A Dragon’s Tale

Alana was enjoying dozing in the hammock when a burst of arousal coming from her bond made her fully awake.  She yawned and made to stretch, her movement once again making her acutely aware of the beautiful redhead sleeping beside her. 

She sighed.

She was a strange combination of super relaxed, content, and mildly aroused.  The arousal was only partially because of the lust coming from Ethan.  Taloni was about to visit heaven in bed.  The wood elf was slightly jealous she wasn’t in the Fey’s place, but was quite happy for her otherwise. 

But no, her mild arousal had a lot more to do with the redhead in the hammock next to her than what Ethan was doing with his second wife...  or was Taloni his third wife and Beth his second?

Hmm...

She put it out of her mind and turned to look at Rachel.  The redhead was asleep and Alana noticed that she had long, attractive eyelashes.  More than that though, she had a wonderful spirit. 

She sighed again.

She wished she could wake up next to her best friend more often.  Not that she wanted to be separated from Ethan at night.  She would’ve preferred that Rachel was waking up next to Ethan too, plus herself, Beth, and Taloni.  However, she didn’t think Rachel would ever want to share a bed with Ethan. 

She hoped, but it seemed unlikely.

She dozed for a bit, alternately dreaming, daydreaming, and looking at Rachel; the redheaded teen was before her eyes in all three.  Given the lust coming over her bond with Ethan and her attraction to her friend, some of her imaginings had Rachel in more provocative positions than she might assume in real life.

If only...

*Good morning gorgeous.*  Ethan’s mental voice came not long after Taloni’s cries of passion subsided.

*Good morning handsome.*  She replied sleepily.  *It sounds like our young Fey friend enjoyed herself last night... and this morning...  repeatedly.*

*You could hear her?*  He asked, and she could just picture the grimace that would be on his face.

*Sir, half of Arcanum heard her.* 

There was a short pause, then he replied.  *So, she might not be leaving the captain’s cabin this morning...  Or ever.  Her face is doing a very good imitation of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.*

*Who’s that?*  She asked. 

He explained, and Alana chuckled when she understood.  *Yeah, I try to keep it down for exactly that reason.* 

”Hmm?”  Rachel stirred beside the wood elf.  The redhead covered her mouth, yawned, and then made the most adorable little sigh as she finished.  Then she settled back down and seemed to fall back to sleep.

*So, you’d be louder?*  Ethan asked. 

*Possibly...*  She replied with a hint of mischievousness in her tone.  A part of her really did want to cut loose, but wouldn’t do so on the Argo; not with Anthiel, Serif, and especially Raklan on board. 

*So, I want to ask you about something.*  He said a little more seriously.  *Taloni wants to call me master.*  He then explained about his conversation with the Fey teen the previous night and that morning. 

Alana felt herself get even more aroused as she listened.

*Judging by the feelings coming over our bond, it doesn’t bother you very much.*  He said after he had finished explaining.

*Not really, it sounds like the same reason I call you ’sir’...  sir.*

*Why do you call me sir?*

*Because it doesn’t feel right not to.*  She replied.  *I just feel like I need to address you in some way that shows how much I truly respect and admire you.* 

*And I appreciate that.*  He said fervently.  *Taloni calling me master however...  That doesn’t sit right with me.*

*Why not?*

*Because I’m not her master, nor do I wish to be.* 

*Well,* the wood elf thought for a moment.  *In a way you’re not too far off.  I mean, we both vowed to follow and obey you.  While you don’t quite own us, we did swear an oath to Illuminar that we would obey you.  So there’s a sense where we belong to you and it’s not very far off.*

*Yeah, Taloni said the same thing.*  He said, and there was a bit of resignation in his tone.  *And you’re okay with that?  You don’t feel like it violates your free will?*

*Of course not, we both chose to make that vow.  You didn’t force us, trick us, or even mislead us into making it.  We made it of our own free will.  We made a choice; can you respect our choice?*

*Come again?* 

*We chose to make our vows, which include obeying you.  But if you try to make us not abide by our vows -- by not obeying you -- wouldn’t that be much more a violation of our free will?  Wouldn’t you be trying to force us to change what we vowed to do?” 

