Chapter 8: A Quest (FF MFM oral 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]
“The ship is taking me far away, far away from the people who care if I live or die--” MUSE, Starlight

I suppose there are some in the world, humans mostly, who would call me a slut. Truth is, as you have already guessed, I like sex. Provided it's enjoyable there isn't much reason not to indulge the senses whenever the need arises. This isn't to say that I have sex with every man whom crosses my path, far from it. But it does mean that I am willing and able to engage in it whenever I like, whether for business or desire. Sometimes, it is the more obvious. Other times, well, the easiest way to a mark's heart is not through his pocketbook, but his dick.

Shortly after I turned eighteen I left home with my parent's blessing. I think they were ready for me to go. The town of Vald on the northwest coast of Karine was my first destination. A bustling place with thousands of people, it was there I first plied my trade. To my surprise, there was already a band of pickpockets and cutpurses operating in town. But what surprised me even more was that they were organized into some kind of guild like thing. We even paid dues. In exchange for this small tax on my efforts, the Guild provided leads on promising jobs, helped us avoid the guards and even provided some meager sleeping accommodations. Overall it was a pretty good setup for an eighteen year old elf trying to make it on her own.

There were a couple of rough patches I had to deal with though. Just as at home there were all manner of boys, now young men, who were desperately after what was inside my clothes. The first time one of them surprised me with a dagger and tried to make his pursuit more forceful I had to make a couple of decisions. First, knife or no he was getting a knee in the balls for even thinking he was going to force himself on me. Second, I picked up a dagger the next day and spent the next three months becoming very, very good at using it. Third and finally, I learned that the Thieves' Guild is not long on forgiveness when you break the rules. Kicking Rogan in the stones was forgivable under the circumstances. Using his own knife to carve 'ass' on his chest as he lay gasping for air, was not. Something about drawing blood crossed the line. Lucian, local Guildmaster and a charming and handsome human, called me to his office the next day. He said very little, but the message was clear—leave town at once.

Even though it was on the coast, Vald was a poor seaport and did not have much in the way of shipping trade. In fact, in all my time there I only saw two ships enter port. As the thought of actually leaving the island grew on me, I made my way to the small city of Emaveer on the northernmost part of Karine. This time when I entered the town I knew what I was looking for...and so did the guards. They spotted me as a troublemaker straightaway and it became essential to find the local Guild for protection, if nothing more. The Guildmaster, a short man with roguish good looks, took a liking to me at once and I found myself with more work than I knew what do with. This time it was my success that forced me to leave. Well, that and fucking the Guildmaster. Turns out your typical Guild member thinks fucking the boss means you get the best deals and special treatment. I don't know about the best deals, but if by special treatment you mean more great sex than a girl should be legally allowed to have, then yes, I got that.

Over the months I became less and less liked around the Guild hall. The good news was that I had money, and lots of it, and the more experienced members of the Guild were more than willing to teach me any and all tricks they could. As it became progressively less fun to be around the Guild, I turned my attention to other pursuits and picked up some skills that were marketable in the light of day. I was a quick study with a blade, which led to more than a few short protection jobs. Then, a chance meeting at a pub late one night led me to make the acquaintance of two female sailors. Given how things were going at the Guild, it did not take much to convince me to give that a try. And no, I was not surprised when both of them tried to seduce me—separately at first and then together. Did they succeed you ask? Hmmm, that is a story for another time.

A few week-long trips to nearby islands and I was competent enough to earn a place as an able-bodied seaman. Everything about that designation sounds funny. Well, except the last part. Turned out my two female teachers were just as much into men as they were into each other. After my recent experience with the Thieves' Guild, I steered clear of the male crew members and let my two friends take care of them. There were no complaints.

Several months after mastering the basics and earning my way into a crew, I found myself on Anulok in the town of Thabo. We weren't supposed to be there. The Gypsy had run into a storm and put in for repairs. But while the ship needed almost a month of constant work, there was little for most of the crew to do except wait. Most of us found odd jobs around town, but as for me, well, I once again made the acquaintance of the local Guild. To my relief, none of them had ever heard of me. In no time at all I was bringing in more than a little treasure for them and it literally gave me the run of the place. Running with the thieves for a month was good for me. I relearned skills and mastered new ones, easily surpassing their marks for advancement.

