He nodded in agreement, “Defending ourselves, and each other, will always take priority.”
He felt the difference as Arielle came out of her magic trance and looked over to her.
Arielle sighed, “They aren’t happy about it, but they relented. We are under strict orders to disengage and flee as soon as possible if things go badly, but we can try to help and make inroads to peaceful cooperation if we wish. Do you think that’s likely? That they’ll attack us I mean?”
He sighed, “I don’t know. They lost their technology, and their survival instincts are dictating their actions. Some by cooperation and others by… Let’s put it this way, if we lost all our magic and ability to communicate, then had our world invaded by unknown aliens, and then had our food source attacked. What would we do if a strange race showed up?”
Bria tilted her head, “You think it’s doomed to failure?”
He shook his head, “No, I think it’s a roll of the dice. We are known in legend, and we won’t be killing them, and there have been indications of magic back in the world if they’re paying attention. It really depends…” he turned to Bria, “You ready to put out a fire?”
Bria nodded slowly, and Arielle smiled at him. He couldn’t help but smile back, he’d missed her smile, as well as her upbeat personality, and it took his breath away to see it again.
Bria winked at him knowingly, probably smelled his pheromones, and he turned his head away as they moved up the incline of the road at a trot. When they went over the top, they took in the town below, nestled in the valley. He frowned as he looked around, he could see humans running around all over the place. They seemed to be running from the other humans, who had short crude looking blades, and what looked like a cudgel, but longer and thinner. It was hard to see the weapons from this far, but he didn’t think they had any metal spikes on the ends either.
A few men fought back, trying to protect the town, but they were being taken down fast, apparently not used to fighting at all.
He looked at Arielle whose eyes were narrowed and angry, and he knew she wanted to rush in and stop the raiders. He was tired of the death as well.
She said sadly, “I suppose this fits the definition of gone wrong and withdrawing as soon as possible?” with a bitter tinge to her words.
He frowned, “Most definitely, although I’m not altogether certain we can disengage until those poor innocent people are safe,” he said innocuously. He wanted to stop them too.
Bria shook her head, “It’s tempting, but I don’t think your mother would agree with that logic. There’s a difference between helping the humans, and interfering in their own… differences.”
Arielle sighed, “I know you’re right, but if we are to have friendly relations with humans, it will be with the ones being killed right now. We’ll never find peace if we allow the aggressive humans, who simply kill whoever and take whatever they want, to rule the others.”
He coughed, he happened to agree, at least with the sentiment, but it also wasn’t that simple.
“Bria, what if you did a low altitude fly by, and put out the flames, maybe roar a bit. That could… break things up a bit.”
Bria whispered, “I’m sorry, that… might just make things worse.”
Arielle cursed, kicked her horse’s flanks, and took off toward the town.
He knew she was upset, but hadn’t counted on that reaction at all. He and Bria shared a quick look, and then galloped after her, following in her wake as they left the big road on the little small road that led to the town. He pulled out his sword while reaching out into the surrounding forest to try and summon aide. A pack of wolves answered his call, and started to race for the town as well.
While they were still racing in Arielle’s wake, the hawk dove and dug its talons into a man’s face, one that had been chasing a young teenager. He’d almost caught up to Arielle as she pulled her sword out and he felt her magic as she called upon Charites. He suddenly felt stronger, faster, and his horse seemed to perk up and run faster as well.
The three of them swept into the town, each taking down one of the raiders effortlessly in the first few moments. The raiders had no fighting style at all, simply swinging the club with no finesse, as if they were simply toddlers hitting something with a stick. The three of them parried the simple attacks and cut into flesh in two lightning fast movements.
The surprise was past, and the panicked running started. For the raiders this time, not the people that lived in the village, or town as these humans called it. The raiders turned to flee, but wound up running straight into the wolves he’d summoned as they bound out of the trees. Five more went down, with a wolf’s jaw around their throats. The rest of the raiders continued to run except two, who stayed to help their comrades and swung their strange cudgels at the wolves’ heads.
He felt an explosion of magic next to him, as Bria shot two balls of wind at those men. The air was so dense he could visibly see it as the world behind it warped. The raiders were impacted in the side of the head, and he heard their necks snap a second later as they were lifted and thrown back. Their cudgels still struck the wolves, but not nearly as hard as they would have, and they wouldn’t get a second try.
He gripped his magic and sent out a thank you, deciding the fleeing humans should be allowed to live, there were only a handful left anyway. The wolves howled, turned, and ran back into the forest. He wanted to start screaming at Arielle for being so reckless, she even had a somewhat smug smile on her face at saving the human village, and forcing his and Bria’s hand.
Of course, he couldn’t do that being surrounded like they were by the townspeople.
Bria shot Arielle a venomous look, not at all happy about being forced to act like that. He looked around, and many of the humans were staring at them with horror, and fear. A few had even claimed the cudgels of the fallen, and looked unsure if they were enemies or not.
He smiled tentatively, “We saw what was happening, and… helped,” he finished awkwardly, not wanting to lie. He hadn’t decided to help after all.
