The Ritual Of Neccar (The Adventures Of Pervikar Book 4)

by John Evans

  "So am I, Per," said Nanago. "She would have made you a wonderful sister. I don't suppose there is enough firewood down here for her funeral pyre?"

  "I can enhance any flame, so you will not need very much," said Nyrandurril who walked up and had overheard Nanago. Per looked up when he heard a clack behind him and saw Vail and the Overlord collecting goblin weapons.

  "Thank you, Nyrandurril," said Joran. "We only bury our dead when we can not send them to the Wind. At least, we can be glad she died with her name as a Burgassi."

  Chapter 8: To The Wind

  "Ho, Per!" yelled the Overlord before Per could say anything to Joran. "We have a problem."

  Per ran over to where the Overlord and Vail were standing. They had laid out the goblins in a row.

  "What's the matter?" asked Per.

  "Cedric is not here," said the Overlord grimly.

  "What do you mean he's not here?" asked Per in confusion at the Overlord's words.

  "His body is not here," repeated the Overlord. "Fan out and get everybody to buddy-up again."

  It was just then that Cendri came over to the three of them.

  "A couple small groups of goblins have stopped running before they left this cavern," she said. "If we give chase, we should be able to drive them off before they can regroup."

  "We have another problem," Per told her. "Cedric, the human leader, is not dead. He's somewhere in the castle."

  "Oh, damn!" cursed Cendri, looking around to try to spot him.

  "Vail, go along the wall and warn everyone," ordered the Overlord. "I want to make sure everyone travels in groups. Cendri, go make sure the gatehouse is locked up tight and manned. Then get Octavia to get a group together to go chase off the goblins."

  "But..." Cendri started to say.

  "No buts," interrupted the Overlord. "I want you at the gate in case Cedric is still inside the castle. We need to chase off the goblins in case he has gotten out to keep him from rallying them together. Tell Octavia to take only the people she really needs, because we need to search the castle for Cedric."

  "Yes, sir," replied Cendri before she left on her assigned tasks.

  "Well, Per, where shall we start?" asked the Overlord.

  "Let's get everyone teamed up first," stated Per. "We start searching after Octavia has left."

  Per went to the black building to warn Dorna and Electana, while the Overlord headed inside the keep. There was no additional clothing in the foyer so Per was certain that Cedric was not hiding in the building. Dorna came to him and told him that Tenan was comfortable and that the entity was seeing to his needs. She also informed him that the entity told her that it would need more power soon.

  Per thanked her and went back outside. Octavia had organized her group. She had Morning Mist, Golden Sunlight, and, surprisingly, Oraag with her. All of them were armed with bows and arrows along with their normal weaponry. Her group also included Holina, Gar, Andie, and Pawl, who seemed to be seething in righteous anger.

  "I wish he wasn't coming along," muttered Octavia to Per, nodding towards Pawl. "He's taken Soft Dove's death personally and demanded to come with us."

  "Probably because he can't take his anger out on Lorilei," whispered Per. He turned to face the wizard. "Pawl, the objective is to get the goblins to leave. The person you want is hiding somewhere in the castle we hope. Save it for when we find him."

  Pawl snorted. "Save him for me. I've always wanted to try to turn a man inside out."

  "Talk to Gar," replied Per blithely. "He can tell you how to do it without magic."

  Pawl shuddered at that thought and smiled wanly. "Point taken. I'll be good."

  After Octavia and her group left, Per and everyone remaining conducted an extensive search of the castle and its grounds. Most of the non-combatants remained up on the wall watching to see if Cedric broke from cover. Per was half-afraid that Cedric had made it back out the tunnel he had used to get in, but found that Gar had made a stone block over the entrance. The block would have required six normal men to move it. The first search yielded no results and the second was equally negative.

  "Is it possible he got to the wall during the attack and managed to climb down?" asked Per of Bargan as they stood on the highest turret of the keep.

  "Yes, and just as likely, he's found another tunnel or hidey-hole to crawl into," replied Bargan. "I've tried to scry for his location, but something interferes. It may be just the magic of this place."

