Something warm touches my neck as I’m sleeping. It wakes me up enough I can tell it’s a hand. I’m sure it’s Ulrika’s hand, judging by the careful touch rubbing around my neck and shoulder. I grab it with my left hand, then the fingers slide and interlock between mine.
“Is that you, Ulrika?” I say.
“Yup.” She crawls over me to lay beside me. It’s a tight fit since this bed is only meant for one person. Her chest is my face. My nose presses through her shirt and pokes her left breast when she adjusts into a suitable position. “Sorry to wake you, but they’re starting to put down the tents.”
“Dang,” I yawn, digging my face into her breast. “Tell them I’m sleeping.”
“I did,” she whispers, playing with two of my twisted locks. “But, they’re on orders to move back in the city.”
“Ugh. Tell them thirty more minutes.”
“I already did that. You’ve wasted it all up.” I pout like a child as I snuggle my face deeper into her breast until I find the perfect tender spot to continue sleeping in. “Alright, stop your whining.” I finally crack open my eyes. Her green eyes beam down on me with a smirk to compliment the beauty of her entire face. “Come on, sleepyhead.”
“Okay,” I say, sitting up. On a stand next to my bed, there’s some clothing. “Where’s Haleema?”
“Outside the tent. A lot of shit when down that she wants us to know about.”
“Damn. What about your family? Are they safe?”
“Yes. A few of my brothers came down here when you were sleeping.” I sigh with relief, yet my heart rate is high. “I hope your mother is okay.”
“She is. Thyrna lives in the most protected kingdom in this world. Nite wouldn’t make it several miles near the walls.”
“How can you be so sure of that?”
“That’s Xanlos’s land. He wouldn’t let his land be taken over by these devils.”
“You seem to know him like he’s a friend or something of the sort.”
“I only know what is written of him in the scrolls and palms.” I clothe myself before someone yells at us to leave.
“I wish I knew more of our people’s history. Father never shared much of it with my brothers and me.”
“We can go to the temples in Aurath if you like.”
“What?! There are temples?” Her quickness in saying that and her level of excitement makes me chuckle.
“Yeah. Once we eventually go to Kromagia, I’ll take you there. Now, where’s my sword?”
“Right,” she says, reaching behind her back. “Here.” She unbuckles the lace around her chest and swings my sword to her lap. Her weapons are around her hips, which is rare to see. “Let me put it on.” I swing open my arms, so I won’t be in the way. “Guess what Garret did to my swords.”
“What did he do?” Once she puts my sword around my back, she pulls out her swords. Half of it is gone. The end of the blade is blackened as if it were burned or melted. “Oh no! How did this happen?”
“When he was electrocuting Haleema and me, I took the brunt of it with my swords. The heat warped my blades, then it eventually snapped off.” Seeing her brothers’ swords broken saddens me.
“This is awful, Ulrika.” She chuckles when she views the broken tips. I’m confused by it. It doesn’t seem to be backed with sorrow. I don’t hear any sign of a whimper, and she’s genuinely smiling.
“It truly is a bummer,” she says, putting them away. She motions her head to the exit with the side of her head and holds me by the arm.
“Are you doing okay?”
“Sad, but shit happens, you know? I’m not gonna let it get me down. I’ve griefed well enough over them.” Now I’m pissed. I can’t believe they’re broken. “At least my dagger is fine.”
“That is the third thing that man has done to you. I’m glad I rattled Garret’s brain in. Speaking of him.” I stop walking, but she goes forward a step before coming back to me. “Is he dead?” I ask her in a smooth, sincere voice, looking dead in her eyes. Her hands tighten around my arm.
“He’s... alive.”
“What?!”
“Easy, darling,” she mutters in a soft voice. I quickly look at her when she calls me darling. That word catches me off guard, making the skin on the back of my neck build goosebumps. She hugs me with one arm around my lower back and her hand clutching the back of my head. “Don’t let his existence get you riled up. You’ve done enough damage to instill fear in him. Rejoice in that thought.” Her lips hover so close to my ear that I can feel the warmth of it. “Kaio, my amazing husband, you bested a Paragon.”
