To Claim the Elvin Princess: Apprentice (11 page)

17

Rasten had been eager to meet and begin his training with the clan sword master, whom he had only heard mentioned by the name of Master Roien. Being still not sure of the rules of naming used by the Elvin peoples, he assumed this to be a short version of a longer male name. The manner in which he was incorrect did much to amaze him, when he arrived at the appointed hour, for his first meeting.

Kalida had escorted him, having been instructed by Amein to make no mention of certain facts. They strolled deliberately into the large practice facility, and were greeted by an Elvin woman, whom Rasten assumed was an assistant. Like most of the females he had so far encountered, this one was lusciously sexy and beautiful. Rasten wasted no time in speaking.

“I am Rasten; I have come to meet Master Roien. Might you guide us to him?” He was puzzled by the odd glance he received, and this one glanced at Kelida for just a second, a wry smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. Kelida cleared his throat apologetically, and turned to address Rasten.

“Rasten, might I present you to Sword Master Roien, also known as Sa Taren lo Roieniarian, whom we affectionately call
The Princess of the Sword?
Rasten stood frozen, his embarrassment sharp and overpowering. Roien, whose eyes had at first flashed annoyance, at his faux paux, had taken on a delightedly impish look. Stepping close, she spoke, her voice sultry and sweet.

“I am pleased to meet you Rasten, son of Sayarin...” she breathed, putting her lips on his for a quick and steamy kiss. Before he could even consider what to do, Roien used her right leg to hook behind his knees, sweeping him off his feet, as she pushed his chest back with one surprisingly strong hand. He landed helplessly on his back, as Roien swiftly drew the sword she was wearing, it having been discretely hanging mostly behind her, where he had failed to note it.

He suddenly had Roien’s boot placed on his chest, and the point of her blade was touching his throat.

“I should be more than thrilled to teach you the art of the blade...and maybe some proper manners!” she declared, her eyes wickedly stormy. Sheathing her sword, she offered Rasten her hand, and he was again shocked at her strength, when she pulled him up as easily as if he were a small child. He stood, captivated by her eyes, she being tall like Amien. His thoughts seemed lacking in order, coming as a random barrage of snippets. Roien had little trouble sensing his condition.

“I trained Amien, as you’ve guessed, and most of the others here. There is no one here who can over master me, with a blade. You find that...dubious?” she demanded. Rasten was desperate to pull himself together, and not repeat his blunder.

“No, Princess...forgive me! I was raised on a world where females were seldom accorded the freedom to rise to such levels of skill. The martial arts, such as they are there, are mostly the province of men. It is taking me a bit to get used to the difference here.”

“You’re used to having women be only playthings, for the amusement or service of males?”

“Something like that. It is changing there, slowly, but...”

“You find yourself confused by the Elvin female’s openness to naughty play? That makes it harder for you to accept us seriously? Wonderful! By the time I’m done with you, you’ll have no doubt as to our strengths and ability!” she insisted. Turning to Kalida, she gave him a stern look. “Amien told you to hide the fact that I’m a female from Rasten, didn’t she?” she pointedly accused. Kalida grinned and shrugged.

“Yes, Master Roien, she did. I’m sure we know why now, don’t we?” he asked, barely able to hide his mirth.

“You may go now! And tell Amien I owe her...” she said, ominously.

“Oh, trust me, I will!” he laughed, turning and heading off. Roien took Rasten’s arm in hers, to guide him.

“Come, we must choose a proper blade for you, then I can get serious about making you feel like a helpless fool!”

“I gather studying with you will be hard and painful?”

“It is better for me to make you cry in frustration, than for an enemy to make you bleed on the field of battle!” she insisted.

“Oh,” he sighed, considering this.

“Master Roien? Are you...mad at Amien?”

“
Princess
Amien? It’s considered impolite to leave off a person’s title, unless you are close to them, and in private!”

“So you’re a master of form and etiquette, as well as the sword? In my native language, the term master would only be used on a man. A woman would be referred to as a
Mistress of whatever...
”

“How foolish! The Elvin term
master
is applied with no reference to the sex of the one who deserves such recognition!”

