A Dragon's Tale Ch. 43

They all eventually stopped talking and Ethan felt himself drift off to sleep with them, with Beth snuggled in his arms.

*Ethan?*

Kendra's mental voice coming directly to him instead of the group chat woke him up some time later. He opened his eyes to see that it was quite dark out, and quite late too. He guessed around midnight as the cobwebs slowly cleared from his sleepy brain.

*Is everything okay?* He thought to her as he fought a yawn.

*Did I wake you up?* She replied. *I'm sorry, I thought I saw you moving and-- I'm sorry.*

*It's okay, what's wrong?*

*Nothing.* She replied quickly. Perhaps a little too quickly. *Please go back to sleep, I'm sorry for waking you.*

He lifted his head to look at her. She was just beyond Beth who was in his arms, and Taloni was just beyond the dragon huntress.

*I'm awake now and I can tell something's bothering you; what's wrong?*

She looked at him and grimaced. *No it's okay. Please go back to sleep.*

He raised an eyebrow and looked directly into her eyes, though obviously without compulsion. *Kendra, tell me what's wrong.*

She bit her lip and leaned up slightly. That's when he noticed that she was naked; she was naked and not hiding herself from him at all, even though he could easily see the large scar that went from the top of her right shoulder to the bottom of her left ribcage.

*I can't sleep.* She finally said.

*Do you know why?*

She hesitated, then averted her eyes. *I'm sorry I bothered you.* She laid back down and closed her eyes, but a blind man could see she still wanted to talk.

*Kendra, I'm not going to make you tell me what's wrong, but I would really like to know.*

She opened her beautiful brown eyes again. *I um...* She looked down. *I was laying on the bed, and that reminded me of our wedding day and I kept remembering..." She closed her eyes, let out a soft sigh, licked her lips slightly and then bit her lip. *...remembering what we did and I can't...* She swallowed. *...I can't get it out of my head.*

*Oh*? He replied, noticing for the first time what he was feeling from her over their bond.

*Mmm-hmm.* She exhaled breathily, then glanced at him. *I feel all warm and there's this... well it's not an itch exactly, but it's... it's so distracting and I can't sleep.*

Ethan couldn't help but smile.

Kendra had had exactly one sexual experience in her entire life, and that had been two days ago; three if it was after midnight. Despite that -- or possibly because of it -- she was so horny that she couldn't sleep.

*Kendra.* He thought to her softly.

She glanced up at him.

*Good girl.* He smiled.

She blushed slightly, but smiled too.

*You're a good girl for telling me what's wrong.* He continued.

*I thought you would be upset that I woke you, I didn't mean to.*

*I know, and I'm not upset. Now, do you want me to scratch that itch?*

Her smiled got wider, but then she looked down too. *It's Beth's night.*

*Don't worry about Beth.* He replied. *She sleeps like a log late at night. Do you want that itch scratched?*

She closed her eyes and made a tiny sound that was breathy, and was somewhere between a sigh, a moan, and a mewl.

She nodded.

Then she opened her eyes and looked at him nervously. *Is that okay?*

*Yes. Yes that's perfectly okay.* He replied, his body reacting in predictable ways. *Hop off the bed for a moment.*

She did, and stood there in all her naked glory. His body began reacting faster, and he gently rolled Beth out of his arms. The blonde didn't react at all, as he knew she wouldn't; she slept like the dead sometimes. He beckoned Kendra closer, and she slid into bed beside him, facing him.

*I don't know how to... to...* She bit her lip.

*Fortunately I have some practice.* He winked.

She blushed.

She was laying on her side facing him, and he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer. She let out a tiny moan and shuddered in delight at his touch. Damn, even Alana didn't react this strongly to being near him. He leaned in and kissed her tenderly, which she returned with feeling, but also with reserve. She made him think of a coiled spring or a cat ready to pounce; she had so much restrained passion bubbling under the surface.

*Could...* She pulled back slightly and looked into his eyes. *Could you put your--* She looked down at his hips, then back into his eyes, silently pleading.

*Already?* His eyes widened.

She nodded, lifting her leg and resting it on his hip to give him better access. He reached down and barely brushed her nether lips with a finger, just to make sure.

She was soaked.

Utterly soaked.

