Echoes of Spring Ch. 02

"Along many a road and a month of the northern rains," Severia happily agreed. "What a small world we live upon! I must admit, I'm at a loss on how you would wind up in Erika's company, my lord, although I can hazard a salacious guess."

"No. Nothing of the sort," Eric denied with a wave of his hand. "I thought I was saving her from some would-be bandits."

"Instead to only save me from a donation or three," Erika giggled. "But I do still appreciate the thought, twin Eric," she winked.

"A charming coincidence. Yet, that doesn't explain you being here, my Lord Eric," Severia smirked. "Fancy a dip? You could tell me the story as we swim."

Eric's happy grin washed away, likely as he remembered the events of Moradria. "I'd love to, but... I think I'll take advantage of the daylight to find us a doe for the Midsummer. Give you girls a chance to catch up."

"You don't have to, twin Eric. We've plenty o' eats," Erika frowned.

"I know, but I think we all deserve some meat tonight," he somberly replied. He secured his bow from his pack and took his mare by the reins. "Be back before you know it."

"Um... okay! Be safe!" Erika waved, wincing as soon as the words left her mouth. He isn't a child!

Eric gave her a casual wave over his shoulder as he sauntered off into the woods with his bow and his horse. Erika eventually found the will to tear her eyes from his back as Severia stepped closer.

"Alright. Spill it, honey," she demanded of her, placing a hand on her hip.

"Spill wot?" Erika teased, grinning ear-to-ear.

"How are you traveling with him?"

"Oh, welll... 'tis a long story," Erika giggled, nudging her head towards the pool, "but I shall regale ya over spring water. I could really use the bath."

Severia agreed wholeheartedly, and the girls undressed and entered the hot spring together without any delay. Erika knew her friend always traveled with shampoos and soaps, making the prospect doubly intriguing now that she could finally feel clean.

There they washed one another; nothing sexual, nothing sensual, just two friends helping one another with their extremities. Neither of them were gay, really, having only been with one another in the past when there was a third to share in the pleasure; and the third was always a man.

After bathing, Erika then told her friend everything about her story with Eric; from the river-side ambush, to her contracting rabies, to Eric saving her from said rabies, to visiting the castle, the vaults, then discovering Eric's wife in disgusting affair with his father. She then relayed their plan to Severia; a request for the annulment of Eric's marriage from the Temple of Fiona, a place where the truth would reign victorious over the Duke's coinpurse and power.

"It seems ill-mannered of you to be so giddy, honey. That story's profoundly tragic," Severia then chastised her, causing Erika to wince.

"Well, um, 'tis, an' the gods won't look too fondly on the Duke for his sins. But fer me it's been the most blessed o' suns," she replied with a guilty smile. "Twin Eric's shown me the unerring grace of a truly kind soul. I admire 'im greatly."

"Most everyone does. But, that name you keep calling him; 'twin Eric'? That's highly inappropriate behavior," Severia chastised with a raised finger. "He's the only son of one of the most powerful people in the world, Erika. He should be addressed with the proper honorifics."

"Should be! An' I started off that way, too, believe you-me, but he insisted on jus' Eric!" Erika gleefully exclaimed. "Anyway, now you have'ta tell me how you know 'im. Spill that, Severia," she demanded with a playful shove of her arm.

"It's not much of a tale," Severia chuckled, shrugging her shoulders. "I was his religious attache for the Northern Expedition of Seventy-Five. We were quite... amicable in our discussions."

"The same expedition his father used to get 'im outta the castle," Erika pouted.

"Perhaps. But, if were truly a misguided mission, Lord Eric made it into something worth doing. We encountered many a northerner up there, you see. Northerners making a home on his father's land... and the Lord Steward of Moradria only saw coins in his eyes. He expected Lord Eric to note them, give them a wide berth, then return with more soldiers so that he may excise the Duke's Tax. Lord Eric, as you could imagine, emphatically disagreed. He said... oh, what was it? I daren't misquote him," Severia frowned, bringing a hand of recollection to her chin.

"'Why is it suddenly our right to tax these people based on some lines on a scroll? We don't protect them. We don't help them. We didn't even know of them under yesterday's sun. No. All I see before me now are fellow children of the Mother; simple folk looking to make a home for themselves in peace. Let us instead befriend them, and see if they need the gentle hands of our good sorceresses.' Something like that, anyway."

