Heretic spellblade 8, p.29
Heretic Spellblade 8, page 29
“It’s not cursed, but it is unstable,” Kadria said. “With so much of the world consumed by my former employer, not everything works as it should. The goddess’s magic and the binding stones maintain much of the world, but sometimes parts of it collapse. Like the Houkeem Desert and Haolim. Kurai also suffered a higher rate of earthquakes for the same reason, being located close to the edge of the world.”
“I doubt Sofia’s building a city,” Nathan said. “If you only found two, we can deal with them easily enough and stamp out this phase of Sofia’s plans. Now tell me what is truly wrong.”
Reine bit her lip and her wolf ears flattened. “Something is deeply wrong in Arcadia. Tarkan provided me a report this morning that contradicted my scrying to a degree that couldn’t be explained. As he knows of my powers, he wouldn’t lie so boldly. I can still scry in Arcadia, but the results are inaccurate. This is identical to when Thanatos and Atlas breached.”
Alarms went off in Nathan’s mind, while Kadria cursed under her breath.
“I suspect Atlas is actively interfering with my scrying using his illusions, except on a scale far greater than before,” Reine continued.
“Bastard,” Kadria spat. “Everything Sofia is up to revolves around Arcadia. Even that stupid facility beneath Fertheim belonged to the faeries. Her entire approach to prophets changed while she ruled them. Did Atlas find out something before I did?”
“That’s not important,” Nathan said. “Unless you find something from the palace that proves otherwise. What do we know about Arcadia’s current status, Reine?”
“Do we need to know?” Siv interrupted. “Sofia is doing everything she can to cut you off from Arcadia. Bust in there and ruin her day.”
“Uh, hate to be the one arguing for Nathan not to dick Sofia down really hard, but even I can spot the obvious trap,” Maura said.
“Yeah.” Laura nodded. “Nathan charges in to save the day, except everything is relatively fine. The faeries flip their shit at him, political shit goes down, and then war breaks out. Sofia’s political plants would make it look like Nathan’s fault.”
Siv groaned. “This is why I think politics needs more burning down of parliaments and congress, and less morons letting bad faith actors cause shit. When do I get to burn shit?”
“You and Kadria can deal with the two fortresses Reine identified,” Nathan said. “Once I confirm Arcadia’s current status and that it doesn’t actually need me to rush in with an army.”
“It does not,” Reine said.
“In fact, the political situation is even more confusing than before,” Narime said. “The breaches have caused both military and political crises, but the faeries are split on how to respond.”
Nathan stared at her. “The faeries are?”
“The Winter party and their Regnant want to enact a state of emergency and special measures to effectively suspend the senate, which is where all the elected elves and faeries hold votes,” Narime said. “Except they’re being opposed by the weaker Summer part of faeries and their Regnant, along with all the elves. So they’re deadlocked.”
“Tarkan says he and his allies have never seen anything like it,” Reine said. “Darman agrees.”
If the ambassador of a country couldn’t make sense of his own country’s politics, something was deeply wrong.
Unfortunately, Nathan struggled to make heads or tails of what he’d been told. “I can speak faerie and know a little about Arcadia, but Winter party? Summer party? I know they have two Regnants that they elect on rotating ten year terms, and they’re basically always faeries, but, uh…”
Almost everyone shrugged. Even the Messengers.
“Don’t look at us. I thought the electoral college was the dumbest thing somebody could come up with, but then I came here and discovered the absolute fucking disaster that was Arcadia’s political system,” Maura said. “Imagine having two presidents, each of whom can block the other’s orders, plus a racially split senate based on ancient customs. Oh, and a lot of the seats are filled by governors and special positions with rules that bar ninety-nine percent of the population from even holding them.”
“It’s an impressively awful system,” Kadria admitted.
“Makes for a great fucking powder keg.” Laura mimed setting off a spark and causing a huge explosion.
Nathan noticed that one of the people present hadn’t shrugged. He looked at Tarako. The tips of her tails tilted to one side.
“Do you actually want to know more about Arcadia? Because I know how it works,” she said. “Really, it’s not that complicated compared to some of the nonsense I’ve dealt with over the years.”
