Dorian The Everlasting Ch 08

Foreword:

A heartfelt thank you to everyone for your reviews and kind messages. Your support and feedback mean so much to me!

This is the 8th chapter of my series, Dorian the Everlasting. If you're new to the story, I highly recommend starting from Chapter 1 for the best experience.

I hope you enjoy this installment--happy reading!

Chapter 8 - Arla wants a taste

I awoke with a broad smile the following morning, as I felt two sets of lips caressing my swollen cock.

Two sets of green eyes looked up at me with radiant smiles, their sultry voices in perfect harmony. "Good morning, my lord," they said.

I smiled. "Good morning, my lovely ladies. To what do I owe this honor?" I said, with a devilish smile.

It was Louisa, who answered first, as Kimiko's lips were wrapped around my shaft. "My lord, after last night, we thought it only our duty to reward you for your tremendous efforts" she said with a smile before Kimiko's lips popped off the head of my manhood, with Louisa dutifully taking her companion's place. Her soft lips wrapped around my shaft, sending a shiver of pleasure up down to my balls.

The exotic beauty smiled wickedly, "Louisa is only telling half the truth, my lord."

I chuckled, "Is that so?"

She licked her lips. "Oh yes, my lord. She failed to mention that our efforts were not purely altruistic... we wanted another round... that is, my lord, if you don't mind."

I rolled my eyes and smiled. "Well, Kimiko, you better come sit on my face, I don't have all day."

She giggled and Louisa popped off my cock and elicited a cute, "Yay!" before I felt her warm slit engulf my shaft, as Kimiko sat on my hungry mouth.

After I took both ladies to rapturous climaxes, and filled Louisa to the brim with my cum, I took my bath in the bathhouse, where Sonya and Katarina almost delayed me further. I denied any opportunity for extended carnal activity, but did allow them to wash me. After which, I left the perfumed halls of the harem quarters and made my way to the feasting hall.

***

Sunlight streamed through high windows, illuminating a table laden with fresh fruit, cold meats and delicious cheeses. My family and guests were already gathered, the soft hum of their conversation drifting toward me.

Arla smiled warmly when she spotted me. "My lord husband," she greeted, from her seat to the right of mine, which was at the head of the table. Cylvia gave me a bright-eyed grin. Duke Eimon De'Rollo and his daughter, Cladia, were seated nearby. Cladia's elegant poise betrayed only a hint of nerves, though she lit up when she caught my eye. I dipped my head in greeting her.

"Good morning, everyone," I said, seating myself. My gaze landed on Earl Elon Ba'Reef and Countess Cyrell Tyr'Shin, who were among the guests. "Earl Elon, Countess Cyrell, thank you again for the gifts of Louisa and Kimiko. Their company has proven most delightful. Both are great additions to my house."

Earl Elon inclined his head, a pleased grin on his face. "I'm glad Louisa has lived up to your expectations, Lord Dorian."

"She has exceeded them," I responded. "Her musical talents are quite impressive--she brings a lovely atmosphere wherever she goes."

Countess Cyrell bowed her head slightly, as my eyes shifted to her. "Kimiko's talents are many, and I'm pleased you've been able to appreciate them, Lord Dorian."

I nodded, thinking of Kimiko's lithe form and the

talents

she practiced last night and this morning. "I assure you, she will be well cared for and cherished in my household."

Turning to Duke Eimon, I gave a bow of my head. "Eimon, Cladia, I trust you slept well? I'm looking forward to our ride through the vineyards."

Cladia, my betrothed, blushed slightly, her soft Northern accent slipping through. "Yes, Lord Dorian. I very much look forward to seeing more of your lands."

"Our wedding draws nearer," I said, offering her a reassuring nod. "I hope each day allows you more comfort here in the south."

She returned a genuine smile, and Duke Eimon gave a curt, approving nod. "There be much to adjust to, here in the south. But she grows more comfortable by the day."

During the meal, I made sure to speak with Duke Corlen May'Shire, who was finishing a serving of fresh fruit. He stood as I approached, greeting me with a cordial nod. "Lord Dorian," he began, his expression warm, "I wished to thank you again for taking Sonya and Katarina into your household. From what they've shared, it seems they cannot praise you highly enough--both speak of your kindness and the respect you've shown them."

He paused briefly, a touch of fatherly pride creeping into his voice. "It eases my mind to know they will be well cared for here. Indeed, I'm heartened to see they have found such a welcoming home."

