Chapter 12: “All warfare is based on deception.” — Sun Tzu

I self-edit and admit editing isn’t my greatest skill. I apologize in advance for anything I missed.

It took most of Kendra’s willpower not to tap her foot on the floor or get up and start pacing. She’d been waiting for two whole hours. Falkaan had drilled it into her head for years that you should never let personal ticks in speech or body language give away what you were thinking or feeling. He was right of course, but sometimes she wished she could just be herself and not worry about allowing her mood to show.

Alas, that wasn’t possible for someone in her line of work.

She’d already memorized the entire waiting room to the Magistrate’s office; every stone, every ludicrously expensive painting, and every ostentatious gold-plated bauble. She idly wondered how the commoners would react if they knew he possessed such wealth.

“Supreme Magistrate Haglath will see you now.” A clerk announced, and opened the door leading to his office.

Kendra walked through it as if she was perfectly calm, while hiding the impulse to throw something. That beast might’ve escaped her last night, but fortunately there was more than one way to skin a dragon.

The Supreme Magistrate’s office was even more ostentatious than the waiting room. She resisted the urge to curl her lip in disgust at the obscene display because since she knew exactly how immoral cowards like him obtained great wealth.

The man himself looked like he had been born with a frown on his face. The age lines around his mouth told of a thousand displeased expression that had been etched into his face through countless repetition. His hair was gray and his eyes were cold, ruthless, and calculating.

Right now though, displeasure was a mild way of describing his expression. He looked ready to rip a suit of armor apart with his bare hands. He was pacing so aggressively that Kendra might’ve felt sorry for the floor, if it wasn’t covered in a rug that probably cost more than most people make in their lifetime.

“What do you want?” he snarled without preamble.

“To tell you who really killed your son.”

The Magistrate stopped in his tracks and narrowed his eyes at her. He made a thoughtful noise low in his throat and steepled his hands together before indicating an ornate chair for her to sit in. She sat down and he followed suit, sitting in a massive chair that resembled a throne behind a large and ornate desk.

“I’m listening.” He said.

Kendra told him about the events of the previous night, the ‘man’ flying out from his son’s bedroom, how she had wounded and tracked him, and where he was now. He listened without interruption and only spoke when she’d finished.

“You’re a member — or former member — of the emperor’s personal guard.” He said.

It wasn’t a question.

Kendra suppressed a smile and a chuckle. Everyone always — and incorrectly — assumed that she’d learned her skills from those incompetent bozos, not that he needed to know the truth. It was always easier to let stupid men on a power trip assume they had figured things out themselves. It was even better to feed an idiot’s ego to make him more pliable.

“You’re quite perceptive.”

“What’s the Emperor’s interest in this?”

“None, I operate autonomously and without oversight.” Kendra replied. “I’m in the problem solving business Magistrate.”

“Oh?”

“Perhaps I should say I’m more of a problem eliminator.” she let that hang in the air for a moment before continuing. “You have a dragon problem, I have a solution.”

“It’s easy enough to get him for my son’s murder.”

“Ah, but there’s no evidence, and obviously an agent of the emperor can’t go on record to testify. I have a better solution.”

Haglath scoffed. “So do I; a few coins in the right hands will make the beast disappear. Permanently.”

“Ah, but then you wouldn’t have the satisfaction of seeing it personally.”

“I’m listening.”

“What if I could get that beast to die in front of you with the full cooperation and power of the law, plus the popular support of the people?” Kendra let a subtle, wicked smile creep onto her face. Not too much, but enough that a clever man would notice.

On second thought, she made her smile a little less subtle. “How would you like to see that dragon ripped limp from limb before your own eyes?”

Haglath smiled wickedly.

She let her smile reach her eyes; that damn dragon was as good as dead.

Ethan awoke to discovered someone had painted the entire world purple. Wait, no that wasn’t right. He shook his head and as his sleep-addled brain began functioning properly, he realized he was on the Astral Plane again. He sat up, which felt weird because his physical body remained where it was.

Alana was asleep on the bed next to his body, having finally moved enough that his cock had slipped out of her. The pure, unadulterated joy on her face when she’d told him she was pregnant was just...

