“Are you sure?” Yana replied. Bastion paused, considering the question.
Bastion allowed silence to fall, as the sun set quietly behind the sea. The crackle of the fire invited memories for him, of the fires he had shared with his darling gypsy. Not enough, he thought. He wanted more of her, and feared that he might always feel that way, no matter how much he got. He knew he could not predict the unpredictable. He knew he might only have the night, and no more.
“Yana, you are right. This time is special. We cannot know tomorrow, and each day has enough of its own pains and pleasures. There are things I do not know. Things I can’t control. There is one thing I know for certain.
“I love you, young gypsy.”
Yana’s heart felt like it sank and soared at the same moment. She loved him immensely, but she also knew this confession could be the end of them, not the beginning. She knew what could likely come of it, and the roads it would lead to. Roads she could not travel with him.
“Ya tebya lublu,” she said, in spite of it all. It felt more powerful to her, when she spoke in her native tongue. She leaned in to kiss him. Flushed with desire, she kissed him freely, deeply, with all the longing she had felt for him all those years. Bastion drank of her kiss, thirsting for her in every way.
“I have dreamed many times of this night, when I stayed alone in this cave,” she said, breaking away. “It has always made me feel closer to you. I dreamt that you would come to me, make love to me, in a place where nothing and no one could enter, no one could know. Just a place for you and me. Our private place. Our secret.
“I liked to dream that you would carry me inside, like I carried you,” she said.
“Like you carried me?” Bastion asked, sitting up. “Why did you come to this cave to feel closer to me?”
“Do you not recognize it?”
“It is the cave that sheltered us after the storm, as children.” she said.
Bastion finally realized the dim familiarity it held, and realized why Yana had called it a special place. He could not think of a more beautiful moment than this. He pictured her here alone, thinking of him, desiring him. Tonight, it was in his power to fill that desire.
Bastion said no more, but stood, and lifted Yana into his arms, and carried her into the heart of the cave...
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The Gypsy Queen- CHAPTER 14- “wildflowers”
Bastion lowered Yana onto the heather and straw the cave provided, only after feeling around with his foot, to find it. It was surprisingly warm, as the heat from the fire seemed to be warming the cave.
He sat her up, and removed her cloak. Bastion could no longer see anything at all- not even his own hand in front of his face. He felt along Yana’s body, his sense of touch the only guide. He kissed her lips in the darkness, and laid her back.
His hands enjoyed the firmness of her body. He wanted to take her in, feeding his other senses. He began to undress her, slow and deliberate. He could smell her, a scent that was distinctly her own, and distinctly divine. His senses came alive. Yana let out a soft moan at the touch of Bastion’s hands gliding across her bare chest. The feel of her, the smell of her, the sound of her- filled him with pure desire.
Yana laid back and let him lead. She let him feed his appetite for her any way he wished. Her stomach tightened with excitement as he pulled away the rest of her clothes. She lay naked before him, but was unable to see him. What he was doing, his face... she could see nothing. She let her focus turn to his hands, how they felt on her. His hands felt so strong. She thought of how he was able to lift her like she weighed nothing at all, and his touch in the dark made her feel weightless.
She arched her back and pulled her hips, as he slid his hand across her stomach, and down between her legs. She was ready for him, oh so ready, and just that one stroke of his hands set off a wild desire to feel all of him. She wanted to grab him and wrap herself around him, but she resisted, letting him touch her, and moving in pleasure as he did.
Bastion lay beside her, pressing his chest to her back, and pressing his manhood against her backside. She tightened, loving the feel of it. He pulled her to him, exploring her body, his hands devouring her. When he could wait no more, he moved himself, and pressed into her. She stiffened and flexed, finding her voice as she struggled to take him. She had tried to be quiet, but abandoned every plan or thought, surrendering to the ecstasy of him. He gripped her thigh, and set the rhythm, stroking her and pushing in deeply. He pressed his face into the back of her neck, indulging in her feminine hair, and setting his teeth gently and firmly on the back of her neck. He began to move harder and stronger, and leaned forward, causing her to lean forward too. She could feel his weight on her, and it was so reassuring. She loved the stroke of his body as it seemed to nearly envelop her, dominating her. He did what he wanted, and took what he wanted- Yana had no control, and loved the way he took it from her.
