AUTHOR'S NOTES:
This story is erotic fantasy, set in a world of magic.
This tale takes place in the same world as my core Danica story and all my other stories in Sci-Fi/Fantasy on Lit.
The occasional use of "modern" measurements and such is a product of my fantasy world. I know most who read fantasy would probably prefer "leagues", "cubits", and "handspans" but my world always utilized modern terms for distances and measures. I hope it doesn't jar too much to detract from the story.
This originally started as a one shot, but has turned into a short series. You really need to read the previous parts to know what's going on in the story and know the characters.
I've been putting some "challenge" words into this tale from a regular reader, the suggestions for them beginning before I started chapter 03. The word was "Osage" in the previous chapter.
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* . . . *
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"The elf mongrel is in the Hall, and the half-breed moved on to fort up in the inn once they broke the charm over our dupes," Cordell reported.
Garvin, self-appointed Governor of Darius, frowned. "They moved forward after the attack? How much does that change things?"
Cordell shrugged. "Not much, really. They will be here tomorrow unless we throw everything we've got at them to slow them down. It's all a matter of what time."
"The clerics are ready?" Garvin asked.
Cordell nodded. "They're in position. Is our timing right?"
"It will do. Get everything we have out there between us and the good Duke, just in case," Garvin replied.
"I'm on it."
Cordell turned and left the building, leaving the Governor once again alone with his thoughts. He prayed that there were no more surprises, because failure was not an option. He knew he would be better off to surrender to the Duke than to escape and face his Master.
Shrugging the thoughts off, as there was nothing he could do about it, Garvin turned toward his appropriated bedroom. A buxom blonde awaited him there, eager to gain favor with her
rightful ruler
. He intended to give her ample opportunity to earn that favor.
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* . . . *
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Once she undressed, Christi guided Arilee to lie down, and then kissed Crystania. When their lips parted, Christi said, "As bad as I want your hands and lips on me, I want to watch you with Ari more. Make her feel good, Cris."
Crystania moved between Arilee's parted legs, the young woman's breath quickening in anticipation. Reaching down, Crystania touched Ari's folds and caressed them for a moment. "Does that give you pleasure?"
Ari shuddered and let out a little moan. "Oh, yes."
Crystania smiled and slipped her fingers between Ari's labia, emitting a little sound of surprised delight when she discovered how wet the young woman was. Bringing her finger to her lips, she sucked the creamy wetness from it with a little moan. "Your taste is so different from my own. It makes my head swim."
Christi leaned over, kissed the back of Crystania’s neck, and whispered in her ear, "Get a good taste. Make her come."
The sultry tone of Christi's voice sent a shock of pleasure through the half-elven woman's body. She immediately put her hands on the bed to lower her mouth to Arilee's sex.
A quavering yelp escaped Arilee as Crystania ran the tip of her tongue over Ari's nether lips. The yelp turned sharp and loud when the elvish woman's tongue parted her lips and plunged inside.
Christi stroked Crystania's back, whispering into her ear, "Make her come. Giving pleasure is just as good as getting it. You're going to love feeling her come under your tongue."
Crystania moaned into Ari's folds as she increased her efforts, urged on by Christi's sultry voice. Knowing her own body, and knowing how good it felt to her, she let her tongue caress Arilee's clit with each lick.
"Oh, that feels so good," Arilee moaned.
Christi moved to suckle Ari's right nipple between her lips, sucking it hard. Crystania's head moved up and down, adding the pressure to her lapping tongue.
Arilee stared down at Crystania's beautiful face between her thighs, and gasped out, "Oh. Oh,
yes
. Don't stop!"
Shortly thereafter, Arilee screamed as she reached climax. Crystania's eyes popped wide open, and she emitted a surprised yelp as she tasted Ari's nectar flowing over her tongue. Ari's body stiffened, alternating moans and screams erupting from her.
Crystania continued to lap up the sweet flow from Arilee, causing her to reach two more peaks of pleasure. Ari's gasps revealed evidence of discomfort mixed with pleasure, a signal Crystania understood meant that the young woman was becoming too sensitive to endure more.
"You are correct, Christi. That is just as pleasurable as being given release," Cris admitted, her cheeks flushed with excitement.
Christi moaned. "Well, you're free to give it another try with me. Please?"
Crystania echoed the moan and soon slipped between the thighs of the Duchess.
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* . . . *
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Cerebus grunted in approval, seeing his men in good spirits. The soldiers were all well rested, well fed, and ready to move onward to Darius. There, to bring an end to this farce.