There were no words.

Personally, he didn’t know what to think. He had always loved children and wanted to jump for joy, but he was also on the run from one of the most powerful and ruthless men in the land. He touched Alana’s shoulder with his purple-hued hand and it passed right through her. She seemed to enjoy the touch though, because she snuggled closer to him in her sleep.

“She’ll be alright you know.” A gentle voice said from behind him.

He whipped around to see a woman sitting on one of the stone benches that had been cut into the wall. Unlike literally everything else, she wasn’t hued in purple. She was wearing clothes of the purest white. Her clothes and skin seemed to shine like the sun, but with the warmth of a flickering candle. She had the beautiful face of a young woman untouched by age, but the eyes and presence of someone ancient and full of wisdom.

Her heart-shaped face was the picture of perfect femininity and was beautifully framed by her long hair which was probably blonde, but that might’ve just been the light. She had a soft smile on her face that went a long way toward allaying his suspicion.

“Who are you?” he crouched low in a defensive stance. You know, just in case; he wasn’t taking chances with his wife and child there.

“Don’t be afraid; I would never harm you or your lovely wives.”

“Wives?”

The bright woman nodded. “Haven’t you married three women so far?”

“Only two, and one of them ... she didn’t make it.”

“Ethan, that wasn’t your fault.” The bright woman looked directly into his eyes for a moment, and he felt something inside of him shift slightly. Suddenly, he didn’t feel like her death was his fault anymore. All of his guilt about it evaporated on the spot. The sadness remained, but the shame and guilt didn’t.

“Who are you?” he wondered aloud.

“My name is Gabriella and I have two messages from my Lord.”

“Oh?”

“The first message from my Lord is: ‘You’re welcome’.”

He cocked his head to one side. “Huh?”

“I was only given the message, not the meaning. As you fell asleep with your beautiful first wife--”

“Wait, Alana isn’t my first wife.”

“No?” She raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t you bond to her shortly after arriving on this world?”

“Well yes, but we didn’t get married until last night.”

Gabriella gave him a smile much like a parent would give to a child who was slow to understand something. On anyone else, it would’ve come off as disrespectful and irritating. On her, it didn’t bother him in the slightest for some reason.

“Ethan, is binding your magical essence and very soul to another person less of a commitment than saying vows?”

“Well, I guess not.” He admitted. That was the same argument that Taloni used and he had to admit it was pretty convincing.

“So then, she is your first wife.” Gabriella indicated the sleeping wood elf. “As to my Lord’s message, He said you thanked Him for something as you fell asleep last night. He says ‘You’re welcome’.”

He vaguely remembered giving a silent ‘thank you’ to whoever had brought Alana into his life, but he’d done so silently. He hadn’t spoken it aloud, only thought it.

“Wait, how did he know? And your lord was responsible for that?”

“You’ll have to take it up with Him.” Gabriella replied. “The second message is less of a message and more an instruction, almost a prophecy if you will.”

“Prophecy?” He scoffed. “You expect me to believe you can tell the future?”

Gabriella laughed. It was a kind, pleasant laugh. Ethan was sure she was laughing at him but there was no malice or disrespect in her laugh; it almost made him want to laugh with her.

“I can’t tell the future silly.” She said with a caring smile. “But my Lord can.”

He raised his eyebrow.

She followed suit. “You can accept dragons, magic, and elves but not prophecy?”

“Well, uh, when you put it that way...”

Gabriella held up her hands as if to say “see.”

“Okay, what’s this prophecy?”

“Oh, it’s not quite a prophecy.” She corrected. “I said it was ‘almost a prophecy’. Truth be told, it’s more of an instruction about what my Lord wishes you to do when something happens in the future.”

“Okaaaay.” He said, unsure what to make of that.

“One day soon, you will fight a deadly foe and emerge victorious. However, in your victory you will leave a lighting shaped scar over this foe’s heart. Don’t let this foe die. No matter what happens, you must not let this deadly foe die. This person will be one of your greatest allies ... after they’ve finished trying to kill you.”

“Seriously?”

