Ways of Power 1: Power Rises (17 page)

30

The morning air was cool, and the morning sky was clear and cloudless. After eating the last of the dried meat and fruit they had purchased in Illineas, Rancoth and Dorbin headed north once more.

After a couple of hours, Rancoth grew bored with the ceaseless grass that stretched out to the horizon on either side of the dry dirt road. With each step they took, little puffs of dust kicked up and swirled in their wake. It reminded him of the patterns made inside the two spheres they had found. This however was only a temporary diversion, and did little to alleviate Racoth’s boredom.

"Dorbin, about what time will we reach Tower City do you think?"

Dorbin shrugged. "It depends. You said therre was only one morre village between herre and the Capital?"

"Yes, Sheritin."

"Then I guess it depends on how much time we spend in Sherritin," Dorbin said.

Rancoth sighed. "What if I said we didn't have to stop at all?"

Dorbin chuckled softly. "We ate the last o' ourr food this morrning. We'll need to stop forr something," Dorbin said. "Besides, I thought you wanted to meet new people, and see morre things."

"I do, but we’re so close, and I have so much to tell Grecrum," Rancoth said, getting impatient.

"Sorrry."

Rancoth stopped, his gaze lingering on the sky. The sun was now well above the horizon and forced him to squint. "You want to ride on a demon?" he asked quietly.

"What?" Dorbin  stopped and turned to him. "Arre you crrazy?"

"No, I think it would be alright. My unintelligent minions are far easier to control. I'm not sure why I didn't think about it before. It would cut our time to just a couple of hours. We'd be home by this afternoon instead of this evening." Rancoth gave his friend a pleading look.

"I don't know Rran," Dorbin said shaking his head. "No offence, son, but you don't exactly have a grreat deal o' success with yourr beasties."

His words left Rancoth with a need to prove himself to his old mentor. "I know I'm not so good with Pordly and Gillbrick, and don't even get me started on some of the others. But really, I've worked with my non-sentient demons a lot more, and I can control them--trust me."

Dorbin took a deep breath before answering. "I know I'm going to rregrret this."

Rancoth's face split into a wide grin. "Kujos, come."

Black smoke emerged from the earth in front of Rancoth, reeking of sulfur. Dorbin took a few steps back when he saw the frightening creature that issued forth, gripping his axe and shield in a defensive posture.

Kujos was a huge two headed dog, roughly the size of a horse. Its heads were blocky with short snubbed black noses over huge mouths filled with slime-dripping fangs. The beast had short pointed ears and a knobby little tail.

The head on the left had rust-colored eyes, and the one on the right had eyes of bright yellow. Like all of Rancoth’s demons, both sets of eyes lacked pupils. Its body was thick and muscular, with dark brown fur.

When the beast noticed Dorbin, it hunched down low. Hackles raised as both throats produced a deep horrifying growl.

"It's okay Kujos, that's Dorbin. He's a friend, even if he is grumpy sometimes."

At the sound of Rancoth’s voice, the giant dog assumed a joyful expression and its little nub of a tail wagged with such force it shook the whole back half of its body.

"Yes, that's a good demon," Rancoth said, patting the beast on the side. "It's okay Dorbin, let it smell you.  It's very friendly, and the only one of my demons that seems to like me."

Dorbin lowered his ax and shield and warily approached the frightening creature. Kujos lowered its heads and each snout sniffed the Dwalish man. Then the yellow eyed head licked Dorbin’s face, leaving a slimy trail of foaming white ooze to drip off his cheek.

Rancoth laughed, his hand still resting firmly against Kujos’ side. "I think it likes you!" he said.

Dorbin wiped the sleeve of his tunic across his face and gagged. "Yeah, well, that feeling’s not mutual and its breath stinks of rotting flesh," Dorbin growled.

Rancoth chuckled again and slid his walking stick in the loop between his pack and his back. "Kujos lay down," he ordered.

The large creature lowered itself down over its plate sized paws. Rancoth crawled onto its back just behind its massive black striped shoulders, and beckoned Dorbin to get on behind him.

"I must be losing my mind." Dorbin climbed up behind him and gripped Rancoth firmly around the chest. "It's prrobably best if we get off the rroad. We don't want to scarre the shite out o' everreyone."

Rancoth nodded. "Good idea. Kujos up." The powerful creature's muscles bunched underneath the two men and raised them effortlessly into the air.

"I think it would be easier to control it with my mind from here on out. Are you comfortable with that?" Rancoth asked.

"I'm not comforrtable with any o' this!" Dorbin exclaimed. "You do what you think is best. I'll just trry to hang on. All rright?"

Rancoth nodded, and resting his hands on his thighs while gripping Kujos with his legs, he commanded it to cut a wide angle off the road in a northern direction. Kujos surprised Rancoth and started at a fast run. There was a loud cracking sound that echoed behind them and Rancoth had Kujos stop to see what it was.

