Fourth Vector Ch. 09

Jack took another deep breath. "We are too weak at the moment. Our best ships are bottled up back in Java by the Occitanian navy. On this side, the Swabian threat looms. We need more allies."

"You said you've seen a map of the entire Vector," said Luke. "So where should we go from here? Who can we try our luck with for another alliance?"

Jack looked at Heron, who then managed to step forward. "Jack and I have already been in discussion about this. Just north of Sorella is another island. A much larger island country named Picardy. I know their king and the Picards are good people. Plus, with them being so close to the Swabians, they've always provided a check against further expansion. If you're looking for a strong people to find an alliance, the Picards would be the next best place to start."

"What can we expect when we arrive in Picardy?" asked Vicky. "Would they be willing to help foreigners that they don't know? Could we expect a warm reception or will it be hard to gain their trust?"

"Not if you tell them you're allies with me," said Heron. "The current king of Picardy is a good friend of mine. Our houses have been entwined for many, many years. There's been a lot of intermarriage as well. My wife was a Picard. If you haven't noticed, Elektra doesn't display many typical Sorellan features."

"Is that where the red hair comes from?" asked Jack. Heron nodded with a chuckle.

"Precisely, Jack. They are a fair people, the Picards. My alliance with their King Aedan is firmly established. With their strength, we have a real hope to take on the Swabians should war come again," said Heron.

"How long will it take us to get there? How far north is their island?"

"It's about fifteen days sailing in one of our ships," said Heron. "I imagine you could make it in a little more than half the time with one of yours."

"Is there anything we would need to watch out for?" asked Abigail. "With that much sailing time, there has to be something in between?"

Heron started to nod. "I won't lie to you. The path between our two countries can be dangerous. Not only do you have the Swabians on the western side, but you also have Andalucian trawlers on the east. And the slavers don't really care who falls into their hands. As long as they're still breathing, they'll end up in the slave pens."

"It almost sounds like we don't have much of a choice in this," said Luke. "Is there any way to go around the Swabians?"

Heron pursed his lips. "Not really. The only course is to sail all the way around Swabia, a giant island chain to potentially reach Galicia, and not to mention, it would add a long time to your voyage. That particular route is not very safe, and for that reason, it's not well-traveled. The Swabians are not very hospitable to foreigners in their ports, so most of the routes go north of Swabia. The same goes for sailing out east and then striking north. Both routes would lose you valuable time."

"Is this what you would do if you were us, Heron?" asked Jack. "Would you try your luck in Picardy?"

Heron nodded. "I do believe it to be the best course. I know it may not sound like the best option, but the Picards are strong. With our alliance already set, you'll find willing ears and eager swords in Picardy."

"I think I'm about set then," said Jack. "It's the best course in front of us and we'll find another strong alliance. I'm in if the rest of you are."

"Consider me in, Jack." said Vicky with an affirmative nod.

"Me too, Jack," added Luke. "You know I'll sail wherever you ask."

"I'm in as well," said Abigail. "It sounds like the best plan. And I trust Heron's guidance on this matter. He's never steered us wrong."

Heron rewarded the younger woman with a fatherly smile but otherwise remained silent.

"So that settles it then," said Luke. "When should we get going on this? I imagine we'll want to get moving quickly to offset anything that might be going on with the Swabians?"

Jack nodded. "I'll want to move as soon as the ships are ready. First, I want to see them all and the repairs you were able to do. Then we'll pick up our guide and get moving."

"Guide?" asked Abigail. "What guide?"

Jack smiled. "I've already arranged the perfect guide to get us to Picardy."

*****

Kat stood out on a small balcony of Heron's palace that overlooked a quiet street. The sun had already set, and the few people still left in the streets below were already scurrying back to their homes. She smiled as she watched a young mother guide her toddler son back inside, the boy clearly not ready to stop playing for the night and throwing a fit as he was nearly dragged back inside by the exhausted mother.

No matter what country she visited, those scenes tended to always play out the same way. Young children were always the same whether they were in Sorella, or Galicia, or Apulia, or Samara. In a way, it was most comforting for her to remember that life went on, no matter the ordeal or amount of suffering.

