The World of Alderest - I - A Knight Of The Old Kingdom - Chapter 1

Chapter One: The Road to Willowsrun

Three days out of the capital Kerrith Archotos had lost his horse to the Corthronos. The summoned creatures had dogged him all day and all night, finally attacking in the dim hour before dawn. He had managed to slay one of them and drive off the rest but they had torn the throat from his horse before fleeing. Now he was near where the mage's tower was reported to be. There were two towns in the vicinity, Rivermeld which he had passed a day ago, and Willowsrun, a quarter day's ride ahead.

Luckily for him, the highway had been recently repaired and its worn paving stones had been laid even and smooth. At a brisk walk he should reach Willowsrun by nightfall. If all went well he would have the mage in his custody by the end of the week.

---

Kerrith spiraled his sword around the Corthronos' katar, sweeping it to the side and leaving the monster open to attack. The creature barely turned his thrust with its second katar. Kerrith bashed its face with his shield throwing it off balance. He lunged forward before the creature could recover its guard and plunged his long sword deep into the creature's chest. His aim was true as his blade slid through the creature's brain and nerve bundle, killing it instantly. As the twitching creature fell, he kicked it in the chest to force it off his sword to stand ready for the next opponent.

Breathing heavily, Kerrith saw that no more Corthronos stood to face him. Five more of their number lay dead or dying on the worn paving stones of the old highway. The Corthronos were ugly beyond belief. While each Corthronos looked different, they all shared certain traits. They all had fleshless heads, resembling a hideous amalgamation of lizard and beetle. They all lacked skin which allowed their raw muscle to gleam wetly in the sun. Most also seemed to have pieces of armor grafted into their exposed muscle. Some had weapons grafted onto their arms, others had weapons in place or in addition to their "normal" limbs. The one Kerrith had just slain had pieces of a breastplate melded with the flesh of his chest and a single greave covering his leg.

Kerrith grimaced at the smell that their blood gave off. The Corthronos lying before him was still twitching as he turned to the wagon stranded in the drainage ditch, its rear axle shattered beyond repair. The horse had bolted when a Corthronos had slashed its traces.

"Thank you, my lord!" the wagon driver cried out as he left the shelter of the woods. "Without you my entire family would have surely died!" He rushed over to Kerrith, his scarecrow like frame casting a thin shadow in late afternoon sun. "I am Ivan Arrowsmith. Merchant by trade." He bobbed his head.

Kerrith nodded as he knelt to wipe the hissing blood of the Corthronos onto a rag. Upon contact the rag began to smolder, the foul blood discoloring it almost instantly.

"My lord," the wagon driver said, "where did these beasts come from? I have never heard of them before."

Kerrith looked up from the gruesome tableau of smoking paving stones and hideous corpses. "A foul, kersguard of a mage summoned these things from some gods-forsaken plane. As a Knight of the Shield I am sworn to find him and destroy him."

"Summoned, you say? How many of these things wander the land?" the wagon rider exclaimed, nervously looking up and down the highway.

"I do not know. These creatures are so foully powerful that I harbor doubts that even the mage that I hunt, Solyma, could control more than a score of such things."

"A score? By the gods, we must warn the towns of the danger. By Kersvan, they could be at Willowsrun or Rivermeld."

"I have just come from Rivermeld. I warned the mayor of the danger these creatures pose. Unless the entirety of these things attack the town, the militia and the local guard should be able to protect the town. Hopefully they are still concentrated at the mage's tower."

"I am headed to Willowsrun. I planned to trade my goods for their wine, but now I have no wagon to transport it in."

"Do not worry about your wagon, tomorrow a team may be dispatched to repair it. For now, gather your family. We must get moving soon. I do not wish to match blades with the Corthronos in the dark."

The trader gulped and nodded. Kerrith watched as he hurried back to the woods, emerging seconds later with his family in tow. He was followed by two women, one of middle age, presumably his wife, and one in the full bloom of her womanhood. The trader's wife was quite attractive, bearing the full hips and bosom that had become the standard of beauty in the capitol. The trader's daughter of nineteen or so summers, was a beauty by any standards. She was slender with glossy black hair braided to her waist. She smiled shyly at Kerrith, her dark hair catching the setting sun's rays. Kerrith bowed politely to them both.

