Bard's Tale 04 - Holly Wood

Mindal opened her arms to him.

Reison looked to Tia and Tahna, who nodded grimly to him. He snatched Mindal close, squeezing her tight in his arms, chin over her shoulder, his breathing ragged. Glaring at the dryad, he demanded in High Elven, "Why did you take me?"

Looking up at their stern, accusing faces, the dryad sobbed in defeat.

Tahna reached down and grabbed a fist full of hair, forcing her to look at him. "Answer him, bitch! Why did you take him?"

"I didn't want... didn't want to be alone."

Mindal translated her Hellene words to High Elven for him.

Tahna looked at her husband. "She stole you. Compelled you to fuck her against your will. Stole your sperm. You are the injured here, Reison. We are your wives, but you are the head of our House. You could order her death or even enslave her for up to twenty years."

"Is she...?" he asked, looking at Tia.

"She bears your child," the priestess confirmed.

"What do wish us to do with her?" Tahna asked again.

Reison had a look of disgust. "Just get me out of here."

"She could do this again, to someone else," Tahna persisted.

He looked back to Tia. "Can you bind her to a promise, not to take anyone by force again? If she wants a lover, she must ask first."

Immensely proud of his decision, Tia nodded. "I can do that. Tahna? You and Mindal take him outside. Go back to the living room and face the north wall, thinking to exit the tree. I'll be with you shortly."

The two sisters escorted him away. As controller of the tree walk spell, Tia felt them leave the tree's heart.

Holly stared after them, her face bereft. "No lover. No grove. First the dragon, and now you? What's next, priestess? Burn my tree? Dagger in my heart? Slavery?"

"He is married to us in a manner approved of by the gods," Tia replied coldly. "You stole him from us, and you stole his seed. Seed promised to us as his wives. The languages of the elves are not that far removed from the language of faerie, Holly. You heard what my sister asked and what he said in response."

Getting down on her knees, Tia roughly grabbed Holly's crotch, still swollen and leaking semen, and cast the spell oath. "From this day forward, Holly, any lover you seek, you must first ask their permission before touching or bedding them, do you understand? If you fail to abide by this binding, your womb will wither and dry up, cursed by the gods, never to bear life ever again, and you will never become a grove mother. Now say the words, I accept and will abide by this binding!"

"What? No! How can you do this? I'm not evil!"

"No, you aren't evil. But you aren't good, either. You are a selfish, self-absorbed little forest bitch, uncaring about the impact of what you do. A grove mother cares not only about herself, but about her entire grove, and all the life that lives within it. An alder tree matures around seventy years. You're twenty-two. The alternative, Holly, is that I use my magic and age your tree fifty years, Holly! Fifty years. Forcing you to age along with it. I have that power, Holly. You will be bound to your tree then, never able to move more than a hundred meters away from its rooted form, unable to bind yourself to a new tree. This will trap you here, away from the world of men. Now say the words!"

Defeated, the dryad sobbed out, "I accept and will abide by this binding."

Heat filled Holly's womb as the spell completed. Tia released her grip and stood up.

"What will I do now? I'm alone here," the dryad said bitterly.

"It's not so bad. If you want another lover, instead of ensnaring them by spell, you must talk to them and offer your desire to mate openly. And you must accept it if you are turned down. You will get some takers. If you want love, well, then you need to be a friend and lover in return. You have what you wanted most of all, Holly. Love and nurture the child he gave you. My husband may never forgive you, but knowing him, he will likely be back one day, wanting to see his dryad-daughter."

"You wouldn't lie to me? He's given me a child already? Truly?"

"Yes, you are pregnant. Now cover up and tell me about what happened to your grove. Where exactly was it located from here? How far did you travel? How did you learn the dragon's name? Exactly how large was he? I need details, Holly. Details."

* * * * *

Tia exited the tree half an hour later. She thanked and dismissed the aerial servant, then banished the ward around the tree.

Then she joined the group hug around their now-dressed husband, giving him her smile and kisses.

"You came for me," he remarked happily, kissing them again in turn.

"We will always come for you," Mindal quipped. "As for me, I promise I will come for you as often as I can."

"Me, too," Tahna assured him, her face pink with innuendo.

"I love you dearly," he replied. "But when we bed down tonight, I just want to be held and to hold you. All right?"

"Yes, Husband," they answered in unison.