“I wouldn’t have done it without you or Haleema. Also, I was enraged when I did it”
“Then, thank you for ending the fight.” Before I can absorb this calming moment, she lets go of me to lift the right flap of the tent. I have to shield my eyes to reduce the strain from the sunlight.
“Haleema, he’s up. So, what’s the news?” Haleema hands her a half-folded parchment. I look over Ulrika’s shoulder to read what’s on it. It’s a list of kingdoms and cities I’ve been to or heard of. Ambagra and Thaa Alora is on there.
“What’s this list for?” I ask.
“It’s,” Haleema sighs looking at her fingers, “what Nite took over.”
“What!” Ulrika blurts out in a mild yell.
“You’ve got to be kidding. They took all of this today?” I say.
Haleema nods her head slowly. My heart sinks deep into my chest. I can’t believe this is happening. Ulrika must be heartbroken, knowing her city is under their control. I’m hesitant to ask her if she’s okay. She remains silent, staring directly at the paper.
“I’m so sorry,” I whisper in the most gentle voice I can muster as I hold her from behind.
“Ulrika?” Haleema also says in a gentle voice. “Are you alright?” She carefully removes the parchment from Ulrika’s fingers. Ulrika follows it then her forearms press down on my hands.
“I don’t know how to answer you. So many emotions building up in me. I don’t know what to let out first,” Ulrika says. I turn her to me to break her gaze from looking at the list. She takes me into her arms. Her grip is tight, and she’s trying her best not to weep.
“Haleema, how could this happen? I thought there was a remnant of them?” I say.
“I thought so too. Nite must’ve masked their numbers until this very day. Damnit!” Ulrika says.
“What do we do next?”
“Emdal and five senior Paladins are counseling on that. Ugh! These guys messed up the plans I had.” I’m assuming she’s talking about the bounties she made for us to serve. If the locations of the wanted individuals are in the invaded territories, it’ll make our job more challenging to apprehend them.
“Kaio,” Ulrika says, sniffing her mucus back in her nose. “Will you walk with me back to the cathedral? I need to tell my family the news.”
I place my right arm around her shoulder as we walk. Haleema joins along too. We don’t say or utter anything to break this depressing silence. Ulrika remains close by me without wandering off. This is the most time I have seen her stay close while walking. She usually breaks away to give me space for a moment before coming back. Everyone is so sad that I’m kinda getting bothered by it. I need to think of something to say to bring up the mood.
“Hey, Ulrika,” I say, letting her go.
“Wait,” Ulrika says, pulling my arm back around her shoulder then holding me. “Yes, Kaio?”
“Uh... what do you say to me making your pasta for dinner tonight?”
“But, you wished for me to make it.”
“I know, but it’s been a while since I cooked for us.”
“Umm,” she hums, thinking about it. “It has, but let me make it for you. It’s the one thing I’m looking forward to.”
“Oh, well, okay then.”
“Haleema, would you like to eat dinner with us?”
“Umm,” Haleema says, looking at me like she’s unsure. “You want me to eat with you?”
“Gosh. When you say it like that, you make me feel like an asshole for the way I acted before.” I manage to not laugh and keep my smile at a minimum.
“I didn’t mean to offend—”
“You’re good. So?” Haleema nods to accept Ulrika’s offer. “Wonderful.”
It’s good to see Ulrika is trying to keep herself happy. The only thing I’m worried about is how she and her family will react to losing their home. Now I think about it, we lost access to our little home in the woods. I pray nothing bad happens to our cabin and their home. Those buildings are sanctuaries for the cherished memories we both share. Let them survive this devilish ordeal and forever hold the lives we had and will have.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
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The expressions on Ulrika’s family depress my mournful heart. Most of them frown, but her mother hides her entire face with her hands. A few of her brothers seem to be enraged or surprised to hear the news, judging by their faces.
“Unbelievable,” Oliver says.
He’s the fifth-born son, the third child of Anemone, Ulrika’s father’s second wife.
“So we’re stuck here as refugees? Great. At least we know this city,” Geminos assures.
If I remember this correctly, he’s the sixth son, the firstborn of Jenifry. She’s the third wife.
“How much has Nite taken in our kingdom?”
