Then, immediately, he began again. Hard and fast and deep inside her. He laughed, and without explanation, added, "It's going to be a long night."
She startled, sucked in her breath, squirted her juices again, and somehow managed a reply, "Oh… yes, please! Till I'm sore!"
"There are a lot of ways to make you sore." he added with a wicked smile of his own
"As if… mmm… that's new!" she gasped.
That got her another hard spanking as he pounded her against the bed.
~
The early morning air was cool up here, as the sun rose over the eastern sea. They'd walked along the walls all the way to the furthest tower on the north side of Avrosa. Tall and built half in the deep water around the promontory north of the harbor, it offered sweeping views of the sea and countryside. Talaos posted guards on the floor below and on the adjacent stretch of wall, but they had the top of the tower to themselves.
Katara stood at the battlement and watched gulls dive on the seashore. She wore her northern garb. Talaos thought she still seemed guarded, reflective, with emotions locked away. Sorya stood behind Katara, in her black dress from the night before and a plain gray cloak borrowed from Talaos. She was smiling as she braided the Northwoman's golden hair.
Talaos watched them with a contented smile, then took a spot at the battlement to Katara's right and surveyed the shore below. He wore his knee-length dark gray military tunic, baggy pants, and black boots. His cloak of office as dictator was thrown back over his shoulder.
"It is strange to think," said Katara, "that ships landed on that shore to the north, unloading thousands of enemies, and there the gulls play and the waves lap without care."
Sorya answered, "In Carai, I used to look for things like that, little bits of peace, when I could get away from whatever trouble I was in at the time."
"From trouble in the north, to trouble in Carai, to trouble here," replied Katara. "Much like you, Sorya, or like Tal, it follows me, and I follow it."
Sorya finished braiding Katara's hair and went to stand by her left side at the balcony, pressing close as a fresh breeze blew from the sea. Katara took her hand.
"There's a reason we're all together," said Sorya quietly, with a wry smile. "Though I think Tal's more of a creator of trouble, maybe the lord of trouble."
"I have enough titles at the moment, thank you," smiled Talaos.
Katara watched as soldiers in the vast camp to the west began to form up for morning drill and their other tasks for the day. She let go of Sorya's hand and stepped back from the wall to face Talaos. The three of them stood close. She lowered her gaze, and spoke to him.
"My lord, may I ride with you today to see the army?"
"Yes," he replied, "and tomorrow you will ride with me to war."
She then added, with repressed intensity, "And you will have me, my lord?"
He replied, "Yes, tonight."
Then Katara smiled, and raised her eyes to his. He extended his hand and she took it. Then she took Sorya's again, and finally Sorya took his. They stood close in their circle, hands clasped, as brightening sunshine warmed their skin.
~
Talaos rode through the camp with the Madmen behind him. Katara rode up to his side. He had never seen her on horseback before, but was not surprised she was an expert rider. She'd put on a chain shirt over her outfit from the morning. Her gray eyes gleamed, and her long golden braids shone in the sun.
"Good morning again, my lord!" she said brightly.
"And you, my love," he replied.
"I have never seen an army together so large," she said. "How many did you say?"
"When Warlord Kurvan returns, we'll have more than thirty-seven thousand."
They rode past a company of heavy cavalry, trotting out of camp to practice maneuvers in their full armor, with oval shields at their side. The men saluted Talaos, and he returned it.
"It must take a great deal of food to feed them all, and equipment to supply them. Will your supplies last?" she considered.
"It does, but we have enough to last a while. Our opportunities will run out much sooner, and so we prepare."
Katara listened as they rode, and watched the activity around them with interest. Then she turned with another question. "My lord, leading so many must take a lot of planning and cooperation among your captains, and a great many of them at that."
Talaos nodded, "It does. In Hunyos, armies have senior commanders who discuss plans in council. Below that are officers called tribunes, then captains and decurions. Each has their place in the chain. The chieftains of the hillmen don’t use titles of that kind, but their families and clans have an order of their own. "
"There is a lot of experience in war here," she answered, "however different it is from what I learned at my father's side. Where do your companions fit? The Madmen here?"
