The Basilisk Empress

by Rozie Marshall

  “Do you think we are doing the right thing, by staying here?” Cobra whispered, as I tripped my way to the door. Sage held an arm out until I regained my footing and opened the doors.

  “For once, I can’t see to know,” Viper hissed back, as I walked out into the bedroom.

  When I walked down the stairs to the courtyard, I saw Sic wearing a full plate mail suit as well. Emot, Kai, and Zugo where all mounted on hellhounds, wearing matching sets of armor. Sic turned around, drawing my eye to the engraving on the back of his chest plate. “Each of us has this enchanted on the back of our armor, if we go down for any reason, they will signal our location to you.” He turned back and held out his hand, placing mine in his, he walked me towards Rilag waiting on the ground.

  As I climbed onto her back, Sic winked, “You do look good in that armor.” His flirtatious manner making me giggle as I shot a look at Kai, who just shrugged. Rilag slowly rose as Sic mounted his own. “Kai and I will ride ahead, while Zugo and Emot ride behind. The royal guard will join us when we get to the gates,” he called back to me, as he and Kai matched their pace. Rilag went to her place perfectly, as I gave her commands with the reins, like Hicca had taught me.

  We proceeded towards the outer wall and the gate that lead towards the Eastern Kingdom. As we passed under the portcullis, the guard, that Sic spoke of, joined us and we began to pick up speed. I felt something shift on my foot and looked down to see two tiny snake heads pop out of the top of my boot. “Did you two really pull that shit?” I hissed down to them.

  “I have no idea what you are talking about,” Viper’s form hissed up at me, before I heard an even softer. “There’s a snake in my boot.” Cobra tried not to laugh as I rolled my eyes.

  “If you get caught, Jeca will kill you. And me.” Sitting back upright I checked to see if any of the guys had noticed me talking to my shoe. We rode for a short time before we began to approach a massive cloud fogging the ground. The guard sped up and we rapidly approached the beginning of the cloud bank. Once engulfed in the haze, I lost sight of the guys for several moments. As I looked around frantically, more and more shapes began to emerge, and soon I could see just fine.

  We rode on towards the sea of people and several tents. “The Cloud Nymphs made it so that once within, anyone can see clearly, at least on our side,” Emot called from behind me, as we began to slow. “The hellhounds are impervious to the Cloud Nymphs spells.” Rilag stopped in front of the tent, lowering herself to the ground.

  Sic helped me out of the saddle, so we could enter the tent, and Rilag refused to move from her spot as I walked in. Jeca and Evat were inside, along with several of Sic’s brothers, all going over a large-scale map. “Your Imperial Majesty,” Jeca bowed, prompting the others to do the same.

  “We expect an attack at sunrise, shortly. They have noticed the fog but there are Cloud Nymphs posing on their side, making it lightly foggy everywhere.” Evat laid out the plans to have most of our army concealed in the cloud cover. “Those from the Eastern Kingdom will use their speed and wings to pick people off from the edges,” he explained, while Emot went to stand by him, Kai was next to his father, while Zugo and I stood alone. Sic was with his brother going over the healing strategies.

  It had been decided that the Western Kingdom was in charge of the healing teams. While those with offensive skills would fight with the Southern Kingdom. The Eastern Kingdom would pick off people on the edges. And I was supposed to oversee it all from this tent. I wanted to help, not stay in a gilded cage. As the thought entered my head, I bent as if to scratch and whispered to my boot, “I get it.”

  A scout raced into the tent and blurted, “They are approaching.”

  “To arms,” Jeca called, and they began to leave.

  Kai kissed me as he passed. “Stay safe, don’t leave the guard behind. I love you.”

  “I love you. Kai,” I called, as he raced after Jeca.

  “I’ll keep an eye on him.” Zugo wrapped has hand around my waist. “I love you.” He pressed his lips to mine and was gone before he could hear my reply.

  Emot winked at me before kissing me. Not a word was said, but I could feel the love in his lips. Sic pulled Emot off after a long moment and Emot walked out of the tent. “Be safe, if you see one of us fall, leave, go back to the castle, Yaga and Ahxezo can get you out of Lasina,” he kissed me fiercely, after he spoke. Braking apart, he tipped the visor on my helm down to cover my face. “It helps if this is down. I love you.” He stepped back, smiling.