“Only what is actually relevant,” Nathan stressed.
She tapped her lower lip. “So, the faeries have always been split into courts, even in Omria’s time. Winter and Summer alternated rule of Doumahr based on which season they thought was ‘dominant’ over the continent. Omria vanished right around the time Winter was waning, and Summer had been delaying the switch to weaken their rival. During the chaos, the dark elves overthrew the weakened Winter Bastion and Champions in the Spires.”
“Huh. That actually explains something I always wondered,” Nathan admitted. “How is it relevant today?”
“Because Arcadia is supposed to be a democracy, where every citizen gets to vote for who they want to control the country. Except the faeries still follow Winter and Summer, which are now parties. The elves are the same, except their parties are based on the tribes from their old khanates that form loose political coalitions.” Tarako made a face. “Honestly, it’s hardly surprising the faeries run rings around them.”
“Focus.”
“Fine.” She clicked her tongue. “The faeries are typically in lockstep—or have been almost since Arcadia was formed. But Winter and Summer are different factions, in the same way the Empire and Trafaumh are. They have different beliefs. If Winter wants to turn Arcadia into a dictatorship now, and Summer doesn’t, it means something is awry.” Her eyes narrowed while her tails fanned out. “I suspect it’s not a coincidence that Winter was the ruling faction when Omria left and are now in power as she returns.”
“Or perhaps it’s the opposite,” Seraph said. “What faction was Novai from?”
“The ice faerie from the wedding? Winter, I’d assume. But looks can be deceiving.” Tarako shrugged at the looks she received. “Even in Omria’s time, faeries didn’t follow their elemental leanings. An ice faerie might join Summer. Despite the names, the seasons aren’t actually about the elements. They’re about specific leanings. Summer are the rash, rambunctious, touchy-feely faeries of myth. Winter are the evil, cruel faeries that hate everyone. I’d be amazed if Varrus wasn’t a Winter faerie.”
Which meant Novai probably was from Summer, assuming the split actually ran along factional lines.
“Reine, has the dispute gone any further than political disagreements?” Nathan asked.
“Not from Tarkan’s report.” Reine paused for several seconds. “With my scrying inoperative in Arcadia and Tarkan’s network limited and sporadic—not to mention sensitive to man-in-the-middle attacks—I’m wary of relying heavily on this information. I advise that you gain first-hand information as soon as possible. The faerie, Novai, reached out to you and has returned to Arcadia. We need to speak with him as soon as possible.”
“Agreed,” Seraph said. “Except that it’ll take him some time to get back, digest the situation, and then make time for us.”
“We should contact him anyway. If he’s serious, he’ll find time,” Narime said.
Nathan nodded. “Do it. Tarako, while Alice and I were taught a lot about being polite to faeries, I suspect you’ve forgotten more than we know. Put something together that can help us meet Novai while satisfying any of his superiors who might find out.”
“Oooh. I haven’t had to bother with being diplomatic for a while.” Tarako frowned. “I don’t know if this is a good thing or not.”
The meeting broke up shortly afterward, as Nathan left Kadria and Siv to work with Reine to find the other fortresses scattered across Doumahr.
Even if they encountered this new Messenger, Kadria could hopefully handle herself or teleport them away. Nathan was unwilling to risk his Champions against an unknown Champion, let alone a Messenger Tarako, and Artemis would pair terribly with either Kadria or Siv.
While the others left the bitterly cold rooftop in a hurry, Tarako wandered over to the edge and leaned over it. Her tails wrapped around herself, as if warming her body.
Nathan joined her. After shooting him a glance and frowning at his lack of proper winter clothing, a few of her tails stretched out and wrapped around him.
Mission successful.
One of her tails whapped him in the back of the head.
“I’m counting that as a bonus objective,” he said.
“You’re incorrigible. Getting anyone to comb out my tails was impossible, as any other fox knew how much work is involved, and yet you actively seek it out.” Tarako rested her head atop her palms, while leaning on the wall. “You’re a strange man. I wondered if I’d regret the deal I made with you months ago, and while there were times I questioned myself, I’ve never truly regretted it.”
