Chapter 1: A Spring Storm
"Hold still, I can't see what I'm doing," hissed Solyma.
Hector ceased his nervous bobbing, letting Solyma see her reflection in his monocle.
"I don't think this is a good idea," he said.
"Quiet. It'll work."
"Yes. Like that last plan of yours?"
"That was a fluke. If I hadn't used that spellbook I would have summoned something harmless but fearsome."
If he had eyes, Hector would have rolled them. "It's not that your plans are bad, so to speak, just that you never bother to think them out," he said.
"I think them out, I had a whole set of back up plans in case the villagers decided to revolt, or found out who I was. They were brilliant. Now, how do I look? Noble enough?"
Solyma leaned back from where she was kneeling to let Hector see all of her face. The floating helmet bobbed backward and then slowly circled her. She was wearing her most conservative green silk dress and had just finished applying the last of her makeup and pinning her hair back.
"Yes, you look better than most of the ladies at Dolceis," Hector finally said.
"Most?"
"I still think that you should dress more modestly, especially if you want to be taken seriously. Corannon has a standard of decency higher than yours."
Solyma stood, shaking a few stray leaves from her skirts. "A little decolletage never hurt anyone," she said. "We should get going now if we want to get to the palace before dark. And put your good helmet on."
Hector pulled a plumed and polished helmet from a saddlebag and replaced his rather ordinary and tarnished helmet with it. He smoothed back the plume and rose to head height to take the reins of Tom and Alice, Solyma's horse and donkey. "Now, do you remember why I have a donkey instead of a pack horse?" Solyma asked.
"Yes," Hector said tiredly, "the donkey was a favorite pet as a child and you take her everywhere you go now."
Solyma nodded and led the way out of the forest clearing toward the highway. Once they had reached the smooth paving stones of the highway, Solyma climbed into Tom's saddle. "My lady," Hector began, "Shouldn't you ride side-saddle? As is appropriate for someone in a dress?"
Solyma looked down at her legs. Her skirts had ridden up and exposed them to the thigh. "This is why I don't wear dresses and ride," she said as she swung her leg over to ride side-saddle, nearly falling off in the process. "There. Decent enough for you?"
"Adequately."
Solyma flicked her reins. "Why do I keep you around?" she asked.
"Because if you ever wanted to kill someone all you would have to do is cook them something," Hector said from his perch above Alice's packs.
The clearing was filled with debris. Chunks of stone lay scattered in the short grass under the late spring sun.
Merkin Chisler's boots crunched on bits of wood paneling lying around the heap of rubble that marked where the tower had stood. He looked despairingly at the mound of stone that was all that remained of Solyma's tower. He had tracked her to this quiet area of the kingdom in hopes of purchasing the spellbook of Valkersan the Mad. Now, with her tower ruined, Solyma was probably dead and her library destroyed.
His heart heavy, Merkin carefully circled the pile of rubble, hoping that perhaps some books had fallen clear of the collapsing tower. As he rounded the rubble he was surprised to see that someone had been carefully excavating the rubble. Ruined dresses and kitchen utensils lay stacked neatly around the excavation. Merkin felt his heart race as he saw a pile of torn books.
He ran to the pile, falling to his knees by the weather stained and crumpled pages. He shuffled through them, sweating nervously in excitement. At the bottom he saw it, the brown leather cover of Valkersan's spellbook. He opened it and flipped through the pages. It was all there, the weaves for summoning and opening portals, and, Merkin's hands were shaking, the weaves for controlling life and death.
He stared at the intricate spirals and loops that formed the last weave, as his eyes traced the pattern he felt the power stored within it. He could feel the power rising from the pages and searing itself into his mind. Too late he jerked back and turned from the pages. Although he shut his eyes he could still see the weave looping itself through his consciousness.
Merkin staggered backward across the clearing as the weave began to form itself in the air before him. Glowing, scarlet threads of magic began to loop and weave, forming the base for a portal. He dropped to his knees as the weave came closer to completion. The threads formed a ten-pointed star hanging in the air. There was a low snap and red flash as the weave completed. In front of him the weave began to open a portal into nothingness. Fog began to form as bitter cold emanated from the portal. There was a whistling as air was sucked into the void on the other side of the portal. Merkin stared at the darkness as a swirl of greasy grey smoke swirled out toward him.