Talaos grinned, "They're my friends, from the time we were ordinary soldiers."
Kyrax interrupted, "Damned fucking right, and don't you forget it!"
Katara turned in surprise, then watched for Talaos's reaction.
"Katara, meet Kyrax," laughed Talaos, "and while we're at it, Larogwan, Firio, Halmir, Vulkas, Imvan, and Epos."
She nodded gravely.
"Don't be swept away by Kyrax's charm and polish," added Larogwan.
"Polish?" she replied, perhaps processing the term.
"His good manners!" boomed Vulkas.
"Ah, I see," answered Katara, guardedly and uncertainly.
Then Halmir rode close, and bowed his head to Katara. She nodded in solemn reply.
"Lady Katara," he said, "I am of the eastern Schald, and it may be that I can translate from the south to the north. This man Kyrax is famous among us for his rudeness. Knowing him so well, it is a matter of jokes to imply he is otherwise."
"I'm rude?" interjected Kyrax, seeming genuinely confused.
Katara laughed at last.
"So your father is a king?" asked Firio brightly.
"He is," she replied, "but I am not on good terms with him anymore."
"Still, you're the first princess I've ever met!"
She smiled.
They passed several companies of heavy footmen in breastplates and low-crested helms, wielding spears and large round shields in formation training.
Katara asked Talaos, "My lord, do you have time to train with me?"
"I wish I did," he replied. "Would you like to ride with the Madmen today?"
She beamed, "I would, thank you!"
"It is an honor to have you with us, Katara," said Imvan, in quiet earnest.
"We have a certain, eh, colorful style of working together," added Larogwan. "But once you get used to it, you might find us not such bad company…"
"I think I can become used to it," she smiled, then added, “Larogwan, you are from the Seven Kingdoms, yes? How did you come to be here?”
“Aye,” he answered. “From Cor Anwin, though it has been a long time since I left. You would’ve been a little lass, if you were even born.”
“Larogwan’s older than the hills,” grinned Vulkas.
“Coming from a man the size o’ one…” snorted Larogwan, “But in answer to your question, Katara, I was in the army, and when the war ended I found things too quiet at home, and went looking for trouble.”
“You chose wisely, in coming to Hunyos,” added Epos, to the surprise of all, and without any hint of humor in his deep voice.
Larogwan chuckled, and continued, “Don’t worry, that’s the last time he’ll speak till the morrow. In fact, I found trouble closer to home. At the time, and with all due respect to Halmir, his cousins the western Schald were giving a bit of it to their southern neighbors in Voschen.”
The old warrior paused, waiting for a comment, but Halmir merely made a grim smile.
“Now Voschen,” Larogwan went on, “might be one of the Seven Realms, but its folk seemed half Northman to me, and were happy enough to crack a few Schaldic heads in return. Still, with
the odds they faced, they had plenty of work for mercenaries, and I was happy to take it…”
“Tell her about the Southlands, and the snakes!” interrupted Firio.
“No lad, I don’t want to talk about the snakes again,” answered Larogwan with sorrowful-seeming shake of his head.
“Are the Southlands full of snakes?” asked Katara.
The old warrior maintained his solemn composure, though a hint of twinkle appeared in his eye, “No more than Hunyos, or not much more, but my, ah, work, took me to a place with more than I ever care to see again.”
The Northwoman nodded.
Larogwan suddenly smiled, “If I must deal with beasties, better it be a variety. Wolves and boars, for example…”
Talaos glanced over his shoulder and grinned, while Kyrax snorted.
“…or even a big lumbering ox,” continued Larogwan.
“That’s bull to you, old goat!” retorted Vulkas, without turning around.
“There’s bull all around…” added Kyrax, flatly.
Katara laughed again. Talaos thought it perhaps the lightest and most carefree he’d ever heard from her.