“All of the north, east, and parts of the south. The furthest cities we have... are Dako and Clane. This is also a worldwide attack, so I don’t know how bad it is yet.” Haleema answers.
“What about our King and the royal family? Are they safe?” Ulrika’s father says.
“King Andodon and his family were murdered during a siege.” No one says a word. Everyone stares at Haleema without blinking their eyes. I stand out of my seat to relieve her from most of their gaze.
“This is truly one of the most tragic days ever. First, we’re forced out of our homes, now this!” Kendric says.
“Gods, help us,” Vanessa says.
“The gods forsake us!” Everyone reacts in some sort of body or verbal reaction to his statement. The only two I notice don’t move are Ulrika and Haleema.
“Don’t say that! That’s not true.”
“Are you blind? Look what’s happened. We’re being attacked by these psychopaths, and I haven’t seen any divine intervention.”
“The gods don’t dabble in our affairs,” I say.
“What?!” Some of the brothers give me the same response. “Are you shitting me?”
“No. I was told by an angel herself that they are not allowed to interfere.”
“Why the fuck is that?” Spyro asks, coming over to me. Ulrika steps in front of him with her hand out between us. “We need all the help we can get if we want to survive this!”
“Settle down,” Ulrika says.
“The angels are under strict orders from Xanlos not to interfere. He believes we can defeat them,” I say.
“Did you say Xanlos?” The father says. I nod my head saying, yes. “Are you a prophet?”
“Not at all. I took on a protective contract order from the angel two years ago. Since then, she’s spoken to me three times within the past months.”
“Why is she in contact with you? Is she a friend or something?” Spyro says.
“A friend.” He scoffs at me with flared-out nostrils. Ulrika shoves her hand into his chest. Just enough for him to take a single step back.
“I need a drink.”
Spyro storms out of the room, leaving the door wide open. One by one, all the other brothers head out. Some follow Spyro or go the opposite down the hallway. Next, the mothers leave, but Evelina remains. Vanessa hands Ulrika a maroon box then whispers something in her ear. Whatever she’s saying makes Ulrika gasp with a joyous hug that lifts her off the ground. I think Evelina and Ulrika’s father know what’s going on since they’re smiling too.
“Kaio, look!” Ulrika says, opening the box. It’s the red lipstick-stained handkerchief from our wedding.
“We also managed to save your wedding outfits,” Vanessa says. Evelina folds the top right corner of the bed to reveal our clothing. Ulrika jumps on the bed and puts her dress over her chest like she’s examining it through a mirror. I go over there to touch my wedding attire. It’s nice to see it again.
“Thank you so much. You’ve lightened my mood.” Her smile doesn’t last long. “But, there’s another issue I have.” She pulls out her broken swords to view them.
“Oh, Ulri,” Evelina says, coming over to our side. “Honey, come here. Your son’s swords... they’re...” He takes the swords out of Ulrika’s hands to closely examine the broken end one by one.
“Father... can you fix them?” Ulrika says, clutching her dress in her lap.
“I can,” he says with a nod. “But don’t you want to have your own sword?”
“I,” she sighs, “truly don’t know. I’m done grieving, yet I don’t want to give up Decimus and Numerius weapons.”
“I understand. A few of my workshops are here. I’ll see what I can do.”
“Thank you so much.” After she unbuckles the scabbards from her waist, I hand it to him. He sheaths them and tucks them under his armpit. “Darling.”
“Yes,” I quickly say, almost having a minor heart attack. Ulrika tightens her lips when she smiles but relaxes them for a full grin.
“Haleema, do you have your tent pitched up? I’m tired.”
“Yeah. It’s out in the backfield,” Haleema says, pointing in its direction.
“Kaio, come with me. I need to discuss something with you.”
“Alright,” I say.
I follow Ulrika out into the hallway. People on the first floor are scurrying around like they’re in a rush to do something. No one is standing around, not even the people on our floor or above. This war has everyone on high alert.
Before she reaches Haleema’s tent, Ulrika stops to look back at me. She has one hand and a foot inside. The same smile from before comes back in the same order.
“Why are you smiling like that?” I ask, nearly smiling myself.
“Oh, nothing.”
