Elegy for a Star - Ch. 81 - 87

Chapter 81 - Concluding Business

Tess sat upon the backs of Scirocca's thighs, mesmerized by the sight of her own cock laying along the crease of Scirocca's round ass. Whenever it bounced, her cock bounced. Whenever she flexed her length, it gently bumped Scirocca's flesh. There was something excitedly erotic about measuring her cock against Scirocca's butt.

The winged woman reached back once again, parting her cheeks and digging her fingers between her legs to part her tight slit for Tess. "I'd like to start now," Scirocca whispered, "You interrupted me when I was quite close, after all, so you'll have to get me there once again."

"Alright," Tess said, trying to build up her confidence. Scirocca was so intimidating sometimes! She was calm, collected and knew exactly what she wanted. Tess wasn't. Tess just didn't want to disappoint her.

"What am I talking about?" Tess thought, "Once I'm inside her, instinct will take over, won't it? Miri and Mairaela certainly seem to think so."

She took a moment slap her cock against each of Scirocca's cheeks, causing the winged woman to lift her hips just a little more and give a soft, "Mmm."

Tess rolled her hips back, keeping her hand on the base of her cock while she tried lining herself up. It took her a moment once again to get it into position; She knew where it was supposed to go, but aiming it with a piece of her body was a whole different thing! Scirocca let out a tense breath when Tess was all lined up, all primed to go. Tess liked that. Was Scirocca excited by the anticipation? Maybe she could play with that.

Tess took a moment to stroke the head of her cock up and down Scirocca's sex, forcing Scirocca to keep her own lips parted for her. She buried her face into the pillow, huffing and trying to stifle her own whimpers. Tess lined herself up once again, giving the tiniest push before pulling back. Just a taste, no more.

"Uhn.. Tess, just put it in, will you?" Scirocca insisted, "You are the one that-..."

Tess pushed in just a quarter-inch once more, pulling back out immediately and teasing her with another slow stroke through her slit. "What was that?" Tess asked.

"You-..." Scirocca started, only for Tess to continue the teasing.

"I what?"

"Ha~.. s-stop that, it's~... I didn't ask to be tormented; You owe me~.. aahn~!" 

Tess squeezed Scirocca's ass, pressing a thumb against that tiny star between her cheeks. With the other hand she continued her teasing, "I want you to say please."

"What?!" Scirocca peeked over her shoulder and Tess could see the blush on her cheeks, clear as day. It brought her so much excitement. She'd never seen Scirocca flustered.

Tess hummed, applying more pressure to her thumb and lining herself up to penetrate Scirocca deeply. Scirocca was trying to push her hips back to force Tess inside of her, but Tess kept pressure on the winged woman's ass to keep her from doing exactly that. "No cheating," Tess purred, "I want you to beg for it."

"I will not!" Scirocca insisted between her whimpers and attempts to push her hips back.

Tess applied just enough pressure to Scirocca to feel her at the very entrance to that warm, tight tunnel. Tess ached to put it inside, but she was determined to make Scirocca relent—to force her to show a side of her she'd never seen. "Are you sure? Come on, wouldn't this feel so good? All you have to do is ask me." Tess grinned, "Don't you want my cock? Surely that can't be too difficult for you."

Scirocca quivered, still reaching back to part herself for Tess, aching to be fucked. There was a long pause as Tess was certain that Scirocca was weighing her options.

"Tess," Scirocca started.

Tess smiled wide, "Yes, Scirocca? What can I do for you?"

"Fuck me," Scirocca whispered.

"I didn't hear you," Tess said.

Scirocca screamed into her pillow, "Fuck me! I want you to fuck me!"

Tess sighed with feigned disappointment, "Mind your manners."

"Please," Scirocca was almost crying from the torture of this anticipation and embarrassment, "Please, gods, please Tess, please fuck me, I can't wait anymore! Put that huge cock inside me! I have edged myself for so long, begging for this moment again." She turned her head and looked over her shoulder once more, her voice tensed and a little whimpery, "Pleeeaaase~!"

Tess, satisfied with Scirocca's surrender—and already lined up—grabbed the winged woman's hips and thrust herself inside. Scirocca gave a gasp and a sharp cry, and Tess was so, so satisfied to see a crack in her composure. In this position, Tess' hips met with Scirocca's ass, keeping her from being completely inside, but the angle was an interesting one, rubbing against the front wall of Scirocca's cunt.

Tess had to grind a bit, really squeezing herself up to Scirocca's ass. When she began pumping her hips, she brought her knees up to either side of Scirocca's hips, finding it difficult to do all of the work. Scirocca seemed to enjoy it either way, however. Tess grabbed Scirocca's hips and began to urge her body back and forth, fucking her onto her own cock.

Tess was thrilled, "You're my toy, Scirocca. Here for my pleasure, not yours. I'm going to use you to get off and that's all." She couldn't believe herself and her words, but either way, Scirocca clearly enjoyed it. She moaned at the suggestion of being so objectified and used, crying out as she was tugged back and forth to meet Tess' needs.

Tess lifted her hips, bringing her to a better angle for a deeper fuck. There was relief in the feeling of burying herself completely inside Scirocca's burning cunt. Gods, she felt like lava, like she would be steaming if she were out in the cold. "Why is your pussy always so hot?" Tess whispered, "Do you need to be fucked that badly? Are you that needy? Uthr above, if only I'd known you were so deprived, I could have given you this much more often." 

"Wow, Tessy," Miri whispered, "Look at you go! Show her who's in control! I'm so proud of you, my big-dicked sweetheart!"

Tess leaned over Scirocca's body, continuing to thrust into her and pulling her body back against herself. She whispered, "I can feel you squeezing on me. That was so fast. You like this don't you?" Scirocca was giving a soft cry, filling the room with noise, "If you keep this up, others will hear you and know how addicted you are to my cock.