Since trouble and I were best of friends, going way back together, it was only natural that my friend found me before the ship could leave Thabo. This particular rendezvous with trouble, however, turned out to be unbelievably fortuitous. To make a long story short, I was set up by a rival within the Guild and ended up needing to steal something from the Guardian of the Adavanha forest. Of course, I did not know it was the Guardian I had to steal from, and if I had there was no way I would have accepted the contract. Naturally, this is exactly what my 'friend' inside the Guild had intended.

In the center of Anulok Island, located between two large forests, is a curious peak called Mount Uttarad. There was certain sacred rock within the mountain, said to be mostly made of gold, that was my target. The information led me to a concealed entry and into the heart of the mountain, and over the course of a full day I was able to sneak into the chamber that held the stone.

[2]
Oh, it was indeed a glorious sight. The stone was egg-shaped, gold in color and marbled with other types of rock and shot through with crisscrossing lines of bright blue. It was maybe a foot long and was sitting strangely out in the open, its only protection its probable weight and obscurity—or so I thought when I went to put my hands on it.

I actually did get to touch it, for only a moment, and was surprised when it was much colder than the stone it sat upon. But no sooner had I touched it than the room shook and an enormously loud voice said, “Who trespasses and seeks to steal from me?”

This was not the first time in my life I had been caught with my hand on the goods. It did seem, however, that when I got caught it was invariably a very, very big deal. No point in hiding. “My name is Arpi,” I said with as much false courage as I could muster.

“And did you think you could succeed?” the voice said, now coming from immediately behind me.

Not knowing who was behind me I drew my dagger and spun in an instant, aiming to stun the person, not kill them. But as I sighted the owner of the voice, I saw my error. A beautiful woman, clearly a relative of the Guardian of the Heline Suur, nonchalantly blocked my arm and the blade clattered away on the stone floor. I froze, hoping beyond hope that this being would not simply kill me where I stood. She took one step forward to be right against me, and as she did I smelled her fragrance. Powerful and raw, a mixture of the purity of the deep forest, the energy you can sense in the air after a lightning storm, and the unmistakable scent of an aroused woman. Her face was inches from mine when she inhaled deeply, getting a sense of me.

A flush came over her features, and I felt one come over mine as well. She placed her hands on my sides and brought her mouth to my neck. When she kissed me there my knees went weak, but she had already slipped one hand around me and she pulled me tight to her. Her other hand moved up to cup a breast, then to tease a nipple. I was rooted to the spot by the overwhelming power and sexuality of the woman. I distantly realized I was moaning, hoping she would kiss me, but she continued to nuzzle my neck and hold me tight even as I felt her hand leave my breast and move lower.

“The will of the world is quite strong in you, Arpi,” she said, pausing and then kissing my neck again.

Willingly I moved my legs apart and she reached under my tunic, cupping my sex and deftly moving my garments out of the way. To my surprise (really), I was already wet and she she wasted no time pressing what felt like two fingers into my pussy and starting to stroke my clit. I was very ready to come when she broke her lock on my neck and the hand on my back was suddenly holding the hair on the back of my head in a tight grip. Though startled by her move, her other hand was still inside me and working my clit. I could not bring myself to try to move away.

I felt a tingle inside my mind and then she asked, “Why are you here? What do you want?” The answers to those questions came readily to mind, and while the first question was answered just as she had hoped, the second was a bit different.

I think my answer surprised even me. She pulled back suddenly, shifting her grip on my hair and withdrawing her wonderful fingers. “Speak what you have just thought. I would know that you are sincere.”

“I want to find the man that Julienne knew and have the chance to love him.”

“Show me how he appears,” she said. I did the best I could to bring the face of my dream lover from that day in the Suur into my mind's eye. I couldn't be sure, but it seemed she was surprised again. “Tell me child, do you know what the thing is that you attempted to steal?”

I shook my head slightly, the most I could do with her hand still firmly holding my hair. She smiled very broadly, her expression a mixture of mischief, lechery and compassion.

