The Dragon Slayer...

King Art Wendell was a man in his fifties, he looked to be mostly in shape, saving for the small paunch he developed from fine foods and wines no doubt. The king had a welcoming smile on his face.

"Welcome to Wendell Sir Lance, your reputation precedes you."

He bowed his head a moment, "Thank you your majesty, I just hope I may be of some use in tracking and dispatching the dragon."

The king replied, "We will discuss that after dinner tonight in a more relaxed setting. The stiff cadence of court is hardly a place we can freely share ideas."

"Of course your majesty, I'm at your disposal."

The king declared, "Very well, two hours then sir knight, it will give you opportunity to wash off the road dust and prepare for dinner. You'll be escorted to a guest room shortly."

The king stood up ending the audience, most everyone followed him out save his fellow knight.

Sir Derig said slyly, "It's always a pleasure to see you Sir Lance, a shame you came out here for nothing."

Sir lance frowned, "Was that a challenge Sir Derig?" he asked in a low dangerous voice.

Sir Derig's eyes widened in faux innocence as if surprised by this conclusion, "Of course not my dear baron, I just meant it was likely the dragon has moved on. A few others arrived today, and promptly left when they heard the beast hadn't been seen in so long."

His eyes narrowed, "Then why are you still here?"

Sir Derig shrugged, a bit too nonchalantly, "There's still a chance, and I had no other commitments."

He didn't believe it for a second, and knew there must be another reason, but he knew he'd never get it out of him. He'd have to watch the snake carefully.

He nodded politely, and took his leave.

He picked up his stuff and waited patiently. A few moments later a young woman dressed as a maid approached and bowed. She was five foot eight, young and attractive, with blonde hair and bluish gray eyes, her outfit made her curvy and generous figure, stand out in all the right places.

"My lord, I'm here to escort you to your quarters."

He nodded his thanks, it would be good to get clean, "Lead on."

He followed the young maid through a checkpoint into the guest wing. They went about halfway down the hallway and turned into a staircase. His room was to the left and the third on the right from the top of the stairwell. She escorted him in.

Her smile as she turned to him was a bit flirty but still within the bounds of decorum. It was something he'd come to expect. She was no doubt required to follow all orders from the nobility, and just as clear in his case she'd be more than happy to help relieve any stress he may have regardless of orders.

She said softly, "I'm Cirillia my lord, and I'll be cleaning your rooms, seeing to your clothes and any other requests you may have. Please let me know if there's anything I can do for you. Would you like me to draw you a bath?" she asked that last question with a touch of sultry innuendo.

Not so much that he'd be pressured to say yes, but enough to make it obvious she was more than willing to... serve.

He had to admit he was tempted, there would be no risk of bad repercussions either, or claims against him. It was practically in her job description. Plus, her very tight and curve hugging dress was having an effect on him.

"That would be fine Cirillia."

She smiled and bit her lip sexily, like he was doing her a favor. Maybe he was from her point of view, but difference in station or not, it certainly wasn't one way. He watched her move toward the bath as he started to remove his armor. She turned on the water that fed the large bathtub, and he could see the steam coming off of it. The sorcerer here must be talented if he had the magic to provide hot running water.

She left it running and came over to help him without a word, first his armor then his clothes were removed, and he smiled when he saw Cirillia's eyes go wide when she took in his package.

She asked a little breathily, "Would you like me to bathe you my lord?"

He lost track of his thoughts, and his body reacted as he couldn't help but stare at her heaving breasts with her nipples very much on display through the dress. There were little beads of sweat nestled in her partially revealed cleavage that were driving him crazy. The fabric of her dress seemed to be destined to rip, but held precariously.

He nodded wordlessly.

She blushed and smiled shyly when he simply stood there and watched as she shed her clothes. Her breasts were large and stood high without support, her stomach flat and the curve of her waist called for his hands. She was very attractive, it was in fact probably the reason she was hired after all, and he knew he was reacting, growing as his eyes feasted upon her young succulent nubile flesh. He judged she couldn't have been much older than nineteen or twenty.