"But toys don't cum," Tess cooed, and Scirocca whined in tortured agony, gripping her pillow and squeezing her eyes shut. She raised her hips a little more, and Tess could feel her legs wrapping around Tess'. She was begging for it.

Tess purred, squeezing Scirocca's lovely ass. Suddenly, she pushed Scirocca down to lie prone once more, pulling out of the winged woman's wet pussy. She laid her cock, soaked in arousal, across Scirocca's ass, between those lovely, plump cheeks. With one thumb holding her cock down, Tess humped back and forth until she let out a shaky groan.

Still pumping her hips, she shot ropes of cum across Scirocca's back. The white cream made a lovely contrast against the woman's darker skin, reaching all the way up to her upper back and pooling just above her ass. Tess whimpered and whined throughout the ordeal, her balls squeezing up against her body with each shot. Scirocca was panting, shaking, trying to raise her hips for more of Tess' treatment.

"Hm?" Tess looked down at Scirocca's desperate attempt to continue. Tess instead slipped off of her and moved around to the side of the bed, "Clean me off first." Scirocca rushed to do exactly that. She slid across the side of the bed and wrapped her lips around Tess' length, bobbing her head and suckling all of the cum and her own juices off of Tess' cock. Tess smiled down at her. She was so desperate. Tess took her by the back of the head and held her down. She wasn't getting into the half-sphinx' throat—the angle just wasn't good for it—but she was getting deep enough to make her gag on occasion. She was still leaking some cum from her orgasm, which Scirocca made sure to swallow.

When she pulled out, Scirocca looked up at her with that cock-drunk expression, looking dizzy and out of her mind. Her mouth was wet and messy, lines of cum and spittle linking her lips to Tess' cock. "P-please, Tess," She begged. Gods, who knew there was this side of her? Tess was beaming with excitement. She couldn't believe the power she had over her. Still holding her by the back of the head, Tess held her cock and gently patted it against Scirocca's face.

"Toys don't cum," Tess replied, "Roll over. On your back."

Scirocca did exactly as told. She must have known what Tess was going for, leaning her head off the side of the bed and opening her mouth wide. Tess slid her cock between Scirocca's lips, letting the winged woman suck and lick her for a time before she pressed her hips forward and squeezed herself into those grasping muscles of her throat. Tess quivered, letting out a content sigh. At the same time she reached over Scirocca's body and placed a hand between her legs.

With two fingers pressed inside of Scirocca's pussy, her palm gently rubbing against her clit in circles, Tess pleasured the woman at the same time that she pleasured Tess.

Rolling her hips, Tess squeezed in and out of Scirocca's throat. The half-sphinx was exceptional at this, taking Tess so willingly and easily now that she was in an acceptable position. Whenever Tess drew out of her throat, Scirocca was crying out in euphoria, only to be silenced once again.

After a couple of minutes, Scirocca's body tensed, her hips jerked and twitched. Her legs were shaking, and Tess knew that she was cumming, even with Tess' cock shoved down her throat. She ground her hips into Scirocca's lips, letting her balls press into the woman's face. "Good girl," Tess whispered, "Gooood girl, I bet that feels so good." She drew her hips back only just enough to leave her cock between the woman's lips. She was gasping, crying out, heaving for breath, but most of all she was cumming. So, so hard. Tess wondered if she'd been edging herself since they last fucked.

Once Scirocca calmed down a little, Tess whispered, "Did I say to stop sucking?"

Chapter 82 - Spars, spars, spars

Mairaela kept her spear upon her shoulders, using the leverage to windmill the end of it around and around, spinning her opponent's weapon with it until it came free from his grasp and clattered to the ground. With the pole of her staff she swept one ankle to the side and with his legs parted, she brought the haft up to strike her opponent in the sack. Of course, he fell over immediately, clutching himself, and Mairaela was considered the victor.

She smiled toward the stands where Tess, Joyona and Miren sat. It was her third victory of the day. She was a piss-poor archer outside of the Void, but she still had her spear. No one seemed to know how to counter her superior reach. Mairaela was used to taking advantage of that. If only she didn't use her bow for the fight during the Week of Conflict. She may have actually won if she just stuck with her spear.

"Why?" Her opponent whimpered, holding his sore balls, "Gods, I'm going to puke."

"You weren't wearing a cod," Mairaela explained, "A mistake that you won't make again, I'd bet."

She left the arena, freeing it up for those waiting, and made her way to the rest of her party, taking a seat on one of the elevated benches.

"You're so mean," Tess laughed, "I can't believe you did that."

Mairaela brought a hand to her mouth and tried to stifle a laugh, "I couldn't help it. My mentor taught me that one. I don't get many occasions to pull it off, unfortunately, so that was cathartic."

Joyona nodded her head, keeping her eyes on the approaching fight.

"Thanks for coming," Mairaela said to Joyona with a soft smile.

The Evigkin nodded once more, keeping her stare directly ahead, "You fought well."

Tess looked past Joyona to say to Mairaela, "We've got to be earning some points now. Hopefully the Captain will be happy."

"Not sure. We're probably still in a deficit," Mairaela sighed, "I can't imagine a week's probation and stabbing someone in front of the whole Corps only brought us down as much as three spars will get us."

She could feel the Winter Fey's stare and turned her head to look at her, "Why don't you make yourself useful and do a spar or two?"

Miren smiled back at her. 

Gods, she hated that smile. All Winter Fey smiled in the same way, like they were superior.

"Let me see if they have my weapon," Miren said, rising to her feet and maneuvering down the stairs to head to the staging room.

Mairaela didn't expect Miren to actually go. She watched the Winter Fey's graceful walk. She was catlike in her movements. For a moment, Mairaela forgot her hate.

"Mairaela?" Tess asked, "Why are you so…"

Mairaela shot her a look.

"Why give her such grief? She hasn't done anything," Tess said softly, changing her wording.

