The Dragon's War (6 page)

“That maneuver did require a great deal of practice,” Talan said over her shoulder, and Rika swallowed hard. She had forgotten how acute the dragon’s hearing was. “The first time nearly ended in disaster.”

Raine grinned. “Yes, if I remember rightly, you transformed a bit late and nearly crushed me to death.”

Talan leaned down and kissed her again. “It is fortunate you are so indestructible.”

The fire was dying down and the two stepped over the now-smoking grass. Skye was closest to the pair and she bowed deeply, a sign not of just respect, but one of near-worship.

“And how are you, little Tavinter?”

“I am fine, your Majesty. Idonea came to save me.”

Talan examined the young woman. “From what I understand, you saved yourself, as well as many others.”

“But I could not have done it without Idonea’s teaching.”

“Teaching which must continue. My daughter is on her way here now.”

The dimples appeared in Skye’s cheeks. “I can’t wait to see her!”

Talan’s amber eyes flicked to Rika, who bowed deeply, then to Eira, Runa, and Solvi. The latter three were frozen under the penetrating gaze of the dragon. Talan’s gaze at last settled on Dallan, who turned bright red under the scrutiny.

“Your Highness,” Talan said.

“Your Majesty,” Dallan said, bowing deeply while her voice cracked in the middle of the salutation. Skye covered her mouth to muffle laughter. Raine felt sorry for the Princess and sought to rescue her.

“Kylan arrived a few hours ago.”

Talan turned her attention back to Raine. And to Dallan’s great relief, the rest of the world disappeared when the two were together.

“I should greet her.”

“Well, last I saw she was leading an entourage into the Ha’kan baths.”

“How predictable,” Talan said drily.

“Perhaps we should go greet her together,” Raine said mischievously.

The amber eyes glowed. “I am certain that Kylan ‘greeted’ you at first opportunity. And if I remember correctly, you were quite disruptive on your last trip to the baths. I think you should run a bath in our room and I will join you shortly.”

Raine offered her hand in escort in a gallant gesture. “I like that idea very much,” she said as the two left arm-in-arm.

Eira watched the stunning pair leave. Raine was enthralling all on her own, but the two together were mesmerizing. And that dragon was very possessive of her young lover, that much was clear. She turned to Rika.

“I understand what you said earlier about the two of them. It’s foreign to us, but those two are a perfect match.”

The Ha’kan baths were a wonder of Arianthem that few had ever seen. Almost everyone had heard of them, rumors abounded, and tales ranged from a sensual paradise to a carnal orgy of flesh. Both portrayals, in a way, were apt, although the descriptions chosen revealed more about the person telling the tale than they did about the Ha’kan.

The baths were like everything else in Ha’kan culture: open, sexual, sensuous, and communal. And because the baths were warm, wet, and steamy, and clothing was optional, they were perhaps even a little more so. There were various private alcoves for trysts, a very public massage area, small bathing pools for couples or threesomes, and then larger pools for groups where women could engage in simple small talk or wrap themselves about one another. One bathing area in particular was attracting considerable attention, for Kylan was holding court with the Queen and her entire staff. The dragon was wickedly funny, unrepentant, and completely uninhibited, and the Ha’kan loved her.

Attention was redirected, however, when a tall, silver-haired woman in red armor strolled through the bathing area. Her heavy, spiked armor was in stark contrast to the soft nudity around her, but that was not what attracted so much attention. This woman strode through the room with a confidence that was magnetic, her amber eyes went where they pleased, and all blushed at the honor of the attention. Powerful sexuality swirled about her much like the dark magic that permeated her being. She stopped at the edge of the pool, gazing down at Kylan.

“Why am I not surprised?”

“Because you know me, my love,” Kylan said, her blue eyes twinkling with mirth. She stood, completely naked, water dripping, and stepped up the marble ledge. Although faithful to Raine, that did not stop Talan from a sweeping, appreciative, examination of Kylan’s nude form.

“My Queen,” Kylan said, embracing her and giving her the same, less-than-chaste kiss she had given Raine, although Raine had not received the added perk of Kylan’s bare breasts pressed against her. All Ha’kan watched with pleasure, for it was as pleasing for them to observe the act as it was to participate in it, and any time two women were standing next to one another, the Ha’kan were imagining them in bed. Right now, that picture was very pleasant.

