Chapter 7: The Somewhat More Recent Past (Fmast MF FF magic)

© 2011 Rhys Lysander

Ch. 1 || Ch. 2 || Ch. 3 || Ch. 4 || Ch. 5 || Ch. 6 || Ch. 7 || Ch. 8 || Ch. 9 || Ch. 10|| Ch. 11|| Ch. 12

[1]
I grew up just outside the Heline Suur. What most people do not realize is that the word 'heline' means forest in our local language. I never much cared for the name “The Forest Suur.” Anyway, like I said before, from the time I was very young, my best friend, Alicia, would let me hide in her house as her mother, Julienne, told  her gathered friends stories of a wonderful man she had met long ago. Julienne was the young woman who had walked out of the forest carrying a certain wooden penis a number of years before. Over the years Julienne remembered more detail, but told the stories less and less, but never with less emotion. Alicia and I wondered why the tales of her being ravished at the hands of another did not upset her father, but for some reason he never seemed to mind. One of those present for much of the story telling was my mother.

For me, like most teenagers, by the time I hit thirteen I at least understood the ways of men and women. Or, at least, males and females. It was around that time that I started to develop breasts, and also discovered that I did not need the male part of the equation for my own girly parts to bring me pleasure. It wasn't long after that when I figured out what those odd noises were that came from my parents bedroom late at night. It soon became obvious that the more detailed Julienne was with her stories, the more noisy my evenings at home were when my mother returned from listening to them.

Julienne's stories, coupled with what one could observe around farms and in the forest, led me to quite an enjoyable year of discovery. My mother was also anything but bashful in telling me all about the intricacies. It would be a few years before I let a boy, or a man for that matter, explore where my fingers were already venturing, but I was in no rush. Julienne's dreamy, faraway look whenever she spoke of her far off mysterious lover led me more than once to go back to my house and my room and make some noise of my own.

When I turned fifteen, my breasts were full, my hips rounded, and boys were actively seeking to play with any part of me that I would let them catch hold of. Unfortunately for them, I was smarter, quicker, and sometimes stronger than any of them. The one that once tried to be more forceful with me still sings an octave too high. But I digress. Two things happened at the age of fifteen that were really important. I stole something for the first time, and I had your prick inside me. Well, it was a replica, but I am certain it was modeled after you.

Growing up near the Suur, we all knew about the dryads and the Guardian. Boys the age of fifteen would wander into the forest to be tested. Though by tradition they were not to speak of their ritual, every once in a while one of them would get drunk a few days later and regale a gathered crowd with stories of the incredibly wanton, and typically needy, dryads. More than once these stories led to someone deciding she had to have a bit of what the dryads had sampled a few nights before. After that first time, the men were expected to, ah, commune with the forest on a regular basis. At least until they got married.

For the young women of the town, the forest was a benign place of beauty, but generally nothing really interesting. After all, whatever the dryads were taking from the men, we could not provide it. Then one day a boy I was interested in, maybe even interested in discovering how our parts might fit together, went into the forest for his first time. Though he was still quite interested in me when he emerged later, something had changed. The knowledge he had gained put him ahead of me in a contest I had not known I was engaged in. I was angry when it hit me that what was really eating me was jealousy. Those bitches in the forest had sampled that boy before I did, and worst of all, now he knew something I did not. Blinded with anger and taking leave of my senses, I tromped into the forest to have a word with the Guardian. It was probably the dryads that had molested my would be boyfriend, but dryads didn't talk so much as giggle...and jiggle, sometimes.

“You come into my demesne angry and spoiling for a fight,” a disembodied female voice said.

“I'm looking for the bitch that ruined Urian for me,” I said, as defiant as I could.

I jumped at the sound of a giggle behind me.

“Ruined? By giving him pleasure and taking some from him? How did that ruin him?” the voice said.

“Because I was going to learn with him, and know he already knows.”

“Ah. I understand. Because he now has knowledge, you are not his equal.”

