The Gauntlet Thrown - Lord Bent's Manor Vol. 2
Copyright© 2025 by Commissum
Chapter 3
Fantasy Sex Story: Chapter 3 - The second novel in the world of Lord Peter Bentencourt, an earth born magic user now living on the magical world of Kreven. Volume two continues after the events of the first novel, Fire and Ice. Beware, the ethics of Kreven are unlike those of Earth. Also, book one has a map of the Mirror Lake region.
Caution: This Fantasy Sex Story contains strong sexual content, including Ma/Fa Mind Control Lesbian Heterosexual Fiction Magic non-anthro DomSub Spanking Group Sex Cream Pie Masturbation Oral Sex Pregnancy Squirting Hairy Size
They retraced their route back underground. As Sala began to unlock the door leading to the vault, Peter asked to speak with her alone. The Mohennial instructed Commander Constance and Tevi to wait in the corridor a moment before directing Peter to enter before her. She followed, shutting the heavy door behind her but leaving it unlocked.
“Yes, Lord Bent?” she asked with a tight smile.
Peter swallowed and began, “The test above ... I saw your initial placement of your shield. You were unsure if the arrowhead would detonate when Tevi released the bowstring?”
The Mohennial shrugged. “I simply took reasonable precautions, Peter. I was confident that the arrow would work as intended.”
“But you were not completely sure,” Peter pressed with increasing anger. “You put Tevi’s life at risk!”
“I did,” Sala responded calmly. “But if you recall, I had just finished ensuring that she was under the protection of an active resurrection policy.”
“But still—”
“Lord Bent!” the Mohennial interrupted with a grave voice. “You forget yourself!”
Peter clenched his teeth, and thankfully, remained silent. After a long moment, he continued more calmly, “I apologize, Mistress. I’m just worried about my former ward.”
“That is understandable, Peter,” Sala replied. “But, as you recall, I did not force the girl to accompany us on this expedition. She accepted the risk freely. And, you have to agree, the girl is being amply compensated.
“Yes, both are true,” Peter admitted. “I just don’t understand why you need an archer. Would not the fire crystal gun weapon we used a week ago at Hale Pass have suited? After all, it killed a fully grown cryo-dragon with one shot. I expect it also has a greater range than that unbalanced arrow does.”
The Mohennial’s expression turned bitter. “Yes, the gun would have been ideal, but I was unable to procure the use of it a second time. Also, the price I had to pay for the usage of just the single magical shell was astronomical.”
“So, you built your own version of a fire crystal bullet?”
“In a fashion, yes,” she replied. “Although, as you’ve just seen demonstrated, it’s a lesser version, as the simple bow-fired projectile has far less range and travels much slower. Still, if our archer lets fly her arrow from full concealment and with surprise, the weapon should prove quite adequate.”
Peter considered the destruction of the apple tree and nodded. “Assuming Tevi can hit a vulnerable-enough spot. The cryo-dragon’s armor is quite formidable.”
Mohennial Sala shrugged, conceding his point. “As I stated Lord Bent, I was reasonably certain firing the arrow would be safe. After all, I modeled the new fire crystal arrow tips after the shell we’d used on the first dragon. That shell withstood the much-greater forces of being fired out of a gun without prematurely detonating, did it not?”
“That’s true,” Peter replied grudgingly. “Still, did you see how Tevi had to loft that heavy arrow? I’d much prefer to leave her behind and wait until the gun again becomes available. Can we offer to pay more?
“We?” the Mohennial snorted. “Spending my coin so easily, I see.”
Peter began to apologize, but Sala waved her hand dismissing his comment.
“I agree the projectile weapon would be better. But my sources say that no matter how much I might offer, my request to borrow it again would be rejected.”
Peter picked up on the bitterness in her tone.
“Is the reason for that related to why this expedition you’ve assembled seems to be a mostly private venture?” Peter asked carefully. “I can’t help but wonder why you’ve selected me and Tevi when you could have simply ordered a full squad of experienced Order battle wizards accompany you to return the eggs.”
The Mohennial looked at him for a long moment as if considering how much she should share. Finally, she responded, “Your suspicions do you credit, Lord Bent. Say nothing to the others of what I am about to reveal.”
She paused until Peter agreed.
“For many years,” she explained quietly, “I have sensed certain ... shifts, within the highest levels of the Third Order. These shifts often were keenly focused against my interests. I have deployed resources to investigate my suspicions and recently, received indications that the arrival of the cryo-dragon and the eggs in the Sunsets might not be due to chance. The male dragon may have been somehow enticed to create a brood at that location. And, being so near the Vent, this was either to preoccupy me, or worse, to actively destroy me.”
Peter blinked as he tried to understand the ramifications of Sala’s statement. Finally, he spoke, “That’s ... that is quite the theory.”
