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"Gone," Sigrid said as if it was nothing.
Mirja spun around and faced the Sister again. The light from the sphere lighting up her narrow face casting long shadows from her sharp cheekbones.
"What? When?"
Sigrid seemed to take this as a personal insult and a deep scowl formed on her face.
"I. Don't. Know," she said crossing her arms across her chest. "He's gone. All right? Now get me through this door."
Mirja stood there. Completely baffled by Sigrid's strange behavior. The Sister seemed to have completely lost control. It was not something that she had seen before. Mirja nodded. She walked up to the door. There was no lock. Just a flat piece of metal. She stood there looking at it for a moment. When she opened this door there was no doubt that someone would notice their presence. But on the other hand, she was done with the laboratory. She had already concluded that basically anything could be distilled in there. But there were no traces of anything having been prepared recently. At least not anything that had not been thoroughly cleaned away afterwards.
"Once I crack this lock someone will come. Understood?"
Sigrid nodded. Mirja sighed and put her hand on her nexus. She would at least not draw power from the ley lines under the building. She wasn't that much of an amateur. She put her fingertips on the metal plate and to her surprise it was not locked, it only required a simple cantrip to turn the handle.
Just to keep non-practitioners out, Mirja thought as the door slid open.
Sigrid stepped past her and walked into the room which was lit with the soft orange glow of real candles. Mirja looked along the corridor in both directions. The door to the laboratory was still open. She walked back and closed it before returning to the room Sigrid had disappeared into. As she reached the door, she heard a strange song from inside. It was like nothing she had ever heard. High-pitched ululating sounds mixed with what sounded like low wails. It was ... hauntingly beautiful.
Stepping around the corner into the room Mirja froze in her tracks. The room was indeed lit by real candles. Hundreds of them. She could feel the magic emanating from them, magic that kept them burning indefinitely without running out. But that was not what made her stop. The room was a prison cell. In the middle of the room a wall of narrowly spaced thick metal bars ran from floor to ceiling. Behind the bars stood a ... thing. It took Mirja's mind a moment to process what she was seeing. At first, she thought she saw a huge fox standing on its rear legs. But it was way too big for a fox. And it had a face. A human face. An incredibly beautiful human face. And what she had mistaken for a fox's fur was a thick wave of red hair that ran down the creatures back. It wasn't wearing any clothes, pale white skin shone through beneath the thick hair. And its paws ... no not paws. Long fingered hands clutched the bars. And it was singing. It was making that strange song with its fine lipped mouth.
And that wasn't the strangest thing. The strangest thing was that Mirja had seen the creature before. Several of them. Or at least similar ones. They were at the centerpiece of the Room of Ascendancy in the Westerling parlor. She had only been there once, but the visit had made an eerie impression. It was supposed to be modelled from an ancient Westerling city and all the buildings were without straight angles. And there were these creatures, who seemed to be watching you in everything you did. It was the perfect thing for certain clientele but Mirja had just wanted to leave as soon as she got there. And here it was. One of them. Alive. Staring at her with those strange slit eyes.
Sigrid made a sound and Mirja jerked. She looked at her friend. She had thought that it was the creature that made the strange sounds but now they came from Sigrid. Moving her lips in strange ways, she emitted the same sound that had been coming from the creature. Mirja just stood there staring for a long moment as the Sister seemed to ... communicate with the thing.
"You can speak with it?" Mirja hissed leaning in, trying not to look at the thing that was moving at the edge of her vision.
"I ..." Sigrid shook her head. "My mother. She taught me. I've always thought it was just childhood fantasies."
"What does it say?"
"She."
"What?" Mirja said raising her hand to block the creature out of her vision.
"She's a she. We have to break her out," Sigrid said nodding.
"You're thinking of releasing that thing on the capital? Are you insane? If the College does not hunt it, and you, down, the Imperial Guard will. Or the army."
"I have to," Sigrid said with an urgency in her voice that Mirja had never heard before.
The Sister ran her hands over the bars. There was no sign of a lock or even a door. After a moment she turned towards Mirja who still was trying to ignore the thing that moved with fluid movements behind the bars.
"You have to get it open for me," Sigrid pleaded, grabbing Mirja's sleeve. "Please."
