Mud and Magic Ch. 04

"You're joking. That would take years!"

"You'd be surprised. Unless you want to master a particular style, the basics can be learned in a matter of days. Refining them until they're second nature will take time but, knowing Thurguz, you will be out and about rather sooner than later."

"How soon?"

Hagazz shrugged again. "I've seen him toss people into the field within the first week. Sometimes it takes longer. He's a proponent of 'learning by doing.' Don't let it scare you though -- I have seen very few new students get hurt." He picked up two daggers. "I want you to wear these at all times from now on."

"All times?" Rhys took the weapons and inspected them. The blades were easily twice the size of the boot dagger Dara had given him, long and slender with simple grips.

The dark elf sighed. "During your waking hours. The idea is that you should get used to having them on you. Make them a part of you, like a hand or a foot. Have them in arm's reach when you sleep, preferably always in the same spot so you don't have to dig around when they're needed."

"Understood." Rhys tied one of the daggers to his belt. "Where do I put the other?"

"Wherever you feel it is most useful. I like to have them in two places, just in case. I've seen assassins wear sleeve daggers and I know that one of my sisters had a dagger sheath braided into her hair so she's never without a knife, even when naked on her back." Hagazz made a sour face. "If case you didn't get it yet... dark elven females are a nasty bunch."

Rhys tied the second dagger to his shin and straightened up.

"Good choice. When you wear your robes, it's well hidden. Now, take this one." Hagazz handed Rhys a third dagger, this one with a wooden blade. "Now I'll show you how to murder a dummy."

Hagazz was right. Using a knife or dagger wasn't complicated. At least not when 'fighting' a straw dummy. It was a simple matter of putting the pointy end into the soft bits. The problems came when Hagazz replaced the dummy with Hilgrun two hours later. She refused to stay still and she countered every single attack Rhys made with a punch to his body or arms.

"You should not stay still and let me hit you," she snarled above him.

Rhys, clutching his aching stomach, rolled onto his back and blinked tears away. "Do you have to hit so hard?" he complained.

"You can still walk, can't you?" she said, bending down and hauling him to his feet with barely any effort. "During my training, I only stopped if I fell unconscious. Pain is a great teacher." She flicked his dagger back at him with a foot.

"Why do I have to attack you to begin with? I thought this is self-defense training."

"Because you should be able to defend someone besides yourself and that usually involves making the first move," Hagazz said patiently. He sat cross-legged on the table and watched them spar. "Let me help to illustrate." He picked up one of the wooden daggers and passed it to Hilgrun. "Kill me," he said.

"Oh, with pleasure," the tall, blonde barbarian snarled. She twirled the weapon in her hand until the blade pointed downward then she charged Hagazz, slashing the weapon at his unprotected chest, neck or groin. The dark elf nimbly evaded. "Rhys, help!" he yelled.

Rhys looked at the wooden weapon in his hand, at Hilgrun, who was forcing Hagazz backwards with her vicious series of slashes and cuts. He dashed in, his weapon poised to strike. The blonde woman barely slowed. She grabbed his dagger hand and gave a vicious twist. Suddenly, her leg blocked his and he spun in the air, crashing to the floor. Her foot came down hard on his wrist and the dagger skittered away. Rhys could only watch as she yanked Hagazz close and slashed the dagger across his throat.

"And you failed," she said sweetly, tossing the dagger into the air and catching it by the handle. "Not only did Hagazz die, my next move would be to gut you like a poor little piggy."

"I think we should try that again," Hagazz said, rubbing his throat. "Rhys, you should change your angle of attack. Maybe distract Hilgrun. I mean, she knows you're coming."

"As you wish, Master," Rhys muttered, reclaiming his weapon. Again, Hilgrun attacked Hagazz. She knows I'm coming. And I really don't want to have her fist in my gut again.

"Rhys, a little help?" Hagazz yelled. He had maybe ten steps before the wall of the arena would cut him off.

Desperate times... Rhys thought. He ran at Hilgrun's back, dagger ready to strike. But instead of launching directly into his attack, he reached out and pulled some threads of magic around himself. Even down here there were enough sources of energy to tap into. All he needed was for Hilgrun to slow down, just enough so he could slip past her fist and dagger. A rush of air flowed from his open palm, surrounding Hilgrun and tightening. He heard her wordless roar of protest then he was behind her, wrangling her arm onto her back and slapping the wooden blade against her unprotected ribs.