"This is my wife, Elisa, and my daughter, Selene. She is on her way to the College of Magic at the capital," the trader said, beaming with pride.

Elisa and Selene curtsied to Kerrith.

"Thank you, my lord, for saving us from those horrible beasts," Elisa said.

"It was wonderful how you fought them," Selene said, her face filled with awe. "They seemed so terrible, but you danced around them and slew them like a normal man swats a mosquito." She gasped. "Oh, but you've been wounded!"

She rushed to Kerrith's side. He had received a small cut on his upper left chest from the last Corthronos' katar. His breastplate and the mail beneath had been cleanly cut. Without them he would have likely lost use of his arm.

"It is but a scratch, my lady. We should begin moving now," he said.

"You must let me attend to it when we reach Willowsrun, I have a small proficiency with the arts of healing weaves," Selene said.

"I am in your debt, my lady," he said with a small bow and smile.

Selene blushed, hiding it by fussing with her knapsack.

"I secured my goods. Hopefully no animals will be getting into them before I can get back," the trader said.

"Good," said Kerrith. "Let us go now."

The small group began their journey down the highway to Willowsrun, Selene perhaps moving closer to Kerrith than fear of the Corthronos would dictate. She furtively examined Kerrith out of the corner of her eye. He was tall and lean and moved with a steady, determined gait. Although his face was hard and his eyes cool, he was handsome, in a way. Her eyes strayed back to his strong hands with their graceful fingers. She found herself wondering what it would feel like to have them run over her body and...

Selene realized that Kerrith had noticed her furtive examination. She quickly looked away, blushing furiously. She let herself fall behind the group to avoid his gaze.

Her father noticed her lagging behind. "Hurry up, Selene. There still might be more of those things lurking around here."

"Don't be silly, if there were anymore they would have helped the ones who attacked-"

The Corthronos dropped on Selene from an overhanging branch, pinning her to the ground. She screamed as it raised a limb more blade than arm. Only her reflexive cast of a defense weave kept the blade from tearing into her throat.

The blade arm skittered off the weave, cracking the pavement beside her head and showering her with chips of rock. Selene lashed out at the monstrous form looming above her, hitting it solidly in the face. It barely flinched from the punch. The creature reached down with its left arm, wrapping its ham sized fist around her neck. Her weave held for a second, then the fist was choking her. She struggled for breath, clawing at the monster's hand. Her vision began to fade and narrow as she ran out of breath. Just as the blackness closed over her she saw a brilliant flash of silver above her.

Kerrith spun at the sound of the struggle behind him, reflexively pulling his sword free of its scabbard. He saw the Corthronos straddling Selene and the rise and fall of its bladed arm. He cursed himself as he ran, knowing that he would be too late to save her.

He was amazed to see her still alive and struggling, although barely, when he reached the monster. Kerrith stepped into a swing, his blade shining as it hacked into the back of the creature's neck. The force of the impact nearly jarred the sword from his hand. The creature howled as it let go of Selene's neck and rose jerkily to it's feet. Kerrith braced his foot against the Corthronos' back and heaved at his sword. It ground against the creature's vertebrae before slowly sliding free.

He jumped backwards, barely avoiding the creatures slash, and assumed a fighting stance. The thing crouched low while waving its blade in figure eights. It feinted at Kerrith's face then spun and dropped to chop at his leg. Kerrith leapt over the blade while slashing downward at the monster's neck. His sword cut deeply into the monster's neck, nearly severing it's head. The Corthronos' head lolled sickeningly on a few tendons, still snarling and snapping at him.

They dueled back and forth across the highway, the monster, crazed with bloodlust, slashing madly at Kerrith. He barely managed to fend off the wild cuts and stabs with his shield while looking for an opening in the creature's guard. He found himself backed against a tree trunk with the Corthronos slashing at his neck.

Kerrith ducked, feeling the blade whistle over his head and slam into the tree trunk. As the Corthronos struggled to free his arm, Kerrith ducked under it while reversing the grip on his sword. As the creature pulled free, he stabbed his sword back into creature's back, impaling its brain. The creature let out a long, hooting sigh from its neck as it slumped to the ground.

Kerrith ignored the creature to run to Selene's side. Her parents were already crouched beside her, nervously fanning her face with a handkerchief.