Then, with no warning, she pushed my head down and thrust those same fingers into me from behind. I flailed at her hand for balance, but she avoided my attempts as she readily worked me back up to a climax. I was panting now, eagerly submitting to her fingers and desperate for release. Suddenly, she stopped, but kept her fingers in me and a firm thumb on my clit. “I forgive you for attempting to steal what you did not know belonged to me, and I offer my help to you get what you desire, for a price. If you agree, just say 'yes Adavanha.'”

There was no hesitation in me. “Yes Adavanha,” I muttered.

“Then come for me,” the Guardian said. Her fingers pumped my pussy in a staccato manner and her thumb rhythmically strummed my clit. Her scent was full in my nose and a moment later I exploded in climax as her deft fingers rang one, then two, and then a third orgasm from my body in as many moments. She kept pleasuring me at a lowering pace until I was breathing almost normally again, then she let go of my hair and I literally fell forward onto the stone floor. I rolled over and sat up. Adavanha, the Guardian of this wood, was already walking away from me. “Follow,” she said, and I did.

[3]
As soon as we were outside I realized the passage to get under the mountain had taken me far from the mountain itself, for we walked for no more than ten minutes before we emerged from the green covered mouth of a cave, the mountain more distant than I would have figured. The tunnel led us directly into the forest, and from the sun's location it appeared we were in the southwestern forest of Anulok, the Adavanha Thok. The Guardian, Adavanha, was several paces in front of me, and I followed her until she stopped at last. She sat on a comfortable looking patch of ground, and I prepared to join her until she stopped me. “Remove your clothes young one, for when with me we will embrace nature, and not keep barriers to feeling it.”

After what had happened under the mountain, I was not exactly self conscious. As I stripped she looked at me with approval, and when I was at last nude she motioned for me to sit. Her gaze was one of appreciation of my body, in a directly sexual way. If she had asked me to do anything just then, her look of smoldering desire would have given me no choice but to accept. She leaned over and ran on hand from my neck, between my breasts and down to my mound. “I think the will of the world has chosen well. You are quite suited to its purpose.” A question was obvious on my face, but she silenced me with a gesture, “That knowledge is not meant for you and I have already said too much. Tell me, are you concerned as to the price of my help?” she asked.

I shook my head, willing as I was to do anything to find the man in my dreams.

She smiled thinly. “While I admire your passion, you need to be more careful. Many will offer their help for a price, and it is usually more healthy for one to ask the terms before agreeing to the price.”

Not knowing how to take that remark, I stayed quiet. Her expression softened and she continued, “My sisters and I have been here a long time, and we know a great many things.” She leaned forward, “But there is always a price for information, and information is always the most highly sought prize.”

“Can you not tell me where the man is?” I asked. “It seemed that you may know of him.”

She laughed heartily. “Ah, youth. Perhaps I know who it is you seek, but it has been many, many years. Besides, to fulfill your dreams you will require the most ancient and powerful magic that we know. Magic, I must add, that we no longer have access to.”

I took her words to mean that my quest was lost, but seeing my crestfallen expression, she waved her hand as if to dismiss my fears. “That we no longer have it at our disposal does not mean that it no longer exists. Indeed, one may be able to find such magic if you but know the right place to look.”

“And that is the information you offer me.”

“Hmmm. Just so.”

“And the price for this information?”

“There is a certain book you must obtain for me.”

My eyebrows rose, “A book? What's the catch?”

“Indeed. What I ask you will be difficult, so I shall tell you the whole truth in this case. Many long years ago the founders of this world forswore certain things in order to start anew. Certain non-magical means of doing things were banned forever, all records of that knowledge destroyed. At least, that was the plan. But it has come to our attention that at least one book with some of this forbidden knowledge still exists. That is the book you must obtain for me.”

“This would appear to be, as they say, right up my alley.”

Adavanha stood and paced. “If you refer to the theft of the book, you are correct. However, you must remember that the book itself is only one part of the problem. Knowledge is the entirety of the problem. You will bring the book to me. Though you will not be able to read it, you must not open it once you have it.”

I was nodding, still wondering if there was a punchline and yet at the same time knowing it was coming. “The knowledge in the Tome of Dragons is a contagion that cannot be allowed to spread. My sisters and I have taken oaths to that end.”

“But you cannot get to the book?”

“Hmmm. There are places in the world we cannot walk. In those places we must rely on those such as you.”

