《Paths of the Chosen》


 Chosen, Chapter 1&2: Fate, Chosen

    Darkness fills the Void Between. Not the gloom of a cloudy, moonless night, nor the murk of the deepest ocean trenches, nor even the utter blackness of the grave. Light has never, will never, can never exist in the Void Between. It exists beyond the concept of form, time, mass, or energy. It binds every world, galaxy, universe, and dimension to each other, yet it also keeps them separate. Nothing can exist there, for it is not a place so much as an idea, a metaphysical concept.


    Yet, still, a voice slashed through the consuming darkness. "Has all been prepared?"


    "The Keyss have been formed; the Sspell hath been readied." A sibilant voice responds.


    "Our die hath been cast; the Chosen will choose." A third voice, deep and echoing.


    On its heels, dozens, hundreds, endless legions chanted, "May their Paths be true."


    Power welled up within the Void. It flowed, twisted, seeking in a web across space with no boundaries. Tendrils tunneled across dimensions, violating the inviolable. Each writhed, passing formlessly through countless worlds. One by one, after minutes, hours, years, centuries, they found a suitable candidate and latched on, then burrowed backward across space and time towards their anchor points.


    As uncounted entities watched, the tendrils began to pulse. First one, then another, then dozens at once, conveying their Chosen towards the destinies that awaited them elsewhere, elsewhen. Adventure they sought, and adventure they would find, each to their own: new life, new loves, enemies and friends, homes and hearths. And, one by one, the tendrils withered and died, severing the connection, leaving the Void Between pristine once more.


    Daniel Stewart


    Earth


    Wednesday, March 8th, 2062


    Approximately 4:30 PM


    The Atlanta metropolis, USA


    Daniel Stewart paced back and forth in the cramped space he used as an office in his apartment. All the room held was a desk, a chair, a computer, an immersion VR rig, a printer, and an overworked desk fan, but the room was only about 80 square feet, so his pacing by necessity involved a lot of turning and relatively few footsteps. With the heat put off by the computer confined in such a small space, Daniel was actually sweating even with the air conditioner and fan, but he couldn¡¯t leave the room; his eyes were glued to the screen where he was tracking the progress of a delivery drone. The drone and its precious cargo were only a few minutes away, but each second seemed to crawl by.


    Daniel¡¯s anticipation for this delivery had been building for months, ever since he¡¯d been accepted into the alpha test of the newly announced single-player open-world RPG, The Realms. It promised a whole new level of immersion VR experience and advanced NPC Virtual Intelligences that would respond to emergent situations in ways that didn¡¯t have to be explicitly programmed ahead of time. In short, if it lived up to the hype, the player would genuinely feel like they were living in an actual fantasy world. And the fact that it was a single-player game, rather than an MMO, meant that the player could actually be involved in the story of the game; with only one player to care about rather than millions, the world could react to that player¡¯s particular actions.


    It was right up Daniel¡¯s alley. He was never overly social, and although he had played and even enjoyed MMOs in the past, single-player games were what he was drawn to. Interacting with real people was taxing, but knowing that the NPCs weren¡¯t real meant that he was able to relax and act without overly concerning himself about how his actions would affect them. Not that he played cruel or oppressive characters, usually, but the distinction between real and not was crucial for his ability to relax and enjoy the game. And single-player meant there was less stress. He could relax and enjoy playing "sub-optimal" builds without having to worry about PvP or getting slots in raids or¡ª


    Thwump


    The sound of something being dropped against his front door jolted Daniel out of his thoughts and sparked him into action. He raced out of his office and down the hall and jerked his door open. There on his doormat was a small rectangular package bearing the logo of Distant Journeys, the developer of The Realms. ¡°Finally!¡± exclaimed Daniel as he scooped up the box and practically slammed the door behind him. Within moments he was back in his office, ripping open the packaging even as he slid into the chair in front of the computer. Inside the package were several pages of legal contract¡ªwhich he tossed to the side after glancing at it to be sure that¡¯s all it was¡ªa small thumb drive containing the game installer and files, and a hand-sized and surprisingly heavy black box. The latter was a module that would add needed functionality to his Immersion VR rig, according to the email he had been sent when the package had shipped.


    Daniel plugged the thumb drive into his computer and started the installation process, then swiveled his chair over and began working on installing the upgrade module into his rig. Fortunately, the included instructions were clear and concise, and within ten minutes, he had both the module and the game installed. As eager as he was to get started, however, there were still two loose ends to tie up. First, he sent a short email to his boss, cashing in a week of sick leave. Then, he grabbed his phone and hit the quick-dial for Eve, his sister. After a couple of rings, she picked up.


    ¡°Hey Daniel, this is a surprise! Usually, it¡¯s me calling you. What¡¯s up?¡± Eve¡¯s chipper voice greeted him.


    ¡°Hey sis, I just wanted to let you know that I¡¯m going to be incommunicado for a little while, a week or so. The Realms finally got here, and I plan to be in VR as much as possible until the honeymoon wears off. Already called out of work.¡± Daniel grinned to himself, anticipating her reply.


    ¡°You are such a nerd!¡± She laughed, and Daniel laughed with her. ¡°Alright, no problem, thanks for the warning. Hey, how about we meet up over the weekend and swap notes? Even if you intend to stay immersed as much as possible, you¡¯ll still need food and drink, and a little exercise won¡¯t hurt either.¡±


    Daniel blinked. ¡°Wait, what? Swap notes? About wh¡ªwait, did you?!¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t think I listened to you rant and rave about The Realms just out of sisterly affection, did you? You know our interests run in pretty much the same directions, bro! Of course I applied for the alpha test! I¡¯m just jealous you got your delivery before me!¡± His sister¡¯s voice was full of mirth.


    ¡°And you have the nerve to call me a nerd!¡± Daniel fired back, exasperated. ¡°Fine, fine, let¡¯s plan for lunch on Saturday. Carmine¡¯s?¡±


    ¡°Deal. See you then!¡± Eve hung up with her standard farewell.


    Obligations finished, Daniel started up The Realms on his computer then climbed into his Immersion VR rig. Settling into the cushioned interior, he quickly pulled on the helmet and prepared to launch into the game.


    Daniel Stewart


    The Realms


    Outside of time


    Character Creation Chamber


    The first sight that greeted Daniel was a static text box floating in front of him, stating that continuing past this point constituted explicit acceptance to the contract included in the alpha copy. As with the contract itself, he skipped right past that text box. Games were always saying that playing them was an agreement to the Terms of Service and End User License Agreement, but the game companies were still unwilling to push it all the way to a verdict in civil court. No one wanted to give a Judge the chance to rule that sort of language illegal. Besides, it was all boilerplate legalese anyway, and he¡¯d already signed the Non-Disclosure Agreement (and immediately broken it by calling Eve to tell her the good news).


    As soon as he closed the text box, a room faded into view around him. It was a small chamber, not much bigger than his office, with no furniture save for a podium with a massive book open on top of it and a mirror. A simple door was the only visible means of entry or exit. There was no one else in the chamber with him, but a voice with a strange dissonant quality, as if multiple people were speaking just slightly out of synch with each other, talked to him.


    ¡°Greetings, Chosen. What shall thee be called in The Realms? Think carefully, for giving one¡¯s true name may grant power unknowingly.¡±


    Daniel didn¡¯t have to think, he¡¯d been planning this for months. ¡°Call me Aidan.¡±


    ¡°Hail, Aidan. Within this room, thou may decide upon thy avatar in The Realms. Know this: The choices thou makest here wilt have far-reaching consequences. Choose not idly, for these choices may be made only once and ne¡¯er returned to. Turn now thy attention to the mirror in front of thee; its properties will allow thee to change thy form and even thy race.¡±


    Dutifully, Daniel stepped up to the mirror, seeing his own naked body in the reflection. It was actually a little creepy to see a perfect replica of himself in a game, but then again, Immersion VR worked by directly stimulating the brain. He guessed it wasn¡¯t so hard to just have the game use his own knowledge of his appearance as a base, and it wasn¡¯t an online game, so he didn¡¯t have to worry about personal data making its way back to the developers. Theoretically.


    ¡°To change thy race, gesture with thy hand from right to left or left to right. To alter thy features, concentrate on the changes thou wishest to make. When all is to thy satisfaction, please proceed to the book, where thou wilt choose thy starting Skills and location.¡±


    Aidan swiped his hand left to right, and his appearance in the mirror changed. Now, instead of being a bog-standard Earth human, he had a pair of feline ears atop his head, a thin catlike tail waving in the air behind him, and a thick coat of fur over most of his body. Even his genitals changed to be more like a cat¡¯s. He swiped right again, and his reflection altered to be slightly larger and bulkier, with a complete lack of hair and two short tusks protruding from his protruding lower jaw. More swipes cycled through additional races: a dwarf, a halfling of some sort, a fair-skinned elf, a more swarthy elf, and then two apparent variations on humans. The first had almost alabaster skin, silver hair, and golden pupils, while the second had coal-black hair, red eyes, and a spaded devil¡¯s tail.


    Decision time, Daniel thought to himself. Typically, he preferred to stick reasonably close to the default options when starting a new game, leaving the more exotic stuff for later playthroughs. That said, plain humans were boring. He cycled back and forth between the angelic and demonic-looking humans a few times before settling on the demonic one. I think I want to be a little bit of a bad boy this time.


    As he reached a decision in his mind, an information window appeared just to the side of his reflection.


    ¡°Hell, yes! Pun intended.¡± Daniel smirked to himself. That sounds perfect. Human, but not quite fully human, and with just a smidge of darkness. Yeah, there¡¯s that text about others being uneasy around Helltouched, but if it gets too bad, I can make a new character. Also, those racial bonuses are handy: three types of magic and effectively a bonus mental stat.


    Satisfied with his racial choice, Daniel started to fine-tune his appearance. He kept his gender as it was; he was slightly tempted to switch to female merely to play with the body sliders, but the thought of seeing himself as a female weirded him out a little. Daniel spent several minutes adjusting his appearance, reducing flab, adding slight muscle definition, changing the shape of his face, giving his skin a healthy light tan, making himself a little taller, and adding a couple of inches and some girth down below. Finally, for his Helltouched features, he reverted the hair and beard to his real dark brown shade, but he kept the red eyes and changed the tail slightly. He made it long enough to wrap all the way around his leg to his ankle and switched the tip from a classic heart-shaped spade to a flanged diamond shape, almost like a Phillips-head screwdriver.


    After a final glance over everything, front and back, he mentally confirmed the changes. Immediately, a shiver ran down his spine, and his skin broke out in goosebumps. He felt something brush up against the back of his leg, and when he looked down, there was the tail he¡¯d chosen. It moved a little on its own without any conscious effort on his part, but when he focused on it, he could control its movements with a high degree of precision. He ran his hands over his tail, and it was sensitive to touch, but not really much more so than his palms or fingertips -- Daniel imagined it would hurt like hell to get it stuck in a door as it closed, but it wasn¡¯t going to give him a constant erection or anything. Completely satisfied with his new form, he curled his tail around his left leg and walked over to the open book.


    Again, the discordant voice spoke to him. ¡°Here thou may peruse thine choices for the Skills with which to start thy journey. Thou may gain other Skills along the way, but those selected here will become thy greatest strengths in the times ahead. Choose wisely, for only five selections may be made.¡±


    The book flipped pages automatically until it came to a section describing dozens of Skills, from the utterly mundane to the incredibly abstruse, Housekeeping to Circination -- which apparently involved the drawing of mystical circles to contain and direct magical forces. He mentally discarded the ordinary, menial job type Skills, and the words on the book in front of him swam and rearranged themselves to exclude them.


    Daniel pored over his options again and again. His race gave a bonus to Fire Magic, which seemed like a solid choice, so that was one of five. Healers were always useful, so Vivimancy made two. He went around and around on his other picks, though. He didn''t want to focus too heavily on magic without knowing more about the game, but at the same time, he didn''t want to spread his picks out too much and risk a jack of all trades situation. He decided on Evasion for his third Skill on the basis that he picked Fire Magic as a combat choice, and the best defense was not getting hit in the first place. After another fifteen minutes of flipping through pages, he selected Persuasion as Skill four. He wasn''t the most eloquent person in the world, loner as he was, so any help he could get there would be good. Besides, maybe it would help counteract the social stigma of the Helltouched sub-race.


    With one selection left, Daniel was stumped. He didn''t want to take a weapon Skill without knowing what the good weapons were. He hated it when he specialized in spears then found some unique magical sword; the decision on whether to switch always felt lose-lose to him. There were several crafting Skills like Alchemy, Smithing, and even Jeweler, but Daniel figured it''d be better to pick a craft later on once he knew how hard they were to train and which gave the best value. It seemed like there was always one lame-duck crafting Skill in every game. There were a few survival-oriented skills like Hunting, but the game wasn''t billed as being focused on wilderness survival. Again and again he flipped through the book, filtering by different parameters until something caught his eye. Administration, Composition, Child-Rearing, Extortion, Gambling, Navigation, Logistics, Philosophy, Scavenging... Hmmm.


    Sex was a Skill in this game. He''d seen before, of course, but had skimmed past it. The idea was growing on him, though. He already had a solid base build going: Fire Magic and Evasion for combat, Vivimancy and Persuasion for utility. There weren''t any evident "power Skills" like Summoning. Necromancy was a thing, but he''d never really liked the idea of raising the dead to serve as minions; Eve always called him a goody-two-shoes when he expressed his distaste for it. Then there was the fact that he''d broken up with his most recent girlfriend more than a year prior and wasn''t the type for one night stands.


    Fuck it, he decided, it feels like I''ve been staring at this book for hours now. I''ll just take Sex now and if that turns out to be stupid, I can always make another character. Just like with his race, once he reached a decision about his starting Skills, a window opened, showing the details. This time, however, it didn¡¯t contain any new information, just repeating what the book told him.


    The book¡¯s pages fluttered and turned rapidly to a new section as the voice spoke up once again. ¡°Thy final choice here in this chamber is where to start thy path. Even more so than any other choice made ere now, this will affect the course of thy destiny. Each location will provide thee with quests and companions alike, but the nature of thy path depends in large part on thy first step. When thou hast chosen thy beginning, thou needs only walk out the door, and thy adventure will begin. Choose well, Chosen, and good luck on thy travels.¡±


    Daniel was hoping for a world map, but once again, his choices were presented as a list. He guessed that the developers didn¡¯t want players knowing the whole map before even setting foot in the world. There were far fewer choices presented here than for Skills or even his race; only four locations were described. He carefully read every available detail of each.


    Daniel took the caution about how vital this choice was to heart. From the sound of it, fast travel wasn¡¯t likely to be a readily available option, so the location he picked was where he was expected to stay for the foreseeable future. Each offered a different style and flavor of gameplay experience, and each appealed to him in different ways.


    Droan Fortress promised a fast track into a tense political situation, which meant that he would theoretically be able to have a significant impact on the game world quickly. He didn¡¯t like the note about non-human races being rare, though; he wanted variety in his gameplay. The Mistvale Highlands seemed to offer the most of that and was also the only option that lacked a central government. Lack of governmental oversight meant he would be freer to do whatever he wanted, at least in theory, although it also stood the risk of promoting a might-makes-right attitude among the NPCs he met. Considering his Skill choices, that might not go well for him, at least early on. He was positioned to be a smooth-talking mage, and mages usually were weak in the beginning to balance out their immense late-game power.


    The Dreamdance Isles looked to provide a much more laid-back experience than the other locations, being relatively free from external or internal threats. It almost sounded like a perpetual South Pacific vacation within a fantasy world. That was undoubtedly extremely attractive: Daniel had never really had the opportunity to take a vacation like that in the real world, and one of the main selling points of video games is the ability to experience virtually what you can¡¯t in reality. At the same time, being in that kind of environment for an extended period seemed like it might wear thin. He had a similar concern with Meadful Peak. While becoming a master craftsman or exploring unique sights in what amounted to the Underdark were things he would definitely like to do, it sounded like by far the most isolated starting location and the hardest to break away from if he needed a change of pace.


    Daniel eventually dismissed Droan Fortress and Meadful Peak as being too lacking in variety, leaving him to choose between Mistvale Highlands and Dreamdance Isles. They were both exciting to him, and it was a tough choice, but in the end, the deciding factor came down to his real-world roots. Both his parents were Scottish immigrants, and he and Eve were raised on stories of the Scottish highlands and Celtic mythology. The Mistvale Highlands sounded, geographically speaking, like a slice of Scotland, and this seemed like a perfect opportunity for Daniel to spend time in a place he¡¯d always wanted to visit but never been able to. Sure, it wasn¡¯t actually Scotland, but it was likely at least inspired by the Auld Country.


    With all necessary decisions made, Daniel walked over to the door, opened it, and stepped through into the blackness beyond. As the darkness enveloped him, he heard the voice say one final line, ¡°The Chosen has chosen; may his path be true.¡±

 Chosen, Chapter 3: The Voice that Calls to Adventure

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Unknown date (day 1)


    Late morning


    Somewhere in the Mistvale Highlands


    Aidan emerged from the darkness after a supremely disconcerting moment, which seemed to last an eternity and yet no time at all. He shuddered, his mind rebelling from the strange sensation. Clearly, that was something to make a bug report on. He blinked and shook his head, taking in his surroundings. He was standing in the middle of what looked to be a small box canyon, with walls about twenty feet high and thirty feet apart and a shallow creek meandering down the middle. A modest waterfall tumbled down the rocks at the back of the canyon, feeding the stream, and a soft white mist covered the ground a few inches deep -- just enough to make him carefully consider his footing without completely obscuring the terrain.


    ¡°Ah, so good of you to arrive at last, Chosen. You certainly took your time. Others are already out frolicking in the Realms or whatever it is their Patrons have set them up to do.¡± A creaky male voice said, startling Aidan out of his observations and making him spin around. About ten feet behind him was a wizened old man sitting on a rock, his chin resting in one palm and a gnarled wooden staff grasped in his other hand. ¡°No, now is not the time for speaking!¡± he snapped as Aidan opened his mouth to ask what he meant by ¡®the others¡¯. ¡°I have been contracted to perform a job, and answering stupid questions is not it. Anything you might ask now is stupid, so just shut it.


    ¡°My job is to teach you the very basics of how to function here in the Realms. First thing first, you selected some Skills, but you have not actually learned those Skills yet. I will fix that, like so.¡± So saying, the old man tapped the butt of his staff against the ground, and suddenly a series of prompts blossomed in Aidan¡¯s vision.


    The prompts seemed simultaneously both completely opaque and entirely transparent. If Aidan wanted to read one of the prompts, it was there hovering in his vision, and if he wanted to see something in the environment, the prompts all faded into a sort of hidden state where he was aware that they were there, but couldn¡¯t see them. He tried mentally dismissing the prompts, and they vanished from his awareness one by one.


    ¡°Good, you are not a complete nincompoop. If you ever want to see those or any other System Messages again in the future, there is a System Log, which you can access just by thinking about it. You can also view details about any Skill, Spell, Ability, Talent, or whatever else you have access to by focusing on it similarly. Now then, the most important part of your interface is your character screen. Try opening it.¡±


    Aidan mentally pictured opening up a status screen, and one appeared in his vision just like the prompts had.


    ¡°Here you can see all of your Attributes, Skills, Traits, and Abilities; as well as the state of your Health, Stamina, and Concentration; and also any effects which might be active on you, magical or otherwise. There are other things which your character screen will show you, and there are similar screens for your Spells and Talents -- not that you have to worry about the latter for a while -- but I will leave those to you to explore when you are not wasting my time by doing so. Next on the list, let us see¡­¡± The old man cocks his head to the side as if trying to remember what he was doing.


    ¡°Ah, yes. In addition to the starting Skills, Traits, and Abilities, your Patron contracted me to give you a small selection of starting gear. Given your Skills -- terrible choice, by the way, how do you expect to survive out there with just a couple of weak spells and a smart mouth? No, do not answer, that was a rhetorical question -- this should be sufficient. Do keep track of it all, not all of the Chosen have Patrons as generous as yours.¡± He waved his staff and a small pile of items -- a three-foot-long rod of polished reddish wood with a thumb-sized ruby at its tip, a backpack, a waterskin, and a small metal chest roughly 12 inches wide by 6 inches deep by 6 inches tall -- clattered to the ground in front of Aidan.


    ¡°Finally, I have two pieces of advice for you, as one lost soul to another.¡± The man¡¯s face and voice eased up a little. ¡°First, your Limitless Ability is unique in all of the Realms, and if the wrong entities learn of it, they will seek you out to destroy you. Second, this place is sealed to your soul. Once I leave, only you will be able to find and enter the canyon. You are safe here, which is good for you because this is where you will return when you die -- and when you die, things will change for you. I am not allowed to say how, but do not treat danger lightly.¡± His demeanor changed back to his former cantankerousness, and he tapped his staff against the ground again. ¡°Anyway, that is me done and gone. May your path be true, Chosen.¡±


    So saying, the old man faded out of existence before Aidan¡¯s eyes. Aidan called out to him to wait, but within five seconds, the man was gone. Aidan picked up the items he had been given, slinging the backpack over his shoulders and looping the waterskin through his belt, then tried to decide what to do from there.

 Chosen, Chapter 4: First Steps

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Unknown date (day 1)


    Late morning


    Somewhere in the Mistvale Highlands


    With a sigh, Aidan walked over to the flat rock the old man had been perched on and took a seat himself. ¡°Well, first things first, I guess?¡± He mused and re-opened his character screen. Methodically, he went through every part of the screen and focused on it to gather more information.


    He also mentally checked each of his spells and tried using Analyze on the items he had been given.


    ¡°That¡¯s a lot to take in,¡± Aidan muttered to himself. ¡°Player characters have a special sub-race, although it sounds like it¡¯s not unique to me given what that old guy was saying. That¡¯s how I get the usual automagic resurrection, plus it gives me some extra stat points so I¡¯ll be better off than a ¡®standard¡¯ Helltouched Human. Twelve stats, divided up into five physical, five mental, plus two miscellaneous; even counting the two forced points in Willpower and Charisma, I only get eight per level, so there isn¡¯t really a way to stay well-rounded. Specialization is likely to be essential, but the fact that multiple stats figure into each of Health, Stamina, and Concentration means that there¡¯s some wiggle room there. Assuming everything except Attractiveness and Luck started at 10, it looks like I did get the points for level 1, but they were automatically distributed for me. Commoner is basically a tutorial baby mode Class, nothing I can really do about that for now except level up.


    ¡°I don¡¯t really see what the big deal is with Limitless, either, though that might be system ignorance talking. I guess it makes it easier to learn Skills?¡± Aidan shrugged. ¡°Cunning Linguist at least seems extremely useful if this game has a robust language system. I assume not every player character gets it, or it¡¯d be pointless to include it. Analyze seems like a bog-standard item identification ability, but maybe there¡¯ll be more to it as it improves. The spells ¡­ are really, really basic and unimpressive. I hope I get something cooler quickly, or I could be restarting sooner than I thought. I should probably at least test Flame Jet before I leave this safe zone just so I have an idea how everything works before I have to roast a wolf or whatever.¡±


    Finally, Aidan got to his ¡®gift¡¯ items. ¡°Wait¡ªcapacity ¡®special¡¯? What does that mean?¡± He looked closer at the treasure chest. It looked exactly like a miniature version of a stereotypical fantasy treasure chest. He opened the lid and peered inside, but it was empty. However, opening the chest also caused Aidan to become aware of a new icon at the corner of his awareness. When he focused on that, a small four by six grid of squares appeared in the center of his vision. A two by two section of that grid was taken up by what looked like a hamburger with the number 4 superimposed over one corner, and a one by two section showed a glass vial filled with red bubbly liquid¡ªthat icon had a 3 superimposed over it. ¡°Hold on, is this a chest of holding?!¡± he exclaimed.


    Aidan reached into the chest and focused on the hamburgers. He felt something in his hand and, when he pulled it out, he was holding a steaming hot burger, complete with a toasted bun, lettuce, tomato, onions, cheese, and even two strips of bacon. He Analyzed it to be sure.


    He lowered the burger¡ªhe refused to give in to the pun¡ªback into the chest and let go; it vanished. Then he focused on the vials of red liquid, pulled one out, and Analyzed it as well.


    He put that back into the chest, considered for a moment, and then reached for the ruby rod. He carefully fed it into the chest lengthwise and, sure enough, instead of pressing up against the bottom, it vanished into the inventory screen, taking up a one by four square space. With a thought, he retrieved the rod¡ªhe didn¡¯t actually want his closest thing to a weapon being stuck in extradimensional storage¡ªand then closed the chest. ¡°Well, well, that actually is a great starting item. It can¡¯t hold too much, but it¡¯s way more than the space it takes up, given that like objects stack. It looks like anything which will pass through the opening can be stored inside, at least up to a point. The free meals and potions will come in handy too, I¡¯m sure. I wonder if anyone who holds it gets the same access or whether it¡¯s keyed to me?¡± He mused, then shrugged again. ¡°No way to know for now.¡±


    Aidan put the chest into his backpack, attached the pre-filled waterskin to his belt, slipped the straps of the pack over his shoulders, and wriggled until its weight settled evenly, then picked up the ruby rod and gave it a once-over. It was very simple, just a straight stick of reddish wood about two inches in circumference and a foot or so long. It was topped with a thumb-sized ruby cut into a sort of teardrop shape, except that there was no rounded bottom portion, having instead another sharp point attaching it to the wooden rod. He waved it about to no effect, but he hadn¡¯t really expected one; the description made it reasonably clear that its purpose was to help him cast fire spells, not to cast spells on its own like a wand. The question was ¡­ how did he cast a spell?


    Fortunately, the answer turned out to be relatively easy. Somehow, he knew precisely the motions and words he needed to cast his spells, and how to modify Flame Jet to use the rod as a source instead of his hands. He pointed the implement at a small boulder about five feet away, said a few words (which his Cunning Linguist Trait did not translate), and made a gesture with the tip of the rod. Suddenly, a flamethrower-like stream of fire was rushing from the ruby, arcing through the air, and splashing against his target. Aidan could feel the heat from the jet of flame, but despite emerging only inches from his hand, it didn¡¯t burn him. It also wasn¡¯t hot enough to melt the rock; after the five seconds of the effect was over, the boulder appeared unaffected save for a small blackened patch.


    Aidan cast the spell again, this time paying attention to his status page. As soon as he began the incantation, his Concentration dropped to 77/103, and once the spell¡¯s effect stopped a second time, his Concentration immediately popped back up to 102/103. He looked more closely at the bar, and there was a thin darker blue section at the end, presumably 1 unit (or less) thick. Aidan guessed that was the ¡°mental fatigue¡± that the ruby rod was supposed to help with. Given that two casts only reduced his maximum Concentration by such a small amount, it didn¡¯t seem like a big deal at the moment, but then again, he was only dealing with newbie-tier spells. Raining fire down across an entire battlefield will probably be more mentally taxing, if I ever get to that point.


    Satisfied that he had explored as much of the interface and experience of the game as he could from the spawn point, Aidan turned, located the mouth of the cavern, and walked out into the wide world beyond.

 Chosen, Chapter 5: Great Outdoors

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Unknown date (day 1)


    Early afternoon


    Somewhere in the Mistvale Highlands


    As he emerged from the mouth of the canyon, Aidan stopped and stared in wonder at the landscape around him. There was nothing fantastical about it, but it all looked, felt, and even smelled completely real. The hills were covered in a variety of grasses and light shrubbery except where the slope was too steep to collect soil, exposing gray rock beneath. One hillside to the west was covered in a riotous collection of blue, red, and purple wildflowers, and the clear water of the stream which wended its way between the hills revealed a bed covered in stones worn smooth by their extended inundation. The sky was a brilliant light blue with a handful of fluffy white clouds above and a gathering nexus of darker grey on the eastern horizon. A light wind blowing from east to west was fresh and crisp and smelled completely clean with a hint of coming rain. The buzzing of insects and trilling bird calls filled the air.


    More importantly, there were no signs of civilization whatsoever. No buildings, no cars, no streets, no power lines, not even a trail worn through the grass by the tramp of hundreds of feet. This was an untouched wilderness, the likes of which Aidan had never seen. Even the Appalachian Trail was, by the time Daniel had traveled it back in the real world, spotted with rest stops, emergency phones, ranger stations, and other intrusive elements of the modern world. Now, here, Aidan felt a connection to nature that he had never realized could exist¡ªand it was all fake. He didn¡¯t know how to feel at the revelation; on the one hand, this was something which spoke to his very soul and which he doubted existed any more on Earth, and yet it was entirely artificial, produced by a video game. There was wonder again in that artificiality, that something as seemingly simple as the landscape in a game could speak to him so, but also a great sense of loss that something this pure and beautiful could only be experienced in virtual reality.


    Taking another deep breath of fresh air, Aidan resolved to enjoy this to the fullest. Why grow melancholy over a simulation that was too good? Wasn¡¯t that the point? This was a game, after all, ultimately meant for the players to have fun experiencing. It provided something which he couldn¡¯t get on Earth, but then again, he couldn¡¯t shoot streams of fire from his hands on Earth, either. For all he knew, Earth had never been this beautiful and untouched; maybe this was the virtual reality equivalent of hyperrealism. Regardless, the world wasn¡¯t going to explore itself, and Aidan wanted to see if he could find some shelter before that rain got to him. His starting gear didn¡¯t include a tent or even a hooded cloak, which he hadn¡¯t realized before spotting the clouds.


    He decided the first step was to climb to the top of one of the nearby hills, to better see the land around him and hopefully spot a cave or thicket. He arbitrarily chose the flower-covered hill and started to pick his way up its slope, which turned out to be much more time-consuming than he anticipated. The grass and flowers obscured just how steep the hillside actually was. Without climbing gear or even a walking stick, Aidan was forced to spend a lot of time traveling around the circumference of the hill to find spots where he could advance upwards towards the crest without risking falling on his ass and rolling back down the slope. It didn¡¯t help that the mist clung to the ground on the lower slopes of the hill, keeping the soil moist and the grass dew-wet, which meant his footing was less sure than he was comfortable with. By the time he finally found his way to the top of the hill, Aidan was sweating heavily and panting with exertion -- his Stamina bar was down to about a quarter of where it started¡ªand the sun was nearing what looked to be a mountain range far to the west.


    He sat down on a patch of grass clear of larger plants and took a long drink from his waterskin. He could feel the burn of exertion in his muscles, and he was sorely tempted to just lay back on the grass and relax for a while. Only the sight of the approaching rain clouds kept him focused on his task; while they weren¡¯t as dark and turbulent as the thunderstorms he was used to, he still would prefer not to get caught out in the rain if he could avoid it. Looking around, he spotted a dense copse of trees on a lower slope of the hill he was on, on the opposite side from the canyon. With a groan, Aidan pushed himself back to his feet and began picking his way towards his target. Fortunately, going downhill was a little easier than uphill, and he managed to make it to the trees just as the brilliant reds and yellows of sunset began to fade to purples and black.


    With the hiss of rainfall just starting to be audible from the east, Aidan wiggled and pushed his way through the closely-packed trees until he found a spot large enough for him to curl up in. Working as quickly as he could with his body protesting the exercise, he cleared away all the rocks, leaves, nuts, and other detritus from his chosen resting place then sat down with his back to a tree. He could hear the patter of the rain hitting the canopy above his head, but only a few fat drops got through to splash on his head and shoulders. He dug into his backpack for the Chest of Holding, then pulled out one of the burgers, which was still just as steaming hot as it was when he first inspected it hours ago in the canyon. It seemed that the Chest of Holding actually held things in stasis in addition to its other functions.


    The burger was just as tasty as Analyze claimed it would be, the savory chewiness of the patty contrasting nicely with the crisp crunch of the lettuce and onions and the salty richness of the cheese and bacon, all held together by the toasted bun -- brioche, or something similar. He would have liked some condiments and maybe some fries, but honestly, even without it was one of the best burgers he ever tasted, and within a few minutes, he found himself licking the leftover grease and crumbs from his fingers. He felt satisfyingly full with just the one burger. As darkness descended around him and the relaxing sound of rainfall against leaves continued, he rolled up his backpack into a semblance of a pillow and did his best to make himself comfortable on the bare ground. With the afternoon¡¯s exertions, it only took him a few minutes to fall asleep.


    Aidan


    The Realms


    Unknown date (day 2)


    Night


    Somewhere in the Mistvale Highlands


    Aidan woke with a start. He wasn¡¯t sure how long he had been asleep, but it can¡¯t have been long because he still felt tired. At first, he wasn¡¯t sure what woke him -- it was no longer raining, and all he could hear was the wind rustling the leaves and the inconstant tip-tap of water dripping from the canopy above. Then he realized that all he could hear was wind and water; some large creature was nearby, and the smaller animals were keeping quiet so as not to draw attention. Very slowly and very carefully, he rose to his knees then stood, pulling his ruby-tipped rod from the loop in his belt. He strained his ears and stood as still as he could, barely even daring to breathe. A minute passed, then another; he began to think that maybe he was just paranoid. Then, he heard something, a fragment of a whisper carried on the wind.


    ¡°... not sure who ¡­ clear tracks ¡­¡± Knowledge flooded into Aidan¡¯s head, and a prompt appeared in his vision.


    He blinked away the prompt and strained his ears, hoping to hear more of the conversation.


    ¡°... just one ¡­¡±


    ¡°... still trespass ¡­¡±


    ¡°... too thick to ¡­¡±


    ¡°... cannot ¡­ morning ¡­ burn ¡­¡±


    Aidan didn¡¯t like the sound of that last bit. Whoever they were, they clearly knew he was among the trees and didn¡¯t want him there. He didn¡¯t think burning down the copse would work very well; live trees, especially ones that had just been rained on, didn¡¯t burn well. But, then again, who knew what kind of fantasy flamethrower they had to get the party started? Probably a better one than he had to defend himself with. It didn¡¯t seem likely that he could fight his way out of this, nor did remaining where he was and hoping look like a plan with a bright future. He didn¡¯t think the game designers would throw him into an unwinnable encounter so quickly, especially with the tutorial¡¯s warning about death and danger, so he decided to take his one point in Luck and five ranks in Persuasion and gamble on a peaceful resolution.


    He raised his voice and called out in his newly-granted language, ¡°I can hear you out there. Please, I mean you no harm. I am from far away and was brought here magically, then left to my own devices. I am sorry if I am trespassing on your lands; I truly did not know. If you would direct me to your borders, I will leave at dawn.¡±


    Silence greeted his words; even the wind seemed to die down and wait in breathless anticipation. The silence stretched out for what felt like an unbearably long time, then a male voice called out loudly. ¡°Come out of the trees towards the west, slowly and unarmed. We will see you if you try to evade us, and you must know you cannot outrun a Starchaser.¡±


    Aidan had no idea what a Starchaser was, but it sounded like maybe they wouldn¡¯t just shoot him on sight, so he decided to do as he was instructed. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m coming out. Give me a moment, I can¡¯t exactly move quickly in here.¡±


    He grabbed his backpack from the ground and slung it over his shoulders again then carefully began picking his way back westward through the trees. A few minutes later, he emerged from the edge of the thicket and into a surprisingly well-light night. The canopy had prevented him from noticing that this planet had at least two moons, both smaller than Luna. One was maybe half the apparent size of the moon he grew up with and glowing a consistent pale blue in color, while the other was slightly larger and a rusty red. It almost looked like photos Aidan had seen of Mars. Furthermore, the sky itself was alight with billions of stars; with no light pollution, he could see even the faintest of stars above spread out in a tapestry that took his breath away.


    His attention was quickly drawn away from the sky, however, as the soft light allowed him to make out the figures of the people who were confronting him. At first, he thought they were mounted on horses, but as they drew closer, he realized that, in fact, they were centaurs. They had the bodies of horses, but instead of a horse¡¯s neck and head, they had a human torso, head, and arms. They were big, taller than him, although their equine portions weren¡¯t as large as he expected horses to be; still larger than ponies, though. From what he knew of horses on Earth, they were generally around five feet to six feet tall at the shoulder, which would put their shoulders about at a level with his head, give or take a few inches. These centaurs weren¡¯t quite that big; he guessed about four feet at the shoulder. That still left the three of them at six and a half to seven feet tall, about a head to a head and a half taller than his just shy of six-foot height.


    Each of the centaurs was wearing leather armor and a helmet, and they each had a spear in their hands and a bow slung over their shoulder. Even with the moon and starlight, it was hard to tell the color of their fur, aside from dark. Their skin was somewhere between light and dark, but again he couldn¡¯t say for sure what color or shade.


    One of the trio, male judging by its dark, bushy beard, stepped forward and pointed the tip of his spear at Aidan, who raised his arms over his head in surrender, hoping that the gesture was universal. The centaur spoke, and it was the same voice which had called out to him in the copse.


    ¡°You claim to have been brought here magically from far away, but you speak our language perfectly. How can this be true?¡± The centaur¡¯s voice was deep and rich, and Aidan could feel his eyes boring into him as he winced mentally. I didn¡¯t think of that; I don¡¯t know nearly enough about the Realms to try to bluff them now. Best to stick to the truth, at least partly.


    ¡°Please, good sir. I have a Trait that gives me the ability to learn languages very quickly. As you can see, I am a simple traveler, unarmed and unarmored. The three of you could kill me easily, and I doubt I could land a single blow on you before you do. As I said, I mean you no harm.¡± Another prompt appeared in Aidan¡¯s vision, which he read quickly and then dismissed.


    Despite the Skill increase, the talkative centaur didn¡¯t look convinced -- or at least his speartip didn¡¯t waver or withdraw. However, one of the others walked up beside him and whispered into his ear. This close, Aidan was able to make out most of it.


    ¡°He is only level one according to ¡­ telling the truth?¡± The second centaur was a little smaller than the presumed leader, and Aidan tentatively labeled it as a female due to her delicate chin and more pronounced breastplate.


    ¡°Hmph,¡± the first centaur grunted. ¡°Looks can be deceiving, and I do not believe your story, Hellspawn. However, there is enough that does not make sense if I assume you are lying about everything that I will not kill you here and now. Derwyn, Lail, bind him. We will let the Council decide.¡±


    Well, that¡¯s better than being killed, I guess? It would be futile to resist or try to run, so Aidan held his hands out in front of him as the other two centaurs approached with lengths of rope. The two of them quickly tied his hands together and bound his arms tightly to his sides, leaving some to serve as a sort of leash. One of them, the one Aidan had decided was female, kept ahold of the other end of the rope and gave it a tug as she turned in place, causing him to stumble a bit.


    ¡°Follow along now, and do not make me drag you. We have a fair distance to go, and you might not survive the experience.¡± She said in a soft voice that further confirmed his assessment of her gender. She gave another pull on his leash, and Aidan stumbled along behind her as the three centaurs led him away.

 Chosen, Chapter 6: Both Sides’ Case

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Unknown date (day 2)


    Night


    Somewhere in the Mistvale Highlands


    The centaurs led Aidan down the hill and into the valleys between, now filled with thicker, higher mists. He wasn¡¯t sure how the centaurs saw where they were going, and more than once, he tripped over a rock or hole in the ground and tumbled to the ground. The centaur holding the rope, belying her stern words earlier, always patiently waited for him to get back to his feet -- no easy matter with his arms and hands bound like they were -- before continuing onward. The mist was still thin enough that he could easily see the centaurs and make out the more substantial obstacles around him, but even looking down at the ground, the finer details were wholly obscured.


    He was also exhausted, having not had anything close to a full night¡¯s rest. As the journey continued, he spent more and more time on the ground. The centaur leader grew more and more frustrated with their slow pace, but he thankfully didn¡¯t take his frustration out on Aidan. All told, the sky was turning red and orange with the rising sun by the time Aidan ran into the female centaur from behind, not realizing she had stopped. Looking up in weary surprise, he saw the shapes of low buildings peeking out of the mists in front of them. The leader turned to the centaur holding his leash and said, ¡°Derwyn and I will try to find a Council member to report to. Keep him here and out of trouble.¡±


    The two of them walked off towards the buildings, and Aidan took the opportunity to collapse to the ground. Before he could fall asleep though, the remaining centaur -- Lail, by process of elimination -- nudged him with one of her hooves. ¡°Sit up. I am sorry for the forced march, Steffan is a bit of a slave driver and has a stick up his tail about rules and regulations. He decided not to kill you outright, but he did not have the authority to let you go, and he could not let you linger longer than strictly needed. Here, I imagine you are at least as thirsty as you are tired.¡± Her voice was warm and gentle. She waited for Aidan to sit back up, then knelt down on her forelegs in front of him and carefully brought the tip of a large waterskin to his lips. He greedily gulped down the water, which tasted pure and clear and sweet.


    ¡°Go ahead and get comfortable, catch a little nap if you can,¡± Lail told him once he had his fill of water. ¡°None of the Councillors will be long awake this early in the morning, and even Steffan will be reluctant to pull them away from their breakfasts. I would say you have at least an hour; get what rest you can. I can tell that you are not going anywhere.¡± Aidan gratefully rolled over onto his side, not even caring about the feel of his head sinking slightly into the soft, moist earth. Almost immediately, a deep, dreamless sleep claimed him.


    Aidan


    The Realms


    Unknown date (day 2)


    Morning


    Outside a centaur village, Somewhere in the Mistvale Highlands


    Sometime later, he woke up to a hand on his shoulder, shaking him gently. ¡°Alright, human, best wake up, get to your feet. I hear a group coming.¡± Aidan groaned softly in protest, still feeling exhausted from the long night and lack of sleep, but struggled to his feet anyway. His muscles had tightened considerably while he was asleep, and Lail gave him a discrete helping hand, holding him up while he got his legs under him.


    The sky had lightened to that same beautiful blue color that he remembered from the day before, and the mist had thinned out considerably now that the sun was heating things up, so Aidan was able to see the group -- herd? -- of centaurs approaching from a fair way off. There looked to be about a half dozen of them. Steffan, still in his armor and gripping his spear, led the others by a few steps, and Aidan looked over the newcomers as they emerged from the mists.


    In the center of the group was the biggest of them by far, a large male, nearly six feet high at his equine shoulder and at least nine feet tall overall. He did not wear any armor but had an ax belted at his hip, and his bare torso and flanks were crisscrossed with dozens of scars. His skin was deeply tanned and weathered, and he had thick, black hair with just a sprinkle of grey. The fur on his lower body was a medium bluish-grey.


    To the giant¡¯s left was quite possibly his polar opposite. She wasn¡¯t the shortest of the group, but was only a little taller than Aidan was. Still, where the big guy looked like a veteran warrior, she looked like nothing so much as the sweet neighborhood grandma who always gave out homemade cookies and brownies for Halloween. Her hair was stark white and tied up in a bun while her lightly-tanned skin was wrinkled and spotted with age and exposure to the sun; her fur was a rich brown with just the slightest hint of red.


    To the warrior¡¯s other side was another woman, slightly larger than the grandmotherly centaur but much younger -- much younger. Just judging from her human half, Aidan would put her age at twenty-one at the absolute oldest. She had grey hair, although it was more like the color of the warrior¡¯s fur than the grey of age. Her skin was heavily tanned, and her coat was a rich, deep black. Aidan couldn¡¯t help but notice that the soft, tightly-fitting leather jerkin she wore did almost nothing to hide her rather large breasts.


    Next to her was the shortest of the group, another male. Aidan almost would have thought him a child except that he had a long, thick, braided beard. His equine half was more of a shaggy pony than a horse, and his broad shoulders and barrel chest combined with his beard made his human half look more dwarf-like than anything else. His skin was a light brown like milk chocolate, and his hair, too, was a rich deep black, while his coat was a rusty chestnut color.


    Finally, on the other side of the grandmotherly centaur was another woman, just a bit shorter than the other two but taller than the dwarf-pony centaur. At first, Aidan thought her hair was white as well, but then he saw the light glint off of it; silver, not white. Her ears were also quite noticeably different from her peers; where the others had human-style ears, hers were long and pointed and protruded horizontally from the sides of her head. Also unlike the others, her skin was fair, and her fur a light, creamy tan.


    By the time he finished giving each of them a quick look, they were standing before him and giving him equally frank stares. Steffan broke the silence by saying, ¡°We found this human out in a little thicket near Old Irontop. There was no effort made to hide his tracks, so Derwyn was able to follow them with ease. He had nothing on him that you do not see now. Lail says that her Scan ability tells her that he is only level one. He claimed to have been brought here by magic from far away. Frankly, it makes no sense for a level one human -- especially one so ill-prepared for a journey -- to have made it as far into our territory as he did without encountering a patrol. I decided that while it is clear he is a trespasser, there was a chance that he spoke the truth, and it would be unjust to kill him out of hand, so we brought him here to face the Council¡¯s Judgment.¡±


    ¡°Yes, you said as much already, Steffan,¡± The huge warrior said with a wry twist to his lips. His voice was a deep basso rumble that Aidan could practically feel in his bones. ¡°Thank you, you are dismissed. You too, Lail.¡± The two patrol guards bowed and left him with the Council, and the giant turned his attention on Aidan. ¡°Whether you know it or not, Hellspawn, you have wandered into the lands of the Starchaser tribe, and the sentence for trespassing is death. However, if what you told Steffan is true, then you may not deserve such harsh punishment as that. Our laws and traditions are strict, but like any good weapon, they can bend when needed. First, tell me: what is your name?¡±


    Aidan bowed as best he could while still wrapped up like a Thanksgiving turkey and replied, ¡°Honored Councillor, my name is Aidan.¡±


    The warrior inclined his head very slightly in return and said, ¡°My name is Fionn Ironhide. To my left are Eilwen Brighthearth and Ailis Silverhair¡± -- the grandmother and, appropriately enough, the silver-haired woman -- ¡°and to my right are Anwn Wolfsister and Gerwyn Wanderhoof.¡± -- the black-furred woman with the well-filled shirt and the short one. ¡°We five make up the Starchaser Council, and we will decide your fate. Ailis will cast a spell on you, then you will tell us your story from start to end in your own words. After, we will decide what to do with you. Lady Councillor?¡± He looked at Ailis, and she nodded in response and began to speak words that Aidan could not understand. Her hands glowed a radiant gold, then the glow flowed from her hands and settled in a halo around him.


    She nodded in satisfaction and said, ¡°The spell is active. Aidan, for the next ten minutes, if you tell a lie, the aura around you will turn black, and all will know you have tried to deceive us. At that point, I imagine Fionn will chop off your head, and we will be done with this. It is in your best interest to tell us the truth, even if you feel it might not be favorable to you. Now, please, begin.¡±


    The five of them looked on expectantly as Aidan tried to marshal his sluggish thoughts. He didn¡¯t seem to have much choice -- it was clearly ¡®answer or die¡¯ at this point -- and he had no reason to doubt that the silver-haired woman¡¯s magic would do precisely as she claimed, nor that Fionn would kill him out of hand if he triggered it by lying. However, she only said that the magic would reveal lies; she said nothing about leaving things out. He decided that his best chance was telling the truth while leaving out a few choice details that would only muddy the waters for his judges. Choosing his words carefully, he began to speak.


    ¡°Honorable Councillors, forgive me for being slow to respond. I have had but an hour or two¡¯s sleep this night and am quite exhausted. I am from a city very far from here called Atlanta; it is so far that I¡¯m not even sure where here is. I woke up yesterday in a little box canyon, not knowing how I got there. I had only the clothes I am wearing now, although someone left these few other pieces of equipment for me in the canyon. I do not know who they were or how they came or left without your people seeing them. I took a while to orient myself and then left, deciding to climb a nearby hill to get a better view of the landscape and hopefully find some shelter from a rainstorm I could see coming my way. However, the climb was much harder than I anticipated and it ended up taking me until almost sunset before I reached the top of the hill, so when I spotted the trees a little further down the other slope of the hill I decided to sleep there for the night. I don¡¯t have any real survival skills and couldn¡¯t do much to make a presentable camp, so I just made my way into the trees and rolled up my backpack to use as a pillow. That¡¯s as far as I got before your patrol found me. I do not know why I was brought to your territory, nor who it was who brought me. I am only thankful for my linguistic Trait because I have a feeling that without being able to speak your language, I would have died last night. I understand that I am trespassing on your lands, but I swear to you that I did not know and that I mean no harm. If you would just release me and point me in the direction of your nearest border, I would leave and never return.¡± Aidan bowed his head and awaited the Council¡¯s response, trying not to sway too much on his feet. He spoke the literal truth throughout, although many of his statements were misleading due to omitted information, and he never saw the glow around him flicker. He said a short mental prayer to whoever was listening that his incomplete honesty was enough to save his skin.


    The five Councillors listened quietly while he told his tale, then they all looked at each other in silence for a few moments. The short one, Gerwyn, broke the silence finally. ¡°Ailis, are you certain the spell worked?¡± His voice was roughly and gravelly, like someone who smoked a few hundred too many cigarettes.


    She nodded in response. ¡°It took effect and remained in effect throughout. This spell can be circumvented, but unless appearances are deceiving indeed, I do not believe it has been. He spoke the truth, as far as he knows it.¡±


    The Council shared glances around again, then Eilwen, the old grandmother, turned to Aidan. ¡°We will need to discuss this further among ourselves, away from prying ears. For now, you will not be harmed.¡± Aidan couldn¡¯t help but sway a bit as the muscles he didn¡¯t realize he had been tensed up suddenly loosened with his relief. Eilwen whistled sharply and called out, ¡°Lail, girl, I know you are listening in. Come retrieve our guest and take him to one of the storage huts. Remove his bindings and give him something to eat and drink, and a pail of water to wash with. Then let him sleep. I know you were up all night as well, so once Aidan here is settled in, go find Ivor or someone to guard him. Do not let him out except to go to the latrine when he needs, but for now, no harm is to come to him.¡±


    Lail trotted up out of the mists, looking sheepish. ¡°Yes, Mama Eilwen.¡± She quickly moved over to Aidan and drew a short knife from her belt, slicing through the rope binding him. Eilwen began to speak again as he massaged his hands and arms to chase away the pins-and-needles sensation.


    ¡°You are indeed trespassing on Starchaser lands, Aidan, and you must pay the price for that. Given what you have told us this morning, however, that price need not be your life. Make no trouble, and you will give us no reason to change our minds on that matter. We will send for you this afternoon to tell you what price it is you will be paying.¡± With that, she and the other Councillors turned and began to walk away.


    Lail smiled at him and, once the Council was out of earshot, said, ¡°That went about as well as could be hoped for you, I think. You are lucky the full Council came; if it were just Fionn, Anwn, and one of the others, they might have just decided to solve the problem you present the easy way. You need a roof over your head, food for your belly, and a more dignified place to sleep than in the dirt like an animal.¡± So saying, she led him into the village with a gentle hand on his shoulder.

 Chosen, Chapter 7: Primordial Dream

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Unknown date (day 2)


    Morning


    Starchaser tribe village, somewhere in the Mistvale Highlands


    As Lail guided Aidan through the village, drawing stares from the other centaurs as they went, he decided to strike up a conversation with her. ¡°Forgive me if I overstep my bounds, but you have been much friendlier to me than the others of your tribe so far. May I ask why?¡±


    Lail laughed merrily in response. ¡°Mama Eilwen would tell you that I like to pick up strays. In truth, I could tell when you walked out of that thicket that you were lost and alone. I will not say that you present no threat to us, for even if we did as you asked and sent you to our border, you could still give information to our enemies. However, I have never been in favor of killing without good reason. We Starchasers are an insular lot, but we are not evil. We like to be left alone, for the most part.¡± She smiled at him again and turned the conversation back towards him. ¡°So, tell me about this place you come from. At-lant-a, you called it?¡±


    Aidan nodded and thought about how to describe a modern metropolis to a centaur in a fantasy world. He had a feeling that even what would be considered a sleepy country town back on Earth would be challenging for Lail to really imagine. He left out anything which would go over her head like phones or computers, choosing instead to emphasize all the reasons he buried himself in games like this so much. ¡°It is a huge city; I¡¯m told millions of people live in it, although I certainly can¡¯t say I¡¯ve met them all. It¡¯s a very crowded place, dirty and smelly except where the ruling class lives. Even with all the people, though, I would bet that you have more friends and acquaintances in this village than I had back home. With so many people pressed so tightly together, everyone tends to mind their own business just out of self-preservation. Honestly, I¡¯m not too sad to be gone from there. Last night on the hill was the first time I had seen all the stars in the sky, and the sheer beauty of the hills and mists have utterly charmed me. I¡¯m sure I will miss some things from back home, but I think it was never where I was meant to be.¡±


    Lail squeezed his shoulder sympathetically. ¡°It sounds wonderful and terrible. I can¡¯t imagine a million of anything, let alone millions of people all in the same place. Me, I need to feel the wind in my hair and the soil under my hooves; I do not think I would enjoy living in At-lant-a. Anyway, we are here.¡± ¡®Here¡¯ was a wooden hut with one centaur-sized door and one narrow, high window along the side. ¡°It does not look like much, and, well, it is not much,¡± Lail admitted, opening the door for him. The inside of the hut was mostly empty, containing just a few sacks of what looked like grain. ¡°But at least it has four walls, a roof, and a clean floor. Go ahead and try to make yourself comfortable inside. I will go fetch you some food and water and a blanket to sleep on. Please do not leave. Eilwen was not joking about changing her mind if you cause trouble.¡±


    Aidan entered the hut, and Lail closed the door behind him. He shrugged the backpack off his shoulders and lowered it to the floor, then rubbed his aching back. Being bound like that for hours made his muscles protest in new and entirely unpleasant ways. Before too long, the door opened again, and Lail popped her head in then entered. In one hand, she held a large wooden plate topped with a pile of sausage and some scrambled eggs, and hanging from the other was a large bucket, which she carefully balanced as it sloshed back and forth with each step she took. She had a thick cloth blanket draped across her back and, once she handed Aidan his breakfast and bath, she took it off, folded it up, and set it on the floor. He thanked her for everything she did for him, and with one last smile, she left. The food was simple but delicious, and after taking a few sips of water from his own waterskin, Aidan took his shirt off and used it as a washcloth to scrub the worst of the dirt and grime from himself and his clothes. Then he wrapped himself in the blanket, curled up against one of the bags of grain, and fell asleep once more.


    Aidan


    ???


    When he returned to awareness, a wave of disorientation passed through Aidan. The floor beneath him was softer and had a bit of springiness to it like a good bed, the grain sack behind him was warm and soft and not at all lumpy, and there was a hand tenderly stroking his thigh.


    Wait. What?


    He sat up with a jolt and looked around wildly. He was definitely not in Kansas anymore; he was sitting on a massive bed in an opulent room. Laying on the bed alongside him was a naked woman, although he couldn¡¯t really tell what she looked like. Her face and form seemed to shift and blend together. It wasn¡¯t like she was changing from one woman into a different woman, he just didn¡¯t seem to be able to wrap his mind around any defining features. He couldn¡¯t describe her hair color, height, skin color, eye color, or even the shape and size of her bared breasts -- although he knew without a doubt that they were magnificent. He was also very sure that her hand felt silky and smooth and very, very warm as it slowly rubbed up and down his thigh.


    His head spun with the impossibility of it all, but the woman lightly touched his shoulder with her free hand, and he sunk back to the bed. She exerted no force, and he couldn¡¯t remember actually moving; she just touched him, and the next thing he knew, he was lying back on the bed instead of sitting up. She rolled onto her knees, never stopping the slow movement of her hand, and smiled down at him.


    ¡°Pray, do not let alarm claim thine heart, mine/our Chosen.¡± Her voice, like every other defining quality of the mysterious woman, evaded Aidan¡¯s ability to quantify it. He was also not really sure whether she called him her Chosen or our Chosen, as her words blended together strangely in his mind. ¡°Thou art safe here in my/our Realm. Thou art precious to me/us, and I/we have spent much manna to bring thee here and shape thy Path.¡± She squeezed his thigh gently and began to trail her hand upwards; Aidan couldn¡¯t help but lift his hips slightly off the bed to meet it.


    ¡°I/We must bring to thy attention an important fact. Thou art a Chosen, and I/we have placed mine/our hopes into thee, but thou art not the only Chosen. Know that thou art my/our only champion in all of the mortal Realms; know also that other champions hath been created by beings other than mine/our own self/selves. Some will be of no more threat to thee than any other mortal, but others would seek thee out and slay thee were thy Patron known to them or their own Patrons. As I/we have placed all mine/our hopes in thee, so too do I/we care for thee, and so I/we provide to thee this warning. Know also that although thy time in the Realms hast been short, thine efforts please me/us greatly, and so I/we also give you this reward.¡± As she spoke, she maneuvered herself between Aidan¡¯s spread legs and propped herself up on her elbows. He had a clear and unobstructed view of her breasts, and although he still could not describe them at all, their perfection drove his arousal even higher. The woman reached up to push a stray hand of undefinable hair out of her face, then began to bend downward.


    ¡°Know that it takes a great deal of manna to bring thee here to this Realm, and more still to keep the others from knowing it is done.¡± She spoke to him, and he could feel the vibration of her words in her tongue and mouth, but her lips remained sealed around his girth. He gave up trying to make sense of what was going on; all that mattered anymore was his rising orgasm. ¡°It will be long before I/we can bring thee here again. Know that I/we are always watching thy deeds and that I/we will aid thee in what limited ways I/we are allowed. It is Forbidden to intervene directly in the affairs of mortals, but as thou art my/our champion, it is permitted for me/us to exert some influence to smooth thy Path. Never fear to lose my/our favor, for I/we have faith in thy heart. Honor thy words, honor thy friends, and follow thy heart, and I/we swear to thee that I/we shall grant thee all that which thou dost desire.¡±


    She smiled around her mouthful and winked at him, then said, ¡°For now, I/we believe there is one desire in thee above all others, and I/we am/are desirous of granting it.¡± She hunched forward a little more between his legs and began to slide her mouth down, down, all the way down his shaft, taking him all the way into her mouth and then part way down her throat. Her tongue wrapped around him like stripes on a candy cane and then pulled off, twisting as it went, and she slid her head smoothly all the way back up to suckle on his tip again. Then she plunged back down to his root, humming and moaning and licking and sucking.


    Aidan¡¯s head tilted back as far as it would go; again, she rose and fell on him. His hands gripped so tightly around clumps of sheets that it felt like his hands were cramping; her mouth slurped up and then descended. His back arched fully off the bed; she swallowed him whole, her throat rippling tightly around him. His eyes screwed shut of their own volition, and he held onto the razor-thin edge of the cliff he was about to plummet over. She sucked hard on him and grazed him with her teeth as she rose all the way up. He helplessly thrust his hips up at her, and she met him with a lunge of her own. Then, she spoke one more time, and lights blossomed behind his tightly-closed eyelids as he exploded into orgasm.


    ¡°Thou shouldst clean thyself up; a visitor arrives.¡±


    Aidan


    The Realms


    Unknown date (day 2)


    Early afternoon


    Starchaser tribe village, somewhere in the Mistvale Highlands


    Aidan¡¯s eyes snapped open, and he was back in the grain storage hut. A sticky mess covered his groin and belly, and he groaned in embarrassment. ¡°Seriously? A wet dream in a video game?¡± he muttered to himself, standing up and starting to move over to the bucket of water to clean himself off. Then he froze as prompts flashed into his vision.


    ¡°... What. The. Fuck?¡± He stared blankly at the prompts for a minute, then suddenly recalled the ¡­ Goddess¡¯s? ¡­ last words to him and scrambled for the water. He quickly stripped down and washed the mess away, then pulled his pants back on. Before he had a chance to get back into his shirt, however, let alone deal with leveling up, he heard a knock at the door, and it opened.

 Chosen, Chapter 8: Ain’t no Rest for the Wicked

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Unknown date (day 2)


    Early afternoon


    Starchaser tribe village, somewhere in the Mistvale Highlands


    A tallish centaur woman -- not nearly as tall as Fionn, but she was about a foot taller than Aidan was, so taller than any other female centaur he¡¯d seen so far -- walked in through the just-opened door. ¡°Good, you are up already. The Council summons you. Follow.¡± Her words were brusque, but her voice was a warm, husky mezzo-soprano that sent a sizzle down Aidan¡¯s spine. He took a moment to look her over. Her skin was smooth and lightly tanned, while her coat was a rich coppery brown-red. Waves of bright crimson hair, actual bright red rather than the copper of a real Earth redhead, fell in disorganized masses down across her shoulders and back like a cascade of molten metal.


    Eyes the color of high-grade emeralds returned his stare impatiently. Her nose turned up just a little at the end, and her lips, though pursed in a frown, were plump, and part of him couldn¡¯t help but wonder how they would feel -- Down, boy, he reprimanded himself. Her ears resembled the mage-Councillor Ailis¡¯s, sticking straight out from her head for several inches instead of being buried in her thick hair. Her shoulders were a little broader than usual for a woman, and her bare arms were well-muscled. She didn¡¯t look like a bodybuilder, but it was clear that she was no stranger at all to hard work. She was wearing a sleeveless leather shirt which was bound tightly across her breasts while leaving her midriff -- which was also well-muscled, the woman had a ten-pack going -- bare. The tight bindings of her shirt only accentuated her impressive breasts, which bulged out from her chest.


    Then, with a start, Aidan realized just how rude he was being and tore his eyes away from her breasts to meet her gaze. Her stare has turned into a glare, and he blushed at having lost control of himself in such a manner. ¡°Well? Will you follow, or must I drag you?¡± She asked with an edge to her voice that said she might prefer the second option.


    ¡°My apologies, I will, of course, follow you. Please allow me just one moment to finish getting dressed.¡± She snorted in impatience but did not say anything else as he quickly pulled his shirt over his head and tied up the laces at the neck and wrists. ¡°Please, my lady, lead on.¡±


    She said nothing, but backed out of the hut then wheeled and began to move off into the village at a quick walk. Unfortunately for Aidan, a quick walk for someone with the body of a horse meant a brisk jog for him. He had to scramble to catch up and didn¡¯t have a lot of time to admire the way her muscles bunched and moved under her glossy fur, nor the way her twitching tail brought attention to her firm, round rump. He had never really had any interest in horses before, and if he¡¯d been asked a week ago if a centaur could be sexy, he would have laughed and mocked whoever had dared ask such a ridiculous question, but he was starting to gain a real appreciation. This woman just oozed power and sensuality, despite her obvious irritation with him.


    Aidan had worked up a sweat by the time his guide stopped in front of a large one-story building. There was no door; instead, broad strips of leather hung from an opening wide and tall enough for two large centaurs to pass without touching each other. She waved him inside with a curt, ¡°Enter. The Council waits.¡± He pushed through the leather -- Probably just there to keep the weather out, he thought -- and into the building. The redhead followed him in but remained at the doorway.


    The building was clearly designed for formal occasions. The five Council members rested on rectangular piles of cushions on a slightly raised central stage at the back of the building, while the front had rows of lower-quality padding in much the same way a church had pews or an amphitheater had rows of seating. He approached the stage, then bowed deeply and said, ¡°Summoned, I come. What wisdom has the Starchaser Council for me?¡±


    He straightened from his bow to see a few eyebrows raised. Eilwen, the white-haired grandmother, leaned over to the silver-haired Ailis next to her and whispered something which Aidan couldn¡¯t quite catch. Ailis shook her head with a rueful look on her face and waggled a finger at her fellow Councilwoman admonishingly. Then she turned to him and inclined slightly in a shallow bow.


    ¡°Your good manners serve you well, Aidan Lostlorn.¡± A prompt flashed into his vision, but he mentally swatted at it in reflex, needing to concentrate on what was being said. To his surprise, it minimized to an icon at the side of his HUD. Well, that will be useful in the future; wonder if there¡¯s a way to automate that? He thought before focusing again on the Council. ¡°You present a problem for us. Our laws are clear that trespassers are to be killed, and you were found deep within our lands. However,¡± she said with a slight emphasis, ¡°there has been considerable debate over precisely what constitutes trespassing. There are those of the outside world who we allow to pass safely through our territory, so all outsiders are not trespassers.


    ¡°Similarly, innocents who unknowingly stray over the border are escorted back when our patrols find them and given a stern warning never to let it happen again, so intent is a clear factor. Yet you were found less than a day¡¯s easy walk from this village, in the heart of our lands. None of our border patrols saw you, and you claim to have been here less than a day after being magically brought here. We sent a pair of skilled trackers to follow your trail, and it matches your story entirely.¡± She stopped speaking and looked down at him, gaze troubled.


    The big warrior, Fionn, picked up where Ailis left off. ¡°You know the location of this village, so we cannot simply let you go; Steffan did you no favors there. The Council has voted to show mercy, however, so we will not kill you. Our loremaster,¡± he nodded at Ailis, who nodded back, ¡°suggested something which would resolve our problem completely, but that solution has problems of its own.¡± The five of them looked down at him for a long moment, and just as Aidan was about to ask a question, the short male Councillor, Gerwyn, picked up the narration.


    ¡°There is a rite, used rarely, and last centuries ago, which would mark you as a member of the tribe even though you are not a centaur. Any tribe member would know on sight that you were one of us, and as a member of the tribe, you would have free access to our lands. The problem is that we do not know you. We know that you told us the truth, as best we have been able to tell, in our earlier meeting, but words are not enough on their own.¡± He stopped speaking, and Anwn pounced on the brief silence.


    ¡°Words have power, but actions reveal the truth. We will not slay you out of hand for something you had no control over, but if we are to grant you this boon, you must prove yourself to be a true ally of the tribe. You will perform a task for us, a dangerous task which we would not send one of our own to accomplish. Succeed and return to us with proof, and we may -- may -- consider performing the rite. Refuse or flee from your task, and we will kill you.¡± Her face was hard, and her voice flat and emotionless as she pronounced judgment on him. There wasn¡¯t an ounce of mercy in her eyes, but neither was there hatred or contempt.


    Eilwen took up the thread of the speech, saying, ¡°We will not send you out unarmed and unaware, however.¡± Her eyes darted sideways towards Anwn, then returned to his. ¡°A weapon will be provided to you, and you will be given a set of light armor appropriate to your build. Further, Steffan will guide you to your destination and give you as much information as we have on your task, then either bring you back upon your victory or bring the word of your defeat. Know that we do not believe this task to be beyond you; we are not sending you to your certain death as a way to salve our consciences. It will be difficult and dangerous, but when you return victorious, know that you will have earned at least our friendship.¡± Her words are a distinct dig at her fellow Councillor, and Anwn¡¯s nose flares, but she remains silent.


    A voice behind him startled Aidan so much that he jumped a couple of inches into the air. He hadn¡¯t even heard the flame-haired woman approach but her voice came from just over his shoulder; he had to resist turning around to look at her. ¡°May it please the Council, I would request that it be myself who leads this human to his destination. You are sending him into Ceallach Macht, are you not?¡± Her voice was respectful, but with an accusatory edge. ¡°I have petitioned the Council before for permission to purge that place, and I have always been told it is too dangerous. Well, I say that if it is too dangerous for me, then you are sending this man to his sure death, especially with Steffan to guide him. You know that one will do exactly what he is told and no more, even if it breaks the spirit of his instructions. If the Council truly has voted to send this man on a life-or-death mission to that blighted place, and if you will not allow me to go alone, then send us both!¡± The last was spit out as a distinct challenge.


    Anwn opened her mouth to fire back at his entirely unexpected ally, but Fionn laid a hand on her shoulder, and she subsided with a grumble. Fionn, Eilwen, and Gerwyn all looked to Ailis. For her part, the silver-haired woman gazed serenely down at the centaur behind Aidan. ¡°Very well, Brighid. If this matters to you this much, we will allow you to take Steffan¡¯s place on this expedition -- but you will bear all of his responsibilities. If Aidan refuses this task or flees from battle, you will slay him yourself. Furthermore, we forbid you from shouldering the burden of this task. You may assist Aidan if you feel that you must, but this is his task, not yours, and it will be without meaning if you do it for him. We will examine you with a spell of truth upon your return to ensure that our will is done. This is the Will of the Council,¡± she declares.


    ¡°So say we all!¡± Echo the other four members of the Council with the air of a practiced ritual, and a window popped up in Aidan''s vision.


    He didn¡¯t see that he had much choice; the Council and quest were equally clear about the consequences of refusal. He mentally hit the ACCEPT button, and the window went away. Aidan bowed to the Council and said, ¡°I will, of course, accept the Council¡¯s judgment. It will be as you say.¡± While he was at it, he focused on the prompt that he minimized earlier at the start of the Council session.


    Experience from discovering new places? That would be handy, if probably not a significant source of experience. Similarly, he had never been very extroverted and had trouble making friends, so bonus experience from relationships also wouldn¡¯t amount to much. Still, free experience was free experience, and Aidan wasn¡¯t about to look a gift horse in the mouth. His thoughts reminded him that he had a level up waiting to handle, but he still had plenty of time, so he corralled his inner power-gamer and focused on what was happening around him again. Fortunately, the prompts only took a few seconds to handle.


    The Council members were all standing. Fionn, Gerwyn, and Anwn were in a heated discussion with their backs turned to him; if he had to guess, Anwn was objecting to the way things just went, and the other two were talking her down. Ailis stood at the front edge of the stage, where she and Brighid were having a discussion in words too soft for him to overhear. Ailis reached out and gently stroked Brighid¡¯s cheek, and the redhead held her hand there for a moment before turning away and walking back over towards him.


    ¡°Come, human, there is much to do, and I would like to start our journey before the sun falls too low in the sky.¡± Her voice still held no affection for him but was at least no longer contemptuous. She led the way out of the building -- the village¡¯s town hall, presumably -- and back into the sunlight. ¡°You will need a good weapon in Ceallach Macht. Our first stop is my forge so that I can properly arm you and retrieve my own equipment, then the granary to pick up supplies, then we will leave the village by way of Roark¡¯s place. He will have some upper body armor that will fit you, and we can figure out something to do about your legs. You cannot wear armor meant for centaurs down there.¡±


    Aidan followed her without hesitation; clearly, she knew what she was doing. He told her in a solemn tone, ¡°Thank you for what you said to the Council. I can tell that I¡¯m not your favorite person, but I appreciate that you weren¡¯t willing to stand by while I was sent to my death.¡±


    Brighid waved his thanks away and responded, ¡°You can thank me by helping to purify that den of evil. Make no mistake: if you die, I will not mourn you, but I could not stand idly by while they made it sound like you were being sent to rout a few runty rattoks. I love Mama Eilwen, but I cannot imagine what possessed her to send you alone. Even she should be able to tell that you are no warrior, and they would know that you are no master mage either. Personally, I would not be confident in just sending you out against rattoks, no offense intended.¡± Her tone was matter-of-fact, but her assessment of him stung a little and no less for being true.


    ¡°As painful as it is to admit, you are correct. I have no skills as a warrior aside from a few ranks in Evasion, and my magic is quite limited. I am a stranger in a strange land and in far over my head. I understand that you are not doing this for me, but I am grateful nonetheless. I owe you a great deal, and I swear I will repay that debt.¡±


    She whirled -- so suddenly that Aidan jumped backward -- and hissed at him. ¡°Swear no oaths to me, human! I do not want your debt!¡± Her eyes were ablaze with green fire as she glared at him, and he raised his hands placatingly. Before he could respond, though, a prompt appeared in his vision, and his eyes widened a little in surprise.


    He was about to apologize to the angry redhead, but something about the prompt made him change his words at the last moment. ¡°I beg your forgiveness, my lady, but while you may choose not to acknowledge it, I cannot. You have intervened on my behalf with the Council and may yet prove to have saved my life. I would not be true to myself if I turned a blind eye to that.¡± He bowed his head respectfully to her, but his words were said with confidence and as much steel as he could muster.


    Her face contorted for a moment, and she started to respond, then stopped and closed her eyes. When she opened them again with a sigh, her rage had clearly left her. ¡°Very well, human -- no, Aidan. I did not act as I did on your behalf, but I accept the truth of your words. I will accept your debt, but know that when I decide to collect, your pretty words will not save you if you refuse.¡± She whirled again and set off at a slightly brisker pace, no longer slowing herself down to accommodate his slower gait but not forcing him to run to keep up like earlier.

 Chosen, Chapter 9: Rock that Look

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Unknown date (day 2)


    Early afternoon


    Starchaser tribe village, somewhere in the Mistvale Highlands


    Brighid led him to a small house with a large attached open-air section, within which lay an anvil, a furnace, and other assorted tools of smithcraft. Unlike the other buildings he had seen in the village, this one was made of stone, which only made sense. Obviously, putting a forge in a wooden structure was a terrible idea. Brighid took several swords from a rack at the back of the forge, sorting them and looking back and forth between Aidan and them before finally putting all but one of them back. She handed him the blade she chose and told him to wait and not to touch anything before vanishing into the house. He took the opportunity to Analyze his new weapon.


    While waiting for Brighid to return, Aidan decided to open his status screen and allocate his level up points. Given that it sounded like he was heading out on a dangerous quest, and taking the old man¡¯s advice to heart, he allocated three points to Toughness for extra Health and, well, toughness. The rest he spent evenly between Logic, Intuition, and Willpower; his Charisma already got a big boost from learning Divine Speech, so he figured it was alright to leave it alone this time. He decided to hold off on spending the Skill bonus for the moment, thinking that maybe he could convince his companion to teach him how to actually use the sword she just gave him.


    After about ten minutes, Brighid emerged from her home, and his breath caught in his throat. Where before, Brighid had been wearing a shirt which was more of a tight leather crop-top and little else, now she was armored head to shanks in brightly gleaming steel.


    A tall helmet adorned her head, leaving just her eyes, part of her mouth, and her ears uncovered. Her hair was nowhere to be seen, presumably braided and looped atop her head under the helmet. Her neck was protected by a chainmail gorget, slim pauldrons graced her shoulders, a burnished breastplate -- properly shaped with no ridiculous boob-holders -- protected her chest, and chainmail covered the rest of her humanoid torso and arms. Her hands were protected only by a single circular plate on their backs, leaving her fingers free.


    Brighid¡¯s equine body was more heavily-armored, with curved steel plates lining her flanks like rows of shields and shining steel greaves wrapped around her legs. He could see a thick blanket-like cloth under the plates of her barding, which would help absorb impacts and prevent chafing; presumably, she was wearing some padding under her upper armor as well. A pair of saddlebags were slung across her back, though no saddle was in evidence, nor would there be anywhere to put one. In her right hand, she carried a long polearm topped with a wicked blade; Aidan¡¯s extensive gaming experience allowed him to identify it as a glaive.


    Just looking at her made Aidan suddenly feel much, much better at the prospect of surviving his new quest.


    Wordlessly, she passed by him and waved for him to follow her, so Aidan fell into step beside and a little behind her. While they walked, he examined her armor in more detail. It was finely made and surprisingly quiet. He doubted she could sneak up on anyone now as she had to him earlier; still, where movies and games had led him to expect heavy armor to be loud and inflexible, Brighid¡¯s armor had no noticeable effect on her range of motion and only rustled and jingled lightly with each step. Now that he had the chance to examine her armor more closely, he saw that it wasn¡¯t actually steel; this metal had a faint red tint and an almost golden sheen when the light hit it just right.


    ¡°Sunsteel,¡± Brighid said. Aidan looked up from examining her armor to see her looking over her shoulder at him. She continued, ¡°I saw you admiring my armor. It is made from Sunsteel, an alloy of steel, Essence of Fire, and Essence of Light. In addition to being stronger and more flexible than steel, it provides protection from heat and cold. Also, like most other magical metals, it is immune to rust, a fact that I am quite grateful for given where I live.¡± The last was said with a rueful gesture towards the mist still clinging to the ground around their legs. ¡°Anyway, we are almost to the granary. I will get us supplies for three weeks; it would only take me two or three days to get to Ceallach Macht on my own, but at your pace, it will take us closer to a week.¡± She continued on in silence for a few moments, and just as he opened his mouth to ask, she said, ¡°And no, you cannot ride me. Never ask that of a centaur, it is a grave insult.¡± The pause before she spoke and something in the tone of her voice almost made Aidan think she was teasing him; he resolved to take her advice to heart anyway.


    Shortly thereafter, she stopped in front of a large warehouse-style building. Again she asked him to wait outside, then stepped into the granary. She returned just a couple of minutes later, her saddlebags bulging noticeably, and handed him several bundled packages. ¡°I know you are just a weak human mage, but by Brigantia, I will be damned if I carry all your food for you.¡± Aidan kept his mouth shut and filled his backpack with the wrapped food. ¡°Alright, now to get you some protection. Armor and magic generally do not mix well, but I refuse to let you go into that place with no armor whatsoever. Light armor should not affect your spellcasting much, especially if we leave off the gauntlets. We will see what Roark has in your size.¡±


    So saying, she guided Aidan out of the village proper, down a long trail, and into a rather foul-smelling tannery. Roark turned out to be a genial old centaur who, after a brief discussion with Brighid, took out a knotted string and measured Aidan quite thoroughly from every angle, ¡°Hmmmm¡± ing along the way. After another few words with the lady warrior, he went into one of the buildings and came out a few minutes later with a padded leather shirt, several strips of cured leather of various sizes, as well as a partial set of leather armor: a breastplate, pauldrons, and vambraces.


    Roark helped Aidan into the shirt and armor pieces, then brought him over to a barrel of water and asked Brighid to heat it up for him. She held one hand out, said something untranslatable, and made a series of gestures as her hand began to glow red. A second later, the glow flowed from her into the barrel, and immediately steam began to rise from it. Aidan recognized it as Fire Magic and added another note to his mental list on the redhead.


    The old tanner thanked Brighid, then dipped the leather strips into the barrel with the help of a pair of long tongs. After a short time in the steaming water, the cured leather softened, and Roark pulled them back out one at a time. The first one he wrapped diagonally around Aidan¡¯s head, from just above his eyebrows to under the back of his skull, then told Aidan to hold it in place. He did as ordered, although the leather was uncomfortably hot to the touch. The leatherworker took another strip of the softened leather, slipped one end under the piece Aidan was holding onto, then ran it over the top of his and along the back, pulling it tight and tucking it under the back of the first strip. Brighid cast her spell again, and the heat was removed from the leather, leaving it wet, but hardened once again. The process was repeated similarly for Aidan¡¯s thighs and shins, then Roark helped him out of the proto-helmet and proto-greaves and vanished into his workshop.


    While the older centaur was busy finishing the rest of his armor, Aidan examined the pieces he was wearing more closely. He had no idea what sort of animal the leather was from, but it was a reddish-brown in color. He rapped his knuckles against the breastplate, and it certainly felt hard and sturdy enough to serve as protection. It restricted him more than he thought it would -- gaming ¡°knowledge¡± getting in the way again because he expected leather armor to be soft -- but he figured part of that was just his lack of Skill with armor. After a few minutes, Roark emerged with the finished greaves and helmet in his arms. He had attached curved plates of leather to each piece and poked holes through the straps on the greaves through which a rawhide lace was strung. He handed each piece of armor to Aidan and instructed him on how to put them on, then fished out a small bottle of oil and gave him instructions on caring for the leather.


    Roark looked at Aidan gravely once he was finished with his instructions. ¡°Brighid has told me of your quest. Even were it not the Will of the Council, I would gift you this armor, for never let it be said that old Roark Tanglebriar would deny aid to one seeking to cleanse the land of evil. I hope that your quest is successful, young Aidan; you would be helping us more than you know if you manage to clear out Ceallach Macht. But know that if you come back without Brighid, I will never make anything else for you again, Council or no. I have known her since she was a filly, and while she is unquestionably brave, the fire within her sometimes blinds her to caution.¡± He turned to Brighid, who was leveling her patented emerald laser death glare at someone else for once, and said to her, ¡°I know you mean well, lass, and I know that you burn to purify that filth with Brigantia¡¯s sacred flames, but do be cautious. The Council did not keep you from Ceallach Macht without reason. I question their judgment sending you with Aidan even now. No, no, I understand that you demanded that they allow you to go -- but consider this. When was the last time you ever outmaneuvered your mother in a duel of wits? Just be safe, little spark.¡± He clapped the redhead on the shoulder and returned to his work.


    Brighid¡¯s eyes opened wide with shock at the old man¡¯s words, but after a moment she shook herself out of it and said to Aidan with a gruff voice, ¡°Come on, Birgitte¡¯s light is wasting.¡± Again, Aidan fell into step beside her as she led the way into the mists away from the village.

 Chosen, Chapter 10: Departure

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Unknown date (day 2)


    Afternoon


    Mistvale Highlands, en route to Ceallach Macht


    Aidan followed Brighid in silence for a good fifteen or twenty minutes before building up the courage -- or maybe it was growing bored enough -- to start asking her questions. "So, Miss Brighid, do you mind if I ask you some questions? As you know, I am far from home and don''t know anything about this area; I would like to learn if you would not object to my curiosity."


    Brighid didn''t answer immediately, but after a few seconds, she said, "Ask your questions. I do not promise to answer if the topic is sensitive or concerns the safety of the tribe, but I, of all people, cannot begrudge someone for being curious."


    "Thank you," Aidan said sincerely. "I guess my first question is, where am I? I know I am in Starchaser territory, but where is that, and where does that put me in relation to other tribes or nations?"


    Again, it took Brighid several breaths to answer. "Our lands are located in a region called the Mistvale Highlands." Aidan had known that, of course, but he couldn''t think of a way to reveal that he knew without drawing uncomfortable questions. "Specifically, we are towards the southern end of the Highlands, relatively close to the human nations of Gilhardt and Feralon. Both of them treat non-humans as little better than animals or, at best, slaves, so relations with humans in this region are unfriendly at best. You suffered for that, I am afraid." Aidan had also heard of Gilhardt and Feralon from the description of the Droan Fortress starting location. Mostly he was surprised that the two starting areas were so close together.


    Aidan waved away Brighid''s semi-apology and said, "Completely understandable. Back in my own homeland, there are a lot of humans who treat anyone even slightly different as the enemy. While I would obviously have preferred a warmer greeting upon my arrival, I can understand why a strange human appearing in the heart of your lands would be a cause for serious concern. I don''t blame you or your people at all; the blame, if it belongs to anyone, lies at the feet of the one who brought me here. They must have known what would be lying in wait for me."


    Brighid flashed him a brief smile that gave him an unexpected fluttery feeling in his belly at his response but didn''t continue that thread of conversation. Instead, she resumed her lecture. "The Mistvale Highlands are part of a greater region called the Wildlands because there are no great nations which claim them. To the west of the Highlands are the Cloudwall Mountains, and to the east is the Roottangle Forest. North of the Highlands is an icy waste which no one, to my knowledge, lives in or claims for their own.


    "Within the Mistvale Highlands, there are dozens of tribes of non-humans, mostly beastfolk but not exclusively. I cannot tell you much of farther lands, but I can at least tell you about those who border us. Just to our southeast are the Mist Stalkers, a tribe of Mist Leopard Catfolk; we fought a war against them when I was still a child.


    "To our west, along the great river, live the Snow-Water Riders. They are a clan of Cu-Uisce and act as traders, mercenaries, and adventurers for the most part. They are friendly folk, and many of their people have permission to pass through our lands. To our north, past Ceallach Macht, is the territory of the Ebon Bone-kin." Brighid shudders a little, making her armor rattle. "I do not like them, although I cannot say why really. They are Wolven necromancers and dark mages.


    "East and southeast of us are the Sapphire Sky Horde -- do not ask me why they call themselves that, it is a strange name even for the Wildlands. They are Gargoyles, and there really are not enough of them to be called a Horde, but I am certainly not going to argue with a creature made of living stone, and I strongly suggest the same should you ever meet one. To the northeast is the Ash Shroud Sisterhood, who are Harpies. I do not know much about them, other than that they are very welcoming to men and not at all to women."


    Aidan digested that information for a moment, then asked, "I can at least make some guesses as to the others, but what is a Cu-Uisce? That isn''t something I''ve ever heard of before."


    Brighid made a humming sound briefly as she thought, then replied, "They are sort of like Wolven, I guess, but river-beasts instead of wolves. They are about human-sized, humanoid, with a rounded head and a thick round tail. Short fur all over, very sleek-looking, even the fat ones. They live in and on the river and do not like to travel far from water for long. Like Wolven, they can shift their form into a more human-like shape, although they keep their webbed hands and feet."


    "Ohhh," Aidan realized, "they''re otter-folk. Alright, that makes sense, then. Would you mind giving me a breakdown like that for the other nearby races? Like I said, I can make guesses about them, but I never saw a non-human before I came here; I would prefer to work from actual knowledge rather than guesswork where I can."


    "You are a curious one!" Brighid laughed softly. "Very well, it will help pass the time, I suppose. The Mist Stalkers are Mist Leopard Catfolk like I said; a little smaller than humans, with light grey fur dappled with clusters of darker grey spots. They blend in with the mists around here incredibly well, which is why they were able to fight us so effectively despite the difference in size and speed. I hear that all their women are slaves, but I cannot say so for sure; as you can imagine, our people are not on friendly terms and do not mix together very much.


    "The Ebon Bone-kin, like I said, unsettle me, but they are not evil. They do not raise armies of the undead and, from what Gerwyn has said, actually hunt down that sort of necromancer. Instead, they commune with their ancestor spirits and other spirits of the honorable dead. Our tribes are neutral to each other; they leave us alone, and we reciprocate. With Ceallach Macht between us, we do not have much choice in that matter anyway. They are Wolven, wolf-like beastfolk just as Catfolk are cat-like, except that Wolven can assume a less bestial form. They keep their eye color and sharp teeth in human shape, though, so they are not that hard to pick out if you know what to look for."


    Brighid paused and took a sip from her waterskin before continuing. "The Sapphire Sky Horde are enigmatic. I think there used to be more of them, but now they only number around a hundred or so, if the rumors are to be believed. They are Gargoyles, living statues, and the next best thing to indestructible. You do not want to get into a fight with a Gargoyle; they are as fast as any other humanoid but vastly stronger and tougher. If they have a weakness, they certainly do not advertise it, and I do not know what it would be. Some of them have wings and can fly, but not all of them. Thankfully, they keep to themselves and mostly ignore the outside world; you could probably walk straight through their lands without even knowing they were there.


    "And, of course, the Ash Shroud Sisterhood... they are Harpies, which means they are exclusively female. Human-like body, about your size, except that they have four enormous wings and feathers for hair. Like I said, they welcome males with open arms and legs; since there are no male Harpies, they seduce, bribe, and sometimes outright kidnap males of other species to breed with them. They do not hurt the men, though, that I have ever heard of. Women are driven out of their territory; not much for competition, I guess. They are supposed to be exceptional warriors, but I have never faced one, so I cannot say."


    Brighid gave Aidan another small smile and teasingly asked, "What else can I answer for you, O Seeker of Knowledge?"


    Aidan returned her smile and teased right back at her, "Thank you, O Beauteous Teacher. Might I learn more about our destination? I gather there is some history behind this place, Ceallach Macht, and the Starchasers?"


    Brighid looked flustered for a moment, a blush creeping onto her cheeks, but she quickly regained her balance. "Ceallach Macht..." she said with a sigh. "Long, long ago, in Ages past, it was a great city where all of the tribes and peoples of the Highlands and beyond could gather in peace. Even wars stopped at Ceallach Macht''s boundary. It was a place of culture, art, poetry, and beauty." Brighid''s eyes lost focus as she described the city as if she was gazing into the past. "For a thousand years, Ceallach Macht stood, and the Highlands prospered. No outsiders dared to challenge us, for, within the City of Dreams, we had a place to gather and work together towards a common goal."


    Her eyes focused on the real world again, and she continued with a grave undertone to her voice. "Then, one night, everyone in the city vanished without a trace. No one knows how or why. Several attempts were made to reclaim the City of Dreams, but all failed for one reason or another. It lay dormant for hundreds of years, until just recently. As it lies within our territory, the Starchasers have sent patrols into and through the city periodically. Ten years ago, our patrol encountered something new. We do not know what, exactly, but the soldiers returned as undead infested with desiccated vines and attacked the village. There were only five of them, so aside from the surprise factor, they were not hard for us to handle, but the area around Ceallach Macht became more and more dangerous."


    Brighid shook her head sadly. "Eventually, the Council decided to seal the city. Whatever was inside was too dangerous to confront directly, so they hoped to starve it on the vine. All of the tribe''s warriors and mages gathered together and cleared out the area around the city, at immense cost, and then the mages collectively drew and powered a ward across the entire city. That ward still stands today, and it prevents any creature, living or dead, from crossing it in either direction."


    That was not good news, by Aidan''s estimation. "Pardon me for being blunt, but if this place was so dangerous that it took the entire tribe just to seal it off, why did the Council send me, a level 1 -- well, level 2 now -- Commoner alone to cleanse it?"


    Brighid glanced at him, her eyes solemn. "I do not know, and I am disquieted by it. They clearly believe that whatever evil settled inside has died off over the years, but I have neither seen nor heard any evidence to support that. More damning, I have petitioned the Council multiple times for permission to lead an expedition into the ruins, most recently just last year. Every time I was told it was too dangerous."


    She stopped and turned to him. "The way this has unfolded does not sit well with me, Aidan. I do not know you very well, but you do not seem as hateful as the humans from the lands near us, and I do not believe this quest you are on to be justice. For sure, something needed to be done about you, according to our laws, but for the Council to send you into the ruined city alone is naught but a death sentence. And for them to give you this quest even as they were telling you they were not sending you away as a way to kill you and keep their consciences clean? I will have words for the Council -- in public -- should we survive." Her face hardened, but for once, her displeasure was not directed at Aidan, a fact he was grateful for.


    She turned back to the north and started walking again, musing, "And what Roark said also bothers me. He is right, I have never been able to outmaneuver my mother when it comes to things like this. She engineered that so-called confrontation in the Council Hall. It was the Council, and probably mother, who sent me to fetch you, and I am increasingly sure that she shaped everything so that I would be enraged and challenge the Council. She has become more subtle and manipulative over the last decade, and I cannot say I like it."


    Aidan reached out and up, and tentatively patted Brighid on her shoulder. She looked at him sharply for a moment, then smiled a little sheepishly and relaxed when she realized he was only offering comfort. He asked, "Ailis is your mother, then, I take it?" Brighid nodded. "I could see, after the Council meeting, that she loves you. I do not think she would throw your life away; she must have a good reason for this. I confess that I can''t see it from here, but at the very least, I am confident she expects you to survive."


    "That is kind of you to say," Brighid said, her voice a little thick with emotion. "I love her too, but with the way things have gone recently..." She sighed.


    "Maybe this was her way of getting you into Ceallach Macht to cleanse it like you''ve wanted?" Aidan suggested.


    "Perhaps." Was all Brighid would say, and she fell into a melancholy silence for a while. Aidan wanted to help her feel better but wasn''t sure what to say, so he kept his peace.

 Chosen, Chapter 11: Hoist the Sword with Pride in the Heart

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Unknown date (day 2)


    Early evening


    Mistvale Highlands, en route to Ceallach Macht


    Eventually, Brighid''s mood seemed to lift, and Aidan felt comfortable enough to impose on her again. "I appreciate the gift of this sword and armor, but as you are probably aware, I do not have the faintest idea of how to use them. The breastplate and greaves are rubbing me raw in some unfortunate places, and I keep feeling like I am going to trip over my own weapon trying to walk with this thing at my hip. You undoubtedly appear to be a capable warrior; would you be willing or able to teach me, at least to the point where I''m not risking hurting myself more than my enemy?"


    Brighid looked over at him, cast a critical glance at the way he moved in his armor and held his sword, and snorted a laugh. "You are right, you really do not know what you are doing. I do not know that I have ever seen a male as inept with his weapon as you." She smirked at him, and Aidan blinked at the double entendre.


    He couldn¡¯t let it pass without mention, though, and fired back with, "Well, I can hardly imagine someone better than you to teach a young man how to use his blade, so what do you say?"


    The redheaded centaur laughed at his rejoinder and smiled back at him. "Thank you, I needed that. Yes, I can try to teach you the basics. I am not the best suited to be your teacher, but we make do with what is available. I apologize, I should have thought of this myself, but I have been ... distracted. Regardless, when we stop for the evening in an hour or so, I will do my best to at least show you how to handle your sword. That is a lesson every male should learn." Again she smirked at him, but Aidan shook his head and let her have the last word this time.


    A little more than an hour later, Brighid called a halt before a small cave near a split in the stream they had been following all day. The sun was still overhead, but it was swiftly approaching the mountains to the west. Aidan guessed they only had an hour of full daylight left. Once they set their packs down inside the cave, Brighid turned to him and said, "Alright, Aidan. Show me how you think you are supposed to hold that weapon of yours."


    He gathered himself and gave his best approximation of a warrior''s pose. He held the sword in two hands, generally pointed in front of him, while he stood with one foot ahead of him and one behind. Brighid walked up to him, circled behind him slowly, then placed one finger on his shoulder and pushed. Aidan staggered to the side, struggling to keep his balance.


    "Wrong," Brighid said drily. "You could not possibly hurt anyone like that. I do not think you could even manage to harm yourself except by falling over. Here," she said, putting her hands on his hips and directing him to move, "turn sideways. Leave your front foot like you had it, but turn your back foot to the side. Yes, like that." Her hands moved up to his shoulders, "Stand perpendicular to your target and hold your sword down by your hips with the tip pointed at your enemy¡¯s head. This way, you are both more stable," She put her hand at the back of his neck and pushed; this time Aidan had no trouble remaining upright, "and also presenting less of a target to your enemy. You are narrower in profile than you are head-on. That also means that you have to do less work to deflect or dodge an attack."


    Then he felt an impact against his knee and staggered sideways a step before collapsing to the ground. "You are still standing too stiffly, however. Get up, hurry up now, Birgitte''s daylight is fading."


    Aidan grumbled to himself but climbed back to his feet, picked up the sword from where he dropped it, and resumed his stance. Brighid used the butt end of her glaive to tap at the backs of his knees. "Bend your knees slightly. Standing upright like that makes you too stiff and ruins your balance. Having your knees bent gives you flexibility. Combat is all about being flexible; even a sword needs to be able to bend, or it will break the first time it hits armor. Alright, that looks just barely acceptable."


    Brighid moved to stand in front of him several feet away. "Now, attack me. Aim for my chest, but I assure you, you will not hit me. Go slowly and stop when I tell you, you are going to fuck this up, and it will be easier if I can show you exactly where and how."


    Aidan leaned forward slowly and thrust the tip of the sword towards Brighid''s midsection. She stopped him almost immediately. "Stop! What in the world do you think you are doing? You are going to fall over like that. You have to step into the attack, both to keep your balance and to provide power to the strike. You also would never be able to reach me without stepping forward. I thought that would be obvious, but clearly, I overestimated my student." Aidan flushed at the criticism, but reset his stance and repeated the thrust, this time stepping out with his forward leg as he attacked.


    Again, Brighid stopped him. "Well, at least you are listening, even if you are not thinking. Look behind you at your back leg. See how straight it is? You are overextended. Unless you are intending to lunge -- which is not something you should be doing at your Skill level -- you need to step with both feet. It does not have to be a big step, you can just slide your foot forward as you advance, but always remember that you have to stay balanced and flexible. If you ever wobble like you did during that step, then you are doing something wrong."


    Her instruction continued in that same vein until the sky began to turn orange and red. "Alright, that is enough for tonight. You are no longer completely hopeless, just nearly so." Indeed, Aidan had received a prompt informing him that he now had level 1 in Swords. Brighid continued, "Go ahead down that side branch of the stream. It leads to a little pond in a wooded valley; clean yourself up and polish your blade."


    Aidan was too tired and sweaty to object or offer it to her first, so he dragged himself down the path Brighid indicated until he found a pool of water about chest-deep enclosed by trees on three sides. He stripped off his armor and clothes, leaving them and his sword in a heap on the shore, then waded into the water. It was chilly but felt good on his aching muscles. After a few minutes spent pouring water over his head and shoulders and scrubbing away at the accumulated sweat with his hands, he heard rustling in the bushes behind him.


    Aidan whirled towards the sound, tense and ready to lunge for his weapon, and nearly lost his balance as Brighid stepped into view. Her hair was unbound from the braid she had worn it in for the trip so far, and she was totally, gloriously naked. There was no Power in all the Realms which could keep Aidan from staring open-mouthed at her bare breasts. They were even more massive than he first thought, and they bounced alluringly with each of her steps. They did sag some, but only to the very least degree that might be expected of breasts that size. Her areolas were a dusky red and surprisingly small given the bounteous expanse of flesh they crowned.


    Just before he whirled around to face away from Brighid, Aidan noticed that her areolas had begun to crinkle, and her nipples were growing erect. He started to babble an apology, but she cut him off.


    "What are you doing? I swear humans are the strangest race in the Realms. If you are that embarrassed about that dagger between your legs, it is too late for that. You were giving me a show while you were taking in the show, so to speak. Turn back around and help me wash my coat. It is chilly out, and Sunsteel is resistant to heat, but wearing two layers of armor over fur is going to make anyone sweat, and centaurs are not built to scrub our own backs."


    Aidan hesitantly turned back around but kept his gaze modestly averted from the warrior woman''s chest as she waded into the water. "Oh, for Braihan''s sake," Brighid said in exasperation, "you can look at me. I will not kill you for noticing the giant sacks of fat attached to the front of my body. What is it with males and teats? I admit that these," she lifted her breasts in her hands and bounced them to make them wobble, "are larger than average, and that seems to do something to men''s brains, but get over it. I knew you were here when I came down to bathe; I came because you were here."


    Aidan couldn''t tear his eyes from the magnificent vision just a couple of feet in front of him. Brighid made a frustrated sound deep in her throat, grabbed Aidan''s arms, and brought his hands up to her breasts. Her skin was scorching hot under his hands, and he could feel her hard nipples digging into his palms. He reflexively squeezed her breasts, then realized what he was doing. He tried to pull away, but Brighid was holding his hands against her skin. He took a step back, and she followed him; he could feel more than see her eyes glaring at him. "Come on, get a good feel, get it all out of your system. You are useless to me like this, and I need a scrub down, so if this is what it takes, so be it."


    Aidan felt trapped and overpowered and extremely uncomfortable with the situation. Brighid''s hands gripped his wrists tightly enough to be painful, and while she was beyond beautiful, this was way past his comfort zone. "Please, Brighid," he pleaded, "let me go. I apologize for staring, but this isn''t right."


    All at once, she let him go and took a step back herself. She turned her head away from him and acknowledged, "You are right. I am sorry." Her arms raised to cover herself, and she turned fully to the side, even going so far as to twist her torso so that he could no longer see her breasts even in profile. "I do not know what came over me. Will you ..." she asked tentatively, "will you still help me bathe?" It was as if all the confidence had fled her.


    Aidan steadied himself, mentally and physically, breathed in a deep breath, then let it out and said, "Of course, I would be honored." He stepped up to her, and she shyly handed him a long-handled brush with a curved head, still facing away from him. He dipped the brush into the water, then brought it up to her back and began to scrub. "I apologize again for staring. You caught me by surprise, and where I come from, nudity is not socially acceptable except between close friends or lovers. Add that to your beauty, and I was stunned for a moment."


    "You really think..." Brighid asked softly, then broke off her question and faded into silence for several heartbeats before saying more forcefully, "You do not need to apologize to me. You did nothing wrong, that falls entirely to me. I did not stop to think that maybe your culture and mine are different and would treat bathing as an intimate activity. Centaurs bathe collectively -- like I said, we cannot precisely scrub our own backs. I was just treating you like any other centaur, even though I know you are more lost than I can imagine. Forcing myself on you like that ... that was ill-done, and I beg your forgiveness. Even among my people, that would be considered quite rude at best."


    Aidan laughed softly and patted Brighid on the shoulder. "Well, I can''t say I have ever had a woman force me to grope her before. If you hadn''t been holding my wrists so tightly, I would have enjoyed the experience much more. Much more," he emphasized with another laugh. Brighid giggle-snorted, and the tension seemed to flow out of her again. She reached up and, very gently, held his hand to her shoulder with hers, then squeezed his hand lightly and let go.


    "Well, do not expect a repeat performance!" She laughed. "I can wash those on my own. You only need to attend to my fur," she finished with a faux-haughty tone of voice.


    "Yes, milady, as you say, milady," Aidan replied, as obsequiously as he could, drawing another laugh from Brighid. He smiled at the sound and mentally resolved to make her laugh more; she seemed to be under a lot of stress, and he enjoyed the merry sound of her laughter. Returning his focus to his task, Aidan set to scrubbing her down to the very best of his ability.


    He worked the brush from her lower back -- which he knew she hadn''t asked him to but figured she would likely appreciate -- down along her spine to her equine half. From there, he scrubbed her flanks before splashing water over her and making a second pass before moving a little further down her body and repeating the process. Brighid gave him occasional directions, telling him to scrub a little harder or pay special attention to a specific spot. Before long, she was wriggling and sighing happily.


    Aidan quickly fell into a rhythm, and his mind and eyes began to wander while his hands did their own thing. The sun was only barely visible, and there wasn''t much light left to see with, but he kept catching tantalizing glimpses of Brighid''s breasts as she washed her hair and torso. He watched them bounce and jiggle in and out of his sight for several minutes before he felt her tail slap his wrist.


    "While I appreciate your efforts in making sure every inch of me is clean, even the parts I did not ask for your help with," she said with a gentle laugh, "and while you are scrubbing my rump most pleasantly, if you go any further back, I shall not be accountable for what happens." Aidan realized with a start that his scrubbing was about to round the curve of Brighid''s rear end and towards more sensitive areas, and he nearly fumbled the brush into the water in his haste to stop.


    She turned her torso to look at him, and with the deepening shadows, he could not make out her expression. After a second, she laughed softly again and turned back. "I did not say to stop, I just warned you that going any further might have consequences you did not intend. If you wish to proceed less dangerously, how about you come around and scrub my other side, then work on my legs and belly? They do not get as sweaty, but I confess that you are a deft hand with that brush, and I will take any chance to be pampered."


    Aidan obediently repositioned to her right flank and started over from the top before asking, "And if I pamper you so, might you be willing to answer more questions for me on the morrow?"


    "We shall see," she responded breezily, "but it certainly will not hurt your case." Aidan laughed softly and gave in. He planned to do as she asked anyway, after all. Several minutes passed in companionable silence as he worked his way gradually down her body. When Aidan was once again scrubbing her rump, the movement of her tail drew his attention. He hadn''t been watching where he was washing before, but now he saw how her tail swished back and forth in time with his motions. From his position at her size, Aidan couldn''t see what her tail might be revealing, but the swishing grew more vigorous as he moved further back on her rump. As he started scrubbing the furthest extent of her body, he noticed her tail lifting higher and her right rear leg tensing and relaxing under his ministrations.


    He realized he had gotten too distracted again when Brighid let out a low, nearly inaudible moan and stepped away from him. "That is good enough, Aidan." She sounded a little short of breath. "Thank you, truly. I appreciate your help, especially knowing that it is more meaningful in your culture than in mine. If you do end up becoming part of the tribe, I might have to spread the word of your skilled hands to the other mares; your touch felt wonderful." She walked up to him and leaned down slightly to give him a hug, pressing her large breasts -- and hard nipples -- firmly against his chest. He brought his arms up around her and hugged her back. She held the embrace just a moment longer than Aidan expected and pressed her abdomen forward against what Aidan blushingly realized was his raging erection, then stepped back.


    "Now, speaking of touching," Brighid continued, her voice low and throaty, "I think I told you to polish your sword, and it looks like you have yet to take that task to hand, so I will leave you to it. And Aidan?" He looked up at her smiling face. "I am going out into the brush to take care of a little business of my own. If you hear me screaming, do not come running. Understand?" Her smile turned devilish, and she turned to trot out of the pool and into the darkness.


    Aidan stared after her as she left, not quite willing to accept what she just implied she would be doing. When he heard her voice starting to cry out into the night, however, he did indeed take matters into his own hands and polished his sword quite vigorously. By the time Brighid''s cries reached a loud and violent crescendo, two new prompts had appeared in Aidan''s HUD.


    Mentally and physically exhausted by events, Aidan gathered his gear and clothes, made his way back to the cave, curled up into a ball, and fell asleep.

 Chosen, Chapter 12: Spill the Beans

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Unknown date (day 3)


    Early morning


    Mistvale Highlands, en route to Ceallach Macht


    Aidan woke to the rattle of metal on metal and the sounds of a frustrated woman. He groaned, rolled over, and brought his arms up over his head to try to block out the sounds, without success. After what felt like half an hour but was probably more like half a minute, he sat up and looked over to where Brighid was struggling to put her armor back on.


    She noticed him almost immediately and pleaded with him, "Will you please help me with this? It is one thing to get into my armor at home where I have tools to aid me and an entirely different thing to do it alone in the wild." She looked so frustrated and, oddly, helpless that Aidan accepted without thinking about the fact that he had been too tired and wet to get dressed before he fell asleep the night before. It was only when Brighid''s eyes dipped down and stared at his crotch that he realized he was naked.


    He blushed and just barely restrained himself from covering himself with his hand, then said with as much grace as he could muster, "Give me just a moment to get my own clothes on, please."


    Brighid chortled and replied, "Oh, no need to do that on my account. I was enjoying the show. You know, I apologize for calling that a dagger last night; I was frustrated and taking it out on you, and I am sure the cold water did not help matters." She paused for just a moment, then smirked and said, "It is more of a shortsword than a dagger, I suppose."


    "Yeah, yeah, laugh it up, furball. If you''re going to make fun of me, see if I scrub your back for you again!" He pulled his pants on first, then worked his way into his shirt. "Besides, you also called it a sword last night."


    Brighid scrunched her face up into a parody of confusion. "Did I? I do not seem to recall that. You ... did not think I was referring to that," she gestured at his pants, "did you? My goodness, you do think highly of yourself!" She grinned at him, knowing she had him beat.


    Aidan accepted his defeat with a grumble and walked over to where the centaur stood surrounded by bits and pieces of armor. She had managed to work her way into her chain mail and had one strap fastened on her breastplate, but that was about it. She turned around and had him finish tying up the breastplate, then showed him how the rest of her armor and padding went on. It took the pair of them longer than it had taken her alone at her house, but Aidan figured that was mostly just that he needed to be shown how to do everything.


    He also took secret enjoyment out of directly touching her with her permission and under his own control. The only time he got anywhere close to a sensitive area was when he attached the rear plate of her barding; it went over her tail, then he had to reach into the hole at the back and gently pull her tail up and out. He didn''t see or touch anything untoward, however, and proceeded to the next bit of plating. No, what he enjoyed was the sensation of her fur, short and coarse but surprisingly soft, against his fingers, and the powerful muscles under that fur.


    He found himself wanting to spend time just running his hands over her back, flanks, and rump, but restrained himself. Regardless of how the previous night ended, he felt that would be too much intimacy for either of them. He was also a little uncomfortable with his feelings for someone who was, after all, part horse. Aidan resolved to log out of the game that night and spend some time in the real world. The game operated under time compression, so despite being the third day in in-game time, it wouldn''t be Saturday yet, but he did need to feed and water his real body in addition to this one, and he could use some time away from this world to reorder his thoughts.


    Once he finished with her armor, Brighid helped Aidan into his, a much quicker and more straightforward affair. He could have done it on his own but was hardly going to turn down having a beautiful woman help him dress. Once they were both prepared to leave, Brighid pulled out two of the trail rations and handed one to him. "Eat up, I know you did not eat last night, and you are going to need the energy for today."


    He couldn''t dispute her logic, so as they started their journey, Aidan unwrapped the package. It contained a piece of hard bread, a slab of salted meat, and a thick slice of cheese, plus a double handful of nuts and dried fruit. It wasn''t the most appetizing thing he had ever eaten, and it took him quite a while to gnaw his way through the bread, but it certainly was filling.


    Once they both had finished their breakfasts, Brighid and Aidan passed some time with small talk. They traded stories of their childhood. Aidan learned that Brighid did not know who her father was, having been raised by Ailis alone. Brighid laughed uproariously when Aidan described pranks his sister used to play on him and his parents. In return, she told him stories from when she was learning blacksmithing; some of the stories were funny, but she took pride in her job and had a great deal of respect for her late teacher.


    Eventually, the small talk wound down, and around noon, Aidan decided to ask some slightly more sensitive questions. "So, Brighid, I have some more questions, if you would deign to answer?"


    "I do not know..." She said, looking sideways at him. "You did not end up pampering me last night, after all." The edges of her lips were turned up, so Aidan decided to play along.


    "How about if I promise to pamper you tonight?"


    "Hmmm, but pampering tonight is inherently less valuable than pampering last night; what if you were to perish during our walk today? Then I would have provided a service for no payment at all!"


    "True, true," Aidan mused, "although I have no plans to die this day or any other. Besides, isn''t part of your job to deliver me alive to Ceallach Macht?"


    "Details, details," dismissed Brighid breezily. "The point is that you are trying to get me to do something for you with only a tenuous promise of doing something in the future. A thing which you were supposed to have already done, I might add!"


    "A fair point," Aidan conceded, "although I would like to point out that it was you who stopped me before I could carry out the pampering. Still, I am a man of my word, and tonight you will be pampered; what additional payment would milady ask for her services?"


    "Hmmm," mused the redhead, eyeing him up and down. "I suppose I did play some small part in it. Very well, I shall let you off lightly, some extra pampering tonight to make up for your dereliction of duty. Do not shirk again, however, or you may find my prices rising more steeply!" She shook a finger at him.


    "Of course, milady, I would never dream of such a thing." He gave her a half-bow and launched into his questions. "First question: What are you willing to tell me about centaurs in general and the Starchasers in specific? After last night, it is, ah, rather clear that I need to learn more about your culture."


    Brighid nodded. "We both need to learn more about each other, I think. You also need to learn to word your questions more carefully." She grinned at Aidan. "You only asked what I was willing to answer. You did not ask any questions with real substance. Were I less of a noble and honorable lady, I could have used that against you."


    "Ah, but you assume that I did not word the question that way deliberately, which I did! I know that talking about your people is going to be a more sensitive topic than talking about outsiders, and I didn''t want to tread on uncertain ground. By asking what you were willing to answer, I leave it up to you to determine what you feel safe and comfortable talking about. For several reasons, I want to make sure you feel safe and comfortable around me."


    "Oh?" Brighid arched one eyebrow at him. "And what might those reasons be?"


    "Well, most immediately, you hold my life in your hands. If you decide that I am a spy or predator, there isn''t much I could do to stop you from killing me. Even my one offensive spell is Fire Magic, which I expect will make your armor pleasantly warm inside rather than hurting you any. In addition, you have gone out of your way to help me even when, for all you knew, I was the same sort of hateful asshole human you have around here. I would be paying you back poorly if I pressed questions that made you uncomfortable. Beyond that," Aidan paused and looked at Brighid directly before continuing, "I find that I like you. You are a noble and honorable lady, and I enjoy your company. Once we got over our mutual cultural differences, I feel that we have gotten along quite well. I would like that to continue, and my curiosity isn''t worth risking that."


    Brighid looked momentarily taken aback by his honesty, her emerald eyes widening slightly before crinkling at the corners as she smiled broadly at him. "Well! I suppose I did ask! Soundly reasoned and rightly said; I withdraw my criticism of your question. And do not worry, I feel the same way about you. I think, given enough time, we could be good friends indeed. In that vein, I will trust your judgment. Ask what questions you will, and I will do my best to answer."


    For the rest of the afternoon, Brighid fielded Aidan''s questions about centaurs and the Starchasers. He found out that there were five subspecies of centaurs, although only three were present in the tribe: Plains Centaurs, Mountain Centaurs, and Moongraced Centaurs. Plains Centaurs were essentially the default and hardly a subrace at all, being both the standard half-horse half-human mix from Earth mythology and the most common by far. Mountain Centaurs made up about ten percent of the tribe and were half-mountain pony, half-dwarf hybrids like Gerwyn. Moongraced Centaurs, on the other hand, were very rare, with only Ailis and Brighid being of that particular subrace in the entire tribe. They were half-horse, half-Moon Elf, and were typically a little smaller and more slender than Plains Centaurs.


    The other two subraces were Feytouched Centaurs and Grey Centaurs. Feytouched Centaurs lived mostly in deep forests and were half-deer, half-Wild Elf. Brighid actually didn''t know much about Grey Centaurs other than that they lived far, far to the south, and were half-elephant and half-giant. She did say that there might be different types of centaurs she wasn''t aware of, but Aidan figured if she hadn''t heard of them, he wasn''t likely to encounter them any time soon.


    In addition to the basic information about the various subraces, Brighid told Aidan that all three local types of centaurs had more female children than males, with Moongraced Centaurs at the top end being twice as likely to be female than male. That, in turn, meant that the sexual and family dynamic among the Starchasers was very different from what Aidan was used to. With more women than men, there was less stigma attached to women openly trying to attract men, and none at all to women being sexually active. The gender ratio wasn''t unbalanced enough for men to gather harems, for the most part, but it was common for them to have multiple sexual partners and even wives.


    The Starchasers didn''t have a nudity taboo, as Aidan discovered the previous night, and were also much less reserved about sex. People didn''t fuck in the streets, but according to Brighid, it wasn''t uncommon for lovers to frolic in the river outside of town near where others bathed. That all sounded good to Aidan, but what he liked less was that there was a severe sexual power imbalance between the genders. Among the Starchasers, unless a woman was exceptionally beautiful or well-connected, like Brighid was, they would likely not be pursued by men and would have to entice one into being their mate. Sometimes that meant giving a sort of dowry, and sometimes it meant becoming little more than a servant.


    The tribe''s men, meanwhile, had the pick of the women. All but the worst of them had little trouble finding someone to warm their beds and were frequently tangibly rewarded for it. It actually turned Aidan''s stomach a little. He was a romantic at heart and believed that being someone''s lover should involve real love, not just a transaction. He didn''t object to one night stands or friends with benefits, but it just wasn''t the same to him unless his heart was in it.


    Aside from that, the Starchasers were a fairly standard medieval bartering society. Metal coins existed and were even used in the tribe, but the primary method of purchase was the exchange of goods and/or services. Coins were primarily reserved for dealing with merchants. The Council served less as a governing body and more as a Supreme Court of sorts; members of the tribe were expected to resolve their differences on their own and only bring problems to the Council if they proved incapable of independent resolution. The Council, in turn, encouraged this by providing just but unpleasant solutions to the issues brought before them. Only in matters extending beyond daily tribal life did the Council act as a more formal government -- things like the sealing of Ceallach Macht.


    When asked about the tribe''s name, Brighid shook her head and said, "It is from an old, old story. Supposedly, long ago, before even Ceallach Macht, we used to live as nomads in a distant land. One day, the leaders of the tribe gathered everyone up and set out on a journey to the north. They walked day after day, week after week, month after month, following a star which had been prophesied to lead them to their destiny. When the star faded from sight, they were in the Mistvale Highlands, where they carved out a territory for themselves. The other nearby tribes called them the Star-Chasers, and the name stuck, or perhaps they adopted the name themselves. Either way, we have been the Starchasers for well over a thousand years."


    By that time, the sun was beginning its slow approach to the Cloudwall Mountains, and when Brighid found a suitable campsite, she halted their progress for the day.


    Zurai

 Chosen, Chapter 13: Heartaches by the Number

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Unknown date (day 3)


    Late afternoon


    Mistvale Highlands, en route to Ceallach Macht


    Once they had their campsite set up, Brighid brought Aidan to a flat stretch of land beside the stream and resumed his fighting exercises. First, she reviewed the previous night''s lesson, ensuring that he still remembered how to stand and make basic attacks with the sword. Then, she moved onto more advanced lessons, showing him other stances he could take and the basic attacks from each stance.


    Brighid drilled him on the stances she showed him repeatedly until he was covered in sweat and aching all over and then again for good measure. "You have to be able to attack without thinking about where your feet and hands are supposed to be. Even a split second spent thinking instead of acting can get you hurt or killed. The only way to do that is to drill it over and over. You do not have enough time to learn as much as I would prefer you to, but I can at least get you some experience with a handful of attacks. Tomorrow I will show you how to deflect attacks; it is not nearly as simple as I am sure you think it is."


    He may have been sweaty and aching, but Brighid''s instruction was proving quite worthwhile. He gained two more levels in Swords over the hour or so spent training.


    She continued, "Tonight, though, I believe you owe me a good pampering, and it is time to collect. Help me out of my armor, please?"


    Aidan''s arms felt like limp noodles, and he didn''t really want to be lifting heavy Sunsteel plates off of Brighid''s back. He helped her anyway because that''s just what friends did. A side-benefit that he hadn''t considered was that he was quite literally helping Brighid undress for bathing. He was kneeling down in front of her, working on the strap of one of her greaves, when she pulled the padded gambeson off over her head and set her breasts free. When she caught him looking up at her, the redhead smirked and shook her torso from side to side, then gently tilted his head back down.


    Once all of Brighid''s armor was laid out in careful piles to the side of the stream, she walked around behind him and helped him out of his own armor. Aidan was a little embarrassed; it was one thing for her to help him into his armor once his clothes were on, but it felt much more intimate for her to help him out of it. He was intensely aware of the soft pressure of her hands as she worked at the laces of his armor. Once Aidan was down to just his clothes, she put her hands on his hips and turned him around to face her. He felt the blush hot on his cheeks as she unlaced his shirt and pulled it off over his head, and it grew even more heated as she knelt down in front of him. She deftly untied the laces at his waist and then tugged his pants down.


    "I thought I was supposed to be the one pampering you?" Aidan desperately tried to deflect as his erection bobbed in the air, mere inches from his companion''s face.


    "You are!" She grinned at him. "A girl likes a good show just as much as you men do. Despite being a mage-type, you are not half-bad to look at. Usually, you mages are either scrawny as a stick or fat and flabby. You, though, look like you actually take care of yourself. And," she added, her hand darting out to pat his erection lightly, drawing a gasp from Aidan, "it is nice to feel appreciated from time to time." Brighid heaved herself back up onto her hooves and trotted off towards the stream. "Now come along, you have active pampering to do!"


    Aidan wasn''t sure how much more teasing he could take, but he dutifully followed along behind the centaur. The water here was shallower than the pond they bathed in last night, only coming up to his knees instead of his chest. The water was cold at first, but Brighid cast a spell, and the area around them heated up to a pleasant temperature. "Because I am being pampered," she told him, "you will be doing all the washing tonight. You may start by brushing my coat, as you did last night." She settled down into the stream, and he got to work. "So tell me, servant, how many women have you pampered in the bath?"


    "A gentleman never speaks of such things."


    "Oh, come now. I will never meet anyone you have shared time with, nor anyone who knows them, so there is no harm in bragging to me. Or are you trying to hide your inexperience? Am I your first, Aidan?" She asked coquettishly. It''s going to be a long night if she keeps this up, he thought to himself. The question is whether engaging with her will make this more tolerable or not.


    "You''re not my first, in the baths or otherwise." He eventually responded. "I''m not going to give you a number, though. You''ll just have to wonder."


    "Otherwise? Oh, but you do presume. I was only speaking of bathing, yet here you are, taking it further. Do I need to guard my virtue around you, Aidan?"


    It was time to take the offensive in this teasing war. "I assure you, your virtue is as safe as you want it to be."


    She hummed deep in her throat and shifted her weight in the water. "I will keep that in mind. Mmm, that feels good. Everyone should have a pet human around to pamper them."


    Something about the flippant way she said that tripped a switch in Aidan''s mind, and he couldn''t keep himself from asking bitterly, "Is that what I am to you? A pet to tease and amuse yourself with? I thought it was the humans who treated others as lesser species around here."


    "What? Oh, get over yourself!" She spat back, anger in her voice. "I was teasing you, the same as I have been for the last day and a half! I thought we both understood that, but if something this simple makes you lash out like that, clearly, I was wrong. Give me my brush, I will finish by myself." She rose from the water and held her hand out behind her, palm up.


    "Wait, Brighid, I¡ª"


    "Give. Me. My. Brush." She interrupted him, turning her head to glare at him. Feeling totally deflated and with a heavy weight in his stomach, Aidan handed her the brush, then watched her gallop off further up the stream and out of sight.


    Aidan mentally kicked himself. He knew she was only teasing, exactly like she said, but the intimacy of the bath changed the impact of her words. They had become surprisingly close over the short time they had traveled together, so the thought of Brighid thinking of him as a mere pet felt like a dagger to his gut, and Aidan reacted without thinking. If he''d taken half a second to consider before acting, he could have turned her teasing back on her. Instead, he might have ruined everything. Brighid sounded angrier with his overreaction than she had when he promised to pay her back for standing up to the Council.


    Morosely, he rinsed the sweat off, then waded out of the stream, collected his armor, and returned to the campsite. He ate one of the centaur trail rations while waiting for Brighid to come back so he could apologize, but after half an hour, there was no sign of her. Cold, wet, and feeling more alone than he had since arriving in the Realms, Aidan curled up on the grass, laid his head on his backpack, and thought, System: Log Out. Confirm. Blackness enveloped him.


    Daniel Stewart


    Earth


    Friday, March 10th, 2062


    Approximately 2:00 AM


    The Atlanta metropolis, USA


    Daniel''s eyes popped open as the lid of his Immersion VR rig hissed and began to open. He was starving. He quickly checked the time and date and realized that he had spent a day and a half straight in The Realms. That put the time compression at roughly 2:1, which meant that, if he didn''t decide to start over on a new character, his lunch with Eve would come just before Aidan and Brighid arrived at Ceallach Macht.


    After carefully disengaging himself from all of the safety restraints, nozzles, and tubes, he climbed out of the VR rig and made his way to his modest kitchen. Rummaging around in the pantry for a moment, Daniel grabbed a box of cheap stovetop mac-and-cheese and set a pot of water to boiling. While he grated some genuine cheese¡ªcheddar and Monterey Jack¡ªto add to the package of neon orange powder, he pulled up his emails on the kitchen monitor.


    Unsurprisingly, his inbox was full of spam. After deleting all the phishing scams and ads for "male enhancement" products, though, he was surprised to find he actually had a real email for once, from his sister.


    From: [email protected]


    To: [email protected]


    Subject: New game!


    Hey bro! This game is soooo cool! I took like an hour to make my character but I love her, she''s like a super stealthy ninja assassin. And the game world is so amazing! It feels so real! I''ve already completed two quests and gotten to level 4. I can''t wait to unlock my real class and Talents! How is your game going? Really looking forward to our lunch on Saturday!


    Love,


    Eve


    "Well, at least Eve is enjoying herself," Daniel said to himself as he dumped imitation pasta noodles into the boiling water. He stirred the pot to prevent the noodles from sticking to the bottom, then poured himself a glass of ice-cold water. The VR rig had a drip-feed system to keep the user hydrated through long sessions, but that didn''t completely eliminate the need to drink. He continued scraping the macaroni off the bottom of the pot every couple of minutes, then turned the heat off and poured the water and noodles into a colander in his sink. He allowed most of the water to drip out, then dumped them back into the pot along with the "cheese" packet and a little whole milk. He stirred that mixture for a few seconds to combine it, then dumped in the shredded cheese a few clumps at a time as he continued to mix. Voila: sticky, gooey, yummy pseudo-food.


    Daniel quickly chopped up a couple hot dogs and nuked them in the microwave, then added them to the mac-and-cheese and gave it another quick stir before scooping out the terribly unhealthy concoction onto his plate. Every time he ate this probably chopped a day off of his life, but it was quick, easy, tasted great, and, most importantly at the moment, was quite filling.


    As he ate, Daniel turned the argument with Brighid over and over in his mind. "I can''t believe I got into an argument with an NPC because she hurt my feelings. How did I even get so invested in her so quickly? It''s like when I walked out of that canyon and saw the landscape for the first time. I just feel a connection to her. That''s so incredibly weird. When I''m playing, I almost forget it''s just a video game, even when it throws those video game prompts at me. And the NPCs definitely don''t seem like NPCs. If I didn''t know better, I''d think it was an MMO. Those VIs seem more like AIs. Skynet, anyone?"


    "Fuck it," he decided, "I''m not going to restart. I don''t know what''s going on between Brighid and me, but I refuse to let it end like that, and I refuse to run away. I''ll apologize to her in the morning¡ªGod, apologizing to an NPC¡ªand if she doesn''t want to hear it, I''ll make her listen. I''ve always backed down from conflict in the game so far, but I won''t let this develop into a grudge."


    With his belly now full and determination burning away the depression which had driven him from the Realms, Daniel quickly cleaned up the kitchen. Then he took a quick shower, double-checked his emails to make sure his boss hadn''t tried to cancel his "sick leave," then restarted The Realms and climbed back into the Immersion VR apparatus. He re-affixed everything with practiced ease, then set his head into the cradle and closed his eyes.


    Aidan


    The Realms


    Unknown date (day 4)


    Early morning


    Mistvale Highlands, en route to Ceallach Macht


    Aidan¡¯s eyes sprang open. The red-gold sunrise greeted him as he sat up. Good, he thought, so the game automatically advanced time to the morning. He looked around and saw that Brighid did, in fact, return to the camp, although she was resting considerably farther from him than she had the night before. That might be partly because they were out in the open instead of being inside a cramped cave, but it also was probably a reflection of how upset she was with him. Well, no time like the present to start apologizing.


    Brighid¡¯s armor wasn¡¯t next to her in the camp, so she must have been too upset to want to lug it back from the stream. The least he could do for having upset her was to fix that. Fortunately, their campsite was only a dozen or so yards from the water, so he didn¡¯t have far to go. He carefully and quietly gathered everything up and set it down near her in the same piles Brighid had sorted it into. He, unfortunately, wasn¡¯t quiet enough, as when he returned with the chainmail, he saw her watching him with a stony expression. He carefully laid out the mail on the top of the pile with her breastplate, then walked over to his backpack.


    Reaching inside, he pulled out the Chest of Holding, then fished out a shamburger. Closing everything back up, Aidan walked back over to Brighid and held the burger out towards her. ¡°Here,¡± he said, ¡°these taste better than trail rations, and the box keeps them hot. I don¡¯t have many of them, they¡¯re a food from my homeland, but I think you¡¯ll like it. Please, go ahead and eat it while I talk. I owe you an apology.¡±


    Brighid eyed the burger warily, and Aidan saw her nostrils flare as she smelled it, but she did reach out and take it from him. He turned to the side, so he wasn¡¯t watching her eat, and began to talk. ¡°I have always had problems making friends. I don¡¯t open up to people readily, and I get uncomfortable around large groups of people. Where I come from, that¡¯s a recipe for a lonely life. To add to that, I have a family history of depression. I don¡¯t know if you know what that is, and you almost certainly don''t call it that. Basically, my mind sometimes decides that I¡¯m too happy and tries to ruin everything. I¡¯ll grow sad or lonely or both, with absolutely no reason for it, and if it comes on suddenly when I¡¯m with other people, it can cause me to lash out to protect myself. After all, clearly, those people are who are making me sad, not my stupid brain.¡±


    He paused a minute, ordering his thoughts, then continued, ¡°I enjoyed myself last night, right up until I went stupid on you. I kind of dread your teasing, but only because you¡¯re so good at it. You frustrate and fascinate me. I can¡¯t quite get a handle on what I am to you. When you teased me about being a pet last night, somehow, my head took that as the gospel truth even though any fucking idiot could tell you were joking. It hurt, so I reacted before I had a chance to think, and I said something awful about you that you in no way deserved. I¡¯m sorry, Brighid. I can usually control the depression, but it ambushed me last night. I¡¯m not the easiest person to get along with, I¡¯m afraid. I hope I didn¡¯t ruin everything between us.¡±


    He didn¡¯t look over at her; there was still a tiny bit of depression lurking in his head, and it wanted him to run away. It was a struggle merely to tell her what he had and to stay still for her response. He heard her shift her weight and steeled himself for rejection, so when she embraced him from behind and rested her chin on his shoulder, he stiffened in surprise. ¡°We call it the drowning-thought disease, because those who suffer from it feel like they are being dragged down into the darkest depths of their minds. Most of those who suffer from it end up killing themselves when they become lost in those dark thoughts. Is it the same in your homeland?" She asked softly, her breath whispering past his ear.


    He nodded jerkily, tears coming to his eyes. "Yes. Thankfully none among my family, but it''s very common. I have occasional thoughts that way, but so far, I''ve always managed to fight it off, and I''ve never seriously considered it."


    Brighid squeezed him tightly, then pressed her lips to his shoulder at the base of his neck, sending a shiver down his spine. "Do not let those thoughts take you with them, Aidan." She murmured. He felt her lips, still pressed against his skin, curl into a smile. "As you are my pet, I forbid it." Completely unexpectedly, two prompts blinked into existence.


    He choked out a laugh, which turned into sobs as the emotions he had been bottling up poured out of him. He turned around in Brighid''s embrace, burying his head against her neck and hugging her back just as tightly as she hugged him. Brighid continued to hold him and stroke his hair tenderly until his tears dried and he got his breathing under control. Aidan took a half step back, and Brighid slid her hands from his back to his waist to give him room. He looked up at her and saw that her eyes were reddened and her cheeks wet. Then he saw that the upper slopes of her bare breasts, which hadn''t even registered to him until now, were covered in tears and snot. His gaze returned to hers, and he said wryly, "I''m afraid it looks like I''ve made a mess all over you."


    Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she responded, "You coated my breasts with slime, and neither of us had a good time making it happen. I do not know that I will be able to recommend you to my girlfriends if you keep that up."


    Aidan thought about responding, What if I''m only interested in you? but shied away from it at the last moment. Instead, he suggested, "How about we both go to the stream, and I give you the pampering that I still owe you? I made the mess, so I should be the one to clean it up."


    "If only other men shared that particular thought!" She laughed. "I will take you up on your kind offer. Pray, lead the way. I want to have a chance to watch your behind for once." She laughed again at the startled expression that drew from him. "Go on, I will fetch the soap and brush and meet you down by the water. I promise to ogle you only as much as you have me."


    "Well, that isn''t much of a restriction," Aidan admitted with a chuckle. He caught her hand as she let it fall from his waist and gave it a squeeze, then turned and walked towards the stream. He did his best to put an extra wiggle in his step for her.


    "Exactly!" Came Brighid''s giggling reply.


    Zurai

 Chosen, Chapter 14: Rendezvous at Dawn

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Unknown date (day 4)


    Early morning


    Mistvale Highlands, en route to Ceallach Macht


    "What was that food you gave me?" Brighid asked him a few minutes later when she joined him in the stream. "It was very odd, like nothing I have had before. It was good, though; you were right."


    "That, my lady," Aidan grinned at her, "is called a hamburger! It is one of the finest foods ever to be invented in my homeland. The meat from the shoulder of a cow is ground up, then formed into a thin circular patty. That is then seasoned¡ªevery cook has their own idea of what spices to use¡ªand fried on a hot griddle or grilled. Once cooked to the desired doneness, it is placed between two discs of light bread and topped with various sauces and vegetables. Terrible for your health, usually, but the ones I was left with are magic, and my Analyze informs me that they''re actually healthy. They''re also supposed to function as a full day''s worth of food."


    "And how many more of those do you have? I need to know whether I should be upset that you have not shared before now."


    "Unfortunately, I only have two left now. I hope you appreciate what a sacrifice that was!" Brighid handed Aidan a rough bar of soap and her scrubbing brush before she settled down into the stream.


    "Indeed," she acknowledged gravely, "a worthy peace offering. I insist that you teach me how to make one when we return to the village. We do not have any cows, but I am sure we can find a suitable replacement." She started to wash her hands in the water to get the grease off of them, but Aidan stopped her.


    "My lady, what are you doing? Have you already forgotten that you are here to be pampered? Please, I insist that you refrain from doing any work yourself!" He tucked the brush under his elbow, then lathered his hands. Aidan looked around for somewhere to set the soap down. After a moment of indecision, he got a bright idea and brought his tail around until the flanged tip pressed between his belly and hip. He set the soap down in the makeshift soapdish and was quite satisfied with his solution.


    Turning back to Brighid, Aidan took her right hand in his. He diligently scrubbed away the burger grease, rubbing the pad of his thumb firmly across her palm and between her splayed fingers. She had calluses on her pointer finger and middle finger and across the upper parts of her palm. Everywhere else, though, her skin was surprisingly soft for a warrior and blacksmith. He dipped their hands into the water to rinse them, then re-applied soap and switched to her left hand. She had fewer calluses there, and they were on her thumb and towards the bottom of her palm.


    "Someone has trained you well," Brighid said, interrupting his thoughts. "I would not expect a man from somewhere without communal baths to be so attentive."


    "I did tell you that you weren''t my first," Aidan reminded her and moved on to her arms, starting again with her right side. This time he was less surprised by what he found; naturally, a blacksmith would have a well-muscled upper body.


    "Did you leave a lover behind when you were brought here?" She asked, gently probing.


    Aidan shook his head. "No, my last relationship didn''t work out. We mutually decided to stop seeing each other about a year ago." He finished washing her arms and shoulders and moved around behind her to start on her back. He had to gather her hair up and lift it over her shoulder to spill down her chest first, though.


    "And in a year, you found no one else?"


    "I told you that I don''t make friends easily. That is doubly true for romantic relationships. I''ve been told that I''m too high-maintenance. When I fall in love, I want to spend most of my time with the one I''m in love with. Most of the women back home prefer to be more independent than that, at least at the start of the relationship." Aidan ran his hands up and down Brighid''s well-muscled back, doing more than was strictly necessary to ensure she was clean.


    "I can understand the desire to have time to one''s self, but surely a man as attractive as you could find someone with a similar attitude to your own?" She was watching him over her shoulder but gave no indication that she objected to his extended touching.


    "I''m not that attractive," Aidan demurred. "Regardless, I''m sure there was someone who would have been perfect for me; the problem was finding her. Between my dislike of crowds, and my depression making rejection more painful, I didn''t spend a lot of time looking. I think I''ll do your hair next; don''t want to put dirty hair on your nice clean back. Then I''d have to wash it again!"


    "That would be such a shame," Brighid murmured, but obligingly bent her head and let her hair fall forward so that he could pour water from his cupped hands over it. Her thick vermillion tresses turned a dark burgundy color as they got wet. Aidan didn''t want to use the soap on her hair, so instead, he alternated combing gently with his fingers, working carefully to untangle knots, and pouring more water over her head. Once he was satisfied that her hair was as clean as he was likely to get it, he worked it into a simple three-plait braid and brought it back over her shoulder.


    Seeing Brighid''s curious look, Aidan explained, "I have a little sister. She was always begging me to braid her hair. I had to learn how out of self-defense. Actually, I would never tell her this, but I enjoyed it. We were always close, and our nightly braiding session was a chance for us to spend time together. Anyway, it''s time to wash your front. If I may?"


    Brighid rotated her shoulders and arched her back slightly, thrusting her breasts towards him. She smiled devilishly at him and said, "I look forward to it. Wash away!" Her nipples were hard, whether from excitement or from the water cooling her skin.


    Subverting her obvious expectation, Aidan started with Brighid''s neck, working the soap into her skin with his thumbs in a massage-like technique. He brought his cupped hands up and poured water over her chest, watching the suds cascade over and between her peaks, then slid his hands down past them to her belly. He lathered up again, then firmly scrubbed her abs and down to what would be a human woman''s groin. Brighid, though, just had more firm muscle all the way down to where his hands reached the start of her coat. He counted her abs with his fingers as he washed her; she had ten firm abdominal muscles rippling under her skin.


    He washed the soap from her skin again, then made to walk around to her flank and start scrubbing. Brighid''s hand shot out and grabbed his wrist, gently but firmly. "Ahem," she cleared her throat. "I believe you have missed a spot, Aidan." He peered at her with a look of faux confusion and looked her up and down. She reached up and cupped her breasts, bouncing them with her hands to draw his attention.


    "Ohhh," he breathed. "Before, you told me that you would not need my help with those. I can scrub them for you, though, if you insist." It was fun being on the giving end of the teasing game for once.


    Brighid narrowed her eyes at him, and her nose flared in a snort. "I do insist. Do your job, pet."


    "Of course, my lady, as you say." He ran the soap through his hands, building up a thick layer of suds. Then, he locked his eyes on hers as he brought his palms to her breasts. He had been too surprised and uncomfortable to appreciate the experience the first night, but now he had the time to feel their weight and press his fingers into their softness. Somehow, he''d expected Brighid''s breasts to be as firm as the rest of her, even though he''d seen how much they bounced and jiggled. That wasn''t the case at all; her bosom was luxuriantly soft and supple.


    Brighid closed her eyes halfway and bit her bottom lip as Aidan massaged the soap into her chest. As much as part of Aidan wanted to see exactly how far he could go with this, he also needed to pay her back for how much she had teased him over the last few days. He paid careful attention to her reactions, washing her thoroughly but only lingering long enough to light the embers of her arousal without letting the flame grow hot enough to consume them both.


    Brighid''s breathing quickly grew heavy and, when Aidan withdrew his hands to rinse her off, she made a desperate mewling sound and started kneading her own breasts. Aidan clicked his tongue in annoyance and barked at her in his best commanding voice, "None of that, now! Arms at your side. You gave me the assignment of washing and pampering you, and I haven''t finished yet." Brighid''s eyes turned fiery at his tone, but she obeyed.


    He scooped water over her breasts, watching with pleasure as Brighid''s ample breasts and hard nipples were revealed clearly to him again. He locked his eyes on hers as he lightly drew one finger from the side of her neck to her collarbone, back and forth over the upper slopes of her breasts, then into the valley between them. Her unblinking gaze grew increasingly intense as his finger looped back around under her bust and spiraled upward and inward towards her stiff nipple.


    The beautiful centaur inhaled as Aidan gradually closed in on his target, subtly pushing her bosom against his touch. A low, moaning growl rumbled deep in her throat, growing louder as the anticipation grew. Right as Aidan''s fingertip caressed the edge of Brighid''s areola, however, he stopped, finger still making a tiny dent in her skin, and said, "All clean!" The growl escaped Brighid''s throat then, and Aidan could see the muscles in her neck and shoulder tense. He stared her down for several seconds until she shuddered and stepped back a half-step, removing herself from temptation.


    Aidan mentally dismissed the prompts and smiled approvingly at Brighid, which just seemed to make her eyes blaze hotter somehow, then withdrew the scrubbing brush from where he had been holding it against his body. "Now, to scrub the rest of you. Gotta get that fur nice and clean and shiny."


    As Aidan scrubbed Brighid''s back and flanks, the tension slowly left her muscles, and her breathing returned to normal. He wasn''t done teasing her, however, and once he finished cleaning the sides of her rump, he tucked the brush back into his armpit and very carefully rested his palm flat against her fur right above her tail. Brighid inhaled sharply, and the muscles near his hand spasmed, but she did not react otherwise.


    "I would be remiss if I were to leave your lovely tail unwashed, don''t you think?" He asked her, this time actually seeking permission.


    "You did say you would wash me¡ªall over," Brighid whispered just loudly enough for him to hear her over the quiet burble of the stream.


    Aidan stroked her gently in reply, then swiftly soaped up his hands. The hair of her tail was much coarser than on her head and probably dirtier; he wasn''t as concerned about using the soap on it. He rubbed the lather into the base of her tail, then carefully slipped his hand under and encircled it with his fingers, gently lifting it high enough for him to work on. Brighid inhaled again as she felt him lift her tail up, but no reprimand came.


    He combed the fingers of his other hand through the coarse hair, stopping whenever he encountered a knot to gently work it free. Once he felt he had all the tangles untangled, he began working the soap into Brighid''s tail with both hands. His knuckles dragged across wetness that wasn''t caused by the water as he worked, and Brighid''s breath quickly grew shallow and ragged. Aidan poured water over her rear and ran his fingers through her tail-hair again and again until no soap remained.


    He lathered up his hands again, then lifted her tail up and to the side, exposing her nethers to him and drawing a throaty moan from Brighid. She shifted her stance, raising her rump and very slightly spreading her rear legs. Her equine lower body didn''t afford her as much lateral movement as a humanoid body would, but Brighid expressed her permission just as clearly as any human woman.


    Aidan pressed his hands onto the firm muscles of her butt and spread his thumbs out to the side, then bent his fingers into claws and pressed firmly into Brighid''s fur as he drew them downwards. His thumbs passed around the base of her tail, then pressed lightly against her rear passage before stroking along her nether lips. Brighid''s hips moved against his hands, increasing the pressure, but Aidan didn''t linger. His palms continued past her most sensitive areas until they slid between her legs and onto the rearmost part of her underbelly.


    Aidan scooped water into his cupped palms, then poured it over the top of her rump again. He repeated the motion to be sure all the soap was cleaned away, then extended one finger and circled it around the base of her tail from top to bottom. Brighid moaned in anticipation and lifted her hips up out of the water even more, practically presenting herself to him. Aidan rewarded her eagerness by stroking his finger slowly, oh so slowly, downwards. It passed directly over her asshole, pressing firmly but gently on its way, then down and between her plump outer lips. He didn''t push hard enough to fully penetrate her, but he could feel the heat of her arousal, and her wetness clung to him.


    When his fingertip reached the fold of flesh at the bottom of her vagina, he couldn''t help himself. He sought out her hardened clitoris and circled it with his oily fingertip once, twice, a third time. Brighid''s voice rose in pleasure and she thrust back at him, desperately seeking more stimulation. Before she could reach a crescendo, however, he pulled his hand back.


    The flame-haired warrior groaned and slapped the water in frustration, but her complaints cut off abruptly as he raised up on his knees and leaned forward, pressing his erection against her rump. She remained utterly still and silent for two heartbeats, then, slowly, hesitantly, maneuvered her hips until his hardness was sandwiched between her lower lips and rubbing against her clit.


    Aidan grabbed her rump with both hands, sinking his fingers into her dense muscles, and rolled his hips. She immediately answered the motion, pushing back against him even as her head dropped forward. After only a couple seconds, Brighid was gasping for breath. She raised her hands to her breasts again, but before she could do more than grab herself, and without thinking it through, Aidan raised his right hand, brought it down sharply on her ass, and snarled at her, "Hands! Down!"


    Brighid cried out loudly, but to Aidan''s surprise, it was a lustful sound, not a pained or angry one, and she locked her hands together behind her back. Her counter-thrusts grew immediately more frantic, and he thrust three more times against her, hard and fast, then abruptly stood up. Brighid continued to push backwards for a moment before her brain caught up to the action, then she turned her torso and neck to glare at him.


    "Damnit!" She growled at him. "Why did you stop?!"


    Aidan spanked her again and scolded her, "Because the goal is to clean you up, not make you dirty, which is what another ten seconds of that would have caused. Now stand up like a good girl and let me finish."


    The centauress continued to look at him with burning green eyes, her breasts heaving with her heavy breaths, for several seconds before turning back around and standing up. Deciding that teasing her much more might be bad for his continued health, Aidan knelt down beside her and began gently scrubbing her underbelly with the brush. He carefully avoided the rearmost part of her underside¡ªafter all, he already "washed" that earlier. After that, he scrubbed her legs down, then patted her on the flank.


    "Alright, milady, you''re all clean. I hope this humble servant''s service was adequate."


    Brighid turned around to face him, then stepped forward so that her nipples were just brushing against his chest. She stared at him, then licked her lips. She cupped the back of his head and leaned down to bring her mouth to his. She held the kiss for several heartbeats, then withdrew and tilted her head to press her forehead against his. Her viridian eyes bored into his from that short distance, and he nearly lost himself in their depths. There was a well of emotions there so deep that it took his breath away, and that time it was Aidan who raised up and pressed a kiss to Brighid''s lips.


    When they separated again a moment later, Brighid murmured to him, "I take it back. I am definitely not going to recommend you to my girlfriends. You would spoil them rotten with this style of pampering."


    "Does that mean milady intends to keep me for herself?" He murmured back.


    "For now," she said with a haughty air. "Who knows when I might receive a better offer?" Then she smiled at him. Another set of prompts crowded his sight, and Aidan quickly reviewed them while Brighid turned and started to walk back towards the shore.


    Aidan immediately checked his character sheet, but he was still level 2. How did Eve get to level 4 so fast? He wondered. She must have gotten into a lot of fights, or combat gives a lot more experience than social situations do. Shaking his head and resolving to ask his sister when he logged out next, he quickly finished washing Brighid, then splashed his face with water and followed the centaur back to their camp. A few minutes of clothing and armoring themselves later, and they were once more on their way.


    Zurai

 Chosen, Chapter 15: The Foolhardy are Bathed in Blood

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Unknown date (day 4)


    Late morning


    Mistvale Highlands, en route to Ceallach Macht


    Aidan and Brighid were both quieter than usual during their northward trek. For his part, Aidan was puzzling over his relationship with Brighid, trying to make sense of things. Even if he disregarded the fact that she was, at best, an AI, it still confused him how comfortable he felt with her after such a short time. Aidan hadn''t been lying when he told Brighid that he had difficulties making friends; it usually took him quite a while to feel relaxed around a new person. The redheaded centaur, however, seemed to know exactly what was needed to draw him out of his shell.


    He considered that for a long time. Yes, Brighid was stunningly beautiful, at least her upper body, and he was coming around to the fact that she was part-horse. That didn''t truly make a big difference to him, though. Physical beauty was undoubtedly welcome, and he would have found a human woman with Brighid''s body and features immensely sexually attractive back on Earth. That said, he cared much more about how he and his partner interacted. There had to be an emotional connection between them to attract Aidan''s interest. Somehow, he felt that connection with Brighid.


    She teased him in just the right ways and just the right amount to engage him mentally and make him want to tease her back. It would be incredibly easy to overdo the teasing or to do it cruelly or thoughtlessly, but she came off as earnest and flirtatious instead. She was simultaneously a warrior, a noble, and an essential craftswoman, yet nothing she did or said made Aidan think he mattered to her any less than members of her tribe. Any of those three lifestyles could easily have given her an attitude or a superiority complex, nevermind that he was a foreigner, but Brighid was one of the most down-to-earth people he had met. At least, she was once he graduated from "human" to "Aidan". Even when Aidan had been "human", though, she had still treated him civilly and confronted her mother and the rest of the governing body of her tribe in part because she felt they were mistreating him.


    That all taken into account, however, Aidan would have had massive doubts about what Brighid thought about him if it weren''t for the relationship prompts. He wasn''t entirely sure how he felt about those. They almost seemed like cheating. On the one hand, having indisputable independent confirmation of her feelings made him much more secure in his feelings towards her. On the other hand, it made the relationship feel cheaper somehow, as if he was only selecting the correct dialogue choices to cause a linear relationship meter to increase. It forced him to confront that he was falling for a video game character.


    Aidan scowled as his thoughts spun around and around in his head. He made himself stop brooding on his companion before his good mood soured further and decided to soak in the natural beauty of the Highlands instead. He looked up and surveyed the hills around him, which was the only reason he saw the monster charging at him in time to let out a startled yelp and dodge to the side. The dog-sized creature only managed to clip him, but even that was enough to spin Aidan around and send him sprawling face-down into the grass.


    He rolled over onto his back just in time to see the thing pounce at him again. There was no way to dodge, and his sword was knocked away by the first collision, so all Aidan could do was try to grab the creature as it leaped for his throat. The impact as it slammed into his outstretched hands jammed his elbows into the ground and nearly made him lose his grip, but his adrenaline had kicked in. He gripped tight onto damp, matted fur, and did his best to keep his opponent''s rat-like snout full of needle-sharp teeth away from him.


    Whatever the monster was, it was nearly as strong as Aidan and must have weighed at least fifty pounds. He struggled desperately with it, pushing it back as it scrabbled for purchase on his breastplate and trying to divert its frenzied lunges away from his face and neck. Without his weapon, he could only hope to survive long enough for Brighid to rescue him¡ªor so he thought until he remembered he could cast Flame Jet from his hands. He shifted his grip, grabbing it under its neck with his left hand and heaving upwards to push it away from him even as he began chanting the words to the spell and gesturing with his right hand.


    Unfortunately, that made Aidan an easy target for the second rat-beast, which bit down onto his free hand just as he began to cast. The pain nearly made him lose concentration on his spellcasting, but adrenaline and desperation gave him enough focus to shriek out the last word and twist his hand into the required gesture despite the rat-thing clinging to it. Immediately, the monster above him screamed and tried to jerk away from him, but Aidan refused to let it go for the agonizingly long two seconds it took for the fire to catch in its fur. Then he threw it away from him and immediately turned the magical flames on the oversized rat trying to tear his hand off at the wrist. The fire struck it right between its eyes, and its jaws released him as it, too, screamed in pain and staggered away.


    Aidan rolled to his feet and prepared to cast the spell again, but suddenly Brighid was there, her glaive sweeping past him in a gleaming arc to decapitate the rat he had just driven off, and then spinning around to impale the one frantically trying to extinguish itself. Aidan spun on his heel, left hand raised defensively, already starting to cast Flame Jet again, his head whipping back and forth, scanning for targets. His right hand he cradled against his abdomen, trying to ignore the searing pain and the feeling of his hot blood oozing between his fingers and down his wrist.


    Aidan relaxed when no more monsters jumped at him. He looked down at his injured hand and cursed. Blood covered every inch of skin, and he could see the glint of white bone in more than one of the deep gashes. To make matters worse, looking at it brought the pain to the forefront of his mind, and Aidan wobbled on his feet, suddenly lightheaded.


    Brighid caught him by the armpits as he started to fall and carefully lowered him to the ground. She poured water from her waterskin over his hand, making Aidan hiss in pain, and said, "Damn it, that is a nasty injury. I can stop the bleeding, but you might lose the use of your hand entirely. Fire Magic is not well-suited to healing. Do you have anything that might work better than me cauterizing the wound?"


    "Maybe," Aidan grunted, fighting back the urge to scream and curse. "I have one Life Magic spell, but it only fixes minor wounds."


    Brighid groaned and confirmed his suspicion by saying, "That is no Minor Wound. Alright, this is going to hurt. I am sorry for that."


    "Wait!" He gasped out before she could cast her spell. "I also have healing potions in my backpack, in the box. Let me try one of those first."


    Brighid reached into his backpack and pulled out the Chest of Holding then opened it. "What?" She sounded terribly confused. "It is empty, Aidan. Did you hit your head as well? I cannot do anything if you have a concussion!"


    "Just give it here," he ground out through clenched teeth. "It''s magical, dunno if it''ll work for you." With an anxious expression on her face, Brighid set the open chest on Aidan''s stomach. He reached inside and selected one of the healing potions, causing Brighid to gasp in surprise when he pulled it out of nothingness. He fumbled with the cork stopper for a moment, then poured the syrupy concoction into his mouth. As its description promised, it tasted like cherry soda.


    Almost immediately, a cooling sensation flooded Aidan''s body and concentrated on his hand. He watched, fascinated, as the deep gouges in his skin started to close. They didn''t seal up entirely, however. After a few seconds, the chill left his hand, and what had moments ago been ragged bone-deep wounds were now angry red tears in his skin. He was still bleeding, but it was a trickle now, and real-world experience told him that they would scab over within an hour or so.


    "Try your spell now. Minor Wounds are not anything to worry about, but if you have the means to fix it, you may as well." Brighid suggested. Lacking any counter-argument or any reason to argue, for that matter, Aidan began to cast. A marbled green-and-gold aura surrounded his hands for the ten seconds of chanting. Then, it streamed into the cuts, and within five seconds, everything was back to normal. There wasn''t even any lingering pain. He marveled as his newly-unblemished skin for a moment, then his adrenaline crashed, and he fell to his knees, trembling.


    This isn''t supposed to hurt so much! Aidan thought to himself. That should have felt like a sprain or a bad bruise; IVR pain transmission is strictly regulated. There''s no way the devs don''t know about this. What the fuck? He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up to see Brighid''s sympathetic face.


    "First combat?" She asked, not unkindly. "And first dangerous Wound, I would bet."


    Aidan nodded, still shivering. "What were those things? They look like dire rats." They resembled rats the size of a Collie or other dog on the smaller side of large, except that shark-like teeth filled their mouths, and a series of diamond-shaped boney plates lined their spines.


    "That is as good a name for them as any," Brighid agreed. "We call them Argyl Rattoks. They are pack hunters, but not as intelligent as wolves. That is both a blessing and a curse, for wolves would never have attacked us, but the rattoks focused most of their attention on me because they are attracted to shiny objects." Aidan looked and, sure enough, there were seven or eight rattok corpses scattered around in the grass ahead of him.


    "I am sorry, Aidan, twice over. First, because I was too absorbed in my thoughts to notice them sneaking up on us, and second, because I should have formed a party with you before now. I can, at least, correct that second mistake." A window popped up in Aidan''s vision.


    He hit the Accept button, and instantly a small panel appeared at the corner of his vision displaying Brighid''s name and Health, Stamina, and Concentration bars. He could also feel her direction and distance from him, which was a strange sensation.


    "If I had done that earlier, as I should have, you would have received 750 experience from that fight instead of 200. Losing that experience would not affect me, but an extra level might mean the difference between life and death for you." She sounded almost morose.


    "It will be alright," Aidan tried to reassure her, shakily climbing to his feet. "You''ve corrected your error, and I took no lasting damage. Besides, I was just as distracted by my thoughts as you were, and I would bet you a kiss against my remaining healing potions that both of us were thinking similar thoughts. I think we need to talk." He winced internally at saying those particular words.


    Brighid studied him for a moment, then sighed and nodded. "You are right, we do. But let us talk as we clean ourselves off; we have already lost enough time today."


    "Before we do that, is there any value to these rattok corpses? Bone plates for armor, that sort of thing?"


    Brighid shook her head. "The bone crests have some value, but mostly because they are time-consuming to remove. They are part of the creatures'' spines."


    Aidan nodded. "Yeah, I can see how that would be a pain. Alright, I just didn''t want to leave anything valuable behind. I don''t exactly have any marketable Skills unless you know some centaur women incredibly desperate for sex."


    "Have I not already told you?" Brighid teased him. "I refuse to recommend you to my friends. Now, stop delaying and come on." She suited action to words and headed to the creek.


    They did their best to clean the blood off, although Brighid''s gleaming mail didn''t need any help. Aidan had to scrub his armor several times, and even then, the blood had soaked into the leather, leaving discolored splotches. At least Brighid had similar problems with the wood of her glaive. Contrary to Brighid''s announcement that they would talk as they cleaned, though, neither of them spoke. Aidan took the time to glance at the new prompts which had appeared during the fighting and the immediate aftermath.


    Finally, after their journey resumed, Brighid broke the silence. "This morning..." she started, then hesitated before continuing, "you could have mounted me. I would not have stopped you; at the time, I wanted you to, desperately. Now, I do not know what to think. Were you only toying with me? I do not understand why you would stop when there was a naked, aroused, willing female right in front of you. Is it because I am a beastkin? I could feel your arousal, though..."


    Aidan sighed and corralled his thoughts before responding. "First, it has very little to do with your race. I do confess to a degree of performance anxiety; after all, I am nowhere near the proportions of a horse."


    Brighid snorted and interrupted him. "That is not a problem; neither are centaurs, and thank Braihan for that. Believe me, you measure up quite well."


    "Well, that''s a relief, I suppose. Brighid, you are stunningly beautiful. All of you, not just your human-like parts. I know I was unbearably rude when we first met but seeing you completely scrambled my brain. I have never been as sexually attracted to anyone as I am to you. You are also one of the very few of your people who treated me like an actual person rather than a giant pile of shit that fell out of the sky."


    He inhaled deeply then let out his breath in another sigh. "I just don''t know where I stand. I don''t know if what I feel for you is real or just a result of the mix of sexual attraction, your unusual friendliness, and being alone with you for an extended period. I don''t know if you feel the same sorts of things for me that I feel for you. I don''t know if, should we become lovers, your people would accept it or if we would have to hide our relationship. I don''t know if a relationship with you is something that could last long-term. In short, I am conflicted. Also, I should add, the very fact that you said that you wanted me in the heat of the moment but weren''t sure now means that you maybe weren''t willing, just overly aroused."


    Brighid didn''t respond for so long that Aidan was worried he had genuinely upset her. Eventually, though, she let out a sigh of her own. "You think too much, and you are making me think too much. Now I have to consider all of your doubts and add them to my confusion." She growled and kicked a small stone with one of her forelegs. "Why does it have to be complicated? I am a female; you are a male. I allowed you to touch me, play with my body, and lift my tail. Let the questions answer themselves."


    She groaned and shook her head. "I am not used to considering all of the consequences. If I want to do something, I do it. If I do not, I do not. I have never wanted to be mounted the way I did earlier, but your words make me wonder if I would have regretted it afterward. Your touch enflamed me beyond reason and sense, and I was not thinking clearly. Do not mistake me, Aidan, I have grown to care for you. You are a friend, more than a friend; part of me craves your touch even now. But you are right; we do not know each other very well."


    She hesitated a moment. "I propose an arrangement: for the duration of the way to Ceallach Macht, we will both refrain from inflaming the other''s arousal. I will not tease you with my body, and our baths will be kept strictly functional. You will keep your magic hands to yourself. However, we should try to learn more about each other. I ... desire to be closer to you, Aidan, but I want to do it the right way instead of charging blindly, for once. Are you ..." She swallowed, then tried again. "Is that acceptable to you?"


    Aidan sought out her hand and held it in his, squeezing softly. "It is. I would be happy to learn more about you and, hopefully, become much closer. I hope you do not mind if I spend a few minutes to myself after our baths, however. I am still not used to sharing a bath with someone so gorgeous."


    "Yes," Brighid agreed solemnly, squeezing his hand back. "It would be wise of you to keep your sword well-polished; you might need to use it one day soon."


    Aidan chuckled and shook his head to himself. She only promised not to tease him with her body, after all, and he did leave the door wide open for her.


    Zurai

 Chosen, Chapter 16: A New World Fool

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Unknown date (day 4)


    Mid-afternoon


    Mistvale Highlands, en route to Ceallach Macht


    Brighid and Aidan spent the rest of the day learning about each other. They discussed everything they could think of, from light-hearted to solemn. Aidan''s favorite colors were blue and silver; Brighid''s was forest green, and not, somewhat surprisingly to Aidan, any shade of red. "Everyone expects that, but really, I am red enough as it is! I could never wear anything red on top of all this," she explained, gesturing to her hair and fur. Brighid extolled the virtues of glamorry, a salad made from a mix of local vegetables and topped with cheese and thinly-sliced meat; Aidan countered by explaining the clear superiority of pizza, which Brighid made him promise to cook for her. Aidan talked about growing up with a little sister, which had been a delight and an ordeal as they both aged. Brighid, an only child, instead shared her feelings growing up watching her mother become colder and more distant by the year as her responsibilities on the Council weighed on her. That, in turn, prompted Aidan to open up more about the ways depression had affected his life.


    The conversation didn''t always flow smoothly, and there were periods of silence as they both mentally digested new information and sorted out their thoughts. Still, by the time they made camp for the night, they were chatting easily with each other. They quickly set up their minimal camp, then talked some more while they ate their trail rations.


    Aidan was still holding secrets back, and he was reasonably sure Brighid noticed his evasiveness when she asked about his home. What the hell, it''s just a game, and I''m supposed to test it anyway. Let''s see how she takes this, he thought to himself, then spoke aloud. "You''ve been very polite not to press too hard about where I''m from, and I appreciate that. I kept it a secret from the scouts who found me and from the Council when they questioned me because I didn''t want to complicate things or make myself sound crazy. The truth is, Brighid, I''m not from this world at all."


    She nibbled on her food for a few moments before responding thoughtfully. "Not ... from this world? Hmmm." She gave him a piercing look. "And the world you come from, it operates on different rules than here, does it not?"


    Aidan blinked in surprise. "Very different. How did you know?"


    Brighid smirked and explained, "I have never heard of a level one adult before. Even young children receive quests, level Skills, gain friendship experience, and so on, and level two does not take that much effort to attain. I was quite curious how¡ªand why¡ªyou had managed it. This explanation actually makes more sense than you somehow avoiding earning any experience for twenty or more years."


    He shook his head ruefully. "I didn''t even consider that. Shit, that''s obvious enough that Lail, her patrol, and the Council have to be wondering the same thing. I''m surprised none of the Councillors asked me about it."


    Brighid grimaced. "I am becoming increasingly sure that there are considerations beyond the obvious involved in the Council''s decision. Mother certainly did not overlook or ignore that information. It must have factored into her plan, but I cannot understand how. On the surface, it very much appears that you are being sent to your death, but I will not believe that she has grown so cold as that."


    Aidan slipped one arm around Brighid''s waist and gave her a hug. She leaned into it, sighing, and Aidan assured her, "I am sure she knows what she is doing. If they just wanted me dead, there were much less complicated ways of accomplishing that, even if they wanted deniability. There must be a purpose to all of this, we simply can''t see it yet. And besides, I have no intention of dying. After all, who would indulge you if I did?"


    Brighid laughed and pushed him away. Aidan exaggerated his reaction, falling over in a sprawl on the grassy ground and groaning in pretend shock and pain. "Betrayed! By my closest companion! What a world, what a world!"


    The centaur giggled at his antics, then gracefully rose to her feet. She bent down, grabbed Aidan, and effortlessly lifted him up and over her shoulder. He yelped in surprise as he suddenly found himself staring at Brighid''s coppery fur from above, and his tail instinctively wrapped itself around her waist for balance and support. He was too startled to say anything as she walked over to a level patch of ground. He knew Brighid was stronger than him, but the casual way she picked him up and the complete lack of any sign of exertion made him realize just how big the difference was.


    A moment later, she lifted him back up off her shoulder and set him gently on his two feet. "Tonight, we are going to work on your Light Armor and Evasion skills. After all, you have already declared me a traitor, so I may as well rough you up a little," Brighid told him with a smirk and a gleam in her eyes. "Your job," she continued as she put some space between them and pulled out her glaive, "is to make this entertaining for me."


    Aidan


    The Realms


    Unknown date (day 4)


    Evening


    Mistvale Highlands, en route to Ceallach Macht


    An hour and a half later found both of them relaxing in the stream, letting the refreshing water soothe their aches away. Or, at least, Aidan was; Brighid hadn''t even been breathing hard by the time she announced the end to the evening''s training. She had worked him over almost nonstop, alternating between smacking him with the flat of her blade and pointing out all of the openings he was giving her. She hadn''t been cruel, but she was a hard taskmistress, only giving him just enough time to recover most of his breath before resuming the demonstrations.


    In fairness to her methods, Aidan gained several Skill levels in that short time (three each in Evasion and Light Armor), and while his muscles ached, he didn''t think he would be bruised come the morning. At the very least, his status screen didn''t display any Wounds and only a handful of lost Health. He shook his head and, groaning, stood up to make his way over to where Brighid was washing her hair. He paused for a moment to admire her profile, then coughed to draw her attention and asked, "Would you like some help scrubbing your back again, Brighid?"


    She twisted towards him and smiled. Aidan had to wrangle his tired brain into keeping his eyes on her face, and quipped, "I thought you weren''t going to tease me with your body anymore?"


    "I am not," Brighid said primly. "You are teasing you with my body. I am just enabling you." She was right, he had to admit to himself. "And yes, thank you, Aidan. Remember our agreement, though; keep those magic hands to yourself." She paused for half a breath, then added with a teasing lilt, "Your eyes can roam wherever they would like, though."


    "Of course, milady, only a mild pampering tonight. We wouldn''t want you to grow too spoiled just yet." He teased back and fetched the brush from a nearby flat-topped rock. Despite the teasing, however, they were mentally exhausted from the stressful day, and their bathing went by without further incident.


    Once they returned to camp and Brighid set up her warming and warding spells, though, she surprised him by asking, "Would you like to sleep with me tonight?" Seeing his startled reaction, she snorted and clarified, "Sleep, Aidan. Surely you find neither your backpack nor the hard ground comfortable. Why not rest your back and head against my flank? I promise not to molest you in your sleep. Much."


    "Frankly, I''m so tired right now that you probably wouldn''t get anywhere even if you did," Aidan replied wryly. "Anyway, thank you. As long as it doesn''t make you uncomfortable, I would love to sleep with you."


    It took them a few moments of shifting around to find a position that made them both comfortable, but eventually, they settled in for the night with Aidan propped up against Brighid''s side just behind her foreleg. He stuffed his rolled-up backpack behind the small of his back, then sought out Brighid''s hand and tangled his fingers with hers. He looked up at the star-filled sky for a long, peaceful moment, then closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.


    Aidan


    The Realms


    Unknown date (day 5)


    Morning


    Mistvale Highlands, en route to Ceallach Macht


    The next day progressed in much the same vein as the afternoon before it. Now that Brighid was read in on Aidan''s extraterrestrial origin, he pumped her for information on the world in general and the system that characterized people in The Realms.


    "I am not even sure where to start," Brighid admitted to him. "Normally, children learn all of this as they grow up and are not proficient in all of the intricacies of the system until they are ten or so. Part of that is that they are maturing and learning other things at the same time, of course, but it is still a lot of information to convey in a short time."


    "I understand," Aidan soothed. "I''m not expecting you to work miracles here. Here, maybe it''ll be more manageable if I ask specific questions. I think the most important thing to start with is: how do Skills work? What does affinity measure, what does a single Skill level mean, what''s the difference between Unskilled and Novice, that sort of thing."


    "Skills are the very cornerstone of how the Realms function; you will never do something really well without levels in an appropriate Skill. We can sort of make do without them, at least for fundamental everyday tasks, but if you want to do more than just barely get by, you need to use a Skill. To reach even level 1 in a Skill, you must have a non-zero affinity for that Skill. There is no way to know for sure what your affinity is until you actually have that first level, which can make trying to learn new Skills frustrating.


    "The average person with no special Traits or other sources of bonus affinity only has any affinity at all for a few dozen Skills at most, and only one or two of those Skills will have an affinity above 50%. Of the Skills they do have an affinity for, some will be ones they never have an opportunity to learn in their entire lifetime. The vast majority will go through life with levels in no more than twenty or thirty Skills, and only reach Apprentice or Journeyman rank in one or two."


    "But what is affinity?" Aidan broke in, causing Brighid to wag her finger at him.


    "Patience! I was getting there. What affinity does is modify the amount of work you needed to get to the next level. With a low affinity, you need to put in more work than with a high affinity, but regardless, both can reach the next level of the Skill with enough effort. The trick is that affinity always, always decreases as your level in a Skill increases. It isn''t necessarily a noticeable amount, and it does not fall at the same rate for every person. Still, it is inevitable that eventually, somewhere down the line, you will hit 0% affinity and no longer be able to advance that Skill any further."


    Ohhhhhhhhhh, came Aidan''s realization. If everyone else is lucky to get 50% affinity in their best Skills and it drops off over time, I absolutely need to keep quiet about having permanent 100% affinity with everything. That is beyond broken compared to the NPCs. "Okay, that makes sense," Aidan said aloud. "What about Unskilled versus Novice?"


    Brighid responded, "Those are Skill ranks. They do not do anything in and of themselves, they simply denote when you receive Knacks and, for magic school Skills, a new spell. They also serve to obscure your exact Skill levels from people with Abilities that let them look at your status screen¡ªmost such Abilities can only see your Skills'' ranks, not their precise levels."


    Aidan nodded, then asked, "Knacks? Is the extra fire resistance I got at Novice Fire Magic the Knack, then? Is it the same for everyone at that rank?"


    His friend laughed to herself and shot Aidan an amused glance. "I swear, every time I answer a question, you ask three more. Yes, that is likely your Novice Fire Magic Knack. No, everyone does not receive the same Knacks; my Novice Fire Magic Knack is an increased temperature tolerance, for example. Some are more common than others. Resistances are very common Knacks for the early ranks of most magic school Skills, though. Knacks tend to relate to the ways the Skill is used, so low-rank Knacks are mostly the same handful for each Skill. Once you have a chance to develop a Skill personality, so to speak, your Knacks will become more focused and less predictable."


    "Thank you," Aidan said. "That''s actually really helpful. Now, for something completely different, I think it''s time to talk about time. I''ve been counting days, but I have no idea past that. So here''s my question: how many seconds per minute, minutes per hour, hours per day, days per week and month, and months in a year are there here in the Realms?"


    Brighid started to giggle. "You need to work on your Mathematics Skill, Aidan. That was six questions, not one!"


    "Yeah, yeah, laugh it up. I''d still like to know when I am."


    It took a little while, and a couple of false starts, for Brighid to get her laughter under control. Still, eventually, she responds, "There are sixty seconds in a minute, sixty minutes in an hour, and twenty-four hours in a day, roughly speaking. There are magical items and spells which can track time precisely, but those are diversions for scholars and people with too much time on their hands. Weeks are made up of seven days, and there are either four or five weeks in each month. There are twelve months in the year, for a total of fifty-four weeks in the year. The first and last days of the year are not part of any week or month, so there are a total of three hundred and eighty days in each year.


    "The days of the week are named simply: Firstday, Secondday, Thirdday, and so on up to Seventhday. Months are much more varied, and there are at least three different names for each month just in the Wildlands and nearby human nations. Again, you really should not need to worry about them for now.


    "I can see you about to ask, so I will go ahead and answer." Brighid said with a smug grin, "The current date is Thirdday of the third week of the month of Siobhan the Slayer in the year 597 of the Godless Age. That is the seventh month of the year by our reckoning, and we are in early fall."


    "Godless Age? I''m not so sure of that..." Aidan mused, remembering his encounter with his Patron.


    Brighid squinted at him, but let that pass. Instead, she said, "It is a little bit of an exaggeration, but not much. The Gods still exist as Powers of the Realms, but their ability to interact with mortals is minimal, and few give them any thought. Long, long ago, the Gods walked among us and granted miraculous gifts to those who found their favor, but eventually, Gods came into active conflict with each other. The Realms were nearly torn apart by their power. Ultimately, the mightiest heroes from all across the Realms gathered together and took the battle to the Gods, one at a time, and banished them to the Outer Realms, sealing most of their power.


    "That was the end of the Age of Living Gods and the start of the Age of Withdrawal. The human nations flourished without the Gods of the wilder people to hold them back. Just under six hundred years ago, the great High Elven fortress-capital Haedirn Laer-gilarn was conquered and sacked by an army of humans and the cathedral of Faendair, their chief deity, was torn stone from stone and all the priests were slain. When no divine reprisal was visited on the humans, the Age changed to the Godless Age."


    "Alright," Aidan conceded, "I can see why it''s called that now. But you said ''the Age changed,'' not'' scholars decided to declare that the start of the new Age'' or anything like that. Is there a reason for that, or am I just running into linguistic traps?"


    "My understanding," Brighid responded, "is that everyone in the Realms received a notification that the Age of Withdrawal was ended and the Godless Age had begun. I did not witness it myself, of course, but all of the histories of the time mention it and agree on the name of the Age."


    "Hmmm." Aidan considered that for a while. "So Ages have significance beyond just a way of categorizing history. Good to know, but not really relevant to a worthless level 2 human."


    The centaur turned her head towards him, and Aidan could see disapproval in her emerald eyes. "Do not denigrate yourself so. Someone thought you were interesting or useful enough to bring you here, and I know for a fact that you are useful for at least one thing." Her eyes turned mischievous, and her lips parted to allow her pink tongue to emerge as she blew a raspberry at him.


    "Ah, yes," Aidan laughed, "all shall learn my name as the Age of Pampered Prancers begins!" Brighid''s laughter joined his.


    Zurai

 Chosen, Chapter 17: Preparing for Tomorrow

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Thirdday, 3rd week of the 7th month, Godless Age 597


    Afternoon


    Mistvale Highlands, en route to Ceallach Macht


    Brighid and Aidan spent the rest of that day reviewing what little tactical knowledge they had of Ceallach Macht. It was a large city for the region, housing tens of thousands, perhaps even a hundred thousand, citizens at its height. The city core rested on and around the central hill of a Y-shaped valley, but the outskirts spread out into the lowlands. More than a thousand years abandoned, crumbled ruins were all that remained of the buildings; Mother Nature had long since reclaimed the land with root and branch. The main roadways, however, were well-constructed and, while partially overgrown, still quite distinct and passable.


    With no specific knowledge of what awaited them inside the city, the adventurous duo decided to approach down the central avenue. Whatever evil ruled the area now would surely have minions, wards, or both throughout the city, so struggling through the ruins would offer only a slightly better chance at remaining undetected. The roads were likely to be more heavily patrolled, but they would also allow the pair to advance much more rapidly through the city. Brighid especially was not enthusiastic about her ability to be either quick or stealthy while moving through overgrown, crumbled buildings. Since they had no idea where they needed to go, staying mobile seemed the best idea.


    The most likely enemies were plant-based undead called Manikins, created when vines created with evil magic infested a corpse, controlling it like the hand inside a puppet. Fortunately, Manikins were exceptionally vulnerable to fire damage, being both undead and plants. On the other hand, they were able to be animated remotely, which meant that anything they killed would rise to fight them again unless they burned the corpses to ashes. Unlike normal undead, Manikins could even be raised from the remains of other Manikins, so long as there was something for the creepers to manipulate physically; if the controller were powerful enough, they could even fashion replacement limbs out of plant matter.


    Aside from Manikins, however, Brighid was unable to provide information on the monsters they would face. The Council sealed the city many years ago, and most of the living monsters they fought at the time would have died off by the present. Redcaps and sprites had short lifespans, and most of the more massive creatures needed to eat meat regularly. With the city cut off from the outside world, they shouldn''t need to worry about Nightmares, Fomorians, Fathachs, or other powerful monsters. There were no guarantees, however, since they didn''t know the nature of their ultimate opponent.


    Once they finalized their plan, Brighid fished out two amulets from her saddlebags. Each bore an exceptionally intricate Celtic knot design made from delicate-seeming silver strands. She handed one to Aidan and put the other around her neck. "These are wardstones keyed to the barrier around Ceallach Macht. Without one of these, you cannot pass in or out of the protected area. Aidan, this is of the utmost importance: these cannot be allowed to fall into the hands of the enemy. Prioritize retrieving my wardstone over rescuing me, and should I fall, destroy both stones unless you are certain beyond any doubt that you can escape. Even then, I would prefer you not to take the risk; leaving a key to the door inside the prison would make the situation ten times worse than if we never entered at all." Her voice was solemn, and her eyes sharp and severe.


    Aidan swallowed, then nodded, placing his hand over his heart. "I promise, Brighid. The amulets will not fall into the enemies'' hands if there is anything at all I can do about it. I can only hope it doesn''t come to that."


    "Me, too," Brighid responded with a weak, wan smile, bringing Aidan¡¯s attention back to his companion. Neither of them spoke of the conditions which would force such a choice. Brighid cleared her throat, and in a more light-hearted voice, said, "We know we will be fighting Manikins, so tonight and tomorrow I want you to train your Fire Magic. Since your only spell is an attack spell¡ªnot unexpected given the school¡ªyou will learn best by attacking with it rather than just shooting off into the dirt. I have innate fire resistance thanks to one of my Traits, and it is high enough that any part of me covered by armor is immune to fire."


    Brighid gave him a penetrating look. "So long as you keep your shots to my chest or back, you should not be able to hurt me. That will affect the Skill experience you gain, but it will still be better than the alternative, so if you promise to be careful, I will allow you to use me for target practice. By the time we reach Ceallach Macht, I would like you to be comfortable enough with your magic that you can cast it while running and dodging. That is less a matter of Skill and more one of practice. If you do not mind my asking, what is your affinity with Fire Magic?"


    Aidan very briefly debated lying to her. "100%," he replied, truthfully.


    She shot him an envious look and shook her head wryly. "If that is the case, then you should be able to reach Initiate in the Skill and get a second spell in the time we have. Such a high affinity will allow you to advance extremely rapidly at low Skill levels. What about Light Armor and Evasion?"


    He hesitated longer, then mentally crossed his fingers and responded, "I would rather not say."


    Brighid chuckled. "Men and their pride. Do not worry; I did not expect much from a mage. If your affinity is that low, there is no need to push it too hard."


    "Let''s not be too hasty," Aidan protested. "If I can get even one more level in each, it could be the difference between life and death, and you wanted me to practice casting while dodging anyway, right?"


    The brilliant smile Brighid sent his way sent butterflies flitting through his stomach while simultaneously making him regret his deception. "That is an excellent attitude to have for an adventurer. Rest assured, I will put you through your paces." Her eyes twinkled with restrained mirth.


    "Promises, promises. One of these days, I''ll make you follow through on one."


    "You will make me, will you? Perhaps you will try. Stronger males than you have failed." Despite her harsh words, Brighid''s tone was one of pride and challenge, not offense or derision. Her eyes started to burn in a way that Aidan was beginning to realize was a sign of interest or arousal, not anger.


    "Ah," Aidan pointed out airily, "but did they have magic hands? I may not be as well-muscled as one of you great big brutes, but there is more to strength than that."


    "True," Brighid admitted, "but you have to catch me to use them."


    Aidan shook his head and smirked up at her. "No, I don''t. You''ll come to me. All I have to do is remind you how good it felt. The more you resist, the more power you give those memories. Eventually, you''ll ask me to wash you all over again; it won''t matter whether you''re trying to prove to yourself that it wasn''t that good or craving a repeat performance. At that point, you''ll be clay in my hands."


    "You wear confidence well, but you will need more than that. Be sure you can back up your words when it comes time to test them." She rumbled.


    Aidan''s smile stretched wider. "Ah, so you admit that the time will come¡ªyou said ''when,'' not ''if.'' And I dare you to tell me that you aren''t thinking of my touch right at this moment." Brighid lifted her chin defiantly but did not reply. "Don''t worry," he teased her, "if you ask nicely, next time I''ll finish the job. Then that ''when'' will become an ''again!''"


    "Promises, promises." She threw his words back at him. "Given how many tries it took you to complete your pampering duty, you will forgive me if I do not hold my breath for the fulfillment of this one."


    Ouch. I left myself wide open for that one, Aidan thought, but she left an opening as well. Out loud, he said, "Oh, you don''t need to worry about that. You''ll be too busy calling out my name to even think of holding your breath."


    "What, you think you will need that much correction? Where did all that confidence go?"


    Aidan couldn''t help but laugh, and Brighid joined him a moment later. Once their merriment died down, Aidan changed the topic. "So, how should I train my Fire Magic? Just keep casting Flame Jet on you? Is it more beneficial to maintain concentration for the full five seconds or to cast it many times rapidly with minimal duration?"


    Brighid shot him an amused glance. "Do you not know how to ask one question at a time? You are like a yearling asking their mother how everything works and why it works that way, all at once. Anyway, yes, target my armored areas with your spell. As for how often to cast it, try to mix it up. Maintaining the magic for its full duration will earn you more Skill experience, but repeating it rapidly will do more to make it part of your muscle memory. Both are important for a combat mage."


    Aidan nodded in acknowledgment and warned Brighid, "Alright, I''m going to start now." He slid the Ruby Rod out of its belt loop and pointed it towards Brighid''s heavily-armored back.


    Aidan


    The Realms


    Thirdday, 3rd week of the 7th month, Godless Age 597


    Evening


    Mistvale Highlands, en route to Ceallach Macht


    By the time they stopped to camp for the night, Aidan had a throbbing headache and was so distracted by it that he nearly walked into Brighid when she halted. On the other hand, his Fire Magic Skill had advanced considerably, and he felt much more comfortable casting Flame Jet while moving.


    Unfortunately, Brighid was not at all sympathetic and insisted that they train even more. "Do you think the manikins will let you go because you have a headache and your concentration is half-gone? It is more vital for you to train this now, not less. In fact, take up your sword as well. I want you to practice everything I have taught you all at once. We only have another day until we reach the outskirts of Ceallach Macht. You can rest once you complete your quest."


    Aidan groaned but did as his companion commanded. Once he stood across from her, rod in one hand and blade in the other, however, he paused. "How am I supposed to cast Flame Jet with both hands occupied?"


    Brighid rolled her eyes at him. "Draw the glyphs with the tip of your implement. You should have enough practice handling your rod by this point. Now, defend yourself and do your best to strike me with both sword and spell."


    The training was brutal. Brighid attacked relentlessly, forcing Aidan to dodge continually. He tried counterattacking when he managed to evade cleanly, but for someone who had to weigh at least half a ton, the centaur was amazingly quick on her hooves. He didn''t land a clean hit on her for the entire training session. The only offense he managed was splashing her with Flame Jet, and all his newfound muscle memory for casting while walking was doing him little good while jumping, rolling, and dancing from side to side to avoid lightning-fast strikes from the butt of Brighid''s glaive. He even tried to maneuver behind her to strike from her blind spot, only to have her rear up on her forelegs and kick back at him. She pulled the strike an instant after starting and never connected with him, but it was enough for Aidan to take her message¡ªshe wasn''t as defenseless from behind as he''d thought.


    An hour and a half later, he collapsed into the nearby stream, barely able to hold his head above the water while he cast Patch Wounds on himself. He had five different prompts blinking at the edge of his awareness.


    Exhausted, physically and mentally, Aidan picked himself up, briefly rinsed the day''s sweat and grime off, and made his way back to the magically warmed and warded campsite. He didn''t wait for Brighid to return from her bath and curled up with his head on his backpack. System: Log Out. Confirm.


    Zurai

 Chosen, Chapter 18: Way Back Home

    Daniel Stewart


    Earth


    Saturday, March 11th, 2062


    Approximately 4:30 AM


    The Atlanta metropolis, USA


    Daniel woke up hungry once again. He was immersed for a shorter duration this time around, but it was still more than a day since he''d eaten. He methodically unhooked himself from the IVR rig and made his way to his kitchen, where he poured himself some milk and cereal and grabbed an apple. Daniel polished those off quickly, then grabbed another apple and a banana.


    While he ate his second course of breakfast, Daniel checked his email. To his disappointment, he hadn''t received any more emails from Eve. Oh well, I''ll see her in a few hours anyway. Let me just send her an email to let her know when I''ll be there.


    From: [email protected]


    To: [email protected]


    Subject: Lunch


    Hey sis, just letting you know that I''ll be at Carmine''s around 12:30 or so. I''ll grab our usual booth if it''s open. Looking forward to catching up with you¡ªand finding out how you''re leveling so fast! See you then.


    With that done and his stomach somewhat satiated, he took a quick shower. After drying himself off, he took a look at the time¡ªa little after 5:00 AM¡ªand decided to take a nap. While being in Immersion Virtual Reality simulated sleep physically, it wasn''t quite the same. The mind was active during IVR in ways that it wasn''t while sleeping, even while dreaming. Over long enough periods of time, sleep deprivation would kick in. The tricky part was that he didn''t feel tired, and it took him quite a while to fall asleep. Once he did, though, he slept soundly, only waking when the strident sound of his alarm cut through the dreamless fog.


    Daniel Stewart


    Earth


    Saturday, March 11th, 2062


    Noon


    The Atlanta metropolis, USA


    Daniel pulled open the door to the restaurant and stepped into the dim interior. One of the waitresses waved to him and called out, "Hey Dan, your usual booth''s open if you''re eating in!"


    He smiled back and headed to the back corner, sliding onto the bench facing away from the entrance. "Thanks, Nadine. I''ll have my usual."


    "One usual, coming right up!" She cheerfully responded. "Who''s joining you today?"


    "Just Eve, and I don''t dare order for her. Even if I ordered her favorite, she''d ask for something else just to be difficult." He caught a smirk on the waitress''s face and grimaced. "She''s right behind me, isn''t she?"


    "O brother mine, what filthy lies are you telling about me to our favorite waitress?"


    Daniel stood up and hugged his sister, who wrapped her arms around him and squeezed him in return. She was shorter than he was by a few inches and weighed half what he did, but her arms still held him tight. She was much more consistent about working out than her brother, and it showed in the lean muscles evident on her gymnast''s body. The siblings separated, and Daniel ruffled Eve''s hair¡ªhis prerogative as the elder brother. "No lies, dear sister, just the honest truth."


    "Oh, in that case, say on!" She chirped and plopped down in the booth opposite him. "Pepsi and two slices, pepperoni, sausage, and black olive on both, please, Nadine." She pulled a hand mirror out of her purse and fixed her hair, then stuck her tongue out at Daniel.


    "And, of course, now you''re ordering your favorite just to spite me for saying you would order something different." Daniel shook his head, ruefully.


    "Of course!" Eve agreed with a wide grin. The waitress laughed and left to get their drinks. Eve leaned in over the table and brushed a stray strand of dirty blonde hair out of her eyes. "Sooooo, spill! How''re you doing in the game?"


    "Not nearly so well as you, judging by that email you sent me. I''m still level 2 and probably about to get creamed in this dungeon I have to clear."


    Eve snickered. "Level 2? What, did you die a bunch of times or something? I know you took off from work, so you have to have been playing!"


    Daniel shook his head wryly. "No, I haven''t died yet. I just haven''t had many fights. The one combat I''ve gotten into so far, the NPC I''m traveling with killed almost everything, and I didn''t get much experience. Most of my XP so far has been from leveling skills and making friends. We have one more day of travel before we get to this dungeon, and I really hope the experience from training my skills will be enough to push me to level 3. How did you level so fast, anyway?"


    "Hah, me die?" Eve scoffed. "Who do you think you''re talking to? I''m way too awesome to get killed." She posed a little, which made Daniel laugh. "Seriously, though, most of my experience has come from quests. Combat gives a good amount, but the quest rewards have been great. I haven''t had a chance to make any friends or anything, though, I''m in the middle of nowhere and haven''t seen many friendly NPCs so far. Where''d you end up?"


    Before Daniel could answer, their server appeared bearing their drinks. "Here you go. Food''ll be out in about ten minutes."


    "Thanks, Nadine!" Daniel and Eve said at the same time.


    "Jinx!" Eve called out. Daniel gave her an exasperated look, then shrugged and took a long sip of his sweet tea.


    "Oh, pooh." Eve pouted. "I didn''t think that through, did I? Okay, Daniel, you can talk again."


    "I''m pretty sure that''ll be the name of your biography. ''Oh, Pooh; I didn''t Think that Through: The Eve Stewart Story.'' Hey, at least it rhymes, you have that going for you!"


    Eve stuck her tongue out at him, then took a drink of her own. Daniel took pity on her and answered the dangling question. "I chose the Mistvale Highlands as my starting zone. It''s basically fantasy Scotland, and the landscape is awe-inspiring."


    Eve brightened up and cut in, "I did too! Isn''t it beautiful? It''s just like Mum and Dad''s stories! And everything looks and feels and sounds so real!" Then she grimaced. "Including combat. I haven''t taken a bad wound yet, but they have those pain settings tuned awfully high."


    Daniel rubbed his hand absently. "Yeah, I know what you mean. I had a dire rat gnaw its way through my hand in that fight I mentioned; it hurt like nothing I''ve ever felt before. Thank goodness for the healing potions in the starter kit."


    Eve blinked rapidly at him. "You got healing potions?! How? I didn''t start with anything but the clothes I was wearing, a backpack with a little food and an instruction manual, some light armor, and my weapons."


    He frowned. "You got an instruction manual? I had a cranky old guy give me some super basic instruction and then vanish before I could ask any questions. Also, no weapons or armor. But yeah, I did get a couple healing potions in my backpack."


    "Iiiiiinteresting," Eve mused. "So, despite both starting in the same area, we had different tutorial experiences. And it sounds like you started in a different part of the zone, too, if you ran into friendly NPCs right away. The first NPCs I encountered were bandits."


    "I wouldn''t say they were friendly NPCs," Daniel demurred. "They actually took me captive and force-marched me to their village. Turns out, I spawned in their territory, and they do not approve of trespassers. That''s where I got the quest I''m on; it''s either clear out this dungeon or be executed for trespassing."


    Eve raised her eyebrows. "Damn, bro, did you pick super hard mode or something? Not that there were any difficulty sliders that I saw. That''s also a longer quest than I''ve gotten; all of mine have been quick, short-term stuff. Find shelter. Clear out the bandit camp, with a bonus for doing it without raising the alarm, which I accomplished, thank you. Hunt my own food. Cook my own food, which I did under protest."


    Daniel had to laugh at that. "There''s the sister I know. Mom had to practically tie you to the furniture to keep you in the kitchen when she taught you to cook. I never understood that; you''re the best cook I know, even better than Mom, and I know you mostly cook your own meals, but you raise such a hellacious fuss when anyone suggests that you cook anything..."


    "Oh, that''s easy. It''s because I''m the spoiled baby sister of the family. Everyone''s supposed to do everything for me and pay attention to me at all times. That''s why I refused to learn cooking unless you learned too. I got to torment my big brother and make sure he learned how to feed me properly, all at the same time."


    Daniel stared at his little sister, eyes narrowing as he rummaged through his memories. "Why, you little minx! All that time, I thought you genuinely liked the food I made for you, but you were just lazy!"


    Eve smirked. "Oh, my poor brother. So sweet, and yet so dense. Did you never notice that it was always your turn to cook whenever you asked whose turn it was?"


    Daniel covered his face with his hands and groaned. Eve continued, "There, there, it''ll be alright. There are lots of wonderful things that are both sweet and dense, like brownies. You could be a lot worse than being a brownie, O brother mine."


    He lowered his face to the table and started to slowly bang his forehead against the wooden surface. He was never going to live this down. Fortunately, the arrival of their meal saved him from further embarrassment. Nadine placed a large platter with two giant slices of pizza in front of Eve, then a plate with a fried chicken, ham, and cheese panini (a "chicken cordon bleu") in front of him. "Enjoy! Give me a wave if you need anything."


    There was silence for a few minutes as both siblings turned their attention to eating. Carmine''s was a small pub and restaurant, hardly fine dining. Still, they served large portions of tasty food at reasonable prices, and it took them several minutes of eating before they started to slow down and consider conversation again.


    Daniel seized the initiative and, waiting until his sister had just taken a large bite of her pizza, asked, "Putting the game aside for a moment, how''s life been treating you?"


    Eve mock-glared at him, chewing rapidly. Once she swallowed, she answered, "So-so. It''s nice to be able to work in my PJs, but opportunities run hot and cold. I had a big job a couple months back that filled up my bank account, but only the occasional little time-waster since. And before you ask, I kicked Sally to the curb three weeks ago; I found a used condom in the trash, and it sure wasn''t mine."


    "I would say I''m sorry, but I''m not, really. I never liked her, and you don''t seem too broken up by it."


    Eve shrugged. "I''m not. Sally was fun to look at and knew what she was doing in bed, but she never really engaged on an emotional level. She didn''t even get mad when I kicked her out. How about you? Ready to get back on the horse yet?"


    Well, about that... Daniel thought wryly to himself. Now that would freak out my family. "Oh, I want to introduce you to my girlfriend, but she only exists in virtual reality. Also, she''s half-horse." Might even prompt a parental intervention. Daniel edged around the truth by saying, "I''m open to someone new, but you know how much of a hermit I am. Not much chance to meet new people when you avoid bars and clubs."


    Eve frowned and gave him a look. "If this goes on too much longer, I''m going to have to get involved. You''re too good of a guy to waste away in solitude, and don''t even try to tell me that you''re fine being alone." Her eyes sharpened as she got serious. "I may joke around and make fun of you, but I''ve known you literally all of my life. I know how badly that bitch hurt you when she left. I also know that you like to play the loner, but you have never fooled me. You need human interaction just as much as everyone else does, Daniel. Avoiding it just to save yourself heartache isn''t healthy."


    He tried not to let it show, but Eve''s vehemence surprised him. She rarely swore, preferring to use funny euphemisms instead. "I''m not sure how much of your relationship advice I should follow, squirt," Daniel said with a small smile. "You know I set up a spreadsheet just to make sure I was able to keep track of your girlfriends and boyfriends?"


    "You did not!" Eve squawked indignantly, red blooming on her cheeks. She recovered quickly, though, declaring, "And I can''t help it if I''m so awesomely irresistible. All shall love me and despair!" Then she wagged her finger at him and admonished, "You''re not going to dodge this by turning it around on me, either. Start taking an active interest in finding a new girlfriend or so help me, I''ll set up a dating profile for you." Her face softened as Daniel opened his mouth to object, but she didn''t give him a chance to get a word in edgewise. "Just look, okay? None of this passive ''I''m open to it'' bull plop, you''re too smart not to know that''s self-defeating. You''re my brother and my best friend, and I don''t want to see you hurting like this."


    Daniel raised his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay, I''ll look, but I''ll do it at my own pace."


    Eve frowned at him. "That sounds pretty passive still, but I''ll take it¡ªfor now. I reserve the right to enact plan B at any point, though, if I feel you''re not holding up your end of the deal."


    He chuckled. "Like I have any control over that. I''ve never been able to stop you once you have your mind set on something. Heck, it''s all I can do to slow you down, most times. I swear your only speed settings are ''off'' and ''off the charts.''"


    Eve snickered in response. "You know it!" She agreed, then pulled out her phone to check the time. With a sigh, she said, "As much as I''ve enjoyed this, I need to get going soon. Some of us don''t get to take time off for every hot new game that comes along. Freelance work giveth and it taketh away. I''ve got drafts to make before I can get back to the game, and they''re not going to will themselves into existence." Her fingers tapped rapidly at her phone as she paid her bill digitally, then she slid out of the booth.


    Daniel stood up and hugged her tightly again. "Stay safe, sis. I love you."


    "Love ya too, bro. Later!" Daniel watched her stride out of the pub, then slid back into the booth to finish off his own meal. He pulled out his own phone and paid his bill, leaving a generous tip as always, then waved goodbye to Nadine and left.


    A short drive later, he was back home. He puttered around for a few minutes, cleaning dishes and doing other minor chores, but before long, he was back in his office, preparing to dive back into The Realms.


    Zurai

 Chosen, Chapter 19: Light the Fire Up in the Night

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Fourthday, 3rd week of the 7th month, Godless Age 597


    Pre-dawn


    Mistvale Highlands, near Ceallach Macht


    Aidan awoke with a start as a shrill siren screamed through the air. Next to him, Brighid jerked awake and sprang to her hooves, her glaive somehow already in hand. She chanted a few words, and a flickering orangish-yellow aura washed out from her, illuminating the surroundings. Aidan struggled to his feet as the redhead cast another spell, this time causing the head of her weapon to glow cherry-red as if heated in a forge.


    Before he could ask what was happening, shapes rushed out of the darkness and into Brighid''s light. They were bobcat-sized humanoids with twisting, knotted bodies and limbs, charging forward on all fours with their gaunt faces locked into rictus snarls. They hesitated, covering their bulbous black eyes, as Brighid''s light flared brightly, giving Aidan enough time to snatch up his sword and place his back against Brighid''s flank.


    The light didn''t stop them for long, however, and the wretched creatures quickly resumed their charge, scuttling and leaping over each other in a tide of flesh. Aidan began the chant for his Flame Jet spell even as Brighid''s voice rose in an incantation of her own. Hers finished first, causing a pulse to emanate from her that set the tattered clothes worn by their attackers to smoking and smoldering. A split second later, a stream of fire poured out from Aidan''s hand, clearing a swath through the ranks of the creatures as they dived and jumped to avoid the flames.


    Then they were beset. Whatever the creatures were, they had no weapons save for filthy, jagged fingernails on their hands and tiny, needle-sharp teeth in the mouths, but they more than made up for the lack with their sheer numbers. Brighid swept her glaive in broad strokes that sliced through her targets like a hot knife through butter, while Aidan waved his hand back and forth, sending coruscating waves of flame across their campsite. For every enemy they killed or drove back, though, another scurried out of the flickering light, scrabbling and biting at their legs and arms.


    After five seconds, Aidan''s Flame Jet sputtered out, its duration expended, and the creatures surged forward, climbing over and pushing off each other in a mad rush to attack him now that the frightful fire was gone. There were far more of them than Aidan could manage to hold off with his sword, and he quickly began losing health as they raked him with their fingers and bit chunks from his shins and thighs.


    Aidan dropped his weapon and lashed out with his fists and feet, yanking the creatures off of him and throwing them at others as they charged in, kicking others aside, stomping on hands and feet and backs. Brighid swung her glaive over his head and down in front of him, bisecting three of the things, but she had her own problems to deal with, and he heard her hiss sharply in pain behind him. Then, one of the creatures screamed and burst into flames, then another and another and another, until within moments Aidan and Brighid were surrounded by dozens of writhing, screaming, greasily smoking fires.


    Aidan picked his sword up again and moved to start stabbing the still-moving creatures, but Brighid stopped him. "The trows will be dead before long, incinerated by my aura. Attend to our wounds, if you would. Start with yourself; I have more health to spare." He nodded and sat on the ground, beginning the chant for Patch Wounds. Brighid continued, "That was very odd. Trows are individually weak enough that they should not have been able to breach my ward. They are also cowardly and hate bright lights; Birgitte''s Light should have scared them off when they saw we were awake and armed. And they definitely should have fled from Brigantia''s Immolation, not pressed the attack until they burst into flames. Three mysteries, and I do not like the answer they suggest."


    Aidan couldn''t respond due to the long incantation for his healing magic, so he took the time to go through the prompts that were crowding around the edges of his vision after the short, vicious combat.


    Finally! Level 3 and a new spell; worth the pain. Aidan turned his attention to examining the parameters of his new Burning Barrage.


    "That would have come in handy thirty seconds ago..." Aidan muttered between incantations.


    "What?" Asked Brighid.


    "I advanced to Initiate in Fire Magic and got a new spell. Here, let me test it, neither of us is going to bleed out if I delay healing us for a few seconds." Putting actions to his words, Aidan began the longer, more intricate chant for Burning Barrage. Two seconds later, seven motes of fiery light sprang into existence around his head.


    "Interesting, but I do not see¡ª" Brighid began, but cut off as Aidan sent the motes streaking towards a patch of boulders about twenty feet away from them. The lights struck their targets near-simultaneously and erupted into seven brilliant fireballs that briefly banished the pre-dawn darkness. "...I stand corrected. You are correct, that would have been useful. You should also have received enough experience for level 3, no?"


    Aidan nodded, although he did not reply out loud since he was already back to casting another Patch Wounds. He was actually a little upset at himself; the level 3 prompt reminded him that he''d forgotten to allocate his free Skill experience from level 2, and he wasn''t sure where the random assignment had gone. As long as it wasn''t to one of the Sex Skills, I guess...


    Once he finished healing their injuries¡ªfortunately, the Trows had been less dangerous individually than the Argyle Rattoks, and none of their Wounds had been more than minor¡ªAidan asked Brighid for advice. "How do you think I should be distributing my stat points?"


    Brighid''s eyes widened at the question. "That... is a very intimate question. You did not know that, of course. I keep forgetting how much you do not know." She shook her head briefly and continued, "Your stats are the ultimate expression of who you are. They are the only part of you that you have complete control over. You have no choice in the Traits and Abilities you are born with, your Class is chosen for you, and your Skill affinities are entirely out of your control. Your stats, meanwhile, might be modified somewhat by your race or Class or Traits, but you will always have full control over the free points you receive. Further, your stats shape you on a fundamental level, from appearance to personality. Asking someone else how to spend them implies total trust that they have your best interests at heart."


    Aidan nodded slowly. "That makes sense. Sorry, I''m still struggling with the cultural impact of this system." Brighid waved away his apology, but he caught and held her gaze and continued, "So... how do you suggest I spend my stat points? I have six after the automatic points in Charisma and Willpower."


    His friend flinched and her hands flew to her mouth. She stared at him wordlessly for a long moment, then turned her head to look away. "I am honored beyond words by your trust," she said, her voice thick with barely-repressed emotion, "but I am not equal to the request." Her hands dropped from her mouth to hug herself around the waist.


    Aidan walked over to her and cupped her cheek in his left hand. He gently tilted her head back towards him, then slipped his hand around into her hair and drew her down into a kiss. Her lips tasted salty, so he raised his free hand and brushed away the tears trickling down her cheeks.


    "I did not mean to cause you pain, Brighid. I''m sorry," he told her when their lips parted. "If you do not feel comfortable giving me specific advice, how about being more general? I know what the description of each stat is in my interface, but that''s it. I haven''t learned how it all works together, and if there are any tricks hidden beneath the surface, I haven''t encountered them."


    He kissed her again, intending it to be brief, but Brighid suddenly pressed against him and opened her mouth. Aidan felt like a leaf swept up in a storm-fed river, barely able to keep his head above the waters of Brighid''s passion. She clutched at him, digging her fingers into his scalp and raking down his back as her tongue probed his lips. The moment he opened his mouth, her tongue surged inside, filling his oral cavity with her wet, thick, squirming muscle.


    Aidan found himself instinctively responding in kind to Brighid''s attentions. His tongue wrestled for dominance with hers; his left hand was tangled in her red hair, pulling her head downwards to fuel their kiss; his right hand had slipped under her padded jerkin and was kneading her soft breasts. Her hands, meanwhile, had made their way down to his butt, where one was dug into his flesh, and the other found his tail and began gathering it up, wrapping it around her arm as she sought the tip. He diverted a fraction of his attention to playing keep-away, causing her to growl ferally into his mouth when she realized what was happening.


    Brighid leaned down over him to extend her reach, bending him backward. Aidan had to take a half-step back and brace his legs to keep his balance, and that distraction allowed Brighid to catch his tail-tip. He gasped and shivered as her fingers explored the flanges. Somehow, the sensation was entirely different, much more sensual, when it was someone else''s touch. His fingers tightened unconsciously in Brighid''s hair and around her breast, drawing a moan from her.


    Then Brighid pulled back from him, seemingly not even noticing the pressure of his hand at the back of her head. Her cheeks and neck were flushed red, and her emerald gaze bored intensely into him. She panted out, "We need to stop. It clearly is not safe here." Despite her words, her hands were still busy stroking his butt and tail-tip.


    "You''re right," Aidan replied, "but I notice that you aren''t stopping." A startled look crossed her face, and her hands ceased their movements, though she didn''t remove them from their places. Aidan teasingly brushed his thumb back and forth across her hard nipple, causing Brighid to suck in her breath with a hiss and lower her head towards his again. Before she could start another kiss, he started pulling her hair, trying to keep her head in place. Brighid instantly froze, her eyes wide.


    "I think," she said, speaking slowly and enunciating her words carefully, as if afraid of what she might say otherwise, "that if you keep doing that, I will not be able to stop."


    "Keep doing this?" Aidan pressed his thumb to her nipple and rolled it in a circle. "Or this?" He tugged at her hair. Despite how easily she had ignored him pulling her head downwards moments ago, she offered no resistance now. Her head tilted obediently backward, baring her flushed neck to him and causing her back to arch, thrusting her breasts into his hand.


    "Yesss, that!" She hissed. "Aidan, please..." her plea ended in a moan. Aidan watched her swallow and her mouth open and close wordlessly. Still aroused, and with adrenaline from the fight and intense make-out session coursing through him, Aidan hesitated, his mind slow to shift course. Brighid''s hands began to move again, the one on his tail resuming stroking him, while the other shifted around to his front, sightlessly seeking a different appendage. She licked her lips and groaned out, "Please, Aidan, either take me or release me!"


    He tightened his grip momentarily in reaction to the lust in her voice, then her words caught up to him. Suddenly the adrenaline crashed out of his system, and he jerked away from Brighid, spinning down to his knees and beginning to tremble violently. Disgust for his actions flooded through his mind. She asked him to stop, but he hadn''t; in fact, he''d escalated. "I''m sorry, I''m sorry, I should have stopped when you asked, I''m so sorry, so sorry," he repeated over and over in a ceaseless babble. He wasn''t even paying attention to what he said as his thoughts spiraled tightly downward into recrimination and despair.


    So profoundly buried was he in his thoughts that it took him several minutes to realize that the warmth he felt against his back was Brighid, and the moist breeze tickling his ear was her voice, speaking soothingly to him. "It is alright, Aidan, I am alright, I am not upset with you. It is alright," she repeated softly, her lips brushing his ear. He closed his mouth abruptly, cutting off mid-babble, his teeth clacking together jarringly.


    Brighid kissed his shoulder softly, then continued, now that she had his attention. "You have nothing to be sorry about, Aidan. I did not want to stop what we were doing, it just is not safe here. And once you started pulling my hair..." He felt her shiver against him, then her lips pressed to his shoulder again.


    Sensing his inner turmoil, Brighid hugged him around the waist and told him in a louder, but still gentle, tone of voice, "Aidan, you could not rape me if you tried¡ªwhich you did not. I am far, far stronger than you are. I could lift you with one hand if I could get a proper grip on you. And, even if you tried, remember our training? Remember how you attempted to attack me from behind, and how it turned out for you?" He shuddered again, but this time it was because of the thought of what would have happened if she hadn''t pulled her kick before it struck.


    "I assure you, Aidan, love, everything we have done together so far has been with my enthusiastic consent. In fact, I recall initiating things every time we have been intimate. Do you remember differently?" She waited for him to shake his head, then continued, "I admit that you have surprised me, not only with your willingness to play along, but with how quickly and easily you stoke my passion, and with how skillfully you manipulate my body." Brighid stroked his cheek, then turned his head so that she could kiss the corner of his lips.


    "You were right, Aidan. I crave your touch. Once we return to the village, we will go to my home, I will lock the door, and then I will beg for your magic hands if that is what it takes. I want you to rub and stroke my back and flanks, working your way towards my rump. I want you to take my tail in your hand, wrap it around your wrist, lift it out of your way, then pull me backward onto your spear. I want you to bend over my back and mount me, Aidan. I want you to take me, mate me, make me yours. I have never wanted anyone like I want you.


    "Do you understand, my love? The only objection I had just now was the location, and that objection was not so strenuous that I would have been upset if you had continued. My ward is still active, and it is unlikely that there are any other dangerous creatures around with a swarm of Trows that big nearby. Mostly I just want the first time to be somewhere more romantic and less rustic. I am no longer uncertain, Aidan. I am yours if you will have me."


    A prompt demanded his attention, refusing to be minimized, and Aidan tentatively opened it.


    No shit, Sherlock, Aidan thought, a little bitter at having his nose figuratively rubbed into the relationship. Even he wasn''t that dense. He turned sideways in her embrace and could look her in the eyes. Though his throat was still tight and his voice hoarse, Aidan told Brighid, "I can''t imagine how I managed to catch your heart. I am a poor custodian for such a treasure, but I will endeavor to become worthy of your love. Brighid Fireheart, daughter of Ailis Silverhair of the Starchaser tribe, I love you. I do not know where my path is headed in this land, but I find myself increasingly unwilling to walk it without you at my side." A voice in his head spoke up to tell him that he was confessing his love to an illusion, but he squashed it relentlessly.


    Brighid rose, lifting Aidan with her and supporting him until he got his feet under him. She bent down and kissed him, brushing her lips against his lovingly for a long moment, then pulling back to murmur, "Aidan Lostlorn, son of Seamus of Atlanta, you are already more than worthy of my love. Even if it takes the rest of my life, I will make you see that."


    Through words and deeds, you have proven yourself worthy of her heart.


    Zurai

 Chosen, Chapter 20: Of Dusk and Dreams

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Fourthday, 3rd week of the 7th month, Godless Age 597


    Morning


    Mistvale Highlands, near Ceallach Macht


    After spending a little longer kissing and cuddling, Brighid and Aidan managed to pull themselves away from each other long enough to dress, armor themselves, and pack up camp. The dressing and armoring involved more "helping" hands on skin and fur than usual, but neither of them were about to complain about the extra attention. Still, the sun was entirely above the horizon when they finally set out on what Brighid assured Aidan would be their last day of travel.


    Aidan picked up practicing his Fire Magic where he left off the previous night with the addition of his new Burning Barrage spell. That proved to be somewhat troublesome, since he couldn''t aim it at Brighid due to the explosions, which would extend past her armor and scorch her skin and fur. Eventually, he settled on using it to train himself to maintain concentration on one spell while casting a different one; Brighid approved since an experienced mage was likely to have to concentrate on several different magics at once. When they passed a large boulder or another suitably fireproof target, Aidan unleashed all seven of the glowing motes, guiding each of them to strike precise points.


    The strain of splitting his concentration seven ways was enormous. The first time he tried, he collapsed halfway through and lost control of the motes. Instead of striking the rock, they veered randomly, exploding all over the side of a hill. After that, he worked himself up more gradually, at first directing only two at a time, then adding another when he grew comfortable with two, and so on.


    While he trained, Brighid did her best to teach him the intricacies of the Skill system and how Skills were affected by stats. She had him examine the description of each of his Skills and explained what each part meant. Aidan hadn''t thought to look at the Skill descriptions since the ones he had were mostly self-explanatory, and to his embarrassment, there was a considerable amount of information given.


    Each Skill was associated with one or more Attributes, which gave bonuses to performing that Skill. In the case of magic school Skills, that bonus came in the form of spell power, which increased the various effects of spells from that school¡ªdamage, health restored, the magnitude of buffs, and so on. Other Skills had different effects from their Associated Attributes, and they were not always the same as that given by the level of the Skill, as it was with magic. Light Armor Skill levels, for example, reduced the encumbrance and increased the protection of worn light armor. However, his Endurance, its Associated Attribute, instead gave him a chance to take no damage from light hits against his armor. In the case of a Skill with multiple Associated Attributes, they were averaged together.


    Brighid also explained the generally-accepted wisdom regarding stat builds in the Realms. "Mostly, people take one of three overall strategies. Some focus on a few very narrow stats and spend all of their points there to enhance their best or most lucrative Skills. Others place points out into stats that are used by the Skills and areas they are weakest in, hoping to fill in their weaknesses. Finally, some spread everything evenly, with only a slight emphasis on certain stats which have high synergy with their Skills." She glanced at him, then tentatively said, "Given your affinity with Fire Magic, I would suggest the first strategy. You have the potential to be a legendarily strong mage, and my class and build complement that. As long as we are together, I can cover for your lower physical stats."


    Aidan smirked at Brighid and teased, "We aren''t even a couple for half a day yet, and here you are, already trying to make me dependent on you." Brighid''s eyes widened and she opened her mouth, but before she could assure him that wasn''t her intent, Aidan laughed and said, "As if I wasn''t already, and happy with the situation. I was thinking the same thing, anyway. All I have to do is keep you happy and ... well-pampered, shall we say, and I am free to concentrate on my firepower. Pun intended." Brighid smacked his shoulder lightly, but she was blushing, and Aidan noted that she didn''t correct him.


    "I think I''ll still invest some into Toughness, though. Being able to scorch an entire battlefield is all well and good¡ªuntil I catch a stray arrow and die. That''s something I think we''d both prefer not to happen, so I''ll avoid being a complete glass cannon." At her confused look, he explained. "Sorry, that''s an idiom from Earth. The quick version is that it means something with immense destructive power at the cost of being excessively fragile. I wouldn''t mind the first so much, but the second is a deal-breaker."


    "Yes, it is." Brighid agreed, her eyes taking on a fierce aspect.


    "Alright, so that''s two points into Charisma and one in Willpower, added to the automatic one point in each from being Helltouched. Then another point each in Intuition¡ªfor my Vivimancy¡ªand Toughness. That leaves one. Any more advice?"


    Instead of answering, Brighid stopped and turned to face him, her face a mix of confusion and caution. "That adds up to six points, Aidan. Humans only receive five each level, and being Helltouched subtracts one in exchange for the bonuses it gives. You should only have four Attribute points to distribute. What aren''t you telling me?"


    Shit. Me and my big mouth. Aidan grimaced. Oh well, in for a penny, in for a pound. "I still have a few secrets. In this case, I actually have a hidden ... let''s call it a subrace because that''s where it shows up on my status screen, although I''m not sure that''s entirely accurate. Either way, I''m something called a Chosen, and one of the benefits is that I get an extra two stat points per level."


    "Chosen?" Brighid pondered. "Chosen by whom? Or by what?"


    "I''m ... not entirely sure. The description mentions a Patron, but I don''t know who that is. I think I met them in a dream that first morning¡ªjust before I met you, actually¡ªbut it was very confusing."


    "Explain." Brighid''s voice was like steel, and Aidan looked at her in surprise. Her expression softened somewhat, and she explained, "This is a clue about who brought you to our territory and why. I need to know. I am sorry, Aidan, but I must insist."


    He could see the conflict in her, torn between their new relationship and her loyalty to her tribe. He nodded and thought back to the dream, trying to explain it as best he could. "Like I said, it was a dream I had while sleeping in that storage hut in your village. I ''woke up'' in a huge, fluffy bed, and there was a beautiful woman with me. The tricky thing is that I absolutely cannot describe her. Everything specific about her is just a blur in my memory. It''s like she was many different women all overlayed on top of each other. I couldn''t even swear that she was entirely humanoid, now that I think of it.


    "Anyway, she told me that she was my Patron and that she had brought me to her Realm to explain what that meant. Oh, that''s another weird thing. She spoke in Divine Speech, and whenever she used a pronoun, it was somehow both singular and plural, like she was a single entity and multiple entities at once."


    Brighid stopped him there. "You say she spoke to you in Divine Speech? How do you know that?"


    Aidan shrugged. "You know I have a Trait which allows me to learn any language I hear; that''s how we''re talking in your language. When I woke up, I had a prompt telling me that I had learned Divine Speech. That''s what convinced me that it was more than just a weird dream."


    Brighid''s eyes widened, and she started to ask another question, but then just motioned for him to continue. "She told me that I was her only Chosen, her champion, but that I was not the only Chosen in the Realms. Other people were Chosen by other entities, and if one of them found out I was a Chosen and who my Patron was, they might try to kill me because of it. She didn''t explain why. She implied that she was an immortal¡ªor at least different from normal mortals¡ªand that it was Forbidden for her to interfere directly in mortal affairs. Since I''m her Chosen champion, however, apparently she can bend the rules a little and exert some influence on events around me. Personally, I think that''s the point of the whole thing; I think us Chosen are catspaws for the Gods or their equivalents. The problem is that I have no idea which Goddess she was. She really didn''t give me any hints in that direction."


    Brighid was chewing on her bottom lip as she listened to his description of the dream. "Do you remember anything about the room you were in aside from your bed¡ªor bedmate?"


    Aidan blushed, but replied, "Not much. It was opulent, like something from a palace. The only thing I really remember is that there were lit braziers all along the edges of the room."


    Brighid nodded. She turned back to the north and resumed walking. After a long enough silence that Aidan began his magic training again, she finally said, "Thank you, Aidan, for telling me that. I won''t hold your secrets against you if they are as dangerous as that one was. I have my suspicions about your Patron, but I want to think longer and pray on it before I share them, if that is alright with you. I will say that, if I am correct about their identity, you have nothing to fear from the Starchasers." Her tail swished extravagantly behind her. "In fact, you would be owed an even more extensive apology than you are already."


    Aidan was curious about her conclusion but had no objection to waiting until she was ready to share. Instead, he prompted her, "So, any thoughts about that last stat point?"


    Brighid''s tail swished again. "Well, there is Attractiveness for the obvious, Agility to make your hands even more magic, Endurance to make sure you can keep going all night, Might for better massages..." She giggled, and Aidan would have swatted her on the rump except that she wouldn''t even notice it through her barding.


    "How about Luck, because the one point I have isn''t nearly enough to have paid for the luck I had meeting you?" She gave him a brilliant smile over her shoulder, and that decided the question for him. Sure, maybe it¡¯s a little frivolous, but I¡¯m flying high right now. "Okay, that''s that. Now, any advice about the bonus Skill experience? I forgot to assign the bonus from level 2, and it got randomly assigned. I''m not even sure where it went. I''d like to spend this one a little more fruitfully."


    "The common wisdom is to either raise a low-affinity Skill or increase a Skill that would advance to a new rank for the experience. I would strongly advise against your Fire Magic in any case; that will improve very quickly at this point regardless of what you do."


    "Hmmm," Aidan mused. All of my Skills are 100% affinity, and I don''t have anything that would be pushed over into a new rank. Evasion is close, though. "I guess that''s Evasion, then. 25% extra won''t quite push it to Initiate, but it''ll be very close, and I''m sure you can figure out some way to take it from 9.77 to 10.00 tonight."


    "Aww," Brighid cooed. "You almost just asked me to help you train your defenses! I will make a warrior out of you yet."


    Aidan


    The Realms


    Fourthday, 3rd week of the 7th month, Godless Age 597


    Late Afternoon


    Mistvale Highlands, near Ceallach Macht


    They stopped early that evening; the sun was still several fingers'' width from the mountains when Brighid called the halt. "Ceallach Macht is just over that hill. It is late enough now that I would rather camp here for the night and enter the city tomorrow morning. I would rather not be in that place after dark. I cannot say that it will be any safer during the day, but at least we will be able to see where we are going somewhat easier."


    Aidan nodded. "That seems sound. Shall we set up camp and then get to torturing¡ªI mean, training me?" Brighid smirked at him.


    The training consisted of Brighid drawing a roughly one-yard circle in the ground with the butt of her glaive. "Stand inside and do not step outside of it," were the only instructions she gave him as she backed off and limbered up. The next hour and a half consisted of her attacking him from any and every conceivable angle, chasing him around the circle, and Aidan desperately scrambling to keep from being pushed out. She lashed out with both the butt and the flat of her glaive and even charged bodily through the ring, which Aidan found particularly unfair; her body left him no room inside the lines.


    When he expressed his discontentment to her, though, Brighid just snorted and asked, "Do you think those Trows were concerned about being fair? Your enemies will break every rule they know of to get at you. Do not let them. Instead of complaining, find a way to turn it to your advantage."


    She spent the next ten minutes repeating the charge, until, finally, he grabbed onto her waist as she came and swung himself clumsily up onto her back, clinging on for dear life as she immediately began to buck and leap. When she, at last, came to a shuddering stop, Aidan refused to climb down from until she walked over to the circle.


    "I didn''t step foot outside the circle," he told her when she glowered at him. "And you were the one who told me to break the rules and turn them to my advantage." She stared at him, then burst into laughter.


    "So I did!" She crowed. "Alright, I call that a victory for you. Well done!" Then she wagged her finger at him. "Do not think that, because you did it once, you can do it again, though."


    "You don''t have to worry about that, not while you''re wearing your armor, at least," Aidan admitted with a groan. "I think you genuinely bruised my balls, bouncing me around like that. I''m down fifteen Health from before I tried that stunt."


    "Oohhh, poor baby," Brighid simpered. "Do you want me to kiss them better?"


    Aidan eyed her appraisingly, then winced and said, "I think I''ll stick with Vivimancy tonight. This really hurts. Maybe we can try that later, though?"


    She stuck her tongue out at him, then shook her head. "Not tonight, anyway. As eager as I am to explore further with you, it truly is not safe this close to Ceallach Macht. I am going to be setting an additional ward tonight, and even then, I do not know how much I will sleep."


    "I''m not sure I will, either," Aidan agreed with a frown. He was looking towards the east; the sun was nearly fully set behind the mountains, and the eastern sky was almost pitch-black. "Where are all the stars?"


    Brighid followed his gaze. "You are right. It is still light enough to mask the stars overhead, but the brightest should be visible to the east. This is not good at all. The city is warded still; Mother would know if they had failed. Nothing should be able to leak through and have this kind of effect."


    "Let''s turn in early and start early tomorrow," Aidan suggested. "If we can get there as dawn breaks, that gives us the most sunlight possible. Whatever is causing this clearly has a grudge against the light, so we should make as much use of it as possible."


    Brighid nodded, eyes still fixed to the east. "Yes, you are correct. I think that is a wise plan, indeed."


    They hurried back to camp with a new-found sense of urgency. Both opted to keep their armor on, fearing another night attack, and neither had much appetite for the trail rations. As he settled his back against Brighid''s armored flank, Aidan quickly examined his waiting prompts, then closed his eyes and tried his best to sleep.


    Zurai

 Chosen, Chapter 21: Paths Part

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Fifthday, 3rd week of the 7th month, Godless Age 597


    Pre-dawn


    Mistvale Highlands, near Ceallach Macht


    Aidan woke covered in a cold, clammy sweat. His heart was hammering in his chest, and at first, he thought they were under attack again. When no siren sounded, though, Aidan settled back against Brighid''s armored flank and took stock of the situation. It was still dark outside, although the eastern sky was just beginning to lighten, so he had slept through the night. He felt tired, though, as if he had only managed to take a short nap.


    Brighid murmured and shifted, twitching in her sleep, then began to whimper and shake her head from side to side. He reached up and shook her shoulder, trying to wake her, but she didn''t respond. She started to thrash around, crying out wordlessly, and Aidan scrambled to his feet, then stepped up against her and shook her by her shoulders more firmly. After a few vigorous attempts, she jerked awake, her eyes opening wide in panic and her hand grabbing him around his wrist. He could feel his bones creaking in protest as she squeezed hard, and he could see from the wildness in her eyes that Brighid still saw dream phantoms.


    "Shhh, it''s me, Brighid. You were having a nightmare, it''s okay, you''re awake now," he murmured to her, speaking softly and gently until he saw sanity return to her eyes and she released his wrist.


    "Thank you, Aidan. I was having a most unpleasant dream. I cannot remember the details now, though."


    "I know," he soothed. "I think I had nightmares, too. I didn''t sleep well, anyway."


    Brighid frowned and sighed. "We did not realize that the corruption had grown so strong. The stars last night and now we both have nightmares and wake tired... this is not a coincidence. I can only imagine how bad it will be inside the wards." She rose to her feet and stretched, then bent and retrieved her glaive and saddlebags. Since they slept in their armor, once Aidan retrieved his own backpack, they were ready to break camp. They shared a quick, unappetizing meal, then set out over the last hill.


    Upon reaching the top, Aidan expected to see the object of his quest spread out before him; unfortunately, the thick morning mist was even thicker here than in the rest of the Highlands. What he did see was a massive translucent dome encompassing a large area of flat ground surrounding a large hill. Inside the dome, the mists were even thicker and harder to see through; Aidan could make out the top of the hill, and the shadows of what he assumed were buildings, but little else.


    Beside him, Brighid hissed, "This is bad, very, very bad." He turned to look at her, and she pointed. "Look closely at the mists near the ward. Do you see how they are moving?"


    Aidan looked more closely at the mist itself rather than what was inside of it, but couldn''t see what his friend was referring to. Then, a breeze blew past them from the west, and he realized: the mists were swirling around the dome clockwise, ignoring the wind. No, that''s not quite right; there are multiple layers, and they''re each moving in a different direction. It was clearly not even a little natural, and Aidan''s stomach began to knot up with apprehension.


    Brighid continued, "The mists outside the wards should not be affected by anything inside. Either something outside is trying to break in, or something inside has already managed to break out. Even worse, it is being done in a way that Mother and the other ward-holders cannot detect, or there is no way she would have tricked me into escorting you here. If she knew of this, Ceallach Macht would already have been dealt with one way or another."


    "So... what does that mean for us? For my quest?" Aidan asked slowly, not liking where this was headed.


    Brighid grimaced and shook her head. "Unfortunately, the terms of the quest are clear. If you turn your back on Ceallach Macht, you will fail the quest, and I will be compelled to kill you. Brigantia''s flames claim that bitch Anwn, I know it was her who insisted on that." She audibly ground her teeth in anger and frustration. "We have no choice, I am sorry to say. We must enter Ceallach Macht, find the root of the evil within, and burn it to ashes." She started to walk down the hill but stopped when Aidan called out to her to wait.


    "You''re wrong, Brighid. I don''t have a choice, that is true. For me, it''s either enter that city down there and probably die or fail the quest and definitely die. You, on the other hand, do. This is my quest, Brighid, not yours. Your mother even told you that you were not to shoulder my burdens and implied that you do not need to help me now that I am here. Please, I beg of you, turn away, go back to the village, and warn the Council of what is happening here. No, listen to me!" He commanded her forcefully as she shook her head in protest. "This is bigger than you or me. You know that is true. I must go face my fate, but if we both die down there, then your people will remain unaware of the threat on their border for who knows how much longer. You need to go back and warn them. You''re the only one who can."


    Aidan inhaled deeply and closed his eyes, then opened them again and gave Brighid a reassuring smile. "Besides, I have a trick up my sleeve that you don''t know about. I know you told me to swear no oaths to you, but I''m going to have to ask forgiveness. I swear to you, Brighid: this is good-bye for now, not good-bye forever. You will see me again, I promise. And not as a creepy Manikin, either. Go on now. You know in your heart that I''m right." Tears streamed from the centaur''s eyes as she shook her head in denial. He told her again, voice gentle now, "Go, Brighid. And tell Roark that I did as he asked."


    Brighid stared at Aidan for long moments, and he feared that she would refuse to leave, but then, with a strangled, grief-stricken cry, she reared up on her hind legs, whirled in place, and leaped into a full gallop back towards the south. He examined the prompts which popped into his mind, then dismissed them and turned back to face the swirling mists of the forbidden city.


    Aidan quickly assigned one point each to Intuition, Willpower, and Charisma, two to Toughness, and one to Luck. Without Brighid to guard him, he was going to need the extra Health and whatever assistance Luck could bring him. A quick examination of his Skills led him to put that bonus into Evasion again, which brought another prompt.


    Once he could no longer hear Brighid''s hoofbeats, Aidan relaxed and allowed himself to acknowledge that he was almost certainly going to suffer his first death in the valley below. He wished he knew more about the respawn process in The Realms; did he get to keep his gear, how long in-game time would it take, would he leave a body to be reanimated by whatever necromancer ruled the city and would that interfere with the respawn?


    He didn''t know the answers to those questions, and didn''t want to find out, but all he could do was follow his heart. Refusing to enter Ceallach Macht would force Brighid to kill him, and he couldn''t make her do that. He didn''t even know if one killing would be enough for the quest''s failure condition or whether she would be forced to continue to hunt him down. Not an option.


    On the other hand, he also couldn''t take Brighid with him. Undoubtedly, her assistance would be beyond valuable in fighting whatever waited below; his plan didn''t involve fighting, though. She would do far more good by leaving him behind and warning her people. It was hard giving up the assistance of someone as capable as the fire-haired centaur, but he was confident he made the right decision.


    He planned to sneak into the city using the mist as cover and explore as much as possible before dying. If he was lucky, he would uncover useful information to tell the Starchasers when he respawned. If he was fortunate indeed, he might even find something which would persuade them not to kill him for returning with his quest unfinished. Either way, though, there wasn''t much point in lingering. He squared his shoulders, checked the straps of his armor and backpack one last time, and set off into the roiling mists.


    By the time he reached the base of the hill, the mists rose over the top of his head. The closer he got to Ceallach Macht, the harder it became to see where he was going. Patron, if you''re listening, please let whatever sentries are in there be just as blind in this mist as I am. His only hope without any Skill in hiding, moving silently, or anything else stealthy was to move slowly and trust that the mist would give everything else a penalty to finding him. He thought back to the old man berating him for choosing mage over the other options and mentally tipped his cap to him. There were dozens of other Skills he could have picked that would be far more useful here. Again, though, there was no sense beating himself up for choices that couldn''t be undone; he could only move on and make what he had work for him.


    It took Aidan a little while to get to the ward, and the feeling of the mist swirling around him against the wind unsettled him more than a little, but at last, he stood at the threshold of Ceallach Macht. He was greeted with another prompt, which he read and quickly dismissed.


    With one last look behind him, making sure Brighid hadn''t circled around and followed him in, Aidan stepped through the barrier. Surprisingly, the ward itself might as well have been empty air for all the resistance or sensation he felt from it while passing through. The other side, though¡­ A sense of dread and despair instantly gripped him. This place was intrinsically wrong somehow. Even the mist felt different, thicker and almost alive in the way it swirled around him. That was something he hadn''t considered¡ªcould the mist itself act as a sentry and provide a warning to the inhabitants?


    He quickly decided that he couldn''t change his plan. If the mist did function as a warning system, then he''d already triggered it. If it didn''t, then the plan was still his best shot. He did have one thing to do immediately, however. Having already accepted that he wouldn''t survive this visit, he removed the silver talisman from around his neck and placed it on the ground. He had to destroy his only way out of this place; his plan was literally to die and respawn, and he didn''t know if he would keep the key or not, so he had no choice.


    He pointed the palm of his right hand towards the talisman and invoked his Flame Jet spell. A stream of fire poured out of his hand and engulfed the key. After the 5-second duration was up, he cast it again, then a third and a fourth time as rapidly as he could. After the fourth cast, he waved the mist away and knelt down to inspect his handiwork. The talisman was a bubbling pool of molten silver rapidly hardening in the cool, moist air. Quickly, he swiped the tip of his sword through the molten metal, deforming it further and separating it into multiple clumps. I hope that''s enough; I don''t know how to destroy it more thoroughly than that.


    Obligations complete, Aidan oriented himself with the ward at his back and proceeded into the city.


    Zurai

 Chosen, Chapter 22: What Lies Within

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Fifthday, 3rd week of the 7th month, Godless Age 597


    Early morning


    Ceallach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Aidan crouched down and began to move slowly and carefully into the ancient city. He probed the ground carefully with every step before committing his weight to it, doing his best to avoid stepping on any loose stones or unfortunately-placed dry sticks. A part of his mind railed against the painful slowness of his progress, but the rest of him knew that undue haste would just get him killed for no benefit.


    The wards actually began a distance from the outskirts of the city, and Aidan estimated that it took him at least an hour before he began to see the vague shadows of buildings rising in the mists. Curiously, while the fog near the wards was incredibly dense, it thinned somewhat as he moved towards the center of the area covered by the dome. It still provided him with plenty of concealment¡ªhe hoped¡ªbut instead of barely being able to see his own hands at the ends of his arms, he could now actually make out large shapes about three to four yards out.


    The first buildings Aidan came upon were barely more than piles of rubble. Time, and perhaps violence, had ravaged them quite thoroughly. He thought for a moment about digging through the remains, but quickly discarded that thought. It would take too long, and Aidan seriously doubted he would find any valuable information in the very first ruined building he stumbled across. Instead, he crept further into the city, searching for a more intact structure to investigate.


    The sun was burning directly overhead when Aidan found the first building he considered worth checking. The wall facing the street he had been following was still standing, along with parts of the roof, although the door had long since rotted away. He slowly eased his way inside. The mist was significantly lighter inside, except directly inside the door and under the holes in the roof, and Aidan could see the entire interior in fair detail. Unfortunately, there wasn''t much to see. There were lumps of heavily decayed and worm-eaten organic debris, little more than dirt mounds really, where once there might have been tables and chairs. He spent several minutes carefully poking through several of them but found nothing except dirt and some extremely rusted fragments of iron that were probably nails at some point in the distant past. Curiously, no bugs crawled from the debris as he searched through it.


    He turned and began to make his way out, but froze when he heard a noise outside the empty doorway. Aidan held perfectly still and strained his ears until he heard it again.


    shshshshthlp. shshshshthlp.


    The noise slowly approached the doorway, and Aidan''s heart began to pound in his chest as he moved as quickly as he dared to place his back against the wall near the door. He held a hand facing the entrance and hovered just on the edge of casting Flame Jet.


    shshshshthlp. snfffffp. shshshshthlp.


    The noises drew closer, and he began to hear a softer noise in between the longer, more drawn out sounds which initially drew Aidan''s attention. It sounded like something dragging across the ground, interspersed with an occasional snuffle like a dog searching for a morsel of food which rolled under the couch.


    shshshshthlp. snffffffffffffffp.


    The sounds were coming from directly outside. Aidan''s fingers tensed involuntarily, assuming the position of the first gesture in Flame Jet.


    snfffffffffffp


    A desiccated snout covered in dry, leafless vines poked into the building, and he could see the nostrils flare as the creature inhaled, searching for a scent. Aidan said a silent prayer to anyone who might care to listen, then pushed off the wall, swiveled to face the monster in the doorway, and cast Flame Jet as quickly as he could. He got a momentary glimpse of a large, vine-covered boar corpse bathed in the red glow of his magic gathering, and it had just enough time to squeal out its discovery before his spell completed. Flames poured from his palm, and the squeals turned to screeches of pain.


    Aidan was so distracted by the surge of adrenaline in his system that he completed a full second Flame Jet cast before he realized that the first reduced the monster to a bonfire smelling of rotten bacon and patchouli. He stood there, arm outstretched towards the remains of the beast, panting heavily, mind temporarily blank. This was the first time in his life he had been the initiator of intense violence, and it felt different than the rattok and trow attacks.


    After a long moment, he remembered that the Manikin squealed rather loudly just before he torched it. If anything else was nearby, there was no way they could have missed that noise. Unfortunately, the Manikin was still merrily burning in the doorway. Fortunately, there were plenty of other holes in this ruined building. As he made his way towards a pile of rubble leading up to a hole in the rear wall, Aidan checked the combat log.


    Well, that confirms what we suspected about their weakness to fire. That''s one light in the darkness, at least.


    Making more noise than he would prefer, Aidan scrambled up the pile of debris and out the hole in the wall. He moved perpendicular to his previous path as best he could, creeping along to the next street over. Aidan didn''t know whether that thing was acting alone, as part of a group, or even whether it was specifically searching for him. What he did know was that he needed to get away from there now. He moved as quickly as he dared, looking around the corner of one pile of rubble, then hurrying to crouch behind the next, changing his direction of travel multiple times so as not to leave a straight trail. After about ten minutes with no sign of pursuit or any additional monster sightings, Aidan allowed himself to relax and consider his next steps.


    In his efforts to evade pursuit, he had moved laterally through Ceallach Macht, not really getting any closer to his goal, the center. While a city wasn''t a traditional dungeon and didn''t have an end, Aidan guessed that the boss of this place would be close to the middle of the city. He had very little hope of actually defeating the boss if he found it, but any information on it should prove helpful to the Starchasers. With that in mind, Aidan did his best to orient himself back towards where he thought the center of the dome was and resumed his slow, hopefully-stealthy progress.


    As he navigated the rubble-strewn alleys and foggy streets of Ceallach Macht, doubts began to creep their way into Aidan''s thoughts. I should never have come here. I sent a warning to the Starchasers; once Brighid left, I was under no moral obligation to them. I would have failed the quest, and maybe they would have sent someone after me, but surely they wouldn''t chase me once I left their territory? It''s not like I have any chance in here, despite the Council''s promises. They told me to my face that it was a task I could accomplish, and clearly it isn''t. I have no business here. It was only luck¡ªor Luck¡ªthat let me take out that Manikin so easily, and that there was only one. If there had been two, I''d be dead already. And moving around is the surest way to attract attention; I should find somewhere to hole up in.


    Before he knew it, Aidan was standing in front of a hole in the wall of another partially-intact building. He felt enervated, lost, and alone. He began to squeeze into the building, seeking somewhere dark and small where he could curl up and vanish from the world. Once he managed to work his way inside, the building really was perfect. It was dark and gloomy, with only the diffuse light from the hole he just came in from to light up the interior. There was very little space, as the entire front half of the building collapsed inwards towards the back.


    Aidan swept some dirt and dust out of the way with a corner of his tunic. He wedged himself in with his back to the corner, hunched over, thighs against his chest and chin resting on his knees. He was famished and started to reach for one of the centaur trail rations, but then decided, No. If I¡¯m going to die in some miserable misbegotten place, I want some real food in my belly when I go.


    Aidan retrieved his box of holding, then reached inside and summoned a burger into his hand. It is still steaming hot, like it was just out of the frying pan, and for a brief moment, he brightened a bit. Then he popped the shamburger into his mouth and begin to chew. Greasy, savory, balanced with the salty-sharp flavor of good cheddar cheese. Delicious. He swallowed and closed his eyes, basking in the temporary bliss.


    Then Aidan''s eyes snapped open. What the fuck was I thinking?! He recognized the signs of depression, but there was no trigger for it. He had been fine, frazzled, but fine, one minute, then suddenly dark thoughts had assailed him from all the shadowy recesses of his mind. He remembered the nightmares he and Brighid both had the previous night, and realization dawned. In essence, he was just attacked again, this time mentally and emotionally instead of physically. With that realization came another: whatever it was, it wanted him to stop moving and go to ground. It was searching for him, and if he was stationary, it would eventually find him. I have to get moving, now!


    Hurriedly, Aidan stuffed the chest back into his backpack and pushed his way back through the hole in the wall. He looked around quickly once and saw two dark shapes moving slowly towards him down the alley. Not that way, then! He backtracked a little, then moved onto the broad avenue the alley emptied out onto. The Boar Manikin seemed to operate primarily by scent rather than sight, and the two shapes he saw didn¡¯t seem to react to his movement. Being on the open street might actually give him an advantage by letting him spot enemies before they sniffed him out. He could just barely hear the rasping sounds of dried vines against uneven cobblestones echoing through the fog, but he didn''t see any manikins, so he just kept moving.


    Aidan spent at least two hours playing cat and mouse with the manikins hunting him. More than once, a prompt opened in his mind, but he mentally shoved them to the side without looking at them; his focus was entirely on staying alive and moving closer to the city''s center. He made steady progress down the avenue and towards his goal until eventually, he came to a giant archway leading into a tunnel under the hill Ceallach Macht was built around. And, unfortunately, it was very much guarded.


    Aidan was still too far away to make out the exact details, but there was an enormous shape hunched at each side of the archway. Where the Boar Manikin had been about the size of a really fat pony, and the other shapes he had been dodging through the fog were within that same general size range, these things were at least as tall as Fionn, and he wasn''t entirely sure that they were standing at full height. Aidan edged closer and closer, trying to get a solid look at one of them through the mist. He gave it up as too risky before he could tell anything more than that they were roughly humanoid in shape, with broad shoulders and long arms but comparatively short legs. They smelled absolutely foul¡ªhe could smell them from at least ten yards away¡ªbut not rotten; they might be living creatures.


    Clearly, this tunnel led to something important if it had dedicated, potentially living¡ªand able to think on their own¡ªguards. Aidan desperately wanted to get past them. The only question was how to manage it?


    As he began to formulate his plan, he quickly checked over the prompts he had been ignoring.


    Zurai

 Interlude: The Girl in the Sunbeams

    Sunnild


    Fifthday, 3rd week of the 7th month, Godless Age 597


    Early Morning


    Near Ceallach Macht, High Above the Mistvale Highlands


    Sunnild stretched her wings to their fullest extent, soaring high above the Highlands. This was what she loved best in life: flying high and free, feeling the wind caressing her feathers, with no one to tell her what to do or how to do it. Oh, she''d get a tongue-lashing from Wingleader Frythe once she returned to the Ayrie, but out here, Sunnild could do whatever she wanted. If she flew in lazy circles over the north end of the Stargrazer lands where nothing ever happened for no other reason than to feel the sun on her back, so what? Her assigned task was to scout the horses, and that''s what she was doing. The only thing bothering her about this patrol was that she wouldn''t have the chance to find herself a concubine. The dumb horses weren''t cross-fertile, and no one else ever came near Ceallach Macht since the wards went up.


    Or did they? The morning sun glinted off metal far below, catching Sunnild''s eye. She furled her wings and leaned forward, diving down to get a better look. A few seconds later, she snapped out of the dive, beating the air furiously to hover in place. The metal turned out to be a heavily-armored centaur running at breakneck speed south, straight toward the horses'' village and away from the Lost City. "What in the world?" She murmured to herself. "What got yer tail in a twist?" Sunnild wheeled and raced northward.


    It only took ten minutes for Sunnild to see the cause of the commotion. The Valley of Dreams writhed. The wards were still active, but for how much longer? Then she spotted something even more baffling. A human, here? And moving toward Ceallach Macht? She needed to report this to the Wingleader, but curiosity kept Sunnild circling the valley. She didn''t get a good look at the human until he was almost to the ward. And a him it was, too; human females didn''t have beards, even scruffy little ones like that. "Why are ya trying to get into the city, little man? Are ya lost? I can give ya an alternative ta suicide if ya want..." She tucked her wings in and dove again, skimming the edge of the ward, but she had to pull up short when he stepped right through the barrier as if it wasn''t there.


    Sunnild gawked, all four dove-grey wings beating to keep her from plowing into the ground like a fledgling. "How did ya do that? Did ya steal a wardstone from the horses? But no, that Stargrazer I saw earlier could have caught ya if it wanted. Something else is going on. And now what are ya doing?" The human set something on the ground, then threw fire at it several times. "Destroying the wardstone? This is a right mystery, it is. Well, nothing for it, gotta report this now. Getting what I deserve, too, for not paying closer attention. I coulda snatched him up and at least had some answers if I got here five minutes earlier. Mebbe even saved him, got a grateful male fer my nest. Ah, well, I can dream about what-ifs on the way back..."


    Sunnild


    Early Afternoon


    The Ayrie, Mistvale Highlands


    Sunnild cupped her wings and braced her legs. I hate this part! Flying was easy, landing... She skidded and skipped to a stop just shy of the doorway leading inside the Ayrie from the landing platform. Facing straight forward, she folded her wings up and headed inside, pretending not to hear the snickers from her sisters nearby. She couldn''t ignore it when one of them followed her inside, though.


    "Oh look, the little dove is back so early." Sunnild didn''t look back, but she knew who spoke and could see the sneer on her face in her mind''s eye. "You were supposed to be out for a week, Sunnild, and yet three days later, here you are. What happened, did a Stargrazer yell at you and startle you back to your roost? You are as much of a coward as your mother."


    The words cut deep into Sunnild''s heart, as they always did, but she knew better than to show pain. "Who is more of a coward, Ecgwena: the one who attacks someone she knows will not fight back, or the one who endures the attack and continues performing her duty? Speaking of duty, I need to report to the Wingleader." She continued walking down the hall, pulling her wings in tight to her body to make her trembling less visible.


    Wingleader Frythe''s office was close to the landing platform, so it didn''t take Sunnild long to reach her destination. She slumped against the wall beside the door for a moment, trying to steady her nerves before she knocked. Unfortunately, the Wingleader proved her reputation to be well-founded again. "Come in, Sunnild." Sunnild tapped her head against the wall, berating herself for not pausing to calm down farther up the hallway. Then, she opened the door and entered her commanding officer''s cramped office.


    Wingleader Frythe looked up from the papers on her desk, her frown creating a network of creases on her weathered face. "You are back early, Sunnild. Usually, I have to reprimand you for being late. Make your report." Sunnild sucked in a breath, then let it out in a slow stream, adopting the state of mind her mother had drilled into her since before she had learned to talk.


    "I aborted my patrol of the northeastern quadrant of Starchaser territory per emergency protocol. Ceallach Macht has awakened. The seals are compromised. Early this morning, I spotted..." She let the formality of the debrief flow through her, discharging her duty to her sisterhood.


    Zurai

 Chosen, Chapters 23-25: With Eyes Blazing; Wicked Plan; The Warrior (Interludes)

    Zurai


    Brighid


    The Realms


    Fifthday, 3rd week of the 7th month, Godless Age 597


    Morning


    Mistvale Highlands, route from Ceallach Macht to the Starchaser Village


    Brighid raced back through the mists as fast as she could push herself. The weight of her armor didn''t help, but the centaur racial Trait Longwinded meant that she wasn''t going to run out of Stamina any time soon, even at a gallop. She poured all of her energy into running; it would take her the entire day at top speed to return to the village, and she was Aidan''s only hope for survival.


    Her mind whirled as she ran; she hated herself for abandoning Aidan to die in Ceallach Macht, but he was right, her people did need to be warned, and she was the only one who could do it. She was also confused about what he meant by swearing they would see each other again. Hope fluttered in her heart, but she ruthlessly crushed it. There was no way Aidan could survive the evil she could feel emanating from the lost city, and pretending that his words were anything but a gentle lie to persuade her to do what she knew she needed to do would just cause her more pain and suffering in the end. Even with his last words, she thought, he sacrificed himself for the greater good; oaths are sacred, and there is no way he can keep that one. Maybe he thought his death would absolve him, but Brighid knew all too well that such an unkept oath could bind his spirit to the Realms as a spectral undead. She despaired at the thought and angrily scrubbed away at the tears she could feel staining her cheeks.


    On and on she galloped, eating away at the miles between the cursed city and her village. She was soaking in sweat, her armor dug into her painfully, and her breath grew ever shorter, but she refused to waste any of the time Aidan had bought for her and her tribe. Her Stamina was nearly completed depleted, and the sun well past its zenith, when she finally thundered into the village, barely managing to pull herself up short before she ran down one of the guards.


    "Mother! Where is my mother? I have to warn her! Where is she?" She gasped at the guards.


    They glanced at each other and responded, "Brighid? What is the matter? We can send for her if you would¡ª"


    "Brigantia burn you, this is important. Just tell me where she is!"


    "Peace, daughter. Dampen the flames of your anger before they burn you." Brighid looked past the guards, and there, of course, maddeningly, was her mother in all her petite serenity.


    "How did you know¡ªno, never mind that now. It can wait. There is something I must tell you," Brighid glanced back at the guards, "in private."


    Ailis clicked her tongue, but beckoned her daughter to follow her into the nearby guard hut, empty at the moment due to the clear weather. "What is it, Brighid? What has you in such a state? I assume it has to do with that human trespasser and his quest?"


    Green flames burned with righteous anger in Brighid''s eyes. "Yes, mother, it has to do with Aidan''s quest. The wards around Ceallach Macht are failing, or have already failed. Last night, we camped out of view of the city and both of us were tormented by nightmares the entire night through. Then, when we reached the city, the mists around it were swirling around the wards completely regardless of the wind. It was clearly magical, and it extended out for at least a hundred meters from the wards."


    She looked into her mother''s shocked face and ground out the next words from between clenched teeth, fighting against the tears returning to her eyes. "Aidan refused to let me enter the city with him, Councillor Ailis. He was compelled to enter by your quest on pain of death, but he convinced me to turn back and bring you this warning. He knew he was walking to his own death and still he put the well-being of his executioners above his own. It was not even that he refused an offer of help; I did not even think of leaving him to face that place alone, but he saw clearly where I did not. I say to you now: there can be no clearer proof in my mind than this that Aidan Lostlorn is a friend of the Starchasers. Lift the geas from him, Councillor. Let him leave Ceallach Macht¡ªif it has not killed him already." With the last, the tears finally began to spill down her cheeks.


    Ailis closed her eyes and bent her head. After several tense seconds, she said, "It is done, my heart, but he still will not be able to leave." She raised a hand to forestall her daughter''s heated response. "I do not know if he yet lives or not, but his talisman was destroyed this morning, shortly after sunrise. He cannot pass back through the wards." Brighid clamped her jaw shut, barely biting back a wail; she was the one who told him not to let the talismans fall into the wrong hands, at any cost. He must have done it immediately after passing the wards, sure that he wasn''t going to survive.


    "I am sorry, deeply sorry, my little spark. I swear to you that I did not know that things had progressed to such a state. When we first raised the wards, we could feel fierce attacks against them almost nightly. Over time, the attacks diminished, and none of us have felt anything for at least a year. I thought that the evil within had been starving and withering away without contact with the outside world. I truly believed that with you at his side, the human¡ªAidan¡ªwould be able to finish cleansing the city and return it to its slumber." Ailis sighed and brushed a hand across her own cheek. "I was arrogant and wrong, and I am sorry."


    "I am not the one you need to apologize to, Councillor. Not for that. I will consider an apology for manipulating me into escorting Aidan instead of just asking, though, were such an apology made to me."


    Ailis winced and shook her head ruefully. "That manipulation was not meant for you, my heart, but I am sorry that you were hurt by it regardless. That arrow was aimed at Fionn and Anwn. I will not air dirty Council laundry, but I sent you to fetch Aidan to us because I knew that if you overheard that they wanted to send him off with Steffan you would intervene. I could not ask it of you openly because Fionn and Anwn would have objected, but I trusted you to do the right thing. And my trust has been rewarded, even though your trust in me has not. Be assured, daughter, that you did do the right thing even though I can see how it tears at your heart. I will talk of this more with you later, but now I must speak with the Council. We need to discuss where we will relocate to." Ailis turned to leave, but before she had even taken a step, Brighid''s hand was clenched tightly around her upper arm.


    "What?! You are just going to abandon Aidan¡ªand even if you do not care about him, abandon our lands, our history¡ªwithout even considering facing the threat?! No, Councillor. I will not permit it." Brighid raised her voice so that it would carry out to the guards standing at the nearby entrance of the village and spat, "I formally appeal this matter to the judgment of the full Council and demand my right to address that body on the merits of my argument." She lowered her voice to a hiss. "I swear to you now, mother: I am going back to Ceallach Macht. I am going to retrieve Aidan, or, Braihan help me, his body. He has acted in better faith and with far more loyalty than any of us deserve from him, and I will not let the evil of that place claim him. You can either watch me go alone, or help me present my case to the Council on why we should attack the city in force. Your choice. You know where to find me when the Council calls."


    Brighid angrily pushed past her mother, ignoring the prompt which appeared in her head. She already knew what it said. She swore an oath, and she intended to keep it.


    Ailis


    The Realms


    Fifthday, 3rd week of the 7th month, Godless Age 597


    Sunset


    Starchaser Village, Mistvale Highlands


    Ailis watched her daughter storm out of the guard post. Her plans were coming together, but she hated having to deceive good people to get things done, and she loathed having to mislead her daughter. She tried her best to tell at least the literal truth to Brighid, but she knew she had twisted the truth into loops and coils that spelled out something completely different.


    Ailis hadn''t known the condition of Ceallach Macht, but she''d suspected. Evil could very rarely be beaten by ignoring it, and in a place as steeped in power and mystery as the lost city, there was little doubt in her mind that it had only changed tactics. She was always opposed to letting the city fester and rot, but when the troubles first started, her position on the Council was too new and fragile to force the issue. She had been carefully, slowly maneuvering ever since to guide the Council into re-examining the issue and reversing its previous judgment. It had been her own stories of the ancient wonders of the city to a young Brighid that planted the seed of her daughter''s determination to cleanse it, and she had carefully nurtured and pruned the sapling which had grown from the seed over the years.


    The other Council members were a hidebound lot, rarely choosing to buck tradition. She was fond enough of it herself, but some of her fellow Councillors tended to forget that tradition was not law and that the distinction was meaningful. She was no longer the junior member of the Council¡ªAnwn had stepped into the role left by old Rhiain''s death a few years ago and proven to be a thorn in Ailis''s side. The girl was extremely talented in her fields and held the respect, if not the love, of all the tribe''s hunters and border patrol guards. Still, she was so uncomfortable dealing with the problems of people that she let the past dictate her every action. Fionn was hardly any better. The old soldier wasn''t tied quite as tightly to tradition''s apron strings, but he had seen so many friends die in battle that it would take a miracle to convince him that attacking Ceallach Macht was strategically sound. Eilwen, too, was a traditionalist, and she hated anything more violent than a wooden spoon across the back of the hand. Sometimes Ailis was able to play on that to lead the old broodmare into doing the right thing, as she had with Aidan, but just like Fionn, she would never agree to send their people into the lost city on her own. As for Gerwyn, the trader was much less stuck in the past than the other Councillors, but he was still risk-averse. He could be led to water, but she could never make him drink from this particular pool. No, she couldn''t approach this problem head-on. She had to manipulate events to start a fire that even Eilwen would have to admit would burn them all to ashes if left to burn on its own.


    Ailis knew that manipulating her daughter in the way she had made her a monster of a parent, and it rent her heart asunder. If left unchecked, however, the corruption at the core of Ceallach Macht would eventually escape the wards and emerge much stronger than it had been when it was first contained. She had been grooming her daughter to lead the crusade for a decade now, and the arrival of the poor, lost, innocent human had been precisely the catalyst she''d needed to finally set her plans in motion. She couldn''t send her daughter to investigate the city directly; it wouldn''t have enough of an impact. The others would only view Brighid as a young firebrand aching for adventure, and even if convinced of the severity of the trouble, would have just voted to relocate their tribe somewhere farther away. Even Brighid herself wouldn''t be as fervently against leaving Ceallach Macht to fester without some other factor in play. She needed her daughter to do it for someone else''s sake rather than her own.


    She also knew that sacrificing Aidan''s life for her peoples'' welfare made her a monster of a person. She had not expected him to be so noble as to convince Brighid to abandon him for her people, but that result was even better for her plans. Brighid had clearly grown quite friendly with the human over their short time together, which Ailis had counted on. She expected Brighid to accompany him into the city, watch him be gruesomely killed, then escape. She expected Brighid to return, battered and haunted to warn the Council, and gather warriors to her to cleanse Ceallach Macht in the name of her fallen friend. A possible rescue, however, or retrieval of the body of one so unquestionably honorable, would be much more compelling. She grieved for Aidan, but she knew in her heart that she had acted in the best interest of the tribe. She was a Druid, and all Druids knew that sometimes you have to cull one infant from a litter so that the others would live to grow strong. Besides, she recognized a mark of the Divine on the young man. He had been touched by a Power of Benevolence, and there was always a chance that he might just surprise them in the end.


    Ailis stepped out of the guard post and walked quickly and with purpose towards the Council Hall. The sacrifices were made; now, it was time to give Brighid the warriors she would need for her crusade.


    Fionn


    The Realms


    Fifthday, 3rd week of the 7th month, Godless Age 597


    Night


    Starchaser Village, Mistvale Highlands


    Fionn observed Ailis carefully, his face an impassive mask. As usual, she was circling her actual objective from a great distance, attacking from an oblique angle. Her body wasn''t relaxed enough, and her eyes had gone just a shade too dark, for her current conversation about the village''s food situation to be what she really cared about. He nodded along and made the appropriate noises as she built her case for moving the village in the near-term future. It was when she started talking about the warriors and hunters that he began to piece together her real agenda. He looked more closely and saw the signs that she didn''t know she gave off. Her tail was twitching in the way she had when she was worried for her daughter; her eyes kept glancing northward without her seeming to realize; she was twisting a ring around her finger like she did when magic was on her mind.


    Fionn held up one large, calloused hand, stopping Ailis in mid-sentence. "How bad is it, Ailis?" She blinked at him, confused, and he clarified. "Ceallach Macht. Brighid came back late this afternoon, drenched in sweat and demanding to see you, and she came without the human. Something has happened at Ceallach Macht, and you want me to vote a certain way in the Council. I enjoy playing your games with you, Councillor, but just this once let us talk directly. How bad is it?"


    A look of surprise came over the silver-haired woman''s face, but only for a moment. "It is bad. The wards are failing, being bypassed. I do not know how long we have before they break completely. Fionn, you have asked me to be direct, so I will. We cannot let this stand any longer. We must cleanse Ceallach Macht before it is too late. Containing the evil has only let it grow stronger in peace, and we cannot travel far enough to be beyond its grasp without completely abandoning our entire territory. We have to¡ª"


    Again, Fionn held up a hand to halt Ailis''s speech. "Twelve years ago, when the Council voted to seal the City of Dreams, we were still recovering from the fighting with the Miststalker tribe. I know you were not very involved with that, Ailis, but we were close to losing that war. We lost almost an entire generation of warriors. When the monsters began to attack around the lost city, we had only a handful of true veteran fighters left¡ªand three of them died in the expedition into the city. Our ranks were mostly green yearlings and old soldiers like me, past their prime. I voted to contain the threat not so that we could ignore it, but so that we could grow stronger ourselves. I do not know if it was the correct decision even now, but it was made with careful consideration."


    Fionn looked Ailis straight in the eyes. "You are smarter than I, and I will even say wiser, Ailis. As I said, I enjoy your games of shadows and hidden messages. But have a care; you are falling into a trap of your own making. You are not the only one who can see the path we tread upon, and you are not the only one who can put what is best for our people above your own cares and worries. Do not allow yourself to think you must always fight alone, or you will find that you will always be alone. Some can walk that path and not be affected, but not you, I do not think.


    "As for Ceallach Macht," he continued with a weary sigh, "You are right. It must be purged at last. You will have my vote in the Council, Ailis. I will speak to Anwn if you will speak to Eilwen." He rolled his shoulders and began to head out of the village towards Anwn''s home.


    Ailis snorted and called after him, "And you accuse me of being devious. You cannot run from her forever! Just give her what she wants, and she will stop ambushing you with cookies and whiskey and waving her tail at you."


    Fionn just grumbled and waved the matter away. He couldn''t retreat forever, but he might be able to keep out of her clutches until the old nag finally keeled over.


    Zurai

 Chosen, Chapter 26: Bound by the Grave (content warning)

    Zurai


    Aidan


    The Realms


    Fifthday, 3rd week of the 7th month, Godless Age 597


    Early Afternoon


    Ceallach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Even if the guards were manikins of some type, Aidan wouldn''t be able to fight them; he couldn''t believe that they would go down to a single Flame Jet like the boar earlier had. So, a direct assault was out. He only had level 3 in Stealth, so unless they were the worst possible guards, they would detect him if he tried to sneak past them into the tunnel. It was never safe to plan on your enemy being incompetent, so sneaking was out.


    That left him with two options. He could either find another way in, or he could try to get at least one of the guards to leave its post. He discarded the first option; he didn''t know if another entrance existed, and even if it did, he was running out of time. The afternoon was progressing towards evening, and the light from the sun was beginning to fade. Aidan did not feel safe sleeping in the city; between the nightmares and the hunting packs, there was nowhere to hide. Anything he did would need to be done now.


    If he couldn''t kill the guards, couldn''t sneak past the guards, and couldn''t bypass the guards, then the only choice remaining was to trick the guards. Aidan needed to get them interested in something other than guarding the tunnel. There were still holes in this plan. The guards might not be willing or able to leave the tunnel entrance; Aidan might not be able to make a suitable distraction; the guards might have abilities he wasn''t accounting for; the distraction could even work too well and draw too much attention. Despite all of the potential problems, it was the only choice he saw with even a minimally realistic chance of success.


    Aidan backed away until the tunnel entrance and its guards were hidden in the mist, then began to canvass the nearby area. All he found were ruined buildings and piles of rubble. Still, an idea started to form in his head. First, he needed to keep the patrols away. He was pretty sure that they were tracking him by scent, so with a rueful shrug, he began stripping out of his armor and clothes. Sorry, Roark, I''m sure this isn''t how you envisioned me using the armor you gave me.


    Aidan made a bundle out of his clothes and armor and rubbed them against his groin and armpits. A little gross, but that should hopefully be irresistible to the sniffers. He found a nearby building with a narrow entryway, then worked the bundle inside, making sure to rub it all over the entrance to spread his scent there, too. He wanted this to light up like a big neon sign, but not be quick and easy to access. Aidan backtracked as best he could directly along the path he took to his scent trap so that there wouldn''t be an obvious scent trail leaving the scene. Step one, complete.


    Step two involved finding a pile of rubble with rocks small enough to fit into his chest of holding for ease of transport and access. Aidan gathered about a dozen small stones of roughly the same size, shape, and weight, and put them into the chest; as he hoped, they all stacked into a single inventory slot.


    Finally, step three was to hope that the guards were alive, more or less free-willed, and stupid enough to fall for what he was about to pull. If they could just be bored and not overly fond of each other as well, that would be golden.


    Using all of his minimal skill at Stealth, Aidan approached the tunnel entrance, not from the front, but from almost directly to the side. He stopped as soon as he could easily discern the nearer guard and scarcely make out the shadow of the further one. He reached into his chest of holding, grabbed a rock, hefted it a couple of times in his hand to get a feel for the weight, and threw it as hard as he could at the further guard. His first throw missed, but Aidan wasn''t counting on it to hit. The rock clattered off of the inside of the tunnel, and the guard stirred.


    "Huhhh? Wut wuz dat?" he heard from the far side of the tunnel. The guard''s voice was deep and thick, as if it had a swollen tongue. Even with his Trait, it was difficult to understand them.


    "Wut wuz wut?" The nearer guard asked.


    Step four, complete. Aidan grabbed another rock from his supply, corrected his mental target based on where the voice came from, and threw again.


    "I heard somef¡ªOwww!" Bullseye! Aidan cheered silently. "Somefin jus hit me!"


    "Wuddaya mean somefin jus hit you?" Aidan threw another rock and then immediately began moving in a wide arc towards the other side of the tunnel entrance.


    "I mean somef¡ªOWWW! Stop frowin fings at me!"


    "I''m not frowing anyfing, why you always gotta blame me for everyfing?"


    "I ain''t see nobody over dere but you!"


    "Dat''s cuz dere ain''t nobody over here but me!"


    "Den stop frowing fings at me!"


    "I jus said I ain''t¡ªOwwww!" While the two guards argued, Aidan managed to work his way around to a point much closer to the guard he first targeted and beaned the now farther-away guard with a rock.


    "Oh, wudder you bitchin for?"


    "You frew somefin at me!"


    "Did not!"


    "Did¡ªOWWW! You jus did it agin!"


    "You''s da wun frowin at me, I ain''t frowin at you!"


    Finally, Aidan heard what he had been waiting for: the crash of a larger rock being frow¡ªthrown. The far guard missed its target, the rock shattering against a nearby building, but its yelled shout of, "Now I''m frowin fings at you!" was music to Aidan''s ears. He watched the nearby guard reach down to pick up a rock the size of his head and fling it in the general direction of the other guard. A meaty smack was audible as the stone connected, and a roar of rage erupted from its target.


    Aidan quickly backed up as the creatures exchanged projectiles, then finally, one charged at the other in a fit of rage. Plan successful! Now he needed to hope that they were too busy beating the shit out of each other to notice him slip past. Yells and shouts and the sound of giant fists striking thick flesh provided more than enough noise that he didn''t even bother trying to move silently, and he was far enough from the fight that he felt they were unlikely to see him. Aidan moved quickly as he could, sticking to the side of the tunnel, and stopped for a moment to assess the situation once he was sure he hadn''t been spotted.


    The mist thinned out and vanished entirely within four yards of the tunnel entrance. One thing Aidan didn''t count on but should have was that the tunnel was only dimly lit from a series of widely-spaced gems near the top of the fifteen-foot-high walls. The effect reminded him of the lighting in movie theaters when the trailers are playing: just barely light enough to allow people to enter and leave without killing themselves on the stairs. The problem was that if there were anything in the middle of the path, he wasn''t going to be able to see it. The light just barely illuminated the walls themselves, everything else was pitch black. He might be able to make a makeshift torch out of some cloth and a wrapper from a centaur ration or something, but the light would be far better at showing everything down here precisely where he was than it would be at letting him see any better. Nothing for it but to soldier on, then.


    As he advanced farther down the tunnel, it narrowed perceptibly, and side passages branched off at irregular intervals. Part of Aidan wanted to explore one, but the very existence and scope of the main tunnel made him believe that the heart of the city was going to be straight ahead of him. This wasn''t an actual dungeon, constructed to be confusing and hard to navigate and to protect the boss while it schemed nefarious schemes. This was part of a city, a grand avenue leading into an underground facility of some kind. He didn''t see any large government-style buildings out in the city proper, though, of course, he didn''t explore it very thoroughly and could hardly see the next block over; he might have missed one. Still, there was going to be something important at the end of this road, and he was determined to find out what it was.


    Aidan lost track of time in the darkness as he slowly, quietly, carefully sneaked his way down the middle of the road. Eventually, the tunnel narrowed down until it was no more than a hallway, and soon enough, that hallway ended at an archway. Well, this has to be it, he thought, and stepped through.


    Inside was a large, but not massive, circular chamber, better lit than the tunnel outside but still dim. The floor was some sort of mosaic, and there were several exits aside from the one Aidan just came through. That wasn''t what really attracted his attention, though. Somehow, this room was absolutely covered in leathery-looking vines, like the ones on the Boar Manikin. At the center of the room, buried within a thick tangle of creepers, was what looks like an altar. It was hard to tell because the vines encased it almost completely, but there weren''t many things that were large, flat, rectangular slabs of stone. As Aidan watched, the plants twitched and pulsed, the movement emanating from the altar and spreading out across the room, almost like a heart pumping blood to the rest of the body.


    Aidan didn''t know what exactly was going on, but he could make an educated guess. The vines were too similar to the manikin for them not to be related, and the way they pulsed made him think that they were drawing power from this room somehow. Fortunately, he already knew that they burned. He was afraid to go too far into the chamber for fear of stepping on or tripping over a vine, but Aidan carefully maneuvered himself as close as he dared to the center, then raised his ruby rod and began chanting.


    When the stream of flame shot from the ruby, instead of concentrating it on a single spot, he swept it in broad arcs across the entire altar. The reaction was immediate. The plants convulsed and then began to writhe and pull free from the walls with loud pops. He ducked under a tendril that dropped from the ceiling and cast Flame Jet again, pouring fire onto the altar. More and more vines pulled free from the walls, but in the light of his spell, he could see that some of them had fallen limp and lifeless. It''s working! Aidan thought, and allowed a small bit of hope to creep into his heart.


    Then a vine wrapped around his chest from behind and yanked Aidan off of his feet. The fire stream vanished as he lost his concentration on the spell, and then he was slammed into the wall at high speed. Pain burst across his consciousness, and all the breath left his body. Another vine coiled around his leg, then another seized the opposite arm. Within moments he was encased in dozens of leathery creepers, completely immobilized.


    The plants turned Aidan to face one of the exits of the chamber, and he saw a tall, thin humanoid standing there, its hands outstretched and glowing a sickly green laced with pulses of darkness. Its androgynous features would have been beautiful but for the look of utter hatred marring its face.


    "And lo do I spy a funny little rat, creeping through my door. Feisty little rat, it was you who burned my boar." Its fingers twitched, and the vines holding Aidan''s arms and legs began to pull in four different directions. Pain raced down his limbs as the pressure slowly increased. "Clever little rat, evaded all my patrols. Cunning little rat, bamboozled both the dakhols." Again its fingers twitched; the pulling increased sharply. "Naughty little rat, sneaked into my bower. Stupid, stupid little rat," the figure hissed, "thought to gnaw away my power!"


    The person pulled its hands apart in a dramatic gesture, and Aidan screamed as his flesh stretched to the limit. A vine snaked its way into his mouth and down his throat, but he hardly noticed as he felt his tail rip free of his body. The pain was intolerable. System: Log out. Confirm! Aidan thought desperately, only to be greeted with an error message.


    Then, he felt another pop, and the darkness mercifully consumed him.


    Zurai

 Chosen, Chapter 27: Love and Death

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Unknown date


    Unknown time


    Mistvale Highlands


    Aidan''s eyes snapped open, and he screamed for several long seconds. Slowly, slowly, it dawned on him that he wasn''t in pain; his arms, legs, tail ... everything was still attached to his body. He wasn''t being subjected to the sick, rhyming couplet equivalent of being drawn and quartered. He wasn''t in the chamber beneath the hill in Ceallach Macht. Still, it took him long minutes for his breath to slow from ragged gasps of panic. Prompts pulsed all along the sides of his vision, and Aidan numbly checked each one¡ªexcept the combat log. That he left minimized; the trauma was far, far too fresh in his mind to revisit even in dry text format.


    Panic filled Aidan anew as he finished reading the death notification and remembered the old man''s warning about death. System: Log out. Confirm!


    This has to be a sick joke, Aidan thought desperately and tried again. System: Log out.


    Confusion and despair warred in Aidan''s mind. Had he actually been transported to another world? He had marveled at how realistic this game was, and Brighid had been far too lifelike to be anything short of a true AI. But that wasn''t possible, was it? If he couldn''t log out of the game, he would die within a week, real-time, of sleep deprivation.


    To make matters worse, he was utterly naked. Not even his backpack was with him. He turned his head to look to either side of him. No chest of holding, either. Everything he had in this world was now gone. Aidan stared up at the gap in the canyon walls above, then realized with a start that it was almost, or maybe just after, noon. He had been dead for at least an entire night and morning.


    Aidan lay naked on the floor for long enough that the sun vanished from his view. Eventually, he decided that his only choice was to treat the Realms as his new reality but to try logging off periodically just in case. There was no way to contact the outside world from inside the game¡ªif game it was, now¡ªso all Aidan could do was hope that he wasn''t doomed to die in two weeks of perceived time. And, if that was his fate, he might as well make the most of the time he had left.


    With that conclusion reached, he needed to return to the Starchaser village. Aidan rolled over and pushed himself to his knees and then his feet. He staggered and fell right back down as his muscles spasmed and cramped. The pain was intense, and he curled up into the fetal position, waiting for the cramps to fade.


    Another fifteen minutes passed before he stood back up, much more slowly and gradually this time, testing each muscle one at a time. The cramps left sharp lingering pain in Aidan''s limbs, but he couldn''t wait for the strain in his muscles to heal, and nothing on his interface indicated that Patch Wounds would work; he was at full Health with no Wounds. Slowly, unsteadily, he placed one foot in front of the other and once more walked out of the canyon. Aidan remembered which way the village lay in general terms, so he started to hobble along. He didn''t know how far it was exactly, but he knew it took most of the night to be marched there from his resting place on top of the hill in front of him. I''m moving a lot slower now, but I''m starting earlier, too. Maybe I can get there by sunup.


    Aidan


    The Realms


    Unknown date


    Mid-morning


    Outside the Starchaser village, Mistvale Highlands


    It was mid-morning before Aidan and one of the village guards mutually spotted each other. He was so relieved to be able to stop and so drained of energy and emotion that Aidan fell onto his knees, head bowed, and waited for a centaur to draw close enough to talk to. He didn''t have the energy to shout. It took a few minutes, during which he stared half-brokenly at the muddy ground under him. Eventually, he heard hoofbeats approach, and a male voice called out in Northern Trade-tongue, "Who are you, and what is your business here? Speak quickly; trespassers are not tolerated in these lands."


    Aidan laughed hoarsely at the centaur''s words and rasped out in Highlands Gallic, "Oh, believe me, I know all too well the price of trespassing in Starchaser lands. Take my life if you must, but please first tell the Council that Aidan Lostlorn has returned from Ceallach Macht and has important information that they need to know." The centaur gasped and took a step backward, and Aidan lifted his head to look at the guard with a rictus grin. "If you''re not going to kill me here and now, may I at least have a blanket to wrap myself in and a dry corner to rest in until they deign to see me?" He let his head loll back down.


    The guard didn''t respond verbally, but the killing strike failed to come, and Aidan could hear rapid hoofbeats heading back towards the village, then raised voices. He wasn''t sure how long he waited there, kneeling in the mud, but a familiar voice broke him out of his daze.


    "Aidan? AIDAN!" Brighid''s mezzo-soprano washes over him, and he struggled to look up, to get to his feet and greet his love, but suddenly she was there, kneeling in the dirt in front of him, wrapping him in her strong arms, his head pressed to her soft breast, her hair flung all around him as she bowed her head over him and sobbed. She stroked his hair and croaked out, "How? How are you here? How, you bastard?"


    All of the emotions Aidan had been trying to ignore caught up to him as Brighid held him in her arms, and tears flowed freely from his eyes to soak his friend''s shirt. "I died, Brighid. It ripped me apart. Limb from limb. It hurt ... so much." Brighid''s arms tightened even more around him, and he felt her tears fall into his hair. "I told you... I had a trick up my sleeve. You... you can''t tell anyone. Please, promise me. I''ll make ... something up about how I got out. But I can''t lie to you. I can''t. I love you and I can''t lie."


    "Shhhh, Aidan. Hush now," she said soothingly, "you do not have to say anything more. Your secret is safe with me. You came back to me, Aidan. I thought you were just telling me a sweet lie to make it easier for me to leave, but you came back." Her voice dropped to a rough, coarse, emotional whisper. "You died, and still, you kept your oath to me."


    Brighid straightened a little and pushed Aidan back away from her so that she could look him in the eyes. Her beautiful emerald green eyes were rimmed with red from crying, and he couldn''t help but to slowly, carefully reach up and brush a tear from her cheek. She captured his hand and held it against her face. Her voice was still coarse and emotional, but was filled with a core of solid steel as she spoke words with the air of ritual about them. "Your honor is my honor. Your life is my life. Our hearts beat as one. Together we will meet what Fate has to offer, for from today we are Companions."


    Something deep inside Aidan compelled a response, and he repeated the words back to her as he stared into the intense green flames of her eyes. "Your honor is my honor. Your life is my life. Our hearts beat as one. Together we will meet what Fate has to offer, for from today we are Companions."


    Brighid''s arms encircled him again, this time one around his shoulders and the other carefully threaded behind his knees. She stood and lifted him up into her arms, cradling him against her as she strode into the village. Aidan''s eyes closed and the last thing he heard before drifting off to sleep was Brighid snarling at one of the guards, "If you point that spear in this direction, Owena, I swear by Brigantia''s flames that I will take it from you and stuff it point first up your officious twat. This man is my Companion and any threat you make to him you make to me. One of you go tell the Council that he will be recovering in my home and they can speak to him after he wakes up on his own, no earlier."


    Zurai

 Chosen, Chapter 28: Anxious Heart

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Unknown Date


    Late Afternoon


    Starchaser village, Mistvale Highlands


    CLANG clang


    Aidan''s consciousness gradually swam up out of the black sea of dreamless sleep. Softness surrounded him, and he was pleasantly warm and comfortable for what felt like the first time in months.


    CLANG clang


    He opened his eyes. He was inside a stone building with a high ceiling. A linen blanket fell into his lap when he sat up; he looked down and saw that he was sitting in the middle of a large, plush, rectangular cushion. A centaur bed?


    CLANG clang clang


    The blanket was dyed a vibrant forest green and skillfully embroidered with intricate patterns that looped and crossed over themselves repeatedly. He was naked under the blanket, but that didn''t bother him. He was almost sure of where he was, and Brighid had already seen everything he had.


    CLANG clang


    Aidan stood, letting the blanket drop to the bed, although he had to disentangle it from his tail. He looked around, examining the room in which he found himself. That''s what it was¡ªa single-story, spacious room, with no divisions between purpose-areas like in an Earth house. The corner he was standing in contained the bed as well as a wooden chest of drawers, presumably holding Brighid''s clothing. Next to that were racks covered in a familiar set of Sunsteel armor.


    clang CLANG clang


    Along the wall to his left lay a fireplace, a series of counters and cabinets lined with hooks, from which dangle various cooking implements, as well as a primitive sink. Barrels, crates, and sacks were lined up against the wall opposite him, near the door. Aidan presumed that those contained food and other vital supplies. A round wooden table took up most of the space near the remaining wall; padded cushions surrounded it. Aidan gave it a critical look and decided that he would need a tall chair to sit at the table comfortably, but that he would probably be OK standing.


    CLANG clang


    Brighid herself was nowhere to be seen, but given the rhythmic pounding of metal on metal coming from outside, it wasn''t hard to guess where she was. Aidan picked up the blanket and wrapped it around himself like a toga. Starchasers may not have a nudity taboo, but I still don''t feel comfortable walking around outside naked, Aidan thought. He headed out the door, interested to see Brighid work.


    CLANG CLANG


    Aidan turned the corner into the open-air forge and leaned against the wall. Brighid was facing partially away from him, so he had a chance to watch her work without her knowing he was there. She was wearing a long leather shirt with a tail dangling down between her forelegs to cover her front and a thick leather blanket over her equine body and legs. She also had a stiff leather apron and gloves on for further protection from sparks and other mishaps that might come from hitting heated metal with large, heavy objects.


    CLANG CLANG CLANG


    She was holding a bar of metal, glowing whitish-yellow, on the anvil with one hand; the heated portion of the bar was attached to a thinner, non-heated rod of metal to let her hold it safely. Her other hand hefted a smith''s hammer, simple in its design with a narrow flat-tipped head, which nonetheless likely weighed at least five pounds. Her arm raised and fell in a smooth rhythm, striking the metal bar in a series of precise blows along its length. Sparks flew with each strike, and the hue of the bar''s glow shifted slowly but noticeably from yellow to orange to red.


    CLANG CLANG


    When the metal cooled to a dim, dark red, Brighid set her hammer down on the anvil then turned entirely away from him. She carried the metal bar to the furnace, placing it into the narrow mouth, then casting a spell to heat the interior. There were a pair of bellows beside the furnace to stoke the flames, but either Brighid wasn''t a traditionalist or wasn''t in the mood to bother with them. Aidan took a moment to admire the firm roundness of her rump and the coppery sheen of her fur.


    After a short while, the metal was back to glowing brightly, and Brighid withdrew it from the heat, turning to place it back on the anvil. Her face lit up with happiness when she saw him leaning against the wall, but she said, "Stay over there for just a moment, Aidan. I just heated this up, and there is no sense wasting the effort." She gave him a warm smile, then turned back to her work.


    CLANG CLANG CLANG


    Her hammer rose and fell, and a sense of peace washed over Aidan as he watched the woman he loved work. Her movements were smooth and sure, mesmerizing to watch.


    CLANG CLANG


    CLANG CLANG CLANG


    CLANG


    Brighid beat the metal until it was only barely glowing, then stepped back and wiped her brow. She carefully lifted the still incredibly hot metal bar and pushed it into a barrel full of what looked like sand. Then, she hung her hammer on the wall, removed her gloves, apron, and blanket, then strode over to Aidan. She pulled him into a tight hug, which, due to their height difference, placed his face in the valley between her breasts. He nuzzled into her softness through the leather shirt, and she laughed, pushing him back away from her by the shoulders and smiling down at him.


    "You look better. Well-rested, at least. Are you feeling any better?" She asked, genuine concern evident in her voice.


    Aidan nodded and responded, "A little. I don''t hurt everywhere anymore, at least. When I woke up after ... after what happened¡ª" He tried to tell her about his trip back to the village, but she just pressed a soft finger to his lips and shook her head at him.


    "It is alright, I understand. I could tell that you pushed yourself to your limits to come back as quickly as you could, and that is all I need to know." She eyed him critically, then followed up with, "And I would bet you did not stop to eat anything, or even have anything with you to eat, did you?" At Aidan''s sheepish expression and the shake of his head, Brighid snorted. "Men! You are all the same, regardless of species, I swear. Come, I will make us some food and then we can go down to the river to wash. I worked up a sweat in the forge, and I would rather not face the Council smelling of it."


    "I could¡ª" He started to say, but Brighid cut him off, a warning edge in her voice.


    "I know you were not about to say you could face them alone, correct? Do not ever dare think you will face anything alone again. I am your Companion."


    Aidan wisely chose not to continue his statement as he followed Brighid back into her home. He briefly thought of giving her a, "Yes, dear," but wasn''t sure that would send the correct message. Instead, he walked over to the bed and settled down onto the thick padding.


    Brighid busied herself in the ''kitchen'', taking packages of food from the crates near the door and lining them up on the counters. She selected a broad pan and unhooked it, placing it on the counter, then grabbed a knife and started chopping up a slab of meat and putting the resultant chunks into the pan. When she finished with the meat, Brighid started to repeat the process with some spiky-looking tubers.


    Aidan felt uncomfortable watching Brighid do all the work and asked, "Is there anything I can do to help?"


    "No, I have it all in hand. Just sit and rest."


    A flash of anger filled Aidan. He snapped, "I''m not an invalid, Brighid. I can help you cook or set the table or something."


    She looked at him with surprise, then dismay. She stopped chopping vegetables and walked over to him, settling down behind him on the cushion and wrapping her arms around him. He sat stiffly, stubbornly refusing to lean back into her embrace as he usually would. Brighid rested her chin on the top of his head and started to talk.


    "When I left you at Ceallach Macht, I never thought I would see you alive again. I know you swore an oath, but I did not believe you could complete it. I thought it was a final sacrifice, giving me an excuse to leave you and do what was right for the tribe. I cried through the entire run back to the village, Aidan. I doubt you realize, but an unfulfilled oath like that could bind your soul to the Realms and prevent you from passing on. All I could think about was how you were sacrificing everything that you could to save my people and me even though we are the ones who sent you to your death."


    She let out a shuddering breath and continued, "I told my mother exactly what I thought of her machinations when I returned, then came home and cried myself to sleep. Then, the next morning, Lail pounded on my door and told me that you were outside the village again and that I needed to come quickly before one of the guards killed you. I almost did not believe her, but she has never been one to play cruel tricks. When I saw you..." Aidan could feel Brighid''s tears dripping into his hair.


    "You were naked and covered in mud like an animal, kneeling... broken. Aidan, my love, please forgive me." The tears fell more steadily, and her arms tightened around him. "You told me you would come back, and I did not believe you. I said I would protect you, and I could not. You died, and I ran away." Then she broke down, burying her face in his hair and sobbing.


    The sudden anger fled Aidan, washed away by the tears of the woman he loved. He wriggled around in her grasp until he was facing her, then reached up and stroked her scarlet hair. "There is nothing to forgive, love. You only did what I asked you to do. Death awaited us both in that city, and you would not have come back after. I would not be able to live with myself if that had happened." He drew her face to his, and her lips sought his hungrily. Her sorrow seemed to transmute to passion in a flash, her hands roaming over his body, touching, stroking, tugging the blanket off his shoulder and tossing it away.


    "Touch me," she begged, "please, Aidan, I need to know this is real." His tightened his grip on her hair in response, drawing a moan from deep in her throat.


    Aidan pressed his tongue to her lips, then inside her mouth as she opened herself to him. He wound her long hair around his wrist with one hand while the other slid under her soft leather shirt and lightly stroked her abs and lower ribcage. He broke the kiss, leaving her panting, and demanded, "Tell me, Brighid. Tell me what you want me to do to you."


    "I want you to touch me all over. I want your hands in my hair, on my breasts, my rump. I want you to pull my tail aside and mount me, take me, make me yours. I want to be your mare, Aidan, want to feel your big human dick breaking in my virgin centaur pussy, molding me for your pleasure. Please? Please, my love? I need you." The words tumbled from her throat, desperate, needy.


    Releasing his grip on her hair, Aidan grasped the bottom of Brighid''s shirt and tugged it off over her raised arms, then returned his hand to its previous position. He pulled on her hair, tilting her head back without resistance, baring her neck to him. His lips pressed against the base of her neck and kissed her, then sucked on her skin; Brighid groaned and hissed in pleasure.


    Aidan kept one hand in Brighid''s hair, forcing her to arch her back as he trailed kisses down, along her collarbone to her sternum, then onto the inner slopes of her breasts. Her hands reached for his head, but he commanded, "No! I will touch you as I please. Put your arms behind your back and keep them there." That drew another deep-seated groan from her, but she quickly obeyed, the posture requiring her to thrust her chest out even more prominently.


    Aidan''s kisses continued down his lover''s chest and onto her belly. He traced the muscles of her abdomen with the tip of his tongue, noting idly that she lacked a belly button, then reversed course. He hefted a breast in his free hand, lifting it to give his tongue access to the sweaty underside. The sweat was salty, but there was just a hint of sweetness as well; he eagerly lapped it up, then sat back to examine her.


    Brighid knelt before him, neck tilted back, arms behind her, chest thrust out towards him. A bright red blush covered her cheeks, throat, shoulders, and even the tops of her breasts. Her nipples were hard and thick, practically begging to be rubbed and sucked. He stroked his thumb across the nipple of the breast he was holding, and Brighid moaned loudly, wriggling in pleasure and causing her breasts to jiggle.


    He couldn''t resist the sight and leaned back down to wrap his lips around her other nipple. "Aidan..." she whimpered, tossing her head from side to side as he began to flick his tongue across one nipple and twist the other between his fingers. "Aidan, please..."


    "Please what?" He mumbled against her skin, then sucked on the nipple in his mouth.


    Brighid moaned, then panted, "Please, love, please, I need you, please I need you." Indeed, a thick, musky scent filled the air, and Aidan could hear the centaur''s tail swishing back and forth behind her. He stood up and let the blanket fall, revealing his nakedness. His grip on her hair eased, and he allowed her head to rock back upright. Her eyes immediately locked onto his manhood as it bobbed mere inches from her face.


