Chirping birds awoke me from a deep slumber. It seemed the boys had awoken much earlier and had gone over to Blainaut’s room to play and learn, as Elizabet and I were alone, and I heard them animatedly chatting. I took stock of my situation, and realized I was effectively trapped by the much taller woman. She had her arms and legs wrapped around me, and my face was once again buried in her vast cleavage. I struggled to keep myself calm, but was slowly losing that fight. It seemed the more time I spent with her, the more fond of her I became.
Sighing, I gave up, and snuggled in deeper, basking in the warmth of her body. It was then that I noticed her heartbeat. It was racing, and seemed to be climbing, along with the rapidity of her breathing. I also noticed her left hand was gently clutching the back of my head, holding me to her chest, and her right hand had begun to snake its way down my side to my hip. I figured I’d see where she was going with this, as my curiosity had been piqued, along with my libido.
She gently took hold of my hip, and pressed me closer to her, my underwear straining to contain me. I squirmed slightly in her grasp, and she froze. I sighed, and squeezed her softly, causing my face to meet her breastbone. Her heart was racing like mad, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She began her slow advance once again, and I felt our nethers touch.
Electric fire coursed through my body as I connected with her, feeling like every fiber of my being had been simultaneously ignited and energized. She convulsed, squeezing me tightly, her body wracked with spasms, her breath ragged, heart pounding. I found myself unable to breathe momentarily, as she had trapped my head and face in between her heavy breasts. I flailed a little, and pulled my face from its preferred resting place, and gazed up into her eyes. Her pupils were wide, her skin flushed.
“Well. Good morning, Elizabet. I take it you’re feeling good?” I yawned and stretched, causing myself to slide across her wetness, eliciting a soft whine and a full-body shiver. I smirked at her reaction.
“Uhm…y-y-yes?” came the sheepish reply. Her face and neck turned even redder, and I could see her racing pulse at her neck.
I pulled back, allowing myself the full view of her soft, voluptuous body. It was an admittedly amazing view. “As much as I truly enjoy looking at this and feeling you wrapped around me, I would like to ask that you not repeat this behavior.” I said softly. Her face fell, and I scooted up, cupping her cheek in my hand, and lifting her gaze to meet mine. Tears welled up in her eyes. “Stop that, now. I’m not really mad.” She sniffled softly, and nodded. I continued “What you did was not right. It’s not much different than what was done to you in the sewers.” She tried to avert her gaze, but I kept a firm, gentle hold on her. “If you truly want me, do it right, Elizabet. I’ve not touched you or forced myself on you, and I absolutely won’t. I have strong feelings about that. While I would love to set my hands and mouth upon you, and feast like a ravenous wolf, I won’t do it without certain things in place.” At her questioning look, I went on, “For example: I don’t know how relationships work here. I can assume they’re the same as they are in my world but, as with the acceptance of nudity, I see that there are some differences. Until I know what I’m getting myself into, I don’t even want casual sex. I have been way too lonely for way too long for that to work well.” She nodded, and I continued, “Also,” I took her hand in mine and whispered the Unlock spell on the ring. “This won’t be a factor in it. Not unless you want me to control you, that is. You’ve proven yourself to be trustworthy, and I want you at my side, helping me.” I watched her expression change from shame to hope, and smiled.
“Yes, Ivor. I will be at your side. Also,” She looked to the side, and back, biting her lower lip, then whispered “I want you on my insides, as well.” She punctuated her statement by squeezing me with her legs, causing me to once again slide across her wetness.
I shivered slightly, and chuckled. “In time, Elizabet. In time. This place isn’t safe, and we’ve a couple more days to the Lizardfolk territory. Let’s get our current journey solved, and then we will see about our own journey, okay?”
She giggled softly, the redness returning to her cheeks. “Okay, Ivor. Can I still sleep with you? You are very warm, and truth be told, I’ve never felt safer than when I’m in your arms.”
Smiling, I said “I wouldn’t have it any other way. Especially if I get to wake up with my face buried in your chest. I’ve never understood it, but it’s always been comforting, relaxing and extremely arousing, all at once.”
She turned red, and looked down at herself, then at my erection, covered as it was in cotton and her wetness. She lifted her heavy breast up, the pale flesh surrounding a dark cherry colored, thick and long nipple and areola. “Sleeping here is comforting, relaxing and arousing, eh?” I swallowed and nodded, feeling my pulse begin to race. “Good. Then that’s where you’ll be as often as we can manage.” She let the breast fall, and I looked at her, my own breath ragged.
I cleared my throat. “Perhaps we should get up before anything else happens? While I would love to, I don’t think it’s the best course of action right now.”
She pouted and looked like she was about to raise an objection, but then nodded. As I was about to roll over, she gripped me tightly, and gave me a passionate kiss on my lips. “As a promise for more later, Ivor.”
