Sufferance Ch. 07

"You might want to stay out of my way during the hunt." I had to admit she had an excellent thousand-yard stare, her red eyes trying to stick any nerves I might have as if with needles.

I allowed a slight frown. The hunt. That was one area where I didn't have much detail. If I had known Jael would be Collected so soon, I would have asked before now.

"Is she certain to come through of useful mind, then?" I asked.

Panagan shook her head. "I do not know. Rausery hasn't returned. But when she does, you and I may be sent out to watch for her."

I gave that some thought. Why the two of us? "No more than that?"

"Of course not," Panagan said with some irritation. "The least experienced of each Elder always goes on the hunt, whoever that may be. The one who catches her gives her to that Elder. Didn't you listen?"

I did feel surprise but hid it with determination and a smirk on my lips. I knew perfectly well no one had ever told me that; Panagan was only assuming D'Shea would have told me by now. I shrugged. "I hadn't realized you were least experienced, Panagan. Moria seems far less experienced than you."

"She went on the hunt for you," the other Sister bit out. "She couldn't keep up with Gaelan."

"Which means..." I thought a moment. "Now Moria's been on one more hunt than you?"

"Only because another initiate died in the wilderness, the one before you, before I had traveled more than a quarter cycle."

"We count and compare it in marks on a candle, then?"

Panagan frowned at my playful grin. "I caught Moria in less than a cycle. Gaelan caught you after nearly two. Moria was out hunting for longer than me and learned enough to convince Rausery I was the lesser experienced, regardless of my rank above her and actually catching someone."

"So forthright," I commented, although now my previous planning began rapidly to shift.

I would be going after Jael? It could be so exciting that I wondered whether I would have it in me to "let" Panagan win and have Jael go to Rausery as we planned. Wouldn't I love to catch and drag Jael somewhere private where I could have my way with her first of all Sisters...?

*Ohhh yes...*

Then I sighed inwardly. I could fantasize but, sadly, Panagan had to win this round.

I lifted my head and grinned. "Thank you for the warning. I'll remember it as I picture you eating a filth-stained Feldeu."

That got the reaction I wanted and she clearly didn't expect me to take her warning to heart over which side should get Jael.

"Perhaps we'll have time for a re-match out there," she hissed, teeth bared. "It's far out. They'll drop her the same place they did you."

I winked. "We won't if you want to catch Jael before me. I'm much more interested in her adorable ass, though I'll grant the asymmetry in yours would be improved with matching cane marks."

I witnessed a moment of conflict as Panagan considered throwing something at me—the scoop of food, her fist, a blade—but after her hand squeezed the Abyss out of her scoop, she consciously relaxed it and breathed out, regaining control of herself.

Very good. I was mildly impressed.

She narrowed her eyes at me and shook her head once. "You are a trickster like D'Shea."

I didn't respond beyond a brief waggle of my eyebrows, my smile now a smirk as I continued my work. Panagan decided to leave after that so I couldn't bait her anymore, though I somewhat regretted that making her believe I'd try to get Jael before her precluded any other information I might have gleaned about how the hunt was supposed to work. I would have to ask D'Shea outright if I could.

As I worked on various tasks, however, I noticed I was becoming more preoccupied and more anxious somehow. I couldn't think it was the upcoming hunt or any intimidation from my talk with Panagan, but yet that was what I thought about, constantly. Something specific that she'd said... but I didn't know what. I was so deep in thought that I actually bumped into Berayla once, my hand accidently brushing her backside. She giggled and leaned to kiss me as she moved on to her own project.

"Wake up, sweetlips," she said, "unless you really mean it."

Wake up, indeed. What condition would Jael be in if she woke up in the same chamber that I had? Not filled with divine lust, I'd wager, but tried somehow else. Would she search around the cavern, and would she find a blade from her former House, as I had? She would have to take the same path out, would be heading in the same direction....

And something about that fact was bothering me deeply.

I paced longer and the itch at the back of my head wouldn't go away. When I leaned against the wall to let another with a large load pass by me, I felt the firmness of Gaelan's Feldeu press into the small of my back, remembering it was even there.

I wondered then whether I could secretly stroke myself to orgasm, to relax, to get this inexplicable tension to go away. I didn't need a pussy, did I? Not with it being so sensitive to the touch, I could bring myself up to my own peak.

