Chapter 16: Friends, Lovers, and ... Necromancers?

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

“My lord the king?”

The king opened his eyes as he woke, once again lamenting the need to be able to rouse himself from a dead sleep at a moment’s notice.

“Approach.” He said sitting up on the bed. His lovely wife was visiting her sister, and thus he had the bed to himself. It was a shame; he slept better with her next to him. Though, that was often because of the vigorous lovemaking they undertook before bed. Alas, she wouldn’t return for another few nights.

“My lord.” Delabor said with a deep bow, just as tradition dictated was the proper way to greet a king. “Don’t I have news from Arcanum of your wife’s niece, and also the dragon?”

Just as tradition dictated was proper, Delabor phrased his statement as a question because anyone knowing something that the king didn’t would dishonor the crown, and thus their ancestors. Dishonoring one’s ancestors was absolutely unthinkable.

“Oh?” The king replied, his desire for sleep waning as his interest grew.

“Haven’t the Dryads reported witnessing a wedding between the dragon and a Fey girl just this evening, mere hours ago?”

“The dragon married to my wife’s niece.” He stated as a fact, though it was intended as a question. He couldn’t make it a question without dishonoring the crown. Again, that was unthinkable.

“The very same your majesty.” Delebor said, and then swallowed.

The king took a long, slow breath and exhaled slowly. “And my wife’s niece knows.”

“Begging your pardon majesty, but wasn’t she in attendance and encouraging the union?”

The king resisted the urge to throw something. He settled for clenching his fist so hard his knuckled turned as white as the driven snow.

Delabor took a step backwards. “I’m sorry my king.”

The king unclenched his fist and took a deep breath. “Her shame is not your fault Delabor, neither is the disgrace she has brought — and seemingly is determined to continue bringing — to our entire race.”

“Thank you your majesty.” Delabor said with a bow. He parted his mouth slightly, then closed it and bowed his head too.

“You have something to say.” The king stated.

“My thoughts are hardly wise enough for the king’s ears.” He said with another bow.

“I grant you Logioi Liberatus; speak your mind.”

The herald straightened up, standing much straighter than usual because he had been granted such a prestigious benefaction from the king.

“The shame of your wife’s niece is undeniable, even from birth.” He began with the customary preamble of listing the subject’s sin. “The circumstances of her conception are likewise disgraceful, and because of it we rightly don’t speak her name aloud. To this unforgivable origin, we add the further disgrace of using our secret magical arts in stave-crafting to peddle staves to mages far and wide; staves of such potency that they shouldn’t be available outside our forest.”

“Her sins are numerous indeed.” The king nodded. “Were it not for the houses of Kalon and Nalfigar, we would’ve been dealt with her long ago, and the stain of her shame would’ve been wiped from any association with the crown.”

“You are most wise my king.” Delabor bowed again. “Tradition requires nothing less to honor the ancestors. Yet she has dishonored the ancestors not only through the circumstances of her birth, but also through the disgraceful act which she was present for — and in approval of — earlier this night.”

The king took another deep breath and let it out slowly.

“But my king, might we still turn this to our advantage?”

“We might.” The king replied, having not considered that yet. “However, she has trespassed on my good graces for too long now. And with her direct insult to the ancestors, the crown, and our entire race earlier this night...” He shook his head.

“Of course my king.” The herald agreed. “And yet, she has a connection — however tainted — with this dragon who wields lightning and raises the dead. The balance between the Houses of Kalon, Nalfigar and the crown is delicate, yet all three can lay a claim to this dragon, as you already know.” He ended by assuming the king was already aware, again to preserve the honor of the crown.

“Yes, House Kalon has her mother, House Nalfigar her father, and the crown’s claim is that she’s my wife’s niece. Extending royal protection so far is rare, but not unprecedented.”

“Your insight is boundless my king.” Delabor said with a slight bow, as befitted someone speaking with Legioi Liberatus. “Perhaps Illuminar — Blessed be He — has smiled on the crown by giving Your Excellency a connection faint enough not to tarnish your honor — as she isn’t your blood — but close enough to gain access. Could Illuminar — Blessed be He — have done so?”

