Chapter 5
Two hours later, twilight was coming over the land. The landscape beneath them has changed into the rich woods of the northern sanctions. A lazy stream cut through the greens and purple of the foliage. There couldn't be a better spot to camp. Lorelei looked over to the mage gliding besides her with a meaningful look. He nodded in reply. A slight pressure with her heels and her mount responded by circling down. She guided the firedrake to the stream, flying low over the flowing water. When she found a small clear spot beside the water, she drew the firedrake to a landing. The Alvamar landed with a thump beside her a minute later.
An hour later, the site was the epitome of domesticity, with a fire going, the scent of roasting meat redolent in the air and two hungry firedrakes gorging on tough chunks of meat. Lorelei cast the animals a wry glance. Traveling with firedrakes had its disadvantages. They had already finished off all the meat from their restocked saddlebags. But they were tough animals and would get them to Miramar the next day. Unless yet another incident occurred.
The Alvamar tested the unidentifiable hunk of meat roasting over the fire with his dagger.
"Done," he announced. "Let's eat!" Lorelei cut herself a piece and groaned in pleasure as she bit into it.
"At last! Non-preserved food!" Sighing, she propped herself back on one elbow, taking an occasional bite as she stared at the stream meditatively. The fire cast its light over a small part of the stream, its ripples sparking like diamonds as it made its way to the sea. She was very relaxed and she knew why. Lorelei smiled to herself softly. It was good to see Varius again...
Beside her, the Alvamar ate quietly, not looking at her at all. Of course he knew what had happened. He'd have to be blind not to. He'd managed to ignore the incident this far but his bruised ego needed to be tended to. Of course, he knew what she had done was perfectly acceptable. All unmarried women chose multiple partners for their Onset. It was supposed to be a time for joyous abandon! But other parts of his psyche was raging. Why not ME??
Lorelei had gone past satisfying herself with food and had turned to the important question of whether to undo her braid for her bath. The flight would have knotted it beyond repair. Deciding that clean hair was particularly important to her today, she untied the thong and combed through the auburn tresses with her fingers as best she could. Flipping her hair over her shoulder and leaving it to flow down her back, she untied the ties of her bodysuit and let it fall to the ground. Turning back, she grabbed a towel from her saddlebags before walking to the stream's edge.
She stepped into the water, yelping as the chill of the water hit her calves. With the courage that had made her eligible for the Imperial Guard, she forced herself to immerse herself completely. Being brave however did not mean that she didn't shriek at the awful temperature of the water against her formerly warm skin. An answering yell greeted her when she bobbed back up. The Alvamar stood equally nude with an agonized expression on his face just a few feet away from her. She couldn't help giggling at him as he started rubbing furiously at his arms. And then she got a mouthful of water when he splashed some her way...
Five minutes later, they were still busy trying to drown each other, their laughter and shrieks ringing in the peace of the camp. The firedrakes shifted nervously, no doubt wondering what those crazed humans were up to now. Lorelei had her back to the Alvamar, hair hanging in tangled strings, her hands busily swooping air behind her at the Alvamar. He decided to take the frontal approach, taking most of her attack in the face but having the definite advantage of targeting her accurately. Under the cover of the splashing, he crept up behind her until he leapt forward without warning and dunked her quite efficiently. She came to the surface, laughing hysterically and yelling "I give!!"
"Lorelei," murmured the Alvamar softly as he steadied her in the water. The grin on her face faded slowly at the sight of the look in his eyes. "Are you feeling normal?" he asked meaningfully. Her eyes automatically swept down his body at the delicate insinuation. Her libido so recently been satiated suddenly surged once again. And so it was that a wave of heat flowed through her at the sight of the Alvamar's body so close to hers. Lorelei stiffened in resistance. No! Not him! She owed him for taking care of her needs on their journey but a woman's choice was exactly that. A choice. And he would never be her free choice. There was nothing to be done. She freed herself from his hold and dunked herself into the freezing cold water one more time to kill the urge. She came back to the surface, shivering and cursing softly.
Sometimes, it was better to come straight to the point, the Alvamar realized
"I offer myself as your partner tonight," he began. "Will you take me?" She glanced at him, shaking her head dumbly.
"Why?" he asked simply.
"I don't know why..." But she did. And she realized that at the very least, she owed him the truth. She lifted her head and looked him straight in the eye. "It's because I don't trust you. You aren't natural. You aren't human," she replied in an intense voice.
That was when she saw the change come over him. Suddenly, the flamboyant mage-healer was gone. His chin lifted, his eyes turned into steel, his muscles suddenly became defined, humming with the leashed power of a trained body. The original warrior prince was back.
"You are very wrong," he said in a deadly voice, as every inch of his body vibrated with a hint of danger and violence. "I am completely human. I have feelings, I have desires. My life was extended through unnatural means but the spell left everything else intact." The frustration came pouring forth. "Did you think the last few days were easy? Wanting you, touching you but always denying myself the pleasure of your body. How easy do you think it was, trying to keep myself in check when every basic instinct in me was screaming out to take you, knowing that you wouldn't put up a fight?"
"You want payback," stated Lorelei flatly.
"No!" the Alvamar hissed fiercely. "I want to know that what I did meant something to you." A startled look replaced the look of distaste on Lorelei's face. The Alvamar turned and waded out of the river without another word. She followed him a moment later, not knowing what to say.
"I do appreciate what you did. You must know that," she spoke, suddenly feeling horribly embarrassed and guilty. "It's just that I'm ... not used to depending on other people for... things. I never thanked you, I realize that now and that was a terrible oversight." Lorelei stopped in place, flushing a deep red. The Alvamar turned around to face her, a neutral look on his face. She took his hand hesitantly. "Thank you for taking care of me when I needed it," she finished softly. Not knowing what else to do, she lifted his hand to her lips and kissed it in the royal greeting. Ignoring his startled look at the honor, she turned on her heel and headed for her bedroll.
Miramar!
The guards at the royal palace of Miramar spotted the two firedrakes at a distance. Aerial patrols swept towards them for verification. Lorelei flashed them her seal. A few minutes later, they landed under heavy guard. Identities were verified, introductions were made and a formal escort formed to lead the pair straight to the Healer's quarters.
"Alvamar!" The castle healer hurried forth to meet the procession. "Thank Mira, you are finally here!"
"Reza, my old friend!," the Alvamar took his hands in his own. "You look ... terrible." Reza bowed his head sighing.
"I never knew it was possible to feel this tired all the time. I linked myself to the Prince to keep him alive and it has been quite a strain."
"Then it's time to end it," stated the Alvamar decisively. The healer looked startled.
"Surely, some rest for you first." The Alvamar shook his head firmly.
"No, I'm ready." Reza inclined his head in doubtful acceptance but escorted the Alvamar and Lorelei to the next room.
Lorelei gasped as the sight of her prince.
Barion looked quite dead. No breath lifted his chest., his face was chalky and the bandage around his neck was clean except for a thin line of red where his wound had bled slowly through. The Alvamar sat on the side of the bed. Taking a deep breath, he placed his hands over the prince's and closed his eyes slowly. Swiftly, he performed a cursory inspection of Barion's injuries.
Continued in Chapter 6
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