"Have you got the hang of it yet?" Bastian asked.
Sybari looked up from her reins. "I don't know."
On their walk through the city he'd taught her how to make the horse go, stop, and turn. It seemed pretty straightforward, but the horse was practically walking itself at this point, with her hunched on its back, kept in place solely by gravity. She wasn't sure what would happen if it decided to move faster. It probably involved a suddenly impact with the ground.
"I'm worried she's going to bolt, or buck me off."
"Bezelbelle's had the wickedness spelled out of her, so she's docile and very obedient."
That was good, because a wild one would be like riding a dragon.
The houses were now thinly spotted around them. Up ahead was a crossroads, marked with weathered signposts.
"I'll have to leave you here. I've already taken you past where I was meant to." Bastian halted his steed.
Sybari took a moment to remember to pull back on the reins to stop her beast. He brought his level and somehow made it sidestep so their stirrups clanged. He stood and leaned across to hug her. She held onto her saddle with one hand and put her other arm around him.
"I didn't get to say a proper goodbye to anyone," she whined.
"I'll give Miluina a hug from you. And Gakar a slap in the face."
They both laughed.
"Safe travels. We'll see you soon, I hope."
"Thanks. Me too."
He patted her arm and turned his hell horse around. "Goodbye."
Sybari waved, watching him trot back the way they'd come. She sighed and looked between her horse's twitching ears at the road ahead. "It's just me and you now, Bezelbelle."
She squeezed her legs to make the mare walk, breathing out relief when it obeyed. At the fork, she took the path that would lead her homewards, going back on the same route she'd taken with May only a few months ago. Now they were out of the city the horse wanted to go faster. Its stride grew longer and it tossed its head impatiently. Eventually, the mare broke into a slow trot. It bounced Sybari out of the saddle, bumping her groin against the hard leather repeatedly. The chains in her panties dug into her sensitive flesh.
"Ahh! Ooww!" Sybari groaned and grabbed her crotch. She pulled back on the reins to make the horse slow and pulled it over to the side of the road. When it halted, she stood in the stirrups and shoved her hand into her underwear to unclip the chains, getting a few strange looks from passers-by. With the jewellery safely stored in her pack, she kicked the horse on. The next time it tried to trot, she tried to rise to it as Bastian had shown her, bumping along in a most uncomfortable way. Over the course of the day, she gave it several more tries and finally fell into a synced rhythm. It suddenly just clicked. It felt so natural, a bit like she was riding a big cock. She could almost imagine she was hitting a pelvis instead of a saddle. But she could feel the slipperiness in her panties growing, so she scolded herself and concentrated on steering the horse in a straight line. It wouldn't take anywhere near as long to get back to Tarhorlic as it did to travel here. It had taken weeks at her slow ambling pace, but hell horses had long strides and endless stamina.
She knew Mayhem might not bother to bring her back. The Princess might just move on to someone else. It happened a lot with sex demons. They weren't the most monogamous of creatures and long-term relationships weren't usually that long. If that was how it turned out, Sybari would be a little disappointed, as she liked May and living in the lair. But it was fun while it lasted and she'd always have those memories.
What Sybari was having trouble with was deciding if she really wanted to go home. Maybe she would be better off not going back at all. Sure, she missed her friends, but that was about all. She wanted to visit them. But deep down she was scared she'd get stuck there. She'd already escaped once. If she didn't hear from May, and kept waiting, she could end up falling into a routine.
She figured the King probably wouldn't stay more than a week. If May didn't come for her by then, she'd move on. There would be more for her to explore elsewhere, and many more lovers to be had. Though, if she had seen the last of May, Sybari was sad she hadn't been able to bring all her lovely new clothes and accessories with her. Still, she was grateful for the gifts she'd received, and happy she'd got to keep a few.
By the time she stopped at the end of the first day it had been dark for several hours, but she was already a third the way to her destination. When she dismounted, she left the road and walked the horse a fifty metres into the forest. She tied the mare to a tree and loosened the animal's girth like Bastian had told her to do. There was food and water in the saddlebags for both of them and after she'd eaten, she set out her bedroll a little ways away. She didn't know if any of May's "pets" lived in this area, but she made sure her top was tight over her breasts just in case.
She woke sore and stiff. Demons healed faster than humans, but having never ridden before meant she felt a slight ache in her legs. Although the mare was spirited, she also possessed good temperament and submitted to Sybari whenever she reined her in. It boosted her confidence and she dared to try a canter, which ended with her on the mare's neck. The horse was an intelligent creature and not mean, so she slowed and pulled her head up to keep Sybari aboard.
"Good girl." Sybari gave her a pat for not dumping her on the ground and they tried again.
Thus, the day was passed with her gradually improving her riding skills and only falling off twice. The mare was good enough not to run off on her, for which she was grateful and she rewarded her with a serve of oats when they stopped at an inn. Sybari didn't want to spend the money May had given her on a room, but she bought a nice meal of meat and cream potatoes and another bag of feed for Bezelbelle.
***
May sat on the plush seat at her dressing table, resting her face in her palm. A white silk robe hung off her body, tied loosely at her waist with a sash. She hadn't bothered to dress after her bath and now could see no reason to move. With her father here, she was confined to her room. Except for mealtimes, when she was ignored by all. Only Despondia gave her any kind of acknowledgment and it was only brief instances when they were seated next to each other.
A bang made her sit up. It was the door to her suite, opened roughly and without a knock. Footsteps ran across the foyer and Mirthly burst into her bedroom, her face pale with horror.
"The King is on his way!"
"Shit." The stool legs moaned against the floor as May jumped up. There wasn't any time to do anything else. Someone was already at the door.
"Princess Deploria, King Bahelmar to see you," called one of her father's servants.
She hurried to the curtained doorway, but he was already marching into the entryway. Mirthly dropped to her knees. May backed up and sank into a curtsy, trying to hide her tails under her short robe. They had only a single binding ring pinning them together. She hadn't dared take them all off while he was here.
"Hello, Deploria. How are you this afternoon?"
She lifted her head from her submissive pose to meet his turquoise eyes. "I am well, Your Majesty."
He wandered into her lounge and back into the foyer, studying the fountain. What was he doing here? He hadn't visited her chambers since they were completed over a decade ago.
"Anarah is spending some time with her daughters. I thought I'd see what you were doing and how Depravia is keeping you." The King inspected her guestroom. "I don't know why you have this when you no longer have a caretaker. Do you receive many guests?"