"I'm fine," she croaked, struggling to sit up. Her mother took her hand and patted it gently.

"How does she fare?" asked Kerrith.

"She's still-" her mother began.

"I'm fine, my throat just hurts a little," she said, a vicious yellow bruise on her neck quickly turning to purple. "Just let me get a healing weave together when we get to town." She staggered to her feet with her parents help. She took a faltering step and nearly collapsed.

"Are you all right, dear?" her father asked, holding her shoulder.

"I, I," Selene shook her head. "Oooh, I think I hit my head." She slowly swooned and fell into her father's arms.

Kerrith examined the back of her head. There was a goose egg sized bump hidden beneath her hair.

"We can't wait for her to come around, we need to get moving," he said.

"We could make a stretcher or a travois," said her father.

"No time, give her to me. I'll carry her."

Kerrith handed his shield to Ivan and lifted Selene in his arms. "Let's go, the sooner we reach town, the better."

Pausing only to drape Kerrith's cloak over the unconscious Selene, the small group began to move again down the road, this time staying close together and keeping a watchful eye on the trees.

---

From the viewing chamber at the peak of the tower, a deeply hooded figure watched the battle between the summoned Corthronos and the Knight of the Shield. The mage hissed in anger as they were defeated. With a quick wave of a hand, Solyma banished the image. Sitting in the warm dim chamber, the mage pondered this development. Then, with a flash of white teeth the mage smiled, pondering new plans in which the pretty young one figured prominently.

They reached Willowsrun just after sunset. The local inn was located on the town square. It was a cozy two story building with a small stable adjoining it and a barn behind it. Light shone from windows looking into the common room and the sound of someone playing a violin sweetly could faintly be heard.

Ivan hurried ahead to open the door for Kerrith. Selene was still unconscious. The common room was similar to others of inns across the land. A large fireplace filled most of one wall to the left of the door. A bar and doorway to the kitchen were set directly from the door with tables and chairs set up between them. A small platform was set against the right wall where a woman in a blue cloak and dress was playing the violin. The woman was tall and attractive with her blond hair set up in a bun. The bow scraped across the strings of the violin as she stopped playing. The small group of men and a few women sitting at the tables turned to look at them as they entered.

"This woman is hurt, is there a healer in town?" Kerrith asked.

"Aye, Magda can heal," said the innkeeper, pointing at the violin player. He was a short, skinny redheaded man with a surprisingly deep voice.

"Can you help us?" Elisa asked.

"Yes, just let me fetch my things," the healer said.

"I'll send William for them," the innkeeper said. He yelled back into the kitchen, "William! Get out here and go fetch Magda's things." A small blond boy rushed out the kitchen door and through the entrance, slamming it behind him. He turned back to Kerrith. "I have two rooms left, put her in the one at the end of the upstairs hallway. Here's the key."

Ivan thanked him profusely as he took the key and hurried upstairs. Elisa stayed near Selene as Kerrith carried her up the stairs.

As Kerrith reached the top of the stairs Selene stirred and began to wake.

"Kerrith?" she murmured. "What happened?"

"You hit your head," he answered, he smiled, somewhat hesitantly.

"Oh. You're carrying me."

"Yes."

"That's good. I rather like it." Selene smiled woozily at him, then closed her eyes again.

"Selene? Are you alright?" Elisa asked, fussing around her.

"Yes, mother. I'm just tired."

Kerrith carried Selene into the last room. It was decently sized, with a comfortable looking bed against the wall. Ivan pulled back the covers as Kerrith set Selene on the bed. Elisa sat on the edge of the bed, tucking the covers around her daughter's neck. She smiled up at Kerrith.

"Thank you again, my lord. We are forever in your debt," she said.

"It was my pleasure," he said, bowing. He turned to Ivan. "I will now see the mayor and warn him of the creatures. Be sure to take a good number of stout men with you when you go to recover your wagon."

"I will, my lord. Thank you."

Kerrith nodded to him as he left the room, passing the healing woman on the way up the stairs. She looked at him nervously as she squeezed by him on the narrow stairway, her skirts swishing against the wall. Kerrith looked back at her, wondering who she was and why she seemed familiar as he continued down to the common room and walked to the bar.

