by Pwyll Duggan
All this means that I really have no clue what is truly going on. This side of the horizon spanning Wall is now safer. The people of the Grove gave me, well us, a home. A real house on, and in, the side of the giant King Oak. Views of the lake. (well we are on an island in a middle of a lake, so that's probably a given) Rooms with labs and libraries.
On the other side of The Wall in the village of Kawaba I have a walled mansion, with water garden. In a traditional Japanese style, with locks on the outside only. Patrolled by guards, both to keep me in and others out. Also, currently living there are three ladies 'given' to me for the purpose of offspring. Don't get me wrong, I really, really like them, especially since I helped Rika take control of the village. The village has been divided in two by a river, damn forgot its name. The poorer half is populated by the lesser 'demi-humans', your orcs, elves, centaurs and the like, is now the freest it's been, ever. The human part is the high class, upper class of people. Well those who remain after I was forced to kill off a few lords when they tried to rip me off and hired an assassin to kill Rika and I. Okay, I may be more than a little attached to my girls over there.
In the six days I've been here, I've upset the status quo on both sides of the wall. Increased the power left on The Wall from 22 days to 2 and a half years. Had more sex in 6 days than the last 3 years. Killed probably over 600 beings, a wyvern, 3 undead/demonized Night One Harpy like creatures, few corrupt humans, a bounty hunter and my largest problem that is so coming to bite me in the arse - Another Other Worldly Shielder. And since I took the skill Heraldry in my last leveling burst, (hey I hit level 18 - haven't done that in D&D - like ever) I now know who White worked for.
Countess Murdock.
Our Neighbour on the other side of the Wall. Right next door, 10 miles anyway, to the Duke's village of Kawaba.
And she was working with the Night Ones; And greenskins; And Lamia I would guess. On the wrong side of the wall.
Those same creatures taking slaves, poisoning the Dryad and corrupting the Priestess in Kawaba.
Knowledge is indeed power.
In this case a powerful fucking headache.
Chapter 2
The front of our house is wide open, the work area piled full of items. Niall's sorting them out, whistling subconsciously, the spirita push thru the song increasing my attention and perception as we get close. The beat matches his feet, tapping back and forth as he wanders around the outside of the room, he has pushed tables together to form one enormous bench in the middle. He picks up an object, examines it, twirls it around or flips it thru the air, then deposits it in a pile. I can hear his mumbled words as he sorts.
"Well that's crap...
He stops as we approach.
"Yo oh powerful and generous Shielder! Where's me ale?" his hand is out, accusingly.
"It's like nine in the morning." Niall looks at me like I have an extra head.
"Time doesn't stop the thirst lad." I giggle.
"Didn't check the pantry?" He freezes,
"Shit, I could have been drinking this whole time." He walks around the assembled tables, shakes hands as a greeting and waves at the piles before him. Pointing as he goes, he explains what he's done.
"We have your pile, good stuff for you to use. Includes new armour pieces and two full sets of potions for the better bracelets. Our pile is for all us hangers-on. Potions and gear to match. The good pile of stuff that may be good for one of us. Then we have that huge pile of 'stuff the village needs to kick arse. Spears, bows, swords, small sharp pointy things, potions and the armour that's not as good. Then there's the generally good stuff. Trade usage, salvageable or take to Kawaba. Then that heaping pile of badly designed 'style over substance' crap is all on the table over there. Swords so big ya can't lift them. Serrated edged weapons for morons - they can't cut shit, better off using them as clubs. Stuff with more shiny additions than function. That crap's good for gifting to nobles. Unbalanced weapons because some added an animal skull to make it 'edgy'. You know, the stuff fuckwits use. None of them are well enchanted, barely functional and belong in an upper-class whore house. Waste of good gold I tell ya."
He huffs.
"No flutes, pipes or strings for me. Bitch must have sold my stuff."
"We'll find something. I can try Kawaba if you want me too."
"Nah mate. Need to feel the instrument. See if it likes me an all. Thanks, thou."
He shakes his head as he picks up a helm, horns curling out of it going down and forward.
