Chapter 5
Solyma paused just inside the entrance to the Grand Ballroom and stared. Two maids, dressed in their best clothes, brushed past her, giggling in excitement as they joined the festivities. Maid and noble alike mingled, talked, ate, and danced beneath a banner embroidered with Penelope's name and the royal crest, a brilliant green maple leaf. Dancers swirled across the dancefloor in time to a sweeping waltz played by Taladros's city orchestra.
Solyma spotted Menelaus leading the orchestra with his playing and caught his eye as she stepped further into the ballroom. He smiled back and nodded at her before returning his full attention to his music.
"Solyma, good to see you here," Kerrith said as he walked up. His dress uniform was a close-fitting dark blue jacket with a red collar over a white shirt and a matching pair of dark blue breeches, all pressed and creased to a razor's edge. The uniform fit well, although the dark colors didn't do anything to help him seem any warmer. The knight nodded to Hector and her before continuing on his way.
For a moment Solyma wondered if he was actually mingling with the guests and behaving like a normal party-goer, but then she spotted the slight bulge of a collapsing baton under his shirt. Her suspicions were confirmed when he paused to speak with a guard and then stepped out onto the balcony to check it.
"I guess he never stops working," Solyma said to no one in particular as she let an usher lead her to her table. She took a deep breath when she saw that she was being led to the Queen's table.
"Good evening, Solyma," Amadrin said as Solyma approached. "Please, have a seat."
"Thank you, your majesty," Solyma said as she sat, Hector floating in above the chair beside her. "How is the celebration going so far?"
"Wonderfully," Amadrin said with a smile as she leaned over towards Solyma. "It appears," she said in a whisper, "that your knight has arrived." Solyma jerked her head around towards the entrance and realized she was licking her lips.
"Oh, really?" she said, trying her best to feign coolness. "How nice-" she stopped in mid-sentence and bit her lip when she saw Jaric. He was wore the same dress uniform as Kerrith but where Kerrith only seemed stiffly formal, even cold, Jaric seemed to radiate some aura of attraction. Solyma felt her hands clench as the two elf maids she had seen earlier stared at Jaric and swooned when he walked by and nodded absently to them. The dark colors only served to make him seem more alive as he walked through the ballroom and paused to take in the sights.
"-sight," Amadrin said with a hint of amusement.
"Hmm? What?" Solyma said without looking away.
"I said, he is quite a sight." Solyma glanced over at Amadrin and saw an amused smile.
"Oh, yes. I suppose he is. I must have a thing for uniforms," Solyma said as she forced herself to turn back to the table. "So what are we eating?"
"Sir Jaric?" Amadrin said as she half rose and looked over Solyma's head. Solyma froze at the sudden image filling her head. "Will you join us?"
"I'd be honored," Jaric said as he moved around Solyma and sat down. "Hello Solyma," he paused when Solyma looked into his eyes. "You look-" he trailed off as they stared into each other's eyes.
Solyma felt her heart racing as she looked into Jaric's eyes. Their deep brown depths seemed to fill her world until she felt as if her heart would burst from her chest. "Solyma?" Jaric said, breaking the spell as she leaned forward to kiss him. "Are-are you all right? You seem a bit flushed."
"Oh, yes, I'm fine," Solyma said as she managed to look away. "It must be the heat in here, it is a bit stuffy."
"It must be all these people," Amadrin said with a faint smile on her face. "Perhaps you'd like to retire to your room? Maybe get out of those tight clothes for a while?" Solyma whipped her head around to stare at Amadrin. "Sir Jaric, would you care to help Solyma with her dress once she is back in her quarters? The people who design these fashions can be so dreadfully cruel. And maybe a good full body massage from you too?"
Solyma stared at Amadrin and took some comfort at the sound of Jaric's choked intake of breath. "Your," he stammered, "your majesty-"
"Oh, hush," Queen Amadrin said with a broader smile. "I suppose that as queen I am not allowed to joke?"
"No," muttered Solyma as she looked down at her empty plate and listened to her stomach growl.
"I'm sorry, did you say something?" Amadrin said with a deceptively sweet smile. Solyma was saved from answering by the arrival of Penelope and Laros. The two elves took their seats on Amadrin's side of the table, neither of them saying much more than a polite greeting. Solyma watched in quiet surprise as Penelope reached down under the table and pointedly took Laros's hand in her's before letting them rest on the table.
