An Ode to Uncertainty Ch. 15-16

"It's not like that," Mirja said putting her hand on the princess'. "It's just that there are some ... concessions needed from your side."

The merchant Yorden, the one she had first filled the flux pattern with during her first controlled anal intercourse power generation, had been, as always, at the parlor and it had not taken much to get to talk to him. He had in fact been most eager to meet with Mirja again and when she had told him what she had in mind she almost thought he would die right there and then, so exited he got. He was not going to be the weak link in this chain. Unless the effort and excitement killed him. Which was not a non-existent possibility.

"Oh? And these concessions are ...?"

"Sexual in nature," Mirja filled in.

The princess scoffed.

"Girl. There are very few things that I have not done. I am, you could say, an expert in royal debauchery," princess Else said with a lopsided smile.

Mirja nodded.

"So, go on. Tell me. What do I have to do?"

And then she told her.

***

"You are late," Sigrid said in that scolding voice that came so naturally to her.

"It ... it took some time. There were ... things to do, and explain," Mirja said.

Sigrid scoffed but let it go.

"Come. We're already late."

They headed in the other direction from the animancy building and Mirja was about to highlight this fact when she saw a dark figure further on.

"This is Samel," Sigrid said as they got closer. "Samel. Mirja."

Mirja nodded at the man. He was a tall, lanky thing with a long beard. He looked like one of the sailors that you found by the craps tables down at the docks.

"Pleasure to meet you miss," he said with an exaggerated bow.

"Samel works for Master Olgric. And has agreed to let us into the laboratory."

Mirja raised an eyebrow. She could not see the man's face very clearly in the dim light from the lanterns.

"For a price," the man said making it clear that there was definitely a price to be paid to betray Master Olgric.

"Yes. It will be as we agreed," Sigrid said irritation creeping into her voice.

"Is it true that you are a Matrimancer?" the man said now looking at Mirja.

Mirja shifted to one side to get a better look at the man. He was not a bad looking fellow, he just spent too much time near other men who were. And had clearly taken a beating or two in his life. A thick scar ran down one eyebrow.

"Yes," she answered.

"Well, well. I've heard about your kind," he said with a wry smile, one hand reaching for Mirja.

Sigrid swiftly slapped his hand away. Samel yelped and then looked angrily at the Sister.

"I need more," Samel said.

"What?" Sigrid barked.

"Ssch. Keep your voice down girl, we don't want nobody to know we're here right?" Samel said looking around.

Sigrid grunted but stayed silent.

"All I'm saying is. You know, Master Olgric is a ... difficult man. And I think I deserve a little more to help you."

"What do you want?" Sigrid said clearly having trouble keeping her voice down.

"I want a roll-around with this one," Samel said nodding at Mirja. "While you watch," he continued leering at Sigrid.

Sigrid's knives appeared from out of nowhere and she somehow moved Samel up towards the wall where she pinned him with one dagger in each hand both pointing towards his throat. He tilted his head backwards and gave Mirja the first clear look at his face. He was younger than she had expected. She put her hand on Sigrid's shoulder.

"There's no need for violence," she said in a silky-smooth voice that she had perfected over the many nights working at the parlor.

Sigrid looked back at her and Mirja nodded. The daggers disappeared as fast as they had materialized. Samel rubbed his throat.

"So it is a night with me that you want, on top of what Sigrid had promised you?"

The man swallowed. Then nodded.

"Alright," Mirja said with a smile. "But after that you will bring us into the laboratory and get us back out. Correct?"

Samel nodded not seeming to believe his luck.

"And do you promise to hold up your end of the bargain?" Mirja said looking at Samel.

It was Sigrid that answered.

"Yes," Sigrid said. "Because if he doesn't, I will cut his cock off."

Without his clothes on Samel was still dirty and Mirja decided to give him a bath before sharing a bed with him. Or rather, she decided to have Sigrid scrub him down, to the delight of Samel and the disgust of the Sister. While they were in the washing chamber Mirja prepared for what she had planned.

The potion she mixed was not that potent in itself. It was a recipe that she had inherited from her aunt. But she had discovered that when combining with matrimantical magic it gave very interesting results in the imbiber. She was quite certain that if she ever told any of the faculty it would be banned. So better to keep it to herself. For now, at least.

