Official Reckoning Read online

  Another shared glance, but it wasn’t needed this time. We didn’t have any other options.

  “Mount a trap of our own,” I said. “Head back to the pass. We can double back around the walls and escape once they’ve started fighting each other.”

  We moved, but I still felt the aftereffects of my spent energy. There was an easy and enjoyable way of replenishing it, but I doubted we had time for something like that right now. Maybe later, assuming that we were still alive. I limped as quickly as possible, but I heard the Lancers’ horses closing on our right as well as the golems charging in from the left.

  Instinct made me raise my blade just as a pair of sickly green eyes appeared in front of me. A snarling undead creature suddenly came into view. It held a blackened sword in its hands as it charged at me. I swung for its neck, easily decapitating it, but the body kept moving and knocked me off my feet. I stumbled and fell to the ground.

  On the bright side, I thought, I hadn’t yet lost my sword. I pushed myself up and groaned at the pain in my ribs as I climbed to my feet.

  “Grant!” Braire shouted and ran back as the other two tried to keep our way of escape open.

  I couldn’t breathe. Something stopped me, like a heavy weight sitting on my chest, as I pushed myself forward another step. Pain rushed through my body as I forced another, and another. I had to keep moving. We needed to escape.

  I blinked, trying to bring my eyes into focus as I saw Braire throw something at me. No, not at me, above my head. The air around me crackled with energy as her wolf appeared out of thin air and howled menacingly as it bounded onto a tree and then down on the closest golem, tearing the head off with is massive fangs.

  “Good to see you again, Vester,” I gasped as I struggled to keep my feet. “Braire, look out!”

  My warning almost came too late. My eyes were adjusting to the darkness around us. That, or the moonlight had suddenly grown brighter. I saw one of the golems, which was about twenty paces away, pick up a boulder and throw it at her.

  She saw it just in time, and dove to the right to avoid it. Damn. Not quite soon enough, I thought as I watched it land a glancing blow on her side and knock her to the ground as the rock itself sailed through the air and crashed into a nearby tree.

  “No!” I screamed. My pain and exhaustion were still overwhelming, but they were pushed aside as I rushed to where she lay. There was blood, black in the moonlight, but not much. Her eyes were closed, but when I knelt next to her, she sucked in a breath and then gasped as she looked around.

  “What… happened?” she asked, a dazed expression on her face.

  “Nothing,” I whispered and ensured that nothing was broken before I pulled her up and into my arms. I was barely able to carry my own weight, so I struggled even more with hers added to it.

  I wouldn’t make it. But I had to try.

  I felt the ground shake under me and turned, expecting to see a golem, but saw a massive wolf instead. Its its brown fur was almost invisible in the darkness.

  “Here… you take her, yes,” I hissed and pushed her onto its back. It paused while I secured her, and then, seeming to lose patience, nipped me on the neck and dragged me onto its back as well. I was too tired to argue.

  Then again, I needed to keep Braire situated on its back. For all its size and prowess in battle, riding a wolf was a lot more difficult than I thought it would be.

  I owed Horse an apology, I thought as I watched Norel and Aliana quickly mount up behind me. I let them help keep Braire secure as I held on for dear life.

  14

  I could easily add riding a giant wolf to the things that were both painful and incomprehensible to me, I mused as I dropped to the ground when the beast came to a halt. There didn’t seem to be way for me to acclimatize myself to it. Riding a horse was something that I had gradually gotten used to. The ride was certainly smoother and easier to manage. A smaller build allowed me to straddle Horse a lot easier, I thought. The wolf had a good deal more muscle and movement in the same area that made it almost impossible for me to ride him.

  As such, by the end of it, I hurt in places that I’d never thought could hurt.

  I quickly realized that there was little time for me to wallow in my misery as I looked up to where Aliana and Norel both still pinned Braire to the creature. They looked a lot more comfortable atop the wolf, I thought as I carefully helped Braire down. She was still unconscious, which couldn’t be a good sign.

