by Leela Ash
His words offered her some comfort but still her head was full of unanswered questions.
“We should sleep, and make our decisions in the morning. I am loath to wait much longer, but you still seem uncertain, and I see no point in pressing you before you are ready. The people need you in our lands, willing and fully prepared. Your task is great, it will not help our cause to have you pushed before you are ready.”
“No,” she said, surprising even herself. “We can wait no longer, take me back, I need to learn as much as I can. Every day I delay, he grows stronger and more of our people fall under his yoke.”
He takes both her hands in his, “are you sure of this?”
She nodded her reply.
“How come we didn’t do the tunnel and the walking, when we came here? How did we get here so quickly?” She asked, puzzled that they had travelled in what seemed only seconds.
“The tunnel was simply an illusion to entice you there. In reality I only need to choose certain words. That is my skill as a Traveler, if others repeated those words, it would not work for them,” he explained to her.
“What’s my skill?” She asked.
“That is for you to discover,” is all he would commit.
He looked at her, her small frame, seemingly weak, her mind uncertain, but still he noticed a determination on her face and a steely glow in her eyes. He felt sure that had not been there before. For the first time she emanated a strange power, and he felt a pity for their enemies. He leaned down and pulled her tightly towards him and pressed his lips on to hers. Surprised that she had accepted his kiss, he did not force it, but was gentle. Each of them wanted more, but yet neither of them dared to push for more than what was offered.
He pulled away and smiled.
“I have an ache for you Princess Tamara, a desire so powerful it consumes me,” he admitted to her, his passion rising. He knew he was taking a risk but he could not hold his feelings back any more.
“Niyol,” she said, a teasing smile on her lips, “are you allowed to make love to a Princess, in your world?” she dared to ask him.
“No, it would mean almost certain death,” he replied, his face stern, but his eyes had a mischievous glint and she couldn't be certain that he was being serious. “But, this is not my world, Princess,” he continued. “It is your adopted one, here we can do as we please.”
He reached forward again and kissed her, more passionately this time. His lips wet and slippery as they slid on hers. Growing in confidences he probed at her lips with his tongue, she allowed it to slip into her mouth. She met the invasion with her own and their tongues danced a tango together.
Tammy’s head was spinning with excitement. The kiss was delicious and sent wonderful sensations through her body. She wanted this man so much, but she worried at losing his respect. With that in mind, she broke their embrace, pushing him away from her.
“Sorry Niyol, I don’t find it easy to give myself to you.”
“But I love you, my Princess, I would willingly die for you, not only because you are Royalty and it is be deemed my duty, but because I love you as a person, I love you Tammy.”
He had used her shortened name for the first time and she felt a sudden rush of emotion at this. She couldn’t deny that she felt the same way.
“Oh, Niyol, I love you too,” she cried out, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him closer, pressing her lips to his.
Their kiss was long and deep, but Niyol wanted more and he sensed that Tamara did too. He kissed down her neck, slowly, not wanting to rush things. Just small butterfly kisses, that made her shudder with delight. As he reached the top of her blouse, his fingers deftly undid the buttons and he continued the kisses down across the milky white flesh of her breasts, pushing aside the cup of her bra and suckling her already erect nipple into his mouth.
“Ohhh, Niyol,” Tammy whimpered. “That feels so good.”
Encouraged by her moans of delight, he moved himself into position between her legs. His thigh pressed into her mound, he pushed firmly with his leg. She responded back by rubbing her mons onto his leg. Tammy was completely lost now and had no resistance to his hot touches. He made her feel like no man had ever made her feel before, she was willing to give him everything. Niyol could sense her reluctance slipping away under his touch, he was not one to take advantage or bed a women by deception, but he so desperately wanted her and he felt certain she wanted him too.
Breaking away from their clinch, he kneeled down between her legs and unfastened his pants, freeing his erection, which was so hard it hurt. Reaching forward he pushed her panties to one side, exposed her lightly haired mons and in one single stroke, embedded his throbbing member deep into her wetness. Tammy felt an incredible feeling of fullness as his erection stretched her opening to its limit, but she loved it. She shifted slightly so the tip of his manhood was pressed deep inside and she circled her hips in time with his thrusts. Every time he pushed into her, the tip of his erection pressed into a spot deep down inside, one that gave her so much pleasure as she rode her hips back and forth. She could feel her climax building and it wouldn't be long, but she didn't care, she so desperately needed this release and she selfishly continued grinding her hips into him.
When the release came it wasn't as a gradual build up, but as a flood of sensations that swept through her body like a tidal wave crashing against her erogenous zones. She screamed out her desire as she felt his erection swell to a new thickness and a warmth spread inside of her, she knew that they had timed their climax to perfection.
They lay together afterwards, basking in the glow of their mutual satisfaction and love for each other. Tammy could stay here forever but she knew now what she had to do. She quickly dressed and took Niyol by the hand.
Feeling that nothing could hurt her now that she had her lover, she spoke confidently, “I’m ready to go, speak your words, Traveler, my people await.”
