Sacrifice

by Underwood, Patrick

  “How does it work?”

  “I only have the basics. They do not teach specifics until your initiate year, but it requires a Chosen of at least the rank of adept, since that is when you can start imbuing objects with power. They specifically powered this one with both light and wind, so it took two people to make it. The light, which in this case creates darkness, shadows a person so they are harder to see. The wind will create a barrier of air that can dampen the sounds. It only has so much power, but anyone can use it, and it is usually awfully expensive.”

  “So that's how I missed her.” I nodded my head, thinking back to when Susan surprised me, never even knew she was there.

  “Yes, and it will help Stern get into the city without being noticed. Thank you for not questioning me, allowing him to have it, Master.”

  “Tyla, you know you don't have to call m—”

  “Please? At least when we are in private? It… makes me feel… right? I don't know. Like I want to serve you and it gives me pleasure when I do.”

  “I am pretty sure that is just the bond.”

  “No,” she shook her head. “Well, yes. But I have always had… fantasies about losing control to a lover. I just never had the courage to admit them to anyone. Until now.”

  “So, you like to be dominated?”

  “Not… exactly, more like… I don't know, maybe just letting someone else in control? Just to make someone else happy by doing for them. They always groomed me to be a matriarch someday, and I hated it. I would rather let someone else be in charge and make them happy.”

  I sighed but relented. “If it will make you happy when we are in private. I am not sure if it will be comfortable for me though.”

  “If it still bothers you after a while, I will stop. My pet name for you almost makes me feel the same.”

  “My love?” I asked.

  “Yes.” She smiled at me.

  I was silent for a second as I considered it. “Okay.”

  “Thank you, Master,” she said and scooted closer to me, hugging my side as she laid her head on my shoulder. “Do you… love me, Master?”

  “Huh?” I asked, surprised.

  “You have not said it, and I was curious.”

  She was right. I hadn't said it, but not because it didn't cross my mind. “It's… complicated. I have been on this world for seven days. I have feelings so strong for you it makes what I felt about Jessica almost disappear. Everything from my previous life tells me that it should just be infatuation and lust.”

  I paused as she let me think of the next words before I continued. “I stop myself and wonder what is real. Is this me in love with you? Or is this me being forced to play the game of a supposed god who presided over the death of my world… and who knows what else.”

  I set down the crossbow and put my arm around the beautiful woman. She adjusted a bit and pushed into my side.

  “You worry your love for me is created by another, and that my love for you is the same?”

  “Yes… No? I… I don't know Tyla, I really don't know.” I sighed in frustration. “That is not a reflection of you, it's just the situation I find myself in and haven't resolved in here.” Tapping my head.

  “Does it matter?” she asked.

  “Does what matter?”

  “Does it matter if it's real? I mean, to me it feels real. The love I feel for you is so strong that I would do anything you asked. I was beginning to feel this way before we bonded, then it only magnified a thousand-fold after we bonded. Is that a bad thing?”

  I deflated. She was right. “No, I guess it doesn't. I… I do love you Tyla, I can't deny it. Nor do I want to. I just… don't like the idea of being used as a pawn in some chess game by beings so powerful they call themselves gods.”

  Tyla smiled and lifted off my shoulder, facing me with her pretty face and beautiful eyes. “Good, my Master, it's fine to hate the idea of being treated as a caged rat. But accept our love for what it is, even if it is forced. Love is too rare to waste, my mother would tell me as a girl.” She leaned up and kissed me on the lips.

  As our lips parted, I smiled. “You are beautiful, brilliant, and I absolutely do not deserve you.” Which got her cheeks to glow the slightest hint of red as she smiled.

  She kissed me again, this time going deeper, and pushed me back into the blanket we had set on the ground under the tree. Her fingers started wandering down my fresh shirt and light leather armor, plundered from the camp of those men we killed. She unwound the cords of each of the straps, never letting her lips lose contact with me.

  I moved to help her.

  “Nuh uh,” she mumbled, shaking her head through our kiss before pulling back. “Just relax, let me take care of you.”

  “As you wish,” I said, an image of a cheesy ancient movie going through my brain.

  She undid the front of my shirt and then moved down to my pants, unleashing the drawstring to pull my rising monster out of its lair. Pushing my pants down just enough to give her unrestricted access to it.

  She licked the tip of my cock and swirled it around. Teasing me with just the tip of her tongue, causing me to moan.

  “You like that?” she asked.

  “You know I do. This isn't the first time you've done that.”

  “It is not? Oh, then I better try new things,” she said, a mischievous smile on her face.

  I pulled the pack I found when I awoke in this world over near me and laid back on it, sitting up because I did not want to miss this show of her affection.

  She licked my shaft up and down with her tongue, not putting it in her mouth, my toes of my bare feet curling from the sensation. As she did this, she shifted around so that she was now kneeling in between my widened legs, with my cock in front of her face.

  Without further warning, she lifted and plunged her mouth down on my moistened shaft, engulfing almost three quarters of my length.

  “Oh fuck,” I said, the pleasure of the sensation flooding through my groin to my body.

