Uleni's Gamble

by D. R. Rosier

  He wasn’t sure how many enemies died, or how many simply fled that area, but the wall started to break apart in chunks. They cleared a twenty foot gap in the wall below the flames. He could see the fires on the ground now too, some of the oil must have overshot the other side of the wall.

  They moved in closer with about fifty of them keeping their rifles pointing at the top of the wall on either side of the fire. A few of the enemy popped up enough to shoot arrows and got shot for their trouble, except they were able to release a volley, and they were too close to the wall now for the arrows to be deflected enough by the wind. Several soldiers cried out as they took an arrow.

  He rushed to heal the ones he could, but a number of them took arrows to a mortal area and died before he could get to them. He prayed it wouldn’t get too bloody for them as Anton gave the order.

  “Charge! Get through the hole and get some of our men on that wall.”

  It was a fierce fight, most of the first men that made it through the wall were killed from arrows, both from the side streets and from up on the wall. But the enemy was severely outnumbered now and fell from air bullets and sharp objects the telekinesis talents sent. One of the soldiers had the idea to use the mines he had made for grenades instead, tossing them around the corners of buildings, taking out the enemies hidden there.

  They lost another five hundred men to the defenders that day, leaving just over thirteen hundred left. They had lost more than they killed, but it was still a relatively low butcher’s bill considering they were attacking a fortified city. That didn’t mean he didn’t hate every one of their losses.

  There was no way he could defeat Riese at hand to hand combat, he had his rifle and they moved toward the palace. Really, since the god of war had given Riese knowledge and experience on fighting, he didn’t think any of them realistically could come close to killing him in a contest of arms.

  Riese did not make them come after him though, when they got close to the castle, Riese came out and dropped a challenge, “Flame, I challenge you to a duel to the death.”

  Having no reason to do so, he was about to lift his rifle and end it, when he heard Ross, standing next to him answer the challenge.

  *

  Ross boomed, “You will fight me kingslayer!”

  The hiss of steel calmed him as he pulled two blades.

  Riese laughed and said, “Do you truly believe you can fight me Ross? You’re talent with weapons is useless fighting me.”

  Ross chuckled. “Fool, did you think I was the best swordsman in Uleni by depending on my talent? I let it guide and teach me, not control me. I demand satisfaction, I challenge you over the murder of our king.”

  Riese looked taken back and honestly curious when he asked, “Why? That fool had dangerous ideas, plans to change our most sacred laws.”

  Ross said as he walked toward Riese, blades ready, “My sister was a sweet kid. Beautiful, and not an angry bone in her body. She was also a witch and I loved her dearly. So you see, the king not getting a chance to change those laws is exactly the reason I am going to kill you now.”

  Ross attacked Riese with stunning speed and agility. His swords were nothing but a blur. But Riese was keeping up, every block, parry, and dodge perfectly done. They felt rage for each other but controlled it, both perfectly focused. They seemed perfectly matched in skills and as the fight drew on he wondered if he would tire first. Riese had both augmented strength and stamina that he could not boast.

  Then Riese screamed in anger and started attacking recklessly. He wondered if he would have lost, had Riese not left his sanity behind long ago. Giving in to his anger was the beginning of Riese’s defeat. But whether it was the fool’s reckless anger, or just random chance that killed the fool, he would probably never know.

  Riese slightly stumbled on a medium sized rock, throwing one arm wide to regain his balance.

  It was more than enough of an opening for Ross to finish things. He drove a blade into Riese’s chest and while dodging around a desperate stab he brought his other blade whistling around severing Riese’s head in one powerful blow…

  Chapter 13

  They all made their way into the castle, Justin’s mind moved quickly and he looked at Anton, a glimmer of an idea formed in his mind. Going back to destroy the altar was important, but there was an opportunity here that shouldn’t be thrown away.

  He waited until they were eating, the scared servants jumped to keep them happy which just reinforced the idea in his mind. He considered Ross and the three mages, and wondered if he would have any issues there, but he dove in and made the suggestion.

  “Anton, I think you should keep the troops and talents we brought with us, and the two mages, and claim the kingdom of Egeria.”

  At the shocked look on everyone’s face, he thought maybe he should have led up to it a little better. Still, it seemed obvious to him. He glanced meaningfully at Sara, who looked calm, so he hadn’t ruffled any feathers from the Uleni yet.

  Anton coughed and said, “You think what?” Anton looked a little shocked at the idea.

  He blew out a breath, then said carefully, “Well, let’s look at the state of things. Riese killed or converted all the mages here, as well as the nobility. The kingdom of Egeria needs direction and a strong hand. If we make it yours, Abelaweth gains a peaceful neighbor to the south that until now has been a threat. You are already royalty, so no one is going to argue with you too much since you have the only troops in the area as well as the strongest magic.

  “On top of that, this place needs to move away from its brutal practices toward women, a view I know you share with me. What better way to do so, than to lead them from the top. It won’t be easy, but it will happen over time. Especially with your troops coming from Abelaweth, they won’t look the other way when a man rapes a woman or beats her like others from Egeria who grew up expecting it.