“Are you sure you won’t join us?” Kylan teased, knowing the answer.

Talan’s gaze swept the bevy of beauties in the bath. “Tempting,” Talan said. “But I have a naked Arlanian in my bed, one with the stamina of the ancient dragon slayers. I imagine I will be busy for the next few hours.”

“Understood,” Kylan said, laughing and settling into the bath.

“Welcome back to Haldis, Talan,” the Queen said as Kylan put her arm around her.

“Thank you, your Majesty,” Talan said over her shoulder as she turned to leave. And all Ha’kan contemplated another pleasant picture in their heads, that of the dragon dominating her lover in the chambers above them.

“Kylan is quite at home in the land of the Ha’kan.”

Raine was leaning back in the marble bath, one that was the size of a small pool. She silently thanked the dwarves for their past dealings with the Ha’kan, dealings in which they returned an ancient favor by providing their unsurpassed technology. The water was heated via various steam contraptions buried deep in the earth, then piped into the castle.

“I can only imagine the chaos she is creating,” Raine said.

“The Ha’kan are enjoying it as much as she is.”

A response died on Raine’s lips as Weynild’s armor retracted and her long limbs, proud breasts, and flat stomach were revealed. In the presence of others, Raine addressed Weynild only by her formal name, but when they were alone together, she used the name she had known her by first.

“What did you say?” Raine asked, completely distracted.

Weynild waded into the water. “It is unimportant.”

Raine rose from the water to embrace her and Weynild kissed her passionately. The long limbs guided the Arlanian to the gentle slope where one could lie quite comfortably, and the dragon settled her hips between her young lover’s legs while the warm water lapped against them. It was a glorious sensation for Raine: the strength of the woman above her, those magnificent breasts pressed against her wet skin, the taste of those red lips. And it was no less glorious for Weynild, who hungered for her Arlanian as she had no other. It was almost impossible to sate a dragon, yet this little creature managed it without fail. At times, they would engage in foreplay for hours, but today would not be one of those times. There were distinct advantages to being a shape-shifter, especially when it came to lovemaking, and Raine gasped as Weynild utilized this ability and Raine received the benefit as she was penetrated by whatever had struck Weynild’s fancy. She nearly swooned at the shock of pleasure. Sometimes their lovemaking was gentle and playful, but today it was a storm of intensity. Weynild’s golden eyes bore into hers so she could know exactly the affect her firm thrusts were having. And Raine could not look away, their bond so complete that all else ceased to exist as long as their bodies were locked together. Raine desperately wanted to release, for the smooth, long strokes were driving her to madness, but she could tell that her love was close to losing control as Weynild’s rhythm quickened, as did her breathing. Finally, Raine could bear it no longer and allowed the climax to carry her away, and it took only her uninhibited release to drive the dragon to climax as well.

The silver-haired woman collapsed on the muscular form beneath her, and Raine enjoyed the weight and closeness of her lover. She could feel the powerful heartbeat slow, could feel the rise and fall of the chest return to normal. Weynild pulled back, examined the beautiful violet eyes beneath her, then kissed her gently on the lips. Raine returned the gentle kiss, then playfully parted the lips with her tongue.

“You know what you’re doing,” Weynild said with warning.

“Of course I do,” Raine murmured, deepening the kiss.

“Then you’ll have to suffer the consequences.”

This threat elicited only laughter from the Scinterian as the dragon gently but firmly turned her over, face down, then began anew.

Skye lie in her bed intertwined with Eira. She had always liked older women, and Eira’s seduction of her had been masterful. The beautiful warrior possessed all of her mother’s magnetism, and although Skye had not slept with the High Priestess, Skye imagined that Eira possessed a great deal of her mother’s skill as well.

“Thank you,” Skye said shyly, and Eira found the shyness endearing, for it was rare in the Ha’kan.

“There is no need to thank me,” Eira said, “I took great pleasure in that.” She hugged the slender Tavinter, and shifted so that Skye could lie on her chest. A comfortable silence settled upon them.

“Can I ask you a question?”