Sweat ran down his face as he struggled to turn and run. A small gasp escaped his mouth as he tried to scream. The smoke had formed itself into a long, clawed arm. Merkin's heart pounded in his chest, seemingly ready to explode as the arm reached for him. "You have freed me," a deep buzzing voice echoed.
"Guhh," Merkin gurgled.
"You shall have the privilege of serving me," the voice said. The smoky hand closed around Merkin's throat. There was a loud crack and his head lolled sickeningly to the side.
Merkin's vision disappeared as his neck snapped with a short, sharp pain. He could feel his fear drain away as his soul drifted from his body, free as the wind. For the first time in his life he was at peace. The spring sky shone bluer than he had ever seen as he rose towards it. He closed his eyes and reveled in the warmth of the sun, then-.
Pain. Merkin's eyes rolled as he struggled to focus his vision. Rock lay under his spine, digging painfully into his flesh. He saw the smoky figure looming above him. A fissure split the smoke where its face should be. "Now, you shall serve me," it laughed.
Merkin felt his body rise against his will. From inside his mind he screamed as his body knelt in the dirt before the roiling coils of smoke.
"I serve you, my master," he heard himself say.
The smoke billowed upward and let two long coils whirl from its body. They dove into the rubble, twisting like crazed snakes. A few moments later they burst forth from the stones, carrying the pulped remains of three Corthronos.
"Good," the smoke hissed. The bodies floated to the swirling smoke, their flesh falling from their bodies to join the whirling clouds. The shining bones of the Corthronos assembled themselves like a jigsaw,shattering and reforming before clicking together into a humanoid skeleton. The skeleton rose into the air, its arms raised, as the clouds of flesh spiraled around it. The flesh began to coat the bones, building up the body in a hideous reversal of the natural order of decay.
The body floated to the ground, bare feet tipped with yellowed claws digging into the earth. It flexed its arms, exhaling deeply in satisfaction. Hands with nails of rusty metal opened and closed while the newly formed creature stretched and twisted. "What has this world become in my absence?" it said with a voice deep and resonant. It turned to the kneeling form of Merkin. "Valkersan has returned. Rejoice, for you were the first to witness the return of the rightful ruler of this world." Valkersan swept his arms across his body, storm clouds of weaves forming around them. With one gesture he was clothed in a robe of dull metal and stone. With another gesture a cloak of flowing blood was draped over his shoulders and a staff of bone and steel floated beside him.
Merkin stared up at the exquisitely handsome face of Valkersan. Sapphire blue eyes shone with no trace of warmth or kindness. Perfect teeth flashed in a smile like a shark's. What have I done? he wailed silently. Deep inside himself, he screamed in despair. Valkersan sent weaves of magic through the ruin of the tower. Bits of kitchen utensils and furniture flew from the rubble to land scattered around the clearing. Valkersan snarled, lightning crackling over his teeth and nails. "My crystal," he hissed. "Did you steal it? Did you, worm?"
Merkin crumpled to the ground in pain. He writhed on the grass and felt control of himself return. "No, I never saw it," he screamed.
"Yes, I see can see that in your pathetic excuse for a mind," Valkersan spat. He closed his eyes for a moment, a weave dancing around his head. "Solyma," he smiled. "Merkin," Valkersan said in a warm voice, "we shall go now, for there are many debts to repay."
"My lady, I am honored to finally meet the esteemed mage of Dolceis and I am honored to be your guide," Adelard Quiton said, bowing. The greying, elegantly dressed nobleman brought Solyma's hand to his lips and kissed it softly.
"Oh, my Lord Quiton, I am not so great as you make me out to be," Solyma said, looking up at Adelard from under fluttering eyelashes. From behind her Hector coughed loudly.
"Is something the matter with your servant?" Adelard asked with a dark expression.
"No, my lord. He is just overwhelmed by the grandeur of the palace," Solyma said, shooting a venomous look at Hector, who had barely overcome his coughing fit.
"Ah, well," Adelard's face cleared. "I should show you to your quarters then." He led the pair through the high paneled halls of the royal palace to the west wing. They stopped in front a set of polished double doors. "I have taken the liberty of having you placed in quarters with a view of the ocean and bay."
