Something was different.
"We were greatly concerned for you&son." the last word came out as a controlled laugh. Keeth was doing his best to keep a straight face.
Ka-Ron gave the wizard a harsh glance.
"Jatel, are you all right?" she asked, kneeling down.
"I think so&" his voice trailed off as he heard its timbre.
Jatel's throat started to dry and constrict. The voice coming from his mouth was not his own. In fact, it sounded&
"What's happened?"
Jatel darted up.
Upon his chest there was a strange weight. Instinctively, he reached up, horrified, cupping a pair of female breasts. His long hair fell into his eyes, and as he brushed the lock away, he noticed his hand.
It was the hand of a woman.
"I'm afraid we have a lot to talk about&son," Keeth said, sitting down at his worktable.
Jatel's body started to shake. It did not take a genius to notice that the man was terrified.
"Perhaps you should look into a mirror, Jatel," Ka-Ron suggested.
"Ahhh&" was all Jatel could bring himself to say.
Jatel blinked his eyes several times, hoping that what he was seeing was an illusion. He rubbed his temples, hoping that the beautiful woman starring back at him was someone else.
"What has happened?"
"I fear you have been turned&partly&into a beautiful woman." Ka-Ron tried to explain.
Jatel noticed that he was wearing one of the dresses provided to Ka-Ron by Keeth. It fit the squire quite well. He was not as well-rounded as his master, but he would do in a pinch. He was brunette, brown-eyed, and quite impressive. He placed a shaky hand up to his full lips, hiding them from view. He was elegant in his appearance - his colors and paintings that of a female of high standard. He turned, admiring his fullness of bust, and also, the round heartiness of his new ass. His legs were long and curvy - he knew this because the dress had a low-cut skirt - and he was wearing a pair of high heels. He couldn't seem to get over the fact that his feet were so small. He had always had big feet.
After the shock of it all, he remembered what Ka-Ron had said.
"What did you mean by 'partly' turned into a woman?"
Ka-Ron turned to the wizard.
Keeth fumbled, and moved his books around, but only ended up shrugging his shoulders.
The knight rolled her eyes.
"Come at me!" she ordered.
Before Jatel knew it, both he and his master were kissing. And, what a kiss! Like Ka-Ron, he learned that women were the more enjoying of the two when embraced in a kiss. His body exploded with new and enjoyable sensations. However, there did remain one all-familiar feeling.
The front of Jatel's skirt started to constrict.
Ka-Ron separated from the squire, making both their lips smack.
"That's what I mean." she explained, pointing down toward Jatel's crotch.
As beautiful and seductive as Jatel was, he had, jutting out from the front of his dress, the largest erection that any man could have possessed.
In the definition of fact: Jatel was still a man.
***
"A very curious and terrible, situation," Keeth stated, reading into his vast volumes of books and texts. The wizard was doing everything he could not to look at Jatel. Every time he did he had to control the urge to laugh. "It should clear itself in less than a sun."
Jatel, upon hearing this, sighed with relief. In the meantime, however, he was about to have a most unique experience. One that would certainly help him understand his master's situation.
The squire started to relax against a fur tree, not really paying close attention to Ka-Ron.
The knight was leering at him.
"Jatel, you seem to have yourself in a rather deep quagmire."
"Uh-huh," Jatel said, trying his best to ignore the curious weight and temptation of his new breasts. The young man wanted to touch them, as all men would secretly want to, but he was too confused and tired to let himself give in.
"I must say, you are quite the maiden."
There was a tone in Ka-Ron's voice that sent warning chimes through the squire's mind. Jatel glanced up, noticing a look of controlled seduction entering his master's eyes. He turned both nervous and terrified at the fact that Ka-Ron was interested in his current form.
"Master?" the squire asked. His voice started to tremble. "What are your intentions?"
Ka-Ron innocently shrugged. Her advancement did not falter. She had upon her face a rather male-like sneer which caused Jatel to feel a slight knot of excitement at the base of his stomach. His throat tightened even more, and he found his brightly painted fingers fumbling with each other.