"Why don't you?" Mairaela replied, "They wanted to enslave humans, Tess, and for some? They did. The Summer Court saved most of them.

"Do you know how many they killed?" Mairaela frowned, "There were two other entire Courts, now all but extinct. They slaughtered a good portion of the Empire and stole hundreds of miles worth of land, converting the people there into their slave trade."

Tess was quiet for a time. The fight in the arena concluded and before Mairaela knew it, Miren was stepping out into the field.

"Did Miren do that, though?" Tess asked.

Mairaela felt ashamed. Tess was right, but it was impossible to let go of this judgment and hate. All Winter Fey were the same in her experience. Deceitful and cruel. She would not lower her guard around Miren.

"Is that a rapier?" Tess asked, squinting to get a good look at what Miren was wielding.

"A blunted one," Joyona replied.

Her opponent was a woman with a battleaxe. She looked like a smaller Joyona, with darker hair. The bell rang for things to begin, and it was over before Mairaela knew it. Miren slipped forward and before the axe could even be raised to where it needed to be, the opponent had a rapier to her throat. The bell rang again.

Miren called out, "Can I have another? I'll fight both of the fighters from the next match."

Mairaela's eyes widened, "She has a lighter weapon, so the axe was easy, but two opponents? She may be fast, but one of them will get a strike off, if not both."

Her opponents approached, one from either entrance while Miren stood in the center. On one side was an opponent with a sword and shield. On the other was a man dual wielding two large, stone hammers. All too swiftly the bell rang and both warriors charged Miren at the center.

Miren didn't wait. She charged the man with the shield. She kept her profile small by standing sideways, but the longsword came at her at a horizontal angle. Miren slipped back, evading the edge. She was so graceful and balanced. She came back, poking with the rapier, though it struck the man's shield. A vertical slash came her way this time and Miren sidestepped it with ease.

Two hammers came at her from behind, but Miren slipped around the longswordsman. The man with the hammers had to halt his attack, lest he risk harming his ally. It didn't matter much, since Miren took that as an opportunity to rake the blunt blade all across the sword-and-shield wielder's back with a series of seven slashes all performed in a single second.

The swordsman frowned as he was defeated, but Miren lifted a heeled boot and kicked him in the upper back so that he flew into the man with the hammers. As the large fellow tripped over his comrade and stumbled toward Miren, she brought the point of her blunted rapier to his neck and pressed it forward just as he caught himself. Were it a real weapon, he would have had a blade slicing through his throat and brain stem. He was done.

The bell rang.

Miren tossed the rapier down into the dirt as her two opponents collected themselves. The Winter Fey hopped the wall and continued to the stands, returning to her seat. Mairaela, Tess and Joyona were all quiet for a moment, before Tess gushed, "That was fucking amazing, Miren!"

The Winter Fey just smiled at the woman, "Thank you. I only wish it was worthwhile in the Void."

"Your gift doesn't apply to it?"

Miren shook her head, "Sadly not."

Mairaela decided to speak up, "What would you do against a spear with a rapier?"

"You mean what would I do in a fight against you?" Miren asked.

"Sure," Mairaela responded.

"I would run," Miren replied, "A rapier won't beat a competent person with a polearm."

"Oh? I'm competent?" Mairaela asked, dripping with sarcasm.

Miren nodded, "More than. I was extremely impressed."

Mairaela was stunned. What was this? Weaponized kindness? She tried to think of how this could be used against her. What deception could benefit Miren here?

For a while, Tess beamed and squealed in excitement over Miren's victories, until she looked to Joyona, "Do you want to take a turn?"

"I'm tired," Joyona replied, rubbing her eyes.

Miren spoke up, "It might be good practice for fighting while exhausted in the Void."

Joyona nodded, "Alright." The giant stepped down from the stands, shaking them as she went, until she made it to the staging area.

Tess sighed, "I wish I could help. I've been practicing my sorcery day and night, but…"

"You're a Wyrden, Tess?" Miren asked.

Tess let out a sigh, "I've been successful in-..." She recalled the response that the others had when they saw her casting in the Void, "Um.. in my room, a couple times."

Miren's eyebrows raised, "Interesting. I thought Captain Maupoissant said you were incapable."

"She doesn't know," Tess spoke softly, "I'm not sure what to tell her. I'm very inconsistent, but I'm learning."

Mairaela smiled, "Joyona's up."

Joyona stepped out without a single weapon. Mairaela had some concern as she thought "Was she so tired that she forgot?!"

Her opponent was a small man with a sword and shield, the most common combination. When the bell rang, it was clear who was going to win. Joyona charged the man, screaming in a rage, and immediately the swordsman began to run. Joyona's lengthy stride had her upon him in moments, grabbing the back of his head in one hand and bringing it into the dirt.

She stopped there, the man rolling onto his back and wiping dirt from his eyes. The bell didn't ring, so Joyona looked to the judge and spoke aloud, "Then I'd crush his head."

There was no response at first, and Joyona pointed down while lifting a foot, "With my boot."

The bell rang.

Chapter 83 - Maeros

"Fuck you, Maeros!" Krahe shouted at him. His hair had gone white over the course of their adventure, but he was still the thick-armed, broad shouldered dunce of a man, "Fuck you! You want out? Fine!"

"He has Sylara. Gods, he has Andon…" Maeros replied. Krahe knew the names of his family. Sylara was so kind. Andon was so young, so full of joy and hopeful for his future. Maeros' voice was little more than a grunt, but he was gentle in this moment, "I don't know what he'll do to them." Krahe had never seen him cry, but right now? She might.

"Well, I do," Krahe replied, "The Crow Lord isn't a murderer; He's a thief. He's not going to hurt them, they're just his bargaining chip."

"Why would he target me, then?" Maeros asked, shaking his head, "He wants you, he and I have no problems with one another.

