Tales of Dylak-Leem - Chapter 4

Chapter 4 - Pack Mentality

Lady Tesaiel woke in Urdo's bed to the sound of birdsong. A pair of larks were perched in a tree down in the yard, and as she sleepily sat up they serenaded her. She had always been fond of birds.

For a time she just reclined in bed, nude except for the quilt, a jeweled choker set with sapphires, and the carved white gem with her family's crest on a chain round her neck. Urdo was a lump under the covers on the far side; still asleep, she thought. She was happy to let him sleep. The sun was shining in the window, and she felt rested, sated, but somehow uneasy, as if the ground had shifted.

This was the first time she had gone to sleep in his bed instead of hurriedly slipping back to her own room. The memories of last night came flooding back. Urdo had arranged for a pair of rising musicians to perform at the manor, a man and woman of real genius for humans. Tesaiel had listened to the performance enthralled, flattered that she was one of only a handful of people being played for. She had worn her new choker, a necklace of polished woods made by a famous elven craftsman, and a somewhat scandalous blue and gold dress that showed off her figure to best advantage. She had looked like a great lady, and after the performance the musicians had introduced themselves to her and sought her favor, the woman with a faint hint of jealousy.

Tesaiel had retired with Urdo to his chambers, and they had discussed the music. For a brutal goblin, he was fond of the arts, and she found she enjoyed sparring with him on the relative merits of the piece. They had drunk wine, an elven vintage she had suggested he acquire, from a deep forest vineyard that had hints of wildness which she felt suited this household. He had brought up goblin music, and in response to her questions he had played the flute, a tune that spoke of dark glades and savage deeds, a cruel yet compelling melody infused with a strange sort of wistfulness. More wine had been drunk, and then, at a hint, she had unbuttoned her dress and opened her thighs.

He had mounted her, and as Tesaiel replayed their lovemaking in her mind she found herself half-pleased, half-appalled. Unlike previous times, she had cooperated, stroking his back and buttocks as he pleasured her, arching her body up against his with eager passion. She had not actually spoken any word of encouragement... aside from her happy gasps... but he had to have known he had a willing partner. They had made love twice, intensely, and then they had rolled apart, pulled the blankets over each other, and gone to sleep together.

Her face twisted a little. He was a filthy goblin, and she was only submitting to him to protect her sister. Enjoying the wealth of his household and his gifts was acceptable; enjoying being defiled by him was not. She needed to remember who she was.

She sighed. She could still smell the scent of their sex in the covers, could breathe in and catch the odors of the wine in the half-empty glass by the table, the mingling of their sweat dried on her skin, the fresh air from the open window. At times like this she felt like a different person with a different life, one who found the memory of last night completely natural.

Quietly she slipped out of the big bed and looked at her naked body in the nearby mirror. Before coming here, she had just let her pubic hair grow wild and tangled, a thicket that was, after all, seen only by her. Now that Urdo saw it nearly every day, she had started to trim it to an even fingernail length, like a well-clipped lawn of red-gold. It was important to keep up her appearance.

The bush and her thighs were marred by streaks of dried semen. She would have to take care of that when she got back to her room.

She strode lightly across the room, enjoying the feel of the sunbeam on her bare body as she passed the window. A carved wooden wardrobe contained a white lace nightgown, and she languidly draped it over her shoulders and buttoned it closed. That would do for getting her through the halls.

Her daring concert dress was lying in a heap next to the bed. After some debate, she let it lie there. Urdo would have someone launder it. She thought there might be a stain near the bosom anyway.

Taking care not to make any noise, she opened the door and slipped out. Shutting it just as quietly, she started off down the hall towards her own room.

She had gotten about halfway there when she met Egrid coming the other way. The half-orc casually raised a hand in greeting, looking her up and down in the almost-drooling way that Tesaiel had come to find a little tiresome. "Hey, Tesaiel. Back from a long night?"

She flushed; Egrid clearly knew where she was coming from. "I suppose so."

"Any good?"

"No," she said curtly.

"Sorry to hear that. Now me, I spent the night entertaining that young musician who performed for you. He likes strong women. We had a pretty good time."

Tesaiel raised her eyebrows in surprise. "I wouldn't have thought you were his type. Wasn't the other musician his mate?"

"She likes to watch."

Humans. Tesaiel shook her head. "The act is difficult enough without an audience. I'm not sure how you could do that."

Egrid shrugged. "I've got a pretty good body if you don't mind orc, I give great sex, and I don't particularly mind people knowing it. Sometimes you do want privacy, but other times having an audience is pretty fun too, especially if the audience is hot herself and getting off on it."

The elf shook her head again. "You're depraved, Egrid."

"Why, thank you." The half-orc leered at her in a friendly way. "One of these days, you should let me show you just HOW depraved."

"I think not." Egrid was the closest thing she had to a friend here, but she found the woman to be as sexually attractive as peat moss.

"Oh well. Always time to change your mind." Egrid raised her hand again, this time in farewell, and started to pass her.  "I'll be by later, probably. I think the boss has this week's figures in and he'll want you to go over them."

"Oh, good." Tesaiel brightened a bit. She enjoyed her work.

Whistling, Egrid strolled by and vanished. Tesaiel shook her head again and continued on.

She reached her room, shut the door, and stripped off her nightgown. She carefully unfastened the sapphire choker, and placed it in the jewelry box on her dressing table, alongside the other pieces Urdo had given her. Humming to herself, she went over to the copper tub in one corner and turned on the taps above it.

As water flooded into the tub, she once again marveled at the luxury and convenience of piped running water inside a house. She would never have been able to afford such a system back at the townhouse she shared with her sister Lanthel, the remains of a once-fine set of properties held by House Ordome. In truth, she lived these days in a much higher style than she had before, eating better food, drinking finer wine, wearing more expensive clothing and jewelry. That part of things she had found very easy to get used to.

It was just the rest that was... problematic.

The tub quickly filled, and when it had reached a certain level she scattered a few rosepetals on the surface of the water and climbed in. The manor had a boiler in the cellar, so the water even had a comfortable warmth, and she gave a long sigh as she settled into it. For a while she simply luxuriated in it; then, slowly, she took a sea-sponge from a shelf by the tub and began to scrub at her upper body.

She still smelled of sex and sweat. Slowly, that odor was replaced with the scent of clean elven skin and rosewater. She ran the sponge under her arms, along her breasts, down the arch of her back, feeling warm and refreshed.

Her attentions came to her lower regions, and she carefully scrubbed away her stunted paramour's seed from her trimmed thicket. He had spilled enough inside, too, and she scrubbed at her labia, carefully cleaning the delicate petals.

Her fingers brushed against her button once, twice as she cleaned, and she shivered, feeling a sudden urge. She began to toy with herself, one finger teasing her clit, another slowly wavering at her inner lips. She let the sponge float, and raised one hand to her left breast. Should she?

She debated the matter, her nipples hardening as her fingers continued to tease. Really, she should have gotten enough last night, yet her body was telling her that more would be welcome. Maybe it wouldn't hurt. She deserved it.

There was a loud knock, and Tesaiel almost jumped, startled out of her sensual trance. Then, to her horror, the door swung open and Egrid trooped in. "Hey! Back faster than I expected. Boss wants us to get started right away."

Tesaiel's hands flew from her breast and crotch, then flew back to try and cover herself. "Egrid! You are supposed to WAIT after you knock!"