  “Where are we?” Norel asked as she looked around.

  Aliana jumped lightly to the ground, fluttering her wings to bring her into a lighter landing. “There’s a cave about fifteen paces that way. I think we can spend the night there.”

  I looked up at the wolf. I didn’t have the bond to him that Braire did, but I could tell how exhausted he was just by looking at him. As I came closer, I realized that some of his hide had been rubbed raw by my boots.

  “I’m so sorry, big guy,” I whispered and gently stroked the injured bit.

  He growled at me softly, a gentle warning.

  “Are you going to be all right?” I asked, looking around. “Chances are the woods are still full of Lancers and monsters, even if they are hopefully all too busy fighting each other to bother with us.”

  He didn’t respond, of course. All he did was gently nudge me toward where I’d set Braire down. His intent was clear. He could handle himself. Take care of Braire.

  “You stay safe, though,” I said, trying to incorporate the same menacing tone as his growl, and failing miserably. I patted his neck one more time before I walked back to Braire and gently pulled her up. My muscles screamed in protest, but Norel and Aliana were already moving toward the cave. I couldn’t actually see the cave proper in the darkness, but I could follow the bond toward them. We were still in the woods, but the presence of caves meant that the mountains had to be close. I was already climbing a small incline, which supported that line of thought.

  I pushed as far and fast as I could go while carrying Braire in my arms. As my muscles gave way, Aliana suddenly stepped in and helped both me and Braire make the last few steps into the relative shelter of the cave.

  “Are you all right?” Aliana asked as I dropped to the ground next to Braire.

  “Don’t worry about me,” I panted and wiped some sweat from my forehead. It seemed that the wolf and I had a similar set of priorities, I thought and leaned back against the wall of the cave. Norel raised her hand and a glowing orb came from her palm. It rose five feet or so until it bobbed against the roof. It was a very light blue, and it illuminated the room around us without glowing too brightly. Even so, I saw the back of the cave rather well. It would do for shelter for the night, but not much else.

  “I’ll secure the area,” Aliana said softly. “Make sure that none of our enemies followed us here.”

  Norel nodded, already working her healing energy across Braire’s body. I saw some of her wounds in the dim light. There was a cut across her forehead, with a great deal of swelling. That was where Norel started with her healing, as a white light spread from her hands into Braire’s head.

  I knew better than to question or distract her from what she was doing, so I kept silent as I studied the two of them. I still wasn’t fully sure how to heal using my magic, and I assumed that trying it without any kind of training was as likely to injure as to heal under the best of circumstances. It was too risky, especially now, as tired and drained as I was.

  “She’s still breathing,” Norel whispered. “The impact caused swelling in her head, but I’ve managed to curb its effects for the moment. Grant, would you come over here, please?”

  I nodded, pushed myself away from the wall with a groan, and crawled over to where Norel knelt next to her sister.

  “What do you need?” I asked, looking at Braire. She was still unconscious, but there was something decidedly more relaxed about her than there had been before. Norel was obviously very good at what she did. She didn’t look up from her work. A fe
w droplets of sweat formed on her forehead, although I couldn’t be sure if that was from our narrow escape or from her current efforts.

  “Well, your presence has a bit of a calming effect on her,” Norel said, still not opening her eyes. “And on me as well, if I’m honest, although I wondered if I could use you as a familiar for the last legs of the healing process. I fear that I am a bit drained.”

  “Of course,” I said softly. I could have argued that I was similarly tapped out, but for Braire, I was sure that I could dig a little deeper. Besides, our bond showed me that Norel was similarly exhausted and really did need the help.

  I pressed my hand to Norel’s shoulder and closed my eyes as I reached out to her through the bond. I’d done this before, of course, although the last time it was the three of them bonding to me. Going through this path was a little unfamiliar, but Norel guided me, pulling me into herself and drawing from what little energy I had left.