“And so when I find this book?”

“You must kill everyone--”

I coughed, “Kill?”

She frowned at the interruption. “Kill, everyone who has read the book or knows what it contains.” Adavanha stopped pacing right in front of me. She bent at the waist and moved her face to within inches of mine. “The knowledge in that book could kill a great many on this world. To prevent that I am willing to do almost anything.”

She watched my expression, then said, “I understand your reluctance, but it is misplaced. You know where my sisters and I live. We are surrounded by life. The idea of taking it gives us no pleasure, no solace.” She reached out and took my chin in her hand, looking directly into my eyes. “And in this case it is beyond question the right thing to do.”

Her eyes bored into my soul as she spoke the words and held my gaze. There was no looking away, even the urge to blink was absent. She was waiting for an answer.

“I will do as you ask, Adavanha.” The words felt hollow as they left my mouth, but both of us knew I had spoken truly.

She told me roughly where I should begin to look for the book. She also gave me a magical ring that let me sense truth. I would simply need to ask people if they had knowledge of the book and I would know if they were telling the truth.

Before I could leave, there was something she had said that I did not understand. “Adavanha, you said something to me that I would like to understand.”

“Another question?” the Guardian asked.

“I will understand if you to not answer, and I do not desire to bargain for it. You said the 'will of the world is strong in me.' What does that mean?”

Adavanha looked at me, her eyes filled with compassion. “The world is alive, Arpi. And though it may not think as you or I, it has hopes and even purpose. You, my dear elf, have a destiny. One of which I cannot speak for most of it is closed to me. The will of the world is for you to have that destiny.”

“And am I to know this destiny?”

The Guardian laughed. “Not before you have firmly committed to it, no.”

“And if I choose poorly?”

She smiled. “If you simply do what you think best, the world will have chosen well.”  She saw the question in my eyes. She added, “What is best for the world is not always best for all who live upon it, child.” She grabbed my chin with a firm grip, her eyes holding mine. “But know this, dearest Arpi, the spirit and will of the world is strong in me, and in my sisters, and we will never, ever lead you astray.”

I nodded, feeling the truth in her words. She let go of my chin and left me to sleep.

…

Dathan looked at Arpi with amusement, “Will of the world? What the hell is that?”

Arpi poked him in the ribs, hard, “No making fun. That was what she said. You don't like it? Take it up with her. Now, quit interrupting.”

[4]
The next day I began my trek back to Thabo. I managed to steer clear of the Guild and made my way back on board the Gypsy without drawing any attention to myself. By some quirk of good luck, if there is such a thing, the next destination of the ship was precisely where I needed to go—Feidorn Isle. The isle was the stronghold of a merchant family that had come to dominate trade on the western seas. Even the captain of a privateer like Gypsy paid a heavy tax to 'The Family.' There were some odd rumors about them, but most seemed like the kind of tall tales people loved to spin about those who seem to have an unfair advantage.

Of course, what I knew was that at least one member of the Dorn family had acquired something that was going to cost him his life. With any luck he had not learned anything more about the contents of the book and thus the 'purging' I was now responsible for would not leave the city streets awash in blood. Or at least I hoped not.

The passage to Feidorn Isle was uneventful. We had taken on several new crewmen in Thabo and we spent many hours training them on the particulars of our vessel. We all got along very nicely, so it was with a heavy heart that I parted with them as soon as we made port. Though I had enjoyed my time at sea, there was my life ahead of me, and one geas in particular stood between me and that dream.

The specific member of the family I was looking for, a thirty year old man named Rian Dorn, was not difficult to find. As a matter of fact none of the Dorn were difficult to find; they typically made their presence known almost anywhere they went. Though easy to find, Rian was a bit different from the rest of his family. Where most of them dressed garishly, he was reserved. Where most of them were boisterous, he was quiet. But like all of them, he had money. And money is very hard to keep quiet. After a few days of observing my new mark it was easy to see how I was going to get close to him. I bought a lovely dress, one that showed a scandalous (for Feidorn anyway) amount of cleavage, yet let me easily conceal a couple of weapons.

I waited for him one night at a tavern he tended to frequent. It did not take him long to notice me, or at least notice my cleavage, after he walked in. I enjoyed beating him handily at darts, and we chatted amicably over several tankards of ale.