It might not be a good idea, though; it wasn't mine, I'd taken it, and she'd discover it missing sooner or later. Perhaps I should return it now before she missed it; I did not know what I intended to gain from taking it anyway. It wasn't like me.

But I knew how to put it on, I knew how to remove it. I could try it once.

*Do it....do it....* My hand flexed and I pushed myself off the wall, walking farther away from Gaelan's quarters.

After a bit of searching on the outskirts of the cloister, I found a small, unused closet that went deep, only partly filled with boxes and a few crates. Plenty to sit on. I tested the lock, found it non-functional from the outside, and non-existent from the inside. The door actually swung inward; it didn't slide. Definitely an old style and I put a crate or two to block the door while I knew that I couldn't be locked in.

I hurried to set myself up, knowing I shouldn't take long, and chose a crate of a good height upon which to sit. I removed Gaelan's Feldeu from beneath my cloak and shifted my belt up so I could pulled down my leather pants to my knees. I sat on the edge of the crate with my feet planted wide as I could and stroked my sex with my fingers first, testing the wetness. It was still plentiful, some leftover from the afterglow with Gaelan, and my anticipation now had only helped.

Slowly I inserted the dildo into my channel and murmured the word I'd heard Gaelan use many times, gasping as the magic came alive and the phallus became more turgid and attached itself to me. My hand stroked once up and down on it and I bit back a groan as my eyes fluttered.

Oh, this would not take long at all...

My choice of fantasy to fuel my lust was Jael. Hunting her, capturing her. What would I do if I did win the hunt...?

I rubbed the phallus like a resilient pet, speeding up and slowing down, drawing it out into three separate peaks, until I was gasping and wondering how I could keep this one permanently in spite of the headache it seemed to cause. The one I used with D'Shea was larger and more unwieldy; it didn't seem to fit me, and all I remembered of it now was that feeling of uncontrolled rage.

This one...it had been used on me as my first, I had sucked it first, I knew it very well. Now it knew me....

If I were to look for Jael, where would she be? Where would I look for her? It had been just about a year since I'd been in that cavern next to the pool, since I'd climbed out and traveled that path...since I had found the Duergar tapping the stone for gems.

It had been an annual location, and others habitually followed him. He hadn't been solely looking for gems but testing rock and soil for threads of an element the Duergar used to enhance psionic weapons... Very rare, only used by those gifted with psionics, only found by those with the same gift. Unfortunately it tended to be closer to where Drowen magic permeated the rock, we didn't know why, and we had to get closer than we liked to their territory to find what we sought....

It was tradition. Every year we had to try. The regularity, the ritual was beneficial to the eternal work. If a psion did not return, we would try that area again the next year. We always came back. No area was abandoned without good reason. It was too important to the forges, to our survival in the Underdark. The found-spot last year had been promising...rich in the element...

"U-ularantha...!" I gasped, blurted out a short scream as I pulled the Feldeu out of me and shook from the intense sensation; pain, pleasure, I did not understand what else but it was too much and I couldn't hold myself upright. I fell from the crate and landed on the stone ground, my leather pants still around my knees and the wet Feldeu clutched in my left hand. I couldn't stop shaking for what seemed many minutes, as I slowly caught my breath.

I thought about what had just happened, that seamless immersion where the impulses had actually formed some sort of reason. And a voice. It had been mine and yet there was no way I had been talking as I was thinking. I hadn't known any of that knowledge before...

Now I knew what had been bothering me. It had been a year, just about, and the psion had not come back. They would be in the area. And Jael, if she made it past her final trial, would be dropped in the same place, naked, bleeding, and vulnerable.

Her intended Elders had no idea. Even if there were only two Duergar, if even one was a psion...it would not be a challenge any weakened initiate could be expected to survive. Even I'd made too many stupid mistakes and I hadn't been as injured as Jael had been the last I'd seen her. I'd just gotten lucky to claim the first strike afterward...

Would the Elders choose a different place if they knew this, to give her a more realistic chance to be tested and succeed? They might; D'Shea and Rausery both wanted...needed... new Red Sisters.

I always carried a cloth or two in my pouch, it seemed I always needed one, and I used one to quickly wipe myself and the Feldeu off before pulling up my pants and resettling everything in its proper place. I shoved the crates out of the way of the door and left quickly, not sure how I might get a message to the Elders but I had to try.