"Yeah just give me a bigger target to hit ya head, or something I can grip and twist to break ya neck. Who the FUCK designs shit like this? Elves... it gotta be elves. Bastards. All bastards."
He tosses it over his back as he turns away. It clanks on the heaping pile and rolls to a stop.
"Gonna scrounge me some meat and ale then help the others. Leave ya twinned hearts alone." He saunters off back to the rest of the village hand up as he waves.
Nyssa jumps slightly, idea passing thru her tired eyes, all eight of them.
"Breakfast!" and she drags me into the large kitchen. I'm pushed down onto a stool in front of the island bench as she starts rushing around. The kitchen is large enough for her bulk. Not that it would matter that much, her legs going up and over benches, working in pairs to pull things down and out. She's mumbling again.
"Sugar, flour, buttermilk, some salt."
Legs are gathering bowls and ingredients. She squeezes some lemons, adds a few things to the jug, then water and pours me a glass.
"Drink for you, drink for me. Pancakes shortly!"
She even starts humming while mumbling recipes as she works, happy thru it all.
Breakfast is good and relaxing, even if it is a giant spider-woman moving around non-stop in front of me. If I was home, well my old home world, I'd be terrified. Here, I'm calm and thinking just how I’ve changed since I met this wonderful woman. I've fallen hard, and this from a guy who is old enough to know better. Not thinking with my little head here. She senses me staring at her, her mouth open wide, swallowing pancakes whole, fangs just visible beyond her thin tongue.
"WWhat?" comes across the bench top with small bits of pancake. I shrug. She eats more and then looks up again. Our eyes meet, and she blushes, red to match her hair.
My heart flutters as I ask.
"Are we a couple? Together?" I pause, heart beating. "Am I good enough for you?" her head turns, and I get a blank stare, pancake crumbs failing down her front. Her eyes water up, lips trembling. She stutters, shaking as she talks.
"You want me?" I nod.
"You really want me?" I nod again and whisper.
"I don't deserve you Nyssa. Over the wall, I'm mostly a tool for them. Women were given to me, just for the glory of having my child. I had no choice. Here, now, I have a choice. Someone I can get to know. Have a relationship with. Enjoy my time with. Will you have me?" She's crying as she lunges at me, envelopes me. Pinning me to the wall, we kiss and don't stop.
We're moving as we kiss. My hands roam her body as her eight legs carry us both upstairs. She's skittering along the walls until we get to the bedroom, all eight eyes on me. I have both my hands running thru her new longer luscious hair, pulling her face tight on mine. Her long tongue twirls around mine, never stopping. Her arms roam in my robe, baring my shoulders. I shrug it off, taking my hands from her hair. I start undoing buttons as we crash onto the bed, her weight pinning me down. I really don't care. The buttons frustrate me, so I rip, tearing her shirt off her body. Her eyes widen as she goes to pull back as my head follows, keeping the kiss going.
Whatever is holding her breasts in place disappears as I pull it apart. Hands now roughly grasp a
t more than can fit them, massaging away. She gasps into my mouth, hands running along my face, pushing my head down as she attacks me with more vigour. She breaks the kiss, gasping again from my motions, head arching back. Her eyes all light up as she plunges down, nipping at my neck and ears, slight moans and ahhs slipping from her throat. I start rolling her nipples between finger and thumb, pulling them further out.
I free one hand from those glorious orbs and start running it down her stomach. Her breaths come in spurts as my neck and ears tingle, sending heat through and down my body. I'm rubbing with one hand, pinching with another as my robe falls away. Nyssa's hands are raking my back, going lower with each hard breath. I feel the top of her pants and start to pull, and I get a "don't ruin those too."