  I opened my eyes from their involuntary closure to see her looking up at me as she gagged around my girth.

  She came up for air, a bit of drool hanging from her lips and smiled. “Was that something you enjoyed?”

  “I… did, immensely in fact.”

  “Good.” she said and went back to it.

  She did not go as far, but she continued to bob up and down on my shaft as I lost myself to the bliss that she was giving me. My neck lost its ability to keep my head lifted and I set it back on the bag. I felt nothing but the sensation of her sucking on my cock.

  Before I was ready, I felt the end coming. “Tyla, I am about to…” I tried to warn her, reaching to tap her on the head to give her a physical warning. She just kept going until I felt the explosion coming from my loins.

  “Oh god!” I cried out as my seed blasted into her throat. Tyla pulled away from me, unable to hold it all in as it dripped from her lips. She wiped it off with her arm.

  “Oh god, you came… a lot, Master,” She said after she could speak again.

  “I'm sorry. I tried to warn you.”

  “I wanted to. The other girls always said it was a weakness for a Chosen to consume the seed of a man. I… wanted to rebel a little, to be honest. Though I did not think it would actually taste… good.”

  “It does?” I asked, surprised. “That's… not what I have heard before.”

  “You taste good, a little salty, but it also creates a pleasure when I swallow it.”

  I laughed. “It's probably something the gods did to make you addicted to being bonded.”

  Tyla licked some of it off her hand and shrugged. “Either way.”

  “Come here,” I said, and she climbed up my chest and cuddled with me. “Give me a second to recharge and it's your turn.”

  She snuggled into me a little more and nodded.

  “Tyla?”

  “Yes, Master?”

  “Before we go much farther, and I realize we did not have a choice the first
time, but is there birth control in this world?”

  “You mean like a plant or a medicine? No, there is not, but it is incredibly difficult for Chosen to conceive a child. One joke at the academy is that we are so… needy for sex to increase our chances of getting pregnant. My mother and fathers had sex regularly. I, uh, heard them all the time in their tent when we were traveling together.”

  “All three together?”

  Tyla nodded.

  “Mind if I ask an awkward question that I shouldn't?”

  “How do we know who the father is when a child is born?” she said, knowing my question before I asked.

  I chuckled. “Yeah, fairly obvious, right?”

  “Water magic would tell us at birth, from a Mistress level Chosen or above. Though when I was conceived, my mother only was with my father for months until it happened. To ensure his bloodline passed to at least one child.”

  “That makes sense. Though, to be on the safe side, I think I should… we called it pulling out on my world, does that translate?”

  “Yes, do not put your seed inside me when you release.”

  “Yes, at least until we figure out some kind of stability. We don't need you pregnant right now.”

  She nodded. “Some water blessed Chosen like me can make good coins, helping women prevent children they otherwise would not want. It must be done within the first weeks of conception unless you are at the mistress level or above. As it requires significant amounts of power, something the gods put in place to ensure a healthy population. Before the fall, the Matriarchs and queens of the human lands also frowned upon it, as they wanted more children to help push our species into the unoccupied lands, at least before the other races did.”

  “I am really amazed at how many things the elemental powers you have can do. I really need to learn this water magic. It saved my life in the fight but… if I could have controlled it better, I could have gotten right back up when she hit me with that fireball.”

  “Susan was a year senior to me and close to adept. If she had mastered that, she might have been able to imbue an arrow with fire. It would have been much worse.” Tyla shuddered at the thought.

  “You can imbue weapons?”

  “Yes, I was told it is much more efficient than direct casting. With water, it does not really do any good to imbue an arrow, but with fire, you can make an arrow a thousand degrees without burning the shaft to cinders. With air you can coat it in electricity so that even if you miss you can still stun. It gets more brutal with the more power and control you have. Not to mention that Earth elements can increase your strength and you can send it farther and faster.”

  “I really need to figure out how all this works. Can we spend some time each night going over it? After training in fighting and power use?”

  “Yes, Master,” Tyla said as she smiled. “We will also get some books when we get to Hills Crest.”

  “You said it was just a small town we were going to meet Stern and his family in. Will they have that kind of stuff?”

  “It should still have some books and other supplies we need. We have enough coin now that we should be able to get plenty, even there. If not, then Riven Hold will definitely have it.”

  “Guess we will find out when we get there. Stern's map said we should be able to make it in about six days at a fast clip.”

  “Yes, Master,” Tyla said, pulling down her shorts without preamble and climbing on top of me. “You promised me we would sate my needs next. May we begin?” she said sweetly.

  She was right, even if the gods forced this upon us, it still felt great to be in love with such a sexy woman.

  19

  Hills Crest

  We woke just inside the tree line across the clearing from the town of Hills Crest. No fire and only prepared rations, something else we had liberated from our would-be captors.

  “Thank you for warming me this morning,” Tyla said, a subtle blush on her face.

  “You deserved a pleasant wake up, though I should have considered the noise.”

  “I'm sorry, Master, I didn't mean to be so loud.” Her sly smile contradicted her words.