"When you leave, he's going to take me," Krahe replied, jabbing two fingers toward her own chest, "You're going to sentence me to a slow death if you leave. And guess what? Black Sun is going to fucking eat your family anyway. We're so close to Arlen. We're so fucking close."

Harkroth was watching the exchange patiently, leaning upon his axe. He had no stake in this, Krahe knew. He'd only joined them a month ago.

Maeros didn't reply, but he did take a few steps down the road where they'd traveled from.

"You fucking coward!" Krahe screamed, squeezing her fists until they drew blood. She was furious, "You're fucking the whole gods damned world! You, this single choice, is going to end the world; end all life! End Auwra as a whole!"

She wouldn't let him go. She couldn't let him go.

Krahe looked at Henry. The one-eyed man, with his parched lips, pallid skin and rotting flesh, "Stop him!" She pointed at Maeros, "Fucking stop him!"

Henry, unable to speak, shook his head.

Krahe felt the pressure behind her eyes, "Gods, stop him, or we're all dead."

She looked at Harkroth, "Please. Help me."

Harkroth frowned and shook his head, "Sorry, lass. It's his family; It's his choice."

"Fuck. Fuck, fuck, shit, fuck!" Krahe screamed into her hands. "Born from blood," she shouted. She couldn't even hear her gloves' reply, blood throbbing in her ears. Her hands filled with a pair of kukris.

She dashed to Maeros. Gods, she'd known him for fifteen years. She joined him when she was ten, and he's doing this now?

She moved in front of Maeros by five paces and said, "What are you thinking?"

"I'm thinking I need to get my family," Maeros replied.

"They. Are. Going. To. Die. Anyway!" She screamed, her voice cracking, "They'll die before you even get to them! They're East of the Empire! We're in the fucking mountains of the Summer Court. The Crow Lord wants this.

Maeros stopped, a frown on his face, "Don't do this."

"I won't let you go," Krahe replied, "I won't."

"You can kill Arlen without me," Maeros replied, "Harkroth and Henry are capable warriors."

"Harkroth doesn't know what the fuck is going on and Henry…" She felt tears welling behind her eyes before they began to run down her cheeks. She looked past Maeros to see Henry looking ambivalent as always. Even the color of his one eye had changed.

"You're killing us, Maeros," Krahe sobbed, "You're killing us and you know it."

Maeros tapped his temple, referring to the voice in his head, "You know what she's saying right now?"

Krahe shook her head.

"Nothing. For once she's quiet. For once she doesn't have an opinion. For once she stopped playing that music."

"I don't care, Maeros," Krahe shook her head, "I just can't let you leave. I will kill you before I let you leave, because you'd be just as bad as Arlen, letting him succeed."

"You can't," Maeros replied, "You know you can't."

"Then beat me. You might as well. I'd rather die in a fight than be eaten by some gods damned space ball."

"We don't know if that's what it wants. Birel told us, but what if she's wrong?"

"You saw it through the lens as well as I did! It's been eating everything it comes across!"

"Maeros, please. Gods, please don't do this. Please." She'd never said that to Maeros before. They'd had their spats. Well, a lot of them. Truth be told, they didn't really get along. Not since the others died. She could still hear their screams. Dolen, Rahberon, Elnaril.

"Don't make me do this," Maeros spoke under his breath.

"You're doing this!" Krahe screamed. She lunged at him. Maeros was ready. He was just as good a warrior as she was. She was best in a team, not sola. She hadn't dueled someone since that opportunist trying to harvest dragon scales, but rage-fueled adrenaline filled her. She was faster than he was, but his shield was raised before she got to him. She jammed a kukri into the wood of his shield and jumped. She used the kukri as a stepping stone to leap into the air.

Maeros' dragon helmet breathed fire in her wake before he caught her by the arm. He'd seen that move before. He used Krahe's momentum and slammed her into the ground, pressing a boot into sternum. Gods, he was good.

The Devil, the Spinnerets, the Wanderer. Maeros' boot fell through to the dirt as Krahe's body evaporated. Krahe was behind him now, dashing toward him. He spun to grab her, but she slid beneath him, snatching her other kukri on the way.. She slashed between the gaps of his armor as her sliding boots kicked up a cloud of dirt.. Hamstring first, to slow him. As she rose to her feet, she cut across his lower back twice.

Krahe could hear Harkroth protesting, running toward them, but the fight would be over by then. Krahe jammed a blade into Maeros' flank, just above the hip and left it there. She avoided any vitals, but she wanted him to drop; to give up. Maeros spun around, even though he'd been sliced and was bleeding upon the ground. His gauntlet grabbed her face, wide enough to palm her head. The Devil, the Spinnerets, the Wanderer.

She evaporated once more, appearing behind him, but Maeros was ready. She knew he'd catch her this time, so she made a gesture with her free hand. The Spinnerets, the Devil, the Keepers. She vanished from sight, dodging to the side.

Maeros must have seen the puffs of dirt from Krahe's boots and snatched her hair. She rippled into sight, just as Maeros grabbed her and slammed her face-first into the ground. Gods, that hurt.

He lifted her, only to slam her once again. That time it hurt less.

He pummeled her face into the ground again and again and again. He…

Tess gasped. She was covered in a cold sweat. Her face ached. 

"What the fuck…"

Chapter 84 - Born from Blood

Tess arrived at the practice yard early, as ordered. There were a couple of training weapons that'd be left there, and she grabbed a cold training sword to test with. She stretched, warmed up and practiced the swings that Howlcrag had taught her. Before she knew it, the Sergeant arrived.

"What are you doing?" He said with a growl Tess' mind frantically tried to think of what she did wrong, but nothing came to her.

Howlcrag threw two pieces of finely cut wood to her. They were like training swords but much shorter, "I mentioned knives this time, remember? So I broke a couple swords and whittled them down for ya."

Tess thought, "Wow. He really is a good trainer. He did that for me? This must have taken hours. He cares about this a lot."