I hadn't thought of it that way. I was still angry. “No, it is because you taught him, not me.”

“I sense you truly believe we have wronged you.” The voice seemed closer suddenly. “Child, turn and face me.”

I turned around, and right there, not a foot away from me, was the Guardian. Although we had all heard of her, very few had ever seen her. She had red hair, like mine, but I was proud that my breasts were a bit bigger than hers and my hips were curvier. All that said, she was far more beautiful than anyone I had ever seen. I mean, I'm not really into women, but wow. She was just amazing. Staring at her nude form and rooted to the spot, she reached out and put her hands alongside my head. A voice spoke inside my head, almost like a whisper you could just barely make out.

“Clear your mind and tell me your desire, Arpi my young elf,” the Guardian said.

Odd, I had not told her my name. Her fingertips on my temples were very relaxing. “Your desire, Arpi.” My mind cleared, and out of that clearing an image formed. There was no face, but I knew exactly who it was, and so did the Guardian. I felt flush at once and I knew instantly that I was wet. I heard the Guardian breathe in deeply. “Ssshhh, mmmmm. A very powerful need for one so young.” My mind was still clear, but it seemed she was reading it. “Ahh, you have been hearing of this one for many, many years.” I nodded. “Well then. I will give you that which you desire, in a manner of speaking. But first there is something you must do.” She took her hands from my head, leaving me a little dizzy. She steadied me by holding onto my breasts. Oddly this did not bother me. She was very attractive after all.

“What do I need to do?”

“To meet a strong desire like yours requires a demonstration of that desire on your part. Otherwise it might only be in your mind.”

“But it is in my mind.”

“Yes, but an action in the real world will tell me if you want it to be real for you. If you do it, I will make that happen as recompense for Urian. Do we have a bargain?” She finally let go of my breasts.

I knew from very old tales that the Guardian never, ever made bargains without a very serious agenda. But hey, I was fifteen. “Yes, we do. Now what do I need to do?”

“Leave the forest and return when you know. I doubt it will take very long.” She giggled.

“What?”

“Nothing. Go now. When you return you will have an experience you will never forget.”

Of course, at the time I thought she meant that the experience in the forest would be one I would never forget. That was true, of course, but there was something much more important to happen before that.

[2]
“I can learn to resist anything but temptation--” RUSH, Resist

By the time I made it to the edge of the forest I knew what I had to do—I had to bring Julienne's most cherished keepsake back to the forest.

I ran from the forest back to my friend Alicia's house, my breasts bouncing as I went. From the position of the sun in the sky there were still a few hours before Alicia and her parents would be home. But though I had the time, there was still the problem of knowing where to look for the wooden phallus. There was also the problem that I had never stolen anything in my life. Though it was my intent to return it, even if undiscovered the fact would remain that I had taken it.

Should I wait and just simply ask Alicia or her mother for it? No way to know. From the tone of the Guardian there was a time limit on our deal, and if I was too long in returning then whatever she had in mind might no longer be available. I arrived at their house with my sweaty shirt clinging lewdly to my chest, outlining every curve. My nipples were clearly evident as I approached the front door, though from my own nervousness and excitement or from just the run I did not know.

“Hello?” I called out upon entering the house, as if to gain confirmation of what was already expected. There was no reply. It seemed no one was home. I cast my gaze around the short entryway and into the large open room beyond. Their family had lived here for all my life, at least fifteen years, and the number of possessions in the house were a testament to the time. Though normally not seen or appreciated, the number of containers and cubbies around a house is overwhelming to once faced with the thought of finding something that might be in just about any of them.

I dropped heavily into a chair, her father's favorite. “Fuck.” There seemed no easy answer to finding the wooden prick. At least, not if all I did were search the entire house. I had never considered something like this. If you wanted to conceal something, how would you do it? There were several things to consider: why were you trying to hide it? Who were you trying to hide it from? Another thought: did you want to see it or just know you had it? I considered what I might be able to determine on my own.