“Apparently I have much to learn about Elvin society and language, as well as weapons...” Rasten sighed. 

“Any here could instruct you. The Princess likely wishes me to do so, knowing how bitchy I can be. She is too enraptured to you to be an effective teacher in some ways!”

“But how do you feel about her? You said you trained her...was she a good or bad student?” Roien glanced at him, a look of fond amusement taking hold of her features.

“The first day of instruction, I ended up paddling her bare behind with the naked blade of my sword! She was only fourteen years of age, but spoiled terribly. We got on well after that; I only gave her a few small scars for being a dunce occasionally. She is as good with a blade as anyone here!”

“I’ve seen just a bit of her work...on the transit back her!” he assured her.

“She says you have masterful instincts. If that’s true, it means you’ve inherited your father’s skill; he was the only one here to ever beat me with a blade!”

“Was that the only weapon he used on you?” Rasten asked, not considering how it might sound.

Roien jerked him around, staring at him, shocked by what she at first thought was a nosey insinuation regarding whether she might have had sex with his father. Seeing his puzzlement, gave her pause. “How did you mean that?!”

“Do you teach other weapons...or forms of combat, or...why...is that...oh. You thought I was...” he ended, awkward and unsure. Roien laughed delightedly.

“Forgive me! I thought you were making comment about whether we had been...naked together? Sorry!”

They continued on a few more paces, when Rasten decided to take the chance and ask another question.

“Were you?” he asked, teasing.

“Were we what?”

“Naked together?” Rasten wondered. He soon found himself helplessly manhandled, easily tossed on the floor, and had his arms painfully pinned behind his head. Roien was sitting astraddle of him, his complete master. She leaned close, rubbing her breasts, which were firmly held in a form fitting sleek top, against his chest. She wiggled her bottom seductively against his manhood, teasing and arousing him.

“I can bring many forms of weaponry to bear, young Rasten. I did so with your father many times, both as a reward for his good study and work, and just because I wanted to!” This stunned Rasten.

“You taught my father?! How old...are...” he stopped, certain he had said something improper. He had gathered from Amien that the Elvin kind lived as immortals, many lasting through thousands of years, unless lost in battle. He was still having trouble getting his mind to accept this. Roien would have seemed to any on Earth to be a woman of maybe thirty or thirty five. Only a few tiny lines near her eyes gave any hint that she wasn’t younger than Amien.

“You’re old enough to be my grandmother?”

“Likely your great, great, great, great grandmother, my young student. Still, I’m sure I could teach you a few things about the arts of pleasure!” she said, smiling wickedly. She released his hands, and let him slip his arms around her waist.

“Will I be rewarded for doing well?”

“Of course, and made to work even harder between the sheets, for doing poorly!”

“How can mere sex be a punishment?” he wondered.

“It wouldn’t be mere sex, as you named it, foolish boy!” she said and laughed. She graced him with a long and powerful deep kiss, which left him completely aroused. A brief wiggle of her bottom caused her to frown.

“I must teach you to overcome your propensity to be so easily aroused...there are some who would use that as a weapon against you!” Roien sighed, sitting up.

“Really? Who?”

“Those among the Eridians...they appear human, but are mostly barbarians; some of their women are strikingly beautiful. Perhaps the most dangerous is Shocara...she’s one of their warrior Princesses. You’d be putty in her hands!”

“Really? She’s that beautiful?”

“And utterly evil...we think she’s part demon, and has a great mastery of sorcerous things. Her father created the fire demons; I understand you killed one?”

Rasten shuddered, remembering what these had been like. “It’s not something I’m eager to repeat!” he confessed. Roien laughed at this, and sprang easily to her feet. She pulled Rasten up, and as they started to walk, she nudged him with her elbow.

“You’ll have to fight things that will make you pee down your leg like a scared little Elvin girl!”

“Wonderful,” Rasten sighed, not pleased to contemplate any more ways to be embarrassed.