He spoke in his archaic tongue, and soon he was holding her by the flowing stream that they had left earlier, in the other world. Darkness had blanketed the land, but Niyol would guide her. He was her strength, her guide, and her lover.
Chapter 7 By My Side
As they returned to the village, all seemed at peace. Most people were sleeping, but a few still milled around, bowing as she passed them by. She felt that she would never get used to that.
He escorted her to her new home, and said his goodbyes at the door.
“Niyol,” she whispered his name, “where are you going?”
“My role is to guide you and offer you protection whilst you need it. I will stay by your side until you dismiss me, Princess, or I die in your service.”
She didn't mind him calling her “Princess,” now, it seemed he said it with reverence, whereas before she felt he was mocking her. She was growing ever fond of this man.
“Please, Niyol, stay with me tonight. I fear I cannot do this without your help,” she pleaded with him.
He was glad that she had invited him and entered her home, willingly.
“Here’s my sleeping quarters,” she said, starting to get undressed and giggling at the thought of making love to him again.
“I will sleep in the other room. I am a light sleeper, if you want or need me, just shout out my name, I will be here in an instant.” He kissed her briefly on the lips before bowing and backing out of the room.
“Why, Niyol, why can’t we be together?”
“All would know of this. You do not want them to see your weaknesses. Show the people your strengths. When this is over, there will be plenty of time for us to be together,” he said, and left.
She lay in the darkness, seemingly, for an eternity, trying to sleep. Her mind active with thoughts of how to approach the next few days. How would she defeat her brother? Will it involve huge battles with much bloodshed? She was so engrossed in her worries that she almost missed the noise from the corner of the room, and even then she wasn't sure if she had imagined it.
Glancing over in t
he direction of the noise, she could see a figure sat in a chair. It was too dark to make out who it was, and she assumed that Niyol must have changed his mind.
“Niyol, so you can’t resist my charms then?” she asked, lightly.
The figure said nothing just sat there, stock still.
“Niyol, come on then, the bed is cold without you?” she pulled back her covers and stepped from the bed, slowly approaching the seated figure. The coldness caused her to shiver. A deep chill ran through her, freezing her blood.
“Niyol?” she whispered, as she cautiously approached the shadow.
“No, dear sister, I am not your lover, but your brother.”
She stared on in horror as she looked at her brother Vaclav, seated in the chair, his face twisted with hatred.
“Welcome home, dear sister,” he said as he stood and thrust a dagger deep into her heart.
***
The screams from the Princess’s room awoke Niyol from his light sleep. He jumped out of his makeshift bed and quickly ran to her bed chamber, pausing only to pick up his sword on the way. He burst through her door, expecting the worse. A relief washed over him as he saw that no one was in the room and the Princess lay safely in her bed, though mumbling words incoherently.
“Princess, wake up, wake up, are you well?” He shook her gently, trying to awaken her.
Tammy sat up quickly and shook her head to clear away the dregs of sleep. Her heart beat so fast that she felt it would burst out of her chest.
“Oh god, Niyol, I had a terrible dream, my brother, he was here, and he... and he...”
“All is well, Tamara, you are safe now, I am here.”
He pulled her close to his own body, wrapping his strong arms around her and holding her tightly. Her slender frame was shaking with fear.
“It felt so real, I thought he had killed me, but it was just a dream,” she cried.
“Not just a dream, Tamara, he knows you are here, and has sent you a warning.”
He still held her close until her shivering settled. Gently he stroked at her golden hair. She had experienced a fright this night, but there was much worse to come.
“How could he do that, Niyol?” she asked, “get into my head like that?”
“He is very powerful, but we will prevail, Princess, I have faith.”
She never thought she’d hear him say those words, and now he had, she felt she could take on her brother and anyone else who messed with her people. She looked up at him, his handsome features were furrowed in concern. She knew, then, that she was falling in love with this man. Lifting her head slightly, she pressed her lips to his and he responded in kind. Just for a few moments, the kiss took away the horror of the night’s warning. Her mind was clear as she was lost in the embrace of her protector.
She fell asleep, safe and secure in his arms, as the both lay on the bed together, as one.
Chapter 8 Jolly Jack
She travelled on horseback. They had offered her the use of a small carriage so she could ride in some comfort, shaded from the Ionian sun, but she had chosen to ride next to Niyol. She informed the elders that he was to be appointed her personal guard. They seemed to look at each other with a knowing smile, the Princess was here to stay.
The people rejoiced as she passed them by. Stopping in villages to speak, hoping their menfolk would join her in battle. Many of them did, fathers, sons and brothers marched with her to confront the Emperor. The army was growing, and training in combat was a daily exercise on this ever moving camp. Princess Tamara even walked about the camp on an evening, mingling with the people and assuring them that this was their land to protect, not hers. She had no intentions of ever taking it away from them.
“This time we will win the battle for ourselves,” she said loudly, in one of her many speeches. “The next battle will be for our neighbors, until all the islands are returned to their rightful owners, the people of the islands!”