"Sit still," Sigrid growled from the next room as water splashed.

"If you take off your clothes, they will not get wet," came Samel's voice followed by a loud smacking sound.

"Ouch! What was that for?"

"For you being a dick," came the Sister's voice.

"I was only giving you some very relevant advice. No clothes on. No wet clothes. That's all."

"If you want to keep all of your parts, I suggest you stop."

"I know you wa−"

Samel's words stopped suddenly. Mirja couldn't help but smile at the conversation. She poured the last ingredient into the small bottle and shook it well. She probed the fluid with her mind. A neat little trick she had learned in Elemancy. It was perfectly consistent. She poured half of it into the spiced wine that she had already decanted. Stirred it with a spoon and then poured a glass and headed into the washing chamber.

"How are we all doing?" she asked as she stepped through the door.

There was thrashing from the bathtub and Sigrid was standing with both hands pushing downwards. It took Mirja a moment to realize that it was Samel's head that she was pushing down and the thrashing was from his hands.

"Sigrid. Let him go. Now."

Sigrid looked at her pleadingly.

"Now."

Sigrid sighed and let go. Samel's head shot up like a rabid dog out of a barrel. He drew his breath sharply. He stared at Sigrid.

"You ... you," he began but was too out of breath to complete the sentence.

"Sigrid. Apologize."

Sigrid glared at Mirja.

"Remember what we agreed on before. Apologize."

The anger in Sigrid's eyes disappeared and she nodded.

"I am sorry," she said through gritted teeth.

Samel coughed out a few incomprehensible words that may have been a curse.

"And Sigrid. Take your clothes off," Mirja continued.

The heads of the other two spun towards her.

"You heard what I said. Clothes off. Now."

Sigrid blushed fiercely while the smile on Samel's face shone like the sun. Slowly she started undoing her many leather belts and after placing her arsenal in a small cupboard she pulled her tunic over her head.

"Damn girl," Samel said. "That's one tight body."

Sigrid blushed even more which made her face even redder than her hair. She hesitated before pulling her pants down, but with one look Mirja ordered her to. Slowly she slid the pants and underpants down over her hips showing off her trimmed red bush.

"Are you a Westerling?" Samel asked.

Sigrid looked with despair at Mirja.

"Answer him," Mirja said feeling a slight thrill at ordering the staunch woman around.

"I am not certain," Sigrid said hesitantly clearly feeling uncomfortable standing naked in front of a man she barely knew. "I was a foundling that was given to the Sisters. But there were rumors that I may have come from the Islands."

Samel nodded taking in the creature that was standing without a thread on her body in front of him.

"Well you certainly have the look of one," he said finally.

Mirja didn't know very much of the Westerlings. She had seen a few lines here and there in the books she read, but they were mostly mentioned in passing. Not much was known about the ancient empire of Westerling that used to lay where the Isles of Westerling now were. Other than that, they had somehow destroyed themselves and anyone who went there or came from there usually were stark raving mad. She had never heard that they were supposed to be redheads.

"Your eyes are a telltale sign," Samel continued. "Got that spark in them."

Sigrid blushed even more as the sinewy man admired her naked body without any shame.

"Have you cleaned all of him?"

The question brought Sigrid out of her stupor. She nodded.

"No, she hasn't," Samel interjected. "Only my upper body. Not my legs or my ... you know what," he said pointing down into the tub.

Mirja nodded then looked at Sigrid.

"You heard the man. Clean him. Everywhere."

Sigrid squared her jaw but got down on her knees next to the tub and put one hand down below the surface of the water.

"Ah. Yes. That's what I'm talking about," Samel said with a smile.

He leaned sideways a little so that he could see Sigrid's backside.

"That's one tight butt you got there, girl," he said nodding in satisfaction.

"You can touch her if you want to," Mirja said and felt a thrill run through her body at the power she exercised over Sigrid.

The redheaded Sister froze as Samel didn't hesitate and immediately started running his hand down her back to her naked bottom. A few moments later Sigrid started moving again as Samel's hand settled on her ass and started lightly squeezing it.

"Here," Mirja said handing Samel the glass of wine.

He gladly accepted and Mirja looked on for a little while as Sigrid scrubbed the man's body while he enjoyed his wine.

"Done," Sigrid said finally.

Even Samel seemed satisfied and stood up in the tub. Mirja looked him over.