"Penelope," Amadrin said in a quiet voice, "we discussed this matter earlier." Solyma glanced at Jaric when she saw how the queen's hands tightened for the briefest instant on the tablecloth.
"Yes, mother, we did," Penelope said, her head barely lifting to look into her mother's eyes and daring defiance. Beside her, Laros shifted uneasily in his seat, his body stiff and straight.
Poor guy, Solyma thought to herself as she reached out and poured herself a glass of water. She didn't envy his position between Penelope and Amadrin. Solyma looked back at Amadrin when she heard the elven woman sigh.
"We shall talk about this tomorrow," Amadrin said. "But for now," she said as the first course, a light selection of fruits and delicate crackers, arrived, "let us eat."
Kerrith leaned over the balcony railing and peered down at the ground two stories below. Several guards marched by, their leather armor almost silent as they peered into every dark corner. Farther away from the ballroom, a mounted squad rode by at a quick pace, their crossbows nocked and lying across their legs.
For a moment he wondered why he was going through the extra effort to secure the ballroom. In all likelihood the palace guards had done a better job than he, someone unfamiliar with the area, could ever do. But the work concentrated the mind and that let him ignore the music and the sounds of revelry from inside the ballroom. He grunted and shook his head as he turned and moved on to the next balcony.
"Tancred, Tancred, come over here and join us, my good man," Duke Adelard Quiton, newly appointed ambassador to Taladros, called out. Tancred glanced towards the table where Solyma sat with Jaric but it was already full with the arrival of Dravon and Kerrith.
"It's an honor," Tancred said as he walked over to the Duke's table and seated himself. Some of the Duke's assistants and a host of already drunken hangers on were already there. A rather comely looking woman smiled at him and he felt a foot running up his pant leg. "And a pleasure," Tancred said with a smile.
"What a splendid feast!" Dravon said with a bright smile as he wiped his mouth. "The best I've ever had, and I've had a lot. Did you enjoy it, Kerrith?"
"Yes, sir," Kerrith said. In truth he hadn't really tasted the paper thin slices of venison or the century old wine from the best elven vineyards.
Solyma hadn't tasted the food either. At least not since Jaric's foot had brushed against her's during the third course. He had apologized, of course. She had been almost insanely grateful when Dravon and Kerrith had shown up and sat, forcing everyone to sit a little bit closer to each other. She hadn't thought up of a good excuse to get her shoes off and her foot in Jaric's lap though, not yet.
"Can we dance now?" she asked, eagerly glancing at the orchestra that was returning from a short break. It had been years since she had danced last. While usually she didn't care much for it, the prospect of dancing with Jaric, especially one of those deliciously slow and sultry Collamnite dances, had her fidgeting in her chair.
"Not just yet," Amadrin said as she turned to look at Penelope and then rose. "The Teliaos will commence."
"The what?" Solyma whispered to Kerrith as Penelope, Amadrin, and Laros rose from the table and walked towards the dancefloor. "Are we supposed to follow them?"
"Yes," Hector said as they all stood and followed.
"The choice of the princess?" Solyma said, her mind struggling to translate the archaic melosaos.
"Something like that," Hector said.
"It's a ceremony for choosing a husband," Dravon said. "Used to be anyway."
"Now it's just something that girls do when they come of age," Kerrith said. They stopped behind Amadrin at the urging of her bodyguards and watched as the rest of the party-goers gathered around the dancefloor.
"Have you chosen your husband?" Amadrin said as if she was reading from a holy book.
"Yes," Penelope said from beside her, her eyes not looking at Laros.
"Then choose the one you wish to share yourself with," Amadrin said, her voice clear and ringing out across the ballroom. Solyma watched as Penelope slowly walked to the center of the dancefloor and turned slowly, looking at all the faces surrounding her. There was a barely audible murmuring from the elves when she stopped and looked at the floor and then up at the ceiling.
"What's going on?" Solyma whispered to no one in particular.
"The entire ceremony is worked out in advance," Hector said. "Usually the girl dances with a friend of the family or an uncle."
"But I thought it was to choose a husband."