"Thank you so very much, Adelard. May I call you Adelard? If it's not too familiar of me." Solyma smiled nervously.
Adelard grinned expansively. "Of course my lady, but only if I may call you Solyma."
"I would be overjoyed if you would," Solyma laughed.
Adelard unlocked the suite's doors and then smiled and patted her shoulder. "Here is your key, dinner will be at seven o'clock. If you have any, any questions at all, I will be happy to answer them."
"Oh, thank you Adelard," Solyma cried happily, flinging her arms around him to hug him tightly. She moved back slightly, her breasts pressed against him, with a sheepish expression. "I'm sorry, this day has just been so exciting and you've been so kind." She kissed his cheek softly. "Thank you for everything you've done for me," she said softly. "Think nothing of it, it was my deepest pleasure to help you. I am at your service at all times," Adelard said, kissing her hand again.
The nobleman turned and walked away down the hall, humming happily. Solyma watched him until he turned a corner then stepped into her suite of rooms.
"I still do not understand why you persist in these schemes, Solyma," Hector grumbled.
"This is why," Solyma answered, waving her arm at the suite of rooms.
The suite was huge, sumptuously furnished, and had a spectacular view of the bay and ocean beyond. The woods were of the finest mahogany imported from the south. To her right, Solyma could see the bedroom. A bed large enough for five was covered with sheets of pure silk, dyed a rich, deep blue.
Solyma stepped slowly into the main room, her eyes lit with joy. She kicked off her riding shoes and sighed deeply in pure bliss as her feet sank into a Alathian rug. Hector watched from the doorway as she slowly collapsed face down onto the rug, her arms spread wide. "Hector?" she said, her voice muffled. "Be a dear and check the bathroom."
Hector set the luggage down by the door with a thump and floated towards the bedroom. A door in the far wall led to the bathroom. The bathroom was dominated by a large claw footed bathtub mounted on a low dais. The setting sun shone from the skylight overhead and the bank of windows in the left wall. Beyond the windows the sun could be seen slowly sinking into the Dreamer's Sea.
"Well?"
Hector heard Solyma from the main room. He turned from the entrancing sunset to the bathtub. Two handles were mounted above a faucet in the shape of a dragon's head, one labeled "Hot" and the other "Cold". He turned the hot water handle and watched as a steady stream of steaming water poured from the faucet. Turning the water off, he turned back to the main room.
"There is hot, running water," he said. He heard Solyma rise from the rug.
She slowly walked into the bathroom with a wide grin on her face. "Life is good," she giggled, spinning in a circle, her arms and hair flying.
"What is this place called?" asked Valkersan.
"Rivermeld," answered Merkin. He gasped in pain as a searing flash brought him to his knees. "Rivermeld, my lord," he hissed between clenched teeth. The pain ceased. Valkersan smiled from under his deep hood. The trading town of Rivermeld lay at the junction of two rivers where they joined to flow to Corannon and the sea.
"A petty example of civilization, still it should provide the comforts I seek," he chuckled. "Lead the way Merkin. Find me the best accommodations or feel my wrath." Limping slightly with a scarf wrapped around his neck to hide the jut of his broken spine, Merkin began moving towards the town.
Magda looked up from her dinner. "What do you mean, gone?"
"Just what I said, no books left and the tower's been destroyed even more," Havas said with a shrug.
Magda looked down at her soup. She felt the start of a headache beginning to throb in her temples. "Thank you Havas. When is the representative of the College supposed to get here?"
"A day or two. I'll be glad when he gets here and can cart away Solyma's junk. Seems like the whole damn town wants to go through her stuff for loot."
"Has anyone been going out there?"
"No, they won't do anything, doesn't mean they don't want to though."
Magda nodded.
"I wonder what happened to Solyma," Havas said idly. "She didn't seem to be a bad sort." He looked at Magda intently. She blushed and looked down at her soup. "I'll be going then, Anya doesn't like it when I'm late." He turned, then paused to look back at her. "Why don't you come over for dinner, Anya's cooking her lasagna tonight."
Magda looked up at him then back to her soup. "No thank you, I'm tired tonight. Maybe another night?"
