Chapter 7: Vedr’s Gift

Note: Thanks to WRC264 for beta reading this. Illina – The River Whisper

“Why didn’t any of you wet cunts tell me we were approaching the Illth-damned Gates!” roared Captain Azure.

I turned from my appreciation of the approaching cliffs and the Equath River that had cut a passage through them to the sea. Striding out of the door to the cabins beneath the stern deck was Azure, naked, her cock swinging between her thighs, her large breasts bouncing.

“Well, Captain, it sounded like you were having fun with the angel,” said Foam.

My pussy clenched in memory of Wave’s and Foam’s cocks reaming my twat at the same time. What a wonderful delight that had been. It had taken my mind off so many things. My hand tightened on the hilt of the dagger in my toga.

“Interrupt me next time!” Azure said, shaking her head in exasperation. “Use the brains that Matar gave you and pull your cocks out of your own pussies!”

Could they fuck themselves? A shiver ran through me at the mental image.

“Now, are we in the current?”

“We are,” Pool called, another of the crew. “The Equath’s got us. She’s taking us into the center channel.”

I glanced back to the cliff and frowned. It was a dark barrier before us, the cut carved by the river visible only by the stars that twinkled between the gap in the cliff. Night had fallen. I shivered as I realized we were going through the Gates of Tur.

“Uh, Captain,” I said, moving from the bow. “Captain, isn’t this dangerous going through at night. Aren’t their sandbars or rocks or something in the river.”

“We can feel the channel,” said Azure. She was climbing up onto the stern deck, her wet, blue ass wiggling before me.

I followed her up. She headed to the tiller, taking Tide’s place. She grabbed the long handle that thrust out the back of the ship and connected to the rudder. She closed her eyes for a moment and nodded. Then she gave it just a nudge.

“I’m not going to run my ship aground,” said Azure, staring at me with complete confidence. Behind me, the sound of flowing water grew louder. “Reef sails!”

Sailors were pulling in the sails on the mast and tying them to the spars. I glanced at the dark cliffs. They had swallowed much of the starry sky save that gap. It rushed closer and closer to us. Then we passed between them and were rushing down the river. The captain gave another minute adjustment to the tiller.

Her eyes stayed closed.

I shuddered. Sailing with nixies was unnerving.

I left the stern deck. I didn’t want to disturb the captain when she was sailing us blind down the river. I crossed the main deck. The nixie sailors seemed to relax. A group of them had started dicing, all sitting cross-legged. My fingers flexed, itching to join them, but at the same time thoughts of Barg weighed down on me.

I headed up to the bow of the ship where the deck narrowed to a point. It had no bow sprint thrust forward like other ships. I stretched out on my back on the strangely shaped coral planks and stared up at the sky. Las’s Cum gleamed across the heaven, a milky band of stars. Above it, Biaute’s bright constellation looked about to take a dip in the river of the god’s starry jizz.

I stared up at them, the stars twinkling as the dark sides of the cliff slid by, and thought about Barg. I remembered the first time I’d met him as a little girl. How handsome he was. Dark and dashing. Those first flares of jealousy that Mom had him.

The first time I went on a burglary with them to learn and practice. He had stood over me as I picked my first lock in the field. He made me so nervous I didn’t want to fail, so I ended fumbling at the lock to my mother’s amusement.

How he’d paced when Mom became overdue when she went to rob the Black Vault. The way he comforted me when it was clear she wasn’t coming back. Then it was just me and him and I felt guilty for ever wishing my mother would go away so I would have him all to myself.

The first time I’d seduced him. I had to prove to him I wasn’t a little girl any longer. I had stripped naked and slipped into his bed. I had my hand on his cock before he had come fully awake. By the time he did, I had lost my cherry as I bounced on him, savoring taking him into my pussy. How my mind had whirled in delight.

The crimes we pulled. The capers and near misses. That time we scaled the cliff in a monsoon to rob the Doge of Baraconia’s house. How we had spent a month tunneling into the strongroom of Lord Koriath of Metha. We had spent another month slowly replacing all his bars of gold with plated bricks of led so he never realized it until two years later.

As I thought of Barg, the cliffs fell away and the ship sailed through open farmland. Villages would float by, brief islands with spots of illumination here and there. The ship kept floating down the river, the water rushing by the hull relaxing me.

But I couldn’t sleep. I just lay there thinking, remembering, aching for Barg to come back to me. I gripped the hilt of the knife. Exhaustion pressed on me. I should sleep. My clockwork mind needed to spin down. It had been grinding too much for too long.

But what would I dream about? Would Barg be there ready to say dying to save me hadn’t been worth it? That I had broken my mother’s ninth rule: “When a deal offers everything you wanted is when you have to be your most cautious. Greed gets more thieves killed than anything else.” I wanted to get into the Black Vault more than anything. I had convinced myself that Sir Dicklicker could be trusted. That a Paladin of Lagu wouldn’t betray us.

