by Logan Jacobs
“That’s Crushing Briar,” the ranger warned. “You can’t escape from it, it’s magical. It wraps around you faster than anything and squeezes the life out of you. Not even enchanted blades can cut it. It doesn’t even burn. If you go in there, you’ll die, too.”
My heart hammered against my ribs, and I wrenched my arm free.
“We can’t just leave her,” I protested. “There has to be something we can do to free her.”
Amidst the briars, Lena gave a small, desperate gasp, and I saw the vines shift to wrap more tightly around her. Her cheek was bleeding where the thorns had scraped her.
Merlin was still panicking, and he chattered incessantly and shivered on his perch on a tree branch.
Suddenly, Lavinia’s words clicked in my mind. If the Crushing Briar was magical, then that meant I should be able to affect it somehow with my own magic. Untangle the vines, or …
My dagger was in my hand before the thought had fully formed in my mind, and the blade of shimmering blue mana sprang forth from the hilt.
The vines seemed to be pulling Lena under. Her body was completely lost in the briars, and I could only see her face peeking out with a look of pure terror as the vines shifted around her and cut into her skin. Worse, though, was the realization that her lips had begun to turn blue. She was being crushed to death, just as Lavinia warned would happen.
“What should we do?” Maruk’s voice was edged with panic.
“Stay here, I’m going to go get her,” I said. I didn’t waste any more time and began to slice through the briars with my mana blade.
“Gabriel, wait, it’s dangerous!” Aerin cried after me, the fear evident in her voice.
“Just stay back, all of you,” I ordered. I didn’t want to risk any of the others getting trapped as well, but I wasn’t going to just leave Lena to die.
The plant sparked and shriveled back wherever the blue light touched it, almost as though it was burning up. I cut a path forward to Lena, first five feet, then ten. The vines grew thicker and more tangled the closer I got to the elf woman, and more than once I could feel the thorns scrape against my arms and legs, and they threatened to tangle around me as well, but I didn’t stop cutting.
Finally, I could make out the shape of Lena’s shoulders and arms beneath the briars, and I was forced to slow down. One stray prick from this blade could kill her as easily as it destroyed the briars if I wasn’t careful. I set to severing the vines around her neck first, then her torso, and Lena gasped as the vines shriveled away and she was able to breathe again.
I continued to cut through the briars until her arms and legs were free, and as the thorny vines withered away from my mana blade, I took Lena by the shoulder and led her back through the path I’d cut out of the briar patch. When we were finally clear of the creeping vines, I let my blade go out, and we both fell back onto the grass, our chests heaving.
My vision swam slightly with the exertion it had taken to maintain the mana blade for as long as I had and the stress of cutting Lena free, but before I could do anything about that, Lena tackled me in an embrace and kissed me. I could feel the woman’s warm tears of relief on my cheek as she pressed her face against mine, and her hands trembled with adrenaline as they clasped my back tightly.
When Lena pulled away, her cheeks were flushed, and her violet eyes shone. She was covered in scratches all the way up to her jaw, some deep enough they bled, but Lena smiled as she wrapped her hands around mine.
“Uhh,” I started, but I couldn’t think of what to say. Lena was beautiful and creative and sweet, but it had only been a few days that we’d even been traveling together, and she hadn’t given much indication before about her feelings for me.
“Thank you, Gabriel,” she said in a voice barely above a whisper. “Sorry about that, I just … I’m relieved to be alive. Thank you.”
She hesitated then, and I sensed that there was something else she wanted to say. A cold feeling knotted itself in my stomach. It wasn’t difficult to guess what that was. I’d openly used magic in front of her, and this wasn’t something I might be able to pass off, like my illusions. I hadn’t thought about anything in that moment but saving her from the Crushing Briar, but even now I knew I wouldn’t have let her die just to protect my secret.
“That magic--” Lena started, and she dropped her eyes. “You’re not really an air mage, are you?”
