Chapter 1: The Extraction
It stood opposite him, across a stone table with a dip in the center where a scene had been conjured in some sort of silver liquid. Two monks were traveling along the road together, one older, grizzled... a veteran of many years. The other was younger, just eighteen winters with a soft creamy complexion and light brown curly hair. He waved his hand over the pool of silver liquid and the image focused on the boy.
"Look at him closely," he commanded the succubus standing across the pool from him.
"Yesss, Massster," it replied in a sibilant hiss. The voice grated on him but the form was a pleasure to behold.
He looked at the creature as it stared into the scrying pool. It had taken the form he required of it, a beautiful peasant woman; dark limpid eyes, dark brown hair flowing to her waist, an olive complexion and a ripe body under the white blouse and long dark skirt. He felt his body stir at the sight but he was not so foolish as to ever pleasure himself with the succubus. It would most certainly be dangerous and could well mean his death. He looked back down at the pool.
"Memorize his features. His name is Nicolo. He has not yet taken his full vows but he is with the Brother Michael in the Italian town of Rinaldi. There will be a festival tonight with much drink. The good brother is known to imbibe freely and you should have no problem luring Nicolo away from him. Take him, collect his seed and return here for further orders."
"Yesss, Massster. It will be asss you command." The figure of the succubus shimmered and was gone.
The wizard watched the scrying pool for another minute before ending the spell that wrought it. It was a long-range plan but one that he was sure would pay well at fruition.
******
Nicolo stumbled away from the heat of the bonfire and the loud noise of the crowd's merriment; people talking and laughing as musicians played. It was the annual festival of the founding of Rinaldi and he had enjoyed the ale that had flowed into his cup all day, every time he turned around. Now, he stumbled into the woods to relieve his aching bladder.
Nicolo found a spot, pulled up his robe and relieved himself with a groan. As he finished, he realized with a shock that he was being watched. A woman stood in the half light only twenty feet away, openly watching him. He quickly shook himself off and dropped his robe.