"Oh my goodness! He's soo just!" Erika swooned, getting a wide grin out of Severia.

"Indeed, but still the Lord Steward fought against this course of action. He simply called them barbarians; archaic souls who worship the bloody gods of the past. And Lord Eric replied, 'Would you be so different if you were raised under those gods yourself? Would I? And am I so careless to have forgotten that civilization comes only through the paying of taxes?'" Severia chortled. "This, as you could imagine, caused much of an uproar throughout the survey team, and the Lord Steward was sufficiently silenced. We helped those people in the end. Treated many a disease and wound, and even shared some of our insights in farming thanks to our translator, Sir Fredrick."

"By Fiona! Now I'm dyin' of infatuation," Erika squealed. "He's like all the ol' stories my ma used to tell... of Kings doin' noble things just 'cause they can. Oh... 'tis so hard to believe this is the same Eric who ate me yesternight an' this morn'."

Severia's eyes then widened like saucers. "Ate you?! By the gods, Erika! What have you done to that poor man?!" she exclaimed. Erika innocently raised her hands.

"I did nothin' to 'im! He did it on his lonesome, sayin' I deserved it just for who I am!"

"Astonishing," Severia laughed, laying back in the spring waters. "You should have witnessed him during our time together. He was married then, and spoke very highly of the woman who shared a bed with his father... but, I suppose that's now all in the past. So. Is he yours to share?"

"W-wait. Huh?" Erika frowned.

"The sweet Lord Eric. I fancy him, you know. Would he do the same for me, I wonder?" Severia mused with a devilish grin.

"O-oh, I dunno, Sev. He's not mine so much," Erika wobbly replied, blushing. Severia shrugged and furrowed her brow, obviously looking for more. "He 'asn't fucked me, but we've done about everythin' else a girl-n-boy can do since we forsook Moradria. Still, I can't say he's mine to do anythin' with. Self-determination an' all that, praise be the Father."

"Praise him. So, would you not mind if I came onto him as well? My loins absolutely ache for a cock as noble as his," Severia husked, rubbing her thighs together under the water.

The very thought of her and him caused a sudden rage to consume Erika, though she gave her best in keeping it controlled. "He's... Eric's not jus' some cock attached to a handsome vessel, y'know?"

"Did I ever say that he was?" Severia giggled. "But, fine. I ache for the entire vessel, truthfully. Have since I first laid eyes on him. You still haven't answered my question, dear."

"I'd rather ya not," Erika pouted, folding her arms under her breasts.

"Oh come now, honey, you've been with hundreds of men! Don't tell me you're suddenly feeling protective of this one."

"W-Well, I am!" Erika cried. "All my past does is make me realize how special he is. No man since I got this fuckin' rose has ever treated me with kindness just because! But he did! An' he still does, too! I gotta think that means summ'n."

"Yes, it means he's kind of heart. Able to sympathize with his lessers."

"'Lessers'?!" Erika whined. "Severia, I love you, but sometimes I really hate talkin' to you!"

"It's-!" Severia took a deep breath, "-only the truth. I'm a lesser of his too, if it helps. He's a Duke's son, Erika. Most the world is beneath him."

"I s'pose..." Erika grumbled. Severia sighed and swam towards her, placing a hand on Erika's breast.

"Honey... I can feel the intense passion you have for him. I'm not seeking to supplant that. Instead, let us make a compromise for the good of the coven. Turn the other cheek for a single night - tonight - then let us see where the cards then lay. Would that not be the fair course of action? Especially after I shared my sweet Joseph with you last summer? You said it yourself, Erika; he isn't yours to command."

If Severia could sense Erika's true feelings towards him, then why couldn't she just drop this?! Sure, Eric wasn't hers, but that didn't mean he didn't like her!

Yet... was this truly Erika's hill to die upon? To war against her best friend's wishes, to fight against the happiness that Eric could eke out during these troubling times? She supposed that it wasn't. Taking such a hill would be greedy, and the gods despised avarice.

"Jus' tonight, ya say?" Erika softly asked.

"Just tonight. After which, on my honor as a priestess of Lassinia, I'll never bother you about this again," Erika's best friend in whole wide world replied.

"Fine, Sev," she grumbled. "I can meet that compromise."