  “None of it would be easy, I would understand if you refused, but really, if you do the people down here will remain downtrodden, and your enemy. Did you see how terrified the servants looked? Or the towns we passed through? The city? With a firm but gentle hand you could turn this place around, make them an ally. The common people certainly won’t complain, and there aren’t enough of the entitled left to squeak.”

  Anton said dubiously, “I had always expected to rule Abelaweth when my father passed. What if we simply absorbed Egeria, made it ours?”

  He frowned and shook his head. “There are a few issues with that. One, the people will resent it, they are Egerians. Instead of a new king they could trust, they would be conquered in essence and never truly feel a part of the kingdom.

  “Second, it’s too much ground to properly rule from so far away, we are two weeks from the capitol in Abelaweth, things wouldn’t change as quickly, and your father couldn’t deal with them as effectively as you could close up. There are too many problems here to clean up at a distance.

  “Lastly, and I think Ross might back me up on it, if Abelaweth swallows this kingdom, the new peace which is still fragile with Uleni might break. For those not here, the decision will seem to be self serving and your father seen as having plans to rule the whole continent. They would be suspicious of your father’s true intentions. Keeping it a separate kingdom will be hard enough for them to deal with.

  “There is still time on the succession issue it would cause in Abelaweth. You should think about it, but not too long, you’ll need to move quickly on it if it’s going to work.”

  Anton turned to Ross and asked, “How do you feel about this, and if I do what the Flame suggests do you think Uleni would object?”

  Ross looked thoughtful for a second, then smiled, “Not if it was a joint effort, if you would appoint me as the head of your military?” Ross rubbed his chin thoughtfully then continued, “And perhaps one of these two mages on your council? I think Uleni would trust we wouldn’t attack them if you did those things. Just a suggestion… your majesty.”

  Anton frowned, and the
y all ate in silence as the young man thought it over. It was a shit storm he had offered him, but also a chance to make a real difference. He liked the idea of Ross, the man had grown on him, and he certainly wasn’t against woman mages, or the abuse of woman.

  Anton scowled at him when they finished lunch, but immediately started making plans.

  “Very well, Ross, I need you to prepare twenty troops for each town with either a fast moving shape shifter or air talent in each. I am going to go over the laws, make changes, and give them to the groups tomorrow. If any of the village elders have a problem with the changes, they should send back a report. Either way, the soldiers should stay a month, make sure they have enough cash to pay their way, they should be examples of how we want the people to act, understood?”

  Ross nodded. “It will be done your majesty.”

  Anton said, “We can handle the city after they leave. I’ll also review the taxes, I have a feeling they are much too high, so at least we can give them good news along with the stuff they won’t want to swallow,” turning to Nicole he said, “Nicci, you’ll have to explain all this to father, and make sure he knows it was your man’s idea, would you?”

  Nicole laughed vibrantly and said, “You bet I will. I’m sure our father will have words with him about the succession.”

  He tried to look innocent and failed. He already had an idea about that. Actually a couple, but he didn’t think the world was ready for a queen yet, which was a shame. Nicole would look incredibly hot in purple, and be a brilliant leader. Of course, if the dragon child they had was a girl, they might not have a choice, unless the king gets another mate…

  Still, it was the best thing he thought, putting Anton in charge here, for Abelaweth, for the people of Egeria, and hopefully for peace…

  They decided to leave in the morning and head back to Uleni, possibly stopping at the capitol of Abelaweth on the way and letting the king in on Anton’s plans that he reluctantly admitted was suggested by him. The now King Anton, had the servants set them up a permanent suite in the guest wing. No doubt he would miss his sister and hope for visits in the future. This suite actually had three bedrooms, the extra for Trina.

  Still, just moving as their group it would take two or three days instead of two weeks to visit, if it wasn’t so dangerous he might try and persuade Sally to learn travelling. He hoped however that their constant trips across the continent would be cut down drastically in the future.

  At dinner Anton looked annoyed and filled them in.

  “You wouldn’t believe how many oppressive laws there are here, I have done a lot of crossing out and adding. I might have to put off tomorrow’s expeditions another day, or at the least they will get a late start, possibly around noon tomorrow for me to finish up. The tax part is easy, I just wrote up a simple code and threw out the crap they had.”

  Nicole and Sally offered to help, but Anton shook his head and said, “It’s a one person job really, but thanks for the offer. I should be done before lunch tomorrow, if I work on it some more tonight,” he made a face, “You could talk my intended mate into moving here though, and set her up with an escort if she agrees when you get back to Abelaweth?”

  Nicole grinned, “Consider it done.”

  After dinner they retired to their rooms, and Sara claimed his hand and pulled him into the second room. He smiled as the sound cut off when he entered the room, Sally must have already spelled it for privacy. She pulled him into a passionate kiss that had his pleasure hardening as she pressed her soft supple body against his.

  He felt his heart race as he broke the kiss, cupped her face and asked, “Sara, I love you, for a long time now, long before we ever touched and you are more precious than life to me. Would you be my mate, have my children, and spend the rest of our days together?”

