by D L Colon
Vlamarine looks at Glaycol and he is blushing, too. Even though he is a well-trained warrior, he doesn’t have that much experience with females, and that thought makes her smile. Glaycol sees her smile and returns it with a warm smile of his own, which makes her blush even more. After a moment she tells him, “Follow me. I will take you to my place so you can clean up and rest before heading toward the castle.”
Glaycol gets on Zodiac and stretches his hand toward Vlamarine. She grabs his hand and gets on behind him. She wraps her hands around his waist and blushes at the feel of his hard, toned abs beneath her hands. Ethan and Jasorian follow them as they head through the gate of the Elven Kingdom.
The sun has started to rise as they pass through the gates. There are elven kids running outside, playing, but upon hearing the hooves of the horses they come running to see who is coming and who the newcomer going through their streets is. They are amazed to see Glaycol, and Jasorian, and they were waving their hands at Ethan, who is a member of the Royal family, as they go down the path.
Vlamarine directs Glaycol to head toward her house while Ethan and Jasorian head to the Traveler’s Inn, for the night. After arriving at their destination, Vlamarine gets off Zodiac and leads him to where she keeps her horse, and Glaycol gets off and walks beside her. As they walk Vlamarine looks at Zodiac. “That’s a wonderful horse you have here. What breed is it?”
Glaycol smiles as he answers her, “That’s my companion, Zodiac. He is a Friesian.”
His words make Vlamarine turn and look at him in shock. “Does that make you royalty? I heard only nobility ride this breed of horse after it’s tamed by them. And only a specific noble family, the nobles of The Black Flames, is able to tame them.”
Glaycol with a grim expression and pain evident in his eye, which is something he hasn’t shown anyone except his family, says, “There’s no way a cold-hearted killer like me, a person who only knows killing, could be a noble, much less belong to that well known and respected noble family.”
Vlamarine looks at Glaycol as she thinks; The Dragon Slayer. Who would have thought I would be in the presence of such a person? What has scarred this man so deep that killing has become the fire he seeks to warm himself? But right in front of me is a different side of him. I can tell that not many people have seen this side of him. What many have seen is the cold-hearted killer and not the person who carries the weight he is carrying by himself. Even though I have only known him for a few hours, I want to ease the pain he carries alone. I will do everything in my power to make sure this man doesn’t go through the pain he has gone through again.
Vlamarine shakes herself from her thoughts and says, “Let’s go inside so you can get a shower and get your stuff together.”
Glaycol goes to the saddlebag on Zodiac and digs out some clean clothes, then he follows Vlamarine. As they are walking Glaycol is paying close attention to any possible exits in case he needs to make a quick getaway without being seen. Vlamarine sees this but doesn’t say anything to him. In time he will learn to trust her. When they arrive at the bathroom she turns to him. “Let me help you take off that armor.”
The moment she puts her hand on the back of the armor, she feels him tense so she stops and turns to face him. With honesty, but hurt in her voice, she says, “Glaycol Master, I have made a vow that I will marry the man who made me fail my first shot and that man is you. I may be an elven woman but I am still a woman. I won’t change my vow. If I wanted to kill you I would have tried already, though I doubt it would have made a difference because I would have been dead before I could really try. The fact is, I am not trying to kill you. I am just trying to get to know the man that I will marry in body and mind. For that to happen I have to show you that I am being true to my words. Should I be naked in front of you so you can see that I don’t carry any weapons with me?”
Glaycol, taken aback by the hurt in her tone, looks at her and sees the honesty in her eyes, but he can also see that she will do what she just told him she would. Glaycol takes a deep breath and decides that he will come to trust her. With sincerity in his voice, he asks her, “Vlamarine, would you help me take off my armor so I can wash my body?”
Vlamarine is shocked at how much she wanted him to say her name. Ever since they met she has addressed him by his name, but he has never called her by her name. She knows that things will change for both of them, tonight. She pulls herself from her thoughts and goes to his back. She touches him and feels him tense up again. Once again, hurt by his reactions, she starts to pull her hands off his armor.
