The wanderer, p.16
The Wanderer, page 16
part #1 of The Nogud Legacy Series
Raven stared at me. She waited. And after a minute, she took a deep breath and closed her eyes and I held her hands as she dropped below the surface of the water. She stayed down for almost a full minute. As she started to burst from the water, I took a breath and swept her off her feet and into my arms, and as she gasped for air, I put my mouth quickly over hers and forced my breath into her lungs.
Raven was surprise and struggled for a second, but quickly relaxed into my arms. After my ‘kiss of life’, she threw her arms around my neck and I pulled her into a wet naked hug.
She lay her head on my shoulder and said, “Oh, it was just like you said. Lark, it’s wonderful. Every painful memory is behind me. The girl who had no name is gone. It is like I was born a long time ago and put in storage until just now when I’m born again…but this time, I’m alive.”
Raven clung to my neck and kissed my cheek and said, “Joshua, I am Raven. I have always been Raven. Lark, you’ll see. You have always been Lark. We have always been together and we have always been loved, and Joshua has always been our lover and Viola is with us now, even if we don’t see her, and everything is always like this!”
She pulled back and asked, “Joshua, did you do this magic for Viola?”
I said, “Not yet. We need to do it today.”
Raven said excitedly, “You must! You must! We should hurry! Is she waiting for us? You said that she is. Oh, but first Lark! Lark come do it. And when you hold your breath, let the old one die and you’ll see. Joshua, wash Lark and I’ll pack up our things and wait for you and then we can go to Viola!”
Raven didn’t wait for an answer, but squirmed out of my arms and kissed me and hurried for the little beach.
I turned to Lark and she looked at me with a hint of awe and slowly came and stood in front of me. Lark understood that what she’d witnessed, and what she was about to experience, was a sensuous and possibly sacred rite, and when I touched her, she closed her eyes and gave herself completely into my hands. I took her another step or two into the cove to where the water was just a little deeper and began to wash her body.
With Lark, the bathing was almost like a dance. I would rub part of her body with my hands and she would sway and rub her body against my hands in reply. The slightest touch of my hands would direct her to move or turn herself so that I could reach another part. I started at her neck and then lifted water to her face and poured handfuls over her hair. I caressed and rubbed her shoulders and back. I loved her breasts and nipples with my hands, lifting and cupping them and washing the folds beneath. I washed her belly, her arms, under her arms, and down her sides. Lark stood with her arms floating to her sides and let me touch every part of her. When I washed between the cheeks of her rear, and when I rubbed up and down over her anus, she didn’t object at all, but danced with my hand as it touched her. I wasn’t working toward anal sex, it didn’t interest me, but the intimacy of touching them even there and having them allow and welcome me in that way was very special.
When I came to washing Lark’s crotch, she leaned into me and whispered, “Master, slide your finger in and let my old self give one last orgasm for you as thanks.”
I obliged and pressed my middle finger up between Lark’s lower lips and I felt her warm tunnel convulse and squeeze me. I removed my finger and scrubbed her there for a moment more and then lay her back in the water so that I could reach her legs and feet and she let me support her with my arm under her shoulders. Finally I set her on her feet in the neck deep water.
Lark looked at me lovingly and said, “Goodbye. You are the kindest man we have ever known. Thank you for releasing us from our prison. We look forward to resting now. Lark loves you and she will do everything that she can to make you happy. Before we go, let us tell you a secret: your little Lark likes surprises. She liked it when you took her from behind for her first experience. Do more things like that and she’ll be very happy. The more surprising the better. Listen, if you had pushed a finger into her as you rubbed at her behind, she would have liked it very much. It’s a very sensitive spot. She won’t tell you herself, but she’d like to be washed like that every day. Oh, and you still haven’t sucked on her melons like you promised. We almost wish that we could be alive to see it, but it’s between you and Lark, and it’s time for me to go. Remember how we loved you in the short time that we knew you today.”