"Boss is in a hurry, so I just came in." Egrid eyed her appreciatively. "No time to waste."

"Sometimes, you test my temper," Tesaiel said, cheeks red. "How would you like it if I walked in on you naked?"

"Actually, one of my favorite fantasies about you starts that way..."

She flung out an elven curse. "You're impossible. Go outside and shut the door. I'll be out as soon as I get dressed. No matter how urgent, I'm sure there is time for me to get dressed."

"But-"

"Egrid! Door! Out!"

"Yes miss," Egrid said meekly. She took one last wistful look, and hastily departed.

Tesaiel fumed a bit, irritated and frustrated at the same time. Then she stood. Glaring at the door, which she half-expected to open again at any time, she stepped from the tub and toweled herself off. She took a few seconds to apply some of the lavender scent she favored to locations around her body. Then she went to the wardrobe against one wall and took out a riding outfit in green and gold. Sniffing, she hastily dressed, then took a circlet set with emeralds and put it on her brow. A pair of black leather shoes finished her outfit.

Thus armed, she strode to the door, opened it, and gave Egrid a wintery glance. "Are you ready?"

"Yup. Let's head downstairs to the scrivener's room. I have the rolls all heaped in a pile there."

They proceeded down, passing a chambermaid who bowed to them both and squeaked slightly. Tesaiel knew the manor had servants; she saw one every once in a while. They never seemed willing to speak to her, though, and she didn't see them often. Sometimes it felt like she, Urdo, and Egrid were the only permanent residents.

The scrivener's chamber was a bit chilly, and she frowned as they entered. "Egrid, start a fire in the grate."

"All right." The big half-orc went over to the small fireplace set into one corner and with difficulty got a blaze going. "The week's rolls are over there on the table."

"Thank you." Tesaiel took a seat at the room's chief feature, a broad wooden table covered with rolls of parchment. "Bring me this month's ledger from the shelf."

Egrid grunted, and brought her a heavy, leather-bound book. The elf opened it, flipped through it until she reached the spot for this week, and then began to peruse the rolls of parchment.

Tesaiel had specifically asked for the job of doing Urdo's accounts, and enjoyed it immensely. She had a natural head for numbers, making the toting and adding up of sums like a compelling game. And she was fascinated by the scope and details of Urdo's business, his myriad holdings, part-shares, percentages, and contracts. Some of his operations were exactly what they appeared to be, profitable enterprises. Others were just false fronts, businesses that shouldn't make money, but who could be held up as the source of OTHER money from other, less savory avenues. Still others lost money regularly, every week, but as Egrid explained ownership of them gave benefits that made up for the cost.

Money moved from one part of the structure to another; profits from one paying for new construction in another, and keeping track of it all required a keen eye. And here at the center of the vast web was the manor, and her, making the numbers dance to her tune.

She made a steady stream of notations in the ledger as she went along. Each roll was like a story of each part of the operation, unfolding as she unpacked the numbers and expenses. The Soiled Rose brothel was benefitting from the recent influx of visitors for the Spice Festival, but there had been a bad brawl in their parlor that required the services of a doctor and new furniture from a carpenter. Stebbs and Son cloth wholesalers were suffering from a rat problem; weak earnings due to the losses. Vigilance Thief-Takers was also benefitting from the festival; both from the fees from the goods they recovered, and the fencing percentage of the goods they DIDN'T recover.

Tesaiel double-checked each entry, occasionally consulting Egrid about the reasonability of some of the expenses listed. Most of them checked out; those that didn't were placed on a list for Egrid to discuss with Urdo. Little of it would be acted on, Tesaiel suspected. It was all pretty minor.

The room was starting to grow warm, and Egrid pulled off her leather jerkin to continue their business in a thin linen undershirt. Tesaiel glanced at the other woman appraisingly; Egrid's muscular frame sported an ample chest, and she could see the half-orc's jet black nipples standing out against the light fabric. 

Something she had often wondered jumped into her mind again, and this time she decided to finally ask. "Egrid, do you mind if I ask you a personal question?"

"Hm? Nah, go ahead, what?"

Tesaiel flushed a bit. "I was wondering.... have you and Urdo ever been... intimate?"

Egrid blinked in surprise. "Have we fucked, you mean? No way. I don't think we fancy each other that way. We've got an employer-employee relationship going on; he pays me well, I do good work." She laughed nervously. "I don't sleep with everyone I know."

"I wasn't suggesting that you did. I was just... curious."

"Heh. Nope, your job is safe."

Tesaiel flushed again and glared at her. Egrid laughed and raised her hands. "The accounting, I mean," she said insincerely. "I'm terrible with math."

Grumbling, Tesaiel returned to her figures. Somehow the knowledge that Urdo wasn't sleeping with his bodyguard cheered her, though.

The next three hours passed in a pleasant drone of figures. She had just come to the last roll when the problem suddenly presented itself.

Frowning, she went over the roll again. Still there.

"Egrid," she said uncertainly, "We may have an issue here."

The half-orc looked up; she had been dozing in her chair by the fire. "What's the matter?"

"The take from Ruby Escort Services doesn't add up. It does at the upper levels; the numbers all fit when he's summing up the incidental expenses and each category of services, but then when you drill down into how the money is being earned per day, and look at Tuesday... not only does it not match the other days, it isn't reflected at all in the upper-level summaries. There's a lot of money that's just not there."

Egrid frowned. "How MUCH money?"

"150,000ish in Obols, maybe 100,000 in gold."

"Shit! That is a lot." Egrid leaned over. "Show me where."

Tesaiel flipped through the parchment. "See here? Look at the intake, and now look here, at the summary. Where does the money go?"

Egrid scowled. "Could this be a bookkeeping error? Someone accidentally write an extra zero or something?"

"Maybe. It seems sort of strange for a bookkeeping error, though. I'd need to see the books on site to tell for sure, though. This is just a summary; I'm missing some detail."

"Would you say," Egrid said slowly, "that if the Tuesday numbers are right, it's an abnormal earning situation for Ruby Escort?"

"Oh, most definitely. It's about 150,000 Obols more than they'd generally make in a day. At least, according to their books."

"So if that's right, either something really profitable happened Tuesday, or all the other days have bad numbers and aren't reporting the full take?"

"That would seem to be so," Tesaiel agreed.

"This is a problem," Egrid said, standing. "You stay here and finish up. I'm gonna go have a quick talk with the boss. I'll be back for you."

"All right," Tesaiel said, a little excited. She wondered what her detective work had triggered. What had she found? Maybe just a careless number enterer getting a line wrong. Maybe something less innocent. How did Urdo deal with those who tried to cheat him? As amiable as Egrid was with her, Tesaiel knew that the goblin kept the half-orc on staff to brutally beat people to order, as well as to protect him. He might be able to talk about music, but he was a goblin, and she knew he had a goblin's viciousness and love of revenge.

She flipped through the piles of parchments and made a few more notes, finishing up the week's entries. It had been a fairly good week for the goblin's holdings, and that 150,000 was just a drop in the bucket, but it was a BIG drop.

Egrid returned fairly quickly. "Boss wants us to run down to Ruby Escort and have a look at their books. You got everything you need to go out?"

"Yes. We're going right now?"