As she collected the weapons, Tess was smiling, at least until she felt a crack of a training sword on her upper arm. "Ow! Fuck!" She shouted, "Gods damn, that hurt."

"I'll do it again if you keep smilin' like you were," Howlcrag said, "Now let's get ready. You're gonna have to get real fast. You try to parry with those and you'll end up with a broken wrist."

"Yes, Sergeant," Tess replied, "I'm ready."

"I don't want you to swing yet, but hold those and do your best to dodge my swings, alright?"

Tess nodded.

The Sergeant started slow, which Tess appreciated. She was struck lightly at the start. She quickly realized how important balance was. Whenever she lost her footing, she was hit. So long as she could remain balanced, she could slip around a swing. Well, a slow swing at least.

They practiced this for a while, speeding up once Tess got used to a certain speed, at which time Howlcrag gave her permission to start striking.

With her focus split between two objectives—dodging and striking—she found that she was piss poor at both of them. It was like having to relearn the dodging part all over again. Howlcrag repeatedly told her to strike faster; Each of her swings were easily parried, her arm grabbed, or the attack dodged. She was hit more often than before, which was demotivating to say the least, but Howlcrags belief in her spurred her on.

She wondered if her words last time resonated with him. He was certainly less violent, less insulting. He would sometimes even tell her when she did a good job.

Tess liked that. It encouraged her. Not everyone learns the same, she knew, and this was how she learned.

"Ugh, what I wouldn't give to show this guy what's what," Miri grumbled, much to Tess' irritation. This was her training, not Miri's. Miri was already capable. Already useful. Tess wasn't. Tess didn't want to have to give her control every time that they were in the Void. That seemed dangerous to say the least.

"Take a break," Howlcrag said, gesturing to the waterskin on the bench that Tess had brought, "Drink."

Tess did as ordered, but her mind trailed off. All day she'd been thinking about the dream she had last night. She recalled it when she was unconscious from Madame Pava, too.

Krahe. Maeros. Harkroth. Henry. Miri told her about these people, was that why she had a dream about them? The dream replayed in her mind. "Born from blood…" Tess whispered thoughtfully.

"What'd you say?" Howlcrag and Miri said at the same time. 

"Nothing, Sergeant, just talking to myself," Tess explained.

"No, I heard you say something, what was it?" Miri asked, "You said 'born from blood,' didn't you?"

Tess shook her head, but Miri persisted, "Tess! I'm serious, what did you say? Tess, have you been having dreams?" Miri sounded panicked.

Tess finished drinking her waterskin and placed it down. She picked up her knives and replayed the events of the dream. Leap, slash, land, sorcery, slide, hamstring, back, back, flank. She played it in her mind, practicing the slashes.

She turned to find Howlcrag looking at her. "That was good technique," he said with an approving nod.

"Born from blood," Tess reminded herself in her mind, "Born from blood."

They prepared for more training.

When they began, Tess ran forward. Howlcrag immediately chided, "Don't rush!" However, Tess was fast enough to get past his reach. Only his arm collided with her, not the sword. She jammed the wooden knife into Howlcrag's raised forearm on his free hand.

"Damn, Tess, that was much, much better," Howlcrag said with a big grin, "Now, tell me, what was wrong with that?"

Tess didn't have to think too hard, "If you had a shield, I would've hit it."

"Right. You had me wide open, so go for something vital," Howlcrag advised.

Tess thought to herself, "That's where I was aiming. That's where Krahe aimed."

Miri whispered, "Tess, what are you doing?" She snapped, "Whatever it is, you need to stop! Please. Please, stop."

But she didn't. Howlcrag nodded and said, "Let's try again. You're ready for a live pace, so it's gonna be as fast as a real fight, alright?"

Tess nodded.

When the practice started, Tess dashed again. Howlcrag was ready this time with a faster thrust rather than a slash that left him open this time. Tess side stepped and lowered herself, sliding past Howlcrag. She couldn't slide between his legs; The man was too squat for that. She slipped past one leg, ran the wooden stake over his hamstring. She dug her feet into the ground in order to gain some purchase and bring herself to her feet before she ran a series of slashes across Howlcrag's back; two on the lower back, one on the flank.

Tess was panting; not from exhaustion, but from excitement.

Howlcrag turned around and with wide eyes he asked, "How did you do that?"

"I don't know," Tess said, beaming from ear to ear and shaking her head, "It just came to me, and…"

"This is Pava's doing, isn't it?" Miri spoke between Tess' ears with a worried expression, "Tess, this isn't a good thing. I know you're excited, but…"

"Let's practice some more. If you can do that regularly, we need to get you into some spars," Varon said with confidence and amazement.

For the rest of the day, Tess beat Howlcrag, and it was by a fair margin. Varon couldn't believe his eyes, encouraging and praising Tess the entire time. He would joke and laugh each time he was beaten. "I knew you'd be better with knives!" He would laugh each time Tess slipped by his swing and poke or slash him with those small sticks.

"Gods, Tess," Varon chuckled, "I think you're ready for a go against the best, and we only just begun."

Miri whispered in her mind, "We need to talk."

"No need," Tess whispered, "And I'm going to try on those gloves, too."

Chapter 85 - Answers

Tess slammed the door to the dormitory behind her. She was furious with Miri, and irritated that there was no way to get away from her. She was trapped with someone she found immensely irritating right now.

"We need to talk, Tess, I'm serious!" Miri said as she appeared upon Tess' bed, patting it at the side. Somehow, Tess was even angrier when she could see the demoness than when she was just in her mind.

"I'm going to do the talking. You give me answers," Tess snapped, "Understand?"

Miri just sighed.

"Who are you?"

"I'm Miri."

"No, who are you?!" Tess screamed. She hoped that the people in the next room wouldn't hear her.

"Fuck, Tess, calm down," Miri said, holding up her hands, "I'm not joking when I say I'm Miri. I'm the person that is sitting right here. It's the only name I've ever had, and I've got no reason to change it."