By the time he had found a proper sword, had spent a couple of hours learning how to handle it properly, especially how to avoid cutting himself by being careless, and watched Master Roien work with some other Elvin students, especially the most advanced, he felt utterly discouraged and doomed. In spite of Roien’s assurances, he trudged back to the clan home tired and wrung out.

Amien found him on the balcony, sitting silently, staring out over the city. His sense of wonder offered some respite from his gloom, but Amein silently observed him only a moment, before guessing what had disturbed him.

“She kicked your butt, didn’t she?”

“Like I was a three year old child. You’re evil.”

“Why do you say that?!” she demanded, shocked.

“I made a fool of myself, because you didn’t tell me Master Roien was a female!” he declared, and then sat, arms crossed and angry when she giggled delightedly.

“I knew you would! You needed that...to get your mind prepared for hearing her! Many of our best at all disciplines are female, unlike on your old world! I wished to put an end to your foolish favoring of men. I’m certain that you will remember this lesson well! Besides, she will teach you far more than just how to use a sword!”

“I understand she’s inclined to use her naughty attention as a reward? I’m sure that delights all of the males!” Rasten suggested, curious to see if this would spark a fit of jealousy. Instead, Amein turned a deep shade of red, and looked down. Rasten stood up, and stepped close enough to lift her chin. “She does that to females too?” he insightfully asked.

“Ah...well...y...yes...that happens sometimes, and not just with her...” she admitted.

“Let me guess...you’ve played with your sisters as well as your brothers?” This caused her blush to become even more pronounced.

“Rasten...humans here think that’s improper...”

“Like they do back on Earth, at least mostly?”

“I suppose. But the Elves...we’re a naughty bunch of opportunists...we play with anyone we can! You’ll get used to it...trust me, please?”

“Said the girl who got her spoiled butt paddled with a sword?” Rasten teased. Amien’s shriek of embarrassment and outrage ended quickly, when Rasten grabbed her, and kissed her into silence. When they pulled apart slightly, Amien giggled, and laid her cheek against his chest.

“That wasn’t the only thing Master Roien did to my naughty, spoiled bottom!” she confessed reluctantly

.

18

Amein had called her commanders together, to consider the latest news and efforts regarding the Eridians. The ones who had followed the retreating fighters, after the attack on Alarinad, had pursued all night, giving up only as the sun rose. They had well determined the likely destination of this group, that being the small encampment of Sardac, one the closest of the Eridian outposts.

The Elvin had attacked it dozens of times, driving the Eridians out, but it was located in a place where defending it made for more effort than it was likely worth. Yet each time the Elvin withdrew, the Eridian’s soon reoccupied it, eager to use it to launch attacks on the closest Elvin lands.

“So, shall we waste our efforts again attacking that place?” Amein demanded.

“Princess, it seems unlikely to give us the satisfaction we deserve. Yet should the Eridians continue to use it with no cost?” an Elvin warrior named Aleamian wondered, speaking for most. “They will only grow bolder!”

“What do we know of it?” Amein asked.

“It is small and unworthy, lacking even the basic means of survival such as a small settlement might possess. They occupy it solely to mount attacks, keeping only their warriors and such few as might maintain them. They supply it from their nearest proper settlement, Rouskanari, fifteen leagues to the north!”

“And that is a proper place, filled with Eridian families, doing all manner of crafts and farming?” she asked.

“Such is our understanding. It has been twenty years since any Elf spied upon such a place!”

Amein sat, considering this. On the table in front of her was a map outlining the area of their world occupied by the Eridians.

“Perhaps we are long overdue for an updating of our maps...and our understanding of those whom we fight? We are guilty of complacency, choosing to believe we understand our enemy, instead of knowing him! We must repair that, and quickly! The Elvin can scarce afford to sit and be vulnerable to the Eridians. Shocara has shown herself willing to do things new and innovative. She will likely be made bolder by her success. We must be prepared to counter that, by shaking off our habits and folly also!”