The humans startled when Bria got off the horse and walked toward the buildings that were on fire, two right next to each other. He watched, impressed, as she used her magic. The fire bent towards her, and then leaped out of the building to surround her in a ring of flame, which shot up in a pillar as she redirected the fire to a place without fuel, somewhere it would just… burn out.
The stream of flames from the buildings, around her, and straight up lasted for a little less than a minute. None of the humans had said anything yet, and if anything looked even more afraid at Bria’s display of power. Maybe Bria had been right earlier about the fly by idea being a bad one, he figured if a little fire magic freaked out the humans, the big silver dragon would have scared the hell out of them.
Bria came back and got on her horse, “We just came to help, we’ll be moving on now.”
With a glare at Arielle, she took off back to the little road, that led to the big one. None of the humans said anything, maybe they were in shock?
He started off and Arielle rode next to him.
She whispered, “I’m sorry, I had to.”
He shook his head, angry despite his desire to hold her, “Why?”
She had tears down her cheeks as she said, “I saw… in the alley. He… he slit a woman’s throat, after he… finished what he was doing with her. I… had to stop them from doing any more.”
He sighed, how could he mad at her now?
“It’s okay, you just did what all three of us wanted to do. But you might want to apologize to Bria, dragons are too stubborn to enjoy being led into a battle against their will like that.”
She smiled tremulously at him, “You aren’t mad?”
He shook his head, “I can’t stay mad at you Arielle. I care about you too much. If it helps, I was really pissed off about ten minutes ago.”
She gaped at him.
He asked, “What?”
She tilted her head, “Y
ou care about me too much?”
He frowned, this was hardly the time, he should have guarded his tongue better. The truth had just flowed out due to his distracted and worried thoughts. She looked… really vulnerable, hopeful, and painfully beautiful just then. He could see her heart in her eyes, and the surprise there, she’d had no idea apparently.
“Yes, I care about you very much. I… love you.”
He winced, on the inside. Nothing like a bloody battle before declarations of love. He was such an idiot.
She looked confused for a moment, and finally said, “I’ve been too miserable to notice, I’m sorry.”
He shook his head, “Don’t be sorry, just tell me you feel the same way.”
She smiled shyly, “Why don’t I tell you, and show you… later, just how much I’ve longed to hear you say that.”
Bria snorted, “Should we camp now? Otherwise the two of you might explode. I can smell you two shooting pheromones all the way over here.”
Arielle blushed at that, but said, “That sounds like a really good plan, but we might want to get a little distance from the town first. Bria, I’m sorry, I acted without thought…”
Bria waved her hand cutting her off, and turned to look back at them, “I have good ears you know, I heard you explain why to your besotted, so were good,” she growled, “Just don’t let it happen again.”
Arielle smiled in relief, “Are you sure?”
Bria nodded and said teasingly with a voice full of innuendo, “Oh I’m quite sure priestess, he’s thoroughly besotted with you.”
Arielle blushed even brighter and Bria laughed a little evilly, “Now were even.”
He was pretty sure the evil laughter was part of the joke… mostly… He also knew Bria was right, he was besotted and could hardly take his eyes off of her the rest of the day.
They did wind up stopping a little early that night. He knew she was feeling a bit shy, but also bold at the same time. After they shared the meal, she blushed and took his hand, pulling him toward the tent they shared. Luckily, Bria had teased them enough, and let them go without comment.
He was completely ensnared by her, and their first kiss was better than he’d ever imagined it could be, and he’d thought about it a lot over the last week. When she removed her robes, her body was supple, fair, without blemish, and ignited his desire. Her breasts stood high, and while not terribly large, they were perfectly proportioned on her willowy, lithe body, and her tight pink nipples drew his attention, a sensual contrast against her fair skin.
He explored her, and there was nothing else in the world but her in that moment. He focused and took note at her reactions to every tentative and bold exploration that he made with his hands and mouth. She kissed him passionately and explored his body in return. She was open and vulnerable to him, and didn’t suppress any of her reactions to his touch.
They both breathed heavily, their hands on each other’s most intimate spots, stroking and caressing each other. She was so responsive, warm, and moist to every movement of his fingers, and he’d never felt anything better than her light pleasurable touch on his most sensitive skin.
“Please, join with me my love,” she whispered in his ear, her voice full of passionate need and surrender.
He laid her back and knelt between her legs, lowering himself down, supported by his elbows he kissed her softly, but passionately, as she reached down and lined him up. He groaned into her mouth as he felt manhood against her moist silken heaven. He pushed forward, she was so tight, but eventually took him in. Then she surprised him, and wrapped her legs around his waist, arched her back, and thrust herself up, impaling herself on him.
They moved slowly at first… then fast, then slow again, only to speed up. It was as if they couldn’t quite make up their mind if they were making love, or rutting. Laying with her was better than he ever imagined it could be, and he knew the love he had for the woman looking up at him through sparkling, and loving blue eyes, was part of the reason for that. He was… lost in the pleasure of her, both flesh, and spirit, as they became one, and rose together toward blissfully ecstatic completion.
When she came undone and tightened around his sex, he followed immediately after. The pleasure was rapturous, as his mind and body endured the intense pleasure of filling her welcoming fluttering warmth.
