Hidden Magic Ch. 22

"Minn, you fought well today," the Queen said upon my approach, though her eyes were for the man next to me. Is troops and mine were off now, hunting down Serinne's women with orders to kill, and looking to bring Serinne in alive to face trial. I'd begun to hope there would be no duel, just an executioner and a sunrise appointment.

"The duke has told me his queen has appointed him ambassador, now that Martink is dead."

She nodded and smoothed her mussed hair back, her partial armor clacking as she preened. "This is true."

"Duke, may I call you Warrin?"

"Please do, Minn."

"My queen, Warrin and I have been talking. We may need you to meet with the new queen and amend the treaty. There is no provision for times such as these, when a common enemy faces us."

The queen looked as young as she was when the duke was around. Jaded as I was, I found myself laughing to see her smitten. In the horrors of war, as always, it was the men waiting for us that made life worth living, though more and more it was the men who fought alongside us, I thought.

"But of course. I would be most happy to speak with your queen, but when all this is calm. There is more to be done, and Minn, I would speak with you in private, with Chenn."

"Your highness, I would ask that you speak with your Earless and take her proposed bills on rights under consideration."

Smiling at the duke she nodded. "I am familiar, and that is part of what we must speak on. Duke, will you be sending word on to your queen?"

"A rider leaves within the hour."

"Please give her this, it is to be opened by no other, and it's of a personal nature." She produced a letter from her skirts with flourish, passing it to him.

When they touched I felt like an intruder, and truthfully I wanted to be gone, having my own such moments. However my young man was in high temper, and it wouldn't be gentle or slow. I almost shivered with anticipation and then the duke took his leave and my attention snapped back as she lead me to Chenn.

"I am most eager to return to my husband and his healing skills."

"I know, just a few more minutes. There are dozens of sorcerers about tending to the wounded. Why not ask one of them?"

"Because I like depleting his magic. Helping him build it is so much fun."

She laughed with me and like that I began to feel she was a friend. Facing death in battle could do that, as long as after you could share a laugh.

Chenn was where temporary quarters had been set up. Someone had brought tables from a smashed building and set them up with the canons, ours and those captured, were lined up and the wheels being threaded by huge chains. Women from the council had joined us, the high council was in attendance almost in full, and Chenn was speaking with them but came at the queen's signal.

"My queen, Earless." She bowed formally.

"I've asked you here because I want you to appraise me of the numbers."

"Thirteen dead on our side, wounded being treated, one sorcerer was nearly dead but is now healing. Of Serinne's troops and General Martink's ranks we count loose fifty seven dead, another twelve dying, and the wounded are being treated and held with the prisoners. We have almost ninety prisoner." Chenn looked to me t pick up slack.

"The Duke's men will hunt down Martink's deserters and our army, such as it is, are seeking Serinne and her women. My women are under orders to kill on sight these traitors, but Serinne I want brought to t rial."

"No," The queen quickly said. "Chenn, what will happen if we have a trial and execute the Duchess?"

"It goes into formal record. The war must be detailed. It is quite possible we will never know the extent of Serinne's influence. It is my opinion that should this become formal there would rise the rumor that this has been about men's rights all along."

"Put simply, it would make Serinne a martyr. However, if you duel her it stays as it was; on record as a personal, petty vendetta on Serinne's part."

"So again, I must kill."

The queen looked startled. "You're the high general of the army of the land. You're Filtin's most respected...associate. I am the ruler, and you are my sword."

My lips thinned and I could only hope that my nickname would change. "Fine, I will duel with her. I will kill one last time in the name of my country. But after, I will lay my sword down. I will work within the council but my first priority will be towards my family and my lands, do you understand?"

The queen smiled. "And of course you new cause, the rights of men. Come now, a guard will escort you to my home. My ladies will give you something to wear and let you bathe. Your husband has already been attended to."

Forcibly bathed...I wondered how he'd liked that.

The answer was not at all, judging by the black eye of the serving boy who opened the door to the rooms we'd been given.

"Tomass!"

He appeared from a doorway. The rooms were large, it was a suite, the wood paneling dark and the floor white marble. The furniture matched and was delicate looking, of a style favored in my great-great-grandmother's time. The padding and pillows were white as were the curtains, a room of contrasts, and Tomass fit in well.