Julienne's story of emerging from the forest with the wooden penis was well known to everyone in town. Her detailed retelling of what had happened before that emergence had earned her even more attention than the event itself. The wooden penis was the only physical reminder of that short but memorable period of her life. I was certain it was in the house. Making my way to the bedroom of my friend's parents, I tried to recall any big changes around their house over the years. One thing stood out: the only time Alicia's parents had ever exchanged heated words in front of us, or her it seemed. I was young, maybe seven or eight years old, and I did not remember the words, but the tone was unmistakable. It never happened again, and there was never any lull in their mutual adoration. And with Julienne's stories, no lull for the rest of the town either—including my parents.

What had they been arguing about? I searched my memories for clues, but nothing seemed to be clear enough for me to focus upon. Leaving the bedroom, I stood at the entrance to Alicia's room. Most likely it was not in here as I had been inside every possible hiding place for as long as I could remember. No, if it was in the house it was not the bedrooms. Making my way to the great room by the entryway, the place Alicia's parents entertained friends and family, I found another chair to sit in. Alicia's parents spent many, many hours here, exchanging words less and less over the years, but not from a lack of caring, but because the silence was comfortable for them. Only those who are happy with each other can tolerate that silence. I figured it was unlikely she placed the wooden prick in this room, as it would have been on her mind whenever she spied its location.

Having ruled out the bedrooms and the great room, the next place on the list for consideration was the kitchen. That sounded odd to me even before the thought was finished. I stood in the kitchen next to the large island that dominated the room. At its center was a butcher's block, a two foot square piece of wood an inch and a half thick. Knives, stirring spoons, skillets and more covered the island and the walls. Julienne, like my own mother, spent a great deal of time in here. She loved to cook and was known almost as much for her cooking as for her stories. Of course, those interested in her stories were almost the same as those interested in her cooking, so perhaps that was not so much of a coincidence.

As I stood in the kitchen looking over all the various things in sight, something was tickling at the edge of my attention. It would disappear if I tried to focus on it, but I was certain it was there, something I was missing. I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and cleared my mind. Julienne spent a lot of time in the kitchen. She enjoyed being in here. Many of the people to whom she told her stories would have heard them in this place. Had she ever shown them the memorable object from her past? And would she keep it here? Maybe the argument did not really matter, maybe that was just an errant thought. But if it was in the kitchen...where?

Suddenly, the fight between Alicia's parents was as clear as it could be. Her mother had taken an interest in carpentry, which her father had thought was not good work for a woman. The conversation devolved from there into all manner of recriminations and accusations, including Julienne's predilection to wax poetic about her long lost lover. The harsh words had ended in not a few tears, some of which I now realized belonged to Alicia and I. My cheeks were wet as I recalled the details of that night. But whatever the words, her parents never again had another exchange like that and most avidly continued to love each other.

Carpentry. A decision to hide the wooden dick. A need to keep it near. A love of the kitchen and telling stories here. Maybe even showing the famous phallus once in a while. Then I remembered a small detail: the island had replaced a large table at about that time. Not knowing exactly what I was doing, I started to run my hands over the island like a lover, pressing with my fingertips here and there in hopes of finding something that might not even be there—something that only one other knew of. On the side farthest from the door, the side least likely to ever have someone bump into it, my fingers found a piece that yielded. At first I was not sure I had found anything, for a look at the suspect area revealed nothing. I closed my eyes and trusted my fingertips, and with another try I was rewarded with an almost imperceptible --click--. Moving my fingers around more, a small panel slid to the side and a finger latch was revealed.

My heart was beating in my chest for I had found something meant to remain hidden. Opening the panel I withdrew a drawer, and within it was a piece of cloth wrapped around something about eight or nine inches long. Taking it from its hiding place, I unwrapped it and found the object of oh so many wives' tales around our town. The wooden phallus of renown was solid in my hands, firm as I always thought the real thing might feel. It had been maintained meticulously for there was no sight of dust or grime. And though I had only seen one real penis at that time, it looked perfect to me. I stood there for a short while, amazed that all the stories were true. It seemed unlikely that such a thing as I held could have been carved, but nevertheless, it was only a piece of wood. I slipped it into the pouch on my hip, returned the cloth and closed the secret drawer.