"It was, but now most girls don't marry until later in their life and they choose on their own anyway. The ceremony is just something to do."
"So why is everyone getting so upset?" Solyma said as the murmuring became louder.
"The daughters of the royal family are supposed to dance with whomever their parents chose for the honor," Hector said. "I think Lord Loradros is supposed to dance with Penelope. He's the most powerful of the nobles."
"How do you know all this?" Solyma asked.
"Unlike some," Hector sniffed, "I spent my time wisely the last time we were here."
"You read about Taladrosian dances?" Hector was silent. "So what's the problem? She dances with him and then we all get to dance, right?" Solyma said as she looked around at the audience gathered around the dance floor. Directly across from Amadrin she could see Lord Loradros, his clothing tasteful and refined. His gaze was cool as he watched Penelope but Solyma saw a glint of something in those eyes, was it possessiveness?
Solyma tapped her fingers against her arm when she saw that other knight, what was his name? Mathieu or something, he was the son of Adelard, leaning over to say something into Loradros's ear. The elf lord smiled for a split second and nodded at the human sharply before returning his gaze to Penelope.
"Will you accept my hand and dance with me-" Penelope said, looking at Loradros and then stopping. There was a murmur and a few gasps of horror from the crowd when she turned and faced away from Loradros to look at Laros. "Will you accept my hand and dance with me, Teledios Laros?"
"That girl," Amadrin said in voice so quiet and with a face so unchanging that Solyma almost missed it. But she could hear the slight difference that signaled exasperation in the woman's voice, she had heard that tone more than she would have liked the last time she had been here.
For a moment it seemed that Laros would refuse, but then he bowed deeply and stepped out onto the dancefloor to meet Penelope at the center. Across the dancefloor, Solyma could see Loradros's face twist in a split second of rage before it settled back into a cool stare. Amid a growing murmur from the crowd, he bowed deeply as Penelope curtsied. They both turned and did the same towards Amadrin before Laros took Penelope's hand in his and placed his other on her slim waist.
Solyma glanced over towards Menelaus and saw the elf shrug before he and the rest of the orchestra began to play. The music was the only sound in the ballroom as Laros and Penelope began to drift along in a slow waltz. What was it? Solyma wondered. Something or other and Dragon?
Whatever it was called, Penelope and Laros seemed not to care as they danced. Solyma watched as Penelope looked up into Laros's eyes and whispered something. The elven man blinked once in surprise and smiled before saying something in return. Penelope's face broke out into a brilliant smile and she laughed in delight as Laros swung her into a quickening dance.
As if sensing the couple's mood, the orchestra changed from the slow and stately waltz into a quicker song, something that stirred Solyma's blood. As she listened to the music she thought of a summer night and amorous trysts in the warm air.
Laros and Penelope's dance grew even faster as they drew closer together, his arm circling her waist and pressing her against him as she entwined her arm around his neck. Their faces were barely an inch apart as they spun across the dance floor, Penelope's dress billowing around her legs. As the music throbbed even faster, its heart containing a quick beat that made Solyma think of a summer downpour.
The couple danced past the still silent audience, uncaring and joyous as they spun each other through the air. Penelope's hair came loose from its combs as she spun and twirled, her blonde locks floating as she and Laros came together in a dance that was increasingly intimate and sensual. Solyma smiled and moved closer to Jaric. The music had grown as heated and intense as any night of lovemaking she had ever had.
Penelope arched back, Laros leaning forward, his lips almost brushing over the curve of her neck as he let her fall back until her hair brushed against the polished floor. Her face was flushed and she was breathing heavily as she rose back up and spun around Laros before coming to rest in his arms, her back pressed against his chest and both of them panting.
"Wow," Solyma said as the music stopped. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Menelaus wiping sweat from his forehead. "That was incredible," she said to Jaric.
"Yes," Jaric said weakly. Solyma grinned when she saw how red his face was. Looking around, she could see that the dance had affected most of the guests in the same way. Even Kerrith looked a little more alive than usual.
Applause surged up from the audience as Penelope and Laros curtsied and bowed before approaching Queen Amadrin. The Queen nodded to Laros and placed her hand on his forehead in the ceremonial blessing of the head of the family to a prospective suitor. Solyma could see as the woman's forehead creased for a second when she saw her daughter. But the crease disappeared immediately as Amadrin reached out and hugged Penelope warmly.
