by P. S. Power
"It's a thing that Ali Baker made. She's one of the best when it comes to mind magics, you know. Using this a few times a day you can stay up for nearly five, and barely feel it. Eventually you'll start to hallucinate anyway, but you won't feel tired until then. That isn't great for you, health wise, but if it comes up, it can be a life saver. I got this from the store on Harmony. The main magic shop. They have four of them now."
Maria stood, and looked impressed.
"I need to get a list going, of things to get from there. So, shall we go and collect Debbie up? Marvin, have you seen to that? She spent the night, didn't she?" That would make sense, but her loving husband shook his head, slowly.
"No. I invited her to, but I think she feels it would be indiscreet. Since she isn't married yet, that would only be to save your feelings, but she holds you in very high regard. Which is proper, no doubt." He smiled, and held her closely for a bit, his huge arms going around her all the way. She found herself picked up a bit, onto her toes.
"Ah? That's sweet of her. Anyway, let me get cleaned up, and then..." Well, she needed to get to her day, didn't she? They'd want food first, but after that, she needed to just be off to space.
Even thinking the words seemed like a dream though. Here she was, blithely going off to the stars, or at least the Moon, without so much as batting an eye over it. Taking the baker from down the way too, because that was the way of the world now. Anyone could do amazing things, if they tried hard enough and knew the right people.
She, however, needed at least a shower. Holding out her hand to her husband she whispered, so as to not be rude to Petra. Oh, the other woman could hear her, but she could pretend not to, which would make things less awkward.
"Come with me, love? I won't be long. We can... Talk?"
She didn't need to really speak about anything, but it was common for Marvin to wake up aroused, and she did like for him to have a pleasant start to his day. If they'd shared a bed she would have rolled over, eventually, and done some things for him, but with Pet there, his own sister, she needed to move to a different room.
That didn't take long to arrange, the bathing chamber being just down the hallway. The shower had a warming amulet, which was a luxury for a non-magical house like theirs. She stripped, and took her amulets off, setting them on the metal hook only a few feet away, letting the chains, mainly gold, swing a bit. Marvin used the second, higher one, so that they wouldn't confuse which set of amulets was their own. He had some weapons too, which got set on a small wooden shelf, directly to the left of the water spigot.
Then, because he loved her, her wonderful husband got the water set to the right temperature, and helped her get clean. Her hair was held up, since getting it wet at the moment would be a chore, but he soaped the rest of her carefully.
Giant hands started at her throat, gently making small circles, then hit every portion of her that could be cleaned, all the way to the bottom of her feet. It was done well, and so cautiously that it was clear he feared hurting her. She was so little, compared to him. Over six feet tall, but tiny and delicate by comparison. It left her feeling a bit vulnerable. Safe though. He always took great pains to be careful with her.
When that was finished, she reached for him, her hands, a soft tan color, finding his darker skin, at just about the level of his navel. She made contact there, and pulled her fingernails down gently, his large manhood raising then, matching his heart. It was almost like pulling a lever, how well that tricked worked with him. By the time her hands found him, she was almost ready.
There was a bit of oil near where the soap was kept, and she used that on him without asking if it would be needed. She loved Marvin, and was turned on by him, but he was so large that a bit of extra lubrication would be very useful. She used both hands to do it, marveling at his size again. He was nearly as thick as her own wrist, which was, she could allow, too much, really. She was used to him, but it paid to be careful that way.
She stroked him, using the oil, starting from the base of him, near his body, and moving upward to the tip. Then, not being shy at all, she reset the oil, filling her palm and setting the small glass vial back on its shelf near the soap with her other hand. Then she pushed it inside herself, liberally, using two fingers.
"Pick me up?" That was one of his favorite things to do in the bath or shower. It involved him holding her the whole time, large hands under her ass, thumbs on the front of her pelvis. He did it then, going slowly, letting her stretch around him.
The head of his rod pushed at her, slippery from the oil. Entering she felt herself move around him. It didn't hurt, but felt very full after a few moments. Then, slowly, she started to move. The friction of it causing her body to tighten, squeezing him inside of her. She wouldn't have an orgasm that way, but he would, so she milked him, using her inner muscles each time he pushed her away from him. She didn't go all the way down his length either, and he was good enough not to slam against the inside of her, even as he picked up speed.
That was a part of having sex for him, being huge, as he was. He could never just thrust as he wanted too, but rather had to see to the care of his partner all the time. Or, rather, he could have done whatever he wanted. No one would say anything if he used them to the point of damage, after all. He was Count Ward, and in his own territory. He could have left a string of sore and even crippled women and men in his wake and no one could even protest that it left them sore.
Marvin didn't do that however. He didn't take pleasure in other’s pain, and made certain that his wife at least had a chance to enjoy herself.
That meant he used her, but did it with her delicacy in mind. There wouldn't even be bruises on her hips when they were done. They held to the one position, for a while, with him moving in and out of her carefully. Finally though, she hugged his neck, pulling herself against him, letting him touch the deepest part of herself.
"Here, let's use the bench? From behind?"