I push her up, off my neck and lean forward to reach around her to the tie of the pants. My mouth latches onto a nipple, licking and sucking, rewarded with more moans. The tie defeats me, so I pull it off, ripping it. Thru her moaning I get her pants off, ending somewhere in the room as I throw it away. Palm down, rubbing around her inner thighs, fingers lightly tracing around the edges. She's bucking, all her legs pushing me to the bedhead and wall. Fingers dip and trace her the outside of her entrance, spreading her wetness as they go. I take my time, getting more excited the more she moves. A low moan vibrates thru her body as her thighs and legs pin me to the wall. She pushes her arms against the wall, suction lost to her nipples in a sharp intake of breath. She lowers herself. Looking at my boxers she grins.
"Well that has to go. Only fair". One hand grabs my erect member thru the boxers, the other runs a nail down my hips, slicing the fabric as it goes.
Boxers thrown aside, she grips her prize. She's tight with one hand, the other tracing up and down my length. Arching my back, I try to move to no avail. Looking down I watch as her long tongue flicks out, saliva dripping from the tiny end onto the head of my penis. It drives me insane. Her lips rise up onto mine as her body shifts, positioning herself. Her head rocks back, eyes gleaming, the monstrous need shining in all eight. She growls low.
"Mine" and plunges forward, embedding me in her depths. A short cry of pain flows out of her mouth, eyes grimacing for the event. I slide back slowly, then forward a little.
"Yes, oh yes. Slowly." The pain leaves her eyes and my rhythm stays slow and steady.
"Should have done this on the first day.... oh, gods yes. Love me Paul, love me." My arms hug her around the chest, pulling her in as I kiss her tenderly.
"Whenever you want. And always." Rhythm gets faster to match her panting. Lips lock and separate with each breathe. She's quaking, her whole body shaking. She squeals and shudders, squeezing down on me.
She was already tight before she came, now gripping my penis in a vice. I don't stop, thrusting faster and faster, feeling the wall rock, or it's just her being forced back. Some of her eyes roll as her head goes back. I can't stop, pressure building. I stifle a cry as I bite her neck, stopping sound escaping. The pressure gets too much, and I dent the wall with my head as I throw it back. Streams pump out of me as she's still shaking.
We slide down the wall, entwined. Slowly rocking back and forth still. All her eyes look at me, her breath returning to normal.
"I'm sure a sturdy Shielder can keep going..." her lips part in a weak smile.
"As you wish."
The reply comes from my heart.
Chapter 3
Waking from a happy dream for the first time in this world, I'm entangled with multiple legs. Nyssa's human thighs have me around the waist, her body presses down on me. Two forelegs resting on my outstretched arms, pinning them lightly to the bed. Her abdomen off to the side, back legs on top of my ankles. Her breathing is steady, head on my chest, drenched in sweat. The sun is well past its zenith now, front of our house now in shadow. Sounds of work drifting through the parted curtains of our room.
I work an arm free, hand going to Nyssa's long flame red hair. As I stroke her head, a calmness flows around me. My mind drifts, sorting all the things I have on my plate. Things to do and places to be makes me slide out from the restful form in our bed. Our bed. Feels right. Feels really nice actually. I've got to live my life as I want now. And that means living with Nyssa. Need to have a good talk later, see what her plans are. Damn, adulting too hard there. I'm supposed to think with my dick, right? Mere male after all.
I giggle at myself as I use a washcloth to get clean. Towelling myself off then getting dressed in new clothes I step out onto the balcony. Hand on the rail, I leap off, dropping to the ground without a sound, running off towards Merryn's. Again, I receive waves, shouts of 'hi' and other greetings. Waving as I run gives the impression I'm busy, so no-one tries to stop me. Arriving at Merryn's home I knock on the door.
"Come in Paul." Yeah like I could surprise a Dryad in her tree.
Opening the door and entering I can see she's redecorated. At the rear of her home, on the tree trunk is a slab of wood, sticking out of the tree. A person sized slab. Watching my reaction Merryn laughs.
"Thought I better get it ready? So, what am I opening up first?" she asks, one foot tapping away.
"Um, little finger? Put Princess' ring under the skin? On the bone?"
She moves a small table over to the slab, sitting on the table is a selection of knives and a small brazier burning away.
"On the table please, hand out."
I lay down, right hand out to her. She goes to pull the ring off.