“Hmm.” The king mused.

“As news of this dragon who wields lightning and raises the dead is beginning to spread throughout the Ten Kingdoms, the people are beginning. Some say the dragon is a prophet of Illuminar — blessed be He — and some say he’s a servant of Saidow masquerading as an angel of light, as you already know.”

“And of now, only Illuminar — blessed be He — knows which.” The king said, recognizing that Illuminar was supreme even over the king, just as tradition dictated was proper.

“My king, you are well aware of the ancient saying that ‘one should keep their wood-kin close but their enemies closer’; would this be an appropriate application of that sage advice?”

The king smiled. “You are wise Delabor.”

“Thank you your majesty.” Delabor bowed low to the ground before rising again. “If in your esteemed wisdom it would be wise to apply that saying in this situation...” He paused, clearly slightly nervous. “Would it also be a wise to dispatch summons to bring the dragon and your wife’s niece here? Perhaps then the favor of the dragon would fall upon the crown and not upon House Kalon or House Nalfigar?”

“It might be wise indeed.” The king replied, his mind alight with the possibilities. “And if this dragon is indeed an agent of Saidow, then our priests will discover it once he arrives.”

“You are very wise my king.” The herald said with another slight bow.

“Very well, alert my High Steward to make the necessary preparations to send an envoy not many days from now.” The king said, then considered what it would mean to their traditions and added. “Obviously we cannot house my wife’s niece in the palace, nor can I see her personally; we cannot bring such dishonor on the crown.”

“Of course not my king.” Delabor replied with a bow.

Tradition dictated that housing honored guests in the palace after a personal greeting from the king was proper. But a shameful visitor would never be allowed inside the palace; he couldn’t tarnish the crown’s honor by meeting his wife’s niece personally.

He was slightly disappointed not to meet her, dishonor notwithstanding.

He was rather curious to meet a wood elf who was the offspring of both House Kalon and House Nalfigar. The kindness, goodness, and courage of House Kalon combined with the cunning, perception, and willfulness of Nalfigar would surely make for an exceptional elf.

Rachel woke up feeling something that she hadn’t felt since she was a little girl; the exquisite sensation of waking up next to someone. She wasn’t sure what had made her ask if Alana would mind sharing the hammock, but she was glad she had asked. The wood elf was currently sleeping half on top of her, her soft breath was making a slight wet spot on her upper chest.

Rachel couldn’t help but smile.

The elf’s chocolate brown hair was splayed all across the redhead’s chest and its silky smoothness felt wonderful. Her body was warm and comforting too. It felt like what she imagined that having a sister might be like and Rachel relished the feeling. It was something she’d always wanted. Alana wasn’t actually her sister, but it was fun to pretend.

She understood why Ethan liked waking up next to her, though obviously he had other reasons that she didn’t share. Those reasons had been on full display the previous night with Taloni, as her ears could attest. Taloni had been quite ... vocal about how much she enjoyed herself. The noises coming out of the captain’s cabin had actually made Rachel get slightly wet between the legs, not that she would ever admit that to anyone.

She settled back into the hammock and closed her eyes, enjoying the feeling of closeness and not wanting to get up right now.

This morning, dozing sounded perfect.

Ethan slowly returned to the waking world despite his best efforts. He’d been immersed in a dream where he was hunting something with only claw and fang. After catching it, his adoring wives had been so impressed they’d begged him to take them to bed ... together ... all at the same time They hadn’t gotten very far before he felt the dream begin to fade.

He sighed; C’est La vie.

As he lay there with his eyes closed, he noticed that the weight on his chest was extremely light. A brush of his fingers revealed it was a naked woman with wings.

He smiled.

He really liked Taloni. She was incredibly caring, sweet, and trusting. His mother had occasionally described something by saying it would “make her heart smile”; the Fey teen fit that description perfectly.

He loved waking up with her there, but something was missing. Something about this wonderful morning wasn’t quite right. It only took a moment to realize it was:

Alana.