“I am merely the messenger, relaying a message from my Lord. If you don’t like the contents, then please take it up with Him.”

“How would I do that?” He asked.

“Just tell Him; He’s always listening.”

Ethan took in her bright appearance amidst a sea of purple, the cryptic pronouncements, the strange prophecies, and vague references to her ‘Lord’. “You’re an angel, aren’t you?”

Gabriella smiled. “Your English word ‘angel’ comes from the Greek word ‘angelos’ which means messenger. I certainly am a messenger, so in that sense I might be.” She finished with a wink.

“You didn’t answer the question.”

“No, I didn’t.” Gabriella inclined her head to the side again, as if listening to something he couldn’t hear. “It’s time for you to wake Ethan; your lovely wife wishes for your attention.”

He glanced behind him and could see Alana beginning to stir. He turned back to discover Gabriella was right in front of him, in his personal space.

“Enjoy this morning Ethan; there are dark days ahead.” Then she placed her hand on his chest, and gently pushed. She was incredibly strong. He couldn’t even resist her as she pushed him inexorably backwards into his body. He opened his mouth to speak, but was sucked into his body before he could.

Ethan opened his eyes to see an absolutely gorgeous pair of hazel ones staring back at him. Alana was laying on top of him, running her fingers across his scaled chest, tracing the outline of his well-muscled torso.

“Good morning gorgeous.” He said as sleep faded from his mind.

“Good morning yourself.” She stared into his eyes for a moment, then rested her head on his chest and snuggled closer. “This right here; this is perfect.”

“Yeah it is.” He gently stroked her lovely chocolate brown hair. It was soft, silky-smooth, and the most chaotically beautiful case of bed-head he’d ever seen. Yet it didn’t appear to be tangled because his fingers never caught as he ran his hands through it. He was effectively combing her hair with his hands.

“That feels nice.” She sighed.

He let his fingertips trail down until they ran over the smooth skin of her naked back. “Yes it does.”

She leaned up slightly and he noticed the birthmark on her left shoulder again. It was slightly larger than a quarter and a greyish-brown color; almost exactly between the color of her hair and the color of his scales. It also looked like it was covered with miniature dragon scales, though he knew from last night it was as soft as the rest of her skin.

“This is interesting.” He said touching it slightly.

A slight shadow crossed her face and suddenly she looked a little self-conscious.

“I actually like it.” He assured her.

“Really?” She looked hopeful.

“Absolutely.” He nodded, and she seemed to relax again so he continued. “I just meant the appearance is interesting. Did you notice it looks a bit like dragon scales?”

She looked at her shoulder. “Hmm, you’re right. I guess it does. I’m not the only one in my family who has it either, though it’s very rare. I think it’s hereditary, though only the women in my family have ever had it.”

He gave her a playful smile and glanced down at her naked body. “Well, you definitely are a woman.”

She looked up with a wild, sensual, and playful look in her eyes. “Would you like to have me ... sir?”

“Always.” He smiled. “But I still don’t understand why you’re calling me ‘sir’ all of a sudden. Not that I’m complaining.”

The wood elf closed her eyes and sighed as his hands traced down lower on her back and onto her butt. She sat up, raising her arms above her head to display her naked body in all its glory.

And it was glorious.

Her breasts were impossibly perky. Though not large, they looked like they had been chiseled out of marble by a master craftsman. Above that, her hair fell in waves that cascaded down her front and just brushed the tops of her breasts. Her slender neck flowed into a face that had a look of supreme happiness on it.

He was hard almost instantly.

“I call you sir because it seems appropriate.” She said with a sigh. “And also, it turns me on ... sir.”

“Oh?”

She nodded and wiggled her body slightly, so that her nether lips were rested along the shaft of his cock. She started to gently rock her hips back and forth, gently stimulating both of them.

“Oh, by Illuminar that feels amazing.” She let her head roll back and moaned, before looking at him. “I’m still me, Ethan. I still have my own thoughts and opinions. I’ll still disagree with you occasionally and I’ll speak up if I think something isn’t right.”

She started tracing her fingers over his chest again. “But in here — in bed — I’m yours. I’m completely yours ... sir. I swore to follow and obey you when we married, and I meant it. In bed, I’ll do whatever you want, and do it gladly.”

