Stardust (39 page)

Hugging her to him, he shook his head in wonder.
“
Truly you continue to amaze me.
”

Selina drew back and looked into his eyes,
her own serious.
“
Good. I would never want to bore you.
”

“
I see no chance of that ever happening,
”
Darvek whispered huskily as his lips captured hers.

Ever conscious of the crowds that could descend upon their privacy, Darvek drew back reluctantly.
“
Now suppose you tell me exactly what happened back there to make you so nervous.
”

Selina looked around cautiously. She did not want anyone to overhear their conversation.
“
I just saw Aerial as we neared the castle gates. She was the lady in blue.
”

Darvek drew in a long breath as he too looked around with a questioning gaze.
“
Do you think she recognized you?
”

Selina shook her head.
“
No, I
am certain
she did not. If she had, she would have raised an immediate alarm.
”

Darvek nodded, giving concession to her words.
“
You are right. But now we must be more vigilant. We have come too far to be caught so easily.
”

“
Then come, let us lose ourselves in the celebration and see what we can discover.
”
Selina rose gracefully to her feet, pulling Darvek up with her. As one they moved into the noisy crowd.

Their first stop was at a vendor selling Argonian glow stones set in a dark black ore. The metal bore a faint resemblance to the silver of Earth before it was smelted. The baubles were of little value but were quite beautiful. The Palermonian male seemed to be doing a very brisk trade.

“
Come, my friend, buy but a small token of your affection for your lady,
”
the man called to Darvek as he and Selina passed.

“
Not today.
”
Darvek did not slow his pace as he answered
.

The vendor came from behind his booth, holding a chain aloft, blocking their path.
“
This is a very special design. Take a closer look.
”
He thrust the medallion under Darvek
’
s nose.

Darvek swatted the jewelry away, his anger rising.
“
Do not pester me so,
”
he growled warningly.
“
I do not wish any of your wares this day.
”
He moved as if to thrust the man bodily aside.

“
Wait,
”
Selina begged, touching his arm.
“
Look at the necklace.
”

Darvek did lo
ok, seeing the same design
Winoka had placed around her neck that very morning.
“
What is it that you wish?
”
he asked quietly, his eyes darting through the crowd to make sure they were unobserved.

“
I have a message from my lady.
”
The man bowed slightly, still holding the jewelry as if showing it to the couple.
“
She will be unable to go with you into the palace.
”

Darvek cursed low in his throat.
“
We need her to show us the way inside.
”

“
It does not matter,
”
Selina assured him.
“
I know the way Winoka spoke of. We will still be able to arrive undetected.
”

Darvek could only nod his head in agreement. At this point they had little choice.
“
Do the others know of the change?
”
he asked the vendor.

“
Yes,
”
he said.

“
Thank you,
”
Darvek said, taking Selina
’
s arm and preparing to leave. They had been still far too long.
“
You have been most helpful.
”

“
Wait,
”
the man said.
“
Please to give this to your lady.
”
He laid the necklace across Darvek
’
s empty hand and left.

Darvek placed the chain over Selina
’
s head, careful not to dislodge her face mask. The medallion settled between the valley of her golden breasts.

Selina fingered the cold metal, stroking it almost lovingly.
“
It is strange, this looks so familiar, yet I have never seen such craftsmanship before.
”

“
You are right,
”
Darvek agreed.
“
But perhaps we are thinking of Winoka
’
s small amulet.
”

“
No,
”
Selina said, holding the charm within her palms.
“
It is as if it is a part of me.
”
She closed her eyes for a long moment.
“
I am being silly,
”
she laughed, opening her eyes self-consciously.

Their conversation was cut short as a loud blast sounded from the palace towers. Immediately all movement and sound ceased as the crowd focused its attention on the large balcony above the south entrance.

A figure dressed in black appeared and spoke to the waiting citizenship.
“
Good people of Palermos, I, Saatan, ruler of Yulon, uncle to your great leader, Bartok, come to welcome you to the festival of the Craton.
”

Darvek went rigid as the words were broadcast over the swell of the bodies gathered.
“
That should be Jalon,
”
he spat in distaste.