“Of course,” Eira said.

“It’s about your sister, Embla. She seems very happy and content. She’s not disappointed that she’s not the future High Priestess?”

“What?” Eira asked, as if the question made no sense.

“Well, usually, among my people, children follow in their parents’ footsteps.”

“Oh,” Eira said, understanding. “That is the exception for the Ha’kan. Each of us finds our own path, and all are guided from a young age to find the role that will suit them best. And when I say ‘best,’ I mean the role that will provide us with the most happiness and meaning.”

“That sounds so wonderful,” Skye said. She had spent much time contemplating the unusual society of the Ha’kan, and once again, she wondered how much their unique reproduction and singular sex contributed to the harmony of their culture. Competition was almost always playful; personal ambition was nearly non-existent. Relieved of the basic drive of procreation, the Ha’kan existed in a chronic state of contentment. Any threats to their people came from the outside, and Skye was filled with gratitude that the insular people had so accepted her and the Tavinter as a whole.

“Besides,” Eira mused, “Embla disappeared with the future High Priestess several hours ago and they have not been seen since. She loves Lifa, and really, who could not.”

Skye grinned at the thought of the two Priestesses together.

“Rika headed off with Solvi,” Eira said, “and they will probably wrestle to see who gets to be earth and sky.”

“Solvi is not very big,” Skye said doubtfully, “do you think she has a chance against Rika?”

“Solvi is very wily. I would not be surprised if she has Rika on the bottom right now.”

Skye giggled at the thought as Eira continued her run-down of the night’s pairings. “And Dallan was accosted by both Runa and Kara, so she is in for a night to remember.”

“Runa can’t be as wild as Kara is,” Skye said. Kara was known for her love of the unconventional and her desire to experiment on her sexual partners.

“I’m not certain anyone is as adventurous as Kara,” Eira said, “but all scholars have that terrifying bent towards research in the bed.”

“That’s for certain,” Skye agreed, thinking of her trysts with both Kara and Gimle.

“Oh, that’s right!” Eira exclaimed. “You have been with the First Scholar. You must tell me all about it!”

And so, in a conversation that most would have found bizarre, but for the Ha’kan was completely normal, the two women described in detail their sexual exploits with others, enjoying the tales almost as much as if they had experienced them firsthand. And ultimately, their discussion led to such arousal they stopped talking about the act and began participating in it.

But perhaps the most content Ha’kan in all the castle were in the Queen’s room, where the Ancient Dragon Kylan lie blissfully entangled with a heap of exhausted women. Her Royal Majesty was asleep in one arm while the High Priestess was asleep in the other. The First General had an arm wrapped about Kylan’s thigh and the First Scholar had one wrapped about her waist. The High Priestess of the Southern Region was curled about her hip, sandwiched between the First General and the Queen. And although Kylan was partial to her kind, simply for reasons of stamina, she had to admit that the Ha’kan were in a splendid category all of their own.

Chapter 3

I
t was two very contented groups of Ha’kan that breakfasted on the terrace in the morning. The younger Ha’kan started to seat themselves on Dallan’s terrace, a mirror-image of the Queen’s, but Halla waved her daughter over and the families gathered as one. Additional place settings were brought out, and the Royal Staff and the future Royal Staff dined together. Raine came out, waved, but did not immediately join them, rather walked to the edge of the terrace. She was followed by both Talan and Kylan. The Ha’kan watched curiously as discussion ensued, Raine nodded, and Talan kissed her. Kylan then playfully blew her a kiss, and the two older women moved some distance apart. They simultaneously disappeared into flashes of light, one white, one yellow, and two enormous dragons stood in their place. It was the first time that any present had seen them together, and it was a magnificent sight, the blue dragon with scales that twinkled like starlight and the red dragon that flickered iridescently as if on fire. It was a good thing that the Ha’kan palace was a sturdy structure, for both creatures were enormous. Great muscles flexed, tendons tightened, and both dragons leaped into the air, their wings unfurling and catching the light breeze. The red dragon went east and the blue dragon went west, and it was not long before both disappeared from sight. Raine leaned against the bannister and watched their flight.

“I never realized there was so much excitement in the capital,” Helena commented.