That he wouldn’t dispose of the criminals the moment he had what he wanted. I should have been ready for the betrayal, but all I could think about was besting my mother. And now Barg was dead because of it.

Did he hate me?

I couldn’t stand him hating me. I’d loved him for most of my life. A girlish crush that had blossomed into a romantic friendship. He was my partner. He made thieving fun. Showing off to him. Proving myself time and time again.

Would it ever be fun stealing again? What was the point of breaking into the most guarded strongroom if I didn’t have Barg to see my skills? These thoughts swirled through my mind. What future did I have after I killed that bastard?

Bryce Cartith. I would kill him a hundred different ways. A thousand. Flense the flesh from his body. Carve out his bones. Rip out his bowels and strangle him with them. Slice a thousand cuts into his skin and let him bleed to death slowly. Bury him up to his neck in the Azi Waste and let the flesh-maw scorpions slowly eat away his face and burrow into his brain to lay their eggs.

So many wonderful ways he could die.

Not one of them would bring Barg back.

The sky behind the ship lightened. I could see the masts clearly. The stern deck. The stars above faded as dawn arrived. Exhaustion clung to the gears in my mind, gunking them up. They turned slowly. My eyes ached.

And then I heard the sounds of waves. I blinked and sat up. As the sun spilled light across the world, I stared out at the gray sea. Misria Channel. We had reached the ocean. I stood up and watched as the river’s mouth grew wider. The ship slowed as it hit the meeting of fresh and saltwater. Sailors scrambled in the rigging once more. The sails were raised.

The wind filled them. They billowed and drove us out into the ocean, the roll of the ship changing with the choppy waves rushing into shore. My stomach sloshed around inside of me. I stared dully ahead, hardly thinking at all now.

I needed to sleep. How long could I go without it?

Monica – The Mermaid’s Tickler

I woke up with pressure on my bladder.

I groaned, sleeping beside Bryce in our cabin on the Mermaid’s Tickler. I always had to pee now. The second time it had woken me up this night. I rolled off the bed, careful not to disturb Bryce. Alloria slept on the other side of him, cuddled up. She had changed so much.

I smiled at them and hummed softly as I padded to the cabin deck. The ship rolled beneath my feet. It felt so different on the sea than it had on the river or the lake. I adjusted myself, my hands rubbing absently on my belly, feeling the start of my swell.

You’re growing strong, my little demigod, I thought to my baby. Too strong. You make mommy have to go pee every hour.

I padded naked out of the cabin. After being gangbanged by the crew twice, I had little modesty to hide. I stumbled out onto the deck, blinking. The sky was lightening. Dawn was approaching. I drifted to that side of the ship as we sailed south to round Althis Isle. A large island off the coast of Secare and Valya. The northern half held the civilized Kingdom of Althos. The southern half was ruled by the barbaric Tribes of Ilt. On the far side lay or destination, a smaller island.

The Dead Isle.

A shiver ran through me as I reached the railing. It sounded horrific. Tales abounded of the ghosts of those who had died filled with regrets and fury at their fate. They circled the Black Spire where the three norns lived. The dead railed against the injustices of their deaths, blaming the three who wove, measured, and cut every mortal’s life.

I turned around and pressed my upper thighs against the railing, my rump just hanging over it. I groaned as I let loose my stream of urine. That pressure in my bladder released. I sighed in relief, my toes curling.

As I released my water, Zarvil unlaced his pantaloons and pulled out his azure cock. The man, a scar running across his muscular chest, shook that dick at me, arching an eyebrow in question. I shuddered, my stream dying out.

Then I turned around and bent over, staring down at the gray seawater washing against the hull. The ship drove through the incoming waves, creating new ones that rippled out and met the ocean’s rolling surface.

Zarvil padded up behind me and I smiled in anticipation. It was wonderful to be able to enjoy myself when I wanted. Monogamy was so hard. This felt better. Bryce and I could have all the pleasure we wanted. He could fuck any woman and I could fuck any man. It wouldn’t change how we felt about each other.

“You got one sweet ass, Monica,” the sailor said. “And that pussy. You really got Pater’s get in you.”

“I do,” I moaned. “His child. Get sounds so course.”

He chuckled. “I’m a sailor.”

“Mmm, with a big, hard cock needing a tight, juicy pussy,” I moaned, wiggling my hips.

He pressed that cock against the shaved folds of my pussy. I shuddered, coming more and more awake. Dawn was approaching. What a wonderful way to watch its arrival than with a cock pumping in and out of my cunt.