  “I love you too, Sic,” I whispered, as he walked out of the opening in the side. I felt two tiny snakes leave my right boot and sighed as they shifted in front of me. “They are gonna kill me when they find out about this.” Viper smiled as she shifted back into her signature Viper form, slithering out of the canvas tent.

  “Ignore her, she refused to be swayed. Besides, I can help with the healing, and there is always a need for that.” Cobra walked towards the entrance and peeked out. “Be safe, Maisie.” She crept out of the tent unnoticed by any of the guards. Walking out, I heard the first calls of the battle, yelling and taunting had begun.

  While I watched from the back of the army, fighters rushed into formations on the ground before me. I could make out Kai and Zugo mounted on either side of Jeca, front and center. Jeca let out a war cry and the men assembled returned it, creating a deafening roar. The Cloud Nymphs began to lighten the fog and I got my first glimpse of my father’s army.

  Rilag scooted closer to my side, giving me comfort the only way she knew how. The guards around me all had hellhounds, each one protecting their rider, while also protecting me. I suddenly felt very trapped. Sliding into Rilag’s saddle, she rose, and I gave her the command to go. Rilag cleared two other hounds to get us away, as she raced towards the sounds of fighting.

  The crowd of men swept forward, crashing with my father’s army, the clang of steel rang in the air, and I was grateful for their traditions of fighting. Emot and his father each led waves of flying basilisks to snatch men from the fringes and drop them from higher up. The ones who shifted before hitting the ground managed to survive, but the others were not so lucky. Watching the sky for a moment longer, I observed as Cloud Nymphs manipulated the air to produce lightning.

  They targeted Vago’s archers, keeping them from being able to let their arrows loose. Other Nymphs were stirring the air, blinding the incoming men with dust and debris. I watched the fighting rage for a while, until Vago’s army began to retreat. Sic was up next to Kai, when I realized he had been fighting. Those who had offensive magic had been in the main body of the army.

  “You are sssupposed to be in the tent,” I heard Emot’s voice behind me as I turned, caught red-handed out in the open. “Go, before Sssic catches you.” He watched as Rilag raced back towards the tent. I stumbled off Rilag and into the opening, when I began to hear Jeca’s voice.

  Jeca walked in, followed by Zugo and Kai. “That went well, if short.”

  “Why is it over?” my question brought three sets of eyes my way.

  “This was a tiny opening skirmish. They were trying to size us up. If they think they can easily beat us, then they will make a misstep that we can benefit from,” Jeca explained, as Emot arrived in the opening.

  “Sic is helping with the few injured, very few were lost considering,” he spoke once he reached the map covered table. “They have men trying to slip to the West unnoticed, from which side, I don’t know. The people leaving could be deserters, or those trying to flee Vago, or they could be trying to split our troops.” He pointed them out on the map and detailed what they had seen. Once everyone was back, they began to make more plans, leaving me to my own devises.

  While the guys planned and argued about what needed to be done, I crept out the flap and watched the front. The Could Nymphs had lifted the fog and I could see the entirety of Vago’s army. They outnumbered us three to one, and I began to worry about what peace would cost everyone. Looking along the army, I began to
notice the similarities in the sides. Tents were everywhere for men to sleep at night, but all were well out of range. One setup stood out, and I realized it was the royal tent, much like the one I stood in front of.

  A lone man stood out front doing much of what I was doing, observing. “That is your father,” Kai said, as he stepped up next to me. “The next several days will be rough, if you want to leave, the guards will take you back to the castle,” he whispered, but I knew he hoped I would stay.

  “I’m capable of camping, the only difference is, this time it’s on a battlefield,” he smiled at my reply, and turned me towards the West. “You can’t see it from here, but there are standing stones to the west. It used to be an open link between Earth and Cazzith. There are similar ones all over both worlds, but most no longer work.” We walked away from the others as he pulled me around the side of the tent. “Listen to this,” he whispered, while pulling my hand to his unarmored cock.