Some of Tess' anger leaked away when Miri spoke so calmly and directly. She pressed, "What's wrong with what I said at the training yard? Born from blood?"

"Just as words, nothing," Miri said with a shrug.

Tess leaned in and pointed a finger at her, "Then as whatever else they could be? Why's it a big deal?"

"Krahe said it."

"So you knew her? Or is that common knowledge? Should I ask around?" Tess asked with some anger in her voice.

Miri shook her head and asked, "Have you been having dreams?"

Tess nodded her head, "Yeah."

"Dreams where you're Krahe?"

Tess pursed her lips together and nodded again, "Twice."

Miri nodded in acknowledgement and replied, "Me too, and I heard her say that."

"What were your dreams?"

"Moving through a mausoleum, killing exhumed," Miri replied, thinking for a moment and staring up at the ceiling, "And, um… What was the other? Oh, right, a town was on fire and we took a boat to escape."

"What.. um… What happened when Krahe said what she said?"

"Skygge spoke back."

"Who's Skygge?" Tess asked.

Miri waved an arm and she explained, "That's the name of her gloves. Skygge."

"And what did they say?"

"To blood we return."

Tess' anger seemed to deflate a bit. Was Miri telling the truth? She knew about the dreams. She knew what Tess knew. She's in Tess' mind so why wouldn't she experience the same mental images that Tess experienced.

"Wait," Tess said, pointing at Miri like she'd caught her in a trap, 

You said you were awake the whole time during Pava's experiments. When did you have the dreams? That's when I had the first dream."

"Mine were twice after the experiments," Miri replied, "We need to put our heads together, no pun intended, and see what we can figure out."

Miri wasn't usually so motivated to correct their predicament, but Tess was grateful for it. She was happy to know that Miri actually cared. Maybe they could do it together.

"So why was I so good with knives?"

"Did you see Krahe use them in a dream?" Miri asked.

Tess nodded.

Miri nodded back, "Maybe you're learning during your time as her."

"What was it that Pava said about folding," Tess wondered, thinking deeply, "What was she folding, again? Do you remember? That whole situation is so foggy."

Miri shook her head, "I don't. I just remember being angry."

Tess pondered for a moment, pointing at Miri, "Why didn't you mention the dreams?"

Miri shrugged, "Why didn't you?"

Tess had been confused. She thought they were just dreams. She didn't want to make a superstitious fool of herself. She shrugged back to Miri, "I don't know."

"Tess, I don't think we should use anything that we learn from these dreams," Miri urged, "We don't know what it'll do to us."

"Did you see me during training, though?" Tess took a seat beside Miri, "I could actually win spars. I could be useful, Miri."

"It's dangerous. Do you know who controls dreams?"

Tess shook her head.

"Umbra," Miri explained.

Tess raised an eyebrow, "The moon?"

"The primordial attached to it. Her name's Omen, and she's fucking crazy," Miri insisted, "She went mad when the Black Sun showed up. You can't trust her or the shit she makes you dream."

"But-..."

"Tess, wouldn't I want to be a fucking badass with a knife, if I could?" Miri said, making a few gestures as though she was stabbing someone, "It's hard being the only one that can win a fight between the two of us. I'd love to take a break sometimes."

Tess frowned.

"But I am scared for us, so I'm asking you not to. You're driving the cart and I'm just along for the ride right now, and that's terrifying," Miri said.

Gods, she was right. Poor Miri. Tess' shoulders sank. "I'm sorry I was doing that to you," Tess replied, "It's hard to remember that I'm not just me. That I'm you, too."

"It's okay."

"What about those gloves from the fox?" Tess asked, "They're not the same ones from the dream—uh, Skygge—so they shouldn't be from Omen." She gestured toward them, "Scirocca said that they could help."

"We already talked about that, Tess," Miri replied, "They could be cursed. Who knows what they're enchanted with, if anything?"

"Is there a way to find out?"

Miri sighed, "Yeah. There are rituals."

Tess nodded, "We'll just do that, then. Besides, foxes are lucky; We should trust it."

"That's just superstition, Tess." Miri was wringing her hands, "We need to tell one another everything, Tess. Okay?" Miri frowned, "If you have another dream, tell me. If I do, I'll tell you."

Tess nodded her head in agreement, "That sounds like a plan."

"In the meantime, let's learn to use those knives the right way, not by taking shortcuts. And be careful with those gloves and that amulet. I just hope the curse doesn't activate on a ritual," Miri said with a sigh.

Tess frowned. She didn't like the sound of that. She had to perform it herself and not let anyone else do it, just in case.

Miri was quiet for a bit and asked, "Are we okay?"

Tess nodded her head, "Yeah, Miri, we're okay."

Miri perked up and said, "So, make-up sex?"

Tess chuckled and said, "Yeah, sure."

The door handle jiggled and Miri squeaked and vanished from sight. Tess got up to open it, but she could hear a key unlocking the door already. She waited, eyes wide as the door opened, only to see Gwen standing in it, looking tired and worn.

Chapter 86 - Ask Her

"So, Gwen's back," Mairaela said to Joyona. The two of them were sitting at the table in the chow hall, though Tess and Gwen were absent. Joyona nodded her head to Mairaela, unsure of what else to say. She worried that Mairaela would be bored and there was a mix of excitement and panic that the others weren't here to keep her entertained better than Joyona could.

Joyona put some food into her mouth, feeling that she couldn't be expected to talk if she was chewing.

Mairaela swallowed her food and added, "I haven't been able to see her yet, though. I heard Tess has been putting off her Heroic Divine class and shirking her training duties to stay with her." The auburn-haired beauty frowned in thought, "I hope she comes out of that room soon. I hope either of them do."

Joyona nodded, but thought that she should say something calming to Mairaela. "Be comforting," Joyona thought, "Make her feel better!"