She clenched her teeth as she could feel her pleasure building, her thoughts slipping, her muscles tensing, and burst into a scream of climax like she had never known before. She rode the wave that crashed into her, and relaxed and let it sweetly wash over her, as he slowed his motion. Yana’s face was one of shock- she had never, never felt anything like that before, never experienced where he took her just then.
She began to squirm and struggle, as Bastion began moving again, finding that rhythm once more. Yana’s mind tried to adjust to the fact that he was not done with her at all, and indeed, had not finished. She was determined to take everything he had, and fought her own pulse to try and take him.
Bastion was perfect, seeming to know exactly how to touch her, exactly when to adjust, or drive in deeply. Yana plunged into a swirl of pleasure and pain, as it hurt when he pushed hard, but somehow she loved it, and over and over, he took her to heights she had never known.
Bastion delighted in her screams, letting it draw forth the animal from him the way she had on the ship. He went from wildness to gentleness- a mastery of her body and her sensations. He could feel what she wanted by instinct, and paced her perfectly. Finally he could hold back no more, and roared into her scream, into the pitch darkness, into their secret place. Yana lost herself, almost lost consciousness, and had no awareness of anything except the exquisite feeling of him.
They held still, Bastion letting her drift back to comfort, letting his own breathing slow. He pulled his cloak over them, setting her in the curve of his body, as they had so long ago. They rested, exhausted from the intensity of their pleasure, and the release of their desire. Their mission was finished, and their night was complete. They drifted off to sleep, as their fire at the cave’s entrance glowed in faithful embers.
Bastion and Yana awoke the next morning, the dew and chill prompting Bastion to cover them with the other garments they had with them. They stayed curled up in them a while, enjoying the darkness the cave provided, denying the bright morning sun its intrusion.
“Bastion,” Yana spoke quietly, “I love you.” Bastion squeezed her gently where they lay. She said it so dearly, Bastion reveled in the feeling. He began thinking of the coming days, longing to have her in them. He wanted her to be his.
He wanted to keep her. More than anything in the world.
Yana leaned up on one elbow, towards him. Her jaw dropped open slightly in stunned surprise. Bastion was utterly glowing with energy. His aura seemed to illuminate him, so that she could see the features of his face, even in pitch dark. Red and gold emanated from his edges, like an aroma. She could see his eyes, as he looked into the pitch black, unable to see her in return. There was something in his eyes. A feeling, an emotion. It drew her in, so she reached out to touch him. She could feel that faint hum of vibration, just as she did from their first moment. She had never known such a sensation. As she touched him, the aura seemed to flow to her, red and gold tendrils, easing its way up her arm like smoke in a silent, alluring dance. Yana was fascinated.
“What are you thinking of?” she a
sked him. “What are you feeling?” She wanted to understand.
“You,” he answered.
Yana was not satisfied with that answer. She knew it was more than that, but did not press him. She moved in to kiss him, indulging herself in red and gold, taking in Bastion’s energy as they kissed. She closed her eyes, and savored the last moments in their secret cave.
When they could stall no longer, they exited the cave, gathered their things, and loaded up the horse. They traveled the road to Jedikai. Yana had so many things on her heart, but did not know how to say them. There was one thing she had to ask, as she sat behind Bastion on their horse.
“Bastion… last night… what did you do? What did you do to me?”
“Whatever I wanted,” Bastion replied.
“I have never felt anything like that. Really- what did you do?”
“I loved you.”
“I have never known anyone like you,” she said. “I have never felt anything like what I feel with you. There is just something about you.”