Seeing that the men had their equipment together, the Duke ordered, "All right, ladies — let's move it out. We've got a bullshit Governor to remove, and I want it done today."
Cries of approval rose up from the men, and Mindblind opened the door to step outside, ahead of everyone else.
Several of the townsfolk were on hand to thank him for freeing friends and family members. Cerebus accepted the thanks with a few words, and then told everyone to keep their eyes open — and not to wander around much until he took care of things in Darius.
The men formed up into loose ranks, each staying near other men who complemented his fighting style, and whom he could depend upon to cover his back. Most of the tag-along farmers and townsmen who had joined the group meshed in nicely. Several of the newcomers found places alongside the more seasoned soldiers.
Mindblind considered that he should make a run through the entire Duchy at some point to set up informal militias that would complement the paid soldiers. Tax relief would be more than enough to encourage fitness of the units, and the people would defend their homes to the death, anyway.
A little formal training and some incentive would swell the ranks of able-bodied fighting men he could depend upon. With Drax on his border, and probably other enemies he didn't yet know about, Cerebus decided he would start organizing as soon as he returned to the Hall.
The fighters moved out double time, marching out of town, and then down the road toward Darius.
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"Mindblind, the scouts are reporting movement in that big-assed hedgerow ahead. They couldn't see much without being spotted, but they think we've got a big ambush waiting for us."
Cerebus acknowledged the report with a grunt while staring into the distance at the natural fence of trees. "We don't have a lot of choice but to spring the trap, and let Ashtar fix them. How close are we to Darius?"
"Two hours, at the most," the Captain replied.
"Let everyone know we're walking into a trap, and let's move. I'll go talk to Ashtar," Mindblind directed.
"Got it."
The Duke walked over to where Ashtar stood. "The scouts say we've got another fight on our hands ahead — a big one. You ready?"
Ashtar smiled. "I am being ready, old friend. Let us be done with them, and be getting done with our business. I am being for my own bed."
"Couldn't agree with you more," Cerebus acknowledged.
"Missing Christi more than your bed you are being, I am thinking," Ashtar taunted.
Cerebus let out a short grunting laugh. "Damn straight."
The soldiers moved toward the hedgerow, anticipation of the ambush building with each step. When the attack came, Mindblind swore an oath. There were more than a hundred people running toward his men, including women and children.
"Keep them back. No serious injuries," Mindblind shouted to his men, and then muttered, "Wiggle your fingers fast, Ashtar."
The attackers quickly fell upon them, screaming incoherent battle cries as they attacked. Mindblind smashed the first man who approached him in the face with his shield. The man was well armed, and the combination of the man's physique and stance told Mindblind that he probably could prove dangerous with his blade if given an opportunity. When the man awakened, he would have a knot on his head, but better that than either of them dead.
The Duke cursed when he saw one of his men take a deep cut to the arm from a woman with a butcher knife, even as he had to fend off a ten-year-old attacking him with a club.
The sound of Ashtar completing his spell was like music to the Duke's ears. The expressions of the attackers instantly turned confused, and his men ceased fighting without the need to shout orders.
Cerebus started to shout out an explanation to the confused townsfolk, but saw Ashtar collapse at exactly that moment. His Captain also noticed the wizard's collapse, and took care of the confused locals while Mindblind pushed through the former battlefield.
Kneeling down, Cerebus supported the mage as Ashtar weakly tried to rise. "Ashtar, what happened?"
"Too much magic I have been using, with too little rest. Not being my strength is charm magic, and very hard it is," Ashtar replied, closing his eyes tightly for a moment.
"Dammit, Ashtar, I told you to tell me if you needed to rest."
Opening his eyes again, Ashtar wanly smiled. "A little vain I can be, I suppose. Thought I could be enduring I did."
"Is there any way you can help me talk to Christi?"
Ashtar reached into a pocket of his robe and withdrew a small clay disk, which he handed to Mindblind. "Breaking this will be calling Crystania. To Christi you can talk through her."
Just then, Mindblind heard one of his men cry out. Looking up, he saw the man holding his head and those around him looking off toward the trees. When he glanced up at the trees, he saw the branches whip. More of his fighters shouted when the stone-hard fruits of the tree, hurled by the snapping branches, thudded into them.
Growling a curse, Cerebus helped Ashtar to his feet and shouted, "Get all these people away from those damn trees!"
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