“Whatever?” he asked playfully.

“Whatever.” She replied seriously. “If I didn’t make this clear last night, let me do so this morning. I utterly, completely, and unreservedly give myself to you Ethan. That includes my body, for you to use and for you to enjoy in whatever way you see fit. I trust you completely and know you’d never hurt me. So Ethan, please, feel free to ‘use me’ however you want ... sir.”

He blinked. “You want that?”

She nodded as she slowly ground her nether lips harder into his cock. “Oh, in the worst way possible.”

Warning bells were going off in the back of Ethan’s mind. This really didn’t sound like Alana at all. Despite that, he could tell through their bond that not only was she perfectly serious, but also what she was saying was making her incredibly horny.

“What happened?” he asked. “You weren’t this ... submissive before.”

“We weren’t married before.” She smiled. “Besides, I’m still the same person. I’m still the same girl who gave you a piece of her mind when you ran away.” She glared at him slightly. “And I’d do it again if you ever tried to run away again.”

“I won’t.”

“Good.” Her face instantly softened and her eyes became doting again. “But I don’t deny that things have changed. We’re married, and I vowed to follow and obey you.” She got a playful expression on her face. “You wouldn’t want me to lie would you?”

He chuckled. “No, I just want to make sure you’re still you. I kind of like you, you know.” He glanced down at his massive erection which was slowly being covered with her juices as she continued rocking.

“I can tell.” She sighed. “Dear Illuminar in heaven, why did we wait this long?”

“You aren’t kidding.” He growled. “I’m just glad I have you now.”

“You do have me.” She said, then giggled slightly. “I kind of like the idea of you ‘owning’ me.” She added, and a burst of arousal came over their bond.

“Alana, I don’t want--”

“Not like that silly.” She said with a smile. “I just like the idea that I belong to you, and only you. Not like I’m your property or anything, just that you ... own me. Rats, that doesn’t make sense at all.”

His cock was aching for attention and he could feel the dragon half of him rising in approval at what she was saying... “I kind of like that idea too, that no one else gets you but me.”

“I swear, no man will ever come near me.” She said fervently, then her face turned impish. “But if you marry other women...” She rocked her head back and forth as if considering.

His dragon side leapt for joy at her words. “Ride me.” He commanded as his cock reached near diamond level hardness.

“Yes sir.” She said as she nearly jumped up to straddle him. “It will be my pleasure ... sir.” There was something both reverent and playful in the way she said ‘sir’. Like it was a private joke just as much as an honorific title.

She reached down and placed his cock at her entrance, which was nearly dripping wet already. Without a moment’s hesitation, she slid down, spearing herself completely on his shaft in a single go. She sighed as she did so, and look of complete bliss crossed her face.

“How can this be so wonderful?” She wondered aloud as her face and their bond revealed she was radiantly, perfectly, and incandescently happy.

He growled in agreement.

“You know.” She said as she began to rock her hips back and forth. “Last night, you put a baby in my womb. I’m carrying your child.”

“I know.” He growled as the thought made him grow even larger. He slid his hands up her flawless sides and began to explore the acres of tantalizing flesh before his eyes.

“In a few months, I’ll start showing.” She said as she kept a slow, steady rhythm. “Then everyone will know that I belong to you.” She moaned again as her words turned her on even more. “They’ll all know I spread my legs for you and let you take me. The proof — your baby — will be there for all the world to see.”

He started gently kneading the flesh of her butt as she talked. He had a lot of self-control, but he wasn’t going to last long with her talking like this. She leaned forward so her hair created a curtain around their faces. He could see her body and face, but nothing else.

“When I’m heavy with child, they’ll all see that you own me, and when your other wives see it, they’ll want the same.”

He got the distinct impression she would never say something like that under ordinary circumstances. But now, with his cock inside her and her on the heights of pleasure, her inhibitions seemed to be down. An image of Taloni and Alana — both quite pregnant — came unbidden to his mind. As he luxuriated in that image, Alana started speeding up. Her hips worked faster to stimulate him as he felt her arousal increase yet again over their bond.