Mirja opened her mouth to protest.
"You will do no such thing," came an all too familiar voice from the door.
Mirja shut her eyes and let out a long sigh. There was a screech from the creature and when Mirja opened her eyes again it had retreated to the far side of its cell where it hid surprisingly well in the shadows considering its vivid coloring.
"Master Olgric," Mirja said forcing a smile onto her face. "We were just admiring your ... menagerie," Mirja said and didn't even believe the lie herself.
"So you were, were you?" the Master said stepping into the room. "Acolyte Mirja and you are ..." he said pointing at the Sister. "Sigrid. Of the Sisters of Infinite Mercy. Am I right?"
Sigrid nodded in apparent defeat. Master Olgric studied them for a long moment as Mirja tried to figure out a way of this cul-de-sac. Finally, the Master let out a long rasping sigh.
"As interesting as I find all this. You have still to tell me what you were really doing here," the Master said.
Mirja felt her stomach curl at his gaze. She forced the feeling back.
"We were looking for a laboratory capable of producing potions that could turn a man into a shadow," Sigrid said suddenly.
Mirja glared at the other woman who seemed as surprised at her own words as Mirja was. The redheaded Sister pressed her lips together. The Master nodded.
"Well. I have to hand it to you. You could do that here."
He drew a deep breath and pinched his chin.
"I even believe I did. Many. Many years ago. It was ... interesting," the wiry old man said seeming to be studying something not in this world. "But the after affects were ... strange. Not going down that path again. That much I can tell you. Took me years to get ... back ... to myself."
Mirja just stared at the old man. Talking to him was always unnerving but this was taking it to a new level.
"There is one other place that could have the same capabilities. However, I'm not certain ... It has not been used very frequently under Master Cerdic," the Master continued still half in his own reality.
"Where is that?" Mirja asked.
Master Olgric stared at her as if he saw her for the first time.
"What are you two still doing here. Get out before I have you thrown out."
He took one look at Sigrid and the Sister immediately turned away and started walking off. When the Master turned his gaze to Mirja she had to concentrate not to do the same. The Master's gaze relented somewhat, and he nodded in apparent satisfaction.
"You need to leave now as well miss Mirja. There is nothing for you here. We will forget all about what happened here tonight. Yes?"
Mirja nodded.
"And you owe me. Both of you. Remember that," the Master of Animancy said pointing one long finger at her.
Eighteen
Mirja lay awake most of the night, unable to keep the image of the strange creature out of her mind. She had always wondered what happened to the Westerlings. Was that it? Had they transformed somehow? It was rumored that the disaster that befell the Westerling Empire had been of a magical nature. It was perfectly reasonable that whatever immense magical power that the old Westerlings had wielded, turned against their own people when it got out of control.
The next moment her thoughts shifted to Master Olgric. Master Cerdic, that was what Master Olgric had said. What had he meant by that? Did Master Cerdic have a similar laboratory as the one in the Faculty of Animancy? Or was it in the Elemancy building? That shouldn't be too difficult to figure out.
Finally, her thoughts drifted into dreams filled of the strange creatures and Sigrid. Sigrid turning into one of them and pulling Mirja with her to a strange realm of rivers of light and golden pools.
"Wake up."
Mirja stirred to life. Sigrid was sitting next to her.
"There is another laboratory. In the Elemancy building."
Mirja blinked her eyes open and sat up. It felt like she had only slept for a heartbeat and her body and soul was exhausted.
"What?"
Sigrid frowned.
"There is another laboratory. My ... friend told me so."
Mirja yawned and sat up. Sigrid pulled the hair out of Mirja's face with a surprisingly gentle motion. Mirja smiled.
"You have many friends," Mirja said with a smirk.
Sigrid scoffed and stood up.
"I will go visit it tonight. You will come as well."
Mirja nodded slowly. There was something she was forgetting. She rubbed her temples trying to make her brain do her bidding.
"I can't," she said finally, looking up at Sigrid.
"Why?"
"I ... have a client that I cannot reschedule."
"All night?"
Mirja nodded. Even if the ritual with the princess didn't take all night, she would for sure be empty as a shell afterwards and of no use to anyone. Sigrid grunted. Mirja couldn't help but smile. It was so strange how those sounds could come from that beautiful creature.