Departing the house I broke into a run a soon as I was able. The thrill of finding the forbidden and private, and of stealing it, even with the intent of giving it back, gave me an energy and strength I had not known before. When I reached the edge of the forest my excitement was spent. Entering the wood, I fell to my knees and called for the Guardian.

[3]
“My girlfriend's a dick magnet, my girlfriend's gotta have it--” Theory of a Deadman, Bad Girlfriend

The Guardian of the Suur came to me only moments after I called her name. As always, she was nude. She held out a hand and I gave her the wooden dildo. She ran her fingers over it as if she was considering it in some way, studying it. Looking back it might have even been appreciation, but it did not occur to me at the time. Silently, three of the dryads, young women who looked like younger and smaller versions of the Guardian, walked up to me and began to undress me. It was a little strange, but for some reason it did not bother me. Once my clothes were removed, their hands continued to roam over my body, caressing every inch and taking extra time on my neck, breasts, and even my pussy.

They guided me down onto to my back on the soft mossy forest floor. The Guardian knelt between my thighs, leaned over me so her face was inches from my own. “Now, close your eyes young elf and I will show you what your heart desires.”

I did as she asked, and as my eyes closed, I was suddenly no longer in the forest with four women.

A man walked toward me, tall and beautiful and nude, his cock partly erect and pointing at me. He knelt on the ground next to me, and kissed me full on the mouth. Our tongues intertwined and one of his hands starting roaming over my body. I clenched that hand with mine and held it to my breast. With my hand I guided his from one breast to the other and back as we continued to kiss. Laying down on his side, he trapped my left arm under his body, then used his wandering hand, which had just reached my inner thighs, to press my right arm under my body. With one arm pinned by his weight and the other held at the wrist, he broke the kiss and moved his lips to my neck. A chill ran down my spine as he nuzzled there. His free hand pressed on my inner thighs and I spread my legs as wide as possible to let him know I was more than willing. He kneaded and caressed my legs, his fingers venturing ever closer to my cleft but never making contact. Between his lips and fingers, I was burning with desire for him to touch my center. He did not make me wait long.

With great precision his fingers found and held my folds. I could tell I was very wet, but he rubbed my nether lips together rather than press them into me. He rubbed them together, tugging on them and causing them to pull on my clit. It was a manipulation I had never done for myself and it felt marvelous. I moaned, the sound coming from deep down inside my throat. He responded by rubbing me more firmly, and breaking away from my neck so he could watch my face. Through half-lidded eyes I watched him watch me as his skillful fingers stoked the fire that was already burning inside me. I thrust my hips upward to try and catch his fingers inside me, but he dodged away, grabbing a leg and trapping it between his. Now I could not thrust back at his probing fingers. Desperately wanting more, I squirmed against him, feeling his firm cock pressed against my leg.

Then, at the same time, he ground into my thigh with his cock as he pressed a finger inside me. I strained to meet the thrust of his digit, but he held me firm and watched as I closed my eyes and moaned aloud at his entrance. He stroked up and down and in and out as he worked his finger, or fingers, deeper inside. At the same time I felt his thumb find and rest on my clit, pressing down to squeeze it against his penetrating fingers. He seemed to pause for a moment, watching me carefully as if waiting for a reaction. I knew what he wondered. I rubbed against his cock. “I have had not had one of these inside me, but I have experimented.” He nodded as his fingers probed deeper.