She turned and walked toward the tub, and his eyes feasted on her heart shaped ass and he followed after. He slipped into the tub, and she slipped in right behind him, wrapping her long sexy toned legs around his torso she reached for the soap.

His manhood twitched when she wrapped her arms around him and pulled him back into her warm and succulent breasts, her nipples were like hard pebbles against his back, and she started to wash his chest with light touches. He groaned softly, partly from the hot water on his sore riding muscles, partly from her amazing touch, the way her body was wrapped around him, but mostly from the soft kiss on the back of his neck.

Her kisses made its way up to his ear and she whispered sultrily, "What do you want my lord, I'm at your command. I'll do... absolutely anything you desire."

He wasn't sure who was turned on more, him or her, but that breathy sultry offer with an almost desperate need in her voice completely broke his will. He couldn't resist a woman for long, especially not a beautiful young woman naked in a bath. This wasn't just a young maid making herself available, she was throwing herself at him. He groaned as her hand washed his lower stomach, and lightly brushed his very hard and now aching pleasure.

Oral was out, he couldn't cast the spells for breathing under water. That would have to wait for another time.

His voice was a bit unsteady, and his authoritative tone was put in doubt by his obvious need.

"Slide around front."

Blemished authority or not, she slid her body around his, dragging her breasts and body along his until she was straddled his lap, her eyes were glazed with desire, her lips slightly parted. She kissed him hungrily and moaned half in shock and half in pleased surprise when she discovered his now full size. He knew he was larger than average, between eight and nine inches and with an impressive girth.

He started to explore her body, play with her breasts and tease her nipples. He couldn't go down on her, but that didn't mean he couldn't get her ready with some proper foreplay. He relished the wide look and gasping breath that escaped her slightly parted lips when his fingertips found her swollen and sensitive labia. It was his turn to gasp when she started to stroke him lightly with her soft hands, which were slick from the oils in the soap, as he continued to tease her core.

"Please," she begged breathily.

He smiled, he was so hard and dying to bury himself in her body, but he teased her first.

"Please what Cirillia?"

She moaned and gasped on his fingertips as he brought her body to a small but blissful orgasm. He felt her tremble on his fingers, and wished they were on the bed, he bet she tasted divine.

When she recovered enough she begged breathily, "Please fuck me, I want to feel this large cock pulsing within me, stretching me out, and..."

Her words cut off when he picked her up by the sexy curves of her waist and then pushed her down against his straining manhood. She guided him perfectly into her sex, her tight silken lips parting reluctantly for his thick invader. He groaned as her tight channel gripped, and then rippled around the tip of his pleasure, she was so tight. He wanted to bury himself deep until their bodies slapped together, but he knew he was bigger than most and didn't want to hurt her.

He bowed his head slightly and claimed her nipples, giving her temporary control of their coupling. He moaned into her succulent and nubile flesh as she slowly worked his entire length into her body. It was heaven, his throbbing sex was sheathed in pure silken tight hot bliss, and she started to squeeze and work him with her passage as she swiveled and thrust her hips in a pattern of decadent pleasure.

She put her head back, exposing her long slender neck and pushing her breasts into his hands.

She moaned softly, "I've never been so full before, I think I'm going to..."

He demanded, "Cum for me Cirillia, I want to see you come undone around me."

He didn't think he would last long under this blissfully sinful assault when she screamed out in pleasure and her body worked up and down his length in grasping and milking motions. He felt her silken pleasure rush around his manhood and into the bath water as her body took him to the edge. He could feel himself expand further in her and knew he couldn't hold back anymore, obviously she felt it too.

She said in breathy pleasure, "Do it my lord, I want to feel you fill me, fill my naughty pussy, please."

She rolled into another orgasm as he grunted in pleasure and lost control of his body. Pleasure fired in his brain as his body emptied into her hot tight sex.

She kissed him softly, after they came down.

"Thank you my lord," she blushed after saying that, as if surprised she'd actually meant it.

He knew a lot of nobles weren't... well, all that noble. He could have been a lot more aggressive or even cruel, and she would have had to take it and ask for more. Not that he ever would, but maybe that's why she'd thanked him.

