Often in the late evening, when Garret was sure there would be no more calls for his attention he would retire to his royal chambers or to the king's study depending upon his mood. On nights he retired to his personal rooms, Linaya would often tiptoe in unannounced, as Garret generally sent his guards home to their families. They would sit up for hours either upon the bed or one of the large padded benches in front of the fireplace and tell stories of their childhoods, or share hopes and dreams for the future. On the other nights, when Garret retired to his study in an attempt to learn all he could from the previous king’s writings, Linaya would often come up to pester him, asking him silly questions until he gave up his pursuit of knowledge and folded to her will. Those nights they would peer out the great window from his study on the highest floor of the southwest tower, and they would gaze at the stars and make wishes, or look out over the kingdom together wondering what everyone else was doing.
Garret enjoyed their time together immensely and he knew, though she would not openly admit it, that Linaya looked forward to their every meeting as well. So it was that Garret sat in his personal chambers, waiting patiently for Linaya’s arrival, when she tiptoed barefoot into his room wearing nothing but a simple silken slip of the lightest blue. Though his jaw attempted to fall slack, and his tongue threatened to roll out of his mouth, Garret fought the urge and turned his attention elsewhere in the room with a knowing smile.
"Yes, yes, I know I am hideous and you can’t bear to look at me," Linaya said, getting the exact reaction she had hoped for.
Garret, no matter how often they played this game, fell for it each time. Just as Linaya had expected him to do, Garret turned back to face her, in awe of her exquisite beauty, held enthralled by her perfection. Worse was the fact that this night, unlike any other night they had shared, Linaya was flaunting her perfection, dangling it right before Garret’s face. As she pranced across the room causing undue bouncing in places that always seemed to trigger Garret’s attention, she came to a stop at the corner of his bed. Then resting her back against the tall bedpost that supported the canopy over his bed, Linaya reached up above her head and wrapped her arms around the post behind her. This particular motion achieved two things that set Garret’s blood on fire, though he managed to contain his desires. First the arch in her back pressed her breasts against the silk that cascaded down her body loosely, showing off not only their shape and firmness, but also accentuating her small, perky nipples giving Garret the subconscious need to bite something. Secondly, with the acts of both raising her arms and arching her back, the blue silk of her short gown, which normally hung to her mid-thigh, rose ever higher exposing even more tantalizingly perfect flesh. Garret could actually feel the blood in his face grow hotter and again realized he had fallen into her trap, and as such managed to tear his eyes from the extraordinary woman to look across the room at nothing in particular.
"How is it that you can do it, yet other men cannot?" Linaya asked teasingly.
"Do what?" Garret replied, sure it would be another game.
"Fight the inner animal," Linaya said.
"What do you mean?" Garret asked, assuming the worst.
"You cannot say you do not enjoy to look upon me. I can see the need to have me written plainly upon your face. Yet you have never once attempted to even brush against me or touch me in any manner that was improper," Linaya stated it as if it were fact.
"Yes, you are attractive," Garret said hoping to end the conversation and move on to something less uncomfortable.
"Duh silly, but you did not answer my question," she retorted.
"To be honest?" Garret asked.
"Would you tell me anything else?" Linaya asked with a grin.
"I suppose not," Garret said, thinking how to phrase his answer. "I will admit it is not always easy to contain myself, though it has never been harder than now."
"It's never been harder, huh?" Linaya giggled. "But why would it be harder now?"
"You know precisely why, Linaya. Look at how you are dressed," Garret responded.
"Ah, so my clothing is what intrigues you," she jested. "You must be terribly fond of blue, though I am sure I must have worn this color before."
"You have," Garret replied. "But you well know my meaning."
"So you are saying that my wearing something extremely comfortable makes you extremely uncomfortable?" Linaya asked teasingly.
"If that is what you want to call it," Garret replied.
"So are you saying then, that when I am naked and should wish to dress myself, I should think of you and your comfort?" Linaya asked.
Garret actually grimaced at the mental image Linaya’s last statement crammed into his head. Though the image was by far probably the most enticing thing he had ever imagined, he could not help but feel verbally raped by the comment, having tried so hard not to imagine the woman nude. However, after a moment to gather his thoughts, once again he managed a reply.
"Yes, I suppose you should," Garret answered.
"So you are saying I should dress myself with regard as to how you might look upon me?" Linaya asked, still teasing.
"Yes," Garret grinned. Simple answers caused him so much less trouble with her.
"Why?" she asked again.
"Because I do it for you," Garret answered and immediately regretted it.
"You dress for me?" Linaya asked, her tone now completely different.
"Yes," Garret admitted again realizing it was entirely too late to turn back now.
"Why?" Linaya asked, completely sincere.
"In hopes that you could perhaps see me as I see you," Garret answered honestly.
"Really?" She then asked, her tone changing to one of amusement, “Have you ever, and I mean ever seen a mirror? Seriously now, I see why you cannot shave without cutting yourself a dozen times or more. Come here." Linaya said and grabbing Garret’s hand dragged him off the bed and across the large stone chamber. Rounding the corner towards his private privy, Linaya stopped suddenly leaving Garret standing directly in front of a large mirror that stood from the floor to the ceiling and was polished to perfection. Using her hands Linaya guided Garret to turn and face the mirror as she then stood behind him. Reaching up from behind him, Linaya grasped the uppermost button of Garret’s shirt and paused.
