“Zugo, is everything alright?” Maisie startled me, as she walked out of the tent. I turned to watch her walk closer and admired how perfectly her armor looked on her. She looked every inch the Empress, as she stood on the battlefield and commanded her people. Although, she wasn’t actually commanding. “You seemed distracted in there.”
“I’m fine, just got lost in your beauty.” She playfully swatted my arm before placing her hand in mine, the metal we both wore clanging softly, as we touched. “I was watching the sunset and wondering what tomorrow will bring,” I admitted, as we stood there watching the sun sink below the Northern mountains. As the sun hit just right, I noticed a small trail of smoke rising from one of the taller peaks.
I remembered a story from my childhood about the Fire Nymphs, but dismissed it as fantasy. “Zugo?” Maisie whispered. “I’m scared,” her voice was soft, as if admitting it out loud made the fear more real somehow.
“I’m scared, too,” I admitted, just as softly. “But we need to have courage, together. If only for those who are fighting for us.” She squeezed my hand as darkness set in, the men and women within the fog bank began settling for the night, while others began to patrol. “Did you see the smoke in the distance?” I asked, as we began walking towards the main tent once more.
“No, I didn’t. Why?” She asked while we strolled, Rilag following just behind Maisie.
“There is an old tale about the Fire Nymphs. Some people say they moved to a different land when the four Kingdoms began fighting. Others say they just hid themselves so well that we never see them anymore,” explaining as we walked, I smiled at Maisie, briefly. “My mother used to say that they still spy on us, through the hearth fires, and that is why every house has one always burning. I don’t know what is true, but the small band of smoke rising from the mountain reminded me of them.”
We walked into the main tent and the map table had been moved to one side revealing a wooden door below. The hatch was open and Sic popped his head up. “Dinner is ready, and the beds are made up down here.” He helped Maisie down the small ladder, and I followed slowly, not wanting to go into the underground again.
“No chains, I promise,” Sic whispered, as I tentatively stepped into the lower level. Nodding, I looked around at the small room. Five cots were lined up along the back wall and a table, that only four of us could sit at, was off to one side. Emot stood with his plate as Maisie sat in an open spot.
“It’s not the best but it’s filling and will help give you energy,” Emot spoke, as we sat down. I picked at my food until the others were done, and then walked to the cot on the end. Peeling my armor off, I sat on the cot and prayed to Jörmungandr that I survived this war, and if not, that Maisie did.
After dinner, the guys helped me out of my armor and Sic blew out the candles near the cots, leaving only one small one burning near the ladder. I wasn’t exactly tired, but I laid on my cot and closed my eyes anyway. Kai stripped down and laid next to me, with Zugo on his other side. Emot and Sic were whispering on my other side, but I couldn’t hear what they said.
I listened to the sounds of them taking off their armor. Kai sat up, prompting me to open my eyes and look at him. He sighed softly and held out his hand for mine, pulling me up. He took my spot and using his foot, pushed his cot flush with Zugo’s, before gently pushing me towards it. Zugo was on his side, watching Kai’s actions, when I sat down.
Zugo pulled me down so I was cuddled up next to him, his hand draped over my stomach. Shadows danced on the back wall as I relaxed into Zugo’s embrace. Emot and Sic were still helping each other take off their armors. Emot kissed Sic softly as he dropped the last of Sic’s armor, and I smiled. Zugo whispered softly in my ear, as Sic sat down on his cot, “I love you.”
I turned my head away from the others and rolled, so I was facing him. “I love you too,” I whispered back, before pressing my lips to his softly.
He slid his hand down my back and cupped my ass before pulling me closer so I could feel both of his cocks. He hissed in pleasure softly, and I realized that Sic and Emot were probably in a similar situation. Zugo rolled me back onto my side, helping me take my pants off, as he did so. He tossed his own on the dirt floor, before climbing over me. Both my legs were pinned between his, until he bent my top leg and put it around the outside of his hip. Sliding closer to the juncture between my thighs I felt his cocks rubbing me.