“No,” I replied. There was no sense in trying to lie about it now. “Lena, I don’t know what you’ve heard about mages like me--”
The elf woman squeezed my hand.
“It’s alright,” she said quietly. “You saved my life, Gabriel, and all those other people in the caravan. I can see that your heart is pure, and I won’t reveal your secret, I swear.”
Relief settled over me, and I breathed again.
“Thank you, Lena,” I said.
“It’s me who should be thanking you,” she replied and shook her head. “You risked your life to save me.” She hugged me again, and I patted her on the back before I pulled her to her feet.
“You’d better let me take a look at those scratches,” Aerin offered, and I passed Lena off to her so the healer could do her work. While Aerin healed Lena, I joined Lavinia and Maruk as they examined the burnt edges of the Crushing Briar where my blade had cut through them.
“That’s amazing,” Maruk said quietly. “Even at sea, we’d hear stories about this plant. Getting trapped by it is supposed to be a death sentence."
“It is,” Lavinia said, “if you don’t have a manipulator around. Way to go, Gabriel. I wonder if our friends at the Mage Academy know there’s a way to cut through Crushing Briar.”
I wondered that, too, but it wasn’t really our priority at the moment. I turned back to Lena and Aerin just as Aerin finished healing the last of the alchemist’s wounds. As relieved as I was that I’d been able to rescue Lena, we needed to address how she’d gotten into this situation in the first place.
“Lena, what were you doing out here?” I asked. “When we realized you were gone, we were really worried.” At least, I had been.
The elf woman sheepishly tucked a strand of honey-blonde hair behind her ear. “I saw some flowers I could use in my alchemy, and I guess I got a little distracted. It’s just I knew we probably wouldn’t be coming back this way, and there’s nowhere else to get this stuff, so I didn’t want to miss the opportunity. I didn’t mean to go so far. I thought I could catch up later.”
“And how’d that work out for you?” Lavinia asked, one brow arched.
I shot the ladona woman a frown before I turned back to the alchemist.
“Lena, I know your alchemy is important to you, but we can’t keep you safe out here if we don’t know where you are. You should have said something.”
“I know, and I’m sorry,” Lena said with a contrite nod. Then she took my hand and gripped it tight. “I won’t wander off again, I promise.”
“Alright,” I said as I nodded back. “Are we all ready to go? We still need to return Ellis’ charm and get the bark and sap for the wagons.”
Everyone agreed, so we helped Lena gather up her things and began to retrace our steps back through the forest and over the hills until we reached the canyon path again, by which time it was already late in the afternoon. Fortunately, despite our ordeal with the Crushing Briar, we were able to make good time back to Ellis’ cabin.
The sun was low on the horizon, and it cast the desert and the little shack in golden light. The glass charms that hung along the fence and the roof sparkled as they caught the light, and maybe the day’s near-death experience was making me feel sentimental, but I had to admit there was something beautiful about it all.
We marched up to the porch, and the door swung open before we could even knock. Ellis peered out with a scrutinizing expression, but when Aerin held up the charm, he very nearly smiled.
“Well, damn, you actually got it back,” he said as he took the charm from Aerin and brought it over to an emp
ty nail that jutted from the windowsill. He hung the charm carefully, then stepped back with his hands on his thin hips to admire it.
When the elf made no other move or gave any indication he even cared we were still there, I cleared my throat.
“So you said we could take some of the bark and sap from your tree,” I prompted, and Ellis turned back to me, his pleased expression souring somewhat.
“Right,” he said. “Let me get you a spile, I don’t want you hacking away at my protection tree like a bunch of maniacs.” He disappeared into his cabin and returned a moment later with the spile, which was a little bent. “Bring that back when you’re done.”
“Thanks,” I said as I took the spile, and then we left Ellis and walked over to the tree. Like the juniper in the hills, the bark of Ellis’ protection tree was flaky, and it was easy enough to peel off several large strips. Though they looked old and dry and came away from the trunk without any trouble, the strips themselves seemed surprisingly strong and pliable. We peeled off seven strips as long as my arm and gathered them together to take back before we set about drilling a hole for the spile.