And then she kissed me hard and took a breath and ducked below the surface.
Was Lark pretending to talk to me as a different self, or had a different part of her psyche emerged for a moment with a message of love from the old person that was now dying under the water in front of me? It was remarkable. I didn’t guide her through this baptism, but she had known better than I did what had to happen in order for her to be truly happy from now on.
I saw the bubbles as the air in Lark’s lungs was suddenly released and I readied myself and took my breath. When she burst above the water, I took her quickly and breathed into her lungs, and then we passed the breath between us twice before we separated.
Lark finally smiled at me and said, “Hello! Have I been gone long? Long enough that you want more lovemaking?”
I smiled and said, “Lark! I’m so glad to have you back! I missed you and I thought I’d die. How was your trip?”
Lark smiled and hugged me and kissed me again.
Raven called to us and said, “Come on! Don’t we have places to go? I packed it all up. Viola’s waiting for us! We have to go find her!”
Raven was standing on the edge of the water with the pack on her shoulders, completely naked.
Lark and I made our way out of the water and Lark hugged the smaller girl and said, “Can I kiss you?”
Raven said, “Always! We are together!”.
She reached up and pulled Lark’s face down to her lips and kissed her hard on the mouth.
When she broke the kiss she said, “Now let’s go! Which way?”
I looked at the sun and said, “What time would you say it is? How long before noon?”
Raven said, “Maybe half an hour. Did you want me to get the blanket out again? Is Viola not ready for us?”
I laughed, “No, she’s more than ready for us by now. The farm is this way,” and I pointed up river.
Raven said, “Good, then let’s go,” and she started walking toward the river bank and the path that led in the direction that we needed to go.
Lark and I followed as the small girl hurried along carrying our pack. I held Lark’s hand as we went.
Suddenly, Raven said, “This is a beautiful place. Joshua, what do you think of the scenery?” and she wiggled her hips deliberately to get my attention.
I squeezed Lark’s hand and said, “It’s very lovely. Wait, Raven, stop.”
Raven continued along the path and called back to us, “Why?”
I said, “Um, for one thing, you aren’t wearing any clothes.”
Without a pause, she said, “No. I’m not, and I don’t think that I ever will. I’m a new born babe and have no shame, nor a need for silly things like clothes. Are we going mountain climbing?”
I laughed and said, “What is this thing about mountain climbing? It seems like half the time I ask a question, the answer is ‘Are we going mountain climbing?’”
Raven stopped and said, “Oh, Joshua, you should lead. I’ll walk behind you with Lark.”
Raven traded places with me and pushed me forward playfully. She was much bolder now than I would have expected, but I liked it a lot.
Lark said, “Raven the path is well marked, why do we need Joshua to lead instead of you?”
Raven said, “Is he the only one allowed to admire the scenery?” and I felt her grab my ass and give it a squeeze.
I said, “Raven, you rascal.”
Raven said, “It makes me happy. The world is new and I have a lot to learn. Right now I’m studying the beautiful curves of my master’s fine ass. But Lark, what was it like for you. And don’t tease me by saying, ‘Oh, it was so big and hard and it filled me and I had a hundred orgasms.’ We all know about that.”
Lark said, “He does have a fine looking ass. I never knew that a man could be beautiful, but he really is. The baptism was exactly like you described it. The past washed away and my not-a-woman, my not-named, washed away. She was happy and she kissed me and wished me every happiness and told me that she had left a gift for me with my new master as a secret for later. And then she swam away to follow the tunic to the sea. When she was gone, I saw us all together in the water and in our bed and in each other’s arms.”
I said, “We’ll still need to get dressed before we get to the farm. You know about baptism? How is it used here?”
Lark explained, “It’s done sometimes if a woman arrives in a village and she claims that her husband is dead and that she’s a widow. No one asks questions, but in some places, the village, if they accept her, will take her to a pool of water and she goes to the water and walks through it. The village stands on one side and she goes to the other side alone and she takes off her clothes and says, ‘My husband is dead’ and she walks through the water and when she comes to the other side, she’s welcomed and no one questions her about her old life.”