The crowd cheered for their Princess, they knew now that Royalty had returned to them, soon all would be well again. Royalty brought wealth and stability, they owned armies and gave guidance. Would not this Princess do all these things for them? They did not realize that they were the only army she had, their wealth would come when they invaded the Princes’ homeland, and the stability would not happen until all the islands were taken back.
However, she would provide guidance, and she was determined to find her magic skills, though this was proving more difficult. Her journey would surely reveal her magic, sooner or later.
***
“I was told she had perished!” the Emperor screamed in fury at the warlord who knelt before him. “Call yourself an army?” he continued yelling, as he turned to one warlord in particular. “You,” he pointed an accusatory finger, “you told me that you personally had seen to it, now I learn that you lied.”
“Sire, I was told she had been taken by an old man who had fallen from a cliff, into the sea. How could I prove this? I could not search the oceans for their bodies. I was informed by a reliable source, Sire.”
“I don’t like people who lie to save their own asses, General,” he turned to the other Generals, who were watching the situation unfold, with unease.
“You, and you,” he said, pointing to a couple of them. ‘Kill him.”
Neither of them responded, instead they looked unsure as to how to proceed. What were they expected to do?
“When you eventually make up your minds,” Emperor Vaclav spoke harshly as he pulled at the collar of his lying warlord. “I want this man’s life ended. Don't make me do it myself, once I get started who knows where I will stop!”
In reality, neither wanted the place by the Emperor’s side, but if they didn’t do as he commanded, they knew they’d soon be joining the unfortunate General. Between them, one forced the General to kneel and the other quickly decapitated the out-of-favor warlord, with one slash of his own sword.
“Excellent,” Vaclav clapped his hands, applauding the performance. “You,” he pointed to the one still clutching the bloodied sword, I’ll have you for now,” he instructed. “Mind that you don’t lie to me,” he added as an afterthought.
These people were so tediously annoying. All of them feared him, he could sense it. And, on top of putting up with them, he had a sister to murder.
“Who, of my warlords, is leading the armies that are attacking the Island of Citheera? What is the ship that he sails upon?”
He looked on at his assembled warlords. Each one of them looked back with fear.
“Fools, I ought to kill you all, you deserve no less, any of you!” he yelled. “See how merciful I am,” he spoke in a quieter voice. “I protect you all and look how you treat me!”
“Yes, my lord,” they all said in unison as if they puppets on a single string.
“The Jolly Jack, my Emperor,” a soldier shouted. “It confronts the island where the Princess Tamara is said to be gathering an army.”
Just the mention of her name sent the Emperor into a furious temper.
“She is no Princess, do you hear me?” he screamed at the messenger. “The next man who calls her that, will suffer my wrath as I remove his tongue.”
None of the men dared to speak. Each one kept their heads bowed and their eyes to the floor.
“I’m going, now, I can’t be wasting time on a journey. Gather the troops, all of them, and march on the rebel territories. They will pay for this day with their lives, all of them!” He shouted, waving his hands high in the air. “I will personally deal with my beloved sister myself.”
With that he was gone. He was not a Traveler, so needed no archaic words. He knew the layout of the Jolly Jack, he had personally named the ship and had travelled on it himself. All he needed to do was envision where he wanted to go, and he would be transported there in moments.
Chapter 9 Little People
“Would it be imprudent of me to nip back to my world, have pizza and chocolate, and then nip back again?” Tammy asked of Niyol a
s he lay naked, beside her, in their now temporary camp as they moved towards the coastline.
“I love you Princess Tamara,” he said, looking into her eyes. “But, I’m not flitting about worlds so you can have pizza. Ionia food is good enough for any Princess.”
“Pah,” she almost jokingly spat. “When I find out what my magic is, I’m not going to share it with you,” she said, sulkily. “All I ask is for pizza, is that so hard?”
“Magic is not to be used lightly,” he said, sullenly. “It is to be used cautiously, and not for the sake of a Princess’s dinner.”
“I know,” she admitted. “I just miss my junk food. You have no idea how addictive that stuff is. This is like going cold turkey,” she moaned.
“We have turkey, if you wish,” he said, happy to supply her with a substitute for her pizza. “I can get you cold turkey, though it is tastier warm and freshly cooked.”
“You are a great oaf,” she laughed. “I have no desire for turkey, hot or cold. Tomorrow we will arrive at the coastline and I fear for all of our lives. I know you’re indestructible, but if my brother’s armies have taken over five out of seven islands, then he must be a force to be reckoned with.”
“The Emperor has many mages,” Niyol took on a serious tone. “He uses magic to keep his stronghold and places fear in the hearts of people. You have rallied these people to fight again. They have freedom in sight, and you have given them that by eliminating the fear he placed there. This is our last hope, you must have faith in yourself.”
“How can I, Niyol?” she questioned. “I can’t even find my own magic skills, let alone lead an army.”
“Patience, Princess, you will find your true magic when the time is right, but for now be content with ridding the people of your brother’s curse,” he kissed her as they lay on the floor, stealing a few moments of passion together before the mayhem of battle. “Your own skill will show itself soon enough. Our people follow you because they see in you all that is good about your family. Your parents were good people.”