"Do you know where I would find the mayor?" he asked the innkeeper.

"Aye, you're looking at him," the mayor answered.

"Your honor, be aware that a group of horrid beasts have been summoned by an evil mage. They wander the countryside carrying out his foul bidding and are a deadly threat. I recommend that you warn the townspeople and have any on the outskirts move into town."

"I'll do as you say, my lord. Do you know how many there are?"

"Possibly a score, perhaps less, perhaps none are left. Regardless, even one of these creatures would wreak havoc on the town were it unopposed. You have a militia?"

"Yes, my lord. We have a small militia."

"Then have them gather their arms and set watch. I do not think that the creatures will attack a town, but there is no reason for any risk."

The mayor nodded. "William! Run to Havas' place and tell him to call out the militia. Tell him that monsters are on the loose and to gather anyone from the outskirts and bring them in."

"Yes, da," the boy called, already on his way out the door.

"He's a good lad, that one," the mayor said with a smile. "Now, my lord, where will ye be sleeping? There's one room still left or the common room."

"Let the Arrowsmith's have the room, I'll sleep in the barn."

The mayor seemed mildly surprised. "Well, I'll have the maid bring out a mattress and bedding for you." The mayor stretched out his hand. "My name's Ventor Wine," he said belatedly.

Kerrith introduced himself to the mayor and headed upstairs to check in on Selene and the Arrowsmiths. As he entered the room he saw the healing woman applying a poultice to the bump on Selene's head along with a healing weave. Selene's parents sat on the other side of the bed, nervously holding hands.

"How is she?" he asked.

Magda the healing woman looked up. "She'll be fine. I healed the bruise, that was no problem. The bump will take a little longer. I have to be careful with head wounds. She'll sleep for a while before she comes to," Magda said. Her voice was as pleasant as her violin playing but was tense and nervous. She stood hesitantly, moving to stand near him. "May I speak to you? Privately?" She shifted nervously from foot to foot.

Kerrith examined her face, trying to remember where he had seen her before. "Yes, shall we step outside?"

They moved out of the inn to stand by the stable. With the glow of the common room illuminating half of her face, Magda said, "Kerrith, please. I've done nothing to harm anyone. I just wanted a place to live out my life in peace, where I wouldn't be hounded. I didn't mean to hurt anyone, you know that as well as anyone." Kerrith could see tears shining in the light of the common room. "I served my penance, I just couldn't stay in that city, I couldn't face the hate every day. I was living across the street from the guard, he was healed and working again, but his wife, she hated me. I tried moving but she followed me wherever I went and told everyone around me what I had done." By the end she was babbling, her words spilling out in desperation to have her say before he could interrupt.

Kerrith's eyes widened as he remembered her. She had been a thief, stealing from the most highly guarded buildings, the Royal Library, and once even the palace. On her last theft she had accidentally knocked a guard through a second story window, nearly crippling him. She had turned herself in a week later. The courts had sentenced her to fifteen years after she had returned everything she had stolen. Kerrith had been young then, only eighteen summers old, just starting his service for the kingdom as a guard. He had been with the guards who had brought her in. He remembered how young she had been, at least, she had seemed young to him. She was only three summers younger than he, but to a boy of eighteen summers that had seemed a great deal. She had served her sentence, finishing five years after he had become a knight. He remembered hearing from a guard that she had broken the terms of her release and disappeared from the capital.

"- I'll do anything," she finished, her head hanging. Her hair had begun to escape from the bun and small curls hung down her neck.

Kerrith shook his head. In his reminiscing he had missed what she had said. "Could you repeat that?" he asked.

Magda looked up at him. She had stopped crying but was still sniffing. Kerrith handed her a handkerchief and waited while she blew her nose noisily. "I said, please don't take me in, I'll do anything for you."

Kerrith looked at her, scared and defiant, nervously playing with the edge of her cloak. "How did you remember me? I wasn't in the guards when you were left and I never saw you while you were in prison," he said.

She looked into the inn, watching the other patrons eat and drink. "But you were there when I turned myself in. You were the youngest guard there for one thing. And the most handsome." She smiled wistfully. "You were kind. The other guards didn't talk to me. I know why, and I don't begrudge them their hate. My parents wouldn't come to the jail, they didn't even show up at the sentencing. I haven't spoken to them since. But you talked to me and," she held up his handkerchief, "gave me your handkerchief when I was crying that first night." She sighed and turned back to Kerrith. "I understand why you have to take me back," she said softly.

