The Two Queens
"You have requested an audience," the Queen of Mezeria intoned, sounding rather distant. She was wearing a long, regal gown, a golden tiara and a strange amulet with a swirly design.
It had been a long and uneventful trip but at least they had finally reached the capital city and even gained an audience with the Queen.
"Greetings, Your Majesty," Zalen replied with a courtly bow. "Tales of your beauty clearly weren't exaggerated."
The Queen sat there, ignoring Zalen's little comment. Well, he hadn't sensed any interest in the first place but she was beautiful and a small compliment rarely hurt.
"What do you want?"
Well, straight to the point then.
"We wish to build a grand temple for the Veiled Rose at Two Hills. Those lands belong to the crown so we came here."
The Queen was silent again. Suddenly she tilted her head.
"I will grant you the land on one condition. The Pirate Queen known as Mai of the Storms stole a magic ring from me. Bring it back and you can have what you asked.
Now go, the audience is over."
The guards escorted him out, leaving him a little confused. He'd met his share of royalty already but none had been that curt and distant. And she hadn't even given him any details on what the ring looked like!
Oh well. It was time to gather some information then.
*
A week later the group was travelling along the coast.
"If she's really a pirate queen then won't we need to search for her out on the seas?"
"I sure hope not," Sindara replied to Mirada's question. "Besides, if what Leilah heard in the last town was true, the pirate ship might still be anchored in the Three Oak Cove."
"If she is still there then I think I will try to approach her by myself. There is a chance I might be able to negotiate with her Vivariel's way and if it works I'd rather not leave you alone with the crew."
"Really?"
Zalen turned, staring at the wide grins of Dimianne and Sumi.
He chuckled. "Point taken. Still, as much fun as you might have there, if I do need to use my magic to escape, I'd rather not take the risk of accidentally hitting you as well."
"Spoilsport. We'll wait here then," Kity replied.
As they crested the next hill there was indeed a pirate ship anchored in the bay. There was also a rowboat on the beach with a bunch of pirates talking around it.
"Ok, time to go," Zalen announced, dismounting his horse. "If I don't return by nightfall or the ship is about to set sail you should come to my rescue if you can. But I think my spells should be enough to keep me safe."
Leilah ran to him, giving him a fierce kiss. "You'd better be safe! If you get hurt I'll find you and kick your careless behind!"
"I'll do my best," Zalen chuckled, heading down to the beach.
A short while later he found himself on the deck of the pirate ship. The men on the beach had laughed as he had asked to see the captain and ushered him straight to the rowboat.
Well, maybe the rest would go as easily?
A burly pirate shoved him inside the captain's cabin.
"Now what do we have here?
Sit!
"
The tone of the voice had been so commanding that he found his ass on the chair before he even had time to turn to face the speaker.
It was clearly the pirate queen he had been looking for.
She was wearing black boots, a black skirt and had a nasty looking scimitar hanging at her hip. Her top seemed to be just a white cloth tied in an X shape in front of her breasts which were big enough that it still left quite a bit of them visible. Even though she was a little shorter than Zalen she looked strong enough to easily lift him.
Her dark, curly hair was all gathered on one side but what really drew his attention was her face. Her eyes seemed to just see right through you and find you wanting.
She walked closer, then slowly began pacing around him like a predator examining a particularly brave mouse.
"Someone foolish enough to come here on his own must have a really good reason."
"I'm - "
"Sht! You will answer only when I ask, not before."
The pirate queen was admittedly very attractive but Vivariel's gift indicated that she was constantly swinging between sexual interest and something else.
"You don't have the muscles to join my crew but maybe I could find another use for you for a while."
Thump! She suddenly slammed her boot down on the edge of the chair right between Zalen's thighs, just barely missing his valuables.
"
Lick!
"
Again he found himself moving automatically, his tongue on the curve of her knee before he he could even form a thought about it. Well, since had already begun, he might as well continue.
The pirate queen watched his efforts. The sexual interest part felt now slightly stronger but the other, clearly more dangerous alternative was still equally likely.
"Good..."
Mai suddenly grabbed his chin, pulling it towards her.
"Now tell me why you're really here. Hide something and..."
Zalen swallowed, painfully aware just how close the tip of her boot was to his nuts. Could she have those special boots with blades hidden inside them?
"The Queen sent me. She sent me to bring back a ring you apparently took from her."
"The Queen?"
The pirate's eyes narrowed. She drew her scimitar and placed the blade just under his chin.
"And you would take it from me?"
Zalen faced her stare, not daring to move. "I would prefer to come to an agreement but if that is not an option, then yes. I would take it."
Mai looked him up and down.
"You're a mage, aren't you?"
She lowered her weapon, slipping it back in its sheath.
Zalen nodded. "Yes. I'm known here as the Mage of the North."
"Good," the pirate replied, retrieving her boot from Zalen's chair and walking towards the larger one by the wall. "Then I might find you useful after all."
She sat down.
"
Crawl here!
"
Zalen followed her order, heading towards her on all fours. As he got closer she spread her thighs, revealing the thin undergarment underneath.