My legs felt soft and my senses a bit dulled as my head kept buzzing. I was single-minded, thinking Jaunda could get a message to D'Shea that I needed to see her...but then I remembered that Jaunda had gone with her. So had Cloyan. And Agalia. Any of the Leads I might be able to work with, not in the cloister. I could not trust anyone else.

I had to wait until they returned.

The thought of that agonizing wait almost sent me to Gaelan or one of Jaunda's team; I wanted to fight, to work out the stress. They could even fuck me if they wanted...

...no, wait, I still had Gaelan's Feldeu. I would have to put it back, or explain that. I wanted to do neither.

I settled on exercising more than a few of the lizards mounts in a covered arena and tending to their tackle.

****

Jaunda was the first of them that I saw an interminable ten marks later, more than a cycle since I'd seen Jael taken away. I practically jumped in front of my Lead to gain her attention.

"Did she make it?" I asked before she even had a chance to draw breath.

Jaunda helped herself to a hearty laugh. "Well, well. A little eager, are we?"

"Yes," I said flatly. "I have an important report for D'Shea. Or even Rausery. It doesn't matter, but I need to see them."

Jaunda tilted her head. "Regarding the initiate or a mission?"

"Both," I answered truthfully. Come to think of it, I still hadn't reported on my meeting with Curgia in the garden.

The Lead looked me over thoughtfully. "Don't normally see you vibrating like this. Must be something exciting."

"You could say that. Jaunda," I said, "Come, tell me. You'll be the first I tell after the Elders hear it if you get me to their ears, agreed?"

The strong warrior shrugged with one shoulder. "I always hear what I need to. How about another spar instead? This time of my choosing."

At first I thought that offer was a step down; she would rather have a fuck over valuable information? "What do you mean, your choosing?"

"A test you need anyway," she said lightly. "Cross-terrain. You try to reach a given point before I catch you. *When* I catch you, you play until you're as raw as the first time I saw you with Gaelan."

"And if I reach the point first instead?" I asked cautiously.

"I don't touch you. For that cycle, anyway."

I stared at her. "You want a hunt."

Jaunda grinned. "Call it envy. You're about to go on one. It's been decades for me. I wouldn't mind some nostalgia."

I almost did a double-take. "Then Jael withstood the final test."

"Oh, no," Jaunda laughed, "she broke. But she stood back up again, like you did. That's what counts." She looked me over once, and I thought she was imagining something lurid rather than considering our deal, but she surprised me. "I can get you to Rausery quickly, but I don't know where D'Shea is right now. A hunt in exchange for Rausery's ears. Yes or no, sweetlips?"

I knew very well that it had been my obvious desire and single-mindedness that led to this proposed bargain in the first place. Perhaps if I'd been more subtle, I could have gotten what I wanted without a blatant trade. It could be worse, though. Jaunda just wanted to play, and it was good that she still thought me interesting enough to play with her. It would be an interesting challenge. I would learn a lot.

"Yes," I answered. "Take me to Rausery, and you can hunt me one time, when we're both available. I'll give it my all."

Jaunda nodded. "You'd better. Follow me."

She took me to the altar room where the Sisters had gathered before, to be debriefed on facing the invading Illithids and their thralls. Rausery was there talking with Qivni. Unlike before, there were no maps or objects spread around the altar, though I did notice a chalk drawing traced in a deliberate and complicated design on the floor a few paces from them. They both went silent as we entered.

I was finally able to observe Qivni and Jaunda in the same room; both were fiercely loyal to their respective Elders and held a great deal of power and sway. Qivni didn't have as much sense of humor, though, and when she saw Jaunda first, she looked wary and suspicious while Jaunda appeared to be going for an oh-so-pleasant stroll in her favorite sex room. Then Qivni noticed me, and her expression went from wary to a full frown of annoyance, which made me smile. Jaunda noticed that and winked at me, making only a courteous attempt to suppress the smile on her lips.

I was too late to notice anything of interest in Rausery's expression; she seemed to be only waiting for the hackles to lower and for us to sort ourselves out before wasting any of her time. Lolth forbid we require a reminder on how to behave in matters of business.

"Yes, Jaunda?" Rausery said calmly, even a little quietly; she seemed to have a lot on her mind.