"Yeah, right away. Before anything can be buried, hopefully." Egrid gave a grim chuckle. "Depending on what we find, burials may be in order." She pulled her leather jerkin back on. "Let's go."

Tesaiel got up, and the two walked through the manor to the foyer, and then out onto the grounds.

As she had feared, a huge black shape detached itself from a patch of shadow and began moving towards them. "Egrid. It's him."

"Yeah, I see him. Hey, Fenrir! Heel, boy!"

The big krav wolf kept loping towards them. Tesaiel forced herself to keep her walk steady and slow as they headed for the outer gate. "He's still coming."

"I know. Fenrir! Heel, damnit!"

Fenrir slowed as he approached. His yellow eyes were intently focused on Tesaiel, his fangs were bared, and she could see his long red member bouncing beneath him.

"Fenrir! No!" Engrid moved between her and the krav wolf. "Keep walking, Tesaiel."

She did. Don't run, she mentally repeated to herself. Whatever you do, don't run.

They reached the gate, and she hurriedly unlatched it and slipped through. Egrid followed with a sigh of relief. "Damn, that had me worried. Never leave the house, Tesaiel."

"I know," she replied, shivering. "It's a shame. I would have liked to walk in the gardens, or go do some shopping."

"Not happening. Come on. It's not a long walk, but it's not a short one either."

---

They moved through the hillside district that Urdo lived in, studded with the estates of the well-to-do. Tesaiel got few glances; she looked and acted as if she belonged there. Egrid got a few, but most people who saw them pegged her for exactly what she was, the bodyguard of the elven noble walking beside her.

In better times, Tesaiel had visited some of these great houses as a guest, one of many. But House Ordome had been crushed, and aside from a few distant cousins, she and Lanthel were the last of the line. She was unlikely to grace any of these homes ever again, save in the manner she currently did.

Descending down the hillside, they passed into the Temple District, and the air became filled with muffled chanting and the smell of incense. Cultists in thick robes passed by, along with less-dedicated worshippers and those like themselves who were just passing through.

"Do you follow anyone in particular?" Tesaiel asked.

"I drop a coin every now and then in the box of the Maiden of Lust and Pain, but I can't say I'm a devoted adherent. You?"

"I participate in ceremonies to the elven gods, but I can't say I'm particularly devout either. Lanthel is more religious than I, I believe."

"Mmm." Egrid seemed to file that tidbit away.

A man in a torn red robe suddenly lurched out of the crowd at the elf. "Lady! You are called to the Jade Phallus! You shall lay yourself upon the altar and receive the blessing of our virile priests! It is ordained!"

Egrid punched him in the face, once, twice, three times. Nose a bloody ruin, the man fell backwards like a poleaxed steer.

"Thank you, Egrid," Tesaiel said serenely. "He lacked class."

"I thought so too," the half-orc said. "Those guys are bad news. Probably give terrible sex too."

They moved hurriedly out of the District, and into an area given over to restaurants, taverns, and gambling dens. Before long they were outside a brick building with a sign depicting a woman with an oversized ruby nestled between her bare thighs.

"Let me do the talking," Egrid said. "You just look over the books, let me know when you're done. We'll discuss what you find when we're out."

"All right."

They entered. A man behind a counter with lank black hair looked up as they came in. "Help you- oh, Egrid. What's up?"

"Need to see the books, Jav."

His expression turned wary. "What's this about?"

"Oh, you know, someone wrote a seven where they meant to write a five, that sort of thing. Just need to have a quick look at the originals and we'll be out of your hair."

"I dunno, Egrid. It's not really convenient right now-"

"I don't give a fuck if it's convenient!" Egrid snarled. "Get the books out here right NOW."

Jav turned pale. "R-right. Sure thing. Just a minute." He vanished into the back room.

Egrid watched him go with a suspicious expression. He returned in a few minutes, clutching a canvas-bound ledger. "Everything's right here."

Egrid took it, and passed it to Tesaiel. "Let me know when you're done."

She nodded, opened the book, and started to run over the numbers.

"She looking to work here?" Jav asked, a bit of anticipation in his voice.

"No. Also, watch your fucking mouth," Egrid said coldly.

"Sorry, sorry."

Several minutes passed in silence, Tesaiel concentrating on her work, Egrid glowering, and Jav sweating and fidgeting. Then the door opened.

The person who walked in was short, maybe four-foot, and muscular in a compact sort of way. She had an ample chest under her plain brown clothing, and closely-cropped red hair. Two shortswords hung from her belt. "Hey, Jav-" She took in the others, and an unpleasant smirk crawled across her face. "Well. Egrid Hardtusk. Finally decide to go pro as a whore?"

Egrid's hand dropped to the hilt of her sword, and Tesaiel could sense the sudden tension from her. "Flann Nightsteel. Still stabbing people in the back for your supper?"

"Sometimes I stab them in the front for variety." The dwarf glanced at Tesaiel, and she fidgeted under the penetrating gaze. "Hey Jav, this one for rent? I fancy this one."

"She's not one of our girls," Jav said quickly. "But I have a half-elf, if you don't mind a waiting list, of course I'll move you right to the top..."

"Nah, halfbreeds are generally a shitty lot, no good in bed, no good for anything really." Flann grinned at the half-orc. "Isn't that so, Egrid?"

"Doesn't surprise me that a half-man like you has to rent women," Egrid replied. "Two genders, and you're no good at either of them."

Flann's face twisted, and her hands started to go to her shortswords. There was a long moment of tension, and then the dwarf relaxed. "Jav, I'll be back later. I can see your establishment isn't fit to do business right now."

"Sorry, Miss Nightsteel," Jav babbled. "I'm really sorry."

"I'm sure you are. Seeya, Egrid." With one last glance at Tesaiel, the dwalf departed.

Egrid visibly relaxed as Flann left. "That could have been interesting." She glanced at Jav. "Client here?"

"Uh, yes. Yes, she is."

"What did you mean by half-man?" Tesaiel asked.

"There's this thing with the dwarves. Every so often they produce a child with the bits of both genders. It's considered a curse from the dwarven gods, and they're usually driven out of the mountain lands. Flann's one of them; she's not really a she, more of a he-she."

"So she has a-"

"Long, functional tool, yes miss," Jav interjected. "She practically murdered one of our girls with it. Summer said she had woman parts too, but no stones."

"She's a killer, whatever her plumbing," Egrid said. "You pay her enough money, she eliminates the person you name. She's pretty good with those swords. I'm just as glad I didn't have to fight."

It was strange and a little alarming to see Egrid intimidated. Remembering the dwarf's cold, flat stare, Tesaiel was glad to see her gone.

"I'm done here," she finally said, handing the book back.

"Good. Be seeing you, Jav. Keep up the good work, or something."

They left the place to Jav's insincere farewells, and started back through the city. After they'd gone a ways, Egrid glanced at the chestnut-haired elf. "Well?"

"They're making a lot more money than they're reporting," Tesaiel said flatly. "They made some token efforts to try and hide it from a cursory look, but once you really examine the numbers it's clear that they don't add up. They must have accidentally put down the REAL tuesday figures instead of the fiction they're peddling."

"I see. Well." Egrid was silent for a time. "The boss is not gonna like this."

"I didn't think he would."

"Can you write down exactly where the problems were, and give it to me to take to him?"

"Certainly. Or I could tell him myself."

"I think it'd be better to have it in writing," Egrid said. "I suspect I'm gonna have to come back down here, maybe with a few other employees, and do some restructuring."