To his credit, he did not trust me. Unfortunately for him and fortunately for me, there is one thing that men cannot help but trust—a stiff prick. I did not ply him for any information the first night as it seemed that would have been too obvious. It was during our third time together that the timing seemed right to get on with my quest, or whatever it could have been called.

[5]
“You're crazy bitch, but you fuck so good I'm on top of it--” Buckcherry, Crazy Bitch

That night as I lay on the bed nursing his cock back to life as his friend Hiram entertained himself (and me) with my breasts, I asked Rian what he thought about waiting years for his chance to run things. To my surprise, his ambition seemed to be the match of his seemingly ever hard cock.

“And do you need to wait for all of your siblings to pass on before you can take over the business?”

“Oh no, my family is a bit more open minded than that. If I can show that I have the means to bring in unmatched profits, then they would have no choice but to put me in charge,” Rian said.

His cock was now quite hard in my mouth and hands. I expected another vigorous double ended fucking was in my near future. Hiram never needed very long to get hard when he had his hands on my tits. I pulled off Rian's cock as Hiram continued to knead my breasts. “And do you have a way to do this?” I immediately inhaled his cock again, and from the sound of it he was pleased. Hiram, ready to start something new, pushed this way and that on me and I let myself be guided by his actions. In no time I was on my knees, Rian in my mouth and Hiram slipping into my pussy.

“I may have,” Rian said.

“Mmmm,” I hummed before I took him out of my mouth, “There's something about power and control that just gets me off.”

Taking the bait, Rian moved to a kneeling position, grasped my pony tail, and thrust his cock deep into my mouth and down my throat. He wasn't overly endowed, so it was just a tad on the uncomfortable side. I groaned around his dick as he started to slowly fuck my mouth. Keeping my tongue pressed against the underside of his cock, he moaned his approval as he moved. Hiram said nothing, but continued to keep me happy by fucking me with long slow strokes.

“Soon I will have all the power I need,” Rian said, not slowing down his strokes.

“Mmmm,” I moaned, and grabbed him around the thighs, holding his cock firmly inside my mouth. My grip kept him from thrusting, so only my tongue worked on him. It was easy to find the energy to keep going as Hiram continued to fuck me. He had an interesting pace and stroke, moving in ways that kept me guessing. But while it was keeping me interested, the unpredictability was also keeping me from reaching a climax. It was tantalizingly close, but just out of reach.

“Oh, Arpi,” Rian said, “If you keep that up I will come in your lovely mouth.”

Though I was interested in finishing off Rian, what I was really after was something that would get Hiram to fuck me harder. I made a show of tightening my grip on Rian and pulling him deeper into my mouth. From the amount of precum he was leaking into my mouth, I expected he would finish soon, and strongly.

In the next moment, Rian grabbed my hair and pulled my head firmly to his body, forcing his cock the last little way into my mouth and into my throat. I hummed around his cock and felt him stiffen just a little more. Seeing the actions of his friend, Hiram shifted his hands to my hanging tits and started to pound my very willing, and by now very wet, pussy. “Oh fuck!” Rian yelled as his cock started to pulse his load into my mouth. The salty taste of him was slight given how far back he was, and my swallowing was more than enough encouragement for him to continue. He shook like crazy in time with the pulsing of his cock, but though he tried to move and thrust, I held him tight. I waited until he was done twitching, then released my hold and let him back away. He sat down heavily. “That was fucking amazing!”

I grinned, then wiped my mouth with the back of my hand and looked over my shoulder. Hiram had a most intent look on his face, he was clearly lost in pleasure as he stroked within me and held my tits. “Your turn, Hiram. Fuck me and make me come.”

Thought it was not really possible, his strokes became harder and quicker. In no time I was at my peak. I squealed in pleasure as he fucked me hard, and my clasping pussy drove him to yell out in release as well. As I felt myself suddenly much wetter, my orgasm hit another high point and I lost track of what was going on. A bit later I must have passed out, which was definitely unusual. But I came to as the two of them were discussing something.

“It would be nice to tell someone. Maybe she can help,” Hiram said.

“I trust you Hiram, but we really don't know much about our friend here.”

“Perhaps we can just ask if there is something she can help with.”