“I have a strong feeling it’s something.” I grab her waist to see if I can entice her to tell me what the smile was about. I’m eager to know now rather than later. “Ulrika, don’t tease me. I’m dying to know the reason beyond your lovely smile.”
“I wanna have some fun.”
“So, the thing you wanted to discuss was this?”
“Yeah. Today fucking sucks, and I don’t wanna feel like shit.” Her right index finger moves under the laces of my shirt to touch my chest. She slowly circles it while keeping her wonderful smile. “I need to blow off some steam.”
“I’ll gladly make it happen.”
She hops on me with her legs locked around my lower back and arms behind my neck. We wildly kiss as I navigate to our private bedroom. Once I enter in, she hops off me, sits me down on the bed, then slowly strips out of her shirt. My heart is beating against my chest. It feels like it’s going to burst. Firey moments like this are so invigorating. We definitely need a good release from today’s brutal fight. Sex is off the table for the time being, but I think I know what she’s going for.
Once the last button is latched off her shirt, she tosses it on the ground. I stop her from taking off the bandeau. This time, I’m the one who gets to divulge the sight of her breasts. I use both my hands to pull it down, intentionally letting my fingernails claw the skin of her sensitive erected nipples. She bites down on her lower lips and tightly shuts her eyes, taking in the pleasure. The wrap unbuckles, so I toss it where her shirt is, then strip it out of my shirt. She squeezes, claws, and rubs my chest as we return to our wild smooching. Her dominant tendencies take over as she presses my hands near the side of my head.
“My goodness,” I say, chuckling as well as catching my breath.
“You’ve handled—” She stops to grab her lower stomach. The cramping seems to be more active lately. This makes me a bit worried, but she keeps on smiling, so I don’t know what to precisely think.
“You are getting more aggressive with me.”
“Do you not like that? Maybe I should be more gentle since you’re recently getting into this,” she says slowly as she takes off her boots and pants. “I could be too much to handle for an amateur. I am a feisty woman, after all.”
“I adore that about you.” An interesting hum comes from her. It’s pitched high and backed with suppressed chuckles. “You’ll never be too much to handle. Emotionally, physically, spiritually.” I get scoffed yet make her blush.
“You continue to amaze me.”
We wrestle around the bed, grappling, pinning, and performing gentle submission moves on each other. Our playfulness stops when I pin Ulrika down in the same position she had me in. She stares up at me with seductive eyes. When she blinks, it’s slow, and when she doesn’t, they remain squinting. Right as I’m about to give her a kiss on the neck, she grips down on my fingers and groans through her teeth.
“Sorry, Kaio. But my body is being an annoying bitch right now,” she says.
“I understand. Let’s settle down till it passes.”
“Okay,” she says with a smile, stroking my jaw from underneath. “What an insane day we had.”
“You just reminded me of something. Your power. How were you able to wield Garret’s power?”
“I didn’t really take his power. It was mostly my own.”
“Your own?” I hover over to get a better look at her face. “You had this all along?” A slow head nod confirms my question. “Why am I just seeing it now?”
“I had a hard time wielding it when I was a teenager,” she says, facing me with her whole body. “It wouldn’t manifest as I can with air.”
“What were you able to do before?”
“Absolutely nothing,” she whispers, gliding her hand back and forth on my chest. “I gave up trying to use it, so I mastered my training for my current ability.”
“Seems like the door is open to revisiting it again.” She turns around to return back to letting me cuddle from behind. I activate the heat in my hands to subdue the abdominal pain.
“Maybe. I might need to master it for the trouble that’s coming ahead of us.” I kiss the nave of her neck, making her quietly giggle through her nose. A yawn comes right after, then she presses her ass in my crotch.
“Sleep well. I’ll wake you up later.”
“You better, or you’ll be starving.”
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I remain by Ulrika’s side for about an hour with my hand constantly giving her warmth to treat her pain. I almost doze off just from not moving. Her light snoring is my cue to stop. I crawl out of bed without shaking it. There aren’t any signs of her noticing I’m away, so I head out of the room searching for what to do with my time. Haleema enters the tent with a small white burlap sack tied with a white string.
“Hey, Kaioson. I brought some tasty miniature cheesecakes for all of us,” Haleema says. When she says cheesecakes, she flaunts one, quarterly rotating it over her face. “We all get two.”