"They'll be fine," Joyona replied, wincing at her own response. Gods, that was so reductive, just blowing off Mairaela's worries. "What am I doing?" Joyona panickedly thought to herself.

Mairaela put her elbows up onto the table and rested her chin in her hands, "Then there's that Corpsmen's Ball coming up.."

Joyona had thought of it. Uthr above, she wanted to ask Mairaela to go with her. "Ask her," she thought, "Ask her right now."

"I was planning on going with Tess," Mairaela said before Joyona could work up the courage, "But now I'm not so sure, since Gwen's back. They will either go together or they'll both stay in the dorms."

Mairaela frowned, glancing off to the side. Her beautiful, green eyes blinked toward Joyona, "Do you want to go with me?"

Joyona's heart skipped a beat. The butterflies in her stomach started bouncing off the walls. Say yes. Gods, say yes.

"You should go with Scirocca," Joyona said softly.

Gods, what the fuck was going on?! Joyona was screaming at herself in her mind, but in the back of it she was thinking, "She deserves to go with someone pretty and sweet, like she is. I'm doing this for her."

"Oh," Mairaela said, lifting her head from her palms. She looked surprised, "Um, sure, okay, I'll ask her. Do you think she's going?"

Joyona nodded her head, "If she's going with you, she will."

"You sure you don't want to go with me?" Mairaela asked.

Joyona nodded. She couldn't change her mind now. That would be so weird. Mairaela would think she's weird. She couldn't let that happen. "I don't dance," Joyona explained.

"Oh, I don't need to dance," Mairaela assured her.

Joyona just nodded her head, eating some more food. Mairaela dropped the subject and the two sat in silence for a while.

"What type of Old God do you think we'll go against when we get an assignment?" Mairaela asked with a smirk on her face, "I'm going to bet… the Old God of wine. When we win we can get all the wine we want." She smiled and pointed a fork toward Joyona, "What do you think?"

"Lobsters," Joyona replied

Mairaela burst into a fit of laughter, enough to bring a smile to Joyona's face. She hid it again before Mairaela saw; She didn't want to look goofy. Her smile was pretty goofy looking.

Mairaela asked, "And what would be the foe there? More lobsters?"

"A boiling pot," Joyona nodded.

Mairaela laughed some more. Joyona was in a state of bliss, loving the fact that she could bring Mairaela some happiness. She wished that she could always do that.

Mairaela stood and began collecting her food, "I'm going to head out, okay?"

Joyona bobbed her head in acknowledgement. She could see out of the corner of her eye that Mairaela opened her mouth to speak, but she must've thought twice about it, instead saying, "See you later, Joyona."

Mairaela walked away, leaving Joyona to sulk over her food.

"Gods, that was sad," came a voice from the side. Joyona looked over to see Miren approaching. The Winter Fey took a seat across from Joyona. She mostly had a plate of vegetables. "Why did you do that, you lug?

"She had to leave," Joyona replied, taking a swig of beer, "Was I supposed to stop her?"

Miren rolled her eyes, "You know what I mean. You aren't that dense, even if you sometimes play it up."

Joyona kept eating her food, not responding to Miren even as she was called out for her aloof behavior.

"Oh, come now. It is clear as day that you like Mairaela. I just don't understand why you're making it difficult for yourself," The Winter Fey was smiling, which irritated Joyona, "She asked you to the Ball. You didn't even have to ask her. Gods, I'm sure that Mairaela even knows."

"I don't want to go with anyone," Joyona replied, "I'm going to show up and leave early."

Miren rolled her eyes, "Maybe now you will. Or else you'll spend the whole time sulking as Mairaela and Scirocca dance, knowing that it could've been you."

"Be quiet," Joyona replied, "You don't know me or her."

Miren's mouth cocked to the side and she shrugged, "Alright." She stood back up and picked up her plate, "I'll go somewhere else."

"No need, I'm done," Joyona said, grabbing her dishes and tray and trudging off to clean them.

She went to the sparring yard, watching a few fights before she volunteered for a group match. Three on three. The moment it started, Joyona charged into the fray. When she got there, a battle axe was swung at her. She caught the man's arm, punching him in the gut with a heavy hand. She used his arm to swing him like a club into the other two. Joyona let out a roar, grabbing the head of one of the remaining men and throwing him to the ground with such force that he went skidding through the dirt. The other one she threw into the air, letting him hit the ground on his back.

Her teammates showed up right when the fight ended, and Joyona was tempted to swing on them, too. She held back, knowing that a drop in points would upset Mairaela. She took a deep breath, calming herself. She tried to get into more matches that day, but no one accepted to fight her after that.

She returned to her room, sitting upon her bed. Elbows upon her knees, she hunched forward and stared at the floor. She was angry, and the only person she could be angry at was herself.

She spoke softly to herself, "I'm going to ask her."

Chapter 87 - Deceit

Miri watched the ongoing conversation between Tess and Gwendolyn. The conversation was uncomfortable. Tess had been trying to get close to Gwendolyn, but the knight was avoiding her attempts. Miri registered so much shame coming from Gwen. She looked near to tears at every moment, but just barely held things back. Tess was quiet, patient, waiting for Gwendolyn to feel up to talking.

There was something that wrenched at Miri's heart, seeing the two of them communicate wordlessly. Gwendolyn showed that she was hurting; Tess supporting.

Miri thought back to the conversation that she and Tess had before Gwendolyn showed up. It made her ill to think about how much she had to lie to get Tess to drop the questioning. It was best for the both of them though, especially Tess. Miri ached. She had to lie to Tess so much. She didn't expect it to be this hard, but she had to. For her. For Tess. She would do anything for Tess. She owed her everything.

"Performance," Miri thought. It was easy to assume what that might mean and Tess was no exception to that trap. Miri could only sigh.

"I'm sorry, Tess," she thought, "But it's for your own good."