It would have been easier with a proper drill, but we didn’t have one, and Ellis didn’t either, so we made do with digging a hole in the trunk with a knife until we could get the spile in place. The tree’s sap was viscous and dark red, and I was reminded of partially coagulated blood as I filled the bottles Uriel had given me. When both bottles were full, we packed them away with the bark and returned the spile to Ellis, who gave us a curt nod to send us on our way.
The desert air cooled rapidly as the sun set, and we picked our way back to the oasis camp. None of us said much on the way back except to warn the rest about areas with unsteady footing or patches of the hellhound cactus along the trail. We were all exhausted, and it was no wonder. I hoped our part in the repairs would be complete once we returned with the materials and we would be allowed to rest while the others fixed up the wagons. We’d certainly done enough for one day.
Uriel met us as soon as we got into the camp, his face hopeful and then excited when he saw that we had the bark.
“This’ll be perfect, just perfect,” he said as I handed him the bottles of sap. “With this wood and sap, we can repair the damaged wagons and salvage wheels from a few more of them. The merchants will be mighty grateful, I’m sure.”
He waved Liam over, but the guard said nothing to us as he took the armful of bark from Maruk and brought it back to the wagon the team had been working on.
“We’ve got some stew for supper if you’re interested,” Uriel told us then with a nod toward the center of the camp, where several people were gathered around a large pot over the fire. “I heard Neeley even contributed some of his spices, so it ought to be a good one.”
“Oh, that sounds wonderful, I’m famished,” Maruk said emphatically, and Uriel smiled.
“Well, I won’t keep you, then,” the old man said. “You all go get rested up. If all goes well, we ought to be able to get the rest of the wagons repaired by tomorrow, then we can be on our way again.”
We filed off toward the center of camp and each got our own bowls of stew. It was warm around the fire, and the murmurs of the rest of the company mingled with the calls of the night birds in the distance in a pleasant background noise while we ate. The stew was good, if unfamiliar. There was some kind of meat I didn’t recognize, but it was sweet and tender, and whatever spices had been contributed complemented it well. Although, to be honest, I would have eaten just about anything at that point, and nothing made me happier than the chance to sit down after the day’s long hike.
Clay joined us by the fire just as we were finishing our meal.
“Heard you folks had a special mission,” the dwarf said cheerfully. “How did it go? No trouble, I hope?”
Lavinia snorted, and Aerin smiled bitterly as she ran her hand through her hair.
“It was … eventful,” the redheaded elf said. “We met some halflings. I didn’t think there were many people living out here who weren’t bandits.”
“There aren’t,” Clay confirmed. “I’ve heard about the group you met, though, I believe. Bunch of mean little fellows up in the hills, were they?"
“Yes,” Maruk grumbled. “They were quite ill-mannered.”
Clay chuckled and shook his head. “I had a friend who worked with the caravans once who told me about them, but I always thought he was making up stories.”
“He was not!” the orc insisted, and he shoved his foot forward as evidence. “One of them scuffed my boot!”
“And, you know, they all tried to kill us,” Lavinia added.
“Well, I’m glad you all made it back in one piece,” Clay said. “There’s still a place for you on my wagon, that is if Uriel doesn’t assign you somewhere else.”
“Thank you, Clay,” I said. “We appreciate it.”
The dwarf nodded and settled back against a log with his feet toward the fire, and an amicable silence stretched over our group. Part of me wondered if Uriel would give us more responsibilities for the remainder of our voyage, but mostly, I was too tired to think about anything. We’d just have to take it one day at a time.
I set down my bowl and was about to settle back as well when Aerin brushed against my arm and jerked her head over her shoulder. I threw the elf a curious look, but she only smiled at me and slid to her feet. I was quick to follow her, but it seemed everyone else was too tired and full to call out to us because we left the warmth of the fire behind and weaved toward the outskirts of camp.