"Shave him. Both above and below," Mirja said indicating Samel's face and nether region. "I will be in the other room."

There were some curses from Sigrid telling Samel to be still and some whining from Samel about sharp blades being too close to his privates but a quarter of a bell later they both joined her in the bedroom. Mirja had lit a number of candles and the flickering light lit her naked body where she lay in the middle of the bed. Her two companions stopped arguing and stared at her where she lay. She couldn't help but smile at their expressions. Even Sigrid looked taken aback. Mirja had improved her looks slightly with the help of a cantrip and she imagined that she looked quite perfect where she lay.

"Holy mother of the seventh!" Samel exclaimed and Mirja saw how his member stirred.

She smiled and looked at Sigrid.

"Sigrid. Get on your knees and take our guest into your mouth as he watches me."

The Sister obeyed without a word and Samel gasped and looked down at her as she sucked his growing cock into her mouth.

"Eyes on me," Mirja said and Samel shifted his gaze to her.

Mirja enjoyed his eyes on her body as she saw Sigrid's head bobbing back and forth down below.

"Grab her head and push your cock all the way to the bottom of her throat. And look at me while you do it."

Samel nodded and soon Mirja heard gagging sounds from Sigrid.

"Hold her there until I tell you to."

Samel nodded again.

"Does it feel good to have your cock down her throat?"

"Yes," Samel gasped.

Mirja saw Sigrid trying to break free but Samel held her tight. She waited another few moments.

"And let go."

Sigrid drew back and drew a raspy breath.

"Bend her over the bed and put your cock into her rear."

Samel stared at her.

"Was I not clear?"

He nodded and soon Sigrid was laying with her face close to Mirja's stomach. She saw the Sister's face as he entered her rear. She bit her lower lip and whined a little. Mirja moved around so that her mouth was at Sigrid's ear.

"Don't you like it? I thought you liked it in your ass."

She drew back and put her face close to Sigrid's.

"I love it," Sigrid whispered and then bit her lip again.

"Good," Mirja said and spread her legs in front of Sigrid. "You know what to do."

Sigrid did know and soon her tongue was deep inside Mirja. She smiled at Samel as he continued to fuck Sigrid's tight hole.

"Does it feel good?" she asked him.

"Yes. But she's a little dry."

Mirja nodded and flexed her fingers and then leaned forward and ran them down Sigrid's back.

"Wow," Samel exclaimed.

"Better?"

He nodded.

"How did you do that?"

"Magic," Mirja said with a smile.

Down by her pussy she heard Sigrid start to moan slightly. She grabbed the Sister's chin and tilted her head up.

"You're not allowed to come before I tell you to. Understood?"

Sigrid nodded. Mirja watched and enjoyed Sigrid's tongue for a little while before grabbing Sigrid's chin again.

"Clean him off with your mouth, then stand next to the bed."

Sigrid looked up at her and nodded. She turned around and got down on her knees in front of Samel again and took him into her mouth. After a little while she stood up next to the bed.

"Come here," Mirja said and beckoned Samel closer as she spread her legs wide.

He understood what she wanted and soon he sank his flesh into her eager wetness.

"Tell me again about your last expedition. In detail," Mirja said as she slid down Samel's cock.

She rode him slowly for a little while as the final enchantment settled into place. It was an advantage that Samel was a braggart to start with. That combined with the lubricating effects of the enchantment made him an open book. And an interesting one at that. He had called himself an archeologist, Mirja had never heard of such a thing. Digging in the dead civilizations to learn things, and it seemed like, loot and sell things.

She had enjoyed his body while it was completely under his control for a long while before casting the spell. He had fucked her hard, her legs spread wide as Sigrid looked down at them. But there was business to be conducted as well.

Samel nodded. His eyes fogged over a bit and his cock got even harder. A pleasant side effect of the enchantment.

"We left from the Southern Docks at the start of Yonaks month. It was good weather for the season. We made a short stop in Burdogawa, a small fishing village whose name I never remember. We wanted to get as far west as we could before we turned north towards the Isles."

Samel's mind seemed to wander so Mirja squeezed his cock slightly with her quim and some focus returned to his eyes.

"Go on," she said leaning down to kiss him slightly.