That was tighter, and she'd feel it even more, but so would he. Maria walked to the wooden thing, which was connected to the floor tiles, so it couldn't tip, and stood on it, her hands against the wall beyond, as he slid back into place. It was a bit awkward, but she was able to reach down and start pleasuring herself with her left hand, even as she rocked toward the wall with each thrust. He started to hit her, inside, just a bit. Not painfully, but as he got closer to his own reward, it would be harder for him to control himself, she knew.
So she worked her hand on herself, fingers almost vibrating, as he rocked her again and again. For once, just as he shot into her, she cried out, contracting against him strongly at the same time. Not even faking it. She always did that, when they had sex, so that he wouldn't feel bad about her not reaching orgasm with him. He really was good, it was simply that he was so large his body couldn't rub against hers in the right places for that act to be enough for her. Her own hand worked for it this time however.
Kissing her from behind, as she still contracted around him, he thrust in a bit.
"That was different. We should try that again, soon." Gentle stroking against the skin of her back came then, soothing her. Letting her know that she was really loved.
"Agreed! Now, we should get cleaned up again and see about getting on with the day. Food, Debbie... That should do it. This is just a day trip." She tried to sound efficient, but laughed at the end, as he pulled out. It didn't tickle, but it did feel good.
That got them underway, and unlike most mornings, she didn't have to wake up for three hours first before being useful. That meant they'd eaten, and were actually flying off to Harmony by nine, and made the jump and then landed about twenty minutes later. It was so quick that Petra and Gerent actually had two homes. One in Lairdgren County on the other side of the Kingdom, and one in Harmony. That one was outside the city a bit, and had its own private docking system. They landed there, the place not looking like much from the surface.
It was all underground, of course. Everything there really was.
Gerent had hinted that they had enough space, but once they were out of the ship, and walking around, Maria got a feel for it. It was nearly as big as the villa. Truly a fitting place to keep her friends. The decorations ran to more inlaid carvings and stone benches placed directly into the walls than major paintings or tapestries, but there were nice carpets along the hallways.
Petra winked at them.
"We have rooms here. You can come and stay for a while, if you want? We can go and see about bothering people, too. Just down this hallway is the front door. It's about six miles into the city itself, but we can use our Tor-shoes here without anyone thinking it's too childish. One of the nice things is how casual everyone is about things like that. I... Don't know what you want to do first?" This was said to Maria, but there was a glance for her brother too. "It's my day off, so I can go visiting with you?"
Right, because she was in on the fact that Maria wasn't a traitor, but she didn't know for certain what Marvin would know. For that matter, he really thought it was a pleasure trip, and so, most likely, did Debbie.
It was time to come clean then.
"Right. Yesterday Baron Klepter passed me a note, from the rebellion. They want us to help kill the King." That got a gasp, from Debbie, who went wide eyed and seemed a bit scared. Maria took her hand. "Marvin and I are working for the King, so I went with Petra last night and set things up so that I can get back in to 'kill' him later. In a week."
She shrugged and dimpled at her loving husband a bit wickedly.
"We both sucked him off, so that I can claim that honestly when they question me later. He actually has decent bedroom manners, for a King." Meaning he hadn't taken advantage of them or hurt them out of bestial crudeness. It was true, after all.
Her husband didn't smile over that, but nodded, looking concerned. He wouldn't be jealous after all. He was a lot better looking than King Richard, and knew it. Everyone with eyes did.
"So the journey here?" He gave her a knowing look, and then glanced at Debbie.
It made sense, trying to protect her, but it was getting a bit too late in the game for that. The woman was well and truly tied to them, and anything that could take them down would be a risk for her now too. She'd served Kedrin pastries with her own hands, acting as hostess, more than once.
Probably suspecting that she'd end with a noose around her neck for it, but doing it anyway, out of love for them.
Maria gave them both the whole plan then.
"So, I'm here to beg a weapon, a special Truth amulet, and to send some notes. You two can go and actually see the sights and visit? As soon as I finish however, we need to be getting back. A week isn't a long time for this kind of thing, and if I take too long arranging things for them, the rebellion might start to get clever. We want to stop that. This is all about finding the right names, if possible. So that the King can have them taken in, finally. There aren't so many left willing to do anything that the land will go to war now."
That was the hope at any rate.
Marvin held her for a bit, as Deborah and Petra stood by, nervously.
"You are most brave. It should be my risk, not yours."
Maria just nodded at that, no one in the world would question her husband's bravery, after all. Not if they held even common sense.
"But this task is mine. Don't worry, husband. Love. I can make this work."
She kind of had to, if she ever wanted a real life again.
Chapter seven
Floating, about four inches off the concentrated glass like rock that everything was made of in Harmony, Maria traveled down the tunnel toward the main city. It wasn't that she hadn't been there before, but this was a very different direction to be coming from. At first it was simple enough, since there was only the one. It was a very long tunnel. At least forty foot wide, meant only for traveling through. Eventually however, she noticed doors in the sides of it, and a few shops. Things that had large glass fronts on them, to display their wares. It was all free, but some of them were so fascinating that Maria wanted to stop, and spend some time just looking.