"That's an interesting term to use."

"I'm trying not to offend your sensibilities."

"That's very sweet of you, Egrid. If only you could extend that sentiment to your libido, I might actually enjoy your company."

"Hey, I'm trying. You should take it as a compliment."

Tesaiel sniffed.

When they arrived back at the manor's gate, Egrid motioned for her to stay. "I'm gonna go lock Fenrir in the kennels. I'll be back."

Tesai waited outside. She could hear growls, and Egrid cursing. Then silence for a time. Finally Egrid returned. There were marks and tears on the arms of her leather jerkin, and she did not look happy.

"Okay, he and the pack are locked up. Let's go. The boss doesn't like having them not patrolling the grounds."

Tesaiel skipped in the gate, and they jogged to the manor door. Egrid sighed. "Go write up that report for me, and leave it in the scrivener's room. I'm going to loose the wolves again, then I'll take it to the boss. He might want to see you after we go over it, so be ready."

"All right." Humming slightly to herself, Tesaiel went to draft her summary. She wondered what it would unleash.

---

As it turned out, it only took a hour before Egrid came up to her room to get her. The half-orc had a funny expression on her face. "Uh, Tesaiel, the boss wants you. Wants to see you. Guest room two."

A room with a bed, not his office. Well, that probably meant he would be requiring her other services. "All right," she said, adjusting the jeweled circlet in her hair. "I'll be right down."

Egrid didn't leave, but walked along with her as she made the trek to the stated room. The half-orc still had a strange look on her face that made Tesaiel wonder what Urdo had said to her. She couldn't make out if it had been good or bad.

They arrived in guest room two, a stone chamber with a bed, a fireplace, a wooden chest, and bearskins on the floor. Urdo was sitting on the bed, wearing the red robe of Shen-Lagathi silk that he favored when in a state of undress. That was another strong hint about what was coming.

The goblin favored her with a needle-toothed smile, his red eyes twinkling. "Egrid tells me you uncovered some foolish employees trying to cheat me of what's mine. People are so stupid, Baroness Emerald Moon. They do things like this and think they won't get caught, or if they do, they can escape any serious punishment. Stupid people are the biggest headache I have. Not the only one, but the biggest. You did good work."

"Just doing my job," she said. "It's one of the reasons you have me here."

"One of the reasons, yes. Not the ONLY reason." He grinned. "One of the other reasons is making itself known." He beckoned her forward, opening his robe as he did. "Use your mouth."

Tesaiel hesitated, glancing at Egrid. "Urdo... can you send Egrid away first?"

"No, I'm going to need her in a minute. Ignore her."

Her cheeks flushed. To do this in front of an audience, in front of Egrid in particular, who she saw every day... but there was really nothing to be done about it. She had learned that arguing with Urdo never got her anywhere; he was in a position where he did not have to compromise, and so he didn't.

With a displeased sigh to make her feelings clear, she got onto her knees before the bed and took his penis in one hand. The shaft was green and lumpy with a purple-green tip; he was fully erect, clearly already aroused. Bending her head, she began to lick the tip, her tongue drawing a swirling pattern on the cockhead. She had gained a certain amount of experience with this, and with luck she could get him off quickly.

She could feel Egrid's eyes on her and her cheeks reddened again as she tongued the goblin member, moving her attentions downward to lick the shaft. She could taste him, the taste of goblin skin and a hint of soap, and he gave a long groan as she moved back up to suck the tip. One clawed hand went around the back of her head, and he began to thrust with his hips, pushing his cock deeper into her mouth.

Tesaiel's head bobbed as she massaged his shaft with her tongue and lips, sucking as best she could. He was enthusiastic today, she thought. This would probably be the opening to two or maybe even three bouts of sex. Hopefully he would send Egrid away before then.

With a low exclamation in the goblin tongue, Urdo's cock burst in her mouth. Warm spurts of semen gushed down her throat as he pushed his cock in while holding her head with his hands, and she swallowed, letting the musky stuff flow down her throat. It didn't taste bad, and she had learned that if she swallowed his cum, the aphrodisiacal properties of goblin seed would make the sex that followed a more enjoyable experience for her, getting her wet earlier and bringing her to orgasm harder and faster.

She drank him down, and then he pulled his penis out of her mouth. "You get better at that every time, my lady."

"It takes no great skill, aside from mastering one's stomach." There was a dribble of semen on her lip, and she daintily licked it away. She glanced at Egrid, who was trying to maintain a neutral expression and mostly succeeding. Hopefully he would do whatever he had to do with Egrid and then send the half-orc away before asking Tesaiel to undress and get on the bed.

"Nevertheless. I'm pleased with your development." He paused. "Egrid told me about the problems with Fenrir."

"It's nothing you need worry about."

"But it is," he replied, fingers drumming on the bed. "As you settle in here, I'm going to need you to go run a few errands from time to time. You're going to need to go out with Egrid on a few more of these trips to check books. I'd like you to maybe do a bit of work on the manor's garden. And during high security incidents, we let the pack enter the house and run loose in the halls and rooms. So, this isn't really a state of affairs that can go on."

She shrugged. "There's nothing I can do about it. I'm not sure why you're bringing it up with me."

"Actually, there is something you can do," Urdo said. His eyes glittered wickedly. "Fenrir doesn't give any trouble to his mates, and he doesn't let the pack give any trouble either."

It took almost two whole seconds for his meaning to sink in. "NO! That's... that's ridiculous! The very idea!"

"Just once will be enough to do the trick."

"You cannot be serious." She stared at him in shock and disbelief. "With a krav wolf? An animal? I won't!"

"If you won't, then your usefulness to me ends," Urdo said evenly. "We both know what that means."

Her heart skipped a beat, and she stared wildly at him. "There has to be another way! You didn't make Egrid do this, and she gets along with him!"

"Actually, I did," the goblin said blandly. "When she first came to work for me and had similar problems. Worked like a charm."

She swung her head to stare at Egrid, who squirmed and actually blushed. "Yeah, Fenrir and I are on a first-name basis now," the half-orc mumbled. "It's not that bad, Tesaiel. It's just the once, and then he loses a lot of the aggressiveness."

Tesaiel looked back and forth between the two, mind racing, a trapped feeling starting to rise in her stomach. There had to be a way out of this. There HAD to be.

She could beg Urdo... no. She wasn't going to beg, not for anything, not even for her life. And the idea of breaking their deal could be dismissed out of hand, not after coming so far.

The fact was that there was no way out.

"What do I have to do?" she said thickly.

"Just take off your clothing and go to your hands and knees on one of the bearskins. Egrid will go get Fenrir."

"Can I at least have privacy?"

"I need her standing by in case there are problems. For your safety. And I want to watch."

She twitched violently, then looked away, hands clenching and unclenching. "I'm sure you do."

Egrid coughed somewhat apologetically, and departed.

Slowly, reluctantly, Tesaiel unbuttoned the top of her riding outfit. "Urdo. Wouldn't you rather just forget this idea and have me join you in that bed?" It was a desperation move, but it might work.

"Perhaps tonight. It's better we get this over with, though."

Swallowing bitterly, she removed her top and began to pull off the pants. She could feel a familiar warmth in the pit of her stomach as his cum started to work its magic. No wonder he had asked her to suck him off. He wanted her as easy as possible for this.