“Yes, and I lack enough evidence to move it beyond being simply a theory at this time,” Sala replied. “Hence, this covert attempt to return the two living eggs myself. I hope to learn the truth of the matter directly from the source, and if it was a plot, who on Kreven was behind it.”
“But, couldn’t you take your theory to the Order’s ruling council and have them investigate it? Surely, they cannot all be part of such a plot.”
“As I said, I lack enough evidence, Lord Bent,” the Mohennial replied warily. “Until I know more, I dare not alert any potential adversaries of my suspicions.”
Peter nodded as he now better understood the Mohennial’s actions.
“Any further questions?” Sala asked.
“Just one,” he replied smiling. “Commander Constance stated that I was to negotiate a suitable recompense regarding my increased exposure to potential dangers from this mission with you myself. Shall we bargain?”
Mistress Sala laughed. “No bargains this time, Lord Bent. But if you somehow manage to survive, I’ve planned a compensation for you that I’m sure you will find more than adequate.”
Peter sighed dramatically and nodded. He had little choice but to trust Sala and she knew it.
Sala pointed to the two net-wrapped eggs where they still sat on the floor. “Before the others rejoin us, help me recharge the stasis wards which I have set to protect and sustain the eggs.”
Using both her hands on the lifting loop tied on top, the Mohennial very carefully lifted one of the eggs and set it on the heavy table. Sala then held her hands over various parts of the green-ribbon-entwined net while chanting. Peter felt the magical energy leave her body and infuse the net ward.
Sala then gestured for him to recharge the other egg. “Be very careful lifting it, Peter. The protecting net ward is almost fully discharged.”
Peter stooped and found the loop handle on the second net-wrapped egg. He gripped the thick rope tightly with one hand and heaved, lifting the beach-ball-sized egg and placing it onto the table next to the first. The egg had been surprisingly heavy— more than a similarly-sized pumpkin. He had strained to manage it with one hand and found himself impressed that the Mohennial had so easily lifted hers. Sala obviously had some method of enhancing her physical strength beyond that expected of her normal-looking musculature.
Once the second globe was in place on the bench, Sala had Peter place his hands around it as she had just done with the first. Peter did so but hesitated before using magic.
“Release some magic into the wards, Peter,” Sala explained patiently. “Sense the flow and adjust the flavor of the magic to match that which the ward requires. You will be able to sense when there is a match.”
He gently sent a trickle and noted resistance from the ward. As Sala had instructed, he tuned the flavor of his magic until the ward accepted the flow and the resistance faded.
“The wards do what exactly?” he asked as the net wrap recharged.
“The wards compensate for the lack of periodic contact with an adult cryo-dragon and keep the eggs viable. They also retard any development of the embryos inside, so we should not have to worry about a premature hatching before we can return them.”
“Why the colored ribbons?”
“Because they are pretty?” the Mohennial replied laughing. At his dismayed expression, she continued, “The egg with the yellow ribbon is much closer to hatching without the ward’s effects.”
Something about Sala’s explanations felt hollow. Peter looked at her suspiciously, but dared not push the issue. He continued to infuse his magic into the net ward and felt the flow slowing at about the same moment Sala announced that the ward was almost fully recharged. She stepped forward, holding her hands around the egg for a moment before nodding and motioning for him to open the door and let their companions rejoin them.
Ten minutes later, and now back down in the dark, stifling, lava-lit portal room they’d arrived in earlier, Peter, Tevi, and Commander Constance stood waiting as Mistress Sala knelt in front of the large stone portal archway. Her head was bowed as she chanted and poured life energies into the structure.
Peter was able to overhear enough of her muttering to deduce that she was shifting the portal’s other-end-point from its recent terminus on his island to their new destination near Anodynen Keep. As he had already suspected from before, Sala’s actions confirmed the Mohennial had the ability to actively retarget her portals. Peter was envious of the skills and advanced ward work on display.
The Mohennial seemed to wilt as her life energies caused the ancient-looking device to finally activate. The room surged as the magic of the activating portal washed over them. While the others were distracted by the effect, Peter caught the Mohennial subtly clutching her fire crystal necklace as she used it to convert some of the room’s latent heat into lifeforce-restoring energies.
As she did this, he felt the room grow noticeably cooler for a few seconds before the heat returned to normal. At his side, Tevi looked around at the sudden chill, but as the heat returned, she resumed shifting uncomfortably, as now fully dressed in her cold-weather clothing, she was suffering in the room’s heat. The quick temperature reversal also hinted to Peter that the Mohennial knew of a technique to temporarily intensify the fire crystal’s effect. This was another secret he was eager to learn.
Commander Constance noticed the half-elf’s discomfort. “Only a few more moments, Tevi. Soon we will be out of this heat and freezing our asses off at Anodynen Keep.”