“Really?” Nathan scratched his cheek. “I know we’ve talked about this before, but I still feel you’ve struggled a bit.”
“I have. I…” Tarako fell silent. Her eyes gazed out over the rapidly darkening tundra.
There was still no sign of Fei’s company returning. Although torches began to burn along the landscape. Nathan wasn’t worried, as he knew darkness fell swiftly up here.
“You understand the power you’re reckoning with better now, so I can speak freely,” Tarako said abruptly. “Because I ascertained what you were becoming rather early.”
“You… what?” Nathan stared at her. Her tails tightened around him.
“Our creator refused to ever speak Omria’s name. He never elaborated on why, other than to say that beings of great power needed to respect one another. I was confused because he would say Mirie’s, but not Omria.” Tarako allowed herself to smile self-deprecatingly. “So stupid of me. Such a big hint about what the bitch really was all along. My creator knew how much of a fraud Sofia was, but we turned our backs on him and…” Her hands balled into shaking fists and tears welled in her eyes.
She hiccupped. When Nathan reached out to brush the tears away, her tails blocked his view.
A few seconds later, she appeared to return to normal. “Sorry. I just… I’m reflecting a lot on the past lately, thanks to you. But that fact is what first made me suspicious of you. No Champion, Bastion, or sorcerer had ever been so powerful to avoid speaking Her name.”
“The spirits don’t,” Nathan said.
“True. I’ll admit I’m not close to any of them, and they like their secrets. Ifrit’s willingness to work as closely with you as he does amazes me, as the spirits have always kept their distance. That he risked his very existence to side with you to battle Sofia…” Tarako shook her head.
“Is that it?” Nathan asked.
“Hardly. Your powers have grown at an astounding rate, you struggled to control your mental magic and were able to penetrate my defenses so easily.” Her cheeks reddened and her eyes flickered to his crotch while her tails tickled his legs and arms. “I could go on. But…”
She said nothing more for over a minute.
They stood together, staring out over the tundra. Nathan wrapped an arm around Tarako’s back at some point and she leaned against him.
“Tonight’s not the time,” she said as one of her tails tickled his chin. “I’m not sentimental, but there’s work to be done and—”
He slipped his fingers around the tip of her tail. “The work can wait for a night. But you haven’t finished explaining yourself, Tarako. I can understand why you’re troubled about the possibility of a Messenger version of yourself, but at the same time, she’s not you. You’re—”
Tarako barked with laughter. “Isn’t she? I see Artemis and Fei side by side, and I would mix them up if it weren’t for Artemis’s sharper expressions and the way she looks at me. More than that…” She looked him in the eyes. “I made a deal with you in an attempt to save Doumahr, knowing I was risking siding with a man potentially as evil as the Messengers I fought to stop. Like I said, you’re my Bastion, and that’s sacred. Even if your first act after claiming me as your Champion had been to bend me over and take me, I’d have obeyed.”
“That’s…” Nathan scowled. “That’s insanity.”
“It’s who I am. Both in terms of beliefs and… otherwise.” She reached up and stroked his jaw. “Truly, it is. You like being called names by Ciana, don’t you? And Sen likes taking it up the ass? Well, I have my own desires.”
Oh. So that’s where she was going.
He narrowed his eyes. “You’re distracting me. With thoughts of fucking you really hard.”
She giggled and her tails danced around him. “Maybe a little. I really wanted you to say you wanted to take me even after I refused you. It was a little annoying when you didn’t just fuck me when you combed out my tails. I was there and nearly rubbing my ass against you.”
“I don’t make rash decisions.” Or risk going too far with immensely powerful foxes, but he left that part out.
“I’ve gathered. Well, I can deal with slow, deliberate, but very forceful sex.” Tarako brushed her fingers over his lips. “But I suppose I should answer your question before you get genuinely mad. You’re becoming a god, Nathan. My god. So the possibility I might succumb to another great being is… believable, even if it appalls me. Because I’ve succumbed to you.”