    "Kiss it. Get me nice and slick, Brighid, to make it easier for me to take you." She licked her lips nervously, then leaned forward, tentatively kissing the tip. He pressed on the back of her head, and her lips parted around him as he sank into her mouth. She moaned, then he felt her tongue lick at the underside of his shaft. His legs almost buckled in pleasure, but he kept himself upright by shifting his free hand to her shoulder and leaning over her. Then it was Aidan''s turn to moan as Brighid gained confidence, eagerly bobbing her head up and down, her tongue playing all along his length. He could only stand the pleasure for a short time before he pulled back; he had to tug Brighid''s head backward to keep her from chasing his cock, and her eyes were clouded with lust as she gazed up at him.


    "Turn around. It''s time I take what is mine." Brighid shuddered at his words, and her flush deepened to crimson, but she stood and turned in place, then knelt back down on the bed. Aidan reached out and stroked her quivering rump, then wrapped the fingers of his right hand around the base of her tail. Brighid sucked in a breath and froze for a moment, then relaxed, swaying back towards him. He lifted her tail out of the way, revealing her to him for the first time in good lighting.


    Her nether lips were thick and tightly closed, but drooling with oily wetness that dripped down her thighs. Her clit was prominent, peeking out from the folds of her sex, and Aidan reached out to press his thumb to it. Brighid cried out in pleasure, pressing backward, seeking more pressure, but he pulled his hand back after one quick rub. She whimpered at the loss, then moaned loudly when he stepped forward to press his manhood to her opening. He teased her by rubbing the tip up and down between her lips, prompting her to start begging again. "Please, Aidan, please?"


    "What is it that you want? What are you asking me in that beautiful tone of voice?"


    "Oh, Birgitte, Brigantia, and Braihan, please, please fuck meeeeeeee!" Her plea transitioned into a shriek of pleasure as Aidan thrust into her. She was scorching hot and remarkably tight inside, and it was only the quick blowjob and her overflowing wetness that allowed him to make any progress at all. He gripped her rump tightly and leaned over her for leverage, pressing forward against her eagerly bucking hips.


    "Gods," Aidan hissed, "how can you be this tight?" Her inner muscles clenched and rippled around him; he swore he could feel every ridge in her vaginal passage molding themselves to him as they reluctantly gave way. He pulled back until only his tip remained inside of her, then pressed in again. His progress was barely any swifter the second time.


    "Yours, I am yours," Brighid babbled, "made for you, for you to take, to mold, your mare, your mate, oh, fuck me!" She thrust back against him fiercely, desperately, wantonly. Unfortunately, she was only making it harder for Aidan, so he raised his hand and brought it down hard on the thick muscles of her rump. She jerked and froze, trembling in arousal.


    "I love how eager you are, my heart, but you''re not helping. Let me do the work for now. You need to get used to having me inside you before we can go at it that hard. Understand?"


    "Yes, sir!" Brighid moaned and tilted her hips to offer him the best angle, then stilled. Her hands rose to her chest, squeezing and pulling on her breasts as he resumed his motions behind her. He could hardly believe what was happening. Brighid was a fierce warrior and mighty blacksmith who could break him easily with her bare hands, but she was willingly, eagerly submissive towards him. He clearly remembered her telling him that everything that happened between them could only happen because he had her consent. Yet, here she was, reacting with pleasure and enthusiastic passion when he pulled her hair, spanked her rear, and gave her explicit sexual commands.


    He didn''t know why Brighid would give herself to him like that. Surely, she could have had her pick of the men of her own species; there was no need for her to settle for a human. There was nothing he could give her that she couldn''t find elsewhere, in higher quality. What Aidan did know, however, was that he needed her. She was the only bright spot he had left, and he was determined to give her everything that she wanted. He braced himself, pulled back, then pressed as hard as he could until, at last, his groin rested against her rump. He flexed inside her and Brighid threw her head back with a gasp. Aidan leaned forward, reaching out to grasp at the ends of her long hair, collecting them together, then pulled back as if pulling on a horse''s reins.


    "This is what you want?" He growled at her, "To be my mare, my mate, my love, until the end of time?"


    "Yours!" She agreed, voice full of lust and love. "Your mare, your mate, your love, always and forever."


    "And you want to serve my pleasure? To let me slake my lust on you however I wish?" The answer was obvious already, but he needed to hear her say it.


    "Yesss," Brighid hissed out, "I am yours any way, anywhere, anytime you want me." Seemingly sensing his inner conflict, she continued, "I want you to use my body any way you like, because I crave your touch, your hands, your mouth, your cock. I want you to train me to please you in every way, so that you are never unsatisfied. I want to find other worthy women to bring to your bed, for you deserve more love than I could possibly give you, and I cannot bear your children."


    Letting her words wash over him, and filing away her mentions of children and other women to confront in the future, Aidan picked up the pace. He pulled out of her, gritting his teeth as her inner walls clutched tightly at him, then plunged forward. His groin met her rump with a wet smack, and he withdrew only to thrust again.


    "Then you are mine!" Aidan told Brighid. "I claim you and no other man can have you!"


    "Yes!" She cried out in joy. Immediately she resumed pushing back against him, but now her movements synchronized with his instead of working against him. "Oh, gods, I am so close!"


    "Me too!" Aidan grunted, "Come for me, Brighid!" She convulsed, her voice raised in a wordless shout as her inner muscles clamped down on his manhood, then spasmed and rippled around him. Aidan let out a roar and thrust in as hard as he could, pushing through her clenching tunnel as he launched over the peak, burying himself deeply inside Brighid while his balls emptied themselves.


    When his thoughts returned to him, Aidan realized that he was gripping Brighid''s rear so tightly that his fingers hurt, and swiftly let her go. She murmured breathily in protest, drawing his gaze to her upper body. Brighid was bent forward, one hand clutching her breasts, the other clutching tightly at the bed-cushion. She was breathing heavily, as was he, but she straightened her back and looked over her shoulder at him. Her face was sweaty and flushed, but she looked radiantly happy as she beamed at him.


    "Please, come over here so that I can hold you?" Brighid asked with a trace of meekness in her voice that made Aidan frown internally. Nonetheless, he made his way to her front, kneeling and wrapping his arms around her waist as she did the same to his. Their lips met in a soft, sweet kiss, then Brighid rested her head on Aidan''s shoulder and let out a happy little sigh. "I do love you, Aidan, and I meant all those things I said. It was not only the lust talking." She murmured, then giggled, adding, "Though you know just how to stoke my fire." Her hand trailed lightly up and down his back.


    "I love you too, Brighid." He said and kissed her shoulder, drawing another pleased noise from her. "I will hold you those words, but please know that I loved you even before them. You never have to beg me for a hug or a kiss."


    She hummed, then said lightly, "We can talk about that while we bathe down at the river. Loathe as I am to wash away your scent so soon after earning it, it would be best not to approach the Council smelling of sex." A shiver went up Aidan''s spine as Brighid''s hand found the base of his tail.


    Aidan chuckled. "Somehow, my love, I don''t think you''ll have any problem ''earning'' it again later tonight. You''re right, though; we both need to wash, and I haven''t eaten in more than a day." Brighid nodded and kissed his shoulder, then stood up on shaky legs. She walked over to the food she started preparing, then looked back at him with a teasing smile.


    "Well, are you just going to lay there looking smug and satisfied, or are you going to cover up my boobs so that I do not get hot grease all over them as the meat cooks?"


    Aidan laughed and shook his head, then stood up to ''help'' her cook.


    Zurai

 Chosen, Chapter 29: Challenge

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Unknown Date


    Sunset


    Starchaser village, Mistvale Highlands


    After feeding him a meal of fried meat and tubers, Brighid gathered her bathing supplies and led Aidan by the hand out of the village. Her hair was pulled back to expose the mark Aidan left on her neck, and she kept her chin lifted proudly, even defiantly. For his part, Aidan wrapped himself up in the blanket again and tried not to let the stares and mutters of those they passed bother him. A few centaurs waved at or gave a polite greeting to Brighid, but the ones who were kindest to him were those who ignored him entirely.


    For the most part, the villagers gave the pair a wide berth, but once they passed out of sight of the guards, three young male centaurs cantered up, blocking Brighid and Aidan''s path to the river. Brighid''s face hardened when she saw them, and she whispered to Aidan, "The Council has not yet ruled on whether you will be inducted into the tribe, so right now, your legal rights are very much a grey area. No matter what, you must not allow them to goad you into attacking. I am your Companion; let me deal with them. This is at least as much about me as you, anyway."


    She stepped in front of Aidan and spoke loudly, her voice carrying to the trio and beyond. "What do you want, Neifion? If it is an apology for darkening an otherwise bright day, I will listen, but otherwise, kindly remove yourself from my presence." Aidan took the time while Brighid talked to look the three over.


    The one in the center¡ªNeifion, he assumed¡ªwas maybe an inch or two taller than Brighid, but not as broad across the shoulders or as well-muscled. His hair and fur were black, and his skin only lightly tanned. Hunter or junior warrior, I''d bet; spends some time outdoors, but no hard labor or strenuous military training. His two minions were of similar build, but shorter; one had black hair with a brown coat, the other brown hair and splotchy white and brown fur.


    Neifion sneered at Brighid and reared back on his hind legs, pawing the air melodramatically. "What I really want is for you to come over here and suck my dick while Cad and Brys take turns melting all the ice out of that frozen cunt of yours, but today I will settle for you standing aside while we deal with that piece of trash behind you." His friends cheered him on, calling out slurs and insults.


    "Oh, Neifion," Brighid laughed, "you could not handle my mouth on your little stub. From how Siwan talks, you are such a quick shot that you would not even last until I touched you. She always comes to me after you mount her, you know that, right? She needs more than two pumps to get off." Brighid let that sink in for a moment, and just as the cocky young male opened his mouth to reply, she continued, "As for Aidan? Not to worry, Neifion, Cadwaladr, Brys; I will protect you from the fierce little human, there is no need to be scared."


    Neifion snarled and began to advance towards the pair, his cronies following half a step behind. Aidan could see Brighid''s muscles tense up under her fur. The male centaur called out again as he approached, voice seething with hatred. "Maybe we will just do a bit of both, what do you say, boys? Brys, you and I can break in the frigid bitch here, and Cad, you can make the runt lift his tail for you before you finish him off." The three centaurs spread out further and began to circle around Brighid. She turns to keep her eyes on Neifion, but Aidan could see her long ears twitching and swiveling to track the hoofbeats of the others. He shifted to watch behind her, moving to keep his place at her side as she turned.


    "Tell me, Brighid, have you rutted with your pet yet?" Neifion sniffed the air and exclaimed, "You have! I can smell his stink coming from you! You are too good for us, but you let the human ride you? Now I have even more reasons to kill the bastard." He switched to Northern Trade-tongue, then called out to Aidan, "How was she? I can smell your seed in her and see your mark on her neck. How about a trade? You stand aside and let us have a go with her, and we give you an escort down to the river and back, make sure no one else messes with you?"


    Aidan snorted and responded in Highlands Gallic, "Is your brain entirely in that tiny dick you waved at us earlier? I already heard what you plan to do with me. I''ve got a counter-offer for you: you all want to have sex with Brighid, right? I can''t blame you, she''s the hottest woman I''ve ever seen. Problem is, she doesn''t have the right equipment to mount you, I can verify that. I''m sure she''d be happy to let me be her proxy, though; what do you say, how about you just get down on your bellies and lift those tails for me?" He paused for a heartbeat, then added with a thoughtful tone, "Or maybe I''m not big enough? I wouldn''t want to disappoint you. I''m sure we can find a horse somewhere to plow you, if that''s more your style."


    Neifion shouted in rage, and Aidan could hear his hooves strike the earth as he started to charge them. Even as he sunk down into a crouch and prepared to dodge out of the way of the nearest crony, though, he heard a short, piercing whistle, and two blurs of dark fur leaped from the underbrush. One struck the centaur under the front knees while the other, just a half-second after the first, rammed into the side of his body. The first hit unbalanced him and caused him to stumble, and the second turned his stumble into a sideways fall. Before he had a chance to catch his breath, there was a pair of wolves perched on top of him, growling. Aidan spun to help Brighid with the others, but they were similarly disabled and guarded.


    Brighid relaxed from her fighting posture and called out, "Took you long enough." Aidan wasn''t sure who she was talking to until Anwn emerged from a patch of bushes. He had no idea how he missed seeing a centaur in shrubs that barely came to the tops of her legs, but he neither saw nor heard her approach.


    "I had to wait for them to commit to an attack, you know the laws as well as I, Brighid." The Councillor''s voice is cool and dispassionate. She looked at the three male centaurs with disgust. "Aidan was overly generous to you three idiots; as tiny as your dicks are, I think your brains might be even tinier. The oldest insult in the Realms is the one that set you off? Really?" She shook her head. "And you attacked a protected guest within earshot of both the village and the river?" She whistled softly, signaling the wolves to release their quarry. "Get up, the lot of you. Since you worthless thugs are, unfortunately, hunters, I do not even need to consult the others for your punishment. Unless one of you wishes to appeal it up the chain? No? Finally! A glimmer of intelligence." Anwn turned her attention back to Brighid and said, "The Council meets at first moonrise. I expect you both to be there on time." Without another word, she walked up the trail towards the village, snarling wolves herding her three prisoners along with her.


    Aidan watched the Councilwoman for a moment, then whispered as softly as he could to Brighid, "Damn. Remind me not to make Anwn genuinely angry at me."


    "As much as I dislike her on a personal level, she is a member of the Council for a reason," Brighid responded. "She is very, very good at what she does. Anyway, enough about her. I have changed my mind; I do not feel up to the communal bathing area." She looked at Aidan for approval. "I know a place where the river feeds a little pool, though. It is farther, but we will still have plenty of time to get back home and properly groomed and attired. We will also have a chance to speak in private."


    At his nod, she led him off the main path and onto what might, perhaps, charitably be called a game trail. After about ten minutes of pushing through bushes and hoping there weren''t any ticks in the Realms, the underbrush parted to reveal a crystal-clear pool with a rocky bottom. It was about ten yards across and roughly circular, and just barely attached to the river by a thin stream of water at either end. If this were ancient Greece, there''d be a Naiad here who would either fall in love with me or curse me for disturbing her home. Or both. The Greeks were weird. Out loud, he said, "This is beautiful, Brighid. Thank you for bringing me here."


    A wadded-up shirt hit him on the side of the face. "Hey, what was¡ª" Aidan started to say, turning to face his lover, and he caught just a glimpse of her bare breasts and the mischievous grin above them before she shoved him backward into the pond. He hit with a loud splash and sank almost to the bottom before he got his feet under him and surged upright; the water came up to the tops of his shoulders. Looking around, he spotted Brighid stepping into a shallower part of the pond. "You could have at least waited until I got out of this blanket before you pushed me in!" He called over to her as he quickly unwrapped it from his body and tossed it up onto the shore.


    "Are you joking?" Brighid laughed. "You were covered in mud when I brought you back home. I might need to burn that blanket to get it fully clean; a little water will not hurt anything."


    Aidan pushed off the bottom and half-swam, half-jumped closer to the redhead. "Pushing me in like that was a dirty trick, you know. Back on Earth, there''s only one possible response to such a betrayal." So saying, he pulled one arm back and spun it forward, slapping the surface of the water at high speed, causing a miniature tsunami that engulfed Brighid''s head and torso as she entered the deeper section of the pool. She squealed and laughed and charged at him, but Aidan ducked under the water and pushed off the bottom again, dodging to the side. He popped back to the surface behind her and fired off another watery attack. She continued to lunge after him, but he was able to use his superior mobility in the deep water to dodge and counterattack until Brighid was thoroughly soaked from head to hoof and finally raised her hands in surrender.


    "Alright, alright," she laughed, "I give up! You win!"


    "And don''t you forget it!" He laughed along with her.


    Brighid reached out for his hand and tugged him over to the shallows, then knelt down and held out the scrubbing brush to him. "Wash my back? We need to talk about a few things¡ªwhat happened on the way here, the Council meeting, and the future."


    Aidan took the brush and started scrubbing. "What''s to say about what just happened? We met some bullies, they got caught being bullies by the principle, they''re in detention now, the end. Don''t worry, I didn''t take anything they said as more than hot air and jealousy."


    "I am not entirely sure what all of that meant," Brighid replied, "but I do understand that you are not taking it seriously. If Neifion had found you alone, he would have done all he threatened, and very few of my people would have cared to stop him. Aidan, even if the Council performs the rite tonight and you become a Starchaser, most of the village will still see you as an outsider, or even an invader. Oooh, yes, keep scrubbing there." She interrupted her lecture to squirm a bit and push up against the brush as Aidan found a particularly itchy spot. "I know that you come from a different world, without other species, but you should know that to the humans in the Realms, we beastfolk are treated terribly. Dwarves and Elves are tolerated, if barely, but anyone with animal features is an animal to them. We are so defensive about our territory, especially where humans are concerned, because it is so rare for a stranger to enter our lands with anything but evil intent. It will take time for my people¡ªour people, I hope¡ªto learn that you are not like what they expect, and until they do, you can expect a lot of hostility. I am sorry."


    Brighid sounded so sad that Aidan took a momentary break from scrubbing. He walked over in front of her and enfolded her in his arms, stroking her hair gently. "It''s okay, my love. You do not need to apologize for your tribe. With the situation as you describe, I can''t blame anyone who is mistrustful of me. I''ll just have to work harder to show them that I don''t mean them any harm and don''t think they''re any less worthwhile than I am." Brighid hugged him back, holding him tightly against her for long moments before releasing him with a giggle.


    "Keep that thing to yourself and get back to work!"


    Zurai

 Interlude: Howl for Night Skies

    Anwn


    The Realms


    Firstday, 4th week of the 7th month, Godless Age 597


    Sunset


    Outside the Starchaser Village, Mistvale Highlands


    Anwn glared at the three young idiots in front of her. "You have less subtlety than a Rockspine. What possessed you to attack a fellow Starchaser and the Council''s guest on the most-traveled trail from the village? Consequences. You have not faced enough of them in your life, Neifion. I will fix that for you." She paced back and forth in front of them. A nervous habit, but was also an expression of frustration, so she allowed it to herself. "I can forgive the motive behind your actions, but not the thoughtlessness of acting in the way you have. You prove yourself no better than the beasts humans think us to be by attacking without thought for the consequences. Rabid dogs must be put down; your jobs are to convince me that you are merely poorly-trained, not rabid. You will do so by following my orders to the letter without complaint."


    "But Councillor¡ª"


    "Without complaint!" Anwn snarled. Tension coiled up within her like a mistscale viper, and her pack reacted. Her brothers and sisters growled and bared their teeth at their captives. "Do you want to be exiled? I can arrange it if you would prefer that punishment. That is what your idiocy should have resulted in; law and tradition are both clear on guest-right. I am doing you a favor. I do not expect gratitude, but I do expect obedience." Anwn felt her lips starting to curl back and forced herself to calm down. "Now. Neifion, you were the one to come up with this plot, so you will patrol the southern border for the next six months. When you return, I want a detailed record of every interaction you had with humans. I will be asking your teammates as well, and if your report lacks any detail compared to theirs, your punishment will continue. Cadwaladr, Brys, your assignments are different. You will patrol the east and west borders, where humans are rare. Instead, you will give me an essay on the difference in leadership styles and motivational techniques between your squad leaders and Neifion. Just like with him, if the quality of your answers dissatisfies me, I will extend your punishment. Are we clear?"


    Cadwaladr and Brys gave affirmative, if weak, replies. Neifion, however, held his head high and attempted to stare Anwn down. She whistled; Fur-Dappled-Like-Sunlight and Fangs-Gleaming-In-Darkness lunged forward, latching onto Neifion''s forelegs and forcing him to kneel. They growled at him and tightened their jaws when he tried to rise again. Anwn stalked towards him until she was close enough that she had to bend down to keep her eyes on his. "You will learn to think beyond your wants, Neifion, or you will no longer be a member of this tribe. Those are the options before you. The second is easier for me than the first, so please, if you prefer it, let me know."


    It took several seconds, but the colt lowered his head and ground out through clenched teeth, "I understand, Councillor."


    Anwn took a step back and snorted. "I am not convinced that you do, but I will take your word for it¡ªfor now." She gave her brother and sister a hand gesture, and the two wolves released Neifion. "Return to the village and do not leave again without my permission. I will assign you to squads tomorrow; I have dealt with enough of your foolishness for tonight." Neifion glared at her, then whirled and leaped into a gallop. His lackeys left at a more sedate pace. Once they were out of sight, Anwn rubbed her forehead. "Why did I ever let them talk me into this?"


    Paws-Soft-As-Snow butted his head against Anwn''s flank and nipped at her knee. She laughed and tapped his nose, then ruffled the fur on his neck. "None of that, you rascal. Not now." She spent another minute petting him, then pushed him away. The pack was restless; too much time spent within shouting distance of the village. They formed up around Anwn as she set off towards their home, eager to leave the trappings of civilization behind. Together with her brothers and sisters, Anwn raced through the brush, swift and silent. With every passing moment, she felt the tension drain from her. Anwn was back in her element now; compared to the complex, layered rules shaping interactions with the tribe, the wolves'' rules were direct and intuitive. Defend the pack and provide for your family, that was the heart and soul of it.


    As Anwn entered the canyon that housed her home, a howl from above brought a smile to her lips. She recognized Sings-The-Stars''-Songs''s voice and cupped her hands around her mouth, raising her voice to acknowledge her sister''s greeting. All around her, both on the ground and up on the heights, her family welcomed each other. It was raucous and even with her Beast Tongue Skill and years of experience, Anwn could hardly follow all the individual messages, but this was home. Here she was free of expectations and worry about her place in society. This was her family, and she knew how to act around them.


    The rest of the pack split off from her in ones and twos as she trotted up the path towards the cave they used as a den. Some left to bathe, others to hunt, and others still to spend time with their friends or mates. By the time she slowed to a walk and entered her home, only Snowy was still at Anwn''s side, with Starsong running to join them. Glowing-Eyes-Of-Gold and Always-Up-To-Mischief looked up as the trio walked in. "Good evening, Goldeneyes, Mischief," Anwn greeted her adopted mother and father. The Patriarch flicked his ear in acknowledgment but settled back down to rest. He was ancient for a wolf, nearing twenty years old, and rarely left the den these days. His mate, Mischief, was a few years younger and more active.


    Anwn poked her head into the larder. "Ah! Well done!" The pack had been busy while she was out doing Starchaser business; the majority of a caribou carcass was strewn about the floor. Anwn set about butchering the kill, dividing it into portions and storing the meat in specially-enchanted cubbyholes that would preserve it until one of the pack retrieved it to eat. Once she finished, she bundled the bones and hide together and stored them in a separate cubby; these she would take back to the village with her. Work done, Anwn fetched a caribou steak a little larger than she would be able to eat by herself and headed off to the kitchen.


    Snowy and Starsong were already waiting for her, the latter more patiently than the former. Paws-Soft-As-Snow bounded up to Anwn, barking and crouching, his tail wagging energetically. "Yes, yes," Anwn laughed, "you can have some of my food, and then we can play. Settle down now, I have not eaten since last night, and if you want anything from me later, you will need to let me eat." He barked at her again, rubbed his head against her abdomen, then rushed off. "I love you too, even if you do have too much energy!" She smiled to herself and shook her head. The whole pack was her family, but some were closer to her than others.


    Zurai

 Chosen, Chapter 30: Momentary Peace

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Unknown Date


    Early evening


    Just outside the Starchaser village, Mistvale Highlands


    "You," Aidan told Brighid ruefully, "are a tease. Setting that aside, though, there are some things we need to talk about before the Council."


    Brighid nodded. "Quite a few. Where do you want to start?"


    "I don''t want to keep any more secrets from you. There are still some things that I''ve been keeping to myself, and I need to share them with you."


    The redhead shook her head in denial. "I trust you, love. You do not need to divulge your secrets to me."


    Aidan resumed scrubbing her back and said, "I know. I trust you, too, and that''s why I can tell you. It''s more than that, though; I need help. I''ve been lucky so far, but I can''t rely on that forever." He began to explain everything about his situation from the first time he logged in. "I told you before that I''m from another world, and that I woke up without knowing how I got here. That isn''t the whole truth, though. At the time, I believed I was playing a game, one designed to be indistinguishable from reality. I could enter and exit the game at will, returning to Earth to live my life there. I actually did so twice, while I slept here. When I died, though," his mind skittered over the cause of his death, "I woke up with a notification saying that I was now wholly present in the Realms and couldn''t return to Earth any longer. I have tried repeatedly since then, and, unfortunately, it seems to be true."


    Brighid attentively listened as he spoke. He could tell that she had questions, and her face darkened when he spoke of the consequences of his death, but she appeared to be willing to wait for him to finish. He continued, "When I first started the game, after choosing my starting Skills and appearance and so on, I woke up in a canyon just south of here. I wasn''t alone, though. There was a cranky old man who claimed to have been contracted by my Patron. He taught me the very basics of the interface and gave me a few ''gifts'' from my Patron, as well as some advice. He warned me about dying, actually, though I do not know how I could have avoided it." Aidan took a deep breath, then let it out slowly.


    "He also cautioned me against revealing the next secret, but I trust you completely, and I think you need to know. Every Chosen has a unique Trait. Mine is called Limitless, and it gives me 100 affinity with every Skill." Brighid gasped in shock. Her eyes were open so wide that he could see the full green circles of her irises.


    "Birgitte, Brigantia, and Braihan! Such a Trait exists?! Aidan, my love, I am honored by your trust, but you must be extremely careful who you tell about that. I would not even trust Mother with this knowledge, let alone the rest of the Council or any other Starchaser. You have the potential to be the most powerful single being in the Realms, given enough time. I cannot imagine that those who already hold power, or seek to claim it, would hesitate to snuff out your flame before it grew into a bonfire beyond their ability to suppress. And your Patron..." Her voice grew hard, and she stood up, starting to pace back and forth in the water.


    "Beings beyond either of our ability to understand have brought you from another world to be a playing piece on a board I cannot even comprehend. They have stolen your entire life from you, and with the gifts," she spat the word as if it were poison, "they have given you, I do not know that you will be able to live a peaceful life. You have been set up for naught but tragedy, and I am so, so sorry, Aidan. However," she spun, spraying him lightly, then knelt in front of Aidan. She reached out to take his hands in hers, twining their fingers together, then pressed her forehead against his. A fire burned deep within her green eyes as they gazed into his. "I swear to you: You will never be alone in this. We vowed to face Fate together, and I fully intend to keep that oath even in the face of the Divine. I will be your shield and your sword; I will be your friend and your teacher; I will even be your beast of burden. I will do everything within my power to help you, and if I ever lack the power, I will grow my own strength until I can once more help you with your destiny."


    Aidan smiled up at her and squeezed her hands. "I seem to recall someone getting so terribly upset at me for swearing an oath to them. It was only a week ago; I wish I could remember who it was..." Brighid blinked at him, momentarily confused, before she began to giggle and push at his hands.


    "Here I am trying to be righteous on your behalf, and you make jokes?" She laughed, still trying to disentangle her hands so that she could express her displeasure physically.


    Aidan tilted his head to capture her lips in a brief kiss, then smiled at her. "You were getting a little too serious. I agree that my situation is," he paused, searching for the right words, "less than ideal, but it''s not as bad as all that. I can''t put my finger on why, but I have a feeling that my Patron isn''t quite as bad as you think of her. Them. Whatever. I believe that rather than my Patron plucking me from Earth and bringing me here, instead, I was brought here, and my Patron chose me at that point. This wasn''t explicitly arranged for me, but rather, I fit the criteria my Patron needed for a champion. I don''t know how all of this works, but unless she lied to me for no reason at all, she expended a lot more effort on me than other Patrons spent on their Chosen. I doubt anyone else has anything quite as powerful as Limitless, and Cunning Linguist has been invaluable as well. Beyond that, how many others got dropped a half-day''s walk from a village in which just so happened to live a beautiful young woman warrior-mage who would fall in love with them and swear the Oath of Companionship with them in just a week?"


    Brighid smiled at the compliment, but still shook her head dubiously. "There is truth to your words, and I trust your judgment. You are wrong about one thing, though, and it leads to something I can teach you here and now that will be of immense use to you. You called me a warrior-mage, but that is not my Class. I realize you do not know much about Classes, and I see why you would call me that, but I am a Paladin." Aidan blinked at her. Before he could ask for clarification, though, she continued, "I want you to look at me and focus your mind on learning who I am. Do not ask it as a question in your mind; focus on the desire to know."


    He followed her instructions, focusing on her, and¡ª


    "Whoa!" Aidan exclaimed, greedily devouring the new information. He hadn''t realized he could get access to other characters''¡ªother peoples'', he corrected himself¡ªstatuses. Mostly, it was in line with his own status screen, but even so, this was a treasure trove. It shows my relationship status, just in case I forget, I guess. What''s a Profession, beyond the obvious? Interesting that I can explicitly see her Alignments, Traits, and Abilities. Also, wow, that''s a lot of Skills. I guess most of them are pretty low, though; low affinity but lots of practice, or the inverse, I suppose. Then he spotted something that made him smirk. "One level in Exhibitionism? Tell me you earned it that night after you made me scrub your back for the first time."


    Brighid squeaked and blushed bright red, then started splashing water at Aidan. "Hey! You should not be able to see that! Stop looking at embarrassing things!"


    Aidan laughed and ducked his head to avoid the worst of his lover''s frantic splashing. "And what''s this?" He continued. "Thirteen whole levels in Masturbation? Someone''s been a horny little mare." Brighid''s protests grew louder and more energetic, and she started to rise from the water. Her movement instantly ceased, however, when Aidan pressed his hand against her back and pushed downward. "Ah, ah, ah," he scolded. "Stay put, my lovely firebrand."


    Brighid shivered and nodded.


    "Good girl." He stroked his hand along her spine. Another shiver passed through her. "I can''t see your affinities, just your Skill levels and ranks, but I can guess. Your affinity for both Sex and Submission are high, aren''t they, love?" He was sure that was an exceptionally intimate question, but he was equally confident that she wouldn''t be offended.


    "Yes, sir," Brighid replied, hesitating only slightly. "My affinity with Sex is 94, and Submission is 79." Her cheeks were nearly the same shade as her hair and she wouldn''t meet his eyes.


    Aidan stroked her fur soothingly. "That sounds like something we need to explore in great and exhaustive detail. You agree, don''t you?"


    There was a flash of green as Brighid''s eyes darted to his, then away. Her arms wrapped around her waist, then she swiveled her shoulders forward and shifted her arms upwards slightly, framing her breasts and causing them to appear even plumper and more delectable than usual. Her eyes flickered to Aidan''s again, and she bit her lip as she saw the hunger in his gaze. "Ohh, yes; I foresee many long, hard nights spent on that. You will need to explore the subject deeply and repeatedly to ensure that you have a firm command of each and every aspect of those Skills. I am eager to work under you, Sir, for as long as it takes! Please do not hesitate to make use of me in any way that might further your research."


    "Well," Aidan said approvingly, his hand stroking further back towards Brighid''s rump, "I must say that it''s a pleasure to have such a devoted assistant. I look forward to putting you through your paces, and I''m confident this partnership will be long and fruitful. Indeed, as they say, success breeds success," he said, observing her reaction to the innuendo, "and I anticipate many successes in our future."


    There was an audible gasp from Brighid as she realized his meaning. Their eyes locked together, and Aidan could see the emotions plain on his love''s face as they warred within her: love, sadness, lust, insecurity, and intense longing. "Aidan, I¡ª" she started to say, but he interrupted her.


    "But that''s for the future. For now, we have a Council meeting to prepare for. What do I need to know about tonight?"


    Brighid gave him a this-isn''t-over look but answered his question anyway. "There will be three matters addressed tonight. First, the Council will question you about your Quest and how you were able to return to the village so quickly. Then, assuming you answer to their satisfaction, they will hear your report on what you found at Ceallach Macht. Finally, they will vote on the matter of your trespass." Brighid''s posture gradually relaxed while she talked and Aidan returned to scrubbing her fur.


    "The most critical of those are the first two. You must explain your unexpectedly swift return, and the information you returned with must be valuable enough to warrant returning instead of completing the Quest. If you satisfy the Council on those two counts, Mother informs me that the vote should go your way. That is not entirely reassuring, I know, given the circumstances, but I believe she was being honest."


    Aidan nodded. "Do you have any advice?"


    "I think you will have to reveal that you died and came back to life. I wish we could keep that secret, but I do not see any way around it. Mother knew as soon as you destroyed your talisman, and even if you knew such a spell, you would not have been able to teleport through the ward without it. At least, not without destroying it. There is simply no acceptable way for you to make it back here so quickly. If, however, you tell them, under the ritual of truth, that you died in the city, but returned to life and the village so that you could tell them what you found, I do not see how even Anwn could find fault."


    "Wouldn''t that be revealing a little too much? I would rather keep the Chosen thing secret."


    "Do not mention how you returned to life, only that you did so. They will wonder, but it is beyond the scope of the inquiry. Technically, the entire reason for the Council meeting tonight is to judge you for trespassing. Your return to the village is relevant because the Quest is incomplete, and you will be using the information you bring as your defense; they cannot compel you to answer anything beyond the bare facts, however." Aidan nodded his understanding.


    "Beyond that, my advice is to speak carefully and formally. You tend to talk casually, with strange phrasing and word choice. I understand why, and it does not bother me now that I am used to it, but it will emphasize how much of an outsider you are."


    Aidan grimaced. "Given what I''m on trial for, I can see how that would be less than desirable. Thank you, love. That is excellent advice." She twisted and bent down to kiss him, then rose smoothly from the water.


    "Alright, we need to finish cleaning. We still have a stop to make before the meeting, and the hour draws near."


    "Oh? Where are you taking me now?" Aidan wondered.


    "You did not think I was going to present my Companion and mate to the Council dressed only in a blanket, did you?" She flashed him a smile. "One of my dear friends is the best seamstress in the village. As soon as I brought you home and put you to bed, I visited her and asked her to make you a set of formal clothes."


    "Oh, thank God."


    Zurai

 Chosen, Chapter 31: Lace and Collars

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Unknown Date


    Evening


    Starchaser village, Mistvale Highlands


    Brighid led Aidan to a wooden building along the western edge of the village and pushed her way through the leather straps serving as a door. Inside was a wide but shallow room filled with bolts of fabric, shirts, blankets, and other things made of cloth in various stages of completion. An actual wooden door sealed off a separate room further in. A petite young centaur woman with short blonde hair and reddish-yellow fur rose from a cushion as the pair entered. Aidan wasn''t sure how long centaurs lived, so it was difficult to judge her age accurately, but she had the smooth skin and youthful exuberance of a college freshman. She and Brighid embraced warmly, then Brighid introduced her friend. "Aidan, this is my friend Siwan. Siwan, this is Aidan, the one I was telling you about earlier."


    Siwan smiled at Aidan and hugged him as well. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Aidan. I hope you do not intend to take our Brighid away from us again any time soon?"


    He hugged the smaller centaur back and shook his head. "It is ultimately up to the Council, but at the moment, I have no reason to leave and an excellent incentive to stay." Siwan smirked, but didn''t interrupt. "I know the path will not be easy, but the good things in life come for those who fight for them. I intend to fight to make a life here with the tribe. Although, maybe not literally fight for it; I''m pretty sure that any of you could stomp me flat, present company included!"


    Siwan laughed merrily. "Fortunately, you have Brighid here to handle that for you! Just point her at an enemy and give her rump a slap to get her charging off, hey?"


    "I don''t know..." Aidan drawled, smirking at Brighid. "She might misinterpret that. Probably wiser to tell her what I want her to do; she takes direction well."


    The blonde centaur looked confused for a moment, looking back and forth between the lovers. Then her eyes dropped to Brighid''s neck, and realization dawned along with a broad grin. Blushing brightly, Brighid attempted to redirect the conversation. "Did you have a chance to make some clothes for Aidan? I know I did not give you much time, but we are pressed for time, ourselves."


    "Of course, Brighid! You know I love a challenge, and I have never made clothes for a human before." Turning to Aidan, she continued, "The shirts were easy enough, so I have several for you, but all I had to work with for your leggings was guesswork and the measurements Brighid gave me, which were not much better." She grinned at her friend, who had the grace to look embarrassed. "Anyway, if they fit well, I can make you some more in other styles." Her eyes cut to Brighid, and the corners of her lips twitch upward. "Maybe even make the pair of you a matching set of clothes?"


    Siwan laughed brightly at Brighid''s blush, then hugged her again. "Do not look so surprised. You have not exactly made a secret about it; you both still smell a little of each other, and then there is this." She reached out and brushed her fingertip across the hickey on Brighid''s neck. "Oh, do not worry, Brighid, I think your friends will notice how happy you are, and if they see you with Aidan here looking as satisfied as he is, they may guess at the reason. I doubt anyone who does not know you well would see beyond their own prejudice, though. And, besides, if anyone makes a fuss about it, you can tell them they can repair their own damned shirts and blankets if they do not like it, because I will not. I am glad you finally met your match. Now," she whirled back to Aidan like a tiny effervescent tornado, "get rid of that blanket and step over here. I need to see the clothes on you before I can make the final adjustments. Come on now, time is wasting!"


    Bemused, Aidan let the young woman march him, naked, into the center of her workshop. She made him put on a series of shirts, turn in a circle for her (and Brighid, who watched with her hand over her mouth to stifle her giggles) to inspect the fit, then had him step into a pair of long pants made out of soft, supple leather. They fit well, but were tight across the groin¡ªespecially after Brighid lifted her shirt and shook her breasts at Aidan while Siwan''s back was turned. She gave him a wink and blew him a kiss, then went back to watching her friend boss him around.


    Siwan collected the clothes and quickly made the alterations she deemed necessary before delivering them with a smile. Aidan pulled the pants back on; to his chagrin, Siwan did not loosen the pants any. Brighid handed him a black linen shirt with full-length sleeves and a formal cut, including a bit of lace at the throat, which he obediently wore. The seamstress turned to Aidan. "Will there be anything else?"


    "Actually, yes, I think so," Aidan said, thinking quickly. "How much time is there before the Council, love?" He asked Brighid.


    "Um, we should be there in a little less than an hour." She replied, caught off-guard by the question.


    Aidan returned his attention to Siwan. "I would definitely like some more clothes. I will need some heavier clothes eventually for when the weather turns colder. I''ll also need some additional pairs of pants. These fit well, if a bit tight at the groin¡ª"


    "Intentional and appreciated!" Quipped Brighid.


    "¡ªbut if you could make me some which are a little less restrictive, more suitable to wear under armor while fighting, that would be useful. Also, I''m sure it never occurred to either of you since you centaurs get to walk around in just a shirt all day, but things tend to get sweaty and sticky down there. It''s cleaner and more sanitary to have some under-clothes. If you could make me some shorter, lighter pants that I could wear under these, that would be wonderful. Finally, there''s a special request I want to make, in private. Stay here and browse or something, Brighid; don''t try to listen in."


    Brighid''s eyes widened, but she just said, "Yes, Sir," and walked over to look at some shirts on a rack in the corner of the small shop.


    Aidan went over to the opposite corner, then turned to Siwan. "First, thank you for not making a fuss about Brighid and me. I can tell you two are close friends, and your acceptance is important to her."


    The blonde responded with surprising fierceness. "If I thought for even a second that you were mistreating her, you would find out whether present company could stomp you flat, I assure you. But I can tell that you make her happy, and as long as that continues to be true, you will have no problems from me. Besides," she continued with a giggle, "it is fun to see her on the back hoof for once!"


    Aidan shared a grin with her, then said, "Thank you, I do appreciate that, all of it. The other reason I wanted to talk to you in private is that I want to commission something for Brighid, but I don''t want her to know about it until it''s done. I don''t know if it''s something you can or would do, though, so please forgive my presumption if I overstep myself. What I would like is a strap of leather or thick cloth, about two finger-widths wide and just long enough to wrap around her throat. It should fit snugly but without restricting her breathing, even in combat. It would need a clasp to keep it on, obviously, but I would also like a metal ring at the front." At Siwan''s puzzled expression, he explained. "As I know you noticed, Brighid trusts me enough to be somewhat ... deferential to me in specific ways. Where I''m from, what I''m asking you to make is a symbol of that sort of relationship. I plan to present it to her along with a charm I''ll make myself. It will be entirely her choice if and when to wear it. I understand if you aren''t willing to be quite this involved, though."


    Siwan shook her head and hugged him again. "No, no, I think it is a lovely idea. Like I said, you are making her happy, and that makes me happy. I can make what you are asking for. Do you have any particular color or pattern in mind?"


    "You''re the seamstress here, not me," laughed Aidan, hugging her back. "By all means, use your own judgment. I''m sure whatever you come up with will be perfect. Can we discuss price while we''re over here? It''s a bit of a sensitive subject for me since my Skills are a bit ... lacking, but because this is a gift for Brighid, I don''t feel right having her pay for it. I''d offer to pay for my clothes as well, but I''m already unsure how I''ll pay for this. Unless you need something burned? I''m good at that!" He asked with a wry smile.


    Siwan tapped her chin thoughtfully. "No, I am afraid the only thing that gets burned around me regularly is my food, and I do not need any help with that. I will propose this, however: I think I know some others who might be interested in this sort of thing. I will make the collar as a gift to Brighid if you allow me to¡ªdiscreetly, I assure you¡ªmake some others and offer them to some of my other customers. If this turns out as I think it will, I will have something I can provide that my competition does not even know they are missing out on, and you will have a secret little club of like-minded folks to ease your transition into the village. All three of us win. All I would need is the length around her neck; that isn''t a measurement I have for her. Brighid has never liked high-collared shirts."


    With a relieved smile, Aidan readily agreed to Siwan''s proposal, then asked her for her measuring device. She handed him a long, thin cord with a series of knots worked into it at precise intervals. Each small knot was about an inch apart, with every fifth one being larger and every tenth being larger still. Holding the cord, he walked back over to where Brighid was fingering some silken-looking fabric thoughtfully. "Kneel down a moment," Aidan told her. "Siwan needs some measurements, and, for now, I have decided that I will be the only one allowed to touch you without your clothes on. Oh, yes, by the way: shirt off."


    Brighid''s eyes went wide and she hesitated for a long moment, staring at Siwan like the proverbial deer caught in the headlights. Aidan clucked his tongue disapprovingly. "What are you looking at her for? There is no one here who hasn''t already seen you naked. Kneel. And. Remove. Your. Shirt." Her eyes snapped back to Aidan, then she bit her lip and sank down onto her belly. A flush of embarrassment and arousal spread down her neck and onto her chest as she pulled her shirt off. "Back straight, chin up," he commanded. "I can''t get accurate measurements with you slouching like that. There you go, that''s a good girl." Brighid''s flush spread further, and she breathed out a quiet moan, but she did as he ordered without any more hesitation.


    Aidan took the cord and looped it around Brighid''s waist, drawing it taut but not tight. "Waist, twenty-nine and a half knots," he called over his shoulder to Siwan, who was watching everything with keen interest. He loosened the cord, then wrapped it around her chest again just underneath her arms and above her breasts. "Under the arms, 36 knots." He moved the cord again, wrapping it around the fullest part of her breasts. This time, he made a frustrated sound in his throat and shifted the tape repeatedly across her stiff nipples as if he were struggling to find the proper spot to measure from. Brighid took in a deep breath, trying to suppress a moan, but Aidan smacked her flank with a cupped hand and said firmly, "Stop that! Breathe normally. When you puff up like that, it throws the measurements off, and I don''t want anything going over these," he grabbed a breast in each hand, squeezing them and rubbing her nipples, drawing a moan from her, "to be nice and snug. No loose shirts for you." Finally, he gave a mock sigh and pulled the cord taut across her areolas. "We''ll call it 44 knots over the bust. That might be a tiny bit tight, but you''ll just have to deal with it since you couldn''t control yourself."


    I knew she was stacked, but damn! Aidan thought to himself as he measured Brighid''s sleeve length. All these extra measurements are just to tease her and disguise the real reason I''m doing this, but I''d be lying to myself if I didn''t admit that it''s nice to know that particular measurement. Finally, he got to the actual length he needed. "Reach back and lift up your hair so that I can get all the way around your neck. Good girl." He wrapped the cord around her smooth neck, slipping one finger underneath to make sure it wasn''t too tight, then told Siwan, "Right about 15 knots." Aidan looked at Brighid critically, examining her hips. The area was shaped very differently on her centaur''s body than it would be on a human. He glanced over at Siwan, who was looking a little flushed herself, and asked, "For a human, I would get hip measurements too, but I do not know how or even if you take that length on a centaur."


    She blinked at him a moment, clearly distracted, then shook her head. "No, for our shirts, they either stop at the belly, or we cut them low in back and long in front. That is everything I need for your request."


    Aidan nodded at her and handed the measuring string back, then looked down at Brighid. The Paladin remained kneeling in front of him, naked, submissive, and clearly aroused. "You can get up and put your shirt back on." Still blushing, she got her hooves back under her and tugged her shirt back on over her head. Her nipples were evident, forming tented peaks under the soft cloth. "Now, go ahead and figure out the price for my clothes; I''ll do what I can to pay you back."


    Siwan and Brighid talked for a few minutes. Aidan did his best not to overhear their conversation; he was sure it was about more than just bartering for goods and services. Finally, they broke apart, and Siwan gave Brighid and then Aidan another hug. With her arms around him, she whispered in his ear, "If you want me to make her some clothes like you were teasing her about, come back and talk to me some time. I believe we might be able to come to an arrangement." He looked at her, startled; her eyes were hooded, and her cheeks bore a rosy flush. She gave him a low, predatory grin, and clarified, "Not you, sorry. I like you well enough, but not like that. I would not mind having the upper hand on Brighid for once, though. Just a thought to keep in mind..." She playfully pushed the lovers out the door as he pondered the implications.


    Zurai

 Interlude: Cry of Pain

    Earth


    Saturday, March 11th, 2062


    Late Night


    The Atlanta Metropolis, USA


    The fans in Daniel''s computer rattled in their fixtures as they spun up to their maximum RPM. The heat level in his tiny office spiked several degrees as the electronic device faithfully attempted to process the data streaming into it. A few seconds later, the fans slowed down to idle speeds. Where before the computer''s monitor showed a gleaming, rotating game logo, now it only showed a blinking error message:


    SERVER TERMINATED. CONNECTION TO HOST LOST.


    With a hiss, the battered Immersion VR pod that took up the bulk of the floor popped open, revealing itself to be empty save for a handful of dry brown leaves.


    Sunday, March 12th, 2062


    Pre-Dawn


    The Atlanta Metropolis, USA


    Eve''s open-floorplan loft apartment was lit only by an array of three computer screens. One of the displays showed a web browser open to a gaming forum, and another to a graphic design program. The larger, central monitor showed the logo for a brand new game, spinning and shining against the black background. Then, without warning, the logo was replaced by an error message:


    SIGNAL INTERRUPTED. CONNECTION TO HOST LOST.


    The sleek, cutting-edge IVR pod anchored to the wall shifted as its top retracted. The cushioned interior showed no signs of any occupant.


    Caitlin Stewart


    Friday, March 17th, 2062


    Early Afternoon


    Rural New York, USA


    The shrill sound of her phone ringing distracted Caitlin from her crossword puzzle. She glanced at the screen and frowned when it displayed the caller as UNLISTED. Another scam call, she thought, but then she recognized the 770 area code; that was the code for the northern half of Atlanta''s middle ring. Curiosity got the better of her.


    "Hello? Yes, this is she; who am I speaking to? Why are the Atlanta Police calling me? What do you mean they''re both missing?! No, I haven''t heard anything from them in a few days. Um, let me think... Maybe a week and a half ago for Eve, a little longer for Daniel. No, they didn''t say anything suspicious; what kind of question is that? No. No. How would I know? I see them twice a year for Christmas and family reunions, and those are happy times. The better question is, what are you doing about this? Yes. Yes. We''ll fly down as soon as we can get tickets."


    Caitlin thumbed the disconnect icon and set her phone down on the coffee table. Her shoulders began to shake, and a wail tore from her throat. "SEAMUS! OUR BABIES!" She rose to her feet and stumbled towards the back door. It took her several attempts to turn the doorknob, and she fell to her knees as the door swung open. "SEAMUS!"


    Seamus Stewart


    "SEAMUS!" The sound of the back door slamming open and his wife''s agonized scream shattered Seamus''s quiet contemplation of his garden. He snapped his head around and leaped to his feet, rushing over to Caitlin''s collapsed, sobbing form. Moving with the care of long practice, he gathered his love into his arms. She clung to him, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing her head against his broad chest. "Seamus, our babies, our babies! They''re gone!"


    Seamus''s heart froze solid in his chest. Only carefully-cultivated instincts kept him from crushing Caitlin as the thick muscles in his tree trunk-like arms knotted up. "Gone?" He asked, voice hoarse. He didn''t want to ask, dreading the answer, but he needed to know. "Dead?"


    His tiny wife shuddered and wailed, squeezing his neck even tighter. "I don''t knooow!" She wailed. "The... the police..." Sobs wracked her slender body. Seamus waited for Caitlin to finish; asking more questions would only make things worse. "They haven''t... haven''t been seen in a week!" Some tension seeped from Seamus''s frame. Missing wasn''t dead, even if it usually ended up that way. Missing meant there was a chance. And they were both missing; Seamus knew that couldn''t be a coincidence. Wherever they were, they would help each other through it.


    He stood, barely feeling his wife''s weight in his arms, and strode into the house. There were preparations to make. He would have to have Maggie house-sit for them; it might be a while before they returned, and he couldn''t leave the cats un-fed or the garden un-tended.


    Zurai

 Chosen, Chapter 32: Serenity

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Unknown Date


    Evening


    Starchaser village, Mistvale Highlands


    After a brisk five-minute walk, Aidan and Brighid were once more in front of the Council Hall. He squared his shoulders and, repeating the procedure from a week past, entered in front of Brighid. This time, however, she followed closely behind him rather than staying at the doorway. All five Councillors were already present, resting on the cushions on the raised stage, watching impassively as the pair approached.


    Aidan bowed deeply to the Council, saying, "Thank you, Councillors, for granting this audience."


    Ignoring him for a moment, Fionn looked past Aidan. "You may withdraw now, Brighid. The Council did not summon you, and this is not an open session."


    The Paladin stepped up to Aidan''s side and lifted her chin defiantly. "I will not. I invoke the right of Companionship. By law and tradition, no judgment may be passed on my Companion without my presence, and you may not bar me from giving him counsel nor refuse to hear me on matters concerning him."


    None of the Council so much as twitched at Brighid''s pronouncement. Fionn continued, "Very well. Aidan Lostlorn, there are three matters that this Council must consider tonight. First, your very presence here, in light of your circumstances, is cause for grave concern. Second, you claim to have vital information for us regarding Ceallach Macht; we will hear this. Finally, there is the matter of your trespass on our lands." Aidan nodded, having already received Brighid''s warning about the agenda.


    "Ailis, if you would?" Brighid''s mother nodded and began to chant the words of a spell. Her hands glowed golden-white as they traced intricate patterns in the air. A moment later, both a soft golden aura settled around both Aidan and Brighid.


    Once the truth spell was in place, Eilwen spoke up, her voice stern. "Know that you are under a ritual of truth. Speak as you will, but any falsehoods will be revealed to all who watch. Consider your words well, for deceit will not be viewed favorably by this Council. Now, then, Aidan, you claim to have been inside Ceallach Macht and returned with valuable information. We will hear what you claim to have found, but first, we must determine how exactly it is that you stand before us."


    Ailis picked up the narrative. "None saw you enter the lost city, for you sent your guide away, but I do know that the talisman you wore was destroyed. Furthermore, you returned to the village only a day and a half after Brighid, who was on the brink of collapse from the exhaustion of traveling the entire distance at speed. Tell us, then, how you managed to escape from the city and return to us so quickly."


    Aidan breathed in deeply, then let it out slowly. He was not looking forward to this. "Honorable Councillors, you gave me a Quest, and I followed your directives to the best of my ability. After I convinced Brighid to return with a warning of what we observed outside the city, I proceeded into the valley. Once I passed through your ward, Councillor Ailis, I melted the talisman and pulled it apart into several pieces. I did not expect to survive my visit, and I did not wish the amulet to fall into the hands of the creatures there. I then made my way through the outskirts; I was detected by forces there, but managed to evade them and make my way inside the hill around which Ceallach Macht is built. I followed the tunnel until I came upon a chamber covered in dry, dead vines. I tried to burn them away but¡ª" His mind flinched away from the memory. Aidan tried to force himself to speak, to remember, "There was a creature there, a humanoid. It¡ª it¡ª"


    He dangled helplessly in the air, arms and legs spread far apart by living ropes of dried-out leather. More came and seized him, front and back. One wrapped tightly around his neck, trying to push its way into his mouth; another started to worm its way up the leg of his pants. A malevolent, melodic voice called out to him, and the ropes tightened, pulled. Pressure mounted, pain built, he opened his mouth to scream¡ª


    Warm lips, tasting of cinnamon and salt, pressed against his. Aidan''s mind spun, dazed, confused; something was not right. The lips kissed him again, and his eyes focused on the face of a beautiful crimson-haired woman directly in front of him, tears streaming from her emerald eyes, her mouth moving, saying something. Saying what? He strained to hear.


    "¡ªdan, Aidan, I am here, you are here with me, you are safe. Please, come back to me. They are just memories, Aidan, just memories; they have no power over you; you are safe." Aidan blinked at her. How curious. Did Brighid double back and follow me into the city? She really shouldn''t have. And what is she saying? She''s not making any sense.


    Someone else''s cool hand pressed to his forehead, and Aidan slowly tilted his head to see Brighid''s mother kneeling next to her daughter, glowing a color Aidan couldn''t describe. "His Psyche is severely Wounded. I cannot heal it, but I can deaden his emotions and dissociate his memories from the trauma they caused for a time. It will allow him to speak of what happened without breaking down again. I am sorry, Brighid, but you know we have to hear everything." Her words make no sense, but his friend nodded, reluctance written across her face. There was no way for Ailis to be here in this chamber, but her hands glowed brown, then an intense wash of something passed through him, and he came back to himself.


    He was kneeling on the floor of the Council Hall with Brighid''s arms around him. Ailis was next to her, a look of genuine concern on her face. Aidan felt detached, almost as if he were floating over his own shoulder. Nothing quite felt real, except perhaps for the swell of Brighid''s breasts pressed into his chest, but even that pleasant sensation was distant. He looked up at the other four Council members and saw that, for once, they were showing some emotion; even Fionn and Anwn''s faces bore little frowns of worry. He looked back down at Brighid and returned her hug perfunctorily, then stood back up.


    "My apologies, Councillors, for that." Aidan''s voice was flat, emotionless, but he couldn''t bring himself to care. "As I was saying, I was attacked and killed by the person in that central chamber." That produced a reaction from everyone, but Aidan continued dispassionately. "It controlled the vines in the room with its magic and pulled me apart, like a child toying with an insect. I awoke sometime later in the same canyon where I woke up after being brought to the Mistvale Highlands, with a prompt telling me that I had died, but my soul had forced its way back through Death''s door. I believed I had information that you needed to know, so I made my way back to your village, despite not having completed the Quest you gave me." The glow around him remained a steady gold throughout his recounting.


    As he spoke, Ailis returned to her place with the other Councillors, and when he finished, they whispered among themselves. Aidan waited for them to complete their discussion. Eventually, Anwn spoke. "Very well. What is this information about Ceallach Macht that you feel we need to know?"


    Aidan nodded and explained everything that happened to him in the city: the Boar Manikin and its double vulnerability to fire, the feeling of despair and hopelessness that had nearly overcome him, being hunted through the mists by more manikins, then coming to the giant archway leading into the hill. He described the two guards, and when he mentioned that his killer called them dakhols, Fionn swore softly. Aidan explained how he tricked the creatures into fighting each other so that he could sneak past them, then described the long, dark tunnel and the chamber at the end.


    "The chamber was not very large; it would easily fit inside this hall. In the very center was what looked like an altar, but it was hard to tell. Vines covered the room, floor to ceiling, and there was a thick tangle of them around the altar. It beat like a heart, and the pulse moved out along the other vines."


    Ailis''s face drained of what little color it usually had as he described the room. She spoke with urgency, interrupting his narrative. "What of the floor? Was there anything unusual about it?"


    Aidan thought back, leafing through his memories with no care for anything but finding the information requested of him. He hadn''t paid much attention to the ground, but he had looked down when he first walked in to make sure he didn''t step on any of the vines. "Yes, it was some sort of mosaic. The light was not bright enough for me to make out the design; I am sorry."


    The mage-Councillor gripped her hands tightly together before her, her knuckles bone-white from the force of her grip, but she only said, "Continue."


    "There is not much more. I thought that the vines looked important, and since I did not believe I would be able to make it back past the guards, I decided to cause as much damage as I could. I cast Flame Jet and tried to burn away the vine heart, but I was only able to complete one cast before I was caught and killed. I did notice that, after I damaged the heart, some of the vines in the room ceased moving. Also, whoever that person was, the attack made them exceedingly angry."


    It was Gerwyn''s turn to speak, it seemed, because the short, stout centaur asked, "And what of this person? Can you describe them?"


    "I did not get much time to examine it in detail. I could not tell whether it was male or female. Tall, thin. The spell it cast had a green and black aura. It spoke to me in Northern Trade-tongue using rhyming couplets; that is how I know the guards were dakhols. Right before it killed me, it said something about gnawing away its power. That is what I considered vital information. From the way it acted, I believe that its magic is tied up in the vine heart. Destroy that, destroy, or at least severely weaken, the creature."


    "Is there anything else you remember that might be useful?"


    Aidan carefully ran through his memories again. "No, Councillor. I believe I could draw a rough map of the path I took through the city and point out the location of the tunnel, but I cannot think of anything aside from that."


    "That being the case, we will now move onto the third subject for tonight''s session, that of your trespass on the lands of the Starchaser tribe. I now call a vote on the matter before the Council. This vote will be by simple acclaim; as Councillors, you are oath-bound to vote with only our laws and your conscience as your guide, without regard for the current vote tally. The accused was found on Starchaser land by members of the tribe; this fact is not in dispute, and so a vote of ''Innocent'' may not be cast. The only votes which are allowed are ''Guilty'' or ''Not Guilty''. As this is a vote of the full Council on a matter which has been fully considered, none may abstain." The entire speech had an air of long-practiced ritual.


    "Ailis Silverhair, as Lorekeeper and Councillor over the mages of the tribe, how do you vote?"


    "Not Guilty." Her voice rang out, clear, steady, and confident.


    "Anwn Wolfsister, as Huntmaster and Councillor over the hunters and border patrols, how do you vote?"


    "Guilty." Even if it were not for Ailis''s spell, Aidan would not have been surprised by that.


    "Eilwen Brighthearth, as Elder and Councillor over families and children, how do you vote?"


    "Guilty." Brighid grabbed Aidan''s hand and squeezed it tightly, but he was unbothered.


    "I, Fionn Ironhide, as Warleader and Councillor over the tribe''s warriors, vote Not Guilty.


    "Gerwyn Wanderhoof, as Master Trader and Councillor over affairs dealing with outsiders, how do you vote?"


    "Not Guilty." The mountain centaur gave Aidan a slight smile as he cast the deciding vote.


    "The tally of votes is three Not Guilty to two Guilty. Let it be known that Aidan Lostlorn is not guilty of trespassing on Starchaser lands. So say we all." The last was said by all five Councillors speaking in unison.


    Brighid hugged Aidan tightly, but before she could celebrate any further, Ailis spoke up. "In my right as Councillor, I submit a new matter to the floor tonight. As Aidan Lostlorn is no longer under the accusation of trespass, and in light of his considerable contributions to the tribe, I petition the Council to conduct the Rite of Acceptance on his behalf to formally make him one of the people he has already fought and died for."


    None of the other Councillors visibly reacted to Ailis''s request, so Aidan assumed it was not unexpected. Fionn, continuing in his role as Council spokesman, said, "A new petition has been brought before the Council by a fellow Councillor. As second moonrise has not yet passed, and all other matters before the Council are completed, we must hear arguments on this matter tonight. Councillor Ailis, as you brought the petition, you have the right of the first argument. You may proceed."


    Ailis rose to her feet graciously and began speaking. "This man may be an outsider by birth, but he has shown through word and deed to be a true friend of our people. He was brought here through no fault of his own and, despite enduring repeated hostility and mistrust, has shown us only honor and loyalty in return. We, this very Council, sent him on a Quest with assurances that it was within his ability to complete, and he died doing his best to achieve that mission.


    "Before going to his death, however, Aidan acted as selflessly as I have seen another act. He had at his side a strong and capable Paladin, skilled in Fire Magic, who intended to go with him into the city and aid him in his Quest. Instead of accepting her assistance, he assessed the situation and sent away the one who would help him so that she could warn the tribe. Then, instead of shirking his duty, Aidan proceeded into the city, knowing that it would kill him, because that was the Quest we laid before him. Immediately upon entry, he destroyed his only known means of egress because it would be a dagger pointed at our heart if the enemy discovered it." She glared accusingly around the stage. "We failed him, Councillors, but he did not fail us. Even though Death itself claimed him, he fought his way back with a desire to help us. Even though his Psyche is hanging on by the barest thread, he did his best to give us information that may soon save the lives of dozens¡ªlives of those who have shown him no friendship."


    Ailis''s voice rose to a demanding crescendo. "I say that Aidan has done more to help our people than any not here present. I say that he has done as much as those on this stage! I say that, although he was born into the body of a human, Aidan Lostlorn is a true centaur of the Starchaser tribe!"


    The silver-haired Councillor resumed her seat upon her cushion, and Fionn spoke again, his voice grave and stately. "We have heard Councillor Ailis''s argument in favor of her proposal. Do any other Councillors wish to be heard before I call the vote?"


    Anwn sprang to her hooves, and Fionn yielded the floor to her. "I will admit that I, too, misjudged this human somewhat. He has indeed shown himself to be honorable and loyal, and though I voted against him in the past, I bear him no ill-will for the future." She inclined her head towards Aidan. He returned the gesture; it seemed the thing to do. "He is not one of us, however! No matter how much good he has done for the tribe, he has not grown up among us, does not know our customs or traditions. Our people are not comfortable in his presence! Though I judge it no fault of his own, he draws strife to him. Not four hours ago, I caught three young males attacking him between the village and the river, on the main path. These sentiments will not go away just because we wave our hands and pronounce him a Starchaser. For his own sake and the harmony of the tribe, I say that we should thank him, help him heal, even reward him if the Council deems it just, but then send him on his way. He does not belong in the Highlands, and we do neither ourselves nor him any favors by trying to make it so."


    Anwn sat back down, and again Fionn asked for further argument. When none stood, he continued, "I now call a vote on the matter before the Council. This vote will be by simple acclaim; as Councillors, you are oath-bound to vote with only your conscience as your guide, without regard for the current vote tally. This is not a matter of law, so the votes shall be ''Yea'' or ''Nay''. As this matter has been raised before the Council only this very night and there is no pressing need to resolve it this session, a vote of ''Abstain'' or ''Delay'' will also be accepted. If there is no majority among those who vote ''Yea'' or ''Nay'' and at least one Councillor votes ''Delay'', we will table the matter until the next full Council meeting, then consider further arguments and have a final vote at that time.


    "Ailis Silverhair, how do you vote?" Fionn began the calling of the vote.


    "Yea."


    "Anwn Wolfsister, how do you vote?"


    "Nay."


    "Eilwen Brighthearth, how do you vote?"


    "Delay."


    "I, Fionn Ironhide, Abstain."


    "Gerwyn Wanderhoof, how do you vote?"


    "Delay."


    ¡°The tally of votes is one Aye, one Nay, one Abstain, and two Delays. The petition will be tabled for a minimum of one week. So say we all.¡±


    Brighid let out a disappointed noise beside him, but Aidan felt nothing. With no further items on the agenda for the meeting, Fionn adjourned the Council and the Councillors rose to their hooves. Anwn immediately headed for the exit at the rear of the stage, but the others approached Aidan.


    Zurai

 Chosen, Chapter 33: The Day Will Come

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Firstday, 4th week of the 7th month, Godless Age 597


    Night


    Starchaser village, Mistvale Highlands


    Ailis was the first of the Councillors to speak. "It is not a good idea to leave the Serenity spell on Aidan for too long; it can have long-term side-effects. Give me just a moment to unravel it gently. Brighid, I am not sure how he will react when he is in touch with his emotions again, so be prepared." So saying, she closed her eyes and concentrated. Aidan felt the emotional dampening effect gradually recede, which was a strange sensation indeed. He shivered and shook his head like a dog drying its fur, then relaxed into Brighid''s arms as she wrapped them around him.


    "I''m alright, love," he told her, patting her forearm. She squeezed him lightly, but didn''t let go; he didn''t mind. Aidan turned his attention to the four Council members standing before him and gave Ailis a short half-bow. "Thank you, Lady Councillor, for your spell. I am sorry that I was unable to deliver my report without your assistance."


    "Think nothing of it, Aidan. It was our arrogance and negligence that made it necessary. I regret that my magic was incapable of providing lasting relief for your trauma, but I see that my daughter has already made steps in that direction." She arched one eyebrow, eyeing the way Brighid was cradling Aidan in her arms. A slight frown tugged at the corners of her mouth.


    Eilwen, too, was paying attention to Brighid and Aidan''s interaction. "Indeed," she said drily. "I would like to talk to you both sometime in the near future. Not tonight, however; it is late, and I am tired."


    Fionn added, "I imagine we would all like some of your time, Aidan. I know I still have some questions to ask you about Ceallach Macht, and I believe Ailis does as well from her reaction earlier." The silver-haired centaur nodded. "And the three of us who declined to vote tonight would like a chance to get to know you better." This time, Eilwen and Gerwyn murmured their agreement. He clapped Aidan on the shoulder, and the casual strength of that blow would have sent him sprawling to the ground if it weren''t for Brighid holding him up. "For tonight, go celebrate with your Companion. You are safe, and deserve a rest from your ordeals."


    Fionn, Eilwen, and Ailis turned to leave, but Gerwyn stuck around a moment longer. "As Councillor over outsiders, you fall under my jurisdiction, for now, at least. If you have any complaints or concerns about your treatment, I am the one you should speak to about them. We will spread the word that you are a guest of the Council, which should prevent outright attacks against you, but will only take the edge off the general hostility. You seem like an honorable and well-mannered lad; keep that attitude and will do more towards bringing you acceptance than any decree from us." He leaned in closer and said in a stage whisper, "And between the three of us, I enjoyed hearing about the way you handled Neifion and his cronies. It was about time someone took him down a peg." He winked, then turned and left, leaving Brighid and Aidan alone in the hall.


    Once there was no one to observe them, Aidan tilted his head back against Brighid''s bosom, then reached up behind her head and tangled his fingers in her hair, tugging her down into a kiss. "Shall we head home?" He asked, lips brushing hers.


    "Mmm," Brighid agreed, then scooped him up in her arms. To his laughing protests, she only replied, "Hush. I can feel how much that took out of you; you could barely stand on your own. Let me do this for you, my love." Aidan had to admit that she was right.


    Aidan


    The Realms


    Firstday, 4th week of the 7th month, Godless Age 597


    Night


    Starchaser village, Mistvale Highlands


    Once they returned home, Aidan settled into the thick cushion of Brighid''s bed and let out a long breath. Brighid sank down next to him, already pulling her shirt over her head. "I know Fionn told us to celebrate, love, but would you mind terribly if we only cuddle tonight? I am still feeling a bit off from your mother''s magic, and we still have things to discuss between us anyway.


    "Whatever you wish, Sir," the redhead said demurely.


    Aidan frowned slightly. "That''s one of the things we have to talk about, actually." Feeling Brighid stiffen beside him, he hurried to explain. "No, no, I just mean that we need to establish boundaries. I told you that I would hold you to what you promised me this afternoon, and I mean it. You are mine, Brighid, for as long as you want to be. What we need to discuss is what, precisely, that means to each of us." He turned to face his lover, reaching out to caress her cheek and smiling when she nuzzled into his hand.


    "I have gathered that I am your first real relationship? I know you have some sexual experience before me, but I am the first you have romantic feelings for?" She nodded, still rubbing her cheek into his palm. "Then let me tell you, as someone who has been through several failed romances, that mismatched expectations and lack of communication are the quickest paths to ruining a good thing. I told you before that some of my previous partners told me I was too clingy and didn''t give them enough space, right?" Again Brighid nodded. "That''s the sort of thing I mean. I wanted to spend more time with them than they did with me. That led to hard feelings between us; I felt like they didn''t love me as much as I did them, and they felt like I was stifling them. I don''t want that to happen with you."


    "I do not think that will be a problem. I want to spend all my time with you. In bed, whenever possible." Brighid spoke earnestly, but all Aidan could think was, Ah, youthful innocence.


    "That''s something that happens with almost every set of new lovers. Once the newness wears off, you will find that things change."


    Brighid shook her head. "No, I do not think so. When you examined my status screen earlier, did you see my Traits?" Confused by the seeming non-sequitur, Aidan nodded. "Longwinded is something every centaur has, but the other two are unique to me. Fireheart gives me bonus Attribute points on every level, but at the expense of Willpower. It also raises my Attractiveness and my affinity for Fire Magic and Smithing as well as giving me high innate fire resistance."


    "Ahhh," Aidan said. "I did wonder why you had so many points spent on Attractiveness. It makes a lot more sense if they are automatic; I didn''t peg you as being vain."


    "Yes, that is all from Fireheart," Brighid confirmed. "Then, more relevantly, there is my other special Trait, Intense Heat. It increases my, ah, sexual characteristics," she bounced her breasts and wiggled her rump for emphasis, "and my responsiveness. It also gives me a ''bonus'' to fertility, raises my affinity for Sex and its subskills, and changes my heat cycle to make it rarer, but longer and more intense. Basically, between the two Traits, I become aroused very quickly, am extremely sensitive, and am predisposed towards being impulsively passionate." She was blushing, but held Aidan''s gaze. "I am more worried about driving you away by being too needy than the reverse, my love."


    "Well," Aidan temporized, "I suppose we can table that particular worry until it becomes an issue. If you ever need time for yourself, though, please tell me, and I will do the same, okay?" Brighid nodded her agreement.


    "That wasn''t my only concern, though," Aidan continued, trying to decide how to word what he needed to say. "I am by no means an expert on the kind of relationship that we seem to have stumbled into. I know a little about it, but we will be learning together. There are two things I know to do right now, though. First, we need to have a safe word. If you say that word, I stop whatever I''m doing to you. The purpose is to allow you to protect yourself from anything that bothers you, physically or emotionally. It needs to be something that you wouldn''t usually say while we, ah, play, and should be short and distinctive."


    Brighid thought seriously for a few moments, then asked, "How about pickle? It is short, and you are not likely to mistake it for another word."


    "Yes, that''s a good word. The second thing is a list of dos and don''ts. What are the things that get you excited, and conversely, what do you never want to have to do? Anything you say no to is totally out of the picture, anything you say yes to I''ll do my best to incorporate when I can, and anything you don''t mention is open for experimentation. I have some suggestions, but I want to hear your thoughts first."


    "You are making me think too much when all I want is for you to make love to me," Brighid complained good-naturedly. "I like it when you touch me, especially when you are forceful or coercive. I want you to give me orders. When you commanded me to kneel and strip for you in front of Siwan..." She shivered and let out a soft moan. "I do not want to be even touched by any man but you, but women are fine. I will happily seduce another woman into our bed if you ask me to. Maybe even if you do not forbid me to," she giggled. Aidan had his reservations about that but resolved to let her finish first. "A little pain heats me up, but I have been cut and bludgeoned and had my bones broken, and those are not sexy. Stick to pulling my hair and tugging on my nipples."


    "What about spanking you?" Aidan asked, already suspecting the answer.


    Emerald eyes widened, then half-closed. "Mmm, I think coming from you, that would prove an extremely ineffective punishment, but an equally effective way to ensure you have a wet and willing mare on your hands."


    "We''ll add that to the ''yes'' column then," Aidan said with a laugh. "Do you have any strong opinions on where my seed ends up? Do you want me to avoid releasing in your mouth, do you like the idea of having me come on your breasts or rump or anything like that?"


    "Mark your territory however you like, Sir," his flame-haired lover replied with a purr. Then she added with a wry smile, "But if you get it in my hair or fur, it is your job to clean it out."


    "Fair!" Aidan agreed, laughing. "I''ll try to keep the mess to something easily fixable. Here''s another for you: what do you think of anal sex?"


    "I would be willing to try, for you," she said slowly. "I have never had anything there before, though I know it is possible."


    Aidan nodded. "I can work with that. If you don''t enjoy it, that''s fine. Some women, at least humans, really like it, and some hate it. I think that''s enough for now. We can revisit this subject later if we need to. I do have a couple of related topics I wanted to explore, though, if you''re not too tired?"


    "Of course," she agreed, "but can we get more comfortable? I cannot help but notice that I am the only one who is naked."


    "As my lady wishes," Aidan agreed and worked his way out of the clothes. Brighid ran her hands over his body, ostensibly to help him, but she seemed much more concerned with touching him than actually getting his clothes off. Once he was naked, she pulled him against her chest, her breasts providing a natural pillow, and absently ran her hands up and down his chest.


    "Do you want me on my side so that we can cuddle as we sleep?" She asked him curiously. "I could not afford to out in the field, but here at home where it is safe, it is no trouble." Aidan nodded, and Brighid lowered herself onto her side, bringing him with her.


    Usually, I''m the big spoon, Aidan thought, laughing to himself. This is a new experience. Out loud, he said, "So, twice now, you mentioned bringing other women into our bed. Is that something you want, or are you suggesting it because you think it''s something I want?"


    Brighid''s hands stilled momentarily, then resumed their idle caresses. "Both, I think. It is not unusual among our people for women to have women as lovers, even if they also have a male lover. Sometimes they even share a male. I think I could live without anyone but you, but there is still part of me that wants to feel another woman''s breasts, hear her moan, taste her pleasure. And, more practically speaking, I cannot bear your children; humans can cross-breed with most other races, but not centaurs. I love you even more for what you implied when we bathed, but it cannot be, Aidan."


    He turned around in her arms, looking into her verdant green gaze. Brighid''s hands slid down to his lower back, then froze when he reached up to grip her hair. "Just this afternoon, you promised to do whatever I wanted, but already you''re telling me no? That I can''t breed you? Are you my mare or not?"


    Her breath caught, but she managed to moan out, "Aidan, my love, my heart, my mind is willing, eager, exuberant, but it is not physically possible! No matter how much of your seed you sow in me, it will never sprout. I wish it were not so!"


    "So you are willing? You would become my broodmare if it were possible?" His voice was intense, demanding, even harsh.


    "By Braihan, I would if I could!" She cried out, half in sorrow, half in lust.


    "Well then," Aidan said lightly, letting go of her hair and snuggling back against her, "that''s that then." At his lover''s look of utter confusion, he explained, "Brighid, magic exists in this world. Gods exist. Further, one of those Gods has given me the ability to raise every single Skill to infinitely high levels. How can you think that anything is impossible, given that? Improbable, maybe. Requiring effort and study, certainly. But impossible? No, Brighid. For you, I will make the impossible possible."


    He accepted, then told his lover, "And if you still doubt me, I just received a Quest to do just that. Something tells me that there''s no such thing as a completely impossible Quest, is there?"


    Eyes wide, trembling all over, Brighid whispered back, "No. No, there is not. Aidan, I..." she trailed off, her voice choking up, then, pleadingly, "hold me? Please?"


    She burrowed into his arms, shuddering and sobbing. "I''ve got you," he told her soothingly. "Always and forever, flame of my heart." Her sobs increased in volume, and she held him even tighter, going so far as to wrap one of her forelegs around his thighs. He murmured to her and stroked her hair until she cried herself to sleep, then brooded on the nature of magic, gods, and impossibility until, at last, he joined her.


    Zurai

 Interlude: Predator and Prey

    Ysbail


    The Realms


    Secondday, 4th week of the 7th month, Godless Age 597


    Morning


    Starchaser Territory, Mistvale Highlands


    The blizzard drake trumpeted in anger, scattering the nearby wildlife. Birds launched into the air in panic, rabbits ran blindly down the hill, and even a lumbering gaidhealach paused in its foraging to look for the source of the disturbance. Ysbail grinned and rolled her shoulders. "You led me on a merry little chase, but there will be no more running away for you!" The monster bellowed its fury again, raging at her with its wings spread to their full sixty-foot span. Thick red blood seeped from a deep cut along its shoulder; it wouldn''t be able to fly except in short bursts.


    Ysbail couldn''t afford to take it for granted, though, a fact the beast proved by leaping at her and spinning in mid-air, immense ice crystals forming along its tail as it whipped towards her. She sprang to the side, feeling the frigid shrapnel deflect off her armor as the overgrown lizard''s tail slammed into the ground with an earth-shaking thump. She spun on her hind legs, the momentum of her three-quarter-ton bulk lending extra force to her gleaming greatsword as she swung it over and down. Her foe was quick, already hopping backward to avoid her strike, but Ysbail was ready for it. She followed through on the right-to-left overhand swing by shifting her right hand, raising the hilt of her sword to bring it under her left shoulder and then back and up, over her head and down. The follow-up strike lacked the momentum of the first blow but still managed to cleave through the drake''s arm-thick horn just above its skull.


    Ysbail''s quarry reared back and launched itself skyward. Its flight was erratic, hindered by the wound to its shoulder, but it didn''t need to fly for long. It clawed at the air to gain height, then dived at Ysbail, maw distended like a snake''s. Was it trying to swallow her whole? No, she could see the frost coursing up its neck. Ysbail thrust her sword into the ground in front of her and ducked behind its broad blade, sheltering behind it as the drake let loose a blast of frigid air cold enough to flash-freeze its prey.


    "Fuck!" Ysbail shouted, "I hate elemental drakes!" She rose from behind her temporary shield, grasping the hilt of her sword and tugging it free of the frozen hilltop. Her eyes flicked to her Health display; she''d lost a good chunk even without taking a direct hit. Worse, the cold would weaken her sword, making it more likely to break if it hit one of the drake''s armor plates. She searched the skies for the drake, quickly spotting it as it wheeled in the air and dove towards her again. This time it wouldn''t be the breath; it took time for them to recharge after unleashing a blast like that. Ysbail raised her sword to shoulder height and pointed the tip at her quarry. If it tried to eat her, it was going to get a nasty surprise.


    The drake must have realized the same thing because it pulled up short, beating its wings to skid to an inelegant stop fifty feet in front of Ysbail. It screeched at her again, giving Ysbail time to chant a quick spell to reinforce the metal of her sword. She was under a time limit now; if she let it get off another breath attack, she might actually lose. It was time to go all-out. She raised her hands, lifting her sword upright over her right shoulder, and charged.


    Drakes were among the deadliest predators in the Highlands not because of their size, ferocity, or powerful innate magic¡ªalthough all of those played a part¡ªbut because they were intelligent. They weren''t smart enough to qualify for Skills and Classes, but their cunning exceeded that of other base monsters. Ysbail received a reminder of that when the blizzard drake sprang its trap. The beast crouched as if to meet her charge, waiting until she was fully committed to her attack, then sprang into the air.


    "Shit!" Ysbail spun to the side, falling into a painful slide that was all she could do to avoid the field of razor-sharp icicles that the drake had created behind itself. The only thing that saved her was that the spikes angled upward, so she crashed through their bases instead of impaling herself on the tips. Even so, the intense cold of the ice as it shattered shaved more of her Health away. She pushed off the ground, heaving herself upright, but even as she got her hooves back under her, she felt the drake''s talons pierce through her chainmail. Ysbail gritted her teeth and yanked herself out of the drake''s grasp before it could lift her off the ground. The pain was intense, and the Health loss worse, but it was better than being dropped onto a field of broken ice from a hundred feet up.


    Ysbail spat blood out of her mouth and grinned at the drake. "That was your last mistake, asshole." She felt the energy of her Down But Not Out Talent filling her, increasing her Might, Agility, and Speed based on her missing Health. It wasn''t much of a benefit until she crossed the 25% threshold, but it was currently almost doubling her Attributes. She blurred into action, slicing diagonally upward with her sword. This time she was too fast and the drake was too close for it to evade; it screamed as her blade crunched past its scales and into its ribcage. The beast fell to the ground, and only her enhanced Might and Agility allowed Ysbail to maintain her grip on her sword. With a grunt of effort, she yanked it free, then, panting, brought it around in a savage overhand chop that cleaved through the monster''s neck.


    It took the damned thing another two minutes to stop thrashing, but the threat was over, and Ysbail was victorious yet again. "Hah...hah... Fuck you, fucking lizard. That was for Padraig. And now I need a bath. Fucking drake bleeding all over me." She fumbled in her hip pouch and pulled out a metal flask. "Which one is this?" Ysbail twisted the cap off and took a swig. "Ah, whiskey! Best idea I ever had. Warm me up and heal my wounds!"


    Zurai

 Chosen, Chapter 34: Apologies

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Secondday, 4th week of the 7th month, Godless Age 597


    Morning


    Starchaser village, Mistvale Highlands


    Aidan woke to a series of kisses being pressed along his jaw, neck, and shoulder. When he opened his eyes, he could hardly see the rest of the room, buried as he was in curtains of crimson hair. Brighid pressed her face into the crook of his neck, then grazed his skin with her teeth before giving him a hickey. Aidan snaked one hand around, slipping it between their bodies and up onto a large, soft breast, drawing a sound of satisfaction from her.


    "Well, this is a pleasant way to wake up," he murmured.


    "Mmm-hmm," hummed Brighid, arching into his touch. "Now that you are awake, how about we practice making a baby? It will not happen today, but we want everything to go correctly when the time comes, yes?" A warm hand stroked his thigh and a wet tongue traced from his shoulder to his ear. "I think I will need a lot of practice."


    Aidan nuzzled Brighid''s hair and flicked his thumb over her hard nipple. "I have to admit the idea has merit." He found one of her ears and began to nibble. "I could grow used to breeding my lovely flame-haired mare each morning before breakfast. How many tries will it take before your belly grows heavy and your breasts swell with milk?"


    "I do not know whether to hope it takes one or a thousand!"


    "Why not both?" That drew a shudder from Brighid.


    "And a hundred, and two hundred, and..." she moaned into his ear. She was beginning to squirm against his hands, and Aidan could feel her skin heating up.


    "Just how many children are you planning on?"


    "Human males do not become infertile with age, right? Well, figure out how much longer you plan to live then divide that by 1.5. I go into heat about once every year and a half."


    "I think that many children might be a bit much, don''t you?"


    "Maybe," she agreed, "but it would be fun making them all!" She bit his ear lightly, and one hand slipped between his legs. The feel of her breath in his ear and her hands on his flesh were clouding Aidan''s thoughts. He knew that if he gave into her distractions, they wouldn''t leave the bed for hours. A large part of him was eager for that, but intellectually, he knew that his time was limited.


    "We do have other things to do today, you know." Aidan murmured.


    "They can wait." Her hands grew more insistent.


    "Should I tell that to your mother?"


    "I will tell her myself!"


    "And how about Fionn, Eilwen, and Gerwyn?"


    After a moment, she slowed, conceding, "Gerwyn, maybe."


    "Uh-huh," Aidan said drily, pulling away from the still-clingy centaur. "Come on, my lovely. We need to get up and face the day. Aren''t you hungry?"


    "Hungry for your¡ª" He interrupted her with a kiss, then had to push at her shoulders to escape her ravenous response.


    "Hungry for food, Brighid. I am, even if you aren''t. You don''t want me to starve, do you? Up, up." Reluctantly, she followed him as he rose to his feet. Once she was standing, she stretched, her arms raised behind her head and her back arched, thrusting her breasts out towards Aidan. Then she turned and walked into the kitchen, rump swaying, tail swishing back and forth to offer tantalizing glimpses of what he had just denied himself. He smiled and shook his head at her blatant attempts at seduction. "I promise we''ll get some ''practice'' in today, love. You know as well as I do that if we start now, though, we won''t stop until dinner time."


    "I do not see the problem with that!" She gave him a sultry look over her shoulder, but Aidan could see that Brighid was just teasing him now. He decided to tease her back and delivered a stinging smack to her rump. Her tail flipped up onto her back, and she moaned, tilting her rear upwards. "I told you before, that is not a very effective means of punishment..."


    "Who said I was trying to punish you? There''s nothing wrong with being eager for play, so long as you obey when I say it''s time to stop." His hand trailed along her spine as he moved to stand beside her. She bent her head to his, and this time he allowed the kiss to linger. When their lips finally parted, he husked, "Do not think that I am immune to your charms, flame of my heart. I love you more than I can adequately express, and I want to do all manner of filthy things to your body." Her eyes widened like prey sighting a predator at the hunger in his eyes. "If four-fifths of the Council hadn''t all but ordered me to pay them visits in short order, things would be different. But my future here with you is dependent on them, in more ways than one, and that is not something I care to risk."


    "Yes, Sir, I understand." Her words were demure, but Brighid''s eyes blazed like the sun.


    Aidan


    The Realms


    Secondday, 4th week of the 7th month, Godless Age 597


    Morning


    Starchaser village, Mistvale Highlands


    After feeding each other a meal of not-bacon and eggs, along with a healthy side of wanton glances and lingering touches, Brighid and Aidan discussed their itinerary. "Which order do you think I should approach the Councillors, love?" Aidan asked.


    "Mother first," Brighid replied without hesitation. "We need to get her fully on your side. Even though she was the one who made the petition, I still do not fully trust her. I think that was an apology to me more than anything to do with you. Mother can be ruthless when she feels like she needs to be, and she is manipulative by habit. If we can convince her to help us, however, the others will be much easier."


    [/td]


    The quest was all upside, so he accepted it, then asked, "How do we do that? Should I tell her about Limitless?"


    "Absolutely not!" Brighid shook her head vigorously. "That would make her view you as a threat, a tool, or both. She would not hesitate to use you up and then dispose of you. No, she needs to see you as an ally to cultivate. I have an idea of how to do that. Are you willing to follow my lead?" Green eyes stared into his soul, but the answer was obvious.


    "Of course, love. I trust you with everything that I am; if you have an idea of the path forward, I will not hesitate to follow." A dazzling smile and a long, tender kiss were his rewards.


    "Alright then, we should get dressed and make our way over. I cannot wait to see Mother''s expression!" Red hair swirled as Brighid sprang into action. Aidan watched for a moment, bemused, then stood and made his own preparations.


    Aidan


    The Realms


    Secondday, 4th week of the 7th month, Godless Age 597


    Morning


    Starchaser village, Mistvale Highlands


    A quarter-hour later, Brighid knocked on the wooden door of a modestly-sized house, then called out, "Mother, it is me, and I have Aidan with me."


    The muffled, but still recognizable, voice of Ailis responded, "Come in; it is unlocked." After giving Aidan an apprehensive but determined glance, Brighid pushed the door open and stepped inside. Aidan followed her inside and closed the door behind him. Ailis was seated at a table with an open book before her and a steaming mug at her side. Brighid gathered several of the cushions centaurs used as seats in a small pile next to the table; Aidan settled down onto the makeshift chair and rested his hand at the small of her back, sliding it up under her shirt. He gave Brighid a smile of thanks, then addressed her mother. "Good morning, Councillor Ailis. Catching up on some reading?"


    The corners of the smaller centaur''s mouth twitched upward, and she responded lightly, "I am forever catching up on my reading; there is always more to know. And, please, you can just call me Ailis in private." Her eyes flicked towards where Aidan''s arm disappeared behind her daughter''s back. "After all, it seems we are near-family now. I am not sure that I approve, but," she emphasized, cutting off Brighid''s immediate objection, "I do not necessarily disapprove, either. Regardless, it is not my place to interfere between lovers when no offspring can result." Brighid subsided with a huff, but Aidan could still feel the tension in her.


    Ailis returned her attention to Aidan. "There are three things that I needed to talk to you about. The first, and of most immediate concern, is to check on your health. When you collapsed during the inquiry last night, I used an Ability of mine to assess your condition, then a spell to calm you. Aidan, however it is that you were able to return to life -- and I dearly want to know more about that¡ªit healed the Wounds of your body, but not your mind. I do not know how much you know about Psyche...?" He shook his head a shrugged; the concept was familiar from Earth, but he had no idea how it applied here. "Not uncommon; it cannot be viewed under typical circumstances. Psyche is essentially the mental and emotional equivalent of Health; it measures the amount of mental pain and anguish you can withstand before risking insanity. You were very, very close to empty last night, Aidan." Brighid whimpered quietly; Aidan slid his hand from her back around her far side and pulled her close.


    Ailis noticed the interaction, but instead of commenting, continued, "Fortunately, I have a Beast Magic spell, Serenity, which calms the minds of animals and dissociates their emotions from their thoughts for a time. It is useful for helping animals which have been mistreated, and one of the tricks of Beast Magic is that people are, in the end, just animals who are smarter than average. Unfortunately," she let out a soft sigh and leaned back, taking a sip from her mug before continuing, "I do not have any way to directly heal your Trauma. That would require Cogitomancy, and I do not know anyone with the affinity for it. I can work with you to help you manage and, eventually, hopefully, overcome your emotional pain, but your Psyche may have been permanently damaged."


    Aidan met the Councillor''s ice-blue gaze steadily and said, "That is not pleasant to hear, but if you will help, I will listen."


    Ailis nodded and asked, "May I have your permission to use my Ability on you again? Last night was something of an emergency; you were not responsive, and I needed to address what was wrong then and there." At Aidan''s nod, she reached across the table and lightly rested her fingertips on his forehead. Her eyes closed in concentration for a moment, then opened again. Withdrawing her hand, she said, "Hmmm! Your Psyche has recovered since last night. There is still a serious Trauma present, but you are less fragile than you were." She eyed him curiously, looking between him and Brighid, then down to his arm around Brighid''s waist. "I would expect some degree of natural healing, but so much in such a short time is unusual. It would appear that your ... relationship ... with my daughter agrees with you." Her eyes shifted back up to Aidan''s, and where before they had been the color of ice, now they were a dark, stormy gray. "Just have a care; break my daughter''s heart, and you may wish we exiled you as Anwn proposed."


    To Aidan''s surprise, Brighid did not fly off the handle at the threat. Instead, she gave her mother a defiant look and declared, "Aidan has already saved my life, Mother. You know I wanted to follow him into Ceallach Macht. My heart is safer with him than it is with you." Ailis flinched as the barb struck true.


    Seeking to keep things from escalating, Aidan added, "You may rest assured: Brighid means the world to me. I would sooner cut off my own arms than hurt her. While our relationship has undeniably progressed quickly, we have spent a great deal of time together already, and we have discussed what we expect from each other. I am doing everything in my power to make this work."


    At his side, Brighid chirped, "Including convincing me that coming here was more important than staying in bed and seeing how many times he could make me come for him." Aidan blinked and looked askance at Brighid. Is this her plan...?


    Ailis''s eyes shifted to Brighid. A smirk crept across her lips, and she asked, "And how was your first time with a male? Did he satisfy you?" Aidan felt like he was in an episode of The Twilight Zone. I know they''re more open about sex, but damn, right in front of me?


    Brighid smiled broadly and placed her hand on Aidan''s upper thigh under the table. "Oh, yes. He knew exactly what I needed and how I needed it. Yes, Mother, I am very, very satisfied. And, once we are finished with today''s errands, I plan to take Aidan back home and," her hand on his thigh slid onto his crotch, "take care of any satisfaction issues which may have popped up during the day."


    "Well." A hint of red suffused Ailis''s cheeks and the sides of her elegant neck. Is that embarrassment or ... surely not arousal? "I will try not to keep you too much longer, then. There are still two matters I wished to speak to you about, though. First, I have some things I must tell the two of you. Please allow me to finish; this will be hard on all of us, but harder still with interruptions." She took a deep breath, then let it out. "Brighid, when you returned from Ceallach Macht, you and I had an argument, during which you appealed my decision to the Council." Her eyes drifted down onto the table. "That was another manipulation on my part." Brighid stiffened against Aidan''s side; he could practically feel the anger pouring off of her.


    "I know that makes you upset. It should. I have been ... made to realize that I have become so focused on how I must act in the Council that I have been treating everything else in the same way. I am sorry for that. Both of you have been my victims when you did not need to be. Aidan, knowing what I do now, I believe you would have willingly gone and scouted for us without any coercion on my part. Yet coerced you were, forced by the Council, and the Council acted as it did in no small part because of me."


    Ailis looked him directly in the eyes, her irises taking on the color of a clear winter sky. "I, Ailis Silverhair, acknowledge a debt owed to Aidan Lostlorn for my actions resulting in his death and continued emotional trauma."


    Know this: The centaur Ailis Silverhair has acknowledged a debt of deeds to you.


    Reneging on this debt will have grave consequences for her.


    Always remember, words have power.


    Zurai

 Chosen, Chapter 35: Power of the Gods

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Secondday, 4th week of the 7th month, Godless Age 597


    Mid-morning


    Starchaser village, Mistvale Highlands


    Words have power... Aidan looked directly back into Ailis''s eyes, doing his best to project confidence and authority. "I accept your debt. I understand why you did what you did, Councillor Ailis, but there are sayings from my homeland that I believe you would do well to consider. The ends do not justify the means; the road to Hell is paved with good intentions; power tends to corrupt. You were lucky, Councillor. I was able to fight my way back to return to Brighid¡ªand to tell you what I saw. How many other sacrifices would that have been true for? How many sacrifices would have cost you your daughter as well?"


    Ailis stoically accepted Aidan''s criticism, inclining her neck towards him in acknowledgment, then turning her attention towards her daughter. "Brighid..." she started, her voice low and thick, then stopped and looked down at her trembling hands. Moving carefully, she picked up the book, inserted a ribbon to mark her page, then closed it. Her eyes scanned the spine as if reading it for the first time, then she stood and walked over to place the book upon a bookshelf. When she returned to her cushion on the opposite side of the table, her hands were steadier. "Brighid, you are the one to whom I have been the most monstrous of all. You are my daughter, my own flesh and blood," her voiced cracked and she reached blindly for her mug, drinking deeply of its contents before setting it back down on the table.


    "You are my daughter," she said again, "but I have rarely treated you as more than a tool. A magnificent, beautiful tool who I love foremost in all the Realms, but a tool nonetheless. I cannot begin to enumerate my crimes against you, daught¡ª" She stopped herself and blinked away tears. "Brighid. I will not ask for your forgiveness yet. Words have power, but actions reveal the truth. All I ask is that you allow me the chance to redeem myself. I do love you, little spark." She stopped talking, looking down at the table rather than up at her daughter.


    Brighid stirred against Aidan as the room fell silent, but he acted first, sliding his arm from around her waist and half-turning on the cushions to face her. He could only see Brighid''s face in profile, but he could tell that she was troubled, torn between love for her parent and mistrust from the way she has been treated. Aidan reached up to lightly brush the backs of his fingers against her cheek, drawing her attention. He gently turned her head towards him and leaned forward until their foreheads were pressed together and they could only see each others'' eyes. He spoke in a soft, calming voice, intended for her ears but not kept from her mother''s, "Know that I am here with you, no matter what you choose. If you want to give your mother another chance, or if you want to close this door now, or even if you decide to delay until a later time, I will still be right here at your side. Together, forever." She nodded very slightly, and he claimed her lips with his, taking a moment while her mother wasn''t watching to give her a less-than-chaste kiss. He only intended to provide her with a jolt of positive emotion, but she snaked a hand to the back of his neck and pulled him in tightly to her as she deepened and extended the kiss.


    Aidan wasn''t quite sure how long the kiss lasted, but eventually, Ailis cleared her throat, and slowly, gradually, he and Brighid parted. Her eyes were bright and aware, but her cheeks showed that she wasn''t totally unaffected either. She darted in to give him one more quick kiss, then let him go and turned back to face her mother, head held high. "When I returned from Ceallach Macht, and you acted the way you did, I hated you." Ailis flinched from the harsh words but did not interrupt. Brighid continued, her voice steady and calm, "But after Aidan returned to me and I heard everything he had to say, I came to a revelation. Consider this: I was born with a Trait which very clearly marks me as favored by the Brighaid, so much so that you yourself named me after Them and raised me with Their tenets as my guide. A little over twenty-one years later, less than a year after I took my place as an adult in the tribe, a human is dragged into the village having been found just outside, somehow far past our patrols. The very first time he slept within the confines of the village, in a hut no more than two dozen meters from my home, he had an extraordinary dream." She turned to Aidan and asked, "Will you tell that part of your story? The whole dream." The last was said with a bit of a smirk.


    Aidan had no idea where she was going, but this was clearly his cue to follow her lead as she asked him to. He explained his dream to Ailis, up to and including the ''reward'' she had given him. Brighid took his hand and pressed it to her lips, then asked, "What was it, precisely, that your Patron called you?"


    Aidan tilted his head, thinking back, and said, in Divine Speech, "[Champion]."


    The reaction was immediate, and beyond anything Aidan could have expected. He was facing Ailis, so he clearly saw her jerk halfway to her hooves, her head thrown back in a cascade of silver threads, one hand jammed into her mouth in a useless attempt to stifle her cry of pleasure, the other unconsciously groping her breasts through her shirt. She shuddered for long seconds, writhing in ecstasy, her head tossing from side to side and her hips thrusting back against a non-existent lover. A bright pink flush covered her cheeks and neck, and her skin was suddenly slick with sweat.


    Brighid must have been prepared for the effect of what he said because while she, too, arched her back and shuddered through an orgasm, she recovered before her mother did. She cuddled up to Aidan, laying her head on his shoulder, and whispered hotly into his ear, "How does it feel making a mother and her daughter climax for you with nothing but a word, Sir?" Her teeth scraped his neck, and she giggled a little drunkenly. She sought out his hand and raised it to her breast, pressing his fingers deep into her flesh.


    Aidan was more than a little alarmed at the apparent over-reaction to a simple word. Going out on a limb, he used his Analyze ability to learn about Divine Speech.


    Affected by the truth of its Words...? Quickly, he considered the Word he used, <champion>, and tried to mentally translate it to English. He decided that it meant something like, "One Who Carries the Mark of My/Our Favor and Kindles the Flames of Passion in Those He Meets." The translation was rough and inexact; "The Flames of Passion" meant simultaneously both passionate pursuits like art and music, as well as intense sexual pleasure.


    Aidan turned to Brighid, looking sternly down at her. "You knew that would happen, didn''t you? You tricked me into magically forcing myself on your mother. I am not best pleased, little mare." Ailis was slumped forward over the table, palms pressed to its surface to hold her up, her breath heavy and panting. She raised her head weakly at his angry tone, looking dazedly at Aidan. Brighid, meanwhile, weathered Aidan''s displeasure with no apparent concern; she was pressing soft kisses against his shoulder. "Tell me, love. This was deliberate. Why?"


    The flame-haired Paladin turned her emerald gaze upon her mother, then up at Aidan. She smiled at him dreamily from his shoulder, then said with absolute conviction, "Because you needed to demonstrate precisely what Mother was dealing with when she sent you to your death. I knew what you were going to say. I have been praying on it for several days. Your Patron named you ''One Who Bears The Mark of Our Love and Inspires Those He Meets to the Utter Heights of Passion''. I know what it means because your Patron is the Brighaid. You are Their Chosen one, Their immortal champion in the Realms, and Their hand is upon you."


    She turned her attention back to Ailis, who had managed to slow her breathing and straighten her posture. "Mother, for once, it is you who has been outmaneuvered, and for once, I cannot be happier to be involved. I have been rewarded for my faith, brought together with one who completes me in a way I never realized I was missing. Aidan has been rewarded for his kindness and passion, and given the tools he needs to become what he was meant to be. At first, when he told me the truth of what happened to him, I was angry at the Powers who played with his life and brought him so far from his home. I was wrong, though, and it was Aidan himself who realized it.


    "He was not brought here by the Brighaid; instead, They winnowed through the souls already caught in the net and plucked out the one, the single, shining soul which matched my own. They did not dump him in the middle of the wastes to wander alone; They carefully placed him here, where we would be drawn together, knowing that we would realize the truth on our own." Her voice grew fervent. "Many believe that fire is always rash, reckless, incapable of doing anything but consuming its fuel as quickly as possible. They are wrong. Embers can linger long after the flames have vanished, still just as hot as the fire which created them, and in time spark an entirely new conflagration."


    She took a deep breath and turned her head to gaze with love and adoration into Aidan''s eyes. "The Brighaid''s flames have been but a thin, flickering light for generations, but we, Aidan, you and I and perhaps others we will meet along the way, we are the embers which will re-ignite the flame. The world now is filled with doubt, hatred, fear, and distrust. People do not create great masterworks for the sheer joy of their craft. Evil has been allowed to fester in the wondrous places of the past. But we are here now, given the opportunity to change that, to spread joy and love, to craft for the sake of making wondrous things, and to purify that which is tainted. They did not use us as tools. They gave us a purpose, and They gave us each other."


    Brighid''s faith and enthusiasm burned so brightly in her voice that she seemed truly radiant. "I am sorry for tricking you in this way, lord of my heart. I know that it was hypocritical of me, and I will accept whatever punishment you decide I deserve. I believe that this was the best, most effective, and least likely to backfire way to demonstrate who you are to Mother, and it would not have worked if you had known what would happen ahead of time. I needed your reactions to be genuine." She kissed his shoulder in apology. "Please understand that I do not believe either of us is being forced onto this path; the Three Flames have faith that we will honor and exalt them by following our hearts and keeping Them in our minds. They represent freedom, independence, and following your passion, not doing what others tell you to because they say so."


    Well, the milk is already spilled; there''s no sense crying over it. Aidan still gave Brighid a stern look before confirming what she had said. "''Honor thy words, honor thy friends, follow thy heart.'' Those are the only commands I was given, and they are nothing I object to. I will travel this path with you, Brighid."


    She gave him a dazzling smile, then lifted her head from his shoulder and turned her attention back to Ailis. "So, Mother, now that you see what your sins have cost you, I will place this in your hands. When you believe you have atoned, come to me again and we can talk of forgiveness. Until then, I still love you, and I would very much like to be your daughter anew, like when I was just a yearling."


    Tears spilled from Ailis''s eyes as she stood up. Brighid followed suit, and the two women embraced in a fierce hug. Brighid actually knelt down on her forelegs to even out the height difference as she held her mother tightly. After a few moments, Brighid looked over at Aidan and extended one arm to him, beckoning him to join them. He trailed his hand up her spine as he stepped into her embrace, then looped his other arm loosely around Ailis''s back, just as she did to him.


    His fiery lover stage-whispered in her mother''s ear, "Do his hugs not feel wonderful, Mother? I can lend him to you for a while if you would like. I think a good ride might help you get yourself back in order." She giggled at the incredulous look she got from both of them in response.


    Aidan let out a mock sigh and said, "I apologize for her, Ailis. Clearly, I''m going to have to take a firmer grip of the reins with this one." His carefully-selected word choice caused the petite centaur''s eyes to widen, but Brighid''s breath caught in her throat, only to be let out a heartbeat later in a soft moan. He continued, "As you are undoubtedly aware, she can be a bit headstrong at times. I''m working on breaking her of that, but I''ve only just started, and progress is a little disappointing so far." He unwrapped his arm from around Brighid''s waist and delivered a swat to her flank with a cupped hand, intended more to make noise than cause pain. "I assure you, though, give me some time, and I''ll have her following the lead like a good girl instead of jumping the fence and galloping around, making a fuss for me to clean up after."


    Ailis''s eyes widened a fraction with each word until Aidan could nearly see all the way around her irises. She stood, rock-still and silent, for several seconds after he finished, and he started to wonder whether he had ruined everything. Then, the mage-Councillor snickered, chortled, and broke down into full-bellied laughter. Her arm tightened around him, and she pulled him into a genuine, tight hug. "I take it back, I do approve! It looks like you may finally have met your match, little spark. I would almost pay to see him put you through your paces; it must be a spectacular show." For the first time, Ailis seemed unguarded and genuinely happy.


    Brighid beamed at him over her mother''s head. "What do you say, Sir? Do you want to show my mother just how well you handle me?"


    Before he could respond, Ailis interjected, still chuckling. "Before that road is traveled, I have one last thing that I need to say to you both. It will be short, I promise. Brighid, your appeal to the full Council is set for tomorrow night. Informally, and confidentially, the vote is already decided; Fionn was already a half-step ahead of me, and he was able to convince Anwn as well. You still need to be present to argue your case, and I expect you to argue it well, but unless things go terribly wrong, we will march on Ceallach Macht in force soon. I know you will be coming, as you swore an oath in my presence." Aidan gave Brighid a sharp look; she mouthed, ''tell you later.'' Ailis tilted her head to look at Aidan and asked, "Do you wish to be part of the expedition? You have earned the right to accompany us if you wish, and I am sure Fionn would be able to find a use for you as a scout and guide if nothing else. But no one worth bothering with would fault you for remaining behind. The choice is entirely in your hands, I promise you."


    Aidan didn''t even have to think. "I have a score to settle with that rhyming asshole. I am in, all the way."


    Zurai

 Chosen, Chapter 36: Good Night, Until Tomorrow

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Secondday, 4th week of the 7th month, Godless Age 597


    Late morning


    Starchaser village, Mistvale Highlands


    Brighid frowned at Aidan, her playful mood instantly evaporating. "Are you sure, Aidan? I do not like the idea of you facing that creature again, not so soon."


    "Neither do I, but I''ll be ready this time. I have at least, what, a week to prepare?" He looked at Ailis, who nodded agreement. "Besides, I won''t be going in alone. You''ll be with me, Brighid, and presumably, we''ll be part of a team. We know what we''re facing now." Brighid looked like she wanted to argue, so he continued, "I need to do this, love. If I run from my fears, I''ll never grow past them. I have to face them head-on." She still looked dubious, but she gave him a reluctant nod and clutched his hand tightly under the table.


    Aidan turned to Ailis and asked, "I have some things I wanted to ask you, while we''re here." At her gesture of consent, he continued. "When I mentioned the altar under Ceallach Macht," he carefully avoided thinking about what happened in that room, "you reacted as if you knew what it was. Will you tell us?"


    Ailis grimaced. "I have suspicions only. There are a few possibilities, some worse than others. In all cases, though, your initial assessment was correct: destroying the heart should, at the very least, vastly weaken the enemy. I wish I could tell you more, but I will not know for sure until I can examine it myself."


    Aidan nodded. I figured as much, but it didn''t hurt to ask. "Alright. I also wanted to ask for your assistance in a less-dangerous matter. I will be speaking to each of the other Councillors over the next few days. What will it cost me for your help convincing them to vote in my favor the next time the matter of the Rite of Acceptance comes before the Council?"


    Ailis arched one pale eyebrow and gave him a haughty look. "I set the petition in front of the Council and voted in favor. Is that not enough assistance? If you need more, you have a debt you can call in."


    "Is that the only price you will accept? Think of how much easier it would be on Brighid. I have some experience living the life of an outsider; I can handle being marginalized, isolated, and hated. Is that something you want for your daughter, though?"


    The silver-haired Councillor''s eyes began to gleam; this was a woman who enjoyed verbal spars. "There are many ways to protect her from that. If you can handle the reactions of the tribe, I do not see why I should expend extra effort and political capital to protect you as well."


    Brighid stirred beside Aidan. He squeezed her hand and caressed her palm with his thumb¡ªLet me handle this¡ªand she subsided. "If helping your near-family isn''t enough reason, consider this: you are a scholar, correct? I come from a land so far away that I am confident you have never heard of it. I know histories, mythologies, tales, and technologies that you never had and never will have access to except through me. I am not asking you to burn favors or debts for me. I will persuade the Council, or not, myself. I am asking for advice and insight. Information for information, is that not a fair trade?"


    Ailis snorted. "My information has real and immediate value to you. The value of your information, on the other hand, is entirely unknown. Perhaps it would be a fair trade, but maybe I would wind up with nothing."


    Aidan remembered a similar conversation with Brighid and suppressed a chuckle. He couldn''t keep his lips from turning up at the corners, though, and Ailis arched an eyebrow at him. "Is there something funny about what I said?"


    He shook his head slightly and allowed himself to smile. "No, it''s just that someone," he glanced at Brighid, "said almost the same thing to me just a few days ago. Like mother, like daughter."


    Brighid leaned her head against his shoulder and added softly, "She is bluffing, anyway. All Lore Subskills only advance when learning new things, and Mother is very close to level 100 in several of them. She wants to hear what you know very badly."


    Ailis frowned at her daughter, surprise flickering across her face, followed in rapid succession by anger, disappointment, and realization. Then she straightened and said, "I have no right to expect loyalty from either of you. Very well. Yes, Aidan, I am interested in what I can learn from you. However, what I said earlier is still valid; it remains to be seen how valuable what you know is. I will need a little time to consider how best to help you. Here is what I propose: return here tomorrow. Then, you will tell me some of the histories of your homeland, and I will reciprocate with a similarly-valuable piece of information about the other Councillors. We will proceed, like for like, until one of us feels that we have exhausted the value of the other. Is that acceptable to you? Brighid is always welcome in my home if you wish to have a second opinion of the fairness of the trade."


    Aidan glanced over at Brighid, seeking her opinion. She nodded slightly and said, "Mother abides by her deals. She always said that you can only betray someone once, because afterward, they will be watching for it. The implication," her eyes cut sideways, towards Ailis, "was that you should make it count. There is nothing for her to gain from not dealing straight with you here and now." She left unsaid that the same might not hold for the future.


    Aidan nodded. "Then we have a deal, Ailis. I will return tomorrow morning after breakfast if that is an acceptable time? I will leave it up to Brighid whether she wants to accompany me."


    The silver-haired centaur bobbed her head in acceptance. "Yes, that should be fine. I shall see you on the morrow, then." That was a clear dismissal, so Aidan and Brighid stood up. Brighid hugged her mother again, and they made their exit.


    "Let''s return home," Aidan suggested. "I''m sure you still have plenty of work to do in your forge."


    "I can think of more pleasant ways to get hot and sweaty..."


    "As can I, but at the moment I am not very happy with you. It''s partially my fault; I heard your do''s and don''ts but didn''t tell you mine. But that''s something I would rather discuss in private, or at least not out in the street."


    Brighid lowered her eyes and led the way back towards her home. They traveled silently, trying their best to ignore the stares and whispers of those they passed. Still, in the few short minutes it took, her shoulders slumped and her head bowed. Aidan stepped up to her, cupped her cheeks in his hands, and turned her head towards him. He stood up on his toes and kissed her softly. "I still love you, flame of my heart. That hasn''t changed, and it never will. I even understand why you did what you did. You had to show your mother just what she was interfering with. You fell into the same trap as she did, though, love. You only saw the end and didn''t consider the harm that the means would cause."


    He stroked her cheek, then asked, "How would you have felt if your mother brought someone you barely knew to you and had him speak Divine Speech? One second you''re confused, the next you''re convulsing in pleasure due to the power of his voice? How would it feel to know that a stranger had such total control over your body and mind, to have that control forced upon you in your own home?"


    Green eyes opened wide, then began to swim with tears. "I ... please let me go with you to Mother''s house tomorrow."


    Aidan shook his head. "You never need to ask my permission for anything like that, love. In fact, I''d prefer you didn''t; I don''t want to control everything you do. I have enough problems just controlling everything I do." He smiled at her, and she gave him a tentative, teary smile in return. "Now come on, you have work to do, and I think I should get some practice time in as well."


    Brighid leaned down and pressed her lips to his, letting her hair fall in a vermillion cascade around them. "I love you, Aidan. Thank you for everything you do for me." She kissed him again, then asked, "Would you like to learn Smithing? Much of my work is simple, repetitive labor that would usually be done by apprentices. With your Trait, it shouldn''t take you long to pick up the basics, and that would free me up to work on the more complex pieces. You would be helping me and learning a valuable Skill."


    Contrary to her combat training, Brighid was a patient and thorough teacher when it came to Smithing. After getting Aidan appropriately protected with a leather apron and gloves, she started working on an arrowhead. "Aside from nails, arrowheads are the quickest and easiest thing I normally make, and with the attack on Ceallach Macht imminent, we need the arrows more," she explained.


    She began by heating the end of a long metal rod in her furnace, then beating the tip flat. She heated it again, then slowly turned the rod along its long axis, forming the flattened patch into a circular socket using the tip of the anvil as a guide. After heating the rod a third time, she placed it over the narrow tip of a steel wedge and struck it with her hammer several times, breaking the section with the socket free from the rod.


    She then affixed the socket to the end of a different rod, heated it yet again, then began to form the actual arrowhead. With a few precise strokes, she shaped it into a rough diamond shape, then worked on each side in turn, evening them up. Finally, she dipped it into a barrel of oil to quench and temper the steel, then showed Aidan how to sharpen the edges on her grindstone.


    Then Brighid handed him one of her smaller smith''s hammers and guided him through the process. Predictably, with no experience in Smithing in either world, he made several mistakes, but Brighid was patient with him. Once he finished making dumb mistakes¡ªaround the time he reached level 1 in Smithing, in fact¡ªshe set him up at a smaller anvil. "Just do your best and do not worry if any come out unusable. Whatever I cannot fix, I can melt down into new ingots."


    By the time the sun was setting behind the western mountains and Brighid called a stop, Aidan had managed to make a couple dozen usable, if low quality, arrowheads. He was also drenched with sweat and regretting his lack of investment in Might and Endurance; his arms were quite sore. Even his left arm, the one not swinging a three-pound hammer repeatedly for hours on end, got a workout from merely holding his targets still.


    Aidan and Brighid adjourned to the river to bathe. There was a minimum of horseplay this time; they used the general bathing area of the river rather than Brighid''s pool. Once clean, they returned home, ate another meal of meat-and-tubers, and retired to bed. Aidan kept his promise from that morning, showing Brighid the depths of his passion, and bringing her to the height of pleasure repeatedly before exhaustion overcame her.


    Before he joined Brighid in slumber, Aidan decided to distribute his lingering attribute and Skill points from reaching level 5; he allocated 3 points to Charisma, 1 to Willpower, 1 to Toughness, and 1 to Endurance. Curious to see what would happen, he assigned the 25% Skill bonus to Swords.


    Sure enough, he got the bonus experience for re-leveling Swords to Novice. That¡¯s an exploit. I wonder if I would get additional spells for the magic Skills that way? Aidan thought, but then re-considered. The price is too high. One death is enough for me. He snuggled closer to Brighid and closed his eyes, trying very hard not to remember what he had paid for that 50 experience.


    Zurai

 Chosen, Chapter 37: You’re Not Alone

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Thirdday, 4th week of the 7th month, Godless Age 597


    Early Morning


    Starchaser village, Mistvale Highlands


    Aidan woke to suffocating darkness. Something restrained his arms, holding them tightly to his body. He tried moving his legs, but they were entangled and bound together as well. Panic rose swiftly, then bloomed into terror as a voice spoke from somewhere in the shadows.


    "Imagine my surprise to find no soul within your corpse enshrined. Oh, what a merry chase you led, only to spot you here, in bed."


    A shape detached from the darkness and slowly resolved into a tall, thin, androgynous humanoid. Aidan struggled against his restraints, but they only tightened around him.


    "And with such a ripe beauty, too; I hope you have found love so true, for that will be all the sweeter when you watch the way I treat her!"


    "No, no, no, I won''t let you!" Aidan swung his head back and forth and strained with all his might, but he remained immobile and helpless. His tormentor laughed maniacally as the darkness enveloped it again. It took Aidan an ageless eternity, trembling and thrashing in the depths of his own mind, before he registered a new voice.


    "Aidan, Aidan love, wake up, you are having a nightmare. Please wake up!"


    His eyes opened and banished the shadows. Brighid''s arms were tight around him, holding him against her body. He looked down to find his legs tangled in the bedsheets. A loud, shuddering breath escaped him as he willed himself to relax in his love''s arms; the redhead lightened her hold on him in turn. Aidan took a moment to ride out the trembling coursing through his body, then turned within the circle of Brighid''s embrace.


    Emerald eyes brimmed with concern, and ruby lips curved in a frown that Aidan felt compelled to kiss away. Intended at first to be merely reassuring, the kiss quickly grew heated. One warm hand slipped into his hair, locking him in place as he feasted on her lips. The other stroked his bare back from shoulder to tail with growing ardor. Brighid''s lips parted for him eagerly, clearing the way for his seeking tongue to claim her mouth. Her hands clutched and scratched at him, her breasts pressed rhythmically against his chest with her heavy breaths, and one of her forelegs hooked behind his knee, drawing him even closer.


    He broke the kiss, leaving his lover panting for breath, and declared, "You are mine."


    "Yours!" She agreed, then gasped when he bent his head to renew the mark on her neck. He kissed her tender flesh, then sucked hard, bruising her skin unmistakably. His lips followed the lines of her muscles down her throat, onto her collarbone, then down onto her chest. He marked her again on the upper slope of her left breast, just above where a human''s heart would be. She writhed against him, thrusting her breasts towards his face, enthusiastically presenting herself for his pleasure. Her breaths were short and labored, gasps and pants and eager, wordless cries.


    Aidan needed this. He was weak, powerless to stand against the destiny arrayed against him. Despair grasped at his heart and dragged at his thoughts, following him even into his dreams. Yet, there was one bright torch holding off the darkness, one brilliant star shining in the night, one beautiful woman holding his head to her breast. He needed to claim her, mark her, demonstrate his mastery over the one thing in his life that kept him going.


    "I need you," Aidan told her, and Brighid trembled. She held him to her breast for a heartbeat longer, then pushed him away, rising swiftly to her hooves and turning in place before kneeling back down onto the cushion. Her tail flagged high, flopping up onto her back, exposing her nether lips to him. They glistened with thick, slick arousal.


    "Please!" She begged, "Plea¡ªahhhn!" Her pleas broke off into a throaty exclamation. Aidan had wasted no time, rising onto his knees even as Brighid stood, and he was waiting, erection in hand, when she presented herself to him. Before she could even finish giving voice to her need, he aimed his tip at her entrance and thrust forward, seating himself fully inside her with one extended lunge. He rested his hips against her furred rump for a moment, drinking in the feeling of her inner muscles squeezing and rippling around him.


    Aidan grabbed Brighid by the haunches, sinking his fingers in around the edge of her muscles, and slowly drew himself out. He watched in fascination as her inner lips clung tightly to his shaft, seemingly unwilling to let him go, until at last, his tip emerged with a wet sucking sound. His lover groaned in protest and pushed back at him, giving him a pleading look over her shoulder. Keeping a firm hold of her haunches, Aidan tilted his hips so that his shaft slid through her folds and rubbed against her clit.


    "Tell me," he growled at her. "Tell me what you need."


    "Please, Sir," she started again, only to let out a gasping moan when he plunged into her once more. "I need¡ª" He thrust forcefully against her raised rump every time she tried to speak. "Please, I¡ªohfuck!" Aidan loosed his hold on her, reaching down with his left hand to rub at the bottom of her lips. Brighid''s head bent down, tucking her chin against her sternum, and her hands groped at her breasts, tugging and twisting her nipples.


    "I do not hear an answer!" He lifted his right hand and brought it down hard on her rear. Brighid stiffened for a fraction of a second, then bucked back against him hard enough to bruise his hips. He spanked her again and again, still thrusting into her molten, soaking core, still rubbing her throbbing clit. Her hips rose to meet him, shoving herself onto him and lifting herself to meet his hand. "Don''t you dare come until you give me an answer!" he warned her, even as he did his best to force her over the edge.


    Her lovely mezzo-soprano voice rang out in unintelligible syllables, rising to a fever pitch of wordless begging. Finally, she squealed and jerked against Aidan, clamping down hard on him as ecstasy overcame her. He gritted his teeth, resisting the urge to thrust a few more times into her clutching depths and empty himself in her. He had a different plan for this morning. He waited until she slumped down onto the cushions, bracing herself with her hands and panting heavily, before he slapped his hand to her rump again.


    "What did I tell you? It seems like I''m going to have to punish you." He pulled out of her slowly, then coated his fingers with the slick secretions covering her nether lips and inner thighs. "Turn around, Brighid. For disobeying me, you are going to wear my seed instead of having it fill you."


    She rose slowly, quivering slightly, and turned back around to face him before sinking onto her belly again. Her breasts wobbled with her heavy breathing, and she framed them with her arms, lifting them towards him. "I welcome my Lord''s seed wherever he chooses to spend it," she husked. "Please, Sir, take whatever pleasure my body can grant you."


    Aidan groped Brighid''s bosom, coating her with the lubrication from his fingers, then pressed his throbbing erection between her breasts. He started to move slowly, savoring the novel sensations. Brighid was all lean, athletic muscle from head to rump¡ªall except right here. Her breasts were unquestionably the softest and most luxurious spots on her body, and feeling them mold around his shaft was heavenly. She bent her head, extending her tongue to lick at his tip as it emerged from between her pillowy mounds.


    Aidan placed his hands on Brighid''s shoulders and sped up, thrusting rapidly into her cleavage. He had been close to the edge when she came, and it didn''t take him long to return to the summit. With a hissed, "Take it!" Aidan stepped back and aimed himself at the twin peaks before him. Her hand wrapped around him and stroked him once, twice, and then he was there. With a roar, he came, his erection jerking in Brighid''s hand, pearly white semen jetting out of him and splashing across her breasts, into her cleavage, up her neck, onto her face. She continued to stroke him until the last of his spend dribbled onto her nipples, then leaned forward and engulfed him with her mouth. She suckled on his tip, lashing it with her tongue, then pulled off him and licked all over his shaft.


    Now that his mind was no longer clouded by lust and need, Aidan felt shame grow inside him at the way he had used Brighid. He wavered on the edge of apologizing to her until she finished cleaning him and turned her gaze up to meet his. Her eyes shone with love and devotion, but it was the happy smile on her face that brought him a measure of peace. And then, when she suggested with a throaty purr, "Does my Lord wish his mare to clean herself, or shall I go about my day with the mark of your favor all over my skin?" he began to stiffen again.


    "I''ve changed my mind," he told her. "I think you may be able to persuade me to practice breeding you, after all."


    Her eyes gleamed as she bent down to press her lips to him again.


    Two hours later, after they dragged themselves out of bed, ate a hearty meal, and washed each other thoroughly, Aidan and Brighid found themselves once more in front of Ailis''s home. Aidan knocked, then followed his lady inside when the Councillor bid them enter. Just like the previous day, Ailis was seated at her table, a drink in one hand, and a book opened before her. This time, however, she smiled at her guests and asked, "Would you like some tea? I just took the pot off the fire."


    "Yes, please," Aidan said. "I would love some, thank you."


    Brighid, however, shook her head. "I will not be staying long, Mother. There is too much work for me at the forge." She looked down at where she clasped Aidan''s hand between her own, brought it to her lips, then stepped over to her mother. She knelt on her forelegs and bowed her head, saying solemnly, "I owe you an apology, Mother. Yesterday, I violated your trust, your privacy, and your mind. Please do not blame Aidan for what happened; it was all my doing, and he made me see just how badly I erred. I hope that you will be able to forgive me."


    Brighid remained motionless, kneeling, while the petite silver-haired Ailis examined her. After a few moments of silence, she leaned down and gently kissed Brighid''s forehead. "I accept your apology, little spark. We are neither of us without flaw; how can I hold this against you when I have done so much worse?" Then she whispered, loudly enough for Aidan to hear clearly, "Besides, when you have a male who can do that to you with just one word, the temptation must be severe." Her ice-blue eyes glittered with amusement. "Now come, stand up and give me a hug before you leave."


    Brighid did as her mother bade, hugging her hard, then walked back over to Aidan to give him a hug and a lingering kiss. "It has been years since Mother has taken a lover, and she never offers an unwelcome guest tea; it is one of her power plays. If you get the chance, go for it." She breathed into his ear, softly enough that Ailis couldn''t overhear. She giggled at the incredulous look he gave her, then kissed him again and retreated out the door.


    The thunk of a filled mug against wood brought his attention back to his host. Ailis smiled gently at him as she resumed her seat across from him. "She is a handful, I know. Still, you seem to be handling her well; the last time I heard an apology that sincere from her was before I joined the Council." Her face darkened slightly at that, and she half-whispered, "Though I may be as much to blame for that."


    "I cannot speak to the past," Aidan deflected. "I can, however, say that getting to know Brighid has been educational, emotional, and stressful. Whatever passed between you, she still became a kind, loyal, and free-spirited woman. If nothing else, I should think fondly of you for that."


    "Free-spirited?" Ailis asked with a smirk. "I would say rebellious and impulsive. Regardless, your words are kind and appreciated. I am glad for the steadying influence you seem to provide to her." She took a sip of her tea, and Aidan followed suit. It was piping hot, just as advertised, and it tasted of lavender and honey.


    "This tea is quite good; thank you again." If Ailis didn''t usually offer her guests refreshments, then he would make sure to show his appreciation.


    Ailis set her mug down, leaned her elbows on the table, laced her fingers together, and rested her chin on her fingers. "So," she began, "you wish to trade information for information. Before we start, I need to know what your plans are, how you intend to use what I tell you. In the realm of politics, there are many ways to get things done. Are you looking to persuade the Councillors that it is in the Starchasers'' best interest for you to be one of us? Are you trying to befriend them and hope that that will influence their votes? Are you merely trying to get their vote in whatever way is most expedient? I can give you advice on any approach; some will be harder than others, and some will come with worse consequences if not handled very carefully. Tell me, young Aidan, what sort of help are you looking for?"


    Aidan considered her question carefully. "I would prefer," he said slowly, "not to make any unnecessary enemies in what I hope to be my new home. No blackmail, no strong-arm tactics. My preference would be to make friends with everyone."


    "Hmmm." Ailis hummed. "The hard way, then. No, no judgment, stay your protests. That is indeed the best route in the long-term; as you say, making powerful enemies would be unwise so early. It will simply require much more effort on your part, both now and in the future. Very well, I can help you." She straightened up and took another sip of her tea. "I will price my advice on Gerwyn as the cheapest because I suspect he will vote in your favor even without intervention. Fionn is next; the old warhorse will not vote against you, I do not think, but it may be difficult to persuade him not to abstain. Then Eilwen, and finally Anwn. They are the most likely to vote Nay, and Anwn, in particular, will be quite tricky. I do not know that the girl has any friends, aside from her wolves. Perhaps we can make that work in your favor, however." She turned her attention to Aidan. "Just in case you end up providing more value than I have to return, or you have more information to trade when we finish with this, is there anything else you would like to learn?"


    He hesitated for a moment, considering the risks, then asked, "I did not discuss this with Brighid ahead of time, so please forgive me if I overstep my bounds. I am still learning about your culture." At Ailis''s dismissive gesture, he continued, "I have a Trait which gives me a bonus to affinity with magic Skills. It does not list precisely which Skills are affected, so I would like a chance to learn the basics of any magic you would be willing to teach me."


    A silver eyebrow arched, and Ailis''s gaze sharpened with interest. "Indeed? I knew you are a mage with talent in Fire Magic, but you suspect you have multi-school affinity? That would be a great asset to the tribe if true."


    "Fire Magic and Vivimancy," Aidan corrected.


    "Hmmm," the Councillor hummed again. "Let me make a counter-proposal. You may barter for lessons in the schools I can teach you¡ªBeast Magic and Wood Magic¡ªas well as for favors owed to me from the other mages of the tribe, which you may use for lessons from them. If you succeed in joining the tribe permanently, and if you do have sufficient affinity in another school, I will take you as my apprentice. In lieu of the standard apprentice busywork, you will pay me in Lore. Also, I would place no exclusive claim on you; either of us would be able to end the apprenticeship at any time with no animosity. We have not had a three-school mage in a generation."


    "And if I have the affinity for four schools?" Aidan asked.


    Ailis laughed and smirked at him. "Four-school mages are the stuff of legends. If you have the capacity to reach Journeyman in four schools, I may have to borrow you from my daughter. There are few things in this world as sexy as a powerful man." Her eyes glittered¡ªwith amusement or desire, Aidan couldn''t tell.


    Aidan laughed along with her, but he winced internally. If people with even moderate affinity in four different types of magic were so rare as to be legendary, then care was needed. Keeping Limitless a secret wouldn''t be enough if he started throwing around spells of every variety. Aloud, he said, "Well then, I want to speak to Brighid to make sure I know what is being offered and expected, but I would be a fool to turn you down." Let her chew on that for a while, he thought to himself smugly.


    Ailis''s smile and the interest in her eyes told him that she appreciated both his words and his wordplay. She took another drink of her tea, her ice-blue eyes locked on his over the rim of the mug. When she set her glass down, her pink tongue flicked across her upper lip. Aidan blushed slightly at the predatory intensity of her gaze; Ailis''s smile grew wider. She didn''t let the silence linger, however. "If we are agreed, then please begin. I am closest to Mastery in Foreign History, so please start there, if you would."


    "Of course. In that case, let me tell you of the rise and fall of the Roman Empire..."


    Zurai

 Chosen, Chapter 38: How You Like Me Now?

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Thirdday, 4th week of the 7th month, Godless Age 597


    Afternoon


    Starchaser village, Mistvale Highlands


    "Now, the Eastern Empire is an entirely different story; they lasted for another thousand years before they were finally conquered by the Ottoman Turks." Aidan let out a sigh as he finished.


    He didn''t go into incredible detail, for the most part, but it still took him several hours to get from Romulus and Remus to Odoacer. Ailis listened attentively through the whole lecture, suffering through Aidan''s rough start without complaint and asking insightful questions periodically. She favored him with a brilliant smile and said, "Thank you, Aidan. I gained two percent progress in Foreign History with that." Aidan groaned internally, and Ailis must have noticed something because she added, "No, no, that is excellent! My affinity for Foreign History is so low now that I could go through an entire library and not gain a level in it. Two percent in a handful of hours is beyond what I hoped to get out of this exchange. I am more than pleased. I will tell you what you want to know and add a lesson on Beast Magic as well."


    Relief filled Aidan; he could certainly keep going on other subjects, but he had underestimated how much time it took. If Ailis made him give a lesson like that for every tidbit of knowledge, it would have taken days, maybe even weeks.


    "I suggest you start with Fionn," Ailis continued. "As long as you do not act the complete fool, I expect Gerwyn will vote for you regardless, and you already have my vote; Anwn has already voted against you, and Eilwen is leaning that way. That makes Fionn''s abstention your best initial target because it will ensure you have a majority. You can attempt to change Eilwen''s and Anwn''s minds then from a position of strength." She took a sip of tea¡ªthe third kettle of the day¡ªthen paused to consider a moment.


    "Fionn is practical above all else. He goes along with all the politics because it is expected of him, and he takes some small enjoyment from it, but he will welcome a direct approach. Do not be mercenary about it, but if you tell him that you want to join the tribe permanently and ask him what his concerns are, he will answer you. You can then address them as you see fit, either debating him or doing something material to ease his mind. To stay on his good side, all you need to do is be yourself, I think. He values competence, steadfastness, and quick thinking in a crisis. You have already demonstrated all of those qualities, and I have no reason to think that will change.


    "Eilwen can be difficult. She is old and was set in her ways before you were born. There has not been a non-Centaur Starchaser for centuries, which, to her, means that now is not a good time to start. That said, she has a soft heart for children and families¡ªno surprise, given her own large family¡ªso if you take Brighid along with you and the two of you are your usual sickly-sweet selves, she may relax her stance somewhat." Her eyes twinkled in mirth while she teased him. "Also, compliment her on whatever she feeds you. Do not overdo it, but Eilwen is rightfully proud of her Cooking Skill, and a little flattery will go a long way. Long-term, be respectful of her and keep as close as you can to Starchaser traditions. The more trouble there is around you, whether you cause it or not, the less happy she will be.


    "Gerwyn will be easy. He has been pushing to ease the restrictions on outsiders since before I joined the Council. Your arrival has played right into his hands; he will be your champion so long as you do not force him to act otherwise."


    Aidan took the opportunity presented by a natural pause in Ailis''s speech to ask, "If he is already decided, as you say, why did Gerwyn vote Delay the other night?"


    "Politics, of course," was Ailis''s answer. "He cannot seem too eager, and Anwn''s argument was sound; agreeing with her, even temporarily, gives him political capital for the future. It is also entirely possible that he did it for your benefit; delaying the vote gives you more time to woo the other Councillors and integrate with the tribe." Aidan nodded and motioned for her to continue. "Staying on his good side should be similarly easy. He is a good-humored sort to start with, and you are his type."


    "His type?" Aidan asked, confused.


    "Yes. Gerwyn favors the company of men¡ªespecially young, virile men." Ailis smirked at his blush. "He will not proposition you if you do not show signs of being receptive, but he will be naturally inclined towards liking you. As long as you can handle some slightly heavy-handed flirting, you will not have any problem maintaining a friendship with our chief trader."


    "And Anwn?" Aidan asked, as much to change the subject as anything else.


    Ailis sighed. "Anwn will be a problem. If you were not opposed to blackmail, it could be managed, but I do not see how you will convince her to change her mind before the vote. It is not that she hates you; she does not. I am not convinced that she experiences emotions like the rest of us. The problem with Anwn is that she is not comfortable interacting with other people. She does not live in the village; she only enters for Council meetings, and she almost always leaves immediately after they are over. She is not a bad person, she is just bad at being a person, if you understand what I mean."


    Aidan nodded, considering. "I wonder... No, nevermind, it would be better if I did not speculate without talking to her first."


    Ailis eyed him critically. "Hmmm. Well, regardless, I do not believe that you will be able to turn Anwn''s Nay into an Aye, not in the time you have. Perhaps, with persistence and care, you might be able to become her friend. For what it is worth, I do not know that anyone has actually tried that; she avoids people when she can, and other men are only interested in her for three things." At his curious look, Ailis cupped her breasts and swished her tail. "Two in the front and one in the rear." Again he blushed, drawing a chuckle from his host. "If you show genuine interest in being her friend, it is possible that she will eventually reciprocate. I would not place any bets on it, however."


    "Until then, she''s not my enemy, she''s just reacting to what she sees as a disruption to her life."


    "Yes, I think that is accurate." Ailis agreed. "Are you satisfied with the first part of your payment?"


    "Yes, thank you. You have given me the foundation I asked for."


    "Then let us move on to the second part, Beast Magic. What do you know of it, if anything?"


    Aidan shook his head. "Very little. It is one of the so-called common schools and involves animals, but other than that, I''m in the dark."


    Ailis nodded. "Beast Magic draws out, enhances, suppresses, or alters the inner animal in living, animate beings. In many cases, the inner animal is the same as the actual creature, so Beast Magic also allows for the partial or complete transformation of one creature into another. It can also alter the way they act or think; the Serenity spell I used on you is Beast Magic. The pinnacle of the school is the creation of new life, either through the fusion of multiple animals together or true Origination.


    "A valuable life lesson from learning Beast Magic is that people are animals, too. There is only a thin line that separates us from our livestock, and the magic does not make any distinction. Sapience is merely a result of higher Attributes, not a fundamental difference between us and beasts. Beast Magic will not work on Gargoyles, Golems, Undead, or other magically-animated unliving beings, nor will it function on plant-based creatures, but those are the only restrictions."


    Ailis lectured on the fundamentals of her craft, even going into the history and legends of Beast Magic. When she discovered his lack of Skill in Magical Theory, she expanded her lesson to include that as well, incidentally answering questions he had about the nature of magic.


    "The verbal and somatic components of spells are unique to each individual mage; no two people cast the same spell in the same manner. I suspect you have wondered why your language-comprehension Trait does not translate the verbal component of magic? That is because the words are meaningless; they are merely a way for the mind to focus on gathering and shaping manna. The same is true of the somatic component, the hand gestures. With sufficient Skill and practice, it is possible to cast spells without needing to use gestures or words. Conversely, it is possible to enhance or alter the effects of magic by changing the gestures and words you use. Allow me to demonstrate; I will repeat the same spell three times. First, I will cast it normally, then I will Invoke it without components, then I will use Glyphs and Incantations to enhance the effects. Observe."


    Once he signaled his acceptance, Ailis cast a spell on him; after a brief sensation of nausea and disorientation, he blinked his eyes and realized that his vision was vastly sharper. He could make out the individual threads on her shirt and even see tiny flecks of pale flesh between them. Ailis let her concentration lapse, causing another brief stint of disorientation as Aidan''s senses returned to normal. Then, she closed her eyes briefly and breathed in sharply. A heartbeat later, Aidan''s enhanced sight returned, precisely the same as it had been previously. The silver-haired mage left the effect on him for a moment, then allowed it to fade again.


    Finally, Ailis began to draw glowing brown lines in the air with her fingers, forming increasingly complex geometric patterns in several layers, and chanted in Highlands Gallic, "O proud eagle, lord of the sky, lend me your sight. O magnificent owl, night''s silent assassin, lend me your hearing. O loyal wolf, whose hunts never fail, lend me your olfaction. O great spirits, heed my call, grant these boons!" This time, not only were Aidan''s eyes enhanced, so were his hearing and sense of smell¡ªand to such a degree that he was overwhelmed with the new stimuli. The hairs on his arm seemed like trees emerging from craterous pores; conversations happening down the street were as clear as if he was taking part in them; he could smell a hundred distinct scents wafting through the air of the small house. Mercifully, Ailis only maintained her spell for a few seconds before letting it lapse and asking Aidan for his observations.


    He shook his head to clear it, then considered a moment before responding. "The second version was much quicker and did not seem to lose any effectiveness compared to the first. The third was significantly longer, but not only did you improve three of my senses instead of one, but the magnitude of the effect was higher as well."


    "Good, so far as it goes. Did you manage to observe the flows of manna?"


    Aidan shook his head. "Not beyond the obvious manifestations, the aura and...Glyphs, did you call them?"


    "Not unexpected for a self-taught mage. Formal magical education usually starts with sensing manna, but at least you do not have many bad habits to unlearn yet. Let us start with that, then."


    It took half an hour of patient repetition before Aidan finally was able to get a sense of what his teacher was talking about. As she gestured, he felt a tiny swell of something gathering around her. Her hands, aided by her chanting, took that energy and shaped it into a form that Ailis could use. Once the manna construct was formed correctly and filled with energy, she released it upon him, enhancing his senses.


    "I think I have it," Aidan said. "May I?"


    Ailis nodded, so Aidan gathered his will and cast his new spell on her. He kept it simple, giving her the sight of an eagle just as she had done for him. A couple of seconds later, a bright smile bloomed on Ailis''s face.


    "Well done, apprentice! Fire, Life, and Beast; an unusual combination. Please forgive my boldness, but my curiosity overwhelms me: what are your affinities?"


    The question gave him pause. For one, it was a rather personal question, according to Brighid. More importantly, he could not tell Ailis the truth; she was intelligent and cunning enough to draw unfortunate, and correct, conclusions if she knew he had 100% affinity in all three schools. Still, he suspected that outright lying to her would not be advisable.


    "Fairly high. Pardon, but I do not feel comfortable sharing the exact numbers."


    "No, no, I should not have asked. Forgive me." She waved off his apology, still beaming. "This is excellent news. You already had my vote in the Council, but I believe I will now exert a little pressure of my own on the others. Do I have your permission to share this news with the Council? You can appeal to sentiment, and I will appeal to practicality. A new three-school mage with no affiliations is not an asset we should casually discard."


    Aidan frowned, a burst of anger running through him. "You forget yourself, Lady Councillor. I am not a tool for you to use or discard. I thank you for the information and instruction, but if this is how you view me, then I see no benefit in becoming your apprentice or accepting any further aid with the Council."


    Ailis froze. Her cheeks burned red and her eyes narrowed angrily at his initial words, but as he continued to speak, the blood drained from her face and she cast her eyes downward. "You¡ª I¡ª" She inhaled a deep breath, then let it out slowly. "I did forget myself. Again I owe you my apologies. A decade of thoughts have become habits, but that is no excuse. I need to be better. Please, bear with me, give me time to change. If nothing else, if you are nearby, you can correct me like this when I slip."


    Aidan arched one eyebrow. "It almost sounds like you are proposing to be my apprentice in acting like a person with empathy for others."


    The flush returned to Ailis''s cheeks, but there was a note of challenge in her blue eyes when she raised them again. "I am not my daughter; I call no one ''Master''."


    "Neither does she; she prefers ''Sir''," he replied, letting steel creep into his voice. "She treats me, and everyone else, with the same respect they give her. Perhaps it is time that you humbled yourself. Climb down from your," he almost said ''high horse'' but saw the problem at the last moment and changed to, "throne and join us commonfolk for once. A little mud on that pristine ivory fur of yours would go a long way towards reminding you that we''re all in this together."


    He rose, looking down at Ailis, seeing his rebuke strike home. "You are a far more experienced politician than I; if you see an advantage in revealing my capabilities to your peers, I will not stand in your way. Your attitude, however, does you no favors. I will discuss this with Brighid and consider your offer of an apprenticeship. I have very little tolerance for being used, though. There will need to be mutual respect for it to work, and every relapse jeopardizes that from both ends." He paused a moment, then gave her a shallow bow. "Thank you for the instruction and the offer. I will let you know my response after the Council decides my fate."


    Aidan turned his back on the stunned centaur and made his exit.


    Zurai

 Chosen, Chapter 39: Because I Will Protect You

    Brighid


    The Realms


    Thirdday, 4th week of the 7th month, Godless Age 597


    Early Evening


    Starchaser village, Mistvale Highlands


    Brighid looked up as Aidan came storming into her forge, his face contorted into a scowl. Unsettled by his unusual mood, she did not react at first when he pulled down a leather apron, but by the time he had it tied behind his back, she was moving towards him. He reached for one of her smith''s hammers, but she caught his wrist in her hand. "I do not know what happened to make you so angry, but I will not allow you to work in my forge like this."


    "Will not allow it?" Aidan hissed, turning on her.


    Brighid weathered his anger calmly. "Correct; I will not allow it. Anger and smithcraft do not mix. A smith needs to be calm and precise; anger will rob you of control, ruining the quality of whatever you craft and making dangerous accidents more likely. Go inside and sit down; I will finish this piece, then you can tell me what Mother did to raise your ire so."


    "Since when do you give me commands?" Her ears drooped at those words, but she stared him down, unyielding.


    "Since you needed to hear them. I love you with all of my heart, and I gladly obey when you command me with pleasure in mind. I am yours, Aidan. You, however, are also mine, and I expect you to listen to me regarding my expertise and your safety. Now, love, please go inside and cool down. I will not be long."


    His face sagged, and his eyes fell from hers. "Shit, I was acting just like her. Sorry, flame of my heart." He slipped out of the apron and hung it back on the wall, then hugged Brighid tightly. She kissed him and stroked his cheek, but did not return to the anvil until the door shut behind him. She turned back to her work, but only to retrieve the unfinished blade on the anvil and place it into the sand barrel to cool. She had too much work to do, but nothing was as important to her as Aidan. I will not leave him alone again, whether to fight that city or himself.


    When she opened the door of her house a few minutes later, Aidan was seated on her bed, his face buried in his hands, muttering. His words were soft, likely only intended for himself, but her elven ears granted her keen hearing. "The stress is getting to me. I''m not usually that volatile. Fuck, I hate this. I hate living a lie. Having to watch everything I do or say. And what''s worse, even keeping everything secret, the whole village despises me." He did not look up as Brighid approached, even though the sound of her hooves on the stone floor was hardly stealthy. "I''m damned if I do and dead if I don''t; what a way to live."


    Tears stung the corner of Brighid''s eyes as she listened to her love''s misery. She knelt down in front of him on the bed and gathered him into her arms, nestling his face against her bosom. She felt his tears soak into her shirt; her own splashed down onto her hands as she ran her fingers tenderly through his short hair. She wished she could soothe his wounds, chase away the pain, but the truth was that this was not a fight Brighid could handle. She could not force her people to accept him, and trying would only make matters worse. Still, she doubted that a few glares and whispers would have upset him so severely.


    "What happened, Aidan? You said you were ''acting just like her''; did Mother do something? If she did..." Anger swelled in Brighid''s heart. Can that witch not leave well enough alone? Is she so far lost that even the power of the Gods does not give her pause any longer?


    "Yes, but I don''t think it was intentional," Aidan mumbled. "She was excited and thinking out loud; she called me an ''asset,'' and I lost my temper, yelled at her, dressed her down. I can see that it was an overreaction, now that you shook me out of my anger." He glanced up at her, ruby eyes rimmed with red. "She asked me what I would want in trade for additional lessons, and I bargained for a lesson in Beast Magic. She was skeptical, but when I was able to cast the starter spell on her, she grew excited. She actually offered to make me her apprentice."


    Love welled up in Brighid''s heart. Even as he was crying into her chest, Aidan defended his tormentors. His heart was truly in tune with Birgitte''s teachings; love thy family, love thy friends, and, most of all, love thy enemies. War brings an end to life, but love brings an end to war. Brighid kissed the top of Aidan''s head and told him, "Your generous heart will win over the tribe in time. They only act the way they do because they do not know you. I wish with all my heart that this is a battle I could fight for you, but I cannot. Only time will win this."


    Aidan shook his head, and his lips turned up in a slight, wry smile. "Time and quests. I have a quest to get the Council to perform the Rite on me, and among the rewards is increased reputation with the whole tribe. That''s the reason I asked your mother to help me with the other Councillors, actually; I get additional rewards, including more reputation, for each of them that votes ''Aye''."


    Brighid smiled at him. "See? I know it hurts now, love, but there is a path forward, and I will be by your side the whole way."


    A brief flicker of pain crossed Aidan''s face. "If I don''t chase you away first. I''m sorry about earlier, love. You were right to stop me, and I was so horribly wrong to respond as I did."


    "You were," she agreed, "but unlike some others I could name, you would have recognized it and apologized even had I not said anything. I only helped the process along. I forgive your mistake, so long as it does not become a habit."


    Her lover stretched his neck upwards and kissed her. As always, the feel of his lips on hers caused Brighid''s blood to burn and heart to pound. She parted her lips, inviting his tongue into her mouth, and moaned when he obliged her. The fire inside threatened to consume her when Aidan slipped his hand under her shirt and slid it up onto her breast. When his fingertips found her nipple, she had to summon all of her willpower to break the kiss and gasp, "It will need to be fast. I must be at the town hall tonight, and we will need to wash."


    "The whole village will be there, right? Then let them smell us. There are already rumors, so fuck it; I want them to know you are mine." Aidan''s growled response sent the flames surging through her, and Brighid allowed herself to sink into the haze of lust that accompanied them.


    Brighid


    The Realms


    Thirdday, 4th week of the 7th month, Godless Age 597


    Night


    Starchaser village, Mistvale Highlands


    As she stood before the Council''s platform, Aidan at her side, Brighid was grateful for the distraction he provided. That afternoon, she worried and fretted about what she was about to do. Now, though, with the afterglow still coursing through her, she was too filled with contentment to feel anything else. Even the faint scent of her mate clinging to her fur served as a comforting reassurance rather than being embarrassing; despite his words, Aidan made sure they had enough time for a bath, proving once again that her trust was well-placed. She would have come here reeking of him had he told her to, propriety be damned, but Aidan only used that fact to make the pleasure sweeter for them both. She squeezed his hand; he squeezed back.


    While she waited for the meeting to begin, Brighid examined her mother. As usual, Ailis looked like serenity and grace personified. She sat on her cushion, back straight, hair swept behind her neck and over her right shoulder, face carefully composed. Brighid caught her mother looking at her and thought she saw a flash of pain in those icy blue eyes. I wish I could trust that, but I have been used and misled so many times now that I cannot tell whether what she says and does is real or only another manipulation.


    It hurt her that she could not bring herself to trust her mother. She still remembered the years before the war, before Ceallach Macht; before Ailis joined the Council. When she had been just a young girl, Brighid''s life was full of joy and warmth. She was a curious child, and her mother encouraged it, happily answering every question Brighid asked. There had been no tests, no subtle guidance, no maternal pressure aside from what every child experienced. She had felt safe and loved, almost as much as she did now with her mate beside her.


    Brighid leaned down and whispered in Aidan''s ear, "You said that Mother offered to take you as an apprentice?" He looked at her curiously¡ªshe could almost hear him wondering why she was bringing this up now¡ªbut only nodded. "You should take her up on it. She is the best teacher and strongest mage in the village; you would learn much faster with her to guide you than you will on your own. Also, I think that she needs you as much as I do, if in a different way. You help moderate and direct my impulsiveness, but no one would accuse Mother of being spontaneous. Instead, she plots and plans so much that she loses sight of the fact that the pieces she moves in her head are people. I think that, if she had to interact with you every day, she would almost have to re-learn empathy, if only out of self-defense."


    "That''s if she''ll still take me." Aidan sounded dubious. "I was not very kind to her this afternoon; I told her to come down off her throne and get mud on her ivory fur like the rest of us."


    Brighid covered her mouth with her hand to stifle a giggle. "Oh, Birgitte, I wish I could have seen that! I bet no one has been so blunt and direct with her in half a decade. She will still have you as an apprentice, love. If there is anything that engages my mother''s interest, it is a challenge, and you showed her that you would not just roll over for her. How much time did she give you to accept or decline?"


    "Technically, she already declared me her apprentice; I previously told her that I needed to discuss it with you first, so that was part of what set me off. When I left, I told her that I would give her my answer after the Council voted on whether to let me join the tribe."


    A short, sharp laugh escaped from Brighid before she was able to stifle it, drawing disapproving looks from the crowd. She ignored them and smiled at Aidan. "Oh, by the Three Flames, that is perfect. She will be stewing on that all week. If you want to really mess with her, pretend that you forgot her offer, make her come to you. Mother does not beg, but she also will not want to let you get away, now that she knows some of what you can do."


    "The last thing I want to do is intentionally antagonize her, flame of my heart." Brighid''s heart fluttered as it did every time he called her that, and she struggled to focus for a moment.


    "It will take more than that to anger her. Even if she realizes that you are doing it intentionally, it will make her more interested in you and more determined to secure you as her apprentice. She will see it as a political maneuver, a reminder that she cannot use you as a pawn, and respect you more for it."


    "You''re sure?"


    "No," Brighid snorted. "Every time I am sure that I have my mother figured out, she manages to outwit me in an entirely new way. However, I am reasonably confident. In the worst case, she withdraws her offer, and you go to the other mages; there will be at least one willing to train you, just for the prestige of having such a talented apprentice. That would be a net loss for you, but not a disaster; there are other skilled mages and teachers in the village. Having only the second or third-best teacher will not meaningfully stunt your growth, you cheater." She nudged him playfully with her elbow.


    Aidan stuck his tongue out at her, but before the conversation could devolve further, Fionn strode onto the stage, and the other four Councillors rose to their hooves.


    Ailis started the meeting. "A matter has been appealed to the Council before the tribe. Two days hence, Brighid Fireheart returned from a mission for the Council with dire news. She informed me of what she and the human Aidan Lostlorn found at Ceallach Macht; I will let her make that report before us all as part of her appeal, for it is only right to hear it in her own words. After she gave her report, I declared that the village would need to relocate." A susurrus of surprised whispers spread through the crowd; Ailis waited for the noise to die down. "That is the matter which is before the full Council tonight: what will our reaction to her report be?"


    Fionn nodded gravely. "Brighid Fireheart, step forward and address the Council."


    She squeezed Aidan''s hand, then released it as she walked up to the stage. As her Companion, Aidan had the right to accompany her, but they both agreed that it would be best not to set him visibly against the Council in front of the entire tribe. She would stand alone in this, but she knew that her mate was with her in spirit, and she drew strength from his presence. It was time, finally time, to rally the people to retake Ceallach Macht.


    Zurai


    Special thanks to Cenomy and Orange for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Chosen, Chapter 40: A Map to Tomorrow

    Zurai


    Aidan


    The Realms


    Fourthday, 4th week of the 7th month, Godless Age 597


    Mid-morning


    Starchaser village, Mistvale Highlands


    Aidan paused as he reached the entrance to the training yard. Inside, a dozen centaurs faced off against each other in pairs. Despite the gender imbalance in the tribe, there were only three women. All of the centaurs were young; none of them appeared to be more than college-aged. As they sparred, Fionn strode around them, correcting errors and giving praise in equal measure. Most of the Starchasers were taller than Aidan, but Fionn towered over them all. He was huge, nine feet tall if he was an inch, and as broad as an ox. Aidan wouldn''t be surprised if Fionn weighed a ton and a half. Not much of that was fat, either; there was some, probably inevitable on someone of that size, but the centaur''s bare arms and chest rippled with muscles under all the scars.


    Fionn spotted Aidan and gestured for him to enter. When he came close enough to speak without having to shout, Aidan greeted the Councillor. "Good morning, Fionn. I came to speak to you about Ceallach Macht, as you requested. Is this a good time? I am afraid I do not know everyone''s schedule here yet."


    "These are some of my advanced students. They can be trusted not to kill themselves by accident, so I can spare the time." He turned and addressed one of his students, "Cai, you''re in charge while I am speaking with Aidan. Do not make a liar of me."


    "Yes, Sir!" One of the female centaurs saluted Fionn. "I will only let them mostly kill themselves, Sir!"


    A gleaming white-toothed smile appeared in Fionn''s salt-and-pepper beard. "See that you do." He turned back to Aidan. "Walk with me."


    Aidan fell into step beside Fionn as the giant centaur led him out of the training yard and down the street. The village was not large, so it only took a couple of minutes of walking, even at a human pace, before Fionn pushed his way through the leather straps leading into a small home. Aidan followed, stepping into a room dominated by maps. One stretched across the entire northern wall of the house, and piles of them were stacked against the other walls and scattered across the floor. They seemed to cover nearly every scale, from a map of the village to an atlas of the Mistvale Highlands and bordering regions.


    "I don''t think I''ve ever seen this many maps in one place before," Aidan murmured as he looked around the house.


    Fionn barked out a laugh. "Please excuse the mess. They are my hobby, both collecting and making. I am fascinated by cartography, the ability to show someone a faraway place without using words or magic, in such a small form. And there are so many different kinds of maps¡ªgeographical, topographical, political, maps that show resources, ones that show water flow. You can display an entire region on a sheet of parchment no larger than my hand or chart a city down to the narrowest alley. Now, where did I put it..."


    Fionn made his way to a long table that stretched from the eastern wall into the center of the room. He spent a moment searching through a pile of rolled-up parchments, then pulled one out and spread it across the surface. "Ah, here it is¡ªthe Valley of Dreams, or at least the best survey I have of it. If you would, Aidan, please do your best to describe both your route through the city and what forces you encountered within."


    Aidan picked his way across the cluttered floor to the table, then bent down to examine the map. "Which end is north? No, wait, I see it now." There was no compass rose, merely a small arrow in one corner. "Okay, we were coming from the south, following the river, so... I think this is the hill we started from." He tapped a spot at the edge of the parchment; Fionn marked it with a stick of charcoal. "Our initial plan was to follow one of the avenues straight into the city, but without Brighid along, it seemed wiser to stick to cover. I passed through the wards somewhere around here, then went from building to building¡ªruin to ruin¡ªalong this general route. My memory isn''t good enough for better than that, I''m afraid. The first manikin tracked me down somewhere in this area; after that, it''s a bit of a haze due to the mental attack." He traced his path through Ceallach Macht as best he could, with Fionn making notes directly on the map.


    "The tunnel entrance has to be here, it''s the only road that''s wide enough, plus it ends right at the base of the hill. The dakhols were on either side of the archway, and the altar chamber is a straight shot from there." He looked up from the map and asked Fionn, "Just what is a dakhol, anyway?"


    "Dakhols are bad news. Large, strong, faster than they have any right to be, and cunning, if not particularly smart. That would be bad enough, but they are almost impossible to kill. Their skin seals wounds nigh-instantly, they have multiple redundant organs, and their skin and fur are heavily resistant to fire, acid, and most magic. The most reliable way to kill them to is to pour a barrel full of burning oil down their throat; as you can no doubt imagine, that is easier to say than to do. Distracting them was precisely the correct move, and they were easily distracted, showing that they are not ideal guards. The Taig must not have many other options, which is a shred of good news."


    "Taig? Is that what that¡ª" A thin, androgynous humanoid, taunting, tentacle-like vines stretching towards him¡ªAidan shuddered and forced his mind away from the memories. "The Taig is the creature I saw?"


    Fionn rested one enormous hand on Aidan''s shoulder and gave him a searching look. "Are you going to be able to handle this? I cannot afford to send you into the city again if you are going to fall to pieces at the most critical time."


    "I won''t break, sir." Aidan tried to project confidence and determination. "And I need to go. I won''t be able to put the memories to rest until I''ve confronted that thing and seen it die."


    Fionn was silent for a time, then squeezed Aidan''s shoulder and nodded. "I believe you. Yes, I am reasonably sure that what we face is a Tannath Taig. Most of nature''s wonders have a Taig, a sort of guardian spirit; when something defiles one of those places, if the Taig still lives, it changes as well. Instead of immobile guardians, Tannath Taigs are wandering corruptors, driven insane by the destruction of their demesne. Unfortunately, each Taig is as unique as the grove or cascade or valley that birthed it, so there are no universal weaknesses on which we can rely."


    "But they can die?"


    "Yes. Not quickly, nor easily, but they are not immortal. We hope that destroying the bramble construct you saw will weaken it to the point that the strike team can kill it."


    "Then I''ll do everything within my power to make it happen, not only for myself but also for the Starchasers. It''s hardly a secret that Brighid and I are somewhat closer even than Companions; as far as I''m concerned, her people are my people. I understand that it isn''t an easy path to walk, but I sincerely wish to make my home here. May I ask your reasons for abstaining on Councillor Ailis''s proposal?" It wasn''t the smoothest segue Aidan had ever heard, but Ailis did tell him to be direct.


    Fionn laughed. "Did Ailis put you up to that? No matter, no matter. I did not vote against you because I felt it would be a poor reward for the injustice we have shown you and the good faith you have returned. I did not vote for you for a variety of reasons. It was too soon, for one; moving too rapidly will only make your situation with the village more unstable. For two, it is possible that sending Brighid back was more about her and less about us. Sparing your lover moves me less than saving the tribe; a single data point is insufficient to judge your motivations. For three, and perhaps most importantly, I do not know you. Joining the tribe is different from being born to it and requires a far higher standard. You seem a good man, but if that were all it took, there would be more two-footed Starchasers. To earn my vote, you will need to prove that we are stronger with you than without you." He tilted his head and, after a moment, added, "Not militarily, mind. Or, not strictly so. I may be a warrior by trade and choice, but I recognize that strength of arms is not the only strength to be valued."


    "Thank you, sir. You have given me much to think about." It wasn''t what Aidan wanted to hear because what it boiled down to was, "I need more time," but, at the very least, it seemed unlikely that Fionn would vote against him.


    "Good. Do not think too hard, however. Actions reveal the truth. Now then, back to Ceallach Macht..."


    Aidan


    The Realms


    Fourthday, 4th week of the 7th month, Godless Age 597


    Early afternoon


    Starchaser village, Mistvale Highlands


    Fionn grilled Aidan for hours, extracting every minute detail from his memories. By the time the giant warrior was satisfied, Aidan felt mentally exhausted and desperately needed a nap. Time waited for no man, however, so when he returned to Brighid''s home, he ignored the siren call of the bed inside. Instead, he ate a quick lunch with his love, then asked her to take him to Eilwen''s home.


    "Your mother said that Eilwen has a soft spot for families, so I should bring you along and we can be our, and I quote, ''usual sickly-sweet selves''."


    Brighid snickered. "I think I can manage that."


    "We''re also supposed to compliment her food."


    "That will not be a problem, either. Mama Eilwen is the best cook in the village."


    "Well, then hopefully this will be a pleasant visit!" Aidan hooked his arm through Brighid''s and smiled at her. "Lead on, my lady!"


    Aidan


    The Realms


    Fourthday, 4th week of the 7th month, Godless Age 597


    Night


    Starchaser village, Mistvale Highlands


    "She looks like a sweet old grandmother, but she is a devil in disguise!" Aidan complained from the safety of Brighid''s home.


    His Companion giggled. "You only say that because Mama Eilwen refused to be distracted from her questions for you."


    "I say it because it''s true!" Aidan flopped back onto the bed with a groan. "She spent the entire time interrogating and lecturing me about my intentions with you!"


    "Not the entire time; she also gave you some pointers." Brighid snickered.


    "Oh, lord, I was trying to forget that, thank you ever so much, flame of my heart. I was not prepared for the village grandma to give me tips on how to please my partner in bed. And so graphically! I''m almost surprised that she didn''t make it a hands-on lesson."


    "Mmm," The flame-haired centaur moaned. "It is a shame she did not. I would not have minded." She carefully lay down next to Aidan, resting her head on his shoulder and pressing her torso against his. Her hand slipped under his tunic and idly stroked across his chest and abdomen. "You should not disregard her advice, Aidan. Eilwen has two Professions, Cook and Courtesan. It is not a stretch to say that she knows more about giving pleasure than anyone in the tribe. And she has the Broodmare Specialization, so she is quite knowledgable about conceiving, bearing, and raising children; there are many valuable lessons you should learn from her if you are to keep your promise to me." She nipped at Aidan''s collar for emphasis.


    "Oh, that reminds me of something I''ve meant to ask you." Aidan saw a chance to change the subject and pounced on it. "What exactly is a Profession? I know what the word means by itself, but in this context, it clearly means more than just a person''s job or role."


    "Professions are sort of like Classes, but for your Skills. They are based on Skill rank, not personal level; you have to reach Apprentice rank in a non-combat, non-magic Skill to gain a Profession. Also, where Classes grant bonuses or penalties to your Vital Attributes, Professions change the effects of Attributes on their associated Skills. Both Classes and Professions open up access to Talents, and they share the same pool of Talent points.


    "You can have multiple Professions, but there is a Quest for each past the first, and they grow cumulatively harder. While you do gain additional Talent points, they do not double with the second Profession. Before you ask, no, you cannot just ignore one Profession and put all the points into the other. Just like Classes, Professions are not something you have; they are something you are. Just as you cannot ignore your need to sleep to focus on your need to breathe, you cannot neglect one Profession to benefit another."


    Aidan''s inner power-gamer sat up and started paying attention. "Hmm, so let''s get into Talents then. I am familiar with the term from Earth, but it always seems like things work a little differently in the Realms. In games on Earth, Talents are usually arranged into a kind of flow chart called a Talent Tree. Players would spend one point to activate each node of the tree, which would give a passive effect or activated ability and potentially unlock the ability to pick other nodes further down the line. A lot of the time, people would heavily analyze Talent Trees and plan out their picks long in advance. How does that stack up to the Realms?"


    Brighid nodded against his shoulder. "That is very close. Talents here are arranged just like you said, with nodes¡ªindividual Talents¡ªgiving bonuses which can be passive, active, or even both. There are a couple of differences, however. First, Talent nodes cost a variable amount of points to activate; the cheapest I have access to is two points, and it does not provide a significant bonus. Second, you cannot see nodes until you have everything needed to activate them, except for the Talent points themselves. As an example, my Smith Talent Quality Craft I was not visible until I put points into both Improved Technique I and Heat Retention I. I knew that both Talents would lead to something, but I had no details until I invested in both."


    "And both Classes and Professions share Talent points? It must be difficult to balance the needs of one against the other."


    "Yes, sometimes. I have been neglecting the Braihan section of my Paladin Talent tree because, until now, Talents that give me bonuses based on the quality and quantity of sex I have did not seem very relevant." Her hand began to drift lower on his belly. "I have developed a sudden interest in the concept, however."


    "Whoa, wait. Your Paladin Class has Talents that give you bonuses for having sex?"


    "Mm-hmm," Brighid hummed. Her fingers were working at the laces of Aidan''s pants. "The Brighaid are deities of passion, and Braihan is the God of sexual pleasure, among other things." Her voice turned husky as she continued, "I have sorely neglected my obligations; as Braihan''s Chosen, you have the authority to punish my negligence and the duty to ensure I properly follow His tenets."


    Brighid''s hand found its target, and any interest Aidan had in continuing the conversation swiftly left him. "Oh, I''ll keep you in line, alright."


    Zurai

 Chosen, Chapter 41: Building the Foundation

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Fifthday, 4th week of the 7th month, Godless Age 597


    Early Morning


    Starchaser Village, Mistvale Highlands


    Aidan woke slowly from a dreamless sleep. The mid-autumn morning air was cold enough to make him reluctant to move away from Brighid''s warm softness against his back. Her arms wrapped around his shoulders and down to his waist, holding him close, and her face was bent close enough that he could feel her slow, steady breaths blowing through his hair. That meant that the hot, supple flesh pressed around his neck was her breasts. That shouldn''t have been a revelation, but in Aidan''s half-awake state of mind, it seemed profound. He turned around in the circle of his love''s embrace, causing her to mumble sleepily in protest and tighten her arms around him.


    Aidan nuzzled Brighid''s chest, burying his face into her softness and inhaling her scent. She smelled faintly of smoke and sweat. Not thick, heavy smoke, nor rancid, greasy sweat; her scent was that of a campfire in the wilderness under the stars and the salty tang of fresh exertion, with just the faintest hint of something else. Cinnamon and apples? Aidan wasn''t sure; he couldn''t catch enough of it to make up his mind. Then, he had a bright idea: he had a brand new spell that would help.


    Aidan cast Minor Shift on himself, brushing Brighid''s skin with his lips as he whispered the incantation. Once his sense of smell sharpened, he burrowed his face into her cleavage and breathed in deeply. He didn''t want to be distracted by other scents. At once, a complex bouquet filled his nostrils and bloomed in his mind. Yes, there was the smoke, in multiple flavors. Aidan didn''t have the experience to identify the smoke-scents, but he could tell that there were several. Probably uses different types of wood in the forge to modify the furnace''s heat, he thought to himself. There, too, was her sweat, salty and sweet. Beneath those, though, was another layer, her natural scent: spicy, with a deep, slow-burning heat that ramped up as he reveled in it, and an acidic sweetness laced through it. He understood now why he thought of cinnamon apples, though that wasn''t quite right. The sweetness was closer to, but not quite, citrus, and the spice didn''t have the same intensity as cinnamon. In the end, it was unique to her, and Aidan was content to leave it at that.


    "Not that I object," murmured Brighid, voice thick with sleep, "but what are you doing?"


    "Smelling you," he replied.


    "Oh." After a long pause, she asked, "Not bad, I hope?"


    Aidan shook his head, managing to worm his way deeper into her decolletage. "Nope. I love it." He inhaled her scent again, letting it fill and surround him.


    "Good." Another pause. Her hands slid down his back. "I thought you might be molesting me in my sleep."


    "That too," he agreed.


    The silence stretched out for a minute before Brighid asked, "If I pretend to go back to sleep, will you keep doing it?"


    Aidan lifted his head from between her breasts and met Brighid''s emerald eyes with his ruby ones. He held her gaze for three heartbeats, then lowered his head again, this time to the summit instead of the valley. A pleased moan rewarded his efforts, and strong arms cradled his head and hips, inviting him to immerse himself in her.


    Aidan


    Late morning


    The two did not leave their bed until the sun entirely banished the morning chill. They shared a leisurely breakfast, then Aidan left Brighid laboring at the anvil to seek out the village''s head trader. He was barely out of sight of the forge, and still close enough to hear the clanging of Brighid''s hammer, when a centaur he had never seen before stepped into his path.


    He stopped, keeping his distance from the stranger. She wasn''t large as far as centaurs went, but she was taller than Aidan, and by the look she was giving him, this wasn''t going to be a pleasant conversation. Still, if he were going to make a home here, he would have to deal with it.


    "Hello, my name is Aidan. I don''t believe I have met you before; may I know your name?"


    "You may not." She responded with a sneer. "A human piece of trash like you does not deserve my name. I do not know what spell you have woven over the Council, and I do not care. We do not want you here. We will not accept you. Leave us and die in the wilderness as you deserve."


    So that''s how it''s going to be, huh? No use trying to change this one''s mind, but debates are for the audience, not the debaters. Projecting his voice to reach the ears of the onlookers better, Aidan responded, "We? Who, precisely, do you speak for?" He met the eyes of one bystander after another. "Does she speak for you, sir, or you, ma''am?" Some of them returned his gaze with defiance, but others turned their heads, avoiding his eyes. Those were his audience. "I understand why you dislike humans. From what I hear, humans around here are racist assholes. They treat you and the other people of the Highlands as only slightly more than beasts.


    "I ask you, though: how is that any different from the way you are treating me? You called me a piece of trash who didn''t deserve to know your name¡ªimmediately after I gave you my name unprompted. I have neither done you any harm nor insulted you or yours. How, then, can you justify treating me so poorly? You do not know me, just as I do not know you. I greeted you politely, as befits two strangers meeting. What, in that, deserved your bile?"


    "Do you hear yourself?" His accuser spat back. "Your flowery speech only makes it clear that your words are empty. You hide your condescension in pretty words, but the rot within is evident to anyone. You do not fool us, human. The only difference between you and the rest of your race is that here we outnumber you instead of the other way around. A lone trow cowers and hides, but return it to its pack, and its true colors reemerge."


    "Do you hear yourself?" Aidan returned her words to her. "You accuse me of treating you like other humans would¡ªthat is to say, like an animal. And yet, here you are, comparing me to a monster barely capable of thought. I come from a country with a long tradition of overthrowing human oppression. The founding document of my homeland declared in its opening line, ''We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.'' Those are the words I was raised to believe. All men¡ªand by men, I mean sapient beings, male or female or other, regardless of race¡ªare created equal. All of us deserve to live our lives free from tyranny and to pursue our dreams. So long as your happiness does not come at the expense of another, I have no problem with you.


    "At the same time, however," Aidan glared at the centaur blocking his way, "we make it our business to overthrow bullies, big and small. Hate me all you want; that is your right. Speak against me, even, if you must. I trust that others are not so consumed by hatred as to be blinded to the truth. But I give you now a warning: if you seek to drive me away by harming me or mine, you had best skip straight to killing me, because I will repay blood for blood. Now, either back your words with actions or step aside. I am already late for a meeting with Councillor Gerwyn."


    Aidan continued glaring at the nameless centaur, who glared right back at him, unbudging. Keeping his head held high, Aidan stepped to the side and walked past her, staring straight ahead. His back tensed, anticipating the pain of being struck from behind, but none came. He continued walking until he turned the corner, then leaned against the wall of a house and allowed his nerves to overtake him. In the distance, the ringing of hammer and anvil resumed.


    It took Aidan several minutes to gather himself back up and resume his journey, and another half hour until he tracked Gerwyn down. He could feel eyes watching him the whole way, but no one else confronted him openly. He finally spotted the dwarf-like trader talking to another villager and approached, standing in the Councillor''s sight but at a respectful distance.


    After the conversation finished, Gerwyn walked over to Aidan and clapped him on the shoulder. "Ah, there you are, Aidan. I wondered when, or even if, you would find your way to me. Come, walk with me." He led Aidan on a meandering route through the village. "Tell me, lad, is what you said true?"


    Aidan blinked at the centaur. "You''ll have to be more precise. I''ve said a lot of things."


    "Hah! Good point. I meant what you said this morning. ''All men are created equal'' and all that."


    "How did you...? No, nevermind." Aidan shook his head and reminded himself with a wry grin, "If there''s anything that travels faster than light, it''s gossip. I should be glad that my words got through to people strongly enough to be repeated. Yes, that''s true, so far as it goes. I overstated things a little; the Declaration of Independence is hundreds of years old, and not everyone holds to it anymore. I do, though. Always have."


    Gerwyn nodded. "Good lad, and well-spoken. Yes, your words stuck with those who listened, and they shared them with others, and those shared with still more. You spoke with conviction and passion, and you refused to back down from a direct challenge, made it clear that you would not let yourself be trampled, but would prefer peace. You have not solved all your problems, but it is a good start. A good start, indeed. Hold a moment, please." He stepped aside and held a short conversation with another centaur about purchasing goods to trade outside the village. After a few minutes, he beckoned to Aidan and resumed walking.


    "Tell me, Aidan: assume that you are allowed to stay here in the village. What do you see as your future? What role would you play? I will warn you now, being Brighid''s kept man will make you few friends."


    Aidan shook his head. "I wouldn''t be able to stand that anyway. I need to have something to keep my hands and mind busy. You''re right; it is a difficult question. I have not had much time to learn the Starchasers'' ways, nor what needs the tribe has. It would be presumptuous to declare a craft or pursuit at this point. I know I have a degree of affinity for smithing because Brighid taught me some, but I don''t think it would suit me. So far, my affinities point towards me being most useful as a mage; Councillor Ailis offered to take me in as an apprentice, and I am considering her offer. If you forced me to make a prediction now, that would be my answer."


    "Ailis wants you as an apprentice? Indeed? I cannot remember the last time she took so direct a role. You must have shown her something interesting indeed¡ªor found some blackmail. Tell me, did you catch her doing something naughty?" Gerwyn wiggled his bushy eyebrows at Aidan, prompting a laugh.


    "No, I wouldn''t try that on her. I know better than to dare a predator to eat me. I suppose it isn''t a secret; people will find out soon enough. I can cast spells of three different schools of magic: beast, fire, and life. I''m still less than Apprentice rank in all of them, but my affinities are high enough to ensure that won''t last long if I pursue them full-time."


    "Oh-hoh! That would do it!" The mountain centaur gave Aidan an appraising look. "It is an odd combination, but any magic is useful. Yes, useful indeed. Pardon me just a moment." Again, Gerwyn stepped aside to conduct business. A few moments later, he returned to Aidan''s side and guided him down a different street with a hand on his back.


    "I am not one to interfere in others'' relationships, but you should be aware that Brighid is¡ªwas¡ªone of the most sought-after young ladies in the village. It is likely that, in twenty or thirty years, she will be a Councillor herself, and that is to say nothing of her beauty, which even I must admit. Some hate you just for that."


    "Fuck them," Aidan snorted. "Anyone who would be upset at Brighid finding love in the arms of another wouldn''t have won her heart anyway. And if they''re mad just because I''m human, fuck them twice over. I''ve dealt with enough stupid, self-centered bigotry for a lifetime back in my home. I love her. She loves me. I won''t apologize for that, and I can''t stop feeling what I feel."


    Crow''s feet appeared at the corners of Gerwyn''s eyes deepened as he smiled. "You have a good heart, lad, fierce and loyal." The smile faded, and Gerwyn asked in a somber tone, "Did Ailis or Fionn bring up the matter of your participation in the attack on Ceallach Macht?"


    Aidan nodded. "Yes, both of them. I volunteered. I believe Fionn intends me to guide a strike team into the heart of the city, to strike at the root of the evil nesting there."


    "I hope that your second journey ends better than the first, then."


    "Me, too."


    "Well, thank you for your time, my lad. Brighid, you found yourself a winner. I return him to your tender care. Have a good evening, both of you." Aidan looked up, startled, and found that he was back in front of Brighid''s forge. He mentally retraced Gerwyn''s circuitous route and reviewed their conversation, then shook his head and laughed.


    "What is it, love?" Brighid asked.


    He grinned up at her. "I think your mother may not be the only manipulative bastard on the Council. Gerwyn just walked me around the entire village and asked me leading questions about my morals and my plans for the future out where everyone could hear. I think I owe him a beer, or whatever passes for alcohol around here. Alas, I think my next stop will be less pleasant. Do you feel up to confronting a Wolfsister in her lair, wherever that might be? I expect she lives outside the village, and Council''s protection or no, I don''t feel safe wandering around outside alone."


    Brighid nodded soberly. "Yes, that is wise. I just finished an order, so let me get changed, and we can be off."


    Zurai

 Chosen, Chapter 42: Of the People, for the People

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Fifthday, 4th week of the 7th month, Godless Age 597


    Mid-afternoon


    Near the Starchaser Village, Mistvale Highlands


    Aidan followed Brighid out of the village and into the surrounding hills. They walked along a trail beside the river and then into a side-canyon about twenty minutes'' walk from the village gate. The sun was already kissing the western peaks, and soon the pair were engulfed in lengthening shadows. Aidan had the distinct sensation of being watched, although he couldn''t spot any watchers.


    Then, the wolf appeared in front of him. It didn''t lunge out of the shadows or jump down from above. One second, he was walking down a trail, his hand on Brighid''s flank, the next a reddish-brown furred wolf was standing across the path. It waited a moment, then turned and walked deeper into the valley for a few paces before stopping and looking over its shoulder at them.


    "I guess we are supposed to follow?" Brighid proposed.


    "After you, milady."


    The redhead laughed. "As if there are no more in the shadows behind us." She moved ahead of Aidan, regardless, and he followed close behind.


    The wolf led them a half-mile further down the trail, then took a turn into the underbrush. Aidan could only locate it by the shifting of bushes and rustling of leaves, but Brighid maintained a steady pace, so he continued following her. At last, they came to a cave; the wolf lay down and curled up off to the side of the entrance.


    Aidan and Brighid looked at each other, then he called out, voice tentative, "Um, Anwn, may we talk to you?" To Brighid, he said, "I sure hope we didn''t just follow a random wolf to its den."


    "You did not," Anwn answered, but her voice did not come from the cave. Aidan jumped in surprise, and even Brighid whirled in place. Anwn stood behind them, arms crossed below her bare breasts, her grey hair damp and darkened almost to black. "Here I am. Speak, or leave. I care not which."


    "Ah, yes." Aidan cleared his throat. "I have spoken to the other Councillors, following my trial, and I did not want to leave you out. I know we have not seen eye to eye in the past, but I see no reason that we can''t work together¡ªor at least, not at cross purposes¡ªin the future."


    "You are an outsider. You will always be an outsider. There is no need for us to speak on this because you will never be Starchaser." There was no animosity in Anwn''s voice; she was stating cold facts as she saw them.


    Aidan took in a deep breath and let it out with a sigh. "I will be an outsider wherever I go, Councillor. I am not from these lands and cannot return from where I came. I may be human, but I do not share a history or culture with any other humans you know. I''m not the only one, though. Councillor you may be, but you are an outsider, too, aren''t you? You live alone in the wilderness, with no one to speak to but your wolf friends¡ªand you like it that way. From what I hear, you only come into the village for Council sessions. You and I are not so different." Aidan stopped, waiting for a response from Anwn that did not come. After an awkward silence, he sighed again and said, "I do not wish to force my presence on you. We will leave. Please accept my apologies for disturbing you."


    They were only a few yards past Anwn when she said, "Wait." Aidan turned around to look at her. She held her head low and still faced towards the cave. "You are... perhaps not entirely wrong. And, you have come this far to meet with me; I will not refuse you hospitality. Come into my home and share a meal with me. We can talk." She looked back at him then, and some of her earlier steel returned to her voice. "Understand that I still do not believe that you will ever be one of us in spirit, even after the Council votes again."


    "Thank you. All I want is to make a place for myself, as you have." Anwn snorted¡ªwhether in disgust or mere disagreement Aidan couldn''t tell¡ªbut led the way into the cave. The interior of the cave was smooth, finished stone, to Aidan''s surprise, and had much the same furniture as any other Starchaser home.


    "Did you think I lived in the dirt like a savage?" Anwn''s voice was bitter. "Just because I choose not to live in the village does not mean I am uncivilized."


    "Of course not, I apologize. It''s just that from the outside, it looks like any other natural cave. I guess I didn''t put much thought into it."


    "It shows. Bah." Anwn swiped her hand through the air. "It is supposed to look natural from the outside. I have forsaken the protection of the village by living here, so I camouflage my home."


    Aidan took a moment to examine Anwn''s house while she stepped into a side-room. It was more spacious than any Starchaser home he had been in before, and while the shape of the original cavern was clear from the irregular dimensions of the rooms, she made good use of the nooks and crannies as storage spaces. The entry hall branched off to several additional chambers, all without doors. A wolf emerged from one, loping silently past Aidan and Brighid and out of the cave.


    "You are in luck," Anwn said, reemerging with several small, fat birds in her grasp. "The pack ambushed a flock of capercaillie; they are usually too wary for a wolf to catch." She headed towards another doorway, saying only, "Follow."


    Aidan and Brighid shared a glance and a shrug, then followed. Anwn led them into what appeared to be a combination of kitchen and dining room. Aidan raised his eyebrows and said, "The chimney for your fireplace could not have been cheap. You put a lot of thought into your home, I can tell."


    "There is another in the pack den. There were natural cracks leading partway to the surface, but you are correct. Ceirios ate well off my hunting for a year in exchange for the work she did turning this cave into a home."


    Something in her voice and demeanor gave Aidan a thought. "You really do mean your hunting, don''t you? You didn''t use any of the wolves'' kills to pay her."


    "Of course not," Anwn replied without inflection. "I pay my debts with my own labor." Even as she spoke, the huntress quickly and efficiently cleaned and dressed three of the fowl, then stuck them on spits and placed them over the fire. The smell of roasting game birds quickly filled the cavern, and, one by one, half a dozen wolves slipped in behind them and made their way over to a low table-like outcropping. They sat on their haunches around its edges, eyes trained on Anwn as she cleaned three more of the capercaillie. These, she did not bother cooking. Instead, she broke them into their component pieces, put them on a wide platter, and set it down on the wolves'' table.


    "They already ate, but they like to share my meals even so, the gluttons," Anwn explained with a hint of a smile. Indeed, while the wolves eyed the food, none of them made a move to start eating. She turned back to the fireplace, rotating the spits. "So, what is it you wanted to speak of?"


    Aidan gathered his thoughts for a moment. He was beginning to get an idea about who Anwn was, and he would have to approach this differently from how he would talk to others. "As I said earlier, I will be an outsider wherever I go. My homeland is too far away for me ever to expect to return, and from what Brighid has told me of your neighbors, only the harpies might give me any welcome. Even then, I would still be the strange, lost human from far away. I have no desire to live in the human kingdoms to your south, given that their mere presence stirs such hatred. And, most importantly, I have found love and a Companion here." He smiled at Brighid, who smiled back.


    "I only want to make a home for myself. I am not a Starchaser by birth. I have no control over that. I almost wish I was; it would make some things far simpler." He stroked his hand along Brighid''s flank. She leaned into his touch. "And it may be that you are correct; I may never be a Starchaser even in spirit. It takes time and effort to assimilate into a culture, and sometimes it isn''t possible to do so entirely. What I can do, however, is be a Starchaser in practice. I have gifts and talents which I am fully prepared to use for the good of the tribe."


    "And are you prepared to be taken advantage of for those talents, then discarded until the time comes to use you again? Are you willing to suffer that, time and time again, until people accept you for who you are? And, if that never happens, are you able to bear that burden for the good of the people?" The young huntress''s voice held a hard, brittle edge.


    Aidan thought through her questions in silence for a few moments before responding, "It depends on the context. If I''m lied to and manipulated into doing things? I''m not going to lie down and take that anymore. If people are honest about what they want me to do and why, though? I don''t object to that. We all use other people. If I can be of use to the tribe, I''m happy to help."


    "It is one thing to say that and another to live it." Anwn withdrew the spits from the fire and set them aside to cool down. "There is a new Lair a few hours east of the village. Mites. They cannot be allowed to establish a foothold so close to here, but with the call to arms, I do not have the resources to do anything about it. We are stretched too thin on the borders as it is. Clear the lair, and I will give more thought to your place among us." She poked the roasted game birds with her finger and, apparently satisfied that they were cool enough to eat, slid them off the spits and onto another platter.


    Good Lord that is a lot of experience, Aidan thought. He left the quest un-accepted, though; he needed to talk to Brighid about it before committing to it, and the penalty for failure would be a harsh blow.


    Anwn set the platter down on the larger, centaur-sized table, then settled down on one of the cushions. "You will have to eat with your hands. I do not have many visitors, and I loathe cleaning dishes."


    "That''s alright, roast or fried fowl is considered finger food in my homeland." Aidan retrieved one of the capercaillies and tossed it back and forth in his hands for a moment. It was still hot to the touch. Brighid had no problem with hers, of course; her fire resistance was much higher than his. Aidan set his food back down to let it cool for a moment longer, busying himself with watching the wolves instead. Now that Anwn was seated with food in front of her, they each seized a wing, breast, or thigh and, well, wolfed it down. Two of them, males by their size, finished earlier than the others and trotted over to Anwn. They rubbed up against her then lay down to either side of her, pressed against her flanks.


    Aidan tore a leg free from his capercaillie and took a bite. The skin was thin and crispy, while the meat was savory, with only a hint of gaminess. Grease dribbled down his chin and fingers as he took another bite. "This is delicious. Lucky, indeed. Thank you for sharing this meal with us, Anwn, and thanks to the wolves as well."


    "It was more than I could eat," Anwn deflected, seemingly embarrassed by the praise. The rest of the meal proceeded without further conversation. Once they finished, Aidan and Brighid thanked Anwn for the food again and made their exit. The same reddish-brown wolf led them back to the main trail, then vanished into the underbrush.


    "How sad," Brighid said once they were alone once more. "None of that was about you at all, was it?"


    "Very little," Aidan agreed. "Only the very beginning, I think."


    They walked hand-in-hand back to the village, absorbed in their thoughts. Once they reached their home, Aidan broke the silence. "Well, at the very least, that gave me a direction. I didn''t get a quest from Eilwen or Gerwyn, and the one from Fionn doesn''t offer any guidance on how to achieve it. This one, though, is crystal clear. I need to defeat the boss of the Fetid Lair before we leave for Ceallach Macht. Will you join me?"


    "As if I would let you go alone!" Brighid scoffed. He smiled at her. "We have some time before then, though. You should ask Fionn to train you. He is much better at it than I am, and I still have too much work to do in the forge. Besides, maybe that will help with his quest?"


    Aidan nodded. "Good idea, love. It can''t hurt, at least. And, yeah, it''d be a good idea to improve my Skills more, both for the Lair and for Ceallach Macht. I don''t want to be a liability."


    "You will not be. But more practice will never hurt, especially when you cheat." She stuck her tongue out at him, and Aidan had to laugh.


    Neither of them felt frisky after the conversation with Anwn, so they made small talk for a while longer, then cuddled together in bed. Once he heard Brighid''s breaths grow slow and deep, Aidan thought to himself, System: Log Out. Confirm.


    He closed his eyes and let the tears come.


    Zurai

 Chosen, Chapter 43: Pursuing my True Self

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Sixthday, 4th week of the 7th month, Godless Age 597


    Early Morning


    Starchaser Village, Mistvale Highlands


    Aidan shared a hearty breakfast with Brighid, then kissed her thoroughly, leaving her flushed and panting as he set out towards the training field. No one accosted him on the way, and he fancied that he felt less hostility in the stares and whispers that followed him. He hoped that was an indication that the village was beginning to accept, or at least tolerate him, but he wasn''t willing to bet on it.


    Fionn was already overseeing a group of younger adult centaurs when Aidan found him. Aidan got the old warhorse''s attention and waited for him to make his way over. Once they were close enough to speak, he said, "Good morning, Fionn. Brighid suggested that I ask you for help in my martial training since she can''t spare the time right now."


    "Indeed?" Fionn arched an eyebrow. "It is good to know the apprentice still has some respect for her teacher. I may be able to help, although this morning, I have my hands full with this bunch. What, precisely, are you looking for in this training?"


    "I''m probably going to regret saying this," Aidan admitted with a grin, "but I feel like I need to be run ragged. In addition to Ceallach Macht coming up in a few days, Anwn asked me to clear out a lair of mites that popped up nearby. I''ve been in a few small-scale fights, but all that''s shown me is that I need to be a lot better. Specifically, I want to train my defensive Skills as much as possible, as well as my offensive magic. I doubt I''ll rely on my sword too much, but it''s always better to have more options, so if possible, some training there would be helpful as well."


    "Hmm," the giant centaur stroked his salt-and-pepper beard. "Your mundane Skills are simple enough to train if I can find you the right partner. Your spells might be a problem, though. Can you show me what you can do without burning everyone here to a cinder?"


    Aidan looked around the area. "Sure. Can we relocate closer to that boulder over there? Flame Jet has a relatively short range."


    Aidan demonstrated his spells; Burning Barrage caused a commotion with the trainees as seven motes detonated with near-simultaneous whump-cracks against the rocky outcropping. Fionn shook his head slowly. "You cannot use either of those against people; the potential for serious injury is far too high. Hmm. I think I have an idea, however. You did say you wanted to be run ragged, yes?" His eyes gleamed with amusement. He clapped his hands and called out to his students, "Gather around! Aidan, here, has volunteered to help in a new exercise."


    Aidan


    Evening


    Aidan opened the door to Brighid''s home and staggered through, barely able to muster the energy to close it behind him. He stumbled to the bed and flopped over backward onto it, doing his best to ignore the aches and pains that had accumulated over the last 14 hours. Aidan closed his eyes and focused on sinking into the soft cushion. The next thing he knew, Brighid was shaking him awake.


    "You are soaking in sweat. Your training was a success, then?" She smiled down at him. Aidan noted that she removed her shirt before waking him; he reached up with both hands and covered her bared breasts. She bit her lip and hummed softly in the back of her throat in response to his touch.


    "Fionn is a monster. He had his entire novice class chasing me around the field. It was like what you put me through, but ten times worse," he complained.


    "But did your Skills increase?" Brighid settled down between his wide-spread legs. Her hands began loosening the laces of his shirt and pants.


    Aidan directed his attention to the pulsing notifications he had been ignoring.


    "Does 22 total Skill levels count as successful?" He lifted his hips to let Brighid tug his pants off.


    "That counts as positively heroic," she hummed, tossing his clothes into a pile near her shirt.


    "I''m too tired and beat up to do much more than I already am," Aidan admitted, squeezing his hands for emphasis.


    "You can conquer me some other time. Tonight, let me worship my hero." Brighid tucked her hair behind her ears and bent down. Aidan closed his eyes and groaned as his lover showed him her appreciation for a day''s hard work.


    Aidan


    Seventhday, 4th week of the 7th month, Godless Age 597


    Early Morning


    Aidan awoke the next morning to find Brighid watching him, confusion in her eyes. He lifted his head to press a kiss to her lips, which she returned without hesitation, then settled back and asked, "What''s wrong, flame of my heart?"


    Brighid ducked her head and traced her fingers across Aidan''s torso aimlessly. "Last night... I reached level 25 in Sex. I have been thinking about this since you told me that you would find a way for us to have children. Would you like me to take the Quest to become a Courtesan? I would become better at sex, and if I pursued the Broodmare Specialization, it would be easier for us to have children, and our children would have unique benefits."


    "It doesn''t seem like that should be my choice, love. Didn''t you tell me that a Profession becomes part of who you are? And, not to put too fine a point on it, it''s hard to imagine that you could become too much better at it. Every night I spend with you is wonderful beyond my wildest dreams. If you somehow think you are disappointing me, banish the thought. I''ll make that an order if I have to."


    "So, you do not want me to?" Brighid asked, her voice small and soft, almost a whisper.


    Aidan tangled his fingers in her vermillion hair and dragged her lips to his. He kissed her as thoroughly and passionately as possible, trying his best to convey his feelings for her. When their lips parted at last, he told her, "I want you to make the choice that will make you happy. If you wish to pursue the path of a Courtesan, I will support you fully. If not, then the same. But is there a reason that you have to make a choice now? When do you expect to go into heat next? We don''t have to worry about children until then, at the absolute earliest." He smiled up at her. "I don''t see any reason to try to do two impossible things at once. We can get you pregnant at the usual time, at least."


    Brighid giggled and laid her head on his chest. "Five months, give or take a few weeks, and you had best be ready for it, mister. If Fionn letting the trainees run you around the field for a few hours is enough to wear you out, maybe you should invest in some Endurance the next few levels." She kissed his sternum. "You are right, of course. I do not have to decide today, and I should put more thought into what I want out of it. I have to admit that the thought of being your Broodmare stokes my flame, but it would come at the expense of my Smithing and Paladin Talents."


    Aidan stroked his fingers through her hair. "There''s another thought, love. I don''t have any Professions yet, and it seems increasingly likely that if I have a future in the village, it''ll be using my magic Skills. They aren''t eligible for Professions. I''m not too far from Apprentice rank in Sex as it is; I could take it as my Profession. That way, we still get the same benefit to our children, but without you making any sacrifices."


    "Mmm," Brighid hummed her agreement. "And so would your children with your other women. I like that idea. This is why we work so well together; you do such an excellent job at tempering my impulsiveness and turning it into something stronger."


    "Again with the other women thing," Aidan forced out a laugh. "I don''t mind if you find a woman on the side, love, but you''re all I need."


    "But not all you want," she replied, still nuzzling his chest. "I saw you sneaking glances at Anwn''s boobs the other night, and I know what Siwan looks like when she''s thinking about sex." She lifted her head and caught his eyes with hers. Her hands slid up and cupped his cheeks as she gazed at him. "It is alright, love. I know that you love me, that you will always love me. I am not afraid of losing you to someone else. If you see a woman who interests you, you have my permission to pursue her. And," her smile turned naughty, "if you bring her back here, we can both enjoy her." She bent down and captured his lips. Once she emerged for breath, she continued, "The Brighaid are not in favor of restricting either sex or love to just one person. Love is the brightest passion, and sex is not far behind. They should be shared freely among all those who are willing."


    Aidan cocked his head. "You know, that''s something I''ve meant to ask you. I promise I''m not trying to deflect the conversation, but I should learn more about my Patron. Who are the Brighaid, and what do they stand for? What are their tenets? What do they exalt, and what do they forbid?"


    Brighid giggled and kissed him again. "I will let you get away with it this time, both because you are right that you need to know more of the Brighaid, and because we will inevitably end up back here anyway." She settled back down on his chest and wrapped her arms around him again. "The Brighaid is a tripartite deity, consisting of the goddesses Birgitte and Brigantia and the God Braihan. Birgitte is the Goddess of fire as a metaphor for creation, fertility in all its aspects, and crafting, especially crafts that involve fire. Brigantia is the Goddess of fire as a tool, destruction, purification, renewal, and victory. She also presides over funerals and rituals of mourning. Last but not least, Braihan is the God of fire as a metaphor for creativity, joy, desire, poetry, and exploration.


    "Their tenets are not complicated. Be passionate, love even your enemies, pursue your goals with your whole heart. Have lots of sex and make lots of babies."


    "I''ve heard that one before," Aidan quipped. Brighid smacked him lightly on the shoulder for interrupting.


    "Children are sacred, for, in their innocence, they share their passions openly and eagerly with everyone they meet. All temples and shrines devoted to the Brighaid must maintain an open flame at all times, and all their followers should pursue an art or a craft as their Profession. Sex explicitly counts as an art, for the record. Cooks, potters, and smiths are most favored; bankers, merchants, and soldiers are disfavored. Don''t eat raw meat and cook vegetables when reasonable. Do not harm those who intend you no harm." She tilted her head. "Those are the highlights. I would be happy to teach you more later, but I think that should give you a solid foundation."


    "I just got the Skill for it, so I''d say so."


    "You are such a cheater. It took me a week of study to get the first level in that, and I am Their Paladin!"


    "I guess Chosen trumps Paladin." Brighid pouted at him. Aidan smiled and ruffled her hair. "How about I make it up to you? You did say that Sex is an acceptable Professional Skill to Them, and I am pretty close to level 25 in it. Don''t you think it''s your duty as a Paladin to help me meet my obligation? Besides, I owe you from last night."


    Brighid''s voice grew sultry. "Of course, my Lord Chosen. Make use of me however you will to further your training. Let there be no talk of debts between us; I am yours."


    Aidan


    Mid-morning


    "You are late," Fionn told Aidan as he jogged into the training field.


    "Sorry," Aidan apologized. "Brighid was teaching me about the Brighaid, and we lost track of time."


    "Hmph." Fionn didn''t look convinced. Aidan didn''t blame him; it wasn''t much of a fig leaf. "Well, I will just have to work you all the harder to make up for the lost time, then. It will be the same drill as yesterday, but today I am putting you in charge of your defenders. You have ten minutes to talk things over with them before we start."


    Aidan briefly regretted his morning diversion, but he didn''t have long to dwell on it before the day''s training began.


    Zurai

 Chosen, Chapter 44: Prepare to Take the Field

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Firstday, 1st week of the 8th month, Godless Age 597


    Pre-dawn


    Starchaser Village, Mistvale Highlands


    Movement from Brighid woke Aidan up. He glanced at the window and muttered, "Still dark out, lemme sleep."


    "Nope!" The Paladin chirped. "Rise and shine! We have a dungeon to clear out today." She yanked the blanket off Aidan, exposing him to the cold morning air. "Come on, love; you knew this was coming."


    "Five minutes," he mumbled, curling up into a ball to preserve body heat.


    It took another twenty minutes for Brighid to coax him out of bed; the smell of breakfast cooking did the trick. It was another hour and a half before they reached a narrow valley outside the village. Once there, Brighid stopped and turned to face Aidan. Breathing in deeply, she said, "We face a problem. Even if we left today, Ceallach Macht is too far away for you to make it on foot in time for the battle. There are no horses in the village, nor any saddles for them. Even if you could afford a horse, Gerwyn could not find you one before it is time to leave. Your only option is to ride a centaur, and there is only one centaur who will let you ride her."


    "Are you sure, my heart? Won''t that cause problems for you when the others see?"


    "Yes, likely so, but it is the only option. Besides," Brighid cast her eyes towards the ground, and her cheeks began to redden, "I... want you to. I want to feel you on my back." She looked up at him again and bit her lower lip. "Mounting me."


    "Well, well. How can I deny such a fetchingly-presented proposal?" He grinned at her and stroked her flank. "How are we going to go about this? No offense, but the last time I rode you armored as you are was not exactly pleasant for me."


    She nodded. "In my saddlebags, there is a thick blanket. Fold it up and place it on my back." She knelt on the ground in front of Aidan. He followed her instructions, then awkwardly climbed onto her back. She rose to her feet, and immediately Aidan had to wrap his arms around her waist to keep from falling off. He readjusted his seating, then Brighid began to walk around.


    It took half an hour of slow walking before they were both comfortable with the pace. Once they had that down, Brighid moved into a trot, causing Aidan to grit his teeth and cling on tighter with his arms and legs; the jolting gait was exceptionally uncomfortable. Once they were both confident he wouldn''t bounce off her back, Brighid lengthened her stride into a canter¡ªa breath of fresh air after the trot¡ªand then a full gallop.


    Once he got the hang of it, it was a fantastic experience for Aidan to ride around on Brighid''s back at high speed. Aidan could feel her powerful muscles flexing and stretching beneath him even through the barding. He leaned forward to press his chest against her back and rested his chin on her shoulder.


    "How is it, love? How does it feel to have me mounted on you? To have your Lord riding you in the most forbidden way?" He whispered into her long, pointed ear.


    "I wish I did not wear my armor!"


    "Oh? Is my little mare getting hot to trot just from this?" Aidan teased her.


    "Yes! I started gaining experience in Submission as soon as I knelt for you to mount me. If you could touch my breasts, you might be able to make me come for you." Her arousal was evident in her voice.


    Aidan slid his hands up onto her breastplate. It really was a shame he couldn''t touch her; he had a sudden urge to hold her heavy breasts as she ran. Still, touch wasn''t the only tool in his toolbox.


    "What would people think if they saw us like this? Saw me riding you like an ordinary horse?" Her torso vibrated with her moan. "Does that stir you up, little mare? Does it make you all sloppy to think of the village watching me ride you around and then mount you? To feel their eyes watching you, judging you, as you submit to my every whim and pleasure? I think I''ll make you strut for them; I want to show off my beautiful, powerful mare so that they can all see what they''re losing out on when I claim you in front of them and coat you with my scent and my seed."


    Brighid''s gait changed, and Aidan realized that her gallop had shifted into a running prance. He nibbled on the tip of her ear and whispered to her, "Good girl. Show yourself off for them. Let them see how eagerly you dance for me! Lift your legs high, lift your tail so they can see your juices flowing for me. Imagine them watching, seeing every inch of your body as you perform. Make them wish they were man¡ªor woman¡ªenough to claim you!"


    Brighid came to a sudden stop, causing Aidan to cling even more tightly to her to keep from being thrown. She sank to the ground and looked over her shoulder at him, eyes wild and positively blazing with lust. "Please, Aidan, my Lord, my stallion, I need you now! Mount me properly! Fuck my little mare pussy and fill me with your seed, make me cum on your big, fat human cock while the whole village watches!"


    His heated words aroused Aidan almost as much as his lover, so he wasted no time in sliding off her back and pulling the rear plate of Brighid''s barding off over her tail. He tugged at the laces to his pants and yanked them down over his hips, then thrust fully into her molten hot, soaking wet pussy in a single thrust. Brighid screamed her pleasure to the morning sky as he withdrew and thrust into her again and again. Her inner muscles squeezed and pulsed around him, and Aidan realized that she was already on the verge of an orgasm.


    He called out to her, voice demanding, "Let them all see you come for your Lord, Brighid! Let them know who owns you!" Her voice rose in pitch with each hard thrust, cries of pleasure echoing off the nearby hills until she bucked and shrieked and Aidan felt her clamp down around him. He groaned, gritting his teeth and fighting to keep from following her into oblivion as her muscles rippled around him, but he couldn''t hold out against her body''s insistence. He thrust one more time, burying himself fully in her clutching depths, and grunted as stars exploded behind his eyelids.


    Once he regained the capacity for thought, Aidan carefully reattached Brighid''s armor, then slipped around in front of her to kiss her. "How close are we to the lair, do you think?" He asked.


    "Not far," Brighid panted. Her bangs, saturated with sweat, clung to her face. "Maybe half an hour walking?"


    Aidan nodded. "Then let''s proceed with me on foot. We''ll both need to focus on the enemies inside."


    During the short walk, Brighid explained what they would be facing. Mites, it turned out, were not bugs like Aidan first thought. They were a type of spirit; specifically, one attuned to rot and decay. They did take an insect-like form, however, which is where they got their name. Mites tended to nest underground, reproducing out of sight until they boiled out in a giant swarm to blight the land for miles around their initial nest.


    They reached the entrance to the dungeon just as the sun breached the eastern horizon. Brighid put her helmet on, helped Aidan into his armor, and then asked him to go in with Burning Barrage already active. "We are not going to do this stealthily; I am never going to be able to approach unseen or unheard, and your current magic does not allow you to fight quietly, either. I think our best bet is for you to stick close to me and use your magic to fight at range while I kill anything that gets up close. Does that sound reasonable to you?"


    Aidan readily agreed, and the pair headed into the cave entrance. As soon as he stepped foot inside, two prompts appeared in Aidan''s mind.


    Aidan accepted, and instantly the party interface appeared at the edges of his vision. Armed, armored, and as prepared as they could be, he and Brighid moved forward into the dark cavern.


    The Fetid Lair lived up to its name; the air reeked with the scent of rotten flesh. Every breath left a foul taste in Aidan''s mouth, but he did his best to ignore it. There was no natural light in the cavern, and the embers from Burning Barrage barely even shed as much light as a candle, but Brighid cast a quick spell, and a ball of yellow-white energy appeared in the air above her head. Aidan allowed Brighid to take the lead but stuck close to her side. The tunnel twisted and turned and sloped gradually downward. After about two minutes of careful, slow walking, the walls around them opened up into a wide enough space that Brighid''s light spell didn''t illuminate the far side.


    Water dripped from the darkness above into pools of stagnant water with steady plip plop sounds. Brighid''s pulsating light glittered from stalagmites rising like rotten teeth from the uneven stone floor. Aidan could only just make out the tips of stalactites descending from the ceiling. He couldn''t see any enemies, but gaming instinct told him there would be some. He stopped Brighid and warned her, "My instincts tell me that we need to be careful here. This screams ambush." She nodded and cast an unfamiliar Fire Magic spell; Aidan felt waves of heat radiating off of her body, but strangely, it felt comforting to him rather than dangerous. Brighid cautiously entered the cavern with Aidan sticking close to her side.


    Nothing happened for the first several yards, other than the continued noise of water dripping. Aidan looked around and strained his ears to hear any signs of potential attackers. Still, in the end, it was Brighid who suddenly shouted and sidestepped into Aidan, pushing him out of the way as something dropped out of the darkness above and landed on her back, right where Aidan''s head had been a split-second before. Another fell just behind him, then another to the other side of his Companion. Within mere heartbeats, they were surrounded by at least a dozen of the small, multi-legged things. Brighid instantly springs into action, cutting down two of the creatures with a single sweeping strike from her glaive. Aidan began casting Flame Jet as soon as he recovered from Brighid''s push, but the one-second cast time meant that he wasn''t in time to prevent the mite on Brighid''s back from scrambling to a joint in her armor and biting her, nor to stop several others from contracting in on themselves and then leaping towards him and Brighid.


    One of them collided with Aidan and grabbed on with spiked legs, but before it could bite him, he finished his cast, and two streams of flame began to pour from his hands. He aimed one spell at one of the leaping enemies, blasting it out of the air, while his other hand was devoted to cooking the one on Brighid''s back. The creature latched onto him took a bite out of his torso, cleaving through his ill-fitting borrowed leather armor and making him gasp with pain. Still, he was able to maintain concentration on all three of his spells. Brighid whirled and stamped with her hooves and spun her glaive from side to side in a deadly, beautiful dance. Aidan passed his flames over every enemy he could see, gritting his teeth at the searing, sickening pain in his side as the one on him continued to gnaw away. The instant his spells ended, Aidan grabbed hold of the mite with both hands and tore it from his body. With a grunt of pain, he threw it in front of Brighid, who drove her glaive through its bloated abdomen. A pool of blood¡ªhis blood, he realized¡ªspread from its twitching corpse.


    Aidan looked around for another enemy to burn, but the cavern was still once again. He pressed a hand to his side, feeling the sticky, wet heat there. Blood pounded in his ears as his heartbeat slowly returned to normal following the spike of adrenaline. The whole fight only took about ten seconds, and there were fourteen smoking, bisected, smashed, and/or transfixed corpses around them. He checked his and Brighid''s Health; he took 35 damage and had a Minor Wound, while Brighid was hurt a little more but was un-Wounded. He started up his Patch Wounds spell, closing his Wound, then cast it several more times to refill both of their Health pools. While he healed them, he checked his notifications.


    Well, well, that''ll be useful, Aidan thought to himself. It was essentially an AOE Patch Wounds without the ability to affect Wounds. The Stamina cost meant he couldn''t run it all the time, but it''d make recovering from fights simpler. The fact that it could be used offensively against undead also intrigued him, although the Stamina cost was prohibitive for now.


    Once he was mostly repaired, Aidan took the time to kneel and examine one of the corpses. It looked something like an evil cross-breed between a spider and a roach. It had a long, roughly oval-shaped abdomen with a hard carapace, a much smaller thorax from which sprouted ten thin legs tipped in spikes, and a multi-eyed head with nasty-looking mandibles and a lamprey-like circular mouth lined with teeth. The whole creature was maybe a foot and a half long, not counting its legs. "So, these are mites?" Aidan asked.


    "Yes," Brighid replied, mouth twisted in distaste. "Young ones. The adults will be about twice this size, and the queen a little smaller than me."


    "And... how many of them are there going to be?" Aidan asked, not really wanting to know the answer.


    "Hundreds, most likely. Fortunately, the young are fragile." Indeed, while the Boar Manikin had taken an entire five seconds of concentrated Flame Jet to kill, even with its high vulnerability to fire, these only took about a second''s worth of damage to fry. Eyeing his combat log, Aidan guessed they had around 12 Health each. They sure packed a wallop for creatures that frail!


    "They''re only worth 50 experience each. Well, I guess a couple hundred of these with some bigger ones thrown in is still several thousand experience. Let''s just hope that they keep coming at us in manageable groups and not all at once. Do you think that''s all of the ones in this chamber?"


    Brighid shrugged and replied, "No way to tell for sure, really."


    Aidan grinned and said, "Actually, there just might be. Get ready, I might be able to make some bugs angry." He concentrated briefly, and the seven Burning Barrage motes around his head streaked off into the darkness. Less than a second later, a series of explosions lit up the rocky chamber. Six of them revealed nothing unexpected, but the seventh detonated directly in the center of another cluster of the creatures. They dropped from the ceiling and landed in the shadows. The damage from a single Burning Barrage hit wasn''t enough to kill most of them, but the Flame Jet Aidan greeted them with when they scurried into Brighid''s light quickly finished them off.


    Aidan spent the next few minutes re-casting Burning Barrage and methodically clearing the ceiling and walls of lurking mites. Once he was confident that no enemies remained, they made a quick circuit of the chamber and located two tunnels leading further into the complex, one to the left of the entrance and one to the right.


    Zurai

 Chosen, Chapter 45: Those that Slay and Fall

    Zurai


    Today is the first of the month, so it''s time for the traditional Patreon plug. The beginning of the month is the best time to join an author''s Patreon because you''re charged when joining and then again at the start of every month. If you wait until the end of the month to join, you''re essentially getting double-charged.


    Also, please come check out the Discord; it''s free and open to all.


    Aidan


    The Realms


    Firstday, 1st week of the 8th month, Godless Age 597


    Early Morning


    The Fetid Lair, Mistvale Highlands


    "Left is right, right is wrong," Aidan said decisively.


    "What?" Brighid gave Aidan a confused look.


    He laughed to himself. "Sorry, inside joke from back home. Let''s go left first." He recast Burning Barrage, then followed Brighid into the left-hand tunnel. It twisted and turned even more than the entranceway. After a minute or so, they came to a split. One branch led left and down, while the other went right and up. Once again, Brighid took the left passage, reasoning that the queen would probably be in the deepest section. Before long, the tunnel opened out into another chamber.


    This time, Brighid places herself across the tunnel exit, and Aidan launched his barrage from behind her. He sent the first set of motes arcing over her back, into the cavern, and then looping upward to explode against the wall and ceiling immediately around the entrance. No mites fell, but as Aidan waited for the cooldown to end, a buzzing sound started up somewhere in the darkness. "Adults!" Brighid cried out. "There will be juveniles too; you handle those, and I will take care of the big ones."


    Almost as soon as she finished, an immense mite, at least three and a half feet long, emerged into her magical light and streaked towards her. Brighid knocked it out of the air with her glaive and immediately chopped and stabbed at it. Another pair buzzed in close on the first''s heels, and soon it''s all Brighid can do to keep them at bay. Shortly after the adults engage the Paladin, juveniles began to swarm into range, crawling across the cavern floor. Aidan crouched down behind Brighid and fired two jets of fire out of the tunnel entrance, sweeping them back and forth across the leading edge of the approaching swarm. The cooldown on Burning Barrage elapsed while he was roasting mites, and Aidan tried something new for him, recasting Burning Barrage while still in the middle of a Flame Jet cast. The effort was a severe strain on his Concentration and coordination. Even so, the seven fiery embers blinked into existence above his head after two seconds¡ªjust in time for his priorities to shift.


    It turned out that the juveniles weren''t just approaching from the floor. Dozens of them began to climb down from the walls of the cavern and enter the tunnel along its ceiling and walls. "Fire in the hole!" Aidan shouted to Brighid and unleashed his Barrage, sending one mote against each wall and one against the ceiling of the tunnel, with the remaining four spread out into the swarm of juveniles in the cavern. Heat washed over him, but his timing and aim were precise, and the flames stopped just short of him and Brighid. The mites weren''t nearly as lucky, and scores of them were crushed and thrown through the air or reduced to piles of burning carapace by the near-simultaneous detonations.


    Aidan''s Flame Jets sputtered to an end even as Brighid finishes off the third adult with a back-handed chop that severed its head. The juveniles took advantage of the momentary absence of fiery death to surge forward. Despite how many he already killed, Brighid''s light still reflected from a sea of scuttling mites. "Back up! We can''t let them surround us!" Aidan called out to Brighid and began scrambling back towards the split in the tunnel. Brighid backed up as best she could, and a moment later, Aidan covered her retreat with renewed Flame Jets. The leading edge of the swarm gets close enough that they start to smoke from Brighid''s Fiery Aura Ability, but they still press on, clawing their way over the smoldering corpses of their broodmates.


    The creatures were fast, and soon Aidan and Brighid were in full retreat, him aiming blasts of fire over his shoulder and her doing her best to shield him. Fiery Aura took its toll on the pursuing mites, but it wasn''t until Brighid scooped Aidan up and stretched out into a full run that Aidan was able to recast Burning Barrage and finally whittle the swarm down to under a dozen enemies. Brighid set him down, whirled, and finished off the rest with stamps of her hooves and broad strikes from her weapon. Both adventurers were panting with exertion. Aidan checked his prompts and swore. "What the fuck?!"


    "There were almost three hundred of those goddamn things in there! I know you said there would be hundreds, but I wasn''t expecting that to mean all at once!"


    Brighid just grinned at him, sweat plastering her hair to her face and chest heaving, and panted out, "Yeah... but we both got over 7,000 experience for it, and we aren''t even done yet!"


    Aidan quickly allocated his points¡ªone each in Logic, Intuition, Willpower, and Charisma, and two in Endurance¡ªand Skill bonus¡ªSwords¡ªthen joined Brighid in walking back down the tunnel. The swarm chamber entrance was choked with dead mites in various states of dismemberment and incineration, and Aidan opted to spend a Burning Barrage to blast the piles of dead mites into the chamber instead of pushing through them. After waiting for the spell''s cooldown and ensuring that the explosions didn''t trigger another swarm attack, the pair cautiously made their way into the room.


    The chamber was long and narrow, and about halfway in, they started to come across piles of bones and hundreds of decaying corpses. Most of the remains are of animals, but there are centaurs and humanoids among the dead as well. The fleshiest bodies, near the back, bulged with clusters of wriggling, vaguely rice-grain-shaped objects roughly the size of bananas just under the skin. Brighid identified them as larval mites, and Aidan grimly set to incinerating. The scent made him vomit more than once, and it took nearly an hour to be sure that they were destroyed to the last, but eventually, the task was done.


    "I really, really hope that was the only chamber like that in this dungeon. I am going to smell like rotten corpse and oily smoke for a month. Let''s get out of here, it doesn''t look like there are any more exits, so we can just take the other fork in the tunnel."


    The pair retraced their path to the split in the tunnel and, this time, took the upward-sloping route. Or, rather, the initially upward-sloping route; it only rose for a short while before it turned much more steeply downwards, nearly forty or forty-five degrees. Brighid stopped at the top of the slope and warned, "It will be difficult for us to run back up this way quickly, so if this tunnel is too short, we may not be able to retreat like we did before. Are you prepared?"


    Aidan thought about it, then suggested, "Let''s try the other exit out of that first cavern instead. We can always come back here later, but there''s no sense taking a risk now."


    It took about twenty minutes of backtracking to reach the other tunnel. They followed it until it, too, split off in two directions. Following a hunch, Aidan opted to go to the right. After more twisting and turning and scraping against natural rock walls, they once again approached a larger cavern with a broader tunnel exit. This time, though, the place didn''t look empty. Indeed, three gigantic mites, each very nearly Brighid''s size, turned to face them and raised scythed forelimbs. Aidan immediately launched all seven of his Barrage motes against the one in front. They exploded all over its carapace and washed over the other two as they charged towards Brighid, but even the full volley, over 220 damage, wasn''t enough to kill it.


    Aidan cursed and began to cast his Flame Jets as Brighid raised her glaive over her head, pointing it downward like a scorpion''s stinger. As soon as the lead mite scurried into range, she stabbed forward, the head of the glaive bursting into ghostly flames just before it pierced the monster''s thorax. Brighid instantly pulled her polearm back a few inches, then twisted her shoulders, chopped down through the abdomen and cut off several of its legs in another burst of fire. The mite collapsed to the side but reached its wickedly-sharp claws towards her, clearly not finished yet. Aidan completed his cast of Flame Jet with each hand and began to pour damage into the leftmost enemy; Brighid brought her glaive around and buried it point-first into the first mite''s head, but killing it cost her as the other two closed into range and lashed out at her. The screech of their hardened carapace across the Sunsteel plates of her armor was hideous, and she cried out in pain as one of them found a gap in her defenses. The mites slammed into her, but she braced herself and shoved back, sending one of them spinning backward and pushing the other far enough away to allow her to strike it after shortening her grip.


    Even as Aidan concentrated his fire on the enemy Brighid pushed away, two more giant mites clatter into the tunnel. "More company!" he yelled to her, but she didn''t have time to acknowledge as she desperately fought off the foe lunging and clawing at her. She was a blur of motion, turning to take strikes on her armored flanks and chest while chopping and thrusting at the enormous monster. All four mites smolder from Fiery Aura, but unlike the juveniles, these giants had enough Health that the damage over time didn''t cook them within a few seconds. Brighid was nearly overwhelmed fighting all four of them and took dozens of minor hits as she whirled and spun her glaive. Aidan backed up and supported her attacks with Flame Jets. After a few seconds, she managed to catch one of the mites between herself and the tunnel wall, delivering a devastating double rear kick that shattered its carapace in a spray in pale green-white ichor. At the same time, Aidan''s Burning Barrage came off cooldown, and he began to chant. "Sorry about this!" he called to her, then sent his full arsenal streaking towards the most injured-seeming bug.


    All seven motes hit simultaneously, and Brighid and the other mites vanish in a rush of flames. Aidan''s party interface assured him that he didn''t hurt Brighid much, but it took a few seconds for his eyes to recover from the sudden flare of light to see her still standing and fighting. The bug he unleashed on was a blasted, dismembered wreck several yards away. The other two were scorched and singed from the explosions, but the incidental damage they took wasn''t enough to drop either of them. Brighid feinted against one of them, then spun her polearm around to cleave its claws off, but she paid the price for it; the second mite rushed forward from her other side. One of its claws clattered harmlessly off Brighid''s breastplate, but the other swiped up from below and caught her under the bottom of her chainmail skirt, slicing deeply into the flesh of her lower belly with a spray of bright red blood.


    "Brighid!" Aidan screamed in panicked anguish, expecting to see intestines spilling out of the woman he loved. Brighid wheeled in place, slamming her hooves into the monster that just landed what would have been a mortal wound on a human, and decapitating the one she recently disarmed with a casual-seeming swipe of her glaive. Enraged and still panicking, Aidan poured flames into the remaining enormous mite until Flame Jets'' duration expired, then immediately began the chant for Pulse of Life.


    Brighid whirled back around and lifted her weapon over her head again, wincing at the strain it caused to the wound in her belly, then stabbed downward into the last mite repeatedly. It attempted to stand up under her onslaught several times, but eventually, it started to twitch and curl up onto itself. Aidan finished his cast and immediately felt drained as the air around him began to shimmer with wisps of glowing gold-silver-white energy. Brighid planted the butt of her glaive against the ground and slumped against it, collapsing to her knees, panting, blood oozing from her wounded belly.


    Zurai

 Chosen, Chapter 46: Ride Forth Victoriously

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Firstday, 1st week of the 8th month, Godless Age 597


    Mid-morning


    The Fetid Lair, Mistvale Highlands


    Aidan rushed up to Brighid, already starting the chant for Patch Wounds as Pulse of Life began slowly knitting Brighid back together. He placed his hands directly on her Wound, willing the healing energy from his spell into her, and gasped, "Are you alright? I don''t know that I can heal a Wound like that!"


    Still panting heavily, Brighid managed to wheeze out, "Yes. A bad cut, but only a Minor Wound." Aidan watched as the ragged tear in her smooth, tanned skin began to seal itself back together. Growing short of breath from the Stamina drain of Pulse of Life, he reluctantly allowed the spell to fade.


    Aidan hugged Brighid tightly, not even caring about the blood and ichor covering her or that he was embracing her hard plated torso rather than her soft and welcoming flesh. "Oh, thank God. I was terrified! That would have eviscerated a human, torn out your intestines and fouled your blood. People don''t usually survive injuries like that."


    Brighid smiled tiredly at him and ran her fingers through his hair soothingly. "Well, good thing for me that centaurs are a little hardier! My intestines are down in the lower half, not up there. That hurt like Hell, but it''s all muscle; that is why the armor is not as heavy." She brushed a bloody thumb across his cheek, wiping away a tear. "Do not worry, my love. I am not that easy to kill." Then she grinned. "Besides, I got a level out of that." While he continued healing Brighid, Aidan checked his own prompts.


    "Well, the good news is that the quest I got from Anwn had an optional goal to kill five Hive Guards. Presumably, there aren''t any more of those things to deal with. With how tough they were, though, I''m worried about whatever the Lord-Consort is."


    Brighid nodded and agreed, "Yes, that is a little worrisome. And there are bound to be many more adults, and probably some juveniles as well. The Queen herself is likely to be almost entirely helpless, though, if we can fight through to her. Those five were so dangerous because they all came at once; fighting five enemies at once is exponentially harder than one at a time. I could have handled a single one of them with ease."


    "Yeah," he agreed, "but nothing in this place has been polite enough to come at us single file, and the Queen is surely going to be well-guarded."


    "We can leave if you want, but the hive will recover quickly as long as she survives. I think we can still win, but if you are not feeling confident, there should be nothing between us and the exit. It is better to retreat than to die fighting."


    Aidan thought it over as he recast Pulse of Life, rapidly healing Brighid''s remaining injuries. "No," he finally decided. "Let''s finish this out. If you think we can win, I''ll trust your judgment. Let me catch my breath, though; that spell takes me out pretty fast. Then, let''s see what the Hive Guards were guarding."


    After a few minutes spent recovering Aidan''s Stamina and Brighid''s health to full, they both climbed to their feet. The well-armored Paladin led the way into the chamber, her pulsing light magic revealing a small, roughly circular room. Sticky masses of what looked like white foam covered the far wall, and several tiny, mandible-less mites crawled all over them. "Eggs," Brighid identified. "This must be the incubation chamber. That smaller passage there in the back corner must lead from the Queen to here, and those nurses carry egg sacks from her to here and care for them. Since that they are not attacking us, they are probably not capable of it. Love, if you will do the honors?"


    Aidan nodded and, a second later, the thousands of eggs began to go up in flames. The nurses scattered like roaches, fleeing from the fire, but in the end, they didn''t matter. A minute later, the egg sacks are nothing but blackened, desiccated husks. After spending another minute ensuring he didn''t miss any, Aidan and Brighid headed into the small shaft and towards what they hoped to be the end of the Dungeon. It was so narrow that they had to crouch just to fit.


    Fortunately, the nursing tunnel was reasonably short, and before long, they turned a bend to see the darkness of another room. As they crept forward bit by bit, the light revealed the cavern floor, then a massive, bloated, yellowed abdomen with an adult-sized mite vibrating on top of it. As they watched, a bulge passed down its length, and a sticky egg sack the size of a beachball plopped wetly onto the floor beneath the Queen. Aidan shared a glance and a nod; then, he unleashed the fire and the fury.


    Seven glowing embers streaked past Brighid to explode directly against the Queen''s protruding rear end. The flames washed over the male fertilizing her eggs as well as the egg sack, scorching both into lifelessness. A screeching roar sounded from farther in the Queen''s chamber, and they heard the buzzing sound of adult mites taking wing and speeding their way. "Here they come!" Aidan called out an unnecessary warning as Brighid settled onto her knees in front of him and readied her glaive. He fired streams of burning death over her back into the Queen until the first of the three-foot-long adults entered his view. He managed to scorch the first one out of the air, but then his flames died out, and the rest were upon them.


    The narrowness of the nursery tunnel worked to their advantage, forcing the adults to come at Brighid two or three at a time. They are far less dangerous to her than the Hive Guards were, and Brighid easily bats away the first wave, slicing them to pieces with her polearm and crushing them with the butt end. Just as Aidan prepared to unleash another Barrage, however, more adults swarmed through the entrance and, behind them, something much, much bigger heaved into view. Brighid''s light glinted off of thick, black carapace and eyes that gleamed with malevolent intent. It bent its massive head towards them and screeched again, but Aidan could see that its body was much too large to fit into the passageway. The fiery coals of his Burning Barrage surrounded his head, and he smiled with grim satisfaction as he sent them darting and corkscrewing through the swarms of adults right into the open mouth of what must be the Lord-Consort.


    The brutish monster staggered back, reeling and roaring in pain as half a dozen miniature grenades exploded in its mouth and gullet. It thrashed and flailed and crashed into the Queen behind it. Aidan dual-cast Flame Jets and directed them toward the Lord-Consort, but he didn''t have nearly the same precise control over them, and the flames mostly impacted the adult mites swarming the entry. There were so many of them that, with the Lord-Consort no longer looming, they completely clogged the entrance. Several of them were pressed up against Brighid by their fellows, stabbing at her with their legs and biting with their lamprey-like mouths. Her armor protected her, however, and they could not get at her unarmored equine belly. She smashed them with her gauntleted fists and the butt of her glaive, and Aidan poured fire over them while waiting for Burning Barrage''s cooldown.


    Once the spell was available again, Aidan sent the glowing motes careening into the writhing mass of mites to explode directly in the middle, blowing half of them back out of the tunnel and crushing the others against Brighid and the walls. One dubiously lucky individual was propelled over Brighid''s back and past him; Aidan incinerated it with a Flame Jet. Temporarily free of the crushing weight of dozens of Rock Mites, Brighid planted her hooves and shoved back against the insect-like creatures crawling over her, knocking them from her back. Aidan''s flames and Brighid''s attacks and Fiery Aura make short work of them, leaving dozens of smoking, twitching corpses in the tunnel, and one pissed off Lord-Consort protecting its Queen with its body in the chamber.


    Brighid turned to Aidan and laughingly announced, "I believe I will allow you the honor of defeating that monstrous lout in there. I would not want to claim all of the kills, my Lord." Aidan wagged a finger at her, then began firing Flame Jets and Burning Barrages into the Queen''s chamber. The Lord-Consort stoically blocked the entrance with its body and scrabbled around futilely with immense rending claws, but it could not reach him. It suffered through an incredible amount of damage from sustained Fire Magic, and once it collapsed in a smoldering heap, the Queen took nearly as much punishment. Still, the outcome was inevitable once the smaller Adults were all defeated.


    "By Birgitte, I got two levels out of that." Aidan grinned at Brighid. "Did I say that right?"


    Her mouth twitched. "We will work on it. That is not all, however. Look over there; see that glowing orb?" She pointed over towards the corpse of the Rock Mite Queen, and, sure enough, there was a spherical object floating in the air glowing an indescribable color. "That is the Dungeon loot. Go on, touch it, let us see what we get!"


    Aidan shook his head and said, "Just a moment. I want to distribute my Attribute and Skill points before I forget." Quickly, he decided on an allocation: 2 in Logic, Willpower, Charisma, Toughness, and Endurance, 4 in Intuition, and 1 in Luck. He didn''t want to neglect his Health and Stamina completely, and he decided to put the extra Attribute points from the quest into Intuition for Vivimancy spell power. The Skill bonuses he split between Command, bringing it up to Novice rank, and Evasion, likewise increasing its level.


    "Now, for the loot..." Aidan strode over and reached out towards the strange glowing orb. He touched it with the tip of one finger, and it instantaneously contracted to the size of a golf ball. Aidan jerked his hand back, startled, then yelped and ducked as it exploded with a loud pop. Items clattered to the ground all around him. He quickly recovered and knelt down to sort through the treasure. All told, there was quite a haul. There was just one problem, however:


    "But... what does any of this do?" Aidan asked plaintively. "All of it is ''Unidentified suchandsuch''!" He exaggerated a little; there were also piles of coins, gems, and what he assumed were crafting materials. Not knowing what the magical items did bothered him, though.


    Brighid nodded. "We will need someone skilled in Item Lore to identify them. Mother has some knowledge of the Skill, and she will be happy for the experience from it. Now, come on. Let us finish exploring the Dungeon to make sure we do not miss anything and then get out of here. We are both desperately in need of baths." Despite his disgruntlement over not knowing what any of his loot actually did, Aidan was forced to agree with Brighid''s last point. They distributed the goods, mostly into Brighid''s saddlebags, although she had to carry the cuirass and strap the shield to her back.


    A search of the Queen''s chamber revealed an exit to the right of the nursery tunnel that led nearly straight down¡ª"Probably where the mites came from; they do not like to travel under the open sky," according to Brighid¡ªand another tunnel which eventually led to the steep slope they declined to climb earlier. Satisfied that they had explored everything that it was reasonable to at the time, Aidan and Brighid made their way out of the Dungeon and into the clean, fresh air. Checking the sky, Aidan was surprised to see that it was mid-afternoon, within an hour or two of sunset.


    Brighid handed Aidan a rag, and he wiped off a spot on her barding for him to sit, put a padded blanket on her back, and climbed aboard. She set out at an easy canter, and they arrived within a short distance of the village just before sunset. Aidan slid down off her back, and the two of them headed for Brighid''s private bathing spot. They cleaned each other and do their best to wash their clothes and armor, then spent some time cuddling and kissing on the pool''s shores while they dried off. Once the sun vanished behind the mountains, they managed to pry themselves apart and head back into the village, both as naked as the day they were born, though loaded down with loot and gear. For once, Aidan just didn''t care if anyone stared; after clearing the Dungeon, and playing such a vital role in it, his confidence was at an all-time high.


    Zurai

 Chosen, Chapter 47: Inspecting the Resounding Weapons

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Secondday, 1st week of the 8th month, Godless Age 597


    Early morning


    Starchaser Village, Mistvale Highlands


    "I will go with you to get our loot identified, but after that, I will need to return to the forge. There is still much work to be done and little time to do it in. Also, do not forget that the Council will vote again on your citizenship tonight."


    "Of course." Aidan nodded. "Although I want to speak to the Council first. Will you be joining me tonight?"


    Brighid smacked him lightly on the arm. "You know better than to ask. Just try and stop me!"


    "I wouldn''t dare," Aidan grinned at her. "Come on, let''s haul all this to your mother''s so we can figure out if any of it is useful."


    Fifteen minutes later, they entered Ailis''s home. She greeted Aidan impassively, though she hugged her daughter. As Brighid predicted, Ailis was quite willing to identify their items, and the process only took a few minutes.


    "Mine!" Aidan exclaimed, scooping up the backpack and hugging it against his chest. He slung it over his shoulder and adjusted the straps until it was comfortable.


    Aidan immediately selected CONFIRM. He didn''t feel any different, but having something that would stay with him through death was a huge load off his shoulders. At the very least, he could keep a change of clothes inside so that he wouldn''t have to walk back to the village naked next time.


    "You should take this, too," Brighid giggled, handing him the silver ring.


    He arched an eyebrow. "Are you trying to tell me something, love? Am I not manly enough for you?"


    Brighid batted her eyes at him. "You know you are all the man I want or need. I am just thinking of the future; you will need all the help you can get in a few months."


    In a few months...? Ohhh. Aidan blushed, prompting giggling amusement from both Ailis and Brighid. "Yes, well. What should we do with the sword and shield? Technically, either of us could use them, but they don''t match our combat styles perfectly."


    "You should keep the sword; you at least have the Skill for it, and even as a mage, having a weapon on the side can be useful," Ailis suggested. Aidan turned his skeptical gaze on her, and she shrugged. "I still want you as my apprentice. A little helpful advice is a small price."


    Brighid slid the sword over to him. Aidan shrugged and put it into his new backpack. "What about the shield?"


    "I will take it, I suppose?" Brighid suggested. "It does not fit my combat style, but I have been thinking about ways to modify my style to be more protective. I cannot say the same for the armor. It is not useful for either of us¡ªI will never be stealthy, and I do not believe you have any interest in heavy armor?" At Aidan''s headshake, she continued, "Then we can have Gerwyn act as a factor for us." She pushed the amulet at Aidan as well. "I insist that you wear this at all times. Right now, you are unknown to the outside world. That will not last forever, and this will protect you in ways that I cannot."


    Aidan nodded soberly and slipped the necklace over his head. "As for the other ring," he said, "I think it''s better served on your hand than mine. You have more Health and Stamina than I do, so you''ll get more raw benefit from it, and while I would never turn down extra Health, I appear to be resistant to staying dead. You aren''t. When I saw that Hive Guard open your belly like that, I fell to pieces. I don''t know what I would do if you died, but it wouldn''t be pretty."


    Brighid cupped his cheek and bent down to kiss him. The moment stretched out until Ailis cleared her throat, and Brighid reluctantly broke the kiss. "Are you thinking the same as me about the staff?"


    Aidan nodded at her, then turned to Ailis. "If you want it, the staff is yours. Brighid can''t use it and fight at the same time, and I hardly have any spells to take advantage of it right now. If you already have something better, please pass it along to one of the other village mages who could make better use of it."


    "Thank you, both of you. I believe I can put it to good use." Ailis inclined her head to them.


    "Do you mind taking the breastplate back to the forge with you, love? I have another errand to run, and it won''t fit in the backpack."


    "Of course. Once you return from your errands, would you mind cleaning the house a bit, and maybe making some food if you have the time? I will be working until we leave for the meeting tonight." Aidan made a face at her, but Brighid wagged her finger at him and scolded, "Call it partial payment for your clothes if you want. Besides, did you not promise to show me some of the cooking from your homeland?"


    Aidan sighed and replied, "Yes, dear."


    Brighid smirked at him, hugged her mother, kissed her on the cheek, and then made her exit. "Not a word from you," Aidan told Ailis.


    "I said nothing," she replied with a Mona Lisa smile.


    "No, but you were thinking it loudly enough for me to hear," Aidan grumbled. He bowed slightly to Ailis and made his own exit.


    Aidan''s next stop was Siwan''s shop. He was getting tired of wearing the same two outfits, and he also hoped to be able to present Brighid her gift before they left for Ceallach Macht. It did not take him long to find the unassuming wooden building, and when he poked his head through the doorway and knocked on the door frame, Siwan looked up from her work and gave him a sunny smile.


    She gestured him inside, then gave him a quick hug before collecting a pile of clothing from a shelf. "Here, these are the clothes Brighid ordered for you, as well as the underclothes you requested. I am still working on winter clothes, but they will be ready before you need them. I also finished with your special request; wait just a moment while I fetch it." The friendly seamstress vanished into the back room of her shop, then returned a moment later, holding a small wooden box, which she handed to him and urged him to open.


    Inside was a strip of dark green leather padded with a softer, lighter green cloth. The clasp at the back was plain steel, but the ring on the front was braided white, yellow, and rose gold. Aidan closed the box and tucked it into his backpack, along with his new clothes. "Thank you so much, Siwan. It''s perfect."


    "Oh, shush. It is business. Besides, Brighid is my friend." Then, however, she gave him a mischievous grin and produced a shirt that was decidedly not for him. It was a lacey garment, designed to hug every curve of its wearer''s body, with a wide, plunging neckline that would be scandalous if the Starchasers had any sort of nudity taboo. Cut to Brighid''s dimensions, it would leave all of her cleavage and most of her breasts on display, and it had built-in support that would only enhance the effect by acting like a push-up bra. Imagining her wearing it made Aidan uncomfortably aware of just how tight his own pants were. Siwan dangled it in front of him and said, "I see you like it. Send Brighid to me one night wearing that collar and with instructions to listen to my orders for a night, and I will send it home with her the next morning."


    "Ah, yes, well," Aidan stammered, "I''ll give it serious consideration." He made as graceful an exit as he could, then headed home. He waved to Brighid, then slipped inside and spent the better part of two hours sweeping, scrubbing, and dusting the house.


    "Just what I always wanted," Aidan muttered to himself. He poked around in the barrels and crates of food to find something to fix for dinner. It wasn''t exactly a supermarket, but he could make do.


    Aidan


    Mid-afternoon


    "That was not what I expected when I asked you to cook, but I cannot argue with the results." Brighid smiled at him and took another bite of her griddled not-ham and cheese sandwich. "Thank you, love. Oh! Before I forget, I asked Roark to make you some new armor, and it should be ready. You should visit him."


    "Sure, I guess I can head out that way. Once I get back, maybe I can help you some more in the forge?"


    She gave Aidan a dazzling smile. "I would love that. Thank you for lunch, it was delicious. And the house is spotless, too!"


    Aidan waggled a finger at Brighid. "Flattery is not gonna get me to take over all the household chores."


    "Drat. You cannot blame me for trying, though." They shared a kiss and a cuddle, then Brighid went back to work, and Aidan headed the tannery.


    It didn''t take him long to reach his destination, and once there, he was immediately greeted by Roark. The old centaur gave him a firm handshake, then pulled him into a crushing hug. "I heard what you did, lad. I do not know if my words played a part in you sending Brighid back and going in alone, but it cannot have been easy on you. I do not want to know the details, but know that you have a friend in me."


    "Now," he said, "come see what I made for you. I had a little more time to work this go around, so there will not be any hot-fitting needed." He led Aidan into his workshop, then began handing him pieces of armor. They were made of a dark grey, nearly black, leather with a rough, sharkskin-like surface.


    "Roark, this is amazing! Thank you." Aidan said, scrutinizing the equipment.


    The old centaur grinned and said, "Well, put it on, then!" It took a few minutes for Aidan to don the armor and secure everything, but once the final piece was in place, a new prompt bloomed in his head.


    "I..." words failed Aidan. "Thank you, Roark. What is the price for all of this? I can''t imagine you have bales of monster leather laying around the shop, and you made it quickly, to boot." He pulled a handful of gems out of his backpack and held them out. "I understand that money is not the preferred means of payment, but unless you need something burned to death, I don''t have much else to offer you at the moment. I assure you, it has nothing to do with my opinion of your work."


    "Oh, no worries about that, lad, I understand. Adventuring is as good a job as anything else, and I can always use something from the traders." He carefully inspected the gems, then plucked out a ruby no larger than a fingernail. "This should about cover it. More than the armor is worth on the face, but as you say, it was a rush job. Now then," he said, growing more serious, "I understand you are both going back to Ceallach Macht. You have already proven yourself, so I will not make the same request as last time, but please, both of you, be careful."


    "We will. Neither of us wants anything to do with a repeat of last time." They shook hands again, then Aidan headed back home. He joined Brighid in the forge, and she began to teach him how to make chain mail. The process was both simple and quite tedious; she heated a thin metal rod, severed a length of it with a wedge, then hammered the ring into a circle using a thicker rod as a form. The next link in the chain is fed through the first before being shaped, and so on. Aidan picked it up quickly, and although his work was nowhere near as quick or high-quality as Brighid''s, he managed to produce a fair-sized square of linked steel chain by the time the sun set. Brighid inspected it, nodding in approval, then placed it in a chest to be added to other scraps of mail to make a suit of armor with in the future.


    Once everything was cooled down and stored away, Brighid led Aidan into the house and demonstrated what else she was willing to do to avoid chores.


    Zurai

 Chosen, Chapter 48: Preparations at Dawn

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Secondday, 1st week of the 8th month, Godless Age 597


    Night


    Starchaser Village, Mistvale Highlands


    "We are gathered to resume deliberations on the question of inducting Aidan Lostlorn into the tribe. Do any wish to speak before we take the vote?" Fionn''s deep voice rumbled out.


    Aidan waited to see if any of the Councillors were going to speak up, then stepped forward. "Pardon me, good Councillors, I do not know if I have the right to speak, but I would like a few short words if I may."


    "Are there any objections?" Fionn looked at his peers; his gaze lingered on Anwn, but she shook her head. "Proceed, Aidan."


    "Thank you, Councillors. I will not take much of your time. I do not come before you tonight asking you to vote in favor of it. Instead, I request that you delay the vote until after the business of Ceallach Macht is finished. I appreciate what Councillor Ailis said in making this proposal. Still, after speaking to each of you individually and spending considerable time contemplating my future, I believe that it would be best to wait a little longer. The City of Dreams is a far more pressing issue than I am, and it is by no means certain that any of us who go will return.


    "Furthermore, I intend to lead a team into the heart of the city to deal with the Tannath Taig permanently. Judgment, for or against me, seems premature at this point. Let the actions and results of that raid speak for me." He bowed to the Council. "Thank you for your consideration."


    "It is slightly irregular, but would you like to take up young Aidan''s motion, Ailis?"


    "How can I argue against the one whose benefit I am seeking? Pray, let it be as he asks."


    "Any objections?" None of the other Councillors spoke up. "Then let us reconvene on this matter in a week. Next, we have a proposal by..."


    Aidan and Brighid quietly withdrew from the hall, their business done. Neither of them had any interest in listening to the boring minutia of a typical Council session. Brighid asked Aidan as they walked home, "Why did you do that? It would have passed tonight."


    "Because I''m thinking long-term. You''re right; I believe it would have passed at two votes for and one or none against, but even leaving aside my quest, it will be best for me if they are all in favor. I might not get Anwn''s vote, but four ''Ayes'' is still a much better result for me than two." Brighid nodded, accepting his reasoning. Aidan opened the door for her, then followed her into their home. "Now then, I''m a half-level away from gaining a Profession. Let''s see what we can do to fix that, shall we?"


    Aidan


    Thirdday, 1st week of the 8th month, Godless Age 597


    Pre-dawn


    CONFIRM/DECLINE


    Aidan pondered for a moment, looking at Brighid slumbering by his side. This was a big choice; most people in the Realms would be lucky to qualify for more than one Profession in their lives. He, though, would be able to take as many as he bothered training up. Still, both Brighid and the prompt hovering before his eyes implied that a Profession was more than just a title. Was he willing to be defined, even in part, by sex?


    Fuck it, he thought, only partly for the pun, if this is a valid path in this world, why not? My magic will provide all the income I need. He hit CONFIRM.


    Hmm, 80 points? 10 per level? I''ll ask Brighid about it later. Several other prompts were demanding his attention, so he moved on.


    It didn''t take Aidan long to find his new Talent screen, and he eagerly opened it up. A window opened in his mind with a large sphere labeled "Courtesan," with narrow golden threads leading to smaller nodes. More strands snaked out from the central orb, but Aidan couldn''t see where they went; presumably, he didn''t have the prerequisites for them. He focused his attention on the ones he did have access to, one by one.


    All-Nighter I


    Requirements: None. Effects: -5% Stamina drain and fatigue buildup from intense physical activities; +10% orgasm control. Cost: 3 points.


    Dominating Presence I


    Requirements: Novice rank in Dominance. Effects: Individuals within 5 feet of you are up to 20% more likely to obey your commands, based on their attraction to you, their arousal level, and their Skills. Note that individuals with specific Skills, such as Command or Dominance, may be less likely to obey your commands instead. Cost: 4 points.


    Erector Set I


    Requirements: Male genitalia, ovipositor, or another similar sexual appendage. Effects: +2.5% sexual appendage dimensions; +10% slowed onset/reduced effect of erectile dysfunction. Cost: 4 points.


    Inhuman Advantage I


    Requirements: More than one appendage suitable for sexual penetration. Effects: When penetrating a single partner with more than one appendage, cause +5% pleasure; when penetrating multiple partners, gain +5% coordination. Cost: 2 points.


    Magic Hands


    Requirements: Novice rank in Foreplay; hands or other appendages capable of fine manipulation. Effects: Grants the Magic Hands Ability. Cost: 20 points.


    Muffin Stuffin'' I


    Requirements: Have caused an orgasm while sexually penetrating a female. Effects: While you are sexually penetrating a female, you gain +5% control over the pace and strength of their orgasms. Cost: 2 points.


    At first, Aidan was filled with buyer''s remorse. The Talents available to him were boring and didn''t seem especially useful at first glance. Magic Hands, though... Aidan could think of quite a few ways to make use of it, even in non-sexual situations. He went ahead and purchased it. Instantly, the node pulsed in his mind''s eye and more Talents appeared attached to it.


    That Loving Feeling


    Requirements: Magic Hands talent. Effects: When using Magic Hands, you may choose to experience everything as if the created body part(s) were your own. Cost: 5 points.


    Extra Magical I


    Requirements: Magic Hands talent. Effects: You can create and control 1 additional body part with Magic Hands. Cost: 2 points.


    Aidan let those be for the moment and returned his attention to the first set of talents. On closer review, he realized that several of them had non-sexual applications. All-Nighter worked for any intense physical activity, and Dominating Presence worked for any commands he gave. However, it wouldn''t be as effective on people who weren''t aroused and sexually attracted to him. He went ahead and purchased both.


    All-Nighter II


    Requirements: All-Nighter I. Effects: -5% Stamina drain and fatigue buildup from intense physical activities [-10% total]; +10% orgasm control [+20% total]. Cost: 6 points.


    Gratification Escalation I


    Requirements: All-Nighter I. Effects: Your and your partners'' orgasms are up to 10% longer and more intense based on the amount of time spent having sex and the number of previous orgasms. Cost: 4 points.


    Refraction Subtraction I


    Requirements: All-Nighter I, suffer from a refractory period after orgasm. Effects: Your refractory period is reduced by 10%. Cost: 3 points.


    Submission to Erudition I


    Requirements: Dominating Presence I. Effects: Individuals affected by your Dominating Presence gain Skill experience as if their affinities were 2% higher when carrying out your commands. Cost: 10 points.


    As he suspected by the names, some of the Talents had multiple ranks. Aidan was a little surprised that Dominating Presence II didn''t open up, but he decided that it must have an additional prerequisite, possibly Initiate in Dominance. He was even more surprised by the Talent that it opened up, however; Submission to Erudition was a "rule-breaker," capable of effectively increasing the affinities of anyone he gave commands to. It was expensive, though, and limited by the Dominating Presence Talent that he wasn''t able to advance. It still seemed worthwhile, so Aidan spent the points, then went ahead and bought the remaining tier 1 Talent as well, just to see what they opened up.


    Submission to Erudition II


    Requirements: Submission to Erudition I. Effects: Individuals affected by your Dominating Presence gain Skill experience as if their affinities were 2% higher [4% total] when carrying out your commands. Cost: 20 points.


    Erector Set II


    Requirements: Erector Set I. Effects: +2.5% sexual appendage dimensions [+5% total]; +10% slowed onset/reduced effect of erectile dysfunction [+20% total]. Cost: 8 points.


    Inhuman Advantage II


    Requirements: Inhuman Advantage I. Effects: When penetrating a single partner with more than one appendage, cause +5% pleasure [+10% total]; when penetrating multiple partners, gain +5% coordination [+10% total]. Cost: 4 points.


    Muffin Stuffin'' II


    Requirements: Muffin'' Stuffin'' I. Effects: While you are sexually penetrating a female, you gain +5% control [+10% total] over the pace and intensity of their orgasms. Cost: 4 points.


    Giving Tail I


    Requirements: Inhuman Advantage I, a tail with suitable flexibility and dimensions for sexual use. Effects: You have +10% degree of control and precision with your tail. Cost: 2 points.


    The Right Stuffin'' I


    Requirements: Muffin'' Stuffin'' I, Erector Set I. Effects: When you sexually penetrate a female, your partner suffers 10% less discomfort from your size. Cost: 4 points.


    The Sperm Must Flow I


    Requirements: Erector Set I; able to produce sperm. Effects: Your sperm and semen production is 10% faster. Additionally, your chances of successfully impregnating a female are increased or decreased by 10%; this choice is made upon purchasing this Talent and cannot be changed. Cost: 2 points.


    The only new option that interested Aidan was The Sperm Must Flow, which he immediately bought up to level 2. He chose the increased fertility option when prompted¡ªhe saw it as a clear step 1 in fulfilling his promise to Brighid¡ªwhich unlocked another Talent.


    Ease the Burden I


    Requirements: The Sperm Must Flow I, chose increased fertility. Effects: Women who are impregnated by you experience 10% reduced discomfort, mood swings, and hormonal imbalances due to pregnancy and have 20% reduced risk of miscarriage or birth defects. Cost: 2 points.


    That looked like a Talent he was likely to invest in in the future, but not something he needed right this second. Looking over his choices, Aidan decided to take the Magic Hands enhancers.


    Extra Magical II


    Requirements: Extra Magical I. Effects: You can create and control 1 additional body part [2 total] with Magic Hands. Cost: 4 points.


    When no new Talents were revealed, Aidan decided to reserve the rest of his points until later. Hopefully, advancing his Skills more would unlock more options. Seeing that Brighid was still asleep and realizing an opportunity, Aidan slowly, carefully disentangled himself from Brighid, tugged on a pair of pants, and made his way out to the forge. He donned the apron, gloves, and hat, then started the fire in the furnace. Once it was hot enough, he grabbed a nearly-used-up bit of chain stock and shoved the end of it into the coals to heat.


    While he waited for the metal to come to temperature, Aidan bowed his head and said the first formal prayer he had ever uttered in either world. "Birgitte, Braihan, I do not know if Brighid''s belief that you are my Patrons is true. Even if You are not, she believes in You and does her best to honor You, and this is to be a gift for her. I know my Skill is not up to the task on its own. If You love her as much as I do, please: guide my hand this morning."


    He pulled the rod out of the furnace, its tip glowing yellow-white with heat, then set to work. First, he flattened it out into a rough circle, then folded it in on itself and pounded it flat again. He repeated the process several times until he had a rounded square shape. At that point, he clamped it to the anvil and began to engrave a stylized, Olde English-style capital A onto the small object. Finally, after heating it one last time, he punched a hole through the top, then plunged it into a barrel of oil to temper it.


    With the hard work done, Aidan spent a few minutes on the grindstone, smoothing the edges and polishing the front and rear surfaces. The last step was to snip off a tiny section of thin steel wire and bend it into a circle, threading it through the hole at the top of the tag to make a ring to hang it by.


    Token of Aidan''s Love. A simple iron tag, made with care and love.


    Rarity: Unique. Item Quality: Well-Crafted.


    Wiping the sweat from his brow, Aidan closed the door on the furnace, removed the leather protective clothing, then slipped back inside the house. Somehow, Brighid was still asleep on the bed, her arms wrapped around a cushion. He retrieved the wooden box Siwan gave him from his backpack, slipped the tag inside, then re-joined Brighid in bed. He hid the box under one of the pillows and set to awakening his love, stroking her skin and fur with light touches and kissing her shoulder. After a minute or so, she turned her face to seek out his lips, and a moment later, her emerald eyes opened, and her arms slipped around his shoulders. "Mmm, good morning, my love," she whispered to him.


    "Good morning, flame of my heart. I have a present for you." Brighid brightened even further, sitting up as Aidan reached under the pillow for the box. Brighid beamed at him and took the box from his extended hand, then opened it. Her head tilted to the side, and she looked back up at him, puzzled. "It is something from Earth, a symbol for those with less mainstream intimate lives. I can explain it to you in more depth later if you''d like, but the essence is that the choker is a symbol of sexuality and submission, and the tag indicates who the wearer has given themself to. It isn''t an indication of ownership, like the collar a pet might wear, but rather a statement of trust and control on the part of the wearer. When you wear that choker with my tag on it, you are telling the world that you have willingly given yourself to me. I made the tag there in the box this morning; Siwan made the choker at my request. As my gift to you, it is yours, and only you can decide when to wear it and whose symbol to hang from it. When you wear it, if you wear it, is entirely up to you." Brighid watched him, unblinking, as he explained. When he was done, she nodded once, closed the box, and set it aside.


    Zurai

 Chosen, Chapter 49: Sacred Bonds

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Thirdday, 1st week of the 8th month, Godless Age 597


    Dawn


    Starchaser Village, Mistvale Highlands


    Aidan''s blood froze in his veins and his heart sank through the floor, but before he could turn away and flee from her rejection, Brighid grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled him into a tight embrace. She rained kisses upon his shoulder, neck, and throat even as she sobbed and hiccuped. Aidan felt paralyzed by confusion; her reactions seemed utterly disconnected from each other. Not knowing what else to do, he settled on stroking her head and back soothingly.


    Eventually, Brighid reined in her emotions and released him. She leaned back and picked up the box again, opening it and lifting out the choker with infinite care. She looked up at Aidan, tears still shimmering at the corners of her emerald eyes, and asked, "Will you hold my hair out of the way, my love?" Wordlessly, he reached behind her head and gathered her hair, lifting it to bare her neck. Slowly, with great care and precision, Brighid placed the leather collar around her neck and latched it behind her. He let her hair fall and slid his hands down to her waist while Brighid retrieved the tag and brought it up to her face. "This is very well-made, Aidan. What does the symbol mean?"


    "I¡ª" Aidan''s voice broke, and he swallowed heavily. "I didn''t trust myself to make anything too fancy, so it is just a stylized version of the first letter of my name."


    The redheaded Paladin smiled brilliantly at him. Aidan felt a stir of arousal at the sight of the green leather band snug against her neck. Brighid leaned forward to brush her lips against his, then asked, "Will you fetch the pliers from the forge, my love?" He was out of the house in a flash, returning seconds later with the requested object in hand. Brighid threaded the tag onto the ring at her neck, then tilted her head back. "Twist the ends together tightly. I want to make sure this never comes off."


    Aidan''s heart and hands trembled at her declaration, and it took him a moment of fumbling to press the ends of the wire together and begin to twist. When he finished, his lover kissed him passionately. When they came up for air, Brighid asked, "This is the reason you made such a show out of taking my measurements in front of Siwan, right?" At his nod, she moaned softly and continued, "My Lord is cunning and devious. I thought you were only showing off. I love it. And I see that you achieved your Profession." Her gaze turned intense, a raging green bonfire of love and lust. "Please, may this little mare make a request of her Master?"


    Aidan shuddered, arousal coursing through him at the sound of that word on her lips. Brighid''s hands slid down his chest, over his belly, and into his pants. "Master, your mare begs you to claim her, all of her. She wants to be taken and used and reminded just what it means to be yours."


    Aidan stood up and hooked his finger under the front of Brighid''s choker, pulling her head towards his groin. "Service me," he commanded. Her response was immediate and frantic, tugging at his laces and yanking his pants down. Once she revealed his hardness, Brighid wasted no time, taking him in hand and swallowing his shaft. Aidan groaned and tangled his fingers in the disheveled mass of her flame-red hair, forcing her down onto him. Her tongue swirled around him and her teeth grazed his sensitive skin. After a long moment, he pulled out of her mouth and told her, "Breathe deep, pet. I''m going down your throat this time." She nodded jerkily and inhaled, then he pushed her gently back down. Brighid opened her mouth wide and tilted her head, and while he applied gentle pressure at the back of her head, Aidan allowed her to work at the problem at her own pace. It took her a few minutes, but soon, her lips kissed his groin around the base of his shaft while her throat rippled around his tip. Lust-filled green eyes blazed up at him as she smiled in triumph.


    "Good girl," Aidan praised. "Keep that up, and your Master will reward you." She moaned; the vibrations of her tightly-constricting throat were exquisite. "Such a good girl, such a wonderful pet you are. You took to your training so well." He pulled out of her throat, allowing her two quick gasps of air before hilting himself again. "Two weeks ago, you were a fierce, fiery, independent warrior. Now look at you¡ªkneeling at my feet, begging me to claim every inch of you. With that collar around your neck, I could make you lift your tail in the middle of the street and mount you in front of the whole village, and you''d only love me even more for it. Wouldn''t you, pet?"


    Again he pulled back to give her a chance to breathe, and between gasps for air, Brighid hissed, "Yes, Master! Any time, anywhere you want me. Fuck me in the middle of a fucking battle; I do not care! This collar means I am yours in every way." She plunged back down onto him of her own volition, her hands grasping his hips for increased leverage. Her head twisted from side to side, and she swallowed rapidly, causing her throat muscles to pulse and ripple around him. Brighid''s eyes flicked back up to meet his, and Aidan grunted at the sight, smashing his pelvis against her lips with a powerful thrust.


    "Fuck!" He exclaimed, "Here it comes, love! Swallow it all!" His cock jerked in her mouth as he hunched over her, pulling at her shoulder and head in time with his thrusts. Her throat and tongue went into overdrive, suckling and licking and swallowing all of his seed. After a few seconds, Aidan pulled himself free of Brighid''s mouth, leaving both of them panting for breath. A final dribble of semen splattered against her breasts; he reached down and coated two fingers in his spend, then dragged them across her upper chest in the three strokes of a capital A. "I have claimed your mouth, your throat, and your tits as mine, by right of my seed freely given and willingly received. Now, turn around and present yourself to me, mare. I still have more to claim, and I have work to do this morning."


    "Yes, Master!" She moaned, rising and turning in place on the bed, then sinking back onto her belly with her tail raised onto her back. She spread her rear legs for balance and tilted her rump towards him, eagerly exposing herself, and panted, "Please, Master, take me, mount me, claim your pet''s fat, sloppy pussy with your Lordly cock. Shove it all inside me and make me cum all over you!"


    Lubrication drooled in long, gel-like strands from her thick nether lips. Aidan dragged a cushion over, knelt on it, and aimed his tip at her entrance. Then, with a solid open-handed slap across one buttock, he thrust deeply into her. Between his new ring and Profession, he had lost none of his hardness after his first orgasm, and he set a harsh pace from the start. Aidan dug the fingers of his left hand into the front edge of Brighid''s haunch, giving him extra leverage as he pulled out. He hissed in pleasure as her dextrous internal muscles clutched at him, then jabbed back in as deeply as he could go. He raised his right hand and brought it down sharply on her ass again, drawing a cry of pleasure from her throat. "Oh, fuck! Master, ride me, ride your pet mare, slap my ass and make me gallop for you!" Aidan bent over her back, pressing his belly against the coarse hairs of her tail, and fucked her as hard and fast as possible. He rolled his hips, rubbing his length across the bottom of her tunnel, and rained a series of slaps across both sides of her copper-furred rump.


    "Oh, oh, oh!" Brighid sang, throwing her head backward and arching her back. "Oh, Master, cumming! Cumming on Master''s big, fat, dick!" Her hips rolled and pushed back at him in time with Aidan''s thrusts, filling the air with the sounds of flesh striking wet flesh. Then she convulsed, her head snapping forward as her inner muscles clenched tightly around him and began a now-familiar milking motion. Aidan gritted his teeth and forced himself through her tightly-gripping passage, plowing his way into her over and over again. In less than a minute, still out of breath from her last climax, Brighid cried out again, "Oh, Braihan! Master! Master, fuck! Going to cum for you again!"


    Aidan felt the rising sensation of his own climax and growled at her, "That''s right, cum all over me as I claim your eager little cunny, milk my seed into your womb!"


    Brighid bucked back against him as his words registered in her over-stimulated brain, lifting off the bed to shove herself bodily onto his cock. "Yes! Claim my womb! Breed a foal on your pet mare! Again! Cumming again! Masterrrr!" It was all Aidan could do to push himself fully into her convulsing depths before he exploded.


    Hardly even thinking about his words, caught up in the primal passion of their coupling, Aidan snarled, "Your cunt and womb are mine! By right of my seed freely given and gladly received!"


    "Yours! Always yours!" Brighid babbled in return.


    Even before his climax ended, Aidan managed to wrest himself from Brighid''s desperately-grasping pussy and slid his tip up until it pressed against her upper passage. His balls contracted, coating her entrance with slippery semen, and he demanded, "Beg for it, my warrior-mare!"


    Brighid, still in the throes of an intense orgasm, could only gasp and squeal for several long seconds. After a moment, though, she managed to force out, "Please! Master! Claim me everywhere! Fuck my ass, take me, tame me, break me to your saddle!"


    Aidan let out a groan of raw lust. A part of him would never grow tired of watching and hearing this gorgeous, powerful creature begging to be his. He pressed himself against her, and after a moment, the head of his dick popped into her tightest entrance. Brighid''s hands slapped the bed and she writhed beneath him, but before he could even consider asking whether she was in too much pain, she cried out, "Oh, fuck, how do you feel so good in my ass? You are splitting me in half, and I am going to come again!" Sure enough, the muscles in her rump flexed, and her ass squeezed tight around him, so tightly that Aidan was only able to burrow into her due to how thoroughly her thick, slippery juices coated him.


    "You''re a naughty little fucking pet, cumming so hard before I''m even fully in your ass!" He spanked her again, one quick slap across either side of her rump. Brighid ground herself back against him, desperately trying to force him fully into her.


    "I am anything you want me to be, Master, please, please, just take my ass, please!" They both groaned as her passageway relaxed momentarily, allowing Aidan to slam fully into her molten-hot bowels. Acting on pure passionate instinct, Aidan focused on his tail, curving it up between his legs and thrusting its diamond-shaped, flanged tip between Brighid''s frothy nether lips. "Yesss!" She crowed, and he cried out in feral pleasure as her muscles conformed themselves to the shape of his tail. He could feel her walls undulating against each flange! While his tail was not as sensitive as his dick, his mind nevertheless melted into a sea of pleasure as he started thrusting roughly. Brighid pressed her cheek to the bed, her torso writhing as Aidan pounded in and out of her ass and pussy simultaneously. Her hands stretched out behind her, desperately seeking to clutch at him, then shot out to her sides to slap and grasp against the bed''s fabric. She clenched down on him as climax after climax thundered through her, twitching and jerking. At last, he could take no more, and he savagely thrust against her, stabbing his cock as deeply as it would go into her ass, and jabbing his tail into her pussy until he felt resistance against the tip.


    "MINE!" Aidan roared as his seed filled her for the third time in an hour. "By right of my seed freely given and eagerly received!"


    "Yours!" The words tore themselves out of Brighid''s throat. "Always yours! I swear it! Body, mind, heart, and soul!"


    "Thrice claimed and thrice confirmed, you are mine! Body, mind, heart, and soul!"


    Aidan slumped over her back and wrapped his arms around her flanks, gasping from exertion. A prompt battered its way into his sight.


    With his head resting against her back, Aidan panted, "Did you just get the same notification I did?"


    Brighid nodded against the bed and confirmed, "Yes, Master. I do not think you can make me any happier than I am now. I love you, Aidan. Thank you for my gift."


    With a sigh, he extricated himself from her and slipped around to her front. Brighid wearily lifted torso from the bed, wrapping herself around Aidan as he leaned back against her. "I love you too, Brighid, flame of my heart, love of my life. I can''t imagine loving anyone more than I love you."


    Aidan


    Late Morning


    Aidan woke up with his head still propped up on Brighid''s breasts, and her arms still wrapped around him. After kissing her awake, Aidan cooked a hearty breakfast; then they headed to the river for a bath. Brighid gave him a kiss and an apology before heading out to her forge to work. While the CLANG clang of her hammer rang out in the midday fog, Aidan decided to organize his inventory. He loaded the Handy Haversack up with all the coins, gems, and crafting materials from the Fetid Lair loot orb, plus the Summer Sword, a change of clothes, and some food. After some consideration, Aidan reached in to take the food out, but something caught his eye at the bottom corner of the inventory screen. He selected it and withdrew his hand.


    It was a large, leather-bound volume, about an inch thick from cover to cover. Gilded letters cover the spine.


    "New plan!" He exclaimed to the empty room and opened the book.


    Aidan


    Noon


    Aidan blinked and shook his head, his mind swimming with new knowledge. He looked up to see the light coming through the window at a different angle, but it felt like only seconds had passed. A pile of ash vanishing on a non-existent breeze was all that remained of the spellbook. "One use only, huh?" He mused.


    Wow, Aidan thought, Animamancy spells cost experience? Pricey. That was a steep cost, especially to practice with, but if the higher-tier spells Animamancy spells showed as much increase in power as they did in Fire Magic, it would be worth it. Aidan could still hear Brighid working at the forge outside, so he decided to go ahead and cast Call Soul''s Familiar; the curiosity was killing him. He used the ashes from the fireplace to draw a complex diagram on the floor, then knelt in the center and began to chant the words of the spell. The spell consumed all but the merest fraction of his Concentration, and within seconds he was entirely absorbed in it.


    Aidan


    Mid-afternoon


    Aidan suddenly became aware of the world around him again. There was no more sound coming from outside; he looked around and spotted Brighid preparing a meal. Before he could say anything to her, though, a horrible ripping sound filled the air and what he could only describe as a tear in space opened directly before him inside the circle. Brighid whirled around, a large knife in hand, searching for the threat. Through the breach, Aidan could see a steamy jungle, full of dense foliage and humming with life, although the only light on the scene is the light traveling through the portal from inside Brighid''s house. He could feel the heat of the faraway place and hear the songs of birds and insects thrumming and chirping in the night. It was strangely beautiful, and Aidan wondered how far away the jungle was, whether he could visit it in person.


    Something rustled in the bushes, causing many of the night sounds to stop suddenly. The leaves shuddered and rustled some more, then, from just out of view, a tiny, frog-like creature jumped through the portal and landed in front of Aidan. He stared down at it, vaguely disappointed that his familiar wasn''t something cool like a dragonling or a firebird. Or even a larger, more imposing frog. His thoughts were interrupted as a sleek, dark shape leaped from the bushes and through the rift, pouncing on the frog and swallowing it whole in one swift bite.


    Aidan shouted and scrambled to his feet even as the rift sealed shut with a sound like a massive zipper. He stared at the spot where the frog used to be; there on the floor of Brighid''s home was a small cat, bigger than a typical housecat but smaller than a bobcat. It was around two to two and a half feet long, not counting its foot-long tail. Its fur was a deep, midnight black with just the faintest tint of blue near the tips, and it bore faintly glowing silvery-white spots, much like a jaguar, although fewer in number. It sat down and looked up at Aidan, and he suddenly had an intense feeling of <hungry>.


    "Are you... my familiar?" Aidan asked. The only response was a silver-eyed stare and another pulse of <hungry>. "That cost me 5,000 experience, so you better be." He fished a strip of meat out of his Haversack and held it out to the cat, which rose from its haunches and snapped the offered treat from his hand. Aidan jerked his hand back, startled by the feline''s speed, then retrieved more meat. After devouring around a pound of food, the cat seemed satisfied, walking over to Aidan and twining around his legs. He reached down and very tentatively scratched it behind the ears, causing it to purr and push its head into his hand.


    "Well, I guess I''m stuck with you either way. What should I call you, I wonder? Are you a boy or a girl cat?" In response, he received a flat stare which was so distinctly disdainful that he couldn''t help but laugh and say, "Well, something tells me that you will scratch the hell out of me if I try to lift your tail and check. Let''s try it this way: how do you like the name Riama?" The cat tilted its head at Aidan, staring at him with feral intelligence, then headbutted his hand looking for more scratches and pets. "I''ll take that as acceptance! Riama it is!" With that, a new window opened in his mind.


    "Well, I guess you are my familiar after all," he told the large, purring feline as he gave her the pets and head-rubs she demanded. "You''re only level 1, but that just means you have room to grow, right? I wonder how I make your Abilities stronger, do they just go up with your level or what?"


    "More importantly," Brighid cut in, "Why did I come in from a morning of hard work, wanting to spend some cuddle time with my Soulmate before dinner, only to find my floor covered with ashes and you chanting some strange spell, completely unresponsive, for the last hour?"


    "Ummm, well, you see..." Aidan blushed and quickly explained the circumstances. Brighid, however, did not seem to consider his explanation a good excuse.


    "So you read the spellbook, realized it made you completely zone out for two hours, then decided that spending four more hours casting a spell that takes all of your Concentration would be the best way to spend your time? Without even considering letting me know what was going on?" She glared at him, and Aidan saw the first signs of genuine anger in her face that he''d seen for more than a week. "I am supposed to be the reckless one. And that is not even counting the absolute mess you made of my floor! I may be wearing your collar at the moment, but I am not cleaning that up, mister.


    "You can eat once the floor is clean again¡ªif Riama and I leave you any." She pointed imperiously towards the door, and Aidan slunk out to retrieve the broom and dustpan from the forge. When he returned, cleaning supplies in hand, his brand new familiar was on the table eating small cuts of meat delicately from Brighid''s outstretched hand.


    Traitor! He thought at the cat. Riama looked over her shoulder at him, gave him a slow, utterly unconcerned blink, then turned back to her feast. Brighid, for her part, ignored him as she spoiled his familiar. "You are such a beautiful creature, so sleek and muscular and with such soft fur. Do not worry, your master may have a donkey''s brain sometimes, but I will make sure you are fed and petted and given all the attention you deserved."


    "What are you¡ªare you trying to steal my familiar?! You''re supposed to be unbreakably loyal to me!" Aidan spluttered at the redhead and the black-furred cat.


    Brighid didn''t even look at him as she fed Riama with one hand and stroked her head and neck with the other. "Riama is an intelligent being, not a pet or an object, so I cannot steal her. And I am not kidnapping her, either. If she prefers my company to yours, well, whose fault is that?" The loud, rumbling purr coming from the jaguar only added extra weight to her betrayal.


    "How typical," Aidan grumbled as he swept. "I add a second female to my life, and instantly they both abandon me for each other. Next, you''ll be conspiring against me. First, I''ll have to make room for the cat on our bed, then I''ll be sleeping on the couch, and before I know it, I''ll be shown the door."


    "Do you hear that, Riama? The donkey-brain does not even want to let you sleep on my nice, comfortable bed. Fortunately for you, it is my bed, not his."


    At that point, Aidan conceded defeat and swept up the remains of his spell as quickly and efficiently as he could. Once he dumped all the ashes into the street outside and returned the broom and dustpan to their places in the forge, he sat down at the table. Brighid slid him a plate laden with slabs of thick, juicy meat. Riama, the furry little traitor, rubbed her head against Brighid''s chest and lapped at her exposed skin. The centaur scooped the cat into her arms and cradled her against her breasts. Aidan gave them both his most injured look as he wolfed down his dinner. Once he finished his food and pushed his plate away, he briefly considered continuing the charade but discarded the idea. Instead, he told Brighid, "You''re right, love. I wasn''t thinking about anything but myself. I was too curious and too eager to learn and use the new spell. I am sorry. Will you forgive me?"


    Brighid looked down at the cat nestled against her bosom and asked, "What do you say, Riama? Should we forgive him?" The astral jaguar looked back up at her for a few moments, then squirmed out of Brighid''s arms. She walked over to Aidan, sat down on her haunches, met his eyes with her silver ones, and reached one forepaw out towards him. She placed the paw carefully on his forehead, then gave him a very definite push. The force she exerted was nowhere near enough to push him over, but Aidan rolled with it, toppling backward off the cushion and sprawling out on the newly-cleaned floor. Riama hopped down from the table onto his belly¡ªwhich, given her not-inconsiderable weight, drove the breath from his lungs¡ªthen curled up and started to purr happily with a mental <elation of victory>.


    Brighid giggled. "I am not sure whether that is a yes or a no, so I will say that we are reserving our judgment at this time. If my Lord continues to act like a self-centered colt, I may have to investigate just what a ''couch'' is so that we can make him sleep upon it. If not, perhaps we may deign to allow him to sleep with us tonight. Fair?"


    "More than fair," Aidan conceded and lifted an arm towards Brighid, beckoning her over to him. She knelt on the hard stone floor and laid down on her side with her torso facing him, snuggling into his offered embrace. She stroked the loudly purring familiar with one hand¡ª<love. family.>¡ªand kissed Aidan on the side of his neck.


    "Of course I forgive you, Aidan. I understand your curiosity and would not even have been upset if you had just let me know. Just remember this the next time you decide to do something momentous without me, alright, my love?" He nodded and hugged her tighter.


    Zurai

 Chosen, Chapter 50: Before the Storm

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Thirdday, 1st week of the 8th month, Godless Age 597


    Mid-afternoon


    Starchaser Village, Mistvale Highlands


    Aidan spent a few minutes cuddling with the women in his life, then asked Brighid, "So, what''s on the agenda for the evening?"


    "Not much. The expedition to Ceallach Macht leaves in a couple of days, and we have been working hard this week, so I thought tonight we might take things easy. I want to spend some time with you; besides the dungeon, which hardly counts, it feels like we have not had much time together. Maybe we can have a run around the village and then relax in our bathing pool?" Riama stirred at that, raising her head from Aidan''s chest, ears perked.


    "Well, it looks like the fuzzball likes that idea, so let''s go with it."


    Brighid carefully maneuvered herself back to her feet, and Aidan followed her, cradling the purring astral jaguar to his chest with one arm. He extended the other to his lover, and, hand in hand, they headed to the village outskirts.


    Once he was sure that they were out of sight, Aidan put the riding blanket on Brighid, then climbed aboard. Riama jumped up and settled herself between Aidan''s chest and Brighid''s back. The centaur stood up, took a few steps to make sure everyone was seated comfortably, then broke into a canter. Aidan slid forward to wrap his arms around Brighid''s waist, encircling his familiar at the same time. She, in turn, stood up on her hind legs, placing her paws on Brighid''s shoulder for balance. The three of them rode in a broad loop around the village, then a second at a gallop, then back to a canter for a third loop, ending at the isolated pool.


    Brighid and Aidan quickly stripped out of their clothes, but Riama was the first one into the water. With a trill of happiness, she jumped off of Brighid''s back once she slowed to a walk and ran right up to the pool. She dove right in and began to swim around with remarkable skill. Brighid followed soon after, beating Aidan to the water by virtue of having fewer clothes to remove. "Well, it looks like somebody''s eager!" Aidan laughed as he finally joined the others. He washed the sweat from Brighid''s skin and fur, then let her return the favor. They played around in the water for a while before climbing back up onto the shore, cuddling as they dried off in the late afternoon sun.


    Riama continued swimming for a while longer until she spotted something and dove underwater. After several seconds, she bobbed back to the surface with an eight-inch fish grasped in her jaws, which she carried to shore and set to devouring. Eventually, though, even the jaguar grew tired of the water and came over to curl up between Brighid and Aidan. The three of them rested that way, dozing in a happy pile, for the better part of an hour. As the sun reached the top of the western peaks, however, a horn sounded from the direction of the village. Brighid was instantly awake, stiffening and starting to rise.


    "Something has happened, hurry, we need to get back to the village!"


    It only took a few minutes to scramble back into their clothes and make their way to the village gates. Brighid started to ask one of the guards for information, but the guards didn''t know any more than they did, except that Fionn was at the Council Hall. Aidan exchanged a worried look with Brighid, placed Riama on her back, then started to run towards the Hall. Fionn was outside, barking orders to messengers who then went sprinting off through the streets. As soon as he spotted them, he waved them over. "Good, you came quickly; you must have been nearby. The Tannath Taig has begun to assault the wards in full force, and the mages do not think they can hold it off for long enough to implement our original plan. We march on Ceallach Macht at first moonrise. Go and get your weapons and armor. Eat, if you have not already. The warriors who are already present are assembling outside the north gate." He eyed Aidan critically, then asked Brighid, "I assume you are carrying him on your back? By the mists, girl, you are determined to buck tradition. I will not stop you, but it will be on you to deal with the aftermath. Well, go on, there is no time to waste." He turned to issue orders to another messenger.


    Brighid''s house was not far from the Hall, so it only took a couple of minutes to run home. Before Aidan could step inside, though, Brighid stopped him. "This is not quite how I pictured this would go, but..." and a startling series of notifications blossomed in his mind.


    "Oh, thank Birgitte!" Exclaimed Brighid. "I was worried that it would not be enough to get you to level 10. Exalted Mage, huh?" She let him inside, then followed and closed the door behind her.


    "Yes, something about high affinity with magic. More importantly, what the hell kind of quest was that to give me seventy-five thousand experience?"


    "Remember when Mother asked if you wanted to return to Ceallach Macht, you agreed, and I protested? I got this quest after you told me you needed to go. The goal was to encourage you to gain as many levels in as many different Skills as possible. Even I did not expect your growth to be so explosive, though. One hundred and three Skill levels, twenty-four different Skills, and twelve new Skills learned. Limitless, indeed." She shook her head.


    Aidan nodded a little numbly, taken back by being confronted with the sheer scope of what he had accomplished in less than a week. "Do you mind making us some food while I assign my points and take a look through my Talents? I''m sure it''ll take me a while to distribute a hundred Talent points¡ª"


    "A hundred!" Brighid interrupted. "With a Class and one Profession, you should only have ninety. A hundred is more Talent points than I have."


    "Another benefit of being Chosen, I guess. Like I was saying, I''ll look my Talents over and distribute the points while we eat."


    Aidan thought he heard Brighid mutter, "Cheater!" to herself, but he was too busy in menus to pay much attention. With a boss fight looming, he spent three points in Toughness, two each in Endurance, Charisma, Willpower, and Intuition, and one in Luck. He briefly considered where to put his Skill bonus, but when he brought up his Status screen to check his Skill levels, he received another shock.


    371 Concentration? Not five minutes ago, he only had 217, and the Attribute points from leveling were nowhere close to bridging that gap. "Brighid? Why is my Concentration so much higher now?"


    "You have a Class now, love. One of the things Classes do is give a multiplier for Health, Stamina, and Concentration. As a Mage variant, your Health and Stamina probably got a negative multiplier, but your Concentration will be significantly higher than what your Attributes would otherwise give you." He did some quick mental math and figured that he received around a 10% penalty to his physical pools but a roughly 50% bonus to his Concentration. "You should check your spells as well. Classes that incorporate spellcasting usually grant new magic at keystone levels¡ªten, twenty, and so on."


    Sure enough, he had two new Spells in his Spellbook.


    Both looked quite powerful, and they were level 1 multi-school spells. Aidan couldn''t wait to see what higher-level ones were like. With that in mind, he turned to his Talent screen to see the new additions. In addition to the small constellation surrounding the Courtesan node, he now had a new Exalted Mage root node linked to its own cloud of Talents.


    There were fewer options here than in the Courtesan tree, but they seemed more focused and more generally useful. He wouldn''t be able to use Blending of Schools until he figured out how to create new spells, but the other three seemed like great investments.


    The first things that drew his attention were the school-specific Talents. Since there was one for each of the magic types he knew, it seemed likely that there was, in fact, one for each school. That was good to know so that he could keep Talent points in reserve for them. He went ahead and purchased the Fire and Life Talents.


    That seemed tailor-made for what he was about to do. A single cast of Spark of Life would instantly kill something equivalent to a Boar Manikin, given how much Aidan''s Attributes and Skills had grown since he last fought one and would continue to damage stronger enemies. And, assuming that the Manikins were also weak to life damage, it would deal over 100 damage per second, over 700 damage total, just from base damage and vulnerabilities. It was far and away more potent than either Flame Jet or Burning Barrage against a single powerful enemy. He spent the 5 points with no hesitation. No new Talent nodes opened up, so he directed his attention to his other options.


    Aidan didn''t want to invest in Soul Caliber or Altered Beast yet since he didn''t intend to make any use of Ensoul Object or Minor Shift in Ceallach Macht. That left Strength in Diversity and As Above, So Below as the other new options. They were both strong options for long term benefits, but the latter was quite expensive. In the interest of exploring the cheapest options first, he spent 2 points for Strength in Diversity. Interestingly, the second rank of the Talent remained locked off, but a brand new, very expensive Talent opened up.


    Whoa! 40 Talent points were no joke, but being able to maintain potentially dozens of expensive buffs without using Concentration was enormous. Aidan briefly debated spending the points, then decided in favor. This was something he was going to want eventually anyway, and he could afford it. Spending so much on a single Talent hurt, but he mentally pushed the button. No further Talents opened up, but that was okay. Aidan took a moment to cast Kindle the Hearth-Flame on himself, then activated Crown of the Exalted. Brighid turned to look at him when she heard the spell chant; her eyes widened when the glowing, silver-gold aura manifested above Aidan''s head, capped by a single bright red point.


    "What in the Realms?" She wondered. Aidan explained the Talent and Trait to her. "That is truly a Talent worthy of legends. It may have been premature to take it now, but I cannot fault your reasoning. You are not going to be able to hide anywhere with that active, though, and keep in mind that there are no Kings in the Mistvale Highlands. Taking even the superficial appearance of one will earn you more enemies." She finished putting the food together and carried three plates over to the table, placing salads in front of herself and Aidan and some small scraps of meat in front of Riama.


    Aidan eyed the salad dubiously and reached out towards his familiar''s plate, but she hissed at him and sent a pulse of <territoriality>. He decided salad was good enough, causing Brighid to laugh at him. "You do not want to eat a heavy meal before a battle anyway, trust me. Just eat your salad like a good boy." Despite his misgivings, the salad was tasty, and he tucked in.


    While he ate, he finished spending his Talent points. He went ahead and took the second level of Jack of All Schools, Weave the Strands, Familiarity, Firepower, and Lifeforce, then the first level of As Above, So Below.


    He had enough Talent points left to take those two new Talents, but something told him it would be a bad idea to over-invest in his Class Talents compared to his Profession ones. Besides, Riama was only level 1; those Talents would be of limited benefit to her for now anyway. He resolved to take them once he had a chance to get her level up, then focused on his dinner.


    Zurai

 Chosen, Chapter 51: Amassing Forces

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Thirdday, 1st week of the 8th month, Godless Age 597


    Early Night


    Starchaser Village, Mistvale Highlands


    It only took a few minutes to wolf down their food, and a few minutes longer to help each other into their armor. Aidan intended to leave Riama behind¡ªneither a battlefield nor a boss fight was any place for a level 1 cat¡ªbut she darted out the door between his feet and jumped up onto Brighid''s back. The flat look she gave him when he tried to pick her up told him just what she thought of being left behind. He didn''t have time to lose an argument with her. Instead, he jogged along behind Brighid as she headed out the north gate of the village.


    Even though the moons had not yet risen, centaurs crowded the marshaling field. The majority of them, about 200 by Aidan''s quick and dirty estimation, all bearing heavy armor and melee weapons, stood in a loose rank-and-file formation. Another 50 or 60 with lighter armors and enormous bows gathered in a tighter cluster, and an even smaller group of what Aidan assumed were mages, given lack of visible weapons, were speaking to each other at the back of the melee formation.


    Brighid led him to a position near the front of the melee ranks, then knelt for him to mount her. He did so, feeling the weight of hundreds of eyes boring into his back and trying to ignore them. As Brighid rose back to a standing position, a series of notifications filled Aidan''s mind.


    Crushing Charge IV: When making a charge attack, damage dealt is increased by 20% to 1,000%, depending on the momentum of the charge. This is in addition to the standard bonus damage from performing a charge.


    Aidan could hear the centaurs nearest him and Brighid muttering about him, but before the talk could turn into action, a sound rang out across the valley.


    THOOMthoom


    One centaur, lightly armored and bearing only a spear strapped to his flank, beat a pair of deep, booming notes on a drum strapped to his torso. The ranks of the Starchaser warriors stilled their movements and stiffened to attention as Fionn raised his voice to address them.


    "Warriors! Today is a dark day. The sun does not shine, the wind does not blow. Today, an evil stirs which we, your Council, have allowed to fester and rot away at the heart of our ancestral home, in the mists of Ceallach Macht." Soldiers shifted uneasily, but Fionn continued to speak. "The foulness has grown from when it first came. It controls the mists of the city and assaults the minds of those who grow near, and in the very heart, under the sacred hill, it has planted its roots deep." The muttering returned, no longer directed at Aidan and Brighid. Fionn paced back and forth across the front line, encased, head to hoof, in heavy, articulated battle plate. One gauntleted fist held a long-handled battle-ax. Only his head, scarred and gray and war-weary, was exposed to the chill night air.


    Fionn spoke again, his voice booming out and cutting through the mutters and whispers like a sharp sword through silk. "But though the evil has grown, so have we! Today is dark¡ªbut I say to you, we are Starchasers! It was not the sun which led our ancestors to these hills, it was the pattern of stars in the night sky! We are no strangers to the dark and still of night! We do not fear that which only dares to creep from its lair when the sun rests! I say to you, brave warriors, that the night is ours!"