“Yes. Later. I, um…uh…What was I doing, again?” I was dumbstruck and slightly confused.
She laughed and said “You’re getting up so you can get dressed. And then I’m going to do the same. And then we will collect the rest of our motley crew, and be on our way. I doubt we have time to sell anything. You’ll probably need to put everything back in the Bag.”
“Oh. Yes. That.” I dumbly grabbed my clothes and pulled them on. I sat in the chair, and tugged on my boots as Elizabet crawled out of the bed and stood stretching, displaying all her nakedness for me to gaze upon. And gaze, I did. I allowed my eyes to drink in the view like a man dying of thirst in the desert.
This wasn’t lost on her. She leaned over, her hands on her knees, pendulous breasts squeezed between her arms, and she looked me in the eye. “I’m glad you like what you see, Ivor, but your shoes are on the wrong feet. Might want to fix that before we hit the road.” She winked and straightened, finding her clothes and pulling them on.
I looked down. My boots were on the wrong feet. Damn. I’d not been this messed up in years. I sighed and fixed them, then knocked on the adjoining door. “Blainaut? We’re ready to go in here. Are you guys ready to get going?” The chatter stopped, and the door opened to reveal three scaly faces, with toothy grins.
“Yup! We’re ready to go, Mr. Ivor. You guys were still sleeping, and we wanted to let you sleep.” said Ahte-tan.
I smiled at the little boy, and thanked him, looking in to see Blainaut tugging on his own footwear. He stood, and motioned toward the door, smiling.
I grabbed my Bag, slipped my pistol onto my belt, and the six of us walked downstairs to find the Commander of the city Guards waiting for us, along with Abner, Elric, and two other guardsmen.
We halted on the steps, and I motioned for the others to stay put. I strode forward, and looked up into the burly man’s face. “Yes? How can I help you?”
The commander was a big man. Nearly seven feet tall, with a pair of swords at his hips, a dozen daggers set in a bandolier across his chest, with a full suit of mailed armor, wearing a scowl across his scarred and pockmarked face. “Is this the one, Abner? Elric? Is this the one that attacked you?”
I raised my eyebrow at that, and looked hard at Abner and Elric. They both nodded, defeated. “What is the meaning of this, sir? You had best hope you have a good explanation for stopping me.” Looking him in the face, I reached into my coat pocket and pulled on my gloves.
“You’re damn right I do. You attacked my boys. You’re coming with me to answer for these crimes.” He stepped forward and reached out to grab me.
“Hand of Air.” I took hold of him with my Hand, and pushed him backwards. “I will do no such thing. If you attempt to stop me, take me anywhere, or bother my family, I will kill you. Am I understood?”
A collective gasp went up from the few patrons in the bar, and my group behind me. The innkeeper rounded on me. “I told you I wanted you gone last night. You said you would. Get out of here, take your punishment and go.”
I sighed. Why couldn’t they leave me be? “Thaddeus! Get out here, and take this man back behind the bar where he belongs! Now!” Thaddeus ran out from the kitchens, and dragged the innkeeper back, away from me. “Thank you.” I turned my head to the Commander. “Now for you. Are you going to walk away and let us leave in peace, or are you going to die today?”
“You dare assault the Commander of the Guards? That you would dare assault a guardsman is bad enough, but me? You will pay.” He drew a sword and advanced.
“Wall of Air” I crossed my arms as he bumped into the wall. “I suppose your boys didn’t tell you the whole story, did they? When we arrived, he tried to take one of my boys just so he could eat him. After a refusal, then a threat, we came in, got our room, and tried to sleep, only to have him and his buddy Elric pick the lock to our door, and try to force the issue. They are both lucky to be alive. Abner has a lifelong message that he will never forget. Elric has a brand that will remind him of his actions last night. I could have easily killed them. Not as easily as I will kill you if you continue, however.”
Stolen story; please report.
He turned to Abner and Elric. “Is this true, Elric? Did he threaten Abner yesterday? And he’s the one who removed Abner’s fingers and branded your hand?”
Elric dropped his head. “Yes, sir. Every word true. We broke into his room, and tried to take the lizards, but he was standing there in the moonlight. Waiting. It’s like he knew.”
“And he beat the shit out of both of you? By himself? Then did these things? How?” The commander had sheathed his sword by this point, and was looking angry, but this time it was directed at the pair of idiots.
I cleared my throat and dispelled the Wall. “I could show you, sir. If you’ll humor me, that is.”
His face spun to meet mine. “What? Humor you? What kind of fool are you? I’m still taking you in. You still attacked a guardsman, two of them, actually, and you dare ask me to humor you? Not a chance. I will deal with these two, and take you in for punishment.”
