The soft, steady thud of hooves on the dry forest floor tapped out a slow rhythm as Duke Jedrek gently steered his mare's reins. The sound dissipated itself into the surroundings, leaving only the bird song to accompany his thoughts. He had been riding for an hour now, making his way deeper and deeper into the forest. There was nothing to worry about anymore, no more peasants grumbling about how little the land gave them, no emissary from the king asking for taxes, and no whispered talk of his own inability to bring a child into the world. His hand clenched around the reins, his knuckles white as his frustration manifested itself.
Then the peace was broken by a harsh, desperate cry. A high wailing note floating across the breeze. Kicking his spurs into his horse the Duke headed for the source of the disturbance. A frightful scene soon came into view, the origin of the scream a woman of petite stature lying on the ground, struggling to flee from a man towering over her, dressed in rough, mud stained clothing.
"You there, stop." Jedrek ordered in an authoritative tone. The man turned and seeing the Duke pulled forth a short dagger. It glinted in the pale light that penetrated the canopy of the forest, clearly its owner gave it more attention than his own bedraggled appearance. At this sign of hostility the Duke drew his sword and digging his spurs into his horse's flanks and charged.
It was a quick, one sided affair. The Duke unleashed a swing of his sword as he thundered past the man and as he brought himself and his horse to a halt and turned the bandit was already lying dead, his blood leaking rapidly out into the soft layer of dry leaves on which he lay. Dismounting the Duke hurried to the prone form of the bandit's victim.
The woman opened her eyes and prepared to scream again when Jedrek came into view. The bandit had caught her away from the water and she was not as powerful without it.
The Duke saw the woman's mouth open for another scream. She was so beautiful. "Do not fear," He said. "You are safe, I have slain the bandit."
She closed her mouth and eyed him. Slowly she stood, tugging at her blue shift that she donned for walking about on land. "Thank you kind sir for saving me." She gave him a bow and then she dropped the illusion. Her skin was a pale blue, a nice contrast to the dark blue shift she wore. Her eyes became the color of the sky.
For a moment the Duke was held speechless, his eyes taking in more wonder than he could process into words. "You are, you are a dryad!"
"Water dryad," she corrected with a laugh. "And you sir, thank you for rescuing me. Now I must be on my way."
"Please, allow me to escort you back to your home," he offered.
She batted her eyelashes at him. "Oh the big, strong human wants to take me home....Well I suppose it's all right."
The Duke whistled to his horse, his eyes returning to the dryad as the horse trotted over. He offered the dryad his hand to help her up onto the high back of the creature that loomed over her four and a half feet of height. She took his hand and let him swing her up in front of him. Laughing with abandon as the horse cantered through the forest, the wind blowing through her hair.
As they cantered along the very proximity of the nubile dryad was beginning to arouse the Duke. He tried to ignore it, but it did bring to his mind one other thought. "Tell me, as a creature of this forest do you know of any plant that might help my wife conceive?" He asked abruptly, talking straight into the creature's ear.
The dryad's joyous laughter stopped and her lithe body tensed against him. "Mayhap kind sir, perhaps not."
"Please, we are very desperate for a child," he pleaded.
"There is my tree." She pointed to the weeping willow on the bank of the stream.
The Duke helped the Dryad from the horse and dropped down beside her. "Can you not help me?" He asked. It was less of a plea, more of an angry question.
"How long has your wife been barren?" The dryad sounded bored.
"For five years now." The Duke replied. Maybe she would help him.
"Hmm. You are still young...There is one possible way but I do not know if it will work for you."
"And what is that?" he asked excitedly.
"If I told you that then I would be in trouble. No, I cannot help. Be on your way good man. Maybe the next woodland creature you rescue will be able to help you." She chuckled and danced about. She was already forgetting about him, the call of her tree drawing her home.
The Duke frowned at the dryad's denial of his request. He was not used to people refusing him, his anger flared. Reaching out a large hand grabbed a thin blue arm, pulling her back towards him. "Tell me," he ordered harshly.
"You do not desire the answer, mortal. You who have an evil heart. Does your wife know that you play with others before coming to her arms each night? Does she know that even though you tryst with others all are barren?"
"How dare you say those things." The Duke raged. His other hand took hold of her as well and he shook her hard. "Now tell me of this cure."
"Evil may not command me. Be gone mortal!"
"No. You have no power over me. That tree over there, you wish to go to it don't you?" He began dragging her away from her tree. "Feeling better?" He asked nastily.
Her eyes grew wide and she began to struggle. She had to get to her tree. If she did not she would be too weak. "Release me!"
"I will keep doing this until you tell me," The Duke growled, continuing to drag the dryad's light form across the leaf scattered ground.
"I will tell you nothing. How dare you threaten me!"
"With ease my darling." The Duke hissed. He dragged her for another twenty feet before pushing her hard up against a tree. "This is your last chance."
"No. I will not aid a vile male like you."
"You will soon change your mind." The Duke pulled out his own dagger and embedded into the tree behind him. He took the rope belt from around his waist and forcibly bound the dryad's hands before pushing her arms above her head and attaching the rope firmly to the dagger leaving her feet barely touching the ground.
She struggled, her eyes wide as she saw the intent in his eyes. "No! Leave me alone!"
The duke merely leered at her perfectly formed, smooth body. A grasping hand clutched at her shawl and pulled it away, rendering her completely naked. Keeping close enough to her to pin her legs against the tree he began to remove some of his heavier clothing.
"You must not! Stop this madness! It will not help you or your wife!"
"We are all alone out here dryad and I am willing to bet that the knowledge you hold is not as dear to you as your body." The Duke said, now down to just his trousers and his undershirt.
"You cannot scare me. I will tell you nothing! And you will suffer tenfold for any harm you do today!" she hissed though in truth she was very frightened. Her body was precious to her.
Jedrek leaned forward and gently kissed each of her firm breasts in turn, taking time to run his tongue over their smooth surface. "Not scared?" His hands went to his waist as he maneuvered his rock hard member out of his trousers. "Now the ladies tell me that I am large for a man," he said with a hint of pride. "And some of them struggle to take me. And all of them are bigger in stature than yourself." He reached between her legs and ran a finger along the entrance to her pussy. "And not as tight as you either. So how well do you think you will fare?"
She gasped and struggled more. He was evil. Her power had not lied. Telling him of the cure to his wife's problem would only complicate matters for the one who guarded that secret thought no one knew. And if the guardian of that secret found out who told the dryad would die.
The Duke pushed his hips forward slightly and brushed the head of his penis between the dryad's legs. "Do you really want your beautiful little body to be ravaged?" He asked cruelly. "Why I don't think you'd recover from what I will do to you if you don't tell."
"May the seven hells consume your evil soul for this act! I will tell you nothing!"