Kat heard the scuffling of feet from behind her and turned her head toward the noise. Another pair of blue eyes and blonde hair came into view as Vera made her way to the balcony.

"There you are," said Vera as she came to a rest. "I was wondering where you went."

Kat smiled politely. "I didn't mean to offend. I just wanted a short break."

All of Vera's friends had settled in the wing of Heron's palace and had watched with rapt attention as the young woman recounted their tale of the treasure hunt. The women of the deceased king's harem were a most attentive audience, cheering at the most appropriate times. And while Kat greatly enjoyed their company, there came a moment when she wanted a bit of quiet. It was for that reason that she went walking around the small palace, finding the balcony on the second floor, the door hard to open from the lack of use.

"I hope we weren't bothering you," said Vera as her smile melted away.

Kat touched Vera's arm. "Not in the slightest! I found your retelling of the story particularly entertaining!"

Vera giggled. "It was a great adventure. It almost reminds me of the days sailing with my father to faraway lands."

"Yes it was," said Kat fondly. "And now that it's over, I find myself a little melancholy and unsure what to do."

Vera started to nod. "That thought had occurred to me as well. I know Heron has offered all of the former whores the chance to stay at his palace until we can get back on our feet. And he's been just wonderful, although I'm not sure if I want to take him up on that offer."

Kat turned to face her. "What would you do instead? Have you given that any thought?"

Vera pursed her lips and nodded. "I've thought about staying with Jack. I've thought a lot about that, to be honest."

Kat gulped. "What makes you want to stay with him?"

Vera shrugged. "I'm not sure if I can explain it. It's notthat though," she said when Kat gave her a knowing look. Kat's eyebrows relaxed and a more neutral expression formed on her face.

"It's just so hard for me to explain," said Vera while rubbing her hand lightly over her chest. "I feel like I should be with him. It's hard to explain but the thought of never seeing him again is frightening."

Kat nodded as her suspicions were finally confirmed. "I feel a connection with him as well."

Vera nudged her. "Well, I think yours might be deeper than mine." She giggled as the other woman started to turn red, remembering their previous conversation on Mount Tarpeious.

Kat's eyes drifted back to the street. "I'm not sure I know what you mean!"

"Yes, you do," insisted Vera. "I've seen the way you look at each other. And I especially noticed on the path themany times you looked back to him with a smile on your face. You like him a great deal, don't you?"

Kat took a deep breath. "It's not that easy, Vera."

"Why not? If two people fancy each other, why can't it be that easy?"

"It's just not," said Kat quietly. "It's hard for me to explain too."

Vera wrapped her arm around the other woman. "I know you have your own calling and your own quest but all of us could go together. Me, you, and Jack. Of course, I wouldn't get in your way or anything when you want to make your move."

"Vera," warned Kat with an exaggerated sigh.

Vera giggled. "I wouldn't! But this doesn't have to be the end for our journey together. And when you were ready for something to happen between him and you, you'd be on your own timetable."

"Well, I have agreed to help him once we leave Sorella," said Kat finally. "To go to Picardy."

Vera clapped her hands. "See? That would be perfect. And I could go to Picardy as well because let's face it—I have no other plans."

Kat smiled. "I would be happy if you came with us. I do greatly appreciate your company, and I'd be upset if you stayed here in Sorella."

Vera beamed with a smile. "I think that settles it then. I'll go with you to Picardy. Besides, didn't you say you had your own house in Picardy?"

"Of course," answered Kat. "Just off the western coast. A small island on the way to the capital city, Daban."

Vera clapped excitedly again. "We should go see it! This would be the perfect time for a side excursion! We could stay a few days, and you could show me where you live. That would be perfect."

Kat smiled politely. "I'd love to but I doubt we'd be able to convince Jack to stop his entire force just so we could stop a few days at my house. I'd feel irresponsible to even ask."

Vera pursed her lips once again. "It's something to think about regardless. Besides, didn't you say it was on a tiny island? A nice beach and endless sunshine?"

Kat nodded. "Yes to all of that. It's a beautiful little home and it's been incredible for me. I just haven't been able to be there much with all of my travels."

"It might be that now is the perfect time to go back," said Vera. "Before we start the next leg of our adventure!"