Now fully inside me, he pressed upward and started to rub. Coupled with the pressure on my clit, my pleasure suddenly spiked. Though this was not the first time that the fingers of another had been inside me, he was doing things with his fingers that no other, including myself, had ever done. In moments I was surprised to feel another climax coming on. I strained against him, trying to pull my wrists free, trying to rub against his wonderful erection, and desperately wanting to move my hips as an active partner to his finger fucking. My exertions only served to lift me higher, and then the wave went over me and I cried out as a spectacular orgasm took me. I could feel myself tighten around his fingers, and as my back arched I could feel him strain to hold me down. His fingers drove me on, wave top to wave top as I contracted around him. My breath caught and no more sound did I make as his fingers drove me immediately to another peak. I was dazed, overwhelmed by what pleasure he had brought me, but then as soon as the wave passed, my hands were free.

He kissed me, then leaned down and took one of my nipples in his mouth. My breasts were large, even then, but that did not stop him from trying to take the whole thing in his mouth. His fingers were still moving, but not spurring me toward another climax just yet. He switched breasts a couple times, enjoying taking my breast in his mouth and flicking the nipple with his tongue. My hands free, I stroked his hair and back. He was firm, taut skin over supple muscle. He was quite, quite beautiful in an altogether masculine way. In my current position I could not reach his prick as he devoured my breasts. I thought about how desperately I wanted his cock inside me, and the thought made me shiver. As if sensing what I needed, he changed position. His mouth was still working on my breasts and one hand was still playing with my pussy, but now he was on his knees and with a turn of my head his wonderful cock was within reach.

It was the living version of exactly what I had heard and dreamed of for years. I reached out and circled it at the base. A sharp intake of breath told me he liked what I was starting. Exploring, I stroked and squeezed his member as he continued to keep me excited; on the edge, but never moving to take me over. I squeezed the fleshy knob at the end of his shaft and a bead of clear fluid oozed out. He was certainly as ready for me as I was for him. I marveled again at the juxtaposition of how soft yet hard his prick felt. Stroking and squeezing it I could feel his pulse. He continued to leak, so I spread his moisture over his cock and started stroking him in hopes he would exchange my hand for my pussy. I was studying his cock as I stroked it, amazed at the similarity to the wooden dildo. I wondered where it had come from, how it had been made.

“Fuck!” I screamed as his mouth suddenly locked on my clit, his tongue sliding into my pussy alongside his still probing fingers. His hips repositioned as his tongue lapped at my folds and delved inside me. It was my turn to surprise him, so I took advantage of his position and wrapped my lips around the head of his cock. It fit wonderfully and comfortably inside my mouth and I immediately started stroking him with my tongue. He had not broken stride, and it was only moments before he would drive me to what was clearly going to be a shattering orgasm. Taking a little more of his cock into my mouth, I placed my hands firmly on his buttocks and pulled. Though he was clearly enjoying my efforts, he was not distracted. As he continued to work me up toward an ever closer and higher peak, he followed where my hands led and his cock slid deeper into my mouth and then into my throat. I worked him with my tongue, wondering if he might let me please him this way, but even as he started to slowly fuck my throat he bit down with firm pressure on my clit.

Around his cock a muffled cry left my mouth as he brought me off. My pussy clasped his fingers, my hips bucked and drove my mons against his face, my lips pressed around the root of his shaft and I nursed unconsciously at his prick as he continued to pleasure me. He nibbled on my clit and I murmured around his cock. Though I was lost, he was clearly still in control for I was just coming off that peak when he drove his fingers deeper and back to that interesting spot. Pressing firmly and shifting to rapidly flicking my clit with his tongue, I exploded again. This peak was higher than the last, and I fell into a deep well of delight. His tongue kept up its pleasing beat for a long while, and then as I closed my eyes, it stopped. I still sucked on his cock, but soon he pulled free of my mouth, unsated. I did not need to open my eyes to know what he was going to do next. I felt him between my thighs, and as I opened my eyes he was holding his cock at my entrance. I had never wanted anything as much as I wanted him to thrust that wonderful cock into my pussy me and fuck me until he lost himself inside me.

