The Vengeful Tide Ch. 12

What also wasn't helping my mood was the turn I made to steer the ship back on course. This...this was going to be a long day I felt.

As I watched the sun go down across the sky, I found that I had probably cursed myself with my earlier statement. It was already around the evening and I had yet to even finish half of what I wanted. Right now, I was busy crushing some Vacar horns into powder for the rest of the alchemy Liara was "unknowingly" teaching me.

I took the blunt end of a spoon and stabbed some mystic stones into they were no different than the Vacar horns I had worked on. I wiped my forehead and poured them both into one bowl. Next, came the liquid. More specifically, next came the blood of a human. I cut my thumb and watched the life fluids drop into this bowl filled with the crushed ingredients

As the blood poured into the bowl, I bore witness to a thick mist beginning to fill my room. So strong was its smell that just inhaling it gave me a headache. It also made my eyes blurry. I pulled some water from outside and splashed it on my face.

I would keep working in this environment for the next few hours. By the time I even thought of giving myself a break, the sun had left from the sky. I leaned back in my chair and exhaled tiredly. Curse alchemy, curse alchemists, and curse this shit that I be forced to do for hours on end.

I placed my head on my desk and closed my eyes.

Then, as if for the Fates to laugh at me, a knock on my door came. I thought to ignore it and just keep my head down, but I found myself leaning up, opening my notebook, and writing what I had learned. Might as well do this since I clearly wasn't going to have sand over my eyes any time soon.

"Enter at yer own risk!" I called.

Despite my warning, the door opened.

"Ugh!" a male voice winced.

I turned around and I noticed Maeloson standing at the door with a tray filled with food. No doubt that was my dinner. "I warned you," I said as he covered his sensitive nose from the stench of my room.

He stepped further inside. He took notice of the covered pot and the scattered ingredients on my desk. His eyes widened as if he thought I had been some hybrid between a god and a demon. An odd thought, but a hilarious one.

"Your dinner, Sir," he said as he placed the tray on my desk. His eyes wandered to my notes, but I wasn't even upset for two reasons. One, I didn't really attempt to hide them. Two, I was too tired to give a damn.

"Thanks. Kinda wish you were a woman though," I joked more for myself than for him. Unexpectedly, I got a small laugh out of the male elf for that one. I be honest. It's hard to try and grasp his sense of humor, but if it makes him comfortable then who am I to say otherwise?

"Ellen was going to do it, but I asked her if I could. She seemed all too happy to allow me the honor," he stated.

Ah, well I'll be putting that away in a personal file in my mind to be remembered later. "Is that right?" I asked. Setting aside Ellen, I found it rather odd that Maeloson would deliberately seek me out this way. Granted, I did tell everyone to leave me the fuck alone unless it was dinner or danger-related.

"Yes, I...what are you doing?" he asked, breaking his question. No doubt he finally took the time to properly view the mess that was my table and the floor.

"Continue asking and I'll order you to help out," I said. How I enjoyed the look of unease on his face. Clearly, this did not fill the elf with joy and merriment. Naturally, I be down to share my misery with someone else.

Maeloson slowly shook his head and cleared his throat. "Never mind, it's not my business. However, I have something I wish to discuss with you. It's...in regards to Aesteal," he mentioned.

The writing I had been doing was slowed to a halt. I stared into Maeloson's eyes and I saw that serious stare that almost all elves have when they wish to speak earnestly. I flicked my quill between my fingertips for a moment or two.

"What about her?" I asked slowly. I had always been deliberately careful in my dealings with Maeloson and Aesteal. Even now, I do not fully trust them. They have not given me reason to doubt them, but I'm not much for trust these days. I think even deep within me there is a mistrust of Ellen. Even in the deepest depths of my mind, I wonder if even my own mother would betray me. I would think not, but I thought that same thing in my last life as well in regards to my crew.

"Do you find her attractive?" Maeloson asked.

...I stopped writing once again. I thought to answer this seemingly obvious question with some snark, but the will to follow through did not find itself with me. I'm not sure why this was the case. Nevertheless, once I found my nerve again I continued writing.