"Sirana has information you need about Jael," Jaunda said simply and stepped slightly to the side so I wasn't directly behind her and the Elder could see me head to toe.

Rausery and Qivni both raised eyebrows and looked at me expectantly. I tried not to squirm under the Elder's gaze; it wouldn't help my teasing campaign against Qivni.

"May I approach to tell only you, Elder?" I asked. "Jaunda doesn't even know. It's...delicate information."

Rausery looked at Jaunda, who nodded affirmation. "I never asked, Elder, but believe she isn't wasting your time."

That was good enough for her, it seemed. "Qivni, Jaunda, both of you wait just outside the door. I'll call you back in."

Once we were alone in the spacious altar room, the Elder looked at me expectantly. It was different from when I'd been with her as an assistant for a cycle or two; she had been playful to a degree, but now just seemed to want that report and then move on from there. She betrayed no impatience, however, just an unspoken order to get on with it.

I got closer to her to speak very softly, as I had recently in the weapons room. She allowed it, and I caught her inhaling softly. She smelled pretty good, too—musky and warm with that hint of spicy sweat—she'd been active in some fashion recently, but I didn't know if it had anything to do with Jael's final trial or not.

"You remember what I told you about the Duergar and me, Elder?"

She nodded.

"Some of the...imprint broke through when Panagan mentioned that Jael Aurenthietti would be dropped in the same place I was. That was where I met the Duergar. I sensed...I remembered, in a way, that they'll be back in that area again at this time of year."

The Elder gave me a skeptical look. "You jest."

"No, Elder."

"Why does the time of year matter?" she asked frankly.

"I don't know," I admitted. That detail hadn't surfaced. "But it does. Has she been taken there already?"

She nodded in the affirmative.

"Has that place been used before, besides me?" I asked.

She shook her head. "Only recently found. We needed some place you'd have a chance to wake up from your divine coma before something larger found you. Given that it was nearly three full cycles before the Sisters finally hauled you in, I estimated you were unconscious for the better part of a cycle."

No wonder I had been so cold and stiff.

"And Aurenthietti? Was she unconscious when you left her?"

Again, Rauery nodded a yes. "She was injured badly enough after her trials that she'd have bled out in a few hours. It was only that she finished her test before that happened that we allowed a draught to stop the internal bleeding, but she's weak. We thought the same place would give her some time to rest."

I shook my head. "It's not safe there, Elder. I know it."

Again that skeptical look. "And you're sure this is the Duergar's knowledge in your head?"

I nodded earnestly and the Elder was quiet for several moments.

"We can't restart this final part, Sirana. No one is to be retrieved before reaching the outskirts of the City on their own. Some have died trying, that's the way it is. We only want the most resourceful ones."

*Or the luckiest,* I thought. "But you wouldn't have put her somewhere that would be known to have Duergar in the first place," I argued. "Isn't that correct, Elder?"

She breathed out slowly. "We can't know everything in a chosen area, that's part of the test."

"But we know this now," I insisted. "There will be more of them this time, because I killed the one that was scouting the area last year. That's what they do. Would you have chosen that place knowing that? I'd think not."

She gave me a hard look, and I realized my tone had been snide. "...Elder Rausery, pardon me."

"I'll call back a punishment for that disrespect," she replied. "But not right now." She watched my anxious face for a few moments. "What would you suggest, novice?"

"If she can't be retrieved and replaced in another location, Elder...then send me to hunt the Duergar instead," I said. "I'll take care of the problem and she can continue on her own."

"By yourself," she said with a huff of a laugh. "If there's even one psionic like the last one you ran into, and I'm guessing there will be if they're missing one of some power, then you'll either die or be captured, Sirana."

"I'll gladly work with a team, Elder," I said with a desperate note creeping into my voice. I didn't know why I wanted this so much but it felt like time was running out. "We'd have an advantage, and the element of surprise. I can talk to D'Shea—"

This was where Rausery seemed to accept that there was a bit of urgency. If she didn't work something out with me now, then she would have to negotiate with D'Shea, which would take even longer. I thought that she understood neither of us wanted that. I wanted to use that fact that Ruasery was more action-oriented and would get things done right now. As well, the fact that she actually had this knowledge before my own Elder was something she wanted to use; she just didn't have a lot of time to contemplate the how of it.