Kerrith looked up at the sky, picking out the shield of Adramas where he stood on the river of stars. "I have more to worry about than taking back a convict whom no one even remembers anymore," he said, still looking upwards. He looked back at her. "I have some discretion over my actions now," he pointed to the Rune of the Shield picked out in silver thread on the shoulder of his tunic, "and I think you'll do more good here, helping these people, than serving as an example in the capital."

Magda's eyes widened when she saw the marking of a Knight of the Shield, the elite protectors of the kingdom, on him. "Thank you," she said, moving closer to him, "if, you need, anything, you can come to me." She closed her eyes, moving her lips closer to his. She kissed him hesitantly, then with more passion.

Kerrith reached up to hold her shoulders as her arms moved around his back. He could feel her trembling beneath his hands. He pulled away suddenly. "No," he gasped, shaking his head, "you don't need to do this."

Magda hesitated, her eyes searching his, then turned away. "Again, thank you," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "I should go check on Selene. Are you and her-," she let the question trail off, unspoken.

"No, I met her and her family on the way here," he said.

"Oh, why are you here? I thought you were here to find me."

He shook his head. "I am here to find a mage who summoned monsters and let them loose on the countryside. He is a danger to himself and others. Most likely he will end his days down the gullet of his summoned creatures, as most summoners do, but before then he could have unleashed hundreds of monsters."

They walked back into the inn, Magda heading upstairs while Kerrith stayed in the common room. Watching Magda's retreating back, he sat at a vacant table. A pretty serving maid who resembled the mayor in every way except height approached him.

"Hello, what can I do for you?" she asked.

"Could I have something to eat and drink?" he answered.

"We have a rabbit stew or a crepe with a wildberry jam. There's also fresh bread and cheddar cheese with either."

"The stew, please."

"Alright, what do you want to drink? We have ale, mead, cow's milk, or the local wine."

"How's the wine?"

"Very good."

"A glass of wine then."

The serving maid smiled and nodded as she walked back to the kitchen. Kerrith caught her looking at him around the edge of the door as he waited. When he turned his head she had disappeared into the kitchen.

"Excuse me, m'lord," said a stocky man who had gotten up from a neighboring table.

"Yes?" Kerrith answered.

"Are you a Knight?"

"Of the Shield, yes." Kerrith remembered that Ivan still had his shield. "My shield is upstairs right now, but if you want-"

"Oh no, m'lord. You see, me and the rest of the lads," he waved at the men and women gathered near the fireplace, "would like to know if you would care to join us. You see," he continued, "we haven't had someone of your status in Willowsrun in a long time and we want to show our hospitality."

"I would be honored to join the fine folk of Willowsrun," Kerrith answered, rising.

---

Kerrith rapped softly on Selene's room. "Yes?" she called out softly.

"It is Kerrith," he said.

"Oh, please, come in," she said from the bed inching the bodice of her nightgown into a more revealing position.

He entered quietly, holding a tray covered with plates. "I was not exactly sure what you preferred so I brought some of everything," he said.

"Thank you, I was just about to get up and get something."

"Where are your parents and Magda?"

"Magda told them to go to bed and rest then she went home. They were getting so worried, I don't know what they'll do when I leave for the College." She smiled, brushing a loose strand of hair out of her face. "That all smells delicious."

She ate quickly, wolfing down the stew, the crepe, cheese, and the bread. As she finished off the milk she hiccuped. "Excuse me," she said, blushing slightly. "Being healed makes you hungry," she explained.

Kerrith watched as she delicately licked some stray jam off her fingers. When done, she slumped back against the headboard and sighed. "I don't think there is much that beats a good meal, especially in bed." She looked at where Kerrith sat solicitously by the side of her bed. "I'm sorry, my lord, I've kept you here waiting on me."

"It was my pleasure, and please, call me Kerrith."

"Thank you, Kerrith." She leaned over to take his hand.

As she leaned over Kerrith realized that he could clearly see down the front of her nightgown. He quickly stood, looking anywhere but at her.