"Then I will go alone."
Mirja nodded.
"Just be careful. And now. Come here and wake me up properly."
Mirja drew some on her bond with Jarl while making love to Sigrid. Even if she couldn't draw from Sigrid herself, it was always easier to utilize her bonds when she was excited. After Sigrid her brought her over the edge she lay back on the pillow and looked up at the ceiling. The power surged through her veins and she had to control herself not to jump out of bed.
"You have to be very careful when you're inside the Elemancy building. There will be wards that you cannot see."
Sigrid looked up at her from her vantage point between Mirja's legs. In a surprisingly cat-like motion she crawled up on top of Mirja and kissed her.
"I am always careful."
Mirja smiled a weak smile. There was something that told her that one day Sigrid would push things too far. It was a miracle that she wasn't dead already. Mirja knew her kind. Just as her mind couldn't stop wandering once it encountered a problem, Sigrid's couldn't keep her out of trouble. They enjoyed each other's company for a few drops more before Mirja got up and got dressed.
"I have a lot of things to prepare. And Jarl should be here soon. I'll see you here tonight?"
Sigrid nodded and stood up herself. Mirja gave her a kiss on the cheek before leaving.
*
Mirja was done preparing for her encounter with the princess just after the bells struck three. She brought out An Analysis of Physioactive Substances and their Effects which she always carried around with her. Both because she didn't want to lose it now that she had it, as well as that she just couldn't seem to fully understand how the concoctions worked, which irked her to no end.
Now that she had seen the inside of the Animancy laboratory a few more pieces fell into place. She had previously wondered how they could possibly get the reagents together since they were all extremely volatile, but the beaker system that she had found in the laboratory would make that possible, if still extraordinarily dangerous. Whoever manufactured these potions either possessed exceptional skill and exceptional bravery, or exceptional stupidity depending on how you wanted to see it. Or most likely all three.
The one thing that was clear however, was that all of the Essences of the Aether that were needed for the formula had to be gathered from the Isles of Westerling. Hence, one of the expeditions had to have sold it to whomever was making them. It was the only other lead they had than the rumored laboratory in the Faculty of Elemancy.
Mirja sighed and closed the book. She looked around before stuffing it into her bag. She didn't want anyone to see that the book couldn't possibly fit in her small bag. It was a gift from her mother and had kept her out of trouble more times than she could count.
"He's arrived," came a voice from the doorway.
Mirja smoothed her bag out and smiled at the girl who eyed her ruffled bag.
"Thank you. Send him in. And once the others arrive, send them in too."
Nothing to see. Move along, she thought smiling through lips pressed thin.
The girl curtsied and moments later Aelric walked through the door. Mirja stood up and the young man took her hand in his and kissed it. Mirja couldn't help but smile.
"You look quite striking," she said.
Aelric flashed a smile back at her. He wore a dark blue tight-fitting suit that she had seen some noblemen wear of late, the one with a white ruffled shirt flowing out around the neck.
"I am going to fuck a princess after all."
Mirja laughed. They talked for a few drops before there was a knock on the door and the merchant entered. Next to Aelric he looked like an obese imp, but Mirja treated him with all the respect she did all of her clients.
"Master Yorden," Mirja said curtsying.
The merchant didn't hide his lecherous smile as he ate her up with his eyes.
"This is acolyte Aelric of the University of Uncertain Arts."
The merchant startled and seemed to see Aelric for the first time. The two men exchanged a handshake.
"Why ..." the merchant began.
Mirja put her hand on his and murmured a soothing verse. She had not told him exactly what would happen tonight, only that he would be able to live out a fantasy that he couldn't even have imagined. She leaned in and whispered into his ear.
"Relax. I have a surprise for you."
The merchant nodded and Mirja sat him down in one of the big chairs and poured him a glass of southern brandy.
Half a bell later there were some shouts from the hallway and then came the princess' shrill voice that made the glasses on the shelf rattle. As she entered the room, she took it in with the disdain suitable for a royalty.
"Your Highness," Mirja said, curtsying deeply and bowing her head.
"Yes. Yes. Enough of that. Let's get this over with, shall we. What is that!" the princess shrieked pointing over at the merchant whose cock was already in his hand, a wide grin on his face.