"The time before we sailed straight northwest and hit a few of the outer islands first. They have been examined too many times over the centuries so there is nothing left. So, this time, the captain pushed us to go as close to the old capital itself as possible. To islands not visited by outsiders in millennia."

He swallowed and seemed to relive some horrible memory. Mirja grabbed his chin and looked into his eyes. She gave him a light kiss and used the contact to reinforce the enchantment. He swallowed and looked straight up again.

"The riftstorms started not six bells after we had passed the last of the explored islands. It was bad. We lost eight men to rogue waves that almost sank the ship. It is so strange to see them coming. From a clear sea they suddenly rise and try to devour you. Then they're gone again. Like a giant's hand reaching up from the depths to pull you down."

He took a long deep breath and exhaled slowly.

"We made landfall the day after at sundown. It was a small island with a rift on the opposite side to our landing point. We went in from a direction that would not expose us to the rift directly, but there are still risks. I lead the second team that went eastwards along the shore. We found one of the imperial roads just two miles further along the shore. It always feels so strange to look at them. They look as perfect as they must have so long ago, except that they are cut straight off at the edge of the island. As if someone decided that was the perfect place to stop building."

Samel quieted again. Mirja let him rest for a while. Draining him like this was taxing the both of them but her stamina would outlast his by far. And she didn't want to put him in a coma. Or worse.

"I decided that we should follow the road inland," Samel continued and Mirja started slowly sliding up and down his shaft.

A small smile formed on his lips. She didn't know if it was from the pleasure he was feeling or from some distant memory not entirely resurfacing.

"We walked for a few bells. I didn't want us getting too far inland. The islands are not that big and the natives, if they are present, are usually more aggressive the further you get from the shore. No one has ever figured out why. That's when we saw it ..."

He trailed off again and this time Mirja had to flood him with power to get him going again. It was clearly a memory that he didn't want to revisit.

"There were four of them," he said twisting his head back and forth. "I ... I ..."

"It's fine. You're safe here with me," Mirja said leaning down and kissing him for a long moment. "You can tell me anything. It won't hurt you now."

Samel nodded.

"They were so ... strange. Long limbed. Tall faces. Hauntingly beautiful. They were sitting around a fire that was sparkling blue and green. Farik and Yonas, two of my new recruits, started advancing towards them. I told them to stop but they were already under their spell. Everything went so slow. I ordered my men to attack. Crossbow bolts were flying through the air and then there was this loud ... bang. And I was sailing backwards through the air. Landed on my back, air completely knocked out of my lungs. I lay there staring up at the clear blue sky. Someone shook my shoulder and I got up. Farik and Yonas lay dead. The others had caught one of the ... things. Was putting it into a sack. The other creatures had escaped."

Samel drew a deep breath.

"We're not supposed to talk about them," he said with suddenly clear eyes.

He tried getting up but Mirja put a hand on his chest and drew from both herself and some from the bond with Jarl and soothed Samel back down. She rode him slowly for a little while to get him back to a non-lucid state.

"What happened then?"

Samel licked his lips and then continued.

"We searched the surrounding area for the others but couldn't find them. We knew we had hit a gold mine. This was exactly what Master Olgric was paying big money for. We got some of the shiny looking artifacts that we always find. We took those too and then headed back. We sailed back to the mainland the next day. The delivery to the College was done the day after. I got fifty gold as my share. Spent it all on smoke and girls the following month. Heard the captain got a thousand gold."

He shook his head.

"Not worth it. It never is."

Mirja looked down at the man underneath her.

"Why do you want to help us?"

Samel looked up at her with foggy eyes.

"For the money. I'm leaving. Going south to work the salvaging missions. I don't mind the diving bells. And I still got the keys to the laboratory. Forgot to return them and the Master never claimed them back. Might as well use them."

Mirja looked sideways at Sigrid.

"How much did you promise him?"

Sigrid huffed. Mirja raised her eyebrows at the naked Sister.

"Fifty gold."

"You got that kind of money?" Mirja asked in surprise.

"Jarl has," Sigrid said nodding at one of the chiffoniers. "He's not going to miss it. And it is for his security that we are doing this."

Mirja considered this for a moment. She was right. The prince would likely never even notice that the money was missing. She started riding Samel harder right up to the point where he spilled his seed inside her. Then she put her hand on his brow and brushed his eyes shut.

"Sleep."