World - Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Lorelei opened her eyes to see the light of a new day. She blinked rapidly, shading her eyes with one hand as she groaned and turned away from the glare. As she did, her gaze felt upon the sleeping pair sitting in the uncomfortable chairs beside her. As she lifted her head from the pillow to stare at them in puzzlement, a golden voice spoke in her mind.

Are you all right? Lorelei started with a gasp.

Kirsah?

No, this is K'san. Do you remember the bonding? Lorelei blinked in confusion as she struggled to regain her equilibrium. She remembered the meeting with the Matriarch clearly but everything after that seemed incomplete. Flashes of memory that she vainly tried to reach but couldn't recover. Then suddenly she felt the touch of another mind, a questing dragon mind. As soon as it came, it withdrew from her.

It matters not. You're well now and we're safely paired, came the voice reassuringly. Lorelei sank back into the comfort of her bed, pulling the covers up to chest level, suddenly feeling that everybody knew something she didn't.

Something happened, I know it. I can feel it in my soul. Tell me.

You had a bad reaction to the binding. Lorelei became very still. Suddenly the warm morning light seemed to be touched with a tinge of coldness. Something crystallized in a corner of her mind but even as she strained towards it, it melted away.

You have been unconscious for two days now and we were all worried that you would die from it. The healers have been with you continuously, feeding you all sorts of potions and spells. Their care has obviously been rewarded. Here you are, none the worst for the experience.

Lorelei accepted the explanation grudgingly. It was hard to be suspicious with sunlight dancing in the corners of the room and the pleasure of having a partner to talk with again. She swung her feet to the floor and made a vain clutch for the covers as she suddenly realized that she was nude under the sheets. Her eyes came to rest on the sleeping figures of her aunt and the Alvamar scrunched up like accordions in the stiff, wicker chairs. She put out a hand to rouse them but something made her draw it back. A vision of the Alvamar holding a sword, feet braced apart, with fire in his eyes. As soon as the picture came, it was gone, leaving her puzzled and wondering vainly what a healer would be doing with a sword in his hands. She shrugged the thought off and settled back instead, to regard him quietly.

In sleep, his face was relaxed, yet it retained the character that he had acquired through his many years. If he were a normal man, he would definitely draw a second look from her. And a third. Her aunt's words came back to whisper in her mind: "The man looks like a god!"

She had to admit that her aunt was right. Physically, he was beautiful. Rich black locks, wonderfully broad shoulders, sexy waist, strong thick penis, long muscled legs. As she remembered him standing by that well, pouring water over his long, lithe body, she felt the delicious thrill of attraction flare up again. Now that they were doomed to travel together on yet another mission, wasn't it foolish to continue denying it?

Yes! Her body screamed as it got into the act. Sure, he is unnatural. Sure, he is a lot older that you, but you know for certain how good that experience can be... No! replied Lorelei's brain firmly. This is strictly business. I need to be focused right now, not a yowling cat in heat. But, wouldn't it be oh, so satisfying... Lorelei shoved the renegade thought from her mind as she shook the sleeping pair awake. First things first. She had a dragon to get acquainted with...

Two days later, Lorelei and the Alvamar were summoned to the Queen's quarters. As they entered, they found Selene talking to a tall, slender man dressed in red and black robes. A warrior mage.

"The renegade had revealed the location of the Old One's fortress," said the Queen to the pair abruptly. "It lies in the furthest sanction of this land, up in the north."

Great! Thought Lorelei to herself. Now I'm going to be frozen to death...

"When can you leave?" Lorelei exchanged a glance with the Alvamar, reaching a consensus instantly.

"We're ready to go, Majesty. We just need to get set up for the journey."

"You do know that you can't be associated with the alliance, don't you Warrior?" stated the Queen sternly. "Thanks to the Alvamar's announcement of his intentions in full court, everybody thinks that you are merely his bodyguard. And that's the way it has to stay. Once the two of you leave here, you will be on your own. We cannot be seen to involve ourselves in a personal vendetta..." The Alvamar inclined his head in acknowledgment of that. "Hopefully, the Old One will focus on fighting the Alvamar and leave you a way to get to him."

