The duelist 2, p.2
The Duelist 2, page 2
I flexed my hips as I began to fill her womb with my seed, and she had to stifle another scream against my shoulder when her third climax swept through her like a tidal wave. She bit down with her sharp teeth, and I came even harder as my orgasm reached new heights because of the agony mixed with pleasure.
“Oh, my love, yes, my love,” she chanted as she rocked through her earth-shaking pleasure. “Flood inside of me, husband! Give me everything… Yesssss… it’s gushing so warm inside of me. Hotter than the bath, even.”
I shifted us so she could tie her long muscular legs around me, and then I cradled her with one arm as I tangled the fingers of my other hand in the beautiful waves of her midnight hair.
She exhaled sharply when I tugged, and I devoured the lush sound with a kiss as if the world was ending, and this was my last supper.
As we rolled through the descending peaks of our shared climax, I truly felt restored as if not only my body was healed, but my soul was cleansed as well. I was overwhelmed with the feeling of being intertwined with another person as closely as two people could be, and the sensation was like coming home.
I carefully lowered us both down onto the stone bench so we could enjoy our intimate connection for a little bit longer as we let the purified water cleanse our bodies.
Zoie straddled my lap as I slowly softened inside her, and she dabbed the cloth I dropped earlier against my face and chest.
I trickled water over her bare shoulders and watched it leave diamond trails dripping down her vulnerable naked form, and we spent the next restful moments just experiencing these tactile sensations and letting the heavenly water do its magic.
“Ah!” Zoie lifted her hips as I pulled free from her sensitive channel, and streams of my creamy white seed trickled down her alabaster thighs. “Goddess, Alex. I-- I love you.”
“I love you, too, kitten,” I said and took a savoring sip of her mouth like she was a fine cognac. “Thank you for breaking the rules. I missed you.”
“I wasn’t gone for very long,” she giggled as I sucked a hickey on the edge of her clavicle.
“Yes, you were,” I said and clutched her waist to prevent her from getting up. Then I wiggled my fingers against her sensitive sides just to see her squirm. “You were gone ages and ages and ages.”
“You better not start something you aren’t prepared to finish, husband,” the feisty cat-woman said, and she finally broke free and climbed out of the tub so she could sit on the edge.
“There’s a lot I would like to finish,” I rumbled as I turned around so my arms were resting on the side. I had the perfect view of her gorgeous body as she dried off her shiny black tail, and I whistled low as she swept her long riot of ebony locks up off her enticing neck.
Zoie darted a simmering look over her bare shoulder before she covered it with the robe again.
“You must finish your bath, and I must go check on our Shay,” she said, but I caught her foot with one of my hands when she went to stand up.
“I’ll see you later,” I said and then placed a kiss on top of the healing scar.
“Hurry up,” she ordered with a cheeky grin, and then she licked the tip of my nose before she scurried up and out of the bath chamber.
I chuckled and then dunked my head under the water to finish up so I could reunite with my wives. I was especially anxious to see Shay again and make sure she was truly alright even though I trusted Zoie to take care of her.
When I felt refreshed and all squeaky clean, I managed to find my way back to the changing room where I noticed my old clothes were now replaced with a fresh gold tunic, soft brown pants, and brand-new boots that matched the mahogany armored belt I favored. Everything fit like it was made especially for me, and the material was something between cotton and jersey and felt luxurious against my skin.
If this was the treatment the Champion received every year, maybe I would enter Prosper and myself again next time.
All things considered, if it hadn’t been for the dirty rotten cheaters who were all paid off to throw the race and let scumbag Ren win, it would have actually been a blast, and I wouldn’t mind doing it again.
When I was all situated in my new clothes, and my trusty Roman-esque sword was tied securely at my side, I then tried to find my way out of the underground baths.
It was a task easier said than done, and if it weren’t for the little pictures carved with arrows that showed how to get out of the misty corridors, I would have been lost wandering around for who knew how long.