*I never thought of it that way.*  His tone was pensive.  *But still, I’m not sure I’m happy with that.* 

*Okay, but wasn’t it our choice to make?  If your concern is free will, wouldn’t it make more sense to respect our choice -- and our vows to obey you -- rather than try to make us change our choice?*

There was a brief pause, then.  *You make a really good point.  I don’t like it, but you do.*

*And there’s always your vow to consider.* Alana said as another thought occurred to her.

*Oh?*

*You accepted our vow, so wouldn’t that mean you need to abide by it too?  You know, let us obey you.*

Another brief pause, then:  *Wow, you don’t pull any punches.*

*I’m absolutely committed to making sure you’re perfectly fine with all of your wives obeying you... sir.*

There was amusement over their bond as he replied.  *I’m not perfectly fine with it, but you’ve left me little room to not accept it.*

*So, you’ll let her call you master?*

*Probably?*  He didn’t sound sure.  *I still want to talk to Rachel and get her opinion.  No offense, but you’re rather biased and my dragon side is possibly influencing you a little.*

*It’s not, but it tried.*

*What do you mean?*

She then explained how on their wedding night the dragon had tried to make their relationship a true master/slave dynamic and how she had rejected that.

*I don’t remember any of that.*  He said when she finished. 

*That’s because I don’t think it was you, or at least it wasn’t you on a conscious level.*

He was silent for a minute, and she could feel his uncertainty and nervous trepidation through their bond.

*Don’t worry, I was able to resist fairly easily, I’m sure Taloni was too.*  The wood elf tried to console him.

*Alana, you may not know this about yourself, but you are a woman with absolutely iron willpower.*  He replied.  *I don’t know why, but your will is as strong as anyone I’ve encountered, probably stronger.  Taloni is a wonderful girl, but she doesn’t have the iron willpower that you do.  In fact, I’d wager almost no one does.* 

*Oh.*  Was all Alana could say.  *So, you think that...  that maybe...?*

*I don’t know.*  His tone was concerned.  *Could you maybe slip off the Argo and find her friend -- Prayla I think -- and ask her how she was before our wedding yesterday.  See if she had any of these tendencies before?  The submissive ones I mean.*

*I will, and I’ll be quick.*  She said, looking wistfully at the still-sleeping redhead next to her.  She had hoped to be there when Rachel woke, but perhaps that was for the best anyway.  She slipped out of the hammock as gently as she could so the redheaded teen didn’t wake. 

Miraculously, she didn’t.

She seemed to roll, looking for where Alana had just been.   The wood elf felt her heart soar.  She paused before leaving and then, on impulse, leaned over gave Rachel a tender kiss on the cheek.

”Sleep well.”  She whispered, then left. 

* * *

Kendra lashed her airship to the branches of a tree so it wouldn’t drift away in the early morning breeze.  She didn’t want to fully ground it because it might cost her precious seconds if she needed to escape in a hurry.  That dragon had been livid the last time they met and she didn’t want to put herself in a position where she couldn’t flee his wrath. 

Of course, dragons were much faster than airships anyway, so perhaps that was just wishful thinking.

She stole through the forest towards the small mining camp above which his airship was anchored.  They had been there since she arrived early that morning, and she was hoping they would stay long enough for her to gather some intelligence.   She made her way to the road and started walking towards the mining camp. 

 A short walk later, she had arrived. 

The mining camp itself was a collection of dilapidated shacks clustered around a nicer building in the center.  There were several women out cleaning up after what looked like a wedding the previous day.  There were also children out playing in and among the buildings. 

The only men in sight were the guards, who regarded her -- a lone woman who appeared to be unarmed -- with nothing more than mild interest.  They let her pass with nothing more than a nod of the head in acknowledgment, which she returned.   She had purposely ’dressed down’ to make herself look as plain as possible; that was usually the best policy when she wanted to remain incognito.

She had intended to head for the main building and talk to the head of the mine, but something caught her eye before she made it there. 

It was the wood elf.