He cocked his head to one side. No, even with Alana here it still wouldn’t be quite perfect. It would still lack one thing.

“Beth, are you there?” He whispered into the air so as not to awaken the Fey girl. There was several seconds pause, then.

Tap, tap.

He smiled. “I know we can’t talk, but I’m glad you’re here anyway.”

Tap, tap. He took that to mean, “Me too.”

“So you know, the very next thing we’re going to do is bring you back. As soon as we find a portal, we’re going to Earth to save you.”

Tap, tap. This time it was very excited.

“Yeah, I’m looking forward to seeing you again too.” He whispered again as the sleeping Fey resettled on his chest. “Are you doing okay? I mean, do you need anything that we can help with?”

There was a long pause, then “Tap, tap” a short pause, then “tap”.

He realized his mistake in asking a question that was too complicated for a simple yes-or-no answer. “So, you are doing okay, but don’t need anything that we can provide right now?”

Tap, tap.

“I miss you.” He sighed. “Even with Taloni sharing my bed and Alana close by, it just doesn’t seem right without you here. Is that weird?”

Tap.

He looked down at the mess of honey-blonde hair splayed across his chest. Below that, her naked back, butt, and legs were pressed up against him. He felt so happy right now; so content. He missed having Beth there in person and would’ve liked Alana in the room. However, he still felt remarkably serene and content.

“So Beth, I have a question.” He said after a moment of looking at the naked woman in his arms. “Does it bother you that I’m married to two other women?”

Tap.

“Why?” He asked, then realized she couldn’t really answer. “Okay, let me rephrase.”

He thought for almost a minute before deciding to narrow things down a bit. “So, it doesn’t bother you that I just had sex with Taloni last night.”

Tap.

“And it doesn’t bother you that Alana and I have been going at it rather frequently?”

Tap.

“So, you’re really okay with this then.”

Tap, tap.

“Are you happy about it, or just okay with it?” He asked, and then realized that it was too complicated a question. “Let me rephrase; are you actually happy that I’m married to two other women?”

There was a long pause, then “Tap, tap.”

“Really?”

A short pause, then “Tap, tap”

“I don’t understand it, but I’m glad you all are. Life would be pretty miserable if my wives were at each other’s throats constantly.”

Tap, tap.

“Hmm?” Taloni groaned, still clearly mostly asleep, Ethan’s whispering having finally woken her.

“Good morning honey.” He said, then kissed the top of her head.

She mumbled something that didn’t sound like English.

“Come again?”

She looked up at him, yawed, and kissed him softly. “Sorry, I said ‘good morning’ in the Fey tongue.” She stared at him for several seconds. “Is this real, right? Am I really waking up with you?”

He nodded.

“And, I won’t have to go into the mines today?” She almost looked like she was tearing up.

“No.”

She fluttered her wings. “And last night wasn’t a dream, and I can really use my wings to fly?”

“You can, and you look beautiful doing it.”

The broad smile on her face stood in sharp contrast to the tears collecting at the corners of her eyes. “And I can stay with you because we’re married. You won’t leave me again?” She looked expectant and hopeful.

He nodded and grinned at her. “I believe the deal was ‘until death do us part’, so you’re stuck with me.”

She wrapped her tiny arms around him and hugged him incredibly tightly. “I feel like I’m in a wonderful dream and I’m going to wake up.”

“It’s not a dream.” He said as he wrapped his arms around her tiny body. He was struck by just how small and fragile she felt in his arms. It was almost like she had been holding herself together for a long time and only now felt free to show how frail she was.

She cried into his shoulder for a few minutes while he held her. He stroked her hair and kissed her head occasionally, but mostly just held her.

“It wasn’t really that bad at the mine.” She eventually said. “I just, I don’t want to go back there.”

“And you’ll never have to.” He assured her.

She sighed and smiled.

He reached down and used a single finger to gently brush away the moisture on her tear-streaked cheeks. “Taloni, you’re my wife and I’m never going to let you go. If anyone tries to take you away from me, I swear I’ll tear them limb from limb.” He finished with a low growl, his dragon instincts seething at just the thought.