Not only that, but she was lubricating herself so fast that he could almost feel the flow. He looked at her, chuckling as he raised his eyebrow slightly.

*I'm sorry.* She looked down.

He used the side of his index finger to gently lift her chin again and smiled at her. *You have nothing to be sorry for.* He adjusted his hips so the head of his cock bumped up against her nether lips.

She sucked in her breath, then moaned softly.

*You're a good girl.*

She smiled, then whimpered slightly as she adjusted her hips fractionally.

*And I would really like to reward my good girl.*

He pushed.

He was gentle but firm and she slowly spread for him. She closed her eyes and opened her mouth as if gasping for air, but no sound came out except a breathy sigh. She wiggled her hips slightly, changing the angle and making it easier for him. She was still very tight. Not as tight as Alana, but very tight.

He pushed deeper, and her expression changed to something more like a grimace, but she pushed herself down so he slid deeper into her. Her breaths were short, fast, and quiet as she clung to him tightly. She was virtually silent as he worked his way fully into her, the only sounds coming from her were nearly silent sighs, moans, and the occasional mewling sound. All were so quiet that someone standing a few feet away would probably miss them

*Better?* He asked once he was fully inside of her.

She closed her eyes and nodded, relief all over her expression. She rocked her hips slightly, making him move slightly inside of her and she moaned, then stifled it; probably so she wouldn't wake the others.

*Could...* She exhaled breathily. *Could you stay still for a moment?*

*Sure.* He said, and gently started tracing his finger over her upper body while keeping his hips stationary.

Kendra moaned softly, then started to slowly rock her hips, making him move a small bit inside of her. She rocked slowly, making a sigh, or moan, or breathy exhale every time she moved. After several seconds he started gently rocking with her so he was moving back and forth a bit while inside her.

It took thirty seconds.

Her entire body seized up after just thirty seconds of them moving together. Her eyes went wide, then clamped shut and she appeared to be bracing herself... then she started trembling. He held her as her entire body shuddered while she desperately clung to him, holding him tighter than was comfortable until she seemed to lose control of her limbs.

He wrapped his arms around her, holding her as the incredibly erotic sight and feeling made him go off as well. Like on their wedding night, she kept this up for many long seconds until she slowly began to come down. She took fast shallow breaths for several seconds before her breath calmed too. She completely relaxed against him, becoming floppy and almost like dead weight she was so relaxed.

"Thank you, and I'm sorry. So, so sorry." She whispered so quietly that he almost couldn't hear her.

"What are you sorry for?" He whispered back.

She didn't reply.

He looked down to see that she had fallen asleep. Her expression was serene, sleeping having apparently cleared her mind of whatever she was apologizing for. He was half tempted to wake her, but decided to ask her what she'd meant in the morning instead. He grimaced slightly as he realized that it really was Beth's turn to sleep in his arms; he just hadn't thought Kendra would fall asleep so fast.

Hmm.

There was always a chance that they might sort themselves out once they were asleep since they tended to do that. He hoped that would be the case because he wasn't sure how to get Kendra and Beth back into their respective positions without waking them both.

Plus, this was the first time Kendra had ever initiated sex, and honestly he didn't want to let go of her right now. He kissed the top of her head, disbelief hitting him all over again at the wonderful group of women that shared his bed every night. He felt so incredibly blessed to have them all, and Kendra was no exception.

He laid his head down, trying to think of what Kendra could possibly have been apologizing for.

* * *

Sarah woke a little before the sun, just as her body had become accustomed to at her father's inn. The bed she was sleeping on was the most comfortable that she'd ever slept on. She had never felt such soft sheets either, other than some of the fabrics at the shop of Mr. Mesaville the tailor.

She slipped out of bed and looked around the tiny room, which was so small because space was limited on an airship. It was smaller than her room at her father's inn, though not by much. The room was perhaps four feet wide, half of which was taken up by the bed, and half was walking space. Most of the crew slept in hammocks from what she understood, and Lady Ekthros had made sure she got her own room, which was a real treat and she appreciated it immensely.

She looked up to the ceiling and whispered to the heavens. "Dear Illuminar -- blessed be you -- thank you for keeping me safe while I was imprisoned. I wish I had known what Ethan was like, but thank you for letting me know. Please help Lady Ekthros, and please help her recover from what happened."