Havas nodded and moved back toward the door.
Magda thanked him again as he left. She sighed as she wondered what Solyma was doing, on the run from the authorities. Living on whatever food she could scavenge and sleeping under bushes. Leftover soup and shelter would probably sound very good to her right now. She sighed softly and returned to her soup.
"- so he said, that's not my wife, that's the plumber!" Adelard finished. Laughter rose from the people seated around him. Solyma laughed especially hard from her seat next to him.
The dinner had been excellent. Solyma had been dying for a good meal since she had left Willowsrun. Hector couldn't cook without ingredients and the food at the inns they had stopped at had been worse than usual. The royal cooks were among the best in the kingdom and Solyma was sitting contented, feeling the rosy fog of the wine floating through her brain.
Adelard leaned toward her to whisper in her ear, "Did you enjoy the meal?"
"Oh, yes! I'm afraid that I haven't been able to find anything decent to eat while I was traveling."
Adelard nodded in sympathy. "I'm sorry," he said to the gathered diners. "Have I introduced the lovely Solyma van Dolceis?"
"No you haven't, Adelard," a striking blond woman said from across the table. "Were you planning to keep her all to yourself?"
More laughter rose. Solyma sighed inwardly. This was the worst part, when everyone had finished eating and the all avenues of conversation had been exhausted. She was saved from further small talk by the Chancellor of the College of Magic.
The Chancellor was a heavy man with a flowing white hair and beard, almost mandatory for a wizard of his position. He tapped his spoon against his wine glass to call for attention.
"It is my pleasure this evening to introduce to you a special guest, the Lady Solyma van Dolceis. She has come all the way here from Dolceis to visit the College and perhaps give a guest lecture or two. Why don't we all give her a warm welcome?"
There was a polite round of applause from the diners. Solyma rose from her seat to bow to the room.
She sat down as the Chancellor continued his speech, bragging of the opening of the new College of Dimensional Studies. Solyma finished the last of her wine as she surveyed the other diners. There were thirty or so seated around the long dining table. Most were area nobles. She spotted a few other wizards, most likely from the College. Her heart beat a little faster as she spotted a Knight of the Shield seated by the head of the table. She relaxed when she saw that it wasn't Kerrith. Solyma saw that the dinner was breaking up and diners were getting up to leave.
As she rose she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned to see Adelard standing beside her.
"It is a wonderful evening, would you care to join me in the gardens? The moon is beautiful tonight, especially when it is shining on the water," he whispered in her ear.
She looked uncertain on the outside, but inside she crowed in victory. "I would be happy to my-, Adelard," she said with a shy smile.
"Then come, the garden awaits." Adelard offered his arm to Solyma, who took it.
The palace gardens overlooked the Dreamer's Sea. Carefully tended paths winded through flower bushes and small copses of trees. Adelard and Solyma walked arm in arm in the moonlight toward the seaward edge of the gardens where the land rolled in a gentle slope toward the ocean. They stopped at a bench at the top of the slope. The wooden bench was artfully inlaid with flowering vines which seemed to shine in the moonlight.
"It is beautiful, is it not?" Adelard whispered as they sat on the bench.
Solyma looked across the gentle curves of the land to the sea. The moonlight cast a long shining path upon the wind-tossed sea. A gentle breeze played her hair around her face as she said, "It is beautiful." She sighed. "And so romantic."
Adelard leaned closer to her, moving his hand to her thigh. "Yes, it does have a certain romantic air." His other hand moved up her back and began to pull her close.
Solyma resisted for a moment, then allowed him to pull her to him.
"Adelard," she sighed as he kissed her.
The nobleman reached up to cup a breast as he kissed down her neck.
"Adelard!" Solyma cried, squirming away from him to sit at the end of the bench. "What are you doing?"
"I love you, Solyma. I've loved you since the first moment I set eyes on you," he said in a husky voice. "We're soul mates, can't you feel it? We belong together."
Solyma had to struggle to keep from laughing. Her lips twitched wildly but Adelard seemed to think she was overcome with emotion. He reached out to her and dragged her along the bench back to his embrace. He hugged her closely to his body while moving his hands down her back to squeeze her bottom. "You are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."