"May I?" she asked.
Unsure if he could answer, Garret nodded in acquiescence, and stood as Linaya unbuttoned his shirt in entirety and pulled it down his back, removing his arms from the sleeves as it fell.
"Look at you," Linaya said. "You're like a chiseled statue of a god in one of the temples. I mean seriously look at yourself, Garret."
Garret stood a moment seeing himself in the mirror, yet not really seeing himself. He watched, using the mirror, as Linaya walked around him and placed her small petite body within the frame of the mirror and together they looked into the reflection.
"You do realize that you are attractive, right?" Linaya asked. "I mean, look at your arms. They're as big as my waist for crying out loud, and that’s scary..." she said, letting her words sink in before adding what she really meant. "Scary sexy."
Garret looked again in the mirror, trying to see what Linaya said she could see, though he wondered if she was just playing a game with him. It took him many minutes and it wasn't until he took his focus off himself that he realized what it was that Linaya saw that he didn’t. Peering into the mirror, Garret did not in so many words find himself attractive, though he was as she said well-muscled and sculpted like an artist’s portrayal of the gods. Looking into the mirror at them together, Garret saw perfection. It was with the contrast of their shapes and skin tones, the imperfections of Garret’s skin compared to her flawless, supple flesh that made the image whole. Linaya did not see herself as Garret saw her, and Garret did not see himself as Linaya saw him, but what Linaya had been able to perceive even before this moment was that together they were beautiful, each a complement and a contrast to the other.
"Now you see it," L
inaya said. "I can tell by your expression," she added with a smile.
"I do see it," Garret professed.
"We shall make a handsome couple, won't we?" Linaya asked sincerely.
"I should like to think so," Garret replied.
"Good," Linaya said, a giant smile parting her lips. "Then you should get some rest. You have a big day tomorrow, you know, getting crowned king and all that." Linaya said giggling, and without warning she spun and kissed Garret’s bare chest, right where his heart lay beneath.
"And that is to ensure I stay near your heart once you become all high and mighty." She said, and turning again she pranced out of the room, an unusual bounce in her step.
If the whole inheriting a kingdom bit had not been enough, now certainly Garret felt he was in way over his head. However, for the first time it was a good feeling, and with high hopes and expectations in his heart, Garret did as Linaya instructed. Extinguishing the lights in his room, he undressed and crawled into bed for the first full night of rest he had had in weeks.
* * * * *
Seth and Sara traveled westward once again, only this time they had the company of Borrik and his men. The very night they resumed their westward track they had climbed the mountainside speaking with Borrik as they ascended. Each took turns filling in the details of their time separated, and Borrik even confessed the pack’s horrid deeds upon the women in the woods. Both Seth and Sara were horrified, but each found comfort in the fact that it was an action none of the wolf men were proud of, nor did they intend to repeat it. With that out in the open, Seth shared with his second-in-command the grueling facts of his and Sara’s own transformations, at which Borrik was greatly concerned, though Seth assured him that it was a temporary condition and one which he planned to alleviate as soon as he was able. They gathered the wounded wolf men from atop the mountain, as well as those that remained to guard them, and continued west towards Valdadore. They stopped when they needed rest, and Seth tried to arrange those times during daylight hours so Sara could sleep away the day and walk unhindered after sunset. When they did travel during the day, Sara often rode upon Borrik’s back or shoulders, as her new lighter weight, combined with his massive muscular structure did not impede their travel like Sara did walking on her own, blindfolded. Each day they traveled they were joined by more of Seth’s wolf troops, and after ten or so days Seth realized that he had regained all of his surviving men, who now numbered two hundred and nine.
They had angled their travel northwest soon after coming through the mountain pass, Borrik assuring them he knew where they were, and as such this direction would get them home sooner. It was the twelfth day, late in the evening, when they happened upon a small town one of the werewolves knew to be Traiven. Gathering what coin he could from his troops, which did not amount to much, Seth and Sara entered the town alone as the last rays of the sun were obscured by the horizon. Locating an inn, they went in for a well-deserved meal while the troops hunted for their own food.
As they entered the small inn, all eyes in the room turned to see the newcomers, and foreboding as the pair looked in their armor, all were quick to return their eyes back where they belonged. Taking a seat in the corner with a view of the room, Seth and Sara each placed their helms upon the table waiting to be served. A few moments passed and Seth and Sara eavesdropped upon the other people in the inn to see if they might learn of any news that would interest them. However, the only thing they heard was a pair of elderly gentlemen at the bar attempting to argue while whispering, but such were their elderly ears that each of them whispered entirely too loudly to avoid being overheard.
"I tell you Pete that’s them that disappeared at the battle," said the nearest man.
"It can't be them, everyone says they died in a big explosion that ended the battle, Mack. Everyone knows that," whispered Pete in reply.
"It has to be them. Did you get a look at his helm?" Mack asked. "It's in the shape of a wolf head just like they say."