“Such as?”

“I don't know, I was just trying to help.”

“Not now Hiram. I'll keep working on the translation and let you know when I have something.”

Though Rian was afraid to be alone with people, Hiram was not. For the next thing that happened was Rian left the room leaving Hiram and myself on the bed. As he bumped me I made sure he knew I was now awake. “Mmmm, that was quite nice.”

He smiled. Altogether quite handsome. “You were amazing as well. I cannot believe you actually fainted.”

“Fainted?” I protested with only some mock alarm. “I did not faint good sir. You fucked me senseless.”

“You are very kind.”

“And you were very, very good.” I pushed up on an elbow and laid myself on his chest. His hands found my tits even as they were pinned to him. “So does your friend have some magical way he intends to take over the business?” I tried to make it sound as incredulous as possible. Maybe even a little condescending.

“Nothing magical, just a book.” His expression said he may have said to much.

“Oooh,” I said, “So your friend can read. That is impressive.”

He laughed. “He talks about it all the time, but he has only been able to read parts of it.”

I raised up to look at him. His hands gathered up more of my breasts. “What do you mean parts of it?”

He shrugged. “He says it's ancient, so I gather he has to translate it.”

It was a bit distracting to have a conversation while he held my breasts, but if I was bare in his presence his hands were practically glued to them. “And he can do that?”

Another shrug. “He has a certain gift with languages. No mind for business, but keen with words.” He frowned. “I have said too much.”

“Pfft. You've told me your friend has an old book he is trying to read. Not that interesting.” He nodded slowly. “So what's it about?”

“Well I can't read it. He has talked of being able to make new weapons, things that will let us conquer the sea trade and then much more. If he can figure all of it out.”

“So he can read the words, but doesn't understand how to do it all.”

“I guess. I'm just around to handle the other stuff.”

“Other stuff?”

“Rian's never able to stay focused on business, which is why his siblings are kicking his ass. I help out while he is off in his book.”

“You don't sound convinced.”

“I'm convinced he would do better in the here and now than in an ancient book.”

I focused on him fully. “And you don't know what is in the book?”

“Not specifically. Other than some talk of new weapons, he's told me nothing.”

His look told me he was suspicious, and my ring whispered in a way that told me he was telling the truth. I kissed him on the mouth. “You could do better you know.” That distracted him.

“How so?”

“Even if Rian isn't interested in making a profit, the rest of the family is. And if you have kept him in the game even with his disinterest, you could do well with them.”

He nodded, but still looked concerned.

“Tell me, who among the family dislikes him the most?”

He laughed uneasily, but answered instantly. “His eldest sister, Brinn. Why?”

I put a finger on his lips. “Hiram, if I asked you to do something for me, would you?”

His skeptical and suspicious look came back in force. “Such as?”

“I need you to get dressed, leave this place, have an ale or two, and pick a fight with the town guard.”

He shook his head in obvious disbelief. “What? I've never been in trouble in my life. Why would I do that?”

I kissed him. “Hiram, you have no reason to believe me, but you must. I must find Rian and take his book.” He made to speak, but I held a finger to his lips. I slipped the ring off my finger and onto one of his. I held his stunned gaze as I said, “I have no desire to own it or to know what is within it, but it is dangerous to this world and its knowledge will be ending here.”

I could see that the ring had been whispering to him, that he knew I thought I spoke the truth. I spoke to him of Adavanha and the nature of the book and a look of horror came over his face. “I, I didn't know,” he said.

I took his head in my hands and cradled it between my breasts. “I know. But Hiram, I need you to go now and do as I have asked. It must be clear to the guard that you could not have been here.”

“What, what do you intend to do?”

I lifted his chin to look in my eyes. “All you need know is that I must take the book from this place.” I took the ring and put it on my finger. “Now, take a deep breath.” He did. “Are you going to do as I ask?” He nodded. “Speak.”

“Yes,” he said, “I will do as you ask.”

Truth, I noted. “And you will not attempt to stop me?”

“No,” he said, with no hesitation. Truth again.

I hugged him to my breast. “Hiram, you are a good man and I am sorry for the pain this causes you, but you must dress and go now. I will never see you again.”

