Estragon was the original copy editor for this, years ago but I've made changes so if there are mistakes do not blame him.
*****
Sun streaming through the window awakens me and I realize my left arm is numb. Slowly lifting one eyelid, I find that Ames' head is the culprit but I do not move. She is so beautiful lying there with her auburn hair all around her face. I think I might just be willing to lose the arm if necessary to keep from disturbing her. I lift my right hand and stroke softly down the side of her face with one finger. The emotions this woman raises in me are so new and so strong that it takes my breath away and scares me more than a little.
I ease the sheet back from us, and marvel at the beauty I find beneath it. I can't resist reaching out to her nipple, lightly stroking, watching it stiffen and pucker. She sighs in her sleep. I grow more adventurous, popping a finger into my mouth to wet it, before teasing the other nipple as well. I play back and forth between the two, stroking, then lightly pinching and twisting, making her moan softly and arch her hips upward.
I glide my hand in ever lowering circles toward her center, but with my arm pinned I can't quite reach my goal. Stroking back and forth over her lower stomach causes her to moan again, this time louder and I look up to see those beautiful green eyes looking back at me.
"Is the treasure you seek just out of reach, love?"
She raises her head and I slide down in the bed. Now I can reach her treasures and her nipple is conveniently right at my lips. I pull the stiffened peak into my mouth and begin to swirl my tongue and suckle gently as my fingers play teasingly with her mound and outer lips. I can sense her passion rising and she is soaking wet.
"Oh, you little tease!"
Just as I slip two fingers into her hot, wet, slit to find her bud, there is pounding on the door.
"Dragon! Dragon, come quickly!"
Years of mercenary service taught me to jump and run fast. I hit my feet dressing, grabbing my sword on my way to the door. Ames lets out a string of some of the saltiest language I have ever heard following behind.
Mentally preparing myself for battle as I pound down the stairs, I come to a sliding stop at entrance the common room. I nearly fall at the sight. The room is filled with women, all of them holding bundles or packages. I stand agape, as they approach me with words of praise and hugs to deliver their gifts. Haunches of smoked meat, small crocks of jam from last year's berry crop, bags of dried vegetables and bundles of tubers, cheeses and loaves of bread, even two large fur sleeping rugs. Our journey will be a long one, and I wonder how we will carry so many supplies.
Just as the last of the women kisses my cheek and hands me two bottles of wine, the stable boy motions for me to come outside. I reach behind me to take Ames' hand, but it is stiff and unyielding. I feel anger, resentment and jealousy radiating from her. In the street in front of the Inn are the three widows of the men killed by the Guardians. One holds the reins of two sturdy looking burros, the second two heavy traveling cloaks, oiled to ward off rain, and the third a fine horn bow with two quivers of arrows.
"We want to thank you for bringing our men home to us and delivering their shares of the reward. Not all would be so honest as to do that."
One of the women steps up to Ames, hugging her and handing her the bow and quivers.
"I heard you can make use of these. I have no children to pass them down to, so I want you to have them."
I feel her anger and resentment ease as she accepts the hug and I am relieved. I know that it was she and the Old Mother that did all the work to free the men from the evil influence they were under but it seems I am the one everyone wants to thank.
---
Eraat ducks back behind the building across the street almost cackling with glee. It has found a way to drive them farther apart. The mage is jealous! Eraat will use that, yes, use it well. Lots of women will want the Dragon and Eraat will make sure to enhance it and stir the pot. The Dragon has had many women and she will meet them nearly everywhere she goes on this journey. There will be fun and more fun, lots of anger and jealousy for Eraat to enjoy. The mage will come to hate the Dragon for her philandering ways and distrust her even more, yes, Eraat will see to that!
---
It seems the whole town has turned out to watch our leaving. Children run through the streets playing, and even the men seem happy and in good spirits. Perhaps they have all made peace with their women now. We ride for our hiding place and the cache of gold we left Cat to guard. The journey to the mountains will be long; the season will make it harder. We must cross the plains and they are plagued with storms this time of year. I once saw one of those great swirling storms pick up and fling most of an army. All that was left in its wake were a few broken tree stumps and the broken, twisted bodies of men and horses.
Reaching the waterfall where we first made love, I hang back and allow Ames to go into the cave behind the falls. Cat knows me, but it is best if Ames goes in to meet her first. She beckons to me a few minutes later and I join her carrying the brace of large mocnive hens Ames took with her new bow this evening. Cat has not left the gold to hunt for two days and the gift will help to cement our friendship.
We carry the gold to load it on our mounts as Cat enjoys her feast. The burros might carry the weight easier but neither of us is willing to risk losing it if something should happen to one or both of them. It is nearly dusk now. We both want to be back on the road as soon as possible to get away from this place before moonrise. We will make a camp when we are far enough away, to be sure that if any evil lurks here it will not find us. I cannot wait to make camp, I have some unfinished business to attend to.
Several leagues down the road we begin looking for a likely place to set camp for the rest of the night. The Cat has been ranging far ahead of us watching for trouble, and I suspect hunting as well. Those mocnive hens were large but not nearly enough to fill that size belly for long. As we round a bend in the road I see her up ahead waiting. She seems to know that Bore and the two burros would spook if she comes too near. The hart, well, the hart is a different matter. Ames seems to have an affinity for the beast, but I have never in all my years seen a mount so totally without intelligence. If Ames doesn't guide it through the simplest actions it gets confused and simply stops, standing there until Ames begins guiding it again. I honestly think it would blunder blindly off a cliff if it weren't kept tethered. It doesn't even acknowledge Cat's presence. I suppose that great rack of antlers and its sharp hooves make for excellent protection when you are on its back, but I can't see it ever coming to anyone's aid the way Bore has done for me.
