“Stay still, for a moment longer, we need to assess the damage,” Cobra spoke softly, and Sic moaned as she touched his chest where a nasty gash had been.
“I can’t… heal myself,” his whisper was soft, and Cobra nodded her understanding.
Kai placed the warm water down where Cobra directed. She dipped the rag in and began wiping the blood off his skin. “Don’t you worry about that. I will make sure you get plenty of potions to heal as soon as we clean you. We don’t want you getting an infection.”
Sic’s hand found mine, and I squeezed softly as Cobra worked. The silence was charged but no one said anything. Once Cobra had cleaned his wounds, she gave him another tonic and I watched the skin slowly seal itself shut. He hissed in pain as the potion took effect, closing his wounds. “Kai, can you help me get this blood cleaned off him? We might have to get him in the shower, if you can hold him up that long.” Cobra nodded her agreement and rose as Kai bent to pick up Sic.
“Once you get him cleaned up, I’ll give him a sleeping tincture, but someone will need to stay with him, he will be weak for a few days.” Cobra remained in the bedroom as Kai took Sic into my bathroom and I closed the door.
“Do you think you can stand, or should we clean you in the tub?” Sic looked at me for a moment and then at Kai.
“If Kai holds me up, I should be able to stand. For a bit at least.” The three of us got into my shower and I turned the water on, letting it warm before Kai let Sic put his legs down. He held Sic close to his chest, his arms under Sic’s to keep him fully supported. I scrubbed the blood from his skin as swiftly and gently as possible, before letting the water rinse it down the drain.
“Can you turn him around?” Kai and Sic slowly maneuvered so I could wash his chest and legs.
“I guess you lost your clothes during the shift,” Kai spoke softly, and Sic mumbled a response I didn’t hear. Once more, I let the water rinse Sic. His knees buckled as the last of the blood swirled down the drain and Kai scooped him up again. Turning the water off, I stepped out and grabbed several towels.
“Dry off first, Maisie,” Sic mumbled, but I ignored his words and helped wrap the towels around him.
Emot and Zugo arrived and helped Kai and I dry Sic off. “We got the bed set up with clean sheets. Cobra has made up sever vials of the healing potion and the sleeping tincture, saying he will need to take both for several days.” Emot held Sic while Kai dried himself off, sitting on the chair I’ve used when Sage has done my hair.
Once Kai was dry, he scooped Sic back up so we could get him settled into the bed. Cobra handed him the sleeping tincture after we got him settled in, but didn’t make him take it right away. “Make sure he takes it when you’re done talking. I’m fairly sure he has things to tell you. Oh, and Viper says you can meet her in the training yard this afternoon.” She placed the rest of the vials on the nightstand and walked out, closing the door behind her.
Sitting on the side of the bed, I grasped his hand softly. “Are you alright, do you need anything?”
“No, I’m fine at the moment. Sore as hell and I suspect that feeling will only get worse over the next few days, but I’m alive, and here with you,” he spoke, tugging my hand to get me to move closer. “I need to tell you what happened.”
“Do you want us to leave?” Zugo asked, as I slid next to Sic.
“No, you need to hear this, too,” Sic spoke, as the others sat on the sides of the bed. “Vago attacked Ebonchill, burning homes and just generally causing havoc. He wasn’t there, but his personal guard were. We went in after everything calmed down, thinking they had left, but his guard remained. We were outnumbered, and two of our guards died in the fighting.” He took a deep breath. “They let the rest of us go, but we were already badly injured. We got lucky, Kreetik and Athargos were flying overhead towards the end of the attack. Athargos used his dragon form to bring us back here.”
“Why did they let you go, if they were winning?” Emot asked, and Sic sighed.
“That’s the tricky part. The main guard called a halt and they retreated. Before he left, he knelt beside me and apologized for having to do this. He said that if the Empress commands, the Northern Army will gladly desert Vago and join her side,” as Sic spoke, my mind pondered if the guard was telling the truth, or just trying to draw me into a trap.
Kai helped Sic sit up more so he could look at me, “If you command, they just might leave, but it is a huge risk.” He lifted his hand to my face. “I don’t know if the risk is worth it.” His lips pressed to mine softly, before Kai helped him lay back down.