She hesitated, then added. "And thank you for that dream with Gabriella. I realize now that it wasn't you, but I still trust you even if I was fooled by something else. Please give me discernment, and please help me not to be fooled again. Amen."

"Miss Sarah." A feminine voice came from the other side of the door. "May I enter?"

"One moment." The innkeeper's daughter slipped out of the bed and put on a dress over the thin cotton shift that she'd slept in. "Come in."

The door opened and a woman about Sarah's age and height entered. She had curly copper colored hair and more freckles than there were stars in the night sky. She was also very pale of skin, though she didn't look unhealthy, just pale.

"Hello, my name is Fiona and I've been sent to get ya." She had an accent, but not a bad one and she was perfectly understandable.

"For what?" Sarah asked.

"The Lord Delmar wants to be seeing ya." She said, and her accent made 'lord' sound like 'lard'.

The innkeeper's daughter froze. "Why?"

"Oh, nothing to be worrying about." She replied with a kind smile. "You naught did nothing wrong, so you have nothing to be worrying about."

Sarah nodded.

"Also, sorry if my baby was waking ya up this morning." The copper haired girl said. "He's being a bit fussy this morning, and I'm in a room nearby."

"I actually slept very well, so don't worry." Sarah replied.

"Well I'm glad to be hearing that." Fiona said. "Now, do you want to be eating something first before you see the Lord Delmar, or do you want to be going right now?"

"Um, breakfast?" Sarah said, grateful for the delay since she didn't want to meet Lord Delmar at all.

"Alright then, I'll be taking you to the galley for breakfast then." Fiona replied.

The innkeeper's daughter grimaced, but nodded.

Fiona looked at her grimace, then stepped in and closed the door before speaking in a lower voice. "Look, I know the Lord Delmar can be scary to many people, but don't you be worrying now. I've lived in Narlotten my entire life, and can tell ya that the Lord Delmar is good to the people, including me and my baby. He's a good lord, and nogood person has anything to be fearing from him."

Sarah nodded, not entirely convinced but slightly reassured.

* * *

Selene was ushered back to the waking world by the loud purrs of a tiny kitten snuggling against her ear. Apparently, sometime during the night he had moved from her chest and was now curled up against the side of her head, purring away.

The Brazilian woman couldn't help but smile ear-to-ear.

"Selene, you awake?" Kendra's voice came from somewhere nearby not long afterwards.

"Yeah." She replied dreamily as she leaned her head a bit closer to the kitten.

"You might want to get up if you're coming with us to service."

"Um, I'm good." She smiled.

The dragon huntress's head appeared over the top of the hammock. "Aww." She smiled when she saw what was going on. "I completely understand, but you still might want to come up and eat. If you miss breakfast you might be on your own."

The caramel haired beauty shrugged and snuggled her head closer to the kitten. "I don't mind."

"And he might miss breakfast too hungry." Kendra pointed out.

"Okay." Selene said with a sigh, then scooped the kitten up and climbed out of the hammock. He snuggled into her hand as the two women went up to the weather deck to see everyone eating by the fire. It was still before sunrise, though it was plenty light enough to see. Curiously, Kendra seemed to be avoiding Ethan's eye and sat as far away from him as possible.

"Kitten!" Beth gushed when Selene made her appearance.

The Brazilian woman was instantly surrounded by doting women, all anxious to pet and hold him. She reluctantly let the other women hold him, instantly missing the little ball of sunshine. He did really well with all the attention. He shied away a bit at first, but soon seemed happy he started rubbing his cheek against the various women's hands, which Selene had heard that this was the kitten expressing affection by 'claiming' them. Anthiel produced some chopped up raw meat, which quickly got the kitten's attention.

Selene managed to grab a bite to eat while everyone was gushing over him. Sitting there watching this was among the happiest times in her life that she could remember.

* * *

Ethan eyed Kendra as she seemed to intentionally avoid him. She had already gotten up and left the captain's cabin when he had woken up that morning, and the hustle and bustle to get ready for the dawn service had prevented him from speaking with her so far.

*Kendra, sooner or later you should let me know what's bothering you.* He thought directly to her so the others couldn't hear.

*Yes Drago.* She replied, but didn't look at him. She didn't seem angry though, more like guilty.

Hmm.

Interesting.