I removed my coat, and set it down on the barstool. “No. I won’t go anywhere with you, and those two have already had their punishment meted out to them. Perhaps I won’t kill you. Perhaps I’ll simply make a lesson out of you. I don’t tolerate high-handedness out of the likes of you. Leave the inn, so we don’t make a mess of his establishment.”
The Commander’s eyes nearly bugged out of his head at my words. “You do not tell me what to do, boy. I give the orders here. You are coming with me now, and that is final!” He stomped forward, and took hold of my left shoulder.
Stepping forward, I ducked down, taking hold of him at the waist, and lifted, settling him onto my shoulder. Gods, but he was heavy. “Abner, Elric? Out. The rest of you, too.” I turned around, and told the rest “You can watch, if you’d like. I’m going to teach this asshole a lesson.” I spun around, and marched the Commander out into the street, where I unceremoniously dumped him on his ass.
I straightened, cracking my knuckles. “Now, Commander. I would advise you to simply walk away and live the rest of your meager life. Otherwise, this will end poorly for you. You’ve already seen that I’m strong enough to carry you, fully armored, and drop you out here. Can you imagine what I’m going to do to you if you continue?”
“Sir, you don’t understand. Last night, he punched through the floor in the inn. If he had hit me, I would be dead. Let’s leave him alone. Please?” Elric tried to beg the commander to give it up, but failed.
The commander whipped a hand around, backhanding Elric, and sending him to the ground. He didn’t move. “Shut up. It’s because you two bumbling idiots couldn’t handle a peasant that I’m here. This ends now, with your life, miscreant.” He raised his sword and charged.
Likewise, so did I. I pulled my right fist back, and drove it into the gut of the tall man in front of me, and his charge was halted. He fell to his knees clutching his abdomen, mouth working, but unable to draw breath. I reached down, and took hold of his jaw, pulling him up to meet my gaze. “I warned you, Commander. Now, I have to make a lesson out of you. Gods, I hate this.” I pulled my arm back, trying to concentrate all my fury into my fist, hoping to drive out the stain in front of me, when Elric stood in my way.
“Move, Elric. He needs a lesson in humanity.” My arm shook with the strain.
“Sir, no. Please. Don’t hit him. He’s an idiot, like Abner, but he treats us all well.” Elric placed a hand on my right bicep.
“Does he? Is it just humans, or does he treat the other races well, too?” I let my eyes bore into him.
“Just us, sir. There are no other races in our department.” His face betrayed him with confusion.
“Exactly.” I let my arm drop, and roughly shoved Elric away. Thinking for a moment, I reached down and took the commander by the neck and waistband, hauling him over my head. I took two steps, and threw the man as hard as I could, and watched him bounce about ten feet away.
The other two guardsmen were stock still, terrified. I looked at them. “Leave. Take Abner and Elric with you. The Commander and I have unfinished business.” The others took hold of Abner and Elric, and ushered them away through the gathering crowd.
The Commander had caught his breath, and was standing on two shaky legs. “Lucky hit. I’m going to destroy you.” His hands whipped forward, and caught sight of three daggers whizzing in my direction.
I raised my arms instinctively, sheltering my head and neck. Two of the knives impacted me in the gut, but landed harmlessly on the stone. The third, however, lodged itself into my left forearm, and I felt the tip graze my cheek. I howled in rage and pain, and grabbed the knife with my right hand, and slowly drew it out. I cupped the wound and whispered “Heal flesh, knit wounds.” and the world burst into white pain. “it’s time it’s time it’s time it’s time. kill him killkillkillkillkillkill KILL HIM!” I growled and gripped the dagger tightly, the leather creaking around my fist. “Very well. This is what you want, this is what you get.” I threw the dagger into the ground, and smiled as I heard it sink into the stone.
The crowd spread wide, then. I balled my fists and began walking towards the commander, a grin spread across my face. Heat radiated off me. He raised his sword to attack, and brought it down on me. I leaned forward, and took the blow on my back, the blade bouncing back off my shirt.
“Wha-”
“No good. Try again.” I jumped to my left, and drove my fist into his side, just above his pelvis.
The Commander jumped back, and drove his sword into my belly, screaming mindlessly. The tip hit me, and I spread my arms, my feet braced against him as I slid backwards on the stone. “What the…?”
I dropped my arms and walked towards him once again. “No. Good. TRY. AGAIN.” My world went red, and a calm settled upon me.
The Commander swung his sword down in a chop, and I jumped to my right. Driving my fist into his side, I was pelted with a shower of stone chips. I raised my right leg, and drove my boot into the side of his left knee with all the force I could muster, hearing a muffled crunch. The Commander went down screaming in agony, clutching his knee. I walked to his right side, and repeated the event, with the same results. I stepped in front of him, and took his left arm, and bent it backwards at the elbow, hearing it pop. I repeated on the right. I leaned forward, and took the man by his mail shirt, and pulled him close.