"Then I obviously can't go in the uniform of a Prince's guard," murmured Lorelei, half to herself. "In fact, we should both look as normal as possible... The Northern sanctions are Taren's territory. No one will look twice at a pair of mercenaries traveling to join his army."

"The Old One will still see us coming but at least we won't have to deal with trouble from the local populace," continued the Alvamar, nodding his head in agreement. "It might make sense for us to leave in secret just in case Taren has spies somewhere in the castle." The Queen cracked a grim smile at that.

"My Lord, I can guarantee that Taren has spies in this castle and that they have been watching you with a great deal of interest. The Alvamar has been a legend and a hero to the people. You could be prove very useful in a power struggle."

The Alvamar's eyes suddenly snapped silver fire.

"Majesty, I want you to understand that I am not going to be drawn into this political situation! I have always been a neutral party and that's the way it is going to continue. I am doing this to free myself of this vendetta," he stated in a firm, resounding voice. "I have no interest in getting involved in this war or in aiding the alliance. I will not interfere with the Warrior's mission as long as she doesn't interfere with mine. That means that I will get the first shot at the Old One. Whatever Lorelei does, she does after the duel!" This drew a angry look from Lorelei. "That part of the mission is wholly and completely separate from mine."

The Queen's face stiffened. "I understand, my lord."

"I must protest, your Majesty!" Lorelei broke in. "I am being sent as an assassin! I can't be restrained by all these rules. I will take any chance I can get to... terminate the target."

"Not if you travel with me, Lorelei." replied the Alvamar smoothly.

"The thing is, Alvamar, you need me more than I need you," answered Lorelei equally smoothly as she turned to look him straight in the eye. "I can travel on my own and get the job done just as well."

"I think not, Warrior. The Old One's castle is protected not only by human guards but also by his mutant creations and a series of intricate spells. Without me, you wouldn't get past the first level."

"And without me, you wouldn't live to get there!"

"It seems that the two of you need to reach a compromise," interrupted the Queen, silently approving the fact that Lorelei was trying to gain herself every advantage. "I agree with Lorelei in that she should take advantage of any opportunity to complete her mission but I also agree with you in that she should not interfere with your task or that you become involved in our political games. If the two of you feel that you cannot work together on this, speak up now and we'll find someone else to do the job!"

Lorelei and the Alvamar didn't look at each other as they considered the Queen's ultimatum.

"The Alvamar and I will continue to discuss this after we leave Miramar," said Lorelei stiffly as she broke the uncomfortable impasse. The Alvamar didn't contradict her so she continued. "We shall sneak out of the palace compound as soon as our disguises are ready..."

"We'll need to get you armed," said Lorelei to the Alvamar as they left the Queen's chambers. "I don't know much about Healer training, what weapons are you trained to handle?"

"The training does include anything on weaponry, but I was trained in the use of the broadsword, axe and staff before becoming a healer." Lorelei grimaced. All those were heavy and cumbersome weapons. "I've kept practicing with them over the years but more for fun than for real use. I've definitely more comfortable with my magic than with my weapon skills," he continued frankly.

"Oh well, we'll get in some practice time during our journey. I've been a little lax myself these past few weeks. So we'll need to get you a broadsword, an axe and a staff. Maten should have some in his private stock..."

"Just a staff, I think. I have a broadsword and an axe would just be too clumsy to use against these light swords you have now."

"You already have a broadsword." repeated Lorelei slowly. "My Lord, I must admit that for a healer, you seem awfully prepared for life as a warrior..." The Alvamar smiled blandly in response but didn't offer an explanation.

That night, two figures dressed in mercenary leathers sneaked out of the northern gates of the palace compound. As they disappeared into the darkness, a large dark shape swept silently over the palace walls and soared up into the black velvet sky.

The End