Kai’s was facing me, watching Zugo’s movements in the dim light, and I could feel the moisture gathering to help Zugo slide deep. My body ached as Zugo rubbed his cocks on my ass and pussy, so I wiggled just enough to get both of his heads to breach me. Kai took a deep breath as Zugo slid deep, and Emot’s head popped over Kai’s back. He whispered something and Kai smiled, as Zugo began to move slowly.
My eye closed part of the way, as pleasure bloomed in my blood, while Zugo stoked me at a leisurely pace. Opening my eyes more, I got a glimpse of Kai’s cocks as he stroked himself. Emot was still sitting up watching Zugo, but I couldn’t tell what else he was doing, until he shifted down his cot more. Sic was behind him, watching Emot, while he stroked both his own cocks.
“What do you want beautiful?” Zugo whispered, and I looked up at him, letting the pleasure take me away from this battlefield we were on, or under.
Kai sat up on his elbow for a moment and looked at me, “What does our Empress want, I wonder?” He rolled onto his stomach and rose up onto his knees so I could see all three of them. Sic stood and pulled Emot up roughly by the hair, making him moan softly. Zugo’s hips continued their slow ride as Sic pushed Emot around behind Kai.
Sic forced Emot to kneel behind Kai as Sic sat behind him on the cot. Sic pulled Emot down and I heard Zugo’s groan as Emot took both of Sic’s cocks into his ass. My eyes devoured the sight as Sic kept Emot impaled on him, not letting Emot move yet. Kai sat back enough that he could feel Emot’s cocks on his ass and I fully expected him to rise back up and turn. Instead he rose up and repositioned Emot, before sliding back down. My body tightened at the sight of the three locked together, and my moan was loud when Sic began to move. Emot and Kai rode the movements, while Zugo matched their pace.
Emot’s hand slid around one of Kai’s cocks while Sic’s slid around the other and I felt myself clasp Zugo’s cocks tighter, my body primed for sweet release. Zugo slid his hand up my back and raked his nails down, making me arch in pleasure. My arch made his cocks rub the perfect spot and I moaned as I spasmed around him. Kai swore as Zugo bent over me more and began to move faster. Sic pushed Kai forward onto his hands and knees, making Emot follow. He began to fuck Emot hard and fast, losing control, as Zugo matched his speed. Kai and Emot grunted and groaned as they held on for the ride.
Zugo lifted my leg onto his shoulder and began pounding into me rapidly, my body rejoicing in his roughness. My nerves were poised to shatter again, as he kissed me. He broke the kiss and tipped my head back to the others. “Watch them, not me,” he whispered, and I turned my attention back to the others.
The erotic sight coupled with Zugo’s increased speed sent me over the edge again. “FUCK!” Kai groaned, as his cocks pulsed, his cum coating Sic’s and Emot’s hands. Zugo’s body spasmed deep in me as he groaned his own release. Emot moaned and slammed himself into Kai while Sic slammed into his ass. The look of bliss on their faces made me realize how lucky I was to have all of them.
Zugo collapsed back onto his cot behind me after pulling out, and I rolled onto my back. Turning my head so I could see Zugo, I kissed him before asking. “Why did you want me to watch them?” whispering so the others couldn’t hear, I focused on his face.
I could hear the others settling in as the last candle burned lower, flickering as if about to go out. “Because you enjoy watching, and so do I,” he whispered back, and I knew there was more to it than that, but decided not to press any further.
Zugo pulled a blanket over me and the another for himself. He brushed a lock of hair back off my forehead, and pressed a kiss t
o my lips. “I love you, more than my own life.” The candle chose that moment to burn itself out and I thanked the Gods, because it hid the tear that was making its way down my cheek.
Candles being lit woke me, and I stretched as Zugo slowly rose from his cot. Sitting up, I watched the guys get dressed while I looked for my pants. My shirt was on the end of the cot, so I slipped it on, while Zugo placed my pants on top of the blanket. Standing to pull my pants up, I waqtched as Emot held his chest plate in place while Sic fastened it. Kai did his own armor, while Zugo helped me put my own armor on.