"Master!" Jatel shouted, "What&what&what&what&" he stammered.
"Oh, Jatel," Ka-Ron cooed. She started to play with his long hair. "What a fetching young maiden you have become!"
"Temporarily have become," he pointed out, straightening his dress.
"Still, I find you pleasing&given the situation."
Jatel's world started to collapse.
Ka-Ron leaned in, kissing him.
"Master! Master!" Jatel said, finally breaking the kiss.
"What?"
"This is not&"
"Not what?"
"Well, natural."
Ka-Ron paused, her lips again within reach of Jatel's. The knight found herself caught in the middle of a giggle.
"I'm a girl who used to be a guy, seducing a guy with the body of a girl."
There was a long, awkward pause.
"Point taken," the squire gulped.
They embraced.
This time, Jatel did not hold back.
Ka-Ron attacked her squire's new body with the skill of a general. Her lips smothered Jatel's, causing the confused young man to fight back. Their tongues wrestled, allowing each to enjoy the simple wet pleasures of human contact.
Ka-Ron pulled back, catching her breath.
"I thank you, Jatel."
"Thank me?" Jatel opened his lovely eyes wide. His new doe-eyed expression did not escape the subtle enjoyment of his master.
"For allowing me to feel like a man again."
Jatel looked down, realizing that his lover was playing with his breasts. The squire found himself in a rather "female" reaction. He started shaking his head.
"Don't you guys play with anything else?" Jatel mockingly said.
"Nope," Ka-Ron said, winking.
Keeth looked up from his books, giving both his guests a slight grumble.
"Our host is objecting." the knight stated.
"Let him."
At this, Ka-Ron gave her squire another smile.
"You may retire in there." Keeth said, pointing towards the open window of a room in his small home.
Ka-Ron and Jatel were more than happy to take up the invitation. Without a word of protest, each surrendered to their desires and took up the wizard on his hospitality.
"In the morn, we have a lot to discuss." The wizard dove back into his studies.
***
Ka-Ron awoke both satisfied and well-centered. She and Jatel had embraced and enjoyed each other into the night. She was sure that the wizard got little if any sleep. Jatel proved himself to be a screamer in his new form. His lovely female features brought out sides of the squire that Ka-Ron was both shocked and pleased to find. As a woman, Jatel was quite educated in the arts of oral sex. As a man, he pleased Ka-Ron to the point of making the knight pass out several times. Ka-Ron repaid the gestures with all she had.
By morning, the tiny sun inside the dragon had decided to shine right into Ka-Ron's eyes, waking her before she could become rested. She wiped the crusting out of her eyes, feeling Jatel up against her bottom. She turned to kiss him and soon noticed that he was back to normal. Normal in the sense that he was now all male, and that the muscle bulk and long hair given to him while on board their ship were gone as well.
Jatel was back to his normal self.
"Hello there,"
Ka-Ron whispered. Bending down, she kissed his ear.
Smiling, the squire hummed a satisfied tune. The man was not yet aware of normalcy being his again, and he looked silly in his little blue dress. Raising Jatel's skirt, Ka-Ron performed her task at making the squire's morning the best that she could.
Ka-Ron did not gag. She did not think twice about what she was doing. Nor did she care what others may say, or how they would judge her. The knight engulfed her man's essence with a warm and sincere caring.
Ka-Ron, errant-knight to the kingdom of Idoshia, was in love.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
"It was only a matter of time," Keeth stated, closing up his books.
Both Ka-Ron and Jatel were treated to a wonderful morning meal, prepared, cooked, and superbly decorated by the wizard. He seemed quite delighted with the fact that Jatel was back to normal, and he responded in kind when he noticed Jatel's original appearance, minus the muscles and long hair. Keeth went on to say that he approved of Jatel's original appearance - his imperfections added to his character.
Uneasily, Jatel and Keeth made peace, and all was forgiven.