They rode on for a while longer, as Katara joined in small talk with the others. At last Talaos decided it was time to take his leave. “Madmen,” he said, “continue the tour of the camp with Katara, then feel free to spar, if she wishes.”
Nods came in reply.
He turned to Katara. “Till tonight,” he said.
She spurred her horse to him. He smiled and took her hand.
“Till then,” she answered.
~
Liriel greeted them at the door. They entered, and his guards waited outside. Talaos gave Liriel a kiss while Miriana watched in fascination. Liriel then greeted Miriana, and what Talaos thought to be a look of deep understanding passed between the two women.
Liriel then peered into Miriana's eyes and made a wistful smile. She put a hand to the younger woman's cheek. "You're flush with newfound power, my dear," she said.
Miriana smiled brightly.
"I remember that feeling," continued Liriel, "when I was like you, so very young, and newly in control of my gifts. Ah… But you are far, far more powerful."
"I am different." replied Miriana respectfully. "A prophetess, but I only hear the spirits sometimes, when they wish. I can't talk to them like you, and I haven't learned the things you have. If you wanted to teach, I'd love to learn from you."
Liriel warmed, "With luck, we'll have that chance. If you have time, let's talk awhile."
They took chairs. Liriel poured them a little tea. Talaos smiled.
And then began a conversation between the two women. A conversation about things in ways implicitly understood by two who lived half in the world of spirits and things unseen. Talaos thought it was one of the strangest he'd ever heard. Strange, and fascinating.
~
Katara stood before Talaos in his chamber in the old tower. The guard closed the door behind her . She was dressed in her clothes from the day, but without her chain shirt. Talaos wore loose Hunyos-style pants tucked into his black military boots, but had taken off his tunic to wash just before she'd arrived. She surveyed him, and the room, with interest.
"I like this place. It has strength," she said.
He smiled, and replied, "I do too. Better than any lavish quarters I might commandeer."
Her gray eyes took in his face and body, and his scars. However many healed, he always acquired more, and the scar on his face from the Ferox always remained, as did the slash of the glyph sword on his chest and shoulder. He was conscious of her gaze, and how much he'd missed her. He put his right hand under her chin, and she smiled.
She reached her own to his cheek and touched his scar, then dropped it to his shoulder and ran her fingers along the scar there. "I like these too," she said, "and the lightning in your eyes. Everything you have built shows the truth of their meaning, and why I named you my lord."
Talaos smiled again and roamed her with his eyes. Her full lips and golden braids were as lovely as ever. Her fair skin had lost a bit of the light golden tan from sunny Carai, and looked almost ivory before him. Her gray eyes were beautiful. Despite her stern demeanor, she shivered.
She knelt before him, and bowed her head. He put his hand under her chin, and she rose.
"And I'm glad to have you at my side again, in strength and trust," he said to her, "but don't forget that I love you, Katara."
"I love you, my… I love you, Tal," she replied, as sudden emotions flooded her voice.
She looked into his eyes and pressed close, with her hands roaming the muscles of his chest and arms. He put his tight around her waist and kissed her for a long time. They undressed as old feelings unlocked at last, and Talaos led her to his bed.
9. Unleashing
Talaos rode through the crowd inside the great gate of Avrosa in full gear of war. With him went his mace bearers, the standard bearers of the city, and several commanders. The militia and vigiles maintained order, keeping the main way through the plaza clear. Avrosan soldiers were making many farewells to loved ones. It was in stark contrast to outside the gates, where soldiers of the allied army would be looking forward to the chance to go home.
A chance, yes, but first would be war.
Some of the allied soldiers had found lovers in Avrosa, as had many of his Wolves, and they made farewells of their own. Talaos thought most interesting of all was the scene ahead of him. The Madmen gathered as planned near the gate itself. They were dismounted, standing by their horses, and with them were several women.
During their stay in Avrosa, Kyrax had made his rounds with the staff in several places of paid companionship. What was surprising was that one of them came to see him off. She was a short, buxom woman with masses of black hair bound with the traditional wide red fillet of brothels. She had slightly snarling lips, dark, high-arched brows, and hard, glinting eyes. Talaos thought she resembled Kyrax in female form, and suppressed a smile at the image.