“You need to get some rest, one of us will be here in case you need anything or wake up,” Kai helped Sic take the sleeping tincture, while I spoke.
As soon as he laid back down his eyes drifted shut. He softly slurred, “I love you,” before sleep took him.
“I love you too, Sic.” I kissed his forehead and waited for Kai to get settled in, next to Sic.
“I’ll take the first watch. You need to get ready to go train.” Kai smiled as I slowly rose. “Go kick Viper’s ass, sugar.”
“I’ll try. Come get me if you, or he, need anything,” I replied to Kai, before heading to my closet to dress.
“You need to stop worrying about Sic, and focus. Your distraction is going to get you killed.” Viper held out her hand to pick me up off the ground once more. “I know it is hard to concentrate, but you must learn to push your worry aside. If something happens to one of your men while you are near, then you must be able to continue on, as if nothing has happened. Your life, and maybe even theirs, might depend on your ability to defend yourself, or them.”
I dusted my ass off as she spoke, trying to calm my thoughts, and focus on what she was trying to show me. “Try and disarm me like I showed you,” with that, she positioned herself in a fighting stance, waiting for me to do the same. Taking a deep breath, I mirrored her position and she rushed me.
My mind blanked as she approached, pushing everything out except what she had instructed. If someone is rushing you head on, the first thing you do is dodge. You want to step towards their body, grabbing their arm with your right hand. Pushing their knife arm away from you. Waiting for the right moment, I dodged. Starting the sequence as Viper had instructed.
Once you have their arm, use your left hand to grasp their wrist, right on the bone. Squeeze tight and twist their hand outward until the knife is pointing downward. Her words echoed through my mind as I follow her directions. If they haven’t dropped the knife by then, you can easily pull it from their grasp. After you have the knife out of their hands, you can do a few things. If you have the knife, you can stab them, if you don’t have the knife, you can punch them.
Viper held tight to the knife as I turned her wrist, so I pulled the knife from her hands and went to stab her. Stopping just before I pierced her skin, I froze. “Better?” I asked, much happier since I wasn’t on my ass this time. Before she answered, she swept my legs out from under me. Landing on my ass again I glared, “What was that for?”
“You didn’t stab me. So, I am not done trying to kill you. I know that you don’t want to stab me, simply because we have become friends. The problem is that you are training for a life and death situation, you cannot hesitate, or stop,” Viper pulled me to my feet, as she spoke. Her words were not harsh this time just a matter of fact, but I still didn’t want to stab her. “Would you feel better stabbing Kai?”
“No,” I could hear the horrified tone in my own voice, as I gasped the word out. “I don’t want to stab any one of the guys.”
“Sic just returned with wounds all over his body, and he knows how to fight and defend himself. I’m fairly sure that he gave as good as he got. You need to be prepared to kill, and the only way to do that is to do it. Cobra is here to heal me, so let’s go again.” She scooped up the knife and walked back to our starting point.
By the time the sun began to set, I was covered in blood, and so was Viper. Our wounds had been healed, and all
that was left to witness our violence, was the slowly drying blood on our skin. Hearing the sounds of barking, I looked over to see a large hellhound, tongue hanging out the side of her mouth, racing towards me. “Rilag, stop,” the command sounded behind her, making her slide to a stop in front of me. “Rilag, sit,” Hicca spoke, and Rilag flopped onto her rump.
“Wow, she has grown a lot.” Scratching Rilag by her ear, I had to reach up, instead of down, to do it.
“In a few days, she will be full sized and fully trained. She has surpassed all of her littermates in training and is stronger, too.” Hicca smiled, and then asked, “Would Your Imperial Majesty like to ride on Rilag’s back? She needs to understand the weigh that will be on her whenever you ride her. We will keep to a walk, Rilag will be calm.”
“I would enjoy that. Viper, are we done?” Turning to where Viper had been, but she was already gone. Cobra was walking through the gates as I looked around Rilag. “I guess we are done for the night.”
“Rilag, down,” Hicca said, motioning to the ground with a finger. Rilag laid down, placing her head on her paws. “Good girl. If you would please, Your Majesty.” He waved his hand at the saddle and I climbed over Rilag to sit. “Rilag, up with rider.” She slowly rose, keeping her motions small, so I wasn’t tipped too far in any direction.