While eating, both the knight and squire realized that Keeth was busy putting away all his things. He gave his guests the impression that he was preparing to go away on a journey.
"I will be leaving this place," Keeth bragged.
"May I ask how, sir?" Ka-Ron inquired, sipping the last of her rose melon juice.
"After your meal, I will be happy to show the two of you."
So, with that, Keeth continued to place his books in little trunks and boxes, loading them into some mysterious place in the back of his home.
Jatel, it seemed, ate little. He kept moving his shirt around as if it were too tight. At least, that was Ka-Ron's first impression.
"You miss them, I think," Ka-Ron said, smiling knowingly.
Embarrassed, Jatel stopped. "I do not."
Ka-Ron scooted closer to her squire and patted him on the knee. "You were a lovely woman, Jatel. But I prefer you like this."
"And you?" Jatel asked his face serious. "If you have accepted this form, why do we continue with the quest?"
"A quest is a quest, squire."
"I suppose so."
The knight turned solemn for a moment. "Jatel, how would Idoshia and our king survive without me?"
On that Jatel could not answer. He lowered his gaze, concentrating on what was left of his meal. This was indeed a problem too big for one squire to involve himself in. All he did know was that this was a big adventure, and he was going to ride the course. No matter what the cost, he would stand beside his master.
"I am with you, sire."
With that, Ka-Ron kissed her friend.
"I know," she said. Her hand rubbed the side of Jatel's face. "Eat up! You have a lot to do today, I wager."
"Yes, sire."
Keeth exited his home, letting out a tired sigh. "I hate moving. To pack up and tear out roots is always a depressing episode in the life of a caring being."
"We are moving?" Ka-Ron asked.
"Not exactly," Keeth said. The wizard motioned for his guests to follow him. "Please. I have something to show you."
***
Both had seen it before, when they had first entered this world. Both were aware of the huge structure behind Keeth's home. But, after the happening of so much, the object had been momentarily forgotten.
"This is the Argo," Keeth said, waving a proud hand in its direction.
The Argo was unlike any vessel the knight and her squire had ever seen. It was a ship of some kind that they knew. However, her lines were not like any sea-going ship either could recognize. She was totally constructed out of wood. There was no iron, copper, gold, or even ivory. The ship consisted of only two tiny masts, one bridge deck, one anchor, one rudder, and safety barriers that wouldn't keep an infant from falling over. The whole thing was big enough, maybe, to hold a crew of ten. Mysteriously enough, her center feature seemed to be a string of odd-looking levers to the starboard side of the ship's wheel.
Jatel's response was less than enthusiastic.
"What the hell is that piece of crap?"
"I'll have you know, squire, that I have labored over this ship for the last ten seasons." Keeth looked a little insulted.
"You need a few more, I think."
"Jatel," Ka-Ron whispered, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"My family is from mariner roots," Keeth explained. "I gathered up all the wood I could, cut each plank, and hammered her into shape. I have added a few surprises to her lines, which should prove useful in our escape."
"Escape?" Ka-Ron and Jatel shouted in unison.
"You know a way out?" Jatel asked.
"I have a theory," Keeth bragged. "But let me show you my ship."
The wizard opened a small gate inviting all on board.
"Strange that you only constructed her from wood alone," Ka-Ron added, lightly adjusting her weight by jumping up and down. "A wooden deck makes for a rather light vessel. Her buoyancy should be quite impressive when she's filled with a full cargo."
"She has other surprises," Keeth stated, pointing up at the masts. "Take a look at her sails."
At a flip of a switch, several white strips of cloth fell before them, self-strapping themselves to their respective stations. Both Ka-Ron and Jatel started to laugh.
"What's so damn funny?" the wizard demanded.
"Cloth?" Ka-Ron huffed. "Who puts sails made of cloth on a ship?"
"I do!"
"They'll rip at the first signs of wind," the squire stated.
"They are treated with juices from our dragon's scales," the wizard insisted. "They are as strong as woven steel, I assure you."
