Melee and I walked a narrow forest path from our tent to the river. The shadows were getting deep, the sun was sinking behind the mountains and trees to the west. I kept our conversation about her, asking about Gilead.
"So Melee, you and Gilead? He seems charming, and you seem well matched and challenged."
"Mistress! Yes, Gilead is sweet, and certainly can give me what I crave. Except there is only one of him, hahahaha... which, as you know, is not enough."
"Why is that, Melee? I cannot imagine a hunger for any other man than Z... him."
"You haven't tried Mistress. Having two, even three, is a feeling I cannot describe. Being filled everywhere, all at once, all that seed, satisfying multiple men, is a pleasure beyond any I have known. The taste of a man in my mouth, while having a man in me, maybe even two in me, is bliss."
I found this curious, and could not imagine craving any other man than Zyre. All I wanted was to feel that manhood in me, anywhere. I have never known a man in any way; the closest was Syrte in the arena, and sparring with Zyre, whom I wanted the moment I saw him.
"Hahaha unless you experience it, Mistress, there will be no understanding I'm afraid."
"I do not wish it, Melee, I only wish for him. But he will not take me, I doubt his desire is the same as mine."
"Exactly what I wish to speak with you about. I have hinted, and asked Gilead a few questions. I know you desire him, and I blame you not. A feared warrior, a chieftain, and, if he has his way, the hegemon of the Orc tribes; a king for all practical purposes. And Mistress, do not worry about his desire for you. I heard what he spoke just before you lost consciousness in the arena."
"I did not imagine that then? He called me 'his love'?"
"He did. And I never recall in all my days an orc saying such things."
"And my desire does not revolve around his power, Melee, real or otherwise. When I rode out of the palace with Cyllian, the palace guards, and you, to greet Zyre and his retinue for negotiations... I do not know. I felt pulled, like the earth herself was drawing me to him, something beyond me. Regardless, what words passed between you and Gilead?"
"First, I won't bore you with details, but know this. Gilead has said Zyre hasn't touched a woman since that meeting. And I can verify during their stay in the palace, he not once partook in a woman. And yes, Mistress, I would know. Not one of the palace servants entertained him. You know how lustful and virile orcs are, so for him to not touch or have use of a woman for weeks is remarkable."
We had reached the river by this time, and we walked along its banks looking for a suitable spot. We found a bend a little off the trail, where there was a low drop from the bank, sandy and hidden. Fitting for a private bath and conversation. We looked around, and sniffed the air but there seemed to be no one present, no threat. We stripped our clothes and entered the cold river water slowly, it was a shock at first, but we soon adjusted and let the water wash over us. I continued my questioning.
"And what else did he have to say about his master?"
"Gilead does not know much. Zyre is circumspect, and does not always make his intentions known. He did say he watches you closely, but that is no secret." She smiled that knowing look and continued. "All in the camp have been told, under pain, that you and I are not to be molested; we are not for the 'common use' that orcs are so used too. Except if I'm willing.. which of course, I usually am. Ha! But you really haven't anything to fear. With your magic no one can touch you without your consent."
"My magic, as you say, I cannot control. Anything within 200 feet of me suffers annihilation, you know this. I am surprised Zyre survived the arena, but I had no choice. And as you know, it leaves me exhausted beyond measure. My use of it must be judicial, otherwise Syrte and his band wouldn't have caught us off guard."
"Well fortunately Zyre has fae blood, as you do. His battle fury black skin protects him better than any armor."
"Still it is a hopeful sign for me that he has not had use of a woman since he came to the palace, but why not claim me Melee? Why? He must know I would not deny him or resist; nay, that I desire this greatly."
"How much of Orc tradition do you know, Mistress? To claim you now, being a chieftain of a small band, would be dangerous for you both. You especially. Zyre has not yet achieved power over the orc bands and clans. What if the orc bands deny his authority? Certainly he could mark you, but that gives him a month to claim you, and if he doesn't, you become fair game for any orc. Orc traditions are serious, Mistress and he must abide by them. On the other hand, his threats of violence for an attempt on you will only carry for so long. And if the king, your father, is displeased, what becomes of you? Abandoned, Mistress, with no recourse."
"I cannot fathom why the king would care. I cannot inherit, and he does not recognize me as his offspring. Why he should care if I leave his royal service, I know not. I still do not understand why he kept me after my fae mother left me with him. Regardless of all that what is this 'marking' you speak of?"
Melee grew quiet after that, like she knew of something I did not. The moment was brief, very brief, and her look changed, and she moved on. I will remember this.
"Do you not know? In times before the goblin threat, when orcs, elves, and humans, but especially orc and elf, fought incessantly, before the peace, before orcs became somewhat civilized, do you not know what they would do to conquered peoples?"