  It was difficult to tell time through this connection of ours. I felt somehow a guest in my own body, outside looking in as Norel took possession of me. Being her familiar wasn’t an unpleasant experience but it certainly was unusual. I couldn’t help but revel in the experience of powerlessness—being able to relax and trust that Norel knew what she was doing, and that she would never push me or herself beyond the limits of our abilities.

  I couldn’t be sure of that, of course, but that was where the trust came in.

  When I finally fell back, sucking air into my lungs as though I hadn’t breathed the entire time, I looked around. I was curious to learn how long it took. Aliana still hadn’t returned, which meant that it couldn’t have been too long.

  Norel swayed as her power reached its limit. I wrapped my arms around her, pulled her closer to me and stroked her hair tenderly.

  “Thank you,” she whispered and kissed my cheek before she looked down at Braire. Most of the outer wounds looked like they were healed, even the bruising around the beastmistress’ face. Braire remained unconscious, though.

  “There’s nothing more I can do for her,” Norel whispered and leaned into me.

  “You don’t mean—” I started to ask, but her chuckle cut my worries off at the source.

  “No, I don’t. She’ll be all right. She just needs some rest, is all,” she said and then added, “I noticed your interest in the healing magic I used.”

  “Well, it’s always a useful talent to have,” I pointed out.

  “There is a bit of talent involved in healing magic, I suppose,” Norel said in a soft voice as she ran her fingers lightly over my shoulder and down my arm before tangling them with mine. “But the real source of it comes with care, I suppose. It’s hard to explain, but you push your mind into someone else’s body and take on their pain, then use it to find what needs healing.”

  I watched her hand start to glow a faint white, and felt what she meant. I wondered why I’d never seen it before, since she had healed me a few times already. It might’ve been because I was so lost in my misery during those times, and that the touch was so subtle that it passed almost unnoticed unless you knew what you were searching for.

  “Can you feel it?” Norel asked softly as she ran her fingers up and down my arm, sending shivers across my skin. I closed my eyes, enjoying the soft touches. She pulled me closer, and her lips lightly caressed my neck. I didn’t know if her lips glowed as well, but I found that those touches tingled in the same way.

  “Oh… Yes, yes I can,” I said softly and opened my eyes to look at her. Her lips weren’t glowing but they were still more than a little entrancing. I needed a closer look. I leaned in, kissing her lips softly and pulling her closer to me. She sighed with a soft moan, then sank into the kiss and pushed her body against mine as her fingers tangled in my hair. I had neglected to trim it over the past month or so but she seemed to like it.

  “Well,” Norel whispered when we broke the kiss, her fingers trailing down to stroke my jaw. “That’s one way to replenish our power for the evening, I suppose.”

  I smiled in agreement as my hands slid down her shoulders and pulled her closer. I tenderly pressed my lips to her neck and lightly nibbled the exposed skin, eliciting a soft gasp each time my teeth dug into her neck. She was right, it was a good way to replenish the energy we’d expended in the fight. The power had already begun to replenish my exhausted muscles.

  That wouldn’t be enough, though. It never was. I was a greedy bastard and always wanted more. Her hands slipped over my shoulders, caressing my hard muscles. I did the same to her. Her long, flowing white robes did little to hide what was underneath. My hands went to her still-concealed breasts, which drew me in and immediately distracted me as I cupped and then tenderly squeezed and stroked them while rubbing my thumbs over her hardened nipples, which were easily felt through the silky robes.

  “Oh gods, Grant,” Norel gasped, showing her need and a little frustration as I toyed with her breasts while still teasing her neck and shoulders with my lips and tongue. Her right hand fell away from my body but landed against my quickly-hardening member a moment later. She rubbed it through my trousers.

  I shuddered in pleasure against her, more than willing to follow her lead. One hand drifted down from her breasts to find its way under her robes and push her thighs open as my fingers slipped between them. As I stroked her clit, her hips pushed forward. Her gasp indicated that her movements weren’t quite intentional, but very welcome.

  “Please… please Grant,” she whispered and kissed my neck as my fingers slipped inside her.