"What?"

"Now that is a greeting for you wife. Apologize to this young man and heal his eye."

He wore a bathing robe, his hair was damp and slicked back, and he was clean shaven. Tomass looked magnificent, and the beating thrum of lust inside me blossomed once more as he folded his arms, muscles flexing in challenge. "No."

"I will not tolerate the assault on servants."

"They're not yours. Anyhow, this young chap here tried to cut my hair since I am a married man, and then he told me my place was to be silent and pliant."

I looked to the boy. "Heal him but you need not apologize. Boy," I addressed the youth, "Did you not know who this was? He is the Earl du Cassaman, The only living titled sorcerer." The boy paled at this and with a heaving sigh Tomass waved his hand and the bruise disappeared.

The boy bowed and scampered off.

"There are women drawing your bath, and they brought clothes for us both. They look funny, and cover far too much skin."

"If you'd been dressed in a traditional as a child you'd know these are formal clothes. We're of the court, and we're in attendance of the queen, formal dress is called for."

"So far every time I've seen her outside of our wedding, a sword is all that's called for."

He looked so clean and fresh, and though I wanted to claim him, burn away any ideas he held that my affections would ever stray, but I was too aware of my stiffness and the dried blood and smoke on me. I had much to tell him on that note, but it could await.

"I must bathe before dinner."

"There us fruit and cheese along with wine on a tray by the bed."

"Would you please bring it into the bathroom? Perhaps we can share our appetizer together."

I saw a slight tremor go through him and my eyes sharpened, it took all I had not to smile. Oh, yes, my young husband had power over me, but I had even greater power over him. Oh, to have him naked on the bed, hair streaming over the pillow, his blue eyes swimming with passion, to feel his hard body go plaint and tense at once, to hear him beg me...I began to hope that bath was cold.

I left him for the bathroom and found a sunken tub similar to my own in my country estate, but there was no running water here. There was a drain out, but it was still being fulled with buckets, the water steaming hot.

"Ladies."

"My lady, we have many scents, including one from your lands." The petite brunette addressed me while the stout blonde smoothed her hand over the vials waiting for my choice.

"The one from my lands?" The blonde produced it and I smelled the cinnamon flower. It was comforting, reminding me of my father, not what I wanted.

"Cedar and spice, do you have such a scent?"

"That was the scent your husband chose, but my lady, that is a man's scent."

I smiled. "Mix it with the tasmine flower, heavy on the flower, and that will be all. My husband will serve me."

They poured in the oils and then bowed, rolling the cart out the servant's door. I quickly shed my clothes and threw them in the corner, vowing to burn the wretched things covered in blood. Quickly the water turned red with blood but I found a scrub brush and cleaned everything, including under my nails.

They had filled the tub and a holding tank next to it with fresh clean soapy water. I drained the tub and stopped it, letting in the holding tank, and then relaxed. Where was Tomass? The little sorcerer wanted to make me wait, did he?

The time might be to my advantage. In my present mood even with my stiff limbs and purple bruises I felt more a beast than a woman. I wanted him naked in the bath with me, I wanted him to sit, opening those sweet lips to me as I sat on his cock and rode us both to oblivion.

That was how he found me, standing in the deep tub hidden by the soapy bubbles, my hand buried in my own center to appease the need I feared would overwhelm him. I squeaked and jerked my hands free, fighting a blush as he gave me a knowing look, wheeling in a small food cart.

"So I mentioned a duel."

My lips parted at that, watching him casually pouring two glasses with supreme confidence only previously glimpsed in his façade. With each and every move he was shifting, changing. I was relieved to see glimpses of that precious innocent still in him, but the man he was becoming was something powerful and beautiful to behold.

"Oh? My sword arm is quit tired tonight, Tomass."

He crouched beside the tub and offered me a glass of wine in a long, narrow flute of a glass. I reached for it and he jerked it back. "No hands," he husked as I raised an eyebrow at the strange order.

Smiling, I was thirsty, and willing to play along. Let him think he was the hunter while I laid in wait. Bracing my hands on the ledge by his feet I raised my lips and he brought the flute to them, keeping it high enough I had the stretch and stand on my toes, my breasts pulling from the water.

