A Paladin's Journey Ch. 12

Her mind sharpened as the binding took hold. Her body strengthened, becoming more powerful, more flexible. She felt... Incredible! As if she felt as if she could crush diamonds with her hands! Her skin tingled with life, and she was aware of herself in ways she hadn't been moments ago. A climax ripped through her, unbidden. It darkened her vision save for the dancing white sparks at the corners of sight.

When the pleasure ebbed, she looked down to see her fingernails embedded in Caeledrin's smooth chest. Blood pooled around the broken skin, but the Elf looked up at her with total adoration in his stunning green eyes.

"I am yours, Lady Shenla," he whispered softly.

Shenla smiled down at him. "I know."

***

***ERIK GORIAN, Ruins of Suravale, Karvani Mountains, Western Ekistair***

Erik looked across the room at the man in the armchair opposite him. He was still having trouble wrapping his mind around the fact that he was actually speaking with Palavus bloody Ironrod! His adventures were written almost as legend. At least, the ones Erik had been able to find were told as such.

Sylvia had certainly taken a shine to him. She had begun fussing over the tall, broad-shouldered Paladin shortly after Erik had figured out who he was. She had quickly lit a fire, which had warmed the room considerably against the coming cold of night.

Presently, Sylvia was pouring tea for Erik and Palavus while the Paladin grilled Erik with questions. Erik hoped to get one or two of his own questions in before the conversation ended.

Palavus occasionally eyed Sylvia's lithe body appreciatively as she worked, but his concentration remained mostly on Erik, who tried not to shift uncomfortably under that intense, direct stare. Sylvia smiled at Erik encouragingly as she filled the teacup on the round table next to his chair. He smiled back, trying to make it look like he knew what he was doing, though he was anything but.

"It's a shame you have no vaima," Palavus observed idly as he watched Sylvia cross between himself and Erik and take her own chair, teacup in hand. "It would suit your body well, Sylvia arondur."

"I could disrobe, if you prefer, Master Palavus," Sylvia offered as if saying the tea needed honey. If Erik suspected accurately, Sylvia would like nothing more than to display herself for him, and then some.

Palavus' face was partially obscured by the darkness of the room, broken only by the firelight which cast fluid shadows across his strong features, but Erik thought the whisper of a smile touched his lips beneath that heavy golden mustache.

"I am glad to see there are some things that do not change, young Sylvia," the big man said after a moment. "As gracious as your offer is, you may stay clothed, for now."

Sylvia merely nodded and took a sip of tea, though her emerald eyes remained locked on Palavus.

"How many meldin does young Sunblade currently have?" Palavus asked Erik suddenly.

"Six, I believe, sir," Erik answered, wondering why that fact mattered.

What Palavus thought of that remained a mystery. His face was as readable as a rock. "Who trained him?"

"Elaina Fairborn in his first year, then Henley Smythe in his second. He studied with Amina after that."

Palavus seemed to think for a moment, then shook his head slightly. "Amina is well?"

There was something in his voice. Was it loss? Regret? "She is, sir. She is strong and wise, fair and just. She is loved by us all as she loves us."

The Paladin leaned forward intently, a knowing grin breaking his stony expression. "There is nothing quite like Amina's love, is there, boy?"

A chuckle escaped Erik's throat before he could stop it. He shook his head. "No, sir. There is not." Memories of his last encounter with the Priestess flashed through his head. His cock twitched in response. Erik suddenly felt closer to Palavus, perhaps because they had something in common.

"Sir Palavus?" Sylvia asked quietly. "How did you survive all these years? I have some small ability to sense the vala, yet I cannot sense it in you, not in the same way as other arohim."

Palavus' eyes whipped to the per'elda, and Erik tensed. Had he made some horrible mistake? Had he been divulging Temple secrets to a potential enemy?

"What do you mean, you can sense a vala?" Palavus asked, his bushy golden brows drawn down. "You are not arohim, girl."

Sylvia looked confused. "My mother was arondur, sir, as was her mother. My mother can sense the vala, as can I, of course. I didn't notice its absence, before now. I was too overcome with excitement."

"That is not something," Palavus began slowly. "That is supposed to be possible." He eyed Erik critically. "Can you sense vala, also?"

Erik shook his head. "No, I cannot. But if I may be direct, shouldn't Sylvia be able to sense yours?"