Solyma clamped her mouth shut as her body shook with suppressed laughter. Adelard mistook her shaking for trembling and kissed her tenderly.
"Don't worry my dear little mage, I won't hurt you."
Solyma nodded, her eyes solemn and her lips set in a firm line.
Adelard stood up and pulled her to her feet. He led her around the bench and turned her to face the ocean. He gently swept her hair away from the nape of her neck and kissed her there. Solyma moaned softly as he reached up to hold her breasts, rubbing them softly through the fabric of her dress and shift. She turned her head to kiss him as his hands slid down her sides to her thighs.
Solyma's breathing quickened as he slowly hiked her skirts up over her waist, leaving her underwear exposed to the night air. She gasped softly when he used one hand to tug her underwear down, leaving her bare.
Adelard kissed the nape of her neck again, then gently nipped at the curve of her ear. Solyma stiffened as he pushed her over the back of the bench, leaving her supporting herself with her hands. Solyma let her hair fall over her face as her hands clutched at the back of the bench. She heard Adelard open his breeches and felt his hard cock press against her thigh. She spread her legs further and he grunted as he guided his cock to her moist opening.
Solyma cried out in genuine pleasure as Adelard thrust into her. He grabbed at her hips and thrust deeper, impaling her totally with a second push. He began to slowly fuck her, hands roaming over her hips and back.
"Oh, gods," Solyma gasped. "You're so big! I've never been with anyone like you before!" She rolled her eyes, then gasped as he pushed deeper into her.
Adelard grunted in response. He leaned over her back, pulling the shoulders of her dress down and baring her breasts. His hands reached under her to caress her swaying breasts, squeezing in time with his thrusts.
Solyma's knuckles whitened as she gripped the bench tighter. She was moaning continuously now as Adelard reached down to her clit and began to rub it. Solyma began to push back onto Adelard's cock, making high pitched gasps as he filled her over and over. She felt herself begin to climax as Adelard hammered into her. She screamed in pleasure, her cry rolling across the hills and plains, carried by the winds, as Adelard pulled halfway out of her then hilted himself, before shooting his seed deep inside her.
He kept himself inside her until he began to soften. Solyma felt his cock slide out of her and heard the sound of him doing up his breeches. She straightened herself on wobbly legs and adjusted her dress over her bare breasts. She lifted her skirts and slid her underwear back up her slim legs before taking a moment to look out to sea with faraway eyes.
He gently turned her to face him and kissed her. "We should go back to the palace. It is getting late and I believe that a storm is rising."
Solyma kissed him again and wrapped her arms around his waist. She looked up at him with adoring eyes. "Yes, Adelard. Will you be so kind as to escort me to my chambers?"
He nodded and they set out towards the bright lights of the palace, side by side, arms wrapped around each other's waists.
The Tidewater was the finest inn in Rivermeld. It sat at the upriver end of the town by a small marshy area favored by water fowl. A cool breeze wafted through the open patio doors as Valkersan stepped into the common room.
The innkeeper stared at him, his eyes traveling over the strange fabric making up Valkersan's clothes and his odd looking staff. He grinned when Valkersan produced a handful of gold and sent Merkin over to the bar.
"My master wishes food and lodging for the night," Merkin said in a hoarse voice.
"Of course, I will have our best suite of rooms prepared for him," the innkeeper said obsequiously.
Merkin nodded and returned to Valkersan's side. Valkersan tossed him a small leather pouch.
"Go book us passage to Corannon and buy some suitable clothes for yourself. When you are done you may have the rest of the evening to yourself. Be back by dawn," Valkersan said.
Merkin caught the pouch and bowed low. As he turned to the door, Valkersan said, "Do not attempt to tell anyone who I am. I will know and you will be punished if you do."
Merkin bowed again and ran from the inn.
Valkersan turned as a maid walked up to him. He grinned at her appearance. She was voluptuous and redheaded. Her hair was tied back in a loose ponytail that fell to the small of her back. Red lips framed a bright smile. Nothing compared to you, Solyma, he thought, but still, very delicious.
"My name is Elena and I'll be serving you tonight. Your table is this way, my lord," she said, curtsying deeply and displaying a breathtaking display of cleavage.
