by Jack Porter
The elf shook her head. “It is possible. It is always possible in these days. However, he could just be evil of his own accord, and therefore only slightly less dangerous than the necromancer.”
I nodded, thinking this was going to be a more entangled situation than I had anticipated.
Raven pulled a thin rope beside the door, and her servants once again entered. Then she turned back to me. “I imagine you want to freshen up before we eat. My personal servants will help you. We will not speak of any of this at the meal. I will not have you frightening my people.”
“Your people?” Sarina asked.
Raven nodded. “I am in charge while my sovereign is away.”
“And when will she be back?” I asked, thinking that maybe we could talk to her and get a different answer.
Raven seemed to understand my meaning, but she shook her head. “She has been away for many, many years. She was taken captive by Maelon. And until we get her back, I must do what I see as best for those of us who remain.”
25
As it turned out, the small room we were in opened into a slightly wider cave at the back, which had been covered by a long heavy curtain.
Inside was a large bath and a sleeping chamber with a large bed. The air in the dry cave was refreshingly cool, and I was happy to learn that we would actually have a few moments to rest before eating.
The two servants, themselves wearing long white flowing dresses of sheer material, helped all of us undress. Since none of us seemed to be the modest type, soon we were all standing naked before the bath. Even Wren, who I had never seen undress before. But I tried not to look at her too closely, because I was still trying to keep my distance.
We all sat down in the bath, each taking a section and stretching our legs out toward the middle. The water felt wonderful, and was scented just like the water that Raven had used. Only this one smelled a bit like spicy rose.
As was custom, the servants helped wash the girls first, and I admit I enjoyed the view as I watched the servants run cloths and water over their bodies. Leaning back, I allowed my gaze to wonder, imagining that those were my hands washing the girls, but content just to watch.
At one point, Wren caught me looking, and she shot me a quick grin before dunking her head underwater and coming up with her hair soaking wet. I saw her small breasts move above the waterline, her pink nipples budded and hard with the temperature.
Then, I looked for a cloth and began washing myself, taking care not to look at her anymore.
Then the servants came over and took the cloth from me and gave me the same treatment. Their hands ran over my body, and it felt good to get the grime and dust off it, the accumulation of weeks of riding and living outdoors. They were careful with my shoulder, which was already healing nicely, and only slightly tinged with pain on occasion when I moved my arm. Soon, I would be back to fighting condition. Which was good, because I needed to kill Maelon as soon as possible.
The son of a bitch.
A plan was already forming in my mind, but I needed to talk with Raven again. Still, I lingered in the bath with the girls, and as the servants worked their hands lower along my abdomen, I tried to relax.
Finally, they poured fresh water over our heads, and then we stood while they poured more fresh water from pitchers over the rest of our bodies to rinse us off.
After handing us linens, they helped us dry ourselves, and then left.
All without a word.
Sarina was working through the tangles in her hair, and she found some oils the servants had left with which to treat her red locks. Ilana was walking around completely naked, content with her body as always. Wren had tied her linen around under her armpits and was also fussing with her hair, but she was also sniffing some sort of lotion that had been left behind. I could almost see the wheels turning in her head as she picked apart what sorts of plants had been used to make it.
For myself, I toweled off and then dropped the linen. The bed was looking nicer and nicer, and I figured since we had a few minutes before eating, I would grab a few winks of sleep.
But these wonderful companions of mine had other ideas, and before my eyes closed, I saw Ilana walk over to Sarina and take the hair potion from her, dab it on her own hands, and began to work it into the redheaded woman’s hair. Soon it turned into a scalp massage, and Sarina began to visibly relax, her shoulders moving downward, her eyes closing, and her large towel dropping to the floor.
In the glow of the candles, the scars on her body looked even more pronounced, and I realized that I hadn’t tried to name them for a few days. Although I had grown tired of killing orcs and slavers in favor of a larger goal, I also missed the simplicity of our days spent roaming the Slavers’ Bowl.
Soon Ilana’s hands worked down to Sarina’s shoulders, and then she turned the redhaired woman around and kissed her on the lips.
I propped myself up on a pillow and watched as Sarina returned the kiss, wrapping her arms around Ilana’s neck. Then they pressed their naked bodies together and deepened the kiss.
Ilana reached down between them and began to kneed Sarina’s breast as she delved her tongue into the woman’s mouth. Sarina responded hungrily, arching against Ilana and straddling one of her thighs between her legs. Ilana’s tail was not idle, and began sliding its way up and down Sarina’s milk white thigh, the tip of it climbing ever upward and soon disappearing between her legs.
Sarina gasped against Ilana’s mouth, and she spread her legs wider. I glanced over, and saw that Wren had sat down on the floor on top of her towel and was watching hungrily. There was a look of lust on her face that turned me on even more, but it wasn’t enough to keep me from looking back at Ilana and Sarina.
Soon, Sarina began to buck and move against Ilana, and the succubus’ tail moved with her. I knew that Ilana was inside Sarina, knew that her tail was capable of some incredible range of motion. And Ilana seemed to be enjoying it very much, just as much as Sarina.