I returned his nod, assuring him of my intent to safeguard their well-being and honor, further cementing the trust between our houses.

Just then, Diana swept gracefully into the dining hall-- my last remaining concubine, whom I had yet to bed. She was wearing a long, black layered dress with a white silk underskirt and a laced-up corset. Although respectful, the dress still provided a delicious amount of cleavage. The voluptuous woman, with a body certainly created to draw the eyes of men and women, received glances from those around the table. I watched as she approached the table.

She curtsied, "Good morning, lord."

I smiled at the beautiful woman. "Good morning, Diana. Can I help you with something?"

She looked a little surprised at my question. "No, my lord. I came to collect Lord Dario. I am his tutor for today. We will be covering mathematics, especially as it applies to measuring distance and shapes."

My five-year-old son looked up from his seat at the mention of his name. "Already?" he complained.

I looked over at my son with a bemused smile. He was the spitting image of me at his age. "Dario."

"Yes, father," he said, attentively.

"Have you been introduced to Lady Diana?" I asked, gesturing to the white-haired beauty.

He nodded, "Yes, Mummy took me and Mera yesterday."

My three-year-old daughter piped up, "We've lots more aunts now! Aunty Di, an' Aunty Sonya, an' Aunty 'Kat, an' Aunty Lu, an' Aunty Kimki. That's six aunties now! Aunty Cassie, too!" She beamed, her white hair bouncing around her face.

Her brother just rolled his eyes. "They know, Mera."

Mera shot him a quick glare, tongue sticking out in playful defiance.

Arla stepped in, placing a hand on Mera's shoulder. "Enough of that," she said gently, but firmly. "Dario, follow Lady Diana and do your best to be attentive."

With a dramatic sigh, Dario stood, making a show of his disinterest. Arla lifted a cautioning finger. "And, mister, what did I say about our behavior with your tutors?"

He exhaled, replying in an impatient yet respectful tone, "As the plow prepares the land, a teacher prepares the mind."

She smiled, nodding in approval. "That is why we...?"

He finished the phrase, "Maintain the plow, and honor the teacher."

A brilliant, heart-stopping smile illuminated Arla's face, as she cupped his cheeks. "Remember that and we'll make a lord of you yet," she said, pressing a quick peck on his cheek. "Now, go."

We watched Dario leave with Diana--her long, white hair swaying with each graceful step. As she glided away, I noticed Arla's gaze lingering on Diana, a curious, measuring look that held just a hint of intrigue. She then turned that same mysterious stare on me, amusement dancing in her eyes. I couldn't help but wonder what thoughts were crossing her mind.

Before I could dwell on it, my attention was drawn to Mera, who, surprisingly, wasn't protesting her brother's departure. "What's this I see?" I teased. "My Mera is not jealous of her brother today?"

Mera gave a sunny grin. "I'm painting with Aunty Lu today!" she announced.

I chuckled, "Well then, you better finish your breakfast and get to it."

Once breakfast concluded, I escorted Earl Elon Ba'Reef and Countess Cyrell Tyr'Shin to the castle's courtyard, where their retinues were already assembling to depart for their respective lands.

"I wish you safe travel, Elon," I said, grasping Earl Elon's forearm in farewell. "I trust our alliance will only grow stronger from here."

The earl bowed his head. "I will see that it does, my lord regent."

Countess Cyrell followed with a measured curtsy, her dark hair spilling over her shoulders. "We appreciate your hospitality, Lord Dorian. I remain forever indebted to you for my freedom. I only ask that you treat my... Lady Kimiko well. She is... she is unique." A single unshed tear gathered in the corner of her eye.

"I will cherish her, my lady," I promised. "You needn't worry. She has told me of your shared love for her departed father. I regret that I could not prevent his death at Gleaming Pass. I hope you, at least, found some comfort in the punishment of his killers."

A scowl twisted her still beautiful features. "With respect, my lord, we both know the one truly responsible for that travesty still sits upon the Gilded Throne. The Black Queen." She spat the title like a curse. "As long as that murdering whore still lives, my heart will never know peace."

She trembled with rage, a lone tear slipping down her lined, carefully made-up face, her eyes boring into mine. I met her gaze squarely, neither discouraging her anger nor endorsing it, simply sharing in it.