  "I don't know where else to look," said Per. "We've double-checked everywhere."

  "It looks like our war party is returning," stated Bargan.

  Per looked out and saw Octavia's group coming back towards the castle. He sighed in relief when he saw that everyone she had taken was still with her. He and Bargan descended and went to the gatehouse to greet them.

  "That was sweet!" exclaimed Octavia as she came through the gate. "We annihilated two groups, both about twenty goblins each. The other groups took off after a volley or two of arrows. All the live goblins have left the cavern, I guess this means the siege is lifted and we can get on with the party."

  "Cedric escaped," said Per.

  "Aw, shit," cursed Octavia. "That means guard duty for the rest of our time here."

  "Unless you can find him," said Per. "We've combed through this place twice."

  "Maybe he escaped and will run into a nice gelatinous cube that will dissolve him slowly," suggested Octavia brightly.

  "We can only hope so," chuckled Per, before turning serious. "It's best if we post guards. I'll check with my mother."

  Karina listened to what had gone on and then had Per gather everyone in the courtyard.

  "The goblins are gone and unlikely to return," she said to everyone. "It appears that Cedric has escaped, but we shouldn't take any chances." She turned to face the Overlord. "Ruger, will you set up a watch schedule. After we have removed the goblin bodies from the castle proper, we will see to Soft Dove."

  "If you will permit us, Nanago and I will see to your daughter's preparations," said Joran.

  "Please do so and thank you," said Karina. "Afterwards, we will have a good night's sleep and really start the ritual."

  Gar's laughter rumbled in his chest. "Good ritual already."

  The bodies of the goblins that died inside the castle were dumped over the walls along with their various body parts that had been hacked or severed from their torsos. Celine, Dareen, and Inga all ran away from helping move the bodies. Actually, they were doing fine helping out until Gar decided to crack open a goblin skull for the tasty treat inside.

  Per went out alone and dug a single grave as quarter of a mile away from the castle. He wrapped Lorilei's body and head in a blanket and led Ivin out to the grave. He was surprised when most of the women followed along also. He carefully placed Lorilei's body in the grave as Helga intoned a prayer for the dead witch.

  "Ivin, I'm sorry," apologized Karina, touching Ivin softly on the arm.

  Ivin hugged Karina. "She didn't leave you any choice. Her craving for power blinded her to all else."

  "She saved me several times in the past. I just wish..." and Karina fell silent.

  "I know," said Ivin in understanding. "I wish for the same thing, too. Come I think it is time to go back."

  They walked back arm in arm and found preparations made for the other funeral. Soft Dove was laid out on a wooden bier propped up about two feet off the ground. A small stack of wood had been placed under the bier. Nanago, Joran, and Nyrandurril were standing there waiting for the others. Karina walked over to Soft Dove's body and gently touched her face.

  "I wish I had gotten to know her better," she said to Nanago and Joran.

  "You knew her at her best," said Joran kindly. "You saved her and she goes to the Wind a restored person. She would want us to rejoice and celebrate her good fortune."

  "Good fortune?" asked Karina, shocked and hurt by Joran's choice of words.

  "Yes, good fortune," repeated Nanago. "You probably d
o not understand, Karina. To Soft Dove, when she was thrown out of the tribe, she became lower than something one scrapes off one's boots. You restored her identity, her sense of being, and her self-respect. If she was standing here now, she would say she had been blessed with good fortune."

  As Karina turned away to wipe away the tears that had sprung up in her eyes, Per stepped forward. "It looks like you are short on wood. Would you like me to go get more?"

  "That is not necessary, Per," said Nyrandurril. "I am going to magically enhance the fire."

  "Then let's send my daughter to the Wind as she deserves," said Karina firmly.

  "Well said," muttered Joran softly.

  Everyone had stopped what they were doing and gathered around the cremation site to pay their respects to Soft Dove. Nanago hobbled forward with a torch and lit the pile of firewood underneath the bier. Nyrandurril began her incantation to enhance the fire when the multi-colored lights flashed out from the minarets of the black building.