Valkersan smiled appreciatively at the sight. "I am sure that I will enjoy my stay here if the rest of the service measures up to you," he said.
She smiled and turned to lead him to his table. Her hips swayed seductively under the clinging fabric of her dress. Valkersan ran his gaze over her sweet body, leering at the gentle curve of her legs and buttocks.
"Would you care to look at the menu? Or would you like something to drink first?" she said.
Valkersan thought for a moment of the void he had been trapped in for so long. "Bring me your best wine and," he paused, "everything on the menu."
Elena looked at him, startled. She began to ask him if he was sure but stopped when she thought of other rich patrons. They wanted to try a little of everything and ended up leaving most of each dish untouched. But they did tip well. She smiled and said, "I'll go tell the kitchen your order and be back with your wine." She felt a shiver run up her spine when she reached the kitchen door. Elena turned and saw Valkersan staring at her, a hungry smile on his handsome face. She shook herself and dismissed her unease to the weather. The air felt heavy and hot, as if a thunderstorm was on the way.
Hector looked up from the ship-in-a-bottle he was assembling when the door opened. Solyma paused in the doorway and turned towards the hallway. She whispered something to someone outside the room and then softly closed the door. She tossed her hair as she walked toward him, a broad smile on her face.
"How was your little tryst?" Hector asked, returning his attention to the tiny model of a fishing sloop in a whiskey bottle.
"Perfect. He was a better lover than I expected," she answered, stretching luxuriously.
"Did you do that thing with your mouth?" Hector asked distractedly.
"No need to yet."
"Pity, that always seems to get you what you want. And you seem to enjoy it." Hector carefully raised the mast of the sloop and reached for a brush sticking out of a glue pot.
"Hector!" Solyma said in mock outrage.
"I don't see why you just don't do everything the first time. It would be much more efficient. And quicker."
"But this way is much more fun."
"More fun. Remember how you decided to have fun in Alathan? The guards chasing us from the city? The very angry dragon who wanted his diamond back? Why don't you just buy a house somewhere and become a town mage?"
"Hector, where's your sense of adventure? I thought that armor you're wearing would have given you more of a backbone. Besides, town mages don't live nearly as well as this." She waved her arm at the suite.
"Backbone. That is very funny Solyma. Almost as funny as watching a horde of Corthronos come through your portal. May the Gods help us if this ends as your last plan did."
"Don't worry, out of all my plans, how many have failed?" Solyma held up her hand as Hector started to answer. "Most just didn't get us as much as I thought they would, they weren't really failures. So, asides from the Corthronos, have we ever really failed?"
Hector was silent. Solyma smiled and slowly walked to the bedroom. "See? This will be no problem at all. Wake me in time for breakfast, will you?"
Hector nodded, his attention fastened to the drying glue holding the mast to the sloop as Solyma closed the bedroom door behind her. He sighed and decided that he'd better keep their bags packed at all times.
Elena's eyes widened at the sight of the table. Every dish had been cleaned and the six bottles of wine she had brought had been drained dry. "My lord? Would you," her gaze strayed back to the decimated remains of dinner, "um, care for any dessert?"
Valkersan looked up at the pretty serving maid, patting at his lips with a napkin. "No, not now I think. Perhaps later, in my room," he said quietly, looking straight at Elena.
Elena smiled hesitantly and then more widely. "Of course, my lord. Should I have a bath drawn for you?"
"Yes, I would appreciate that. Come up to my room in an hour. And bring another bottle of your `11 Willowsrun wine."
"I will my lord," Elena said, her smile fading, as Valkersan stood up. His hand brushed over her shoulder and neck as he walked to the stairs leading to the inn's rooms. She bit her lip as he climbed the stairs, a delicious shiver running through her. She twirled a strand of her hair nervously, wondering what exactly Valkersan wanted. She flirted with the customers whenever she thought it would increase her tip, but this wasn't a brothel and she wasn't a whore. Her thoughts were interrupted by the call of another customer and, for the moment, she forgot Valkersan's touch and invitation.
Elena stopped outside of Valkersan's door. She held a bottle of `11 Willowsrun wine in her left hand as she reached up to knock on the door. She paused and tugged up the bodice of her dress. It didn't go up much, but at least it was less revealing than before. She draped her hair over her breasts to try for some more modesty. Elena drew a deep breath and knocked on the door.