He looked around, scowling at the flowery area thrumming with dryad magic. "Let's get away from here."

Tia recast their travel spells, and they headed closer to the river, resuming their journey toward the capital, glad to away from the impetuous and thoughtless young dryad.

A few hours later, they broke for lunch, and finding a nice pool in the sun beside the strong, flowing Crescent River, Reison pleaded for a chance to wash himself. Tia supported him, and the other two, understanding the symbolism, set themselves around him, keeping vigilant guard. Mindal's request that they get naked and help, however, was vetoed by Tia. Reison seemed grateful for Tia's stance.

While they kept guard, though, it didn't stop them from watching him. Mindal and Tia stood equidistant on the shore. Tahna braved the deeper current and kept watch. It was rare, but bull sharks sometimes swam up freshwater rivers, looking for prey. And there were always the chance for monsters.

When he was nearly done, Tahna asked him if she could wash his back.

"All right."

Her heart filled with joy, and she sloshed over to him, taking the sponge and soap and lathering his back with enthusiasm. After he rinsed off, she asked, "Want me to wash it again?"

Seeing her earnest, eager face, he laughed. "No thanks, Beautiful. Thank you for the offer, but you did a great job the first time. But you can give me a kiss, though."

Beaming from ear to ear, she stood closer and his arms pulled her tight as his mouth took hers. The monk moaned as they kissed, and sighed when his wet hands clutched her butt cheeks, pulling her against him.

"Oh, my sweet beloved," she gasped at last.

He kissed her cheeks, each eyelid, then her forehead. "Tomorrow, I'll make this right, Tahna. I promise."

When they stepped from shore, Mindal happily dried him off while Tia stood by, holding his clothing. All three women paid plenty of attention to his nearly erect cock bobbing in front of them, giving him their approval with love in their eyes.

Once he was dressed, they resumed their trek.

Toward late afternoon, grey clouds flowing in from the west began to darken the skies. Wanting a hot meal before it rained, they looked about for a place to set up camp.

So absorbed were they in watching their husband, they were nearly taken unawares by the pack of wyverns that swarmed them.

One moment, Tahna's head snapped up, shouting "'Ware!" and four tall, large reptilian beasts attacked, slashing out with wing-claws, kicking with taloned feet, and snapping with their large, fanged mouths. Most dangerous of all were the dancing, flailing tails with their deadly, poisonous stingers.

The wyvern next to Tahna tried to separate her from the others. Focusing her power in a single attack, she called up dim mok, the dreaded quivering palm. She slapped the breast of the wyvern, delivering the strike, and then was kicked away by a raking leg talon, ripping into her side.

"Die!" commanded the monk, rolling to a combat stance, and the wyvern screeched in agony as its heart exploded. It collapsed into a lifeless heap.

Spinning about as she drew her sais, Tahna dove toward Reison and Mindal who flanked Tia. The situation was dire enough that the priestess wielded her footman's mace. The chance of having her spells interrupted were too great and she was forced into melee combat.

Tahna dodged claw and talon, placing herself in front of the priestess. Weapons flying about in defense, the priestess completed a hold monster spell, freezing the beast in front of Mindal. The bard's fiery long sword Scorch stabbed into the creature's heart, slaying it.

Then Tahna saw the wyvern fighting Reison do a half-turn, and she flung herself in front of her distracted husband.

The giant stinger pierced her chest, and the poison pumped into her body. By that time, however, the huge stinger's damage alone was enough to cause blood to fill her lungs, spilling out of her mouth as her eyes dimmed.

The monk crumbled as the dripping tail withdrew.

"Tahna!" Reison screamed, then flew into a fury, his short sword a glowing blur of metallic death.

The wyvern closing in on Tia was suddenly yanked back by an aerial servant, its strong arms snapping the creature's wings. The injured beast howled in rage and pain. Mindal charged in, swinging her flaming blade. Dodging its vicious mouth, the bard stabbed it in the neck, severing it's throat, killing it.

Reison pressed forward against his draconic foe, taking damage from wing claws to his arms and chest, yet ignoring the pain. Its jaws snapped down, impaling his shoulder and shaking him, stabbing deep even through his enchanted chain armor. Its success was short-lived as both the aerial servant and a furious bard swinging fiery steel slammed into its flank.