Watching him as I drank his eyes turned deep and bright, and his other hand captured a breast, palming the swollen weight and stroking my nipple with a lazy thumb. I choked and sputtered, knocking the wine aside to reach for him. If the kitty wanted to play then he could feel my claws.

Tomass abruptly rocked back to stand, and took a step back from the tub leaving me aroused and confused. I blinked at him, smoothing my wet hair back behind my head. "We both feel the lust thrumming in us. I see the look in your eyes. We have danced with death today, and now we need to embrace life."

He was shaking slightly, and when he licked his lips slowly my gaze zeroed in. I had promised to treat him as an equal which meant no forcing him but by the goddess I was using every last bit of political experience I had to find a loophole to the agreement.

"Minn, I propose a duel not of swords, but of pleasure."

I folded my arms under my breasts, bringing them high, cresting the soapy bubbles and it thrilled me when his eyes shot there. In the cool air the peaks hardened even more and I felt my temper flare slightly. What we needed, both of us, was hot and furious ride to pleasure. After there would be time to play before the queen returned and went through her own ablutions and called us to a midnight supper.

"Tomass,' I growled, but he held his hands up.

"A simple wager. We...stimulate each other but deny the final pleasure. The first of us to beg loses."

It intrigued me for here I had the advantage. I'd been pleasuring young men out of their minds since before he'd been fully grown. "Oh? And what does the winner get?"

"The winner gets the servitude of the loser for a week, in the bedroom."

I sucked in my breath, imagining him biddable. Oh, he would honor the challenge, do as I said, but those eyes would be magical fire, and his muscles would bulge with anger. On those nights when I finally took him it would be bruising and hard and sweetly fantastic.

Hungrily I nodded, licking my lips, missing his own expression which seemed to mirror mine. I'd had a taste of his dominance and while I couldn't deny there was some fun to it, it was fundamentally disturbing in a way I wasn't quite sure I could handle.

"Tomass, you're not still jealous, are you?"

He didn't answer but brutally tugged off the robe, standing there naked, already aroused. Serinne herself could have walked in the room unarmed with a target painted on her body and I wouldn't have been able to look away. He was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen and already I burned for him. Damn it, if I didn't get myself under control I would lose this bet in seconds.

I needed to upper hand. Smiling I trailed back to the far edge of the tub and stood on the seat under the water, the top of which splashed against my thighs. "I think you are. I think you're worried that I may go back on my word to champion the rights of men, and I think you fear I'll break my vows to you. Do you really trust me so little, Tomass?"

He flinched and I knew I'd hit the target. It hurt me deeply, but I knew in my mind I could not expect his absolute blinding trust. We had known each other for such a short time, and at almost every turn I had tricked or outsmarted him, and now, in his mind, I had robbed him of his vengeance.

I would not apologize. Had the situation not been so dire I would have taken my time with him. The moment I knew I wanted him, Tomass had no chance. I could have gone slowly and worked on convincing him and earning his agreement, but the world conspired against us. Was it no the job of a proper wife to guide her husband and protect him fro the evils of the world?

I had let the pup grow out of control, and it was time to take control back.

I winked and let my hands smooth over my body, brushing the soapy suds from my thighs and arms, smoothing over my shoulders and skirting down to my stomach. Despite the pattern of bruises on me his eyes reflected only desire as he watched me. At last I took my breasts in hand and stroked them just as he had a thousand times it seemed. Oh, it was nothing compared to the sensation of his hands on me, but knowing he watched and desired me thrilled me to my core.

I let one hand slide town to the curls between my legs, slipping through them into my sex. The sound was wet, I was already drenched, soft, and aching with the need to be filled by him. I began to stroke my nubbin, knowing the slimness of my gingers inside me would be too disappointing when that magnificent cock was only feet away.

It was not often in my life I'd had to resort to seeing to my own pleasure, but now I did so gleefully, as my plan went into effect the satisfaction of knowing soon he would be at my mercy spurred me one. My hands began firmer, faster, and I strained towards the peak, my eyes closing.

"Minn, no! I said no peaks!"