"Wait, let me get her here."
I think and summon Princess. She appears in my hand, bastard sword nearly my height. Hand width blade with a blunt end, chisel like. Round pommel blinks open, green eye examining the room.
"Hey Princess. Going to try some enchanting work, thought you would like to watch."
Friend safe?
"All safe. Merryn’s going to try a few things."
Wife awake. Doll says this is fine. I watch.
"Thanks."
Merryn just watches.
"You know you can just answer in your mind, right? Like I do with Doll and King Oak?" I shrug and nod a yes and answer.
"Seems a little rude that's all."
"Have it your way. I'll strap you to the table and tie down your hand. Want anything for the pain?" shaking my head.
"No thanks."
"Okay - get ready."
Merryn leans over, her hair vines tying themselves behind her head in a bun. Solid eyes go green, well even more green and she cuts open my little finger. Gritting my teeth, I feel the blade run around my finger and the cold ring going back on. She wiggles the finger as I stare up, not moving. Numbness flows thru the finger, then the hand, and my connection is re-established. Merryn's concentrating face looks over at me.
"All good?"
I flex my hand as she drips a few drops of liquid on it. Faint line on the finger slowly fades.
"All good. That's the easy one." She reaches over for a metal quill and a small hammer.
"What should we try next? I’d prefer a larger area to work on, seeing it's the first time I’ve had a chance to do Bone enchanting and engraving."
I breath deep, calming myself. She rests and hand on my arm, also calming me.
"Hips - pelvic bone. I need Inventory slots. Storage for weapons, food, larger items. As many as can fit."
She runs fingers over her forehead.
"If I pull on your Spirita as well, and you don't bleed too much, I could do maybe 10 slots per side."
Her head looms over mine.
"It will be painful."
I agree. It will be.
"Such is life."
She places a folded strip of leather between my teeth. The slab vibrates a little. Wooden tendrils wrap under my hips, coming back round, pointy ends aimed at the incision area, ready. My hands grip the end of the slab. I grunt as she starts cutting. Fingers crunch grooves in the slab as the pain starts. And doesn't end.
Face clinches shut as I bite down hard. Nose flares and I begin chanting thru clenche
d teeth. Repeating the same words, over and over.
"The Pain is temporary. I need this. I need this."
I need this. The cutting stops and the dull scraping begins. I grip my spirita in my mind, seeing the flow in me. I push it down, trickling it to my pelvic region, dulling the pain.
I feel warmer, heat building in my hips.
"Slow it down Paul, not too much." Floats down from above me. I do so, clamping down on the urge to let it all out. Itching races along my hips and Merryn swears.
"What the fuck?" I clamp down again, pain forgotten, brain just on my hips and the trickle. It's like a small stream out of a tap, barely not constant drips. I bend it, going lightheaded. Make it move around, like a hose I can shape. I swing it, going for a pendulum, around in a circle over one spot.
"What are you doing?" comes a faraway voice.
"Playing with the trickle." I laugh, leather strip fallen away at the same time.
"Can you keep it steady?" asks the voice. I leave the trickle alone, falling from the tap in a straight stream.
"Good, well done. Can you make it into a box? Like you do for Delay?" my brain ticks over, and the stream turns 90 degrees, until I have a flat square, then joins the stream again.
"Good, good. How about a cube?"
Sure, seems easy enough. Double up the square, work the stream up and down. There, a cube, some lines thicker than others. I'm detached now, barely feeling my body at all. Only the spirita as it flows. The stream keeps the cube shape but starts pooling at the bottom of my mental image. The spirita pools like water, not going anywhere.
"Just hold it there Paul. All’s good."
Far away thin pain and the pool goes down fast, falling into the pain. Everything seems further away, even the mental image is getting fainter. Shooting pain runs up my right arm, dragging me back.
"Heal yourself NOW!" Merryn shouts off in the distance. First heal dulls the pain so I pop another. The familiar warm itch runs along both arm and pelvis, but I can't scratch it. Restraints start groaning under the pressure as I start moving.