Her leg came up in a vicious mule kick, pushing him off her. She whirled around, ready to pounce. "You filthy cheater!" she roared. Hagazz' hand came around her midsection and grabbed one of her breasts, stopping her as easily as a fist to the jaw might have. Hilgrun whirled on him, weapon ready to strike.

"Now, now, don't be so hard on Rhys. He did what I had told him. He helped."

"But he used magic!" Hilgrun complained. "That's not how things are done!"

"Granted, he skipped a few dozen lessons. But his tactical approach was sound. Leveling the playing field, using his abilities to his advantage. I'll let it slide, this once. Well done."

"And if you touch me again like that uninvited, I'll tear your head off," Hilgrun hissed.

"You always make me feel homesick, Hilgrun," Hagazz sighed. He walked to a shelf near the sparring circle and fetched something from a pouch. "Here, Rhys. Catch."

A small grey marble soared through the air. Rhys caught it. Suddenly, a strange sensation washed over him, as if someone had doused him with cold water. The by now familiar tugging of all the power sources around him had ceased. He looked at the dull marble in his hand. "What did you just do?" he asked Hagazz.

"I? Nothing. This little thing you just caught is a so-called Disjunction Stone. That did something, namely severing you from the surrounding magic. Please don't drop it, it's rather fragile."

"You did what?" Rhys looked in horror at the stone.

"Don't fret. It only works when in direct skin contact. Put it away and your ability to sense and use magic should return in a day or so. But now we can train without you cheating."

Rhys shivered. "Here. Take it back. I don't want anything to do with it."

Hagazz shook his head, instead handing the small pouch to Rhys. "Take it. You'll never know when it might come in handy. Unless you already know how to dispel magic, this is your best chance to ruin another spell caster's day."

Rhys dropped the stone into the pouch and picked up his dagger again. "All right, now what?"

"We try again."

Hilgrun, grinning, cracked her knuckles.

* * * *

Before his combat lessons, Rhys had wondered which was harder -- life on the farm or life at the tower. But now he knew with unshakable certainty. Half the time, he spent the mornings with Idunn, learning the finer points of spell casting or magical theories, while the afternoons were filled with long hours poring over more books. Every other day he had to endure his combat drills. Hagazz and especially Hilgrun barely pulled any punches when it came to showing him his shortcomings, every mistake a bruise or a cut he would feel for days. On training days he would be so drained and tired, he'd fall asleep the second his head would hit the pillow, especially since Hagazz made sure to tap Rhys with the Disjunction Stone at the start of training.

One week of this hardship and Rhys wished he was back on the farm. Having to cast magic after being touched with a Disjunction Stone felt very much like wrestling a murderous hangover. The days seemed to flash by and somehow, Lishaka hadn't come back to see him. Not that he had any time or energy but he wondered if he had pushed her away when he refused her advances.

When he returned to his room after one particularly hard training lesson, Rhys limped. He had numerous bruises and his head rang. By now, the daggers he wore on his belt and shin were familiar items -- he felt naked without their soothing weight. What he had yet to get used to though was the pouch holding the Disjunction Stone Hagazz had given him. Initially, he had banished the thing to a drawer under his desk but after Hagazz had insisted he wore it like a weapon, he had tied the pouch to his belt. Rhys knew it was probably his imagination acting up but he felt like the thing was softly throbbing with a life of its own.

Sen waited next to the door. "Good evening, Master Rhys. What can I get you tonight? Besides myself, that is," she purred. Her blouse's top four buttons had opened, revealing creamy skin and the valley between her breasts.

Rhys opened his room's door and stepped inside, motioning her to follow.

"You look like you could do with some tenderness tonight," Sen purred. She hugged him from behind.

Rhys winced. "I can hardly walk, how do you think I'm supposed to fuck you?" He turned in her embrace and took her arms off his shoulder. "If you don't mind, I'd like a large bowl of stew, some bread and a stein of ale. Why are you so... eager to lay me anyways?"

Sen leaned in and breathed a kiss onto his nose. "Simple, really. You are cute. Especially now that you're somewhat well fed. And there isn't much to do around here besides reading and... you know." She made a rude gesture. "Stew it is."

Rhys closed the door behind her and tore off his training armor. The leather came off with a wet, sucking sound. Sand trickled out of his gloves as he pulled them off. He tossed the armor into the laundry basket. No idea how the staff managed it but every morning, his things would be clean, dry and ready to be used again.