I said, “So, I did the right thing? It wasn’t a surprise?”
Raven said, “Joshua, no one ever did it like that before. It was very much the right thing, but I didn’t expect it. The way that I’ve seen it, it’s a way for a widow, whether a real widow or not, to say that she’s free of the man who had her. Your baptism is very different. And very powerful.”
Lark asked, “Will we have a big bed at the house with your friends at the farm? Or will we have to have two beds? Can we push them together?”
I said, “The man that takes us in calls us family. He has four women, all bedmates, and they swear that you’ll be their daughters and that they will all be your new mothers. They call me their son-in-law. They have a room for us and they’ve pushed two beds together already.”
Raven said, “So, there’s a room ready for us?”
I said, “No, but there’s a room reserved for us. You have to make it our home. There’s a bed and blankets, but the rest is up to you.”
Lark exclaimed, “But I don’t know how to furnish a room!”
I said, “But you’ll learn. The same way that you’ll learn to prepare meals and make clothing and keep the house and help with whatever business we have wherever we go.”
Raven said more quietly, “Joshua, I’d be very happy to prepare a meal for you. For us.”
I said, “Then you’ll be happy very soon. You need to prepare the meal for supper tonight. The mothers will help you.”
I stopped suddenly and said, “Back up. Quickly!” and I turned and pushed the girls back down the trail a few paces.
I said, “Girls, the others are waiting for us just ahead. Quick. Get dressed.”
Raven dropped the pack from her shoulders and I opened it and handed out the leather slippers that the girls would wear. I dug under the blanket and found a dress. It seemed sized for Raven and I held it up and slipped it over her head and pulled it down over her. I found the second dress and pulled it onto Lark the same way. I looked at the two of them and told them that they were very lovely.
I said, “OK. Let’s go.”
Lark smiled and said, “Joshua, you say that we need wear our dresses, which are infinitely more beautiful than anything we’ve ever worn, but it’s OK for you to go naked to our new home?”
I stopped and sure enough, I hadn’t bothered to put anything on myself.
I laughed and said, “I was so focused on you that I forgot myself. I suppose that you’re right, get my clothes for me.”
The girls took the pack from me and pulled out my own pants, shoes, and shirt and I dressed quickly. When I was clothed, we started that last short walk to the farm.
I said, “OK, they’re just ahead, but you didn’t answer me about the mountain climbing.”
Lark said, “Mountain climbing is what we say when nothing makes sense. No one climbs a mountain. It’s like saying, ‘are we going to ride unicorns?’”
I said, “I see. So asking if we plan to make love some more today would be like saying…”
Raven said, “Unless you plan to take us mountain climbing!”
We laughed.
I said, “Now, remember, my friends are wonderful and some of them know your origin, but some do not. No one will mention it because they know that you are my women and have never been anything else. Are you ready to meet our new mothers and our father-in-law?”
At that moment, we came around a gentle curve in the river and could see Viola and the others sitting on the grass near a quiet cove of their own.
Chapter 16 Second Baptisms
We walked cheerfully toward the group and when we were almost upon them I called out and said, “Hello! Are you ready for us?”
The others stood quickly and said, “Here you are! Oh, come over here and let us see you! We have lunch!”
When we reached them a second later, the two girls stood at my sides, holding my hands.
I smiled and said, “Everyone, these are my other two incredible women and they’re both as lovable and wonderful as Viola. This is Lark, and this is Raven. Girls, you know Viola of course.”
Viola hugged them both and said, “You’re here! It’s wonderful isn’t it? You will see, it’ll be so wonderful.”
Raven smiled and said, “Viola, oh it’s good to see you again! Sister, our lives are already more wonderful than we could’ve dreamed.”
