The terrain on the western side of Highwind was far rockier than in the north or east, and trudging through the sparse forest and around the massive, craggy hills would have been annoying even if I had been dry and properly clothed. Considering I was wet and nearly naked, the trip was a bloody nightmare. I sheathed myself in a thin Aetheric barrier, mostly to protect my feet, despite the fact it was a constant--and annoying--drain on my attention.
Kaseya was as sympathetic to my plight as Valuri was amused by it. My old "friend" snickered or outright giggled every few minutes, and I spent at least half my time fantasizing about my inevitable revenge. Almost every scenario involved some combination of my cock, her ass, and a set of strong amazon hands holding her down in the dirt.
A few hours later, after we had put several miles between us and the shoreline, I called for us to set up camp. Night had already fallen, and stumbling through the dark forest was as likely to get us lost as anything. We were probably still at least twenty miles away from the city, enough that we would have to spend most of the next day walking regardless.
"Who knows, maybe we'll get lucky and bump into a merchant caravan tomorrow," Valuri said when I sat down on a stump and pulled her cloak as tightly around my body as I could. "Or maybe we'll find a cabin with a hermit who'll take pity on you. You just better hope his boots and trousers fit."
"We should stay as far off the road as possible," Kaseya said. "Ayrael is an expert tracker."
Valuri grunted. "It was a joke, girl. You do have the concept of humor on that backward island of yours, don't you?"
"Yes, though I fail to see what is amusing about our situation. We narrowly escaped with our lives, and Jorem is incredibly uncomfortable."
"Oh, poor baby," Valuri teased. "Maybe his slave should go kiss him and make it better?"
"What the hell is wrong with you?" I growled. "Can't you stop being a cunt for five bloody seconds?"
"I could, but what would be the point?" she said, folding her arms across her chest. "The way I see it, you left me to suffer for three months. The least I can do is watch and laugh while you stumble naked through the forest."
Kaseya scowled at the other woman. "You are a truly unpleasant individual. I cannot understand why Jorem harbors so much affection for you."
"We can't all be all be tall red-heads who bend over on command," Valuri replied tartly. "Did he even ask for your name before he slapped that collar on you and jammed his cock in your mouth?"
"Enough," I said, glancing between them. Kaseya seemed more confused than irritated at this point, though I knew it wouldn't be long before one transformed into the other. Valuri had been sniping at her ever since they had come ashore, and eventually the dam would burst. "Look, it's late and we're all exhausted. We should try and get some sleep while we can."
Kaseya's eyes latched onto me, and I swore I could feel her reaching through our bond. "I will sweep the perimeter and ensure we are not disturbed."
"You need rest, too," I reminded her. "I doubt your sister gave you a chance to relax on that ship."
"She did not, but I will be fine," Kaseya insisted. She started to move away, but then stopped directly in front of Valuri. "If you attempt to harm him in any way, I will not hesitate to kill you."
Valuri grinned. "You're welcome to try any time you like, sweetheart."
"I was not making a threat," Kaseya said. "I was merely stating a fact."
The two women glared at each other for several more seconds before Kaseya turned and walked off. The instant she was gone, I closed my eyes and let out the breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding.
"I like her," Valuri said.
I blinked. "What?"
"I like her. She's loyal, she's smart...and Escar's mercy, those tits! I bet you've had plenty of fun with those, haven't you?"
I groaned. "Why do you insist on making this as difficult as possible?"
"Easy is boring." Valuri smirked as she sauntered over and wedged herself down onto the stump next to me. "Look, all I'm saying is that if we're going to be a team again, you need to share your toys like a good little boy."
"Kaseya is
not
a toy."
"Really? How well did she know you before she sucked your cock?"
"That's not--"
"How long did you wait before you fucked her ass?"
"You can't--"
"Yeah, that's what I thought," Valuri said with a snort. "I'm not blaming you. If some red-headed goddess had pledged herself to me, I would have had her crawl between my legs in a heartbeat."
I sighed again and rubbed vigorously at my temples. "Look, it's complicated, all right? I met up with Kaseya when I was fleeing Vorsalos. I didn't know about Ayrael, and I thought you were dead. I needed new allies to survive, and having an amazon at my side seemed useful."
"So the sex was just a nice bonus."
"I didn't know anything about amazon culture or the nature of this
Maskari
bond at first. It all just kind of...happened."
Valuri grinned. "Is she any good?"
I rolled my eyes. "Kaseya is skilled and honest and loyal. I've never met anyone like her."
"That doesn't really answer my question," Valuri said, slowly swinging her leg over mine. She nudged her knee closer and closer until it was pressing against my crotch. "Is she any good?"
I nodded as my cock started swelling again. "Yes."