Naked now except for her pendant and the circlet on her brow, she gingerly got to her hands and knees on one of the broad bearskins on the floor. Bending her knees slightly, she pushed her pert rump in the air, legs apart. "Like this?"

"Perfect. You look very fetching."

"Of course I do." Her lip curled. "This is beneath me by more than I can express."

"We must all live with certain indignities," he replied, a dark amusement in his voice.

The door opened behind her, and she heard Egrid's footsteps. And something else. A bestial panting, growing steadily closer. She heard the click of claws on stone as Fenrir came up behind her, and she tensed in sudden panic. There was a low growl, and she shivered.

Elves hated and feared krav wolves. The big black creatures lived in the most shadowed and twisted parts of the great forests, hunting in packs and sometimes making alliances of sorts with the goblin tribes. They were held to be smarter than most animals, but evil, possessed of dark hearts that were anathema to the elven virtues and way of life. As a little girl she had been taught to hide if she ever saw any signs of one about, and as a young woman she had heard horror stories told in whispers of elves run down and devoured by a pack of the dark hunters.

Nothing she had seen of Fenrir changed this picture. The only addition to it had been the krav wolf's enormous red penis, the penis she was about to get a much closer experience with. Her current position made her feel horribly exposed. She knew she was presenting to him, like a she-bitch in heat, and she knew how he would act on it.

A cold nose touched her bottom, sniffing her asshole, and she gasped out a half-sob of tension. A trickle of sweat ran down her brow. Her legs shook slightly as the nose withdrew. She could feel his presence behind her, a dark, majestic aura that intimidated and slightly awed her with its intensity.

A long, wet tongue licked the outer lips of her snatch, and she sucked in a breath. It lapped out again, sliding across her labia and clit, and she felt her clenched pussy start to grow a little wet as the aphrodisiac combined with the rough, slurping wolf tongue to arouse her against her intentions.

She looked down and back, between her legs. She could see the huge black-furred form, and as she watched, he took his muzzle from her cleft and his yellow eyes met hers. She gasped as an almost physical shock passed between them, and she hastily lifted her head.

There was a long, low growl, and then she felt two clawed paws land squarely on the moons of her ass as he mounted her. Her legs wavered for a second as the big krav wolf brought his weight to rest on her, and his paws slowly scrabbled forward up her bottom and then up her lower back. She winced as they scraped her delicate flesh, and tensed even further in horrified anticipation.

Fenrir thrust forward with his hindquarters. His aim was bad, and the big red penis slid between her asscheeks, poking out over her lower back. He made a whining noise and slid it free of her rump, then thrust again. This time it jabbed her in the upper thigh.

Tesaiel almost screamed from the tension, wanting it over. Without thinking, she arched her bottom in the air and waggled it slightly, as if calling attention to it.

There was a growl of feral lust, and then she felt the red member at the lips of her sex. There was a second where it pressed insistantly among the petals, and then it stabbed into her as Fenrir entered with a snarl. Tesaiel cried out in a mix of fear, humiliation, and sensation as the thick wolf-cock started to slide in and out of her tight elven cunt.

She could feel soft fur pressing against her thighs, her bottom, her lower back. The feel of it only served to remind her that she was letting an animal have sex with her, offering herself to him like any she-dog. Fenrir was fully atop her, now, his paws on her upper back next to her breasts, which swung back and forth as he humped her with slow, unhurried strokes. She could hear his steady panting as he serviced her, could feel hot droplets of drool drip from his tongue to the back of her shoulders.

Hot. His penis was hotter than Urdo's, hotter than a human or an elf's would be. Did krav wolves have a higher body temperature? They must. She cried out again, growing wetter and wetter as it slipped in and out of her cleft. It was bigger and longer than she was used to, almost uncomfortably so.

She saw Egrid staring at her out of the corner of her eye, and her face twisted with shame. How was she ever going to be able to look the half-orc in the eye after this?

Fenrir growled, and his thrusts grew a little harder. He pawed once at her torso, scraping the side of one breast.

"Ahhhhhn! Oh gods!" She could feel the wolf-cock going faster and faster as it pumped in and out of her dripping hole. The krav wolf lowered his head, and with a spasm of delicious terror she felt him take her hair in his jaws, bite down for a second pulling her head back, and then release it. She could feel the hot breath on the back of her neck, feel the overwhelming presence of the wolf mounting her, and with a gasp of shock she felt a certain connection. She felt the wolf's savage, hungry lust for her body, felt his desire not just to have her physically, but to dominate her, to incorporate her into the order of the pack.

That was how he operated, she realized in a flash of insight. Everything was prey or part of the pack. Right now she was prey, and would remain so until she became part of his structure in the only way she could.

It gave her a strange sort of thrill, a vicarious understanding of and participation in his act. And as he growled again, she knew that the connection was not just one way, and that he was aware of her sudden growing arousal.

Something was pushing against the lips of her pussy, something thick and round at the base of his penis. Fenrir pulled himself a little further up her body, and then gave one long, sustained thrust. Her labia spread wide as he pushed, causing her to cry out, and the knot slipped inside her.

Tesaiel's eyes bulged. Her mouth opened and worked mutely as the big red knot rubbed against the inside of her vagina, directly against the part that was over the interior portion of her clitoris. A low, appreciative moan issued from her lips. Fenrir's answering snarl had a satisfied edge to it.

The krav wolf continued to hump her faster and faster, and Tesaiel's mind began to freeze up with lust and sheer sexual pleasure. The wolf's furry balls were slapping against her inner thigh, and his thick black coat tickled her bottom, back, and legs. He was taking her like he would take a rabbit on the hunt, savaging her like sexual prey, and she could sense his dark, wild lust and exultation as he did. To her shock, she found herself sharing in that exultation, found herself getting off on it. Take me, she thought wildly. Take me! Take me as your mate!

The wolf snarled again, and she knew he had understood, and had accepted. She began to orgasm, her head arching back, ragged wails echoing from her mouth. Her body shook as the knot continued to stimulate her, the enormous cock filling her sopping hole.

This can't be happening, part of her thought. To be brought to climax by an animal, and an evil one at that! But she couldn't deny the pleasure she was experiencing, the forbidden thrill of rutting with the dark beast, the desire to be a part of his hierarchy. More and more of her mind and body was willingly submitting to her black-furred alpha.

As her orgasm faded her wails turned back into moans. She was panting now, sweat dripping from her body. The knot was like a hot coal inside her cunt, and it kept swelling larger and larger. Her body rocked and swayed under the savagely-fucking beast, her full breasts bouncing with each stroke.

Fenrir's slather dripped on her hair, on her shoulders, on her upper back. A drop of it slid down to bead at one diamond-hard nipple before falling to the bearskin. As she panted and moaned, the big krav wolf leaned down, placing his muzzle right beside her head. He snapped his ivory fangs and snarled, and she was struck by an almost overwhelming sense of his hunger, lust, and primacy. Yielding to it, she projected back images of submission and equal lust. His tongue slid out to lick her cheek, and on instinct she turned her face towards him and licked back with her own dainty one. The two tongues slid together, elf and wolf saliva mingling, and Fenrir gave a throaty growl of approval.