She looked shocked, appalled, slightly scared, and yet very relieved all the same time. “Really?”

He nodded fervently with another growl. “Or beat them to a bloody pulp with my hammer, or stab them with--”

“Okay!.” The Fey girl interrupted in a higher pitch than normal, clearly being unsettled by his casual references to violence. She laid her head back down on his chest. “I feel safer knowing you’d fight for me.”

“I would.”

She sighed. “Thank you master.”

Ethan stiffened slightly, which didn’t go unnoticed.

“Is it still okay if I call you master?” Taloni lifted her head again and stared into his cat-like eyes with her lilac ones. “Please? I won’t if you don’t want me to, but I would really like to.”

“Why?”

“Because it just feels right when I do.” She replied. “I can’t explain it, but I really like doing it, please let me?”

“And you understand you’re not a slave and I’m in no way your master?” He felt a tiny bit of uncertainty over their bond as she hesitated. “Taloni, you understand I’m not your master right?”

She bit her lip and averted her eyes.

“Right?” He asked more forcefully.

She nodded. “I know you aren’t technically my master.”

“Technically?”

“Well, you didn’t put a slave collar on me which makes it impossible for me to run away, or to disobey your orders.” She glanced at him, then looked away again. “But...” Her voice trailed off and she finished her sentence so quietly that even his dragon ears to hear.

“But...?” He prompted.

“I did vow to follow and obey you.” She said quietly. “And if I keep my vow — as Illuminar says we should — then shouldn’t I obey you? Doesn’t that make you sort of like my master?”

His jaw dropped. “You really see it that way?”

She glanced at him again, then buried her face in his chest. “I did say like my master.” She said with a guilty tone in her voice, though it was muffled because she was talking into his chest.

Ethan was speechless.

Taloni looked like she had been caught with her hand in the cookie jar. “Are you mad at me?” She asked very quietly, as if afraid she would be in trouble.

“No, no I’m not mad at you.” He said, and wrapped his arms around her to reassure her. “I’m very confused and don’t understand why you see it that way. Heck, I don’t understand how you could be okay with seeing it that way. But I’m not mad.”

She bit her lip and didn’t met his eye. “Promise?”

He gently lifted her chin with the side of his index finger so he could look into her lovely lilac eyes. They looked just shy of scared and were a mountain of anxiety.

“I promise I’m not mad.” He said sincerely.

Her whole body relaxed against as the tension drained out of her. “Good.” She breathed a sigh of relief and nuzzled his hand with her cheek.

He still felt like they needed to address the elephant in the room though. “So how much difference do you see between ‘master’ and ‘husband’ based on what you just said?”

She gave him a shy smile then rocked her hips against him slightly. “There’s an enormous difference.” She moaned slightly. “Absolutely enormous, and not just in bed. I chose to be your wife, no one ever chooses to be a slave. I want to be your wife, I never wanted to be a slave.”

“But you still want to call me master?”

“Please?” Her eyes were pleading.

No, her whole body was silently pleading.

He could feel her yearning over their bond. It seemed to have dramatically strengthened since last night and he could clearly make out her emotions. They didn’t come over the bond quite as strong as with Alana, but he knew it wouldn’t be long before they did.

She wanted this.

No, she craved this.

She was so innocent, honest, and genuine in her desire that he didn’t have the heart to say no ... Yet he also didn’t feel right about saying yes. He vacillated for a while as she snuggled up against him. He wanted to make her happy, but he didn’t want her to see him as her master.

“Let me think about it for a while.” He finally said, then remembered his conversation with Rachel the previous day about how his dragon side might influence his wives... “And do you mind if I get Rachel’s or Alana’s opinion? They’re both pretty insightful about these sorts of things.”

She nodded and said dreamily. “You can tell whoever you like master.”

He almost corrected her, but just couldn’t bring himself to ruin the perfectly contented smile on her face. They laid in bed enjoying the closeness for a few minutes until Taloni picked her head up and looked around.