Lark said, “We’re going to go to the jewelers together! All three of us!”
I said, “And, this is our host, Paul, and his wonderful women. This is Susan.”
Susan hugged the girls and said, “You’ll be like daughters to us. This will be your home for as long as you want. Treat it as your very own.”
I continued, “And this is Amanda and Tanya,” and the women greeted them and hugged them.
Then I said, “And this is Yuki.”
Lark suddenly looked at the woman and screamed, “Mother?!? It’s you! Joshua! Is there no end to your magic? Mother, it is you, isn’t it? Say that you recognize me!”
Yuki looked like she would faint, but she ran to the girl and took her in her arms and said, “Of course it’s me, and of course I know my own daughter! Lark! It’s a very beautiful name! Lark, my daughter!”
Lark clung to Yuki and said, “Mother, mother, I’m a woman! I have a perfect mate! He’s a very powerful wizard if you ask me. He tells me that I’m special and chosen. Mother, my name has always been Lark and I have always been his! He baptized me in a very special way! A magical way! Mother, he has found you for me!”
Yuki and Lark both cried and held each other.
Yuki said, “Daughter, I’m so sorry!”
Lark pulled back from her and held her at arm’s length and said, “Shush! There’s nothing to be sorry about. My life is wonderful. I have no pain and no life but the one that I have right now! First I have my husband and now my mother. He told us that his friends would be like family to us and that he was like a son-in-law, but he made it sound like it was ‘as if’, but not the very fact! This is magic!”
Yuki said, “Son! Come here and hold your mother! Come here!” she cried.
I came close and Yuki grabbed me around the middle and nearly crushed me in her joy at being reunited with her daughter and knowing that the girl was finally safe and happy.
She sobbed as she said, “A wizard always has plan!”
I said, “You give me too much credit.”
Yuki said loudly, “Shut up! Shut up and don’t lie to us! Next you’ll say that you’re going to climb mountains and that you intend to take all of us with you!”
Lark said gently, “Mother, if he says that he’s going mountain climbing, I’m going with him and so should you all.”
Susan spoke up for the first time as everyone stood stunned by the scene that played out.
She said, “Yuki, is this truly your daughter? The very special one that you said would find so much happiness?”
Yuki cried, “It is! It truly is!”
Susan said, “Paul, Tanya, Amanda, go in the house and start packing. Bring a pot of rainbows from under Viola’s bed and get the unicorns from the kitchen cupboard, and make diamond marshmallow sandwiches for our journey. Dust off the flying carpet and be quick about it! I’ll make us all invisible underwear and we’ll leave for the mountains this instant if that’s what Joshua says that we should do. I said it last night: if a wizard knocks at your door, throw it open and make him come in and make a bed for him! If he says that he’s going to the mountains, follow him and don’t get left behind.”
Paul laughed and said, “It sounds like the perfect plan. Yuki, you are my wife. So Lark, you are my true daughter. And, Joshua, by some magic you are my daughter’s husband and therefore, my own son.”
I said again, “You give me more credit than you should.”
Yuki screamed at me, “Shut up!”
Susan said, “Joshua, if we don’t understand it, we have no choice but to call it magic until we do. Tell me how you it and I’ll call it skill. But, if you say that these things happen by chance, you’re a fool and a liar, and I know that you’re neither. If even you don’t know how it’s done, then you have to call it magic. How is it that these three exceptional women all love you?”
I said, “Well, that is magic. It can’t be anything else.”
Raven said, “It is magic. And you haven’t seen it all. Viola, you have to be baptized with the magic baptism.”
Susan said, “Raven, we’ve forgotten you for a moment because of the great joy of having Yuki’s daughter come home to us. We had said that we would be like mother’s to you when you came, but now you are actually my daughter. You are the wife of my son! I can’t believe our fortunate over the past two days. Raven, you are loved by all of us. Let’s all go to our picnic and get to know each other.”