The silence was charged with emotion, and I wondered, not for the first time, if I would see them alive again. Once Zugo had placed the last of my armor on, Kai helped him into his, and I raced up the ladder. I needed fresh air before I lost my composure. Reaching the tent flaps, I pushed them aside as stepped out into the predawn air. Rilag popped up and followed me as I began to walk away from the tent, towards the back of the fog bank.
“Coming to the realization that your men might die?” an eerie voice said by my side, and I jumped. Rilag growled but I reassured her that Scáthach wasn’t an enemy.
I looked over at her and felt the tears, I had been holding back, start to fall down my face. “Why are you here?” Wiping my cheeks was only temporary, as more tears fell.
“One, you needed a good cry, to put everything into perspective. Two, Banshees always arrive when a loved one is about to die.” She gazed back at the battlefield and I saw dozens if not hundreds of Banshees mixed with those on the field. “Don’t worry about the cost of what is to come, for you will be paying the highest of prices personally. We are here on both sides, wailing for those who will die, and let’s just say Vago’s side has more,” Scáthach spoke, and handed me a small handkerchief. “Keep it, if you need me, just call my name, and I will appear,” with that, she left me alone, heading into the masses in front of me.
Rilag bumped my shoulder and I leaned against her for a moment. “We can’t let her words deter us, Vago wants a war and we will give him one hell of a war,” scratching her ear, I spoke to myself as much as to her. Emot emerged from the tent and saw me, slowly walking to join me.
“Are you alright?” he asked when he reached us.
“I’m alright, just realizing that you guys could get hurt, or even…” he pressed his lips to mine, stopping my words.
“Don’t. You can’t think like that or you will just be a messss,” he whispered, as our lips parted. “I love you, Maisssie. Sssic lovesss you, Kai lovesss you, and Zugo lovesss you. Nothing will break that, or how you feel about usss. Pleassse be sssafe. We will probably be busssy for the foressseeable future.” He kissed me again, then scratched Rilag’s head. “You keep her sssafe, don’t let anything happen to our girl.” Smiling, he stepped back. “My Empressss.” Then he bowed to me, before turning away and walking off towards the Eastern Kingdom regiments.
Zugo and Kai mounted up on their hellhounds and looked back towards me, and they both waved before riding towards the front lines. Sic was the last one to emerge from the tent, and he walked in my direction, stopping a few feet away. He just stood, looking me over with a smile on his lips. “If this is the last time I get to gaze upon your beauty, I will never regret it. Thank you, for embracing us, this life, and this world.” He was about to turn when I gasped and jumped towards him.
Catching me easily he hugged me as tightly as armor would allow, and I pressed my lips to his. “I love you, Sic.”
“I love you too, Maisie. I have loved you since you were a snotty kid asking about the monsters under your bed, and I will love you long after I have stopped breathing.” He kissed me once more before stepping back and bowing. “Be safe.” He turned and walked towards the tent, mounting his hellhound. He turned and I waved as he rode in the same direction as Kai and Zugo. Rilag whined softly as he sped off.
Just as the sun crested the mountains behind us, flooding the battlefield with sunlight, the clanging of swords rang out. Rilag growled and lowered to the ground, so I could mount the saddle. Once I climbed on, she rose and began to run towards the front so I could see the battle from a higher vantage point.
The cavalry shimmered as the sun touched them, fragmenting rays of sunlight at the advancing troops. I realized the Water Nymphs were clinging to the hellhound’s fur like dewdrops. Catching a glimpse of Kai, I silently cheered as he deflected a sword with his own. That was the last time I caught sight of him, as the Cloud Nymphs began shooting lighting into Vago’s army.
Metal conducted the lightning bouncing from armor to armor. It didn’t seem to hurt the fighters in full plate but those with chainmail cried out. Men fought with swords and shields, while others shifted and fought in basilisk form. The Water Nymph King was lifted up by several Cloud Nymphs and it began to hail bowling-ball-sized chunks of ice on the enemy.
