Banished Pt. 12

The room was thankfully not on fire, but the floor was burnt to a crisp, and I was certain that it would burn underfoot if not for our armored boots.

"What now?" Raul asked.

"We cut?" I suggested, and he nodded, making a slice into the floor, but before he could finish the square, the floor beneath us creaked, and we all shared a panicked look, just as it gave way and we went crashing through.

"Fuuuuuck!" Raul called out, as we crashed through several floors before landing, a little painfully, on one of the sturdier floors.

"How far down are we?" Raul asked, as I moved to the window.

"Four from the ground, but Casey has our backs," I said, as I spotted the layer scrap cloth padding on the ground.

"Do we jump?" Jordan asked, and Raul shot him a frightened look.

"Four stories?"

"I made it three stories without padding today," I said. "Just, roll as you land."

Raul seemed seriously perturbed by the suggestion, until Jordan offered us a solution again.

"Wait... she can grow something to us from the ground."

He placed his hand against the tree, and I stared down the side of the trunk as a cluster of vines began to work their way up the side of the tree.

As soon as it got to us, we grabbed on, then climbed our way down to the floor.

"Sweet earth!" Raul cried out, throwing himself down onto the ground, and Jordan shot him a little smile, as he knelt down, and took a bit of soil into his hand.

"You have no idea," Jordan said. "It looks so different to me now."

"Because of the wood nymph?" I asked, and he nodded.

I rubbed my chin, as it was certainly an interesting combination to say the least, and I immediately wondered what abilities he might develop as a result of the partnership.

As some falling debris landed ten feet to our left, however, we quickly began to move clear of the tree, and as Casey spotted us from some way off, she began to run towards us.

"Nate. You stupid fucking piece of shit!" she yelled, as she dove into my arms and kissed me.

Raul raised an eyebrow at the reception, as Cameron and Gisela also moved to join us.

Casey quickly withdrew, but there was no escaping the teasing look that Cameron was shooting at her, as she moved over to hug me.

"How the fuck did you all pull that off?" she asked, and I gestured towards Jordan.

"Why don't you ask our new hybrid wood-nymph teammate," I said, and he rubbed the back of his head, chuckling nervously as she shot him a questioning look.

"Wood-nymph?" Nolan asked, as he moved to join us.

To my relief, he embraced Jordan, and Molly studied the interaction with wide eyed interest.

As I looked around for Evie, Francesca and Bianca, I suddenly noted that a chant seemed to be breaking out amongst the Kobalt, and I shook my head as I tried to put the words together.

"What are they saying?" Casey asked, as she moved to my side, and I smiled.

"Die Götter regieren über alles -- The Gods reign supreme," I said, and Cameron suddenly tugged at my arm.

"Nate! Look at the grove tree. It looks just like that tree back in Palancar!" she exclaimed, and as I turned to study it, realization dawned on me...

The odd-looking decapitated tree that housed the council back in Palancar.

Now that I thought about it, didn't that tree also look as if it had been similarly burnt as well?

Gisela moved to my side, an awestruck expression on her face.

"Herr Nathan. Palancar can no longer stand against you," she said, bowing, and as I turned, I saw that all of the Kobalt of this grove were on their knees, bowing before us, with even the hunters who had arrived with the council's delegation joining in.

The councilmen themselves seemed quite disturbed by the development, but even they could not help but kneel beside their kin.

Casey moved to my side, as I swallowed uncomfortably, before asking:

"So, then... how do we handle this?"

***

It had been almost an hour since the fire crisis had been averted, and after organizing things with the remaining Kobalt, tending to the wounded, and seeing that meals were served, all of the otherworlders had now settled in at a grand table in the entry hall of one of the larger trees, along with Gisela, Alva and Astrid.

Food was brought to us by Kobalt servants, and I noted the customary servings of dried fruit present amongst the spread with interest, as it certainly had not come from our supply.

Gisela and Casey sat at my right and left, with Alva and Cameron seated beside them respectively.

"You said Palancar can no longer stand against us," I asked, turning to Gisela, and the girl nodded. "Would they take the princess back, then?"

She shifted uncomfortably, biting her lip as she slowly shook her head.

"Many might desire it... even make appeals on her behalf, but those who venerate the traditions will hold than an exile can never be overturned, and the princess herself will reject such a development."