He stops her by placing his hand on top of hers and tells her, “Don’t. I am used to doing all these things by myself and I don’t know how to react when someone, other than my Gramps, offers me help with my armor. I don’t know how to react and I’m sorry, Vlamarine.”
Upon hearing her name again, she blushes and she says in a soft voice, “It’s okay.”
The moment those word leave her lips she feels him relax, and she proceeds to unhook the back of his armor, revealing the body underneath. She starts taking the pieces of the armor off him one by one, slowly revealing his body is covered by a black shirt and black pants. Under the clothing his body is rippled with muscles. Not that it is too much, but it’s just the way it should be. She remembers some of her female hunter friends saying; If a man has more muscle than normal it means he cares more about his body than anything or anyone else. It also means that he is stupid as a pig. But if a man doesn’t have too much or too little, and looks like a masterpiece of art, he is something special. Somewhere along the way he will make an impact in history and he doesn’t lack in any area.”
Vlamarine smiles and whispers to herself, “Oh my friends, you will not believe who I will marry.”
Vlamarine proceeds to take his shirt off and sees the bandages covering his chest and abdominal area, and she casts him a questioning glance.
“My last battle was against Commander Zaz of the Dragon Empire. I’m still not fully recovered and I need to change this bandage after I get my shower. Would you help me?”
Vlamarine gulps and answers, “Of course I will. I will help you with anything. After all, I am to be your wife.”
Glaycol nods then turns around and disappears into the bathroom.
Chapter 14
Glaycol is done washing his body when he hears a knock on the door and a soft voice say, “Glaycol, I made some supper. Once you are done washing, could you join me at the table to eat?”
Glaycol smiles at how shy she sounds and answers, “Yes, Vlamarine. I’m coming out.”
Glaycol dries himself, gets dressed, and exits the bathroom. He heads straight to where the smell of food is coming from as his stomach growls loudly. He hears Vlamarine chuckle at him and grins. As he enters the small kitchen, Glaycol sees the small feast before him and drools at how much food she prepared. “How could you prepare this much food in such a short time?” He asks in awe.
Vlamarine blushes and answers, “Most of what I made is really easy to make, and none of it takes much time to make. Since you took a pretty long shower, I was able to get it finished.”
Glaycol sits down and really looks at her for the first time. He notices she has long, green hair, golden eyes, a fair, creamy skin tone, and slender shoulders. Glaycol looks away from her as his attraction builds and says, “Thank you for the food.” He starts to eat and after the first bite he can’t help but compliment her cooking. “This tastes good. It could give my Grandma’s food a run for its money.”
Vlamarine smiles at the compliment and asks, “After we eat do you want to walk around and see the surroundings with me?”
Glaycol nods and they eat the rest of the food in silence. Once Vlamarine is done she excuses herself from the table and goes into her room to change out of her archer clothes. Her duty as the gatekeeper was done for the day the moment she left with Glaycol and she wants to give him a really good impression of herself as a female. She doesn’t put any of the stuff the females put
on their faces to make themselves look better than what they really are because she wants him to appreciate her for who she really is and not for an image that is built up.
After she finds something really comfortable to wear she lets her long hair down from its braid and watches as it falls to her waist. After checking herself in the mirror, she feels satisfied with the way she looks. When she comes out, Glaycol, who has been outside of the house looking at the road, looks at her and he can’t help but admire her simple, yet captivating, way of dressing.
He smiles at her as his attraction rises again. “You look good.” He says simply.
Vlamarine smiles brightly at his simple compliment. “Thanks, Glaycol. That means a lot coming from you.”