"I'll think about it," said Kat with a giggle. Privately, she knew of another good reason to go back to her house in Picardy. Something that would be very useful to her mission awaited her back at home. This would be an excellent chance to recover it considering the current events.

"Please do! Then we can be off to Picardy and then wherever Jack takes us," said Vera with a dreamy expression. "It will be perfect."

"As long as we don't wind up in the middle of a war," said Kat, trying to bring the other woman back to reality. "There's a lot of tensions right now. It wouldn't be a pleasure cruise."

Vera blinked. "I know but with everything that's been going on, I feel like we've earned a respite from reality for now. Even if that just means spending a few nights away from everything at your home. It'll be a way for us to relax before we get into the thick of things once again."

Kat bit her lip. "We may need to arrange for other means of transportation. And we couldn't stay too long. We'd need to meet Jack again right after."

Vera rushed in to hug her. "I can't wait to see your home!"

"I'm sure it will be better off than the quarters we'd get on one of Jack's ships," said Kat. "That is, if we are so lucky to get our own room!"

Vera pulled away to look at her. "With the way he looks at you, I'm sure he'd offer to give you his own personal quarters. Just as long as he's in it."

Kat turned a deep red. "Vera!"

"I'm just saying," said Vera with a giggle. "You can't tell me you haven't noticed it too."

Kat shot her a guilty look.

"See? I knew it," said Vera triumphantly.

"We almost kissed last night," said Kat quietly, remembering her time spent near the fire with him.

"Almost? Why almost?" asked Vera.

"It was because my watch was over and Heron woke up to assume his. If we'd only have gotten to it earlier in the conversation, it probably would have happened."

"Wait a second," said Vera. "He was up with you most of the night? During most of your watch?"

Kat nodded. "And then the king had the worst timing," she added with a small giggle.

"Well then, perhaps we need to arrange something different," said Vera with a mischievous look in her eye.

"What do you mean?" asked Kat.

"I mean, if you are having trouble with privacy, we have a whole wing of this palace all to ourselves. I wouldn't mind giving up my room if you needed some private time with Jack when he gets back."

Kat turned red once again. "Vera, what you're suggesting—"

"—is what people do naturally when they like each other," interrupted the other woman. "Besides, you'd never know what can happen once you have a little privacy!"

*****

Nikias waited for the two servants to continue down the hall before making a move. His current position was wrapped around one of the columns of the palace, taking advantage of the shadow created by the structure to hide his presence.

"I'm just saying," said the one servant. "I liked it a little better when there weren't so many mouths to feed!"

"Egor, what a mean-spirited thing to say," said the other servant as they started to get further away from Nikias. "We only have jobs because of them."

"We still had jobs before they returned too," said Egor sullenly.

Nikias waited until their voices all but diminished, and once he was comfortable it was just him in the hallway, he pushed out from the column and headed down the long corridor. He knew exactly where he was going. This small guest bedroom was on the king's side of the palace, not far from his personal chambers. Yet, Nikias knew with how late it was, the king wouldn't be back to the palace tonight. There was a small window of opportunity, and he intended to take full advantage of it.

The minister darted down the rest of the hallway, coming to a stop right behind the door itself. Producing the key, he unlocked it and quickly stepped inside, turning the lock until he heard the comforting click of the bolt slip into place behind him. In front of him was a set of stairs, no more than ten high, and they rounded along the wall meaning that he couldn't see what was past the stairs. Nikias started to head up, reaching the fifth step before he heard the challenge of another voice.

"Who's there?"

Nikias stopped for a moment and smiled to himself. "It's me. Who else would it be?"

The voice waited several seconds before responding. "You're late."

"I got tied up. Too many servants in this portion of the palace. I figured you'd rather me be secretive instead of just barging in here."

"Or maybe you should've just left earlier," said the voice in a playful tone.

Nikias chuckled and ascended the rest of the stairs. At the top was a small bedroom. This particular bedroom was in one of the towers that made up the corner of the palace, and for that reason, it had no windows. It wasn't used much for that reason, and most of the furniture was covered in dust, but it made for an excellent meeting place for anyone looking for privacy.

And Nikias needed the privacy. So too did the occupant already on the bed. Hidden by a thick blanket already, the only thing that stuck out was the long, red tresses of her hair.