  The lights bathed the entire cavern before winking out. Suddenly a red beam of incandescent light shot forth from one minaret striking the bier. A blazing ball of fire engulfed the bier and Soft Dove's body before changing to the fiery shape of a phoenix. The burning shape flew up into the air and sped twice around the castle, skimming low to the ground. It then spiraled upward towards the cavern ceiling before flying off out of one of the cavern's entrances.

  Per's mouth had dropped open and he could only stand there staring in stunned astonishment at the entrance which the fiery shape had disappeared into. He heard a couple of people gasp as they recovered from their own shock. Per shook himself mentally and looked at where the bier had been laid out. Everything had been consumed with a circular scorched area marking the place where Soft Dove had laid.

  "That was worth singing of at the campfires," said Nanago to Joran, who could only shake her head in agreement.

  "Hey, look!" yelled Nesbra from the top of the wall. She was pointing down to something on the other side.

  Per raced up the stairs followed closely by the Overlord, Karina, and Octavia. He looked out over the parapet, trying to see what Nesbra was pointing at. He stared, but could not see anything unusual on the lush, green cavern floor.

  "By the Gods!" exclaimed Octavia. "The bodies - they're gone!"

  Per looked down and was surprised to see that all of the goblin bodies had disappeared. There were weapons and pieces of armor lying around, but it appeared that each goblin had been incinerated to a fine ash.

  Chapter 9: Behind The Green Door

  Even though he was tired from the battle, Per could not fall asleep. To him, the ritual really would begin tomorrow. Cedric and the goblins had made a diversion, but now they were gone.

  "Not entirely gone," thought Per, lying back on his bed. "We have no idea where Cedric is."

  Eventually, Per did fall asleep. The heavy curtains kept the light from the cavern's roof out of the room. Per woke up late, feeling refreshed. He went down to the kitchen to find that almost everyone else was up. He ate a quick breakfast and headed over to the black building. Per was a little shocked to see his mother with a whole gaggle of women standing in front of the door to the Simularium.

  "Don't be daunted by the size of this group," Karina told him. "I decided not to play judge on who goes next. The women have paired up and will select rooms inside. You get to pick the rooms at random."

  "Mom, there's over a hundred rooms inside," said Per hesitantly. "It may take me awhile to find an occupied one."

  "I've talked to the Simularium. It will mark the doors to the rooms that are occupied. You can't weasel out of this." Karina turned to face the women. "Go on in. Per will follow shortly."

  With laughter, talking and general merriment, the women all turned around and went through the open door. Nyrandurril gave Per a shy smile before she entered the building behind Melinar. Phartom followed the two of them, but turned to lick her full lips lavishly at Per. Shara and several others nodded to Per as they went in. Octavia was last, but she walked over to Per before going in.

  "Per, this may seem like a big game and it probably is," she said. "Just remember that most of us came because of you so they deserve to be treated right."

  "I understand, no 'Wham! Bam! Thank you, ma'am'" replied Per with a smile. "I take it that includes you."

  Per gasped as Octavia quickly brought her hand up to firmly grasp him by the balls. "I plan to have a lot of fun with you," she hissed sexily.

  Octavia gave Per's penis a quick rub, released it, and waved her fingers in farewell as she flounced through the door. The door closed before Per could even get over his stunned amazement at her behavior. He then burst out laughing.

  "I don't think I'll ever understand her," chuckled Per to Karina.

  "She's right, though," said Karina. "Treat the women well. They came here for your sake. Per, you have to do three rooms a day for the next three days. Do you think you can?"

  "I can try," said Per. "What about yourself? What are you going to do?"

  "I'll be coming inside shortly to be with Tenan. Ivin reported that he is improving. His room will not be accessible to you or the others. Now, go inside and fuck their brains out!"

  "Mom!" exclaimed Per in shocked delight.