“Now, Commander. You will never work again. I won’t heal you. Neither will my companions. You tried to force me to give up what was precious to me unjustly. It will never happen to me again, Commander.”
The sobbing man looked at me in fury, and spat “I’ll kill you, you bastard. If it’s the last thing I do, I swear to Kratlin, I’ll fucking kill you.”
I drew my pistol and leveled it at the man’s forehead. “No. You won’t.”
CRACK
The crowd flinched at the report of my gun. Several shrieked and ran. Others, sprayed with brain matter and skull fragments, stood mute witness to the event. I holstered my weapon, walked back inside and retrieved my coat. “It’s time to leave, guys. Thaddeus? Would you show them to the wagon? It’s locked tight, so stay with them, please?”
Thaddeus numbly went about the task I had given him, and I stood at the bar, staring the innkeeper down. “You wouldn’t know anything about the Commander’s appearance here, now would you? Be honest, please. I have ways of finding the truth.”
“N-n-n-no, sir. Honest. I told those men where your room was, but that was it. I thought they had business with you. I see how wrong I was.” The man shook intensely.
“Very well.” I pulled out the nearly empty purse and emptied its contents on the bar. “For whatever trouble that carcass gives you.” I stepped outside and walked to the cart.
Thaddeus and the others were waiting on me. “Sorry everyone. Let me take care of the cart, and we can be on our way. Thank you, Thaddeus. I appreciate everything you’ve done.” I set about Unfusing and Unlocking the cart, and everyone climbed in. Even Thaddeus.
“Thaddeus? Son, what are you doing?”
“Well, sir. Ah’m not shore Ah kin stay here no more. He’s none too happy with me, on account’n Ah pulled him away. Ah figured Ah kin be of use to you’n yours.”
I crossed my arms and leveled a stare at the boy. “What do you think of the Lizardfolk? About those three right there beside you?”
He looked at them and waved. Ahte-ukum waved back, smiling. “Well, they seem right nice. They won’t bite me, will they?” Ahte-ukum’s ‘Rawr!’ made him flinch.
I laughed. “He’s playing with you, Thad. They’re just kids, man. They like to play. Just like all of us did. I’m taking them back home to their family, and then I’m going to try and see about ending the entire practice of slavery all together.
Thaddeus’ eyes widened. “Wow. That’s big, sir. So, you think they’re just like people? Like you’n me?” I nodded. “My paw did, too. S’why he was killed, and Ah was sent to live in town with my uncle in there.”
“Well. If you two have no objections?” I looked to Blainaut and Elizabet, who smiled and shook their heads. “Okay, then. I’m Ivor, That’s Elizabet, Blainaut, You’ve met Ahte-ukum, and those are his brothers, Ahte-naah and Ahte-tan. Off we go!” I gave a shove and the cart rolled forward.
I trudged through the streets, directed by Blainaut and Thaddeus. People stepped aside when I came through, likely owing to the rumors that spread like wildfire about the altercation in front of the Charred Bass. In this way we were left alone as we left town.
As we put the town of Nogogard three hours’ walk behind us, we all breathed a sigh of relief. I’d been to two different cities, and in both, I’d managed to upset the power structure and to kill people. Me. A man who had heretofore only ever broken another man’s arm with an overzealous strike of my staff, had already killed nearly a dozen people. I felt my gorge rising at the thought.
“I’ll be back.” I ducked under the hame, and jogged to a spot near the river, and violently expelled the contents of my stomach.
Elizabet had followed me, and rushed to my side. She put an arm around me for support, and rubbed my back as I heaved over and over. “Ivor? Ivor, are you okay?” The concern etched into her face lent it a beauty I didn’t know existed until that moment.
“I killed them, Elizabet. I killed people. I killed people and felt no remorse doing so. You saw me kill them, too. All of them.” I began to cry, weeping for the lost ones, and for my missing innocence.
Elizabet held me tight, cradling my head to her chest, and rocked gently. “You did what you had to do to keep us all alive and safe, Ivor. That’s all.”
I pushed myself away, and looked at her. “I’m a killer now, Elizabet. How could you ever want anything to do with me? You’re a healer. The last person that would want to be around a killer.”
She smiled and lay her hand on my cheek, then pulled me back to where I was. “Because I know that the man within is one of love and care and kindness. Because I know that the man I have in my arms is one who will stop at nothing to make sure his family is safe.” She turned my face to meet hers. “Because I’ve never felt safer than when I’m with you, Ivor.” She kissed me softly, and I collapsed into sobs.
The rest of the group respectfully gave me my space, and I was grateful they said nothing upon my return. The sun was nearing the horizon, and I trudged off into the fields beside the road, and began to set up camp.