“I have opened the portal to the ice plain just outside the Keep,” Mohennial Sala said as she stood and stepped back from the base of the portal. “Lord Bent, please cast your invisibility spell on your former ward and maintain it at all times after we arrive at our destination. I would have her presence in our party remain secret, even from any allies we encounter.”
Peter nodded and turned to face Tevi, who looked back at him with a wide-eyed expression. He smiled to reassure the girl and focused his mental energy, softly incanting the spell needed to form his strongest invisibility ward. The spell took effect, and the tall, thin, half-elf faded from view. As it was his magic causing the effect, Peter was still able to detect her location by sensing where his continually flowing magic was being absorbed.
The effect caused a vague outline of distortion, and Peter saw that it was now moving and twisting as if Tevi were inspecting herself. He sharpened his senses until the distortion became clearer. Tevi now seemed to be studying her new bow and the special arrows in her quiver.
“Master! I can still see my skin, clothing, and weapons. But I look ... and I feel, strange. It’s almost like I am shimmering. Are you sure the magic is working?”
“The spell is designed so that you can see yourself and your possessions at all times, Tevi,” he explained. “But to other eyes, you are completely invisible. Beware making any noise and note your scent as neither is countered by the spell.”
As an experienced hunter, Tevi would know how to mitigate both as needed. Peter watched Tevi’s magical outline move towards and around Commander Constance as if testing the truth of his words. The experienced battle wizard sensed something and held up her hands in a defensive gesture. Still, Constance was clearly unable to see the young archer.
“This is so cool, Master!” Tevi exclaimed, causing the Commander to spin around to face the source of the noise.
“Also,” he explained. “As you can see from the Commander’s actions, some magic users can sense your latent magic if you move too close. I would keep your distance from any foes with magical powers.”
Peter continued to track Tevi as she moved to another part of the room. He noted that Mohennial Sala was tracking the younger woman’s movements from much further away than Constance, but not as accurately as he was.
“How are you following my movements, Master?” Tevi asked, noticing that he was following her movements.
“I can sense your location because it’s my magic and life force that you are using to remain invisible,” Peter replied. “The others are not able to do so as easily, nor as accurately.”
Peter had said the last while frowning toward the Mohennial. The older woman just smiled, clearly having skills he was unaware of.
“I can sense the magic Lord Bent is currently expending and can also track where it flows,” the Mohennial explained. “Peter, I would recommend that when we are around other powerful magic users, you randomly cast minor spells to distort your overall usage and emissions.”
He tried casting basic weather-sensing spells in all directions while still keeping Tevi’s invisibility up. As he did so, Sala looked around where he’d targeted the spells and soon lost track of Tevi.
“Good,” the Mohennial said. “That will do. I think we are ready to disembark. Constance, since you are familiar with our destination, you will go through first. Tevi, you go next, before Lord Bent and I follow. Tevi, as your former master advised, remain as silent as possible at all times. Watch for signals from us if we need your services as an archer.”
“I understand,” the invisible Tevi said.
Peter saw that she had moved into position just behind the Commander. Constance set her winter face mask in place, pulled up her hood, and put on her gloves. She then hefted her pulsating, crystal-tipped trident spear and nodded to Peter and Mohennial Sala before stepping through the portal.
“Go, Tevi,” Sala barked, causing the invisible half-elf to mutter an “eep!” of surprise. Tevi had been caught gawking at the Commander’s disappearance. The half-elf’s outline hesitated only a second before she followed the Commander through the portal. Sala then nodded to Peter for him to proceed next.
He pulled his hood and gloves into place before hoisting an egg in each hand. Counterbalanced like he was holding two filled water buckets, he started forward. As he struggled to get his load turned sideways to fit through the portal, he wondered morbidly what would happen if he dropped one of the eggs. Would the net keep the baby dragon inside alive? The portal activated when the bulk of his body passed between the stone pillars, and he was instantly elsewhere.
Upon emerging through the portal, Peter almost satisfied his earlier curiosity as he stumbled and nearly dropped one of the eggs. He’d exited the portal to find himself in deep snow, and Constance and Tevi’s footsteps stepping away had not forged a sufficient trail to follow without stumbling. Fortunately, Commander Constance was still close enough to reach back and steady him before he toppled.
“Welcome to Anodynen Keep, Lord Bent,” she said with visible breath. “The garden spot of the frozen Northern Sea and the most distant bastion of Order authority on Kreven.”
Peter noticed the sarcastic way the Commander had emphasized authority and wondered what ill will Constance harbored toward the organization to which she was currently pledged. But he realized, that with her being nearly as old as he, her tone might simply stem from the same resentment he now felt from living under of the authority of others much younger than he. She was likely just projecting the same frustrations he would have felt if he were still active in the Order.
“So glad to be here,” Peter replied using a similar sarcastic tone.
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