He hugged me back, then dressed and left the room. As he did, I stood, dressed, and prepared to find Rian in order to end this unpleasant chapter of my education.

[6]
Though Rian had built his study and laboratory in a secret part of the family estate, he was still a bit of a novice at concealment and deception. As a result it did not take me long to find him. He was working alone, hunched over a large desk, when I came upon him. A half dozen candles and two large oil lamps lit the room. He did not hear me enter, but I cleared my throat as I stood in the concealed doorway. He turned in surprise at the noise.

“What are you doing here? Did Hiram tell you how to find me?”

I shook my head and walked slowly up to him. “No one told me how to find you. As for Hiram, he is loyal to a fault. As for what I am doing here, well, we should talk about that.”

He eyed me with the suspicion he held for everyone. “One of my family has learned of what I have and you are either here to take it from me or get me to share it.”

Now that he had turned I could see the very unusual object on the desk behind him. It looked sort of like a book, but it appeared to be made of metal. I had never seen anything quite like it. “Perhaps, but who have you told of, what exactly is that?”

“Hiram knows of the book, but not what it contains.” He added with a little pride, “No one else can read it and only I will be able to profit from its secrets.”

So far everything he had said was true. Looking around the room I spotted a chair and sat down. The angle gave him a better view of my cleavage as I worked to put him more at ease. “Mmmm. I told you power gets me off. Are you sure no one else knows of the Tome of Dragons?”

A brief look of shock crossed his features. “How would you--.” He shook his head. “Even if they know of it, I am the only one who has been able to decipher it.”

Truth again, at least my quest was drawing closer to its end. With any luck, Hiram had caused quite a commotion by now. “And why do you think no one else has read it?”

“Because if they had the world would be a very different place.” His speech had sped up. “There would be weapons to make bows useless and able to strike foes with certain lethality from a great distance. We might be able to traverse great distances in short times and move cargo faster than we ever dreamed.”

“And why don't we have this already?”

“I don't know.”

I have no idea why he trusted me with this information. He certainly had no reason to. It suddenly occurred to me that he was being far too open. Far too trusting. In fact, it smelled rather plainly of a trap.

“Has it occurred to you that we are not meant to know?” I asked.

He produced a long, thin dagger and held it menacingly in front of him. His features took on a look I had not seen in him before—raw ambition mixed with fear, maybe loss. “My siblings will not take what I spent a fortune to obtain, and it is certain you are working for them.” He moved a step closer to me.

It was clear that he meant to kill me, or at least to severely injure me. Too bad for him that this wasn't my first experience confronting someone with a knife, but he didn't know that. He closed another step, his positioning not that of an experienced fighter. Without thinking about it too much, I sprang to my feet before he could take another step and produced my own dagger. He sneered at me, his look of malevolence and contempt that more than anything made me want to erase his feeling of monied superiority.

Thankfully, he did not say anything before he lunged at me. I easily dodged his attack, grasping his knife arm and twisting. He moved easily with my counter, seeking to pull back his hand and slash at my chest. The direct attack, and his expression, cleared the few remaining cobwebs of doubt from my mind. Still holding his arm, I dropped my weight to my left knee, then kicked out savagely with my right foot at his left knee. It made a satisfying -crack-, and he shouted in pain as he dropped. As he fell back I pulled on the arm I still held and pulled myself forward onto his chest. He grinned as my tits squeezed against him, then his expression turned to shock as my blade punched up and under his ribs.

The look of confidence and anger left his face at once, and his hand released its grip on his dagger. It clattered on the floor, the sound loud in the isolated room. The look in his eyes became vacant as he clutched at the hand holding the knife inside his chest. “Why?” he said weakly.

I felt a tear tug at the corner of my eye, and I pushed it away. I gave him a peck on the lips and said, “As I said, there are some things we are not meant to know.” As the life left his eyes I moved away from him, leaving my dagger where it was. I vomited as I stood over him, the effect of my first kill quickly shocking me and settling into my bones.

Shaking it off, I spat on the ground and wiped the back of my mouth. I examined myself. A quick check showed there was no blood on me, but there was a pool forming below him. Retrieving the heavy, metal paged book from the table, I made my way out of the room, leaving the door open in hopes he would be discovered shortly. I was across town and on the docks before the call of murder sounded.


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