He found the entrance and thrust in with a growl. His hands slid up my sides, caressing me with his calloused strength. Pleasure rippled through me from his dick plunging to the hilt in me. He filled me up. I shuddered, squeezing my twat about him.

“Right nice pussy you got,” he groaned, his hands reaching my breasts. “Nice to be the first cock in you this day.”

“Don’t you like fucking me when I’m sloppy?” I asked, rotating my hips and stirring my pussy around that thick dick. He was almost as big as Bryce and a little bit longer.

“That’s got its own charm, but bein’ the one who gets to make that mess...” He drew back and squeezed my tits. “Why, that’s a treat all on its own.”

“Yes!” I moaned as he drove into me. “Mmm, Pater’s big dick, fuck me hard. Stir me up, Zarvil.”

“Yes, your ladyship,” he panted, his balls smacking into me.

I savored that hot plunge into my pussy, my cunt squeezing down around him. His hands kneaded my tits. He held tight to them, kneading them. Massaging them. It felt wonderful. I groaned, loving every second of his dick plunging to the hilt in me. He stirred me up. He fucked me hard and fast. He pounded me.

I groaned, his balls smacking into me over and over again. He buried his cock to the hilt in me. It was incredible to feel. I loved it. That big dick plunged into me. He plowed hard and fast. He buried with powerful strokes, fucking me with heat.

“Yes, yes, yes!” I moaned. “Ooh, that’s it. that’s what I need. Just bury that cock into me. Gods, make me cum!”

“I will, your ladyship!” he panted. “You’re gonna cum right hard on my dick!”

“Yes!”

My pussy clenched about him. I savored that wonderful dick thrusting over and over into me. The way he stirred me up. My hips wiggled from side to side, reveling in that big dick filling me up. He plunged to the hilt in me. I leaned over, my pussy clenching around him. That thick shaft buried into me again and again.

It was amazing. He felt so delicious in me. He drove his cock over and over into my pussy. That thick dick filled me up again and again. His fingers kneaded up my round boobs to my aching nipples. He pinched them.

I gasped.

My pussy clenched around his cock. I held him tight. I savored that wonderful impact of his dick pounding into me. He plunged over and over into my flesh. He stirred me up. It felt incredible. I loved it. I wiggled my hips from side to side, stirring his dick around in me.

“Yes, yes, yes!” I moaned. “Oh, ram that dick into me. Ooh, you’re driving me wild. Gods, that’s good. Just keep fucking me like that. Keep pounding me. Oh, yes, bury that cock into me.”

“Vedr’s queef, that’s good!” he panted, his balls smacking into my clit.

The sparks flared, feeding my impending orgasm. The sky before us grew redder and brighter as the sun came closer to rising. My orgasm rose with it. I shuddered, squeezing my pussy around his cock, savoring that friction.

His pants and grunts echoed around me. His rough fingers twisted my nipples. Then he tugged on them, stretching out my breasts. I groaned at that, my body trembling as he played with my nubs. My pussy grew hotter. Wetter.

“Pater’s big dick!” I moaned, gripping the railing.

Wave splashed against the hull. Water splashed on my tits. The boat rocked more and more as he buried his dick into my cunt again and again. The sun was about to rise. The Eastern horizon entirely crimson now, blushing bright with lusty excitement.

“Zarvil!” I moaned.

“Let me feel that sweet pussy cum on my dick, your ladyship!” he groaned.

“I’m almost there!” I moaned. “Yes, yes, keep pounding me!”

Out of the corner of my eye, my husband appeared. He watched us with this flat expression and intense, dark eyes. He aimed his cock over the side and released his water. I shuddered, feeling him staring at me as I was fucked hard.

My pussy clamped down on the sailor’s dick. My clit burst with pleasure from the impact of his swinging balls. He twisted my nipples. More delight shot down to my cunt. I groaned, the friction in my twat sending me over the edge.

“Gewin’s mighty cock!” I howled.

Climaxed.

My pussy went wild around the sailor’s cock as Bryce watched. Stars burst across the crimson horizon. The sailor groaned and then he drove his cock deep into my pussy. His dick twitched and then his cum jetted into me.

“Vedr’s mighty queef!” growled the sailor.

Spurt after spurt of hot cum fired into my pussy. I groaned, my cunt going wild about Zarvil’s cock. My flesh writhed and spasmed around his dick. A naughty heat swept through me. It was amazing. This wonderful and exciting bliss.

“Yes, yes, yes!” I gasped. “Slata’s hairy cunt, fill me up!”

I moaned, my pussy milking the sailor’s spurting cock. He grunted, twisting my nipples as he flooded my pregnant pussy with all his cum. I groaned, the sun rising through the crimson sky before us. My body trembled as my orgasm hit that peak.