Finally, after only doubling back twice, I found the wide marble staircase that led up and out into a dazzling courtyard with trickling fountains, marble-like statues of Sacred Fish, and metal chained thuribles that hung from giant potted bonsai-like trees. As the fragrant smoke from the incense drifted down from the thuribles, it gave off a scent similar to the steamy ashroot of the baths, only sweeter and less harsh when the smoke mingled with the fresh green smell.
Underneath each of the shady trees were little circular areas cushioned with large tasseled pillows and plush Persian-like rugs, which created intimate little alcoves that looked perfect for napping in.
Speaking of napping, I surprisingly spied the familiar sight of Arvid doing just that under the tree with the gray and blue willow-like leaves. Then I grinned wide when I caught sight of the large fluffy ears that could only belong to Jenner as the koala-man reclined against his larger companion and wrote in a small notebook.
When I approached, I could see how the sloth-like man was spread out on his back with his large arms behind his shaggy brown head, and his eyes were closed in a serene expression.
Arvid definitely had the right idea, and I was struck by how much I missed the large gentle giant and hoped he would cook some of his tasty stew in the near future.
Then Jenner finally noticed me, and my faithful koala-butler, slash expert-on-everything, stood up from his cushion next to the sloth man, returned the notebook to his pocket, and brushed off his battered trousers.
“Ah, good to see you, Mr. Alex!” Jenner said, and his big gray ears trembled in excitement.
“It’s good to see you, too, Jenner,” I replied as I shook the small man’s furry hand. “How’s the estate?”
“It is coming along nicely, and your two new farmhands are most anxious to please you before you come home,” he said and adjusted the ever-present monocle on his shrewd face.
“Mel and Bodin, right?” I asked.
“Correct,” the koala-man said and rocked upwards on his toes. “They are a pair of brothers who hail from the Isle of Leen, and so far they have repaired the bridge and pastures, and are now preparing the fields for planting.”
“That’s fantastic, and I can’t wait to finally meet them,” I said.
Just then, a pair of familiar footsteps sounded from somewhere on the other side of Arvid’s napping tree, and I grinned as Zoie and Shay walked toward us arm-in-arm.
They both looked radiant in their own sets of palace finery, and my heart raced when I drank in the sight.
My wives were clad in elegant turquoise robes that clung to their feminine frames, and even though the robes were the same style, they draped differently depending on the woman.
On Zoie, the luxurious material showed off her long legs when she walked and gathered around her narrow waist so when she moved, the fabric accentuated her sinuous swagger.
But then on Shay the same robe draped gracefully across her full bosom, and it hugged her luscious hips so her petite hourglass figure was given all the attention it deserved.
“How are you feeling?” I asked and brushed one of her flaming red curls away from her emerald eyes so I could get a good look at her.
“I am much restored, and you?” she replied and took my hand in both of her smaller ones.
“I was so exhausted earlier, but now I feel way better.” I grinned and bent down for a brief kiss before I pulled her into my side where she fit perfectly. “Have you met Jenner and Arvid?”
“Ahem, a pleasure, madam,” Jenner said, and he bowed so low the tips of his furred ears brushed the floor. Then he looked over at the still-sleeping Arvid and nudged him with his foot. “Arvi, wake up, you big lubbox.”
“Mmm?” The sloth-man blinked awake and then slowly sat up. He took a moment to look at each new face before he waved his big three-clawed hand. “Hellooo.”
“How do you do, Mr. Arvid?” Shay greeted with a small bow of her head.
Arvid stood up to his full seven-feet and bowed his shaggy head in return.
“And my dear Zoie,” Jenner said and clasped one of Zoie’s hands in his. “I heard about the brief gold curse you were under, and I am immensely relieved you are well.”
“I am glad to be well, Jenner,” the cat-woman said quietly but with a grateful smile on her regal face.
“Not that I’m not really enjoying this reunion and all, but what are you guys doing here?” I asked, and then we all took a seat on some of the scattered cushions and rugs while Arvid seemed content to lean against the giant basin the tree was potted in.
“When we got the Lady Shale-Lea’s letter, we figured we would come and see if you needed any help,” Jenner said.