He said with a trace of humor, "My pleasure Cirillia."

Then she started washing his body again and he just relaxed in the afterglow of completion, her hands felt nice on his body and he felt refreshed and relaxed when they finished their bath.

She held up a robe when he got out, and asked, "Anything else my lord?"

He smiled at her hopeful tone, "No, not right now anyway, but could you retrieve me when dinner is served."

She pulled on her dress and curtsied, "Of course my lord," and left him to his own devices.

Her voice had been respectful, but her eyes had been dancing with pleasure.

He'd need to be careful, he wasn't an arrogant nobleman and tried to treat everyone with respect, but he couldn't afford to become enamored of a castle servant either. He could be respectful, and gentle with her, but past that...

Still, he couldn't help but watch her ass sway when she'd left the room, that didn't mean they couldn't have fun together for his stay here...

Chapter 4

He dug a wrinkled suit out of his saddle bags. A quick spell took care of that, and now it looked freshly pressed and cleaned. He preferred his armor to the clothes of his title, but one didn't attend dinner with foreign kings in their full plate armor. He didn't really like politics, but he at least knew the game, and played it only as far as he had to.

That thought made him wonder again what that odious Derig was up to. No doubt he would be able to figure it out tonight over dinner. He decided he would stay here for a week at the most. If the dragon didn't show itself again in that time, then chances were it was gone no matter what anyone said. He also wanted to limit the time he could be pulled into some political scheme of Derig's, or even of the court here.

He shook his head, he doubted the latter would be an issue. The whole nobility of this kingdom was the king's family after all, it was a small place. He had a few minor appointees to run the town, but there were no other families of noble lineage. Normally he wouldn't care about Derig's machinations so much, but if one of his schemes gets out of hand here it could hurt relations.

He sighed, and admitted to himself it wasn't for entirely those noble reasons alone. It would also feel good if he could derail Derig, he really disliked the man. It wasn't too much later when Cirillia returned and escorted him to the private dining hall.

The king smiled and waved him over as if they were friends meeting at the tavern in town. Everyone else in the room seemed relaxed so he took it at face value and nodded in greeting as he took the indicated seat.

He was seated next to the Earl on his right, and on his left side was a young woman with reddish blonde hair.

The king made introductions, "You of course know Sir Derig. The young woman at your left is my daughter's lady's maid, Stephanie."

She turned to him and gave a shy smile of welcome and dipped her head. She had warm and friendly hazel eyes and an attractive cute face. Her hair was red, long, and curly. She was wearing a green gown that made it hard to determine much else, but from what he could tell she was willowy.

The king waved to the woman next to Stephanie, "And this is my daughter, Princess Lara."

He added meaningfully, "She's just recently turned eighteen and we are looking for a proper match for her, someone of the right birth and strong enough to protect her."

He leaned forward slightly and could see her blush at that last comment. She had jet black hair with hints of blue, and it was wavy and looked like... a silk waterfall of night. Her emerald green eyes showed intelligence behind them with a hint of steel, this was no weak retiring princess and his breath caught when those eyes seemed to challenge him.

But then she smiled and her eyes turned welcoming as she nodded her head. He supposed he couldn't blame her for the challenging stare, her father had said in political language that whoever managed to kill the dragon would be given courtship rights.

She was wearing a light blue dress which subtly showed her female enticements, she clearly had an athletic body and her breasts were pert and perfectly sized for her body. He guessed she was about a little over five and a half feet tall. Her face still had an innocent quality even at eighteen, all but her generous lips which gave the opposite impression of sexy.

All in all, there was a lot to admire in the young woman. He wasn't sure he was ready to settle down, but she impressed him enough to where he'd keep an open mind about the courting possibility. He turned back to the king for the next introduction, but studied the Earl out of the corner of his eyes. The Earl had also looked toward the princess and his visage was... avaricious.