“She did that beautifully,” I complimented her and Hicca. When she was standing once again, I wasn’t very high up, my toes were still able to drag on the ground. “She is still a bit small for me to fully ride, but she is doing very well.”
“Rilag, walk. We are going to the castle. Home.” She began to walk, and I was surprised at the soft rolling gait she had. It was similar to the elephant I had ridden at the fair once. Hicca followed us as Rilag walked back to the gates and up to the main doors.
“Rilag, down with rider,” Hicca commanded, and Rilag slowly lowered to the ground once more. Dismounting very ungracefully, I tripped while trying to get my foot over her back. Failing my arms, I felt a mouth bite my ankle gently. Rilag’s mouth was carefully holding my foot to keep me from falling. Once I got my balance, she let go and I was able to put my other foot down. “Good girl, Rilag,” Hicca praised, and then I heard Kai’s laugh.
“Hicca, you old dog, did you really just pull that prank on Maisie?” He walked up to us, his eyes still laughing.
“I have no idea what you are talking about,” Hicca replied, but I could see a hint of a smile trying to peek through.
Kai’s arm went around me, despite the dried blood, and shook his head at Hicca. “You know, old man, you pulled that same prank on Sic, Emot, and I.” He chuckled and turned to Rilag, “Good girl, you know who your mistress is.” Turning back to me, he pulled me around towards the door. “Hicca tripped you, thankfully, Rilag caught you. He always trips the rider their first time dismounting. To see what they do.”
Pulling me towards the door, he yelled a goodnight to Hicca and ushered me inside. Emot was walking down the stairs with a tray when he caught sight of me. “Good Godsss, what happened?” I heard footsteps arrive from the upper landing. Zugo’s head popped over and his eyes bulged.
“You should see the other guy,” I mumbled, as I began walking upstairs to clean up. The blood was crusty and tight on my skin, like mud that had dried fully. “I need a shower,” I said, as I reached the top.
“I’ll bring dinner up for you,” Emot called out from the bottom, and I waved that I had heard him.
“What did happen sugar?” Kai walked beside Zugo and me, as I headed to the bathroom.
“Viper insisted we fight for real. I stabbed her several times, she stabbed me. You know, the normal cat fight.” Exhaustion was beginning to kick in as I turned the shower on.
“Do you need help, sugar?” Kai stepped up behind me, but I shook my head no. “Call out if you need help.” He pulled Zugo out of the bathroom and closed the door, sensing I needed a moment alone.
Stepping into the hot water, I watched the blood slowly run down the drain. I had stabbed Viper. I could still feel the knife catch on the skin before breaking through. The sensation caused my stomach to flip and I threw up. “I remember that. Feeling the blade, after the fact. It is almost a phantom sensation.” Viper stood in the bathroom, squeaky clean.
“Why do I still feel it?” I asked in a harsh whisper, my throat raw.
“Because your mind associated a horrible outcome with the sensation. It is coming to the reality of what that sensation means, and by replaying the phantom sensation, it is building neurological connections. In short, muscle memory.” Viper walked closer and sighed. “Anyway, I came for a reason. Since Hicca needed your attention, I decided this could wait. You did well today, it takes most fighters months, if not years, to progress as far as you did. You can have tomorrow off, since Cobra and I have things to take care of,” nodding at her words, I watched Viper slip back out of the bathroom.
I closed my eyes to clean my hair and face, before letting the hot water wash the rest of the blood off. Hanging my head, I let the heat release the tension in my shoulders, as the last of the blood swirled down the drain.
After my shower, I dried off as I walked into the bedroom. Sic was snoring softly from the bed, Zugo was stilling on the side of the bed. “Has he woken at all today?” I whispered my question, and Zugo rose.
Walking towards me, he whispered back, “He was up for a short while to eat, but that’s it. Emot will be taking over when he comes back with your food.” He hugged me tight and I sighed in pleasure.
“It’s hard, I know.” He pressed a kiss on my forehead and just held me. The comfort he gave allowed me to do what I had needed most, I cried. He rubbed my back soothingly and let me cry.