    A cheer rose from the assembled ranks, but Fionn did not stop there. "The coming battle will not be easy. Many of you will die. Perhaps I will join you! But though we may die this day, we will do so with our heads held high and our hearts unburdened. This is no petty border dispute, no raid against a neighboring tribe. This is a fight against true evil! I ask you, will you let this stand?"


    "No! Never!" The very air roared with shouts of denial.


    "The enemy is powerful and skilled in its dark powers. But I ask you, are you frightened?"


    "No! Never!"


    "Of course not! It is not us who should be!" He turned around and pawed the ground with one gleaming, metal-plated leg. "It is the Tannath Taig who will finally, on this dark day, meet its long-delayed fate. We shall trample its manikins, reduce its dakhols to ashes, and rip every last tainted vine from our city! I ask you, warriors, who are we?" His voice rose to a thundering crescendo, and the answer was deafening.


    "STARCHASERS!"


    "We are Starchasers, and we go today to war!" He began to walk, then trot, and finally, canter and the army moves with him until hundreds of hooves pounded through the mist. Aidan clung tightly to Brighid, clutching around Riama and her mailed waist and digging his knees into her armored flanks to keep steady as she ran with the rest of the army. The drum beat again, and deep voices rose all around.


    thoom THOOM thumTHUM thoom THOOM thumTHUM


    "'' Cross misty vale, through dark of night,"


    thoom THOOM thumTHUM thoom THOOM thumTHUM


    A second set of voices called out in counterpoint to the first, high and clear.


    "To war we go, to fight once more!"


    "With gleaming arms, and armor bright,"


    thoom THOOM thumTHUM thoom THOOM thumTHUM


    Even the rhythm of the warbands'' hooves seemed to shift to match the drum beat as they raced through the star-lit night.


    "Our foes while fierce, will fear our wrath,"


    "With banners high, our spirits soar!"


    thoom THOOM thumTHUM thoom THOOM thumTHUM


    "Though some may fall, we shall not fail!"


    "Let none resist, nor bar our path,"


    thoom THOOM thumTHUM thoom THOOM thumTHUM


    "And long before, the sun does rise,"


    "Nor last the night, to tell the tale!"


    thoom THOOM thumTHUM thoom THOOM thumTHUM


    "The hills will ring, with vict''ry cheers!"


    "We ride to war, beneath the skies,"


    The deep voices faded to a basso rumble, leaving the tenors and sopranos to sing the final verse alone.


    thoom THOOM thumTHUM thoom THOOM thumTHUM


    "So sing of us, for many years!"


    A cheer rose from the host, and Aidan found himself cheering with them. The drum sounded again, and the warriors launched into another song. The miles vanished into the sounds of drums, hoofbeats, and marching songs, and before he knew it, the foggy streets of Ceallach Macht were spread out in the valley below him. The warding dome was nowhere to be seen; instead, shapes were moving down in the valley. Shadows churned the mist from hillside to hillside.


    Fionn waved a pair of younger centaurs in lighter armor over to him, speaking too quietly to hear. The two then trotted down the battle line, passing on orders while Fionn approached Brighid. "The main body of our force is going to attack shortly; we cannot afford to allow more of this horde into the countryside. I do not know how many enemies are down there, but we are sorely outnumbered. I do not believe we will be able to provide support for your mission, outside of hopefully drawing the Taig''s attention. To be honest with you, I do not favor our chances of winning unless your mission succeeds." He gave Aidan a measured look, then continued, "I know you picked up levels in Command since we last spoke, as I was able to make you an Officer. What is your actual level in the Skill?"


    "I haven''t had much chance to practice it, so I''m only level 5 at the moment." Fionn''s eyebrows rose at the declaration, but he nodded.


    "Then I will send five of our best with you. Brighid, obviously, will go as well; I do not expect that she would follow any orders to separate you, and she is well-suited for this anyway. From what I saw while training you, you are competent enough at Fire Magic to be the core of your own ranged offense, so I will send Ceirios with you as defensive support, Cai and Llwyd to help Brighid on the front line, and Ysbail as your heavy hitter. Hmmm, that leaves one more. I would prefer another ranged attacker..." He pondered for a moment before a voice spoke up from behind Aidan.


    "I will be the last member of the strike team," Anwn declared. Aidan was so startled and unnerved that he nearly fell off of Brighid''s back. "I am as skilled an archer as any here, and the wolves are better suited to small-scale fights." Anwn met Aidan''s eyes. "Besides, a member of the Council should be along as oversight, and neither you nor Ailis can be spared."


    "I am not sure that I agree," Fionn rumbled, "but we do not have time to argue. Very well."


    Aidan''s head spun with how quickly everything was moving. Fionn clapped him on the shoulder and said, "Then Anwn will be your fifth. I have heard some of what is going on from Ailis. If the Three Flames indeed light your path, then may Birgitte sharpen your blade, Brigantia grant you her cleansing flame, and Braihan lead us all to a joyful reunion on the morrow." He turned away, barking out more orders.


    The members of the strike team joined Aidan, Brighid, and Anwn as the rest of the army drew up into a gleaming battle-line. Aidan took a moment to inspect each of them.


    Ceirios was a rotund woman, not quite obese, but still the most heavy-set and under-muscled centaur Aidan had met. She had a sunny disposition and carried a staff that looked to be made of a single quartz crystal.


    Aidan recognized Cai when he saw her; she was the student Fionn had handed his class over to the first time Aidan went to the training yard. She was wearing full plate armor even heavier than Brighid''s, with no chain mail filler. She carried a tower shield on one arm and an ax in her other hand. Arriving with Cai was Llwyd, who was just as heavily armored. He bore a smaller kite shield, a reinforced lance, and a mace on his hip.


    Ysbail was a hulking woman, both taller and bulkier than any centaur Aidan had seen aside from Fionn himself. She wore chainmail from head to hoof and rested an immense sword on her shoulder. Aidan couldn''t imagine how Ysbail swung the thing without wrenching her shoulders out of their sockets, but Fionn had called her his heavy hitter. She certainly looked the part.


    He already knew Anwn, but had never seen her kitted out for war. She wore a mixture of leather and chainmail and had a bow that he doubted even an Olympic archer could have strung and pulled back. It was a composite bow nearly as large as a Welsh longbow; it made Aidan''s shoulders ache just thinking about the Might required to use it. Fanned out in a loose V beside and behind her were a half dozen huge, shaggy wolves.


    Once they were all gathered together, Aidan gave them a brief rundown of the mission and their likely opposition. Ysbail spat at the ground when he mentioned the dakhols, but did not show any particular fear. While the ranks of the army formed up in front of them, Aidan asked each of his team for a general overview of their Skills and Abilities.


    "Llwyd and I are at our best serving as the front line," Cai started. "The two of us are experienced with working as a pair. Usually, he charges in first, skewering the biggest enemy, before switching to his mace, and I will follow on his heels to protect his flanks. Since Brighid''s glaive gives her such a long reach, and she does not use a shield," Cai nodded respectfully at the Paladin, "I would suggest that she fight from just behind us, either to attack past us or to intercept enemies that try to bypass us."


    Llwyd added, "As far as Skills and Abilities go, we are both proficient enough in our armor that most normal enemies can hardly hurt us, and we have an Ability that lets us fight together as a paired unit. I have another Ability that draws enemy attention to me, and she has one that allows her to counterattack against enemies that attack her partner. Like she said, we work well together." He gave Cai a smile, which she returned.


    Ysbail spoke up next. "Do not worry too much about me. I can take a hit almost as well as those two," she waved her hand in the general direction of Cai and Llwyd, "and I have killed a dakhol on my own. Not that I am eager to repeat the experience, mind you. I am at my best fighting against elite enemies or destroying groups of little ones. Fionn must be serious about this mission for him to send me with you instead of helping against that horde down there. I also know a few Metal Magic spells, but nothing that will help the rest of you."


    Ceirios chimed in with a cheerful voice, "Well, I am not sure that I will be as useful as the rest of this lot, but I know a couple of healing spells and can give extra defense to the whole group. I can also summon a lesser rock golem and cause areas of earth or stone to turn into mud or sharp spikes. Not all at once, mind; I do not have enough Concentration to do everything. And I am useless in direct combat, I fear; if an enemy reaches me, I will be relying on the rest of you to protect me." She smiled, revealing dimples in her cheeks.


    Aidan turned his eyes to Anwn. After a moment that stretched on a bit too long, she finally said, "I shoot things. They do not usually get up after. The wolves will harry and distract."


    That seemed to be as much as she was willing to say, so Aidan moved on to discuss his own capabilities. "For my part, I will be functioning as ranged support. I have strong Fire Magic attacks, especially against the undead, and they are all usable from at least thirty feet away. I can also heal Minor Wounds and restore Health in an area around me at the cost of my Stamina. I''m not completely helpless in melee, but I''m nowhere close to the four of you," he indicated Brighid, Cai, Llwyd, and Ysbail, "so I will be sticking back with Anwn and Ceirios.


    "The reason I''m leading this group is primarily that I know where we''re going and what we''re going to be facing. For those who do not know, around a week ago, I infiltrated Ceallach Macht on a quest from the Council and discovered the site we''re headed to. How I got out is a longer story than we have time for at the moment, but suffice to say that I have a personal stake in this beyond merely cleansing the city. Once the battle begins, Fionn is going to open a route for us into the city. We will, I hope, have a clear shot down the main avenue up until the entrance of the underground section of the city. I am not going to plan for our enemy to be incompetent, so I expect us to have to face the two dakhols and possibly more at that point. Once we get past them, it''s another straight shot to the central chamber where the Tannath Taig and its corruption wait for us. It can control all of the vines there, all at once, with immense strength. Everything I encountered except the dakhols is very vulnerable to fire, but aside from myself and Brighid, I don''t know that we can exploit that."


    Brighid spoke up, "Actually, there is. I have a spell that causes everyone''s weapons to deal small amounts of fire damage. It is not much, but it will help."


    "Excellent!" Aidan agreed, then continued, "Once the Taig''s minions are fully engaged by the main force, we will run around the fight and make full speed for the city. Once we get there, we will slow back down to a walk. Time is vital, but the Taig can sense creatures inside its domain, and we will do any good if we charge straight into an ambush. It should take less than half an hour to get to the hill from the outskirts, and only a few minutes from there to the altar chamber, not counting time spent fighting." He looked around at his squad, meeting each of their gazes. "I know that I am not just a stranger but an outsider. Does anyone have any objection to this plan in specific or to following my orders in general?"


    No one said anything for several seconds, then Ysbail replied, "Fionn trusts you enough to put you in charge of this group, Anwn there is not speaking out against you, and Brighid is letting you fucking ride her like a horse." Aidan could feel a slight tremor from Brighid at those words. "I respect all of them; for different reasons, but respect all the same. As long as you do not start acting like a total pile of shit, I am fine with everything you said so far. Your points make sense." She eyed the glimmering crown of light atop his head and cautioned, "Do not go thinking we are your subjects or anything and do not try to tell us how to fight, and we will do fine."


    Just then, Fionn called out, "Ailis, if you and your mages would kindly eliminate these mists and give us some light to fight by?"


    Ailis lifted her new staff into the air, then she and another ten mages arrayed in a circle around her began to chant in unison. Golden, silver, and crimson streamers of light gathered around them in thicker and thicker flows. The chant reached a crescendo with Ailis practically shouting the words, then she slammed the butt end of the staff into the ground, and a new sun was born overhead. At first, it was tiny and barely shed any more light than the moons, but it swiftly grew in size. Within moments, it looked and felt like noon on a summer''s day, and the heat began to burn away the mists in the valley below. There were thousands of vine-covered beasts, centaurs, and other humanoids gathered there, and as the light dispelled the fog shielding them from view, they all began to shamble towards the Starchaser army. Fionn called out, voice calm and collected, "Archers! Advance in skirmish formation and fire at will. Warriors! Prepare to charge!"


    Zurai

 Chosen, Chapter 52: Thunder Before Lightning

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Fourthday, 1st week of the 8th month, Godless Age 597


    Pre-dawn


    Outside Ceallach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    The archers galloped forward until they were within range of the approaching swarm of manikins, then turned. As one, they drew back their bows, sighted, and loosed. While the first flight of arrows was still in the air, they let fly another volley, then a third right after the first landed. The majority of the shafts slammed home into their targets, but the undead nature of their enemies meant very few perished. Many of the manikins staggered and fell from the kinetic force of the arrows, however, and vanished under the disorganized ranks behind them.


    The archers wheeled and started to zig-zag back up the slope of the hill, firing arrows downslope. A horn sounded, and they split, opening a gap for the thunderous charge of their more heavily-armored comrades. The sounds of hundreds of hooves beating the ground shook the ground as the warriors built up speed. The wedge-shaped formation, led by the imposing figure of Fionn Ironhide, crashed into and through the leading edge of the enemy horde. With mass and momentum against them, the front ranks of manikins disintegrated. The archers regrouped behind the melee fighters and began to circle the undead, firing arrows into the fray.


    While their charge was devastating, the Starchasers were outnumbered at least ten-to-one. They formed into a tight circle as the swarm enveloped them, leaving room in the center for the wounded to retreat to. Unfortunately, so great were the numbers arrayed against them that hundreds remained unengaged. Some chased the archers, but the majority continued to stream uphill towards the mages and Aidan''s team.


    The mages weren''t defenseless, though. They were already chanting, the air around them glowing a coruscating rainbow of colors. One by one, their spells went off to destructive effect. A chunk of the hillside tore free then shattered into stony shrapnel. A massive fireball exploded in the center of the approaching manikins, followed immediately by a crystalline detonation of ice that flash-froze a dozen or more enemies. Bolts of lightning struck in rapid succession, arcing from one smoking corpse to the next. It was Ailis and her ritual circle who stole the show, however. Even as the other mages finished their first volley and started on their next, the Councillor''s group continued chanting. As the seconds piled into each other and the undead swarm grew ever closer, the golden aura around them grew denser and denser until it seemed tangible. Then, with a soundless explosion, the spell detonated in a brilliant tidal wave. It washed over the oncoming enemies and plunged into the battle below, leaving behind nothing but shimmering dust on the breeze.


    Aidan gaped at the results of Ailis''s spell; at least a thousand Manikins had just been ... deleted. There was no better word for it. Unfortunately, it was clear that she would not be able to repeat the performance. Even before the magic ran its course, Ailis collapsed to the ground. She was still alive¡ªAidan could see her chest heaving as she struggled to catch her breath¡ªbut clearly, she needed time to recover before launching another attack of that magnitude.


    Aidan shook himself free of his stupor and looked towards the city. Light mist still clung to the streets, but he couldn''t see any movement. Redirecting his attention to his squad, he said, "Alright, the battle is joined, and if we want our people to survive the day, we need to get moving. We''re aiming for the broad avenue to the east; we''ll swing around the battle and run hard for the city."


    Seeing no disagreement, Aidan wrapped his arms around Brighid''s waist. They set out at a canter, then broke into a gallop once they were clear of the fighting. A few minutes of hard riding later, the centaurs'' hoofbeats'' sound changed from the soft impact of hoof on soil to the sharp cadence of solid stone. He was back in the Lost City of Ceallach Macht.


    He signaled a halt, then slid down off Brighid''s back. "Alright. Cai, Llwyd, I want you two up front. Brighid, you take the left flank, and Ysbail, you take the right. Ceirios, Anwn, you''re in the center; I''ll be rear-guard. Anwn, I''ll leave it to you where to use the wolves. I''m not expecting anything to come at us from behind, but there is plenty of cover to launch an ambush from. On that note, the Manikins do not see very well, but they can track by sound and scent, so try to be quiet. Brighid, Ceirios, Ysbail, cast whatever long-term spells you have now."


    Aidan fought through his weariness and cast Burning Barrage, Minor Shift to enhance his hearing, and Summon Obsidian Salamander. He had to dismiss Kindle the Hearth-Fire he''d cast on Brighid to manage it; he just didn''t have the focus to keep them all up.


    When the spell completed, a rift opened in the air, very like the one Riama had appeared through. This one, however, showed a volcanic hellscape. He could see glowing pools of molten rock bubbling in some underground cavern. A moment later, a glossy black lizard the size of a border collie wiggled through the portal. The mists around it immediately began to burn away, causing steam to rise from its skin. It tasted the air with its tongue and looked up at Aidan. "Stay beside me and attack anything which attacks us. Do not cause damage to me, any of the centaurs you see here, the cat, or the wolves." It made no response except to slither into position to Aidan''s left.


    With his Concentration down a mere 70, Aidan decided to try something. The description of Crown of the Exalted wasn''t clear about how it interacted with multi-school magic; he wasn''t sure whether Summon Obsidian Salamander would take both the Beast and Fire Magic slots on the Crown. However, the rest of his Class seemed to be encouraging him to use multi-school spells, and he had enough Concentration to cover if things didn''t go as he hoped. With that thought, Aidan pushed the magic into the Crown. Instantly, the throbbing in his temples eased, and his Concentration climbed back up to 145.


    Meanwhile, Brighid cast a spell that caused the party''s weapons to glow dull red for a short time, followed by another that had no visible effect. Ceirios, meanwhile, summoned her golem, then toughened the squad''s skin and armor. The golem didn''t appear through a portal, like Aidan''s salamander. Instead, it assembled itself from the surroundings, piling stone on top of stone until it towered over even Ysbail. The larger woman cast a few spells of her own, although Aidan couldn''t see any visible results of the magic.


    Preparations completed, the party fell into formation and made their way into the city proper. The mists swirled and coiled around them despite the still air. The magical sun above kept them from growing as dense as they were on Aidan''s first visit. The difference was only a matter of degree, however, and soon the visibility dropped to a few yards. It was only due to his heightened hearing that Aidan was able to hear the rasp of paper on stone over the sounds of his companions. He shouted a warning a heartbeat before five Manikins¡ªa bear, two boars, a wolf, and some sort of porcupine-boar¡ªcharged out of an alley to the party''s left.


    Brighid wheeled to face the threat, lopping the head off the vine-covered wolf as it leaped at her. It fell to the ground but was back on its feet again a heartbeat later. Before it could resume its attack, one of Anwn''s arrows blasted a four-inch-thick hole clean through it. The bear slammed into Brighid, staggering her briefly before Llwyd arrived and skewered it on his lance. The salamander arched its neck back, then snapped it forward, lobbing a burning ball of goop at one of the boars. The lava splashed all over the Manikin''s back and sides, causing vines to smolder and burn. Cai intercepted the other boar, blocking a swing of its tusks with her shield and retaliating with her ax. Aidan directed two Flame Jets at the spined Manikin, immolating it, then steering his fire towards the remaining enemies. He spun to check on the right side of the street, only to see Ysbail finish off the last foe facing her with a casual-looking swipe of her oversized sword. Scattered around her were three more undead beasts: two carved into pieces, one with a pulped head.


    "Is anyone wounded?" Aidan asked. They shook their heads; the fight was short, over in seconds, and aside from Brighid, none of them had even taken a hit. Aidan fired off a few seconds of Pulse of Life anyway, just to be sure, then they pressed onward, deeper into the mists. They proceeded down the center of the cobblestone avenue, tense and ready for another ambush. The fog prevented them from seeing more than the vague shapes of ruined buildings as they passed. Aidan strained his ears for every sound, but the city was as silent as a tomb, aside from the sounds of metal armor and hooves striking stone. The warriors kept their cool despite the tension, but Ceirios fidgeted and stuck very close to her hulking golem.


    Fionn


    Pre-Dawn


    Outside Ceallach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Fionn spun his war ax in a vicious circle, cutting a swathe through the nearby manikins. He hoped that he hadn''t sent the young human on a suicide mission a second time, but the sheer number of enemies the Starchasers were currently fighting made it a slim hope at best. Even in his worst nightmares, he did not expect this many enemies; where had they all come from? Powerful wards sealed the city for more than a decade, how had the Taig managed to amass an army this size? And how was it controlling them all?


    His musings were cut short by a series of loud, almost explosive WHUMPs among the legions of manikins pressing towards the centaur Warband. Undead went flying from points all around the encircled centaurs, and at first, he assumed it was the work of the magi above. Then he saw one of them: a three and a half meter tall statue with ridged wings, like a bat, rose from the center of one of the impacts. It swung its fist in a casual backhanded slap, and a manikin crumpled to the ground, its head caved in. A gargoyle! Here? Why? The Sapphire Sky Horde never left their territory or involved themselves with their neighbors, and their lands were on the other side of the Starchaser territory! Something deeper was going on here, and Fionn loathed leading a military campaign without knowing all the details.


    Fortunately, it looked like some answers might be headed his way, as the gargoyle had spotted him and was marching through the teeming mass of zombie plant flesh like it were water. Hip-deep water, maybe, but still, the manikins parted before the creature as it punched or threw them aside. They scrabbled and scratched and clawed and bit at the living statue, but to no apparent effect. Fionn readied his ax, just in case, but if the gargoyles had wanted to attack them, at least one would have landed among the centaurs, and besides, his weapon was plain steel. It would hardly be much more effective against a creature made of enchanted stone than the claws and teeth of the manikins.


    When it drew close enough to talk over the din of battle, the gargoyle called out to Fionn, "Know that I am called Alektryon, of the Sapphire Sky. Are you the Starchaser known as Fionn Ironhide?"


    "I am!" He called back, dispatching another manikin.


    "And is there a young, male human among your Warband? His name is not known to us, but we felt his presence."


    Maybe not answers, after all, then, but rather more questions. Fionn hesitated a moment before answering, "I know of whom you speak, but he is not present at this battle."


    By now, the gargoyle was close enough for Fionn to make out the odd, resonant quality of its voice as it replied, "But he is nearby. The city then. Good, Sarpedon is already headed there. Be not concerned, Fionn Ironhide, we mean no harm to any of the Starchaser tribe or the human. For now, it appears that you are fighting a close battle. Please allow us to assist you in removing this filth from the Realms." So saying, the creature flapped its wings, knocking back several manikins which were attacking it from behind, and leaped into the air. From there, it began to swoop down and through the swarm of undead before rising into the sky once more.


    Aidan


    Pre-Dawn


    Ceallach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Aidan kept expecting another ambush, but they continued down the avenue for another hundred yards, then another, and another. The yards stretched on, yet still, no attacks came. Rather than settling his nerves, the quiet stillness ratcheted up the tension inside him. The Taig had to be able to sense them, and Aidan didn''t believe for a second that it had expended all its forces. The lack of response meant that the hammer would fall harder later on.


    Still, though, the ambush didn''t come. The squad traveled one mile, then another. Soon, the hill, and at its base, the arched entryway, loomed up out of the mists. As Aidan expected, the two dakhols loomed at either side of the arch, but they were not alone. Lined up between them were dozens of other, smaller shapes. One of them, roughly human-sized, glided forward. The mists swirled and parted around it, revealing it to the party. Brighid let out a strangled sound filled with rage and sorrow when she saw its face.


    It took Aidan a moment to process what he saw, but then his stomach churned and his mind shuddered. Standing before him was his own corpse, its arms and legs sewn back onto the torso with dozens of brown vines. Revulsion filled him as he realized that it wasn''t walking, but rather slithering forward on a thick, trunk-like vine emerging from its rear.


    "So, my little rat returns; what fun!" The mocking, insane voice of the Taig coming from the other Aidan nearly made him throw up. The creeper emerging from its throat to serve as a tongue made matters even worse. "So happy am I! Well done! Six more lovely sacrifices; yes, yes, that suffices."


    Aidan didn''t, couldn''t, wait to hear anything else. He raised his hands, palms out, and shouted words of magic. Silvery-white flames poured from him and he could feel his soul fraying around the edges as he directed a Soulfire Blast towards the twisted creature. He held the spell for a full second before letting it dissipate, sure that his most potent offensive spell would be enough to turn the Aidan Manikin to cinders. Yet, once the blinding flames vanished, he could see that his target remained. Smoking and singed, to be sure, but still intact and cackling. Panicked, he checked his combat log.


    Somehow the thing was almost immune to fire instead of being vulnerable to it! The Soulfire Blast did less than 200 damage total, and would have only dealt about 30 if not for the built-in debuff. Even a basic Manikin would have survived that much punishment, and, sure enough, the monstrosity started taunting him again. "Oh, what a joyful day! My little rat wants¡ª"


    The Aidan Manikin cut off with a shriek as golden light began to pour out from inside it.


    Now that''s more like it! Aidan thought to himself with savage glee. The Taig had thought to protect its toy against Fire Magic, but not against Life. The Manikin writhed into the air and golden flames emerged from its form as the Spark of Life consumed it from within. As its back arched, casting flickering shadows beneath and around it, Aidan felt a flash of <rage>. Riama appeared in the Manikin''s twisting, dancing shadow, then leaped up and fastened her jaws around the base of its neck.


    Emboldened by the success of his attack, Aidan started barking out orders, trying to capitalize on the situation. "Cai, Llwyd, I need you to keep those dakhols distracted until the rest of us can clean up the undead. Ceirios, have your golem help them. Brighid, Ysbail, Anwn, you clear out the little guys then concentrate on one dakhol at a time. I''ll provide fire support as I can." Suiting action to words, Aidan unleashed his Burning Barrage into the massed Manikins, tiny embers streaking out from over his head like a miniature Macross Missile Massacre. They exploded in a wave of raging fire, wounding and staggering the vine-covered undead.


    The party leaped into action. Llwyd couched his lance, angled his shield to protect his torso, and burst into a gallop aimed at the left dakhol. Meanwhile, Cai charged the one on the right, presenting her tower shield to its studded metal club. Neither of them was optimally suited to fight alone, but they drew their quarries away from the mass of manikins as Brighid and Ysbail layed into them. Anwn launched arrow after arrow at every target that presented itself and directed the wolves to help the others with short, sharp whistles. Ceirios''s golem was nowhere near as fast as a centaur, but it lumbered up to the leftmost dakhol in time to grab the monster''s club in mid-swing. Llwyd preyed on the creature''s temporary confusion to smash its kneecap with his mace.


    After launching his Burning Barrage, Aidan turned his attention back to the creature made from his corpse. Somehow, it still clung to unlife despite the golden flames of Spark of Life engulfing it. He raised his hands and cast Flame Jet with both. The damage wasn''t as high as he would like, but Soulburn meant that he was at least dealing 60% damage instead of 10%. After a few seconds of roasting, the Manikin dissolved into shimmering ashes that vanished on a non-existent breeze. Riama dropped to the cobblestones and darted toward the nearest shadow.


    Zurai

 Chosen, Chapter 53: Shattered Shields

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Fourthday, 1st week of the 8th month, Godless Age 597


    Pre-dawn


    Ceallach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    The crunch of a metal-on-metal impact and a scream of pain drew Aidan''s attention. He whipped his head to the left and saw Llwyd with his arm dangling at his side, his shield crumpled like the front end of a car that ran into a tree. His arm bent at an odd angle, and his shoulder looked even worse. The dakhol roared in victory, raising its club for another strike, but Ceirios''s golem slammed into it. Even the hulking monster couldn''t resist the force behind the stone golem''s attack, and it skidded and fell to the ground a few feet away. Aidan started to shout for the mage to heal Llwyd but saw that she was already on the way. Instead, he called out, "Ysbail! Cover Llwyd and Ceirios! Brighid, Anwn, finish those Manikins now!"


    Burning Barrage and Soulfire Blast were still cooling down, and Spark of Life was useless against living enemies, so Aidan charged forward, casting Flame Jet with both hands. Even as twin streams of fire began to arc towards the Manikins, he glanced to his right. Cai dodged and deflected her dakhol''s attacks as best she could, but the monster''s energy seemed limitless. It slammed its club down with long arms over and over, and with each strike, Stamina and Health dropped slightly more. Even worse, Cai''s ax was red with blood, but Aidan couldn''t see any wounds on the dakhol''s body. Her shield and armor were doing their jobs, keeping her alive, but it was clear that while Ysbail may have managed to kill one of these things on her own, Cai would not be achieving the same feat.


    "Hold on just a little while longer!" Aidan called out to her. "We have to kill the other one first, now that Llwyd is hurt!" He focused his attention on the remaining Manikins, torching them with Flame Jets. Fortunately, for whatever reason, the Taig didn''t bother to protect its lesser minions from fire. With two instances of the spell active at the same time, it didn''t take long to clean up the weakened remnants. Every second mattered, though; Aidan could see Ysbail''s Health bar growing darker and darker by the moment.


    Unfortunately, Aidan''s magic was not well-suited to fighting living, fire-resistant enemies. Grimacing, he drew his Summer Sword from its belt sheath. The thought of trying to fight it in melee combat made his stomach twist in knots, but maybe he could be a distraction for the others. "Ceirios, can you get your golem to grapple or restrain it? Brighid, Ysbail, try to slice me some deep holes in this thing so I can fry it."


    A metallic impact and a grunt of pain sounded behind him, but before he could check on Cai, she yelled, "Running out of Stamina over here! I am alright, but not for much longer!"


    "Alright, ladies, it''s do-or-die time!" Aidan cried out, lunging with his sword. The dakhol slapped his attack away with a lazy backhanded swipe of its hand, almost disarming him in the process. He kept his grip, though, and ducked under the return swing. With Aidan, the golem, various wolves, Anwn, Ysbail, and Brighid all attacking it, the dakhol was unable to defend itself from every attack. Aidan circled towards its front, jabbing and feinting to draw its attention away from the golem. The brutish monster roared in frustration and raised its club overhead, but before it could crush Aidan into paste, two stony arms wrapped around it from behind. The dakhol shifted its grip to smash its attack over its shoulder, spraying gravel through the air, but the damage was done. Even that momentary diversion was enough for Brighid and Ysbail to act decisively.


    Ysbail brought her sword around in a double-handed grip on her right side, tip pointed down at an angle parallel to her body, then let out a shout as she activated an Ability. The massive blade began to glow, the intensity increasing with every heartbeat that passed. As Ysbail charged up her attack, Brighid shifted into her overhead stance and stabbed and sliced at the dakhol''s exposed belly. Arrows slammed home in the monster''s shoulders and chest, one after the other, and wolves darted in and out, biting chunks out of coarse-furred legs. The brute broke free from the golem''s grip after a few seconds, but that was all the time Ysbail needed. With a shout, she reared up then lunged forward, bringing her sword up, around, and down in a gleaming overhead slash. With a wet thunk, her blade bit into her enemy''s flesh and carved through muscle and bone.


    "Now, Aidan!" Brighid shouted, but he was already casting. Unwilling to risk anything less than a complete kill, he rushed up to the creature, chanting the incantation to Soulfire Blast. The grievous wound was already stitching itself closed, but the golem grabbed each half of the dakhol''s body and pulled it back apart. Aidan leaned over it, sprayed by the fountain of blood shooting from its body, thrust his hands into its chest, and completed his spell. Again he felt his soul tearing apart as silver-white flames engulfed his target. The dakhol screamed and writhed, lurching against the golem''s hold, but Ysbail and Brighid grabbed on as well. Aidan held his Concentration on Soulfire Blast for a full five seconds until it fell limp and real flames began to emerge from its corpse.


    The party had no chance to relax, however. Even as one dakhol burned from the inside out, they heard a loud crunch of steel on steel and the sound of an armored body hitting the ground. Ominously, there was no scream or cry of pain from Cai, but Llwyd let out a wordless shout of anguish and fear from where Ceirios was still working to treat his arm. Aidan spun around in time to see the dakhol lift Cai''s limp body¡ªarmor, shield, and all¡ªover its shoulder and run into the tunnel. "Cai!" Llwyd screamed, scrambling to his feet. He ran over to the burning dakhol and pulled his lance free with a savage yank, then wheeled and prepared to charge into the darkness. Thankfully, Ceirios shouted a command to her golem, which heaved itself into Llwyd''s path and grabbed him with its good arm. "No! Please! She is still alive, I know she is still alive, I have to go save her, please, you have to let me go!" He struggled against the rocky restraint, but Ceirios stood firm.


    "You are still too hurt. You could not fight against one of those things with a shield, how do you think you are going to rescue Cai without one? I am sure that Aidan intends to follow it and retrieve Cai, but charging off alone will only get you killed or captured. Now, stop being an idiot and let me finish healing you!" She snapped at Llwyd. He struggled for a moment longer, then sagged against the golem''s arm and sank to his knees.


    "Ceirios is right," Aidan added. "We need to heal up before we head in there. Who knows what kind of ambush the Taig has planned? I truly, truly understand what you are feeling, Llwyd," he said, thinking back to Brighid''s injury in the Fetid Lair, "but you know we can''t just chase after it. It took Cai for a reason; it would have been faster to retreat without her, no matter how strong it is. They need her for something, and as evil as this thing is, I''ve seen no evidence it practices blood magic." He sheathed his sword and dismissed the experience prompts crowding the edge of his vision. He''d review those when time was less precious.


    Aidan had everyone gather around Ceirios and Llwyd, then cast Pulse of Life to refill all their Health pools at once. He let it pulse several times until Ysbail''s Health was restored, then dismissed it to save Stamina. Her Wounds he fixed with Patch Wounds¡ªnone of them were significant enough to need Ceirios''s attention. That was fortunate, as she had to start her healing spell over when Llwyd moved, and it had a long casting time. Eventually, though, streamers of golden light congealed around Llwyd''s arm, then sank through his armor and into his skin. He grunted, and Aidan could see the tendons in Llwyd''s neck straining to keep the scream of pain in as his bones realigned themselves and knit back together. In seconds, her spell fixed what would have taken weeks or even months on Earth, and the dark red of Llwyd''s missing Health refilled with bright crimson.


    Llwyd pulled off his useless shield and tossed it to the side. "I am healed now. Let us be going¡ªeven if you ignore Cai''s plight, we have no time to waste. Fionn and the others are still fighting and dying." Aidan nodded, then called new orders out to the others.


    "Ysbail, join Llwyd at the front. Anwn, please ask the wolves to guard our flanks; there''re only three or four side passages, so that shouldn''t be a problem for them. I don''t think there''ll be more ambushes waiting for us, anyway. The dakhols were the strongest things I saw before, save the Taig itself, and if that asshole had more chaff, it would have thrown it at us with the dakhols. We''re going to go straight up the tunnel to the vine chamber; I''m certain that''s where the dakhol is going, and it''s our goal anyway. Once we get there, be prepared for a fight even worse than this. I will try to burn the vines as best I can, but I don''t know if the Taig has managed to protect them from fire like it did the Manikin it used to talk to us."


    Aidan''s thoughts were grim as he followed Ysbail and Llwyd under the hill. Llwyd might believe¡ªmight need to believe¡ªthat Cai was still alive, but Aidan saw how her armor was staved in across her equine back. If she was still alive, she would be paralyzed for the rest of her life, barring the use of healing magic far beyond his Skill. Aidan was no doctor back on Earth, but he was pretty sure he knew a broken back when he saw one. Worse, here in the Realms, he could see her Health bar in his party interface.


    There was no sign of the bright red of remaining Health on it.


    Fionn


    Pre-Dawn


    Outside Ceallach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Fionn wasted no time. He raised his war horn to his lips through the narrow slit in his helmet and blew three short, sharp notes followed by a long one. Immediately, the warriors with him began to step backward carefully, contracting their formation into a more defensively-oriented one; he would allow the gargoyles to distract the Manikins and preserve his own manpower as best he could. If the boy did not complete his mission, the best chance for the rest of them to survive was now to let the gargoyles do the bulk of the work.


    Despite the tighter formation and the help from the Sapphire Sky gargoyles, the sheer incredible number of undead still caused casualties. They swarmed over each other in a mad rush to reach the centaurs. None of them fought with any skill, but there were ten or more manikins for each centaur, and the best discipline, highest Skill, and sturdiest armor would eventually fall to such numbers. Even the gargoyles were struggling; Fionn saw one pulled to the ground and buried under a pile of dead flesh, although it did eventually throw off its attackers and rise into the air on its massive stony wings again.


    Then he heard a shout behind him. "The vines! Warleader, the vines!" Fionn whirled in place, trusting his heavy armor and thick hide to protect him from any opportunistic attacks while he assessed the new threat. What he saw chilled him to the bone. The space in the center of the Starchasers'' circular formation was left open as a safe place for their wounded and healers, and to drag the dead to in order to prevent gaps in the lines. Unfortunately, the enemy was even more insidious than Fionn had thought; dozens of dried, brown-gray vines burst from the ground and attacking the wounded. Even as he charged to their aid, he saw one set of creepers emerge entirely from the ground like snakes. They wrapped themselves around and through the mangled corpse of a dead warrior, which rose and started to attack its former allies.


    Before he could reach the healers, a veritable thicket of vines rose out of the ground. Fionn and several other warriors who heard the shout hacked and cut their way through the multitude of plants, but when they destroyed one vine, two more broke through the ground to fight against them. As mightily as he struggled, Fionn was unable to save either healer from the vines and Manikins swarming them. The vile plants cut them down and then desecrated their corpses by raising them as new Manikins. He raised his horn to his lips to sound the retreat, but a creeper snatched it out of his hand before he could blow the first note.


    As many fights as Fionn had seen, this was the worst. He cursed himself for delaying this so long and prepared himself to meet his end at last. At least he would go down fighting, not die in bed of age or disease.


    Zurai

 Chosen, Chapter 54: Burn My Dread (Content warning)

    Zurai


    Aidan


    The Realms


    Fourthday, 1st week of the 8th month, Godless Age 597


    Pre-dawn


    Ceallach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Despite being confident that there would be no more ambushes, Aidan still augmented his vision and hearing with two casts of Minor Shift. He also used his Summer Sword to emanate daylight; the blade glowed a brilliant yellowish-white and lit up the entire tunnel. Llwyd took off at a quick walk. It was a jog for Aidan, but Aidan let him set the pace. Don''t give an order you aren''t sure will be obeyed, he thought to himself.


    Just as before, the tunnel narrowed as it extended into the hill. Four times the main path split off into even more confined passageways, but Aidan already knew where he was going. Shortly after the final side passage, however, he began to see vines extending along the ground, ceiling, and walls. Those weren''t there last time, I''m sure of it. He remembered how smooth the stone walls were before. Even Llwyd slowed down when he spotted the brown, dried plants. He didn''t stop, though, and Aidan didn''t ask him to.


    "I do not like this. Those vines have to be coming from the heart of this place, but they were not here a week ago. The Taig can control them, so now we can expect to be attacked on all sides. We can''t risk backtracking, though; we do not have the time. There''s too much at stake. Brighid, I''m tasking you with fighting off anything that attacks us from behind. Go ahead and start burning them with that heat aura, even. The Taig already knows we''re coming." She nodded and activated her aura again. The tendrils nearest her started to smolder. Aidan added his Flame Jet to the task as he continued to give orders.


    "We''re almost there. There will only be room for one of us to go through the door at a time. Ceirios, I want you to send the golem in first and tell it to occupy the dakhol. I won''t risk any of us when it could be waiting just inside the entrance to smash whoever walks in first. Llwyd, I won''t try to stop you from going in second, but please be careful and don''t lose your head regardless of what you see. Ysbail, you''re after him. Concentrate on disabling the dakhol. I''ll be the last one in. Anwn, Ceirios, stay outside unless you have no other choice. Concentrate your attacks on the Taig if it''s there. The wolves won''t do any good inside, so keep them back and have them help Brighid. My salamander and I will deal with the vines and the brambles around the altar, then help with the Taig." He paused, then added, "Be careful, everyone; this is the literal heart of the Taig''s power, and attacks will come from every side. As you may have already figured out, I already died once trying to cleanse this place. I would prefer if none of you paid the same price."


    Even as he finished his quiet orders, the light from his sword shined on the ornate archway leading into the altar room. Aidan could make out something reflecting a glint of light in the middle of the chamber. As a group, the strike team stepped forward, weapons and spells at the ready, until daylight illuminated the center of the chamber.


    The circular chamber was choked with thick, dead vines. They covered every surface of the room, leaving no safe footing. The altar at the center was no longer visible at all; a giant mass of brambles eight feet across pulsed and beat there instead. And, pinned to the heart like an insect, was Cai''s half-naked body. Blood oozed from the myriad holes driven through her humanoid torso by the thorns, though her lower body was still encased in armor.


    Llwyd let out a strangled sob and surged forward into the room. Aidan and Ceirios both cursed; Ysbail followed him in. Thankfully, neither of them were leveled by a lurking dakhol''s club. As soon as Llwyd stepped inside, the vines on the floor twisted with incredible speed and wrapped around him, jerking him into the air. Aidan unleashed his Burning Barrage, controlling them to spin around Ysbail and detonate at the base of the mass of plants holding Llwyd. To his relief, the detonations disintegrated a chunk of the vines holding Llwyd, and he crashed back to the ground.


    Ysbail hewed into the plants near her, slicing through several with each swing, but Llwyd''s mace was far less effective. He was soon wrapped up from behind once again. Aidan followed Ceirios''s golem into the chamber and did his best to clear the area with Flame Jets. Almost as soon as he started, however, Brighid cried out from behind them, "There are too many! I cannot fight them all off! Shit! Aidan!" Brighid''s voice rose in pitch at the last, and Aidan spun around to see his love lifted into the air by her wrists and ankles. More vines wrapped around Ceirios and Anwn; the wolves were small and agile enough that they were still free, but they could do nothing against the sheer number of creepers arrayed against them. Aidan raised his hand to burn the vines around Brighid, but before he could free her, the spell''s duration ended.


    Aidan cursed and started casting again. Something grabbed his foot and yanked, sending him sprawling and dragging him into the room. He maintained his concentration through sheer willpower, completing the spell and burning the vine around his ankle, but another whipped up and around his hand, forcing it down to the ground. He dropped the Summer Sword and, now desperate, started to cast with his other hand, but it was hopeless. Within a heartbeat, he was ensnared, desiccated ropes twining around every limb. His mind writhed in terror and despair.


    One by one, the rest of the strike team were caught and dragged into the altar chamber; only the wolves managed to escape, fleeing back up the tunnel. Once they were all caught or fled, the Tannath Taig stepped out into the room. The twisted, androgynous, beautiful humanoid clapped its hands in childlike glee and threw its arms wide. "Greetings, my little rat! I am overjoyed that you have returned! I would like to sit and chat, and let you know of the grand reward you have earned!" Its hands glowed with a sickly green-black swirl, and Aidan heard creaking as the plants in the room shifted. They lifted him and pressed him back against the wall, wrapping around him until he was bound like a mummy with only his head free. Brighid, Anwn, Ceirios, Ysbail, and Llwyd were brought around in front of him, each struggling against the looser bindings around them. Smoke rose from the plants handling Brighid, but the Taig waved its hand and repaired the damage. The golem and salamander suffered a swift end, the creepers around them constricting and twisting until both summoned creatures vanished. Of Riama, there was no sign.


    The Taig beckoned to something out of sight. The dakhol ambled into the chamber, walking on all fours like an ape. "Go find yourself a partner first; I know you must be fit to burst. I suggest the plump one over there, she looks like a nice juicy mare." The Taig spoke in Ghirantish and waved its minion towards Ceirios. She shrieked as the vines lowered her to the ground and forced her hind legs apart. The brutish monster loped over to her and pulled its loincloth aside. Paying no attention to her panicked screams, the dakhol grabbed Ceirios by the hips and plunged its obscene penis into her. Aidan turned his head and looked away, sifting through all his spells and Abilities, desperate for a solution.


    The Taig would have none of it, though. Vines wrapped around his forehead and forced Aidan to watch the rape. He closed his eyes to block the sight, but he could still hear the centaur''s cries of pain and pleas for mercy. "Oh yes, such a reward you have earned for all of my vines and Manikins you burned. A feast for your ears and your eyes, watch your friends, hear their cries!" Aidan forced himself to open his eyes, to watch the results of his failure. Plants snaked up from the floor and down from the ceiling, sliding under his allies'' armor to caress their skin. He observed, helpless, as vines began to violate the others. Then, Brighid rose up, suspended in a net of vines, and brought in front of Aidan. They stripped her armor from her, piece by piece, then tendrils slipped around her breasts and teased her neck. Another pair slid between her hind legs. Brighid thrashed her head from side to side in denial.


    "But this one is special, is she not? I can feel your presence on her, just a bit." The Taig continued in its infuriating, rhyming sing-song. The plants around Brighid convulsed, then pink flowers started to bloom all over them. "Now watch and see just what you have wrought as I make your own mate dance for me and submit!" The flowers contracted, then expanded, ejecting a cloud of pollen into Brighid''s face and all over her bare skin. She jerked her head away, but the damage was done. A flush suffused her face, and Aidan watched it race down her neck and onto her breasts. Her eyes darted to his. Aidan could see the familiar spark of lust warring with shame and despair in her emerald gaze.


    "Oh, oh, oh," she began to whimper in time with the lewd thrusts of the vines behind her. "Oh, no, oh, Aidan, no, no, ohhhhh!" Aidan was rotated to keep facing Brighid as the net of plants around her withdrew and lowered her to the ground. As soon as her hooves touched the stone floor, she began pushing backward in rhythm with the vines. "Oh, Brigantia, oh Aidan, I am sorry, sorry, so good, I am sorry!"


    Aidan could see only one possible solution. Summoning all his Willpower and Charisma, he focused on his intent and spoke in Divine Speech. "[Set us free.]" For a moment, everything in the room halted. The vines and dakhol ceased their depredations, and even the Taig trembled in place.


    Then, the corrupted nature spirit seemed to flare with dark energy and the sounds of sex resumed. "Curiouser and curiouser; this is a delight! Bound and helpless, despairing and broken, yet still you fight!"


    Aidan could smell the thick scent of Brighid''s arousal. She was writhing in pleasure now, eagerly thrusting backward and arching her back to present her breasts to the vines caressing them. Her eyes locked on his and she moaned, "Oh fuck, Aidan, going to cum, gonna cum, so good. Fuck! Cumming!" She threw her head back and cried out in pleasure. Aidan could do nothing but watch the muscles in her rump clench and flutter in the way he knew from personal experience signaled an intense orgasm.


    Hope fled from Aidan. Tears spilled down his cheeks. Please, Patron, I beg of you: give me the power to save her. Give me the power to save my team. Please! I will be your instrument in the world, just please, help me!


    Time stopped.


    Aidan''s vision darkened until he could see nothing but a humanoid-shaped flame dancing before him. A familiar voice spoke to him. "[Thy plea is heard, O Champion. Let not despair claim thy heart, for all is not lost. This boon is within my/our power to grant thee, dear one. Know that the cost is high. I/We must work through thee, and thou must supply the power, for to take direct action is Forbidden. Art thou willing to pay the price? I/We will think no less of thee shouldst thou refuse.]"


    "Anything!" Aidan cried. "I will pay any price to save her!"


    His Patron nodded. "[I/We thought it so. Prepare thyself, for should thy will falter, this chance will be lost.]"


    Aidan''s vision returned to normal, and time resumed flowing, though at a fraction of its normal pace. He felt Power coursing through him, guiding his mind to gather manna from his surroundings, shaping it into intricate flows that wove through his very soul. Words came to him, and he Spoke. "[Scarlet plumes stir the ashes; golden flames bloom in their wake. Kindle the soul, consume the mind, ignite the flesh. I give mine life to light the Phoenix''s Pyre!]"


    Zurai

 Chosen, Chapter 55: The End of an Era

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Fourthday, 1st week of the 8th month, Godless Age 597


    Pre-dawn


    Ceallach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Pain consumed every fiber of Aidan''s existence. A shriek reminiscent of a hunting hawk tore from his throat as his flesh erupted in a cascade of flames. The pain was beyond anything he''d ever felt before, like being burned from the inside out. With a supreme effort, he focused the tattered remnants of his will and forced Phoenix Pyre into the Crown of the Exalted. The pain did not fade, exactly, but Aidan was able to push past it. A prompt shimmered into his vision as the flames bursting from Aidan''s skin incinerated the vines holding him in place.


    He accepted the cost. He didn''t even feel the pain of his new Wound over the searing heat of the fire building within his body. As he dropped to the ground, oh so slowly, his newly-freed hands began to move in the gestures for Soulfire Blast. Aidan hit the ground on his knees but managed to twist and push his palms out toward the dark mass of thorny vines around the altar. He watched in detached fascination as the silvery fire wreathed his hands and then crawled across the room a foot at a time.


    Another pulse of heat billowed out of his body right as the first reached the Taig. Aidan''s watched terror overcome his tormentor''s face before another prompt wavered into view.


    Anything. Any price. Aidan watched his Soulfire Blast splash against the brambles. It was clear from their resistance to the fire spreading through the chamber that the Taig had protected them against heat, but Soulfire Blast would change that. He could barely concentrate through the agony, but his enhanced perception of time allowed him to aim around Cai''s corpse.


    Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the dakhol pull itself free of Ceirios, who collapsed in slow motion. The monster took an achingly slow step towards Aidan as the second wave of the Pyre washed over it. Curious, Aidan opened his combat log and scanned the entries. The dakhol had 95% resistance to fire, the highest of anything in the fight, but even that wasn''t enough to save it from Phoenix Pyre. His new spell appeared to be using his maximum Health as its base damage value, and the second wave was twice as strong as the first. Let''s see how it likes Soulfire. He redirected his magic towards the charging brute, managing to get a single tick of damage in¡ªand set up the debuff¡ªbefore flames once more filled the room.


    The vines and creepers in the room were reduced to white ash, rising to the ceiling on the rush of heated air. Aidan''s party members were only just beginning to recover and respond to the sudden turn of events. Ceirios, Anwn, and Llwyd slumped to the floor, but Ysbail landed on her hooves and heaved herself forward in an attempt to push the dakhol away from him with the weight of her body. Another series of notifications entered Aidan''s thoughts on wings of scarlet flame.


    Aidan accepted and returned the shreds of his attention to the combat. He was fast approaching the end of his ability to sustain Soulfire Blast, and he needed to ensure the Taig died. The dakhol''s fur was already beginning to smoke and shrivel, so Aidan cast it from his mind and sought out his nemesis. Wings of fire sprouted from Aidan''s back and lofted him into the air, giving him the angle he needed to spear the Taig on a silver-white lance of soul-fueled incineration. He was just in time, as a fourth surge of sacred flames poured from his soul and six more prompts battered at his fracturing mind.


    Aidan healed the Traumas without hesitation; he could always earn more experience. He had to think about Cai for a moment, though. She was dead. Would healing her Wounds allow him to restore her to life? Somehow, he knew that such a feat was not impossible for Phoenix Pyre. It would drain all of his remaining Health, however, and likely end the spell early. Before he decided, he took stock of the situation. The dakhol was on the ground, convulsing it burned. The Deathbramble Heart¡ªhe learned its name from his combat log¡ªwas little more than ashes on the wind, and its creator, the Taig, was on its knees, overcome with pain. Ysbail was staggering towards the Taig, her sword somehow in her hand, poised to strike. Good. They can handle it from here. If I have a chance to save Cai, I would hate myself if I did not take it. He accepted the price.


    Aidan thought the pain was terrible before, but it was nothing compared to the roaring inferno that engulfed his reality. If his back broke or his flesh tore, he couldn''t tell. His entire existence devolved into a colossal ocean of pain upon which sat a tiny island: two more shining prompts.


    He sent a silent apology to Brighid, then accepted. Aidan felt one final, titanic explosion emerge from his body, then, mercifully, darkness descended upon him.


    Fionn


    Dawn


    Outside Ceallach Macht


    Fionn embedded his ax in the skull of a Manikin made from a long-time friend''s corpse, then wheeled and scythed through a trio of vines as they sought him out. Attacked from the inside, the Starchaser formation crumbled. Every warrior now fought for themself; it would only be a few more minutes before the last of them succumbed. Even the mages raining spells down from above and the hulking, nigh-invulnerable gargoyles couldn''t save his force now. Every few seconds saw another friend or student fall and rise again as one of the undead. Still, every enemy he and his warriors dispatched was one less to attack the village in the next few days, so he continued to fight to the best of his ability.


    Then every undead monstrosity on the hillside came to a jarring stop, all at the same time. The air grew still and quiet for a split second before a shriek, like an eagle or hawk but a hundred times louder, rang out from the north. One second of stillness passed, then, with the WHUMMMPH of a carefully-constructed bonfire catching alight all at once, a pillar of fire tore into the sky above the fallen city. As Fionn watched, dumbfounded, sheets of flame stretched out to the sides of the pillar, lifting into the air and then sweeping down like great wings the size of the city itself. On the downstroke, the vines and Manikins all around burst into flames. They dissolved into piles of white ash that billowed up into the sky, rising on waves of heat that nonetheless failed to harm any of the Starchasers, then falling like snow. The wings dispelled the heavy mist and fog as they passed through the streets, then vanished. As the brilliant afterimage began to fade from his sight, Fionn received a prompt¡ªand so did everyone else in the Realms.


    "Just what in the Nine Hells and Seven Mounting Heavens are you, boy?" The old warrior muttered, "You have put your hoof in the shit now, Aidan Lostlorn. I only pray, for your sake, that you can weather the storm this will create. Such a declaration of power..." Fionn turned and began issuing orders to the remnants of the warriors with a resigned shake of his head. He could not afford to assume that all the foul creatures controlled by the Taig died along with it. They would be busy patrolling for weeks, and he had far fewer fighters to do it with than he had hoped.


    Zurai

 Chosen, Chapter 56: It’s All Over but the Crying

    Aidan


    The Realms


    ???


    Daytime


    Mistvale Highlands


    This time, Aidan returned to wakefulness with a clear understanding that the pain that, to him, was only a split second old was nonetheless a memory. That memory was so intense that it still left him screaming and arching his back, writhing in agony while his newly-reborn brain processed it. It took him seconds stretching into eternity to wrestle his mind back to the present and sag down to the dirt-covered canyon floor. Panting, tears trickling down his cheeks, he opened his mind to the notifications that crowded every edge of his vision.


    Well, that''s just great. It''s good to know these things ahead of time. Despite his internal grumbling, Aidan knew that was unfair. There had to be some sort of consequence to using his soul as fuel. He turned his attention to his Skill-related notifications.


    Well, at least Fortify Soul gives me a harmless way to train Animamancy, Aidan thought to himself. Speaking of which... he checked to see how badly Soulfire Blast and Phoenix Pyre damaged his experience.


    "...What the fuck?!" Aidan managed to croak through his parched throat. He opened his combat log and sorted by experience gain.


    Okay, that was all as expected...


    What. Aidan''s mind reeled. Twelve hundred Manikins? Four thousand Dark Vines? There were a lot of the damned things in the Deathbramble Heart''s chamber, but not nearly that many! He also didn''t kill anywhere near that many Manikins.


    Even with that mystery, the math still didn''t add up, so he continued to sift through his prompts.


    There was also a prompt advising him that he was Tolerated by almost all the remaining Starchasers. There were still a few holdouts that only advanced to Unfriendly, and Neifion and a couple of others remained Hostile. That still left a considerable amount of missing experience, so he kept sorting through notifications. A few seconds later, he found it.


    "Fuck no," Aidan said to the air. "Not yet, anyhow."


    The air, of course, did not reply. The large black-furred, glowing-silver-spotted cat that pounced on Aidan''s chest immediately afterward, however, exclaimed, "Mrrow!" and sent a rapid stream of <joy love love love joy safe home love joy>. Riama laid down on him, her head mere inches from his own and her loud, rumbling purr sending vibrations throughout his torso. Acting without thought, Aidan wrapped his arms around her. She rubbed her nose against his face and began to wash him with her rough tongue, causing him to laugh and push her away. Then, he heard the tramp of hooves on stone and struggled to his knees. He turned to the entrance of the box canyon. There, silhouetted against the sky, was Brighid''s unmistakable figure. Instead of rushing over to embrace him, however, she stood trembling.


    "Brighid?" Aidan called out to her. "Love, are you alright?" The only response he got was a visible increase in Brighid''s trembling. Moving carefully to avoid cramps, Aidan set his familiar down, rose to his feet, and then shuffled his way to his Soulmate. As he drew nearer, he could see that Brighid''s face was awash with tears, and her emerald eyes were staring at the floor. He knew she heard him because her ears twitched and swiveled to catch the sounds of his footsteps. If I didn''t know better, I''d think she''s struggling not to run away from me. It took much longer than he wanted it to, but eventually, Aidan came to a stop in front of the woman he loved and asked her again, "Brighid, my love, please tell me what''s wrong?"


    At his declaration of love, a wretched sob fled Brighid''s throat, and she started to turn away. Aidan caught her arm before she could escape. Moving with slow, gentle pressure, Aidan turned her back around to face him, then placed a hand on her cheek. He sought out Brighid''s eyes, but she turned her head and refused to meet his gaze. At last, her tremulous voice emerged. "How can you call me that? I do not deserve your love. I should not have come, I am sorry, please Aidan, please let me go..." She tried to pull away again, but he kept a gentle grip on her arm. Despite her overwhelming Might advantage, she did not pull free of his hand.


    Aidan took a step closer and wrapped his arms around Brighid. Instead of hugging him back, she stiffened and let another sob escape from her throat. He noticed with a heavy heart that she was not wearing her collar. Being soothing isn''t working. Gotta try another tack. He ordered her in a soft but stern voice, "Brighid Fireheart, tell me why you are not wearing your collar." A shudder ran through her body and she collapsed forward into his arms with a wail of grief.


    "I betrayed you! I was your Soulmate, and I let that thing fuck me. I wanted it to! I wanted it to keep going forever, Aidan! I am not wearing your collar because I do not deserve to! I was wearing it, wearing your token, even as I came for a monster and begged it for more!" Her eyes flicked up to his for just a moment, and Aidan could see the all-consuming despair in them before Brighid turned her head from him again.


    Confusion filled Aidan as her words crashed over him like stormy waves upon a rocky shore. But I healed her Trauma! Why is this affecting her so much? He remained silent for a moment before his mind made a connection. "If you no longer wish to be mine, you may always take off your collar and return my token. But, that is not what you are doing, Brighid Fireheart. You are punishing yourself for failing to follow my commands." He turned her head towards him and commanded, "Look at me! Look me in the eyes." Her emerald eyes snapped to his ruby ones, though they were still cloudy with anguish. Good enough for a start, he thought, and continued, "I am the Master in this relationship, Brighid. It is not for you to decide your punishment unless I tell you otherwise, and I have not. That you admit your transgressions is the mark of a good girl but trying to subvert your Master''s will has earned you additional punishment." Paradoxically, perversely, that calmed Brighid down, and her eyes began to clear.


    "Given my choice, I would have addressed this matter in a place more comfortable than this, but you have forced my hand, so let us begin. I will question you, read the list of your errors aloud, and determine your punishment from that list and your answers. Do you understand and agree?" Brighid bobbed her head in response.


    "First, do you want to continue being mine? I am not asking whether you believe you should or whether you deserve to, but whether you want to."


    Brighid''s voice cracked, but she answered, "Yes, Master. With all my heart."


    Relief flooded Aidan, but he didn''t let it show on his face. Instead, he gave her a sharp nod and told her, "Then please put your collar back on for this. I cannot make you do it, so I am asking you to. You do not wish to leave my service, and I have not yet released you. I should not pass judgment on you as your Master while you are not wearing your collar." She whimpered and fresh tears flowed down her face, but she reached into a pouch at her waist and pulled out the familiar strip of green leather. The fact that she kept it on her is a good sign. Aidan held Brighid''s lustrous crimson hair out of the way as her shaking hands fastened the collar around her throat.


    "Thank you," Aidan told her. "Now that you are again wearing my token, I will ask you once more: do you, Brighid Fireheart, agree that as your Master, it is my right and only my right to pass judgment on your disobedience and determine the punishments you will suffer? That by wearing my token on your collar, you give up the right for anyone else to punish you for transgressions of the Master-submissive relationship? And further, do you agree to accept my decisions in matters of punishment without complaint or appeal?"


    "Yes, Master. I do."


    Her explicit acceptance of his authority gave Aidan everything he needed. "Very good. Now, when we fought the Taig, we were all captured. Did you try to break free from your captivity?"


    "Yes, Master, of course!"


    "And did you ask the Taig to touch you with its vines?"


    "No, Master!" Her voice held a clear note of revulsion.


    "Did you want the vines to touch you intimately?"


    "No!" She proclaimed, shaking her head with force.


    "So when the Taig''s Dark Vines began to penetrate you, you did not want them to?"


    "No! Never!"


    "At that point, were you feeling pleasure?"


    "No, it was horrible and painful, Master."


    "And after the Taig sprayed you with pollen, did that change?"


    Brighid sobbed, but said, "Yes, Master. I am so sorry!"


    "Just the answers, please. Tell me how the pollen changed things for you."


    Tears poured from her eyes. "The pain went away, and it felt so good. I couldn''t think because of how good it felt."


    "And that happened as soon as the pollen touched you and you breathed it in?" She only nodded in response. "Before the pollen, if the vines holding you were withdrawn, would you have allowed continued penetration of your anus or vagina?"


    "No!"


    "Would you, in fact, have fought against the vines and tried to free me or the others, or to attack the Taig?"


    "Yes, of course!" Her voice had a desperate, pleading quality to it.


    Aidan nodded and patted her shoulder to soothe her. "When I cast my spell and the vines burned away, right at the start, were you still unable to think clearly?"


    She hesitated, then nodded and confirmed, "Yes."


    "Did that change at any point before the spell completed?"


    "Yes, Master."


    "About how long did it take for your mind to clear?"


    She considered, then offered, "Maybe two or three seconds? I am sorry, so much was happening all at once, I am not sure. But it was before you..." She scrubbed tears out of her eyes and continued, "Before you burned away to ash and Cai came back to life."


    Aidan nodded at her. "That is alright, just answer to the best of your ability. I have one final question for you: once your mind was clear again, did you attempt to fight the Taig?"


    She gave a firm nod and said, "There was not much left to fight at that point, but yes, Master."


    "Thank you for answering my questions. That concludes my investigation into the incident with the Taig. There is another matter before me today, however. Tell me again why you removed your collar."


    Brighid blinked at the sudden shift in context. "Because I betrayed you and submitted to the Taig."


    Aidan shook his head at her and let his voice grow stern again. "No, I believe that is two steps removed from your reason. Try again. Take your time and think it through."


    She was silent for a while before replying, "Because I do not believe I have a right to wear your collar anymore."


    "It is not my collar, it is yours," Aidan corrected, voice gentle. "That is close enough to the truth, I think. I have heard enough and am ready to present my findings of fact in these matters. Fact one: the accused, Brighid Fireheart, was captured and bound beyond her ability to resist by the Tannath Taig. Fact two: the accused was penetrated sexually without her consent by the Tannath Taig. Fact three: the accused was then infected with a disease called Mindfog Pollen Infection, which impaired her ability to think and changed how her body reacted to stimuli. Fact four: once the infection began, the accused was not mentally capable of consenting to sex." Brighid''s eyes grew wide at that.


    "Fact five: as soon as the disease was cured, the accused resumed fighting against her captor. Fact six: despite claiming that she ''was'' my Soulmate, the accused is currently sitting in a place which only I am supposed to be able to enter." Brighid''s eyes opened even wider. "Fact seven," Aidan continued, allowing a hint of anger to creep into his voice at last, "the accused did take it upon herself to remove her collar, not because she wished to end our relationship, but to punish herself for her rape. Does the accused dispute any of these facts?"


    Brighid stared at him for several long breaths, then shook her head in denial.


    "Then we are in agreement on the facts in these matters." At this point, he allowed a little levity to break the tense atmosphere. Aidan turned to Riama, who had been sitting by his side the entire time, and asked, "You have heard the same questions and answers as I and heard the facts. What is your judgment?"


    The astral jaguar blinked her eyes at Aidan, then turned to Brighid. She stood up on her hind legs, placing her front paws on Brighid''s shoulder for balance. "Mrrow!" She vocalized while sending Aidan a blast of <LOVE TRUST>.


    Aidan gave the feline a slow nod and said, "My thoughts exactly." He turned back to Brighid, catching her eyes with his again to demand her attention. "We judge the accused innocent of the crime of betraying her Soulmate. She was captured and raped, then subjected to magic that took away her free will. In truth, she went beyond the mere denial of consent and fought against her captor with everything she could. The only guilty parties in that matter have already been tried, found guilty, and executed for their many, many crimes." Brighid''s eyes once again filled with tears and she opened her mouth to speak, but Aidan snapped, "The accused will be silent! This court will remind her that she knowingly and voluntarily gave away her right to complain or appeal the verdict. Our judgment is final, and any further disobedience will result in punishment." Her mouth shut with an audible click of teeth. Aidan continued with a gentler tone, "We do, however, find the accused guilty of violating her Master''s exclusive right to punish her. The fact that she did nothing to deserve punishment only exacerbates this disobedience. This court will remind the accused again that while she wears his token and does not violate any law of the greater Realms, only her Master has the right to punish her. For this violation, the accused, Brighid Fireheart, is sentenced to one night of sleeping on the couch for each day she took it upon herself to decide and enact her own punishment." Aidan stared into Brighid''s eyes and let his love, admiration, lust, and possessiveness for her fill him. "You are mine, flame of my heart, and do not forget it again."


    That finally shattered Brighid''s ability to deny herself what she wanted all along. She lunged forward, wrapping her arms around Aidan and sobbing great, ugly sobs of mingled sorrow, relief, happiness, and anguish. His shoulder and chest were soaked with tears before she managed to regain her composure enough to protest, "But, Master... I do not own a couch." Her voice was raw with emotion, but she had regained some of the mischief that Aidan had grown to love.


    He feigned a look of surprise and said, with artificial severity, "Why, I do believe you are right! That being the case, your sentence is suspended until a couch is available for you to sleep upon." Brighid giggled and squeezed him even tighter. The last little bit of tension that had crept its way up Aidan''s spine released at the joyful sound.


    Zurai

 Chosen, Chapter 57: Life Will Change

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Fifthday, 2nd week of the 8th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Late Morning


    Mistvale Highlands


    "So how long was I gone this time? And how''d you know where to find me?"


    Brighid nuzzled his shoulder before responding, "It has been eight days and ten or so hours since you killed the Taig." Aidan stiffened, his mind reeling. Last time it was only about twelve hours! "We were waiting on Little Irontop because I knew that was where you made camp on your first night. Then, about an hour ago, Riama stood up and walked off a little way before looking over her shoulder at me, wanting me to follow her. She led me here. You said that only you could enter this canyon? I did not even know it was here before today."


    Aidan looked back and forth between Brighid and Riama, his mouth twisting into a wry smile. "That''s what the old man told me. It looks like he may have omitted some technicalities." He shook his head then and said, "More importantly, I have to apologize to you. I never expected to be gone so long. The wait must have been terrible, and it''s all my fault. Soulfire Blast uses a little bit of my soul, and reviving Cai with Phoenix Pyre took a more significant fragment. It appears that the strength of my soul affects my death penalty and how long it takes for me to return."


    Brighid pulled away from him and seized his head in her hands. "No, Aidan, you do not get to absolve me of my guilt only to take on more than your share. Yes, waiting for you to return was ... trying. But tell me: did you choose to make it harder on us? Did you intend to punish us with your absence?" She didn''t wait to hear his response. "You did what you had to do. You showed everyone why I love you. Aidan, Anwn was able to scout the Taig before it died. It was level 52, my love. It could have fought the entire tribe outside the city and still won. We walked into the seat of its power, where it was at its absolute strongest. Even while it toyed with us, it maintained control over its Manikins and Dark Vines out in the valley." Tears gathered at the corners of her eyes once more. "Aidan, we lost over two hundred people in the battle. Two hundred friends that I have known my entire life, or have known me for theirs. You saved the rest." She hesitated, then pushed on. "I did not see it myself, but all the survivors say that a pillar of flame rose into the heavens from the center of Ceallach Macht. Two fiery wings spread from it, and every Manikin and Vine burned to white ash in an instant when they beat. Afterward ... you have seen the prompt? About the new Age?"


    Aidan stared at her. How did his spell have such an over-the-top effect? Even with his Patron''s guidance... then it hit him. "The price," he groaned. "My Patron said there was a heavy price and asked if I was willing to pay it. I thought they meant the pain, or maybe dying. That wasn''t it, though; the price was revealing myself to the world." He closed his eyes, leaning his head back for a moment, then sighed and straightened. "It''s fine. I told them I would pay any price to save you, and I meant it. How many people know the whole story?" He asked, switching to damage control mode.


    "The whole story? Aidan, I do not even know everything. You said you talked to the Brighaid?"


    He nodded. "After Divine Speech failed, I prayed. It was the only option I saw." Aidan bowed his head. "And, for once in my life, my prayer was answered. Everything stopped, and my vision faded, but I could see Them¡ªone light in the darkness, a fire dancing before my eyes. They told me that all was not lost, but there was a price I must pay. Then I felt Their Power filling me, guiding me, telling me the words to say. After that, it was all pain and scraps of determination." Aidan shuddered. The memory wasn''t as traumatic as his first death, but it was fresher and the pain an order of magnitude worse. Riama squeezed between him and Brighid and sent him <reassurance love togetherness>. Aidan smiled down at her and scratched her behind her ears before continuing, "What I meant, though, was how many people know about Cai''s death?"


    "Oh, only the team. I swore them all to secrecy after¡ª" She stopped and shivered. "But everyone already believes that it was you. They may not know who you revived, but everything else fits."


    Aidan groaned. "Well, fuck me sideways. Even with how little the tribes talk to each other, word will get out. If I didn''t have a target painted on my back before, I do now." He sighed. "At least that explains why I got credit for killing twelve hundred Manikins and four thousand Dark Vines."


    "Oh, it was not just you. Everyone in the team did."


    "What?"


    "You were still in the party, love, so the party shared in your kills. We all got a share of that million experience. I got a level out of it, and, well, have you checked Riama''s status since you got back?"


    He looked down at the black-furred feline face staring back up at him.


    He closed the status screen, then opened it and checked again. Yep, still there. "Well, I guess there won''t be any need to power level her, then. I''ll deal with all that later, just like my own levels. Right now, as much as I love cuddling with you, I could use a nice long rest on some soft cushions."


    Brighid giggled and kissed his neck, but disentangled herself from Aidan and his familiar. She pulled him to his feet, then helped him into the change of clothes that he''d had the foresight to pack away in his backpack. Once he dressed, Brighid pulled him into a tight hug and kissed him hard. An indeterminable time later, she pulled back and said, "I will be happy to bear you back home, but a few people are waiting for you outside the canyon. None of them would take ''No'' for an answer; you will see in just a moment."


    Aidan gave her a curious look, but she refused to go into more detail. With a shrug, he accepted her arm around his shoulders and leaned against her as she led him back into the Realms. As soon as they passed through the canyon entrance, five figures shimmered into view. He recognized three of them right away¡ªYsbail''s oversized sword was hard to miss, and he''d seen Cai and Ceirios naked. The male centaur, by process of elimination, was therefore Llwyd. Standing apart from them was a ten-foot-tall granite statue of a nude male human with bat wings. A gargoyle? Why?


    Before Aidan could ask, though, Cai and Llwyd kneeled down on their forelegs and bowed their heads to him. Speaking in harmony, they recited, "I pledge my sword to thy banner, my shield to thy defense, and my honor to thy glory. I swear to follow thy commands, advance thy causes, and never to work against thee or thine wishes for so long as thou dost hold faith with me."


    Aidan closed his eyes and sagged against Brighid. To him, it was only an hour since the fight with the Taig and only a few minutes since he had to weave a web of words to keep the love of his life from self-destructing out of guilt. He hadn''t had any time to process his own emotions and reactions to everything, yet here was more fuel for the fire. To everyone else, though, it had been more than a week since Ceallach Macht. Aidan reigned in his frustration and jangled nerves and opened his eyes again.


    "Before I say yea or nay, tell me, both of you: why have you chosen to take this step? Nine days ago, I doubt either of you cared enough to piss on me if I were on fire. Why are you now promising me your loyalty and service?"


    The supplicants shared a look, then Llwyd replied, "My Lord, because you need us. There are other reasons, good enough on their own, but in the end, you need us. You performed a very public miracle, and sooner or later, someone will come hunting for you because of it."


    Cai added, "I owe you my life, my Lord, literally owe you my life. You sacrificed so that I might live. I know from talking with Brighid, Llwyd, and others this last week that you expected nothing in return. That alone would be worth an even more powerful Oath than what we just swore, but it also shows how much you need people to look out for you. Please, my Lord, accept our Oaths. You will need people you can trust explicitly, and the sooner you accept that and us, the better you will be for it."


    Llwyd followed up with, "My Lord Aidan, I now believe with all my heart that you are a force of good who can change the whole world. Even if you are reluctant to accept for your own sake, please consider it for that reason. Let us help you make the world better."


    Aidan had to admit, while he expected the life-debt argument, the rest came as a surprise. They both made good points, though, and with a mental sigh, he nodded and accepted the prompt. As when he had sworn to be Brighid''s Companion, the words came to him unbidden. "Rise, Cai. Rise, Llwyd. I hear thine Oaths and accept; in return, I swear to hold faith with thee until the end of days." Both centaurs rose to their feet in a fluid, synchronized motion and moved to stand to either side of him and Brighid.


    Ysbail stepped forward on their heels. "Do not worry, no pledge of allegiance here." She winked at him. "I like you well enough, and Heavens know you need all the help you can get, but I am a little too independent for all that. I was not even camped out here with the rest of this lot, I just happened to be in the area. Good luck, eh? Anyway, all I wanted to say is that you did well and that if you ever need something big killed, to give me a call. Maybe we can work on that whole you-dying part; even the actual phoenixes of old are long dead now. Keep that in mind." Despite the brashness of her words, she gave him a warm smile.


    Ceirios stepped forward then, but Aidan held up his hand to forestall her speech and asked, "How are you doing? Mentally, I mean. You suffered more at the hands of that thing than any of us except maybe Brighid. I was able to ease some of that with the spell I used, but I already know it wasn''t as effective as I''d hoped."


    Ceirios lowered her eyes and stared at the ground for a moment, then squared her shoulders and met his gaze. "Thank you for your concern, Lord Aidan. I will not say I am well, exactly, but I will be well thanks to you. I can remember what happened, what was done to me, but it feels like someone else''s memories. That is not healthy, but it should be much worse than it is. Before you say anything¡ªI can see the look on your face¡ªI do not blame you for what happened. You did the best you could with what we had. If you had delayed even five minutes, we would have lost Fionn, Ailis, and all the other warriors and mages instead of half of them. The only one who bears any blame for what happened is the Taig, and you are the one who destroyed it for good. I will not pledge my fealty to you quite yet, but I will be there in the future if you need me." She dipped in a quick bow, then stepped back.


    Aidan turned his attention to the gargoyle and arched an eyebrow. The statue-like individual inclined his head and spoke with a deep voice. The sound had an odd resonant quality, like echoes in a cathedral. "Greetings, Chosen Aidan. Know that I am called Sarpedon of the Sapphire Sky Horde. I have come, along with those of my brothers and sisters who yet remain awake, to make a request of you." Aidan blinked. Make a request of him? What could he have to offer to immortal, indestructible giants? Sarpedon''s lips twitched at Aidan''s look of confusion. "I give you my apologies; it has been long indeed since I last talked with one not of the Sapphire Sky. I have forgotten much of how it is outside our enclave. Perhaps it would be best if I were to give you some brief background. My people¡ªby which I mean gargoyles in general, not only the Sapphire Sky¡ªare dying. Not from any disease or malady, but because we do not have the ability to reproduce on our own." Now I''m even more confused. Sarpedon grimaced and shook his head. "It is a very long story, millennia old, and I do not think this is the time nor the place to tell it all. I will try to be brief. Our race does not reproduce as most others do. We are not a natural race, you see; we were created by mages as a kind of advanced golem. However, when those ancient folk realized what they had made, they worked with us to give us the ability to reproduce so that we would not be dependent on others." He shook his head. "In essence, two gargoyles and an Animamancer intertwine a portion of their souls inside a specially-made receptacle. The mage then fuses those fragments together into a new, unique soul. Ah, I see that now you begin to comprehend what we wish of you."


    The granite man held up his hands and said, "We know that you are young and yet to come into your full power. We are a patient people, Chosen Aidan, both as a race and a culture. All we want from you is your willingness to work with us once you are able to do so. We do not require results, only effort, and only once that effort could be gainfully employed. In return, we offer you guidance and wisdom. There is much that has been forgotten in the Wildlands that we still remember. In particular, there is one thing I could show you this very day that could advance your cause more than anything else we know of." He paused a moment, then added almost as an afterthought, "Do not fear retaliation should you turn us down. As I said, we are a patient people. In time, another will come who has the qualities we seek, and ultimately, one will accept our offer. If that one is not you, we will return to our lands and await the next."


    Aidan shook his head, feeling exhaustion stealing swiftness from his thoughts. "Forgive me, Sarpedon. I do not mean to be rude, but from my perspective, I died an hour ago in an excruciating manner. I need time to gather my thoughts and consider your offer. It is generous, but I do not wish to rush into new obligations. Would you mind if I sleep on it and give you an answer tomorrow?"


    The huge living statue managed to look abashed and even sheepish. "Of course, Chosen. I apologize for not waiting for you to recover. I became over-eager and pressed when I should have remained patient. Please, by all means, consider as long as you need to. I will wait for you at the top of the tall hill outside of the Starchaser village." He unfurled wings that looked like they weighed a ton each, then leaped into the sky with a downbeat that sent dirt flying and forced Aidan and the centaurs to cover their eyes.


    Aidan watched the gargoyle fly away, then leaned back into Brighid''s embrace and asked the other centaurs, "Are any of you going to have a problem with me riding Brighid back home? She can carry me in her arms if so, but it''ll be slower and less comfortable for both of us."


    Cai, Llwyd, and Ceirios all shook their heads. Ysbail laughed and said, "I would give you a ride myself, but I suspect Brighid would punch me for it."


    "Yes," Aidan''s Soulmate said through clenched teeth, "she would."


    Ysbail laughed again and waved her off. "Relax, Red. I am not trying to steal your man. I prefer a stallion who can cover me completely and tug at my tits while he''s plowing my pussy! I bet that tail of his has some fun uses, but I will leave you to explore that."


    Brighid blushed scarlet, but Aidan was too tired to be embarrassed. Once he settled on her back, Aidan wrapped his arms around her waist and leaned against her back. "Canter, please, flame of my heart? I don''t think I can handle a gallop just yet." Brighid took one of his hands from her waist and kissed it in response, then placed it over her heart and set off at a gentle pace.


    Zurai

 Chosen, Chapter 58: Inseparable Hearts

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Fifthday, 2nd week of the 8th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Early Afternoon


    Starchaser Village, Mistvale Highlands


    Aidan planned to sort out his new levels and Talents on the trip back to the village. He was so tired, and Brighid''s gait was so gentle, that he fell asleep after a few minutes of fruitless staring at his status screen. He didn''t awaken until they came to a stop hours later, and even then, it took him a moment to realize where he was. His brain still felt like a jar of molasses. He looked around as he steadied himself and slid down off of Brighid''s back. Ceirios and Ysbail were no longer with them, but Cai and Llwyd took up positions on either side of the door to Brighid''s home.


    Aidan had a brief fantasy of ordering them to go home but discarded it a moment later. I need to get used to them being around. Besides, I don''t think they''d listen. Although... "Cai, Llwyd. I know you plan to guard Brighid and me, but with only the two of you, you''re going to have to take shifts. I''ll leave the details up to you for now, but unless you''re expecting trouble, one of you should be resting or doing other things. Regardless of any oaths you''ve sworn, you still have your own lives to live. I won''t have you abandoning everything for me, fealty or no." A murmur went through the gathered crowd of centaurs, but Aidan ignored it. He couldn''t hide any longer; the very fact that there were so many onlookers proved that what Brighid said earlier was true.


    Cai and Llwyd shared a look. "He makes sense," Cai said.


    "It had to happen sometime," Llwyd quipped. "You take the first shift. I will bring you some food when I return." They shared a brief hug and kiss, then Llwyd trotted off.


    "We''ll be inside, sleeping," Aidan told Cai.


    "Yes, my Lord. I am certain that is what you are going to do." Her voice held a healthy dose of skepticism as she eyed the open doorway, Brighid and Riama having already vanished within. "Sleep."


    Aidan chuckled at her sarcasm. It was good that she wasn''t bowing and scraping to him; he didn''t know how much of that he could handle. Much better that she felt comfortable enough to joke with him. He followed Brighid inside and closed the door behind him. His lover waited for him on the bed, naked and trembling, facing away from him. She watched him approach over her shoulder, guilt and need warring in her viridian gaze. "Please," she whispered, "Aidan, my Lord, my love, Master of all that I am, I need you. I know you are tired and want to sleep." Her hand rose to finger the tag dangling from her collar. "I know that while I wear this, I serve you and not the other way around. But please, I cannot bear the thought of another minute spent where that thing was the last man to have me. Please, please, cleanse me with your love."


    Aidan shed his clothes as he approached, cursing the lack of elastic and the need for laces. Brighid''s tail lashed with every step he took, teasing him with glimpses of her nether lips and wafting the scent of her arousal towards him. Aidan might be tired, but he couldn''t deny her. He stepped up behind her and grabbed her haunches in both hands, pressing himself against Brighid''s rump. She let out a sound halfway between a whimper and a moan, and her tail flipped up onto her back. "You do not need to be cleansed." Aidan rubbed his length against her thick outer lips, coating himself in her slippery juices. "You did nothing wrong," he continued, lining himself up with her entrance. "You are not soiled." He pressed forward, sliding into her molten embrace an inch at a time. "You are not, have never been, and will never be unworthy of my love," Aidan grunted out as he bottomed out inside her.


    He paused there a moment, reveling in the feel of her inner muscles rippling around him. Brighid was still watching him over her shoulder, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. He stroked his hands up and down her flanks and told her, "I love you, Brighid Fireheart. That is all that matters between us. Let go of your guilt. Give it to me; I absolve you."


    Brighid''s eyes widened, then squeezed shut, sending twin trickles down her cheeks. Aidan wished her could hold her in his arms, but simple geometry made that impossible. Or, wait, no, it doesn''t! He opened up his Talent interface, purchased the second and third ranks of Extra Magical, and then activated Magic Hands and That Loving Feeling twice to create a pair of ephemeral arms, which he wrapped around Brighid from the front. She stiffened, her eyes flying open. "What in the¡ª?" She gasped.


    "A little trick I picked up. I wanted to be able to hold you while we make love; now I can. I can also do this..." He concentrated again, forming a mouth that he used to rain kisses across Brighid''s shoulders, neck, and upper chest.


    "Mmm." Brighid relaxed into his embrace and bared her neck to his lips. Her hips rolled back toward him, encouraging him to start moving. "I would not trade what we have for anything, but I must admit that Ysbail had a point."


    Aidan slid in and out of her with long, slow strokes. "I promise not to tell Ysbail about this particular talent if you''ll let me know why you were so jealous of her."


    Brighid ducked her head. Aidan could see her blush reddening her ears, though. "It bothers me to think of you riding another centaur. Especially a woman. I know it is not rational, but it is how I feel. I am sorry."


    Aidan gave her a swift swat on the rump. "No apologies! To be honest, I''m relieved," he chuckled. "Your utter lack of possessiveness was freaking me out a bit; now that I see a chink in your armor, I feel a lot better about it." He swiveled the phantom arms around to embrace Brighid from behind and attempted to make a pair of hands for them. When only one formed, he grumbled to himself, Why is it called Magic Hands if I can only make one hand without another Talent? Bah! He purchased the next rank of Extra Magical, added the second hand, then started rubbing Brighid''s waist and abdomen.


    It took an immense amount of focus to coordinate everything. The arms and hands were the worst of it; they were separate instances of the Ability and weren''t linked in any way, so he had to spend extra mental effort to maintain the illusion. He decided that the effort wasn''t worth it and turned the arms into another pair of hands. These he sent straight to Brighid''s breasts, trailing the fingertips across her skin in a feather-light caress. She shivered and moaned at the contact. "A girl could grow addicted to this kind of treatment."


    With six hands available to him, there was nowhere on Brighid''s body that was out of Aidan''s reach. He took ruthless advantage, exploring every inch of her for sensitive spots and erogenous zones. When he found such a place¡ªthe nape of her neck, the crook in her spine where her humanoid torso met her equine lower body, the upper ridge of her ears¡ªAidan moved his phantasmal mouth to the area. He nibbled, bit, sucked, and licked her, cataloging every reaction she made. All the while, he kept up a steady, slow rhythm behind her. Brighid pushed back against him with increasing urgency, but he refused to be hurried.


    Once Aidan was satisfied with his exploration of his love''s body, he switched things up. Two hands returned to Brighid''s bosom, cupping from beneath and sinking the fingers into her yielding flesh. Aidan used the magical mouth to kiss his way up from his partner''s abdomen, between her heaving breasts, across her throat, and onto her lips. She opened her mouth to his, moaning into the following kiss. Because Magic Hands had no physical substance, her panting and moaning went unmuffled. The remaining two instances of the Ability, formerly arms and then hands, Aidan changed again, this time into additional mouths. These he experimented with, latching them onto Brighid''s nipples through his phantom hands.


    The redhead jerked and arched her back at the unexpected sensation, letting out a loud moan that spoke to her appreciation. Aidan could feel the rubbery protrusions in his mouths and the palms of his hands, so he imagined that she could feel both as well. Seeking to experiment further, he shifted his hands so that he could squeeze Brighid''s nipples between his fingers while simultaneously sucking them into his mouths and lashing them with his tongues.


    "Please, love!" Brighid cried out, "Please, harder! I am so close!" Her words were distorted by the formless mouth and tongue pressed to hers, but Aidan could make out her meaning.


    "Do what harder?" He teased. "This?" He grazed his ephemeral teeth across her areolas. "Or maybe this?" His fingers twisted and tugged at her nipples. "Or maybe you meant both at once?" Actions followed words, causing Brighid to grab onto the bedsheets, wrapping them around her hands. "That''s right, love. Give in to the pleasure and release your worries. I have you, my heart. Let yourself go."


    Brighid let out a shuddering half-scream half-moan and lunged back at him. Aidan groaned as her dextrous inner muscles clamped down around the base of his shaft while fluttering and pulsing around his tip. He gritted his teeth, fighting against the pleasure, and continued his steadfast pace. He wanted to leave no room for doubt in Brighid''s mind that he loved her and desired her. It wasn''t about ownership, despite their shared kinks, but rather the depths of his feelings for her. His goal was to shatter any doubt she could hold in the deep, dark recesses of her mind, and to that end, he pulled out all the stops.


    Aidan disengaged from the magical kiss, then brought that mouth around between her legs. Brighid was still shuddering through her first orgasm when his lips closed around the thick nub of her clit. "Fuck!" Was her eloquent response. "Oh, fuck! Aidan!" She bucked again and would have unseated Aidan if it was not for his grip on her haunches and how tightly her depths clung to him.


    That Loving Feeling only transmitted touch, not taste, so Aidan couldn''t savor Brighid''s flavor, but he could feel her thick juices flowing past his lips. He also couldn''t interact with himself with Magic Hands, a fact that he took full advantage of by sending the phantasmal tongue plunging inside Brighid alongside his manhood. He lengthened the imaginary organ, sending it writhing into her depths even as he pulled back for the next thrust. At the same time, Aidan intensified the actions of his hands and mouths on Brighid''s breasts. He hefted them in his hands, followed their contours with his tongues, and used everything available to him to stimulate her peaks.


    Aidan briefly considered taking yet another rank in Extra Magical, but instead decided to experiment further. He could create exact copies of his mouth, hands, and arms; could he create other appendages that he didn''t have? Aidan focused on the mouth affixed to Brighid''s plump nether lips. He first removed the teeth and then turned the lips into another tongue. It was harder to control, but Aidan was able to send the second organ snaking down to wrap around Brighid''s pleasure button.


    "Ah! Oh! Unnnnnh!" Brighid lost the capacity for words as Aidan worked her over. Her head whipped back and forth, sending her hair spraying like streamers of lava erupting from a volcano, and her hips rolled and pressed backward against him with urgent, desperate purpose. Aidan could feel every ridge of her inner walls as they conformed to his probing appendages, clinging to him as he withdrew and parting eagerly at his return. She writhed all around him, his relentless motion and magical manhandling driving her into one orgasm after another.


    When he felt Brighid''s motions weakening and his own climax approaching, Aidan decided it was time for the finishing blow. He removed the mouths from her breasts, then shaped them into copies of his dick. Moving them into their positions, he told Brighid, "That''s right, let it all out. Give everything to me, as I give everything to you." He pulled out of her spasming pussy, then pressed the three throbbing tips to Brighid''s mouth, pussy, and ass. She stiffened, then, with a wordless cry, thrust herself backward and tilted her head forward, impaling herself triply upon Aidan. He cried out himself as he felt her surround him in her tight heat three times over.


    The human mind wasn''t built for that sort of stimulation, and it only took a few seconds of bliss for Aidan''s pace to turn from slow and steady to uneven and frantic. He didn''t so much approach the cliff as fling himself off of it, shouting, clutching, ramming himself home into his Soulmate. All thought poured from his mind and shot forth into Brighid''s willing depths as she joined him in ecstasy. He shuddered and jerked through the pleasure until all strength fled his body and he collapsed against Brighid. The last thing he remembered for a time was a brief flash of satisfaction as Brighidslumped down into unconsciousness with him.


    Aidan


    Late Afternoon


    Aidan woke hours later, feeling refreshed and revitalized. Brighid was still dozing, so he made his way around to her front and slipped into her arms. Riama looked up from her spot at the far corner of the bed. His familiar''s <exasperation> filled his mind as she stood up and stretched, then made her way over to him. "Mrrow!" The cat demanded, butting her head against his leg, and Aidan gave her the requested tribute of head-scratches.


    "Alright, alright, let''s address your growth, shall we, love?" Aidan asked, voice low so as not to wake Brighid. Riama''s purring intensified and she climbed up into his lap, prompting a chuckle from Aidan. There were still a few notifications he hadn''t checked, and after a quick filter, he found the one he was looking for.


    Aidan wasn''t sure how to spend Riama''s Attribute points. Her active Abilities were similar to those of a rogue, highlighting mobility and crippling attacks. Her small size meant that she had penalties to her Strength and Toughness; should he leave those alone or try to shore up her weaknesses? Also, she was supposed to be capable of casting his spells. Did that mean that he should invest in mental stats for her? As it was, her Concentration was half of his. Shaking his head, Aidan set that aside for the moment and focused on the Ability Advancement points in the hopes that her higher-tier Abilities would give him some guidance.


    Well, that isn''t very helpful. Without a preview of the improved Abilities, there wasn''t much to help Aidan make his decision. In a way, that made things easier, since there wasn''t much to debate. Aidan decided to spend a point on Empathic Bond, figuring that better communication would always be worthwhile.


    Nice! So it wasn''t just an upgrade to the existing parameters of the Ability. The cost increased, but the bonus Attribute points would be worthwhile in the long run. Still, the first level of each Ability was cheap, so Aidan bought the others just to see what he was working with.


    The bonus to Shadow Pounce made it much safer for her to use. Aidan approved. Steal Destiny''s stun would only work on weak creatures, but it seemed like a thing that would improve with further investment. He still didn''t like how vulnerable it made her to other enemies, though. Aidan looked over his options again. He was drawn once more to Empathic Bond; not only did it increase his ability to communicate with her, but it also made her smarter. That was precisely the sort of thing he was looking for in spending these points.


    Spending three points there would reduce him to three remaining, meaning that he couldn''t advance the Ability further. He also would only be able to improve one of the other Abilities. He still felt it was worthwhile; ever rank so far had been a significant leap forward, and he didn''t expect that to change. He was nonetheless surprised by the outcome of spending those points.


    Aidan was torn. Having the ability to use Riama as a long-range information relay by letting her mind-speak to others would be of incalculable value. As a student of history, Aidan was keenly aware of the role information transmission played in warfare and civilization''s advancement. At the same time, if he had the opportunity to make her smarter and more intellectually aware, didn''t he have the duty to do so? He remembered how gutted he had been at the end of Flowers for Algernon.


    A thread of thought intruded on Aidan''s internal debate. He glanced down at Riama, whose golden eyes were looking up at him. <deep and overwhelming trust in his decisions; eternal, unconditional love; fleeting, fragmentary desire to be more closely connected to him> He was so overwhelmed by the richness and complexity of the emotions she was sending him that he almost missed the tiny spark of desire at the end. Hugging Riama close, Aidan chose One Mind.


    A tiny paw pressed against his chest, steadying Riama as she raised her head level to his. She leaned forward until they were almost nose-to-nose, then a soft, feminine voice spoke in his mind. "I love you, Master." Accompanying the voice was a veritable flood of pure <love>. Aidan wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tight. Tears spilled from his eyes as her love washed over him. It was one thing to know that someone loved him¡ªthere was no doubt in his mind about the depth or breadth of Brighid''s feelings for him¡ªbut it was another thing entirely to feel it. No drug back on Earth ever gave him a high so pure and soaring as his bond with Riama.


    Aidan cuddled with his lover and his familiar for a long time before disengaging the mental link and dragging himself back to the task in front of him. He still had three Ability Advancement points and forty-four Attribute points to spend on his familiar, plus all of his own leveling. He tried to ask Riama''s opinion on the matter, but she only sent him pulses of <trust and contentment> in return. Eventually, Aidan decided that Steal Destiny made her more vulnerable while Shadow Pounce allowed her to contribute to fights without risking herself. He spent the remaining point on Wild Heart.


    The Attribute buffs from Riama''s various Abilities and his As Above, So Below Talent were starting to add up to something significant. Even without investing any Attribute points, her Speed was already almost 30. Her Might and Toughness were barely above their starting values, though, and Shadow Pounce seemed to be pushing her into the role of a burst damage dealer. He decided to invest ten points each into those two, and a further ten in Willpower to increase her Concentration for spellcasting.


    With fourteen points remaining, he looked over his other options with a critical eye. Endurance wasn''t something he was concerned about; Riama was a cat, which meant she was lazy. She wouldn''t even do her own walking if she could avoid it, so Stamina didn''t like a pressing concern. Agility and Speed were already her highest Attributes and advanced naturally with her levels. She didn''t have a use for Charisma aside from using his magic, and there was no way he was going to invest in her Attractiveness or Luck; she already had plenty of the latter anyway. That left him with Senses, Logic, and Intuition, and of the three, Senses seemed most crucial and had the most substantial bonus multiplier. He put another ten points there and then invested the remaining four in Speed to help her evasion and mobility.


    "You''re a ferocious little beastie now, love," he whispered to her. Riama¡¯s rumbling purr was her only response.


    Zurai

 Chosen, Chapter 59: Miracles

    Zurai


    Chosen, book 1 of the Paths of the Chosen series, is drawing to an end. The final chapter of Chosen will be posted on Saturday, 9/12, at the usual Saturday time. Following the end of Chosen there will be a short pause in official chapter postings (length TBD, most likely between 2 weeks and 1 month), but there will still be some content posted.


    Among that content will be an in-character Question and Answer session. In essence, I will write a non-canon chapter where all the characters are gathered together to answer reader questions in an in-character manner. These answers will be canon as far as they go, but the chapter itself obviously will not. If you wish to have your question answered, send me a PM here or on Discord with the question and which character it''s addressed to. You can ask your question of any character, living or dead, seen or unseen. Restrictions: answers are limited to the character''s in-character knowledge and their personality, and I will not spoil the story with the answers.


    Depending on the volume of questions, I will do my best to answer them all. If there''s an overwhelming response, I''ll pick the ones that are (in my opinion) the most interesting to answer in the Q&A and will answer the others OOC via PM.


    In addition to the above, I have made the following addition to the description of this story, in response to comments on past chapters and in consideration of potential future plot events:


    "I prefer my stories to have happy endings, and especially in these uncertain times I feel that it is important to maintain hope. While this tale will reach some dark places, I promise to you that, when all is said and done, the villains will be justly punished and the heroes will prevail and prosper. Remember: it is darkest before dawn, but dawn always comes."


    Aidan


    The Realms


    Fifthday, 2nd week of the 8th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Dusk


    Starchaser Village, Mistvale Highlands


    Okay, now onto my levels, Aidan decided. With six levels worth of points to distribute, there was a lot to consider. First, and most straightforward, were the Skill bonuses. He had 150% to distribute and not many viable places to put them. Aidan only had a bare handful of Skills on the verge of a rank increase: Magical Theory, Parrying, Persuasion, Smithing, and Swords were all within two levels of ranking up. Of those, he discarded Magical Theory and Smithing; whichever apprenticeship he took would cover his Magical Theory needs, and with Brighid around, he didn''t need to level Smithing. Parrying wouldn''t quite get enough to level with what he had, while Persuasion didn''t need the entire amount, so he split the difference. Aidan invested four levels worth of Skill advancement into Persuasion, with the rest going to Parrying.


    Function follows form, eh? I''ll take it. Attributes next. Aidan considered how to balance the mental stats for a while before deciding to devote one point per level into the Attributes governing each of his magic Skills: Intuition, Willpower, and Charisma. With the other half of his points, he invested a little into Toughness and Endurance¡ªthe latter mainly for Stamina to fuel Pulse of Life¡ªas well as five each into Agility and Speed. They were the linked Attributes to Evasion, which Aidan considered his primary defensive Skill, and Agility was also linked to a couple of his other Skills. His final two points went to Luck; he didn''t know how much of a role that Attribute had played so far, but it couldn''t hurt.


    Talents were next on Aidan''s list, and this required considerably more thought on his part. His gut told him that ignoring his Courtesan Talents to focus on Exalted Mage would not work out well. He needed to keep them relatively balanced. His purchases earlier had eased the uneasy feeling that had lurked in the back of his head, but some quick math told him that he was still under-invested in Courtesan. When he opened his Talent web to rectify that, he found a trio of new Talents waiting for him.


    Those were all attractive for different reasons. Huffin'' and Puffin'' provided the clearest benefit, and Aidan bought the first two ranks without further thought, doubling both the cap on the bonus and the duration of the effect. All of Your Love further enhanced the non-sexual utility of Magic Hands by letting him use it as a remote listening device. If he could figure out how to add sight to the list of shared senses, it would make a perfect scout. Either way, it was an automatic purchase. Extra Versatile had the lowest direct impact, especially since the Concentration cost wasn''t a concern for him, but the increased malleability made Aidan curious, so he went ahead and bought two ranks of it as well. Unfortunately, none of them unlocked new Talents yet, so Aidan was forced to consider his existing set.


    Of the Talents he hadn''t invested in yet, Ease the Burden was the only one that Aidan was interested in. Increased pleasure and decreased discomfort weren''t something Aidan felt he needed with Brighid, and he didn''t feel a pressing need to reduce his refractory period, either. However, he intended to fulfill his promise to his Soulmate, so Ease the Burden was something that he would buy at some point. Given the low cost and the need to balance his Talent spending, Aidan decided that he might as well invest in a couple of ranks now. He considered taking Submission to Erudition II because it allowed him to share his Skill affinity cheats, but the 20-point price tag was too high for the moment.


    He only had 52 Talent points remaining, so he turned to his Exalted Mage talents next. Right away, he bought Fire Link I and Life Link I; the purring familiar in his lap was high enough level to contribute to combat now, so the extra buffs were worthwhile. He also purchased the first rank in Altered Beast and Soul Caliber, which opened up the expected Talents for Riama:


    Those were both no-brainers, and Aidan purchased them immediately. Beast Link worked perfectly with Summon Obsidian Salamander, while Soul Link synergized with his new Fortify Soul spell. He spent several minutes considering where to spend his remaining 28 points, or even whether to spend them at all. In the end, Aidan decided to save them. He was tempted by Blending of Schools since he created his first multi-school spell, but he had Deific help to do so. He wanted to learn more about the process and the consequences of failure before spending five valuable points on it.


    The final item on his agenda was those Paragon points. Aidan had no idea what to expect from them. Would they be another Talent-like system, a reputation store for his Patron, or something else entirely? Well, only one way to find out. He opened the interface.


    The first two sections were about what Aidan expected. The option to purchase large quantities of Attribute and Talent points for relatively few Paragon points meant he could correct build problems if needed. The temporary options were a bit random¡ªAidan had no need of gems or enchanting materials¡ªbut he intended to purchase all five spellbooks and maybe see if Brighid could make good use of the Adamantite. The Special Offers section froze Aidan''s blood in his veins, however.


    An extra life. Extra. That means I don''t have infinite lives. What happens if I die without extra lives? Would I get sent back to Earth or... He bought it without further thought and resolved to leave at least 25 Paragon points free to purchase any other extra lives that might pop up in the Temporary Options stock.


    That wasn''t the only shock in the Special Offers, though; the ''dream visit from his Patron'' was almost as startling. That couldn''t be a random selection. It was placed there with intent, and its cost was a conspicuous sign. Further, the unique Profession Specialization and Prestige Class options were beacons in the night. He had no doubt that those, too, were placed there by his Patron. For all that, however, he had no problem with the Brighaid. Aidan could blame them for his deaths, but he had been the one to choose the Mistvale Highlands as his starting zone, and he could have abandoned the quest once he''d convinced Brighid to warn the Starchasers.


    It''s only one point, Aidan decided, and they''ve been helpful so far. I might as well follow the yellow brick road for now. He bought the dream, then the five spellbooks. Nothing happened for the first purchase, but when he confirmed the 25 points for the spellbooks, the bed before him shimmered like pavement at noon in July. After a moment, the heat haze effect vanished, leaving behind five slim tomes. Aidan examined each in turn.


    "Holy shit!" Aidan yelped. Brighid''s arms tightened around him, and she muttered in her sleep; Aidan stroked her hand in silent apology. He had expected the spells to be ones he could learn right away, and three of them were. Origination of Species and fucking Resurrection, however, blew his mind. Sitting in front of him on a rustic bed in a tiny village in the middle of nowhere were the means to learn how to create entirely new species and to steal lives from Death''s grasp. Moving with care born of trembling limbs, Aidan gathered Riama into his arms and placed her on the bed, then stood. He collected the Spellbooks one by one, walked over to his Handy Haversack, and slid them inside. Only when all five were sealed in an extra-dimensional space that only he could access was Aidan able to relax for a moment.


    It was only a moment, however. Behind him, Brighid screamed, "AIDANNNN!"


    Zurai

 Chosen, Chapter 60: Flirtin’ With Disaster

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Fifthday, 2nd week of the 8th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Early Evening


    Starchaser Village, Mistvale Highlands


    "No, no, no, no!" Brighid whimpered, her head thrashing and legs kicking. "Aidan, do not leave me, I am sorry, no no noooooooo!"


    The door banged open and Cai barged in, but Aidan paid her no heed. He focused his attention on Brighid, moving back to the bed and taking her head between his hands. "Brighid, I''m here, I''m here, wake up love, it''s just a nightmare, wake up," he urged her. Whenever he had the opportunity, Aidan pressed a kiss to her lips, cheek, forehead, or shoulder. After a few seconds, Brighid stilled and her eyes fluttered open. She stared, unseeing, at Aidan for a long breath before her emerald gaze sharpened and focused on him.


    "You left me," she whispered. "The Taig.. and then..." Pain flickered in her eyes and her voice broke as she continued, "and then I watched you die, Aidan. You floated up into the air and... and..." She buried her face against his chest and sobbed, "And you burned away. You didn''t even leave any ashes, just your armor and clothes."


    Aidan held his love, running his fingers through her tangled hair. A sound caught his attention, and he looked up to see Cai kneeling beside the bed. His vassal rested one hand on Brighid''s bare back and spoke to her in a gentle tone. "He came back to you, Brighid. I told you he would, did I not?" She turned her attention to Aidan and said, "We helped each other through our nightmares this last week while we waited for your return."


    "Thank you for that," Aidan replied. "I''ll want to talk to you about that later. For now... actually, how long have we been asleep?"


    "Well," Cai''s lips curled up and her cornflower blue eyes glinted, "it has been about three hours since all the ''Please, harder!'' and ''Oh fuck, Aidan!'' and other various screams of pleasure died down." Aidan blushed, and Brighid managed to hiccup out a laugh between her sobs. "It is only just after sunset if that is what you are asking, Lord Aidan." Cai rubbed Brighid''s back again, then stood, saying, "It looks like you have things in hand, so I will return to my post. Let me know if you need anything."


    "Actually," Aidan spoke up as Cai turned to leave, "there is something you can do if you don''t mind. Can you or Llwyd take a message to Ailis tonight or tomorrow morning? I need to speak to the Council, but I want to get her advice first. I''ll meet with her whenever she can make time for me."


    "Of course, my Lord. I will take the message myself and return with Councillor Ailis''s response." She bowed her head to him, then left Aidan and Brighid alone. Once the door clicked shut behind her, Aidan turned his attention back to his lover. Brighid had calmed somewhat, but he could still hear her sniffling against his chest.


    "I am so sorry, flame of my heart. I tried to think of anything else, anything at all, that I could do. I was trussed up; if the Taig had gagged me, too, we would all have died. Or, worse, become slaves like the dakhols. I could not, would not let that happen, my love."


    She nodded and murmured, "I know, love. You did what you had to. But watching you die..." She lifted her face to look at him with tear-filled eyes. "And then you took so long to return. After five days I... I was going to kill myself, Aidan."


    Aidan''s heart seized in his chest. His mind emptied as her words echoed a thousand times. With a shudder, Aidan cupped Brighid''s cheeks and rested his forehead against hers. ¡°I will always come back to you, Brighid. You are the love of my life, the flame of my heart, the one who makes being trapped here worthwhile. I cannot think of anything you would do of your own free will that would drive me away. Please, love, even if I take months or years to return, please know that I will. Not even the Powers of the Realms themselves could keep me from you.¡± Aidan felt a rumbling vibration, like thunder rattling his bones, but ignored it. ¡°I couldn¡¯t do this without you. Losing you to battle or disease would break my heart; losing you to despair would shatter me.¡±


    "It was Llwyd who stopped me," Brighid whispered with tears streaming from her eyes. "He saw the hope dying in me and knew what I felt. He told me that he was the same way when Cai died. He said it was you who kept him alive despite himself, and that you had already died once¡ªI told them all, after the Age message¡ªand that nothing that had happened would stop you from coming back to me again. I did not believe him, but Llwyd would not allow me to be alone. He even sent Cai or Ceirios with me when I went to relieve myself."


    "Then I have to find some way of thanking all three of them because they saved us both."


    Someone knocked at the door and, thinking that it was Cai returning from her errand, Aidan called out for her to enter. However, once the door swung open and closed, it was Ailis''s soprano voice that spoke. "When you sent Cai to fetch me, I did not realize you meant to hold the consultation naked in your bed. It is a good thing you did not send for Fionn or, Powers forbid, Gerwyn."


    Aidan''s first instinct was to scramble for his clothes or pull the sheet over his nudity, nor was he alone; Brighid crossed her arms over her breasts. An incongruity made Aidan still his hands, though. He stood up, facing her with hands on hips, and said, "I do not recall asking Cai to fetch you here; I intended to visit you in your own home. In fact, it hasn''t been long enough for her to make it to your home and back. You were on your way here already, weren''t you?"


    Ailis arches one pale eyebrow above her ice-blue eyes, but her mouth quirked up in a smile. "Yes, I was. Very good, Aidan."


    "And you didn''t announce yourself when you knocked; you let me assume it was Cai or Llwyd at the door. You wanted to catch us exposed like this." Another thought occurred to Aidan, bringing a smirk to his lips. "What would you have done if I had been busy with Brighid? Would you only watch... or would you have joined us?" The Councillor''s eyes widened a hair, and her cheeks took on the slightest hint of red; if Aidan wasn''t paying close attention, he wouldn''t have noticed. Before she could reply, he pressed onward. "Don''t let me stop you now; come, join us." Aidan knelt back on the bed, making sure not to obscure the sight of his manhood and leaving plenty of room for Ailis. Brighid followed his lead, dropping her arms from her chest and holding her head high, displaying the only article of clothing she wore with pride.


    Ailis hesitated for a moment, off-balance from the way Aidan had stolen the initiative. He knew she tried to put him on the defensive by catching him in a vulnerable state, but her reaction proved she hadn''t been prepared for him to turn the tables on her. Ailis''s eyes searched his face, then flicked across the nudity displayed in front of her. Then, taking Aidan by surprise, her delicate hands tugged at the laces of her shirt then pulled it over her head. She folded it and placed it on Brighid''s table, then made her way over to the bed to join them. Aidan forced himself to ignore the slight bounce and sway of her modest breasts and keep his eyes trained on Ailis''s.


    Brighid''s bed was large by Earth standards, but it was still close quarters for two centaurs, a cat, and a human to share. Brighid pressed tight against Aidan''s side, holding one of his arms between her breasts, but that still forced Ailis to sit just two feet from him. He considered pushing the envelope further, but since he did have a genuine need to talk to her, he decided not to risk her anger. "Thank you for meeting me, Ailis. There are several things I need to speak to you about, and I''m sure you have questions for me as well. In fact, I''m sure the entire Council does, which is one of my reasons for asking for this meeting." Intuition told Aidan that Ailis would bear a little more pushing, so he reached out and took one of her hands, bringing it to his lips so that he could brush her knuckles with a kiss. "And, of course, it is always nice to see more of the mother of my beloved." Brighid stifled a laugh, and Ailis shook her head at him, but Aidan didn''t miss the upward twitch at the corner of the Councillor''s mouth. He lowered her hand from his lips but continued to hold it, rubbing his thumb across her skin as he continued, "In light of the events at Ceallach Macht, we need to discuss the future. With all sincerity, I hoped to be nothing but a unique Starchaser, living my life here with Brighid and helping wherever I could. Unfortunately, it appears that will no longer be possible. My first question to you is: do Brighid and I need to prepare to leave? I realize that I have, albeit inadvertently and somewhat against my will, placed the tribe in danger. If it made you all safer, I would be willing to¡ª"


    Ailis cut him off, shaking her head and squeezing his hand. "No, Aidan, I believe that might be the worst thing you could do. You are correct that your display of power and the dawning of the new Age¡ªI assume that is what you are referring to?" At Aidan''s nod, she continued, "You are correct that they place us all in danger, but it will come whether you are here or not. Your absence will not prevent anyone from seeking us out, and if they held violence in their hearts, it would not prevent that, either. If you wish to leave so that you had more time before someone tracked you down, we cannot stop you. But if your desire is to help us, stay, grow strong, and defend us when the consequences of your actions come home to roost." Aidan winced at her blunt words, but given that she was sitting naked on his bed and holding his hand, he didn''t take it hard.


    "You are right, of course," he conceded. "And I had come to much the same conclusion, but I value your advice. If you thought otherwise, I would have listened." Aidan squeezed her hand back and resumed stroking with his thumb. He continued to take note of her subtle reactions, wondering whether he had grown more observant or if Ailis was so off-balance that she had lost control of her tells. Either way, her cheeks had darkened to light pink and goosebumps dotted her flesh. Brighid must have noted the same things or else felt left out because Aidan felt her hand stroke down his back and onto his tail. She rested her head against Aidan''s shoulder while she ran light fingertips along the flanges. Ailis''s eyes dipped downward for just a moment while Aidan tried to stifle his reaction to Brighid''s teasing touch.


    Aidan cleared his throat and moved onto the next topic. "Now that it''s settled that I''ll be staying, my next concern is that everyone who went with me into the city is cared for. We all suffered at the hands of the Tannath Taig, and though I was able to heal all the physical damage, emotional scars remain. Ysbail seemed to be coping well, and I haven''t seen Anwn since returning, but the rest of my team are all suffering. I was able to help Brighid," his lover nuzzled against his shoulder and kissed his neck, "but I can''t help the others in the same way. I don''t know that you can, either, but I would appreciate it if you would at least monitor their Psyches."


    Ailis nodded. "It reflects well on you that your first concerns are to your tribe and then those under your command. You are a good man, Aidan." She shifted her weight, leaning an inch or two closer to him. "I will, of course, help them in any way I can. You already know that I cannot erase the hurt from their minds, but they will not be the first Starchasers I have helped heal in this way. I will need the complete truth of what happened, though. I cannot heal wounds that I do not know about. Your team has been quite silent on the matter; even my own daughter," Ailis lifted her free hand to stroke Brighid''s cheek, "would only say that your secrets are yours and that she would not betray them to me."


    "Yes, I realize that. As long as whatever is discussed is held in confidence, I have no problem with anything they might tell you. In fact, I am going to insist that Brighid talk with you as well." Brighid stirred against him but didn''t speak up. He turned his attention to her anyway. "I know we already dealt with the big issues, beloved, but it will help you to talk with someone who wasn''t involved. I''m hoping that it will be a bonding experience for both of you as well." Ailis''s eyes shimmered with unshed tears, and she made no attempt to disguise her gratitude. Aidan smiled at her and raised her hand to his lips for another kiss. Brighid kissed his neck again as a sign of acquiescence, but her fingers on his tail became a little firmer, more demanding.


    "The third thing I wanted to discuss is a quest the gargoyles gave me upon my return. The deal they presented to me seemed a touch too good to be true. Where I come from, there''s a saying that goes, ''If you think it''s too good to be true, it probably is,'' and I wanted to get your opinion." At Ailis''s nod, Aidan gave a quick outline of the quest. He didn''t go into the reasons why they wanted his assistance, figuring that might be a sensitive topic.


    Ailis gave him her full attention while he spoke, then chewed on her lip for a few moments. "I admit that I know less of the Sapphire Sky Horde than I would like, but I have never heard of them attacking unprovoked. Indeed, the ones who fought at our side at Ceallach Macht are the only time I have heard of them fighting in my lifetime. If they have offered you their help in return for an agreement of future assistance, it must be something that they want a great deal. I cannot tell you what the end result would be, but I believe that as long as you hold to your end of the bargain, they will keep theirs. Speaking only for myself, if you choose to accept, I would quite like to hear any knowledge they share with you." Her voice held a note of promise.


    "Oh? And just what would you be willing to give me in return?" The change in Ailis''s tone gave Aidan a jolt of courage. He let go of her hand and reached out to touch her just below her waist, where her smooth skin turned to fur. He knew from recent experience that Brighid was appreciative of such touches.


    Ailis''s nostrils flared. She swayed a touch closer to Aidan, her eyes fixed on his. "That would depend on how rare and valuable the knowledge is, of course." Her delicate tongue emerged and flicked over her lips.


    "That doesn''t seem fair to me," Aidan told her. "I tell you a secret, and only after I have given it away do you tell me what you will give me for it? Does that sound fair to you, Brighid?"


    The Paladin raised her head off Aidan''s shoulder to look at her mother. "No, that sounds like a poor deal indeed, Master. You should make her pay upfront; once you have told her the secret, it no longer has any value, and I do not believe the gargoyles would waste their time with banal secrets.


    Aidan nodded and kissed Brighid''s cheek in thanks. "Yes, that was my thought as well. What do you think I should ask for in payment, though?"


    "Mother was the one who brought us together, in a way, so I think you should give her the first for a kiss. After that, though, the price should go up. If she wants more secrets, she will need to offer more in trade."


    The red in Ailis''s cheeks spread across her neck, shoulders, and the upper slopes of her perky breasts. Aidan trailed his fingers across her skin and fur with soft, slow strokes. "Well, you heard your daughter. I do believe I will accept the quest, and I would be happy to sell you any knowledge they do not forbid me from sharing¡ªfor an appropriate price, paid ahead of time."


    Ailis wet her lips again, then leaned forward, breathing, "Then let us call this a payment for the first secret," just before her soft lips pressed against Aidan''s. A heartbeat later, he felt her soft breasts and hard nipples press against his chest, and her tongue tracing across his lips. Aidan parted his lips in response to her unspoken request, and she slid her tongue inside, exploring his mouth for a moment, only to retreat when he engaged her on equal terms. Aidan chased after, leaning forward and sliding his hand from her waist to cup her left breast. Ailis moaned into the kiss and sucked on his tongue, then it was Aidan''s turn to groan as her hand touched his hip and descended to his lap. Her hand was smaller and softer than Brighid''s, and her touch was tentative at first, but the pleasure was no less for it. After only a few moments, however, Ailis slid her hand back up Aidan''s side and withdrew from the kiss. Her voice dropped low and her breath came in short, breathy pants as she asserted, "That should be sufficient payment for one secret. I must not over-pay at the start, after all, or who knows what price you might extract for later trades?"


    Aidan closed the space between them to press a rough, demanding kiss on her, then backed off after another short tongue-duel. "I''ll hold you to that. The second price will be to finish what you started today." He let his hand fall from her breast to her waist as she leaned back from him.


    "I look forward to future negotiations, then," Ailis told him, eyes hooded. "Was there anything else you wished to discuss?"


    "Only that I would like to address the full Council. It isn''t an emergency, and it doesn''t need to be a formal Council session. I just would rather answer everyone''s questions at once rather than having each of you approach me piecemeal. Would you mind conveying my request to the other Councillors?"


    "I have no objection to that. If there is nothing else?"


    Aidan shook his head, then decided to let fly one last arrow. "Until then, I believe I speak for both Brighid and myself when I say that you are always welcome in our home. I will inform Cai and Llwyd that you are allowed entry at any time. Please, feel free to stop by and join us whenever the mood strikes you."


    Ailis smirked at him, then rose and sauntered over to the table where she left her shirt. Instead of wearing it, however, she gave Aidan a sultry glance over her shoulder, flicked her tail, and walked out the door. Brighid managed to keep calm until the door closed behind her mother, then collapsed against Aidan in a fit of giggles.


    Zurai

 Chosen, Chapter 61: Answers

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Fifthday, 2nd week of the 8th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Early Evening


    Starchaser Village, Mistvale Highlands


    Once Brighid managed to get her laughter under control, she said, "You handled her so well! She was off-balance from the start. That was wonderful."


    Aidan shook his head. "I''m not sure how I did it. I''ve never been that confident or quick under pressure. Two weeks ago, I would have folded and played right into her hands." The thought troubled him.


    "Two weeks ago, you were a quarter the level you are now. For most of us, the changes from higher Attributes are more gradual, so it is harder to see the differences."


    Aidan squinted at his love. "''For most of us,'' but not for you?"


    Brighid blushed and looked away for a moment. "I told you how one of my Traits lowers my Willpower every level? Well, when I was younger, I did not care about it. I assumed that if it was part of the Three Flames'' gift, that was what They wanted. Mother disapproved, but she could not force me to change my mind. It took me years and more than a few mistakes to realize that it was a test and a challenge, not a mandate. I spent several levels bringing it back up to 10 and have maintained it there since."


    "Until a week ago, that is." Aidan hadn''t missed that Brighid raised her Willpower with her most recent level. "A reaction to your guilt?" She nodded, eyes downcast. "A few extra points wouldn''t have changed anything against the Taig, love," he told her.


    "I know. But they would not have hurt, either." She lifted her gaze again and bit her lower lip. "Back to the matter at hand. Mother did not know what hit her. Are you going to press your advantage and follow through on what you told her?"


    Aidan grimaced. He trusted Ailis about as far as he could throw her, which was not at all. "I don''t know. I got caught up in the moment. I can''t help but think that even though I defeated her plan A, I fell right into her plan B." He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. I need a hair cut. "What was it that Roark asked you? ''When was the last time you outwitted your mother, little spark?'' Is this the first, or did I fall victim to my own cleverness?"


    Brighid raised her head and brushed her lips across Aidan''s. "Trust me on this: you cannot think that way. If you start chasing shadows, you give her more to use against you. Instead, decide what to do for your reasons, and if that coincides with Mother''s goals, all the better. She has... well, not no power over you, but as long as you hold to the laws, she has very little influence over you that you do not give her."


    Aidan tangled his fingers in Brighid''s hair and pulled her close for a longer kiss. When their lips parted for breath, he said, "You are right as always, love."


    "And do not forget it!" She admonished with a grin and a toss of her hair. "Besides, you and your Patron removed any option she had of quietly disposing of you. You are too visible and too influential. Cai and Llwyd are the first, but not the last, I am sure of it. Mother is too politically-minded to fight against you now. She might still try to use you, but she will be more polite about it."


    "Hah. Polite. Yes, I suppose that''s one word for what just happened." Aidan gave Brighid a wry smile. "And don''t think I missed that it was you who suggested that payments start at a kiss and escalate from there, love. I still do not understand how you can throw me at another woman, your mother no less, and not feel jealous. You really don''t mind if I have other lovers?"


    "I really do not." She kissed him again, and several minutes passed before she continued, "I love you, Aidan, and I know you love me. I know that our love will never fade or burn out. Knowing that, why should I worry about you taking pleasure from someone else? Why should I even worry about you falling in love with another woman? The Brighiaid say, ''Love has no boundaries; it is within us all and only grows when shared.'' Also, you just reassured me that you will always come back, no matter what." She gave him a brilliant smile, setting butterflies to fluttering in Aidan''s belly. "Besides, I intend to take advantage of all that Charisma you have. Seduce whoever you want, but do not be surprised when I join in."


    "How did I get so lucky?" Aidan shook his head. "I guess I can''t argue with that logic. But you are more than the woman I love; you are my Soulmate. If you don''t want me to sleep with someone else, tell me. That''s an order, okay?" He flicked the thin steel tag attached to Brighid''s collar for emphasis. "Still. Your mother?"


    Brighid smirked at him. "Who do you think taught me how to pleasure myself and others?" At Aidan''s shocked look, she laughed. "You and your strange morals. She did me no harm, and no children could come of it, so what does it matter?" She shrugged. "There has been nothing between us since, and I do not know that I would participate if you did take her to bed, but do not let that stop you. As a matter of fact," Brighid''s emerald eyes glittered, and she licked her lips. "It is too late to do anything else constructive today, but I am not tired enough to go back to sleep. Mother left you high and dry." Feminine fingers trailed down Aidan''s chest. "Why not show me what you intend to do to correct that in future negotiations?"


    Riama, who had stayed quiet on her corner of the bed while Ailis was present, stretched and made her way to the table. She sent him a pulse of <exasperation>, but Aidan was too occupied to respond.


    Aidan


    ???


    Aidan opened his eyes. It felt like a lifetime since he had last seen this room, but he recognized it instantly. He sat up on the double-king-sized bed and glanced around the opulently-appointed room. Dozens of gem-encrusted golden braziers encircled the bed, their flames raising the space''s temperature to sweat-inducing levels. Numerous paintings and sculptures, made in a dizzying variety of styles, lined the walls. Even the room''s ceiling was a work of art bedecked with intricate layers of metal filigree. This time, though, Aidan''s Patron was not on the bed with him; They sat on a throne that was as indeterminate in its detail as They were.


    "Greetings, Champion," Their indefinable voice washed over him. "Be welcome once more to my/our home. Thy deeds have given me/us an advantage, and so I/we wished to reward thee in a more refined manner. Before, the breadth of thy experiences was too slight, so I/we gave thee a," Their lips quirked in teasing smile, "direct sign of my/our favor. Now, I/we grant thee a different gift. You have questions. Ask, Champion, and I/we shall answer as best I/we can."


    Aidan blinked. He hadn''t been sure what to expect from this meeting, but this wasn''t it. He wasn''t about to look a gift horse in the mouth, though. "How do I return to Earth?" That was far and away the most pressing question he had for his Patron.


    They sighed. "I/We knew that was coming, but it is no more pleasant for it. Ne''ertheless, answers you were promised. There is no single method that I/we can tell you to facilitate thy return to thy homeworld. It is possible, but the power expended to draw thee and the other Chosen here would be beyond thy comprehension. I/We have not the time to educate thee on all the rules of reality that were violated in the process. Suffice to say that it will not be easy; if thou truly wish to return, then make it one of thy life''s missions. I/We can tell you that one of the laws which were suspended in thy travels across the Between was time; if ever you do return, fear not that it will be to a distant future."


    That was definitely not the answer he wanted to hear, but there was a glimmer of hope in it. If time was ''suspended'' for him, he didn''t have to worry about his Earth-body dying or disappearing. That was a huge relief. "How many lives do I have remaining?"


    They shook Their head. "That knowledge is Forbidden, alas. I/We can give you no more answer than I/we already have in that regard."


    That confirmed to Aidan that the extra life was added to the Special Offers section as a clue. He would thank Them for it later; he didn''t know how much time he had here and wanted to make it count. "Are You the Brighaid?"


    "Yes, in a sense." Painted lips curled up in a smile, and green-blue-gold-black-red-silver eyes twinkled merrily. "If it is thy wish to have a name to call me/us by, that one pleases me/us. Do not be surprised if thy travels bring you to places where I/we am/are known otherwise, however. The Realms are vast, and we Powers relatively few."


    Aidan nodded. Anthropologists back on Earth would have a field day with that. He inhaled deeply, then let his breath out and asked, "What is it You brought me here to do?"


    The Brighaid settled back on Their throne. "Ah, the heart of the matter." They nodded. "There is much that I/we cannot tell thee. Know that the Chosen, thyself included, are intended as agents of change in the Realms. I/We believe you already know the first change: the balance of power between mortals and those above must be restored. No two of us agree on which path to take, and thus we each Chose our Champions. Thy prayer and my/our response at Ceallach Macht started the process, though there is much yet to be done."


    The Brighaid leaned forward again, drawing Aidan''s eyes briefly to Their bared breasts before he marshaled his Willpower. "For the near future, thy task is to grow strong. Right now, thou art only a candle''s flame. Dark days are coming, beloved, and thou must become the fire that lights up the night." They stood and approached Aidan on the bed. "Thy ultimate task is to be my/our Champion in all things. I/we Chose thee and thee alone, where others sowed their seeds wide and far. All my/our hopes rest in thee, but I/we chose well. Thou art my/our Champion in more than name; thou need no instruction from me/us, for it is already within thy heart to do so." They climbed onto the bed and straddled Aidan''s lap, leaning in close and whispering, "There is yet time for one final question. Ask, Aidan."


    It was all Aidan could do to keep his mind from drowning in the exquisite proximity of his Patron. He fought against the sensation of Their mouth nipping at his neck, ignored Their hands stroking his back, and choked down the urge to lift his hips towards the damp heat radiating between Their silken thighs. Finally, he managed to gasp out, "Was my sister Chosen too?"


    Perfect lips pressed against his, and Aidan''s awareness dissolved into infinite pleasure. A single word kept him afloat as waves of ecstasy banished him from the dream-that-was-not-a-dream: "Yes."


    Aidan


    Sixthday, 2nd week of the 8th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Morning


    Aidan woke before Brighid the next morning, but, not wanting to prompt another nightmare, he remained in her arms. Sometime during the night, Riama had wedged herself between them; remembering her admonishment, Aidan began to scratch her ears and stroke her back. His familiar opened one golden eye to look at him, then closed it again and snuggled closer.


    .


    Aidan smiled and sent back, <contentment, love, togetherness>. The astral jaguar''s distinct rumbling purr answered him. A few minutes later, Brighid stirred, her arms tightening around him. "Mmm. Good morning, my love." She nuzzled his hair. "What do you plan to do today?"


    "Aside from letting Sarpedon know that I''m accepting his quest? No plans. For the first time since I came to the Realms, there are no pressing life-or-death situations for me to handle. I could use a vacation."


    Brighid laughed and squeezed him again. "If ever there was someone who earned a vacation with three weeks of work, it is you, my heart. Do you mind if I come with you? I was too buried in my thoughts to talk to Sarpedon while we waited for your return, and I am curious about them."


    "Of course! I have no secrets from you anymore, Brighid. You don''t ever need to ask whether you can come with me; I would spend every day by your side if I could."


    "I know," Brighid grinned at him, "but a girl likes to hear that she is wanted."


    Aidan laughed and gave her a faint swat on the flank. "You do not need to fish for compliments, but I will shower you with them anyway. You are the kindest, fiercest, most beautiful person I have met, inside and out. You are all the proof anyone should need as to the truth of the Brighaid''s doctrine. I love you, Brighid. A life without you would be empty."


    Brighid blushed crimson and ducked her head to rub her cheek against his shoulder. "I am not so perfect as that. You are kind to overlook my flaws, but they exist."


    "Of course they do. No one is perfect, love. It is our imperfections and differences that make us who we are. I love that you lead me off on adventures that I would never start on my own, like kissing your mother. That impulsive side of you is something I cherish. I need someone to drag me out of my own thoughts and keep me from wearing a rut in the ground doing the same thing every day."


    Brighid trembled and looked up at him, teary-eyed. "What did I do to deserve you? I love you, Aidan, more than I ever thought possible." She leaned in and kissed him thoroughly enough that Riama vacated the bed again.


    When they emerged for air, Aidan sighed and straightened. "Before we get to any of the fun stuff, however, I have two important things to tell you. Recent developments; I haven''t been keeping anything else from you." He explained the Paragon points he received from his part in the dawn of the new Age as well as the rewards available to him.


    To his surprise, Brighid''s response to his mortality was stoic. "I never believed you to be immortal, love, even after you returned to me. I already expect every death to be your last. Now you will, too; that eases my mind. You have not thrown your life away frivolously yet, and now I know you will not. What were the spellbooks you received?"


    "I got three I could learn and two I could not. Summon Steed, Lesser Soulbind, and Summon Golden Fawn were the ones I can use, assuming I have my lovely and gracious partner''s permission to do so." Brighid snickered at him. "The other two... I will tell you if you want, my heart, but I warn you that the very first thing I did was to shove them in my Handy Haversack. I will not be able to learn either spell for a long time; one is described as Forbidden, and the other possibly even worse. Just knowing what they are is dangerous."


    Brighid nodded, expression sober. "I trust you, Aidan. I admit to intense curiosity, but I can suppress it. Please let me know if you do decide to learn them, though."


    "Heh, I''d have to anyway. The shorter of the two takes two entire days to read at 100% affinity. I can''t imagine how anyone without my particular advantage could expect to survive reading either of them, just due to the time it would take someone with degraded affinity."


    A scarlet eyebrow arched above emerald eyes. "There are ways to shorten the time needed to learn a new spell, but forty-eight hours means it is Master-tier. Spellbooks at that level are rare beyond belief, and you say the other takes longer?" She shook her head. "Momentous things happen around you, love."


    "Yes, well, about that. The other reward I picked from the store was a second dream-visit with my Patron. That happened last night. They allowed me to ask Them a few questions. The answers, for the most part, weren''t surprising. They confirmed that They are the Brighaid¡ªalthough I guess that is only one name They answer to. I can return to Earth, although the road will be long and hard if I choose to take it. They gave me a little information on the reason I was Chosen and what they want from me in the future, though it sorely lacked in detail. And... Brighid, my sister was Chosen as well. Eve is here, somewhere, and I need to find her."


    Brighid wrapped her arms tight around Aidan and squeezed him close. "That is wonderful news, my love! Do you have any idea who or where she is?"


    He shook his head. "No, not a clue. And worse, she''s smart. Assuming she was given even half as many clues about what''s going on as I got, she''ll be hiding what she is. It won''t be easy to find her." Aidan sighed and stretched, then suggested, "We should get up and have some breakfast. I''ll cook." <intense hunger> came from the black cat sitting on the table. Aidan laughed and told her, "Yes, for you too, you little glutton."


    Zurai

 Chosen, Chapter 62: Freedom and Security

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Sixthday, 2nd week of the 8th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Late Morning


    Starchaser Village, Mistvale Highlands


    It was nearly midday when the three of them emerged from Brighid''s home. Llwyd snapped to attention, pressing a closed fist to his chest and bowing his head, when Aidan walked out the door. "Good morning, my Lord. What is today''s agenda?"


    Aidan frowned at the obeisance, but let it pass. "I''m going to head out to meet Sarpedon on the hill. Is Cai awake?"


    Llwyd nodded. "She should be. We changed shifts at midnight, so she has had plenty of time to sleep."


    "Good. Go ask her to join us if you would. Brighid and I will visit Councillor Ailis to see if she wishes to be present as well. We''ll meet you outside the eastern gate in half an hour." Llwyd saluted again and trotted off. Aidan turned back to Brighid to find Riama already perched on the centaur''s back. He snorted and thought to himself, If she could learn Skills, I swear that cat would have more Centaurback Riding levels than I do inside a week.


    A short walk later, they arrived at Ailis''s home. After hearing the knock and admitting Brighid and Aidan inside, Ailis asked, "To what do I owe this pleasure? Did you remember a question you forgot to ask me?"


    Aidan shook his head. "No, nothing like that. I''m going to see Sarpedon¡ªthe gargoyles'' representative¡ªand tell him that I''m accepting their quest. When he gave it to me, he said that there was a secret he knew of that I could act on immediately; I''m inviting you along, as you''ve already made your payment." He couldn''t help smirking internally as he threw in that last bit, although Ailis showed no outward reaction to the barb.


    "Ah, I see. Yes, I would like to be present. Give me just a moment to finish my tea, and we can be off."


    It took the party around an hour to navigate the path up to hill''s crest, but it was not quite noon when they approached the stony figure standing there. As Aidan approached, Sarpedon turned to face him. "Greetings, Chosen Aidan and company. I am surprised to see you so soon. It has not yet been a day, has it? I confess, I sometimes lose track of time."


    "Greetings, Sarpedon. It has been a little more than a day, yes. After resting and recovering from my ordeal and consulting with friends and family, I found that the decision was not hard to make." Aidan brought up the quest prompt and mentally hit the ACCEPT button. "I accept your offer and look forward to working with your people, now and in the future."


    Sarpedon smiled and pressed his hands together, palm to palm, bowing over them. "Most excellent! I am overjoyed. As a first token of our pact, I know a secret within the city that you so recently cleaned. Do you wish me to tell you alone, or may these others hear?"


    "Ah, forgive me, I have not made introductions. Ailis, this is Sarpedon of the Sapphire Sky Horde. Sarpedon, meet Ailis Silverhair of the Starchasers; she is the mother of my beloved and one of the Councillors who guide the tribe. She has a stake in your answer, and the others here I trust to hold my secrets."


    Sarpedon bowed to Ailis, who inclined her head in return. "The city of Ceallach Macht was not built where it is by accident," he began speaking in his resonant voice. "Deep in its heart¡ªin the very chamber where you fought the Tannath Taig¡ªthere lies a room with tiled floors and an altar. That chamber is the physical manifestation of a Place of Power." Ailis nodded with a grim expression on her face but did not interrupt. Sarpedon continued, "By your lack of reactions, only the Lady Councillor knows what that means, so I will elaborate. Even though most mages do not realize it, magic is not ever-present in the Realms. There is a sort of magical landscape which most cannot see or detect, with its own hills and valleys, rivers and peaks¡ªnot exactly, you understand, this is merely an imperfect metaphor. But magic accumulates like water in this physical world, and in the places where several rivers flow together, they form great pools with massive magical potential. When one of those pools is discovered and exploited properly by a skilled mage, it becomes a Place of Power. Even when left alone, such a pool will increase the ambient magic in the land around it; that is why the mists are ever-present in these hills, as it happens. When a mage with the right affinity takes possession of the Place of Power, they can access some of the energies which power the entire world. The more rivers which run into the pool, the harder it is to control; the Taig did not have the correct nature for the Place of Power to submit to it, and it is fortunate for all of us that it did not. The power it was able to siphon from the pool with its crude methods was enough for it to raise and control an army thousands strong."


    Ailis interrupted Sarpedon''s exposition, her tone urgent. "Which schools? Which schools is the Place of Power attuned to?"


    Fortunately, Sarpedon did not seem offended at being interrupted. "Currently, Earth and Air, with two unaspected streams feeding it."


    "Four?" Ailis asked, awe evident in her voice. "And Earth and Air, opposites. No one in the village could bind it, then." Her shoulders slumped for a moment before she stiffened and turned to Aidan. "No centaur in the village." Ice-blue eyes bored into him. "Aidan, this is important. You told me once that your Trait increases your affinity with multiple schools of magic, and I know you have access to four already. Are Earth and Air among them?"


    Aidan exchanged a glance with Brighid. She tilted her head and shrugged; the choice was his. Aidan closed his eyes and took in a deep breath, then let it out and opened his eyes again. "I am trusting you with this, Ailis. If I ever find that you have betrayed this secret to others, that will be the end of any possibility of peace between us. Do you understand and accept?"


    Ailis nodded, her expression solemn. "This is too important. If you can claim this Place of Power, it offers a real hope of the tribe surviving the coming storm. If anyone outside the tribe were to bind it, that would be the end of us. I will not lie: being the Master of a Place of Power will not ease your burdens even a little, but it will give you and us a chance." Ailis kneeled down on her front legs and bowed deep, pressing her forehead to the ground. "Please, Aidan, extract whatever promises you must. This is too important for me to play games with you."


    Aidan sighed. "Yes, I have reason to believe that I have high affinity with Earth and Air Magic, if I can find a trainer or Spellbook for them. Sarpedon, please do not spread that around; it''s bad enough that me being a Chosen is an open secret."


    Sarpedon interjected, "No knowledge of the Skills is necessary, just sufficient affinity and Willpower."


    Ailis looked up from her prostrate position, hope and desperation plain on her face. "Please, Aidan. I have no right to ask this of you. I am a monster, I know that. You are right not to trust me. I will swear whatever Oath you require from me, even vassalage, if you take on this burden." She pressed her face back into the grass.


    Aidan looked long and hard at Ailis, thoughts whirling through his mind. He knew that what she was asking went beyond the surface. Claiming the Place of Power, whatever that meant, was the first step on the path she was asking him to take. Ailis wanted him to dedicate himself and his power to protecting and serving the Starchaser tribe¡ªa tribe that he still wasn''t a member of. That was the crux of his decision. Aidan had already done far more for the centaurs than they had done for him, individually or as a whole. Even after wiping out an army single-handed and saving the entire region, less than half of the village was Friendly or better. Beyond that, the village''s ruling Council, at Ailis''s instigation, had used and abused him for no reason other than it had been convenient at the time.


    Aidan felt Cai and Llwyd''s eyes on him and thought about Llwyd''s words. I have the potential to make the world a better place. Would turning his back on the Starchasers be living up to that? Was it even his responsibility to live up to it? That''s the question I need to answer, the Vorlon question: Who am I? So far, I''ve been reacting to events or being used by others for their designs. Am I going to keep being a tool, or am I going to seize control of my fate?


    Aidan reached out and took Brighid''s hand in his; she squeezed his fingers. "Swear your Oath, Ailis Silverhair."


    Still prostrate on the ground, Ailis intoned, "I pledge my sword to thy banner, my shield to thy defense, and my honor to thy glory. I swear to follow thy commands, advance thy causes, and never to work against thee or thine wishes for so long as thou dost hold faith with me."


    "Rise, Ailis. I hear thy Oath and accept; in return, I swear to hold faith with thee until the end of days, and to protect thy people as if they were my own."


    Ailis rose to her feet and looked at Aidan, tears streaming down her face. He wasn''t sure whether the tears were of gratitude or humiliation, and he found he didn''t care. "Thank you, my Lord. Thank you."


    Aidan looked over at Brighid and gave her a tired smile. "I guess I was too hasty when I said I was taking a vacation." There were tears at the corner of her eyes, too, but Brighid smiled back at him. Aidan returned his attention to Ailis. "Do not thank me; this wasn''t done as a favor. If I am to become the Starchasers'' shield against the world, then you will have to work as hard as I do. And somehow, I doubt that the tribe will accept a Councillor who owes fealty to another; I expect you will be asked to step down once we return to the village." Ailis paled¡ªa feat, given her marble-like complexion. Her eyes closed and she sagged for a moment before resolve filled her expression. She turned to Sarpedon.


    "Do you know how Aidan can claim the Place of Power? I know of them in general terms, the history and legends, but it is all theoretical."


    The gargoyle nodded. "I do, and I will be happy to guide him. It is to our benefit for the task Aidan has accepted if he has the tools a Place of Power will give him, after all." He turned his head and spoke to Aidan, "I can take us to Ceallach Macht in a moment''s time, if you wish, but you will need to return the long way."


    "Does anyone have anything that can''t wait a few days? Ailis, do you need to tell anyone that you''ll be absent?"


    "We should arm and armor ourselves," Brighid said, "and gather some supplies for the return trip."


    "And I do need to make provisions for my absence," Ailis agreed.


    "Okay, let''s all head back down to the village, have some lunch, and make whatever preparations we need. Meet back here in two hours?" The others nodded.


    Aidan


    Early Afternoon


    When the party reconvened two hours later, they found Sarpedon standing in the center of a glowing circle of glyphs. He beckoned them forward, indicating for each to stand in the center of their own, smaller runed circle. Once everyone was in place, the gargoyle''s stony fingers traced elaborate paths through the air. After his first gesture, the glyphic rings began to spin, and with every further dip and twitch of his fingers, they turned and rotated faster and faster. In moments, each of them was engulfed in a shining sphere of magical energy. Aidan''s hair stood on end as he felt the spell''s power infusing him, then, suddenly, the light was gone and they were standing in Ceallach Macht.


    The city looked different. It took Aidan a moment to realize that the mist was gone, allowing him to see the time-worn ruins surrounding him clearly for the first time. There were far fewer intact buildings than he first thought; the city was little more than rubble. Sarpedon''s teleportation magic placed the party near the main avenue, just shy of the central hill, so it only took them a few minutes to pick their way through the debris to their destination. The altar chamber was coated in a thin layer of white ash, disturbed only by the hoofprints and other marks left by the members of Aidan''s strike team.


    Sarpedon beckoned Aidan over to the center of the room. "Place your hands upon the altar. Now, you must allow your magical essence to mingle with the magic of the Place of Power."


    Aidan gave him a blank look. "How do I do that?"


    The gargoyle grimaced. "It is difficult to describe, I confess. Do you know the sensation of power building with you as you cast a spell?" Aidan nodded. "That is essence being gathered and shaped by the words and gestures of the magic. It is possible to access your essence without the framework of a spell; try to reach inside yourself and summon forth that feeling, but instead of casting, push it into the altar."


    The vague instructions left Aidan dubious, but he gave it his best shot. He closed his eyes and tried to wall off every sense except the feel of his hand on the altar. Once he felt sufficiently centered, Aidan attempted to emulate casting a spell without actually doing so. Nothing happened. Several minutes passed with nothing happening despite his continued mental efforts. Frustration built within Aidan as he repeatedly failed in front of an audience. This isn''t working; time for a new approach. Instead of trying to access the power without a spell, what would happen if he started casting one but redirected the manna mid-cast?


    Aidan twisted his fingers in the initial gesture for Kindle the Hearth-Flame and started the spell''s chant. He felt the power welling up within him and immediately stopped and grabbed at it with his mind. It vanished as soon as his concentration shifted. Gritting his teeth, Aidan tried again, and again, and again, but it slipped away from him every time. He could feel his frustration returning, so he stopped and took a deep breath. The task at hand was to mingle his magic with the altar''s. Why did he need to ''hold'' it? He let out the breath, releasing the tension building up inside him, and started casting. This time, he focused on the spell''s energy, and, rather than stopping and trying to hold onto the manna, he gave it a mental push out and down. Aidan heard gasps from all around him and opened his eyes, only to be overwhelmed by unexpected sights.


    Zurai

 Chosen, Chapter 63: Born Anew & Epilogue

    Zurai


    Aidan


    The Realms


    Sixthday, 2nd week of the 8th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Mid-Afternoon


    Ceallach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    He could make out the vague shape of the room he was standing in, but overlayed on top of that was a field of glowing energy stretching out to the horizon. Tiny trickles merged into streams and then four vast rivers of manna, all of them rushing towards him and collecting in the chamber around him. If this is what Sarpedon was talking about, he''s right; calling it hills and valleys isn''t accurate. The ''terrain'' didn''t have a third dimension, but there was a noticeable directionality to the flows. It more resembled a circuit board than a topographical map. That wasn''t all there was to see, either; each of Aidan''s companions had a visual representation. Cai and Llwyd were faint bundles of self-contained light. Brighid, standing beside him, was a glowing, pulsing field of orange-red. The brilliant golden-brown aura was Ailis, and the floor-to-ceiling pillar of crackling sapphire static had to be Sarpedon. At Aidan''s feet was a tangled bramble of different colors of energy surrounded by a shimmering, twinkling aura of lights; Riama.


    Aidan focused his attention on the altar beneath his hand and pushed his awareness at it. He felt resistance at first, like he was struggling against hurricane winds, but then it gave way and he felt a connection form. Four octahedral crystals the size of his fists materialized and began to spin around the perimeter of the room. One of them was the red-brown of fertile soil, one a light sky blue streaked with white, and the other two were opalescent white. Aidan wasn''t sure what to do with them, but that turned out not to matter. The Earth crystal glowed and pulsed, sending out a single basso note of sound; Aidan felt it vibrate through his body and spark a resonance within him. The Air crystal followed with its own glow and glissando, again answered by something inside Aidan, then the two unaspected nodes.


    The crystals began to spiral in towards him, glowing and pulsing in a complicated pattern, the gap between them growing shorter with every pulse. Within moments, Aidan''s senses were awash in a sea of colors and music, pulsing and strobing and echoing all through and around him. The crystals continued to close in on him, the lights blinking faster, the music growing frenetic, blending into an otherworldly symphony. A prompt bloomed in his mind.


    Aidan steeled himself, then sent his acceptance. The crystals stopped in mid-air, flared into dazzling radiance, blasted a final musical phrase, and then shot forward into Aidan. He staggered back from the altar, his connection to the strange magical landscape gone, but notifications began to explode like fireworks in his mind.


    Brighid caught Aidan in her arms as he staggered back from the psychic shock of claiming Caer Macht. He hung limp in her arms for a moment, stunned and struggling to process the barrage of notifications. He eased himself back to his feet, patting Brighid''s arm in thanks, and attempted to push away all the prompts to deal with later. To his surprise, one refused to go, so he opened it.


    More work, more responsibilities, was Aidan''s initial thought, and he almost declined on the spot before an idea struck him. The legends Brighid told him about the city said that Ceallach Macht was once a multi-species, multi-cultural city. If he could rebuild it that way, it would give him a power base that didn''t depend on the goodwill of the Starchaser tribe. It would also mean that when enemies came for him, they would face more than just a couple hundred centaurs. And, too, there was Cai and Llwyd''s faith in him. However, the straw that broke the camel''s back was the implication that someone else could if he didn''t claim the city. That would be unacceptable. He squared his shoulders and took another weight upon himself.


    As if that weren''t enough, six voices spoke in unison, five out loud and one in his mind, "All hail Lord Aidan!" Cai, Llwyd, Brighid, and even Ailis''s declaration, he set aside; they already addressed him as ''My Lord'' or worse. Sarpedon surprised him, but that wasn''t the focus of his attention, either. Aidan glared down at the black-furred astral jaguar at his feet and thought to her, "Traitor!" Riama blinked at him in the manner of a housecat who just pushed a plate off the table, then jumped up onto the altar and curled up into a ball.


    "It was not known to us whether the city remained intact enough for this to happen; speaking only for myself, I hoped it would." Aidan turned to face Sarpedon, who continued, "I still remember Ceallach Macht at its height, and it would please me for this city to rise to prominence again. It will not be the same, but that is the joy of watching history unfold."


    Ailis whipped her head around, but before she could start grilling the gargoyle for historical minutia, Aidan asked, "Am I anchored to the city now? Is it safe for me to leave Caer Macht undefended?"


    "You may leave for a time," Sarpedon replied. "Now that they are claimed, neither the city nor the Place of Power will yield easily to another master. It would be possible for someone else to wrest control, but it would take both time and effort. The longer you are away, the easier it will become, but never to the point of being simple. It would be far easier to kill you and claim the Heart Crystal that way¡ªand I say that knowing some of the advantages your nature grants you. You need not fear short absences, even several months at a time, but at this stage of your Mastery, you can only use and grow Caer Macht while close to it. It would be best if you made preparations for this to be your permanent home."


    With a nod, Aidan said, "I figured as much." Turning to Brighid, he asked, "Would you mind moving your forge here, once we make proper preparations?"


    Her smile was dazzling. "Of course not! I would never leave you alone, and besides, it has been my dream since I was a yearling to see Ceallach Macht rise again. It will take some time before anything here is livable, but I am with you wherever you go."


    "It may not be so long as you believe," Sarpedon interjected. "One of the benefits of controlling a Place of Power is that its Master may draw upon the collected manna to create powerful effects. One of those is the ability to form magical servants. If you would please visualize your spells, I believe you should find some new options available."


    Indeed there were, under a new category, Rites of Mastery.


    "I see. Can I¡ª" Aidan started the ask before deciding to find out by doing instead. The sensation of casting a Rite of Mastery was quite different from a normal spell; instead of the power building up inside him and being channeled through sounds and gestures, Aidan could feel it streaming into his hands from the altar. After a second, mists swirled into a humanoid shape, then dissipated to reveal a creature that looked like an artist''s mannequin made out of fired red clay. Wisps of fog leaked from its joints.


    How much manna do I have access to? And how quickly does it regenerate? Aidan wondered, only for a prompt to appear before him.


    "Okay, so it takes 25 hours to recover the manna needed for one Automaton, and 125 hours per Overseer. But it isn''t like I have anything else to spend it on at the moment..."


    Soon enough, he had a team of ten Automatons and one Overseer. He sent them off with orders to clear the rubble in the city and stack usable blocks in a central location. It would take Caer Macht more than two weeks to regenerate back to full, but Aidan hoped that when he returned, there would be both plentiful building materials and space to build in.


    He turned back to Ailis and gave her a piercing look. "Ailis, you and I are going to be spending some long nights together." She blushed, confusing Aidan for a moment before he realized his unintentional double entendre. "No, not like that! Now that you''re my vassal, that isn''t an option. No, I''m going to need to strategize with you; I want the Starchasers to move into Ceallach Macht. I can''t help protect the tribe if I''m a week''s walk or a day''s ride away." Ailis''s ice-blue eyes locked on his, and Aidan thought he saw a flash of disappointment in them before Ailis nodded.


    "Further, I intended to make offers to all of the nearby tribes¡ªyours too, Sarpedon¡ªto send embassies or even relocate, if they so desire. In the past, Ceallach Macht was a city where people could meet and mingle, and I intend for that to be true again. The tribes being separate, insular entities means that each stands and dies alone. There is a storm coming, and we can only meet it together. You are excellent at getting people to do what you want them to without them realizing it; I will make use of that for the good of us all."


    "By your will, Lord Aidan. You have fulfilled your end of the bargain, so I shall fulfill mine. We have to approach this with caution; change brings unrest, and this particular change will be worse than most. The tribes have been divided for more than a millennia. I do not know if it is possible for you to unite them, but if anyone can..." Ailis looked into Aidan''s eyes again, searching for something. "Well, you have a good heart, and you are beginning to show steel in your spine. As a ruler, you will have t be firm and decisive. You will never be able to please everyone, and making the attempt will weaken what you are trying to do to the degree that it may all shatter. Compromises are one thing, but you are Lord of Ceallach Macht and Master of Caer Macht; you must live up to those titles."


    Aidan gave Ailis a sharp nod, then turned to Sarpedon. "Thank you for the assistance, Sarpedon. Know that I am a man of my word; I will fulfill my part of the Quest. Animamancy is not an easy Skill to train, but I will work on it as best I can while dealing with my other responsibilities. While that happens, I want to invite your people to relocate to Ceallach Macht, if they wish. You already heard what I want from the city, and I believe our interests may align somewhat in that regard. I understand that you value your privacy, and I am willing to dedicate a portion of the city or the surrounding area to be an enclave of the Sapphire Sky Horde, where your own laws and traditions govern, subject only to the overall laws of Ceallach Macht. I also want to extend an additional invitation to you personally. I find myself in need of advisors, and you know more about Places of Power than anyone else in my circle. Would you be willing to take up such a position?"


    The gargoyle cocked his head and thought for a moment, then nodded. "I do believe I will, young¡ªthat is, Lord Aidan, so long as you respect my judgment on what information to provide."


    Aidan gave Sarpedon the same piercing look he''d directed at Ailis, but it was somewhat harder to win a staring contest with a living statue, and impossible to read his expression. Eventually, Aidan proposed a compromise. "If you accept, your job is to advise Lord Aidan, ruler of Ceallach Macht and Master of Caer Macht, not Aidan Lostlorn, the lonely human. I don''t care if you withhold information that would affect me personally, but if your inaction hurts the people under my care, I will be extremely displeased."


    The gargoyle''s facial expression changed, but the differences were too subtle for Aidan to make head or tail of Sarpedon''s thoughts. Was that a hint of sadness? He just didn''t know. Regardless, Sarpedon bent his head forward and said, "Very well, my Lord, I accept your terms. May I ask when you intend to return to Ceallach Macht? There are matters I must attend to and messages I must pass along."


    "Two weeks from now. That will give the Automatons time to work and allow all of us to make our preparations."


    "Two weeks it is, then. By your leave?" Aidan nodded his permission, and the gargoyle left the chamber on astonishingly quiet feet.


    Aidan gathered Riama up into his arms, then led the centaurs out of Caer Macht. Once they reached the entrance of the tunnel, Aidan faced west and looked at the sun, just beginning to set behind the distant mountains; after a moment of quietly soaking in the beauty of the Realms, he swung his leg over Brighid''s back and settled his familiar in front of him. "Back to the village; there is much work to be done, and time waits for no man."


    Ansovald, called by some the Nighthawk, by some the Carrion Crow, and by other coarser names besides, studied the report on his desk, reading it from start to finish for the third time. At first, he dismissed it as more of the internecine inter-tribal warfare among the subhumans, but something about his informant''s words nagged at the back of his mind. Centaurs traditionally do not have high affinity for fire magic, nor do any of the tribes which surrounded their territory. For a Fire Mage with Skill sufficient to master a spell capable of being seen from miles away to have slipped by unremarked until now was troublesome. Perhaps it was an exaggerated story; his informant had not witnessed the supposed battle first hand, nor had the one who told them. Ansovald, however, did not rise to his current power by being lackadaisical about his information gathering. He lifted the small silver bell from his desk and rang it once. Immediately, the door leading out of his office opened, and his manservant entered and bowed silently, awaiting his Lord''s command.


    "Sel, send for Kaleb. I¡¯ve got a job for him out in the Wildlands."


    "At once, my Lord," replied Sel in a soft voice, bowing and slipping out from the office to complete his task. Ansovald did not even hear him, having already dismissed his servant from his mind. After all, the magic in the heavy iron collar around the Elf''s neck prevented its wearer from acting in any way to harm the one who it was keyed to. Lord Ansovald, Spymaster of the Kingdom of Gilhardt, Chosen of Rathar, the God of Cunning, Patience, and Detachment, prided himself on being thorough.


    Zurai

 Glossary

    Zurai


    I meant to have this up at the normal chapter time today, but it took more time than I anticipated.


    Reminder: the Q&A session will be posted Saturday.


    Final Status Sheets:


    Trait Descriptions:


    Limitless: Your potential is without limit. With enough time and dedication, you can reach any height imaginable. Your Affinity for all Skills is permanently set to 100%.


    Cunning Linguist: You can understand and communicate fluently in any form of language you are exposed to. Speaking and reading or writing are separate for this purpose.


    Crown of the Exalted: You may maintain one spell of each magic school without using Concentration. While you maintain any magic this way, a crown-shaped aura of shimmering light surrounds your head, capped by points of light representing each school being maintained. You must still have enough Concentration to cast the spell in the first place.


    Ability Descriptions:


    Analyze II: You may concentrate while looking at any object or creature to learn some of its properties. This Ability has multiple levels; further levels reveal more information and may be unlocked in time.


    Balance on the Knife''s Edge: Whenever you bring a partner to the brink of orgasm but deny their release, their eventual climax will be stronger and retain more of their arousal level. The effects of this Ability stack up to 5 times.


    Magic Hands: By expending a variable amount of Concentration, you can produce and control ephemeral hands, fingers, lips, tongues, or other similar body parts. They are immaterial and cannot manipulate objects or the environment, but they cause the same sensation of touch as your own physical parts.


    Detailed Skill Descriptions:


    Air Magic (Level: 10.00; +10 spell power with air magic spells. Rank: Initiate. Affinity: 100%)


    Associated Attribute: Senses; +10 spell power with air magic spells.


    The magic of raging storms and gentle breezes, air magic encompasses everything from control of wind and sound to electricity, and even, to a master, the breath in their targets¡¯ lungs.


    Novice: Your resistance to air magic increases slightly.


    Initiate: Your senses of hearing and scent are improved.


    Animamancy (Level: 5.68; +5 spell power with animamancy spells. Rank: Novice. Affinity: 100%)


    Associated Attribute: Willpower; +43 spell power with animamancy spells.


    The esoteric school of soul magic, animamancy deals with creating, destroying, consuming, and transmuting souls. A master animamancer was involved in the creation of the Gargoyle race.


    Novice: You gain a slight bonus to earned experience.


    Beast Magic (Level: 5.99; +5 spell power with beast magic spells. Rank: Novice. Affinity: 100%)


    Associated Attribute: Intuition; +27 spell power with beast magic spells.


    Beast magic is the magic of the wild things of the world. Beast magi can summon mythical beasts, augment animals, and change one creature¡ªor part of one¡ªinto another. Masters of this magic can even create entirely new species.


    Novice: All non-sapient animals are slightly more tolerant of you.


    Command (Level: 5.21; +5 warband members, +0.5 party members. Rank: Novice. Affinity: 100%)


    Associated Attribute: Charisma; party and warband members gain 4.6% increased experience and Skill experience.


    The ability to inspire others to follow you and obey your commands, even in dangerous and stressful circumstances. A master commander can rally a defeated and demoralized army and forge them into a unified whole stronger than they were to start with.


    Novice: Commands you give are slightly more likely to be obeyed.


    Cooking (Level: 1.23; +2% improved quality of meals prepared. Rank: Unskilled. Affinity: 100%)


    Associated Attribute: Senses; +10% improved flavor of meals prepared.


    Anyone can throw a few ingredients together and burn them over a fire to something approaching edibility, but only a cook can produce food worth eating for its own sake.


    Doctrine of the Brighaid (Level: 1.05; +1 prayer power when praying to the Brighaid. Rank: Unskilled. Affinity: 100%)


    Associated Attribute: Charisma; +46 prayer power when praying to the Brighaid.


    Religious doctrine describes the rules and traditions involved in the worship of the various Powers of the Realms. The Brighaid is a tripartite deity whose worship is centered in the regions around the Mistvale Highlands.


    Earth Magic (Level: 10.00; +10 spell power with earth magic spells. Rank: Initiate. Affinity: 100%)


    Associated Attribute: Logic; +15 spell power with earth magic spells.


    Clay, soil, stone, and sand, all are the realm of an Earth Mage. Although it excels in defense, Earth Magic does not lack in offense. Masters of this school can reshape the very landscape around them, raising mountains and carving canyons to suit their whims.


    Novice: Your resistance to earth magic increases slightly.


    Initiate: Your resistance to slashing and piercing damage increases slightly.


    Evasion (Level: 19.04; Opponents¡¯ accuracy reduced by 19%. Rank: Initiate. Affinity: 100%)


    Associated Attribtes: Agility and Speed; 15% chance to reduce the severity of a hit by one level.


    Evasion is the knack for not getting hit¡ªin *style*. Any fool can drop to the ground or duck his head; a master at evasion can dodge an attack while seeming to remain perfectly still.


    Novice: Successful dodges take slightly less Concentration and Stamina.


    Initiate: Successful dodges reduce your balance by a smaller amount.


    Fire Magic (Level: 27.45; +27 spell power with fire magic spells. Rank: Apprentice. Affinity: 100%)


    Associated Attributes: Charisma; +46 spell power with fire magic spells.


    Fire magic bends the most chaotic and rapacious of the natural elements to your command. Fire magic is the magic of passion, hunger, chaos, and destruction. Masters of this skill can burn entire battlefields to nothing but ash and cinders.


    Novice: Your resistance to fire magic increases slightly.


    Initiate: Your Fire Magic spells have reduced casting time and cooldown based on the difference between your Skill level and the Skill level required to cast them.


    Apprentice: Your fire magic spells deal increased damage to corrupted or undead creatures.


    Housekeeping (Level: 1.01; reduced time to perform housekeeping tasks by 0.9%. Rank: Unskilled. Affinity: 100%)


    Associated Attribute: Willpower; reduces fatigue from housekeeping tasks by 43%.


    While keeping dirt from piling up on the floor doesn¡¯t require any special Skill, those skilled in housekeeping are better, quicker, and more efficient at cleaning, organizing, maintaining, and making presentable a home.


    Light Armor (Level: 13.17; 13% less encumbrance and 13% increased protection from light armor. Rank: Initiate. Affinity: 100%)


    Associated Attribute: Endurance; +20% chance to reduce a glancing blow to a body part protected by light armor to a miss.


    Light armor encompasses armor made of cloth or leather which is designed to be light and easy to move in. While wearing any armor will hinder Agility and Speed and increase Stamina consumption, light armor does so to the smallest degree.


    Novice: Light armor you wear provides slightly more protection.


    Initiate: Light armor you wear provides even more protection.


    Magical Theory (Level: 4.11; +0.4% chance to gain a new spell with each level in a magic Skill. Rank: Unskilled. Affinity: 100%)


    Associated Attribute: Logic; +15% success rate when creating new spells.


    Magical Theory is the study of magic and how to manipulate it. Magical theory is used to create, modify, and learn spells and rituals. Masters of magical theory may even learn the secrets of manipulating arcane magics.


    Glyphs (Level: 1.00; +1 spell power when casting a spell with custom glyphs. Rank: Unskilled. Affinity: 100%)


    Associated Attributes: Intuition and Agility; 21% reduced additional casting time from using custom glyphs.


    Although spells can be cast with basic somatic components, manipulating manna directly allows more control over the result. Glyphs are the visible results of this manipulation, and a master mage would do well to learn them.


    Glyphs is a subskill of Magical Theory.


    Incantations (Level: 1.00; +1 spell power when casting a spell with a custom incantation. Rank: Unskilled. Affinity: 100%)


    Associated Attribute: Charisma; +46% increased spell power due to the length and quality of a custom incantation.


    Most spells contain a verbal component, but the effects can be enhanced and refined through the use of specialized incantations. Words have power, and master mages use that principle to empower their magic.


    Incantations is a subskill of Magical Theory.


    Oneiromancy (Level: 1.00; +1 spell power with oneiromancy spells. Rank: Unskilled. Affinity: 100%)


    Associated Attribute: Intuition; +27 spell power with oneiromancy spells.


    Oneiromancy is an odd Skill, even among the esoteric schools. Unlike the rest, the magic of dreams has a limited effect on the waking world, but near-total control over the Dreamlands. It is one of the rarest schools, and other mages can only dream of what a Master Oneiromancer can do.


    Parrying (Level: 8.96; +8% chance to deflect melee attacks while wielding a melee weapon. Rank: Novice. Affinity: 100%)


    Associated Attribute: Speed; +15% to attack speed following a successful parry.


    To parry is to deflect an opponent¡¯s weapon harmlessly with your own, preferably while leaving yourself in position to attack. Masters of parrying can even parry certain types of magical attacks.


    Novice: Attacks that you partially deflect deal slightly less damage.


    Persuasion (Level: 10.71; up to +50% chance to successfully persuade someone. Rank: Initiate. Affinity: 100%)


    Associated Attribute: Charisma; 23% chance to nullify a failed persuasion attempt.


    The art of getting people to do things they don''t want to do and simultaneously not pissing them off. A master of persuasion could convince a demon to forsake its evil ways.


    Novice: Persuading someone who is only opposed to your idea in principle is easier.


    Initiate: Your Persuasion attempts suffer reduced penalties due to the target''s low Relationship with you.


    Oratory (Level: 1.00; +5 to maximum audience size for persuasion attempts. Rank: Unskilled. Affinity: 100%)


    Associated Attribute: Charisma; -46% penalty for exceeding maximum audience size.


    Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears! Oratory is the practice of persuading a crowd. Masters of this Skill can turn an angry mob into devoted followers with no more than a short speech.


    Oratory is a subskill of Persuasion.


    Seduction (Level: 3.91; +6% chance to succeed in seduction. Rank: Unskilled. Affinity: 100%)


    Associated Attributes: Charisma and Attractiveness; 23% chance to nullify a failed seduction attempt and +8% to arousal of target with each seduction attempt.


    A word, a glance, a fleeting touch; Seduction involves raising another¡¯s desire for you without being overtly sexual. A master of Seduction could charm their way into the bed of a monarch¡ªand make them think it was their idea.


    Seduction is a subskill of Persuasion.


    Riding (Level: 6.74; -6% fatigue to mount from bearing a rider. Rank: Novice. Affinity: 100%)


    Associated Attribute: Endurance; -20% chance to be dismounted when struck in combat.


    When you want to get somewhere faster than your own legs can carry you, the most common way is to ride. Anyone can climb on the back of a random animal, but the riding skill will make it much easier for both the rider and the mount.


    Novice: Your mount consumes Stamina at a slightly lower rate.


    Centaurback Riding (Level: 6.66; -6% fatigue to mount from bearing a rider. Rank: Novice. Affinity: 100%)


    Associated Attribute: Charisma; mount gains +46% skill experience in Submissive while being ridden.


    Unlike most other potential mounts, Centaurs are sapient and quite intelligent, which makes riding them very different from most other mounts. For whatever reason, you have managed something which very few others in the history of the Realms have managed.


    Novice: Any centaur you ride becomes slightly more submissive towards you for the next week. This effect stacks.


    Sex (Level: 29.62; +29% pleasure given and received during sex. Rank: Apprentice. Affinity: 100%)


    Associated Attributes: Charisma and Agility; +30% pleasure given and received during sex.


    Making love, doing the horizontal tango, fucking. Sex is a primary driving motivation for nearly every sentient living creature, and you are no exception. Having sex with a master in this Skill is a transcendent, addictive experience.


    Novice: You can accelerate or delay your own or your partners'' orgasms to a slight degree.


    Initiate: Every time you bring your partner to orgasm, you gain a bonus to your relationship for up to 7 days, based on the strength of the orgasm.


    Apprentice: You gain a bonus to Attractiveness based on your level in Sex.


    Dominance (Level: 10.98; giving orders to a submissive partner increases their arousal by up to +20%. Rank: Initiate. Affinity: 100%)


    Associated Attributes: Charisma; sexual punishments you administer to a submissive partner cause up to +46% arousal.


    Good sex is as much about the mind as the body, and Dominance is all about the mind. This Skill allows you to heighten the experience of sex for a submissive partner. A Master of Dominance knows all the buttons to push and levers to pull to turn sex from pleasurable to divine for their submissives.


    Dominance is a subskill of Sex.


    Novice: You gain a slight bonus to the effects of your commands and orders, in and out of sexual situations.


    Initiate: Anyone with fewer levels in Dominance than you is more willing to listen to you and heed your words.


    Foreplay (Level: 12.48; +24% control of your partner¡¯s arousal gained through foreplay. Rank: Initiate. Affinity: 100%)


    Associated Attribute: Agility; +15% pleasure given to partner during foreplay and sex.


    Every little thing done with the explicit intention of arousing your partner without involving actual penetration. Those who master this Skill can bring their lovers to a fever pitch and bring even the most reserved partner to the point of begging for completion.


    Foreplay is a Subskill of Sex.


    Novice: Kisses and intimate touches are now slightly more effective at stimulating your partner''s arousal.


    Initiate: Arousal caused by your mouth and tongue increases noticeably.


    Masturbation (Level: 1.00; +2% increase in pleasure when masturbating. Rank: Unskilled. Affinity: 100%)


    Associated Attribute: Endurance; +15% control over orgasm when masturbating.


    Self-pleasure. Everyone does it, so don''t be ashamed. A master masturbator isn''t really that much better at the task, but they do have a wide variety of bonuses to other sexual situations.


    Masturbation is a Subskill of Sex.


    Smithing (Level: 4.11; +8% improved quality of smithed items. Rank: Unskilled. Affinity: 100%)


    Associated Attribute: Endurance; -10% time required to smith items.


    To an outside observer, smithcraft is all about beating the stubborn out of heated piece of metal until it gives in. To one practiced in the skill, however, it is the art of persuading the metal to take the form it is meant to have. Master smiths can produce exquisite works of completely functional art from base metals, and artifacts of legendary repute from more rarified ingredients.


    Armorsmith (Level: 1.00; +1% to final protection value of smithed armor. Rank: Unskilled. Affinity: 100%)


    Associated Attribute: Endurance; +20% to final durability of smithed armor.


    Smithing armor is an art all of its own, more personal than anything else done at the anvil. Masters of the art produce armor which fits like a second skin while capable of protecting from the attacks of giants.


    Armorsmith is a subskill of Smithing.


    Weaponsmith (Level: 2.68; +1% to final damage value of smithed weapons. Rank: Unskilled. Affinity: 100%)


    Associated Attribute: Endurance; +20% to final durability of smithed weapons.


    There is more to making a weapon than just sharpening a hunk of steel; a truly skilled weaponsmith produces weapons which are balanced so finely that they feel like an extension of the wielder¡¯s own limb. A master weaponsmith could produce a blade capable of slicing through solid stone, given the proper materials and time to work.


    Weaponsmith is a subskill of Smithing.


    Stealth (Level: 3.04; +6% chance to remain undetected. Rank: Unskilled. Affinity: 100%)


    Associated Attribute: Agility; -15% movement speed penalty while using stealth.


    Stealth is the discipline of using cover, shadows, distractions, and other means to remain undetected when you otherwise would be found. A master of stealth can vanish into thin air while being observed.


    Storytelling (Level: 3.25; +6% increased skill experience gain for listeners. Rank: Unskilled. Affinity: 100%)


    Associated Attributes: Intuition and Charisma; listeners are 36% more likely to correctly recall details of your stories.


    Storytelling is an ancient and valuable Skill, used to pass information on from one generation to the next before the advent of writing. In some places, it is still used this way. A Master Storyteller enthralls their audience from the first word, mentally transporting them to a place and time far distant from their own.


    Swords (Level: 8.04; +8% attack speed and +8% accuracy with swords. Rank: Novice. Affinity: 100%)


    Associated Attributes: Speed and Might; +15% chance to exploit an opponent¡¯s error and +5% damage with swords.


    Sometimes called the king of weapons, swords are occupy the middle ground between reach, weight, speed, and damage potential. While they suffer against heavy armor, swords are excellent for dealing with multiple lightly-armored enemies in quick succession.


    Novice: Your ability to fight multiple opponents at once while wielding a sword is slightly improved.


    Thrown Weapons (Level: 1.00; +5% accuracy with thrown weapons and +0.2% damage with thrown weapons. Rank: Unskilled. Affinity: 100%)


    Associated Attributes: Agility and Senses; +12% chance to hit weak points with thrown weapons.


    Everything from a rock off the ground to a heavy spear can be thrown, but only a user of this Skill can make it into a real weapon. Masters of thrown weapons throw a needle into their target¡¯s eye from a hundred paces away,


    Unarmed Combat (Level: 1.00; +0.5% accuracy and +2% damage with unarmed attacks. Rank: Unskilled. Affinity: 100%)


    Associated Attributes: Might and Speed; +12% attack speed with unarmed attacks.


    Whether it is called brawling, martial arts, boxing, or fisticuffs, Unarmed Combat is the Skill for fighting with your hands and feet. Its biggest advantage is that you will never be caught defenseless, but compared to actual weapons, the lack of reach and damage potential requires much higher Skill levels to achieve similar results.


    Vivimancy (Level: 12.49; +12 spell power with vivimancy spells. Rank: Initiate. Affinity: 100%)


    Associated Attribute: Intuition; +27 spell power with vivimancy spells.


    One of the esoteric magics, vivimancy is the magic of life itself. With it you can heal wounds, cure diseases, bless crops, and ward against death. Masters of vivimancy can even bring the dead back to life.


    Novice: You regenerate Health slightly faster.


    Initiate: Your healing spells restore more Health.


    Detailed Spell Descriptions:


    Sound Barrier: Air Magic, level 1.


    This spell stills the air in a thin dome 6 feet [5 feet base +21% spell power] in radius, preventing any sound from passing the boundary in either direction. Those inside the dome cannot hear what happens outside, and vice versa.


    Cost: 100 Concentration. Duration: Concentration. Cast Time: 10 seconds.


    Electric Arc: Air Magic, level 5.


    Sends tendrils of electricity from an outstretched hand into one or more creatures within 15 feet of you and 3 feet of each other. Each target takes 18.15 [15 base +21% spell power] electricity damage per second, and living creatures with a central nervous system have a minimal chance to be afflicted with Stun.


    Cost: 75 Concentration. Duration: Concentration, up to 15 seconds. Cast Time: 1 second. Cooldown: 30 seconds.


    Windwall: Air Magic, level 10.


    Protects the caster and those nearby with a barrier of intense winds that will attempt to deflect any attack with a physical substance that passes across its boundary. Attacks are deflected based on their speed and mass, with faster and more massive attacks being deflected less than slower and lighter attacks.


    Cost: 134 [150 base -10.5% spell power] Concentration. Duration: Concentration, up to 2 minutes. Cast Time: 0.25 seconds. Cooldown: 5 minutes.


    Call Soul''s Familiar: Animamancy, level 1.


    Every living creature is given a soul at birth¡ªbut not a complete soul. Somewhere, out in the infinite multiverse, another being has the other portion of your soul. This spell will call that creature to you to serve as your familiar.


    Cost: 200 Concentration, 5,000 experience. Duration: Instantaneous. Casting Time: 4 hours.


    Ensoul Object: Animamancy, level 1.


    Through the use of this spell, you can imbue a soul into an inanimate object. The soul is tiny and is not self-sustaining, and the target will not be truly alive, but a clever caster can find many uses for this ritual.


    Cost: 50 Concentration, 359 [500 base -24.5% spell power, times 0.95 Soul Caliber Talent] experience. Duration: Concentration. Casting Time: 1 hour.


    Fortify Soul: Animamancy, level 5.


    This spell protects the target''s soul from outside influences, helping to reduce damage to the soul and to protect the soul from effects that might alter or corrupt it. The target gains 29.8 % [20% base +49% spell power] resistance to soul damage from external sources and 25% resistance to effects that would negatively affect their soul.


    Cost: 50 Concentration. Duration: Concentration. Casting time: 10 seconds.


    Lesser Soulbind: Animamancy, level 5.


    Through the use of this spell, an Animanancer can infuse an object with their own soul, causing it to be Soulbound to them. Having an object Soulbound to you carries many benefits, from always knowing where the object is, to severe penalties for anyone else who tries to use it. As a Chosen, there is an additional benefit to you: any object which is Soulbound to you and near you when you die will be brought to you when and if you return to life. This ritual can only Soulbind common, uncommon, or rare objects, and cannot Soulbind an object which is already bound.


    Cost: 359 [500 base -24.5% spell power, times 0.95 Soul Caliber Talent] experience times rarity multiplier. Duration: Permanent until final death. Casting Time: 1 minute.


    Minor Shift: Beast Magic, level 1.


    Changes one aspect of the target into that of another creature. This cannot grant new senses, attacks, Traits, or Abilities, but can alter appearance and enhance or deaden existing senses, attacks, Traits, or Abilities.


    Cost: 10 Concentration. Duration: Concentration, up to 6 minutes and 39 seconds [5 minutes base +33% spell power]. Casting Time: 1.5 seconds.


    Soothe Beasts: Beast Magic, level 5.


    Some say that music soothes the savage beast, which may be true, but Beast Magic is far more effective. Casting this spell will cause one or more animals to grow less hostile towards you and your party or Warband. Each target becomes calmer and less likely to attack. The effectiveness depends on the intelligence and Willpower of the target and the spell power of the caster. This effect continues even after the spell has ended, but is not permanent.


    Cost: 50 Concentration per target. Duration: Concentration, plus 33 minutes [+33 minutes spell power]. Casting time: 5 seconds. Cooldown: 2 hours.


    Summon Steed: Beast Magic, level 5.


    This spell summons an unremarkable mount suitable to the current terrain: horses for grasslands, goats for mountains, deer for forests, and so on. The steed will be large enough and sturdy enough to bear you as a rider and will never balk or attempt to dislodge you; however, it is not suited for combat. The steed comes with appropriate riding gear, though not with any storage containers.


    Cost: 167 [200 base -16.5% spell power] Concentration. Duration: Concentration, up to 8 hours. Casting Time: 1 minute. Cooldown: 4 hours.


    Origination of Species (UNLEARNED): Beast Magic, level 75.


    This forbidden spell allows the caster to create a breeding set of a new species. There is no guarantee that the new creatures will be loyal to their creator, nor that they will survive long enough to establish themselves as a part of the ecosystem.


    Cost: 5,000 Concentration base (increasing with complexity of created species). Duration: Permanent. Casting Time: 24 hours.


    Enrich Soil: Earth Magic, level 1.


    This spell causes soil in a 37.8 feet by 37.8 feet wide by 6.3 feet deep [30x30x30 base +26% spell power] area to become richer in nutrients. Plants grown in an area affected by this spell grow more quickly, are more resistant to disease and pests, and have increased yields. The effects of this spell stack.


    Cost: 25 Concentration. Duration: Concentration up to 1 month, at which point the effect becomes permanent. Cast Time: 10 minutes.


    Prospector''s Blessing: Earth Magic, level 5.


    When cast, this spell allows you to know the direction to and richness of the nearest mineral vein. Increased Skill with Earth Magic may allow you to search for specific minerals or otherwise manipulate the results. [+26% distance, 5.2% chance to find multiple veins from spell power]


    Cost: 100 Concentration. Duration: Concentration. Cast Time: 5 seconds. Cooldown: 1 hour.


    Flame Jet: Fire Magic, level 1.


    Fires a thin jet of fire from your hand or implement that deals 28.71 [10 base +74% spell power, times 1.5 Kindle the Hearth-Flame, times 1.1 Firepower Talent] fire damage per second to anything it touches.


    Cost: 25 Concentration. Duration: Concentration, up to 5 seconds. Casting time: 0.7 seconds [1 second base -26% Initiate in Fire Magic].


    Burning Barrage: Fire Magic, level 10.


    Creates 10 [base 6 +74% spell power] fiery orbs in the air around you. These orbs can be launched, individually or as a group, at one or more targets within 30 feet of you. Each projectile deals 45.21 [20 + 37% spell power, times 1.5 Kindle the Hearth-Flame] fire damage on impact, then explodes, dealing 11.3 [5 base +37% spell power, times 1.5 Kindle the Hearth-Flame] additional fire damage to creatures and objects within a 1-yard radius. These projectiles do not need to be fired in a straight line and can be guided mentally with a further Concentration cost.


    Cost: 50 Concentration; 5 Concentration per second per guided projectile. Duration: Until expended. Casting time: 1.66 seconds [2 base -17% Initiate in Fire Magic]. Cooldown: 12.45 seconds [15 base -17% Initiate in Fire Magic].


    Kindle the Hearth-Flame: Fire Magic, level 25.


    Kindle the spark of the heavenly hearth fire that the goodly powers granted to the ancient peoples of the world to protect and serve them. While this spell is active, the target gains a +10% bonus to the Agility, Speed, Senses, Charisma, and Attractiveness Attributes, deals +50% more fire damage, and has +25% resistance to fire and cold damage. This spell may only be cast upon yourself and those with close association to goodly Powers of fire.


    Cost: 126 Concentration [200 base, -37% spell power]. Duration: Concentration. Cast time: 29.4 seconds [30 base -2% Initiate in Fire Magic].


    Shared Dream: Oneiromancy, level 1.


    Allows the caster to create a dream and draw another person into that dream with them. The caster does not have control of the dream once it is created, and this ritual will fail if the target is not asleep and near to dreaming. This spell does not force either the caster or the target to remain asleep, and if either awakens, the effects end. Nothing which happens in the dream is reflected in the real world.


    Cost: 171 [200 base -14.5% spell power] Concentration; can only be cast while asleep. Duration: Until one party awakens or the dream ends. Cast Time: Special.


    Patch Wounds: Vivimancy, level 1.


    The target recovers 18.48 [10 base +40% spell power, times 1.2 Initiate in Vivimancy, times 1.1 Lifeforce Talent] Health over 2 seconds. This healing is caused by pure life energy and will not cause scarring. This will cure Wounds of Minor magnitude.


    Cost: 50 Concentration. Duration: 2 seconds. Casting time: 10 seconds.


    Pulse of Life: Vivimancy, level 10.


    Waves of life energy pulse outwards from you, healing every living creature within 2 yards of you for 9.24 [5 base +40% spell power, times 1.2 Initiate in Vivimancy, times 1.1 Lifeforce Talent] Health each second and harming every undead creature for a like amount. This energy comes at a cost, however: your Stamina is consumed to fuel the ritual. The healing is caused by pure life energy and will not cause scarring.


    Cost: 100 Concentration; 10 Stamina per second. Duration: Concentration. Casting time: 10 seconds.


    Summon Golden Fawn: Vivimancy, level 10.


    Golden deer are magical creatures heavily steeped in life energy; merely being near a golden deer will restore small amounts of Health and Psyche damage. This ritual summons a very young golden deer which is not capable of participating in combat but still has the Aura of Life Ability of an adult.


    Cost: 100 Concentration, 1 sprig of leaves edible by a golden deer. Duration: Concentration, up to 1 hour. Casting Time: 30 seconds. Cooldown: 6 hours.


    Soulfire Blast: Animamancy and Fire Magic, level 1.


    An extremely dangerous spell for both the user and their target, Soulfire Blast burns a piece of the caster''s soul to power a blast of fire hot enough to melt stone on contact. Deals 282.98 [100 base +71.5% spell power, times 1.5 Kindle the Hearth-Flame, times 1.1 Firepower Talent] fire damage per second to a target within 10 yards; due to the intense heat and the nature of the flames'' source, the target is afflicted by the Soulburn debuff, which lowers their resistance to fire damage by 50% for 10 seconds.


    Cost: 50 Concentration, soul damage. Duration: Concentration. Cast Time: 0.07 seconds [0.1 base -26% Initiate in Fire Magic]. Cooldown: 21.9 seconds [30 base -27% Initiate in Fire Magic].


    Summon Obsidian Salamander: Beast Magic and Fire Magic, level 1.


    Summons a level 5 Obsidian Salamander, which will obey your orders faithfully to the best of its ability. Obsidian Salamanders are small fire-breathing reptiles with tough, glassy black scales. They are sturdy for their size, but they prefer to cook their prey from a distance rather than fight directly.


    Cost: 75 Concentration. Duration: Concentration or death of the summoned creature. Cast Time: 3.7 seconds [5 base -26% Initiate in Fire Magic]. Cooldown: 44 minutes and 24 seconds [1 hour base -26% Initiate in Fire Magic] .


    Phoenix Pyre: Animamancy, Beast Magic, Fire Magic, and Vivimancy, level 1.


    This unique and selfless spell causes the user to burn their own body, mind, and soul to damage nearby enemies and heal nearby allies. Such is the power of this ritual that, if used quickly enough, it can even prevent a soul from leaving the body of a slain ally and, if the ally''s injuries are healed, restore them to life, but the cost for such a miracle would be great indeed. Deals fire damage to all enemies within 30 feet and heals Health, Stamina, and Psyche to all allies within 30 feet each second; damage and healing is based on the amount of the user''s life force expended. Healing from this spell is caused by pure life energy and does not cause scarring. This spell can heal Wounds of any severity, if the cost is paid.


    Cost: 100% Concentration; 10% Health per second; 2,375 [2,500, times 0.95 Soul Calibur Talent] experience per second; possible additional costs depending on the situation. Duration: Concentration, until death. Cast Time: 0.07 seconds [0.1 seconds base -26% Initiate in Fire Magic].


    Spark of Life: Fire Magic and Vivimancy, level 5.


    This spell summons the spark of life into a creature of death. This will consume them from the inside, dealing 137.78 [50 base +67% spell power, times 1.5 Kindle the Hearth-Flame, times 1.1 Firepower Talent] fire/life damage initially and inflicting them with the Burning Life status, which causes them to take 68.89 [25 base +67% spell power, times 1.5 Kindle the Hearth-Flame, times 1.1 Firepower Talent] fire/life damage per second for 5 seconds. Because of the unique mixture of the two damage types, this is affected by vulnerability to either fire or life damage, but can only be resisted by creatures with resistance or immunity to both fire and life damage. This ritual has no effect on creatures that are not aligned with death.


    Cost: 25 Concentration. Duration: Instantaneous. Casting Time: 0.78 seconds [1 base -22% Initiate in Fire Magic]. Cooldown: 3.9 seconds [5 base -22% Initiate in Fire Magic].


    Magma Blast: Earth Magic and Fire Magic, level 10.


    Conjures a superheated ball of stone and propels it towards an enemy. If the attack hits, it deals 105.6 [40 base +60% spell power, times 1.5 Kindle the Hearth-Flame, times 1.1 Firepower Talent] impact/fire damage and causes the target to be afflicted with Burning for 5 seconds as the stone cools and hardens. After 5 seconds, Burning ends (unless also inflicted by another source), and the target is afflicted with Partial Petrification.


    Cost: 50 Concentration. Duration: Instantaneous. Cast Time: 0.83 seconds [1 base -17% Initiate in Fire Magic]. Cooldown: 4.15 seconds [5 base -17% Initiate in Fire Magic].


    Resurrection (UNLEARNED): Animamancy and Vivimancy, level 100.


    Death is not absolute in the Realms, but once a soul has passed into the Beyond, it is gone forever¡ªor so anyone would tell you. The very possibility of this spell is a secret that Powers would kill to maintain. For one with the Skills to learn it, it offers salvation and damnation in equal measure.


    Cost: 500 Concentration and 10,000 experience per level of the deceased, rare incenses and oils, the body of the deceased. Duration: Permanent. Casting Time: 1 hour base (increasing with decreasing condition of the body). Cooldown: 1 year.


    Create Automaton: Use raw manna gathered from your Place of Power to form an Automaton, which will take on the aspects of the Place of Power. Automatons are mindless and capable of following only elementary orders, but they are tireless and can be formed into forms suitable for almost any basic task.


    Cost: 100 manna. Duration: Permanent until dismissed. Cast Time: 1 second.


    Create Automaton Overseer: Use raw manna gathered from your Place of Power to form an Automaton Overseer, which will on the aspects of the Place of Power. Overseers are an advanced form of Automaton with the ability to understand more complicated orders and control lesser Automatons.


    Cost: 500 manna. Duration: Permanent, until dismissed. Cast Time: 1 second.


    Class Talents:


    Jack of all Schools II


    Effect: +10% bonus to earned skill experience [+20% total] in each magic school with a level lower than that of your highest level magic school.


    Weave the Strands II


    Effect: When casting a multi-school spell, +5 spell power [+10 total] for each of its schools.


    Familiar-ity Breeds Contentment II


    Effect: Your familiar earns +10% experience [+20% total].


    Strength in Diversity I


    Effect: +1 spell power to all magic schools for each magic school you have achieved Apprentice rank in.


    Firepower II


    Effect: +5% damage [+10% total] fire damage dealt with magic.


    Lifeforce II


    Effect: +5% healing [+10% total] with magic.


    Soul Caliber I


    Effect: -5% experience cost for magic.


    Altered Beast I


    Effect: +5% effectiveness of alterations made to creatures¡¯ physical form with magic.


    As Above, So Below I


    Effect: Your familiar gains 10% of your own Attributes.


    Fire Link I


    Effect: While you are maintaining a Fire Magic spell or ritual, including with Crown of the Exalted, your familiar''s attacks deals an additional 10% damage as fire damage.


    Life Link I


    Effect: While you are maintaining a Vivimancy ritual, including with Crown of the Exalted, your familiar heals 1% of her total Health and 2% of her total Stamina per second. .


    Beast Link I


    Effect: While you are maintaining a Beast Magic spell or ritual upon yourself, including with Crown of the Exalted, your familiar gains a +5% bonus to her physical Attributes. .


    Soul Link I


    Effect: While you are maintaining an Animanancy ritual, including with Crown of the Exalted, your familiar gains a +5% bonus to her mental Attributes.


    Crown of the Exalted


    Effect: Grants the Crown of the Exalted Trait.


    Spark of Life


    Effect: Grants the Spark of Life spell.


    Courtesan Talents:


    Magic Hands


    Effects: Grants the Magic Hands Ability.


    All-Nighter I


    Effects: -5% Stamina drain and fatigue buildup from intense physical activities; +10% orgasm control.


    Dominating Presence I


    Effects: Individuals within 5 feet of you are up to 20% more likely to obey your commands, based on their attraction to you, their arousal level, and their Skills. Note that individuals with specific Skills, such as Command or Dominance, may be less likely to obey your commands instead.


    Submission to Erudition I


    Effects: Individuals affected by your Dominating Presence gain Skill experience as if their affinities were 2% higher when carrying out your commands.


    Erector Set I


    Effects: +2.5% sexual appendage dimensions; +10% slowed onset/reduced effect of erectile dysfunction.


    Inhuman Advantage I


    Effects: When penetrating a single partner with more than one appendage, cause +5% pleasure; when penetrating multiple partners, gain +5% coordination.


    Muffin Stuffin'' I


    Effects: While you are sexually penetrating a female, you gain +5% control over the pace and strength of their orgasms.


    The Sperm Must Flow II


    Effects: Your sperm and semen production is 10% faster. Additionally, your chances of successfully impregnating a female are increased by 10%.


    Extra Magical IV


    Effects: You can create and control 1 additional body part [5 total] with Magic Hands.


    That Loving Feeling


    Effects: When using Magic Hands, you may choose to experience everything as if the created body part(s) were your own.


    All of Your Love


    Effects: Expands the range of sensory input offered by That Loving Feeling to include taste, hearing, and scent. Each may be activated independently.


    Huffin'' and Puffin'' II


    Effects: You gain +1% [+2% total] to all Attributes (maximum +5% [+10% total]) for each orgasm you give a female. These bonuses last for up to 24 hours.


    Extra Versatile II


    Effects: Decreases the Concentration cost of Magic Hands by 10% [20% total] and increases the malleability of created appendages by 25% [50% total].


    Ease the Burden III


    Effects: Women who are impregnated by you experience 10% [30% total] reduced discomfort, mood swings, and hormonal imbalances due to pregnancy and have 20% [60% total] reduced risk of miscarriage or birth defects.


    Equipment:


    Summer Sword. A stylized sun is engraved into the blade of this Sunsteel sword.


    Damage: 8-14. Reach: Close. Attack Speed: Average. Rarity: Epic. Item Quality: Exquisite.


    Effects: Deals +12-24 fire damage to creatures that are undead, demonic, corrupted, or strongly aligned to death or darkness. Grants the Sunray Ability to the wielder. Emanates natural sunlight from the blade at the wielder''s mental command.


    This item is not fully identified and may have additional properties.


    Handy Haversack. A backpack for the rich or the adventurous. Much bigger on the inside.


    Rarity: Rare. Item Quality: Exquisite.


    Effects: This item may be soulbound. Contains an extra-dimensional pocket that can store any objects which will fit within any of its openings, up to a limit. Objects stored within weigh 90% less.


    Lesser Silver Ring of Virility. A simple silver band set with an orange sapphire.


    Rarity: Uncommon. Item Quality: Above Average.


    Effects: Enhances virility, fertility, and staying power when worn by an individual with male genitalia.


    Silver Amulet of Non-Detection. A necklace bearing a plain silver disc engraved with a closed eye.


    Rarity: Uncommon. Item Quality: Above Average.


    Effects: Protects the wearer from divination spells of level 30 and below.


    Reinforced Rockspine Leather Breastplate. A breastplate made from the skin of a Greater Rockspine Lizard, chemically treated and reinforced for increased protection and flexibility.


    Armor Type: Light Armor. Average Protection: 5. Encumbrance: Light. Rarity: Uncommon. Item Quality: Well-Crafted.


    Effects: 10% resistance to piercing damage.


    Hardened Rockspine Leather Pauldrons. A pair of pauldrons made from the skin of a Greater Rockspine Lizard, chemically treated and reinforced for increased protection and flexibility.


    Armor Type: Light Armor. Average Protection: 4. Encumbrance: Slight. Rarity: Uncommon. Item Quality: Well-Crafted.


    Effects: 10% resistance to piercing damage.


    Hardened Rockspine Leather Vambraces. A pair of vambraces made from the skin of a Greater Rockspine Lizard, chemically treated and reinforced for increased protection and flexibility.


    Armor Type: Light Armor. Average Protection: 4. Encumbrance: Slight. Rarity: Uncommon. Item Quality: Well-Crafted.


    Effects: 10% resistance to piercing damage.


    Hardened Rockspine Leather Helmet. A helmet made from the skin of a Greater Rockspine Lizard, chemically treated and reinforced for increased protection and flexibility.


    Armor Type: Light Armor. Average Protection: 4. Encumbrance: Slight. Rarity: Uncommon. Item Quality: Well-Crafted.


    Effects: 10% resistance to piercing damage.


    Hardened Rockspine Leather Half-Gauntlets. A pair of specially-made partial gauntlets made from the skin of a Greater Rockspine Lizard, chemically treated and reinforced for increased protection and flexibility.


    Armor Type: Light Armor. Average Protection: 2. Encumbrance: Minimal. Rarity: Uncommon. Item Quality: Well-Crafted.


    Effects: 10% resistance to piercing damage.


    Hardened Rockspine Leather Greaves. A pair of greaves made from the skin of a Greater Rockspine Lizard, chemically treated and reinforced for increased protection and flexibility.


    Armor Type: Light Armor. Average Protection: 4. Encumbrance: Slight. Rarity: Uncommon. Item Quality: Above Average.


    Effects: 10% resistance to piercing damage.


    You are wearing a complete set of Rockspine Leather Armor.


    Set Bonus: +25% armor protection; chance to deal piercing damage to attackers.

 Intermission: Q&A 1

    Brighid


    The Dreamlands


    Fourthday, 3rd week of the 8th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Timeless


    The Brighaid''s Realm, Dreams of Passion


    "I/we bid ye welcome, honored guests, to my/our Realm."


    "What? Where?" Brighid sat up, observing the area around her, taking in the opulent bed, the braziers and throne, and the others in the room with her. Aidan was there, pressed up against her side as he had been when they went to sleep. So, too, was her mother. A human woman sat on the floor. Riama was there also, stretching and looking about with curiosity.


    None of them surprised her so much as the figure reclining on the throne, however. Brighid''s eyes widened. Aidan had described the Brighaid''s appearance to her, but this was her first time seeing Them. She bent at the waist, pressing her face to the bed. "Divinity! Please forgive me!"


    The deity laughed. "Be not afraid, Brighid Fireheart. I/we will harm none of ye, though I/we did bring ye here for my/our amusement."


    They were interrupted by Aidan''s yell. "Eve!" He sprang from Brighid''s side and rushed over to the human woman, who looked up at him, confusion evident on her face.


    "Daniel?" Aidan''s sister stood up, looking him over. "So this is what you look like in the Realms. Where are you? I <static>!"


    "I/we regret to inform ye," the Goddess in the room cut in, "that none of ye will recall the events of this night. Share whatever information thee will, but when thou awakest, thou wilst remember none of it. And as for ye, dear viewers," she looked up and addressed the empty air, "I/we will suppress any speech that ruins the fun to come. This eve''s entertainment is only for reflections on what ye already know. No secrets shall be revealed this night."


    They returned Their attention to Their guests. "Honored guests, make thyselves at home here in my/our Realm. If thou wishest any refreshment, thou hast but to hold out thy hand and think of it. Once all is to thy satisfaction, we will begin."


    "Forgive me for my impertinence, Divinity," Ails lowered her head, "but begin what?"


    The enigmatic entity smiled Their inscrutable smile. "Why, the answering of questions, of course! Though ye know it not, there are many eyes upon thine travels and struggles, and tonight they shall have their answers." Their kaleidoscopic eyes glinted, and They continued, "Make no mistake: answer ye will. I/we will not harm thee, but I/we will compel compliance, should it be needed."


    Then They were all smiles again. "But enough of that! Let us begin!" The deity held out Their hand, and a rectangular piece of metal appeared in it. They pressed at the edges, and the rectangle opened up on hidden hinges. The Brighaid directed Their attention at the unfolded piece of metal in Their lap, then looked up. "The first question is for thee, Aidan. Will thou attempt to seek out thy sister, and if so, where will thee start thy search?"


    "Of course!" Brighid''s love replied without hesitation. "I can''t leave her alone out there. And, to be honest," he said, looking at Eve, "I could use your help, Sis. You were always better at planning and organizing than I was. I wish I knew where to look, though, or even what you look like in the Realms." He shot a glare at his Patron. "I can''t help but notice that her avatar isn''t here while mine is." The Brighaid shrugged and spread Their hands.


    "All I know is that you''re somewhere in the Highlands, same as me, but from looking at Fionn''s map, that''s like saying we''re both somewhere in the Midwest."


    "I''m a <static>, and I''m currently <static>," Eve said, then grimaced and shot the deity a glare of her own. Turning her attention back to her brother, she hugged him. "I guess I can''t tell you anything useful, and you wouldn''t remember it anyway."


    "Indeed, that is the case," the Brighaid said. "Next question, this one for Riama:" The cat perked up at that. "How old are you? And how big will you grow up to be?"


    Riama turned her black-furred head to look at Aidan. "She says she''s three years old, and that¡ªI''m not going to tell them that! I do not! Ugh, fine, none of us will remember this anyway. She also says that she won''t grow much bigger because I starve her. She''s demanding that I feed her a whole steak or large fish every day so that she''ll grow up big and strong."


    Aidan rolled his eyes. "From everything I know about cats, you''re already as big as you''re going to get, you rascal." Riama snorted and turned her head away from Aidan. "Next question, please, Patron."


    The Brighaid nodded. "Indeed. For Brighid: If Aidan could acquire or create revealing or transparent armor that provided the same protection as that thou already wear, would thou use it instead, knowing he enjoys the view?"


    Brighid felt herself blushing scarlet. What kind of question...? She looked at her love; he was blushing as well. Eve looked between them, surprise on her face. "Wait, wait. My brother, the bachelor, has a girlfriend here already? And she''s a centaur? Whaaaaat? I don''t know whether to be proud or weirded out."


    "Answer the question, love," Aidan urged her.


    Brighid shrugged and answered, "If it protected me exactly as well as my current armor, I would not switch without my Lord''s request. I made my Sunsteel armor with my own hands, working under my old master''s guidance. It has sentimental value to me. If it provided more protection? Yes, I would switch. I do not care if anyone else sees my body; it is Aidan''s alone to touch. Let others wish and dream as they will." The smile Aidan gave her was all the reward she needed.


    "Interesting," the Brighaid said. "Oh, and the next question is for me/us! How unexpected. ''Could you give Aidan the ability to do the aforementioned, or give it to him as a reward?''" They tilted Their head up to look at the ceiling again. "Well, of course, I/we could! I/we am/are a Power; there is little outside of mine/our grasp. However, I/we think perhaps thy question was worded poorly, and that thou wished to know whether I/we would do such a thing. In answer to that: read on." They smirked. "No spoilers!"


    "An inquest for Aidan, although I/we think Ailis may be better prepared to answer: How is Aidan''s Psyche holding up?"


    Ailis looked to Aidan. "May I, my Lord?" He nodded. Ailis cast her diagnostic spell and put her hands on Aidan''s forehead. A moment later, she said, "Well, you are doing better than the last time I did this. You are no longer clinging to sanity by a thread. There are still significant cracks and stresses all across your Psyche, though. Everything feels like it is held together by hope and prayer."


    She looked at Aidan with concern. "Please, my Lord, you have done well in getting help for the rest of your team. Do not throw that away by trying to tough it out yourself." She reached up to rest her palm against his cheek. "Because you will not remember this, I can do and say this here."


    Ailis leaned forward, pressing her torso to Aidan''s, and captured his lips with a kiss. Aidan''s eyes widened in shock, but they closed after a moment, and he leaned into the kiss. Brighid smiled as she watched the two most important people in her life entwine in an intimate embrace.


    Eve sidled over to her and asked, "Sooo... you''re not upset by that?" She gestured at Aidan and Ailis.


    Brighid shook her head. "No, why should I be? I know beyond any possibility of doubt that he loves me and always will. Why would I deny others the opportunity to love him as I do? I lose nothing by it, and the man I love gains so much. You heard how badly he is hurting inside; if another''s love helps him heal in ways that I cannot do alone, how would it be right for me to deny that to him out of selfishness?"


    Eve cocked her head. "So you want him to have, what, a harem? Be surrounded by nubile women who serve him hand and foot to wash all his cares away?"


    "Would that be so bad? Besides, if Aidan is surrounded by beautiful women, then so am I."


    Eve barked a laugh. "Okay, you got me there, sister-in-law. I can see the appeal now that you put it that way."


    Aidan and Ailis''s kiss grew steamier. Their hands explored beneath each others'' clothes now, and when Aidan''s hand slid up to cup his partner''s breast, she broke off the kiss and arched her head backward. "I curse myself every day," Ailis panted, "for swearing the Oath I did. It has placed a wall between us that I very much wish did not exist."


    "I would have accepted a lesser oath," Aidan agreed as he kissed Ailis''s exposed throat. "This is really the way you feel? No tricks, no ploys?"


    "What good would they do when none of us will remember this?" Ailis''s long fingers combed through Aidan''s hair, guiding him to spots that caused her to sigh and moan.


    Eve cleared her throat and turned to the Goddess. "Well, while that''s happening, do you have any questions for the rest of us?"


    The Brighaid smiled and nodded. "Indeed. This next is for myself/ourselves once more. The writer asks: What is the metaphysical connection between the two worlds? People can transit back and forth, at least for a time, so it isn''t a case of a one-way portal."


    The Goddess smiled a cat-caught-the-canary grin. "What makes thee think there are but two worlds involved? We Powers worked through the Void Between, and that non-place lies betwixt all places and all times. I/we cannot answer thy question in full, as thy understanding of the concepts involved is like unto an ant digging a nest at the root of a mountain.


    "Suffice to say that the workings were many and complex, taking millennia of collected faith and manna pooled from all the Realms'' Powers. The connections we forged were not instantaneous, inasmuch as that word has any meaning in the Between, but they require uninterrupted contact betwixt the realms they joined. A death," Their eyes slid to Eve, "or another significant disruption on either side of the juncture severs the link."


    "Now then, the next question is for Aidan, so I/we require thine attention once more, Champion." Aidan looked up and blushed. He stepped back from Ailis with evident reluctance, leaving Brighid''s mother disheveled and flushed, but smiling.


    "Ah, yes, of course, Patron. I am ready."


    "Are thou happy that thy sister is here in the Realms with thee? What would thou tell her if thou saw her and she yet clung to her first life?"


    Aidan''s face fell, and Brighid''s heart with it. She knew that he still struggled with being trapped here, so far from his homeland. "I..." Aidan started, then stopped and sighed. "I don''t know the answer to that, in all honesty. A part of me is happy that I''m not entirely cut off from my family, but another part of me is terrified for her. Earth is a much safer place than here as the pawn on a board we can''t even see. I love you, Sis; you''ve been my best friend for almost all of my life. But knowing that you''re here but not here, with me, makes my stomach churn."


    "As for what I would tell you if you haven''t died yet?" Tears fell from his eyes, spilling down his cheeks, as Aidan looked at his sister. "Log out and don''t come back. Leave me here. If you die here, you''re stuck. Maybe not forever, but for a long, long time."


    Eve shook her head wordlessly and hugged Aidan again. The two shared a quiet moment, and even the deity left them to it.


    "A question for Ailis: If Aidan got the ability to impregnate centaurs, would thou be willing to bear his child?" The Brighaid blinked and ran her finger across the surface of the metal object in her lap. "Yes, that question is for Ailis. How curious. Well?"


    Brighid''s mother shook her head slowly. "Even if my liege Lord were to take me to bed, I would prefer he directed his reproductive efforts elsewhere. I have been a poor enough mother to one child. I do not wish to inflict myself upon another. I would not mind being a grandmother, though. Say, daughter, is your heat not coming upon you soon?"


    "Too soon," Brighid agreed, sadness filling her voice. "My Lord is skilled at many things, but I fear that even he will be unable to find a solution in so short a time. It will be another two years after before my time comes again."


    The Brighaid wore an enigmatic smile as she asked the next question. "To Aidan once more, in much the same vein as previously: How dost thou feel now that thy sister is with thee? Art thou happy that she can see how awesome some of this world is? Scared of how dangerous it can be? Nervous because thou hast no idea whether thou shouldst protect thy sister from the world or the world from thy sister?"


    Aidan snorted. "The latter, for sure. Weren''t you voted ''most likely to become an evil overlord'' in high school, Eve?"


    "Yup!" She beamed. "Damn straight! Galadriel was a pussy for turning down the One Ring. All shall love me and despair!"


    "See what I mean?" Aidan asked the room at large. "As for the rest of it, asked and answered. It''s all a big jumble of emotions. If we could leave as we like and weren''t caught in the middle of some giant conspiracy of beings beyond our ability to comprehend, I''d be ecstatic. As it is? Worried sick."


    "Another question for thee, Champion: How far wouldst thou go to get a child upon Brighid? Where wouldst thou draw the line?"


    Aidan cocked his head and looked at Brighid. "I wouldn''t ritually sacrifice someone or anything if that''s what''s being asked. I wouldn''t attack a dragon its lair or challenge a deity¡ªnothing absurdly reckless and nothing evil. Other than that? I made a promise, even if it wasn''t taken as an oath. If my children are something you want, flame of my heart, then my children you''ll have."


    "Who are you, and what have you done with my brother?" Eve cut in. "No offense, but this is an about-face for you, Daniel."


    Aidan shrugged. "I guess I never met the right woman before. It''s always been in my mind, but I never progressed far enough to take the risk with any of my previous girlfriends."


    "And yet, how long have you known her?"


    "About a month?" Aidan shrugged


    "I repeat: who are you, and what have you done with my brother?" She smirked up at him.


    "Your brother died, Eve. Twice. My priorities have shifted a bit." Eve recoiled as if slapped.


    "I''m¡ªOh, God, I''m so sorry. I didn''t know, didn''t think¡ª"


    "No, it''s OK, Eve, I know you''re just teasing. Sorry for snapping at you." The siblings shared another hug.


    "Another question then, this time for thee, Eve." The Goddess read the question, frowned, then reread it. "Well, the answer will be interesting anyway. The question is: what are thy thoughts on incest?"


    Eve blinked and shook her head. "I''m sorry, what? What does that have to do with anything? I refuse to answer."


    "But thou must," replied the Brighaid.


    "Ughhh. Fine. Incest in general? As long as it''s between two consenting adults¡ªstrongest possible emphasis on consenting and adults!¡ªI have no problem with other people loving whoever they love. For me, personally? No thanks. I love my dad, and I love my brother, but they don''t turn me on. Although," she eyed Aidan, "you did do a pretty good job with the old nip-and-tuck in the character creator, Brother. If you looked that good back on Earth, you''d have to fight the ladies off. I didn''t even recognize you at first; that beard changes your jawline. But still no."


    "Another question for Aidan, then. With access to thy Place of Power, dost thou see thyself prioritizing a different school of magic over thy current Fire specialization?"


    Aidan nodded. "I made a commitment to the gargoyles to master Animamancy, so that''s high on my list. And since Beast Magic involves altering the physical properties of creatures and creating new species, one of the routes I''m considering for a different promise will require me to work on that as well." Brighid felt the blush rush to her cheeks, but it was a happy embarrassment. She smiled at her lover and mouthed her thanks.


    "Very well," the Brighaid said, "there is but one final question. I/we think this will be best answered by Aidan and Eve, though it is addressed to all. On the classical Dungeons and Dragons alignment chart, where do ye place each of us?"


    Aidan pointed at his sister and spoke without hesitation, "Chaotic Neutral. Sorry sis, but you''re mischief personified. Most of your pranks are just for amusement, but I''ve seen enough to know you''ve got a mean streak in you too."


    Eve shrugged. "Guilty as charged, Your Honor. You''re definitely Neutral Good; you''re willing to break some eggs for the omelet if you have to, but you still care about rules. And you''re definitely more of a goody-two-shoes than you should be. As for the rest of this lot, I don''t know any of them well enough to judge, so I''ll leave that to you, Daniel."


    He nodded and turned to Brighid. "I''d put you somewhere between Neutral Good and Chaotic Good. You''re reckless at times and willing to do what you believe is right, even if it means flying in the face of society''s rules. Actually, yeah, let''s goo all the way Chaotic for you. I think that you''d break every law there is to right a wrong, and your sense of justice is pretty well-calibrated."


    He turned to Ailis. "You''re a little harder to place because I''m never sure I''ve seen the real you. At first, I would have put you at Lawful or Neutral Evil; you have demonstrated willingness to sacrifice others for your ambitions, but no outright defiance of the law. Since then, I''ve seen some things that make me want to shift that a little closer to True Neutral. You''re trying to do what is best for the most people, but you''re still ruthless about it, enough that I''m still not completely comfortable with your motivations despite the Oath you swore."


    Ailis hung her head. "I understand, my Lord. All I can say is that I want to be better, and I hope that you will continue to help me toward that goal as you have so far."


    "As long as you show an earnest desire to improve, I will be happy to help," Aidan told her. The two hadn''t moved far apart since their earlier embrace, so Aidan reached out and pulled Ailis into a kiss.


    "And what of thy familiar?" the Brighaid asked before Aidan could get too distracted.


    "She''s a cat, which makes her automatically Chaotic Evil. Yes, I hear your objections. I''m sure every cat believes themself to be an angel, but the rest of us know the truth. You''re a very lovable Chaotic Evil, but that''s as far as I''m willing to go. Yes, I''m sure I''ll be glad that you won''t remember this; the promised retaliation is only proving my point."


    Riama let out a huffing breath and turned her back on her master.


    "And with that," the Goddess broke in, "I/we must bring these proceedings to a close. As I/we stated, none of thee will remember this, but I/we have some leeway as a Power over love and passion." They smiled at Aidan and Ailis. "The two of ye will wake up with the tatters of a passionate dream involving the other teasing at the edges of thy thoughts. No details, alas, but a lingering sense that maybe there is something there. ''Tis a gift from me to thee. Now, return to thy usual sleep." The Goddess gestured; Brighid felt her thoughts grow fuzzy and her eyelids droop. Within moments, her thoughts dissolved into the oblivion of dreamless sleep.


    Zurai


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Orange, and Somedude for their exceptional support on Patreon!


    Additional thanks to Hardened_Goods, tkirkp1, Likentroup, Xt766, aisenfield-kun, PhoenixAuthor, ZTWilgy, and Factol Darkwood for their questions.


    Paths of the Chosen will continue with the start of Book 2, titled Champion, on 9/28/20.

 Champion, Chapter 1: Find Your Way

    Unlike the preceding Age, the Age of the Chosen began with the start of a war rather than the end of one. The Realms had been in a state of relative peace for generations, but the coming Age would be one of the bloodiest and most chaotic in recorded history. Still, though, it was also an Age of great wonders, soul-stirring art, and spells and rituals so breathtaking in scope that entire branches of the Imperial Library are dedicated to studying, cataloging, and recreating them.


    Little is known of the Chosen who marked the Age. Many of the most influential people of the Age claimed to be Chosen, but none have ever found a way to verify such claims; even powerful Truth-Finding rituals and other divinations fail to reveal such information. Careful analysis of historical records has allowed us to be confident that a few specific individuals, such as Khajdar the Imperishable, were Chosen, but it is thought that the number of Chosen numbered in the hundreds or even thousands. Surely not all of their ranks rose to the heights of fame and glory, and in the same manner, many of the powerful Chosen must have acted behind the scenes, opting to let others take the credit for their accomplishments.


    Even the identity of the Chosen who triggered the Age is not known with perfect certainty; many scholars believe that the Lady Elessiandaria Life-Singer, who is said to have sung songs capable of bringing the dead to life and the undead to true death, was the catalyst. I, however, dissent. First, records of her life stretch back much further into the Godless Age than any other individual thought to be Chosen; and second, although she is said to have a miraculous voice and talent for weaving magic into her songs, there is no evidence that she acted as the direct agent for any Powers of the Realms.


    Instead, it is my theory that the Herald of the Age of the Chosen was a Chosen now known only as the Phoenix King, who rose to prominence in the northern Wildlands shortly after the start of the Age. The first mention of him is from the historian Tomas Falgren''s account of the Wildlands War; here he is described first as a seeker of peace, but after an unknown event he became a "furious firestorm, spreading flames all across the land and leaving only ashes in his wake." Very little is known of what caused this shift in focus ...


    ¡ªExcerpt from "Historical Figures of Ages Past, Volume IX: Godless and Chosen" by Emmanuel Tolliver, First Scholar to the Emperor Justiar VI


    Aidan


    The Realms


    Seventhday, 4th week of the 8th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Mid-Morning


    Ceallach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Aidan walked into his city at the head of a procession of centaurs. Of course, Ceallach Macht wasn''t much to look at yet; here at the outskirts, the road was still choked with weeds and the buildings crumbling ruins. The small group of Automata he''d created before leaving two weeks ago hadn''t had the manpower necessary to complete their task. They hadn''t been idle¡ªlooking down at the city from the hills above, Aidan could see that the center was cleared of rubble¡ªbut there was still a lot of work to do.


    Aidan felt just as understaffed. He had gone from a plain, ordinary office worker living a frugal bachelor''s lifestyle to the (somewhat theoretical) ruler of a city-state and Master of a Place of Power in what looked increasingly like an actual fantasy world, complete with magic, in less than three weeks. At first, Aidan had thought the Realms to be a detailed and realistic game. His first death in this world had proved otherwise, removing his ability to return to Earth. Given the time dilation effect he''d observed, if he was still hooked up to his IVR rig, he would have died of dehydration and/or lack of sleep. Since he still existed, he was forced to accept that the Realms was something much stranger.


    That wasn''t the entirety of his troubles, though. Aidan spared a glance over his shoulder; thirty Starchaser centaurs followed behind him, observing the ruins and whispering. They were only the first¡ªan architect, a few farmers, a couple hunters, several crafters of various types, and a double handful of warriors to protect them¡ªand all of them depended on him. Then, too, there were those who pledged themselves wholly to his cause. Cai and Llwyd, who acted as his bodyguards and confidantes and who he was grooming to be his right and left hands. Ailis, former Councillor of the tribe, now one of his chief advisors. Brighid, the love of his life and Soulmate, who was the reason he remained sane these last few weeks. Each of them trusted him with their lives and livelihood.


    The Starchasers as a whole had placed their bets on him. The battle against the undead horde created by the Tannath Taig was devastating in its impact on the tribe. Fully half of their warriors, hunters, guards, and otherwise trained combatants died. All told, the tribe''s population had dropped by around a fifth in a single day. They were now too weak to protect themselves if one of the neighboring tribes, or, Heaven forfend, one of the human realms to the south, attacked. Nobody was happy with the situation, least of all Aidan, but the Place of Power lurking within Ceallach Macht was their only hope for continued survival, and he was its controller.


    That fact had been the subject of a heated Council meeting. Even his staunchest supporters, Gerwyn and Fionn, grilled him for hours about his intentions. Eilwen had been vicious in her attacks. Aidan wasn''t sure why the old biddy had it in for him, beyond her adherence to tradition, but she made it clear that she intended to oppose his every move. Anwn, on the other hand, was more reserved than he expected. At one point, she was part of the bloc who voted to execute Aidan, but after witnessing the struggle against the Taig, she changed her tune somewhat. She still interrogated him without mercy, but her questions lacked the acid of Eilwen''s barbs. In the end, she voted along with Gerwyn and Fionn to move the tribe to Ceallach Macht.


    The tribe as a whole was split to a similar degree. The warriors and their families were behind him, but the ordinary villagers were recalcitrant. To them, Aidan was an agent of chaos, a hated human leading them to death or enslavement. Only a few of them were willing to see past what he was to who he was. They followed along behind their leaders, but there was considerable discontent within the tribe.


    You can lead a centaur to water... Aidan thought to himself. He groaned and ran his hands through his hair. "I''m not cut out for this. I loathe politics and I''m a terrible leader." He spoke to himself, careful not to let his words carry to those behind him, but Ailis''s pointed elf-like ears were keen.


    "You are an excellent leader, Aidan. You care for your people¡ªeven those who do not care for you¡ªbut you do not let that interfere with doing what you know needs to be done."


    "I could say the same of you, and we both know how well that worked out, Ailis."


    "Harsh," the silver-haired centaur chided, "but fair. You do not have the ruthlessness to fall into the trap which caught me, however. More to the point, you have the wisdom to surround yourself with advisors who will tell you when you overreach. That, as much as anything else, speaks to how well-suited you are for this task. I would be a tyrant, were I in your position."


    "I think your daughter would have something to say about that." Aidan sighed and shook his head. "Moving on. What do you think our first priority will be? I can make automatons for dumb labor, but they''ll need supervision, and we only have so many qualified stonemasons. My thought is to set up communal living quarters first, longhouses or the like, so that everyone can sleep out of the cold and wet. After that, I''d like to work on infrastructure. Getting the central avenue rebuilt and building a warehouse and granary for our supplies, that sort of thing. Thoughts?"


    Ailis nodded. "Yes, shelter needs to be first. The tribe is uncertain enough as it is; leaving them exposed to the elements would turn grumbling into shouting within a few days. After that, however, I suggest devoting resources to defenses. Even a low stone wall around the cleared area would go a long way toward showing that you are taking the safety of the tribe seriously."


    Aidan grimaced but nodded. "I guess all our food is preserved anyway; holding off on the granary for a while won''t be the end of the world. The poor condition of the streets will slow down construction, though. The automatons are tireless but not immune to walking slower over broken ground." He shook his head and sighed. "This is why I hate politics. It would be faster overall to build up the infrastructure first, but I have to pander to special interests or risk discontent. At least I don''t have to worry about being voted out; enlightened despotism has some advantages."


    "I understood about two-thirds of that," Ailis remarked with a wry quirk of her lips. "I believe the appropriate response to what I did get is: deal with it."


    Aidan choked back a laugh. That wasn''t a phrase he ever expected to hear in the Realms. He doubted it was Ailis''s intent, but the laughter lightened his mood, so he smiled at her. "Thanks, I needed that. You''re right, of course. Also, I may be able to do both; I need to talk to Niall, but I suspect that fixing the roads may not need strict supervision if we handle it right."


    "There are also other options for defending the city." A deep, reverberating voice sounded from ahead of him. Aidan looked up to see Sarpedon, his gargoyle advisor, standing by the side of the road. "Greetings, Chosen Aidan. It is good to see you again."


    "Likewise, Sarpedon. I hope we didn''t keep you waiting long? I know it''s been a little longer than two weeks."


    "Oh, that is no problem. We gargoyles can enter a state of torpor where we remain aware of what happens around us, but which is otherwise similar to light sleep. You will not likely find many gargoyles who mind taking a nap while waiting for a meeting." Sarpedon''s stony visage twisted into a smile.


    "I''m glad to hear it; it took longer to set everything up than I hoped. Anyway, what were you saying about other options for defense?"


    "A Place of Power is, as you know, a gathering point for manna. An awakened Place of Power, like Caer Macht is now, enables its controller to direct that manna in several ways beyond mere automatons. Indeed, those are the least, and least useful, of the benefits of controlling a Place of Power. Once you have settled in, I would be happy to show you what I mean; for now, you will need to access the interface through the altar. Once your mastery grows, you will be able to make some changes anywhere within your territory. Once you access the interface, you will also receive a quest to upgrade Caer Macht; I would advise making that a priority. The task will not be simple, but every upgrade will increase your territory¡ªand your ability to defend it¡ªby an order of magnitude."


    "Finally, some good news!" Aidan smiled at Sarpedon. "I knew there had to be more to it than the automatons. Cheap, tireless labor is great and all, but it isn''t enough to make a Place of Power priceless. Let me get our little caravan situated and start the initial construction projects, then I''ll join you at the altar chamber. Ailis, Brighid, you''re both welcome to come with me. I don''t imagine either of you will be very interested in watching automatons stack bricks on top of each other."


    "You just try to stop me!" Brighid stuck her tongue out at him.


    Zurai

 Champion, Chapter 2: Fate Leads the Willing

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Seventhday, 4th week of the 8th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Mid-Afternoon


    Ceallach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    It took several hours for Aidan to confer with each of his specialists and assign them tasks and teams of automatons. The architect, Niall, was notable in his relentless need for ever more detailed plans. By the time he finished, he was starving and mentally drained. All Aidan wanted to do was have lunch and a nap, but the world wouldn''t wait for him, so he settled for just the former.


    When he walked into the altar chamber, trailed by Brighid, Ailis, and Llwyd, he found Sarpedon seated on the tile-mosaic floor. The gargoyle looked up at their entry and rose to his feet, surprisingly graceful for a ten-foot-tall granite statue. "Ah, greetings, Chosen Aidan. Are you prepared for your first lesson in managing your Place of Power?"


    "No, but lay it out for me anyway. Time waits for no man."


    "Indeed. Very well. Do you remember how you activated the altar previously to claim it?" At Aidan''s nod, Sarpedon continued, "Then please do so again. The result should be somewhat less dramatic now."


    It took Aidan three tries to channel his energy into the altar. When he succeeded, a new status window and prompt opened up before him.


    Aidan accepted the new spawn point without hesitation; far better to return here, should he die again, than the little box canyon more than a week¡¯s walk away from his center of power.


    "I see by your expression that it worked. What you are seeing should be Caer Macht''s status display. We can go over everything in detail later, but I believe you were concerned about defending the settlement? If you will direct your attention to the lower part of the display, then. Every Place of Power has at least two manna streams feeding it. In addition to filling the Place of Power''s manna pool, they also provide an opportunity to enhance various aspects of your territory. Each of the streams may be devoted to one or more of four categories. The two most relevant to the matter at hand are Inner Defense¡ªthat is to say, defenses for the Place of Power itself¡ªand Outer Defense¡ªprotection for your territory. You can combine the streams in any manner you desire, but splitting them across multiple categories will lessen their impact on each in proportion."


    With four sources to choose from, there was a minimum of sixteen different combinations for each of the four categories, and two hundred and fifty-six ways to combine those sixteen combinations across the sections. Aidan''s mind spun with the possibilities. "And what effect do the enhancements have? I assume they change based on the source or sources used and where they''re assigned?"


    "That is correct. I do not know how the esoteric schools manifest, but elemental schools like Earth and Air tend to create Elementals to act as guardians when applied to Inner Defense. If you were to devote the entirety of the Earth stream to Inner Defense, I expect that would manifest as a contingent of strong Earth Elementals that would answer to you alone. If you split the Earth source between Inner Defense and another category, there would be fewer or weaker guardians."


    "And if I combined Earth and Fire, they''d be Lava Elementals, or something similar?"


    "Yes, that is the general idea. I cannot confirm the specifics, but combining multiple sources in one aspect creates a result dependant on the combination."


    "Alright, let''s try this then," Aidan said as he assigned Fire and Dream to Inner Defense. "I want to keep Earth available for Resources, that sounds like it would¡ªWoah!" He cut off as a shimmering pillar of flames erupted from the floor in front of him. The fire coalesced into a bird the size of a harpy eagle. Intense, eye-searing blue-white formed a core at its breast, fading to a warm orange at the tips of its wings and tail. The elemental shifted, flexing its wings; its every movement was trailed by a shimmering haze.


    "That is not a standard Fire Elemental," Ailis asserted.


    Brighid reached a hand out toward the fiery avian. It cocked its head, looking at her fingers, then its form rippled. Flames surged from it, then contracted again, leaving the elemental in a new shape. Brighid recoiled; Ailis hissed in shock. "This should not be possible!" Standing where the bird had been was a second, more literally fire-hearted Brighid. "Elementals are bound to the form they are summoned in!"


    "Not Dream Elementals, it looks like," said Aidan with a faint air of smugness. He''d made his peace with Ailis for the most part, but it still felt good to do something that shocked her.


    "Indeed!" Sarpedon agreed. "Fascinating. Oneiromancy is not well-understood even among my people; it is one of the rarest of the esoteric schools. To think that it would allow elementals to bypass the Strix-Lowen Monomorphic Effect!"


    "Hmm, fancy, but I''m not sure how useful it is..."


    "The primary limitations of elementals are the amount of power invested in them and their base form." Ailis settled into her lecturing voice. "Invested power determines their effective level and total attribute points; base form determines how those points are allocated and what other capabilities they have. The original avian form would have higher Speed and Senses, but lower Might and Toughness than this one. Additionally, the bird could fly, while the centaur can open doors. When a normal mage summons an elemental, it is for a specific, narrow task, because of these limitations. These... Dream-Fire Elementals?"


    "Passion. They''re Passion Elementals," Brighid declared in a voice that brooked no disagreement.


    Ailis eyed her daughter for a moment, then resumed, "These Passion Elementals can shift their functionality at a moment''s notice. That means they can adapt to meet any threat within the range allowed by their invested power. These are excellent guardians, Aidan."


    "I wonder how many of them I have." He concentrated on the altar''s interface again. "Hmm, looks like there are twenty available. I want to split the Dream source, though; I have a suspicion about what will happen if I assign it to Populace. And as I was saying, Earth sounds ideal for Resources; hopefully, it will either increase the fertility of the soil in the area or produce veins of valuable stone and minerals." He made those two allocations. "That leaves Air for Outer Defense, with the possibility of splitting another source into it. Any ideas what it will do on its own?" He directed the question towards Sarpedon.


    The gargoyle shook his head. "Alas, no. The other three categories tend to have variable effects from Throne to Throne, even using the same sources. The Steel-Wind Throne lies at the heart of a perpetual hurricane, while the approaches to the Throne of the Crystalline Caverns are filled with pockets of poisonous gasses."


    "Wait, what''s all this about Thrones?"


    Ailis answered him. "It is a colloquial term for Places of Power. Places of Power are the seeds from which nations sprouted, so people began to call them Thrones and their controllers Sovereigns."


    Aidan growled. "I''m beginning to smell a set-up. First, I get an Ability from my Class Talents called Crown of the Exalted, now I''m pushed into claiming a Throne and becoming a Sovereign. It appears that the Brighaid had a plan for me from the start."


    Brighid walked around the altar and wrapped her arms around him. "Have They done wrong by you so far, my love?"


    "Not that I know about, but I''m a little sensitive about being treated like a playing piece at this point."


    "I understand," she soothed. "And as you may recall, I had some choice words to say about your Patron''s actions in the past." Brighid nuzzled his hair and teased, "I believe it was you who convinced me to release my anger then; allow me to return the favor. So far, unlike certain others, They have placed you in situations that will empower you. It is doubtless true that the Three Flames have plans for their Chosen, but have They not given you free rein to act as your heart wills? To my eyes, They are not moving you like a piece on a board, but rather guiding Their champion to the tools that he will need. Yes, those tools have labels that you are uncomfortable with, but that proves your worthiness. ''Trust neither a thin cook nor a fat king.'' You, my love, will worry and fret too much to ever grow fat under the crown."


    "''Uneasy lies the head who wears a crown,''" Aidan agreed with a sigh. "I''ll suspend judgment for now. Back to the matter at hand, since we don''t know what form the Outer Defenses will take, I''m going to hold off on assigning anything to that aspect until the rest of the tribe arrives. The last thing I want or need is for the defenses to attack them. That still leaves me with an Air source sitting around unused, though. Is there anything to prevent me from assigning it now and then changing it in a week when the rest get here?"


    Sarpedon nodded. "Once assigned to an aspect, sources cannot be changed for some time. Higher-level Thrones have tighter restrictions on changing their aspects, but I am unsure how long the delay is to start with."


    "Should be easy enough to check..." Aidan attempted to remove the Earth source from Resources.


    "Looks like one month. I''ll leave Air alone for now; it can''t hurt anything, since they''ve lain fallow for thousands of years at this point, and over two weeks since being re-awakened."


    Sarpedon nodded. "As you say, it will not hurt. Prudence and caution are admirable traits in a new Sovereign."


    "Agh! Enough with all the Lord Aidan this, Chosen Aidan that, Sovereign that other thing! Please just call me Aidan. Unlike the rest of this lot, you aren''t bound to me by any oaths."


    The gargoyle shook his head. "I will refrain from calling you Chosen or Sovereign if you insist, but you are a Lord, Aidan, and I am your advisor. Regardless of your personal distaste, if your allies do not respect your station, your enemies will do worse. Disrespect, in turn, will sow the seeds of rebellion. People will not suffer a ruler who they neither fear nor respect, and I do not believe you to be the type to rule with an iron fist."


    Aidan let his head sink back into the warm softness of Brighid''s chest and let out an exasperated sigh. "No, I''m not. Fine, have it your way." He didn''t let himself wallow for long, though. "Now, what was it you were saying about a Quest to upgrade¡ªoh, nevermind." Asking about it seemed to be all that was needed, as a new notification appeared in his mind''s eye.


    Well, that all seems straightforward enough, except... ¡°What is the Labyrinth?"


    All four of his companions perked up at that. "A Labyrinth entrance here? Marvelous!" Sarpedon exclaimed.


    "Yes, yes, I''m sure it''s wonderful. What is it?"


    "My pardon, Lord Aidan. The Labyrinth is a dungeon that spans the entire world. Each Labyrinth entrance has its own unique strata¡ªgroups of floors with a similar theme¡ªbut as you go deeper into the dungeon, they begin to share with other branches. Before you ask, you cannot use the Labyrinth to travel from place to place; no matter what exit they use, a party will always return to where they started. The Labyrinth cannot be used as an avenue of invasion. It is a source of limitless resources, however, to those strong enough to harvest them."


    "That is how the Taig maintained such a huge army!" Ailis exclaimed. "It must have found the Labyrinth entrance and used it as a source of corpses to animate."


    "Yes, that seems likely. Even I did not suspect there was a branch here; this is fortuitous. And by your words, Lord Aidan, the quest to upgrade Caer Macht involves the Labyrinth in some way?"


    He nodded. "Yes, I have to defeat the boss of the first stratum. How difficult is that likely to be?"


    Sarpedon shrugged. "It is impossible to tell without venturing inside. It should be achievable with effort if it is part of your quest, however. From what I have read, in the majority of branches, the first floor of the first stratum is tame enough to be handled as long as everyone in the party has a combat Class."


    "Well, then!" Aidan clapped his hands together. "It sounds like we have a plan for what to do while we wait for the rest of the tribe to gather, don''t we?" A grin spread across his face. He had always been partial to a good dungeon crawl.


    Zurai

 Champion, Chapter 3: Urban Underground

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Seventhday, 4th week of the 8th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Late Afternoon


    Caer Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    "So," Aidan asked the obvious question, "does anyone have any idea where the entrance to the Labyrinth is?"


    "It will be somewhere close to the heart of the Place of Power, but that could place it anywhere within the city," Sarpedon shrugged. "Its most probable location is within this complex under the hill; I would suggest starting any search there."


    "Alright." Aidan considered the small group gathered in the altar chamber. "I don''t know how much there is to explore, but there are a couple of cross-tunnels branching off the main pathway. I suggest the five of us¡ª"


    "Four," Sarpedon interjected. "I am only permitted to assist you in an advisory capacity, Lord Aidan."


    Aidan raised an eyebrow at the gargoyle, then shrugged and continued, "Very well; I say the four of us split up and search a side passage each. I''ll assign each of us four Passion Elementals as guards, just in case anything nasty is still lurking in the shadows. If you do find anything like that, your first priority is survival. Your second priority is to warn the rest of us. Otherwise, we''ll reconvene here in two hours and check out the passages leading from this room. Is that agreeable to everyone?"


    Ailis gave him a sour look, but both Brighid and Llwyd chimed in with their acceptance before she had a chance to speak. The silver-haired Druid made a brief moue of distaste, but nodded and said, "That is fine. What will you do with the remaining elementals?"


    "They''ll be static guards, I think¡ªtwo at the tunnel entrance and two here for now. Eventually, I''ll set up overlapping patrol routes and such with the others, but I don''t even know the layout of this place yet. I want to consult Fionn on it anyway; he knows more than I ever will about that sort of thing. Let''s see if I can figure out how to command them..."


    Several minutes of experimentation followed before Aidan hit on the method. Once he figured out the trick, though, creating the rest of his allotment and giving them orders only took a few moments. He sent two in the shape of centaurs to stand guard at the tunnel entrance, stationed two dragon-shaped elementals at the altar, and assigned four humanoid elementals each to himself and his companions. It took them noticeably longer to change form with the Dream source divided between Inner Defense and Populace but didn''t seem to affect them otherwise.


    With their guardians in place, the four of them split up to explore. Brighid and Llwyd trotted ahead to the further cross-passage while Aidan and Ailis took a more leisurely pace to the nearer one. Once they arrived, the two shared a look, shrugged, and turned towards the entryway they were closest to. Ailis set off down the northwest-leading passage, while Aidan sent three of his elementals ahead of him down the southeast-leading one. He followed them into the tunnel with the remaining minion acting as a rearguard.


    Aidan


    Night


    Hours later, Aidan looked over the hand-drawn map spread out on the altar.


    It turned out that Caer Macht was built to be, if not a fortress, then at least a stronghold. Access to the inner areas was too direct for it to be defensible against a determined attack. That being said, it had almost everything else it needed; barracks for guards, quarters for servants, multiple kitchens, a training hall, even a library. Massive renovations would need to take place before any of it was usable, and the books in the library were long reduced to dust, but everything was still structurally sound.


    The treasure vault, at least, contained some valuables collected by the Taig; Aidan was pleased to recover his Chest of Holding, along with the healing potions it had held. The shamburgers, alas, were nowhere to be found¡ªanother of the Taig''s myriad crimes. There were no usable equipment items in the loot, but Aidan was able to add more crafting materials, gems, non-magical jewelry, and currency to his growing stash. He made a mental note to get with Brighid, Ailis, and the Starchaser crafters to see what could be made from what he had.


    What''s more, on a lower level, the group found an underground reservoir attached to a series of rooms filled with fertile soil. They were unlit, but Ailis assured Aidan that there were spells that would allow crops to be grown underground. His own Earth Magic spells would let him keep the soil productive over time, and one of the village mages could create sunlight. It was that spell that Ailis had "borrowed" with Cooperative Casting at the Battle of Ceallach Macht to light the battlefield.


    The same floor of the stronghold contained a series of rooms seemingly dedicated to a wide variety of crafts. There was a blacksmith''s forge, a mason''s workshop, and more. There was even a room that Brighid identified as an enchanter''s lab. None of the equipment had survived the millennia, but the mere fact that space was allocated for them meant that Caer Macht was intended to be self-sufficient.


    It wasn''t until they finally took the stairs up from the back of the altar room that they found the Labyrinth, however. The curving staircase rose for a good twenty feet before opening out into a vast, pillared gallery that reminded Aidan of the Mines of Moria. At the far end of the gallery was an ornate archway made of twisting, curling strands of copper, gold, and obsidian. An indistinct, translucently shimmering haze filled the space under the arch, obscuring the wall behind it from sight. When Aidan approached, a notification popped into view.


    Welcome, Master of Caer Macht.


    This Labyrinth portal has become dormant due to a lack of power. Do you wish to enable it at the cost of 10,000 manna and 10 manna per day?


    Aidan frowned at the cost; that was a quarter of Caer Macht''s maximum capacity and about a tenth of its daily regeneration. Still, he wasn''t about to turn back now. He confirmed the price.


    Attempting to reconnect to the Labyrinth Matrix.


    ERROR: Previous anchor point is no longer available.


    Creating a new anchor point.


    Calibrating manna flows.


    Refining input.


    Designing a stratum template.


    Please wait.


    The haze began to churn, rippling and swirling. Llwyd took a step back and hefted his weapon.


    Colors flickered within the portal, spreading unnatural shadows across the gallery.


    The lights flickered faster and faster as the haze compressed, swirling tighter and tighter until only the bright flashes were visible.


    New anchor successfully created.


    Opening the portal.


    All was still for a moment, then a green glow surged forth from the archway, filling the room in an instant. Aidan shielded his eyes from the sudden brightness; when he looked again a few seconds later, the haze was gone. In its place was a pathway into a verdant, sunlit forest full of immense, towering trees. With a start, he realized the portal didn''t lead to the forest floor, but instead onto a ten-foot-wide, flat-topped branch. In fact, he couldn''t make out the ground, even in the distance.


    "Wait," Brighid said, "does this mean that the whole stratum is in the tree branches?"


    "What, are you scared of heights?" Aidan teased his girlfriend, earning a glare in return.


    "Aidan, love, if you have not noticed, I weigh more than a thousand pounds without my armor. A fall from almost any height has a high risk of broken bones and internal injuries. Yes, I am scared of heights."


    Aidan blanched and caught Brighid''s trembling hand, bringing it to his lips for a kiss. "Sorry, flame of my heart. I wasn''t thinking. I won''t make you come if you don''t want to."


    She shivered for a moment longer, then twisted her hand around to cup his cheek. She bent down and kissed him on the lips, then nuzzled her face into his neck. "As if you would do that anyway," Brighid murmured to him. "No," she continued in a louder voice, "I will not let my perfectly justified fears keep me from your side."


    "I doubt you need to worry about falling," came Sarpedon''s voice from behind them. "The Labyrinth can be brutal and unforgiving at times, but I doubt that such a severe environmental hazard would be present in the first stratum. Most likely, you will find invisible barriers preventing you from leaving the path except by accepted methods. That may look like a forest, but it is still a dungeon at its most basic and fundamental level, and the Labyrinth always leads downward. It might be possible for you to jump from a higher branch to a lower one, but I doubt it. Whoever made the Labyrinth had an evident distaste for creative shortcuts."


    Aidan raised his eyebrow at the gargoyle. "Did you already know this is where the Labyrinth was? You got here fast."


    "No," Sarpedon shook his head, "but I could feel the portal forming. This is not so far from the altar room, after all."


    Aidan wasn''t so sure. The gargoyle had not been in the altar chamber when the party reconvened there, and Aidan hadn''t heard the sound of stone footsteps on the stairs. The stairwell wasn''t wide enough for him to have flown up it, either. Despite everything, he was wary of the Sapphire Sky in general and Sarpedon in particular; something in him just refused to trust immortal beings who offered help with only a vague hint of future repayment. That didn''t stop him from accepting their assistance, but it did make him cautious of them. He was sure that there would be a price to pay for their help somewhere down the line.


    That was then, though. Aidan had other, more immediate problems to solve, so he left Sarpedon''s probable deception pass. A question did come to mind, however. "Would that also prevent people from flying from branch to branch? I know you won''t join us, but maybe we''ll have a harpy teammate at some point."


    Sarpedon nodded. "Yes, that seems probable. As I said, the Labyrinth is stubbornly resistant to people taking a path that was not intended. You will find shortcuts within, but only those that were designed to be such. Do note, however, that the enemies you find within will not be so restricted."


    "Wait, you''re saying that monsters will be able to attack us from above or below even though we won''t be able to leave the branches?"


    Aidan directed the question towards the enigmatic gargoyle, but Ailis was the one who answered. "The price for the Labyrinth''s resources is danger. You are never safe within it. It grants unlimited wealth and experience, but only to those who risk everything."


    "Indeed," agreed Sarpedon. "The Labyrinth does play by certain rules, but the game is not symmetrical. It will never kill you outright, but it can and will block your path with monsters beyond your ability to fight. There will always be a way forward, but it will never be safe."


    "Hmm. Well, if I want to improve Caer Macht, I don''t have any choice but to press forward and do the best I can." Aidan rolled his shoulders. "How many can enter along with me?" He asked Sarpedon.


    "No party may have more than five sapient beings with Classes. Your familiar will not count against you, nor will any summoned minions or tamed beasts."


    "Summoned minions... does that include the Passion Elementals?"


    Sarpedon shrugged. "I do not know, although I suspect not. While the Labyrinth''s entrance rests within Caer Macht, the Labyrinth itself does not. My guess would be that, as soon as they crossed the threshold, they would vanish."


    Aidan nodded. "Yeah, that figures. I''ll try tomorrow just in case; the extra firepower would be useful." He paused for a beat, then grinned. "Pun not intended, but I''ll keep it anyway." Brighid groaned and smacked his shoulder.


    "Anyway, it''s too late for us to do anything tonight. We''ve all been up since dawn, and if we''re to explore a sadistic dungeon, we''ll need to be sharp and focused. Besides, there''s only four of us here; I assume Cai would be willing to be our fifth?"


    Llwyd nodded. "You have only to command and we will obey, Lord Aidan, but I do believe she would be upset if you denied her the chance to come. She is not quite as free-spirited as Ysbail, but we have been through more than our share of dungeons. Speaking of Ysbail, I would suggest telling her about the Labyrinth as soon as you can. She will be beyond eager to explore it, perhaps enough to tie herself more closely to your cause. At the least, it would not take much to convince her to join your party¡ªor to start her own, which you could tax."


    "Ugh," Aidan groaned. "Taxes. I''m going to have to levy taxes, aren''t I? And deal with enforcing them. And spending them. Why did I take this job again?"


    "Because you are a good man," said both Ailis and Brighid at the same time. The mother and daughter shared a look and a smile.


    Zurai


    This is an extremely rough draft of the map referenced in the chapter. I haven''t found a dungeon map-making program that doesn''t make me want to throw my computer out the window yet, so I had to draw it by hand. It''s incomplete, but it''ll give you an idea of the general layout.

 Champion, Chapter 4: Emerald Woodlands

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Firstday, 1st week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Early Morning


    Caer Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    The party reconvened in the Labyrinth Hall the next morning. Each wore their complete kit; even Ailis had a suit of leather armor and light barding. "Okay, we''re only going to do some scouting today; I have no intention of trying to clear the stratum today, tomorrow, or next week. I want to get an idea of what we''ll be facing, learn the Labyrinth''s basic rules, and start work on a map, nothing more. If we face stiff opposition, we''ll retreat and regroup. When any of us starts feeling even a little tired or takes an injury that takes more than a few seconds to heal, we''ll retreat and regroup. This isn''t like taking out the Taig; we have time to do it right. Clear?" Aidan laid out his objectives.


    Everyone nodded except Riama, who sent <assent>. "Cai, Llwyd, you two are our front line; Brighid and I will be the hammers to your anvil. Riama will harass from the shadows, and Ailis..." he trailed off. "Well, I''ve seen what you can do with a circle of mages backing you up, but why don''t you tell us what role you see for yourself here?"


    The silver-haired centaur nodded. "Of course, Lord Aidan. My two magical schools are Beast Magic and Wood Magic; I am more skilled with the former. I can provide healing for external Wounds and some internal ones, although my spells leave scars, unlike yours. I can use an advanced form of the Shift spell I taught you to enhance physical Attributes. Both Beast and Wood Magic give me some ability to immobilize or hinder enemies. Finally, I have access to a few summons, although they are generally either weak or expensive. For this group, the Crimson-thorned Lasher would be my choice. It is a Wood Magic summon that can envelop enemies in vines covered in blood-draining thorns."


    Brighid and Llwyd shuddered; Aidan blanched and said, "We''ll do without it for now."


    Ailis tilted her head and looked at him in confusion for a moment, then her eyes widened and a pale hand flew up to cover her mouth. "Oh! I was not thinking! Please forgive me. Yes, you are right, my Lord."


    Aidan waved her apology away. "I understand. You were thinking of the strategic situation, trying to make yourself fit best to what the group needs. It''s fine."


    "No, my Lord, it is not." Ailis shook her head, then reached up to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "This is what I always do, failing to think of the people involved in my plans. I can do better; I will do better." Then she poked him in the chest. "And you, Lord Aidan, are being a hypocrite. If I had proposed something like that before swearing my Oath to you, you would have been angry with me. You have gotten upset for less, so do not deny it."


    Aidan caught her hand as she tried to poke him again. "You''re right, kind of. I would indeed have gotten angry at you before, but that doesn''t make me a hypocrite. The circumstances changed; before, I had to wonder how much of it was thoughtlessness and how much was some ruthless plan leaking through. Now, you are, if not incapable of acting against me, then at least strongly discouraged by the world itself from doing so. I''m about as sure as I can be that you mean well, even if you screw up from time to time. To put it succinctly, I have a reason to trust you now, and that makes a difference." Ailis stared at him, a rosy glow suffusing her cheeks. She did not withdraw her hand from his.


    Riama rubbed against Aidan''s shins and sent him <exasperation> "If you want to add her to your mates, you should just take her. She will not resist. There is no need to court her like this."


    Aidan coughed and blushed bright red, dropping Ailis''s hand. "Alright, let''s get moving; time''s a-wasting. Everyone, finish whatever preparations you need to make." To Riama, he sent, <flustered embarassment> "It''s not like that! Besides, she wouldn''t resist because of the Oath; she''s not interested in me that way. Using her Oath against her like that would be wrong. And Brighid''s the only mate I want, anyway."


    <weary acceptance, a hint of wry amusement> "Whatever you say, Master."


    Aidan busied himself with his spells, casting Kindle the Hearth-Flame on himself, and Brighid¡ªthe magic didn''t accept Ailis as a valid target, or he would have included her as well¡ªpreparing a Burning Barrage, and summoning his Obsidian Salamander and Golden Fawn. The Fawn was Bambi-sized deer with fur that was a vibrant, light brown at the base and a coppery gold at the tips. Its legs were too long for its body, but the overall effect was to make it cuter. It looked around, curiosity in its bright eyes. When it spotted Riama, its ears perked up and it gamboled over to her. The astral jaguar lowered herself and made a sound of displeasure deep in her belly, but that didn''t dissuade the little summon from rubbing up against her and licking her fur. "Aww, look, you made a friend!" Aidan teased his familiar. "I''ll trust you to look after the fawn, then."


    <resigned to fate> "My revenge will be slow and painful. You will rue this day," she promised in return.


    Once everyone was prepared, Aidan gave his two Passion Elemental escorts their orders; he had one precede them into the portal, and one follow them. The first elemental stepped through the portal and vanished. Cai and Llwyd stepped through next, followed by Aidan and Riama, Ailis, Brighid, and, finally, the second elemental.


    Aidan emerged to a scene similar to, but not quite the same as, the image beneath the arch. The party¡ªsans Passion Elementals¡ªstood inside a wooden room about ten feet wide by twenty long. No, not a room, Aidan realized. There aren''t any planks, and the wood is unfinished. We''re inside a tree. Indeed, one of the ''walls'' was open to the air and led to one of the flat-topped branches they saw before. The limb extended off into the distance, splitting around a towering tree trunk that he could barely make out in the gloom. Behind them was a shimmering gateway showing a view of a pillared hallway.


    After confirming that the entire party received the quest, Aidan said, "Well, at least it looks like the Labyrinth isn''t going to make it hard for us to return yet. I confess that I was a little worried about that. Alright, let''s get this party started. Cai, Llwyd, lead the way, please. Brighid, you bring up the rear until we get into a fight, just in case something attacks us from behind."


    The two tanks'' first steps out onto the branch were tentative, but when it failed to so much as shift under their weight, they proceeded with more confidence. Aidan followed, craning his neck to take in the environment around him. The canopy was far above them and as thick as he''d ever seen; other than the occasional ray of sunlight spilling down to the lower levels, there wasn''t much light to see with. When he looked over the edge of the branch, there was no evidence of any ground. Aidan could make out towering shapes, black against the darkness, that he assumed were other trees. Any details, however, were lost to the gloom.


    "Light, please, Brighid? I know it''ll make us easier to spot for whatever''s out there, but we''re a human and a bunch of centaurs in a tree; we stick out anyway." Aidan asked.


    "Speak for yourself," retorted Riama. Aidan ignored her.


    Pulsing, flickering light spread out from the Paladin. "Thanks, love. Given the quest, it looks like we''re going to be spending a lot of time on this floor. Let''s go straight and see what we find."


    They advanced with caution, keeping to the left as the branch split. It curved close to the bark of a tree large enough to fit four of the one containing the portal; Aidan could make out insects the size of housecats climbing up and down the trunk. None of them looked threatening, and they all seemed to ignore the group, but their presence made him uneasy. Ahead of them, a sunbeam illuminated a thick batch of leaves spreading out from the branch. Each was about as big as he was, and the lot of them covered an area at least six hundred square feet in volume.


    "Look, Lord Aidan; there''s an entrance to the tree here, and I think I can see branching passages inside." Llwyd drew his attention. Indeed, the branch they were on connected to the new tree just like it had to the previous one.


    It really is like a dungeon in here when you get down to the nuts and bolts of it, Aidan mused. It looks like a forest, but only on the surface. Trees might share roots, but not branches. "Well, I don''t fancy stepping out onto those leaves, and I don''t see anything past them anyway, so let''s step inside."


    Where the portal-tree had smooth, featureless walls and floors, this one did not. The surfaces were rough, full of ridges and pits, and moss draped from the ceiling. The passage was wide enough for two centaurs to fight side-by-side, but smaller holes were bored through every available surface. The air inside was warm and moist, with the earthy scent of decaying vegetable matter. Aidan wrinkled his nose, but it wasn''t as bad as the Fetid Lair had been.


    The tunnel through the tree went more or less straight for around fifty feet before emerging as another branch. There were two side passages, one around ten feet ahead of them leading to the left, and another thirty feet down the line that split to the right. By unspoken consensus, the party took them as they came, turning to the left when the opportunity presented itself. The path continued for another ten feet before making a sharp turn back to the right, then continued for thirty feet before coming to a dead end. Floating in the air at the end was a grey orb.


    "A treasure orb! I did not expect to see one so soon," exclaimed Brighid. "Go on, open it!"


    "Hold on," Aidan cautioned, "is it possible that it''s trapped? Where I come from, treasure in dungeons is rarely free for the taking."


    "If this was a chest or a pile of coins, that might be possible," Ailis agreed, "but a treasure orb like this is not possible to trap in that way. I suppose there could be a pitfall or the like around it? Caution will not hurt, although none of us have the expertise to disarm a trap if we found one."


    <reproach> "I can reach it without touching the floor," came Riama''s mental voice. <eagerness to prove one''s worth> "Please allow me to handle this."


    Aidan blinked, then smiled at his familiar and sent her <warm approval>. "Riama can teleport through shadows, which there are plenty of here. There''s no risk of her triggering any trap. Go ahead," he nodded to her.


    The astral jaguar sauntered over to Aidan''s shadow, stepping into it and vanishing. She appeared a split second later wrapped around the back of the sphere. It popped, sending Riama tumbling towards the floor with a slim book in her maw. She vanished again and reappeared to Ailis''s left, all four paws planted on the ground. She dropped her prize at Aidan''s feet and began to wash her face with a forepaw.


    Outwardly, Riama gave an appearance of being nonchalant about it, but Aidan could feel the


    bubbling up from his link to her. He squatted down and ran his hands through her fur, scratching behind her ears and stroking her neck and back. Immediately, a loud, rumbling, buzzing purr filled the room, and she leaned into his touch. "Well done!" Aidan told her, sending his own


    back to her. He continued to pet her for a moment longer, then scooped up the tome.


    Blueprint: Escape Token: A manual describing how to create Escape Tokens, which can instantly bring an entire party out of the Labyrinth.


    Rarity: Unique/Labyrinth. Quality: Average.


    Effects: Reading this blueprint will teach any crafter how to make an Escape Token. Time to read: 15 minutes. Chance to learn: 100%. Special: This blueprint modifies itself to suit the highest-level Skill of the reader from the following possibilities: Calligraphy, Carving, Gemcutting, Leatherworking, Pottery, Sculpting, Scrimshaw, Smithing, Weaving.


    Aidan''s eyebrows climbed towards his hairline. He never expected to be handed a get-out-of-jail-free card right at the start of the Labyrinth. I wonder what the catch is? Shaking his head and standing up, he tossed the book to Brighid. "What do you make of that?"


    "Oh!" Brighid fumbled the book but managed to catch it between one forearm and her breastplate. She examined it for a moment, then her eyebrows shot up as well. "Oh! This is ... surprisingly generous of the Labyrinth." She explained it to the others, then turned back to Aidan. "Do you think we should leave now and make some before we return? We are very close to the entrance, but it is better to be safe than sorry, as you say."


    "If I may?" Cai interjected, and Aidan gestured for her to continue. "We are in a defensible position now, and it will not take long for Lady Brighid to read the book. If the Tokens can be made in a reasonable timeframe with materials we have access to, we can retreat. If they require Labyrinth materials or other special accommodations, there is no sense in leaving now."


    "Good idea, thank you, Cai." Catching Brighid''s expression, Aidan grinned at her. "If I have to put up with being ''Lord Aidan,'' you have to put up with being ''Lady Brighid.'' You are my love, my lady, and the light of my life, but that doesn''t get you out of the consequences of your questionable decisions¡ªlike falling in love with me."


    The others laughed, and Brighid blushed scarlet for a moment before burying her nose in the manual.

 Champion, Chapter 5: Lurking Danger

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Firstday, 1st week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Morning


    The Labyrinth, First Stratum: Viridescent Treetops


    Fifteen minutes later, the book crumbled to dust in Brighid''s hands. The redhead blinked, then shook herself all over. "That was weird." Her eyes focused on a blank spot on the wall for a moment before she spoke again. "I know exactly how to make it. Not the same way I know how to make a sword or an arrowhead; I can see all the ingredients, the exact ratios they need to be mixed in, the precise steps of the process, everything."


    She refocused on the party. "The good news is that they do not take long to make. On the other hand, each stratum of the Labyrinth needs its own escape token, and they require materials gathered from that stratum. For now, we should be on the lookout for Viridescent Sap and Emerald Chitin. I do not know what the materials are for the second stratum token, but I know that I will when I see them. Oh, and more bad news: tokens will not work if anyone in the party is engaged in battle."


    Aidan nodded and said, "I knew there''d be a catch. So, they won''t save us from a fight we''re losing, but they can save us from one we see coming and don''t want to risk. Also, those materials'' names are clues: Viridescent Sap could be from the environment, but Emerald Chitin implies that there will be insect-like monsters to fight."


    "Perhaps," Ailis replied, "but it is safest not to make assumptions. The chitin might come from those passive insects we saw outside, and the sap might come from monsters. Maybe both are from monsters, or neither. It is too early to tell, and we have too little information to make judgment calls on. For now, we should continue exploring."


    No one disagreed, so they retraced their steps back to the main tree-tunnel and proceeded to the second side-corridor. This one, too, took a right turn ten feet in and ended thirty feet later. There was no treasure orb, however. Instead, a mass of vines supported a luminescent purple flower dangling from the wall. Its long petals curved in a vague S shape, exposing the pistil and stamen at its heart. A sweet fragrance wafted through the air, and the flower shimmered with drops of nectar.


    "What is a flower doing inside a tree?" Ailis asked, her confusion evident in her tone. "And what is pollinating it?"


    "Remember, this is a dungeon; even if it looks like something natural, it isn''t. Still, everything here has to have a purpose." Aidan leaned closer to the flower. The entire thing glowed faintly in the darkness, but up close, he could see that there were veins among the petals that shone a little brighter. The nectar, too, was phosphorescent, filled with hundreds of tiny sparkling lights. He reached out to touch the liquid, then thought better of it; what if it were acidic? We''ve got multiple healers, and I have my potions back. Unless it kills me on contact, I should be okay. Aidan stretched out a fingertip, ready to jerk it back at the first sign of anything untoward, and touched it to a dangling droplet.


    To Aidan''s surprise, nothing happened. The nectar was cool and wet and closer to syrup than water, but that was all. He brought his fingertip to his nose and sniffed, reasoning that he was already in trouble if it was an airborne toxin. He couldn''t make out any particular scent over the flower''s fragrance. "Well, it seems safe enough to the touch. I''m not about to try eating it, but maybe we should collect some and see if anyone else can use it. The Labyrinth is supposed to be full of useful materials, after all."


    They each had two spare waterskins for situations like this, so they filled one with nectar, then reversed course. Once back in the primary tunnel, they turned left and exited out onto the branch. "What''s that across the way? It''s too small to be another of these trees." Aidan pointed to another arboreal pathway separated from the party by a short gap. There was a vertical structure rising off the side of the branch nearest them.


    "I do not know," mused Llwyd, "but it looks long enough to span the gap. Do you think we could chop it down and make a bridge out of it? Would the Labyrinth allow that?"


    Brighid shuddered. "I hope not; it is bad enough as it is. I do not know that I could walk across a platform with no supports when we are this high up."


    Aidan patted her on the flank, although it didn''t have the same effect through her armor. "There''s no need to decide now; we''ll cross that bridge when we come to it."


    There was a pause before the rest of the party reacted. Ailis covered her mouth to hold in her laughter while Brighid smacked Aidan on the shoulder hard enough to leave a bruise through his armor. Cai and Llwyd looked at each other and shook their heads.


    "We cannot save him from himself," Cai intoned.


    "Is a punster even worth saving?" Llwyd replied.


    Riama sent <confusion> "I do not understand. Why are the Mate and the Guardians turning against you, Master?"


    Aidan rubbed his shoulder and chuckled. "I made a bad joke. It is traditional to discourage that sort of thing." Aloud he said, "Sorry, sorry. I couldn''t help myself."


    "Oh, do not apologize on my account," Ailis smirked at him. "I, for one, appreciate a quick mind and a clever tongue."


    "Unfortunately, we''re outvoted," Aidan responded. "I''ll try to restrain¡ªshit!" Aidan exclaimed as Brighid barreled into Ailis, bowling her over as a serrated, scythe-like claw whistled through the space where the silver-haired centaur had just been. He spun around to see Cai and Llwyd standing between him and a colossal praying mantis. The monster''s carapace was brown and patterned like tree bark, and it was twenty feet high if it was an inch. Its alien, triangular head was tilted sideways as if in confusion. It lifted its arms and extended its claws to strike again, but Aidan acted faster. Ten embers flashed through the gloom and impacted across the giant insect''s carapace with deafening explosions.


    The creature reared back, then snapped its arms forward. This time, though, the whole party was ready. Llwyd ducked under one insectile appendage; Cai smashed the other aside with her shield then chopped into the extended arm with her axe. Her blow sent a few shards of chitin flying, but the mantis didn''t seem to care. It retracted its claws to prepare for another strike.


    Aidan began the short incantation for Magma Blast. Behind him, he heard Ailis''s soprano voice starting a chant of her own. "Queen of ten million hives, I beseech thee. Thy dominion extends¡ª" Aidan tuned her out to focus on his own magic. His salamander spat a wad of flaming goop that splattered across the mantis''s thorax. At nearly the same time, Riama appeared on the insect''s upper back and clamped her jaws around its neck.


    Aidan had been planning to blind the monster with superheated rock, but Riama''s sudden appearance made him jerk his hand to the side right as his spell was completed. The lava sailed over the enormous mantis''s right shoulder and flew off into the darkness. Aidan cursed internally but immediately started dual-casting Flame Jets. In the meantime, Brighid charged into the fray, using her greater reach to strike at the Tyrant''s legs.


    The battle descended into a stalemate for long moments; now that it wasn''t attacking from ambush, the party could block or dodge the mantis''s attacks, but its tough chitinous carapace resisted most of their attacks. Even fire didn''t seem to phase the creature, despite its vulnerability to the element. Aidan was beginning to debate casting a Soulfire Blast just to increase his damage output when the tides turned.


    "¡ªO Queen, grant me but a sliver of thy power! Bind this wayward child who threatens thy servants!" Ailis finished her lengthy incantation. A brown strand of manna connected her to the Tree-top Tyrant, which froze mid-strike. "Quickly! I cannot hold it for long!" she called out to the others, but her warning was unnecessary. Brighid hacked away at the massive insect''s vulnerable legs while Cai and Llwyd set to dismantling its extended arm at the elbow joint. Aidan took the opportunity to fire another Magma Blast, coating the creature''s other shoulder with molten rock that began cooling into a restrictive shell.


    Ailis''s paralysis spell faded a moment later, but the damage was done. The Tyrant spasmed and fell onto its side, lashing out in futile aggression with its remaining limbs. With one claw severed, the other immobilized at the shoulder, and half its legs removed or too damaged to function, it was helpless. Now that its head was in reach and it was unable to defend itself, the mantis''s fate was sealed. Brighid advanced into the range of its declawed arm, ignoring the futile battering of its stump against her armor, and decapitated the monster with her glaive.


    Aidan Lostlorn''s party has earned 125,000 experience for killing 1 Tree-top Tyrant.


    You have earned an additional 250 experience from Stolen Destiny.


    You have earned an additional 1,250 experience from Novice rank in Animamancy.


    "Where did that thing come from? I know mantids are ambush predators, but it was twenty feet tall!" Aidan exclaimed.


    "I think it was lurking on the tree trunk and crawled down behind us," Brighid explained. "All I know for sure is that when I looked up, it was blocking the way back."


    "We''ll need to pay more attention to the environment, I guess. Any idea if any of it would make for useful materials? I doubt this is where the Emerald Chitin comes from, given that it''s brown all over."


    "It will not be useful for me," Brighid replied, "but that chitin is quite tough. I bet we can find uses for it. Everything here is a potential resource, we should not waste any of it."


    "I was afraid you''d say that," Aidan sighed. "Okay, let''s get to work, then."


    Aidan


    Late Morning


    The meat, fragments, and claw fit within Aidan''s Handy Haversack, but the plates had to be strapped to Llwyd and Brighid''s backs. "What are parties without spatial storage supposed to do in situations like this?"


    "Bring beasts of burden. Labyrinth monsters will ignore animals that are brought in from outside. Before you get any clever ideas, though," Ailis drawled, "that is only while in the presence of an adventuring party. Animals that are left unattended vanish; whether monsters eat them or the Labyrinth does something else with them is unknown."


    "So no using the Labyrinth as a safe place for livestock. Got it. Well, we still don''t have either of the materials we need to make the escape tokens. Is anyone hurt or tired? No? Alright, let''s push on a bit further then."


    They shoved the Tyrant''s remains over the side of the path and then continued along. However, after sixty or so feet, the branch narrowed and then ended in a cluster of broad, rubbery leaves large enough for them to stand on. Further ahead, the party could see another branch; the leaves seemed to be growing out of both and forming a bridge between them. Aidan stepped forward to test whether the leaves would hold his weight but hesitated when he saw Brighid trembling.


    "Let''s double back for now. There was a split in the path near the entrance, and we might as well stay on solid ground as long as we can," Aidan decided. Brighid shot him a grateful look. "I doubt we''ll be able to avoid this forever," he told her, his voice quiet.


    "I know, but I appreciate the reprieve." Brighid caught his hand and gave it a squeeze. Aidan brought her fingers to his lips, brushed a kiss across her knuckles, then dropped her hand, and made his way back to his place in the formation. It only took a couple of minutes for the five adventurers to backtrack to the Labyrinth''s start and turn down the path they bypassed earlier.


    The branch curled to the right over about a hundred feet, coming to rest against the tree containing the Labyrinth portal. Roughly halfway down its length, a second branch crossed over it, leading upward at a slight incline towards another tree trunk. "Look!" Llwyd pointed towards the portal tree. "There at the end of the branch, there''s sap flowing from the tree."


    Sure enough, thick, green goop seeped out a hole in the bark and dribbled down onto the branch. "Keep your eyes open," Aidan cautioned. "I don''t want another of those Tyrants surprising us."


    "Aye-aye, boss!" Cai chirped. "We will stay alert for signs of twenty-foot-tall bugs that look exactly like oversized twigs when they are not moving. Like, say, that twig. Or that one. Or that one..."


    "Less sass, more doing your job!"


    "Yes, sir, Lord Aidan, sir!" She laughed back at him.


    Zurai

 Champion, Chapter 6: Greenpath

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Firstday, 1st week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Late Morning


    The Labyrinth, First Stratum: Viridescent Treetops


    The sap was indeed Viridescent Sap, so the party gathered as much of it as they could. It was messy work; the stuff was too thick to flow into the waterskins but too fluid to transport without a container. After several minutes of struggling, Llwyd suggested that they gather several leaves and form them into sacks. It took a few attempts before they figured out a way to seal the makeshift containers, but they managed to gather several gallons of the sticky crafting material in the end. They even got about half of it stored away¡ªthe rest ended up all over their hands, arms, and torsos.


    "Thank Birgitte for armor!" Brighid exclaimed. "This gunk would be all over my hair and fur otherwise. It is bad enough on my hands," she wiggled her bare fingers in her half-gauntlets, "I do not want to think how much washing I would need to feel clean again if it got into my fur."


    Ailis snorted. "I am half-surprised that you did not pour it all over yourself just to give you an excuse to have Aidan wash you later."


    Brighid made a face and protested, "Yuck, not with this stuff. Besides, all I have to do is ask, and Aidan will scrub me as much as I want. Is that not right?"


    "Yes, dear," Aidan replied, drawing a raspberry from his mate. "It looks like this is all we''re getting from this spot. Let''s move on and see if we can make it any deeper into the Labyrinth. I''d like to get a little further before we head out to bathe and eat."


    The adventurers backtracked a short distance to where the new branch overlaid the one they were on. It made a sort of ramp, rising about five feet over thirty or thirty-five feet. The path passed close enough to another tree''s trunk that they could reach out and touch it; Aidan tore a strip of bark off and stuffed it in his haversack for research purposes. After a short distance, the route ended in yet another patch of oversized leaves.


    "Well, that confirms it," Aidan mused, checking his hand-drawn map. "Both available paths lead to these leaf patches, so there must be some way to cross them. Does anyone have any rope? I''ll volunteer to test if they''ll carry our weight, since I''m the lightest, but I would feel a lot safer if I had a lifeline." He looked at Brighid. "Are you going to be able to handle this, my love?"


    Aidan could see the tip of Brighid''s glaive wobbling as her hands trembled, but she squared her shoulders and nodded. "I will be fine so long as you are with me." She gave him a tremulous smile.


    Aidan reached up and pressed his hand to the cheek of her helmet. "Always," he promised.


    "If you two lovebirds are done..." drawled Llwyd before tossing Aidan a length of rope. "Tie that around your waist and over your shoulder. I will anchor the other end." Brighid helped Aidan secure himself, and once they were satisfied with the makeshift harness, Aidan stepped up to the edge of the leaves.


    "I hope this works," he muttered to himself. He extended one foot and pushed down on the leaf. It resisted his efforts, giving only a little. Aidan sucked in a deep breath, steeling himself, then shifted his weight forward and stepped onto the greenery.


    When he didn''t plummet down through the canopy, Aidan let out a relieved sigh. He took another tentative step, then jumped in place. The leaf shifted and bobbed beneath him, but bore his weight. He turned around to face the others and said, "Feels, well, not exactly solid, but it''s holding me just fine. I would ordinarily suggest doing this one by one, but there''s a lot of distance to cross, and I don''t feel comfortable with any of us fighting alone. The greenway is wide enough that we can all pass in standard formation."


    The centaurs exchanged glances, then Cai stepped forward. The leaf she chose sank down several inches as she placed her weight on it, but did not give way. Llwyd followed her, then Ailis, Riama, and the summons. Aidan kept an eye on the Obsidian Salamander to make sure it wasn''t hot enough to burn the leaves, but it seemed safe. Then he hit himself on the forehead. "Shit, I could have just used one of the summons to test whether this would work. I feel like an idiot."


    Ailis patted him on the shoulder as she passed him. "No, neither they nor your familiar weigh anywhere near enough to act as a reasonable test. Even you are light enough compared to the rest of us that, while brave, it did not prove anything."


    Aidan frowned and asked, "Then why didn''t you say anything?"


    The silver-haired druid gave him a smirk. "Because it would have been amusing to hear you yelp if the leaf gave out from under you, and Llwyd is more than strong enough to haul you back up again."


    A sharp intake of breath distracted him from pursuing that conversation any further. Brighid stood at the greenway''s edge, one hoof on a leaf and the other three firmly planted on the branch. Her trembling intensified as she stared down at the greenery beneath and ahead of her. Aidan placed himself in front of her and stretched up to seize her head between his hands. "Look at me, Brighid," he commanded. "Look at my eyes." Her emerald gaze locked onto him. "I''m here with you," he continued soothingly. "Ignore everything else. It''s just you and me."


    Aidan moved his hands from Brighid''s face to her hands and took a step back, tugging at her hands to get her to follow him. She took a tentative step forward, then another. "It''s just you and me," Aidan repeated, voice gentle. He led her, stride by stride, holding her eyes and her hands, until Riama''s voice spoke in his mind.


    "Master, the path splits up ahead. One route curves around the tree trunk next to us, and the other continues straight ahead into a different tree."


    "Rest for a moment, love." She gave him a barely-perceptible nod, eyes wide. Aidan glanced over his shoulder, taking in the situation. He couldn''t take out his map to check without dropping Brighid''s hands, but if he was right... "Stick to the route next to the tree. I think it''s taking us back around to that potential shortcut we saw earlier," he called out to Cai and Llwyd before focusing his attention back on Brighid. "Still with me? Keep putting one foot in front of the other."


    When they rounded the corner, Aidan¡ªbeing the only one facing backwards¡ªwas the first to notice when the leaves at the intersection of the two paths began to wilt and drop from their stems. He struggled not to show any concern as a ten-foot-square patch of the greenway vanished into thin air. He must have betrayed some of his thoughts, though, because Brighid''s voice rose as she asked, "Aidan? What is it?"


    "Nothing to worry about right this second. Just keep moving forward. I''ve got you." Brighid''s hands clamped tight around his, but she kept her eyes on him as she followed. It was slow going with Aidan walking backward, unable to look behind him. Eventually, Riama told him that he was almost to the branch, and he risked a glance down at his feet as he stepped up onto it. "And we''re here," Aidan told Brighid, tugging her up after him. "That wasn''t so bad, now, was it?"


    "I cannot answer that until you tell me what you were hiding from me," his flame-haired lover replied, tension evident in her voice.


    Aidan grimaced and said, "Well, I hope that I''m right about this being the path to what I hope is a shortcut back, because once the two of us passed the intersection, all the leaves fell out."


    Brighid''s face paled and she whirled in place. Aidan had to throw his hands up to protect his head from her tail, she moved so quickly. "The entire path has lost leaves," she squealed. "Oh, Birgitte, Brigantia, and Braihan, I hate this!" The others crowded around the edge, examining the path they came from. A bright shaft of sunlight speared down from above alongside the leaves, so it was easy to see now that Brighid pointed it out.


    "She is right," confirmed Ailis. "The canopy is thinner along the trail we took. It still looks thick enough to bear our weight, but even I would prefer not to risk it at this point." Cai and Llwyd added their voices in assent.


    Aidan, though, had an idea. "There has to be meaning to this," he said, words slow as his mind sped ahead. "It isn''t a trap, I think, or at least not one intended to catch us by surprise. I''ve seen puzzles like that before, where stepping on the same floor tile twice causes it to break, and you have to plot a course that lets you reach all of your objectives without running out of space to move. This was a warning that something like that is coming." He reached for Brighid''s hand again, pulling at her until she turned around to face him. "For now, we can''t go backward, so we have to go forward. Let''s get moving."


    It turned out that Aidan''s memory was accurate; only a few dozen feet further down the way, just after a split that led to the right, was the gap and the vertically-oriented branch that they''d seen earlier. "Look," Llwyd said, kneeling down and pointing at its base, "the damned thing has hinges. And they are behind it, so..." He stood back up then pushed against the branch. "Oof, heavy, though. A little help here?" Cai and Brighid stepped up to help. With all three of them leaning into it, the bridge¡ªfor that is indeed what it was¡ªshuddered and began to move. Once it was displaced enough for gravity to take hold, it slammed down with a crash, spanning the gap.


    "Well, that''s a relief. At least we can make it back home now." Aidan sighed. Then his eyes caught movement. "Uh, anyone else see that horde of leaves scurrying towards us at high speed?" He didn''t bother waiting for a response, choosing instead to send his readied Burning Barrage careening into the mass of approaching probably-enemies. These foes were much smaller and weaker than the Tree-top Tyrant had been, though. That monstrosity had shrugged off a full salvo; these exploded into showers of gore or were flung bodily through the air by the detonations. There were dozens more right behind those, however, and they surged forward.


    It wasn''t much of a fight. These Emerald Swarmlings, as Aidan''s combat log named them, seemed to only have one virtue of any consequence: quantity. They reminded Aidan of the Trows he and Brighid fought near Ceallach Macht so long ago as they piled in and crashed against the twin barricades presented by Cai and Llwyd. Their defensive specialization proved its worth by preventing even a single insect from making it past them. That provided the perfect opportunity for Aidan to launch ranged spells into a bunched-up group of enemies and Brighid to use her reach to savage their ranks. Even Riama got in on the action, darting out from between the centaurs'' legs to seize a bug by the back of the head and crush the life out of them every time her Steal Destiny cooldown came up.


    Maybe the fight''s outcome would have been different if the Swarmlings had been able to press the advantage of their numbers to surround the party. Forced to advance unsupported over the bridge and into a defensive position with heavy artillery backup, however, they fared no better than any other army ever has in similar circumstances. The battle lasted longer than the one against the Tyrant, but the outcome was never in any doubt.


    Aidan Lostlorn''s party has earned 7,700 experience for killing 154 Emerald Swarmlings.


    You have earned an additional 62 experience from Stolen Destiny.


    You have earned an additional 77 experience from Novice rank in Animamancy.


    "Perfect!" Aidan exclaimed after they finished sorting through the ichor-splattered remnants of the swarm. "Brighid, you can make the escape tokens now, right?"


    She nodded. "Yes, I should be able to make several now, and we only need one for the whole party to escape. I am not sure how long the process will take, though. Does this mean¡ª"


    "Yes," Aidan interrupted her, "we can leave now. I''m happy with our progress, and there''s no reason to push our luck by exploring more without any escape tokens. Besides, I think we all need a bath at this point."


    "I accept your kind offer," Ailis said with a smirk and a glint in her eye.


    "Told you," added Riama.


    Aidan


    Early Afternoon


    Labyrinth Portal Gallery, Caer Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    The party emerged from the portal into the dimly-lit pillared hall. Sarpedon was waiting for them, still as a statue in the center of the chamber. "Ah, Lord Aidan, you return. I hope your first excursion went well?"


    "Yes, I think so. I called the trip short because we discovered something that will make exploration safer in the future, but we needed to leave to make use of it."


    "An escape token manual?"


    Aidan blinked at the gargoyle, then frowned. "Yes. I am growing irritated at the secrets you choose to keep from me, Sarpedon."


    "Forgive me, Lord Aidan," he said, bowing low. "It has been quite some time since I last adventured in the Labyrinth. When you live as long as I have, sorting and storing away memories becomes crucial to staying sane. The tokens will be useful to you, but would knowing about them have changed anything in your approach this morning?"


    Aidan was forced to shake his head. "No, I suppose not."


    "I could not even be sure that you would be the ones to find the manual. They usually go to the first party to reach a particular stratum from each Labyrinth entrance, but not always." Sarpedon waved a granite hand through the air in dismissal. "If you wish to discuss this more later, I am at your disposal, Lord Aidan. At the moment, however, you should know that you have guests waiting for you in the plaza outside."


    "Guests?" Aidan asked, puzzled. "Who...?"


    "A delegation of harpies from the Ash Shroud Sisterhood, I believe," the gargoyle answered. "They wish to discuss matters of state with you."


    Zurai


    Current map of the Viridescent Treetops:


    (thanks to ZTWilgy for the awesome map graphics! Mine was just an Excel sheet)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Orange, and Somedude for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 7: Beneath the Mask

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Firstday, 1st week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Mid-Afternoon


    Caer Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Aidan turned to his companions. "Ailis, I''ll want your help with this. I don''t know why they''re here, but it almost has to be political, and that''s your arena. Cai, Llwyd, I want you both as well. I can''t imagine they''re here to start a fight or they would have already done so, but better safe than sorry. Brighid, you know that you''re always welcome by my side¡ª"


    "But I am not needed here, I know." She smiled at him to take the sting out of her words. "It is fine, my heart. I will leave matters of state to you; I will focus on getting the forge downstairs into a usable form again. Those escape tokens are not going to make themselves."


    Brighid reached out and pulled Aidan''s helmet off then tangled her hands in his hair, pulling him into a fierce kiss that stole his breath and thoughts. She pressed hard against him, bending him backward as her lips crushed against his and her tongue plunged insistently into his mouth. After a few long moments, Brighid withdrew just far enough to murmur to Aidan, "You could have ordered me to cross those leaves and I would have. I want you to know how much I appreciate what you did instead." She bit his lower lip softly, then breathed into his mouth, "If you see someone you like... bring her back with you." She bit his lip again as Aidan opened his mouth to protest. "I mean it. If none of them interest you, that is one thing. But if one does, I want to meet her. For you and me. Please?"


    Aidan still didn''t feel comfortable with his lover throwing other women at him, but he couldn''t resist the plea in her eyes. "As you wish," he acquiesced, then kissed her again. Brighid''s fingers tightened in his hair for a brief moment, then began to stroke his head and neck as the kiss grew passionate. Aidan''s hands wandered to the straps holding Brighid''s breastplate together before a wry comment from behind him brought him back to his senses.


    "I thought Aidan was the boss in their relationship," Llwyd mused to his mate. "It appears I was wrong."


    Cai snorted. "As if any man would refuse anything from a girl who looked at him the way she does." She turned to face her partner, nibbled on her lower lip, and widened her eyes a touch. "You will clean all our weapons and polish our armor, will you not, my love?"


    Llwyd froze for a moment, then blushed scarlet and shook his head. "Witch!" He accused his lover. "...Yeah, I will," he grumbled a moment later when Cai''s lips started to tremble and tears gathered at the corners of her eyes. She smirked at him, then winked at Aidan and Brighid.


    Aidan flushed, but smiled back, then turned his attention back to his redheaded lover. "I don''t know how long this will take, but you had better be ready and waiting for me when I finish up. If you aren''t, I might have to get started without you."


    Brighid''s eyes burned as she replied with a husky voice, "As you command, my Lord Aidan." She held his gaze for a second longer, then walked past him and down the stairs.


    "Now that you have decided not to have your way with my daughter in front of me," Ailis drawled, "would you like my advice on the harpy delegation?"


    "Yes," Aidan replied, trying and failing to keep from blushing. "Let''s talk as we walk. What do you have for me?" As they walked, Aidan resummoned the two Passion Elementals that he''d used to test the Labyrinth portal, keeping them in their base humanoid shape for the moment.


    "It is most likely that they are here to gather information. I expect that a harpy scout saw the pillar of fire and linked it with the new Age, and that, combined with our sudden investiture of Ceallach Macht, has drawn their attention. They want to know what happened and what our plans are. If I were their leader, I would have something superficial for them to present to you¡ªa minor trade deal, a temporary non-aggression pact, trading envoys¡ªthat gives them an excuse to be here, observing what we do and taking stock of you as a leader. I doubt they have any hostile intentions towards you as our historical relations with them are mostly positive, but they have to be wary of your power. There are two different ways I would recommend that you approach this.


    "First, you can give them what they want: invite them into Caer Macht, engage them in diplomacy, work out a deal, show that you are not someone they need to fear. This has the advantages of being simple, straightforward, and playing to your natural inclinations. Alternatively, you can try to seize the initiative: subvert their expectations, keep them off-balance, and make them work for the information they want. If you can pull that off without making yourself seem threatening or unhinged, it would set you up to get a far better deal out of it. You may not realize this, but to attractive, powerful women used to getting their way with men, it is difficult to resist a man who plays hard to get." Aidan squinted at Ailis, but she continued speaking without a hitch in her expression. "This is higher-risk, but also higher-reward. The first method might bring the harpies to Ceallach Macht, but it would be on their terms and schedule. If you can get them hooked on the idea of you, however, they will flock to your doorstep." Her lips twitched as Cai and Llwyd groaned.


    "Oh no, the puns are spreading."


    Aidan ignored his vassals and smiled at Ailis to show his appreciation of her wordplay. "And how would you suggest I do that?"


    Ailis hummed a quiet tune as she thought. "I doubt they expect a human to be the Lord of Ceallach Macht; that will already have them off-balance. If any of them recognize me, they will assume that I am in charge here. We can use that to turn the tables on them. When I defer to you and call you Lord Aidan, they will have to re-evaluate their entire approach on the fly." More groans followed; Ailis''s grin grew. "At that point, you can give them temporary quarters and beg off further discussions until you have had a chance to rest." She quirked an eyebrow at him and said, "And if there is one who catches your fancy¡ªespecially if she is a junior member of the group¡ªinvite her and only her for dinner. Yes, I heard what Brighid told you; these," Ailis waved a hand at her long, horizontal ears, "are for more than looking pretty."


    Aidan saw a chance to seize back the initiative in his personal affairs, so he took Ailis''s advice to heart. "Yes," he told her in a voice brimming with mischief, "I know what you mean." He summoned a Magic Hand¡ªas an Ability rather than a spell, it required no chant or gesture¡ªand ran a phantom fingertip along the upper edge of Ailis''s right ear. He knew that was one of Brighid''s most-sensitive erogenous zones and suspected that it would be the same with her mother.


    The former Councillor faltered and almost stumbled at the unexpected, intimate sensation. Her expression¡ªwhich had been professional aside from the small grin¡ªdissolved into red-cheeked surprise. She recovered in a heartbeat, her face returning to its usual blank mask, but Aidan knew he''d scored a hit. "That''s another reason I wanted you along; you have a better chance of overhearing any discussion they have among themselves. Yes, I believe your ears will be quite handy." He rubbed his insubstantial thumb across Ailis''s ear tip and conjured a new hand that he slid down her back to the bend in her spine. He saw her nose flare and her cheeks redden again, but she otherwise kept her composure.


    Aidan felt bad for teasing her like this; her Oath of Fealty meant that he couldn''t allow himself to follow through on the promises his magic hands were making. Even if he believed the interest she showed in him before making her Oath was genuine, it would be immoral for him to have a relationship with someone who was the next best thing to mind-controlled. The Oath of Fealty wasn''t quite that bad, but it did take away much of Ailis''s agency and ability to deny his requests. Still, though, it was fun to tease her and see her mask slip for short, unguarded moments. He resolved to set aside some time to explain his position to her and apologize for leading her on.


    Ailis''s ice-blue eyes smoldered as she responded, "Yes, my Lord. I am relieved to see that you are keeping your fingers on the pulse of the situation. Perhaps you should demonstrate how even-handed you can be."


    "Ever get the feeling," Cai asked Llwyd, "that there is more going on in a conversation you are listening to, but you just cannot figure out what?"


    "Why yes, now that you mention it. Like right now, for instance," her partner replied.


    Ailis''s cheeks heated up again, but she held Aidan''s gaze. Well, Aidan mused, maybe I can keep teasing for now. She might not be able to say ''no'' without penalty, but her oath doesn''t make her say ''keep going.'' He added additional hands to the mix and amused himself by trying to provoke further reactions from Ailis as they walked.


    Aidan


    Ceallach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Aidan and his escorts emerged into the mid-afternoon sunlight. Ailis led the way, with Aidan behind her and Cai and Llwyd flanking him. The harpies stood out like a sore thumb in the center of the plaza, and Aidan took a moment to examine them as the party approached. All five wore steel armor, and they were all athletic in build, but that''s where the similarities ended.