"I would wager I find her desirable. Naturally, you elves, whether male or female, hold a presence that attracts all other races to your beauty. Aye, I do find her attractive," I replied. I reached over to my tray and picked up a piece of dried boar's meat and partook of it. I then stuffed some sliced carrots into my mouth.

Maeloson watched me for a little while. "Why do you not wish to lay with her then?" he asked.

...Of the many things I was expecting to come from the elf's mouth, that was not one of them. Perhaps I was lucky that I had already swallowed what I was chewing, elsewise I might have choked on it. I stared at Maeloson strangely, but he didn't seem perturbed by what he had just asked.

"What brings this about?" I asked.

His eyes left mine for a moment. "It's impossible for me to be unaware of the...things that go on in your quarters. You don't try to hide these activities either. Everyone knows that your mother is currently the only one you lay with...,"

"Have sex with, or fuck," I interrupted.

"Excuse me?" He returned.

"We're not babes, Maeloson. I'm fucking my mother, or having sex with her, take your pick," I replied.

"...Right, everyone knows you've been...having sex with your mother. Yet, you have also invited Liara Ilzahold, her guard, Ellen, and...Aesteal into your chambers. I have seen the evidence of their aftermath. She is sometimes sore. She can hardly stand some days. She appears restless at night. Back when we asked if either of us has been with...had sex with anyone, I had assumed that...,"

"...I would have fucked Aesteal so hard that the legs of my bed would have broken beneath our combined weight?" I finished.

"I didn't think for it to be put so forward like that, but yes," he responded.

I put down my quill and fully turned to face him. "Before I decide to answer that, tell me why you're even asking me at all," I returned. I was very curious as to where this conversation was even headed. Whatever it was, judging by the troubled expression on Maeloson's face, it was something to be prepared for.

"Aesteal has...bonded with you," he said.

...oh.

"Well, I would assume that we would naturally bond over this voyage," I said.

Aye, I was playing naive to what Maeloson meant. I knew what he meant. After all, I had said that I had been with elves before. I knew what he was talking about. I just wanted him to explain that it wasn't what I thought to give me some time to form my own thoughts. I...I really needed a moment to properly fathom these events.

Ūǒḿ, better translated as 'Merging of Spirit and Magic, be a term that has been simplified to Elf Bonding. Originally, this term was not tied to just elves, but to all races. However, it became an elf term since the elves exhibit this bonding the most...intensely.

As the name states, it is the bonding of an elf to a man or woman whom they would wish to spend the rest of their lives. It's something akin to marriage, but much more...spiritual than that. I know of this because one of my past elven lovers always joked that if I wasn't a pirate then she would have bonded to me long ago.

Within every person, there is something like an aura of mana that surrounds them. This does not mean they have the proficiency to use magic, but the mana is there from the time that the person is born. I think this mana is different from the mana that naturally dwells within the body. Basically, think of the body as holding physical mana, and the body's spirit holding spiritual mana.

Aye, it be a headache, but deal with that for now.

Anyway, elves tend to have a higher than average spiritual mana capacity. Some fuckers have speculated it's why they have such a long lifespan. When an elf is emotionally invested in a person, their spiritual mana, for lack of a better term, consumes a portion of the invested person's mana and takes it into their own. With that, the elf's mana adapts or forms itself into the likeness of the person's mana. This forms a sort of psychic link between the elf and the person.

Naturally, both races' spirits must...accept this action. This only weirded me out because, I don't know why my spirit, or whatever, would accept a woman that I did not fully trust. Even more, when had it happened? I can't recall anything significant.

Anyway, unlike most races that treat this...bonding thing as something silly, elves

take it very seriously. So serious is it that someone like Aesteal is liable to be put to death if her tribesmen ever discover this.

The reason for that is, for elves, there is complete submission and vulnerability to the bonded person. For the sake of the bonded person, the elf would do anything for them. Boy, do I mean ANYTHING to make them happy.

Divulge elven secrets, participate in deplorable acts that most elves wouldn't dare, and so much more would a bonded elf do if it made their bonded one happy. Now usually one would think this to be unusual since if one didn't like this then they would simply refuse to do so. However, do remember that for elves the bonding is meant to partake of their invested person's spiritual mana.

Additionally, elves are a race more sensitive to the natural and spiritual world thus these effects are perhaps three or four times what any other race must endure.