Finally, the show began to be too much, and I took myself in my own hand, watching as Sarina’s motions became even more erratic.
When Sarina came, she let out an almost anguished cry, and gripped Ilana’s shoulders. I could see her thighs and her ass quivering as her orgasm vibrated through her in waves. And Ilana kept working her tail, so Sarina kept feeling the pleasure.
It lasted for some time, and when it was done, Sarina sank against Ilana, who wrapped her arms around her waist and held her. The succubus planted a kiss on her cheek and then led her over to the bed.
I was more than ready for them, and we spent the rest of the time until the meal in each other’s arms and in the throes of passion, with Wren looking on.
26
Sometime later, another servant came and fetched us for a meal. I didn’t know what to expect, but it wasn’t the lavish set up that we saw when we entered a glade. Tall, straight trees had been entwined overhead, their branches forming an arch like a hall. The red light filtering down from the sky almost seemed bright and cheerful rather than gloomy. In the middle of the natural hall was a long wooden table carved from what looked like one tree trunk. Benches, chairs, and even cushions had been placed along the sides, and we were directed to sit on one side near Raven at the far end.
“This is beautiful,” Wren said to Raven as everyone was getting seated.
Raven nodded in acknowledgment. “Thank you,” she said. “This is our custom when we have guests, or during any kind of celebration. We try to eat together as often as possible.”
“But surely not everyone can fit around the table?” Sarina said.
She was sitting on my left, and still wore her ceremonial armor and sword, which she had managed to find time to polish until it all gleamed. I had also been given some clean clothes, which consisted of a plain but comfortable off-white tunic and brown pants. Ilana, as usual, wore her black corset, but she’d also found time to clean it, and the elves had graciously fitted Wren with some clothes that actually fit her, and s
he looked more beautiful than ever.
Raven was looking at Sarina, but she didn’t seem offended by the red-haired woman’s question. “It is true,” she began, “that we cannot get all of us around the table. But the heads of our families will all join together for our meals. And, of course, everyone gets to eat the same thing. We do not sit here and eat luxury lavish foods while our families and servants starve.”
Sarina shook her head. “I wasn’t implying that you did. How many live here in the city?”
Raven smiled and then shook her head. “That is not a number I am comfortable giving to anyone. But yes, we are a small city, even if you cannot see everyone living here at first glance.”
Finally, it seemed that everyone had gathered and were sitting around the long table. They were dressed in many different fashions, but most of them were simple and functional. I saw lots of tunics and leggings, shifts, and one or two dresses. There were a few male elves at the table now, and I was slightly surprised. At Nya’s castle, male elves were valued, but never partook in the official functions as equals.
Servants soon came and brought food which they placed in front of us. They brought wine, fresh meat, and roots that I’d never tasted before. After we’d eaten for a few minutes in silence, Raven turned to me, setting her goblet of wine down very precisely on the table. “You say that you are looking for a seer?” she asked.
I swallowed my bite of meat and nodded.
“Yes,” I said. “I remember telling you that when we met, and I had an arrow sticking out of my shoulder.”
A troubled look crossed Raven’s face, and she paused for a fraction of a moment before continuing. “And I told you that our queen had been taken captive by Maelon the Deceiver. It has been some years, though, since any of us has laid eyes on her. By chance, did you see anyone there who looked like they did not belong? Or any captives?”
I thought about the woman I’d met at the green fire, and described her to Raven. “But she didn’t look like a captive. She did look… different than the others there. She made an impression on me for sure.”
Raven’s eyes widened. “That sounds like our queen. The idea that you have seen her in the last couple of days tells us that she is alive. Although I almost wish it were not so.”
“I can imagine that a warlord who feeds his children to his Hellpig isn’t someone you would want to have a loved one in his thrall,” I said.
“You’re correct, Jon,” she said. “Please, tell me what condition she was in when you saw her, and how she looked at you, and…” The beautiful dark-haired elf hesitated. “And if she was lost.”
I thought about what to say and decided that the truth would be best. “In body,” I began, “she looked well. I don’t know what she looked like before, but when I saw her, I had no reason to suspect that she was being held against her will. She looked well fed, and she was beautiful. In fact, she was alluring, if I am allowed to say that.”
Raven nodded. “Tell me more, please.”
“Your queen noticed me. Or rather, I stumbled upon her in the middle of the night. I heard someone who I thought was crying, but when I investigated, I found her in a trancelike state, chanting and wailing. Her trance wasn’t so deep that she didn’t see me at first. I didn’t know who she was, and I honestly thought she might be in trouble at first, but she didn’t seem to be in distress. When I thought to leave, she saw me.”
Raven looked at me sharply. “You spoke to her?”
“Yes,” I said. “Or rather, she spoke to me. She asked me to sit beside her. Then she told me my name. She told me her name was Kali.”
Raven smiled then, and said, “Yes, that is what she is commonly known as.”
“And that’s about it,” I said. “She told me she was praying for safe journeys for a friend.” I frowned, wondering again if that friend could’ve been me, now that I knew who she was.
“And that is all?” Raven asked. She told you that she was praying?”
“Yes,” I said, “and there was a green fire. Does that mean anything to you?”