    The apparent leader had reddish-brown feathers with golden highlights and milk chocolate skin; a longsword dangled from her hip. On either side of her were a pair of twins, shorter than the other harpies, with dark purple feathers and pale porcelain skin; each bore a short spear and a shield. The only way he could tell the pair apart is that the one on his left had a scar over her eye. The fourth had her back turned to Aidan, speaking animatedly with the leader. Her feathers were the soft grey of a dove, and her skin was a lightly-tanned bronze. She appeared to be unarmed, but Aidan knew that didn''t mean she wasn''t a warrior, the same as the others. The final harpy had rich blue-green feathers that reminded Aidan of a peacock. That struck him as incongruous, as peahens were dull as doornails, but he mentally shrugged. She had a pair of long-toothed fighting claws clipped to her belt, and her complexion was a Mediterranean olive.


    The hawk-feathered harpy noticed their approach and pushed the dove aside, striding forward to meet the centaurs. Strike one, Aidan thought as the other harpies ignored their comrade sprawled out on the cobblestones. He kept to his role, however, standing behind Ailis.


    "Councillor Ailis Silverhair, I believe? My name is Ecgwena, and I have come as a representative of the Ash Shroud Sisterhood. Are you the Lady of Ceallach Macht, then?" Ecgwena had intense golden eyes, but all of her attention was focused on Ailis. She hadn''t even spared a glance for Cai, Llwyd, or Aidan, and the two fire elementals were seen, categorized, and visibly dismissed.


    "I am Ailis Silverhair, yes," Ailis agreed, "but Councillor no more. And if you are looking for the Lord of this city, you will need to speak to Aidan. May I present Lord Aidan, Prophet of the Brighaid¡ª" they had agreed on the slight obfuscation, as the cat was mostly out of the bag anyway "¡ªhonorary Starchaser, holder of three Oaths of Fealty, and Lord and Master of Ceallach Macht and its Place of Power, Caer Macht. My Lord, this sister is here to discuss diplomatic affairs with you." Ailis stepped aside and bowed almost horizontal.


    Aidan stepped forward into the gap she left for him, but two incredulous voices filled the air before he could speak.


    "A human?!" Ecgwena''s voice was full of revulsion. However, she wasn''t the one that drew Aidan''s attention.


    "You!" Shouted the grey-feathered girl. She was standing again, and her arm was outstretched, finger pointing at Aidan. "Yer the one I saw walk through the wards! How are you alive?!"


    Ecgwena turned and glared at the taller harpy. "Sunnild..." she growled.


    "Enough." Aidan''s voice brooked no disagreement, and he shifted his Kindle the Hearth-Flame into Crown of the Exalted. The shimmering, ethereal diadem appeared on his head, giving extra weight to his command. "If you have an objection to speaking with me, Ecgwena, well, there are others in your party. Sunnild, your name was? I am not ready to discuss affairs of state at the moment, but please, give me the pleasure of your company for the evening. I can''t say I''d mind getting to know you better since you already know me." He favored the blushing harpy with a smile. "I swear that, so long as you are my guests and act as such, no harm will come to any of you within this city that I can prevent. Ailis, if you would please show these other ladies to somewhere that they can rest." This, too, had been decided ahead of time. "I will send someone for you when I am ready to hear your request."


    Aidan extended his arm to Sunnild, elbow crooked. She stared at him for a moment, wide-eyed, then stepped forward and rested her hand on his wrist and laid her forearm atop his. It wasn''t the correct pose, but it was close enough. He guided her back into Caer Macht with Cai and Llwyd flanking him and the two Passion Elementals acting as rearguard.


    Zurai

 Champion, Chapter 8: Icarus

    Sunnild


    The Realms


    Firstday, 1st week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Late Afternoon


    Caer Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Sunnild''s mind spun as the human¡ªAidan, she reminded herself, his name is Lord Aidan¡ªled her through the tunnel under the hill. She never expected to see him again after he stepped through the wards, but here he was, the skin of his arm hot against hers. She could smell his scent, musky with a hint of woodsmoke and something else. Whatever it was, it made Sunnild''s wings itch and her mouth water. It was almost enough to make her miss the question he asked her.


    "So how is it that you recognized me? I''m sure I would remember seeing you before."


    "Ah, um," she stuttered, then bit her lip and blushed. Way ta go, feather-brain! She scolded herself. Taking a deep breath, she tried again. "I was on patrol three weeks ago and saw ya slip through the wards around the city. Saw ya burn yer wardstone, too. Ya couldn¡¯t leave without it, but the wards didn¡¯t fall fer another week. How did ya get out?"


    Lord Aidan grimaced. "That''s a rather unpleasant story, and it contains some state secrets. Suffice to say that I wouldn''t wish what I went through on my worst enemy."


    "Oh, I am sorry, I didn''t mean ta bring up bad memories." Sunnild shrank away from Aidan, but he caught her wrist with his free hand and placed her hand gently back on his arm.


    "Don''t worry about it," he waved her apology away, "that''s in the past, and killing the Tannath Taig that captured me has banished most of the nightmares."


    Sunnild felt her eyes widening. "A Tannath Taig?!" She managed to squeak. "Ya killed a Tainted Wildlord? By yerself?!" The mere thought that such a creature lurked where she was walking a few short weeks ago terrified her. The idea that the human walking arm-in-arm with her killed it was beyond her ability to process. Wildlords weren''t things that ordinary folks dealt with at all, and only armies or legendary heroes¡ªor villains¡ªwere capable of slaying one.


    "Oh, no, not by myself, not at all. I couldn''t even have made it to the Taig on my own. Cai and Llwyd," he gestured at his bodyguards, "were there with me, as were a few others. And I had divine help as well; without guidance from the Brighaid, it would have defeated us in the end. I thank Brigantia every day for her aid in my time of darkest need."


    "What are you?" The words were out of her mouth before Sunnild thought about what she was saying, and she clapped her hand over her mouth in embarrassment as soon as she realized how insulting it sounded. To her confusion and relief, Lord Aidan laughed.


    "Believe it or not," he told her, "you aren''t the first pretty girl to ask me that." He gave her a devilish grin, and the glint in his ruby-red eyes made her knees weak for a heartbeat. He thinks I''m pretty! "Don''t worry about it, I know it all sounds hard to believe. It''s true, but I wouldn''t believe it myself if I hadn''t lived through it. As for what I am: I''m a man who was in the wrong place at the right time. I''ve suffered and benefited from that in great and equal measure, but I''d call myself lucky in the end."


    "You had better, mister!" Sunnild jerked her head around and stared at the crimson-haired centaur who emerged from a side passage. She was wearing a heavy leather apron and nothing else; Sunnild could see the centaur''s enormous breasts bulging out of the covering''s sides. The newcomer walked up to Aidan, who smiled at her and stood up on his toes to kiss her. Sunnild felt instant, irrational jealousy flare through her as she watched the pair devour each others'' lips.


    Aidan broke the kiss and spoke to the half-naked centaur lady. "Love, this is Sunnild, one of the envoys from the Ash Shroud Sisterhood. It turns out that she saw me enter Ceallach Macht the first time, so she recognized me. I decided to invite her to dinner instead of her boss, who seemed revolted at the idea of dealing with a human." He turned to Sunnild and completed the introduction, saying, "Sunnild, this is Brighid, the love of my life. I would be lost without her. She''s also the Starchasers'' best smith, which explains why she''s dressed like she is."


    "P-pleased ta meetcha," Sunnild managed to stutter out. She didn''t know what it was, but something about the look Brighid was giving her made her both nervous and excited.


    "Mmm, likewise," Brighid replied. She looked at Sunnild for a moment longer, then turned back to Lord Aidan and bent to whisper in his ear. She couldn''t hear what the centaur said, but it had to be about her. Sunnild''s cheeks burned with flustered embarrassment, but a fire sparked to life in her belly.


    "Yer bein'' rude," she glared at the redhead. "Ya shouldn¡¯t gossip about someone behind her back. Especially when yer actually in front of her! I know yer talkin'' about me, so either say it out loud where I can hear ya or stop and apologize!" The fire sputtered out as quickly as it came into being, and she finished with a weak, "Please." Sunnild had to marshal all of her discipline to keep from hiding her face in her wings. What possessed me to call out the Lord''s lady right in front of him?! Oh, Sunnild, yer such a nincompoop!


    To her utter surprise, neither Brighid nor Lord Aidan reprimanded her. Instead, by some miracle, the centaur''s skin turned bright red clear down her neck. Her green eyes flashed to Lord Aidan for a bare moment, then Brighid knelt down on her front legs and bowed to Sunnild, whose eyes were drawn with inexorable gravity towards the view of Brighid''s breasts afforded by the gap in the top of her apron. So distracted was she by the bounteous valley displayed there that Sunnild almost missed Brighid''s apology.


    "Please forgive me, my Lady Sunnild. I was teasing my Lord for bringing such an attractive woman¡ª" She thinks I am attractive? With her beautiful hair and giant tits? Why does that make my feathers itch? "¡ªinto his home when his mate was not present. I meant no offense to you; my comments were complimentary, I swear. I was thoughtless and boorish, and I will make it up to you." Brighid raised her head at that last, and something in the gleaming emerald depths of her eyes made Sunnild''s feathers itch even worse. Her wings rustled behind her as she shook them, trying to make the sensation go away. She didn''t realize she was rubbing her thighs together as well until Brighid''s eyes dipped below her waist.


    "That''s enough, Brighid," Lord Aidan declared and slapped his mate on the rump. Brighid was still kneeling in front of Sunnild, so she could see the centaur''s eyes widen and watch the scarlet flush descend down into voluminous cleavage. "You''re making a scene. Leave the poor woman alone and go get dressed in something more appropriate for dinner. Actually, why don''t you go ahead and make dinner for us; that can be your apology to Sunnild. We''ll eat in an hour."


    Brighid rose and murmured, "Yes, my Lord." She smiled at Sunnild, bit her lower lip, then said, "Until later, my Lady Sunnild." Her eyes held a promise. Sunnild didn''t know what it was, but she knew one when she saw it. She watched the bewildering, bewitching woman turn and leave.


    "Sorry about that," Aidan''s voice startled Sunnild; she forgot he was there for a moment. Somehow. "Brighid can be ... intense ... but I assure you that she means well. Now then, let me give you a tour while we wait for Brighid to freshen up and prepare some food for us."


    Aidan extended his arm to her again and led her into the cross-tunnel Brighid emerged from. "We''re still getting settled here, so please pardon the mess. To both your left and right are dining halls. The one on the right is smaller and has fancier engravings on the walls, so we believe it was initially intended for guests, officers, and the like. The next door on your left is the kitchen; it''s big enough to cook food for a few hundred soldiers all at once. We won''t be using these rooms, by the way; there are another kitchen and dining room further down the central passageway more suited for small groups." He directed her down the gently-curving hall, pointing out all the various rooms that they passed.


    Sunnild


    Early Evening


    "¡ªand this is my state dining area, for when I have official guests to entertain." Aidan guided Sunnild into the chamber with a hand on her lower back between her breastplate her armored skirt. She couldn''t remember when he''d switched from offering her his arm to this more intimate guidance; she couldn''t remember much of the last hour, actually. Yer too busy daydreamin'' about things that cannot be, fool girl. He¡¯s taken, and that is that. And yet, there was his hand on her bare skin, a finger''s width from sliding under her skirt and onto her butt. If she stood up on her tiptoes, maybe¡ªNo! Behave!


    She looked around the room to distract herself from the enticing heat of Lord Aidan''s touch. It was wedge-shaped, with the inner and outer walls curving to match the shape of the circular altar chamber it branched off from. A long, polished marble table dominated the center of the room along with a dozen stone chairs. An arch in the far corner led into another room, presumably a kitchen. "Sorry for the lack of upholstery," Lord Aidan grimaced and apologized. "Everything not made out of stone or metal rotted away long ago, I''m afraid, and we haven''t had the chance to replace it all yet. We have our own furniture, of course, in my and Brighid''s quarters; I would invite you to dine there, but that might send the wrong message."


    Yes, it would! "Oh, I do not want to impose!" Sunnild shook her head.


    "It wouldn''t be an imposition, I assure you! I just don''t know whether you''re looking at this as a formal dinner between representatives of two groups of people or something more... intimate."


    Formal! Formal! "Why not both?" Why did I say that?!


    Aidan''s smile broadened, and his hand slid from the small of her back to her far hip. It was all Sunnild could do to keep herself from cuddling against Lord Aidan. It was inappropriate on so many levels, but his arm fit just right around her back and his scent was intoxicating. "Why not, indeed?" His fingers played along the edge of her skirt band as he guided her through the altar chamber again. They crossed the circular room, and Lord Aidan ushered Sunnild into his personal quarters. She looked around with interest¡ªshe''d never seen a Lord''s chambers before.


    The room was massive. The doorway from the sanctum was in the center of the outer chamber, which was split into two halves; each was as large as the state dining room. To her left was the Lord''s private table, smaller and rounder than the massive rectangular one from before. Instead of chairs, it was surrounded by several piles of cushions. In the far corner of the dining area, Sunnild could see another archway, but she couldn''t tell what was in the next room. Directly across from the exterior door was another doorway, this one leading into what Sunnild guessed was the bedroom, judging by the massive cushion in the middle of the room and the piles of clothes scattered around. And to her right was a full kitchen, complete with a fireplace, a washbasin, and more cabinet, counter, and cupboard space than Sunnild could ever dream of filling. That wasn''t what made her eyes bulge, though.


    Brighid was puttering around the kitchen, putting the finishing touches on a meal. When she noticed Sunnild and Lord Aidan, though, she turned around. When Lord Aidan told Brighid to get dressed in something more appropriate, Sunnild assumed the centaur would don a shirt or jacket. Instead, she wore a snug-fitting garment of shimmering, silken green cloth. It covered her from her abdomen to her neck, but that didn''t mean it hid any of Brighid''s beauty. Whoever designed it must have made it with Brighid in mind because it clung to her like a second skin despite having no laces. The redhead''s mountainous decolletage was lifted up and pushed together by cups built into the clothing. The thicker cloth was tantalizingly translucent; Sunnild thought she could make out Brighid''s areolae. A diamond-shaped lace window descended from her collarbone, spread across the width of her bosom, and came to a point beneath her breasts, revealing every inch of her imposing cleavage. And, even as she stared, Sunnild saw the centaur''s nipples harden, unmistakable given the size of the dents they caused.


    "Oh, good!" Brighid exclaimed, "I am so glad you decided to eat with us here! Dinner will be ready in just a few minutes. Please make yourself at home!"


    Sunnild felt her cheeks burning with embarrassment, but she couldn''t tear her eyes away from Brighid until the centaur turned back to her cooking. When she looked to her host, she saw that Lord Aidan had been similarly enraptured. Instead of being embarrassed, however, he looked hungry, and now he was looking at her that same way. She took an involuntary half-step back. Is this what a mouse feels like when cornered by a cat? Sunnild felt an involuntary shiver go across her spine and thought of backing out of the dinner for a moment. Then her resolve hardened. If he is lookin'' at me like that now, maybe I still have a shot.


    "I think I will." Her hands went to the straps and buckles on her vambraces, tugging them loose with an efficiency born of frequent practice. She pulled them off, left then right, and set them on the floor just inside the door. Next, she worked her way out of her greaves, then unclasped her armored skirt and let it slip to the ground. Her breastplate took more effort as she had to be careful when tugging the back clear of her wings, but she was well-used to doing this on her own by now.


    Once her armor was in a neat pile, she turned back to Lord Aidan. "Ya did say to make myself at home, right?" She asked. He nodded at her, the look in his eyes intense. Sunnild held Lord Aidan''s ruby gaze as her fingers went to the laces on her padded under-tunic and pulled them free on one side. She pressed the garment to her chest for a moment, drinking in the Lord''s attention, then let it fall to the ground, revealing her bare breasts and aroused nipples to his sight. A tug at the buckle of her belt and a shimmy of her hips later, she was nude. "Well," she told him, her voice husky as anticipation, arousal, and no small amount of trepidation warred within her, "I do not wear clothes in my nest."


    Zurai

 Champion, Chapter 9: Longing and Instinct

    Sunnild


    The Realms


    Firstday, 1st week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Early Evening


    The Lord''s Chambers, Caer Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Congratulations! Your relationships with Aidan Lostlorn and Brighid Fireheart have advanced from Neutral to Friendly.


    They now view you as someone they can relate to and expect to treat them with fairness and respect.


    Lord Aidan''s eyes roamed all over Sunnild''s body. Despite her resolve, she had to will herself to keep her arms at her sides and her wings furled, rather than shield herself from his eyes. Sunnild had never been naked in front of anyone else before, and she knew she wasn''t as beautiful as Brighid. She expected him to pounce on her, mock her, or ogle her until things went beyond awkward. Instead, he admired her for a moment longer before locking his eyes on hers again and smiling. Rather than being lecherous or cruel, the curve of his lips and crinkles at the corners of his eyes showed genuine happiness. "Well, I''m glad you feel so comfortable with us. Please, have a seat; pick as many cushions as you like, we have plenty." Lord Aidan waved her over to the table but made no move to seat himself.


    He just wants ta look at my butt. "You just want ta look at my butt," Sunnild said. A moment later, she realized, he wants to look at my butt!


    Lord Aidan''s smile grew broader. "Guilty as charged. Can you blame me? Your body is a work of art, and I have no doubt the view from behind is as exquisite as the one I have now. But forgive me, I don''t mean to make you uncomfortable." He took a step towards the table, then stopped when Sunnild turned and stretched.


    She faced away from Lord Aidan and clasped her hands high over her head, pushing her shoulders up and back. She bent forward, thrusting her bum back towards the human Lord, and shifted her wings to give him an unobstructed view. "All ya had to do was ask." She held the pose for a few seconds, butterflies in her stomach, then walked to the table without looking back; she didn¡¯t dare. Eyeing the table''s height, Sunnild gathered a few cushions together then sank down, burrowing herself into her makeshift nest.


    "Well," Lord Aidan declared, "I feel overdressed now, with you two lovely ladies wearing half a piece of clothing between you. Give me a moment to get out of my armor, and I''ll be ready to eat." He disappeared into the bedroom, leaving Sunnild and Brighid to each others'' company.


    A moment later, Brighid approached bearing two platters of food. She slid them onto the wooden table, then turned her attention to Sunnild. "Is there anything I can do for you, my Lady?" The centaur asked, bending down and giving Sunnild another eyeful of cleavage in the process. "A drink, perhaps? We have clean water, mead, and apple cider. Anything you want."


    Sunnild wavered for a moment, then declared, "I will have mead. Thank you." I need some liquid courage. Brighid trotted off and came back a few seconds later with a tankard filled with amber liquid. Sunnild took a sip, then downed half of the glass. She looked up at the flame-haired centaur, who appeared to be waiting for her to say something, and asked, "Anything I want, ya said?" Her hands began to tremble; she grabbed her thighs under the table to hide her nerves.


    "Yes, my Lady. What can I do for you?"


    The tremble worked its way up Sunnild''s spine and down between her legs. She flexed her thighs, rubbing them together as she felt moisture beginning to flow. She grabbed the tankard, took another swallow of the alcohol, and then looked straight into Brighid''s enchanting green eyes. "Ya were rude to me earlier today. Ya owe me an apology, yah?"


    "Yes, my Lady," Brighid murmured in reply, "I was not thinking¡ª"


    "I do not want that kinda apology," Sunnild interrupted.


    "Please, my Lady Sunnild, tell me what I can do to¡ª"


    "Kiss me." Wait, that is not what¡ªSunnild''s panicked thoughts cut off as soft, warm lips pressed against hers.


    She squeaked in surprise, then moaned as Brighid leaned into her, squashing her breasts against Sunnild''s. Sunnild wrapped her arms around Brighid''s neck and kissed the centaur back, tilting her head to better fit and opening her mouth to admit Brighid''s probing tongue. The feel of a calloused hand sliding down her back and onto her butt drew another, louder moan. A second hand caressed her belly, fingers tracing her muscles before stroking down, down...


    Sunnild broke off the kiss and threw her head back, letting out a strangled, keening cry as Brighid''s hand slipped between her wide-spread thighs¡ªwhen did that happen?!¡ªand two long fingers slid into her wetness. Sunnild leaned against the cushions, arching her back and lifting her hips up to meet the other woman''s questing digits. Brighid kissed Sunnild''s mouth, her chin, her neck¡ªOh gods, please!¡ªher shoulder¡ª"Please!"¡ªher nipple. The palm of Brighid''s hand pressed against her clit, rubbing back and forth in time with the two fingers pumping into her depths.


    Lewd sounds and the pungent scent of aroused woman filled the air, but Sunnild didn''t care; she''d been worked up ever since Lord Aidan first invited her¡ªonly her¡ªinto his home, and now she was almost there, she just needed¡ª"More!" she gasped, "Harder!"¡ªanother finger pressed against her entrance, slid in, stretched her, filled her. Sunnild closed her eyes, concentrating on the sensations. So full, so good, a tongue on her nipple, teeth biting gently, almost there, almost there, a slick finger against her rear, tapping, tapping, pressing¡ª


    "Ahhhh!" Sunnild shouted as the tip of Brighid''s finger penetrated her bum and stars exploded behind Sunnild''s eyes. She grabbed the redhead''s hair and pulled her hard against her breast as she arched, twisted, squirmed, impaled herself back and forth on Brighid''s rough fingers. Sunnild''s eyes opened to see Lord Aidan standing over her, watching her come on his lady''s hands. His tight-fitting pants did little to hide his massive arousal. A second detonation welled up within Sunnild, then a third and a fourth in quick succession. She stared into Lord Aidan''s ruby-red eyes as orgasm after orgasm wracked her helpless body. At last, Brighid slowed her pace, lifting her head from Sunnild''s nipple and withdrawing her fingers, now sticky with Sunnild''s wetness, from between her legs.


    Still shuddering with aftershocks and gasping for breath, Sunnild watched Brighid appear in her field of vision. The centaur sucked one oily finger into her mouth, hummed with approval, and then offered the other two to Lord Aidan. The human''s eyes never left Sunnild''s as he licked her juices off his lady''s fingers. "Delicious," he declared, and Sunnild jerked as another tiny orgasm rippled within her.


    Suddenly, it was all too much. Confusion, shame, hard-edged lust, and exhaustion conspired to overwhelm her. She brought her legs up to her chest, buried her head between her knees, and wrapped all four wings around her body.


    Aidan


    Early Evening


    Seeing Sunnild curl up into a fetal position and shield herself with her wings made Aidan''s good mood vanish like smoke on the wind. "Sunnild? Are you alright?" He crouched down, reaching for her, only to pull back when she pulled herself into an even tighter ball. Guilt flooded into him. He looked up, catching Brighid''s eyes, and jerked his chin towards the door. She nodded, tears beginning to dampen her cheeks, and turned to leave. "I''m sorry if we hurt you or caused you any distress. Brighid and I will leave you alone now. Help yourself to the food. You can sleep here, we''ll find somewhere else for the night. I''ll leave Cai to guard you, but she won''t enter unless you ask her to, OK?"


    He caught up with Brighid and was about to slip out the door when he heard Sunnild rasp, "No, please, wait." Aidan turned around to look at his guest. She still had her arms wrapped around her knees, but her wings shifted to reveal a gap through which her blue-grey eyes peered pleadingly at them. "Please, this is yer home, I don''t wanna chase you out because I..." She sniffled, and the gap in her wings slid shut.


    Aidan closed the distance between them again and knelt behind Sunnild. He reached out and touched his fingertips to her back between her shoulder blades. The thick muscles along her back rippled and spasmed at his touch, but she didn''t pull away. "Do you want to talk about it?" He asked, voice as soft and soothing as he could make it. Brighid knelt down beside them; her hands were clasped together as if in prayer, and she looked as distraught as Aidan had ever seen her.


    "I did not mean..." Brighid whispered. "I... You told me to kiss you, and you are so bold and beautiful. I could not help myself. Please, tell me I did not ruin everything."


    "No!" Sunnild exclaimed from within her feathery cocoon. "No, ya did nothin'' wrong. I liked it! You both saw how much I liked it! I just... I..." A muffled sob chased her words.


    "Sunnild?" Brighid shuffled closer to the young girl. Aidan realized he''d never even asked how old she was before luring her into a sordid threesome with his lover; shame began to war with the guilt inside him. He didn''t think about how this would affect the harpy; at first, he was reacting to the disdain the others showed for her, then her sexy reactions to his flirtations had drawn him like a moth to a flame. "Sunnild, may I hug you? Would that help?" The paladin of the tripartite deity of love asked the trembling young harpy.


    "...Please?"


    Brighid wrapped the girl in her arms and cradled her against her chest. She tucked her chin on top of Sunnild''s downy gray crest feathers, then tilted down and planted a kiss atop her head. Sunnild''s top pair of wings slowly unwrapped from around her, only to extend and enclose Brighid in their embrace. She looked up at Aidan; he smiled and nodded. Maybe we didn''t completely fuck everything up, then.


    "If you want to talk, when you want to talk, I am here. We are here. Aidan is the best, kindest person I know. Neither of us will hurt you or make fun of you." The dove-gray wings flexed around Brighid''s torso, pulling her a fraction of an inch closer. They stayed like that for several minutes, Aidan with his hand pressed to Sunnild''s back and Brighid sharing a hug with her.


    The young woman began to speak. "Everything is all mixed up. This mission, Ecgwena, the two of ya... I do not even know where to start." She took a shuddering breath. "Most immediate first. Neither of ya hurt me. ''Specially not you, Brighid. Gods, I never felt that good. I thought I was never gonna stop. But..." She hesitated, then plowed on, "yer a lady. And ya have a man. And I want yer man. I dunno how much ya know about us, but taking a sister''s man is grounds for exile. Sharing is almost unheard of. So when ya did that to me... and then when ya gave yer fingers fer Lord Aidan to lick... I did not know what ta think. I don¡¯t even know why I asked ya ta kiss me; I meant ta ask yer permission ta kiss Lord Aidan."


    Aidan had to chuckle at that. "I can answer that for you. You wanted to kiss Brighid because she is beautiful and sexy and showed herself off to you and offered herself on a silver platter. Almost literally, even." He bent down and pressed his lips to her upper back in a quick kiss. "She was seducing you. More accurately, she was trying to get you to seduce her."


    "It worked," Sunnild giggled. Her crest wiggled, and from the flush that came to Brighid''s skin, Aidan guessed the harpy was nuzzling into her cleavage; he''d been in the same position before and hadn''t been able to resist, either. "Gods, woman, yer tits are amazing. And I hope yer seamstress is not a bigot cuz I want one of these."


    Brighid laughed. "Siwan made Aidan''s clothes, too. I am sure she will be happy to make something to suit you."


    "Anyway," Sunnild continued, "I wanted yer man as soon as Lord Aidan picked me out and invited me inta his home. Then ya showed up outta nowhere, and my hopes went up in flames. But once ya left again, Lord Aidan kept paying attention to me, touchin'' me. Not in a bad way, just... nice. He was so kind, and he treated me like an honored guest instead of a useless coward, and¡ª"


    "You are not a coward!" Aidan and Brighid both exclaimed. They shared a look, then Brighid continued, "I do not know why you would say that, but you are no coward. Maybe you are not a fighter, I cannot say, but no one who would confront me, confront your fears, the way you have today is a coward."


    Another sob escaped Sunnild. "Thank you. I... thank you. You¡¯re the only people aside from my mum who have ever said that ta me. Yer right, I¡¯m not a fighter. My mum taught me that violence is never the best answer except with absolute evils like yer Taig. I can fight, I know how to." She snorted. "I kin kick the butts of anyone else in my age group when we spar with steel. But I will not fight other people unless I am given no other choice. Monsters, either, for the most part; drakes an'' trows an'' the lot kin be scared away or lured to other hunting grounds. There is always another way; we just have to find it."


    The fierceness that overtook Sunnild''s voice ebbed away. "But that is not how my sisters see it. Ta them, refusin'' ta fight means cowardice. And there¡¯s not much use fer a coward in the Sisterhood. The Wingleaders try to find missions fer me, but not very hard." She giggle-sobbed. "I am gonna have ta get a gift fer Somerd. The only reason I got this mission is that she took a nasty wound on her last flight and everyone else was busy." She shook herself, and at last, her lower wings relaxed, folding back against Aidan and revealing her sleek, muscular thighs. Sunnild pushed herself away from Brighid''s bosom and peeked up over her shoulder at Aidan before wiggling backward until her butt was pressed against his crotch. She blushed and cut her eyes away, then looked at him again and wiggled. Aidan smiled and wrapped his arms around her, making a Sunnild sandwich with Brighid.


    "Anyway, like I was sayin'', I wanted yer man. You, Lord Aidan; I wanted you so bad. Sisters earn men either by finding them on sorties or by buying access to them, again by running missions. Since I only got the shitty ones like patrolling horse¡ªerr, Starchaser, sorry! Starchaser territory, I have not had anyone ta nest with since my mum died. When ya picked me out and treated me so nice... Well, it doesn¡¯t take much ta turn on a harpy in the first place, and ya had me ready ta go. Um," Sunnild hesitated, then forged onward, "yer not mad that I had sex with yer lady, Lord Aidan?"


    He chuckled and pushed his hips against her rear. "Does it feel like I''m mad?"


    She blushed a cute shade of pink and looked up at Brighid. "And yer not mad that I wanna sleep with yer man?"


    A mischievous grin spread across the paladin''s face. "Oh, sleep? Is that what you want? And here I thought you were after something a little friskier."


    Sunnild''s blush darkened, and she ducked her head again. "Stop teasing the girl, love," Aidan admonished his mate.


    "Oh, pooh," she giggled, then nuzzled Sunnild''s downy crest. "No, Sunnild, I am not mad. In fact, I asked him to bring anyone he found interesting back to meet me. I did not expect the meeting to go quite like this, but I did plan to get here eventually. I thought I would have to convince Aidan." She grinned at him over the harpy''s head.


    "Then, can I¡ª" Sunnild''s question was interrupted by Aidan''s stomach gurgling. She dissolved into a fit of giggles, which got Aidan and Brighid laughing as well.


    When he could get the words out, Aidan said, "Why don''t we eat this tasty-smelling dinner. After that, if you still want to, we can retire to the bedroom, and we can see how far Brighid''s plans go."


    "Mm-hmm!" Came Sunnild''s eager agreement.


    Aidan


    Night


    "That was excellent, love. Thank you for cooking for us."


    "Yes, thanks! The sauce was ''specially tasty."


    Brighid smiled at them both. "You are welcome."


    Sunnild turned to Aidan. "So, um." She nibbled on her lower lip and blushed pink. "Now that dinner is done..."


    Aidan smiled and stood from the table, offering Sunnild his hand. "Dinner is finished," he agreed, "and my offer still stands. Would you like¡ª" Sunnild sprang to her feet and ducked under his arm, plastering herself to his chest. Her cheek nuzzled against his shoulder, and she began placing small kisses along his neck. "I''ll take that as a yes," he laughed, slipping one arm under hers, then stooping to slide the other behind her knees. He stood up, lifting Sunnild into a princess carry and drawing a surprised squeak from the harpy. Her arms wrapped around his neck as he walked them into the bedroom. "Brighid, clear the table and wash the dishes¡ªI want them spotless before you join us. You already had some time alone with Sunnild, and I did not give you permission, sexy as it was to watch."


    A moan and a, "Yes, Sir!" followed him through the doorway. Sunnild was heavier than Aidan expected when he executed Plan Pretty Princess Prize, so he strode over to the extra-large centaur bed Brighid bought in preparation for the move. He stepped up onto the thick mattress, kicked a few pillows into a rough pile, and then deposited Sunnild onto them. He took a moment to examine his soon-to-be lover again, drinking in her toned, athletic figure. She squirmed beneath his gaze, biting her lip, one hand rising to her medium-sized breasts as her legs parted. Her wings unfurled and spread out behind her; if the room was any smaller, her flight feathers would have brushed against the walls. She had no hair at all, nor any feathers aside from those on her wings and head. Her lower lips were thick and closed tight in a classic cameltoe, despite her obvious arousal glistening on her inner thighs.


    "The only thing missing from the meal Brighid made was dessert," Aidan told Sunnild, "and you, my dear, look good enough to eat." He knelt down between her legs and placed his hands on her knees. She trembled¡ªwith excitement and anticipation, Aidan knew, not fear¡ªand wetted her lips with a flash of her pink tongue. "And I already know you taste as sweet as any confection."


    A moan escaped Sunnild''s lips, and her hips lifted up off the mattress for a moment. Aidan caressed her legs as he leaned down and blew a breath of air across her mound. When she arched up at him again, he slipped his arms under her and bent down to kiss her thigh.


    One of Sunnild''s hands found his head, grabbing his hair and trying to pull him to where she wanted him, but Aidan resisted. This girl has had a rough life, from the sound of it. I can''t fix that right now, but I can get the ball rolling. It''s all about her tonight. He traced the tip of his tongue along the underside of her inner thigh, looping and doubling back repeatedly, much to his prey''s squirming dismay. The closer he got to her groin, the tighter her grip on his hair became. He wondered if Patch Wounds would restore a bald patch, but refused to be deterred from his slow, sensuous worship. When his tongue reached the crease between Sunnild''s thigh and hip, she moaned and arched up toward him again, but Aidan''s arms around her legs prevented her from accelerating his pace. He lapped at the feminine lubrication staining her groin¡ªit really did taste a little sweet¡ªmoving a fraction of an inch closer to her labia with every stroke.


    "Please, Lord Aidan!" Sunnild begged him, squirming in his grasp. He felt a tickling sensation along his back and looked up from his feast to see that her wings were curling around them.


    "Please what?" He teased her.


    "Please... I need ta feel yer tongue on me!" Aidan lapped at her skin again, still an inch shy of her lips. "Nooo," she whined, "not there! Please!"


    "I''m sorry, I''m not sure what you''re asking for. You''re going to have to be more specific."


    A hand smacked him on the shoulder; petulance, not frustration. Good. "Do not make me say it!" Aidan began to move back towards her thigh. "No! Please, Lord Aidan, please lick my pussy!"


    "Ohh," he breathed as if enlightened, "that''s what you wanted? You should have just told me." Sunnild''s bashfulness was adorable, but there was a different fire inside her than in Brighid. Some deep-dwelling instinct told Aidan that, while she loved being made to beg, Sunnild would get as much out of being the one giving the orders. He''d already seen that with how she bossed Brighid around, and, more importantly, how his firebrand Soulmate responded. Aidan allowed the gray-feathered harpy to center his head between her thighs, then extended his tongue and gave her a long, slow lick. He started at the very bottom of her lips and applied steady pressure all the way to the crease that hid her clit, which he probed and circled.


    "Yesss!" She hissed above him. "There, right there!" Her nub was smaller than Brighid''s and hid in its hood even when standing at attention, but it was no less sensitive. Sunnild writhed as Aidan''s tongue squirmed across the bundle of nerves, her breaths coming fast and short and her hips lunging up at him. "Aidan! Ohh! Aidannnn!"


    Sunnild jerked and fresh wetness coated Aidan''s chin, but he didn''t let up. He hooked her legs with his arms and brought them up over his shoulders¡ªher thighs clamped around his neck and her heels pressed into his back¡ªthen used his now-freed hands to peel back Sunnild''s pussy lips. She let out a wordless cry as Aidan slid his tongue inside her for the first time. Her hips were a foot off the mattress now, presenting herself for his dining enjoyment, and all the strength in her arms and legs was devoted towards keeping him there and pulling him deeper. Aidan thrust his tongue as deep inside Sunnild as he could manage and wriggled it against the inner walls that clamped down around the appendage, rippling and spasming with continuous climaxes.


    "I am jealous," Brighid said as she settled in beside Sunnild. "I had to put a finger in that amazing ass of hers before she came for me¡ªand then she went off again as soon as she saw you standing over her. Now here you are, only using your tongue, and she is nearly insensate. I knew harpies do not really go for women, but still, I thought..."


    "Stop pouting... and kiss me!" Sunnild gasped. Aidan lifted his eyes from the feast before him to watch his Soulmate''s reaction. He saw the spark of lust in her emerald eyes blaze up into an inferno, but instead of complying, she looked to Aidan, one hand touching the charm dangling from her choker.


    He lifted his face from between Sunnild''s thighs long enough to say, "For tonight, Sunnild''s orders are my own," before diving back into his dessert. A second later, the harpy''s moans cut off and her thighs squeezed tight against Aidan''s ears. One of her hands left his hair, no doubt off to tangle in Brighid''s mane for a change; she would enjoy that. Indeed, the centaur''s familiar lusty moan reached his ears a moment later. Feeling his jaw begin to ache from continued use, Aidan withdrew his tongue, replacing it a moment later with a pair of fingers. Sunnild''s hips surged up to meet them, making desperate thrusts against his hand, once, twice, a third time, then her legs were off his shoulders and her hand was pushing his face away.


    "Too much!" Sunnild gasped, twisting away from his touch. "Too good!" Her hips continued to undulate and squirm, and as Aidan rose to his haunches above her, he could see the muscles in her abdomen contracting with every aftershock that rolled through her athletic frame. The harpy''s wings gave half-flaps with every second or third convulsion.


    Brighid leaned over the near-comatose girl and kissed Aidan hard. "Mm," she moaned, "she tastes good on your lips. I cannot wait to see how her flavor combines with other parts of you..." then her lips were on his again and her tongue was demanding entry into his mouth.


    Their kiss continued for a while before Sunnild''s voice interrupted them. "Yer both wearin'' too many clothes. Take em off. I wanna see ya both naked." Brighid and Aidan broke apart, smiled at each other, and began stripping. By simple virtue of wearing fewer clothes, the centaur beat Aidan to nudity by several seconds. By the time he kicked his pants off his ankles and onto the floor, Sunnild''s hands were kneading Brighid''s breasts. "Gods, these things are amazin''. Ya could stop wars with these. Or start em." One grey wing curled around Brighid''s shoulder, ushering her down closer to where Sunnild reclined in her nest of pillows. "Been wantin'' ta do this all evening," she declared, then planted one hand behind her and pushed herself up until she could wrap her mouth around one of Brighid''s thick nipples.


    "And I''ve wanted to do this since you stripped before dinner," Aidan told her, reaching out to cup Sunnild''s left breast. Just like I thought, a little more than a handful. Another of Sunnild''s wings settled against his back, and he smiled as he was pushed down towards her chest. Aidan took the hint, dipping his head and kissing the line at her collarbone where Sunnild''s golden tan lightened to a paler shade. Her shoulders got a lot of sun, but it appeared that she wasn''t as prone to going around topless as the Starchasers were.


    Aidan trailed kisses down the upper curve of her breast, then skirted her nipple. The wing slapped against his back in protest, but Brighid''s continued soft moans indicated that Sunnild was too engrossed in her own worship to give voice to a serious complaint. He took his time, circling Sunnild''s perky pebbled peak before finally giving her what she wanted and wrapping his lips around her nipple. An appreciative moan and wiggle rewarded his effort, followed by a deeper sound of pleasure when he sucked the nub into his mouth.


    Sunnild sank back onto the bed, pulling both Aidan and Brighid down with her. Her intention became clear a moment later when Aidan felt the hand that had been holding her up land on his hip. Slim, uncalloused fingers sought and soon found Aidan''s erection. He shifted to allow her better access as tentative touches traced up his shaft. When she reached his tip, Sunnild wrapped her hand loosely around him and slid it back down. After several more gentle strokes, she disengaged from Brighid''s breasts to ask, "Lord Aidan?"


    "Hmm?"


    "Will ya... hey, look at me when I am talkin'' to ya! An'' ya should not talk with yer mouth full." Aidan chuckled, pulling back from Sunnild''s chest, but not before giving her one last kiss on the nipple. "Mm. Lord Aidan, I know ya cannot be my man. Yer already taken. But, just fer tonight... can ya let me pretend?"


    This time it was Aidan''s turn to look to Brighid for permission. He still had his reservations about this path that she was leading him down, but he knew that turning Sunnild down now would devastate the poor girl. "My Lord knows my opinion on the matter." Brighid gave him a beatific smile.


    "You''re sure, Sunnild? You want me to be your first, despite what you said?" He looked into her blue-gray eyes and saw her resolve.


    "Do not make me beg ya. Not fer this."


    Aidan flicked his eyes to Brighid again, trying to express his misgivings, but she only gave a minute shake of her head and mouthed, "It will be okay."


    "Well then, it looks like I''m all yours for the night. If I may make a suggestion, though?" At her timid nod, Aidan continued, "you should be on top. It will give you more control over the pacing, provide more room for you to spread your wings, and let Brighid participate as well."


    "Then roll over!"


    Aidan laughed and complied, and as soon as his back hit the mattress, an eager teenager was straddling his thighs. She inched forward until her hot, soaking wet sex was rubbing against Aidan''s rock-hard length. Sunnild rocked her hips, moaning as she felt his erection sliding between her nether lips and brushing against her clit. Brighid knelt down behind Sunnild, pressing her torso against the smaller girl''s back and embracing her. "Do you feel how hard he is for you?" she asked. "You did that to him, not me. For tonight, at least, he is all yours. Go ahead and take what you want from him."


    "If he is all mine, an'' ya have to obey my orders tonight, then you do it. Take yer Lord''s dick and put it in me." Brighid''s eyes opened wide at that, but her surprise lasted only a heartbeat.


    "Yes, my Lady," she moaned, and Aidan watched her hand dart down to take hold of him. "Lift up a little and lean forward," she instructed Sunnild. The harpy complied without hesitation, and Brighid brought Aidan''s tip to Sunnild''s lower lips and rubbed it between them until he caught at her entrance. "There," Brighid said, "you can move back now. Take it slow, he is much bigger than my fingers." Even before the redhead finished talking, Sunnild''s molten heat enveloped Aidan, sliding inexorably down until her groin met his. Brighid held him steady the entire time, only letting go when Sunnild''s bare pussy pushed her out of the way.


    "Ohh, gods," Sunnild groaned. Her wings were stretched to their utter limits, feathers spread wide. "Gods, you feel so big in me."


    "Stay still for a moment," Brighid urged her temporary Mistress. "Your body will get used to it soon. In the meantime..." her hands began to explore Sunnild''s taut body. One slipped between the teen''s thighs to stroke her pussy and circle her clit, while the other rose to caress her heaving breasts. Sunnild moaned at the sensations and sat up straight, then moaned again, louder, when that movement made Aidan''s length shift inside her.


    "Ohh, fuck, that feels so good. Keep rubbin'' me. Yeah, like that. Mmyeah, right there, fuck, yes." Aidan tilted his head backward as Sunnild began to circle her hips. She felt different from Brighid, not that that was surprising. She didn''t have the same internal dexterity as his Soulmate, but she was somehow even tighter; her inner walls molded themselves to him, clinging desperately as Sunnild moved on him.


    "There you go, my Lady. He feels right inside you, filling you almost too full, does he not?"


    "Mm-hmm!"


    "Try lifting up now, nice and slow." Aidan sucked in a breath through his teeth as Sunnild raised up off him an inch, then sank back down. Keeping himself from thrusting up into the teen''s tightness was growing harder by the second.


    "No wonder..." she panted, "no wonder the sisters... get pissy about their men. Is it, ohhh, gods. Is it always... this good?"


    "No," Brighid responded with a laugh, "it gets better every time."


    "How?! Yer lyin''!"


    "I swear by Birgitte, Brigantia, and Braihan," the paladin intoned, voice solemn. "I have enjoyed every time with my love more than the one before it."


    "How have ya not locked him in a room and ridden him ta death?" Sunnild raised herself higher now, exposing several inches of Aidan''s shaft to the chilly air before sliding back down.


    "Sometimes, it is the anticipation that makes it so good. Do you think you would be enjoying this as much if Aidan bent you over as soon as he brought you inside?"


    "Oh, fuck! No, but now I want him to do that to me."


    "Uh-huh, that is one of my favorites. Sometimes Aidan will come up behind me, lift my tail out of the way, and push into me before I even realize he is there. I love it when he takes what he wants from me." In point of fact, Aidan couldn''t remember ever doing that to her, but the look in Brighid''s eyes told him that he should consider changing that, and soon. "But sometimes he teases me for days, touching me, kissing me, making me service him, but never allowing me to reach my peak. Then, when he finally enters me, it is like he is doing all of it to me at once. The pleasure crashes into me and through me, and I cannot help but come all over him." That he did remember; it was the second time he made Brighid pass out from pleasure.


    "Mm-hmm! Mmm! Oh! I feel it!"


    "Are you going to come on your man''s cock, Sunnild? Is our little dove going to come for us?"


    "Wha¡ªohhfuuuuck!" The harpy jerked at the nickname Brighid gave her, then arched her back hard and slammed down onto Aidan, plunging him deep inside her as she convulsed in orgasm. Her hips ground down onto him, and it took all of Aidan''s control to keep from ending things early. Sunnild shuddered and jerked atop him for almost thirty seconds before collapsing forward onto his chest.


    "Gods, I never felt that good," she whispered. "If that is what it takes, I will do it." She tucked her head against Aidan''s shoulder and nuzzled his neck. "I think I am ready now. As much as I will be, anyway." She put her hands on the bed beside Aidan''s chest and lifted her torso up to look him in the eyes. Desire, pleasure, and vulnerability swam in their blue-gray depths. "Please, Lord Aidan... fuck yer little dove. Fuck me, make me feel so good, ruin me fer every other man, cuz I wanna be yer little dove forever." Her eyes widened and she opened her mouth to speak again, but Aidan''s kiss beat her to the punch.


    Sunnild stiffened for a split second, then melted into the kiss. Aidan gathered her into his arms, being extra careful of her wings, and rolled over on top of her. He broke the kiss to ask her, "Are you sure? Last chance to back out. I can''t promise you forever, not right now." She stared up at him, the vulnerability in her eyes growing. Then Aidan felt her muscular thighs wrap around his waist and her heels come to rest against his butt.


    "Do it. Please?"


    Aiden bent his head to capture her lips again and began to thrust. Sunnild''s hips tilted to fine-tune the angle, then rose up to meet him. He tried to keep the pace moderate, but he was already on edge from earlier, and soon the wet sounds of flesh meeting flesh filled the bedchamber. Brighid maneuvered herself from behind Aidan to the two lovers'' side, stroking them wherever she could reach and pressing kisses to their sweaty skin whenever an opportunity presented itself. Tension wound through Aidan''s body, tighter and tighter, as the young woman wrapped around him shuddered and convulsed in a parade of orgasms. He held on for as long as possible, but when Brighid whispered to him, "Go on love, come for our little dove. Give her what she wants," he couldn''t stop himself any longer. He thrust as hard as he could into Sunnild''s grasping depths and exploded with a groaning grunt.


    "Yeeessss!" She screamed with him, arching and twisting, pulling him into her with all the strength remaining in her arms and legs. "Aiiiidaaaaannnnnn!"


    The pair collapsed into the bed an eternal second later, both panting hard to catch their breath. The vulnerability was gone from Sunnild''s eyes; her smile reflected only weary satisfaction. Aidan brushed his lips across hers, then asked, "Was it everything you hoped it would be?"


    "Mm. That an'' more. Thank you, Lord Aidan, Brighid."


    He shook his head. "It was our pleasure," the corner of his lip quirked up. Sunnild giggled and leaned up to kiss him. "Now, how are we going to sleep in this tangle of limbs?"


    "I have an idea for that," Brighid said. "Sunnild, can you sleep on your side with your wings?" At her nod, Brighid continued, "Here, Aidan, you turn your back to me, like usual. Sunnild, you face Aidan from the front. We can both hug our Lord that way, and he can be between his two Ladies. Does that work?"


    "Mm!"


    They maneuvered into position, and for the first time in his life¡ªin either world¡ªAidan fell asleep wedged between two beautiful women. His Soulmate embraced him from behind, his head cushioned by her breasts, her chin tucked against his hair. Meanwhile, in front of him, a dove-gray angel curled up around him, her face rubbing against his shoulder, one leg thrown over his hip, and two wings draped over both him and Brighid like soft, fluffy blankets.


    Zurai

 Champion, Chapter 10: Remembering the Names Passed Down

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Secondday, 1st week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Early Morning


    The Lord''s Chambers, Caer Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Aidan swam back to consciousness in a messy tangle of feminine limbs. He had turned around in the night, so Brighid''s right arm, looped under and behind his head, pulled him into her cleavage, while her left rested between his lower back and Sunnild''s belly. Sunnild, meanwhile, was plastered to his back with one leg hooked over his thigh, hands on his chest and hip, and wings cradling both him and Brighid. She was awake already¡ªAidan could feel her fingers stroking in aimless patterns across his skin and her lips brushing across his shoulders and back in feather-light kisses. He would have to get up soon to empty his bladder and start the day, but he could spare her a little more time. He opened the prompts that he sidelined during the previous night''s activities.


    That last message shook him. He didn''t want or need anyone but Brighid, but what did he expect after the story they heard last night? Of fucking course you made her fall in love with you, asshole! She''s lived a life of constant mistreatment and misunderstanding, cut off from any form of love. Then what do you do? You defend her to her bullies, flirt with her, comfort her, sweep her off her feet¡ªliterally!¡ªbring her to bed, and make her first time special. Fuck!


    He must have shown a hint of his agitation because Sunnild stilled. "Are ya angry with me?" She asked in a small voice.


    Aidan sighed. "No. It''s you who should be angry with me."


    The hand on his chest resumed its caresses. "Why?"


    "Because..." Fuck, what do I say to her? I don''t want to break her heart, especially with all the pain she''s already lived through, but it would be cruel to lead her on. "Because last night... yesterday, I..." He sighed again. Better to rip off the bandage. But she beat him to the punch.


    "Ya were takin'' advantage of the situation between me and Ecgwena, yah? Ya saw a weakness in our team and capitalized on it. And then when ya brought me in here¡ªthat was all Brighid''s idea, yah? I remember what she said ta ya."


    "Was I that transparent?"


    "Nah." Sunnild''s head shook against his back. "Been thinkin'' about it fer a couple of hours now." She kissed his shoulderblade. "There is nothin'' fer me ta get mad at in that, ya know? Yer a Lord; if ya don¡¯t use yer enemies'' weaknesses against em, ya won¡¯t be a Lord long."


    "We''re not¡ª"


    "Not allies, so ya should treat us as enemies." Sunnild cut off his protest. "Ya think the Sisterhood won¡¯t wring ya fer every advantage they can get? Besides, that isn¡¯t the only reason ya picked me, is it?"


    "No," Aidan admitted. "Seeing the others treat you like that made me angry. I wanted to punish them and reward you."


    "Mm. And reward me ya did," Sunnild giggled. "And why should I be angry that last night was yer lady''s idea? I am grateful to her, not mad at ya."


    "Because Aidan thinks he does not deserve the love of multiple women," Brighid murmured from above Aidan''s head.


    "That''s not¡ª" he started to respond, but Brighid cut him off at the legs.


    "Be honest, my love. You do not even think you deserve me, do you?"


    "I don''t!" Pent-up emotions flooded out of Aidan. "What have I done for you, for your people? I brought you to war with an entity powerful enough to wipe out the region, led a suicidal frontal attack on a fortified position, got Cai and Anwn''s wolves killed, and got all of you raped. The Taig warned me, Brighid! It told me what it was going to do to you! It told me it would take you from me, but I didn''t listen; I thought it was just a nightmare. Half of the Starchaser warriors are dead because of me! Now you all have to move here, into a city known for its inhabitants vanishing without a trace, because it''s your only hope for survival! And worst of all, I''m an imposter! I''m not a Lord, I''m a wage slave. I''ve never been responsible for anyone else in my entire life, but now I''m the only thing standing between you all and annihilation! Seven hundred peoples'' lives depend on my choices, and here I am, luring the first pretty, vulnerable young girl I see in this whole fucking world into my bed for a single night of fun instead of making a treaty to strengthen my position." He broke down, tears spilling from his eyes to trickle between Brighid''s breasts.


    "Aidan..." "Lord Aidan..."


    Two pairs of arms encircled him, burying him between two warm, soft bodies. Two pairs of lips rained kisses down on him while two pairs of hands stroked his sides and chest with tender care. "I wondered when this would happen," Brighid murmured to him. "You did not cry after what the Taig did to us. I saw your reactions; I know how much it hurt you. I watched your face when Anwn brought you to the wolves'' graves. I was there with you when you asked Fionn for a list of the dead. I was the one who persuaded you not to visit their families, remember?" A hand started to stroke his hair; Aidan didn''t know if it was Brighid''s or Sunnild''s. "None of that was your fault, my love. I know you do not believe me yet, but let me tell you what would have happened without you.


    "The wards would have fallen without warning. By the time the tribe''s warriors gathered, the manikins would have been to the village. If you think the Battle of Ceallach Macht was bad, imagine if the Taig had hundreds of noncombatants to kill and reanimate in a surprise attack. And we would not have won that battle; we would not even have known what was attacking us, because it was you who saw the Taig and brought the news back. You were the one who found the Deathbramble Heart and identified it as the Wildlord''s weakness. Without you, we would have been helpless before it. And not just us, either; do you think it would stop at our little village? It would have spread like a plague across all the Wildlands, Aidan. That''s what Tainted Wildlords do." She squeezed him extra tight. "Aidan, none of what happened is your fault. Yes, we were hurt¡ªyour team and the tribe. But the difference between hurt and worse than dead? You were that difference, my love. Let go of your guilt, Aidan. I absolve you." A fresh batch of tears burst from Aidan''s eyes and sobs wracked his body as he clung to his Soulmate like a shipwrecked sailor clinging to driftwood. The women weren''t done with him, however.


    "That name ya called me last night? Little dove? The sisters call me that ta make fun of me. Doves are the sign of peace, yah? And my feathers are dove-gray. My mum was always so proud of that, but the sisters, they made it a weapon against me¡ªknowing that I would not fight back. They turned my mum''s name fer me inta a curse. But you, Aidan? And ya too, Brighid. When ya called me that, it made me happy." She giggled and kissed the nape of Aidan''s neck. "Well, that and what ya were doin'' ta me." Another kiss. "As fer takin'' advantage of this vulnerable little dove?"


    Sunnild''s wings lifted off of their bodies. The harpy spoke a word of magic, and when her feathers settled onto them again, they were cold, hard metal. "I kin defend myself. I told ya that last night; it was no empty boast when I said I kin beat any sister my age sparring with steel. Of course, I use starmetal, not steel." She sounded smug. "Cuts through almost anything and is resistant to magic. I have to dull the edges like I am now to spar; when I fight, they are as sharp as a brand-new knife. If ya killed a Wildlord, ya could have beaten me, too, but I would not have made it easy on ya. And as fer emotional vulnerability..." A hand smacked him on the hip. "That is fer actin'' like I was under some kinda spell. Neither of ya tricked me or exploited me. Ya did not lure me in with false promises. Yah, sure, I jumped inta bed with ya after two hours of knowin'' ya, but..." she grabbed his hand and brought it to her bare thigh, "harpy," then tapped his hip, "willin'' man I had permission ta sleep with. That is all it takes fer us. If ya went to wherever ya set the sisters up and dropped yer pants, they would be all over ya too¡ªeven Ecgwena.


    "And besides all that," Sunnild continued, "ya just gave me a whole buncha leverage ta hold over yer head. The Sisterhood doesn¡¯t know how bad the casualties were fer the Starchasers. No need ta worry," she soothed when she felt Aidan and Brighid stiffen, "I won¡¯t tattle on ya. I won¡¯t even blackmail ya with it. That would be taking advantage of emotional vulnerability. I will keep yer secret, Lord Aidan, Lady Brighid, not because I love ya both but because it is right. And mebbe, knowing that I am keeping that secret fer ya, I kin come back and visit some, yah?" Sunnild kept up a chipper tone through most of her speech, but her voice cracked at the end. Aidan could feel splashes of wetness drip onto his shoulder. Something swelled and untwisted inside him, and he realized that he had lost, and Brighid had won. If this was what she wanted, Aidan would give it a try. He had to admit that his little dove¡ªjust the endearment made him want to wrap his arms around her, now that he knew its meaning to her¡ªwas already starting to worm her way into his heart.


    "No," he refused, turning onto his back and pulling Sunnild on top of him. Pain flashed in her blue-gray eyes. "You don''t visit your home." Confusion replaced the hurt, then her eyes widened, and Sunnild stiffened in his arms.


    "Ya mean...?" Hope lit her face like a beacon. "I kin stay? Here, with both of ya? Yes, yes, a thousand yesses squared!" Sunnild kissed Aidan hard, mashing her lips against his and forcing her tongue into his mouth as she squirmed like an excited puppy on top of him.


    Aidan laughed and fended off his excited lover. "Hey, hey, there''s time for that later. I don''t want to mislead you, Sunnild. I like you, but I don''t know you¡ªand you don''t know me. I''m not offering to have you move in here with Brighid and me, not right away. That''s one way this could end up, but all I''m promising, for now, is to make you a citizen of Ceallach Macht and set you up with a room of your own here in the citadel. We can see how things progress from there."


    Sunnild sat up and nodded. "I understand, Lord Aidan¡ª"


    "Please call me Aidan, at least when we''re in private. You''ve earned that right, at least."


    "Mm! I understand, Aidan," she savored the name, "but does this mean, well," she blushed and looked down, "um, can I still..."


    Aidan chuckled and took pity on her. "Not every night or even most nights. But yes, I imagine that you''ll wriggle your way into our bed again."


    "And again, and again," Brighid promised with a laugh in her voice, then pulled Sunnild into a tender kiss. "And maybe sometimes one of us will visit you in your nest for a change. In fact, with my Lord''s permission..." She trailed off while she waited for Aidan''s response.


    "I love you and trust you, flame of my heart. If you want to spend tonight getting to know Sunnild better, you have my permission."


    Brighid''s smile lit up the room, and she leaned down to kiss him. "You knew exactly what I was going to ask!" She turned back and gave Sunnild another kiss. "We will both be busy this morning¡ªI have work to do, and you will need to be with your people. But I would love your company this evening; I will bring some food and help you settle in. And tonight, well? I may be feeling a little wound up still."


    Sunnild blinked, then scarlet bloomed on her cheeks as her eyes widened. "Oh! Oh! Oh, I am so sorry! I just¡ªand you¡ªand then I made you¡ª"


    Brighid smiled and placed a finger against Sunnild''s lips. "Last night was for you, little dove. I am not complaining. I told you that anticipation makes it sweeter, remember?"


    "Mm!" Sunnild agreed, pressing her lips to Brighid''s finger in a kiss. "But I will pay ya back anyway! Ya made me feel so good and I left ya high and dry."


    "Oh, I assure you, dry was not the problem," Brighid snickered. Sunnild giggled along with her. Aidan just shook his head and smirked at his lady.


    "Oh, sure, you hit me when I drop a pun, but I''m supposed to laugh along with you when you do it," he teased her. "But yeah, that''s a good idea. In fact, I suggest we make it a regular thing: date nights, both in pairs and as a group. If whatever we''re headed towards is going to work in the long term, all three sides of the triangle have to be healthy."


    Sunnild gave a sharp nod. "Mm! That makes perfect sense! And," she blushed, "I like ya both, want ya both, anyway." She ducked her head.


    "Good!" Aidan smiled at the ladies. "Now that that''s settled, I really need to go to the bathroom and then take a bath. Anyone care to join me in the latter?"


    "Yes, Sir!" "Mm!"


    "Then why don''t you two go on down to the bathing chamber; I''ll join when I''ve relieved myself." Aidan waited for the girls to leave before closing his eyes and letting the tears trickle from the corners of his eyes.


    "Doirin. Mairead. Solamh. Lachlann. Catriona. Micheil. Caitir. Moire. Seonag..." Aidan recited from the list of names engraved into his soul.

 Champion, Chapter 11: Towards Utopia

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Secondday, 1st week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Mid-Morning


    Ceallach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Aidan and Sunnild emerged from Caer Macht clean, refreshed, and ready to face the day''s trials. Aidan was still uncomfortable with aspects of his current situation, but there was something about Sunnild that drew him like a moth to a flame. The young harpy was glommed onto his arm, humming a cheerful tune. He looked over at her and smiled; her sunny disposition was impossibly infectious. I hope it works out better for me than for the moth.


    Aidan redirected his thoughts to the coming meeting. He expected it to be rough on both him and Sunnild, but they''d spent the last hour preparing with Ailis. Sunnild refused to give out any strategically-important information¡ªwhich Aidan backed her on, much to Ailis''s frustration¡ªbut she was happy to dish on her so-called teammates. And, true to her nature, she spent more time talking about their hobbies, accomplishments, and qualifications than she did about their weaknesses and failures. That still left them with plenty of buttons to push and levers to pull. You catch more flies with honey than vinegar, Aidan reminded himself, even if they''re big ole horseflies.


    "You know they''re going to cry fowl when they see you looking so happy, right?" Aidan asked Sunnild. He didn''t think anyone else caught the pun, but he did, and that''s what mattered in the end.


    "Mm," she agreed. "They will say I sold em out fer one night with a man. But they woulda said the same regardless. When I went with ya yesterday, I knew what would come." She looked up at him, then smiled and poked him in the belly. "And no gettin'' all sad over that. I made my choice with knowledge of the consequences, and it turned out well for me."


    Aidan laughed, caught her hand, and gave it a squeeze. "Yes, ma''am. Will this cause a problem for you back at the Ayrie? You still have to report to your commander and gather your things."


    Sunnild shrugged. "It might, but nothin'' that I will not be able to handle. I did not give out any secrets, and, in fact, I helped secure the mission objective. The bigger problem will be leaving. Sisters do not leave the Sisterhood."


    "There''s no reason you have to leave the Sisterhood." Aidan was puzzled for a second before realizing, "Oh! I never told you my dream for this city, did I?"


    "Nope! Ya were too busy seducin'' the poor, innocent harpy." Sunnild grinned up at him.


    Aidan smiled back. "Well, I''ll keep it a secret for a little while longer; there''s no sense explaining it twice, and the Sisterhood will be quite interested in it."


    "Nnooo! Tell me! Ya cannot say ya have a secret and then not tell it to me!" The look that she gave him made Aidan wonder if there was a Puppy Dog Eyes Skill. He found himself considering telling her although they were less than a minute from the meeting place.


    "You can wait five minutes until I can tell everyone at once." Her expression morphed into a puffy-cheeked pout. "I''ll make it up to you," he promised. "I meant to tell you yesterday, but, well..."


    "Mm!" And she was back to her usual smiling self.


    Unfortunately, the other four harpies gathered in the building they entered wore less pleasant expressions. "Sunnild. You will report to Wingleader Frythe to explain your dereliction of duty upon our return. Until then, you are to remain in the cabin under house arrest." Strike two, Aidan thought. She doesn''t even have the grace to look angry. Sunnild''s right; Ecgwena was only looking for an excuse.


    "Dereliction of duty?" Aidan asked. "That''s a curious accusation. Now, I am an outsider here, but my understanding is that you five were sent to work out a deal with me. That has not happened yet, but I can tell you that I am much more inclined to be reasonable this morning than when I left your presence yesterday evening, Wingsister Ecgwena. In fact, Sunnild was the one who persuaded me not to send you all away." The Crown of the Exalted shimmered into existence on Aidan''s brow as he leaned over the table. "Let me be blunt, ladies: Sunnild is off-limits to your power plays. If your leadership wants a good relationship with me¡ªand they do, because I can give you something that you have wanted for generations¡ªthen the petty games stop here."


    Now Ecgwena was angry. "You have no right to interfere in internal Sisterhood affairs, human. I am Sunnild''s superior officer, and I say she abandoned her duty for a quick fuck. Did she even tell you that harpies are always fertile, or did she stay quiet while you filled her womb?" Sunnild''s face was stricken. She looked at Aidan, tears in her eyes.


    Strike three. You''re out. "Wingsister Ecgwena Shatterstrike, you are hereby forbidden entry to my lands, which extend for 10 miles in all directions from Ceallach Macht. You have until noon to leave. If you are found within my territory after that time, my soldiers and guardians will have orders to attack on sight." He glared right back at her across the table. "If you think to test my determination, know that I slew the Tannath Taig who previously occupied this city. The pillar of fire above the city?" Aidan curled his lips back in a snarl. "Me. I swear by Birgitte, Brigantia, and Braihain, these facts are true." That had been a gamble, but the sudden widening of the harpies'' eyes told him that they received a system message confirming his oath. "Leave us, Ecgwena. You are not welcome here."


    The brown-feathered harpy trembled with rage. The moment drew out in silence, until, just as Aidan started to raise his hand to signal Cai, Ecgwena leaped to her feet and stormed off. He changed the signal, sending one of his two bodyguards to make sure Ecgwena left without issue. He had four Passion Elementals circling in the air above, so he wasn''t worried about his personal safety. Once Ecgwena was away, Aidan took his seat at the head of the table.


    "I apologize for the unpleasantness. I will be straightforward with you all. Yes, I slept with Sunnild last night." Even though she knew it was coming, Sunnild still blushed scarlet and ducked her head. "However, your previous leader was already on thin ice with me when she struck a soldier under her command, knocking her to the ground because she didn''t want to take a step sideways. I did not invite Sunnild into the citadel yesterday to bed her; I did so because I will always stand up for the abused. I want to make that very clear now so that there will be no misunderstandings in the future. Now," he leaned back and folded his hands in his lap, "who was second-in-command of your mission?"


    He already knew the answer, of course, but it provided the harpies a chance to collect themselves and soothe their ruffled feathers. After a few shared looks, the scarred twin spoke up. "My name is Wingsister Estrith, and with Wingsister Ecgwena," she hesitated, "no longer available, the lead falls to me." Her gaze shifted to Sunnild. "As such, I am rescinding Ecgwena''s command. However, we will need to debrief you after this meeting." Back to Aidan. "Not as a punishment, my Lord, just a standard procedure. Wingsister Sunnild was away from¡ª"


    Aidan raised a hand and waved her explanation off. "There is no problem. I understand the importance of debriefs. Ask her whatever you want so long as it''s mission-relevant; I trust that I don''t need to warn you away from prying into her private life?"


    "No, my Lord, you do not. I will keep the debrief professional."


    "Thank you. I will consider it a favor owed." This, too, was part of the plan¡ªby ''giving away'' a favor like this, he gave the Sisterhood face and balanced out the potential offense of banishing their lead envoy. Naturally, it had been Ailis''s suggestion. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "Now, I spoke with Sunnild regarding your mission here, so I have the general shape of it. However, she joined your team at the last moment, so she was not privy to the full details. Please, Wingsister Estrith, tell me what I can do for the Ash Shroud Sisterhood."


    Estrith relaxed a fraction and, after a moment to collect her thoughts, began. "First, allow me to start by saying that the Sisterhood assumed that it was the Starchaser tribe who controlled Ceallach Macht. I understand that you are, technically, a member of the tribe, but we expected to be dealing with the Council. Our orders are with that scenario in mind."


    Aidan nodded. "Yes, the situation is a little unusual. I was the only one with the ability to claim Caer Macht¡ª" Aidan and Ailis had decided that information wasn''t worth hiding since any Throne that lay unclaimed for as long as Caer Macht must have stringent requirements "¡ªand the city came along with it. My status within the tribe is still somewhat fluid, although I do have the Council''s backing. I am confident that we can work out any tangles caused by the circumstances. Please, go on."


    Estrith nodded. "Very well, my Lord Aidan. Given the dawn of the new Age, chaos is on the horizon. As the Starchaser tribe and the Sisterhood have, for the most part, been on good terms with each other, my superiors wished to sound out the Council about a formal treaty. At this time, they are not yet prepared to commit to a full military alliance, but I am authorized to negotiate terms on a non-aggression pact and discuss how our people might best share information and resources in the future."


    Interesting. Sunnild knew about the non-aggression pact, but not the formal alliance or the information-sharing. That means both the Sisterhood and Estrith are serious about this; good. "Obviously, I cannot sign an agreement on behalf of the Starchaser Council, so that will need to wait another two weeks for them to arrive. However, what I can do is offer you something else your leaders might like as much."


    "Tell me, Estrith: what is the single biggest weakness the Sisterhood has?" The harpy scowled and stiffened, but Aidan waved her objection away before she could voice it. "I''m not talking about military weaknesses. I''m not even talking about anything someone with half a brain couldn''t figure out for themselves. Your biggest weakness is men. Harpies only bear daughters, so your continued existence requires a constant influx of compatible males into the Ayrie." Sunnild''s eyes were wide open; she''d made the connection. Aidan favored her with a smile.


    "What if I told you that my vision for Ceallach Macht is a multi-racial, multi-cultural utopia, where harpies, centaurs, wolven, cu uisce, and even gargoyles," and humans, but he didn''t add that, "can live side-by-side in peace? What if I told you that the Starchaser leadership have already agreed to be part of such a city? Can you imagine how much simpler it would be for your people if you didn''t have to bribe, beg, and barter for men?" Sunnild had been emphatic that the Sisterhood never kidnapped or raped men. Aidan had his doubts about the literal truth of that statement but accepted it as a general rule. "What I propose is to invite the Sisterhood to have a permanent presence in Ceallach Macht. In exchange for services such as defending the city from outside attackers, I would be happy to make concessions regarding the recruitment of men. As long as they sign up of their own free will, I don''t see what business it is of anyone else''s, anyway."


    Now the three negotiation team harpies were staring at him with wide eyes. Sunnild had progressed from staring to vibrating with excitement; likely, the only thing keeping her from launching herself at him was her superiors'' presence. Estrith regained her composure. "I... am not authorized to accept or reject your proposal, Lord Aidan. I assure you that it will feature prominently in my report, however. If I may be unprofessional for a moment, it sounds like a dream come true to me."


    "Ceallach Macht was once known as the City of Dreams," Aidan noted with a smile. The hook was set. Now he just had to land the fish, and that wasn''t a task for today. "I plan to make it so again." The negotiations continued for another two hours. In the end, they settled on several tentative agreements, requiring ratification from both the Starchaser Council and the Flockmarshal.


    The harpies offered a non-aggression pact with a three-month warning required before ending it in exchange for permission to cross Starchaser territory freely. Aidan felt that would likely pass because it wasn''t like the centaurs could stop them anyway. In turn, Aidan proposed a permanent Sisterhood embassy in Ceallach Macht, with an offer to turn it into an enclave. He also revealed the Labyrinth''s existence and offered to allow the Sisterhood to send parties into it to gather resources¡ªwhich, of course, he would tax.


    By the time the talks were over, Aidan felt drained. Estrith was a capable negotiator; even though Aidan knew she wanted what he had to offer, she fought tooth and nail for every concession. Next time I''ll make Ailis do the negotiating. I need to delegate more, anyway. He made his way back to Caer Macht, intent on seeking out Brighid for some cuddle time.

 Champion, Chapter 12: Piercing Truths

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Secondday, 1st week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Noon


    Caer Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Unfortunately, relaxing cuddle time was not to be. Ailis was waiting for Aidan inside Caer Macht. "How did it go?" she asked. She fell into step beside him.


    "I had to banish the leader, Ecgwena. I''m sure that will come back to bite me at some point. Her second-in-command was a professional, though. Once I got rid of the bad egg, everything else happened more or less like we drew it up."


    Ailis nodded. "Good. Did you have anything important planned for the rest of the day?"


    Aidan gave her a flat stare. "I was going to go decompress with Brighid, but I suspect that you''re about to hijack that."


    "You have been neglecting your lessons, apprentice. I let it pass without comment so far because we have all been busy, but we have time now."


    Aidan groaned. The last thing he wanted right now was to be alone with Ailis for an extended time. The woman had a way of getting under his skin, setting him off or draining him emotionally. Still, she was right. And if he was going to have to spend time with her, he might as well rip the bandaid off. "Fine. I have something I need to talk to you about, anyway. Let''s head to the library; maybe we can find something of value while we talk."


    A few minutes later, they entered the sprawling library that branched off from the central altar chamber. It likely contained ten thousand tomes at its height, but time had ravaged it as much as the rest of the city.


    Aidan cast his Sound Barrier spell. Ailis looked at him, one delicate eyebrow raised. "A precaution, protection for both of us. I don''t want anyone else to overhear what we''re about to talk about." He closed his eyes, drew in a deep breath, then let it out and locked gazes with the ex-Councillor. "First, I apologize for yesterday. It was beyond inappropriate for me to touch you the way I did without your explicit consent."


    Ailis''s other eyebrow joined the first, arching high above her eyes. "So that was you. I thought so, given your banter, but there was no manna involved. An Ability, then. From your Profession? Nevermind; irrelevant. No apologies are needed, Lord Aidan. I am your Vassal; whatever I may do for you is my duty and honor, even if that involves teasing me then leaving me to my own devices."


    Aidan shook his head. "No, that''s just it. I told you after you swore your oath to me that there couldn''t be anything between us. It''s a matter of morals. I hold extreme power over you; if I ordered you to strip, kneel down, and lift your tail for me, you would have to obey regardless of your desires. As I understand it, you would be compelled to follow even suicidal commands."


    "I see. Somehow, I doubt that that is the entirety of your problem, however. Tell me this: if Brighid swore the Vassal''s Oath to you, would you force her to leave your bed?"


    Aidan wobbled, stunned. "I¡ªno, but¡ªthat''s different!" he spluttered.


    Ailis snorted. "I cannot abide intellectual dishonesty. Lie to me if you want, but do not lie to yourself, Aidan. There are differences, yes, but they do not resolve your root issue. You are already intimate with her, you are Companions, Brighid actually wants you to order her around. None of those change the issue you raised to me, which is that she would have no choice but to obey you.


    "I understand where you are coming from with this, Aidan. I remember your reaction to my daughter tricking you into using Divine Speech in my presence. You abhor the thought of forcing yourself on others. It shows your noble and gentle heart yet again." She stepped up to him and touched his cheek. "Is it so strange that a woman would be attracted to such a man? Is it so odd that she would welcome his attention? You are not ordering me to do this, Aidan." Ailis''s ice-blue eyes transfixed Aidan as she leaned toward him, lips parted.


    "Stop." Ailis froze in place. Aidan took several deep breaths, then stepped backward, placing himself out of Ailis''s reach again. A look of pain flashed across her face for a split second before she resumed her dispassionate mask. "You''re right," Aidan admitted. "The oath isn''t the only problem I have with a relationship between us. It is a big part of it, but the other issue is that I have a hard time trusting you, even now. I find myself wondering whether your actions are genuine or yet another attempt to manipulate me. It has not passed my notice that one way to lessen the impact of the oath you took is to seduce me. I''m self-aware enough to realize that I would tend to be much more permissive and forgiving towards you if we entered into a romantic relationship."


    Tears sprung from the corners of Ailis''s eyes. She raised a hand to rub them away, but they continued to trickle down her cheeks. She opened her mouth, closed it again, then squeezed her eyes shut and spoke, trembling. "Order me to be truthful with you. Order me to answer you with complete honesty and without attempting to hide any information. If it bridges this gap between us, then you have my consent." Her eyes opened again, and there was such a heart-rending pain in them that Aidan wished there was a save/load feature in his interface so that he could re-start the day and choose another conversational path. Alas, he would have to live with his mistakes.


    "Until you leave the library or I rescind this command, whichever comes first," Aidan spoke, choosing his words with care, "any time you answer a question from me, your response must be honest and complete. You may refuse to respond, but if you do answer, you are forbidden to lie to me, intentionally mislead me, or hide relevant information from me. To be clear, you are not compelled to answer, and you may end this command at any time by leaving the library¡ªeven if you turn around and enter again. Do you understand?"


    "I refuse to answer." A flicker of surprise passed through ice-blue eyes, chased by gratitude. "Yes, my Lord Aidan, I understand. I will answer your questions to the fullest extent of my ability." She swallowed, then half-whispered, "I will not forget that you left me a choice instead of stripping my mind bare, even though you would be justified in doing so."


    "Do you have any hostile intention towards me, including but not limited to manipulating me or those close to me, harming me or those close to me, interfering with my duties, or undermining my authority?"


    "None that I would term hostile, my Lord. I am manipulative by nature, but I have devoted myself to strengthening you and your cause. I am afraid that, short of a direct command from you, I will always be manipulating you and others in small ways; however, while my goals when we first met were to push the Starchaser tribe along the trail I felt best, that has changed. My primary goal is to assist and guide you along your path and ensure you achieve your goals. My secondary objectives are protecting my daughter and securing her happiness, and advocating for and helping the Starchaser tribe. My tertiary objective is pursuing my own advancement and satisfaction." Ailis answered without hesitation, and her voice remained steady throughout her recitation.


    "What do you mean by pursuing your own advancement?"


    The slender centaur shrugged. "My Lord, I am ambitious and politically-minded. I will always desire and pursue power, direct and indirect. I will not seek to rise above you, but the further you advance, the higher I will be when I sit at your feet." She hesitated a split second before continuing, "I will admit that my relationship with you is grounded, in part, in that pursuit. You are powerful, my Lord. You have an unheard-of talent for magic, you sit upon a Throne with a Crown granted by your first Class, and you have the backing of a Power. All of that is attractive to me. Part of me wants to be close to you in hopes that you will share some of that with me." She cocked her head to the side, then nodded. "I believe that is a complete answer to the question you asked."


    "I see." Aidan was silent for several moments, debating whether to ask the obvious next question and how to phrase it. "What else is your relationship with me founded on?"


    Ailis clucked her tongue and shook her head. "That is too broad a question, my Lord. I do not believe I can give you a complete answer. May I have your permission to limit my response to only the most prominent and relevant points?"


    "Yes, so long as you do not use your omissions to deceive or mislead me."


    "Hope," Ailis began, "is the largest part. You represent a light against the darkness. You are only a candle against the night for now," she stated, unknowingly echoing Aidan''s Patron, "but if I can buy you the time and resources, you have the potential to banish the darkness.


    ¡°Family is there too; you are my daughter''s Companion, and she is happier with you than she has ever been in her life. Despite all appearances to the contrary, I do love Brighid. Everything I did to you was for her, in its own twisted way. Duty, now; I am sworn to you, and I take my oath as seriously as Cai or Llwyd. I am growing to respect you more and more. Even after telling me that you cannot bring yourself to trust me, and after I offered to let you plunder my mind for every secret, you still restrained yourself and acted with temperance and compassion."


    A blush crept into her cheeks, but Ailis continued without faltering, "Lust is an ever-increasing factor. It was not referring only to the harpies when I said that powerful women are attracted to men who play hard to get. You have been teasing me, intentionally and not, for a month now. And," her blush was pronounced now, suffusing her cheeks and spreading down across her neck and upper chest, "love is a small but growing aspect. Romantic love is not something I am used to, Aidan."


    Ailis''s voice dropped in volume. Her eyes darted to his, then dropped. "I did not even love Brighid''s father. Lusted after him, yes, but there was no romance in it. I find that I do not know how to act around you, which bothers me more than I would ever admit without this compulsion. I have been bluffing my way through our more intimate interactions, calling and doubling down in the desperate hope that the cards I cannot see will come down in my favor¡ªdespite having no idea what that would even look like."


    Ailis was as vulnerable as Aidan had ever seen her. Her hands were clenched before her, she trembled from head to hooves, and her eyes were in constant motion, flicking up to examine his face, then sliding off to the side or down to the ground. At the same time, a voice in the back of his mind reminded him that he had given Ailis permission to curate her response to that question. She could have left out the mention of love, but chose to offer it anyway. He had no doubt that it was true, but the fact that she provided the information meant something. She could still be trying to subtly guide his reactions, or she could be revealing her vulnerability in the hopes of earning his trust. Or, he reminded himself, it could be both or neither.


    Aidan sighed and leaned back against a nearby pillar. "Hypothetically, if you had not sworn your oath to me, would you have responded the same way to my attention yesterday?"


    "It is difficult to be certain," Ailis replied after a moment to think. "I doubt my responses would have been identical; the oath has changed who I am and how I act in some fundamental ways. That being said, the spirit of my responses would have been the same, I think. You surprised me, but your touches were... not unwelcome." Her cheeks were bright red now, and she refused to look him in the eyes.


    "Alright," Aidan sighed again. His life grew more complicated and tiring by the day, it seemed. "I release you from the truthfulness command. I have another order for you, however, that I hope will be less burdensome." Her eyes rose to his, wariness shining through. "Ailis Silverhair, from this day forward, I command you to treat any order from me with a sexual, romantic, or otherwise intimate component as a request that you may choose to grant or refuse with no penalty. You are to ignore any orders from me that would punish you for refusing. This command supersedes all others and may not be countermanded in the future."


    Ailis''s eyes opened wide, and her hand flew to her mouth to stifle her gasp. Fresh tears spilled down her cheeks, but her voice, though throaty with emotion, sang with happiness as she responded, "Yes, my Lord! Thank¡ª" her voice broke, prompting her to swallow and try again. "Thank you, Aidan."


    "Don''t thank me yet. I entered into a potential long-term romantic relationship with Sunnild this morning; I will not discard her for you, so you will need to spend time with her and grow comfortable with her part in my life. I''m still wary of the authority differential between us, and I don''t even know if that last order will work as I phrased it. And, despite this talk, it will be difficult for me to trust you on the same instinctive, immediate level I trust Brighid. If this is to go anywhere, it will take a lot of work, and we''re both busy enough as it is. A part of me is worried that this is a terrible mistake, but I choose to believe in you. You''ve made grave errors in the past, but Brighid loves you and misses you, and I can see glimpses of the potential inside you. If you can live up to what I see in you, I would be proud to love you and have your love in return. Now," Aidan''s lips quirked up in a smile, "with all that said, I will not stop you a second time."


    Ailis blinked at him for a moment, confused, before realization dawned. She blushed again but returned his smile. In two quick steps, she was in front of Aidan. She caressed his cheek with one hand, then leaned forward, her lips seeking his. Despite the salt from her tears, it was as sweet a kiss as Aidan could remember tasting. After a few long seconds, Ailis pulled back, then rested her head on his shoulder. "Thank you, Aidan. I know I have work to do to earn your trust and repair the damage I have caused. I will do my best for you. Please, bear with me if I make mistakes. Please help me to become better so that I can stop hurting the people I care for."


    Aidan wrapped his arms around Ailis''s waist and pulled her against him. "As long as you are giving it your best effort, I will help you. That is true even if things do not work out between us. Despite everything, I care for you as well. I would not have so many issues and objections if I didn''t. We''ll work on it together."


    "Thank you," she said a third time. She kissed Aidan''s neck, then, to his surprise, bit him and giggled, "but do not think that all this will let you avoid your lessons, apprentice!"

 Champion, Interlude 1: Dominant Species

    Zurai


    This interlude is dedicated in loving memory to my cat Hemi, ?/?/2002 to 9/18/2020 (he was a rescue). He was the sweetest, gentlest cat I''ve ever had the pleasure to love.


    Also, have some official art, this time of Riama (in chibi form):


    Riama


    The Realms


    Firstday, 1st week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Early Evening


    Riama''s Chambers, Caer Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Riama left the large rooms of her home. Her adopted people were inviting a new member to their mating circle, so she felt it only decent of her to give them some privacy. That, however, meant that she would need to vacate her rooms for the evening.


    Standing guard outside the door was one of her minion''s minions, the one named Llwyd. At least her human had the good sense to adopt properly-furred individuals; his own lack of fur was a tragedy, but it couldn''t be helped. Riama rubbed herself against Llwyd''s calves, then stood up on her hind legs, bringing her head within range for him to pay her the proper respect. Llwyd, having been well-trained by this time, rubbed her head and scratched her behind the ears.


    She allowed her grand-adoptee to worship her for several moments before dropping back to the floor and walking away. After all, one must always be sure that their servants know who dictated the relationship''s terms. Indulging oneself in the pleasures of being petted too long or too frequently might lead the lesser beings to think wrong thoughts; they might begin to believe that they were superior, and that just wouldn''t do.


    Riama sauntered past the altar¡ªit wasn''t high enough off the ground for her purposes¡ªand into the doorway opposite her rooms. This chamber was a paradise of tall, square trees that provided countless different places for her to rest and lie in ambush. Lesser races were so silly; they never looked up. She stepped between shadows, placing herself atop one of the tallest square trees. Walking in a tight circle three times, as was proper, she consecrated it as a safe sleeping point and lay down, curled up with her tail across her nose. From here, she had a commanding view of the only entrance to the chamber, so none could enter or leave without her noticing.


    Secondday, 1st week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Pre-Dawn


    Royal Library, Caer Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    The sound of hooves on stone woke Riama from her nap. She opened one eye, spotting the silver-haired centaur that wanted to join her human''s mating circle. This one had resisted training to date, so when she settled down at a table and opened a book, Riama made her appearance. Stepping into the shadow to Ailis''s side, Riama jumped up onto the table and sat down on the book. She vocalized her demands, requiring attention from her adoptee''s prospective mate. The centaur frowned and attempted to dislodge her from her perch, but Riama refused to budge until the lesser being paid her proper respect.


    With a resigned sigh, Ailis reached out and patted Riama on the head. The feline accepted her tribute with grace, tilting her head and pressing up against the centaur''s fingers to encourage her to scratch harder. When Ailis made to withdraw her hand, however, Riama had to remind her that petting was not over until she said it was. She caught the centaur''s hand with her paw, letting her claws prick the skin.


    "You are quite demanding this morning," Ailis told Riama, but she returned her hand to the cat''s head anyway. Riama purred; training was going well. She allowed the petting to continue for another minute before jumping down from the table and strolling away. It was always best to leave on a high note with stubborn minions; trying to force through too much education at a time could cause regression.


    She made her way back to her rooms, but her minion and his mates were still asleep. Riama briefly debated waking Aidan so that he could feed her, but the sleepy trickle of <satisfaction in conquest> and <fulfilled contentment> coming from him convinced her to leave him alone a while longer. The fraying around the edges of his emotions had grown worse over the last week, and if a little extra sleep would help mend that, well, she was a magnanimous mistress. Besides, while Aidan was her most valued servant, he wasn''t the only one.


    One of the female grand-minions was stationed outside Aidan''s door, the one mated to the other guardian. Riama sat down in front of her and demanded that the minion provide her with breakfast. Cai looked down at her and shook her head. "It is too early to start with that, and I am on-duty besides. Go wake your master up if you are that hungry, or get your own food. You are more than equal to whatever rats or rabbits you can find around here."


    Riama increased her volume, angry at her servant''s stark refusal, but the centaur remained impassive. "You are going to wake them if you keep that up, you know." She hated to admit it, but the minion was right; she could feel her precious minion''s mind stirring, swimming a little closer to wakefulness. With one last yowl of displeasure, she turned and flounced off. Clearly, this one needed more attention devoted to her training, but that would have to come later. She needed food now.


    The sky was still dark when she emerged from the tunnel, with only a faint hint of light to the east. That was ideal; prey was easier to catch when it was still waking up. The early bird got the worm, but the early cat got the bird. Alas, she had to travel a considerable distance before encountering any suitable targets. Wild animals were still tentative about returning to her minion''s city, and that meant she had to run nearly to the boundary before she spotted a flash of brown fur at the base of one ruined building.


    Riama froze mid-step, then lowered herself into a crouch. She wasn''t sure what the creature was, but it was smaller than her, and that made it prey. Moving with infinite care, she crept along, testing the ground with each step before settling her weight onto her outstretched paw. It wouldn''t do to alert the soon-to-be-food to her presence yet. She debated using her Shadow Pounce, but not for long; that would be cheating. She didn''t need to borrow any of the powers her minion gave her to hunt a meal.


    The small, furry creature remained oblivious to Riama as she stalked ever closer. It moved between tufts of grass, digging up the roots, biting them off with oversized incisors, and stuffing them into its cheeks to eat later. Step by slinking step, Riama drew closer, ever closer. Twenty feet, then fifteen, ten. The stupid plant-eater didn''t realize anything was wrong until its doom had crept to within five feet of it. At that point, it jerked upright, looking around with frantic energy. The astral jaguar lowered her front to the ground and wiggled her rear as she prepared to pounce.


    The prey had enough self-preservation instinct to drop the grass it held and dart off, but it misjudged the direction it should flee in. It didn''t run straight for Riama, but it came close enough that her jump nearly overshot it. She was aiming for a quick bite to the back of the neck, crushing its neck and granting it a merciful death, but it ducked under her. Her aim was good enough and reflexes fast enough that she managed to claw its side with one paw, sending it sprawling. It squealed in pain and terror, righting itself and scampering off in a new direction.


    Riama gave chase, unwilling to let it escape now that she''d blooded it. For all its chubbiness, she had to give the prey credit; it was faster than she''d thought, and its erratic movements made it impossible to time her attacks. She ran, leaped, and pounced at her target as it careened through buildings, over hillocks, and between twisted tree roots. After a mistimed jump that ended with her face in the dirt, Riama lost her patience. She stepped through shadows, appearing directly in front of her prey as it tried to lose her around a corner.


    She relished the widening of the creature''s eyes in the split second before her paws pinned it to the ground. It was only cheating if she got caught, after all, and she was about to dispose of the evidence. The rodent screeched one last time before Riama''s jaws fastened around the back of its neck and she crunched through its spine.


    After eating her fill and taking another nap, Riama set out to explore her new territory. Back in the jungle, she knew the position of every tree, bush, and stream in her realm. Given how much trouble the tasty morsel had given her, she needed to ensure that the same was true of her new home. She decided to start with the complex under the hill, as the city would not remain as it was now. Carrying the carcass of her kill in her mouth, she trotted back into the oversized burrow. Taking a left at the first intersection, Riama made her way to her grand-minions'' quarters.


    As she expected, neither Cai nor Llwyd was present. She left the remains of her prey on their cushion-bed as a present; Llwyd was an excellent minion, always happy to give her the attention she deserved, and Cai had given her the suggestion that led to her hunt. The prey had been an entertaining chase and a delicious meal, so she left a little of it for them to enjoy when they returned to their bed later that day.


    Task completed, Riama busied herself with memorizing the twists and turns of the circular passageways and the contents of each room she passed. She cared little for the purpose her servants would assign to each¡ªshe already knew the location of the only essential chambers, the ones where they prepared the food. Instead, she assessed each for their suitability as a hiding place, napping nook, or playground. She doubted she would find anything better than the large chamber with all the tall shelves for sleeping, but it didn''t hurt to look.


    Evening


    Riama''s Chambers, Caer Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Hours later, with half of the outer ring categorized and cataloged, Riama made her way back to her rooms. It was time for her to check on her minion; she left him alone for an entire day, and with his mental state as it was, she wanted to make sure her absence hadn''t broken him.


    The entrance was unguarded, which worried her, but she heard splashing and low voices coming from the bathing-place. Making her way through the rooms, the voices became more distinct, and she became more aware of her minion''s emotions through their link. His <slowly-mounting arousal> and <reserved pleasure in friendly company> grew more distinct with each step. A feminine moan stopped her in her tracks; was he mating? But no, his emotions were always much brighter and more powerful when he was mounting a female. Still, she decided to delay her approach until she could be sure.


    "Aidan... I do not deserve your affection."


    Ahhh, so it was the prospective mate, then. Her minion had taken her advice and expressed his interest, then. Excellent.


    "...I already told you that I''m willing to take as long as it takes, so let the anticipation build."


    Riama suppressed a spike of irritation at that, not wanting to reveal her presence yet. Aidan should just take her and be done with it, but minions needed to learn some things on their own. If he wanted to drag it out, well, he did already have two mates. A third wasn''t so critical that she needed to intervene.


    "You are a good man, Aidan Lostlorn. I will see you tomorrow. Pleasant dreams."


    Ah, so she''d arrived at the perfect time, then. Soon enough to learn valuable information, yet not so early that she would need to wait long. Indeed, a moment later, her grand-minion walked out of the bathing chamber, a faint scent of arousal following her. Riama waited for the centaur to leave, then walked into the bathing room and jumped into the water. As she swam over to her minion, she told him, "I told you she would not resist. I will accept praise and scratches for being correct now."


    Proving that she had been correct to answer his summoning, Aidan scooped Riama into his arms and began to pet her in the exact manner that she preferred.

 Champion, Chapter 13: Relax and Reflect

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Secondday, 1st week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Late Afternoon


    Caer Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    By the time Ailis dismissed him from her lessons, Aidan felt like he''d been through the wringer. His breakdown that morning started things off with a bang, although his ladies'' comforting afterward dampened the impact. Following that up by having to shout Ecgwena down and then take an immediate turn into tense negotiations used up a considerable chunk of his mental energy. Then, rather than resting and recharging with Brighid, Ailis waylayed him, leading to a conversation that, while necessary, stressed and taxed them both. And, the maraschino cherry on top of everything was the lessons.


    Ailis was an excellent teacher, there was no doubt of that. She took her role as his mentor seriously. As a consequence, however, she demanded his complete attention and focus. She adapted to his learning style and speed on the fly, drawing him out and making him think about the questions she posed from every angle. Every time he pleased her with an answer or solution, she increased the pace and intensity, until Aidan''s mind ran at full capacity. He couldn''t argue with the results, and on a day that had been less of an emotional rollercoaster, he might even have been pleased with his progress, but he needed today to be over.


    "If anything else happens today, I''m gonna scream," Aidan muttered.


    "Arghhhh!" Aidan screamed.


    "My Lord?" Cai sounded unsure whether to laugh or grab her weapon.


    "My Patron thinks They are funny. I just got another quest, and it''s a doozy." He groaned. "Fuck it. I''m headed to my chambers. I''m pretty sure the bath in there has a jacuzzi function. Cai, you''re dismissed for the evening, but if you can, please find Ailis and ask her to join me before you head to bed?"


    "Of course, my Lord. Have a good night. Do you want me to ask Llwyd to watch over Brighid and Sunnild?"


    "No, it''s fine, give them their privacy. There''s nothing in here that can hurt them unless they decide to go into the Labyrinth on their own, and I don''t have to worry about that given Brighid''s fear of heights."


    "As you say, my Lord."


    Aidan


    Early Evening


    The Lord''s Chambers, Caer Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    The bath did, indeed, function as a jacuzzi, much to Aidan''s delight. He lounged along one edge of the massive square inset into the bathroom floor, floating along in empty-minded bliss, until the sound of hooves on stone caught his attention. He cracked one eye open to see Ailis standing in the doorway; he waved her in.


    "I did not expect you to be this proactive about our relationship," she teased.


    Aidan shrugged. "Brighid and Sunnild are spending time together to get to know each other; I figured I should spend some quality time with you. Time waits for no man, as I was reminded not so long ago. Of course, if you don''t want to..." he trailed off as Ailis''s shirt fell to the floor. He''d seen her naked before, but she was still an attractive woman, and he sunk down a little further beneath the churning surface of the hot tub to hide his reaction to her getting naked for him.


    "I did not say it was an unpleasant surprise," she said as she stepped into the water. "Oh, this is nice. Hot baths are a luxury I rarely afford myself." She looked uncertain for a moment, then steeled her resolve and waded over to where Aidan sat. He reached out with his nearer arm, guiding her down to rest her humanoid torso against his. Ailis held herself stiff for a heartbeat, then relaxed into his embrace, resting her head against his. "This is nice, too," she said into his shoulder.


    "It is," he agreed. "One rule for tonight: no business, no emotional drama, no serious talk. I have things I need to discuss with everyone¡ªa new quest with deadlines and some severe implications¡ªbut I''m too drained, and it''s only you and me anyway. Let''s just get to know each other, okay?"


    Aidan felt Ailis''s nod. "That is fine with me. I ... it would be best to take things slow, anyway."


    He squeezed her waist a little. "We''ll take as long as we need, Ailis. There''s no rush, despite how fast things happened with my other relationships. I''ve got half a century of lifespan left, at least, and if it takes all of that time, I''ll still be happy in the end."


    "More than that, thank the Gods. Helltouched live longer than normal humans, and one of the benefits of being a Sovereign is extended lifespan. I would expect you to live to 200 at a minimum if you''re allowed to live a peaceful life."


    "All the more reason to take our time, then." Aidan stroked his hand up and down along Ailis''s side. "So, tell me about yourself, Ailis. Do you have any hobbies aside from reading? What''s your favorite color? Favorite food?"


    Ailis let out a quiet, huffing laugh. "You say you are fine taking it slow, then bury me in questions." Despite her objection, she let her weight settle more fully on Aidan and slid her left arm around his back. "Hmm. Easiest first. My favorite color is red."


    "You really do love Brighid, don''t you?"


    She stilled against him for a moment, then kissed his shoulder. "I had not considered it, but you are right. I cannot remember having any particular attraction to the color before my little spark was born. You are insightful, my Lord."


    Aidan grimaced. "Please, at least while we''re alone like this, call me by my name. I don''t want to get to know you as Lord Aidan, even if my crown is part of what attracts you to me."


    "Sorry," she apologized, kissing his shoulder again, "it was habit. I will have to pay more attention. I do want to know you as Lord Aidan, but I want to know you as plain-and-simple Aidan as well. Not that you are either plain or simple, of course."


    "I knew what you meant," Aidan chuckled. "I find that I''m slower to take offense when I''m relaxing in a hot tub with a beautiful woman."


    "You really think I am beautiful?" Ailis asked.


    "Brighid asked me that exact same question once, you know?" Aidan shook his head. "You are no less attractive to me than your daughter, Ailis, and boy is that sentence strange now that I said it."


    The druid giggled and rested her right hand on Aidan''s chest, fingers brushing through his sparse chest hair. "Yes, if I did not already know Brighid''s opinion on the matter, I would have reacted differently to your teasing. I value her happiness above my own."


    "We agree on that, at least. Brighid is everything to me."


    Ailis sighed and pushed off of Aidan''s shoulder so that she could look him in the eyes. "Then it is well that you have others to watch for your happiness, Aidan." She dipped her head toward him, their lips meeting in a tender, unhurried kiss. Neither pushed the envelope, choosing to keep the moment chaste. After a moment, Ailis returned to her spot on his shoulder.


    "What were your other questions?" she asked. "My hobbies and favorite food?"


    "Yeah," Aidan confirmed, "or anything else you want to talk about. Those were just conversation starters."


    "Hmm, I would have to say my favorite food is Nairn tusker steak, one of the fatty cuts, seared over high heat with a garlic-and-butter sauce."


    "Huh. I pegged you for more of a salad-and-tofu kind of lady."


    Ailis smacked him on the shoulder. "I have no idea what ''tofu'' is, but just because I am not a giant barbarian like my daughter or Ysbail does not mean I starve myself. I rarely indulge in such food, but you asked what my favorite is."


    "Sorry, sorry," Aidan laughed, hugging her tighter. "I should know better. How about your hobbies?" he asked, hoping to distract her.


    "Other than reading, as you already know? I do not know that I have one, to be honest. My ambitions and plots took up too much of my time before, and preparing for the move to Ceallach Macht has been no less consuming. Now that we are here, I have your apprenticeship and the Labyrinth to think about."


    Aidan frowned. "That won''t do at all. I need you sharp and stable, Ailis. I won''t order you to take some time for yourself yet, but I will if I have to."


    The silver-haired centaur was silent for long enough that Aidan wondered if she''d drifted off to sleep. Eventually, however, she spoke again, voice soft. "It makes me happy to hear the concern in your voice and know it is for me." The silence stretched on for a while longer before she broke it again. "I suppose I brought that on myself. I will try to take more breaks; it will be difficult for me. Even here with you, a part of me feels like I am wasting time." Ailis sucked in her breath and stiffened in his arms. "I did not mean¡ª"


    "Relax," Aidan soothed, "it''s okay, Ailis. Right now, your curves pressing into my chest are distracting me from your rough edges."


    Ailis snorted and smacked his shoulder again, but relaxed and kissed the bottom of his neck where it met his shoulder. "Flirt. You have two young women¡ªboth of them combined are less than half my age!¡ªin your stable already, and you are distracted by my little boobs? I know how I stack up against Brighid, Aidan. You do not need to flatter me."


    "Now you''re fishing for compliments," he scolded. "I already told you that you are no less beautiful in my eyes than Brighid is. Yes, sure, her breasts are bigger than yours. I''m not that shallow, and since I seem to have blanket permission to pursue who I want, I might as well have some variety. You wouldn''t want to eat your garlic-and-butter pan-fried steak every meal, would you?"


    "Ah, so you admit that you prefer women with larger chests!"


    Now it was Aidan''s turn to apply some physical deterrent; he opted for the classic waist-tickle. Ailis squealed in surprise and squirmed against him, bringing a smile to Aidan''s face. Old or not, she still felt good. She wriggled away from him, pushing off his chest, which was what he was aiming for. He reached up and cupped both Ailis''s breasts in his hands; they fit perfectly in his palms. Aidan gave them a squeeze and smiled up at her shocked expression. "Yes, I''ll admit I find large breasts attractive. It''s the caveman in me, I guess. But that doesn''t mean I don''t appreciate smaller ones. Brighid''s boobs are too big to hold in my hands like this; they''re more fun to grope and knead, but I can''t feel her heartbeat through them like I can with you. You should calm down, by the way. It feels like your heart is about to explode out of your chest."


    "Calm down, he says," Ailis moaned, "as he touches me in a way I have not been touched for twenty years."


    "Oh," Aidan teased with a grin, "if that''s the problem, the solution is simple." He slid his hands back around her waist and pulled her into a kiss. The kiss quickly grew heated this time, with Ailis parting her lips and sending her tongue squirming into Aidan''s mouth. Her nipples hardened and dug into his chest as her hands began to explore beneath the water. She didn''t approach his manhood, but she caressed and stroked his waist and thighs. They made out for a few minutes before Ailis broke the kiss.


    "Aidan... I do not deserve your affection." Aidan winced inwardly at echoing his own self-recrimination earlier in the day, but Ailis wasn''t done speaking. "I do not deserve it, but I will make myself worthy if you offer it to me. For tonight, though, thank you for making me feel wanted and loved, even if your fondness for me does not run that deep yet. I apologize for working you up to such a state and then leaving you, but I am not ready to progress further."


    Aidan gave her a lopsided smile. "By my standards, this was quite a successful first date. I got to share a nice, relaxing soak with a beautiful woman, learned some things about you I never would have guessed, and ended the night with some kissing and petting. Believe me, I have had far less entertaining evenings and still asked the lady in question to join me again afterward. Besides, ask Brighid; she''ll tell you that anticipation makes the eventual ending all the more fulfilling. I already told you that I''m willing to take as long as it takes, so let the anticipation build."


    Ailis stooped down and brushed her lips across his again. "You are a good man, Aidan Lostlorn. I will see you tomorrow. Pleasant dreams."


    Aidan watched her climb up out of the bath, scoop up her shirt, and walk to the door. She looked over her shoulder at him, smiled, then left. Aidan leaned back against the tub. A splash to his right made him open his eyes again.


    "I told you she would not resist," Riama sent him. "I will accept praise and scratches for being correct now."

 Champion, Chapter 14: Building Blocks

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Thirdday, 1st week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Mid-Morning


    The Lord''s Chambers, Caer Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    "I''m sorry I can''t invite you to the meeting, Sunnild," Aidan said, wiping his mouth to clean off lingering pancake crumbs. No maple syrup, but this spiced honey is almost as good.


    "Mm, I understand." She flashed him a warm smile. "Ya need to go off and do ruler stuff, and I am too new for yer advisors ta trust me even if I had any business bein'' there."


    "Did you say you know Engineering?" Brighid asked. "The Starchasers do not have anyone with that Skill. We do not build large buildings or complicated machinery, for the most part, so we have not needed it. But I have a feeling Aidan will soon." She turned her attention to him. "You should build a temple to the Brighaid, love. Maybe not as the first priority, but do not put it off too long. Given your connection to Them, spreading Their worship may bring direct personal benefits to you. Even if not, Their teachings mesh well with your goals."


    "I''ll consider it, and Sunnild, she''s right. If you''re a skilled Engineer, I can definitely make use of that. But for right now, you''re too much of an unknown quantity. I hope that''ll change down the line; I already know I''m going to miss you while you''re at the Ayrie." He slid a sealed letter across the table towards her. "Here, give this to Estrith. It''s a letter for your leaders; among other things, I''m asking them to assign you here as a permanent cultural liaison. My hope is that they''ll recognize there''s more strategic value in appeasing a potential ally than in keeping you at the Ayrie where they don''t know what to do with you."


    The young harpy bounced over to him and delivered a thorough kiss. "Thank you, my... Aidan. I..." she bit her lip, then kissed him again before spinning away to give Brighid a hug and a kiss as well. She gave them both another smile, then vanished out into the central chamber.


    "You made a good pick," Brighid told him.


    "We''ll see. I would still be beyond happy if it were only the two of us. I worry that adding more people to this relationship will make it all fall apart." He paused, then snorted. "Of course, I can''t pin it all on you. I invited your mother over to bathe with me last night while you and Sunnild were getting to know each other."


    "Ohhh?" Brighid''s smile stretched ear-to-ear. "Did you fix things between you?"


    "Well, there''s a bridge where there was only a chasm before, at least. It''s still a little rickety, but we''re both working on it. Last night was just talking and cuddling until the very end; we''re taking it slow."


    Brighid yanked him into a hug and squeezed him hard enough that Aidan could feel his ribs creaking. "That is wonderful to hear! Mother has been alone for a long time. I am so happy you two are getting along now!"


    "It isn''t weird for you, knowing that I was doing things with your mother? I know that I''d be uncomfortable being with someone who was also with one of my parents."


    Brighid shook her head. "Maybe it is different because your parents are both alive and still together, but for me, I have only ever known my mother as a woman standing alone against the world. My father was already gone by the time my memories become more than fuzzy impressions, and if she became involved with anyone since then, she hid it well. I do not think of her in a romantic or sexual way, but I have no problem sharing you with her. I want you both to be happy."


    "Alright. I trust you to tell me if something or someone does make you uncomfortable. For now, let''s go find Ailis and Sarpedon; I have some big news to discuss.


    Neither was hard to locate, so ten minutes later, Aidan''s inner circle¡ªnamely, his three vassals, Brighid, and Sarpedon¡ªconvened in his office. Riama was present as well, curled up in Brighid''s arms, but not as an official member; she just wanted attention. Aidan summarized his new quest for everyone, then asked, "So, what are your thoughts? It''s nice to have goals, but I''m a bit worried about those deadlines. I only have about half a year to complete them, and I have no idea what any of them signify."


    Brighid piped up right away with, "Well, I know what the first deadline is. Or, at least, I think I do." She blushed, but continued, "That is right around when I expect my heat to come upon me again. Given the quest objective it''s tied to..."


    Aidan blushed as well. "Yeah, okay, that one does seem obvious and benign. So, what are the requirements for a Profession Specialization?"


    "Skill level 50¡ªJourneyman rank¡ªand completion of a quest," Ailis responded. "The quest varies depending on which Specialization you choose, and there is no telling how many different Specializations you might be offered. When I faced my Specialization trial, I had seven options, but I have heard of people with dozens."


    "How long did it take you to complete your quest once you reached Journeyman? My time limit for that is less than two months, so while the Skill won''t be much of a problem, if the quest is going to take me five or six weeks, I need to hurry up about it."


    Ailis shook her head. "Unfortunately, there''s no way to guess. The Specialization I chose took me two years to complete, but I could have finished in two weeks instead by pursuing a different choice." She raised an eyebrow at her daughter. "I would say that you are going to be very busy for the next few weeks."


    "Alright, alright," Aidan cut that line of conversation off. He was fine teasing Brighid with it, but he wasn''t much of an exhibitionist himself. "Any ideas on what the other two deadlines might represent?"


    The others shook their heads. Sarpedon rumbled, "Those dates hold no apparent significance to me."


    When no one else spoke up, Aidan shrugged. "Well, the meaning behind the deadlines isn''t the important part, anyway. So, we have to get me into a Prestige Class before the new year. I assume, given the other parallels between Classes and Professions, that it involves a quest as well?"


    Ailis and Sarpedon both nodded. "Yes, Lord Aidan," Sarpedon confirmed. "Just as for a Profession Specialization, you will have several options, each with a task for you to complete. I would not dare to speculate on what choices you might have or what quests they might ask of you, given your status and power. I would set aside at least a month, however. More would be better, but the experience to reach level 25 will be an issue, even with the Labyrinth. You need the better part of two million experience."


    "Two million?!" Aidan was stunned. "The entire Battle of Ceallach Macht, Taig and all, was a million experience before the party split. How am I going to earn two million in six months?"


    "By dedicating yourself to it," was Ailis''s answer. "You rose as high as you have within a single month. I doubt we will face anything else with the same ... density ... of experience within the next five, but if you break it down, you are looking at four hundred thousand a month. That is high but achievable." She offered him a sad, sympathetic smile. "It will not be easy on you, I know. You can expect more days like yesterday than the day before it. Your friends will help you as much as we can, but your shoulders will bear the burden."


    "At least," Sarpedon added, "your second and third objectives can share effort. Reaching and defeating the boss of the first stratum will grant you substantial rewards. What else is it that you need for that quest?"


    Aidan checked his log. "Um, let''s see. 500 permanent population within Caer Macht''s domain; that''ll be easy with the Starchasers relocating. Also, 10 Essences of Fire, Earth, Air, and Dreams. I think I have some Essence of Earth from when we cleared out the Fetid Lair." He stuck his hand into his Handy Haversack and accessed its inventory. "Yeah, here, three of them. So only thirty-seven to go. Anyone have any idea where to get the rest?"


    "Aside from being generated as quest or dungeon rewards, Essences are primarily found in areas with a strong association to them; Earth in caverns deep underground or inside rich mineral veins, Fire on the ground in the center of a forest fire or in volcanic pools, and so on."


    "Thus encouraging me to explore my lands and exploit its resources," Aidan concluded. "Not that there are any forests or volcanos nearby. I wonder whether allocating the Throne''s elements to Resources will help?"


    "It cannot hurt," Sarpedon replied, "although I cannot guarantee that it will help, either. Even for us, the workings of Places of Power are mysterious."


    "Alright, so that''s the primary goals covered. I also have four optional objectives: negotiating treaties, forming trade routes, leveling Ceallach Macht, and," Aidan blushed, "fathering heirs. Obviously, I''ve already got some progress on the first two, thanks to the Sisterhood. However, all of them give scaling rewards, so as long as they don''t compromise the big three, we should try and maximize these as well. Any ideas?"


    Cai wasn''t afraid to point out the elephant in the room. "I would make a joke about not needing our help with that last one, but, ah, how are you planning to get yourself an heir, my Lord?"


    He exchanged a look with Brighid. "I have a couple of leads on that," Aidan admitted. "First, I have a quest that implies that Brighid and I can have a child, although it gives no hints on how to bring that about. And, as a Chosen, I have access to rewards from my Patron. One of those is a unique Profession Specialization. Given everything else¡ªmy quests, my Patron, my Profession¡ªit seems possible that will provide a solution."


    "And, if not, there''s always Sunnild," Brighid added. "What? She would be ecstatic to have a child with you; she believed she would die childless, given her status in the Sisterhood. And it may be a moot point anyway."


    "I know," Aidan groaned. "Ecgwena brought it up at the meeting; it was what pushed me over into banishing her. Poor Sunnild, none of us thought about it, but she was the one caught in the crossfire."


    "Speak for yourself!" Brighid waggled a finger at him, prompting Riama to reach up and drag the paladin''s hand back to scratching her head. Aidan blinked at her, thinking back. His eyes widened.


    "Brighid¡ª"


    "Hush, love. I told you at the start that I cannot bear your children. Even if you might find a way around that someday..." she shook her head and scrubbed at the corner of her eye, "how could I hold you back from the happiness of being a parent for maybe years or decades just so that I could be the first? I am not that selfish. If somehow you find a way, it would be fulfilling a dream to give you a daughter¡ªbut how could I deny that same experience to others, or deny you the experience of being a father?"


    The group was silent for a moment as Aidan and Brighid wrestled with their emotions. "Ahem," Llwyd broke the silence. "So, moving on from that which it seems like our Lord has well covered... Alliances and trade deals are straightforward, if not easy. The Snow-Water Riders and Ebon Bone-Kin are the most likely friends. The city though; how do we go about increasing its level?"


    "That," Sarpedon replied with a tone of deep satisfaction, "I can provide no small amount of assistance and advice toward. There are three aspects to a city''s growth: population, infrastructure, and administration. Population will handle itself; oh, you will need to put in some effort, but for the most part, as long as the city is prosperous and its citizens are happy, it will grow. To an extent, so will infrastructure; here at the start, you will need to decide where to build roads, how many houses to construct where, and so on. Once Ceallach Macht has had time to gather momentum, however, your citizens will do much of that for you.


    "Finally," the gargoyle continued, leaning forward and gesturing with his hands, "there is administration, which covers everything from the city''s leadership to its core buildings. And what is a core building, you might ask?" Sarpedon continued, not giving anyone the chance to parrot the question, "they are the buildings that define a city''s character! While any town might have a blacksmith or five, if you build a Grand Smithy for your lovely mate, that will play a part in determining the direction and requirements for your lands'' growth. If you instead opt to invest in a Great Library, that too will affect Ceallach Macht''s path. Why, the possibilities are endless!"


    Aidan hid a smile behind his hand. Sarpedon always tended towards being wordy, but this was more animated than he''d ever seen the gargoyle. "I see. Thank you for that information, Sarpedon. So if, for example, I decided to build a Cathedral to the Three Flames, that would change the way the city develops and grows?"


    "Exactly! Core buildings are, in their own way, the soul of a great city."


    "So what is required to build these core buildings? Are there any limits to what or how many Ceallach Macht can have?"


    "There are limits to everything, Lord Aidan. In this particular instance, your central government building''s style and level set the parameters for this and many other things. Once you have enough homes for your people, it should be your next construction project; doing so should advance Ceallach Macht to level 1 and open the door to further progress."


    "Thank you, Sarpedon. That''s actually quite helpful. It seems you have a considerable amount of knowledge and enthusiasm for this aspect of my realm; would you be willing to walk me through what you know sometime soon?"


    "Of course, Lord Aidan! I would be most delighted!" It was curious seeing a gargoyle beam, but that was what Sarpedon was doing.


    "Excellent, thank you. It seems that we have a general plan for everything, then, except for the Labyrinth exploration. Brighid, what''s your status on the escape tokens?"


    "Bad news there, I am afraid. I need some specialized equipment. At one time, the forge here had what I need, but it has suffered as badly from neglect as everything else here. I do own everything, but none of it was with the essential gear I brought with me. We will need to wait for the rest of the Starchasers to arrive before I can make the tokens." She sent him an apologetic look. "Sorry, love."


    "It is what it is. I don''t like losing that time, and maybe we''ll do some resource gathering-slash-monster hunting expeditions while we wait, but I cannot countenance further exploration without a means to retreat from an untenable situation. I will not risk any of you if there''s a reasonable alternative."


    "It would give us a chance to explore both the lower sections of this complex and the surrounding area as well," Cai pointed out. "There are bound to be Lairs and Dungeons in the hills; patrols of this area have been minimal since the Taig moved in."


    "Alright, that sounds like a good idea. Does anyone else have any suggestions or ideas?" Aidan looked around the table. "Then this meeting is adjourned. Sarpedon, if you''ll stick around, I want to discuss the development of Ceallach Macht with you. Ailis, I''ll track you down when I''m done for another magic lesson. Brighid, Cai-and-or-Llwyd, whoever isn''t on-shift right now, you figure out a Labyrinth expedition and territorial exploration schedule. I''ll go over it with you once Ailis finishes hammering more knowledge into my head."


    "Yes, Sir!" "Yes, Lord Aidan!"

 Champion, Chapter 15: Sit and Dream

    It''s a new month, and thus the best time to join my Patreon; Patreon charges when you first sign up and then at the beginning of each month, so joining late essentially double-charges you. This is (hopefully) an especially good month to become a Patron because I am participating in NaNoWriMo, which means that I''m aiming to write 50,000+ words during the month of November. Everything that I write is posted to my Patreon as soon as I finish the first draft, so this month should be especially fruitful!


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    Aidan


    The Realms


    Thirdday, 1st week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Late Morning


    The Lord''s Chambers, Caer Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    The centaurs filed out of Aidan''s office, leaving him alone with Sarpedon and Riama. The latter stretched and walked over from where Brighid had set her on the table to Aidan''s seat. "You will provide warmth and scratches now," she demanded. He chuckled and lifted her down into his lap, where she curled up into a heavy, purring ball. He stroked her from her head to her tail, earning a <contentment with life> from the oversized housecat.


    "So," Aidan said, redirecting his attention to Sarpedon, "what do I need to know about city planning and growth?"


    "Once the bare necessities are available, you will need to construct a building to act as the center for administration in your realm. You have a host of options to choose from; each has its benefits and drawbacks. The seat of government will provide bonuses to various aspects of the city, allow you to appoint others to management positions, and unlock one or more core building slots. The choices you make for those will further provide further specialization."


    Aidan nodded. "Alright, that all makes sense. What are my options for the government center?"


    Sarpedon spread his hands in an expansive gesture. "Anything you can dream of and supply the materials for, Lord Aidan. There are several established categories and styles, however. First, you must consider how to rule your realm. While it may be a single city now, it will grow into a city-state or even an entire nation, with enough time and effort, so keep that in mind as you make your choice. From rulership, we move on to ethos¡ªyour government''s character or values. Last, there is the architectural style of the building itself."


    "That matters?" Aidan asked, surprised.


    "Oh my, yes. A palace built from shining white marble capped in gold has a very different effect on the city than one constructed from iron-laced granite. And in the same vein, an open forum will provide different bonuses and penalties than a palace."


    "Huh. I hadn''t thought of it that way, but that does make sense. Okay, I''m familiar with the concepts you described and could muddle through on my own. That said, I don''t suppose you have any recommendations for me?"


    "As it happens, I do!" Sarpedon produced a sheaf of parchment from his hip pouch¡ªa pouch that was smaller than the length of the paper, Aidan noted. "I knew you would need to make these decisions sooner or later and prepared ahead of time," he offered in explanation. "I was planning to bring it up to you once the rest of your people arrived. Anyway, as you see here..."


    Aidan


    Early Afternoon


    After extensive discussions, Aidan narrowed the field down to a handful of choices. As far as ruling the realm, only Absolute Monarchy or High Council offered what Aidan needed at a price he was willing to accept. Democracy was all well and good in concept, but he would lose in a landslide in the first election. As an Absolute Monarch, Aidan could delegate authority as much as he wanted, but no one could revoke his decisions. It was all the power and all the responsibility. High Council still left him in charge overall but allowed him to appoint (or accept appointments to) a group of people who could, in theory, overrule him if enough of them acted in concert.


    Aidan could have gone with a less-centralized version of a Council government type, but he was unwilling to relinquish too much control despite the stress he knew it would cause. He wasn''t keen on following orders from on high ever again, nor was he willing to abandon the Starchasers after committing so much to them. That left him with the internal debate about how much power he wanted to give his friends over him and how much he trusted his own decisions. Aidan would have a council of advisors regardless of which form his government took; it was a matter of whether he wanted to give them the collective ability to countermand one of his decisions. In the end, he decided that he trusted his friends and vassals enough¡ªand himself just little enough¡ªto go with the High Council.


    Where the governmental authority question was a tale of two choices, his realm''s ethos was much more involved. He had far more viable options here, and unlike with the Monarch vs. Council decision, he could make three selections. He could have more, but Sarpedon advised against it; diminishing returns kicked in past that point. He narrowed his choices down to Spirituality, Openness, Peace, Equality, Creativity, and Community. They were all things he wanted to promote, things he felt would forge a healthier society in the long term, but he could only select half of them.


    Openness was high on Aidan''s list; his plans for Ceallach Macht required the local tribes to live and work together. It would encourage them to accept new people and new ideas and share their thoughts and emotions freely. Where Openness would help them get along, Community would change them from separate groups into a united whole. Equality, too, could do its share of work towards Aidan''s goal by ensuring that no one thought they were better than anyone else because of their species, wealth, gender, or anything else. There was a niggling thought in the back of Aidan''s head that worried about his government undermining that ethos, however. How could he champion equality in his situation? He was a literal Chosen One with a Crown and a Throne.


    Spirituality was another one that Aidan was of two minds about. Daniel had been agnostic; he believed in something beyond his ability to understand or define but could not accept any of faith''s trappings. Here in the Realms, though, he was an agent of a deity. There was no doubt about that. It wasn''t something he had to take on faith. The Brighaid spoke to him three times, and while two of those were while he was sleeping and thus subject to a degree of skepticism, Their appearance following his prayer was not. Neither was the power They granted to him. And Their doctrine and tenets seemed custom-made for him, individually and for what he wanted to foster among his people.


    Peace was another tricky one. If circumstances were otherwise, Aidan would have selected it in a heartbeat and never looked back. He hated fighting and arguments to the point that exchanging harsh words would leave him trembling from stress afterward. And, while Aidan wasn''t so dedicated a pacifist as Sunnild, he firmly believed that violence''s only crop was continued violence. In this world, unlike the one he came from, some forces could only be opposed by strength of arms, Aidan knew that. But short of entities like the Tannath Taig, the only way to break the circle of violence was to stop fighting. Aidan''s problem was that he knew a storm was coming¡ªhis Patron warned him of it more than once. He knew in his heart that the beginning of the Age of the Chosen wouldn''t be known for peace and prosperity.


    The final selection he stewed over was Creativity, which was perhaps the broadest in scope among all his choices. It touched on every aspect of what he hoped to accomplish. Creativity would foster an appreciation for art and beauty; it would spur technological and cultural advances; creative people were more willing to accept new ideas from themselves and others; it even had combat implications. Aidan knew a long list of Earth military leaders who won wars via breaking from established concepts.


    After thinking things through yet again, Aidan made his choice: Community, Peace, and Creativity would be the values his realm stood for. They would work together towards peace and a brighter future. Aidan was under no illusions about the difficulties and burdens this path would bring. He chose to aim for the ideal future rather than solidifying the present. Maybe that makes me too optimistic or idealistic, but if I don''t have a bright future to work toward, what is the point?


    His third decision was much more straightforward, to Aidan''s relief. He didn''t have the luxury of waiting for premier materials, so the government building would be constructed out of stone recovered from the ruins. It had a poetic appeal to Aidan, emphasizing rebirth and regrowth and playing off the Phoenix Pyre that had won the city. That left the building''s style, and Aidan narrowed the field down to a handful of choices. To his surprise, the system gave him status screens for each:


    "Okay, I didn''t expect that, but I should have. I can guess what most of this means, but what does prestige do for me, Sarpedon?"


    "Prestige is a measure of how much other realms respect yours, Lord Aidan. The more prestige you have relative to them, the more favorable your interactions will be in general. However, it is not entirely positive, as the higher your stature rises, the greater the effort and expense required to maintain it, and the more dangerous the consequences of failing to do so," the gargoyle explained.


    "Ah, I see," Aidan nodded. It was a built-in decadence mechanic that worked as a restraint to keep a large empire from growing without limits. "That makes the choice even harder. I think I''ll sit on this for a few days; we aren''t ready to start construction anyway, so it won''t cause any delays, and this is a decision that will have lasting effects. Thank you, Sarpedon; if I''d had to do this on my own, the results would have been much worse."


    "I was delighted to be of assistance in this regard, Lord Aidan. Pray, if you have any further questions, seek me out. There is still the matter of Core Buildings as well, but that can wait until you know how many to plan for." Sarpedon rose and bowed to Aidan, then made his way out of the Lord''s office.


    Aidan scratched Riama behind her ears. His familiar lifted her head and leaned into his fingers, her soft purr increasing to a loud rumble. He leaned down and rubbed his nose against hers, sending Riama a pulse of <love, companionship, contentment in shared company>. Cradling the oversized cat in his arms, Aidan stood up and left to track Ailis for his day''s magic lessons.

 Champion, Chapter 16: Mission Complete

    Sunnild


    The Realms


    Thirdday, 1st week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Mid-Afternoon


    The Ayrie, Mistvale Highlands


    Sunnild huddled in the middle of her cushioned nest, worrying. Within an hour of returning to the Ayrie, she was confined to quarters by her commanding officer. Wingleader Frythe hadn''t been hostile about it or anything, but Sunnild had difficulty not taking it as a bad sign. She drew her legs up against her chest and wrapped her arms around her knees. What could she do? Would she really have to run away like she told Lord Aidan she would?


    She didn''t even know how long she''d been here. Her assigned room was deep inside the mountainous Ayrie; only the officers and the most prestigious Sisters had rooms with windows. Sunnild thought that it had only been a couple hours yet, but she wasn''t sure. "Why''s this happening?" she asked aloud. "Was I just lyin'' ta myself this whole time? Oh, Mum, I wish you were still here..." Sunnild hugged herself harder as tears gathered at the corners of her eyes.


    A knock at the door interrupted her. "Wingsister Sunnild, you are to report to Flight Major Osgyth for debriefing immediately."


    Sunnild sucked in a shaky breath. At least I''ll get ta tell my side now, she thought as she rose to her feet. She never bothered to remove her uniform armor after being placed under house arrest, so it didn''t take long to make herself presentable. Sunnild spared herself one last moment to calm herself before opening her door and stepping out into the corridor.


    Ten minutes later, Sunnild waited while Flight Major Osgyth read Aidan''s letter for the third time. She was nervous enough as it was without her boss''s boss drawing things out. I hope it works, she thought to herself. I haven''t been that happy since¡ª


    "Wingsister Sunnild." Sunnild jumped and blushed at having been caught not paying attention. Was she waitin'' fer me to drift off? "Do you know the contents of this letter?"


    "Lord Aidan told me that he requested to have me assigned to Ceallach Macht, Major. I did not read the letter, so if there is anything else in it, I have no knowledge of it." Sunnild had to slow down and concentrate on suppressing her accent; officers tended to get grumpy about it, and she needed whatever goodwill she could muster.


    "Hmm." Osgyth eyed Sunnild skeptically, then asked, "And do you know why he requested you specifically?"


    "Ah," Sunnild blushed, "Yes, Flight Major. Lord Aidan invited me to dinner with him and his lady. One thing led to another, and I ended up sharing their bed for the night. And Lady Brighid shared mine the next."


    One of Osgyth''s raven-black eyebrows arched upward. "Your bed? How is that you had a bed separate from the quarters that the rest of your wing were given?"


    "If I may, it would be simpler if I told the story from the beginning?"


    The officer leaned back in her chair and gestured for Sunnild to continue.


    "I was a last-minute addition to this mission due to Somerd''s injury, so I did not receive the full briefing..."


    "...And then we returned to the Ayrie." Sunnild finished.


    Osgyth leaned forward again. "You said that you were speaking to Wingsister Ecgwena before Lord Aidan appeared. What was the discussion about?"


    It was about her being a raging bitch. "She was upset about being asked to wait for Lord Aidan," Sunnild said instead. "I attempted to convince Wingsister Ecgwena that entering the Lord''s compound without permission would not benefit our mission. She disagreed with my assessment, but Lord Aidan arrived before the situation could escalate."


    "I see. And what happened then?"


    Sunnild blushed a little and looked down at her feet. "I recognized Lord Aidan; he is the human I saw enter Ceallach Macht through its wards a few weeks ago. I was so surprised to see him alive that I spoke out of turn."


    "So the sequence of events was: a discussion between you and Ecgwena, then Lord Aidan arrived, then you recognized him and said something about it?"


    There was an edge to Osgyth''s question that made Sunnild lock up for a moment. What did Estrith put in her report? I don''t wanna sound like a whiny fledgling. I know Ecgwena made her out to be an angel and me a coward, traitor, and liar; the question is whether Estrith gave an honest accounting or not. Then she mentally squared her shoulders. Fuck it. I''ll tell the truth, and if they don''t believe me, I''ll just do what I told Aidan I would. I finally found somewhere I can be happy; I''m not gonna let propriety keep me from it.


    Sunnild lifted her eyes back to Osgyth''s. "When Lord Aidan''s entourage approached us, I happened to be standing between them and Wingsister Ecgwena with my back to them. She naturally spotted them first and pushed past me, knocking me to the ground in the process. She introduced herself to Miss Ailis, believing her to be the one in control of the city, but when Lord Aidan introduced himself, her reaction was ... intemperate."


    Osgyth''s expression remained impassive. "Explain."


    "It is less what she said than how she said it. We were all surprised to see a human there, let alone as the Lord of the city, but Wingsister Ecgwena''s tone of voice..." Sunnild paused, considering her next words.


    "Flight Major Osgyth, I know Ecgwena''s history with humans. I understand her feelings about them and do not find them unreasonable. No one expected that to be an impediment to the mission. I do not blame her for her outburst. That being said, her tone of voice made it clear that she was revulsed by Lord Aidan."


    "I see." Again, Major Osgyth''s voice hid her thoughts. "And what happened next?"


    Sunnild shrugged. "That was when I got back to my feet and realized that I recognized Lord Aidan. I blurted it out without thinking. Ecgwena started to reprimand me, as she should have, but Lord Aidan cut her off. He saw a chance to capitalize on our disunity and took advantage of it. He undermined Ecgwena''s leadership and invited me to join him for a tour and dinner, ostensibly because I recognized him.


    "Later," she continued, "I learned that he singled me out for two reasons. First, he wanted to punish Ecgwena for what he perceived as bullying me. Second, Lady Brighid asked him to bring back anyone he found, ah, interesting." Sunnild blushed at that. "I think he only meant to humor her at first."


    The corners of Major Osgyth''s mouth twitched upward. "And why did you let him separate you from your Wingsisters?"


    Sunnild''s blush intensified. "Two reasons, Major Osgyth. Lord Aidan swore an oath giving us protection as his guests, so I knew he would not kidnap and torture me." Her eyes started to slide down again, but Sunnild willed herself to look the officer in the eyes. "And I saw a chance for myself and the Sisterhood. At the time, I did not know that he already had a mate, and he invited me to attend him at a private dinner. I hoped he would take me as a lover, and therefore perhaps give me more information than he would otherwise."


    The Major''s lips were definitely upturned in a tiny smile now. "And did he?"


    It took all of Sunnild''s Willpower to keep her eyes locked on Osgyth''s. "Yes, Ma''am. Although it was Lady Brighid who pushed things along, Lord Aidan was a participant as well."


    "And your other hope? Did you find out any secrets while sharing his bed?"


    Sunnild swallowed. "Permission to speak freely, Ma''am?"


    Flight Major Osgyth blinked. After a short pause, she said, "Permission granted."


    Sunnild knew she was on dangerous ground here, so she spoke slowly and with care. "Lord Aidan did let slip something that would be of strategic interest to the Sisterhood, but he did it in a moment of emotional vulnerability. It would be an abuse of trust for me to reveal it to you or anyone else. It was not something he told me as a brag or in casual conversation; it came out when he was beating himself up for¡ªin his mind¡ªtaking advantage of me."


    "Oh?" Osgyth leaned forward onto her elbows. "We will come back to the matter of the secret. Tell me more about the circumstances."


    "Yes, Ma''am." Sunnild relaxed a little; she half-expected the Major to demand the full information. Being allowed to tell the whole story was a good sign. "This was after I spent the night with him. I woke up before him or Lady Brighid, and when I felt him tense up, I asked if he was mad at me. I thought he was upset that I was still there, or maybe I did not meet his expectations.


    "He said that no, I should be mad at him. I told him what I thought of that, and Lady Brighid noted that he did not feel like he deserved to have two women in his bed. Then she asked Lord Aidan whether he even thought he deserved her, and he broke down."


    Sunnild felt the tears gathering at the corners of her eyes as she remembered what Lord Aidan said. "He is a good man. He blamed himself for everything that went wrong before I met him. We know about the battle outside Ceallach Macht, but Lord Aidan led a team into the city itself to take out the Tannath Taig. I am sure the others mentioned his claim to have killed a Wildlord," Osgyth nodded at that, "but none of them could know what happened. From what he said, that fight did not go well. The entire party was captured and tortured, even raped by the Wildlord. Lord Aidan blamed himself for that and a host of other things.


    "That was not the end of it, either. From what he said, Lord Aidan was a slave once and does not believe he has what it takes to rule Ceallach Macht. He called himself an imposter and said that when he should have been making a treaty to help protect his people, he lured me into his bed for a night of fun instead."


    Sunnild willed Osgyth to believe what she was about to say. "Flight Major Osgyth, Lord Aidan is a good man. I acknowledge that I have not had much time with him, but in that time, he never once blamed someone else for something he did wrong. He gave his full attention and consideration to everyone who addressed him. He did not mock or bully anyone and only banished Wingsister Ecgwena when she pushed him¡ªand only threatened her when she lingered instead of withdrawing."


    Sunnild took in a breath, then pushed on. "I know he is a human¡ªand a Helltouched human at that. Lord Aidan may be playing me like a fiddle; perhaps I am, in fact, only an innocent, vulnerable girl. But I do not think so; if nothing else, the information he let slip is not the kind that someone like that would use as a ploy. It just does not seem compatible with any goal he might have in deceiving me. Also, both Lord Aidan and Lady Brighid would need to be skilled actors, which does not match the Starchasers'' profile."


    Osgyth waited for Sunnild to continue, but when the silence stretched out, she said, "Alright then, back to that secret. You realize that refusing to disclose information of strategic importance gathered during a mission can be considered treason?"


    Sunnild stiffened and nodded, not trusting her voice.


    Osgyth sighed and sat back in her chair. She rubbed her temples, then picked up Lord Aidan''s letter and read it a fourth time, then a fifth. When she finished, she folded it up and placed it back on her desk. "I knew your mother when she was still with us," the officer began. "We were not friends, exactly, but I respected her. I know she held herself to the same high standards she preached, and I know she taught you to do the same. So, when you tell me that this Lord Aidan is a good man, I am inclined to give your words some weight.


    "That being said," she emphasized, "your refusal to turn over valuable information does not leave me with many choices. I can either arrest you for treason..." Osgyth''s eyes bored into Sunnild, darting back and forth as if seeking something.


    With a sigh, she continued, "... or I can sweep it under the rug. At the heart of my decision is who Lord Aidan really is. I have now heard three different accounts of the same man. In one, he is a monster and a tyrant. In another, he is a sharp-witted and cunning ruler. And, then, in your account, he is a tortured saint." Osgyth snorted. "The truth, I have found, is almost always somewhere in the middle."


    "If he is a typical human, as Wingsister Ecgwena describes, then you are aiding and abetting an enemy of the Sisterhood. If he is a cold, calculating sovereign, then you have been used to sow chaos in our ranks. Then, too, I must consider his likely responses; the Sisterhood cannot afford a war with the Starchasers right now."


    The older harpy remained silent for an extended period. Her eyes drifted away from Sunnild, roaming across her desk. Sunnild remained standing, not daring to interrupt the Major''s ruminations.


    After several minutes of silence, Major Osgyth turned her attention back to Sunnild. "Without betraying your Lord''s confidence, what can you tell me about the secret you are keeping? Is it something that threatens the Sisterhood or something that would invalidate any treaties we signed with him?"


    "No!" Sunnild exclaimed. "No, if it was something like that, I would tell you! I swear!" Divided loyalties warred within her; on the one hand, she would not betray Aidan''s confidence. On the other, she still considered herself an Ash Shroud Sister. "I can say that his position is a little weaker than it seems; you could push harder on the treaties. He needs our help as much as we need his."


    "And if he is sincere with his offer," Osgyth muttered, "then we do need him. Very well, Wingsister Sunnild. I will take everything you have told me under advisement. You are dismissed."


    Sunnild hesitated. "Ma''am? I''m free to go?"


    Major Osgyth scowled. "Yes, Wingsister. For better or worse, you have convinced me. I will keep your secret. You had best hope that your assessment of Lord Aidan is correct, or we will all be flying in storm winds. I cannot promise that you will be assigned to this ''cultural liaison'' post, as the Lord requested, but I will recommend it to my superiors. Now get out before I change my mind."


    Sunnild saluted and turned to leave. "Oh, one last thing." Flight Major Osgyth''s voice stopped her before she reached the door. "You are no longer in Wingleader Frythe''s wing. Until the higher-ups decide on Lord Aidan''s proposal, you report directly to me. If Wingsister Ecgwena causes you any trouble, let me know immediately. That is all."


    Sunnild saluted again, then slipped out into the corridor.

 Champion, Chapter 17: Requiem

    Caitlin Stewart


    Earth


    Sunday, March 19th, 2062


    Late Morning


    The Atlanta Metropolis, USA


    "What do you mean, you don''t know?" Caitlin glared at the detective. "The only clue you have is these leaves, and you don''t even know what they are?"


    "Ma''am, these things take time. We know they aren''t from any common local plants, which is good news."


    "Explain," Seamus insisted.


    "Well, if they were oak leaves, that wouldn''t tell us anything. Georgia is full of oaks. Rarer plants, or those only common farther away, give us a lead to follow."


    "Only if you can find out what they are," Caitlin cut back in. Seamus put a hand on her shoulder, but she shrugged it off; she didn''t want to calm down. "You only need one of the leaves for your analysis, right? Give the other one to us; we''ll do our own search."


    The detective grimaced. "Ma''am, I can''t just hand over evidence from a crime scene."


    "Oh?" Her voice went frosty. "You just got done telling us that you weren''t sure a crime had even been committed. This isn''t Schrodinger''s Box, young man. It can''t be both a crime scene and not a crime scene. Pick one."


    "Ma''am, with all due respect, that is a false dichotomy; there are more than two¡ª"


    "Pick. One." Caitlin had decades of experience in wrangling recalcitrant youngsters. She hadn''t had much chance to use her Angry Mother Voice since Eve moved out, but it was still as potent as ever. Seamus, ever the supportive husband, let out a low rumble deep in his broad chest.


    "I¡ª" the young man looked from Caitlin to her husband and back. His shoulders sagged, then he rose from his chair and said, "I need to go to the bathroom. If you''re not here when I get back, I doubt I''ll count the number of leaves in that bag very closely."


    As soon as the detective left the room, Caitlin pounced. Pulling a small journal out of her purse, she carefully extracted one of the mysterious leaves from the evidence bag and placed it between the pages. Then she closed the book, wrapped a rubber band around it to keep it closed, and returned it to her purse.


    "Safe?" Her husband asked.


    "The pages are made of recycled plastic; they shouldn''t react to it or leach out anything," Caitlin replied. "Now, let''s leave before that nice young man gets back."


    Anwn


    The Realms


    Seventhday, 2nd week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Late Afternoon


    Near Ceallach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Anwn crested the last hill just behind Sings-The-Stars''-Songs. Watcher, Windrunner, and Redfox followed behind her. Tears stung her eyes when she saw the ruined city stretched out in the valley below her. Every centaur in the tribe lost friends and family here, but few felt the sorrow as profoundly as she did. In addition to the centaurs who died, the Taig slew more than half of her pack-brothers and pack-sisters. These four were all that was left of her family now.


    As if sensing her thoughts, Starsong rubbed her head against Anwn''s flank, and the others quickly followed suit. "You are the Matriarch, and we love you," their posture and actions told her. "You are our sister Never-Fails-A-Hunt, and we will always love you."


    Their message helped, but not enough. Anwn remembered leaving the fiery Hell that had been the altar chamber, following the trails of ashes back up the hallway. Tears spilled down her cheeks as she recalled the sight that greeted her there, the crumpled and broken forms of the family that insisted on helping defend her other pack.


    Anwn


    Fourthday, 1st week of the 8th month, Godless Age 597


    Dawn


    Ceallach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Loves-To-Dance, Awaits-The-Rising-Sun, and Patient-Beyond-Reason lay in a pile, each facing a different direction. Anwn knelt beside them, checking for a pulse, but they were all dead. Fangs-Gleaming-Bright and Voice-Like Thunder were nearby, severed vines strewed around them. They, too, lacked a pulse. A whimper drew her attention, and Anwn spun, eyes seeking in the dimly-lit tunnel. There! Against the wall was a gray wolf with white paws. "Ceirios! " Anwn screamed, "Ceirios, hurry!"


    Paws-Soft-As-Snow whined again as Anwn approached and reached out to touch his head. Now that she was next to him, she could see how his back bent at an unnatural angle. "No," she wept, "no, no, no, not you too!" His breath came in wheezing gasps, but her closest friend and pack-brother licked her hand as Anwn stroked his snout.


    She wasn''t sure how long she knelt there before Ceirios laid a hand on her shoulder. "Let me see him," the heavy-set centaur whispered. Anwn shifted to the side, kneeling down in front of Snowy and settling his head into her lap. Wet tears splashed down onto his fur as Ceirios ran her hands along the wolf''s flanks. "Anwn..." she whispered after a moment, "I am sorry, but these Wounds are beyond me. A broken arm is one thing, but his back is broken, and it feels like he has broken ribs puncturing his lungs." A sob tore its way out of Anwn''s throat and her hands clenched in the fur around Snowy''s neck.


    "I can ease his pain, but nothing more. I am sorry, Anwn, but he will not last long enough for a better healer to reach us." Ceirios chanted a spell. A few seconds later, Paws-Soft-As-Snow let out a shuddering breath and the pain cleared from his eyes. Anwn heard Ceirios rise and walk away, but she had no attention to spare for the mage.


    "I should never have let you come," Anwn whispered to her pack-brother, "I should have made you stay at home." Even as the words left her mouth, however, she knew that they were false. She wouldn''t have been able to keep him away; of all the wolves of Goldeneyes'' pack, Snowy spent the most time with her. She loved all her pack-siblings, but her bond with Paws-Soft-As-Snow was special, unique. The only time they spent apart was when Anwn attended a Council session. He would never agree to let her go into battle alone, and she would never refuse him.


    Anwn stroked Snowy''s snout and scratched his neck and ears, trying to convey her love for him. His tongue lolled out of the side of his mouth, occasionally twisting to lick at her hands as they passed. He stared up at her, gaze unblinking, and Anwn knew that he had no regrets. After a short eternity, Paws-Soft-As-Snow gave a final shudder and the light left his eyes. Anwn lifted her head and howled her grief to all who could hear.


    Anwn


    Seventhday, 2nd week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Late Afternoon


    Near Ceallach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    The feeling of sharp canine teeth pressed against her hand brought Anwn back to the present. Starsong let go of her hand and barked at her. "Thank you," Anwn told her pack-sister, scratching the wolf behind her ears. "Come on, we still need to find somewhere to set up our new home."


    Anwn set off down the hill at a trot. Her pack formed up around her, with Starsong reclaiming the vanguard, Watches-The-Skies and Fur-Like-A-Red-Fox to her flanks, and Runs-Fast-As-The-Wind taking his ironic position as the rearguard. While she ran, Anwn thought back to Aidan''s return to the village. He came while Goldeneyes lay on his death-bed, sick with grief over losing so many children. Anwn hadn''t wanted to deal with him then, but Aidan surprised her when he asked to be brought to the wolves'' grave.


    "What were their names?" He asked of her, and she told him. She watched, amazed, as the human she once voted to execute knelt beside the grave, tears flowing down his face, and memorized her fallen pack-siblings'' names. "Fangs-Gleaming-Bright; Brightfang. Awaits-The-Rising-Sun; Sunny. Loves-To-Dance; Dancer. Patient-Beyond-Reason; Patience. Voice-Of-Thunder; Thunder. Paws-Soft-As-Snow; Snowpaw, Snowy. Fangs-Gleaming-Bright..."


    He remained there for half an hour, whispering their names over and over to himself. When he rose at last, he told Anwn, "I will not forget their sacrifice. I know they were family to you, even if the others in the tribe think of them as your pets or trained beasts. I''m..." his voice broke then, and he swallowed. "I''m sorry I couldn''t save them. I swear to you, if they''d been in the range of my spell, I would have brought them back, too."


    Those words, those actions, swirled around in Anwn''s thoughts for the following weeks. Every time she balked at something Aidan brought before the Council, she remembered the pain and heartache in his eyes and his voice. She remembered that, of all the hundreds of Starchasers, only Aidan and Brighid paid their respects to her kin. "He is not pack or tribe," she told herself, "but... maybe he could be."


    Where once she was adamant in her opposition to the human, Anwn found herself going over his plans and suggestions in greater detail, considering each element on its own merits. She still voted against him as often as not, but she had good reasons for it when she did, and he recognized that. Several times, he and his Vassal, Ailis¡ªAnwn still wasn''t sure what to think of that particular revelation¡ªworked with her to draft or re-draft proposals. Where once she was in the traditionalist faction with Eilwen, Anwn found to her own surprise that she now led the moderates.


    She did not like the attention that brought to her, but duty was duty. The worst of it was the contention for Ailis''s Council seat; the political fighting was fierce. The mages wanted to retain their seat but were torn over who should represent them. Ceirios was the most popular of the eligible adults, but she was tainted by her proximity to Aidan. While the whole tribe knew that he was the reason they still lived, the majority faction still distrusted him. Old prejudices died hard.


    And, of course, the mages weren''t the only ones putting forward candidates. The crafters, farmers and herders, and artists each wanted direct representation. While the Council represented the interests of the Starchasers as a whole, the Councillors naturally were most familiar with their own fields, and thus represented those interests better. Technically, the Council chose the successor to any seat that opened up. This was a place where tradition bordered on law, however, and in practice, the tribe as a whole decided the matter. The segments of the populace that already had representation on the Council would speak to their Councillor, and the Councillor would follow their guidance.


    From speaking to the others, Anwn knew that the warriors were near-unanimous in their support for Ceirios if she won out the mages'' nomination. While the whole tribe knew that Aidan saved them, the soldiers experienced it. If there was any single faction wholeheartedly behind the human, it was them. Despite being a progressive himself, Aidan didn''t enjoy as much support from Gerwyn''s traders; they favored the crafters'' candidate, Artur. The tribe''s mothers were undecided still, vacillating between the farmer and crafter candidates.


    Many of Anwn''s hunters and patrol guards were present for the Battle of Ceallach Macht as well, so there was a significant push among her constituents to elevate Ceirios, but the matter wasn''t decided yet. They tended to be both more independent and more xenophobic than others, so a large group supported Ceitidh, the farmers'' and herders'' candidate. Anwn herself had yet to take a side; she wanted to see who the mages actually nominated.


    A howl distracted Anwn from her ruminations. It didn''t come from her pack; the sound echoed off the hills. She titled her head, listening, trying to sort out the message. Unlike the languages of humanoids, wolf howls were, for the most part, specific to each pack. There were a few shared phrases to use as greetings or warnings, though, and Anwn raised her voice in a howl of her own, announcing her presence to the resident pack.


    Her pack-siblings joined her, effortlessly harmonizing with her as she sang the song of greeting. By doing so, they told the local pack that they had no hostile intentions and asked permission to enter their territory. There was still a chance that the other wolves would chase them off, but the answering greeting dispelled that worry.


    Several minutes later, a group of five large, shaggy wolves loped out of the brush and into the clearing where Anwn waited with her siblings. Good, she thought, they brought equal numbers. They are showing respect. The lead wolf was bigger than any of her pack, even Goldeneyes in his prime, and had fur the color of charcoal with light grey tips. He sat down on his haunches and tilted his head at her.


    "We greet you, Never-Fails-A-Hunt of Glowing-Eyes-Of-Gold''s pack." Anwn''s Beast Tongue Skill translated his posture and vocalizations into something she could understand, although she knew there were subtexts she was missing. "What brings your hunt so far from your territory?"


    "We come hunting a new home, not food." Beast Tongue worked the same way in reverse, and the other wolves'' ears perked up at Anwn''s words. "Glowing-Eyes-Of-Gold is no longer among the living, and all that remains of his pack is before you." All nine wolves present laid their ears back and hunched down.


    "We grieve for you, brothers and sisters. Yet, why do you hunt here?"


    Anwn spread her hands. "My other pack, Those-Who-Chase-Dreams-Of-The-Stars, is relocating to the ancient city. As I am a Matriarch of that pack, I must move with them, and I would not leave my brothers and sister behind."


    "Agreed," the wolf gave her the lupine equivalent of a nod. "I am Hunts-The-Darkness, and these hills are my territory." Anwn lowered herself at his words; she hadn''t expected the pack leader to come himself.


    "Forgive me, Patriarch. I do not challenge your dominance."


    Hunts-The-Darkness approached Anwn. She held herself still, steeling her mind for what she knew was about to happen. A few seconds later, she felt Darkhunter''s sharp teeth close around her neck. If he wanted, he could kill her now, though her pack-siblings would get their revenge on him. Instead, after the briefest possible display of dominance, he released Anwn and said, "Lift your head, Never-Fails-A-Hunt. You and your pack have done much to aid mine. You are welcome here."


    Anwn raised her eyes and saw Darkhunter sitting on his haunches a mere foot from her, panting with his tongue lolled out of the side of his mouth. "Tell me," he continued, "do you seek to establish your own territory here, or are you looking to join my pack?"


    Anwn replied, "I did not know another pack claimed this land; my original thought was to take it for my own. However, we are only five, and blood-related. If it would not overcrowd your den, it might be best for our packs to combine." She looked at her siblings for confirmation, which they gave.


    Hunts-The-Darkness let out a huff of breath, the equivalent of a chuckle. "Until a few weeks ago, the only reason I held this territory is that no one else wanted it. My pack is small, and now that Fell-Dreams-That-Taint-The-Land is gone, there will be plenty of game and room for all of us." He rose and paced between Anwn and her siblings. "You would be fine additions to the pack. However, there is one problem."


    "What problem is that, Patriarch?" Anwn asked.


    "My mate died last winter in a failed hunt, and the only other females in my pack are my daughters. If our packs are to join, then I will need a new Matriarch."


    Anwn looked at Starsong, who let out a huffing chuckle in response and gave her a nod. She turned back to Darkhunter and replied, "We cannot commit to that without getting to know you first, but we are not opposed."


    "Then come!" He lifted his head and howled to the setting sun. "Come, sisters! Come, brothers! We run!"

 Champion, Chapter 18: Rebuild, Renew

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Firstday, 3rd week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Mid-Morning


    Ceallach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    "Well, at least this place is less ominous than when I left it last," Anwn told Aidan, "and it looks like there is enough housing for everyone."


    "That was my first priority, yes," Aidan agreed. "It will be a while longer before we''re back to having an individual house for each family, though. I''ve got resources allocated and plenty of untiring hands to build them, but only one architect. Besides, I figured this was a chance to let everyone customize their homes."


    "Hmm, perhaps. It would have been better to have permanent housing available, but I can acknowledge that the circumstances did not allow it. You realize that logic will not save you from the tribe''s disappointment?"


    Aidan grimaced. "Yeah, I know. It''s not an ideal start, but it''s what I could do. Once everyone is here and settled in, I''m going to throw a feast. I haven''t been able to do much other than practice my skills for the last week and a half, so I''ve been going on hunting expeditions in my spare time. We''ve got a lot of food stocked up, and I''m going to spend some of it for some goodwill."


    Anwn nodded. "That will help."


    "Anyway," Aidan shifted the subject, "how about you? Is there anything I can do to help you settle in? I''m sure you don''t want to live in the city proper, but I know that your home near the old village was not a small expense."


    To his surprise, Anwn blushed. "Ah, no, thank you. We found ... suitable accommodations, although once everyone is settled in, I will have to contract Ceirios again for some renovations."


    "Are you sure? This is, in large part, because of me. The least I can do is help shoulder the expenses..." Aidan drifted off as Anwn''s open expression drew closed. "Nevermind," he sighed, "I won''t push. But if there''s ever anything I can do for you, you have but to ask."


    Anwn gave him a sharp nod. "I will take you up on that, but not for this. I do not enjoy the game of debts and favors, but my home needs to be my home. If I could do the work myself, I would."


    "I can certainly understand that," Aidan said with a wry shake of his head. "I''m not really cut out for politics, myself. But neither of us have many choices in that regard, do we?" He paused and looked over Anwn, taking in the dark circles under her eyes, the way strands of hair poked out of her braid at odd angles...


    "Please forgive me if this is too familiar of me; I''ve asked this of everyone who was under my command in the raid, so I''m not singling you out. How are you holding up, mentally and emotionally? What happened was trying for all of us, but..." Aidan closed his eyes briefly, remembering a sheltered valley and a communal grave. "You suffered more than anyone else in my team." He opened his eyes again and fixed his gaze on Anwn''s. "If you need to talk, I''m available, or I can find someone you''d be more comfortable talking to. I know I''m not your favorite person."


    "You..." Anwn searched his eyes for a moment, then turned away from Aidan. "I have come to realize that my initial judgment of you was... somewhat hasty. I have no grudge against you, Aidan Lostlorn. What happened was... not your fault." She drew in a ragged breath. "The wounds are still fresh. I may seek you out at a later time, and I do appreciate the offer. But... right now... it would be too much."


    "Of course. Whenever you''re ready, just let me know. Until then, how far ahead of the main column are you?"


    Anwn seemed to appreciate the move back into safer territory. "They should start to arrive this afternoon, and the stragglers should be mostly done by noon tomorrow." At Aidan''s grimace, she explained, "The Council decided that it would be less disruptive to let people move at their own pace, more or less. It put a strain on the warriors, but they are up to the task. Forced-marching civilians would have eroded morale to an unacceptable degree."


    "I can''t disagree with that," Aidan conceded. "Alright. Is there anything else I need to know or anything I can help you with?" Anwn shook her head. "Then I have preparations to finalize. Thank you, Anwn."


    "Of course." She gave him a nod, then turned and walked off. Aidan stretched and rolled his shoulders. Brighid worked late the previous night, so he hadn''t slept as well as usual. He wasn''t upset with her¡ªin fact, he was happy that she got engrossed in her work enough to forget the time¡ªbut he''d gotten used to sleeping with his head nestled against her bosom and her arms around him.


    With the stress of his responsibilities and worries, Aidan felt stretched and worn by the end of each day. He had an inkling now of what Bilbo meant by feeling like butter scraped over too much bread. There was only so much of him¡ªhis attention, his mental processes, his ability to care¡ªto go around. He welcomed the influx of new residents in part because he was eager to delegate much of his authority back to the Starchaser Council.


    At least he had reason to believe Sunnild was doing well. He''d missed her more than he thought he would or should, but Brighid reminded him of one of his newer spells, Shared Dream. The fact that he couldn''t control the dreams meant that he couldn''t use them to communicate with Sunnild, but he still got to enjoy her presence. To his surprise, her dreams of him had been almost strictly non-sexual so far. In fact, there were only a few that contained anything but long cuddle sessions, and in those, they played among flower fields that seemed out of place in the Highlands.


    Still, there had been no nightmares. Aidan''s intuitive understanding of the Shared Dreams spell told him that those were just as valid to share as the more agreeable types. Their shared nights had always been pleasant and happy so far, and that led Aidan to believe Sunnild herself was doing alright even though she had yet to return. That kept his concern for her to a bare simmer.


    Of course, Aidan thought to himself with a smile, my new spell gives me some options. He woke up that morning with a few welcome prompts waiting for him:


    He looked forward to being able to talk to his little dove again.


    Aidan


    Mid-Afternoon


    As Anwn predicted, the first Starchaser vanguard made it to Ceallach Macht''s outskirts a couple of hours after noon. Fionn led them into the city, and Aidan was there to greet him.


    "How was the trip?" Aidan asked.


    "Uneventful," the warrior replied. "Not much in these parts is willing to attack a group our size. We spotted a drake flying around, but those are smart enough not to pick a fight that they obviously will not win."


    "Good to hear. We''ve got housing set up for the whole tribe with room to spare, although it''s communal for now." Aidan waved a hand at a nearby cross-shaped building. "Each fits four families or other groups of up to six centaurs, with a shared kitchen in the middle. We built forty of them plus a pair of barracks that can house twenty soldiers each, bringing our total housing capacity up to a thousand. There are also two large barracks and some additional quarters in Caer Macht, although those are still in pretty bad shape and unfurnished. I''ll leave it up to you and the other Councillors whether you want to take public housing or move under the hill."


    "Hmmm," Fionn rumbled. "For now, I believe I will set up with the rest of the tribe. Once things have settled down somewhat, we can see about moving into your citadel."


    Aidan snorted. "It''s really not that much of a fortress. It has the capacity to be self-sustaining, but there are only a couple hundred feet of straight tunnel between the entrance and the Throne. I can''t imagine it would be difficult to invade."


    "True," the Councillor agreed, "but it is still the seat of power for the city. It looks like you have already begun construction on a structure at the entrance, as well; is that going to be the new government building?"


    "Yep. It''ll be another week before it''s finished, but everything is proceeding on schedule for now. It won''t add anything to the defensiveness of Caer Macht, though. I decided on an open-air design for the Council hall so that any and all citizens can watch when we''re in session. The rest of the land around it will be reserved for art and culture¡ªgalleries, amphitheaters, statue gardens. I''ve already received communication from the Ash Shroud Sisterhood¡ªwe''ll talk about it more once Eilwen and Gerwyn get here tomorrow¡ªand I want to make sure everyone knows they''re welcome here."


    Fionn nodded along with Aidan''s explanation. "I understand what you are trying for, but I hope you do not plan to ignore defenses entirely."


    Aidan shook his head. "I''m no expert at military matters, so I wanted to wait for you to get back before I did too much planning in that regard. We don''t have enough prepared stone to rebuild the original city wall, but there''s enough to make a new one around the city core if we''re judicious with it. I don''t know what else to plan for, though. Also, one of the Ash Shroud harpies who came by has levels in the Engineering Skill; I''d like to add her to our planning once she returns. She''s a pacifist, but I don''t think she''ll mind helping us plan defensive works."


    "Oh?" Fionn raised an eyebrow. "Interesting to find a pacifist among the Sisterhood. Are you certain she is trustworthy enough to entrust with such vital information?"


    Aidan sighed. "I''m not certain that anyone is trustworthy except for Brighid, Cai, and Llwyd. Ailis and I are working on it, but I''m not there yet with her. As for the spirit of your question, I trust her about as much as I trust you, and like I said, she''s a pacifist. It would appear to be quite out of character for her to sabotage a city''s defenses."


    "Fair enough. Well, I need to get our people settled."


    "Oh, I put some thought into how to assign housing, by the way," Aidan said before Fionn left. "The system we worked out is to let people organize themselves into groups of three to six people¡ªfewer than three and we''re likely to run out of space¡ªand then they can draw numbers out of a hat for where they sleep tonight. Tomorrow when the stragglers get here, we let everyone self-organize again and draw their permanent assignment."


    He shrugged and hedged, "Well, there''s no reason not to let them trade numbers or whatever, but it will at least prevent any accusations of bias in the selection process. If we let everyone pick, the ''best'' houses will be taken tonight, leaving the slower half of the population to pick over the scraps. Didn''t seem very fair to me."


    Fionn nodded. "Yes, that is similar to what I was thinking. I am glad to see that you gave it consideration, Aidan. I will discuss it with the others tomorrow, but I see no reason not to implement it for tonight. Thank you." So saying, he turned and moved towards the main plaza, where the healthiest and most active Starchaser villagers were gathered.


    With his meeting finished, Aidan turned to Cai. "Now that the first group is here, I want you and Llwyd to start screening warriors to be part of my guard corps. In fact, I''m promoting you two to joint Captains of the Guard. I''ll leave organization and such to you, but I want you to shift to a more administrative role. I recognize the need for me to have bodyguards, but I want Brighid, Sunnild, and Ailis guarded as well, and I don''t want either you or Llwyd to be spending your time on that."


    Seeing her start to object, Aidan held up his hand, palm out. "No objections, Cai. I know that you two are the only dedicated combatants pledged to me, which makes you the perfect bodyguards, but you can''t be everywhere at once. Like I said, I want everyone I''m close to protected, and even now, that leaves the two of you to guard four people. We can supplement the guards with elementals within the city, so we don''t need to totally deplete the Starchaser''s veteran warriors for now. And once the harpies get settled in, I''ll want some of them in the guards as well. Not immediately, but I can''t be seen to favor any one faction too strongly if this is going to work."


    Cai did not look pleased. "My Lord, please reconsider!"


    "No, Cai, I''m sorry, but my mind is already made up on this." He gave her a lopsided grin. "Besides, it''s yours and Llwyd''s fault, anyway. You''re the ones who said that I had the potential to make the world a better place, and this is one of the ways I''m going to do it. I''ll lead by example. It''s going to be hard to argue that I''m working against any faction when I have them watching me sleep. Again, though, I''m leaving recruitment and such up to you. Take whatever precautions you feel are necessary, within reason, and I''ll back you up. I''m not going to mandate a percentage or anything like that so long as you don''t make me. You know my goals, and I trust you to do your part. Understood?"


    His vassal grimaced but nodded. "Yes, Lord Aidan. Thy will be done."


    Zurai


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Orange, and Somedude for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 19: Dreams Aloft

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Firstday, 3rd week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Night


    The Lord''s Quarters, Caer Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    "So, your new spell lets you control the dreams of anyone you have met?" Brighid asked Aidan over dinner.


    "That''s what it says," he agreed. "It''s supposed to be more effective with people I know better."


    "Hmm," his lover mused. She bit her lip, then looked at him. "You realize that you have met the Brighaid, right? Even if you discount the dream-realm They brought you to, They manifested for you when you fought the Taig."


    Aidan stared at Brighid, stunned. "How¡ªwould¡ªwould that work?"


    The redhead shrugged. "I do not know. Do divinities dream? They met you in a dream before, does that count? And even if They do, it seems unlikely that you would be able to have any control that They do not cede to you with a level 5 spell. But still..."


    "Still," Aidan agreed. "Still indeed. It almost feels too audacious to attempt. I think I''ll keep that one in my back pocket for now, but still... Thank you, love. That would never have crossed my mind."


    Brighid gave him a dazzling smile. "You are welcome. Now, are you ready to tell our little dove how much we miss her?"


    "I don''t know," Aidan teased, "I don''t feel very tired yet. Maybe there''s something you could do to help me with that?"


    "I think I can manage that," Brighid replied with a smirk.


    Aidan


    The Dreamlands


    Sunnild''s Dream


    Aidan was flying. After a moment of panic, he registered the soft, warm body pressed against his back and the arms wrapped around his chest and waist. He relaxed and reached around behind himself to grasp Sunnild''s butt.


    "Ah!" she gasped in his ear. "Don''t do that so suddenly! I might drop ya!"


    "Oh?" Aidan smirked. "So if I don''t do it suddenly, it''s alright?" He kneaded the firm muscles beneath his hands.


    Sunnild moaned, and her arms tightened around him. "If I say yes, yer gonna do that the entire way, aren''t ya?"


    "Well, this position is a little awkward," Aidan mused. "It''d be better like this." He concentrated and, a heartbeat later, he was facing toward Sunnild instead of away from her. "Ah, much better."


    "Eep!" The harpy squeaked in surprise, then moaned again. "Yer right, that is better." Sunnild''s legs tangled with his, giving her the leverage to rub her groin against him.


    "Sunnild," Aidan asked with a laugh, "why are we naked? Were you planning to do something naughty to me in your dream?"


    "Wasn''t," she panted. "Am now. Yer fault. Wait, dream?"


    "Yes, this is a dream. I''ve been sharing your dreams since you left. I just got a new spell that gives me a little control over them, so now I can actually talk to you."


    "And tease me," she moaned, still rubbing against him.


    "And tease you," Aidan laughed his agreement. "I can''t help it; you''re too fun to tease, my little dove."


    "If I didn''t have to hold onto ya, I''d smack ya fer that," Sunnild grumbled.


    "You don''t. Dream, remember? I can fly here just as well as you can."


    "Ya sure?"


    "Pretty sure," Aidan hedged. "And if not, it''s still just a dream."


    Suddenly, he was falling. Sunnild shrunk rapidly above him, and panic filled Aidan for just a moment before he exerted his will on the environment. He turned his plummet into a slow fall, then swooped upward to hover in front of Sunnild. He took a second to admire her naked body before nudging himself forward and taking her into his arms. The dream took care of making sure his embrace didn''t interfere with the wings beating behind her back.


    Sunnild snuggled closer, wrapping herself around Aidan and nuzzling his shoulder. "I miss you," she told him. "I love you."


    Aidan swallowed, throat suddenly tight with emotion. "I¡ª" love you "¡ªmiss you too, little dove. Brighid misses you even more than I do, I think. She''s been working late and coming to bed tired. I¡ªwhen are you coming back to us?"


    Sunnild made a frustrated sound in the back of her throat and pressed even tighter against Aidan''s chest. "Soon. Flight Major Osgyth is making me take extra classes, but I think it''s almost done." She shifted her wings, stretching them out and locking them in place, and the pair of them started to glide. "It better be," she added with a giggle, "I think I am about at the limit of what I can handle. Never was much for book learning."


    Aidan chuckled and ran his fingers through the harpy''s downy crest feathers. "You and Brighid can commiserate over that. She''s terrible about that kind of thing; I can''t get her to read a book with anything short of a direct command."


    "Mm," Sunnild agreed. "Rather be doing than reading about it."


    "So, your leaders have agreed to my deal?"


    "Mm-hmm," Sunnild hummed. "The important bits, anyway. We''ll have a counter-proposal when we come back¡ªand I''m not on the negotiation team this time around, so I don''t know the specific terms¡ªbut it''s only arguing over numbers and costs. The principle of the agreement is set."


    "If you feel comfortable letting them know I''m contacting you like this, you can tell your leadership that the Council made it to Ceallach Macht, so they can send a team to negotiate the formal treaty as well. Technically, Eilwen and Gerwyn aren''t here yet, but we expect them tomorrow morning."


    "Mm," Sunnild nodded. "It''s fine; I''m not making any decisions on this. If I wasn''t so happy and didn''t miss you so much, I''d be angry that they are practically selling me to you." She hesitated, then tucked her head into the crook of his neck again. "Um, I have something I have to tell you."


    Aidan felt his stomach clench. In his experience, those were rarely words he wanted to hear from a lover. He kept his thoughts from his voice, however. "Oh? What is it?"


    Sunnild''s wings beat above him, lofting them higher before returning to a glide. "When I first got back," she started, "Flight Major Osgyth debriefed me. I told her why I accepted your offer and why I went to bed with you." Aidan could feel Sunnild''s throat convulse as she swallowed. "And I told her that I learned a secret from you."


    A cold ball settled in the pit of Aidan''s stomach, but Sunnild kept talking. "I didn''t tell her what the secret was, I swear! But I had to give her something. I told her that your position is weaker than it looked like, and the Sisterhood could get better terms from you and the Starchasers."


    Aidan blinked, then laughed. "Oh, is that all?" Sunnild bit his neck in response, making him laugh even harder. "You''re adorable, little dove. Ouch!" He swatted her butt in reaction to a second bite. "It''s not ideal, but it''s hardly something that will change my opinion of you, Sunnild. You could have really hurt us if you shared that secret. I would have preferred that the deal goes through as written, but as long as the Sisterhood doesn''t think they can rake us over the coals, it''ll work out. I didn''t give away everything I could have."


    Sunnild relaxed against him. Her lips pressed to the spot she bit, soothing the mild pain. "I''m still sorry," she whispered against his skin. "It feels like I betrayed you and Brighid, just a little." She squirmed against him. "You should punish me."


    "Oh?" Aidan felt a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. She was too cute. "You should be careful with something like that, little dove; I can think of all kinds of ways to discipline you." Sunnild''s head lifted off his shoulder so that she could examine his face. Her eyes grew wide, pupils dilating, and she started to gnaw on her lip.


    "But I''ll save that for later," Aidan teased, "when Brighid can help me. You did say you felt like you betrayed us both, right? It wouldn''t be right for only me to punish you in that case." His lover groaned in the back of her throat and pulled him tighter against herself, shuddering.


    "Now then," he said, pulling free of her and grasping one of her hands, "let''s fly. Show me your favorite places, Sunnild."


    She smiled at him and laced her fingers with his, then they were off, soaring over the Mistvale Highlands.


    Aidan


    Secondday, 3rd week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Early Morning


    The Lord''s Quarters, Caer Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Congratulations! You have reached level 44 in Sex.


    Congratulations! You have reached level 22 in Foreplay.


    "Aidan... Aidan... Wake up, Aidan!"


    Aidan groaned and rolled over, sluggishly trying to avoid the hand trying to shake him awake. However, Brighid was persistent, and eventually, he was forced to crack open his bleary eyes and swat at her hand.


    "What time izzit?" he mumbled.


    "An hour past sunrise."


    "What?" Aidan didn''t understand. He''d gotten a full night''s sleep; why did he feel so tired still? There was only one answer he could see. "Ugh," he groaned again, "must be the new spell. Doesn''t count as restful sleep, I guess."


    Brighid bent down and pressed her lips to his. "It is only a Novice-tier spell, after all. Maybe when you get better at it¡ªby which I mean when you hit Apprentice next week¡ªit will not be so tiring." Aidan aimed a half-hearted swat at her shoulder, which she dodged without effort. "Come on, my Lord, you need to get up. Eilwen, Gerwyn, and the others should be here around noon. I can set the table for lunch if you want; you missed breakfast already. I gave yours to Riama."


    Aidan was tempted to roll over and try to go back to sleep, but he managed to fight it off. He could order Brighid to let him sleep¡ªshe might even obey; he gave it about 50/50 odds¡ªbut he needed to be up, bathed, and dressed when the rest of the tribe arrived. He couldn''t afford to give Eilwen the free ammunition that sleeping through their arrival would cause.


    With a sigh, he sat up and stretched. "Yes," he told Brighid, "please get me something to eat if you don''t mind, my love. But first..." he let his arms fall around her neck and dragged her into another kiss. She hummed with pleasure, parting her lips to admit his probing tongue. His fingers trailed up the back of her neck and into her hair to hold her tight against him.


    Brighid''s hands trailed down from his shoulders to stroke his back and sides. She leaned into the kiss, bare chest pressing against him. When at last he broke the kiss by tugging her head away from him, her eyes were unfocused, and a blush covered her face and neck. "That," Aidan told her with a smirk, "was from me. This is from Sunnild." He let himself fall back down onto the bed and pulled her down with him.


    Several minutes later, Aidan released Brighid and smiled as she took a wobbly path toward the kitchen. He still felt like he''d only gotten about four hours of sleep, but there were few better ways to wake up. He stood up and stretched again, then made his way into the bathroom to perform his morning ablutions.


    Zurai


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Orange, and Somedude for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 20: A Sudden Gust of Wind That Calls for Death

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Secondday, 3rd week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Mid-Morning


    The Lord''s Quarters, Caer Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Aidan finished lacing up his shirt and gave Brighid a kiss. "I''m going to head out, love. There are a few things I need to do before the rest of the tribe gets here. Make sure you clean up before going off to work."


    Brighid nodded and nuzzled his hair. "Yes, Sir."


    He smiled and kissed her again before turning away. He took one step, then stumbled as a notification forced its way into his vision.


    Aidan absorbed the words, paralyzed by shock, but before he could process them, another window opened in his mind.


    "Shit!" Aidan swore. "New plan! Brighid, get your armor on! LLWYD!"


    "Aidan?" Came his love''s voice from behind him, but he was focused on his vassal as the centaur stormed into the room.


    "Llwyd, go get Fionn NOW. The Starchaser convoy is about to be attacked."


    "At once!" Llwyd ran off, charging through the hallways with breakneck speed.


    "Under attack? What? How?" Brighid was still confused at how suddenly things changed on her.


    "No time, love. Armor, now! I''ll help once I''ve got mine on. Move!" Brighid whirled and darted for her armor stand. Aidan concentrated, sending his awareness into Caer Macht and giving new orders to his Passion Elementals, then ran to join her.


    Aidan


    Ceallacht Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    It only took them a few minutes to arm and armor themselves and run out into the morning sunlight, but Fionn was already waiting for them.


    "What is going on?" the grizzled veteran called out to Aidan as they emerged. "Llwyd said the others are under attack?"


    "Yes," Aidan confirmed. "I received a notification from the Throne and a quest from my Patron." He checked his quest status and grimaced, "And we''ve already lost twenty people."


    Fionn''s weathered face formed into a grim mask. He raised a horn to his lips and blew out a short series of notes, then let it fall back to its place at his waist. "The warriors will assemble with all haste. Do you know who or what it is?"


    Aidan shook his head and growled. "No, it''s just identified as ''the invader''; I think it''s a single entity because I have an option goal to ''kill the invader,'' but that doesn''t fill me with confidence. The quest also warns me not to be too hasty because this is as dangerous a threat as the Taig."


    Fionn nodded, all business. "That is good to know, even if it is not good news. We know the route the others are taking, so we will not need to search for them. I am not sure how far away they are, however; we will have to gallop."


    Aidan eyed his optional objective counter; it was down to 274/306. "Just once," he muttered, "I would like not to have to charge blindly into a dangerous fight because there''s no time to do anything else."


    "I agree, but needs must."


    While Aidan waited, patience worn through with tension, for the warriors to form up, he swung himself up onto Brighid''s armored back. Above him, twenty fiery elementals swirled momentarily before streaking off to the south. "I sent the elementals on ahead," Aidan said for Fionn''s benefit, "with orders to distract and hinder the attacker. I don''t know how strong they are, nor how powerful the invader is. I can''t give them better orders than that without more information."


    "Understood. We will hope for the best and plan for the worst."


    Lail


    Fourthday, 1st week of the 8th month, Godless Age 597


    Pre-dawn


    Outside Ceallach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    A horn sounded, a low, angry call to action. Lail leveled her spear at the approaching horde of undead. Three short notes filled the air, and she began to move, accelerating into the gap made by the archers'' formation splitting apart. The enemy army covered the entire valley below them, but Lail felt no fear; Fionn and the Council knew what they were doing.


    Even when the centaurs charged so deep into the manikin swarm that the enemy completely encircled them, Lail fought with stoic confidence. She wasn''t one of the elites, but she was with her brothers and sisters in arms. They were fighting against a dark and evil foe¡ªwhat more proof did she need than the soldiers it used for its army?


    But as the fighting continued for long minutes, as new manikins writhed into the gaps left by the ones they slew, Lail felt her confidence begin to slip. There were only a few hundred Starchaser warriors against thousands of these undead monstrosities. She fought on even as her muscles began to ache. She fought on even as the warriors to her sides took wounds and fell back to the center. She fought on even as friends started to die.


    Then everything went wrong. Shouts and screams came from behind her, but Lail was too closely engaged with the enemy to turn and see the cause. She fell back, fighting desperately as manikins surged toward her in an unending wave of danger. Then something wrapped around her hind leg and jerked. She felt her leg snap and screamed in pain as she collapsed to the ground. Something dry and raspy snaked around the barrel of her lower torso, dragging her backward. Lail struggled, trying to rise, to stand and fight, but found her limbs entangled and restrained.


    She watched in terror as a manikin approached her bound form. Desiccated vines waved in the air, stretching toward her. Lail screamed to see Death come for her. Ropy strands of decaying plant matter looped around her neck, tightening, preparing to break her spine. She closed her eyes.


    Lail


    Secondday, 3rd week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Mid-Morning


    Ceallach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Three notes blasted from somewhere nearby. Lail trembled to hear the call to arms. She saw the dark vines again, felt them seize her by the throat. She closed her eyes and forced herself to remember what came next: how everything stopped and went silent for a heartbeat, followed by a brilliant light and the sound of a pile of wood catching fire all at once. She felt once more as the vines binding her turned to ash.


    She opened her eyes, tears staining her cheeks, and turned to the battered armor beside her bed. With hands still trembling from fear, she worked her way into it, tightening straps and adjusting the fit with habit borne of long practice. Lail would not shirk her duty, no matter the cost.


    Anwn


    Outside Ceallach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Anwn held her breath, feeling the breeze against her fur and adjusting her aim in minute increments. She knew Starsong and Windrunner were flanking the herd of elk, but she kept her eyes focused on her target. Anwn allowed herself one breath, then inhaled, held, sighted¡ª


    A horn she hoped never to hear again rang through the air, echoing off the hills. The elk lifted their heads and smelled the wind, then bounded off at a run. Anwn hesitated, one small part of her wishing to follow them, to flee into the wilderness. Then the rest of her seized that part by the scruff of its neck and dragged it along. Her birth-pack needed her. She whistled, calling her pack-siblings to her, then took off at a gallop.


    Ailis


    Ceallach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Ailis stirred her tea. A spoonful of honey today, I think. Everything has gone well recently; Aidan is doing well at his studies, the tribe is about to be collected and safe again, and it is a fine morning. I can reward myself just a little. She reached for the small pot containing her hoarded sweetener, only to pause as Fionn''s war horn sounded. The pattern was clear¡ªtwo short notes, then an extended one. Enemies approach; gather and prepare to fight.


    "Oh, Aidan," she murmured, "I hoped this would not start so soon. I am sorry for ever dragging you into this." Then she stood and fetched her staff, leaving a cup of tea steaming on the table.


    Aidan


    Aidan did his best to wait patiently while the Starchasers assembled. He knew that he needed to focus on the coming battle, but he couldn''t help but check his quest every few seconds. Each time the counter ticked down while he sat astride Brighid''s back, doing nothing productive, a dagger pierced his heart. Only 212 civilian Starchasers remained now, and Aidan knew that even should they win the coming battle, he would have more names to remember, more victims to add to his list.


    "What happened?" came a familiar voice. Aidan looked over to see Ailis trotting up to him.


    "Invader," he said, voice thick. "I got a warning and a quest about fifteen minutes ago. It''s attacking the second part of the convoy."


    "Do you know what¡ª"


    "No," Aidan cut her off. "Pretty sure it''s just one thing, not an army, but the quest says it''s as dangerous as the Taig, and I''d earn a million experience for killing it. The actual quest objective is to drive it off."


    She hissed in surprise. "Not good. I will help however I can, my Lord." She lifted her staff and incanted spell after spell, layering protections and enhancements on him and Brighid. "That is as much as I can give you both while leaving enough Concentration to heal with. I wish I could do more," she said, eyeing the crown of pale light adorning Aidan''s brow.


    "Stay alive," he told her, "and protect our people as best you can. That is all I need from you right now."


    Something flashed through Ailis''s eyes, but it was too fast for Aidan to decipher. She bowed her head to him, murmuring, "As you command, my Lord Aidan." She reached out to touch the back of his hand, then turned her attention to her daughter. "Keep him safe, little spark, and yourself as well."


    "I will."


    Fionn coughed, drawing Aidan''s focus to him. "Everyone in fighting shape¡ªand a couple who I would chase away if I had time¡ªis ready. We should get going."


    Aidan flicked his eyes over the assembled centaurs. "Where''s Anwn?" he asked.


    "She will meet us on the way, I am sure."


    "Very well. We have no time to spare."


    Fionn lifted his horn to his lips again and blew another sequence of notes, then led the Warband off into the morning mists.


    They were met just outside the city limits by Anwn and a large wolf that Aidan didn''t recognize. The pair fell into stride beside Brighid and Fionn.


    Aidan decided to answer her question before she asked. "Something is attacking the civilian convoy. Dunno what, but it''s dangerous." He eyed the wolf and added, "Who''s your friend? I don''t think I''ve met him."


    "This is Hunts-The-Darkness. His pack claims the land around Ceallach Macht as their territory. When my siblings and I came to establish a new home here, he invited us to join his pack, and I accepted."


    Something about Anwn''s explanation felt off to Aidan, but he didn''t have time to ferret it out now. "Are you sure it''s a good idea to bring him along?"


    "I do not control his actions, Aidan. He is the Patriarch of the pack, not a pet."


    "Of course, I didn''t mean to imply that. It''s just..." Aidan''s voice trailed off. Yeah, sure, remind her of all her lost family right before a big battle where she''s going to lose more people she knows. Great idea!


    But Anwn knew what he left unsaid. "I know," she said in a quieter voice, "but as I said, I do not control any of them. I convinced the others to stay, but Darkhunter wouldn''t be dissuaded." The wolf let out a sound halfway between a growl and a snort. Anwn looked at him and blushed but didn''t say anything further.


    Just then, Aidan spotted something in the distance. A great winged shape rose into the air, long and sinuous. Immense wings flapped, sending it streaking high, then it arched and dove back toward the ground. Lightning streaked from the front of the shape, striking the ground in a spiderweb of fulminating destruction. A heartbeat later, thunder pealed across the Highlands.


    "Fionn," Aidan asked, "I thought you said a drake wouldn''t attack a group as large as one of the convoys?"


    "A drake would not," Ailis said, voice cold with fear. "That is not a drake; it is a dragon."


    Zurai


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Orange, and Somedude for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 21: The Dragon Spreads Its Wings

    Siwan


    The Realms


    Secondday, 3rd week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Mid-Morning


    Approaching Ceallach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Siwan hummed to herself as she pulled a cart containing all her worldly possessions towards her new home. It was a beautiful morning; the sun reigned alone in a cloudless sky while a crisp autumn breeze kept the temperature pleasant. And, in only a couple more hours of walking, she would be in her new home, a place of legends.


    More importantly, it was a place of opportunity. Back in the village, Siwan had just enough work to keep herself from going insane from boredom. She received very few opportunities to stretch her skills or make a name for herself. At least not until Aidan came along. The cloth necklace design he got her to make for Brighid was surprisingly popular. Not everyone knew the intent behind it, but they saw it wrapped around Brighid''s neck.


    The intimate clothing she made for her friend was also something she was proud of. The majority of her time was spent either making or mending simple, practical clothing, much like the garments she crafted for Aidan. When the handsome human brought Brighid into Siwan''s store and made her bend to his will, extracting every intimate measurement with quiet confidence, it sparked inspiration for Siwan.


    She was no stranger to Brighid''s body, of course. They were friends as children and became close friends as they approached adulthood, giving each other their first kiss and first sex. Siwan was quite familiar with the heft of her friend''s breasts and the scent and taste of her arousal. Yet, in all their interactions were started and dominated by Brighid; she wasn''t bossy or demanding, but when she became aroused, it was hard to say no to her.


    Then Aidan entered her world and demonstrated complete mastery over Brighid. It opened her eyes, and Siwan realized how beautiful her friend had become. Standing there, watching him run his hands over the redhead''s body, teasing and controlling her... it gave Siwan ideas. And, when Aidan sent Brighid to her in response to a whispered promise, Siwan found her calling. The sex had been great, but seeing her friend in the impractical, yet tantalizing, intimate clothing she''d crafted was what really got Siwan going.


    And now she''d have the opportunity to make clothes like that for more than just centaurs! If Aidan''s dream came true¡ªand she would not bet against anyone who could kill a Wildlord¡ªthen Ceallach Macht would return to its former glory sooner rather than later. With it would come dozens of races living in peaceful proximity, and that would generate a healthy demand for what Siwan had a sudden desire to produce.


    A cloud passed across the sun, sending a shadow over the caravan. Siwan shivered, the lack of direct sunlight making the day seem much colder all of a sudden. Then she paused, front foot halfway raised.


    It was a cloudless day.


    Siwan looked up at the sky, then screamed.


    Gerwyn


    A shrill scream split the lazy morning, followed by a flash of light and an explosion that threw Gerwyn through the air. This was a new experience for him; sure, he could jump as well as any other centaur of his stature, but being hurled around like a child''s ball was unexpected. However, he didn''t have much time to register the event because he crashed into the ground a heartbeat later.


    He lay where he landed for several seconds, dazed and confused. He wasn''t sure how he''d gone flying or where he''d ended up. The lack of sound also seemed a little odd; after what just happened, he expected more of a ruckus. After a moment, he managed to get some breath back in his lungs and lever himself back up onto his hooves.


    The first thing he saw was the body of a young woman, her fur scorched in a strange spiderweb pattern. Thin wisps of smoke curled and twisted upward from her unmoving form. All around him, people panicked, dropping their loads and fleeing from him. Gerwyn took a hesitant step forward only to stop and fight back a dry heave. He felt nauseous, and his balance was all off like he was blind drunk. And why was it so quiet? He couldn''t hear anything. Surely there should be more screaming if people were running away?


    A warrior galloped up to Gerwyn, grabbing him by the shoulder and trying to hurry him along. The man''s mouth was moving, but still, he couldn''t hear anything. Gerwyn raised one hand to his ear. Wet. Why was his ear wet? He looked at the hand only to see it covered in blood.


    Oh. That would explain it.


    Ignoring the warrior for the moment, Gerwyn looked over his shoulder. Two of the large caravan wagons lay shattered and burning. Behind them rose a towering creature covered in glinting metallic scales the size of his chest. Legs the size of ancient oak trees ending in claws longer than his arm supported the monster''s sinuous bulk. Its torso was at least twenty feet wide at the thickest point; Gerwyn idly wondered if it could fit a whole centaur in its stomach. From its shoulders sprang two wings so vast that they blocked his view of the entire sky, and up and up and up at the end of its neck was the beast''s head.


    A forest of gleaming yellow spears sprouted from a cavernous maw. Above them, a faceted orange eye observed the devastation and found it wanting. Gerwyn stared, uncomprehending, as the dragon¡ªfor it could be nothing else¡ªlifted one leg and swiped it through the air with a casual shrug of its titanic shoulders. The wagons disintegrated with the force of that blow, sending arm-length splinters flying towards the fleeing centaurs.


    Gerwyn swallowed hard, then decided the warrior had the right idea after all.


    Eilwen


    Eilwen stood her ground. Not out of bravery; she knew there was nothing she could do against a monster like this. She didn''t even have a class, after all. No, Eilwen refused to flee because it was pointless. She was too old and infirm to run at a pace any faster than the beast could walk, but even that didn''t tell the whole story. No, it was pointless because her time¡ªthe time of the Starchasers as a whole¡ªwas done.


    The dragon whipped its tail through the air with a blur and a crack of broken sound. Three veteran warriors, good men and women all, screamed as the limb swept them off their hooves and into the air. They landed some twenty feet away; none of them rose. Arrows flew towards the creature only to ricochet from its scales. Other fighters charged around the dragon''s legs, striking it with spear and blade, to no effect. It took a step forward, crushing one unfortunate woman beneath its foot without even looking.


    This was the face of desolation, Eilwen knew. Maybe, if they''d known it was coming, they could have prepared for it, fought it off. But an adult dragon attacking from ambush? It would kill them all within minutes, then turn and conquer the city, which was its certain destination. The human boy¡ªcurse him for bringing this calamity down upon them¡ªwas powerful, yes, but this foe was not weak to his flames. There was no immobile, defenseless weakness for Aidan to exploit. He might be able to hurt this monster, but kill it? No.


    But Eilwen was old, old and tired. If this was the end for her people, she would face it down and stare it in the eye as it slew them. That resolve was tested sooner than she thought as the dragon spotted her standing alone amid the carnage. Its eyes whirled and spun, then it stepped towards her, lowering its head down until it examined her from far too close.


    "O brave grandmother, what steels thy heart? Dost thou not fear thy death?" The dragon''s voice boomed, almost too loud for her to understand. Its breath stank of rotten meat and ozone.


    Eilwen lifted her chin and squared her shoulders. Maybe, at least, she could buy time for some of her people to escape; the dragon wouldn''t bother chasing them all down if they ran far enough away. "Death comes for us all," she answered, "and I am old enough that any day could be my end. This is as good as any other."


    A sound like an avalanche emerged from the dragon. Eilwen realized after a moment that it was chuckling. "Well spoken, grandmother. What is thy name? I would know it before I slay thee."


    More arrows skittered off the dragon''s scales; the creature did not react in the slightest. Eilwen breathed in a shuddering breath. "I am Eilwen Brighthearth, mother of Mata Lightweaver, Huisdean the Hammer, Manas of the Endless Plow, Meinas Talesinger, and Catriona Starblade, and seven more children; grandmother to fifty, great-grandmother to eighty-five, and great-great-grandmother to fourteen; eldest of the tribe; and Councillor for the women and children."


    "Thank thee, Eilwen Brighthearth. In return, I give thee my name; I am Karsarrym, Champion of the Skies, Storm Conqueror, Slayer of Baezzi and Immarth. Out of respect for thy courage and courtesy, I grant thee a swift and painless death."


    Eilwen closed her eyes and bowed her head. This was it, then, her long life was over at last. "I have no regrets," she murmured to herself. She waited for the blow to fall.


    Heat bathed over her, and Karsarrym roared in pain.


    Aidan


    "How big is that thing?" Aidan yelled over the rushing wind.


    "Looks like a full-grown adult," Fionn replied. "Wingspan up to three hundred feet, a hundred feet long or so from snout to tail-tip."


    Aidan could only shake his head. "Plan?"


    "Aim for its eyes and mouth." Fionn snorted. "Not usually good advice, but when the eye is as big as a human, it is at least feasible. Our melee warriors will be better served to evacuate any remaining civilians; steel will not pierce a dragon''s scales, and it will not stay still long enough for us to attack the gaps between them. Brighid and I have a chance thanks to our better equipment, but I do not have high hopes."


    "Got anything for the lightning?" Aidan asked Ailis. The dragon took to the skies again; several tiny, brilliant shapes darted up after it, wheeling and plunging to strike at its flanks. Good; the elementals are doing their jobs.


    "No," she replied, "although I can heal any damage it causes. We are in luck in this regard; lightning is not always fatal even when someone is struck directly, and even a dragon will find it difficult to aim. If its breath were any other type, I fear we would already be too late."


    "Well, thank Birgitte for small favors," Aidan muttered. "Do we have anyone who can take a hit from this thing?"


    "Ysbail and I should be able to endure for a short while," Fionn said. "Brighid, Cai, and Llwyd might be able to survive a glancing hit. You certainly cannot."


    "Ysbail''s here?" Aidan decided to concentrate on the good news.


    "She is with the caravan¡ªunless she got bored and wandered off."


    Me and my big mouth, he grumbled to himself. "Alright, then. It''s going to be me, the mages, the archers, and the elementals doing the heavy lifting, then. Ailis, I guess it''s time to see how good of a teacher you are."


    Aidan straightened on Brighid''s back, clamping tight to her flanks with his knees to keep himself from falling off. He started to trace glyphs in the air in front of him, lines of fire following his fingertips. "<O Flame! Ravenous thy hunger, bright thy face, fingers of red and heart of white! Once I beg thee, twice I bid thee, five times I abjure thee, ten times I compel thee! Thy power bends to my will! Inferno and pandemonium, slake thy thirst upon this sinful invader!>"


    The lengthy incantation drained Aidan''s concentration, but twelve miniature suns orbited around his shoulders at the chant''s completion. His Burning Barrage typically resulted in tiny embers no larger than a candle flame, but these were the size of grapefruit. Heat radiated from the fireballs, and a dull, crackling roar rumbled from their interiors.


    "Well done, apprentice!" came Ailis''s praise. "What language was that in?"


    "Divine Speech," he grunted. The increased potency of this enhanced Burning Barrage came with a comparable increase in the drain on his focus. "The same language I used for Phoenix Pyre. That might have been because the Brighaid was guiding me through it, but I figure it''s not called a Language of Power for nothing."


    "Indeed, it is not. But to make a new incantation off the cuff in it..." Ailis shot him a look. "Your power frightens even me at times, Lord Aidan. What alterations did you make, aside from the obvious?"


    "We''ll have to see how much of it actually came through," Aidan responded, "but the intent was to increase the damage each fireball deals on contact and to make them stick and continue to burn instead of exploding. The cores should be white phosphorous, but that might have been beyond my skill."


    "I have no idea what that is, but it sounds terrible."


    "I know of worse things, but I don''t want to try and contain a thermite or dioxygen diflouride fire right now. Not very confident that I even could contain the latter. Nasty stuff."


    That was the end of their conversation, for, at those words, they crested a hill and saw the convoy spread out before them¡ªwhat remained of it. Most of the wagons were broken or burning, and dozens of centaurs lay unmoving among the morning mist. Aidan looked up to see the dragon still engaged with a dozen or so elementals.


    "It''s distracted for now. I''m going to wait for a clear shot and try to get one of these into its gullet. The rest of you, do what you can. Don''t risk yourself in melee unless you''re confident that you''re up to it. Brighid, you''re going to be my legs for this; you can run a lot faster than I can, so it''s your job to keep me from being dragon food."


    Fionn started barking out orders to his troops. Anwn settled in beside him, an iron-shafted arrow notched to the string of her war-bow. Aidan gave her a nod, then turned his attention back to his monstrous foe.


    Zurai

 Champion, Chapter 22: Blinded By Light

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Secondday, 3rd week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Mid-Morning


    Near Ceallach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Lightning struck the ground in shattering blasts, sending clumps of soil and shards of stone skyward. Above them, a passion elemental fizzled out of existence, impaled by the dragon''s breath. Fortunately, the monster was still distracted by its aerial opponents; none of the bolts landed near a Starchaser.


    Aidan craned his neck to focus on the invader, but the creature moved with unbelievable agility and grace. His elementals had it beat for aerial maneuverability, but not by much. He had to shake his head in awe and despair as the dragon tilted its wings almost vertical and executed a pinpoint turn to snatch another elemental with its jaws. Fortunately, he still had some manna to spare, and this was his territory.


    Aidan centered himself and reached into the pool of energy tied to him as Master of Caer Macht. To Brighid''s left and right, the air began to shimmer as heat built up. Aidan thought back to Ailis''s lecture on the nature of elementals and decided that he needed something able to withstand some punishment. "Let''s fight fire with fire," he said with a grin.


    "Is this really the time for puns?" Brighid yelled over her shoulder. Aidan ignored her, focusing on the two elementals coalescing on either side of him. It took more time and effort to manifest them outside of Caer Macht, but gradually their forms grew more distinct. Cores of shimmering scarlet stretched into sinuous, snakeline shapes from which swept white-hot wings. The two drakes grew in size and stature until they were fifteen feet from snout to tail; still nothing close to the real thing, but they should be sturdier than the birdlike elementals assigned to harassment duty.


    "Now, as for the ones already up there..." Changing a passion elemental''s form was easier when they were right in front of him, but even at a distance, it was a simpler task than forming new ones. Small, fast, dangerous enough to be a threat. "I wonder how far I can take this?" Aidan murmured to himself. "Can I...?" The seven birdlike elementals shimmered, then separated into swarms of smaller entities.


    "Wasps?" Brighid asked, "How will that¡ª"


    Her question was cut off by a frustrated roar from above. "Not wasps," Aidan smirked, "fairies." The swarms billowed and swirled around the dragon, unleashing tiny, white-hot blasts of fire all along its sides. When the invader tried to strike back, the reformed elementals'' distributed nature meant that only a handful of fire fairies died rather than the entire swarm. Then, the drakes struck, plunging out of the sun and latching onto the bases of the dragon''s wings. They raked and bit with molten claws and fangs, tearing an ear-shattering scream of pain from their larger opponent.


    "BRACE!" Aidan shouted as loud as he could as the wyrm plummeted out of the sky. He clutched tightly around Brighid''s waist, and his lover planted her hooves. A second later, the earth shuddered and heaved as hundreds of tons of scaled terror impacted at terminal velocity. "NOW!" he yelled as soon as his bones stopped rattling. Suiting actions to words, he sent his enhanced Burning Barrage streaking through the air towards the stunned dragon. Sweat broke out all over his body as he wrestled with thirteen separate thought threads¡ªthe twelve fireballs and his body. The strain only persisted for a moment before the spell impacted its target, but that was enough to leave Aidan panting with the effort.


    Another roar of pain split the morning air, but Aidan gasped out a curse. "Damnit, it moved its head at the last moment, missed the eyes and mouth."


    And then the dragon was on its feet again, arching its neck and opening its maw. Tendrils of electricity arced between its teeth like they were a bank of Jacob''s Ladders. Aidan didn''t have time to warn Brighid, but she didn''t need it. She twisted in mid-step, flinging herself into a tight turn and hurtling out of the path of the oncoming attack.


    Then came the lightning, the thunder, and the pain.


    Aidan''s muscles seized as electricity tore through his body. Beneath him, Brighid screamed and convulsed, stumbling and slamming into the ground as her legs locked up. Aidan lost his seat on her back, flipping over her head and landing upside down on the hillside hard enough to make his vision blur.


    "Chosen!" a voice thundered, reverberating off the hills. "Chosen! I will kill thee! But first, I will slay all thy allies and feast upon their remains!" The ground trembled, lighter than when the dragon crashed into the ground, but in a steady rhythm.


    Aidan groaned and rolled onto his hands and knees, then fought his way to a standing position. He blinked to clear his vision, trying to focus on the dark mountain moving his way. The image resolved into a furious dragon stalking towards him, the right side of its head peppered with glowing fireballs that stood out like pimples on a preteen. Two were burrowing through the ridge above its eye, evidence of Aidan''s near miss.


    Starchasers darted between the behemoth''s legs, hacking and stabbing with their weapons, but the beast paid them no heed. The drake-elementals plunged down from the sky again only to meet a contemptuous swipe from a long, sinuous tail that sent them tumbling and crashing into the hillside. Fire fairies wheeled and buzzed, adding their attacks to the scrum, but none of it was enough.


    Then Fionn arrived. The aged veteran charged in from behind the dragon, outside its field of view, ax held in a two-handed grip. He ducked under the tail as it passed overhead, then swung. Unlike the steel weapons of the Starchaser rank-and-file, Fionn''s enchanted ax bit deep into a gap between the scales on the Storm Conqueror''s hind leg. Dark blood spurted out, splashing over Fionn''s right side.


    The wyrm growled and spun, lashing out at its attacker with a foreclaw. Fionn braced himself for the hit but was still sent flying from the sheer strength of the blow. Quick as a snake, the serpentine monster surged after him, only to whirl back towards Aidan when silvery flames slashed across its flank.


    "Soul magic? I have changed my mind, Chosen. Thou art too dangerous to allow to live!" Once more, that cavernous maw opened wide, brilliant lightning gathering within. Aidan aimed his spell towards the soft flesh revealed by the impending attack, but the Storm Conqueror ducked its head to allow the beam to pass across its snout instead. Then its head shot forward. Aidan closed his eyes, knowing that he''d failed.


    Light flared beyond his eyelids, and thunder shook his bones, but, somehow, there was no pain. Aidan cracked open an eye, half-expecting to see the inside of the box canyon.


    A tall, muscular centaur clad in heavy chain mail stood in front of him, holding a broad-bladed greatsword before her. Tendrils of electricity arced along the sword''s edge, but she appeared unharmed.


    "Sorry to be so late. Did you miss me?"


    "Nice entrance, Ysbail," Aidan couldn''t help but laugh. "Nine-point-five out of ten. No time for banter, though."


    "Yeah," she grunted, hefting her blade, "I see what you mean. Got a big, ugly fucker to handle." Aidan could hear the grin in her voice as she continued, "How much armor do you think we could make out of all those scales?"


    "Hoh, interesting," rumbled the dragon. "Breath Parry, was it? An Adventurer, then. Thou shalt not be the first such to fall to me, little centaur. Come then! Show me your skill!"


    "I hate it when they talk," Ysbail muttered. Nonetheless, she raised her sword to shoulder level, then slashed diagonally across her body. To Aidan''s amazed glee, a shimmering arc of compressed air launched forward, screaming through the space that separated the opponents. The dragon blocked it with a foreleg, but Aidan noted another splash of sizzling blood spattered across the ground.


    Ysbail followed in the path of her sword beam, closing the distance with startling speed. She reached the Storm Conqueror only a heartbeat after her initial attack, and her blade flashed in the morning sun as she carved into its leg. It cut cleanly, and Ysbail was past it before the monster''s blood could splatter onto her. She was rewarded for her effort by a swipe of the dragon''s tail as it reared up onto its hind legs. Aidan could hear the crunch of the impact from where he stood, but rather than being thrown through the air, Ysbail only skidded across the ground.


    That kicked Aidan back into gear. No single one of them could handle this threat; they had to work together. Unfortunately, he didn''t have many appropriate tools. He''d dealt thousands of damage to the dragon by this point, yet there was no indication that it was anywhere close to death. Burning Barrage and Soulfire Blast were still cooling down, so they were out. Lifespark wouldn''t work. Flame Jet wasn''t worth getting into range. It was probably immune to Electric Arc. Given the wide-open environment, he couldn''t even fall back on Phoenix Pyre; the dragon could just walk away from the area of effect before the damage ramped up enough to matter.


    That left acting as a support. Aidan could heal people, and he could summon additional combatants. He would have to hope that was enough. He went looking for Brighid, not that he had to go far. She was a few yards behind him, still stretched out on the ground. Aidan''s heart skipped a beat when he saw the smoke rising from between the joints of Brighid''s armor, but she was still moving, and Ailis was already by her side, hands glowing brown. He scrambled over to the mother-daughter pair and knelt down beside his lover.


    "It hurts," she whimpered, writhing and convulsing in pain.


    "Shh," Aidan hushed her. He reached out to lay a reassuring hand on her shoulder but jerked back as electricity leaped from her pauldron to his fingers. Seeing Brighid jerk in pain at the reaction, he started casting Pulse of Life.


    "The breath is still affecting her armor," Ailis explained. "There is nothing I can do about that; it might be best if we get her out of it, but then she would be unprotected against physical attacks. I can manage her Wounds, however."


    "From what I''ve seen, nobody can stand up to this thing''s attacks anyway. Come on, love, let''s get this off you."


    "You just want¡ª" Brighid gasped and jerked as Aidan started working on her armor, causing electricity to arc between them. "You just want to get me naked in front¡ªow!¡ªin front of everyone."


    "If I wanted that¡ª" a roar of pain interrupted him. He looked over his shoulder to see that Ysbail had managed to cut off the last ten feet of the dragon''s tail. "Nevermind, no time for flirting. We need you up and healed ASAP."


    While he stripped the armor off Brighid, Aidan focused on summoning another pair of passion elementals. This time, he opted for full-on firepower and toughness at the cost of mobility. Their fires coalesced into a rough oval shape that grew more defined as the seconds marched on. The base of each elemental was a long rectangle with beveled edges. Two rows of rudimentary, non-functional wheels formed underneath each, then ovals extracted from the rectangles'' tops. Each oval sprouted a long pipe of searing flame.


    "What sort of monster are those?" Ailis wondered.


    "Monsters from my world. We call them tanks. Not quite our equivalent of dragons, but they''re the strongest thing we have on the ground." With a mental nudge, he directed his two newest elementals into action. They sped forward, aimed the barrels of their not-actually-rifled-cannons towards the Storm Conqueror, then fired.


    Twin sonic booms echoed across the valley as superheated rocks launched from the elementals, followed a split second later by a deafening howl of pain from the dragon. Black blood spurted from two wounds in the monster''s chest near its neck. Its head swiveled towards the tanks, and electricity began to gather in its mouth again, but the elementals fired first. One of them missed, but the second shot struck square in the center of the dragon''s left eye.


    With another ear-shattering roar, the Storm Conqueror launched itself into the air. Its wingbeats weren''t as sure and steady as before the battle, but it gained altitude nonetheless. "Enough! I underestimated thee, Chosen. Know that ye have made an enemy of Karsarrym the Storm Conqueror!" With those words, the immense invader fled the field of battle, trailed by Aidan''s elementals.


    "We... won?" asked Brighid, awe in her voice.


    "We drove it off," Aidan confirmed, "but I wouldn''t say that we won." He looked around the valley, taking in the broken remains of the Starchaser caravan. More than a hundred civilians lay dead or dying, and he would be surprised if even half of the contents of the wagons and carts were recovered intact. This had been a costly fight, and Aidan knew that Karsarrym would be better prepared for the next one. He watched the dragon flee to the southeast until it became nothing but a black speck on the horizon.


    Zurai

 Champion, Chapter 23: In This Together

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Secondday, 3rd week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Late Morning


    Near Ceallach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    It took hours to identify the dead, catalog the destroyed materials, and gather together the survivors. In the meantime, Aidan assisted Ailis and a few other mages with healing and talked with the Council. With all four of them present, they were able to decide on how to address the tribe.


    "I should have had the elementals escort both caravans in from the edge of my territory," Aidan said with a sigh.


    "Aidan," Brighid started to say, but Eilwen cut her off.


    "Horseshit." Aidan blinked in surprise. Eilwen never beat around the bush, but it was unusual for her to be so rude about it. "We had a hundred warriors and Ysbail with us; nothing short of a dragon or a full-scale invasion from a neighboring tribe would have been a threat." The venerable centaur glared at Aidan. "You are arrogant, Aidan. Not everything is about you."


    He wasn''t sure how to respond to that. "I wasn''t trying to make it about me."


    "Horseshit again. This was our failure, not yours. We chose to split the caravans, and we decided not to set out enough scouts. You were not even invited to that planning meeting, as I recall."


    "At your insistence, Eilwen," Fionn pointed out.


    "I know that!" she snapped. "I was a fool. There! I said it! Are you happy now?"


    "Perhaps we should set aside the question of blame for the moment," Gerwyn interjected, "and instead turn our attention to our response."


    "Agreed," murmured Anwn.


    "Fine with me," said Eilwen. "Thankfully, this could have gone much worse. No! Shut it!" The grandmother shook her finger at Aidan when he opened his mouth to object. "If you told any of us a month ago that a dragon would attack, we would have voted to abandon our territory, and it would have been unanimous."


    "She is right, lad," Gerwyn confirmed. "If I knew there was even a dragon active in the region, every decision I made would have been devoted to going in the exact opposite direction from it."


    "Coming out of this with half the caravan still alive is a miracle no less impressive than what you accomplished against the Taig, Aidan," Fionn added his opinion to the pile. "If we lost twice as many, I would still have counted this as a stunning victory, if crippling in cost."


    "That said, we did not kill Karsarrym," Anwn''s dour words cut to the heart of the issue. "He will be back, and he will be better prepared. It may still be best to abandon the territory." The wolf at her side shifted at that but stilled when she scratched its neck.


    "Or we could hunt him down," Aidan proposed. "He''s wounded pretty badly, or he wouldn''t have retreated. He didn''t use any magic against us or show any kind of regeneration, so he may be weakened for a while." A thought occurred to him. "Also, what are the chances we could get the nearby tribes to help us in this? If a dragon is such a threat, maybe we can create a coalition?"


    Gerwyn stroked his beard. "Hmm. It is hard to say. Leaving aside how rare any sort of alliance among the tribes is, you would have to convince them that not only is there a dragon to fight but that you stand a chance of killing it¡ªand that they stood to gain from helping us instead of attacking us while we are weak."


    "The first part should be easy," Aidan said and gestured to the severed dragon tail. "We have proof of the dragon''s presence and our ability to fight it."


    "There are two additional problems," Anwn again acted as a damper. "First, your elementals were instrumental in driving off Karsarrym; we would not have access to them if we hunt him to his lair. Second, we have no idea where he retreated to."


    "He flew off to the southeast."


    "Yes, and that is a third problem," Fionn noted. "Whether he stopped in their territory or not, we would have to go through Mist Stalker lands to find him. Any Starchasers who trespass on their borders would be killed on sight."


    "Any Starchaser, or any centaur?" Aidan asked.


    His question was greeted by silence as the Council members looked at each other. "No!" Brighid was the first to speak, "Please, Aidan, my love! You cannot go to them alone! They are slavers and murderers!"


    Aidan shook his head, "I don''t believe that any group of people is wholly good or evil. Leaving that aside, we only have three valid choices that I can see here: hunt down Karsarrym while he''s weakened, fortify Ceallach Macht and hope we can fight him when he''s at full strength and better-prepared, or flee. Of those three, I think taking a defensive posture is the riskiest; who knows what resources he has at his disposal? He was overconfident today, but next time it won''t go so easy on us. The second and third options also put the civilians at risk, which I am loath to do."


    "All three do," Eilwen rebutted. "If you go to the Mist Stalkers to negotiate or scout, that leaves the rest of us without your presence. Like it or not, I admit that you are the most dangerous Starchaser at the moment."


    "Not as much as you might think," Aidan rebutted. "I can give secondary control over the elementals to Brighid or Ailis, and we will be getting some allies soon."


    "Oh?" Gerwyn perked up. "What do you mean?"


    "The Ash Shroud Sisterhood sent a delegation to Ceallach Macht a little while back. They proposed a formal treaty between the Sisterhood and the Starchasers. I couldn''t sign off on anything for the tribe as a whole, of course, but I took the responsibility of negotiating a tentative treaty for you all to review. As the Lord of Ceallach Macht, I also invited them to take up residence in the city. I have it on good authority that they will return within the next few days to establish a permanent embassy."


    "Indeed? That is excellent news. What were their¡ªno, we can talk about that later, once we return to the city." Gerwyn looked as eager as Aidan had ever seen him. "But you are right; that does change things. I would also note that the Sisterhood has a more cordial relationship with the Mist Stalkers than we do. If you can convince some of them to join you, it would both be safer for you and give you some help in scouting for the dragon."


    Brighid snickered. "I know at least one harpy who would be offended if you did not ask her, my Lord."


    Aidan chuckled. "Yes, I''m sure Sunnild would agree. I''ll talk with her once she gets here¡ªassuming we agree on the course of action?"


    "I think," said Fionn with a measured tone, glancing at his fellow Councillors for confirmation, "that a diplomatic and information-gathering mission is worth pursuing. Whether we decide to hunt, fortify, or flee, it is still better to know more about our situation and to gather allies." The others nodded in agreement.


    "Alright, then. My understanding is that the Mist Stalkers are the only tribe that is openly hostile to us, correct?" Again, the Councillors nodded. Aidan continued, "Then my suggestion is that we send out similar diplomatic parties to our other neighbors. We don''t need to tell them about the dragon upfront, but surely the Sisterhood isn''t the only one nervous about the new Age and looking for allies. We can invite them to send delegations to Ceallach Macht to discuss things. I''m willing to swear an Oath to defend any of them that are attacked within my territory if needed."


    "I have contacts with the Snow-Water Riders," Gerwyn said. "I can get them to listen. At the very least, they will be interested in meeting you, Lord Aidan."


    "I think Mother knows one of the Ebon Bone-kin shamans, too. Maybe she could go to them?" Brighid proposed.


    "And we can ask Sarpedon about the gargoyles. I already invited them to the city and didn''t get a response, but maybe a dragon will be enough to stir their interest. I know there isn''t much that can hurt them, but after fighting him, I think Karsarrym may be on that list."


    Fionn rubbed his side. He''d been beyond bruised and battered when Ailis found him, with multiple broken ribs in both his upper and lower torsos. "He might be at that. I have not taken a single hit like that... maybe ever. Certainly not since the war. There are many preparations we will need to make before we fight him again."


    "Well, I have good news on that front as well," Aidan smiled. "Caer Macht has a Labyrinth entrance in it." The Councillors looked at him with blank expressions. "It''s a giant dungeon we can gather resources and experience from," he said by way of explanation. "Ailis and Sarpedon know more about it; I''ll ask them to make a presentation. Either way, it''s a chance for us to train up our warriors and a tempting reward to dangle in front of potential allies."


    "We are agreed then? Do I need to take a formal vote?" Fionn asked his colleagues.


    "No, Fionn, there is no need. We will do as the... as Aidan suggests."


    "Very well. Unless anyone has another issue to raise?" He glanced around, then continued, "We will adjourn for now, then. Let us get our people to their new homes."


    Aidan


    Noon


    "I still do not like it," Brighid told Aidan. "I know you feel that you need to do it, but even with Sunnild to protect you, I do not like you going into Mist Stalker territory." Aidan walked beside her; neither of them felt up to riding with their bodies as battered as they were.


    "Neither do we," agreed Cai, gesturing at herself and Llwyd.


    "I can''t explain it, but ever since I proposed it, a part of me is saying it''s something I have to do. Maybe the Brighaid is giving me a subtle hint, or perhaps I''m just developing a savior complex." Aidan shrugged.


    "You will cast your dream spell on me every night," came a demand from Brighid.


    "Oh? Look at you giving me orders," Aidan teased her.


    She blushed but held her ground. "I will not try to stop you, my love, but I never want to be away from you again. If I could figure out a way to join you, I would."


    "No, you wouldn''t." Aidan''s rejection was firm, but he pulled Brighid''s head down for a fierce kiss. "I''ll order you to stay if I have to."


    "I obey you out of love, not duty," Brighid responded. Aidan''s eyebrows rose¡ªthis was a spectacular display of defiance from her. There were tears in her eyes, he noted, and her voice was rough with emotion as she explained, "I love you with all of my heart, Aidan. You mean the world to me. But that makes it all the harder to let you face danger alone. I do what you tell me to because I love you and it makes both of us happy, but that is for play." She sniffled and nuzzled Aidan''s neck. "I do not know what I would do if you ordered me to leave you to die. Please do not ever put me in such a position."


    "Hey, hey, none of that," Aidan soothed her, stroking her hair and back. "It won''t go that badly, I promise. I''m going to plan things out with Ailis, Gerwyn, Fionn, and the Sisterhood delegation first. If they decide that it''s too dangerous, I''ll cancel the mission. I know that the Starchasers and Mist Stalkers don''t get along well, but I want to help bridge some of those chasms. I don''t want to count them as enemies without ever having met them."


    Then he grinned and tickled Brighid''s waist, drawing a squirm and a giggle from her. "Besides, I caught up to you now. We''re both level 19. I think I can be trusted to hold my own in combat at this point, and I''ll have Sunnild to guard my back."


    "The Mist Stalkers do not fight like we do, my Lord," Llwyd cautioned. "They prefer to strike from hiding and then fade back into the mists. If they decide to attack, you may not see it coming until it is too late."


    Aidan nodded, "I''ll keep that in mind, and all the other advice I get. Believe me, I don''t want to die again. The first two times were quite unpleasant."


    "Speaking of which," Brighid said, "was that your Soulfire spell I saw you use against Karsarrym?"


    "Um, yes? It was the only thing I had at the time that would hurt it."


    "Have you explained to Mother that you are using your soul to fuel some of your spells?"


    Aidan didn''t like where this was headed. "Ah, no?"


    "You will do so before leaving, or I swear I will have a couch made just so that you can sleep on it."


    "Now, see here, from what I remember, if we ever get a couch, it''s you sleeping there, not me."


    "That is acceptable as well; you take the bed, and Sunnild and I will take the couch."


    "Hey, now, that''s fighting dirty! Leave Sunnild out of this!"


    "And do not think you will get any more sympathy from Mother, either!"


    "Okay, okay," Aidan laughed, fending off pokes of Brighid''s fingers, "I promise I''ll talk to her about that, too. I''m a little more aware of what it costs me now than I was at Ceallach Macht, flame of my heart; I didn''t use it frivolously."


    "I know," she said, "but I worry. I intend to grow old with you, love, so you had best keep that in mind."


    "Yes, ma''am!"


    Zurai

 Champion, Chapter 24: Voice of Reason

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Secondday, 3rd week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Early Afternoon


    Outside Ceallach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Aidan and Brighid walked alongside the caravan all the way back to Ceallach Macht. Along the way, numerous Starchasers came up to him, thanking him for saving them. Aidan didn''t have the heart to turn them away, but his exhaustion must have come through because a group formed up around him, intercepting well-meaning well-wishers and taking their names for his later review.


    By the time they reached the city, Aidan was back astride Brighid, a compromise that came about when she refused to let him stumble along on his own feet any more and threatened to carry him around in her arms. Aidan knew she''d do it, but he had just enough pride left to balk at being treated as an invalid. When Brighid knelt and let him onto her back, a murmur went up from the crowd around them. No one spoke out or turned their back on the pair, however, and petitioners continued to speak to the attendants.


    A crowd of Starchasers met them at the central plaza, with more pouring out of the communal homes as word spread that the caravan had arrived. Murmurs spread through the gathered crowd as they saw the survivors'' condition; while most of the major injuries were healed, almost everyone was covered in dirt, bruises, and scratches. They also couldn''t help but notice how many faces were missing.


    Before the crowd could become too worked up, Eilwen stepped forward and raised her hands for silence. "You all have many questions, and they will be answered, I promise. For now, what you need to know is this: our land and people were attacked by an adult dragon." Cries of dismay filled the air, but Eilwen held up her hands, and after a moment, the noise died down. "I understand your reaction. I felt the same. I stood my ground before the wyrm, not because I was brave, but because I gave up. I knew that there was nothing to be done. A dragon! In the Highlands! None of us could stand up to it, not without warning and preparation."


    She shook her head. "But I was wrong. I gave up on the Starchasers too early and too easily. And, more to the point, I gave up on Aidan. It is no secret that I have opposed him at every turn. I had my reasons, and I still do not like many of the changes his presence has brought. I could argue that it was he who brought Karsarrym upon us, but I will not¡ªfor it was Aidan who fought the wyrm off." A susurrus of whispers spread through the listeners, and this time Eilwen didn''t stop them.


    "Yes, others participated, and among them, Ysbail deserves special note for her role in the fighting, but I watched the entire battle. I saw how Lord Aidan committed himself to the fight with his whole heart. I looked on while he faced down the dragon''s breath two separate times. It was Lord Aidan''s magic that scarred our enemy''s face, and it was Lord Aidan''s elementals¡ªin the guise of creatures I have never seen before and hope never to see again¡ªthat tore open its chest and blinded its left eye. I no longer have any doubts."


    Eilwen turned to Aidan, still hunched against Brighid''s back, and gave him a deep bow. "Lord Aidan, I have wronged you. I thought you to be nothing more than another power-hungry human who seized on an opportunity to enrich yourself at our expense. I knew you to be powerful, but I did not believe that you had our best interests in mind. I say now, before every Starchaser assembled here, that I was wrong. You are a Starchaser in spirit."


    All Aidan wanted was to take a nap, but he recognized the importance of the gesture Eilwen was making. "Lift your head, Eilwen. I accept your apology, though I deny the need for you to give it. You acted with the best interest of the tribe at heart, and while that has caused us to come into conflict, I respect you all the more for it. I was an outsider, dangerous and powerful. Why should you trust me?" Aidan bowed his head to Eilwen in return, then grinned at her. "I will say, though, that if you really want to apologize to me, you can bake me one of those honey-cakes."


    Laughter rippled through the crowd, lifting the serious mood. "In all seriousness, though, we did not manage to kill Karsarrym. He was battered and wounded and fled to recover his strength, but he will be back. The Council and I spoke on the subject, and we have plans. All we ask is that you all give your full effort to the tasks in front of you. There will be other announcements made soon, but for now, I need rest. Please, forgive me for withdrawing early, but the Council has everything in hand."


    Aidan slumped back down against Brighid''s back as she walked into Caer Macht. The crowd parted without a word, turning to watch as they vanished into the tunnel under the hill.


    "Well, after that, there will be no problem filling out the ranks of your personal guard, my Lord," Cai said once they were inside.


    "You have won over the entire Council now," added Llwyd, "and most of the people. I expect Ceirios will be elevated within a week."


    "Oh, don''t read too much into what Eilwen said," Aidan laughed. "She doesn''t hate me anymore, but she still doesn''t approve of the changes I''m going to bring. She''s not going to stop voting against me; she''ll just be doing it for more honest reasons."


    Further discussion was derailed by a black-furred form teleporting onto Brighid''s back and standing up to rest her paws on Aidan''s shoulders from behind. Riama yowled her displeasure and sent him <distress anger terror> "You left me behind! I could feel your fear, but I couldn''t help you!" She dropped back down onto all fours, then wormed her way in between Aidan''s chest and Brighid''s back. "You are never to do that again!"


    "Sorry, love," Aidan said out loud, withdrawing one arm from around Brighid''s waist to pet his familiar. "I didn''t know where you were. And, to be honest, it''s probably better that you weren''t there. You couldn''t hurt the dragon, and I don''t think you would''ve survived that first lightning breath."


    "I do not care! You will never leave me behind while you fight again!" Despite her fierce words, Riama purred and rubbed her snout against Aidan''s belly.


    "What is it with the women in my life getting demanding all of a sudden?" Aidan asked the ceiling.


    "Oh, you have not seen demanding yet." Aidan could hear the smirk in Brighid''s voice. "I hope you are not actually expecting to sleep for a while yet, my love, because you just defeated a dragon in combat, and that makes me very, very needy."


    "Oh, Lord, you''re going to finish what the damned lizard started. Be ready to avenge me, Cai, Llwyd!"


    "Nope, not stepping in that one for you, boss. We will be out here where we cannot hear the yelling and moaning." Llwyd saluted from the entrance to the altar room.


    Cai waved at them, calling out to Brighid, "Make sure he gets a good night''s sleep afterward!"


    "Traitors! I''m surrounded by tyrants and traitors!"


    Aidan


    Thirdday, 3rd week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Early Morning


    The Lord''s Chambers, Caer Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Aidan woke the next morning with a groan. He felt like he''d spent too much time in the wrong part of the gym the day before; his muscles were strained and sore, and he felt like he was covered in bruises. That being said, it was still a pleasant way to wake up. He lay against Brighid in a tangle of limbs, his head pillowed on her bare bosom and her chin tucked against his hair. Riama was curled up in the small of his back, purring ever so softly in her sleep; unusually for her, she hadn''t left the room when he and Brighid made love.


    He smiled, remembering how attentive Brighid had been, not even letting him move to please her while she worshipped him. He''d teased her some by processing his level ups¡ªspreading his Attribute points mostly to his mental stats with a little in Toughness and Endurance¡ªbut she hadn''t batted an eye. In the end, she worked him to multiple peaks, and he gave her some relief with Magic Hands.


    Brighid was awake; he could feel her breath in his hair, and it didn''t have the rhythm of sleep. "Good morning, my beautiful love."


    "Good morning," she responded, kissing the top of his head.


    "Sorry if I upset you yesterday afternoon. I was exhausted and hurting, but that doesn''t excuse it." Aidan squeezed her with his arms; Brighid squeezed back.


    "I know. It is hard, sometimes, for me to remember how far you have come. When I first met you¡ªwhat was it, two months ago?¡ªyou were as weak as a newborn kitten. Two Argyle Rattoks almost did you in; do you remember that?"


    "I do remember. That was the first clue that I was in another world rather than just playing a game. At the time, it was the worst pain I ever felt."


    Brighid rubbed his back. "And now you could annihilate an entire swarm of them without taking a scratch. You grew so powerful so fast, but part of me still sees you as that helpless little foal."


    "Oh? Was that what attracted you to me? You thought I was helpless?" Aidan teased his lover.


    "No," she denied, "that was because you did not¡ªdo not¡ªact like anyone else I have ever met. I will not deny that I enjoyed teasing you about how inept you were, though."


    Aidan chuckled. "That first night, when you came down to the stream to bathe with me, blew my mind. I don''t know if I''ve mentioned this to you, love, but you are absolutely gorgeous. I never really even registered the possibility that a centaur could be attractive to me before I met you. Not to put too fine a point on things, but you do have a horse''s butt."


    Brighid squawked in mock outrage, but Aidan kept talking. "Don''t get me wrong, I could appreciate a beautiful horse, but it''s the same sort of appreciation that I have for looking at the sunrise over the hills; a piece of natural art, but nothing personally relevant. But that was never the case with you. From the time you barged in on me that first morning I never saw you as anything but the most beautiful woman I''d ever seen."


    Brighid wriggled in embarrassment but subsided after Aidan kissed her sternum. "I know I''ve said it before, love, but you''re the best thing that''s ever happened to me. I know I make things hard for you sometimes; I''m moody, I''m easily angered when I''m stressed, and I want to protect you just as much as you want to protect me."


    Aidan shifted, moving back a little so that he could tilt his head and press his lips to Brighid''s. She melted into the kiss, letting out happy little moans as their tongues dueled. Riama sent Aidan a disgruntled, "Again?" before stretching and making her way out of the room; Brighid giggled when she saw.


    Aidan broke the kiss, then ducked his head to kiss and nibble along Brighid''s neck. "I want you to know that even when you''re wearing this," he placed a kiss next to the charm that dangled from Brighid''s collar, "you can always overrule me. In fact, I want you to. If you think I''m going too far or doing something boneheaded, I want you to tell me so, just like you did at the forge that day. Don''t let me lose myself. I trust you to keep me grounded."


    Brighid snorted a good-natured laugh. "As if I need your permission for that," she teased him. "I told you, I serve you out of love, not duty or obligation. I love being your meek, horny little mare, but first and foremost, I am your Soulmate. My love compels me to check you when you overreach."


    "Ah, as always, I worry about things I have no control over," Aidan chuckled. "What I do have control over, though, is making up for yesterday afternoon. You did all of the work and received little of the reward. It''s my time to return the favor."


    "Are you going to show me just how much you love my horse''s ass?"


    "I''m going to show you how much I love my Soulmate''s ass¡ªand every other piece of you I can get my hands on."


    Brighid moaned as Aidan''s hands started to roam across her torso. "Mm, and you have so very many hands at your disposal."


    "All the better to pamper you with, my love."


    Zurai

 Champion, Chapter 25: Insatiable

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Thirdday, 3rd week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Late Morning


    Caer Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Aidan hummed to himself as he left the Lord''s chambers. He left Brighid behind, sweaty and exhausted and still twitching from aftershocks. She''ll catch up. Riama appeared from the shadows, twining between his legs as he walked, and Aidan took a moment to pet her and scratch her ears before seeking out Ailis.


    He found her, as usual, in the library. "Good morning, Ailis," he greeted her. He bent down to kiss her on the cheek, but she turned her head and met his lips with hers. That brought a smile to his lips that only widened when her mouth opened and her slim hand tangled in his hair. Glad I washed my mouth and brushed my teeth before I left; this would be more than a little awkward if I didn''t.


    "Good morning, Apprentice," Ailis said eventually after breaking for air. A soft red flush suffused her cheeks and lips, and it took considerable restraint on Aidan''s part not to dive back in for another kiss. Instead, he walked around the table and sat down across from his mother-in-law/frenemy/mentor/love interest; Riama immediately claimed his lap. "Here for more lessons?"


    "Yes," he nodded, "and also on command from your daughter."


    "Oh? Brighid commanding you? This promises to be interesting." She took a sip from her ever-present tea while she waited for him to explain.


    "Oh yes, she had quite some words for me yesterday." Aidan snorted to himself. "Despite her inclinations, she has no trouble telling me when I''ve fucked up. Which I''m happy for, don''t get me wrong; I don''t want a mindless doll. Anyway, she reminded me that I was supposed to tell you about the effects of some of my spells." He gave Ailis a quick description of his Animamancy spells and the consequences he faced after expending so much of his soul battling the Taig.


    By the halfway point of his explanation, Ailis''s flush vanished, and her skin went even paler than normal. She set down her teacup; Aidan noticed her hands trembling before she hid them under the table. When he finished, she remained silent for a while before speaking. "I will not second-guess your uses of these spells, Aidan; I was not there to experience what you did, and in any case, you remain here with us. Instead, I will teach you what we know of souls."


    Ailis drew in a shaky breath and settled into her lecturing voice. "Living beings are made up of three core components: the body, the mind, and the soul. The body and mind you know well enough for now; there are intricacies, but we can put them aside for later lessons. The important thing to know is that the soul is the only one of those three with continuity. It is possible to transfer the soul from one body to another or even leave it bodiless, but regardless of where it resides, your soul is provably yours."


    Aidan thought back to an encounter in the streets of Ceallach Macht. "That makes sense; I know for a fact that when I die, I return in a new body."


    Ailis nodded. "I did not know that for certain, but I suspected it. It is harder to prove that one''s mind is separate from their soul, but I can show you the research later if you want to see it. So. Your body is not you, and as hard as it is to understand, neither is your mind. You are your soul. It is the essence of what makes each person and creature a unique individual. It contains all the collected experiences of your life, much like the body collects scars and the mind stores memories."


    "So experience points are a measure of the soul?"


    Ailis frowned and shook her head. "No, although it is a reasonable question. Experience points are an expression of growth in the soul, but they are, hmm, they are an extra layer built on top? Experience points, Classes, levels, Skills; these are all ways to understand our souls, but they are like playing a game of pantomimes. Let me use you as an example: when you lost experience points and Skill levels upon revival, that did not change your soul. The only thing that changed was your mind''s ability to understand it."


    Understanding dawned. "I am my soul, not my mind or body. When I revive, my soul is intact, but my new mind is less in tune with it."


    "Exactly," Ailis nodded. "However, when you cast one of your spells that are fueled with your soul..."


    "I''m actually destroying who I am to do it," Aidan finished, horrified.


    Ailis nodded again sharply. "A soul can recover from damage, just as the mind and body can. But, just like the mind and body, that healing changes the soul. You become someone different. A small cut that generates a tiny scar does not meaningfully change how your body works, and a second of your Soulfire Blast here and there should have a similarly negligible effect. But when you shear away whole sections of yourself to power suicidal magic strong enough to obliterate an army?" She shuddered.


    "I see," Aidan said, swallowing. This was his Earthly agnosticism biting him in the ass, he realized. He was willing to accept that such a thing as a soul existed, especially given that he was in a world with magic and gods, but his life on Earth hadn''t prepared him to consider the implications of that.


    "I suspect," Ailis continued, "but cannot and will not try to prove, that the reason your revival took so much longer the second time is that you could not return until your soul healed. Whatever divine magic fuels your resurrection cannot craft a new body and mind for you until it knows who you are."


    A new, even more terrifying thought occurred to Aidan. "Wait. If it''s rebuilding my mind based on the changes to my soul, does that mean my personality and thought processes changed?"


    "I cannot be certain," Ailis said, "but it is likely."


    "Okay, message received, loud and clear. Be very, very, very cautious about using my soul to fuel magic. I need to apologize to Brighid."


    Ailis reached across the table and took hold of his hand. "I am glad to see you take this so seriously. As I said at the start, I will not second-guess your usage of these spells, but now that you are aware of the full implications, your future choices have a better foundation."


    Aidan nodded and squeezed Ailis''s hand before entwining his fingers with hers. "Thank you, Ailis. This is information that I need to know, and I appreciate that you showed me why it is so important rather than just beating me over the head with it. The temptation must have been there." Ailis''s lips quirked up at that, but she didn''t respond. "I will have nightmares from the implications of all of this, but I brought that on myself. In the meantime, shall we proceed with our usual lessons?"


    "Indeed."


    Aidan


    Mid-Afternoon


    Ceallach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Aidan emerged into the late fall sunlight and stretched. It was starting to get cold at night, but the sun still kept things well above freezing during the day. This was his favorite time of the year back at home, though he expected it to get colder faster here. He shook his head; no sense thinking of Earth as if it was at all relevant to him. He''d just make himself homesick again.


    "What is your agenda for this afternoon, my Lord?" asked Llwyd from his place at Aidan''s left hand.


    "Council meeting," Aidan grunted. "We need to go over the inventory of supplies and the list of casualties from Karsarrym''s attack. If we have time after, I plan to bring up the Ash Shroud treaty as well."


    Llwyd nodded. "Yes, sir. In that case, do you mind if I get started on recruiting for your guard? I expect you will be safe enough with Fionn around."


    "Yes, please do. I''ll bring a pair of elementals as an escort as well." A moment later, two eagle-shaped elementals swooped down and morphed into centaurs, taking positions on either side of him.


    "Very well, my Lord. May your meeting be productive and not bore you to death."


    Aidan laughed and waved as Llwyd split off, then proceeded to the housing unit that the Council requisitioned for meetings while they waited for construction on the Idyllic Forum to finish. He knocked at the door then let himself in. The smell of fresh-baked bread and some sort of stew greeted him.


    "Oh, this is an upgrade!" He laughed. "I might even stop dreading Council meetings if there''s food involved."


    "Hmmph," scoffed Eilwen, not even turning to look at him from her position at the fireplace, "do not grow too used to it, youngling." She turned from the kettle and checked the oven. Whatever was inside seemed to meet her approval because she pulled out a tray and set it on a nearby counter. "Bread and butter are already on the table; help yourself. The stew needs a little while longer. And these," she declared, piling up a few rounded confections onto a plate, "are for you, Fionn."


    Fionn eyed the cookies as if Eilwen had presented him with a plate full of hissing vipers. "I am not hungry at the moment, thank you."


    "Oh, don''t be a stick in the mud," Aidan chuckled as he sat down at the table. "She went through all that trouble to make them for you; the least you can do is try one."


    Gerwyn let out a guffaw and added, "Yes, Fionn, give it a go! What is the worst that could happen?"


    Fionn sent Aidan a betrayed look, then sighed and began to nibble at one of the cookies. Aidan pondered on that for a moment before shrugging and deciding it was an inside joke that he wasn''t privy to. He cut off a hunk of still-hot bread and slathered it with butter before taking a bite. "Mm!" he moaned. "Delicious as always, Eilwen. Thank you for the food, in all seriousness. I know enough about cooking to realize that you were probably up all morning preparing for this."


    "You are welcome," replied the elder centaur from somewhere behind him. "Say what I will about you, you are humble and polite, and I appreciate that. Here, this is for you."


    Aidan''s eyes widened as Eilwen set a plate down in front of him. Atop it was a giant honey-drenched roll of sweet bread. "Oh! I only said that as a joke to ease the tension, I didn''t mean¡ª"


    "Are you saying you do not want one of my honey-cakes? I am sure I can find someone else to eat it, in that case."


    Gerwyn was quick to add, "Oh, take it, lad. Do not be such a stick in the mud!" before laughing again. Even Anwn''s lips curved upwards in a smile.


    Aidan decided to shut up and take a bite. It was rich and sweet and probably the best fair-style food he''d ever tasted.


    "Oh, and there are few special ingredients in that; Brighid can thank me tomorrow. By the way, when are you going to marry her? It is obvious to anyone who sees you two that you are both hopelessly in love, so you may as well make it official."


    Aidan choked on the dessert. Did she just drug me? And with what? Gerwyn laughed uproariously, pounding on the table. This time, Fionn and Anwn joined him.


    Aidan


    Late Afternoon


    Aidan emerged from the meeting several hours later, feeling flushed and horny. That witch, he grumbled internally, slipped me an aphrodisiac of some kind. He made his way out onto the main avenue, then turned toward the hill.


    "Lord Aidan!" Aidan looked around just in time to see Sunnild flap her wings and launch herself at him. He caught her in his arms, but her momentum bowled him over, leaving her astride his hips, wriggling happily against him as she showered him with kisses. She wasn''t wearing her armor, thankfully; the collision would have been much less pleasant if she were. Instead, a tight crop-top covered her breasts and little else while a pair of very brief pants served to preserve the rest of her modesty.


    "I missed you so much!" Sunnild exclaimed, nuzzling against his neck. Her hips shifted, rubbing against the result of Eilwen''s meddling, and she moaned, "Mm, and I can feel how much ya missed me."


    Aidan sat up, shifting the eager harpy into his lap, and caught her lips in a fierce kiss. Her gray wings wrapped around them, shielding them from view as her lips parted and her tongue sought his. Aidan felt Sunnild start to grind her hips against him and decided that he needed to take action if he didn''t want to end up putting on a public show.


    "I did miss you, and so did Brighid. What do you say we go find her?"


    "Mm!" came the younger woman''s eager agreement. She shifted off of his lap before darting forward for another kiss. Aidan stood, dragging Sunnild with him, and wrapped his right arm around her waist. She molded herself to him, resting her head on his shoulder and reciprocating with an arm around his waist and a wing curled around his side. Aidan led her off towards Brighid''s workshop, ignoring the glances, whispers, frowns, and smiles from the centaurs they passed.


    Brighid


    Brighid''s Forge, Caer Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Brighid heaved the enchanted blast furnace into position beneath the flue in her forge, then stepped back and heaved a sigh of relief. By some miracle¡ªThank Birgitte!¡ªall of her forge equipment survived the dragon attack. It had taken her all day, but she had a fully-functional forge again, which filled in a tiny little hole in her heart. She loved Aidan, and she was pretty sure that she loved Sunnild, but smithcraft was part of her identity.


    Brighid wiped her brow with the back of her hand, then looked down at her shirt. It clung to her breasts, plastered there by sweat. Grimacing, she reached down and peeled it off as well, tossing it into the corner of the forge to deal with later. "Ugh, I need a bath," she muttered to herself.


    "Well, well, I thought I''d surprise you, but it looks like you''re getting yourself ready for us, love." Aidan''s voice came from behind her. Brighid''s heart swelled in her chest, and she whirled to see him lounging against the doorway.


    "Hello, love; how did the Council meeting go?" Brighid smiled at Aidan and made her way over to him. She paused partway there, tilting her head and asking, "Wait, what do you mean, ''ready for us''?"


    Aidan grinned at her and stepped aside, making room for Sunnild to dart into the room and throw herself at Brighid. She caught the happy harpy and laughed, hugging her tight. "Our little dove came back to us!"


    "Mm-hm! And I don''t ever hafta go back. I''m all yours now." Brighid squeezed her lover extra tight and bent down to kiss her. Sunnild stood up on her toes to meet Brighid, her lips already parted. Brighid slid her hands down to grope Sunnild''s firm butt as their tongues dueled; Sunnild responded by slipping a hand between them to cup one of Brighid''s breasts.


    "I missed you," Sunnild panted to Brighid between kisses. "I love you, an'' I love him, an'' I missed you both so much."


    Brighid felt her heart swell near to bursting. She attempted to disentangle from the harpy, saying, "I am getting you all sweaty. Come on, let me clean up, and we can chat and have dinner," but Sunnild would have none of it.


    "Un-unh," she denied. "I''ve got you an'' I''m not lettin'' go. We''re all gonna get sweaty anyway, so I don''t care that you''re that way already."


    Aidan stepped up behind Sunnild, fitting himself carefully between her wings and sliding his arms around both of their waists. Brighid smiled as she felt Sunnild wiggle back against him, pressing her butt¡ªand Brighid''s hands, which were still groping her¡ªagainst her love''s hardness. "Well, we can at least move to our chamber where it''s comfortable?" she suggested.


    Sunnild started to object again, but Aidan accepted with a glint in his eye. "That sounds good, yeah. C''mere, Sunnild. Have you ever ridden on a centaur''s back before?" Brighid stiffened, then moaned loudly as heat surged through her.


    "Mm, she likes that idea! Her nipples just got all hard." Sunnild stepped back from Brighid, squeezing her breast again before letting Aidan lead her to Brighid''s flank and lift her up onto her back. Brighid trembled at the feel of Sunnild''s weight resting on her back, where she had only ever carried her Master before. Her mind whirled, flames licking away at the edges of her thoughts.


    Aidan swung himself up behind Sunnild and said, "Yeah, don''t try this with any other centaur, but Brighid here is a tame riding mare. She even prances on command; don''t you, love?"


    "Yes, sir!" Brighid gasped out. "Do you want me to prance for you, my Lord, my Lady?"


    "Mm-hm!" Came Sunnild''s immediate affirmation. Brighid shuddered again with arousal, then set off through the tunnels, lifting her legs high with each step.


    "Ooh," her female rider moaned, "that feels kinda good." Brighid felt Sunnild shift and press her hips down against her spine. She could feel the warmth and dampness coming from between the harpy''s thighs.


    "She also likes when you do this," Aidan added. Brighid felt arms reach around her torso from behind, and two pairs of hands sink into her exposed breasts. She moaned and arched her back, pressing her tits into the teasing grasp of her lovers. Twenty fingers kneaded and stroked her flesh and toyed with her nipples, causing the fires within her to rise ever higher.


    Brighid turned the corner toward the altar chamber and narrowly avoided running into her mother. Her eyes widened in shock and embarrassment, and she stumbled to a stop. "Oh, hullo Ailis," Aidan said, voice jovial. "Eilwen slipped me some drugs in the food at the meeting and Sunnild''s back, so I''m taking them back to my chambers for the night to celebrate."


    Ailis''s lips twitched in amusement, and Brighid felt a blush cover her from head to chest. Her mother eyed her up and down, then nodded at Aidan. "Well, if you had some of Eilwen''s special sweets, I can hardly blame you. Try to get some sleep tonight, my Lord." Brighid shuddered with barely-suppressed need as her mother reached up and pulled her Master''s head down for a kiss. She heard Ailis whisper something to Aidan, but the blood roaring in her ears kept her from understanding it.


    A moment later, Brighid felt a hand smack her rump and she startled, leaping forward into an instinctive trot. She ran the rest of the short distance to Aidan''s suite, too worked up to delay things any further. She came to a halt beside her Lord''s bed and knelt for her passengers to disembark. She could feel her tail flagging high, revealing her slick arousal to anyone behind her, but she didn''t care. With both Aidan and Sunnild riding her, the only thing the furnace of her lust let her focus on was them.


    But they did not dismount. Brighid waited several seconds, then looked over her shoulder in confusion. The sight she saw made her groan in tormented arousal. Sunnild''s shirt was pulled up above her breasts, and one of Aidan''s hands slid over the young harpy''s smooth skin there. His other hand moved underneath Sunnild''s lower garment, up and down, up and down, then a quick circle at the top before repeating. Now that Brighid knew to listen for them, she could hear Sunnild''s moans despite the passionate kiss her lovers shared.


    Oh, Braihan, she thought to her herself, he''s going to make her cum while riding me and make me wait for mine. Why does that stoke my flames so high? Brighid felt something at her chest and looked down to realize that she started kneading her own breasts without thinking about it. She returned her eyes to the pair on her back just as Sunnild began to whimper into Aidan''s mouth and thrust her hips against his hand. Cum for him, Brighid panted internally, cum all over my Lord''s hand and all over my back!


    But before Sunnild could reach her peak, Aidan pulled his hands from her pants. Brighid groaned in disappointment along with the harpy, but he wasn''t done with either of them yet. "Stay put," he ordered Brighid, then slid down off her back, only to climb back up again in front of Sunnild. Now Sunnild and Aidan were facing each other, and her Lord''s back was against her own. "Lean forward a little, love," he commanded, and she obeyed. "Yes, that should be good. You can hold yourself up with your hands if you need to."


    So saying, he leaned back against her. A renewed blush spread across Brighid''s body as she realized what was happening: Aidan was using her as a piece of furniture, and more, he was going to fuck Sunnild like that. Indeed, she felt the harpy''s weight shift and lift off of her for a moment while the smaller girl brought a leg up¡ªAidan was pulling her pants off. Then she settled down again, farther forward, and Brighid could feel how hot and wet Sunnild''s womanhood was.


    They moved again, Sunnild''s groin lifting up and Aidan''s legs sliding along Brighid''s flanks, then there was a loud feminine moan as Sunnild settled her weight down onto Aidan''s lap. "Oh, yes! I missed this! Ya feel so good inside me!" Weight shifted on Brighid''s back; Sunnild''s shins dug into her flanks while Aidan pushed off from her hindquarters. "Yesss!" Sunnild hissed in pleasure. "Aidan! Please! I need it!"


    "What do you need, little dove?" came Aidan''s teasing voice.


    "Oh, please! I need you, Aidan, please!"


    "You''ve got me, darling. I''m right here." Brighid sank her fingers into her breasts, wishing desperately that it was her receiving her Lord''s attention but unwilling to disturb the lovers on her back.


    "Nooo," whined Sunnild, "don''t make me beg ya! Ya know what I want!" From the feel of things, Sunnild was trying to grind herself on Aidan, but he was holding her still.


    "I do," agreed Aidan, "but I want to hear you say it."


    "Ah! Mm! Fuck!" Sunnild held out for several seconds, but it was a foregone conclusion that she would break before Aidan did. "Please! Please, Lord Aidan, fuck me! Your cock is fillin'' me just right but yer not fuckin'' me, an'' I need it!"


    "There you go, that wasn''t so hard, was it?" Aidan''s hips lifted off Brighid''s back, prompting a deep groan of appreciation from the girl in his lap.


    "Yes! So hard, so hard in me! Fuckin'' me so hard! Ohfuck! Mm! Mmm! MMMFuck!" Sunnild''s legs squeezed hard against Brighid''s ribs as the girl convulsed atop Lord Aidan. Brighid envied her, both for receiving her Master''s sexual attention and for how quick and hard the girl came. Thankfully, Aidan didn''t push her through multiple orgasms; Brighid wasn''t sure she''d be able to handle much more. Her Master swung his leg over and slid down off her back, carrying Sunnild with him.


    "Please, Master!" Brighid begged once they were both dismounted, "I was a good mare for you! I bore you both upon my back and pranced through the halls naked for you! Please, please, Aidan, I need you, please, take me!" She lifted her tail as high as it would go, baring herself to him.


    "You have been a good girl," Aidan agreed, "and good girls deserve rewards." Brighid felt a shiver travel along her spine at his acknowledgment. She watched him move into position behind her, his hard dick bobbing in front of him, still slick with Sunnild''s juices. He reached out and stroked her soaked nether lips, drawing a helpless moan of lust from Brighid. She knew he was teasing her, drawing the pleasure out so that it was better in the end, but she wanted him now.


    Warm fingers parted her labia, nudging and probing at her inner folds. "Please!" she begged, tilting her hips to expose more of herself. Aidan''s thumb swirled across her lower lips, then slid down, finding the hood protecting her clit and rubbing firmly against her most sensitive spot. "Aidan!" she cried out, "Please, Master! Please let me have my reward for being a good girl for you!"


    Then she felt it. Aidan''s fingers spread her lips apart, and the head of his beautiful cock nudged at her entrance. His hands slid up, fingers digging into her hips, and then he was sliding into her, forcing her inner walls apart and filling the Aidan-shaped void within. She cried out in ecstasy as her Lord buried himself to the hilt in her pussy, the heat of his manhood pulsing through her and fanning her own flames.


    "Yes!" she screamed when he pulled out and thrust back into her. "Master!" as his hips slapped against her rump. "Fuck me!" while his fingers drilled into her haunches, overwhelming her mind with a tiny thrill of pain to enhance the pleasure she felt. Her body moved without her conscious control, bucking backward and impaling herself on Aidan''s rigid length. A wave built up inside, traveling up her back, making her arch in ecstasy. Brighid opened her mouth to scream praises to her Lord, but no sound emerged. The tension in her body ratcheted higher and higher, her muscles coiling in anticipation, and then the wave rebounded, crashing down to where Aidan rutted into her.


    The fire in Brighid''s mind exploded, overloading every sense until her entire world was the cock plowing into her from behind. She knew she was babbling, spewing lewd nonsense, but all that mattered was her Master''s cock taking her, claiming her once more, renewing the sexual contract that entwined her heart and soul with his. She felt her Master''s thrusts growing harsher, rougher, more desperate, and then his cock swelled and jerked inside her. A second explosive orgasm stole her thoughts.


    Brighid didn''t know how long she shuddered and convulsed in senseless pleasure. By the time she managed to gather her wits back together, Aidan was once again making love to Sunnild. She was on his lap, facing away from him this time¡ªand directly towards Brighid. Brighid drank in the sight, her eyes darting from the look of pleasure on Sunnild''s face to her bare, heaving breasts, and then down across her belly. Aidan''s hands held the harpy''s thighs wide apart, giving Brighid a perfect view of his manhood plunging in and out of Sunnild''s slick, hairless pussy.


    Sunnild noticed Brighid''s revived awareness and demanded, "Kiss me!"


    Driven forward by the lusty inferno warming her belly, Brighid complied without hesitation. She shuffled up onto the bed, then leaned forward. Brighid''s breasts met Sunnild''s first, then their lips joined together. Two feminine hands tangled in Brighid''s hair, dragging a moan out of her. She pressed herself harder against Sunnild, overpowering the smaller girl and forcing her tongue into Sunnild''s mouth. Her Mistress may be a pacifist, but she fought Brighid for control, their tongues twisting and writhing against each other.


    Brighid felt Sunnild''s hand in her hair, pulling her back, and reluctantly allowed her Mistress to break the kiss. "Good girl," Sunnild panted, causing Brighid''s pussy to clench. "Now, my boobs." The hand pushed her head down, and Brighid eagerly followed. She trailed her lips down the side of Sunnild''s neck, then onto the girl''s chest and up the slopes of her perky breasts. Brighid''s lips sought, then found, one of her lover''s nipples; she sucked it into her mouth and lashed it with her tongue.


    Sunnild moaned, her movements growing more frantic as Brighid continued to suck and lick her nipples. She switched back and forth, making sure not to neglect either of her Mistress''s breasts for too long. Then the hands in her hair exerted pressure again. "Lick me! Lick my pussy and Lord Aidan''s cock! Make us both come!"


    Brighid''s lust ramped up another notch at the command, a sexual fog permeating her thoughts once again. She left her hands on her Mistress''s breasts but lowered her head further, resting her chest against the bed-cushion to get the proper angle. Aidan''s hands shifted, pulling Sunnild''s legs even further apart, and Brighid felt drawn inexorably towards where their groins met.


    Brighid extended her tongue and flicked the tip across Sunnild''s exposed clit. She was rewarded with a jerk of the harpy''s hips and a cry of "Yes!" Then she dove in, lapping at the Sunnild''s labia and Aidan''s cock in equal measure. "Oh, fuck!" the younger girl cried out above her. "Oh, Brighid! Aidan! Yer gonna make me! Mm!" Fingers twisted in Brighid''s hair, pulling and pushing her to the spots Sunnild wanted her to hit. "Mm!" her Mistress moaned, "Mm, Brighid! Yer gonna make me cum on yer Master''s dick!"


    "Gonna make me cum too," Aidan grunted.


    "Ooh! Inside, please inside me, my love! It''s safe! Safe for you! I promise! Ohfuck, oh Brighid, Aidan, I''m cumming!" Sunnild babbled; her only answer was a groan and a lunging thrust from Aidan that forced her pussy even harder onto Brighid''s tongue. Brighid licked at the spot where her Master''s cock disappeared into her Mistress, seeking out and swallowing every trace of their mutual orgasms. Aidan''s hips rocked, shoving his pulsing manhood deep into Sunnild, flooding her with his cum.


    Brighid''s mind wandered as she continued to feast on her Mistress''s lower lips. She imagined Aidan''s seed taking root in the nubile young woman. She watched in her mind''s eye as Sunnild''s belly expanded and her breasts swelled with milk. A different warmth pooled inside her, still pleasure but compersion rather than lust. She smiled into her lover''s groin; she knew Aidan was falling in love with the girl just as she was, and it was only a matter of time before her daydream became a reality.


    Then hands seized her rump, holding her steady as a stiff rod of red-hot velvet speared into her depths. "Anh!" Brighid cried out against Sunnild''s thigh. When did he move? "Oh, fuck! How are you still hard!" She lifted her head up, intending to look behind her and ensure that it was, in fact, Aidan ravaging her, but Sunnild''s hands tightened in her hair and dragged her back to the harpy''s bald slit. The fires surged inside Brighid, and she gave herself over to her lust.


    Zurai

 Champion, Chapter 26: Spread Your Wings

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Fourthday, 3rd week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Early Morning


    The Master''s Chambers, Caer Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Aidan woke up sandwiched between two beauties for the second time in his life. I could get used to this, he thought to himself. Does that mean Brighid was right? Aidan lay supine with Sunnild sprawled out on top of him and Brighid snuggled up to his side. Brighid trapped one of his arms sometime during the night, wrapping both of hers around it and pulling it between her breasts. Sunnild, meanwhile, had her arms wrapped around his chest and her legs entangled with his; her wings covered all three of them. Feeling affectionate, Aidan kissed the top of the harpy''s head.


    "Mm, mornin''," she murmured against his skin.


    "Good morning, darling," he replied, nuzzling her crest. The feathers on top of her head weren''t stiff like flight feathers; they felt more like down, soft and luxurious to the touch. Sunnild stretched, untangling her arms and legs one by one before propping herself up above Aidan. She gazed down at him from mere inches away, then tilted her head and leaned down for a quick kiss.


    "I know ya missed me, but if that''s the kind of welcome back I get, I might hafta go away more often."


    Aidan blushed and glanced away. "Ah, I was not entirely in my right mind. One of the Councillors decided to play a bit of a trick on me; she slipped some drugs into a honey-cake she made for me."


    Sunnild giggled. "Think she''ll tell me what she used? I dunno that I could handle that every night, but it might be fun to have in my back pocket."


    "I''ll introduce you," Aidan promised. "Though, I''m not sure how often I could handle it myself. I''m sore; I can''t imagine how you girls feel."


    "Thoroughly ravished," interjected a sleepy voice from beside him.


    "Mm!" agreed Sunnild then sought out Brighid''s lips for a kiss.


    "Sorry if I got too rough. It was hard to think of anything but you two there towards the end."


    Brighid broke away from Sunnild''s lips and dragged Aidan into a long, gentle kiss. Sunnild chirped, "No apologies needed fer me!"


    "And as for me," Brighid murmured against Aidan''s lips, "there was nothing about last night that I did not enjoy. There was a certain ... fierceness to your attention that made my blood boil. Consider that to be on my list of desired activities."


    "Well, apology retracted, then," Aidan chuckled. He kissed both girls again, then continued, "as much as I''d love to lie in bed with you both all day and repeat some of last night, I don''t think I''m capable of it. And, besides, there''s a lot of work for all of us to do. Why don''t we take a bath and get some breakfast? Now that you''re back, Sunnild, there are a lot of things I need to bring you up to speed on."


    "Mm!" "Sounds good to me."


    Aidan


    Mid-Morning


    "Now yer just pullin'' my feathers," accused Sunnild. "At least, I hope ya are. A dragon, too, now?"


    "I wish I was joking," Aidan said, voice grim. "And the worst part is that we''ll have to fight him again. That''s one of the things I wanted to talk to you about; Karsarrym flew off to the southeast."


    "Southeast? What''s that got to do with¡ªwait. Yer gonna chase the dragon?" Sunnild spluttered.


    "Not how I''d put it, no, but I do intend to make contact with the Mist Stalkers. I want to see if they know anything about the dragon and if they''re willing to send a delegation here."


    "I don''t like it. You shouldn''t go there alone, and ya can''t bring any Starchasers with ya." It was the first time Aidan had ever seen Sunnild unhappy.


    "That''s where you come in. Would you like to join me?"


    "Me?" Sunnild seemed stunned.


    "The Sisterhood is on better terms with the cats than we are," Brighid supplied, "and Aidan needs someone to watch his back."


    Aidan picked up from there. "I don''t think we''ve discussed it, but I''m a mage. I know how to use my sword¡ª" he ignored the giggle-snort from Brighid "¡ªbut I''m much more effective with magic. You, meanwhile, unless I miss my guess, would actually be better than Brighid at protecting me. Not as good at killing things, but I''m not looking to do any killing at all on this trip."


    "You... ya want me ta come because of my Skills? Yer not just makin'' an excuse ta be alone with me fer a few days? Ya trust me to guard you in place of yer bodyguards?" Tears shimmered at the corners of Sunnild''s eyes.


    Aidan leaned across the table to rub his thumb across her cheek. "I''ll want to see what you can do first, and maybe see if we can get you to level 10 for your Class, but yes. In fact¡ªno offense, love," he said in an aside to Brighid, "of the two of you, I''d rather have you watching my back. Brighid is big and strong and, frankly, frightening in combat, but she has neither the Abilities nor the natural inclination to fight defensively."


    Brighid nodded. "Aidan is right; almost all of my Abilities and Talents work best when I am on the front line, in the thick of the fighting. I also have nothing protective, so I am not a very effective guardian. I suspect that you will have a much more appropriate set of Abilities once you get your Class, from what you have told us."


    "And yer sure that ya don''t want to ask one of the other Sisters? All of em have way more experience in real fights than I do."


    "Do... you not want to come?" Aidan was a little puzzled at Sunnild''s responses. He''d expected her to jump at the chance. "I won''t force you if you''d rather stay behind. I know you don''t like fighting."


    "No, that''s not it. It''s just¡ªno one has ever wanted me on a mission. Even... even my mum always left me at home when she went out." Sunnild held Aidan''s hand against her cheek and nuzzled against his touch. Her eyes shone with wonder. "I was your first thought, wasn''t I? Ya didn''t even consider asking someone else. Yes, I''ll be yer guardian, Aidan. I''ll repay all of yer trust in me, I swear it."


    "I know you will," Aidan said, smiling. "Like I said, I know you don''t like fighting, but I would like to get you a Class before we leave. Would you consider joining me in the Labyrinth? My understanding is that none of the monsters there are real in the way that beasts out here are. In fact, Sarpedon claims they are created only to challenge explorers; the Labyrinth doesn''t have an actual ecology."


    "I... I''m not sure. Do you think I could talk to him about it?"


    "Of course! I never, ever want to force you to do anything that makes you uncomfortable. You can tell me no; I won''t get upset."


    "No, it''s okay; I just wanna be sure. If they''re just fancy training dummies, I can handle it. I do want ta be yer protector, and I know that means I''ll need some training. I just don''t want ta kill anything real for it."


    Aidan nodded. "I understand." He turned his attention to Brighid. "Who do you think she should replace in the party?"


    "Me," she answered without hesitation, "for two reasons. First, she will be taking my place by your side, and you both need to get used to that without me being around. Second, the others provide irreplaceable roles: you are by far our best damage-dealer, Cai and Llwyd are much better at protecting the group, and mother is the only one with extensive support and healing magic."


    "Third, this way you don''t have to deal with your fear of heights," Aidan teased.


    "... Yes, I admit, that was a consideration as well." Brighid had the grace to blush.


    "You don''t think our group would be too defensive without you? I know you say I do more damage, but you''re no slouch yourself."


    Brighid smiled at Sunnild. "I think you''ll be pleasantly surprised. Besides, neither Cai nor Llwyd are as narrowly-focused as that; they both are capable warriors."


    Aidan nodded. "Okay, we''ll give it a shot. It looked like you got everything in place in your forge; do you think you''ll be able to make the escape token today?"


    "Yes, I have enough material for a few, and they only take about an hour to make."


    "Alright then, I''ll gather everyone together in the afternoon for another foray into the Labyrinth. Now, the next order of business: are the rest of the Sisterhood delegation here yet?"


    Sunnild shook her head. "No, I got permission ta leave before ''em. They should get here today or tomorrow."


    "Good," Aidan sighed in relief. "I was half-afraid that I''d have to deal with a bunch of Sisters feeling put out that I ignored them for a day. Third question: would you consider helping Fionn¡ªhe''s one of the Starchaser Council¡ªplan the city''s defenses? None of the Starchasers have your Engineering Skill, so your help would be quite valuable."


    "I won''t design siege engines or killing fields for ya, but if ya want help improving the durability of your walls or stuff like that, I''d be happy ta help. This''s my home now too."


    Aidan nodded. "Fionn is aware of your viewpoint. Tell him no whenever something makes you uncomfortable, and if he pushes, come get me."


    Sunnild stared at him for a moment, then stood up. She walked around the table, pushed Aidan backward into a pile of cushions, and plopped down onto his lap. She was, apparently, wearing nothing underneath her loose skirt. "Are ya sure yer not able to go again? There''s nothin'' I kin do ta help ya along?" She reached down and pulled her top off. "Nothin'' at all?"


    "Well," Aidan hedged, "maybe not quite incapable yet..."


    "Good," growled Sunnild, "because you backin'' me against yer Council ally has me all hot an'' bothered. Stay right there an'' don''t move. Brighid, get over here an'' help me get ''is pants off."


    "Yes, ma''am!" "Yes, Mistress!"


    Aidan


    Mid-Afternoon


    The Labyrinth, First Stratum: Viridescent Treetops


    "Oooh, pretty!" were Sunnild''s first words after emerging from the portal into the Labyrinth. "I''ve never seen a forest like this. The trees are so tall!"


    "Remember, it''s not a real forest; for all we know, everything outside of what we can touch is one big illusion."


    Sunnild blew a raspberry at Aidan. "Stop bein'' such a spoilsport! Lemme enjoy it for a minute before ya ruin it fer me!"


    "Sorry," he grinned at her, then suggested, "Why don''t you try flying around a bit? Sarpedon suggested that the Labyrinth wouldn''t let us bypass its design like that, but it shouldn''t do anything to hurt you."


    "Mm!" Sunnild took a few steps away from the party, bent her knees, arched her wings, and vaulted into the air. Her wings beat in pairs, driving her skyward. She came to a stop about thirty feet above them and called down, "This is as far as I can go! It feels like a strong wind or something blowing me down, even though there''s hardly a breeze! Gonna check the sides now!"


    "As expected," Ailis said, her eyes tracking the harpy. "She cannot fly high enough to get out of a Tree-top Tyrant''s range. I expect¡ªyes, the sides are even more restricted." Sunnild was hovering in the air eight or nine feet off the edge of the branch.


    A few seconds later, Sunnild dropped back onto the branch and bounced over to Aidan. "I wish I could fly around more, but the boundaries are pretty tight. I''ll just stay on the ground; it''s harder for me to fight while flying anyway. Speaking of which..." Sunnild chanted her spell, turning her wings and feathers into a bright silvery metal.


    Aidan nodded. "You''ve got the right idea. Alright, everyone, make your preparations. Now that we have the benefit of these," he patted one of the two Escape Tokens Brighid gave him, "we can afford to push a little more. We''ll still need to be wary of monsters, but as long as we aren''t actively fighting, we can leave from anywhere."


    Aidan summoned his Obsidian Salamander and Golden Fawn¡ªthe latter immediately making for Riama again, much to her dismay¡ªand buffed himself with Kindle the Hearth-Flame. Unfortunately, that spell''s targeting restrictions prevented him from casting it on Sunnild, though he tried. This time, Ailis focused her buffs on Aidan and Sunnild instead of spreading them evenly across the group.


    Once preparations were finished, the group proceeded in the direction Aidan arbitrarily designated as north. They reached the site of the shortcut without encountering any monsters. From there, they went north again to the leaf-path that they''d turned back from after first discovering it.


    "Look," Llwyd said, pointing to the leaves along the sides of the branch, "the leaf cover is thinner than in the center."


    "It looks like the path to the shortcut after we crossed over it," added Cai.


    "Since the center is clear, we should be fine to return this way if we need to," Aidan said. "Good eyes, though; I wonder if this is another tutorial hint. Either way, let''s proceed. As an experiment, Sunnild, would you mind flying above us for this short stretch? I want to see if the leaves falling are triggered by a certain weight threshold or the party''s passage."


    "Mm! Sure!" Sunnild launched herself into the air again. Her flight was noticeably less graceful with her metallic wings, but she had no problems maintaining position above them. As Aidan expected, some of the leaves on the path behind them fell out after they passed.


    The pathway continued onto a new branch. It bent in a half-circle that nearly brushed against a massive tree trunk before opening out into a field of leaves illuminated in a shaft of bright sunlight. A pile of vines and leaves topped with an enormous, red flower rested in the center of the leaves.


    "I have this feeling," Aidan said, "that if we get close to that, it''s going to attack us."


    "Agreed," chimed Cai and Llwyd.


    "It is a parasitic plant," Ailis added. "You can see how its vines entangle with the leaves around it instead of growing out of them. I believe you are correct, Lord Aidan."


    "Well then, let''s not give it the first shot. You okay with that, Sunnild?" Aidan looked into Sunnild''s blue-gray eyes but saw only determination reflected there.


    "Mm! It''s blocking our way, so it''s that or turn back."


    Zurai

 Champion, Chapter 27: A Mother’s Pride

    Zurai


    The song in this chapter is "Coisich, a r¨´in" (Come on, my love), a traditional Scottish waulking song. You can hear my favorite version of it here, and I used the English translation of the lyrics provided on their website.


    Also, just in case someone has the burning urge: Please don''t sign up for my Patreon today. You''ll be double-charged if you do since Patreon charges on signup and then again on the first of each month. Wait until tomorrow :)


    Final note: I''ll be doing another in-character canon Q&A session between Christmas Day and New Year''s Day. Go ahead and submit any questions you want to ask any character either in the comments, in PMs, or on Discord.


    Sunnild


    The Realms


    Fourthday, 3rd week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Mid-Afternoon


    The Labyrinth, First Stratum: Viridescent Treetops


    Ten streaks of light passed over Sunnild''s head, covering the distance to the plant monster in a heartbeat. Even faster, though, was the creature''s reaction. Thin tendrils lashed out, intercepting and detonating many of the sparks before they reached their target. Despite its best efforts, however, two tiny fireballs survived to explode inside its center mass. The monster heaved up and reached out with thicker vines, pulling itself forward with surprising speed.


    "Why does it always have to be vines?" complained Llwyd as he braced himself for the creature''s charge.


    "How is a plant so fast?" Aidan muttered from behind her. Before anyone could respond, the monster was upon them. It crashed into Cai and Llwyd, halting its advance, but sent a swarm of vegetal tentacles towards Aidan and Ailis. Sunnild stepped forward, stomping down on the mixture of thrill and terror welling up inside her. She would show Aidan that he was right to believe in her.


    She let herself sink into the battle-trance her Mum taught her. Instead of focusing on any single aspect of the fight, she allowed her senses to register the whole battlefield. This approach had its drawbacks, but for someone who fought to defend others, it was ideal. As soon as Sunnild noticed a vine snaking towards one of her charges, she flicked a wing in its direction. The creature was unarmored, and its appendages offered no resistance to her starmetal feathers. Within seconds of the battle''s start, the branch pathway around Sunnild accumulated a thick layer of severed vegetation.


    Still, the Ravenous Rafflesia, as her combat log named it, seemed to have an endless supply of tendrils to attack with. They came in pairs, trios, and more, relentlessly seeking to punish the human launching fiery magic into its core. Sunnild felt the heat as streams of flames passed close to her, but she was as aware of them as she was the Rafflesia. She twisted, ducked, and spun from point to point, her wings flashing in the sunlight as she denied the plant its prey. A vine looped around her ankle but fell limp before it could pull her off-balance. Another tried to snare one of her wings, but that was even easier to prevent.


    Then there were no more attacks. Sunnild stumbled to a halt, let her senses narrow back down to a singular focus, and looked around. The Rafflesia was a smoldering, smoking corpse, its body stripped bare of the mass of vines that once gave it bulk, and the petals from its bright red flower lay scattered across the path. She looked behind her just in time to cancel the magic on her wings before Aidan swept her into a tight hug.


    "You were magnificent!" he exclaimed. "It was like being back in the Taig''s presence, except this time it couldn''t touch us. Not one of those vines got past you!"


    Sunnild felt her cheeks burning at his praise. She ducked her head, breaking eye contact, but Aidan would have none of it. He spun her around and put a finger under her chin, exerting gentle pressure until she looked up again. His ruby eyes bored into her, transfixing her while he spoke in a lower tone of voice for her ears only.


    "If anyone ever calls you a coward in my presence, I will have words with them. That includes you, my little dove." Sunnild felt a shiver run up her spine as the emotions contained in his words lit a fire in her belly. Aidan continued, not giving her a chance to respond. "I already knew you were brave, but now I know without a shadow of a doubt. There was no hesitation in anything you did."


    Then he grinned at her and whispered in her ear, "Also, that armored skirt of yours lifts up when you spin around. I almost miscast one of my spells when I noticed how little you''re wearing underneath."


    The heat in Sunnild''s cheeks turned into an inferno. "But¡ªwhat¡ªI''m not¡ª" she babbled, unable to form a response. What did he see?! I''m wearing greaves and padded armor! Aidan''s lips pressed against hers then, and she surrendered without a fight, leaning into his embrace and parting her lips before his assault.


    Awareness flooded back into her a moment later, and she stiffened in Aidan''s arms. Sunnild pushed on his chest, breaking contact between them so she could look around her. Everyone was watching her! Llwyd passed Cai a handful of gems¡ªdid they bet on her?!¡ªand Ailis had a thoughtful expression as she looked at Sunnild and Aidan.


    Sunnild squirmed, trying to break free of Aidan''s embrace so that she could find somewhere to hide, but his arms tightened around her. "Ignore them," he told her. "They''re friends and allies; they''ll still tease you, but it''ll be friendly instead of hurtful. I was teasing, in fact; you weren''t exposing yourself. I just wanted to see how much I could make you blush."


    Sunnild opened her mouth to protest, then closed it with a snap. She smacked a hand against his shoulder, then snaked it behind his neck and pulled him into a kiss. This time it was her tongue pressing against his lips demanding entrance.


    When they pulled apart to catch their breath, Sunnild murmured, "Be a good boy, an'' I might show ya what it looks like when I do that in parade armor." She stretched her neck, nibbling on Aidan''s earlobe, then breathed out, "The parade skirt''s panels are weighted at the tips, an'' we don''t wear all the real armor underneath. The men seem ta like it that way fer some reason..."


    Aidan growled, sending another primal shiver up her spine, and his hands tightened around her waist. Before he could do anything else, though, Ailis cut in. "If you two lovebirds are quite done, we should butcher the corpse and keep exploring."


    "We are doomed," groaned Cai, "the puns are spreading!"


    Sunnild


    Early Evening


    Caer Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    As she emerged from the portal back into Caer Macht, Sunnild dismissed the various Skill and experience notifications that accumulated over the last few hours. There were only two that she cared about.


    "I did it!" Sunnild leaped at Aidan, wrapping her arms, legs, and wings around him. "I got a Class! Thank you, thank you!"


    Aidan staggered back a step under her onslaught. He laughed, arms wrapping around her and hands holding her up. "I''m glad you''re happy. Is it a good Class for you?"


    Sunnild hummed at the feel of her lover''s hands gripping her bum under her skirt. "Mm! I don''t know what else I might''ve gotten, but this seems perfect!" She bit her lip, then slid her hands down Aidan''s back and murmured, "Will ya spend tonight with me? You''ve done so much fer me, an'' I love ya so much. I wanna get to know you better. I''ll understand if ya go back an'' sleep with Brighid after¡ª"


    Aidan silenced her with a kiss. "I''d love to spend tonight with you, Sunnild, and I do mean the whole night. Brighid and I have talked about this; she''ll be fine for one night, just like I was fine when she spent the night with you. I want to get to know you better as well."


    Sunnild felt Aidan''s grip on her slipping and reluctantly unwrapped her legs from around his waist. She smiled when he continued to hold her bum even after her feet returned to the ground and rewarded him with a kiss. Then she withdrew her wings and ducked under his arm, snuggling into his side. At this moment, everything was perfect. Sunnild knew that there were hard times ahead, full of risk and danger for herself and the ones she loved, but those were concerns for future Sunnild.


    Aidan


    Night


    Sunnild''s Quarters, Caer Macht


    Sunnild''s quarters were pretty spartan. Aside from what was built into the room, the only furniture was a big pile of cushions in one corner. Sunnild had her back to him as he entered, cooking something on the fireplace. She spun around when she heard the door close behind him, beaming at him.


    "Hi!" she chirped. "I''m almost done with dinner. It''s not much; I''m not a very good cook, but my Mum taught me how to make this. It''s pretty easy."


    "I''m sure it''ll be delicious," Aidan assured her, "but should you be cooking naked at a fireplace?"


    "I''m not naked! I''m wearing an apron!" Sunnild stuck her tongue out at him. "Besides, I told ya before, I don''t wear clothes in my nest!"


    Aidan chuckled and made his way over to her. She extended a wing to pull him closer, rising up on her toes to press her lips to his in a tender kiss. There was no heat to it, just the gentle passion of a lover''s greeting. A moment later, she released him and turned back to the fire. "Go on an'' make yerself comfortable, love."


    Aidan settled onto the cushions. They were well-made: soft, but firm and supportive. A thought struck him, prompting a smirk, and he started unlacing his clothing.


    Sunnild took the lidded cauldron off the fire and brought it over to the countertop. Aidan''s eyes were drawn inevitably to her bare behind as she walked away from him. She ladled out the contents into a pair of bowls, then turned around to bring them to the nest. Her eyes went wide, and she squeaked in surprise, blushing crimson at the sight of Aidan lounging naked on the cushions.


    "I didn''t mean that, but I''m not complainin''!" she made her way over and sank down beside Aidan, extending a bowl and a spoon to him. "It''s bread pudding. Nothing fancy, but it''ll fill you up."


    Aidan took the bowl from her and blew over it to cool it down. He took a tentative bite and found it still a little too hot, but rich and flavorful. "Hot! But good."


    Sunnild giggled. "Well, yeah, yer not supposed to eat it right off the fire, silly! Let it cool down a minute first." She leaned against his side, resting her head on his shoulder.


    "Sounds like a plan," he agreed with a laugh. "You said your mother taught you this recipe?"


    "Mm-hm! She was a way better cook than I am. We never had any fancy ingredients, but she could make old bread and milk into something great like this."


    "What else did she teach you? What was she like?" Aidan took another bite of the bread pudding. It was a savory version with sausage and cheese mixed in. It was a little lumpy and not perfectly mixed, but tasty all the same.


    Sunnild hummed a little to herself. "Well, she''s why I don''t like fighting. She said that violence is the worst solution to a problem, that there''s always another way. I think she changed her mind on that later on, but only a little and only fer things like yer Taig."


    Aidan nodded. "But she was a warrior, right? I mean, from what you''ve said about how the Sisterhood works, all the harpies fight while the men do the farming and such, right?"


    "Mm," Sunnild reply was soft. "She didn''t like it, but she did missions so she could keep me."


    Aidan blinked. "What do you mean, keep you?"


    "The Sisterhood won''t let anyone starve, but a Sister who can''t¡ªor won''t¡ªwork enough to provide for their children has the children taken away from them. Mum didn''t want that to happen to me, so she did just enough to keep us fed and clothed. I hated it because it made her so sad, but I knew she was doing it for me, so I never said anything."


    Aidan set his bowl down on the floor and pulled Sunnild into a hug. She snuggled into his arms as if by reflex. "I''m sure your mother loved you very much. What else did she teach you? Did she have any hobbies?"


    That brought a smile to Sunnild''s face. "Mm! She taught me ta sing! She said she was a singer back before she had me. I''m not sure what she meant, but her voice was so beautiful, an'' she knew so many songs! Oh! Would ya like me to sing one for ya while we wait fer the food ta cool off?"


    "Sure," Aidan said with a smile.


    Sunnild shifted around until she was perched on Aidan''s lap, then leaned back against him and began to sing.


    ¡°Come on, my love, hu il oro,


    Keep your promise to me, o hi ibh o;


    Take greetings from me, hu il oro,


    Over to Harris, boch orainn o.


    Take greetings from me


    Over to Harris ¨C


    To John Campbell,


    My brown-haired sweetheart;


    To John Campbell,


    My brown-haired sweetheart ¨C


    Hunter of goose,


    Seal and swan;


    Hunter of goose,


    Seal and swan;


    Of leaping trout,


    Of bellowing deer.


    Wet is the night


    Tonight, and cold,


    If the MacNeills


    Have to put to sea;


    If the MacNeills


    Have put to sea ¨C


    Men of high sails


    And swift of ships;


    Men of high sails


    And swift ships,


    And of banners


    Blue and green;


    And of banners


    Blue and green ¨C


    No left-hander


    Could take her rudder from you.¡±


    Aidan stiffened as the song rolled over him. His mind recoiled from the notification floating in front of his eyes, unable to comprehend what it meant.


    Zurai

 Champion, Chapter 28: Like a Summer Rain

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Fourthday, 3rd week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Night


    Sunnild''s Quarters, Caer Macht


    "Aidan?" Sunnild''s voice jolted Aidan from the mental loop he was caught in. "Are you alright?"


    "Yes, I''m fine," he said. "It''s just... I know that song. Sunnild, were you born in the Ayrie?"


    "Huh? Yes, I think so. Why? Aidan, what''s wrong?"


    His mind slowly processed the implications. "Did your mother ever talk about her life before she had you?"


    Sunnild frowned. "No, not very much. Why? Please, you''re starting to scare me."


    He shook his head. "Sorry, Sunnild, I didn''t mean to. It''s just... Alright, time for some secrets to come out, I guess. What I''m about to tell you stays between us, alright? Brighid is the only other person to know all of it. I''ll tell the others eventually, but I think this is something you need to hear now."


    "Mm, I promise." Sunnild''s blue-grey eyes met his without flinching. He had her full attention now.


    "Okay. The first, and least secret, thing is that I''m what''s known as a Chosen. To make a long story short, the Brighaid chose me to act as Their agent in the world, which gives me some major benefits and makes me a target. Other Gods and Powers of the Realms have their own Chosen, and many of them would be hostile to me if they knew who I was."


    Sunnild nodded her understanding, so Aidan continued, "The tricky part is that I''m not from the Realms. Until a few weeks ago, I lived on a different world, one without magic, centaurs, harpies, or anything like that. I first came here by playing a game, and at first, I could come and go as I wanted, but when I died fighting the Taig the first time, I became stuck here."


    "Wait, when you died? The first time?!" Sunnild broke in.


    Aidan grimaced. "Yes. I faced the Tannath Taig twice, and both times I died. The first was when you saw me go through the wards; I was on a Quest from the Starchaser Council to clear out Ceallach Macht. The second time was during the Battle of Ceallach Macht when I killed it with help from the Three Flames. I had to sacrifice my life to use that spell."


    "But how?"


    "One of the ''benefits'' of being Chosen is that we have multiple lives. When I die, I return to life a little while later in a specific location. There are all kinds of costs associated with it that I won''t get into, but the important thing is that we''re really hard to kill permanently."


    "I don''t know how to feel about that. But... what does that have to do with Mum?" Sunnild stared at him with wide eyes, hands clutched in her lap, wings wrapped around her body.


    "Sunnild... I recognized that song. It''s from Earth, where I''m from. The only way your mother could know it is if she, or someone she knew, was from my world. If I''m right..." he looked into Sunnild''s eyes, then glanced away, unable to bear seeing the emotions he knew would come. "If I''m right, if she''s a Chosen too, she might still be alive somewhere."


    Sunnild was silent for so long that Aidan almost gave in and looked back at her just to make sure she hadn''t left. "Aidan," she finally spoke in a hoarse voice, "I love you, but if you''re lyin'' to me, I will never forgive you. If," she sniffled, "if you give me hope like that only to take it away..."


    "Everything I''ve said about myself is the complete and honest truth. I can''t promise anything about your mother. It''s just a suspicion. Maybe I should have kept it to myself¡ª"


    "No!" Sunnild shouted, then whispered, "No. I... It hurts ta think she might be alive somewhere out there an'' never came back ta me, an'' it hurts ta think about why that could be. It hurts ta imagine that she might have died over an'' over tryin'' to reach me. But..." she sniffled again, "but now there''s a chance that I can see her again. Aidan, look at me."


    Sunnild waited until he looked up to her tear-streaked face. "Will you help me find her? Please, Aidan?"


    "Of course! I''ll do whatever I can."


    Something flickered within Sunnild''s eyes. She swallowed, then straightened. "Your honor is my honor. Your life is my life. Our hearts beat as one. Together we will meet what Fate has to offer, for from today we are Companions."


    Aidan''s eyes widened. "I¡ªSunnild, are you sure?"


    "If you''re bein'' honest with me, then swear the Oath back ta me. If ya aren''t, leave now an'' don''t ever come back." There was a cold, proud determination in her eyes now.


    A notification tried to bully its way into Aidan''s vision, but he forced it away. He knew that this was a breaking point and that turning Sunnild down here would destroy any hope of a relationship with her. At the same time, though, he felt that everything was going too fast. His romance with Brighid had been lightning-quick, but that was glacial compared to how things were going with Sunnild. He had to admit that he was falling in love with her, but was it really a good idea for them to tie their lives together like this when they hardly knew anything about each other? At least he and Brighid spent days talking about themselves on that first trip to Ceallach Macht.


    In the end, though, Aidan wasn''t able to let go. Sunnild did make him happy, and he didn''t want to cut her heart out by rejecting her. He took his misgivings, his feelings of inadequacy, and his fear of eventual rejection and shoved them into a dark corner of his mind, then closed and locked the door. Aidan took a deep breath, then relaxed and let it out. "Your honor is my honor. Your life is my life. Our hearts beat as one. Together we will meet what Fate has to offer, for from today we are Companions."


    Sunnild threw herself at him, knocking him back into the cushions. She pinned him down and molded her body to his, showering him with kisses. Her mouth found his, hungry and passionate, and she squirmed with barely-restrained desire. Sunnild''s hips tilted, rubbing her groin against his, then her hand slid down between their bodies.


    Aidan ran his fingers through Sunnild''s downy crest. Her passion had been like an afternoon thunderstorm in the summer, overwhelming in intensity but brief in duration. He thought at first that she''d fallen asleep atop him but she banished that thought by asking, "Do you really think we can find her?"


    "I''m not sure. I''ll do what I can, but it''s going to take time. What do you know about her disappearance?"


    "It was about ten years ago. Mum went out on a mission with Ecgwena''s mum, and neither of them ever came back. Nobody ever found their bodies, but there were signs of a fight at the remains of a big camp they found. Ecgwena''s convinced it was a slaver caravan; it''s why she hates humans so much."


    "But not you?"


    Sunnild shook her head against his chest. "Mn. Mum always said that hatred leads to suffering. I don''t think ordinary slavers would''ve been able to catch Mum. At the time, I thought she died trying to rescue the slaves. Now I''m not so sure."


    "Do you know anything about their mission or where they disappeared?"


    Another headshake. "Not really. Mum always kept her missions a secret; I think she didn''t want me to worry about her. All I know is that it was somewhere south of the Ayrie."


    "Well, I''ll see what I can do. Right now, there isn''t much, but I think it might be possible to do something with my dream magic if I work on it. Right now, I can only link to the dreams of someone I''ve met, but I bet that later on, I''ll be able to expand that." Aidan grimaced and sighed.


    "The problem is that it''s hard to train; I can only cast the spells when I''m asleep and dreaming, and the more powerful version leaves me tired when I wake up."


    Sunnild propped herself up on her elbows and looked down at him. "It''s okay," she said, "I trust you. We''re Companions now, so our fates are intertwined. You''ll do your best."


    "Of course I will, my beautiful songbird."


    Sunnild gave him a dazzling smile. "Songbird? I like it. I''ll sing for ya whenever ya want, my love."


    Aidan couldn''t help but smirk and tease her, "I may hold you to that. You sing such beautiful songs when we make love."


    Red bloomed on Sunnild''s cheeks, but she didn''t back down. "I said it an'' I mean it. Ya want me ta start wearin'' skirts so ya have easy access? They get in the way when I fly, but I''ll make the sacrifice if yer gonna follow through."


    "I may have created a monster," Aidan laughed. "If you go around in short skirts every day, I''ll never get any work done."


    "Maybe fer special occasions then," she murmured, "like when I''m feelin'' broody."


    That brought another of Aidan''s concerns swimming to the surface of his mind. He accessed his Paragon Point interface.


    He skimmed down the list¡ªtaking note of the building materials for possible purchase in the morning¡ªuntil he found what he was looking for. As expected, now that he hit Journeyman rank in Sex, the unique Specialization option was available for purchase. Aidan went ahead and confirmed the expense, then closed the interface.


    Aidan quickly skimmed his other options. He had quests for Stud, Tamer, Mindbreaker, Lothario, Househusband, Master, and Harem Lord Specializations. He didn''t even bother reading Mindbreaker, and after browsing the other descriptions and requirements, he discarded everything but Househusband, Master, and Progenitor.


    Even then, he knew which he was going to choose. Househusband was a nice dream, but that''s all it was, and while Master would likely let him make Brighid deliriously happy, he wasn''t as dominant as she was submissive. Then, too, Sunnild enjoyed both sides of the coin, and Aidan didn''t want to upset that balance. No, Progenitor really was the only thing that interested him, although he felt a little railroaded by his Patron.


    Those requirements were rather curious; the Talents were no problem, but Aidan needed to get four women to fall in love with him, and he had to knock one of them up. He had three if Ailis counted, but nary a lead on a fourth. The mercenary nature of that calculus turned his stomach a bit; the idea of seducing a woman only to complete a quest was repulsive. He resolved to pretend that requirement didn''t exist.