“There’s something missing here.” The Fey said as she looked around the room.

“Oh? What?”

The Fey teen sat up, unconsciously displaying her breasts to Ethan. He took advantage, letting his gaze rove around her entire naked torso. He felt the blood rush to his loins.

“I don’t know, but there’s something...” She trailed off, looking around again. “ ... yeah something is missing but I just can’t figure out what.”

“I can.” He said with no small amount of lust in his voice.

Taloni glanced down at her exposed front, then at his rapidly growing cock, then grinned sheepishly.

Alana was enjoying dozing in the hammock when a burst of arousal coming from her bond made her fully awake. She yawed and made to stretch, her movement once again making her acutely aware of the beautiful redhead sleeping beside her.

She sighed.

She was a strange combination of super relaxed, content, and mildly aroused. The arousal was only partially because of the lust coming from Ethan. Taloni was about to visit heaven in bed. The wood elf was slightly jealous she wasn’t in the Fey’s place, but was quite happy for her otherwise.

But no, her mild arousal had a lot more to do with the redhead in the hammock next to her than what Ethan was doing with his second wife ... or was Taloni his third wife and Beth his second?

Hmm...

She put it out of her mind and turned to look at Rachel. The redhead was asleep and Alana noticed that she had long, attractive eyelashes. More than that though, she had a wonderful spirit.

She sighed again.

She wished she could wake up next to her best friend more often. Not that she wanted to be separated from Ethan at night. She would’ve preferred that Rachel was waking up next to Ethan too, plus herself, Beth, and Taloni. However, she didn’t think Rachel would ever want to share a bed with Ethan.

She hoped, but it seemed unlikely.

She dozed for a bit, alternately dreaming, daydreaming, and looking at Rachel; the redheaded teen was before her eyes in all three. Given the lust coming over her bond with Ethan and her attraction to her friend, some of her imaginings had Rachel in more provocative positions than she might assume in real life.

If only...

Good morning gorgeous. Ethan’s mental voice came not long after Taloni’s cries of passion subsided.

Good morning handsome. She replied sleepily. *It sounds like our young Fey friend enjoyed herself last night ... and this morning ... repeatedly.”

You could hear her? He asked, and she could just picture the grimace that would be on his face.

Sir, half of Arcanum heard her.

There was a short pause, then he replied. So, she might not be leaving the captain’s cabin this morning ... Or ever. Her face is doing a very good imitation of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

Who’s that? She asked.

He explained, and Alana chuckled when she understood. Yeah, I try to keep it down for exactly that reason.

“Hmm?” Rachel stirred beside the wood elf. The redhead covered her mouth, yawed, and then made the most adorable little sigh as she finished. Then she settled back down and seemed to fall back to sleep.

So, you’d be louder? Ethan asked.

Possibly... She replied with a hint of mischievousness in her tone. A part of her really did want to cut loose, but wouldn’t do so on the Argo; not with Anthiel, Serif, and especially Raklan on board.

So, I want to ask you about something. He said a little more seriously. Taloni wants to call me master. He then explained about his conversation with the Fey teen the previous night and that morning.

Alana felt herself get even more aroused as she listened.

Judging by the feelings coming over our bond, it doesn’t bother you very much. He said after he had finished explaining.

Not really, it sounds like the same reason I call you ‘sir’ ... sir.

Why do you call me sir?

Because it doesn’t feel right not to. She replied. I just feel like I need to address you in some way that shows how much I truly respect and admire you.

And I appreciate that. He said fervently. Taloni calling me master however ... That doesn’t sit right with me.

Why not?

Because I’m not her master, nor do I wish to be.

Well, the wood elf thought for a moment. In a way you’re not too far off. I mean, we both vowed to follow and obey you. So while you don’t quite own us, we did swear an oath to Illuminar that we would obey you. So there’s a sense where we belong to you and it’s not very far off.

Yeah, Taloni said the same thing. He said, and there was a bit of resignation in his tone. And you’re okay with that? You don’t feel like it violates your free will?