She sighed in contentment when they came down, and he kissed her softly.
Arielle said softly, “I love you Kurien Oakleaf.”
Kurien smiled, “I love you too, my Arielle.”
She grinned and said in a voice that was somehow both shy and sultry, “We should do that again.”
He nodded, “We have centuries, but now seems like a good time.”
She raised an eyebrow, “Centuries? Are you asking for my bond?”
Elves bonded, it was their nature magic along with their goddess that could intertwine two lives, two spirits. It was much like human marriage, except they’d always be able to feel their bonded, and it was for life.
He frowned, “Sort of, I hadn’t intended to ask just now, I suppose I was being presumptuous my love,” he smiled sheepishly, “but it was my intention to ask before we got back, and hope Trielle could do the ceremony, and of course, that Charites would approve.”
She giggled and joy lit her eyes as she answered, “I see, well in that case, I intend to say yes… when you ask that is and I...”
He shut her up with a kiss, it was time for round two, and judging by the way she moaned into his mouth and rubbed up against him, she was in complete agreement.
Chapter 12 – Tarrock
Tarrock growled in frustration. He’d be willing to trade lives for a simple shuttle with a damned scanner. Damn this world. They’d travelled quickly to the right mountainous region according to his science officer, yet… it had done them no good. They would be searching for a while. He knew being impatient wouldn’t help, even if they found the thing, it would be a few years before they were rescued.
Yet, he worried, what if other ships were already on route, it wouldn’t be the first time command hadn’t given him all the plans, or details. His job was to clean the planet of vermin, the extraction ships could already be on the way, to strip this place down. The last report he’d sent indicated there were no problems, and that the vermin was dying out.
The question was, would they be cautious and scan for a problem, or race up to the planet, and then scan. He had to admit, the latter was most likely, it was what he would have done. His race wasn’t known for patience, or caution. Now he knew better of course, he would be more guarded in the future now that this strange energy had been discovered. Still, he wasn’t sure where they were, and right now they were just… wandering around looking for hidden installations.
They’d come across a few very small human settlements on the way here, as he avoided the major populations that still lived around the edges of the cities. Humans were weak, but he only had a little over two hundred crew left. Some of the small settlements they had bypassed, and in others they had slaughtered the whole town. Really, it had depended on his mood, which was quickly worsening with each day he spent on this backwards primitive planet.
He felt… on edge, like he was being watched. But he didn’t see or hear any humans nearby, or anything else for that matter, and his crewmates hadn’t reported feeling the same. But… he had the feeling something was out there. He just didn’t know what.
He heard running water, and then… giggles. Giggles?
He grunted and marched that way, his second in command, Garrock, on his side. The water started getting louder, and he walked out into a break in the woods. There was a small waterfall, the water flowing down into pool, farther down the pool overflowed and kept going down the small river, or stream bed.
What he saw in the pool made his eyes go wide, and he shared an incredulous look with Garrock. There were six females of his race, swimming, naked, in the pool. This was impossible, his race protected its females, they weren’t allow
ed off planet, they stayed at home, raised the next generation, and were fiercely and passionately protected.
The six turned to them, and two of his personal guard, and started to giggle.
One of them, with a particularly beautiful shade blue green skin stood a little, revealing her succulent breasts to their view.
She said sultrily, “Come join us men, the water’s fine. You look like you need to… relax and have some fun.”
He took two steps forward, and then shook his head. His mind was confused, but he knew this was impossible. Garrock was still moving, so he grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled him back, and shook him.
He growled, “Stop, that’s an order,” but his private guard ignored him and waded out into the pool. He couldn’t stop them, he was still having to restrain Garrock, who kept trying to go to one of the impossibly beautiful woman. Everything about them screamed sex appeal, from their four dainty arms, succulent breasts, and sexy bald heads.
He was ashamed when he thought they were much more attractive than his own mate back home, and shook his head to try to clear the fog again.
In the meantime, the females had pushed the males up against the side of the pool, and mounted them shamelessly right in the open. He almost picked up his foot to step forward, but then Garrock tried to pull away from him again, which snapped him out of it.
The women were giggling, panting, and fucking like rabbits. So wanton as they rode his two men. He couldn’t look away, he couldn’t do anything except resist, as the other four pouted and beckoned to him. Begged him to join the fun.
His men groaned, and he saw the two woman kiss them as they shot their loads into their impossible partners’ bodies… then he truly saw the impossible, and his men started to struggle, but their bodies were frozen in the throes of passion and they had no control, as the six woman started to turn darker blue, and they became partially indistinct, as if they were nothing but water.
His men choked and tried to cough as they kissed the women, and had water flowing into their throats and down into their lungs. Now he was horrified, no longer afraid of being seduced by… well he wasn’t sure what, and he ran forward and jumped in. He took a swing at one of the things, but his hand went right through her head. He looked at his hand incredulously, and tasted it. Fresh water. Then the woman in front of him, along with the other five giggled, turned into clear water still in the shape of a woman, and then collapsed and splashed back into the pool.
Emergence: Return of Magic book 1 Page 8