Taking a steadying breath, she wiped her tears away and straightened her dress with deliberate composure. Yet her voice still held a simmering indignation. "No, my lord. I've had no comfort from the slaughter of that swine Porshy and his kin, nor from the taxes, levies, and other humiliations forced upon my captors. Only the head of Gida Du'Warru will quell my fury."

I let a moment pass so she would know I took her words to heart. "I stand with you, Lady Cyrell. My own father died on that same day, alongside your beloved. The father of both my wives was slain by that monster. I share your desire to see the Queen pay for her crimes. But we must be cunning and prepare well. This war will change the kingdom forever, and we can ill afford not to be on the winning side."

Stepping forward, I took her hands in mine. "Trust in me, Lady Cyrell. You will have your vengeance. When the time comes, if it is within my power, you will be there to witness the Queen face justice."

She regarded me fiercely, listening closely before bowing her head slightly. "Promise me this, Lord Dorian. There can be no negotiation with that cow. What she has done merits death--demands it. Swear you will do everything in your power to ensure she finds her way to the headsman."

"I swear it, Lady Cyrell," I replied. "When we win this war, I will do all I can to see her meet the headsman's axe."

She held my gaze once more, evidently finding what she sought within it, at least for the time being. "Then, my lord, when you march to war, you can call upon House Tyr'Shin."

Earl Elon Ba'Reef, standing beside her, clenched his fist over his heart. "As you will have House Ba'Reef!"

As I watched the figures of Earl Elon Ba'Reef and Countess Cyrell Tyr'Shin disappear beyond the castle gates, the echoes of our conversation still weighed on my mind. The promises made--to secure alliances, to avenge old wrongs, to topple the Queen if war came--felt all the heavier in the quiet of the courtyard. My father's death, the murder of my father-in-law, and the countless other lives lost under the Queen's tyranny spurred me onward. I knew I had to strengthen my household in every way possible.

With a determined breath, I turned my thoughts toward Sonya, my first concubine, who had asked for the chance to prove herself as a personal guard. In these uncertain times, I needed capable fighters, and she had spoken with such conviction that I was compelled to see her skill firsthand. And so, I made my way to the barracks yard, intent on witnessing her trial.

***

Sonya stood alone in the center of the training ring, clad in a snug-fitting tunic and breeches that allowed for movement but offered no protection. Her golden hair was tied back tightly in a braid, and her practice sword rested at her side. A circle of my finest house guards watched from the perimeter, murmuring quietly among themselves, their curiosity piqued.

I approached the ring's edge, arms folded. She turned at my arrival, her expression calm but resolute.

"Lord Dorian," she said with a nod, her voice steady. "Thank you for allowing this."

I gave her a faint smile. "You've trained with steel since you were a girl, or so I've heard. I want to see your skill for myself."

A practiced figure stepped into the ring opposite her--Captain Rendall, the commander of my personal guard. He was a man of few words, built like a seasoned warrior, with calloused hands and a gaze that weighed every fighter he faced. More importantly, he was a proven sword master and perfectly suited to test the skills of a warrior concubine.

He glanced toward me for confirmation, and I gave him the smallest nod.

He turned back to Sonya. "One bout. To first blood or surrender."

Sonya nodded without hesitation.

The courtyard fell quiet as the two combatants faced one another; their blunted practice blades raised. There was no ceremony, no pleasantries--only two warriors studying each other in silence.

The moment came, sudden and sharp. Rendall struck first, testing her reflexes with a low, angled swipe. She parried cleanly and flowed into a riposte that nearly caught him off-guard. Their blades clacked, their footwork tight, precise. For minutes, they exchanged blows, circling each other, strikes and counters echoing through the courtyard.

Rendall pressed hard, forcing her to adapt. He shifted styles, aiming to unsettle her rhythm, but Sonya matched him, sometimes narrowly, sometimes with ease. She moved with a kind of grace that bordered on artistry--agile, controlled, deadly. A half-turn here, a sliding step there, always a breath ahead of the strike.

When Rendall aimed a feint at her shoulder and pivoted to sweep her legs, she dodged high and nimbly leapt over the captain's sweeping blow, regaining her footing with feline balance. A murmur rippled through the guards. She launched her own counterattack, driving him back with three successive strikes, the third landing with a sharp

crack

against his shoulder.

He froze. Then smiled, stepping back and lowering his blade.

"That," he said, his voice gravelly but impressed, "was excellent."

Sonya exhaled slowly, the sheen of sweat on her brow catching the sun. She didn't gloat. She bowed low to him, then turned to me.