“It would be marvelous if we should fell her in battle! Aleamian declared.

“No,” Amein suggested, her voice soft and quiet. Looking up, and seeing everyone staring at her like she had lost her mind, she smiled slightly.

“Nay...I have not become bewitched! She is young, and willing to think new thoughts. She may be the best hope of changing the Eridian’s old habits we have had in centuries! I would have her alive...so we might have a...chat! Any who might take her alive will be well rewarded!”

“Any who might try will likely be deceased, if what we hear of her is even half true!” someone grumbled.

“Do not shake and hesitate for rumors...such tend to grow larger in the retelling! The Eridians believe me to be a great and powerful sorceress!” she declared, and laughed, amused by this idea.

“You have your own way of enchanting ...” someone whispered, referring to her much talked about naughty tendencies. There was an awkward silence, as most tried to guess who had been so forward to blurt this out. Amein herself frowned a moment, before laughing loudly.

“I should prefer to work my magic naked and sweaty, rather than with charms and spells!” she admitted, a suggestive smirk well displayed. “At least I know what I’m doing with that!” she added smugly.

Amein decided to go find Rasten, hoping to intercept him on his way back from Master Roien’s place. She was puzzled to find no sign of him, and entered the Master’s studio curious. She could hear the sharp sound of steel meeting, a sound that gave her goosebumps. She could also hear the Master berating some hapless student, as she herself had once been berated during her instruction. She peeked around the corner of the practice room, and was pleased to see Rasten, drenched in sweat, as he desperately worked to counter the Master’s effortless attack.

Amein had to put her hands tight to her mouth, to suppress her mirth, when Rasten had his sword handily taken from his tired hand by Roien’s deft maneuvering. The subsequent tongue lashing reminded her of all she had suffered, learning to master the weapon. Rasten looked quite miserable and angry, snatching up his sword, and working hard to bring an attack to bear against his teacher. She looked to Amein’s eye bored, as she effortlessly countered each of his attacks, letting him tire his arm unwisely, before she easily disarmed him again.

To make it worse for Rasten, as he stood, exhausted, Master Roein deftly unfastened his trousers with the point of her blade, letting them drop. The applause of all the students did nothing to make Rasten feel better. Worse, Amein found herself clapping along; she had been de-pants several times by the master, having her Elvin panties displayed for everyone present. Only now, almost two hundred years latter, did it seem funny.

Amein left her place and walked up, as the Master was finishing her lecturing of Rasten. Becoming aware of her, he looked quite displeased to see her almost gloating at his state of uncover.

“If it makes you feel better, I got to stand in front of the crowd in the same fashion a dozen times!” Amein declared. The master gestured for him to pull up his pants, and as Rasten worked at this, she spoke.

“His reflexs are excellent, as are his eyes. He must learn to stop thinking, to only react, and he will become a master easily!” the sword master declared.

“How many centuries will that require?!” Rasten demanded, fastening his trousers.

“Less than you think! Be here again tomorrow, and we’ll do more to make you miserable!” the master insisted, going to work with others.

As they headed out, Amein nudged him. “You have a group of followers!” she suggested, teasing him, and nodding towards all the young Elvin who were dreamily watching him. “The females especially like to see your ass!” she teased.

Amein led him along the winding walk, but instead of heading back to the main entrance of the Citadel, she went to the left, circling far around, to enter a much less grand entrance. Rasten, who had not even begun to learn his way around the enormous complex, was amazed, as they passed all manner of service areas, eventually coming to a mess hall where many of the Clan home’s workers went to eat.

“You get to eat with the ones who actually work!” she teased, handing him a tray. He found himself sitting at a long table filled with Elvin, half Elvin and humans, all utterly delighted to be visited by him and Amein. No one seemed afraid to approach her, to comment, tease or laugh with her. It struck Rasten suddenly how amazing this was. Amein was the commanding Princess, the prime ruler of all Alarinad, indeed of all the Elvin worlds, yet she traveled with no bodyguard, no entourage. She was completely approachable, and clearly beloved by everyone.