Bastion smiled. “I feel it too,” he said. “I love being with you.” Bastion had never spoken truer words. He still wanted more of her, but was reluctant to ask it of her. She had already given him the finest moments he could imagine. He would never forget their night in the cave, or any other moment spent with her.
Up ahead they spotted a gypsy caravan, a ways off the road, friendly smoke arising into the cool morning air. Yana counted nine wagons, though they did not look familiar.
“Can we stop to eat?” Yana asked, pointing toward the wagons.
“It does smell good, doesn’t it?” he said. He was eager to prolong his time with her. “We’ll stop.”
Bastion and Yana pulled up to the caravan, and Bastion helped her down. Gypsy children came to greet them, as the adults looked up from their meals.
“Oi gitanas!” Yana greeted them, stooping low carefully to hug them all without troubling her wound. The people all had welcoming smiles on their faces, and Bastion was glad for it. He hoped they would be able to be safe and thrive without the threat of capture, since they had burned down major elements of the slave trade. These were the very people they had been fighting for.
“Oi!” the gypsies greeted them in return, inviting them to come sit with them.
“We have coffee,” a gypsy man said, holding up a tin cup.
“Coffee? What’s that?” Yana asked. She had never heard of it.
“We traded for it from some city folk that came through here yesterday heading for Jedikai,” the man replied. “Name’s Vigo,” he said, extending his hand. Yana took it in gypsy fashion.
“Pleased to meet you,” Yana said. She decided not to use their names. “We were just traveling there ourselves.”
“Did you hear what happened?” the man said, wide-eyed.
Bastion and Yana looked at each other.
“What happened?” Bastion said.
“Well, first of all, we aren’t sure,” Vigo said, “but we heard that the black riders destroyed a castle in the Lower Reach and killed a horde of slave traders!”
“Did ya,” Yana said. “The black riders? I thought they were just a campfire story for the villagers.”
“No one knows for sure,” Vigo said, “but we heard that there was a gypsy girl with them who saved them all and killed the horde!”
“Dinlo,” she said. “That sounds foolish.” Vigo nodded, handing them a tin cup.
“This is coffee,” he said. “It is hot like tea, bar valo,” he said. Yana took a sip, recoiling from the heat and bitter taste. She let it go down, warming her throat and sharpening her appetite. She took another sip, and passed it to Bastion. “I like it,” she said. “Where did it come from?”
“Somewhere across the Black Sea,” he said. “We traded for it.”
“We have had coffee in Jedikai, but it is rare,” Bastion said, sipping from the cup. Vigo slurped more coffee from his own cup, handing them warm biscuits the children had brought as they talked.
“We think they are real,” Vigo continued with his rumors. “The man we met yesterday said that a Romany girl named Yana rode with them and saved them all!”
“Well, if that is true, then I hope we will all be safe from the slave traders from now on,” Bastion said.
“We have many problems traveling the country,” Vigo said. “But Yana is our hero! She fights for us all! She is the hero for all Romany!”
Yana smiled. She was overjoyed that their mission had not just saved many captives, but made the countryside safer.
An old woman got up from where she was sitting, and approached them. Yana did not recognize her.
“You are Yana,” she said. “I have sat with you before, with Lyubov.”
Vigo eyes widened. “You are Yana?!”
“Yes.”
“Did you ride with the black riders of Jedikai and destroy the slave traders?”
“Yes.”
Vigo burst into dance, hopping up and down, and shouting with the children. “Yana! Hero of the gypsies!” Yana was embarrassed, but was caught up in their celebration, and danced with them a little, as the drums and flutes sprang up instantly. Bastion joined in, dancing gently with Yana and the music. He was just as pleased as any of them.
They laughed and hugged her and danced some more. They brought forth gifts and more food, and lavished attention on Yana. She did not want praise or glory, but she did want her people to be happy. She let them express themselves, and celebrated humbly with them.
Finally they sat down, and Vigo dismissed the children to be quiet.
