Dragon (S)Layers Ch. 17

As she plodded through the narrow beams that served as the street, civilians made way for her, even a man with a narrow wheeled cart tried to move for her-- knowing that obstructing one of the Duke's personal knights was almost akin to attacking a noble; a bad idea in the best of ways. Amaranth slid around the cart, insisting she be the one to yield for him.

There was only one place where Markus would be caught spending his day off; the dingy little dive bar on the northern quarter of Highlind lane-- the only street in the entire city that actually ended instead of connecting to a travel path. The bar itself dominated the end of that street, highlighted in soot black wood and blue drapes that only accented the obnoxiously loud music blaring through the open doorway.

A haze of smoldering moss and cheap incense lanced through her nose, burning all the way into her lungs while the bleating of a poorly tuned wind instrument played by a half naked man in the corner, carving new trenches in her soul and already limited patience. A hand full of caravan guards and gamblers occupied the loose array of tables carrying on with their stories and games, paying almost no mind to her as she stepped in.

Then she found Markus and the screeching of the instrument became a dull drone in the back of her mind. His back was to her and he was sitting at one of the tables nearest the window, his broad shoulders and long brown hair caught a glint of light when he leaned back. It only served to accent his strong jaw and proud neck line, a reminder that no matter how close to she might be to her elven heritage and the graceful, sinewy forms they had, nothing would ever compare to the proud, raw strength of human men.

She approached quietly, slinking along the chipped wood floor as though each step might bring the place down. Her armor betrayed her easily, though, and the soft click-clack of her plates drew the attention of a few of the gamblers who looked up from their game-- beady eyes that lingered on her form and only when she looked their way met her gaze.

Some part of her knew that they knew a good thing when the saw it; that she would be filling their minds with that which was forever out of their reach when they were emptying themselves into the whores tonight. Some would dream about pulling her long ruby locks, slamming her powerful flanks or trying to get her to whimper their names into the pillow as they plowed her, breathing heavily into her pointed ear and trying to wrap their hands around her full breasts.

Her stomach fluttered with the heat of the thoughts racing through her mind-- there were too many men to defend herself against effectively, it would only take that one of them to decide that her title and her station didn't mean anything; that she was just a toy to be used. Her breath came shorter, mere sips of the tepid air compared to a moment ago.

No, she was a paladin, she wasn't meant to be thinking such things! Heavens forgive her, but the thoughts wouldn't stop. As she approached Markus, she caught herself wondering just how much longer she would want to deny that impulse if someone decided to try their hand at mind reading.

It surprised her to hear that quiet voice in the back of her mind whisper 'not long'. That was even before she saw the girl under the table with Markus's cock in her mouth.

Neither of them had noticed her approach and the girl didn't look in any position to stop even if she had. Markus's meaty paw clawed through her braided hair as his thick, swollen cock disappeared into her thin, obedient lips. She devoured inch after inch, bulging out her narrow little throat with his girth only to slide back with a cough and release it again, coated in a thin layer of saliva.

The girl, no more a woman than a teenager, was draped in a loose peasant dress with her blonde hair bound up and, from what Amaranth could tell, tied up perfectly to highlight her cute--if plain-- features. Markus didn't seem to mind her humble looks, though. He fed her generously, cupping the back of her head as she turned her skull this way and that to take in more, to tease him.

Amaranth should have been ashamed, but she stood there watching for almost a full minute as the peasant girl dutifully serviced the knight. Subtly, the half-elf eased up behind her superior and laid a hand on his shoulder. He jerked forward and crammed his entire length into the girl's throat, glaring daggers at Amaranth for just that flicker of a second until recognition set in. "Oh--"

The girl flailed. "Urk!"

"Ah, shit. Sorry--" Markus started to draw back but Amaranth stepped up behind him and placed her hand on the back of the girl's head lightly.

With a glance at him out of the corner of her eye, she pushed her down on his cock, encouraging her to resume her attentions. She murmured in a soft voice meant only for the knight. "We've been summoned."

"Nnhhh. . ." Markus closed his eyes half way. "I'm allowed a day off."