"No, she shouldn't," Palavus retorted. "Because only an arohim has that ability. But let's suppose for a moment that you are not lying. There is another reason why she cannot feel the vala in me."

Erik looked at Sylvia, who was frowning at Palavus with her head cocked. Palavus watched her as she placed her teacup down on a nearby table and left her chair, never taking her eyes from him. When she reached him, she placed her hand on top of his where it rested on the arm of his seat.

"There is something," Sylvia began, staring into the Paladin's eyes. "Like an echo. I feel it now, with the physical touch."

Palavus withdrew his hand as if burned. "That's quite enough, arondur," he snapped. His blue eyes blazed. "It's time you left. There are plenty of places elsewhere for you to sleep tonight. I suggest you leave at first light to return to your Temple."

Sylvia shied back, then hurried to stand next to Erik, a somewhat hurt look on her face. Disappointment welled in Erik's chest. No sooner had they met a living legend than he was driving them away. The stories that Palavus could have told, the gems of knowledge that were lost to all but him. These were the things that drove Erik, and now he felt the biggest discovery in the last thousand years slipping away from him.

"As you wish, Sir Palavus," Erik said, unable to keep the despondence from his voice. "We will be on our way. We apologise for disturbing you."

Rising, Erik turned for the door and picked up his pack. Palavus caught his wrist before he got there. Erik had not heard him move from his chair.

"Do not tell Amina I live," he demanded, his eyes like chips of frozen sapphire. "It will only bring her pain. Best for everyone if I remain forgotten."

Erik met that cold stare and nodded. "As you wish, sir." He opened the door and stepped out into the cool night, and the silent darkness of an abandoned city. Sylvia followed him out before Palavus firmly shut the door behind them.

"I'm sorry, Erik," Sylvia said in a trembling voice. There was enough moonlight already to see her large eyes brimming with tears as she looked up at him.

"Do not be," he told her soothingly, brushing her cheek with a finger and kissing her gently. "It was not your fault." He folded her into a hug and she returned it, squeezing him tightly and pressing her face into his chest.

"Come on," he said, trying to sound bright as he ended the hug. "Let's go find somewhere to sleep."

"Alright," she agreed, wiping at her eyes with her sleeve.

Erik took her hand and together they headed off into Suravale in search of a place to spend the night.

***

***ARAN, Emerin Forest, Southwestern Ekistair***

The Emerin was quiet as Aran, Elaina and Liddea picked their way through the dense undergrowth, leading their horses through the least difficult paths available. Aran led the way, with Liddea following. Elaina brought up the rear. Hookvine was a constant nuisance, snagging cloaks and clothing and anything else it could.

In the northern and western region of the forest there were a few cart paths and tracks due to the several farms that populated the area. In the south and east, however, the Emerin was truly wild.

Only the occasional shaft of sunlight made it through the thick blanket of branches, vines and leaves above, shining down like a spear of gold to illuminate a small patch of soft, earthy ground, springy with the mulch of centuries of fallen leaves.

Dun'Arghol was southeast from the Chapel, and could easily be reached by riding north out of the Emerin and then bending east and south around the forest border, but the need to stay hidden from Herald eyes had driven Aran to choose the more difficult route.

Today was their third day trudging through the scrub. Aran thought it might be as much as a week more before they saw the end of it. His vala sung to him, wanting him to surge forward at speed. The journey would be much faster if he did, but Liddea would be left behind.

He glanced over his shoulder and smiled at the pretty Dwarf. She smiled back readily, her blue eyes twinkling as she passed through a random shaft of sunlight that made her long, red hair appear gold for a brief moment. She was dressed for travel, in tight brown breeches that molded the prodigious curves of her hips and bottom, and a white shirt beneath a leather tunic that strained against her mammoth bosom. She wore the tunic mostly unbuttoned, and the shirt was unlaced low enough to show a dizzying amount of pale cleavage. Her cloak had been stashed in a saddlebag after being snagged by hookvine for the twentieth time.

She was a good woman, Liddea. Not once had she complained since leaving the Chapel, despite the difficult travel conditions. Aran wanted her with him when he introduced himself to Burin. Hopefully a Dwarven arondur would be seen as a good thing by the king. Liddea seemed to think so.

Liddea had arrived at the Chapel unannounced four days ago, accompanied by a small escort of Tar'elda that had found her in the Emerin. Aran had not known whether to be overjoyed at her presence or furious that she'd risked herself so carelessly.