    That left getting a woman pregnant, and at the moment, there was only one possibility in that regard. He turned his attention back to the harpy sprawled out on top of him and asked, "You mentioned getting broody; do you actually want children?"


    Sunnild cocked her head. "I hadn''t considered it until Ecgwena reminded me. It wasn''t anything that I considered a real possibility until you came along. You gotta understand, harpies aren''t like most of the other races when it comes to children. Even beyond always giving birth to female harpies, we''re a bit weird."


    "Well, that doesn''t sound like a ''no'' to me," Aidan teased. "Enlighten me on what makes you so weird, love."


    Sunnild''s eyes widened a touch, then closed as a dopey smile crept onto her face. She lowered her head to nuzzle against his upper chest. "Well, fer one thing, while it''s true that we''re always fertile, that''s misleadin''. We kin get pregnant at any time, but not ta any given male. In fact, the more often one male sows his seed in a Sister without another male doing the same, the less likely it''ll take root."


    Aidan frowned. "That makes sense given what I''ve heard about harpies, but I don''t like the implications. Call me a hypocrite, but I don''t like the idea of sharing you with another man, especially if we''re trying to have a child."


    Sunnild opened her eyes and squirmed up his body until she could kiss his nose. "Silly, ya think I''m the first harpy ta want ta settle down with just one man? There are ways around it. Anyway, the other thing is that we''re sorta halfway between humans and birds as far as pregnancy goes. Once we get knocked up, an egg grows inside for about three months. After that, we lay the egg and the baby hatches about six months later."


    "You''re right; that is a little weird." Sunnild pouted at him, prompting Aidan to chuckle and give her a kiss. "Not offputting, just strange to think about. Keep in mind that harpies don''t even exist except as myths where I''m from, songbird. I''ll get used to it. Anyway, you never gave me a straight answer. Do you want children?"


    Sunnild sat up. "Are ya volunteering ta give me some?"


    Aidan frowned. "You''re dodging the question again. Do you want me to stop asking? I don''t want to make you uncomfortable."


    "Oh, hush," Sunnild scolded, "I was just teasin'' ya. Does this feel like yer botherin'' me?" She wiggled on his hips.


    "No, I can''t say that it does," he had to admit.


    "Yes, Aidan, I would like your child someday. What''s makin'' ya so persistent about it? Are ya gettin'' hot under the collar thinkin'' about it?"


    "A few things. One, yes, thinking of you or Brighid carrying my child gets my blood pumping. However, I have ulterior motives that make me feel a bit icky about it." He explained his two Quests.


    "Hmmm. So yer sayin'' that yer Goddess is tellin'' ya to knock someone up before the end of the year, an'' if ya do, all yer kids''ll be healthier, stronger, an'' just better in general?" The teasing lilt in Sunnild''s voice and the heat coming from where she sat on his belly showed that it didn''t bother her as much as Aidan feared it would.


    "That''s the gist of it, yeah. It feels wrong for me to suggest it just to complete a Quest, though."


    Sunnild shook her head. "But yer not. Ya said yerself that ya liked the idea, so we know yer not opposed to it in general. Let me turn the question around on ya. Forget all yer Quests, forget Caer Macht and everything else. Would you like to have a child with me?" Her hips undulated against him.


    Aidan considered her question, carefully blocking off all the external considerations. In a vacuum, just him and Brighid and Sunnild, did he want a child? Did he want to start a family now?


    "Yes," he answered. "Yes, I would."


    Sunnild''s smile was radiant, though her voice was teasing. "Well, yer not gonna get yer wish today; I''ve been drinkin'' maiden''s tea every mornin'' since I left. An'' by now, I''ve built up a lot of resistance to ya."


    She lifted off him, then rolled over onto her back and spread her legs. "You''ll have ta go at least three weeks without spillin'' any seed inside me ta reset things. A month''d be better. But ya already gave me some earlier, so there''s no harm in gettin'' in some more practice tonight. C''mere!"


    Aidan took a second to purchase the Talents he needed for Progenitor, then obeyed his lover''s demand.


    Zurai


    Aidan''s current status sheet:


    Sunnild''s current status sheet:


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Orange, and Somedude for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 29: Tranquil

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Fifthday, 3rd week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Mid-Morning


    Brighid''s Forge, Caer Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    "And after finding another shortcut back to the central trunk, we decided to call it for the afternoon," Aidan finished bringing Brighid up to speed on the previous day''s Labyrinth exploration.


    "Did you find any good loot?"


    "As a matter of fact, yes. Here, catch." Aidan pulled a thick tome out of his haversack and tossed it to his Soulmate.


    "What is this? ''On the Use of Labyrinth Monsters in Non-Traditional Manners?''"


    "Analyze says it shows methods of creating new equipment using stuff from inside the Labyrinth, regardless of which crafting Skill you use. The best part is that it''s an actual book, not a recipe, so we can share it around."


    Brighid pouted. "Yeah, but that means I have to spend time reading and understanding it instead of having magic engrave it into my mind."


    "How are you Ailis''s daughter?" Aidan chuckled. "You two couldn''t be more different if you tried." He stepped up to Brighid and pulled her head down into kissing range. "Read the book, love. It''ll give you something to keep yourself occupied with while I''m away with Sunnild."


    Brighid snorted. "Do not remind me. I am still not happy about that."


    "If it makes you feel any better, I''m not looking forward to being away from you for so long, either. I''ll visit you in your dreams whenever I can, although I have to keep your mother in mind as well. I don''t know how I''m going to handle a fourth; I feel stretched thin as it is."


    "Fourth? Oh! You reached Journeyman rank! What Specialization did the Brighaid have for you? I assume that is what you are referring to?"


    Aidan nodded. "It''s called Progenitor, and if I understand things right, it is focused on increasing my fertility and creating an enduring bloodline. The two requirements that I don''t meet yet are to have four women in love with me and to impregnate a willing woman."


    "Ahh, and I bet those bothered you."


    "Yeah. It makes me feel like I''m carving a notch on my bedpost, like it would only be a means to an end instead of the goal itself. Neither love nor children should be something I''m aiming for because of some arbitrary goal given to me out of the blue."


    Brighid nodded with a gentle smile on her face. "And that is why you should not worry about it. You have three women in love with you already that I am aware of; how many of us did you set out to seduce?"


    "Arguably, all three of you."


    "And I will argue that," Brighid replied and poked him in the chest. "I know that I had to pursue you at the start. You would not even look at me! And you hated Mother until she started showing signs of interest in you as a person. As for Sunnild, that was less a seduction and more a bolt of lightning from the skies. You invited her because of me, and then she was her adorable self, and you could not resist. Just you being you was enough for all of us, and it will be enough for some other lucky lady."


    "Okay, okay," Aidan laughed, fending off her hands. "Like I said, arguably. I''ll concede the point for now. I already decided on pursuing that Specialization anyway, so there''s no sense getting worked up about the requirements."


    "Good!" Brighid rewarded him with a long kiss. "And you did talk to Sunnild about the other requirement, right? It is not a good idea for you to pin your hopes on Mother or me."


    "Yes, dear. She set me straight on it just like you did on this one. She''s willing, although there are complications. To make a long story short, I''m going to have to be quite careful when I make love to her for the next month. Apparently, harpies build up resistance to impregnation when they don''t have variety in their male lovers."


    "Oh, poor baby," Brighid teased, "You mean you will have to teach her how to use her mouth or that amazing butt of hers? However are you going to manage out in the Highlands with options like that?"


    "Yeah, yeah, go ahead, make fun of me. I can always order you not to seek release until I get back, then molest you in your dreams every night."


    Brighid''s eyes widened, and she bit her lower lip. "Umm, I am suddenly conflicted because that sounds both terrible and amazing."


    Aidan smirked at her and ran a fingertip up her neck and along the underside of her ear. Brighid shivered, tilting her neck to the side to bare herself to his touch. "Two last things you should know, pet." Brighid''s nostrils flared while red bloomed across her cheeks and neck. "First, Sunnild''s mother might be Chosen and might not be dead. I promised to help Sunnild find her. Second, as a result of that, she and I are Companions now. I trust you don''t have a problem with that, pet?"


    "No, Sir," Brighid moaned. "I love Sunnild; if she is happy, then so am I."


    "Good girl," Aidan praised her. "It''s all your fault to start with, so it''s good that you''re happy with the results. Fortunately for you, I''m happy with it too, so I''m going to give you a reward instead of a punishment. Kneel."


    Brighid dropped to her knees and looked up at him, emerald eyes blazing with love and desire.


    Aidan


    Late Morning


    Ceallach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Aidan and Sunnild emerged into the sunlight, trailed by a pair of passion elementals and an old friend. "I''m glad to see you doing well, Lail," Aidan said to his newest bodyguard with a smile. "I still remember that you were kind to me from the start."


    "You have repaid that and more, my Lord," was her soft-voiced reply. "It is my honor to serve in whatever way I can."


    Her tone of voice sounded off; Aidan stopped and peered at her. Now that he was looking for it, he could see that she wasn''t doing so well after all. Her skin was more pallid than he remembered, and there were dark circles around her eyes. I need to remember to set up some sort of psychological counseling. There are a lot of traumatized veterans here, even more so after the dragon. It wouldn''t help to make an issue out of it then and there, however, so he nodded and continued on.


    "Well, I''m glad to have you," he settled on. "You''ve always had my interests in mind, so I know I can trust you. Let me know if I can do anything for you."


    "Of course, my Lord," was her only response. Aidan gave a mental grimace but didn''t comment further.


    His first stop was the warehouse set aside for construction materials. Once they arrived, Aidan popped open his Paragon Point interface and purchased a Core building material set. As soon as he confirmed the expense, the air inside the building shimmered. Piles of neatly-stacked marble in varying shades faded into existence, followed by gold, silver, and bronze ingots. On top of those appeared several tree trunks, already de-limbed and topped and ready to be turned into planks.


    "Wow!" exclaimed Sunnild. "Where did all that come from?"


    "It''s a gift from the Three Flames," was all Aidan could say in public. "I wasn''t sure what all I would get from it, but honestly, I''m pretty impressed. In fact, let''s do it again." Once the Idyllic Forum finished construction in a couple days, he''d have space for two more Core buildings, so he might as well make sure he had materials to build them both. More high-end stone, metal, wood appeared, filling the available space. Before he forgot and missed the opportunity, Aidan also purchased the ''Powerful curse'' option and directed it toward Karsarrym. There was no feedback regarding the effect of the curse or whether it took hold, but it was worth the small investment.


    "Now, let''s see about integrating you with everyone else," Aidan said to Sunnild with a smile. "You''ve already met my closest companions, but there are still a bunch of people I''d like you to meet."


    "Mm! I''m looking forward to meeting all your friends."


    "Well, I know who to start with, then." He took Sunnild''s hand and led her down the street to one of the bulk housing units. The door was open, so he knocked on the frame, then stepped inside.


    "Aidan!" Siwan rose to her hooves and rushed over to him. "It is so good to see you! Thank you so much for saving us from the dragon! I was terrified out of my mind."


    "I''m glad you weren''t hurt in the attack; Brighid has already lost too many friends lately, and I don''t want to start doing so." He hugged the effervescent seamstress, then gestured to Sunnild. "Siwan, this is Sunnild, a close friend of Brighid''s and mine. Sunnild, this is Siwan, one of Brighid''s best friends. She''s the one who made that shirt you were so enamored with."


    "Ooh!" Sunnild lit up at that. "Yer work is so amazin''! What do I need ta do ta get you to make something like that fer me?"


    Siwan''s eyebrows climbed toward her golden hair. "A close friend indeed, then. Hmm, let me see..." she paced around Sunnild. "Your wings will make it interesting. How much clearance do you need to be comfortable? Maybe something backless? If you have time, I could take some measurements and try out a couple of ideas now. The lace will take time, but I can simulate a few different fits to see what you like."


    "Oh, can we, please, Aidan?" Sunnild turned to him and gave him the best puppy dog eyes he''d seen in the Realms.


    "I thought this might happen, so we don''t have to be anywhere else for a couple of hours," Aidan chuckled. "Do you want me to leave you here or¡ª"


    "Nope!" came Sunnild''s immediate denial. "I''m gonna need yer expert opinion. Hold onto this for me!"


    Aidan caught the shirt that came flying at him and smiled. Truly, Sunnild''s happiness was contagious.


    Aidan


    Early Afternoon


    "She''s so nice!" gushed Sunnild as they left Siwan''s shop. "I can''t wait until she''s done. I''m going to look so pretty in those!"


    "You''re beautiful in your normal clothes, songbird. I won''t deny that I''m looking forward to what Siwan comes up with for you, but you don''t need sexy clothes to look pretty."


    "Aww," Sunnild cooed and bounced up on her toes to kiss Aidan''s cheek. "You''re sweet. I know all that, but I''ve never had fancy clothes before. I want to look extra-sexy for you an'' Brighid."


    Aidan snaked his arm around her waist and pulled her against his side as they walked. "Well, I know I speak for both of us when I say that we look forward to it. You know you surprised both of us; even Brighid didn''t expect everything to happen so quickly between us, but we can''t stay away. You''re like our own personal happiness generator."


    Sunnild cuddled against him and hummed a quick, happy tune. "I''m glad ya feel that way. I think ya give me just a little too much credit, though. I''ve been thinking. Yer a servant of the Brighaid, right? Aren''t love an'' passion part of their domain? I think maybe they''ve got a finger on the scales for ya. It''s a super huge coincidence that I saw ya go through the wards that day and an even bigger one that I got picked fer the diplomatic mission. I was the actual last choice; everyone else was busy or hurt."


    "It''s possible," Aidan agreed. "They told me that They can''t intervene directly in the world, but They can nudge events that happen around me. It would''ve required a lot of preparation on Their part, but they''ve had time. Brighid agrees with you, by the way, more or less. Anyway, one of the things I intend to do with all that marble from earlier is to build a formal Temple for Their worship."


    "Will it be for just the Brighaid, or will ya allow other Gods and Goddesses? I mean, there aren''t a lot of devout believers around, so maybe yer lookin'' ta scoop ''em all up fer the ones you follow. But if yer not, there are others out there that might appreciate some help, ya know?"


    Aidan nodded. "It''s a consideration. I haven''t received any guidance from on high either way, so I''m leaning towards leaving room for shrines to other deities and Powers. I don''t want any open worship of the God of Murder or anything, but right now, I don''t have any plans towards a state religion. I''m a follower of the Brighaid, so they''ll hold pride of place in the Temple, but that''s as far as I''m going to go unless They object or someone else gives me a convincing argument."


    "Mm, I like it. What are ya gonna do fer the other Core slot?"


    "I''m still deciding. On the one hand, I really want to establish an Academy¡ªI know from my own homeland that education is the key to progress¡ªbut I don''t know that it''s a good idea to go straight for that. There aren''t that many Starchaser children around, and even ignoring that, it might be a better idea to build something to strengthen my military presence. At the moment, we''re critically weak. If I focus too much on the long term, someone will march in with an army and take it all from me."


    "Mn. I want ta tell ya ta go for the Academy, but yer right. Maybe if ya can get some of the other tribes to help? That''d increase the pool of children ta teach, too."


    "Indeed!" Aidan startled at the sound of Gerwyn''s voice. He let himself become distracted talking to Sunnild and forgot where he was headed. "I have high hopes for the Snow-Water Riders. They will be happy to have multiple tribes gathered in the same place, especially near a river. They are not as strong a military force as the Sisterhood or the Mist Stalkers, but they will open many doors for us. They trade as far away as the Dwarf-holds in the mountains and know most of the tribes of the Highlands; if we can impress them, they will spread the word far and wide."


    "Do not neglect defenses even if we gain allies," Fionn cautioned. The pair of centaurs approached from the temporary Council chamber. "There will always be those who are jealous of success. Forgive me for being defeatist, my lady, but we must temper serenity with the steel to maintain peace."


    "Mm, I know," Sunnild nodded. "I know there are things and people out there that won''t answer to anything but violence. But, just like it is important to prepare for them, we also need to ensure that we don''t fight without need."


    "Well spoken!" agreed Gerwyn. "I am happy to hear such things from one so young. Usually, the youngsters chase thoughts of glory and fame, never considering anyone but themselves and those closest to them. And, begging your pardon, the Sisters have never been all that interested in peaceful trade."


    "Mm, I''m a bit unique like that." Sunnild smiled at Gerwyn, but it didn''t have her usual energy.


    Aidan kissed the top of her head, then asked, "Is everyone here? We have planning to do."


    "Aye," confirmed Gerwyn. "We were just waiting for you two. Eilwen cooked up another feast, and this time there are no extra ingredients."


    "Darn," mused Sunnild. "Is it too late ta ask her ta add some?" She giggled at the betrayed looks sent her way by Aidan and Fionn.


    Zurai


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Orange, and Somedude for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 30: Settling In

    Zurai


    Just a reminder, there''s a new in-character Q&A coming up at the end of the month, and I''m still taking questions. Feel free to post any question you want to ask to the comments or through PM; just make sure you tell me who you''re asking the question to!


    Aidan


    The Realms


    Fifthday, 3rd week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Early Afternoon


    Ceallach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    The requisitioned house acting as a temporary Council chamber was fuller than Aidan expected. In addition to Eilwen puttering around the kitchen, Ailis, Anwn, the wolf Darkhunter, Ceirios, and Sarpedon sat at the central table. Aidan rushed over to Ceirios and hugged her. "Ceirios! I didn''t expect to see you here. How are you doing?"


    The heavy-set mage hissed in pain at Aidan''s enthusiastic greeting but returned the hug. "I have been better. I caught a tendril of the dragon''s breath, and while Ailis was able to heal it, her spells are not so kind as mine or yours." Aidan looked her over, spotting the branching pattern of scarred skin and scorched fur that he missed at first glance. Ceirios waved off his attempted apology, however, saying, "It will heal, or I will grow used to it; either way, I survived when others did not."


    "And as for why she is here," Fionn cut in, "as of now, it is all but certain that she will be Ailis''s replacement on the Council, so we felt it best to include her in this meeting."


    "And I," Sarpedon stated, "am acting as an emissary of my people in this regard. We have not yet decided whether to accept your offer, young Aidan, but neither have we rejected it. When you live as long as we have, one tends to develop a preference for letting events age and develop before making decisions."


    Aidan nodded. "That''s fine; ideal, really. And Sunnild is here as the representative of her people since the main delegation has yet to arrive. She''s also got some personal expertise to contribute." For her part, Sunnild stayed attached to Aidan''s side, trying and failing not to look intimidated by the company she found herself in. Aidan squeezed her hand and patted her leg in reassurance.


    The meeting began once Eilwen placed a platter full of roasted vegetables, grilled steaks, and sweet bread in front of everyone. "You''re sure it''s safe to eat?" Aidan asked Fionn, who sat to his left.


    "I heard that," Eilwen snorted. "You can eat it, or you can sit there for the whole meeting thinking about how good it smells; the choice is yours."


    "A compelling argument. I concede the point."


    "Very well," Fionn said to start things off. "This is an informal meeting of the Starchaser Council and those with a stake in Ceallach Macht''s administration. Aidan, since this was your idea, you have the floor."


    "I have a few things to go over this afternoon, none of which require decisions today. I realize my position is somewhat awkward, so I''m doing my best to ensure that everyone is aware of my plans and has input into them where they overlap with tribal concerns. First, I want to talk about how I will administer the city once the Forum finishes construction later this week."


    He looked around, looking each of the others in the eyes. "Make no mistake: this is my city, despite how little I wanted the responsibilities. I have been poked and prodded and maneuvered into this situation, and I''m not going to be anyone''s puppet any longer. That being said, I am not doing this because I seek power. I want to make everyone''s lives better. Thus, while I will remain the sole ruler of Ceallach Macht, I decided to create a High Council under me. Those who sit on that Council will have a direct hand in governing the city and its territory. Further, as a collective, they will be able to overrule my decisions if they are united in their opposition."


    Most of those at the meeting were long-serving politicians or already knew his plan. Ceirios, however, widened her eyes, and Aidan caught a frown on Anwn''s lips. It was the latter who spoke first. "Why would you do this? I understand the Council, but why allow them any authority over you?"


    "Well, for one, they won''t have any direct authority over me as an individual; no sending me on a suicidal quest because I''m inconvenient. However, I am not so proud as to believe myself infallible. I will make mistakes, and I acknowledge that I might think I''m in the right while everyone else knows I''m not. The Council veto will require a 75% supermajority¡ªrounded up¡ªso it will have to be something that almost everyone opposes."


    "And how big will your Council be?" Eilwen asked with a sour look on her face.


    "Right now, I''m looking at eight members, but that will expand in the future. Ailis will head the Council as my Chancellor; that is the only permanent seat, and it is one picked only by the city''s Lord. The other seven seats will be as follows: one for those who produce our food, one for our guardians, one for those who create and sell goods, one for the artists, one for the priesthood, and one for the leadership of each tribe with a significant permanent presence in the city. We can determine what exactly a ''significant permanent presence'' is early on, but for now, it means the Starchasers and, assuming the treaty works out, the Ash Shroud Sisterhood."


    Aidan looked around the table, watching faces as they considered his decision. "I intend to leave the choice for who sits in those temporary seats and how frequently they rotate up to those who might sit in it. The four¡ªfive, I suppose¡ªof you," he gestured at the Starchaser Councillors and Ceirios, "can decide who you want to send. I will accept whoever it is. However, I do have a preference, and no, I''m not asking for Ceirios or Gerwyn. Eilwen, it is my opinion that you would be the best choice."


    The centaur matriarch''s snowy eyebrows climbed towards her hair. "Me? I confess that I am surprised. Please, elaborate on why I should bother."


    Aidan nodded, expression serious. "I have three reasons; one political, one practical, and one personal. By far, the most important reason is that you are not cowed or intimidated by me in any way. From what I hear, you stood up to Karsarrym, and I certainly don''t place myself at that level. I believe and expect that you will be happy to tell me when I''m putting my foot in a pile of shit, and that''s exactly the kind of advice I''m looking for from my Council. At the same time, while we do not agree on very many things, Councillor, I do not believe that you oppose me because of who I am. Not any longer. You will argue with me, but you will do it honestly, and that''s something I need.


    "Secondly, all the Starchasers are aware that you think I''m a dangerous radical. By being part of my decision-making process for the city, you lend me legitimacy. If I filled the Council with people who tend to think the same way as me, most would view it as a polite fiction at best. Since I don''t want to surround myself with yes-men anyway, it benefits both of us."


    Eilwen snorted. "So you will make me the villain in your little play?"


    "No, that''s not my intent." Aidan shook his head and grimaced. "I admit that it might turn out that way, but I promise you that my intentions are pure in this regard. I genuinely do value your viewpoint."


    "And the third reason?"


    "Oh, that one''s much simpler. I''m hoping that I can convince you to cater the High Council meetings like you do these informal ones." Aidan grinned at her.


    "Rascal!" Eilwen complained¡ªbut Aidan noted that she didn''t refuse outright.


    "We will take your request into consideration," granted Fionn.


    "Are there any other questions or concerns about my High Council?" Aidan asked.


    "You mentioned a seat for the priesthood; what do you mean by that? We have no clerics or priests, nor any place to worship," Anwn asked, leaning forward with a frown.


    "Ah! That leads us to my next topic. The first Core building, aside from the Forum, will be a Temple. Right now, it''ll be a temple to the Brighaid, but I''m open to hosting statues and shrines of other deities or Powers inside should we find anyone able and willing to consecrate and maintain them."


    "And I suppose you are taking the High Priesthood for yourself?" Eilwen grumbled.


    "Goodness, no! Do you think I want even more responsibility? Half the reason for the Council is so I can delegate most day-to-day decisions. No, Brighid agreed to act as Head Priestess until we find someone better suited to the job."


    "Ah, so that is your angle. You have two seats on the Council cannot vote against you, so the other six have to be united to overrule you."


    "Eh," Aidan replied, "Brighid isn''t as much of a pushover as you all think she is, and my first action at the first High Council meeting will be to order Ailis to vote her conscience for so long as she remains Chancellor. I don''t expect either will oppose me often since they''re among those I discuss my plans and goals with, but both have had sharp words for me in the last week. If I propose something disastrous, they will say so and vote accordingly." Ailis nodded along, a small smile on her lips.


    "Hmph. We will see, I suppose."


    "Anyway," Aidan continued, "the first Core building will be a Temple of some sort, but I haven''t decided on the second yet. Sunnild and I talked about this a little on the way over, and Fionn and Gerwyn heard the tail end of that conversation, but let me lay it out for the rest of you. What I want to build is a School or Academy. I know from my homeland that education is the best method to ensure a strong society, and I suspect that having a genuine Teacher guide our children will provide huge benefits."


    He leaned back and sighed, "However, I''m worried about investing too much into the future without securing our safety today. It was a concern before Karsarrym and is an even greater one now. I''ll be honest: I''m not a military-focused person. I could make educated guesses on appropriate measures, but that''s all they would be: guesses. I''m sure we want city walls at some point, and I''m equally sure that we could make them a Core of the city. What I don''t know is what priority to place on them, what other military projects would be viable and useful, and so on. If anyone has any suggestions, I''m open to them."


    "Hmm. I have been thinking along similar lines," Fionn admitted. "Walls of some sort are a certainty; of our potential enemies, only the dragon can bypass them trivially. However, it is not a good idea to invest in them too heavily. As it stands, we do not have enough soldiers to man a wall long enough to protect even the city center. And, even if we did, determined attacks can bypass them in any number of ways. They will protect us from raids, but not armies of conquest."


    The scarred centaur reached into a satchel on his back and pulled out a bundle of rolled-up papers. He flipped through them until he found the one he wanted, then spread it out on the table. Aidan recognized it; it was the topographical map of Ceallach Macht that Fionn used to plan the Battle of Ceallach Macht. He''d been busy with it, Aidan noticed, as every building and restored street was marked.


    "We do not have to rely on walls alone, however," Fionn said. "I am sure you remember the wards that once enclosed this place, Aidan. Those were a terrible strain on our magical resources¡ªall of our mages participated in that ritual, and all of them suffered severe Concentration drain as a result."


    Ailis and Ceirios nodded. "Even the strongest among us were reduced to a sliver of our normal capabilities," Ailis added.


    "Normally, I would not suggest this, but I think we have a unique opportunity here," Fionn went on. "Between having an Engineer available to us," he nodded to Sunnild, "and having a Throne to power it, I believe we can design a series of fortifications that provide deterrence to mundane threats and serve as an anchor for powerful, layered wards fueled by the Throne''s manna rather than our mages'' Concentration."


    "Sarpedon?" Aidan turned to the gargoyle. "Does that sound viable to you?"


    "Indeed, that is possible. There is no such thing as a perfect defense, but many of the world''s great cities utilize such measures. However, I should caution that using Caer Macht in such a manner will require making the walls a Core building and, further, will drain energy from your elementals. This would fall under Inner Defenses, after all. That does mean that the fortifications will benefit from the Fire and Dream energies you devoted to that task. As with most such things, the manifestation of that benefit is difficult to predict, especially with Dream in the mix."


    "Alright, that''s a strong consideration, then. Do you have any other suggestions?" Aidan turned his attention back to Fionn.


    "Of course. There are always more ideas than resources to implement them. For example, when you go forward with your Academy, we should include classes on combat, logistics, and strategy. Another suggestion is to create a Core building dedicated to providing exceptional gear for our warriors¡ªa weaponsmith, armorsmith, enchanter, or even an alchemist for potions and elixirs."


    "We need more smiths in general." Aidan grimaced. "Brighid is working fourteen hours a day as it is. I''ll nag her about taking an apprentice again; she''s reluctant because she still hasn''t quite earned Journeyman rank herself. I might also help her out some; I know how to make nails, arrowheads, and chain links for mail, at least. As for the others, do we even have someone suitable for running a Core enchanter or alchemist''s workshop?"


    "Build it, and they will come," intoned Sarpedon. Aidan gave him a startled look, prompting the gargoyle to continue, "If there are no suitable craftsmen in the population when a Core building like those is built, the world generates Quests to encourage them. Sometimes a local will earn affinity and experience in the needed Skills, sometimes an expert will arrive from afar, but either way, the building would not lie unused for long."


    "Hmm. That''s good to know, and we will likely make use of it in the future, but I''d rather not rely on it for the cornerstone of our defense." Aidan squeezed Sunnild''s hand in his lap and smiled at her. "Would you be willing to help design fortifications for the city? I know we talked about it before, but I want to be sure."


    "Mm. I''ll help as much as I can with anything defensive in nature. Walls, wards, granaries, cisterns. No siege engines, no emplacements for boiling oil. If you want that kind of thing, you''ll have to find someone else to do the math for you."


    "That''s fine with me. Alright, we''ll make the warded walls the second Core building, with plans to make the Academy the third once I rank up the Forum. Fionn, Sunnild, Sarpedon, Ailis, I''ll leave designing those to you. Sarpedon, I''ll want to talk to you later with Brighid about the Temple as well."


    "Of course, Lord Aidan."


    "Alright, my final order of business, then: the diplomatic missions. Gerwyn, you''re going to talk to the Snow-Water Riders, right?"


    "Aye, I have a few friends there, and they are a friendly sort to begin with. I do not expect any difficulty in bringing them to the bargaining table. That said, I do not know how interested they will be in an open alliance; they tend to be somewhat free-spirited."


    "That''s fine," Aidan accepted, "we''ll benefit from trade agreements, too."


    "That will be easier; the trick there will be keeping hold of as much profit as we can."


    Aidan nodded. "If I have to, I''ll accept getting fleeced to trigger the quest objective, but that''s not ideal. I''ll rely on you for that, either way. Is there anything I can do to help in your initial meeting?"


    "If you can provide me some Labyrinth materials, that should bait the hook well enough."


    An idea occurred to Aidan. "I might be able to do you one better. If I can provide a partial copy of a manual on how to use Labyrinth materials in any crafting profession, would that help?"


    Gerwyn''s eyes gleamed with interest. "Oh, very much so. You have such a tome?"


    "Yes, we got it from a chest in our most recent expedition. Brighid has it now, but she''s too busy to do much experimenting at the moment, so I should be able to borrow it back and have someone copy choice sections."


    "Excellent! Yes, that will be a worm that they will not be able to resist biting, even though they will see the hook."


    "Good. Ailis, Brighid said you know one of the Ebon Bone-Kin?"


    "Yes, Carantok is one of their shamans. I do not know how much they would be willing to help, but I do not believe it will hurt to talk to them."


    "Alright. Is there anything I do to help?"


    Ailis tapped her lip with one elegant finger. "I cannot think of much. The Bone-Kin are spiritual people who do not typically pursue wealth or glory. I believe they will be more interested in your Temple than any goods I might send."


    Aidan shrugged. "Works for me. Whatever gets them here and talking to us. Alright, that brings us to the final bit, my own mission to the Mist Stalkers. I know this is not a popular decision¡ª"


    Ailis snorted and muttered, "Putting it lightly."


    "¡ªbut I''m not willing to consign anyone I''ve never met to the ''can only be an enemy'' basket," Aidan soldiered on. "It may be that this is a mistake and that they''ll attack me outright, but it''s a risk I''m going into with my eyes open. Does anyone have any suggestions that aren''t ''don''t go''?"


    A knock at the door interrupted them. Lail poked her head in and said, "My Lord Aidan, the Ash Shroud Sisterhood delegation is here and looking for you."


    "Ah, good. Forgive me for just a moment," Aidan told the others and stood, tugging Sunnild up with him and leading her out into the plaza.


    Zurai

 Champion, Chapter 31: Hail to the King

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Fifthday, 3rd week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Mid-Afternoon


    Ceallach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Lail led the way to the central plaza. There, a crowd of centaurs watched as a couple dozen harpies oversaw a similar number of men of varying races unloading crates and barrels. As Aidan watched, four more winged women lowered a net to the ground with more men and goods. Aidan was surprised at the variety on display; he spotted humans, an elf, two dwarves, catfolk, dogfolk, a cu uisce, and even what looked like a lizardman.


    One of the harpies spotted him and ran off to tug at the elbow of another. The second woman turned around and started to move towards him and Sunnild, who whispered to Aidan, "That is Flight Major Cynehild; she''s the one in command of the embassy. She''s pretty easy-going for a senior officer."


    "Lord Aidan, I assume?" asked Cynehild when she got close enough to talk without shouting.


    "Yes, that''s me. It looks like you have things well in hand, but is there anything I can do to help from an administrative level?"


    Cynehild nodded, then reached up to pull strands of honey-blonde hair from in front of her eyes. Sweat clung to her despite the chill of the late autumn air. "If you can direct me to our quarters, I can start getting everyone settled in. I understand that you only have generic facilities available for now?"


    "Yeah, right now we''re using communal homes just for efficiency''s sake. Getting everyone moved into single-family houses is high on the list, but there''s only so much manpower to go around. Anyway, you can use any of the buildings marked with wings; those are reserved for you. I wasn''t very sure how you''d want to divide things up, so there are 8 of them, each of which can house twenty or so people as long as they''re not terribly prudish."


    Cynehild nodded again and said, "That will be fine for now. We anticipated needing to build our own accommodations¡ªno one expected you to make us a miniature Ayrie in a week. Headquarters will send building materials with the next flight so that we do not put a strain on your resources."


    "I appreciate that. We have a city''s worth of bricks and blocks to work with, but it''s tedious and unpleasant labor to extract and sort it all." He waited while the Flight Major issued some orders to her underlings, then continued, "As it happens, I was in a meeting with the Starchaser Council and some of my advisors. You are welcome to join us with an aide or three. There''s no formal treaty between us yet, but the fact that you''re preparing for a permanent presence here leads me to believe that it will come soon."


    "Thank you, Lord Aidan. I will take you up on your offer. Perhaps we can go over the terms of the treaties once the scheduled business has concluded?"


    "Sounds like a plan." He waited while Cynehild gave some more orders and rounded up an assistant, then led them back to the meeting.


    Aidan


    Late Afternoon


    Two hours later, Aidan was ready for the meeting to be over. They''d worked out all manner of infrastructure priorities, supply issues, and plans for future development. Once that was done, Cynehild produced a sheaf of documents for them to look over. The harpies pushed the treaties'' terms a little further than in the initial tentative agreement, but after some back-and-forth, everything was agreed to and signed. The Starchasers and Ash Shroud Sisterhood had an official information-sharing and defensive pact, while the city of Ceallach Macht took its first steps toward being a multi-racial metropolis.


    Aidan was happy at the progress, but long meetings drained his energy. "Is there anything else we need to address?" he asked once all the signing finished.


    "Two things, actually," said Fionn. "First, you never finished explaining your plan for the Mist Stalker mission."


    "Ugh, you''re right. I got distracted, sorry. And we''ve done things a little out of order. Major Cynehild, three days ago, a dragon attacked Ceallach Macht." The harpy officer''s eyes bulged at that news. "As you can see, we are still here; we were able to fight it off. I can show you proof if you need it since Ysbail managed to cut off the tip of its tail; I doubt there are any other reptiles that large around here. However, we were unable to kill it, and it''ll be back at some point.


    "It fled into or through Mist Stalker territory, and I''m going to follow it. Not to fight it, I''m under no illusions about how that would end up for me, but we need more information. While I''m there, I''m going to invite the Mist Stalkers to send a delegation like yours here to the city. Obviously, none of the centaurs can be part of that expedition, so I''m taking Sunnild as a bodyguard since you all get along a little better than we do with the cats. That all being said, is there anything helpful that you can tell us about the Mist Stalkers or their territory?"


    "This dragon," Cynehild asked, voice cautious, "would you be expecting our assistance in fighting it?"


    "Expecting? No; its grudge is with me, and its goal is taking over Caer Macht. Also, everything happened before we signed the treaty. Hoping? Yes. If it takes over the Throne, you''ll be little more than its minions if you stay. We''re hoping to gather a coalition of the nearby tribes to fight against it."


    "How badly did you say you hurt it?"


    "How soon do we expect it back, you mean?" Aidan was too tired to dance the dance. "My elementals and I scarred its face, blinded one of its eyes, and gouged out a couple craters in its chest. I have reason to believe that it will not return for several months."


    "I will need to confer with my superiors before we commit to anything concerning the dragon," Cynehild said, "but I can provide some assistance with the Mist Stalkers, at least. Their current Chieftan is named Searlas. He is a cunning sort who runs hot and cold, and he holds a grudge long past what is reasonable. Those that cross him have their lives fall apart, piece by piece, at his direction, until he personally finishes them off. Still, he is smart enough not to make open moves against those powerful enough to hurt him in return, and if you do not give him a reason to form a grudge, he should have no cause to act against you. He is also not callous or cruel to his subjects; he has been working to improve the life of his average citizens. The Mist Stalkers allow some trade from the human nations, so your appearance should not cause undue alarm."


    "Thank you, that''s valuable information. Do you happen to know if there are any gifts I could bring Chieftan Searlas to smooth the introduction process?"


    "Women." Cynehild''s lips curled in distaste. "He is a lustful man and maintains a harem of pleasure-slaves. I would recommend making it very clear that Wingsister Sunnild is off-limits. Assuming she is, of course; I would not wish to presume."


    "She is," Aidan confirmed, squeezing Sunnild''s hand. "I will not be able to indulge him in that regard. Is there anything less repulsive he might enjoy?"


    She shrugged. "Searlas is as fond of wealth and power as any petty lord. Gold, jewels, magic items, or rare materials will all be welcome."


    "Those are easy enough, at least. Do you perhaps have a map of Mist Stalker territory?" Aidan asked. "I''m sure that your flight makes such things easier to acquire than for those of us bound to the land."


    "We do, although I cannot give one to you. Our maps are one of our most important strategic assets. I can, however, show you where to find the main Mist Stalker village."


    "Thank you. Is there anything else I need to know about the Mist Stalkers?"


    Cynehild tilted her head, her eyes shifting up and to the left. "Culturally, they favor results over methodology; cheating is considered fair play as long as you do not get caught. As such, they value subtlety and the ability to imply without promising. Be very careful about the terms of any agreements you make with them, especially verbal ones. On the other hand, you will earn respect if you play along with their games.¡±


    Aidan groaned to himself. For all his complaints about dealing with politics, the Starchasers and Sisterhood were a straightforward lot. It sounded like the Mist Stalkers would be much more troublesome. Aidan wasn''t sure he wanted them as a part of his city, but he''d let his own observations make the decision for him. "Alright. Unless anyone has something else, I think that''s plenty on the Mist Stalkers for now. Fionn, you had one more item to discuss?"


    The old warrior nodded. "Yes. This one is a little more personal. Lord Aidan, forgive me if I overstep myself, but the name we called you when you first came to us no longer fits you. You are no longer lost and alone. Indeed, you have almost the entire tribe talking about you in favorable terms. You, your magic, and your elementals have taken root in the tribe''s imagination, and I have heard whispers of a new title for you¡ªPhoenix King Aidan. It is perhaps a little grandiose for our current situation, but it suits you and your goals."


    "I¡ª" Aidan stuttered, "I¡ªwhat? I never asked for this."


    "Nevertheless, you have it," said Eilwen. "You can try to change your image, but your battles against Karsarrym and the Taig left quite an impression. Trying to avoid or downplay it may cause people to lose heart."


    Aidan closed his eyes. Considering only the bonuses from the Epithets themselves, Phoenix King was far better than Lostlorn. The increased learning speed with his magic would be much more significant than a 10% bonus to experience earned from exploration and friendships, and Phoenix King also gave direct benefits to his nascent Kingdom. Still... Aidan pushed Kindle the Hearth-Flame into Crown of the Exalted and opened his eyes. The harpy representatives stared in fascination at the ethereal diadem encircling his head, but Aidan ignored them for the moment.


    "When I first gained this Ability," Aidan gestured to his head, "Brighid cautioned me against using it too openly. What has changed that you are now urging me to name myself a King?"


    Anwn snorted and scolded him, "Come now, Lord Aidan."


    Ceirios was gentler. "Everything changed. You have gone from stranger to savior, Aidan. Your power is viewed as a talisman of protection rather than a sword aimed at our necks. Ceallach Macht is now our hope for the future instead of a festering evil, and you are its Lord. Most of all, you are being given respect rather than demanding it."


    "Major Cynehild, care to weigh in?"


    Cynehild''s wings rustled, and she was silent for a moment before saying, "So long as you claim no rulership you are not granted, call yourself whatever you please. You are the Lord of this city, a King in essence if perhaps not yet in fact. If the Starchasers already refer to you as such, it is not my place to gainsay them."


    "Alright, I guess that makes it unanimous." Aidan glanced at Ailis, who was hiding a smile behind her teacup. There was pride and hunger in her eyes; Aidan remembered her telling him that the farther he rose, the higher she would be standing at his side. Well, she actually said sitting at my feet, but I can raise her a little higher than that. He switched epithets.


    The lack of any reaction from the world at large was a mild surprise; he half-expected an achievement or quest or at least an acknowledgment. Instead, the silence in the room dragged out until he coughed awkwardly and asked, "Is there any other business, then?"


    Heads shook around the table, so Aidan rose from his place at the table. "Well, then I, for one, am going to stretch my legs some. No offense to any of you, but this meeting lasted all afternoon. I''ll seek out each of you in the next few days to go over smaller matters. Major Cynehild, you''ll be my first stop in the morning. Until then, if you need to reach me, I''ll be under the hill; just go straight until the altar room, and one of my guards will be able to fetch me." He helped Sunnild to her feet, earning a quick kiss as a reward, then nodded to the others and made his exit.


    Once free of interminable politics, Aidan stretched. "I thought that meeting would never end!" he complained. "C''mon, I have one more person for you to meet today. Assuming we can find her."


    "Mm! Who are we looking for?" Sunnild cuddled up to his side.


    "Ysbail, another friend of mine. I''m not sure how well you two will get along, but I have some things to discuss with her, and she may join our Labyrinth party." Sunnild nodded and rested her head against Aidan''s shoulder, humming a sprightly tune as they walked.


    Lucky! thought Aidan as he spotted Ysbail''s tall form drilling in the city''s makeshift training field. She swung a wooden sword¡ªmore of a plank with a handle than a sword, really¡ªat a padded practice dummy, her motions smooth and fluid.


    "Does she actually use a sword that big?" Sunnild murmured to Aidan as they watched.


    "Yeah, no idea how she can swing it around so fast, but she does. Saved my life against Karsarrym by parrying his lightning breath."


    "Then I''ll do my best ta get along with her. Why do ya think we might not?"


    "She''s an Adventurer; she makes a living out of hunting down and killing monsters."


    Sunnild nodded and fell silent. Once it became clear that Ysbail was in a world of her own and wouldn''t notice them until she finished her drill, Aidan sat down at the edge of the field and pulled Sunnild down onto his lap. She blushed bright red but didn''t let her embarrassment keep her from making herself comfortable. Tempted as he was, Aidan limited his touch to Sunnild''s bare midriff.


    Ten or fifteen minutes passed before Ysbail shouldered her blade and wiped the sweat from her brow with a towel. She turned, spotted Aidan, and made her way over. Aidan rose to his feet, lifting Sunnild up as he did.


    "Fearless leader!" Ysbail laughed. "What brings you by today, and who is this cutie? The harpies only got here this afternoon, and you made a move already?"


    Sunnild''s blush returned in full force, but Aidan laughed it off and introduced the pair. "Ysbail, this is Sunnild, a good friend of mine and Brighid''s. Sunnild, Ysbail."


    Ysbail''s eyes flicked to Aidan''s hand on Sunnild''s belly and the way the girl pressed herself against him. "Good friends indeed," she smirked. "So what can I do for you, boss?"


    "If I told you that I had access to an endless dungeon full of infinite monsters and treasure, what would you say?"


    Ysbail arched an eyebrow, her smirk growing wider. "I would ask who I have to fuck to get in on some of that action, but you already gave me the answer. So do you want me here in the field in front of everyone, or shall we retire somewhere more private?" Her hands rose to the leather binding around her breasts.


    Aidan snorted. "One day, someone will call your bluff, you know."


    "What bluff?" Ysbail laughed, but she lowered her hands. "If you can keep Brighid satisfied and convince a harpy to join your harem instead of the other way around, you must be good. Ah, well, I will just have to find someone else to satisfy that itch. Really though, what do I need to do?"


    "Eventually, I''d like you to join my party. Unfortunately, I''m going to be headed out on business in a couple days and will be busy getting everything set up to run in my absence until then. In the meantime, if you want to gather a group together and make a few runs at it yourself, you''re welcome to.


    "I''d appreciate it if you take one or two of the Ash Shroud harpies with you; I''m sure they have someone worth your time. Cai or Llwyd can show you the way, and Brighid has a spare Escape Token you can use to get out of a tight spot." Aidan grinned at Ysbail. "I''ll leave it up to you to convince her to give it to you."


    "I will make sure to be extra convincing!" Ysbail waggled her eyebrows up and down, drawing a giggle from Sunnild. "What sort of dungeon is it, anyway?"


    "We''ve only explored part of the first floor so far, so I can''t give too many details." Aidan described what he''d encountered so far and gave Ysbail a copy of his map. "My understanding is that the layout will be the same for you, but each party¡ªdefined by the party leader¡ªwill experience a different ''instance'' of the Labyrinth, so you''ll need to trigger all those shortcuts yourself. Oh, and out of gratitude for saving my ass, I''ll waive the Labyrinth tax for you. Only you, mind; your other party members will still need to pay up."


    "Hah! Now that is how to get to this girl''s heart!" Ysbail clapped Aidan on the back. "Well, I need to look up some old friends and sweet-talk some new ones. No time to waste; there is adventuring to be done!"


    Ysbail walked off, waving over her shoulder at them. Sunnild wiggled against Aidan and watched the Adventurer leave.


    Zurai

 Champion, Chapter 32: A Brighter Tomorrow

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Seventhday, 3rd week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Noon


    Ceallach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    The sun shone high overhead as Aidan walked out of Caer Macht and into a lush flower garden. Several branching paths led through a carpet of blue-violet blossoms that stretched just above the ankle-height midday mists. Bushes, vines, and small trees rose in clumps, providing visual variety to the display with red, white, pink, yellow, and other warm hues countering the deep cool color offered by the low-lying blooms.


    Past the garden, less than a minute by the most direct route, stood a white stone structure. Aidan couldn''t call it a building in good faith since it lacked walls; instead, pillars and arches held up its gabled roof. The area under the roof was designed as an amphitheater with seating for several hundred centaurs arranged in a partial circle around a raised dais. This was the Idyllic Forum, where Aidan''s High Council would deliberate publicly. Not every meeting would be out in the open, of course, but he wanted his government to be as transparent as he could get away with.


    The stands were packed. It looked like every single centaur and harpy in the city was present, although Aidan knew that wasn''t true; at the very least, there were warriors of both races out on patrol. The crowd''s murmurs rose in volume as they spotted Aidan and his fiery eagle-shaped escorts. He stepped out onto the dais, greeted each of the other leaders¡ªAilis, Sarpedon, the Starchaser Council, and Cynehild¡ªthen walked up to the edge facing the crowd. He had the elementals turn down their heat production and land on his shoulders in a bit of showmanship.


    Aidan raised his hands, gesturing for silence. Everyone''s attention was on him as the noise died down far enough for him to speak and be heard. Digging into his middle school drama handbook, he projected his voice as best he could and spoke.


    "Thank you all for coming. Just in case some of you don''t know who I am, my name is Aidan, and I am the Lord of Ceallach Macht. This wasn''t a role I sought for myself; I would have been happy being nothing more than Brighid''s loving husband." Aidan smiled at his Soulmate, who sat in the first row next to Sunnild. "Where I come from, there is an ancient saying, told as an ill-wish: may you live in interesting times."


    Aidan let the idea settle in for a moment before continuing, "Well, unfortunately, it appears that we are all doomed to live in interesting times. Some of you were present during the battle against the Taig. Others were there when the dragon Karsarrym attacked. Some poor, cursed few of us survived both. I am sure that the rest of you know the rumors. Well, today, let me separate fact from fiction for you."


    Aidan sucked in a deep breath, then let it out slowly. A paranoid part of him, deep in the back of his mind, ranted and raved that he was about to make a huge mistake. He shoved that part of himself down and ignored it. The truth was already out; it was better to take hold of the narrative now and shape it towards his ends.


    "On Seventhday, in the second week of the seventh month of Godless Age 597, I was Chosen by Birgitte, Brigantia, and Braihain¡ªcollectively known as the Brighaid or the Three Flames¡ªas their champion and agent in the world." A susurrus of whispers broke out among the crowd, but Aidan talked over them. "They granted me a measure of Their power and set me down in the Highlands to work Their will. Yet, They did not tell me what to do, saying instead that I should follow my heart.


    "Well, my heart led me on quite a journey, let me tell you!" He got a chuckle out of the crowd with that. Good, they''re invested. "Only a few of you know, I think, that the Battle of Ceallach Macht was the second time I faced the Taig. The first time was on a scouting mission from the Council. That first time it captured me deep inside Caer Macht. Then it killed me."


    This time the crowd reacted with shock and disbelief. Aidan let it go on for a few seconds before raising his hands for silence again. "Yes, you heard me right. It ripped me limb from limb. You can ask Cai, Llwyd, Ceirios, Ysbail, Anwn, or Brighid; they all saw the manikin it made of my corpse. Obviously, I got better." He grinned at that. That''s two different Monty Python skits in one. "You see, one of the benefits of being a Chosen is that death isn''t quite as final for us as for most people.


    "The second time I faced the Wildlord, this time with allies beside me, the Brighaid guided my hand in destroying it utterly. The display of magic at the Battle of Ceallach Macht was a result of that. Another result was my second death: that spell, Phoenix Pyre, uses my soul and life as its fuel. So, you know I speak the truth when I say that I have fought, bled, and died for the Starchasers. As far as I am concerned, you are my people, and I am yours."


    Aidan turned his attention to the twenty or so Ash Shroud Sisters in the crowd, meeting each of their gazes. "I do not have any such direct bonds with the Sisterhood, but still I make to you that same pledge: any of you who choose to live in Ceallach Macht and abide by its laws are my people, and I am yours. I hope that I will not have to die again to cement that promise in your hearts. I am glad to have you with us, and I pledge to you that your lives are no less valuable to me than those of my own tribe.


    "But none of that speaks to my purpose here. I told you that the Three Flames told me to follow my heart, so let me tell you where my heart leads. I came to this land and found it full of darkness. Not literal darkness; no, I''m speaking of hatred, fear, distrust, isolation. Each and every tribe in the Highlands is the same, keeping to themselves, defending their borders like a drake guarding its nest."


    Noise swelled from the crowd again, this time angry murmurs joining together in a seething buzz. "I do not blame you!" Aidan shouted above them. "You were not wrong! But you could be so much more! This is the path my heart sees. This is the road I choose to walk. Not one of darkness, but of light! Passion, creation, love, and unity! You are each strong! Your very existence proves that! But we are stronger together than apart!"


    Aidan pointed into the crowd. "Steffan, how much more secure would the borders be if you had an Ash Shroud Sister along with you?" Without waiting for an answer, he pointed elsewhere. "Siwan, how much has your business improved because of the ideas you had while working on my clothes? Siomon, how about getting a cu uisce water mage to make sure your fields don''t suffer from droughts or floods?" Then he turned to the harpies. "Sisters, what if you didn''t have to hunt and scrounge for men? That is my dream, ladies and gentlemen. A home for us all, where we can work together to do more things better than we could alone."


    He paused again, partially to let the crowd absorb the idea and partly to catch his breath. After a few moments, he continued in a calmer voice, "I won''t ask you for your whole-hearted backing yet. I understand that this is a big change. I''m upending centuries of culture on all sides. I ask that you keep your mind open to the possibilities and give this a chance to work. And I''m not looking to do this without input, either.


    "I am the Lord of Ceallach Macht, but I have no wish to rule as a solitary monarch. I am not so arrogant or selfish as that. I know that, for this to work, you all need to be part of it. That is why I am commissioning a High Council to advise me and govern the city''s day-to-day affairs. Said High Council will meet here, in public, no less than once every week, and all but one of its members will be elected by you, the citizens of Ceallach Macht. I''m ready now to announce the first three Council members; ladies, step forward, please."


    Ailis, Eilwen, and Cynehild took up positions to either side of Aidan. "Ailis will serve as my Chancellor, making decisions in my stead when I am unavailable. She is my right hand, and it is her job to act as the head of the High Council. Many of you are no doubt aware that she is beholden to me by oath, so I will say this now in public: Ailis, in Council matters, you are to speak your mind regardless of whether you speak against me or not. Give me your true counsel and only your true counsel, ignoring any command I might give you in the future to the contrary. Now, do you accept the position of Chancellor and swear to advocate the realm''s best interests?"


    All three of the Councillors-to-be knew this was coming, of course, so Ailis''s reply was swift in coming and sure-voiced. "I do so swear."


    "Eilwen, do you accept the position of High Councillor and swear to advocate for the interests of the Starchaser tribe as a whole?"


    "I so swear," came the solemn voice of Aidan''s harshest critic.


    "And Cynehild, do you accept the position of High Councillor and swear to advocate for the interests of the Ash Shroud Sisterhood as a whole?"


    "I so swear," the harpy officer swore and saluted.


    "Thank you for your service." Aidan turned back to the crowd and continued, "These are the first three Councillors, but there will be more, selected from among those of you sitting out there. Whether you be a farmer, a soldier, or even an artist, the High Council will hear your concerns and bring them to me. In the coming weeks, Ailis will meet with you in groups and help you all through the process of deciding on your Councillors. In the meantime, the Starchaser Council and the Ash Shroud Sisterhood''s command structure are still intact and separate. Any intra-tribal concerns can be brought before them as normal.


    "Now, I''ve talked plenty and given you all much to think about, so I''ll try to be quick with this last bit. This Forum is only the first large-scale construction project; there are two more that will begin today. The first will be a temple complex dedicated to the Brighaid and any other righteous deity we can consecrate it to. Leading that project and acting as Head Priestess until she finds a replacement will be Brighid. Do you want to say anything, love?"


    Brighid shot him a mock-glare, but stood up and walked up beside him, then turned around and faced the citizens. "My goal with the temple is to serve the city''s needs, not the other way around. We want to be clear: there will be no rewards for worshiping the Three Flames, nor any penalties for refusing to do so. However, it should be quite clear to all of us that They have taken a hand in protecting us, and I believe They will continue to guide us to a better future. It is my hope that some of you will come to love Them as I do. Once the temple is constructed, I will hold services every Seventhday and be available for discussion whenever I am not busy in the forge. Thank you."


    "<Thank you, beloved,>" Aidan said in a whisper of Divine Speech directly into Brighid''s ear, causing her to stiffen and shudder as pleasure coursed through her. Scarlet flooded over her skin, but she managed to keep from moaning out loud. Aidan gave her a smug grin, then turned his attention to the final announcement.


    "The second project is a set of physical and magical fortifications around the city, drawing on the Throne''s power to reinforce the walls and fuel the wards. There isn''t as much to say about this one; just be aware that we are taking your safety as seriously as possible. Both of these Core buildings are being funded by myself, so they will not reduce the pace at which new homes and roads are constructed. I appreciate your patience while you''re packed together like this; hopefully, by the end of next month, everyone will have a home of their own again."


    The crowd cheered at that.


    Aidan


    Early Afternoon


    "Whew, that''s the longest speech I''ve ever made," Aidan said once the public announcement was over. "I''ve never been much for public speaking."


    "You did great!" cheered Sunnild.


    "Indeed," agreed Ailis.


    "Anyway, now that the Forum is finished, I can see the Temple and Fortification options, so let''s decide on those."


    Aidan brought up his interface. As before, with the choice between Resplendant Chateau, Idyllic Forum, and Harmonious Complex, the system generated several options for him. He flipped through them one by one, listing all the data to his advisors.


    "Uh, okay. That''s a thing," Aidan said as he finished reciting the information for the Phoenix''s Nest. "And I can''t help but note that we have enough materials to build both Unique buildings. Should we?" Aidan looked towards Sarpedon.


    "It is difficult to say. Unique buildings are more powerful than even standard Core buildings, but they attract attention. Hosting two at once could reap great benefits¡ªor great sorrow."


    "Mebbe we should look at the combinations we can build first? Yer Patron gave ya 200 units of stone, 200 of marble, 200 of exotic lumber, and 20 each of gold, silver, and bronze. Ya can also get Viridescent Nectar in whatever quantity you want from the Labyrinth, given enough time."


    "We never tried harvesting any of the wood there, either," Ailis said with a grimace. "It is possible that we can get more exotic lumber that way."


    "And we can always dip into the city''s stores of basic stone," added Brighid. "We would have to for the Ramparts."


    "Okay, let''s see... It looks like we can combine the Sanctuary with either Geomantic Designs or Warded Ramparts, the Cathedral with any of the three defenses, and the Tabernacle with the Ramparts or Phoenix''s Nest. Honestly, I''m not feeling the Cathedral. It places too much emphasis on a single religion for me."


    "Agreed," nodded Brighid. "It seems powerful, but too monolithic for my comfort."


    "Alright, that one''s out then if our Priestess isn''t even in favor. Does anyone have strong feelings about the rest?"


    "The Tabernacle gives you a source of Dream Essence for your Quest," Ailis pointed out. "As of now, the only other way we know how to get any is through quests, which are impossible to predict."


    "I don''t like the idea of leaving the rest of the city unprotected by building the Nest," chimed in Sunnild. "Even if there''s enough room inside for everyone, that won''t always be true, an'' besides that, it won''t protect their homes."


    "That is true, Miss Sunnild," Sarpedon said, "but keep in mind that Lord Aidan can still construct non-Core city walls and magical defenses. They will not be as potent as the Warded Ramparts or Geomantic Design, but most cities get by without such measures."


    "Mm! I didn''t think of that, sorry." She ducked her head, but Aidan curled his arm around her waist and pulled her into a one-armed hug.


    "It''s okay, songbird, that''s why we''re all talking about it. I didn''t think of it either, so don''t feel bad." Aidan was rewarded with a bright smile and a kiss on his shoulder. "With that in mind, does your opinion change?"


    "Mm-hm. I think," she bit her lip, then said, "I think ya should take the risk. Yer bein'' offered extra-powerful options fer a reason. Yeah, they might draw more attention, but ya already have a dragon after ya. I won''t jinx it, but clearly, you''ve already drawn attention. Better ta make use of the best options ya have rather than trying ta sweep the dirt under the rug."


    "Anyone disagree?" Aidan looked around. Everyone shook their heads. "Alright, then, I guess we have our Core building slots filled. Sarpedon, I''ll rely on you to coordinate their construction while I''m away."


    A broad smile broke out across the gargoyle''s stone face. "It will be my pleasure, Lord Aidan!"


    Aidan kissed Sunnild, then released her and pulled Brighid close to kiss her as well. Once their lips parted, he said, "My loves, I''ll leave you to your own devices for the rest of the day since there''s someone else who won''t be beside me or sharing my dreams for the next week or more." So saying, he extended his hand to Ailis. "My lady, care to join me for the afternoon and evening?"


    Ailis placed her slim hand in his and graced him with a warm smile. "I was hoping you would ask, my Lord Aidan."


    Zurai

 Champion, Chapter 33: Light Through the Leaves of Love

    Zurai


    Aidan


    The Realms


    Seventhday, 3rd week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Early Afternoon


    Ceallach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Aidan led Ailis into the gardens surrounding the entrance to Caer Macht. "How adventurous are you feeling?" he asked her.


    "Adventurous?" Ailis''s voice was caught between confusion and curiosity. "That is something I prefer to leave to the younger generations."


    Aidan snorted. "Oh, come now, you didn''t earn a Prestige Class by sitting in your home reading books all day. Besides, the adventure I had in mind shouldn''t be the dangerous or thrilling sort."


    "Oh, well, with that reassurance, lead on!" She laughed back. They picked their way through the flowers for a few minutes until they reached the edge of the garden. From there, Aidan guided Ailis up onto the slope of Caer Macht''s hill.


    "It''s such a beautiful day out," he said. Indeed, the late autumn air was crisp, helped by a light breeze that swept the ground-hugging mist into swirls and eddies. The sun shone down on them from a sky containing only a handful of fluffy white clouds. "This has always been my favorite time of year; not so hot that I get sweaty just walking from place to place, but not so cold that I feel the need to bundle up."


    "I confess that summer is a bit much for me," Ailis agreed.


    "So, since I''ll be leaving tomorrow and won''t see you for a while, and the weather is so nice, I decided to take you on a picnic."


    "A... pick-nick?" Ailis stumbled over the unfamiliar word. "I am afraid I do not know what that is."


    "Ah, that''s a shame," Aidan mused. "I thought the concept would translate, at least. No matter. A picnic is a term from my homeland. In essence, it''s a short trip into a park or other natural setting in which the participants¡ªusually a pair who are interested in each other¡ªeat a prepared meal with just each other for company. The meal is usually what we call finger food, which is to say something that one eats with their hands and can be easily fed to a partner. Of course, like explaining a joke, the explanation robs it of its romanticism."


    Ailis squeezed his hand in reassurance and stepped closer to him. "No, I understand. It does sound rather pleasant. Where are we headed, then?"


    Aidan picked his way around an outcropping of white rock. This hill wasn''t as difficult to climb as some of the others in the Highlands, but the gentlest trail switched back and forth as it rose along the slope. "Not far, as the crow flies. The back end of this hill ends in a small cliff overlooking the river. It''ll take us an hour or so to get there, which is why I asked how adventurous you were feeling, but it''s almost directly above the Throne, and with the elementals around, we''re as safe as we can be. If you really didn''t want to go anywhere, I had a backup plan."


    His Chancellor made an amused sound. "I see." She stopped, then, and tugged on Aidan''s hand. He turned around to face her just in time for her lips to find his. While welcome, the kiss surprised him long enough for Ailis to bring her other hand up to the back of his neck and slip her fingers into his hair. She kept the kiss chaste, but her lips lingered for several seconds before she withdrew an inch.


    Unlike Brighid, who stood almost a foot taller than he did, or Sunnild, whose head (when her crest lay flat) came up just under his nose, Ailis was only about an inch taller than him. Neither of them had to bend their neck to gaze into the other''s eyes from this close, and Aidan took advantage of that. The eyes are the windows of the soul, it''s said, he thought as he peered into the bright, light blue examples before him. He''d seen more than his share of disdain and icy rage in them before, but now he could practically feel the warmth they emitted. With a small smile, Aidan slipped his arms around Ailis''s waist and closed the gap between them.


    Ailis leaned into his embrace and pulled him into another kiss. Her eyes slid closed as he probed with the tip of his tongue, then her lips parted in welcome. This, too, was different from his lovers. Brighid''s kisses were fiery things, equal parts desperately submissive and frantically lustful. Sunnild, meanwhile, was still learning to show affection without embarrassment; she tended to go get lost in a kiss until something else happened, at which point she grew flustered. Both of them leaned towards rapid escalation, with deep kisses being a match tossed into a pool of gasoline.


    However, Ailis had firm control of her actions and emotions, and she seemed in no hurry to escalate. She met his tongue with her own, but instead of wrestling for dominance, she teased him and drew him deeper into her mouth with light touches. Meanwhile, she slid her free hand under the back of his shirt and traced her fingertips along his spine; Aidan followed suit, drawing a soft, pleased sound from Ailis''s throat. With gentle, insistent pressure, her tongue began to oppose his invasion, chasing Aidan out of her mouth and into his. They spent a few moments longer like that, trading exploratory expeditions, before Ailis broke the kiss.


    "We will do more of that later, but I grow hungry. If there is still an hour of walking ahead of us, we should continue." She disentangled her fingers from Aidan''s hair but left her other hand against the small of his back.


    "Well, if you''re in a hurry..." Aidan trailed off as Ailis shot him a look.


    "I know my daughter enjoys acting like a beast of burden for you, but that is too far for me to go right now."


    "I wasn''t going to suggest it. I know that''s an insult to you. I have a spell to summon a mount."


    Ailis had the grace to look abashed. "I apologize. I should not have assumed. Regardless, it is not needed; I am enjoying walking with you, so there is no rush."


    Aidan''s smile returned. "Well then, let us walk."


    Aidan


    Mid-Afternoon


    An hour and a half later¡ªAilis stopped him twice more along the way¡ªAidan and Ailis reached their destination. Calling it a cliff was a bit of an exaggeration on Aidan''s part; the drop from the hilltop to the river below wasn''t sheer, though it was far too steep to easily ascend. Strips of stubborn grass clung to the slope where it could, but most of the hillside was bare white rock. A hundred or so feet below, the river flowed fast enough to throw up sprays of white foam.


    On top of the hill, a handful of low, leafy trees provided shelter from the sun. They looked something like a cross between a baobab and an oak, with broad trunks that quickly divided into a horde of branches that reached farther outward than upward. Despite the season, green leaves clung to their stems with determination. Aidan guided Ailis to a spot clear of protruding roots or rocks and gestured for her to wait. He pulled a tablecloth from his Handy Haversack and laid it out on the ground for them to sit on.


    Ailis knocked her hooves against a nearby rock outcropping to clean the dirt from them and then settled onto the cloth. Aidan sat beside her, close but not touching, and reached into the Haversack again for the food. Ailis shifted closer and leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder. "You were right," she said, "it is beautiful here. It will be a shame if the Phoenix''s Nest disrupts this place."


    "You don''t have to humor me," Aidan teased. "I know you''d still rather be in a library with your cup of tea. Speaking of which..." he produced a teakettle from storage, a wisp of steam immediately emerging from its spout.


    "Oh, you did plan this well," Ailis praised, raising her head and reaching for the kettle. Aidan handed her a cup and waited while she poured, smelled, and tasted the tea. "Mm. My favorite. How did you¡ªno, nevermind. Brighid told you?"


    "Who else? She''s so happy that we''re getting along now that she insisted on helping."


    A slight smile tugged at Ailis''s lips. She took another sip, then set the cup down and looked at Aidan. "I have been blessed with a wonderful daughter, and she chose well for her mate."


    "I can agree with one of those, at least. As far as her choice in men goes, I can only assume divine intervention on my behalf." Aidan busied himself setting out containers of food. Within seconds, bowls of fruit, a plate of sandwiches, and a platter of flaky pastries covered the cloth in front of them.


    Ailis plucked a slice of apple from one of the bowls and held it up to Aidan''s lips. "I believe this is the intent of these ''finger foods,'' yes?" Aidan ate it from her fingers and nodded. "You should not be so self-effacing," she continued. "Humility is good, but only to a point, after which it turns to either poor self-esteem or thinly-veiled pride. You have a good heart and, more importantly, the will to translate that into positive actions. By all means, give credit to others where it is due, but do not fail to take credit for the value you bring."


    Instead of making an immediate response, Aidan peeled a measuaine¡ªa native Highlands fruit with a thick green rind that protected an interior full of seed pods the size of shelled peanuts¡ªand fed its contents to Ailis. Her eyes locked onto Aidan''s as her lips closed over each proferred seed and swept it from his fingertips onto her waiting tongue-tip.


    "The problem is that I don''t feel like I''ve done much to earn such praise yet," Aidan said, trying and failing to ignore the obvious symbolism of Ailis''s lips against and around his finger. "I''m getting there; maybe once I prove to everyone that working together is the best choice, I''ll believe it more. But so far, I really haven''t done much. Killing the Taig was more the Brighaid''s doing than mine, and Karsarrym wouldn''t even have come if I hadn''t claimed Caer Macht."


    "Aidan," Ailis sighed, "unless there is something your Patron told you that you did not pass on, you have no way of knowing that. Perhaps it felt the death of the Taig and came to fill the power vacuum. Maybe it came to fight the Wildlord for its Throne and just found you there instead. Only the dragon knows. What matters is that you drove it off. No, Aidan," she snapped when he opened his mouth to protest, "even Ysbail would not have been able to chase it off with so little damage. She might have slain it if everything went perfectly for her, but I would not give her even one-in-a-thousand odds of it."


    "How can you call a hundred and fifty dead Starchasers ''so little damage''?" Aidan exclaimed. "Ailis, in the two battles I have been a part of, the tribe lost almost four hundred people out of less than a thousand to start with. How can you praise me for that?" Tears stung the corners of his eyes.


    "Oh, my poor Sovereign, so eroded by guilt," Ailis sighed. She reached up and brushed a thumb across his cheek. "We do not praise you for the deaths in battle, but rather for the hundreds of lives you saved. Either the Wildlord or the dragon would have wiped us out¡ªor worse. Many contributed to preventing those fates, but none more so than you. If I accomplish no other good deed for the rest of my life, I will make you see this. Were those words you spoke earlier fabrications? Do you truly not believe that you earned your place among us?"


    "I do, but..." Aidan turned his head and kissed Ailis''s fingers. "How do you do it? How do you make peace with the ghosts of the slain? How would you have made peace with mine if your original scheme went as planned?"


    Ailis shook her head. "You ask a question that every leader must find their own answer to. In this world, some people die so that others may live. That is a simple fact of nature. You must decide for yourself which costs are acceptable, but if you are to be our leader, you must find a way to pay those prices when needed. I told myself that you were a runty puppy that needed to be culled from the litter so that the others could grow strong."


    Despite himself, Aidan snorted out a laugh at that. Ailis gave him a sad smile and continued, "Alas, you have rather effectively dismantled my illusions of superiority, so I have found myself in similar distress." She slid her hand around to the back of his head and drew him down against her chest. "That is my burden to bear. The only advice I can give you is to listen to those who love you. We will not let you slide into villainy without a fight."


    Aidan nodded and lifted his head, scrubbing away tears. "Thank you. I''m sorry for ruining the mood."


    Ailis clicked her tongue and gave him a smirk. "Well, let me restore it, then. You soaked my shirt with your tears, and it is far too cool out to wear wet clothes." In truth, there was hardly even a damp spot, but nonetheless, Ailis pulled her blouse off over her head and tossed it to the side. Aidan''s eyes were drawn with inexorable weight to her pale breasts. Her nipples hardened as a chilly breeze blew past them. Ailis grabbed a handful of grapes and bit into them, letting the juice spill down her chin and onto her chest.


    "Oops! What a mess I made. Aidan, would you be a dear and¡ªmmm." She cut off with a soft moan as Aidan kissed the corner of her lip, then followed the sticky trail down her chin, across her neck, and onto her torso. Pink bloomed across her skin in the wake of his lips. As he continued downward, Aidan felt Ailis''s fingers slide through his hair to cup the back of his head and guide him along her skin.


    Ailis''s other hand dragged down his chest, tugging at laces as it went. When Aidan''s shirt hung loose, her hand continued down. She ran her fingers across his skin along the top hem of his pants, then, when his lips found her stiff nipple, slid underneath and between his legs. Then it was his turn to make a pleasured sound. He moaned against her breast as Ailis''s fingers traced his stiffening length. "Hmm," she husked, "I seem to recall that we made a deal not so long ago. A kiss for knowledge of your homeland. Would you perhaps be willing to negotiate for more along those lines, my King?"


    "What did you have in mind?" Aidan asked, breath blowing across saliva-wetted skin.


    "Mmm." Ailis''s hand worked its way around to Aidan''s hip and began tugging at his pants, pulling them down. "What would another kiss buy me?"


    Aidan lifted his head from the arousal-flushed breasts presented to him and shrugged out of his shirt, then lifted his hips and helped Ailis pull his pants off. He barely noticed the chill in the air as his companion''s hand dived back after its prey. He, in turn, cupped his hands over Ailis''s enticing pink-capped hills. "I''m afraid that a kiss is worth little by now; why should I buy what you already freely give?"


    "A fair point," she hummed. Her hand stroked along Aidan''s hard length, gentle and unhurried. "But I did not say where the kiss might be." She ran a fingertip up the underside of his shaft and teased, "Some places are worth more than others, and I fear you are quite mistaken if you think I give those away."


    "Indeed?" Aidan asked, thumbs rubbing across Ailis''s stiff nipples. He created a Magic Mouth and set it to nibbling along the upper ridge of Ailis''s right ear, drawing a gasp, a shudder, and a breathy moan from her. "And how much value do you assign to this extra-lingual kiss? Keep in mind, you won''t find the information I have anywhere else, and I have little incentive to sell it cheaply."


    "I should be offended," Ailis rebutted, "that you would suggest that what I offer is cheap. I should stop now and let you realize what you are missing." Her hand left his hardness, though she did not pull away from him.


    "Perhaps I have judged you too hastily," Aidan admitted, playing along, "but without a sample of the wares you offer, you can hardly blame me for being conservative."


    "No sample? My, you do presume. What do you think your hands are doing now but taking a sample? Have you not tasted my lips before and found them to your liking? Here, let me remind you." Ailis leaned in and kissed him, lips parted and ready. Their tongues tangled together, each seeking to exert dominance over the other. Ailis pressed Aidan onto his back and followed him down until his hands were all that kept her breasts from flattening against his chest.


    "Does that jog your memory, Lord Aidan?" Ailis asked, lips brushing his.


    Instead of answering right away, Aidan created a Magic Hand and set it to stroking down Ailis''s equine back and then down over her rump. When he saw her eyelids flutter, he responded, "Hmm, perhaps. But I find myself still somewhat dubious that a kiss, no matter how exquisite, would be worth such unique lore."


    Aidan could feel Ailis''s muscles flexing under his conjured fingers. Ailis let out a soft sound¡ªpleasure? Frustration?¡ªthen took his lower lip between her teeth. She bit hard enough to cause a faint stab of pain, then released him. "Dare not drive too hard a bargain, my Lord, lest you chase your customer away."


    "Hmm, let me sweeten the deal, then," he said while dragging his fingers up directly between Ailis''s hind legs. She stifled a moan but could not keep the red from blooming across her cheeks or stop her eyes from closing.


    "Go on," she breathed, "I am listening."


    "I have a project that is very near and dear to my heart. Unfortunately, at the moment, I have no idea how to complete it, and the deadline is fast approaching." While Aidan spoke, Ailis''s hand returned to his manhood, her fingers trailing up and down his length. "You owe me a debt, sworn and witnessed by the Realms themselves. Give me your kiss and your whole-hearted help with my project. In return, I will grant you the same release you give me here and now, consider your debt paid, and share twenty-four hours'' worth of lore with you."


    Ailis''s eyes opened halfway. "Mmn, that sounds agreeable. What is this project you would have me assist you in?"


    Aidan smiled. "You are the foremost expert on Beast Magic that I know, and I require that expertise to find a way for Brighid and me to have a child." Ailis''s eyes flew wide, and she reared back off his chest. Aidan let her pull away from his real hands but kept the Magic Hand on her rump.


    "You would have me help you¡ªah!¡ªimpregnate my own daughter?" The heat in Ailis''s voice dissolved into a pleasure-filled moan halfway through when Aidan stroked insubstantial digits alongside her swollen labia.


    "I would," Aidan confirmed. "If I don''t do it now, it will be years before we have another chance. She wants children so much that she intentionally had me spill my seed in Sunnild that first night. I know she''ll never go to anyone else to fill that need, despite her throwing other women my way, so it has to be me."


    "I should leave you here," Ailis hissed.


    "And yet you''re making no move to stand up, and your hand is still stroking me," Aidan observed in return. "Besides, if you want grandchildren, this is the only way you''re going to get them. Still, I won''t force you. I understand that it''s an awkward request; I can find some other way for you to pay back that debt. I just thought it would be poetic for you to help bring new life into the world as penance for being too cavalier with my death."


    Ailis bowed her head, her silver hair cascading forward off her shoulders. "You drive a hard bargain, my Lord, but your arguments are convincing." She looked down at him through the shimmering waterfall of her hair. Ailis''s face showed a mixture of emotions: red-cheeked arousal, eyebrows arched in surprise and slight reproach, and two piercing, pale blue eyes reflecting a growing love. "I accept your proposal. Let me show you the value of my kisses, my King."


    Ailis shifted and bent down over Aidan''s waist. She tucked her hair behind her long ears, then extended her tongue and touched it to Aidan''s tip. A hum of pleasure escaped her as Aidan formed a Magic Mouth behind her and mirrored her action. When he reached up to rest a hand on her head, however, she batted it away.


    "You just lie there, my Lord, and let me do this my way. Mmm, but you can keep using your Talent." Her lips moved against the underside of his shaft, causing her words to come out slightly muffled. "It is good to know that you are not shy about returning the favor." Her tongue flicked out, lapping at the bundle of nerves just below his tip. Aidan let out a sharp breath at the sensation.


    "I promised to give you the same pleasure you''re¡ªah!¡ªgiving me, after all."


    "Then we will both enjoy this," Ailis responded before guiding his tip to her lips and pressing down. Aidan groaned in pleasure, rolling his head back and lifting his hips off the cloth. It took him a moment to collect his wits enough to reciprocate, sending two incorporeal fingers sliding into Ailis''s wetness and laving her clit with a phantom tongue. All Of Your Love transmitted the heat of Ailis''s arousal and the clean, almost minty taste of her lubrication back to him.


    It quickly became clear that Ailis was no amateur at her assigned task. While Brighid was enthusiastic about worshipping Aidan''s manhood from the start, he had to teach her every step of the way. Ailis needed no such instruction. Her movements were confident and calculated. She sought out Aidan''s hotspots and memorized them, experimenting with different combinations of lips, teeth, tongue, vibration, and suction until she had a complete map of his sexual responses. She then played him like an instrument, orchestrating a steady, inevitable climb to orgasm.


    Aidan did his best to match her as the pleasure washed over him. He called on the full complement of magical appendages granted by his Talents and set them to explore her entire body, a necessary handicap if he was to keep up. He already knew her ears were sensitive, just like Brighid''s, but found that Ailis''s belly, just past her equine ribcage, brought her similar pleasure. Of course, rubbing her breasts and nipples induced approving responses from her, but unlike Brighid, she didn''t like him touching her tail.


    It only took a few minutes of Ailis''s head bobbing up and down his erection before Aidan felt his peak approaching. Ailis flattened her tongue along the base of his shaft. He clenched his hands and arched his back, preparing for his release¡ªonly for Ailis to let his manhood escape her mouth with a wet popping sound.


    "Ailis?" he asked, hips still thrust skyward.


    "Hmm? Oh, were you close?" she teased. "When you doubted whether a kiss from me would be worth anything, well, I decided that I had to prove myself to you." One finger traced across his manhood, carefully avoiding anything that might push him over. "Mmm, besides, I wanted to draw things out a little more. You are doing such a wonderful job on me; it would be a shame if things ended so early. And, after all, it is so much less of a pain to do this with you than a centaur; I find myself quite enjoying it."


    "I recant!" Aidan panted. "Your kisses are the second-best after Brighid!"


    "Oh? Still behind my formerly-virgin daughter, who has never been with any other man? Maybe I need to show you the error of your thoughts." Ailis blew a puff of air across Aidan''s groin. "I propose an alteration of our bargain. I will prove to you that you have never had better than me. In exchange, you bring me to release as many times as you can until you reach your peak. Agreed?"


    "Deal! Just please¡ªoh, yes." The wet, sucking heat of Ailis''s mouth descended upon him again. Her tongue sought out his weak points while she traveled down, down, all the way down his shaft until her nose met his pubic hair and his tip slid into her throat. Aidan groaned and redoubled his efforts upon her body, adding a tongue alongside the fingers probing inside her and sending mouths and fingers to every erogenous zone he managed to identify.


    Ailis swiftly brought him back to the edge and then kept him there, always managing to raise her head off of him seconds before he reached the point of no return, but never letting him travel far from the peak. Her lips and tongue molded against his shaft while her hands stroked his thighs and caressed his balls. Somehow, she even managed to work her shuddering, moaning climaxes into the edging, timing things so that the vibrations brought him to the very brink without quite giving him enough to tumble into freefall.


    Finally, Aidan''s willpower broke, and he reached up to grab Ailis by the head. Unlike the first time, she kept her hands on his thighs, allowing him to take control of the blowjob. Her eyes rose to his for the first time, sending a spark down his spine as he saw the raw lust raging within. He groaned and held Ailis''s head in place, thrusting up into her mouth. Her hands slid from Aidan''s thighs around to his ass, digging in and urging him upward. Her tongue lashed out at him as he plunged past it, somehow still managing to slither against every sensitive bundle of nerves in his dick. Aidan''s breaths came hard and fast as he found his peak again then flung himself over the edge. He yanked down on Ailis''s head, roughly forcing himself down her throat as his balls contracted and his manhood pulsed and jerked. She moaned around him and pushed back against his hands and fingers, her inner walls clenching tight as she came as well.


    A minute later, Aidan blinked away the stars in his eyes and looked down. Ailis tucked her hair behind her ears again and lifted her head from Aidan''s groin. Her tongue flicked across her lips, catching a stray white droplet and sweeping it back into her mouth. "Have you changed your mind as the value of my goods, my King?" At his nod, she smiled and patted his trembling thigh. "Now that I''ve had my appetizer, let us turn to our meal, hmm?"


    Zurai


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Orange, and Somedude for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 34: Over the Next Hill

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Seventhday, 3rd week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Dusk


    Ceallach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    The sun was only an orange-red halo around the distant western mountains when Aidan and Ailis finished their picnic. Standing at the entrance to Caer Macht, Ailis gave Aidan a hug and a short, tender kiss. "Be cautious, my King, and return to us safe in body and mind. You are far more important to the city and its people than anything you might gain on your mission. Until then, I will keep your realm safe and look into what I can do for your project."


    "I know," Aidan said, favoring his Chancellor with a smile. "I''m not looking to take any risks aside from the mission itself. If they''re hostile, Sunnild can carry me far enough to escape, and I have absolutely no intention of scouting out Karsarrym''s lair itself, if it''s even in Mist Stalker lands."


    "Take this with you," Ailis passed him a rough, oblong stone. "I did not have time to teach you to make wards, but if you keep your campsite small, this will serve a similar purpose. Place it in the embers of your campfire every evening to keep it powered. It will drive pests away as long as it is stationary, and if anything approaches you with hostile or hungry intent, it will flare with light and sound. I doubt you or anyone else could sleep through it."


    "Thank you. I''ll come back safe, I promise."


    Ailis kissed him again, this time with more heat. "You had better, Aidan. You owe me twenty-four hours of your undivided attention¡ªand a granddaughter." She turned away from him and walked into the city, shooting him a smirk over her shoulder. Aidan shook his head and watched her leave, then made his way into his Place of Power.


    Aidan


    Firstday, 4th week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Early Morning


    "Visit my dreams every night, you hear me?" Brighid told Aidan as she wrapped him in a tight hug.


    "I promise, flame of my heart."


    "...I do not want you to leave," she whimpered in his ear, "I do not want to be alone again."


    "I know, my love. I wouldn''t leave you behind if I didn''t have to." Aidan hugged his Soulmate back. "Be a good girl for me and work on the Labyrinth materials Ysbail brings back. I told her to drown you in them to keep you busy."


    "Okay," Brighid said and released him, then turned to Sunnild and swept her into a hug as well. "I will miss you too, little dove. Keep him safe, but please do not take any unnecessary risks yourself."


    "Mm! We''ll both be back, safe and sound, I promise!" Sunnild wrapped her arms and wings around Brighid. After giving her a long, passionate kiss, Sunnild dragged Brighid''s head down and whispered something in the centaur''s ear that caused her to blush and give her a hungry look.


    "Yes, Mistress," she responded to whatever Sunnild told her.


    Aidan turned to Cai and Llwyd. "I want you two to have at least the start of a Royal Guard corps by the time I return. That means enough people that no one is forced to be on-shift more than twelve hours a day; eight hours would be better. Lail is a good start, although I want you to try and get her to talk to Ailis; she seems a bit fragile to me, mentally speaking."


    "Yes, Lord Aidan," they said together, saluting.


    "Alright, it''s time for us to leave, then. We''ll be back as soon as we can." Aidan and Sunnild both gave Brighid another hug and kiss before walking outside. Both were dressed in their full armor, and Aidan''s magical sword was sheathed at his belt. He had a month''s worth of provisions in his Handy Haversack in addition to gifts for Chieftain Searlas. Sunnild walked a pace ahead of Aidan, her head scanning back and forth for potential threats even though they hadn''t left Ceallach Macht yet. Aidan missed her cuddliness, but he had to admit that her dedication to her role as his protector was reassuring.


    When they got to the outskirts of the city, Aidan stopped and cast Summon Steed. When the chant finished, the mist clinging to the ground rose and swirled, forming into a vague quadrupedal shape before solidifying into a large draft horse with a tandem saddle. "Good," Aidan said, "I was hoping that would happen." He swung himself up onto the horse''s back, then helped Sunnild up behind him. "We can ride for 8 hours a day this way, and there''s no need to worry about wearing the horse out over time so we can press a little harder than with a real mount."


    Before he could kick his steed into motion, though, the shadow cast by its neck sprouted a black cat. "You will not leave me behind again!" Riama insisted.


    Aidan chuckled and scratched his familiar''s ears. "It would be much easier to bring you along if you didn''t vanish for days at a time," he told her out loud for Sunnild''s benefit. Along with his words, he sent <love, companionship, concern>. Riama gave him a disdainful mental sniff but leaned into Aidan''s hand.


    And so, with the party gathered, they ventured forth. Aidan nudged the horse into motion. He had to keep the speed down to start with so that Sunnild could grow accustomed to riding, but before long, they were galloping through the mist-covered valleys of the Highlands.


    Aidan


    Early Afternoon


    "What was it that you whispered to Brighid before we left?" Aidan asked Sunnild.


    A giggle came from behind him. "I told her she wasn''t allowed ta come until we got back."


    Aidan blinked, then chuckled. "Oh, my. She''s going to be ravenous."


    "Mm-hm. An'' just imagine how much ya can stir her up in her dreams."


    "You''re evil, you know that, right?"


    "Hey, if I gotta go a month without gettin'' any from you, she can manage two weeks."


    "Huh?" Aidan leaned to the side and looked over his shoulder at Sunnild. "What do you mean?"


    She darted forward and gave him a quick kiss, then ducked her head. "If yer gonna get me preggers, ya can''t do anything with me, remember? If any of yer stuff ends up inside me anywhere, it starts the clock all over again."


    "Sure, but that''s me going without, not you. You didn''t think I would ignore you that whole time, did you?" If the situation''s geometry hadn''t prevented it, Aidan would have scooped Sunnild into his arms.


    "Um. Yes? I thought it''d just be Brighid an'' me."


    Aidan shook his head and chuckled. "Sunnild, we''re going to be sleeping together for the next two weeks or so. I only brought one blanket, and it''s too cold to sleep separately. Neither of us is going to be sleeping in armor, either. If you think I''m going to be able to keep my hands off of you for that whole time, you''ve got another think coming."


    Aidan couldn''t see Sunnild, but he imagined he could feel her incandescent blush through two sets of clothes and two suits of armor. He patted her thigh in sympathy and decided to change the subject. "Did your mother ever tell you anything about where she grew up?" Aidan asked.


    "Un-uh. Mum just said it was far away." Sunnild switched to Scots Gaelic and said, "She did teach me the language, though."


    "Hmmm. Is that the only language she taught you?"


    "Mm. Well, the only unusual one, anyway."


    "I wonder..." Aidan mused. "I doubt there are more than a handful of people in my world that only speak that language. There are few enough who speak it at all. Given some things my Patron told me, your mother may be from a different era than I am. Though I''m not sure how she got here, in that case."


    "Can ya tell me more about yer world?" Sunnild asked. "If Mum is from there, I wanna know."


    "Sure. What do you want to know?" Aidan scanned the mists as they talked. They were approaching the border between Starchaser and Mist Stalker lands, so Aidan had Minor Shift active on them both to enhance their hearing and sight.


    "Ya know where Mum was from, right?"


    "I suspect, anyway. It''s a country¡ªpart of a country, in my time, but I''m not so certain about your mother¡ªthat takes up the northern half of a mid-sized island. The terrain there is a lot like this. My family''s from Scotland, and my mother and father always told me and my sister stories about the Auld Country. That''s why I chose to start here in the Highlands."


    "What kinda stories?"


    "Mostly talking about how pretty it was. Where I lived, cities covered most of the landscape. You could travel for days at the speed we''re going and still be surrounded by buildings. Scotland, according to Mom and Dad, had a lot more wilderness. And if your mother is from an earlier time, that''d be even more true."


    Sunnild didn''t respond, so he continued, "As for the Scots themselves, they were a pretty rugged people, from what I know. Scotland isn''t a desert or anything, but it''s not the easiest place to live without modern conveniences. And, now that I''m thinking of it, I can''t recall any examples of the Scots waging wars of conquest. That''s a real rarity in my world.


    "Vercingetorix fought the Romans, but he was from the mainland, and that was defending against an invasion anyway. Boudica was the same, though that was at least in Britain, not France. And once we get into the medieval era, it''s mostly the Anglo-Saxons invading, not the other way around. I wouldn''t label them a peaceful people, exactly, but when they fought, it was usually either in defense or cattle raids and the like."


    "Mm. Thank you," Sunnild said. "We''re about ta cross the border. Do ya want me to scout around in the air for a bit?"


    "If you want." Aidan stopped the horse and let Sunnild slip down to the ground.


    "You can keep going as long as ya keep it below a gallop. I''m pretty fast in the air, an'' I''ll be able ta keep track of ya." Sunnild leaped into the air, wingbeats sending the ever-present mists swirling.


    "You''re keeping your ears and eyes open, too, right?" Aidan asked his familiar.


    Riama cracked open an eye from where she rested on the horse''s back. "Of course," she said, then went back to her nap.


    Aidan


    Early Evening


    Mist Stalker territory, Mistvale Highlands


    Once the duration on Summon Steed ran out and the sun started sinking below the western horizon, Aidan decided it was time to make camp. Sunnild took another quick aerial jaunt to scout for a good campsite, then led him to an overhang near a tiny brook. They made a fire and ate dinner, then Aidan dropped Ailis''s gift into the fire and pulled a huge, thick blanket from his haversack. He stretched and rolled his head; casting Minor Shift on cooldown for twelve hours straight had earned him a ton of experience but also given him a headache.


    "That will make us more vulnerable if we are attacked," Sunnild scolded him, gesturing at the blanket Aidan was in the process of pulling over himself.


    "So you''d rather lie out in the cold and damp instead of cuddling under this nice warm blanket with me?"


    "... Move over."


    "Thought so," Aidan said with a smirk. He held the edge of the blanket up for Sunnild to slip under. "You''re keeping your feathers hardened anyway, right?"


    "Mm. But if we get attacked, it''ll tangle us and slow us down." Despite her objections, Sunnild curled up facing Aidan, tucking her head under his chin.


    "We don''t have much choice, to be honest. It''s too cold to sleep in the open air."


    "True. I guess we''ll just have to manage. Speakin'' of managing..." she bit her lip and tilted her head back to look at Aidan''s face. "It''s just the two of us right now while yer cat''s huntin'' fer her dinner. Do ya think ya can¡ªumm, what ya said before?" This time he really could feel her blush hot against his skin.


    Aidan chuckled and began to run his hands over her lithe body. "Let me hear you sing, my little dove."


    Aidan


    Firstday, 4th week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Early Morning


    "I''m sore," Sunnild complained in the morning while Aidan helped her into her armor.


    "It''s the riding," Aidan responded. "You''re not used to hanging on with your legs like that. I didn''t really feel it until the next day after my first time riding for several hours in a row, either."


    "Do we have ta ride again today?"


    Aidan cocked his head and looked at her. "Well, walking is too slow and makes us too vulnerable to do it all day. How long can you carry Riama and me while flying?"


    Sunnild pouted. "Not the whole day. A couple hours at most, then I''d need ta rest. If we had another sister or two, we could rig a net and do it that way, but..."


    "Horse it is, then," he said with an empathetic smile.


    "Horse it is," Sunnild sighed in response. "But can we walk fer a while first? You can''t have yer horse out all day anyway..."


    "Sure, that''s fine with me. Do you want to go and have a quick scout around while I pack up the camp?"


    "Mm!" She popped up onto her toes to give him a quick kiss, then sprang into the air. Aidan busied himself with packing away their camping gear and dousing, then scattering the ashes of the campfire. Sunnild reappeared just as he finished.


    "Aidan!" she hissed. "There''s a patrol nearby."


    "How many and how close?"


    "Three that I could see. It''s hard to tell with the mist so high," Sunnild gestured at the shoulder-high fog around them. "And they''re almost on top of us; I don''t think we can slip past them."


    "Alright," Aidan said, "I guess it''s time to see what kind of welcome we''re going to get."


    Though he was confident that they could fight their way free if needed, Aidan took time to prepare before confronting the Mist Stalker patrol. He used Minor Shift to enhance his and Sunnild''s senses and toughen their skin. It wouldn''t provide as much protection as Ailis''s spells, but it was what he had on-hand. Out of an abundance of caution, Aidan also cast Burning Barrage. It wouldn''t kill warriors outright, but it would buy him and Sunnild time.


    "I will hunt from the shadows," Riama told him and vanished into the mist. After a final check of their equipment, Sunnild led Aidan towards the catfolk.


    It only took a few minutes of walking along the brook before a voice called out from the fog, "Halt! You are in Mist Stalker territory. State your business."


    They stopped as ordered. Aidan raised his hands into the air, palms out, and said, "My name is Aidan. I am the ruler of Ceallach Macht and wish to speak to Chieftan Searlas regarding diplomacy and trade. My companion is Sunnild, a warrior of the Ash Shroud Sisterhood."


    "Do you have any proof of your claims?" a different voice asked from somewhere to the left.


    Aidan rolled his eyes. How am I supposed to prove that? Instead of asking, however, he said, "I have gifts for your Chieftan, including resources that can only be found within my city. As for identifying me, my title and crown are the best I can provide in that regard." He pushed a spell into the Crown of the Exalted, causing it to flare to life around his head.


    Sunnild spoke up, saying, "I vouch for Lord Aidan''s words and conduct. So long as no harm comes to us, we have no ill intentions towards you or your lord. Our mission is peaceful."


    Multiple voices conferred, voices too soft to make out. Finally, the first speaker said, "Cancel your spells. We will take you to the nearest outpost. They can decide what to do with you there."


    "Do we have your word that we will be safe within your territory so long as we make no hostile actions?" Aidan wasn''t about to disarm without some explicitly-stated assurances. Words had power, after all.


    "I cannot speak for what Lord Criodan will do, but you have my word that my team will not attack you."


    "And whose word is it that I have?"


    "I, Fiach Mac Cuilinn, promise to escort you safely into Lord Criodan''s custody and to give a truthful report of our interactions to him."


    Aidan relaxed a hair. It wasn''t an oath, but it would do. He dismissed Burning Barrage and let the Crown of the Exalted fade. A moment later, four figures emerged from the mist, two in front of him and one to either side.


    They were all shorter than Aidan, with the two smallest being a full head shorter. Each of them wore hardened leather armor over most of their bodies, though it was dyed or bleached to a gray-white that matched the fog and their fur. It was hard to tell how much of their bodies were covered in fur due to the armor. Heavy coat on the back and limbs, none on the face, and light on the chest, if I remember character creation correctly.


    Three of the Mist Stalkers were either male or androgynous, but Aidan''s breath caught at the sight of the woman walking two steps behind and to the side of the apparent leader. She wore the same armor as the other three, fitted to her feminine form, but around her neck was a collar made of dull gray metal. It was loose enough not to restrict the woman''s breathing, but it was clearly a slave''s collar.


    I hoped that was only propaganda, Aidan sighed to himself. Aloud, he said, "Then I place myself in your hands, Fiach. Please, lead on."


    Zurai


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Orange, and Somedude for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 35: Assembling the Puzzle

    Ailis


    The Realms


    Firstday, 4th week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Early Morning


    Ailis''s temporary home, Ceallach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    On the Principles of Transformation, maybe? Or perhaps I should approach it from the other end with Dagmar Ibsen''s Theory and Practicality in Inter-Species Breeding? Ailis ran her finger along the spines of the books on her shelves, considering. Then she shrugged and pulled both down. More ideas wouldn''t hurt at this stage.


    She settled onto a cushion with her research material and a steaming cup of tea. I can see two direct paths using Beast Magic. There might be other ways with other Skills, but I must work with what I have. She opened Principles of Transformation and scanned the table of contents. Definitions, categories, recommendations... Ah, here, long-term effects. She skimmed the chapter until she found what she was looking for.


    Beast Magic tends to favor either temporary changes or wholesale creation rather than permanent alteration. While this is preferable in most cases, it causes difficulties when attempting to modify livestock or other beings in a way that passes on to future generations. Beast Magic spells with a fixed or Concentration-based duration are not feasible for such projects, as such magic fades when the transfer of genetic information occurs.


    "Hmm," Ailis mused. "But what if I do not care whether the trait breeds true?" She searched further, this time turning to the categorization chapter.


    For those of more prurient interests, sexual compatibility transformations come in three main types. The first, superficial modifications, only alter the target''s appearance or abilities without affecting deeper biological functions. These are sufficient for all but the most depraved or specialized uses.


    The second category is reproductive modifications, which change the target''s biology to allow impregnation by or insemination of a wider range of creatures. There are two further subdivisions of this category: a practitioner can change either the reproductive cells directly or the organs which make such cells. The former is difficult, requiring precision and care, but it produces effects far more quickly and can be done with temporary-duration spells so long as there is no need for enhanced traits to be passed on. The latter is still an advanced usage of Beast Magic, but one which does not require a Master in the field. However, it takes time for the new organs to produce modified sperm or eggs, and if the effect is to breed true, it requires permanent alteration of the subject''s body.


    Finally, there is the most drastic measure, embryonic transformation. Only true Masters of Beast Magic should dare attempt this, for even the slightest error can cause sterilization or death of the mother. Embryonic transformation involves encoding genetic information directly into a viable egg cell. When performed perfectly, this allows the practitioner to design the resulting child from the ground up. Needless to say, this must be done with permanent magic.


    Ailis closed the book and drummed her fingers on the cover. "So it is possible, but will require a specialized spell and, in the safest iteration, take considerable time." She set Principles of Transformation aside and opened Inter-Species Breeding, turning to the section on centaurs.


    Centaurs are one of the least-fertile races in the Realms, leading many scholars to speculate that they are a manufactured species. Centaurs are only fertile with creatures that share their non-humanoid body type. In the case of the standard Plains Centaur, this means other equine-based centaurs, horses, ponies, and donkeys. This holds true in both directions. The children of centaur/animal pairings are always centaurs of the same subrace as the parent. Some unscrupulous individuals have used this fact to breed the rarer subraces in captivity, but such is rarely successful in the long term as the centaurs almost always commit suicide when they realize what is happening.


    In addition to having a narrow range of viable breeding partners, centaurs suffer from low fertility in general. Female centaurs only ever release eggs one at a time, and only during their estrus cycle, which occurs every three to six months depending on individual and subrace [data on Grey Centaurs is insufficient at this time owing to their resistance to capture or questioning]. Compared to the eggs of either of their related species, centaurian eggs have a thicker cell wall and are much more resistant to penetration by sperm cells. Centaurian sperm, meanwhile, are over-specialized to deal with this and tend to render equine eggs non-viable either due to rupturing or the introduction of multiple instances of male genetic material.


    Some experiments have been performed in altering centaur genetics to lessen or eliminate these issues, with mixed results. Enhancing centaur-to-centaur fertility is fairly straightforward using Beast Magic spells similar to those used for other races and species. Researchers have also had success in breaking the heat cycle in some centaurian subraces, allowing them to follow a more frequent and less harsh fertility period similar to humans and other humanoids. However, cross-breeding efforts have met with limited success at best.


    By far the most promising example of a centaur cross-breeding project was performed by the esteemed Archmage Steinar. In experiments lasting four decades, he created spells that altered four volunteer female centaurs'' reproductive biology, which broadened their fertility to include the humanoid half of their biology. According to his records, each volunteer was successfully impregnated, but only the Plains Centaur bore her child to term; the other three miscarried early in the pregnancy. Each of the children was a centaur of their mother''s subrace, implying that any centaur/non-centaur pairing will result in a centaur child even when magically induced. Archmage Steinar''s notes indicate that he attempted a similar experiment with male humanoids but could not achieve positive results.


    "So," Ailis mused, "it looks like there is one viable option before me: creating a spell that temporarily changes Aidan''s sperm or testes into those of a centaur. Permanently altering him in that manner will not work if he intends to have children by Sunnild, and changing Brighid is likewise out as it would only extend her fertility to Moon Elves, which Aidan is not. We could always shapeshift him into an Elf, but that would be excessive and increase the risk of miscarriage."


    Ailis finished her cup of tea and stood up. She returned the two books to her shelves, refilled her tea, and then pulled out a slate tablet and a narrow piece of chalk. "I think that I will go for whole-body transformation; partial polymorphs are always tricky to integrate with the rest of the body. Besides, Brighid should have the chance to experience having a centaur mate at least once in her life." Nodding to herself, she began to sketch. She had a couple of hours still before she was needed elsewhere.


    Ailis


    Early Afternoon


    Ceallach Macht


    "So, you decided where to put the Tabernacle?" Ailis asked Brighid. They were walking down the central avenue towards the outskirts.


    Her daughter nodded. "Yes. There are a few potential sites, but Aidan and I want to divorce worship and rulership in the people''s minds. There were only two locations that are more than a couple of minutes walking from Caer Macht and the Forum, yet still within the planned city walls. Of the two, I chose the one nearer the main gate."


    Ailis nodded back and asked, "You wish to make it easier for visitors to find?"


    "Exactly. From the description, the Dreaming Tabernacle will bring visitors from all over the Realms. Gerwyn tried to persuade me to place it further from the gate so that visitors would have to pass more shops and stalls, but I held firm. After all, there is no guarantee that pilgrims will receive the chance to visit the Dreamlands on their first attempt. I doubt that the Gods wish to be pestered by hundreds of petitioners at every hour of the day."


    "It is good to hear such wisdom from you, daughter," Ailis told Brighid with a warm smile. "In truth, I doubt that the location will matter much in the long run, but I can tell you thought a great deal about this." She lapsed into silence for a moment, then said, "Aidan has been good for you. I... approve of your choice of mate."


    Her daughter snorted and tossed her hair. "I appreciate that, but you know that I would be with him even if you did not approve, right?"


    "Peace, little spark, peace. I am only trying to correct my past mistakes. When you brought him before me, smelling of each other and touching each other below the table¡ª" it was Ailis''s turn to snort as Brighid shot her a startled look "¡ªyes, I knew what you were doing. Your arms were moving. I am not blind, daughter. When you brought him before me like that, I thought it an act of rebellion, a way for you to hurt me as I had hurt you. I know, now, that was stupid of me, but at the time, it seemed like you were using your relationship as a weapon against me."


    Ailis shook her head and chuckled in wry amusement. "Of course, that was before the pair of you finished destroying all of my carefully-constructed pretensions. And it would be hypocritical of me to censure you for having a relationship with someone I am pursuing like a mare in heat."


    "Now, now, Mother, if you were that desperate, you would be farther along than you are," Brighid teased her. "I love Aidan, but it turns out that women who throw themselves at him are his weakness. He talks a good game, but he is starved for affection. From what I have seen and heard, he loves deeply but never met a woman who was willing to return his affection in kind until me." She gave Ailis an appraising look. "I do not know as much about you, though, Mother. If you want, I can help you drive him wild?"


    "Hah! Twenty-two years old, and she thinks she needs to tell her mother how to seduce a man." Ailis waggled her finger at her daughter. "How do you think you came about, hm? I was hardly the only one after your father''s attentions, you know."


    Brighid frowned. "Actually, no, I do not know. You have never said much about Father. All I know is that he was a wanderer and left the village when I was still very young."


    Ailis blinked and thought back. Had she never? "Oh, Brighid, I am sorry. I never meant to hide him from you. I guess... I am a bit embarrassed. Your father¡ªMagnus Farstrider was his name¡ªwas quite handsome, and he knew it. He probably mounted three-quarters of the unmated women in the village and more than a few of the rest. I was just the one with the highest status, and so the one whose home he slept in." She shook her head. "He never made any promises of fidelity to me, but every night when he came home to me, it fed my pride. And, so far as I know, I am the only one he got with child, though I have no idea if that was intentional or not."


    "What was he like, aside from being a rakish scoundrel?"


    "Oh, there was much more to Magnus than that. He was as strong and tireless as any other Adventurer, but he also had a razor-sharp mind. He had a gift for reading non-verbal cues and interpreting things left unsaid. He would have made an incredible politician. As for what he was like? I would not call him kind; there was a darkness, a sort of indifferent cruelty to him that, I confess, made him even more attractive to me at the time. He loved to fight, both sparring and real combat. If he was not busy with a woman, he was either at the training field or out hunting monsters."


    "Like a male Ysbail?" Brighid sniggered.


    "Hah! Yes, sort of. I suspect that only people with their rough-and-tumble approach to life become Adventurers. He was very, very good at it, though. He seduced every mare he set his eyes on, cleared our entire territory of dungeons, lairs, and wandering beasts, got me pregnant, then left."


    "Wait, he left before I was born? Did he know you were carrying his child?"


    "Yes to both questions. Like I said, Magnus was not a kind or compassionate man. He came, he conquered, and then he left when there was nothing more of interest to him. He stayed until I started to show. I think he wanted to make sure I was pregnant to leave a legacy of his passage." Ailis gave a rueful chuckle. "I know that does not paint a pleasing picture of either of your parents, but I want you to know that I never regretted you for an instant. I love you, Brighid; always have, always will."


    "I love you too, Mother." Brighid stepped in front of Ailis, forcing her to stop, then swept her into a tight hug.


    Ailis returned her daughter''s hug and tried to contain the tears of joy that threatened to spill down her cheeks.


    Zurai


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Orange, and Somedude for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 36: Machiavelli

    Zurai


    Aidan


    The Realms


    Thirdday, 4th week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Late Afternoon


    Criodan''s Outpost, Mist Stalker territory, Mistvale Highlands


    Aidan wasn''t sure what he expected of Lord Criodan, but this wasn''t it. Criodan was a short, overweight man with a permanent sneer. Instead of armor or a uniform, he wore an open vest and a pair of loose pants with a massive codpiece. His beer belly bulged out and jiggled unpleasantly as he paced back and forth in front of Aidan and Sunnild. The worst of it had nothing to do with the man''s appearance or demeanor, however.


    Three naked women crouched on the floor of Criodan''s office. Each of them wore an iron collar around their neck with a heavy steel link chain attaching them to the wall. They were painfully thin and bore bruises around their thighs and breasts. They kept their heads bowed, but Aidan had a sick feeling that their throats and faces bore similar marks.


    Aidan clamped down on the rage boiling up inside him. He had a job to do, and right now, he wasn''t in a position to fix this. He was confident that he and Riama could kill Criodan and free the slaves, but he was less optimistic about escaping the fortified outpost and making it across the border. Besides, Aidan knew Sunnild would be upset by such violent actions, especially since it would be no more than treating the symptom while leaving the underlying disease to run rampant. No, he would have to do this from the top down, which meant gaining access to Searlas.


    "You understand," Lord Criodan said in a nasal voice, "that I cannot take your words at face value? Why, you could be assassins, spies, or worse! It would be irresponsible for me to grant you further access to our lands. Unless, of course, you could provide some proof of your goodwill?"


    Translation: "Bribe me, or I''ll stonewall you til the end of time," Aidan thought. "Indeed, you show great wisdom, Lord Criodan. We live in chaotic times, and your caution does you credit." Flattery won''t hurt. Well, it hurts me to give any credit to this asshole, but he''s eating it up. "I brought several tokens of respect to present to your Chieftain. Perhaps you would do me the favor of inspecting them to be sure that there is nothing offensive or lacking in quality? I can tell your eye is keener than my own."


    Greed shone forth from Criodan''s beady eyes. "Of course!" he slobbered. "The Chieftain has refined and specialized tastes; it would be easy for a foreigner to offer unintentional insult. In the interest of bettering relations between our people, it is my duty to assist you!"


    Aidan had to restrain a snort as the unctuous catfolk''s rationale for the bribe crumbled like paper in the face of his greed. Nonetheless, he began pulling boxes from his Haversack and laying them on a nearby table. He didn''t show his entire stock of potential gifts; among other things, Aidan needed the dragon scale as both proof and bribe for Searlas. Criodan opened each container in turn, examining the collected coins, gems, crafting materials, and magical items. He sorted through the gifts quickly and efficiently, dividing them into three piles.


    "These," Criodan waved at the first pile, "are unsuitable. The gems are flawed, the materials common." That was mostly bullshit; this was the pile of items that fit the intersection of Criodan''s interest and what he thought he could get away with asking for. He moved onto the next set of items. "These are of suitable quality, but they will not earn my Chieftain''s favor; as I said, Searlas has particular tastes. You may find other takers for them in my Lord''s court, however. And these last few items¡ªtruly exquisite! You bring gifts suiting your royal claims, Lord Aidan. Any one of these would earn you an audience with Chief Searlas, and all of them combined may even win you some measure of favor from him."


    While he loathed the man, Aidan had to admit that Lord Criodan had a sharp mind for politics. He had no doubt that the man''s advice regarding the latter two sets of gifts was genuine; he was counting on Aidan realizing that it was potentially sabotage. That would force Aidan to tell Searlas that Criodan had advised him on the gifts, which meant that he would earn a portion of the favor Aidan did when they turned out to be as valuable as he claimed. Aidan could call his bluff, but in the end, the risk wasn''t worth the reward.


    "Thank you for your advice, Lord Criodan. I will be sure to praise your discerning eye to Chieftain Searlas." Aidan pushed a sack full of ''flawed'' gemstones toward the man. "I apologize that I have nothing better to repay your help than these poor, flawed pieces." That grated; the gems inside were worth several thousand coins in total; far from the most valuable gift even among those on the table, but still galling to hand over to Criodan.


    The catfolk scooped the bag up and made it vanish into a drawer in his desk. "It is of no concern, Lord Aidan. It is in my best interest to keep good relations with such a close neighbor, after all. It is late in the day to start your trip to Termondoon; I will arrange for you to have quarters overnight so that you can start fresh in the morning." Criodan gave Aidan a smarmy smile and gestured at the naked slaves. "I saw you admiring my pets earlier. If you like, I could lend you one for the evening? They are well-trained in every form of pleasure."


    The offer made Aidan''s skin crawl. He doubted he could even achieve an erection in the presence of one of the poor girls. He concentrated on returning the gifts to his Handy Haversack. "I appreciate the offer, Lord Criodan, but I would not wish to strain your hospitality. A room for the night will be plenty alongside the help you have already given us."


    "Of course, of course! I confess, if any of my pets were as lovely as yours, I would not have eyes for others, either." He leered at Sunnild, then clapped his hands twice. The door opened, and one of Criodan''s guards poked his head inside. "Daineal, have someone take Lord Aidan to a room fitting his station."


    "Of course, my Lord." The guard led Aidan and Sunnild down the hall, then summoned a servant to take them the rest of the way.


    A few minutes later, the pair found themselves in a roomy, well-appointed cabin. Riama teleported into Aidan''s shadow as the servant closed the door behind them, then set about inspecting their lodgings. Sunnild wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her head against his chest. "That was awful!" she exclaimed.


    "One moment," Aidan cautioned her, then cast Sound Barrier. "We can talk without being overheard now," he told her.


    "Those poor women," Sunnild continued. "Did you see all the bruises and cuts?"


    Aidan stroked his songbird''s downy crest. "Yeah, I did. He doesn''t feed them very well, either. They weren''t starving, but they were too thin to be healthy. I wanted to do something, but..."


    Sunnild nodded. "Nothing we do here would solve the problem," she confirmed. "That doesn''t make it any easier to leave them to suffer."


    "It doesn''t," Aidan agreed. He cupped her chin and nudged her head up, then brushed her lips with his. "We''ll fix it, love. Someday, somehow."


    "Mm!" She gave a decisive nod. "We will!"


    Aidan


    Fourthday, 4th week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Mid-Morning


    The next morning, a new team of soldiers escorted Aidan and Sunnild out of the outpost. To his surprise, this squad had two un-collared women. He decided to take a gamble and ask about it.


    "Forgive me if I give insult, but I am curious. Every other woman I''ve seen so far has born the marks of a slave, but you two appear to be free. Are you perhaps nobility?"


    The pair shared a look. "No, my Lord," the taller of the two responded. "Only criminals are enslaved, and only for the duration of their sentence."


    "I see," Aidan said, but he was still puzzled. "Two more questions, if I may try your patience further. In the patrol that we encountered near the border, one of the soldiers was a woman. Why are enslaved criminals trusted with weapons and the security of your territory? Also, why have I not seen any male slaves?"


    "Most men are sent to the mines," the shorter woman replied.


    "As for the woman you saw, the slave collars are enchanted. The wearer cannot defy the orders of the person they are linked to. Such soldiers are more trustworthy than their squadmates."


    "I... see," Aidan said, unsettled. "Thank you for your answers." He shared a sidelong glance with Sunnild, then directed his thoughts to his familiar. "Are you in range?"


    "Of course, Master. You will not leave me behind!" <determination, mild offense>


    Aidan had to suppress a smile at the emotions leaking from Riama. "I wouldn''t dream of it. I have a mission for you, though, once we get to our destination. I want you to sneak around and count the number of people with and without slave collars. I don''t need an exact count, but I want to get a general idea of how deep it goes."


    <suspicion> "You are not trying to trick me, are you?"


    That made Aidan cough to hide the laugh that threatened to break past his control. <love, companionship> "No, I really do want that information, and you''re the best one to get it for me. Besides, do you really think I''d leave you here?" He sent a pulse of <wounded by an insult from one dear to the heart> that prompted an immediate response.


    <love without restrictions or boundaries> "I am sorry!"


    Aidan


    Seventhday, 4th week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Early Afternoon


    It took them another three days of travel to reach Termondoon. It was more of a fortress than a village, with two walls encircling the peak of a tall, steep hill. The outer wall was only about eight feet high, but a moat full of dark, sluggish water extended a good fifteen feet in front of it. The second set of walls was higher, about fifteen feet tall, and had crenelations to protect soldiers from projectiles. A handful of square platforms jutted up every so often around the inner wall, and an ancient-looking gatehouse barred the way inside.


    "Impressive," Aidan said, and meant it. The squad of soldiers conferred with the gate guards for a moment before they waved the group through. The soldiers escorted him to a barracks further up the hill, then handed him off to an older soldier wearing a uniform instead of armor.


    "What is this, then?" the officer asked.


    "Good afternoon, sir," Aidan gave a short bow. "I am Lord Aidan, the new ruler of Ceallach Macht. I come with gifts for Chief Searlas along with hopes for diplomacy and trade. I passed through Lord Criodan''s outpost along the way; that august individual tasked these soldiers with escorting us."


    The older cat snorted. "After you greased his palm, I am sure. The fat fool always did have an eye for profit. Soldiers, you are dismissed. Take the afternoon for yourselves and return to Criodan in the morning."


    "Thank you, sir!" the squad saluted and hurried off.


    The officer eyed Aidan and Sunnild. "You," he gestured at Aidan, "are a mage, and you, girl, fight with either hands and feet or with summoned weapons if I had to guess. Regardless, you cannot take your blade into the Chieftain''s presence. I know that makes no sense given that either of you could fight without it, but rules are rules. You can just store it away for all I care."


    Aidan nodded. The Summer Sword was a powerful weapon in the right hands, but he was hardly helpless without it. He unbuckled the scabbard from his belt and slid it into his Haversack.


    "Alright, let us get this over with. My name is Irial, by the way." Irial led Aidan and Sunnild toward an expansive manor house at the very top of the hill. Two soldiers with spears flanked the entrance, but Irial strode past them without a glance, and they did not bar his way. He guided them through a series of corridors, then stopped in front of a double door with another pair of guards. "Visitors for Chief Searlas," he grunted. "Lord Aidan of Ceallach Macht and..." he glanced at Sunnild.


    "Sunnild," she supplied.


    "And Lady Sunnild," Irial finished. "They bring gifts and offers."


    One of the guards saluted then slipped into the room beyond. A minute later, the door swung wide open, and a melodic baritone voice called out, "Enter, Lord Aidan and Lady Sunnild. We greet our friends from the west." Aidan and Sunnild stepped in.


    They were in a medium-sized hall lined with gauzy silks and padded couches. A couple dozen catfolk filled the room in groups of two to four, breaking off their conversations to watch Aidan and Sunnild. The whole place had a thin haze of smoke; it reminded Aidan of photographs he''d seen of old opium dens and hashish parlors.


    The far end of the chamber ended in a raised dais adorned with an ornate, richly-upholstered chair. A long, narrow sword rested against the side of the throne, while a handsome catfolk, his chest bare aside from the jeweled necklaces dangling from his neck, sat atop it. Intelligent golden eyes watched Aidan and Sunnild approach.


    Six beautiful women lounged on the dais, not all of them feline in appearance. Four of them looked human at first glance, one was an elf with ears like Brighid''s, and the last was a mist leopard catfolk with a gleaming golden collar around her neck. Aidan''s eyes flicked to the other women; only the catfolk wore a collar. None of them appeared mistreated, either; their skin was flawless, and they each had a pleasantly full figure. The catfolk even had the slightest hint of a paunch.


    "Lord Aidan of Ceallach Macht, is it?" Searlas asked. His voice was rich and carried a hint of interest. "We heard of the event at the lost city, but details have been hard to come by."


    "Yes, I control the city and the Place of Power at its heart," Aidan confirmed. Searlas would find out bout the Throne eventually, so there was no sense hiding it. "I helped the Starchasers cleanse the city of the evil that infested it and was given rulership of it in turn." That was stretching the truth pretty thin, but not technically a lie.


    A murmur ran through the room at the mention of the Starchasers. Searlas leaned forward on his throne. "Indeed? The horses gave you land? That is interesting, indeed. We never thought to see the day when they loosened their spines. You must have done them a powerful favor for them to go so far for you. But enough of such weighty matters," he said, settling back into his seat and gesturing for Aidan to approach. "We were told you bring gifts and offers of state? It is rare indeed for another ruler to come to us; we extend you our hospitality and would hear what you have to say."


    Zurai


    Aidan''s current status sheet:


    Sunnild''s current status sheet:


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy and Orange for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 37: Masquerade

    Zurai


    Whatever holiday you celebrate, I hope you all have/have had a merry one!


    Aidan


    The Realms


    Seventhday, 4th week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Early Afternoon


    Termondoon, Mist Stalker territory, Mistvale Highlands


    Aidan approached Searlas, Sunnild trailing a step behind him. Every eye in the hall was on him, but he felt it the most from the women on the dais. As he drew closer, he could tell that each of the human-looking ones were different races. There was a human, young and voluptuous with strawberry blonde hair and freckles spilling out onto her cleavage, but the others were beastfolk. One, with long, wavy black hair, had webbed fingers. Another had skin like milk chocolate and a smile that revealed elongated canines. The woman with webbed fingers was a cu uisce, an otterfolk, while the other was a wolven, if Aidan remembered Brighid''s descriptions of the surrounding tribes. The fourth human-like woman was an enigma, though. Aidan could tell, somehow, that she wasn''t human, but he couldn''t figure out what her animal trait was to get an idea of her race. She had a narrow face framed by voluminous golden-blonde hair, grey eyes, lips so red they had to be enhanced with cosmetics, and porcelain-pale skin.


    The elf was slender, her long brown hair cascading down over her small breasts but doing nothing to hide her broad hips. She smirked and blew Aidan a kiss when his eyes passed over her. The one who caught his attention the most, though, was the catfolk girl. Her eyes were fixed on him, and she leaned forward, framing her cleavage with her arms. She held her head high, almost as if showing off the seamless golden collar encircling her neck. Aidan could see that it was engraved, but he couldn''t make out the writing or imagery from a distance. When she saw that she had his attention, the catgirl gave him a come-hither look and traced her lips with her tongue. She arched her back, thrusting her breasts towards him.


    "Exquisite, is she not?" Aidan''s eyes snapped up to Searlas, who wore a broad, smirking smile. "Aoife is the crown jewel of our little collection, despite being the newest addition. A human merchant brought her to us two months back, claiming he ''found'' her wandering in our territory. The fool collared her and presented her as a gift. We had him slain; only us or our agents are allowed to detain our subjects. Alas, our mages have not found a way to remove the collar yet, but you are happy enough, are you not, Aoife?"


    The woman twisted in place and nuzzled her head against Searlas''s leg. "Of course, my Lord. The day you saved me from that vile man was the best in my life." Her voice came out as a throaty purr.


    Maybe it''s just an isolated issue with Criodan, then? Or maybe there''s more here than meets the eye¡ªhe''s still talking about them like they''re possessions. Either way, I have more immediate problems. "All of your attendants are beautiful, Lord Searlas; I commend your taste. I fear that the paltry trinkets I brought with me will pale beside their beauty."


    Searlas gave Aidan a toothy grin. "We are confident that Lord Criodan would not have recommended you to us if your gifts were so poor." He turned his head and motioned for one of the guards beside the dais to step forward. Aidan took the cue and handed over the gifts that Criodan had pointed out.


    First was a classic step-cut emerald the size of Aidan''s palm. At first, Aidan planned to use it as part of a gift for Brighid since its color matched her eyes, but Ailis persuaded him to part with it by pointing out that the only jewelry Brighid wore was his collar. She didn''t even have pierced ears. Although... She would look stunning with a pair of emerald barbells through her nipples. It''s a shame she doesn''t have a belly button to pierce. He shook the thought away; it wouldn''t be good to get distracted now.


    The second major gift was a pot of fragrant oil mixed with Viridescent Nectar. It could be used on its own in an oil lamp, which would produce a pleasant-smelling vapor that induced mild euphoria without being addictive. However, that was not its ideal use; according to Ailis, it could be used as a component in making powerful wards. She felt safe giving it away to a potential enemy because it didn''t have any offensive uses and, with access to the Labyrinth, they had the means to make as much of it as they wanted. Aidan wasn''t about to mention that to Searlas, though he did describe its uses.


    The third offering was the Tenebrous Knight''s Shell that Aidan and Brighid earned by clearing the Fetid Lair so many weeks ago. Its stealth-enabling properties would make it excellent armor for a Mist Stalker warrior. They did not often wear plate mail because they preferred to strike from hiding, but the Shell eliminated those concerns. And, as magic armor, it would resize, within certain limits, to suit its wearer. It couldn''t reshape itself to fit a centaur''s lower body, but catfolk would have no problem.


    The fourth and final item of tribute was something altogether different. Searlas''s eyebrows rose when his guard handed him a rolled-up parchment, but he unfurled it and scanned its contents. His eyebrows rose higher the further he read until, at last, he broke out into laughter. "Hah, ahahah!" Searlas roared, pounding the arm of his throne. "Oh, you do bring surprises, Lord Aidan! Haha! It seems, good subjects, that the war is, at last, finished! The Starchasers, at our good friend''s request, signed the formal peace treaty at last! Come! Have a seat, have a drink! This calls for a celebration, hahaha!"


    The spectators erupted in a cheer at their Chieftan''s declaration. Bemused, Aidan let himself and Sunnild be guided to an empty couch near the throne. The instant he sat down, a servant pressed a goblet into his hand and held out the mouthpiece of a hookah for him to inhale from. He accepted the first but turned the latter down¡ªbarring poison, the drink seemed safer to indulge in.


    Once Chief Searlas managed to reign in his laughter, he sprang to his feet. "Let it be known," he called out in a voice that carried to the farthest corner of the hall, "that Lord Aidan has our favor! We grant to him the title of Peacebringer for his selfless efforts on our behalf!" Another cheer answered that declaration.


    Aidan sank back into the cushions, trying to understand the implications of those notifications. So far, Searlas was not at all what he expected, and so far as he knew, the system popups were immune to mortal interference. That meant that Searlas really did view him as a friend, and the trigger was the signed peace treaty. Aidan had half-expected mocking laughter from that, not the boisterous mix of happiness and relief that had burst from the Chieftan.


    Aidan''s thoughts were interrupted by a warm, soft body pressing against his right side. He started¡ªSunnild was on his left and wearing armor besides¡ªand turned his head to find Aoife, Searlas''s captive catgirl, smiling at him.


    "Lord Searlas''s favor comes with benefits," she purred aloud, then leaned forward to whisper into his ear. "Lord Searlas grants you a private audience two days hence. There are many in Termondoon that he dares not trust, and it will take him time to ensure that the right people are in place." Aoife traced a finger up Aidan''s jawline to his ear, then down onto his neck. "In the meantime, I will be your guide, servant, and point of contact with my Lord. Whatever my Lord Peacebringer desires, it is my duty and pleasure to provide."


    Before Aidan could wrap his head around that, Aoife settled down beside him and said in a normal tone of voice, "Now that Lord Searlas has made his opinion of you known, many of the lesser nobles will seek you out to curry your favor and entangle you in their schemes. The man approaching us now is Ruari mac Rinn; he is a merchant specializing in raw materials. He is likely interested in seeing what goods you are looking to import and export from your city."


    Aidan


    Late Afternoon


    By the time the last petitioner bowed and made his exit, Aidan''s head was spinning. At least twenty different people approached him over the previous four hours, each wanting something different from him. Trade deals, information, invitations to private gatherings, an offer to buy Sunnild from him that both she and Aoife had to intervene to keep him from attacking the smug-looking cat. The wine wasn''t helping, either; Aidan had no idea how much of it he drank because a helpful servant refilled his goblet every time he set it down. For the last half-hour, Aidan had taken to holding it in his hand the whole time to keep it from being refilled, but that meant he took sips more often.


    And then there was Aoife herself. The woman was beyond helpful; she knew everyone by name and had been free with insights that allowed Aidan to navigate the minefield of courtly interactions. At the same time, she was sending strong signals to him¡ªher lips brushing against his ear when she whispered secrets to him, touching his hand and upper arm whenever she wanted his attention, smiling and displaying herself to him every time he looked at her. It was plain that she was seducing him, but the constant glint of her golden collar kept Aidan wondering whether it was her idea.


    Shaking himself out of his thoughts, Aidan looked around the room. Searlas made his exit more than an hour earlier, and only a handful of stragglers remained. He recognized all of them, so he turned to Sunnild and asked, "Are you as ready to get out of here as I am?"


    "Mm!" she agreed with a smile. "I know that was all important, but I''ve been sitting here for hours with nothin'' ta do but drink." She giggled and held up her goblet. "I think I''m a little tipsy." Given her rosy cheeks and glassy eyes, Aidan suspected she was full-on drunk.


    "All right, songbird, let''s go, then. Aoife, do you know where we''re staying?" Aidan stood and pulled Sunnild up with him, only to have to brace himself as she staggered into him with another giggle. Yep, definitely drunk.


    "Of course, Lord Aidan. Lord Searlas has made a room available to you in the private wing of the manor. Follow me." She turned and led the way. Her broad hips swayed with every step, sending a pleasant jiggle through her buttocks.


    Aidan didn''t even realize he was staring until Sunnild leaned against him and said in a loud, drunken whisper, "Her bum''s even better''n mine! I just wanna give it a spank. An'' that tail! So fluffy!" Aoife laughed and added an extra wiggle to her step, her tail curling in the air behind her to frame her assets.


    The catgirl brought them to a door made of smooth, dark wood with golden fixtures. She produced a key from a tiny pouch at her waist and handed it to Aidan. "Just like me, this is yours for the duration of your stay. In fact," she smirked, "these are my chambers. Please, Lord Aidan, be welcome."


    Aidan hesitated. If this was her room, then where was she going to sleep? He looked at Aoife quizzically. Her smile broadened. "I told you, I am yours, my Lord." A pink tongue swept across parted lips. "Pray, accept my hospitality, come inside my private sanctum." She took Aidan''s hand and guided it to the lock, pressing her soft breasts against his arm as she did. Aoife curled her tail around his waist and purred as he turned the key and the door swung open.


    Aoife''s room was a luxurious suite, with a sitting room, bedroom, and even a bathroom all contained inside. She nudged Aidan and Sunnild inside, then closed and locked the door behind them. Turning back to Aidan, Aoife sauntered up to him and threw her arms around his neck. "Is there anything you desire, my Lord?" She stood up on her toes as if to kiss him but stopped when her lips were a hair''s breadth from his to whisper, "You are a mage. Do you have any way to keep conversations private?"


    Aidan blinked at her several times before the mental whiplash faded. He nodded and cast Sound Barrier. As soon as the shimmering dome surrounded them, Aoife''s demeanor changed. She withdrew her arms from around Aidan''s neck and dropped back down to her feet. Her shoulders slumped for a moment before she squared them and looked up at Aidan. "Thank you, my Lord. I cannot speak against my Master," she said, placing heavy emphasis on the words, "but Lord Searlas has grown sloppy in the last week and didn¡¯t forbid me from telling you his plans. He told me to seduce you. He wants you happy and pliant so that you''re more agreeable to his plans. I don''t know his end goal, but he thinks you¡¯ll be valuable to him."


    Aidan frowned, trying to parse her words. He must be drunker than he thought because connections were coming slower to him than usual. "So he lied about you?"


    Aoife grimaced. "I cannot speak against my Master."


    "What can you tell me about him?" Aidan walked over to a nearby chair and sat down on it. Sunnild plopped herself in his lap a moment later, although her giggles vanished with Aoife''s revelation.


    "He is both smart and cunning," she replied without hesitation. "Unlike his predecessor, he doesn''t rule by fear; he has subtler methods. He was raised as Chieftain about two and a half years ago after challenging the previous Chief, Lughan, to a duel and winning. Searlas has publicly worked to undo the old Chief''s least popular policies. He''s well-loved by the common folk as a result, although the nobles and merchants are much less happy with him."


    "That doesn''t sound so bad," Aidan said, tone questioning.


    Aoife shook her head. "I''ve only been here for two months, so my information isn''t complete, and I cannot speak against my Master." This time she accompanied her words with a gesture at her neck. Aidan''s eyes dropped to the golden collar. Now that he was so close to her and no longer distracted by the press of petitioners, he could make out the engravings. Unfortunately, his Cunning Linguist Trait didn''t help him decipher the symbols. Must be functional magic, then, he decided.


    "Alright," he said, "what do you want from me, then?"


    "I don''t know," she said, slumping into the chair next to Aidan''s. "The collar can''t be removed; believe me, I''ve tried. It doesn''t even have a seam. Whatever it''s enchanted with sealed it around my neck when that asshole slaver put it on me. And Lord Searlas bonded himself to the collar''s control bracelet, so I cannot speak against my Master, I cannot attempt to escape from my Master, and I cannot act against my Master."


    Aidan frowned. "Aren''t you acting against him now, though?"


    Aoife shook her head. "Not according to the collar, I''m not. I can''t¡ªphysically can not¡ªattack him, his allies, his holdings, or his family. I can''t provide material assistance to his enemies, nor can I allow harm to come to him through inaction. I can, it appears, speak in vague terms about his plans to someone he wants to make an ally of. Believe me, if the collar thought I was breaking a rule, all of us would know it."


    "Back to what you want me to do, then?" Aidan prompted.


    "There isn''t much you can do. I guess what I really wanted is to keep you from being blinded by Lord Searlas''s charisma. I can tell that you''re a good person, and I don''t want you to end up being made a pawn in evil plans."


    "I see," Aidan said even though his alcohol-addled brain was still working through everything. "Thank you for the information, Aoife." He yawned; it had been a long day. Aidan''s focused on Sunnild, smiling when he noticed that her eyes were closed and her breathing slow and regular. "I think I''ll get some sleep." He stood and carried Sunnild over to the bed, then started working at the buckles and straps on her armor.


    The sound of Aoife locking the door behind him made Aidan turn around. She had a resigned look in her eyes. "Lord Searlas ordered me to seduce you," she repeated and took a step toward him, "and I cannot disobey my Master''s orders."


    Zurai


    Aidan''s current status sheet:


    Sunnild''s current status sheet:


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy and Orange for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Intermission: Winter Q&A pt1

    Zurai


    I had to split this into two parts because of the sheer number of questions I received, even after trimming them down some. Part 2 will come on Monday but will not replace the regularly-scheduled chapter.


    As with all of these in-character Q&A chapters, this is semi-canon. All of the answers are canon, as is most of what happens. The meta questions (the ones directed at me as the author, and ones about the story itself) aren''t, for obvious reasons.


    Brighid


    The Dreamlands


    Firstday, 5th week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Timeless


    The Brighaid''s Realm, Dreams of Passion


    "Welcome once again to my/our Realm, honored guests."


    Brighid blinked. She''d just been having a dream about Aidan, Sunnild, and ... a Mist Stalker? She shook her head and looked around, memories flooding back to her. "Divinity!" she exclaimed upon seeing her God lounging on Their throne. "Have you brought us here for more questions?"


    "Huh? Wha?" Sunnild sat up near Aidan, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. "Where am I?"


    "Be at peace, Sunnild. As Brighid said, I/we brought thee here to answers questions posed by those who watch. No harm will come to thee, although thy mind will forget the events which are about to occur ''til I/we bring thee here once more."


    Around the room, others awoke, all of whom were present for the first session. Aidan and Eve embraced, talking softly to each other, while Ailis held out a hand, into which a teacup appeared. She took a sip, closed her eyes, and let out a sigh of pleasure.


    "Wait," Sunnild said. "Yer realm... an'' the way yer speakin''..." Her eyes widened and she prostrated herself. "Beggin'' yer pardon, Divinity! I didn''t mean to be so rude!"


    Aidan chuckled and pulled her up and into his lap. "It''s okay, little dove. They are my Patron, the Brighaid, and I expect They are much more closely aligned to your ideals than you think."


    The Brighaid smiled an enigmatic smile but gave no verbal response. Eve, however, was looking back and forth between Aidan cuddling Sunnild and Brighid. "You never struck me as the polyamorous type, bro. They do know about each other, right?"


    "We do," Brighid said, moving over to snuggle with her lovers. "In fact, it was my idea, not Aidan''s."


    "That I can believe. Good on you if you can make it work, Daniel. But leave some of the hotties for me, huh?" Eve punched Aidan''s arm mockingly. "I always thought I''d be the one with a harem if we got isekai''d, not you!" A dark expression crossed her face for a moment, but she shook it off.


    "There is yet time for thee," the Brighaid said in a gentle tone. "Thy story has many pages yet to be written. Keep hope kindled in thy heart. Now, if ye are all ready, let the questions begin! First, for Aidan: Since thee hast had rulership thrust upon thee, who are some statesmen that thou dost admire, and in what ways will thou attempt to emulate them?"


    "Wow, hitting hard right out of the gates," Brighid''s love mused. "Let me think. Hmm. One that comes to mind is the Roman emperor Claudius. He suffered prejudice and ridicule for being sickly, and the only reason he lived to ascend to the throne is likely because no one considered him a real threat. He was a scholar and historian¡ªI expect you would get along well with him, Ailis¡ªand surprisingly progressive. He made it law that slaveholders who killed their slaves, even indirectly, would be tried for murder and that any slaves who were abandoned to the temples to die would become freemen if they survived their illnesses. He was thought to be soft during his time, but from a historical perspective, he was scrupulously fair as far as the political situation would allow him to be."


    Aidan shrugged. "As for how I''d emulate him? That''s a hard one to answer. Our situations are quite different; Claudius was in a weak political position, but he ruled over a massive empire. I''m in almost exactly the opposite spot, with my rulership being pretty unassailable politically, but my ''empire'' is a ten-mile-radius circle in the middle of a sparsely-populated hinterland. I don''t have to face the same sort of internal pressure he did; my pressures are almost entirely external. Also, Claudius never had to fight a dragon."


    "What?!" interrupted Eve. "You fought a dragon?"


    "Yeah, for a given definition of the term. Fucking huge, three-hundred-foot wingspan. We managed to chase it off, but it''ll be back if we don''t hunt it down first." Aidan shook his head, then continued, "Anyway, back to Claudius. I guess the best way I can emulate him is to keep the people in mind with whatever I do. He was one of the most populist-leaning emperors."


    The Brighaid inclined Their head, then examined the slate in Their lap. "A follow-up question for Ailis: As someone who knows the legends and histories of the world Aidan finds himself in, who are some statesmen thou admirest, and what lessons ought he take from them?"


    Aidan settled back against Brighid''s chest as the focus shifted from him. She wrapped her arms around him and Sunnild, who still occupied her love''s lap.


    Ailis chuckled. "I think my tastes in rulers differ from my Lord''s rather substantially. Appealing to the people is well and good¡ªthe role of government is to provide stability for those it governs, after all¡ªbut stability is the key. From what Lord Aidan told me of the Roman emperors, though the Empire itself lasted centuries, far more of its rulers died to assassins than old age.


    "I would suggest taking lessons from Nikanuur of Tamikh. He reigned for fifty-three years, and fewer than a quarter of his descendants died for internal political reasons. There were three reasons for that stability. First, Nikanuur enforced a strong succession law by having his children swear Oaths, not only to follow the succession but to have their children swear the same Oaths. This made it extraordinarily difficult for civil wars to arise between claimants to the throne. Second, Nikanuur raised his political enemies to posts where he could make use of their skills, but where their ability to oppose him was curtailed."


    "That sounds familiar..." Aidan drawled.


    "Indeed," Ailis agreed, "your handling of myself and Eilwen are exemplars of Nikanuur''s methods. Third, he did not let his ambitions exceed his ability to control his circumstances. He took no political actions, internal or external, without having prepared everything in advance. The expansion of Tamikh from a city-state into a kingdom took decades, and it never reached the status of an empire within Nikanuur''s lifetime, despite that being his goal."


    "Not all of us have the luxury of being able to plan far in advance," Aidan frowned at his Chancellor.


    "Admitted," she agreed. "As you said with Claudius, your circumstances are different. Still, the lessons remain. If you want your legacy to last past your own life, you must act with an eye towards stability as much as possible."


    Aidan nodded, his head rubbing against Brighid''s breasts. She squeezed her arms around him. After a moment of silence, the Goddess spoke again. "This next question is for Sunnild." The harpy girl squeaked in Aidan''s lap, bringing a chuckle from him and a smile from the deity. "Canst thou think of anything else strange or unusual about thy mother that never made sense to thee, but might to Aidan?"


    "Um. Not really? She was my mum, ya know? I guess, if Aidan''s right and she''s another Chosen, it seems a little odd that she''d settle down like she did in the Ayrie, but that mighta been cuz of me. She never would tell me exactly where she came from, but the only reason I even knew Mum wasn''t from the Ayrie is that she knew a different language." Sunnild ducked her head. "Sorry I can''t give a better answer."


    "Worry not, dear one," the Goddess smiled. "An answer ye must give, but not knowing is no crime. Next, a few questions for Brighid. First, hast thou ever thought of what sex might be like with Aidan had thee a form more like his?"


    Eve covered her ears. "La la la, don''t want to hear about my brother''s sex life, la la la."


    Brighid blinked. "No, not really. Although, now that you mention it, I am a little jealous that he can kiss Sunnild while making love to her. Your Talents make for a close substitute, my love, but it is not quite the same."


    Aidan patted her arm. "I know, love. It''s something I regret as well." He turned as much as he could without displacing Sunnild and tilted his head up towards Brighid''s. She bent down to press her lips to his.


    "Well, since neither of you will remember this anyway, I am working on a partial solution to that problem," Ailis spoke up. "Not a way to turn my daughter into a humanoid, but to make Aidan a centaur, at least temporarily. My research indicates that is the surest, safest way to ensure that your union can ... be fruitful," she hedged. "And, as a happy side effect, will allow you most of the same intimacies either of you could expect in a partner of your own race."


    "That lies parallel to the second question from the same missive: Brighid, wouldst thou be interested in a temporary change to experience things from a humanoid perspective?"


    There was no hesitation. "Only if my love wanted it. I carry within me the certainty of his love; all physical considerations pale beside that. And," Brighid glanced at Eve, who still had her ears covered, and snickered, "now that Sunnild has joined us, I have someone else to occupy my lips while my Lord mounts me." Sunnild blushed scarlet, and Brighid could feel a similar heat on her own cheeks.


    "And how wouldst thou feel if thy Lord never succeeded in his goal of siring a child with thee?" the Divinity asked of Brighid.


    She bit her lip and shook her head. "Sad. I want a child¡ªAidan''s child¡ªvery much, but I know it is not something I can expect. But as long as there are children for me to mother, I will be satisfied, even if they are not my own."


    One of Sunnild''s wings curved around Brighid''s back, enclosing her in a feathery embrace. "Ya can be mum number two ta my daughter," she offered. Brighid felt a surge of love welling up inside her and leaned down over Aidan''s shoulder to press a kiss to the harpy''s lips.


    "I would be honored, love. She will be the best-loved child in the Realms with two mothers and a father."


    "Only two?" asked the Brighaid with a teasing smile. "Aidan, the next questions are for thee. Dost thou have a plan to defeat the dragon Karsarrym shouldst thou find its lair, or art thou simply hoping events proceed in thy favor?"


    "A little of column A, a little of column B," Aidan answered. "It''s hard to be too specific about plans without more information. We managed to land a few good hits on Karsarrym¡ªhitting its eye was a miracle!¡ªand I''d prefer to capitalize on that rather than let the dragon recover and come at us better-prepared. But we don''t even know if its lair is in the Highlands, let alone within striking range. For all we know, it flew right past Mist Stalker territory and into the forest or the human kingdoms. I doubt it since my elementals tore up its shoulder muscles pretty good, but I just don''t know at this point."


    "Speaking of thy elementals, the next question is about them. The asker wishes to know how much control thou hast over their forms and whether thou needest to have extensive knowledge of the beings they emulate."


    "I haven''t experimented with them too much. The fight with Karsarrym is the first time I really pushed them. From what I''ve done so far, I think the answer is that they''re definitely limited by my ability to imagine them. The fairy swarms weren''t terribly effective except as distractions because I had no idea what they could attack with; meanwhile, the tanks are a fairly simple concept at their core. I know the gist of how a gun works, and there was no need to fully realize all the gears and belts and pistons and such. At the same time, something tells me that if I tried to make a cruise missile or something, it wouldn''t work because I don''t know enough about how explosive warheads work."


    The Goddess nodded. "On a different note," Their lips twitched in amusement, "What is thy favorite song from Earth?"


    Brighid groaned. "Noooo, now you have the Divinity making puns!"


    Her deity smiled at her and winked. "What makest thou think that this is Aidan''s influence on me/us and not the reverse?"


    Eve sniggered. "She''s got you there, sis-in-law. Though Daniel was always a punster."


    "Ahem," Aidan cleared his throat. "Quiet in the peanut gallery, please. That said, I don''t have a favorite song, movie, or book. It changes from day to day. I can tell you some of my favorites, though. Clamavi de Profundis''s version of the Song of Durin is breathtaking; Dancing Mad is the single best final boss theme in the history of gaming; Annie Lenox''s Into the West has always reduced me to tears; and the Unledded version of Battle of Evermore is my current favorite classic rock song."


    "You always were a sucker for the old stuff," Eve teased. "Can''t you think of anything more modern? Say, from the 21st century?"


    "The Song of Durin was released in 2017!" Aidan protested. "And Into the West was 2003."


    "I''ll give you Into the West, I guess, but Tolkein first wrote the Song of Durin in the nineteen-forties. Ancient!"


    "Before this discussion descends into a sibling squabble," the Divinity''s voice chorused, "let us move on. For the time being, one more question for Aidan: Are there any of thy friends or family from Earth who thou wishest were here to help thee? And, in a similar vein, dost thou know anyone who would be happy to be in thy situation?"


    Aidan shook his head. "I''m trapped in a death game¡ªno offense, Goddess, but it is true." The Brighaid waved off his comment. "I wouldn''t wish this on my worst enemy. It has its redeeming qualities, and I wouldn''t give up Brighid or Sunnild or Ailis¡ª" Brighid''s mother stiffened at looked at Aidan with wide eyes, "¡ªbut I don''t think I know anyone who is really made for this situation."


    "Very well." The Goddess ran her finger across her slate. "Oh, this will be interesting. The next several questions are for an ... unusual party." They waved Their free hand through the air, leaving behind a shimmer that resolved into the face of a human male with pale skin, brown hair, and a thick beard streaked with grey.


    "Zurai," the Brighaid greeted the man, "I/we have reader questions for thee."


    "Oh?" replied the human. "I wondered when someone would get meta about it. Okay, ask away."


    "Wait, who are you?" asked Eve. "Who is he?" she repeated to the Brighaid.


    "You can call me Zurai, and it is my duty to record the events surrounding the Chosen. Some would call me the author of your story, but we all know that you''re real, not writing a page, of course." His smile was a bit sinister.


    "Leave the poor mortals alone," the Brighaid scolded, "and answer the questions. First, what references to other stories are contained within thy annals?"


    "Oh, too many to list. The chapter names are all from game soundtracks, and there have been references to a variety of games, movies, books, and shows. You could have asked Aidan about some of these¡ªI''m only transcribing his words, after all."


    "I may have slipped some Babylon 5 into my early meetings with the Starchaser Council," Brighid''s love admitted. She had no idea what either of them was talking about but assumed it meant something to those of Aidan''s world.


    "You did not!" exclaimed Eve.


    "''Summoned, I come,'' I believe was the exact reference, mimicking Delenn''s response to the Grey Council. I''ve wanted to quote, ''The avalanche has already started; it is too late for the pebbles to vote,'' for a long time, but haven''t had the chance yet."


    "You are such a nerd."


    "Takes one to know one."


    "Guilty as charged. But you''re still a nerd!"


    "Ahem. Settle down, children. Another question for our guest: How long will this tale last, and dost thou have an end in mind?"


    The human named Zurai shrugged. "That depends on your Chosen more than me. I know some of the most likely endings to this story, but I do not control events, only transfer them to the page. If I had to make a guess, the tale would reach its conclusion after five volumes."


    "So there is an ending to the story?" the Brighaid prodded.


    "As much as any person''s story ends, yes. Eventually, Aidan and his companions will either overcome enough obstacles to secure their future or succumb to the forces arrayed against them. In either case, though their lives might continue, the fulcrum of fate will have shifted, raising others to prominence. Besides, should all turn out well for them, they deserve a happy retirement, don''t you think?"


    "Thou already know my/our opinion on that matter," the Brighaid replied with a raised eyebrow. "Thank you for answering these questions; I will take no more of thy time."


    "A pleasure," Zurai responded as his visage dispersed.


    "Oh! More questions for me/us!" the Goddess exclaimed, reading from her lap. "Hmm. Do I/we have or want children, do I/we wish to join Aidan''s harem, and a question regarding my/our gender. The order of those questions is curious but very well. First: I/we are three deities in one, and one of my/our aspects is male. Those gathered here know Him as Braihan; the aspects called Birgitte and Brigantia are female. I/we can take a male form, but as my/our Chosen is not romantically interested in males, I/we decided to present my/our femininity to ease interactions."


    Aidan cocked his head. "I think that was wise. Given what you have done to me in my dreams, I''m a little relieved that I won''t remember this when I wake up. I have no objection to men liking men, but the thought of a guy going down on me is ... weird."


    The deity gestured at Aidan as if providing proof of her decision, then continued, "Thy other two questions are more complicated. I/we have no physical substance. I/we am/are Power. Other Powers share similarities with me/us in ways that mortals might define as familial, but such explanations lie orthogonal to the truth. As for joining Aidan''s circle of lovers, as things stand now, such is neither possible nor wise." They turned Their focus to Aidan and asked him, "What dost thou recall of the way thy second visit to my/our realm ended?"


    "Very little other than ecstasy. I don''t even know what, exactly, happened, just that it melted my mind a bit."


    The Brighaid nodded. "I/we banished thee from the Dreamlands before thy mind could be damaged. Left a little longer, thou wouldst become addicted, and not long after that, thy mind would be able to think of naught but the pleasure. Such it is with direct contact with Powers. There are ways to mitigate the effects, but they would require me/us to act upon the mortal world again. In addition, although in many ways I/we am/are the personification of love in all its forms, we Powers are not bound to the same cycle of needs that mortals are. My/our Champion is well-loved, and that is as satisfying for me/us as it needs to be."


    Aidan nodded, sandwiched as he was between Brighid and Sunnild. "I''m fine with what I have anyway. I''m nowhere near arrogant enough to believe myself the equal of a goddess, and that kind of power gap doesn''t make for a healthy relationship."


    "Even so," the Goddess agreed. "Two more questions for me/us, then back to the rest of ye. One questioner wishes to know what a day in the life of a Power is like. Unfortunately, thou hast not the frame of reference to appreciate it. The closest approximation would be meditating in a chamber where you are constantly affected by countless stimuli, some pleasant, some deeply unpleasant, and promoting some over others only through the ripples caused by your meditation. That is an imperfect analogy, but the best I can offer.


    "Another reader wishes to know what made me/us choose Aidan as my/our Champion. I/we did not so much choose him as he chose himself. When we Powers pierced the Void Between to bring forth the Chosen, we acted blindly; even we are limited in our ability to see through that non-place. Instead, we invested energy into the pathways that brought them to the Realms, such that the Chosen who best fit a Power''s interests would gravitate towards that Power. In my/our case, I/we asked for one with an exceptional capacity for love, who is patient and caring even to those who would scorn him, and whose life would be improved with the love and adventure I/we would provide, but with no strong ties to the world he would leave behind."


    "Objection!" exclaimed Aidan. "How do I qualify for that last one?"


    The Brighaid shook Their finger at him. "Eve, thy sister and closest friend, was brought along with thee, and while thou miss thy parents, thou already left them behind once. Be not offended; ''tis always the way of the chick to leave the nest. If thy sister had not also been Chosen, likely that would have held thee back, but with her now here beside thee, no one on Earth holds such a strong claim on thy heart as to make thy life away from them unbearable."


    Aidan settled back against Brighid''s chest with a grunt. "I guess I can see that," he allowed. Brighid knew that being cut off from his parents hurt him, but not nearly as much as not knowing his sister''s fate.


    "What she''s saying," Eve cut in, "is that if you''d just gotten yourself a good woman who you loved and who loved you back, you wouldn''t be here."


    "It''s not like I didn''t try!" he growled back. "I''m not like you; I can''t just go into a bar and pick up anyone there¡ªof either gender¡ªI want!" Eve rocked back on her heels, a shocked expression on her face. Immediately, Brighid felt Aidan stiffen in her arms. "Shit. Shit, I''m sorry, Eve, you didn''t deserve that."


    "No, I did," she replied, "at least a little. I know that''s a sore spot for you, and ... well, to be honest, after seeing you struggle with love, I mostly settled for lust. Believe it or not, I''m pretty sure I''m more gunshy than you are at this point."


    "Eve..." Aidan''s voice trailed off. "C''mere, sis," he said, gesturing her over to the cuddle pile. She hesitated, then slid over under her brother''s offered arm. "I''m sorry I contributed to that, even inadvertently. You deserve love at least as much as I do."


    "Not your fault," Eve sniffled, "but thanks. Things aren''t looking great for me right now, though."


    "I''ll find you," Aidan promised. "We''ll find you, then we''ll find you someone who completes you. Knowing that you''re out there... I''m the big brother; I''m supposed to protect you."


    Brighid looked up from her Soulmate and his sister sharing their moment to see the Brighaid frowning at the slate in Their lap and tapping Their finger to Their lips. "The next three questions may be difficult for thee, Aidan, Eve."


    "In what way?" Aidan asked, voice wary.


    "They are addressed to thy parents. Before ye ask, I/we cannot bring them here; they were not Chosen. However, I/we can, hmm, borrow their semblances and mirror their thoughts for a short time. It would be similar to having them present, but not. I/we will leave it up to the two of ye whether to do so."


    Eve and Aidan shared a look. "Even if it''s not really them... I miss them," she whispered. Aidan nodded, then turned to the Goddess.


    "Very well." The Brighaid rose from Their throne, moving to one of the walls. A door appeared there, and They placed Their hand on its surface. A moment later, it swung open to reveal a pair of humans. One was a huge man, taller and broader than Aidan, with a square jaw covered by a short, well-kept black beard and mustache. His build rivaled, even exceeded, Fionn''s, his arms and legs bulging with muscles.


    In front of him was a smaller woman with copper-colored hair. Her head only came up to her husband''s pectorals, and her hips were barely broader than one of his thighs. She looked almost like a doll next to him, but Brighid could see in their body language that they were both completely at ease in the other''s presence.


    Both of them looked around the room as if in a daze. "Where...?" the woman murmured.


    "Momma! Daddy!" Eve flung herself forward, stumbling to her feet and almost falling down again in her haste. She hurtled across the room and threw herself into the arms of her parents. Aidan was only a moment behind her, disentangling himself from Sunnild and Brighid before striding across the room.


    "Daughter," the man said, his voice a basso rumble. He scooped Eve up in his arms and pulled her into a bear hug, enveloping her and her mother alike.


    "Eve, oh my God, it''s really you!" the woman exclaimed. "Oh, my baby, oh, thank God!" She looked up from the young woman in her arms. "Who are you?" she asked Aidan.


    Brighid winced, but her love seemed to take it in stride. "It''s me, Mom. Daniel. I know I look different, but it''s me."


    Aidan''s father reached out a hand, tilting his son''s chin up. He leaned down, looking into Aidan''s red eyes, then swept him into the hug as well. "Son," he rumbled. "You''re both safe now."


    "Daniel?" his mother whispered. "How? What is happening? Oh, my babies, you''re back!"


    "I¡ªwe¡ªI miss you," Aidan said, voice breaking. "I miss you both so much."


    "We''re right here; you don''t have to miss us anymore."


    "Yes, we do," Eve sniffled. "You''re not really here. Heck, I''m not sure we''re really here."


    "Indeed," the Goddess cut in, "none of thee are here in body, and the two of ye, Seamus, Caitlin, even less so. I/we regret to inform that thy children must remain apart from thee for the time."


    "Who are you to say such things?" Caitlin''s tone was aggressive as she glared at the Brighaid.


    "You would call me/us a Goddess, though the term means different things for ye than for me/us. Regardless, it is not possible for ye to reunite with thy children at this time, and thy time here is limited. Pray, give thy children what comfort ye may while ye answer these few questions. First, are ye actively searching for thy children?"


    "Yes," Seamus answered.


    "Of course we are! We''ve hardly done anything else since finding out they went missing!" Caitlin bristled at the question.


    "Peace; I/we am/are merely the messenger, the questions originate not with me/us."


    "The police called," explained Seamus. "We went to them, Cait got evidence, we are following it."


    "They found some weird dried-up leaves in your pod-thing, Daniel. We''re trying to figure out where they came from."


    Aidan shuddered. "I... hope you never find out if they''re what I think they are." Brighid shivered, remembering her own encounter with the Taig.


    "Another question, then: If ye could join thy children in this world, knowing that you were leaving everything behind to do so, would ye?"


    "Of¡ª" Caitlin started to respond, but a rumble from her husband brought her up short. She craned her head up to look into his eyes, then turned her attention to her children. "Are you well? Do you need us?"


    "No. Yes. I don''t know," whimpered Eve. "Oh, Momma, I¡ª" her voice faded into static.


    "Please," Aidan said, "stay on Earth. I''ll find Eve and protect her, I promise. I don''t want you to be caught here with us; it''s too dangerous."


    "For us, but not you?" Seamus asked.


    "Yes," Aidan confirmed. "I don''t think I have time to explain, and you won''t remember anyway, but until I can fulfill my goals here, I''d rather you were safe on Earth."


    Caitlin was silent for a long moment, then asked, "You''ll look after your sister?"


    "I promise."


    "Then, I''ll trust you. You''ve always been so close, helped each other so much. If you''re both here together, nothing can stop you."


    "There is one final question, although I/we think it may be better to pose it to Aidan rather than ye. Aidan, would you like to introduce your parents to those you hold dear here?"


    Aidan nodded and looked over his shoulder, gesturing to Brighid and Sunnild. "Dad, Mom, this is Brighid, my Soulmate, and Sunnild, our lover. I know they''re not human, but¡ª"


    "Do you love them?" Caitlin interrupted him.


    "Yes, I do, both of them."


    "Do they make you happy? Do they love you back?" Aidan nodded. "Then they''re family," Caitlin concluded, and a split-second later, Brighid felt a thick, warm arm wrap around her back and haul her into the group hug alongside Sunnild.


    "And this is Ailis," Aidan continued. "We''re still working out exactly what our relationship is, but I have feelings for her as well." A moment later, Brighid felt her mother pressed against her flank.


    Eve let out a giggle. "You''d better stop before Dad Katamaris us into a star." Seamus''s arms squeezed all of them tight for a breathless moment, then released them.


    "You''re not weirded out by them?" Aidan asked his parents.


    Seamus shook his head silently, letting his wife answer, "Of course not. They''re not what I ever expected from you, and I have no idea how you plan to keep three women happy, but they clearly know about each other. So long as everyone is happy, so am I. That''s all we ever wanted for you. Just, um, let us know if we need to make any special accommodations when they visit."


    Brighid had to giggle at that, and soon her mother and Sunnild joined her.

 Intermission: Winter Q&A pt2

    Aidan, Eve, and their parents spent a few more minutes reassuring each other, but before long, the Divinity interrupted. "It is difficult for me/us to maintain thy appearance here for longer, Caitlin, Seamus. Pray, give thy children thy fare-thee-wells."


    Brighid watched, fascinated, as Caitlin turned a glare on the Goddess, her face flushing red as she prepared to launch into an attack¡ªverbal or otherwise, she wasn''t quite sure. Seamus interceded, placing a hand on his wife''s shoulder. She looked up at him, and the pair seemed to hold an entire conversation without speaking. After a few seconds, Caitlin turned away from the Brighaid, hugged Aidan and Eve, and gave them each a kiss on the cheek.


    "I love you both so much. I''m proud of everything you''ve accomplished. If..." Caitlin took a shuddering breath, then continued, "If I never see you again, remember to look out for each other, just like you always have."


    Then it was Seamus''s turn. He held both his children against his barrel chest and rumbled, "Remember what strength is." Aidan and Eve both nodded as if he said something profound. Seamus released them, then focused his attention on Brighid, Sunnild, and Ailis. Brighid shifted, taking a half-step back in an instinctive reaction to the intensity of the quiet man''s gaze. Then his eyes softened, and he nodded once, sharply. He didn''t say anything, but Brighid could feel his approval. "Live well," he told them all.


    So saying, he wrapped an arm around Caitlin''s shoulder and turned the pair of them to the door they entered from. It opened, and they stepped through, then they and the door vanished.


    "Um," Sunnild asked, "what did he mean? Remember what strength is?"


    "It''s something our dad taught us when we were babies," Eve replied, trembling against her older brother.


    "It''s a little difficult to put into words," Aidan continued the thought, "since Dad''s lessons are usually examples, not parables. As soon as we were old enough not to try to eat the plants, he had us help him in his garden."


    "Daddy''s garden is amazing," Eve cut in, "he''s got all kinds of flowers, herbs, vegetables, trees, everything. And he showed us that each of them is strong and useful in their own way."


    "He showed us how hard it is to uproot a plant with your bare hands, even though a flower''s roots are tiny, thin threads."


    "He showed us how trees that don''t bend with the wind will break in a storm."


    "How having flowers among the vegetables encouraged more bees to come and pollinate the entire garden."


    "And how a tree can regrow from a tiny cutting," Eve finished. "Strength isn''t just standing up to bullies, and it isn''t being hard or tough."


    "Strength," Aidan concluded, "is being flexible, adaptable, open-minded, and working together with others. If you don''t bend, you''ll break. If you don''t work together, you''ll be left behind."


    "He is a wise man, then," Ailis murmured. "Wiser than me. I mean no offense, but that is not the lesson I expected such a man to give about strength."


    Eve grinned. "Oh, no, he spends as much time exercising as he does gardening. He could probably lift you up and haul you across his shoulders." Brighid blinked at that. Her mother wasn''t nearly as big or heavy as she was, but Ailis had to weigh at least 800 pounds. "There''s a difference between physical and metaphorical strength; he taught us that, too. When we were really little¡ªI was, what, five? Six?" Eve looked at Aidan.


    He nodded. "Five, I think. I was seven at the time. The two of us combined might have weighed a hundred pounds soaking wet and been able to lift half that off the ground for a second. Dad weighs at least three times that and, well, it wouldn''t surprise me if he could carry you around, Ailis. Anyway, he brought us out to the back yard and handed us one end of a fifty-foot-long rope. He marked a line in the middle, then took up the other end. The goal was to drag the other party across the centerline."


    Brighid frowned. "But how could you possibly beat him?"


    "We didn''t, not at first," Eve said. "We couldn''t budge him, and he hauled us in effortlessly."


    "Then," Aidan explained, "he showed us the magic of thinking outside the box. Dad helped us rig up a system of pulleys anchored into the ground¡ª"


    "And by ''helped us,'' Daniel means he told us what to do and had us do all the actual work," Eve complained.


    "¡ªand then once we had the pulleys all set up, we did the tug-of-war again," Aidan talked on as if his sister hadn''t interrupted. "This time, even though he changed the rules so that we''d lose if we got to the first pulley, the outcome was completely different."


    Eve nodded. "And Daddy didn''t go easy on us, either. He gave it everything he had. There was a twenty-five-foot long trench in the back yard when we were done. And that wasn''t all, either. He reset everything and had us both try it against him one-on-one. We lost those almost as badly as the first time without mechanical assistance."


    "That''s how all of Dad''s lessons went. He might have said five words to us that whole afternoon, but neither of us has ever forgotten it," Aidan said, and Eve nodded again in confirmation.


    "Forgive my/our intrusion, but many questions yet await answers," the Brighaid interjected, startling Brighid. She''d somehow forgotten about the Goddess. "If I/we may, the next question is for thee, Eve; they wish to know whether thee would assemble a harem for thyself if thee could."


    "Jokes about my brother aside, are we talking about a harem as in a bunch of people existing only to serve my sexual pleasure-slash-reproductive needs or a polyamorous relationship? Because there''s not much point in me having an actual historical harem¡ªeven if I wanted kids, I could only be pregnant once at any given time. As for polyamory... it''s a nice idea, but at this point, I''d be ecstatic to find a single person who loves me as much as Brighid and Daniel love each other."


    "You will," Aidan promised her.


    "We''ll see," Eve responded, face downcast. Aidan wrapped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her into a hug.


    "Perhaps as a follow-up to that question, and addressed to all of ye, are there any races ye would never consider for a sexual or romantic relationship?"


    "I''d have trouble with someone who was completely non-humanoid," Aidan admitted. "I can intellectually accept that someone might fall in love with a sapient, intelligent, talking plant, for example, but I don''t think I''d be comfortable with it myself. Then again, I never thought centaurs were particularly sexy before I got sent here, so who knows? Physically, I don''t think I could have sex with a gargoyle, even if they had the appropriate equipment. I shook Sarpedon''s hand, and there''s no give to his... does he even have skin? He feels exactly like he looks: a statue. Hard, unyielding, and cold."


    "Speaking of cold," Eve added, "undead are right out. That''s way, way too creepy for me, even if it''s Casper the Friendly Ghost. And vampires can fuck right off; I don''t want anyone messing with my mind. Mind control is an anti-fetish, thanks."


    "I never even thought about someone from another race until I met Aidan," Brighid said. "You opened my eyes, love." Her mother nodded along.


    "It''s a bit different for us," Sunnild said, "since there aren''t any male harpies. We''re really not very picky given we hafta sleep with other races and hafta take what we can get."


    "Next, we have quite a few questions for Riama." The cat in question raised her head from where she''d been snoozing since the very beginning. Trust a cat to nap even in a dream, Brighid thought with an inward giggle. "What is thy view on dogs?"


    Riama gave an expressive snort. "She says they''re useful minions, but nothing more," Aidan translated their mental communication. "She''s pretty disdainful about them in general, although she''s got some respect for wolves."


    "Are there any secret conversations thou wouldst have with Brighid if thee could?"


    "No, I didn''t ask that one," Aidan rolled his eyes at his familiar. "I don''t even know how to submit questions to this. She says that if she could, she wouldn''t tell anyone because then they wouldn''t be secret."


    "What is the most annoying thing thee hast felt from thy mental connection to Aidan?"


    Aidan blushed. "Really? Uh, oops? Apparently, I need to learn to block my emotions from her when I''m, ah, with Brighid and Sunnild. That''s why she runs out the door as soon as we start getting frisky; distance helps." He scrubbed a hand through his hair. "Sorry. You need to tell me that when we wake up because I don''t realize it''s happening, and I won''t remember this. Yes, I know that you won''t remember this either. Next question, please?"


    The Goddess smirked but complied. "What do thee like best and least?"


    Aidan arched an eyebrow. "I would say that''s sweet, but... Yes, yes, okay, I''ll say it exactly. She says, ''My favorite thing is you¡ª'' meaning me ''¡ªdespite your unfortunate lack of fur.'' And she says she dislikes people who refuse to pay her proper tribute. In other words, food and/or head scratches. It seems Cai is on her naughty list."


    The Brighaid raised Their eyebrows as they read the next question. She looked at Eve and said, "Thou may wish to cover thy ears again, for the next question, despite being addressed to Riama, involves his romantic life." Eve blushed and plugged her ears again, after which They continued, "What are thy thoughts on these, and I/we quote, ''partly-bald, upright, pseudo-felines'' that you are around right now, and would thee approve of your human adding one of them to his mating circle?"


    "She says I already have, although I contest that claim. Yes, I know I challenged your assertion that Ailis had feelings for me too. Yes, I know you were right about that. Yes, I know I promised to bring Aoife with us if we could." Brighid couldn''t hold in the giggles as Aidan weathered a barrage of superiority from his familiar. "Answer the questions, please, would you?"


    Aidan rolled his eyes at the response he got. "Why couldn''t I have gotten a familiar that''s easy to deal with, like a dragon or something? Anyway, she says that the Mist Stalkers would make poor minions because they''re too independent-minded. She does approve of how stealthy they are. Also, she''s reserving judgment on Aoife right now since we just met, and it remains to be seen whether we can trust her."


    A smile tugged at the corners of the Goddess''s lips, but she only indicated to Eve that she could uncover her ears, then continued with another question. "I believe this is the last one for thee, Riama. I will quote it as it was written. ''Greetings, O powerful and soon to be almighty floof. Who amongst your many minions gives the best scritches or treats? And who is in general a failure of a sapient being by giving mediocre scritches or treats?''"


    "Oh, Lord, please don''t feed her ego. Soon she won''t be able to fit through the door. Yes, yes, I''ll give them your answer. She says, firstly, that she always has more room for minions with the proper attitude. I give the best head scratches¡ªit helps that I can feel what she likes best¡ªand Brighid gives the best treats. Treats, in this case, being whole fish or eighteen-ounce cuts of steak." Aidan gave Brighid a mock-glare, but she grinned and stuck her tongue out at him in response. He was just jealous that he didn''t rate as the best in both categories. "Cai is the absolute worst since she refuses to be bullied¡ªmy words¡ªinto petting or feeding her when she''s on duty. She says that she''s still working on training you, Ailis, but that you''re making acceptable progress."


    "One day, I will invent an anti-cat ward to keep her from sitting on my books when I am trying to read," Ailis said, voice dry.


    "That was, indeed, the last question for thee, Riama. If thou likest, I can send thee from this dream now." The astral jaguar nodded to the Goddess, then vanished. "Now then, next we have a question for a new individual. One moment while I fetch her, please."


    A second later, a harpy with a honey-blonde crest and golden-brown wingfeathers appeared before them. Flight Major Cynehild blinked, then looked around. Before she could say anything, the Brighaid spoke, saying, "Greeting, Major Cynehild. I/we am/are the Brighaid, and I/we brought thee here to my/our realm to answer questions. Rest assured, no harm will come to thee or thine as a result, and only I and those who watch from beyond will remember this event at all."


    "Very well," Cynehild allowed, but her posture remained tense.


    "There are but two questions for thee, and then I/we will return thee to thy dreams. First, did thee choose to take command of the embassy at Ceallach Macht, or were thee ''volunteered'' by someone higher in command?"


    "I am a soldier, and I go where I am ordered," came her crisp reply. "That being said, I did request the assignment. My position in the Ayrie makes me more suited to the task than some of the other candidates, and I recognize the value in what Lord Aidan is offering to us." She inclined her head towards Aidan, and he nodded back to her.


    "The second question is a query on how long it took thee to reach thy current rank."


    "I am thirty-two years old and have been performing missions for the Ayrie since the day I turned sixteen. I expect that, if my current assignment goes well, I will be promoted again in a year or two."


    The Brighaid nodded. "Those were the only questions addressed specifically to thee, Flight Major. If thou wishest, I can return thee to thy own dream now, or thou canst stay and listen to the remaining questions for the others."


    "You said I will not remember what happened here?"


    "That is correct."


    "Then there is no point in me staying."


    "Very well," the Goddess said, and Cynehild faded from view. "The next question is back to thee, Aidan. Now that thou knowest the true nature of this world, what race and Skills dost thou wishest thee chose at the start?"


    "Ugh, not Sex, that''s for sure," Aidan grimaced.


    "Wait, you chose Sex as one of your five starting Skills?" Eve laughed. "Holy shit, bro, I know it''s been a long time between girlfriends for you, but were you really that hard up?" Then she snickered. "Hard. Hehe."


    Aidan rolled his eyes. "What happened to not wanting to know the details of my sex life, Eve?"


    "You know better than to apply logic to me, Danny-boy. Answer up!"


    "Yes, I chose Sex, Fire Magic, Vivimancy, Persuasion, and Evasion. I was going for a talky versatile mage build, and I couldn''t decide on a fifth Skill. It had been a while for me if you have to know, and since the option was there, I went for it. In retrospect, a terrible idea. Knowing what I know now, I''d still have taken Fire Magic and Vivimancy, and probably Persuasion, but not Evasion or Sex. Brighid and Fionn worked me into shape as far as my physical combat Skills went, and I had plenty of opportunities to raise Sex.


    "If I had a chance to do it over again, there are four Skills I''d consider. On the one hand, Golem Control and Golem Crafting need to be paired to be useful but would have let me have self-propelled, semi-disposable guardians. On the other, Cogitomancy would hopefully make me more persuasive and let me heal Traumas, and Beast Magic has applications that I didn''t consider at the start. I just thought of it as shapeshifting for combat purposes, not really realizing that it could be used to heal or modify senses."


    Ailis nodded and confirmed, "Many fall into that trap."


    "Next, we have a question for Sunnild. If thou couldst change one aspect of thy self to its opposite, what would it be?"


    "Um," the grey-feathered harpy hesitated. "Nothing? Is that an acceptable answer?"


    "It is, but dost thou mind saying why?"


    "Sure, I guess. There are some things about myself that maybe I''d change, but nothing as drastic as going completely opposite. Also, some things just don''t have opposites, ya know? Like, what''s the opposite of my boobs? I wouldn''t mind havin'' a bigger chest, but I don''t wanna end up with breasts the size and shape of watermelons, ya know?"


    "You are perfect just like you are," Aidan told Sunnild, beating Brighid to it by a half-second.


    "Ya say that, but yer restin'' yer head on Brighid''s boobs, not mine," Sunnild pouted.


    "Let me tell you," Eve countered, "big boobs aren''t all they''re made out to be. We''re about the same size like this, but I really bumped up the breast size slider when I made my character. It''s gotten me all the wrong kinds of attention, not to mention a sore back."


    "I do not have any trouble with my back," Brighid said with a smirk. "My Traits are a mixed bag, but they do have some nice benefits."


    "And while I freely admit that Brighid makes an excellent pillow, have you considered that you are, by far, the best hugger I''ve ever met, little dove?" Aidan smiled at Sunnild, who blushed bright red. "Besides, sometimes I want to rest my head in a lap and, well, Brighid''s just not built for that."


    "And what of me?" Ailis interjected. "I have neither my daughter''s blessed assets nor Sunnild''s lap and huggability. How shall I compete?"


    "You," Aidan declared, shaking a finger at Brighid''s mother, "are fishing for compliments. We already discussed your comparative anatomy, and I refuse to get drawn further into this minefield."


    Ailis''s smirk told Brighid that her love was accurate in his assessment¡ªassuming a minefield was something dangerous. "I am just keeping you on your toes. You are fortunate that Brighid and Sunnild are in love themselves and that I have no urge to compete with my daughter. If you add any more to your little love pile, you will need to prepare yourself for conflict within the group. That might reveal itself with your partners fighting among themselves, or it may come to them vying for your favor."


    Aidan grimaced. "I''m fine with what I already have, but I think someone," he glanced at his Patron, "has other plans. I have a Quest at the moment that wants me to have four women in love with me, and my Patron Shop is offering me a set of seven rings¡ªpresumably one for me and one each for six partners. Don''t think I didn''t see you slip that in there."


    The Brighaid gave Their Champion an enigmatic smile but did not otherwise respond to his accusation. Instead, They said, "Another question for Aidan: What aspect of games dost thou enjoy the most?"


    "That''s a good question, actually. Hmm. I think the thing that my favorite games all share and that attracts me most is building up my character/civilization/team/whatever to be a synergistic whole that is more than the sum of its parts. It''s easy for games to mess that up, but the ones that get it right are practically timeless for me. Both in the sense that I can come back and enjoy them year after year, and in that I lose track of time while playing them."


    "Explains why you never got into chess or first-person shooters," Eve opined.


    "Yeah. I acknowledge that chess is a remarkably deep game, but there''s nothing to assemble or leverage, not really. It''s all about recognizing the effects of your opponent''s moves and positioning yourself appropriately. And FPSs are fun in short doses when I need to let off steam, but I never found one that held me long-term."


    Brighid listened, eager for any insight into her love''s inner workings. Unfortunately, she didn''t have any context for what Aidan and his sister were discussing. Still, she did recognize something from what they said. "That sounds like a reflection of what your father taught you. You said he showed you that strength is all about working together and being flexible and adaptable, right?"


    Aidan sat up, half-turning to face her, and Eve blinked in surprise. "Wow, bro," she said, "not only is she blazing hot for someone who''s got three-quarters of a horse for a body, but she''s also smart. I''m impressed."


    "I never thought about it that way, but you''re right, love," Aidan agreed. "That''s exactly the kind of thing Dad taught us." Brighid blushed at their praise, then drew Aidan back down against her chest. Although she scolded herself for it, she enjoyed the fact that Aidan preferred using her body as his pillow. She loved Sunnild and did not begrudge her any of Aidan''s attention, but there was still a part of her that wanted to be first among equals.


    "Ailis, a question for thee," the Brighaid''s voice brought Brighid''s attention back to the present. "Why didst thou name thy daughter after me/us?"


    Ailis snorted. "You were not very subtle about it. I can sense when people are touched by the divine, and both of Brighid''s personal Traits are firmly in Your portfolio. While I could not be certain that it was Your hand that lay upon her, there were few other possibilities."


    Again, the Divinity only smiled in answer. "Aidan," They said, "the next is directed at thee. What is thy plan regarding the Sisterhood''s men? Thou seemest to have doubts regarding their claim of consent."


    "I do," he said. "Oh, not on a systematic level," he assured Sunnild when she shot him a hurt look. "I''m sure that most of the men at the Ayrie are happy enough with their lives¡ªI have yet to see an ugly harpy, and it''s the sort of life that many men dream of. But how many are we talking about across the entire history of your people? Do you really think that none of them were ever kidnapped, coerced, or taken against their will?"


    Sunnild''s crest feathers flattened against her scalp. "They wouldn''t do that!" she insisted in a soft voice. "Men are too precious to be abused like that!"


    "I''m sorry, love," he told her. "Maybe my experiences in my own world are tainting my viewpoint here. I hope that''s true, actually. Either way, the question remains to be answered. My intention is to provide a means for the Sisterhood to recruit openly while also ensuring that the men are, in fact, consenting. Everybody wins like that.


    "I''ll have to work out the details with Cynehild and her bosses, of course, but my idea is to provide somewhere that Sisterhood harpies and men of other races can meet and mingle under supervision. If a pair hit it off, they notify their respective leaders¡ªwe''ll help facilitate that¡ªand move in with the Sisterhood."


    "Sort of a like a reverse brothel?" Eve asked.


    "I was thinking more like a club where you check in when you enter and leave. If they want to fuck there, then sure, I guess, but I''d prefer if most of the space was dedicated to socialization rather than seduction."


    Sunnild nodded. "That''d work, I think. It''s not what any of the sisters''re used to, but I bet it''ll catch on quick. Giving them actual choices and makin'' things easier will definitely make ya popular, Aidan. Might wanna have some guards present just in case sisters get ta fightin'' over the available men, though."


    Eve giggled. "Yeah, that sounds like a club, alright. It worked on Earth, no reason it won''t work here."


    "Our next query is to all of ye but Eve: How many children do ye desire, and how do ye plan to raise them?"


    "I think I was asked about this last time," Ailis said. "I am content with the child I have."


    "So you are saying," Brighid teased, "that you never thought of Lord Aidan the Phoenix King using that centaur transformation spell with you? What better display of power would there be than having his Chancellor bear his child?"


    "La la la, not listening, don''t wanna know, la la la," Eve sang.


    Her mother blushed bright red. "The thought ... may have crossed my mind. But truly, I did not make a good mother. I don''t want to put another child through what you suffered, little spark."


    "You wouldn''t," Aidan assured her, "but don''t let Brighid pressure you into it. I will not feel any less for you if you drink a cup of maiden''s tea every morning. As for me, I never really put much thought into how many children I wanted. Until arriving here, I''d never been in a secure enough relationship."


    "One or two would be enough for me," Sunnild said. "I wouldn''t mind more, necessarily, but if ya do end up with six women, Aidan, one or two each is still a really big family."


    "I, meanwhile, will bear as many as my Lord sires upon me," Brighid said. "Whether it is due to my Traits or just some quirk of personality, I have always wanted a large family. And," she added, trailing a hand down Aidan''s chest, "since there can be no accidental pregnancy between us, I know that every time you get me with child, it is because you wanted it to happen. That is..." she shivered, an ember of lust stirring to life within her belly, "very attractive to me."


    Aidan caught her hand before it reached his groin and raised it to his lips. "I''ll keep that in mind, love. Well, not really because I won''t remember anything that happened here, but still."


    "As fer raisin'' the kids," Sunnild said, "we talked about that a bit earlier, right? I''m okay with them bein'' everyone''s kids. I mean, it''s gonna be obvious who the birth mother is with both of us, but we''ll raise em together, yeah?"


    Brighid nodded. Despite the flame of lust that kindled inside her at her previous thoughts, she still didn''t expect Aidan or her mother to solve the cross-fertility problem soon. "I would love that," she confirmed, "and I will love them just as if they were my own."


    "Because they will be!" Sunnild added, nuzzling her way into her embrace.


    "Eve," the Brighaid asked, gesturing for her to uncover her ears, "how dost thou feel about becoming an aunt?"


    "Weeeeeird," she dragged out the word. "I mean, to start with, technically I wouldn''t be since Aidan and <static> aren''t related in the Realms. Leaving that technicality aside, I never really considered the possibility before now. I don''t know that I want any kids myself, but having metaphysically-related children I can spoil rotten and then hand off to their actual parent to change their diapers has its appeal, though!"


    "I/we am/are sure that the viewers will read much more into that than thee intended," the Brighaid smiled at Eve. "Nevertheless, the questions continue. Aidan, why hast thou not tried to reach thy sister through thy Oneiromancy?"


    "Because it wouldn''t work?" Aidan half-asked, half-answered. "Dream Infiltration specifically only works with people I''ve met, and while Shared Dream doesn''t say, I don''t get the sense that I could just dial up any random person I don''t even know with it. Besides, as Eve noted, we aren''t the same people in the Realms. Realms-Eve isn''t Earth-Eve, so I have no idea how to find her, physically or in her dreams. I''m not going to let that stop me, though, sis."


    "I know," Eve responded with a tenuous smile. "Just... hurry, please."


    "The next query is directed at Aidan''s lovers, but I see no reason that thee could not answer as well if thou so desirest, Eve. Aidan has earned the title of Phoenix King; while he did not pick it, if ye could do so for yourself, what title would ye take?"


    "I am fine with what I have," Brighid replied. "I do not need anything grandiose." Ailis nodded her agreement.


    "I don''t have any titles yet, but, um, I really like singing for you, Aidan. I wouldn''t mind bein'' known as the Songbird." Sunnild blushed at her admission, then made a happy sound as Aidan pulled her into his lap again.


    "Eh," Eve said, "titles are a bit chuunibiyou for me." Brighid cocked her head, not recognizing the word. "I don''t wear the titles I''ve gotten, and unless I get one that''s just too good to ignore, I don''t plan to change that."


    "Too chuuni for you?" Aidan laughed. "Miss ''All shall love me and despair''?"


    "Shush!" Eve stuck her tongue out at her brother.


    "Oh, the next two questions are for another pair of new faces," the Brighaid smiled. "Let me/us see..."


    A few seconds later, Sarpedon and Lail appeared in the room and were informed of the circumstances.


    "Sarpedon, a watcher wants to know what gargoyles do for entertainment. With thy indefinite lifespan, how do ye find pleasure in thy daily lives?"


    The gargoyle nodded, expression stoic. "Indeed, that is a question that plagues our race. One of the reasons we spend so much time in torpor is to stave off boredom. It is also part of why our race is so deeply divided; it is difficult for people who measure their expected number of years in millennia to maintain friendships when they do not appreciate the same activities. Those of us in the Sapphire Sky have a scholarly bent. We enjoy debate, research, and measured experimentation. Others of my race seek thrill in battle, throwing themselves against enemies that no others can fight, trying to straddle the line between existence and annihilation. Not for me, that."


    The Goddess nodded, then turned to the other new guest. "Lail, how do thee find the courage to deal with the terrifying experiences thou hast endured recently? What have thee done to try and cope?"


    Lail trembled in the presence of the Divinity. "I," she started, then swallowed and said again, "I think of what Lord Aidan has gone through. Begging your pardon, Lady Brighid, but I have known him the longest. I saw him hold his head high when the Council debated his death while he was covered in mud and filth. I witnessed the result of his sacrifice in Ceallach Macht, and I watched him defy a dragon for us. I... I am sure that he was afraid then, but he still did what he had to do. How can I do any less?"


    "Indeed," the Divinity replied with a gentle smile. "We are near to the end now. Sunnild, I have several here for thee. First, defines violence for thee? Some would consider harsh words violence, but others would limit it to physical actions. What are thy thoughts on the matter?"


    "Mm," Sunnild hummed. "Violence is about intent. There are all sorts of things that qualify; physical, mental, emotional, sexual. But they''re all about forcing someone else to obey you or agree with you or submit to you. Any time someone says no and you do it anyway, that''s violence. Not all violence can be avoided¡ªcriminals aren''t gonna just bow their heads and go along with you because you catch ''em, and there''s evil out there that won''t respond to anything else. I know that and accept it. But day to day, person to person, trying to make them agree with you only breeds resentment and reprisal."


    Aidan smiled at Sunnild. "I hope we get to talk about religions from my world someday, love. I think there''s one that would suit you perfectly. ''One who, while seeking happiness, oppresses with violence other living beings who also desire happiness, will not find it hereafter,''" he quoted.


    The gray-feathered harpy beamed back at him. "I''d like that," she said, nuzzling against his shoulder.


    "Thou managed to answer the second question in the first," stated the Brighaid with a smile, "and so we proceed to the final set. Aidan, for all thy lack of practical experience with romantic relationships¡ª"


    "Hey! I object to that!" Aidan interrupted. "I''ve been in several relationships; they just never worked out in the end."


    "Of course, Champion. Remember, ''tis not I/we who pose these questions. Continuing... they note that thou possessest a high level of respect for thy partners and mature aspirations towards the nature of thy relationships. They ask what to influences thee attribute thy outlook on such things?"


    "My parents," Aidan said without hesitation. "I know a lot of people complain about the Birds and the Bees Talk from their parents, but ours were great. I mean, don''t get me wrong, it''s embarrassing to be a teenager and have your mom sit you down and tell you about girls and boys¡ª"


    "And girls and girls, and boys and boys, and boys and girls and girls, et cetera," Eve chimed in. "Mother can be very thorough when she puts her mind to it."


    "Yeah," Aidan laughed. "You got all that too?"


    "Oh, did she go over it all with you? I figured she just knew I was bi and covered all the bases."


    "I wouldn''t put it past her to tell it all to me to set me up for accepting you," Aidan said, "not that I would ever reject you for liking women too. What kind of hypocrite would that make me?"


    Eve laughed loudly and extended a fist to Aidan, who balled his hand up and tapped it against hers. "Anyway," he continued afterward, "Mom made sure to explain what makes a relationship work and what will cause one to go straight to Hell. She couldn''t give me all the info, of course, because every pairing is unique, but between her lecture, watching her and Dad together, and my own repeated failures, I had a pretty good idea of what I wanted and needed to do."


    "There is a follow-up question to that: How have thee discovered thy outlook changing to accommodate thy ongoing relationships and the feedback thou receivest from thy partners?"


    "Well, for starters, I never looked for a polyamorous relationship, but I''m starting to believe it just might work now. A certain pair have been very, very persuasive, and I don''t just mean in bed. I wouldn''t be nearly as comfortable about the way things are going if you two weren''t so clearly in love with each other as you are with me," Aidan told Brighid and Sunnild. They smiled at each other, and Brighid leaned over Aidan''s shoulder to kiss both her lovers.


    "As for responding to feedback, well," he glanced at Eve and mimed covering his ears, then waited until she complied, "to be honest, I''m a lot less dominant than Brighid is submissive. I get the feeling that you wouldn''t mind if I had you following my orders all day long, even in your professional life. I know you''re willing to stand up to me regarding safety matters, but if I told you that you were never allowed to wear anything but the minimum protective clothing in your forge, you''d do it."


    "Mm-hmm," Brighid agreed with a purr, feeling the flames within her starting to spread. "And if I could find a way to make myself immune to mundane sparks and flames, I would do it naked if you wanted."


    "See, that''s too much for me. I hope this doesn''t hurt you to hear, flame of my heart, but I am not comfortable having that level of control over anyone. I don''t have the self-confidence for it. I''ll tease you with talking about it, but I don''t think I''ll ever be able to control you that much."


    Brighid shook her head and kissed Aidan''s hair. "It is alright, love. I would enjoy it, but I do not need it. You already give me everything that I need, and almost everything that I want. I would feel unreasonably greedy asking more of you than you are comfortable giving."


    "There is but one question remaining, and it is addressed to all who will answer: What is best in life?"


    "To crush your enemies, drive them before you, and hear the lamentations of their women!" responded Eve immediately. Brighid blinked at her, not expecting such a bloodthirsty response, but Aidan snorted.


    "And you complain about me sticking to old stuff, sis? When was Conan released again? 1982?"


    "Yeah, yeah, shush, you."


    "Um," Sunnild said, "I''ve never been happier than when I''m with you two. Not even when we''re, you know. Just hugging you makes my heart soar."


    "Best. Hugger," Aidan repeated with a chuckle, squeezing Sunnild in his arms and drawing a giggle from her. "I have to agree. If it wouldn''t be shirking all the responsibilities ever, I''d elope with the two of you and just settle down in a cabin in the middle of nowhere."


    "I will buck the trend, then," Ailis said with an amused tone. "Do not get me wrong, pleasant company is high on the list, but best in life? A glass of fine wine, a perfectly-prepared steak, and a good, hard ride by a well-hung stallion."


    "Mother!" Brighid gasped, blushing.


    "Oh, do not even try to deny it, little spark. Everyone who lives in Caer Macht can hear how much you enjoy your rides." Brighid felt her skin burning with embarrassment and arousal as the flames within her flared to an inferno.


    "And thy answer, Brighid?" prompted the deity.


    "Well..." she hesitated, then raised her hand to her neck, touching the plain charm hanging from her choker. "Like mother, like daughter, I guess," she admitted, drawing a giggle from Sunnild and a laugh from Aidan.


    "Thank thee all for attending and for thy forthright responses," the Brighaid said with a smile. "Know that I love thee all. Pray, now, return to thy dreams."


    Zurai


    Thanks to FactolDarkwood, 5H1NXT, Soncikuro, Huskeylord, alp2va, LictorSivas, Xt766, Badonkamonk, NickBoi, Likentroup, WhistlingDixie, Cenomy, and ANaughtyMouse for your questions!


    This was a much busier schedule of questions than last time, and clocked in at a combined 11,000 words. I''ll be instituting a few rules regarding questions next time I do this, just to make sure I don''t have to spend multiple days on it like this time. I do really appreciate the interest and questions, though!

 Champion, Chapter 38: King, Queen, and Slave

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Seventhday, 4th week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Early Evening


    Aoife''s Chambers, Termondoon, Mistvale Highlands


    Aoife took another step towards Aidan. Her breasts jiggled in their silken prison, drawing his eyes despite himself. With great effort, he shifted his gaze back to her face. "Aoife, I don''t think I can now, knowing what you''ve told me."


    "You say that," Aoife purred. She traced a fingertip from her lips, down her throat, across her sternum, and then between her breasts. Aidan''s eyes followed as if magnetized. "Your eyes tell a different story, Lord Aidan." Somehow Aoife was in front of him, her hands tugging at the bindings on his armor. "You like what you see. You should; I am beautiful, and for tonight I am all yours in any way you want me."


    Aoife''s hands continued stripping him of his protection, but Aidan could only focus on her golden eyes as she leaned into him. She stood up on her toes and tilted her head, then her lips pressed against his. The sudden contact jolted Aidan''s mind into action again, and he stepped back, shaking his head. "Aoife, I can''t. It''s not right."


    Aoife tugged at a buckle around his waist, sending Aidan''s faulds sliding down his legs. She looked at his crotch, then back up at him. "You''re... not hard?" she asked, uncomprehending.


    Aidan shook his head and caught Aoife''s hands as they moved for the laces on his pants. "No, Aoife. You''re a slave being forced to do something you don''t want to do. That doesn''t arouse me in the slightest, despite your beauty."


    "You don''t understand!" she exclaimed, looking up at him with tears shimmering in her eyes. "If you don''t make use of me, I''ll be punished! If... if you want to be kind, then be gentle with me, but please, don''t turn me away!"


    "Go ''head," mumbled Sunnild from the bed. "I getter next."


    Aidan shot her a look. "You''re drunk. Go back to sleep."


    "Yer drunk too," Sunnild said, levering herself up on her elbows. "An'' I know yer not gonna let ''er be punished. ''Sides, I wanna play, too." She busied herself with removing her armor.


    Aoife twisted her hands in Aidan''s grasp until her fingers entwined with his. "Please, my Lord. Lady Sunnild speaks the truth; you are attractive and kind. I might not be standing before you naked in other circumstances, but this is where we find ourselves. I am as willing as it is possible for me to be, Lord Aidan." She brought one of his hands between her legs and pressed it to the silk covering her lower lips. "The collar binds my actions, but it cannot make this happen." Heat burned Aidan''s hand, and he could feel the dampness soaking through Aoife''s clothes.


    Aidan felt himself wavering. Sunnild was right; he wasn''t going to let her be punished just to keep a clean conscience. The harpy wrapped her arms around him from behind and nibbled on his earlobe. She''d already slipped out of her armor; Aidan could feel her breasts squishing against his back. "Brighid won''t mind," she whispered. "Ya know she wants ya to have as many girls as ya ken handle. If it makes ya feel better, visit ''er dream tonight an'' talk to ''er. But you know you''ll regret it if ya end up hurtin'' Aoife by bein'' stubborn."


    Aidan sighed and gave in, leaning back into Sunnild''s embrace. "Okay, okay. But you''re going to have to do the work of getting me up, Aoife. Between the wine, how tired I am, and the situation, I really am not in the mood."


    Aoife took a shuddering breath, then gave Aidan a gentle smile. "Thank you, my Lord. I know that this is not something you want, and I appreciate your sacrifice. Please, allow me to dance for you." She stepped back from the bed and walked to the center of the room, then turned to face Aidan and Sunnild.


    Aoife stood with her back arched and her shoulders pushed back, presenting her breasts to Aidan. They weren''t as large as Brighid''s, but she didn''t come out poorly in comparison, given Aoife''s smaller frame. "Mm," Sunnild said into Aidan''s ear. "She''s so pretty, so soft an'' I jus'' wanna pet ''er an'' bury my head in ''er boobs."


    "These?" Aoife asked, cupping her breasts and bending forward. "You can touch them, my Lord, my Lady. You don''t even have to ask."


    Aidan''s eyes were drawn into the valley of Aoife''s cleavage for a moment before he raised his eyes back to her face. "You promised me a dance," he said. The catgirl''s lips spread into a smile.


    "I did," she agreed. "Then watch me, Lord Aidan, Lady Sunnild."


    Aoife began to sway from side to side. Her hands dropped from her breasts to her sides, then traveled across her belly to her thighs before Aoife raised them above her head. She walked towards Aidan, placing her feet in a line pointed directly at him, her hips swaying with each step. She stopped a few inches out of Aidan''s reach and gave him a sultry smile, then started to roll her hips from side to side.


    Aoife backed away a step and spun on her heels, now facing away from him, the motion of her hips drawing attention to her heart-shaped ass. She turned again, presented her profile, ran her hands from her neck down to her calves, and then raised them back above her head. As her wrists crossed, Aoife shifted to face her audience and bent forward, shaking her torso to set her breasts jiggling. Aidan was so distracted that he didn''t notice Aoife''s hands slip behind her until her top''s ties fell to her sides. Instead of letting the silk fall, however, Aoife cupped her breasts, pushing them up and out towards Aidan as if offering them to him.


    Aidan''s hand twitched as he suppressed a drunken impulse to reach out and touch her, but Aoife whirled away, returning to the center of the room with her back to him. She watched him over her shoulder as she pulled the silk free of her torso and released it to flutter to the floor. A moment later, she was backing up toward him, her hips swinging in an exaggerated fashion with each mincing step until she was once again barely out of arm''s reach. Her tail trailed through the air behind her, brushing Aidan''s face every time her hips rolled back toward him.


    Sunnild reached out from behind Aidan in an attempt to grab Aoife''s tail, but the catgirl whirled in place; Sunnild made a quiet, pleased noise and dropped her hand. Aoife''s breasts sat high on her chest, soft and heavy and jiggling with her every movement. Their outer slopes were covered in downy light grey fur, nearly white, but there was an oval of pale, hairless skin that reached from her sternum to her belly button, leaving her nipples and most of her breasts bare.


    It was all Aidan could do to keep from reaching out to stroke the pale flesh dangling before his eyes. As if sensing his resistance, Aoife took another step forward, her legs almost touching his, and leaned down to shake her breasts mere inches from his face. Then, just as his resolve broke and he lifted his hand from his lap, she danced away and spun in another half-circle.


    Aoife bent forward, arching her back to present her swaying rear, and placed her hands on her thighs, then slid them down her legs, bending further as she went. Her tail snaked higher and higher in the air behind her, lifting her diaphanous skirt as it went. Aoife''s hips rolled from side to side, offering tantalizing glimpses at her inner thighs without ever quite revealing what lay between them. This time, Aidan didn''t miss her hands plucking at the knot holding her skirt around Aoife''s waist. He focused on her fingers as they unraveled the fabric, then parted it.


    Even as the silk fell from her hips, however, Aoife turned to the side, leaving him staring at her thigh. He growled in frustration, drawing a giggle from Sunnild and a rumbling purr from Aoife. The catgirl raised her hands over her head again, then arched backward until her palms pressed against the floor. Gathering her strength, she slowly raised the leg nearest Aidan straight into the air, then tensed her arms and lifted the other. She balanced upside down for several seconds before straightening her arms and moving her legs into a perfect front split.


    Aidan could see her muscles straining, but Aoife wasn''t done yet. She brought her legs back up until they pointed at the ceiling again, then turned to face away from him. Her muscles in Aoife''s back and ass bunched up even tighter as she bent her elbows, then straightened them with a snap to launch herself into the air. She twisted, somehow, mid-air and landed on her feet, facing Aidan and Sunnild.


    Before either of them could react, the grey-furred catgirl sashayed toward them, each step causing her breasts to bounce and sway. She reached out and plucked Aidan''s hand from his thigh and placed it on her belly as she shimmied in front of him. She took another step forward, now standing between his legs, and Aidan''s hand slid up onto Aoife''s right breast. The short, thin fur on her chest was soft like satin. Aidan could feel Aoife''s chest vibrating in time with her purring as he cupped her breast and ran his thumb over her stiff nipple.


    Aoife swung one leg up onto the bed, then the other, straddling Aidan''s lap. Sunnild reached around and grabbed the catgirl''s ass, pulling her more firmly down onto him. Aoife''s tail looped around the harpy''s wrist and arm, and her purr rose in volume as she ground herself against the bulge in Aidan''s pants. "It feels like my Lord is in the mood now, yes?" she asked in a husky moan.


    Instead of answering aloud, Aidan rocked his hips against hers and rolled her nipple between his thumb and forefinger. Aoife sighed in pleasure and arched into him, eagerly pressing her breast into his hand. As Aidan and Sunnild explored her body with their hands, Aoife gyrated in Aidan''s lap, grinding herself against him until the hard bar of his erection lined up with her pussy. Once she found the fit she was looking for, she started to slide back and forth in Aidan''s lap and begged him, voice thick with arousal, "Please, my Lord, be merciful with your servant, please do not tease me!"


    Aidan slid his hands down to Aoife''s butt, supplanting Sunnild for a moment as he stood up. Aoife''s arms and legs wrapped around him, but Aidan only held her up for a moment as he turned in place and laid her down on the bed. Sunnild pounced before the catgirl had a chance to reorient herself, leaning down to press her lips to Aoife''s. Both moaned as their lips parted and their tongues probed each others'' mouths. Aidan took advantage of the girls'' distraction to get his hands on Aoife''s breasts again. He kneaded them for a few seconds before bending down and kissing the side of the catgirl''s neck. She squirmed and arched her neck as best she could while maintaining her lip-lock with Sunnild, baring herself to Aidan''s lips.


    Aoife''s purr grew louder and louder as he trailed his lips down her torso and up the slope of her left breast. To Aidan''s surprise, despite the fur covering her body, none of the strands of hair got caught in his mouth or teeth. Aoife jerked her mouth free of Sunnild''s hungry kiss and gasped out, "My Lord!" when Aidan''s lips closed around her nipple. Her hand tangled in his hair, holding him against her pillowy bosom while he lashed her stiff nubbin with his tongue. Her legs lifted up and wrapped around Aidan''s hips, giving her leverage to arch up against him. He stroked her thighs as he feasted, switching back and forth between Aoife''s heaving peaks every few seconds at the prompting of the hand in his hair.


    After a few minutes worshipping Aoife''s breasts, Aidan began to kiss a trail down her body. He tucked his arms under her legs, then lifted them up onto his shoulders. A loud moan above him drew Aidan''s attention. "Oh, my Lord, my Lady, please!" begged Aoife. Her other hand was buried in Sunnild''s crest, holding the harpy girl''s head to her breast. "Please, my Lord, don''t stop!" Aidan smiled and kissed her belly button in apology, then settled himself between her wide-spread thighs.


    There was no fur on Aoife''s lower belly, upper inner thighs, or groin, save for a thick tuft on her mons. Her lower lips were parted as if in anticipation, slick with her dew. Aidan leaned in and began to lap at Aoife''s pussy, running his tongue from her perineum all the way to where the head of her clit poked out from its hood. Aoife''s thighs tensed around Aidan''s head, pulling him deeper into her, and he began to wriggle the tip of his tongue against her entrance. "Please!" she begged, and he answered her request, burrowing the thick muscle into her inner passage. Instantly, her hips lunged up at him, the hand in his hair alternating between stroking his head and digging into his scalp as she shuddered and writhed beneath him. "Aidan!" she cried out, then, "Sunnild! Oh, yes! I¡ªI¡ª" her words dissolved into a keening cry.


    Fluids gushed across Aidan''s tongue and into his mouth, and Aoife''s muscles tensed and spasmed all around him. He didn''t let up, however; if he had to be seduced to keep Aoife from being punished, he was going to damn well make sure they all enjoyed it to the fullest. Aidan grabbed Aoife''s thighs to pin her hips in place and sought out her clit with his tongue. She cried out, voice sharp, and Aidan felt five points of pain in his hair before Aoife flung her hand aside to clutch the bed. She tried to squirm away from him but couldn''t resist his grip. Aidan could feel her tail lashing against his hands and arms beneath her as he flicked his tongue back and forth across the hard little nub between her legs. Her thighs tensed again and her heels dug into his back, her body begging him wordlessly to continue.


    Aidan kept it up, licking and nibbling at Aoife''s clit and eating her pussy, until at last her legs slipped off his shoulders and her hand pushed at his forehead. Aidan relented, pulling away from her, though sticky strands of her wetness stretched between them. Aoife collapsed back onto the bed, panting as if she just ran a marathon. After a moment, Aoife leveraged herself up onto her elbows, looking through half-lidded eyes at Aidan and Sunnild. "Lord," she started, but her voice was hoarse. She swallowed and started again. "Lord Aidan, Lady Sunnild, thank you. No one here cares for the pleasure of the ones who serve them like you have. Please, my Lord, allow me to return the pleasure."


    It was difficult to read Aoife''s expression, but by this point, Aidan was all-in. He stood up and unlaced his pants, then kicked them off his legs, freeing his erection to slap against his belly. Four eyes, golden and gray, locked onto it as it bobbed in the air in front of them. "Suck," Aidan commanded them both.


    "Yes, Sir!" "Yes, my Lord!"


    Sunnild reached him first since she was already oriented the right way. Her lips pressed against his tip, then parted as he slid into her mouth. Aidan reached down to stroke his fingers through her dove-gray crest, drawing a hum of pleasure from her. Sunnild''s tongue swirled around him, warm, wet, and wonderful. A moment later, Aoife joined her, nuzzling against his thigh, then parting her lips and licking his shaft. Aidan jerked and sucked in a breath at the sensation; he forgot that cats'' tongues were so roughly textured, and the feel of Aoife''s on him was amazing. She lapped at him, her tongue stroking along the length of him, swiftly eroding his willpower.


    Aidan gripped Sunnild''s crest and pulled her off him, then directed Aoife to the end of his cock. She supported herself on her knees and one hand and reached up to wrap her fingers around Aidan''s shaft with the other. Her tail swished through the air above her raised butt, distracting Sunnild, and then Aoife''s tongue found the bundle of nerves beneath his glans. Aidan moaned out loud and swayed forward, rubbing himself against the catgirl''s rough tongue.


    Aidan''s fingers tightened in Aoife''s hair. Her golden eyes snapped to his and turned molten at what she saw on his face. Her lips parted, sharp fangs gleaming in the lamplight, then he thrust into her mouth. Gods! Her purring is like a fucking vibrator! Aoife''s catlike tongue molded itself against Aidan''s shaft as he speared his way into her. Her eyes widened when she felt him nudge the top of her throat, but she tilted her head and swallowed him whole. The vibration from her purring was even more intense in the tight confines of Aoife''s airway, and Aidan moaned again as the pleasure coursed through him.


    "Does she feel good, love?" asked Sunnild, who had returned from catching Aoife''s tail and was now kissing his thigh. "Is she bein'' a good kitty an'' suckin'' yer cock? I bet ''er tongue is all rough an'' spiky, innit?" Aidan groaned and nodded, easing himself out of Aoife''s throat long enough for her to suck in a breath before burying himself again. "Mm, I want ''er to lick me while ya fuck her, love. I wanna watch ya plow ''er from behind while ''er little kitty tongue laps all the juice from my pussy. I want ya to make ''er yowl and scream yer name against my clitty when ya pour yer milk right into ''er belly."


    Aoife''s throat tightened around Aidan, and all of a sudden, he found himself at his peak. He clenched his fingers in Aoife''s hair and pulled himself out of her mouth. Her tongue extended, chasing after him, and the sight pushed Aidan over the edge. He cried out in pleasure as his shaft jerked in Aoife''s hand. She caught the first spurt on her tongue and lips, then aimed him down to spill his seed over her bare breasts. She smiled up at him, covered in his spend. "Thank you for your ''milk,'' my Lord," she giggled.


    "I''m not done with you yet," Aidan growled.


    Aoife''s eyes widened and her pupils dilated, then she lowered her head and asked, voice meek, "What does the Lord wish of his servant?"


    "Get on your hands and knees. Present yourself for me."


    Aoife scrambled into position, spinning around on the bed to place herself at Aidan''s disposal. She watched over her shoulder as he approached her and guided the tip of his still-hard manhood to her lower lips. "Sunnild," Aidan said to his Companion, "go ahead and lie down in front of her. Aoife, you heard her earlier." Aoife turned her head back and yanked Sunnild into place, then leaned down and lapped at the harpy girl''s folds.


    "Oh!" Sunnild gasped. "Oh, that feels so good! Good kitty!"


    "She is a good kitty," Aidan agreed and thrust himself into Aoife.


    "Ooh! Oh! She''s purrin''!" Sunnild''s hands grabbed Aoife''s head and held her tight as she thrust her hips upwards. The catgirl reached up and palmed Sunnild''s modest breasts, drawing another moan from her.


    Aidan pushed into Aoife until he felt his groin come to rest against her upraised ass. Her tail wrapped around his waist and brushed against his chest. She wriggled her hips, then pushed back against him. Her depths wrapped around him like a velvet glove, squeezing against him as he thrust in and holding tight when he backed out. Aidan could feel her rumbling purr all around him, and it drove him crazy. He pulled out of Aoife then thrust hard into her, watching her ass wobble and feeling her purring intensify with every stroke.


    "Ooh, love! I''m gonna cum!" Sunnild cried out. "Her tongue''s so good! Fuck ''er good!" Her wings beat against the bed as she writhed beneath Aoife''s hungry mouth. Aidan watched as her legs spread wide, then snapped closed around Aoife''s head, holding the catgirl in place as her hips thrust up rhythmically. Aoife kept right on licking and playing with Sunnild''s breasts, and to Aidan''s total lack of surprise, his love shouted again a minute later, "Oh! Aoife! Again! Keep lickin''! Keep¡ª!" before shuddering into another orgasm.


    Aidan leaned down over Aoife''s back, wrapping one hand around her chest to knead her dangling breasts. She moaned into Sunnild''s pussy and pushed back against him with even more energy as he pressed her body down into the bedsheets. Aidan could feel Aoife''s purr reaching a crescendo, but he had something else in mind. He slowed his thrusts and whispered in Aoife''s ear, "Tell me what you want."


    Aoife raised her head from her feast, replacing her mouth with one of her hands, and panted over her shoulder to Aidan, "Fuck me, my Lord! Use me in any way, every way! Please, just let me come!"


    Aidan gave her a fast, hard thrust as a reward, but that wasn''t what he was looking for. "Oh, I''ll do that," he promised, "but tell me what you really want. Why''d you tell me everything? There''s more to your story, and you definitely want something."


    "I want you!" she cried out, struggling to move against him despite his hold on her.


    "Not the answer I''m looking for!" Aidan slapped her ass.


    "Ah! Please, my Lord! I¡ªI¡ªI cannot attempt to escape from my Master!"


    Aha! Aidan thought. "Do you want me to try to buy you from Searlas?"


    "Yes!" she gasped. "Please! I want to be yours! Please take me, make me yours, bring me¡ªbring me¡ª" she choked off, shaking her head back and forth.


    "Shh," Aidan soothed her, "I understand now." He started moving against her again and laid a kiss against the back of her neck.


    "Please," she begged, "I''ll do anything, be anything for you! Please just¡ªMm! Ah!"


    Aidan kept his hips moving slowly against Aoife but slipped his hand from her side to between her legs. "If I make you part of the negotiations with Searlas, it''ll weaken my position enormously. You said you would do anything for me?"


    "Yes! Anything!"


    Aidan pulled out of Aoife, then manhandled her onto her back. "What if I ask you to be my friend and companion, not my slave?" He eased back into her, causing the catgirl''s legs to wrap around his waist.


    Aoife looked up at him, confusion and pain in her eyes. "Lord?"


    "I don''t mind if you want to be mine," Aidan told her, "but I want it to be because of this," he tapped her over her heart, "and this," her forehead, "not this," a third tap on the golden collar.


    "Lord..." tears welled up in Aoife''s eyes. "Lord, the collar won''t come off. If Lord Searlas gives me to you, I will be your slave until you tire of me and give me to another. I will never be free."


    Aidan shook his head, then leaned down to kiss Aoife. She looped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer, meeting his lips with her own, tasting of Sunnild and salt. Aidan pulled away a moment later and told her, "You''re not thinking it through. Then again, I''m not making it easy for you, am I?" He ramped up his movements, thrusting harder and faster inside the squirming catgirl. Her eyes started to lose focus.


    "If I were your Master, you would have to obey my commands, correct?" Aoife nodded jerkily. Her thighs tensed around him, pulling his hips into hers with ever-increasing force. "What if I commanded you to act only of your own free will, ignoring any other commands from your owner?"


    Aoife''s eyes grew wide, her pupils expanded from slits to broad circles, her mouth opened, and then her body convulsed around Aidan. Her head snapped back at the same time her back arched hard, squashing her breasts into his chest. Her arms and legs clamped around him, locking him in place, and the muscles in her core seized and pulsed around him. Aidan kept thrusting hard and fast, his earlier orgasm giving him a little extra staying power.


    Once Aoife''s climax left her, Aidan ducked out from under her arms and sat up, still buried inside the panting catgirl. She stared up at him, golden eyes whirling with emotion. "Please," she whispered, "tell me you weren''t playing with me. If you''d do that for me, I could never repay you."


    Aidan reached up and stroked her hair. "I will negotiate with Searlas," he promised. "If I can, I''ll buy you from him, and if I do, I swear that I will free you in whatever way I can."


    Aoife''s hips flexed against Aidan''s, and her legs tightened around him. "Whatever you want," she promised. She turned her head to look for Sunnild, then pulled her until the harpy''s legs were spread over Aoife''s head. "I think someone said something about making me scream against her clitty while my Lord filled my belly with his milk?"


    "Mm!" Sunnild agreed, lowering her hips. She smiled at Aidan and said, "You did the right thing, love. Oh!" Her eyelids fluttered as Aoife began to lick her again. Sunnild swayed and leaned forward until her breasts pressed against Aidan''s chest. Her hands slid down his back and grabbed his ass, adding extra force to his thrusts into Aoife. "Fuck ''er good, make ''er cum on yer cock and fill ''er full of yer milk," she panted. "Love ''er, Aidan. Love ''er an'' make ''er love you! Oh, god, she''s lickin'' me so good!"


    Aidan tilted his head opposite Sunnild''s and kissed her hungrily. She moaned eagerly, her lips parting on contact to welcome his tongue. Aidan held Sunnild against him with one arm threaded between her wings and held onto Aoife''s hips with the other. He speared both women, reveling in the way their bodies squirmed and writhed all around him. Sunnild''s wings wrapped around him, Aoife''s heels drummed against his ass, both of their hands scratched and grabbed his hips and shoulders.


    "Do it!" Sunnild urged him, breaking free from the kiss. "I''m so close. Make ''er cum all over ya and fill ''er belly with yer seed!"


    Aidan''s eyes widened with realization¡ªhe didn''t know if it was safe to come inside Aoife¡ªand he tried to pull out of the catgirl, but her legs flexed around him and pulled him back inside. "Do it!" Sunnild hissed, throwing her head back. "If ya free her, she''ll be happy ta have yer kid, an'' if not, she''ll have somethin'' ta remember ya by! Oh! Fuck!"


    "In me!" confirmed Aoife, muffled as she was by Sunnild''s thighs and groin. "Please! Lord Aidan! I''m¡ªI''m¡ªAhhhhh!"


    Aidan groaned and gave in to the inevitable, slamming his hips against Aoife as hard and fast as he could. Her body writhed and convulsed around him, drawing him closer, closer, and then he was there, roaring his own release as he lunged as deep into Aoife as he could manage, his seed pouring out into her womb.


    All three held their positions until their shuddering subsided, then Aidan and Sunnild slumped down on either side of Aoife. Acting in unison without needing to speak, they wrapped their arms around her, pulling her into a two-sided hug. She rolled onto her side, facing Sunnild, and snuggled into their arms. "Thank you," she whispered. "I didn''t dare¡ªI couldn''t say anything. Couldn''t tell you¡ª"


    "Shh," Aidan soothed.


    "We have you," Sunnild whispered and gave Aoife a tender kiss. Aoife shuddered and buried her head against Sunnild''s chest, sobbing quietly as the emotions left her body.


    Aidan


    The Dreamlands


    Brighid''s Dream


    Aidan walked in the door to Brighid''s forge. This was her dream, so he expected things to be a little off, but he was still surprised to see her working naked. And¡ªis that a plate mail bra she''s making? He had to laugh. Brighid whirled at the sound, then blushed and moved to block his view of the anvil. "Love! You''re back already? I didn''t expect you for another week, at least!"


    "No," Aidan said, walking up to her and giving her a kiss. "This is a dream. I''m using Dream Infiltration instead of Shared Dream because I need to talk to you."


    "Oh!" She gave him a smile. "Of course! What happened? Is everything alright?"


    Aidan nodded. "Yes, so far, the mission''s going well. We made it to Termondoon, the Mist Stalker village, and met with Lord Searlas. I''m not sure what to think about him; he seems like a good enough guy, but some things don''t add up. That''s not what I need to talk about, though."


    Aidan took in a deep breath, let out a brief mental chuckle at the reflex, then said, "Sunnild and I just bedded a catfolk girl. She''s Lord Searlas''s slave, and I promised to try and buy her from him, then free her. I kinda... swore an oath, and the Realms recognized and sanctioned it."


    Brighid laughed and smiled. "I trust you, my love. You don''t need my permission to bed another woman, especially if Sunnild agrees with you, and you certainly don''t need my permission to free slaves!"


    "I know," he smiled back. "But there''s something about all of this that feels wrong. I''m not sure what, but I wanted to warn you just in case. Aoife''s not an ordinary slave; there''s a collar around her neck that controls her actions to a degree. The hard part of my oath is that the collar can''t be removed, at least by normal means."


    "I see. Do you think she''s a risk?"


    Aidan shook his head. "If I can buy her from Searlas, I''ll have her control bracelet, so she shouldn''t be able to act against me. And if he won''t sell her, there''s not much she can do from Termandoon. Although..." he blushed. "I might possibly have impregnated her. Not sure if she''s taking anything to prevent it."


    Brighid giggled. "You had better watch out," she teased, "or you will double the population of Ceallach Macht by yourself!"


    Zurai


    Aidan''s current status sheet:


    Sunnild''s current status sheet:


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Orange, and Somedude for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 39: The Hand That Spins the Legend

    Ysbail


    The Realms


    Firstday, 4th week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Late Morning


    Ceallach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    "I have a line on a virgin Dungeon of unknown depth, with only the first level partially looted. Are you in?" Ysbail asked.


    Labhruinn laughed. "You had me at virgin! Is it just the two of us, or are you getting a team together?"


    "Team," she responded. "I need to find three more; figured you could help."


    "Why five?" the stocky Mountain Centaur asked.


    "The Dungeon is some fancy thing locked up under the hill. Lord Aidan asked me to explore it for him. It only lets parties five or under inside, although familiars, summons, and tamed beasts do not count against the limit."


    "Anwn, then, if you can convince her," Labhruinn responded immediately. "That giant wolf she has with her all the time lately is worth a slot on his own."


    Ysbail nodded. "I can give it a shot. What do you think of Ceirios for support? I worked with her during the Day of Rebirth; she works well under pressure and has both healing and summoning magic."


    "If you trust her to heal us up, I am willing to give her a try. Surprised you speak so well of her, though. You do not usually have praise to spare for non-combatants."


    Ysbail shrugged. "As I said, I worked with her when we fought the Taig. Anyone who can suffer what she did and come out the other side sane and functional has more than earned my respect. I could ask Ailis, but she has her hands full running the city and Council. There are not many others qualified, and I refuse to enter an unknown Dungeon without a healer."


    "Peace!" Labhruinn laughed, holding his hands palm-out towards Ysbail. "I was only curious. I said I would follow your lead, Ysbail. Do you have any ideas for the fifth? Assuming no one turns you down, we have a guardian, two strikers, and a support. That covers all the bases."


    "Lord Aidan requested that I attempt involving the harpies."


    "Oh?" The dwarflike centaur''s eyebrows shot up. "And you are listening to him? Adding someone to your team for political purposes? There must be something here that you really want."


    Ysbail smirked at her smaller companion. "You know me too well, Larry. Yes, there is. And I bet that if you put your mind to it, you can figure it out, too."


    Labhruin''s fuzzy eyebrows scrunched in on themselves for a moment before launching into his hairline. "Wait! Your Prestige Class quest! If I remember right¡ª"


    "Yes!" Ysbail confirmed. "I have to lead a party through five levels of the same Dungeon. I never found a Dungeon deep enough¡ªuntil now. Everything around here gets cleared before they get that deep, but Aidan''s Labyrinth is supposed to be the next best thing to infinite."


    Labhruin laughed and pulled her into a hug that made Ysbail''s ribs creak. "About time!" he proclaimed. "You have been waiting for years! Of course I will help, lass!"


    Ysbail hugged her friend back and didn''t even call him out for the fact that he was talking into her breasts. She let him linger for a moment before pushing him away with a laugh. "Alright, enough of that, you horny old goat. I plan to start tomorrow morning, bright and early, so meet outside the hill an hour past dawn."


    "Will do!" He gave Ysbail a mock salute.


    Ysbail


    Noon


    "Congratulations on your ascension, Councillor," Ysbail bowed her head to Ceirios.


    "I had half a mind to turn it down," the other woman snorted. "I never was much of one for telling others what to do. But I know you did not come by just for this, Ysbail; what can I do for you?"


    "Has Lord Aidan told you of his Labyrinth yet?"


    Ceirios arched an eyebrow. "Yes, I know about it in general terms. Why?"


    "Because he asked me to explore it, and to do that, I need a team. My team needs a support specialist. Since she has experience in the Labyrinth from accompanying Lord Aidan, I would ask Ailis, but she is even busier than you now that he made her Chancellor. You are my second choice."


    "How flattering," Ceririos replied, voice dry. "You know that I am not a thrill-seeker like you, Ysbail. Why should I risk my life for this?"


    Ysbail frowned and shook her head. "I am not a ''thrill-seeker,'' as you put it," she told Ceirios. "I do what I do because someone needs to handle the big jobs. Yes, I enjoy it, even when things get deadly serious, but that is not the point. I do not seek out the fights, Councillor, and if there were never another call for someone to kill a maneater Drake or clear out a Tatzlwyrm infestation, I would find something else to do."


    "Ugh," Ceirios grimaced. "I have only had this position a few days, and the stress is already making me snap. I apologize, Ysbail. Still, my question remains. I am a busy woman, and I do not find the same enjoyment you do in dangerous situations. Surely there are others you could ask, younger centaurs with more time on their hands?"


    "Not so many as there were a few months ago." Both women lapsed into silence at that. The Battle of Ceallach Macht wiped out the Starchasers'' dedicated healers, caught as they were in the formation''s center. There were still a few like Ailis and Ceirios who avoided the same fate thanks to having additional spell schools that made them more useful elsewhere, but only a handful.


    Ysbail shook her head and continued, "If you do not want to go, I accept that, but I would ask you to give it a chance. From what Lord Aidan told me, the first few floors are intended for a party of five with an average level around ten to fifteen. The group I am pulling together would average in the twenties. We should not be in serious danger for a while." Ysbail paused a moment, considering.


    "I also will not be taking a share of the loot; I have another reason to do this. You are aware that I have yet to advance to a Prestige Class despite my level, right?" Ceirios nodded. "That is because I have my eye on a specific one. Most of the Prestige Classes branching off from Adventurer double down on the Class''s wandering, monster-hunting, self-aggrandizing nature. Not so with the one I want. Guildmaster is only available because I have Apprentice rank in Teaching. Instead of being self-centered, Guildmaster is focused on sharing my knowledge with others and helping them grow stronger. That is what I have been waiting a decade for, and now I finally have a chance to do it. I understand if you are not interested in it for fun or wealth, but please consider helping me fulfill my dream to teach the next generation."


    Ceirios remained silent for long enough that Ysbail was about to make her exit. "Alright, Ysbail. You convinced me. I cannot promise to devote my full effort to it, but I will join you when I can. When are you making your first trip?"


    "Tomorrow morning, an hour after dawn, if you can. Thank you, Ceirios. I owe you for this."


    The smile Ysbail got in return was sharp. "Yes, you do, and I know just how to use it, too. But that is for later. I will see you tomorrow morning."


    Ysbail


    Early Afternoon


    A wolf appeared from the underbrush, and only long experience with Anwn''s pack kept Ysbail from cursing and reaching for her sword. "I swear you lot enjoy making people jump," she muttered to the dappled gray canine. "Is Anwn around?" she asked it.


    "Yes," came a reply from behind her. This time Ysbail did jump.


    "Damnit, Anwn, how are you that quiet?" Ysbail turned to where the gray-haired young woman was standing.


    "Talent and practice," came the expected reply. "I know you can be quiet when you wish to be, Ysbail, so do not snarl at me. You allowed yourself to be distracted by Dapple."


    A snort was the only response Ysbail deigned to give that. Yeah, she could be quiet when she needed to be, but Anwn took things to a whole different level, her and her entire pack. They were all ghosts in the mist. "I came to call in my favor," she told the younger centaur. "You owe me for taking care of that pack of wyverns."


    "I do," Anwn acknowledged in her flat tone of voice. "What is your request?"


    "I am putting together a team to explore the Labyrinth. You are one of the best archers in the village, and your friends do not count against the party limit. This is not a permanent situation, but there were a lot of wyverns, and they nearly killed me twice before I got the last of them. I need to lead a team to beat five levels of a Dungeon. Once that is done, I will consider the debt repaid."


    "The debt is mine, and I will repay it," Anwn responded. "My pack-siblings are under no such obligation. I will ask them if any wish to come, but they will earn a share of the loot."


    "One share total between all of them," Ysbail replied. "I am not taking a share, so that leaves the math easy."


    "Agreed. When are we starting?"


    Ysbail


    Late Afternoon


    Four down, one to go, and I saved the trickiest for last, Ysbail thought to herself as she approached the Sisterhood''s temporary embassy. The harpy on duty straightened as it became clear that the centaur''s destination was the building she guarded.


    "Halt!" the guard cried. "State your business."


    "My name is Ysbail, and I wish to consult with Flight Major Cynehild on a cooperative exercise."


    "Yes, ma''am. One moment." The harpy slipped into the building. A moment later, she opened the door and saluted. "The Flight Major will see you now, ma''am."


    Ysbail stepped inside and paused to examine the harpy leader. Cynehild sat at a large desk covered in paperwork. Her honey-blonde crest was braided and looped around her neck to dangle down her front. She wore a crisp uniform of dark gray linen with silver cords at the shoulders, and four brown-feathered wings framed her from behind. Ysbail spotted a handful of white scars on the woman''s tanned skin and noted the athletic musculature displayed along her arms.


    Cynehild regarded her with equal frankness, dark eyes taking in Ysbail''s tall, muscular appearance, and lingering on her own scars. "Ysbail, daughter of Laomann and Seasaidh, high-level Adventurer," Cynehild stated. "Noted for using an oversized two-handed sword. According to Lord Aidan, you saved his life while fighting against the dragon Karsarrym and managed to cut off a section of its tail. What can I do for you?"


    "Well, it appears that you have me at a disadvantage, Major," Ysbail said, walking up to Cynehild''s desk and settling onto a cushion that one of the other harpies brought for her to use. "Should I be flattered or frightened that you have a dossier on me?"


    That caused the harpy to crack a slight smile. "That would be up to you. We keep notes on all the known high-level combatants among our neighbors, just in case. That is especially true of you Starchasers; a harpy can fight one-on-one against the other tribes, but not against you all. Still, we are allied now, so that information is more academic than practical¡ªa fact that we are pleased about."


    Ysbail chuckled and waved a hand as if to brush Cynehild''s words away. "I had nothing to do with that, although I am happy enough with it. Still, that does sort of lead to what I wanted to talk to you about. I will be taking a party into the Labyrinth tomorrow morning, and Lord Aidan specifically requested that I invite one of your ladies along."


    "I see," Cynehild said, nodding. "I expect he wants us to get used to fighting alongside each other; wise of him. I can spare someone. Do you have a particular role you need to fill in your group?"


    Ysbail shook her head. "No, we already have all the bases covered. We have a guardian, an archer-slash-beastmaster, a healing and supportive mage, and myself. A complementary damage dealer or support would be ideal; I am confident in our guardian''s ability to protect us, and I can back him up if needed. Except for the mage, everyone involved is above level twenty."


    "Hmm. I think I know just the Wingsister for you. Wulfryn is a support specialist. She cannot heal well, but she excels at enhancing equipment and weakening enemies."


    "Oh?" asked Ysbail, eyebrows rising. "A debilitator? What type?" Enhancement type magic schools were common among the Starchasers, but Ysbail only had theoretical knowledge of mages with the reverse repertoire.


    "Wulfryn is an Apprentice in both Metal Magic and Darkness Magic. Metal to enhance, Darkness to cripple. If you want her, I can make her available to you on a semi-permanent basis. A word of caution, though," Cynehild''s lips twitched. "She is a ... unique individual, and some of our Sisters find her difficult to get along with. She will do what she is told, I assure you of that, but¡ªwell, I do not think I can adequately explain. You will have to see for yourself."


    Rather than being put off, Ysbail grinned. "Sounds like my kind of girl! I will take her. I have a soft spot for ''unique individuals.''"


    Cynehild smiled back. "It is settled, then. I can send her to you whenever you want."


    "Tomorrow morning, bright and early! I plan to start an hour after dawn."


    The harpy leader nodded. "I will have her meet you then. I hope this is the start of a long and fruitful legacy of cooperation. Thank you for the opportunity, Ysbail."


    "You too, Cynehild. Baby steps for now, but not forever, hey?"


    Zurai


    Ysbail''s current status sheet:


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Orange, and Somedude for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 40: The Ideal and the Real

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Firstday, 5th week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Dawn


    Aoife''s Chambers, Termondoon, Mistvale Highlands


    Aidan woke up to a splitting headache, the sound of something scratching at the door, and an insistent voice in his head. <intense frustration, rising tension> "Let me in! The guards will be back soon!" He blinked and scrubbed at his eyes. He lay supine on an actual mattress, with Sunnild wrapped around his right arm and Aoife curled up with her head on his stomach. All three of them were stark naked, their clothes and armor strewn across the floor. The voice came to him again, "Let. Me. In!"


    "Oh, shit, Riama!" Aidan realized with a start. He extricated himself from his bedmates and hurried to the door, cracking it open just wide enough for his familiar to slip in. She sat on her haunches and glared at him. "Sorry, love," he told her.


    "You better be! And you better have food, too. I''m starving!"


    "You''re always starving," Aidan told the astral jaguar with a chuckle. He located his Handy Haversack and pulled out a whole roast pheasant for Riama. He tossed it to her; she rose up on her haunches to snatch it out of the air.


    "I am always starving! You don''t feed me enough! I''ll never get big and strong if you never feed me!" One disadvantage to the mental connection he shared with Riama, Aidan found, was that she was able to complain about not having enough food while in the middle of devouring a bird that weighed a quarter of her total weight.


    A noise from the bed distracted him. Aidan turned his head to see Aoife sitting up, her fingers laced together high above and behind her head. The stretch gave him an eyeful of her heavy breasts, and the smirk on her lips showed that she knew it. "Who is this cutie? You didn''t have a cat with you yesterday."


    "This is Riama, my familiar. Riama, Aoife, who will be joining us for the trip back home if I can convince Searlas to part with her."


    Riama looked up from her meal, then back down again. "Another female for your mating circle; good. When are the kittens coming?" Aidan choked back a laugh, then had to explain when Aoife looked at him funny.


    "Riama and I can talk mind-to-mind. She has a different perspective on the world and no qualms whatsoever about sharing her thoughts."


    "Oh?" Aoife finished her stretch, then rose and made her way to Aidan. "Let me guess," she asked as she settled down into his lap, "she commented on us having sex and asked about children."


    "Yes, actually. How''d you guess?"


    "We are catlike in more than appearance, my Lord." She wriggled around in Aidan''s lap, then sought out his hand and brought it to her belly. "You do not have to worry about having bastards with me. Lord Searlas likes his trophies to appear unsullied. All our food and drink is laced with contraceptives so that we can''t avoid taking them."


    "He''s crazy. You would look hot as hell pregnant," Aidan told her, burying his face in the crook of Aoife''s neck. Her tail looped around his waist as she started to purr.


    "Are you going to mate her again? Please let me out before you do," Riama interjected.


    "No, I''m still tired. We''ll probably go back to bed¡ªto sleep¡ªhere in a minute. Did you do what I asked you to?"


    "Yes. In this building, I saw only five with iron collars. In the village outside, maybe twenty more. There were several hundred not wearing them."


    Aidan stroked Aoife''s belly as he thought. "Riama says that she saw only a couple dozen slaves around the village and only a handful here in Searlas''s manor. Is that accurate?"


    "I don''t know exact numbers, but that sounds reasonable if you''re only talking about the village. Why?"


    "Just trying to get the lay of the land before I negotiate with Searlas. Come on, I just got up to let Riama in and feed her. I''m still far too tired and hung-over to think about anything serious. Let''s get back to bed."


    "Mm, but I''m so comfy here," Aoife protested.


    Aidan laughed and stood, scooping her up in his arms. "You really are half-cat," he told her as he walked back to the bed. Aidan set her down then stretched out next to Sunnild, who was still lost in sleep.


    Aoife tucked herself under his left arm and nuzzled his chest. "Lord Searlas will expect us for breakfast shortly after third bell. That gives us a couple more hours to sleep." She kissed Aidan''s upper chest, then murmured more sleepily, "He may have another job for me afterward. You remember your promise from last night?"


    "I do, Aoife. If I can free you, I will."


    Her deep, rumbling purr lulled him back to sleep.


    Aidan


    Early Morning


    "Let him sleep a little longer," a woman''s voice said. "If we arrive a few minutes late, well, no one will blame Lord Aidan for wanting more time with me."


    "But what if I''m the one that wants more time with ya?" responded a second feminine voice. It was followed by a giggle, the sound of cloth moving against cloth, and then a low, pleased moan.


    "Mmm! Lady Sunnild, if you keep doing that¡ªAh!"


    Aidan opened his eyes and turned his aching head. Aoife stood facing Aidan in the center of the room with Sunnild wrapped around her from behind. The harpy girl''s hands were moving across her prey''s body; one rubbed in slow circles between Aoife''s belly button and the top of her silk skirt while the other moved underneath the cloth obscuring her breasts. Neither woman noticed his wakefulness; Aoife''s eyes were closed in pleasure, and Sunnild had her face buried in the catgirl''s neck.


    "What''s gonna happen if I keep doing this, hmm?" Sunnild asked, then pressed her lips to Aoife''s neck. The fingers of Sunnild''s right hand teased at the hem of her skirt, her fingertips slipping underneath for a moment before retreating. Aoife squirmed and moaned again, tilting her neck and raising her hand to tangle in Sunnild''s crest feathers.


    "Mm! We''ll¡ªAh! We''ll be late."


    "Didn''t ya just say it''ll be okay if we''re late? I didn''t get much chance to pet the kitty last night." Sunnild pushed her hand beneath Aoife''s skirt, causing the catgirl to shudder and arch her hips.


    "What time is it?" Aidan asked from the bed. Aoife jerked in surprise, opening her eyes to find Aidan watching her be molested.


    "My Lord!" she squeaked, trying to writhe free of Sunnild, who was having none of it. "My Lord, breakfast will start in¡ªAh!" Aoife gasped as Sunnild''s right hand found its mark.


    "Let her talk, love."


    "Aww," Sunnild pouted but slid her hand back up to Aoife''s pale belly.


    "Breakfast starts in five minutes," Aoife said. Aidan noticed that her hand was still cupping the back of Sunnild''s head.


    "I''d rather not irritate Lord Searlas by being too late."


    Sunnild puffed her cheeks out and gave Aidan a mock-glare. Then she brightened. "Then you can go eat while Aoife and I stay behind!"


    Aidan chuckled and got out of bed. Both women turned their heads to watch him, their eyes roaming across his naked body. "Nice try, love. Do you want to be the one to tell Brighid about how you left me to myself in a potentially-hostile Lord''s home so that you could seduce and ravish a pretty slave-girl?"


    Sunnild blinked at him, then blanched. Aidan could see her horniness drain away, only to be replaced by terror. In one motion, she let go of Aoife and threw herself at Aidan, knocking him back onto the bed. "No!" she cried. "I''m sorry! I wasn''t thinking! Please don''t replace me!"


    "Hey, hey," Aidan murmured to her, "who said anything about replacing you?"


    "I''ve only been yer bodyguard fer a week, an'' I already broke the biggest rule!" She turned her face up to look at Aidan, revealing the rivulets leaking from the corners of her blue-gray eyes. "I swear I''ll do better!"


    Ah, shit, Aidan thought, realizing the problem. She''s always been told she''s a useless coward, and now I implied that she was forsaking her duty. "Shh," he hushed Sunnild, wrapping her in his arms. "I was only teasing you, songbird. You''ve done a good job so far, and I have no doubt that''ll continue."


    "No, I haven''t!" Sunnild denied with a wail. "Yesterday, I got drunk on the job ''cause I was bored, and just now, I was tryin'' ta separate us ''cause I got horny. I''m a terrible bodyguard!"


    Okay, I have to give her that one; getting drunk on the job is pretty bad. "You''re not terrible, you''re just new at it." Aidan rubbed his hand up and down her back in an attempt to soothe the sobbing harpy. "And I bet you won''t make either of those mistakes again, not after this. Still, you''re right about getting drunk yesterday. It turned out alright, but that could have been bad." Of course, that drove Sunnild even further into tears, but Aidan wasn''t done yet.


    "So, as punishment, you will write a report and take it to Brighid, Cai, and Llwyd when we return. I want you to give a full accounting of yourself on this trip, with detailed notes on everything you did right as well as what went wrong. I also want you to come up with at least two ways to fix each of those mistakes in the future. Got it?"


    Sunnild looked into Aidan''s eyes for a long moment, then nodded. "Yes, sir," she whispered.


    "Good girl," he told her. "This is partly my fault; I could''ve done more to prepare you. I also practically ignored you last night, which was wrong of me even if I was drunk." Aidan leaned down to press a kiss to Sunnild''s forehead. "Now, get your armor on, love. We have a Lord waiting for us."


    "I will make sure the servants do not give her alcohol, my Lord," Aoife said, "as I should have yesterday." Aidan looked up at her and saw a brief glimpse of emotion in her eyes; respect? Regret? He couldn''t identify it before she resumed her courtly mask. Somewhere in the distance, a bell rang. "That is third bell, my Lord. We should make our way to Lord Searlas''s dining hall as soon as you have made yourselves presentable."


    Aidan nodded and helped Sunnild to her feet before rising from the bed again. He cast a critical eye toward Aoife; she was dressed, but he could see where some of her fur was still matted from the previous night''s activities. "Shouldn''t you clean up some yourself?" he asked.


    Aoife touched one of the stiff patches of fur and shook her head. "No, my Lord. This is evidence that I followed Lord Searlas''s commands. If I do not look and smell like you have taken thorough advantage of my body, he might use the collar to make me tell him everything that happened last night. Everything."


    Aidan''s eyes widened a little. "Ah, I see. Well, you know best, Aoife. Just let me know if there''s anything I can do to help."


    She shot him a devilish smile. "If we had more time, you could provide a fresh coating. As it is, this will do."


    "That wasn''t what¡ª" Aidan started to say, then shook his head. She was just trying to get a rise out of him, maybe in more ways than one. He laced himself into his pants and shirt, then turned to help Sunnild with her armor. He directed his attention to Riama, who was pretending to sleep on one of Aoife''s bookshelves. "Stay here for now and guard what we leave behind." She opened one eye briefly, then let out a huff of air and closed it again.


    Aidan


    Mid-Morning


    Searlas''s private dining hall was a surprisingly tasteful affair, lacking the pageantry of his throne room. A plain table long enough to sit ten or so people occupied most of the floor space, while tapestries with simple geometric patterns covered the walls. The dishes and silverware were of high quality but lacking in filigree or other decoration. Searlas himself sat at the far end of the table, clad in a thin, dark robe, not unlike a yukata. The elven woman from the day before sat at his left hand wearing a similar robe.


    "Ah, Lord Aidan, my friend!" he exclaimed when Aoife led them in. He examined his slave for a moment before smiling. "I am glad to see that you found my hospitality to your liking."


    Without being asked, Aoife walked over and sat in the chair beside her master. Searlas''s right hand disappeared under the table; a heartbeat later, Aoife''s skin flushed red and she shifted in her seat. Searlas continued speaking as if nothing unusual was happening. "Please, sit wherever you would like. The food will be out shortly. Oh, and please, no business talk; there will be time for that later, and this is one of the few times I have any peace and quiet during the day."


    "Of course," Aidan said, holding out a chair for Sunnild, then taking the seat next to Aoife. She turned her head to look at him, then bit her lip and looked away. Aidan gave her a curious look, but servants appeared with platters heaped high with food before he could follow up.


    He was presented with a plate containing fried quail eggs, a small loaf of bread, and several sausage links. Next to that, a different servant placed a bowl of sweet-smelling porridge topped with various fruits. Yet another white-robed catfolk placed a series of glass pitchers at the center of the table. One was clearly milk, one water, and the rest Aidan assumed were juice of some sort.


    "You set quite a table," Aidan complimented Searlas. "I''m used to simpler fare, personally, since I cook most of my meals myself."


    "Oh?" Searlas arched an eyebrow as he tore a hunk of bread from his loaf. "No servants for the Lord of Ceallach Macht?"


    Aidan filled a glass from the milk pitcher and took a sip before answering. Not quite cow''s milk, but it''s close enough. "Not at the moment, no. I need too much else done to worry about having people do what I''m perfectly able to do for myself."


    "Ah, but servants are not for convenience, Lord Aidan," Searlas emphasized his words with motions of his fork. "Do you not delegate tasks and responsibilities to others? You must, or your city will be in chaos by the time you return. You are still easing into your duties, I am sure, but you will quickly either realize the necessity of good servants or go insane from trying to do everything yourself."


    "That is a good point," Aidan admitted. He sopped up some of the egg yolks on a piece of the bread and popped it in his mouth, then chased it with another sip of the milk. "I will give it some thought on my return. I would need to find someone to train them first, I suppose; I certainly don''t have time for that."


    Searlas gave him a fanged grin. "I may be able to help you with that. If I may indulge in pride for a moment, I doubt you could find better-trained servants outside of the ancient empires."


    Slaves, you mean, Aidan thought but didn''t say. Instead, he nodded and replied, "Yes, I have to say I''ve been impressed with what I''ve seen so far. Your household staff is quick, quiet, and efficient, and Aoife was helpful, a sterling conversationalist, and ... attentive to my needs. I would be quite interested in acquiring someone of her caliber." The words turned his stomach, but he fought down the bile; It was better for everyone if Searlas thought his plan succeeded.


    Aoife placed a hand on his thigh. He took her hand in his own and gave it a gentle squeeze. Searlas, meanwhile, gave him a measured look. "There are few who live up to that standard, Lord Aidan, and they are precious to me. However, I am a pragmatic man; given the right price and the right circumstances, I would be willing to part with even the prettiest jewel in my crown. But that is a matter for later. Come, let us finish our meal! There is time enough to talk of prices and favors later."


    Aoife squeezed his hand hard for several seconds, then disentangled her fingers and returned to eating her breakfast. Aidan followed her lead, doing his best to keep his tension from showing.


    Zurai


    Aidan''s current status sheet:


    Sunnild''s current status sheet:


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Orange, and Somedude for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 41: Chivalry and Savagery

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Firstday, 5th week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Late Morning


    Termondoon, Mistvale Highlands


    Searlas seemed to be in no hurry to finish breakfast. He engaged Aidan in polite discussions about the philosophy of rule and managing society. To Aidan''s surprise, he found himself liking the Chieftan and even agreeing with many of his points. Searlas professed to follow a noblesse oblige-like code, stating that he felt it his duty to provide for his people.


    "In fact," he said, gesturing with a piece of buttered bread, "that is how I ended up as Chieftan. The previous Chief, Lughan, was a petty tyrant who delighted in narrow-minded cruelty. Much of what you must have heard of us from the Starchasers is true, unfortunately, and I feel no shame laying the blame squarely at his feet. I am not sure how much you know of our tribal laws and traditions...?" Searlas tilted his head.


    "Only the basics, I''m afraid," came Aidan''s response. He ate another spoonful of the porridge, which was the highlight of the meal for him. It was thick and hot, with a consistency closer to cream of wheat than grits, and it was just sweet enough to balance the savory main course without overshadowing it.


    "Sometimes, I think no one here understands it much, either," Searlas said with a laugh. "We can be a convoluted people. Anyway, there is an unwritten law that someone with a grievance can challenge the Chieftan to combat, and if they win, they are the new Chief. But, of course, it is not quite that easy; the Chieftan can appoint champions to act in his stead, and the challenger must overcome each of them before they can take on the Chieftan."


    "That doesn''t seem very fair," Aidan observed.


    "It is not intended to be," Searlas replied. "Civilization demands stability, and stability cannot be maintained if the ruler is forced to fight for their right to rule every few days. No one would last a year at it. That said, we are daoine cait¡ª" apparently the formal name for ''catfolk,'' like cu uisce was for ''otterfolk,'' according to Aidan''s translation Trait "¡ªand nothing we do is straightforward if we can help it. I knew who Lughan would appoint as his champions and bribed, drugged, blackmailed, and in one case, murdered them before the matches."


    Aidan blinked at Searlas''s off-the-cuff admission to murdering someone. Aoife''s hand returned to his thigh, sharp claws pricking him through his leather pants. He glanced at her; she gave him a minute shake of her head.


    Seemingly unaware, or at least uninterested, in the byplay, Searlas continued, "Lughan himself was a fierce warrior¡ªemphasis on was. Once he ascended to Chiefdom, he coasted on his reputation and the loyalty of his closest lackeys. Every few months, he would beat up some hapless slave in the name of ''sparring,''" Searlas''s lips twisted in disgust, "but even during the war, he never fought one-on-one with anyone near his skill level. When the time came, he proved to be out of shape and out of practice."


    Aidan arched an eyebrow and asked, "I assume you didn''t fight him fairly, either?"


    Searlas snorted. "Of course not! I fought to win. Never undertake a challenge unless you are prepared to give everything for it, Lord Aidan." He made a conciliatory gesture with one hand and continued, "If it makes you feel better, Lughan poisoned his blades and had his shaman enhance his strength before the match."


    "And how did you cheat?" Aidan asked out of morbid curiosity.


    "Ah, that would be telling!" the Chieftan laughed. "And I have drifted far from my original point. I deposed Lughan because it was the right thing to do for the people. But, alas, I do not have the power to cleanse all the filth that built up throughout his reign. The commonfolk are behind me, but the nobles still live in the past. You came by way of Criodan''s Outpost, correct? Then you know what I mean."


    "So you''re telling me that you don''t support Criodan treating his slaves the way he does?" Aidan was pretty sure that Aoife''s claws drew blood at that remark. He reached down and patted the back of her hand.


    "Gods, no. That man is almost as vile as Lughan was. Unfortunately, there are too many like him for me to kill them all; it would destabilize the entire tribe."


    "Then why give him a position of power like that?" asked Aidan.


    Searlas laughed, a short, sharp, ugly sound. "That outpost amounts to exile. There are no valuable resources nearby, nor any settlements¡ªat least not until quite recently. Aside from his personal guard, all the troops at his outpost¡ªand their officers¡ªare loyal to me. He has avoided accidents," Searlas bared his teeth for a second, "so far, but eventually, one will stick. I do my best to minimize the number of slaves he gets his claws on."


    "I see," Aidan said, although he didn''t. "Why did he give me helpful advice on which gifts to present to you, then? He could have ruined any chance I had of making a good first impression, and it sounds like there''s not much you could do about it."


    Searlas leaned back in his chair and sighed. "Criodan is an opportunist. He saw a chance to prove himself useful to both of us, so he took it. It cost him nothing, so why not? It would not even surprise me if he intended to plant that very doubt in your head, either; daoine cait seldom act for just one reason."


    Searlas rose from his seat. "Thank you for your company this morning, Lord Aidan, Lady Sunnild. Alas, I have less pleasant business to attend to. Please, stay and finish your meals, and feel free to explore the manor and Termondoon after. I will send Aoife to you when I am ready to speak to you of more formal matters. Aoife, Sarita, attend me." He turned and walked out of the dining room.


    Aoife and the elven woman stood and followed him, the former shooting Aidan a quick glance before disappearing from sight. As soon as they left, Aidan cast Sound Barrier again and turned to Sunnild. "Thoughts?" he asked.


    "I''m not sure," she admitted. "He''s sayin'' the right things, carin'' fer the people an'' all, but then he goes an'' talks about murderin'' people in the same tone of voice. I can''t tell whether any of it is an act or not." Sunnild ducked her head. "Sorry."


    Aidan reached over and ruffled her crest feathers. "No apologies, love. I couldn''t get a bead on him either. Come on, let''s finish eating, then go wander around town; maybe that will give us some insight."


    "Mm!"


    Aidan


    Mid-Afternoon


    Termondoon was not much different from the Starchaser village, Aidan decided. It was more heavily fortified, and there were far fewer glares tossed his way than when he first came to the Starchasers, but overall they were quite similar. I wonder how things would have changed if I''d started here? Aidan wondered for a moment before discarding the thought. He didn''t have time for that kind of thought experiment.


    He and Sunnild wandered the town for several hours, observing the catfolk commoners as they went about their tasks. As Riama reported, there were only a few collared slaves, and most of the people they talked to seemed content with their lives. Of course, it seemed unlikely that anyone would express open rebellion to a random visitor, so that didn''t tell him too much. Still, there were no obvious signs of abuse or repression; children played in the streets, everyone appeared well-fed, and the only times Aidan saw soldiers were when they wandered near the walls.


    "Everybody seems happy," Sunnild murmured, confirming Aidan''s thoughts. "Honestly, they seem better off than we are back at home."


    "Yeah," Aidan agreed, "It certainly seems like a pleasant enough place to live. It''s hard to rectify the Starchasers'' and Sisterhood''s views of the Mist Stalkers with what I''m seeing."


    "Searlas did say he''s only been in power for a couple of years," Sunnild said. "Maybe it''s taken time to turn things around?"


    Aidan nodded. That made sense; large-scale changes to societies, even small ones, took time. "It eases my mind, anyway. This is one of the reasons I felt that I needed to make this trip."


    "That is good to hear, my Lord," Aoife spoke from ahead of them. Aidan blinked and shook his head as she appeared from within a swirl of the ever-present Highlands fog. This late in the day, the mists were thin and waist-height at best, but he hadn''t seen her approach. From Sunnild''s reaction, she didn''t, either.


    "I guess the Starchasers were a little more literal than I thought when they told me that Mist Stalkers blended into the fog," Aidan said with a chuckle. Aoife took a place at his side opposite Sunnild, pressing her furred torso against his arm.


    "Indeed, my Lord. Most of our people have the Mist Shroud Skill; it is a variant of Stealth that allows us to move unseen within foggy or misty areas." Aidan slipped his arm around Aoife''s waist, drawing a soft purr from the shorter woman.


    "All of ya can do that?" Sunnild asked, an edge in her voice.


    "Not all," Aoife replied, "and I am more skilled than many, but it is a very common Skill among us, yes." When the harpy didn''t respond except with faint curses, Aoife turned her attention back to Aidan. "The Chieftan wishes to speak with you at your earliest convenience. A matter of some urgency has arisen, and he hopes to discuss it with you."


    Aidan frowned but nodded. "Alright. He''s at the manor, I assume?"


    "Yes, Lord Aidan. Do you remember the way?"


    Aidan tickled Aoife''s waist, causing her to squirm against him. "I realize I''m new to town, but it''s not hard to find my way to the top of the hill," he teased her.


    "Of course, my Lord," she replied, "I only wished to offer you an excuse to follow me." Aoife stood up on her toes and whispered in Aidan''s ear, "My skirt is shorter in the back than it is in the front. If I do not take care with my tail, anyone walking behind me would be able to see all sorts of things."


    Aidan blushed and adjusted his pants at the mental image but didn''t let Aoife loose. "As attractive as that thought is," he told her, caressing the curve of her hip, "I''d rather you walk with me and tell me what I''m headed into."


    The catgirl gave a slight huff at his rejection but snuggled into Aidan''s side as the trio started to walk up the hill. "As you wish, Lord Aidan. A minor lord named Ailill mac Mara challenged Chief Searlas for the right to rule. I am afraid I do not know what, exactly, Lord Searlas plans to discuss with you, however."


    "What about the challenger? You said he''s lesser nobility?"


    "Yes, my Lord. Ailill is the first-born son of one of the old Chieftan''s champions, the one Lord Searlas killed. He left town when Lord Searlas defeated Lughan and only returned recently. Given the challenge, it seems likely that he managed to find several backers among the other nobles."


    "What is he like?"


    "I did not know him before he left, so my knowledge is second-hand at best," Aoife cautioned Aidan. "Lord Searlas''s other consorts tell me that he is vile beyond all reason. You know of Criodan''s predilections? Ailill is worse. Criodan enjoys inflicting pain; Ailill licks up his victims'' blood and takes his pleasure while he watches the light of life leaving their eyes."


    Aidan shuddered, his mind repulsed by the very thought. "How has someone not killed him?" he asked, not understanding how someone like that could have been allowed to thrive.


    "He was the son of one of Lughan''s closest friends, and he kept his hunts to the lower classes. No one cared if a pretty, but not beautiful, farmer''s daughter vanished every few months. No one with the power to do anything about it, anyway," she muttered darkly.


    "I see," Aidan said, voice cold. "Then let us hurry to attend the Chieftan."


    Aidan


    Late Afternoon


    "Ah, good," Searlas said as Aoife led Aidan and Sunnild into a small meeting room. "Thank you for your swift return, Lord Aidan."


    "Of course," Aidan replied, "to do otherwise would prove me a poor guest. Especially in the circumstances; Aoife filled me in on the way back."


    Searlas nodded and glanced at his concubine, who remained at Aidan''s side. "Indeed, and it is well that she did, for it will save me the time. Let us speak frankly, ruler to ruler, Lord Aidan. When we spoke earlier, you expressed an interest in a ''servant of Aoife''s caliber,'' correct?"


    Aidan blinked at the unexpected question. "Yes, I did," he confirmed. "Although I''m not sure¡ª"


    Searlas cut him off with a wave of his hand. "I discussed the matter with Aoife after breakfast. She expressed an interest in you as well. I care for all of my servants, Lord Aidan, and Aoife is uniquely vulnerable to abuse due to her condition. If she told me that she opposed the matter, I would have refused any price. With her consent, however, I am willing to consider. Yet, I do not know you well, and it would break my heart to release her into your service only to find out later that you mistreated her. More to the point, it would cause ... difficulties ... between us."


    Aoife was stiff and still at Aidan''s side, seemingly as surprised as he was by Searlas''s words. Even her gentle sub-sonic purr ceased.


    Lord Searlas rose from his seat and started to pace, tail lashing the air behind him. "So far, you seem to be exactly who I would want in a neighbor. The signed peace treaty was a superb start; do not think I missed your signature, Lord Aidan. I also spoke with the soldiers who escorted you from Criodan''s outpost and with those who shadowed you earlier today." He smirked at Aidan''s disgruntled look. "Oh, none of that, you would have done the same to me if I visited Ceallach Macht out of the blue, Lord Aidan.


    "From what I have seen and heard, you are a good man, and so I am willing to make a deal with you. In exchange for transferring Aoife''s ownership to you, I ask for three things. First, you must swear never to strike her, abuse her, or otherwise mistreat her. I will have one of my scribes work up a suitable oath. Second, you will accept another of my servants into your household for the express purpose of monitoring the way you treat those beneath you. Third, you will act as my first champion against Ailill mac Mara."


    "No!" shouted Aoife. She sprang toward Searlas, then stumbled and fell to the ground with a strangled gasp, hands scrabbling at the golden collar around her neck.


    Zurai


    Aidan''s current status sheet:


    Sunnild''s current status sheet:


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Orange, and Somedude for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 42: Up For the Challenge

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Firstday, 5th week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Late Afternoon


    Searlas''s Manor, Termondoon, Mistvale Highlands


    Aidan hurried to Aoife''s side, but Searlas beat him there. The daoine cait lord flickered, then he was kneeling at her side, cupping her cheek and tilting her head upward. "Be still," he commanded, then, "Clear your mind."


    Aoife shuddered and sagged, leaning against Searlas as her breath cleared and slowed. Searlas looked up as Aidan approached, explaining, "The collar can be ... overenthusiastic about enforcing the rules built into it. It reacts poorly when she acts in the heat of the moment. Calming her down is often enough to ease its punishment." He turned his attention back to Aoife. "Now, what caused that reaction, sweetling? You may speak freely."


    "Please," Aoife begged, voice hoarse, "please do not make him fight! Lord Aidan is a mage, not a warrior. Ailill will kill him! Please, if you feel anything for me, just let me go with him!"


    Sunnild stood at Aidan''s side, her wings glinting in the lanternlight, alert for any threats. The sobs coming from Aoife''s crumpled form tore at Aidan''s heart, and he longed to reassure her, but Searlas''s own guards had their hands on their weapons. Instead, he took a step back, behind Sunnild.


    "I have to know that he can defend you," Searlas told Aoife. "Through no fault of your own, you have become a prize to be fought over."


    "That is not the only reason," Aoife replied, voice bitter and defiant. "Are you willing to say it aloud?"


    Searlas raised his eyes to look into Aidan''s. "I told you before that we rarely do anything for only a single reason. Having you as my champion would imply an alliance between us, giving me leverage over my enemies. There are also other reasons; it will also provide me with valuable intelligence on your combat abilities, eliminate one of the worst thorns in my side, and give me a measure of your character that is difficult to come across by other means."


    Aidan returned the crouching Chieftan''s gaze and considered. All three of the conditions Searlas posed were significant: a formal oath was never something to take lightly, allowing a spy into his personal household was an obvious risk, and Aoife didn''t overstate just how dangerous a duel was for him. Still, he didn''t see any reason to refuse to take an oath not to hurt Aoife, and a known spy was much easier to handle than a hidden one. The third price was the one with the greatest risk.


    "You should be aware," Aidan said, "that if I fight Ailill mac Mara for you, only one of us will leave the dueling ring alive. My Skills are not conducive to nonlethal combat. I do not know that I am willing to kill a man for you, Lord Searlas."


    "Ailill is a monster in the guise of a man," was the response. "Your restraint does you credit, but Aoife could not have told you the half of what he is guilty of. If I knew he was back in town, I would have had him killed, but one of his supporters hid him from me." Searlas glanced down at Aoife''s shivering, shuddering form, then over to Sunnild before meeting Aidan''s eyes again. "I would prefer not to speak of such things in front of the ladies. Aoife, you have my leave to withdraw, if you will, and Aidan, you have my word that you are safe within this room."


    Sunnild answered for Aidan, saying, "I am Lord Aidan''s bodyguard. I appreciate yer concern, but my place is at his side."


    Aoife, too, shook her head. "I need to hear," she whispered. "I have to know."


    Searlas frowned but returned to his chair. He gestured for Aidan to take a seat as well. "You will want to be seated for this. Ailill mac Mara has killed at least a dozen young women that I know of. The oldest of them was sixteen years old, the youngest twelve. All of them were raped and mutilated in horrifying ways. They were found with semen in the usual places," Searlas''s lips twisted into a snarl, "and in deep lacerations in several places on their bodies. Inside the wounds, Lord Aidan. While the poor girls were alive."


    Aidan struggled to keep the bile from escaping his roiling stomach. He''d never heard of anything so depraved in either world; even the Taig seemed blase by comparison. "How?" he asked, and, "Why?"


    "Entitlement," was Searlas''s succinct response. "Ailill grew up knowing that he was almost untouchable and that he could have any woman he crooked his finger at. I can only speculate, but his tastes likely grew more and more degenerate as he continued to push the boundaries without being put in his place. I should not have to tell you that it would be a disaster for all of us if he defeats my champions and wins a duel against me."


    "If you''re telling me the truth," Aidan said. "I struggle to believe that anyone could be that evil, and I''ve been at the mercy of a Tainted Wildlord." Searlas''s eyes widened a fraction at that.


    "Unfortunately, it is all true. I can have the reports brought to Aoife''s chambers for you to review if you would like. They were all written years ago."


    "Please do," Aidan said. "If what you''ve told me is true, then I will be your champion." A sob escaped from Aoife. She stood, tossed a tear-streaked look at Aidan, then rushed from the chamber. Aidan watched her go, a frown on his face, then returned his focus to Searlas.


    "We will need to discuss the other terms of the deal; I am reluctant to allow a spy for a foreign leader into my personal retinue, and I want some input on the wording of the Oath. I have no problem swearing not to harm Aoife, but I want to make sure there aren''t any loopholes that could be used against me."


    "Understandable." The Chieftan waved over one of his guards, sent him off with a message to his chief scribe, and then turned back to Aidan. "Do you have any other concerns or conditions?"


    "What can you tell me of Ailill''s fighting style and capabilities? Aoife wasn''t wrong about me; I do know how to swing a sword, but I''m a mage first and foremost, and my specialties aren''t defensive in nature."


    "Not much, I am afraid. He was still a Commoner when he left my lands. His Class now is Marauder, according to my guard captain. Unfortunately, not a common class among my people, so I am not aware of its capabilities. If I had to guess, I would expect Abilities and Talents focused on moving quickly and hitting hard, but not much in the way of defense. That is only a guess, however."


    Aidan grimaced. "That''s not good," he said. "It sounds like whichever of us lands the first hit will likely win, and I don''t have anything to enhance my mobility. Another question for you: what are the rules about preparing ahead of time?"


    "Officially, both combatants are to enter the arena with no active spells. Unofficially, I can promise that the judge will not notice any spells you cast on yourself as long as they are not blatant."


    "So no summoning ahead of time," Aidan concluded with a frown. "Honestly, this is sounding worse and worse as we go. Still, I have a couple of ideas. What are the official rules of these duels?"


    "Duels are fought in a ring one hundred feet in diameter, leveled and cleared of debris and obstacles. You will each start at opposite ends of the arena with your weapons sheathed, stowed, and otherwise stored away. The first to die, surrender, or leave the ring loses. You are allowed whatever arms and armor you wish. No pre-cast spells, as mentioned, although enchanted equipment is permitted. Anyone who interferes in the duel forfeits their life, so Lady Sunnild will not be able to step in to save you. Aside from that, anything goes."


    Aidan nodded. "I see. I am confident I can win, but depending on how things go, I may have to use spells that require me to pay a heavy personal price." If all else failed, he could use Soulfire Blast or Phoenix Pyre, although the latter would require absolute desperation since it would kill him as well. He didn''t want to put either Sunnild or Aoife through that.


    "It''s also quite possible that I will be injured, perhaps severely, as a result. As interested as I am in helping Aoife, and as disgusting as Ailill may be, I''m going to need more from you for this. You want to imply an alliance through my actions, but one of the reasons I took this trip is to see if there was a possibility of a real one. I admit that I''m still not entirely convinced that it would be wise, but if I''m to tie myself to you in the minds of your people, I want it to benefit me as well."


    "Indeed?" Searlas leaned forward, setting his elbows on the table. "What sort of treaty would you be interested in?"


    "I want a non-aggression pact as a cost for entry," Aidan declared. "I will not fight for your right to rule if you won''t agree to that. Beyond that, I am open to discussion. My goal with Ceallach Macht is to return the city to the way it once was, a haven for all the Highlands tribes to share. The Starchasers and Ash Shroud Sisterhood both already have some of their people living there permanently. I''ve sent missions to the Snow-Water Riders, the Ebon Bone-Kin, and the Sapphire Sky Horde as well, inviting them to take residence."


    Searlas snorted. "Good luck with the statues. They do not stir from their cairns."


    Aidan smirked and asked, "Oh, you haven''t heard? The Horde assisted us at the Battle of Ceallach Macht, and one of them¡ªhis name is Sarpedon¡ªis one of my advisors. They haven''t moved in yet, but I have good reason to be optimistic that it''s just a matter of time."


    Searlas looked shocked. "That... is a bold claim, Lord Aidan. I hope, for your and Aoife''s sake, that it is true. The gargoyles are quite strict about their neutrality."


    "It''s true," Sunnild confirmed. "I can''t speak about the battle, but I''ve met Sarpedon. He''s helping with designing the city, among other things."


    "Hmm. Well, I had no intention of attacking the Starchasers anyway. They beat us in the last war, and that was without the Sisterhood and the Horde helping," Lord Searlas said. Neither Sunnild nor Aidan spoke up to clarify the matter. "I have enough problems with monsters on my eastern borders that a war like that is the furthest thing from my mind. I will happily agree in principle to a non-aggression pact with Ceallach Macht, the Starchasers, and the Horde and Sisterhood as well if they are interested."


    "I can''t speak for the Horde or Sisterhood," Aidan demurred, "you''ll need to speak to them directly about that. Now that our relations are normalized, my second goal is to establish trade with the Mist Stalkers. Besides the usual goods that I''m sure you''re familiar with, I can also supply more things like that oil I gifted you with earlier. I have access to a Dungeon rich in such materials. In return, we''re looking for iron, copper, tin, and luxury goods."


    Searlas nodded. "I am sure something can be arranged once you convince the merchants they will not be killed on sight. I can facilitate such discussions, but I do not control any of the mines."


    "Alright," Aidan concluded, "I''ll help you. When is the duel?"


    "Tomorrow at noon."


    Not a surprise, really. "Okay. I''ll read through the reports tonight to be sure and prepare tomorrow morning. Just to be clear: I''m authorized to use any and all means at my disposal to win this fight?"


    "Anything that is not blatant enough to force my hand, yes. Do what you need to do; I am not going to punish you for removing a threat to my rule."


    "Then I''ll retire for the night and meet at the arena tomorrow. I assume Aoife knows the way?" Searlas nodded, and Aidan and Sunnild rose and left the room.


    Aidan


    Early Evening


    When Aidan opened the door to her suite, he spotted Aoife curled up in a fetal position on her bed. Quiet sobs echoed through the room. Several stacks of papers rested on the desk; Riama stared at them, her tail lashing back and forth.


    "Don''t you dare," Aidan warned his familiar. "I need those to stay in the order they came in."


    The astral jaguar turned her head to look at him, blinking innocently and projecting <confusion, affront at a cruel assumption>. "I have no idea what you mean," she thought back to Aidan.


    "Yeah, not buying it," Aidan returned, scooping Riama up into his arms before moving over to the bed. He sat down beside Aoife and laid a tentative hand at the small of her back. "Are you alright?"


    "How can I be?" she replied. "You will die tomorrow, leaving me a slave in my own body."


    "You are not supposed to make your mate cry," Riama scolded Aidan mentally. "Fix it."


    Aidan stroked his hand along Aoife''s spine like he would when petting a cat. "Don''t underestimate me. I''ve fought off and killed things much scarier than a heartless, sadistic noble. Unless Ailill can teleport and kill me in a single strike, I will win tomorrow. Otherwise, the only considerations are how much damage I take and how many of my key spells I have to reveal. And look on the bright side: Searlas agreed to release his hold on you. We still need to refine the terms, but we have an agreement in principle."


    "You''re playing into his hands," Aoife sniffled. "Searlas wants you tied to him for some reason, I don''t know why, but with every move, you''re traveling deeper and deeper into his web."


    Aidan frowned. "You never did tell me why exactly you want to be free of Searlas. I''m not entirely comfortable with how quick he is to resort to killing his political enemies, but I haven''t seen anything that leads me to think he''s cruel or neglectful. He seems to care for you in his own way."


    Aoife jerked away from Aidan''s hand and rolled over enough to glare at him. "You''ve heard him speak about me," she spat. "He calls me his crown jewel, the prize of his collection. I am not an object, even with this fucking thing around my neck! Sure, he cares about me, the same way he cares about this manor or his throne. To him, I''m just another symbol of his status, the same as his other concubines. And make no mistake, when he wants my attention, he does not ask; he commands."


    "I see," Aidan said. "Are you angry with me for accepting?"


    Aoife kept glaring at him for a few seconds longer before sighing and rolling onto her back. She looked up at him, face red and stained with tears, eyes sad. "No," she whispered. "I''m just scared." She closed her eyes, and when they opened again, they glinted with resolve. "Come here, my Lord. If you are to fight for me on the morrow, let me ensure that you know what you''re fighting for."


    "I already do," Aidan told her, lowering himself to the bed beside Aoife.


    "Then remind me of your promise. Show me what I have to look forward to with my new Master." Aoife tugged at Aidan, pulling him over on top of her.


    "She wants you to mate with her again," Riama supplied helpfully. "I will help your winged mate with the papers. Please try to keep your mind to yourself."


    Zurai


    No status sheet changes for this chapter.


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Orange, Somedude, and Lupus for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 43: Billow of the Dark

    Ysbail


    The Realms


    Secondday, 4th week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    One Hour Past Dawn


    Ceallach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Ysbail scrutinized her new team one by one as they assembled at the entrance to Caer Macht. Labhruinn passed inspection, as she knew he would. He was covered head to hoof in armor made of overlapping steel plates, a warhammer in one hand and a massive shield in the other. Ceirios was ... passable. The newly-minted Councillor fidgeted in place, constantly checking pouches at her hips and flanks. She was as overweight as ever, but that should not prove a problem in the short term.


    Anwn trotted up, her eight-foot long war bow carried in one hand, two wolves flanking her. She wore reinforced leather armor, although her companions had only their fur for protection. Two quivers stuffed full of arrows rested at her hips. Ysbail nodded to her and got a nod in return.


    That was four; they were only missing Wulfryn, the harpy support mage. Ysbail frowned and shifted her weight. "Cynehild promised she would be on time," she muttered to herself.


    A shadow passed over the party, then something slammed into the ground in the middle of them. "Presenting the great¡ªack!" A youthful feminine voice started to proclaim before cutting off as Ysbail, Labhruinn, and Anwn all pointed weapons at the woman who stood between them, raven-dark wings spread dramatically.


    Ysbail relaxed a fraction, bringing her sword up onto her shoulder, and asked in a dry voice, "Wulfryn, I assume?"


    "The one and only!" the harpy chirped, recovering quickly from her surprise. "Wulfryn of the Shattering Shadows, cloaked in mystery, shrouded by secrecy, she whose very presence makes her foes tremble and allies take heart! An existence so sinister, the sun hides behind clouds at her arrival! A heart so pure, even women fall in love with her at first sight!"


    Ysbail ignored the torrent of words coming out of the woman''s mouth and inspected her. Wulfryn was young, perhaps even younger than Sunnild, and her skin was deathly pale. She wore a lighter version of the standard Sisterhood military armor made of hardened leather strips covering a padded cloth-and-leather undersuit. A bandolier crossed her chest, filled with a dozen identical throwing daggers. Her wingfeathers were a deep, dark black, but her crest was a deep blue-purple.


    "You will do," Ysbail grunted, interrupting Wulfryn''s continued patter, and started walking into Caer Macht.


    "Tremble before me¡ªhey, wait up!" Wulfryn scrambled to catch up as the others followed Ysbail''s lead. She jogged up to Ysbail''s side and asked, "Um, you are Ysbail, right?"


    "Yep," agreed the Adventurer.


    "Oh, good. Ah, I mean, of course you are! Wulfryn never misses her mark!"


    Ysbail had to chuckle. "I will hold you to that." Then she eyed the girl and asked, "You know this is not a game, right?"


    "Of course!" The way Wulfryn''s cheeks puffed out when she was annoyed was adorable. "I am a veteran of a dozen missions, O enormous leader! Neither duty nor peril are strangers to me! Ah, if I may ask, what did Major Cynehild tell you about me?"


    Ysbail held back from ruffling the harpy''s crest, but only barely. "She said that you are ''a unique individual,'' but that you follow orders well. She also gave me a brief description of your specialties, but no details. Care to fill me in?" Ysbail was pretty sure that Wulfryn would never turn down a chance to wax grandiloquent about her capabilities.


    "Of course! You have the honor to be joined by the Sisterhood''s number one support mage, as skilled with enhancing her allies as she is with impairing her enemies! As a Metal Mage, I specialize in temporary equipment enchantments. I can sharpen weapons, modify the density and flexibility of both arms and armor, and even turn ordinary steel into mystical materials for short periods. And as a Darkness Mage, I have spells to hinder, hobble, and harm all manner of foes! I can sap Strength, Speed, and Stamina, cause a target''s shadow to turn against it, bind enemies in place, and even deprive them of sight and hearing!"


    Ysbail was suitably impressed; assuming she wasn''t exaggerating, Wulfryn''s repertoire of magic was quite robust for a girl her age and a perfect mix for her role. Her combination of boons and banes would act as a significant force multiplier in small-unit fighting, which is exactly what they were headed into.


    "But wait!" Wulfryn continued. "That is not the end of Wulfryn''s magnificence! In addition to being an Apprentice Metal and Darkness Mage, none among the Sisterhood can surpass me in skill with Glyphs and Incantations! I specialize in combat casting and take pride in my ability to adapt my spells to fit any situation. Indeed, you are fortunate beyond compare to command Wulfryn the Great!"


    Ysbail smiled. She could understand why the Sisterhood might have problems with Wulfryn; her bombastic presentation would grate on the ears of a society built on discipline and interchangeability. She wasn''t that different from Sunnild in that department. That individuality was something that resonated with Ysbail, though. She knew that she had a reputation of her own among the Starchasers for being free-spirited and scorning tradition where it got in the way of what needed to be done. Wulfryn didn''t follow quite the same path, but they were kindred spirits.


    "Yeah," Ysbail said aloud, "I think I might be. I will introduce you to everyone else once we get to the portal." Wulfryn beamed at her.


    Ysbail


    Early Morning


    The Labyrinth, First Stratum: Viridescent Treetops


    The party emerged into a towering, twilit forest. "Gonna need torches," came Labhruinn''s grunted assessment. "Unless one of you mages has a light spell?"


    Ceirios shook her head; Wulfryn scoffed. "What need have we of light when Darkness heeds my command?" She began to move, her hands and all four wings making gestures in the air around her. A chant rose from her throat, echoing oddly in the confines of the tree-trunk room. "Shadows flow through me, and from me, into the world. Though the day be black as night, midnight bars not my sight, for darkness parts at my command. Spread from me, O Shadows, to the eyes of my companions and share with them the Darksight Boon."


    At the conclusion of her chant, the sphere of glyphic lines expanded out from Wulfryn, washing over the entire party in the span of a heartbeat. Ysbail blinked as her vision changed from one moment to the next. Before, she could only make out a dozen feet of the tree branch ahead of them with any clarity, but now, it was as if every surface in the forest glowed softly. Colors were still muted, but Ysbail could see the trunks of great trees that must be thousands of feet away and make out the individual leaves in the canopy.


    "Damn, lass," Labhruinn whistled. "That earns you a spot in any team I make all on its own."


    "Agreed," added Ysbail. "How much of your Concentration is this taking up?"


    Wulfryn shook her head and grinned. "Like I said, darkness flows through me. Darkness Magic spells hardly cost me anything to maintain. Metal Magic is trickier, which is why I described those as temporary enhancements."


    "Well, well. I may end up owing Cynehild for sending you my way. Good job, kid." Wulfryn beamed at the praise; Ysbail could see the enthusiasm and happiness welling up inside her. She was practically vibrating with it. Ysbail gave her a moment to bask in it, then addressed the group as a whole.


    "Alright everyone, gather around. I have a map provided by Lord Aidan that covers a little more than half of the expected area of the first level. Our goal today is to complete that map and make it down to the next floor. The enemies here should not be a major hindrance to us, but we will pretend they are. Overconfidence is a slow and insidious killer, and I do not intend to let it take root within us. Enemies here can come from all around us, so while Labhruinn will be our vanguard, as the second-sturdiest, I will take up the rearguard. Anwn, I want you just in front of me, and the wolves just behind Labhruinn. Ceirios, Wulfryn, you will be safest in the middle, but pay attention regardless."


    Each of them took their place in the formation. Looking over them from the last position, Ysbail nodded once and said, "Alright, we have a Dungeon to explore. Our first stop is to check out the treasure orbs Lord Aidan''s party found to see whether they are party leader-specific like the shortcuts."


    Ysbail


    Mid-Morning


    A horizontal swipe of Ysbail''s greatsword sent a Blade Beam scything through the horde of scuttling insects swarming across the branch. Each of Ysbail''s attacks killed dozens of the Swarmlings, but hundreds were attacking from every angle. Wulfryn already proved her worth with the group Darksight spell, but her current performance made a strong case for making her a permanent addition to Ysbail''s future plans.


    As soon as the living wave of monsters scuttled up from the edge of the branch, Wulfryn sprang skyward. Holding out one hand toward either side of the party, she manifested two zones of writhing shadows without needing an incantation. Any bugs that passed through those spaces were locked down and crushed by tenebrous tentacles, securing their flanks and creating an artificial chokepoint. And, as if that weren''t enough to put her in Ysbail''s good graces, she rattled off a rapid series of chants, bolstering her and Labhruinn''s weapons and armor.


    Ysbail grinned. This was what she loved! A group of competent people working together to watch each others'' backs, working as a seamless group towards a greater goal. An arrow flew over her shoulder, skimming the seething tide of insectile menaces before detonating, sending dozens of them hurtling off of the branch. Ysbail heard another explosion behind her as Anwn spread the love around. Even Ceirios contributed, her golem standing behind Ysbail to catch the trickle of bugs that managed to skitter past her.


    In a few minutes, all that was left of the horde was a sea of crushed chitin and severed legs. Ysbail ignored the experience notification¡ªeven coming in their hundreds, these things wouldn''t get her noticeably closer to her next level, and that wasn''t what she was after here anyway¡ªand looked out over the carnage. "Too bad we do not have an expanded-space container like Lord Aidan," she mused. "All these materials are going to go to waste."


    "I cannot do anything to help with that." Bless her heart, Wulfryn looked crestfallen at not having a spell for every situation. Ysbail shook her head and smiled.


    "There will be more where this came from, and better. This is only the beginning of our adventure!" That brought another eager smile from the raven-winged harpy. "Well done, everyone, but we still have a long way to reach today''s goal."


    Ysbail


    Early Afternoon


    "What is that?" Ceirios asked, taking a step backward. The party had just emerged from a tree-trunk tunnel onto a new branch when Anwn pointed the monster out to them. The path they were on made a T intersection ahead of them, and there was a patch of leaves to their right as they emerged from the tree. In the far corner crouched a creature none of them had ever seen.


    It looked like an unholy cross between a worm, a spider, and a mud elemental. It had a long, narrow body around thirty feet from tip to tip, with a constant width from its gaping, leech-like maw until the final five feet that tapered off into a tail. Several pairs of insectile legs clustered near the creature''s front, the knee joints above the monster''s back, but the rest of its length lay atop the leaves. Making its appearance even worse was the copious amounts of slime dripping from its body in thick, lumpy sheets.


    Its appearance was hideous enough, but Ysbail could feel its Aura bearing down on them. Aura-related Skills were quite rare in the Highlands, so she knew that none of the others could tell what was making them so uneasy. Even she didn''t have Aura Reading, so Ysbail couldn''t tell anything concrete about the monster''s capabilities, but she knew one thing for sure. "That," she said, "is bad news."


    As if drawn by her words, the creature swayed, its maw spreading wide as it swiveled around, searching for prey.


    Zurai


    Ysbail''s current character sheet:


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Orange, Somedude, and Lupus for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 44: Through the Fire and Flames

    Hey all, just a heads-up: I haven''t been feeling well lately and have been having a hard time concentrating on writing. As such, my buffer has been sorely depleted, and I need to work on building it back up. As such, I''m going to cut down to one chapter per week for the next couple of weeks (hopefully it won''t take longer than that to get my groove back).


    Aoife


    The Realms


    Secondday, 5th week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Noon


    Dueling Arena, Termondoon, Mistvale Highlands


    Aoife sat beside Chief Searlas, dressed in a silk dress that clung to her curves. The dress wasn''t her choice; she was Searlas''s ornament and tool. Her job was to be seen and desired, and for that, the dress excelled. Her wishes mattered little to him, despite his protestations to the contrary. She knew that from the moment he put the gold bracelet around his wrist, but using her to manipulate Lord Aidan proved it all over again. She wanted nothing to do with his plots and schemes and resented being used as a honeypot.


    When she saw the result of the trap, it was enough to break her conditioning. In that moment, she intended to attack Searlas, to rip his throat out with her claws. The collar, of course, stopped her, seizing control of her muscles from her and cutting off her breathing. At least it leaves me my thoughts, she growled internally. Searlas, of course, master manipulator that he was, managed to turn her error into another victory for himself. And now she was here to witness the downfall of the man she had been forced to entice, cajole, and seduce.


    Despite Lord Aidan''s confidence, Aoife did not expect the day to go well for him. She never met Ailill¡ªa fact she was grateful for, given his proclivities¡ªbut according to the rumors around the court, he was a skilled duelist even before he fled Searlas''s ascension. His return could only signal that he felt sure enough in his personal power to overcome any obstacle Searlas placed before him. He couldn''t have anticipated Lord Aidan, but he surely had a plan for fighting a battle-mage.


    As for Lord Aidan... Aoife''s eyes drifted to where the demon-blooded human waited. Her feelings toward him were complicated. He treated her better than anyone she''d met in the last few months, but he was far too soft and trusting. She''d told him to his face that she couldn''t resist Searlas''s commands, but he''d not only taken her to bed but sworn an oath to free her.


    Part of her, a tiny, desperate voice echoing from a dark corner of her mind, believed he''d find a way. The rest of her knew that this cold, cruel world only allowed her the light of hope so that it could be consumed by darkness later. The best she could expect would be for him to win today and take her as his prize. Unless he was playing an exceptionally subtle game with her, Aidan would at least be a kind master, although she expected he would insist on her presence in his bed. No man she''d met so far had been able to resist her body.


    Aoife shifted in her seat and suppressed a blush as she remembered the last two nights. At least he knows what he''s doing in bed, she told herself. If he keeps it up, maybe I won''t even resent him for it. Aidan seemed to have a sixth sense for matters intimate. He seemed to know what to say, where to touch, how, and when, to bring her blood to boiling. And, as a lover, he was exquisite, easily the best she''d ever had. The first night had been due to Searlas''s command; last night was all her. Even now, watching him prepare to fight to the death, she craved his touch.


    "I have confidence in Lord Aidan," Searlas said, shaking Aoife out of her reverie. "To give us what he did, make the claims he has... it must have been his magic that destroyed the undead at Ceallach Macht. Battlefield-scale spells are rare before Journeyman rank and not common until Master. I think it is Ailill who will be surprised today."


    "He is still a mage alone against a practiced duelist," Aoife retorted. "You maneuvered him into a disadvantageous fight, stripped him of his protector, and prevented him from preparing magic in advance. Those grand conjurations take time to cast, time he will not have when Ailill guts him ten seconds into the match." She couldn''t keep the bitterness out of her voice.


    "Your claws are showing, Aoife. You should know that I do not throw away useful tools. Why would I discard Aidan when he can be so much more alive and well-inclined toward me?"


    Much as she hated to admit it, Searlas had a point. Still, though... "And what makes you think he will still be well-inclined after I tell him all of your secrets?"


    Searlas snorted. "Please. I know what you think of me, Aoife, but put aside your bias for a moment. What have I ever done that you believe would sour a deal between us? By Fionnavar, woman, I have never even touched you sexually, and I have done my best to make your life as pleasant as possible given the circumstances."


    "Oh, no," she sneered, "you never made me perform in your bed."


    "Aoife." Searlas turned his gaze to her, and the disappointment in his eyes made Aoife even angrier. "We both know that I offered the task to you, and you accepted. It was intended as a reward, given how you both seemed attracted to each other. If you can tell me honestly that you would not have sought him out on your own, I will apologize to you before the whole court."


    Before Aoife could tell him what she thought of that, a voice from below pulled her attention away. "I heard Searlas found himself a new lapdog, but the rumors pale before the facts." Ailill mac Mara strode up to the dueling ring''s edge, tail lashing behind him. "Have you no self-respect, human? He throws some well-used pussy at you, and now you do his dirty work? Tell you what: step aside now and you can have his whole harem when I am Chieftan."


    Ailill was large for a Mist Stalker, standing almost six feet tall, but that still left him several inches shorter than Aidan. He wore chain mail, exposing only his face and black-furred tail and hands, and carried a barbed spear.


    Aidan shook his head. "Your taunts are crude and facile, Ailill, but I expected nothing else of you. Nothing you can say or do will dissuade me. Step into the ring or abandon your claim."


    Ailill spat into the sand. "Just for that, I will keep you alive and take your women in front of you." He stepped into the arena and leveled his spear at Aidan.


    "Worse things than you have tried," Aidan said so softly that Aoife wasn''t sure she heard him correctly, then stepped forward. As soon as Aidan''s foot settled onto the sand, Ailill sprang into action, charging straight at his opponent. He crossed the distance in a matter of seconds, but Aidan seemed unimpressed. When Ailill crossed the halfway point, Aidan held out a hand, and when the daoine cait came within a few paces, the human spoke a Word. Fire blossomed from his hand, exploding out into a spherical barrier surrounding him. Ailill braced himself and slid to a stop just shy of the wall of fire.


    "My name," Aidan said from within the roiling flames, "is Aidan, and my people call me the Phoenix King. Though these are not my lands, Lord Searlas granted me the right to punish you for your sins, Ailill mac Mara." The fiery dome faded, leaving a ring of glowing red glass at its edges and revealing Aidan standing in its center. A crown of light adorned his head, twelve smaller orbs of fire bobbing and weaving through its spires.


    "Ealga," Aidan said, and one of the fireballs streaked from him towards Ailill. The catfolk dodged, narrowly avoiding the explosion that erupted from where he''d been standing. "Ciahmnait, Mairin," Aidan continued, and each name sent another mote flashing out toward his opponent. Ailill leaped and twisted, but Aidan''s pace picked up with every word. "Samhaoir, Eilish, Ailleann. Fionnuala, Aislin, Siobhan, Eorann, Brigit, Saraid!"


    Aidan''s words were barely audible over the rapid-fire explosions, and by the time he finished, Ailill had been forced to retreat nearly to the opposite edge of the arena, and his fur was singed and smoking. "Is that all you have, human? A few dead girls and some fireworks? What a joke." He charged toward Aidan again.


    Aidan drew his sword and held it in a low guard stance. Aoife''s heart clenched; a spearman could defeat a swordsman of equal skill four bouts out of five, and she doubted that Aidan was anywhere near Ailill''s level. Aoife watched, despair filling her, as Ailill crossed the glass circle left by Aidan''s first spell and kept coming. "No!" she whispered.