They start walking and Vlamarine takes her time explaining the areas and their meaning to him. Glaycol, enjoying her company, pays very close attention to what she is saying and asks questions, which makes the time go by faster. As the day goes by Glaycol and Vlamarine start to notice that there has been a lot of guards around the city, guarding the gate very closely. Having a bad feeling about the whole situation, they start walking back to Vlamarine’s place. The closer they get to her place the more guards they notice. Arriving at her place, the guards are waiting for them. Vlamarine approaches them and one of them steps forward, “Captain of the Archers, Vlamarine Stone, there has been rumors that you let a human male into your house. That being said, you know you could lose your status as the Captain of the Archers.”
Glaycol is about to say something to the guards, but Vlamarine grabs his arm and turns him around to look at her. She catches him by surprise by kissing him fully on the lips. Glaycol responds to her kiss by putting his hand around her waist and kissing her deeply. Vlamarine breaks the kiss and looks at the guard who spoke. “May I speak to the one in charge?”
A man steps from behind the others and says, “I am the one in charge, Mari.”
Upon hearing that, she recognizes the male in charge is the City Guard, Esoj. “Long time no see, Esoj. Couldn’t help but check on me after all these years?”
Esoj chuckles and says, “We have been childhood friends since we were born and we both know the rules of what is supposed to happen if a female elf is found with a human male in the city.”
Vlamarine sighs deeply, “Esoj, or should I say Captain of the City guard, have you wondered why I would be around a male knowing what the rules say about this kind of behavior?”
Esoj answers, “There’s no need for that, Vlamarine. His majesty has agreed to overlook this situation if you get rid of him.”
Glaycol looks at Esoj defiantly and Vlamarine says, “But you are forgetting that our vows overwrite the rules of the city, and his Majesty, Prince Ethan Iron Born, already knows of this situation.”
Esoj looks at Vlamarine in shock, “The Prince is back?”
Vlamarine nods and grins, “Yes, he is back. And the human male right beside me is my future husband.”
Esoj snaps his head up in shock. “That’s impossible. There’s no way you would marry a human, unless...” Esoj trails off as realization hits him.
“It’s exactly as you think, Esoj, unless my vow was completed. Not only am I doing it because of my vow and I have to follow what the tradition states, but I want to be with him by choice.”
Esoj’s face grows red with anger as he points to Glaycol and says, “You have to prove to me that you are able to achieve the feats that have made Vlamarine follow you.”
Suddenly a voice interrupts them. “He won’t do any such thing just to fulfill your selfish desire, Captain.”
Esoj turns around to see Ethan looking at him with the eyes of the Prince. Esoj stares wide-eyed at Ethan for a second then quickly drops to his knee. “Your Majesty, I am just doing what is best for Vlamarine. I’m just trying to save her from something she will regret.”
Glaycol starts laughing and says, “I have a better proposition for you, mister so called Captain of the guard, why don’t you test me and I will let you have a ten arrow shot at me. I will not move from the circle on the ground that will be surrounding me. We will not only be putting the nullification of Vlamarine’s vow being fulfilled, but also your life and mine will be on the line as well. I will have three knives to throw at you, though I will only need one to defeat you, agreed?”
Esoj laughs at Glaycol’s proposition and tells him, “I taught Vlamarine everything she knows about archery. You may be able to fool her but you won’t find it as easy with me. You have a deal. I will see you in the forest in the morning, human.”
Esoj turns around and leaves as Vlamarine approaches Glaycol, “Why would you do such a thing?”
“Because he needs to be taught a lesson.”
The guards have already left, leaving Ethan, Jasorian, Glaycol, and Vlamarine standing outside her house. Jasorian, looking at Glaycol and Vlamarine, clears his throat and shifts his attention solely on Glaycol, “How could you be so stupid, Glaycol? There’s something you must understand. Females don’t like males fighting over them. They can take care of themselves and you know that Vlamarine can take care of herself really well.”
Glaycol scoffs and says, “I didn’t like the high and mighty attitude he directed at Vlamarine. Plus, he was talking like a parasite that needs to be exterminated. So I am doing things to prove to him that I am a better warrior than he is. That will issue a bigger blow to him than killing him would.”