-=-=-

It was yet another hour before Eric returned from his hunt, his approach heralded by the clip clops of horseshoes on rock. The girls had already risen from the pool to avoid pruning, and were now dressed in as little a clothing as possible; Severia had donned only her cape, leaving most her legs exposed, and Erika had merely put on her travel cloak, leaving all but her arms and breasts available to peruse.

This lack of decency was all for Eric's sake. Much to Erika's dismay, Severia had turned the Midsummer into a competition; a competition where she had no choice but to let Eric make his own decision on who he would take to bed. Phooey.

Despite the girls' best attempts at non-verbal seduction, Eric sauntered into camp seemingly unimpressed, merely holding three slain rabbits as he whistled some catchy tune.

"Well, couldn't find any deer, but I did catch us each a hare," he said.

Severia smiled at him. "A more challenging quarry than deer, I'd say. Put them downwind for now, if you would," she replied with a wave of her hand.

"Challenging, true, but far less satisfying," Eric sighed, throwing his catch that way. The girls stepped closer to him, holding onto what was left of their clothes.

"Pay it no mind, my lord. We're still blessed with a fine hunter and hot meats for the Midsummer," Severia warmly smiled. "I'd like to inform you that Erika told me much of your story. We both know it's uncomfortable to even discuss in passing, but please understand that you have my sympathy. And that's the last you'll hear of it from me."

"Thanks, Severia. And, uh... thanks."

"But I do not pity you, for you stumbled into something far greater than any Moradrian Midsummer distraction. You're instead in the presence of the Third Coven of Roselight."

Eric raised a brow, glancing at Erika before returning his gaze to the sorceress. "Is that so?" he smirked.

"Mhm, comprised solely of Erika and I. Now, don't get me wrong; this coven wasn't founded to control nations from the shadows, or to persuade the tall minds of the Colleges. Nothing near so impactful as that. Instead, we meet at this pool every Midsummer to begin a journey of debaucherous amusement."

"That's right!" Erika cheerfully piped up. "'Tis a journey where no passion is too small to ignore, nor any desire too sinful to be left undone. There's no judgin' here, Eric. Not from us, anyhow."

"Let she without sin cast the first stone," Severia reverently quoted.

"An' let she without lust, castigate," Erika smiled, bringing a finger to her lip. "Though... I suppose we should say 'they', now that we've a man in our midst," she giggled.

"In any case..." Severia sultrily whispered, strutting towards Eric as she held her cape with a single hand, "Erika and I would be most honored if you temporarily joined our coven, my lord. Would such a thing ever interest you?"

Eric's eyes roamed hungrily over the sorceress's naked legs. "Just the three of us?" he asked.

"Just the three," she instantly confirmed. "None may join in our quest once this holy night is complete. What do you say?"

"It sounds... lovely," he sighed. "So long as we make it to the Temple of Fiona."

"Splendid!" Severia giggled. "Now, you already know of my unique magics, Lord Eric. You already know that I can force you to truthfully answer any question that I dare pose. So, with that in mind..." she stopped four feet in front of him, twirled around so she faced away, and asked over her shoulder, "do you find me attractive, my lord?"

And she dropped her cape, displaying her naked shoulders, her back, ass, everything to a more-than-stunned Eric, who greedily took in her willowy form and slender curves as if they'd disappear any moment. He had no choice whether he answered Severia's question or not.

"I do," he muttered, clearing his throat.

"And Erika? Isn't she just the cutest little morsel?" Severia cooed. Erika caught the swift glance that the young lord gave her.

"She is... but, she's so much more than that. She inspires me to be a better man," he agreed wholeheartedly and more, causing Erika's heart to flutter. But Severia then backed up against Eric and grinded her ass against his crotch, arching an arm around his neck.

"That's so sweet. But would you take her, my lord? While I watched on?" she whispered so sexily.

"Yep," he choked out. "Sure would."

"Hmm... and what of the reverse, I wonder?" Severia mused as she untangled herself from him.

Eric's jaw almost dropped from his face as he watched Severia seductively strut towards the pool, her enticing hips swaying delicately with the midsummer breeze. He looked to Erika for help, only to find the priestess dropping her own cloak into the grass.

"What about the reverse, Erika?" he asked cynically, raising a brow. Erika shrugged, giving him the best smile she could muster at that moment.

"It's Midsummer, twin Eric; the most revered night of this coven. You can do whatever ya want. Whomever," she winked. It wasn't the answer Erika had wanted to give, but the one she'd promised to her friend.