“Tell us your story!” Vigo encouraged her.
“I cannot tell the story, not today,” she said. “I must get back to the west meadows of Jedikai.” Vigo turned to Bastion.
“Do you know the story? Can you tell us?” he pleaded. Then his expression changed completely. “What is your name?” Vigo asked.
“My name is Bastion.”
Vigo’s face dropped. “You are the Prince of Jedikai.”
“Yes.”
The entire camp went silent. Bastion became alarmed. What could have possibly caused such a terrible swing in their demeanor?
Vigo said nothing more, unsure what to say. The old woman that had recognized Yana approached them again.
“You must return to the city right away,” she said gravely.
Bastion was immediately flooded with dread. He stood up and went to his horse, his hands fumbling with the leather straps. Yana stood with him, ready to ride.
“It might be better if you stay here,” Bastion said sternly as he mounted. Yana bowed slightly to him.
“Please Captain,” she said. “My place is with you.”
“Help her up behind me,” Bastion directed the gypsies. They did as he said, and Yana mounted, gripping him as tight as she could, trying to reassure him. The gypsies all surrounded them and their horse.
“Travel well,” Bastion said to them. Each of them bowed, and dropped to one knee. Every single one of them. Bastion and Yana had never seen anything like it. Gypsies bowed to no one. They were even more disturbed by it than when the happy mood had vanished so suddenly. What could possibly be so wrong?
Bastion moved the horse forward through the small crowd, as they parted to let him pass. The horse seemed to feel anxious, sensing her riders’ angst.
“Can you ride?” Bastion said.
“I can.” Yana steeled herself.
Bastion snapped the reins to the horse’s flesh, and they tore off in a full gallop, headed for the great city of Jedikai.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
“Pook!” Gumi shouted. “I think that’s him!” Pook looked out, his old eyesight failing him.
“Gimme that telescope,” he grumbled, irritated. Pook had procured another telescope for the gate, but they still had just the one. He looked out into the meadow, as two riders came forth from the forest’s edge. It was too far for Pook to see, even with the telescope.
“I can’t tell, pooro,
” Pook said, insulting his friend. “You cannot sound the bell if it is not him.”
“We wait,” said Gumi, squinting into their new telescope. “We wait.”
“Is the gypsy girl with him?” Pook asked.
“Looks like it.”
Pook was more curious than ever. The mysterious gypsy girl had enchanted them both, when they first met. Now the whole city had been talking about nothing but her, the Prince, and their exploits. That was, of course, until yesterday. People milled around the gates to the city. Hundreds of people. Thousands. They spoke in hushed tones, and gathered in groups. Stranger still, Pook saw that they were not just city folk. They were gypsies too. The gypsies were mostly outside the gates, and the citizens mostly inside, but they were talking to each other, introducing themselves and socializing in a way that was just as uncommon as this whole affair.
“It is the Prince,” Gumi announced with certainty. Pook grabbed the telescope and took another look. It was unmistakable. He handed the telescope back, and went to the giant bell. There were two ways to ring it- one was tugging a rope to swing it, swinging the pin inside it. Pook opted for the other. He took up a large hammer and clanged the side. A hush fell over the people, as they began to pour out from the gates to get a better look. Some who had climbed the wall to see, stood up.
Pook clanged the bell clearly, five times. Gumi leaned over his outlook to speak to the crowd.
“It is the Prince!” he proclaimed. The rabble and chatter of the crowd intensified. They had been waiting out there, many of them overnight, for word of Bastion and Yana.
Yana’s side ached from a hard day of traveling. Her wound still hurt, and her day would have been better spent resting, than riding hard on an unfamiliar horse. But her day had been spent with Bastion, and that would do. They entered the main clearing before the city, still a ways off. The horse was no longer running, but walking, after being pushed to its limits carrying two riders. As they got a little closer, they heard the bell ring out, five times. It sounded to her like that meant something.
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