“Just imagine Ethan, just imagine all of your wives naked, pregnant, and lusting after you. Imagine us all in your bedroom, knowing that you’re bred every one of us and we’re all carrying your children.”

She was working him as fast as she possibly could and her arousal at the idea rivaled his.

Knock! Knock!

Ethan growled at the door and whoever had dared to interrupt him.

“One minute.” Alana called is as normal a voice as possible.

“Okay.” Rachel’s voice came from the other side of the door.

Then the wood elf started riding him even more vigorously as she leaned forward and whispered into his ear. “Cum inside me; let’s see if we can make it twins.”

He did.

Three of his balls pumped their content into her and she had a mini-orgasm as his seed hit the entrance to her womb.

She flopped onto his chest, panting slightly.

“You know that’s not how twins work right?” He panted.

She shrugged and gave him a wink. “Couldn’t hurt to try.”

What happened to you? he asked telepathically. All of a sudden you’re like a sex fiend.

Alana pecked him on the cheek, then slid off of him and retrieved her dress. I have no idea, but I hope it never goes away. The topic used to make me uncomfortable, but now...” She glanced at the door and looked slightly sad. It’s a shame we don’t have time for round three.*

Ethan sat up and flicked on his disguise gem. Alana picked up her dress — which thanks to the self-healing enchantment had repaired itself overnight — and pulled it over her head. It wasn’t until that moment that he realized Alana hadn’t been wearing a bra or underwear the entire time he’d known her. Maybe the ‘sex fiend’ had just been a little repressed?

“Come in.” Ethan said at the door once they were both presentable.

Rachel’s flame red hair was attached to a very amused and slightly uncomfortable expression as she entered. She also had a touch more red in her cheeks than normal. She looked slightly and uncharacteristically awkward as she looked at the two of them.

“Yes, we had sex and it was amazing.” Alana said. “Married couples do that and there’s no need to be embarrassed.”

The ice broken and awkwardness somewhat allayed, Rachel nodded and then her expression turned into one of concern. “I hope you had fun because--” She stopped, seeming to notice something, then closed her eyes and the red returned to her cheeks in full force.

“Um, Alana. Your leg.” Rachel said staring determinedly at the ceiling.

Ethan and his wife both looked down to see a thin line of thick, white liquid slowly making its way down her leg. She reached down, scooped it in with two fingers then — apparently seeing nowhere else to put it — popped it into her mouth.

Hmm, salty.

Ethan’s eyes nearly bugged out of his head; where had this new side of her come from?

Rachel glanced at her and put two and two together. “Did you just--” she threw her hands up and closed her eyes.

“Never mind, I don’t want to know.” She said. After a moment she shook her head and opened her eyes. “We have a serious problem.”

Beth looked at the skylight above her. The sun was clearly starting to rise. The ancient library around her was beginning to lighten as the candles in the chandelier began to fade. Despite the fact that she had been there all night, she was on her ten millionth time trying to turn a single page.

A single page!

She’d quickly learned to make a single fingertip hard, but it seemed that wasn’t enough with these old pages. They were thick, stiff, and seemed to be slightly stuck together with something; probably wax or something left over from the binding process. Or maybe even someone spilling something on them. Regardless, they were reluctant to part from each other.

So she had started trying to make her forefinger and thumb solid at the same time. Once she got the hang of that she tried again.

No luck.

She needed more fingers.

So she’d spent most of the night practicing to get four fingers solid at the same time so she would have enough fingers to get the page turned while holding the page beneath it down. She’d tried the same thing a dozen times now, and it always worked until she lost her concentration. Her joy at making a little progress always made her hands intangible again, letting the page slip and destroying all her work.

“Thirtieth time’s the charm.” She said wryly.

She took a deep breath, said a silent prayer to Illuminar, and then tried again. She made both of her index fingers solid, then used the nails to separate the pages slightly. Then she made her thumbs solid and slipped them in and started to gently pull the pages apart.