“I appreciate this.” We sit at the table to eat the delicious pastry. I have already down the two I have before she finishes her first one.
“You must be hungry. Here take my last one.”
“I’m famished. I can’t wait for dinner tonight,” I say with my mouth filled with cheesecake. “Today has drained most of my energy.”
“Lucky for you, I have a vitality potion.” She pops open a glass bottle that is halfway filled with red liquid. I guzzle it down, not caring who made it or what it tastes like.
“Sheesh, that was sweet.”
“It tasted like pure alcohol when I had half of it.” Her left-hand sprinkles out what looks like glowing red sand. “I had to add some extra sugar to make it tolerable.”
“You’re reminding me of a witch I know.”
“Oh,” she gasps with a smirk. “Is this witch the one who taught you to cast spells?” Her ears move up and down. I answer the question with a wink to remain mysterious. “Ah, don’t do that to me.” She pulls her chair close to me enough that my right knee touches her thigh. “What are you?”
“A man.”
“Stop teasing me, Kaio. You fascinate me.”
“I fascinate you?”
“Yeah...” A small central portion of her cheeks begins to blush. “You’re the only person I know that brandishes power, casts complex spells, and is skilled with a magical sword.” She places her hand on my knee. It moves up my leg when she leans closer. “What are you, Kaio?”
I put my mouth a few inches to her left ear to whisper, “If I told you, I’d have to kill you.” Out of the corner of my eye, I can see her staring at me. “Just kidding. I’m nothing special. I’m just a human who’s learned lots of things.”
“Who was your teacher?”
“My mother.” After saying that, she seems pleased, judging by her tight smile. “She taught me everything she knew and help me perfect the abilities I can control.”
“My, my, Kaio. I finally figured you out. You’re a wizard swordsman.”
“Ha! Really?” She nods her head while clapping her fingers rapidly.
“I assume you’re wife might be one too.”
“Hmm.” I glance in the direction where Ulrika is sleeping to help me see if that’s a plausible statement.
“Hey, Kaio.”
“Hmm?”
“I just wanted to let you know I’m here for you. There will be many battles ahead for us. I know you’re new to this kind of ordeal, but I’m here to help in any way I can.” I’m surprised by her statement. It’s a bit out of the blue, yet I’m pleased to know she’s going out of her way to support me.
“Thank you, Haleema.” I hover out of my seat to give her a hug. “You and Ulrika will have to train me in the arts of war. My mother didn’t really prepare me for this.” She takes hold of my hands with her thumbs inside my palms.
“I believe she gave just enough for you to understand, but if you need guidance—”
“I know the ones to call. Thanks again, Haleema.” The moment I stand up, I yawn so hard it makes me tear up. “Damn. I need to do something to pass the time.”
“Wanna join me in the pools?”
“Ulrika wouldn’t like me going back.”
“Let me guess, she had a problem with you looking at naked women.”
“Yeah,” I nervously laugh.
“Hey, I understand. I was like her when I was with Glysith. Later, Kaio.”
“Alright. Come back before dark. Ulrika will be making dinner.”
Haleema acknowledges me with a head bow before heading off to the pools. I walk back to check on Ulrika. She’s sound asleep with arms behind her head and body half covered.
“Typical,” I whisper, entering the room.
I have lost the mood to keep myself occupied until the time I have to wake her up. All I want to do right now is lay with her in silence. I move under the covers after stripping out of the remainder of my clothing. She twitches and mumbles gibberish when I lay the blanket above her chest.
“Kk...Kaio...” she says in her sleep. Her arm comes in contact with my stomach. Then she suddenly rolls into me with her head up in my armpit. She mumbles some more before returning to her subtle snoring.
If I manage to fall asleep, I conjure a time sequence of two hours of gentle concussion blast energy to touch me. It’s invisible to anyone, but I’m the only one that can see it. I place it on my side of the bed in arm’s reach. With one more yawn, I rest my eyes then retreat to the somber, peaceful darkness with Ulrika. This’ll be a nice momentary escape from the shitstorm that’s going on today. I’ll let these Paladins worry about it for the time being.