The next instant, Reison felt Tia's touch and nearly all his injuries mended from her heal spell. Without a thought, he leaped back into the fray, stabbing out with his magical short sword. The beast struggled, but against three opponents, it was quickly overwhelmed and slain.

The fierce battle had taken less than two minutes.

Both Reison and Mindal whirled, rushing back to Tahna.

Tia had turned her limp body over, exposing the large red stain in the center of the monk's chest. The priestess, kneeling at her head, wiped at her eyes.

Desperate for reassurance, Reison picked up her hand, feeling for her pulse. Nothing.

Clearing her mind, Tia cast neutralize poison first. Such was critical, for attempting to raise someone slain by poison without eliminating the toxin first would result in the poison immediately re-slaying the newly-raised person. Attempting to raise someone slain twice in the same day was several times more difficult. And anyone who failed the attempted raise was dead and gone. Except for the spell resurrection. For Tahna, it was a given that Tia would pay the physical costs, just as she had for Miriel. But once anyone failed a raise dead, resurrection ever after was the only means to restore them to life. However, while Tia remained pregnant, casting resurrection would be fatal.

As the neutralize poison spell completed, the black ichor was expelled out of Tahna's chest, further staining her gi, the poison rendered harmless by the spell's divine power.

Next, Tia began the spell raise dead, her voice growing louder as she invoked the power of the goddess. Reison and Mindal each held onto a lifeless hand and fervently prayed to their respective goddesses for the spell to succeed.

Seconds ticked by as Tia chanted and seemed like hours. At last, as the spell completed, Tahna suddenly inhaled, and grins and tears of relief burst forth from all three petitioners.

The monk coughed, then gasped, "What happened?"

"You died, Little Sister," Tia answered, still kneeling at Tahna's head. "You saved Reison by taking the blow meant for him."

Closing her eyes, she said, "Oh." Then she reopened them, fearfully looking at Tia. "What about my baby?"

"What's she talking about?" Reison asked.

"She died, Reison," Tia explained. "I got to her as quickly as I could. The damage or the poison or the combination -- it may have been too much. There's a strong chance she'll lose her child. We won't know until the morning. If it happens, it will be in process by then."

The priestess caressed her sister's cheek. "I will pray for you, Tahna."

"Thank you," Tahna whispered. Then she passed out, exhausted.

Mindal cast clean and dry cantrips to remove the blood, ichor, and the urine expelled when Tahna died. When a person dies, their bladder and bowls loosen. Fortunately, the monk had not been dead long enough to soil herself.

Tia stood up. "What do you wish to do, Husband?"

Wiping away his tears, he looked to Mindal before answering. "She's helpless until tomorrow evening, right?"

"Yes. One day of complete bed rest for each day or partial day of death. She'll be weak as a kitten until a full twenty-four hours have elapsed, then rapidly regain her strength."

"She'd be more comfortable at the inn, in your rooms?"

"Our rooms, my husband," Tia corrected. "Your rooms, too. But yes."

"Let's go back then. We'll restart this journey after she's better. This whole trip has not been an experience I want to repeat."

Mindal stood up, too. "I'll get her gear. You carry her, Reison."

He picked Tahna up, cradling her in his arms. Mindal retrieved Tahna's sais, securing them to her belt.

Tia thanked and dismissed the aerial servant. Then she opened a portal into their rooms at the Pixie Palace. Mindal grunted as she carried Tahna's backpack, marveling that her big sister carried so much weight without complaint. As the magical gateway coalesced and opened before them, Tia crossed into the suite, dropped her pack, then stepped back through and collected their large tent. Reison trudged through next, followed by Mindal and then Tia. With a word of dismissal, the portal snapped shut behind them.

"I'd better take her to the bathroom first," Reison announced.

"Why--? Oh," the bard said. Then hurried ahead of him. "I'll help you clean her up and get the water running."

The priestess called after them. "I'll head downstairs and get us dinner, and let the staff know we'll need laundry services tomorrow and the next day as well."

Tahna was quickly cleaned and gently dried. Reison laid her out on the couch, and when Tia returned, she and Mindal made the bed, pulling out clean sheets and retrieving blankets from their shelves.

Though none of them felt like it, Tia insisted they eat a good dinner. "She's alive," Tia reminded them, and that ended any objections the other two might have had.

They spoon-fed Tahna beef broth, and tired again, the monk fell asleep. Taking her into the bedroom, Reison and Mindal laid on each side of her, keeping her company.