Perhaps it's for that reason that elves are a rather secluded race that doesn't enjoy visitors very much. Now, of course, even elves can differentiate sex from bonding. It's just more likely to happen if it keeps occurring.

As with most things, the reason some elves are fearful of this is because a bonding can be manipulated. A race like the elves, who are taken as treasures by the rich and noble of society, can develop a twisted sense of dependency which likens itself to a bonding. Same with any other race, but as stated before, elves feel this much more. That's probably why elven marriage outside of elven people are seen as taboo.

Never have I heard of an elf bonding to a pirate. Hell, it never even happened to me in my past life despite the few elven women I had been with. With a bonding, you could even learn...an elf's true name.

Maeloson finished his explanation of what the bonding meant for elves to me. I decided to simply play ignorant about knowing this already. I'm sure if I knew such a thing then that would rouse even greater suspicion. I can tell that though we talk, he and I don't share as much about ourselves with each other. I know why. He is just as cautious of me as I am of him.

However, with the knowledge that Aesteal is bonded to me comes some...concerns and peace of mind simultaneously. I have some peace of mind that Aesteal wouldn't betray me. For an elf to betray their bonded has never happened, as far as I am aware of. Yet, that concerns me that, why would these two elves still follow me if not such some underlying plot?

I leaned back into my chair. "Alright, and what exactly do you wish me to do?" I asked.

"Personally, sir? I'd ask you to tell Aesteal that there is no world in which you two can be together, but the odd thing about this turn of events is that I don't even think she knows that she's bonded to you," he replied.

Why do I feel as if I am being run around in circles?

"If you're telling me that she doesn't even know she's bonded, then how would you know?" I asked. There was some irritation in my voice.

Maeloson turned around. He pulled his hair out of the way and showed the back of his neck. "For every elf and their Bonded, there is an elven symbol etched around here. I saw it while Aesteal combed her hair," he replied.

I frowned before I stood up and walked over to my window. I pulled some saltwater from the ocean and maneuvered it so that its reflective surface could show me what the mirrors of my window were showing. I shouldn't have been surprised, but I was at the sight of an elven symbol etched to the back of my neck. No doubt this proved that Aesteal had indeed bonded herself to me without either of us knowing.

"As I feared," Maeloson said.

I threw the water outside and returned to my seat. "Hmm, and here I thought you'd wish her to be happy," I remarked.

"Were it any normal elf then I would not raise concern, but Aesteal is no normal elven woman. She is an elven warrior raised by an ancient code of our people. Our code, especially for those warriors, forbids the seeking of carnal desires. To protect the kingdom, they are taught that pleasure comes from serving the kingdom. Yet, her acts with you...,"

"Have shown her that the body be not so steadfast as you elves like to believe it is. I never understood that about you lot. Perhaps I never will," I replied.

We sat in silence for a moment. I finished the last pieces of my food and pushed the tray to the side. "And what happens should I go through with this bonding?" I asked.

Maeloson chuckled angrily. "You are already bonded. She would face our entire elven kingdom if it meant getting you what you desired. She'll sail with you until her body grows old and her womb bears your offspring. I only wish you to know the heavy price for having one of the kingdom's most powerful members of the ancient order as part of your crew," he said.

He then stood up, took the tray, and walked away. I'd forgive him for leaving without permission just this once. I had too much on my mind anyway.

With Maeloson's revelation on my mind, I spent the next two days in a blur between thinking of Aesteal and thinking of my alchemy. I still wasn't finished with the latter. Not even close. The reason for that was also the former. I found myself distracted by Aesteal and what my plans for her were. This news had definitely forced me to rethink the actions that I ought to take with the elves.

When night fell over the ship, I corrected our course one more time before Ellen came through the door and offered me my dinner. When she turned to leave, I spoke. "Tell Aesteal to come to me. I need to speak to her," I said.

"I'll be sure to cover my ears," Ellen said with a roll of her eyes before she left.

Despite my rather melancholy mood, I laughed. Seas, I loved that one more than almost any other. While I waited, I decided to partake in my dinner. This time, instead of land meat, I find my taste buds suited to sea meat. More specifically, I found myself delighted with krill, shrimp, and other tasty delights that be found swimming through the ocean.