Raven frowned and shook her head. “No, she never conjured green fire before. Not that I’m aware.” The dark-haired elf sank into silence for a few moments, and I looked around, only to notice that the other elves around us had gone very silent and were listening to everything that I said. Of course they would, I thought. They wanted news of their queen.
Finally, Raven seemed to shake yourself out of her thoughts and summoned one of the servants. She spoke quietly to the young female elf, who then hurried away. Then Raven took a sip of her wine before saying, “I don’t know why you could see her. Jon, believe me when I say we tried to get her back. But we thought she was gone. We thought she was lost. Because we couldn’t see her. There is some enchantment hiding her from us, or Maelon is even better at securing her away than we ever thought.”
“Why do you think Maelon let me go?” I asked. “He didn’t know who I was, but he could have tried to slit my throat, and in fact when we went to their camp, that’s what I thought he was going to try to do.”
Sarina nodded. “I have been wondering the same thing.”
“I do not know,” Raven said. “But it is an excellent question. I will ponder this, and if I receive an answer from the goddess, I will let you know.”
As answers go, it was kind of unsatisfactory, but I didn’t have anything better, so I dropped the subject for the time being. And anyway, the servants had returned, this time bringing with them new goblets of wine, which were all intricately carved from wood. And they were gorgeous. The design must have taken each craftsman hours upon hours to complete, each one of them different. The servant took away the remains of our dinner and then set the goblets before us.
But when they began to pour the liquid from pitchers into the goblets, I saw that we weren’t going to be drinking wine.
The drink held a pungent but strangely alluring scent. Since no one else was taking a drink yet, I assumed it was some sort of dessert or ceremonial drink, so I waited until instructions were given. However, as I sat there and the drink had a chance to breathe, it filled my senses unlike any wine that I knew of. My eyes almost began to water as the odor enveloped my nostrils and even the back of my throat. I glanced at my companions, who seemed just as puzzled as I was.
Finally, Raven picked up her goblet, and so did the other elves. I followed their lead, as did my companions.
“It is not our custom to share this drink with strangers,” Raven said. “However, you have laid eyes on our queen, the elf witch who has kept us safe for so long, and who should be here sitting at the head of this table with us. And for that, you are family. I want all of you to mark this day,” she said a bit more loudly. “The day when Jon of the unknown land came to us and offered us hope. The day that he drank with us. Our ceremonies and rites will always and henceforth be open to him.”
Then Raven nodded to me, “Jon, if you will take first drink.”
Surprised, I raised the goblet to my lips, expecting a terribly bitter drink. But what actually went into my mouth was smooth and heady and erotic all at the same time. I took a long sip, and then glancing at Raven, saw that she meant for me to drink the whole thing. So I tipped back and swallowed all of it. Then, Raven, the other elves, and my companions raised their goblets in the same way and followed suit.
The drink hit me immediately.
I had been drinking elven wine for some time now, and although when I had arrived in Hell, it had been too strong for me to drink much of, I had developed a taste for it, as well as the ability to hold much more of it than a common man. But this drink was not like the strong elven wine of Blackhold. Rather, I felt as if my feet had lifted off the ground, and I almost grabbed the table to make sure that I didn’t float away. However, I saw that no one else was floating like a balloon, and realized that I wouldn’t be, either.
And that was sort of the last coherent thought I had for some minutes. It was obviously a drug, and when I looked to Raven,
her eyes were glowing dark blue once again. She smiled, and this time it was so sad it almost ripped my heart out. It reminded me of the funeral rites that I had witnessed at Nya’s castle during my first few weeks in Hell, after we had brought home her fallen archers and they had burned them on the funeral pyres. Not only was I high, but I was incredibly aroused, and I wanted nothing more than to grab Sarina, Ilana, or even Wren or Raven for an orgy out here in the open for everyone to see.
However, I mastered myself in time to hear Raven say something about poison. I looked at her, and an alarm bell went off inside my fuzzy head. Raven must have seen my worry, because she shook her head. “Everyone has drunk of the poison, Jon. Do not worry, it is part of the ritual.”
And then, it felt as if out of nowhere the servants appeared once more, this time with bright orange berries which they placed on the table in front of us. Raven lifted her bunch of berries to her beautiful lips and said, “These Hellberries signify the fire that keeps us alive. They will negate the effect of the poison that we have just drunk.” Then she nodded to me, and I popped the first one in my mouth.
The high immediately intensified but then evened out. I was no longer floating above the ground, and no longer felt the urge to grab hold of Raven and ravish her body. But a feeling of euphoria persisted, and I felt connected to these wood elves in a way I hadn’t felt connected to any group of people in a long time, if ever.
“Can I ask what the purpose of this ritual is?” I asked.
Raven swallowed a bite of berries. “To become closer to the goddess and to be a community. Once upon a time, we could commune with her as if she were here amongst us, when we had the seer here at this table. But since Kali was taken, we can all only feel the most shallow of effects.”
“These effects do not feel very shallow,” Ilana said. She had a smile on her face though, and she seemed more relaxed than she had in days.
“And you do this every night?” I asked.