  There were footsteps at the mouth of the cave. I twisted far enough to see Aliana step inside. The pale blue light from Norel’s globe, which was still hanging from the roof of the cave, revealed the small smirk on her lips. I realized that her clothes were already gone. I assumed that she had discarded them before she entered the cave, although I saw no trace of them at the entrance. Maybe she put them in the same magical pocket where she kept her knives.

  “How is the situation out there?” I asked, not giving Norel any pause as my fingers continued pumping in and out of her warm pussy.

  “Peaceful,” Aliana said as she dropped to her knees and kissed me. “How fares Braire?”

  “Norel healed her,” I answered, smiling as her fingers joined Norel’s in trying to rid me of my trousers. “She’s sleeping now. She needs rest.”

  Aliana nodded but pressed a forefinger to my lips, indicating the end of the conversation in favor of more pressing concerns. With Aliana and Norel working together, my trousers were quickly undone and pushed away, leaving my cock free to jump up and bob lightly as it grew harder. I growled softly in appreciation as both wrapped their hands around the shaft, drawing another moan of pleasure from me.

  Aliana leaned in, her free hand coming around to pull Norel’s head down, as the woman was too distracted to do so herself. As my fingers pumped in and out of her, Norel gasped, her eyes opening suddenly as Aliana pulled her down to where my cock was waiting. She moaned, wrapped her lips around the head and sank lower. Every nerve ending in me flared to life as she slowly started to bob her head as Aliana moved down with her, her lips and tongue playing with my balls.

  A shot of pleasure jerked my hips forward against Norel’s mouth. Both women giggled, although Norel complemented hers with a soft moan as I pushed her harder. My free hand moved over Aliana’s back. I smiled as her wings fluttered gently against my arm while my hand slid lower and caressed her ass. My thumb stroked between her cheeks. She was dripping wet by the time I slipped two fingers inside her, which drew a gasping moan from her.

  A flicker of movement drew my attention toward the other side of the cave. Braire was not only conscious and watching us but engaging in her own way. I watched as she toyed with her breasts, pulling one out from under her clothes for easier access as her other hand slid between her thighs. The pleasure was being drawn from all four of us now, I realized. It washed over me in an awesome wave, and dragged a low growl of pleasure from me as a prick
of power started to flow from the runes in my hand. The first to feel it was Norel, of course, but it quickly moved over to Aliana and even Braire, whose eyes rolled back.

  “Don’t stop on my account,” she whispered while licking her lips. I felt her orgasm crest first, despite what I might have thought. Not that I thought much over the next few minutes.

  “Oh gods,” I whispered aloud as my head dropped back against the wall of the cave.

  15

  We’d been in heart-pounding, life-threatening danger before. What came after was just as heart-pounding, although a good deal less life-threatening. I couldn’t stay awake once we had all finished, and neither could the other three. Our shared exhaustion filtered through the bond.

  Braire, still recovering from her wounds, was the first to drop off. Norel drifted to sleep next to her after checking that she was well and didn’t need any help at the moment. Aliana sat next to her, with one of her wings draped over Norel’s shoulders. I found my pants, then laid down with my head on Aliana’s lap and stared up at the slowly-dimming blue orb.

  A sense of vertigo filled me and made me realize that I was just about to fall asleep. It was familiar—I had felt this before, somewhere. My consciousness slipped away from my body as I reached up and out of it, feeling in control of my actions in this odd realm beyond reality.

  I rose and looked around our small cave. The four of us were properly asleep. Braire looked like she was dreaming as she twitched and muttered something in her native tongue. It was a curse, one that I recognized. She was verbally berating someone, and the bond told me she didn’t feel good about doing it, but felt it was necessary. For all I knew, it could have been one of her animals. I still wasn’t sure just how close they were with each other, but I could feel a hint of a bond with each. It was probably thanks to the bond I shared with her. I had always meant to ask Norel how that was supposed to work, but never remembered to when she was around. My mind was always elsewhere.