Of course not, we both chose to make that vow. You didn’t force us, trick us, or even mislead us into making it. We made it of our own free will. We made a choice; can you respect our choice?

Come again?

*We chose to make our vows, which include obeying you. But if you try to make us not abide by our vows — by not obeying you — wouldn’t that be much more a violation of our free will? Wouldn’t you be trying to force us to change what we vowed to do?”

I never thought of it that way. His tone was pensive. But still, I’m not sure I’m happy with that.

Okay, but wasn’t it our choice to make? If your concern is free will, wouldn’t it make more sense to respect our choice — and our vows to obey you — rather than try to make us change our choice?

There was a brief pause, then. You make a really good point. I don’t like it, but you do.

And there’s always your vow to consider. Alana said as another thought occurred to her.

Oh?

You accepted our vow, so wouldn’t that mean you need to abide by it too? You know, let us obey you.

Another brief pause, then: Wow, you don’t pull any punches.

I’m absolutely committed to making sure you’re perfectly fine with all of your wives obeying you ... sir.

There was amusement over their bond as he replied. I’m not perfectly fine with it, but you’ve left me little room to not accept it.

So you’ll let her call you master?

Probably? He didn’t sound sure. I still want to talk to Rachel and get her opinion. No offense, but you’re rather biased and my dragon side is possibly influencing you a little.

It’s not, but it tried.

What do you mean?

She then explained how on their wedding night the dragon had tried to make their relationship a true master/slave dynamic and how she had rejected that.

I don’t remember any of that. He said when she finished.

That’s because I don’t think it was you, or at least it wasn’t you on a conscious level.

He was silent for a minute, and she could feel his uncertainty and nervous trepidation through their bond.

Don’t worry, I was able to resist fairly easily, I’m sure Taloni was too. The wood elf tried to console him.

Alana, you may not know this about yourself, but you are a woman with absolutely iron willpower. He replied. I don’t know why, but your will is as strong as anyone I’ve encountered, probably stronger. Taloni is a wonderful girl, but she doesn’t have the iron willpower that you do. In fact, I’d wager almost no one does.

Oh. Was all Alana could say. So you think that ... that maybe...?

I don’t know. His tone was concerned. Could you maybe slip off the Argo and find her friend — Prayla I think — and ask her how she was before our wedding yesterday. See if she had any of these tendencies before? The submissive ones I mean.

I will, and I’ll be quick. She said, looking wistfully at the still-sleeping redhead next to her. She had hoped to be there when Rachel woke, but perhaps that was for the best anyway. She slipped out of the hammock as gently as she could so the redheaded teen didn’t wake.

Miraculously, she didn’t.

She seemed to roll, looking for where Alana had just been. The wood elf felt her heart soar. She paused before leaving and then, on impulse, leaned over gave Rachel a tender kiss on the cheek.

“Sleep well.” She whispered, then left.

Kendra lashed her airship to the branches of a tree so it wouldn’t drift away in the early morning breeze. She didn’t want to fully ground it because it might cost her precious seconds if she needed to escape in a hurry. That dragon had been livid the last time they met, and she didn’t want to put herself in a position where she couldn’t flee his wrath.

Of course, dragons were much faster than airships anyway, so perhaps that was just wishful thinking.

She stole through the forest towards the small mining camp above which his airship was anchored. They had been there since she arrived early that morning, and she was hoping they would stay long enough for her gather some intelligence. She made her way to the road and started walking towards the mining camp.

A short walk later, she had arrived.

The mining camp itself was a collection of dilapidated shacks clustered around a nicer building in the center. There were several women out cleaning up after what looked like a wedding the previous day. There were also children out playing in and among the buildings.

The only men in sight were the guards, who regarded her — a lone woman who appeared to be unarmed — with nothing more than mild interest. They let her pass with nothing more than a nod of the head in acknowledgement, which she returned. She had purposely ‘dressed down’ to make herself look as plain as possible, and that was usually the best policy when one wanted to remain incognito.