“
I know, my love. And soon our king will be returned.
”
They listened with heavy hearts as Saatan continued the welcome. It was several minutes before Selina realized that what had worried her about the necklace was standing right before her.
“
Darvek,
”
she whispered, shaking his arm to gain his attention.
“
It was the necklace of Saatan
’
s, the one he used to stab me. It looked just like this one.
”
She grabbed the bauble, in her excitement breaking the fastener. The long chain of silver fell unheeded to the ground.
“
Winoka and her kinsmen wear this mark.
”

Darvek
’
s own voice shook with excitement.
“
And look at Saatan. That is not his true image.
”

“
You are right,
”
Selina agreed.
“
A projection is distorting his image. If you look closely, you can see he has aged many moons in the short time I have been gone. What do you think that means?
”

“
I do not know,
”
Darvek answered his voice grave.
“
But I intend to find out. Where is the necklace Winoka removed from your back?
”

“
I left it in the cottage,
”
Selina groaned.

“
We cannot go back,
”
Darvek said.
“
It is time to meet the others.
”
Even as they spoke the sky turned pale, announcing the setting of the day orb. In the far horizon the first moon could be seen rising behind the Mountain of Life, its huge white form casting a shadow upon the great mount.

The brightness of the golden orb of sun had long since diminished when Darton awoke. Moving away from Aurora
’
s soft body, he took several long moments to survey the surrounding areas, scrutinizing the rocky ledge of the mountain. Siara and Talena lay curled up side by side under the coolness of the rock. He smiled to himself. During the difficult days of the past, the two had fought as only mortal enemies could and now they lay still and serene in the knowledge of the other
’
s goodness. Moving his gaze to the right, he could detect no movement on the
horizon. Finally satisfied
all was well for the time being, he dropped his eyes to Aurora
’
s slight figure.

Even after their long trek through the hot sun and their nap upon the hard stone, she was still the most beautiful creature he had ever seen. He drew in a deep breath as he let his gaze trace each beloved feature.

Aurora lay on her back upon the flat stone, her glossy black hair fanned out ar
ound her. With each breath
she drew through her full, pink lips, her bosom rose, pulling Darton
’
s eyes inexorably downward.

His pulse quickened as he hungrily devoured their plump fulln
ess. The flimsy white gauze which
grazed her body hid little from his sight. Feeling his body
’
s response to her substantial charms, Darton swallowed hard and tore his gaze away from the tempting sight.

Aurora found it difficult to awake, her lids at first too heavy to lift. Summoning all her strength, she forced them to open and was jolted into full wakefulness by the broad expanse of Darton
’
s bare back.

How smooth his shoulders looked, how wide and perfectly proportioned. She would like to raise herself and slide her hands over the taut muscles, to learn again each hard plane.

“
Darton?
”

The husky whisper brought Darton
’
s
head spinning round as his gaze
made electric contact with hers.

Darton could not mistake the flush that rode high on her cheeks nor the feverish light in her violet eyes. A
nd even though he was sure
it had to
do with the strange liquid Somora had given her prior to the
‘
arranged
’
marriage with Slamock, Darton could no more resist her charms than a thirsty man could resist water.

“
What is it, my love?
”
He stretched his long length above her, cradling his formidable weight on his muscular arms.

Aurora wet her lips with the tip of her tongue and Darton followed the movement with great interest.

“
Darton.
”
S
he lifted one hand to cradle his strong jaw.
“
I feel very peculiar.
”

He
hid his smile behind a concerned expression.
“
What exactly is wrong?
”
he asked, already knowing the answer.

He remembered the passion between them from their previous joining, when only their own will had been involved. If he understood the power of the potion correctly, the herb that had been given to Aurora would make her passion twice as high.

Aurora shifted restlessly, her hips rising and falling without rhythm.
“
I feel as if a great emptiness has opened within me.
”

Darton did not know if he could assuage her desire completely, but he was certainly going to try.

“
What is it you want me to do?
”
He stared into her luminous eyes, feeling himself drowning in their liquid depths.

Aurora twisted beneath his weight, silently begging him to rest completely on top of her tingling body.
“
Please,
”
she whispered huskily.
“
I need you.
”

Any control remaining to him was washed away with her plead for passion. With the natural protective cover of the rock shielding them from any watchful eyes, Darton quickly lifted the hem of the white luminous dress, pulling it to her waist. His hand slid deftly between her parted legs, finding her wet and ready for their joining. Groaning w
ith mounting desire, he
loosed his straining manhood and, positioning himself between her willing thighs, sank forcefully into her needy flesh.

Their deep cries of satisfaction mingled together upon the rapidly cooling air as he thrust mercilessly into her pliant body. Completion was reached quickly, leaving their bodies slick with perspiration, their burning lungs straining for much needed air.