He held himself there as if waiting for something. If he needed an invitation, after what had already happened, I gave it to him when I locked my heels on his butt and pulled my hips up to him. My pussy eagerly took him in as I thrust myself against him, and him into me. He was deep inside me, and I felt a sensation of closeness, of oneness that I had never felt with another person. He smiled at me and followed my hips down so he would remain within as I relaxed. Then, when I thought he would start stroking within me, he pressed deeper still. A wordless groan of approval left my mouth as he pressed his full length into me.

He surprised me again my lifting one of my legs all the way to my chest. He seemed surprised and pleased with my flexibility, and because of it he never had to withdraw as he then rolled me onto my chest. He did not rest his weight on me, though I would not have minded, but instead seemed to rest all his weight on his hips, pinning me to the forest floor with his prick planted deep inside me. Then, reaching under me to grasp my tits, he began at last to fuck me. He stroked slowly within me, savoring both the inward and outward movement. Both pulled at my lips and tugged at my clit, but there was more than the physical pleasure. The intimacy of the act, and the controlled measure of his thrusts as he not only took his pleasure of me, but gave it back to me fully two fold. I pushed up so he could reach my nipples, and he sped up his pace.

His breath was heavy in my ears, and his desire was hot on my neck. His strokes became suddenly more abrupt and demanding, and I came yet again. I moaned one long meaningless word as my pussy grasped at the fleshy pole that was doing such a wonderful job of pleasing it. As I rode the next wave he kept fucking me, slowing as my orgasm went on. I relaxed forward, trapping his hands under my tits. Before I knew it, he shifted his weight and rolled so I was on top of him, my back still pressed to his chest. He held me tight against him, and I spread my legs and placed my feet on the ground, not knowing exactly what might work, but trying, obscenely, to get him deeper within me.

The position worked, and I was rewarded when he started driving his hips up into me. My own hips responded, fucking him back as his hands held my tits with a firm grip. His breath was still on my neck, and it was getting hotter and heavier. His thrusts were becoming more forceful and I was feeling another orgasm approaching. With what little control I had in the situation, I concentrated and squeezed his prick in time with his thrusts until he became so quick that all I could do was try to hold the contraction. A growl filled my ears, and his thrusts became frantic as he drove to seed me. I could feel it as he suddenly swelled within me and got even harder. Then, without slowing at all, the growl changed and I felt him throb in release. That drove me over the edge and I joined him in bliss. Though lost in my own climax I could feel the change as he came deep inside me. If anything his thrusts became more aggressive while he was pumping his seed into me, his hands squeezing my tits firmly and pulling me tightly to his chest as he rutted within me. His orgasm lasted a long time, and when it was done he rolled to his side, keeping himself fully inside me as he nestled against my back, his hands never leaving my breasts.

[4]
I came to my senses a long, long time later. All signs of my lover were gone, save for the wooden likeness of his cock that lay beside me on the forest floor. Birds chirped and sang an soft rays of light came down through the forest canopy high above. I ran my hands over my body, scarcely able to believe what had happened. Though I had perhaps not had sex with a real man, my mind would never let me remember it otherwise. I had been with a man. I was now a woman, and I really, really liked it. There was only one problem. I wanted it to happen again, and not just because I was horny. And now that I had lived out a fantasy from a fantasy story, I knew I had to have it all. I found my clothes laying nearby and dressed casually. I knelt down and retrieved the wooden prick that Julienne had kept all these years. I had no idea if she still liked to remember him in a more intimate way, but the wood lacked something that my recent lover had—energy and purpose. I was willing to bet that my friend's father was more than happy to provide both whenever her mother was looking to relive her past.

As I turned to go, the Guardian was nearby. She was smiling, and though I am sure she wanted to say something sort of wicked, but she said something entirely different. “Things will never be the same for you now.”

Puzzled by the seemingly obvious statement, I had to say something. “What do you mean? The fact I have been loved by a man or the fact that I have had a chance to meet the man of my dreams?”

She laughed. “Both of course, and more. You will see. When I think on your future there is much, much to come for you.”

“My future? Can you see it?”

“Mmmm. A little. A wise one once said of the future 'Difficult to see, always in motion is the future'.”