“That is most fortunate, because we have a bit of a situation when it comes to the gold Alex and I got from the Ruins,” Zoie said as her tail idly waved back and forth. She looked supremely relaxed as she curled half in my lap and half in the dappled light, and I wondered if those sunbeams were calling to her cat-like tendencies.
“Oh?” Jenner asked as he took off his monocle so he could clean it somewhat on his patchy brown jacket. “You hauled home quite a bounty, then?”
“More than,” Shay said, and she gave an excited little shimmy from where she was still pressed into my other side. “Our clever Zoie wagered the lot of it on the races. Since Alex entered the competition so late, she was one of the only ones to place a bet in his favor, and therefore gets a bigger portion of the payoff.”
“How much are we talking?” the small man asked as he regarded Zoie with his sharp gaze.
The cat-woman’s lips curled into a smile as she sank further into the warm sunny pillows.
“About five-hundred-thousand,” she said with her eyes closed.
“Oh, merciful Mercedes!” Jenner gasped as he dropped the monocle he was cleaning, and if it weren’t for the tarnished chain keeping it clipped to his lapel, the eyepiece would have fallen to the ground. “You must be joking.”
“I am not,” Zoie said as she slouched down even more with her head in my lap, and I could tell she was settling in for a doze. “It is a good thing you brought Arvid with you because he will be especially helpful with loading once we retrieve it all.”
“I should say so,” Jenner breathed with wide eyes. “This… this is amazing!”
“Wooow,” Arvid agreed.
“So, I’m assuming that’s a lot of gold by Nata Isle standards?” I ventured as both Shay and I played with Zoie’s dark tangle of hair.
“Let’s just say that it is thrice more than what Ren’s estate used to make in an entire season,” the phoenix-woman said.
My eyebrows flew up to my hairline when I remembered the Greek-like mansion Shay brought Zoie and I to via her own sailing vessel.
The estate was a gorgeous combination of canterfly stables, flying tracks, and several other structures all situated on about two-hundred acres of land, so if our winnings were more than what that place could rake in from all the annual canterfly training, then we were fucking loaded.
“Logistically, how is this going to work?” I asked as my mind started to go over practicalities. “It sounds like a bad idea to keep that much gold all in one place.”
“Especially seeing as how you can never seem to keep a low profile,” Zoie purred as she playfully flicked her soft ears against my fingers when I tickled too close. “I’m sure everyone on the island already knows Alex Brightwood is the Champion of this season’s Icarian Races.”
“And no offense to your brother, Shay, but I don’t really want to give any mercenary clans ideas if they spot me with a caravan trekking through the forest,” I added.
“What if we split up the winnings and store half at one estate, and the rest at the other?” the phoenix-woman suggested.
“If Alex goes with you, I would go along with Jenner and Arvid to make sure they travel safely,” Zoie volleyed back as a plan began to take shape.
“You would go back to the manor without us, Zoie?” I instinctively tightened my hold around both women. Now that I had them both with me, the last thing I wanted to do was let either one of them out of my sight again.
“We would only be apart for a day or two, my love,” she reassured me, and she sat up so she could wrap my arm around herself properly. “I will be fine. I’m a Varthan Warrior, remember?”
“I know how capable you are with a sword, but I still don’t like it,” I grumbled even though I knew this solution was the best we had so far.
“You are the owner of multiple estates now, Mr. Alex,” Jenner said as he finally tweaked his monocle back into place on his right eye. “You must think about naming them to keep them straight. I’m sure the lovely Shale-Lea will educate you in due time about those particulars, but for now, start by thinking about that.”
“Whatever you say.” I shrugged.
Just then, light footsteps signaled the arrival of an efficient-looking palace attendant in black and silver robes.
“Pardon the interruption, Asher Brightwood,” the attendant said and bowed low at the waist, “but I would like to usher you and your wives to the ballroom where the Lord Mec would wish for you to dine at his table.”
I almost didn’t want to leave this peaceful setting, but my growling stomach had other plans.