  The guys in the tent groaned while Sic outright swore, and Kai pulled my hand away. “See, wasn’t that fun?” he teased, as he began walking towards the trees to the west. “Anyway, where was I? Oh, right, the standing stones. They still have some magic left in them, so if anything happens to us, go there. One of us will find you, and if we are all gone, Viper will,” he trailed off as he stopped walking, we were just out of earshot of the tent when Kai pulled me close, and kissed me.

  “I know the chances I face on the front line, and I don’t want you to ever doubt that I love you. If something happens to me, please don’t let them mourn me.” He tugged me into a smaller tent with a cot and helped me out of my armor. “The fighting won’t truly begin until the morning, and by then, the Water Nymphs should be here, so we have a little bit of time.”

  I helped him out of his armor while he pulled my clothes off. When we were both naked, he sat on the cots end and pulled me into his lap, straddling his legs. He lifted me slightly and worked both cocks into my slit. I was expecting him to raise me back up again, but instead, he just rocked me, rolling my hips slowly. “Kai, why are you doing this?” I asked breathlessly, as he pulled me tight to his chest.

  “Every soldier deserves a last meal with his lover, and you are the meal I want, sugar. I want you morning, noon and night, until Cazzith burns to nothing and we become dust, I will always want you.” Capturing my lips, he kissed me, just as tenderly as he loved my body. He rolled my hips while cupping my breast, flicking his finger over the aching peak. “I love you, Maisie,” he gasped, as he broke our kiss and thrust a bit harder. “Between you and those two, I’m not gonna last long.” He groaned and lifted me so he could slide back on the cot some more.

  “What you do mean those two?” I whispered, as he began to lay me down in front of him. The change in position set my nerves on fire. Grasping my hips, he held me positioned perfectly for his thrusts, stoking my body with long slow movements.

  “They are trying to speed this up since they can still feel it,” he groaned softly, and sped up just a fraction. He slid a hand up my abs to tweak both my nipples before he caressed his way back down to my clit. His thumb rubbed circles on the sensitive bud, and I moaned. Swirling his finger faster, he began to move more, and my body began to rise up that pleasurable peak.

  “Fuck,” he moaned, as he began to thrust hard, and I could tell he was close to cumming. My body tightened as he rubbed my clit faster, until I shattered. His groan mixed with mine as his cock pulsed, while my body spasmed around him. He pressed a kiss to my chest as he pulled me back upright. “I’m sorry, I tried to hold it off.” Cupping his cheek, I kissed him to shut him up before sliding off his lap.

  “It’s fine, besides this isn’t our tent is it? They might be wanting it back,” I commented, as Kai handed me my clothing.

  “It’s Jeca’s, and he said I could use it for a bit.” Kai pulled his clothes on as I dressed myself. “Do you need help putting your armor back on?” He held up my chest plate, and I nodded.

  “I’ll be honest, I didn’t pay much attention to Viper and Cobra as they dressed me.” He fastened the piece into place before helping me with the rest of it. Once I was fully decked out in armor once more, he began to put his own on. I watched as he carefully placed each item, fastening them on. Where my loving gentle Kai had stood, a warrior now faced me, his armor making him look even more formidable, and also sexy as hell.

  When we were both dressed, he walked me back out into the sunlight. Sic was leaning against tree not too far off, Emot beside him, with a smirk on his face. “Those two are the ones who sped that up. I’ll be back, I’m gonna go kick their asses.” He was about to walk that way when I pulled him to a stop.

  “Save it for later, pay them back in kind.” He grinned at my suggestion as we turned to walk away from Sic and Emot. The main tent was just as full of people when we got back. Sic and Emot followed us back and all three went inside to continue whatever planning they were doing. Rilag rose was once more, following me as I walked towards a small rise in the land.

  “We need a plan of our own, girl.” I scratched her head as she sat next to me. “I’m thinking, if we can find a way to get near Vago, we might be able to kill him, but I’m going to need your help.” Rilag cocked her head as if she understood what I was saying, so I kept planning out loud until the sound of a small horn drew my gaze away from the enemy’s front.