The chocolate-haired elf that she had knocked out using enchanted chloroform the previous day was walking through the camp.  That was the woman whom the dragon had protected so fiercely.  The woman for whom the dragon’s eyes had been filled with care, concern, and even -- possibly -- love.

Kendra was absolutely determined to keep her presence a secret from both the elf and the dragon because she didn’t want to risk the dragon’s wrath; not again.  She headed toward the gap between two of the shacks and slipped between them.  Then she started circling around the camp toward the building that the wood elf had been walking towards. 

A minute later, she was pressed up against the wall to the building, out of sight of everyone in the camp.  She pressed her ear to the wall, hoping to catch a snippet of conversation. 

”...and she’s always wanted to help.”  One voice said, though it didn’t sound like the wood elf. 

”Oh?”  Said a second voice, which -- from Kendra’s recollection of their brief meeting in Illuminar’s temple in Arcanum -- did sound like the elf.

”Yes, she was even annoying about it sometimes.”  The first voice said again.  ”A few of the mothers in the camp would get annoyed because she was always underfoot trying to help, but I think they liked it too.  Why did you ask?”

”Because I was just looking for a sense of who she was before she bonded with Ethan.”  The elf said.  ”Did she let people push her around?” 

”Oh Illuminar, yes.”  The first voice groaned.  ”If I’m perfectly honest, it almost seemed like she was looking for someone to tell her what to do.  She got better as she got older, but she always let people push her around.” 

There was a brief moment of silence, then the sound of creaking floorboards as someone stood up, and then the elf spoke again.  ”I should get going, we’ve looking to leave today, though I’m not sure exactly where we’re headed.”

”Is Tee okay?” the first voice asked. 

”I think so.  She seems to have started looking at Ethan like he’s her master, and he’s not very comfortable with that.” 

Kendra frowned. 

A dragon not being comfortable with being someone’s master?  That didn’t add up.  One of the most defining traits of a dragon was their drive and desire to dominate everything they considered inferior; which was everything.  Well, everything except for other dragons.

”I’m not surprised.”  The first voice said.  ”That’s been normal for most of her life, maybe it’s just habit?”

”Maybe.”  The elf said, and she sounded just a touch concerned.  ”Anyway, thank you for talking to me, and may Illuminar guide you on the path of light as you travel.”

”And you also.” 

The floorboards creaked as someone left the shack and Kendra removed her ear from the wall.  Curious.  This dragon was unlike any dragon she’d ever heard of.  He almost seemed... human. 

She pondered this for several minutes before deciding that she needed to do what she came here to do.  The dragon’s airship was leaving soon, and someone in the camp probably knew where they were headed.  She often found the best place to start was at the top.  Even if they didn’t know, they usually knew who did. 

If she knew where they were going, she didn’t need to worry about losing them.

* * *

Ethan stepped out of the captain’s cabin onto the weather deck of the Argo and took a deep breath.  He smelled the crisp scent of fresh morning air mixed with the smell of the boiled ham and oatmeal that was cooking for breakfast.  Life was good.  Havorleth was defeated, Taloni was freed, and they were going to bring Beth back as soon as they could find a portal.

”Good morning.”  He said to everyone who was gathered around the breakfast pot. 

They all looked at him, then behind him to where Taloni was standing.  Hailey and Rachel both wore slightly embarrassed looks, Anthiel looked amused, Serif was unreadable as ever, and Raklan was leering...  until Serif casually smacked him upside the head.

”What?”  Ethan asked.

”One of you was rather...”  Anthiel seemed to be searching for the right word.  ”...vocal last night...  and this morning.”  She finished delicately.

Taloni let out a little gasp and hid behind Ethan. 

”Uh sorry.”  He replied remembering what Alana had said.  ”We’ll try to keep it down in the future.” 

Raklan opened his mouth but closed it as soon as he saw Serif casually move his hand into position to smack him again.

*Don’t keep quiet on my account.* Alana said telepathically as she appeared at the top of the Argo’s rope ladder and climbed onto the deck.  *I certainly didn’t mind.*

*Yeah, but they did.* He looked behind him to where Taloni was beet red and hyperventilating slightly.   *And she certainly did.*

*Good point.* she said as she looked at the Fey.  An expression of sincere compassion crossed her face. 