Anyway, a knock came to my door about five minutes later. "Enter," I said.

I'd like to make the excuse that it be the revelation of this bonding that I felt surprisingly less confident when I turned around I spotted Aesteal in my doorway. Blood was rushing through my chest and my eyes. Like some wide burst of clarity, I could see every corner of her body that leaked a sexuality to draw me in like a great whirlpool. I was hard just from watching her descend my steps.

"You asked for me, sir?" Aesteal questioned.

Seas, her voice sounded like a melodious song over the waves that stirred both my spirit and my loins. Had her voice always been this way and I just not notice it?

Bah, look at me! I be a middle-aged man in the body of a young brat and my mind is woven by over a thousand pleasant thoughts like some giddy child. Perhaps I ought to be glad that these feelings remain locked in my mind. I don't know how I'd deal otherwise.

I desired to hold her. Kiss her. Make love to her. Breed her full of my little bastards and watch them run along my ship causing any mischief they please.

I inhaled and exhaled slowly. I calmed myself. Eager though I was, I reined in my cock and the blood that surged within it.

"Aye, I did. Tell me, have you eaten already?" I asked.

"No, sir. I was going to until you called," she replied.

I slowly nodded and held out my hand. "Then dine with your captain tonight. A meal be much better when enjoyed by such lovely company," I stated.

Aesteal looked at my offered hand and smiled. This smile, I found much different from her others. Not that she was never against it before, as far as I could tell, but this time...she seemed entirely delighted at the thought.

"Is that an order, sir?" she asked as she stepped into the light of the candles which lit my room.

I smirked. "Shall I make it one?" I asked as her hand slipped into mine. Her skin felt like warm silk. Each nerve on the tips of my fingers firing like a thousand cannon shots.

"No, I suppose not, sir," she answered.

I then pulled her to me. She allowed herself to be taken. She sat on my thighs just like Ellen would have done if she were with me. Her silver hair rubbed against my cheek. Her eyes stared into mine and I found myself drifting through the quiet forest grass like a wayward spirit.

Aesteal reached for some of the food, but I smacked her hand away. She looked at me curiously before I took a piece of sliced apple and held it to her lips. I'm not sure what protests she had, but she did not voice them, and instead, she opened her mouth. She took the apple and chewed on it, suckling on the tips of my fingers as she did so.

My cock lurched forward as her tongue slathered my fingers with saliva. How funny that a few weeks ago, she couldn't even masturbate properly. Now, I can feel her ass gently grind against my pelvis while her spirit's mana flourished around her. Her hot breath tickled my skin before I pulled out my fingers.

So caked in spit were they that they glistened beneath the light of the candles. When I turned to her I noticed her reach for some of my food. She then faced me and held the food near my lips as well. "I had always thought feeding someone else was more...private and personal," she said.

"It is. I be sharing it privately in my quarters with a personal member of my crew. What better time is there than now?" I asked.

I then took my food from her hand and ate it slowly. She watched me curiously while I swallowed.

For the next half an hour, we fed each other and we drank the fruits of delectable wine. Naturally, I had to coax her a bit to drink with me as I promised there was no desire of mine to get her drunk. She seemed to believe me and we only drank for a little while. It was nothing much, but it made us both aware that this be the first time we had ever been alone in a truly intimate fashion.

"Aesteal, stand up," I said.

Without a word, she tore herself from me and stood to her feet. She turned to face me. "Strip," I said.

My female elf grabbed her shirt. "Slowly," I then uttered.

"Yes, sir," she returned.

She then unbuttoned her shirt. Her delicate fingers worked each one through each hole before she was exposed to me. Just as I had wished, she had not bound her breasts with wrappings every since the first time I had seen them.

She then undid the belt buckle of her pants. Grabbing their edges, she slowly pulled them down as her fair skin glimmered next to my desk. Her long legs drove me wild and the way her legs coiled next to each other, as if to try and hide her pussy from me drove, me wild.

Aesteal, without a shadow of a doubt, was a very beautiful elven female. She had every tool to drive a man to go to war just to spend one night with her. A strong will, beautiful breasts, long legs, beautiful eyes, and a nice ass. Plus, she could kick some good ass as well. What more could any man desire in such a strong woman?