"How can we be sure that Palancar will cease aggressions, then?"

"You have repeated a feat of mythical proportions, Herr Nathan-"

You mean, Jordan did, I thought, shooting him a knowing smile, and to my surprise, he blushed a little.

"-the people of Palancar will now accept the princess' choice in you, as mate, a divine one. All eyes will be drawn to the councilors, and their actions scrutinized and held to account. Even if additional avatars were available to Danebe's Goddess, to use one now would be to turn all of our people against his branch, and his fate may very well be worse than exile."

"So, would Palancar now trade with us?" I asked, and Gisela nodded.

"The state will not, but the many merchant-branches and smaller leaves will definitely sway to our requests."

I turned to Casey, who was wearing a thoughtful expression.

"What're you thinking?" I asked, and she made a thoughtful sound.

"Maybe we don't need to migrate across the forest anymore," she said. "I'd still prefer a little distance between us and Palancar, but if the smaller groves will trade with us now, then maybe we can settle somewhere with good access to enough basic necessities."

"How about somewhere with access to a guildhall, and a river to boot," I offered, and she turned to face me, her mouth agape.

"Irileth's domain? You want to settle inside of Irileth's domain?"

I nodded in response.

"The blight has been fading quickly; I think it's reasonable to assume by now that Danica defeated her."

"What about the harbingers serving under her? Do we know that they were all defeated as well? In five hundred years she might have picked up a lot of them. What if one of them were to resettle her domain?"

"We could scout the area and find out," I suggested, and she shook her head.

"I still don't like it. There's too many unknowns," she countered, and I chuckled a little.

"There are plenty of unknowns out there as well. We could end up running from a threat we know into greater threats that we have yet to identify," I pointed out. "Think about it; access to a guildhall, and the Kobalt in this immediate area might flock to us when word gets out about what happened here tonight."

"Nate, there's something else you should know," Nolan interjected, to my surprise, and I glanced across the table at him.

"What is it?"

"Myrinne had mentioned this place when we were talking about maps. We were pretty sure that we were gonna bypass it, but she did mention that there's an extensive map of this section of the forest somewhere in this grove."

"Fuck me. Well, let's hope it didn't burn with the rest of Gert's tree."

"It didn't," Astrid cut in, "and not by chance, either. I stole the map from his collection, back when I first had my vision."

I shot her an impressed grin.

"How did you know that I'd need it?" I asked, and she smiled.

"I didn't. I just saw myself stealing the map, so I did. Now I guess I know why."

Despite my keen interest in seeing the map, we decided to finish our meal, and organize the watch party for the night.

Molly volunteered to cover the first shift, and to my surprise, Bianca volunteered along with her.

"I'm not sure if you're even allowed to keep watch," I began, when Molly waved away my protest.

"Oh, come on. She's done right by me," Molly said, but as she shot Bianca a conspiratorial wink, I felt a slight feeling of discomfort about what those two planned to get up to.

I shot Bianca a questioning look, and she shrugged, but there was a teasing look on her face as well.

Guess I'll find out soon enough.

Beds had been prepared while we ate, and when we finished our meal, Astrid gathered us up in the room off of the main hall, which was a meeting room that seemed to be similarly fashioned in all of the grove trees we'd encountered so far.

The map was then brought to us, but as she unveiled the thing, and hung it on the far wall of the room, away from the door, I realized that it was much more of a tapestry than a map, in the traditional sense.

I examined the material, and it felt soft, but quite firm, and I had to admit; quite beautifully crafted.

"This is amazing. Was this made here?"

Astrid shook her head.

"A gift, from Brașova."

"Brașova?" I asked.

"A Getaen city within the realm of Dacia," Astrid replied.

"The wood elves," Casey explained, and I nodded, as I studied the map with interest.

Nolan studied the map as well, but while my preoccupation was with the aesthetic quality of the map, he was focused on what was depicted on the tapestry, and he was furrowing his brow, a dissatisfied expression on his face.

"The town we stayed at-"

"Kleiner Hein," I offered, and he nodded.

"-I don't see it here," he said.

"The map is almost a hundred year-cycles old; differences are expected," Astrid explained, and Nolan nodded.

"Figures, but there's a bigger problem. This river... is this supposed to be the stream we crossed before entering Irileth's domain?"