Vulkas and Halmir entertained a group of younger women with feats of strength. Halmir supplemented things with bits of intense-sounding northern poetry. Epos had his helmet off, and it reminded Talaos that for as rarely as it was seen, the deadly mercenary had the kind of face women favored. He must also have actually talked at some point, for he was kissing a beauty with long, golden-brown hair.
Much to Talaos’s surprise, Larogwan spoke quietly and closely with Bera, the gambling house owner they'd rescued from the House of the Prophet. Even Firio had found a girl, a short thin, pale young woman with a pretty face and a sly manner. Only aloof young Imvan stood alone, though there were two very young women not far away, shyly watching him.
Talaos had a thought that Imvan, deep in whatever thoughts of his own, might not have noticed them. On a sudden, playful, catlike instinct, he rode his horse to the young women. They gazed up at him with the adoration that had become almost universal among the Avrosans, and bowed low.
"Rise and stand tall, women of Avrosa," he said.
They looked at him with awe and a sudden air of seriousness at being so addressed.
"That young man," said Talaos to them quietly, pointing to Imvan, "is one of my seven companions and brothers in arms, a warrior who has faced death a hundred times and more. He stands alone, and you might think he is too great a mystery and challenge for you. But you could be brave, and go speak with him."
Talaos thought the two young women seemed determined to prove their bravery to the Storm Lord, and they strode boldly forth to talk to Imvan.
He now turned to the Three, as he'd nicknamed them, just riding up to join him. There was Sorya in her black garb, armed to the teeth and riding uncertainly on a black horse. He knew she'd had no practice as a rider in Carai, and doubted she'd acquired much since. However, her uncanny natural balance and dexterity seemed to somewhat counter her inexperience.
Katara rode expertly in chain armor and gear of war on a brown horse. She wore a steel
cap on her head and a keen, almost hungry expression on her face.
Miriana rode a white horse, and had changed into a dress of Hunyos. It was dark Avrosan gray, slit on both sides, and fitted tight at the waist. She had pants underneath, tucked into high black boots. She wore weapons that Talaos was certain her father had helped her fit. Despite her somber garb, her expression was as if they were all going out for a picnic rather than to war.
Talaos rode up to them with greetings, then addressed Miriana, "Are you sure?"
"I'm safer with you than anywhere else," she said brightly, "not to mention the biggest army in this entire part of the world!"
He smiled, and then turned to her father. "General Auretius," he said, "I'd be honored if you'd join my command group as an advisor."
"I would be honored to do so," Auretius replied, long-buried emotions visible under his cool demeanor. "It has been a long time since I've ridden with an army… Not since I retired, before Miriana was born."
The old officer had been given a full kit of gear by the Avrosans, including a gray tunic and cloak. Aides in the army had cleaned and polished his armor. Armorers had taken out the old knocks and dents, and had fitted it with new straps. He looked very much at home in it all and rode tall in the saddle on a strong black warhorse.
While the army formed up outside the gates, Talaos talked with his commanders and wrapped up final plans for the army’s departure. Some rode out to their units while others returned. Adriko arrived, sorted out a few things, and quickly left.
After some time, Kurvan rode up on his huge, thick-set horse. He had his great axe on his back and a craggy grin on his face. His shaggy black hair looked wilder than ever. Out on the plain behind him, his troops were swarming in to rejoin the army. "Hail, Talaos!" roared the warlord.
"Kurvan, welcome!" replied Talaos. "What news from Ipesca?"
"It was ugly, but we got the job done," Kurvan replied. "The Prophet's people locked the town up tight. Your lad Iadro found some friends to open the gates late at night. I'd thought things would be bad in there, but they were getting food from across the mountains. No idea where the gold was coming from to pay for it. They had a lot of pyres though, with wooden stakes. Burning all the time. Like they were trying to get it done before somebody stopped 'em."
The Storm's Own Son (Book 3) Page 13