She could feel the knot and the long wolf penis throbbing within her ravaged tunnel, felt Fenrir thrust faster and faster, and gave a long cry of pleasure. She could tell her second orgasm was fast approaching, and sensed that the beast mounting her was drawing close to his own climax. Fully caught up in his hunger, she pushed her ass back, grinding her sex against the furry base of his penis, urging him on with mental pleas.

Her second orgasm was long and rolling, causing her pussy to clench and spasm around the knot and the shaft pounding within her. Fenrir arched, stiffened, and with his cock deeply seated, he started cumming. Semen sprayed her vagina in great gouts, a seemingly endless amount, warmer than any two-legged partners would be. Tesaiel screamed, a long, delirious wail of passion as the big alpha threw back his head and howled, announcing the complete conquest of his new elf-bitch. Outside, in the yard, the voices of the rest of the pack rose in acknowledgement.

As her climax faded, Tesaiel slumped forward, her arms giving way. Her face and breasts fell down to rest on the bearskin; her rump, by necessity, remained hiked in the air. Fenrir had stopped his thrusts; warm spurts still came from his cock deep inside her, but they slackened to a dribble. As she lay there, she felt his paws scrabble on her back, then slide away as he dismounted.

They were locked together now crotch to crotch, and Fenrir took a few steps. Rather than slide out of her, the knot caught and dragged her a few inches down the bearskin. She gasped as the tugging put even more pressure on the most sensitive parts of her sex, and bit her lip.

Fenrir growled, sounding somehow amused, and stood facing away from her. Now and then he would take a step forward, and it would pull Tesaiel with him. She was almost crying now, the pulsing, tugging knot and the sloshing, warm, liquid wolf cum in her tunnel sending her nearly over the edge. To her amazement, she felt her third orgasm begin, a hard, shuddering affair that made her cry out over and over.

Seeming to decide the time had come, Fenrir abruptly rose to his feet and pulled forward, hard. Her cuntal mouth strained mightily for a second, and then with a wet pop the knot pulled free of her engorged pussy lips. The red wolf cock slid out of her, immediately followed by spurts of his semen and her juices, gushing forth to run down the inside of her thighs and puddle on the bearskin. Crying out in a mixture of pain, pleasure, and relief, Tesaiel let her legs and ass slump to the floor, her body shaking as the last of her climax died away.

Panting still, she lay there, regaining her breath, letting the sticky wetness finish trickling out of her ravished cleft. Fenrir padded around, his aura wicked and regal, and stood before her, growling.

Without hesitation, Tesaiel rolled over onto her back and submissively displayed her belly to him. Snarling his approval, her pack leader stepped over her, walking forward until the red wolf penis, coated with a slick layer of sticky cum, was right in front of her face. Knowing what he was asking, she opened her mouth and took the tapered tip between her lips. Then she opened her mouth to take his length into it. She could taste herself and the musky flavor of the wolf semen as she quickly tongued and sucked the member clean.

When she was done, Fenrir gave another approving growl, and stepped over her. He turned and licked her on her lips. Tesaiel opened her mouth and swirled her tongue around his. Fenrir lifted his head, stepped over her and headed for the door. She closed her eyes and licked her lips. Tesaiel moved one hand over her wet pussy, to rub the wolf semen between her pussy lips.

"Take him back out to the yard, Egrid."

Urdo's voice startled her. Tesaiel had been so deep in her sexual trance that she had forgotten there was anyone in the room except her and the alpha.

"Right, boss."

The elf watched as the big wolf padded out at Egrid's heels.

"You continue to surprise, Baroness Emerald Moon." The goblin's tone was a mix of surprised, pleased, and uneasy. "Go ahead and take the rest of the afternoon off. Be down for dinner."

She didn't reply, her mind still trying to process what had just happened. There was disgust over having rutted with the wolf, of lowering herself to his level. But she had managed to get him to accept her. He was now her pack leader, and she knew he would be almost as protective of her as he was of Urdo.

Forest goblins had a natural connection with krav wolves, that was well known. But having given herself to one and having felt their minds mesh along with their bodies, Tesaiel suddenly suspected that elves had a similar connection to the dark beasts, if they were to pursue it. It would explain the special fear and loathing her people had for them, and the strong interest the krav wolves took in elves. She had embraced that connection, had ridden it as he had ridden her, and it had helped her endure the experience.

She wasn't sure if Fenrir was evil or not. He had a dark, wicked grandeur to him that she found almost hypnotically compelling. Frankly, she didn't care. She understood the big animal now; he was like a noble, like her. He could only tolerate you if you knew your place. They had worked out their respective places, alpha and his elf-bitch, and having done so they were allies.

Slowly, she eased herself up. She thought about trying to get dressed, then decided it would take too much effort. Leaving her clothing, she limped from the room, silently praying that she didn't run into any of the infrequently-seen servants.

Fortune was with her, and she made it upstairs and reached her room without anyone seeing her. Wearily shutting the door, she sprawled out on the bed. Just rest for a moment, she thought. Then clean yourself up.

It was the last coherent thought she had before slipping into sleep.

---

She awoke with a start to a pounding on her door. "Tesaiel! Dinner!"

That was Egrid's voice. Memory came flooding back, and Tesaiel flushed bright red. It was going to be hard looking Egrid in the eye for a while. But the knowledge that the half-orc had done the same thing helped a little bit. Or maybe it made it worse. It was hard to tell.

"I'll be right down," she called back.

"Better hurry. The boss is wanting you there to host."

Tesaiel groaned. Then she sat up, and stared at herself. Her pubic bush and cunt and inner thighs were caked with Fenrir's seed, and she smelled of wolf musk and her own elf sex. There was no time for a bath, however. She would just have to make the best of it and hope nobody had a keen nose.

Hurriedly she slipped on a red strapless dress, trading her jeweled circlet for a pair of ruby earrings. The crimson color made her think of the red, long wolf member that had penetrated her, and she half-grimaced, half-smiled. Then she put on a pair of slippers, and rushed from the room, hoping to make it downstairs before Urdo became impatient.

She arrived to find three people in the dining room. Urdo sat at the head of the table, in formal clothes. Egrid stood, in the process of lighting the candles. And at the end of the table, already seated...

Lanthel. Her sister, in a low-cut white evening dress that was slit to show a scandalous amount of thigh.

Enraged, Tesaiel wheeled on Urdo. "What is this?" she hissed, her voice rising with fury.

Urdo held up both hands in a conciliatory gesture. "Relax, Lady Tesaiel. Your sister sent me a note that she wanted to see you, so I invited her to dinner. Egrid's going to walk her home as soon as the meal's over."

Tesaiel relaxed, her anger and fear departing. "Ok. That's acceptible then." She supposed she couldn't fault Urdo for that, although she dearly wished it could have happened on another day.

Lanthel gaily waved at her. "Tesaiel! Sit down and talk to your sweet sister. It's been so long since I've seen you!"

Tesaiel stepped over and took a seat at the table. "Hello, Lanthel. I'm surprised you came back here, all things considered."

"Well, I got an invitation from our host, and you have to remember I'm his slave. I have to do ANYTHING he asks. Also, I thought I might be able to poison him. But this ugly brute he keeps won't let me." She pouted. "I just had to see how you were doing myself, sister, I had to. How are you?"

"I'm fine. I'm being treated as befits my station." That was only half-true. "I haven't had to do anything degrading or beneath my dignity." That was DEFINITELY a lie, but there was no way in the nine flaming hells that she was going to let her sister know about that part of her duties.