I laughed, groaning more than anything. "You said you wouldn't bring me to a peak nor I to you. I- ahh!" I cried out ten as the crest of pleasure broke over me, such a shallow wave, burning me up but not leaving me coolly satisfied. It did take the edge off.

"Is that so?" His eyes narrowed and then he took himself in hand.

It was just what I wanted but my plan floated from my mind as he began to stroke. Normally a woman would have to pay a pleasuerer for this, gently-bred men simply did not do it. Sorcerers were sensual by nature and I could tell he was practiced. It was beautiful and erotic, watching him slowly pull his hand along his shaft, his grip tighter than mine had ever been.

He began to move quickly, eyes on mine, and I knew what he was doing. Like me he was racing to a peak hoping for the advantage of such base satisfaction. My body burned hotter and hotter as he went. His muscles bulged and strained, and his head was thrown back to the pleasure. I saw his balls tighten against his body and heard the tell tale hitch in his breath.

"Tomass no! I still must duel Serinne!"

His hand stopped and he straightened to open his eyes, revealing lust-addled confusion.

"The queen will surely want this matter finished and no doubt order you to heal me, and guild my being with magic. Your own release now lessens your...potency, does it not?"

He swore and dropped his hand, his cock harder and bigger than I had ever seen.

"So you may cheat but not I?"

I smiled and sank back into the warm water, feeling new heat from below. A fresh batch of wood must have been thrown on the fire, and it felt good. "I did not cheat, you just gave me a challenge without thinking of all available options."

"Minn."

"Join me in the water, and let the challenge commence."

The look in his eyes was one I'd never seen before. Instead of simple male desire there was anger and purpose there, the eyes of a hunter stalking prey. Things low and deep tightened in my body, but I knew I had to retain the upper hand.

He sank into the water slowly, and reached for me. I let him grasp onto me though his hold was stronger than ever before. Good, he was a man on the edge.

His kiss was almost enough to scatter my wits completely. His damp hair was so much cooler than the water we stood in, and the contrast was almost as delicious as the feel of him against me. He cupped my cheeks, holding me still as he plundered. Awfully bold, I delighted in his need for it reflected mine.

Thank the goddess I had achieved my own peak, or I would be too far gone to play his game. Smiling into his kiss I reached my hand down to grasp his cock and delighted in his gasp. I stroked him slowly, when my hand reached the top I swiveled it so that I stroked my palm along the underside of his shaft and back, another swivel and I stroked atop his cock.

He was trembling, gripping my arms, and I knew I was winning. I wanted to hear him beg, hear my name on his lips, and so I pulled back and smoothed one hand into his hair.

"Yes, Tomass, yes, let the pleasure come, do you want to come inside my body?" He seemed on the edge, ready to beg, and I would be only too happy to win so quickly, so easily. "Do you want to feel my warm, wet cunt gripping you, milking you as you fill me, my hands gripping you, nails digging into your flesh? Do you want to feel my hips thrust against you, to surround me, fill me and hear my cries of delight as you ride me to your peak?"

Pulling back he was a man gone, beyond reason. Triumphantly I grinned and pulled his cock until the head slipped into my folds, pressing against my clit and thrilling us both.

"Ask, and it shall be yours."

He growled, and that was my only warning. Tomass moved quickly, throwing off my hand and grabbing my hips. Before I realized what he was about he raised me and slammed inside, forcing me down until our hips met.

Oh, goddess, it felt so good, like nothing else ever could top. Tomass fit me perfectly normally, but that night he seemed huge and harder than ever. His body was stuff and tense and his eyes searched mine.

"I will not move until you ask me to."

Oh! My temper flared even as I smiled. Just as with chess, his was a fine mind, only obscured by his youth. Underestimating him was my mistake, one I would not do again.

I moved my hips to pull up but he grabbed me, hands tight, and stopped the motioned. Hardly dismayed, I began to flex my muscles inside, gripping and relaxing, milking him. His eyes widened and I purred, leaning in to capture his earlobe with my teeth.

Panting and gasping, I knew I had him at a disadvantage, but damn my hide, this was pushing me towards climax, and if he suddenly was of a mind to pull me off, I wasn't sure just how bad it would get.

"Ask...me...to...finish....this...Tomass."

"No. You beg," he responded with almost as much gritty determination.