She then turned to the rest of the crew.  ”Okay, stop teasing the poor girl.  I know you all heard Ethan and me and you never teased me about it this badly.  Give her a break, will you?”

There was a general murmur of agreement from everyone except Raklan, and then everyone went back to their breakfast.  Alana walked over to Taloni and gave her a great big hug. 

”Well done.”  The elf whispered to the Fey.  ”You totally blew his mind and have nothing to be ashamed of.  I felt it over our bond and trust me, he had no complaints.” 

Taloni was still red, but looked slightly less mortified that the entire crew had heard her in the throes of passion.  Ethan threw her a toothy grin because it certainly had been an incredible night, and morning. 

”Thank you, both of you.”  The Fey said quietly, then turned to Ethan with a hopeful expression and whispered.  ”So, I really pleased you last night?”

”Absolutely.”  He replied with a wide smile.

The Fey beamed.

The three of them joined the others around the breakfast fire and helped themselves to some breakfast, Taloni sitting just a bit further behind Ethan than she might ordinarily have done.

”So, the next order of business is finding a portal to Earth so we can revive Beth.”  Ethan said after wolfing down his first ham steak. 

”Actually, Hailey already took care of that.”  Anthiel said. 

”Really?”

Hailey nodded, finished chewing, then spoke.  ”It occurred to me that since Taloni was a slave, Thaltien must’ve gotten her from somewhere, so I thought he might know some of the slave dealers around here.” 

”Good thinking.”  Rachel said, then looked at both Hailey and Anthiel.  ”Is that why you were talking to him last night?”

Anthiel nodded.  ”He never dealt with the men who took Hailey because they have a nasty reputation, but he knew approximately where their camp was.”

”And he gave us directions.”  Hailey added with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. 

”Perfect.”  Ethan said with a huge smile. 

”Well, perhaps not.”  Anthiel said with a worried look on her face. 

”Oh?”  He had never seen the usually calm high elf look this worried before.

She nodded.  ”I knew they must have a mage because a portal requires some deep magical knowledge to construct.  However, I assumed the slaver was employing a mage.” 

”He’s not?”  Alana asked.

Anthiel shook her head.  ”The camp is run by a mage and from Thaltien’s description...”  She took a breath.  ”...from his description, it sounds like this mage is a necromancer.” 

Rachel and Alana gasped, Taloni grabbed Ethan’s arm, and Hailey had a grim look on her face.

Ethan grimaced.  ”So...  is that as bad as you all seem to think it is?”

”Yes.”  Alana, Taloni, and Rachel all said at the same time.

”I remember you telling me about them before.”  He said.  ”Aren’t they the ones who draw magic from dead bodies or something?” 

”From living things which have just died.”  Rachel corrected.  ”When a living being dies, all the mana it held is released as negatively charged mana, which the necromancer then absorbs and uses to power spells.” 

Alana nodded.  ”Negatively charged mana is also the only thing that can power spells dealing with the dead, like reanimating corpses, a Death Shaman’s spells, and the like.” 

”It’s strictly forbidden by Illuminar too.” Taloni said in a fearful voice.  ”He mandated that anyone who uses dark spells like that must be put to death.” 

”That sounds a little harsh.”  Ethan commented. 

Taloni shook her head.  ”Negatively charged mana erodes the soul.  They soon stop caring about morality or right and wrong.  It makes people... evil.”  She shuddered.

”Taloni isn’t wrong.”  Anthiel said.  ”I once knew a fellow who turned to it to save his village from attack.  He was a kind, caring soul who used it out of desperation, but it thoroughly corrupted him even though his intentions were originally good.”

”What happened to him?”  Ethan asked. 

”He went on a rampage and killed a dozen men before he was killed by the guards.”

”Negatively charged mana equals bad.”  He exhaled slowly.  ”Got it.”

”It’s also called dark mana because it’s easier to say.”  Rachel added.  ”No self-respecting mage who cares about others would even consider using it; the corruptive effects are too strong.” 

”And this guy uses it?”  He suddenly wasn’t as keen on the idea. 