The door swung open, revealing the living room of the suite lit only by a few candles. A medium sized table was in the middle of the room with few straight backed wooden chairs placed around it. Elena nervously stepped into the room, blinking in the dim light.
"Hello? My lord Valkersan?"
She jumped and nearly dropped the wine when the door shut behind her. She spun and saw no one there. She clutched the bottle of wine like a talisman as she slowly turned to survey the room.
She let out a little shriek when a voice spoke from near her left shoulder. "Hello sweet one," Valkersan whispered.
"I have your wine, did, did you want to order something for dessert?" she squeaked.
Valkersan took the wine from her shaking hand.
"You seem nervous? Why? I would think that you would be used to this by now?" he said. Walking slowly around her to place the wine on the table. He concentrated and raised his hands. To Elena it seemed that two wine glasses appeared from nothing.
She sucked in her breath at the sight. "You're a mage?"
"Yes, and so much more. But you didn't answer my question," he answered smoothly.
He walked behind her again, his hands caressing her shoulders. He gently pulled the shoulders of her dress down, baring her skin. He kissed her left shoulder while stroking her neck with his right hand.
"I'm not a, prostitute," she whispered, her eyelids fluttering.
"No? You surprise me. When I was last in this part of the world someone acting as you did would be. Perhaps I have been gone too long." He brought his nose close to her hair and sniffed at it. "Why do you act as you do?"
"The men and, some, women like it if I flirt with them. They give me a larger tip." Elena ducked out from under his hands, pulling her dress up. "Did you want something for dessert? I, I have to get back to work."
"Ah, yes. I do want something for dessert." He leaned closer to her as she backed toward the door. He advanced on her as she edged towards the door. She looked nervously around for some escape as he reached up to cup her chin in his hand.
Elena stiffened as he kissed her. She felt a tingle run through her body as his tongue slipped into her mouth. She stood frozen, her eyes wide, as he moved his hands up her legs to squeeze her waist.
She twisted away from the mage to stand gasping by the table. "Please, I need to go." Valkersan twisted his hand and snapped his wrist, fingers spread. As he did so the door vanished to be replaced by bare wall. He smirked at Elena's astonishment. "Now, would you care for some wine? Please, sit." He crooked his index finger and a chair hit Elena in the back of the knees, knocking her into it.
He sat opposite her at the table, his fingers dancing as the wine bottle rose, uncorked itself, and then filled the glasses. "Drink," he said. When she made no move to pick up the glass he repeated himself. "Drink." This time there was a faint vibration that caused the glasses to dance across the table.
Elena stared at him with wide eyes as she lifted the glass with trembling fingers. She took a sip of the wine, part of her reveling in the taste and bouquet, the rest only conscious of Valkersan's stare.
They both sat and drank in silence for a while. Valkersan studied every inch of Elena's face. In his mind he was remembering Solyma, the tilt of her nose, the curve of her waist, and the soft skin of her neck. He could almost taste her lips and feel her body writhing beneath him. "Come," he said, rising from his chair.
As he walked to the bedroom Elena searched the wall for any trace of the door. Finding none she slowly followed the mage. As she entered she felt his hands wrap around her waist from behind. He began to kiss her neck slowly while guiding her toward the bed. Elena resisted for a second, then allowed herself to be set onto the bed.
Valkersan pushed her back onto the bed, leaving her legs hanging over the edge as he leaned over her. With a flick of his fingers Elena saw the laces of her dress begin to untie. She brought her hands to cover her breasts as her dress opened and began to slide down her body. Valkersan grabbed her wrists and pinned her hands over her head, leaving her helpless to prevent his weave from stripping her.
Elena watched, half fascinated and half horrified, as her clothes were peeled off of her body. Layer by layer they were untied or opened and flew off her to land in a pile by the door. She blushed when she realized that she was completely naked.
"Oh, don't do this," she pleaded as he began to slide his fingers over her flank. Her voice was cut off as he kissed her again. She watched as he broke the kiss and stood up. He let go of her wrists, leaving a weave to bind them together and pin them to the bed. Her heart began to pound as he disrobed, leaving his arousal evident. Elena's skin seemed to tingle and heat where he touched her with burning fingers. She felt herself moisten as he spread her legs, hands caressing her inner thighs. "Oh, oh no," she whispered as he moved between her outspread thighs, hands lifting her hips.