“Gods,” groaned Zarvil. “Gods, that’s not good.”

“What?” I blinked, shocked. “My pussy? Did you not have a good orgasm?”

“The sky,” he groaned. “It’s red.”

“Mmm, it is,” I said, admiring that color. I had never seen a dawn look so red before.

“That’s bad,” the sailor moaned. He pulled out of me.

“What?” I asked, turning to face him, his cum leaking out of me.

“When the sun dawns red, arrogant sailors be dead,” he said, his face paling to a sky blue.

I blinked. Swallowed. “Dead?”

“Vedr’s queefed a storm at us,” Zarvil said. “They come up from the south, from the Gate of Azi, and sweep up the Channel. It’s a dangerous channel to be in during a storm. It could drive us towards either coast. Then we’ll be run aground. The waves will break us up on the rocks.”

“Oh,” I said, my stomach sinking. “Um, well, is there anything...” I trailed off as Zarvil, his pantaloons pulled back up, starting shouting.

The crew came awake. Captain Artix appeared out of the cabin and began shouting orders. The ship’s ride already grew more and more choppy. I swallowed, staring at the southern and eastern horizon. The sun, once so bright, now looked dim. The crimson was slowly being swallowed by gray.

“Have to find a sheltered cove!” she heard Artix shout.

The gray grew darker and darker. Storm clouds swallowed up the south before us. Lightning flashed in them. A dozen heartbeats later, thunder rumbled. The seas grew even choppier. The Mermaid’s Tickler rose up and down as it plunged through the turbulent waters. My frightened stomach sloshed around in me.

“Come on,” Bryce said, taking my arm and pulling me to the cabins. “It’s not going to be safe for you out here.”

I didn’t resist. Prayers to Pater spilled from my lips, my left hand clutching to my pregnant belly. Dread suffused me.

Ahlona – The River Whisper

“Red skies,” muttered Azure.

“What does that mean?” a haggard Illina asked. She was leaning against the side of the railing. Had she slept at all? The poor thing.

“A storm is coming,” said Azure. “It’s sweeping up the channel. It happens this time of year.”

“Will that be bad?” I asked, glancing at the captain. I folded my arms and wings around my body. I had come out on deck when I felt the change in the ship’s sailing. Stefan was still getting up.

“It would be bad if this wasn’t a nixie’s ship.” A smile crossed Azure’s face. “It’s time to sail the ocean’s river. It whispers to us. We’re almost there in its channel.”

“Ocean’s river?” I glanced at the exhausted Illina. Bags dropped beneath her eyes. Her skin looked even more shiny and fake than normal.

She shrugged.

“Switch the current sails!” shouted Azure. “Bung up the ship. I want every hole sealed. Wave, get on the ballast pump. I want to be ready to dive in a half hour!”

“Dive?” I asked.

“Wait, what?” gasped Illina.

Azure grinned at us. “We’re sailing beneath the sea. There’s a river, a current, that flows through Misria Channel and wraps around Althis Isle. It’s faster and storms aren’t a problem that deep.”

My wings hugged me tight. Around the ship, hatches were being shut on the deck and wheels on them spun. I goggled. The linen sails came down and new sails were brought out that were green and waxy as if they were woven of seaweed. The sailors used ropes and pulleys to haul them up. I goggled at them.

“You two will want to be heading below deck unless you can breathe underwater,” Azure said, a big grin on her face. “It’ll be fine. The River Whisper’s bunged up as tight as a sylph’s asshole.”

I glanced at Illina. She nodded.

We hurried off the stern deck and into the cabins. We passed through that small compartment and then we were in the hallway. Behind us, a sailor closed the inner door for the first time. I heard a sucking sound then it sealed shut. I swallowed.

“Well...” Illina glanced at her cabin. “Suppose I should get some sleep.” Looking like she were about to fight a dragon, she marched into her bedroom and closed the door.

I headed into the captain’s cabin where Stefan waited. He was sitting up and gave me a curious look. I explained what was about to happen. He grinned. He seemed to know that the ship could do this. He must have studied lots of strange things at the College of Esh-Esh to know this.

He brought me before the circular porthole window. It was set in glass and the edges sealed with something hard and tar-like. We stared out at the waves. Shouts echoed from above while this nervousness grew in my stomach.

“I’m an angel,” I said. “We don’t swim.”

He put his arm on my hip and pulled me close to him. “It’ll be fine. Azure knows her stuff. She’s confident, right?”

“Excited,” I muttered and then gasped as the ship pitched downward.

I clung tight to my mage. He kept a hold on me as we shifted our posture. The ship nosed forward more. Water splashed and crashed. I could hear the waves careening over the front of the ship. The level of the ocean water rose. Then the wave lapped over the window for a moment, leaving behind streaks of foam.