  “Nymph. You regret nothing.”

  “If you want, we could…”

  “No,” I blurted before I could consider her words. “I want to get into that town as soon as they open the gates. Well, what they call gates anyway, from the looks of them they barely keep out the wildlife.”

  “Hills Crest is just a way station between Blackrun and Riven Hold. Technically neutral and historically protected by both. It has, well… had, a small ruling council of three Chosen, I do not know if they are still in charge. They may have come north with the Matriarch of Riven Hold's army. I don't remember.”

  I finished tying the straps of my light leather armor. Not a perfect fit, but I was hoping to get something else in town.

  “Okay, let's ditch the makeshift spears and put the crap daggers in the bags. Also, glad we got rid of those cheap batons, I don't think they would have been worth much and they were heavy, and we never wanted to use them. Let's decide what we keep and try to sell.”

  “All the cheap knives, Susan's blade is the best and… I would like to keep that?” she said, looking at me. I nodded, and she continued. “Then the crossbow is built well and the bow, but after our training, I think the crossbow is better for me.”

  “I agree, it's easier to point and shoot, but longer to load. Hmmm. Yeah, keep it, it packs a punch in a pinch, then you can use your element as needed. Speaking of, let's refocus your training to do smaller shots of water for distraction rather than actual damage. If you can keep a few people busy long enough for me to take out individuals in the future, it might make all the difference.”

  “Oh, I never really considered that. I think I can do that. My power will last longer too.”

  “Let's sell everything but your dagger and the crossbow.” I thought for a moment on the items in front of us. “What about Susan’s Rapier? It’s serviceable and we could probably keep it on you as a backup… Hell, I have never really used a sword in my life, knives sure, but not swords. Thoughts?”

  “I… agree. The Susan I knew always thought I should have studied the martial arts more. My use of them is very rudimentary. For my memory of what she was, not who she became, I will do so.”

  I reached out and grabbed her hand, bringing it to my lips for a kiss. “That's a good way to remember her.”

  “Thank you.” She wiped her eyes. “Sell the rest, then?”

  “Yup, even the clothes then buy new stuff. Susan had all the wrong measurements to fit you properly and everything she had was like a slutty Halloween costume.”

  “A what?”

  “Nothing, just something from my land on Earth….” Her look made me continue. “A holiday where people would dress up as something they are not. Sometimes to scare others but mostly to party and act like something they regularly weren't.”

  “Interesting. I can't think of anything like that. You don't like… slutty?” she asked.

  “OH, I love slutty, when it's in private and done for your partner as a turn on. I guess I mean provocative more than slutty, but that’s in the weeds.” I smiled. “Though if you are single, it's fine I guess if that is how you want to attract someone. For me? Sexy in public is okay, but I always thought slutty sent the wrong message when you were in a committed relationship like we are.”

  She smiled. “So, no others will join us? You have decided?”

  “No men, for sure. Just not my preference. I promised you I would be open to women, but the conditions have to be right, and they have to be fully aware of what they are getting into.”

  “Thank you, Master. I have no desire for other men, but for you to have power. I want to add other women for you… and somewhat for personal reasons, I enjoy their touch as well.”

  “Nymph,” I teased.

  “Yes, Master, I guess you bring it out of me.”

  “I am going to make you prove that l
ater.”

  “Please?” She grabbed my finger and put it in her mouth, softly biting it.

  “Mm-mm,” I stopped. “All stop, or we won't leave. I want to stick to the plan, and I see the guards opening the gate. You are going to get it later though.”

  Tyla released my finger, stood, and turned away, sashaying in front of me. “I am yours as you please, Master.”

  I smacked my hand to my face. “She is going to kill me. I have awoken a sex kitten, haven't I?”

  “Yes!” she called out over her shoulder as she brought the hood of her cloak over her head and donned the pack.

  “Down boy,” I said downward, as she started walking. I picked up the rest of the gear, following my woman to town.

  “State your purpose!” the guard said, an older man with long hair and a pot helmet. A well maintained but old spear at his side. His breath was rancid even from the four or so feet that separated us.

  “Travelers from the north, passing through.”

  “No more refugees. If you want in, you have to pay the town entry fee.” He pointed his finger at a sign I couldn't read.

  “Not refugees, looking to stay a couple days, pick up supplies, then head south to Riven Hold.”

  “Fee,” he said, holding out his hand.

  Tyla spoke beneath her good, only part of her face visible. “The entry used to be free, why the three coppers?”

  “Since the defeat of the Matriarchs and their swearing of loyalty to Seir, we have had a lot of refugees, Ma'am. We can't hold no more.” The guard said, showing respect to Tyla.

  I forgot that women had run the world before Seir.

  “Pay the man,” she said.

  “Yes, mistress,” I said, assuming the role of protector and bodyguard.

  I pulled out the three coppers, handing them to the guard.

  “Thank you, mistress,” the guard said, ignoring me.

  Without further word, Tyla walked in through the gates like she oversaw the world. I followed in her wake, smiling at her without being able to stop myself.