"We'll discuss this later," Amadrin said with a faint smile. "Now amuse yourself while I deal with Lord Loradros."
"Yes, mother," Penelope said with another curtsy. Laros bowed to the Queen as she swept away across the rapidly filling dance floor towards Loradros.
Solyma watched as the two elves retreated from the dance floor to their table and sat, their heads close and their hands clasped together on the table in front of them. As she watched she saw Laros gently disengage his hands.
"Poor girl," Solyma said to no one in particular. "Eh?" she looked around at the sound of a metallic ping against the wooden floor of the dance floor. With the throng of people around it was impossible to see what might have made the noise. But who was that human there? Pale faced...arrogant...he seemed familiar, someone from Adelard's entourage? Maybe another professor at the College? No big deal, she thought as she turned to Jaric and smiled. "Jaric, would you care to dance?"
"I, er," Jaric stammered before Solyma grabbed his arm and pulled him out onto the dance floor. "Solyma, I don't know how to dance."
"Fine, just hold on and follow my lead," Solyma said as she placed his hands in the proper places. After reassuring him that, yes, he could put his hand on her waist while they danced, she managed to teach him a few basic dance steps. "You dance well for a beginner," Solyma said during a slow waltz. And I wonder what else you do well..., she thought to herself.
"Oh, thank you," Jaric said. He tried to back a way a bit when Solyma moved closer only to find her moving after him until they almost bumped into another couple.
"Stop running," Solyma said as she tightened her grip on his shoulder. "Are you afraid of me?"
"No, of course not!" Jaric said. "I just, er-"
"Want to be proper?"
"Yes! That's it," Jaric said with a sigh of relief.
Solyma sighed and shook her head as they continued to slowly dance. "Jaric, would you care to go outside for a moment? It's so stuffy in here," she finally said with a smile.
"Oh, of course," Jaric answered. Solyma lead him off the dance floor towards the tall windowed doors to the balconies that lined the west side of the ballroom. Neither of them said a word as they left the noise and warmth of the ballroom for the cooler night air and the faint chirping of crickets. The moon was low on the horizon, its light reflecting off the calm waters of the lake.
"Oh my," Solyma said as they walked over to the edge of the balcony. "It is a bit chilly out here, isn't it?"
"Would you like to go back inside?" Jaric said, already turning to leave.
"No, I like it out here," Solyma said. "Would you put your arm around me? That would keep me warm." She thought for a moment and ruled out the, 'Oops, I dropped something blowjob' ruse that had gotten her into the bed of Alathan's ruling prince and, incidentally, past those pesky locked doors that guarded his quarters and the treasury.
"Oh, I," Jaric trailed off into blushing stammering.
"It's alright to do that," she whispered as she moved closer. Jaric's arm slowly raised and awkwardly was put around her shoulders. Solyma sighed and nestled closer to him, moving with him as he backed away until he was trapped in the corner of the railing. She could feel his heart pounding as she pressed herself against him and looked up into his eyes. "Do you want to kiss me?" she said in a soft voice.
Jaric looked down into Solyma's emerald eyes and swallowed. His heart wouldn't slow and his head was spinning as if he had drunk too much. Her lips were parted ever so slightly as she rose on her tiptoes and leaned forward, her arms wrapping around her neck as she drew him down towards her.
"Yes," Jaric said as he gave up and let her pull him close. Their lips were almost touching and he closed his eyes, wondering why he hadn't done this sooner.
"Then kiss me-" Solyma said, a smile quirking her lips as she closed her eyes too.
She was cut off by the sound off shattering glass and screams from inside the ballroom. Both of them turned towards the doors, arriving just in time to see the hideous shape of some sort of half-dragon, half-mantis beast land in a shower of glass. It snarled at the retreating guests and lashed out, pinning an unfortunate Kilasatian delegate to the floor with one of its long blade arms while its tail lashed out like a whip to send a soldier skidding back across the floor.
Guards rushed forward, their spears at the ready as more soldiers rushed into the room. Solyma pulled Jaric down as the beast knocked aside a thrown spear, sending it hurling inches over both of them and covering them with bits of glass.