“Arvid and I will prepare everything,” Jenner said as he got to his feet. “Look out for our favorite stable boy, Rylan.”
I stood as well after Zoie, Shay, and I reluctantly untangled ourselves from our cuddle pile.
“Will do, and thanks again, you guys,” I said, and then the three of us followed the palace attendant.
I just hoped this feast with the Lord of the Isle was a bit less of a crazy culture shock than last time.
Chapter 2
The palace attendant led us to the far end of the healing courtyard and through an archway curtained with a rich gold tapestry.
When the attendant moved the heavy fabric aside, I saw the tapestry was actually concealing a grand set of double doors which was the entrance to the ballroom. Then we walked inside, and piles of luxurious cushions and pillows similar to the setup of the courtyard were scattered around circular tables all over the ballroom, with the exception of a wide-open area in the center. This seemed to be the preferred way to arrange a banquet such as this, and I wondered if there would be another performance or type of entertainment happening just like the Blue Night Gala.
As it was, small clusters of beautiful mostly-naked women were stationed in the four corners of the room on large stone pedestals. They were playing stringed instruments like harps and something that looked like an Indian sitar, and the music added to the dim and dreamy atmosphere.
“Announcing the Champion, Asher Brightwood, and his wives, the Lady Zoie of Vartha, and the Lady Shale-Lea,” the palace attendant intoned, and a round of raucous applause erupted around the parlor.
Three maidservants came forward just then and placed a crown of twigs and leaves on my head as well as two crowns of blossoming flowers on Zoie’s and Shay’s heads.
Then we were instructed to step up onto this sleigh-like contraption where four more servants lifted us up on poles balanced over their strong shoulders.
It was a bit of a shock being put on the spot like this, and even though I knew I just won an epic race during one of these people’s annual traditions, somehow being the “Champion” didn’t really register until I was being paraded around like a king.
I felt a little awkward, and when the bearers of my chariot set us down, I was grateful even though we were obviously meant to sit around the largest of the low-seated tables where the ram-lord, Asher Gavlain Mec, held his court.
On Mec’s right was a familiar reptilian face with vertical slitted eyes I knew to be Ambassador Sskern, and on the ram-lord’s left was his beautiful bird-wife, Breeta.
Next to the pretty parakeet-woman with her fluffy green crest was a dour-looking man who had a hunched posture and bushy eyebrows over his yellow owl-like eyes, and finally, seated next to him was a young man with long ears like a jack rabbit that completed the table.
“Brightwood!” Mec said and spread his arms wide. “Welcome to your feast, Champion. Please, sit next to Sskern.”
I gladly took a seat between the grinning lizard-man and the long-eared guy, and Zoie and Shay followed to sit on my right and left respectively.
“Good show, Brightwood,” Sskern said, and his forked tongue hissed through the word ‘show.’ Then, with his sharp teeth, he tore a wing off what looked like a whole roasted chicken if it weren’t bright orange, which was odd because the food hadn’t even been served yet. “I never liked Bala Ren, and I always knew I would relish the day a Duelist would put him in his place.”
“Thanks, Ambassador,” I said and reached for a crystal goblet full of water.
This time, I didn’t need Zoie to stop me before I could accidentally take a swig of the briny god-awful liquid because I remembered to take a plain gray tithe stone from one of the numerous silver dishes and drop it into my drink.
The magical little pebble caused the salty water to fizzle like a Sprite fresh out of a glass bottle, and when it calmed down I knew it was safe to drink, so I gulped down a large refreshing swallow.
“Tell me,” Sskern said as he slithered a hair closer, and he tried to glance around Zoie so he could look at the sword fastened to my belt, “was it a blade forged with the herald core of a demon that delivered the killing blow to your enemy?”
“Maybe,” I said with a grin. I remembered what Shay’s brother Horus said about being a bit secretive about my weapon’s ability. Especially now that no one but Shay, Zoie, Horus, and I knew the herald core used to enhance my sword was considered rare and not just the run of the mill.