    Ailill''s cruel spear darted out, stretching through the air between the pair, but Aidan spun to let the lunge pass him by and brought up his free hand. However, Ailill was prepared and twisted the haft of his spear to slam the butt into the side of Aidan''s head. "No!" Aoife screamed. Aidan staggered with the hit, lashing out with his blade, only for it to glance off Ailill''s mail.


    The sword turned out to be a distraction. Aidan''s free hand glowed red, then sprouted a stream of fire as it rushed towards Ailill''s unprotected face. The distance was too close for the catfolk to dodge or even realize that he needed to. Before anyone knew what happened, Ailill was on the ground, Aidan kneeling over him with his hand pressed to the Mist Stalker''s face. Oily black smoke rose from between Aidan''s fingers.


    "How does it feel," Aidan panted, "to have your eyes boiled away?" He withdrew his hand, revealing the charred mess that was Ailill''s face¡ªcomplete with two empty sockets where his eyes had been seconds before. "Count yourself lucky that I don''t share your depravity. I don''t need to mutilate my women and fuck their wounds to get off; you won''t suffer Saraid''s fate."


    Ailill continued to scream and scrabble at his face, tearing off lumps of scorched skin with every motion. Aidan stood up, wobbling unsteadily, then extended his hands toward Ailill and called out to the stunned crowd, "Chieftan Searlas granted me leave to carry out this execution. Know this: Ailill mac Mara kidnapped, maimed, raped, and murdered sixteen young women¡ªthat we know of. He defiled their bodies both before and after their deaths. He represents the worst sort of person, seeking beauty only to deny it to others and destroy it. I am a servant of the Brighaid, and They have only one sentence for crimes such as this."


    Aidan extended both hands toward Ailill and chanted, "Brigantia, I call to thee! Thine is the flame of judgment and purification, burning corruption from this world and leaving the ashes of regrowth in Thy wake! I pass this sentence upon the criminal Ailill mac Mara: to suffer Thy divine flames until all the rot in his body and soul burns away. If he be innocent, I will suffer in his stead. Goddess, grant me this boon!"


    A pillar of silver fire roared out of the heavens, consuming Ailill and Aidan both. Aoife sprang to her feet, hands clenched at her chest, a strangled cry escaping her lips. Searlas rose beside her, leaning forward with a look of anticipation. When the fire didn''t die down after a few seconds, Aoife ran towards the ring, shoving her way through the crowd. Sunnild caught her before Aoife could cross onto the sands, pulling her back and whispering, "Have faith in him." Aoife struggled momentarily before collapsing to her knees, staring into the brilliant flames, searching for any hint about what was happening within.


    Seconds stretched into a minute, then two, then a third. Finally, five minutes after appearing, the pillar of flame vanished. Aoife blinked away the spots in her vision. Slowly, a lone figure resolved in her sight, standing over a pile of white ashes. Two wings of fire stretched up from his back before drifting down and wrapping around him like a cloak.


    "We have Judged," Aidan said in a voice overlayed by a chorus of others, "and passed sentence." Though he didn''t raise his voice, no one in the arena had any difficulty hearing Aidan. "Ailill mac Mara is no more. Let it be known to all who hear: art, beauty, and love are to be protected and nurtured, not defiled and destroyed. So say We, and so mote it be."


    Aidan wavered on his feet for a moment, then collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut. Before Aoife could rise to her feet to run to him, the otherworldly chorus spoke in her ear, and this time she knew Their words were only for her. "We know that thy fate is not thine to control, little one. Know that you have Our love despite this, and We promise that dawn will come in the end, no matter how dark the night." She felt lips pressed to her forehead, then the divine presence vanished from around her.


    Aoife shook her head, pushed the riddle into the To Examine Later box, and then rushed to Aidan''s side. Sunnild was already beside him, her fingers pressed to his neck. "He''s alive," she said, and Aoife sobbed with relief. "Channeling the Gods like that musta exhausted him, and he''s got a nasty bruise from that hit, but he should be alright with some rest."


    "Oh, thank God," Aoife breathed, kneeling down and cradling Aidan''s head in her lap.


    Zurai


    Aoife''s current character sheet:


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Orange, Somedude, and Lupus for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 45: Perilous Quest

    Still on one chapter per week for now, sorry.


    Ysbail


    The Realms


    Secondday, 4th week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Early Afternoon


    The Labyrinth, First Stratum: Viridescent Treetops


    "Shit!" Ysbail barely got her sword up in time to deflect a spray of fluids from the monster. She didn''t know what would happen if she got drenched, but it wouldn''t be good. Breath weapon attacks never were. Sure enough, when she flicked her blade to the side to clean it, the tree started to sizzle where the spray of liquid landed.


    The creature scuttle-slithered towards her, dragging itself forward on its spindly legs while its tail pushed it along. It wasn''t fast, but its sheer mass meant that it would flatten anyone who tried to get in its way. Normally that would call for having Anwn and Wulfryn wear it down with ranged attacks while she, Ceirios, and Labhruinn kept out of its reach, but that acid spray attack meant it could respond in kind. They also didn''t have much room to maneuver around it, especially without heading into unexplored territory and risking hitting a dead end.


    "Fall back!" Ysbail called. The decision was a hard one¡ªshe burned to clear her Quest after so long¡ªbut there were too many risks. This monster was entirely new to her, so she had no idea what to expect from it. Coupled with its oppressive Aura, she wasn''t confident that her party could take it without suffering casualties. Powerful Auras didn''t always mean powerful monsters, but it was a tighter correlation when applied purely to predators.


    Arrows whizzed by over Ysbail''s head, puncturing the monster''s pale, oily hide like toothpicks into a marshmallow, and without any more apparent effect. Wulfryn''s shadow zones weren''t faring any better; the crushing tendrils couldn''t seem to get a grip around the creature''s bulk. "Retreat!" Ysbail shouted again, then wheeled and followed her own order. Everyone except herself, Labhruinn, and Ceirios''s golem were already inside the tree trunk tunnel, and a moment later, only the summon remained outside.


    Seconds later, a thousand-fanged maw appeared at the tree''s exit. The monster screeched and wailed as it tried to force its way into the tunnel, but it was simply too large to fit. Anwn fired a pair of arrows down its throat, but that didn''t seem to bother it any more than her earlier attacks had. Ysbail waved the party around the bend in the tunnel, not wanting to risk the monster spraying acid in such narrow confines. "Ideas?" she asked.


    "It is resistant to piercing attacks," Anwn observed, "inside and out. My arrows are dealing a tenth of their usual damage. I am afraid that, unless we can find a way around that resistance, I will not be much use against it. It is named an Arboreal Devourer, by the way."


    "It is not very fast," Wulfryn offered. "We could just try running past it once it gets bored and wanders off." Her statement was undercut by another shriek from the Devourer.


    Ysbail nodded. "We could, and we might have to, but I do not like the idea of running past a dangerous enemy into unexplored territory. Lady Brighid did supply me with an Escape Token, so we would be able to escape a dead-end path, but I would rather save it if possible."


    "Did not see any eyes on it," Labhruinn noted. "Ears neither. It might be possible to sneak past."


    "Ooh, wait," Wulfryn exclaimed. "It noticed us when we came out of the tree, but it only attacked when you stepped on the leaves, Captain."


    Ysbail frowned and reviewed her memories. She was right; the Devourer hadn''t moved from its resting place until she''d approached it. "I wonder," she mused, "does its passage make the leaves fall as well? We might be able to trap it."


    "Or we could simply leave it be," Ceirios noted. "If it is acting in defense of its territory, then there is no need for us to fight it. It destroyed my golem in two hits; I am not entirely confident in my ability to piece all of us back together if it came down to it. You and Labhruinn might be able to trade attacks with it, but the rest of us would be in bad shape at best."


    Ysbail nodded. "We need to remember that this is a Dungeon, not an ecosystem. This Devourer may be a warning to unwary adventurers that fighting is not always the solution. Something tells me that we will see more of them as we go deeper. Alright," she started to say, then paused while the Arboreal Devourer screamed at them again. "Alright, if we can get this thing to back off, we can try to sneak past it. Maybe if we fall back far enough, it will give up its attempt at pursuit?"


    In the end, they had to retreat several hundred feet before the Devourer''s bellows ceased. The party waited another few minutes to be sure before doubling back. Sure enough, when Ysbail peeked, the spider-leech rested in its original position at the corner of a patch of leaves. Further, the canopy looked considerably more barren than it had at first, with the nearest section bare of leaves.


    Ysbail looked back at the group, placed a finger to her lips, and gestured them onward. As soon as they stepped out onto the branch, the Devourer perked up, and its oppressive Aura enveloped them, but it made no move to attack. They hurried past it, more than half-expecting it to scuttle after them, but it remained passive. The branch split into a T-intersection, and after a moment''s hesitation, Ysbail led them south and through another tree. Wulfryn''s Darksight Boon gave them the ability to see through the gloom, and she was pretty sure she''d spotted the other end of a shortcut here earlier. Sure enough, the branch ended in a bridge, which they wasted no time tipping over to secure the route.


    "That was nerve-wracking," Ceirios complained, shivering.


    "Good information, though," Labhruinn added, "and we can bypass the beastie now."


    "I think the other way leads to the stairs!" Wulfryn cut in, voice full of excitement. "I took a peek as we passed by."


    Ysbail smiled. "Well, shall we go see?"


    The "stairs" were actually a long, curving ramp that spiraled down into the darkness within the tree''s trunk. Finally, after almost five minutes of walking, the path leveled out and emerged into the gloomy forest once again.


    "Wait, it wants us to fight three of those things?" Ceirios asked.


    Ysbail started to reply, but Wulfryn beat her to the punch. "No, the objective is not to kill them but to nullify their threat. There must be some way to pacify or control them."


    "Well, if you have any ideas on how, this would be a good time," Anwn said, gesturing to the path in front of them. The branch they were on dipped under a leafy patch before curving around to the south¡ªand another Devourer sat in the northwest corner. They would have to step onto the leaves to progress, which meant the monster would come after them.


    "Sorry," the harpy looked down and pulled her wings in tight against her body.


    "No need to apologize," Ysbail said, patting the girl''s head. Ooh, soft, she thought, taking a moment to run her fingers through the girl''s blue-black crest. Wulfryn froze at her touch. "You are right; the Quest does not call for us to kill them, although I would bet that would work. Unfortunately, I do not think we have the information needed for the intended solution yet, and I still have no desire to fight them. This one is not positioned to block our way forward¡ª" she frowned, looking at the path again, "¡ªbut it may impede our return. I will leave it up to the rest of you: should we continue, knowing that we might have to use the Escape Token to return home, or call it a day?"


    "There is a shortcut across the way," Anwn noted. "If we can find our way there, it offers us a safe route back."


    "I¡ª" Ceirios started to say, then swallowed and continued, "I still have the resources to continue, although I would not mind being done for the day."


    "I want to keep going," Wulfryn said. Ysbail realized that her fingers were still running through the girl''s feathers, and she jerked her hand back to her side. Wulfryn glanced at her, then blushed when their eyes met and looked away. "I still have a lot of Concentration left, and we still have a long way to go, right?"


    "We do, but we have time," Ysbail confirmed.


    "I vote we head back for the day," Anwn said. "I can keep going, but Born-of-Thunder and Watches-the-Sun-Rise are getting hungry and restless." The two wolves sat beside Anwn, panting with their tongues lolling out of their mouths.


    "I could take a break," Labhruinn admitted. "I think it is up to you, lass," he said to Ysbail, who looked over her team.


    She wanted to press on, to dive as deep as she could. Her Prestige Class Quest had been taunting her for years now, and now, finally, she had a way to complete it. Ysbail wanted to cut loose, leading her party to glory and renown, but she had to consider the others. Ceirios, in particular, despite saying she could continue, looked like her nerves were shot. Wulfryn was eager to proceed, but something told her that the harpy wasn''t one to pay much attention to her own limits. She was the type who would push themselves until they dropped from exhaustion¡ªnot unlike Ysbail herself in that regard.


    "We accomplished my objective for the day," Ysbail conceded with a sigh. "And we do not have much room left for loot anyway. Alright, back we go. We can schedule the next trip once we get back into Ceallach Macht."


    Wulfryn looked disappointed but voiced no complaint other than to say, "Does that mean we have to walk all the way back up that ramp? Do you mind if I fly up and meet you at the top?"


    Ysbail chuckled and waved her on.


    Ysbail


    The Realms


    Secondday, 4th week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Mid-Afternoon


    Ceallach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    "Ah, the sun, my mortal enemy!" Wulfryn exclaimed as they emerged from the tunnel into Caer Macht. "It feels like a week since you dared bare your face to me!"


    Ysbail chuckled and shook her head. The kid was having fun, and she''d done well in the Labyrinth; let her have her eccentricities. "Good job, everyone," she said. "I think we can all agree that today was a success. We will not have the benefit of Lord Aidan''s map going forward, however, so progress will be slower. With that in mind, I would like to set up a regular schedule for our continued delving. Any objections?"


    The others shook their heads. "Anwn and I have obligations to the Council," Ceirios cautioned, "and our own business to attend to. How frequently were you thinking?"


    "How about every Secondday, Fifthday, and Seventhday until Lord Aidan returns? Is that too frequent?"


    The two Councillors shook their heads. "It will mean I cannot roam far from the city," Anwn said, "but I am still learning the lay of the land anyway."


    "That should not interfere," Ceirios agreed, "as long as nothing unexpected comes up."


    "Well, you just ruined it, lass," Labhruinn laughed. "That right there guarantees some fresh crisis will strike inside a week." The rest of the party joined him in his mirth, even Ceirios.


    "Next order of business: loot! Does anyone have any particular use for anything we found? If not, I can handle it all this evening and give you each your split when we meet next." They hadn''t found anything of practical use in their trip aside from a few potions in a chest, which Ysbail declared party resources rather than loot. Everything else came in the form of crafting materials.


    "Nah," Labhruinn said, "not much of interest to me. You can just add it to my tab, Ysbail." The others gave similar responses.


    "Alright, then we are done for today. I will see you all an hour after dawn, three days from now." Anwn, Ceirios, and Labhruinn said their goodbyes and headed out into the city. Wulfryn, however, stayed put after the others left.


    "Um, Captain?" she asked. "What should I do until Fifthday?"


    Ysbail blinked at her. "Whatever you want, Wulfryn. I have no say in what you do outside the Labyrinth. And why are you calling me Captain all of a sudden?"


    Wulfryn bit her lip and looked up at Ysbail through her lashes. "Major Cynehild detached me to your command, so that makes you at least a Captain. Until you are done with me, I do not have any other jobs. So, um, orders, ma''am?"


    "Heh. Go find something fun to do, kid. Life is not all orders and structure."


    Still, Wulfryn hesitated. She stared at Ysbail until a tremble made its way through her, and she blurted out, "Please train me!" Wulfryn leaned forward, a torrent of words spilling from her now that the floodgates were open. "You were so amazing in there! All woosh and schwing and kapow! And that Devourer did not intimidate you at all, I could tell, even though it made me want to run away! Please, Captain, teach me how to be like you!"


    Ysbail arched one of her eyebrows. This was unexpected. Still, the girl had potential, and it would be good practice for her¡ªand a diplomatic coup for Lord Aidan if it worked out well. She grinned at the raven-winged girl and laced her hands together, rolling her shoulders as she cracked her knuckles. "Alright, Wulfryn, you asked for it. You get to be the second person through Ysbail''s Ultimate Badass Training, results guaranteed as long as you see it through to the end."


    Wulfryn looked both ecstatic and a little frightened. Good, that was the proper attitude. "Yes, ma''am!" she replied. "Um, who was the first, if I may ask, Captain ma''am?"


    "Why, me, of course!" Ysbail answered with a laugh. "Now come on, we have plenty of time before the sun sets."


    Zurai


    Ysbail''s current character sheet:


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Orange, Somedude, and Lupus for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 46: Invitation to Freedom

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Secondday, 5th week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Early Afternoon


    Aoife''s Chambers, Termondoon, Mistvale Highlands


    A throbbing, piercing headache was Aidan''s reward for regaining consciousness. He groaned, raising his fingers to his temple and pressing against his skin. "Why," he croaked in complaint, "does channeling divine power have to hurt so much?"


    "Yer headache isn''t from magic; it''s what ya get fer lettin'' someone smack you in the head," Sunnild scolded. Aidan opened his eyes, but to his surprise, it wasn''t her warm lap his head was cradled upon.


    "Aoife?" he asked, blinking up into the golden gaze staring down at him.


    "Idiot," Aoife replied, nudging his hands aside and rubbing his head. Aidan sighed at the partial relief from his pain. "Why did you do it?" she asked. "I''m not worth risking so much for." Her fluffy tail curled around his shoulders and twitched against his chest.


    "You are," Aidan responded, "but it wasn''t just for you. Ailill needed to die." A noise from nearby drew his attention, and Aidan spotted Sunnild sitting on the bed near his feet, her hands busy stroking Riama''s fur. "Sorry, love," he told her, "but I don''t believe there was any way to stop Ailill short of killing him."


    Sunnild shook her head. "I know, but... did ya hafta be so... brutal?"


    Before he could answer, Aoife said, "You didn''t have to be the one to kill him. Searlas has other champions, and he''s a seasoned warrior and duelist himself."


    "I couldn''t be sure Ailill wouldn''t duplicate Searlas''s tricks," Aidan told Aoife, "and I needed to be sure he died." Turning his attention back to Sunnild, he admitted, "It got away from me a bit. Thinking about what he did to those girls..."


    "I know," Sunnild repeated, "but ya need to be better if yer gonna set an example, ya know? What ya did at the end is what ya shoulda done from the start."


    "I disagree." Aidan blinked up at Aoife''s unexpected intervention on his behalf. "I still don''t think you should have fought, and aligning yourself so publicly with Searlas will bring you trouble. That said, invoking the name of your Goddess from the start would have left the impression that you''re only a pawn. By defeating Ailill with your own strength and only bringing the Divinity into it once the fight was over, you established yourself as a player. The pageantry with that crown and calling yourself a King would have fallen flat if you hadn''t backed them up with power, but you did."


    Aoife smiled down at him, "And turning Searlas''s demand back on him was inspired. Now he has to follow your lead, at least in public, regarding why you acted as his champion. Instead of being Searlas''s lackey, you positioned yourself as his equal, maybe even his superior."


    "I was acting mostly on instinct and intuition," Aidan admitted. "I knew I could win the fight, but without knowing Ailill''s capabilities, I had to be flexible. Hell, half the spells I used¡ªthe dome of fire at the start and the divine punishment at the end¡ªwere variations that I came up with this morning. I didn''t expect my prayer to Brigantia to result in divine intervention, let alone so ... vigorous of one."


    "So that was the Goddess speaking through you?"


    Aidan nodded, then winced at the resulting surge of pain. "Yeah. It was just supposed to be a beam of silver fire that would burn Ailill to a cinder. I guess They decided to remind me not to use Their names in vain." He sighed, then¡ªslowly¡ªturned his head to look at Sunnild. "You''re right that I need to be better. I don''t regret fighting him, and I needed to do something to take him out of the fight, but burning his eyes out like that was a step too far. I didn''t plan to, but the way he dismissed those girls'' deaths..."


    Sunnild slumped and looked away but didn''t respond. Aidan struggled to sit up, then reached out and pulled the harpy into his arms, ignoring Riama''s aggrieved complaint in his mind. She didn''t resist, but she didn''t cuddle into his embrace like usual, either. "Are you okay?" he asked her.


    She jerked her head up as if to start nodding, hesitated, then shook it. "I dunno," she whispered. "I was scared. Scared for you, then... scared of you. I don''t like bein'' scared of you." Sunnild wrapped her wings around herself, huddling in Aidan''s embrace.


    Sunnild''s words and actions tore at Aidan''s heart, even more so because he was the cause. He didn''t know whether to tighten his arms around her or give her space. Making matters worse, Aidan could feel Aoife''s eyes boring into his back, watching and judging.


    "I''m sorry for frightening you," he told Sunnild. "I wish I could swear an oath to never do it again, but I can''t. As much as I hate it, fear is a tool I can''t discard. The duel was an audition, not just for Searlas but for his entire tribe. I should have told you both what I was planning so that you could prepare for it or persuade me to do something else, but I was too wrapped up in my emotions."


    Sunnild sniffled and shuddered, then leaned into Aidan''s embrace. She kept herself cocooned in her wings, but Aidan still felt a surge of relief. "I don''t like it here. Slaves, lies, and cruelty. I wanna go home. I miss Brighid."


    Aidan let out a sigh and kicked himself for forgetting just how young and innocent Sunnild was. "I''m sorry about that, too. I didn''t think things through very much when I asked you to join me on this mission. I don''t regret spending the time with you, but this wasn''t the right place for it. I really fucked things up this time. If you want, you can go back home now; I think I''m safe here now, at least physically."


    "No!" Sunnild whimpered. Her arms emerged from between her wings and wrapped around Aidan''s chest. She clung to him with desperate strength and begged, "Don''t send me away!"


    "Ahh," Aidan groaned, "I''m making a mess of everything today!"


    "You are," Aoife said as she shifted, "and you''re not." She stretched a hand out across Aidan''s shoulder, caressing Sunnild''s exposed crest-feathers, and said in a soothing tone, "Lord Aidan doesn''t want to send you away, Lady Sunnild. He''s trying to apologize to you, to let you pull away from something that''s causing you pain. Don''t blame him for putting his foot in his mouth while doing so; he''s a man, and they tend to do that."


    That drew a giggle from Sunnild. Aidan shot the catfolk woman a grateful look; she winked back at him, then continued, "I don''t claim to know everything going on behind the scenes here, but it is clear that Lord Aidan cares a great deal for your feelings, even if he''s bad at thinking about them ahead of time. At the same time, you''re going to have to accept that because he''s a Lord, Aidan has responsibilities beyond taking care of you. Sometimes that''s just going to come into conflict, and he''s going to have to choose which path to follow. If you feel for your Lord what he does for you, it''s up to you to support him even when his duty compels him to do something you don''t like.


    "And speaking of doing things we don''t like," Aoife said, her tone shifting, "Searlas expressed a desire to meet with you once you awoke, Lord Aidan. We can put him off for a while, either by pretending you are still unconscious or saying that you''re unwell, but not forever."


    "Did he say what the meeting would entail?"


    "Yes. He said it was time to discuss formal relations between your lands and his."


    "Best not to keep him waiting too long, then," Aidan said with a sigh. "Do you think I have time to take a bath?"


    "Of course, my Lord. I''ll send for hot water at once."


    Aidan


    Mid-Afternoon


    Searlas''s Manor, Termondoon, Mistvale Highlands


    "Ah, Lord Aidan, I am glad to see you recovered quickly. Please, have a seat." Chief Searlas sat behind a solid-looking desk made of dark wood. Several stacks of documents rested on the desk''s surface, although the catfolk Lord scooped them up and deposited them into a drawer as Aidan approached. To Aidan''s surprise, none of Searlas''s female attendants were present.


    Aidan settled into the heavy wooden chair and settled into the plush cloth cushions lining its seat and back. He had to admit, Termondoon had far more in the way of luxuries than the Starchaser village, let alone Ceallach Macht. Sunnild, wearing her armor, remained near the entrance with Searlas''s guards; Aoife knelt at Aidan''s side and rested her head against his thigh. Searlas raised his eyebrows at that but did not object out loud.


    "Thank you," Aidan acknowledged his counterpart''s greeting. "Aoife said that you are ready to discuss matters of state?"


    "Indeed," came the smiling reply. "Your little display earlier today dealt quite a blow to my enemies. You exceed my expectations at every turn, Lord Aidan. Before we begin, here is the non-aggression pact you requested as a price for acting as my champion." Searlas took a few sheets of paper from a drawer and slid them across to Aidan.


    Aidan read through the document several times, looking for loopholes or omissions, but didn''t find any. Searlas''s signature waited at the bottom of the last page, and after scanning through it one final time, Aidan added his signature.


    "Excellent! I will have my scribe make copies for you and send them to Aoife''s chambers. Speaking of whom..." he shifted his gaze to the collared slave. "Speak the truth and only the truth until you leave this room. First, is it your earnest, heartfelt desire to leave my service and enter Lord Aidan''s?"


    "Yes," Aoife replied without a second''s hesitation.


    "Why?"


    The second question gave her pause. "Because," she started slowly, "I am unhappy in your ''service''; you treat me as an object more than a person. I am not a prize to be won or a jewel for your crown. Because Aidan never acted like I deserved anything less than his utmost respect. And," she cut off for a moment, then spat out, "because he is the best lover I have ever had. Attentive, skilled, open-minded, and with the biggest¡ª"


    "Yes, that will do," Searlas interrupted her. He wore a pained expression and refused to meet Aoife''s defiant stare. "One last question, then. Did I ever order or ask you to seduce or entrap Lord Aidan?"


    "You! You! Aaaagh!" Aoife sprang to her feet, hissing with rage. Aidan frowned at the two catfolk, unsure what was happening, but sure he didn''t like it. "No," she finally admitted through clenched teeth, "you did not explicitly order or request me to seduce or entrap Aidan, but the implication was plain to me."


    Searlas sighed and leaned back in his chair, gesturing at Aoife. "So you see how it is," he said to Aidan. "I do not wish you to enter this agreement on false pretenses. Do you still want to move forward?"


    Aidan eyed Aoife. "You told me that he ordered you to seduce me and that you couldn''t disobey."


    "I cannot disobey," she retorted, "or I would have lied just now. As for sleeping with you, I believed it to be the intent of Searlas''s instructions to me, and that is what matters to the collar." Aoife glared at Searlas. "What else was I supposed to think when you told me that he would be sleeping in my chambers and to take good care of him?"


    The Chieftan had the grace to look abashed. "Well, when you put it that way..."


    Aoife''s golden eyes returned to Aidan. "You know by now that my current owner and I do not get along. I never wanted to mislead you, Lord Aidan, but I did have my own agenda in sleeping with you. Can you blame me for wanting freedom?"


    "You knew nothing about me that first night," Aidan said. "How could you be so sure that I wouldn''t be a worse owner? From everything I''ve heard over the last two days, Searlas might not be perfect, but he''s never been cruel to you or any of his other servants."


    "He has not," Aoife admitted, "not in the way you mean. As for you being worse? Lord Aidan, even with six goblets of strong wine in you, you did not so much as touch me except by accident until I forced the issue. You looked a lot, but I can hardly blame you for that when I was dressed as I was. And you were respectful in your speech, as well; many men would have spurned my advice or given me orders. Not only did you listen, but you acted on what I told you. You might have been putting up a false front, but I considered it worth the risk."


    Aidan nodded. That all made sense, as far as it went. He still felt like he was missing a piece of the puzzle, but with Aoife acting under a compulsion to tell the truth, he felt confident enough to proceed. "Alright. I''m sure I''ll have more questions later¡ªif nothing else, I want to learn more about you, Aoife¡ªbut I''m satisfied enough for now."


    "Then here is the Oath I want you to swear," Searlas said, handing over another piece of paper. Aidan took it from him and read it.


    Let''s see... this is all pretty straightforward. Except... "This clause," he said, tapping a line of text. "''I will not touch or strike Aoife with intent to cause harm.'' I''m supportive of the intent, but it leaves loopholes I cannot accept. I would propose adding, ''unless in defense of myself or another.'' to that clause."


    Searlas frowned. "Did you forget the other day? Once I transfer ownership, Aoife would not be able to attack you."


    "Then there''s no harm in changing it, is there?" Aidan snorted. "Besides, I have no way to be sure that the bracelet works as you said. It''s possible that this has all been an elaborate ruse and that Aoife would be acting as a sleeper agent in my home. I don''t think that''s what''s happening here, but I need to protect myself from the possibility."


    "Very well," the catfolk Lord granted, waving a hand through the air, "as you say, there is no harm in it. I will have my scribe make the alteration. Do you have any other concerns?"


    Aidan returned his attention to the parchment. I don''t see any other gotchas. That said, let''s get some extra opinions. "Aoife, what do you think?" Aidan handed the sheet over for her to read. She''s still operating under Searlas''s truth order¡ªunless he gave her another command earlier that overrides it. Augh, I''ll work my mind in knots thinking that way.


    "I do not see anything objectionable, Lord Aidan, although there is always a danger that one Oath might come into conflict with another. I do not believe there is any need for this one, especially after your Goddess''s warning."


    "I am not so trusting, I am afraid," Searlas interjected. "I mean no offense, Lord Aidan; I would not even entertain this if I believed you would mistreat Aoife. Still, her situation leaves her uniquely vulnerable to abuse, and I would not sleep well if I handed her over without ensuring her protection."


    "Sunnild, what do you think?" Aidan asked, taking the sheet back from Aoife and walking it over to her.


    "Me?" she squeaked, then squared her shoulders. Her face scrunched up in concentration as she read through the paragraph several times. Finally, Sunnild looked up at him and said, "I''m not really an expert on this, ya know? But it doesn''t seem like anything ya need ta worry about. You wouldn''t strike her with the intent to cause harm, so it looks safe ta me."


    Aidan nodded and gave her a quick kiss before returning to the chair with the paper. "I''m inclined to agree," he said. "Let''s talk about your final provision, then. Why should I accept a spy into my household?"


    "You need someone to train servants for you," Searlas said, not even denying the accusation. "The person I have in mind can help you with that. Further, I have no objection to you reviewing the reports that they will send to me. I only wish to be sure that Aoife is happy in your care."


    "Then leave me free from your interference!" the woman in question exclaimed. "Do you think it will make me happy knowing that one of your minions is watching everything that happens to me?"


    Searlas closed his eyes and sighed. It made him look at least a decade older than normal. "Very well. A compromise, then. I will loan you one of my trusted servants with the intent that he train a counterpart for you, Lord Aidan, that you can use as the seed of your servant corps. Who he teaches is up to you, of course, although I suggest you listen to his advice. He will need access to you to perform his job; that cannot be changed. When he returns¡ªI doubt it will take more than a season¡ªI hope to gain at least some small peace of mind from what he tells me. Is that sufficiently hands-off for you, Aoife?"


    "I doubt I will get anything better," she admitted.


    "And Lord Aidan?"


    "I still don''t see why I should take in someone whose explicit purpose is to spy on me, especially if they''re going to have access to my private life."


    "Because that is my price," Searlas said, steel creeping into his voice. "Aoife may not believe it, but I do care for her wellbeing. I will not send her off to foreign lands under the control of someone that I have known for less than half a week without some assurances." He held Aidan''s gaze for several seconds, then relaxed a fraction and said, "There is no reason why you could not have my agent escorted at all times. He can only learn what you allow him to."


    Aidan grimaced but had to acknowledge the point. He''d thought the same when Searlas first proposed the condition. "Alright. We have an agreement in principle, but I want a written contract before I swear the Oath. I mean no more offense than you did earlier, but I have been warned about verbal agreements with Mist Stalkers."


    That, at least, earned him a slight smile. "Of course, that is prudent of you. I will have my scribe deliver it along with your copy of the non-aggression pact. Now then, that concludes my business with you; what would you ask of me?"


    Zurai


    Aidan''s current status sheet:


    Sunnild''s current status sheet:


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Orange, Somedude, and Lupus for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 47: Bury the Hatchet

    Still on one chapter per week for the time being.


    Normally this is where I''d plug my Patreon, since it''s the start of a new month, but at the moment I can''t recommend it. As of right now, I have no buffer chapters available for Patrons to read. I hope to get one out tonight, but it remains to be seen.


    Aidan


    The Realms


    Secondday, 5th week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Late Afternoon


    Searlas''s office, Termondoon, Mistvale Highlands


    "I told you about my plans for the future at breakfast yesterday," Aidan started. "I want to bring Ceallach Macht back to its former status as somewhere every tribe can come and find peace."


    "Which would grant you, as its ruler, a considerable amount of political power," Searlas noted with a wry smile.


    Aidan grimaced. "Yes, unfortunately. If there was anyone else I trusted to see my vision through to the end, I''d hand over rulership in a heartbeat."


    "There is much to be said for a reluctant ruler. History has few examples of involuntary tyrants¡ªbut we digress. Tell me more of your vision and of the Mist Stalkers'' place in it."


    "Long term? I want the Highlands to be ... not united, exactly. I don''t want to rule what I have; I definitely don''t want to lead a brand new country. But at least on speaking terms with each other. The new Age will bring wars, and if the tribes keep pointing their knives at each other, we''ll be conquered from outside, most likely by the humans to the south. Given how they feel about beastfolk and other non-humans, it''s in everyone''s best interests to prevent it."


    Searlas remained silent, so Aidan continued, "So, to start with, I''ve declared Ceallach Macht neutral ground. Any tribe is welcome within ... well, we don''t have walls just yet, but within the city. Each group with at least twenty-five permanent residents earns a seat on the Council. I''ve delegated most of my authority regarding purely internal matters to the Council, so having a seat means you have a say in how the city is run."


    "Only twenty-five?" Searlas asked. "That seems a low amount for giving political capital to potential enemies."


    Aidan shrugged. "Our best guess at the Sapphire Sky Horde''s population is under a hundred, and I''m certainly not going to deny them a place on the Council if they do decide to join."


    "Ah," the catfolk Chieftan nodded, "I see. Prudent of you. However, I have concerns. First and foremost, every tribe has laws and traditions rooted in their culture; there will inevitably be a conflict. For example, if a Mist Stalker shop is robbed, the proprietor will expect the thief to be collared for at least a year. Given the questions you have been asking around town and the interest your familiar¡ªyes, I know about her¡ªhas shown, I expect that is not an option in your city."


    Aidan sighed and gestured in frustration. "Believe me, I''m aware. Like you said, it''s inevitable, and it will cause conflict. There''s nothing I can do to prevent that. What I will say is that I''m offering a sort of, hmm, limited extraterritoriality? I guess that''s the best way to put it. Any conflict that''s contained only to citizens of a single tribe will fall under the laws of that tribe. As soon as it involves a different tribe or the city itself is where I step in."


    "And what of slaves and slavery?" Aoife cut in. "If a Mist Stalker abuses one of their slaves, you will do nothing?"


    Aidan winced; she''d cut right to the heart of his moral dilemma. "Unfortunately, I have to become a politician, sacrificing morality to forge together something that will last. I''ll chip away at the things I find reprehensible over time, but my dream will be dead from the start if I try to enforce my morals unilaterally. I simply do not have enough leverage to do so. Believe me," Aidan looked up into Aoife''s golden eyes, "I despise slavery as much as I can without having the same personal investment in its downfall as you do. The taking of new slaves will be forbidden in Ceallach Macht."


    "And, for the record, it is against the law to abuse term slaves here regardless," Searlas added. "There are fewer restrictions on those who committed crimes heinous enough for them to be made slaves for life, but I have little sympathy for them. Thieves, debtors, brawlers, and the like only serve for a year or two, and they retain the same basic rights as they had before their sentences. People like Criodan escape because of politics rather than legality. Legally, if someone beats, starves, or otherwise harms a slave, the victim is freed, and the oppressor takes their place for the full original term."


    "Good to know," Aidan said, "although I maintain that if I can do anything about it, no one will ever be made a slave within my lands. In this case, knowing the punishment, I''d free the victim and exile the perpetrator back to Termondoon for you to deal with. It''s a fig leaf, but that''s politics for you."


    Aoife gave him a ''this isn''t settled'' look but knelt back down at his side. She didn''t return her head to his lap, but he felt her tail wrap around his ankle. Not completely in the dog house, then, he thought.


    "Anyway, to make a long story short, I invite you to send a delegation to Ceallach Macht, Chieftan. I''d appreciate it if you didn''t just send me your malcontents and rebels, though I''ll take what I can get." Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses... "Past that, I''m interested in a defensive pact between us."


    Searlas raised an eyebrow. "Surely, the Starchasers would never agree to that?"


    "Probably not, no. But I control enough of the Council, for now, to force it through if I have to, and I''m only talking about a treaty between the Mist Stalkers and Ceallach Macht. While my military is smaller than yours, Lord Searlas, I do have my own guards, vassals, and, of course, myself. I''ll have my Prestige Class within a few months, and I''ve already fought and killed a Tannath Taig." No need to mention that said creature had captured him twice, killed him once, and that killing it had also cost him his life a second time.


    "That''s not the only major threat I''ve fought off, either, and that''s something else I wanted to discuss with you." Aidan reached into his spatial storage backpack and pulled out the dragon scale. Searlas half-rose from his chair at the sight, his eyes wide in shock. Aoife perked up, looking interested.


    "Is that what I think it is?" he asked, awe creeping into his voice.


    "If you think it''s a dragon scale, then yes. This came off an adult dragon that attacked a Starchaser convoy recently. We managed to force it to retreat after giving it a few serious Wounds, including cutting off about ten feet of its tail, which is where this came from."


    "May I see it?"


    "You can have it," Aidan said, passing it over. "The only reason I didn''t include it in my initial gifts is that I didn''t want to make it public knowledge that there''s a dragon active in the Highlands."


    Searlas hefted the object in his hands, turning it over and examining it from every angle. "I am no expert on the subject," he mused, "but this looks genuine to me." His eyes sought out Aidan''s once more. "You said you drove it off, not killed it; it will be back for revenge. You should have waited until after a defensive agreement was signed before showing me this."


    "Should I?" Aidan asked. "Would you have honored the call against a dragon you didn''t know I was feuding with? I''d rather put my cards on the table now and be sure whether I have your assistance or not rather than play up a betrayal later from the ruins of my dreams."


    "So you would be willing to exclude this dragon from the defensive alliance?"


    "I''d prefer not to, but I''d rather have your help to defend us in the aftermath than count you among those looking to capitalize on it."


    "You are confident that you will survive its return."


    It was a statement rather than a question, but Aidan decided to answer anyway. "Yes. We fought it off once without even knowing what it was we set out to fight. I''m sure Karsarrym will be prepared to defend against what I used against it the first time, but that goes both ways. Aside from its sheer size and strength, its biggest threat is its lightning breath, and that''s something I can work to neutralize.


    "There are also other considerations. Like I said, we wounded it enough for it to flee from the fight. I blinded it in one eye, damaged its wings, and tore a couple of holes in its chest, and one of the Starchasers severed its tail. Those injuries will take time for it to recover from. The reason I came to you, in particular, is that Karsarrym fled in this direction."


    "It what." Searlas stared at him, then gestured to one of the guards. "Naisi, bring Irial." He turned his attention back to Aidan. "I would think that bordering the harpies would teach our patrols to watch the sky, but it appears that I am mistaken. Unfortunately, if you were hoping for information on its lair, I have none for you. We would not be here if I knew of a dragon making its home in these lands. As one might imagine, they do not bend the knee to lesser races."


    Aidan nodded. "I expected as much. Would you be willing to send me whatever information you find? I do not believe it could have fled the Highlands completely with the damage to its wings."


    "You are serious in your intent to fight it? Sane individuals would find somewhere else to live. ''Seeking a dragon to slay'' is a euphemism for suicide for a reason."


    "I am. We could run, but not far, and we''d have to fight whichever tribe we invaded for new land. The result would be a slow, exhausting death. And, with help, I think we can kill it, either by assaulting its lair before it recovers or by setting a trap for its return. I''d rather do the former, but I''m prepared for the latter if it comes to it. The cost will be high regardless, I know, but I don''t have much choice. Besides, I am prepared to be very generous to those who help."


    "How generous are we talking, here?" Searlas leaned forward, interest plain to see.


    "Karsarrym is over a hundred feet long¡ªor was before Ysbail happened, anyway. What could you do with a thousand of those scales and, say, twenty bones of varying sizes? And however much blood you can find storage for."


    "Equip an army," was Searlas''s succinct reply. "You would give such riches away?"


    "To secure the future? Yes."


    "A powerful answer. I will consider it." The door opened, admitting a familiar catfolk man into the room. "Ah, perfect timing, Irial! Lord Aidan, Marshal Irial, I believe you two are already acquainted? Good. Irial, I have just been informed that there is a dragon active in our part of the Highlands. It overflew Mist Stalker territory after being defeated by Lord Aidan and the Starchasers."


    Lord Aidan and the Starchasers is my Jefferson Starship cover band''s name, Aidan thought to himself with a mental snort.


    "That is grave news," the Marshal replied. His gaze was fixed on the scale atop Searlas''s desk. "I see he brought evidence."


    "Yes. It appears genuine to me. Go ahead and have it examined, but for now, I believe it prudent to take Lord Aidan at his word. I want you to organize patrols to find out whether this Karsarrym is holed up within my lands. Pull the troops from the Starchaser border if you need more manpower; we will be signing a non-aggression pact with them shortly. I want the dragon found if it''s here."


    "Of course, Chieftain." Irial''s eyes flickered to Aidan for a second before returning to Searlas. "If I may ask, what are your orders if we find it?"


    "Observe only, in full Mist Shroud stealth and from as great a distance as possible. I am not prepared to poke a wounded bear in its cave, not just yet. But I want to be notified immediately. I don''t care if I''m balls-deep in Myfanwy; this takes priority."


    "Yes, sir." Irial saluted, then turned and left.


    "You are an honest man," Searlas said to Aidan once the door closed. "That can be a virtue, or it can be a noose around your neck. As it happens, I have a vested interest in not being surrounded by enemies, so you have not hung yourself today, Lord Aidan. I still need to consider whether to risk providing you with overt assistance against the dragon, but I will pass along my scouts'' reports to you regardless, and I am open to a defensive alliance. We can meet again tomorrow afternoon to go over the specifics if that suits your schedule?"


    "Yes, that''s fine," Aidan nodded, rising from his seat. "Will the contract and non-aggression pact paperwork be completed tonight?"


    "The contract can be; treaties are more involved. Is the matter that urgent to you?"


    Aidan placed a hand on Aoife''s shoulder and gave her a gentle squeeze. "Yes, it is; if you plan to betray the treaty, it won''t be before you sign it, and I''d not have Aoife spend another night like this if we can avoid it."


    Searlas nodded and rose as well. "Very well. I will bring the contract myself, then, so that if it meets your approval, we can finalize everything and transfer Aoife''s control bracelet to you."


    "Thank you. I appreciate that. Until later this evening, then." Aidan gave Searlas a nod of respect and exited, Aoife leaning her head against his shoulder with her tail wrapped around his waist.


    Zurai


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Orange, Somedude, and Lupus for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 48: Acquired Freedom

    Still plugging away at my buffer. Writing is getting easier again, so it shouldn''t be too much longer. Thanks for bearing with me.


    Aidan


    The Realms


    Secondday, 5th week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Evening


    Aoife''s chambers, Termondoon, Mistvale Highlands


    There was an uneasy atmosphere in Aoife''s suite as Aidan, Aoife, Sunnild, and Riama waited for Searlas. Sunnild had been quiet and withdrawn ever since their discussion earlier, while Aoife was still fuming from Lord Searlas''s questions. Neither of them was in a mood to talk or cuddle, so Aidan busied himself practicing his magic instead. It was something he knew he should do more of but never seemed to have time for; back at Ceallach Macht, there always seemed to be some fresh demand on his attention.


    And I''ve never been the best at allocating my time, Aidan admitted to himself. If I was, I probably wouldn''t be here. He banished the thought with a slight shake of his head and returned his attention to his spellcraft. Given his recent successes with modifying spells on the fly, Aidan decided to concentrate further on that. Instead of casting his spells by rote, he tweaked their matrices in minor ways each time, keeping mental notes of successes and failures. It was an odd mix of intuitive and logical work; it was as if he was recompiling code for a program at the same time he was booting it up, and every spell had its own syntax. Some phrases were similar, but they were used in slightly different ways, and tweaking them brought different results.


    As the minutes passed, Aidan gradually began to accumulate a mental map of his most-used spells. Straightforward effects like simple numerical increases tended to cluster around each glyph''s outermost layer and use less complex patterns. The further inward he went and the more complicated the element, the more esoteric its effect was. Aidan''s problem was that he didn''t know the vocabulary, so to speak, of the glyphs. He made progress by transposing patterns from similar spells, but it was an error-prone process that resulted in the magic fizzling far more often than not. Thankfully, that was the worst that would happen¡ªthere was no chance of a malformed spell backfiring.


    Partway through dissecting Kindle the Hearth-Flame, a knock broke the silence. Aidan completed the spell¡ªanother fizzle¡ªthen looked up as Aoife opened the door to the hallway and admitted Searlas. The Chieftan looked tired and frazzled.


    "You bring almost as many problems as solutions, Lord Aidan. On the one hand, you bring peace to my tribe and one of my most troubled subjects," he waved his hand in Aoife''s direction, "yet on the other, you bring dragons and deities into my realm. Your little display earlier today has caused a religious uproar. Divine Brigantia is not unknown to us, of course, but before today, she counted only a handful of followers across my entire territory. Now it seems that you have managed to convert half the lower classes in Termondoon to her worship."


    Aidan grimaced. "That was not my intent."


    Searlas gave Aidan a half-smile and a shrug. "You will find that intent and outcome are only loosely connected when it comes to people."


    "Enough stalling," growled Aoife. "Did you bring the contract?"


    Searlas eyed her for a moment, then reached into his vest and pulled out a sheaf of papers. "I did," he said and held them out to Aidan.


    Aidan read through the contract several times to be sure, but he could see no new loopholes or gotchas. It was written in refreshingly plain language¡ªif there was one good thing about the Highlands, it''s that there was no use for professional lawyers¡ªand only took him a couple of minutes to check over. When he was satisfied with both copies'' contents, he borrowed a dip pen from Aoife, signed them, and then passed them to Searlas. The Chieftan signed it in turn, then handed one copy over to Aidan and kept the other for himself.


    Aidan took in a deep breath, then turned to Aoife and said, "I swear to take Aoife into my household and treat her as one of my own. So long as I am her master, she will never lack shelter, comfort, food, or drink. I will not touch or strike her with intent to cause harm except in defense of myself or another of my household, nor will I deny her attention or support. I promise to protect her from those who would take advantage of her, respect her thoughts and desires, and give her the peace she deserves."


    Searlas gave a sharp nod, then used one of his claws to prick his thumb, placed it against a flattened space on the back of the bracelet, and intoned, "I renounce all claim to ownership of this Dominion Band and its bonded servant." Aoife gasped and shuddered, her hands rising to the collar around her neck before jerking away and falling to her sides. Her gaze was fixed on the bracelet as Searlas pulled it off his wrist, eyes at once hungry and despairing.


    Searlas handed the bracelet over and instructed Aidan on how to bond it to himself. A drop of blood from his thumb and a short assertion of ownership later, Aidan slipped the device onto his right wrist. It seemed to mold to the shape of his arm, contracting until it was a snug fit that would not slip off unbidden. It felt warm to the touch, and he was suddenly aware of Aoife in a new way, a strange fusion of empathy and location sensing. He didn''t have the same emotional link as with Riama, but he knew Aoife''s exact location and that she was healthy, unhurt, and unsettled.


    Further, he knew that she was sexually compatible with him, nearing peak fertility, and not aroused. The implications of that knowledge brought bile to his throat that Aidan only barely managed to keep from vomiting. He reached to his wrist to tear the bracelet off, but Searlas caught his wrist before he could complete the action. "Do not do that," the catfolk Lord warned, "unless you are prepared for the consequences."


    At Aidan''s confused glare, Searlas elaborated, saying, "While the bracelet is unworn, Aoife cannot move more than a few paces from its position without intense discomfort, nor can she touch it or move it herself. I believe it is intended for punishments."


    Aidan gritted his teeth but nodded and withdrew his hand. "This thing is disgusting, and I will do whatever I can to destroy it and whoever it is making and distributing them."


    Searlas patted Aidan on the shoulder, then turned to address Aoife. "For what little my word is worth to you, Aoife, I failed to live up to the responsibility of taking care of you, and for that, I am sorry. It is my sincere hope that you find Lord Aidan to be a kinder master and that he succeeds in his goal to free you." He bowed until his torso was parallel to the floor, held the pose for a long breath, then rose and turned to leave. Aidan waited for Aoife to react to Searlas''s words, but the door opened, then closed before she finally turned to him.


    "So," she said, voice tight and muscles tense, "Master, what is your command?"


    This, at least, Aidan knew the right answer to. "I have only one command for you, Aoife:" Aidan''s red eyes locked onto Aoife''s golden ones. "I command you to act only of your own free will, ignoring any current or future commands or restrictions from the collar."


    The catfolk''s breath caught in her throat, and she started to tremble for a moment before squaring her shoulders. She stepped forward, looking up at Aidan, emotions warring across her face. Then her hand whipped out toward his face, claws extended. Before Aidan could react, Aoife fell to her knees, fingers scrabbling at the gleaming symbol of her enslavement. Frustrated, choking sobs tore their way out of her throat as she gasped for air.


    Once Aidan''s mind caught up to the action, he knelt down before Aoife and wrapped her in his arms. "I''m sorry," he told her, stroking her back. "I really hoped that would work." Sunnild joined him, hugging Aoife from behind and enfolding all three of them within her wings.


    It took a few minutes before the collar relaxed enough for Aoife to speak. "Thank you for making an attempt, Lord Aidan," she said in a hoarse voice. "That''s more than Searlas ever fucking did."


    "Well, we know that the collar still restricts you from attacking me, but we still need to test the rest of the command. Are you up for it, or would you rather wait until sometime later?"


    Aoife raised her head and looked at Aidan through tear-soaked lashes. "Do it," was all she said.


    Aidan sucked in a breath and let it out in a slow sigh. What can I order her to do that she won''t want to do but is inoffensive? "Alright. Aoife, I command you to bark like a dog."


    "Fuck you," was her instantaneous response, followed by a long pause, then a bright smile and a hug. "It worked!" she exclaimed.


    Aidan smiled at Aoife and opened his mouth to say he was happy for her, but he was interrupted by the shorter woman sliding her hands to the back of his head and pulling him down into a kiss. Her fingers slid through his hair while her rough-textured tongue surged between his lips. A moment later, she pulled away, looking flushed, and said, "We should move this to the bed. I need to thank you properly, and I wouldn''t want you getting rug burn."


    "You don''t need¡ª" Aidan started to say, but Aoife cut him off again.


    "Yes, I do, Lord Aidan. You had me in the palm of your hand. You could have turned me into your helpless sex slave, existing only for your pleasure, and I could have done nothing to stop you. Hell, you''re good enough at it that you could have molded me into an eager, cum-craving kitten for you. You threw that away without a second thought, and that selflessness deserves a reward."


    She rose to her feet in a single fluid movement, then shimmied her body in a peculiar way that sent her clothes sliding down to the floor. Aoife turned, walked toward the door into the bedroom, then looked over her shoulder at Aidan as her tail rose into the air. "Now, are you going to come and take your hero''s reward, or will you reject a woman that you can no longer have any doubt is willing and ready for you?"


    "Put kittens in her this time," Riama advised from her place on Aoife''s desk, "and remember to keep your emotions to yourself, please."


    Aidan


    Thirdday, 5th week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Dawn


    When Aidan woke the next morning, it was with a purring Aoife wrapped around him. Her legs wrapped around one of his, her right arm stretched across his chest, and her head lay atop his bare chest. Despite the loud, pulsing rumble coming from her torso, Aoife appeared to be asleep, complete with a puddle of drool collecting at the corner of her mouth. Sunnild''s wing draped over the catfolk from behind as Aidan''s harpy bodyguard/lover snuggled up against the other girl''s furred back. Her feathers obscured his view of Aoife''s body, but both his memory and the feel of her against him told Aidan that Aoife hadn''t bothered to slip into bedclothes after she finished with him the previous night.


    Unfortunately, Aidan''s bladder was sending urgent reminders that he hadn''t emptied it before going to sleep. He maneuvered himself out of Aoife''s clutches, then made his way to the ensuite bathroom. Riama jumped down from her perch as he passed her and yowled at him. <starvation, dessication> "Food! I need food!"


    "Give me a minute to go to the bathroom," Aidan sent back with a pulse of <exasperation>. Riama followed Aidan, holding back her vocal demands to be fed but continued sending him mental pings. When he finished his business and turned to leave the room, she teleported from his shadow to the desk and yowled at him again.


    "You are done, now feed me!"


    Aidan grumbled back at her but made his way to his haversack and pulled out a pre-prepared cat meal, one of several he put together at Riama''s demand and under her direction. The astral jaguar shoved her face into the food on the plate before Aidan even finished setting it down, drawing a wry chuckle from him. He started to turn back to the bedroom to rejoin Sunnild and Aoife and perhaps get more rest, only to find his newest lover leaning, nude, against the doorframe. Aoife''s eyes were still bleary with sleep, but when she saw that she had his attention, she smiled at Aidan.


    "Good morning," she said, pushing off the door frame and walking over to him. Her heavy breasts swayed with each step, and Aidan was still too tired to keep his eyes from straying for a moment. When he jerked his gaze back up to her face, Aoife''s smile grew wider. "Look all you want," she said. "I don''t mind. I like the way you devour me with your eyes; it makes me feel powerful. Besides, why would I be shy of my body around a lover?" When she reached him, she stood up on her toes to brush her lips against his, then pushed him down into a nearby chair and plopped down onto his lap. Aoife''s purring started up again as she squirmed into a comfortable position curled up against Aidan''s chest.


    Aidan slipped an arm around the catgirl''s waist to hold her steady, smiling as her tail curled around his wrist. "So, last night wasn''t the last night that you will invite me to your bed? I have to warn you, Sunnild isn''t my only lover aside from you."


    "Oh? Catting around, are you?" Aoife asked with a snicker. "I''m fine being your mistress. Or are you saying that you wouldn''t come if I did invite you?"


    "Oh, I have no doubt of your ability to get me to come," Aidan smirked back. "But no, I just didn''t want you to be surprised when we return to Ceallach Macht and you meet Brighid and Ailis."


    "They''re centaurs, yes?" Seeing his surprised look, she rolled her eyes. "Those are Starchaser names, not Sisterhood ones, and I know you''re on good terms with them. It wasn''t a big leap of logic. If I may ask... how does that, um, work? You''re big," Aoife said, shifting in his lap, "but not that big."


    Aidan chuckled. "I actually asked Brighid the same thing. Centaurs are more or less human-proportioned in that regard. There are still difficulties due to body shape, but we''ve managed to overcome most of those in one way or another."


    "If you say so. Anyway, do all your lovers know about each other, or are you stringing everybody along? I won''t lie and say the latter wouldn''t be a disappointment, but it''s not a deal-breaker."


    "No, it''s all in the open. Hell, it''s mostly Brighid''s doing; she''s been pushing me to have other lovers since we started sleeping together. That said, she''s my Soulmate¡ªwhat she says goes as far as lovers are concerned. I''ve already received permission to sleep with you while I''m away," Aoife''s eyebrows climbed toward her hairline at that, "but if she decides she doesn''t like you once you two meet, that''s the end of things between us, sexually, at least. And if push comes to shove, she gets priority on my time and attention."


    "Normally, I prefer to be the pursued, not the pursuer," Aoife pouted. "But for you¡ªfor what you''ve done for me¡ªI''ll make an exception." She shifted and tucked her head into the crook of Aidan''s neck. Her next question came out in a quieter, less confident tone of voice. "Do you think your Brighid will be okay with me?"


    "She''ll love you," Sunnild said as she emerged from the bedroom, naked as they were. She stretched, drawing both Aidan and Aoife''s eyes, then walked over to the pair and leaned down for a kiss from them both. "Morning!"


    "Good morning, little dove," Aidan greeted her back. "You''re looking happier than you did yesterday. Have pleasant dreams?"


    Sunnild wriggled her way onto Aidan''s lap alongside Aoife and rested her head on his free shoulder. Both of the women were smaller and slighter than Aidan, but there still wasn''t a lot of spare room for her. "Mm! Some of that, yeah. I dreamed of my mum, it was nice. But mostly, I just got over myself. You didn''t seek out the fight, and the world is a better place with him dead. I''m still not happy with how far ya went, but that doesn''t change who ya are."


    "I''m glad to hear it," Aidan said, and meant it. Seeing the normally sunny Sunnild look pensive and withdrawn made him feel like something was wrong with the world. "Well, I intended to go back to bed, but now that we''re all up, let''s go over today''s agenda."


    "I vote we go back to bed and stay there," Sunnild chirped. "I only came out cuz you two left me alone and I got cold."


    "I''m awake now; I''ll never be able to get back to sleep," Aoife said, and Aidan nodded along with her.


    "Fiiiine," the harpy pouted. "Then what''re we doing after breakfast? Are we eatin'' with Searlas again?"


    "He will probably invite us, yes," Aoife said, slipping back into her more formal speech pattern at the mention of her former owner.


    "I still need to talk to Searlas about the treaties," Aidan said, "so I''m probably going to be stuck in here most of the day. Aoife, though, now that you''re free, would you mind doing some recon for me?"


    "Depends on what you are looking for, but I have no reason to object out of hand."


    "Okay, then here''s what I''d like you to do, if you''re willing..."


    Zurai


    Aidan''s current status sheet:


    Sunnild''s current status sheet:


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Orange, Somedude, and Lupus for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 49: The Road Home

    Zurai


    This chapter involves a timeskip. A text list of the skill changes is included with each status sheet at the end of the chapter.


    Aidan


    The Realms


    Sixthday, 5th week of the 9th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Mid-Morning


    Outside Termondoon, Mist Stalker territory, Mistvale Highlands


    "We hope that this visit will herald a new era of peace and cooperation between our tribes," Searlas said, speaking to a crowd of catfolk at Termondoon''s main gate. "Although the dawn of the Age of the Chosen heralds chaos, with friends and allies, it need not overwhelm us. And, as a proven friend to the Mist Stalkers, we hereby present these gifts to Lord Aidan of Ceallach Macht upon his departure.


    "First, we wish Lord Aidan a long and healthy life, so we grant him a ring crafted by the finest jeweler in Termondoon, enchanted with protective wards by our own personal mage." Searlas handed Aidan a ring of burnished platinum, set with large, abyssal purple sapphires surrounded by tiny diamonds in geometric patterns. He inspected it with Analyze, then slipped it on.


    "Second," Searlas continued, "a more personal gift. We understand that Lord Aidan intends to start a family soon." Aidan''s eyes widened; that was not something the catfolk Chieftan should be aware of. "Although childless ourselves, we understand that new parents often struggle as their children keep them awake through the night. These magical cribs¡ªone of each crafted in the style of the Starchasers, Ash Shroud Sisterhood, and Mist Stalkers¡ªwill ease a newborn''s sleep and maintain their occupants'' health and hygiene and keep them satiated throughout the night."


    Aoife stiffened beside Aidan at the mention of a crib designed for catfolk children. He put a hand on her shoulder, a silent warning and reassurance. She shrugged off his touch but sighed and nestled back against him a moment later. The cribs themselves were well-crafted, from what Aidan could tell, and each was large enough to fit one centaur or two harpy or catfolk babies.


    Although they were thoughtful gifts, they were also warnings; a message to Aidan that his personal life wasn''t private any longer. At least, I hope that''s all the message is, Aidan thought to himself, rather than a threat. Regardless, after Aidan inspected them, workers loaded them onto one of the wagons accompanying the caravan.


    "Finally," Searlas said, "something for all the citizens of Ceallach Macht, from the citizens of Termondoon. That grand old city now hosts people once again, and winter is coming. While the Starchasers are consummate hunters, there is little time to plant and harvest new crops before snow covers the ground. Thus, we are sending Lord Aidan off with five wagons full of grain and vegetables so that his people need not worry about where their food will come from."


    That was a generous gesture; the Starchasers shouldn''t have needed any help providing food for themselves, but Karsarrym''s attack destroyed many of the wagons dedicated to transporting the village''s stored food. The only reason there wasn''t a food crisis back home is that the recent battles severely depleted the centaurs'' population, making what food they had left stretch much longer than it would have a year prior. This gift changed that further from a lean winter to a slight surplus.


    Searlas bowed to Aidan, then took a step back. Aidan returned the gesture and said, "Thank you, Chieftan. When I first planned this expedition, my advisors argued against it. They considered it too great a risk. I am beyond pleased that their fears were unfounded! Instead of daggers in the dark, I found friends and allies! Rather than seething hatred, I was greeted with open arms and smiles!"


    Aidan waited for the cheers from the crowd to die down, then continued, "My dream is peace and prosperity for all the land, and I invite you to be a part of that. After discussion with Lord Searlas, he has graciously granted me permission to make the following announcement: any who wish to become a citizen of Ceallach Macht is welcome to join us there. You will have a voice on the Grand Council, both as a member of your race and by whatever profession you hold."


    Then Aidan smiled and shot Searlas a sly look. "I will also note that The Dreaming Tabernacle, a grand temple dedicated to the Brighaid and the other benevolent deities, is already under construction. Those of you who wish to learn more of Their ways should consider a pilgrimage to speak with Her High Priestess there."


    Searlas gave Aidan a wry grin and a slight nod in acknowledgment of the political maneuver, then stepped forward and embraced him. "Well played," he said, quietly enough that the cheering crowd couldn''t overhear. "I think you can expect a sizeable influx of commoners in the next month or so. If I did not still have a firm hold on the military, I would complain that you are eroding my power base. I wish you well, Lord Aidan, and I will send word of the dragon along with my official delegation. Safe travels."


    The ceremony wound down after that, and soon, Aidan was underway at the head of a ten-wagon caravan. Aoife rode behind him on his summoned steed while Sunnild soared overhead. Five squads of Mist Stalker soldiers, on loan from Searlas, formed an honor guard. One by one, the wagons trailed off into the morning mists.


    Aidan


    Secondday, 2nd week of the 10th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Mid-Afternoon


    Near Ceallach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Aidan and Aoife crested the final hill and saw the gleaming white stone of Ceallach Macht rising out of the thin mists of the valley below them. Aidan felt tension he hadn''t even known existed flowing out of his body as his subconscious finally accepted that he was home. The faint dot of brilliant red and copper he could barely make out at the edge of the city, however, was what made his heart soar.


    Aidan didn''t even realize that he''d spurred his horse into a gallop until he heard Aoife squeal in surprise and wrap her arms around his waist. He looked up and spotted Sunnild diving towards the city, trailed by a pair of eagle-shaped passion elementals. He laughed and jabbed his heels into his mount''s ribs, demanding more speed as they raced for the prize of being the first into Brighid''s arms. The caravan trailed behind, but Aidan couldn''t bring himself to care after weeks spent away from his Soulmate.


    Five long minutes later, Aidan flung himself off the horse''s back and into Brighid''s arms, Sunnild swooping down a heartbeat later to burrow in beside him. Brighid lifted them both up into the air, hugging them to her bosom. "Welcome back!" she exclaimed in between frantic kisses. "I missed you both so much! Please, never leave me behind again!"


    "I''m sorry," Aidan apologized into Brighid''s neck. "I missed you too, love. Dreams aren''t enough."


    "And I didn''t even have those!" Sunnild pouted. Brighid gave her a thorough kiss, one large hand cupping the back of the harpy''s head to pin her in place.


    Once the frenzy of their greetings died down, Brighid lowered Aidan and Sunnild to their feet, then looked over their shoulders. "And you are Aoife, I assume?"


    "I am," the catfolk woman said from behind Aidan. "And you are Brighid?"


    "Yes. Welcome to Ceallach Macht, Aoife. Aidan told me some of what happened to you; I hope you can find peace and freedom here with us."


    "That is gracious of you, my Lady. Lord Aidan promised to find a way to free me, and he has given me no reason to doubt his intention to follow through. Until that day, I am unable to leave his vicinity, so I hope that there can be harmony between us."


    Brighid''s emerald gaze roamed across Aoife''s body. The catfolk was bundled up in a fur-lined dress that clung to her generous curves despite revealing very little skin. "I am looking forward to learning more about you," Brighid said after her eyes returned to Aoife''s. "I see no reason that we cannot be close friends." Aoife smirked and tugged at the front of her dress, exposing a hint of cleavage. Brighid''s eyes dipped down for a split second before returning to Aoife''s face.


    "Yes," Aoife said with a half-laugh, "I see what you mean." Brighid''s cheeks burned red at being caught out. "If it is all the same to you, however, I would like a chance to settle into my new life here before I get too ... entangled. Of course, I am always open to the right type of persuasion." Her voice dropped to a husky purr at the end, and her fingers tugged her neckline further down.


    Aidan took mercy on Brighid, who appeared transfixed by Aoife''s seduction. He reached up and tangled his fingers in the centaur''s scarlet hair, tilting her head down until her gaze snapped to him. "There''s plenty of time for you to chase the kitty later. As much as I long to spend some quality time with you, I imagine Ailis would be a little upset with me if I vanished into bed with you without checking in with her first."


    Brighid bit her lip, then dipped down and pressed hungry lips to his. "Are you sure I cannot persuade you otherwise?"


    "Sorry, love. Duty is heavier than a mountain." Aidan avoided finishing that aphorism, even in his head. "Why don''t you and Sunnild go ahead and get reacquainted, though? I''ll join you when your mother finishes with me."


    "I like that idea!" Sunnild chirped.


    Brighid laughed, then tapped Aidan on the nose. "Tell Mother that she had better not take up too much of your time tonight. She can have you tomorrow." She turned her attention to Sunnild and asked, "Race you to the hill?"


    "Yer on!" the harpy giggled, then crouched and launched herself into the air, buffeting the others with the wind from her wings. Brighid kissed Aidan again, then wheeled and broke into a gallop, heading toward the city''s center.


    Aidan turned to Aoife and asked, "Would you like to join me, or would you rather explore the city some? The elementals will mark you as my guest." He gestured at the hovering, eagle-sized magical creatures.


    "If you don''t mind, I think I''d like to get the lay of the land. But first, where will I be sleeping?"


    "I''ll have one of the non-dormitory rooms prepared for you," Aidan told her. "You''ll have to do without a bed for a little while¡ªcentaurs have different sleeping arrangements than you''re used to¡ªbut we have plenty of cushions for you to sleep on. When you''re ready to turn in, ask one of the elementals to guide you."


    "Thank you, my Lord," Aoife said with a nod. "I will leave you to entertain your ladies, then." She turned and walked away, her tail curling in the air behind her.


    Aidan watched Aoife leave with a slight frown on his face. She''d been running hot and cold since he''s acquired her control bracelet. The catgirl was ravenous on that first night, demanding Aidan''s attention for almost two hours straight before finally slipping into an exhausted¡ªand happy, he thought¡ªslumber.


    However, she''d kept her distance after that. Aoife remained affectionate, never shying from his touch. Indeed, she''d initiated more than one session of hungry kisses and passionate touches, only to pull away just before events crossed the line of no return. At night she slept on the opposite side of the king-size bed from Aidan and Sunnild, and during the journey to Ceallach Macht, she used a separate tent. "So that you two have some privacy," she''d said at the time, but neither Aidan nor Sunnild would have objected to her joining them.


    Aidan dismissed the puzzle that was Aoife and returned to his summoned mount with a shrug and a shake of his head. He had business to attend to and then a Soulmate to ravish.


    Aidan


    Mid-Afternoon


    Ceallach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Aidan found Ailis in her office near the Idyllic Forum. She looked up when he knocked on the door frame, then rose to her hooves with a bright smile on her face. "Welcome back, Lord Aidan," she said. "I am surprised to see you; I know Brighid was up at dawn and planned to wait for you."


    "Yes," he agreed, "we met her outside the city. I sent her ahead with Sunnild, but I would have felt guilty if I didn''t check in with you before joining them."


    "How responsible of you," Ailis drawled, voice filled with wry amusement.


    "She also told me in no uncertain terms that I''d better not spend too long with you. Brighid said you can have me tomorrow night, but tonight is hers."


    The silver-haired centaur laughed and shook her head. "Of course. Well, shall we get to it then?" She repositioned a few cushions so that Aidan could sit beside her, then settled in at her desk again.


    "As you no doubt saw on your way in, the Dreaming Tabernacle is already nearing completion. We estimate completion in another five days. The Phoenix''s Nest will take longer, unfortunately. There is much more involved in its construction, and it will not be ready for at least another month."


    "Less than ideal, but not unexpected. The Tabernacle really isn''t much more than a large, enclosed garden with a church in the center, after all. The Nest is both larger in footprint and grander in scope. What about housing and infrastructure?"


    "We average three to four private homes per day, which we give out by lottery. At this point, it is going to be another two months or so before everyone has their own house again. There is some muttering, but overall, people are dealing with it. Roads are no problem, and we have an excess of warehouse and granary space."


    "That''s good," Aidan said with a nod. "There''s a caravan from Termondoon an hour or so behind me. Five of the wagons are full of food, a gift from the Mist Stalkers'' current leader. The others are from private traders I made a few deals with¡ªiron, copper, and tin, plus some higher-grade stone and wood than we have local sources for at the moment."


    "Gerwyn will be happy to hear that, and the food is a blessing. We had enough for everyone to eat stew all winter, but that would have dealt a blow to morale."


    "How are the harpies settling in?" Aidan asked.


    "They completed their enclave last week and moved out of communal housing. Major Cynehild has kept them busy; they have been doing patrols of the surroundings and helping Anwn''s hunters." Then she snorted, "Oh, and Ysbail requisitioned a mage for her Labyrinth expeditions; I think there may be a serious case of hero-worship blooming there. Wulfryn hardly leaves Ysbail''s side, even outside the dungeon."


    "That''s great news!" Aidan smiled. "And how have those expeditions been going?"


    "You would be better off speaking to Ysbail directly about that. I only know that her party goes in two or three times a week and comes out laden with materials for Brighid and the other crafters."


    Aidan nodded. "I''ll seek her out tomorrow after I meet with the Council. Speaking of, can you schedule a Council meeting for me?"


    "Already done. I assumed you would want one, so once Brighid told me when you were due, I set it up."


    "The second-best decision I made was to appoint you as my Chancellor," Aidan chuckled. "Thank you, Ailis, truly. I''m glad to have someone I can trust and rely on to keep everything running."


    Ailis shifted and turned to look at Aidan. Her cheeks glowed bright pink at his unexpected declaration, and the icy blue of her eyes turned smoky. "You had better be prepared to fulfill Brighid''s promise tomorrow," she husked. "Now, get out of here before I decide to jump my daughter''s claim." She punctuated her order with a hungry kiss.


    Aidan indulged her for several minutes until Ailis''s hands started to wander beneath his clothes. He pulled back with reluctance, then stood. "I''ll see you tomorrow," he promised, then hurried out of the office. He had to stop outside the door to adjust his pants'' fit before making his way into Caer Macht.


    Zurai


    Aidan''s current status sheet:


    Air Magic to 14


    Animamancy to 15


    Beast Magic to 20


    Earth Magic to 13


    Magical Theory to 18


    Glyphs to 8


    Incantations to 8


    Oneiromancy to 10, gained a knack and a spell


    Negotiation to 3


    Oratory to 5, gained a knack


    Riding to 13


    Sex to 57


    Dominance to 19


    Foreplay to 27


    Vivimancy to 17


    Brighid''s current status sheet:


    Masturbation to 14


    Smithing to 52, gained a knack and qualifies for Specialization


    Armorsmith to 33


    Labyrinth Materials to 9, gained a knack


    Weaponsmith to 37


    Sunnild''s current status sheet:


    Flying to 23


    Observation to 18


    Sex to 27


    Foreplay to 4


    Submission to 3


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Orange, Somedude, and Lupus for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 50: Close to the Heavens

    Zurai


    I''m back to actively writing again, but work is absolutely killing me¡ªthis is the busiest 6 weeks I''ve ever had at this job by a very long shot¡ªand I got a health scare this last week as well. Everything appears to be fine now, but I have a doctor''s appointment tomorrow anyway to be sure.


    Regardless, this is all to say that there''s light at the end of the tunnel for returning to a normal posting schedule, but it''s still unclear how long the tunnel is.


    Aidan


    The Realms


    Secondday, 2nd week of the 10th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Early Evening


    The Lord''s Quarters, Caer Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Feminine moans echoed down the hallway as Aidan approached his chambers. Or, to be more precise, Sunnild''s did; Aidan couldn''t hear Brighid''s voice at all. When he passed the centaur-shaped fire elemental guarding his doorway and entered the bedroom, he saw why.


    Sunnild lay supine atop a pile of cushions with her dove-like wings spread wide beneath her. She was gloriously naked, sweat glistening off her tanned, toned body. Meanwhile, Brighid lay bent over parallel to the floor with her arms around the harpy''s hips and her head buried between Sunnild''s legs. Even as Aidan watched from the door, Sunnild arched upward, thrusting her perky breasts into the air as her thighs squeezed tight around Brighid''s neck and her hands pulled the redhead even closer.


    "Yesss!" Sunnild cried out. Aidan could see the muscles in her thighs and belly flexing and releasing as her orgasm coursed through her. Her breath came in short pants, increasing in pace and volume until she let out a wordless cry and bucked up against Brighid''s mouth. Her hands left the centaur''s vermillion hair to claw at the bed, supporting her as she twisted and writhed beneath Brighid''s oral assault.


    One final convulsion rippled through Sunnild, then she started pushing Brighid''s head away from wide-spread thighs. "Too much!" she gasped. Her head flopped sideways as if she no longer had the strength to support herself. A moment later, her eyes focused on Aidan standing at the door. "Good timing. Get over here," she beckoned him with a limp wave of a hand, "and lose the pants. Shirt optional."


    Aidan chuckled at the sight of the floppy harpy but did as she bid. "We need to work on your endurance, it seems," he teased Sunnild.


    "She''s been lickin'' me fer an hour!" His lover retorted. "Let''s see how you look after that! In fact, Brighid, sic ''im!"


    Brighid, her cheeks still glistening with Sunnild''s juices, turned toward Aidan and held her arms out to him. Aidan stepped into her embrace and met her parted lips with his. Brighid''s hands roamed up and down his back as they kissed, then dipped down to grab his ass.


    Brighid broke the kiss and said, "I know you have not had any relief in more than a week, Master. Let me show you how much I missed you." At his nod, she bent forward, laying a trail of wet kisses and dragging her breasts down his body as she went.


    When she reached his groin, Brighid didn''t go straight for the prize. Instead, she nuzzled his thigh, placing a series of soft kisses and licks against his sensitive skin. She continued kneading his butt with one hand, but the other slipped up to his tail. Her fingertips encircled the base for a moment before taking a firmer grip and gliding down toward the tip.


    Aidan let out an involuntary groan as his Soulmate began to stroke his tail back and forth as if it were an elongated, prehensile cock, all while ignoring his manhood. "You''re teasing me," he growled. "Is that the extent of your ardor?"


    Green eyes looked up at him, luminous in the dim light of the bedroom. "Forgive me, my Lord," Brighid murmured. "I only sought to increase your pleasure."


    "In other times, I wouldn''t stop you, but I''ve had to settle for handjobs for the last week and a half on the road."


    Brighid''s eyes widened a fraction. She pulled back from his groin and asked, "Has Aoife not been taking care of you?"


    Aidan shook his head. "No, not since the night I acquired her control bracelet. I haven''t pushed her; I don''t want her to think I only rescued her for sex."


    Brighid frowned but nodded. "I will talk to her tomorrow. Do not worry; I will make sure she knows that she is under no obligation. Until then, however..." she trailed off and turned her head to kiss Aidan''s shaft. Her tongue followed her lips, lapping against the vein running along the underside.


    Aidan rested a hand on top of Brighid''s head and let out a moan of pleasure. "Fuck, I missed this," he murmured. Back on Earth, he''d been celibate for nearly a year, but the journey back to Ceallach Macht was the longest he''d gone without sex since he''d arrived in the Realms. Brighid hummed in approval and shifted her position to take the tip of his cock between her ruby-red lips.


    A pair of arms wrapped around Aidan''s chest from behind. "Sorry I couldn''t do this fer ya," Sunnild said in his ear and leaned into him. Aidan could feel her soft breasts flattening against his back. "But if ya really want to give me a baby, we still got another week ta go."


    "It''s okay," he said, then paused to moan when Brighid''s mouth slid all the way down his shaft, taking him to the root. The hand he had on her head tightened reflexively in her hair, holding Brighid still as he relished in the sensation of being sheathed. "It''s okay," he repeated. "I can handle a little abstinence for a good cause."


    "Ya don''t need to anymore. Brighid will take care of you."


    "Mm-hmm!" Brighid hummed in agreement. The effect wasn''t quite the same as Aoife''s purring blowjobs, but Aidan had no complaints.


    "That''s right," Aidan growled. "You''re mine, Brighid, and I''ll use you any way, anywhere, any time I want." His declaration brought a deep moan from the centaur. She started to bob her head up and down, sucking down a quick breath every time his tip came free of her throat.


    Aidan tangled his fingers in Brighid''s hair, guiding her as he started to make small thrusts in time with her movements. Sunnild moved with him, her hips rolling against his rear and her hard nipples digging into his back. Aidan wormed his tail free from Brighid''s slackened grip and curled it around Sunnild''s thigh. The harpy moaned into his ear and shifted to give him better access as he probed between her legs.


    "Do it," she hissed, and Aidan obeyed. He notched his tail-tip at her sodden entrance, then pushed inside her with slow, steady pressure. "Yesss! Gods, it''s not even yer dick, but it feels so good! Please, Aidan, fuck me!"


    Aidan drove his tail as deep inside Sunnild as it would go, twisting and squirming the whole way. Her hips picked up their pace as Aidan fucked her, which, in turn, sped up his thrusts into Brighid''s mouth. The flame-haired paladin took it all in stride, moving in time with her lovers, licking and sucking at Aidan''s manhood all the while. Before long, Aidan had to warn Brighid, "I''m almost there!"


    Brighid popped off his dick and panted, "I want you to come on me, please, Master, may I make you come with my tits?"


    There was only one response Aidan could give. He tugged Brighid''s head up and buried his cock in her cleavage, thrusting into the soft, enveloping warmth of her chest. Brighid squeezed her breasts together around him and held herself steady while Aidan took his pleasure from her.


    It only took Aidan a few hard thrusts to reach his peak. He called out Brighid''s name as his back arched. He grabbed her by the shoulders and jerked, jabbing his hips forward as his sperm erupted out from the tip of his manhood with enough force to splash against Brighid''s chin before dripping back down onto her mountainous slopes.


    Behind him, Sunnild''s voice rose to a crescendo. "Oh! Oh! Oh fuck!" she cried, her inner walls rippling around Aidan''s tail. A few seconds after Aidan''s last spurt dribbled into Brighid''s cleavage, Sunnild''s arms squeezed tight around Aidan, and she clamped down around him. "Coming! Oh, fuck me!"


    Once Aidan''s orgasm subsided, he looked down at Brighid kneeling in front of him. A faint sheen of sweat gleamed on her skin, and her neck, chin, and chest were coated in thick, sticky strands of his sperm. The sight, combined with his recent semi-abstinence, kept him rock-hard.


    "Turn around and present yourself," he ordered Brighid. While he waited for her to comply, Aidan shifted his attention to Sunnild, carefully extracting his tail from her still-fluttering depths. "Get up on her back," he told his smaller lover. "I want to kiss you."


    "Mm, okay. All over?" Sunnild''s voice had a breathy, dreamy quality to it. Aidan smiled at her as she disentangled herself from him and wobbled over to climb on top of Brighid.


    "Anywhere you want," Aidan promised her.


    "Everywhere, then," Sunnild said, wiggling into position.


    Aidan admired the sight of his lovers stacked on top of each other for a moment. Sunnild''s sat on Brighid''s croup, above her hind legs, and the curve of the centaur''s thick rump forced Sunnild to spread her legs wide. Her body, naturally hairless, was on full display for Aidan as she leaned back on her hands, her modest breasts rising high and proud from her chest and her glistening lower lips already dampening Brighid''s fur.


    Below her, Brighid''s tail flicked back and forth, drawing attention to her own drooling pussy. Her thick lubrication coated her rump and inner thighs, and, sensing her Soulmate''s eyes on her, Brighid tilted her hips and moved her tail to the side. Aidan knelt down behind her, angling his cock so that it rubbed across Brighid''s pussy and clit without penetrating her, and leaned over to kiss Sunnild.


    The gray-feathered harpy met him eagerly, her lips parted and tongue seeking Aidan''s within a heartbeat. She shifted her weight onto one hand, bringing the other up to tangle in the hair at the back of his head. Sunnild held Aidan''s head to hers until he was forced to break free to catch his breath.


    Sunnild panted along with him, her eyes half-lidded in pleasure and her cheeks flushed red with arousal. "I love you," she told him as Aidan kissed her cheek, her chin, her neck, then moaned as he cupped a breast in one hand.


    "I love you too, my little songbird," he murmured against her skin, drawing a shiver from her athletic body. Her hand stroked Aidan''s hair and shoulders while he took a moment to nibble at the base of Sunnild''s slender neck. "You''ve wriggled your way into my heart in such a short time," he continued. "I can''t imagine living without you anymore."


    "You don''t have to," Sunnild replied, squirming and tilting her head to offer more of her neck to his kisses and bites. "I''m yers now, through an'' through. Yers an'' Brighid''s."


    "Even if I''m a bit scary sometimes, and I don''t always give you as much attention as you deserve?" Aidan rubbed his thumb across the harpy''s stiff nipple, drawing a sharp intake of breath from her.


    "Even then," she confirmed. "I know you''d listen to me if I said yer goin'' too far, an'' I know my path isn''t one everyone can walk. An'' you never neglected me," she added. "I played with the kitty as much as you did."


    "I want to play with her too," Brighid said. Aidan rewarded her entry into the conversation by rubbing himself against her womanhood. "Her fur looks so soft and fluffy, not stiff like mine."


    "It is," Aidan and Sunnild agreed at once. "And she purrs when you pet her, too," Aidan added.


    "But that''s not the best part," Sunnild continued. "Her tongue''s got all these little spikes on it, so when she licks ya, it''s all soft an'' rough'' an'' wet an'' raspy. Feels so good! And oh, Gods, she knows how ta use it."


    Brighid shifted her weight a fraction, rolling her hips slightly to enhance the contact between them. "So you both fucked her?" she asked. "Together?"


    "Mm-hm! Every time."


    "Almost every time," Aidan corrected. "The morning after our first night in Termondoon, I woke up to you doing a damn fine job of seducing Aoife all by yourself." Sunnild blushed at the memory, prompting Aidan to tease her some more. "If I hadn''t interrupted you, she would''ve given in within a couple minutes. She was already moving into your touch¡ªneck bared to your lips, back arched to press her breast into your hand, and legs spread open in invitation."


    Brighid let out a breathless moan, and Aidan felt her grow even hotter and wetter against his manhood. Sunnild picked up on it too, asking the centaur, "Ya like that, love? Are ya picturing it in yer mind, seein'' Aoife squirming an'' beggin'' fer me ta touch her?"


    Aidan let Sunnild take over the conversation, returning his attention to her prior request to kiss her everywhere. He nuzzled her neck, then made his way onto her chest. Sunnild wriggled and tugged his head down, arching up in a wordless plea. Aidan obliged her, using his hand to lift her right breast up to meet his mouth.


    "Mmmm," Sunnild moaned in approval. Then, "I don''t hear an answer, love."


    "Yes!" Brighid panted. "I want to watch you seduce her! I want to see you make her cum with your fingers and then watch while she licks you over and over. I want to see Aidan take her from behind, see those luscious tits and ass wobble with every thrust."


    Aidan wrapped his lips around Sunnild''s nipple and sucked it into his mouth. Her fingers tightened in his hair, holding him tight to her chest as her breath grew shorter. "All ya wanna do is watch?" she asked Brighid.


    "No! I want that all for me too. I want to kiss her and hold her breasts and lick her pussy. I want to eat Master''s seed from inside her. I want to feel her tongue on me, front and back. I want it all!"


    "Greedy girl," Sunnild moaned, oblivious to the hypocrisy inherent in that accusation after demanding Aidan kiss her everywhere.


    "I need more!" Brighid exclaimed, punctuating her remark with a rolling thrust backward against Aidan. "Please, Master, Mistress, I''ve been good! Please, please, fuck me! I beg you, please fuck me and let me cum for you!"


    Aidan lifted his head from Sunnild''s breast, letting her nipple escape his mouth for the moment. He looked up at the harpy and asked, "Should I?"


    "Do it, then get back ta work! Ya aren''t half-done with kissin'' me yet."


    Aidan chuckled at the mixture of lust and frustration in her voice. He shifted his hips backward, then reached down with his free hand and guided his tip to Brighid''s hot, steamy entrance. "Please!" she begged again, "It has been so long, and I need you to take me with your big human dick! I need you to mount me and rut in me and fill my belly with your seed, please, please, Master, please now!"


    Aidan teased her a few seconds longer, then thrust into Brighid''s molten depths in one long, smooth thrust. Even before he reached full penetration, he felt her inner muscles clamp down and ripple all around him as her orgasm seized hold of her. Sunnild, not wanting to be left out, pulled his mouth back to her nipple, and Aidan sucked it back between his lips.


    Both of his women moaned at the attention he gave them. Brighid''s husky mezzo-soprano voice called out every time Aidan''s hips met her rump, while Sunnild''s warm soprano rose and fell more smoothly as his mouth sought out and found sensitive spots on her breasts. "More! Harder!" Brighid exclaimed while Sunnild whimpered, "Right there, lick me there!"


    If Brighid wanted more, more she would get. Aidan brought his tail up between her legs, teasing her hard, throbbing clit with the tip before coating it with her overflowing lubrication. "Yes, love!" she cried, already knowing his intent. Brighid raised her tail onto her back, draping it across one of Sunnild''s thighs and exposing her rosebud to him. Once the flanged tip was thoroughly coated, Aidan pressed it to her ass.


    "Relax and let me in," he ordered the submissive centaur.


    "Trying!" she panted. Aidan probed her rear entrance, sinking his tail a few millimeters inside Brighid before another contraction passed through her and forced him out again. Growing a little exasperated, he pushed hard and slapped her rump with an open palm. Brighid bucked up at the sensation, almost dislodging Sunnild with the unexpected movement, but it served Aidan''s purpose.


    "Oh, by Braihan, yes!" Brighid cried out as Aidan double-penetrated her. "Yours!" she exulted, "Every part of me! All yours!"


    Not one to be left out, Sunnild scooted backward along Brighid''s spine and pulled Aidan''s head toward the juncture of her thighs. "Ya got two girls ta please, don''t forget," she scolded him.


    The position was awkward, but Aidan bent forward over Brighid''s rump, kissed Sunnild''s flat belly in apology, and then nibbled a path onto her exposed pussy. Sunnild''s outer lips betrayed her arousal, flushed dark red and flowered open to tease a glimpse of the bright pink passage within.


    "Ooh, yes," Sunnild cooed as Aidan''s tongue slid between her lips. He wriggled it partway into her, then withdrew and sought out her clit, still partially covered by its hood. Sunnild''s hips rose off Brighid''s back at the sensation, and her fingers dug into his scalp. "Oh, yes!" she repeated.


    Tapping into his Concentration, Aidan started creating Magic Hands to use on the two women. First came a pair of hands to maul Brighid''s bouncing boobs. Aidan hefted them, feeling her flesh bulge between phantasmal fingers, reveling in the sheer weight and size of his Soulmate''s bust. He stroked, kneaded, groped, and pinched her breasts and nipples, all to Brighid''s loud approval.


    Next, Aidan formed a copy of his dick. This he rubbed between Sunnild''s lower lips even as he lapped at her. The magic of the ability meant that only Sunnild could feel the unreal appendage, so Aidan could continue his oral assault without hindrance.


    The harpy''s hips flexed and pumped in time with Aidan''s ministrations, and before long, she begged, "Please, put it in me! I haven''t had you inside in weeks! Please, love, I want you in me!" Aidan obeyed, his ephemeral erection sliding home inside Sunnild despite her attempts to clamp down around it.


    For his fourth and fifth Magic Hands, Aidan created a pair of tongues. However, instead of being smooth like his own, he did his best to create a texture that mimicked Aoife''s catlike muscle. These he applied to Sunnild''s and Brighid''s pussies, dragging the tiny spikes across their lips. They flinched and cried out in tandem at the sensation, then both of them arched and rolled their hips to increase the contact area.


    "Oh, Braihan, is that...?" Brighid panted. "Fuck! So good!"


    Aidan had one final Magic Hand in mind, but he needed permission before he used it, and he felt that Sunnild might need to get a little more worked up before she agreed. He left the cat-tongue lapping at her stiff clit and started to lay kisses along her inner thighs. Sunnild draped one leg over his shoulder in response, her heel digging into his back.


    Both women moved in time with Aidan''s thrusts, real and illusory. Sunnild clung to Brighid''s heaving back with her wings and arms, her hips raised several inches above the copper fur and undulating in a quick, lustful rhythm. Brighid, forced to be somewhat restrained in her motions due to Sunnild laying atop her, still managed to thrust back to meet Aidan.


    He fucked them like that for a minute or two, relying on his earlier orgasm and the control granted to him by his sexual skills to keep from ending things early. Once he felt that Sunnild start to climb toward her own peak, he slowed down a little and bit the soft flesh of her thigh to get her attention.


    "There''s something I''ve never done with you," Aidan told Sunnild. "Do you want me to do to you what I''m doing to Brighid?"


    There was only cloudy confusion in Sunnild''s gray eyes, so Aidan slid a hand up her leg to grasp her ass. He kneaded her firm muscles for a brief moment, then pressed his thumb to her rear entrance. Sunnild''s eyes widened in realization. "Do you want to be mine everywhere, Sunnild?"


    "You''re so big," she panted, hips still thrusting into the air.


    "That''s not a no," he teased, pushing a little harder with his thumb.


    "Will it fit?"


    "He fits so gooood," Brighid moaned. "Let him take you, fill you full, so full!"


    "That''s his tail!" Sunnild hissed back, "not his dick!" Despite her protestations, the harpy wiggled and pushed back against his thumb.


    "I can make it smaller," Aidan soothed Sunnild, "and I''ll stop if it hurts."


    "No," Sunnild said, shaking her head. Aidan felt a stab of disappointment before she clarified, "I want all of it. Do it!"


    Aidan conjured another copy of his manhood with a grin and replaced the thumb at her back door with it. Although his Magic Hands appendages didn''t need lubrication, being mostly not real, there was plenty to use anyway. Sunnild''s groin, lower belly, inner thighs, and ass were all coated with the fragrant fluids dripping from her pussy.


    Maintaining the rhythm of his thrusts into Brighid, Aidan eased off on Sunnild. He stroked her thighs and pressed his lips to her skin as the very tip of the incorporeal cock forced its way into her ass.


    "Hnng!" Sunnild grunted at the intrusion. Her thighs scissored together, clamping down hard around Aidan''s ears. Aidan eased off the pressure at her rear and resumed a slow pace with the imitation cock in her pussy. After a few seconds of that, Sunnild''s thighs started to flex in time with the thrusts, then she rose to meet the next thrust. When her hips pulled back, Aidan pushed the second dick in a little further.


    "Oh, gods, I''m so full," Sunnild panted. "You''re so big in my ass."


    "Do you want me to make it smaller?"


    "Don''t you dare!" As if to emphasize her words, Sunnild dropped her hips, impaling herself another inch. "Ohhh fuck, how can that feel so good? Aidan, oh fuck, Aidan, I''m not gonna last long. Please, I want all of you in me when I cum."


    "Me too," begged Brighid, "pound me, fill me, please, Master, please fill me!"


    "Yeah?" Aidan growled at them, picking up the pace with both. "You want all of me inside you? You want to cum all over me, front and back?"


    "Yes!" cried Sunnild, the back and forth sway of her hips growing frantic.


    "Yes!" shouted Brighid, her rump rippling with the heavy impact of Aidan''s hips against her flesh.


    "Then do it! Cum for me, both of you!" Aidan commanded, ramming his tail and all three cocks¡ªone real and two phantasmal¡ªas deep as they would go in their respective orifices. At the same time, he redoubled his efforts with the feline tongues on Sunnild''s and Brighid''s clits. Knowing that both of them were on edge, Aidan loosened his grip on his own pleasure, and the sudden sensation of fucking two rippling, clutching pussies and a virgin ass soon had him groaning along with them.


    "Oh!" Sunnild shrieked. "Fuck! Fuck my bum! Oh fuck I''m cumming from my bum!" She convulsed, half-sitting then throwing herself backward, legs scissoring open and closed, back arched high and hips humping the air. Inside her, muscles pulsed around the fake dicks that brought her to her peak, attempting to empty it of its nonexistent seed.


    "Cumming, cumming, cumming," Brighid chanted over top of Sunnild. "Fuck us, fill us, breed usssss!" Her inner walls seized tight around his cock, grip so firm that he had to grab hold of her rump for extra leverage to keep pumping into her. His tail, unable to take advantage of that support, could do nothing but undulate in tight circles inside the centaur''s ass.


    "Yes," Aidan hissed, feeling white-hot pleasure surging through him. "Here it comes, take it, take it, take it!" He buried his cocks inside three hot, tight, rippling holes and let loose. Involuntary muscle spasms caused him to hunch against Brighid''s rump with every spurt of his seed into her womb, his body doing its best to ensure fertilization despite the futility of the action.


    It took Aidan a few moments to gather his wits after the intense climax. When he was able to focus again, he found Sunnild curled up on one corner of the bed, still shuddering as glassy gray eyes stared at where Aidan''s hips met Brighid''s rump. Brighid, sensing his return to sanity, rolled her hips back at him.


    "Are you finished with me, my Lord, or can I convince you to ride me again? I can never get enough of you, never be too full of you."


    Her words eliminated any chance that Aidan would soften inside her. "You want more?" he asked, just to hear her answer.


    "Yes, please, Master. I have been so long without you; please, do not stop now."


    Withdrawing the Magic Hands he had dedicated to Sunnild''s pleasure, he focused everything he had on Brighid instead. "As you wish," he said and started moving again.


    Aidan


    Thirdday, 2nd week of the 10th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Late Morning


    When Aidan knocked on Ailis''s door the next morning, he was only a little surprised when he found her wearing a sheer silk blouse. The fabric was only a little paler than the Druid''s skin, but her rosy areolae were visible through the thin cloth. Aidan arched an eyebrow at her risque display, but Ailis paid him no heed.


    "Good morning," she greeted him. "We have much to do, so please, take a seat." She patted a cushion in front of her.


    Aidan''s other eyebrow joined its brother, both climbing toward his hairline. Normally, they sat at the table along with a pile of books and paperwork. Not so today; there were only two tomes beside Ailis, and she sat in a clear space away from the table.


    "What''s the occasion?" he asked as he took his seat.


    "I spent much of the time while you were away researching the task you set me to, my King. I believe I have a solution for you."


    "Task?" Aidan asked, blinking, then remembered. "Oh! Really? You found a way for Brighid and me...?"


    "I cannot be certain that it will work," Ailis cautioned. "This is theoretical spellcraft, and there are few volumes in my possession with any reliable information on the topic. That being said, I am as confident as I can be."


    "Okay," Aidan said, "you have my attention. What''s the spell?"


    "We are going to turn you into a centaur," Ailis said with a smile. "Temporarily, do not worry. Even with your prodigious learning speed, you would not reach the necessary skill level for a permanent version before my daughter''s cycle ended."


    "Not that I want to be a full-time centaur, but couldn''t you cast it on me?"


    Ailis shook her head. "No. Transformation spells that are imposed from outside are always flawed in some way. We need the change to be perfect, especially on the genetic level, if you are to safely stud for Brighid."


    "This still sounds like a high-level spell."


    "It is," Ailis agreed. "I could not find a way to reduce it below Journeyman tier." Aidan blinked; that made it level 50 or above. "Are you up to the challenge of learning it in time?" Ailis smirked at him.


    "You''re damn right I am," Aidan grinned. "So what''s with the setup? Shouldn''t I just be casting as many Beast Magic spells as I can to train?"


    "That is one way, but there is more for you to do than that. Like I said, the transformation must be perfect at every level. That is up to the caster as much as it is the spell, so we must make you an expert at polymorphic magic. You are fortunate that your very first Beast Magic spell is slightly transformative in nature, but Minor Shift will not be enough to train with. So, I am going to start by teaching you two new spells.


    "The first is called Aspect of the Beast, and it allows you to change individual parts of your body. It is a spell with broad applications, so it will be useful to you beyond training. The second is named Barkskin; it is a Wood Magic spell that hardens your skin by turning it into a bark-like material."


    "Woah, woah, wait. What makes you think I can learn Wood Magic?"


    Ailis gave him a flat do you think I''m stupid stare. "Aidan, I am aware that I am not privy to all of your secrets. I do not blame you for keeping them from me. But, please, do not insult my intelligence. You have access to six schools that I know of. A six-path mage is unheard of. Literally unheard of, I checked my histories. And, yet, when I begged you to take control of Caer Macht to protect the Starchasers, you had complete confidence that you would be able to do so."


    Aidan winced. Yeah, he hadn''t been playing his cards as close to his chest as he thought. Whoops. Ailis continued, "And beyond that, you didn''t even flinch at the thought of gaining thirty or forty levels in Beast Magic in a few short weeks. I can only speculate, but you must have a Trait that ensures an unnaturally high affinity for all magic schools."


    Swearing to himself, Aidan hurried through the chant for Sound Barrier. Once it was up, he stared into Ailis''s ice-blue eyes. "Can I trust you, Ailis? Are you ready to throw yourself in with me to the fullest extent? If I tell you this and word gets out, it will be the end of me¡ªand, probably, everyone within a ten-mile radius of me."


    "I have already sworn to be your Vassal, Aidan. What other oaths would you have me make? Have I not proven myself to you?" Ailis looked hurt, and Aidan couldn''t blame her. Just the evening before, he''d told her that he trusted her, but now he was implying that she still didn''t deserve to know his big secret. He let out a sigh.


    "Alright, alright. Sorry, it''s just... this is big. You''ll understand in a second. So, you know that I''m a Chosen, right?" He didn''t wait for her to nod. "Well, it turns out that every Chosen has a special, unique Trait. I guess it''s to help us do whatever it is that our Patrons want us to do. Mine is called Limitless, and... it gives me a permanent 100 affinity with every skill in the world."


    Ailis stared at him for a moment, uncomprehending. Aidan watched as her pupils suddenly shrank to pinholes and her eyes widened until he could see the sclera all around her irises. "Every... skill?" she asked, voice distant. "Permanent?"


    Aidan nodded.


    "Wrong," Ailis muttered. Aidan blinked, but she continued, "All wrong, have to rewrite the whole curriculum." Her gaze sharpened, and she glared at him. "We wasted so much time because you could not bring yourself to trust someone who cannot betray you! I have been teaching you entirely the wrong way! With a Trait like that, you are wasting time training everything a little bit at a time. You could make Grandmaster in a year, maybe less, in any skill! Argh! I have been working on Lore for a century, and you will reach Grandmaster before me!"


    Then she stopped, mid-rant, and grew stock-still. "Aidan?" she asked, voice faint.


    "Yes?" He wasn''t sure what had stopped her, and he didn''t like the way she was looking at him. She looked hungry.


    "Any skill, you said? Does that include the Arcana?"


    "Arcana?" The word sounded familiar to Aidan, but he certainly didn''t have a skill by that name.


    "The Arcana are the high magics, those used by the Powers and the Gods to work their miracles. They are so rare in mortal hands that we do not even know the names of all the skills. I do know one, though: Language of Origin. It is said that Language of Origin allows a mage to speak words in the language of the Gods that have a physical effect on the world and people around them."


    Ailis''s gaze bored into his, and she asked, "Does that sound familiar to you?"


    Zurai


    Aidan''s current status sheet:


    Brighid''s current status sheet:


    Sunnild''s current status sheet:


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Orange, Somedude, and Lupus for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 51: Embers in the Wind

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Thirdday, 2nd week of the 10th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Late Morning


    Caer Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    "Wait, wait," Aidan protested. "You''re saying that when I talk in Divine Speech, I''m actually using some mythical skill? If that''s the case, why isn''t it listed on my status screen?"


    "No," Ailis shook her head. "I do not know how to use Language of Origin or any of the other Arcana. However, the results of your Divine Speech are too similar to be a coincidence, would you not agree?"


    "Coincidences rarely are," he had to agree. "Do you think I should focus on trying to gain the skill?"


    Ailis chewed on her lip. "No, not right now. It is a gamble, and I do not think we can afford it. With your Quest deadlines coming up soon and the dragon lurking, you should focus on the most reliable paths to advancement."


    "What do you recommend, then?"


    "I may be biased, but I think Beast Magic is still worth pursuing. It is one of the most versatile common magics. Few other schools offer as much utility, although it lacks direct offense. For that, although Karsarrym will be expecting it, Fire Magic may be your best route. It is the definitive warmage school for a reason. The difficulty will be in finding someone to guide your growth in it; Brighid is the only remaining fire mage, and I believe you already surpass her in skill."


    Aidan frowned. "Only Brighid? But I remember someone slinging fireballs against the manikins at the Battle of Ceallach Macht."


    Ailis nodded and let out a quiet sigh. "Yes, that was Eoin. He was with the second caravan when Karsarrym attacked, and his magic proved less effective than yours¡ªbut similarly distracting."


    "Ah." Another name for the list. "Are there any other options for teachers in other offensive schools? I''d rather not rely too heavily on fire."


    Ailis wiggled her hand. "We have a couple of air mages, and I am sure the Sisterhood does as well. That said, I would urge you to concentrate on your strengths rather than trying to shore up your weaknesses. There are two things I can offer to persuade you in that regard:"


    Ailis held up one finger. "One, the relationship between level and power with spells is not linear, and this becomes more and more true as their tier increases. I do not know the details of your magic, but I can assure you that whatever you receive for reaching Journeyman in Fire Magic will be a defining spell in your repertoire."


    A second finger joined the first. "Two, while I cannot teach you Fire Magic, I can teach you how to make your own spells, including multi-school spells. As I am sure you have already observed, my Lord, each additional school needed to cast a spell increases its tier and thus its base power¡ªand that is a nonlinear increase as well."


    "That explains some things I''d been wondering about," Aidan said with a nod. "I knew that multi-school spells are more powerful¡ªor, at least, that mine are. And, well, Phoenix''s Pyre, the spell I used against the Taig, uses four schools, but it only requires one level in each."


    Ailis''s eyes widened a fraction, and her complexion paled even more than normal. Then she shook her head and gave a short, sharp laugh. "I should have suspected as much. Lord Aidan, three-school spells are things used by legendary archmages to win wars or prevent them. I have never heard of one that requires four schools, but then again, I also would never have thought it possible to revive the dead."


    After taking a deep breath to steady herself, the silver-haired Druid continued, "I cannot guide you through creating another spell of that caliber directly, as I simply lack your breadth of skill. I have made several lesser¡ªand I cannot believe I am forced to use such a term to describe them¡ªspells using my two schools, Beast and Wood Magic. Although I am confident that the task will grow more complex with each additional school added into the mix, the principles should be the same."


    Slender fingers touched the back of Aidan''s hand. He looked down to see Ailis''s hand retreating from the brief contact, but he twisted his wrist and caught her, intertwining their fingers. Ailis''s cheeks bloomed red, but she did not pull away.


    "You think I should create a high-level, multi-school signature spell as a trump card against the dragon?" Aidan asked. Ailis''s head bobbed in response.


    "Yes. Even if it uses Fire Magic as its largest component, with everything you have access to, between the two of us, I am confident we can come up with something that will overcome any defenses it might raise against you."


    "Well then," Aidan said with a grin and a squeeze of Ailis''s hand, "let''s get started!"


    Aidan


    Mid-Afternoon


    "Alright, alright, that''s enough for now," Aidan declared with a self-deprecating laugh. "If you pour any more knowledge into me, my head will explode."


    "Hmm," Ailis hummed. "I suppose we can take a break for now."


    "For now? Really, Ailis, I''m about at my limit for today."


    "Oh, I am sure you are," she replied with a small, smug smile. "But I was promised that I would get to have you today, and I am not nearly done with you yet."


    "Oh," Aidan said, then, with a grin of his own, "Oh! Well, that''s different, then. There are some things I need to do in an official capacity still today, but shall we reconvene this evening around sunset for dinner, then see where the night takes us?"


    Ailis leaned in and pressed her lips to Aidan''s. When she pulled back a minute later, she murmured, "You can tell my daughter not to expect you back this evening. She gave you to me, and I intend to make the most of that time."


    Aidan had to shift as the hunger in her tone caused an inevitable reaction below his belt. Ailis noticed and gave him a feral smile before trailing a hand down his chest. "I see you are as eager as I am, but we both have duties to attend to before the evening. I will have dinner prepared when you return. Go now, before I decide not to wait."


    "Yes, ma''am!" Aidan said with a laugh. A part of him was tempted to stay and indulge, but he really did have several important things left to handle. He rose to his feet, momentarily towering over Ailis in a way that he couldn''t with Brighid even when she was sitting, then bent down to kiss her again. The Druid growled into his mouth, her hands stroking his back for a moment before she pushed him away.


    "Go!" she said, and Aidan complied.


    Aidan


    Mid-Afternoon


    "Oh, good afternoon, my Lord," Lail greeted Aidan as he came to the cross-tunnel leading to the barracks complexes. There were five other centaurs and two harpies with her, each armed and armored. "Are you going out?"


    "Good afternoon, Lail," Aidan replied. "Yes, I have some business out in the city. Can you introduce me to your companions? I assume you''ve all been recruited by Cai and Llwyd?"


    "Of course, my Lord," Lail said. "This," she indicated a bearded centaur with faded scars crisscrossing his arms, "is Ruari. We are the Lieutenants on duty at the moment; Ruari is in charge of your personal bodyguard squad, while I lead the squad tasked with protecting your consorts."


    Aidan frowned. "I realize that you''re probably still understaffed, but isn''t it difficult to protect three people with the same number of guards as are being devoted to me alone?"


    Lail shook her head. "Perhaps that would be so if our charges were more active, but Lady Brighid rarely leaves the hill, Chancellor Ailis does so only slightly more often and then only to the Forum, and Lady Sunnild has been absent for the last three weeks. Given there is only one entrance into Caer Macht, the Captains instructed us to focus on that while our charges are inside. I do still have one guard on each of them at all times, my Lord. And that is not counting your Elementals."


    Aidan nodded. "Alright, that makes sense. I''m afraid I''m going to be adding to your burden, however; I have another person for you to watch over, and there will be more traffic in and out of Caer Macht in the coming days."


    Lail grimaced, then shrugged. "As you will, my Lord. I understand that the Captains are still interviewing and recruiting, so we will make do until our numbers increase."


    "Well, needs must," Aidan sighed. "I''ll talk to Cai or Llwyd later. Alright, Ruari, you can introduce me to your team as we walk. Keep up the good work, everyone."


    "Of course, my Lord." Ruari moved with surprising grace and took up a position to Aidan''s left. Three of the other centaurs joined him, surrounding their charge. "My name is Ruari Scarhide. I was with the main force at the Battle of Ceallach Macht and was wounded early in the fighting. The healers were tending to me when the vines burst from the ground."


    Ruari fell silent for a moment. Aidan glanced over at his bodyguard; he had a dark expression on his face. Seeing Aidan''s look, Ruari shook his head and continued speaking. "I will not dwell on what happened. Suffice to say that your magic saved more than just the Captain''s life. Enough about me for now; let me introduce you to the others.


    "To your right is Lili." Lili was an inch or two taller than Aidan, with a blue-gray coat and black hair. She bore a pair of handaxes on her belt and a crossbow on her back. "Although she does not look it, she has been fighting longer than I have. She fought in the Mist Stalker war and is¡ªwas¡ªone of our most senior border patrol officers."


    "I missed the action at Ceallach Macht," the woman in question said in a cool soprano voice. "I was posted at the far end of our territory, and the call to arms did not reach me in time. I am grateful to you for preserving our tribe, Lord Aidan; without your presence, we would not have survived."


    Aidan shoved her thanks into the mental closet with all the other similar sentiments he''d received. "Why join my Guard if you already had a high position in the border patrol?"


    Lili chuckled. "As Ruari says, I am older than I look. No offense intended, my Lord, but when Llwyd offered me a chance at a job that does not require eight hours of running a day, I jumped at the chance. As for why he considered me to start with, let us just say that I have had rather vocal disagreements with the old Council regarding our enforced isolation."


    Aidan nodded. That makes sense; I bet she looked the other way for more than a few innocent border violations. That said, I may have to keep an eye on her; what''s to say she won''t look the other way here if I do something that she disagrees with? Out loud, he said, "Well, welcome aboard, Lili."


    "Taking the rearguard is Nansaidh, and our vanguard is Cairi. Both were at Ceallach Macht, though their tales are a little happier than mine."


    "We were with the archers," Cairi said, looking over her shoulder. She was a plain-looking brunette with rich brown fur. A longbow was slung over her shoulder.


    "Although only under protest in my case," Nansaidh added. She was a mountain centaur, shorter and stockier than the others in her squad. She carried a bow as well, but it was a short recurve bow, and a shortsword and shield hung at her sides. "I have to run harder to keep up with all you longshanks, and I am better with my sword than my bow. That said, given what happened, it probably saved my life."


    "Pay no attention to Nan''s grumbling," Cairi laughed. "She is one of those people who is never happier than when she has something to complain about. The two of us have been friends since we were children, and, well, you are the most exciting thing to happen in a generation, Lord Aidan."


    "You are the future of the tribe," Nansaidh agreed. "If we help protect you, we protect all Starchasers."


    Well, it was hard to argue with their enthusiasm, at least. "I hope I can live up to your expectations," Aidan said.


    "You already have!" chirped Cairi. "There are Mist Stalkers in the city, my Lord, and yet there is no fighting. I know you are new to the area, but that is a miracle all of its own!"


    "Speaking of the Mist Stalkers, do you know where they were quartered?"


    "Yes, my Lord," Ruari responded. "Cairi, please lead the way."


    "Aye-aye, Lieutenant!"


    Zurai


    Aidan''s current status sheet:


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Orange, Somedude, and Lupus for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 52: Coexistence

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Thirdday, 2nd week of the 10th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Mid-Afternoon


    Ceallach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    The Mist Stalkers had set up shop¡ªliterally, in one case; one of the merchants was doing brisk business out of the back of his wagon¡ªat the eastern edge of the city core. A wary group of older Starchasers watched from a distance, but several younger centaurs and quite a few harpies mingled with the catfolk. When they spotted Aidan making his way towards them, the merchants waved and called out to him, and Chief Searlas''s representative strode out of the thin mists clinging to the city streets.


    Coming to a stop a respectful distance away and eyeing Aidan''s bodyguards, the man bowed and greeted Aidan. "Good afternoon, Lord Aidan. Thank you for providing such a warm welcome for us. To be honest, I half-expected an angry mob, but your people have been quite civil, all told."


    "I''m glad to hear it," Aidan replied. "Our path through the future lies in cooperation, not division. I apologize for waiting so long to get in touch with you; I had urgent business to attend to."


    The man, Antoin was his name, laughed and winked. "Yes, so I heard. Your ... retainer Aoife let us know what happened. I can hardly begrudge your reunion with your consort; I fully intend to pounce on my wife as soon as she arrives."


    Aidan blushed. He should have expected that. "Yes, well, anyway, is there anything I can for you or the other Mist Stalkers here?"


    Antoin shrugged. "For us in general? Not much. We have roofs over our heads and food on our tables, and your people assure me that we will be included in future lotteries for permanent housing. That being said, my task is not to oversee our enclave here, Lord Aidan, not long-term. I serve that function for the moment, but the next caravan will have our permanent representative. My job is to assist you."


    Aidan blinked. "Assist me?"


    "Yes. Chief Searlas''s instructions to me were two-fold. First, I am to assist you in forming a corps of serving staff, and second, I am to keep an eye on Lady Aoife''s treatment. From what I''ve seen of you, I have little worry about that second task."


    "Ohh," Aidan breathed out. "I forgot all about that, somehow."


    The catfolk''s lips tugged up into a smirk. "I find that enthusiastic greetings from lovely young women tend to do that to a man. Worry not, my Lord, I will still be directing matters here for another week or so. All I need from you for the moment is to decide whether you trust Lord Searlas enough to let me recruit your staff for you or whether you''d prefer to do it yourself."


    I wish he hadn''t phrased it that way, but it''s probably a test. Seems like the kind of thing Searlas would do. "I trust Lord Searlas to look after his own interests, and those of his people, first. That said, it seems to me that there''s no reason to pick one or the other. If you would put together a list of your choices, I will work on one as well from my end, and we can compare notes once you are free to address the matter more fully."


    Antoin gave Aidan a fanged grin. "Well put, my Lord, and well-reasoned. I will do as you ask. I do not wish to assume¡ªdo you want your personal staff to be exclusively Starchasers, do you want to spread the positions around equally, or do you want to recruit solely according to merit?"


    "Hmm." That was an interesting question. These were the people who would prepare his food, wash his clothes, clean his quarters, and be silent observers to his personal life. In short, one of the premier vectors for spies and assassins.


    Starchasers would, in theory, be the most loyal to him and the least likely to betray him to outside interests. On the other hand, it would be perceived as a clear sign of favoritism by his city''s people, which would reduce their support for him and his policies.


    Recruiting according to merit spoke to his American ideological roots, but it had its own problems; the most competent people also tended to be the most ambitious, and ambition was not a good trait in a servant.


    Equal employment was the best on a political level, but it might involve taking sub-optimal applicants depending on how the process went. It also increased the risk of inserting a spy into the ranks.


    "Let''s go with merit, with an eye towards diversity if two applicants have similar qualifications," Aidan finally decided.


    If Antoin had an opinion on Aidan''s choice, he didn''t show it. "Very good, my Lord. I will send out feelers and start compiling a list. In the meantime, duty compels me to inquire about Lady Aoife."


    Aidan was careful to keep his face neutral. "What do you mean?"


    "As I said earlier, she apprised me of the situation yesterday, but to be honest, I expected her to be with you, my Lord. However, to the best of my knowledge, she has not been seen in your company since you parted ways yesterday morning. I am not sure where she slept last night, but it was not in your fortress. Neglect is a form of abuse, my Lord." That last came out with a certain stiffness.


    Aidan frowned. "Less than a day without my presence is hardly neglect, Antoin. Especially when Aoife hasn''t experienced anything approaching freedom in months. I''m giving her as much leash as I can."


    "May I be blunt with you, Lord Aidan?"


    Aidan cocked an eyebrow. "Go ahead."


    "Lady Aoife is testing you. I have seen it time and again when a slave changes hands to a more permissive master. She is pushing the boundaries, trying to find out what will make you snap. Right now, she wants to see how long it will take before you seek her out. Next, Aoife will be rude to your or your consorts, or destructive in small ways, or something similar. In short, she wants you to define the limits."


    Aidan''s frown deepened. "There are no limits. I do not want¡ªwill not have¡ªa slave. Aoife is as free a woman as I can let her be."


    "Bullshit."


    Antoin''s reply made Aidan blink. A moment later, he felt fury boiling up inside of him. "Excuse me?" he asked in a hard, cold voice.


    "Regardless of your wishes or desires, Aoife is your slave. So long as she bears that collar around her neck, her life will never be her own. You own her, and she has that fact engraved onto her soul. From her perspective, there are boundaries. Her existence is defined by them, and she will not be comfortable until she knows what they are."


    Antoin paused for a second, but before Aidan could retort, the catfolk snorted and continued. "Besides, you have hold of her leash in another respect. That girl has it bad for you, my Lord. I do not know her well enough to see if it is love or lust, but she wants you to chase her. She is a woman who revels in being pursued, I think. Think about it, my Lord. She has not been particularly subtle; everyone in the caravan saw her kiss and touch you during the day, then sleep in a separate tent at night. Lady Aoife is teasing you, trying to provoke you into a response."


    That brought Aidan up short, and he remembered something Aoife herself told him a few days earlier. "She still isn''t a slave," he replied, although he knew it was a weak response.


    "She is, and until you admit that fact to yourself, there will be a rift between you. If you are not careful, the feelings she has for you now will curdle and turn against you."


    Then Antoin shrugged. "However, as you say, one day is not neglect. Your affairs are yours to conduct, Lord Aidan. I offer my advice out of thanks for the hand you extended in friendship to my people; what you do with it is up to you. As long as Lady Aoife is happy when I return to Termondoon, it does not matter how that is accomplished."


    Something among the catfolk merchants seemed to catch Antoin''s attention. "Duty calls, Lord Aidan. If I may be excused?"


    Aidan waved his hand in dismissal. "Go ahead," he said. Watching the man leave, his frown deepened. Is he right? Does Aoife really still think of herself as a slave, and have I been mistreating her by letting her run free? Could that really be true?


    He shook the thoughts free from his head with a growl. No sense falling down that rabbit hole at the moment. He still had work to do, and when he decided to find Aoife, the damned bracelet would lead him to her.


    Aidan


    Late Afternoon


    Tracking down Ysbail took more effort. It seemed that, when not diving into the Labyrinth, the Adventurer had taken to training one of her party members, a young harpy. According to Cairi, said lessons took place in seemingly-random locations and at completely arbitrary times. Aidan ended up asking people they passed whether they''d seen Ysbail, then following the lead and inquiring there.


    The sun was crowning the distant mountains in the west when they sighted Ysbail¡ªhard to mistake, given her size¡ªand a black-feathered harpy running around the perimeter of the city. Or, rather, the younger girl was running; Ysbail barely needed to trot to keep pace with her pupil. When the Adventurer spotted Aidan and his entourage approaching, she took her student by the shoulder and guided her to a stop a short distance from them.


    "Take a break, Wulfryn. Remember to cool down with a short jog," Ysbail told to the dark-feathered girl.


    "Yes, ma''am!" came the panting response. Aidan watched as the harpy, her clothes plastered to her body with sweat, began to jog in a wide circle around them.


    "Welcome back," Ysbail greeted Aidan.


    "Thanks, Ysbail. I hear you''ve been busy in the Labyrinth?"


    The centaur smirked at him. "You might say that. The first stratum boss is an ugly fucker."


    Aidan couldn''t help but grin back. "That was quick! Did you beat it yet?"


    Ysbail shook her head. "No, we just reached it on our last run, and it was late in the day. Besides, rumor was that you were due back any day, and I know from Brighid that you have a quest to kill the boss."


    "I do," Aidan confirmed, "but isn''t your party already full?"


    "Yes and no," Ysbail replied. "I do have four others, but Ceirios is growing increasingly uncomfortable with dungeon diving. She does not have the temperament for it. For that matter, Anwn comes along out of duty rather than desire. I would gladly switch them out for you and Ailis."


    "Unfortunately, I don''t think I can justify having us both along. I need to kill that boss, though, so I''ll happily join."


    As Aidan finished speaking, the black-feathered harpy jogged over to them and collapsed against Ysbail''s flank. She threw one arm across the centaur''s back and used the other to wipe sweat away from her eyes. She looked maybe a couple of years older than Sunnild, with a somewhat softer build. Where Sunnild had an athlete''s body, slim and toned, Ysbail''s companion had wider hips, her sweat-soaked shirt clung to a slightly fuller bust, and her muscles weren''t as well-defined.


    "I still do not know why you will not let me fly," the younger woman complained as she caught her breath. She flashed Aidan a bright smile and gave him a half-hearted wave when she noticed him looking at her.


    "Because you rely on it too much. What happens if the second stratum is all tight tunnels and you cannot get more than a few feet off the ground? Besides, it exercises a different set of muscles." Ysbail tousled the harpy''s crest-feathers. "Aidan, meet Wulfryn. You asked me to involve the harpies, and she is the result. Wulf, meet Lord Aidan, the one you have been paying taxes to."


    Wulfryn''s eyes widened when she heard Ysbail''s introduction. She pushed away from Ysbail''s flank and snapped off a salute. "Wing-sister Wulfryn, at your service! Metal maven, shadow savant, support specialist, and Ysbail''s number-one student!"


    "You are my only student," Ysbail snarked before turning her attention back to Aidan. "She takes a bit of getting used to, but she can back up most of her boasts."


    "Aw," Wulfryn''s face fell.


    "Oh, hush," Ysbail told her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and pulling the harpy mage against her side. "You are still my adorable apprentice." Wulfryn''s face lit up at the praise, though she ducked her head and pressed it to Ysbail''s side in an attempt to hide her blush.


    "Anyway," the centaur continued, "you bring a lot more firepower than Ceirios, and you can heal as well, so you can take her spot. I know, I know," she said, waving her free hand in dismissal as Aidan opened his mouth, "you are not as good a healer as she is, but the extra firepower you bring will make fights shorter."


    "If Anwn wants out, we can bring Sunnild along, too. She''s a lot lower level, but believe me when I say that she''s a fantastic defender, and I''d like to get her some experience."


    "Hmmm," Ysbail mused. "I am a little worried that she will not be able to withstand attacks from the nastier critters in there, but we can give her a shot. If she works out, Labhruinn can shift to a more aggressive role."


    "Thanks, Ysbail. I''m impressed with your progress and looking forward to seeing a professional at work. When are you planning to enter the Labyrinth again?"


    Ysbail shrugged. "Anwn and Ceirios were the ones restricting the pace. We can go whenever you have the time. It will take us a few hours to get down to the bottom of the first stratum, so keep that in mind."


    Aidan cocked his head, thinking through what he had on his plate. "How about the day after next?"


    "Sounds good. We will meet you at the base of the hill at dawn in two days, then." Ysbail dropped her arm from around Wulfryn''s shoulder and slapped her on the butt. "Alright, apprentice, enough rest for you. I think two more laps should do for now, then we can move on to weapon training."


    With a wordless groan, Wulfryn took off again, stretching her legs as she picked up speed. Aidan raised an eyebrow at Ysbail. "Whatever happened to ''wanting a stallion who could tug at your tits while he plowed your pussy?''"


    The Adventurer shrugged and grinned. "What can I say? She is cute and eager to please. Besides, that was for Brighid''s benefit. Any time you want a ride, let me know." She turned and started to follow her apprentice, tail flicking from side to side in wide, revealing arcs as she went. Aidan could only shake his head in bemusement¡ªhe had enough on his plate as it was, and he was pretty sure Ysbail knew it.


    Aidan focused on the bundle of information in the back of his head that represented Aoife. She was somewhere to the northeast, about a kilometer away, which put her outside the city''s inhabited section. There was no single overriding emotion echoing down the link, but Aidan didn''t detect any signs of distress. He hesitated for several moments, considering Antoin''s words from earlier.


    Should I go after her? he wondered. After everything she''s been through, I want to give her space, but is that the right thing to do?


    "My Lord?" Aidan''s head bodyguard prompted.


    Aidan grimaced and shook his head. She''s okay for now, and Ailis is expecting me. "We''re done here; let''s head back. Doesn''t pay to keep the Chancellor waiting, even if I do outrank her."


    "Of course, my Lord," Ruari responded amid snickers from the women.


    "Silverhair already has you house trained, eh boss?" Cairi teased.


    Aidan wiggled his hand back and forth. "Ehh, a little of that, a little of the reverse. More to the point, I told her I''d join her for dinner, and I don''t like being late."


    Zurai


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Orange, and Lupus for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 53: Warmth of a Smile

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Thirdday, 2nd week of the 10th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Early Evening


    Caer Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Aidan left his bodyguards at Caer Macht''s entrance and made his way down the side-tunnel to Ailis''s quarters. He knocked at her door, waited for her to call out, "Enter!" then slipped inside.


    Ailis stood in front of the fireplace, her back to Aidan as she busied herself cooking. He couldn''t see the food, but he could smell the distinctive scent of grilled meat above the faint odor of woodsmoke. Ailis looked over her shoulder as Aidan approached and favored him with a smile.


    "Good timing, Lord Aidan," she said. "The steaks are almost ready¡ªunless you like yours charred like my barbarian of a daughter."


    Aidan laughed. He''d noticed that tendency of Brighid''s himself. "No, thank you. Pink in the middle is fine with me. Red''s even better."


    "Hmm, I knew I liked you for a reason," Ailis teased before returning her attention to the grill. "Salads are already prepared and on the table, and you know where the drinks are."


    Aidan ignored the implied directions and stepped up beside Ailis. Her tail swished from side to side and her hooves tapped against the stone floor as she shifted her weight every few seconds. Aidan rested his hand on Ailis''s furred back; she startled at his touch, muscles rippling beneath his fingers.


    "You''re nervous," he said, stroking her back in an attempt at soothing her down. Her fur felt different from Brighid''s, softer, almost like crushed velvet.


    "I have no idea what you mean," Ailis responded, although she turned her head away from him.


    "Ailis," Aidan scolded.


    "...Fine," she said after a drawn-out silence. "Yes, I am nervous about tonight. And why not? I am in the process of cooking a meal for my daughter''s mate with the express purpose of luring him into my bed. I am a vassal trying to seduce her liege, an old woman wooing a stallion a quarter of my age, and a monster trying to atone for misdeeds with her body. None of which, I hasten to add, I have any experience with."


    Aidan stepped closer and ran his hand along Ailis''s spine up onto her elven torso underneath her diaphanous shirt. She shivered but did not pull away. "Right now," he said, "the only woman I''m interested in is my friend and mentor, Ailis Silverhair. We can address all those other Ailises later; they are each valid and deserving of attention, but there''s only so much of me to go around. Okay?"


    Aidan continued rubbing his hand up and down Ailis''s back as he waited for her response. It didn''t take long; after only a second or two, Ailis''s shoulders relaxed, and she chuckled. "You have a way with words, Lord Aidan. I accept your terms."


    "I don''t suppose I can persuade you to drop the ''Lord,'' at least while we''re alone? Maybe just for tonight?"


    "Hmm," Ailis hummed as she turned, pressing her chest to his. Aidan could feel the soft swells of her breasts as she tilted her head back the fraction of an inch she needed to look into his eyes from this close distance. "I like it, though. You will need to be persuasive, my Lord."


    Well, that was an obvious invitation, and Aidan had no intention of letting it go unanswered. He swayed forward and met Ailis''s parted lips with his own. Her tongue darted out to tangle with Aidan''s, first probing into his mouth before retreating, drawing him into hers. Aidan flattened his hand against Ailis''s spine, pulling her close as he leaned into the kiss. Ailis''s breathing picked up within a few seconds, and Aidan felt two hard points digging into his chest.


    "Mm," the older centaur moaned, pulling back the barest distance needed to break the liplock. "You are remarkably good at that, Aidan. If you do not stop, we will both be eating blackened steak tonight."


    Aidan smirked. She said that, but ... "Do you want me to stop?"


    In answer, Ailis reached up and cupped the back of his head, then tugged him forward. "Never," she murmured against his lips.


    "I didn''t think so," Aidan replied, then leaned forward, forcing Ailis to arch her back as he let loose his hunger upon her. Her slender fingers tightened in his hair as she accepted Aidan''s ravenous advances.


    Still, Ailis pushed him away a minute later, cheeks flushed and breath short. "I really do need to finish cooking, Lord Aidan."


    Aidan felt a growl building in his throat at the deliberate provocation¡ªenhanced by the caress of Ailis''s fingers stroking his scalp¡ªbut reminded himself that anticipation would make the end of the evening all the sweeter. He backed off, not bothering to hide his reluctance from Ailis.


    "We''ll finish this later," Aidan rumbled.


    Ailis smirked. Familiar flames danced behind her eyes; in that, at least, she and her daughter were alike. "I look forward to it. But I also look forward to dinner, so please, help yourself to a drink and take a seat."


    Aidan let his hand slip down to Ailis''s hip and gave her a squeeze, then stepped back and turned to find himself something to drink. The larger living quarters in Caer Macht had various useful minor enchantments, including magical iceboxes, and Ailis kept a small stock of blackberry mead in hers. She rarely drank anything but tea or water, but she knew Aidan''s preferences by now.


    After pouring himself a glass of alcohol, Aidan took a seat at the table. A moment later, Ailis joined him, laying down beside him and depositing a pair of plates on the table. "Seared Nairn tusker steaks with garlic-and-butter sauce?" Aidan guessed, eyeing the cuts of meat.


    "You remembered!" Ailis nudged him with her shoulder.


    "Of course. You didn''t think I was asking those questions for no reason, did you?" Aidan slipped his right arm around Ailis''s waist and gave her a tug. She leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder.


    "It was one possibility," she admitted. "Please bear with me. I am still struggling to adjust to the recent changes."


    "Don''t worry," Aidan told her, "you''re doing well. Brighid had nothing but good things to say about the way you handled the city while I was away."


    Ailis snorted. "Was that before or after you finished pounding her into the bed?"


    "Oh, after, of course," Aidan smirked at her. "She was much too busy with Sunnild before."


    "And your new Mist Stalker woman, I assume."


    "Actually, no." Aidan took a bite of the steak. "Mm, this is excellent. But no, Aoife is ... complicated. But I''d rather not get into that right now; tonight is about you and me."


    "Thank you. It is my favorite for a reason¡ªand I confess that it is one of the few meals I know how to cook." Ailis followed Aidan''s example, starting in on her meal. After a few bites, she responded with a smile, "Very well, keep your secrets for now, but I will have them out of you eventually.


    "It''s less of a secret than a problem that doesn''t have a good solution." Aidan shrugged, then changed the subject. "So, Brighid comes by her aversion to cooking and cleaning honestly, then?"


    Ailis straightened and glanced around the room, a blush suffusing her cheeks. "I spent an hour cleaning! What did I miss?" After a moment, she turned to Aidan, her eyes narrowed, and smacked his shoulder.


    "I didn''t mean anything by it," he chuckled. "I just know that Brighid hates having to clean and only knows how to prepare a few simple meals. That doesn''t seem like the kind of thing you let stand unless you had similar limitations."


    Ailis looked away, but Aidan looped his arm around her waist and tugged her close. "Don''t worry," he said, "I don''t think any less of you for it. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses; they''re what make us interesting."


    "A philosopher now, are you?" Ailis teased, then took a sip of her tea.


    "I wouldn''t go that far, but I have my own views on how the world works. And how it should work."


    "Oh? Do tell."


    "Well, okay. Everyone''s imperfect, right?" Aidan made a vague gesture with his fork. "Perfection is a worthy goal, but it isn''t an attainable one. We should always strive to be better than we are, but people take that too far, at least where I come from. They''re so afraid of showing imperfection that they refuse to admit their mistakes."


    Ailis nodded. "I am familiar with the phenomenon." She grimaced and shook her head. "Nor am I immune to it."


    Aidan rubbed her back. "This isn''t directed at you. You know the errors you made, even if it took you a while to realize them and begin to correct them. Anyway, my opinion is that mistakes are the way we learn. If you do things right all the time, that means you already know how to do it. You aren''t learning, aren''t growing. Accidents are opportunities, not something to be afraid of. Within reason, of course; a mistake that costs someone else their life is still something to avoid. I''m talking about day-to-day things."


    "An interesting line of thought," Ailis murmured. "It gives me insight into who you are."


    "How about you?" Aidan turned the question around. "What high-minded ideas drive you?"


    The silver-haired Druid snorted and smacked his shoulder again. "That is a loaded question. Still..." she chewed on a few forkfuls of salad while she pondered. "Adversity. Much like your view on mistakes, I believe that we only learn when overcoming challenges. A happy, safe, placid life leads to stagnation and decay. I saw an example of it when I was young."


    Ailis took another bite of her steak before continuing. "When I was still an apprentice, the hunters almost wiped out the population of blizzard drakes in and around our territory. At first, everything seemed fine, but the lack of apex predators allowed the wolves and other mid-tier predators to breed out of control, and that, in turn, meant that the prey animals almost vanished. The following years were lean¡ªvery lean."


    Aidan nodded. "I can see how that could happen, yeah. And I understand what you''re saying. It''s a harsher version of my own ideas, kind of. People rarely make mistakes if they aren''t being challenged, after all. But the end result is different, I think, and that''s important. Your way encourages pushing people because it''s what''s best for them, while mine gives them the time they need to grow on their own."


    "A matter of perspective, I think," Ailis conceded. "I can see the merits of your way, and mine has led me to ... overreach. But I still believe there is validity in it."


    "I agree. And, now that you''ve made the mistake," Aidan smiled at his Chancellor, "of taking it too far, you''ll be better prepared for the future. Another step towards unattainable perfection."


    "Hmm," Ailis set down her fork and dabbed a cloth against her mouth, then rose to her hooves with a single graceful movement. "Lord Aidan, do you care to see how close we can come to perfection ... together?" She gave him a sultry look and walked over to the bedroom. At the doorway, she paused to pull off her shirt before looking over her shoulder at him. "Well? Are you coming?"


    Aidan looked down at his mostly-finished steak, then back up at the swish of Ailis''s tail as she disappeared around the corner. He gave another glance at the remains of his meal, then shrugged and rose from the table. "Not yet," he quipped, "but I''m getting there!"


    Aidan followed Ailis into her bedchamber, pausing in the doorway to admire the sight waiting for him. He tugged at the laces of his tunic and shrugged out of it, letting it drop to his feet alongside Ailis''s shirt, all the while sweeping his eyes across Ailis''s pale, bare skin.


    The Druid stood facing him, her breasts presented for his approval, pink nipples hardening under the heat of his gaze. Ailis''s hands were clasped together before her, framing her chest from her modest bosom to the ridges of her abdominal muscles. Aidan could sense that she was still nervous from the way her legs flexed, as if she couldn''t decide whether to step forward to embrace him or turn and flee.


    Rather than force her to make a choice, Aidan stepped up to Ailis, cupped her chin in one hand, and kissed her. She shuddered, then leaned forward, pressing herself against his chest and parting her lips. Aidan could make out the faint taste of steak on her lips, but that thought vanished as her tongue emerged to meet his and her hard nipples dug into his pectorals.


    Ailis tilted her head back, ceding control of the kiss to Aidan. He brought his arms up, resting one hand on the small of her back and trailing the other across her shoulders and spine. His touch seemed to have the desired effect; the tension in Ailis''s body slowly flowed out of her, and soon enough, she had one hand tangled in his hair and the other tugging at his pants'' laces.


    As soon as Ailis loosened his laces enough to fish out his hard length, she broke off the kiss and knelt down in front of Aidan. Aidan let his hands slide up to her shoulder and neck and smiled down at the woman who once sent him to his death. "You don''t have to do¡ª"


    He cut off with a groan as Ailis''s head moved forward, engulfing him in her mouth. She slid forward, swallowing Aidan''s length bit by bit until her nose nestled against his trimmed pubic hairs. Ailis''s throat rippled around the upper half of his dick while her tongue squirmed against the base of his shaft. Ice-blue eyes gazed up at him with defiance as if daring him to complete his statement.


    Instead, Aidan ran his fingers through Ailis''s silver hair, neither pushing nor pulling. Her gaze softened, and she started to bob her head in slow, smooth strokes. The sensations were exquisite, drawing appreciative moans from Aidan as he gave in to the pleasure Ailis seemed determined to give him.


    Still, he didn''t want this to be a one-sided affair. He shifted the hand in Ailis''s hair around until he was cupping the back of her head, then ran the pad of his thumb along the lower ridge of her ear.


    Ailis moaned around her mouthful at the touch, her eyelids fluttering closed for a moment before popping open again. A familiar-looking spark danced within her eyes now, a tiny flame of lust that Aidan recognized from his experience with Brighid. He felt Ailis''s hands upon him then, one stroking his right thigh, the other slipping between his legs to trace fingertips across his sack.


    Ailis treated Aidan''s family jewels with delicate care, trailing soft touches across sensitive skin. Her eyes burned into his as she expertly shepherded him toward orgasm, her hands, lips, tongue, and throat all working in concert to bring Aidan to his peak. He couldn''t help but respond, both hands now on her head, stroking her hair, teasing her ears, scratching against her scalp.


    "I''m close," Aidan warned his lover.


    Ailis backed her mouth off his length long enough to murmur, "Will you have enough left to mount me?" against his tip before swallowing him whole once more.


    "Yes," Aidan hissed back, gritting his teeth in an attempt at prolonging the pleasure.


    Ailis seemed to take that as a challenge. She redoubled her efforts, seeking out his most sensitive spots with her hands and tongue and bobbing her head rapidly, letting his tip pop in and out of her throat with each stroke.


    Aidan could only take a few seconds of the onslaught before he groaned and lurched forward, instinct driving him to plunge himself as deep as possible within the woman before him. He squeezed his eyes shut as Ailis swallowed around his pulsing shaft, drinking down every spurt of his seed. Her hands clutched at his bare ass, holding him in place until the last of his orgasm dribbled out of him.


    Aidan opened his eyes again when the cool air of Ailis''s bedchamber washed over his wet length. He looked down to see her turning in place, silver tail twitching up to reveal her lust-engorged lower lips. Ailis looked over her shoulder at him, biting her lip and ducking her head when she saw where his eyes were looking.


    "I am ready for you, if it please you, my lo... my Lord," Ailis whispered. Her tail flicked from side to side, betraying her nervousness. Aidan reached down, rubbing his hands across her rump, feeling her muscles jump and flex under his touch. He continued stroking her soothingly with his left hand while he dipped his right down between her legs.


    Ailis shivered and moaned, lowering her head as Aidan''s fingers parted along either side of her slick lips. The scent of her arousal grew with every second as he explored her, filling Aidan''s senses with her. He rubbed his thumb across her clitoral hood, drawing a shudder and a whimper from the powerful Druid.


    "Please, Aidan, please do not tease," she begged. "I need you to love me."


    That plea was enough to finish reviving Aidan''s arousal. "I do," he told Ailis as he sank down on his knees behind her, lining himself up. "I do love you," he repeated, then pressed forward.


    The first half-inch of his length passed between Ailis''s lips with no issue, but Aidan had to break off his thrust as her inner muscles clamped down on him hard enough to prevent any further progress despite how wet she was.


    "Oh, my love!" Ailis cried out, her body shuddering. She tossed her head from side to side, her silver hair flying as she convulsed around Aidan. Aidan waited until her body relaxed, then resumed his slow thrust. Ailis moaned again, but this time, her muscles seemed to pull him deeper inside her.


    "Oh, you are so deep inside me," Ailis whimpered when Aidan''s hips came to rest against her rump. "You are longer than Olave was. Oh, Aidan, please, slowly, please now?"


    Aidan complied without hesitation, reveling in the feel of Ailis''s depths clutching tight around his shaft as he withdrew until only his head remained within her. Then he pressed forward again, bracing against her rump as she pulled him back home.


    With a thought, Aidan summoned a pair of Magic Hands, placing them over Ailis''s breasts. "Oh! Mm," she let out a pleased moan in response. "Yes, my love, touch me, love me, make me come again for you."


    Ailis turned to look over her shoulder at him, watching through half-lidded eyes as he moved against her, his length sliding in and out of her hot, slick center. He leaned forward, stretching out to hook one hand around her waist and onto her belly, Ailis''s smaller size compared to her daughter allowing him just enough reach. Ailis pressed a hand to his, then started to pant, the pleasure overcoming her again.


    "Oh, Aidan, love, again, again," she whimpered in between breaths. He could feel her inner muscles starting to tighten around him again, so Aidan switched to shorter thrusts, only sliding back a couple of inches before thrusting back in. Her muscular control was incredible, surpassing Brighid''s by far, to the point where it felt to Aidan like a pair of gloved hands squeezed and stroked his entire length.


    "Again," he agreed. "Inside?" he managed to ask through gritted teeth.


    "Yes!" wailed Ailis. "Please, love, let me feel you inside me!"


    Her hips flexed and she clamped down on Aidan briefly, her peak triggered by his question. Aidan groaned and quickened his pace, now thrusting hard and fast against Ailis, his hips bouncing off her rump as she surged back against him. Her inner walls pulsed around him, a rippling wave of tightness traveling from his base to his tip in time with his motions.


    It only took a few seconds of that before Aidan''s fingers sank into Ailis''s belly and he lunged hard, pressing back with his feet for every ounce of leverage as he buried himself inside his lover. He shouted as his orgasm overcame him, his manhood jerking inside Ailis as her walls milked him for every drop of his seed.


    What felt like an hour later, but was likely only a handful of seconds, Ailis relaxed around Aidan''s length, allowing him to withdraw. When he pushed his shaft back into her, she gasped and asked, "Still so hard?"


    "For you, love? Always."


    She did not respond in words, but the flutter and dance of her walls around him were all the answer he needed.


    Aidan


    Near Midnight


    Aidan stroked Ailis''s silver hair as she nuzzled his bare chest. He hadn''t been sure what to expect from her, but it hadn''t been what he got. He knew that she was hardly inexperienced, which meant that her nervous, even shy approach to the evening seemed out of place.


    Ailis kissed Aidan above his sternum, then turned her head to face him. "I hope it was worth all the trouble I caused you." Her blue eyes were dark and haunted.


    Aidan frowned. He remembered what she''d said earlier¡ª''a monster trying to atone for her misdeeds with her body.'' He''d let it pass then, but it looked like Ailis was still dwelling on it.


    "This was about the future, Ailis, not the past. I''m here because I''m interested in you, not vengeance. And even if I was out for revenge, this isn''t how I''d get it. I hope you didn''t bring me here thinking...?"


    Ailis let her head drop again. Her hand caressed his chest, fingers tracing through his chest hair. "No," she admitted. "But if that is what you wanted, I would have accepted it."


    "You shouldn''t," Aidan told her. "You''re worth so much more than a salve for my wounded pride."


    "Hmm." A slender hand stroked down his chest; sapphire flames sparked to life in Ailis''s eyes. "I think I might need more convincing. Are you up for another ... discussion, my King?"


    Aidan smiled. "I have Talents for that." He let his hands wander, real and magical alike.


    "Mm, yes you do," Ailis moaned, arching her back into his caresses. "Please, Aidan, do not tease me."


    "Tease you? I thought we were going to have a discussion?"


    A small, slender hand tightened its grip on sensitive equipment. "Yes, ma''am," Aidan gasped, "commencing with the not-teasing!"


    Aidan


    Fourthday, 2nd week of the 10th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Dawn


    Aidan woke to find Ailis''s torso draped atop his, her long hair spread across the bed, his arm wrapped around her waist and holding her hip. He chuckled when he realized that the wetness on his chest was a small pool of drool emanating from Ailis''s open mouth. He used his free hand to wipe the corner of her mouth.


    Ailis made a soft sound at his touch and shifted her head, nuzzling against Aidan''s hand. A moment later, her eyes opened, blinking away the sleep. "Mmph," she muttered. "Aidan?"


    "You''re cute like this," Aidan gave a soft laugh.


    "I resent the implication," Ailis mumbled, "that I am not cute at other times."


    "No, normally, you''re beautiful," he said, speaking from the heart. Ailis''s eyes flicked up to his, then away.


    "... Acceptable." Ailis levered herself up, looking down at Aidan and giving him an unobstructed view of the soft, pale mounds that had, until a moment ago, been nestled against his chest. Ailis noticed his eyes dip and laughed, a low, pleased sound. "Look all you like, my love, at least while we are in private. You might want to maintain propriety with your Chancellor in public."


    Ailis rolled back onto her belly from her side and stretched. "Will you be staying for breakfast, Lord Aidan?"


    "That depends. Are you getting dressed before or after?" A light, airy giggle was the only audible response he received, but the kiss Ailis pressed to Aidan''s lips was answer enough.


    Zurai


    Aidan''s current status sheet:


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Orange, and Lupus for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 54: A Friendly Ear

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Fourthday, 2nd week of the 10th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Dawn


    The Chancellor''s Chambers, Caer Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Breakfast was a simpler, more casual affair than dinner the previous night. Ailis puttered around the kitchen naked, not to tempt Aidan, but because there was no reason to cover up. Rather than cook, she prepared a bowl of fruit and slices of bread and cheese, which she brought back into the bedroom along with a steaming pot of tea.


    "So," she began after nibbling on an apple slice, "tell me more about this new complicated woman of yours."


    Aidan sighed. "She''s got a magical slave collar on that forces her to obey whoever is bound to the linked bracelet." Aidan gestured at the golden jewelry on his wrist. "The collar can''t be removed through force or magic, and commanding her to ignore commands didn''t work on its automatic control functions."


    "And what are those?"


    "She can''t attack me, even something as simple as a slap. She can''t leave the bracelet''s immediate proximity if I''m not wearing it, and even then, she has to stay within a mile or two. I also know where she is, have a constant low-level one-way empathic link with her, and," Aidan grimaced, "the bracelet tells me way too much detail about her fertility."


    "Ah," Ailis intoned. "So, she has limited autonomy and privacy, despite your best intentions. How have your interactions with her gone?"


    "That''s a good question. It''s hard for me to be sure. When we first met, Aoife was under Searlas''s¡ªthe current Mist Stalker chieftain¡ªcontrol. I felt an instant connection to her the first time I saw her, and it seemed mutual."


    "And it was more than just physical attraction? I am told that she is remarkably beautiful, and you are rather handsome yourself." Ailis trailed her fingers across Aidan''s bare chest for emphasis.


    "She is," Aidan confirmed, "but so are Brighid, Sunnild, and you, and she was not the only one of Searlas''s women present. No, I''m not sure why, but she stood out from everyone else in the audience chamber, and her eyes were fixed on me from the moment I walked in the door."


    "Hmm. And after that?"


    Aidan blushed. "She brought us back to her suite in Searlas''s manor, told me that she had been ordered to seduce me¡ªwhich did not turn out to be the whole truth¡ªthen, um, proceeded to do so."


    Ailis snorted. "Really, Aidan?"


    "Hey, I was drunk, Sunnild was very drunk, and Aoife insisted that it was something she wanted above and beyond the collar making her do it. And Brighid made it clear to me that if the opportunity presented itself and Sunnild approved, I was welcome to take a lover."


    "Really, Aidan?" Ailis''s tone changed from amusement to concern. "In the heart of someone else''s power, and you and Sunnild both got drunk?"


    "I know," Aidan groaned. "It was idiotic. I should have been much more careful about how much we were both drinking, but between Searlas''s entire court stopping by to feel me out and Aoife being both useful and distracting, I didn''t notice that the servants kept refilling our glasses whenever we took a sip."


    "Tsk. It appears you need lessons in more than just magic. I will see what I can do in that regard. Moving on, you said that she lied when she told you she had been ordered to seduce you?"


    Aidan wiggled his hand back and forth. "Kind of. It came out later that Searlas heavily implied that he wouldn''t mind if we slept together, but he never gave her an explicit command to do so. She did it in an attempt to endear herself to me so that I''d try to buy her off Searlas."


    "Which you did." Ailis''s voice was dry.


    "Which I did," Aidan confirmed. "She wasn''t happy with him, and I despise slavery to start with. I couldn''t leave her in that situation without at least trying to free her."


    "And, of course," Ailis drawled, "the fact that she was an enemy agent by her own admission and therefore you could not be clear of her motivations was overruled by her eagerness to bend over and spread her legs for you."


    Aidan frowned. "I knew at the time that the situation was sketchy. I did turn her down at first. I won''t have you demeaning her, though. She did what she had to in a bad situation."


    "Aidan, she was lying and manipulating you from the very start." Ailis turned toward him, a look of deep concern on her face.


    "I know," he sighed. "Like I said, it''s complicated. Yes, Aoife manipulated both me and Searlas. I can''t blame her. Put yourself in her position, Ailis. What would you do if, one day, a slave merchant found you, slapped a magical control collar on you, and sold you to someone?"


    "You did not know that was true at the time," Ailis protested.


    "I saw the collar. It doesn''t have a clasp; it''s one solid piece of metal that sits flush with her neck, Ailis. Even drunk, I could tell it was no normal piece of jewelry. I knew there was a chance she made the whole thing up, but you weren''t there. You didn''t see how desperate she was. And, while it doesn''t justify my decisions in the moment, I have proof now that at least some of what she said was true."


    Ailis relaxed and let out a sigh. "My daughter is rubbing off on you as much as the reverse, it seems. I would prefer if you were less reckless in the future, my Lord." She waved her hand through the air and continued, "Moving on, then: when did things change with her? It has not escaped my notice that, while Aoife arrived with you, she separated from you before you returned to Caer Macht."


    "Yeah. That''s where it starts to get really tangled. The first night after we finalized the transfer of ownership, we tested the limits of my ability to negate the collar''s control, after which Aoife made her gratitude very clear. Since then, though, she''s been affectionate in public¡ªinitiating hugs and kisses, lots of touching, and so on¡ªbut has avoided both Sunnild and me at night. And I haven''t seen her since we arrived.


    "Furthermore," Aidan grimaced, "I talked to Antoin, Chieftain Searlas''s representative. One of his jobs is to keep an eye on her for Searlas, and he believes that Aoife is testing my limits. The thing is, aside from the collar''s restrictions and basic legal and moral stuff, I don''t want to put any on her. Antoin thinks that''s making things worse, causing her to act out and, potentially, become paranoid."


    Ailis hummed. "If Aoife''s experiences have been traumatic enough, it is possible that she is having difficulty adjusting to the change in her circumstances. From her perspective, a certain degree of paranoia is only reasonable; you hold an unreasonable amount of power over her."


    Ailis''s voice sharpened. "It is also possible that she is still manipulating you toward her own hidden ends. From what you have said, she seems like an intelligent girl, and most Mist Stalkers are skilled at stealth and deception. Even ignoring our recent history with them, the cats are well-known in the Highlands for being subtle and secretive."


    "And thus my indecision," Aidan confirmed with a sigh. "Do you have any advice?" He took a few bites of breakfast while he waited for Ailis to collect her thoughts.


    "Without having met Aoife myself, I hesitate to make any definitive judgments regarding her motivations," the Druid said at last. "However, I can offer some general advice. First, no woman enjoys feeling ignored. Even disregarding her status, if she has any positive feelings about you, leaving her to her own devices while you lavish attention on other women will not have endeared her toward you."


    Aidan winced. Yeah, that was fair.


    "Second, have you ever been explicit with your intentions toward Aoife? Have you told her that you are not placing any restrictions on her? Have you asked her whether she wishes to continue your physical relationship or start a romantic one?" At Aidan''s expression, Ailis shook her head and continued, "If you treated me the way you have Aoife, I would be rather cross with you. Regardless of the circumstances, if you wish to salvage a positive relationship out of this mess, you need to go talk to Aoife."


    "Well, when you put it that way, I feel like a complete idiot."


    Ailis patted Aidan''s cheek. "Not an idiot, my Lord, just a male. My suggestion would be to track her down, be honest about your feelings for her¡ªyou do have feelings for her, yes? Then be straightforward, apologize for abandoning her, and invite her to dinner with you and Brighid tonight. And be sure to inform Brighid that she needs to expect a guest."


    "Yes, ma''am," Aidan confirmed. "Thank you for the advice."


    "I am your Chancellor, my Lord. That is my job." Then Ailis smirked and said, "Although helping you seduce another woman into your harem rather exceeds my job description. I think I deserve future considerations for going above and beyond, yes?"


    Aidan laughed and gave her a kiss that soon turned heated. "Yes, dear," he said when they came up for air. "I owe you a favor. I''m sure you can find some creative way to call that in."


    "Hmm. I might just hang onto it for a while. Never know when I might need to have the Lord of Ceallach Macht dancing on my fingertips?"


    "I''m starting to regret my decisions."


    Ailis looked at Aidan with hooded eyes and a smug smirk. "Now, now, Lord Aidan, no taking it back. Do not worry; I will make sure any embarrassment you suffer is only in private."


    "I''d better leave before I get even further behind, then." Aidan stood up, then leaned down to press his lips to Ailis''s, cupping her cheek in his hands. "Thank you for dinner and breakfast. I enjoyed the evening a great deal, and look forward to spending more time with you."


    "He says as he leaves to lure another woman to his bed." Despite the sarcasm in her words, Ailis''s cheeks were pink, and her eyes showed uncharacteristic tenderness. "Go on," she urged, "and remember to be clear about what you want."


    Aidan


    Mid-Morning


    Ceallach Macht


    Aoife was still in the same general area as the previous evening, according to the bracelet''s guidance. After taking his leave of Ailis and checking in with Brighid and Sunnild, Aidan gathered up his bodyguards and headed out into the city. He took a moment to orient himself among the Idyllic Forum''s gardens, then set out to the north, around the edge of the hill.


    "Once we find Aoife, I want you all to keep your distance," Aidan told his escort. "She is incapable of harming me, and I don''t want her to feel threatened. Just keep your eyes on the perimeter in case anyone else comes wandering by." None of them looked happy, but they didn''t argue.


    Aidan''s direction sense wasn''t precise enough to lead straight to Aoife; it only gave him a general bearing and a vague sense of distance. This section of the city was still full of ruined buildings, so heading straight for her was easier said than done. Triangulating her position also proved difficult due to the inaccuracy involved. In the end, Aidan and his escorts wound up wandering through the empty, mist-shrouded streets of Ceallach Macht for almost two hours before Aidan felt a spark of excitement and recognition through the bracelet.


    Aidan scanned the ruins ahead of him. He couldn''t see anyone, but that didn''t mean much. He knew Aoife was proficient in the Mist Shroud technique that made her almost invisible in the ever-present fog, and he had never bothered to train his Observation skill to counter it.


    "Aoife?" Aidan called out. "I''d like to talk to you if you don''t mind."


    "Yeah, you and your four big tough bodyguards." Her voice was dampened by the fog and echoed in strange ways from the crumbling walls around them, preventing him from narrowing down her location.


    Aidan waved his guards off. "Go on. She can''t hurt me. Keep anyone from interrupting us."


    "My Lord¡ª" Ruari started to speak, but Aidan cut him off.


    "Please, Ruari. Aoife is not a physical threat to me, and your presence will hurt more than it helps."


    The veteran was silent for a moment before signaling to his squad. "We will be within earshot."


    "Thank you, Ruari." Aidan waited until the centaurs were no more than shadows in the mist, then turned back in Aoife''s direction. "There, they''re gone. Can we talk now?"


    "Nobody''s stopping you," she snarked.


    Aidan sighed. "Aoife, can you stop hiding? I have no intention of hurting you, and I''d rather look at you when we''re speaking."


    "All you have to do is command me. Why not do it?"


    "Because it would be wrong," was the only answer Aidan could give. "I''m not Searlas or the slaver who collared you. I don''t want to put chains on you. I just want to know that you''re OK and happy, and if you aren''t, I want to help change that."


    "If that''s what you wanted, why did you leave me to wander alone for the last two days?" Aoife''s voice came from Aidan''s left this time. "You brought me to your city, away from everything I''ve ever known, then abandon me to fuck your woman. I get that you missed her; I don''t blame you for that, but you just ... left me."


    "That isn''t quite how I remember things," Aidan said. "I admit that I should have gotten you situated before Brighid dragged me off, and I should have sought you out before this. I fucked up, and I''m sorry. But two days ago, it was you who walked away from me. I offered to show you around, but you turned me down."


    Aidan waited for a long moment, but no response came. He frowned, wondering if Aoife had decided to leave, then jumped as a warm, soft body pressed against his back and a pair of arms wrapped around his waist.


    "You''re right," Aoife murmured. "I''m sorry, too. I... it''s so hard to trust anyone, now. You already proved yourself, did your best to set me free, but in the back of my head, I keep expecting you to change, to show your true face."


    Aidan turned around in her embrace, looking down into Aoife''s golden, cat-slitted eyes. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her against his chest and stroking her back. Aoife turned her head and nuzzled her cheek against Aidan''s chest; a soft rumble emerged from her belly.


    "This is nice," Aoife said. "No one hugged me at Searlas''s manor. Searlas amused himself with his actual consorts, and I wasn''t close to anyone else. Held them at arm''s length."


    "There''s no need for that here, Aoife. I''m happy to give you a hug anytime you want, and if I''m not available or you''re not comfortable coming to me, I know Sunnild feels the same. She gives amazing hugs."


    Aoife pushed off from his chest, but only far enough to put a few inches of space between them. Aidan''s hands dropped to her hips as Aoife looked up at him. Her long, fluffy tail lashed the air behind her. "What do you want from me?" she asked, voice soft and tremulous.


    "I already told you," Aidan replied, "I want you to be safe, comfortable, and happy."


    "No," Aoife shook her head in denial, "that''s what you want for me. I''m asking what you want from me. What do you want me to do? How do you want everything to go forward from here?"


    Aidan took a moment to decide how to word his response. Aoife''s question didn''t catch him off-guard, thanks to his talk with Ailis, but he didn''t want to flub his answer. "I like you," he said at last. "You''re beautiful, of course, and sexy as hell, and I haven''t had much chance to get to know you, but what I''ve seen, I like.


    "What do I want from you? It feels greedy to say it, but I want you to be my woman. Not because of the damned collar, but because you want to be. I want you to be my lover, and if you''re interested, Sunnild''s, Brighid''s, and even Ailis''s lover as well. And, hypocritical as it is, I want to be the only man you''re interested in. Beyond that, I''d like to help you find a place here, work that fulfills you."


    Aoife listened to Aidan''s answer with quiet intensity, staring up unblinkingly into his eyes. Once he finished, she tilted her head, considering him. After a moment, her lips quirked up into a smile and she stood up on her tiptoes, her arms wrapping around Aidan''s neck. "Good," was all she said before she gave Aidan a hard, hungry kiss.


    Aidan''s arms tightened around Aoife''s waist as her tongue surged into his mouth and her soft breasts flattened against his chest. Aoife moaned against Aidan''s lips, and her claws raked up and down his back before slipping down and tugging at his belt. Aidan let his hands drift lower in response, grabbing ahold of the Mist Stalker''s plush rear.


    Aoife''s nimble fingers pulled Aidan''s belt free of his pants and plunged into his underwear, another moan tearing free from her throat as she felt his appreciation of the situation. Then, as suddenly as she started the kiss, Aoife spun out of Aidan''s grasp and darted a few feet away. "If that''s what you want," she panted with a wild grin, "you''re going to have to work for it. I told you before¡ªI prefer to be the one being chased. Catch me if you can!" With that said, Ceallach Macht''s mist rose in a swirl around her, removing her from Aidan''s sight.


    Aidan blinked at the spot where Aoife had just been, then glanced down, where she had pushed his pants down to his knees. "Why, you little minx," he muttered, then did his best to pull his pants back up¡ªa task made significantly harder by the condition her amorous assault left him in. "Just wait until I catch you!"


    Zurai


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Orange, and Lupus for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 55: Alleycat

    Zurai


    Aidan


    The Realms


    Fourthday, 2nd week of the 10th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Late Morning


    Ceallach Macht outskirts, Mistvale Highlands


    After fixing his pants, Aidan oriented himself in the direction he felt Aoife was in, then took off at a jog. "This isn''t exactly a fair hunt, Aoife!" he called out.


    "Aww," came her voice echoing out of the fog. "Does the poor widdle Lord give up already? How about some extra incentive?" Something came flying out of the mist in front of Aidan but fluttered to the ground several feet in front of him. He stopped to pick it up; there in his hand was a thin wisp of warm cloth. Aidan''s blood surged south as he realized he was holding Aoife''s panties.


    "Right," he growled. "Message received loud and clear. Time to cheat." As things were, Aidan was at a severe disadvantage in these circumstances. He couldn''t see through Aoife''s Mist Shroud, and he had no skill or experience in tracking prey. What he did have was magic. A few seconds and three casts of Minor Shift later, Aidan gave himself a rattlesnake''s thermal vision, an elephant''s sense of smell, and the hearing of a bat.


    It took Aidan a moment to acclimate to his new super-sharp senses, but soon he had a wide array of information available to him. He still couldn''t see Aoife''s position in the fog¡ªassuming she even stuck around after taunting him¡ªbut he could smell her and see the slight difference in the temperature of the air and ground where she''d been standing.


    "Come out, come out, wherever you are!" Aidan called out as he resumed the hunt. The echoes of his voice bouncing off the rubble and ruin around him revealed the obstacles in his path, and Aoife''s footprints stood out faintly against the background chill. Now more confident in his ability to find his prey, Aidan picked up the pace, racing across ancient cobblestones, ducking under empty doorways, and vaulting over crumbling walls.


    Aoife


    Aoife''s heart hammered in her chest as she darted through the ruins. Whatever spells Aidan cast back there forced her to agree with him: this wasn''t a fair hunt at all, but it was her that was disadvantaged, not him. She regretted waiting to see his reaction to her taunt because it shaved away at her lead. She wanted him to catch her, seize her in his arms, throw her down, pin her with his weight¡ªher foot caught on something and she hit the ground hard.


    Aoife lay there for a moment, stunned by the sudden impact. It took several precious seconds before her wits returned and she regained enough breath to leverage herself to her hands and knees¡ªand seconds were all she had. Before Aoife managed to finish standing, Aidan''s smoky, spicy scent suffused the air around her, and his hands encircled her waist.


    "Found you," he crooned into her ear. A shiver went up her spine as his warm body pressed against her back, and she couldn''t hold back a whimper when she felt the hard bulge against her raised ass. She was in the perfect position for him to mount her: on her hands and knees, naked beneath her skirt, caught in his embrace. All she had to do was stay put, and for an eternal second, she was tempted to do just that.


    Then Aoife''s resolve hardened. He hasn''t worked hard enough, she told herself. He hasn''t earned it, earned me. I''m not that easy! Thinking fast, she pushed her hips back against Aidan''s, grinding against him until his grip shifted, his hands trailing down to her hips. At that moment, she sprang forward, propelling herself to her feet and out of his grasp.


    "Nice try," she yelled to him, "but not good enough!" She wanted Aidan to catch her, but not yet. Not until he''d been pushed to the limit, then broken past it. Searlas had treated her like a courtesan or mistress, all smooth wordplay and oblique insinuations about what he wanted. Aoife was tired of talk, tired of subtlety, and Aidan was too cerebral and considerate. She had to get his adrenaline going, bypass his conscious mind and engage the feral, animal id lurking within.


    As she heard Aidan''s heavy footsteps resume behind her, Aoife smiled. This was turning out to be a good morning after all.


    Aidan


    Aidan growled as Aoife slipped out of his grasp again, her shirt torn from her shoulders as she yanked free. He got a glimpse of her heavy, pale breasts heaving and coated with glistening sweat before the Mist Shroud enfolded her again. Aidan still knew exactly where Aoife was; although her skill hid her from his thermal vision just as well as it obscured visible light, it did nothing for the tiny droplets of water suspended all around her. Now that he was familiar with his new senses, Aidan could see the trail in the fog as clear as if the Realms had a quest tracker system leading him on a golden rail.


    Shaking his head at the distraction, Aidan dropped the ruined clothing to the ground and took off after Aoife. He could feel his muscles, not used to this specific kind of intense activity, protesting, but he could tell that Aoife was growing tired as well, and he knew he had to have more Stamina to draw on than she did. It was only a matter of time until he either cornered her or she grew too tired to run.


    Or until she lets me catch her, Aidan thought, sniffing the air. He knew this was affecting Aoife as much as it did him. There was a damp spot on his trousers from where she''d rubbed against him to escape the first time, and her pink nipples stood hard and proud on her breasts in that brief glimpse he''d gotten. The rich musk of Aoife''s arousal was almost overwhelming now.


    So he hunted and looked forward to the reward waiting for him at the end. Aidan forced himself to breathe in through his nose and out through his mouth, despite how unnatural it felt. He listened to the faint sounds of Aoife''s feet against the dirt and cobblestones and the echoes of her panting breaths bouncing off the dilapidated buildings all around them. He followed her scent-trail, so clear to him now that he could separate out the smell of her sweat, her arousal, and the soap she used last from her natural scent. The sandalwood-and-vanilla fragrance entranced him, urging him to greater efforts.


    Aoife


    There! Aoife spotted her escape route. She knew Aidan was only a few seconds behind her, and the chase had long since brought her out of familiar terrain. She crouched down, then leaped upward, hands outstretched to pull her up through the hole in the ceiling of the mostly-intact building she found herself in. She caught the edge, but before she could pull herself up, strong hands clamped around her ankles and pulled hard.


    Aoife cried out in surprise as she was yanked down into Aidan''s body. She bounced off his chest and sprawled to the floor, the softer landing letting her scramble up onto her hands and knees right away, but he was upon her a heartbeat later. She writhed, fighting off his hands, feeling her skirt join her blouse in destruction, the very act causing the ball of heat in her groin to double in intensity. She turned underneath him, reaching up to scratch at his face and neck with her fingers, claws sheathed to keep the collar from interfering.


    Aidan looked at her with such hunger in those brilliant red eyes that Aoife froze like a deer caught in the headlights of an onrushing car. That gave him the chance to shove his knee between her thighs, forcing her legs apart, baring her sodden center to his hands. He took advantage immediately, fingers seeking out her flowering lower lips then plunging inside her. The sudden penetration broke Aoife out of her daze, and she lurched, arching away from Aidan, spinning back onto her belly and pulling herself away from him, but this time he would not be denied.


    Aidan''s left arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her back against him despite her best effort to flee. She rubbed herself against his erection, but to no avail; his arm tightened around her, and his answering thrust brought a needy gasp to her lips. Aoife shook her head in denial, then bowed her neck as she gathered energy to make another escape attempt. Then Aidan''s right hand clamped around the back of her neck, and Aoife felt all resistance vanish from her body as her blood pounded in her ears and her vision went dark.


    "I have you now," Aidan declared. He shifted his grip to the front of Aoife''s throat, sweeping her hair aside and baring the back of her neck. A moment later, she felt his teeth against her skin. A thrill of exultation surged through Aoife, carried on wings of lust. She trembled in Aidan''s grasp, unable to muster the will to fight free of him, her body taking autonomous action to prepare herself for what they both knew was coming. Her hips raised, her thighs spread, and her back arched to present her pulsing sex to the man who was about to conquer her exactly like she wanted him to.


    Aidan


    Aoife''s scent was overpowering now that Aidan had her by the back of the neck. He could feel her trembling, but he could also feel the fierce, irresistible waves of lust and arousal rushing down the empathic link from her, battering at his mind. He growled without meaning to, drawing an answering mewl from the woman beneath him.


    He could feel that she was ready, even eager, for the culmination of their savage foreplay. All of Aoife''s determination, so prevalent earlier, fled the emotional link when Aidan bit the back of her neck, replaced by a need for completion so deep that Aidan found himself trying to fuck Aoife through his pants. You caught me, she said with subtle sounds and motions; now you need to stake your claim.


    Secure in his belief that she was well and truly caught now, Aidan released his hold on Aoife''s waist and lifted his hips off her to tug his pants down to his thighs. His captive whimpered at the absence of contact and pushed back against him, her eager squirming making him growl again. Leaving his trousers where they were, Aidan pulled Aoife''s thighs apart, placed his knees beside and between hers, and thrust forward into her silken depths.


    Aoife


    A keening cry rose from deep within Aoife''s chest as stars exploded in her vision. She felt Aidan''s hard, thick cock spreading her apart in slow motion, every millimeter of progress he made causing the pleasure she felt to double. She wanted to thrust back against him, to wrap her legs around him and pull him deeper, to rake her claws down his back to mark her mate, but Aidan''s teeth on her neck kept her frozen beneath him. She came hard, her helplessness adding raging intensity to the detonation inside her.


    Aidan''s hips came to rest against her upraised ass, his entire length buried inside her. She could feel his heartbeat, not only in his chest but in the way his manhood throbbed within her, his tip coming just short of the entrance to her womb. No man had ever been so deep or forced her walls so far apart with his girth. She''d had toys this big, but rubber was a pale, distant substitute for hot, hard flesh.


    The days she''d spent avoiding Aidan had ratcheted Aoife''s need for him ever higher, and now that his weight was upon her, Aoife felt frustration rising within her. Aidan was filling her beautifully, yes, and the aftershocks of her orgasm still reverberated in her belly, but she wanted more. He was still acting too slowly, too deliberately. She needed him to lose all control. Gathering every last shred of her focus she could muster, Aoife focused on the only part of her she still had any control over.


    Aidan


    Aidan held himself still while Aoife convulsed around him, straining against the need to empty himself inside her. Even though he''d hardly been abstinent in the last few days, hunting Aoife like prey woke something in him, deep and primal, causing him to grow more and more aroused with every near-miss. Now that he had her plush body writhing beneath him, impaled on his manhood, it was all he could do to keep from ending everything too early.


    A tickling sensation on his bare ass was all the warning he got before Aoife''s tail lashed, smacking against his skin. He jerked backward at the unexpected feeling, then groaned as her inner walls clung to him, all but sucking him back in. He couldn''t help but thrust forward again, the crash of his hips against her rear filling the air with an unmistakable slapping sound. Aoife let out a plaintive, lust-filled cry as Aidan''s instincts took over.


    "Yes!" she panted in time with the impacts of flesh against flesh. "Fuck! Yes! Fuck! Yes!"


    Aidan balanced on the threshold of oblivion, unable to keep himself from lunging forward in short, rapid strokes but unwilling to let it end so soon. Two sets of instincts warred inside him; one told him to fuck her hard and fast, to bury himself completely within her depths and paint her walls white with his seed, while the second urged Aidan to take a measured approach, making Aoife spasm and convulse in endless orgasms until she begged him to finish inside her.


    A third part, the single remaining rational shard of clear thought, reminded Aidan that he could do both. He was a Courtesan, specialized in sexual skills, and he was almost inexhaustible when it came to the bedroom arts; there was no way Aoife could outlast him. Brighid and Sunnild had combined their efforts two nights ago in an attempt to do so and still failed.


    Aidan released his grip on his prey''s throat, no longer needed now that she had submitted to his mount, although he maintained the mating bite for a while longer; he enjoyed the entwined knots of helplessness and arousal emanating from Aoife. He slid his hand down to her chest, pulling her up until he could cup one of her heavy, swaying breasts in his palm. Aoife''s back arched further, and she whined as his hard, possessive grasp pulled another orgasm from her.


    The rhythmic pulse of Aoife''s inner muscles around his shaft pushed Aidan over the edge. His grip on her waist and tit tightened, and he threw his head back to let out a roar as he plunged forward in full-strength thrusts, once, twice, a third time, and then he was coming, shooting thick ropes of seed into Aoife''s womb.


    Aoife


    Aoife screamed as she felt the scalding hot feeling of Aidan''s seed filling her. A second orgasm surged up from her toes, overwhelming the first and multiplying in strength as it did so. She could feel her mind melting as Aidan resumed his savage thrusts, clearly not satisfied with his conquest of her body yet. Each time his hips slapped against her ass, Aidan drove the breath from her lungs. Each time his fingers tightened on her hip or breast, she squealed in pleasure.


    This was what she wanted, what she needed! There was no mistaking Aidan''s intentions now, no need to worry and wonder. He was staking a claim to her entirely separate from the golden jewelry that bound them, and Aoife reveled in it even as he forced a fourth orgasm from her aching body.


    It wasn''t about submission, although that was something she had dabbled in from time to time. She understood the appeal of surrendering control to someone else, of letting go of the steering wheel, but no, it was the clarity and purity of intent that her overstressed mind craved.


    "Yes! Anh, ah, ahh!" Aoife did her best to force the words out between involuntary grunts and squeals. "Aidan! Oh, ohfuck, ah! Tell me! Ohgod, ohfuckyes, please! Ahhhh!" She could only hope that Aidan could figure out what she wanted as another explosion robbed her of the ability to do anything but shriek in pleasure.


    Aidan


    There was a plaintive need, totally lacking in sexual context despite her moans and cries, behind Aoife''s demand. Aidan knew that this was an answer she needed to hear. He could also tell that if his reply was inadequate, Aoife might never be able to fully trust him. Freeing her from the collar might salvage the situation, but nothing short of that would.


    "Mine," Aidan growled to the writhing woman beneath his driving hips. "Not because I own you, but because I want you." He could tell from the tint of the emotions coming from Aoife that he was on the right track, so Aidan searched for more words even as he shifted to long, slow, hard thrusts.


    "I want you, Aoife. I want you to be my woman, to live with me, eat with me, bathe with me, laugh with me, cry with me." Each phrase was punctuated by his groin bouncing off Aoife''s rounded ass. "I want you to want all that, to be mine because you gave yourself to me, for you to claim me in the same way."


    Aidan held himself inside the mewling catgirl for a few seconds to catch his breath, then resumed his speech and movements. "I don''t love you, Aoife, but I could. Something about you makes me want to hold you and protect you and lift you up until you achieve your dreams." Aoife''s emotions grew more intense with every word that came from Aidan''s mouth, and the feedback combined with the sensations of her near-continual orgasm to drive him toward another peak.


    Aoife


    She felt Aidan stretch out above her, pressing every delicious, dominating inch of his body to hers. He pressed her down into the ground, forcing her legs to splay apart and making her uncovered left nipple scrape against the rough stone beneath her. I''ll make him kiss it better later, a distant thought drifted through her mindscape. She paid it no heed. The only thing that mattered was Aidan''s hands clutching at her, his cock thrusting away inside her pussy, and the words spilling from his mouth.


    "Will you?" Aidan asked her, his lips against her neck, teeth scraping across one of her most sensitive spots. "Will you let me love you? Will you be my woman, my consort, and one day my wife?"


    Aoife''s thoughts shattered into infinite pieces. The only things left to her were emotions and sensations, intertwined in delightful, delirious harmony: Lust; fingers digging into her breasts, bringing pleasure and pain in equal measure. Affection; lips laying kisses across her neck and shoulder, sending tingles along her spine. Fulfillment; searing heat as the cock buried inside her flooded her womb with sperm. Contentment; every muscle in her body seizing up as the greatest orgasm of her life crashed through her, then relaxing into a quivering mass of jelly as she, for the first time in at least a year, let her final mask clatter to the ground.


    Aoife arched hard against her man, her head thrown back, her hips jerking and rolling in time with the uncontrollable convulsions wracking her body. She scrabbled at the uneven stone floor, seeking purchase and finding it, using it to leverage herself back against Aidan even harder. Her mouth opened, at first letting out a silent scream, then Aoife gasped, bucked again, and cried out, "Yes!"


    Aidan


    Mid-Afternoon


    Aoife nuzzled Aidan''s chest from where she rested atop him. "I don''t want you telling me what to do," she said in a soft, hoarse voice, the first words she''d spoken since agreeing to be his. She''d made plenty of noise in the intervening hours, but only in the form of moans, squeals, grunts, and wordless cries urging them both to greater heights of pleasure.


    "Of course," Aidan agreed.


    "You can ask me for anything, and I''ll probably agree, but I need the control. I need to be able to say ''no'' and know you''ll accept it," she explained as if she hadn''t heard Aidan''s agreement.


    "I understand," he said. "You can have as much control and support as you need."


    "And I want to live with you, under the hill, not out here in the city. I understand you wanted to give me space, but I don''t need it. It made me feel like you were discarding me once you reunited with your wife." Aoife''s voice was raw and ragged, although she didn''t seem to be paying any attention to it.


    The raspy quality of her speech sent a frisson of worry through Aidan. As if in answer, the bracelet sent him a catalog of his lover''s injuries, informing him of every bruise, scrape, and overstretched muscle on Aoife''s body. His own memory supplied the causes of each: his fingers clenched tight at her bust and waist; his thrusts causing her hands, knees, shins, feet, and breasts to scrape against the stone; his teeth breaking tiny blood vessels beneath her skin; hours of impassioned cries inflaming the muscles in her throat.


    Aidan shook his head to dispel the memories before they made him stiffen again. He could still go another round, but he could feel Aoife''s exhaustion and satisfaction and knew she was done for the afternoon. Instead, he stroked her hair and apologized to her. "I''m sorry for that. I understand how it would seem that way. I did abandon you, if not in quite the way you mean. I wasn''t thinking. And I''m sorry for hurting you earlier. I can feel how much pain you''re in."


    Aoife shook her head in denial. "No, it''s fine. It''s what I wanted, what I meant for you to do. I intended to drive you so wild that you''d do what you actually wanted, past all the kindness and consideration. I know the bracelet gives you an empathic link to me, Searlas told me that much, but it only goes one way. I needed to know your deepest emotions, and this was the quickest and best way."


    "Will you let me heal you?" Aidan persisted. "I don''t want you hurting unless that''s something you like."


    Aoife was silent for a few moments as if considering his question. "Go ahead," she said a while later. "I liked what caused the scrapes and bruises, but now it''s all pain, no pleasure. I''m a hedonist, not a masochist." Soft lips pressed against his sternum. "Thank you for asking instead of just doing it."


    Unable to see how much Health Aoife had actually lost during the chase and subsequent activities, Aidan opted for Pulse of Life instead of Patch Wounds. Aoife shuddered in his arms as the healing energy washed through her, then relaxed and snuggled even closer.


    "Mm, that feels nice," she murmured. "Thank you." Aoife lifted her head enough to look into Aidan''s eyes. "Your bodyguards are probably panicking by now. We''ve been gone for hours."


    Aidan smirked at Aoife and tapped her nose. "Not unless they''re complete idiots. I have a pair of elementals with me at all times; they''re circling this building at the moment. All Ruari and his crew have to do is look up." Seeing her face fall, Aidan hastened to add, "It''s got nothing to do with you, kitten. The only time I don''t have them with me is when I''m in my personal quarters."


    Aoife nodded and let her head drop back to his chest. "Okay."


    Aidan trailed his fingers through Aoife''s hair and up and down her spine. "You do bring up a good point," he said. "I''ve spent a lot of time with you today. I don''t regret any of it, but alas, my time is not entirely my own. I need to visit my Chancellor, Ailis, and that''ll take a couple of hours. I''d like it if you would join Brighid and me for dinner tonight, though."


    "Okay," she agreed again. "I don''t know that I can walk all the way back, though. You wore me out. And you tore all my clothes, you beast."


    "Not all of them," Aidan responded with a smirk. "I still have your panties."


    "Hmm. Those don''t count; I gave them to you, so they''re yours now."


    "Well, how about I loan them back to you? Unless you want me to carry you through the backstreets of my city entirely naked, of course. Then again, if I do that, I can''t be held accountable for what I do at the end of the trip."


    "Hmm," Aoife repeated, but there was a deeper note in her voice, and she wiggled atop him. "That sounds interesting, but can I take a rain check? I think I''m out of commission for the rest of the day, even with your healing."


    "Of course," came Aidan''s immediate assurance. "I''m still embarrassed that you managed to goad me into being as forceful as I was. I''d never do anything like that against your will."


    "Don''t be," Aoife said with a yawn. "I told you, you did exactly what I wanted. If you''d stopped to ask if I was okay with it, you would have ruined everything."


    "Fair enough. Are you ready to go?"


    "Hmm. You said you''d carry me?"


    "I think I can manage it."


    "Okay." Despite her agreement, Aoife made no move to get up off Aidan''s chest.


    "You have to get up before we can leave, you know," Aidan teased her.


    "But you''re comfy." Aoife''s arms tightened a fraction.


    "There are great big piles of cushions for you to nap in at home, and Brighid''s eager to meet you. I know you''ll like her. You can spend some time getting to know each other while I work with Ailis."


    "Fiiiiine," Aoife sighed. She leveraged herself into a sitting position astride his hips, then arched her back, linked her hands over her head, and stretched. Despite himself, Aidan''s eyes focused on the display that action made of her bared breasts.


    "Down, boy," Aoife murmured, wiggling her bottom against his resurgent erection. Her hands dropped back down to his chest, and she leaned forward to give him a long, slow, tender kiss. "Clothes, please?"


    Aidan pulled her panties out of his pocket, then reached into his nearby handy haversack and fetched one of his shirts; he always kept a couple changes of clothes on him just in case he died again. Aoife gave him a grateful smile, sniffed the shirt, then shimmied into it and stood up.


    "Hmm," she said, looking down at herself. "This is pretty big on me. Here, you can have these back." Aidan had to fight back the urge to pull her back down and take her again as he watched Aoife step out of her panties and drop them on his abs.


    "You''re playing with fire," he told her, unable to keep a slight growl from his voice.


    "Less growling, more dressing and carrying. Come on, chop-chop!" Aoife sat down on the ground beside him, leaning back on her hands and not bothering to block Aidan''s view between her thighs.


    "You''re still testing me, aren''t you?" Aidan grumbled as he sat up and started to pull on his own clothes. These pants are an utter pain to put on when I''m hard!


    "Yep!" Aoife agreed. "Sorry, not sorry. You''re just going to have to deal with it for now. My heart wants to trust you, but my brain is still a bit paranoid."


    "All I ask is that you talk to me when I slip up. I''m sure it''ll happen at some point."


    Aoife nodded, then stretched her arms up toward him like a little kid. With a chuckle and a shake of his head, Aidan squatted down, hooked his right arm beneath Aoife''s knees and his left around her back, then stood back up. Aoife wrapped her arms around his neck and nestled her head against his shoulder, then let out a soft, contented sigh.


    Aoife weighed more than Aidan expected, given her height, but he wasn''t about to complain as he felt her breathing even out and her mind descend into a drowsy haze. Peace and tranquility flowed from her for the first time, and he knew that, if it came down to it, he''d carry her in circles around the whole city if that''s what it took to make those emotions take root.


    Zurai


    Aidan''s current status screen:


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Orange, and Lupus for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 56: Beauty’s Wicked Wiles

    I have a few major announcements!


    As of this morning, I quit my day job. I''ll still be working until the end of April (or until my bosses decide they don''t need me anymore, whichever comes first), but after that, I will be writing full time. Not all of that writing time will be spent on Paths of the Chosen¡ªmy ADHD demands that I spread my attention out some¡ªbut starting in May, I''ll be able to devote quite a bit more time to the story than I can right now. That will result in more chapters (although there''s a second announcement about that, discussed below), but it will also result in me finally having time for all of the little side things that I''ve been putting off. Revisions, actual non-hand-drawn/non-Excel maps, etc, etc.


    As far as new chapters are concerned, we are coming up on the end of Champion. Once I finish this volume of the story, I''m going to spend some amount of time doing revisions and generally recharging my creative batteries for the story. What that means for you all is that book 3 will not start immediately after the end of Champion. Instead, there will be a series of Intermission side-stories. You will still get content every week, but it won''t be Aidan''s story. I can''t give an exact length of time for the Intermission right now since everything''s a bit too chaotic for me to be able to know for sure, but I will continue writing in this world, and book 3 will be written and start releasing this year.


    Finally, now that I have an active buffer again, I have re-enabled billing on my Patreon. There are currently 4 chapters ahead of the public release (ie, up to chapter 60 is available), and that will extend in the future. You''ll also get to see my new project well before it''s released to the public, although I haven''t started hardcore writing on it yet; I''ll announce here when that happens.


    Aidan


    The Realms


    Fourthday, 2nd week of the 10th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Late Afternoon


    The Lord''s Chambers, Caer Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Aidan''s arms, shoulders, and back ached by the time he made it back to the chambers he shared with Brighid, but the sleepy contentment radiating from Aoife made it worthwhile. He settled the dozing catgirl onto a pile of cushions, covered her with a blanket, gave Brighid a quick update, and then left to train with Ailis. When he returned two hours later, his mind now as tired as his body, he found Aoife and Brighid bustling about the kitchen, both as naked as the day they were born.


    Brighid spotted him first and gave him a dazzling smile. "Welcome back, Aidan. Dinner will be ready soon. Please, have a seat and allow us to serve you."


    "You don''t need¡ª"


    "Please, Aidan," Aoife cut him off. "Just sit down and leave the work to us. You carried me all the way back here; the least I can do is feed you in return."


    Knowing he was outvoted and outmatched, Aidan did as he was told. There were three places set side-by-side at the table, although the third had no cushions in front of it. Aidan considered commenting but decided it would be wiser to hold his peace. Instead, he settled into the pile of pillows he used for a chair.


    A moment later, Aoife brought him a tankard full of mead. She placed it on the table in front of him, then leaned in, her soft breasts squishing against the back of Aidan''s shoulder. Hot lips nibbled his earlobe, then Aoife whispered, "Brighid and I got to talking¡ªyou''re right; she''s a sweetheart. We decided on some things which we''ll inform you of over dinner."


    "Do I get any say?" Aidan asked, already expecting the answer.


    "Nope!" Aoife giggled and kissed the corner of his mouth. "This is what you get for gathering a harem of wilful women. All the sex you could want, no agency over your home life."


    "I didn''t ask for this!" Aidan protested.


    "Oh?" Aoife''s breath tickled Aidan''s ear. She wrapped her arms around his waist and teased, "so it was someone else who chased me down this morning, threw me to the ground, and ravaged me for hours on end while telling me that he wanted me to be his?"


    "Well..."


    "That''s what I thought," Aoife giggled again. "You caught me and claimed me, now you''ve gotta deal with the consequences."


    Aidan twisted and pulled Aoife down into his lap. She squealed at the sudden movement and squirmed around, trying to reclaim her footing, while Aidan wrapped his arms around her. "Let me up! I have to finish dinner!"


    "Seems to me that I caught you again," Aidan crooned, "and I can''t imagine the consequences are much more severe for doing it twice. I might as well take advantage of the situation."


    "Beast! Monster!" Aoife proclaimed. She still wriggled around in Aidan''s lap, but her movements seemed less intent on getting away as Aidan''s hands started to roam.


    "Priorities, love," Brighid scolded him, taking hold of Aidan''s chin and turning his face to hers. She gave him a passionate kiss, distracting him long enough for Aoife to squirm free from his grasp. "Aoife is a much better cook than me, so if you want to eat tonight, we need to let her finish up. We can pet the kitty later."


    "We?" Aidan asked with a grin.


    "You think I passed up a chance to feel how soft her fur is?" Brighid laughed. "Come, Aidan, you should know me better than that! Now, have a drink, make yourself comfortable, and dinner will be up in just a few minutes."


    Aidan couldn''t exactly drag Brighid down into his lap, so when she pulled away, he let her go and turned to his mead. True to their words, it was only a few minutes longer before the ladies returned to the table bearing platters of food. Brighid doled out a pile of roasted vegetables covered in some rich-looking cream sauce, while Aoife distributed several skewers laden with rich strips of meat.


    Brighid settled down to Aidan''s right, and before he could ask where Aoife was going to sit, she plopped down across his lap. Aidan instinctively wrapped his arm around Aoife''s waist to provide her support, earning a quick kiss.


    "Not that I object," Aidan said, squeezing Aoife, "but this is going to make eating awkward."


    "Is he always this dense?" the catgirl asked Brighid, who giggled. Aoife turned her golden eyes to Aidan and bopped his nose. "I''m going to feed you, silly. The whole meal is planned around it, see? Now, are you going to argue, or are you going to let your beautiful, naked lover sit in your lap and hand-feed you, leaving your hands free for ... other pursuits?"


    "Well, when you put it that way..." Aidan laughed. "I withdraw my objection. I''ll just shut up and enjoy it."


    "Good boy," Aoife responded with a teasing smirk. "Keep doing that, and you''ll be a happy boy, too." She turned to the table and grabbed a skewer. She brought it up to Aidan''s lips for him to bite. While Aidan chewed the tender, tangy meat, Aoife speared one of the veggies for herself.


    "Now, about our decisions," Aoife murmured after swallowing, "as things stand, I need a job. I refuse to be a kept woman."


    "And I," Brighid cut in, "hate cleaning and am no good at cooking."


    "I love your food!" Aidan protested out of loyalty.


    Brighid patted his cheek. "That is sweet of you, dear, but I am aware of my limitations. I will never starve for lack of a cooked meal, but I am no chef."


    "I, meanwhile," Aoife said, "am rather proficient at both cleaning and cooking, among other useful trivial skills. Mending, sewing, laundry, and so on. I don''t enjoy that kind of work, but I don''t hate it, either."


    Aidan frowned. "You don''t need to do work you don''t like. We can find something else for you to do."


    "Aww. Don''t worry about me, Aidan. Besides, this job does come with some benefits." She wriggled in his lap for emphasis. Aidan tightened his grip on Aoife''s waist and trailed his fingers across her thigh, drawing a purr.


    "Not to mention," Brighid added, "that it''s better to have someone we know and can trust to be the head of our personal staff."


    "You do have a point," Aidan conceded. "But if you find a job you''d rather have, Aoife, let us know."


    That earned him a smile and a kiss. "Of course." She waved another skewer in front of his mouth until Aidan took a bite. "The second decision we made is that we need to maximize your advantages. The work you''re doing with Chancellor Ailis will bear powerful fruit, to be sure, but there is potential with your Profession and other non-combat skills that you''re missing, underselling, or just not practicing enough with. As soon as we can find the time, I would like to sit down with you and go over your Talents and skill perks to see what we can optimize. I''ll be doing the same for Brighid and Sunnild, for the record."


    "And the third decision we made," Brighid added, "is that Aoife will be living with us."


    "Whoa, whoa, wait," Aidan protested. "One, isn''t this all a bit fast? Two, shouldn''t Sunnild get that opportunity first? And three, I am not pleased to have this presented to me as fact."


    "One," Aoife replied, voice sharpening, "you should have thought of that before you said the things you did this morning. I know it probably doesn''t seem this way to you, being a man, but you proposed to me¡ªbefore doing the same for your Soulmate and without consulting her on it first."


    "Two," Brighid added, "Sunnild is not in my good books at the moment. She got drunk on duty and failed multiple times in her role as your bodyguard. She told me all about it yesterday. I''ll forgive her eventually since, luckily, no harm was done, but I am very upset with her."


    "And three," Aoife followed up, "Brighid said I''d be living with you, not sleeping together with you."


    "Although I certainly plan to take advantage of the situation," Brighid said, reaching over to stroke Aoife''s hip. Aoife favored her with a flirtatious smile.


    "And I look forward to it," she responded, then turned her attention back to Aidan. "Consider me a live-in maid if you have to. I''ll sleep in a separate bed and everything. But, given the nature of my condition, we decided it was unwise for me to be too far from you just in case something goes wrong with the collar or bracelet."


    Then Aoife gave Aidan a hurt, puppy-eyed look. "Of course, if you really don''t want to have me around, I understand. I''ll stay hidden away like a good slave-mistress, obedient to Master''s call and out of sight otherwise."


    "Damnit," Aidan cursed, "you know that''s not what I mean. I like you, Aoife, maybe even love you, and I''m not ashamed of you at all. This just wasn''t what I expected to hear at dinner tonight."


    "So you''ll let me stay?" Aoife''s eyes widened even further and started to shimmer with unshed tears.


    "Fine," Aidan sighed, knowing when he was beaten. This is going to be my life from here on out, isn''t it? Aoife was right; this is what I get for letting Brighid talk me into a harem.


    "Yay!" Aoife bounced in Aidan''s lap, which did wonderful things for her chest, catching both his and Brighid''s attention.


    "You''re a manipulative wench," Aidan told Aoife with a chuckle.


    "Praise me more!" She grinned back at him. "Now, eat up! We have plans for you tonight."


    "Yes, ma''am."


    "And touch me more! You have a hot naked girl in your lap, and you''re keeping your hands to yourself; that''s rude, you know?"


    Aidan laughed. "Yes, ma''am!" he repeated, sliding his hand up Aoife''s thigh and to the inside.


    "Mm, yeah, just like that." Aoife moaned around a forkful of veggies.


    "Before this gets too off-track, I have some things to bring up as well," Aidan said. "First off, Aoife, I want to reiterate that you are not obligated in any way to have sex with me."


    "Oh, for the love of...! Didn''t I go over this earlier?" Aoife rolled her eyes at Aidan. "There''s such a thing as being too conscientious. You have a direct empathic link to me, and there''s nothing either of us can do about it, so we might as well make it work for us. Any time you want to play, check with the bracelet; if I''m not in a foul mood and you spend even a little time getting me ready, I''ll welcome any attention you want to lavish on me. I''m a greedy girl."


    "I understand, but this whole slave thing makes me uneasy, especially since we couldn''t bypass the automatic passive restrictions on your collar."


    Aoife relaxed in Aidan''s arms and nuzzled his neck. "I know, and I''m sorry for being prickly. It''s hard on both of us, and I really appreciate how considerate you are. That said, Searlas''s court was a place of whispers, rumors, and lies. I had to examine everything everyone said and did from a dozen angles. This morning was, in part, to get you into a state where you''d be direct about what you wanted from me."


    Aoife tilted her head back and pressed her lips to Aidan''s. A moment later, she pulled back and murmured, "If you¡ªeither of you¡ªwant me and think I might not be receptive, tell me. I promise I won''t be offended, and the worst I''ll say is that I''m not in the mood. Don''t be sly about it, don''t hint or tease it. You don''t need to seduce me. I''m so tired of second-guessing everything that a straightforward proposition is one of the sexiest things I can think of right now."


    "Deal," Aidan said; Brighid nodded and leaned in to kiss Aoife. "Second thing, and keeping what you just said in mind: we''ve had sex several times in the last few weeks, Aoife, and I ... haven''t been pulling out. I know you said that Searlas laced your food with maiden''s tea, but, well, if there''s any doubt, I haven''t done that. Have you been taking precautions?"


    Aoife smirked. "Isn''t it a little late to be asking that? If you were worried about knocking me up, you shouldn''t have come inside me four times this morning."


    "Aoife..."


    "Spoilsport. But no, I''m not taking any maiden''s tea. I''m your woman, Aidan, in more ways than one. I know the bracelet tells you how fertile I am. If you don''t want kids from me, it''s up to you to prevent it."


    Aidan frowned. "Does that mean you want to get pregnant?"


    "It means that I reserve the right to blame you for it when I''m eight months in and feeling like a whale." Aoife took pity on him a moment later and continued, "I''m not sure I''m ready to be a mom. I''m pretty fucked up right now. On the other hand, there''s a big part of me that wants to give you everything you want from me."


    "Are you sure that isn''t the collar talking? Given the information it gives me, I''m pretty sure it''s designed specifically for sexual slavery."


    Aoife shrugged. "No, I can''t be sure, can I? That''s part and parcel of this whole mess. But I can''t be sure it is, either, and I am ... very attracted to you, in multiple ways, and have been since before you got the bracelet. Something about you pushes all my buttons, and if I had to pick someone to have children with, it''s hard for me to imagine someone more likely to be a good father than you.


    "You''re kind, thoughtful, willing to put your foot down when you need to, and I have no doubt that your children will know that you love them and want them to succeed in everything." Aoife shrugged again. "I''m leaving it up to chance. If it happens, I''ll embrace it. If it doesn''t, I won''t be upset."


    Aidan wasn''t entirely satisfied with that answer¡ªambivalence was hard to accept, given the subject matter¡ªbut it didn''t seem like he would get a better one, so he moved on. "Alright. That''s all I had. Brighid, do you have anything to add?"


    "Hmm," the redheaded centaur mused. She speared a forkful of the vegetables and brought it to her mouth, but on the way, a thick glob of cream sauce dripped onto her breasts. "Oh! I appear to have made a mess. Aoife, would you mind cleaning that up for me?"


    "I thought you''d never ask!" Aoife quipped, leaning forward to bury her face in Brighid''s cleavage.


    Zurai


    Aidan''s current status screen:


    Beast Magic to 23


    Fire Magic to 31


    Magical Theory to 21


    Glyphs to 10; new perk


    Brighid''s current status sheet:


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Orange, and Lupus for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 57: A Fell Air Falleth

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Fifthday, 2nd week of the 10th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Dawn


    Caer Macht''s entrance, Ceallach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Aidan stretched and groaned as he waited for Ysbail''s party to arrive. Sunnild mumbled something in a sleepy voice and cuddled against his side; Aidan let his arms fall and hugged her to his side. "Are you ready to do another dungeon dive?"


    "Mmph. Are you sure ya want me along? I am so much lower level than everyone else. I worry that I will not be able to keep up against the boss." Sunnild looked up at Aidan, vulnerability shining in her eyes.


    "You''ll be fine," Aidan assured her, stroking her downy crest feathers. "It''s the rest of us that are over-leveled, as far as I understand it."


    "Mm," Sunnild offered, seeming to pay more attention to Aidan''s touch than his words. "If you say so. I trust ya."


    The pair waited together as the sky outside the tunnel began to grow lighter. Several minutes later, a voice broke into their silent companionship.


    "And lo, at the dawning of the day does she come, the hero of a hundred tales, sovereign of shadows and steel! Take heart, for Wulfryn is here!" Aidan watched in bemusement as the raven-winged harpy he''d encountered training with Ysbail plummeted out of the sky in front of the tunnel. Her wings snapped open at the last possible moment, sending the early morning mist swirling around her as she made her dramatic entrance.


    Sunnild seemed less than impressed. "Loud," she complained, raising one wing to shield her face as she burrowed her head further into Aidan''s chest.


    "Is that...? Sunny! It is you!" Wulfryn launched herself at Sunnild¡ªand, thus, Aidan¡ªwith a stroke of her wings, then squawked and backpedaled as two of Aidan''s bodyguards materialized in her path. "Ummm, oops?"


    "We are not even in the Labyrinth yet, and you are already getting into trouble, Wulfryn?" Ysbail chuckled as she emerged from the billowing fog left in Wulfryn''s wake.


    "You know each other?" Aidan asked Sunnild as he signaled the all-clear to his guards.


    "Mm," she agreed. "If she was not so loud, I would call her a friend. One of the few who did not make fun of me at the Aerie."


    Wulfryn gasped and clutched her hands to her chest as if shot. "Oh, a grievous blow! My heart aches to see this betrayal."


    Riama prowled out of the shadows in the tunnel, stalking up to Wulfryn and staring balefully up at her. "This minion dares to call herself a lord of darkness? Master, convey my words to her so that I might educate her in her folly!"


    "Oh, lord," Aidan groaned, "they''re multiplying." To his familiar, he sent, "I will do no such thing. She''s just a bird fluffing up her feathers, trying to appear bigger and more dangerous than she is."


    Unfortunately, it was not to be. Wulfryn crouched down and stared into Riama''s eyes. "What is this?" she asked. "I can feel the dark energy around you! Can it be? Has a rival emerged at last?"


    "There can be no rivalry between us when you sit so far below me!" Riama yowled back at the harpy.


    There should have been no way for Wulfryn to understand Riama, but she gave a solemn nod. "It is so! Come, my furry foe, let us compete to prove which of us is the true twilight terror!"


    "You have no chance! My claws and fangs will rend all asunder!" Riama spun in place and walked back to Aidan, head and tail held high.


    "Well, that happened," Ysbail drawled. "It is good to know that the training is paying off, at least, if you have this much energy." The huge centaur woman tousled Wulfryn''s purple-black crest feathers. Wulfryn shivered at the touch and leaned into Ysbail''s hand, then blinked and puffed out her cheeks when the Adventurer stopped.


    "Ysbail!" she complained. "Not in front of my rival!"


    "Well, you lot are cheerful this morning," said a thick-bearded mountain centaur clad in heavy armor as he walked up to them. He bowed to Aidan, saying, "Good morning, Lord Aidan, it is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Labhruinn."


    "Likewise," Aidan said, giving him a nod in return.


    "Good, everyone is here," Ysbail said. "Before we begin, I want to make one thing clear. Lord Aidan, out here, you are the boss. You have power to spare and a bright vision that you are guiding us towards. I follow you willingly. In the Labyrinth, however, things are different. I have more experience clearing dungeons than the rest of you put together twice over. I want your word that you will obey my orders."


    "By all means!" Aidan exclaimed. "Honestly, it''s a relief to be able to follow someone else for a change. Lead on, I say!"


    Ysbail shook her head and chuckled. "I should have known you would be reasonable about it. Alright then, adventure awaits!"


    Aidan


    Mid-Morning


    The Labyrinth, First Stratum: Viridescent Treetops


    "What is that?!" Aidan exclaimed.


    "Arboreal Devourer," Ysbail said, leading the party past the powerful foe. "This one we can just walk right past. There are others later on that we had to get more creative about."


    "Wait, the boss is uglier than that? This thing looks like a cross between a leech, a spider, and a pile of shit."


    "Oh, yes," Ysbail chuckled. "Poor Ceirios almost lost her lunch when we found it. These guys are cute in comparison."


    "Cute? I am not looking forward to this..."


    "Oh, stop whining. There, up ahead, those are the stairs down."


    And, sure enough, two quest prompts popped into Aidan''s vision.


    "Well, that''s not ominous or anything," Aidan quipped.


    "What, the second floor''s quest?" Ysbail asked. "There is actually a clue in the description. See if you can figure it out before we show you!" She grinned at Aidan.


    "A clue? Hmm. There isn''t much to work with. Let me think about it while we head down to the next floor."


    "You do not have much time," Wulfryn commented. "The stairs are not as long as you might think."


    Indeed, they were not. The staircase spiraled around the inside of the tree once, then opened up onto a branch leading west. The wooden pathway extended a short distance before ending in a swath of leaves, most of which were bathed in a beam of golden sunlight. Another Arboreal Devourer crouched at the back end of the greenery, directly opposite the stairs leading back up. A shortcut extended off the branch to the south.


    "Um, is that thing going to chase us? I''m sure we can beat it, but it''ll drain resources we''d be better off using to fight the boss." Aidan eyed the Devourer warily. He wasn''t sure how or why, but he could feel the power rolling off of it. Its intensity wasn''t overwhelming, but he could tell it wouldn''t be as easy a fight as the Treetop Tyrants and Rafflesias they''d dispatched easily on the way to the first-floor stairs.


    "Nope!" chirped Wulfryn. "Permission to demonstrate?" she asked Ysbail.


    "Go ahead." Wulfryn launched herself into the air and flew toward the leafy patch.


    "Yoo-hoo! Hey, ugly, come and get me!" she shouted, attracting the Devourer''s attention. It reared up on its multitude of thin legs and heaved itself forward, letting out an ear-piercing roar that shook the branch.


    "Is she going to be alright?" Sunnild asked, worried for her friend.


    "Just watch," Ysbail responded.


    The monster chased after Wulfryn, moving first along the shadowed section of leaves, then plunging into the sunlight. As soon as it did, however, it shrieked, thrashed, and curled up on itself. As Aidan watched, amazed, the shiny slime covering its body turned dull and hardened, locking the creature in place.


    "It turns out," Ysbail said with a grin, "that these things are weak to sunlight. They react like that every time."


    "Is it dead?" Sunnild asked. "I didn''t get any experience..."


    Ysbail shook her head. "No, and do not attack it. That wakes them back up. As long as we leave them alone, though, they cannot chase us into the sunlight."


    "That''s all well and good," Aidan said, "but doesn''t that depend on there being sunlight to lead them into? I can''t imagine it''s always this easy."


    "Ah, but that is the trick!" Wulfryn exclaimed. "For the light is within our means to control! Hark, look above; what do you see?" She spiraled into the air, throwing her arms upward.


    Aidan looked up. There was far more distance above them than there should have been, given the distance the stairs covered, but he could just make out...


    "Wait, is that the first floor way up there? The branches look different than on the background trees."


    "Yup!" the raven-winged harpy confirmed. "You know how passing over these leaves makes them fall out? And you know how there are patches of leaves up there with sunlight falling on them?"


    Aidan''s eyes widened. "''As the sunlight falls further and further behind, the threat to intrepid adventurers grows higher and higher. Danger lurks in the shadows, waiting to devour the ill-prepared,''" he repeated. "When you break the leaf cover, it lets the sunlight through, and that removes the danger from the Devourers!"


    "Got it in one," Ysbail confirmed. "And, luckily, once we clear out a section in the sunshine, it stays that way for around a week. Having to clear out the path every time would be tiresome. Although to be fair, the shortcuts let us avoid most of them. In fact, this floor will only take a few minutes."


    The Adventurer led the party south, between an immense tree trunk and a large patch of leaves, then across another shortcut bridge and left into a smaller tree. Within was another staircase and another pair of prompts.


    "Wait, why am I getting credit for ninety-nine percent map completion? We barely covered a tenth of the floor if it''s as big as the first one." Aidan was confused.


    "We all had slightly different quest objectives," Labhruinn replied. "If I had to guess, yours was to make a map of each floor?" At Aidan''s nod, the bearded centaur continued, "Then my guess is that you only need to have the map, not traverse the entire floor yourself. Since we already have complete maps of the first three floors, you get off easy."


    "It makes sense," Sunnild added. "You''re being rewarded for encouraging exploration of the Labyrinth. I bet you''ll get quests every time someone reaches a new floor from this entrance."


    Aidan frowned. "But I didn''t get these quests until I reached the stairs down myself."


    Sunnild shrugged. "Maybe because you have to defeat the first boss yourself for a different quest? Dunno, but I''m sticking to my bet."


    The party emerged from the stairway into, as the quest description suggested, an altered landscape. Instead of branches as wide as roads hundreds of feet in the air, the third floor was a maze with gnarled roots as the walls. The darkness was even more oppressive here; without Wulfryn''s Darksight Boon spell, Aidan doubted he would be able to see more than a foot or two ahead. The scent was different as well, the clean air of the canopy exchanged for the smell of wet earth and rotting vegetation.


    "As you can tell, this floor is a bit different," Ysbail said as they emerged into the open air. "Fortunately for you newbies, we figured out the shortcuts here just before finding the boss, and there is one that leads right to it."


    "This feels like cheating," Aidan grumbled as Ysbail walked to the southern root-wall.


    "We can take the long way if you want..."


    "No, no, you''re the leader."


    "Correct answer," Ysbail snickered. "The boss will give us plenty of things to worry about without having expended resources going the scenic route, I assure you. Now, watch this." She extended her hand to touch a small cluster of flowers on the nearest root. Aidan heard a loud click, then a hidden door swung inward, revealing a secret passage.


    "Anwn was the one to spot the flowers," Ysbail explained as she headed through the short tunnel. "It turns out that they only exist to mark these secret doors. Anyway, around this corner, through this tree, and here we are."


    The path opened up into what Aidan could only describe as a boss arena. It was a rough oval in shape, with root-walls towering and arching overhead almost like a cathedral. A narrow beam of sunlight lanced down to illuminate the rear of the area¡ªand the immense monster lurking there.


    At first, Aidan only saw a mound of dirt, mud, dead leaves, and other detritus. Then it moved. With a crackling groan that sounded like an entire forest toppling to the ground, the creature rose in fits and starts. The dirt and leaves tumbled from the boss monster''s back, revealing a slick, chitinous shell lined with spikes that resembled huge, rotting splinters. Six pairs of eyes gleamed along the front of its carapace, each set decreasing in size, though the smallest were still as big as pumpkins.


    Its bulk lifted higher and higher into the air, dark, gooey fluids dripping from revealed appendages. It resembled a horseshoe crab¡ªif those harmless arthropods were thirty feet long and had a hundred spearlike legs, a whiplike tail tipped with a glowing nodule, and two grabbing claws the size of Ysbail. Once it reached its full height, it stretched its forelimbs skyward and let out a chittering screech that had Aidan ducking and covering his ears.


    Power rolled off the monster in waves, battering against Aidan with a force that felt physical. His hands and legs trembled with the effort required to keep from turning and running. Beside him, Sunnild wrapped her gleaming silver wings around her in a protective cocoon. Even Labhruinn and Wulfryn, who had encountered this creature before, grimaced and broke out in a heavy sweat. Only Ysbail seemed unaffected, and she stepped forward, hefting her massive greatsword.


    "Alright, ladies and gentlemen, this is the fruit of our labor these last weeks. We know nothing about this thing other than that it is ugly as sin and twice as unpleasant to smell. I can shield us from the passive effects of its Aura, but there is no telling what it can do in battle." Ysbail began to emit wisps of golden-red energy, and immediately Aidan felt the physical and mental pressure emanating from the boss decrease.


    "Watch out for the claws and tail in particular," Ysbail continued. "Get ready, everyone¡ªthis will be a hard battle. If you are hurt too badly to fight, try to withdraw behind us. Aidan, you will have to act as our healer if that happens, so keep well away from its attacks. Unleash as much firepower as you can on it as soon as you see it is engaged with us."


    "You don''t have to tell me twice," he muttered in response. He already had his Obsidian Salamander and Golden Fawn summoned, so there wasn''t much more in the way of preparation that he could do.


    "Wulf, stay back with Aidan and keep up your enhancing spells on the rest of us. If you have time to try and debilitate it with shadow magic, do it, but keeping our armor and weapons enchanted is your priority."


    "Yes, captain!" The young harpy had a serious look on her face as she cast her short-duration Metal Magic buffs on the frontline party members.


    "Sunnild, you did well against the monsters we encountered in the upper levels. I know you are not as sturdy as Labhruinn or me, so I want you to focus on evading and parrying hits rather than absorbing them. Your wings might be almost impenetrable, but they will not absorb all of the force from its strikes."


    "Understood."


    "Labby, you and I are on damage detail. I do not like the look of that tail, so that will be my priority at the start. You start whittling away at its health from the front with Sunnild."


    "Aye."


    Ysbail raised her sword to shoulder height, tip pointed toward the towering enemy. "Is everyone prepared? Good. Then, Aidan? Fire for effect."


    "Yes, ma''am," he said and sent his Burning Barrage spiraling towards the boss.


    Zurai


    Aidan''s current status screen:


    Sunnild''s current status sheet:


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Orange, Lupus, and an anonymous Patron for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 58: Destruction Begets Decay

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Fifthday, 2nd week of the 10th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Mid-Morning


    The Labyrinth, First Stratum: Viridescent Treetops


    Explosions bloomed across the enormous monster''s carapace, concentrated around its eyes. Aidan cursed as the damage rolled across his combat log.


    "It''s resistant to fire!" Aidan warned the rest of the party. None of the rest of them dealt any fire damage, of course, but they needed to know that his offensive power was reduced. The problem was solvable thanks to Soulfire Blast, but, having learned what using his soul as fuel meant, Aidan was reluctant to do so outside of a true life-and-death situation. He would have to deal with reduced damage output for now.


    He was not alone, however. Wulfryn and Sunnild both sprang into the air; the former hovered above him while the latter raced toward the boss alongside Ysbail and Labhruinn. The two centaurs split to the sides to flank the Primeval, weapons at the ready.


    Rakkatorak reared back, screeching in pain or rage, and lunged toward Aidan, enormous pincers outstretched to grab him. Sunnild dove down, landing inside the boss''s reach and interposing herself between it and Aidan. "Oh, no, you don''t!" she shouted, her wings darting out to slash at Rakkatorak''s underbelly.


    The boss showed no sign of slowing down, sending Aidan''s heart leaping into his throat as it bore down on Sunnild. He watched, helpless, as Sunnild stood her ground before the charging monster, bracing herself for the impact, two wings wrapped around her body as armor while the other pair pointed up and out towards.


    The oversized arthropod slammed into Sunnild at full speed¡ªand came to a stop. The impact pushed Sunnild back ten feet, leaving a furrow in the damp soil, but she somehow stayed standing. "Good job!" Ysbail shouted. "Are you alright?"


    "I can keep fightin''," Sunnild painted, pain clear in her voice.


    "Darkness, hear your sister''s call!" Wulfryn chanted from above Aidan. "Shadows flow through my veins and stain my feathers all the shade of midnight. You know me for family, so I ask this boon: take my enemy, drag it into your tenebrous embrace, and bind it so that it might never see the light again!"


    As the support mage finished casting, the lighting in the arena changed. The sunbeam''s light seemed to grow brighter, starker somehow, and the shadows it cast darkened. From the corners of the room, semi-real tendrils lashed out, wrapping around Rakkatorak''s carapace and squeezing. Aidan could hear the creak of chitin under stress as Wulfryn''s spell took hold of the boss.


    At first, Aidan dared to hope that the binding was successful. Rakkatorak shrieked and thrashed within the tendrils'' confines, leaving itself open to strikes from Ysbail and Labhruinn that sheared off a few legs and left a cracked dent in its carapace. Alas, the effect was temporary. With another screeching roar and a surge of oppressive Aura, Rakkatorak tore free of most of the shadowy obstructions, leaving only a handful entangling its limbs and slowing its actions.


    "Sorry!" Wulfryn apologized. "It is too strong for me to keep it bound!"


    "You are doing well!" Ysbail responded. "Keep it up!"


    The crash of a sudden impact on metal armor brought Aidan''s attention to Labhruinn on the boss''s flank. The sound was similar enough to when a dakhol killed Cai that Aidan''s stomach turned, but the mountain centaur was still up and active. The armor around his torso was dented now, and he was covered in glowing, sickly green slime, but he did not seem otherwise worse for wear¡ªuntil Aidan noticed the steam coming from the goop.


    As if that weren''t bad enough, Wulfryn called out a warning. "Adds from above!"


    Aidan jerked his gaze upward and spotted two smaller versions of the Arboreal Devourers crawling down the sides of the arena toward the party. "Target the Devourers!" he ordered his Salamander summon, then followed his own command by casting a Magma Blast. Molten rock impacted the creature''s side, knocking it from the wall, but it twisted and landed on its feet. With a hiss, the ugly monster raced towards Labhruinn, but it was stopped again as Riama appeared from the shadows. She pounced on top of it, latching on with her jaws and raking its back with her claws.


    A shriek of pain from Rakkatorak diverted Aidan''s attention for long enough to spot the boss''s glowing tail-tip arcing through the air, separated from its body by a swing of Ysbail''s oversized sword. She hadn''t gotten off unscathed, though; her chain mail was splattered with more of the glowing, acidic goop. The monster''s tail whipped back and forth, crashing against Ysbail''s flank and forcing her away from Rakkatorak''s blind spot.


    Aidan started casting Electric Arc but used Ailis''s lessons and his self-study in Mist Stalker territory to modify the glyphs used in its construction. He traced a circle in the air, a glowing, crackling line following his fingers and branching out into a sequence of sigils around the inner circumference. From there, he guided additional streaks of color in increasingly intricate geometric patterns, crafting an overlapping series of mandalas. With relief, Aidan felt the power drawn by the chant snap into place in the glyph and released it, casting the spell.


    A sharp crack split the air as a blinding bolt of electricity shot from Aidan''s outstretched hand, striking Rakkatorak and sending tendrils of lightning coruscating across its body. The lightning gathered on the boss''s flanks and, with another paired crack, shot out in a separate bolt to either side, striking the two Devourers with secondary bolts.


    The Obsidian Salamander followed up Aidan''s attack by lobbing a stream of napalm through the air, bathing the Spawn that Riama wasn''t attacking with sticky, burning flames. Both creatures screeched in pain, but the damage wasn''t enough to bring either down. Riama continued to shred her target, which rolled around on the ground in an attempt to dislodge her. However, she picked her target well; the Spawn had no way to pull her off its back, and a few seconds later, it shuddered and stilled. Aidan''s familiar chomped down on the back of the monster''s head one more time, then vanished into the shadows once more.


    Meanwhile, the second Spawn ignored the flames covering its slimy body and charged toward Labhruinn. The mountain centaur was busy fending off attacks from Rakkatorak''s nearer pincer, leaping and ducking to avoid being grabbed and crushed. Wulfryn shouted out a warning to him as the weakened creature approached. Labhruinn shot a glance over his shoulder, then shifted his position so that the Spawn came from behind him.


    The mini-Devourer bunched up, then sprang forward, jumping at the seemingly-distracted centaur¡ªonly to be met by his hooves as Labhruinn kicked backward with both rear legs. A sickening crunch sounded throughout the arena as the attack landed dead center in the Spawn''s body, followed a split second later by a wet squelch as it slammed into the wall and slid to the floor, unmoving.


    "More coming!" Wulfryn warned, and sure enough, three more Spawn climbed over the top of the arena''s walls and started down toward the party.


    "Gotta finish this fast," Ysbail grunted. "Got a feeling they will keep coming until we win."


    Aidan agreed; it seemed like this boss fit the archetype of being a big brick wall with disables and debuffs that relied on a swarm of lesser monsters to finish off its prey. The Devouring Spawns didn''t seem like major threats on their own, and weren''t as durable as the larger ones elsewhere in the stratum surely were, but enough of them would overwhelm the party. Then again, they had a good party composition for that kind of fight as long as they could keep from accumulating major wounds.


    "Wulfryn, d''you think the Spawns are weak enough for your shadows to hold and maybe kill?" Aidan asked, then started casting a quick, basic Burning Barrage.


    "On it!" she responded, her hands already weaving through the air as she summoned her magic again. Aidan waited until she finished her spell and the shadows latched on to their targets before launching his barrage. A dozen tiny motes of fire streaked through the air, aiming for four separate points. He sent a pair toward each of the three Devouring Spawns and sent the remaining six at Rakkatorak''s eyes.


    Unfortunately, Rakkatorak didn''t sit still and take his beating the second time. Seeing the explosives hurtling toward it, the boss crouched low and pulled its limbs tight against its body, covering all of its vulnerable spots. Aidan''s spell impacted with its carapace, blasting dirt, leaves, and decaying gunk into the air but causing little damage.


    As soon as the danger passed, Rakkatorak rose again. Its eyes focused on the much smaller figure barring its passage: Sunnild, standing solitary, shining steel surrounding her. The boss scuttled backward a few feet then hunched in on itself. A wave of powerful intent burst forth from it, causing everyone except Ysbail to flinch, then the massive arthropod lunged forward. Sunnild braced herself again, but she was still off-balance from the Aura pulse and didn''t have enough time to get into a proper stance.


    This time, when the Primeval''s body struck Sunnild, she went flying through the air. Her wings flared out around her, trying to gain control over her motion, but again there wasn''t enough time. She hit the wall to Aidan''s right with a thud, then dropped to the floor, unmoving. "Sunnild!" Aidan shouted, legs already moving before his mind finished processing the sight.


    "Get her back up if you can!" Ysbail shouted at him as if he needed her to tell him that. "Labhruinn, take over tanking!"


    Aidan had no mind for the rest of the fight as he skidded to a stop next to Sunnild, dropping to his knees and chanting the phonemes for Patch Wounds. As the minor healing energy poured into Sunnild''s body, she stirred, and her eyes opened. Relief flooded Aidan at that; he was no doctor, but even he could tell that she had taken a severe hit. One of her wings was bent at a nauseating angle, and Sunnild''s breath came in short, sharp, pained gasps.


    "Sorry," she whimpered. Tears trickled down her cheeks. "I failed ... again."


    "Hush," Aidan scolded. "Let me heal you. You did fine; any of us would''ve been flattened by that hit."


    "Is Sunny okay?" Wulfryn asked, having relocated and taken up guard above them.


    "She''s got a broken wing at least. Probably cracked or broken ribs, too," Aidan guessed.


    "I will shield you from perception while you heal her," the black-feathered harpy declared. A few seconds later, a sheet of impenetrable darkness swept up and over them, obscuring Aidan and Sunnild from those outside but also preventing them from seeing or hearing the fight.


    "Just hold still, songbird," Aidan told Sunnild. "I''ll get you healed up. Here, drink this," he said, pulling a healing potion out of his pack and holding it to her lips. Aidan dribbled the thick, red liquid past Sunnild''s lips, making sure not to pour too fast for her to swallow. With his other hand, he cast Pulse of Life. The fatigue built up in him, but Aidan could hear Sunnild''s breaths grow less laborious as the potion and his spell healed her.


    Soon, Sunnild pushed off the ground, struggling into a seated position with a hiss of pain. Aidan put his hands on her shoulders as she started to stand up, holding her down. Sunnild glared at him. "Let me up!" she commanded.


    "No!" Aidan responded. "Your wing''s still broken, and I can tell you''ve still got internal injuries. Your Wounds are still taking a third of your Health! You''re in no condition to keep fighting!"


    "Can you fix the Wounds?" she asked.


    "... No," Aidan sighed, frowning. "I haven''t been focusing on my Vivimancy. We''ll need to get you out of here and let Ailis or Ceirios look you over."


    "Then you need to let me up," Sunnild insisted. "I can still fight, and we need everyone to take down Rakkatorak."


    "Sunnild, if it hits you like that again, you''ll die!" Aidan could feel his voice rising along with the panic in his chest.


    "... I know," Sunnild whispered. She shifted, wrapping her three uninjured wings around Aidan and burying her head against his armored chest. "I need to do this. I can do this! Please, Aidan, trust me, please?"


    Aidan stared down at his injured lover for several long seconds, hesitating. He knew that stopping her here could crush her confidence and damage their relationship, but he was terrified of losing her. Seeing her hit the wall and collapse to the floor drove a spike of despair into his heart. He couldn''t watch her die, he just couldn''t.


    But neither could he hold her back when she begged him to trust her. With a voice in the back of his mind screaming that it was a bad idea, he sighed and stroked one hand through Sunnild''s crest feathers. "Alright," he told her. "I won''t stop you. Just be careful, love. Don''t try to block another hit like that. Run away if you have to."


    "Mm," she agreed, tilting her head up to look Aidan in the eye. Her skin was pale from holding back the pain, but she stood up and stretched her three good wings. The fourth she cradled against her chest. She looked down at Aidan, flashed him a tremulous smile, then strode out through the inky black wall separating them from the rest of the arena.


    Zurai


    Aidan''s current status screen:


    Sunnild''s current status sheet:


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Orange, Lupus, and an anonymous Patron for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 59: Crimson Cacophony

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Fifthday, 2nd week of the 10th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Mid-Morning


    The Labyrinth, First Stratum: Viridescent Treetops


    Aidan emerged from Wulfryn''s shadow shield and paused a moment to take stock of the situation. His eyes sought Sunnild first, finding her running toward the hulking form of Rakkatorak. Labhruinn and Ysbail still flanked the massive boss, lashing out with their weapons and dodging or deflecting the retaliatory strikes. Wulfryn hovered above Aidan, her hands outstretched, directing dozens of dark whiplike tendrils toward four Devouring Spawns.


    "Sunnild, help Wulfryn with the Spawns," Ysbail shouted. "Aidan, focus everything you have on the big guy! The longer this takes, the worse off we will all be!"


    Aidan spared a single relieved breath as Sunnild skidded to a stop and hesitated before breaking off and heading toward one of the smaller monsters. She would be in much less danger outside of the boss''s reach. Then he directed his thoughts toward his task. The situation still wasn''t dire enough for him to break out Soulfire Blast, which meant his offensive options were somewhat limited.


    Not for the first time, Aidan regretted investing so heavily into Fire Magic. His only offensive spell that wasn''t part fire damage was Electric Arc, and it just didn''t deal enough damage to matter to Rakkatorak unless he augmented it heavily with Incantations and Glyphs. And, if he was going to do that, he might as well do it to his Fire Magic spells instead. The boss''s resistance was enough to be aggravating but not enough to invalidate fire damage.


    Aidan suspected Rakkatorak''s fire resistance came not from some inherent property of the creature but rather because it was covered in slime and damp, decaying leaves. If he could dry that out or burn it up with a hot enough fire, he might have better luck with his standard spells. He would need to completely envelop the boss, though, and probably for several seconds.


    The best way to do that would be to cook it in an oven.


    Aidan didn''t have any earthen or stone wall type spells, but he did have something that made rock. It would be the hardest on-the-fly modification he''d performed yet, but his independent study combined with his lessons with Ailis gave him some confidence. And a certain conversation he had with his Chancellor gave him another idea... The only problem was that this would take a while.


    "I''m going to try something," Aidan shouted to Ysbail. "Keep it busy and stationary if you can, and back off when the spell finishes!" Then he started to chant in Divine Speech, "<O blood of the earth, I summon thee. Hear my words, deep within the well of thy birth, and come forth...>"


    As Aidan spoke, he traced complex diagrams in the air in front of him. Each glyphic device was far more intricate than the ones he''d made for his Chain Electric Arc earlier; the only modification he''d needed for that spell was to extend the range for the secondary arcs. This time, he was taking a projectile-based direct damage spell and trying to turn it into construction-based area crowd control.


    While Aidan focused on his magic, his fellow party members were not idle. Labhruinn shifted back into his original role as the group''s primary tank, drawing Rakkatorak''s attention to himself and bearing the brunt of the boss''s aggression. His armor was dented and corroded in at least a dozen places, but the dwarf centaur was in his element. He''d swapped out his two-handed hammer for a smaller weapon and his broad shield, which Labhruinn wielded with deft skill to deflect Rakkatorak''s attacks.


    The enormous arthropod attempted to catch its much smaller prey in its pincers, but Labhruinn was stronger and more nimble than a casual onlooker might expect. He danced in and out of Rakkatorak''s range, prompting the monster to swipe at him, only for the mountain centaur to no longer be there when the attack landed. Whenever a claw did come close, Labhruinn used his shield to bat it away, deflecting the pincer up into the air or down to the ground for him to jump over.


    Ysbail, meanwhile, took advantage of Labhruinn''s Talent-backed distraction to punish the boss. Her oversized greatsword struck again and again, sending shards of chitin flying through the air. Unfortunately, Rakkatorak had plenty of carapace protecting its vital spots, and so far, Ysbail hadn''t been able to land a mortal blow. Every so often, the boss would turn to her, lunging and striking at her with both claws.


    Ysbail was a veteran monster hunter, however, and had seen it all before. She studied Rakkatorak''s movements, dodging several grab attempts, then, the next time it turned to her, she struck. Ysbail''s sword carved a gleaming, brilliant arc in the air. Infused with a fraction of her Aura, the blade sheared through the thinner chitin at the pincer''s joint, sending one half of the claw sailing away and bringing a screech of rage from the massive beast.


    Now that Ysbail had severed two of its body parts, Rakkatorak seemed to reassess its priorities. It scuttled about, spinning in place to face her directly, and its Aura washed over the arena with even more strength. For a moment, Aidan''s sight darkened, his peripheral vision fading out until all he could see was the hulking, crablike form of the boss looming over Ysbail. Even though she was one of the very few Starchasers taller than Brighid, the Adventurer seemed tiny just then. Then Ysbail''s own Aura burst forth, limning her in golden flames.


    In an instant, Aidan''s vision returned to normal. Rakkatorak was still huge compared to Ysbail, but it no longer seemed like quite so horrible a match. "You want some of me?" Ysbail sneered. "Come get me, then!"


    Meanwhile, Sunnild and Wulfryn tag-teamed the ever-increasing horde of Devouring Spawns. Rather than snaring each individual with her magical attacks, Wulfryn had shifted to funneling them together and herding them toward Sunnild. Two long, narrow bands of pitch-black shadows stretched across the room, each sprouting dozens of tenebrous tentacles. The tentacles, in turn, grabbed Spawns that came too close and either crushed them or flung them toward Sunnild.


    Aidan''s songbird stood firm amid the swarm, her injured wing wrapped around her like a steel cloak while her other three wove a web of death. Her razor-sharp, metallic feathers cleaved through the unarmored monsters without resistance, leaving bisected bodies and severed limbs in their wake. Every few seconds, Sunnild shifted her position to clear her lines of attack and keep the bodies from piling up too much around her. Although none of the Spawns could get close enough to attack her, Aidan knew that Sunnild couldn''t keep fighting forever.


    Then again, if this worked, she wouldn''t need to.


    "<... Thy wrath is slow but sure. I honor thee, the heart that beats within the core of this world. I offer thee a sacrifice, a foul corruptor that seeks to turn thy work to mud and ooze ...>" Aidan''s Concentration drained with every word he spoke. Only Phoenix Pyre had ever taken such a toll on his mind. Aidan could feel droplets of sweat pouring down his forehead into his eyes, but he couldn''t spare even a second to wipe them away.


    Every time he completed an intricate Glyphed circle, Aidan flung it toward the center of the chamber, where it stretched out across the uneven floor. A dozen similar diagrams wove together in a loose ring, but there was still more work to do. If Aidan unleashed his spell now, it would not be contained. At best, it would trap Labhruinn and Ysbail inside with Rakkatorak. At worst, it would turn the entire room into a slice of Hell. No, he had to keep going, had to power through his pounding headache and seizing muscles. Half a minute more... he told himself.


    Labhruinn and Ysbail fought side-by-side now, their smooth coordination speaking to their comfort and experience in combat together. The pair moved as one, covering each others'' blind spots as they traded off attacks, all without speaking a word aloud. Rakkatorak, however, was no slouch either. Now that its foes were all in front of it, it was able to concentrate its rage.


    Time and again, the massive monster struck out at the pair of centaurs, battering them with its arms, spearing them with its legs, and using its immense bulk to push them around. While both of its targets could dodge or block its attacks, Aidan could see that both Ysbail and Labhruinn were losing Stamina and accumulating minor Health damage at a slow but steady pace. Rakkatorak, meanwhile, showed no sign of slowing down. Indeed, as the acid from its tail continued to eat away at Labhruinn''s and Ysbail''s armor, the boss seemed to speed up ever so slightly.


    Wulfryn and Sunnild did not work together quite as well. They didn''t blunder into each others'' way¡ªneither was so inexperienced as that¡ªbut their coordination was lacking, their timing off. Wulfryn''s shadows funneled Spawns toward Sunnild, but they did so in erratic, unpredictable intervals. Sometimes the harpy Sentinel only had one or two of the lesser monsters to handle, only to have four more rain down on her head a few seconds later.


    To be fair, Aidan wasn''t sure how much control Wulfryn had over her spells once they went active. The barriers could be fire-and-forget for all he knew. And Sunnild wasn''t making it any easier on Wulfryn, either; she moved around more than Aidan thought was wise with her injuries, charging toward the nearest Spawns rather than waiting for Wulfryn to feed them to her.


    That inefficiency, combined with the ever-increasing numbers of the mini-Devourers, led to some of them slipping past Sunnild and harassing the two centaurs. They were only a nuisance to the two veterans, but even that was dangerous while they held off the enormous Primeval. One of the Spawns blindsided Labhruinn, not managing to deal any real damage but distracting him just long enough for Rakkatorak to strike at him with its half-severed claw. Ysbail got her sword around in time to deflect the blow, but it still glanced off her friend''s head, stunning him.


    "Aidan, we could use some help here!" Ysbail shouted over her shoulder at him.


    "<Emerge and erupt, O deep-rock, world-flame. Bleed forth thy anger upon this realm again and reclaim it for thy home. I have marked thy path to ease thy passage. Come forth! Magma Blast!>"


    Aidan staggered as he released the collected power of his modified spell, feeling his headache surge to near-unbearable levels as the magic coursed through him and into the mandala surrounding Rakkatorak. Remembering his earlier warning, Ysbail and Labhruinn fell back even as the glyphic lines started to glow with intense red light.


    At first, nothing seemed to be happening. Rakkatorak skittered forward, chasing after the centaurs, perhaps believing them to be weakened. Then it paused as the ground under its hundreds of legs rumbled and shook. A crack formed, then another and another. Then, with a thunderous boom, waves of lava burst forth, shooting high into the air all around the Primeval. Rakkatorak reared back from the sudden sound and heat, turning and seeking an escape path, but it was surrounded. The lava continued to spew forth, building upon itself, forming towering walls imprisoning Rakkatorak within.


    Ysbail and Labhruinn retreated further away as the heat grew unbearable. Aidan dropped to his knees, panting and clutching his head. He had enough presence of mind to watch his combat log scroll past, however.


    "It''s working," Aidan panted.


    "Did you kill it?" Labhruinn asked.


    "No, but the heat is drying it, reducing its fire resistance. If it stays trapped a little while longer, it might even become vulnerable to fire."


    "Are you alright?" Ysbail asked. She flicked her sword out, neatly bisecting an errant Devouring Spawn.


    "Just tired and with a raging headache," Aidan replied, levering himself back up onto his feet. "I can keep going."


    Just then, another rumble came from the hardening lava prison, followed by a sensation of looming dread so dense that it seemed to take a physical form. A crashing thud sounded from within the obsidian structure, then another, and another.


    "Something tells me that the beastie is not going to stay trapped for much longer," Labhruinn muttered. His hands tightened on his weapon and shield.


    A blackened claw burst forth with a crunch from the glowing red wall, sending hot shrapnel spraying through the room. Aidan cried out in pain as a three-inch-long shard of rock embedded itself in his shoulder. More stones ricocheted off Labhruinn''s armor as the mountain centaur placed himself between Aidan and the arena''s center.


    "I think you made it mad," Ysbail drawled, turning her head and lifting an arm in front of her eyes protectively.


    A roar answered her as Rakkatorak burst free from its confinement, barrelling through the semi-molten wall and coating itself with cooling rock while sending more spraying all around.


    Zurai


    Aidan''s current status screen:


    Sunnild''s current status sheet:


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Orange, Lupus, and an anonymous Patron for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 60: Dyed in Scarlet

    New month means new Patreon plug! Starting this month, I''m going to be making a stab at writing full-time. It won''t be happening until halfway through (plans changed), but starting on May 15th, I''ll be committing 40+ hours per week to writing, as opposed to the current 8-16. A lot of that effort this month will be spent paying down my accumulated proofreading debt (fixing errors in the story that have been reported but I haven''t had the time to fix) as well as planning future plot arcs, but chapters should start to speed up again by the last week of the month.


    In addition, I''m going to be spending a portion of my time finally getting my second story off the ground. Chapter 1 of that is already available and the plan is to have chapter 2 up before the end of the month, with subsequent chapters coming out at least 1-2 per week. My eventual plan is to release 2-3 Paths chapters per week (we''ll see what''s sustainable) and 1-2 chapters of Essence of a Hero per week (again, depending on what my sustainable writing rate ends up being).


    Final announcement for today is that I''ve commissioned two new pieces of artwork, official portraits for Brighid and Aoife. You can see the Brighid portrait right now over on my https://discord.gg/ZhHre4y and the sketches for the Aoife portrait on Patreon (if you''re a Patron).  These portraits were voted on by my Patrons at every step (choosing the characters, choosing the artists, choosing the poses, etc). I''ll be commissioning more art in the future, so if you want to contribute, join up! And for those who don''t want to/can''t afford to, and who don''t want to join the Discord (it''s free!), don''t worry, I''ll be posting Brighid''s artwork here the next time she shows up. Aoife''s artwork is of the more risque variety, so it''ll be limited to Discord/Patreon only, unfortunately.


    Aidan


    The Realms


    Fifthday, 2nd week of the 10th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Mid-Morning


    The Labyrinth, First Stratum: Viridescent Treetops


    Aidan staggered to his feet, gritting his teeth as the movement sent a spike of pain through his head. Ysbail and Labhruinn were already moving to intercept the boss, and he couldn''t spare the time to check on Wulfryn or Sunnild. His combat log showed that Rakkatorak was still taking damage from the modified Magma Blast, so Aidan pushed it into Crown of the Exalted. His headache eased somewhat but lingered as a dull throbbing around his temples.


    Rakkatorak reared up, balancing itself on its rear legs and tail, and roared loud enough to shake the climbing Devouring Spawns from the arena''s walls. The sound was accompanied by a wave of palpable anger and hatred that drove Aidan back down to his knees. Sickly greenish-black energy congealed around the immense monster, filling in the cracks in its shell and taking the place of its missing pincer and tail-mace.


    The boss fell forward with a crash. The earthquake-like impact widened the cracks in the floor left by Aidan''s magic; sheets of red-hot lava spurted forth, showering down all across the battlefield. Aidan instinctively knew that, even if he canceled Magma Blast, the effects on the environment would stay. They had to finish the fight quickly before the whole room was engulfed.


    "Enough is enough!" declared Ysbail. She flared her own Aura, gleaming defiant gold and white. Unlike Rakkatorak, who covered its entire body in its Aura, Ysbail concentrated hers along the leading edge of her oversized sword until it was too bright to look at. "Everyone stay back and deal with the little ones. I have Big Ugly."


    As soon as the words left her mouth, Ysbail swung her sword, carving an incandescent crescent in the air that shot forward toward Rakkatorak. Aidan remembered her firing a blade beam before against the dragon Karsarrym, but this was an order of magnitude more impressive. A gleaming, eye-searing streak connected Ysbail and Rakkatorak, followed by a boom and a wave of heat.


    When Aidan managed to blink away the afterimage, he saw Ysbail engaged with the Primeval. Unlike earlier, she fought without any care given to defense. Even as he watched, Aidan saw Rakkatorak smash its Aura-claw into Ysbail, only for the Adventurer to turn with the momentum of the strike and cleave a chunk of obsidian-hardened carapace off the overgrown arthropod''s head.


    "Come on, get up!" A hand grabbed Aidan''s armpit and tugged at him. He looked up; Wulfryn was leaning back, doing her best to pull him to his feet all on her own. "Sunny needs you!" she insisted.


    That got Aidan''s attention through the painful, foggy sense of dread that clouded his head. He stood up with Wulfryn''s help and looked around for his lover. Wulfryn, perhaps noting his distress, took him by the shoulder and pointed him in the correct direction.


    Sunnild stood amid a pile of insectile bodies and limbs, blood trickling along her arms and legs. All around her, dozens more enemies struck out with tooth and claw. Her wings sliced and deflected and blocked nine attacks out of ten, but there were just too many foes to handle. Even the black cat that Aidan spotted leaping from shadow to shadow, slashing and biting, could only save the harpy from some of those that slipped through.


    "Why aren''t you helping her?!" Aidan asked even as his hands started moving in the familiar pattern required to cast Burning Barrage.


    "Even I have limits!" Wulfryn snapped back. "There are hundreds of these things, and I had to protect your helpless ass!" An inky black tentacle whipped across Aidan''s peripheral vision, snatching a Spawn out of the air and hurling it somewhere out of sight. He looked around and realized that he was standing in the middle of a circle of seething shadows. A legion of Spawns charged heedlessly to their deaths for the merest chance to get their tiny claws on him.


    "...Sorry," Aidan muttered, then, louder, "Sunnild, Riama! Cover up!" As soon as he saw the metal-feathered harpy duck and cover, he unleashed his spell. A split second later, a dozen explosions shattered the ranks of the foes advancing on Sunnild. Bodies¡ªmostly in small pieces¡ªflew through the air, spattering around the arena for dozens of feet in all directions. As soon as it was safe, Sunnild popped back up, then staggered backward a step, weaving woozily.


    Aidan didn''t waste any more time. He ran toward Sunnild, casting Flame Jets with both hands and spraying the area around her with a liberal dose of fire. Then his tired brain finally caught up to something that had been tumbling around in the back corner of his mind since Wulfryn explained the Arboreal Devourer''s weakness. With a curse, Aidan drew his sword and activated its special ability. Immediately, the blade began to glow yellow-white and project a cone of light from its tip. A cone of sunlight.


    Aidan swung the blade around in an arc in front of him, bathing the onrushing swarm in its light. The instant a Spawn found itself illuminated, it shriveled and curled up on itself, leaving behind a smoking corpse. Still they came, a mindless horde intent on swallowing them whole. Aidan made his way to Sunnild''s side and started healing her injuries, never letting up on the light show all the while.


    Some amount of time later¡ªAidan''s rational mind was certain that only seconds could have passed, but his memories made it seem like ten minutes or more¡ªa terrible screech filled the air. A heartbeat later, Rakkatorak''s oppressive Aura faded, followed by the thud of a twenty-ton body collapsing to the ground. As eager as the Devouring Spawns were an instant before, they reversed their advance, fleeing the arena like so many cockroaches.


    Once he was certain that his position was secure, Aidan turned to see what happened with Ysbail and Rakkatorak''s duel. His eyes widened at the sight that met him. The Primeval was dead, yes; its head and both pincered arms lay separated from the bulk of its thorax.


    Ysbail, however, was scarcely in any better shape. Her chain armor hung off her in tattered, ruddy strips, soaked in dark red blood. The Adventurer leaned on her sword, grounded point-first in the rocky floor, her sides heaving with each labored breath. That alone would have been enough to concern Aidan since he was certain Ysbail knew better than to grind her blade''s edge away like that. The fact that she was literally laying in a pool of her own blood made that certainty an afterthought, however.


    Aidan''s eyes snapped to the side, examining his party interface. If he couldn''t see her breathing, he would have thought she was dead by her Health bar. Only the closest examination revealed a sliver of bright red remaining. Shaking himself free of his shock, Aidan hurried over to her, pulling out a pair of health potions on the way.


    "Jesus, Ysbail," he exclaimed, "what the fuck happened?" Aidan had never seen her this put-upon. The Taig''s dakhols hadn''t hurt her much, and even Karsarrym, brief as that encounter was, had only knocked her around and given her some bruises.


    "You pissed it off," she snickered. "Turns out it really did not like being covered in fire. Thanks, boss," she added, tossing down a healing potion. Aidan wasn''t sure if her thanks were ironic or serious. Probably both, he decided.


    "Everyone, gather around; my healing is more effective in a group."


    It took a few moments for the others to gather, then Aidan summoned his Golden Fawn and started up a Pulse of Life. The little deer made for Ysbail straight away, nuzzling her and licking at her wounds. Sunnild collapsed against his side, whimpering as the pain from her broken rib washed over her. Aidan hugged her and took the time to examine the prompts that were waiting for his attention.


    Aidan blinked at Language of Origin, read it twice, then filed it under, ¡°to discuss with Ailis later while under multiple layers of secrecy.¡± He¡¯d expected something like that to come eventually, but this exceeded those expectations rather dramatically. The rest of the notifications were pleasant, but unsurprising.


    A quick glance over at Sunnild confirmed that she''d received similar rewards; she was level 15 now. Letting his gaze sweep over the others, he found Labhruinn and Wulfryn, neither of them suffering from serious injuries, poking at Rakkatorak''s corpse. Working with practiced skill, they butchered the body, prying loose immense sheets of chitin and collecting bundles of spear-sharp legs. The grand prizes turned out to be the intact pincer and the still softly glowing head of the massive monster''s tail, although the latter had to be wrapped up in a bundle of chitin to contain its acid.


    After the pair decided they had everything of value from the corpse, it and all of the massacred Spawns vanished in a wave of foul-smelling, rainbow-colored smoke that gathered and coalesced into a familiar loot orb. Wulfryn looked at it, then turned to Ysbail, her eyes wide and a pleading expression on her face.


    "Go on," the centauress laughed, waving a hand. Wulfryn squealed in happiness and darted over, laying a hand on the gray sphere. It popped an instant later, sending a pile of treasure clattering to the floor. Aidan couldn''t make out everything from his vantage point, but the excited noises coming from Wulfryn brought a chuckle to his lips as well.


    After spending a few excited minutes poring over the loot, Wulfryn jogged back over to Ysbail. "It is mostly coins, gems, and crafting materials," she reported, "but look! A spellbook! A Darkness Spellbook!" The harpy mage showed off a slim tome with night-black pages and a cover made of dark gray slate.


    Riama sniffed and stuck her nose up in the air. "Some queen of darkness she is! She should already know everything there is to know, were she equal to her claims."


    "I think it is safe to lay claim to that as part of your share, yes," Ysbail smiled. Technically, Aidan could use it too, but there was no need to crush the girl''s dreams. "Was there anything else of interest?"


    "Um," Wulfryn scanned the list in her hand. "A matched pair of daggers, a magical coin of some sort, three rings, two amulets, and these." She held out another three books. "Skill books, but I am not sure which skills."


    Aidan perked up at that. "Skill books? Like spellbooks, but they teach you a skill instead?"


    Wulfryn turned to him, cocking her head as if he''d asked a strange question. Then she nodded. "Yes, although you need to have enough affinity, and they are consumed when used even if you cannot learn from them."


    Aidan nodded. "I see. Well, who knows? Maybe they''ll be useful."


    Wulfryn wrinkled her nose. "You can gamble if you want, my Lord Aidan. I will take my share in something I know will be useful."


    Aidan smiled, doing his best to keep it from becoming a smirk. "Fair enough. I''ll see what the skills and jewelry are before deciding my share. And don''t worry about taxes for this run, by the way."


    That earned him a smile from Wulfryn. Riama interjected to puncture his swelling sense of smugness, however, with, "Why are you feeling so happy? Your mate is badly wounded, and you did not do enough to protect her. You had better make it up to her if you want to give her kittens."


    Aidan turned to his familiar and shot her a pulse of <exasperated confusion>. "What is it with you and children, anyway? You keep pushing me to get Sunnild and Aoife pregnant."


    Riama rolled her eyes at him. Aidan didn''t even realize that cats could do that. "You are a strong male. They are receptive females. It is your duty to give them your kittens so that the family grows, as is proper." Along with her statement, Riama sent her own <confusion over a question that has an obvious answer>.


    Aidan shook his head and sighed. He''d add that to the list of things to handle later. Right now, all he wanted to do was return home from the Labyrinth, safe and sound with everyone accounted for. It seemed like Ysbail had the same idea, as she shifted her weight and rose back up to her hooves. "Come on," she said, "let us see what waits below."


    Aidan stared at her. Her armor was so badly damaged that Aidan could see her belly and one bare breast. Blood was matted all throughout her fur and caked onto her skin and armor. She was visibly tired.


    "What?" he asked.


    "What?" Ysbail parroted back. "Do you have no sense of adventure?" She grinned at him, then chuckled and waved away his incredulous stare. "Ah, I am just having a bit of fun with you. I talked to your advisor Sarpedon some; each new stratum has a link back to the entrance hall. It will be faster and safer to head down than it would be to retrace our steps."


    "Oh," said Aidan, relief washing through him. "Alright then, lead on." He climbed back to his feet and helped Sunnild do the same, then assisted in gathering and securing the loot. A few minutes later, the party headed toward the back of the arena and down a set of carved stone stairs. The stairway continued for what felt like a dozen flights before it opened out into a new room.


    Aidan''s breath caught in his throat. The first stratum had been something close enough to ordinary in appearance¡ªodd for a dungeon, perhaps, but trees were something he saw every day¡ªthat he hadn''t thought much of it. This was different. They were in a cavern underground, that much was clear, but it was no dark, damp, barren place.


    The entire chamber was smooth. Not smooth in the way of worked stone, but rather like it had once been a riverbed. The cave''s curved walls were lined with glittering clusters of crystals, each a different shape and shade of red. Even more impressive, a glowing column of some translucent mineral illuminated the farthest corners of the space. The pillar pulsed and dimmed with a slow, steady pace, not unlike a beating heart, causing the room to light up in a shifting sea of scarlet.


    "Now that is a sight for sore eyes," breathed Labhruinn.


    "And our exit," added Ysbail. "That column should take us out of here; all we have to do is touch it with a will to leave."


    "It''s almost a shame to go," whispered Sunnild, peering around with awe plain on her face.


    "Do not be fooled," Ysbail warned. "It is beautiful, but this stratum will be more dangerous than the one above. There will be time to explore it later. For now, we should return, rest, and recover."


    None of them could argue with that, so, one by one, they stepped up to the glowing pillar and placed a hand on it. When the last of them did so, the world around them shimmered and distorted, only to be replaced a moment later with the Labyrinth entry hall in Caer Macht.


    Zurai


    Aidan''s current status screen:


    Sunnild''s current status sheet:


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Orange, Lupus, and an anonymous Patron for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 61: Like-Minded People

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Sixthday, 2nd week of the 10th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Early Afternoon


    Caer Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Aidan led his Chancellor into one of the many empty chambers along the east side of Caer Macht''s inner ring. Although there was no furniture or decorations in the circular, domed room, the wall bore dozens of scorch marks. As soon as Ailis stepped through the door, Aidan closed and locked it behind her, then invoked a Sound Barrier around them.


    Ailis arched an eyebrow. "I gather from the lack of bedding that this is a matter of business, not pleasure, then? And from the looks, you have been using this room for training. I do not know whether to be pleased or disappointed." She flashed Aidan a teasing smile and flicked her tail at him. "I assume you have made some new, miraculous breakthrough?"


    Aidan let out a short, sharp laugh. "Quite literally. Do you remember telling me about Arcana skills?"


    Ailis nodded. "Of course. It was only a few days past; I am not that old, I assure you."


    "Well, during the battle against the Labyrinth''s first boss, I unlocked one. Language of Origin." Ailis''s eyes widened, and she leaned forward, intent on Aidan''s words. "It doesn''t work the same as my other spell schools, though; it''s closer to Glyphs and Incantations. I don''t have any Language of Origin spells. Instead, it seems to function as a power multiplier when I use it for Incantation."


    "Interesting. Is it safe to demonstrate? I remember what happened the last time you spoke to me in the tongue of the Gods."


    Aidan flushed at the reminder but nodded anyway. "Yes, that''s why we''re here. I''ll cast a basic Flame Jet, then one using a short Language of Origin Incantation to increase its raw power."


    Aidan turned to face the far wall, then held up his hands, palm out. After a short chant, a thin jet of fire arced from his hand and splattered against the stonework. He let the spell run its course, waited a moment for the hazy smoke it left behind to clear, then said, "<Burn.>"


    Bluish-white flames poured from Aidan''s hand in a stream as thick as his thigh. Ailis yelped in surprise, taking a step back and throwing an arm in front of her eyes. Five seconds later, she dropped her arm, then gasped and shivered, despite the heat remaining in the room.


    While Aidan''s first spell left a tiny blackened patch on the wall, the second casting left the stones glowing cherry red in a two-foot diameter circle. "Such power...!" Ailis whispered. "And with such a short Incantation!" The silver-haired Druid turned to Aidan. "Does it have a similar strengthening effect with non-combat spells? Imagine what even a simple Enrich Soil or Prospector''s Blessing could do when so empowered!"


    Aidan nodded. "I haven''t had much chance to test it yet, but nothing makes me think otherwise. The description states that Language of Origin is what the Powers used to create the world, Ailis." Aidan sucked in a breath, then let it out in a shaky sigh. "If I can be honest with you for just a moment, this terrifies me. I can''t help but think that this is power no mortal should have."


    Ailis turned to Aidan and frowned at him. "Do not let such doubts betray your purpose, my Lord. You swore that you would be our shield against the coming chaos; will you forsake your vow for fear of what might be? Will you turn your back on a tool whose only flaw is that it has too many applications?"


    Aidan frowned back at her. "There is a saying where I come from: ''Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men.''"


    "And you think the Gods are any more immune to that than you?" A slim finger poked him in the chest. "I know we have discussed historical Ages. Do you remember what happened before the Gods were exiled?"


    "That others who wielded this Skill are imperfect does not mean that I am any better-suited for it, Ailis."


    "Nor does it mean you are less so!" she snapped back, then stopped and took in a deep breath. "Aidan. I understand your concerns. The Arcana each have the potential to reshape the world in their wielders'' image. It has happened in the past and will again in the future. But Aidan, my King, my love," Ailis pinned him with ice-blue eyes, her tone velvet-wrapped steel, "that is the point. What you are forgetting is what that image will be."


    Ailis stepped forward, then pressed herself against his chest and wrapped her arms around him. Aidan returned the hug almost by reflex, relaxing into her warmth. "You will be tempted," Ailis murmured into his neck, "but even if you cannot believe in yourself, believe in those of us who love you. Just as I trust you to tell me if I wander astray, so too can you trust your mates to do the same."


    "Each of us leaning against the other, huh?" Aidan mused. He pulled back from the hug just far enough to brush his lips across Ailis''s. A few moments later, he continued, "I am still afraid of what may happen, but you''re right that I made a promise. I''ll do everything in my power to protect this city and its citizens."


    Ailis smiled at him. "Then shall we test the limits of your new strength?"


    Aidan


    Late Afternoon


    The Lord''s Chambers, Caer Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    By the time Ailis was satisfied with his progress, Aidan had a throbbing headache. One of the things they''d learned over the last few hours was that using Language of Origin to modify his spells not only increased their Concentration costs, it also increased the rate at which he accumulated mental exhaustion. Fortunately, it had a similar effect on his Skill growth.


    "Welcome home, Lord Aidan," Aoife greeted him as soon as Aidan stepped through the door. Aidan stopped and gave her an appreciative glance. The catgirl wore an apron cinched tight around her waist¡ªand nothing else. Seeing that she had his attention, Aoife smirked and strutted up to Aidan, her hips swinging and her tail lashing the air behind her.


    Once she reached him, Aoife wrapped her arms around Aidan''s neck and stood on her tiptoes to press her lips to his. Aidan, remembering the Mist Stalker''s preference for direct, aggressive action, stroked his hands along Aoife''s spine until he could take a double handful of her exposed ass. Aoife let out a hungry moan and jumped up, wrapping her legs around Aidan''s waist.


    Aidan shifted his grip on Aoife and turned, pressing her to the wall next to the door. Aoife arched up against him, flattening her heavy breasts against Aidan''s chest. He could feel her nipples hardening beneath the fabric of the apron. Alas, the sudden movement also sent a spike of pain through his head.


    Aidan broke off the kiss with a groan of pain and apologized, "Sorry, I''ve just spent the last three hours casting spells. I''ve got a monster headache. Can''t believe I''m actually saying that in this circumstance," he added in a mutter.


    Aoife pouted at him, then gave him another, softer kiss. "Put me down and go sit down on the bed," she told him. "I know a bit of massage. I can''t guarantee it''ll help your head, but I won''t make things worse."


    "That would be heavenly," Aidan agreed. He took a step back and lowered Aoife until her feet hit the floor, then plodded into the bedroom and sank down onto the bed with a sigh. A minute later, Aoife followed him in, sans apron. He felt the bed shift as she knelt down behind him.


    "Lean against me," she murmured, her soft hands pulling at his shoulders. Aidan followed directions, letting himself be drawn back and down until his head nestled between Aoife''s bare breasts. Her fingers rose to his temples and began to press and rub.


    "Mmm," Aidan let out an involuntary satisfied moan as the insistent stroke of Aoife''s fingers eased his pain. "You''re hired," he joked.


    Aoife giggled. "As if there were any doubt of that. Still, it''s good to be wanted." She was silent for a few moments, then asked, "While I have you here, we might as well do something productive. I told you that I want to help optimize your abilities, so why don''t you tell me what I have to work with?"


    Aidan hesitated for a long moment. While Aoife couldn''t physically harm him, nothing stopped her from using indirect means as far as he knew. Passing on his secrets, for example. Could he really trust her?


    Then he sighed and relaxed, sinking further into Aoife''s plush body. I can''t live in paranoia like this. Besides, she can''t leave the city without me, and the guards will tell me if she heads out of the hill. She can''t use Mist Shroud in here. Decision made, he started to explain his various spells, Talents, and abilities.


    "Hmm," Aoife intoned after he finished. "Alright, those are your combat abilities. I told you before that I believe you''re under-utilizing your available options, and the fact that you didn''t tell me about anything not related to violence confirms my suspicions. Come on, out with it. Before that, though, how''s your head feeling?"


    "Much better," he confessed. "You''re good at this."


    "Good!" Aidan could hear the smile in Aoife''s voice. "Then get out of those clothes and lie down on your front. I''ll give you a proper massage while we talk."


    There was no way Aidan was going to turn that down. He wriggled out of his clothes, then stretched out face down on the bed. Aidan felt the bed shift as Aoife moved around. A cool, wet sensation on his back made Aidan shiver, but Aoife kneeling between his legs and placing her warm hands against his shoulder blades kept him from complaining.


    "Alright, mister, start talking," Aoife ordered as she started spreading the massage oil all over his back.


    "You''re getting awful bossy so quick in our relationship," Aidan teased.


    "Deal with it," Aoife responded, digging her fingers into a knot along his side. Aidan gasped at the sharp pressure, just short of being painful, then moaned as he felt the tension in his muscle release.


    "Yes, ma''am," he agreed, instantly ceding the point before her skilled hands. Aidan took a moment to gather his thoughts, then started explaining.


    "I knew you couldn''t be that good all on your own!" Aoife laughed when Aidan listed off his Courtesan talents and Sex Skill perks.


    Aidan felt a sudden wave of shame at her words. Taken as a group, his sexual abilities probably bordered on being addictive. Increased submissiveness from his Dominance, increased arousal from Foreplay, control over orgasms and relationship increases from Sex itself¡ªand that was just from his perks. Adding Talents to the mix doubled down on all of those and gave him enhanced staying power and recovery time.


    "I just realized how manipulative that all sounds," Aidan said.


    Aoife smacked his shoulder. "Don''t you dare apologize," she scolded. "There''s nothing in there that does anything other than make you a very good lover."


    "The Initiate Sex perk makes you think better of me every time I make you come," Aidan protested.


    Aoife smacked him again. "If you think that wouldn''t happen anyway, you''re dumber than I thought you are. Stop trying to ruin a good thing." She leaned down to kiss the back of his neck, incidentally dragging her bare breasts across Aidan''s back. "Yours is the best dick I''ve ever had by a long shot," Aoife breathed into Aidan''s ear, "so shush and accept that women are going to want more of that regardless."


    Aidan couldn''t suppress the shiver that went down his spine in response to Aoife''s words and actions, nor the inevitable reaction to her naked body pressed against his.


    "Good boy," she cooed, then returned to her kneeling position and resumed the massage. If her hands strayed a little farther onto his hips and butt than before, Aidan opted not to raise the issue.


    "Now then," Aoife continued, "you''re definitely not making the best use of your resources. For one thing, you have incredible spying tools available with your Dream and Soul Magic spells. If you tell me that you didn''t leave at least a handful of those Soul Spies scattered around Searlas''s manor and Termondoon in general, I''ll be very disappointed in you."


    Aidan shook his head. "I didn''t, sorry. I didn''t want to risk the soul damage given that I had no idea when I''d be able to return and collect them."


    He could practically hear Aoife pout in response. "I guess that''s fair," she conceded. "You should leave some around here, though, especially in the Sisterhood and Stalker areas. I''m sure you''re about to protest about spying on your allies," she cut in before he could raise that very issue, "but stow it. I assure you that both are gathering information on you and the Starchasers. If you don''t do the same, you''ll be at an ever-growing disadvantage."


    Aoife''s hands moved lower on Aidan''s body, kneading and pressing along his spine near the small of his back. Her fingers found another knot, causing Aidan to break off his protest to let out another moan. "You also need to take better advantage of your harem," she told him, taking advantage of the situation to change the subject.


    "With just the four of us you''re already sleeping with, you could be getting two multiplicatively stacking ten percent bonuses to all your stats. All you have to do is give each of us an orgasm every day, then one more to max out the second Talent. In fact, given your Talent doesn''t list a cap on the number of unique orgasms you benefit from, you should expand your pool of lovers. There are diminishing returns with regards to time, but Magic Hands makes you a one-man orgy."


    Then Aoife poked him in the middle of the back. "By the way, that''s another thing you''re not taking full advantage of. Magic Hands has amazing utility outside the bedroom. On its own, you can use it as a distraction in combat, and combined with its enhancers, you can use it to observe or listen in on people without exposing yourself."


    "I already figured that much out," Aidan grumbled. "I just don''t have the temperament to be a spy. I never was one for eavesdropping."


    "Eh," Aoife let out a verbal shrug. "Soul Spy makes it mostly redundant, I guess, at least for state-level espionage. Keep it in mind, though. You can''t afford to throw away advantages like that."


    "Yes, ma''am," Aidan sighed. That earned him another poke.


    "I''m not old enough to be a ma''am," Aoife scolded him. "Besides, a ma''am wouldn''t do this for you," she said as her hands continued south. One started to stroke along the length of his tail while the other slid down between his legs.


    "Ah, yes, dear," Aidan corrected, his mind paying only partial attention to her words.


    "Good boy," Aoife cooed again. "You''re going to remember what we talked about and make better use of your abilities, right?"


    "Uh-huh," he agreed, tilting and lifting his hips to allow Aoife''s hands better access.


    "Very good. Now, turn over. I seem to have found a muscle in need of some long, hard massaging with specialized tools."


    Aidan rolled over and pulled Aoife down on top of him, drawing a squeal from the smaller woman, followed by a loud, long moan.


    Zurai


    Aidan''s current status screen:


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Orange, Lupus, and an anonymous Patron for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 62: Old Traditions, New Methods

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Secondday, 3rd week of the 10th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Noon


    Outside Caellach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Once free from his morning lessons with Ailis, Aidan sought out Sunnild. He hadn''t seen much of her since defeating the Labyrinth''s first boss. Part of that was because she went to the harpy district to get specialized healing for her broken wing. Even after Sunnild returned to her quarters under the hill, however, Aidan only caught the occasional glimpse of her.


    A quick question to the guards on duty at Caer Macht''s entrance led to Aidan making an expedition out into the burgeoning city. He walked past the open-air court where the City Council continued to hash out formal laws acceptable to all parties. To Aidan''s gratification, a small audience of centaurs, harpies, and even catfolk watched from the stands. None of them took notice of him as he passed by with his entourage.


    That did not remain the case once they emerged into the central plaza, however. The city''s center was by then a popular bazaar and meeting place among the residents, so several dozen people milled around, talking and shopping. Conversations broke off as the speakers spotted Aidan, followed by a rising murmur and a stir of activity.


    People turned to watch Aidan, edging closer, pushing children forward to see him. No one approached him, wary of Lail and her fellow guards, but the bravest among them shouted out greetings, queries, and even a request for his blessing. Aidan smiled and waved to the crowd, returning his citizens'' greetings, but did not stop.


    Quite a change from a few months back when I had to debate someone right outside Brighid''s home, Aidan thought to himself. I''m glad I can walk around without being afraid of someone attacking me. Then again, I have even more bodyguards now than then... The thought depressed his mood a little, but Aidan refused to let it take hold of him. Life was good, if stressful.


    The same scene repeated in miniature as Aidan walked along the restored city''s streets. Every time he passed a cluster of townsfolk, they stopped and watched him. Most offered at least polite greetings, although there were still a handful of people¡ªall centaurs, and even then, none of them warriors¡ªwho glared and muttered at his back.


    You can please some people most of the time, most people some of the time, but never everyone at once, Aidan reminded himself. There would always be individuals who resented his rise to power, refused to trust him, or disagreed with his policies. As long as all they did was talk and go through proper political channels, they were more than welcome to disagree.


    Aidan was sure that most of the townsfolk didn''t realize it, but he wanted to encourage dissent. Even leaving aside his confidence issues, his parents taught him to mistrust echo chambers. Ideas needed the same sort of natural selection as living creatures did; if a plan or project was born with only closely-allied thoughts as its foundation, it would crumble when exposed to the wider world. Only through healthy competition would things stand the test of time.


    The people of the Highlands, or at least his corner of it, weren''t ready for true democracy yet. According to his political studies with Ailis, representative government wasn''t an unknown concept in the Realms, but variations of feudalism and dictatorships were by far the most common.


    It made sense, too. This was a world where power was quantifiable. There was logic following someone strong enough to enforce their claim with their own strength, especially given how dangerous the world could be. When dragons came from who-knew-where to conquer your land, you needed someone who could protect you. When you didn''t know when that might happen, it made sense to look to those protectors for leadership.


    The apparent existence of magical bloodlines that were superior, in turn, promoted aristocracy. Back on Earth, aristocrats relied on tradition to support their superiority. Here in the Realms, according to both Ailis and his own Progenitor specialization description, there were inheritable Traits that provided significant advantages to their lineage.


    And when the world itself enforced land ownership, that added yet another bit of mortar to the oligarchic wall. No one could dispute the fact that Aidan owned Ceallach Macht and its surrounding land. Whether he should own it, yes, but not that he did.


    Even with all those factors in favor of hereditary aristocracy, Aidan was still sure that absolute rulership was the wrong path. It was too easy for an absolute monarch to fall into the echo chamber trap. No, Aidan had no intention of taking the easy route. For Ceallach Macht to prosper in the long term, he had to show his people that their voices had weight and meaning.


    Aidan''s musings were cut short as he caught sight of sunlight glinting from metallic wings. He raised his hand to shade his eyes and squinted, trying to make out what Sunnild was doing out here beyond the inhabited sector of the city. His curiosity was answered when he saw an inky tendril of dark magic surge skyward in pursuit of his lover.


    Sunnild spun in mid-air, spiraling out of the way of Wulfryn''s attack, then pulled her wings in and dove toward the ground. An umbral dome sprang up in her path, forcing Sunnild to pull up, which put her in the way of the shadowy tentacle as it whipped downward. Aidan winced as Sunnild plummeted toward the ground, but Wulfryn''s magic formed a net underneath the falling woman, catching her before she could be hurt.


    By the time Aidan got close enough to talk, Sunnild''s feathers were back to their usual grey hue, and she and Wulfryn were performing cooldown stretches. Ysbail watched the pair from nearby, taking an occasional sip from a canteen. Rather than interrupt the harpies'' exercise, Aidan made his way to stand next to the oversized Adventurer.


    "Found yourself another disciple, eh?"


    Ysbail smirked. "I seem to be collecting misfit Sisters, yes. I hope you do not have a problem with it?"


    Aidan raised his hands to ward off the question. "No, no, not at all. I take it she came to you and asked you to train her?"


    "Yeah. She was not happy with her performance against Rakkatorak. Rather than try to argue with her¡ªshe did fine, really¡ªI decided to let the two of them tire each other out. What Sunnild lacks is confidence for the most part. The Sisterhood did a number on her."


    Ysbail''s face twisted into a scowl at that last. Aidan nodded, his own lips tightening in displeasure. "I''m glad she''s found a new friend, doubly so with Wulfryn being another harpy. I worried a bit that she would become too isolated and dependent on Brighid and me. And I appreciate you taking the time to help her."


    It was Ysbail''s turn to wave off Aidan''s words. "No worries, boss. If everything goes to plan, I will have a whole pack of them soon enough." At Aidan''s questioning glance, the centaur shook her head and chuckled. "I forgot to mention it to you? The reason I am so keen on exploring the Labyrinth is for my Prestige Class Quest."


    "Oh?" Aidan tore his eyes away from admiring the way Sunnild''s shirt clung to her sweat-soaked curves and arched an eyebrow at Ysbail.


    "Yeah, I could have completed a different one years ago, but the Class I want required me to lead a party through five consecutive levels of the same dungeon. Until the Labyrinth, I never found one around here with enough levels¡ªwild dungeons tend to start spilling out into the countryside by the time they get a third floor. The Starchaser Council prefers to prune them before they even got to a second."


    "And what Class are you aiming for?"


    Ysbail''s teeth gleamed white. "Guildmaster. I know that the human Kingdoms to the south have established adventuring Guilds that function like a cross between a school, a tribe, and an army. I have always believed that is one of the things that keeps them stronger than us."


    She already had Aidan''s attention, but the mention of a school got him excited. "And once you get your new Class, you plan to start one here?"


    "Assuming I have the boss-man''s permission," Ysbail responded with a teasing smirk.


    "Not only do you have my permission, you have my enthusiastic support! I''ve been considering how to get formal schooling started here and coming up blank. As long as you''re willing to teach them more than just fighting and looting, I''ll foot the bill for your Guildhall."


    Ysbail shrugged and said, "I may be the best Teacher in the Starchasers, but I can only teach what I know. Mostly, that means identifying monsters, swinging my sword, butchering the leftovers, and enjoying the profits. If you want the Guild to teach math or history or whatever, you will need to find someone qualified to do it. I have no objection to the idea, though."


    "Deal," Aidan agreed. "I''ll send some feelers out. It''s too bad Ailis is so busy; she could teach both magic and history."


    Ysbail threw her head back and laughed. "If you even mention taking on yet another job to her, Ailis might turn you into a newt, Vassal or no."


    Aidan opened his mouth to retort that he''d get better, but a pair of sweaty arms wrapping around his waist interrupted him. He turned and hugged Sunnild back as she beamed up at him. "Hi!" she chirped, then tilted her head back and pursed her lips.


    Never one to ignore such an obvious invitation, Aidan dipped his head down and kissed Sunnild, smiling against her lips as she wriggled happily in his arms. "Hi you," Aidan replied a moment later. "I missed you the last few days, so I decided to hunt you down. Have you been doing this training all day since the Labyrinth?"


    "Mm!" Sunnild nodded. "I need ta get better. I know you and Ysbail don''t agree, but I was a liability. You would''ve been better off with Anwn or Ceirios or Ailis or Brighid along. I don''t want to be the one holding everyone back again, so I decided to do something about it. Wulfryn saw me trying to train myself and ... invited me to join her here."


    Aidan snickered at the short pause in Sunnild''s explanation. "She volunteered you, did she? Still, it looks like she''s a good training partner for you."


    "Mm! I haven''t managed to beat her yet, but I will soon." Sunnild dropped her arms from around Aidan''s waist and tried to take a step back, but Aidan held her tight. She giggled and smacked his chest, saying, "Lemme go, I''m getting you all sweaty!"


    "Don''t care. I''m going through Sunnild withdrawals, and the only cure is a solid hour of snuggling with my favorite songbird."


    "Aww, you two are so cute!" Aidan looked up to see Wulfryn smiling at him.


    "You two don''t mind if I borrow Sunnild for a while, do you?" Aidan asked Ysbail and Wulfryn.


    "Go on," laughed Ysbail. "But if you wear her out, you will be taking her place this afternoon. You need some combat training yourself, Lord Aidan."


    "I need training in everything, but there aren''t enough hours in the day. You can go argue with Ailis if you want to make your case."


    "Pass."


    "Yeah, that''s what I thought. Don''t worry, I''ll return her in the condition she''s leaving in. In fact, we won''t be going far; I just want to get in my daily dose of sunshine."


    "Cute!" repeated Wulfryn with a wide grin. Sunnild ducked her head, hiding against Aidan''s shoulder. She still clung tight to him, however, Aidan noted with a soft internal smile.


    A few minutes later, Aidan drew a tablecloth out of his haversack, followed by a plate full of finger foods. "Lunch is served, my lady," he intoned.


    "Thank you, kind sir," she replied, then plopped down cross-legged onto the tablecloth.


    Aidan sat to Sunnild''s right, slipping his left arm around her waist and plucking a steak kabob from the plate in front of them. He held it up to Sunnild''s mouth for her to take the first bite from, then ate the next himself.


    Sunnild leaned into his embrace, resting her head on his shoulder. Her cuddliness combined with her enthusiastic greeting earlier eased Aidan''s heart. He''d been worried about what her reaction would be once he tracked her down, but clearly, she wasn''t upset with him.


    After feeding his lover a few more mouthfuls, Aidan broached the subject. "I''m happy that you''ve made a new friend and that you''re working to improve yourself, even if I think you''re not giving yourself enough credit," he began. "That said, Brighid and I have been worried about you. Neither of us has seen more than a glimpse of you for the last few days. Do you want to talk about what''s bothering you?"


    When Sunnild didn''t answer right away, Aidan added, "If you don''t want to, that''s fine too. We just want you to know that we love you and miss you."


    "No, it''s okay," Sunnild responded, shaking her head against Aidan''s shoulder. "I was just trying to figure out what ta say." She took a deep breath, then let it out in a prolonged sigh. "I think it''s how sudden everything changed on me. Don''t get me wrong," she hurried to add, "I don''t regret our relationship at all! But..."


    Sunnild sighed again and nestled deeper into Aidan''s embrace. "I feel like I''ve lost my foundation. Back at the Ayrie, I knew what was up, what was down, how to act and react. Life here with you is so much better that I can''t express it, but at the same time, I dunno the rules anymore."


    Aidan nodded and kissed her forehead but let Sunnild speak uninterrupted.


    "Like, fer example, ya told me that I wouldn''t get ta sleep with you an'' Brighid right away. And that''s fine, I understand. But then I find out that Aoife sleeps in yer chambers, even though ya gave her a place elsewhere. I''m not jealous, but I wonder what''s different, ya know?"


    Aidan winced. Yeah, he deserved that. He could shove Brighid under the bus since technically it''d been her decision, but that would be dishonest. Everyone involved knew that he could''ve put a stop to it if he wanted.


    Instead, he said, "For the record, she has her own bed in a different room. But that doesn''t change anything since we could have done the same for you. There are some extenuating circumstances¡ªyou don''t have sudden attacks of intense pain if I say or do the wrong thing¡ªbut in the end, it''s because I''m a weak man when it comes to affairs of the heart. She presented it to me as fact, Brighid backed her up, and I didn''t have the will to tell them both no."


    "Hmm. So, if I showed up with my nest cushions and a few changes of clothes and told ya that I''m moving in, you''d let me?" Sunnild squirmed around until she sat astride his lap. Wide gray eyes shimmered at Aidan from mere inches away.


    "... I plead the fifth," Aidan hedged.


    "I''ll take that as a yes." Sunnild''s lips pressed against Aidan''s, followed a heartbeat later by her tongue. Minutes passed before the young harpy leaned back away from the kiss.


    "That helps, but it was just an example. I''m in a situation where none of my old knowledge works anymore. Back in the Ayrie, I was the coward, the last one picked for any job, a virgin who would never find a man, let alone gather a harem. Now it''s all different, and I need to figure out how to make it fit together again."


    Aidan nodded. That all made sense. It still left him with one question, however. "I understand. Why have you made yourself a stranger, though? Brighid was beside herself last night when she couldn''t find you for your date."


    Sunnild stiffened, her eyes going wide. "Wait, today''s Firstday, isn''t it? That''s tonight, right?" At Aidan''s solemn headshake, she moaned in despair and buried her face against his chest. "Please forgive me! I lost track of the date! Oh, I need to do something to make it up to her!"


    Aidan laughed and squeezed her tight. It looked like there wasn''t any trouble in paradise after all.


    Zurai


    Aidan''s current status screen:


    Sunnild''s current status screen:


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Orange, Lupus, and an anonymous Patron for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 63: Engrave Thy Name

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Sixthday, 3rd week of the 10th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Mid-Morning


    The Lord''s Chambers, Caer Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Aidan woke up to a pair of notifications that simultaneously filled him with soaring joy and stomach-twisting anxiety.


    You have completed a Quest!


    Progenitor Specialization


    Talent The Sperm Must Flow at rank 4¡ªSUCCESS


    Talent Ease the Burden at rank 4¡ªSUCCESS


    Have at least four women in love with you¡ªSUCCESS


    Conceive a child with a willing woman¡ªSUCCESS


    Reward: You may now take the Progenitor specialization in your Courtesan profession.


    Congratulations! You have passed the Trial of the Progenitor and may now apply this Specialization to your Profession. But, be warned, you may only have one Specialization per Profession, and once made, your choice can never be changed.


    Do you wish to become a Progenitor? YES/NO


    Three days earlier¡ªthe night after she''d followed through on her threat to unilaterally move in¡ªSunnild informed Aidan that their semi-abstinence was over. It seemed that their efforts had born fruit. Aidan woke Brighid, Sunnild, and Aoife, then sent for Ailis. He wanted all of the women he loved, and loved him in return, to learn the news at the same time. Once they were all gathered, he confirmed the choice.


    Congratulations! You are now a Progenitor!


    A rare, almost unique Specialization, a Progenitor is the seed of a great and powerful lineage. As a Progenitor, you will gain fewer bonuses to your own skills, but you will find it easier to produce offspring, and your children will gain significant advantages over their peers.


    Quest Progress Update


    You Shouldn''t Tempt Fate


    Earn a Profession Specialization before Firstday, 1st week of the 11th Month, AotC 1¡ªSUCCESS


    Reach personal level 25 and attain a Prestige Class before Firstday, 1st week of the 3rd month, AotC 2¡ª22/25, 0/1 PARTIAL


    Complete the quest Seat of Power before Seventhday, 4th week of the 3rd month, AotC 2¡ª2/4 PARTIAL


    As soon as Aidan made the announcement, Brighid squealed and swept him and Sunnild up in a crushing hug. Aidan expected the mother-to-be to be as anxious as he was, but to his surprise, Sunnild gave him a serene smile.


    "I didn''t realize it until just now, but I think this is my calling." Aidan felt one of her hands slip between them and touch her belly. "It''s like a light suddenly turned on, and now I see the path in front of me."


    "You will be a wonderful mother!" Brighid exclaimed. "Oh, I am so happy for you both!"


    Ailis treated them with a warm smile. "I think it will be nice to have some younglings running around again. And I suppose I can consider her my granddaughter, in a way."


    "Well," Aoife added with a smirk, "I guess we know you aren''t firing blanks. If you don''t start pulling out, it won''t be long before I''m in a family way, too." She looked like she was about to say something else, but she glanced at Sunnild''s beaming expression and swallowed her words.


    Instead, Aoife changed the topic. "So, what are your new Talents? You must have a bunch, right?"


    Aidan nodded and opened up his Talent tree. Indeed, there were several new Talents available to him; Aidan explained them to his lovers. This Specialization involved them as well, after all.


    Genesis of a Legend


    Requirements: Ease the Burden IV, Progenitor specialization.


    Effects: All the children of your line gain a Trait that marks them as your scions. The Trait is selected when you purchase this Talent and cannot be changed later. This effect, and the effects of all Talents that depend on this one, will fade slowly over time, starting at 3 generations removed.


    Cost: 5 points.


    Spread the Love I


    Requirements: Progenitor specialization, have at least two long-term partners with races different from your own and each other.


    Effects: Increase the likelihood of cross-race fertilization by 10%. In combinations where cross-race fertilization is viable but not normally possible, grants a 0.25% chance for fertilization under optimal conditions, and any children of such a union will be of the mother''s race.


    Cost: 3 points.


    On Love''s Wings I


    Requirements: Genesis of a Legend, conceive a child with a harpy.


    Effects: All the children of your line gain +5% affinity in the Air Magic, Flying, and Observation skills.


    Cost: 2 points.


    "Hmm," Aoife mused. "How many Talent Points do you have available?"


    "96," Aidan responded, "although I can''t spend all of them on Progenitor Talents. I''m already a bit too imbalanced."


    "And you have several months before your daughter is born," Ailis added with a nod. "Meanwhile, you will be fighting Karsarrym again soon. So, if you have been neglecting your Class Talents, it would be wiser to invest there for now."


    "Aww," Brighid pouted. "Can you at least take the Talent that establishes your bloodline Trait? It sounds like that will open up a bunch of others, and it does not cost that much, so you will still have plenty to spend on your Class. Besides, knowing the Trait will let us plan ahead."


    Aidan chuckled. "OK, sure. I can''t say I''m not curious." He went ahead and confirmed Genesis of a Legend as well as two ranks in Spread the Love.


    Congratulations! You have established a legendary bloodline! All your children, their children, and so on into the distant future will bear the mark of your greatness. Please choose ONE of the following Traits to pass down as your legacy:


    From the Ashes


    The first time you die a violent death, you will be reborn one day later at the nearest safe location.


    Greater Heights


    Your affinity with any given skill will never drop below 10% or its starting value, whichever is lower.


    Love of the Ages


    You have at least one Soulmate, and the world itself will conspire to ensure you meet them.


    "Argh," Aidan groaned. "I hate choices like this. I have to choose between guaranteeing my children the ability to avoid death, the ability to become the greatest in their field, or being guaranteed true love." He ground his teeth in frustration, then read the text of the Traits to his audience.


    Brighid gnawed on her lower lip. "That is a hard choice," she agreed. "I think... I think I would go for the third one. The rest of you cannot know how it feels to know in your very soul that Aidan loves me. I know the other two provide more benefit, but having Aidan as my Soulmate changed everything about my life for the better."


    Ailis reached out and stroked her daughter''s hair. "It is not so cut and dry as that, I think. All three are compelling for different reasons, and having a partner who you can love and trust with absolute faith is no less of a boon than the others."


    "I would take with the minimum affinity Trait in a heartbeat," Aoife declared. "Sure, I get the appeal of the others, but that''s the only one that breaks the rules. It allows for unlimited growth, which breaks the system wide open."


    Sunnild shook her head. "I don''t like that one at all. Yes, it''s strong, but eventually, someone will learn about it. That''s the kind of thing that''ll make others hunt down our children to use for their own purposes or ta kill them before they become a threat. I don''t want my daughters or granddaughters or great-granddaughters to have ta worry because of a decision we made."


    Aoife''s hand rose to touch her collar. "I can see that, yeah," she agreed. "In that case, hmm. I don''t know which of the other two I''d choose. I think... part of me rebels at being so horribly romantic, but I think I agree with Brighid. Knowing that you have a completely reliable life partner would be incredible. It''s also the only one that would always apply since the first doesn''t protect against death from old age, disease, and maybe even poison? Not sure if that counts as violent."


    Aidan looked around at his four lovers. "Any objections?" Ailis and Sunnild remained silent for a few moments longer, considering the weighty decision, but eventually shook their heads. "So be it, then. True love it is. I hope I don''t live to see any of my children die in battle or on an assassin''s blade..."


    Aidan picked Love of the Ages, then examined the new Talents that popped up.


    Strong Genes I


    Requirements: Genesis of a Legend


    Effects: All the children of your line have 5% more Health and receive 1 bonus Attribute Point when they are born, which can only be spent on physical Attributes.


    Cost: 4 points.


    Intelligent Design I


    Requirements: Genesis of a Legend


    Effects: All the children of your line have 5% more Psyche and receive 1 bonus Attribute Point when they are born, which can only be spent on mental Attributes.


    Cost: 4 points.


    The Son Never Sets I


    Requirements: Genesis of a Legend


    Effects: The natural lifespan of all the children of your line is extended by 2.5%. This also slows the effects of aging past adulthood by an equivalent length of time.


    Cost: 1 point.


    Long Reign I


    Requirements: Genesis of a Legend


    Effects: Delays the onset of your lineage bonuses fading by 1 generation.


    Cost: 1 point.


    Exalted Mage Lineage I


    Requirements: Genesis of a Legend, Exalted Mage class


    Effects: All the children of your line are guaranteed to have at least 10% base affinity in any magic school you have reached Initiate rank in. They will also inherit 1 of your spells upon reaching suitable skill levels.


    Cost: 5 points.


    "Lots of ''numbers go up,''" Aidan said in summary, then explained in detail. "I think the difficulty will be spending enough points on my Exalted Mage Talents to balance out the expense of these because they are all pretty good."


    "And those are only the first layer," Ailis agreed. "They will undoubtedly lead to more powerful effects down the line. But, as said earlier, you have months before they become relevant, so you should fill out your Class Talents now."


    The others nodded, so Aidan turned his attention to the other side of his Talent tree.


    Blending of Schools I


    Requirements: None.


    Effects: +10% chance to successfully create a multi-school spell.


    Cost: 5 points.


    It''s Not Chuuni if it Works I


    Requirements: Initiate rank in Incantation


    Effects: For every second you spend Incanting a spell, it gains +1 spellpower.


    Cost: 3 points.


    Bigger IS Better I


    Requirements: Initiate rank in Glyphs


    Effects: For every second you spend drawing Glyphs for a spell, it gains +1 spellpower.


    Cost: 3 points.


    Arcane Learning I


    Requirements: At least 1 level in any Arcana skill.


    Effects: +10% bonus to earned skill experience in all non-Arcana magic schools.


    Cost: 3 points.


    Tongue of the Sun and Moon


    Requirements: Novice rank in Language of Origin.


    Effects: Your Cunning Linguist Trait turns into Tongue of the Sun and Moon.


    Cost: 10 points.


    Tongue of the Sun and Moon


    You can speak and understand every mortal language, you gain +1 Charisma and +1% earned skill experience with Sex, Foreplay, and all spoken word skills per level in Language of Origin, and whenever you give oral sex, your partners experience the uttermost heights of pleasure.


    Airstrike I


    Requirements: Weave the Strands I, level 1 in Air Magic.


    Effects: Your damaging spells have a 1% chance to stun for 1 second.


    Cost: 2 points.


    Stoneskin I


    Requirements: Weave the Strands I, level 1 in Earth Magic.


    Effects: You gain +1 point of armor across your entire body.


    Cost: 2 points.


    Dreamweaver I


    Requirements: Weave the Strands I, level 1 in Oneiromancy.


    Effects: You gain +10% of the normal benefits of sleep while channeling an Oneiromancy spell.


    Cost: 2 points.


    "Take the bonus experience as high as you can stand the cost," Aoife all but demanded. "That is such a powerful effect, especially with how much training you''re doing right now."


    "And after ya do that, yer taking Tongue of the Sun and Moon," Sunnild added. "Yer already real good with yer tongue, but I wanna experience ''the uttermost heights of pleasure.''"