The pretty Dwarf had explained herself quickly, saying that Amina had sent her after Aran, Smythe and Kedron shortly after they'd left the Temple. The Priestess had simply said that Liddea would be needed, and that she must go despite the risks.

Amina had been right, of course; she knew Aran planned to move for Dun'Arghol. Aran would have taken Liddea along himself had it not been for the threat the Heralds posed. Still, he had admonished her for putting herself in danger before kissing her furiously and taking her up to his room for the next couple of hours.

"I could use a bath," Elaina muttered suddenly from behind Liddea. She wasn't talking to anyone in particular, just voicing her thoughts as she sometimes liked to do.

"Oh, that would be lovely," Liddea said in her lilting, musical accent. She sighed. "I fear I must be giving off a terrible odour."

Aran turned back to eye the two women. Liddea was walking just a few paces behind Strider and Elaina was back a little further, but still visible. Elaina was dressed similarly to Liddea, in breeches, shirt and tunic, though the latter was hanging open completely to show a tight white shirt that molded her impressive breasts in a tantalising fashion.

"The two of you smell just fine, to me," he told them. Sniffing his own armpit, he wrinkled his nose. "I think I might be the one in need of a bath."

Elaina chuckled. "Even just a creek or something so I can sponge myself off would be wonderful. I miss the baths at the Temple."

"Mmm," Liddea moaned wistfully. "The hot, steaming water, the roaring fires, the wet, glistening bodies..."

She trailed off into a fond daydream, and Aran laughed. "Let me see what I can find. If it doesn't take us off course, we can stop at a waterhole or stream."

It was as easy as breathing, now. His vala expanded in a heartbeat, giving Aran a detailed feel of the forest for about a mile around. Sure enough, a few hundred paces up ahead their path was crossed by a good-sized creek big enough for bathing. They would have run into it later on in the day without having to deviate their route.

"Good news!" Aran said, grinning back at Elaina and Liddea. "A refreshing dip in clean, flowing water is in our immediate future."

The women exclaimed their joy at this discovery, then urged Aran to hurry on, as if he was holding them up. Half an hour later they entered a small clearing cut neatly down the middle by a stream about ten feet across. Deep and clear, the water flowed lazily from north to south in almost a dead straight line. Lush grass lined both the east and west bank.

Aran exchanged happy glances with his companions, then there was a flurry of activity as the three travelers tied their mounts to nearby trees and began to disrobe. A very short time later Aran was hurtling through the air to splash loudly into the cool water. Elaina and Liddea followed, crashing into the stream unceremoniously and laughing when they emerged from beneath the surface.

The water wasn't quite cold, but nor was it warm as the gentle current swirled around him. Still, it was refreshing and pleasant and clear enough that Aran could easily see the pale, naked bodies sharing the stream with him. He watched as the women waded around, enjoying themselves.

Elaina stood to wring out her hair, which put her clear of the water from the waist up. The nipples capping her magnificent breasts were stiff, pink points. "This is perfect," she said happily as she ran her fingers through her short, fair hair. Aran watched transfixed as her tits shifted on her chest with the motion of her arms. He would never get tired of ogling Elaina's body, of that he was sure.

"It is," Liddea agreed as she stood, too. She was more than a foot shorter than Elaina, but most of her monumental chest emerged, giving Aran the pleasure of seeing two pairs of exceptional breasts, wet and glistening. His cock stiffened insistently, and he allowed it to remain that way. It was late in the day, and it would be time to set up camp soon enough; he could see no reason not to indulge in a little fun.

Elaina left the stream momentarily, announcing she was going to retrieve some soap from her saddlebag. She placed her hands on the grassy bank and vaulted up onto her feet in one smooth motion. Aran ran his eyes over her fit yet comely body as she crossed the clearing, her round hips and ample bottom undulating with each step.

"By the ancient stone, she is a beautiful woman," Liddea said softly as she sidled up to Aran. She was watching Elaina, too, and there was a distinct light of desire behind her sapphire eyes. She stood next to him and wrapped her fingers around his cock, though she kept her eyes on the naked Paladin over by the horses.

Aran exhaled at the pleasurable contact and slipped his arm around the busty Dwarf's waist, pulling her closer. "Yes, she is," he agreed. "And so are you."

Liddea shot him a ravishing smile and began to tug on him insistently. Elaina found the bar of soap she was after and came back to the stream.