She watched the scene of Tess and Gwen. It was going to be silent for a while. Gwen wasn't ready to talk; Tess wasn't going to push her.

"Do you want to go for a walk?"

Miri turned to the side to find a man wrapped in cloth and rags. These wrapping hid most of his face, all except for his yellow eyes and nose. Even still, it was plain to see that his face was scarred up with more than a dozen deep cuts that left him with deep crags in his skin. Miri knew that they caused him pain. She long since stopped feeling bad for him.

"Why if it isn't the almighty Crow Lord," Miri said, rising to her feet and gesticulating a praising motion, "A walk with you? Fuck off."

"I thought we should speak without this distraction," Nym replied, "I felt it would be more comfortable for you. I know how emotional you can get."

Miri ground her teeth. Damn this man.

"Fine, where to?"

"Home, I suppose," spoke the darkly wrapped man.

Miri groaned, "You mean your home. Hasn't been mine for… gods, ages now."

"Centuries, yes," Nym bobbed his head, "I tidied up, you should see the place."

Miri couldn't help but laugh at that one, "Sure. Let's go."

"I'll meet you there," he replied, vanishing into smoke.

Miri took a last look at Gwendolyn and Tess. This better not be a mistake. She floated through the walls, entering and passing through a number of other rooms until she lifted herself into the sky. Yes, Tess thought she was limited to her own perception, and while that may be true in the Void, it wasn't true here.

With the speed of thought, Miri flew hundreds of miles until she wound up in western Sevarra, just East of the Branch of the Sword, past a little down called Mistburn. That's where she grew up. What a simpler time that was. Miri knew her family had long since passed, but she wondered what their short lives were like. She didn't know them for long. Father, mother, brothers and sisters. Gods, she couldn't even remember how many siblings she had.

She slipped just past Mistburn and into the woods beside it, passing through the canopy and ending up in a small grove concealed by branches, ivy and vines.

Her surroundings were mostly empty. She looked about the place, reminiscing about times long gone, before she slipped through the floor. Miri flew straight through what was usually a winding passageway, completely impalpable. When she reached the bottom she found herself in a large, uneven cave dwelling. Wooden platforms were set up to make ascent or descent throughout the cave easier, bracing the ceiling with thick beams, or forming different rooms.

Others were present, eating their meals or discussing with one another; Telling tales of rumors they'd heard in the Magocracy or gloating about some big score of theirs. When she manifested into their vision, they startled, drawing knives and daggers.

"I'm here at his request. Stand down or you'll see your own guts," Miri replied.

"It's true. Stand down," Nym replied, appearing behind Miri.

She was never faster than him before. He must be getting slow in his old age. She chuckled at the thought that the Crow Lord would allow himself to age. She supposed she had just gotten faster.

The men that accosted her sheathed their blades and bowed their heads to Nym as he and Miri passed.

"We'll go to my office," Nym replied.

Miri smirked, "Oh, you have an office now?"

"We have beds, too."

Miri scoffed, "No wonder your flock is getting soft. You're going easy on them."

Nym nodded his head, "Perhaps."

Miri was led into the Crow Lord's dwelling. The door opened, leading to a fine chamber. It was similar to a false bottom of a treasure chest, though. For one that was approved, passing through the doorway brought them elsewhere. As she and Nym slipped through the door, Miri's vision darkened and she found herself in a Void Pocket. This one had been separated from the Black Sun, stolen like anything else the Crow Lord would steal. Eventide didn't even know where this one was.

She looked around the room—decadent and rich—finding it to be full of cases of artifacts, each one stolen and each one more incredible than the last. 

The Book of Fallen Kings that detailed the corruption of the Empire that led to a terrible, bloody coup and the reign of a false ruler. 

The antidote to the poison that the Storm King suffered from, immobilizing him deep beneath the oceans. This would be even more impressive were it not Nym that poisoned the Storm King in the first place.

Ozha's carving knife, a blade made of empowered coral, which the merfolk used to form the contours of the ocean floor.

Perhaps most impressive of all was in a glass container, shining light upon the room. The Archfey Sorscha's heart, queen of the Fey. Most amazing about this theft is that it wasn't her physical heart, but the emotional core. Miri had always respected that about Nym. He could steal anything, no matter if it was physical or metaphorical.

"So what do you want?" Miri asked, trying to hide the nostalgic feeling that she had at this moment.

Nym replied, "I miss my little nestling. Could I not invite you here just to spend time with you?"

"No," Miri replied, "And you know it. I know it. You don't feel like that. You never did. So stop toying and let's get on with it."

The Crow Lord nodded his head in understanding, "I'm going to light some incense, if you do not mind."

"Go wild," Miri replied.

Nym began this process, opening a golden ball and sprinkling various herbs into it. As he lit it and replaced the porous lid, he spoke, "I'd heard you came back. Did you enjoy your little sojourn with Eventide?"

"Not particularly," Miri responded, crossing her arms beneath her chest.

"And I'd heard you're with…" Nym snapped his fingers a few times, feigning forgetfulness.

"Tess," Miri replied.

"Ah, right," he said with a nod, inhaling some of the smoke from the incense, "You know, this is the second home you've fled from. Don't you think it's time to look inward a bit?"

"I have. I had no choice when it came to you. You stole me and fucked my head up. And you know why I went to Eventide," She looked around, "Where's Missi? You get her killed yet?"

"She's on the job. Back to the topic."

"Well, I had no choice with you. I had no control, no agency to say yes or no," Miri replied.

"I saved you from an early death. A meaningless life," Nym explained, "I blessed you with sapience and you are angry at me for it?"

"You and Her both."

"Tch," Nym scoffed, shaking his head, "Were it not for that, the Black Sun would've eaten us already. Don't forget that."

Miri couldn't. He was right about that part, "Just… What do you want, Nym? Let's get this over with."

"If you'd like," Nym replied, "We need to talk about Eventide, Krahe."

[End of Book 1]