They came just like the previous dozen times, but this time she didn’t let that distract her. She stayed focused, holding the lower page down with one hand while slowly lifting the other. Inch by inch she moved the enormous pages of the book until the page was finally vertical, and the pages unstuck. She pushed a little more, and gravity took over as the page finally turned.

“I did it!” She shouted and jumped for joy, her blonde tresses flying everywhere as she made no attempt to hide her excitement.

“Well done Beth.” Gabriella said clapping her hands. She was the only thing on the Astral Plane that wasn’t some shade of purple. Something about her seemed to glow slightly, almost illuminating the area immediately around her.

The teen hadn’t noticed her return, but she ran to her and gave her a huge hug. “Thank you so much.” She said as she gave the luminous woman a tight squeeze.

“You are very welcome Beth.” Gabriella said as she hugged her back. “It was my pleasure.”

Beth stepped back. “So what’s next?”

Gabriella raised one eyebrow as an amused expression settled on her face.

“What?” Beth asked.

Gabriella began to chuckle as she nodded toward the book on the table.

“Oh.” Beth said catching on and chuckling with the other woman. “I suppose I should read it after all the trouble I went through to turn the page.”

“That would make sense.” Gabriella said with a wink.

Beth ran to the table and sat down, then a thought occurred to her. “Hey, how come I can walk up stairs and sit on chairs, but had to work all night to turn a single page?”

“Because this is the shallowest level of the spiritual planes.” Gabriella replied. “Would you prefer my Lord arranged it so you would fall through the ground and into the earth?”

“Well, no.”

“There you go.” She said as if that explained everything.

“But why?” Beth asked again.

“Because my Lord willed it so.”

“But that doesn’t explain why.”

“Doesn’t it?” A mischievous look crossed the luminous woman’s face. Something about the twinkle in her eye reminded Beth of when her mother was keeping a secret and enjoying it.

“Never mind.” The blonde teen turned to look at the book and read the page. If she remembered correctly, the previous page was about to explain how to astral project, and had ended with “First, you must entirely--”:

The next page read:

--clear your mind. For truth, I say nothing of weight is — or can be — accomplished with a mind clouded by the concerns of the day. Then verily, once your mind is unfettered by these trivial concerns, you must close your eyes to block out the mortal world. And as you doth accomplish this, fix your mind ever firmly on the Astral Plane. Imagine it compassing all around you, both in sight and in feel. Then imagine your body is bound with some great anchor, while your spirit doth be free and light as a bird on the wing. Then conjure in your imagination the spectacle of your spirit stepping out of your mortal, fleshly frame. Then do the same in spirit, leaving your body behind.”

The page then went on at great length about the importance of accurately picturing the Astral Plane. The author seemed to believe that unless one could picture it accurately, it would be nigh impossible to enter it, “unless mayhaps in a dream you stumble upon a vision of such things.”

“Interesting.” Beth mused.

If the author was right about the necessity of accurately picturing the Astral Plane in order to enter it, she could see how it was a rare ability. For herself, she didn’t think she would ever forget this damnable place as long as she lived.

“Wait a minute.” She turned to Gabriella. “Why did you want me to read this page?”

“It was my Lord who wanted you to read it, and you’re a clever girl. You can put it together.”

Beth looked around at the purple hues of the Astral Plane all around her. It couldn’t be ... Could it? “He wants me to come back, doesn’t he?”

“If He does, it might behoove you to keep reading.” Gabriella said with a twinkle in her eye.

The curious teen turned back to the book, where the last section on the page described how to return to her body after entering the Astral Plane. It read thus:

Now, to return from whence you came is a matter of simplicity itself. Merely making contact with your body while in spirit form will suffice to accomplish the task. However, you can return from a greater distance by reversing the directions implemented to enter the Astral Plane. However, the greater the distance that doth exist betwixt your spirit and body, the greater the difficulty of such a task. Tis better to return through touch, as the other method can be jarring and introduce a touch of lunar affection for a time.

“Lunar affection?” Beth looked at Gabriella.

“You know there are some who believe the moon effects men’s minds and makes them behave irrationally?”

“Oh.” Beth grimaced. “Yes I would rather avoid that.”

“You would.” Gabriella nodded. “Now come, there is one last thing that needs to be done.”