For all the differences between the two species, we are closely related; more alike and closer in kinship than any of the other species. For all that, mating between the two was rare, and practically forbidden by the elfin race, and usually forced by the orc, at least in the past. Except for one fabled coupling that ended in tragedy.
"Tell me what 'marking' means, Melee. I only know the chieftains and hegemons received first pick of conquered women, and those not claimed would be given to the common soldiers after."
"When an orc leader marks, Mistress, he publicly ejaculates on her. Putting his seed all over her. Of course this was only for a woman who would belong to a single orc; she would not be given to any other, unless he publicly abandoned her."
A form of public humiliation, a breaking of the spirit. An ancient method of breaking the will, and forcing submission.
"As you know an orc can cum far more than a human or elf, if he so chooses. You have seen it with me, remember?"
"Indeed I have. Covered, dripping, head to foot in orc seed, many times over the years. I remember how shocked I was the first time I saw you like that. I thought an entire war band had their way with you, until you told me it was but one."
"Yes, that was always reserved for a chieftain to make up his mind; it meant that a woman could not be touched until he claimed her, or not. Every orc would smell his scent upon her, but it fades over time, and within a month his scent is no longer upon her, leaving her fair game for any other. Also an elf can smell it as well, and has the benefit (for the orc), of ensuring if she did escape, no elf would touch her, having been marked by a 'vile' orc. Of course, these days it's more symbolic of a chosen union, as pillaging orcs are a thing of the past. It now gives a woman the right to rule with her mate, and that she is untouchable by any other, but I am unsure if marking still happens."
"Marking would seem useless, if it is simply a matter of tradition, and if he did, I see now that my inviolate position of envoy would be finished, at least among the orc. It makes sense to not claim me now. But power or not Melee, I would gladly live this life with him."
"Perhaps he does not think he should risk it now, and a life of exile is not fitting for him or you. Like it or not, Mistress, power is what he craves by birthright. And Mistress, I know, a life of constant wandering and battle is wearisome at best. And exile is surely what he faces if he cannot be hegemon of the orcs. He and any loyal to him will be outcast, no aide to be given, should it be needed. No mating with another band or tribe, even trade is frowned upon with an exiled band."
The sky was growing pink and purple, and the first of the brightest stars were beginning to appear. We were sitting on an open patch of grass along the river bend wrapped in furs and skins, drying after our refreshing bath, sharing a wineskin between us. The open sky above us was beautiful to see thru the tops of the trees. We sat in silence watching the forest, and the world, go dark.
"Are you dry yet, Melee?"
"I'm never dry Mistress..."
She dropped the fur that was wrapped around her body, letting it slide down her shoulders. Her body was still glistening from the river water, a pale green faintly lit by moonlight snd starlight. My own fur I dropped behind me and reached for her face, pulling her to me. I kissed her lips softly, running my hand in her chestnut hair as her tongue shot out, licking my lips and parting them, sliding into my mouth. A familiar, yet long missed, taste as our tongues met and intertwined.
Our fingers traced each other's bodies; shoulders, arms, breasts, hips, inside each other's thighs. Her hands and fingers were expert. She knows my body so well. A fingernail drag sent chills thru me, her warm breath on my face made me shudder. She moved her lips from mine to my cheek, my neck. Spreading her legs she mounted my lap, sitting on me, her heaving chest in my face. I buried myself in them, sucking, licking, biting. I gently took them in my hands pushing them together, squeezing and feeling their roundness and softness. Licking between her cleavage, I ran my hands down her side to her round hips, gripping beneath her feeling the firmness of her round cheeks. She pressed against me, her arms around my neck, her hands tangled in my silver hair.
She broke our embrace and with one hand behind my neck, she leaned into me pushing me back onto the fur I dropped behind me, laying me down and placing herself between my legs, spreading me. She kissed me hard, forcing her tongue into my mouth; I took it gladly, sucking on it before she pulled away, sliding down my body. Tasting my skin, exploring my body with her mouth and hands. First my neck, my chest, moving down to my breasts. Her hands gliding over my pale blue soft skin as she moved. I cradled her between my legs, wrapping myself around her, keeping her body tight to mine, as she slid down more and more. Kissing my stomach, my hips, slipping further down between my thighs. My hands feeling her body as she moved down me, along her back and sides, then tangling in her fine soft hair.
She teased me first, simply kissing my inner thighs, first one then the other. Her tongue soft and gentle licking my skin. My hips were already pushing gently up towards her, my movements not my own, in anticipation. I was already breathing heavy, moaning gently, letting her know how much I wanted this. She slid her hands under me, lifting me gently to her eager mouth. One hand in her hair, my other touching my own body, rubbing and squeezing my breasts as her tongue lightly licked my wet lips for the first time in I don't know how long.
I moaned for her when her tongue entered me for the fist time. My juices were flowing, I could feel myself leaking on her face, in her mouth as she licked faster, lapping up my liquid.