"I'm so glad to hear that," Lanthel said, her eyes twinkling. "You look so healthy! Have you been exercising?"

"Oh. Ah, yes. Every day. One must take care of one's body."

"Oh, it AGREES with you, dear sister. I really think so!" Lanthel gave her a fond look. "But that surely can't take up all your time. How do you occupy the day?"

"Well, Mister Urdo has me doing his financial accounts. It's really very interesting work; I quite enjoy it." It was a relief to finally be able to tell the truth. "He has such a wide array of holdings, Lanthel. He's a person of great wealth."

"I have my modest fortune," Urdo said, smiling. "Enough to live comfortably. Your sister is an ornament to my house, Lady Lanthel."

"She is, isn't she? I love the dress, by the way. And are those real rubies in those earrings?"

"They are," Tesaiel told her.

"Those must be worth a fortune." Lanthel sounded envious. "How did you manage to afford them? You're always so frugal with our money."

"Urdo gave me them as a gift. He can be generous."

"She looks lovely in them, doesn't she?" Urdo said. "I was sure she would. Your sister does good work for me, and I like to reward those who do good work. Why, just today she uncovered someone trying to cheat me of a good deal of money." He frowned. "By the way, Egrid, you take care of matters?"

"Sure did, boss."

"Any problems?"

"Villem broke his wrist when one of them put up a fight. Also the watch wanted a little extra for ignoring the bodies. Because of the state they were in, the sergeant said. I paid him the extra from the contingency fund. That okay?"

"That's fine, Egrid. Good work. Can you bring in dinner now?"

Egrid bowed, and left. Urdo smiled at the elven sisters. "Sorry for the business talk. Not enough hours in the day, you know?"

"Oh yes," Lanthel said understandingly. "I know exactly how that is. I'm glad to hear that Tesaiel keeps busy. I pictured her pining away in a high room, sad and lonely."

"I would never leave your sister lonely," Urdo assured the blonde elf.

Tesaiel bit her lip.

Egrid re-entered, carrying a steaming silver platter heaped high with meat and steamed vegetables. "Ah, dinner's here," Urdo said. "Take a seat, Egrid."

"She's not eating with us, is she?" Lanthel sounded horrified. "Does she even know how to use eating utensils? Or close her disgusting slobbery mouth while she chews?"

"Well, I was going to have her eat, but I'm sure Egrid won't mind waiting until afterwards if you feel strongly about it," Urdo said, sounding a little put upon.

"Oh I do, I do," Lanthel said.

Egrid shot her a dirty look, but said nothing.

"We have forest venison tonight," the goblin said. "The pack and I did some hunting earlier in the month, and I put some of the kills on ice for occasions like this."

"I don't think your wolves like me," Lanthel said frankly. "Egrid had to lock them up before she let me in.

"How odd," Urdo said. "Fenrir LOVES Tesaiel."

Tesaiel's left eye twitched twice. Don't blush, she frantically commanded herself. Don't blush. Forget that your pussy is coated with krav wolf semen. Don't you dare blush.

Lanthel studied her critically. "My sister always did have a way with animals," she said. She tossed her head imperiously. "Egrid! I want that piece there. Cut the fat from it and put it on my plate."

"Yes, Lady Lanthel." Egrid gave Urdo a look.

The goblin sighed and shrugged, his expression apologetic.

The venison was placed on Lanthel's plate. "Now cut it into small bites for me, Egrid."

The half-orc did as she was told.

"Why Mister Urdo has someone as hideous as you waiting on his table, I can't imagine," Lanthel said. She wielded her fork and daintily began to chew her venison.

Tesaiel took a piece for herself. As she ate, she pictured how the deer must have met its fate, running terrified through the woods, baying howls echoing from every side. Fenrir would have raced up behind it and leapt like a black thunderbolt, his vicious jaws closing around the neck of the deer, tearing it open as he bore the struggling animal to the ground...

She was getting a little wet. Hastily she forced herself to remember where she was and just chew her food.

For a long time they ate in companionable silence, Egrid glumly staring at the platter of delicious smelling meat.

Finally, when all three of them had mostly finished, Urdo glanced over at Lanthel. "A good meal, my lady?"

"Oh yes. I'm glad to see my sister is being fed properly."

"My table is adequate for us." He smiled. "If you wish to say your farewells to your sister, Egrid will walk you home."

Lanthel turned to her sister. "I'm so glad to see you're doing so well, Tesaiel." She brushed away a few tears that had formed. "Come give us a hug."

Sighing, Tesaiel rose and let Lanthel embrace her. Her little sister always had been clingy. Lanthel held the hug for longer than was appropriate, as usual, and then kissed her on the cheek and let go. "Goodbye for now."

Tesaiel nodded, a little touched and a little exasperated all at once. "Goodbye, Lanthel."

Her sister smiled at her, then turned. "Egrid! We are leaving now. Get your disgusting orcish body up and walk me home."

"Yes, Lady Lanthel," Egrid said tonelessly.

Tesaiel, embarrassed, shot her an apologetic look.

Half-orc and blonde elf walked out of the dining room, leaving Urdo and Tesaiel behind them. When they reached the foyer, Egrid murmured, "Awful big talk from a damn slave, wasn't that?"

"You know it's only what you deserve," Lanthel told her, giggling. "Gods! Who has my sister been fucking? That wasn't goblin I smelled on her."

"I'll tell you all about it when we get to your place," Egrid said. "I think it ought to stimulate you."

"I'm already so horny that I really want you to just have me here in the entry hall," the elf said, pressing herself against the swordswoman's muscular hip. "But that probably wouldn't be wise."

"Let's wait until we get back," Egrid said, grinning. "I'm going to stay the night. And hold you captive. In your sister's bed."

"Oh gods," Lanthel murmured. "You brutal halfbreed murder-orc. Please don't ravish me over and over. I'm a pure, unsullied elven maiden."

"Yeah, you're going to be begging a LOT before I get done," Egrid said, snickering. Then she opened the door and the two headed out into the fragrant Dylak-Leem night.

---

After the meal, at the goblin's prompting, Tesaiel went straight up to his quarters. She sat on the bed and watched as Urdo lit a fire in the room's hearth.

He glanced at her. "Did you have a chance to bathe?"

"No. I fell asleep until Egrid came to fetch me."

"Why don't we sit in the tub, then? I'll run some warm water."

"Thank you," she said, pleased at the opportunity to get clean.

Urdo's suite had a large, sunken bath lined with tile; metal taps brought hot and cold water to it. He set it to filling, and then began to remove his clothing. Standing up, she did the same, pulling her dress off over her head and letting it fall in a discarded crimson heap on the floor. She doubted she would be putting it back on tonight.

When the bath had finished running, she stepped gratefully into it and eased herself into the relaxing, soothingly warm water. As Urdo fiddled with the drinks cabinet, she took a washcloth from a nearby rack and began to vigorously scrub her private parts, trying her best to clean without stimulating.

The goblin stepped into the bath with her, a silver goblet in each hand. Leaning over, he set one down on the edge beside Tesaiel, and then sat down opposite her to watch as she worked. She colored very slightly and quickened her efforts.

Finally, when she felt she had done a good enough job, she leaned back in the sunken tub and picked up her goblet. She sipped at it, her breasts bobbing on the surface of the warm water; it was another dark forest wine, this one from an area commonly known as the Wolfwood for the many packs that roamed it. Tesaiel was pretty sure his selection of this vintage was intentional, and she gave him a decidedly cold look.