Nikias came to a stop at the top of the stairs and leaned against the wall. "That's a sight I'd like to burn into my memory forever."

"What's that?" asked Elektra with a coy grin.

"The way you look right now, under the covers in bed," he answered. "It's a sight I've long since imagined."

"Is reality better than your dream?" she asked while pulling away the top of the blanket. She was topless underneath, and his gaze fixed on her pink, erect nipples.

Nikias bit his lip. "You have no idea," he whispered hoarsely.

Elektra covered herself back up playfully. "I'm not sure if I should let you come any closer. Being late as you were. Perhaps you don't want me as badly as you say!"

Nikias took another step forward. "What could I do to show the depth of my desire for you?"

Elektra shrugged her shoulders as her eyes rolled up in thought. "You could come up with a few ways of showing me. If you're creative enough, perhaps this can continue!"

He took a few more steps forward until he reached the foot of the bed. "So try harder then?"

Elektra moaned gently. "Mm-hmm."

He reached for her feet under the blanket, softly caressing each of them in both of his hands. "How's this for a start?"

Elektra pushed up on her elbows to look at him. "We'll see," she answered with a playful roll of the shoulders.

Nikias grinned as he uncovered the rest of her feet. He leaned down closer to her and brought them to his lips. Placing a subtle kiss against the exposed flesh of her feet, his eyes searched out hers. Elektra gave a sigh of content before giving him a nod of approval. Again, he kissed her foot, placing a trail of kisses that started near her ankle and began to roll up her leg.

"Nowthat feels quite nice," purred Elektra.

He responded by sliding his tongue along her calf. "Are you sure we have total privacy tonight?"

Elektra nodded. "Of course. Papa won't be back and no one has any reason to come down here anyway. We're perfectly secluded."

"Good, I don't want to be disturbed with what I have in mind," growled Nikias.

"What do you have in mind?" she asked coyly.

"Honestly?" he asked while locking his gaze on her. "I don't want to leave this room until I've made you orgasm at least twenty or thirty times."

"Nikias!" Elektra playfully mocked his tone. "Howdare you say those words to the princess!"

He started to chuckle before gently spreading her legs and placing several kisses along her inner thigh. Elektra moaned in response.

"I certainly know how to dive into trouble," he added coyly.

"Mm-hmm, yes you do," she agreed. "Please don't stop. And let's aim for closer to thirty instead of twenty, okay?"

"Your wish is my command," he said before slowly sliding onto bed. Elektra helped him by pulling the blanket further up her body. Soon, just about all of her lower half was visible to his eyes, her silky, smooth legs ripe for his hands and kisses. He wasted no time as he began a series of kisses that started on her inner thigh just above her knee. Watching her response, Nikias kissed all the way up until he felt her source of heat, but instead of continuing, he switched to the other leg and kissed back down to her knee.

"You tease," she whispered.

"I can't make it that easy for you," he said with a grin. "You may start to grow bored with me!"

Elektra pouted quietly while he repeated the motion, ending at her other knee once again. Her body began to squirm, and soon enough, her hips began to rock in anticipation. It was at the moment that he decided to stop teasing her so much and let his kiss drift higher up her thigh. Elektra's mouth fell open as his lips brushed across her mound, and he watched her grab the bed as he landed on her slick lips for the first time.

Nikias received his first taste of her and he was hooked. Sliding his tongue along her open slit, he received a healthy amount of her own wetness along his tongue. The sweet yet tangy taste was enough to have him bury his face further. Soon, Elektra was panting.

"Oh my stars, that's so good," she cooed as her hands slipped through his hair. More than once, she grabbed a fistful of his dark locks, especially as his tongue contacted her clit.

"I love the way you taste," he whispered as his eyes locked on her. Elektra smiled demurely and soon arched her back as his tongue went back to action. Soon enough, his fingers replaced his tongue and began to tease her while he focused all his attention on her clit. Making a sucking movement with his mouth, he teased the nub endlessly and alternated between sucking and rubbing it with the tip of his tongue.

"Oh, fuck, right there!" she moaned while pressing her mound tight against his face. "Right there, Nikias!"