Planting her sword into the dusty earth and lowering herself unto one knee, she looked at me with expectation.

I stepped into the ring, letting the silence hang a moment longer before speaking. "That was very impressive, Sonya." I turned to Rendall. "Your thoughts?"

He nodded once. "She has all the skills I would expect of a warrior who has trained as long as she has. Her instincts are sound, her form is tight. A stronger foe might overpower her... but then again, he would have to match her speed, which is substantial. She's not far from mastering the sword, my lord."

Sonya's eyes widened slightly at the praise, though she quickly schooled her features.

"Rise, Sonya. In the coming days," I said, as she stood, "we'll finalize your duties. Few concubines would ever be considered for a role in a lord's personal guard. Fewer still would earn it."

She bowed her head, emotion flashing briefly behind her dark eyes. "Thank you, Lord Dorian. I won't disappoint you."

I nodded, "You will train every day with the captain. If you can be a sword master, I would have it so."

She nodded, "As you wish, my lord."

I smiled, "Now get some rest. And see the armorer--he's expecting you. You'll need gear befitting your new role."

As I turned to leave the ring, Sonya lingered for a moment, eyes flicking back to the captain before she headed for the forge, pride straightening her posture with every step.

I was about to leave, when I spotted Cladia standing just beyond the gate, the morning light reflecting off her vivid, red curls. She had a flawless, pale complexion dotted with a few faint freckles over her nose and cheeks, and a stunning figure that even a modest gown couldn't fully conceal. When she caught sight of me, a small smile curved her lips, her emerald gaze settling on mine.

"She's quite impressive, that Sonya," Cladia said, inclining her head toward the training ring. "I've never seen a woman fight so gracefully, and to think she also holds a place in your harem. Lord May 'Shire must value your friendship highly to gift you such an accomplished concubine."

I chuckled, "It's more than friendship, I assure you. The duke received a very profitable arrangement for his two daughters. An arrangement he most likely would've made with Lorell had he not perished on Gleaming Pass. My position as duke regent is the only reason he made the offer," I said.

She cocked an eyebrow, "You say it as if your position was not earned... like it was because of some special circumstance?"

I smiled, interested in her response, "Isn't it?"

Her eyes, bright as green gems, lingered on me, a hint of curiosity in their depths. "From what I've heard, there was more than chance at work. There are tales about how you rallied the peasants, and devised a cunning strategy to lift the siege at Harvest Hall--how you saved your family and reclaimed your home. And here, at Reapers Rock, you outmaneuvered the rebels, forcing their leaders to capitulate on steep terms of surrender."

My vivid memories of those days stirred at her words-- the clash of steel, the desperate hours spent negotiating peace. "I only did what I had to," I replied. "Though I'm sure some accounts are colored by rumor."

She nodded thoughtfully, the morning sun illuminating her freckle-dusted cheeks. "I've also heard about how you wed Lady Cylvia, the Duke's heir, who declined her rightful title. Now you stand as Duke Regent for at least the next eighteen years, until your newborn son, Lorell, is old enough to claim his birthright. That hardly sounds like mere 'luck'."

I let a small, rueful smile appear, recalling the turbulent journey that led to my marriage. "That was not my idea... it was the duke's widows who proposed it."

She shook her head, "Only because they recognized you as a man worthy of the position."

I shrugged. She was not wrong.

Cladia's gaze took me in, her quiet admiration unmistakable. "Modesty can be a rare quality in a lord. In a man such as you, I... I expected more arrogance."

I chuckled, "Really, why is that?"

She lifted an eyebrow, "Oh come now... Dorian the White Lion? Dorian the Saviour of Tor'Ruk Valley? And my personal favorite, Dorian the Everlasting? These are titles of aggrandizement..." She paused, biting her lip, "...had I not heard the tales from your own people, seen their love for you, and overheard every woman in this keep gossip, then I would believe it all self-proclaimed magnificence."

My eyebrow quirked in interest, "Oh my, it seems you did not arrive here with a very high opinion of me."

She laughed, "I was merely cautious. Great men and women rarely care well for those who love them. Their duty and ambition regularly trample underfoot those who move in their wake." She paused, her fingers trailing over the lions stitched into my tunic.

"I... I guess I feared what my place in your household would be. I..." Her mouth closed as her hand drifted to her womb.

She looked to the training yard, tears threatening in her emerald eyes as her next word came in a whisper, "Why?"