"Yeah I seen it, but with all the stories there are gonna be those who copy the mage. After all, they say he is the one who ended the battle. If it weren't for him we'd all be goblin food," Pete laughed, the skin sagging from his jowls bouncing with the sound.
With that the old codgers went about sipping their ale in silence as the barmaid, coming through from the door from the kitchen behind the bar, noticed her new customers and came to take their order. She was a small thing in her mid-teens with sandy hair and freckles. Her curves were just beginning to show and she walked with a sort of awkward stride as all teens do as they come to adulthood. Rounding the bar the girl strode directly to the table seemingly unafraid of the couple clad in their black armor.
"What can I get the two of you?" the girl asked with a genuine smile.
"How about something hot to eat and something cold to wash it down with," Seth replied, happy to have a meal that didn’t consist of picking it off the ground or chasing away birds to eat.
"I think we can arrange that," the girl said with another smile. "And what for the lady?"
"I will be happy with the same, thank you," Sara said, her sweet voice sounding like music to Seth’s ears.
As the barmaid walked away to fill their order, Seth reached across the table and took Sara’s hand.
"It's good to be home, isn't it?" he asked.
"It will be nice to have a hot bath, a warm bed and some rest," Sara replied.
Seth realized then that it had been quite some time since he had been able to look into the amber depths of Sara’s eyes, what with having to keep her blindfolded during the day and only exposing them at night when it was too dark for him to enjoy. Even now, though her eyes had taken on a more reddened hue with the alteration, he found them to be bottomless and he could not wait to get clean and spend some good quality time with her. But with the swift return of the barmaid, Seth realized his desire would have to wait a bit longer.
"That'll be two silver," the young girl said.
Seth pulled the coins from the pouch Borrik had given him, thinking the price rather steep, and the girl took them and pocketed them before placing the tray with their food and drinks upon the table. Sara and Seth ate like animals that night, each devouring a plate of roasted lamb and steamed vegetables, chasing the hot meal down with a large mug of cool ale. They sat relaxing a few minutes after eating, as the barmaid returned from the kitchen and again came to their table.
"Can I get the two of you something else?" she asked.
"Perhaps," Seth replied. "The lady could use a deeply cowled cloak, and though I know the shops in town are probably closed, I wondered if maybe you could arrange to get one for us?"
"Well, you are in luck actually. Ole Mack there at the bar owns the tannery and loom down the road. Let me talk to him for ya." Without awaiting another word she turned and approached the old gentleman at the bar. After speaking to him briefly, he stood and turned, nodding once in Seth and Sara’s direction before he left the inn.
The barmaid then left the room entering the privy at the far side of the room which was becoming a more and more popular commodity at local inns. Sara, excusing herself from the table on noticing the room, went to relieve herself as well. Seth sat quietly alone at his table a moment when the old man named Mack retuned carrying an exquisite cloak with a deep hooded cowl. The fabric was a light but tightly woven wool, dyed black, and around the cowl and trailing down the sides of the cloak was silver embroidery that dressed the garment out nicely. Mack, well into his twilight, got his bearings upon entering the inn once again, and pausing to let his eyes adjust to the light, turned and approached Seth at the table. Seth, remembering to respect his elders, stood to greet the man. Shaking hands at the wrist like old comrades, Seth greeted the man introducing himself, and the old man did likewise, beginning to shake his head when Seth stated his name.
"Are you the same Seth that blasted the enemy to smithereens?" Mack asked.
"One and the same," Seth assured the man.
&nbs
p; "Not to seem distrustful you see, but if you can prove it, I'll give you the cloak free of charge," Mack grinned crookedly.
Seth peered around the room to notice that all eyes were upon him and the old man. Knowing he had little coin, and the cloak looked expensive, Seth decided to humor the small crowd.
Raising his arms Seth pointed his palms skyward, and without so much as a word his hands exploded into flame that encompassed his flesh without burning it. Refocusing the energy Seth let the flames extinguish as he turned his palms to face one another, spreading his fingers. Small bolts of wicked green lightning erupted from the fingertips of each hand extending to connect in the space between his hands. But Seth wanted to really give the man his money’s worth, so while distracting him with the miniature lightning, Seth sent tendrils of his power around the room to each table. Unleashing more power Seth created at the end of each invisible tendril an illusion of himself, appearing to the small crowd as if another dozen Seths had appeared out of thin air. The people in the room jumped, each of them startled by the sudden appearance of Seth’s apparitions. Seth vanquished his lightning, allowing the old man to turn to see what had surprised all of his friends so, and with a wide grin, he looked back to Seth trembling in excitement and handed over the cloak. Seth let his illusions stand a moment longer, and as an added bonus he made them each stroll across the room where they came to rejoin with the real Seth, each one appearing to become consumed within him. As the last illusion vanished Seth released a small concussive boom that reverberated off the walls.
"Well done, Lord Seth, well done!" Mack said clapping his hands. "I have heard it said that you worship the Goddess Ishanya, and that you can change people into beasts and monsters. Are those tales also true?" Mack asked in wonder.
Age of the Gods: The Complete, twelve novel, fantasy series (The Blood and Brotherhood Saga) Page 80