  Karina laughed and shoved Per towards the door, which opened at his approach. Per went inside and the door closed behind him. Clothes were lying all over the benches in neat piles and Per stripped as the light changed from white to lavender before turning back to white again. The inner doors opened and Per saw Karlto standing there.

  "Dreadfully sorry, old chap, but I'm not the real one," said the phantasm. "I imagine with all the lovely doxies running around in here, another one would be too much."

  The fake Karlto turned and led Per down the main corridor. He stopped in front of one door that was edged in a green light.

  "I say, the doors like this one lead the way to a pair of beauties, while the red-edged door is Tenan's room. You will not be able to get through that one, old chap."

  "How is Tenan?" asked Per. "My mother will be visiting him later on."

  "Improved, but beyond that I'm not permitted to say. Look on it as good news and make sure you note all the facts of your escapades in here to relate them to the real Karlto.

  Per smiled. "That should just about kill him."

  "That was the impression I also have. Enjoy, old boy."

  The phantasm disappeared. Per looked at the green-edged door and decided to go with the eighth one he found. He looked down the corridor and saw several other doors that had a greenish light amongst the numerous doors lining the corridor. Per shook his head and looked again. He did not see any of the side corridors or hallways that had been there before. Per figured that the Simularium must have modified the interior of the building to make it easier for him.

  There were only six of the green-edged doors along the first floor corridor, so Per went up the stairs. The first door he saw on the second floor was tinged around the edge with red light. Per wanted to try the door, but knew it would not open for him. He took it to heart that Tenan had improved and headed down the corridor.

  He went past the next green-edged door and stopped at the one after that. Taking in a deep breath, He grabbed the doorknob and opened the door.

  "Per!" yelled a chorus of female voices.

  He was more than a little surprised to see Ivin, Dorna, Calla, Andie, and Phartom in the room. Phartom was in her natural, voluptuous devil form complete with wings and horns. Ivin stood up to greet him.

  "We thought you would have started downstairs," she said apologetically. "Phartom and I are down the hall, but decided to stay here and talk with the others. We'll be leaving now."

  Phartom and Ivin left leaving Per alone with the three priestesses. Per remembered being kidnapped by Ivin and these three, but had never gotten a good look at them until now.

  Dorna he knew the best. She was the shortest of the three, almost two and a half feet
shorter than Per, and had the smallest bust. He remembered the wild ride she had on him when they had first captured him. She had climbed on top of him while he was in his lustcraze and she had forced his entire cock into her. She was looking at him with a mischievous smile.

  Calla and Andie, the other two priestesses, were the opposite of Dorna. They both had long brown hair, good size breasts and flaring hips. Calla, who had Per ass-fuck her their first time, was looking at Per's package with a pleased look on her face. Andie gave Per a warm smile and nodded to him.

  Per suddenly became nervous when he realized he did not know how to proceed. "Well, I guess we should, um," he stammered.

  "It's alright, Per," said Andie calmly. "I don't think we expected to be first anymore than you expected three women to be together." She motioned to Dorna and Calla, and they all walked up to him. "Just relax and leave everything to us."

  Per let out a sigh of relief as the priestesses moved closer. They began rubbing his chest, arms, and back. Per could feel the tension leaving his body under their massage. Andie took his hand and led him over to the bed. Per gasped when he saw it. The bed was huge. In fact, it was gigantic; it would easily hold six people his size.

  Calla motioned for him to get on the bed and move to the center. Dorna then laid down on one side of Per with Calla on the other side. Andie climbed up to kneel between his legs. Per inhaled deeply when Andie gently grasped his hard cock with both hands and began to stroke it slowly. The other two women were caressing his chest and abdomen.

  "I'm not going to last long," warned Per as he felt the rapid build-up in his testicles. He then grunted as Andie squeezed the head of his cock tightly until his pending climax subsided. She then began to stroke it again.

  "Longer than you think, but not as long as we would like," Andie corrected him. "You have other obligations than us today. Calla has the hots for your lustcraze. Dorna wants to go first, so I'll be last."

  "Let's do it!" interrupted Dorna as she sat up and threw a leg over Per's hips.