    "Seconded," agreed Brighid.


    "Thirded, motion carried," declared Aoife.


    "Is that really where I should be spending 10 points with Karsarrym on the horizon?" Aidan objected.


    "If it only strengthened the existing effects of your Trait, I would agree," Ailis said. "But that is a large boost to your Charisma¡ªand thus your spellpower with Fire Magic, among other things¡ªand it provides a skill experience bonus to Incantations and Language of Origin. All three of those things are quite valuable."


    Then she smirked and added, "Besides, I agree with Sunnild."


    "Fine, fine, I know when I''m fighting a losing battle," Aidan laughed. He bought three ranks in Arcane Learning, Tongue of the Sun and Moon, and the first rank in Airstrike and Stoneskin. Dreamweaver would be nice eventually, but it seemed like a lower priority for now. As expected, those opened up a pair of Link Talents to buff Riama, which he dutifully reported.


    Air Link I


    Requirements: As Above, So Below I, Airstrike I.


    Effects: While you are maintaining an Air Magic spell or ritual, including with Crown of the Exalted, your familiar has +10% movement speed.


    Cost: 5 points.


    Earth Link I


    Requirements: As Above, So Below I, Stoneskin I.


    Effects: While you are maintaining an Earth Magic spell or ritual, including with Crown of the Exalted, your familiar gains +3 points of armor across her entire body.


    Cost: 5 points.


    "I would recommend investing some points into the Glyphs and Incantations boosters as well," Ailis suggested. "You have already seen how powerful those skills are; boosting them further is an easy sell for me."


    "Two ranks each, I think," Aoife agreed. "At least."


    "And invest more into the armor Talent," came Brighid''s contribution. "I would take that up to rank four if you can stand spending the points. That is a lot of protection that can''t be removed or bypassed. It will not save you from a direct hit by Karsarrym, but it might let you survive glancing blows and near-misses."


    It was hard to argue with that¡ªhe''d already been thinking along similar lines¡ªso Aidan followed their advice, although he hesitated before taking Stoneskin to rank 4. "Is one more point of armor really worth 16 Talent Points?" he asked Brighid.


    His flame-haired Soulmate frowned, then sighed. "No, probably not," she admitted. "I want you as protected as possible, but that''s a lot of points even for you."


    "That brings me up to relative parity between my Talent trees, then," Aidan said, "and leaves me with 17 Talent Points. I think I should hold onto these for now and see if anything else interesting pops up once my training is further along."


    "That seems wise," Ailis nodded, then smirked. "Now, about Tongue of the Sun and Moon..."


    The following weeks were among the busiest times Aidan could remember in either of his lives. His mornings were devoted to Ailis''s lessons on magic and statesmanship. His Chancellor drilled him without mercy, honing his Fire Magic and Beast Magic to new heights, helping him discover the unwritten rules of Language of Origin, and teaching him her perspective on rulership.


    The sessions were exhausting, far more intense than any college course, and with a much more demanding teacher. The results spoke for themselves, however. His understanding of magic in general, Fire and Beast Magic in particular, and the various ways to alter his spells on the fly all progressed at lightning pace.


    Congratulations! You have reached level 52 in Fire Magic.


    You are now a Journeyman in Fire Magic; your flames now burn with supreme intensity, ignoring a small amount of the target''s resistance to fire.


    Congratulations! You have learned the spell Phoenixfire Conflagration.


    Congratulations! You have reached level 46 in Beast Magic.


    Congratulations! You have reached level 15 in Language of Origin.


    You are now an Initiate in Language of Origin; you now infuse Intent into your Words slightly faster.


    Congratulations! You have reached level 17 in Glyphs.


    Congratulations! You have reached level 18 in Incantations.


    Congratulations! You have reached level 4 in Invocation.


    Congratulations! You have reached level 30 in Magical Theory.


    You are now an Apprentice in Magical Theory; you gain slightly improved spell power when using Arcane skills.


    Phoenixfire Conflagration: Fire Magic and Vivimancy, level 50.


    Engulfs the target area, up to a thirty-foot radius within one hundred feet of you, with golden flames that scorch your enemies and heal your allies. The phoenixfires deal 500 fire damage to enemies, heal allies for 250 points of Health, and lessen the degree of the most severe Wound each ally suffers from by one step. This healing is caused by pure life energy and does not leave scars. If you are within the radius, 10% of the damage and healing persists, repeating once per second for 5 seconds.


    Cost: 300 Concentration. Duration: Instantaneous. Casting time: 5 seconds. Cooldown: 30 seconds.


    In the afternoons, Aidan split time between training with Ysbail and acting as Ceallach Macht''s ruler. Ailis flatly refused to allow him to push all of his responsibilities off onto her, so he only managed to spend every third or fourth day in Ysbail''s combat lessons. The rest of the time, Aidan presided over Council sessions, attended meetings with individual Councillors, held town hall meetings, and worked with Ailis, Sarpedon, and Fionn to plan the city''s growth and defense. The work was never something Aidan found pleasure in, but he became accustomed to it in time, and his skills reflected his growth.


    Congratulations! You have reached level 8 in Administration.


    A necessary skill for all rulers, Administration covers the minutiae of government, from bringing out the best in your delegates to creating and implementing laws. A master administrator can draft a complete plan to resolve an unforeseen disaster and have their officers implement it perfectly in mere hours.


    You are now a Novice in Administration; the efficiency of individuals you delegate authority to increases slightly.


    Congratulations! You have reached level 12 in Command.


    You are now an Initiate in Command; the range of your command aura increases by a small amount.


    Congratulations! You have reached level 20 in Persuasion.


    Congratulations! You have reached level 6 in Oratory.


    Still, Ysbail''s skill in teaching shone through; while Aidan had less time with her than either of them would have preferred, he managed to progress his combat skills further than he expected. Between sparring with Sunnild, dodging through obstacle courses raised by Wulfryn, and going through Ysbail''s conditioning, he made significant progress in only a few days.


    Congratulations! You have reached level 22 in Evasion.


    Congratulations! You have reached level 15 in Light Armor.


    Congratulations! You have reached level 11 in Parrying.


    You are now an Initiate in Parrying; you gain a small bonus to deflecting attacks with one-handed weapons.


    Congratulations! You have reached level 4 in Running.


    Congratulations! You have reached level 10 in Swords.


    You are now an Initiate in Swords; you may use a one-handed sword as an implement to cast spells with a significant penalty to Concentration costs.


    Congratulations! You have reached level 2 in Unarmed Combat.


    His evenings were spent with his lovers in various combinations and permutations. Taking Aoife''s criticism to heart, Aidan spread his attention between the four women who held places in his heart, making sure to attend to their needs and desires as often as he could.


    Aoife joined the trio of Aidan, Brighid, and Sunnild on a semi-regular basis, and Aidan made sure to ''reward'' her for her efforts in keeping their quarters clean and preparing meals for the group. More than once, he found himself pinning her to the wall from behind and forcing a chain of climaxes from her writhing body; other times, she took the initiative, cornering him with hungry kisses and climbing on top of him to ride out her pleasure.


    Aidan didn''t neglect Ailis, either. While she maintained a separate residence, Aidan spent almost as many nights in the silver-haired Druid''s embrace as he did in a pile with Sunnild and Brighid. Their lovemaking never had the raw, feral edge that his time with Brighid and Aoife tended to. Instead, he took his time, stoking the fires in Ailis''s depths with gentle caresses and slow, tender lovemaking. She rarely climaxed more than once each session, but the way she completely relaxed afterward showed that she got just as much out of it as Aidan''s other lovers.


    Congratulations! You have reached level 32 in Foreplay.


    Congratulations! You have reached level 22 in Dominance.


    Congratulations! You have reached level 74 in Sex.


    Time marched on, and soon enough, the Ash Shroud Sisterhood harpies acting as scouts for the city reported seeing a small fleet of ships rowing down the river towards Ceallach Macht. The Snow-Water Riders were on their way.


    Zurai


    Aidan''s current status screen:


    Brighid''s current status screen:


    Sunnild''s current status screen:


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Orange, Lupus, and an anonymous Patron for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 64: Azure and Silver

    First, I forgot to post this last week, but have some new SFW art of Brighid!


    In other news, it''s just about time for a Patreon push! First things first, please don''t sign up today. You''ll be double-charged because Patreon charges when you join and then on the first of the month. Join tomorrow (6/1) instead!


    With that out of the way, June will be my first full month working on writing as a full-time job. I''m still doing a lot of editing and story planning for the future, but by the end of the month, Patrons will have at least a 10 chapter lead over the public releases. In addition, I''m finally gearing up to start producing my next story, Essence of a Hero. I''m going to write about 25-30 chapters of that before I start public releases in July, so if you want to get a head start, June is the month to join.


    In addition to those enticements, there''s a NSFW (not explicit, but you don''t want your boss seeing it) art commission for Aoife that is in the works for Patrons to see, and I''ve already commissioned the cover art for Essence. Again, Patrons get a preview of that and will have chances to chime in on the sketches as they come in.


    Finally, if you don''t want to or can''t afford to contribute to Patreon, there''s still my Discord server. It''s free and open to everyone, so come join in the discussions!


    Aidan


    The Realms


    Firstday, 2nd week of the 11th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Early Afternoon


    Caellach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    The arrival of the Snow-Water Riders¡ªthe semi-nomadic tribe of merchant otterkin¡ªturned into a major event. Hundreds of centaurs and almost as many harpies and catfolk crowded around the river. More of both other races arrived in Ceallach Macht every few days, but reviewing the reports was a much different experience from seeing the people gathered together.


    The atmosphere was festive, with crowds milling around impromptu market stalls lining the riverbank. The distinctive scent of fried dough filled the air alongside the hubbub of a few hundred excited townsfolk. To Aidan''s satisfaction, all three races seemed to be mingling with minimal friction. While fewer centaurs were perusing the Mist Stalkers'' wares than demographics would suggest, there were some, and, more importantly, there were no signs of hostility between the two groups.


    "This will be good for the city," Gerwyn declared, "even if the cu uisce decide not to help with our little dragon problem. The last half-year has been hard on us all; it will do the people well to cut loose a little." He flashed Aidan a toothy grin. "The Snow-Water Riders throw the best parties."


    "Mm!" agreed Sunnild with a giggle. "I remember the last time they visited the Ayrie; three years ago, I think it was? I was too young ta fly the long patrol routes, so I got ta stay home. Even the senior officers got drunk."


    The harpy leaned against Aidan''s side and whispered in his ear, "Remind me ta show ya the outfit I bought from ''em sometime before I start ta show. It''ll be a tight fit, but I think that''ll just make ya like it more." She giggled again at the look he gave her, then pressed a quick kiss to his lips.


    "And it will bring the tribes together in a positive way," Ailis added. "You can already see it working. Right now, the Starchasers, Sisterhood, and Mist Stalkers are three groups sharing the same city. If this works out as we hope, it will be a strong step toward welding them together into a unified whole."


    "And if we can impress them enough, they will be the best advertisement for our goals we could have. Speaking of which, lass, how goes the construction on the Tabernacle?"


    Brighid groaned and flipped her braid over her shoulder in frustration. "Close to finished, but not quite there yet. I am doing what I can to have it ready before the summit. But this impromptu festival is not helping in that regard. I had to give the workers two days off, so right now, only the Automatons are getting anything done. I just have one team of those since the rest are working on the fortress."


    "It''ll be fine," Aidan soothed his Soulmate, stroking her flank with his right hand. "Caer Macht is almost back to full manna, so if push comes to shove, I can always summon a couple more teams for you to use. It''s more important right now to improve everyone''s morale."


    Indeed, the city''s mood had dipped in the past few weeks, fueled by the Starchasers starting to come to grips with their recent losses. Between the battle against the Taig''s army and Karsarrym''s ambush of the convoy, the tribe lost a third of its population. Making matters worse was that the losses were disproportionate among the young warriors, which dealt a double blow to morale.


    First, the people were worried about whether there were enough warriors left to protect them from the next threat. Life in the Highlands was hard-fought at the best of times, and with Karsarrym''s promise of vengeance hanging over them, Aidan couldn''t blame people for being uneasy. The Sisterhood''s presence in the city helped, but the Starchasers'' longstanding xenophobia limited the degree that they trusted the harpies to intervene in the next disaster.


    When it came down to it, Aidan couldn''t disagree; he didn''t have complete confidence that they would, either. While there was an understanding in place between himself and the Ayrie''s leadership, it had yet to be tested. He knew that the harpies wanted the bait he dangled in front of them, but they already had a system that worked well enough to ensure their continued existence. How much risk would they be willing to take on to protect a future that might never come to pass?


    The second hit to morale was that the better part of an entire generation had been wiped out. Almost every family had lost a son or daughter, and there were seventeen brand new orphans now under Eilwen''s tender care. The centaurs were tough folk, well-used to hardship, but grief still took its toll on them.


    The Snow-Water Riders'' arrival allowed the Starchasers to take a step back and breathe. It offered hope that life would go on, that there was a future worth striving for. Aidan just prayed that he wasn''t dooming them to further tragedy by opposing Karsarrym rather than urging the tribe to flee.


    A clawed finger poked into Aidan''s lower back. "Ow!" he complained, looking over his shoulder at Aoife.


    "You were brooding again," she told him. "Brighid told me to keep you focused, so take it up with her if you want to complain."


    Aidan rolled his eyes at his concubine, to which she responded by sticking out her tongue and blowing a raspberry. He returned his gaze to the path ahead but smiled and let out a brief chuckle. "Maybe I should make you my court jester," he teased Aoife.


    "Sure, if you want to be the butt of every joke in the city inside the week," she replied in a cheery tone. "Say, did you hear the one about the boy who had sex with a centaur? Yeah, it turns out he misunderstood what horseplay meant. Ooh, or how about¡ª"


    "Aoife," Aidan growled a warning. He ignored the snickers coming from Gerwyn and Brighid.


    "What? I''m just demonstrating my qualifications so that Master can make the best use of my talents."


    Aidan winced. In the last few weeks, he''d grown familiar with Aoife''s mannerisms, and this was a warning. She only called him Master in public when something Aidan did or said upset her. He stepped to the side and paused, letting Aoife draw even with him, then wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her against his side.


    "Sorry, Aoife. I was teasing; I didn''t mean anything by it."


    "That makes it worse, you know," she said with a sniff. Nevertheless, she relaxed into Aidan''s embrace, resting her head against his chest and curling her tail around his thigh.


    A few minutes of walking later, Aidan and company reached the outer ring of merchant stalls. Having been subjected to the ever-strengthening scent of fair food as they approached, Aidan steered the party towards one of the food stands.


    "What do you have?" he asked the startled Starchaser behind the makeshift counter.


    "My Lord Aidan!" the woman squeaked in surprise. Her mouth opened and closed without a sound as she struggled to make sense of his sudden appearance.


    "Relax," Aidan told her with a smile. "Right now, I''m just another hungry customer."


    "Oh, yes, of course, my Lord. Um, we serve fried bread with your choice of toppings. We offer honey, cream sauce, and various fruits and berries for those with a sweet tooth. If you prefer a savory meal, we have Tusker-back bacon, sausage, mild or sharp cheese, and our specialty gravy."


    "Oh, that sounds wonderful. I''ll have one with sausage and sharp cheese, please. Ladies?"


    "Cream and honey, please," Aoife chimed in.


    "Are those falaberries? I''ll take one with some of those an'' mild cheese," added Sunnild.


    Brighid waved at the woman behind the counter and exclaimed, "Oh, bacon, sausage, and gravy! Your gravy is the best, Deirdre!"


    "I will pass for now."


    Aidan scoffed at Ailis''s refusal. "Oh, come on now. I know you like fried food as much as the rest of us, Ailis. Besides, I''m buying."


    "Oh, well, in that case, make me one with honey and blackberries, Deirdre."


    "Double sausage for me!"


    Aidan gave Gerwyn a flat stare.


    "What?" The Councilman grinned back at Aidan and waggled his bushy eyebrows. "I am pretty sure I count as an honorary lady. Or is it the double sausage you doubt? I assure you, I can handle that much and more."


    "I¡ª" Aidan started to say, then cut himself off. "You know what? I''d rather not go there." Then, turning back to Deirdre, he asked, "How much do I owe you for all that?"


    "Oh, no, my Lord! I could never charge you after all you have done for us! My son only survived the Battle of Ceallach Macht because of you!"


    "You can and you will," Aidan denied, voice gentle but firm. "Your labor and expertise are valuable, Deirdre, and I''m sure you had to buy most of your ingredients on short notice at high prices. It would be unethical of me to take so much of your time and money without paying you in return."


    The centaur matron frowned, but before she could make any further arguments, Aoife gestured for her to lean down, then whispered something in her ear. Deirdre blinked twice, then gave Aoife a grin and a nod. Then, turning her attention back to Aidan, she said, "All together, it would be three coins of silver and three of copper, my Lord."


    Aidan squinted at Aoife, who gave him an angelic smile and squirmed her way back under his arm. It was obvious that she advised the woman to sell at a discount, but he decided to let it go. Technically, he didn''t know the food was being provided at a lower rate since Deirdre didn''t have her prices posted. Nothing said he couldn''t give her a bonus for services well-done, however, and a reputation for generosity wouldn''t hurt him in the short term.


    Aidan reached into one of the side pouches of his spatial bag and pulled out six of the largest silver coins he had. "Keep the change," he told Deirdre with a smile.


    Deirdre pouted at Aidan, but now it was her who couldn''t object without seeming unreasonable. Instead, she scooped up the coins and turned to her cooking. A short time later, Deirdre handed each of them their order wrapped in a large, edible leaf. When she handed Aidan two for his share, he frowned at her, then shook his head with a chuckle.


    "Well played," he told the woman and took his double order without further complaint. Aidan took a bite of one of the leaf-wrapped pastries and hummed in pleasure as the textures and flavors burst across his palate. The crisp, cool leaf wrapping provided an excellent counter to the hot, chewy dough. The dough, in turn, provided a hint of sweetness that was the perfect counter to the rich sausage and sharp, cheddar-like cheese.


    The others made similarly happy noises as they bit into their treats. An expressive moan drew Aidan''s attention down to Aoife. Her eyes were closed in ecstasy as she licked at the white cream sauce oozing out of the end of the rolled-up pastry. As he watched, some dripped down onto her chest and dribbled down onto her cleavage.


    Aidan rolled his eyes even as he willed himself not to get an erection. He was almost certain that Aoife staged that for his benefit. In fact, now that I think of it, I''d give it 75% that she ordered the cream sauce for this exact reason. Still, that was no reason not to reward her for her efforts.


    "You spilled some," Aidan said, then ran a finger through the cream pooling between Aoife''s breasts and brought it to her lips. The catfolk woman''s golden eyes popped open at his touch, turning smoky as she sucked his finger into her mouth. Aoife purred as she laved his finger with her rough tongue.


    Once Aidan''s digit was clean of all traces of the cream, Aoife pulled her head back, then gave his fingertip a quick kiss. "Thank you for looking out for me, my Lord," she purred at him.


    Ah, perfect, playing along got me back in her good graces, Aidan thought with satisfaction. That was her public title for him when she was feeling happy. Domestic harmony restored, Aidan redirected his attention to eating his own meal.


    It took another half-hour before the roar of the crowd to the north indicated they sighted the first Snow-Water Rider vessel rounding the river-bend. By then, Aidan managed to finish off both of his sausage-and-cheese pastries and assembled along with the rest of the Ceallach Macht Council at the widest, slowest section of the river. Then, a few minutes later, he spotted the merchant ship himself.


    It was a single-hulled vessel crafted from dark wood, broader astern and shallower of draft than an oceanic ship. It had no mast or sails; one bank of oars on each side provided sufficient propulsion. A figurehead depicting a nude woman emerging from a surging wave decorated the narrow front end, and a gleaming metal ram parted the water underneath her. Aidan wondered for a moment just how often the otterkin needed to make use of such a weapon since they were the only tribe he knew of with a navy. But, on the other hand, maybe it was just for show?


    No, Aidan realized, those are marines lining the railing. The Snow-Water Riders are no pacifists, that''s for sure. That made sense, of course. After all, there would be little reason to invite them to a summit like this if they had nothing to contribute to a military expedition.


    "Hold water!" came a woman''s demanding voice from the ship''s deck. Instantly, the rowers complied, dipping their oars into the water and slowing the vessel to a graceful halt. "Ahoy, the shore!" the same voice called out. "I see we''re expected!"


    Aidan shaded his eyes and peered up at the ship until he spotted the speaker, a woman with long, bright blue hair spilling down across her back and shoulders like a shimmering waterfall. He squinted, shifting his gaze to the figurehead, then back to who he assumed was the ship''s captain. Yep, same person. Not shy, this one, nor humble.


    "Allo, Eldrid!" Gerwyn shouted back. "Get yourself down here! We have a party to throw!"


    "Gerwyn, you old horny goat, I knew you wouldn''t disappoint me! Alright, lads and lasses, you heard the fellow! Bank oars! Drop anchor and prepare to tie off to the other ships! Hurry, now; there''s drinking, eating, and fucking to be had tonight!"


    A raucous cheer rose from both the ship and the watching crowd as a pair of anchors splashed into the river and the oars swept skyward. Less than a minute later, the woman stepped back up to the railing, then dove over the side into the river. She crossed the distance from the ship to the shore in seconds, then leaped up out of the water.


    Gerwyn met her as she landed, sweeping her up in a ferocious hug and refusing to let her go until she started laughing and pounding on his shoulders. Then, finally, the dwarf centaur placed a hand on the small of the woman''s back and guided her toward where Aidan and the others waited.


    "Lord Aidan, please meet Eldrid Svarrivisa Saevargeisa of the Snow-Water Riders, Captain of the ship Gleaming Tide and a good friend of mine. Eldrid, this is Lord Aidan, the man who saved the Starchasers and brought together the three tribes you see here." Aidan''s Tongue of the Sun and Moon Trait translated Eldrid¡¯s surnames as ''Proud woman who dances atop the raging flood.''


    "My, my," Eldrid said with a smirk. Silver eyes glittered as she looked him up and down. "You didn''t tell me he was so handsome, Gerwyn. I could just eat him up." She punctuated her declaration by grinning at Aidan, revealing a mouth filled with sharp, conical fangs.


    "I know!" Gerwyn gave a theatrical groan. "And he is disgustingly straight, so I have had no luck flipping my tail at him."


    "Well, I look forward to dealing with you, my Lord," Eldrid told Aidan, her eyes locked on his.


    Zurai


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Orange, Lupus, and an anonymous Patron for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 65: Steel Flowing As Water

    First, I''m pushing to get Patrons to 10 chapters ahead of public releases. That''s over two months at the current release pace*. I''m currently at 5 chapters ahead, so if you''re dying to know what happens next, join up!


    Second, I''m in the process of writing my second story, Essence of a Hero, which is scheduled to release to the public sometime in July. There are currently two chapters available, and I''m aiming for 30 chapters available to Patrons before I release to the public (this is so I can blitz a bunch of chapters in the first two weeks of release; it won''t stay at +30).


    Third, I''m doing semi-regular art commissions now. In addition to the art of Brighid I posted last chapter, there''s official art of Aoife that I can''t post here because it''s NSFW (not explicit, but you don''t want your boss seeing it), and I''ve posted WIP shots of the Essence of a Hero cover**.


    Fourth, Patrons get to influence my writing. There''s a really big event coming up in the story that Patrons decided the outcome of several months back. I can''t promise a major poll every month, but I do them whenever I can think of a way to make it work.


    Disclaimers:


    *: Once I get to 10 chapters ahead, I will probably go back to 2 or more chapters released to the public each week. Patrons will still be 10+ chapters ahead of public, but not 2 months ahead.


    **: I post finalized art to my Discord, so please stop by if you want to see Aoife. Patrons get to see and vote on WIP shots. They were the ones who voted on Brighid and Aoife for this round of commissions, and they decided on the pose for Brighid''s portrait.


    Aidan


    The Realms


    Firstday, 2nd week of the 11th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Evening


    Caellach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    It took several hours before the festivities swung into high gear. By the time the fifth and final Snow-Water Rider vessel tied up alongside the others, unloaded its cargo, and disgorged its crew, the sun was kissing the peaks of the western mountains. The otterfolk worked with a speed and precision borne of frequent practice, however, and before night fell, each of the Captains had a professional-looking storefront set up on the riverbank.


    As shadows began to stretch across the countryside and lanterns started lighting up the festival grounds, the five Captains met with Aidan and his advisors in a tent prepared for the purpose. Besides Eldrid, there were three men and another woman representing the Snow-Water Riders, each of them appearing outlandish in their own way.


    Captain Laughlin was tall, of a height with Aidan, but slender, showing a near-total lack of muscle definition. He was bald and shirtless, exposing the intricate tattoos covering his head, chest, back, and arms. Although of fantastic quality, the artwork did not seem to Aidan to have a unifying theme. Depictions of bizarre creatures were interspersed among portraits of men and women of various races and more abstract designs. A few places were conspicuously blank, as if awaiting some unknown deed before being filled in. His skin was the color of heavily creamed coffee underneath the ink.


    Captain Dyfri was the closest Aidan had seen to a truly obese individual in the Realms, but his was the build of an NFL defensive tackle. Yes, there was fat there, but only as a layer of padding and weight over a core of solid muscle. He wore silk clothes dyed scarlet and black and wore a heavy, curved sword at his belt. His bushy black beard completed the ensemble, making him resemble old, romantic illustrations of pirates, complete with a dark tan.


    Beside Dyfri, Captain Valmai seemed tiny, despite being taller than Aoife. She had a gymnast''s body, lean and compact but practically vibrating with energy. A pair of glasses sat atop her pert nose, framing copper-colored eyes. Valmai was the only one of the captains to appear in her more bestial form; although a seafoam green sundress covered most of her torso, thick russet fur covered her arms and legs, and a short otter''s tail protruded from a slit in the back of her outfit. The furless portions of her body¡ªher face, neck, and upper torso were all that Aidan could see¡ªwere a light golden tan.


    Captain Price cut a different sort of figure. He was immaculately dressed in a suit of gray wool with shining gold buttons and wore his shoulder-length dark brown hair tied back. The narrowness of his face gave him a severe look, an image only reinforced by his beak-like nose. Yet, despite that, his blue eyes were warm and welcoming, and crow''s feet at the corners of his eyes and mouth bore evidence of frequent smiles. He walked with the help of a cane, favoring his left leg for reasons not immediately clear to Aidan.


    Then, of course, there was Eldrid herself. She was between Sunnild and Aoife in height, with the top of her head coming just shy of Aidan''s chin. A narrow ring of dark eyeliner made her silver irises even more striking, and she wore lipstick of a dark, rich, midnight blue hue. How Eldrid''s makeup survived her dive into the river, Aidan had no clue. She wore a tight black leather top that flaunted her generous figure, displaying her pale, voluminous cleavage from top to bottom through a series of straining oval cutouts.


    "So when is this meeting going to start? I''m missing out on some quality partying here!" Eldrid complained as she shifted her weight, leaning forward in her chair to place her elbows on the table. The motion caused a glint of metal to catch Aidan''s eye, drawing his attention to a pendant dangling down between her breasts. A slim, feminine finger flicked the polished onyx at the end of the silver chain, causing it to sway even more.


    With a flush of embarrassment at having been caught, Aidan lifted his eyes to Eldrid''s face. One corner of her mouth quirked up in a mischievous smirk, then she licked her lips, the bright pink of her tongue a stark contrast against the darkness of her lips, and winked at him. Far from being upset, she looked pleased at having attracted Aidan''s attention.


    "We will start in just a few minutes. Please accept our apologies for the delay; your arrival caught us somewhat unprepared. Councilwoman Eilwen is preparing a meal for us to eat while we discuss business." Aidan did his best to reclaim his dignity. The twinkle in Eldrid''s eyes as she sat back in her chair indicated that she was willing to play along.


    "Ah, you should have said so earlier!" exclaimed Dyfri. "I would wait all night for some of her sweetcakes."


    "Well, you do not have to," Eilwen said as she ducked into the tent. Several of her orphans trooped in after her, bearing trays full of steaming food. They deposited their loads around the table, after which Eilwen gave them each a hug and a kiss on the forehead before sending them back out.


    "Consider these a gift," the elder Councilwoman added, "with no obligation attached."


    "A generous host brings good fortune to their home," intoned Captain Price even as his hand flashed out, beating Eldrid to a tray full of bread rolls.


    Eilwen snorted. "Spare me your sermons, Price. I just skipped us past the pointless stage where you each pull out some random trinket that I neither want nor need to repay me for the meal."


    "You seemed happy with the silverware I brought you last time, Eilwen. Or did I misjudge?" Valmai arched an eyebrow at the crotchety centaur.


    "Now, now," Eldrid cut in before the discussion could devolve further, "let''s all just agree that Councillor Eilwen sets a mean table and a meaner bargain and get to the good stuff. I, for one, want to know what''s going on here. Starchasers and Mist Stalkers working and living together? I know we''re in a new Age and all, but that''s a miracle if I''ve ever seen one."


    "Agreed," rumbled Laughlin in a basso voice that seemed odd coming from his slender body. "And to see them ruled over by a human? Please do not take this the wrong way, Lord Aidan, but this has been a surprising afternoon."


    "No offense taken. My journey has been interesting and unconventional, to say the least. First, I should ask what Gerwyn told you all in his letter; I don''t want to retread old ground."


    "Not much," Valmai replied. "He spoke of Ceallach Macht being retaken and resettled. He also implied that there might be both business opportunities and a market for our less mercantile pursuits."


    At Aidan''s confused look, Price gave Aidan a small smile and explained, "Not all of the Snow-Water Riders stick to selling silks and baubles. The five of us here also act as mercenaries, should the cause and the purse be worthwhile."


    Aidan nodded, his mind running at full speed. Gerwyn wouldn''t have sent for these specific Captains if he felt they were untrustworthy or not worth the expense. Mercenaries wouldn''t have been his first choice, but the more he thought about it, the more he liked the idea.


    First, mercenaries would require less convincing. Being paid to fight and potentially die for someone else''s problem was the entire job description, after all. No company worth their salt would take a suicidal contract, of course, but Aidan had proof that he''d already beaten Karsarrym once; this wouldn''t be suicide, just very dangerous.


    Second, having one military force backing him already would make it much easier to convince the other tribes to help. People, speaking in broad terms, were risk-averse. The lower the personal risk they faced, the more likely they were to agree to something. If he could convince enough of the Captains to join ahead of the summit, that would prime the pump, so to speak.


    And, finally, he wouldn''t feel nearly as bad about leading mercenaries to their deaths. It was a cold calculation, one that showed Ailis''s influence on his thoughts, but it was there nonetheless. These people signed up to fight others'' wars. They weren''t conscripted, weren''t fighting to defend their homes and livelihood. Instead, their primary motivation was either money or the thrill of combat.


    Focusing his attention back on his guests, Aidan said, "I see. Yes, I can confirm both of those. Let me give you some background, then."


    "Ooh, storytime!" Eldrid leaned forward again, smirking as his eyes twitched downward before returning to her face.


    Aidan launched into an abridged retelling of his adventures in the Realms, leaving out sensitive details like his deaths or the number of casualties the Starchasers took. Of course, neither was a secret by this point, but it was better to negotiate from a position of perceived strength. The Captains would find out about both eventually, but for now, it was best to play his hand close to his chest.


    The otterfolk were an attentive audience, their focus on Aidan''s words clear despite the way they ravaged the food laid out for them. Aidan was grateful for the second pastry the star-struck Starchaser gave him because Eilwen''s feast was disappearing fast. Between bites of food and gulps of drink, the Captains traded off asking quick, insightful questions about the Taig, the Labyrinth, and the dragon.


    To Aidan''s surprise, the Captains took Aidan''s description of Karsarrym''s attack in stride. "I heard rumors of a dragon sighting in this region," Dyfri admitted; the others nodded in agreement.


    "Had a feeling it might be related," added Eldrid. "I assume you''re looking to hire some bullies to help with hunting it down?"


    "I am," Aidan confirmed. "We''re working to fortify the city, but I would rather not fight such a monster where my people live."


    "Hmm," Laughlin hummed, "I am not very sanguine about fighting a dragon in its lair. Even if we win, casualties will be high."


    "For what it''s worth, I do not think Karsarrym has a long-term lair in the area. Given his attitude and remarks, I believe he expected to take over the city and make his home here. After I drove him off, he would have had to settle for temporary accommodations."


    Valmai nodded. "That makes sense. It is rare for a dragon to fall to anything but another of its kind. That you managed to inflict such a grievous wound on this one is a strong point in your favor. But, of course, we have only your word for that."


    "One of our elite warriors¡ªYsbail, if any of you know her¡ªmanaged to cut off the end of Karsarrym''s tail, which we preserved. I can show you the tail itself as well as the scales we have extracted from it as proof."


    "And I was there," Eilwen added, voice acidic. "I understand not trusting Lord Aidan, but you all know me. Everything he described about that battle is accurate to the best of my recollection."


    "Still," Laughlin frowned, "my men and women are used to fighting other people, not monsters, and especially not dragons. I am reluctant to take up such a contract."


    "If I may suggest?" Eldrid cut in. "Lord Aidan, I get the feeling that you''re looking to get us on board early to make it easier to convince the others. Is that accurate?"


    Aidan winced internally at being so transparent, but there was no sense denying it with it out in the open. "Yes, the thought crossed my mind."


    The blue-haired woman gave him a sharp-toothed smile. "Then what you need is the appearance as much as the fact. If Captain Laughlin is reluctant to commit to an assault, perhaps he would be happier with garrisoning this city while the rest of us do the dirty work? You can still say you have his troops with you, and there would be no need to split any of the loot with him."


    Laughlin shot his fellow Captain an affronted look, then shrugged and nodded at Aidan. "Indeed, although I would still be taking on considerable risk. If the dragon should emerge triumphant, all who back you will pay the price."


    "Let us speak of prices, then," Dyfri cut in. "I cannot speak for my fellows, but my aid against such a foe will not come cheap. I am sure you understand."


    Congratulations! You have reached level 2 in Haggling.


    Congratulations! You have reached level 21 in Persuasion.


    Congratulations! You have reached level 4 in Negotiation.


    In the end, Aidan paid both more and less than he expected. The Snow-Water Riders all had far more experience at haggling and negotiating than he did, and it showed. At the same time, Eldrid and Price both opted to structure their contracts with backloaded, long-term payments.


    All told, Aidan spent most of his ready cash and jewels, as well as a good portion of his stored exotic crafting materials, but secured the assistance of all five Captains and their troops. Valmai and Laughlin declined to participate in any offensive actions against the dragon but were willing to commit to three months of garrison duty. The other three would contribute their marines to the assault.


    After agreeing to terms, talk turned to Aidan''s plans for Ceallach Macht itself. All five Captains showed support for his goal of creating a cosmopolitan city, although Valmai, Dyfri, and Price expressed varying degrees of skepticism. Eldrid, on the other hand, was expressively enthusiastic about the idea, going so far as to promise her assistance setting up trade deals with other tribes. Aidan was sure she had ulterior motives, but he wasn''t going to turn down the help.


    It was nearly midnight by the time the discussions ended for the night. Both parties rose and made their farewells one by one until only Aidan and Eldrid remained.


    "And it''s just you and me, my Lord," Eldrid crooned. "I''ve been waiting all afternoon to have you all. To. Myself." She punctuated the final three words by prowling up to Aidan, ignoring any concept of personal space.


    Aidan blinked at the aggressive flirtation. He stepped back, but Eldrid followed, pursuing him in a slow chase around the tent. Aidan stopped when he felt a chair against his legs, and before he could step to the side, the otterfolk Captain pushed him down into the seat and straddled his lap.


    "Do I intimidate you?" she purred. "You didn''t have any problem looking at me earlier, Aidan. Don''t worry; I enjoy being the center of attention, if you hadn''t noticed. Look all you like. Here, you can even touch if you want."


    She seized Aidan''s hand, bringing it up and slipping it through one of the cutouts in her top. Aidan squeezed by instinct, taking in the yielding softness underneath his fingers before yanking his hand back.


    "Mm, you''ve got a good touch. But, unfortunately, that''s not what this is about."


    Eldrid leaned forward until her forehead pressed against Aidan''s. Her black-rimmed silver eyes bored into his ruby ones, and all playfulness and flirtation vanished as she hissed, "No, I have a different sort of business with you. Tell me, Lord Aidan: how long have you been in the Realms, who is your Patron, and how many times have you died?"


    Her questions shocked Aidan, but it was the point of the dagger poking against his belly that sent a thrill of fear down his spine.


    Zurai


    Aidan''s current status screen:


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Orange, Lupus, and an anonymous Patron for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 66: Just One Word

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Firstday, 2nd week of the 11th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Late Night


    Caellach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Aidan clamped down on the fear, reminding himself that he could call his Passion Elementals with a thought. He also had more than one ace up his sleeve if push came to shove, so he resolved to keep calm and de-escalate.


    "Eldrid," he said, voice soft and soothing, "I would be more than pleased to talk to another Chosen. There''s no need to threaten me. Please, put away the knife."


    The knife didn''t move. "Sorry, handsome, but I can''t take the risk that you''re one of his. Now, answer my questions, and don''t lie to me; I will know."


    "Alright, take it easy. I''ve been in the Realms about ... hm, four months now? Four months of Realms time that is; who knows how much Earth time has elapsed. My Patron is the Brighaid; they''re the local tripartite deity of fire, passion, creativity, and sex, and so on. I died twice, both against the Taig."


    Eldrid watched him like a hawk as he gave his response. She relaxed a fraction when he named his Patron, but her dagger remained pressed against his belly.


    "Do you have any ties to the Kingdom of Gilhardt?"


    Aidan shook his head a fraction of an inch. "No. I entered the Realms in Starchaser territory and was captured by them that first night. I''ve never even seen another of this world''s humans, let alone talked to one. And, from what I hear of their politics, I want nothing to do with them anyway."


    That seemed to do the trick. Eldrid eased back away from Aidan, vanishing her dagger to wherever it came from.


    "Sorry for the drama," she said with a grimace. "A human Chosen showing up out of nowhere and taking over the Starchasers within such a short time ... I had to be sure."


    "If I may ask, what is it that you had to be sure of? Why the questions?" Aidan paused for a split second, then added, "And why are you still on my lap?"


    "Oh, that one''s easy," Eldrid replied with a sharp-toothed grin. "I''m still here because you don''t want me to go. Offer to touch is still open, by the way." She wiggled for emphasis; Aidan kept his hands to himself.


    "Suit yourself. As for your other questions, I don''t know as much as I''d like. However, I''ve been able to figure out from my Patron''s quests and my own investigations that someone in Gilhardt is stirring the pot out among the tribes. Probably a Chosen, although I haven''t been able to determine that for sure.


    "Anyway, I''ve caught their agents seeding trouble all across the Highlands. Never anything overt, mind you; whispers here, rumors there, staged arguments over yonder. If my Gift didn''t work the way it does, I wouldn''t even have known about it."


    "Gift?" Aidan asked, sensing the capital letter.


    "Yeah, that''s what we''re calling the unique Trait every Chosen gets from their Patron. It''s considered bad manners to ask, but mine works even if you know what it does, so I don''t mind sharing. I have the Truthseer Trait; it lets me know when anyone lies within my sight, even by omission or redirection. I can''t compel the truth or anything, but you cannot slip a lie past me."


    Aidan could see how that would be useful, especially to a merchant, but another part of her statement was much more important to him. "You say that it''s rude to ask about another Chosen''s Gift; that implies that you''ve met and talked to other Chosen. Can you tell me about any of them? I''m looking for my sister."


    Sympathy flashed across Eldrid''s face. "Sorry, but no. We''re kind of like superheroes back on Earth¡ªyou said you¡¯re from Earth, right? Not all the Chosen are."


    Aidan blinked at that. Chosen that weren''t from Earth? "Yeah, my sister and I both lived in the Atlanta metropolis."


    "2060s then, the video game got you. Oh, don''t look at me like that, I''ll explain. I''ve come across four different sources for Earthling Chosen so far. Ours is the most common, but there are also faerie abductions, UFOs, and the Bermuda Triangle. Anyway, back to your question: we Chosen are like the old-timey superheroes, complete with civilian identities. It''s very, very dangerous to out another Chosen''s identity¡ªit could get them killed, or worse, their friends or family."


    Aidan grimaced but couldn''t argue. It made sense. If beating the Taig hadn''t all but blown his cover, he''d be trying to hide, too. Still... "Could you at least spread the word among the Chosen you know and trust that you know someone looking for their sister?"


    "Sure, I can do that. Do you know anything about her avatar here?"


    "Not much. She started here in the Highlands, described herself as a ninja, and maxed out the breast slider." Aidan eyed the bountiful cleavage pressed against his chest.


    Eldrid snickered. "Yeah, I''m not half this stacked back on Earth either. And just to confirm, no siblings for me, so you don''t have to worry about the boner you''re poking me with."


    The mirth left the blue-haired woman''s face a moment later. "I''ve got more bad news for you, I''m afraid. Not only did we get snatched from different time periods back on Earth, but every Chosen I''ve talked to has also been here for a different length of time. I got sucked in by the VR game, like you and your sister, but I''ve been stomping around the Highlands for six years. Another guy I met stepped into a mushroom ring in the 1600s but wound up starting a couple years after I did."


    Aidan squeezed his eyes shut. Eve might have been stranded for years, looking for him all that time¡ªor she might not even have arrived yet. The sliver of hope he kindled at Eldrid''s mention of other Chosen guttered and died.


    "Hey, don''t look so glum. I''ll put the word out for you; it''s the least I can do for threatening you like that. If she''s around, we''ll find her."


    "Thanks, Eldrid. That means a lot." Aidan gave her a wan smile. This was significant progress, but the goal seemed farther away than ever.


    Eldrid ruffled Aidan''s hair, then winked at him. "The first favor''s free! The next one will cost you."


    "And what, pray tell, might you ask in exchange?"


    Silver eyes glinted at Aidan over a fanged grin. "Well, that depends, darlin''. How do you feel about mixing business and pleasure?"


    "Oh, I''m no stranger to that. I traded Ailis kisses for information; now she''s my Vassal and lover."


    "Oooh, he does know how to flirt back!" Then Eldrid smirked. "You''re misleading me about something, though. No outright lie; my guess is that the two aren''t as related as you want me to think."


    Aidan whistled in appreciation. "That Gift of yours is a damned cheat code for social situations."


    "I know, isn''t it great?"


    "That said, it''s not infallible. Ailis swearing the Vassal''s Oath had nothing to do with our little kissing game; that much is true. The rest?" It was Aidan''s turn to smirk. "Be careful what you wish for."


    "Mm, no deception there. Damn, that''s hot." Eldrid squirmed around, sliding against the lump in Aidan''s pants. "So, tell me, is what the rumors say true? Do you really have magic hands?"


    Aidan''s eyebrows shot up. Who told her that? Has she been talking to Brighid without me realizing it? He decided to start playing hardball, lest Eldrid walk all over him. "Hands, yes, among other things. Want a sample? The first hit''s free."


    "Ooh, where''s this confidence coming from all of a sudden? I like it. You''re more dangerous than you realize, Lord Aidan."


    "The only danger is that you might like it too much."


    Eldrid leaned back away from Aidan. "Oh my. You''re adapting to using the truth as a weapon very fast."


    "I''m a quick learner in all kinds of ways. For example, you''re used to controlling the flow of a conversation with aggressive flirting, but you don''t have much experience being on the receiving end. I imagine most men are intimidated by your beauty, and the ones who aren''t don''t know about your ability to see through deception." Aidan sat up and placed his right hand on Eldrid''s hip, his fingers aligned along the upper curve of her ass.


    Eldrid froze at his touch, her silver eyes widening a fraction and a red flush blooming across her cheeks. "You did say I could touch if I wanted, right?" Aidan asked before she could recover.


    Eldrid nodded, biting her lower lip, her nose flaring with a heavy breath.


    "And is that offer still open?" Aidan rested his left hand on her flank, thumb an inch below the swell of her bust.


    "I never go back on a deal." Eldrid''s voice was less confident than her words.


    "I''m glad to hear it." Aidan smiled as he slid his one hand up and the other down. Eldrid trembled as his fingers found pale, bare skin. Aidan didn''t push past the initial contact; he wasn''t trying to seduce her all the way. He wanted to pay her back for her earlier teasing, and if he could get some additional information or trade concessions out of her while she was off-balance, well, she''d been doing the same to him.


    "Tell me," he said while rubbing a thumb along the inner slope of Eldrid''s right breast, "what''s your story? Who''s your Patron?"


    "I''m," she licked her lips, "from a tiny little town in what''s left of the Louisiana bayous. You''ve never heard of it."


    Eldrid''s hips began to roll against Aidan''s lap in sync with the motions of his thumb. "And your Patron?


    "That''s considered a rude question." Her protest lacked any force behind it, coming as it did in a breathy near-whisper.


    "You asked me first. I think turnabout is fair play, don''t you? And I''m not even holding you at knifepoint."


    "Mm, more like shoving a baseball bat into my gut."


    "That''s not your gut, and I''m not the one doing the shoving. Besides, all you have to do is ask me to stop, and I will."


    Eldrid''s hands rose to Aidan''s shoulders, giving her more leverage as her hips ground down hard. The front of her leather skirt was between them, but Aidan could still feel the heat coming from her center. "You shouldn''t say things like that to a girl like me."


    "Oh? And why is that?"


    "Because I can tell you mean it, and that gives me ammo to use against you." Though her cheeks were still bright red and her breath was coming fast and hard, Eldrid seemed to have recovered some of her confidence. "You just gave me unlimited license to tease you without consequences."


    "Without consequences? Two can play this game, and I''m playing with a stacked deck. Keep that in mind, and I''m OK with it." Aidan moved his left hand, slipping it between the straps holding Eldrid''s top to her chest, then palming her breast. Even spreading his fingers wide and stretching them as far as he could, Aidan couldn''t quite grasp it all. Her hard nipple, pierced by a cold metal barbell, dug into the center of his palm.


    Eldrid''s head fell forward, a keening whine emerging from between her lips. "Shit, you do have magic hands."


    "Oh, no, that''s Foreplay and Seduction at work. My Magic Hands are something else entirely, and you haven''t requested your free sample yet. Also, you''re trying to distract me, and it''s not going to work. Who''s your Patron, Eldrid?"


    Eldrid''s silver eyes rolled up to look at Aidan through long black lashes, challenge sparking in their depths. "If you want to find out, mm, you''re going to have to make it worth my while."


    "Oh? How about a bet, then?"


    "Are you sure about that? Ballsy to offer, mmph, a bet to a girl who knows when you''re, hah, bluffing."


    "Oh, I have no reason to bluff. I''m going to rely on your natural curiosity and competitive nature to make you accept."


    "Let''s hear it then, loverboy."


    Aidan withdrew his hands from Eldrid''s top and skirt, drawing a pout from her. "I''ll give you five minutes to calm down, then speak one Word to you. If that Word makes you come, you not only tell me your Patron, but you owe me a favor."


    "Upping the ante? Why would I owe you a favor beyond sharing personal, privileged information?"


    Aidan gave his best wolfish grin. "Because it''ll be the best orgasm in your life. And besides, I still maintain that you owe me reciprocation."


    "And if I don''t get off at the mere sound of your voice?"


    "You will, but name your price."


    "Still so confident. You believe you''ll win, but belief isn''t fact, even here. Hmm. When I win, you''ll make me your exclusive trade contact with the Snow-Water Riders and give me a seat on your City Council."


    "Deal."


    "Not so fast; we have rules to define first."


    "Now you''re just stalling."


    Eldrid tossed her head, sending brilliant blue hair cascading over her shoulder. "I don''t need to stall. You''re good with your words, I''ll admit that, but no one''s that good. Maybe, maybe, if you had me right on the precipice, but with five minutes of cooldown? You judged me well because this isn''t a bet I can turn down." She stood up, dragging her breasts across Aidan''s face in the process.


    Aidan let her go. "So, what restrictions are you going to place on me?"


    "No touching," Eldrid started listing as she walked away from him, wide ass swaying in her tight black leather skirt.


    "Agreed."


    She spun around, mock-glaring at him with her arms crossed beneath her breasts. "Not done yet. No spells. For all I know, you have Coitimancy; would explain the magic hands."


    "Those are from my Profession, but fine. No spells, with one exception: I want to silence the area. I don''t want anyone to overhear by mistake; it might cause trouble. I promise Sound Barrier will have no impact on you or me."


    "You''re hiding something. I''ll allow the exception. No Profession Talents, either."


    "I can''t turn off most of them; they''re passive. I can promise not to use any active Abilities or Traits on you, though."


    "Hmph. Fair, I guess. What are you keeping from me? There''s still something."


    "I''m not going to answer that; it''s obvious that I have a trick up my sleeve. We both knew that from the start. The bet is whether you think you can beat it."


    "Hmph. Fine, keep your trick. But only that one trick." Eldrid frowned at Aidan.


    "Starting to get worried? Scared you''ll lose?"


    Eldrid rolled her eyes. "I''m competitive, but I''m not stupid, Aidan. Calling me a chicken isn''t going to make me jump in without looking; don''t underestimate me."


    He couldn''t help but blush at that. "Sorry, you''re right. But, moving on, if you''re going to set conditions, then so am I. No magic of your own¡ª" Aidan said magic rather than spells, wanting to close the loophole he intended to exploit himself, "¡ªand no active Talents, Traits, or Abilities that would keep you from climaxing, if you have any. Passives are fine, but let''s both bargain in at least a modicum of good faith, yeah?"


    Eldrid narrowed her eyes, thinking for a moment, then shrugged and relaxed. "Agreed. I don''t have anything like that anyway."


    "Are we agreed on the terms, then? My one Word, no spells, no touching, no active interference, versus your passives and naked confidence?"


    "Yes. I promise I''ll not rake you over the coals too hard on trade terms."


    Aidan smiled. "I believe it''s been five minutes now. Are you ready?"


    Eldrid smirked, the corner of her lip quirking up in smug confidence, and stretched her arms toward the ceiling. The motion caused fascinating things to happen to her chest. Playing with fire, there, Aidan thought at her, although, of course, she couldn''t hear him.


    "Do your worst."


    Aidan walked up to Eldrid, who watched him with wary caution in her eyes. She tensed up as he approached to within three or four feet from her but relaxed when he stopped. Once he was sure that Eldrid was within the range of his Dominating Presence Talent¡ªa passive one, albeit one he had to make active use of in this case¡ªAidan looked Eldrid in the eyes and spoke a Word.


    The interesting thing about Divine Speech, and the Language of Origin Skill that depended on it, was that one could pack a near-infinite amount of meaning into a single word. The language itself was malleable in ways that Aidan would not have been able to understand without his Traits helping him out. After hours spent studying and practicing with Ailis, he suspected that Language of Origin was so rare less because of any inherent lack of affinity and more because most mortals could not make use of it.


    Aidan didn''t get the clue he needed to learn how to make Language of Origin an active magic Skill in its own right until he hit Initiate rank and gained his second perk: "You now infuse Intent into your Words slightly faster."


    That hint opened his eyes to the galaxy he had missed. Language of Origin was all about manifesting Intent into reality via speaking the Words that made the universe. He touched the barest hint of that power by using it as an Incantation to his spells. That had an inherent Intent that powered the Skill: "make my spell stronger in these ways."


    But that was but a speck of dust before the mountain of potential involved with proper use. Aidan didn''t have much practice, not yet, but results from the experiments he and Ailis ran gave him complete confidence that he would win this bet. He suspected that, if he mustered enough Concentration behind the right Intent, he could speak a Word that would make all of Ailis''s research into cross-racial fertility obsolete. This would be a far simpler task.


    "<Feel my touch on your body; my hands on your breasts, your back, your ass; my mouth biting your neck, my manhood pressing into your innermost depths. Surrender to the sensations. Give yourself over to pleasure. Let it fill you to the brim, then overflow. Dance upon the raging floods of your passion, Eldrid, and come for me.>"


    Aidan Spoke, and the air thrummed with power.


    Eldrid''s eyes went wide as the Word washed over her, then rolled up into her head. She jerked hard, then collapsed to her knees, her hands jammed between spread legs, back arched so far that the top of her head brushed the floor. Eldrid''s hips rolled and thrust against the air in quick, spastic motions, sending liquid splashing against the rug underneath her, filling the air with the thick, musky scent of extreme feminine arousal.


    Eldrid shuddered and shook again, one hand pushing down into her skirt, the other seizing a nipple through her top and twisting. She shrieked a wordless cry of pleasure as she spasmed again, masturbating furiously. Her head raised, looking at him over the flattened mounds of her breasts with lust-crazed eyes, and came again.


    Aidan held Eldrid''s gaze, ignoring the flashes of pale, hidden flesh that he might otherwise see in her frenzied, careless state. He maintained the power behind his Word as it echoed through the room, impressing onto Eldrid the weight of his Intent.


    Aidan crafted it with care, skirting the edge of mind control. Eldrid would know that these orgasms were for him, because of him, but he did not claim her. Aidan admitted to himself that he wanted her, wanted to make her his, but he rejected that animal desire. He wasn''t above planting seeds that might grow into that in the future, however. He would leave Eldrid with the sure knowledge that he held the keys to this pleasure and let her open the door.


    So, Aidan pinned Eldrid with his gaze as she writhed in overwhelming pleasure on the floor. She stared back, unblinking, never breaking contact, even as wave after wave crashed through her body, until, several minutes later, she collapsed as if she was a marionette whose strings had been severed.


    A spike of worry shot through Aidan. Did I overdo it? He knelt beside Eldrid, pressing his fingers to her neck. Her pulse thundered, rapid and strong, and he breathed a sigh of relief. Then, satisfied that she would be alright in a few minutes, Aidan turned his attention to the rest of Eldrid''s body, tugging her top back into place, straightening her skirt, and sliding her legs out from beneath her.


    A soft sigh redirected Aidan''s attention to Eldrid''s face, where he saw her silver eyes open and looking up at him. "You cheated, you bastard," she whispered, then bit her lip and added, "I approve."


    Congratulations! You have reached level 7 in Seduction.


    Congratulations! You have reached level 23 in Dominance.


    Congratulations! You have reached level 33 in Foreplay.


    Congratulations! You have reached level 75 in Sex.


    You are now a Master in Sex; whenever you climax, you may choose to induce a climax in your partner, and whenever a partner climaxes, you may choose to have it echo up to twice within the next minute. In either case, the strength of these orgasms will be less than one brought about through normal means.


    Zurai


    Aidan''s current status screen:


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Orange, Lupus, and an anonymous Patron for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 67: Reflections

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Secondday, 2nd week of the 11th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    After Midnight


    Caellach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    "I assure you," Aidan said, "I stayed within the precise bounds we agreed on."


    Eldrid blinked up at him, then heaved herself into a sitting position. "You''re telling the truth, but how?"


    "You banned spells, but not magic in general. I would have thought an experienced merchant would be more careful with her wording," Aidan said with a teasing smile.


    "Oh, hush and help me up. Somebody did a number on my body to prove a point." Eldrid extended a hand to Aidan. He grabbed it with his own, then pulled the blue-haired woman to her feet. Her knees buckled as soon as she was upright, and the momentum carried her forward straight into Aidan.


    Aidan took a half-step back to brace himself as Eldrid slammed into him. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her up¡ªand holding her against his body. "I know I just rocked your world, but I didn''t expect you to throw yourself at me so soon."


    Aidan expected to get a quip and maybe a playful slap in return. Instead, he heard a whimper escape her lips as she shuddered and shook in his arms. "You bastard," Eldrid whispered a moment later. She placed her palms against Aidan''s chest and pushed off of him. Aidan let her go.


    Still wobbling, Eldrid turned her back to Aidan. "You know exactly what you did, too, don''t you?" She hugged herself and shivered again.


    A tendril of remorse wormed its way through Aidan''s chest. He stepped forward, placed a hand on Eldrid''s bare shoulder. "I''m¡ª"


    Eldrid whirled around, slapping his hand away. "Don''t you dare," she said in a low, rough tone. "Don''t you dare apologize. ''Sorry'' doesn''t fix anything. Every time I think about sex from here on out, I''m going to see you." Eldrid''s eyes started to glaze over as she spoke. "Standing over me. Watching me with those eyes of yours." Her thighs pressed together and rubbed against each other. "Tight pants bulging with excitement. Never making a move, just watching as my body dances and sings for you."


    Eldrid''s eyes focused on Aidan, and she stepped forward, molding herself against him. She grabbed him by the back of his head and yanked him down to meet her lips. Her tongue speared out into his mouth, seeking, insistent. Then she pushed off from him again. Took several steps back, stared at him through hooded eyes.


    "Don''t think for a minute that I''m going to make it easy on you. You''ve got the tiger by the tail now, Aidan." Eldrid flipped her hair over her shoulder. Her posture straightened, her chin coming up, her eyes clear once more.


    "Here''s how it''s going to be. You promised that if I told you to stop, you would. We''re going to go one step past that." She stalked up to Aidan again. Stopped with her breasts just brushing against his chest. Eyes boring into his from a foot away.


    "So you decided to make yourself the only candidate for fulfilling my needs? Fine. I am going to use you as my scratching post." Eldrid jabbed a finger into Aidan''s chest. "Whenever I''m feeling pent up, I will track you down, and you will get to see me come for you again. But," she poked him again, harder this time, "on. My. Terms." Three more sharp jabs.


    "You will not touch me except under my guidance. You will not touch yourself at all while I''m making use of you. And you damned sure will not get your dick in me unless and until I put it there myself. Are we clear?"


    Eldrid tried to project confidence, but Aidan saw the flush on her cheeks. Arousal, not anger. He caught the catch in Eldrid''s voice when she realized she said she''d come for him again. He felt the indentations in the front of her top where they scraped against him with her rapid breaths.


    Aidan knew the intent behind Eldrid''s demands. He''d fucked up, used too much power, taken too much away from her. She needed to be in control, needed to stabilize herself before she could trust anything more. Aidan knew all that and accepted it.


    The challenge in Eldrid''s voice and actions, however, brought forth an instinctive response in Aidan. All he would need to do is step forward, erase the space between them.


    He could see it in his mind''s eye, the way her eyes would widen at his sudden movement. A brief moment of resistance as her mind fought. Then she would lean into him, her head tilting back. Her arms would loop around his neck, her right leg would lift and hook around his. Silver eyes would close and midnight blue lips would part as she waited for him to make his claim.


    Aidan shook the images away. Why were his instincts screaming at him to do just that? He had never been this sexually aggressive back on Earth. He preferred a slow romance. Meeting, talking, flirting. Slow escalation to friendly touches, a chaste kiss, cuddling on the couch. Then, a tight hug and a brush of the lips to say goodbye. Repeat several times, advancing incrementally until the touches were under clothes, the kisses were hot and hungry, and the cuddling moved under the sheets.


    But ever since he came to the Realms, that all seemed to go out the window. From the very beginning, walking to Ceallach Macht with Brighid, Aidan had trouble controlling his pace. His mind still spun at how quickly they''d gone from vague hostility towards each other to confessing their love.


    True, they''d spent a week in each others'' constant company. That was more time than Aidan spent romancing several previous lovers before sleeping with them. And they''d fought off ambushes together twice as well. That explained part of the bond that formed between him and Brighid. It did not do so for Sunnild, Aoife, or Eldrid. Aidan felt drawn to all three from the first time he saw them, each with their own flavor of attraction.


    Sunnild was a precious cinnamon bun who deserved to know she was worthy of love and respect. Aidan wanted to wrap her up in his arms and cuddle her forever. His blood still boiled when he remembered Ecgwena''s casual abuse toward his songbird. And, of course, the innocent way she''d tried to seduce him made her even more adorable and precious.


    His attraction for Sunnild was the easiest for Aidan to understand and accept. She was the girl next door, the one who always had a smile and a cheerful greeting. She was a bird with a broken wing who nonetheless trusted him with her whole heart. The only thing unusual about Aidan falling in love with her was how little time it took. But, even that could be explained by Brighid urging the three of them together.


    Eldrid, on the other hand. There was no one pushing Aidan towards her. She was a free spirit, confident and capable. She flirted and flaunted but retained control of the situation. Yet some inner dragon of Aidan''s had its beady eyes set on adding her to his hoard. He didn''t want to crush Eldrid''s sexy swagger. No, he wanted her to bend the knee, surrender herself to him, all the while radiating defiance.


    Aidan wanted to revel in the tension. He wanted Eldrid to fight to the bitter end, then dare him to do his worst. And, once he finished with victory''s spoils, Aidan wanted her to sit back down at the table, place all the pieces back at their starting positions, and demand a rematch.


    If Eldrid was a constant struggle for dominance, then Aoife was an intricate puzzle to solve. From the first sight of her reclining against Searlas''s throne, Aidan knew that she was part of his future. He didn''t understand why or how. Understanding wasn''t necessary. The truth existed regardless of his ability to comprehend it.


    Every interaction with Aoife deepened that fundamental confusion. She was a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma. Every time Aidan thought he figured her out, he found himself faced with a new layer of the onion. She felt at once familiar and alien, comforting and frustrating, like a favorite meal cooked with exotic ingredients. Yet, despite how they clashed and sparked, Aidan and Aoife also fit together in the most perfect ways.


    And yet, somehow, the only romance he''d managed in the Realms with a normal pace was with Ailis. She was someone he never would have considered pursuing in a life that made sense. The mother of the girlfriend he loved more than life itself? A woman who sent him on a quest she expected to kill him? Someone who made people into tools? All of those should have driven Aidan far, far away.


    But they didn''t.


    What was happening to him? Was this some unmentioned aspect of the Brighaid''s influence? Aidan knew he was a playing piece on some cosmic board. His Patron never hid that from him. He suspected that the lion''s share of the Quests he received were direct from Their hands. Eldrid''s mention of Quests from her own Patron only solidified that suspicion.


    Were They interfering on a more direct level? The thought unsettled Aidan. So far, he hadn''t encountered anything that made him balk at his Patron. But, given what he could do with Language of Origin, how did Aidan know that wasn''t the Brighaid laying a divine finger on the scales?


    A sharp-nailed finger dug into Aidan''s ribs. He blinked, his attention returning to the Council tent. Eldrid glared up at him. "Well?" Her foot tapped a rapid beat against the ground. "Do you understand the rules?"


    "I understand," Aidan said. Her silver eyes darted back and forth as if expecting to see a lie in his aura. When she found none, she relaxed and nodded once.


    "Good," she said.


    "I understand, Eldrid, but take care not to push too far. Do not forget who won our bet. You owe me a favor." Aidan let a hint of a growl creep into his voice. Eldrid''s irises dilated, her nostrils flared, and her breath caught. Then she shook herself and gave him an imperious look.


    "If you would use a favor like that, you aren''t as dangerous as I thought. Don''t worry, I won''t forget what happened tonight." She hesitated, her shoulders sagging a fraction. "Do you mind if I put off repaying the first part of my debt until tomorrow? If I''m going to tell you about my Patron, I might as well give you my whole story, but I find myself exhausted for some reason."


    Aidan chuckled and relaxed. "Absolutely. I''m curious, but it can wait. Besides." He winked at Eldrid. "This means you have to come back."


    "Hmph!" Eldrid tossed her head in mock irritation, but Aidan caught the smile tugging at the corners of her lips. She stretched, then yawned. "Given how long we''ve been alone, absolutely everyone is going to assume we fucked. Do you want to fight that or go with the flow?"


    "Um." Aidan thought about it for a moment. "I''m not sure what the consequences might be. For either of us."


    Eldrid waggled her hand from side to side. "For me? Nothing significant. My crew had a betting pool going before we dropped anchor. For you?" There came that smirk again, the one that made Aidan''s blood boil in the best way. "That depends. A reputation as a lady''s man can be a deadly weapon in the right hands. Or," she sliced the air with her hand, "it could undermine your authority."


    Eldrid gave him a fanged grin. "Mostly, it depends on how people perceive our interactions. For example, if they see me taking advantage of you, they''ll start thinking that any pretty girl can lead you around by your cock. But, on the other hand, if you can turn that around on me..." She spread her hands. "Well, then you''d be the Lord who brought a Snow-Water Rider Captain to heel with a single glance and a word. Another victory-feather adorning your cap, and all the more reason for them to follow you."


    Eldrid tilted her head and locked her eyes on Aidan''s. "So, what do you say, Lord Aidan? Shall we hide our indiscretions? Or do you think you have what it takes to tame me?"


    Well, now he couldn''t take the easy way out. Aidan knew that was Eldrid''s intent, but he couldn''t let a challenge that direct pass by unanswered. "Oh, I don''t think it, Eldrid." Aidan let his voice drop low as he stepped toward her, pursuing her for the first time that night. She stood her ground, head lifted in defiance.


    Aidan cupped Eldrid''s chin and tilted her head back. "Now then, if we''re supposed to have been busy for the last hour, we''d best be sure to make it convincing. Right?" He didn''t give her time to answer. Instead, Aidan bent his head down and captured Eldrid''s lips with his. They parted at his touch, her tongue emerging to meet his, then withdrawing, opening the way for him to follow.


    Calloused hands tangled in Aidan''s hair. His own were busy making their way across Eldrid''s body, pushing her clothes askew as he explored. She moved into his touch, twisting and arching to draw his attention to where she wanted it.


    Then, like someone flipped a switch, Eldrid pushed away from him. "That''s enough for tonight," she panted. "You''re not supposed to touch me, remember?"


    She wasn''t really objecting. It was all part of the game. Aidan bowed his head to her anyway. "Of course, I apologize. Your beauty drove me to distraction."


    Eldrid blushed and bit her lip at the compliment. She recovered quickly, giving Aidan a sharp nod. "Good. See that you do a better job of controlling yourself in the future. Now then, I will take my leave for the night and seek you out tomorrow to fulfill the first part of my obligation."


    "I look forward to it."


    Eldrid hesitated, blew Aidan a kiss, then vanished out of the tent. Aidan looked down at the tent in his pants, sniffed at the musky air, and growled. He stuck his head out and looked around. "Brighid," he called, voice demanding.


    Aidan spotted his lover laying on the grass a dozen or so yards away. Siwan was there with her, the pair of them chatting away. When Brighid heard his voice, though, her head snapped toward him, and she sprang to her hooves. She trotted over to him and clasped her hands together in front of her.


    "You called for me, love?"


    "Get in here," Aidan growled. "I have some frustrations to work out."


    Brighid''s eyes widened. Then she grinned. "Ooh, yes, Sir."


    Zurai


    Aidan''s current status screen:


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Orange, Lupus, and an anonymous Patron for their exceptional support on Patreon!

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 Champion, Chapter 68: Peacefully Deceptive

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Secondday, 2nd week of the 11th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Mid Afternoon


    Caellach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    "My Lord Aidan," the scarred and tattooed sailor said, "Captain Eldrid requests the pleasure of your company."


    Aidan quirked an eyebrow at the man. "You won''t convince me those are the words she used."


    The man had the grace to look sheepish. "Ah, no, my Lord."


    "If I had to guess, it was something along the lines of," Aidan pitched his voice in an approximation of Eldrid''s, "go fetch Lord Aidan for me. If he''s not here in fifteen minutes, it''s twenty lashes for you!" He grinned. "About right?"


    The sailor returned the grin. "Still too polite by far, but you have the idea."


    "Alright then, let''s be on our way. Aoife, Brighid, are you coming?"


    "After last night? Yes, I think we have some things to talk about," Brighid said. Aoife slipped under Aidan''s arm. He squeezed her against his side. A faint rumbling purr from her was his reward.


    "What''s your name?" Aidan asked the sailor.


    "Meic, my Lord."


    "If it''s not betraying a trust, Meic, can I ask how often she does this kind of thing?" Aidan asked as the various bodyguards formed up around them.


    "Captain has the same appetites as the rest of us." Meic paused for a moment. "Never seen her be quite this brazen about it, though."


    "Yeah, I won a bet against her last night. I think this is a little petty revenge."


    The otterkin stumbled. "What? Captain lost a bet?"


    "I may have tricked her a little bit," Aidan said with a shrug.


    A hard stare slowly shifted to incredulity, then amusement. The Snow-Water Rider threw back his head and crowed his laughter to the sky. "Hahaha, you cheated? Wait until the rest hear this. No wonder Captain is making you come to her."


    "To be clear, I didn''t cheat. What is it with you people and making accusations like that?" Aidan waved his hand in dismissal. "No, I stayed within the rules. Your Captain just didn''t realize we were playing different games."


    "That sounds like cheating to me." Meic rolled his shoulders. "No concern of mine as long as the Captain accepts it, though. Lord of the Rivers knows I cheated my way under more than one girl''s skirts. As long as she stays happy, none of the crew will have any problem with it."


    "That''s good to hear." Aidan struggled to keep his amusement from his voice. People who lived in wooden ships shouldn''t antagonize fire mages. Not that he would burn the Gleaming Tide to the waterline unless Eldrid became a serious threat to his family''s existence.


    A few minutes later, the party arrived at Eldrid''s temporary storefront. Meic took them inside through the warehouse entrance, then to a small office. The blue-haired Captain sat sprawled sideways in a chair behind a plain desk covered in paperwork. Her silver eyes examined Aidan as he walked into the room.


    "Tight quarters," Aidan said as he sat down in the only other chair available. Aoife plopped onto his lap almost the instant his butt hit the seat, then wriggled until her head was tucked under his chin. There wasn''t enough space available for Brighid inside the office, so she leaned against the doorway.


    "Bigger than on the Tide, believe it or not," Eldrid said. Her eyes flicked over Aoife and Brighid, then back to Aidan. "I expected you to come alone."


    Aidan grimaced. "I didn''t even think about that, sorry. If you haven''t met them yet, these are Brighid, my Soulmate, and Aoife, my..." He trailed off, trying to figure out how to describe their relationship.


    "Concubine," Aoife provided.


    "Charmed," Eldrid said. "Well, it''s not like we didn''t have other business to discuss anyway. You''ll just have to wait a while longer to cash in on your bet."


    Aidan nodded. It was his mistake. He didn''t even consider whether Eldrid would prefer to stay incognito. Between his status being an open secret and the way she revealed herself to him, it hadn''t occurred to him. At least he hadn''t said anything to anyone yet.


    "No problem. As you said, I do have some things to discuss with you outside of the bet, and I wanted you to meet Brighid. You and she have some things to discuss as well."


    "Works for me." Eldrid''s eyes darted to the choker around Brighid''s neck, then Aoife''s golden collar. "I''m always interested in the company of lovely ladies." Back to Aidan, that teasing smirk forming on her lips. "What topics might you have to discuss with me with your submissive harem on hand?"


    Nope, Aidan wasn''t touching that. Brighid had that subject in hand if he knew her at all. "Oh, no. Ladies first. My mother raised me right."


    A snort from Eldrid showed her opinion on that subject. "Something tells me this wasn''t a situation she had in mind. But no matter. I have a proposition for you."


    "Oh, I''m flattered, but I couldn''t. Brighid is first in my heart, and we have yet to be wed. If you''re that interested, you''ll have to wait." Aoife gave a firm nod in agreement from her perch in Aidan''s lap.


    Silver eyes rolled. "Are you going to waste our time with dad jokes, or are we going to get to business?" Eldrid''s tone was growing testy.


    Yeah, OK, he probably deserved that. This meeting wasn''t off to a great start. "Sorry, sorry. Please continue."


    "You''ve already secured my services as a mercenary against the dragon. As part of that deal, you owe me a year''s worth of payments. Here''s the thing." Eldrid swung her leg off the arm of her chair and leaned forward on her elbows. Aidan didn''t fall for the trap this time. He kept his eyes on hers.


    "You''re building something here. You''re trying to unite the tribes." Eldrid paused there as if waiting for a response to her nonexistent question.


    "Not quite. I''m not interested in conquest, even through diplomatic means. What I want is to provide a place where everyone can live together. Not stare at each other distrustfully across a border. Not live side-by-side while ignoring each other on a day-to-day basis. Together."


    "OK, so you''re trying to unite the tribes but don''t want to admit it to yourself, that''s fine. I can work with that. Let me make you a deal, then, Lord Aidan. I am all for fostering a spirit of cooperation before Gilhardt decides that they can start taking chunks out of us piecemeal. I want in."


    Eldrid shuffled through the papers on her desk, then pushed one toward Aidan. "Top page is the contract we agreed to last night. The next one is the one I actually want. Go ahead and read it."


    Brighid took a step into the room and leaned down to read over Aidan''s shoulder. The contract was written in clear, straightforward terms. Instead of the payments over time, Eldrid''s proposal was for Aidan to waive all taxes, tariffs, and fees for her trading company for the next decade. In addition, he would sell her a plot of land on the river bank to use as a permanent trading post and warehouse.


    In exchange, Eldrid would provide products to the city at a small, fixed profit margin, contribute some of her men to the city''s defense, and act as Aidan''s agent in the wider Highlands, all for the same decade-long commitment.


    Aidan read through the document three times, then set it down. "Well, they say that great minds think alike and that fools seldom differ. I''m not sure which that makes us, but I had a similar arrangement to offer you. I''ll have to run the terms past my Council before I agree, you understand."


    Eldrid gave him a sharp-toothed smile and settled back in her chair. "Of course. Not a problem. But we agree in principle?"


    "We do, and I''ll go one step further. Every tribe that has a permanent presence in Ceallach Macht has a seat on the Council. Technically speaking, it''s up to the tribe to determine who their Councillor is. Given that you''re the boss of the first group who''ll take up residence here, I think we can skip the formalities. Would you like to help me determine the future of the Highlands?"


    "Now," Eldrid said, her smile growing wide, "you''re speaking my language. What are the details of the position?"


    Aoife


    Aoife kept half an ear on the discussion of political duties. She''d process everything she heard later. Right now, she needed to focus on figuring out the merchant''s agenda. Aidan was a sweetheart, but he was entirely too trusting. Eldrid might be an otterfolk, but Aoife smelled a rat.


    Eldrid was good. Aoife had to give her that much. There were at least three layers to her actions. On the surface, Eldrid was all business. She engaged Aidan on an intellectual level, asking insightful questions and raising valid concerns. She led him from point to point, then ceded the lead to him so gracefully that it took three such maneuvers for Aoife to realize that''s what they were.


    Below that, she was a seductress, but a subtler one than Aoife expected at first. Eldrid remained leaning back in her chair throughout the conversation, declining to flaunt her most obvious assets. Aoife knew from intense personal experience just how much of a breast man Aidan was, so Eldrid''s restraint threw her off at first.


    Then she noticed how the woman smiled at Aidan every time he agreed with her or laughed at one of her jokes. The way Eldrid shifted her weight every time Aidan talked for too long, causing the silver pendant nestled in her cleavage to glint. The way her eyes never, never, left Aidan''s. Aoife took some mental notes for future use.


    Then, buried deep below the mental equal and seductress layers, there was the spy. Eldrid''s questions were all, on their individual merits, completely logical and valid. Taken in aggregate and viewed with a dose of hard-won cynicism, however... She was pumping Aidan for information, and he was starting to give away clues to more important things than he likely realized. Time for an intervention.


    Aoife wiggled her butt against Aidan''s groin to get his attention. His grip around her waist tightened, but he kept talking. With a mental roll of eyes, Aoife circled her tail around Aidan''s waist, then entwined it around his own. That did the trick. His hand slid down to her knee, then up under her skirt to rest on her thigh.


    Aoife smiled and snuggled back against Aidan. She parted her legs a finger''s width, and sure enough, he took the bait. Aoife allowed herself the faintest hint of a purr as her lover''s hand slid up and inward. Then, she tilted her head back and whispered in Aidan''s ear.


    "You''re starting to bore Brighid. I think you accomplished what you set out to for now, yeah? So why not find Sunnild and get some training in while Brighid and I talk to your conquest-to-be here. And then once you get back, I''ll give you a nice... long... slow massage in the bath?"


    Aoife felt something stiff prod against her from beneath. Aidan squeezed her thigh, then said to Eldrid, "I think we''ve covered everything we need to this afternoon. If you have any other questions, take note of them, and we can discuss them during our next meeting. I have somewhere else I need to be, and Brighid has been waiting patiently for her turn to grill you."


    "Of course," Eldrid agreed. "Tomorrow at this same time?"


    "I''ll be here. Alone, or as alone as my bodyguards will let me be." Said bodyguards were crowding the warehouse''s interior to the likely frustration of Eldrid''s crew.


    "Very well then, it''s a date." Eldrid stood up from her chair¡ªleaning forward to expose the entirety of her luscious cleavage in the process¡ªand extended a hand to Aidan. "I look forward to working closely with you in the future."


    Aidan shifted his hands on Aoife to grab her by the hips. He stood up, taking her with him, then set her down on her feet and shook Eldrid''s hand. "It''s been a pleasure."


    Aoife waited for Aidan to leave the warehouse before crossing her arms and glaring at Eldrid. "What''s your game? You''ve got Aidan fooled, but not me. Who sent you and what are you looking for? I won''t let you hurt him." The outpouring of emotions surprised even herself.


    "Aoife¡ª" Brighid started to object, but Aoife shook her head.


    "No, Brighid. I acknowledge that you have the lead in most matters, but not this. You don''t have the training or experience for this."


    "And you do?"


    "Yes." Aoife could feel the redhead''s dubious stare. She could doubt as much as she wanted so long as she didn''t interfere. "Out with it, Eldrid. If it was just the subtle flirting, I would let Brighid take the lead. But no, you spent this entire meeting wrapping Aidan around your finger, and I will know why."


    "My, my," Eldrid''s smile sharpened. "Aidan does seem to inspire loyalty in his ladies, doesn''t he? Come now, is there any reason for us to fight? I assure you that I do not bear any ill intent toward him¡ªdespite having cause to. Surely you must have noticed a particular scent in the air when Aidan called you into the tent last night, right, Brighid?"


    Brighid shifted her weight. "I did," she confirmed.


    "If you are trying to imply that he raped you or molested you¡ª"


    Eldrid cut Aoife off. "No, not... quite. We made a bet, which he won. The manner of his winning, however, was several degrees past what the wager required." Eldrid''s lips tightened. "To be blunt, he created a link in my mind between my ability to... reach completion, let us say... and himself. Maybe," she tossed her hand through the air, "if I go to the other end of the region and stay there, away from all sight and mention of him. Maybe then I''d be free of him in ten years, twenty. Maybe."


    Eldrid shrugged. "But I won''t. I admit, he has me hooked. Last night was a transformative experience for me. But I will be damned," her palm slapped the top of the desk, sending papers billowing across the room, "if I bow my head and beg him for release¡ªno offense, Brighid."


    "None taken."


    "Let''s say I accept everything you said as the complete truth," Aoife said. "That still doesn''t explain why you asked the questions you did in the order you did. You are looking for information, and you didn''t want Aidan to know it."


    "Look," Eldrid said, sinking into her chair and leaning forward. Aoife channeled all her anger to keep from glancing down. It wasn''t any easier for her to ignore such a mouth-watering sight than it was for Aidan. "You''re a smart girl. You caught way more of what was going on than I expected anyone to."


    "Stop flattering me and get to the point."


    "The point is that I serve another master, the same as you do."


    A sudden headache slammed into Aoife''s skull. She shook her head, fighting through the pain. "I have no idea what you mean. Aidan is my only master, and even he refuses to command me."


    A look of startled confusion passed across Eldrid''s face for a full second before she recovered. "I... see," she said. "No one else? Not even, say, a God or Power of the Realms?"


    A chill ran down Aoife''s spine. Did Eldrid suspect...? She kept her face impassive. "None. And this isn''t about me. It''s about you. Explain what you mean, or I''ll make it my mission to ensure Aidan never gives you the satisfaction you crave from him."


    Eldrid frowned and leaned back in her chair. She no longer bore that smug, confident expression. Good.


    "Alright," Eldrid said with a sigh. "But you''ll both have to swear to keep this a secret from anyone who doesn''t already know. For the record, that''s me, my first mate, and, soon, Aidan. Nobody else."


    "I will not swear an oath that might harm Aidan." Brighid''s voice brooked no compromise.


    "You can leave if you''d prefer. That''s my condition. This is a secret that could kill me and Aidan both."


    "I swear," Aoife said. No text box popped up in her vision, not that those had much of an effect on her.


    "... I swear, so long as I do not judge the information harmful to Aidan and so long as you tell him within the next day."


    Eldrid sagged backward and tapped her head against the wall behind her. "Alright, alright. I planned to tell him today, so whatever. Listen up because I''m not going to repeat myself."


    Zurai


    Aoife''s current status screen:


    Yes, this is correct.


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Orange, Lupus, and an anonymous Patron for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 69: Clash of Opposites

    Also, just a reminder, Games Done Quick started yesterday and will last until Saturday night. Tune in, enjoy entertaining speedruns of video games from classic to bizarre, and if you have some spare cash, donate to Doctors Without Borders. As a bonus, if you do donate, send me a message with your donation confirmation and I''ll write you a custom scene, chapter, or mini-arc at a rate of $1 donated = 100 words.


    Aidan


    The Realms


    Secondday, 2nd week of the 11th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Late Afternoon


    Caellach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Aidan ducked under Ysbail''s horizontal swing. "What was that magic you used against the Labyrinth boss?"


    "Magic? What do you¡ªoh, do you mean my Aura?" Ysbail rolled her shoulders, twisting her grip on the giant slab of metal she called a sword. It came hurtling back toward Aidan. He was out of position for another dodge or parry, so only two options were left to him. The first was to take the hit. Ysbail would pull her strike, but only enough to leave a bruise rather than slice him in half.


    Instead, Aidan pushed off with his back foot. He lunged forward, darting inside Ysbail''s reach. She saw him coming, of course. Ysbail was stronger, faster, tougher, and far more experienced than Aidan. Still, he pursued her step for step until she switched to a one-handed grip. Aidan''s eyes widened a fraction of a second, and he planted his leading foot and twisted. Ysbail''s mailed fist caught him beneath the ribs instead of hammering him in the gut.


    "Good," she complimented Aidan as he sprawled out on the grass. "You are starting to adapt and to anticipate. We will make a warrior of you yet."


    "Time out," Aidan gasped. "I think you cracked a rib that time." He turned his head to locate his Golden Fawn and beckoned it over. While it nuzzled his side, Aidan returned to his previous question. "Aura. Yeah, I guess? Whatever it is you were doing to make yourself glow like that and shoot sword beams. You did that against Karsarrym too."


    "Yes, that was Aura, not magic."


    "Sure looked like magic to me."


    Ysbail shook her head. "How to explain? I do not know much of the theory behind either, so this may not make much sense. With magic..." Ysbail''s hand glowed silver. She traced a series of glyphs in the air in front of her. "You take some of the world''s energy, shape it with gestures and words, and then unleash it." The silver glow spread from Ysbail''s hand onto her sword, then sank into the metal.


    "Aura is different. Aura comes from inside you. It is a warrior''s determination to win at any cost, their refusal to accept defeat no matter the opposition, made manifest." As Ysbail spoke, her voice became rougher, tenser. The air around her distorted like heat rising off summer asphalt. Then, golden flames appeared, racing up her arms and down her flanks.


    "You do not need to force it into a useful form. The energy comes from you. It follows your will without needing to be told how." Without looking, Ysbail swung her sword to the side. The golden light surged along it and then curved through the air, forming a shining crescent that shot across the empty field.


    "Can you teach me how to use it?" Aidan sat up. Then he lay back down, wincing, holding a hand to his side where Ysbail hit him. The Golden Fawn pushed its head under his hand, looking up at him with big, limpid eyes as its healing energy washed over him. He patted it on its head.


    Ysbail sighed and settled her sword on her shoulder. The golden Aura around her flickered and vanished. "I can try," she said, "but I have never managed it before. It seems that the affinity for it is exceedingly rare among the Starchasers."


    "Maybe, but while I''m a Starchaser, I''m not a centaur. It can''t hurt to try, can it?"


    "No, it will not hurt me at all. You, though?" Ysbail''s slow, sadistic smirk told Aidan that he might want to pick his words with more care in the future. "Aura cannot be learned through study like magic. I cannot demonstrate it for you and have you pick it up over time. Once you grow used to it, you can use Aura for frivolous purposes like I just did. The first time, though?" Ysbail brought her sword down until the point hovered motionless six inches from Aidan''s nose. "The first time you use Aura will always come under intense physical stress. Get up, Aidan."


    "Um, still injured here?" The pain in his side was going away, but it was still there.


    "You want to learn Aura alongside the half-dozen magic schools you have? Then. Get. Up." The point of Ysbail''s sword grew in Aidan''s vision.


    Aidan scrambled backward, then rolled sideways, coming up with his feet under him and springing to his feet. His rib screamed in pain, but he ignored it. Ysbail''s face was an impassive mask as she came at him.


    "To unleash your Aura, you need to be desperate." A twelve-pound blade sliced through the air where Aidan had been. "You have to know that you are losing, then refuse to." The wind screamed as Ysbail spun her sword around for another attack. "If there is a shred of doubt in your mind, you will fail." Aidan barely got the Summer Sword up in time to deflect a thrust aimed for his heart. Pain blossomed along his shoulder instead, and Ysbail''s sword dripped red as it came back into his view.


    "Confidence is not enough. You must cast aside the possibility of anything else happening." Another thrust. Aidan leaped to the side. "To believe in yourself is to fall short. You must know that victory is the only outcome." Ysbail''s blade sang as she brought it around in a diagonal slice. "Reject all other realities, no matter how likely, and seize the one in which it is you standing over your enemy''s corpse."


    Aidan ducked and dodged, deflected and danced away from Ysbail''s onslaught, accumulating minor wounds with every near-miss. "How are you going to win like that?" Ysbail''s voice was cold, harsh, uncaring. "You are causing me more harm by bleeding on my sword than anything else. You cannot defeat me without attacking, Aidan."


    Step by step, Ysbail beat him back. Her attacks flashed out with speed and power Aidan couldn''t match. Even when he managed to parry a strike, pain shot up his arm from the effort of shifting her momentum. Sweat poured down across his brow and into his eyes, but Aidan couldn''t spare a second to wipe them clean. Still Ysbail attacked, relentless. Aidan''s world narrowed down to the glint of the setting sun reflecting from deadly steel.


    Try as he might, he couldn''t manage to get an attack in between Ysbail''s. Her height and the length of her sword gave her a massive advantage in reach. Combined with his wounds and her greater stats and skill, it was hopeless.


    "What is that look in your eyes?" Ysbail spat on the ground. "Have you forgotten everything I told you? Strike, Aidan!" Her words came out in a furious roar. "Seize victory where none exists! Or I will run you through." She brought her sword up in front of her, then point angled down toward Aidan.


    The muscles in Ysbail''s shoulders tensed. "Raise your blade, face me, and win. You want to see your Aura? This is how it happens." Her legs shifted. She paused, glaring.


    Aidan closed his eyes. Was this something he wanted? Did he need it? He would fight Karsarrym again in a few weeks. Every edge mattered, and Ysbail''s Aura fighting was effective against the dragon before.


    He opened his eyes and raised his sword.


    Ysbail smiled, the first time since he asked her to teach him Aura. "Good." Golden flames outlined her in the fading light. She charged forward, hurtling toward him at an incomprehensible speed. Aidan pushed away his fear, his pain. He crushed his doubts. There was a path to victory. All he had to do was follow it.


    Silver light flared into existence around Aidan, but he didn''t notice. His eyes were set on Ysbail''s. He bent his knees, then lunged, right hand extending toward his teacher''s midriff. His left hand came up and grabbed the leading edge of Ysbail''s sword. Aidan ignored the sudden agony as it bit deep into his flesh. He pushed even as he struck, forcing Ysbail''s strike to pass over his head even as his own hit her center mass in a blinding flash.


    Congratulations! You have reached level 1 in Aura Control.


    The mark of the indomitable, Aura is what makes warriors into legends. Aura Control allows a practitioner to turn their unbreakable will into weapons and armor. A Master of Aura Control can shrug off any hit and fight dozens of enemies at once with only their Aura.


    Aidan


    Thirdday, 2nd week of the 11th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Late Morning


    Caellach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    "You are an idiot, Master," Aoife told him for the third time that morning.


    "I know. I''m sorry," Aidan responded, also for the third time. He gritted his teeth as the alcohol burned against the wound in his left palm.


    "You could have died."


    "I know. I''m sorry." Aidan didn''t think Ysbail would have killed him, but he admitted to himself that he wasn''t certain. Denying it hadn''t done any good anyway.


    "I would have had to find a new Master. One who would probably turn me into their pleasure slave."


    Again, not true. Aidan still had at least one life, so he would have come back. He''d told the entire city that he could come back from death, so Aoife had to be aware of it. It was better to let her work out her anger, though.


    "Brighid would have been devastated. And poor Sunnild, she would have to raise her daughter without a father."


    "I was rash. I''m sorry."


    "If this collar would let me, I''d slap you." Aoife''s tail lashed the air behind her. Despite her harsh words, her hands were gentle as she bound his cut. The Wound had been too serious for Aidan''s magic to fix, and Ailis hadn''t been any more pleased than Aoife was. She declined to heal the Wound, saying instead that it would be a good lesson on thinking before he acted.


    "I deserve it."


    "Stop being so reasonable." Aoife''s golden eyes swam with tears. "I know you think you''re invincible, but you''re not."


    Again, Aidan decided it was better not to correct her. He knew better than anyone that he wasn''t unkillable. He still woke up one night every five or six in a cold sweat, the Taig''s sing-song voice rattling around in his head.


    Instead, he wrapped his right arm around Aoife''s shoulders and pulled her into his lap. After a moment''s hesitation, she curled up against him, her head buried against his chest. She shuddered, sobbing. Aidan ran his good hand through her black mane and let her cry it out.


    "I can''t lose you too," Aoife whispered once she recovered. Aidan kissed the top of her head and held her tighter. "Please, Aidan, please don''t leave me."


    "I won''t. I have too much, too many to live for. You, Brighid, Sunnild, Ailis, all my children, all the people of Ceallach Macht. And I want you by my side the whole time." Aidan tilted Aoife''s chin up so that he could look her in the eyes. "I love you, Aoife."


    "Idiot," she whispered. Aoife''s arms looped around Aidan''s neck. She leaned back onto the bed, pulling him down on top of her. "You don''t have to tell me that." Tear-stained lips pressed against Aidan''s.


    "How about I show you instead then?" The rumbling purr that filled the room was enough of an answer.


    Aidan


    Early Afternoon


    "By the way, your new conquest is up to something," Aoife said as she helped Aidan into his clothes.


    "My new conquest?"


    She rolled her eyes at him. "Eldrid. You know, bright blue hair, tits bigger than her head, you mindfucked her somehow, and now she''s a little," Aoife dragged out the vowel, "bit obsessed with you? That conquest."


    Aidan winced. "Yeah, that wasn''t..." He stopped. It had been his intention¡ªhis Intent. "It seemed like a good idea at the time."


    "Idiot. Well, whatever, you''ve got the hook jammed in her mouth. So she''s not getting free. But while you reel her in, she''s plotting."


    "Against us?"


    "I... don''t think so. Not in any kind of sinister way, anyway. She told Brighid and me some of her story yesterday while you were busy trying to commit suicide by Ysbail. She''s got some serious issues." Aoife finished lacing up Aidan''s trousers and patted his groin. "Eldrid wants that too much to try and hurt you. And she does seem genuine in her interest in the city." She shrugged. "I can''t figure out what her goal is, and that means I don''t trust her."


    "Do you want me to back off of her?"


    Aoife gnawed on her lower lip, then nodded. "Not all the way. She might go crazy if she thought you were closing the door. But make sure you always leave her wanting more." She snorted. "I know I told you to find some more women to fuck, but damn, boy, you move fast."


    Aidan groaned. "I know. I never used to be like this. I keep trying to figure out what changed. Is it the Brighaid altering me? They are deities of passion and sex, after all."


    "No idea. And since I benefited from it, it''s not in my best interest to complain. Just try not to stick your dick into too much crazy."


    Aidan smirked down at his lover. "Oh, sure, you tell me that after I get done making love to you."


    Aoife flipped her hair over her shoulder and shoved her nose into the air. "Yes, exactly. I''m just the right amount of crazy for you." A rare serious expression settled onto her face. "Really though, be careful around her."


    "I will."


    Aidan


    "I''m going to cast a spell to keep the conversation private," Aidan told his bodyguards. "If you can read lips, please don''t. That being said, try to keep both myself and Eldrid in sight at all times."


    "Are you expecting trouble?" Lili asked.


    "No, but it''s better to be safe than sorry." Aidan met the eyes of each of his four guards. "Also, I expect you to keep anything you see to yourselves outside of what you need to report to Cai and Llwyd. Your job is to protect me, and that goes for more than just physical threats."


    "Understood, Lord Aidan," Ruari said.


    Aidan softened his expression. "Good. I don''t think any of you would spread rumors, but I find it best to have all expectations on the table ahead of time. Anyway, time to face the lioness in her den." He turned and knocked on the warehouse''s side door.


    A moment later, one of Eldrid''s crew popped her head out. Then, seeing Aidan, she opened the door wider and gestured him inside. "Captain is waiting for you in her office."


    Eldrid looked up from her paperwork when Aidan knocked on the doorframe. "Oh, good." She stood up and gestured for him to enter. "Come in, come in, have a seat."


    Aidan sat down in front of the desk. Instead of taking her own seat, however, Eldrid walked around the desk to stand in front of him. She hooked a finger under his chin and tilted his head up. Her silver eyes searched his for a moment. Then, she licked her lips, slid her other hand behind Aidan''s neck, and leaned down.


    Before their lips met, Eldrid murmured to Aidan, "Remember, no touching unless I give you permission." Then she crossed the final inch, her lips pressing hard, her body crushed against his. She pushed him against the back of the chair, pinning him in place as she straddled his lap.


    Aidan was awash in Eldrid. Her mountainous breasts, luxurious in their softness, enveloped his chest. Thick, smooth thighs hedged him in, squeezing rhythmically as Eldrid slid forward and back on his lap. She kissed him, insistent, hungry, devouring him with her lips, her teeth, her tongue. Her hands were everywhere. His hair, his neck, chest, the front of his pants.


    It took every ounce of focus Aidan had to sit there passively. His hands ached to grab her by the hips and center her over his bulge. He wanted to break the kiss, pull her head to the side, and suck on her pale neck until no one could doubt his claim to her. Then, he would pull down the front of her scoop-necked blouse and feast on her tits.


    But no. Not only did the rules of the game forbid Aidan from being an active participant, not only did Aoife''s words of warning echo in his head, but he still didn''t feel comfortable with how uncontrolled his libido was. So, instead, he let Eldrid have free reign. She groped Aidan and rolled her hips against his groin for about a minute, growing ever more frantic. Then, she tore her lips from his and gasped, shuddering all over.


    When Eldrid leaned back away from Aidan, her eyes were hooded. "Good boy," she said. "It looks like you can be house-trained after all. Here, have a reward." Eldrid sought out Aidan''s right hand. When she found it dangling at his side, she wrapped delicate fingers around his wrist and pulled his hand up to her chest, under her blouse.


    "There. Since you were so good, you can touch while we talk." Remembering Aoife''s admonition, Aidan decided to play along. He squeezed the impossibly full, soft mound under his hand. Letting his skills and experience guide him, Aidan opted for a slow, gentle tease.


    "So, are you going to pay up on the first half of the bet now?"


    "I am." Eldrid shifted her weight, settling fully onto Aidan''s lap. She was heavy, but not in an unpleasant way. He could definitely get used to this. "First, can you make us private?"


    "Of course." He was a little surprised she''d waited that long to ask. But then again, her ship had a naked, anatomically correct figurehead of herself.


    "Thank you. So. I told you that I''m a Chosen, just like yourself. You wanted to know who my Patron is. The problem is this: that is a complicated question."


    Aidan raised his eyebrows. "Complicated how? Do you not know? If you bargained in bad faith, I might need to adjust the terms of our deal..."


    "Oh, settle down, I''ll make it up to you." Eldrid tapped Aidan''s nose with a finger. "I know who my Patron is. The issue is that They don''t like being in the spotlight. Even knowing Their name is forbidden to those outside the organization."


    Yeah, OK, Aoife was right. This was definitely fishy. "A God who hides everything from those who don''t already know it? That seems ... counterproductive."


    Eldrid shook her head. "Not a God. A Power." Seeing Aidan''s confusion, she elaborated. "Gods are created and sustained through belief. Powers are ... well, they''re basically what you get when a mortal accumulates enough strength to equal a God. You know that old Aladdin movie? The cartoon, not the terrible remake."


    Aidan was even more confused now. "Yes?" he asked.


    "It''s kinda like the end of the movie. Great cosmic power! Ittybittylivingspace." Eldrid spoke the first line in a grandiose tone, then switched to a high-pitched patter for the second. "Once a mortal passes the threshold into Power status, they''re locked away by the same magic that binds the Gods. As far as what they can do, there isn''t much practical difference."


    "OK, I sorta get it. I think. So your Patron doesn''t need belief, so they don''t need to spread their name around." Eldrid nodded. "What can you tell me about them, then? From where I sit, you still took the bet knowing that you couldn''t deliver the forfeit."


    "I can tell you their tenets and goals, as well as my specific mission as Their Chosen. In my mind, that satisfies the terms of the bet. You wanted to know who my Patron is, and Their name wouldn''t do you any good anyway."


    Aidan frowned and took some time to think. What Eldrid said was true. It was far more important to know someone''s methods and goals than to know their name. But, at the same time, he didn''t like the mystery of it. A Power wouldn''t hide its name without cause. There must be some reason that they wanted to remain in the shadows.


    A whimpering breath from the woman on his lap brought Aidan''s attention back to the matter at hand. Or, rather, to the one under his hand. While Aidan was absorbed in his thoughts, his body went on autopilot, and his hand and fingers took his slow teasing up a couple of notches. Taking quick stock of the situation, Aidan decided to lean into it.


    "You aren''t entirely wrong," he said, brushing the pad of his thumb across the tip of her pierced nipple. "On the other hand, I''m not happy at the deception. Tell me what you can, and I''ll see if I need to alter the terms." On ''alter,'' Aidan twisted the metal bar about a quarter-turn.


    Eldrid''s eyes fluttered closed, and she let out a long sound, halfway between a moan and a wail. Her hips rolled, rubbing herself against the front of his trousers. Aidan waited a moment to see if she''d respond. When she didn''t, he raised his left hand and delivered a swift spank to her skirt-covered bottom.


    That got her attention. Eldrid''s eyes shot open and she sat up straight, glaring down at him. "No touching!"


    "No reneging on the bet," Aidan said in return. He left his hand cupping the upper swell of her butt¡ªa provocation and a promise, all in one.


    Eldrid glowered at him for a few heartbeats longer. Then, with a snort and a toss of her hair, she said, "Fine." She did not, Aidan noticed, remove his hand. "My Patron pursues four primary goals. First, They seek to improve the lives of non-human sapients."


    That explained Eldrid''s interest in protecting the Highlands from Gildhardt''s supposed intervention.


    "Second, They protect those who cannot defend themselves. Third, They punish anyone who exploits the labor of the poor and weak."


    As a budding monarch, that wasn''t what Aidan wanted to hear. Then again, he intentionally avoided oppressing those underneath him, like Deirdre and her festival food stall.


    "Finally," Eldrid continued, unaware of Aidan''s internal monologue, "They oppose the Gods and Powers who seek to destroy the magic barring their return to the Realms."


    That made Aidan sit up. "Wait. That''s what this whole Chosen thing is about, isn''t it?" Then, realizing that he''d tightened his grip on Eldrid, both above and below, Aidan relaxed his hands.


    Eldrid squirmed in his lap, pushing herself back into his grasp. "Yes, it is."


    "Do you know whether the Brighaid is in that faction?"


    "I don¡¯t know one way or the other, but I wasn¡¯t sent here to interfere with you."


    Aidan relaxed further, sinking back into the chair. Eldrid moved with him. "OK, that''s good. Why were you sent here then?"


    Silver eyes bored into Aidan from a foot away. Eldrid gnawed on her lower lip before responding, "This is going above and beyond, you know? I''m revealing secrets that might put me in hot water."


    Aidan snorted and rubbed her with his thumb again. "You don''t strike me as a girl who minds revealing everything in pursuit of a worthy goal. Your figurehead doesn''t leave anything to the imagination. I bet it even has the piercings. Then, too, my guards and your crew all watched you grind yourself to orgasm on my lap."


    That made Eldrid''s pale skin flush crimson. She lunged forward, muffling a moan against Aidan''s mouth. Eldrid''s left hand grabbed Aidan''s right through her blouse and forced it harder into her flesh. When she started to grind herself against him again, however, Aidan pushed her away.


    "No, no more of that until I''m satisfied with your answers."


    Eldrid''s eyes smoldered. For a moment, Aidan thought she might try to force herself on him. Then she drew in a deep, shuddering breath and straightened. "I was sent here for two reasons. The first is to help destroy the dragon. The second is to root out an enemy agent here in Ceallach Macht."


    "Do you have any idea who they are?" She had Aidan''s undivided attention now. He had a good idea what her answer was going to be, but he wanted to hear her say it.


    Eldrid looked away from Aidan for the first time since he sat down. "I''d prefer not to say until I have more than suspicions."


    Aidan''s hands tightened involuntarily, sinking deep into Eldrid''s yielding flesh. He felt her thighs flex and strain against his but paid it no mind. "Tell me," he said, voice low and infused with as much dominance and command as he could muster.


    Eldrid stiffened for a split second. Then she whimpered, shuddered, and ducked her head down to her chest. "Aoife," Eldrid gasped. "I think it''s Aoife."


    Zurai


    Aidan''s current status screen:


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Orange, Lupus, and an anonymous Patron for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 70: Fireworks

    Zurai


    First, sorry for this chapter going up late. I was sick over the weekend and it wrecked my sleep schedule.


    Second, a sincere thank you to those who donated to Doctors Without Borders over the course of the last week. Games Done Quick raised over $2.9 million for them, and my readers were a part of that. It makes me proud and happy. If you donated, but haven''t sent me a message yet, please do so when you get the chance. My writing time is pretty well spoken for this month, but I plan to get started on the commissions in August.


    Aidan


    The Realms


    Fourthday, 2nd week of the 11th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Late Morning


    Caellach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    With Eldrid and Aoife pointing fingers at each other, Aidan''s life grew more complicated. Neither could provide any evidence for their antagonism. With both women bound to him¡ªAoife by her collar and Eldrid by his overexuberant use of Language of Origin¡ªthere was little Aidan could do but keep an open mind. He wanted to trust them but had to admit that both had inconsistencies and oddities in their stories and actions.


    Instead, Aidan funneled his energy into preparing for the upcoming Summit. A message arrived from Termondoon alerting him to the imminent arrival of Chief Searlas, and harpy and centaur scouts reported contact with a party nearing the city from the Ebon Bone-Kin. Both would arrive within a day.


    The impromptu festival celebrating the Snow-Water Riders'' arrival received official sanction. Aidan declared the week a permanent holiday to commemorate the first regional diplomatic talks in living memory. He wanted his visitors to see the city and its people at their happiest. You never got a second chance at a first impression, after all.


    Aidan also worked with Ailis to fine-tune his presentation. After the usual magic lessons every morning, Aidan and select members of his Council talked politics over lunch. Gerwyn''s experiences as a trader provided a wealth of insight into Ebon Bone-Kin, Snow-Water Rider, and Ash Shroud Sisterhood culture. Aidan also grilled Sunnild on the Sisterhood and Aoife on the Mist Stalkers.


    The latter was less informative than Aidan liked. Aoife professed to be from a small village, and once the slaver captured her, she spent most of her time in Searlas''s mansion. She knew Searlas himself very well and was happy to dish out secrets and advice, but she was vaguer on the life of the commonfolk. That suited Aidan''s immediate needs but did nothing to assuage the suspicions he had about her.


    Aside from planning, Aidan made one additional important preparation. The day after he met with Eldrid, Ailis''s guidance on creating his own spell bore fruit.


    Blade of Burning Wrath: Fire Magic and Air Magic, level 50.


    Using intense heat in a localized vacuum, this spell forms a blade of plasma to strike at the caster''s enemies. It can be wielded using the Swords skill or left to act independently at a range of up to 33 yards. In either case, the sword deals 75 fire damage per hit and bypasses half of the target''s fire resistance.


    Cost: 150 Concentration. Duration: Concentration. Casting time: 1 second. Cooldown: 5 seconds.


    Aidan wasn''t so sure about the name, but he didn''t get to choose that part. The keys to the spell were twofold. First, it worked through fire resistance unless the target went all the way up to 200%. More important, however, was its low cooldown and ability to attack a target without Aidan''s direct control. Also, it looked like a lightsaber blade without a hilt, although the vacuum containing the plasma prevented it from making the iconic sounds.


    There were some quirks to the spell as well. Linking it to the Swords skill meant that all of Aidan''s perks there applied whenever he controlled it directly. With time, that would provide an additional scaling factor that his other spells didn''t have. Aidan also didn''t have to direct each sword against the same target or even designate targets at all. Left to their own devices, each Burning Blade would seek out and attack something that Aidan considered an enemy.


    Their ability to bypass fire resistance also applied to objects. Just like lightsabers, they cut through nonmagical materials like butter. While they resembled swords, anyone trying to parry or block a Burning Blade would have an unpleasant surprise. Dodging was the only useful defense against them.


    It wasn''t perfect, of course. Critically, its range was limited to the average of Aidan''s skill in Air and Fire Magic. That meant that if Karsarrym took off flying, Blade of Burning Wrath wouldn''t be able to reach. The independent action portion of the spell had weaknesses, too. If Aidan was unaware of a foe or unaware that they were an enemy, the swords wouldn''t react to their presence.


    A canny opponent could also exploit their maximum range. Unfortunately, the Burning Blades weren''t intelligent by any stretch of the imagination. Each sword would attack an enemy until it killed or drove off its target. If an enemy re-entered its attack range afterward, it would not redirect its attention until its current target died or got too far away.


    Still, it was a defining spell. Aidan could keep five Burning Blades active while maintaining his summons and buffs with Crown of the Exalted. That made it his best single-target damage option by a long shot. Phoenixfire Conflagration was far better against large numbers of enemies, and Phoenix Pyre was a near-unbeatable trump card. Still, Blade of Burning Wrath was their superior within its specialty.


    "I do have one question," Aidan said to Ailis after testing his new ace in the hole. "Both Blade of Burning Wrath and Phoenixfire Conflagration should be too high level for me to cast as I understand things." Ailis cocked her head at him. "They''re both listed as dual-school level 50 spells, but I only have that much skill with Fire Magic."


    "Oh, to have your problems, apprentice. You are both correct and incorrect. As with most other things, multi-school spells operate under different criteria. In this case, you only need to have the listed level with a single listed school." The Druid shrugged. "Perhaps it is in acknowledgment that the spell''s power depends on the average of each school involved? I doubt anyone but the Gods know for sure."


    "Hmm." Aidan tapped his lip. "Does Burning Blade still count as a level 50 Air Magic spell, then? That would make it and Phoenixfire Conflagration great for training up their secondary schools."


    Ailis''s lips twisted into a wry smile. "As I said, I wish I had your problems. Yes, as you say, they make for excellent training aids. If you switch to using your new spells for practice, you should find Air Magic and Vivimancy advancing at a rapid pace. Of course, they''ll provide less Fire Magic experience than dedicated spells, but even you won''t hit Master before you face the dragon." She poked Aidan in the chest for emphasis. He caught her hand and gave it a soft squeeze.


    "I''ll switch my training over then. We don''t have much time, but I might be able to get Vivimancy to Journeyman. I wouldn''t mind a more powerful healing spell before we set out."


    Ailis stepped up to Aidan and rested her head on his shoulder. "I wish you would let others take the risks."


    "I''m sorry. I can''t leave this to other people." Aidan wrapped his arms around his lover. "Even setting aside the image of sending people off to die while I stay safe at home, I¡¯m one of two people we know can hurt the dragon."


    Ailis turned her head and sought out Aidan''s lips for a tender kiss. "I know," she said with a sigh, "but I don''t like seeing you face danger any more than Brighid does."


    "Duty is heavier than a mountain, after all."


    "Do not quote platitudes at me, apprentice." Ailis slapped Aidan''s chest without any real strength.


    "Yes, dear."


    Aidan


    The last of the delegates arrived two days later. Chief Searlas arrived an hour before noon with a dozen bodyguards and his elven concubine. A few hours later, a Starchaser patrol escorted six wolven into the city from the north. Aidan was on hand to greet both parties. He played the gracious host, getting them settled in the houses he set aside for their use and inviting them to a celebration that night.


    The plan was to let the delegations mingle in a relaxed setting first. Then, the next day, the serious politics would start. Aidan was under no illusion that this would be easy. Aside from the Snow-Water Riders, none of the tribes in the area had a history of cooperation. The saving grace was that the Mist Stalker-Starchaser war was the most recent among this group by far. With that conflict more or less patched over, there were at least fewer mines to trigger.


    Aidan dressed in his finest clothes, a red jacket embroidered with fiery birds in silver thread over a plain white silk shirt and black trousers. Each of his lovers wore similarly fancy clothing in colors complementing their eyes.


    Ailis was dressed in something Aidan hadn''t yet seen in the Realms. Upon her torso was a blouse of shimmering cerulean silk embroidered with silver phoenixes to match Aidan''s. That wasn''t the only clothing she wore, however. A deep blue caparison covered her back and legs. Rather than heraldry like a horse might bear back on Earth, Ailis''s garment had an intricate Celtic-style geometric pattern woven into the material in a shade only a fraction darker than the base fabric. The effect was subtle at a distance and mesmerizing up close.


    Sunnild wore a long dark gray dress cut conservatively in the front but open from her neck to her rear in the back. Her wings covered much of the revealed skin, but Aidan knew from "helping" Sunnild try it on that the view was tantalizing¡ªand that she couldn''t wear any underwear beneath it. According to Siwan, who made all of the group''s clothes, the whole thing was Sunnild''s idea from the start. Aidan couldn''t keep a smile from his face at the confidence Sunnild was showing.


    Not to be outdone, Aoife wore a white-and-gold dress that was even more daring than Sunnild''s. The top of the outfit was attached to her collar with loops of golden thread. It encircled her neck, then opened into an extended diamond shape down her front from her sternum to a bare inch above where her pubes would be if she had any. The window''s widest point lay at her waist, revealing her cleavage, the bottom swells of her breasts, and her belly. Aidan was sure that if she moved too fast, she''d show a nipple. The rear of the dress wasn''t quite as racy, but another diamond centered on her tail showed a considerable amount of that cleavage as well.


    To Aidan''s amusement, despite wearing by far the least clothing of any of his lovers, Brighid came off looking pure compared to Sunnild and Aoife.


    She had on a forest green keyhole blouse in a style similar to her mother''s, complete with the same silver phoenix embroidery. A brand new choker of interlocking viridian jade circles backed by silk clung to her neck. Now on an emerald chain, Aidan''s hand-forged tag dangled down into her cleavage, revealed by the keyhole.


    When Aidan and company arrived at the festival grounds, the party was already underway. They heard the lilting strains of drum, flute, and fiddle long before their arrival. Some enterprising soul was roasting whole Nairn Tuskers over a low flame, and that scent carried almost as far as the music. As they drew closer, they could make out the sight of centaurs, catfolk, and harpies mingling, chatting, drinking, and even dancing together.


    There were no hard boundaries where the city ended and the celebration began. People wandered around the fringes by themselves, in pairs, and in small groups. As they got closer, the crowds grew denser. Their bodyguards kept the space around them clear of drunken citizens, but progress slowed as more and more people came up to greet and cheer Aidan on. One inebriated teenage centaur started a chant of, "Phoe-nix-King! Phoe-nix-King!" that spread throughout the crowd.


    Giving in to the inevitable, Aidan raised his hands and gestured for silence. It took a minute for the message to percolate through the crowd. Once he could hear himself think, Aidan raised his voice and exclaimed, "Good evening, everyone!" A raucous cheer greeted him in return. He waited for the crowd to simmer down again, then continued. "It warms my heart to see you all so happy tonight. Even more so to see you happy together!"


    Another cheer rose from the masses. "I will not keep you long." A trick he''d learned from a Southern-born friend¡ªit was easier to get out of a conversation if you acted like it was you imposing on the other party instead of the other way around.


    "There is much to celebrate tonight! For the first time in living memory, five tribes gather together in one place¡ªand not one drop of blood spilled between them! I see Starchasers wearing jewelry carved from Mist Stalker jade." Technically true, since that was the source of Brighid''s new choker.


    "Ash Shroud Sisters sharing meals with Snow-Water Riders. Up on the stage, is that a Mist Stalker, a Starchaser, and an Ash Shroud Sister all playing the same song together? A song that they can''t have taught each other in such a short time." Less true, but it made for good press.


    Aidan waved his hands to indicate the celebration. "This is my vision! This is what comes when we appreciate our similarities instead of dwelling on our differences. This is what happens when we love our neighbors!"


    Turning to Sunnild, he stretched his hand out to her. She blushed, then stepped forward. Taking his hand, she held it to her belly, then rose to kiss him before nestling her head against Aidan''s chest. "Speaking of loving our neighbors, I have an announcement to make." The crowd quieted for a brief moment. Then, a buzz of anticipation grew among the onlookers as they realized what Aidan intended to say.


    "Many of you know Sunnild. Her sweet disposition brightens all of our days. Tonight, you have another reason to love her as I do. It brings us immense pleasure to announce that Sunnild will give birth to my first child." The crowd roared its approval. Their cheers battered at Aidan, so loud were they. He held his free hand up for quiet again. This time, it took several minutes before anyone could hear him speak.


    "Although she is the first, she will not be the last. I have made no secret of the fact that I have several lovers. The Brighaid demands that we give our love to all who willingly receive it. To that end, I have four questions to ask." This he had not discussed with his lovers ahead of time. The expended Paragon Points were a little painful, but he had a renewable source if needed.


    Aidan turned to face Brighid. Reaching into his jacket, he pulled out a golden ring set with an emerald. Presenting it to his Soulmate, he asked, "Brighid Fireheart, you are the love of my life, the flame of my heart. I would be lost without you. Will you marry me?"


    Brighid''s eyes went wide. She froze, staring at Aidan, ignoring the deafening, exultant cries from the bystanders. Then she bolted forward, sweeping Aidan up in her arms. "Yes," she sobbed. "Yes, yes."


    Once she set him down, Aidan slid the ring onto Brighid''s finger. Once he came up for air from the resultant kiss, he faced Sunnild. Her gray eyes swam with unshed tears, but a brilliant smile stretched across her face. "Sunnild, you stormed into my life unexpectedly, but I fell in love with you that very first night. You are the mother of my firstborn child and the light that guides my path. Will you marry me?"


    No longer withheld, tears tumbled down Sunnild''s cheeks. Even as close as he stood to her, Aidan couldn''t hear her reply through the celebration around them, but the searing kiss she laid on him left no doubt. He placed a second ring, identical except for the gray chalcedony, on her finger.


    Aidan turned once more, this time to face Ailis. True to character, his Chancellor controlled her expression. "Ailis Silverhair," he said. "Our relationship has not always been as friendly as it is now. We overcame that together, each of us becoming better for it. Without your keen wit and wisdom, I would not be where I am today. I release you from your Oath of Vassalage. Will you¡ª" he cut off as Ailis seized him by the shoulders and crushed him to her chest.


    "Damn you," she shouted in his ear to be heard over the cheers. "Do you know when the last time I cried in public is?"


    "Is that a yes?"


    Ailis wrenched him around and mashed her lips to his. Piercing whistles rose from the onlookers as she pressed against Aidan, unleashing her passion on him, her hands tangled in his hair. When she finally released him, she held out her hand for his sapphire ring.


    Taking a deep breath, Aidan shifted his focus to Aoife. This would be far harder than the others. Indeed, rather than the teary-eyed joy shown by Brighid and Sunnild or the reserved mask worn by Ailis, Aoife''s face reflected uncertainty. Aidan took a deep breath, then spoke.


    "Aoife. It would be premature to ask you the same question I asked Brighid, Sunnild, and Ailis. There is an unfulfilled promise between us that must be resolved before you could answer me."


    Aidan''s heart warred with his head. Somehow, he''d fallen in love with her. Whatever the reason for his unguarded heart, he couldn''t deny his feelings. He knew that she felt the same way. Even if he hadn''t received messages about their relationship or completed a Quest that told him, he could feel her emotions through the collar.


    At the same time, Aidan had to acknowledge that there was a barrier between them. Neither of them had complete trust in the other. Aoife still bore the scars of her enslavement inside and out. Aidan could sometimes feel a dreadful feeling of anticipation from her as if she was just waiting for him to reveal his true villainy.


    On the other hand, Aoife''s mercurial moods unsettled Aidan. She seemed to change her personality at a whim, going from steamy sexpot to efficient maid to uncannily professional spy at a moment''s notice. Part of him wondered which was the real her, even as the rest of him knew that they all were. Eldrid''s accusation, weak as it was, also found fertile soil in the dark recesses of his mind. He couldn''t deny that Aoife seemed both more and less than what she should be.


    Refocusing his attention on the woman in question, Aidan continued speaking. "Nonetheless, I have something to ask you tonight. Aoife, your unflinching spirit and bravery in the face of impossible horrors inspires me. I love you just as much as I love the others. Will you consent to wear my ring as a token of the promise I made you the night we met and as a further commitment to revisit this conversation once I fulfill my oath?"


    For a moment, Aidan thought Aoife would use Mist Shroud to vanish. He could feel the emotions roiling within her, too dense and tangled to pick apart with the limited bandwidth provided by the collar. Golden eyes stared up at him, searching his face for answers he didn''t know the questions to. The moment dragged on for long enough that the crowd began to grow restless. Aidan regretted putting Aoife on the spot, but just as he opened his mouth to salvage the situation, she relaxed and spoke.


    "Yes, Aidan, I will." She held a trembling hand out to him. Aidan took her hand in his, squeezing it for reassurance, then slid a ring adorned with a citrine stone onto her index finger. Not an engagement or marriage, but still a statement. Aoife looked down at the ring, then back up at him. Tears came to her at last, and Aidan felt tremulous happiness overtake the other emotions within her. She flowed forward and wrapped her arms around Aidan, burying her head against his chest.


    The crowd roared its approval once more. Above them, Aidan''s passion elementals spiraled, spun, and danced in the night sky.


    Zurai


    Aidan''s current status screen:


    Brighid''s current status screen:


    Sunnild''s current status screen:


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Orange, Lupus, and an anonymous Patron for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 71: Vanished Voices

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Fourthday, 2nd week of the 11th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Late Evening


    Caellach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    The crowd began to disperse once it became clear that Aidan''s speech and proposals were finished. The process took a quarter-hour or so, but no one minded. Aidan''s fiancees showed him their approval with tight hugs and lingering kisses.


    Their affections weren''t limited to their fiance, either. Aidan caught glimpses of Brighid entangled with Aoife while Sunnild and Ailis took turns kissing him and each other. Then the partners swapped. Ailis and Brighid hugged each other with Aidan between them while Aoife pinned Sunnild against Brighid''s flank.


    While they celebrated with enthusiasm, Aidan and his lovers were aware of the eyes on them. The Starchasers had no nudity taboo and a relaxed opinion of public passion. However, both the Ash Shroud Sisterhood and the Mist Stalkers were more reserved. As a result, the quintet kept their hands outside of each others'' clothing and their tongues mostly to themselves.


    "Where did you get the rings?" Ailis asked once the noise died down enough for them to hear each other.


    "That''s a curious story," Aidan replied. "They''re from my Patron, which is interesting enough in itself. The thing that unnerves me a little is that they came in a set of seven."


    "Seven?" Brighid asked.


    Aidan nodded. "Yeah." He raised his hand, showing off the ring on his finger. It had six settings of equal size arranged in a circle, two of which remained empty. "This one was clearly mine. The rest were like yours." His lovers looked down at their own rings. Unlike Aidan''s, each had one large gem with five smaller diamonds along the band. "And they came already sized for our fingers."


    "I see what you mean," Ailis said. "That does raise questions."


    "Those aren''t the only questions I have about all this, but this isn''t the place to discuss them." Aidan gestured at the people still surrounding them. "I''ve had some things on my mind that I want to discuss with you. All of you," he added, making sure to catch Aoife''s golden eyes. Aidan received four nods in return.


    "My Lord Aidan," Ruari cut in, "I believe that we can proceed now if you wish."


    Aidan looked up and saw that the crowd around them was thin enough for the party to proceed. "Thank you, Ruari. Ladies, I believe it''s time to mingle with our people and our guests."


    "Mm! Let''s go celebrate!" Sunnild''s bright enthusiasm was even more contagious than normal.


    "I think I saw someone setting up a Sisterhood-style kitchen earlier today," Aoife said. "How about we head that way?"


    The line at their destination wound out into the common area. The majority of the people waiting for food were harpies, but in addition to handfuls of centaurs and catfolk, Aidan spotted three wolven wrapped up in layers of robes. They spotted him a moment later, and after a brief discussion, one of the trio approached them.


    "Night Mother bless you and yours, Lord Aidan." The pitch and tone of the wolven''s voice identified her as female, but Aidan couldn''t make out her features. Between the flickering torch and firelight and the hooded robe covering her head to toe, only her hands were visible. "Once we each receive our meals, would you care to join us? We have many questions about you and your city."


    "Thank you," he replied. "I would love to share a meal with you and answer your questions."


    "Thank you, my Lord. We will wait for you beneath the shade of that oak tree over there." Fabric rustled as the woman inclined her head to Aidan. A lock of dark hair spilled from beneath her hood.


    Once the wolven returned to her own party, Brighid shuddered and muttered in a low voice, "See? Creepy."


    Aidan patted her flank. "I don''t really see it, but you don''t have to join me if you don''t want to."


    Brighid snagged his hand and entwined her fingers with his. "You will not get rid of me that easily, mister. I can handle it."


    "Good. Now, what does everyone want?" Some enterprising Starchaser youths carried hastily-made menus around to those waiting in line. Aidan smiled at the cross-species cooperation and entrepreneurship.


    A short while later, Aidan, Brighid, Sunnild, Ailis, and Aoife sat on the grass beside the three wolven envoys. Aidan''s guards spread out in a perimeter, keeping well-wishers away and giving the dignitaries a semblance of privacy.


    "Good evening," Aidan said to start the conversation. "I hope your journey here was peaceful."


    "The ancestors marked our path," one of the Bonekin said in a soft tenor. "We experienced no difficulties. Thank you for your concern. I am Tadek ar May. My companions are Gwilhou ar Lann and Maelia le Coadic." Maelia was the woman who approached them before. Gwilhou''s appearance, shrouded as they were, was indeterminate. They could be a man with a slender build or a woman with a modest bust. The layered robes each of them wore masked the shapes of their bodies.


    "Pleased to meet you. I am Aidan, and my companions are Brighid Fireheart, Sunnild, Ailis Silverhair, and Aoife." Aidan gestured to each of his fiancees in turn.


    "I understand congratulations are in order," Maelia said. "I confess to a certain curiosity. The Sisterhood," Maelia inclined her head toward Sunnild, "has experience with long-term intertribal relationships, but we do not. How will your marriages proceed? Do you plan to marry all at once or in separate ceremonies? And what traditions will you be married under?"


    Aidan and his lovers exchanged glances. "We haven''t had time to decide any of that yet. I have my thoughts, but I would not dare make those choices without consulting everyone involved."


    "Ah, that is fair. Pray, forgive me for asking so premature a question."


    "There is nothing to forgive. It was a good question. I just don''t have an answer for you yet."


    "Your city," Gwilhou said, "how is it governed?" Even their voice didn''t solve the mystery. Aidan couldn''t decide whether they were a countertenor or a contralto.


    "We use a two-tiered system. A Council, led by Ailis as my Chancellor, decides most of the day-to-day matters. Land use, permits, budget, that sort of thing." Ailis nodded in agreement. "For larger matters like laws, they provide me with proposals, and I make the final call. They also have the power to overrule or bypass me in certain situations."


    "Oh?" Tadek leaned forward. "You willingly give them power over you?"


    Aidan waggled his hand back and forth. "Over me? No. They can''t compel me to do anything. One of the few benefits of my role as a leader is sovereignty over my own actions. But if enough of the Council believes that one of my rulings is erroneous or damaging, they can fix that."


    "I see. And is the reverse true as well?"


    "Yes. Technically the Council is an advisory body with no direct power. The authority they have is delegated from me, and I could withdraw it at any time." Aidan grimaced at the thought. "However, that would spark some unpleasant political battles, and I have neither the time nor the inclination to handle everything that comes before the Council. It''s a mutually beneficial arrangement. I share some of my power, and they allow me to focus on the larger picture."


    "Such as fighting a dragon?" Maelia asked with a tone that hovered between amusement and sarcasm.


    "Such as establishing a coalition so that I don''t have to try and fight a dragon alone, yes." Aidan shook his head.


    "You defeated it once already, did you not?" Gwilhou tilted their head to the side.


    "Only by virtue of surprise. Judging by his self-proclaimed titles, I don''t think Karsarrym is very used to pain or severe wounds. I was," Aidan hesitated, trying to decide on the right word. "Not bluffing, exactly. I didn''t have anything left to bluff with. But Karsarrym wasn''t aware of how limited my ability to fight him was at the time. Once I blinded his eye, he decided not to push his luck any further until he could come back prepared."


    "At the time?" Maelia leaped on the implication like a hawk striking a rabbit. "So you believe you are better prepared now, only a few weeks later?"


    Aidan gave her a shark''s smile. "Oh, I know it. Don''t get me wrong, I can''t kill him alone. I don''t have the durability to withstand his attacks. But with proper support? Yes, I can end the threat that Karsarrym poses to all of us."


    "We look forward to a demonstration, then," Gwilhou said. "We acknowledge the threat of a dragon holding Ceallach Macht and its Throne, and we are reluctant to abandon our ancestral lands. However, it is our duty to shepherd the living, not preserve the dead. The ancestors will forgive us if we leave rather than fight an unbeatable foe."


    Aidan nodded. "We already planned a series of exhibitions. We will not be showing every aspect of our strength, of course, but I believe there will be enough on display to reassure you." It''s a good thing Eldrid isn''t around, Aidan thought to himself. She would''ve been able to detect the misdirection.


    Aidan didn''t intend to withhold much of his personal strength, keeping only Soulfire Blast and Phoenix Pyre to himself. He''d let the others assume he had more power in reserve. Ysbail was part of the demonstration, and she couldn''t show off her full strength in a controlled setting like that anyway.


    Silence reigned for a few moments after Aidan''s response as everyone took a few bites of their meal. "Do you mind if I ask a few questions of my own?" Aidan asked once he thought enough time had passed.


    "Of course not. Ask what you will, and we will answer if we are able."


    "Thank you. I don''t intend to ask anything sensitive. I''m mostly interested in your culture and traditions. Gerwyn and Ailis told me a little about the Ebon Bonekin from their travels and studies. I know that you have a ruling Council like the Starchasers do, but I understand you choose your Councillors differently?"


    Maelia nodded. "Yes, from your point of view, that would be so. To us, it is quite similar. The Starchasers elect their Councillors by acclamation, correct?" At Ailis''s and Brighid''s nods, she continued. "We do the same, but instead of the living, we follow the will of our ancestor spirits."


    Aidan paused, a bite of food halfway to his mouth. "Your ancestors?" The three wolven nodded in unison. "How does that work? I''m sure you contact them using magic, but wouldn''t you have tens of thousands or more ancestors? Can they view the world of the living to understand the situation they''re voting on?"


    Aidan''s question didn''t appear to bother his guests. Tadek took up the narrative while Maelia finished off her meal. "That is not an uncommon question for outsiders to ask. When we say ''ancestor spirits,'' we are speaking of a select few from each generation. Most of those who pass on have no reason to linger. We make sure of that when we Send their spirits to their final rest. Only a rare few possess both the motivation and power to resist Death''s embrace."


    Maelia took over when Tadek paused for a sip of his wine. "Once they choose not to pass through Death''s gate, they are forever linked to this existence. It is a selfless sacrifice, for they can neither act on this world nor return to the cycle of reincarnation. They give that up to guide us with their wisdom."


    "As for viewing the world of the living," Gwilhou said, "the ancestor spirits exist between life and death. They perceive the world, although not in the same way as you or I. Our mages can strengthen their ties to the world of the living for a time, allowing them to manifest. At any given time, a dozen or so ancestor spirits walk through each village."


    "Fascinating," Aidan said. "Please forgive me if this question is rude. I mean no offense by it. Do the ancestor spirits not favor their own descendants?"


    "No offense was given or taken," Tadek assured Aidan. "Part of becoming an ancestor spirit involves severing the bonds of flesh. This is both literal and figurative. No ancestor spirit can ever wear a body again, either through possession or, Night Mother forbid, being raised as embodied undead. It also breaks their connection to their bloodline. They still know who their children are, but they feel no attachment to them."


    "It can be hard for the young children the first time they meet a parent or grandparent who returns as an ancestor spirit," Maelia added.


    "I see. Thank you for sharing that with me." Aidan had more questions but couldn''t think of a way to ask them without causing offense. In particular, he wondered how tradition-bound the Ebon Bonekin were. From an outsider''s perspective, relying so much on the guidance of strong-willed ghosts seemed likely to slow the wheels of progress.


    Maelia asked another question, saving Aidan from a potential faux pas. "We noticed that you are building a great temple within the city. Who is it dedicated to, and will there be room for worship of other Gods and Powers in your realm?"


    Aidan sent Brighid a look. The Tabernacle was her project, after all, and she was the Councillor in charge of religion. That said, Aidan knew she wasn''t comfortable around the wolven and didn''t want to force her to talk to them.


    "Lord Aidan is the Brighaid''s herald, so They have the most prominent place in the Tabernacle of Dreams," Brighid said. "There is room for other deities beside Them, however. We welcome the worship of any faith that does not run counter to our ideals." Before the visitors could ask, Brighid clarified. "Ceallach Macht is dedicated to peace, community, and creativity."


    "So you would not object if we set up a shrine to the Night Mother and Her children?"


    Aidan answered in Brighid''s stead. "I am not familiar with Her tenets, but so long as She does not promote wanton destruction or misery, She would be welcome."


    Tadek laced his hands together and raised them to shoulder height. "Lady Keridwen teaches a message of peace, slumber, and acceptance of the inevitable. She is Death in its aspect of relief from the burdens of life. Followers of the Night Mother do not seek to bring about death or suffering. The former will come without our intervention. The latter is abhorrent to us."


    "Then I would love to host a shrine to Her on the Tabernacle grounds. It sounds like She would be at home there."


    All three of the wolven gave Aidan a shallow sitting bow. "You have given us much to think on, Lord Aidan, and eased some of our concerns. We look forward to the summit." So saying, they rose to their feet, bowed again, and took their leave.


    Zurai


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Orange, Lupus, and an anonymous Patron for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 72: Dark Clouds Gather

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Fourthday, 2nd week of the 11th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Early Night


    Caellach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    "Alright," Aidan said once the three wolven were out of earshot, "maybe they''re a little creepy. I''m not really comfortable being ruled by the dead, and I''ve never liked talking to people when I can''t see their faces."


    "See?" asked Brighid. "I told you so!"


    "I dunno," Sunnild said. "They seemed fine to me. A little weird, but they were nice."


    "They''re diplomats," Aoife said. "It''s their job to be nice. Or it is when it isn''t their job to be politely insulting."


    Ailis snorted. "That''s a cynical view. I cannot say it is wrong, however."


    "I find that the cynical view is often the correct one when it comes to matters such as these." Aidan stiffened at the voice intruding on their discussion. He turned to see Searlas, the Mist Stalkers'' Chieftan, lounging against the tree. How had he gotten past¡ªMist Shroud, of course.


    "How long have you been there?" Aidan asked.


    Searlas brought his hand to his chest and affected an offended look. "I only just arrived as your other guests were leaving. Would I spy on a treasured friend?"


    "Yes, you would," Aoife answered before Aidan could.


    Searlas let out a sigh and shook his head. "I had hoped that time in Lord Aidan''s tender care would have mellowed you some. But, please, I did not come to trade barbs with you, Aoife."


    Aoife started to speak again but stopped when Aidan rested a hand on her shoulder. She turned to look at him. Anger burned in her gaze, but whatever Aoife saw in Aidan''s face softened her expression. She gave him a nod and settled back against him.


    "You brought the scouting reports?" Aidan guessed.


    Searlas gave him a nod. "Indeed." He stepped forward, reaching into his vest. Aoife tensed. Aidan wrapped his left arm around her, both to comfort her and to keep her from lunging at Searlas. With his right arm, Aidan reached out to take the packet of papers the Mist Stalker Chieftan produced from an inside pocket.


    "Thank you. I''ll look it over in detail tomorrow morning. Care to share a summary?"


    Searlas stretched, then sat cross-legged a short distance away. "Could be better, could be worse. You want the good news or the bad news first?"


    "Bad first."


    "It managed to find a nascent dungeon and took it over. The place is crawling with draconic minions now. Any team you take in will have to fight through them to get to the dragon. Not a lot of room to maneuver, either, so you will need to think carefully about who you bring."


    Aidan sighed. He''d been worried about something like that. "Any chance of collapsing the dungeon on top of him?"


    "Not unless you have a Master-level Earth mage in your pocket. The chamber it''s using as a lair is pretty deep."


    "Alright, tell me the silver lining on this stormcloud then."


    Searlas''s fangs gleamed in the dim light. "I was not done with the bad news. The wounds you dealt to the dragon are almost healed. It appears to have vision in both eyes and its wings have full range of movement. Only the scars on its chest leave evidence of the damage you dealt."


    Aidan cursed under his breath. He''d been too slow, spent too much time preparing. "We have to move soon, then. If we don''t, we risk Karsarrym attacking the city before we''re ready." Or, worse, attacking while I''m going after him and the city is unguarded. Aidan didn''t give voice to his fear.


    "Ah," Searlas said, "about that. That is the good news."


    Aidan waited a beat, then arched an eyebrow. "Yes?"


    "It turns out that the dragon is brooding."


    "Wait, what?" Sunnild sat up straight from where she''d been resting against Brighid''s flank.


    "You heard correctly. My best scout managed to sneak into the lair. Turns out Karsarrym is a mommy dragon. It has a pair of eggs in its nest, each the size of a shed."


    Sunnild turned to Aidan, gnawing on her lip. "Aidan..."


    He shook his head. "I know, songbird. But I can''t let this change things. It buys us time, but I can''t assume that motherhood is going to mellow out a dragon that ambushed a caravan of wounded and elderly."


    Tears shimmered at the corners of Sunnild''s eyes. She searched Aidan''s face for a few more seconds, then her mouth set. "I understand. You''re bringing them back, though. I''ll raise them."


    That got Ailis''s attention. "Sunnild, dragons are not pets!"


    "Of course not." If anything, Sunnild looks even more determined. "They''re intelligent. I understand that Karsarrym hasta die, but dragons aren''t innately evil. I won''t tolerate killing innocent kids." Her eyes swung back to Aidan. "Even dragons."


    Before the argument could devolve further, Aidan said, "Does anyone know anything about dragonlings?" He glanced at his Chancellor. "Ailis?"


    Ailis''s lips turned down in a worried frown. "There is very little known on the subject. Dragons are reclusive and territorial to start with. It is thought that the eggs grow inside the mother for more than a year before being laid. At that point, it''s another year before they hatch."


    "So we have time."


    "Aidan, you cannot be considering this madness!"


    "We have time," Aidan repeated. He reached out to Sunnild and pulled her toward him. She wrapped her wings around his shoulders and leaned her forehead against his. Aidan stared into Sunnild''s grey eyes. "As you are now, I can''t allow it," he said.


    An angry red flush sprang to Sunnild''s cheeks. She opened her mouth to protest, but Aidan cut her off. "As you are," he repeated with emphasis. "I''ll retrieve the eggs if I can. You have a year, my lovely songbird, mother of my child. If you can reach your prestige class in that time, you can raise the dragonlings."


    Aidan nuzzled Sunnild''s nose. "I understand and appreciate your stance, Sunny, but even if they aren''t evil, they''re dangerous predators. I won''t risk you. Not for anything. Your daughter won''t grow up without a mother."


    Sunnild''s eyes widened, then she threw herself at Aidan, wrapping her arms and wings around him. Her lips crashed against his. Aidan felt a splash of hot tears against his cheeks. "I love you, I love you," Sunnild babbled in between kisses. Aidan stroked her back and held her until her tears subsided and she withdrew her wings.


    "Well," Searlas said. He had the grace to look embarrassed. "I did not anticipate that announcement causing such distress. My apologies, Lord Aidan, Lady Sunnild, Chancellor Ailis."


    Aidan waved the apology away. "No worries. I don''t mean any offense, but if you don''t have anything that can''t wait for tomorrow morning..."


    "Say no more." Searlas rose and gave them a bow. "Until the morrow, then." He turned, took a step, then vanished in a swirl of fog.


    "I still have objections, Aidan," Ailis said.


    "I understand your concerns. I share many of them. When it comes down to it, though, I agree with Sunnild. I won''t be a party to the slaughter of innocents. I''ll take as many precautions as I can, but children deserve a loving home and the chance to make their own choices."


    Ailis leaned back, a sad look on her face. Brighid reached out to her. "He did not mean it that way, Mother. That was not a rebuke, only a statement of values."


    Aidan winced. He needed to be more careful of his phrasing. "She''s right. Sorry, Ailis, I didn''t think about how that might sound to you. Neither Brighid nor I doubt that you love her. I wasn''t even thinking about you."


    Ailis gave him a wan smile. "A word of advice, my Lord? Do not tell a woman that you were not thinking of her while talking to her."


    "Seconded," said Aoife, digging a finger into Aidan''s side. Sunnild let out a giggle when Aidan squirmed away from Aoife''s poke. That broke the tension, and soon Aidan was buried in laughing women. After a while spent relaxing under the tree''s branches, Aidan broached the subject again.


    "Ailis, I know you''re worried about how this will turn out. So am I. If," Aidan stressed the word, "we recover either of the eggs, I''ll talk with Cai and Llwyd about security measures. We''ll need to protect the dragonlings as much as we''ll need to protect ourselves from them." He shifted his attention to his other side, where Sunnild cuddled up under his arm. "Sunny, in addition to gaining your prestige class, I want you to submit a plan for how you''re going to do this safely. I''d suggest talking with Anwn. If anyone has an idea how to do this without resulting in tragedy, it''s her."


    "Mm, okay."


    "Beyond all that, let''s not count our eggs before they''re even in our basket, if I can be permitted to mix my metaphors. Assuming Searlas''s intelligence is accurate, all this means right now is that we''ll get the first strike against Karsarrym. I want us all focused on that for the moment."


    "You''d better," Aoife said from her position on Aidan''s lap. She leaned to the side and tilted her head back to look up at him. "I know you''re the Phoenix King or whatever. If you die, you''ll come back. That''s your thing, fine. But if you get the rest of us killed because you piss off a mother dragon protecting its babies, I swear I''ll haunt you for the rest of your lives."


    Aidan shook his head. "This is kill or be killed. I know that, and I''ll make sure everyone going along knows as well. By the way," he said and steeled himself for the response, "none of you are coming with me."


    "What!" Sunnild, Brighid, and Ailis all stiffened and turned fiery gazes on Aidan.


    "He''s right." To Aidan''s surprise, Aoife nodded against his chest. "Sunnild, you''re pregnant. Everyone who goes into this fight is going to be hurt or worse. Do you really want to risk your daughter like that? And can you honestly say that you can survive a hit from the dragon when the first Labyrinth boss did so much damage to you?"


    Sunnild ducked her head and pulled her wings in tight. "...No," she admitted.


    Aoife looked over Aidan''s shoulder at Brighid. "And you. You''re tougher than Sunnild is, true, and a much more experienced fighter. I know you want to be there to protect Aidan just as much as Sunnild does. You might even be able to absorb a couple of hits. But consider this: what would happen to Aidan if you died in his place?"


    Brighid''s arms tightened around Aidan''s waist. Aoife continued, gentle yet inexorable. "He comes back. You won''t. Do you want Aidan to live for decades or even centuries grieving you, unable to get over it because he''s missing a literal part of his soul?"


    Brighid buried her face in the crook of Aidan''s neck. He could feel dampness on her cheeks. Aoife waited a moment for a response, then turned to Ailis. "As for you, I''ll couch it in more practical terms. The people going along on this expedition need to be expendable because aside from Aidan, we can''t be sure that any of you will make it back. You," Aoife tapped Ailis on her sternum, "are not expendable. Leaving aside the emotional impact, you''re the reason this city runs as well as it does. I love Aidan, but he doesn''t have a head for either politics or management. Maybe in the future you''ll change that, but you need to be alive for that to happen."


    Aoife got up from Aidan''s lap and turned to face them all. "I''m not going to win many hearts with this, but it needs to be said. Even if you win, Aidan, I don''t expect more than maybe ten percent of those who go with you to come back." She took in a deep breath, then let it out. "Full-grown dragons can take on armies and come out on top. This wouldn''t be a fair fight even if circumstances favored you. They don''t. Thanks to its minions, Karsarrym will be aware of your invasion. It''ll be ready for you. Prepared in its lair, where its children rest. Even if it didn''t have a grudge against you, Aidan, any mother would fight tooth and nail to defend their unborn children."


    Aoife''s eyes sought out Aidan''s. Even if he couldn''t feel the fear seeping through their connection, he could see it in her gaze. "So, Lord Aidan, you had better focus on the job. Gather as many allies as possible and bring all their power to bear on the problem. Do whatever it takes." She clasped her hands together and fought back tears. "Whatever it takes. If you have to whore me out to Searlas, do it."


    "That''s enough." Aidan didn''t raise his voice. In fact, he spoke just above a whisper. Aoife still rocked back on her heels at the steel in his tone. "That you think I would¡ªcould¡ªdo that to you hurts me, Aoife. I know life has not been kind to you. I''ll try not to take it personally that you still don''t trust me. Come here," he patted his lap. Aoife took a step, then paused. Her emotions were tangled up so tight that Aidan couldn''t make out more than an occasional flash. Sorrow, self-loathing, a hint of hope buried under terror. "Please," Aidan added.


    Aoife took another step, another, then she dropped down and curled up in Aidan''s lap. He stroked her hair while she shivered against him. "I love you," Aidan told the trembling woman. "Even if I didn''t, you aren''t an object. I won''t trade you away like some party favor. If Searlas¡ªor anyone else¡ªmade that request in exchange for his assistance, I''d punch him in the dick then throw him out of the city." That drew a gasping, snorting giggle from Aoife.


    "It''s been a long, emotional night for all of us," Aidan said. "There''ll be plenty of time to worry and plan in the next week or two. But, tonight we all have something to celebrate. So, why don''t we head back home, and I''ll show you all just how much I love you?" Without waiting for an answer, Aidan gathered Aoife up in his arms and stood. She shuddered again, but this time Aidan could feel arousal trickling through their bond.


    "Why don''t ya ever carry me like that?" Sunnild asked in a teasing tone.


    "Find your own flirting ritual, bird-brain," Aoife fired back. She turned her head and stuck her tongue out at Sunnild. "This one''s mine."


    "I think I will leave you youngsters to your own devices," Ailis said as she rose to her hooves.


    "Nope." Aidan wasn''t about to let her separate herself tonight of all nights. "I insist on you joining us. You and Brighid don''t have to interact, but I want all of you with me tonight."


    "Come on, Mother," Brighid urged. "We are all promised to the same man. You might as well get used to it." Then she laughed, a bright, merry sound. "Besides, I want to see you break down in pleasure. You will be the last one, and you got to see me when you showed me how to handle my urges as a teenager."


    "Yeah," added Sunnild, "don''t be a spoilsport! I haven''t had much time ta get ta know ya, and what better way ta start?" She flounced over to Ailis and gave the older woman a kiss on the lips. Ailis stepped back, startled, but Sunnild chased her. Then, a moment later, she relaxed. "See?" Sunnild asked, her mouth brushing against Ailis''s as she spoke. "Not so bad, is it?"


    "That is not..." Ailis shook her head. "Nevermind. I will come along. But I hope you do not plan this to be a one-way affair, Aidan. There is much love to go around, and you must accept your share of it."


    "I wouldn''t have it any other way," Aidan said with a smile.


    Zurai


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Orange, Lupus, and an anonymous Patron for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 73: The Play Begins

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Fifthday, 2nd week of the 11th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Mid-Morning


    Caellach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Congratulations! You have reached level 22 in Persuasion.


    Congratulations! You have reached level 77 in Sex.


    Congratulations! You have reached level 35 in Foreplay.


    Aidan yawned as he walked out into the morning sunlight. The previous night was one he would remember for the rest of his life. Even so, he might have planned his proposals better. Getting engaged to three women¡ªand promising the same to a fourth when circumstances allowed¡ªthe night before a critical political meeting wasn''t the smartest idea Aidan ever had.


    The ladies paired off in various permutations throughout the night, but Aidan hadn''t received more than a few minutes of rest at a time. Each of his women needed to show that they reciprocated his love for them. Beyond that, the specter of the coming conflict clung to them, giving all of them an edge of desperation, as if anything left unsaid or undone might stay so forever.


    As a result, Aidan needed a cup of coffee more than he ever had in either life. Too bad it didn''t seem to exist in the Realms. Not this corner, anyway. He stifled another yawn, then trudged along the short path to the main chamber of the Idyllic Forum. Ailis was probably already there; she''d been gone when the sounds of the servants preparing breakfast woke him up.


    Aidan still wasn''t comfortable with the idea. He had no problem with the people involved. He, Aoife, Brighid, Cai, and Llwyd interviewed and cleared all of them. Though, now that Aidan thought of it, he might see about getting Eldrid in front of them. Regardless, it wasn''t the individuals who made him uneasy.


    Aidan understood the need for servants. He appreciated the extra time they gave him and his fiancees. Still, there was something about paying someone else to do the housework that made him feel like a slacker. Probably some remnant of the workaholic ethics that ruled his former life.


    Aidan shook off the thought as he entered the Forum proper. A chorus of whispers greeted his arrival. The seating area was already half-full of observers even though the Summit wasn''t scheduled to start for another half hour. Centaurs were the most numerous group, which made sense. They were both the most populous within the city and the group with the most reasons to want Karsarrym dead.


    For a moment, a litany of names started up in Aidan''s head, but he forced it back into the dark corner of his mind where it lived. Not the time, he told himself. Then, spotting Ailis speaking with Searlas, Aidan made his way over to them.


    "Yes, the supplies have been quite helpful, thank you," Ailis said in answer to a question Aidan hadn''t caught.


    "I am pleased to be of assistance. Perhaps, in time, the wounds of the past might close enough for our tribes to be friends. Ah, good morning, Lord Aidan."


    "Good morning. I hope your accommodations were acceptable?" Ugh, small talk. Aidan hated small talk.


    "A bit on the plain side, but I can forgive you, given the circumstances." Searlas''s smile did not quite reach his eyes. Aidan suppressed a frown. Was Searlas really upset about not having a fancy room to stay in? Ceallach Macht didn''t have anything to compare to the opulence of Searlas''s manor.


    Aidan opted not to make an issue of it. "Do you mind if I distribute your scouts'' report among the other delegates?"


    Searlas waved a hand through the air. "It is in your hands now. Do with it as you will."


    Yeah, you didn''t answer the question. Something''s up. "Thank you," he said anyway. "I won''t keep you from your conversation any longer. I just wanted to check in." Aidan inclined his head to Searlas, then turned to Ailis and gave her a quick kiss before making his way to the Council seats.


    A quick glance around the Forum floor showed that most of the representatives were already present. In fact, the only ones who seemed to be missing were Eldrid and the Ebon Bonekin group. Aidan figured that Eldrid was the type to make a dramatic entrance just as time ran out. But, to be charitable, it was also possible she was preparing for her part in the afternoon demonstrations.


    The arrival of the eight wolven distracted Aidan from his musing. Wait a minute. Weren''t there only six of them? Alerted to the incongruity, he realized two of the Bonekin wore different clothes from the others. Six of them¡ªthe original representatives, he assumed¡ªwore simple, unadorned black robes. The two newcomers, in contrast, wore charcoal gray robes with bone-white sashes.


    Aidan turned to Eilwen, who sat to his left. "Did the Ebon Bonekin send a secondary delegation?"


    She shrugged. "I am not the one in charge of such things."


    That was fair. Aidan turned to Cai to repeat the question, but the wolven appeared to be making their way to him, so he waited for them to approach.


    "Bright morning to you, Lord Aidan," the leader said with a bow. "I am Guirec ker Derrien. I believe you already met Tadek, Maelia, and Gwilhou. My other colleagues are Brivela le Segalen and Marivon le Troquer." Each of the wolven inclined their head to Aidan as Guirec named them. Both Brivela and Marivon had feminine figures, but as with the others, their robes concealed any distinguishing features.


    "Pleased to meet you," Aidan said. He rose to his feet and returned Guirec''s bow to as precise a degree as he could manage. "I hope you found shelter and comfort this past night."


    Guirec said nothing for a heartbeat, then pressed his hands together and bowed again, lower this time. "We wanted for nothing beneath your roof. You honor us, Lord Aidan."


    "Indeed." One of the gray-robed wolven spoke. "It is unusual to see a human who cares for the cultures and traditions of others." His voice had an odd quality to it. Aidan could only describe it as translucent, despite it making no sense. "My name is Kaou, one of the Thousand Ancestors of the Ebon Bonekin."


    Ah. That explained it.


    "And I am Fanchenn," said the other ghost. "The two of us are the representatives of our tribe. These descendants serve as our aides and anchors. Pray forgive us this small deception."


    "There is nothing to forgive. The invitation allowed for each of you to choose your own delegates." Aidan lifted his shoulders in a shrug, then smiled. "This particular result is beyond what I expected, but you are welcome nonetheless. Ceallach Macht is open to all who harbor peace in their hearts."


    Both honored ancestors inclined their heads to Aidan. "Thank you, Lord Aidan. We will take no more of your time for now. Later, perhaps we will have more to speak about."


    With that cryptic remark, the wolven withdrew to their position at the table. Ailis, who was waiting for them to leave, settled in next to Aidan. "Are we ready to begin?" Aidan asked her.


    "Captain Eldrid is still not present." Ailis''s dry tone spoke volumes about her opinion of the otterkin''s tardiness.


    "She''ll be here. I suspect she just wants to make a dramatic entrance. And it''s not like she doesn''t know everything anyway."


    "As you say, my Lord."


    Aidan brushed his fingers across Ailis''s skin at her waist. "You don''t need to be jealous of her."


    Ailis looked at him out of the corner of her eye. "Do I not? You only have so much time to spend with any of us. How many more do you plan to add to your harem?"


    Aidan frowned and slid his hand around to the small of her back. "We''ll talk more about this later. I don''t want you to think I''m dismissing your concerns, but this isn''t the time or the place for it. Until then," he sought out Ailis''s left hand and tapped the new ring on her finger, "remember my commitment to you. I take those seriously."


    Slender fingers entwined with his. "You are right. I am sorry, I just..." Ailis trailed off, shaking her head. "I feel like she is a threat to me where the others are not."


    "I promise that she poses no threat to your place in my heart. I love you." Aidan squeezed her hand.


    Ailis cupped Aidan''s cheek and turned to give him a slow, tender kiss. "I know," she said once her lips withdrew. "And do not look now, but my rival has arrived." Aidan chuckled and gave his fiancee another quick kiss as a reward for the wordplay. Then he turned to follow Ailis''s gaze.


    Eldrid stood illuminated by the noon sunlight streaming in between the columns supporting the Forum''s roof. An impractical-looking suit of leather armor clung tightly to every one of her voluptuous curves. Worse, it had a pair of diamond-shaped cutouts, one showing off her pale cleavage and the other revealing a belly button piercing.


    "That had better be enchanted," Aidan muttered so that only Ailis and Eilwen could hear him. A snicker to his right answered him.


    Seeing that she had Aidan''s¡ªand the crowd''s¡ªattention, Eldrid cocked her hip to the side and blew a kiss his way. She strutted up to Aidan, hips rolling and swaying with every step.


    "Please forgive me for being late, Lord Aidan," she said, projecting her voice so that the gathered crowds could hear as well. "I needed to prepare for this afternoon''s demonstration. I look forward to seeing how hot and bothered you''ll be able to get me."


    Aidan rolled his eyes at the blue-haired Captain. "Coming on a little strong, aren''t you?" The words had barely left Aidan''s mouth before he realized his mistake.


    "Not yet, but a girl can always hope." A triumphant smirk spread across Eldrid''s midnight blue lips. She bent down, sandwiching his left arm between her leather-clad breasts, and whispered in his ear, "Keep an eye on Lord Searlas. He''s planning something. Dunno what or who it''s directed at, but be careful." Eldrid followed her warning by nibbling Aidan''s earlobe and stroking her fingers down his chest.


    Aidan caught her hand before it reached his belt and raised it to his lips. "I look forward to seeing all you have to show me," he said, following her lead in speaking to the crowd. Then, summoning up a Magic Hand, Aidan squeezed Eldrid''s outthrust butt. With a surprised squeak, she jolted upright and whirled to look behind her, hands covering her rear. "Something wrong?" Aidan asked in a teasing tone.


    Eldrid turned back around. "Was that you?" Aidan didn''t respond except with a slow, smug smile and another pat with his phantasmal appendage. Silver eyes gleamed at him between narrowed lids. Then a matching smirk spread across Eldrid''s face. "My mistake. I must have imagined someone touching what they''re not supposed to."


    "I can''t imagine why someone would risk that. Regardless, I need to call this meeting to order. If you would take your seat?"


    Eldrid gave Aidan a smoldering look, then tossed her hair over her shoulder in a spray of blue and walked over to join the other Captains. Aidan rose to his feet and raised his hands to quiet the crowd. In this more formal setting, they reacted far quicker, a hush descending on the Forum within seconds.


    "Friends and visitors all, I welcome you to this historic occasion!" Aidan spoke from deep in his chest, projecting his voice out to reach as much of the crowd as possible. "Here in this building¡ªin our city¡ªfive different tribes have gathered in peace. Who here ever dreamed of seeing such a sight?"


    Aidan let his words sink in for a moment before continuing. "Alas, it is not peace we discuss here today. Several weeks ago, a caravan of Starchasers¡ªelders, children, and injured among them¡ªwas attacked. The attacker struck without warning, provocation, or mercy." A litany of names ran through Aidan''s head only to be shoved back into the dark corner it lived in. He sucked in a shuddering breath. "Two hundred people, mostly non-combatants, died in less than five minutes of fighting."


    Aidan made eye contact with each of the representatives at the table, even the Snow-Water Rider Captains. "You may be thinking that this does not concern you. That such things happen every year here in the Highlands." He slashed his hand through the air. "I say that you are wrong. This was not the work of bandits, slavers, or even a warband from another tribe. No, I bring you far worse news. Our would-be conqueror is a dragon."


    This didn''t come as a surprise to anyone, of course. Karsarrym''s nature was the bait that drew these disparate tribes to Ceallach Macht. It was still a useful rhetorical tool.


    "Karsarrym showed no interest in coexistence. It did not even bother to demand surrender. When I confronted it in defense of my people, its only response was to issue deadly threats." Aidan placed his hands on the table and leaned forward. "Make no mistake, ladies and gentlemen. There are only two viable options available to any of us. We can fight for our loved ones, our homes, and our livelihood. Otherwise, we must flee from the region and pray for a warm welcome elsewhere."


    With a grimace, Aidan straightened. "Sunnild, if you will?" Aidan nodded to his fiancee, who walked around the table distributing the duplicated Mist Stalker scouting reports. Once everyone had a copy, he continued. "We have a unique opportunity. I managed to wound and blind Karsarrym when I drove it off. It retreated to what we believe is a temporary lair in Mist Stalker territory. There, it established a nest and is currently protecting a pair of eggs."


    Excited murmurs spread among the watching crowd. This was new information for the ordinary citizens. New and terrifying. "If you think one dragon is cause for concern, imagine three. Yet, Karsarrym will not stir from its position until those eggs hatch. This gives us a guaranteed first strike." Once again, Aidan sought out eye contact with all the representatives. "In a few weeks, depending on further planning, I will lead a force to attack the dragon. I invited the rest of you here to warn you of the threat and to request assistance in ending it."


    His opening speech finished, Aidan sank down into his chair. The others at the table remained silent for several seconds. Finally, breaking the silence, Ailis took up the thread of conversation. "We do not expect you to act solely out of friendship or even self-interest. Ceallach Macht is prepared to offer various concessions, from upfront payment to favored trade deals to shares of the treasure and materials gathered in the assault."


    "That is all well and good," said Fanchenn of the Ebon Bone-kin, "but our children must survive to profit from any payment. How can you be so certain of your victory?"


    It was an inevitable question. Having seen Karsarrym''s might first-hand, Aidan would have asked it himself if someone else proposed this plan. "Because there is no other path open to me," he answered. "The Starchasers have entrusted their futures to me. I will not betray them by leaving Caer Macht''s Throne to the dragon. As to how I intend to succeed?"


    Aidan leaned forward in his seat. "First, I have enlisted five companies of Snow-Water Rider mercenaries to my banner." The Captains inclined their heads in affirmation. "Second, we already made Karsarrym retreat due to wounds inflicted. One of the things you will see during the demonstrations later today is a section of Karsarrym''s tail severed during the fight. We also have samples of its blood and scales. Finally..."


    Aidan reached into his pocket and pulled out a glowing gem. He slid it into the center of the table so that all the delegates could see it. "We have access to unique resources thanks to the Labyrinth located here. That is known as a Blasting Gem, and if all else fails, I will use them to collapse the entire lair on top of Karsarrym."


    Another, louder, murmur ran through the crowd. "Would that not kill you as well?" asked Kaou.


    Aidan leaned back in his chair and nodded. "Yes, barring a miracle." Needless to say, this contingency did not meet with his fiancees'' approval.


    The two honored ancestors exchanged looks. "Then we, as well, look forward to your demonstrations."


    With a nod, Aidan rose. "Is anyone willing to commit before seeing what we have to show?" No responses came. Expected. Who would commit before receiving all the available information? "Then let us move to the practice fields."


    Congratulations! You have reached level 23 in Persuasion.


    Congratulations! You have reached levels 7 through 9 in Oratory.


    Zurai


    Aidan''s current status screen:


    Brighid''s current status screen:


    Sunnild''s current status screen:


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Orange, Lupus, and an anonymous Patron for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 74: Blue Skies and a Battle

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Fifthday, 2nd week of the 11th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Noon


    Caellach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    The festival-like atmosphere of the previous night was still present. Dozens of stalls selling food, drinks, and various merchandise surrounded the practice fields. While the Forum had a hundred or so citizens watching the proceedings, there were at least eight times that many milling around waiting for the entertainment to begin.


    First on the schedule was a series of mock battles between the various otterkin mercenary units, the remaining Starchaser warriors, and Aidan''s passion elementals. The latter were more for the spectacle and to dissuade potential aggression. After all, they wouldn''t be part of the plan to attack Karsarrym''s lair. It also provided a handy method to judge how the mercs would handle exotic monsters.


    The first match pitted Price''s men and women against Laughlin''s. It gave Aidan a chance to prepare for the later spectacles. Toward that end, he sought out Eldrid. To his complete lack of surprise, he found her near one of the merchants selling alcohol. A crowd of young men¡ªand a heaping handful of young women¡ªsurrounded her.


    A word to one of his bodyguards sent a pair of them into the mob. For a brief moment, it seemed like the youths might react violently to the intrusion. One of the men, a centaur with hair a touch closer to orange than Brighid''s, pawed at the ground and clenched his fists. Then he spotted the phoenix-shaped passion elementals hovering over Aidan''s shoulders and thought better of it. A few seconds later, Eldrid emerged from the press of bodies flanked by the two centaur bodyguards.


    "My hero," she cooed at Aidan. One gloved hand pressed itself to her sternum¡ªdrawing attention to the pale cleavage her raiment displayed rather than covering it up¡ªand the other to her forehead. "I thought they might swallow me whole!"


    "Like you weren''t reveling in it." Aidan snorted at her theatrics. "If we didn''t need to get ready for our demonstration, I would have left you to them. Or maybe ''left them to you'' would be more accurate? You''re a bit of a maneater, and there were quite a few young men back there who would be lucky to be so devoured."


    "Lord Aidan." Eldrid''s voice carried none of the jovial teasing it had a moment earlier. "If you''re implying that I would have frivolous sex with one or more of those kids," she placed a heavy, displeased emphasis on the word, "because they were drooling over me, it would cast a rather unpleasant light on the way you view me and our relationship." Her silver eyes glinted as she glared up at him. "I might need to re-think our agreement."


    A part of him wanted to apologize right away. He''d more or less called Eldrid a slut to her face. The little voice in the back of his head who was the remains of Daniel Stewart from Atlanta was mortified. Back on Earth, he took pains to be conscientious. That wasn''t wrong. He knew that. However, he was no longer that person, nor were the circumstances at all similar.


    Here in the Realms, Aidan''s Skills told him a swift apology would be a mistake. For one thing, Eldrid wasn''t quite as offended as she was pretending to be. She wasn''t happy about being called out like that, but she was making use of it to provoke the exact response he wanted to make. It would put Aidan on his back foot and give Eldrid social leverage over him.


    Aidan formed a privacy bubble around himself and Eldrid. She glanced around at the sudden silence, then turned her head to watch him when he started to speak. "Eldrid, you looked at me like a slab of meat before I''d so much as said a word to you. Then, a couple of hours later, you climbed right up into my lap, shoved my face into your tits, and told me I could touch wherever I liked." He avoided mentioning the dagger in the ribs just in case one of his bodyguards was reading his lips. He didn''t want the kind of incident that would cause.


    "If you can''t take a little ribbing, maybe you''re less secure in yourself than I thought." Aidan turned his gaze to Eldrid and put as much confidence into his tone as he could. "Or maybe that''s the problem? A lack of ribbing. All you have to do is ask for it, Captain." He let her stew on that for two heartbeats, watching the color rise in her cheeks. She was the one off-balance now, so he could offer an olive branch without losing ground. He''d have to be careful, however. Her gift meant that ordinary platitudes would fall flat.


    "That said, I do apologize for giving offense. I only meant to tease." Genuine truth. "You have a way of getting under my skin and provoking strong reactions from me." Strong possessive reactions, which he didn''t say. Eldrid would know he wasn''t telling the complete truth, but Aidan didn''t think it would bother her in this instance.


    "Hmm." Eldrid looked up at him with half-lidded eyes. "Apology accepted. I reserve the right to hold this against you at a future point, however."


    "You''re a woman; I took that for granted." That earned him a smirk. "Speaking of which, please tell me that armor is enchanted."


    "What?" Eldrid''s eyes widened, and she put a hand to her cheek in mock surprise. "Don''t you think I look good in it?"


    Aidan snorted. "Eldrid, I''ve seen body paint that hid more than that outfit, and you don''t need to go fishing for compliments about your looks. If I weren''t forbidden from touching you, I''d be leading you to a private tent right now instead of the dueling grounds."


    "Oh?" A predatory smile spread across midnight blue lips. Eldrid sidled close enough to Aidan that her hip brushed against his thigh with each step. "And what would you do with me once you had me all alone?"


    "Let''s just say we''d be fighting a very different duel." Aidan summoned a Magic Hand and brushed nonexistent fingers down Eldrid''s spine.


    Eldrid shivered at the phantom touch and swayed an inch closer. "A shame that we''ll be before your adoring public, then. That wouldn''t stop me, but I wouldn''t want to sully your image any more than I already will when I beat you."


    That brought Aidan back to the matter at hand. "Sure, sure. Seriously though, it''s not just for show, right? My magic doesn''t really have a nonlethal setting."


    A finger poked Aidan''s side, drawing his attention down to rolling eyes. "Yes, it''s enchanted. I place a high value on protection, Lord Aidan. And don''t you worry about me. Valmai''s Talent is both effective and thorough. So no matter the result of our little spar, we''ll both wind up in the exact same condition we started in, as will all our gear."


    "It''s still weird to think of her as an undefeated duelist."


    "Aidan, Valmai would run you through in a heartbeat if she could find any advantage to it. I''m, oh, ninety percent sure she''s a hardcore sadist." The thought didn''t seem to distress Eldrid any. "It wouldn''t surprise me to find out she uses it on her boy toys to make sure they can work the next day."


    "Yeah, no thanks." Aidan shuddered at the implications. A little erotic pain¡ªspanking and the like¡ªwas one thing. Needing a magical reset after sex was something very different.


    "Oh, you sweet, summer child." Eldrid laughed and patted Aidan''s thigh. Her hand lingered, stroking.


    "Bah. Winter is coming," Aidan responded, taking a half-step to the side to increase the distance between them.


    It was no use. Eldrid wrapped her arm around his and pressed herself against him. "Ooh. A fan of the classics? Are you sure you don''t have one of those private tents handy? We have a half-hour before we need to be anywhere."


    Aidan hid a smile. Trap set and sprung. Aidan followed the subconscious prompts from his Seduction and Domination Skills. He stopped and looked down into Eldrid''s glittering silver eyes. Made sure she was looking at him. Letting her see the absolute truth behind his words.


    "All you have to do is remove the shackles, Eldrid." A touch of his fingers to the back of her wrist. "But if you think what passed between us the last time we were alone in a tent is the pinnacle?" Another touch, this time lower, between her waist and hip. "Well, I can take you," the word choice was deliberate and underscored by his hand slipping down and back onto her ass, "to far greater heights. But when," he said, emphasizing the word with soft pressure from his hands rather than a stronger tone, "I do, it''s going to take much, much longer than half an hour. And I promise you''ll be in no condition to fight off so much as a baby rabbit when I''m done with you."


    Eldrid stood transfixed by Aidan''s eyes, words, and touch. The dents in the front of her leather shirt grew more pronounced with each syllable he spoke. By the third sentence, Eldrid was shifting her weight from side to side, rubbing her thighs together. Her mouth opened, then closed, then parted to allow her pink tongue to wet her lips. Aidan held her gaze and continued to stroke her through her outfit for several heartbeats longer, then released her, turned, and started walking again.


    It took ten seconds before Eldrid scrambled back into place at Aidan''s side. "You keep breaking the no-touching rule," she said, trying to regain lost ground.


    "You keep letting me."


    She didn''t have a response to that. Instead, she changed the subject. "Valmai''s Talent does have one restriction. There has to be something on the line."


    "Oh? I know you haven''t forgotten the last time we made a wager." Aidan wasn''t going to let her slip off the hook so easily.


    "How could I?" There were hints of both arousal and bitter sarcasm in Eldrid''s tone. "But the unforgettable part was the resolution of the wager, not what we bet."


    "True. What did you have in mind? I set the terms last time, so it seems only fair to cede it to you now."


    "Let''s set the stakes a little lower this time." Aidan had no problem with that, so he nodded for Eldrid to continue. "If I win, you owe me one massage. No happy ending required. I''d offer the same if I lose, but I''m no good at that kind of thing. Instead, if you win, I''ll back off from hunting you down for relief for two weeks."


    Aidan''s eyebrows climbed towards his hairline. "Are you sure you can hold off for that long?" It was a serious question. It''d only been four days since their first bet, yet she''d already demanded ''relief'' three times.


    Eldrid flipped her hair over her shoulder. "I''m not going to lose, so it doesn''t matter."


    "That sounds rather familiar." Aidan let the doubt he felt show in his voice.


    "Stuff it." The tone was playful, teasing. She really was confident in her victory. "That was then, this is now. You''re not going to use your cheaty magic this time because you don''t want to reveal that capability. I''ve got the advantage against you, water versus fire, and you know it."


    "I''m not just fire, you know." Mostly so, okay, but he did have other tricks.


    "Sure, sure. I''ve got more than water, too, so it balances out."


    Aidan shrugged. The stakes were low, so it wasn''t a big deal. "Okay, if that''s how you want it."


    "Great. I want the full-service massage, magic hands and all. Your fiancees have been talking you up, you know."


    Of course they had. Probably not Aoife, but Aidan wouldn''t put it past Brighid to try to seduce¡ªor help him do so¡ªany woman he expressed even a bit of interest in. And Sunnild, bless her heart, was hardly any better when she was horny. That was a pretty constant state for her ever since she confirmed her pregnancy.


    "You have to win first," Aidan reminded Eldrid. "You may or may not have the advantage, but I won''t make it easy on you."


    "Oh, don''t worry," she shot back. "I prefer it hard."


    Oops, served that one up to her on a silver platter. Better to follow through than concede defeat, though. "Didn''t your mother ever tell you not to play with fire? You''re liable to get burned."


    "Ooh, yeah." Eldrid was on a roll now. "Give it to me hot and heavy, Aidan."


    Okay, maybe a tactical retreat was in order. "Save it for the duel." Aidan canceled his sound barrier before Eldrid could riposte yet again. "We''re here."


    The sounds of an enthusiastic crowd battered at both of them, preventing any further verbal communication. Out on the practice field, Captain Dyfri''s mercenaries defended a low ''hill'' capped with a waving flag against waves of Starchaser militia. The centaurs swirled around the fortified position, peppering their cu uisce opponents with blunted arrows and charging from unexpected angles. Each charge pushed just a little bit deeper before the centaurs peeled off, never sticking around long enough for the infantry to recover.


    Dyfri''s troops weren''t helpless, however. Low earthen walls sprang up in front of the galloping centaurs, forcing them to jump or swerve to the side. Whoever their mage was, they gave the Starchasers plenty of time to avoid the obstacles, likely to prevent serious injuries. That still meant that someone else had control of their path, however, and arrows and javelins rained down on them from within the mercenaries'' lines.


    The circling, swirling melee continued for several minutes, with neither side winning a clear advantage. The otterkin mercs took longer and longer to close the gaps in their lines as more of their troops took ''lethal'' wounds, but the Starchasers lost speed to an ever-more-complicated obstacle course and bled off trickles of ''wounded'' as well.


    A horn, one that Aidan recognized, blew, and the centaurs wheeled as one and galloped straight into Dyfri''s lines. Aidan winced at the audible crunch when dozens of half-ton and up centaurs collided with braced infantry. There wasn''t much that the Snow-Water Riders could do against that kind of momentum but give ground, and so they did. This time, however, not all the Starchasers peeled off. Instead, they retreated in sections, only to return in a full gallop as their fellows backed off.


    It was a picture-perfect Total War-style rotating charge, and it devastated the otterkin. Their disciplined shield wall collapsed into individual fighting, and a minute later, a triumphant lupine howl pierced the sounds of fighting as a giant wolf leaped over the defenders, seized the flag, then darted back through the melee into the clear field. An observer signaled the end of the mock battle by sending a lightning bolt booming into the sky. Raucous cheers rose from the onlookers, the loudest coming from the Starchasers as they celebrated the victory.


    Aidan put a hand on Eldrid''s shoulder to draw her attention, then jerked his chin towards the field. She nodded, and the pair of them walked out of the crowd and into the spotlight.


    Zurai


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Orange, Lupus, and an anonymous Patron for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 75: Turn the Tide

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Fifthday, 2nd week of the 11th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Early Afternoon


    Caellach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    For the second time in his life, Aidan faced down an opponent in a dueling ring. Fortunately, this time no one''s life was on the line. Captain Valmai, looking far too unassuming in her pastel blue dress, stood at the center of the ring. "Lord Aidan, Captain Eldrid, this is a sanctioned duel. Therefore, you can fight with your full strength without risking accidental death or dismemberment. However, be aware that this protection only affects the duelists." She met both their gazes. "The purpose of this match is to show off, not to kill onlookers. Keep that in mind when you choose your spells."


    Both Aidan and Eldrid nodded their agreement. Valmai grunted, then continued. "This is a duel, not a peepshow. I know this is an exhibition, but please try to keep the show to your skills, not your bodies. I cannot keep you from flirting, and the crowd will not hear you if you keep your voices to a normal level, so please try to restrict yourselves to words alone."


    Aidan blinked at the diminutive otterfolk, but Eldrid gave a full-throated laugh. "Oh, don''t worry, Val. I''ll stick to the plan."


    "That is what I am worried about," came the dry response. "Very well. Once I reach the sidelines, I will begin the duel. You will know when my Talent activates." Then, suiting actions to words, she turned and walked away.


    Aidan steeled himself. He didn''t know what to expect from Eldrid beyond the general knowledge that she was a high-level water mage. Aidan''s magic, meanwhile, was a matter of public record. Eldrid would surely be ready for his standard barrage opener. He wasn''t positive how she''d defend against it since he could attack from almost any angle, but she was much too confident to expect otherwise.


    Instead, he planned to bluff her. He''d cast Burning Barrage, just like she expected him to, but he wouldn''t launch the motes right away. Instead, he would Invoke Lightning Arc. Only a handful of people knew he had any lightning attacks, so Eldrid shouldn''t expect it. And, even better, electricity fared much better against water than fire did. If he got exceptionally lucky, he might even land the stun.


    Before he could get much deeper into speculation, Aidan felt his surroundings shift. A pulse traveled from the center of the improvised dueling ring, leaving a shimmering wake behind it. That had to be Valmai''s Talent activating. Aidan''s eyes locked onto Eldrid as they both started to cast. Aidan''s hands traced familiar patterns in the air while Eldrid whirled into a dance.


    A dozen glowing cinders flashed into existence around Aidan''s head. He was glad he chose not to launch them right away, however. A wall of water surrounded Eldrid and lifted her into the air in the center of a whirling spiral. Instead, Aidan stretched out his arm and cast Lightning Arc without vocalization or gestures.


    A crack of thunder sounded, and blinding light struck out from his fingers, leaving glowing streaks seared into his vision. The electricity struck Eldrid''s swirling barrier¡ªand did not penetrate.


    "Nice trick!" Eldrid called out to him. "But pure water is an insulator, not a conductor." Her dance continued unabated, a second layer of liquid protection spinning into existence around her. Then one of her legs kicked out towards Aidan. A stream of water thicker than Aidan''s torso split from the column surrounding Eldrid and lashed out at him.


    A split second later, it crashed against the ground where Aidan had been standing with all the force of a centaur''s charge. He had to dodge again immediately as a second strike followed the first, then a third, fourth, fifth. Eldrid only attacked with one tendril at a time, but it took her less than a heartbeat to switch from one to the next. The only thing saving Aidan from losing in the opening salvo was the distance between them. Eldrid''s attacks were fast, but they had to travel far enough that Aidan had just enough time to dodge.


    Seeking to maximize that aspect of the fight, Aidan moved away from Eldrid with each dodge. The farther apart they were, the longer it would take for Eldrid''s attacks to land. That worked well right up until the column of water protecting Eldrid started flowing toward him. Of course she isn''t immobile! Aidan berated himself. Water was always in motion. Why would he think that Eldrid''s magic wouldn''t be able to move?


    "Alright," Aidan called out to Eldrid, "time to stop taking it easy on you." Of course, he hadn''t been, and she''d know it thanks to her gift, but maybe it would cause her attacks to slow down just a hair while she bantered back at him. He''d need it because he''d never used this spell in a combat situation before. The nearly five seconds it took to cast Phoenixfire Conflagration would feel a lot longer while dealing with Eldrid''s unceasing barrage of watery tentacles.


    Sure enough, even as the first glyphs bloomed into red-gold existence trailing Aidan''s fingers, another tendril hurtled towards him like a limb from a pissed-off kraken. He dodged to the side, only to find out that Eldrid wasn''t restricted to attacking one at a time. The spray from the first strike''s impact with the ground washed over him a split second before the second attack struck him from behind.


    It was all Aidan could do to keep concentrating on his spell as he went hurtling through the air and crashed to the ground twenty feet away. He sprang to his feet and jumped to the side as soon as he rolled to a stop, correctly anticipating a follow-up attack. A quick review of Aidan''s interface showed that he lost almost two hundred health from that single hit. He couldn''t take many more like that.


    Of course, that damage wouldn''t be sticking around long. Aidan sprinted toward Eldrid and finished his spell with a shout. The fiery sigils surrounding him exploded outward in billowing gusts of golden flames. His health bar snapped back to full even as the air filled with steam. Not trusting the Conflagration to finish the job, Aidan flung the Burning Barrage motes he''d held in reserve towards where he last saw his opponent.


    The rapid thwumpthwumpthwump of explosions told Aidan that he''d at least managed to score some kind of hit. He could still feel the strange effects of Valmai''s Talent, however, so he hadn''t finished Eldrid off.


    Aidan knew he couldn''t afford to let Eldrid recover. She had far better defenses, and if her offense wasn''t as good, it didn''t need to be. In this circumstance, she really did have a significant advantage over him. Their wager wasn''t worth going all out for, but there were other, higher, stakes. Aidan needed to make a strong showing to convince the other tribes.


    An idea occurred to him. Eldrid seemed to use her whole body for the somatic components of her spells. If he could interfere with her dancing, it might give him an edge. There were only two ways he could do that. First, he could maim or sever one of her limbs. He wasn''t prepared to go that far quite yet, despite both Eldrid''s and Valmai''s assurances about the duel''s safety mechanisms.


    The second method was to land a Magma Blast and, with it, partial petrification. The status was a bit of a misnomer, as it didn''t turn the target''s body to stone. Rather, it encased what it hit with the cooled remnants of the conjured lava. If Aidan could strike any of Eldrid''s major joints¡ªshoulders, hips, elbows, knees, wrists, ankles¡ªit should disrupt her spellcasting.


    Even as the thoughts raced through Aidan''s mind, his hands and voice were acting on them. He didn''t start with a Magma Blast, however. Clouds of steam still obscured his sight, and he needed to land his shot with precision. Instead, he cast two different spells, one with each hand. With his left, he Invoked his oldest offense, sending a streamer of fire arcing through the space Eldrid used to occupy. With his right, Aidan debuted his newest magic.


    A bar of blinding blue-white flame snapped into existence above the battlefield. A sweep of Aidan''s hand sent the blade-like spell carving down through the air. Although he couldn''t see through the billowing flames left over from his point-blank Phoenixfire Conflagration or the resulting steam, his combat log showed no damage dealt. In fact, it showed no damage dealt to Eldrid by anything except the very first pulse of Conflagration. Something was off.


    Some sixth sense compelled Aidan to duck and roll. He felt and heard projectiles pass through where his upper torso had been. The attack came from behind him. Aidan came to his feet facing that way, but the cloud of steam was still too dense to make out a target. He gritted his teeth and summoned another Blade of Burning Wrath.


    "What''s the matter? Can''t find little old me?" Eldrid''s voice whispered past his left ear. Aidan dodged and spun to face her, plasma sword already sweeping through the air. Nothing. To whisper to him like that, Eldrid would have had to be standing right beside him. The steam was thick, but not that thick. He should have been able to see her.


    Wait. Not steam¡ªConflagration had spent itself, and the air was no longer superheated. Mist. Aidan cursed and leaped into motion. A heartbeat later, watery daggers rained down on his former position.


    "Aww, you figured it out." The pout was clear in Eldrid''s tone.


    "You turned into mist to get away from my Conflagration. It must have a near-instant casting time. Impressive defensive spell," Aidan admitted even as he ran in a zig-zagging course. He had to hope Eldrid''s foggy form wasn''t very large and couldn''t keep up with him. It wasn''t much of a hope, but it was what he had.


    "Not just defense. I can see, hear, and feel," the latter word was accompanied by what felt like Eldrid''s lips brushing against Aidan''s neck, "everything within the area."


    "There must be¡ª" Aidan came to a hard stop and leaped to the side, not quite fast enough to avoid taking a jagged cut across his shoulder. "There must be some kind of drawback. Limited offense?"


    "Come now, Aidan. You don''t really think I''m going to¡ª" more watery spikes rained down around Aidan¡ª "give away all of my secrets? I''ve read the Evil Overlord''s List."


    "Ah, so you admit you''re evil."


    "You can''t stall me out, Aidan. I can maintain this form indefinitely." That might be true. Aidan had no way of knowing. If it was, he was fucked. None of his fire spells had any apparent effect on Eldrid like this. However, it was hard to believe in a perfect defense. There had to be something he could do.


    "Right now, you''re thinking, ''there has to be something I can do,'' right?" Eldrid''s tone straddled the line between mocking and teasing. Another barrage of projectiles accompanied her voice. Aidan was getting used to the pattern by now. There seemed to be a short cooldown, seven or eight seconds between volleys.


    "I told you this was a bad matchup for you, Aidan. You can''t escape, and you can''t hurt me. If you''ve got any other flashy spells, I''ll give you a chance to use them before I finish you off. Gotta make a good show of it, right?"


    That triggered a recent memory.


    "You have to know that you are losing, then refuse to." The wind screamed as Ysbail spun her sword around for another attack. "If there is a shred of doubt in your mind, you will fail."


    There had to be a way to win. If magic wouldn''t do the job, well, Aidan had other tools. He dodged another attack from Eldrid, then planted his feet and drew his sword. He wasn''t very good at this yet. Ysbail could ignite her Aura with no apparent effort, but Aidan needed to focus for a couple of seconds. The timing would be tight.


    "Oh? What''s this? I know you aren''t giving up." Eldrid sounded more curious than anything, but Aidan couldn''t spare enough attention to respond. Instead, his thoughts were focused inward, locking away all capacity for doubt. It was no longer, I will win this fight, but rather, I have already won.


    Thump-thump-thump went Aidan''s heart hammering in his chest. He closed his eyes and focused inward. Thump-thump-thump. There was only himself and his sword. Thump-thump. The duel, the contest between him and Eldrid, vanished from his thoughts. Thump-thump. The crowd of onlookers, friends and potential allies alike, no longer mattered. Thump. All existence narrowed down to the beat of his heart and the flow of his blood through Aidan''s veins. Thump. As Aidan''s heart stilled, he smiled and opened his eyes.


    Thump.


    Five darts of high-pressure water sped through the mist toward his head and torso. There wasn''t time to dodge. There was also no need to. Silver light exploded out of Aidan''s body. All around him, the mist that was Eldrid recoiled like grease from a droplet of soap. In an instant, Aidan stood in a pocket of clear air ten feet in diameter.


    Eldrid''s attack reached him a split second later¡ªand splashed harmlessly off his Aura. A strike of that magnitude was no threat to him now. "Your move, Eldrid," Aidan said as his lips turned up at the corners. If she didn''t have another, stronger, attack, then they were in a stalemate. He couldn''t hurt her, she couldn''t hurt him.


    His opponent didn''t respond right away. Fog swirled around Aidan for several long seconds. Then, a spear of dense water screamed out of the mist aimed at his back. It fared no better against Aidan''s Aura than the smaller projectiles before it.


    "What happens, I wonder," Aidan asked, "if I burn off all of your mist at the same time?" Phoenixfire Conflagration''s cooldown was up. The spell''s baseline version didn''t have the reach to answer his question. However, he could now afford the time and concentration needed to spice things up with Incantations and Glyphs.


    "I am the spark that lights the world aflame," Aidan intoned. His hands spun through the air, tracing intricate layers of geometric patterns around him. He spoke in Highlands Gallic, not Divine Speech. There was no need to amp the spell up so much. And, besides, this would double as a taunt.


    "Do you really have to sound so chuuni?"


    Aidan didn''t respond, of course. That would disrupt the spell. Instead, he continued to chant. He focused his alterations on just one factor: range. Aidan intended to overwhelm Eldrid with a towering inferno that filled the dueling ring and beyond. He didn''t have to worry about friendly fire since Phoenixfire Conflagration wouldn''t harm anyone he didn''t consider an enemy.


    In exchange for increased reach, Aidan sacrificed healing potential. He was down a few dozen health points, but he only needed a fraction of Phoenixfire Conflagration''s base healing to fix that. Ten percent would be more than enough once the aftershocks were considered. All he needed was to knock Eldrid out of her defensive form. The two waiting Blades of Burning Wrath would seal the deal.


    Aidan''s voice rose to a crescendo, and the glowing glyphs around him pulsed with blinding energy. Even as he prepared to unleash his magic, the fog around him streaked toward one end of the dueling circle. Eldrid reappeared in the center of a small sphere of water, which hardened into ice a split second later. No sooner did she vanish from view again did Aidan complete his spell.


    For the second time in less than a year, the shriek of a hunting phoenix preceded fiery wings sweeping through Ceallach Macht. Aidan directed the fire over the crowd''s heads and down onto his opponent. For five seconds, shining golden flames raged across the battlefield, and within them, two blue-white swords dove in for the kill.


    Zurai


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Orange, Lupus, and an anonymous Patron for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 76: Antipyretic

    Zurai


    Eldrid


    The Realms


    Fifthday, 2nd week of the 11th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Early Afternoon


    Caellach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    The only thing that saved Eldrid from being flash-fried was the thickness of the ice around her. In the first heartbeat of Aidan''s flashy battlefield spell, she felt several inches of the three-foot-thick barrier sublimate straight to steam. Eldrid focused on pulling the water back down into her impromptu igloo as Aidan''s onslaught went on and on and on.


    Then a fucking lightsaber plunged straight through her defense like it didn''t exist. The first searing blue-white blade missed her by a hair''s width, passing under her left arm. The second did not. Eldrid felt a tug, the tiniest hint of resistance, on her right wrist. Acting on instinct, she jerked her arm away. Then she stared at the stump on the end of it where her hand should be.


    The pain hit her a split second later. Agony crawled up her arm and across her spine. Eldrid staggered, her whirling dance disrupted, her concentration hanging on by a thread. She curled up into a standing fetal position and clutched her arm to her belly as if the pain would stop. The two lightsaber-like blades crossed an inch above her head, her life saved only by her instinctive reaction.


    This wasn''t fun anymore. Eldrid was a sitting duck here. Her icy dome might be able to protect her from the inferno outside, but it didn''t leave her much room to dodge physical attacks. Not for the first time, she regretted that her Vapor Form only transformed herself. Her enchanted equipment lay in a pile where she''d been when Aidan surprised her the first time. She wasn''t confident it would have protected her from this new spell, but it couldn''t have done worse than her bare skin.


    Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Aidan better give the best fucking massages in the world. This is gonna hurt. Eldrid opened a hole in the ice and sprinted out of it. The protective spell melted back into water and covered her as she passed through, but not before the conflagration made its presence felt. A scream rose from her belly and out through clenched teeth. It felt like she was running through Satan''s own fires. She could feel herself being cooked alive.


    Knowing the lightsabers couldn''t be far behind her, Eldrid offered a silent prayer to God and her Patron. Please let this work. Marshaling her tattered concentration, she threw herself into a front handspring. A one-handed front handspring, something she''d never had much reason to practice.


    Between her pain, unfamiliarity with the motion, and inability to see through flames, Eldrid almost overshot the first block. However, desperation and long years of disciplined practice saved her, allowing her to correct for the bad angle. She launched into a shorter, tighter, more dangerous, but most importantly, still moving second handspring.


    Then, as if in answer to her prayers, the fires around Eldrid died out. Once again able to see the ground in front of her, she landed one more handspring before launching into a twisting leap. The first rotation provided a fleeting glimpse of the battlefield. Still encased in his silvery defensive spell, Aidan stood out like a sore thumb¡ªas did the two blades speeding toward her. She couldn''t dodge or outrun them forever. It was time to bring out the big guns before Aidan managed to finish her off.


    Eldrid gathered the thin layer of water around her and the billowing clouds of steam from the air and shaped them into long, thin threads. Then, she anchored one end of each to her body. As she spun, they followed, lashing out like a thousand near-monomolecular whips. Aidan''s blazing swords¡ªwas that a third one now?¡ªproved immune to the attack. For a heartbreaking second, Eldrid thought Aidan was as well. The first several dozen strands to connect with him fragmented upon contact.


    Then the silver glow shattered, and Aidan''s blood spurted from hundreds of cuts across his body. Eldrid couldn''t maintain cohesion in watery tendrils this thin for more than a fraction of a second after they encountered resistance. It was still enough to carve inch-deep lacerations through Aidan''s armor and into his flesh.


    Eldrid landed poorly, a jolt traveling up her left leg and making her stumble. Heart in her throat, she spun to face the attack she knew was coming. Halfway through the turn, her leg gave out. Eldrid toppled to the ground face-first. She reached with her hands to arrest her fall, forgetting she was playing the part of Luke Skywalker at the end of Empire Strikes Back. The pain of her stump jamming against the hard-packed soil was a savage reminder.


    Struggling through the agony, Eldrid raised her head to watch the attack that would spell her loss. Supine like this, there was no way to dodge all three of the swords. One would strike true. That would be the end of it. Nonetheless, even as she watched the three blades separate to hit from different angles, she struggled to her feet. In all her life, both here and on Earth, Eldrid never quit.


    When retinal dystrophy claimed the last vestiges of her eyesight two months after her eighth birthday, Eldrid¡ªHazel, at the time¡ªdidn''t cry. She''d known it was coming, already learned Braille and familiarized herself with autoreaders and text-to-speech tools. But, most importantly, Hazel enshrined the mental photos she took of her parents years prior when she learned that, one day, she wouldn''t be able to make out their faces.


    Blindness shaped Hazel''s life, but it didn''t rule her. She diverted the attention other children spent on visual media into other pursuits. The first four dance teachers her parents approached rejected them out of hand, unwilling to take on the extra work a blind student would require. It took six gymnastics schools across three cities and two states to find one who would accept her. The whole time, Hazel wasn''t idle. She read books on the subject, sought out videos and podcasts to listen to, and taught herself the basics.


    Hazel never excelled at either of her chosen disciplines. She was never the lead dancer or the premier tumbler. Her unfailing determination to succeed, however, meant she was far from the bottom. Hazel never won an event, but she had more silver and bronze medals and runner-up trophies by the time she started college than years of age.


    At Tulane, pursuing degrees in dance and psychology, Hazel first encountered immersive virtual reality. Normal VR was of no interest to her since it relied on vision. IVR, however, bypassed the retina and acted on the brain itself. While nothing within the simulated worlds was real, it was still a transformative experience. Faced with the prospect of being able to see again, Hazel finally had a goal.


    It took her a year after graduation to save up enough money to buy a top-end IVR rig and another six months to afford a more budget-oriented pair for her parents. That night she walked her parents through installing the units and software, running the launcher, and creating their avatars. When she logged in and saw their faces, the same as the ones she''d held in her mind''s eye for almost twenty years, she couldn''t hold back her tears.


    Then came The Realms. Boasting a new level of sensory and kinesthetic fidelity and artificial intelligence, it proved irresistible to Hazel. She applied to the alpha test program and, when she received her copy, spent all her free time playing. She worked her way up from a newbie character with few skills to becoming a respected tradeswoman over an in-game year.


    It was on a purchasing trip that joy turned to horror. It was always Eldrid''s habit to switch her respawn point to the nearest one to her present base of operations. So when a local merchant she''d done business with before invited her to stay at his manor while she conducted her business, she accepted without putting much thought into it. Gorry never leered at or propositioned her like most other men she met, so Hazel felt comfortable in his presence. When his home registered as a spawn point, she thought it was the game''s way of telling her it was a safe zone.


    How wrong she was. Gorry turned out to be another Chosen, and his home was a trap for the unwary. He killed her the first night, swift and silent. When Eldrid woke up, the death notification came as a total surprise, but she had no chance to make sense of it. Gorry was there waiting, knife in hand.


    The subsequent fight was short. Naked and disoriented, it only took a few seconds for Gorry to overpower and restrain Eldrid. He took his time with her then, torturing her in unspeakable ways. Never sexual, thank the Lord, but no less terrible for it. And yet, Eldrid never stopped fighting. Gorry killed her twice more with a special dagger granted to him by his Patron, each time siphoning some of her soul.


    When she woke up for the third time, something inside her told Eldrid this was her last chance. If Gorry killed her again, she would stay dead. Spurred on by necessity, she struggled tooth and nail. The other Chosen seemed to revel in her resistance, cutting her several times in exceptionally painful ways that nonetheless left her able to continue to fight.


    That proved to be his downfall when, in her desperation, Eldrid learned to Invoke spells. She used her own blood as a source and impaled her murderer on a dozen sanguine spikes. Then she wrenched the dagger from his grasp and stabbed him with it, once in the chest, then again under his chin.


    Even with Gorry dead, Eldrid knew it wasn''t the end. He would revive, just as she had. A small part of her wanted to do to him what he''d done to her. She might have if she wasn''t afraid of him turning the tables on her. Instead, she worked through the night and the next morning, redirecting water from the nearby river to Gorry''s manor.


    Eldrid flooded the basement, where the murder chamber was, clear to the ceiling. Then she rusted the door''s hinges and lock, hopefully trapping Gorry inside when he respawned. Next, she piled furniture against the door, just in case. Finally, she used water pressure to undermine the house''s walls, collapsing the upper floors and leaving behind a pile of rubble housing what she hoped was Gorry''s final, watery grave.


    So, when Eldrid saw Aidan''s three lightsabers start their swings, she didn''t give up. Instead, she bent backward and twisted to the side, causing one to pass an inch above her nose and a second to burn a trench in the ground. The third plunged straight through her abdomen and out the other side. Eldrid tried to jump away, but her legs refused to cooperate. Her back hit the dirt a heartbeat later.


    The pain was overwhelming. Her missing hand, scorched skin, and now severed spine. Tears sprang unbidden to Eldrid''s eyes as she watched the blades swerve in the air above her. This was it. She was going to lose. Eldrid watched the bars of blue-white fire come for her, refusing to close her eyes. Aidan won fair and square. She wouldn''t avert her gaze from his victory.


    As she watched, the swords wobbled to a stop in mid-air, then vanished. Confusion reigned in Eldrid''s mind. What happened? He''d better not be going easy on me. A moment later, the world around her shattered, and she found herself, armored once more, staring at an uninjured Aidan from across the dueling ring.


    "And with Lord Aidan reduced to unconsciousness by blood loss, the winner is Captain Eldrid!" Valmai''s exclamation washed over Eldrid. Her mind reeled at the sudden cessation of the various agonies inflicted on her during the duel. Aidan appeared the be suffering similarly, judging by the way he swayed on his feet.


    Eldrid ignored the raucous crowd noise and walked over to Aidan, step by ginger step. Her brain was still screaming that she was paralyzed, while another part reminded her she''d sprained or broken her left leg. The paradoxical nature of those phantom complaints just made things worse.


    When she reached Aidan, she pulled him into an embrace and rested her forehead against his. Eldrid stared into Aidan''s eyes for a long moment, both of them panting with the effort to resist phantom pain. Finally, she mustered a grin. "I know you think you''re hot stuff, Lord Aidan, but you should really be more gentle when you shove your sword into a girl."


    Aidan''s eyes widened at her joke. He let out a wheezing chuckle, then said, "I dunno, you seemed plenty wet to me."


    Eldrid snorted out a laugh of her own. "Another myth. Water is a terrible lubricant. Believe me, I''d know." As it turned out, sex in a jacuzzi was a much worse idea than it sounded like.


    They both laughed. Then Aidan''s head tilted, and his lips pressed against hers. Caught up in the moment, adrenaline still pumping through her system, her body still telling her that she should be dead, Eldrid did not resist his touch. She opened her mouth with a needy moan. Their tongues met between their lips, fighting a miniature duel of their own.


    Only the sound of Valmai repeatedly clearing her throat nearby brought Eldrid back to her senses. She jerked her head back and pushed off Aidan with her hands. Both hands, thank the Lord!


    "What was it I said about exhibitions, Captain Eldrid?" Valmai''s voice was dry as a desert.


    "Yeah, yeah. No plan survives first contact with the enemy and all that," Eldrid responded. She took a step away from Aidan, shoving the feelings his hungry gaze brought forth into the back corners of her mind. "Vapor Form has its restrictions, and I''d have lost the duel then and there without it."


    "I have to admit," came Aidan''s wry response, "I didn''t even realize you were naked until the very end. Something about us trying to kill each other distracted me." Golden truth flared around him.


    "Oh?" Eldrid crossed her arms beneath her breasts, pushing them up and framing her exposed cleavage. As always, Aidan''s eyes dipped to her chest and lingered for a moment, sending a warm surge through Eldrid. Seeing the effect she had on men never got old. "Such a shame. It might have been your only chance. Tragic to have squandered it so."


    "You intend to be clothed when I give you your massage?" Aidan asked when his eyes returned to hers. He arched an eyebrow.


    Eldrid smirked. "Maybe, maybe not. That''s for me to know and you to anticipate." She took note of the way Aidan''s nose flared and jaw clenched. Now, every time she mentioned it, he''d have to wonder just how much she''d let him see. It would be fun teasing him for the next few days before she let him off the hook.


    "Now then," she continued, "I believe we need to clear the field for the next demonstration. I find myself desperately in need of another drink. Care to join me, my Lord?" Eldrid offered her hand to Aidan, who hesitated a moment before holding out his elbow for her to take hold of. How cute. He was still trying to resist her. That was a concern for tomorrow, however. Right now, she needed to forget how it felt to have third-degree burns over most of her body.


    Zurai


    Eldrid''s status screen:


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Orange, Lupus, and an anonymous Patron for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Intermission: A Special Girl (Commission)

    Zurai


    How''s this for a surprise? This is the first of the chapters created as a result of my SGDQ charity drive. The commissioner''s request was simply for a look at a genderbent alternate reality. I also altered their personalities a bit to offer a glimpse of things from a different angle. If that''s not your cup of tea, well, feel free to skip this chapter. It''s a bonus and doesn''t impact my normal posting schedule.


    Also, WARNING: this chapter is pretty much just sex, so if that''s not what you''re interested in, there''ll be a standard chapter next Monday as usual.


    For the record, this is the only commission request so far which has been NSFW, so don''t worry that they''re all going to go this route.


    Adria swallowed as Brid strode towards her. Clack, clack, came the sound of hooves on stone. She couldn''t help but drink in the sight of him. He was huge in every respect. He towered over her by almost two feet. His arms and broad, bare chest rippled with powerful muscles. Then there was the rest of him, stretching out behind him in the form of a warhorse with coppery fur. And, bobbing and weaving under his belly, a hard, humanlike prick, its rounded tip drooling in anticipation.


    Adria could feel her body reacting to his presence. Heat suffusing her body at the centaur''s burning emerald gaze. Her nipples drawing up tight and hard. A trickle of wetness dripping down her inner thigh. She couldn''t escape him. She knew it, he knew it, he knew that she knew it. Fine. She didn''t want to.


    What Adria wanted was to feel Brid''s hands on her body. Exploring, measuring, learning, claiming. She wanted one of those dinner-plate-sized hands to cup her breasts. She yearned for his fingers to touch her, tease her, then trail down, down, between her legs, then back up, inside her, spreading her apart.


    "Adria." His baritone voice drew her out of her daydream. Adria blinked up at Brid. He was so close! She rubbed her thighs together.


    "Yes, sir?" Her voice came out as a squeak. She blushed even brighter under the flush of her arousal.


    "Do you want this? Last chance to back down."


    Adria swallowed. She was beyond nervous, her belly infested with a thousand frantic butterflies. "Yes," she managed to say. "I¡ªI want this. You. I want you. Please?" Brid would accept her. She knew he would. He loved her just as much as she loved him. Maybe more. But still. He was so big. So powerful. Surely he''d break her? Perhaps she wanted to be broken, so long as he was the one doing it.


    Those emerald eyes swallowed her up with their intensity. Adria''s mouth opened of its own accord, her breath already coming in short, sharp pants. Brid reached down and palmed her cheek. His thumb pressed against her lips, between them. She closed around it, sucking, licking.


    "Good girl." His voice, his words, made her shudder. The pool of liquid heat at her center turned to magma. She heard a needy, feminine moan, realized it was hers. He heard it too. Brid''s eyes widened, then a slow smirk spread across his face. "Do you know what good girls do?"


    "Whatever we''re told," the fire burning inside Adria answered without hesitation.


    "Stand up, Adria. Take off your clothes. I want to see you." Brid''s voice was deeper now. Hungrier. His eyes drifted downward, and Adria realized she''d obeyed without thinking. She was swaying on her feet, her hands bunching up the hem of her shirt and raising it.


    Slowly, inch by inch, Adria revealed herself to Brid. Part of her rebelled, wanting to hide her slacker''s body, all soft and round and un-muscular. An athletic hunk like him couldn''t possibly want to see that. Then her shirt was up, over her head, and tossed to the side. She stood rigid, not daring to lift her gaze back to his face.


    "Beautiful." Brid''s whisper washed over her with more force than a dragon''s roar. She trembled, hardly believing her ears. He stepped forward into her personal space, one hand reaching out, hesitating an inch away from her skin. Adria stared at it, uncomprehending. Then Brid touched her, the feel of his palm and fingers enclosing her right breast seared into her mind for all time.


    Adria arched her back in Brid''s touch. Another moan, louder, more desperate, clawed its way from her mouth. He squeezed her tender flesh, a little rough, but she wanted more. His hand shifted to the side, making room for his thumb to find her hard, aching nipple. "Brid!" she cried out, her voice rising as he played with her. A finger joined the thumb now, rolling her nub between them.


    "You sing so beautifully for me, love. But you are not obeying. Do you not want to be a good girl?" Between Brid''s touch, the fire in his eyes, and that sexy, confident smirk on his lips, it took Adria a moment to understand his words and realize what he meant.


    With a blush and a squeak, she dropped her hands to her waist. Thoughts of embarrassment vanished from her mind thanks to the intensity of Brid''s gaze and the searing pleasure of his touch. Adria pushed her skirt down, shimmying and twisting her hips until it pooled at her feet. Between one heartbeat and the next, his hand was there, wrapped around her thigh. She looked up at him, biting her lip, begging with her eyes.


    Brid''s hand stroked her leg, then shifted, sliding inward, forcing her thighs apart. Forcing? Adria flung her legs open. She bared her soaking wet pussy to Brid''s eyes, his hand, his fing¡ªher mind went blank. He was touching her. His fingers split to either side of her gushing opening, laying alongside her lips. The heel of his palm pressed against her clitoral hood, the pressure exploding into pleasure.


    "Please." Adria didn''t realize she spoke until after the word was out of her mouth.


    "Please, what?" Brid''s smirk grew even wider. He knew what she wanted, what she needed.


    Adria reached down and tried to pull Brid''s hand tighter against her groin. Her fingers didn''t even make it all the way around his wrist. "Please, Brid, please touch me."


    "I am touching you?" It was phrased as a question, but Adria knew the command behind it. Beg, he told her. Beg for me, for my touch, to feel me inside you.


    If he wanted her to beg, she would. She wanted to be his good girl. "Please, Brid, inside me. I want you inside me. Your fingers or¡ª" She cut off as her love slid his middle finger between her folds. Even with his heel resting against her mons, his fingertip tapped at her rear passage. Did he want her there too? He''d split her in half. Adria rolled her hips forward, desperate to increase the contact. She''d never needed anything so much before.


    Then she felt the pressure. Brid''s blunt fingertip slid between her lips and pressed against her entrance, wiggling around and worming its way into her. Her mouth opened in a soundless gasp. She tilted her hips, arching and twisting to expose the perfect angle to him. Deeper he sank, spreading her inner walls apart. Brid''s palm rubbed back and forth across her clit. Adria''s mind swam with unprecedented pleasure. Then, a moment later, it was gone. She was devastatingly empty once more.


    Before she could utter more than a whimper of protest, Brid''s arms surrounded her, lifting Adria up as if she weighed no more than a feather. She stared up at him, wide-eyed and panting. "I cannot wait any longer," he said to her. She felt cushions against her back. Brid released her, but his hands lingered on her body. "Roll over. Present yourself to me."


    Adria obeyed. She spun in place, turning onto her hands and knees. Brid''s lustful gaze burned into her back as she wiggled her butt and spread her legs for him. Adria trembled, waiting to feel the fur of his belly pressing down against her back. Waiting for his thick, hard cock to spear into her, finally claiming her.


    Instead, she felt hands clasp her cheeks and spread them apart, followed by Brid''s broad, wet, long tongue. Adria shrieked and tossed her head back at the sudden, unexpected sensation. Static filled her mind, pulsing to the beat of her rapid-fire heartbeat. Her whole world reduced to wet muscle slurping between her legs and strong hands kneading her ass.


    Brid took his time, exploring every nook and cranny of Adria''s groin. His tongue licked from her asshole up to her clitoral hood, then drilled between her lips. Adria barely felt herself sinking forward onto her elbows and lifting her butt higher. Nothing mattered but the ecstasy brought by his swirling, probing, sweeping appendage.


    When Brid coaxed her clit free of its protective covering and sucked it into his mouth, the static in Adria''s head exploded into a blinding white flash. She convulsed, dancing on the end of Brid''s tongue. The pleasure rolled on and on and on, drawn out by his wicked touch. Not even feeling the wet tip squirming against her rear entrance stopped Adria from soaring to ever more distant heights.


    Adria didn''t notice Brid moving until his front hooves landed beside her ears, so powerful were the orgasms wracking her body. "You are mine," he said. His voice was low, hoarse, harsh, full of love and lust and need.


    "Yes, yours, Brid, yours," Adria babbled. It was finally happening. She felt Brid''s forelegs bend, hooves sliding under her to grasp her by the shoulders, holding her steady as his weight settled on her back. Adria shivered in eager, terrified anticipation when she felt the long, hard rod of his manhood against her belly.


    Without thinking, Adria reached behind her and seized it. It was thinner than his wrist, but only a little. Her short fingernails grazed against her palm as she started to stroke him. As she''d observed through earlier furtive glances, it was shaped like a human''s phallus, with a rounded head covered with slippery foreskin rather than the broad, flat head of a horse''s dick. It wasn''t nearly so long, either, though long enough for the slime trail to reach her belly button.


    "Adria." Brid''s voice thrummed through her body, energizing her. He wanted her. Wanted to put this inside her, to sink into her needy depths and thrust, rut, pound against her until he filled her with thick, white, creamy seed. Adria moaned and pushed her head against the bed. She needed it too. Needed to feel him using her, claiming her, ruining her for anyone else. She arched her back, pressing up against his belly to make space while she lined up his tip to her entrance.


    "Do it. Please, Brid, take me." She held him as his thick cockhead butted against her, slipping around and grinding against her folds for several seconds before the tip caught in her. All the breath was sucked from Adria''s lungs as the pressure mounted, as Brid forced his way into her.


    Brid''s finger made her feel full earlier. His cock went far, far beyond full. She felt her body strain and stretch to accommodate him, to make way for the girth and the length plowing inexorably forward. Her hand slipped down to rub fast and hard around her clit, combining pleasure with the dull ache of his plodding penetration.


    "Adria," Brid rumbled from above her. "Gods, you feel so good. I can barely move with how tight you are around me."


    Adria couldn''t respond. She had no processing power to spare for speech. All of her attention was directed between her wide-spread thighs, at the nine inches of thick, hard manhood disappearing into her hungry pussy, and the fingers at her clit rapidly bringing her to another shattering climax. The pressure against her back increased, forcing her down, pinning her beneath her stallion.


    Adria groaned as she felt Brid bottom out in her. How did it all fit? She could feel the hard bar of his cock against her forearm where it lay along her abdomen. It nudged against her belly button from the inside. Another rumble came from deep in Aidan''s chest, then his hips pulled away from her upturned ass, dragging his cock along for the ride.


    Adria moaned and flicked her clit even harder. Her pussy, the same one that so resisted swallowing Brid''s manhood whole, now clung tightly to him, desperate to keep him inside. It did no better a job this time than before. She was powerless to stop him from fucking her. The thought bounced around her mind for a split second before detonating into another brilliant climax.


    "Fucking good girl," Brid said as he felt her convulse around him. His voice burst inside Adria''s skull in a radiant fireworks display. "Come on my fucking cock. Fuck, you feel incredible."


    "Yes, sir," Adria managed to gasp out. "Coming for you, sir!"


    "Good girl, good little mare." Brid pushed back into Adria''s clasping depths. His progress was faster this time, bottoming out in only a couple of seconds. He withdrew, then thrust again, faster, harder. His relentless motions extended Adria''s orgasm, somehow timed to shove her back to the peak just as the pleasure started to plateau.


    Adria wasn''t even rubbing herself anymore. She lacked the coordination. Instead, Brid''s thrusts and retreats pushed and pulled her across the cushioned surface of the bed. The friction on her clit and nipples might lead to unpleasant consequences tomorrow, but right now, it was driving her to spiraling heights of pleasure.


    "Yes, please, wanna be your little mare, always yours, oh, fuck, Brid, more!" Adria knew she was babbling but didn''t have the presence of mind to care. Instead, she reached out in front of her, grabbing at anything to hold onto.


    A thought came to Adria, an image of what a voyeur might see. Brid kneeling down on the bed, a pair of feminine, human arms extended out in front of him, two pale white legs spread wide to his sides. Nothing more of her would be visible beneath his thrusting, save perhaps for glimpses of her inner thighs or her vaginal lips clinging to Brid''s cock as he withdrew from her.


    Anyone who walked in would know who she belonged to. There would be no mistaking her scent filling the room or her ecstatic, muffled cries. Adria''s arms and legs sought only to push her onto the stallion''s driving manhood, not to escape or resist. She was a creature of pleasure now, a wanton slave to Brid''s cock.


    The centaur above her bore down on Adria as his thrusts grew quicker, sharper, harder. He pressed her flat against the bed until she couldn''t even lift her hips to help him hilt himself in her. All she could do was lay beneath him, come, and cry out her pleasure.


    "Here it comes, Adria," she heard him say. His thrusts grew short, barely pulling out a couple inches before slamming forward again.


    She felt Brid''s cock swell inside her. "Oh fuck, you''re getting bigger!" she squealed. He was going to come in her. Fill her with his thick, virile semen.


    An image of herself cradling a swollen belly, off-white milk trickling from nipples atop engorged breasts, flashed through Adria''s mind. She didn''t know if centaurs and humans were compatible. She hadn''t thought about it. Hadn''t considered whether she might get pregnant. If Brid might breed her, now or in the future.


    "Yes!" Adria shouted in exultation as her peak erupted in a volcanic pyroclasm. Every nerve ending in her body sang. She writhed beneath Brid''s crushing weight, clutching at the bed, kicking with her legs. A moment later, Brid shouted her name and lunged forward and down, knocking all the breath from her lungs. His cock swelled even further within her, then began to pulse. Adria felt warmth spread deep inside and knew that she''d fulfilled her purpose. If she could have locked her arms and legs around Brid, she would have. Instead, she lay pinned beneath him, trembling and convulsing in repeated aftershocks.


    When she returned to her senses an uncertain amount of time later, Adria crossed her arms in front of her and stroked what she could of Brid''s lower body. "I love you," she told him.


    "I love you too, Adria," he replied. Then he shifted his weight and moved within her.


    Adria''s eyes widened. He was still hard as velvet-wrapped steel. "Brid?"


    "I have not had enough of my good little mare yet. Unless you are asking me to stop?"


    Adria shook her head frantically and spread her legs as wide as they would go. "Please, more, anything you want," she begged. Now she''d had a taste of it, she would never get enough of her stallion mounting her.


    Brid glanced at the gray-feathered harpy sitting with her arms wrapped around her knees. "Are you sure about this?"


    "It''s fine," Adria said in a soothing tone. "Look at her. She needs the love." She looped her hand behind Brid''s neck and drew him down to her lips. "Besides," she whispered between kisses, "I want her too."


    Brid''s fingers wrapped around Adria''s ponytail and tugged. She tilted her head back, baring her collared neck to his mouth. "I only want you," he murmured.


    "You only need me," she corrected, stroking his shoulders and resisting the urge to moan. "You want her. Go ahead." Brid continued nibbling at her throat for a few moments longer before letting her go and walking over to Sunnild.


    He knelt down behind her, placing a hand at the base of her wings. Sunnild started, then again when Adria cuddled up to her side. "We''ve decided," she told Sunnild. "We like you."


    "Huh?"


    "We like you, and we want to keep you," Brid added. Sunnild looked back and forth between them, eyes wide and luminous.


    "Ya mean...?"


    Adria smiled. She was adorable! "Yes. If you want to stay the night and see where this might go, you can." Adria placed her hand on Sunnild''s hip. The girl trembled at her touch.


    She stayed there, immobile but for the tremors running through her, for several long seconds. Then, Sunnild spun, launching herself into Adria''s lap and pressing parted lips to hers. Adria choked back a giggle at the poor girl''s enthusiasm. She shifted her weight and dropped her hands to cup Sunnild''s pert butt, squeezing and kneading as the kiss went on and on. Two hard points formed atop the harpy''s smaller boobs as they pressed against her own.


    Not to be ignored, Brid scooped them both up in his arms. Sunnild gasped at the unexpected motion and clung tight to Adria. "We should move this somewhere more appropriate," he said, walking toward the bedroom.


    A few seconds later, he deposited them in a tangle on the bed, then sank down beside them. One large hand explored each of their bodies, stroking their hair, backs, thighs, and butts. Adria and Sunnild resumed their kiss, squirming and writhing against each other at Brid''s touch.


    "I want you too," Sunnild said in a gasp between hungry kisses. "Both of you."


    "You can have us," Brid said in the rumbling register he only reached when he was hard and raring to go.


    Sunnild shook her head. "I want you both at the same time."


    Adria smiled and nuzzled the bird-girls nose. "Okay. Here, let''s try it this way." She wriggled around on the bed until she lay supine. She patted her belly. "Climb aboard."


    Sunnild crawled over her, her tiny, hard nipples dragging a burning trail up Adria''s belly. The harpy''s mouth teased every inch of skin she passed. She paused to suckle for several moments at Adria''s breasts, sending bolts of arousal straight to her core. Adria arched her back and held Sunnild to her chest, though she didn''t make an issue of it when the girl pulled away. Instead, Adria tugged at her shoulder, pulling Sunnild up until she could kiss her again.


    "Get up on your hands and knees and brace yourself." Sunnild complied readily enough. Adria took the opportunity to run her hands over the younger girl''s athletic body, cupping her smaller breasts and teasing those cute little upturned nipples. Sunnild''s head tilted back at the attention, her eyes closing in pleasure. "Let me feel how ready you are. My love can be a bit rough on a girl the first time."


    "Okay," Sunnild whispered. Adria detected a hint of uneasiness to the girl''s tone but assumed it had to do with her warning. She slid one hand down the harpy''s toned belly, then between her thighs. Hot, wet flesh greeted her. Sunnild was dripping a steady stream of thin, oily lubrication. Adria teased the girl''s folds for a little while before slipping a finger inside.


    "Oh!" Sunnild gasped and flung her head back at Adria''s touch. Her hips tilted and swung backward, seeking more contact.


    "Does it feel good? Not too full?"


    "Mm-hmm!"


    "Do you want more?"


    "Mm! Please!"


    Adria smiled and added a second finger to the mix. She twisted and curled them inside the gray-feathered girl. Her tunnel felt different from a human''s. No surprise there. The biggest difference was a firm, raised ridge running along the top of Sunnild''s inner passage. The girl gasped and thrust against her hand when Adria stroked it. Maybe it was an extension of the clitoral nerve? Whatever it was, it was clearly a hot spot.


    After stoking Sunnild''s fires for a few minutes, Adria pulled her fingers free and brought them to her mouth to taste. Sweet, maybe a hint of vanilla, or she might be imagining it. She smiled up at Sunnild, who looked down at her with hooded eyes. "I think it''s time we let Brid play, don''t you?"


    "Mm!"


    Her Soulmate didn''t need any more prompting. Adria felt the bed shift as Brid moved behind them, then Sunnild stiffened above her. "He''s so good with his tongue, isn''t he?" Adria asked.


    "Mm-hmm! Uh! Good!"


    Adria stroked Sunnild''s sides, watching the expressions on the girl''s face change as Brid devoured her. A flash of disappointment in Sunnild''s eyes was her only warning before Adria felt Brid''s hands seize her hips and pull her up onto his tongue. Adria let her head fall back and her thighs spread wide. God bless men who loved to eat pussy. Sunnild''s mouth descended on her from above, stifling her moans while Brid drove her to the cliff''s edge. Then he was gone.


    Adria groaned her frustration and lifted her hips, seeking her partner''s tongue. "Settle down, love," Brid told her. "You will get yours. Sunnild, are you ready for more?"


    Sunnild broke off from kissing Adria and glanced over her shoulder. She trembled for a moment at the site of Brid towering over the two of them. Then, she shifted her weight, pressing her torso to Adria''s and lifting her butt higher in the air. Her wings spread out to the sides, clearing the way for Brid. "Please?" she asked, voice halfway between desperate and uncertain.


    Adria cupped Sunnild''s cheek and gently turned her head to look her in the eyes. "It''ll be fine," she said. "Brid won''t hurt you." The centaur in question stepped forward, careful not to step on either of his lovers as he straddled their bodies. "He''ll feel so good above you," Adria continued as Brid lowered himself down. "And even better when he fills you."


    Adria''s legs were inside of Sunnild''s, so she wrapped her ankles around the younger girl''s and spread them wide. Sunnild''s head dipped down, staring between her body and Adria''s at the object of her desire. Adria reached down and caught her Soulmate''s dangling prick, pumping it several times while Sunnild watched. Then she angled it up, rubbing the tip against the harpy''s large, bulging clit for a few seconds before notching it at her entrance.


    "Last chance," Brid said, voice tense from the strain of holding back.


    "Do it. Please, Lord Brid." A moment later, Sunnild tucked her head against Adria''s neck and bit down, muffling a soul-deep groan of pleasure.


    "That''s right," Adria cooed, stroking Sunnild''s thigh as she trembled. "Let him in. Feel him filling you so full."


    "Mm-hmm! MM!" Sunnild''s right hand sought out Adria''s left, their fingers tangling together.


    "Does she feel good, Sir?" Adria asked.


    "Gods, she is even tighter than you." Brid''s voice was strained.


    Adria giggled and squeezed Sunnild''s hand. "Because you haven''t made her body learn how to take you. Not yet."


    "Mm!" Sunnild moaned and bit down harder.


    Adria shivered and bared her neck. One of the things she missed with Brid as her only lover was love bites. "Ooh, I think she likes the idea."


    "She just came. It is like a fucking silken vice squeezing me."


    Sunnild''s left hand, the one not tangled with Adria''s, grabbed Adria''s thigh and followed it down between her legs. "Ooh, yes, little one. Rub my pussy while my lover makes you come all over his cock." She spread her legs even wider, welcoming Sunnild''s touch. Nimble fingers danced over her lower lips, up to her clit, then between her folds. Sunnild rocked above her and squealed against Adria''s neck as Brid pulled out and thrust in again.


    Sometime between Brid''s third and fourth thrusts, Sunnild pulled her mouth from Adria''s neck and panted, "I need you, Lady Adria, please? Please, can I have you?"


    Adria tilted her neck to nuzzle against the girl''s shoulder. "You have me, sweetling. Do whatever you want."


    Sunnild''s hips started to thrust and rub against Adria''s. She reveled in the sensation of their slippery clits glancing off each other, especially every fifth or sixth rotation, when Brid shoved Sunnild down against her. Then she felt something odd. Sunnild''s clit started to... was it getting longer? It was. The girl''s hips rolled in longer motions, now dragging her lengthening member through the center of Adria''s folds.


    "What.. is that... do you have a...?" Adria was stunned, unable to form a coherent sentence. Was Sunnild some sort of hermaphrodite?


    "Uh-huh," Sunnild panted. "We all do. For when men are scarce."


    "Oh, honey," Adria moaned as Sunnild''s girl-cock glanced off her entrance. She buried her head in the harpy''s shoulder. "Oh, do it, please." Sunnild''s fingers guided herself to Adria''s opening, teasing the tip up and down. Then Brid thrust down into Sunnild, and both women cried out as the impact forced Sunnild all the way into Adria.


    "Oh, mm, mm," whimpered Sunnild. "Oh, Lady Adria, Lord Brid, you feel so good!"


    "Are you fucking my Soulmate while I fuck you?" Brid''s voice was as aroused as Adria ever heard it.


    "Mm-hmm!" "She is!"


    "Fuck. So hot." Brid withdrew, pulling Sunnild''s hips up with him, then thrust again, spearing into her depths even as she sank into Adria''s.


    "Oh, yes!" Adria cried out, arching and twisting. This was completely unexpected. She saw the hints now, but she never expected to end this night impaled on Sunnild. The girl''s member wasn''t half as thick as Brid''s, nor quite as long, but it didn''t matter. Adria wallowed in the sensation of Sunnild''s breasts against hers, her mouth biting at Adria''s neck, and the smooth, slender cock burrowing inside of her.


    She unwrapped her legs from Sunnild''s and rotated, repositioning her hips so that the younger girl was driving straight down into her. It also let her hook her heels around Brid''s flexing rump, adding her minuscule strength to pulling him down into the pair of them. Her Soulmate grunted and settled down on top of them, pressing the two women together. They moaned into the crooks of each others'' necks as he hammered away at Sunnild and, through her, Adria.


    "Oh! Oh! Oh!" Sunnild writhed between them. "Oh, Lord Brid! Lady Adria! I''m, I''m close!"


    "Do it," Brid urged. "Come on my cock and come in my mate." His pace increased as if to drive the girl onward.


    "Do it," Adria agreed. "Come for us, Sunnild."


    "Mm! Mm! Oh, Lord, Lady! Ah!" Sunnild convulsed above Adria, her hips thrusting, lunging deep into her as her member pulsed and jerked inside. The girl''s mouth clamped tight against Adria''s shoulder and her fingers dug into her skin. Adria reveled in the sensations.


    "Ooh, she''s coming inside me, love. It''s so warm. Are you going to fill her tight little virgin pussy? Gonna give her a baby while she gives me one?" Of course, thanks to her precautions, neither could happen right now, but who cared?


    Brid let out a strangled groan above her and surged hard against Sunnild''s upturned ass. "Oh, fuck, Adria, Sunnild!" The impact was enough to force air out of Adria''s lungs and draw a quiet, choked cry from Sunnild. Brid pulled back an inch, then lunged forward again. Sunnild''s spasming cock burrowed deeper into Adria with each wet smack of Brid''s hips against the harpy''s pert butt.


    "Ooh, Lady Adria, I came inside you," Sunnild whimpered. "What if you get pregnant?"


    "Uh!" Adria moaned, arching. Sunnild''s question sounded genuine. She shouldn''t be getting off to this. She should reassure the girl. Instead, Adria slid her hand between her legs and rubbed her clit hard and fast.


    Despite her concern, Sunnild''s hips wiggled and bounced against Adria''s, no longer making any effort to withdraw. The harpy''s girl-cock was still pulsing, jerking, spreading wet warmth deep inside her. Adria''s legs pulled tight, squeezing herself up against Sunnild and impaling herself a fraction of an inch deeper. "Oh!" she cried out. "Oh, fuck, there''s so much! How are you coming so much?"


    "I can''t help it," Sunnild moaned. "You both feel so good."


    Bright sparks danced behind Adria''s closed eyes as her fingers went into overdrive. Impossible images of a naked, pregnant Sunnild holding her by the hips and thrusting into her from behind filled her mind''s eye. Her own swollen belly and leaking tits swayed beneath her in time to the motion of Sunnild''s pert ass.


    "Ah! Ah! Coming!" Adria howled, her back jackknifing as her inner muscles clamped down around Sunnild''s still slowly pulsing member.


    It took a few minutes for the three of them to calm down. Well, in a relative sense. Brid was still hard as ever after a single orgasm. But Adria and Sunnild were curled up together, free from the centaur''s weight pressing them to the bed. "It''s okay, sweetie," Adria whispered. "I liked it, you liked it, Brid certainly liked it. We''re all adults, and nobody forced anybody."


    "But what if..." Sunnild sniffled.


    "Centaurs aren''t cross-fertile. And if you¡¯re worried about me, don¡¯t be. I have control over my fertility."


    "Really?" Gray eyes peeked up at Adria through darker gray crest feathers.


    "Really." Adria smiled at her new lover and kissed her forehead.


    "Then, um..." Sunnild squirmed. A hot, slender bar of flesh rubbed against Adria''s thigh.


    She had to laugh. "You''re hard again?"


    "Mm-hmm. You''re so sexy, I can''t help it." Sunnild ducked her head.


    "Okay, but this time, I''m in the middle. I want you both."

 Champion, Chapter 77: Out of Control

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Fifthday, 2nd week of the 11th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Late Afternoon


    Caellach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    The wargames and demonstrations continued for several hours after Aidan''s and Eldrid''s duel. Aidan was happy he had the foresight to delegate the later events to trusted subordinates. The memory of Eldrid''s final attack would join the others haunting his nightmares for a while to come. He needed a drink as much as she did, though he couldn''t indulge as much as Eldrid. He needed to be sober when the Summit reconvened.


    By the time they were bathed in the red-orange glow of the setting sun, his quasi-lover/tentative ally/potential enemy was beyond sloshed. To no one''s surprise, she was a horny drunk. As the hours passed, Aidan spent more and more time fending off clumsy kisses and wandering hands. He wasn''t the only one, either. Brighid and Sunnild, who joined the pair as they walked off the practice field, were both on the receiving end of occasional amorous attention as well. All while Eldrid proclaimed that she was straight as could be.


    With every drink Eldrid downed, Aidan grew more frustrated. He wanted her, wanted to indulge in her lush body and hear her begging for his touch. However, as she was, he wasn''t even sure Eldrid knew whose crotch she was trying to grope. There could be no satisfaction for him like this.


    When Eldrid started trying to strip off her armor in the middle of the alehouse, Aidan decided enough was enough. No one would touch her while Aidan, Brighid, Sunnild, and their bodyguards were around. Once they left to return to the Summit, however, Aidan had no doubt that things would be quite different. Already, anonymous men shouted from the packed alehouse crowd, encouraging Eldrid to get naked and jeering at Aidan''s attempts to stop her.


    "We can''t leave her here like this. Sunnild, can you take her under the hill? Not to our chambers, just to one of the larger unoccupied rooms. Maybe try to find one of her crew to let them know where she is." Sunnild would miss part of the meeting, but she could be spared as she had no formal role. Eldrid did, but Aidan didn''t think her absence would cause any problems.


    Sunnild bobbed her head and flashed Aidan a smile. "Of course. It''s so sweet of ya to protect her like this."


    Aidan suppressed a grimace. In truth, he was seething at the mere thought of Eldrid acting like she was with anyone else. A pale hand cupping a catfolk''s bulge, dark blue lips kissing a centaur''s throat, dozens of unknown hands roaming across Eldrid''s body. The mental images brought a trembling rage to Aidan''s heart and a sour twist to his stomach. He''d never been so possessive or so angry. I need to get to the bottom of this soon. Something isn''t right.


    Shaking off the thought, Aidan said, "Eldrid''s not herself right now."


    "''M fffine. Nev... neffer bedder."


    Ignoring the woman in question''s slurred protests, Aidan continued, "I don''t know how it looked from the outside, but that fight was brutal. If I didn''t need to go back to the Forum, I''d likely be as bad off as she is. And despite losing, I got off lighter than she did as far as traumatic wounds are concerned."


    "Mm. I''ll take care of her." Her eyes flicked to Brighid, who gave her a slight nod.


    "I know you will." Aidan smiled and kissed his fiancee, prompting a mumbled complaint from Eldrid. "With how much booze is in her, she''ll probably nod off soon." Sooner if you decide to indulge her, he thought but managed not to say.


    For whatever reason, the thought of Sunnild''s hands roaming Eldrid''s body brought only arousal. Aidan had to stamp down on that, too. The blue-haired Captain was beyond any question of consent. And, even as drunk as she was, she kept saying that she had no interest in women. Of course, those protests rang false considering that one of Eldrid''s hands was rubbing Sunnild''s thigh, but a no was still a no.


    It wouldn''t matter anyway. He''d bet a considerable sum that Eldrid would be out like a light as soon as she got comfortable. "Alright, let''s get a move on, then. We can go together as far as the Forum. Come on, Eldrid, we''re taking you to bed."


    "''Kay. They gonna watch?" Eldrid giggled and leaned her full weight against Aidan as he guided her out of the bar. He had to wrap his arm around her waist to keep her upright and moving.


    "This is going to take forever if we walk." Aidan glanced at Brighid, then decided against it. Instead, he cast Summon Mount. "Alright, Captain, up you go." With Brighid''s help, he got Eldrid astride the conjured mount. Sunnild hopped up behind her to help keep her on the horse''s back.


    The walk back was still slow, thanks to Eldrid swaying dramatically back and forth with every step her mount took, but the quartet made it to their destinations with time to spare. Aidan gave Sunnild another kiss in thanks, ducked a wobbly grab from Eldrid, and turned onto the path to the Forum proper.


    Spectators packed the Grand Council chamber full to bursting. Aidan could hear the buzz of hundreds of conversations even outside the building. He needed to look into methods to keep the noise levels down for well-attended sessions. Given time, he could probably make a modified version of his Sound Barrier spell that amplified noise traveling one way and nullified it the other. Bailiffs would have to do in the meantime unless someone else had a trick up their sleeve.


    As it had earlier in the day, the crowd grew louder when Aidan entered the building. He paused for a moment, struck by incongruity. He couldn''t remember anyone ever cheering at Daniel just for showing up. Eve, maybe, when she was younger? The thought of his sister twisted his stomach. She was trapped here like him, but he didn''t even know when she was, let alone where. For all he knew, she was already dead.


    Brighid touched Aidan''s shoulder, pulling him from his thoughts. He patted her hand and gave her a wan smile. It wouldn''t satisfy her concerns, but this wasn''t the time or place for anything more substantial. He proceeded to the Council''s table and took his seat beside Eilwen and Ailis. The other envoys trickled in over the next half hour. When everyone except Eldrid was present, Aidan rose and gestured to the onlookers for quiet.


    "Now that we are all gathered once again," he began.


    "All? Where is Captain Eldrid?" Searlas cut in.


    Aidan did his best to keep from grinding his teeth. What was the point of this interruption? "She is recovering from the stress caused by our duel. Captain Valmai''s Talent reverted the physical damage, but we both still remember taking the wounds."


    "By which you mean she got blind drunk and disappeared into your home with one of your wives."


    What was Searlas getting at? And why was he so antagonistic all of a sudden? Aidan thought they got along well before. "Sunnild is watching over her, yes. Do you have a goal with this line of questions, Chieftan, or may I continue?" Aidan fought to keep his irritation out of his voice but wasn''t sure if he succeeded.


    "I question the competence and commitment of someone who would drink to excess in the middle of such important negotiations." The gleam in Searlas''s eyes told Aidan that barb was aimed at him, not Eldrid. This was a political maneuver, then, silent blackmail. Searlas wanted something badly enough to damage his relationship with Aidan and Ceallach Macht over it.


    "I am sure that Eldrid would be happy to answer your challenge when she wakes up, Lord Searlas. Will you need my services, or are you confident in your victory?" Aidan could have kissed Valmai. The crowd seemed to appreciate her response as well, given the muffled laughter coming from all around the chamber.


    "I made an observation, nothing more. If Captain Eldrid did not wish to bring such attention onto herself, she should have chosen a more private venue."


    Aidan didn''t want to see this tangent devolve any further. "Very well, Chieftan Searlas. Your concerns and objections are noted by everyone, I am certain. As I was saying, now that all who will be attending this session are gathered, we can begin."


    Aidan paused a moment to make eye contact with each representative, even the Captains. "Each of you had a chance to examine the dragon''s tail and received one of its scales, correct?" A series of nods greeted his question. "Are you each satisfied that they represent the genuine article? That our region is indeed dealing with an active, adult dragon?" Again, they all nodded.


    "Then we come to the crux of the matter. I propose that we, the tribes gathered here in this chamber," Aidan gestured at the representatives, then extended his motion to include the crowd around them, "forge a pact of cooperation for the duration of the crisis. This winged calamity is more than any of us could bear alone, but one we can defeat together." He brought his hand around and slapped it into his palm for emphasis. "What say the rest of you?"


    "My men stand with you," Captain Price said into the ensuing quiet. The other three Captains present confirmed their participation in quick succession.


    Cynehild, the leader of Ceallach Macht''s harpies, leaned back in her chair. "I regret to inform you that the Ash Shroud Sisterhood will not be participating in this operation, Lord Aidan." Aidan''s stomach sank while the crowd burst into a susurrus of whispers. "In fact, I received orders earlier this afternoon withdrawing all but a token presence in the city." She hesitated, then added, "For what it is worth, I do not believe this is in response to anything you have or have not done, Lord Aidan, but I cannot say more."


    Well, that was a minor disaster. Still, if the others agreed to come¡ª


    "We, too, have our concerns," said Kaou, the ghostly wolfkin representative. "You have considerable personal prowess, Lord Aidan, and we acknowledge the threat the dragon poses. However, we remain unconvinced that your plan has a worthwhile chance to succeed."


    "The Mist Stalkers are willing to join with you¡ªfor the right price. As we all know, the dragon Karsarrym has in its lair two, presumably fertilized, eggs." Relief at Searlas''s initial statement transmuted to dread in Aidan''s heart. "If you want our aid, we require one of those eggs in addition to our share of the dragon''s hoard." So that was Searlas''s angle. He wanted a dragon of his own.


    The room exploded into a cacophonous outcry. The crowd gasped, shouted, cursed, cheered, and carried on in general. Those at the table were more restrained, but not by much.


    "Unacceptable," Cynehild snapped, her voice raised to be heard over the tumult. "The Ash Shroud Sisterhood opposes any such disposition. Are we to remove the threat now only to face it again in a half-century?"


    "How curious that you include yourselves in that statement." Searlas somehow managed to emanate smug superiority even through the crowd''s continued chaos. "It seems to me that you forfeited any say in such matters when you declined to participate."


    "We, too, would oppose such terms," Fanchenn, the other ancestor spirit, said. "Should the wyrmling join with your tribe, none could oppose you. Should it not, we will face another crisis when it makes its preference known. We cannot permit either to come to pass."


    Searlas turned his head to look at Aidan. "What say you, Lord Aidan? You have heard my price. I will remind you that the dragon''s lair is within my territory, but only I and my trusted lieutenants know exactly where. Without my assistance, you will never find it before Karsarrym acts." His lips turned up in a smile that radiated smug victory. "Further, any unauthorized violation of Mist Stalker borders with a military force could and would be construed as an invasion."


    If the Forum was loud before, it was deafening now. Strident jeers and raucous arguments echoed through the chamber. Acid rose in Aidan''s chest, and he fought to avoid throwing it up. He was trapped, and Searlas knew it. Why hadn''t he seen this coming?


    It was obvious in retrospect. All of his advisors warned Aidan that the Mist Stalkers in general and Searlas, in particular, were cunning and manipulative. Looking back, Aidan saw Searlas''s myriad traps and how he''d fallen for each and every one of them. That sense of camaraderie he''d felt, however distantly, was nurtured by Searlas from the start for this moment. Even Aoife''s plight acted as a red herring.


    The overwhelming noise echoing through the Forum beat against Aidan''s skull like a horde of Gothic warriors storming Rome''s walls. He raised his hand to cast Sound Barrier but stopped halfway through. The clamor''s pitch and timbre changed from surprised outrage to curious confusion. A quick glance around showed Aidan why.


    Standing at the western entrance, silhouetted by the setting sun, stood an eleven-foot tall winged man. His nude stone body bulged and rippled with carved muscles, and his hands and feet ended in gleaming claws. The figure was a gargoyle, but not Sarpedon. This was someone new.


    Speaking in a rumbling, grinding voice that sliced through the din, the newcomer said, "Please forgive my intrusion. This is the site of the Summit meeting regarding the dragon Karsarrym, correct?" The gargoyle''s eyes never left Aidan''s. He knew the answer, but Aidan nodded anyway. "Excellent. My name is Alektryon, and I am here as the Sapphire Sky''s representative to this Council. My apologies for being tardy. We took longer than planned to discuss the matter."


    Aidan notified Sarpedon of the impending Summit and invited the gargoyles to attend, but only as a formality. No one expected the enigmatic constructs to send anyone, Sarpedon included. Alektryon strode up to the Council table and stood in a hastily-made gap between the harpies and otterfolk.


    "Lord Aidan, we wish to alter our contract with you. We must discuss the reasons in private, for I will not share them in so public a setting." One platter-sized hand waved at the hundreds of spectators. "Suffice to say that events elsewhere in the world have brought new urgency to my people. In exchange for hastening your timetable, the Sapphire Sky is willing to sign a formal alliance with Ceallach Macht and provide direct assistance in your expedition against the dragon Karsarrym."


    Once more, Aidan felt himself tumbling along in a tide of fate outside his ability to control. With the gargoyles on his side, the others would fall in line. Even Searlas would balk at calling the expedition an invasion with them along.


    But the timing was all too convenient, too tight. Of course, it could be a coincidence that they acted to save Aidan as everything crumbled around him, but could he count on that? He''d never been comfortable with their contract in the first place. Lord Vader''s words echoed through his mind. "I am altering the deal. Pray I don''t alter it any further."


    Zurai


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Orange, Lupus, and an anonymous Patron for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 78: Betting It All

    Zurai


    Just a quick Patreon plug this month. I''m up to 4 chapters ahead (well, 3 now that this is posted, but will be 4 again soon) and am on-track for getting back to a 5 chapter buffer. Join my Patreon today if you want to get a month''s preview over everyone else!


    Aidan


    The Realms


    Fifthday, 2nd week of the 11th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Early Evening


    Caellach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    A hush fell over the Forum. A low buzz of excited whispers still filled the air, but everyone seemed to be waiting to see what happened next. Aidan felt like he didn''t have much choice in the matter. Still, there were some questions he could ask. "You are proposing a full military alliance between the city of Ceallach Macht and the Sapphire Sky Horde?"


    "We are." Alektryon''s face was impossible to read. Aidan badly wished Eldrid was present. She frustrated him in so many ways, but her gift provided certainty.


    The problem was how uneven this was. Aidan had no way to enforce the terms of any treaty he made with the Sapphire Sky. From everything he''d learned of the subject, gargoyles were close to indestructible. Their bodies were made of enchanted stone, near-impervious to weapons and magic alike. With a combination of Soulfire Blast and Blade of Burning Wrath, Aidan might be able to hurt one. Maybe.


    A group of them? Not a chance.


    He wanted to clarify whether the alliance would be with him or the city but put it aside to ask later. The answer wouldn''t change how the rest of the Summit went. Instead, he asked, "And you will send one or more of your tribe along with the expedition against Karsarrym?"


    "Indeed. Even we of the Sapphire Sky must recognize the threat caused by a rampaging dragon. Furthermore, we know where its lair is. It lies along the border between our territory and Chieftain Searlas''s." One huge hand made a casual wave through the air in the sour-faced catfolk''s direction. "Should the Mist Stalkers continue to prove recalcitrant, the expedition can be routed through our lands."


    Aidan nodded. "And all you''re asking in return is for me to prioritize our previous arrangement?"


    Alektryon''s face remained impassive, but his words carried a hint of reluctance. "There are a few other minor provisions. We do not believe you will object to them."


    Of course there were. "A moment, please." Aidan turned to Ailis and whispered, "Thoughts?"


    "I do not like this. The deal they are offering is too good." Ailis''s tone carried the same frustration Aidan felt. "Still, there is an opportunity here. Shield us?" Once Aidan put up a Sound Barrier, she leaned in to whisper straight into his ear, using her hand to shield her mouth from any potential lipreaders. Aidan listened, nodding along. When Ailis finished, he gave her a smile and squeezed her hand beneath the table.


    Dispelling the silencing spell, Aidan turned his attention back to Alektryon. "I have a counter-proposal for you. Ceallach Macht has no intention of waging any wars of aggression, so a military alliance is more than we need. Instead, I ask the Sapphire Sky to join us in founding a coalition of mutual defense and economic cooperation." The buzz in the Forum grew louder as Aidan''s words reached eager ears.


    Alektryon folded his arms across his chest. "You know that we prefer to limit our interactions with the world outside our lands."


    Aidan met his gaze without flinching. "And yet you came to me. My proposal does more for that end than your initial suggestion. With a full alliance, you would be obliged to join Ceallach Macht in any war we fought." He spared a glance to the other representatives. None of them looked happy with the idea. "I could forge a kingdom with a handful of gargoyles fighting for me. Your race was designed as the perfect soldiers, after all."


    The crowd fell silent as Aidan spoke. Only an occasional isolated whisper disturbed the quiet. "With a defensive pact, you would only need to protect member states from outside aggression. Your mere presence as a signatory would deter all but the most powerful, determined, or, to be blunt, stupid invaders. The latter is no problem, but the first two," Aidan shrugged. "You would end up involved in one way or another anyway."


    Aidan spread his arms apart, indicating the room as a whole. "I do not want a kingdom. I want a peaceful place to live with my family and raise my children." His mind conjured up an image of the radiant smile that burst across Sunnild''s face when they confirmed her pregnancy. "For us all to raise our children." His eyes bored into Alektryon''s as he placed heavy emphasis on all.


    The statuesque gargoyle remained silent for long seconds. His eyes never left Aidan''s, but his attention seemed to be elsewhere. Finally, cutting through the onlookers'' renewed whispers, Alektryon said, "There are details which must be worked out. However, the Sapphire Sky agrees in principle to your proposal. We will join our fates to yours, Phoenix King."


    The Forum erupted. A cascading cacophony of cheers seemed to shake the very air, feeding off each other in an echoing reverberation. Aidan let them shout. He needed a moment to collect himself. Relief flooded through him, followed closely by concern.


    Aidan was almost certain that Alektryon was in telepathic contact with his brethren. For them to come to an agreement in such a short time, either they had no intention of honoring the deal, or they were desperate for Aidan''s help. Neither was promising, though, of course, the latter was preferable.


    Still, he couldn''t let this opportunity go to waste. This was Aidan''s chance to make his dream a reality. He held up his hands for quiet and, within a few seconds, had it. "Thank you, Alektryon. I look forward to working with you and your people in the future." He swept his gaze across the other delegates. They could all tell what was coming.


    "With our new friends, the Sapphire Sky Horde, I am now confident in achieving victory over Karsarrym. The dragon''s hoard will be distributed among the expedition members proportional to their investment in the expedition." Aidan took a breath and let it out in a soft sigh. Here was the threat he didn''t want to make. "If either of the eggs survives the battle, they will be brought back to Ceallach Macht and raised here under the League Council''s supervision."


    The implication was that they would be raised as weapons of war for the nascent League to use against its enemies. Of course, that was the exact opposite of Aidan''s intent, but he had to use the tools available to him. And doesn''t that sound just like something the old Ailis would say? The bitter question rang in Aidan''s mind.


    "I am sure that each of you needs time to deliberate. Today was full of surprises for us all. Therefore, I suggest we adjourn this Summit for the evening and reconvene tomorrow at noon. Are there any objections?" None came. "Very well. Then I call this session to a close. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Alektryon, Ailis, Eilwen, if you would join me under the hill? We have details to work out."


    Aidan


    Late Evening


    Caer Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Several hours later, Aidan walked into his quarters, rubbing his neck. Then he stopped, one foot lifted off the ground.


    "You sobered up quick," he said to Eldrid. She lounged in a pile of cushions around the dinner table, wearing one of Aidan''s shirts and nothing else visible. "And I was under the impression that shirt privileges only came after formalization of a relationship."


    Eldrid scoffed. "You expect a water mage to stay drunk and a pirate not to reappropriate things?" Sunnild, also sitting at the table, giggled at that.


    With a snort of his own, Aidan set his foot down and made his way over to the table. "A pirate now, are you? Respectable businesswoman, mercenary, mage, pirate... what''s next? Queen?"


    A wave of Eldrid''s hand warded off Aidan''s sarcasm. "I never made any claims regarding respectability. As for being a Queen? Well, you''re the only King I know." She leaned forward, causing her bounteous bosom to bulge obscenely through the unlaced front gap. "Is that a proposal? I''d question your ability to keep up with five women, but I already know you can."


    Before Eldrid could build up a head of steam, Aidan interrupted her. "No, it wasn''t, and you know it. I''ve had a long day, Eldrid, so please forgive me for being brusque, but why are you here? I was hoping to come home, have a nice dinner, and get a good night''s sleep. Your presence indicates those plans are in jeopardy."


    "Oh, pooh. Stop being a spoilsport." Eldrid relaxed back against the cushions and took a sip from her mug. "Good mead, by the way. Anyway, I''m here to collect on our wager. I won our duel, so you owe me a nice, thorough massage."


    Aidan settled down atop his customary cushions with a sigh. "The whole getting drunk thing was a sham, wasn''t it?" Eldrid''s answering smirk was the only answer he needed. "What would you have done if we left you alone in the tavern instead of escorting you?"


    Eldrid flicked her fingers, dismissing Aidan''s concern. "You wouldn''t have. It was sweet of you anyway, though." The smile she gave him even reached her eyes. "It wasn''t all fake, anyway. As it turns out, being roasted alive isn''t very pleasant even if it gets fixed afterward."


    He winced at that. "Sorry. I did warn you about fighting me." Aoife brought Aidan a tankard of mead and a bowl of some noodle-based soup, then sank down beside him. She wormed her way under his left arm and nuzzled his chest. Aidan shifted his arm, wrapping it around her waist and pulling her tighter against him. Aoife''s low, thrumming purr soothed his soul.


    "No worries. You did your best to win," Eldrid said, still smiling. "I respect that you didn''t hesitate or pull your punches. Well, not any more than circumstances dictated. We both know you would have won if you pulled out all the stops." She shrugged and accepted a bowl from Brighid. "Thanks. So yeah, don''t trouble yourself about it. Anyway, I understand I ended up missing some drama at the Summit?"


    Aidan chewed and swallowed before responding. Aoife''s cooking was improving fast. This almost reminded him of ramen, the good kind rather than the dollar store dried stuff every college student was familiar with. "Yeah. The gargoyles crashed the party and made some barely-hidden demands. Thank the Brighaid Ailis was there. She helped me turn it back on them."


    Brighid picked up the story as she settled in to Aidan''s right. "Aidan got them to agree to create a formal mutual defense and economic pact." She giggled. "You should have seen Chief Searlas''s sour face."


    Aoife''s purr intensified. "It was glorious." Her emotions, ever-present in the back of Aidan''s head, radiated smug satisfaction.


    "So he did pull something?" Eldrid cocked an eyebrow at Aidan.


    He nodded. "You were right. He tried to strongarm me into giving him one of the eggs." A hiss of outraged surprise came from Sunnild. Aidan sent her a smile.


    "It didn''t work, don''t worry. Searlas withheld the location of Karsarrym''s lair as part of the attempt, but the gargoyles know where it is, and it''s on their border. Took all his leverage in one sentence. I was able to spin the deal I made with the Sapphire Sky to secure both eggs if they survive the fight." Aidan''s smile turned apologetic. "I did have to concede to them being supervised by everyone who joins the League, but I intend to put you in charge of that."


    Sunnild nodded and smiled back. Her left hand drifted down and touched her belly, seemingly without her being aware of it.


    "So what did the rock-heads want from you?" Eldrid''s question pulled Aidan''s attention back to her. She was leaning forward, supporting her chin on crossed hands, elbows on the table. No doubt by design, the pose framed and emphasized her vast expanses of porcelain-pale cleavage.


    Aidan hesitated for a moment, considering how to answer. When he proposed the initial deal, Sarpedon made no effort to conceal what the gargoyles wanted from Aidan. Brighid, Cai, Llwyd, Ceirios, and Ysbail were all present at the time. Brighid was his Soulmate, and Cai and Llwyd had just sworn Oaths of Fealty, but the latter two had no strong affiliation or reason to stay silent.


    On the other hand, Alektryon had been much less forthcoming. Even after joining Aidan in Caer Macht, he refused to divulge the reason for his mission until Aidan blocked Eilwen and Ailis off with a Sound Barrier. As it turned out, gargoyles elsewhere in the Realms were dying at an alarming pace. Alektryon told Aidan that they''d lost four enclaves in wide-spread parts of the world in the last month and a half.


    While gargoyles had been a dying race before, thanks to their inability to reproduce on their own, they now teetered on the edge of extinction. Something or someone appeared to be trying to hasten that along. That was a secret Alektryon seemed to deem vital to the Sapphire Sky''s self-interest, so Aidan elected not to reveal it.


    "I can''t tell you everything," he said with an apologetic shrug. "A while back, they approached me with an offer. In essence, they handed me the keys to this place, plus ongoing informational assistance, in exchange for researching something for them." He extended his pointer and shook it back and forth when Eldrid tried to interrupt. "Hold your horses. I''m getting there."


    Eldrid stuck out her tongue at him, which, combined with her exposed cleavage, sent Aidan''s mind down a brief, invigorating tangent. Wrestling control back, he continued, "As it turns out, they can''t reproduce without the assistance of an Animamancer, and the last gargoyle with the skill and knowledge died out a very long time ago. They''ve been searching for someone to help them ever since."


    A frown creased Eldrid''s face. "Wait, soul magic? I thought you were a fire mage."


    Aidan smirked. "Now, when did I ever say such a thing?" Eldrid''s eyes narrowed. "Caer Macht is a four-leyline nexus. That''s all I''ll say on the matter for now." He liked Eldrid and wanted her far too intensely for his own good, but he couldn''t trust her as a confidant. Not yet.


    "Hmph. Fine, keep your secrets, then, for now. I''ll get them out of you sooner or later." She leaned back, uncrossing her legs, then crossing them again. The action brought Aidan''s eyes to Eldrid''s thighs¡ªpale, bare, surprisingly well-muscled¡ªand to the space between them. Whether she wore anything below or was going without underwear entirely remained an open question. The shirt Eldrid wore was just long enough to prevent him from seeing anything private.


    "Now then," Eldrid continued. Aidan''s eyes snapped back up to her face, blushing at the knowing grin tugging at her midnight blue lips. "We''ve eaten, I''ve cleared the evening with your lovely fiancees, and there remains an unpaid debt between us. I was going to tease you for a few days, but I think we could both use the stress relief. Of course, I won''t make you pay up now if you''re really opposed, but it would hurt my feelings." Eldrid pressed one hand to her bosom and another to her forehead.


    Aidan glanced at the three of his fiancees who were present. "You''re all okay with this?" He saved Aoife for last and kept his eyes on hers.


    "Go ahead, have some fun," Brighid said.


    "Mm!" came Sunnild''s agreement.


    Aoife gnawed on her lip, then nodded. "It''s fine. Just remember who wears your ring." She tangled her fingers in his hair and tugged him down into a searing kiss. Her emotions held a thread of worry among a tangled weave of tension, anticipation, and growing arousal. When their lips parted, Aoife leaned up and whispered in his ear, "Do whatever is needed to put her under your spell. The best way to neutralize her is to make her loyal to you."


    Aidan gave Aoife a hard look. He didn''t like what she was implying. She squirmed around until she straddled his lap, then cupped his cheeks in her hands. "Trust us," she said in a low, gentle croon. "We talked about this, all four of us. You''re going to end up in bed with her. At this point, it''s inevitable. Better to do it on your terms than hers. I don''t trust her, but I don''t think she''s an enemy right now." Aoife swayed forward, pushing her own impressive breasts into his chest, and nipped the tip of his nose. "Give her your best effort, and I doubt she''ll be able to bring herself to work against you for fear of losing access."


    Before Aidan could do more than frown, Sunnild and Brighid pressed against his sides. "Go ahead," Brighid urged again. "Eldrid needs you. She may not realize it, but I can tell."


    "Mm-hm," Sunnild hummed into Aidan''s neck. "She''s been all over ya from the start. I like ''er, and even Aoife doesn''t think she''s a bad egg. Ya don''t have ta force anything, but if ya get a chance, why not show ''er a good time? There doesn''t have to be anything more to it than that."


    "See?" Aoife brushed her lips across Aidan''s. "We''re in agreement, and we each have different reasons. So if you don''t like mine, that''s alright."


    "And yes, Mother agreed, too," Brighid added. Her breathy whisper into his right ear sent a shiver down Aidan''s spine.


    "Fine, fine," he said and gave each of his fiancees a kiss for their efforts. "I know when I''m outvoted. It looks like you and I have a date tonight, Eldrid."


    The corners of Eldrid''s lips tugged upward. She rose and stretched, the hem of her shirt still covering her groin by some miracle. "I''d say we already had the date, Aidan. Now comes the nightcap." She turned and sashayed into the room they''d set aside for Aoife''s use, then paused, leaning against the doorway and giving him a come-hither look over her shoulder. "Well? Are you coming?"


    "Not yet," Aidan muttered to himself. His woman snickered and pushed him toward the blue-haired vixen.


    Zurai


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Orange, Lupus, and an anonymous Patron for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 79: Bonds of Sea and Fire

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Fifthday, 2nd week of the 11th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Late Evening


    Caer Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Aidan closed the door behind him and erected a Sound Barrier to keep any pesky eavesdroppers at bay. It''d serve them right to wonder what the results of their machinations were. By the time he turned around, Eldrid lay prone on a cushioned table, her modesty preserved only by his shirt draped across her butt and upper thighs. She watched him approach with a serene half-smile and hooded silver eyes. Despite the covering on her lower half, she made no effort to shield her breasts from Aidan''s gaze. With her arms crossed beneath her head, Aidan had an unobstructed view.


    He didn''t bother hiding his appreciation of the sight. If Eldrid didn''t want him to look, she wouldn''t give him the opportunity. As if to confirm his thoughts, she shifted on the massage table, lifting a couple of inches until only her nipple remained hidden. "Ah, you''re here finally. I thought you''d chickened out."


    Aidan snorted. "It''s been two minutes. And why would I run? I get to rub my hands all over a gorgeous, mostly-naked woman. What''s not to like?"


    "Flattery will get you... well, no further than you''re already getting, but I appreciate it anyway." Eldrid''s lips quirked up in a grin. Then she settled back down onto the table. "As for why you''d run? I''m not sure either, but you seemed quite reluctant a few minutes ago."


    "Not to give you a massage." He left the rest unsaid but figured Eldrid would get the gist of it. Aidan didn''t mind the chance to feel the blue-haired Chosen up in the guise of a massage, not one bit. He''d ogle her and rub her down with oil. No problem. His problem came with the rest of what Aoife and the others suggested he do.


    Did he really need or want another bedmate? There was no question in Aidan''s mind that he could fuck Eldrid tonight if he wanted to. She was giving clear signals. But should he? He lusted after her, thirsted for her, but was there more than that? Beyond that, was it a good idea while she was still under the effect of his Intent? Wasn''t this a half-step from mind control? Making her want to want it was no different from an ethics standpoint.


    Then again, Sunnild wasn''t wrong. Eldrid came onto him from the moment she pulled herself out of the river and hadn''t lifted her foot off the pedal for a second. Even before he spoke the Word, she''d been all over him in a literal sense.


    "Ah. You know, your fiancees have been talking you up." Eldrid''s husky purr broke Aidan out of his thoughts. "You have quite a reputation to uphold."


    He strode over to a cabinet at the side of the room. "I''m not that good a masseuse, so I hope you don''t need the genuine article." Ah, there it was.


    "I wasn''t talking about your massage skills, Aidan." A bright pink tongue flicked out across midnight blue lips.


    "That''s funny," Aidan said as he approached the table, flask of oil in hand. "From what I recall, you were very specific about the kind of massage. No happy ending required. Those were your words."


    "Phbhbht!" Eldrid stuck her tongue out at him and blew a raspberry. "You''re telling me, after what happened between us, that you don''t want me? If I spread my legs and invited you in, you''d turn away?"


    "What we want isn''t always what''s best for us."


    "That wasn''t a no, Aidan." Aidan trickled some oil onto Eldrid''s back straight from the flask. "Ooh, cold! Warn a girl next time."


    "Sorry." Not really, but she wasn''t looking at him. He''d done it to shut her up.


    "Anyway, great masseuse or not, happy ending or not, I''m looking forward to a handsome guy rubbing me all over my mostly-naked body." Eldrid wiggled her cloth-covered bottom at him. "That being the case, it sounds like I''m still in for a great evening."


    "Well, I hope so. Are you ready?"


    Eldrid scoffed. "Oh, sure, you ask that after pouring cold oil on me. At this point, if you don''t get started warming me back up, I''ll have to complain to management."


    "Okay, Karen," Aidan said with a snicker. He rubbed his hands together, then placed them palms-down on Eldrid''s back.


    "Hazel, not Karen."


    Aidan blinked. "Pardon?"


    "My name back on Earth." Eldrid''s tone was matter-of-fact, despite the trust she was showing. Assuming, of course, she was telling the truth. Was she expecting him to reciprocate? Should he? "You don''t have to tell me yours," she said as if in response to his thoughts. "And no, I can''t read your mind. It was just the obvious thing for you to wonder."


    "That''s what you''d say if you could read my mind." That earned Aidan a giggle and another wiggle. The motion caused the towel to shift a hair, revealing another half-inch of pale skin. He considered tugging it back into place, then decided there was such a thing as being too much of a gentleman. Instead, he stroked his palms up Eldrid''s back on either side of her spine.


    "Mm. Tingly. I can already tell what Brighid meant when she said you had magic hands."


    "Heh. Not yet, you can''t. I told you before, you don''t get those until you ask."


    Eldrid looked over her shoulder at Aidan. "You''re holding out on me?" She gave him a pouting look. "Will you make me beg?"


    Yes! The lurking dragon deep in his psyche raised its head and roared. Beg for my touch. "A simple, ''please,'' will do. I''m not unreasonable."


    Eldrid''s night-black eyelashes fluttered at him. "Please, Aidan?" Her voice was mulled honey. "Please give me your magical touch." Her words and expression sent a bolt of arousal through Aidan''s system. He pushed those thoughts back down and dug his thumbs into Eldrid''s shoulderblades.


    "All you had to do was ask." With a thought, Aidan summoned an extra pair of hands and placed them on Eldrid''s hips. She squeaked, an unexpectedly adorable sound coming from her, and rose onto her elbows.


    "What in the world?"


    Aidan gave Eldrid a gentle push until she settled back down. "A trick I picked up along the way." He continued the massage, working through Eldrid''s shoulder muscles with his real hands while kneading her back and sides with the fake pair.


    "Mm. I admit I wasn''t expecting literal magical hands for some reason. Earth bias, I guess. Mmph." She let out a soft moan in reaction to Aidan''s phantom fingers dipping into the small of her back. "Can you feel through them? You must be able to, right?"


    Aidan nodded, though Eldrid wasn''t looking at him. "Yeah, I can. And the best part," he said, sliding his conjured appendages down her back, then through the shirt onto Eldrid''s butt, "is that they only exist to the target. They ignore everything else, including clothes."


    "Ooh." Eldrid''s moan was deeper this time. "I begin to see why your women are so enamored of this ability. If you can touch them like this at any time without anyone else knowing... Mmph, that''s hot. So is it some kind of illusion?"


    "I''m not sure," Aidan admitted. "It''s not illusionary because I can affect inanimate objects. Its properties are illogical and impossible, so I chalk it up as magic and move on."


    "Probably¡ªooh¡ªsmart." Eldrid arched into Aidan''s hands. If this was a therapeutic massage, he might have fussed at her. Instead, he kept his Magic Hands working up and down Eldrid''s back while shifting his personal attention to her legs.


    "You know," Aidan said, "for some reasons, I never realized how muscular you are."


    Eldrid let out a full-throated laugh. "Mission accomplished, then. I was nowhere near this top-heavy back on Earth, but I always wondered what it would be like. And, as a merchant who mostly deals with men, it''s so much easier to get good prices when they can''t keep their eyes off my chest."


    Aidan stroked his hands down the back of Eldrid''s thighs with long, firm motions, pressing in with the heels and letting his fingers trail behind. "Now that I think about it, you always dress to show off your breasts and hide the rest of your body."


    "Mm-hmm." Eldrid''s voice held notes of deep satisfaction. Whether at Aidan''s massage, his comments, or both, he didn''t know. "The Tide''s figurehead is misleading, too. Softer, rounder, no muscle definition. She''s got my face and general figure, but she ain''t me. The more people underestimate me, the easier my jobs are."


    Aidan let the conversation lapse into silence for a few minutes while he worked his way down Eldrid''s legs with one pair of hands and up her back with the other. When his thumbs pressed into the arch of her right foot, Eldrid let out an ecstatic groan. The muscles in her thigh and shin twitched in sync with his motions, drawing attention to their sleek, silky splendor.


    After finishing both feet, Aidan said, "I need better leverage for this next part."


    Eldrid opened the eye facing him. "You''re the masseuse. Do whatever you need to keep it up."


    "Hah. With you around, keeping it up is never the problem." Aidan climbed up onto the massage table and straddled Eldrid''s thighs.


    "Mm. You''ve already got your hands on my naked body. You don''t need to keep up the flattery."


    "In point of fact, you''re only mostly naked." Not that the shirt counted for much.


    Eldrid gave him a smoky look. "You could change that, you know."


    Aidan poured more massage oil into his palms and rubbed them together. "I could. I wouldn''t even need a free hand to do it. You might not even notice right away. But I won''t. Not unless you tell me to." He leaned forward and pressed his hands into Eldrid''s rhomboid muscles along her upper spine.


    "Why do you do that?" Eldrid''s tone was somewhere between confused and frustrated. "You keep jailing yourself in a cage of good intentions. I know you haven''t missed my signals. You''re seeing them and ignoring them."


    Because if I didn''t, I''m afraid of what I might do to you. What I already did before I put up those bars. "I have trouble controlling myself around you, Eldrid, in ways I never have before. Here or on Earth. I never meant to go as far as I did in our bet."


    A short, sharp exhalation answered his apology. "Oh, quit it with the pity party. I brought that on myself. When it comes down to it, all you did was give me the best orgasm of my lives. Considering the knife I had against your ribs, I got off easy." She snickered. "Pun intended."


    Aidan shook his head. "That still doesn''t excuse the way I forced myself¡ª"


    "If you make me turn over before you''re done on my back, I will be very upset with you, Aidan. Listen to me." Eldrid waited a moment, then, when he didn''t say anything, continued speaking. "You didn''t force yourself on me. I agreed to the terms of the bet. The entire wager was about whether you could make me climax or not. It might, might," she placed heavy emphasis on the repeated word, "not be considered explicit consent by the most radical feminist, so let me be clear. I didn''t expect you to succeed, but I was willing to accept that you might. So, yes, Aidan, I consented. You just happened to blow my expectations out of the water."


    Aidan remained silent for a while after that, concentrating on the massage. He dug his fingers into Eldrid''s calves, marveling again at the unexpected definition and tone in her legs. When he finished with her lower legs, he moved on to her thighs. Thick, but with muscle, not fat. Aidan made slow progress upward, switching back and forth, drawing ever closer to the cloth preserving what there was of Eldrid''s modesty.


    "Eldrid?" he finally asked.


    "Mm?" She turned her head toward him, but her eyes were closed.


    "May I remove the shirt?" Do you forgive me?


    Eldrid''s eyes opened, slow, languid, imperious. She observed Aidan for several seconds. Then, she smiled, the same genuine, beautiful smile she''d shown him earlier. "Yes." Having given her answer, she turned away from him again.


    Aidan kept his hands moving, teasing at the edge of the shirt above and below. His real fingers on Eldrid''s legs dipped under the cloth to tease her inner thighs. The phantom appendages above dug unreal thumbs into the muscles along the outer slopes of her magnificent ass.


    "Mmmmm. You''re teasing me," Eldrid said, half-complaining and half-moaning.


    "Do you want me to stop?"


    "Stop, and I''ll kill you. You still have a spare life, right?" Eldrid''s voice was as deadly serious as Aidan had ever heard from her.


    "I think it would be unwise of me to answer that question right now."


    Another snort showed Eldrid''s thoughts on his answer. "That being the case, I''d advise you to continue. You may not be any good at therapeutic massage, but this still feels quite good, and I am not ready for it to end."


    Aidan chuckled. "As you wish."


    "''Mnot Buttercup either, you know. I already told you my name."


    "Of course, Hazel." Aidan tried her name out, letting it roll across his tongue. She just didn''t seem like a Hazel to him for some reason.


    A sigh came from Eldrid. "From the ancient Hebrew hazael, not the tree. Means ''God sees,'' more or less. A vicious joke, as it turned out."


    Sensing that a response was unnecessary, Aidan remained silent, continuing to rub Eldrid''s upper thighs and lower back while she spoke.


    "My parents didn''t know it at the time, but I was born with what''s called retinal dystrophy. Or ''a'' retinal dystrophy, anyway. It''s a whole category of diseases. The long and short of it is that I was legally blind at eight years old." There was pain in Eldrid''s voice, but it was the dull, scabbed-over kind. Nothing fresh or raw. Aidan maintained his silence, knowing that any expression of regret or empathy he might give would hurt more than it helped.


    "I lived for twenty years without eyesight. Graduated from one of the most exclusive colleges in the South with a dual major, earned myself a job, made my way in the world. It''s hard to say whether it''s crueler to lose your vision or be born without, but either way, I adapted and overcame. Then," Eldrid shifted, freeing one hand to wave at the world around them, "The Realms came along. A miracle for me. There was nothing wrong with my optical nerves or my brain. IVR was a Godsend, I thought."


    A short, sharp, bitter laugh from Eldrid mocked her own words. "Turns out I was right. It just wasn''t from any God I knew. This was supposed to be a game, you know? An escape."


    "I know." What else could Aidan say? He did know. That first death still gave him nightmares, and they didn''t end with the Taig''s mocking rhymes.


    "You do. You''re trapped here like me. And your sister, too. I''m not sure whether that''s more or less cruel." The sympathy in Eldrid''s voice did not make it hurt any less.


    "More," Aidan said with absolute conviction. "I know my parents are safe. Eve could be anywhere, in danger, even dead. Maybe she even died before I had any chance to find her."


    Eldrid twisted her head around to look at him over her shoulder. "I''ll help you find her, I promise."


    "Thanks." There wasn''t much else for either of them to say on the subject.


    "Sorry, I didn''t mean for things to get so heavy. I just wanted to say, well..." Eldrid''s voice trailed off, her visible eye slid closed. She swallowed, then said, "There''s a lot I hate about this world." A flutter, a flash of silver as she focused on Aidan again. "You''re not part of that. Rocky start aside, you''ve been a bright star in the night sky for me, Aidan. And that''s coming from a blind girl."


    Aidan felt his throat tighten. This wasn''t how he''d expected things to go. He expected teasing, flirting, some taunts. Eldrid would flaunt herself at him, get him worked up, maybe convince him to go down on her, then she''d flounce off and leave him to work out his frustrations on Brighid, Sunnild, and/or Aoife.


    Instead, she was opening herself up, baring herself to him in ways far more meaningful than her naked skin beneath his hands. He could hurt her now, wound with words in ways sure to leave scars deeper and harsher than any dagger.


    Eldrid reached back and threw the cloth covering her aside, then turned over onto her back. Aidan pulled his hands out of the way and sat back on his haunches, looking down at her. Later, he would find it ironic that, for as often as he''d been distracted by Eldrid''s breasts, now that she was bare before him, it was her shimmering, vulnerable eyes that captivated him.


    "Aidan." Eldrid''s voice was soft, almost inaudible. "I know you aren''t in love with me." Aidan wasn''t so sure of that, not anymore. "I''m not asking for forever. But as one stranger in a strange land to another, as someone who understands what I''ve been through. Please, Aidan? Can you love me, just for tonight? Tomorrow we can go back to our usual teasing. I don''t want to give that up. But tonight, I need you."


    This was it. This was the turning point. If Aidan turned her down here, no matter how gentle, he knew he''d never get this close to Eldrid, to Hazel, again. She offered up her soul to him, no less so than Brighid had, if in a different fashion. How else could he respond? A crazed fragment of his mind told him he could ask if this meant she wanted him to stop the massage, but he throttled that impulse and tossed it where it belonged.


    Instead, Aidan leaned down, eyes locked with Eldrid''s the entire way. He propped himself up on his hands, looking down at her, then closed the final inches. Her lips were soft, warm, and welcoming. There was no heat, no passion in their kiss, but it was no less rewarding for it.


    Aidan felt Eldrid''s body shudder beneath him as the tension he hadn''t noticed fled from her. Her right hand drifted up, touched the back of his neck, feather-light, then flowed down onto his upper back. Her head bent to the side then, her mouth parting a fraction beneath his. Not enough to invite him inside, but it broached the possibility. "Daniel," Aidan breathed into that opening.


    Eldrid''s eyes widened, then squeezed shut, tears now spilling down her cheeks. A notification popped up at the corner of Aidan''s mind, but he ignored it. Eldrid''s left arm joined her right on his back, pulling him down onto her, then seeking out the laces keeping his shirt on him. Now came the fire, Eldrid''s tongue darting out to flick across Aidan''s lips. Eldrid twisted her hips, pulling her knees up then aside. Her legs parted around Aidan instead of being trapped between his.


    "Just for tonight, Daniel," said Eldrid''s voice, laden with emotion. Don''t let me go, begged her eyes. Never, replied his lips against hers. Aidan kissed her until they both fell short of breath, then sat up and tugged his shirt off over his head. Eldrid''s hands darted down to his waistline, but he batted them away.


    Working with practiced haste, Aidan undid the laces, wishing, not for the first time, that he could convince Siwan to make him a belt and pants to put it in. He suspected Brighid''s interference in her refusal. Pulling one leg, then the other, then his tail, free of his pants, he tossed them to the side.


    Eldrid''s silver eyes seemed almost luminescent in the dim light. Once again, Aidan was unable to look away from them despite the splendors on display. A smile appeared on Eldrid''s face as he stared, tremulous and vulnerable. She reached up and ran her fingers through Aidan''s hair. Gentle pressure tilted his head down¡ªbut not to renew their kisses. "It''s okay," Eldrid murmured. "I want you to look. To touch."


    At that gentle urging, Aidan finally managed to tear his gaze away from Eldrid''s and take in the rest of her beauty. Her breasts flattened somewhat under their own weight but remained mountainous. An erect nipple, pierced by a golden bar and surrounded by an areola only a shade pinker than the skin around it, capped each pale peak. The steep-walled valley between plunged into tantalizing darkness.


    Down past the mountains came the foothills. Aidan felt that he shouldn''t have been surprised by how toned Eldrid''s belly was. He''d already observed the definition in her back and legs. Yet, somehow, with her lush curves, Aidan expected Eldrid to have a bit of a paunch. Nothing could have been further from the truth.


    Eldrid didn''t have sixpack abs like Brighid. That kind of muscle would have looked out of place on her. She also didn''t have the same sort of slender athleticism Sunnild did. Her curves were just too pronounced for those adjectives to fit. Nonetheless, the smooth lines of Eldrid''s stomach provided proof that first impressions could be quite deceptive. Those lines swept down from her breasts, taking a brief detour around her belly button, then down between thighs that parted even further at Aidan''s glance.


    Again, what Aidan saw was not what he expected. Given Eldrid''s nature, he expected her to be shaved bare. That was only mostly true. Her glistening nether lips lay exposed to his gaze, but above them sat a tidy grove of brilliant blue hair. Unable to resist, Aidan rubbed his thumb through the short strands, the first time he''d touched her since the massage''s end.


    "Natural," Eldrid said, "as much as you can say that about us." She shifted her weight, her muscles flexing beneath Aidan''s caress.


    "Beautiful." Aidan looked back up past the domed heights to Eldrid''s face. She smiled down at him for a moment before gnawing on her lip.


    "Will you...?" Eldrid''s question trailed off.


    Aidan could taunt her, make her finish her request, get her to beg for him. But that wouldn''t be right. This wasn''t a night for dominance or submission. This was two kindred souls finding solace in each others'' arms. So, he dipped his head between Eldrid''s thighs and planted a kiss between the forest and the grotto. His reward was a soft, pleased sigh, followed by one of Eldrid''s legs hooking around his shoulder.


    Pale skin flushed scarlet as Aidan trailed kisses along the edges of Eldrid''s puffy labia. He couldn''t help but tease her a little, avoiding her center until her leg tightened around his shoulder. Then, acquiescing to Eldrid''s silent request, Aidan flattened his tongue against the bottom of her opening and dragged it all the way up to her stiff clit. Her hand returned to his hair, but not to guide or force him. It just rested there, stroking his hair as he lapped at Eldrid''s pussy.


    "Mmm." Eldrid''s hips tilted up to give Aidan better access. "Mm, ah." He took what she gave him and ran with it, sliding his tongue along her slit, then using his hands to pull her lips apart. With the gates opened, Aidan sallied forth, pressing his agile muscle deeper, harder. "Oh, yes. Mmm." Eldrid''s left leg joined its sister on Aidan''s shoulders.


    Aidan sent his Magic Hands, idle for the last several minutes, on an expedition across Eldrid''s legs and sides. "Oh! Oh, mmhmm." He kept them away from her breasts, shepherding an irrational desire to reserve them for his real touch. However, a glance up from his feast showed Aidan that he didn''t need to stimulate her there anyway. Eldrid''s free hand was doing an admirable job of it all on its own. Instead, phantom fingers stroked and kneaded Eldrid''s skin in a slower, more sensual version of the earlier massage.


    "Mm, mm, oh, Daniel, mmmm." As Aidan grew familiar with Eldrid''s reactions, he tailored his motions to ramp up her pleasure. Light pressure on her clit like so. Deep, broad swipes of his tongue. Long strokes along the outsides of her thighs. "Mmm, mm, mm!" Eldrid''s moans grew shorter, sharper, quicker. Her hips arched up at him, her thighs flexed and released.


    "Daniel," she moaned. "Oh, Daniel, Daniel, oh!" She cried out his name, repeating it like a mantra. He sent his tongue squirming into her tunnel and circled her clit with his thumb. "Oh, Daniel! Oh, God!" Eldrid''s composure broke, the hand in Aidan''s hair now pulling him down into her. Her legs tightened into a vise around his neck.


    "Oh, oh, Daniel, mm, oh!" Feminine lubrication coated Aidan''s tongue, lips, cheeks, throat. He slid his tongue out of her channel, replacing it with two fingers and starting to lave at her hard little nub in quick, short strokes. "Daniel!" Eldrid squealed, her hips thrusting up at him. "Daniel!" she cried as her back arched off the table. "Oh, God, Daniel!" she shrieked as spasms swept through her body.


    Following his skills'' voiceless whispers, Aidan didn''t let up after Eldrid''s first orgasm. He rode the waves, keeping up his attention to her clit and continuing to slide his fingers in and out. "Ah, ah, oh, Daniel, ah, fuck!" Eldrid convulsed again. Now he eased up, just a little, slowing his pace without stopping. "Mmm, mm, Daniel," she sang for him. "Mm, yes, oh, oh ah!" Broad hips rose, rolled, sought his touch. He guided her down the cliff and rewarded her at the end by pushing her over one more time. "Ohhh, Daniel!" Eldrid sighed and came for him.


    As Aidan stilled his tongue and pulled his fingers free of her grasping depths, Eldrid slumped down onto the table, her legs falling open to Aidan''s sides. He looked at the initial results¡ªEldrid''s body trembling with aftershocks, her breasts rising and falling with her rapid breaths, her formerly pale skin flushed with pleasure¡ªand smiled his work to see. It was time for the main event, but first, they needed to move venues.


    "Mm?" Eldrid''s voice, languid with satisfaction, sounded out as Aidan slipped off the massage table.


    "Just rest for a minute," he told her. "I''ll be right back." Aidan collected the pillows scattered around Aoife''s bed with measured haste, then stripped off the sheets. He didn''t want to rub the catgirl''s nose in what was about to happen any more than necessary. Tasks accomplished, Aidan turned back to Eldrid and threaded his arms under her knees and behind her shoulders.


    Lifting Eldrid off the table, Aidan gritted his teeth at her weight. No one who saw her like this could claim she was anything approaching fat, but Aidan knew right away that he couldn''t carry Eldrid across the city like he did Aoife. He didn''t have that far to go, though. Aidan knelt on the bed and lowered Eldrid into the middle of the pillow pile.


    Silver eyes examined him for a moment. Then, Eldrid spread her legs and stretched her arms up towards him, the invitation unvoiced yet unmistakable. Aidan shuffled into place and lowered himself down onto his elbows over her. Eldrid''s hands looped behind his shoulders. Her fingers stroked the nape of his neck. "Go ahead," she urged him. "They''re sensitive, though. Be gentle at first."


    Chuckling at being so predictable, Aidan bent his neck and nuzzled Eldrid''s cleavage. She let out a quiet exhalation at his touch, too soft to be called a moan. Eldrid''s breasts were the one place Aidan had found on her body that was as soft and luxurious as expected. He turned his head to the right and began laying a trail of kisses along the lower slope of the mountain he found there.


    "Mm." This time, the sound escaping from Eldrid''s mouth was unmistakable. Aidan smiled against her silky smooth skin. Eldrid wasn''t as vocal as Brighid or Sunnild, but the sounds she made still communicated her passion.


    While kissing in a lazy spiral around Eldrid''s left breast, Aidan placed his left hand on her right breast. She was far more than a handful. Her nipple dug into the center of his palm, yet he couldn''t contact her upper chest with any of his fingers. Aidan shifted his grip, encircling the soft, squishy peak and giving his thumb room to rub across her summit.


    "Mngh," Eldrid groaned. "What would it take to come home to this every night?" Then, a split second later, "Nevermind. Forget I asked."


    Not likely. Aidan kept his thoughts to himself, instead opting to flick his fingertip against the golden barbell piercing Eldrid''s nipple. She inhaled with a hiss. For a split second, Aidan thought he went too far, too fast, but Eldrid''s words dispelled that notion. "Mmn, yes. Love having ''em played with. ''Swhat the piercings are for."


    Well, then. Aidan circled his thumb, making sure to brush against the warm metal with every pass. "Mmhm, just like that." Aidan maintained his pace, winding up one breast in ever-tighter orbits of kisses while gently squeezing the other between his fingers. Soft moans and gentle sighs issued from Eldrid''s mouth, punctuated by occasional deeper sounds.


    Eldrid''s left hand drifted up into Aidan''s hair, guiding his head with gentle pressure, urging him toward her waiting summit. As he had all night, Aidan followed her guidance, abandoning his slow tease and seeking Eldrid''s right nipple. When he found it a moment later, he nibbled it with his lips, then opened his mouth and sucked it inside.


    "Mm, ah," came Eldrid''s response. Aidan flicked the tip of his tongue across the nipple held captive in his mouth. "Ooh." He executed a synchronized strike, circling his thumb and tongue in opposite directions. "Mmn, yes, Daniel. More, please. Harder now. Ahn!" Aidan gave her right nipple a short twist, and Eldrid''s back arched a half-inch off the bed.


    Aidan watched Eldrid''s face as he played with her breasts. Her eyes were closed, her mouth open, panting for breath. "Hazel?" he asked. Her eyelids fluttered open, silver irises focused on him. She stared unblinking for a long moment. Then, her legs spread wide, far wider than needed.


    Leaving his hand where it was, Aidan lifted his head and shuffled forward. Their heights were such that he couldn''t keep suckling while he made love to her. Instead, he gave Eldrid a slow, tender, passionate kiss. As it went on and on, she lifted her right leg over his hip, baring herself completely to him.


    The dragon inside Aidan showed itself at last, demanding him to draw this out, force her to beg for his cock. It wanted him to tease her until she couldn''t take anymore, until she''d do anything to have Aidan satisfy her. He wrestled with his instincts, moving without conscious thought, rubbing his length between her slick lower lips. "Hazel," he ground out between clenched teeth.


    Somehow, she knew what he wanted. "Do it," she sighed, tilting her head to the side. Aidan buried his head in the crook of her neck and sucked on the tender flesh there, drawing a sharp, "Daniel!" from the woman beneath him. Exultation surged through him as she accepted his mark, and he pushed forward, burying himself in tight, wet heat.


    "Mm, uhn, uhn, ah, uhn." The buildup had been slow, but Aidan couldn''t be satisfied with that pace any longer. Eldrid coiled around him, arching into his thrusts, heel digging into his ass as she pulled him into her, hand in his hair tangled now, holding him to her neck. "Fuck, uhn, uhn, oh, uhn, oh Daniel."


    Now in the full grip of his long-delayed lust for her, Aidan ravaged Eldrid''s willing body. He lunged against her hips, driving his full length in and out of her with every stroke. His hands, real and magical alike, roamed free, groping, squeezing, and rubbing every inch of smooth, sweating skin. "Hazel," he groaned into her neck, his climax still distant but visible now on the horizon.


    "Daniel," she moaned back at him. "Unf, oh, ohfuck, Daniel. Uhn, uhn, ah!" Eldrid''s right hand scratched down his back until her fingers sank into his bottom. "Harder! Uh, uhn, uhn, yes, fuckyes." She urged Aidan on with word and deed, reveling in the pleasure they both felt.


    Seeking a change of position, Aidan pulled free of Eldrid. Seeming once more to be able to read his mind, she twisted and contorted beneath him, flipping over onto her belly, then rising up onto her hands and knees. Aidan wasn''t sure what magic she used to reposition herself with such ease, but he was grateful. Taking hold of his shaft, he slotted his head at Eldrid''s entrance and slid home once again.


    "Mmm!" Eldrid let out a deep sound of satisfaction as Aidan''s length filled her. He pulled out, then plunged forward, ramping the pace back up. "Unf, uhn, uhn, yesss." A wet slap-slap-slap sound joined Eldrid''s grunts as Aidan''s groin bounced off her upraised ass.


    Taking advantage of the position, Aidan bent over his lover''s back, reaching underneath and seizing Eldrid''s dangling breasts in his hands. "Mm! Mm! Yes, Daniel, fuck, yes!" Eldrid tossed her head back, sending a spray of bright blue hair through the air. She thrust back against him, welcoming his every inch inside her. "Soon," she panted. "Mm, uhn, uhn, Daniel, close."


    "Go ahead," he urged, resisting the urge to command Eldrid to come for him. Aidan repurposed his dominant aggression, channeling it instead into love bites and firm squeezes with his hands.


    "Mmf, mmf, ohfuck, yes, yes, yes, ohyes!" Eldrid''s head tilted farther back with every thrust and grope. "Daniel, Daniel!" Tension coiled through her body, her muscles tightening everywhere. Following his instincts, Aidan maintained his pace rather than speeding up, driving into Eldrid with hard, full-length lunges.


    Aidan felt Eldrid''s weight shift, then her fingers brushed across his shaft. The contact was incidental, her intention more self-serving as she rubbed her digits across her clit. "There, there, ohfuck, Daniel!" Within seconds, Eldrid clenched down around him, trembling and convulsing as her climax raced through her.


    Giving her no time to recover, Aidan pulled out of Eldrid''s clasping depths. He turned her shuddering body back over, then lifted her knees over his shoulders. Eldrid groaned deep in her chest as Aidan pushed between her fingers and into her drenched, spasming pussy. Her legs flexed, ankles locking behind Aidan''s back.