Gisela studied the map, then shook her head.

"This river runs through Eltari, and to the great plains beyond, through the lands of the false-god-king."

"Wait, what? Aren't these the hills we were trying to get around when passing through the blighted grove?" I asked, indicating to a little cluster of rocks.

Gisela nodded, and I frowned.

"I've seen this river, north of where we'd camped, but I've travelled west a fair bit, and there was never any river running south like this..."

"It might be further west than the map indicates," Astrid suggested. "My instruction imparted that this river is well known to the Getaen-folk."

"Nolan, how does the eastern bank of that river look for a settlement?" I asked, and Casey shot me a worried look.

"I'd be more comfortable answering that if I knew how much land there was between these hills and that river."

I rubbed my chin thoughtfully.

"I think I've travelled more than thirty miles west of there without encountering it," I offered, when Raul moved to speak.

"Actually, didn't we go further than that on the night you met Danica?"

It was difficult to say.

We did move quite quickly that night, though I did run for much longer with Bianca.

Either way, the distance was some way.

"If it's as you say, then this would be perfect. The only problem I can think of is that you never encountered the river, so do we even know that it's still there?"

I nodded.

"It must be. We encountered it north of the camp, while it still wound westwards."

"Are you sure it was this river?"

I nodded.

"It was pretty big. Uncrossable, really."

Nolan thought about it for a while.

"Well, as long as it exists, then the only other problem would be if it ends up being so far west that we can't reliably trade with Palancar, and the groves around it."

I turned to Gisela.

"What do you think?" I asked, and the girl bit her lip nervously, as she thought about it.

"The proximity to Palancar is preferable, as the Kobalt will feel more comfortable being near to the home they left, even as they are no longer welcome. Perhaps we can plead for temporary shelter within Grenze while reconnaissance is performed."

"Grenze would not dare deny you accommodation; besides, I inherited this grove this night."

A temporary base with grove trees and proper rooms?

It was a dream come through!

I rubbed my hands together excitedly.

"Well then, unless anyone has any more objections to voice, we can call this meeting to an end, no?"

Everyone quickly agreed, and as the group went their separate ways, Cameron moved to my side.

"Wanna share a room?" she asked, with that sparky look in her eyes, and I smiled.

"Just let me know where yours is, and I'll come to you," I teased, but an audible sigh from Casey drew both of our gazes in her direction, and she quickly averted her gaze, suddenly aware of her own indiscretion.

Cameron shot me a teasing look, wandering off just as Gisela pulled me aside.

"Herr Nathan; if we are to prolong our stay within this grove, might we discuss the matter of the princess' ceremony?" Gisela asked.

"Ceremony?"

"To supplant the princess with life-seed," Gisela explained, and I nodded.

"Right. If the grove seed is to be planted soon, I take it she would no longer object?"

Gisela nodded in response, as she shifted uncomfortably.

"But the companions must be assured," she began. "The princess will not accept your decision unless your resolve is tested, and found true."

"You said the companions all volunteered to carry future companions themselves?" I asked, and she nodded. "Did they all volunteer?" I asked stressing on the word, and as Gisela turned and our eyes met for a moment, she quickly turned away and averted her gaze.

"This is fact, Herr Nathan."

"You can call me Nate," I said, reaching for her hand, and she bit her lip nervously, suddenly seeming a little flustered.

She shifted uncomfortably, hesitating for a second, before meeting my gaze.

"Nate," she finally said, and to my surprise, the green color of her skin seemed to momentarily change hue in ripple like waves across body, and she shuddered a little, as if a chill blew through her right then.

Alva seemed to catch the interaction, and gazed over at us with interest, prompting Gisela to blush furiously, seemingly quite embarrassed by the reaction.

Maybe I should get her out of here.

"Have your quarters been prepared?" I asked, and she nodded timidly. "Take me there."

She took a quick look around, then nodded again before leading me away from the meeting room.

Her gaze remained firmly ahead as we walked, but as she led me down the corridors, her pace began to quicken until we were practically running.

Eventually, we came to her room, and as soon as she opened the door and pulled me inside, she dove into me, pressing her body into mine as she hugged me tightly, though burying her head into my chest.