Eric's excitement at the notion would've been evident to even the most imperceptive soul. He was unbuttoning his jacket within the second, and wore a grin so wide that it could've only been owned by an excited teenager. And yet, he stepped towards Erika rather than follow the sorceress to the pool. He leaned into her when he reached her, impatiently throwing his jacket into the grass.

"Your... best friend, was it?" he whispered in her ear.

"Yeah? Whaddabout 'er?" Erika whispered back, glancing towards her friend by the pool.

"She terrifies me."

Erika snorted, her fears of the night instantly waning in light of Eric's smile. "Terrifies ya? Why ever would she? She's only usin' her magics for good 'n fun."

"No, no, in a good way. But uh, that's not it. You're telling me I can do something that I know you're not fond of. She pressured you into this."

"That's... that's nonsense, Eric," she nervously chuckled, shaking her head.

"Yeah? And you're a bad liar," he smirked. "Now, tell me what to really do."

Erika traced her fingers up Eric's chest, basking in his youthful excitement. She knew her fears of him finding a better match in Severia were completely unfounded. He only wanted her because Fiona had told him to, and who was Erika to stand against her goddess's wishes?

"Jus' enjoy her. Tonight," she whispered with a sultry smile.

"Tonight. Okay. I'll do that," he promised her as he pulled away, giving Erika's naked ass a good hard smack as he retreated. She tried lunging for his butt in riposte, but only swatted at thin air as he hopped out of reach. "And you're going to watch," he smugly added.

Erika was laughing as she watched him saunter off towards the pool, stripping out of his clothes in record time. "Oh, I'll do more than watch ya, twin Eric," she grinned.

-=-=-

And so the Midsummer festivities of the Roselight Coven began in earnest. Under the twinkling stars of a cool summer night, the trio undressed and enjoyed the pleasant waters of their hot spring.

No Midsummer party would be complete without drink, of course, an eventuality that Severia had planned for with several bottles of Santarian sweetwine. These bottles were soon uncorked, tongues were soon loosened, and the coven soon shared many a story from their time apart from one another. Yet, despite the wine, the nudity, and the ten leagues of attraction, the night continued chastely for quite a while; until Severia played her hand, anyway.

You see, Erika was in the midst of regaling her friend of Eric's well-trained mouth, and of the thousand-thousand climaxes she'd received from it this morn'. Severia took this opportunity to scooch closer to Eric, steal his bottle of wine, and - after sensing no distress from the young lord - lift herself onto his lap and snuggle into his arms.

"What a steamy story, honey. And it leads in so well to my favorite discussion of the Midsummer," Severia giddily replied, taking a drink from the bottle. "Mah. Your most slutty story since last summer. Spill it, Erika."

Erika rolled her eyes, giving her best to react to Severia's brusque advance. "I dunno where ya get the idea that I 'ave some gran' story. All o' it's so similar an' stale," she groaned. "Men appreciate a young lass' figure. Men 'ave coin to spend on said lass. Men shoot inside her within ten minutes, an' the world keeps spinnin' around."

The monotonous way she told the tale garnered laughs from Severia and Eric, but the sorceress pushed on. "Come now, honey, there has to be something."

"Okay, okay, there's this one," Erika giggled, taking a swig of her wine. She wiped her mouth, and held up two fingers. "So, two men wanted me at the same time, a rare thing even fer me. I-It's not cheap, y'know, since summ'n's cock is likely gonna end somewhere I don't appreciate. But, these two were willin' to donate the eight or nine silvers for it. So, we go back to one of their places. Wife's out, doin' the market rounds or Fiona knows what. An' so we get started, an' I'm on my knees gettin' them ready. Then I notice that, every time I get their cocks near each other, they tense up. They start breathin'," Erika coyly smiled.

"So I know they've a pinch of the gay, right? An' I start playin' with them on purpose. Rubbin' them against each other. Tryin' to fit both in my mouth - which doesn't ever work, by the way," she giggled. "An' eventually I jus' straight up tell 'em to lay opposite, legs tangled, the whole thing so their peckers were pushed up against another's. An' I just go to town on 'em. Kissin', slobberin', jerkin' 'em as slowly as I wanted to. Fondlin' their nuts together... complimentin' how rock hard they were. They're into it, I'm into it 'cause I never see such a thing, an'... pff-pfft!"