    "Monster," she accused, hands grabbing at the mattress. "Brute. Oh, fuck me. Uhn, uhn, unf, fuck, Daniel!" Aidan loomed over Eldrid, staring down at her. She seemed captivated by his gaze, unable to close her eyes or look away. The ecstasy swimming behind her silver irises compelled him. He could feel himself approaching the cliff, but he wanted to pull one more orgasm from Eldrid before he let himself fall.


    Settling his weight onto one hand, Aidan cupped Eldrid''s cheek and pressed his thumb to her lips. Her mouth opened, then closed, enveloping his digit. She suckled, lapping at his finger as if it were the head of his dick. "I''m close," Aidan told her, unable to keep the growl out of his voice.


    "Mm-hm!" Eldrid''s gaze sharpened, gained purpose. Dancer''s legs tightened their grip, urging Aidan onward, downward into welcoming heat.


    "Come with me?"


    Eldrid''s lips tugged up at the corners. "Mm! Mm-hmm!" Aidan felt her hand speed up, rubbing herself fast and hard. Her hips rolled as much as they could with Aidan''s weight pinning her to the bed. "Mm!" she demanded with her body. "Mm mm!"


    Aidan bent his head, finding Eldrid''s neck again. Ecstatic tension filled him, ratcheting up at a rapid pace. He was there, standing at the edge, his fall now inevitable, but Eldrid wasn''t quite ready yet. "Hazel," he said against her throat. Then, pulling his hand free of her mouth, Aidan plunged it between Eldrid''s legs. She arched beneath him, gasping out a strangled cry as his fingers supplanted hers on her clit. Still, she wasn''t quite there, the stimulus not enough. Acting without thought, Aidan clamped his teeth shut on Eldrid''s shoulder.


    "Oh! Daniel! Fuck!" Eldrid''s body quivered, convulsed, squeezed tight around him.


    Her release triggered his, and Aidan threw his head back, calling out, "Hazel!" as the world exploded around him. He pounded down into Eldrid, heedless, needy, unloading all his pent-up feelings into her writhing body.


    Pleasure pulsed through Aidan for what felt like half an hour. His hips jerked and twitched as the tension drained out of him into the woman pinned beneath him. When the haze left his thoughts, Aidan pulled back and rolled off Eldrid. She followed him, nuzzling up against his chest.


    "Consider your obligation discharged and your reputation upheld," Eldrid murmured. "Thank you, Aidan. I don''t know how to tell you how much I needed that."


    Aidan stroked his fingers through Eldrid''s long blue hair. Telling her that she was welcome felt... inadequate. Cheap. "It was my pleasure," he said instead, "and I don''t mean that as a joke. This wasn''t how I expected this night to go, you know, but I hope this isn''t the last time."


    "The first night''s free," Eldrid told him, the corners of her midnight blue lips tugging upward. "You''ll have to earn anything more."


    "Oh? I get the whole night? Then I''d better make the most of it," Aidan said. Eldrid laughed, then rolled onto her back, her legs and arms parting to welcome him between them once more.

 Champion, Chapter 80: Alliance

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Fifthday, 2nd week of the 11th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Early Morning


    Caer Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Congratulations! You have reached level 15 in Air Magic.


    Congratulations! You have reached levels 2 and 3 in Aura Control.


    Congratulations! You have reached level 16 in Light Armor.


    Congratulations! You have reached level 31 in Magical Theory.


    Congratulations! You have reached level 18 in Glyphs.


    Congratulations! You have reached level 19 in Incantations.


    Congratulations! You have reached level 24 in Persuasion.


    Congratulations! You have reached levels 5 and 6 in Negotiation.


    You are now a Novice in Negotiation; when shaping treaties, the other parties will be slightly more amenable to your terms.


    Congratulations! You have reached levels 8 and 9 in Seduction.


    Congratulations! You have reached level 78 in Sex.


    Congratulations! You have reached level 36 in Foreplay.


    Aidan woke in an unfamiliar bed with an unfamiliar woman in his arms. It took him a few seconds to recall the previous night''s events. He opened his eyes, and, sure enough, Eldrid''s bright blue hair was spread out on the pillows around him. Remembering the notification he dismissed in an emotional moment, Aidan brought it back to the front of his vision.


    Congratulations! Your relationship with Eldrid has advanced from Friendly to Trusted.


    She now views you as someone she can rely upon through even the worst of life''s troubles.


    Congratulations! Your romantic relationship with Eldrid has advanced from Intimate to Lover.


    She welcomes your attention and responds eagerly to your touch.


    Congratulations! For earning a new Trusted Lover relationship, you have earned 6,000 experience points.


    You have earned an additional 300 experience points from Novice rank in Animamancy.


    Aidan dismissed the windows with a scowl. Those notices still felt wrong to him. As if sensing his disquiet, Eldrid stirred. "Aidan?" Her voice was soft and fuzzy with sleep.


    "Yes." His confirmation was met with a contented sigh.


    "Good. Last night wasn''t a dream, then." Eldrid pulled Aidan''s arm tighter around her. Silence reigned for a while, then she said, "You were naughty. I''m a good Catholic girl. Don''t you know birth control is a sin for us?" She paused, no doubt waiting for him to tense up, then giggled. "Not! Catholic, yes, but I take precautions. You don''t have to worry about a royal bastard."


    Aidan opened his mouth to tell her there was another, better way to ensure no bastards resulted from their union. Then his mind caught up. That would be too much, too fast. Why was he so impulsive lately? "I see the truce is over, then," he said instead.


    "Kind of." Eldrid turned around in his arms and pressed a brief kiss to Aidan''s lips. "Last night was special. I hope you feel that way too." Aidan nodded. "It was what I needed when I needed it. I''m a complicated girl, though." Eldrid''s fingers made idle trails through the hair on Aidan''s chest. "I like the relationship we had beforehand, too. The flirting, the teasing. The struggle for control."


    Tension Aidan wasn''t even aware of released. "Good," he said. "I do, too."


    "Good," Eldrid agreed. Then she grinned. "How long do you think we have until they knock the door down out of sheer frustrated curiosity?" Her hand drifted down. "Long enough for an encore?"


    "Oh?" Aidan arched an eyebrow. "I thought only last night was free. Or, maybe, since it''s you asking me, I should make you earn it instead?"


    Luminescent silver eyes met Aidan''s. Eldrid smirked and said, "I''m okay with that." Aidan made sure to renew the Sound Barrier as she slithered down his body.


    Aidan


    Mid-Morning


    "Well, well, look what the cat dragged in," Aoife said to Aidan by way of greeting. She stalked up to him, ignoring Eldrid''s state of undress, and pressed her body into his. "You were unbearably rude, you know, Master, blocking all the sound like that. We wanted to hear our hero making another conquest."


    Aidan gave her a wry smile and kissed her forehead. "Which is why I did it."


    "Hmph." Aoife pushed off his chest. "At least you are not trying to deny it. You both stink of sex and each other. Go bathe. Breakfast will be ready by the time you finish."


    Aidan caught her wrist as she spun away and pulled Aoife back into his arms. "I love you," he told her. He knew she was only putting on a show for Eldrid''s sake¡ªtheir emotional link carried only a slight hint of jealousy¡ªbut felt she deserved to hear the words anyway.


    "I know." She rose on tiptoes and pressed her lips to his. "But you still smell. Go on, shoo."


    Twenty minutes later, having shared a mostly platonic bath with Eldrid, Aidan sat down at the dining table. Still nude, Eldrid sat across from him, leaving his sides free for his fiancees. Or perhaps she just wanted to tease him some more with her bare breasts. It''s both, Aidan decided. A minute later, Aoife deposited a platter bearing various sliced fruits, a steaming bowl of porridge, and a crisscrossed stack of bacon slices.


    "Serve yourselves," she said, claiming Aidan''s left side. "Sunnild! Brighid! Breakfast!"


    Aidan


    Noon


    Ceallach Macht


    All of Ceallach Macht turned out for what Aidan hoped would be the final day of Summit meetings. Centaurs and catfolk filled the tiered seating to the utmost capacity, spilling out into the gardens around the Forum. A few entrepreneurial children waited in the aisles, ready to dash out and sell up-to-date information to those who arrived too late to claim a seat inside.


    The harpies, meanwhile, appeared to have gotten industrious. Huge cargo nets dangled from the ceiling, lined with cloth and stuffed with feathered spectators. It was a clever idea. Aidan made a note to incorporate more permanent¡ªand dignified¡ªflier-only seating when they upgraded the Forum.


    When Aidan entered the main Forum chamber, the crowd hushed rather than cheering like they did the previous day. Their anticipation was a palpable thing. It pushed at Aidan from all sides. He was grateful he never developed a phobia of public speaking. If he had, he''d have been a nervous wreck. He was unsettled enough as it was.


    Aidan was, by design, the last to arrive. All the other dignitaries clustered around the table, speaking in low tones. Of particular interest to Aidan was the unknown harpy in pristine uniform armor speaking to Alektryon. He also noted that the others were giving Searlas a wide berth. Not the best sign, but Aidan couldn''t say he was surprised. The man hadn''t earned himself any friends the day before.


    As Aidan took his place at the head of the Council table, the others returned to their seats. The instant the last of them sat down, Aidan spoke. "Good day, everyone. I hope you all had a restful night or, failing that, have spent your time considering the matters at hand. Those are twofold. First, there is the expedition to hunt and slay the dragon Karsarrym. Second, there is the formation of the Sapphire Star League." A faint murmur spread through the crowd.


    "I will start with the latter because it affects the former. As of this morning, the Sapphire Sky Horde, the Starchasers, and the city of Ceallach Macht joined together in a formal alliance. The major terms are as follows." Aidan glanced down at the paper in his hands, more to steady his nerves than anything else.


    "All League members must come to the defense of any member attacked by an outside agent. As part of this provision, all member states agree to maintain small garrisons in the other members'' capitals. Further, the Sapphire Sky will set up permanent teleportation circles to facilitate emergency communication between signatories. The materiel cost for the enchantment falls to the member states." And boy, were the gargoyles unhappy about this one. They hadn''t cared much about the rest, but Aidan had to threaten to walk out of negotiations to get League-wide mutual defense into the treaty.


    "There are no internal borders between League members. Therefore, trade will flow freely, without tariffs or subsidies. However, each member state may define a limited number of restricted goods for their own territory and petition the League Council for League-wide restrictions." Ailis suggested the restricted goods clause. It would allow the tribes a degree of control over both imports and exports while still being under the League''s overall authority.


    "Each League member may sponsor adventuring parties to explore Caer Macht''s Labyrinth. League-sponsored parties pay a reduced tax rate compared to freelancers. They may also pay their tax in coinage rather than a share of the loot." A minor clause for now, but one Aidan expected to be increasingly important as time went on.


    "All League members are forbidden from interfering in each other''s internal affairs. This includes, but is not limited to, hindering the enforcement of local laws, fomenting rebellion, and treating with anyone but the League-recognized ruler." A hard clause to enforce, but necessary anyway.


    "All League members will continue to rule their own territories as they do now. A League Council will be formed with one representative from each signatory. The Council has limited authority only to enact and enforce the provisions in the treaty. Leadership of the Council will rotate every year, with the leader breaking ties but having no other special authority." There was more text in the treaty regarding the Council than everything else combined. Aidan glossed over most of it out of sheer expedience. The important part, from his perspective, was that both Ceallach Macht and the Starchasers had seats on the League Council, giving him the tenuous start to a voting bloc.


    "Finally, the League has joint supervision rights over any individual or object deemed a strategic military or economic asset to the League as a whole, as decided by the League Council. Such supervision is in an advisory and oversight capacity only¡ªno private individual is beholden to the League." Because Aidan fully expected to be placed in that category sooner or later, and he''d be damned if he ever let himself fall under another''s power again. It would also keep infighting over the dragonlings down.


    Aidan stopped talking for a moment while assistants distributed copies of the treaty around the table. "For the record," he said while the various envoys skimmed the papers in front of them, "Ceallach Macht itself will remain an open, neutral city. Everyone is welcome here who does not bring war to our doorstep."


    Once most of the dignitaries turned their attention back to him, Aidan continued. "I once again invite each of you present here today to join the League. Together, we can achieve peace and prosperity. I ask you, not for myself, not for any of you, but for all our descendants. Will you join us?"


    Silence echoed through the Forum for several long breaths before the new harpy leaned forward. "A question, if I may?"


    Aidan nodded. "Of course. May I have your name first?"


    "Of course, my apologies. I am Flock Colonel Osgyth, representing the Ash Shroud Sisterhood. Flight Major Cynehild," she gestured to the woman seated next to her, "requested my presence as someone with the authority to sign treaties for the Sisterhood."


    "I see. Thank you, Flock Colonel. Please, ask your questions." Interesting. Yesterday, the harpies were prepared to withdraw all their forces. Now they''re sending a Colonel?


    "I only have two, Lord Aidan. The first is in regards to the free trade and internal politics clauses. The Sisterhood depends on a steady influx of males from other tribes. What is the League''s stance on this?"


    Aidan glanced at Alektryon, then back to Osgyth. "The League has no formal stance at the moment, as we have yet to hold a formal meeting of the League Council. Therefore, I can only speak as Ceallach Macht''s pro tem representative." Ailis had flat-out refused to take that role. She claimed to have enough to do already, and Aidan couldn''t dispute that.


    "The League''s purpose is to smooth out issues like this between our members. As you know, but others here may not, the Sisterhood has permission to openly recruit men here in Ceallach Macht. So far as I am aware, it has been very successful so far. I would be happy to bring a measure before the League aiming to expand the program to other member states."


    Osgyth nodded. Her question struck Aidan as more of a formality than anything. He''d been the one to propose that arrangement in the first place, after all. Of course, they wouldn''t want to assume he''d continue in the same line, but it was a safe bet. The next query would be the real sticking point.


    "My second question is about the mutual defense clause." Aidan expected as much. All the signs pointed to the Sisterhood''s military being pressured elsewhere. "What happens when a member is attacked? How quickly must the others respond, and with what strength?"


    "As soon as reasonable, and with all ready forces. There will inevitably be variance in this. For example," Aidan gestured at Osgyth, "I would bet that it takes you far less time to muster your whole strength, Flock Colonel, than it would the Starchasers or Mist Stalkers. You only have one settlement, and your soldiers are unhindered by terrain." The Colonel''s lips turned down, but she nodded. "As a general rule, if a member didn''t send a quick response force within a day and the bulk of their army less than a week later, I would expect them to have a very, very good explanation for the Council."


    "I see. Thank you, Lord Aidan." Osgyth leaned back in her chair.


    "Another question about trade, if you would, Lord Aidan," Searlas spoke up. He lounged in his chair, looking for all the world like everything was proceeding according to his plans. "What do the optional restrictions you mentioned entail?"


    The catfolk leader''s tone and attitude sent warning bells off in Aidan''s head, but he couldn''t see the trap. "Each member state can restrict the import or export of a limited number of goods, even to other member states. For example, I intend to forbid importing, exporting, taking, or selling slaves within Ceallach Macht." Searlas''s eyes flicked to the golden bracelet around Aidan''s wrist, then back. He raised his eyebrows, then shrugged.


    "How limited in number are we talking?"


    Aidan shook his head. "That has not been decided yet. There are a few such matters which we felt best left to the League Council to hash out rather than writing into the initial treaty."


    "I see, I see. And the sovereignty clause prevents you from, for example, attempting to free slaves in my territory?"


    Aidan narrowed his eyes. Was Searlas trying to maneuver Aidan into forswearing his oath to free Aoife, just being provocative in general, or furthering some hidden agenda? He''d have to ask what Eldrid saw from him later. "Correct." A thought occurred to Aidan. "Assuming, of course, that the people in question weren''t enslaved in violation of any League laws."


    "Of course. And such disputes would be brought before the Council, anyway, correct?" Searlas''s smug aura intensified. Aidan could only nod in response. "Excellent. In that case, I, Chieftain Searlas, on behalf of the Mist Stalkers, petition to join the Sapphire Star League." The watching crowd erupted into a buzz of excited whispers.


    This time, it was Alektryon who responded first. "The Sapphire Sky Horde has no objections."


    Looking like she''d swallowed a whole lemon, Eilwen said, "The Starchasers have no objections."


    Feeling like he was stepping into a minefield, Aidan nonetheless echoed them. "Ceallach Macht has no objections. No objections having been raised, the Mist Stalkers are now a provisional member of the Sapphire Star League, Oaths to be administered following this Summit meeting."


    No sooner had he finished speaking than another spoke. "As the duly appointed representative of the Ash Shroud Sisterhood, I, Flock Colonel Osgyth, on behalf of my people, petition to join the Sapphire Star League." Relief flooded Aidan. No objections were raised, and his alliance grew from a tenuous two states¡ªthe Starchasers and Ceallach Macht were inextricably entwined by this point¡ªto a far stronger four in a matter of moments.


    "As one of the honored ancestors of the Ebon Bonekin, and with the authority vested in me by my descendants, I, Fanchenn, on behalf of my people, petition to join the Sapphire Star League." The ghost''s lilting voice surprised Aidan. He hadn''t been expecting the wolven to join yet.


    Once another round of formalities passed, Aidan turned his attention to the cu uisce Captains. "Don''t look at me," said Eldrid with a laugh. "I don''t have any authority beyond my ship and crew."


    "Nor do the rest of us," agreed Captain Price. "I will bring your invitation before the next Conclave of Captains, but that will not be until the spring thaw."


    "I''ll argue in favor," Eldrid said. "I think it''s a great idea and a long time coming. Don''t hold your breath, though. We Snow-Water Riders are an individualistic bunch. Free trade is attractive, but military commitments are not."


    Captain Valmai waved a furred hand through the air. "Our contracts are still in effect, of course, so unless you no longer require us¡ªand are willing to pay the forfeit¡ªwe are at your disposal for the expedition."


    Well, there wasn''t much Aidan could do there. If they didn''t have the authority to negotiate, they didn''t have it. "Very well," he said. He took in a deep breath, then let it out in a slow, silent sigh. "In that case, I formally call the Sapphire Star League to arms against the dragon Karsarrym. It attacked my people and threatened my life and the lives of all those who live under my banner. It represents a clear and present danger to all our livelihood."


    As arranged ahead of time, Eilwen followed with, "The Starchasers answer the call."


    "The Sapphire Sky Horde answers the call." Alektryon''s booming voice cut through the rising crowd noise.


    A heartbeat of silence followed, then, "The Ash Shroud Sisterhood answers the call."


    "The Ebon Bonekin answer the call." This time it was Kaou who spoke.


    All eyes in the Forum turned to the one who had yet to speak. "The Mist Stalkers answer the call," Searlas answered just as the quiet started to grow uncomfortable. He inclined his head to Aidan and mouthed, "Well played."


    Congratulations! You have reached level 25 in Persuasion.


    You are now an Apprentice in Persuasion; you gain a large bonus to persuasion attempts within territory you own.


    Congratulations! You have reached levels 10 and 11 in Oratory.


    You are now an Initiate in Oratory; you can now address larger crowds without penalty while in a formal setting.

 Champion, Chapter 81: A Long Walk Stills Our Hearts

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Fifthday, 2nd week of the 11th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Mid-Evening


    Ceallach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Although the first part of the Summit meeting went as well as Aidan could hope, it still took the rest of the afternoon to iron out the details. The existing treaty documents were preliminary and lacked even Aidan''s signature. It wasn''t until the late afternoon shadows lengthened to twilight that the assembled dignitaries signed a final version of the treaty.


    What irritated Aidan the most was that no one made any major changes. To be fair, the treaty''s wording had been left vague in places¡ªsuch as restricted trade goods¡ªto allow room for discussions like this. Still, the process drained him. He wasn''t cut out for extended political maneuvering. Too much effort for meaningless gains.


    So, when he walked into his home to find Brighid, Sunnild, and Aoife waiting for him without a stitch of clothing between them, he was torn between competing impulses. His first response was to admire the view and anticipate the evening. Coming quick on that instinct''s heels, however, was a thought. They''re trying to butter me up for something. Aoife and Sunnild aren''t as casual about nudity as Brighid is.


    When he sat down, the three of them descended on him. Sunnild straddled his lap, wasting no time before drawing him into a series of kisses. Aoife knelt behind him. Her bare breasts pressed against his back while she dug her fingers into his shoulders and neck. Brighid sat facing him, taking his hand and placing it on her chest, then reaching out with her own to caress his chest and thigh.


    For a while, Aidan let go of his concerns and luxuriated in the pampering. Whatever else was coming, he couldn''t deny that being the center of such pleasant attention was gratifying and relaxing. Maybe his lovers anticipated his mood? Unfortunately, after ten minutes or so of blatant hedonism, Aoife spoke.


    "So, should we expect a ring upon Eldrid''s finger soon?" Her words held a brittle edge.


    And just like that, Aidan felt his weariness return with twice the strength. Frustration welled up within him, bubbling like magma waiting to erupt. "It was you three who threw me at her last night," he said, not answering the question. He was of two minds about the matter himself, but being confronted like this wasn''t helping.


    "We didn''t think you''d spend all night with ''er," Sunnild said, abandoning her kisses to rest her head on Aidan''s shoulder.


    "Or hide what you did from us," Aoife added to the accusations.


    A groan boiled out of Aidan''s throat before he clamped down on it. "If you three had expectations for what happened, you should have brought them up beforehand." He turned his head to look into Brighid''s emerald eyes. "I know we talked about this before." She blushed and looked away. "All three of you told me to give her a good time, so I did. If that''s not what you wanted," Aidan felt his voice turning harsh but couldn''t muster enough caring to tone it down, "why the Hell did you tell me it was OK?"


    "It was," Brighid said in what was probably intended to be a soothing tone. "None of us are upset about you bedding her."


    "Could have fooled me." The sarcasm was out of Aidan''s mouth before he knew he was talking. All of a sudden, it was too much for him. He''d spent all afternoon wrangling with doublespeak, now he came home to find himself accosted by those he loved for actions they encouraged? Something he wouldn''t even have done if not for them asking him to?


    Enough of this. Aidan seized Sunnild by the hips, moved her off his lap, and then stood and strode back into Caer Macht''s halls. Voices¡ªfiancees, guards, even his own thoughts¡ªcalled out to him, but he ignored them all. Long striding steps lengthened and quickened until Aidan broke into a sprint.


    As soon as he reached the main thoroughfare, Aidan Invoked Summon Mount and leaped onto the horse''s back. A quick jab of his heels set his steed galloping, racing down the cobblestones leading out of his city. He heard the sound of hooves on stone behind him, no doubt his bodyguards trying to catch up to him, but Aidan wanted to be alone. He knew it was stupid, but he was all out of fucks to give. He guided his mount into the ruined section of the city, beyond reckless as they twisted and turned through crumbling alleys and leaped over dilapidated walls.


    Once the sound of pursuit faded into silence, Aidan finally slowed down and turned his steed toward the wilderness. He didn''t know where he was headed except away. Away from the stress, the grinding bureaucracy, the expectations bearing down on his every action. In a concession to his rational mind''s demands for safety, he pulled a squadron of eagle-shaped elementals from their other duties and set them to spiraling above the clouds where they wouldn''t give away his position.


    With the manic rush of adrenaline fading from Aidan''s system, he remembered that winter was fast approaching. The night was cold, not quite frigid, but not at all comfortable in his formal clothes. Stubbornness prevented him from turning around and going home. Instead, he started looking for a sheltered valley or cave to set up camp in.


    It took Aidan longer than he liked. The moon was almost full, but the same cloud cover that hid his elemental guards from sight also diffused the moonlight. Moreover, the terrain was treacherous, with rocks, roots, and crevices concealed by the thick Highlands mist. All told, it took him a couple of hours to find a suitable location.


    Grateful that he''d thought to snag his haversack on his way out the door, Aidan pulled out one of his heavy traveling blankets. He wrapped himself up and nestled against one wall of the shallow cave he found. A quick rummage later, he had a pair of sandwiches to eat. Not the most filling after all the unexpected exercise, but it would do.


    After finishing off his meal and dusting the crumbs away, Aidan unsummoned one of the circling elementals, then summoned it in place to watch over him while he slept. It was a bit extravagant, he knew. It was unlikely that anyone would see one of the eagles diving down from above and be able to follow it to him. Still, he didn''t want to be interrupted until morning.


    Under Aidan''s guidance, the elemental shaped itself into a seven-headed hydra, then curled its immense form around him. The passion elementals did not give off as much heat as their fiery forms implied they should. The dream-stuff incorporated in their bodies made everything about them unpredictable. A standard fire elemental would have cooked him alive with such close, continuous proximity instead of staving off the late autumn chill.


    Preparations complete and exhausted in both body and mind, Aidan made himself comfortable, then closed his eyes and waited for sleep to claim him.


    Aidan


    Sixthday, 2nd week of the 11th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Dawn


    Near Ceallach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Aidan drifted back to wakefulness wrapped in warmth. He shifted, seeking, nuzzling his face between his bedmate''s bare breasts. Big, soft, pillowy. Not Sunnild, then. The arms around him tightened, fingers stroking along his back. The prick of her claw tips against his skin revealed their owner''s identity.


    "Mornin'', Aoife," Aidan mumbled into her bosom.


    "Good morning, Aidan. I''m sorry," Aoife''s voice crooned in his ear.


    That didn''t make sense. "Sorry? What¡ª" Aidan stiffened as his mind shook off the aftereffects of slumber. He pulled back, Aoife''s arms falling away, and opened his eyes. Sure enough, there she was, naked as she''d been the previous night, wrapped up within the furs with him. Looking around, he saw Sunnild asleep in Ailis''s arms against the opposite wall and Brighid and Riama at the cave mouth, their eyes on him. His guardian hydra paid them no attention, of course, as its base instructions told it to.


    "How?" Aidan asked.


    "Riama led us to you," Brighid said.


    A flash of irritation went through him. To have his familiar betray him, even in such a small way, hurt. "Your small mate was in pain," she told him.


    In pain? Aidan''s eyes widened. He sat up, pulling Aoife into his lap and hugging her tight. "Shit, shit, shit, I''m so sorry, Aoife. I wasn''t thinking." He hadn''t removed the control bracelet. When the distance between them grew too great, Aoife''s collar punished her as if it was her trying to escape rather than the reverse.


    Aoife trembled and buried her head in the crook of Aidan''s neck. "I''m sorry," she said again, her voice hoarse. Hot tears dripped onto his skin. "I didn''t mean to chase you away. Please don''t leave me ever again."


    "I won''t," he told her. "I''ll take the damned bracelet off and never wear it again."


    Aoife''s fist thudded against his shoulder. "No, idiot. I don''t, it''s not," She sucked in a shuddering breath. "It wasn''t the collar that hurt me. Seeing you turn around and leave because of me..." Aoife''s words trailed off into a strangled sob.


    "Shh." Aidan stroked her raven-black hair. "I love you," he told her. Then, looking around, seeing Sunnild and Ailis awake now, he added, "all of you."


    "And we love you," Brighid said as she joined him and Aoife. Sunnild was only a second behind her, tears flowing down her cheeks as well as she enclosed them all in a winged cocoon.


    "I already gave them a talking to," Ailis said from outside Sunnild''s envelopment.


    "We knew you were stressed but did not realize it was so bad." Brighid kissed the top of his head.


    "We didn''t mean ta add ta everythin'' else," added Sunnild.


    "It''s..." Aidan stopped himself from saying, ''it''s OK,'' because it wasn''t. "I''m sorry for reacting like that. I knew it was wrong last night, but once I was moving, I couldn''t stop."


    Ailis snorted. "You and Brighid are a match in that respect. Her impetuous nature has always caused her problems."


    "I don''t know," Aidan said, "she hasn''t been that bad since¡ª" He cut himself off, eyes widening. "Wait. You say I''m acting like Brighid used to?"


    Ailis''s voice was puzzled. "I was exaggerating a little, but yes, I am used to cleaning up this kind of mess by now."


    "I am such an idiot. The answer''s been staring me in the face this whole time."


    "What answer, to what question?" Brighid sounded even more confused than her mother.


    Aidan wrapped his arms around all three of his clinging lovers. "I noticed that I''ve grown more emotional over the last few months, quicker to anger, more aggressive, more lustful. I thought it was the Brighaid''s influence on me, but no. I did this to myself."


    "I don''t understand," Aoife complained.


    "It''s all about the soul. Ailis, when we talked about the subject, you told me that a person''s soul defines who they are. When I used Phoenix Pyre to kill the Taig and its army, I burned a chunk of my soul to do it." Sunnild and Aoife stirred in his arms. This was new information for them. "The first time I died, my soul was intact. The second time, not so much. Whatever magic lets me revive repaired it, but I''d already muddied the waters a bit."


    Brighid gasped. Yes, she''d figured it out, too. "Brighid, we''re Soulmates," he said, confirming her insight. "When that happened, the notification warned us that our souls were bound together. It seems like there''s more to that than we considered."


    "You are becoming more like me, and me like you," Brighid said in the barest of whispers. "Oh, that makes me feel even worse!" Her arms tightened around him.


    "I''m just happy to have an explanation," Aidan said with a little laugh. "It''s been driving me crazy. To wheel things back to the root of all this mayhem, I have difficulty controlling myself around Eldrid. I''ve been in lust with her from the start. I tried to resist falling to temptation, with varying degrees of failure."


    Aoife groaned. "So when we gave you permission to pursue her, then confronted you about it the next night..."


    "Yup. Made all the worse because I didn''t actually get to indulge that primal voice urging me to conquer her."


    "Wait," Sunnild asked, "you didn''t sleep with ''er?"


    "I shouldn''t kiss and tell like this," Aidan said with a sigh. "We slept together, yes, but it wasn''t what any of us expected. Less lust, more taking comfort in each others'' arms. It turns out we have similar traumas."


    "Similar? Is she¡ª"


    Aidan cut Brighid off. "Sorry, love, but anything else has to come from her. She told me secrets that aren''t mine to tell. I won''t betray her confidence without a compelling reason." Interrupting her would confirm Eldrid''s status as a Chosen to Brighid, but it was all he could do. He trusted his Soulmate to follow his will in this and keep it to herself.


    "So yer fallin'' in love with her?" Sunnild''s question didn''t have the same edge to it Aoife''s had the previous night, but there was a shadow of something darker to it.


    "Maybe," Aidan admitted. "It''s a bit early to tell, but I seem to have a hard time keeping my heart where it belongs. I already have more love than I could ever need between the four of you¡ª"


    "Five!"


    Riama''s mental interjection made Aidan laugh. He sent


    back to her.


    "OK, Riama, the five of you. I shouldn''t need anyone else," Aidan finished.


    "The heart wants what it wants," Brighid replied. Her statement had the air of a quotation.


    "I, you," Aoife stumbled over her words. "I''m not used to this," she said at last. "I''m still getting used to sharing you three other ways. And you know I don''t trust Eldrid."


    "That''s why it surprised me that you pushed me into her arms," Aidan told her.


    "It''s¡ª" She stopped, then started over. "I don''t dislike her. I don''t believe she''s out to hurt you or the rest of us. There''s just something about her that''s got me on edge. I tried to shove that aside, but I guess I didn''t do a very good job."


    "And you, Sunnild? You''ve been quiet."


    "Umm." Sunnild squirmed at the sudden attention. "It''s kinda the opposite fer me. I''m not a very good harpy. I''m supposed to be gathering a harem of men fer myself, not throwin'' myself at other ladies."


    Aidan smiled. Even in the middle of a discussion about having multiple sexual partners, Sunnild still managed to be adorable. "You are who you are, dove. There''s nothing wrong with being attracted to women. And, speaking for my own sake, and if you''ll permit my momentary hypocrisy, I appreciate that you don''t have any interest in other men."


    The harpy giggled. "Nope, just you, and Brighid, and Aoife, and Eldrid..."


    "I notice a common theme," Ailis''s voice broke in, "considering you left my name out."


    Aidan could feel his lover''s blush hot against his skin. "She does seem at least as fond of big boobs as I am," he said to tease her.


    "I like you too, Ailis!" Sunnild protested. "Just not the same way. You''re kinda like my mum."


    A slim hand came from behind Sunnild''s back to ruffle her crest feathers. "I know, sweetheart. I was teasing."


    Thinking back to Eldrid mentioning being Catholic, Aidan said, "I''d be a little more cautious approaching Eldrid than you were with Brighid or Aoife. I''m not sure how she feels about other women in bed. It''s one of the reasons no ring is forthcoming for her at the moment. I can''t bring someone into this relationship who isn''t at least comfortable with the idea."


    "Mm," Sunnild hummed in agreement. "I''ll let ya lead. But, if she wasn''t opposed ta feminine companionship, and she proves trustworthy, you''d propose to her?"


    Aidan hesitated. How much of his feelings for Eldrid were genuine? How much was him still coming down from the emotional high of their shared night? How much was Brighid''s emotions changing the way he acted? "Yes, if none of you objected. You all get absolute, no-questions-asked vetos. Just please don''t jerk me again around like you did the last two nights."


    "Yes, sir. We will be more aware of your emotional needs, too," Brighid said, voice serious. "I think the three of us thought everything was fine because the sex was still good. Mother reminded us that there''s more to it than that."


    "I knew that, but I got jealous," Aoife mumbled.


    The knot of Aoife''s emotions in the back of Aidan''s head gave him a flash of insight. "Of her, or of me?" Her indignant squawk and hot, furious blush was all the answer he needed. Seemed like Eldrid was a strike for three of the people in his little pod. At least Brighid didn''t seem to be lusting after her the way the rest of them were.


    "So, Are we all good now?" Aidan asked.


    "Do ya forgive us?"


    "Of course," he assured Sunnild. "I can''t imagine any of you doing something unforgivable. Do you forgive me for storming out the way I did?" The three of them talked over each other in their haste to confirm. "Good. Then we should head back home, if for no other reason than so we can have a hot breakfast. I''m starving."


    "Mm! Me too!"


    Zurai


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Orange, Lupus, and an anonymous Patron for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 82: Looming Conflict

    The following weeks were the busiest in Aidan''s life. His days consisted of diplomatic meetings, mission planning, and relentless training for the task ahead. His nights consisted of sleeping with little divergence. By the time he schlepped himself home each evening, he didn''t have the energy to do much more than collapse into restless dreams. Nonetheless, his fiancees were each attentive in their own ways.


    Ailis was with him for most of the day and made sure he took breaks along the way. He spent more than one early afternoon dozing against her chest, wrapped in her arms. She also acted as his gatekeeper, ensuring that he only heard about the problems requiring his personal attention.


    Sunnild brought Aidan his lunch and dinner every day¡ªthen stayed to ensure he ate it all. She only had to force-feed him once to prove how serious she took her self-imposed task. Once he finished to her satisfaction, she lingered for a brief cuddle. Somehow, his hand always found its way to her still-flat belly.


    Meanwhile, Brighid took an active role in planning the expedition. Although she wouldn''t be among those going to Karsarrym''s lair, she was a veteran adventurer. Her extensive experiences clearing out dungeons and slaying monsters were invaluable. If she prioritized Aidan''s safety above most other concerns, she kept it subtle enough to head off complaints.


    Aoife filled in the gaps. Whenever Aidan needed something, she was at his shoulder, ready to send someone to fetch it. She took notes on every meeting he attended, and her observations helped him catch some slippery maneuvering that would have passed him by otherwise. A mug of clear, cold water was always waiting in her hands when he needed a drink while training. And, when Aidan came home long after the sun sought its rest, it was Aoife who ensured that he disrobed and bathed before succumbing to sleep.


    None of this meant Aidan was celibate. There were no orgies or long, luxurious lovemaking sessions, but quick liaisons still happened. Whether it was Aoife crouched beneath his desk with her head between his legs, Ailis distracting a wolven dignitary while Brighid dragged him off to a side chamber, or Sunnild straddling his lap while feeding him, they each found time to be with Aidan.


    All told, Aidan doubted he would have survived with his sanity intact without them. He resolved to make sure they all knew how grateful he was once he returned. He would spend a day with each of them in turn, pampering them and waiting on their whims as they''d done with him.


    The one curiosity was Eldrid. After spending the night with Aidan, the sexual pressure from her came to a near-total stop. She still wore clothes designed to titillate, and she never stopped flirting, but there was no longer an edge to her. She kept things light. A teasing smile, fingers brushing his wrist, a gorgeous view of white marble mountains as she leaned down in front of him. Gone, it seemed, was Eldrid''s anger, leaving a new relationship behind.


    Still, teasing and flirting were all he got from the other Chosen. Eldrid had opportunities to pull Aidan into a quiet corner for kisses or more. She didn''t take them. Instead, she seemed content to let the tension ratchet up until one of them boiled over. Aidan expected he''d be the one to lose this round of the game.


    The women he loved weren''t unaware, of course. In fact, all four of them encouraged Aidan to keep his sex-fueled Talents as full as possible on the march. Brighid took the time to point out women in the expedition who might be willing to indulge themselves with him. Aidan acknowledged that the extra stats would be useful, but his Earther upbringing still made him uncomfortable sleeping with women he didn''t know well. He did promise to at least fill his Huffin'' and Puffin'' quota the night before they attacked Karsarrym. He could lean on Eldrid for that.


    At the end of it all, Aidan still felt less than fully confident in a complete victory. Although, in theory, the League had as much as a year before the dragon eggs hatched, none of them were certain when Karsarrym laid them. Furthermore, nothing prevented the dragon from sallying out from its lair to raid the countryside. It was unlikely Karsarrym would leave the eggs behind for a serious fight like assaulting Ceallach Macht, but none of them could react fast enough to interfere if it started torching villages.


    Aidan was also under another element of time pressure. He doubted he could complete his personal quest before mid-spring without the experience from killing Karsarrym. The second stratum Labyrinth boss might do it, and Ysbail was eager to achieve her own quest by reaching the fifth floor. However, the Adventurer''s early expeditions into the caverns revealed that the enemies were an order of magnitude more dangerous than those in the first stratum. She was taking it slow and steady rather than rush in.


    More importantly, Aidan''s goal wasn''t to reach level 25. Instead, it was to attain a Prestige Class, which would involve another quest. Unfortunately, there was no telling how long or involved it would be, which meant he needed to see his options as soon as possible. He didn''t want to be forced to choose between taking suboptimal Prestige Class or failing You Shouldn''t Tempt Fate.


    Still, Aidan''s training bore considerable fruit. He focused his practice on the three things he believed would prove most pivotal against Karsarrym: Blade of Burning Wrath, Phoenixfire Conflagration, and Aura Control.


    Blade was Aidan''s primary offensive contribution to the fight. He intended to summon as many of them as he could control before they entered Karsarrym''s chamber and send them all against the dragon. While the spell was impressive enough in its base form, he worked with Ailis and a Sisterhood Fire Mage to improve it. Through their combined efforts, Aidan developed several alternate incantations.


    Conflagration, meanwhile, would be his go-to emergency button for the fight. It wouldn''t bring anyone back to life, but he couldn''t afford to use Phoenix Pyre except in the direst circumstances. In any situation short of that, Conflagration would downgrade mortal Wounds to survivable (if crippling) ones and refill everyone''s Health. Since he didn''t expect it to use it as an attack, Aidan chose to refine its healing and protective capabilities.


    Those efforts bore fruit both in improving Conflagration and in advancing Aidan''s Vivimancy to Apprentice tier. That, in turn, granted him a new spell.


    Healing Radiance: Vivimancy, level 25.


    You infuse the golden light of life into a willing target, causing them to glow and automatically healing up to 150 Health damage. This healing happens after the injury occurs, so it will not prevent instantaneous death. Wounds caused by Health damage will be cured or reduced depending on how much of the injury is healed. This spell has no effect on existing injuries. Its healing is caused by pure life energy and will not cause scarring.


    Cost: 25 Concentration. Duration: up to 1 hour. Casting time: 1 second.


    At last, Aidan had a real defensive measure. After factoring in his stats and other bonuses, Healing Radiance effectively gave the target around 300 extra Health¡ªa 60% increase for him alone¡ªand a buffer against major Wounds. He could cast it on the strike squad before they fought Karsarrym, tipping the scales somewhat further in their favor. It would cut into the number of Blades he could maintain, but the cost-to-benefit ratio was worthwhile.


    As for his newly-unlocked Aura, it was a wild card. According to Ysbail, Aura was even more unique to the individual using it than magic. Hers focused on offense, while Aidan''s Aura seemed stubbornly resistant to the entire concept. Try as he might, Aidan couldn''t replicate Ysbail''s sword beams, a fact that upset him more than it should.


    Practicing with his Aura proved difficult, and Aidan didn''t manage to manifest any new abilities with it. However, by the time the expedition launched, he cut the time it took him to activate his Aura to a point where he might even be able to bring it up in reaction to an attack. Ysbail claimed it was stronger, too, although Aidan wasn''t sure how she could tell.


    The final plan for the assault on Karsarrym''s lair was straightforward, if not simple. The Snow-Water Rider mercenaries were the tip of the spear. They would be of limited use against the dragon itself, so instead, they had the task of clearing out the dungeon. Skilled as they were, and used to working in unusual circumstances, they should take minimal losses while preserving the strike team''s resources for the fight that mattered.


    That was important because it was quite unlikely they would catch the dragon by surprise. All it would take was one minion escaping to warn its master or one unseen ward getting tripped. Thus, they expected Karsarrym to be ready and waiting when they entered the central lair chamber. This would be a battle, not an assassination.


    Each of the League members contributed to the strike force, both in personnel and materiel. Aidan, of course, was Ceallach Macht''s main offering, but not its only one. Brighid was nearly as busy as he was, crafting arms and armor for the squad out of second stratum Labyrinth materials. Ysbail and her team, of course, were the ones contributing the crystals and ores, another reason why Aidan was unable to make much progress advancing his Aura Control.


    Two Sapphire Sky gargoyles formed the team''s vanguard. They were far more durable by multiple orders of magnitude than anyone else, but even they might crumble beneath the sustained attention of an adult dragon. In a surprising show of trust, the gargoyles also provided a small number of magical arrows they claimed could pierce even their own hardened hide.


    Ysbail, already proven against their target, would join the front line. Her protege Wulfryn begged to be included, but both Ysbail and the Ash Shroud Sisterhood leadership refused. Instead, the harpies sent a skilled sniper and a mage specializing in enchantments. The latter wouldn''t join in the attack. Her job was to work with Brighid to make the Labyrinth-forged gear even better¡ªsomething Aidan''s Soulmate was quite excited about.


    The wolven and catfolk were also contributing backline fighters. A Bonekin shaman specializing in debilitating debuffs would hopefully help lock down the dragon. Searlas, meanwhile, pledged his only high-level summoner. Aidan suspected the mage had displeased his Chief somehow, but he couldn''t turn down the help. According to Ailis, casters specializing in summons were far more effective than dabblers like Aidan himself.


    Searlas tried to get away without providing any other assets, citing the scout report making the attack possible. However, in the end, the pressure from the rest of the League Council wore him down. Grumbling all the while, he agreed to provide food and shelter along the way for the entire expedition force, including the otterkin mercenaries. Truth be told, that was a weight off Aidan''s shoulders. Ceallach Macht''s food situation was tenuous as it was.


    The Ebon Bonekin offered something that widened everyone''s eyes. Fanchenn presented the Council with three rawhide necklaces from which dangled bony hands. Each would save the bearer''s life once, downgrading a lethal or mortal Wound to a critical, but treatable, one. These were sacred relics of their ancestors and could only be deployed at the ancestors'' behest.


    The fact that only three of the lifesaving artifacts were available caused a heated argument. Each of the League members, even the Sapphire Sky, wanted their people protected. Aidan managed to defuse the situation somewhat by refusing one for himself¡ªhe knew he had at least one life left in the bank¡ªbut that still left three relics for six party members. In the end, they went to Searlas''s summoner, Ysbail, and one of the gargoyles.


    The gargoyle was a political concession. If the fight turned south enough to threaten one of them, it was unlikely any of the strike team would survive. Ysbail was a more practical choice. She would be in the most danger as a frontliner without the absurd durability of a living, magical statue. The summoner was also a reasonable consideration as he would be a juicy target for Karsarrym to snipe. Kill the summoner, and the summons would vanish.


    The dragon-slaying plan was for the two gargoyles to enter the lair along with the toughest of the summons. The rest of the group would wait for them to engage Karsarrym before stepping in. Next, Aidan would enter and send his full complement of Blades after the dragon. If their quarry underestimated the threat, they might be able to end the fight early. If not, the others would join the battle. Any planning past then was pointless.


    Such was the situation at dawn on the day before the expedition. All the preparations were complete; troops readied, caravan supplied, elite squad gathered. The only thing remaining for Aidan was to spend the day with the women who made his fucked-up life worth living.


    Zurai


    Aidan''s status screen:


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Lupus, and an anonymous Patron for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 83: Cherished Memories

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Sixthday, 4th week of the 11th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Pre-Dawn


    Caer Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Aidan started his day early. He woke up before the others and took several minutes to work his way out of the cuddle pile. Once he was free, he padded into the kitchen and started cooking breakfast. This would be Aoife''s (self-assigned) task on a typical day, but this wasn''t a typical day. Aidan would soon be leaving the women who held his heart behind to face a perilous fight.


    He knew how difficult it would be for them. Even with his ability to visit their dreams, they would be stuck here, waiting, unable to do anything to help. The same stressor broke apart countless military families back on Earth. Aidan wouldn''t be gone as long¡ªhe hoped¡ªbut it would still be trying for those he left behind.


    There wasn''t much Aidan could do to make it easier for them. Every idea he came up with created as many new problems as it solved. So, instead, he would spend today showing them how much he cared, starting with breakfast.


    It wasn''t much. Aidan was still new to this world and wasn''t as familiar with his options as he was in his little bachelor pad in the greater Atlanta area. Still, eggs were eggs, and flavored porridge was the same everywhere. It came out a little soupier than Aidan preferred, though. He missed grits, but he''d yet to see anything resembling corn in the Highlands.


    Once he was done, Aidan set the dishes aside for the servants to clean later, then padded back into the bedroom. Aoife was the closest, so he started with her. Easing onto the bed behind her, Aidan stroked her back. A sleepy sound slipped from her as she stirred and stretched. "I made breakfast," Aidan whispered into her ear. "Will you go wake Ailis for me and bring her back with you?"


    Aidan''s Chancellor usually slept in her own quarters, and last night was no different. He wasn''t sure if she was uncomfortable with her daughter''s proximity or it was an attempt to maintain a professional air to their relationship. Regardless of the reason, Aidan wanted her with him that morning.


    Aoife twisted, catlike, and pressed her naked body into his. "It''s my job to cook for us," she protested in a drowsy voice.


    "I''m declaring this morning a holiday. No work for you." Aoife giggled. She pressed a quick kiss to his lips, then squirmed out of his embrace. Aidan admired the view for a moment before moving on to his next target.


    Sunnild and Brighid were on either side of Aidan when he woke up, hugging him between them. In his absence, Brighid appeared to have made Sunnild a substitute. Aidan studied the pair for a moment. It would be difficult to wake them one at a time. They were too closely entwined. So instead, he knee-walked over to them and placed soft kisses on exposed skin.


    At first, Sunnild and Brighid only emitted sleepy murmurs and cuddled closer to each other. Aidan kept up the amorous assault until Brighid''s emerald eyes fluttered open and focused on him. "Good morning," he said and redirected his next kiss to her lips.


    Brighid tilted her head to accept his greeting. Her left hand lifted from Sunnild back to caress his cheek. A contented sigh passed between her lips, followed a moment later by the tip of her tongue. Aidan allowed its passage, greeting it with his own, but he pulled away before things got too heated. "Help me wake her?" he asked, indicating Sunnild. A brief, happy smile was his response, followed by the redhead turning to kiss the corner of Sunnild''s mouth.


    Sunnild proved that she was already awake by turning her head to catch Brighid''s lips. At the same time, one of her wings wrapped around Aidan''s back and pushed his head toward hers. Her lips left Brighid''s for only a split second before pressing against Aidan''s. Only afterward did her eyes open. "Mornin''," she said, followed by a yawn. Then, she rolled onto her back and stretched, catlike, exposing every inch of her athletic body to Aidan''s and Brighid''s hungry gazes.


    If breakfast wasn''t getting colder by the second, Aidan would have been tempted to take advantage of the opportunity. The gleam in Sunnild''s eyes told him she would welcome it. Instead, he kissed her nose and said, "Food''s on the table. Let''s shelve that for later, OK?"


    "Promise?" The impish grin and sultry look Sunnild paired her question with made Aidan glad he''d already put on pants.


    "Just try to stop me," he confirmed.


    "Why would I do that?" Sunnild giggled, stretched again, then rolled to her feet. "Come on," she urged, "breakfast''s getting cold!"


    Aidan exchanged a look with Brighid, then, smiling, followed Sunnild''s bubble butt out into the main room. Aoife sat at the table, drinking from a mug. Ailis was nowhere to be seen. Aidan shot her a questioning look and got an eye-roll in return. "I sent one of the servants for her," Aoife explained.


    Aidan smacked his forehead. "I''m an idiot."


    "You are, but we love you anyway." Aoife blew him a kiss to take the sting out of her teasing.


    Aidan took a seat and started piling food onto his plate. He''d made more than enough for the five of them¡ªthe servants and guards would take care of the rest. They considered it a perk. The fifth setting at the table let everyone know to expect Ailis, so despite the hungry look Sunnild fixed on her plate, no one started eating.


    Fortunately, they didn''t have to wait long. Ailis walked in only a minute or two after everyone sat down. Her hair was still wet, and her thin blouse clung to damp skin. Ailis might not be as voluptuous as some of Aidan''s other lovers, but her disheveled, underprepared appearance did it for Aidan. One of the privileges of his relationship was seeing Ailis with her hair down, so to speak.


    Aidan rose to greet Ailis with a tender kiss. She leaned into his embrace for a few heartbeats before pushing away from him. "Good morning," she said, then, "Why did you send for me? You know I prefer to keep a professional distance during the day."


    "Good morning to you too," Aidan said with a wry twist to his lips. "I do know that, and you know my opinion on the subject. But let''s leave the argument for another time." He took Ailis by the hand and led her to the table, then gave her a gentle push until she settled onto the cushions prepared for her.


    "Now then," he said when he was seated again, "as you all know, I''m leaving on the expedition tomorrow morning at dawn. I will return for certain, barring truly exceptional circumstances, but whether in victory or defeat remains to be seen. If we fail, there won''t be much time for relaxation and merry-making in our future." Aidan paused and looked each of his wives-to-be in the eyes. They returned his gaze with frowns and worried expressions.


    "I''ve come to rely on all of you in such a short time that I sometimes suspect I''m trapped in a dream. I couldn''t live without you, any of you, now." Aidan favored them each with a heartfelt smile. "I love you, and I haven''t had time to demonstrate it lately. So, today, I''m going to take the time. I''ll spend a couple of hours with each of you in turn, doing whatever I can to make your day better. That starts here, with this meal."


    "Ish sho good!" Sunnild said, her cheeks already stuffed full of food. Aidan blinked, then laughed. He''d gotten a bit longwinded, and she was eating for two now, after all.


    "Well, with that endorsement, let''s eat," he said and dug in.


    The meal was good, if simple, and there wasn''t much conversation while they ate. It wasn''t until Aidan sopped up the last puddle of yolk with the remnants of his bread that anyone asked a real question.


    "So, who gets you first today?" A poke in the side accompanied Aoife''s question.


    Aidan turned his eyes to Brighid. "Do you need any help in the forge today? I''m probably a bit rusty."


    A brilliant smile answered him. "Oh, I am sure I can find something for you to do."


    Early Morning


    Despite the innuendo in her statement, Brighid stuck to her rules. No hanky-panky while there was superheated metal laying around. As it turned out, that applied to working with other materials as well. Aidan didn''t mind, though. His offer was genuine to start with.


    To Brighid''s relief, Ceallach Macht''s recent surge in population brought another blacksmith to the burgeoning town. The timid catfolk smith wasn''t very good with weapons¡ªhe never seemed to get the balance right¡ªbut he was a whiz with household items. Pots, rakes, nails, nothing was too common or mundane for him, and he pumped them out with considerable speed.


    That, in turn, left Brighid with more time to work on her specialties, including her newest one. She dropped a small pile of emerald green chitin fragments in front of Aidan. "We are going to make a gauntlet out of these."


    Aidan gave the bug remains a skeptical look. "I know it''s possible because I''ve seen the results, but are you sure this is an entry-level job? I never read that manual, remember?"


    Brighid booped him on the nose. "Trust me," she said. "Now, go and shove those into the furnace."


    Aidan looked down at the organic¡ªwas it organic?¡ªmaterial in front of him, then the 1400 degree magic-fueled hellhole in the corner. "Won''t they just burn?" The critters they came from certainly had. He could still see some carbon scoring on the edge of one of the larger pieces.


    Brighid put her hands on her hips and cocked an eyebrow at him. "Who is the professional, and who is the amateur here?" Her teasing smile and the swish of her tail belied her scolding tone.


    "Yes, Mistress. It will be as you say."


    Aidan''s faux-subservient tone broke the facade. Brighid snickered, then let out a peal of joyous laughter. "By the gods, that sounds so wrong!" She convulsed, clutching her sides as she giggled helplessly. Bemused, Aidan set about the task she''d given him. Sure enough, the chunks of chitin acted like metal, heating until they glowed a bright yellowish-white. He pulled them out with a long pair of tongs and set them on the anvil.


    "Alright," Brighid said, suppressing another outbreak of laughter, "here is what you need to do."


    Late Morning


    "You smell of sweat and smoke." Aoife wrinkled her nose at him.


    "Yeah, well, you try turning bug bits into metal gauntlets using nothing but muscle power and a two thousand degree furnace and see how good you smell at the end." Aidan bent down and pecked her lips, then straightened with the intent to go wash off. Instead, Aoife tangled a hand in his hair, dragging him back down to her open mouth.


    "I wasn''t complaining," she murmured once she let him pull away for breath. "It''s a manly scent. Not something I want all the time, and it only works while the sweat is fresh," Aoife said, nuzzling against his damp shirt. "But right now, it reminds me of how you smelled when you chased me down." Her hands slid under his clothes, up onto Aidan''s chest.


    Aidan shifted his hold on the smaller woman, grasping her hips, then sliding further to get a double handful of her derriere. "Mm," she hummed, looking up at him through half-lidded eyes. "You want to make me sweaty too?" Slender fingertips dipped beneath his belt, probing, withdrawing. Teasing.


    Feeling a growl build in his chest, Aidan tugged at Aoife''s long skirt, bunching the material up inch by inch. Her tail curled around his arm, silken fur rubbing against his bare skin. Then, before he could expose her no doubt bare bottom to the cool air, Aoife ducked and spun out of his embrace. "You''ll just have to wait your turn. It''s almost lunchtime, and I only just started cooking before you came in. Go, shoo, wash off."


    Lust and duty warred within Aidan. Aoife''s back was to him now. He could press her against the counter and have her skirt up to her tail in a second. But today wasn''t for sex. Despite Brighid taking every excuse to press her breasts into his back or whisper into his ear, despite Aoife''s coy expression as she glanced back over her shoulder. Today Aidan wanted to show them he loved more than just their bodies.


    He still pressed himself against Aoife and put his hands on her hips. She shivered and leaned forward onto the countertop, her feet sliding apart, rising up to her tiptoes, her tail twining around his waist. Aidan chuckled and nibbled on her ear. "I thought so. But, no, I''ll be good. Wouldn''t want the others to starve, right?"


    "Right," she said with a shaky breath. Aidan nuzzled into her hair and pressed a kiss to the back of her neck, then let her go. When he looked over his shoulder at the door into the bathing room, she was still in the same pose.


    Early Afternoon


    "You are bringing me two meals in one day? Are you trying to tell me something?"


    Aidan rolled his eyes. "I expected someone of your age and maturity to be more secure in your appearance." He cupped Ailis''s chin and gave her a long, thorough kiss. "I love you just like you are. Stop reading anything more than that into it."


    "Hmph. And now you are making catty comments about my age." Threads of spun silver sprayed through the air as Ailis tossed her head.


    "You''re pretty cynical today. I know, I''m going away tomorrow and you''re worried, but you still need to relax. Here, I know, I''ll give you a shoulder massage while you eat."


    Ailis gave him a side-eyed look, then sighed. "You are right. That sounds nice, thank you, Aidan."


    "Of course." He waited until Ailis dunked a corner of her sandwich into the bowl of hot soup, then started unlacing her shirt.


    "I thought you were going to massage my shoulders?"


    "I am, but the shirt''s in the way."


    Ailis set her food down and turned her head to look at him. Aidan gave her a smile, undid the last lace, and then pulled her only garment off her body. "I know what you are doing," she said.


    "Oh? Is it working?"


    Ailis shifted her attention back to her plate. "Insufficient evidence."


    With a chuckle, Aidan trailed his hands up Ailis''s side and onto her slender shoulders. As he expected, the stress of running the city had her muscles in knots. He still had no idea how to solve that properly, but he did at least know what felt good to each of his ladies. Not only did Aidan have plenty of practice, but this was also close enough to foreplay for his skills to provide guidance.


    Letting his fingers drape over Ailis''s shoulders and down onto her chest, Aidan dug his thumbs into her trapezius muscles. A groan escaped from Ailis''s mouth, and she hunched forward, arching into his touch. "Eat up," he admonished. "I slaved away over a hot cauldron to make that soup for you."


    "Oh, I am sure it was such a trial to stir the pot for ten minutes while Aoife relieved all your stress." Sarcasm dripped from Ailis''s lips between bites of her meal.


    "I''ll have you know that we did nothing of the sort."


    "Whyever¡ªhnnngh¡ªnot?"


    Aidan continued the massage, following Ailis''s spine up onto the back of her neck, while he thought of the best way to answer her. "Because I wanted to spend time with her, not use her. She''d have been happy to let me," a memory of the voluptuous catgirl leaning over the counter, legs spread wide, flitted through his mind, "but today isn''t about me."


    "Hmm." Ailis bent her head down until her chin was tucked against her sternum, exposing her neck to Aidan''s touch. "Well," she murmured, "I can hardly argue with the results. You get better at this every time."


    "And yet somehow, I still don''t have a single level in Massage. If I didn''t know better, I''d think I had a terrible affinity for it."


    "Some things transcend skills." Aidan''s Chancellor shuddered and let out a breathy moan.


    Aidan eyed Ailis''s empty hands pressed against the tabletop. "The deal was that I''d give you a massage while you ate. You''re not eating. Do you want me to stop?"


    "How do you expect me not to make a mess while you are doing this to me?"


    "Don''t worry about it. You''re not wearing any clothes to stain, and I''ll be happy to clean up any crumbs or spills that happen."


    "Mmn. Well, I will not be the one to stand against such dedication. You did say today was about us, right?" Ailis straightened slowly and fumbled around for her sandwich. Aidan chuckled to himself. Oh, woe was him, presented with the onerous task of slurping spilled soup off the body of a naked lover.


    Late Afternoon


    Aidan slipped into the hot water with a sigh and rolled his neck from side to side. Despite her teasing, Ailis didn''t end up letting him clean her off. Instead, she''d brushed away the crumbs, put her shirt back on, then started in on the ever-increasing pile of paperwork. Left with plenty of time on his hands before Sunnild finished her daily training, he''d pulled up a chair and snagged a stack for himself. He hated the bureaucracy, but it was nice to spend a quiet afternoon chatting with Ailis.


    "There you are." Aidan looked up just in time to see Sunnild''s sweat-soaked uniform drop to the floor. She slipped into the water beside him, then straddled his lap. Moving without thought, Aidan''s hands settled onto her hips.


    "Here I am," he agreed.


    "You''ve spent time with everyone else already, right?"


    "Yeah. Sorry, little dove, someone had to be last."


    "Un-uh," Sunnild shook her head, crest feathers bobbing with the vehement motion. "Not what I meant. I just wanted to make sure I had you all to myself until dinner."


    "You do," Aidan said with a smile. He should have known Sunnild didn''t mind being last. She was almost irrepressibly cheerful. "What are you going to do with me?"


    "Bad Aidan," she replied. "Didn''t you say today is all about us?" She shifted, pulling her wings in tight, then turning around in his lap. "I want you to give me a bath. Every inch of skin, every feather." Her wings spread to their full length.


    "That''s quite a task you''ve set for me," Aidan said, running his hands up and down Sunnild''s back.


    "Mm-hmm. You''d better be thorough, too. But no naughty stuff!" Sunnild wiggled her butt against Aidan''s groin in defiance of her own words.


    "Really? None at all?" Pressure against the bundle of muscles at the junction of Sunnild''s four wings caused her to shiver. It was one of the less obvious erogenous zones on her body.


    "Nope," she confirmed, leaning forward and pressing herself against him under the water. "Cleaning only."


    "I see, I see. But thorough?"


    "Mm-hmm. Gotta make sure there''s not a speck-a dirt or sweat left anywhere."


    "Well, I''d better get started, then, huh? Can''t disappoint you while you''re carrying my daughter." Sunnild shivered again at that. Her right arm shifted, elbow out, no doubt bringing her hand to touch her belly.


    "I''m so happy about that." Sunnild''s words were soft, hardly audible over the sloshing water. "I thought I''d never have th'' chance. Never have my own man. I always liked children, always wanted my own."


    Abandoning bathing her for the moment, Aidan wrapped his arms around Sunnild''s waist and kissed her shoulder. "I confess some surprise at how eager you were, given your age, but I''m happy, too. I never gave much thought to children before, but every time I think of raising a little girl with you, my heart threatens to burst from my chest."


    Sunnild snagged his hand and pressed it to her abdomen. She was still early in her pregnancy, even for an oviparous species. From a distance, she still looked as toned and athletic as ever. However, up close, and with as much experience seeing and feeling her naked body as he had, Aidan could feel the slight bulge behind her belly button. "When will you lay?" he asked. The question made him feel weird¡ªhe wasn''t used to thinking of babies coming from eggs still¡ªbut he powered through it.


    "With a human daddy? It''ll be months still. Same overall gestation as two humans, but the egg''ll come ''bout halfway through. That''s when my milk''ll start to come in."


    "Hmm." Aidan''s free hand drifted upward. Sunnild arched, pushing her bare breast into his palm. It still fit neatly, as if sized just for him. "Four months with no baby to feed? Seems inefficient."


    "Yer bein'' naughty," Sunnild said with a moan.


    "Me? I''m just making sure your perfect little boobies are clean." Sunnild''s head tilted back onto Aidan''s shoulder as he rubbed her soft mound and the stiff nub at its peak.


    "Oh, ''kay then. In that case, keep goin''."


    Evening


    In the end, it took Aidan more than an hour and a half to wash Sunnild to her satisfaction. He spent plenty of time on her wings, but she kept pulling his attention back to her belly, breasts, butt, and between her thighs. She seemed to think he spent more effort playing with her body than cleaning, but then again, she did keep asking for more.


    When they emerged, they were both a bit pruney. Sunnild giggled at him while she toweled him off, then led him into the dining room by the hand. All of his life partners were there, waiting for them, an elaborate meal spread out on the table. None of them were wearing any more clothes than he or Sunnild had on.


    "Why do I get the feeling I''m about to get overruled?"


    Brighid smiled at him and pulled Aidan down beside her. "Because you are," she told him. "You made today all about us, and we all loved it."


    The other three women nodded in unison. Sunnild picked up the narrative. "Ya spent time with us, doing what we do every day."


    It was Ailis''s turn next. "We cherish every moment with you, and having you choose to come to us in our own realms means a lot."


    "But," finished Aoife, "tomorrow you''ll be gone, and we haven''t had the chance to give you a proper farewell."


    "So," said Brighid, "we are going to feed you, then show you how much we love you and appreciate your thoughtfulness."


    "All of you?" Aidan asked. That had only happened once before, on the night he proposed to them. Even then, it had been more of a serial one-on-one session than an orgy.


    "All." "Of." "Us." Aoife, Sunnild, and Ailis confirmed, their voices harmonizing.


    "I''d better eat up, then. It sounds like I''ll need my energy." Before he''d finished his sentence, Brighid held a bite of steak to his lips.


    Zurai


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Lupus, and an anonymous Patron for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 84: Living the Dream, pt 1

    This chapter was just too large not to break up¡ª12,000 words in total¡ªso I split it roughly in half. First half this week, second half next week. If you''re one of the people who hate the explicit chapters, sorry, there''s not much here for you. If you''re not, well, enjoy! For the record, this should be the last explicit chapter in Champion.


    Aidan


    The Realms


    Sixthday, 4th week of the 11th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Mid-Evening


    Caer Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Aidan''s lovers took turns feeding him small bites of food straight from their hands. The three who weren''t so occupied trailed teasing touches across his body. Nothing overtly sexual, not that it stopped him from rising to the occasion. Feminine fingers caressed his arms, chest, back, shoulders. Soft lips laid gentle kisses on his cheeks and neck. From time to time, one of them would lean forward, pressing breasts capped by hard nipples against his bare skin for a few seconds before retreating again.


    All the while, they brought a steady stream of finger foods to his mouth. Rich steak, succulent fruit, buttered vegetables. He accepted each, chewing, swallowing, opening his mouth for the next. Even if Aidan wanted to speak, he wasn''t given the opportunity. As Brighid told him, the day was about them, but Aidan''s ladies had other ideas about his last night at home.


    When, at last, they were satisfied that they''d slaked Aidan''s hunger, they transitioned to stoking his lust. Brighid settled down behind him, drawing him back against her until her breasts cradled his head between them. Aoife slid forward, leaving a damp trail on his thigh as she pressed her heavy breasts into his chest and sandwiched his manhood between their bellies. Sunnild and Ailis leaned in from his sides until Aidan was engulfed in nude, nubile women from every angle.


    "I love you, Aidan," said Brighid into his ear. "You mean more to me than I could possibly express. You are my everything."


    "I love ya, Aidan," came Sunnild''s voice a moment before her lips pressed against the crook of his neck. "Ya protected me when I needed it, then let me fly free ta make my own mistakes. Ya mean th'' world ta me."


    "I love you, Aidan," the litany repeated before Aoife drew him into a short, passionate kiss. "You saved me, cared for me, showed me that there''s still hope. Anything I can do for you, I will."


    That only left one. "I love you, Aidan. You came to us in our darkest hour and provided a shining light to lead us forward. I do not deserve you, but I will fight to the last to keep you." Ailis kissed the corner of his mouth, then rested her head on his shoulder.


    "I can''t say whether I love you or not." Aidan stiffened at the unexpected voice. "I get the feeling that I''m playing with fire," Eldrid said, then let out a snort. "Pun not intended. But, when your little harem here asked me to come tonight, well, I guess there''s more moth in me than I realized because I couldn''t stay away." She appeared in Aidan''s line of sight, as gloriously naked as the others, and wormed her way in between Sunnild and Aoife.


    "Why?" asked Aidan, still reeling from the surprise.


    "Because we love you," answered Aoife, Eldrid''s harshest critic. "Because I''ve been watching you watch her."


    "Because tonight is about you," came Ailis''s support, "not us. Even if you do not love her, you want her."


    "Because we know you love us," said Brighid, "and nothing here will change that."


    "''Cuz yer gonna sleep with her on th'' road anyway. I might as well get ta enjoy seein'' those boobies bounce. What? It''s true!" Sunnild''s declaration broke the serious mood. Even Eldrid laughed. Well, Aidan already knew she wasn''t an ultra-devout Catholic since she was willing to use birth control. He just hoped Sunnild didn''t push things too far too fast.


    "Let''s move this to the bedroom," suggested Aoife, "before we make any more of a mess out here." Murmured agreement came from all parties.


    Once they reconvened, the women insisted on keeping Aidan the center of attention. Aoife arranged a few cushions on the bed, leaned back against them, then pulled Aidan down with his back to her and his head cushioned on her lush bosom. "Rest," she urged him with a gentle smile. "Let us do the work so you''ll still be fresh tomorrow."


    "Does anyone mind if I get things started?" Eldrid asked. I wonder if she''s going first so she doesn''t have to taste anyone else on me? Both questions remained unanswered as the Captain tucked a strand of bright blue hair behind her ear and bent down over his lap. Soft hands stroked his thighs, pushing them a little further apart. Then midnight blue lips parted to make way for a bright pink tongue. Eldrid looked up into Aidan''s eyes as she licked the underside of his shaft.


    He''d been hard since halfway through his bath with Sunnild, but seeing Eldrid making doe eyes at him while she knelt between his legs had Aidan on edge. She displayed a degree of submissiveness he''d never seen in her before. Gone was the struggle, the contest, the fighting for control. Part of him missed it, hoped it''d be back in the morning. The rest of him exulted as he reached down and guided her mouth to his tip and watched her part her lips obediently. Then his dick vanished into wet, sucking heat.


    "Is she a good little cocksucker?" Aoife asked. Her hands stroked his chest as she watched from above him. "She looks so good with those dark lips wrapped around you. Is she good, love?" Aidan moaned out an affirmative. "I always wondered what it was like for a man. To feel your dick sink into a woman''s body. To conquer her, plunder her depths, mold her around you." Aoife''s hips wriggled against his back, her wet sex grinding along his spine.


    "She''s good," Aidan said, speaking to both of them. "Her lips are wrapped tight around me. They feel so soft, like a ring of pillows gliding down my skin. Her mouth is hot and wet, and her tongue is rubbing all along the underside of my cock." Aoife''s squirming increased. "She''s taking me deep, now, her throat opening up and squeezing tight around me. God, so good."


    "Yesss," hissed Aoife. "Fuck her throat. Make her take you all the way to the root. Choke her with your dick." Aidan broke Eldrid''s gaze to roll his head back, looking up at Aoife. She wasn''t looking at him at all. Her gaze was fixed on the woman between his thighs.


    Eldrid''s gullet tightening around his length brought Aidan''s awareness snapping back to her. She swallowed again, and Aidan groaned in pleasure. Strands of hair tickled his thighs, but he no longer had any thought to spare for anything but the woman impaling herself on his manhood.


    Seeing that she successfully regained Aidan''s attention, Eldrid started to bob her head. She swallowed his entire length until her nose pressed against his pubic hair, then backed off before plunging down again. With a flash of surprise, Aidan realized that Eldrid was keeping his tip in her throat at all times. How could she breathe? Yet, she showed no sign of distress as she continued to deep throat him for minutes on end.


    "Fuck, Eldrid, I''m gonna come." The idea of her actually choking herself on his dick brought him to the precipice. It wasn''t the thought of hurting her that did it but rather the ultimate submissiveness inherent in her doing it without prompting. Eldrid swallowed around him again, once, twice. His hips rose up off the bed, beyond his control, pushing deep into her willing esophagus.


    Aidan felt it, felt himself falling past the point of no return. Then, in a flash, Eldrid lifted her head from his groin, her hand wrapping around the base of his shaft, pumping it as she pointed it down toward her chest. He cried out as his climax surged through his body and watched as Eldrid painted her pale peaks with his seed.


    Aidan slumped back against the soft cushion Aoife provided, panting. Eldrid looked past him, a smug smile on her face. Ah, there was the competitiveness. It just wasn''t directed at him now. "That''s how you make a man come with your mouth, little stray. Two minutes from start to finish."


    Aidan was pretty sure it''d been longer than that, but he hadn''t exactly had a stopwatch running.


    "Hmph. That was at least five minutes, you hussy. You''d think a merchant would have a better head for numbers. And I can do better than that anyway."


    Aidan opened his mouth to intervene before things got heated¡ªthe last thing he wanted was for this to dissolve into a fight¡ªbut Eldrid''s next words stopped him.


    "I bet you can''t."


    "You''re on! When I win, you''ll be the bottom bitch for the night. You get to make sure everyone''s nice and ready for Aidan''s cock when their turns come up and only get to come while you''ve got your tongue buried in one of our pussies."


    "As if. I''ll be a gracious victor, though. When I win, all you have to do is admit that I''m a better lover than you."


    "Ladies..." Aidan didn''t like where this was headed. Aoife was already pushing him up and slipping out from behind him, though. Eldrid Invoked a quick spell, washing all evidence of Aidan''s orgasm from her front, and slipped in behind him.


    "Don''t worry," she whispered in his ear. "I''m not serious about this." Eldrid drew him back until their positions were the reverse of what they''d been a couple of minutes ago. "It''s just a way to break the ice. I know I''m a sensitive topic. This way, she gets to ''prove'' she''s better than me, and I get to show I''m a team player."


    Aidan shook his head and settled back into Eldrid''s embrace. There was no way he was going to be able to keep up with the internal harem politics. He had to pray everyone would keep acting in good faith, or it would all come crumbling down.


    "Time starts when I take him into my mouth," Aoife declared. She knelt between his thighs, looking determined and delicious.


    "Bullshit. You''re just going to jerk him off until he''s ready to pop." Eldrid rubbed Aidan''s side, a reminder that she had a plan.


    Aoife glared at her rival. "You just got him off. Even Aidan needs some recovery time."


    "He''s had some. If he''s not all the way hard, maybe it''s just because you''re not doing it right."


    "Ladies, if I may propose a compromise?" Ailis''s voice cut through the squabble. "Aidan was already quite worked up when we began, so it would not be fair to make Aoife start from scratch. However, Eldrid also has a point. There is too much potential for cheating if you get to decide when the clock starts."


    "So, what are you getting at?" Aoife frowned at the silver-haired Chancellor.


    "I am impartial in this matter. My only goal is for Aidan to enjoy himself tonight. I will act as the judge for this contest, and I will ensure that the conditions are as equal as possible. Is that acceptable to you both?"


    After a moment of thought, both Eldrid and Aoife agreed. Aoife sat back on her heels to give Ailis room to work. The Druid didn''t use her mouth, however. She reached down and wrapped her long, slender fingers around Aidan''s shaft. He was still half-hard. There was no chance he''d get any softer this early in the night, not with Eldrid''s breasts acting as a cushion and Aoife about to give him one of her amazing blowjobs.


    Ailis stroked Aidan''s cock, pulling his attention back to the matter at hand. Her thumb sought out and found the little bundle of nerves on the underside of his tip, rubbing in circles around it. She bent down next to Aidan. "I know what Eldrid is doing." Her words came out as a faint breeze blowing past his ear, making him shiver. "It is a good plan. And, once it is done, you will get to watch Eldrid bring pleasure to the others. Can you picture how delighted Sunnild will be with blue hair where red is now?"


    Aidan tore his gaze from the pale hand on his dick and the voluptuous woman waiting her turn to give him a blowjob. On the other side of the bed, Sunnild and Brighid were keeping themselves busy. The young harpy lay back against a pile of pillows, her legs spread wide. Between those athletic thighs, scarlet hair shifted and glinted in the light. Sunnild''s fingers were tangled in Brighid''s hair, directing Aidan''s Soulmate on a tour of her glistening, hairless pussy.


    As directed, Aidan imagined Eldrid in the same position. He watched in his mind''s eye as the cerulean temptress crawled across the bed on her hands and knees, her firm, round ass swinging behind her, her muscular thighs framing her own sodden sex. Sunnild would be treated to an equally tempting view as Eldrid''s massive mammaries swayed beneath her, pale pink nipples almost touching the sheets.


    Eldrid would be assertive in ways that Brighid would never be for Sunnild.


    Her hands would grasp her panting target by the knees, spread tanned thighs apart, baring wanton flesh. She wouldn''t dive right in, though, not even with Sunnild''s hand resting on her head. No, she would tease the teen. Her lips would lay a trail of soft kisses from knee to groin. She would lick and suck at the crease there, so near to where Sunnild wanted her.


    Their eyes would meet then, Eldrid looking up to gauge her prey''s limits. Always quick to come, Sunnild would already be squirming, writhing beneath expert attention, her hips and hands moving, trying, failing to force Eldrid''s mouth to her soaking wet center. Aidan watched Sunnild''s desperation grow, always enjoying seeing his little dove abandoning herself to ecstasy''s grasp. He took vicarious pleasure as Eldrid decided to take pity on the harpy, centering herself between wide-flung legs, bending down, her lips parting¡ª


    "There, I believe he is ready for you now, Aoife." Aidan jerked back to reality as Ailis''s voice pierced the bubble of his thoughts. He looked down between his legs in time to see the voluptuous catgirl lean forward and take him into her mouth.


    "Oh, shit, Aoife," Aidan groaned as her rough tongue swirled around his sensitive shaft. There was no such thing as a bad blowjob, barring unfortunate use of teeth, but Aoife''s catlike tongue was unbelievable. Dozens of short, stiff, blunt-tipped barbs scraped across his skin with every pass, stimulating every nerve ending in his cock. He arched up off the bed, needing more contact.


    Aoife moved with him, tilting her head, letting his tip nudge into her throat. She held onto his base, keeping him from plunging too deep, but it didn''t matter. The tight passage convulsed around him as Aoife swallowed, then she unleashed her second killer weapon. She started purring.


    One of Aidan''s hands flew to her hair, the other clawing at the bedsheets. The pleasure washed over him in waves, each one resonating with the one before it, building, building. Aoife''s golden eyes looked up at him, watched his reactions, matched his desires. Her tongue coiled around him, rubbing his sensitive flesh with pleasure on the edge of pain. Purring, deep and loud now, set her throat vibrating around the inch of him buried that deep inside her.


    "Aoife," Aidan said. "Oh, fuck, kitten."


    Eldrid shifted behind him, bending her head forward so she could whisper in his ear. "Go ahead, Aidan. Give your little kitty her cream. Come for her. For us."


    That did it. Stars exploded behind Aidan''s eyelids. He thrust up, only Aoife''s fingers circling his base keeping him from choking her. Spasms wracked his body as his cock pulsed in her mouth, once, twice, then she pulled him out, the rest of his orgasm splattering across her face, neck, and breasts.


    "A minute and a half. Aoife wins."


    "Yeah, you hear that? You can''t hold a candle to me, you blue-haired witch." Aoife''s voice was scratchy but triumphant.


    "I concede defeat," Eldrid said from behind Aidan. "Shall I start with you while one of the others has some time with our man?"


    Aidan noticed the collective possessive there, but Aoife didn''t seem to. She rose from between Aidan''s legs and threw herself onto her back off to the side. "Fuck, yes. Get over here. Lick all his seed off me, then get your head between my legs. Gonna come all over your haughty face."


    Well, that worked out. For now, anyway, Aidan thought to himself. He sat up, reluctant to lose his pillows but knowing the night was far from over. Eldrid stood and made her way to Aoife, knelt down, and started to lap at the sticky white strands covering the catgirl''s front. The angle left Aidan staring at her puffy nether lips, flushed red and glistening with arousal.


    His view was blocked by an athletic body settling onto his lap. "Hi," said Sunnild. She beamed at him from mere inches away.


    "Hi, you," Aidan said back, returning her infectious smile. "You''re claiming me next, I take it?"


    "Mm-hm," she agreed. "I called first tonight since I was the last to spend time with ya today." She reached down between their bodies and stroked his manhood. "Mm, good enough." She lifted up off his lap for a moment, agile fingers directing him to her entrance, then sank down, down, all the way down in a single smooth motion.


    Sunnild''s grey eyes fluttered closed. Shudders passed through her body, her inner walls pulsing around Aidan as a mini-orgasm washed over her. "Oh, I love how you feel in me, Aidy. You fill me right up to the end." Her hips rolled, grinding, circling against his lap.


    "Aidy?" Aidan asked with a laugh.


    "Mm-hm. My Aidy. Didn''t feel right ta keep callin'' ya love, or Lord, or any of that." Her eyes opened halfway, giving Aidan a languid, satisfied look. "Those''re Brighid''s words fer ya. Needed my own."


    Aidan chuckled. "If that''s what you want, I guess I can''t argue." He settled his hands on Sunnild''s hips. Just holding on with a light grip, still letting the younger girl have control. She leaned forward, pushing at his shoulders until he took the hint and fell back onto the bed. Sunnild fell with him, catching herself with her hands next to his head, leaning over him as her hips sawed back and forth.


    "I love ya, Aidy," she said and kissed him. Her tongue squirmed against his lips until he let her in, then sought out his to wrestle with. Sunnild grew wilder with each passing breath, writhing on top of him, ravaging his mouth, thrusting harder and harder atop his cock. At last, she broke free with a gasp, sitting up, then leaning backward. Her hips rose now, letting half of Aidan''s length pull free of her clutching depths before slamming back down.


    The arch of Sunnild''s back thrust her perky breasts out, drawing Aidan''s eyes to them as they wobbled in time with her gyrations. He slid a hand up from her hips to cover one, smiling as it fit perfectly¡ªas he knew it would. "Mm-hmm," urged Sunnild with a moan.


    "I love you too, Sunnild, my songbird, my little dove." Sunnild''s mouth opened, short pants and gurgling moans echoing from within. "I love your gentle spirit. I love the steel in your soul that keeps you from giving up." Her motions grew more frantic. "I love your accent. I love your lean, athletic body. And I definitely love how easy and often you come for me. Go on, sing for me, Sunnild."


    "Ah! Aidan!" Sunnild hunched forward, jamming herself down on him all the way to the root. Her thighs clamped tight against his. Inside, her walls rippled and spasmed around Aidan, trying to coax another load of seed from him. He wasn''t ready yet, but he knew how to get there. Aidan sat up and pushed Sunnild onto her back, following her down and pinning her beneath him without ever pulling out of her clutching depths.


    "Nooo," she protested, pushing against his chest with weak arms. "We''re supposed ta be doin'' all the work." Defying her words, Sunnild''s legs spread wide, then wrapped around his waist.


    "Don''t worry," Aidan growled in her ear, "this won''t take long." He thrust against her, setting a rapid pace. Sunnild mewled and twisted beneath him, making a token effort to escape while managing to lift her hips to meet his every stroke.


    "I love that you''re carrying my daughter in your belly," Aidan said. Sunnild cried out, her hands now scratching his back instead of pushing him away. "I can''t wait for you to lay so we can get started on a sister for her. I think I''ll spend that last month with just hands and lips so I can knock you up again right away."


    Sunnild convulsed in a new orgasm. Almost there. Aidan redoubled his efforts, thrusting faster and harder. He grunted out a last message as his breath grew short. "You''ll be the origin of a whole dynasty. Constantly full of my babies. Mother to every one of my kids, harpies. Or. Not." She came again, screaming, pulling him into her with every muscle in her body. Aidan joined her, pinning her hips to the bed as he lunged and thrust, spurting his fertile seed in the deepest reaches of her already pregnant belly.


    After a few moments regaining his breath, Aidan leveraged himself up off Sunnild. Her limbs fell away with his movement, sprawling out in a semi-conscious jumble. As he watched, her right hand snaked its way onto her belly.


    "You are so sweet with her, my love," Brighid said as she pressed herself to his back. "Do you need to rest? Some water?"


    Aidan shook his head and leaned back onto her shoulder. "I''m good," he said.


    A quiet giggle answered him. "I know you are. I can see that all over Sunny''s face." Brighid''s arms wrapped around his waist. "Did you mean what you told her? About the babies?"


    "Yes and no," he admitted. "Most of it was just dirty talk." Brighid''s hand found his softening manhood and started stroking. Aidan leaned his head back onto his Soulmate''s shoulder. "I wouldn''t really make her into a baby factory like that. It''s not healthy. The body needs time to recover."


    "But if it were safe, would you?"


    Aidan closed his eyes. By now, Brighid had plenty of experience pleasing him. Her fingers stroked the underside of his shaft until he was hard enough to wrap her hand around. The remnants of his and Sunnild''s combined climaxes still coated him, providing copious lubrication. Brighid gave him full, twisting strokes from his base all the way to the tip and back. He allowed the pleasure to distract him for a short while, then let out a sigh.


    "I''m not sure. I don''t know that I could be a good parent to that many children. It''s hard enough being a good fiance to four adult women. Adding in swarms of children, too?" He shook his head. "I only have so much time and attention to spare, and I don''t want to be an absentee father."


    "You will be a good father," Brighid''s voice was soft and soothing in his ear, "no matter how many or few children you have."


    A few seconds passed with nothing but the sounds of a sloppy handjob filling the air. Then a moan from Aoife made Aidan open his eyes. Eldrid was on her knees between the voluptuous catgirl''s wide-spread legs. Clawed hands raked through bright blue hair as Aoife''s cries grew louder.


    "Do..." Brighid started to speak, then trailed off. When she didn''t start up again, Aidan twisted until he could see her face. His lover was biting her lip, a blush¡ªembarrassment, not arousal¡ªstaining her cheeks.


    "What is it?" Aidan asked.


    Brighid''s emerald eyes flicked down, then to the side, before returning to his. She nibbled on her lip a little longer, then asked, voice barely audible over Aoife''s approaching orgasm, "Do you think... you will have a solution for our... fertility problem by the end of winter?"


    Ah, Aidan thought. Some collateral damage from that dirty talk. He reached up and pulled Brighid''s head down into range, then kissed her with as much possessiveness as he could muster. The hand on his erection slowed, the motion growing erratic. When Aidan broke the liplock, both of them were out of breath.


    "Is someone feeling a bit jealous?" he asked, teasing.


    Crimson hair flew as Brighid shook her head. "No!" she protested. "Not jealous. Just, um," she shifted, her cheeks glowing hotter. "I want two. Children, with you. And Moongraced Centaurs are not very fertile on our own. We live a long time, so we have a harder time with children. No twins, ever. So, um."


    She hesitated again, then rushed on, her words tumbling over each other. "If you are going to give me children, we have to take advantage of every chance we get." Her blush was incandescent now. "My cycle is unusual. Long. Every two years, give or take. And it should start in a couple of months."


    Aidan let out a quiet chuckle. Brighid never acted this bashful around him before¡ªthat was more of a Sunnild thing¡ªand he found it endearing. "Well," he said, still teasing but with more authority in his voice, "then we should make sure we get plenty of practice. And you''ve done such an excellent job getting me ready. Turn around and present yourself, Brighid."


    To his surprise, his lover shook her head. "I will if you command me, my Lord, but tonight is about you. Let me do the work. Please?"


    Aidan raised his eyebrows. "I''m not sure how you intend to do that, but I''m eager to find out."


    After one final stroke of her fingers along the underside of his erection, Brighid let him go. "You will need to kneel, I think, to get the height right," she said as she repositioned herself in front of him. Aidan did as she requested. Brighid sank down onto her belly, then edged backward until Aidan''s knees pressed against her flesh.


    A hand came around from behind Aidan to take hold of his erection and point it at Brighid''s entrance. A heartbeat later, a slender body with small breasts pressed against his back. "Allow me," Ailis said. "Just lean back against me." Then, in a softer voice, she told him, "Brighid did this for you. She is worried that you will grow bored of her. She is being silly, and I told her as much, but it is still eating at her."


    Did what? Aidan didn''t get much time to process that information. As soon as Brighid felt his tip nudging at her slick folds, she shifted her hips, then pressed back, swallowing him to the root. There was always something special about making love with Brighid, and Aidan could no more stop the groan rising from his throat than he could keep the sun from rising. Then his Soulmate''s inner muscles coiled tight around him, turning his groan into a strangled gasp.


    Brighid had always demonstrated incredible control over her Kegel muscles¡ªor whatever passed for them in a centaur¡ªbut this was a whole new level. Aidan swore he could feel individual ridges wrapping around him like hot, wet, velvety fingers. Unbidden by thought, his hands grasped at Brighid''s rump, holding on for dear life as her pussy squeezed and stroked his shaft and head.


    Then she started moving. While her muscles gripped tight, Brighid rocked her body back and forth. It felt like he was getting a handjob, a blowjob, and having sex all at once. Aidan sucked in his breath and pushed back against Ailis for leverage to thrust in counterpoint to his Soulmate. Ailis caressed his chest and thighs, adding fuel to the fire. Aidan''s entire world narrowed to those points of contact.


    Velvet walls rippled and writhed, stroked and slid and squeezed around him in a maddening dance of ecstasy. Brighid moved faster, harder, and Aidan could do nothing but match her pace. Formless fingers tugged opposite to his motion. An impossible tongue swirled around his tip as it plunged into the deepest reaches of Brighid''s tunnel. White-hot pleasure cascaded through his mind.


    Aidan let out a wordless cry and arched, thrusting, pulling at Brighid''s haunches with futile strength. Even as the first rush of semen surged forth, the muscles clinging to his shaft started a milking motion. They clutched tight around his base, then slid upward along his length. Another ring squeezed down an inch past the first and repeated the action, then another and another. Aidan twisted and writhed and thrust, helpless, senses overloaded, for endless seconds before collapsing back against the woman behind him. Darkness swallowed him whole.


    Zurai


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Lupus, and an anonymous Patron for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 84: Living the Dream, pt 2

    Feminine voices. A musical giggle. Soft hands playing with his hair. Aidan groaned and opened his eyes. Green eyes and a ruby smile greeted him. "Welcome back," Brighid said. Amusement danced in her gaze. "I think that is the first time any of us have managed to make you faint from pleasure."


    "It is," he managed to croak out. "What in the world did you do to me?"


    "Nothing you have not done to the rest of us," she responded, then stuck out her tongue. "As to how? Do you remember when I reached Apprentice in Sex and asked if I should take the Courtesan Profession?"


    Aidan blinked up at Brighid. A vague memory floated up to him. "Yes? And I told you only to do it if you wanted to."


    "Well, I decided I did want to." She bent down forward and kissed him, gentle and loving.


    She did it for you. Ailis''s words echoed in his mind. Aidan wanted to ask if she was sure, if it was a good idea, but bit his tongue. Whether it was or not didn''t matter anymore. Brighid was more than capable of weighing the costs and benefits for herself, and it sounded like she''d talked to Ailis about it as well. The best thing he could do now was to be appreciative¡ªwhich was easy enough, given the circumstances.


    "It was amazing," he said. "Was that Magic Hands, then?"


    Brighid''s smile broadened. "Among other things."


    Aidan leveraged himself back to a sitting position and looked around. Brighid was right at his side, of course. Ailis was behind him, a soft smile on her lips. The other three women were in a tangle at the other end of the bed.


    Sunnild''s toned thighs were wrapped around Eldrid''s neck as the blue-haired woman slurped and sucked at the harpy''s hairless pussy. Periodic gasps and groans interrupted her oral attentions, each accompanied by her hips jerking against Aoife''s face. The feline woman, in turn, clamped her thighs around one of Sunnild''s hands¡ªthe other was tangled in Eldrid''s hair.


    With a chuckle and a wry shake of his head, Aidan turned his attention back to Brighid and Ailis. He sat up on his knees and pressed a kiss to Brighid''s lips. "Did you manage to come before you knocked me out?" he asked her.


    "No," Brighid replied with a shake of her head, "but I do not mind. I already told you, tonight is¡ª"


    "About me, yes, yes, I know." He couldn''t help but laugh. "But I''m not one to take without giving if I can help it, and I can." Aidan turned his head and raised an eyebrow at Ailis. "And don''t think I''m going to let you get nothing out of tonight either."


    Ailis opened her mouth, no doubt to protest, then closed it with a snap of her teeth. Pink arousal suffused her cheeks as Aidan''s tongue-shaped Magic Hand started lapping away between her hind legs. Brighid, on the other hand, didn''t need the oral attention. For her, Aidan went straight to the big gun. A loud, guttural moan rose from her lips as he thrust a phantom phallus into her.


    "I wanted to show my appreciation for all of you today," he said in a conversational tone. "And I do appreciate the thought behind tonight. But I find it harder and harder to just lie back and relax while others do the work. So please forgive me for taking a more active role."


    He kept things slow with Brighid, not wanting to push her too far too fast. Ailis, on the other hand, he doubled down on. She would fade into the background if he let her. Instead, his Talent had her panting and whimpering within a minute. Quiet as she tended to be, those soft noises spoke as loudly as Brighid''s full-throated moans.


    Satisfied with his work on the centaurs, Aidan cast his eye toward his other three women. Tonight''s supposed to be about me, right? he asked himself as he considered his next actions. Sunnild already got time with him tonight, and he''d have to push Eldrid aside to get at her anyway. Eldrid, though, was on her hands and knees. Aoife''s face was still buried between her thighs, but it wouldn''t be hard to nudge her aside.


    Still, he''d have plenty of chances to fuck Eldrid in the coming days, and Aoife hadn''t had anything more than a taste of him either. His gaze narrowed in on Sunnild''s fingers plunging into Aoife''s soaking wet pussy. Yes, that would do. He knee-walked over to the pile of women, leaving the two centaurs moaning behind him.


    None of the threesome seemed to notice Aidan''s approach. Not until he seized Aoife''s thighs, anyway, and spread them wide apart. Startled, Aoife jerked her head out from under Eldrid, then flopped back down again as Aidan aimed and thrust. Her legs spasmed against his grip, but Aidan held her in place until his groin met hers. "Keep going," he told her even as he formed two more unreal copies of his cock. Aoife moaned and wrapped her arms around Eldrid''s hips, pulling the blue-haired woman down and redoubling her efforts.


    Then it was Sunnild''s and Eldrid''s turn to express shock as they both felt Aidan thrust into them without warning. A chorus of feminine moans filled the air. Aidan had to grit his teeth as, even with the sensitivity turned down, he felt four dicks sliding in and out of four hot, wet, tight pussies. With a thought, four became five, and Ailis''s voice joined the others.


    Aidan still had one Magic Hand left to use, so he distracted himself by cycling it between his lovers. Illusory fingers strummed Sunnild''s clit, a phantom cock sank into Brighid''s ass for a few thrusts, an unreal tongue overlapped the dick plunging in and out of Ailis''s pussy, ghostly teeth scraping against Sunnild''s nipples. Every few seconds, Aidan changed his target and the shape of his Talented appendage. The mental effort helped keep the pleasure from overwhelming him.


    At least, it did until two pairs of breasts¡ªone set large and heavy, the other petite but pert¡ªpressed into Aidan''s back and two pairs of lips nibbled on either side of his neck. Four hands stroked him, kneaded his flesh, teased his tail. Aidan''s coordination faltered.


    "You are being selfish, Master," Brighid panted in his ear. "Trying to give and not receive. Bad Master." Her teeth closed around Aidan''s earlobe as she stifled a moan. Ailis''s quiet gasps mirrored her daughter''s. She had no words for him, but she sucked and bit all over his neck.


    Marshaling all his willpower, Aidan refocused himself and doubled down. Instead of moving everything in sync, he listened to his skill-granted instincts and sought the pace best suited for each partner. Brighid wanted it fast and hard. Ailis reacted best to slow, powerful thrusts that would have set her whole body shaking. Sunnild appeared to be in a mood for something slow and tender to counteract Eldrid''s frantic tongue-work. The blue-haired Chosen, in turn, craved the sensations of Aidan''s cock buried deep inside her, moving in short, sharp stabs. Her round butt rose higher into the air, thighs spreading further apart, instinctively moving to provide a better angle for penetration.


    Abandoning her feast, Aoife squirmed up into Aidan''s lap and wrapped her arms and legs around him. Her breasts, huge for her frame, jiggled against his chest with every thrust he made. "Fuck me," she panted, head tilted back to meet his eyes. "I don''t care anymore." A whimpering moan. "You''ve tamed me. I''ll marry you. Be your woman."


    The knot of Aoife''s emotions in the back of Aidan''s head unraveled without warning. Lust hammered away at him, but that wasn''t what made him stifle a moan against his lover''s neck. "I love you," she told him. Her fingers tangled in his hair, claws scraping his scalp. She bent her head to the side, baring herself to him. Within, warm, golden waves of love enveloped Aidan''s mind.


    "I love you," Aoife gasped again. Her breath was short now, words coming alongside panting breaths. "Love your hugs. Your kindness. Your strength. And I fucking love," the word coming out in a crooning moan accompanied by her tunnel fluttering around his shaft, "your fucking dick. So fuck them and fuck me good."


    Sensations poured in from all around Aidan. He was encased in a cocoon of sweaty, soft skin, silken hair, and downy feathers. Orgasmic cries filled the air around him one after the other, each accompanied by the phantom feeling of a lover''s tunnel clenching and rippling around him. Hands, mouths, breasts, wings pressed against him, clutched at him. But, adrift in the sea of Aoife''s emotions, Aidan could pay them no mind.


    Aidan''s world was Aoife''s shining love, the sinuous strands of her lust twining through his mind, the feel of her pressed against him, around him. Her now-wordless cries as she buried her head against his chest. Her fangs and claws scraped against his skin. Aidan growled in response. Tangled his fingers in her mane, tugged her head back, crushed his lips to hers, plunged his tongue into her mouth. His free hand clutched at Aoife''s ass, holding her in place as he thrust up into her with animalistic intensity.


    So, when, immersed in the empathic bond, Aidan felt pleasure overwhelm Aoife, he could no longer hold back. Aoife''s orgasm washed over him, stronger than he''d ever felt from her. Its energy added to his, sending coruscating crackles of electricity through his nerves. He groaned into the kiss and arched upward, burying himself to the hilt, emptying himself in an endless series of short, hard thrusts.


    The erratic strength of Aidan''s motions unbalanced him. He toppled forward, bearing Aoife with him until she lay beneath him, pinned to the bed by his weight. A grunt, passing from her mouth to his, was the only acknowledgment either of them made as they writhed together, basking in the fading embers of their mutual climax.


    Eventually, the kiss ended, both of them gasping for breath. Aidan leveraged himself up on his elbows, though Aoife made no protest at his weight on her. "I love you, too," he told her and kissed her again, short and sweet. "I wish I could let you feel it the way you did for me."


    "You already do," she said with a soft smile, "with everything you do for us." Her contented purring rumbled against his chest. "But I don''t want to monopolize you. I can feel," she squeezed down around him, "you''ve still got more energy, and by my count, you have two more women to give your love to tonight."


    Aidan raised his eyebrow at her count. Two meant she was including Eldrid. Aoife stroked his cheek with her thumb. "I let go of the jealousy in my heart, mo ghraidh." My darling, the words meant. "Brighid converted me. Love who you will. Especially," she said with a giggle, "if they are as adept with their tongue and hands as Eldrid¡ªand as willing to use them." Then her hands were pushing at him. "Now go. Ailis isn''t as secure as the rest of us. I''ll get the bluenette ready for you."


    With one final kiss, Aidan lifted up off Aoife, his hardness slipping out of her tight confines with a wet slurping sound. Already she was reaching for Eldrid''s hips, tugging the athletic woman into place over her mouth. Aidan looked around and found Ailis collapsed on her side, breathing heavily. Ice-blue eyes half-opened at the feel of Aidan''s palm cupping Ailis''s cheek. "You alright?" he asked.


    Pale pink lips parted to admit a quiet, but satisfied, moan. Ailis''s right hand rubbed against Aidan''s chest, then trailed down to his groin. "Still?" she whispered at what she found there. "Young stallions," she murmured, the words barely audible even with how close he was. "You have worn this old woman out, my Lord. Go spend your attention on those still conscious enough to appreciate it."


    "You''re deflecting again," Aidan accused her.


    "I am old. Older than the rest of the room combined, Aidan. These aged bones need sleep."


    "That would be more convincing if your hand wasn''t doing what it was." Ailis''s eyes opened fully at that. A blush spread across her cheeks, and she yanked her hand away from Aidan''s dick as if burned. Aidan chuckled, low and throaty. "Just lie there," he told her. "I''ll do all the work."


    Aidan bent his head down and started laying kisses across Ailis''s chest. Cream-colored skin bloomed red in his wake. At first, Ailis''s hand pushed at him¡ªgently, a token protest. But as Aidan''s lips traveled across her breast, her fingers slid around to his back, a soft caress along his spine. "Aidan," she moaned when his tongue lashed across her stiff peak. She tasted salty, sweaty, needy.


    "Aidan," Ailis said again, louder, as his lips encircled her hardened nub and sucked it into his mouth. Her hands held him to her, one cupping the back of his neck, the other clutching his butt. Aidan twined his tail around her wrist but otherwise kept his attention focused on the task at mouth. He knew from past experience and his skills that Ailis preferred a slow, gentle climb. While there was no question that she enjoyed the last ten or fifteen minutes of frantic action, this was more her speed.


    So Aidan took his time. He was slow, and tender, and affectionate. He nursed at Ailis''s breast for a time, just nuzzling against her soft skin and paying gentle attention to her nipples. His hand stroked across her arm, back, shoulders, neck, before tracing along the rim of her ear. While she was distracted, he shifted to kissing and licking at the shallow valley between her breasts, then down to her belly. There was no belly button for him to tease there, nor well-defined abs like her daughter, but Ailis was no less sensitive for that.


    Eventually, once Aidan had his Chancellor panting again, once her hands started raking across his back and her skin was flushed red all across her face, neck, and chest, he made his way back up. He pressed a kiss to Ailis''s lips, hungry now and demanding. She moaned, wanton, her tongue dueling with his. "Your King is ready to take you now," he told her. She shuddered and mewled, her hand tangling in his hair in an attempt to drag him back to her lips.


    Aidan chose his words with care. Ailis, unlike his other partners, didn''t have a single submissive bone in her body. She reacted poorly to attempts to dominate or overwhelm her. On the other hand, she was aroused by power, both personal and political. She didn''t want that power to be used against her, but the more she was made aware of it, the higher she spiraled. And, of course, she wanted it for herself.


    "Are you prepared for me, my consort? My soon-to-be Queen?" A full-body shudder passed through Ailis at his words.


    "Yes, my King!" she gasped. Her hands clenched tight against his skin for a moment, then pushed away. She made to roll over onto her belly, but Aidan held her down with a hand to her flank.


    "Stay," he told her. "I said I''d do the work. Just lie there and accept your King''s love for you." It was close to an order, and Aidan thought for a second that she would defy him on principle. Then she relaxed back into the cushioned mattress.


    "As you wish, my King."


    Aidan repositioned behind her. He was unsurprised to find her tail flipped up onto her haunch and her nether lips engorged and flowered open, dripping feminine lubrication. Aidan curled up along Ailis''s back. His knee pushed between her hind legs, forcing them apart, while his left hand reached out and cupped a breast. With a tug, Aidan pulled Ailis''s torso backward until the pair of them resembled a triangle, with his head nuzzling her neck and his hips pressed against her rump. Brighid was too big for this position to work, but Ailis was just the right size for it.


    "I love you," he told Ailis and slid into her welcoming depths.


    "I love you," she responded with a gasp. Ailis was tight as always. Her walls clung to his shaft as it forced them apart. Nevertheless, her arousal meant that Aidan was able to bury himself inside her with a single, smooth thrust. Her legs jerked and her inner muscles rippled as Aidan bottomed out inside her. "My King, my husband," Ailis breathed out.


    "Yours," he agreed. Aidan made no claim of ownership in return. Instead, he rolled his hips back until only his tip remained inside Ailis, then forward again. He moved slowly, taking seconds to withdraw and more to fill her. Ailis started to tremble under his ministrations.


    Smiling to himself, Aidan picked up the pace. The first time this happened, he''d panicked, but he now recognized the signs for what they were. He maintained the steady pace, innnnn and ouuut, innnnnn and ouuut. Beside him, Ailis''s body tensed up, shivering, shuddering, trembling. Her head fell backward, her legs drew up against her belly, her hands grasped at the sheets. Aidan let the tension rise within her, higher, higher.


    Then he tilted his hips to rub his tip against the upper wall of Ailis''s pussy, seeking a particular spot. He knew he found it when Ailis convulsed and let out a strangled cry of pleasure as she came for him. That wasn''t the end of it, though, oh no. Ailis wasn''t usually multi-orgasmic. She could and did climax several times a night, but normally, she would fall all the way from the summit to the bottom of the mountain after each.


    Not so when she was like this. When circumstances conspired to start Ailis trembling, her pleasure would pile up on itself. Instead of falling, it would rise, higher and higher, her body writhing as Aidan brought her to peak after ecstatic peak.


    Now Ailis wanted it fast and hard. "Aidan, Aidan!" she cried out, voice growing hoarser by the moment. Her legs kicked helplessly as pleasure overrode her control. If she''d been upright, Aidan knew she would be bucking back at him, but on her side like this, she didn''t have the leverage. He could feel wetness splashing against his thighs with every thrust.


    Aidan held on for as long as he could, but the result was inevitable. When Ailis got like this, there was only one way for it to end. His thrusts lost their rhythm, growing frantic as Ailis came again and again for him. She wouldn''t stop until he did, and even his Willpower wasn''t enough to entertain the idea of pulling out. Instead, Aidan felt ecstasy overwhelm him and joined his cries to Ailis''s as he buried himself inside her. His cock pulsed and jerked, firing off futile streams of seed onto infertile fields.


    When his senses returned to him a few seconds later, Aidan kissed Ailis''s neck. When she didn''t react, he pushed himself up onto his arms and looked down at her. Her eyes were closed, and her chest rose and fell in a steady¡ªif quick¡ªrhythm. With a quiet chuckle, Aidan kissed her shoulder, then pulled away from his slumbering fiancee.


    "Aidan, please," a pleading voice called out to him. He looked up to see Eldrid, sprawled out with Sunnild and Brighid kissing her breasts and Aoife licking away between her legs. Brighid had the blue-haired woman''s hands pinned above her head while Aoife kept her thighs spread far apart. "They made me watch you and Ailis, and I need you now, please, please?"


    Brighid raised her head and smiled at Aidan, then beckoned to him with her free hand. The others made way for him as he approached, although they still held Eldrid''s squirming body down. The tuft of blue hair above her slick lower lips waved back and forth, up and down, like a matador''s cape.


    "We kept ''er ready for ya, Aidy," Sunnild chirped. She had a wide, happy smile on her face.


    "I see that," he replied. Eldrid squirmed, tugging at the hands pinning her to the bed, thrusting her hips up toward Aidan. His gaze lingered on the way her titanic tits wobbled atop her chest.


    Aoife plastered herself against Aidan''s back. "Our gift to you, loverboy." Her hands and body urged him forward until he knelt between Eldrid''s legs.


    A vermillion waterfall spilled across Eldrid''s heaving breasts as Brighid bent down over her. "Are you ready for him, Captain? Ready for our husband to have his way with you while we watch?"


    Eldrid nodded frantically. "Please!" Despite her apparent desperation, the silver irises fixed on Aidan''s face glowed with satisfaction in a game won and a victory earned.


    Aoife''s head poked out from over Aidan''s shoulder as she asked, "Are you going to take care of him on the expedition? Keep him safe and satisfied all along the way?"


    "Yes, whatever you say!" Though her words were directed toward Aoife, Eldrid''s eyes never even flickered toward the feline.


    "An'' yer gonna make sure ''e comes back ta us, all safe an'' sound?" Sunnild''s voice was spiced honey as she stroked Eldrid''s hip and thigh.


    "I¡ª" Eldrid closed her eyes for a second, then opened them again. "I swear it. I will do whatever I can to bring Lord Aidan back in the same condition he leaves in." Her pupils dilated for a split second. Sunnild''s hand paused at the same instant, then looped around under Eldrid''s knee and tugged her legs even farther apart.


    "Then go ahead, Aidy. Give ''er what she wants."


    "And what do you want, Eldrid?" Aidan crooned to her as he bent over her, propping himself up with his hands beside her head.


    Eldrid''s tongue swept across her lips. "I want you to fuck me, Aidan," she said. "Before was tender and sweet and exactly what I needed at the time. But now I want the rest of you." Her eyes glittered up at him as she spoke directly to his inner beast. "You are holding something back. Stop. Unleash it upon me while your wives hold me down for you."


    The dragon inside Aidan roared, and he snarled with it. Eldrid''s lips curled into a smug smirk. Do your worst, that grin told him, I dare you. "Do it," Aoife panted in his ear. "Fuck her good and hard." The catgirl draped across his back thrust her hips as if she was trying to fuck the woman beneath him. Aidan could feel her wet heat rubbing along the length of his tail. "Take her, claim that slutty body. Make her cum her brains out until she can''t handle anymore."


    "Do it. Conquer me." Eldrid''s voice dropped to a low, challenging hiss and her lips curled into a sneer. "If you can."


    Aidan recognized the contest too late. The trap was already sprung. The edges of his vision turned red and he thrust into Eldrid hard and fast, hilting himself inside her in one swift motion. She grunted at the sudden penetration, but, if anything, her smirk grew wider. He growled and buried his head in the crook of Eldrid''s neck. She convulsed around him when she felt his teeth sink into her soft skin, but somehow Aidan knew she still wore that damnable smile.


    He wasn''t alone, however. Aoife was still molded to Aidan''s back. She reached down to the place where Aidan''s groin met Eldrid''s and set to work. A moan emerged from Eldrid as her hips rose. That deserved a reward. "Oh!" Aoife''s voice joined Eldrid''s as Aidan''s tail looped around, then between her parted thighs. "''M already yours," she panted into his ear as his tail burrowed deeper. "Focus on her!"


    "All of you are mine," the beast growled with Aidan''s voice. He wrenched himself up with extended arms, glaring down into the twin pools of self-satisfied silver beneath him. "All of you," he declared with a savage thrust. Eldrid moaned and writhed against Aidan''s hips and Aoife''s fingers, but her eyes never wavered.


    "Not yet¡ªMmph!¡ªI''m not," she denied him.


    "''Not yet,'' but not, ''Never,''" Sunnild pointed out as she joined the fray. She used the increased space between Aidan and Eldrid to wrap her hands around one wobbling breast. "Yer in denial, Cap''n." Her head dipped down, and she captured one pierced nipple between her lips. Eldrid''s eyes fluttered closed for a moment before resuming their defiance.


    "You''ll¡ªAh!¡ªyou''ll never¡ªoh, mmph¡ªbreak me," Eldrid forced out between moans. "Not without¡ªoh, God¡ªcheating."


    So that was her game. Those were the rules. Eldrid was challenging him to break her control without resorting to using Language of Origin. There were no stakes to her impromptu bet, but they would both know who won and who lost. The part of Aidan not overcome by lust tipped his mental hat in her direction. She''d played them all off each other and put herself in the win-win seat this time.


    Regardless of what happened, Eldrid managed to ease the tension between herself and Aidan''s other lovers. If Aidan won, she lost nothing at all. If Eldrid came out on top, she would know she''d gotten under his skin in a good way. And, either way, she got to thoroughly enjoy her time as the centerpiece of an orgy.


    The beast didn''t care about all of that. It only saw a lover, willing, even eager for its attention, who nevertheless denied its claim. It still wanted to see her face dissolve into mindless ecstasy. And, because the beast was Aidan, so did he¡ªbut he wouldn''t win like this. He wrestled his urges back and settled into a steady, if forceful, rhythm.


    To Aidan''s amusement, Aoife moved with him, her hips rolling forward in time with his, only to be forced back onto his tail as he withdrew from Eldrid. Her rough tongue lapped at his neck, punctuated by an occasional bite. She kept her head in the game, however. She had both arms wrapped around Aidan''s waist, with one hand devoted to playing with Eldrid''s clit and the other caressing her belly and thighs.


    By this point, Sunnild was half-lying across Eldrid. She had one breast in each hand and alternated laying kisses and gentle nibbles across them both. Aidan would have been upset at the obscured view if it wasn''t so obvious how much both the harpy and the otterfolk Chosen were enjoying it. Every time Sunnild''s lips wrapped around one of Eldrid''s nipples, the Captain''s eyes closed in pleasure for just a moment.


    Sunnild, in turn, let out little pleased moans as she feasted. Aidan could tell that she''d have a hand buried between her legs if they weren''t already occupied. He decided to help her with that. He recalled and reshaped one of his Magic Hands with a thought, then set it to lapping away at her little hairless pussy. A deeper moan issued from her throat.


    Brighid wasn''t idle, either, although her contributions were less physical than her sister-wives''. She maintained the hold on Eldrid''s wrists, but more importantly, she leaned down and whispered in the blue-haired woman''s ear. "He feels so good, does he not? How he ravages your body in exactly the way you crave. It makes you want to give in. Give him control of everything. It gets even better when you do, I promise. But you have to surrender."


    The signs of Eldrid''s approaching orgasm were obvious to Aidan despite his relative lack of experience with her. He could feel her walls clenching and rippling around him in an ever-quickening pattern. Her pale skin grew splotchy with arousal. Fewer denials made their way past her lips now, replaced by whimpers and moans. But still, even as Aidan propelled her to the cliff''s edge, Eldrid''s silver gaze reflected defiance.


    This would require extreme measures if he was to win. Aidan quickened his pace, slamming into Eldrid with a staccato rhythm. Her legs, freed from Sunnild and Aoife''s grasp, drew up and wrapped around both him and Aoife. Her climax drew closer, closer, her inner muscles starting to lose the rhythm, her breathing growing erratic, her head tilting back. Aidan kept going, fucking Eldrid harder, faster, pushing her higher and farther, until, just as she closed her eyes and opened her mouth to cry out in ecstasy, he stopped.


    With a single, smooth motion, Aidan pulled free of Eldrid''s clutching depths. At the same time, he pulled Aoife''s hand from between her thighs and stilled both his tail and the Magic Hand pleasuring Sunnild. A strangled sob of protest came from Eldrid''s throat as she sank back onto the bed, glaring up at Aidan. Sunnild looked up from where she''d been suckling. She glanced at Eldrid''s glistening, trembling thighs and belly, then shared a smirk with Brighid before lowering her head to the valley between the Captain''s breasts.


    "You thought you already won, Captain?" Brighid asked. "You thought our husband would give you the release you so desire without accepting payment in turn?" A devilish chuckle shook her chest, and she shook her head in a mocking denial. "Oh, Eldrid, you have much to learn about my beloved. He can be sweet and gentle and the most caring lover in the Realms," she said as a smirk started to spread across her lips, "but he can also wear all four of us out and leave us scattered like so many defeated foes upon his bed."


    Aidan''s Soulmate cupped Eldrid''s cheek and lowered further until carmine lips met midnight ones. As the kiss went on and on and grew more and more intense, Aidan shifted his hips forward until his rigid shaft rested against Eldrid''s scorching hot pussy. His newest lover strained against Brighid''s grip and mewled in helpless pleasure as Aidan started to saw back and forth against her.


    "Look at me, Eldrid," Aidan said, wanting her to see the truth of his words. When he had her attention, he continued. "I can do this all night. I can bring you right up to the very edge, right to where you feel yourself start to fall, and still stop before you quite make it over. Every time. And every time I start up again, the peak will be higher, the fall steeper, harder, more consuming." Technically, Balance on the Knife''s Edge stopped at 5 stacks, but it was close enough to true for his purpose.


    "If you think I have to cheat to give you a mind-shattering climax, you''re wrong. So here''s the deal, Eldrid. I''m going to keep fucking you," Aidan swiveled his hips until his head caught at Eldrid''s entrance, then pushed forward. She squirmed and moaned into Brighid''s mouth. "But I''m not going to let you come until you ask me to. You don''t have to beg me. Just say, once, ''Please make me come, Aidan,'' and I will." Aidan''s pace was slow and steady now, all the better to ramp Eldrid to new heights.


    "Just remember, Eldrid, that the longer you wait, the better¡ªand worse¡ªit''ll be for you. If you give in now, you''ll merely have one of the best orgasms of your life." He gave her a warm smile. "If you wait for me to stop again, the pleasure will probably knock you out for a half-hour or so, like Ailis over there." Eldrid''s eyes cut away, then returned to him. "After three, well, I did that to Brighid one night, and she didn''t wake up until the next morning. Four? I haven''t needed to go that far yet. Five?" His smile turned into a smirk. "Well, we''re bringing wagons for the loot anyway. I''m sure you''ll be back to normal by the time we reach our destination."


    Eldrid''s eyes were wide now, panic, desire, and lingering defiance warring within. She knew he was telling the truth, or at least believed he was. "You can let her hands go now, Brighid. And give her a chance to speak. Maybe she''s not as brave as I think she is and wants to quit now."


    Brighid obeyed without question or hesitation, pulling away from both points of contact she had with Eldrid. The blue-haired woman panted, trying to catch her breath from the near-orgasm and ensuing sapphic kiss. She didn''t wait to tangle her fingers in Sunnild''s downy crest, however. With gentle pressure, she redirected the young harpy to her left nipple.


    "Do your worst," Eldrid told Aidan. "I''ll never give in." Her eyes, however, spoke a different message. They were no longer expressing shock, panic, or even defiance. You''ll win, they told Aidan, but I''m going to make you work for it. The same warmth shone from within Eldrid''s gaze now as they''d shared that night two weeks prior.


    "I hoped you''d say that," he said with a smile and got to work. Aidan found Aoife''s right hand and brought it back to Eldrid''s groin. "Stop when I do," he told her. His not-quite-fiancee nodded against his shoulder, her fingers already dancing over Eldrid''s nether lips and clit.


    Next, Aidan pulled Brighid into a long, slow kiss, tasting Eldrid''s lips¡ªand the faint, mingled flavors of Brighid''s, Sunnild''s, and Aoife''s arousal¡ªon her tongue. He held the kiss for two long, glacially slow thrusts before breaking it. "Sunnild''s got too much to handle by herself. Why don''t you go give her a hand?"


    "Yes, beloved," Brighid responded to the gently worded command. It took her a moment to rearrange herself on the bed, but then her head and hands joined her sister-wife''s at Eldrid''s bosom.


    "Ooh, yes," Eldrid moaned. She was now the center of attention for four people, and she was clearly enjoying herself. Her body writhed, twisting and arching beneath them. Aidan maintained his pace, his hips carrying Aoife''s with him as he slid almost all the way out of Eldrid before sliding all the way back in. Eldrid''s hips rolled up to meet each thrust. Her pussy wrapped around him like a velvet glove, clinging to his length as he withdrew and sucking him in when he returned.


    "Mm, mmm, ah," the rising tone of Eldrid''s voice heralded her approach to the second peak. "Oh, fuck, mm, mm, ah." Aidan tightened his focus and started varying his strokes. He kept them slow and deep, but, following his skill-granted instincts, he rotated his hips and flexed his groin muscles to scratch new itches inside Eldrid''s depths. "Mm, mm, oh, God, yes."


    Gymnast''s muscles clenched down around Aidan''s shaft, faster and faster with every thrust of his cock, every flick of Aoife''s fingers, every second of Sunnild and Brighid suckling at Eldrid''s tits. Her voice rose in a crescendo of lustful moans. Tension racked her body. She clutched tight to her lovers. Her back lifted off the bed, arching, twisting, writhing.


    Aidan saw Sunnild and Brighid watching him out of the corners of their eyes. He thrust once, twice, a third time, felt Eldrid''s tunnel squeeze hard, and pulled out again. His fiancees joined him, withdrawing hands and mouths from Eldrid''s body. "Noooo," the victim groaned.


    "Just ask, and this will all be over," Brighid told her.


    "Go ahead, tell our man to make you come," Sunnild urged. So she hadn''t missed that earlier after all.


    "Nah," Aoife disagreed. "Keep mouthing off. I want to see him break you." There was a snarl in her voice, but Aidan thought it was lust, not anger. It seemed that Aoife was almost as invested in seeing Eldrid submit as he was.


    "Not a chance. For either." Eldrid''s tongue swept across her dark lips. "All it''ll take is misjudging your timing by a split second, and one of you will push me over." She reached up and wrapped her hand around the back of Aidan''s neck. With a tug, she pulled his head down until she was close enough to initiate a searing kiss. Her lips smashed against his, then parted to make way for her tongue as it battered its way into Aidan''s mouth.


    Aidan took the kiss as a signal to switch things up. He shifted, lips still locked with Eldrid''s, until he lay atop her. Sensing the change, Aoife let herself slide off Aidan''s back, although she whimpered when his tail pulled free of her pussy. Aidan fought Eldrid''s tongue and forced it back into her mouth. He tilted his hips back, then forward again. Eldrid let out a whimper as Aidan''s cockhead scraped across her clit, then a squeal as it missed the other way and bumped against her asshole.


    "Exit only!" Eldrid complained, breaking free of Aidan''s lips.


    "Of course." He eased his hips back, then sat up on his haunches. "Let''s mix this up a bit. Roll over?"


    "Mm, doggy style, huh?" Eldrid nibbled on her lower lip, then smiled and rolled over. "Sounds good to me." She looked over her shoulder as she rose up onto her hands and knees, then waggled her bottom at Aidan. "Let''s see if you can hit the target better from this angle."


    Aidan gave Eldrid a long, appreciative look. Her ass and thighs were well-muscled, no doubt thanks to her predilection for dancing and gymnastics. And, framed between those toned thighs, her thick outer labia flowered open to reveal her bright pink inner passage. Aidan took hold of himself and notched his tip there, rubbing it back and forth for a moment to coat the head, then pushed in.


    "Mm, bullseye," Eldrid moaned. "Nice and deep, darlin''. Feels so good."


    Aidan seated himself against Eldrid''s upraised butt, then nudged her thighs wider apart with his knees. Proving how in sync they were, Aoife''s head passed between his legs only a half-second later. She wrapped her arms around Eldrid''s waist, pulling the otterfolk down until she could get her rough, eager tongue on the place where Aidan and Eldrid joined. Aidan groaned and Eldrid squealed in surprise as they felt the stiff bristles brush across their most sensitive parts.


    Conveniently, Aoife''s position brought her back into range for Aidan''s tail. She again seemed to have the same thought, as she caught it in the air as it struck toward her and guided it to her lower lips. The flanged head brought a purring moan from the catgirl as it plunged inside her.


    "Ya still lost a bet earlier," Sunnild said as she slid around in front of Eldrid. "Yer not allowed to get off unless ya got yer tongue in a pussy. I''m volunteerin''." She leaned back on her elbows, presenting her glistening sex to the other woman. "Ooh, yeah, like that." Slender fingers rested atop Eldrid''s blue hair as the older woman set about devouring the offered feast.


    Seeing that Eldrid was already well taken care of, Brighid turned her attention to her Soulmate. She snuggled up against his side, her heavy breasts flattening against him, then leaned down to kiss him. "Rock her world, beloved. I can see how much you like her and want her, so I want you to have her." Her hand stroked across his chest.


    "I love you," Aidan murmured. "You''re too good to me."


    "No such thing." Brighid bit his lower lip by way of a reprimand. "I would drown you in women if I thought you would not rebel."


    "I think five is plenty for any man," Aidan demurred. Eldrid''s hips pressed back against him, a gentle reminder that he had another woman to attend to. He slid about halfway out of her, then thrust forward, sending ripples across her muscular rear. A happy moan sounded out from between Sunnild''s thighs.


    Crimson lips pressed against Aidan''s neck. "And you said one was enough for you until Sunny came along. A month ago, you would have said four was too many. Now, you are breaking in a new wife." She laughed and squeezed Aidan''s thigh when he made a noise of protest. "I can read the writing on the wall, beloved. She has your heart, and you hers. Neither of you will ever be complete without the other again."


    Aidan shook his head ruefully. He''d never been able to change Brighid''s mind once she started talking like that. And, truth told, he didn''t disagree with her. Even thinking about Eldrid sailing away caused his heart to ache. Better give her a reason not to, then, he thought to himself.


    Bending his thoughts back to the beautiful woman beneath him, Aidan settled into a cadence of quick, hard thrusts. As much as he talked about going until dawn, he did need to sleep. It was time to wrap this up.


    Aidan leaned forward, slipping one hand under Eldrid to sink his fingers into one dangling breast. He grabbed hold of her shoulder with the other hand, using his grip to pull her back against him. Short, sharp gasps and moans rewarded his efforts, muffled as they were by Sunnild''s thighs. Even as Aidan watched, the harpy teen arched and came on Eldrid''s tongue.


    And he couldn''t neglect his partner in crime, either. Aoife''s tongue was driving Eldrid up the wall, and only Aidan''s greater experience with it kept his own ecstasy in check. With a thought, he started twisting his tail as it plunged between the catgirl''s thighs. She bucked in response, and Aidan felt her legs spread wide in welcome.


    Still, the main focus of his attention was overcoming Eldrid''s will to resist. Giving her time to recover between near-climaxes wasn''t working, so Aidan decided to take another route. He hammered into Eldrid from behind, putting the pedal to the medal.


    This time, when Eldrid''s orgasm approached, Aidan buried himself to the hilt and held steady. Aoife, still on the same wavelength as he was, instantly shifted to lapping at Eldrid''s lower lips as they clung to his shaft. The stimulation wasn''t enough to push the Captain over the edge, but it kept her boiling.


    "Ready to give in? This is three," Aidan reminded Eldrid. He found her nipple and brushed his thumb back and forth across it.


    Eldrid only lifted her head an inch from Sunnild''s groin to respond. "Ah, not yet, mm, ah, you bastard."


    "Okay. Next stop, plateau four." Aidan wasn''t going to give her the chance to recover this time. He resumed thrusting, fast and hard, for just a few seconds before stopping again. He waited several seconds, then gave her another pair of full-length strokes. Then a second''s pause followed by five quick rabbit thrusts.


    "Fuck, Aidan." Eldrid fought against Sunnild''s hands holding her in place. "Oh, God."


    It didn''t take long before Aidan felt Eldrid on edge again. Once again, he thrust deep and held position. "You know the magic words, Eldrid," he said when her inner walls stopped spasming around him.


    "Aidan," she moaned. "More, please, harder."


    "Those aren''t the right words."


    "Fuck. Oh, fuck. I need..."


    Aidan pulled out until only his head remained inside Eldrid. Aoife bathed the underside of his cock with her tongue. "What do you need, Eldrid?"


    The blue-haired Captain pulled free of Sunnild''s grasp and looked over her shoulder at Aidan. Her face glistened with feminine arousal, and her eyes were swimming with lust. "Do it," she said.


    Aidan sank back in with a slow thrust. "Do what?"


    "Mmn, please don''t make me say it, Aidan."


    Almost. "You know the rules. Shall I go for five?" A whimpering moan answered him along with a roll of Eldrid''s hips. She tried to fuck herself with Aidan''s cock, but a hand on her hip frustrated her attempt. Aoife shifted her attention again, giving Eldrid a quick lash with her rough tongue.


    "Fuck!" she squealed. "God. Please! Aidan, please make me come!"


    Aidan barely held back a roar of triumph. "As you wish." He leaned forward, pressing his chest to Eldrid''s back, and resumed the short, rapid thrusts against her raised ass. Sunnild tugged on the Captain''s head, pulling her back between spread thighs. Beneath them, Aoife focused all her attention on Eldrid''s hard, needy clit.


    Moans¡ªfull-throated ones from Sunnild and Aoife, muffled ones from Eldrid¡ªand the slap-slap-slap of Aidan''s hips bouncing off Eldrid''s ass filled the room. It only took a few moments before the combined attention brought the Captain to her peak. This time, Aidan didn''t stop. Instead, as he felt her body begin to seize up, he gathered his Intent and Spoke.


    "<All ye who love me, feel in return my love for thee. My heart is thine, my passion thine, my dreams and desires all for thee. Let them fill thee and wash over thee, carrying thee upon their waves until ye crash upon the shore of rapture.>"


    ""Aidan!"" Feminine voices blended together in harmony as all the women around Aidan convulsed in concurrent climaxes.


    Sunnild''s fingers tightened in Eldrid''s hair, first pulling her close, then shoving her away. Shudders and shivers wracked her athletic body as she curled up and wrapped her wings around herself.


    Underneath Aidan and Eldrid, Aoife bucked and heaved. Her claws scratched across Aidan''s skin as sudden ecstasy overwhelmed her. Even with her body writhing uncontrollably, however, her tongue stayed on target, lapping away with frantic intensity.


    A loud thud sounded as Brighid seized up and toppled over onto her side. Her mouth was open wide, emitting a soundless scream as her skin flushed scarlet from brow to breasts.


    Even Ailis, still asleep from her earlier overstimulation, cried out his name.


    None of their reactions held a candle to Eldrid''s. Her back arched hard, jackknifing, her head slamming back against Aidan''s shoulder. She jerked backward, impaling herself on him, her inner muscles clamping down all along his length only to release a split second later, rippling and pulsing in erratic patterns. The tension within her wound tighter and tighter, her motions growing stronger, sharper, more desperate by the second, driven by an orgasm that roiled and rumbled and refused to end.


    Aidan clung to Eldrid, holding on for dear life, thrusting against her as her climax urged his to the forefront. He plunged through her clasping depths, pulling out only to be met by Aoife''s rough tongue rasping along his shaft, then thrusting once again into the soothing, searing, soaking wet passage of the woman losing her mind at his command.


    Pleasure rushed through Aidan. He bit down on Eldrid''s shoulder, riding the edge as long as he could. She reached a trembling hand up and pulled his head tighter against her skin. That act, the acceptance, the demand for his mark, did him in.


    Aidan thrust with all his strength, once, twice, then groaned into the skin between his teeth as rapture came for him. His cock pulsed, spewing his seed into Eldrid''s rippling, spasming passage. Three shots, six, eight, ten, each accompanied by a mindless pump of his hips. His strength seemed to escape with his semen, and he had just enough energy and willpower left to roll onto his side, pulling Eldrid with him, before darkness claimed him once more.


    Aidan


    Seventhday, 4th week of the 11th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Early Morning


    Aidan woke up in the center of a cuddle pile. Smooth, feminine flesh pressed against him from every angle. Sunnild lay snuggled against his left side, her arms wrapped around his, one leg swung over his hip. Brighid took a similar position to his right, her head resting on his shoulder alongside Aoife''s, who was curled up on his back. Quiet purrs came from her as she slept. By process of elimination, that meant the soft pillows cushioning his head belonged to Eldrid. A lazy count of hands and arms even suggested that Ailis was present somewhere in the mix.


    A stray thought ambled through Aidan''s head, suggesting that he get up and start breakfast. He let the idea bounce around for a while, drowsily considering it. He liked showing his women how much he loved them. Sweet gestures like that were in his nature. He also needed to get ready for the expedition. It wouldn''t do to be late.


    On the other hand, he was warm and comfortable, surrounded and entangled with sleeping lovers. There was no way he could extricate himself without waking some of them. With a tired murmur, he closed his eyes again and nuzzled into Eldrid''s bosom. The world could wait for a while. Right here, right now, everything was perfect.


    Zurai


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Lupus, and an anonymous Patron for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 85: March of the Dreadnoughts

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Seventhday, 4th week of the 11th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Early Morning


    Ceallach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    Despite the sun still kissing the eastern horizon, many of Ceallach Macht''s citizens showed up to see the expedition off. Crowds of centaurs, harpies, and catfolk milled around at the edge of town, keeping a respectful distance as their leaders and heroes said their goodbyes.


    Aidan, of course, had to deal with four women in varying stages of distress. Sunnild clung to him, crying against his chest. He hugged her back and nuzzled her soft crest feathers, whispering reassurances. Brighid was slightly more restrained, but Aidan could see how much she hated being parted from him again. Tears glistened at the corners of her eyes and trickled down her cheeks.


    Ailis, stoic and restrained as ever to outside appearances, nonetheless gave him a hard, passionate kiss. "Go forth and conquer, my King. We will be here when you return."


    "And you had better return," Aoife said, arms crossed beneath her breasts. Her emotions were fainter than normal without the bracelet on, but Aidan could still feel the sharp-edged love, like a broken stained glass window set back in place with inadequate glue, behind her words. "If that dragon beats you and takes over, I swear I will haunt you for the rest of your lives."


    Aidan snaked an arm around her waist and dragged her into the hug with Sunnild. "I''ll be back," he promised, "and with one fewer threat to a peaceful life with all of you. I love you all." And Eldrid, too, but she wasn''t present. The blue-haired Captain was still unconscious and in the care of her first mate. Sunnild sobbed again and wrapped Aidan even tighter in her arms and wings.


    He wasn''t the only one dealing with a tearful harpy, either. A few yards away, Wolfryn was trying and failing to show Ysbail a brave face. After a few halting words, she gave in and flung herself at her mentor. "I want to go with you," she cried loud enough for Aidan to overhear. "I want to be there to watch your back and help you fight."


    Ysbail looked embarrassed and unsure of herself. She patted the raven-feathered mage on the back and whispered something that only seemed to make things worse. Wulfryn shook her head hard, then pushed away from Ysbail. Aidan thought for a second that she might storm away. Instead, she reached up, grabbed Ysbail by the hair, and dragged her head down into a heated kiss. He had to fight to hold in a laugh at the utter shock on the centaur''s face. Then he looked away, giving the pair a little more privacy.


    Noon


    Starchaser Territory, Mistvale Highlands


    A few hours later, Eldrid finally approached Aidan. "So," she started¡ªin English¡ªfollowed by silence.


    "So," Aidan replied in the same language. Then, with a crooked smile, "A needle pulling thread."


    Eldrid blinked for a moment before comprehension dawned. She giggled. "I haven''t heard that in ages. We watched that movie in elementary school. Well, the rest of the class watched, anyway."


    "Eh, my parents were old-fashioned like that. Big fans of musicals¡ªThe King and I, Fiddler on the Roof, Singing in the Rain, all that stuff." Aidan shrugged, then glanced down at the woman walking beside his summoned steed. "Anyway, what''s up?"


    The silence stretched on for a little while longer before Eldrid asked, "Why did you do it?"


    "You''ll have to be more specific, I''m afraid."


    Eldrid''s cheeks grew pinker. In a quieter voice, she said, "You had me begging, but you used your special trick anyway." She glanced up at Aidan, silver eyes inquisitive. "You threw the game instead of winning it. Why?"


    Aidan leaned back and applied pressure to the reins, stopping his mount in place. He reached a hand out toward Eldrid. "I feel weird talking down to you like this. Hop aboard."


    The Captain eyed Aidan''s hand, then the horse. "I''ve never ridden before."


    Aidan couldn''t help but smirk. "Oh, you''ve ridden before, Cowgirl." Eldrid''s blush deepened. "I won''t let you fall off, I promise. It''ll be fine. C''mon." He wiggled his fingers.


    "This better not just be an excuse to feel me up," Eldrid said, but she took his hand. Aidan helped pull her up onto the saddle in front of him, then wrapped his arms around her waist.


    "Not just that, no," he said with a snicker. Eldrid smacked his thigh. "I''ll behave as much as you want me to." Another smack. "Anyway, back to your question."


    A tap of Aidan''s heels against the horse''s ribs set the gelding to walking again. "There were a few reasons. The most relevant to the way you worded your question, though, is that it was kind of a test. Not for you, for us."


    Eldrid relaxed a little as she grew used to the horse''s stride. She leaned back against Aidan''s chest and asked, "What do you mean?"


    "Hm. How to put this?" Aidan absentmindedly rubbed his hand over the smooth skin of Eldrid''s bare midriff as he thought. He settled on, "I''ll just put it all out there, I guess. Eldrid, I have developed feelings for you, and I''m not talking about lust. I enjoy spending time with you and would very much like it if you were a more permanent part of my life. I kind of had a feeling like you might feel the same, so when it came time to end things last night... Well, I performed a bit of an experiment."


    "An experiment?" The horse whickered as Eldrid shifted her weight so she could look over her shoulder at him.


    "The way I worded my Intent meant it should only have affected people who love me, at least a little." Silver eyes widened, then narrowed. "Sorry if that crossed a line. By that point, I wasn''t entirely thinking straight."


    Eldrid was silent for a few seconds. Her gaze swept back out to the rolling hills in front of them. Then, Aidan felt her hand pat his thigh. "I wish you''d just asked, but I can''t really be mad at you over it. I straight-up dared you to claim me, after all. You have a way of doing what I want in unexpected ways, Lord Aidan."


    All the tension seemed to flow out of Eldrid''s body then. She snuggled back against Aidan and rested her hand on his. "Well, no use denying it, then. Yeah, I think I''m falling for you, too. Things are a little weird still, though. You understand that I can''t just stay with you forever, right?"


    Aidan clamped down hard on the bolt of sadness that ripped through him. She wasn''t rejecting him, he knew that. His emotions were less sanguine about it. "I know," he said, forcing his way past it. "You''ll have your own missions to complete. And even beyond that, you''re too free-spirited to become a soccer mom."


    That drew a warm chuckle from Eldrid. "Oh, I don''t know." Her fingers trailed higher on Aidan''s leg. "I could be persuaded to settle down for the right price. But you''re right. Our Patrons have plans for each of us, and there''s still so much of this world to see. That said, I can''t very well abandon my responsibilities in Ceallach Macht, can I? Not after you went and put me on the Council and all." Her eyes twinkled in amusement.


    "Ah, but that was only because you were putting down roots all on your own." Aidan squeezed his arm around Eldrid''s waist. "Rules are rules, after all."


    Eldrid craned her neck up and brushed her lips across Aidan''s. "Well, either way, I have reasons to return. And, speaking of returning, your fiancees were quite adamant about my duties regarding you." Another kiss. "I''ll be sticking to you like glue. And, oh, I just realized I forgot to pack a tent." She pressed a hand against her cheek in a gesture of mock surprise.


    "Yes, forgot, I''m sure." Aidan''s response was dry as a desert. "I''m afraid accommodations are tight, but if you promise not to steal the blankets, I think I can squeeze you into mine." Eldrid snickered. His tent was enormous since it doubled as the expedition''s command post.


    "Are you sure it''s not you who''ll be squeezing into me?" A wiggle of Eldrid''s butt against Aidan''s crotch made extra sure he didn''t miss the implication. "I promise I''ll be on my best behavior. And..." Eldrid twisted around until she sat sidesaddle, then embraced Aidan in a fierce hug. "Thank you."


    Before Aidan could respond, Eldrid slid down off the horse. She blew him a kiss, then turned and walked toward her troops. Aidan shook his head and glanced down at the bulge in his pants. "At least it''s less obvious up here in the saddle..."


    Firstday, 5th week of the 11th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Late Afternoon


    Mist Stalker Territory, Mistvale Highlands


    The expedition crossed over into Mist Stalker territory in the morning. The event was peaceful, with the border patrols obviously having been warned to expect their arrival. The afternoon was rather more exciting.


    "Monster!" One of the harpy scouts shouted as she dove down into the column. "To arms!"


    The response from the Snow-Water Rider mercenaries was immediate. They formed ranks around Aidan and the wagons like a well-oiled machine, spears and shields braced against the unknown. Archers lined up behind them, bows drawn and arrows nocked. Above them, a squadron of harpies circled. Aidan Invoked a Burning Barrage and scanned the nearby hills, looking for the threat.


    It didn''t take long to appear.


    An immense centipede skittered into sight, dozens of legs churning against the ground, propelling its gleaming, carapace-covered body forward at a frightening pace. Its bus-sized, bulbous head was low to the ground, though its antennae swept high up into the air before disappearing behind it. Mandibles the length of pikes opened and closed as it charged straight toward the column.


    "Archers, take aim and prepare to fire," one of the sergeants uttered in an impressively calm tone. "Spearmen, brace for the charge."


    "Wait!" commanded Aidan as he spotted something off about the situation. About a third of the way down the monster''s length was a web of dark lines and dots that looked unnatural. He squinted, trying to make out the details, then gestured for one of the harpy scouts to approach. "See there, on its back? Can you do a quick flyby for me and see what that is?"


    A sweep of wings and a rush of air was his answer. Tension climbed in the caravan as the scout sped through the air towards the onrushing monster. It was still quite far away, and it was difficult to tell its true speed thanks to the distance and its size, but Aidan put it at least equal to a slow gallop.


    Thankfully, the harpies acting as his eyes and ears were among the quickest available. Two anxiety-inducing minutes later, the scout spiraled down to a landing next to Aidan. "Riders," she reported. "One behind the head, a couple dozen farther back where you spotted them, Lord Aidan. All catfolk."


    Aidan relaxed a hair. There was still a chance this was an attack but given the information at hand... "I think this is Searlas''s summoner. Everyone, stay vigilant, but don''t make the first move." Officers saluted and passed the message along.


    Before long, they could hear the giant monster''s approach even when it ducked behind a nearby ridge. A low, ground-shaking rumble like a herd of horses stampeding overwhelmed the tense silence. Then the centipede crested the hill and barreled down towards the caravan.


    It looked even bigger and nastier up close. Each segment of its body was as wide as a house. Its back was an iridescent blue that contrasted with the fiery orange of its underside. Its legs and antennae were black as night. Dark, oily liquid spattered to the ground from its mandibles.


    Closer and closer the monster came. "Hold," Aidan warned when he saw the archers drawing back their bowstrings. They glanced to their commander and eased off a hair when the order was confirmed. None of the soldiers were happy about it, though, and that didn''t improve as the centipede showed no sign of slowing down. The thunder of its passage grew into a calamitous din as it charged nearer, nearer, a hundred paces separated them, fifty, twenty. Aidan raised his hand, gathering the shining motes of explosive magic at his fingertips and preparing to launch them.


    Then he sagged in his saddle as the centipede swerved to the side, roaring past the lead elements of the column. The titanic sped past Aidan, hooked around the rearguard, then slowed to a stop when its head passed him again on the other side. It settled to the ground, having completely surrounded the expedition, and its riders jumped down to the ground. A moment later, the monster wavered like a mirage and vanished. The ever-present fog rushed to fill the sudden empty air.


    "Lord Aidan, I presume?" a young male catfolk asked with a sneer on his face. "I do not know why I expected someone with any refinement." He raised a square of cloth to his face and sniffed. "What a foul stench. You reek of sweat. I regret ever incurring this debt. Lord Searlas''s assistance was not worth spending a week in these circumstances. Tell me you at least have a tent large enough for me and my entourage."


    Aidan glanced past the irritating noble. A handful of guards with leather armor and short swords lined up behind the summoner, but they were outnumbered three to one by mostly-naked catfolk women. Each of them, warriors and women both, wore a polished steel or silver collar around their neck.


    Wrath filled Aidan at the sight. For one brief moment, he gathered his will to unleash his Burning Barrage on the arrogant slaver. He clamped down on the impulse, shoving it away, clawing control back. "If you did not bring your own supplies," he said, striking with words instead of magic, "that is on your head. This is a combat force, not a pleasure cruise."


    "Hmph. As if you sleep alone at night. Everyone knows of your appetites, ''Phoenix King.'' How many women are you up to now that you bought one off Searlas? Five? Six?" The delighted look in the catfolk man''s golden eyes told Aidan he hadn''t managed to keep his face impassive.


    The insult stung all the worse because, while the summoner''s tone and implications were rude in the extreme, he wasn''t entirely incorrect. While Aidan didn''t rub the caravan''s nose in it thanks to his sound-canceling magic, he did sleep with Eldrid the previous night and intended to in the future. It was somewhat hypocritical of him to deny others similar relief.


    On the other hand, Eldrid was a warrior in her own right. She''d proved that beyond all doubt by defeating him in single combat. Aidan doubted the timid-looking slaves huddling together would be more than a distraction if a fight broke out.


    "Enough. You are under my command whether you like it or not. Gather your slaves," Aidan didn''t bother to hide the contempt he felt, "and fall into formation. We still have a couple hours of marching before nightfall." As much as he hated it, he needed this asshole. He didn''t have to make things easy for him, though.


    Zurai


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Lupus, and an anonymous Patron for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 86: Those Who Sow Darkness

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Firstday, 5th week of the 11th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Mid-Evening


    Mist Stalker Territory, Mistvale Highlands


    After the expeditionary force made camp for the night, Aidan summoned the strike team members to the command tent. Eldrid insisted on attending as well. "I swore an oath to bring you back in one piece. I can''t very well do that by sitting on my thumbs topside, can I?" In truth, Aidan didn''t argue very hard. He knew first-hand how strong she was. They''d need every advantage they could get against a dragon in its lair.


    "Now that we''re all together," he said to start the meeting, "I want to discuss the battle plan. We have the general outline prepared, but most of us have never worked together before. It would be helpful to know some details about how everyone fights so we can refine our strategy."


    The rest of the table¡ªsave Conor, the Mist Stalker summoner, who sneered at Aidan¡ªnodded, so Aidan continued. "I''ll start. I am a multi-school mage with an emphasis on Fire Magic and Vivimancy. Most relevant to the upcoming fight, I''ll be providing heavy lifting with defense-negating fire attacks. I also have one combat-suitable area-effect heal available. Unfortunately, most of my Vivimancy spells are too slow to be useful in this encounter."


    Eldrid followed Aidan''s lead. "I''m Eldrid, a Captain of the Snow-Water Riders under contract with Lord Aidan."


    "Not the only way she''s under him," Conor murmured just loud enough for everyone else to hear. Eldrid ignored him.


    "I am a water-focused mage capable of defending and attacking at the same time with the same spell. I can create and manipulate pure water. This is notable because water without any impurities mixed in is immune to lightning. As such, I will be acting as a shield for Aidan."


    "How many people can you protect?" Aidan asked.


    Eldrid shrugged, which did lovely things to her breasts in the tight, cleavage-baring leather top she had on. "If all the attacks are coming from one direction, all of us, if we do not stand too far apart."


    "Okay, good, that''s something to keep in mind. Karsarrym only had to wait for a second or two between breaths when I fought him last time. Neutralizing that takes a load off my mind."


    One of the gargoyles was the next to speak. "I am Stamatia of the Sapphire Sky. I am a warrior who specializes in destroying well-defended targets. My attacks shred both physical and magical protection over time."


    "And I am Iossif of the Sapphire Sky," her companion said. "My specialty is opposite to Stamatia''s. Where she tears down the enemy''s defenses, mine build up to counter them. The longer I fight, the more resistant I become to my foes'' attacks."


    "I assume Stamatia will wear the life-saving amulet, then?" Aidan asked. The gargoyle in question nodded her stony head. He turned his attention to the rest of the party. "Stamatia and Iossif will be the first into Karsarrym''s lair itself, as they are the most resilient. Once they have the dragon''s attention, I''ll be next in. If everything goes perfectly, I can end the battle with a single strike."


    "I will be in the second wave as well," Ysbail said. "I am Ysbail, for those of you who do not know me. I am an Adventurer and an Aura fighter." A surprised murmur went around the table at that. None of the others except Eldrid were present for the festivities, so they didn''t see her demonstration there. Even Conor looked impressed. "I also have Talents that make me stronger as I take damage and a lot of experience hunting big, dangerous monsters."


    "Ysbail cut off the last ten feet or so of Karsarrym''s tail in our first encounter," Aidan explained. "So those of you with dragonscale gear have her to thank for it. She also took at least one of his attacks head-on and survived."


    "Two," his teacher said with a grunt. "Fucker hits fast for its size, but its strikes are easy to see coming. Not a creature of subtlety, this one."


    "Valuable insight. I thank you," Iossif said, inclining his head.


    The harpy spoke up next. "You may call Wingsergeant Alkelda. I am an archer focused on individual high-damage, high-accuracy strikes from long range. I spoke with Lady Anwn about her experience fighting our foe. I will have more success than she did. Her Class is about hunting and cooperating with her animal allies. Mine exists solely to slay dangerous enemies from afar with a bow and arrow. I," she said with a faint smile, "am not a subtle creature either. All I bring to the table is damage."


    She also had a quiver full of enchanted dragonbone arrows, while Anwn wielded plain wood-and-steel hunting arrows. Aidan didn''t bother bringing that up. He was sure Alkelda''s confidence was earned and doubted Anwn would care about the comparison.


    "Will you be able to fire through a thin curtain of water?" Eldrid asked.


    The harpy sergeant tilted her head, setting her golden-brown crest feathers bobbing. "Easily. The question is how much it will affect my accuracy and distance. I have no more desire to be electrocuted than anyone else here, so I would appreciate an opportunity to test it, Captain."


    Eldrid nodded her agreement.


    "Your magic will not interfere with mine, Captain Eldrid." This time it was the wolven mage who spoke. "My name is Enys le Caradec. My spells do not require a path to their target, so feel free to wrap me in your waters. I practice Necromancy. Specifically, I can wither an enemy''s strength, fill their veins with necrotic poison, and worsen any wounds they take. As long as I have enough time to work, I can guarantee the dragon will die, though not quickly."


    "It''s always good to have a reliable backup," Aidan said. "Although I''d rather we win outright."


    "No ghosts or ghouls?" Conor asked the robed and veiled woman. "Disposable minions would be handy."


    Enys''s head whipped around to face the Mist Stalker. "You offer grave insult," she hissed. "If our purposes were not joined by outside forces, I would demand satisfaction."


    "Oh, I''m sure I can satisfy you," the insufferable man said with a leer. "All night long."


    "Careful," Eldrid said with an affected yawn. "She could make your dick rot off¡ªassuming it has not already done so."


    "Conor," Aidan interrupted before things could devolve further, "you''re the last one. We already know you''re a summoner. What sort of creatures will you be bringing to the fight?"


    Conor bared his teeth at Eldrid but let her remark pass. "My Cainechbrin Titanopede is much too large to bring into the lair, alas." Aidan had to agree. While he hated the brinksmanship of its summoner, the massive arthropod was a match for Karsarrym in size and would have been a valuable addition. "Fortunately, I am the best summoner in the region and have other options. For this fight, I would suggest either the Crimson-Veiled Terror or a pack of Blood-Bound Dakhol Reavers."


    A pack of dakhols? Aidan still had vivid nightmares of what two of those things could do. "The former," Conor explained, "is an incorporeal entity that multiplies and grows in power as those around it become wounded. It will offer a large advantage in a longer fight. The dakhols are nasty little things with immense strength and regeneration. The variant I summon have linked life-forces, so none of them die unless they are all slain."


    "Jesus," Aidan whispered to himself, thinking about how the Battle for Ceallach Macht would have turned out if they''d fought a pair of those. The second one only retreated because they''d managed to take out the first. Giving something with high-speed regeneration the ability to survive a lethal wound was terrifying.


    Eldrid''s fingers digging into his thigh kept Aidan from flashing back. "Conor," she asked with slow, careful enunciation, "we know that you are a summoner, but that is a magical art available to all schools. Which do you practice in specific?"


    "Why, did dear Searlas not tell you?" Conor grinned, baring predator''s fangs. "I am a Sanguimancer." A blood mage. Aidan felt the color draining from his face.


    "Those women you brought," he started to say, then trailed off into horrified silence.


    "Any life''s blood will do," the Mist Stalker mage confirmed, "but I prefer to get as much use out of my sacrifices as possible. So much more economical that way. Waste not, want not, they say."


    Aidan teetered on the edge of violence. This went far beyond the pale. Bringing a handful of pleasure slaves along was bad but only made him an asshole. This? The cold, calculated logic going into Conor''s decisions and the glee he took in announcing them turned Aidan''s stomach. Not only did the man intend to murder the women to fuel his magic, he chose women so that he could get more use out of them beforehand.


    And to top it all off, Aidan would be complicit in those murders. His fingers twitched, starting the gestures for Blade of Burning Wrath. A single strike is all it would take. A hand touched his shoulder. "Careful," Cai whispered in his ear, "if you act now, Chief Searlas would have no choice but to retaliate." Louder, for the benefit of the others, she said, "A messenger just arrived from Ceallach Macht. The courier has letters for several at this table."


    Aidan flexed his fingers and let his hand fall. Cai was right. It would start a war he didn''t want and couldn''t afford. That didn''t make the pill any less bitter. "Now that we''ve all been introduced, I''d like if we could drill together over the next few days. In groups, at least, if not as a whole. Ysbail, can I rely on you to work up a plan?"


    "Of course, Lord Aidan," she said with a sharp nod.


    "Since your summons require such a limited resource, you are excused from the training exercises, Conor." Aidan did his best not to give the other man any more satisfaction than he already had. It wasn''t easy. "And with that, I believe we can adjourn for the evening."


    No one needed to be told twice. Even Conor seemed to accept that he''d counted coup and departed without further provocations. When Aidan, Eldrid, and Cai were alone again, he silenced the tent and let out an enraged scream. "May the Gods damn that bastard to the deepest, darkest level of Hell. What the fuck, Searlas?"


    Before he could build up too much steam, Cai stopped him again. "I believe this might be relevant, my Lord." She handed him a letter bearing the Mist Stalker Chieftan''s seal stamped in wax. "Call it a hunch."


    Eldrid crowded in as Aidan tore the letter open. It spoke volumes of his state of mind that he didn''t even notice her soft breasts pressing against his back.


    Dear Lord Aidan,


    I hope this letter finds you well. By now, you should have rendezvoused with Conor, my personnel contribution to your expedition against the wyrm Karsarrym. With any luck, he didn''t push you far enough to fry him on the spot, but I could not blame you if you did. Personally, that is. I would, unfortunately, be forced to take retributive action once I found out. I am thankful that you surround yourself with good people¡ªI am confident they will keep you from ruining a good thing.


    If Conor has not told you already, he is a blood mage. All of his strongest summoning spells require the sacrifice of sapient beings. I am sure by now you are cursing my name, but the opportunity you provided me was too good to pass up. You gave me the plausible deniability I have lacked for years.


    If I could afford to kill him myself, I would have long ago. Unfortunately, he is both well-connected and my single strongest military asset. However, as part of the Sapphire Star Alliance, he is no longer vital to my peoples'' continued survival. Thank you for that. I do not know or care how you convinced the gargoyles to support it, but it has given me hope for a long-lasting peace between all our people.


    Regardless, if you can ensure Conor does not return from the dragon''s lair, I will owe you a great debt. If his death is¡ªor appears to be¡ªentirely in the line of duty, even better, but as long as you refrain from outright murdering him, I will make it work on my end. He is not as bad as Ailill, but I think your Goddess will still appreciate a chance to purify another corrupt soul.


    Yours in confidence,


    Chieftan Searlas mac Mora


    PS. Do not bother keeping this missive as blackmail material. It is written in magical ink and will fade once you are finished reading it.


    Aidan crumpled up the letter, then burned it with a thought. "I don''t know whether to bless Searlas or curse him," he said. His throat still hurt from his scream a moment earlier.


    "Why not both?" Eldrid quipped. "Seriously though, he''s a snake in the grass. The question is whether he''s a viper or a kingsnake."


    "Everything I''ve seen says he''s got his peoples'' best interests in mind, but by all the Gods and Powers, he''s infuriating to deal with. It''s like he''s incapable of not manipulating people into doing his dirty work for him."


    "I cannot speak on matters of state like this," Cai interjected, "but I do have more letters for you, and these should be less troublesome." She handed Aidan four more letters. Each was sealed with his own crest pressed into colored wax¡ªgreen, gray, blue, and gold. "I will leave you to them. Good night, my Lord."


    "Thank you, Cai. Good night."


    Cai turned to leave, then hesitated and looked over her shoulder at him. "One more thing, if I may, Lord Aidan. Speaking as the head of your bodyguards, I would appreciate it if you did not silence your tent at night. Back at home, where there is only a single entrance and exit, things are different, but you are vulnerable out here. Silencing the area deprives your guards of one of our two best senses for detecting danger before it is too late."


    "Ah, yes, point taken. I just didn''t want to, well," he trailed off, blushing.


    "Lord Aidan, everyone knows what goes on in here at night." Cai''s voice was dry as a desert. "Captain Eldrid did not even bring a tent of her own. Besides, I have both seen and heard you before and will again. You indulge Lady Brighid''s exhibitionism perhaps a little too liberally." So saying, she ducked out of the tent.


    Aidan blushed all the harder.


    Zurai


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Lupus, Emran Altaf, and an anonymous Patron for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 No chapter next week & other news

    This is just a quick heads-up to let you know there won''t be a chapter next Monday. I''m in the middle of moving and didn''t manage to get it written in time. Chapters will resume as normal on the 29th.


    As for the other news, once I wrap up Champion (current estimate is somewhere in the Chapter 95-100 range), I''ll be taking a break from Paths of the Chosen. It''s been my sole focus, writing-wise, for the last 2 1/2 years, and I''m starting to run out of steam on it. That isn''t to say I''m quitting or growing bored of it, just that I need time to recharge my batteries for the story. I know "hiatus" is practically a curse word, but I promise it''ll be temporary.


    One of the things I want to do before returning to Paths for Book 3 is do another revision pass of book 1 and the first revision pass of book 2. There are multiple reasons for this. I feel my opening chapters are particularly bad for their intended purpose (to hook an audience). There are rough spots I want to smooth out in Chosen (including some revisions to That Chapter) and a lot of editing I need to do for Champion. And, perhaps most relevant, I feel like I need to get all that done before I can release either book in ebook versions, which is something I do want to get done for a multitude of reasons.


    Regardless, that''s more in the mid-term. In the short-term (past the end of Champion), I''ll be focusing on the new story I''ve been teasing for the last 9 months or so. It''s another epic fantasy, this time set in a world inspired by and drawing concepts from Eastern European mythology and folklore. The magic system is cultivation-like, although I hesitate to call it a xianxia because I won''t be playing the same tropes. No (or at least no more than in any western fantasy) Arrogant Young Masters, Heaven-Defying Talents, corrupt elders sacrificing the younger generation for their own advancement, etc etc. Instead of Sects, there are western fantasy-style Guilds, and instead of exploiting the powerless masses, they''re tasked with protecting them. The intent of the story is to be a Shounen-style action adventure with a philosophical undertone asking what it means to be a hero.


    Here''s a sneak peak at the two main characters of Essence of a Hero:


    Anyway, I hope all my American readers have a wonderful Thanksgiving and everyone in the rest of the world has a great week as well. As said, I''ll be back with Chapter 87 on Monday the 29th.

 Champion, Chapter 87: Far From Home

    Aidan


    The Realms?


    Sixthday, 5th week of the 11th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Late Evening?


    Mist Stalker Territory, Mistvale Highlands?


    Aidan woke to a feeling of peace and restfulness. He stretched and sat up, ready to face the assault on Karsarrym''s Lair. Then he realized Eldrid was missing, as were his bedroll, his tent, and the rest of the camp. The surge of adrenaline Aidan expected to feel at these revelations, however, failed to materialize.


    "Be at peace, O leader of many races," a man''s voice spoke from the mists.


    Congratulations! Thanks to your Tongue of the Sun and Moon Trait, you have learned to speak and understand Northern Highlander Tradetongue.


    "Pray, forgive this one for disturbing your dreams. We decided this method of contact was less likely to end in tragedy." The fog in front of Aidan faded and parted to reveal the speaker.


    He was tall, around Aidan''s height, although the pair of hare''s ears atop his head added at least another six inches. Those weren''t the only hare-like features he bore, either. His fingers ended in short claws, as did the toes protruding from the sandals wrapped around his digitigrade legs. An ornate shawl in shades of white, gray, light blue, and green served him for clothing. The pale colors contrasted with skin the color of rich loam.


    "Well, at least no one''s going to die this way," Aidan said. "Who am I speaking to?"


    "You may call this one Kalle if it pleases you." Kalle inclined his head toward Aidan. "As for safety, be not complacent. This one means you no harm, but there are yet dangers when bringing dreamers into the Dreamlands like so."


    "I see," Aidan said. "Then I suppose we should get to business¡ªonce you release whatever magic is suppressing my emotions."


    "Of course. Again, pray, forgive this trespass." As the harefolk man spoke, Aidan felt the enforced tranquility leave him. A rough-hewn table rose from the mists between them, complete with two crude chairs. Taking the invitation, Aidan took a seat. "The Fog-Shrouded Folk are far from what used to be their home and much depleted in strength and spirit. Those who remain decided on extreme caution for this meeting."


    "The Fog-Shrouded Folk? I''m not familiar with the name."


    Kalle nodded. "This one would be surprised if you had. We traveled many months to arrive here and now."


    "To what purpose?"


    Kalle''s eyes closed for a moment. When they opened again, he stared past Aidan. "The tale is long, and soon comes the dawn. For now, know that this one believes we have a common foe."


    "Karsarrym." It was the only plausible answer.


    "Indeed. The wyrm did to our homeland what it prepares to do to yours. Now we seek to visit upon its black heart the vengeance of those who never again the sun will see."


    "I see. I''m afraid these are indelicate questions," Aidan said with a frown, "but how and why? How did you travel so far through the Highlands without being seen and..." he hesitated, "dealt with? Strangers are rarely welcome here. Further, if you''ve traveled for months to come here following your home''s destruction, the timing doesn''t work out unless the dragon was far more leisurely in its travels than I expected. And, finally," Aidan leaned forward, "why make this contact? We can''t be the only ones who fought Karsarrym."


    Kalle nodded along to Aidan''s questions. "Astute queries all, and two have the same answer." He rested his hands on the table. "You are not the only ones to fight the dragon. This is true. Nor did the wyrm much delay its journey here from where it emerged among the kanitti''s homelands."


    Kalle stood then and turned away from Aidan. "Visions of ruin to this one came, and of salvation. A full six months it was before the dragon''s awakening. A few¡ªso few¡ªlistened and heeded. Them this one led to here, to now, to a chance to find a future." He turned back around, revealing cheeks damp with tears. "Others might slay the wyrm, it is true, but none other a new home would offer."


    Taking his seat again, Kalle sighed and slumped forward onto his elbows. Exhaustion seemed to creep over him. "As for how we survived, this one managed a few allies of strength to gather. A soldier, strong of arm and of heart." An image formed in the mist of a woman wearing heavy armor and wielding a wicked spear. "A mage skilled in construction and camouflage." Another man like Kalle, though broader and more muscular. "A scout with the ability to cloak us all in mist." A woman, smaller in stature, with shorter ears. She bore no weapons and wore no armor, but there was still an air of danger around her.


    "To we four it fell to guard the rest. Less than fifty all told, and no elders nor children among us. The journey they could not survive." Kalle sucked in a shuddering breath, then squared his shoulders and continued. "To you, we beseech, O Champion of the Cleansing Flame. Let not our sacrifices be in vain. Grant us vengeance, and grant us life." He bowed his head and fell silent.


    Aidan suppressed a sigh. It seemed like there were no happy stories to tell in this world. And, with Chief Searlas''s manipulations fresh on his mind, he found it hard to extend his full trust. Worse, he was about to borrow a page from Machiavelli''s book. "If it''s vengeance you want, you''ll have to seize it with your own hands. I''ll take any help I can get against this enemy, but it''s safety and peace I seek, not revenge. As for your people, all are welcome in Ceallach Macht who enter without hatred and violence in their hearts. When morning comes, bring them to me. I have enough guards to spare an escort to their new home."


    Kalle''s shoulders tensed. He didn''t miss the implications of separating his people and their champions¡ªeach hostage to the other''s behavior. He raised his head and looked at Aidan with weary brown eyes. "For your mercy, this one thanks you. Ritva and Aija," the images of the two women stepped forward, "are well-suited for the coming fight. This one and Sulo are not." The muscular man faded back. "Please allow us to accompany the rest to your city. Familiar faces will keep them calm."


    Aidan considered the counter-proposal. There was merit in it, although it took away some of his leverage. Still, he felt scummy enough about even this small scheme to let it pass. "So be it," he said, then added, "We plan to assault the lair in two days. If your champions are to help, we''ll need as much time to integrate their skills as possible."


    "As you say. We will approach your camp half an hour past dawn''s first light. Thank you, Blessed of Aki Arja." As soon as Kalle finished speaking, fog rolled into the dreamscape, obscuring Aidan''s sight.


    Moments later, he found himself waking up again. This time, Eldrid lay curled up against his side, her nude body warm against his. The tent was still dark, and Aidan couldn''t hear any signs of soldiers preparing for a new day. Good. He had a little time to prepare for visitors, then.


    The Realms


    Seventhday, 5th week of the 11th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Dawn


    Mist Stalker Territory, Mistvale Highlands


    Harpy scouts reported a group of people approaching the camp shortly after dawn. True to Kalle''s word, he led a ragtag group of refugees through the mists as the sun finished rising above the eastern horizon. Beside him walked the other three figures from Aidan''s dream.


    Ritva was a tall, imposing woman clad in gray plated mail from neck to toe. She held a winged helmet in the crook of one arm and bore a heavy spear, perhaps even a lance, in the other. Her hair was white as snow and bound in a braid. Like Kalle and all the other rabbitfolk Aidan could see, her skin was a rich, dark brown.


    Beside Ritva, Aija seemed tiny, although her shorter ears still extended past the top of Aidan''s head. Loose-fitting black clothes hid her form, but she moved with the wary grace of a veteran. Wisps of fog clung to her, obscuring the edges of her body but not her piercing purple eyes.


    Although he leaned on a gnarled wooden staff for support, Kalle was otherwise as Aidan remembered from his dream. The other man, Sulo, rested a hand on his shoulder as the pair walked together. Sulo wore a shawl like Kalle, although his drooped open in front to reveal a muscled chest devoid of hair.


    Aidan greeted them with Eldrid by his side, both wearing their full combat regalia. "Be welcome, those who approach in peace," he said in the Fog-Shrouded Folk''s language. "I am Aidan, known as the Phoenix King, Champion of the Brighaid, and Lord of Ceallach Macht. Beside me is Captain Eldrid of the Snow-Water Riders. Her men will escort your non-combatants to my city."


    "Peace we have for you, but none for the dragon," Ritva responded, her chin held high. Her voice was deep and rich of timbre, and she spoke with a lilting cadence. "For that foulspawn, naught but hatred burns in my heart."


    "The time for vengeance almost upon us is," Kalle spoke, "but duties we have before the wyrm lies dead."


    "Aye," Sulo chimed in. His voice was a bright, clear tenor. The weary, ragged rabbitfolk behind him perked up when he spoke, energy seeming to flow into their battered bodies. "Long and far we traveled, trials we faced, and too many lives we lost. Yet still, another day dawns, and we live to see it. This is the end of a chapter in our story, but not the end of the tale itself. Instead, we have a new chapter, a new beginning."


    "I can''t tell what they''re saying," Eldrid murmured to Aidan, "but so far, there hasn''t been any deception from them." He nodded to her, then raised his hands for attention.


    "Do any among you have a gift for languages?"


    The rabbitfolk refugees murmured among themselves for a while before a young man stepped forward. Sulo and Kalle shared a few quiet words with him, then waved him on. "I do, Lord Aidan." His voice was soft and had the same lilting quality Ritva''s did. "A minor Trait only. I learn faster than others, but it still takes time."


    Aidan nodded. It was about what he expected. Only about two to five percent of people had a Trait to help with languages, and universal translation Traits like Aidan''s own were even rarer. However, there were around fifty rabbitfolk gathered, so the odds were good for one or two to have one.


    "Congratulations," Aidan said, "you are now the liaison between my people and yours. I want you to focus all your time on learning the local trade language. Eldrid will assign someone to help you. You''ll attend any and all meetings between our people. I''d also like you to teach the rest of the Fog-Shrouded Folk as you can." He held up a hand in a placating gesture. "I encourage you to continue using your own language among yourselves, but there''s less potential for trouble if everyone can understand each other."


    "Yes sir, Lord Aidan sir." The young man looked shaken to his core, but Sulo wrapped an arm around his shoulders and guided him away.


    "This one can help as well," Kalle added. "Spells there are to link two minds together, thought to thought. No control is granted to either," he hastened to add, "but easier it is to understand like so."


    Aidan glanced at Eldrid, who inclined her head in a tiny nod. "That will help, Kalle. Thank you," he said once she confirmed the truth of Kalle''s claim. "With that settled, I''ll leave you two," he indicated Kalle and Sulo, "to shepherding your people. There''s no rush, so if you need time to rest, take it. You''re safe now." He turned his attention to the two women. "Ritva, Aija, please come with me. I''ll introduce you to the rest of our dragon slayers."


    Aidan gave Eldrid a quick kiss, then turned and led the rabbitfolk champions deeper into the camp. Eldrid would join them once she had the refugees squared away with her troops. "While we walk," he said, "why don''t you tell me about how you fight? Ritva, you look like a front-line fighter. Are you?"


    "Though I wear heavy armor, it is best I do not take the enemy''s attention. I operate best as a mobile attacker. My spear," she hefted the implement in question, "can pierce any defense, given enough momentum."


    "Oh?" Aidan asked, his curiosity getting the better of him. "And how do you gather such force? I do not see any mounts among your people."


    The tall warrior snorted. "Nor will you. We ate them long ago. But I have no need for such. My legs launch me high. From there, my armor and Talents do the rest."


    Launch...? Aidan looked over his shoulder at Ritva, taking in her heavy armor, powerful hare''s legs, lance, and winged helmet. "Oh," he said, then, "Oh. I see." She was a dragoon of all things, though he''d refrain from calling her one given the current situation. "Aija?" he prompted.


    The smaller rabbit-like woman remained silent. "She does not speak much," Ritva said in her stead. "Aija fights with fist and foot, and her strikes need not penetrate her target to deal lasting damage. She is also a stealth specialist. Few can see or hear her if she wants to remain hidden." Aija gave a short, sharp nod of agreement.


    "Hmm. I''d prefer if you were ranged fighters, but I work with what I have. You both understand the risks?" They were melee warriors volunteering to battle a monster who slew dozens of centaurs by the simple and humiliating expedient of stepping on them, after all. Both women nodded. "Alright then. I won''t turn you away. We''re still a bit more than a day''s march from the dragon''s lair, so I''ll introduce you to Ysbail, and we''ll work you into the plan."


    Ysbail wouldn''t be happy about needing to change things up and work in two new party members so late, but she''d manage.


    Zurai


    This chapter is a result of the Summer Games Done Quick commissions. The commissioner wanted me to introduce a Viera (Final Fantasy 12/Tactics Advance/14) like race as allies against the dragon, so here we are. There''ll be a second chapter down the line with heavy Kanitti (what I''m calling the Viera expies) interaction, as I owe another 2,500 words on this commission. The dragoon, for reference, is all my fault.


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Lupus, Emran Altaf, and an anonymous Patron for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 88: Fresh Blood and Darkness

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Secondday, 1st week of the 12th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Late Morning


    Near Karsarrym''s Lair, Mist Stalker Territory, Mistvale Highlands


    "Not very well-hidden, is it?" Aidan asked, looking at the huge stone gates embedded in the valley wall.


    "Dragons have little need for subtlety," Ritva opined, "even ones this young."


    "Wait, Karsarrym is young for a dragon?" If that was true, Aidan wanted nothing to do with anything older.


    "An adult, but not an old one," Iossif responded. "Dragons never stop growing as they age. Tales tell of great wyrms the size of mountains, although I have never seen evidence of such."


    "The same tales say they grow less and less active over time, thank all the Gods and Powers," Stamatia added, her stony face twisted into a grimace. "Some traditions hold the world itself to be eons of detritus layered upon the back of a slumbering dragon."


    Aidan shook his head. It might even be true, for all he knew, but it didn''t matter. "Either way, we''re here for a purpose, and it''s not getting done standing around. Are the marines ready?"


    Captain Dyfri and Captain Price''s first mate¡ªPrice declined to make the journey because of his bad leg¡ªnodded. "Aye, Lord Aidan," the latter said.


    "How long do your summons last?" Aidan asked Conor, wishing he could tell the detestable man to get lost instead.


    Despite Aidan''s misgivings, Conor was cool and professional now on the eve of battle. "The Terror withers away when there isn''t fresh blood to sustain it. The dakhols last for up to two hours."


    Meaning they couldn''t summon either ahead of time. Two hours might be enough, but Aidan couldn''t count on it. They''d have to take those poor women into the lair with them. Ugh. Through gritted teeth, he said, "Then bring your slaves. They''ll stay in the back with us until we reach the end." Nobody was happy about it, but those summons represented far too strong a weapon for Aidan to refuse to use.


    Will I wind up like Lady Macbeth? Will this blood stain my hands forever? He''d already memorized the womens'' names, another monument to failure looming in his mind. Aidan loathed the position Chief Searlas put him in. He felt like a powerless pawn.


    A splash of cool water against his cheek interrupted Aidan''s brooding. He looked to his left. Eldrid gave him a sympathetic look atop an unapologetic grimace.


    "Right," he said, "let''s get going, then. Everyone knows the plan. Marines first, taking both entrances in parallel. The strike team will follow Captain Price''s company at a distance, preserving our strength unless there are no other options. Once we reach the bottom, the marines withdraw, Conor summons, and we do what we came for." The remaining troops¡ªAidan''s bodyguards, a handful of Eldrid''s marines, the harpy scouts, and Conor''s military escort¡ªwould wait aboveground to guard the wagons and seal the dungeon exits.


    "Alright, boys and girls," Dyfri''s voice carried across the valley''s entrance, "it is time to earn our pay. Remember, this is a military operation, not a dungeon dive. Stay in formation, ignore loot, and follow orders. We will get our share at the end. May Divine Nefrys bless us all."


    "Lady guide us," came the response from the gathered otterkin troops.


    One could be forgiven for assuming storming a dungeon with sixty trained marines would prove smooth sailing. After all, the traditional approach was with a party of five or less. If ever Aidan entertained such a faulty assumption, stepping into the first chamber after the marines cleared it would''ve disabused him.


    Dozens of squat, scaled humanoids lay in piles where the otterkin cut them down. They wore no clothes or armor and wielded crude weapons crafted from wood, stone, and bone, but quantity had its own quality. A slain marine lay among the corpse piles and the pools of drying blood. Two more Snow-Water Riders reclined against carved stone pillars with broken limbs.


    Ten percent casualties in the first room, against, presumably, the weakest enemies. Not a good sign. Aidan gave strong consideration to healing the pair of walking wounded. Reducing the marines'' attrition might tip the balance. On the other hand, so might wearying himself casting expensive magic like Phoenixfire Conflagration, his only spell capable of fixing serious injuries.


    While most of the Concentration used to cast a spell got refunded once the effects ended, there was still a small, steady degradation involved. The fatigue was proportional to the base cost of each spell cast, and the math wasn''t linear. Aidan could use cheap magic like Flame Jet for hours before feeling any significant effects.


    Phoenixfire Conflagration''s 300 Concentration cost, on the other hand, had a noticeable impact on him with each use. As soon as he finished casting it, he would feel a wave of exhaustion, like coming down from an adrenaline surge. The weariness didn''t linger long, a few seconds at most, but it built up over repeated uses. If he healed the marines after every fight, he''d be in poor mental shape by the end.


    I can''t risk it, Aidan decided. The fight against Karsarrym would be difficult enough with him at full capacity. And, when it came down to brass tacks, Dyfri and his men were mercenaries. They signed up for this knowing the dangers. More blood on my hands, his mind nonetheless whispered.


    Then he had an idea. "Conor," Aidan asked, "you said your summoning spells need the lifeblood of sapients, correct?"


    "The ones useful here, yes." The man''s tone reminded Aidan of a cat playing with its food.


    "These monsters, whatever they are, use tools. Would they work instead?" The thought of sacrificing prisoners still turned his stomach, but at least they weren''t innocent civilians.


    "Hmm." Conor tapped one thin, clawed finger against his chin. "Yes, although there are other factors in play. I would require more of these drachen than those with purer blood, and the casting will be more complex. But, yes, if it would soothe your sensibilities, I can make due."


    "How many do you need?"


    "Ten at least, fifteen to be certain. They need to be alive, but so long as they are not bleeding out until I perform the ritual, there is no need to be gentle."


    With a sharp nod, Aidan turned to one of his messengers. "Go to Captain Dyfri. Tell him to try and capture some of these... drachen? No need to go easy on them. We need them alive and stable but nothing further. He needn''t take crazy risks, but I would appreciate it if he could get us at least a dozen."


    "Yes, m''Lord!" the marine said with a salute, then hurried forward to the next room.


    The dungeon Karsarrym took over for its lair would have been a work of art in any other context. The entrance chamber led into a long gallery supported by massive, square pillars of carved stone. The rooms on either side of the grand corridor had masterful murals engraved into the walls depicting what looked like hundreds of years of history.


    Further in, the path split three ways. One led through a series of narrow hallways connecting utility rooms, storehouses, and living quarters. These weren''t as impressive as the earlier sections, lacking the ornate decorations and awe-inspiring architecture. Still, all the craftsmanship on display was of the highest quality.


    The second route diverged into a temple complex. Another long, pillared corridor fed into an immense chamber with an arched ceiling and row upon row of stone benches. The ruined remnants of three statues rested near a cracked altar at the far end.


    The final wing was the shortest, most impressive, and most dangerous. It began with a hallway overlooked by fortified balconies, crenelated like castle walls. Two doors opened into obvious guardrooms at the end of the hall, each housing a stairway with access to the terraces. Past those was an antechamber the size of a small house. Cushioned benches lined the edges of the room.


    The only other exit from the antechamber led into a throne room. It was at least fifty feet wide and several hundred long. More carved stone pillars lined the sides of the room, each bearing a spiral staircase and several tiers of box seating. There was a subtle slope to the floor leading up to a dais, the front-facing edge of each tiered stair bearing gilded etchings.


    Atop the dais, a steeper stairway rose to an imposing throne. It was carved from a single solid basalt cube five feet to a side. Sapphires, rubies, emeralds, jade, and other precious gems embedded in its sides formed elaborate dioramas. Spikes of gleaming dark metal radiated from the throne''s back like a sinister sun.


    The original plan called for Dyfri''s marines to clear out all three wings before proceeding deeper. Nobody wanted to risk attacks from behind while the strike team fought Karsarrym. However, with the losses they''d already taken, Aidan altered the plan. Calling over another messenger, he said, "We''re going to skip the throne room and temple. Those are more likely to house elite troops, and they''re wide-open spaces. Tell Dyfri to clear the back corridors. We''ll try to barricade the other exits when we reach the other side."


    Once through the abattoir the mercenaries made of the servants'' wing, the entire character of the dungeon changed. Ornate hallways and engraved passages halted, opening up onto the view of a deep chasm lined with twisting, switchbacked trails leading down into darkness. Steel rails inlaid into the paths and narrow openings pockmarking the chasm walls spoke to their original purpose as a mine.


    Now, however, they were exposed paths leading down into a dragon''s lair. Somewhere at the bottom, Karsarrym waited for them. Aidan labored under no illusions about taking the wyrm by surprise. Its minions would have warned it long before now. And, unfortunately, they would have to make their way down in single file. The traces leading down into the gorge were only three or four feet wide at their widest.


    Dyfri''s remaining troops, now reduced to less than half their starting number, led the way downward. Every time they passed a mine shaft, the Captain himself shaped it closed with low-level Earth magic. His alterations wouldn''t hold forever, but with luck, anything lurking in the tunnels would be delayed until after Karsarrym was dead.


    The strike team followed around a hundred feet behind the marines. Stamatia, Alkelda, and Iossif took to the air while Eldrid surrounded the rest in a swirling bubble of clear water. This position was exposed enough that none of the party opposed using some resources before the final fight.


    Twice, the marines had to stop as swarms of drachen poured out of a mine tunnel ahead of them. They managed to fight off the monsters the first time without taking another casualty. However, the second skirmish ended with a taller brute drachen charging through the column of marines. Captain Dyfri cut it to pieces with his heavy blade, but not before three otterfolk went screaming over the edge.


    Once at the bottom, they reunited with Captain Price''s troops. They''d fought their way through the other half of the dungeon and were just as battered and depleted as Dyfri''s squad. Still, they had about twenty-five healthy, if tired, soldiers between the two groups. It would have to do.


    There was one final chamber to clear before facing their true foe. A yawning cavern, lined with dripping stalactites and stalagmites like immense teeth, led deeper into the earth.


    Within waited the biggest drachen Aidan had seen so far. It was also the only one wearing armor, and the jagged metal sword it wielded was a far more sophisticated weapon than any others wielded. Two obvious spellcasters flanked the drachen boss, each bearing a wooden staff covered in dangling bone charms. Twenty or so of the big brutes and at least twice as many smaller warriors filled out the monsters'' ranks.


    "You, invaders!" the armored monster called out to them. "The Great Master decrees your death. Raaargh!" Without waiting for any response, it roared and charged the marines.


    The fight was short and brutal and might have ended in a loss for the otterfolk mercenaries if not for the strike team''s intervention. The boss singled out Dyfri for a duel. The two traded savage blows and tight parries, neither seeming to have an advantage until one of the brutes bull-rushed the Captain. He saw the attack coming, and it only knocked him off-balance for a second, but a second was all the boss needed to slash him from shoulder to hip.


    Seeing the Captain go down, possibly even slain, shattered Aidan''s resolve to hold out. Before Dyfri even hit the floor, the motes of burning light revolving above his ethereal crown shot out. Each impacted in the middle of a cluster of drachen, and Aidan directed three to strike the boss and his two shamans. Needle-sharp frozen spikes raked through the unarmored massed monsters like grapeshot while arrows rained down on the spellcasters from above.


    The two gargoyles remained in front of Aidan, interposing their granite bodies between him and any adventurous drachen. Enys and Conor also had little to contribute. The former''s magic would be wasted on hordes of weak enemies, and the latter needed too much time to impact this fight. Ysbail had her sword out and ready, the glow of her Aura limning her powerful frame, but declined to wade into the melee.


    With Aidan, Eldrid, and Alkelda''s intervention, the tides of battle turned sharply in the Snow-Water Riders'' favor. The two enemy spellcasters died in mere seconds, along with more than half of the grunts and brutes. The boss lasted another half-minute, taking out two more mercenaries, before one of Alkelda''s arrows sprouted from his right eye. After seeing their collapse, the remaining drachen surrendered or fled.


    Aidan rushed to where Dyfri fell, Eldrid a half-step behind him. The muscular Captain was still alive, thank the Gods, although blood soaked through the front of his tunic. "It is not as bad as it looks," he told Aidan through clenched teeth. "My clothes are enchanted. They absorbed part of the strike."


    "Here, drink this." Aidan retrieved a healing potion from his haversack and handed it to Dyfri.


    "Blech, I loathe the taste of potions," the Captain complained, but he popped the cork and swallowed the bubbling red liquid within. "Go on, Lord Aidan. I will survive so long as you win."


    Aidan nodded, then turned to his team. "This is it, everyone. Karsarrym waits for us in the cavern beyond. Prepare as you need to. We''ll go once Conor''s finished summoning. Dakhols, Conor. I want to give the dragon as many expendable targets as possible."


    "Whatever you say, boss," the catfolk mage said with sneering insubordination. "You, you, you, drag those ugly fuckers into position." The drafted marines looked to Aidan for confirmation, then followed orders, wrestling captive drachen into the spots the summoner indicated. Conor retrieved a piece of glittering chalk from his robes and drew circular glyphs on the cavern floor.


    Once the intricate pattern met his satisfaction, Conor put the chalk back and pulled out a curved dagger. Chanting words holding no meaning to any but himself, he walked around the inscribed circle and slashed the throat of each helpless prisoner in turn. Instead of spraying out, their thick red blood formed tendrils, rising into the air and coiling around each other. After a few seconds, the writhing mass of blood split into two, then both divided again.


    As everyone watched, horrified, the four blobs twisted into humanoid shapes with hunched backs and long arms. Bones shimmered into existence within, spines forming first, then ribs, arms, legs, and skulls. Strands of muscle fiber stretched over the skeletons, wrapping around them like macabre swaddling clothes. Layers of sickly white fat and pink flesh appeared interwoven with the tendons and ligaments. At last, mercifully, skin and fur covered the summoned creatures'' bodies, and the dakhols dropped to the floor.


    "There," Conor said. "You have your distractions. I hope you are happy with this much. I could have made five, and each of them stronger, using better materials." He waved a careless hand at the huddled, terrified women, brought along in case the drachen sacrifice plan didn''t work out.


    "They''ll do," Aidan said and put the summoner out of his mind. He needed all of his focus for the fight ahead. "Iossif, Stamatia, lead the way. The dakhols will follow you in, then me, Eldrid, and Ysbail. We all know the plan by now. Let''s kill ourselves a dragon." Five swords of searing bright flame floated in the air around him.


    Zurai


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Lupus, Emran Altaf, and an anonymous Patron for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 89: Karsarrym, Clad in Darkness

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Secondday, 1st week of the 12th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Mid-Afternoon


    Karsarrym''s Lair


    As soon as the two gargoyles passed the threshold of Karsarrym''s Lair, a Quest prompt popped into Aidan''s view.


    Quest: Dragonslayers


    At last, the time of reckoning is at hand. If not stopped here, Karsarrym will rampage across the Mistvale Highlands, destroying any hope of peace and prosperity for the region. Very few people, living or dead, have ever slain an adult dragon without the aid of another wyrm. All those who managed such a feat became legends. Will your names join theirs this day?


    Goal: Slay the invading dragon Karsarrym.


    Reward: Dragonslayer epithet; 500,000 experience; 10 Talent points; (Leader only) improved reputation with all members of the Sapphire Star alliance; (Leader only) 10 Paragon points


    Optional Goal: Keep your party alive.


    Optional Reward: 100,000 experience per surviving party member; 2 Talent points per surviving party member; (Leader only) Further increased reputation with each alliance member whose champion survives. (Secret) Does not apply to Conor mac Con Uladh.


    Optional Goal: (Secret, Leader only) Ensure that Conor mac Con Uladh meets with an ''accident.''


    Optional Reward: (Secret, Leader only) 100,000 experience; 2 Talent points; further increased reputation with Chieftan Searlas of the Mist Stalkers.


    Aidan glanced over the Quest, then dismissed the window. The optional goals didn''t suggest anything new, so there was no reason to let them distract him.


    Conor''s summoned dakhols followed Iossif and Stamatia into the dark cavern. Before they''d even vanished from sight, a familiar voice, seething with hatred, rattled the cave. "Chosen." A brilliant bolt of lightning lit up the lair along with a deafening peal of thunder. Aidan could see Karsarrym heaving its stadium-sized body into a standing position in the brief moment of bright light. "Thou hast forsaken all sanity. Thy minions will not shield thee from my wrath. Indignity upon indignity hast thou inflicted upon me, and now, here, away from thy Throne, I will make thee pay."


    At a signal, the remaining Snow-Water Rider mercenaries used slings to plaster the voluminous cavern with enchanted lantern-stones. Each device could only illuminate an area ten to fifteen feet in radius, but every marine had a dozen in their belt pouch. The mass-produced magic items also stuck to anything they struck, so within a minute, hundreds of steady lights glowed from the battlefield''s every surface.


    A few soldiers, brave or foolish, even managed to strike Karsarrym with their payloads. Those lanterns, however, winked out as soon as they lit. Shadows clung to the wyrm''s body like a second skin, shifting and shimmering, dancing and darting. Aidan couldn''t make out any details aside from its eyes and gleaming fangs.


    Unperturbed by the lights blossoming all around it, the dragon continued ranting. "Better ye waited in thy city until these whelps thy magic quickened within me flew free. A year thee would have had to prepare, not these scant weeks." Iossif soared on stony wings up to the dragon''s fanged maw. Karsarrym snapped at him to no avail. "Gnats thou hast brought before me when thou could have had an army."


    If the gargoyles responded to being compared to tiny, blood-sucking insects, they were too far away to hear. Iossif made a nuisance of himself, flitting around Karsarrym''s head and landing the occasional blow with his hammer. Stamatia took advantage of the dragon''s distraction to smash into Karsarrym''s right foreleg to no apparent effect. She did say her attacks would get stronger as she kept fighting.


    The dakhols, scattered by the initial lightning breath, reached their target and started climbing up Karsarrym''s legs. The wyrm ducked under another attack from Iossif, caught a dakhol in its jaws, and tossed it against the nearest wall. The summoned monster was up and on its feet again in seconds.


    "Alright, he''s as distracted as he''ll ever be," Aidan declared. "Second wave, go." He, Eldrid, and Ysbail moved up as a group, shielded by a swirling hemisphere of water. Aidan kept his burning blades gathered close behind him, attempting to hide them from Karsarrym''s sight. Aija, meanwhile, flitted from shadow to shadow, placing explosives on the stalagnate pillars buttressing the ceiling.


    "Ah, at last, thou showest thy face, Chosen." A deafening boom and blinding light overwhelmed Aidan for a moment as a bolt of lightning impacted with Eldrid''s shield. "Clever, clever. But such tricks will avail ye not, little gnats. Think ye none before have sought to guard against mine breath?"


    Before Karsarrym could demonstrate whatever he meant, Aidan struck. Five sword-shaped beams of contained plasma screamed through the air toward the dragon. Two skittered off one of the dragon''s forepaws as it swiped at them. The other three met scales along its neck and head.


    The results were dangerously disappointing.


    Phoenix King Aidan''s Blade of Burning Wrath deals 25.86 fire damage [156.75 base, times 1.1 Firepower Talent, times 1.5 Kindle the Hearth-Flame; reduced to 10% due to the target''s resistance to fire damage] to Storm Conqueror Karsarrym.


    "His resistance to fire is 200%," Aidan said with a groan. "The only reason I got any damage through at all is my Journeyman perk."


    "Didst thou think I would fall for the same tricks twice, Chosen? Sheer arrogance. Thou earned thy victory when last we met, but I am prepared for thy flames now." Karsarrym''s smug declaration of invulnerability seemed to distract the wyrm from its previous intentions.


    "We''ll see," Aidan said, then raised his voice. "Plan C! Everyone, attack!" Pandemonium followed.


    Ysbail charged out from behind Eldrid''s cover, her Aura ignited and covering her from head to toe. A crescent of crackling golden energy swept from her blade and crashed into Karsarrym. Dark blood trickled from between cracked scales in its wake.


    At the same time, an arrow streaked past overhead. A sonic boom rattled the cool underground air following Alkelda''s opening shot. The arrow found its mark, drawing a cacophonous roar as it buried itself inside the wyrm''s right eye¡ªthe same one Aidan''s Passion Elementals blinded in their first encounter.


    The wyrm thrashed in pain, its head and tail whipping from side to side. Armored flesh crashed through several stalagmites, shattering them and sending bits of stony shrapnel as large as man''s head ricocheting around the cavern. Eldrid lunged in front of Aidan as a spray of needle-like rock fragments pierced her watery shield. Hot liquid splattered across Aidan''s cheek.


    Behind them, a shocked, agonized cry could barely be heard between Karsarrym''s roars. Aidan glanced back to see Enys, the wolven necromancer, with a three-foot-long shard of calcite embedded in her belly. She collapsed to the ground in a pool of her own blood. To Aidan''s amazement, while she clutched one hand to her wound, the other sketched black glyphs in the air before her.


    "Wretches! Worms!" Karsarrym raged. Iossif bounced his hammer off the wyrm''s snout only to be met by a point-blank blast of electricity. The gargoyle crashed into the debris-covered ground, raising a puff of dust. A heartbeat later, he launched himself back out of the dust cloud, clearing the air.


    The dakhols continued to swarm across Karsarrym''s body. They pried and yanked at scales and pounded it with their ham-sized fists. The dragon bit them and plucked them from its hide with fang and claw, inflicting grievous wounds and sending them flying through the cavern. One such flung monster missed colliding with Alkelda by such a narrow margin that the harpy sniper tumbled a dozen feet before managing to right herself.


    Still, Karsarrym wasn''t the only one inflicting damage. Ysbail, darting in and out between the dragon''s feet, drew blood time and again with Aura-infused swings of her greatsword. Ritva, the harefolk dragoon, was right there with her, stabbing with her heavy lance and leaping away from retributive strikes. Alkelda''s arrows rocketed through the air, each striking a broken scale.


    Enys''s work was less obvious to see. Only the darkening of the wyrm''s blood as it trickled onto the ground from dozens of minor wounds bore visual evidence of her magic. Aidan thought the others were inflicting injuries with higher and higher frequency as the fight dragged on, but he wasn''t certain what to credit it to.


    For his part, Aidan kept his Blades of Burning Wrath attacking in a constant flurry. They mostly deflected off heavily-resistant scales, but sometimes he''d manage to land a hit on a broken or torn-away scale and deal some real damage. He did his best to focus on those areas, but Karsarrym was in constant motion, and even with the marines'' lights, it wasn''t easy to keep track of such weak spots on a black dragon in a dark cave.


    Stamatia and Aija were the first to strike a telling blow. The gargoyle brawler landed a series of punches along Karsarrym''s right foreleg. Fragments of scales flew through the air with each hit. Meanwhile, having finished planting the bombs, Aija made an explosive entrance to the fight by launching herself out of the shadows feet-first. She collided with a bare patch of skin beneath Karsarrym''s ankle, sinking in several inches, then rebounded away with a flex of her legs. The wyrm roared and staggered to the side, cradling the newly-broken leg against its chest.


    "Enough!" Tendrils of blue-white lightning lashed out from its body. "Beg thy Gods for mercy in thy next lives. I send ye now to meet them." The wyrm reared back on its hind legs and spread its wings wide.


    "Duck and scatter!" Aidan screamed, knowing something big was coming. He followed his own advice, throwing himself to the ground inside Eldrid''s bubble and covering his face with his arms.


    "Witness thy ending!" Bright light erupted with a sound like the end of the world, visible even through Aidan''s arms. Unlike Karsarrym''s breath attacks, this wasn''t over in a flash. It went on and on, and after a couple of seconds, he felt Eldrid collapse across his back. Immediately after that, pain engulfed him as electricity coursed through them both.


    Storm Conqueror Karsarrym''s Fulminating Destruction deals 21.86 lightning damage [66.25 base; reduced to 33% due to the target''s resistance to lightning damage] to Phoenix King Aidan.


    Storm Conqueror Karsarrym''s Fulminating Destruction deals 21.86 lightning damage to Phoenix King Aidan.


    Storm Conqueror Karsarrym''s Fulminating Destruction deals 21.86 lightning damage to Phoenix King Aidan.


    Phoenix King Aidan receives a Lesser Wound: Frayed Nerves [-15% maximum Concentration; +10% lightning damage received].


    Phoenix King Aidan is stunned!


    Storm Conqueror Karsarrym''s Fulminating Destruction deals 24.04 lightning damage [66.25 base times 1.1 Frayed Nerves; reduced to 33% due to the target''s resistance to lightning damage] to Phoenix King Aidan.


    Storm Conqueror Karsarrym''s Fulminating Destruction deals 24.04 lightning damage to Phoenix King Aidan.


    Phoenix King Aidan receives a Moderate Wound: Brainstorm [-25% maximum Concentration; recipient takes lightning damage to Health equal to 10% of the cost of any spell they cast, ignoring lightning resistance].


    Storm Conqueror Karsarrym''s Fulminating Destruction deals 24.04 lightning damage to Phoenix King Aidan.


    Phoenix King Aidan is stunned!


    Storm Conqueror Karsarrym''s Fulminating Destruction deals 24.04 lightning damage to Phoenix King Aidan.


    Storm Conqueror Karsarrym''s Fulminating Destruction deals 24.04 lightning damage to Phoenix King Aidan.


    Phoenix King Aidan receives a Moderate Wound: Fried Crispy [-15% maximum Health; -10% SPD, AGI, and END].


    Storm Conqueror Karsarrym''s Fulminating Destruction deals 24.04 lightning damage to Phoenix King Aidan.


    Storm Conqueror Karsarrym''s Fulminating Destruction deals 24.04 lightning damage to Phoenix King Aidan.


    Storm Conqueror Karsarrym''s Fulminating Destruction deals 24.04 lightning damage to Phoenix King Aidan.


    Storm Conqueror Karsarrym''s Fulminating Destruction deals 24.04 lightning damage to Phoenix King Aidan.


    Aidan focused all his effort on maintaining his spells as he writhed in agony. As the seconds slipped by, he felt first one Blade fade, then a second and a third. When at last the pain faded to a throbbing ache, he raised his head and looked around.


    The first and most obvious thing Aidan noticed was Karsarrym''s fatigue. The dragon was no longer standing on its hind legs. Instead, it was slumped to the ground, chest expanding in contracting as it sucked in great, heaving breaths. Thank all the Gods, Aidan thought, that he can''t do that over and over.


    The small reprieve let Aidan squirm out from under Eldrid and examine the situation. A quick glance at the party interface told him they were in bad shape. Only the gargoyles weathered Karsarrym''s attack without taking significant damage. Aija, Ritva, and Ysbail were missing between a quarter and a third of their Health. Eldrid was well under half and short of Concentration besides.


    None of them were as bad off as Alkelda or Enys, however. The latter was, somehow, still alive. The stony projectile impaling her was nowhere to be seen, and the hole in her belly was smaller than Aidan thought it should be. However, lacerations covered every inch of her exposed skin, and he could see a lightning scar engraved across her torso.


    Alkelda was even worse off. It took a few seconds for Aidan to locate her. Eventually, he spotted her limp form a few feet from the base of a stalagnate pillar. Thick tendrils of black smoke rose from her body, and tiny fires burned among her crest feathers. Alkelda''s bow, broken in half, lay just past her outstretched hand. A closer look at her Health bar confirmed the first death of the battle.


    A scream of pain tore Aidan''s attention back to those who still lived. He struggled to his feet and turned to find a sight that drained the blood from his face. Karsarrym, it seemed, recovered quicker than Ysbail and capitalized on the situation. The dragon had her by the left arm and shoulder, its tree-sized fangs crushing her as it raised her into the air.


    Karsarrym jerked its head from side to side like a shark, and on the second shake, Ysbail went flying, an arc of bright red blood trailing her. She slammed into a stalactite and fell to the ground a second later. By some miracle, she still had a sliver of red Health remaining, but Aidan doubted she''d be a factor in the fight again.


    "Thus I will do to each of thy minions, Chosen," a low, spiteful rumble filled the air as Karsarrym addressed Aidan. "I will rend them limb from limb and burn their corpses to ash while thou watchest. Then, I shall fly to thy city and raze it to the ground ere thy Goddess''s blessing revives thee. When thou returnest, it shall be to the ruin of all thou¡ª"


    The dragon''s tirade cut off with a crash of metal against scale as Ritva slammed into its right shoulder from above. The dragoon''s heavy lance pierced between a cluster of scales and sank deep. Black, steaming blood spurted forth, coating the harefolk''s heavy armor. "I bid you your tongue to hold, foul serpent," her voice rang out. "Battered are we, but not beaten." So saying, she yanked her weapon free and leaped off the wyrm''s shoulder.


    Karsarrym''s tail swiped through the air and intercepted her path, sending her crashing to the ground. "Brave ye are, but bravery will avail ye not." Its serpentine neck craned around until the dragon looked at Aidan. "This one seems precious to thee, Chosen. I think I will take her next." No, Aidan realized, he''s not looking at me. He heaved himself to the side on unsteady legs, knowing he would be too slow to intercept the bolt aimed at Eldrid.


    Up the wyrm''s head rose, its maw gaping open. Lightning crackled between its teeth. Then, with a now-familiar peal of thunder, electricity poured forth.


    Zurai


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Lupus, Emran Altaf, and an anonymous Patron for their exceptional support on Patreon!


    For the record, my Patrons voted on a specific aspect of this battle: the effect of the curse Aidan bought from his Patron Points store and inflicted on Karsarrym after their first fight. Their vote resulted in Karsarrym being recovered from the first fight and well-prepared for the second, but emotionally compromised and with some bonus loot in the form of the egg. Actions have consequences, and the lure of loot means the fight will go harder than it might otherwise have. Of course, it was never going to be easy.

 Champion, Chapter 90: The Proud, the Bitter, the Fallen

    Zurai


    Not a very Christmas-y chapter, but what can you do?


    Aidan


    The Realms


    Secondday, 1st week of the 12th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Mid-Afternoon


    Karsarrym''s Lair


    Karsarrym''s breath shattered the air with light and thunder, but it didn''t kill either Aidan or Eldrid. Instead, the bolt twisted in mid-air to strike a figure flying with stony wings. Electricity crackled around Iossif''s granite body to no visible effect.


    "You shall not," the gargoyle''s stentorian voice boomed out. "Not so long as I remain."


    "Easily solved," Karsarrym rebutted. Its head snapped forward, snatching Iossif out of the air. The dragon shook its head from side to side like with Ysbail only a few moments earlier, but its current prey was made of sterner stuff.


    Seeing an opportunity, Aidan raised his hands and swept them towards Karsarrym. His two remaining Blades of Burning Wrath followed his motions, plunging into the exposed patch of skin along the dragon''s broken leg.


    Phoenix King Aidan''s Blade of Burning Wrath deals 284.5 fire damage [156.75 base, times 1.1 Firepower Talent, times 1.5 Kindle the Hearth-Flame; increased to 110% due to the target''s weakness to fire damage] to Storm Conqueror Karsarrym.


    Phoenix King Aidan''s Blade of Burning Wrath deals 284.5 fire damage [156.75 base, times 1.1 Firepower Talent, times 1.5 Kindle the Hearth-Flame; increased to 110% due to the target''s weakness to fire damage] to Storm Conqueror Karsarrym.


    Both Blades carved through unprotected flesh. It seemed Karsarrym''s fire resistance was only scale-deep. The wyrm, unable to finish Iossif quickly, spat him out onto the ground and stepped over him, its attention now back on Aidan. "Chosen," the cavern rumbled with Karsarrym''s anger, "perhaps I was mistaken to let thee linger. I will rectify this error."


    A blur from the dragon''s side was met by a lash of its tail, sending Ritva crashing into a nearby stalagmite. Karsarrym strode across the darkness between it and Aidan. Each step covered dozens of feet, even with a broken leg.


    Conor''s unkillable dakhols continued to ravage the dragon''s flanks, pulling scales free. Stamatia and Aija continued to work in tandem, landing hits that made even Karsarrym flinch. Icicles sprayed out from behind Aidan, shattering against their target but proving that Eldrid still lived.


    Aidan dug into his haversack and pulled out a potion. He pulled out the cork with his teeth and slammed it down like a cheap beer, then tossed the vial aside as his Health refilled. Meanwhile, he directed his remaining Blades with his free hand. Again and again they swerved, humming, through the air and draconic flesh. The pale mist clinging to the cavern floor seemed to turn reddish-black with the dragon''s blood.


    Despite receiving thousands of damage in a few short seconds, Karsarrym advanced undeterred. Even if Aidan wasn''t still fighting off the effects of Fulminating Destruction, he would have no chance of escaping. His death was coming.


    No, Aidan told himself, I can''t think that way. I have to win here. There''s no other option, no other outcome I can accept. He focused through the lingering pain until silver flames emerged from his skin, Aura made manifest. I will stop this attack. I will win. For myself, for the others, for everyone back home.


    Karsarrym''s left foreleg rose into the air, then swept sideways toward Aidan. He stretched out his hands, fingers splayed, and his Aura surged to meet the attack. Shadow-covered scales and talons met a curved shield of silver flames¡ªand stopped mid-strike.


    Karsarrym let out a wrathful growl, its fetid breath washing over Aidan in a rush, and leaned into its attack, muscles bulging along its leg. Aidan, too, strained, pitting his willpower against his foe''s. More and more Aura poured out of him, draining his Stamina at a frightening pace to reinforce the shield.


    After what seemed like hours to Aidan but couldn''t have been more than a couple of seconds, Karsarrym staggered and fell to the side. The whole cavern shook as well over a hundred tons slammed into the ground. Silver fire surged up onto the dragon''s left leg, seeping between its scales and scouring its flesh beneath.


    Phoenix King Aidan''s Retributive Shield deals 921.38 untyped damage [614.25 damage blocked times 1.5] to Storm Conqueror Karsarrym.


    Storm Conqueror Karrsarrym receives a Lesser Wound: Scorched Limb [-10% maximum Health; -10% base fire resistance].


    Aidan gasped for breath and would have fallen to his knees if not for Eldrid catching him as he sagged. Karsarrym''s attack would''ve killed him from full Health with a hundred damage to spare. How were the others surviving?


    They aren''t, a dark thought flitted through his mind. The image of Alkelda''s smoking corpse accompanied it. Aidan didn''t let himself linger, however. He couldn''t. There was too much at stake.


    Karsarrym heaved itself back onto its feet, but Aidan''s companions preyed on the wyrm''s momentary weakness. Iossif and Stamatia flew at the dragon''s head from opposite sides. Both impacted at high speed with a pair of resounding cracks. Less than a heartbeat later, Aija followed up, leaping from underneath Karsarrym and flipping over mid-air to strike its lower jaw near its throat with both bare feet.


    The flesh along its mandible rippled out from the point of impact. Aija pushed off a split second later with another, louder crack. Karsarrym threw its head back and screamed in deafening agony as thick, red-black blood sprayed from its mouth, its jaw dangling open at an unnatural angle.


    The dragon thrashed its head from side to side as the pain overwhelmed its thoughts. Stalactites shattered apart into hundreds of pieces of oversized shrapnel as Karsarrym''s head smashed into them. A watery bubble swirled into existence around Aidan and Eldrid, then hardened into a solid ice shell.


    Rocks clattered off the defensive spell like the worst hailstorm Aidan ever heard. Cracks formed and sealed along the icy barrier''s interior in a hypnotic display. Aidan could hear Karsarrym''s continued screaming and thrashing even through the cacophony. Just when he thought it was over, something blasted through the right side of Eldrid''s shield. It crashed into the ground behind them then slammed into the rear wall with almost enough force to break through again.


    Aidan shuddered. If they''d been standing two feet closer to the cave entrance, that would''ve hit both him and Eldrid. He risked a quick glance over his shoulder to see what it was, then gasped. Stamatia lay in a crumpled pile of stone. She resembled rubble more than her previous statuesque state, and one of her wings was missing entirely.


    There were no signs of movement to show Stamatia''s survival, but a stubborn sliver of red clung to her Health bar in Aidan''s party interface. Her life-saving charm must have kicked in and saved her, though she might never fly again.


    Even worse, Eldrid hadn''t escaped as unscathed as Aidan did. Her ice shell dissolved around them as she slumped down to the ground, blood pouring from dozens of shallow cuts across her body. She was still alive, but her Health looked critically low. Glancing around, Aidan realized that his Aura must have shielded him from shards of ice and rock kicked up by Stamatia''s impact. Eldrid hadn''t been so lucky.


    Still, she was alive and conscious and already fumbling at her belt for a healing potion. Aidan considered centering a Phoenixfire Conflagration over the three of them, but before he could start casting, a shining golden light distracted him.


    Somehow, Ysbail was not only still alive, but she was also charging toward Karsarrym engulfed in her Aura. A glowing mass of energy replaced her left arm and shoulder, allowing her to wield her oversized sword in two ''hands''. As she approached the distracted dragon, her light shone even brighter until she seemed like a miniature sun on a collision course with a black hole.


    She ran under Karsarrym''s belly, turned hard so she was parallel to its body, and swung her sword. A blinding arc of Aura-filled energy followed her motion. When she''d used this attack earlier in the fight, she''d cracked some scales and drawn first blood, though it was only a bare dribble.


    This time, the effects were far more dramatic. The radiant blade beam sliced deep into Karsarrym''s flesh, cutting the wyrm open from its sternum to the base of its tail. Red mist surged up to meet the waterfall of blackened blood pouring out of the mortal wound. Sanguine strands of phantasmal fog wrapped around the dragon''s body, growing denser and more vivid by the moment.


    Something about the scarlet mist triggered a warning in Aidan''s mind, but he had no time to chase down what it meant. Karsarrym, now in dire straits and almost certainly nearing death, turned its head toward Aidan. Faceted orange eyes blazed with hatred, and once more, the immense monster stalked toward him.


    Aidan launched attack after attack with his Burning Blades as another watery shield interposed itself between him and the dragon. Iossif darted around Karsarrym''s head and neck, raining down blows with his hammer. The dakhols crawled all over Karsarrym, ripping and tearing at its decaying scales and flesh. None of it mattered. Karsarrym, perhaps realizing its end was near, marched forward with implacable fury.


    A flame-scorched hand the size of a car raised into the air over Aidan''s head. He pushed out with his hands and Aura again to meet the incoming blow. Silver flames curved out before him, meeting the dragon''s downward strike. For a second, his Aura held, then another, but Aidan''s Stamina was too depleted.


    With a gurgling roar, Karsarrym leaned all its weight into the attack. Aidan''s Aura shield shattered, sending him staggering to the ground, and then pain exploded through his body.


    Storm Conqueror Karsarrym''s attack deals 192.14 damage [758.8 base minus 547.46 blocked by Aura; reduced by 10% due to armor] to Phoenix King Aidan.


    Phoenix King Aidan receives a Traumatic Wound: Crushed Legs [-30% maximum Health; -25% maximum Stamina; recipient''s legs are rendered useless; this Wound may worsen if not treated].


    It was Aidan''s turn to scream in agony. He looked down his body to see Karsarrym''s black-scaled hand spattered with bright red blood, grinding what remained of Aidan''s legs into the rough stone floor. He clung to the barest shred of life, though with the rapid spread of the crimson pool around him, he didn''t know how much longer he had.


    A hand cupped his chin and forced Aidan''s mouth open. He looked up to see Eldrid''s sweat-streaked face, a potion vial in her hand. Looming above them both, lightning gathered between Karsarrym''s gaping jaws. Aidan tried to warn Eldrid, to push her away, but the pain was too much.


    Aidan watched, agony flooding through him as Karsarrym''s head rose. At least we won. I''ll die, but he''s already dead. He swallowed the sweet liquid Eldrid poured down his throat and waited for the dragon''s lethal attack to come.


    Then a blur of gleaming metal and satiny fur streaked down from above, striking Karsarrym''s snout. Ritva''s jumping attack forced the wyrm''s head down, down, until it crashed into the ground with an eight-foot-long heavy lance impaled through the roof of its mouth.


    Karsarrym''s lightning followed the path of least resistance. Instead of lancing through the air to smite Aidan, it surged through the metallic spike embedded in the dragon''s mouth, then blasted out the top of its head. Ritva, wearing heavy steel armor and holding onto her lance, stood no chance of evading it.


    The harefolk woman screamed in agony as the electricity sent her flying through the air, blue-white energy arcing and seething across her body. Her voice cut off a moment later as she hit the ground and skidded twenty feet to crash into a stalagmite stump. Heavy smoke rose from the joints in her unmoving armor.


    Despite a broken jaw, broken and seared legs, a gaping wound across its belly, and now-obvious necrotic sores opening all across its hide, Karsarrym still lived. Madness consumed the orange eye staring at Aidan from a mere handful of feet away. Crimson tendrils, eerily solid-looking now, wrapped around both of them. Aidan''s pain faded, bringing much-needed clarity.


    This fight needed to end, here and now. Aidan gathered the remnants of his Concentration, stretched out his hand, and Spoke.


    "<Burn.>"


    Silver-gold flames erupted all around Aidan with the shriek of a hunting raptor. They washed over him, Eldrid, and Ysbail, healing their Health and Wounds. For Karsarrym, they had a far less benevolent effect.


    Brainstorm deals 33 electricity damage [30 base times 1.1 Frayed Nerves] to Phoenix King Aidan.


    Phoenix King Aidan''s Phoenixfire Conflagration heals 738.5 damage [535 base times 1.15 Lifeforce Talent, times 1.2 Initiate Vivimancy] from Phoenix King Aidan.


    Phoenix King Aidan''s Crushed Legs Wound is reduced to Maimed.


    Phoenix King Aidan''s Phoenixfire Conflagration heals 738.5 damage from Eldrid Svarrivisa Saevargeisa.


    Eldrid Svarrivisa Saevargeisa''s Perforated Wound is reduced to Bruised.


    Phoenix King Aidan''s Phoenixfire Conflagration heals 738.5 damage from Stamatia of the Sapphire Sky.


    Stamatia of the Sapphire Sky''s One-Winged Angel Wound is reduced to Maimed.


    Phoenix King Aidan''s Phoenixfire Conflagration heals 738.5 damage from Ysbail Strongarm.


    Ysbail Strongarm''s Severed Arm Wound is reduced to Maimed.


    Phoenix King Aidan''s Phoenixfire Conflagration heals 738.5 damage from Crimson-Veiled Terror.


    Phoenix King Aidan''s Phoenixfire Conflagration deals 1,412.4 damage [1,070 base times 1.1 Firepower Talent; increased to 120% due to target''s weakness to fire damage] to Storm Conqueror Karsarrym.


    Phoenixfire Conflagration recurs due to his proximity to the effect!


    Phoenix King Aidan''s Phoenixfire Conflagration heals 73.85 damage from Phoenix King Aidan.


    Phoenix King Aidan''s Phoenixfire Conflagration heals 73.85 damage from Eldrid Svarrivisa Saevargeisa.


    Phoenix King Aidan''s Phoenixfire Conflagration heals 73.85 damage from Stamatia of the Sapphire Sky.


    Phoenix King Aidan''s Phoenixfire Conflagration heals 73.85 damage from Ysbail Strongarm.


    Phoenix King Aidan''s Phoenixfire Conflagration heals 73.85 damage from Crimson-Veiled Terror.


    Phoenix King Aidan''s Phoenixfire Conflagration deals 141.24 damage to Storm Conqueror Karsarrym.


    Phoenix King Aidan''s Phoenixfire Conflagration heals 73.85 damage from Phoenix King Aidan.


    Phoenix King Aidan''s Phoenixfire Conflagration heals 73.85 damage from Eldrid Svarrivisa Saevargeisa.


    Phoenix King Aidan''s Phoenixfire Conflagration heals 73.85 damage from Stamatia of the Sapphire Sky.


    Phoenix King Aidan''s Phoenixfire Conflagration heals 73.85 damage from Ysbail Strongarm.


    Phoenix King Aidan''s Phoenixfire Conflagration heals 73.85 damage from Crimson-Veiled Terror.


    Phoenix King Aidan''s Phoenixfire Conflagration deals 141.24 damage to Storm Conqueror Karsarrym.


    Storm Conqueror Karsarrym is slain!


    Notification windows burst like fireworks across Aidan''s sight, but he ignored them. The fight was over, the dragon slain, but Aidan felt anger raging inside him. "Help me up," he said. Demanded. Eldrid frowned and opened her mouth, but another voice cut her off.


    "I have him," Ysbail said. She knelt beside Aidan and wrapped her arm around his waist, then stood, cradling him against her chest. Without needing any prompting from him, she turned away from Karsarrym''s smoldering corpse, walked past Stamatia''s unconscious form, stepped over Enys''s lifeless body. She bore him back to the cavern entrance, where Conor stood in the center of a swirling circle of blood, a dozen dead women lined up around its edges.


    Zurai


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Lupus, Emran Altaf, and an anonymous Patron for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 91: Bloody Tears

    Aidan


    The Realms


    Secondday, 1st week of the 12th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Mid-Afternoon


    Karsarrym''s Lair


    Enthusiastic applause preceded Aidan and Ysbail''s arrival. "Amazing!" Connor called out to them as they approached. "I thought your reputation was oversold, but no, you are everything they say you are, Lord Aidan." The catfolk summoner stood there in his pristine robes, somehow unmarred by even a drop of innocent blood. He took no Wounds from the battle. His Health hadn''t dropped a fraction throughout the frantic fight. He''d stayed back here, safe and sound.


    Rage roared through Aidan''s veins. Tears sprang to his eyes as he fought to control himself.


    "Of course," Conor continued, "it took everyone''s efforts to succeed here. I do not believe any of us were less than heroic today."


    "Silence." The word cracked through the air like a whip. "You dare," Aidan said with cold fury in his voice, "call yourself a hero?"


    Conor''s eyes widened as if Aidan struck him across the face. His surprise seemed genuine. After a brief interval of silence as all eyes focused on the confrontation, he spoke again. "I call all of us here heroes," he said in a slow, confused tone. "We all contributed vital elements to this great victory. My dakhols weakened the dragon to your strikes, and the Crimson-Veiled Terror lessened the effects of your bleeding Wounds," he gestured at Aidan''s missing legs, "and allowed you to land the final blow."


    "Karsarrym was already dead," Aidan said through a jaw clenched tight. "All I did at the end was save myself. You," the word oozed with seething anger, "murdered a dozen innocent souls for your vile wraith. And for what? I will not thank you for helping me stay alive and crippled."


    Conor frowned. "I think you misjudge the Terror''s contribution to the fight. It drained the dragon''s strength and empowered the rest of you. Besides, I murdered no one. I own those women. I own the farm that raises them from birth. They exist to power my spells."


    "They exist to live!" Aidan''s anger boiled over. He felt his face grow hot as he shouted out his frustration and grief. "To laugh and love and grow old in peace and happiness! That is the right of every person in these Gods-damned Realms."


    "What a hypocrite," Conor snarled back at him. "You would not have won without my help, and that requires life-blood. You ordered the deaths of those captives, you benefited from my assistance. Your hands are no less stained than mine. Besides," he said with an evil sneer, "I know another Sanguimancer when I see them. Did you know you slept with one every night of this expedition? What makes Eldrid any less evil than me?"


    Aidan gaped at the revelation. Could it be true? Had she been hiding a secret so vile from him?


    "I use no one''s blood but my own," came Eldrid''s weary voice. "Yes, I have some small skill in blood magic, but I use it to heal my injuries or attack from an unseen angle. I have never once hurt or killed another to power a spell." She limped up to stand beside Aidan.


    "Oh, you will," Conor said. "It starts small. I have spells like that too, you know? But the stronger ones require more sacrifices. This is not a path one can walk without trampling upon others."


    "Then do not walk it," Iossif said as he landed several yards to Aidan''s right.


    "Easy for you to say," Conor started, his voice rising.


    Aidan interrupted him. "Enough." He looked past the catfolk summoner to where the Snow-Water Rider mercenaries stood looking grim. "Captain Dyfri, please remind me of the terms of our contract."


    The man in question tilted his head. "My and Price''s marines are at your disposal until we return to Ceallach Macht having slain the dragon or three months are up, whichever comes first."


    "And what does ''at my disposal'' mean in this case?"


    Dyfri seemed to catch Aidan''s meaning. He nodded and said in a firmer voice, "Barring orders of a suicidal or hostile nature, and within the bounds of the expedition to hunt Karsarrym, we will follow any command you give."


    "Then, Captain, I command you to arrest the blood summoner Conor for murder and insubordination."


    Dyfri''s jaws flexed with tension, but he gave a sharp nod of acceptance. Before he could issue any orders to his troops, Conor''s soldiers acted. They''d been standing in a loose formation outside the summoning circle, but with this threat to their master, they closed ranks around him. Nor were they alone. A dense, unnatural fog stinking of spilled blood flowed out of the darkness behind Aidan. Within the mist moved the monstrous shapes of a pack of dakhols.


    "Now we see the true face of this false King," Conor said, his words ringing with hatred and conviction. "All Kings are tyrants, you no less than any other. You could have turned me away from the start, refused my assistance as soon as you learned about me, but no. You needed me. Now, though? Now I am superfluous. An inconvenience. An easy target for a guilty mind."


    The truth in Conor''s speech didn''t diminish Aidan''s wrath. He couldn''t dispute any of those words, and the self-loathing they stirred only stoked the flames. He trembled in Ysbail''s arm, all his negative emotions raging and roiling within him.


    "I am not an unreasonable man," the summoner said, bringing a hand to cover his heart. "I can tell when I am not wanted. Allow me to take my share of the loot, and I will leave. You need not ever see me again. I will even refrain from telling others how you tried to betray me."


    Aidan warred with himself. He had more reasons than he needed to deal with Conor however he willed. Still, it was clear that any hostile actions would lead to a fight, and Aidan couldn''t be certain they''d even win. He didn''t know the blood-wraith''s full capabilities, and a pack of near-unkillable dakhols was a nightmare waiting to happen.


    "What is your price?" The words tore at Aidan''s soul to say.


    A smug, greasy smile spread over Conor''s lips. "Oh, I think that damaged egg should do. Useless to you, the infant will die in a matter of days, but to me...?"


    Something within Aidan snapped. His teeth drew back in a savage snarl, and he lashed out with his hand. His lone remaining Blade of Burning Wrath followed the motion, scything through the mist and into the midst of Conor''s troops. They fell like marionettes with their strings cut, then the sword-shaped blob of contained plasma separated Conor''s head from his shoulder. Not knowing how the life-saving amulet would deal with such a Wound, Aidan guided the spell back and impaled it through the catfolk''s forehead and out the back of his skull.


    Aidan''s action was so swift, sudden, and decisive that Conor''s summons blinked out of existence before anyone else knew what was happening. The slave-soldiers under the catfolk''s command collapsed, lifeless, besides their master''s corpse. Aidan''s unilateral action was murder by any description, and he waited to see how the mercenaries would respond.


    Silence reigned as tension mounted. Dyfri''s and Price''s troops watched the Captain, who glanced back and forth between Aidan and Conor. At last, the big otterfolk stepped forward, leaned over the pile of dead Mist Stalkers, and spit on the blood mage''s headless body. "Good riddance," he said and turned away. "It is a shame that the dragon''s death throes killed Conor."


    Aidan sagged with relief. He let his head loll back against Ysbail''s shoulder. Tears pricked at the corners of his eyes, but he had no time for them yet. "Gather the dead¡ªnot Conor¡ªfor proper funeral rites, then start butchering Karsarrym. Lieutenant," he addressed the leader of Captain price''s marines, "please send for the wagons. They should be able to make it through the entrance you cleared."


    "Yes, my Lord."


    Dealing with the aftermath took the rest of the day. Alkelda, Enys, and Ritva died by Karsarrym''s hand, Conor by Aidan''s. Ysbail, Stamatia, and Aidan himself were maimed, missing one or more limbs. Eldrid had dozens of deep cuts and lacerations across her body layered atop broad, ugly bruises. Aija had a few scratches and bumps, but she knelt in silent vigil beside Ritva''s remains, unresponsive to the world. Only Iossif emerged unscathed in mind or body.


    The marines wrapped the dead, elites and mercenaries alike, in preservative bandages and loaded them into one of the wagons. Each would make one last journey to Ceallach Macht, where a hero''s welcome awaited them. Another wagon held the lone intact dragon egg, lashed down and surrounded by hundreds of square feet of padding.


    The other wagons filled, hour by hour, with scales, flesh, bones, and shards of a shattered eggshell. There were no gold or gems, no enchanted arms or armor to be had, but Karsarrym''s remains would power Ceallach Macht''s economy for years.


    When, at last, the soldiers loaded the final bloody trophy into the final wagon, the sun had already set. Aidan, held steady in Eldrid''s arms atop a summoned mount, led a somber procession out of the dungeon. Once all the survivors made their exit, and the wagons were clear, Aidan triggered the blasting charges Aija laid around Karsarrym''s lair hours ago. A low, rumbling roar made the earth tremble around them. A few seconds later, dust clouds billowed out of the dungeon entrances.


    The expedition settled into their camp for the night. Aidan lay in the command tent, unable to even sit upright without assistance, and went through the torrent of notifications waiting for him.


    Phoenix King Aidan''s party has earned 1,500,000 experience for killing Storm Conqueror Karsarrym.


    Your share of the experience is 96,774.


    You have earned an additional 4,839 experience from Novice rank in Animamancy.


    Know this: By murdering Conor mac Con Uladh and his entire retinue over a disagreement, you have manifested an aspect of your Alignment. Your Alignment has shifted towards Merciless. As Merciless opposes Altruistic, your former Altruistic (+1) Alignment no longer applies.


    Always remember, your actions reveal the truth of your heart.


    You have completed a Quest!


    Dragonslayers


    Slay the invading dragon Karsarrym¡ªSUCCESS


    Keep your party alive¡ª5/8


    Ensure that Conor mac Con Uladh meets with an ''accident''¡ªSUCCESS


    Rewards: Dragonslayer epithet, 1,100,000 experience, 22 Talent points, 10 Paragon points, greatly increased reputation with the Sapphire Sky Horde and the Starchasers, increased reputation with the Ash Shroud Sisterhood, Mist Stalkers, and Ebon Bone-kin, increased relationship with Chieftain Searlas.


    You have earned an additional 55,000 experience from Novice rank in Animamancy.


    Congratulations! You have been given a new Epithet, Dragonslayer.


    While acting under the auspices of this Epithet, all of your allies within sight draw strength from your legend. They gain bonuses to their most-relevant Attributes, Health, Stamina, Concentration, and damage dealt.


    Congratulations! You have advanced to levels 23 through 26.


    As a Chosen Helltouched Human, you have 24 Attribute points to distribute and your Willpower and Charisma increase by 4 each. You also gain 4 increments of 25% advancement towards up to 4 Skills of your choice. Allocate these points within 72 hours, or they will be randomly assigned.


    You have received 72 Talent points to spend on any of your available Talents.


    Honor thy Patron and follow thy heart!


    Congratulations! You are now level 25 and qualify for a Prestige Class. Completing a Prestige Class Quest permanently changes your Class to the matching Prestige Class and cancels all remaining Prestige Class Quests. Choose carefully.


    Aidan left those Quests unread. He had time before he needed to complete one, and he''d consult with everyone back home about them anyway. There wasn''t any point in picking from them now. He turned his head to look at Eldrid slumbering beside him, her beautiful face covered in cuts and bruises. Now reassured that she wouldn''t hear him, he closed his eyes and started to recite.


    "Doirin. Mairead. Solamh. Lachlann. Catriona. Micheil. Caitir. Moire. Seonag," his voice whispered into the night. "Paws-Soft-As-Snow. Fangs-Gleaming-Bright. Loves-To-Dance. Awaits-The-Rising-Sun. Patient-Beyond-Reason. Voice-Like-Thunder," every death, every name engraved in his memory until he knew them better than his own. "Alkelda. Ritva. Enys."


    When he reached the end of his litany several minutes later, Aidan started over from the beginning as, at last, he allowed the tears to pour from his eyes. He failed to protect so many, and now the blood of even more dripped from his hands.


    Aidan could have stopped Conor, could have turned him away or even killed him. He didn''t, and now his hands would forever bear the indelible stains of innocent blood. A dozen women and half as many soldiers whose lives he could have saved had he been stronger in mind or body.


    "Never again," Aidan swore to himself when he reached the end of his list a second time. "Not one more death because I wasn''t strong enough, fast enough, good enough to prevent them." He turned his eyes to his level gains. He could wait on his Talents until he could consult with his fiancees, but he had to spend his Attribute points and skill bonuses within the next three days. No time like the present, he thought. It''s not like I''ll sleep anyway.


    Investing everything into Toughness tempted Aidan. Many of Eldrid''s injuries were a result of shielding him. If he''d been better able to take a hit, she might have taken less damage and been able to spend her efforts attacking Karsarrym instead. It would also increase his Stamina, which his new Retributive Shield drained in massive quantities.


    That was a knee-jerk reaction, however, and Aidan knew it. Even with twice as much Toughness, he still wouldn''t have been able to stand against Karsarrym''s attacks. And, as a Mage-based Class, he had a penalty to Health anyway. Then, too, Aidan had full access to every school of magic. Inefficient means of shoring up his weakness had to take a back seat to capitalizing on his strengths.


    Thanks to his automatic bonuses and concerted effort over time, Aidan was already strong in Charisma and Willpower. His Senses¡ªthe key Attribute for Air Magic¡ªwere pitiful. Logic, for Earth Magic and Magical Theory, was his next-worst mental Attribute, followed by Intuition, which affected Oneiromancy, Vivimancy, Glyphs, and Beast Magic.


    By sheer number of Skills affected, Intuition was a clear winner. On the other hand, those four Skills were support-oriented. He''d never downplay the results of better healing, but neither Oneiromancy nor Beast Magic seemed to benefit much from higher spell power. At least, not in ways Aidan couldn''t substitute other things for.


    Senses only affected Air Magic. It didn''t even have much impact on his non-magical Skills. Maybe still be worth considering if he intended to lean on electrical attack spells as a backup against fire-resistant enemies. Still, he felt a little leery around lightning right now for some reason.


    That left Logic. Like Senses, it only affected one of Aidan''s schools¡ªEarth Magic, the one he used the least¡ªbut it also improved Magical Theory. That Skill had no direct combat use, but every level in it gave him a chance to learn new magic out of the blue. In addition, every point of Logic improved his chances of crafting his own custom spells.


    Blade of Burning Wrath, Aidan''s original spell, had already proved its worth. He''d dealt thousands of damage to Karsarrym with his Blades, and the confrontation with Conor would have been much worse without them. The ability to make more spells of that caliber couldn''t be ignored.


    And, while Earth Magic didn''t seem the most damage-focused at first glance, there was no reason he couldn''t make it so. Earth Magic included anything dealing with rocks or stones, so he could go full Earthbender if push came to shove. And even if he kept his sights on more traditional effects, earthquakes and petrification were well within Earth Magic''s purview.


    Yeah, I think that''s the way to go, Aidan decided. Twenty of his twenty-four Attribute points went into Logic, raising it to a much more solid 40 base. The remaining four points got split between Toughness¡ªwhile he wasn''t going to go all-in on it, a small investment seemed worthwhile¡ªand Senses.


    That left the Skill bonuses. Common wisdom would have him invest in his highest Skill which, ignoring Sex, would be Fire Magic. Aidan believed his Gift changed the math on that subject, however. Everyone else in the Realms faced an exponentially-difficult climb the higher their Skills grew. Not only did every level need more¡ªand more difficult¡ªactions to advance, their affinity decreased over time.


    The first still applied to Aidan, but the second factor did not. Ailis speculated he could even continue leveling his Skills past level 100, something nobody else could dream of. There was far less pressure on him to invest the free points into his highest Skills. Instead, Aidan could afford to be a bit more strategic.


    Beast Magic was on the verge of hitting Journeyman rank. Not only did Ailis have a custom spell waiting for him once he hit Journeyman, but he''d also get another one for reaching that rank. So far, both spells Aidan had with a Journeyman requirement were eye-popping in their own way.


    And, too, Aidan had the Origination of Species spellbook waiting for him to hit Master rank. While it wasn¡¯t a combat spell, it was one of the most absurd support abilities he''d ever heard of. Creating a new, true species from sheer magical might? He could make an army tailored to fight any opponent with enough time.


    Aidan looked over his other options, but nothing else stuck out to him. So, after a second review to confirm his first thoughts, he invested all four 25% advancements into Beast Magic. He was still a little short of Journeyman, but it wouldn''t take long to fix that once he was back home.


    Home, Aidan thought with a sigh. He squeezed his eyes shut. I hope Brighid and Aoife aren''t too hard on Eldrid for not protecting me well enough. And she swore an oath to Sunnild. More tears trickled down his cheeks. I hope they''ll still accept me. I''m half the man I used to be, after all. I''m not even sure if my equipment still works.


    Such were Aidan''s thoughts as the day''s stress caught up with him. Sleep stole upon him like an assassin in the night, bearing him off to troubled dreams and nightmares.


    Zurai


    Aidan''s Status Screen:


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Lupus, Emran Altaf, and an anonymous Patron for their exceptional support on Patreon!

 Champion, Chapter 92: Imminent Calamity

    Normally I would post a Patreon plug here at the start of the month, especially as I do actually have extra chapters available at the moment. However, we''re rapidly approaching the end of Champion¡ªChapter 94 is the last chapter, and there are three epilogues (though you''ll get one early) and one remaining non-canon non-lewd commission. After Champion, I plan to take a break from Paths of the Chosen for a while to recharge my batteries on the story. It''s been almost my entire creative focus for close to two years now, and as someone with ADHD, that''s a colossal investment of willpower and perseverance. I need a break from this story. Not a permanent one, I swear to everyone. This isn''t the dreaded "not indefinite but actually indefinite hiatus". I will return to this story. But not right away.


    So, with all that said, if you want to get in early on my next projects, $5 gets you everything I write as soon as I write it. The first three chapters of my next story are already on Patreon, and as soon as I finish Champion (very likely this week), I''ll move back to working on it more-or-less full time. It''ll be a while before it gets posted to the public anywhere because I want to build up a good buffer first, so if you want to keep reading what I''m writing, that''s how to do it.


    Aidan


    The Realms


    Seventhday, 1st week of the 12th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Late Afternoon


    Nearing the Starchaser/Mist Stalker border


    The caravan made slower progress on the return trip, with the wagons weighted down with bodies and body parts. Not only were the horses unable to move at the same speed, but they also needed to rest more often. Aidan alternated between chafing at the pace and being grateful for it.


    On the one hand, he was desperate to see Brighid and Sunnild and Aoife and Ailis again. He wanted to bury himself in a cuddle pile and not come up for a week. Aidan''s initial fear of rejection after the reality of his new condition set in had already faded. He knew his fiancees better than that. And Eldrid had done her part as well, keeping him talking during the day and proving he was still a functional man at night.


    At the same time, Aidan dreaded confronting the ghosts who haunted his dreams at night. By any rational definition, the expedition was a legendary success. He led seventy fighters against a dragon and would return, successful, with more than half of them. Karsarrym could have defeated an army on its own, but Aidan and the others managed to slay it despite its preparations. There was no questioning the magnitude of their victory.


    And yet, Aidan felt like he''d lost. A third of the mercenaries wouldn''t return to their homes and families, and they hadn''t even participated in the real fight. Among those who had, the casualty rate was over three quarters. Three heroes dead outright, three more crippled, and poor Aija traumatized. The quiet rabbitfolk woman bore a thousand-yard stare as she walked beside the wagon carrying Ritva''s remains.


    Then there was Conor. The loss of Aidan''s Altruistic alignment was a punch to the gut. It felt like the world itself passed judgment on him and found him wanting. The catfolk man had been a villain through and through, self-entitled, arrogant, and aggressively assertive. Worse, he was right about Aidan. The words Conor spoke seconds before his death at Aidan''s hand echoed loud in Aidan''s thoughts.


    "You would not have won without my help, and that requires life-blood. You ordered the deaths of those captives, you benefited from my assistance. Your hands are no less stained than mine."


    "All Kings are tyrants, you no less than any other. You could have turned me away from the start, refused my assistance as soon as you learned about me, but no. You needed me. Now, though? Now I am superfluous. An inconvenience. An easy target for a guilty mind."


    A tiny part of Aidan''s mind denied those words. It told him that Conor alone was responsible for Conor''s actions. The rest of him knew better. He could have put the slave women under Captain Dyfri''s custody. It would''ve pissed Conor off, but they would''ve been safe. Instead, he''d left the key to the chicken coop in plain sight for the fox to find. And he''d done it so Conor could use them if it became necessary.


    Aidan did not sleep well, even with Eldrid still sharing his bedroll. He spent hour after hour replaying every element of the fight against Karsarrym, trying to figure out what he could''ve done better. There wasn''t much. He could have focused more on healing, but Aidan didn''t have the tools for it. Patch Wounds was a joke for fights at this level, Pulse of Life was too limited, his Golden Fawn summon was too slow and vulnerable.


    Phoenixfire Conflagration was his one true combat heal, but it wasn''t well-suited for the battle they''d fought. It had plenty of restorative power, and it could affect multiple allies at once. However, it was as expensive as it was powerful, and it couldn''t be relegated to his Crown of the Exalted. It also had a long cooldown at 30 seconds, much longer than the delay between Karsarrym''s attacks. In addition, while it had an area of effect, a 30-foot radius was nothing when Karsarrym''s lair had been at least a square kilometer in volume.


    And it wasn''t like the team went in unprepared. They all wore lightning resistance amulets and had belts full of restorative potions. Many of them had equipment fashioned from Karsarrym''s own scales and bones, harvested from the ten feet of tail-tip Ysbail severed in their first fight. There wasn''t much more preparation Aidan could think of, even with hindsight.


    The best Aidan could come up with was to avoid the fight altogether. He could have sent Aija to infiltrate the dragon''s lair, plant the explosive charges, and then detonated them remotely. The problem was, Aidan wasn''t sure even that would''ve been lethal to Karsarrym. The dragon absorbed well over twenty-five thousand damage during the battle, most of it either magical or armor-piercing. Would ordinary rocks, even thousands of tons of them, have been able to kill it?


    If they''d tried it and failed, they''d have lost the initiative. There''d be no way to predict when Karsarrym would emerge from the rubble, so chances are, they''d be surprised. Worse, unless they got lucky, the dragon would''ve been able to fly away, leaving them behind while it attacked Ceallach Macht. It was the very definition of a high-risk, high-reward solution. Except it also denied them all the loot and meant Sunnild wouldn''t get her baby dragon, so maybe it was high-risk, low-reward?


    No, Aidan did the best he could. It just wasn''t good enough, and now he had another couple of dozen names etched into his memories.


    "You''re brooding again." Eldrid tapped Aidan''s chest to draw his attention.


    "I know. Sorry." He caught her hand and brought it to his lips. Eldrid tightened her arm around his waist in answer.


    "Penny for your thoughts?"


    Aidan chuckled. "I''m not sure they''re worth that much right now. Not that you could pay up."


    "We could work out an equitable arrangement." Aidan could hear the teasing smile in Eldrid''s words.


    He shook his head and allowed the corners of his lips to turn up. "I''m sure we could. But no, it''s the same things as always. Trying to figure out how I could have handled things better."


    "That stuff''ll eat you up if you let it. I know you don''t need me to tell you this, but no one blames you for how beat up we got." Eldrid kissed Aidan''s shoulder. "In fact, with the possible exception of Aija, everyone''s pretty happy with you right about now. You''re a hero, Aidan."


    Aidan couldn''t quite hold back a snort of derision. "I''ve been told that before. It never feels like it from this end. In fact, I''ve been feeling worse and worse for the last couple of days, and I don''t know why."


    "Hmm. Only the last day or two? Not since the fight?"


    "Yeah, it started... um, it''s hard to pinpoint, but sometime in the morning two days ago. And I can''t describe what''s wrong, either. It''s like something is missing, and I can''t put my finger on it."


    Eldrid remained quiet for several seconds. "I''m sure it''ll get better once you''re back home," she said at last. "Brighid and the others will have you feeling right as rain soon enough."


    Aidan nodded and settled back into her arms, taking care not to topple off the horse now that he had no knees to grip it with. She was right. A few days spent in the care of his fiancees would do wonders. He doubted they''d let him out of their sights for a while, anyway.


    Firstday, 2nd week of the 12th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Pre-dawn


    Aidan woke up to searing agony. Something inside him stretching, twisting, tearing free. He opened his mouth to scream, but only a breathless whine emerged. It felt like casting Soulfire Blast, except a thousand times worse. That spell was a twinge, a tweaked muscle, the faint stirrings of a headache. This was a raging river of incandescent magma incinerating his soul.


    "Aidan?" Eldrid looked down at him, worry and fear clear on her face. "Aidan, what''s wrong?" When he didn''t respond, she raised her voice. "Guards! Guards!"


    Aidan had no attention to spare for the outside world. He devoted all of his concentration to overcoming the pain engulfing his very essence. Slowly, one metaphysical step at a time, like a man walking against hurricane winds, he pushed it all together. Pressed it in on itself, wrapped it in threads of willpower until it shrank into a miniature sun burning within him.


    Once contained, Aidan focused on numbing himself to the torment. Bit by bit, he pried himself loose from it, compartmentalizing the pain. Over time, it eased, either because of his efforts or the effect wearing off. When he opened his eyes again, Aidan could see dawn''s first light staining the tent''s canvas walls, illuminating Eldrid''s and Cai''s concerned faces.


    "Aidan?" Eldrid whispered in a hoarse voice. "Are you..." she trailed off.


    "Something''s," wrong, he started to say, but his throat refused to cooperate. It ached clear down to his chest, scratchy and dry. He shook his head, which was another mistake as a headache he didn''t realize existed made its presence known. "Water," he managed to croak.


    Eldrid didn''t waste any time. She cupped her right hand a few inches over his head. A thin streamer of water coalesced from the early morning air, twining between her fingers before snaking down to Aidan''s mouth. He parted his lips and let the cool liquid trickle in, swallowing every couple of seconds. As he drank, he cataloged his condition.


    Aidan''s arms and back felt like he''d been moving furniture all day. Slick sweat covered every inch of his skin, soaking his pajamas and the bedroll beneath him. A migraine pounded against his skull from the inside, pulsing with every beat of his heart. Even his eyes, which had been closed the whole time, felt strained.


    There was no time for him to recover, however. Aidan lifted a trembling hand and passed it through Eldrid''s conjured fountain. She obliged, canceling the magic so he could talk. "Something''s wrong," he forced out in a scratchy whisper. "Attack or..." there was another possibility, but his mind shied away whenever the thought approached. "Need to get home."


    "You are in no condition to travel, Lord Aidan."


    "Have to. Soonest. Safest there."


    The creases on Cai''s face deepened as she frowned. "Lord Aidan," she started to say.


    "Order, Cai. Home. Now." Aidan poured every ounce of Command and Dominance he could muster into those last two words, then blacked out.


    Late Afternoon


    Near Ceallach Macht


    When he woke again, Aidan noticed the lack of pain first. Or, rather, how much less of it there was. His headache no longer made his head throb, his strained muscles only let out a dull ache, and, best and worst of all, the raging inferno within him was now but a flickering ember.


    Having taken stock of his condition, Aidan turned his attention to the world around him. There was a blanket wrapped around him like he was a giant burrito. Two strong arms cradled him to an armored chest, though the hold was awkward with no knees to hook under. The wind ruffled his hair, The drumbeat of hooves against earth filled his ears, and his entire body jostled up and down as the centaur carrying him galloped across the Highlands.


    Opening his eyes, Aidan saw familiar hillsides speeding past him. He recognized the shallow valley passing him by. He''d traveled through it several times now, going to Mist Stalker territory and coming home from it. At the current pace, Aidan would be back in Ceallach Macht in less than an hour. He sought out the sun and spotted it less than a finger''s width above the distant mountaintops.


    The sun would be setting when Aidan arrived in his city. He couldn''t help but feel it was an omen.


    "Awake, my Lord?"


    Aidan craned his neck around to see Cai''s helmed face scanning the path ahead. "Yes," he replied. "How long was I out?"


    "All day, but no more," she reassured him. Her voice came in controlled bursts. Aidan could hear the strain in it.


    Aidan nodded, realized Cai wasn''t looking at him and wouldn''t see it, then said, "Thank you, Cai."


    "I am your loyal servant, my Lord. Are you feeling better?"


    Yes and no. His body felt much better, but Aidan couldn''t shake a growing feeling of dread. "Some," he said by way of compromise. Now that he was within Ceallach Macht''s territory, Aidan commanded a pair of passion elementals to escort him. It would take them a few minutes to arrive, but Cai would no doubt be happier with their assistance. Aidan knew they were too vulnerable to an ambush like this.


    When the magical guardians arrived in a rush of fiery wings, Cai somehow managed to pick up the pace. She''d been galloping from sunup to sundown¡ªliterally!¡ªand still had enough energy and willpower to push herself further for him. Aidan swallowed past a sudden lump in his throat. He needed to find a way to reward Cai, Llwyd, and the others who devoted themselves to his cause. He took them for granted too often.


    Aidan''s apprehension grew when he sought out the little ball of Aoife''s emotions in the back of his mind. They''d faded into the background as the distance between them grew. At Karsarrym''s lair, he''d only been aware that she still lived. However, despite being almost within sight of the city, Aidan couldn''t feel her at all now.


    That''s it, Aidan realized, what I''ve been missing. My link with her is gone. He''d left the control bracelet with Brighid so Aoife wouldn''t need to follow him into the dungeon, but he was still the one bound to her. Unless they''d somehow found a way to free Aoife from her enslavement... Aidan''s stomach heaved at the thought of the alternative.


    Soon enough, Cai''s hooves clattered against paved stones. Aidan scanned the faces of those they passed, his heart clenching at the looks he saw in their eyes. Pity. Was it for his condition or something else? Within minutes, they reached the hill, Cai slowing at last to a stop as Ailis trotted out of the tunnel to meet them.


    Red-rimmed blue eyes sought Aidan out, then squeezed shut for a moment. When they opened again, tears spilled from their corners down already-damp cheeks. "Oh, Aidan," Ailis said, despair in her voice. She reached out and took him from Cai, then buried her head against his chest as she held him.


    "Where''s Aoife?" Aidan asked. "And Brighid?"


    Ailis drew in a shuddering breath. "I... I will take you to Brighid. You need to see her... first." The setting sun turned the ever-present fog blood red around her legs as Ailis carried Aidan back into the tunnel beneath the hill.


    Zurai


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Lupus, Emran Altaf, and an anonymous Patron for their exceptional support on Patreon!


    Super special thanks to ZTWilgy for editing assistance.

 Champion, Chapter 93: Don’t Fear the Reaper

    Zurai


    Aidan


    The Realms


    Firstday, 2nd week of the 12th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Sunset


    Caer Macht, Ceallach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    "Ailis, this isn''t the way to either Brighid''s forge or our chambers," Aidan said. A boulder settled into the pit of his stomach. "Where are we going?"


    "She is not... Brighid..." hot tears splashed against Aidan''s chest. "I will take you to her," Ailis repeated her earlier declaration. Her pace was slow, even plodding, as if each step took supreme physical and mental effort. "Did... you win?" she asked, perhaps as a distraction.


    Aidan allowed it. He needed something to keep his mind from hyper-focusing on the worst possibilities. "We killed Karsarrym, yes. The cost was high. Fifteen marines died, a dozen more heavily wounded." He gestured at his missing legs. "I lost my legs, Karsarrym bit off Ysbail''s left arm, and one of the gargoyles got pretty well shattered. Alkelda, Enys, and Conor," damn him to Hell, "are dead. So is... have the Kanitti arrived yet?"


    "The who?"


    "I guess not," Aidan said with a chuckle. "We met a group of travelers, rabbit and hare-folk, from a distant corner of the Highlands. They had a grudge against Karsarrym and were led to us by a prophet of some sort. Two of them, women named Ritva and Aija, joined us. I sent the rest here with a few of the Snow-Water Rider mercenaries guarding them. They should arrive within a week or so."


    Aidan shook his head and continued. "Anyway, Ritva didn''t make it, either. She died saving Eldrid and me from Karsarrym''s final attack. Aija''s been inconsolable ever since. I don''t know what was between them, but she hasn''t spent five minutes away from the wagon carrying the dead the whole trip back."


    "And, of course," Ailis said with weariness weighing down her voice, "you blame yourself for losing so many. No, I understand, my King." She let out a long sigh. "We will speak more... later. We are here."


    ''Here'' was a nondescript room along Caer Macht''s outer ring. To Aidan''s knowledge, it hadn''t been in use when the expedition left. He remembered it as a bare chamber with a series of stone slabs and recesses along the walls, like a lab or... a morgue.


    Cai opened the door since Ailis''s hands were full carrying Aidan. Magelight illuminated the room, revealing everything the same as when Aidan last saw it, with one single exception.


    Laid out on her side on the centermost slab, Brighid looked to be sleeping from the entrance. Her fur gleamed like brushed copper, as pristine as Aidan ever saw it. A green silk blouse embraced her upper body, clinging tight to her breasts and loose around her waist. Aoife''s control bracelet encircled her right wrist. His eyes went to Brighid''s neck, but it was hidden in a cascade of crimson hair.


    "Take me closer," Aidan said in a voice even he could hardly hear. Ailis stepped forward, each leg moving individually, each clack of hoof on stone sounding to Aidan like the mournful tolling of a bell. As they approached, he took in the extra details and context he''d missed on the first pass.


    Brighid''s hair and coat were both brushed, cleaned, and shining. She never did those sorts of things before bed as it was, in her words, wasted effort. Someone trimmed her fingernails so that they were all even, another thing Brighid did not usually bother with. Her work in the forge caused too many broken nails for her to care about keeping them neat. Most telling, she wasn''t moving, not even the slight rise and fall in her upper or lower chests indicating breathing.


    Dread crept up from the pit in Aidan''s stomach. Its serrated claws tore at his heart and soul, freeing the dying ember inside him to rage once more. His breath shortened and quickened until it came in brief, pained pants. Aidan''s eyes locked onto Brighid''s neck as Ailis rounded the side of the slab. There was a sapphire blue scarf wrapped around her neck and shoulders. Brighid didn''t own any scarves and never, ever hid her choker from view.


    With a trembling hand, Aidan reached out. He swept Brighid''s hair back with the gentlest touch he''d ever used on her. Then he fumbled at the scarf, peeling it away, revealing the bronzed skin beneath. What was left of it.


    Four slashes crossed Brighid''s throat parallel to her shoulders. Each cut went deep, well into her trachea and jugular veins. No blood spilled forth. Aidan''s stomach heaved and lurched, filling his mouth with bile. He swallowed hard. Without conscious thought, he started to chant.


    "[Scarlet plumes stir the ashes¡ª]"


    "Stop him! Quickly!" Aidan heard Ailis''s panicked voice, felt her setting him down on Brighid, but nothing registered. There was only the sight of his Soulmate''s lifeless corpse before him.


    "[¡ªgolden flames bloom in their wake¡ª]"


    A rapid clatter of hooves on stone, but it didn''t matter. Nothing mattered, not even his life, not if there was even the slimmest chance of bringing her back. He had a spare; she didn''t.


    "[¡ªKindle the soul, consume the mind, ignite the flesh. I give mine life to light¡ª]"


    A sharp, hard slap snapped Aidan''s head back on his shoulders. He tasted blood in his mouth, a consequence of biting his tongue. His chanting stumbled to a halt and his eyes focused on Ailis and Cai. Ailis''s face was red and blotchy and soaking with tears. Cai''s was pale and tight.


    "You cannot!" Ailis''s voice started strident, then turned into a wail as she continued, "she is dead. My baby is dead, and you cannot bring her back. Do not leave me too." She swallowed, then said in a whisper, "Not you too. Please, Aidan, she is lost to us. It has been too long. Her soul is gone."


    Aidan knew she spoke the truth. He felt Brighid go, oh, so many hours ago. He felt her soul tear free from his to pass beyond Death''s door. His eyes drifted to the slashes in his Soulmate''s neck. No manufactured weapon made those cuts. His gaze shifted to the golden bracelet.


    "Where is Aoife?" Aidan asked, forcing the words out through clenched teeth.


    Aoife


    The tiny kernel of thought constituting Aoife''s true self worked at a fever pace. She left control of her body and mind to her corrupted Masque. There wasn''t much harm it could do as she dangled from ceiling-mounted manacles. She knew Aidan would come for her, sooner or later. She had one chance to get a message to him without interference, but it would take every ounce of preparation and willpower.


    The orders given to her by the true master of the collar around her neck were absolute. Its magic forced her to obey to the point that it overwhelmed and seized control of Aoife''s mind. Only her Masquerade Trait allowed her any glimmer of freedom. The partition it granted her between her current Masque and her true self seemed inviolable. And, when she created a new Masque, it started out free from outside influence, a copy of her genuine thoughts and memories filtered through the Masque''s custom-tailored skills, memories, and personality.


    It wouldn''t last, however. Even within her mental sanctum, Aoife could feel the waves of compulsion surging through the ninja Masque. Her tyrant''s commands would not release her until she killed Aidan or started a war between the tribes. She would only get a handful of seconds with her fresh persona before it, too, succumbed.


    When making a new Masque, Aoife''s usual process involved plentiful, painstaking preparation. She crafted each persona''s history and personality with hours of internal roleplay, then matched skills, affinities, and attributes to the results. She had no time for any of that now. The only thing it needed to do was convince Aidan to kill her.


    Instead, Aoife poured everything into Charisma and Persuasion to get the most from her limited time and Willpower to give her that time. She spared not a single thought to background or personality. None of it would matter.


    The cell door creaked open. Aoife peered out through her body''s eyes as Cai entered, followed by Ailis carrying Aidan cradled in her arms. Why wasn''t he walking himself? Her Masque trailed her gaze down his body, then focused on where his legs should be.


    "Oh, look at you," it said. "Now, you are as much of a man as I always knew you were." In other circumstances, Aoife would''ve been fascinated by the different reactions each of her visitors showed to the acidic, sneering words emerging from her mouth.


    "Why?" Aidan asked, his face a stoic mask to match Aoife''s best. "Why did you do it?" There was no emotion in his voice. Inside her sanctum, Aoife felt a wave of sorrow. He was teetering on the edge, and the next few seconds would push him over. If she could see any other way out, she''d take it, but she couldn''t let the tyrant win. Even if she had to break every egg to escape her fate, she''d do it. She could always make an omelet later.


    "It was a job like any other," Aoife''s Masque lied.


    "I don''t believe that for a second. There was too much time and effort involved for it to be so simple. Who is your true master?"


    As if the Masque would give that up. "Oh, Aidan," it responded with Aoife''s voice, "were your brains in your knees? I thought they were at least a little higher than that. Can you not guess who holds my leash?"


    Aidan''s lips tightened a fraction of an inch. "I''ve heard enough," he said. His head turned toward Cai.


    Aoife was out of time. Her new Masque wasn''t complete yet, but it would have to do. She switched it in. "Aidan, please," her voice rang out with her best pleading tone. Already, Aoife could feel the collar tightening around her neck as its magic stormed through her mind. "You have to kill me. It''s the only way¡ª" Her defenses crumbled.


    "¡ªyou''ll redeem any fragment of masculinity you once had," the now-corrupted Masque finished.


    Aidan stared at her for a few long seconds. Aoife could see the wheels turning in his head even as her Masque spit out a stream of invectives. At the very least, she''d planted a seed of doubt. Even if he didn''t free her, maybe she''d still accomplish¡ª


    Aidan


    The light behind Aoife''s eyes dulled and faded as Aidan''s Blade of Burning Wrath pierced up through her chin and out the top of her head. As she died, two notifications burst into sight.


    Oathbreaker!


    Know that you broke a solemn Oath before the Gods and Powers to never strike Aoife with intent to cause harm except in defense of yourself or another of your household.


    All parties to this Oath know of your treachery. You now bear the epithet ''the Forsworn'' and have penalties to experience and skill growth until all parties agree to grant you absolution.


    Know this: You have fulfilled your Oath to Aoife to free her from slavery.


    Though your methods were unconventional and the results fatal, you fulfilled Aoife''s second most fervent desire and granted her freedom. Your relationship with her will greatly improve if you ever see her again.


    Aidan closed his eyes as his heart, mind, and soul burned to ashes inside him. Yet more innocent blood on his hands, and this time it was someone he loved. Where would it end? When? He couldn''t even kill himself. It wouldn''t stick, and Ailis would surely act to prevent him from repeating the process.


    And Aoife was innocent. Aidan was sure of it. Whoever controlled the collar around her neck was his true enemy, and that list of possibilities only had one name right now. One person had the cunning and patience to maneuver all the pieces. One individual who used all those around him to further his own goals, who was a friend one day and an enemy the next, who planted poisonous seeds and asked others to clean them up.


    "Searlas," Aidan said, his voice dropping into a rumbling growl, "if this is your doing, I swear what I did to Ailill mac Mara will seem like mercy. I will not kill you quickly. I will grind you to dust beneath my feet and burn your legacy to ash until no one dares to remember your name. This I swear by Brigantia''s cleansing flame."


    A notification appeared beside the others, but Aidan paid it no heed. He hadn''t spoken with idle intent.


    "Aidan¡ª" Ailis started to speak, but he cut her off.


    "No, Ailis. I know what I''m doing. Take me back to my chambers." A thought occurred to him, and his eyes widened. "Wait! What about Sunnild? Is she...?"


    "Alive and well," Ailis answered. "She happened to be staying with Wulfryn last night. Aoife," her eyes flicked to the corpse dangling on the far wall, "killed the guards at your chamber but made too much noise doing it. Your elementals and the other guards caught her on her way to my quarters."


    Aidan let out a relieved sigh. "I''ll need the guards'' names, but it can wait. There are other things we have to handle first. Preparing for a big state funeral first, then magic training."


    "Magic?" Cai asked, sounding perplexed at the apparent non sequitur.


    "Magic," Aidan confirmed. "Ailis, am I correct in thinking the spell you''ve been working on for me will work just as well without my legs as with them?"


    "Oh," Ailis said, then, "oh," in a sadder tone. The spell Aidan referred to was intended to allow him and Brighid to have children by turning Aidan into a true centaur, genetics and all. It wouldn''t fulfill that purpose now, not until Aidan could make use of a certain spellbook hidden in his spatial bag. "Yes," she said, "you are correct. Its effects do not depend on your initial state. It only matters that you are a human male. There are other, less drastic, solutions, though."


    "None as quick, however," he responded. "I''m very close to hitting Journeyman in Beast Magic. Once we have the funeral prepared, I want you to help get me the rest of the way there. We''ll have a couple of days before the rest of the caravan gets here, and I want the Kanitti present as well. Ritva and Aija deserve no less."


    Ailis took a deep breath and squared her slim shoulders. "Of course, my Lord."


    Zurai


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Lupus, Emran Altaf, and an anonymous Patron for their exceptional support on Patreon!


    Super special thanks to ZTWilgy for editing assistance.

 Champion, Chapter 94: Echoes of the Dead

    Well, here we are, the last numbered chapter of Champion. This has been a long, rough road for me in all kinds of ways, but I made it. There are three epilogues to Champion which will follow next week, one more (non-lewd) commissioned chapter I still need to write, and that''s it for the moment. I am absolutely not abandoning this story, but I need to recharge on it. It''s been the dominant focus of my mental energies for closing in on three years straight, which is quite an accomplishment as someone who has to deal with ADHD and depression bouncing off each other.


    I have a... less controversial... story in the works. I plan to get at least the first book of that well underway before returning to Paths. At that point, I''ll do a revision of the existing content with an eye towards releasing on Amazon. After all that''s done, I''ll get to work on Book 3. That means it''s going to be a while. I know this is a rough point to go on hiatus, but it''s that or burn out completely. Again, I promise to return and finish this story.


    In the meantime, the new story I mentioned will be posted to RR and SH. I''ll post a link here when it goes live, though be aware it''s a very different story. No lewds, no LitRPG. More later.


    Finally, there''s a song at the end of this chapter. If you want to hear it in the original Gaelic, you can listen here.


    Aidan


    The Realms


    Secondday, 3rd week of the 12th month, Age of the Chosen 1


    Noon


    Ceallach Macht, Mistvale Highlands


    It''s not fair, Aidan thought as he observed the winter sky, for today to be so beautiful. The sun shone down on the completed Dreaming Tabernacle from a clear sky. A light breeze stirred the few wisps of mist clinging to the ground and kept the direct sunlight from overpowering the day''s cool, crisp temperature.


    In every movie he''d ever seen, in every book he''d ever read, it rained during funerals. He knew it was metaphorical, knew he shouldn''t be so upset at reality failing to conform to art. It was irrational, but Aidan didn''t care. It felt like the world turning its back on him and on all his people.


    "So be it," Aidan said under his breath. It was time for him to be more proactive. The cost would be high. Aidan knew his list of names would grow far longer before he could start clawing some back. Yet, if the world was set against him, he''d never survive by waiting and reacting. So he''d take the path in front of him and let the flames rage in his wake.


    Cai touched his wrist. "Everyone is here," she said in a low voice. Aidan glanced around.


    The Dreaming Tabernacle consisted of three primary elements. First was a massive walled courtyard three hundred and thirty-three feet long on each side. A wide cobblestone road led from the low gate straight to the back of the complex. Soft, green grass covered everything else. A half-dozen small marble shrines dotted the Tabernacle''s front half, each devoted to a different local deity.


    A larger, more ornate temple stood at the end of the road, abutting the Tabernacle''s back wall. Unlike the shrines, it was closed against the elements. Within were accommodations for sixty or so priests and priestesses to tend the shrines and a unitarian altar for use in inclement weather or by worshippers of deities not represented outside. Depending on which races were present, the worship hall could hold up to a few hundred people.


    The Tabernacle''s final section was not part of the original plans. On either side of the temple lay a further set of marble walls separating the places of worship from the realms of the dead. A dark granite mausoleum dominated the western graveyard, while the eastern one lay ready to accept burials. Both contained passages to a network of catacombs still being completed by a team of automatons.


    It was a somber turn for a structure designed to celebrate life and dreams. Still, it felt right to Aidan. Were the dreams of the dead any less important than those they left behind? He didn''t think so. And perhaps the Tabernacle''s ability to allow worshippers and deities to meet would work for them as well. If so, it was a small measure towards fulfilling the debt Aidan felt toward those he couldn''t save.


    Nearly a thousand mourners and observers gathered within the seventy-thousand-square-foot shrine mall. All the Sapphire Star alliance tribes were represented, although Mist Stalkers were few and far between. Rumors of Brighid''s killer being a catfolk cooled the city''s attitude toward them. Only Chief Searlas, his bodyguards and advisors, and a few brave souls near the entry gate dared show their faces.


    Aidan raised his hand, sending a jet of fire skyward. The roll of drums and slow, piping flute notes filled the air at the prearranged signal. All present turned to watch as a black-clad procession entered the Tabernacle. First were the five Snow-Water Rider Captains, each dressed in ceremonial armor. Behind them marched thirty marines, six from each Captain, carrying fifteen coffins in five rows of three. They walked their slow march ramrod-straight, their faces stony masks worthy of a gargoyle.


    Next in the procession was Alkelda''s casket borne by four Wing-Lieutenants in ash-gray robes. Twenty more harpies wheeled above them in an intricate, spiraling weave. Every few seconds, one swooped down and brushed her hand across the smooth, dark wood housing Alkelda''s body.


    A narrow column of wolven in dark, ribbon-hemmed robes followed the harpies. When the caravan arrived several days ago, the Ebon Bone-Kin took possession of Enys''s body. They declined to inter her in Ceallach Macht for religious reasons but agreed to be part of the funeral procession. Several of their Ancestors marched with them, flickering in and out of sight.


    Ritva''s body was not contained in a coffin or casket, unlike the others in the funeral. Instead, Aija, tears flowing free down her cheeks, carried her wrapped in a simple white linen shift. Four more kanitti trailed after her, three bearing a piece of Ritva''s armor, the fourth her lance.


    Aidan held back a snarl of hatred as a dozen Mist Stalkers bore an empty coffin draped with blue and gold silk. Conor''s body remained in the ruins of Karsarrym''s lair, but politics demanded he receive a hero''s funeral. Aidan''s eyes drifted to where Searlas stood and met the Chieftan''s. Cold fury roiled there, plain for all to see, and Aidan could only hope he managed to conceal the mirror response from those who watched.


    At last, the final segment of the somber parade passed into the Tabernacle. Two passion elementals bore a heavy stone sarcophagus containing Brighid''s magically-preserved body. Behind her walked Ailis and Sunnild, grief plain on both their faces, then, bringing up the rear, Aoife''s enchanted coffin carried by another pair of elementals.


    Although the path wasn''t long, it seemed to Aidan as if it took hours for the procession to reach him. The marines came to parade rest in a broad semicircle facing Aidan while the Captains moved to stand beside him. Eldrid brushed her fingers across his hand and gave him a small, sad smile as she moved past him.


    Next, the four heroes'' bearers filled the space on either side of the slain marines. As with the Snow-Water Riders, a representative of each tribe save the Mist Stalkers joined Aidan and the others as the coffins settled to the ground. Finally, the elementals positioned Brighid and Aoife to either side of the pathway as Ailis and Sunnild took their places beside Aidan.


    Tears stung Aidan''s eyes, but he refused to let them come. Instead, he traced a series of glyphs in the air, inverting the effect of his Sound Barrier spell and turning it into an amplifier. "Thank you," he said through the tightness in his throat, "for your attendance this sad day." He swept his gaze across the crowd. "Few of you know all those whose lives we are here to honor and mourn."


    Doirin. Mairead. Solamh. Lachlann. Catriona. An endless-seeming litany sang in Aidan''s mind parallel to his speech.


    "Yet your presence here shows the truth. We are not seven tribes, separate and solitary. I see among you a thousand good folk, filled with empathy for your neighbors. You grieve because they do." At Aidan''s words, a wave passed through those gathered in the Tabernacle. It was a subtle thing, a spine straightened here, a head held higher there.


    Inry. Altar. Paric. Thomlyn. Diarmid. Each name represented another of Aidan''s failures.


    "Each life cut short by another''s hand is a tragedy. Here before us lie twenty sorrows, each a bright tale ended too soon. I will not keep you overlong today, but please allow me to make them known to you."


    Paws-Soft-As-Snow. Fangs-Gleaming-Bright. Loves-To-Dance. Awaits-The-Rising-Sun. Patient-Beyond-Reason. The memory of Anwn''s agony as she led him to her pack''s gravesite flashed through Aidan''s mind.


    "Brecc O Meachairr," Aidan said, and one pair of Snow-Water Rider marines saluted the coffin between them. "He loved to gamble, I am told, and his mates loved when he did. It seems Brecc was not a very good bluffer." A faint ripple of amusement spread through the crowd. It wasn''t quite laughter, but it eased some of the tension hanging in the air. "He died shielding a wounded comrade."


    "Eeada nic Ruaidhri..." Aidan went through his memorized list, giving a personal anecdote for each of the marines and casting their deaths in the most heroic light he could. As he did, more names flowed through the back of his mind. Arailt. Baltair. Moibeal. Isbeil. Morag.


    Once he finished with the marines, Aidan drew in a deep breath and let it out in as controlled a fashion as he could muster. "Alkelda. She devoted her life to her people, loyal beyond question and skilled without peer. She landed the first telling blow against Karsarrym, piercing the wyrm''s eye with an arrow in the first few seconds. She fell to bad luck, struck from the air by flying debris."


    The harpies present, including Sunnild, bowed their heads and pressed a fist to their hearts. Aidan saw some of the watchers follow suit. Iain. Tearlach.


    "Enys le Caradec. She was a kind soul, nurturing life wherever she could. She leaves behind no children other than her twelve cats and five dogs. A stray attack felled her early in the fight, but she refused to yield. Even while suffering from a mortal wound, she continued to lay spell after spell on Karsarrym. Without her, we could not have won."


    The robed wolven linked hands. Within the circle formed by their bodies, four Ancestors shimmered into existence. Each faced a cardinal direction and lifted their hands. Again, the crowd duplicated their motions. Sine. Onora.


    "Ritva. Alas, I know little of her except that she traveled for months with her people," Aidan gestured at the Aija, the armor-bearers, and the clustered ranks of kanitti refugees, "to join our battle. Her people tell me she was a fierce guardian of those who needed protecting, and I can believe it. She died saving Eldrid and me from Karsarrym''s breath in the battle''s last moments."


    An ululating wail tore free from Aija''s throat even before Aidan finished. It was the most noise he''d ever heard her make. She rocked back and forth, arms wrapped around her chest, for several seconds until her mourning faded to strangled sobs. Ciar. Agata. Ina.


    It took all of Aidan''s Willpower to force through his next words. "Conor mac Con Uladh. He was a hero of his people who saved hundreds of lives by fighting wherever the danger was thickest. Alas, part of the ceiling collapsed on him as the dragon''s death throes shook the cavern." The lies tasted foul on Aidan''s tongue.


    The Mist Stalker honor guards turned and saluted Conor''s empty casket. Their movements were crisp and clean, if perhaps a bit perfunctory. Aidan wondered how well-known the blood mage was among the catfolk military.


    Aidan''s eyes swung to the final two fallen as if drawn by gravity. Brighid. Aoife. He sucked in a trembling breath and closed his eyes. When he opened them, his loves remained dead before him. Ailis and Sunnild reached for his hands, twining their fingers with his. He squeezed them, then let them go, stepping forward with the sound of hooves on stone.


    His new body still felt odd to him, and reactions among the Starchasers were mixed. Some seemed pleased, many less so. It didn''t matter. Aidan would do what he had to from here on out. He would get his body fixed when he had time. For now, he needed to hide his weakness. Aidan walked down the cobblestone path until he stood between Brighid''s and Aoife''s burial containers.


    "Those names I gave before are heroes of the fight against Karsarrym. Each of them gave their lives so that we all might continue to live in peace and prosperity. Alas, they are not the only ones who we come to mourn today."


    A gasp sounded from those nearest Aidan and rippled through the onlookers. Their shock wasn''t at his words, for by now, the entire city knew of Brighid''s and Aoife''s deaths. The silver flames emerging from Aidan''s skin and fur caused the commotion, a manifestation of his Aura reacting to his surging emotions.


    "A few short weeks ago, I proposed marriage to three women and promised a proposal to a fourth. I love each of them with all my heart." Aidan could no longer hold back his tears, nor could he keep the roughness from his voice. "Most of you know Brighid Fireheart. She was one of the first Starchasers I met and the second to accept me. Some of you call me the Brighaid''s prophet or Their Champion, and there is some truth to that. I tell you now, however, that none among us exemplified Their teachings more than Brighid."


    Aidan let his hand trail across the engraved top of Brighid''s sarcophagus. "She treated everyone with integrity and compassion, even people she didn''t like. When she knew me as ''human,'' she stepped in to defend me from perceived injustice. I know many of you have similar stories. I will confirm now for you that, a little more than a week ago, an assassin took her life."


    An angry murmur spread through the crowd. Everyone knew Brighid died, but only rumors¡ªand there were dozens of variations¡ªsaid how it happened. The silver flames around Aidan grew brighter as he turned to Aoife. "Aoife entered my life recently, though it feels like I''ve known her forever. I met her in Chieftain Searlas''s mansion in Termondoon, a slave of circumstance." Yeah right. "At her request, he was gracious enough to give her to me, asking only that I swear an Oath to protect her."


    Aidan could feel Searlas''s eyes burning a hole in the back of his head, but he ignored the man for now. His reckoning would come later. "Our relationship wasn''t the easiest, and at times we each hurt the other. Yet she won my love and trust, and so I presented her with a ring at the same time I proposed to my fiancees.


    "Now," Aidan said, his voice gaining a hard edge, "many of you have heard it was Aoife who killed Brighid. I say to you: this is not true. Her hand dealt the blow," a louder noise rose from the crowd, but Aidan talked over them. "But she was only the blade. Just as my sword has no choice in how I use it, neither did she choose to betray my trust. Another controlled her actions from afar."


    Aidan turned to face Searlas. "Again, rumors say it was I who killed Aoife. It breaks my heart to tell you this is true. Yes, I forswore my Oath." Searlas''s lips parted in a snarl. "However, the rumors do not tell the whole story. There are two facts only I, my head bodyguard, and my Chancellor know. First: Aoife managed to break free of the mind control for a few seconds. Long enough to beg me to kill her. Not as punishment, but to free her. Second, in doing so, I fulfilled a separate Oath I swore only to her. Aoife is now free."


    Still meeting Searlas''s glare with his own, Aidan reached the final part of his speech. "I do not believe Brighid and Aoife''s deaths were an attack on me alone. This was a dagger aimed at all of us. At the camaraderie growing between our tribes. Someone out there is scared of us. Scared of you. Not because you are unbeatable warriors, but because you represent a new way of life."


    At last, Aidan turned away from Searlas and looked over his enraptured audience. "I follow the Brighaid. In my day-to-day life, that means I do my best to love everyone as best I can. It means encouraging art and spreading good cheer. It also," he said, his voice growing stronger, darker, harder, "means burning away corruption so that new growth can thrive."


    The silver flames limning Aidan''s body shifted as his voice rose. They gathered at his shoulders, lengthening, extending into the air behind him. "I swear by Brigantia the following Oath: They who strike against Ceallach Macht in fear and hatred shall meet my wrath. Those who threaten you with greed or pride in their hearts will fall. Anyone who seeks to darken our skies and scatter us to the winds, them I will burn to ash." Fiery wings flexed behind Aidan as his voice reached a crescendo. "Those who make of me an enemy will be swept clear by the Cleansing Flame until none in the future dare remember their names."


    Aidan''s Aura rippled and heaved until it burst free from his body and streaked skyward. The crowd below gasped and pointed as the fiery phoenix spiraled high, then stretched out its brilliant wings. A piercing cry like a hunting hawk sounded across the city, then Aidan''s Aura transformed into a flaming pillar and rushed back down into him.


    You have completed a Quest!


    Prestige: Champion of the Cleansing Flame


    Accept your role and swear yourself to Brigantia¡ªSUCCESS


    Rewards: Access to the Brigantia''s Champion Prestige Class, 20 Paragon points.


    Aidan let the new power soak into him for a few moments. It also served to let the crowd settle down. Eventually, he raised his hands for quiet. "I will have more information on what this means for everyone once my investigation into the murder concludes. For now, we still have heroes to honor." He turned and walked back to the temporary wooden stage. Sunnild and Ailis each hugged him tight. Then, Sunnild stepped forward and began to sing. Only she and Aidan could understand the words, but no one could misunderstand their meaning.


    He is my hero, my dashing darling


    He is my Caesar, dashing darling.


    I''ve had no rest from forebodings


    Since he went far away my darling.


    He is my hero, my dashing darling


    He is my Caesar, dashing darling.


    I''ve had no rest from forebodings


    Since he went far away my darling.


    Every day I am constantly sad


    Weeping bitterly and shedding tears


    Because our lively lad has left us


    And no news from him is heard alas.


    The cuckoo sings not pleasantly at noon


    And the sound of hounds is not heard in nut-filled woods,


    Nor summer morning in misty glen


    Since he went away from me, my lively boy.


    He is my hero, my dashing darling


    He is my Caesar, dashing darling.


    I''ve had no rest from forebodings


    Since he went far away my darling.


    Noble, proud young horseman


    Warrior unsaddened, of most pleasant countenance


    A swift-moving hand, quick in a fight,


    Slaying the enemy and smiting the strong.


    Let a strain be played on musical harps


    And let many quarts be filled


    With high spirit without fault or mist


    For life and health to toast my lion.


    He is my hero, my dashing darling


    He is my Caesar, dashing darling.


    I''ve had no rest from forebodings


    Since he went far away my darling.


    Dashing darling for a while under sorrow


    And all Ireland under black cloaks


    Rest or pleasure I did not get


    Since he went far away my dashing darling.


    For a while I was a gentle maiden


    And now a spent worn-out widow


    My spouse ploughing the waves strongly


    Over the hills and far away.


    He is my hero, my dashing darling


    He is my Caesar, dashing darling.


    I''ve had no rest from forebodings


    Since he went far away my darling.


    Since he went far away my darling.


    Zurai


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Lupus, Emran Altaf, and an anonymous Patron for their exceptional support on Patreon!


    Super special thanks to ZTWilgy for editing assistance.

 Champion, Epilogue

    Ratarrion sliced through the blight-beast''s left foreleg at the knee, sending it toppling to the ground. He took the opportunity to step back and survey the battle. His party, veterans all, comported themselves well. Though they were but a dozen elves, they were fresh from a week''s rest.


    A quick chant sent a fan of luminous daggers arcing from Ratarrion''s hand. Each found a weak spot in a different enemy, sinking into their rotting bodies, then bursting forth in a searing, soundless explosion that consumed their targets from within. He ensured the bear he downed earlier was one of them.


    "Over here, Captain," Accarinde called out to him. Ratarrion glanced her way and saw a field of flash-frozen foes. He extended his hand towards the cluster of corruption and channeled his power. A moment later, a broad beam shot out and engulfed the blight-beasts in their icy prisons. Ratarrion focused on each monster one at a time, turning them into piles of purified ash.


    It wasn''t enough to kill these cursed creatures. No, even in death, they served their dark maker. Within minutes of dying, a blight-beast''s body went through a rapid decomposition process. Its black blood would seep into the soil while foul miasma wafted upward into the canopy. A single uncleansed corpse could start a whole new infestation, and only magic could purify them. Mundane fire wouldn''t even take root in a blight-beast''s fetid flesh.


    It took two hours of fighting before the final monster fell and burned. Another four followed, spent checking the battlefield for traces of corruption. Only when they confirmed the grove remained pure did Ratarrion allow himself to relax. Despite the near-endless opposition they faced, this would not be the time they had to take a step back. The infestation wouldn''t spread today.


    Not there, anyway. Ratarrion''s party was only one of the six Oaken Nocturne Guild groups covering this part of the forest. The Guild, in turn, was one of the dozens of independent organizations assisting the crown. All told, hundreds of units like Ratarrion''s waged a hopeless war within the Roottangle Forest.


    The blighted legions were endless. Every day, hordes of monsters poured out of the forest''s heart. Yfa Nalore, the great city which once housed the First Tree, fell five years ago. The blight besieged Thyan Athalas, the capital, on all sides and held out only thanks to the Son of the Sun''s might. Soon, even he, a centuries-old hero of legends, would grow weary and make a mistake.


    And out here, near the Mistvale Highlands, the defenders were stretched thin. The forest extended for close to a thousand miles, and there weren''t enough elves to cover every inch. They did their best, but some packs slipped through the cracks to rampage in the foggy hills beyond. Right now, it only amounted to a trickle. How long would it be before the floods came?


    "You''re telling me that my children have been... what, sucked into a game?" Caitlin couldn''t keep the skepticism out of her voice.


    "I know it sounds crazy, Ma''am, Sir," the weedy-looking man with the thin goatee and crinkled jacket said. "I can hardly believe it myself. But that leaf you brought me? It doesn''t match any plant on Earth. It doesn''t even have the same DNA markers our plants do. I was half-tempted to dismiss your case as a hoax."


    Caitlin swelled up, ready to give the young man a dressing-down, but Seamas''s hand landed on her shoulder. She looked up at him, saw the concern in his dark eyes, and let it go with a sigh. "Why didn''t you?" she asked instead.


    "Because, with all due respect, Ma''am, if this is something you or someone you work with made," Horace waved a pale hand at the flecks of desiccated leaves in their vacuum-sealed containers, "then you''d have far better things to do with your time than playing a prank on me. That is an entirely alien life-form. If you made it, you''d have biotech firms knocking down your door."


    "So you believe it''s real?"


    "Oh, yes. There''s no doubt about that," the man assured Caitlin.


    "I still don''t see how you can expect me to believe your conclusion." Despite her husband''s calming presence, Caitlin couldn''t help the scowl tugging at her lips.


    "It''s either that or aliens abducted your children," the youngster said, spreading his hands. "Once I convinced myself these samples were the real deal, I looked into the case more. I have some alphabet soup contacts¡ª" he saw the look on Caitlin''s face and hurried to explain, "federal agencies. FBI, NSA, DEA, that kind of thing. Anyway, the case wasn''t on their radars, but I called in a favor and had an acquaintance in the FBI give Atlanta PD a visit."


    The reedy young man spun around in his chair and started typing at his computer. "He wouldn''t tell me all the details, but I did find out that both of their PCs were in use after their last known appearances, and they both received a package from the same source a few days prior." A logo appeared on his monitor, then swirled and transformed into a video game trailer.


    "This company. Distant Journeys. Their only project is a new IVR game called The Realms. Both of your children''s IVR units showed signs of recent use." He spun back around to face Caitlin, his face growing more animated as he spoke. "And I looked into the company. No one''s ever heard of them before this. None of their developers or programmers have any credits on any other piece of software I can find. The company itself is incorporated in one of those little Caribbean tax haven islands. No investors I could find."


    Another spin, a flick of a mouse, and a new image on the computer screen. Caitlin leaned in despite herself as Horace waved at the image forming there. "And see, doesn''t this look exactly like the crime scene photo of those leaves?"


    "Hmm," Seamus rumbled from beside Caitlin, "yes. It does."


    Indeed, accounting for the dryness of the samples, the screenshot looked like a perfect match. Caitlin looked up at Seamas again, her gaze a question. He nodded once.


    "Okay, say we believe you," she told Horace. "What can we do about it?"


    Brighid''s hands shot to her neck to stem the tide of blood. Except she had no hands. Or neck. Or body. She looked around and saw nothing. Not the bedroom she shared with Aidan and his other fiancees, not the misty hills of her homeland, not even a featureless plain or a pitch-black emptiness. There was nothing at all other than herself.


    Which was why the voice surprised her so much. "My/Our dear child," it said in a language Brighid couldn''t understand¡ªbut did anyway¡ªbut recognized nevertheless. The language of the Gods. Which meant...


    "Goddess!" Brighid tried to prostrate herself, but her current disembodied nature foiled her. She spun around, as much as that concept applied wherever she was, and saw a burning flame in the vague shape of a centaur.


    "Be at peace, O daughter of My/Our heart. I/We come to thee, not for obeisance but to grant thee a boon of knowledge." The Brighaid''s voice was impossible to define. They spoke in an ever-shifting dissonant harmony, each voice layered within and across the others.


    "Knowledge?" Brighid didn''t understand any of what was happening. The last she remembered was the terrible pain as someone¡ªAoife?¡ªtore out her throat from behind. Now she was... wherever she was, speaking to her deity in a manner too direct to be possible.


    "As thou hast surely guessed, thy life is over," the Brighaid said. Brighid felt non-existent tears well up in her non-existent eyes. Not for herself but for those she left behind. "Yet this need not be the end of thy story."


    "Not the end?"


    Despite lacking a face, the Brighaid smiled. "Didst thou think that binding thy soul to and mingling it with My/Our Champion''s had no effect? Thou art not My/Our Chosen, dear Brighid, but thou may draw upon his power. On thy own, thou might yet lack the strength to pass back through Death''s door. Even for the Chosen, such a task is not trivial."


    "Pass back through... I can come back to life? Like Aidan does?" Hope surged in Brighid''s chest.


    "Perhaps, should thy will prove strong enough."


    Brighid''s elation vanished like mist at noon on Summer Solstice. "That is not my strong suit, Goddess." Thanks in part to your blessing, she thought but didn''t add.


    "Indeed, My/Our blessing lies heavy on thee, child." Brighid would have blushed crimson if she''d had any blood. Or a body.


    "Still, with enough effort, thee might succeed," the deity continued. "If thou wishest, I/We will step aside and allow thee to spend thine limited time so before thy soul is swept away to be reincarnated."


    "And... is there an alternative?"


    "I/We cannot return the dead to life of My/Our own power. It is Forbidden. However, I/We can grant boons to My/Our priesthood, even here in Death''s realm. All it takes is a heartfelt prayer." A hand-shaped blob of fire at the end of a blazing tendril stopped Brighid before she could respond.


    "Speak not in haste, child. There are three things thou must consider before thou decidest." The fire-hand curled into a fist, then one burning tendril-finger emerged. "First, as thou sharest a soul with My/Our Chosen, so too dost thou share lives with him. If thou returnest in this manner, it is one fewer time Aidan himself may do so."


    That rocked Brighid back on her metaphorical hooves. That was a hefty price indeed. For all she knew, Aidan only had one revival to spare and might need it to deal with whoever killed her.


    "And the second?" Brighid asked to give her time to consider.


    "Second, even now, Aidan knows of and prepares for a means to restore thee to life independent of his Chosen power. Should thee but wait, and should Aidan survive the coming days without thee by his side, he will revive thee."


    Without her by his side. That phrase stuck in Brighid''s mind. How long would it be? Aidan was nowhere close to Grandmaster level in Vivimancy. Even with his phenomenal ability to grow his skills, it would mean months or even years of grief and sorrow for him.


    "I see," Brighid said. "What is the third consideration?"


    "My/Our help comes with a price. What I/We must do verges on the Forbidden, even despite thy prayers. Should I/We help thee in this way, I/we must also take something from thee in return."


    Brighid didn''t like the sound of that. "And what is this price?"


    "I/We will not say. To learn of it might tilt the scales. This must be thy decision, as free and clear as possible. Know only that I/We love thee and will support thee, no matter thy choice."


    Brighid closed her eyes, then, when that proved useless, focused her thoughts inward. What should she do? This was no easy decision. Depriving Aidan of a revival was a serious cost without considering the Goddess''s mysterious price. On the other hand, what would happen to Aidan if she waited for him to rescue her? Would he even be the same person she fell in love with after so much grief?


    Thoughts chased themselves in circles around and around inside Brighid''s mind until she grew dizzy. Eventually, her nature got the better of her. She never was very good with waiting or thinking through all the consequences. She acted with her heart.


    Opening her metaphysical eyes again, Brighid did her best to adopt the mental posture of prayer. "O Goddess, I beg of thee a boon..."


    As Brighid prayed, the Brighaid''s fiery avatar drifted toward her through the non-space. One ''hand'' reached out and touched her brow, then the other settled against her equine belly. As she continued to entreat her Goddess, burning determination suffused her.


    Zurai


    Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)


    Special thanks to Cenomy, Lupus, Emran Altaf, and an anonymous Patron for their exceptional support on Patreon!


    Super special thanks to ZTWilgy for editing assistance.