When Rowena's astral message came to Sable Vyrnmont he was staring out the window to the distance in utter silence. He didn't turn to her, so she waited a few moments before she began,
"He found a village"
His frail frame stiffened, eyes widening as he whipped around. "How? Which one?"
"Estonia"
His knees buckled slightly, hands fumbling, breath ragged as panic seized him.
"How bad is it?" His voice thinned, like he already feared the answer.
Rowena found pleasure in it, not that she showed it, but she was slow to respond, "Nothing yet"
His eyes widened, caught between confusion and fleeting relief. "You took care of it?"
"No. I told them to stay clear of it"
More confused, and irritated he stepped forward.
"And I suppose you have a very good reason for it?"
"If he knew what they are, this would be a damage report"
"You are willing to take that risk?" he said, panic lurking under his words. "Need I remind you that even the slightest damage would ruin everything? Everything!"
The last shout caught her offguard. He was more concerned than she thought.
"Everytime we go after the boy, he becomes more of a risk" Rowena argued calmly. "Our paths are separate, let's leave him alone and focus on the mission."
He gave her that look that makes her think that she knows nothing. With a subtle sigh, he turned back to the window. "That's no longer an option."
"And you will not tell me why?"
"If I think you need to know, you will know" he replied simply, his composure creeping back.
"Your personal intervention was what set him on the path to the village" she pressed. "The boy is not his father"
"No, he is not..." Vyrnmont murmured, almost to himself as if in thought.
Rowena was quiet for awhile, considering him. "How exactly did the boy escape you?" she asked.
Vyrnmont was not quick to answer. He turned again to her. "How well is your worm in him?" he said instead, ignoring the question.
Rowena was not even surprised he knew about the worm, but she had hoped he didn't. The way he was obsessed with the boy made it an interesting contingency.
"Well enough" she said curtly.
"We will try that way" he said.
"That won't work" she countered. "The black elf is always there."
"Work on it" he said, unyielding. "I'm sure there will be a way"
"...If you insist "
He turned away, back to stare out the window. Rowena's eyes were on him even when the projection began to dissipate.
Things are getting increasingly confusing for Rowena. Until a few weeks ago he was the one who insisted the boy lives, even after it was discovered he had been awakened. What changed to make him increasingly obsessed in wanting him dead? What is she not seeing?
┌─────── ♕ ───────┐
I was already awake when the man was getting set to leave. It was barely dawn but his voice didn't reflect as much. He was basically telling her to take care of us and she happily said she was aware and bade him safe travels.
Some minutes later the door to our room creaked opened, and she came in. She walked in through the darkness with familiarity to the now cold lamp.
There was a faint scent of olive oil as she uncorked it. I watched her refill the lamp, struck a flint, coaxing a spark to life, and then the wick caught, casting a fresh warm glow on her face and across the room.
"That's better" I spoke up. "A face like yours shouldn't be hidden in the dark"
She scoffed softly and set the lamp back on the shelf.
I sat up at the edge of the cot, my eyes never leaving her as she gathered the bowls Ophelia ate from yesterday, and then some cloths. She was moving around like she was oblivious of my eyes on her. But there's no way she is. Women always know things like that.
"What is the nearest major city?" I asked, my eyes on her ass as she bent down to pick up a cloth.
"That should be Ärn" she replied, walking around, without looking at me. "That's if you go southwest"
Ärn? We are still in Estonia after all these days?
She made to walk past me and I caught her arm.
"Is there a problem, sir?" she asked, her voice controlled, eyes unreadable.
I stood--close, too close. My fingers slid from her wrist to her hand, the other palm brushing her hip. Her Jaws clenched. That surprised me, but she said nothing, and her breathing deepened, just slightly as my hand glided around her waist.
"I will scream" she murmured, her voice not so controlled.
"If you would do that, you wouldn't come here this early" I said with a smile.
I hugged her from the side, she was still clutching onto the basket she was with. She wasn't fighting it, but she wasn't encouraging it either, and I pulled her gently away from the bed towards the nearest wall.
Her back against the wall she looked at me and said, "What does a man like you want with a woman like me"
"Don't sell yourself short" I replied, stealing a kiss.
I took her arms, and she let go of the basket. It fell to the ground between us and I swept it to the side with my foot, and then pressed against her. I put her arms around my neck, clutched up her dress, and then lifted her up. I worked down my trousers quickly and promptly guided my dick into her, she gasping and moaning at the very first contact in, and I set to fuck her. At first with long, slow, piston-like strokes of my dick, then more and more rapid thrusts and shoves, driving myself well up into her.