She didn't need much, but these things had arrays of lights, little shows to attract attention and in one case, several people dancing inside. Just to call to the greedy Countess within her. She resisted, knowing that it was too important for her to get to her real task that day.
The Countess was in a nice, very voluminous gown, which moved as she traveled, the lace and silk making a rustling sound. It was a brilliant red and black thing, meant to catch attention and inflame passions, though she didn't know if that would help or hurt her cause there that day. There was no real need for Tiera, the Queen of her own world, to even involve herself in the affairs of King Richard. Much less should she bother helping, or even seeing, Maria Ward.
It would be a trick, getting in to meet with the woman then.
That being the case, Maria decided not to try and hit her with requests directly, but rather to go and see if Patricia would help her first. They were lovers, or had been, and the woman was even still supposed to be her girlfriend, meaning she might well help her out in a pinch. Even better, she was Richard's niece, and liked her uncle well enough to want him to remain unharmed. Hopefully. There had been rumors to the contrary, but Maria kind of figured that was all part of a ruse too. If not...
Well, then that would be another friend gone, when things were all over, most likely.
She didn't know exactly how to find her though. The first thing she tried was going to her home, and simply pressing the button that made a loud bell chime inside. Nothing happened, even after doing it several times and waiting for about ten minutes. That probably meant no one was inside. After that... Well, she had no clue what Trice did with her days, did she? Shopping seemed likely, given the availability of things there, but doing that all the time would pale soon.
No, she'd find some work to keep herself busy. Perhaps in the whore house? That was free there too, and open to all, which made it both popular and less looked down upon than in many places. Once the transactional portion was taken away, it was really more or less just people meeting up to have fun. Here they just didn't force everyone to work as hard to make that happen as back home.
It seemed likely enough, so she headed that way, trying to float along as she could, but landing in the main hallway, since everyone walked there, except a few children, who were scolded gently by some of the adults. Little pale people wearing black. Those from Tellerand, Maria thought.
She didn't smile at them, but didn't frown either. If the rule was that people walked in this part of the city, it was their duty to see to it. They all smiled as the children landed.
"Sorry ma'am." One of them, a tiny dark girl spoke to the woman that had waved them down, her tone polite.
"Good enough then. This be the walking portions." It was said kindly enough, and no one scowled over it, or yelled at the children for trying to have fun.
So she walked, on the right side of the large hallway, looking hard to the left, to see where the place she wanted ahead was. That meant she walked right into a tall man, both their shields activating as they bumped, preventing it from being too hard, but sending her back a step.
"I beg your pardon. I wasn't looking where I was going." She smiled upward, into the face of the man, who was about seven and half feet tall.
At first she didn't get it, since he was wearing a red outfit that was a bit darker than her own dress. The clothing was nice, and clearly magical, but everyone there wore that sort of thing. It was his face that got her to go silent however, when her mind finally understood who it was.
"Tor?" She knew she seemed hesitant, even if they were supposed to be friends now.
He looked down at her, but not that much, and nodded.
"Maria! I haven't seen you in years. How are you?"
That was the kind of thing that people said, wasn't it? She took a deep breath, and didn't let herself get defensive, looked around and then shrugged.
; "I'm well enough. Are you busy right now? I could use a chance to talk to you, actually, if you have a few moments?" There was no reason for her to put off her groveling, was there? If he was presented to her like that, it was clear that she was supposed to make up with him sooner, rather than later.
Not that it wasn't late enough already.
She expected him to make a polite excuse, really. He had no reason to be alone with her, and while groveling had its charms, he couldn't know that was what she had in mind in regards to him, did he? Not unless he was reading her mind.
He nodded a bit, smiling.
"Sure? I was just going to head home, but I can spare a bit of time. Do you need someplace private? We could go to my shop. Not that it's really mine anymore, but Danny, the man who runs it now, still doesn't kick me out when I try to hang out in the back, for some reason."
That was different. The last she'd heard he was practically running the whole operation by himself.
"Are you doing something else now? I know that you and Alyssa moved to a space station out by Mars..."
That got him to start walking, his hand coming over to her back, calmly. Like they really were friends.
"I teach classes here. Building and meditation. Mainly for people from Vagus, since I'm working with them now. Some from other lands too however, and a few kids from here. Have you thought about building? A lot of people that are a bit past school age have been taking it up, lately. Even learning to make your own copies is useful, and it wouldn't hurt to have a push for that back home, too. Sara wants to set that up, but having a Countess on our side for the effort isn't a poor plan. King Richard is in on that. You two aren't getting along though?" He kept his face calm, but it was clear that he, at least, was in on the whole thing. Then, she knew that, having talked with him about it once. He was too good at knowing things to miss something major like that.
How Petra had...
Then she realized that the girl probably hadn't missed anything at all. No, she was just that good at playing her role. That got a smile from Maria, and she didn't speak, since they were walking through the bake shop then. Tor waved a now large hand at the man behind the counter.