Rilag and I watched for minutes, or hours, as men were cut down. Emot flew down to me at one point and checked in. “Sssic isss with the othersss fighting on the front. He hasss been helping thossse that fall, if they can be sssaved.” He was covered in blood and sweat, and I realized he had a gash over his left eye.
“You need to see a healer,” I said, as his basilisk form shimmered back to human form.
“I’m fine, the bleeding hasss already ssstopped, and other people need the help more.” He blew me a swift kiss before running off towards the tent for something. I watched him return, only to groan and grab his junk. “Fuck, that hurt. Sssomeone isss fighting dirty.”
“What happened?” almost jumping from Rilag’s back, I called to him.
“Nothing, one of the guysss jussst got a kick to the nutsss and it fucking hurt.” He sighed, and I realized they could still feel each other. My mind began to think of all the horrible things that could happen to all of them because that potion still hadn’t worn off. Emot grabbed my hand with his. “Ssstop thinking about it, we are all fine.” His body shimmered and he shifted back into his basilisk form and flew off, softly caressing my face with his tail as he left.
I watched him leave until the sight of a tornado pulled my attention away. The Cloud Nymphs were guiding it between the lines, flinging the enemy army back. Gaping at the sight, I felt Rilag begin to move, as they shifted into basilisk form to save themselves from the drop. We were just about to go check on the wounded when Viper appeared in the center of the combat.
She stayed back but used her skills to cut down anyone that broke through the first few rows of fighters. The chaos on the battlefield became messier as more people fell, and others took their place. As the sun began to set on the first full day of battle, I wondered if the fighting would stop, but as the moon rose higher, they continued fighting.
Three days and nights passed, and still the fighting raged on. Both sides were losing people and I could no longer stand by and watch people die. The earth began to rumble under my feet as I mounted Rilag in the morning light. The Cloud Nymphs and the Water Nymphs began to pull back, as massive forms began to take shape on the far side.
The Cloud Nymph queen fluttered to my side and looked at the Giants walking towards the battle. “This just got bad. I need to go gather more allies if we are going to defeat this new threat,” she spoke, and I nodded.
“What can we do in the meantime?” I asked, as she began to float within her cloud.
“Avoid the feet and keep them away from the camps, if that means you need to cause a distraction do so.” She flew off as fast as possible and headed North. Emot flew in for a moment, as I watched Amethelia fly off.
“You need to leave, now. There issss no avoiding the giantsss, you mussst run,” he urged me, before flying back towards the incoming giants.
“Rilag, girl, what do you say we cause a distraction of epic proportions?” She huffed her response, so I elaborated, “Vago wants me, right? So, if we make ourselves a target then he might stop the giants for a moment.” She shook herself as if to say she disagreed, but she would do anything I commanded.
I steered her towards the tent, and she let me dismount, so I could go inside. Cobra was standing there holding out an axe, a seax and a sword. “Give him hell.” Her face was ashen as she stood there, and I took the weapons she offered.
“Cobra, is everything alright? You look pale.” She shielded her gaze from me, and sighed.
“Everything is well, just preparing for the inevitable,” she whispered, and I pulled her in for a hug.
Her face was startled as I pulled back. “Whatever is going to happen, I know it will all work out.” Squeezing her hands softly, she bowed low to me.
“It was an honor to serve you, and one day it shall be an honor again.” She pushed me out the tent and onto Rilag. “Now go, before it is too late.”
Cobra waved me off as Rilag sped towards the front line, where people were still fighting as the Giants made their way towards the front lines. They dwarfed the men and even the basilisks looked small in comparison. Rilag avoided the bulk of the fighting and I vaguely heard Sic yell as I raced by him. As soon as I passed the bulk of the fighting, I saw Jeca fighting several men at once.
Rilag sped past more skirmishes, as the lines blurred, and the men no longer remained in formation. I passed Zugo and Kai as Rilag dodged large groups of fighters. After a bit, I found myself in the midst of only the enemy, with them crowding around me swiftly. “I command you to lay down your arms, we are all one people, this fighting needs to stop, now go, leave,” yelling, my voice caused a ripple through the gathering fighters.
The Basilisk Empress Page 14