  I knew nothing about war, and was just as inexperienced at fighting as Maisie herself was, but I was expected to be in the tent while they planned. Kai’s detour to orgasm town had made focusing difficult and when the others had joined in, I had to excuse myself. Trying to be inconspicuous, I pretended to be taking a leak, while their actions made me cum without even touching myself. Kai had been right; I could still feel everything they felt and that wasn’t a great thing.

  The sound of a horn drew my gaze up and Sic smiled. “The Water Nymphs are here. That sounds like their call.” Kai and Sic walked out of the tent while the rest of us followed. The sound of the horn prompted the Cloud Nymphs to re-cover the camp in fog, protecting us from the enemy’s sight.

  The King was the first of the Water Nymphs that I recognized. Maisie joined us, with Rilag following her every footstep. “Your Imperial Majesty, may I present the Water Nymph Army. We are here to defend this land we love, and fight for peace for your people.” He bowed and Sic shook his hand.

  “Thank you Nysali, but there is no need for formality among friends,” Sic replied to the King, but my gaze drifted off to the surrounding army.

  Millions of tiny Water Nymphs stood lined up in formation behind the King who was full sized. “Why are they tiny?” I whispered to Kai, and he leaned back my direction.

  “They will remain tiny until they need to be full size. It keeps them from overrunning the camp while we are not fighting. They also have more magic in their smaller Nymph form. Sic once told me that each Nymph race has a special form, but I have never seen any of them,” Kai whispered back, while Sic began to speak once more.

  Maisie’s profile pulled me away from the fantastic sight in front of me. Ignoring the talking, I captured her hand, to her surprise. She smiled and slowly made her way back to my side. “Are you as scared as I am?” her question shocked me, but I understood what she meant.

  “Probably more so, I’ve never fought before,” I admitted, and she nodded.

  “Me neither, but I also realize that I am in charge of all these lives. If only there were another way to get peace without having to risk all of these people,” she whispered, as Sic began to walk with the Nysali toward the tent, a lone Cloud Nymph followed close behind him.

  We all entered the tent and the Cloud Queen appeared beside Nysali. “Your Majesties.” She bowed her head. “I hope my Army has helped keep your true numbers obscured.”

  “They have helped greatly, and now that we have all assembled, we should be able to subdue them without too many casualties on our side. We need to plan on how to best…” Sic’s word were cut off by a humming sound, a
s a hummingbird landed on the large map.

  He hopped to the edge of the table and shifted into one of the banshee’s men, but I couldn’t remember his name. “Kreetik, what brings you here?” Sic asked, as the man looked around at the assembled company.

  “I was sent to inform you that the Giants will be here in three days. Scáthach wanted me to warn you,” he spoke in his humming voice, before shifting back and flying off, not caring about any questions we might have had.

  “If the Giants fight for Vago, we are all dead,” one of Sic’s brothers spoke up, and Sic glared at him.

  “Then we will need to make sure we end this before they arrive,” Sic spoke up, and Maisie stared off at the map. Her distraction gave me the chance to memorize just how beautiful she was. My gaze roamed her face, her body, and I memorized everything I could, knowing, it could very well be my last time to do so.

  The talking faded away as I watched her face, her mouth moving as she asked questions. She looked at me for a moment, and then waited. “Sorry what?” I shook myself out of my stupor.

  “The King asked if you would fight with his warriors,” Maisie repeated, and I looked at the Water Nymph king, and nodded. If they wanted me with the Water Nymphs, then I would go where I was needed.

  “Thank you. It will be a great help to have a few mounts for my warriors, and since they can remain small, hundreds can ride on your hellhound with you,” Nysali spoke, and then Sic paced a moment.

  “What if your troops rode in with our cavalry, that way all the Nymphs are up front, where you want them,” Sic asked, as I tried to pay attention to the plans. But my gaze kept sweeping over Maisie.

  “Wait until later,” Emot whispered in my ear, so no one else could hear. He pulled me out of the tent, and we walked out of ear shot. “I know what you’re thinking, we all are. Hell, Kai already said his goodbye, just in case.” He stopped to look at the lowering sun and I realized most of the day had passed. “Jussst make sssure you don’t outright sssay goodbye, or Maisssie will freak out,” he warned softly, before walking back to the tent. Leaving me alone with the setting sun, in a war camp full of people.