Aerin came to a stop in the shadows behind a line of wagons. No one was around. Everyone was near the fire, grabbing food or warmth. We were alone in the dark under the pale light of the moon, and as the healer smiled at me, I couldn’t help but think how beautiful she was.
“Hi,” I whispered to her once we were alone.
“Sorry,” the elf murmured as she reached out and drew me closer to her. “I just wanted some … alone time with you first.”
“Alone time, huh?” I chuckled as I wrapped my arms around her.
Aerin glanced up at me from underneath her lashes. “That was a very brave thing you did, earlier. Saving Lena from the Crushing Briar.”
“Don’t tell me you’re jealous,” I teased as I raised my eyebrows and reached up to cup her face.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” the healer replied as she rolled her eyes. “I just meant to say … that was quick thinking, using your dagger and mana like that. And it was brave, too. Most people would have left her to die, even if they did have the means to save her.”
“Well, I’m not most people,” I whispered as my gaze dropped to the elf’s full lips.
“I know,” she breathed, “that’s why I love you.”
Instead of responding, I ducked my head and seized her lips with my own. Immediately, our tongues tangled together, and I felt myself twitch in my pants despite how tired I was.
Aerin’s hands came up and fumbled at her collarbone, and I opened my eyes just in time to watch her cloak flutter to the ground. The elf grinned at me mischievously, and then she tugged me down after her until we were both spread out over the supple and worn fabric.
“Handy,” I chuckled as I cupped her face and kissed her again, “but should we really be doing this out in the open like this?”
My penis screamed mutiny at me, but I still had enough blood upstairs to have at least one logical thought.
“Everyone’s getting dinner or already turning in for the night,” Aerin whispered as she reached for the fastening on my pants, “but we can be quick about it, yes?”
As her hand wrapped around my already throbbing cock, I bit back a groan.
“Yes,” I muttered in a strained voice, “but I want to take my time.”
Aerin started to giggle, but I cut her off as I pressed my mouth to hers again and tipped her backward onto her cloak.
I knew neither of us wanted to be caught completely naked, so I shoved down the necessar
y items of clothing, and then I propped myself up on my hands as I slotted my hips between Aerin’s thighs.
“Try to be quiet, okay?” I asked as my cock butted up against the slick lips of her entrance. She was already so wet.
“Just hurry,” Aerin hissed as she arched her chest up into mine and latched onto my shoulders. “Please. I need you.”
Well, I couldn’t say no to that.
With barely a nudge, I slid deep inside the healer, and she stifled a moan as she buried her face in my chest. Knowing we could potentially be caught any minute, I shifted my weight to my left arm and slid my right one between us as I pulled back a few inches. When I found the slick nub of her clit, I pressed down at the same time as I rocked forward again, and Aerin spasmed beneath me.
A groan rumbled deep in my chest as her muscles clenched around my cock, and I increased the tempo of my hips. Aerin bucked and writhed in my grasp, and she muffled her whimpers by biting into my shoulder. The spark of pain egged me on, and I started grinding hard and slow circles into the elf’s clit as I bottomed out each time inside of her.
Within minutes, Aerin arched her back, and her mouth formed a silent ‘o’ as she came. She went limp in my arms for a moment, but I kept up the deep and steady rhythm of my hips, and before long she was twitching and moaning softly again.
I pulled back a little and rose up onto my knees. Then I yanked Aerin’s hips with me, and the elf’s bottom half came off the ground as she wrapped her legs around my lower back. She still wore her shirt so her luscious breasts were hidden from my view, but I could see her nipples pebbled beneath the fabric. As I started up a new and punishing rhythm, I reached down and pinched one of them.
Aerin jerked in pleasure, and I alternated between both breasts as I pushed us both toward release. A few minutes later, the healer slapped her hands over her mouth as she spasmed and came again, and I bit down on my lip as I exploded inside her velvety tightness with a quiet grunt.