He padded into the bathroom and used the tap to fill the basin with water, then he tossed the elemental stone into it. It would take some time to heat the full basin but by the time he was done eating, it should be ready.

His shoulder complained with a sharp jab of pain. Maybe Galdor can mix up a healing potion for me, Rhys thought. He quickly freshened up at the washing table, put on a new loincloth and robes and went in search of the dwarven alchemist. The door to his room was locked, with a large sign reading 'Keep Out -- Especially Lishaka!' affixed to the wood.

Where could he be? Rhys thought. He walked back towards his room when strange noises reached his ears, as if someone was hitting harp strings with a hammer. He followed the noise until he reached the door to the common room, the one with the strange windows. He raised his hand to knock but the semi-melodic noise would probably drown everything else. He shrugged -- bad idea, another sharp jab of pain -- and opened the door.

Contrary to Galdor's earlier assessment, the common room wasn't deserted. Lishaka sat at the musical instrument, her fingers pressing keys seemingly at random. And in a relatively uncluttered spot nearby, he saw Elara and Hilgrun, naked, writhing against each other, entwined in what he suspected had started as a dance. A sunflower-yellow piece of fabric had been carelessly tossed over the head of a mermaid statue and Hilgrun's leathers were scattered around their impromptu dance floor.

No one had noticed him yet. Lishaka was busy mangling the instrument, her eyes fixed on the lewd spectacle before her and the naked women... well, their hands and mouths all over each other seemed to command their full attention.

The sight in front of him even seemed to soothe his battered and bruised body. He had never before seen Hilgrun treat anyone with tenderness but here she was, her face buried in Elara's silver tresses, one hand cupping the curvy elf's behind, fingers disappearing between her thighs, and the other hand lovingly caressing Elara's breasts and stomach. Elara had her eyes closed and suckled on one of Hilgrun's nipples. One arm went around Hilgrun's waist while the fingers of her other hand had disappeared between the other woman's muscular thighs, causing sloppy, wet noises. Hilgrun's moans were almost louder than the music instrument.

As if to remind him why exactly he was here, another throb of pain shot through him, putting a damper to his blooming arousal. He stepped behind Lishaka and gently touched her shoulder. She jumped, coaxing a very dissonant chord from the instrument. Hilgrun and Elara didn't seem to realize, their sighs and moans continuing unabated.

The goblin looked up at Rhys, a happy smile tugging at her wide lips. "Look who's returned from the dungeons!" she said. "I was afraid they were killing you down there. Whenever I popped into your room, you looked like you were dead. And..." Lishaka pulled Rhys' robe open, her eyes widening. "Damn. Someone really hates you." She leaned in and kissed his stomach.

"That's why I'm here. Have you seen Galdor? I was hoping he could make a healing potion."

"Fuck him. I have a much better idea," Lishaka whispered. She slipped off the bench behind the music instrument and crept behind Elara. She opened her mouth wide and snapped at the elf's curvy backside, playfully nibbling at her. Elara squealed. Rhys wasn't quite sure if she complained or came. Hilgrun sounded disappointed as the elf slid from her embrace.

"What are you doing, oh pointy one?" Elara asked. Her eyes met Rhys'. "Hello. Glad to see you once in a while." As usual, she didn't seem to care about her nakedness.

"Look at poor Rhyssie. He really needs some healing. And since Galdor is only the Cesspool Watcher knows where, I thought you could lay your hands on him."

Hilgrun burst out laughing. "What you calling him? Rhyssie? Sounds like a girl." She walked over to a divan and slid onto it, her eyes on Elara's swaying backside as the elf walked over to Rhys. Hilgrun's hand caressed one of her large breasts before wandering further south.

"I can keep you company while Elara's busy with Rhyssie," Lishaka offered, parting her robe.

"No teeth," Hilgrun growled. Lishaka whooped, slipped out of her robe and dove onto the divan, her flaming red topknot going straight for Hilgrun's nethers.

Elara brushed Rhys' robe off his shoulders. "My. How long have you had these? And why haven't you asked for healing sooner?" She breathed a kiss onto his shoulder, where an especially nasty bruise loomed. Sparks of veridian energy arced between Elara's mouth and his skin, taking some of the pain away. The sensation wasn't unlike what Celeste had done to him when the Sorcerer's Burn had nearly killed him.

"I've stopped counting. By now, even my bruises seem to be bruised."

