop it!" She jumping to a standing position in the bathing tub.

Dupre turned slowly, his eyes mere slits of the rage that radiated from him. He looked her naked form up and down, which only made him more furious. "And thee, Avatar... the symbol of virtue indeed! Thou art nothing but a whore!"

She gaped at him in astonishment as he slowly advanced on her.

"I offered thee my love, I did not force myself upon thee... and thou hast spit upon me like a dog!" He grabbed her by the neck and lifted her clear out of the barrel, carrying her naked form kicking and grasping at his hand,  gasping for air. "Wouldst thou like to see how a dog doth act, Avatar? I shall show thee the virtue thou hast shown me!"

Shamino scrambled to stand and he yelled with rage and flung himself at Dupre.

The well-trained warrior threw Ikone to the ground under a tree and was ready for the Ranger when he came. With one strategic blow to the side of the head, Dupre sent Shamino against the stonewall to crumple at its bottom, unconscious. Turning back to the still-gasping woman, Dupre grinned wickedly and grabbed her by the arm. Without saying another word, he flipped her onto her stomach in the dirt beneath the tree.

She could hear his rattle of armor, and then felt his other hand on her back. He moved on top of her, and she could feel the cold metal on her back, and the warmth of his pelvis against her ass. She was no pure-maiden when she came to Britannia from Earth, despite her chastity while here, but in all her pleasure-exploits she was a complete anal virgin. Dupre bend over her and held her shoulder to the ground as hard as he could  while he pushed his erection into her asshole, all the way with one slow penetration.

Thankfully the hot water had loosened her muscles and lubricated his path. She tried to scream with the agony that tore through her, but he held her shoulder to the ground and with one cheek in the dirt, had room to barely breath. Her cunt was still sore from the well-endowed Shamino, and the ass fucking made her burn with pain. She relaxed as much as possible to ease his thrusts. Dupre moved wildly on her, with no grace he took out his rage.

Harshly he held her down, his full weight promising no escape as he ravaged her ass for his own pleasure. He grinned with sinister delight at the feel of her trying to scream in the dirt. He moved his other hand up to roughly squeeze one of her breasts. He got no pleasure from this except to make her feel even more vulnerable.

On and on this went, him moving in and out of her tight ass. As soon as he could feel her finally getting used to the anal intrusion he pulled out. His hot cum spewed two strands over her ass and then the tip of his cock oozed and dribbled the last of his cum on the back of her thighs. Dupre stood up, and backed away from her raised ass, glistening with his cum.

She slowly started to push herself to her knees.

Dupre fastened his trousers. "There is thy virtue, Avatar. Thy well-trained dog."

The End

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