"Dammit," Solyma said as she stood and shook glass off her dress. "Dammit!" She watched as one of the Queen's bodyguards charged at the beast with a spear. The bodyguard slid under the beasts arms and used the butt of the spear to vault himself onto its back. Before the monster could react, he had the spear reversed and was driving it down into the base of the creatures neck. The beast roared and swiped at him with its arms as he jammed the spear deeper.
"What is that?" Jaric said in amazement as he shouldered the doors open and fumbled with untying the peace knot on his sword.
"A kistrath," Solyma said as she followed him. More soldiers were rushing up with spears and bows as the crowd was directed out of the ballroom. "Looks like he's dealt with it," she said as the monster gave one final roar and slumped to the floor, blackish blood spilling from its mouth and the wound on its back. "So why don't we go back to what we were doing-"
"There you are, Jaric!" Dravon yelled as he ran up, his sword drawn. "Keep an eye out for more of those-"
Dravon cursed as more glass showered down from the ceiling followed by several more of the kistraths and at least a dozen ropes. "Get the ambassador to safety!" he yelled at Adelard's escort. He ducked as a flight of arrows were shot down through the windows, a few ricocheting off the dancefloor.
"Where's the Queen?" Solyma said with a sigh as she tipped over a table and ducked down behind it. Taladrosian soldiers with bows were forcing their way through the screaming and panicking crowd. She peeked over the edge of the table and ducked back at the sight of lightly armored figures sliding down the ropes carrying crossbows and swords. "And where'd these people come from?"
"Her bodyguards and Lord Loradros were getting her out," Dravon said. "Do you recognize their uniforms?"
"No," Solyma said as she took another glance at the figures descending into the ballroom. Their dark clothes were featureless. No sigils or crests could be seen. She swore and jerked back as a crossbow bolt hissed by to fly out into the night. "We've gotta get out of here, I count at least forty, not including those monsters."
"Right," Dravon said, "Jaric, grab that end of the table, we'll need the cover."
Tancred glanced down at the broken wine bottle in his hand and then back up towards the monster standing in front of him. "Wonderful," he muttered as the thing ran a long tongue over its needle-like teeth.
He had been enjoying his food and had definitely been getting somewhere with the pretty elf woman sitting next to him. He had just been about to suggest they go outside and maybe have a quick fuck in the bushes. But then these things had shown up along with those assassins...
Tancred sighed and threw away the broken bottle before ducking under the kistrath's arms and diving to the side. "You'd better taste damn good," he said before he dodged to the side and slammed his fist into the kistrath's snout. It reeled back for a second before charging at him, its arms slashing and stabbing. Tancred felt his shirt tear as a blade caught on it. A second later he was flung backwards as the thing caught him on its backslash.
The vampire struggled out of the wreckage of a ten courses of dinner, a fully set table, and an elaborate floral centerpiece, his eyes flaring with a bluish light. "You'd better taste really damned good," he snarled as he charged at the kistrath.
"Where's my mother?" Penelope said as Laros turned away for a moment to tap out a quick sequence on the herringbone woodwork wall panel.
"She's already out," Laros said as the panel slid back to reveal a dim and narrow brick passageway. "Now we have to get you out of here. We can't know how much of the palace has been compromised."
"But-" Penelope said as she turned and looked at the chaos filling the ballroom. The palace guard were locked in a vicious melee with the monsters and assassins. As she watched, a court mage unleashed a weave that blew most of the flesh off one of the monsters, only to fall as a crossbow bolt hit her. "Solyma!" she yelled as she spotted the woman hiding behind a table carried by Jaric and Dravon.
"Hey Penelope," Solyma called back, motioning for Jaric and Dravon to head towards the elf. Solyma popped up over the edge of the table and threw an arc of lightning that grounded in one of the assassin's swords, sending him to the ground. She turned with a fireball at the ready when something dropped down behind her.
"Careful with that," Tancred said. He was covered in blood and his clothes were in shreds around his body. "We getting out of here?"
"Yes," Dravon said as they reached Penelope and he let the table drop with a grunt. Sweat was shining on his forehead and he sighed. "Has anyone seen Kerrith?"