"Here, let me take that tray for you," he said. As he lifted the tray he accidentally jostled it against the bed post. A glass half full of water tipped over, splashing over Selene. She gasped at the cold water's touch on her neck and chest.

Kerrith hurriedly set down the tray, taking a napkin and mopping up the water until he realized where he was mopping. He coughed in embarrassment and offered the napkin to Selene.

"I'll take this downstairs," he said, rushing from the room. "Sleep well."

Selene sighed softly as Kerrith retreated. She was acutely aware of how fast the water was warming on her skin. She heart was still racing from Kerrith's touch. Turning on her side, she blew out the lamp, leaving the room lit in soft moonlight. She groaned. He probably thought she was some sort of, of, wanton, she thought. She rolled onto her stomach, pulling a pillow over her head. Although she lay still, she did not sleep.

An hour and several glasses of wine later, Kerrith retired to the barn to sleep. A mattress with a bed frame had somehow been set up under the hayloft along with a steaming tub of water. He glanced around the barn. It was empty except for hay now. Perhaps they stored it here. He hung his sword belt on the headboard while eyeing the inviting water of the tub. Kerrith sighed gratefully as he removed his armor. He carefully laid it out next to his bed, close at hand in case of emergency. He winced as his tunic stuck to his wound while he was undressing. In his breeches, he washed, pouring the water over his head and scrubbing his face of the dirt of the road.

Selene quietly entered the barn behind him. She paused at the door watching as he washed. She felt her heart begin to race as she watched his half naked form. Should I do this? she asked herself silently. A part of her wanted to strip naked and invite him to do whatever he wanted with her. Another part was screaming at her to leave before she made a fool of herself. Neither part won out. She stepped deeper into the barn, still clothed, stepping on a twig that had blown in at sometime. Its cracking seemed to fill the barn.

He spun, pulling his sword from the bedside, at the sound of someone behind him. Selene froze where she stood holding a pile of cloths and salve, in her traveling dress.

"I, I can come back some other time," she said.

Kerrith dropped the sword point. "You shouldn't be moving about so soon."

"I'm fine. I can't sleep now, I've been sleeping all day." She paused. "I said I'd look at that cut you got. If Magda didn't take care of it." She smiled hopefully.

"No, she did not." He grimaced as he sheathed his sword.

"That cut looks like it hurts," she said, moving over to his side. She dipped a cloth into the warm water and began to dab at the wound. "Sit down."

Kerrith sat down on the edge of the bed. Selene sat beside him. "I can't get at the cut like this. Lie back," she said, praying that he wouldn't hear the tremor in her voice.

Kerrith leaned back against the headboard while Selene leaned over him. She carefully cleaned the wound before applying the salve. "I got this from Magda. She said it would speed healing with a weave. Hold still while I do this." She began to weave the spell over the wound, crisscrossing the threads between its edges, her fingers moving in an intricate cat's cradle. As she whispered the words of beginning the weave began to glow softly. The soft grey light increased as the weave grew closer to completion.

Selene leaned closer to bind the threads together. Kerrith was incredibly aware of her soft breath on his skin and the feel of her hands lightly touching his chest. A wisp of her hair had escaped her braid and curled down to brush lightly against his skin. He closed his eyes as she softly whispered the words of ending. He felt a brief surge as the wound began to close. He gritted his teeth as the wound knitted together and a surge of energy flowed through him, leaving him breathless.

"There," Selene said, slightly out of breath, "all done." She wiped her forehead with the back of her hand, the other still lingering on his chest. She looked to where her hand rested, acutely aware of the hard muscle beneath her fingertips. She began to feel her heartbeat thud in her chest, sure that he could hear it.

"Thank you," Kerrith said.

Selene looked up into his eyes. "Umm," she said as all of her carefully rehearsed lines evaporated like the morning dew.

Kerrith began to lean closer to her, his hand on hers. Selene slowly closed her eyes as his lips moved closer to hers. The first touch of his lips set her mind spinning. They slowly moved together, their lips parting. Selene moved her hands up to Kerrith's shoulders while his hands began to roam over her body. Shivers ran through her body as he cupped her breasts, stroking them through the material of her dress. She threw her leg over his, straddling him, as his hands began to unfasten the hooks of her dress.