"You'd occupy yourself with peasants when your Lord demands your attention?" Even with those words she pushed the girl's head down further until she had all of Markus's cock in her mouth. If she was going to take what belonged to Amaranth, she was damn well going to do it right. "No offense, miss."

The girl's bright green eyes turned up, flitting between the two knights even as they looked at one another in subtle challenge. She had no idea what she was getting into but Amaranth refused to let up. When their gazes met, she gave a gentle tug on the blonde's hair, easing her head back and then pushing her back down.

"What're--" Markus huffed as Amaranth worked the girl's head that little bit faster. Up and down, up and down until the peasant got the idea. She was a quick learner and eager to please, in no time at all she took over the motion even with both of the knight's hands on her. "Ah-- gods," Markus breathed.

"You should know better than play outside your station." The proud half-elf nibbled his earlobe. "You know to whom you belong."

"What--" was as far as the human got before Amaranth pushed the teenager's head down on his cock. She gagged and coughed while Amaranth kissed his ear, reveling in the low moan building in his throat. "Jealous?"

"Sometimes I wonder if I've become old news." She let the girl recover herself and ignored the look of irritation she earned from the lowly peasant. She was cute, but when it came down to it, Markus didn't belong to her, he never would. She needed to understand that.

Amaranth nuzzled against him softly, drinking in his natural musk as she kissed his cheek, breathing a sigh into his ear the way she knew he couldn't resist. As she did so, the peasant girl worked his cock harder, faster, just like Amaranth had shown her. "That's it. . ." she purred. "Better?" She looked to Markus.

The strong knight leaned his head back against Amaranth's shoulder with a resigned sigh. A sound she hadn't heard nearly enough in recent weeks. He knew who would take care of him, who'd be there when the time came. He knew who it was that was his equal.

Not that the girl wasn't doing her best to earn her place; she bobbed up and down with her cheeks swollen out with the sheer girth of Markus's package that she sucked on with increasing vigor, waging that constant battle struggle between the ability to breathe and the ability to please.

Markus spurred her on with a spasm. He was getting close.

"We need to go. . ." Amaranth kissed his earlobe. She not so subtly pushed the girl's head down until she had half of his length in her mouth. "Has she started something she can't finish?"

The knight--herknight grabbed the edge of the table with one hand, digging his heels into the floorboards even as his body started to stiffen. Amaranth looked down at the peasant girl with a faint smile. She hadn't pulled back and she didn't look about to. She kept up with her attentions, either oblivious to what was coming or, like Amaranth, not about to waste a good thing.

"Don't swallow." Markus groaned out-- the last thing he managed to utter before he thrust forward into the young peasant's mouth and threw his head back against Amaranth's shoulder armor. His low, satisfied groan was a familiar purr that made Amaranth blush. A sound she'd not heard nearly often enough.

The girl whimpered, sputtered and coughed under the pressure of Markus's powerful orgasm as it blasted hot streams of his seed into her little mouth. Her eyes screwed shut as she choked back on the instincts telling her to swallow. All the while Amaranth balled her fist into the girl's hair giving her no chance to move, only to accept her lover's load. She had bit off more than she could swallow and now it was too late to look back.

Markus groaned out louder than before and pumped his cock into her mouth, letting out another stream of goo into the teen's face. Amaranth smiled at the dirty look the girl's bright eyes took on. It was a look of anger and irritation.

Served her right.

"Spill not a drop." She whispered as she wrapped an arm around Markus's chest. The girl's cheeks, swollen with seed and cock had started to redden and, with Amaranth's command, only grew more crimson.

Finally Markus pumped again, a frantic hard thrust that stuffed more cock into the girl's mouth and abruptly slumped back against Amaranth breathing in short ragged sips. His dreamy, lust hazed eyes turned up to her. He panted across her cheek, spent. All the while, his hand remained on the back of the girl's head, unwilling to let her get up or even move.

But then Amaranth hadn't let go of her either.

The girl would learn her place, even if it meant a slightly painful lesson was needed. Amaranth kissed Markus deeply, as much to remind him of her presence as to show him that she still loved him. She wouldn't be denied, even for a moment.