Kerrith jerked around and raised his bloody sword to strike at the person he had backed into. He stopped himself, his eyes wide with surprise, when he saw Ismene standing there, a sword in her hands. Her dress was a mess and her face was spotted with blood.
"I decided to come to the party," she panted and then lunged past him to bury her sword in an assassin's chest.
"I'm glad you're here," Kerrith said simply as he moved around to cover her back. He glanced over his shoulder at her and saw Dravon and the others gathering by the wall. "Head towards them," he said as he parried a charging assassin's sword and kicked the man in the stomach, doubling him over before he brought his sword down on the man's neck.
"Well, I've been to worse parties," Solyma muttered as they crouched in the undergrowth of the forest to the north of the palace. "Right Hector?"
"I suppose so," Hector said. "But the only one I can think of-"
"Well, they were having a party to celebrate my execution, so it still counts," Solyma said.
Laros hissed at them to be quiet and she reluctantly sank back down to the damp and clammy ground. They had gotten through the secret passage and outside the palace without any trouble, right now they were just trying to find the queen. The nearby spray of a waterfall wasn't helping anything. Solyma shivered silently and wished she was wearing pants instead of just her dress. She knew she was probably ruining it beyond all hope of repair. Blood she could get cleaned out, the same with mud, sap, dirt, grease, and soot. But all of them at once? And she had actually grown to like it, even if it was too concealing for her taste. Well, she thought as she looked down at herself, it wasn't too concealing anymore. Her skirt was torn to shreds and a long rip had been taken out of the bodice.
She glanced over her shoulder at the rest of the group. Jaric and the other knights crouched at the ready near Penelope while Tancred sat high above them in a tree. Ismene, her dress in worse shape than Solyma's, was whispering with Penelope.
Maybe if I get him over here... Solyma thought to herself as she looked at Jaric. But he and the other knights were deep in conversation, probably trying to figure out what had just happened. She sighed and went back to looking at the waterfall. It seemed familiar to her somehow...oh, yes, it had been a trysting spot for her and Menelaus the last time she had been in Taladron. Shame she couldn't have used it with Jaric.
She wondered when had she last been here?
Solyma cursed as she stomped through the undergrowth of the forest. Even with the canopy of trees overhead she could still feel the blazing noonday sun. It was the middle of summer in Taladros and anyone with any sense was staying indoors.
"I could be in the palace," Solyma muttered as she swatted viciously at an innocent tree branch. "They've got it nice and cool in there. I could be eating grapes and reading. But no, I'm out here tramping through this mosquito infested forest to meet you." She waved her hands furiously at a butterfly unlucky enough to fly by. "You're not that good of a fuck, Menelaus."
Just as she was about to turn and stomp back to the palace, Solyma emerged from the forest and into the glade surrounding the Whistling Waterfalls. On certain days of the year, usually in spring or fall, the rocks around the waterfall would channel wind like pipes and play simple tunes. Years of careful carving by the musicians of Taladros had created an orchestra of sounds in from the rocks. "Which explains why Menelaus knew about this place," Solyma said as she slumped to the ground underneath the shade of a large maple. "Where is he?"
She glanced around the glade and swore under her breath before she saw the figure standing underneath the spray of the waterfall. She could barely make it out, but from the build it had to be an elf. And since only one elf had invited her out here- Solyma grinned like a wolf as she shucked her boots and wriggled out of her sweat soaked clothes.
She dove into the glade, the waterfall easily masking what little noise she made, and began to swim beneath the surface towards the waterfall itself. A few feet from it she stood, her coppery hair darkened with the water, and waded towards the waterfall, the chilly spray feeling wonderful on her skin.
As she approached the figure, still concealed by the waterfall's spray, she crouched until her chin was just barely above the water and snuck closer. She was blinded for a second as she passed underneath the waterfall but she could still see the pale skin of the elf in front of her. Soft light diffused through the curtain of water behind them and making this grotto behind the waterfall a welcome shelter from the heat. Blinking furiously to keep the water out of her eyes, she grinned and leaned forward to run her tongue along the elf's back.
"Ooh, Menelaus!" she heard someone, a female someone, yell over the hiss of the waterfall. "I thought you'd never get here!"