She watched, entranced as his member moved close to her. Her mouth parted and she began to pant as he moved closer and closer to her. Elena whimpered softly in pleasure as he penetrated her. She heard him groan above her as he lifted her hips off the bed and slowly pushed himself inside her. He began to thrust steadily, filling her to the hilt. He pumped faster, pounding into her as his lust overwhelmed him.
Elena began to cry out softly with each thrust. Her cries began to rise in pitch as his tempo increased. Against her will, her legs wrapped around his waist, urging him deeper. She strained against the weave pinning her wrists to the bed. She longed to run her hands over his body and feel the hard muscle beneath his skin. Her eyes stared at the ceiling as she felt her orgasm stabbing through her from out of nowhere. She began to make soft mewling sounds and her hips shook from the intensity of the orgasm.
Elena blinked her eyes and looked up a Valkersan. Her eyes widened in surprise as he pulled out, not having reached his own release yet. "What are you doing?" she asked as he turned her over on the bed, face down. She felt the weave moving and securing her wrists to the headboard. She craned her neck to look behind her as the mage lifted her hips in the air and spread her knees wide apart.
She groaned as he inserted two fingers into her wet quim, thoroughly coating them in her juices. Elena let her head fall to the pillows as he removed his fingers. She breathed heavily, her eyes closed and her mouth open wide. Her breathing began to increase and Elena moaned as he worked his fingers back and forth within her. She sighed in relief when, after an eternity, he removed his fingers. Then he pressed his cock against her eager pussy as his hands squeezed her waist. Elena began to pant as he pushed into her.
She cried out loudly when his hips pressed against her ass and he was fully seated in her pussy. She drew in deep shuddering breaths, incomprehensible sounds spilling from her mouth as she was fucked. She whimpered as Valkersan thrust deep into her. Her mind went blank when Valkersan entered her completely again. He withdrew almost totally out of her, then plunged himself back into her.
She began to cry out with each of his thrusts, her body shuddering with each penetration. He moved his hands to her hips, gripping her firmly as he pulled her back onto his cock. She could hear him grunting something like "Solyma" with each thrust. The mage began to pound into her, wildly fucking her. He let go of her hip to move his hand around to her clit which he began to rub. Elena screamed in pleasure as he shot his load into her and roughly massaged her clit. She felt her pussy tighten around him as she came for a second time and her head grew light from the exertion. Exhausted, she dropped to the mattress, her breathing hard.
Valkersan remained on top of her for a long time before he pulled out of her and rolled off. Elena felt the weave binding her wrist disappear. She remained on her stomach, sweat cooling on her back until she fell asleep. The last sound she heard before she drifted off was the pounding of rain on the windows and the distant roll of thunder.
The dull rumble of thunder woke Solyma. She realized that she was still sitting in the bathtub as a flash of lightning cast the room in stark shadow and light. She slowly rose, stretching while the water fell from her nude body as she drained the last of a glass of sherry.
She felt something tugging at the back of her as she toweled herself off. A sort of vague unease was nagging at her, as if she had forgotten to do something important. The feeling seemed to disappear as she brushed her teeth and was almost totally forgotten by the time she had pulled on her favorite nightgown. Unlike the majority of her clothes it was very modest, leaving almost everything to the imagination. The nightgown was not something she entertained in, just something she slept in. It was warm and soft, both of which she was grateful for as she slipped between silk sheets and pulled the comforters up to her chin.
She had left the drapes open. She enjoyed seeing the lightning and watching the rain slide across the glass. It reminded her of home. As she fell asleep the feeling of unease came over her again. She tossed and turned for a minute before deciding to practice on some of her long neglected fighting and magic skills the next morning. This seemed to settle her unease and soon she was lulled asleep by the tap of rain and roll of thunder.
Continued in Chapter 2
The World of Alderest - II - Solyma Van Dolcies - Chapter 1
Next Story:The World of Alderest - II - Solyma Van Dolcies - Chapter 2
Post a comment