It clicked in his mind rather easily then, the Earl was staying for the princess. If he could swing that the king would also give him land and he'd be in line for the throne of this kingdom. Not bad for someone at the bottom of a huge nobility, a landless title holder, and knight in his home kingdom.

The king started the next introduction, so he dismissed that and decided to think about it later. He'd either have to compete if he decided he wanted to pursue the princess, or otherwise sabotage him if he didn't. Perhaps he should just leave it alone, but the idea of the snake next to him gaining power and possibly a kingdom turned his stomach. He'd fought against dragons with the Earl around before, the man was an opportunist and coward, instead of helping and splitting the fee, Derig had used trickery and had almost gotten him killed. He couldn't prove it was done on purpose, but he was pretty sure it had been.

The king waved to his left to whom was obviously the queen, and she looked a lot like the princess, only older. He thought she looked in her mid thirties, and still extremely attractive with the same piercing green eyes and blue-black hair, which meant she'd still been a child herself when she'd born Lara.

"This is the jewel of my life, Queen Gwen."

She nodded to him politely and then gave her husband a bright smile, it was obviously more than a marriage of convenience and he could see they were still in love after over twenty five years together.

The king waved to his other side, "My son and heir, Prince Daniel."

He nodded to the young man who was about his age. Daniel had his mother's black hair, but his father's brown eyes, he was a striking young man and polite enough.

He couldn't help but notice the prince seemed to be evaluating both him and Derig rather closely, overprotective brother maybe? Or just naturally suspicious, he wasn't sure yet.

The king waved at the older man next to the prince, "And this is my advisor, sorcerer Menneth."

The old man had a white beard, white hair, and the lines on his face betrayed his age. But his eyes were hazel and still sharp with intelligence, and he gave off the impression of wisdom.

The king led the conversation effortlessly during dinner, drawing everyone in at the table. It was apparent why he was king. The king's son was more reserved, and more closed off. He wondered if the young man would grow out of that, or he had the feeling things would change around here a lot when Daniel inherited.

After dinner was complete, the King got down to business and looked back and forth between Lance and the Derig.

The king stated, "I know the dragon hasn't been seen in two weeks, but Menneth has confirmed with his magic two of the beasts are actually in the kingdom's borders right now, although he can't pinpoint where they are. I can't in good conscious take the chance he's wrong and the dragons are gone."

Princess Lara cut in, "Father, I..."

The king interrupted, "I know what you think daughter, there is no need to rehash it here and now, you won't change my mind. We must protect our kingdom... Now, Menneth, could you let us all know the extent of your knowledge on this before we seek the advice of our dragon slayers?"

Menneth nodded and cleared his throat.

"I was able to cast a divination over a piece of the dragon's claw that chipped off when it tore apart a wagon. All I could learn from the divination was two things. The first was that it had been hunting the mercenaries specifically which is why it left the town alone. I can only guess it followed the trail of death the mercenaries were leaving in their wake, but it is only a guess.

"The second is that the dragon is still here, along with another. I believe the second dragon to be younger, perhaps its child."

Derig asked, "What makes you think that?"

He felt annoyed at that, since it was actually a good question.

The sorcerer smiled, "Well, the chipped claw should have only told me about its owner, which means the second dragon is related by blood to the one which attacked. Secondly, the dragon flew off with two horses, perhaps to feed its young. Unfortunately the king is correct that I can't tell you where they are, although there aren't too many places they could realistically be without being seen.

"Somewhere in the mountains to the south, or perhaps in the cliff sides to the west overlooking the ocean. I don't think it's likely they're hiding in the forest."

He nodded in agreement, "Dragon's like caves for a lair, and to set traps for the unwary dragon hunter. I'd like to know what they've been eating for the last two weeks though. Perhaps wild game?"

The king added, "There is not much to be done right now, I don't expect either of you to find this dragon without a trail or direction to search. I would like you both to stay here for up to a month, since unfortunately without an attack I see no way to find the damned beasts. We have patrols out, and soldiers at all the villages. If the dragon attacks, they have communication spells devised by Menneth to let us know where for optimum response. In the meantime, you are my guests and outside of the royal wing you have the run of the castle."