Elara embraced him, her naked skin a soothing contrast to the aches suffusing his body. She hummed softly, a melody Rhys had never heard before, simple and somehow familiar, tugging at his heartstrings. Where her kiss had only elicited sparks of energy, the melody caused energy to practically pour forth from her body. A rush of warmth flowed into Rhys, taking each and every ache with it.

"Better?" she asked, her amethyst eyes sparkling.

Rhys inhaled deeply for what felt like the first time in days. No sharp pain came. In fact, there was none. He looked at his arms, his shoulders. The bruises had gone and the cuts, freshly scabbed over, had healed as well. "How can I ever thank you?" he asked.

"You could start by hugging me back," she whispered, breathing a quick kiss onto his nose. "And once we're there, we could-" Her hand slid into his robe, past the loincloth. Almost on their own, Rhys' hands went around Elara's waist, caressing her back and butt. "Now that Lishaka has Hilgrun cornered..."

The door to the room closed with a snap. Rhys looked up, past Elara's mane of silver. Idunn stood in front of the door, her arms crossed over her bosom, her foot tapping. "Uh oh."

"Idunn?" Elara asked, in a stage whisper. Rhys nodded.

Hilgrun groaned. "If this goes on, I'll never-"

"You know the rules," Idunn snarled. "If you have to engage with another student, do it in your own rooms." She sighed. "I'm disappointed, Rhys. You're the newest here, with far less chances to forget what I've told you only three weeks ago."

"But I-" Rhys began. He realized what his hands were doing. "Elara just healed me."

"I bet," Idunn snarled. "I should be handing out disciplinary measures but we don't have the time for that. Rhys, Hilgrun, Elara. I want to see you in Thurguz' room first thing in the morning. Dressed, mind you. There's an emergency we need to take care of."

"What about me?" Lishaka asked, writhing on Hilgrun's thigh. "I want to go kill bad guys too."

"I'm sorry," Idunn said, much gentler than Rhys would have expected. "But I think bringing a goblin into the Old Kingdoms just yet wouldn't be such a good idea. Even if you are mostly well-behaved."

"Awww."

"Next time." She opened the door to leave. "And when I come back in ten minutes and find a naked body around here, I'll forget myself!"

* * * *

Rhys had been tempted to follow Elara's silent invitation. During Idunn's tirade, her hand never had left his rod, slowly caressing along its full length and he was curious where that would lead. But despite her healing magic, some things hadn't magically been taken care of, namely his fatigue and his hunger. After pulling his robes back up, he closed his hand around her wrist as she was about to leave the common room, her gown over her arm. Hilgrun had carried Lishaka off as if she weighed nothing, vanishing with the cooing goblin deeper into the tower.

"Would you be mad if..." Rhys hesitated.

"Not in the mood?" She leaned against the door frame.

"I wouldn't say that." He adjusted his loincloth through the robe. The bulge was rather noticeable. "I think I'd love to... get to know you better. But I'm not sure I'd be much use tonight. I'll probably fall asleep the moment I lie down." As if to emphasize his point, his stomach growled audibly. "Oh, and that. Hadn't had a decent bite since breakfast."

"No worries. There will be enough time for sex later." She pulled him into another embrace, looking up at him. "Just make sure you come to me whenever you need healing. I'll be more than happy to help. Now, good night and dream something beautiful." She pursed her lips. "A kiss to go?"

"I think I can manage that," Rhys said, blushing. Their lips met. Elara's hand snuck back for another caress before Rhys broke the kiss. "Good night, naughty nymph you."

"That's an insult," Elara said, wagging a finger at him. "I am not a flighty, insatiable bimbo living next to a so-called mystical pond. And I don't curse prospective lovers with blindness on a bad day." Her laugh took away most of her gravitas. "Now, off to bed with you or I'll have you right here, consequences be damned."

Rhys slipped from her arms and returned to his room. His bath water boiled merrily and his stew was only tepid. Shrugging, he fished the elemental stone from the basin and drained it. No use falling asleep in the bath tonight, he thought, sitting down at the table. Even lukewarm, the stew was leaps and bounds better than anything he had back home. After eating every single spoonful, he even cleaned out the bowl with a piece of bread.

A sharp knock on the door caused Rhys to sit up straight.

"Come," he called.

Sen entered, bringing with her a stack of clothing. "Idunn said you'd probably want this." She dropped the clothes onto his bed. "And she also said I shouldn't even try to lay you tonight. Did you rat me out?" Her eyes sparked in barely controlled anger.