Solyma blinked as she shielded her eyes from the spray and stood. Standing in front of her with her back turned was an elven woman, probably just reaching marriage age. She had her head resting on a shelf of rock, her eyes closed and content smile on her face, and was close enough to the rock wall to avoid most of the falling water. Her dark blonde hair was plastered to her slim shoulders and trailed all the way down into the waist-high water. "Aren't you glad to see me?" the elven woman called out.
As an answer, Solyma moved closer and ran her hand up the woman's flank, trying to imitate Menelaus's firm touch. The elven woman cooed in pleasure as Solyma moved her other hand between the elf's thighs and pushed two fingers into her quim. Menelaus might have been good with his tongue and hands, but he didn't show much appreciation for beating around the bush, so to speak. Solyma knelt in the water, careful to keep her breasts or hair from brushing against the elf and spread the woman's thighs.
"Menelaus?" the woman said and started to turn around. Solyma nearly inhaled some water as she quickly pushed the woman back to face the rocky wall. "Menelaus? If you think you're going to bugger me without at least letting me-" her words were interrupted by a small squeak of pleasure as Solyma began to run her tongue over the elven woman's quim. "T-that's more like it," the woman said as she leaned further forward and pushed her bottom back towards Solyma.
Solyma swept her hair back from her face, tying it in a rough knot before leaning in closer to lightly kiss the woman's quim. She smiled as the elf woman shivered, and not from the cool water splashing down behind them. Solyma continued to lightly kiss the woman's quim until the elf groaned and thrust her hips back further. "Please, Menelaus, don't tease me," she whimpered.
Solyma grunted, making it sound as masculine as possible and buried her face in the elven woman's quim. Her tongue slid into the woman's quim as she reached up to clutch at her bottom, spreading the cheeks and softly kneading the warm flesh. Solyma was nearly knocked onto her own bottom when the woman suddenly jerked her hips back, bucking against Solyma's face. "More, please, more," the woman groaned as she lifted her head off the rock shelf and started to turn to look back.
Solyma shot up out of the water and pushed the woman's head back down while slipping two fingers into the elf's quim. "Oh, yes, be rough with me," the woman moaned as Solyma gave her a smack on the bottom for good measure. Solyma knelt back down and moved her fingers to tease the woman's clit while her tongue slid in and out of the woman's sopping quim.
The woman shuddered and moaned each time Solyma's fingers brushed against her quim. Her slim hips began to buck rhythmically as Solyma spread her thighs even further and slipped her fingers in alongside her tongue. It seemed that the elven woman's nectar was flowing almost as freely as the waterfall to Solyma. Unable to control herself any longer, Solyma began to rub her own clit in time with her fingers in the elven woman.
The elf also seemed to be losing control as she began to cry out, her voice high and musical. Solyma felt the woman's quim tighten around her fingers as the woman screamed out her climax and slumped against the rock for support. Solyma gently pulled her fingers free and licked them clean before kissing the elven woman's quim one last time.
"That was wonderful, Menelaus," the woman said, her voice still quavering from the effects of her orgasm. "You can do whatever you want to me."
"Really?" Solyma said before she could stop herself. The woman's shriek was louder than the hiss of the waterfall.
"Who are you?" the elven woman screamed as she backed up against the rock wall shrank against it. "What did you do with Menelaus? Menelaus! Help me!" the elf screamed, her eyes jerking wildly as she tried to find the lover she had thought was here. "What did you do with him?"
Solyma grimaced as she uncovered her ears slowly, not sure if the elven woman would start screaming again. "I didn't do anything," she said. "I was supposed to meet him here too and I found you instead so..." she trailed off and smiled her most seductive smile. It didn't seem to have the intended effect as the elf woman began screaming for help again.
"We're moving," Laros whispered, interrupting Solyma's pleasant daydreaming. "I believe that the queen is moving towards the waterfall. In any case, it is a defensible position. We leave now."
Solyma glanced back and saw that one of the bodyguards had appeared without making a sound. "Fine, can you tell if anyone is following us?" she whispered back. A bloom of fire high overhead that lit the entire forest with a flickering and harsh glare answered her question. As the fire slowly floated back to the ground, she could hear the sound of armored figures crashing through the undergrowth and headed straight towards them.
Continued in Chapter 6
The World of Alderest - VI - An Unexpected Journey - Chapter 5
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