He couldn't figure out what she could possibly feel guilty about though. Beth had been in his arms that morning when he'd woken up, so he really didn't see what she could feel guilty about. He was half tempted to pull her aside before they left, but just then Anthiel spoke up from the quarterdeck.

"Visitors ahoy captain."

He looked over at the gangplank to see Lord Kalus, his wives Shara and Lyra, and his son Taiven standing at the end of the gangplank. Ethan noticed that the patriarch of the family had a sword at his side, and Taiven had his sling looped around his waist like a belt. Something told him both of them could deployed their weapons at high speed.

"Permission to escort you to services." Lord Kalus asked.

"I would appreciate it." Ethan smiled widely and stood up to greet them. He didn't know his way around the town yet, and he didn't know anything about the services or how they were conducted, both of which he'd mentioned the previous evening. Apparently, the Lord Regent of Timarou had remembered and gone out of his way to help.

That was a nice gesture.

Really nice.

"I really enjoyed dinner last night and the conversation." Ethan glanced at Taiven. "The demonstration was also quite impressive."

"Aye, I agree." The lord replied.

It took another minute or two for Ethan and his wives to finish up. Ethan had them collect their swords again -- Taloni excepted -- and he attached his armor pack to his back and his sword to his side. He considered bringing his dagger/javelin and war hammer, but he doubted that something would happen so fast that he couldn't summon them if they were needed. Besides, he had his armor and war sword.

Once they were ready, Selene hesitated to leave, looking at the little kitten.

"You didn't say you had a kitten." Shara said, her eyes lighting up.

"Just got him last night on the way home, and I don't want to leave him so soon." Selene frowned.

"I'll put him on the lower decks where he can be free to roam safely." Anthiel said. "I already had Serif warn Raklan to leave him alone, so he'll be fine."

A few minutes later and with much hesitation, Selene joined the group after depositing the kitten on the lower decks where he could roam without risk of falling overboard. Ethan led the way across the gangplank and then followed Lord Kalus through the mining town. However, it didn't escape his notice that Kendra was trailing the pack. He would normally have talked to her on the way, but Lord Kalus addressed him before he got a chance.

They exchanged small talk while walking to the... temple? Chapel? He wasn't sure what they called it, and was less so once he saw it.

The building was large, but not ornate.

In fact, it didn't look much different from the other buildings in town, though perhaps slightly better maintained. Ethan found that quite interesting, and it was a contrast to every 'holy building' like churches, mosques, temples, and the like on Earth. Outside there was a steady stream of people heading inside, and it looked like most of the small mining town had turned up for the service.

The inside was much the same as the outside. It was well-maintained and clean but otherwise didn't look much like a religious building, except perhaps in the seating arrangement. The long pews were arranged in a semi-circle around a central point, and there was a lectern at the central point on which was perched a large book; probably the Book of Light.

"This should be interesting." Selene mused as they found a seat near the back and off on the lectern's right side

"Yeah, it should be." He agreed.

Lord Kalus and his family sat not far away. Ethan again looked at Kendra, seriously considering talking to her telepathically now, but she was talking to Rachel. He didn't miss that she'd sat as far away from him as possible while still sitting with the Argo's crew.

Hmm.

* * *

Sarah thought that breakfast was delicious, but was too nervous about her impending meeting with Lord Delmar to enjoy it very much. She was trying not to bite her nails and had caught herself wringing her hands more than once as they walked towards his office.

"Don't you be worrying none." Fiona said kindly, her curly copper hair bouncing slightly as they walked through the middle deck of Lord Delmar's airship. "The Lord Delmar won't be doing anything bad to anyone that isn't deserving it, and you haven't done anything to deserve it, have ya?"

Sarah grimaced, but didn't reply.

"Here we are." The other woman said, stopping in front of a door on which the upper half was made of several glass squares so a person outside the room could see in. Inside, Lord Delmar was sitting behind a desk writing something. There were several large but neat stacks of papers on the desk, but they paled in comparison to the man himself. He was large; easily over a foot taller than Sarah and powerfully built.

She gulped.

Fiona knocked once on the door. The lord looked up and waved her in with two fingers, then went back to writing. The copper haired girl opened the door and ushered Sarah in.

"This here be Sarah, Lord Delmar." She said, her accent again making 'lord' sound like 'lard'.