Their kiss was electric, even years later it was still as passionate and vibrant as it had been the first night. In the minutes that lingered after his orgasm, their kiss became the center of her world. Until the girl coughed and sputtered. Her breathing had become more quickly paced and now, with the knight's cock soft, she nothing to fill her mouth but the remnants of her labor.

They both looked down at her, met with a confused, red faced teenager that only now seemed to comprehend the gravity of what she'd done. Markus was quick to sooth her fears, though, as he always was. . . He stroked her hair back and cupped her cheek with a soft smile. "She thinks I belong to her." He flicked his head towards Amaranth.

"That's because you do."

"That right?" He smirked, looking to the peasant girl. "What do you think, Myra?"

She exhaled sharply through her nose. Before she could swallow or speak, Markus leaned forward and whispered something in her ear. When he pulled back she looked up at Amaranth and blushed even deeper.

"Go on," he said softly. "Give her what belongs to her."

Amaranth blinked, looking between them. "What're you planning?" Her confusion lasted only a minute as the girl rose from her knees and half crawled over Markus, throwing her slender little arms around the half-elf and kissing her as though mustering up the courage before she could think better of it.

It wasn't the kiss that surprised the knight, but the force with which she used to her tongue to pry open Amaranth's full lips. In a second Amaranth opened her mouth and returned the kiss, slathering her tongue over the salty-sweet essence ofherknight. The girl whimpered as Amaranth took her head in her hand and took her, fully, for all she had saved up.

Markus always let loose with huge volumes when he came and this was no exception. Everywhere her tongue explored in the girl's mouth was more of him. Taste, smell and feeling, she had it all and gods above was it powerful. Amaranth tilted her head down slightly to accept more of the seed the girl had collected, lavishing the teenager's tongue with her attention and drinking deep from the mixed flavors of the girl and Markus.

It wasn't long before she'd cleaned very drop from the peasant's mouth and reclaimed what technically belonged to her. The girl was beginning to sink into the kiss, but Amaranth had other ideas; the moment she had what was hers, she broke the kiss. Still nose to nose with the human girl, she looked out of the corner of her eye to see most of the bar was watching now. She looked Markus in the eye and swallowed.

Twice.

After that, she let the girl go and grabbed his shoulder. "We have work to do."

Someone wolf whistled as the two knights made their way out the door, leaving a quivering bar-maid slumped against the table red faced and confused.

Markus trooped alongside Amaranth as they made their way back to the castle in relative silence. There wasn't anything to say, really, she had always believed an open relationship was the best way to keep a human lover and time had borne that theory out-- humans, after all, aged quicker than she did and grew bored more quickly.

Still, it didn't mean she couldn't be a little jealous. "Was it worth it?"

"Not until you showed up. . ."

She smiled at that. "Should I take that to mean I needn't worry about being replaced yet, hm?"

The man smirked as they trotted up the steps to the central building. "Perhaps not just yet," the warmth in his tone was both reassuring and lascivious. It wouldn't be long before he'd want to push his luck with a new girl, but for the time being he'd content himself with her company.

It wouldn't be the first time, and she wasn't about to burst his bubble, but once they had time to talk about her pregnancy, then they could decide what to do next.

"Uh--" Markus stopped abruptly before they entered the main hall.

Amaranth tilted her head. "Hm?"

"You, uh. . ." he licked his side of his lower lip for effect. "You have something on your chin."

"Now, now, no reason to be obtuse."

He rolled his eyes. "Don't say I didn't warn you."

They strode into the hall shoulder to shoulder amazed to find it nearly empty and the massive stained glass windows overlooking the second floor casting warm shadows over the slightly dusty air. The Duke and his sergeant at arms were the only ones in the room, both looking to the door expectantly. When he saw the two knights, he ushered them forward with his hands.

Without waiting for them to bow, he spread his hands. "It has been an interesting journey that brought us to this point, we've gone many places and I've been proud--honored-- to have walked this road with you. I hate to have to ask anything of you, for surely I don't deserve any more of your attention He was laying it on awfully thick. Perhaps he was trying to find a way to broach a delicate topic or perhaps he'd finally found something that not even his considerable charms and witticisms could smooth over. No matter the case, Amaranth stood patient and disciplined, waiting for the explanation she knew was coming.