”That’s the definition of necromancer; a mage who uses dark mana.”  Rachel answered.  ”Though they usually end up delving into the area of magic called necromancy, which involves reanimating the corpses of people or animals.” 

”So he’s one seriously bad dude.”  Ethan summarized.

”That’s putting it mildly Double-O-Seven.”  Hailey said in an impressively good imitation of Desmond Llewelyn’s Q from the older James Bond movies. 

”Who’s Double-O-Seven?” Alana asked for the rest of the confused-looking crew.  That led to Ethan and Hailey explaining -- or trying to explain -- the iconic character of James Bond and his famous quartermaster.

”I can’t say this enough; you come from a strange world.”  Alana said. 

There was a general murmur of agreement. 

”One last thing.”  Rachel said.  ”Necromancers can pull all the mana -- including the deep mana -- from anyone who dies.  That gives them an incredible advantage in a fight because as long as people are dying, they have nearly limitless amounts of mana to draw from.  That’s part of what makes them so dangerous.” 

”That, and their tendency to turn into homicidal maniacs.”  Hailey added. 

”That too.” Rachel acknowledged. 

”So, don’t piss off this fellow because he’s super powerful.”  Ethan said.  ”Got it.  I’ll be my usual charming self.”

”I’d rather avoid necromancers entirely.”  Anthiel said.  ”If there’s no other way, then we can go, but they are incredibly dangerous.  They are widely feared for a reason.” 

”Does anyone know of another portal to earth?”  He asked. 

Everyone either shook their head or replied in the negative. 

”Then I don’t think we have a choice.”  He said.  ”Beth’s life depends on it and I promised to help Hailey get home.  We’ll be as careful as possible, but I don’t think we have another option to save Beth, unless anyone has any ideas?”

No one spoke up.

Ethan took a moment to think.  The last thing he wanted to do was put the crew of the Argo in danger, especially his wives.  But Beth’s life was on the line, and while this necromancer was dangerous, as a slaver he was also a businessman.  A wicked businessman to be sure, but a businessman none the less.  He hoped they could come to an agreement. 

”There really isn’t another option to save Beth.”  Ethan finally said, then turned to Anthiel.  ”Set a course.  How far is it?” 

”Aye, aye captain.”  The high elf replied.  ”And we should be there tomorrow mid-afternoon.” 

”So close?”

The high elf nodded.  ”Would you travel farther than necessary to sell your wares?  It makes sense it wouldn’t be far from Arcanum where Hailey was sold.” 

”True.”  He agreed and turned to Hailey.  ”Do you know anyone who could do a blood transfusion?”

Hailey shook her head.  ”Not really, but my best friend Melinda might though.  She’s one of those people who knows everyone.”

”You never mentioned her before.”  Alana observed.

Hailey shrugged.  ”She’s really nice.  She, Jason, and I used to hang out all the time.  I think she might’ve liked him, but never acted on it because he was taken; she’s a good friend.” 

”Interesting.”  Ethan said.  He hoped for her sake that her friend and Jason weren’t romantically involved now that she’d been gone for so long.  It had been a few years and Hailey was missing, probably presumed dead.  It wasn’t outside the realm of possibility.

He discarded the thought.  ”Can you introduce us to her when we get to Earth; I’d like to bring Beth back as soon as possible.” 

”Sure.”  She nodded.

Ethan felt an excited ”Tap, tap.” On his shoulder

He smiled in that direction before turning back to the rest of the group.  ”Now: the next order of business.  Those grenades were incredibly effective in dealing with Havorleth.  If we run into trouble again -- necromancers for example -- then it would be good to have some on hand.  How does everyone feel about spending the day replenishing our supply?” 

Alana and Rachel groaned in unison, but nodded anyway. 

”If you all are doing that, I can clean up from breakfast.”  Taloni volunteered.  ”But I want to get a few things from my old home and say a final good bye to Prayla if that’s okay.” 

”Go for it.”  Ethan nodded, then turned to Rachel.  ”That reminds me, could we talk for a few minutes at some point today?”

”Sure.”  The redhead said with a curious look, then she glanced at Taloni and raised an eyebrow.

He nodded.