Ethan chuckles a little telling them, “So not only you are a great warrior, but you are also a great tactician. Going for a mental blow over a physical kill is a very strategical move.”
Glaycol smirks at Ethan’s words. “Not all enemies have to be killed physically. If you land a mental blow correctly it will take care of other things; like their will to fight. This may be my way to incapacitate an enemy not worth killing. I will be showing him that there are multiple ways of fighting and that using brute force doesn’t solve everything that comes their way. My father, Bonca Master, was not only one of the best hunters in the history of the Continent of Istagar, but he was also a great tactician. He had many ways of dealing with enemies and that’s why he was called by Kings to propose strategies to defeat an enemy.”
Ethan smiles and nods his head. “Yes. I remember when we needed his help once and we asked for his services. This was before the Dragon Empire came to be, but I think that was one of the reasons the dragons attacked your family before anyone else. If they could take your father down, they wouldn’t have that much retaliation coming from any side.”
Vlamarine looks at the sky for a moment then focuses her attention back on the males standing before her, “It is late, everyone, and I think it is time for all of us to rest. Especially since Glaycol will have another fight tomorrow before meeting the King.”
Everyone said their goodbyes and start to leave. Glaycol is about to follow Ethan and Jasorian when Vlamarine stops him. “Where are you going, Glaycol?”
“I’m going to the Inn to rest for the night.”
“I never said you were going with them.”
Glaycol narrows his eyes and asks, “Then where am I staying tonight?”
Vlamarine blushes and answers, “You’re staying with me.”
Glaycol stared at her, kind of shocked at what she said. He knows that she only has one bed, and that would be sleeping together on that bed. Glaycol doesn’t know how to react to that since he has never slept with a female except for his mother when he was little. He can’t help but feel like this is more intimate then he’s ever been in his life. He doesn’t find her unattractive, it’s the total opposite. He can’t keep from looking at her, but he doesn’t know what to do about the fact that he is a virgin. He doesn’t want to give her a bad impression of him, but he truly does not know how to please a woman.
Vlamarine turns around and goes inside and Glaycol follows close behind her. Once inside, Glaycol sits on a chair she has while Vlamarine goes into her room and changes into something more comfortable, realizing that a
ll she has are provocative clothes that are revealing to the point you can see through them. She can’t help the blush that creeps up her neck, but she knows what she wants to do. She wants to make this night special for both of them.
Once she is done, she comes out of her room. Glaycol, who is looking out the window, turns when he hears her door close. His jaw drops when he sees Vlamraine standing there, looking at him. The light of the moon comes through the window and illuminates her, showing her naked body through sheer fabric and leaving nothing to imagination. The sight of her perky breasts and her slender waist causes Glaycol to gulp audibly. He doesn’t know how to react to a scene like the one before him. The beauty of her body in front of him causes his body to react in a way he has never experienced before. As he watches the moonlight dance across her pale skin, he feels his shaft grow hard.
Chapter 15
Vlamarine notices the bulge that has appeared in his pants and she is happy to see that she arouses him. She feels slightly shy about showing her whole body to him, but she slowly starts moving toward him, making each step more seductive than the last. Seeing the hunger in his eyes and hearing the quickening of his breath, she knows there’s a fire burning within him that can’t be extinguished.
Once she is standing in front of him, she takes him by the hand, and leads him toward her bedroom. The excitement in both of them rises the closer they get to the room. Once inside, Vlamarine closes the door behind them and slips off the sheer fabric covering her, revealing her naked body to Glaycol. Seeing that he isn’t making the first move, she looks at him and asks, “Do you find me unattractive, Mr. Master?”
Glaycol shakes his head and moistens his lips with the tip of his tongue before he answers. “What I’m about to tell you is not something any man can admit to openly. Vlamarine, I really don’t know what to do. I have never had such a beautiful body naked in front of me. I have never been with a woman in my life.”