She was panting, her breaths leaving little wisps of condensation on the reflective, metallic surface of my breastplate, and she pressed her forehead to my chest, steeling herself, before lifting her face to study me.

"I'm sorry, Nathan. I've brought you great embarrassment. To lay bare my true feelings for you like that, in front of everyone... you must think me foolish. I-"

I cut her off by pressing my lips to hers, and her eyes went wide.

She seemed to freeze up, but as I kept my lips pressed against hers, a shudder ran through her body, and her skin did that curious thing again, where the shade of green changed hue in a fluttery wave before returning to its natural olive green.

Eventually, her eyes went shut, and she melted into the kiss, returning my advances with a soft, but pressing will of her own.

She rested a hand against my chest, then withdrew it, almost fearfully, as if the touch were not allowed.

I broke the kiss, then took her hand, and brought it to my neck, and she shuddered again, as the hand rested against me.

I stepped back, and Gisela watched with interest as I unclasped the straps on my armor and began to shed the protective covering from my body.

When I was done, I moved to her, and she retreated, almost as if by instinct.

"Do you fear me?" I asked, and she quickly shook her head.

"I fear myself," she admitted, and I tilted my head at her.

"Yourself?"

She nodded.

"As a mere servant, I would be foolish to desire the touch of a God."

I studied her carefully.

"Do you?"

"Do I what?"

"Desire it. My touch," I clarified, and she shifted uncomfortably, turning away from me as she did.

"I am not worthy," she replied, somewhat despondently, and I moved to embrace her from behind, my hands joining together over her stomach.

She shuddered again at the touch.

"I didn't ask if you were worthy; I asked if you desire it," I said, and she bit her lip, swaying a little in my arms.

"Would you hate me if I did?"

"Of course not," I replied. "After all, I desire you more intensely than you probably realize."

She turned around, and studied me with a frown.

"Is my form not displeasing to you?"

I raised an eyebrow at her.

"Displeasing?"

She nodded in response.

"When I disrobed for your inspection back in Palancar, did you not find me unpleasant?"

"Is that what you thought?" I asked, chuckling a little as she nodded. "Well, please accept my apologies. My only concern that day was that you found my stares uncomfortable," I explained.

"Stares?"

I nodded, gesturing to her body.

"I find you very attractive, Gisela. And more than a few times, I feared you caught my prying gaze," I explained, and she blushed.

"You... found me attractive? A servant?"

"You know you're much more to me than a servant to me. Your leadership and guidance have been indispensable."

At this she nodded.

"You are right. This is my duty, and I should not lose sight of that fact."

She seemed intent on maintaining some semblance of composure, and it arose in me a desire to break down that resistance, with extreme prejudice no less.

I advanced on her, and kissed her again, guiding her to the bed as I began my tentative assault.

She stumbled back, landing with a soft thud onto the padded bedding, and I climbed over her, with one leg positioned between her legs, and the other on the side of that thick, meaty thigh.

I'd long observed her shapely form, and I was eager to explore it.

I leaned down to kiss her again, and this time, I slipped a hand into the wide, loose sleeve of her toga-style robe, and gently cupped the outer swell of breast that I'd so often stolen glances at.

It was firm to the touch, and the skin invitingly smooth.

I felt an immediate longing to taste it, and Gisela gasped as I leaned down and kissed the exposed side of her breast.

Her hand, almost instinctively wrapped around my head, before she pulled away.

"Nathan-"

"Nate," I corrected her, and she gulped.

"Nate... if you desire to be suckled, then please fill me. I fear my will wavers before the pleasures offered by your touch."

"Good," I said, and she studied me curiously. "Tonight, I wish to see your will submit in totality to your desire."

Her eyes were wide, and her mouth slightly agape, and she studied me intently as I slipped the sleeves of her robes over her shoulders, and took a second to admire the sight of her naked breasts.

They were round and firm, and I quickly moved in to kiss them; sucking, hungry kisses that ran all along the fleshy mounds, occasionally teasing the perky nipple that stuck out, begging for attention.

She threw her head back, a moan finally escaping her lips as I took the other breast into my hand, and began to fondle and massage the orb.

Heat was radiating from her sex, which was pressed firmly against my knee, and I smiled mischievously as I began to imagine how she would react to being brought to orgasm at the mercy of my tongue.