"Is the wine to your taste?" he asked with mock concern.

"Very amusing," she replied. "It's always diverting when you make a feeble attempt at wit."

"You are too cruel, Baroness Emerald Moon." He took a sip. "I must say that I was... surprised... at today. I was expecting him to tolerate you, not for you to bond with him. I didn't even think that was possible for a non-goblin."

She leaned forward a little, interested. "Tell me about the bond, Urdo. The goblin one, I mean."

He chuckled. "Well, the shamans like to spin a tale of how the wolf-goddess and Gotan, father of Goblins, shared a night of passion and produced the krav wolves. Thus, they say, the krav wolves are our half-siblings, and we share the bond of blood. I think that's just myth myself. What I know is that a goblin, like myself, can form a mental link with a krav wolf. I can feel what they feel, they can understand my intentions, and they can instinctively sense where I am. I'm not exactly part of the pack, but I'm an ally and someone they will fight viciously to protect. And I, of course, will do what I can to look out for them." He gave her a needle-toothed smile. "Goblins do not have many allies, so we treasure the few we have."

"I think that elves can bond with them as well. I'm almost sure of it, after my... experience today. But our natures are so different, in some ways, that I think few elves would ever accept such a link. We see them as vile, evil beings, things to be shunned and killed. Most elves would never even admit such a connection was possible."

"Neither would most goblins," Urdo said with dark amusement. "Elves bonding with krav wolves? They'd call it blasphemy against our gods." He glanced at her. "Few elves would, you said. But you did. Why?"

That was a good question, and it was one she'd been asking herself. She wasn't entirely sure she had an answer yet. Maybe the last few months had been steadily eroding her elven values. Maybe, deep down, she'd always been more concerned with the appearance than the substance of those values anyway. And then too, she had limited options.

"I suppose I'm just an extraordinary person," she said. "I keep telling you you're lucky to have me." She took a long sip of wine, savoring the dark vintage.

"So you do," he said. Then he set his goblet down on the edge of the tub. "Lie down for me next to the tub, Lady Tesaiel, on your back."

Sighing, she stood, water dripping from her body. "I had just gotten comfortable. At least you made a fire." Setting the goblet down, she lay down on the hard tile, squirming a little in discomfort.

The goblin climbed out of the tub and came over to her. He straddled her chest, sitting down on her ribs and making her grunt a little. His penis was already erect, and as she watched he slid the lumpy green shaft between her breasts, the purple tip glaring at her like a one-eyed snake. Clawed hands grasped both her mounds, forcing them together around his member, and slowly he began to pump his hips.

Tesaiel shifted, sighing a little as his taloned thumbs swirled around each of her nipples. This wasn't the best position to give her pleasure, but it was what he had chosen. Water dripped down her skin, shining in the flickering firelight, and she shivered a bit.

Urdo was breathing heavily. "You have wonderful breasts, Baroness Emerald Moon. They're one of my favorite features of you."

She tossed her head slightly. "Don't be vulgar."

"Just paying you a compliment." The goblin was tit-fucking her faster now, his red eyes glinting. "You believe complements are your due anyway, don't you?"

"Of course they are." She was getting a little wet from the way his fingertips and cockshaft were stimulating her breasts. "You don't treat me nearly as well as I deserve."

"Maybe... ahhh... maybe not," Urdo gasped.

Then, with a grunt, the goblin climaxed. Green-white cum spilled between Tesaiel's full breasts, collecting at the divot between her collar bones. He pulled back and spurted a ribbon of cum over her left breast. Then Urdo pumped his shaft and a third, smaller strand of cum decorated her right breast. He released his empty member and used his hands to continue his work. He slid his fingers through the stripes of his seed and began to massage her breasts, rubbing the stuff into them.

Tesaiel stirred, making an exasperated noise. "I just got done cleaning myself, Urdo."

"This is good for the skin. Old goblin wisdom," he said, chuckling, and tweaked her areole, making her squawk.

He continued to massage, kneading the slimy stuff into her soft globes. She felt her breasts begin to grow warm under the treatment, and bit her lip.

Finally he stood, and got back in the tub. "Come wash off. I'll do your front."

She got back in, and sat down, glad for the warm water. Urdo picked up a washcloth and a bar of soap, and slid around behind her. His arms came around her torso, and he began to scrub at her half-submerged breasts.

Tesaiel sat there, glad to at least be getting clean. She could feel his penis poking against her asscrack, slowly growing again. The goblin began to soap her breasts, and she stifled a little gasp as his hands slid across her slick chest. Her body was growing aroused, anticipating what she knew was coming.

"Do elven lovers ever bathe together?" Urdo asked.

"Sometimes. There are sacred pools, in the homelands, where husband and wife seal their love on high ceremonial days. My parents conceived Lanthel during one such rite."

"When a goblin lies with a woman who is not by right his, they are taken to a deep pond or lake. Underground for preference. They are tied together, nude, and thrown in the water. If he can spend himself in her before they are forced to surface, the match is allowed. Otherwise, they are tied to a single stake and left for predators."

She shuddered. "As I would expect of goblins."

"We are not a kind people," he admitted. She could feel his erection between her ass cheeks. He casually tweaked her nipples again, and then carefully ran the washcloth up her neck and then back down, washing the soap from her breasts.

"Dry off," he said. "It's time for bed."

Feeling a tingle of anticipation, Tesaiel rose from the bath, took a towel from the rack, and slowly toweled away the water. Then, nude except for her ruby earrings and family pendant, she slowly crossed the room and climbed into his bed. She leaned back against the headboard, thighs ever so slightly open, one leg arched enticingly. It was a picture of invitation she couldn't help but feel smug about.

Urdo came round to the other side and climbed into bed, and pulled the covers up.

"Good night, my lady," he said, and proceeded to ignore her and go to sleep.

Tesaiel lay there, feeling slightly insulted and extremely frustrated. Then she shrugged, nestled down in the bed, and pulled up the covers.

"Men," she mumbled, and went to sleep.

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She woke in darkness, the fire only embers in the grate, immediately aware of the weight between her open thighs. She opened her eyes, and saw Urdo's glowing red eyes staring down at her as he entered her.

Still half asleep, she gasped and moaned as he thrust into her, her body releasing the frustration she came to bed with. His sharp teeth nipped at her areole and she cried out, then reached out to grasp his arms and hold onto them. Her legs wrapped around his waist, and she pushed up against him, her back arching.

They moved and bucked together for a time, Urdo breathing heavily, Tesaiel making soft cries of encouragement. Their motions grew faster and more frantic, their pants and gasps louder.

"Yes! Oh gods, yes!" That could not have been her. She dismissed the mad thought as she climaxed and spurted a flood.

As her orgasm died, she felt the wet hot stream of his seed shooting inside her, the familiar feeling of their essences mingling. He crawled forward over her, his penis sliding mostly out of her dripping snatch, and kissed her hard on the lips. Without thinking, she returned it.

Then it was over, and he slid back down her body and rolled off her. She rolled over, and they lay there, limbs intertwined, breathing gradually slowing.

Tesaiel was too tired to think about any of it. Before five minutes had passed, she had fallen back asleep.

Continued in Chapter 5

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