"Having fun?" Elaina asked. She stood on the bank, looking down at them with a grin on her beautiful face. Droplets of water graced her fair skin, glistening in the afternoon light. As Aran watched, a bead escaped her navel and ran down her smooth mound to disappear in the cleft of her sex.

Aran's hand left Liddea's waist and slid higher, cupping a heavy breast. She sighed softly as he palmed the huge orb and teased her hard nipple. "Just getting warmed up," he replied to Elaina. "It's a little chilly in here."

With a small hop, Elaina was back in the stream. She waded downriver a few paces and beckoned them to her by crooking a finger. "Come on, you two," she said with playful sternness. Let's get you clean first, then we can play."

Knowing what was coming, Aran gave Liddea a gentle push in Elaina's direction. Elaina took the Dwarf's hand and guided her to a shallower part of the stream where she could stand almost completely out of the water save for her lower legs.

Aran watched, enthralled as Elaina knelt down with her back to him and then began to soap Liddea's body. She worked slowly and thoroughly, doing her shoulders and arms first, then her upper chest, then moving down to soap those glorious tits. Elaina spent quite a bit of time on those, and Aran took his rigid shaft in hand as the scene continued.

Once finished with Liddea's breasts, Elaina ran the soap down over the Dwarf's slightly plump belly to her smooth, bald sex. Liddea's thighs came apart automatically to allow Elaina all the access she required. Aran groaned lustily as Elaina's hand slipped between Liddea's legs and began massaging soap over her pussy.

The Dwarf shuddered as Elaina expertly brought her to a mild climax. Bending forward, she kissed the Paladin hungrily. Elaina returned the kiss with passion, pawing at Liddea's soapy breasts before she stood up.

"Turn around," Elaina ordered Liddea with a somewhat breathy voice. Obediently, Liddea turned and placed her hands on the grassy bank. She leaned forward without being told, presenting her big, round ass to Elaina, who got to work immediately.

Moving Liddea's long, wet strands of hair to one side, Elaina washed her shoulders and back, lovingly running her hands across the Dwarf's pale, creamy skin. Kneeling again, the busty Paladin lathered up Liddea's smooth buttocks and then began to knead them firmly, squeezing and groping the wide, slippery globes.

Liddea moaned appreciatively at the Paladin's attention. One hand left the grass to grab at her own breast. Her hips began to move back and forth as her pleasure mounted. Aran could feel what Elaina was doing with her vala, using it to slowly heighten Liddea's excitement.

The moans became a squeal as Elaina's middle finger disappeared into the cleft of Liddea's ass. Aran couldn't see where the finger went, but he could sense it well enough. Elaina was probing the entrance to the Dwarf's rear passage, teasing the sensitive hole.

Glancing at Aran, Elaina jerked her head back, telling him she wanted him closer. Aran moved over to her, stepping up out of the water behind Glinda. Removing her finger from Liddea's asshole, Elaina tossed the soap up onto the bank and grabbed his cock, lathering it with her soapy hand. Pulling Aran forward, Elaina lined him up with the intended target: the pink star between Liddea's buttocks.

"Aran's going to fuck your ass now, honey," Elaina told the Dwarf in a husky voice. Liddea shuddered again and uttered a deep groan. Aran's own groan escaped his lips as the head of his cock slipped between her soapy butt cheeks.

"Yes!" Liddea cried. "Fuck my ass, Aran! I'm ready!"

Placing his hands on her slippery hips, Aran pushed forward. Her tight, pink ring took him readily, and he gradually sunk into her hot tunnel. Elaina released his cock as it disappeared. "Fuck," he grunted. He'd never fucked Liddea's ass before. It was marvellous.

"You two keep fucking," Elaina instructed as she stood once again. "I'll start on you, Aran." Scooping the soap up from the grass nearby, she moved behind Aran and began to lather him up, washing his shoulders and back, his arms and his sides.

Aran focused on Liddea, who was pushing back against him with every thrust. Her ass rippled delightfully every time it collided with his pelvis. Her internal muscles were gripping him so tightly he amusedly wondered if his cock might be crushed from the pressure.

Elaina's attention moved from his lower back to his buttocks, which she cleaned most thoroughly, especially his crack. An exploratory finger toyed with his own asshole before finding its way inside, and Aran groaned at the added stimulation. His hips increased their pace and the slapping of wet skins echoed around the clearing.