“Why does it have to be like this? Call me childish, but I want peace, not this war.” my words were muffled by his shirt.
“And that is why we love you, but sometimes peace comes with a price. You just need to remember that this isn’t just for us, but for all future generations.” Sniffing harder, I lifted my head.
“When did you get so wise?” I smiled a watery smile, and he pressed his lips to mine.
“I like to read,” he spoke softly, as he held my chin, “Would you like to go somewhere with me after dinner? But only if you aren’t too tired.” He blushed slightly as he asked.
“I would love to,” my reply was punctuated by the sound of Emot placing a tray on the table in the sitting room.
“Come eat you two,” Emot called, as he opened the door wider. We walked into the sitting room where Kai was waiting. He took one look at my towel and pulled it free, only to set it on the floor, in front of the fire. “Enjoy, you three. I’m going to watch Sssic, for a while.” Emot closed the doors behind him as Kai placed food on the low coffee table.
“Cobra suggested a light dinner tonight.” He handed me bowl of soup and a spoon. The soup made from scratch was amazing and I couldn’t hide my appreciation. “Gods, that look on your face has me hard, sugar,” Kai groaned, as he adjusted himself, not so discreetly.
“Well, I plan on making it really hard for you to eat then, cause this is delectable.” I took another bite and Kai groaned again. Zugo chuckled under his breath, hiding his smile in his own bowl of soup.
“Kai, just eat. If you’re a good boy, Zugo can suck your cock,” I mumbled, and Zugo’s spoon clattered into his bowl. He looked up at me with a blush. “If he wants to, that is.” I winked, and his face turned even darker red.
I ignored the guys and focused on my soup, until the bowl was empty. Looking up, I noticed both men staring at me in awe, and I quirked a brow. “What? Do I have something on my face?” I mumbled, wiping my mouth on my napkin.
“No, we are just in awe at how you proceeded to ignore us, in favor of the soup,” Kai pouted, teasingly. “Your face is very expressive.” I brushed off his teasing and sat back.
“Now, where were we? Oh, yes, Zugo sucking Kai’s cock?” my tone, questioning, asking both of them at once if they wanted it, without saying
the words.
“I don’t care either way,” Kai said, turning towards Zugo. “It’s your night, not mine, so you can decide where you want it to start.” Zugo smiled slightly as he slid off the couch and onto his knees.
“If my Empress wants to see me suck your cock, then, suck I will,” he said to Kai.
My mouth watered at the sight of Zugo on his knees, and when Kai stood to unzip his pants, I practically drooled. He pulled both cocks free before knitting them together. Zugo grasped the base of Kai’s cock and pulled him closer, opening his lips around the head. Squeezing my thighs closed, I crawled closer, pushing the table aside. Zugo took all of Kai’s massive cock, and I licked where his lips touched Kai.
Sliding my tongue along Kai’s shaft, I enjoyed working with Zugo on pleasuring Kai. Zugo sucked harder as I made my way to Kai’s balls, sucking on them as Zugo took him into his throat. “Holy fuck, your gonna unman me,” Kai hissed as we worked harder, and then he bucked his hip and groaned. Zugo swallowed Kai’s first load of cum and then slid off. I replaced his mouth with my own as Zugo slid his hand up Kai’s shaft.
Kai grunted again and I felt his cock pulse on my tongue as warm cum coated my tongue. I swallowed everything he gave me, as he sighed and flopped back onto the couch. “You should go, or I will ruin your plans,” Kai spoke to Zugo, prompting Zugo to rise.
“Would you come with me, Maisie?” Zugo held out his hand and helped me rise.
He walked me towards the door as it slid open, the guards looking down at the floor since I was naked. “Where are we going?” Instead of heading down the stairs, we turned the other way and began walking up another set of steps. We walked down the hallway until we got to another set of double doors. Zugo opened the doors himself into a massive space. There was a huge nest of blankets in the far corner and a massive machine that looked oddly familiar.
“This is the nursery. Don’t freak out, the others wanted me to show you, so you knew exactly what you were fighting for. They know you’re not ready yet, but it is ready for when you will be. Sic said it was a promise for the future, a peaceful future.” Zugo pulled me deeper into the room.
The Basilisk Empress Page 9