She stood on her tiptoes and pressed her lips against him. His hands reached around her body, concealed by her voluminous tails, and squeezed her ass.
Leaning back, Tarako grinned. “You’re going to make me succumb, right?”
“You’ll succumb so hard you won’t be able to feel your legs,” Nathan said.
Tarako’s blue eyes gleamed in the torchlight, before her tails lit up with a teleportation spell.
Only for it to fail.
“Uh, we’ll need to head back to the palace on foot. The spatial wards are strong here, as I didn’t want to risk—” Nathan began to explain, only for a tail to muffle his mouth.
“Let’s just go,” Tarako huffed. “It’s not the mood I wanted, but I’m getting fucked into your bed tonight and that’s final.”
Once back in his bedroom, Tarako wasted no time stripping down. Her tails vanished her clothes, leaving her in little more than stockings and a ribbon tied around her neck. She pawed at Nathan’s pants while the soft light of the room illuminated her beautiful body.
Tarako was a short, lithe thing, and her focus on the sword showed. Lean muscle rippled beneath her soft tummy, and she had toned, thighs to accompany her flared waist and hips. Her pink slit was slightly open as her clit glistened with her juices, making her arousal abundantly clear. Nine bronze tails fanned out behind her, but they pressed around her body toward Nathan and tickled his sides and arms.
Her hands freed his cock, and it flopped against her bare chest. He grabbed her, ignoring her grin, and pressed her against him. She yelped, then moaned softly as the heat of his length seared her chest as it pressed into it while her breasts crushed against his crotch.
“No wonder everyone else wants every night with you,” Tarako cooed as she stared down at the cock head poking up between them. “I can tell once you claim me, I’ll be yours forever. You’ll reshape me with your massive cock.”
She took a step back and wrapped her fingers around his shaft. Her hands gave him a soft pump, eliciting a groan.
“I want to be claimed, my lord,” Tarako whispered, staring at his throbbing cock in her hands.
“Oh?” he asked, raising an eyebrow and playing along.
“I’m but your newest Champion, and don’t understand my place here. How else can I serve…” She pumped his cock and grinned at him. “Such…” Another pump. “A…” She lowered herself and lapped up the bead of precum leaking from his tip. “Magnificent…” Her lips closed around his cock and her voice became muffled. “Cock?”
Her blue eyes gazed up at him expectantly as her tongue licked and sucked at his tip. He closed his hands around the top of her head and tickled her ears, holding back a groan.
Seconds passed. Neither of them went further.
Pulling back, Tarako scowled at him. “You were supposed to ram my head down your cock and start face-fucking me.”
“Oh. I thought you were going to deep-throat me,” Nathan said.
They stared at each, then sighed at the same time.
“This is because the others all get greedy and service you, I bet,” Tarako said. She looked around, then her tails shot up and began wagging together like a dog’s. “Oh. I have an idea. And I’ll you it.”
Nathan raised an eyebrow. Genuinely, this time.
“Lay me down on the bed and face-fuck me. Hard,” Tarako said, eyes shining. “I read a smut book that used that position years ago, when I’d lost my gem abilities and was taken in as—”
“I know it,” Nathan said drily, trying to keep his cheeks from reddening.
It had been popular when he was young. Veronica had found it and confiscated it.
Before Tarako could tease him, he picked her up and dumped her on the bed. She flopped over so she lay on her bed, then wiggled to the end of the bed, hanging her head over the edge. Her tails danced around her sides, wiggling in excitement.
“This is going to be amazing,” Tarako said. “Your cock is massive. You’ll be bulging in my throat.”
The greatest and most famous mystic fox and Champion of all history lay naked on his bed, completely vulnerable and asking him to ruin her with his dick. He swore his erection grew an extra inch, and not because of magic.
Nathan lined up his cock with her mouth while soaking in the sight of Tarako’s naked body on his bed. She straightened herself and placed her head neatly in line with where Nathan’s cock lined up with throat. One of her hands slipped into her groin. He struggled to see her eyes, but heard her excitement in her rapid breathing as her cool breath washed over his tip. Her tongue flicked out to lap at his tip and he held back a groan at the teasing sensation.