"As you say." Jatel gave his master a nervous, if not dubious, glance. "Cloth sails. What a novelty."
Ka-Ron silently put up a controlling hand, ordering Jatel to keep his thoughts to himself. If only for the moment, Jatel complied, uplifting his hands in peaceful surrender.
"You stated that we have the option of escape?" the knight inquired.
"The Argo is a multi-functional vessel." Keeth explained, taking his place at the ship's wheel. He pointed toward the row of mysterious levers near him. "With these clever devices, we can conquer any obstacle."
"How about termites?" Jatel joked.
"Enough!" Ka-Ron ordered. Her eyes turned hard.
Jatel stood, silent.
Ka-Ron's turned soft. Silently, she apologized to her squire, hoping that not much of his ego had been bruised.
"What is your plan?"
Keeth smiled. He rubbed his hands together and kicked his heels with excitement. At one point he seemed to have the joy of a small child, suddenly being allowed the center of attention he so craved.
"Oh, I knew you two were the adventurous type."
Jatel tiredly pointed towards Ka-Ron. "She's a knight&"
"Of that I am quite sure, sir."
The wizard quietly motioned his guests closer towards him.
"We are going to fly out!"
Ka-Ron and Jatel suddenly froze. Both blinked, hard.
"Fly?" they seemed to say all at once.
"Fly," the wizard reassured them.
"And how will we do this?" the knight asked.
"We will start by burning my cabin."
Jatel let out a frightened laugh. "Burn the cabin?"
"Is there an echo?" Keeth grunted. "I am not mad, by no means, my friends. I am sincere. I promise to the both of you my services and friendship. I will also travel with you and share my interests until your horrible spell is broken."
"We could use a wizard," Ka-Ron insisted.
"All right," Jatel said, controlling a smile. "Let's get underway."
The wizard fixed one last meal, allowing both Ka-Ron and Jatel to share in his plan. It would be risky. It would be dangerous.
***
Once Ka-Ron and Jatel got around the subtle differences about Keeth's ship, he gave them
a through tour. He pointed out several interesting contraptions he was rather eager to try. The wizard was a clever tinkerer. Of course, Keeth added, having several seasons alone with nothing better to do, one was bound to let his imagination go wild.
The Argo was, perhaps, the best vessel to achieve the impossible.
Keeth was glad that his newfound friends accepted his offer. And, like any general training his troops for battle, the wizard made sure that they both understood what he had planned.
Of course, most of it was all theory.
"I have it under an educational assumption that Tork, during his younger days, experimented in land roving. This, meaning he swam closer to the shore than the norm." Keeth paused, pointing toward a dense tree-line at the Argo's port bow. "The dragon swallowed several farm houses and trees in his adventurous days. Most have landed in those areas of the mountains beyond."
"Where is this all leading to, if I may ask?" Ka-Ron grabbed a spyglass from her belt, extending the device so that she could properly see the woods towards which the wizard had been pointing.
"In theory, Ka-Ron, if we set ablaze some of the ruins and cause Tork some discomfort, he may just start coughing."
Ka-Ron lowered her spyglass.
"Coughing?"
***
Tork wasn't one to venture towards the inland populations, but he was getting bored. It had been several seasons since he had visited the great fishing villages lining the ebony coast. Some of the cities feared his return, remembering the days before his accident, when he used to eat their cattle and other stock. Yes! It had indeed been some time.
Tork was also thirsty.
One village in particular - the Sea Dragon had long forgotten its name - had been known for producing a fine vintage of fish wine. The liquor had been known to calm the heart and delight the palate. Indeed, the wine had successfully captured the essence of the sea.
This is what the Sea Dragon desired.
As Tork approached the fishing village, he was assaulted with both spear and cannon fire. The respective navies and pirate ships were horrified at beholding his return. Simple-minded as the dragon was, he could not understand why the people fussed so - all he wanted was a drink.
The Misadventures of Ka-Ron the Knight Page 16