  She had tears in her eyes when she said, “Yes, please yes.”

  He felt his magic reach out, as hers did, and a bond formed between them, sealed by their love and oath.

  They came together and kissed, softly at first but then it built, became hungry, passionate. He was fully extended, pushed up against her stomach as she melded her perfect sexy body to his. He slowly started to strip her clothes off and she eagerly returned the favor.

  She whispered, “I love you, take me hard my mate.”

  There was no doubt or fear in her voice, yet he still worried about her feeling trapped, so he would avoid missionary, and hope that was enough.

  He lifted her up by her ass, and felt her legs go around him. He could feel the moist heat against his member, the promise of her tight silken delight caused his manhood to jump, pushing against her swollen wet lips. She was more than ready, so he picked her up a little higher, and dropped her down, his length impaling her velvety folds and driving into her hot wet heaven.

  He carried her toward the bed as they kissed still fully joined. He put her on the edge of the bed, grabbed her legs and pulled them up and over his shoulders. Her beautiful full lips parted as she gasped and her piercing green eyes rolled back with her body. She arched her back and swiveled her hips as he started rocking in and out of her tight passage.

  Her breasts started to sway and rock as he pumped in and out of her harder and harder. When he reached out his hands and pinched her nipples while gently twisting she cried out.

  “Goddess Justin, fuck that’s amazing, don’t stop!”

  He couldn’t take his eyes off her beautiful face as he brought her to ecstasy, her every reaction and sound coming through her lips held him captive. His length was squeezed and milked by her lush silken heat. It was harder to pull back during her bliss, he only did so half way, but didn’t slow down as he continued to slam into her hard and fast. He could feel her body tremble as her orgasm rolled directly into another.

  He gasped as his legs went numb, her passage got tighter as he swelled inside of her, “Sara, I can’t hold on any more.”

  She said breathlessly, “Fill me, I want to feel you fill me, make me yours and give us a child.”

  He felt her body tremble a third time as her velvety core started to greedily milk his baby batter. When he started to come down, he gently caressed her long legs from foot to inner thigh, up and down as he stared deeply into her eyes.

  He decided to try doggie style for their next round, not only did she not feel trapped by it, she was wildly enthusiastic as he hit places in her that she had never felt before. They spent quite a bit of time with each other before retiring for the night, completely sated, to the main bedroom with the other ladies.

  *

  Cytherea was both happy and troubled. Happy that Justin had found a way not only to stop Riese, but initiated the process that would make Egeria a better place to live for women. She didn’t interfere at all because of free will, but that didn’t mean she had no opinions on how things should be. He also took the unplanned fifth as his mate, which made her smile, she thought he deserved every happiness he could find.

  What worried her though, was him giving her his free will and allowing her to work through him wouldn’t be enough this time, and she had no idea at all what would be. Ares was not truly evil, he was just a petty vindictive child of a god. She wished he would just withdraw from her world now that he had no mortals worshipping him. It had to be a drain keeping that connection with no power coming back to him.

  She sighed, he would never do that though, he’ll bide his time until someone else decides they want to worship another god, then pounce on the person and make them an offer. Maybe he would grow up one day as she had, but she didn’t want him playing with her world in the meantime. She just wasn’t sure what was needed.

  She smiled as she felt a hand on her shoulder.

  “Do you not already know the answer daughter? Would it surprise you, that you not having it yet makes me proud of you? The old you would have figured it out right away. Not that it really matters, the question is, will Justin figure it out…”

  She pondered what he had told her and she knew she
must be missing the obvious. What did her old self want that no longer held appeal to her? She flushed when the answer came to her, it was something her old self would have wanted, demanded, and abused.

  *

  Nothing quite drove home the fact how far Sara had come from the scared mousy maid she had been than the looks of respect and fear from the people she used to work with, and for. She didn’t really feel that different inside, but as a mate of the Flame of Cytherea, things were vastly different for her now as far as how she was treated by the people around her.

  It felt odd to her, and wasn’t truly important, what was significant to her was her new family. She couldn’t remember a time in her life she had been happier. She didn’t like the way the servants feared her though, and had considered trying to talk to them about it. She realized though, that it wouldn’t help, back then she wouldn’t have believed it either.

  She hoped it wouldn’t take long for them to come to the truth of it, Anton would not be a harsh king and changes were coming, good changes that would take time to be believed. She caught herself touching her abdomen again and blushed. She was hoping she was pregnant, but if she wasn’t yet, she knew it wouldn’t be long…

  *

  Justin kissed Katrina fiercely after she woke him up in the usual way. They would be travelling in a little while, although now they could do so in their group of seven and at higher speed. It would only take a few days to reach the capitol in Abelaweth, then maybe two more days to reach Uleni and end this. Then he could get back to what he wanted to do, help run an inn, heal people, and help raise his family.

  He released Kat as she got up, then enjoyed waking his other mates with roaming hands and kisses before escaping their sleepy wrath. He slipped into the main room of the suite as breakfast was being delivered. He waited until the ladies joined him, then they dug in before the food could get cold.

  Anton came in as they were finishing up packing and handed him a letter.