Selene moaned softly into his mouth as she felt her dress begin to part. She pulled back, her hands moving to the shoulders of her dress. She slowly let her dress fall down to her waist, revealing her shift. Then she shrugged slowly out of her shift, letting the soft undergarment join her dress. She looked down at the bed, blushing at revealing herself so blatantly, until Kerrith gently tilted her chin upward with his finger. He kissed her again, one hand cupping her cheek, the other stealing down her bare skin to cup a breast. Selene moaned again, moving up on her knees to pull off her dress and shift. Kerrith fumbled with the covers, yanking them back as Selene rolled on her side. She kicked off her clothes, letting them crumple to the floor. Kerrith's hands roamed over her body, filling her with a sudden wild heat. She gasped, her hands tugging at Kerrith's breeches. She yanked them impatiently, baring his underwear. As he kicked off his breeches she pulled down his underwear, revealing his manhood. Soon they were both naked.

Selene reached down to grasp Kerrith, delighting as he moaned. She raised her head to kiss him, one hand urging him forward and into her.

"Wait," gasped Kerrith, "being healed makes one hungry." He grinned at her as he began to kiss down her neck.

Selene moaned, biting her lower lip, as Kerrith's mouth slowly moved to her bosom. His tongue flicked out over her hard nipples as she buried her hands in his hair. He took one nipple into his mouth, gently sucking, while his hands massaged her breasts. After a few minutes of exquisite attention, he continued downward. He kissed her belly, his tongue lapping at her belly button and causing her to jerk in pleasure. Selene looked down, her head light with anticipation as he lowered his head between her open thighs.

He lightly kissed the velvet soft skin of her inner thighs, carefully avoiding her opening. Selene groaned as he continued to tease her. "Please, oh, please," she whispered huskily.

Kerrith delicately slid his finger into her, slowly working it into her tightness. He moved it gently back and forth, wetting it thoroughly, then moved it to her clit. Selene trembled as he began to massage her gently, rolling his finger around her clit while steadily licking and kissing closer to her. She let out a small cry, her fingers knotting in the sheets, as he brought his mouth to her. His tongue began to lap at her clit while two fingers began to penetrate her with steady thrusts. She began to buck her hips in time with his fingers, gasping with pleasure. Soon, she felt herself on the brink. A low, inarticulate cry rose from her lips as he clamped his mouth over her clit and began to apply a steady pressure. Her hips rose from the bed as she climaxed, crying out in ecstasy. He continued to lick at her as she thrust her hips at him. A second shudder ran through her body, nearly causing her to faint. Finally, Kerrith moved his mouth back up her body, ending in a deep kiss. She realized that she could taste herself on his lips and tongue.

She looked up at him with half closed eyes. "Take me," she moaned.

Kerrith obliged her. He rose up over her and positioned his manhood at her entrance and then slowly began to push into her. Her warm tightness wrapped around him, threatening to make him climax immediately. As he pushed deeper into her, Selene began to make little gasping sounds. Her dark hair spilled across the bed, freed from its braid. Kerrith felt his crotch meet hers as his cock was sheathed to the hilt. She squeezed him in a wet velvet vice, making him groan in pleasure. He buried his nose in her hair, inhaling the sweet smell of flowers, before kissing her again. Unable to hold himself back any longer he pulled out slightly and started to thrust into her, at first with control, then soon with wild abandon. The shared sounds of their lovemaking echoed in the barn, causing an innocent flock of swallows to take wing, chirping in indignation.

Selene's arms wrapped around Kerrith's shoulders as she urged him deeper into her. She began to wail as she climaxed for a third time. The sound of her pleasure drove Kerrith over the edge, he began to release his seed deep inside her. For a second that seemed an eternity they were together, conscious only of the feel of each others bodies. Then, slowly, Kerrith lay on Selene. He kissed her softly, before pulling out and rolling off her. She snuggled closer to him, throwing her leg over his while resting her head on his chest. Kerrith fumbled with the covers for a moment, pulling them over Selene and himself as sweat cooled on their skin. They lay together silently, feeling sleep calling to them. The last thing Kerrith was conscious of was the silken weight of Selene's hair on his shoulder and her soft breath on his chest.

Continued in Chapter 2

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