Mirja sighed and quickly stepped over to the princess.
"He's the sacrifice for tonight."
The princess blinked a few times. Then she nodded.
"Well. If that's what it takes."
Mirja smiled. It wasn't entirely true that Master Yorden was a sacrifice as such. In reality it was the princess' dignity that would be sacrificed, something that was worth much more than a lowly commoner. Even if he was very rich.
"There is one rule here tonight, if this is going to work," Mirja said looking the princess straight in the eye.
Princess Else was a clever creature, Mirja knew that, and now her attention was focused entirely on her.
"You have to do whatever he wants," she said nodding over at the merchant.
The princess pressed her lips together and her auburn hair seemed to undulate as she seethed.
"Do you understand?"
Princess Else nodded and Mirja let out a sigh of relief.
"Master Yorden," Mirja said in a high voice. "The princess here is yours to do with whatever you want for the coming bell. Any command you utter shall be obeyed."
For a moment Mirja thought that the merchant would spontaneously combust in his seat, but then he cleared his throat.
"Your Highness. On your knees and suck my cock."
Mirja cringed at the man's coarse words. She almost didn't dare look at the princess. Then Else moved, and in her exquisite dress she kneeled in front of the man and, without ceremony, took the man's erect member into her mouth. Mirja looked over at Aelric. He was watching the scene in front of him wide-eyed. Mirja walked over to him and kneeled in front of him in turn and soon his flesh was in her mouth. He had a very nice member and for a few moments Mirja just enjoyed the feeling of him.
"You're going to make me spill my seed," Aelric gasped.
Mirja looked up at him. She had completely forgot. She quickly murmured a few words into the young man's shaft, and she could feel him retreat from the edge. He was still breathing heavily. Over the next three quarters of a bell Mirja kept both men erect, without spilling their seed, as they used her and Else over and over. The princess climaxed a dozen times and was currently riding the fat merchant with a supernatural vigor instilled by the power that Mirja slowly siphoned away from the two men.
"By the seventh!" the princess yelled as she climaxed once more.
Mirja knew the moment had come.
"Your Highness. Get on your back."
Else looked over at her through her climactic daze but did as she was told. Mirja got on top of her and placed her quim at the princess' mouth. To her surprise the princess immediately started pleasing her with her mouth. It was not part of the plan, but Mirja didn't mind.
"Master Yorden. Fuck my ass," she said looking back at the man who had just got up from the floor, intentionally using the kind of language the merchant would trigger on.
He looked at her in confusion. She nodded. He stumbled forward and looked down, almost in surprise at his still hard cock. Mirja felt the familiar pressure against her rear, then he was inside. He had a very nicely shaped cock and it filled her rear in a most pleasing manner. Mirja beckoned Aelric towards her and helped him into the princess' wetness.
"Are you ready?" she said looking up at him.
Aelric nodded. The merchant thrust deep into Mirja's rear, which was well lubricated by her incantations.
"Master Yorden," she said looking back at him. "I want you to fuck my ass hard until you are just about to spill your seed. Then you will put your cock straight into the princess' mouth and fill it up to the brim."
Mirja could see the effect her words had on the man.
I do hope that he survives this, she thought as he grabbed her hips and thrust harder.
Mirja put all of her focus on the link to the merchant and felt him rapidly approaching his climax. She closed her eyes and put her hand just over Aelric's erect member, feeling him thrust slowly into the princess. It all happened almost to quickly for her to react. The merchant's cock disappeared from her rear and she felt his energy surge. She spun the pattern and directed all of the energy generated into Aelric and released him from his spell allowing him to climax. Through her hand she felt the young man spasm as his seed flooded into the princess' quim. And like that it was over. She collapsed onto Else and behind her she heard a thud as the merchant's body hit the floor.
"Excellent," Mirja said with a heavy breath. "That should do it."
The princess drew a deep breath and put both her hands on her flat stomach.
"I can feel it," she said with a smile.
Mirja nodded and climbed off the princess.
"Remember. You will be extremely fertile. I would suggest you seek out the Prince at once and have him fill your womb. You won't be able to resist if someone else offers to."
"I'm going there now," the princess nodded and stood up making Aelric trip and fall backwards onto the floor.