“This wise one spoke backwards? What did he mean?”

The smile turned into a frown. “He meant that the future is not set. There is no fate but what we make. I can view one possible future, but not the future.” She straightened up. “Now, it is time for you to go.”

“Can I return?”

Her gaze became unfocused as she looked right through me. “Odd. I cannot say.” Her eyes refocused and she smiled again. “It is not important. You are welcome here. Just enter the forest and call me.”

“And what do I call you?

“Heline.”

“Forest? Isn't that kind of silly?”

“An elf wanders into my forest carrying a wooden likeness of the prick of her friend's mother's long lost lover and she calls me silly? You make a joke, correct?”

“Never mind.”

“I liked the sound of it. A long time ago my first lover called me that in the throes of passion. I liked it.”

“And who might that have been?”

“No one you would know. But the forest bears his name,” she smirked, “Just as I bore his children.”

…

Dathan interrupted her reverie. “Suur was able to breed with the Guardians? Huh. I'm not sure we expected that.”

“Breed with them? That's quite the romantic way to put it. And it wasn't quite the impression I had of what she did with him.”

“Maybe not, but that is the way of it isn't it?”

Arpi sighed and continued her story.

…

Once again, I ran all the way to town. This time because I feared my parents would be worried by the late hour and because someone might be home at Alicia's. I arrived at her home and saw some light through the windows. Sure enough, someone was home. Entering the house I found Julienne sitting in the kitchen sipping a glass of wine. “So, was it everything you thought it would be?” she asked, her tone flat. For a moment I considered evading her question, pretending that I perhaps did not know what she meant. Continuing into the kitchen, I saw the hidden drawer open and empty.

I sighed, not out of shame, but because I had been caught. “It was, but I think you know that.”

She nodded. “After all the years you spent listening, and I knew you were there starting many years ago, I am only surprised that you waited this long.” When I did not reply, she continued. “How did you find it?”

I recounted the whole process of deducing where it might be and then how I found it by touch. My mother was intrigued. “Well, this is perhaps not the path your parents would have chosen for you, but these things tend to follow their own lead.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

She stood and walked up to me, setting down her glass of wine and gathering me into a hug. “I think you may become quite the thief.”

I pushed her back a little ways. “A thief? Hardly a noble profession.”

She smiled. “Hmm. Just so. But here you stand, doubtless having recently enjoyed the likeness of one of my former lovers between your own thighs.” I made to open my mouth but managed not to say anything as she held up a finger. “A likeness, I might add, that you stole from me.” She pulled me back into the hug for a long while. Eventually she pulled away from me, patting me on the back.

“And what now?”

“Now? Now you should go home. Study. In a way, you are fortunate to have discovered a calling, such as it is, at such an early age. By the time you are ready to leave home you should be quite ready indeed.”

“My mother has said as much, but eighteen is such a long time away.”

When I stopped talking I thought about what she had said. A thief? Me? I realized Julienne was staring at me, waiting for me to pay attention again: like my mother, she could always tell when I wasn't listening.

“And when you are ready, you must leave here and seek him out.” She held forth her hand and I gave her the wooden penis. She took it, almost reverently, and placed it back in the drawer. “You must seek him out, and if he still lives, you must love him for both of us.”

[5]
“So you are saying she loves me?”

“I don't know about that. She certainly loves her memory of you, but that is not the same.”

Dathan nodded. “And you?”

“Hmmm,” Arpi purred, snuggling tighter against him. “I am certainly enjoying myself. But love? It seems a bit early for that. Can I ask you a question?”

“Of course.”

“Did you give the wooden penis to her?”

Dathan nodded. “Yes, although it took on the shape she wanted, not necessarily what I, or she, had.”

“I thought you were just a tad easier to handle.”

Dathan ignored her comment and was playing with her breasts again. “I believe there is another part of your tale you are supposed to tell me?”

“About my most interesting heist? Mmmm, that is a very good story, if a bit painful at times.”

“And when you are done, I need to take you to Shrikeen again.”


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