When they departed, he remarked on this.

“On Earth, even the most useless flunky politician or leader is afraid to set foot in public without a bodyguard! You go everywhere alone, and show not the least hesitation or worry!”

“I wear my sword, dear Rasten, and there is no other who might better protect me than myself! Yet I understand your feeling. I would be disgraced to feel so insecure, so unsure of my support and love, should I need guards to defend me from my own people! If your people don’t love and respect you, you are no leader!”

“You think they would defend you against an enemy?”

“Most would die for me, but then, I would do the same for the least among us! Rasten, should you rise up, and take my place one day as we hope, it will only be because you also have won their hearts! The Elvin have never had a single leader who lacked that devotion, that loyalty to our people. An elf may be naked, but even then, one who would lead is still wrapped well in the honor of the people they serve!” she declared, animated and utterly sure.

Amein led Rasten on through many buildings, and along several curving pathways, before arriving at a large, open area. Here Rasten beheld dozens of the large Terranaks he had only seen from afar, moving across the sky. Amein led him up to one such, it secured by a chain which hobbled an ankle. There was a tall metal fence around this enclosure, like all such, that rose to three times his height. Amein unlatched a gate, and ushered Rasten through.

When she walked up beside the creature, Rasten was even more in awe. The terranak towered over her, the leather saddled affixed to its back nearly ten foot above the dirt. The avian beast was an enormous bird of some sort, with huge wings. Rasten noted insignia worked into the harness, which seemed like ones he’d seen in the keep. He pointed at these.

“They are the markings of our clan! This is my personal terranon, which I have now had a dozen years. We’re going for a ride! Go pee!” she advised him wickedly. With this done, Rasten climbed awkwardly up the ladder. Amein went up it with no hesitation or lack of grace, after unsnapping the terranak’s hobble, and easily plopped her bottom down in front of him.

“Grab the belt!” she instructed, and when Rasten did so, he soon found himself tightly fastened against Amein.

“Don’t fall off!” she laughed over her shoulder, a second before she pulled on the reins. The terranak exploded skyward in a flurry of wings, as Rasten’s stomach threatened to turn over. He clung tightly to Amein, who seemed utterly thrilled, as she climbed them higher.

“Oh God!” Rasten moaned, seeing the ground receding.

“You said you weren’t afraid of heights!” Amein yelled over her shoulder. When they were high above the city, Rasten managed to relax a bit. The view was staggeringly beautiful, the city immense.

“See? This isn’t so bad! Now watch!” she called, before moving the reins again. The terranak nosed over, and plunged toward the ground, wings tucked in, and moving like an arrow. Rasten might have screamed, if the rushing wind hadn’t stopped him. As they approached the ground, Amein guided their mount to swing into a long, sweeping curve, circling around the Citadel. Rasten soon found himself again climbing, but this time when Amein started a fast dive, she guided the terranak to do the equivalent of a barrel roll. Rasten thought he was going to lose his lunch, but Amein continued to maneuver their mount. She pulled it up into a level glide, before doing another rapid roll, but at the top of it, she snapped the terranak into a twist, and was suddenly flying in the opposite direction.

By the time the terranak settled back onto the solid ground of its pen, Rasten was drenched with sweat. Amein seemed merely exhilarated, her snug top displaying erect nipples.

Rasten climbed down, as awkwardly as he had climbed up, as Amein watched, trying not to giggle.

“You stink!” she declared, noting his sweatiness.

“And you’re aroused! I assume I’ll get used to that better in time?!”

“Of course. Did you pee yourself?”

Rasten shook his head.

“Good...I peed myself a dozen times before I got used to it, but then, I was only five when I flew my first terranak!” she smugly declared.

“You needn’t show off!” he sighed, suddenly worn out.

“Poor Rasten...you need a good soak, and a nice massage by the Elvin girls. Then you get to take care of my urges!” Amein insisted, grinning.

“More work!” Rasten sighed, a bit snippy.

“But you like that kind!” she teased, kissing him.