Suddenly I felt her quiver deliciously...she had cum! Excited I continued to fuck her. Soon she came again, then again, and again, quivering with the most exquisite tremors and convulsions as she lay clasped tightly in my body, uttering almost inarticulate moans as the spasm of pleasure thrilled her. We turned to the opening of the door to see her husband standing by the doorway, shook and confused, but neither of us stopped.
Hugging her against me more closely than ever I let myself go and rammed furiously into her as she lay quivering on me till I felt myself reaching the edge. Madly I shot my pent up torrent of boiling virile balm, flooding her sweetly excited insides and evidently taking her to heaven, for her head fell on my shoulders, her eyes closed, her nostrils dilated, her lips parted, as she ejaculated, "Ah!...ah!...ah!..." when feeling each jet as my hot discharge shoot into her. The door was still open, but her husband was no longer there.
We maintained our position. She was breathing audibly, exhausted, but the feel of her body against mine and the way this mature woman clung on to me was exciting me again. My hands slid down from her waist to grabbing her ass cheeks as I began kissing her neck and chest, bracing my legs for balance and lifting her to slowly put my dick back where it now owns.
┌─────── ♕ ───────┐
Vojnka scaled the building's outer wall, her fingers digging into the rough stone, and tucked herself into a shadowed crevice. This spot gave her a close view of the yard below and, more importantly, the window to the private chambers of the knight called Matt.
He showed himself now and then, passing the window, but he never stayed long that she feared he wouldn't retire there.
She had no choice but to wait. He was her only lead to the people who had done this to her. At first she wasn't sure, but then she had seen him again. Just like her, he scratches his arm often.
A flicker of movement caught her eyes. Matt strolled past the window, his gait casual.
She hadn't heard the door open so he must have been in there the whole time, somewhere.
Without warning the lights went off, plunging the room into blackness. It was unusual. The window never went dark—not once in all her time watching. Vojnka was confused on what to do next, when all of a sudden a blur darted from the dark room towards her. It broke the window to come to her and she barely dodged it. A small blade sank into the wall beside her with a dull thunk. The stone cracked, spiderwebbing around the impact, barely holding.
Just as she was jumping from the ledge, a figure leaped out from the dark room, meeting her in a deadly clash of steel, sparks exploding where metal met metal. Matt felt the vibration in his bones.
"I am not here to fight!" Vojnka said, but her barbarous accent must had made it hard to get through because Matt didn't acknowledge it. His sword hums through the air, keening for blood. Vojnka dodged it, whipping up her axe to parry a second strike. She was faster than he expected.
He aimed to kick her, but she twisted, caught his leg, and and hurled him into the wall. He was up in an instant, laughing, blood on his teeth. "I guess the king's cock truly do wonders" he snarled, lunging again.
Vojnka's face changed. She dropped her axe, and twisted away from his attack with a speed that confused Matt. Her fist swung, connecting with his temple in a bone-jarring crack.
He staggered back, dazed, but he was still a knight so he lunged again.
Their commotion were loud, especially for the night, but not many can withstand the pressure of two knights fighting so no one came near.
It was obvious Vojnka was the stronger one, but Matt's years of training and fighting with technique kept him in the fight against the simple minded barbarian. Her axe was back in her hands now. Matt brought his sword up in time, just barely. The axe smashed into the blade with a crack like thunder. His arm jolted numb. She came on again, driving forward with sheer weight. Matt gave ground, pivoting, deflecting another blow that jarred his shoulder to the bone.
The axe arced low this time, but he dropped and spun, slicing at the barbarian's knee. Vojnka howled, staggered, and the sword flashed back up, aiming to open her throat but she dodged it, and somehow caught his arm, twisted and drove her forehead into his nose with a crunch.
Blood sprayed. He stumbled back grunting. She slammed her foot on his chest, which he immediately protected with two arms, but the force still drove him to the wall, forcing breath out. He collapsed to the ground, and wasn't as quick to get up like the first time.
"I didn't come for a fight" Vojnka said, not rushing to continue.
"It would have been better if you did" he snarled. "At least I would have a chance of survival."
Vojnka's face was that of confusion.
He shook his head slowly, lips tightening.
"You dumb-skulled barbarian." he said angrily. "You have no idea the people you are dealing with! You think you matter?! We are not the target! All you had to do was let it be and we would all--"
All she heard next was the pop of a head blowing and chunks of meat flying. Matt's headless body stood for a moment, or two, and then fell on his knees and collapsed to the ground.
Vojnka was in a daze even as the screams erupted. Her eyes glued on the empty neck as it poured out blood, not because of the horror of the sight, but the realization that now clung to her that she was beyond helpless.