The priestess prayed for her sister and her unborn child.

Afterward, Tia made herself some more chamomile tea and set to writing a letter to her parents about the forest dragon. Based on what Holly had told her, the dragon was huge, upwards of forty meters in length.

Rather than bother Mindal, she searched the shelves in the sitting area and found the bestiary volumes. Pulled out the one on dragons. She read the entry on forest dragons and was disturbed. To be so large, the forest dragon had to be at least eight centuries, making him ancient and powerful. Or worse.

New Brittany was at the southeastern corner of the wood Elven lands, and by Holly's reports, the grove had been some days west of the Elven kingdom. Still, a dragon can be a voracious predator, denuding a region of all wildlife within a short time, and if a lair is established, they can easily cross great distances by flight in their constant search for food.

Metallic dragons often polymorph into humans or elves, the magical change reducing their need for massive amounts of food. Only the more powerful of the nonmetallic dragons were able to disguise themselves in such a manner, however, and except for fire dragons, most disdained appearing as human as beneath their draconic pride.

After Tia finished writing to her parents, she mailed it, and then wrote another one about the dragon for the duchess.

A few hours later, hearing Reison make noises, Tia got up and checked the room. His words of protest while asleep threatened to grow louder. Mindal, however, was already slipping in on the other side of him, drawing him into her embrace. Humming quietly, he curled into her and quieted down. Noticing immediately it was the same lullaby she'd sung to Tahna, and she smiled at them with love.

Taking advantage of being in the bedroom, Tia dug out a comfortable nightshirt and undressed. Then she settled in next to Tahna.

In the early morning hours, Tahna woke Tia, citing a need to visit the bathroom. Tia carried her to the bathroom, and helped her wash afterward. Seeing the monk's unspoken plea, she cast detect pregnancy.

Tia examined her sister's face. Before she could say anything, however, there was a loud rumble from Tahna's stomach.

Grinning, Tia said, "I'll get you something to eat, Little Sister. You should be able to have some soft foods now. Yes, dear sister, you're still pregnant. However, you now carry twins."

Relief became surprised panic. "What?"

"Body trauma, Tahna. Sometimes the baby aborts. Sometimes it splits."

As the monk pondered that, she smiled tiredly. "I'll probably have mine first. Twins usually don't carry as long as a single babe."

"Mmm, no," Tia said. "You have to take into account your own body, too. The last two times that Mindal and I had youth magic done on us, you didn't need it, because of that monk ability of yours. Aging only one year for every ten that affect the rest of us mortals? You might even deliver last."

"Oh."

Picking up her sister, she continued on. "Just think of it, Tahna. In the last three or four months, we'll be so big we can't take him on top. It'll be spoon sex or from behind."

"What about being on top?"

"Maybe. He probably won't be able to thrust upward, though. Great position for us, though, to hit the good spots. Might be too frustrating for him. You know how guys are. They like to move their hips and bury their cocks deep."

"Yeah," Tahna agreed. "They do, don't they."

As Tia laid her on the couch, she asked, "Do you think Reison will make love to me today? I know I can't do anything back, but it would mean so much to feel him coming inside me."

"Not until tomorrow at the earliest. Give your body a chance to recover. The first three months are the most fragile for a pregnancy. While you are so weak, if you orgasm, you could cause the babies to abort. You've already given your boys a serious shock. Don't push it."

"All right, Tia. Thank you for praying for me. I know it helped. I can't believe it. I'm going to have twins."

"Yes, well, while you are healing, you need to do that reflecting I asked you to do earlier."

"Yes, Tia. Did you... did you ask about me and my monk abilities?"

"I did. You aren't being punished. The problem, though, is you. Specifically, I was referred to psalms 81 and 82."

"Before you can master yourself, you must acknowledge and embrace all that lies within you. Deny what lies within you and it will destroy you," Tahna quoted.

"I think you have some real thinking to do, don't you? When we get to the capital, I want you to apply for a sabbatical, Tahna. I think you truly need it. Will you at least think about it?"

The monk nodded somberly.

As the priestess stood up, a letter suddenly appeared and floated to the ground in front of her. Tia picked it up, examining it. The seal on the outside belonged to Dianne Starshine, Duchess of Biyandi. Curious, she opened it up and read through it.