"So, then--" the Duke stopped, eying Amaranth oddly for a moment. They locked gazes and for a split second he looked about ready to approach. He didn't, though, stopping just short. "--you have something on your chin."

Amaranth shot Markus a sharp look. Of course the man couldn't possibly have cared less; he just smiled and tried not to laugh. "Told you," he whispered even as she tried to discretely clean her chin. Of all the damned luck, she had surely picked a good day to display her best.

Given her tenuous relationship with the two men, she couldn't imagine a more embarrassing situation-- in the main hall, no less! Gods, there were appearances to keep! The sergeant at arms wasn't even trying to hide his interest any more, his cold gaze swept over her with a mildly disinterested expression. She'd lost a lot of ground for both her race and her gender. She chided herself quietly and forced herself to stand that much straighter. For all the good it would do.

She was a paladin for gods' sake. What kind of shame was she bringing on her order and her goddess--

"It must've been the pastries! I know how good the Marsmith's treats can be." Richard laughed to defuse the tension she was no doubt wearing like a cloak. He stepped into their reach and continued, "it was five years ago that we-- that is to say I-- agreed to help the Woodmore Vale with their war against the lycans. They've called the favor, so I am going to have toaskyou for your help in getting together the allies I promised them. . ."

"My lord, may I speak freely?" Amaranth ventured, not waiting for his permission before she spoke. "If we're to aid them, we'll be drawing ourselves into a battle that has been raging for centuries before your-- ah, I mean--" She glanced away, the word on the tip of her tongue. Quietly she chastised herself for subverting her own authority twice in as many minutes. "That is to say, humans. . . Before humanity walked the lands. With due respect, it's a quagmire."

Markus looked about to speak but the Duke cut him off. "I'm aware of the rumors that the gods ordained the combat so each race would keep the other in check, but how long as it been since the Vale accepted any form of outside help?" he spread his hands in a gesture of resignation and grandiosity. "This could mean a new era for both of our races, and I plan to see it through. You've said so yourself, we're not allthatdifferent."

Of course, what he didn't add, what was on everyone's mind was the fact that similarity was the reason people like her even existed. Human and elven couplings could produce a great deal of things, not all of them pleasant. Especially for the offspring. . .

Dame Amaranth steeled herself, fighting to suppress that nagging voice in the back of her mind. She was a paladin, duty bound to carry out her oaths and protect her charge. That hadn't changed with this news. It couldn't. Personal feelings be damned, this was duty. "As you wish, my Lord." She lowered her head. "What would you have us do?"

Markus glanced over before he seemed to catch his manners and follow her lead. "We won't fail," he added.

"We're going to the Imperial city of Berhesk!" He announced with a smile.

Amaranth frowned. "W- We?"

"Of course! This kind of matter requires a personal touch," he turned back to his table at the end of the hall. "Not that my faith is in you is any weaker, no no! I simply wish to see the matter handled personally. It was part of our agreement, you see."

"My lord. . ."

He held up a hand to silence his knights. "Now, now, we've a tenday to get this matter sorted. Yes. Time is short, but our cause is just--"

Amaranth murmured, "Richard. . ." in that voice that told him the matter was beyond little things like station. She was his guardian after all, it was her responsibility to take care of him. "The elves have never honored an agreement with those they consider inferior. You're making a mistake, one that could--"

"By that logic, my father should've left you to the streets, Dame."

Despite herself, her anger flared. "That isnotthe same thing!" She tried to keep going but Markus's hand on her shoulder told her to settle down before she said or did something she'd regret. It took a concerted effort to bring her anger in check but slowly, carefully, she said: "I agreed to serve your father as I do you, my Lord, but I amnotthe standard by which you should judge thepure. They would sooner use us-- you-- for your troops and when you have nothing left, they will carry on as they always have!

"That's a risk I am prepared to take,DameAmaranth. I need the two of you at my side for this. . . Trust your Duke. I will not lead you astray."

Amaranth frowned, unable to believe what she was hearing. He'd never asserted himself in such a way, perhaps it was a sign he was growing up-- in the wake of his words, though, a cold wind swept across her as she forced herself to re-evaluate what she really knew about the young human.