Chapter 14: Warrior 2

Toril scrambled back from the water's edge. Even in the distance he could tell something moved on that island, and he feared it was not natural in any sense. He calmed himself reached forth with his senses. He frowned. There was no great Evil present on the island, no more than would be detected in the hearts of any mundane folk he encountered in any city. He picked up a good sized stone and weighed it. He dropped it for a smaller stone and kept it ready to throw. There was always a chance that an improvised weapon would generate a chance to recover a greater weapon. He leaned against the cold, damp rock wall of the cavern and reflected. It was by the High Priestess's command that he take up this, his first quest. Redeem a dark heart, she commanded. He meditated upon her command, trying to fathom the meaning of the quest. His eyes fell upon a map of the known world, and his eyes immediately focused not on the corrupt and evil realm of Iceholme, but rather the Empire. Particularly the Western Duchy of the Empire. Rumor and legend had it that the duchy was ruled in part by an immortal necromancer. The darker arts were not illegal to practice in the world, but it was odd that such a creature, if one such existed, would be granted leave to rule one of the Great Duchies. The only way to reach the place safely was the many Imperial Roads, which he immediately ruled out since it was well known that no male may bear arms in the Empire without strict control. There were a few places to land by sea, he noted. The geography of the Duchy was in fact bleak. Stark mountain ranges, swamps, savannahs, and deserts. He rubbed his eyes. He had to be patient. The Goddess would guide him. He scratched his chest, then touched the ring that threaded through his left nipple. His right remained bare. His mate Clara would ring him again should he succeed in this quest.

He stared at the ring in his penis for the longest time. It was small; half the size of her rings, but elaborately cast in silver with runes and pictographs. He sat on the sunken bed of Clara's chambers and waited. Clara entered the room moments later bearing a large silver chalice. Without spilling a drop she stepped down onto the bed and kneeled down. Her eyes were glowing in the light of the braziers as she spoke softly in ritual. She offered the chalice to Toril who took it in his hands. Her hands covered his as he brought it to his lips to partake. The wine was sweet and bitter at the same time. Her hands kept the chalice at an angle until he drained half of it, then she drank the rest, their hands never leaving it. She reverently set the chalice at the head of the bed and sunk down beside him. Her hand stroked his thigh gently.

"You seem distracted."

"My parents will be arriving home today. They will be worried I am not there."

She frowned. "You do not have to stay."

Toril laid down beside her. "I want to be the dutiful son and be there for them... but I want to stay here too."

She leaned forward and kissed him. Toril stiffened in preparation for the pain that would follow. She laughed.

"You are not going to punish me?"

"Do you want me to?"

"Not particularly."

"Then I won't."

"If I kissed you?"

"Then I would."

"I don't understand."

She stroked his face. "Much of the woe in the world today is through the malice of males. It is not deliberate, but something that comes naturally to males. Pride, ego, all these are reflections of the problems males are born with."

"What of the Empire?"

"What of it?"

"Do you not approve of their policies?"

"The Empire is a balancing force in the world, much like our order, but on a grander, more physical scale."

"I still don't understand."

"Let me put it this way. Any pleasure I take from you I will pay for in my own way. Any pleasure you take from me you will pay for in your own way."

"How can I tell the difference?"

She took his hand in hers and placed it on her cock. "Would you willingly suck my cock? Would it give you pleasure?"

Toril felt her cock twitch as his hand held it. "Would it please you?"

"You are trying to change the direction of the question. Do you like sucking cock?"

"No."

"Then for you the act would be akin to punishment, but for me pleasure. Have you ever had your cock sucked?"

"No. I never have."

"Never?"

"No, I have never felt that pleasure."

"If I were to suck your cock, would you suck mine?"

Toril blushed. "I would try. I want to please you."

"That is a very submissive answer. I did not think a young male Sun Elf of this day and age could be such."

"Would you believe I was conceived and born by parents who loved each other?"

Her eyes were thoughtful. "I would have to inquire to the High Priestess on this matter. I have been born here in the Temple and have lived all my life amongst the Sisters. I know no other way, and very little of the ways of the world."

"You seem worldly enough for me."

She kissed him gently. "Thank you pet." She raised a hand to hide a yawn.

"Sleepy?"

"It has been a long day." She eased closer to him. She made a gesture with her hand and the lights dimmed. She draped a leg over Toril's as she pulled a fur blanket over them. In the near darkness he could still make out her features. It all seemed strange to him, how everything happened so quickly. Clara snuggled closer to him, laying her head on his chest.

"Sleep now." She whispered.

He awoke suddenly to sunlight streaming into his room. He glanced about quickly, disoriented. It was his room at his parent's manor. Was it all a dream? He thought. His room was exactly as he left it, right down to the old linen shirt draped over the chair at his desk. He slid out of bed and dressed quickly, then made his way downstairs to the solarium, where his family usually met for the morning meal. He heard voices and laughter as he approached the indoor garden. It was strange. His parents did not usually hold visits in the solarium during the mornings. Business and other affairs usually took place in the late afternoon/evening hours. He cautiously approached and cracked the door open. Both his mother and father were sitting at the small table in two of the four huge wingback chairs, facing him. They were speaking quite jovially with someone who he could not see. His mother smiled at him as he entered.

"My son, it is good of you to join us this morning. We have a rather special guest."

Toril bowed to his parents. He approached the chair that held the guest... a shrouded figure with red eyes. Alabaster hands reached up to pull back the hood...

"TORIL"

Toril blinked awake. Clara leaned over him, a concerned look on her face.

"I dreamt I was at my home."

"Come, it is time for the morning meal." She rose from the bed and opened a side panel along the wall. She donned a simple robe and handed Toril one. He rose shakily and put it on, then followed her out into the halls of the Temple. It was a communal dining hall, with a long table where the meal was served. Clara took a wooden bowl and spoon and filled up on a hearty stew. She handed the bowl to Toril and fixed one herself, then led him to a table where a couple of priestesses sat along with the High Priestess herself.

"There is no formality here child." The High Priestess sat. She waved her hands over the meal in blessing then began to eat. Toril looked at the three before Clara nudged him. Eat, she mouthed. He ate absently, despite the food being the best he had ever tasted. He was still dazed, and confused.

"Clara, I wish to see you and your pet in my chamber in after you finish your meal." She rose and glided out of the room.

Toril set the spoon down in the bowl and watch Clara wipe the last of the stew out of the bowl with a hard roll and swallow the meal down with a mug of water. She handed him the empty bowl and directed him to the large wash basin next to the serving line. A young woman took the bowls with a smile and shooed him off, and he returned to Clara who stood by the door. She smiled at him and took his hand. The halls of the Temple were smooth stone, cut and laid by a master craftsman. It became apparent to Toril that the Temple was much larger than it appeared to be. Later he would learn that the Temple was enchanted so that it could link to all the Temples throughout the world. Access to the doors that led to the various Temples was restricted to the higher echelons of the Church. Each bedchamber could be altered according to the tastes of its occupant. Clara's chamber, he recalled, was circular, with a large bed sunk into the floor in the center of the room. Along the walls were various cabinets for clothing and other items. A small fireplace stood opposite the door. There were no servants or slaves in the Temple, everyone drew duties to perform be it cooking or cleaning. The High Priestess's chamber, on the other hand, was large and spacious, with a full sized bed resting on a platform to one side, with a small water closet off to the side. It was circular like the other sleeping chambers, but had a small desk for her convenience. Part of the room was set up for her pleasure as a play area.