Kujos lowered himself again so Rancoth and Dorbin could dismount. They backtracked a few yards and Kujos laid his heads on his massive paws and whined quietly.

Rancoth was thankful for being close to the road; the grass wasn't as tall as further out in the fields. If it were, they would have never found his mother's sphere that had managed to work its way out of his pack when Kujos lunged forward.

He gasped when he saw what it was, afraid it had been damaged. Dorbin knelt down and picked it up, examining it with awe. The sphere remained completely flawless; the stone it landed on however had shattered like glass.

"What the hell are you doing?" Rancoth shouted as Dorbin pulled out one of his hammers and struck it hard.

The hammer's head cracked and broke on impact. Dorbin dropped the handle and shook his hand in pain. "Damn it," he growled. "It's what I thought; I didn't think it would brreak my hammerr, though." He tossed the sphere back to Rancoth and walked away, cursing under his breath.

Rancoth examined the sphere before securing it back in his pack. He was relieved that it hadn't broken, but was curious at Dorbin's strange behavior. "What was that about? What do you mean it's what you thought?"

Dorbin shook his head, refusing to answer. "Let's get back on yourr beastie, and get back to Towerr City. We've wasted enough time."

Soon Rancoth had the demon running through the tall grass-covered hills, his pack secured tightly. The thick muscles pumped beneath them in a rhythmic fashion as the creature bounded its way across the land.

The ride was the most exhilarating thing Rancoth had ever felt. The air whipped through his hair and his heart thumped against his chest. It was magnificent, and true to expectations, within a couple of hours the great white tower could be seen piercing the sky.

The last leg of the journey had been amazing, and only one farmer had run for cover in his barn as they passed. The closer they got to the capital city however the more apt they were to run into people. So with great disappointment, Rancoth made the decision that they would walk the last mile or so to the bustling hub of the Light Magi people.

Rancoth scratched Kujos behind all four ears, and even Dorbin smiled slightly at the beast before it vanished in a puff of smoke at its master’s command. They made their way west for a while to get back on the road, and in less than an hour they were in the familiar streets of Tower City once more. Rancoth headed for the Tower, and Dorbin ran off to his shop, mumbling about having something to do.

31

              "How very unusual," Grecrum said. He held the Elfkin necklace next to Rancoth's mother's orb. "No wonder she was so interested in the thing. I've never seen anything like them."

              Rancoth sat in one of the chairs by the fireplace in Grecrum's private study. Grecrum was standing by the window wearing one of his more beautiful deep purple robes, carefully scrutinizing the objects that Rancoth and Dorbin had brought back. He held them up to the sun, but the swirling internal mist of the spheres remained completely opaque.

              After a few more minutes of study, Grecrum sat across from Rancoth and handed his mother's orb back to him. His brow was wrinkled with thought, and he held the necklace up once more. "You say your mother always had that one?" he finally asked.

              "For as long as I can remember,” Rancoth said. “She said that it had belonged to her father before her, and her great grandmother before him." He ran his fingers across the surface of the blue swirling ball.

              "Hmmm."

              "If you don't mind I would very much like to keep it," Rancoth said. He did not need permission, but he nonetheless felt the need to ask.

              "Oh well of course,” Grecum said. “It's yours, son. I was merely curious about it. It's a pity that we need to get the necklace back to Dal'Asaid. I would very much like to study both objects at length.

“Well I'm sure you're tired. Thank you for everything. I don't know what would have happened if we didn’t get this back for the Elfkin people."

              Rancoth put his mother's sphere back inside his travel pack and stood to leave. He already had thoughts of a nice hot bath and his own comfortable bed swimming in his imagination.

              "Oh and Rancoth, will you be joining me for dinner tonight?" Grecrum asked. "I already invited Dorbin telepathicly when the two of you reached the edge of the city, and he’ll be here as well.”"

              "I'd love to," Rancoth answered. "But right now I’d very much like to bathe and take a nap. My first adventure was draining." He emphasized his words with a yawn.

              Grecrum smiled knowingly. "I understand. I'll send a sustenancer up to fill our tub with hot water and then get some rest. There are a few things that Dorbin and I can discuss without you so there is no need to rush."

              Rancoth left and climbed the stairs to his room. Once there he set his pack on the floor next to his bed and peeled of his travel soiled orange robe. He then grabbed a soft drying cloth and headed down the hall to the wash room.

              The room was made from highly polished white marble that had little whirls of gold running through it. In the center of the room recessed into the floor was a large tub. It was deep enough for the water to come up to Rancoth's shoulders, and wide enough to comfortably hold five or six people.

              The sustenancer had already come up and the tub was filled with steaming water. The rising vapor from the bath was sweet and fragrant, reminding him of roses and honey.

With a grateful sigh, Rancoth eased his way into the steaming tub and laid his head back on the edge of the tub, and relaxed. Soon his mind began to wander, and he found himself thinking about Jurile.

He started to become aroused as he imagined her; he had been attracted to her since he was young. Rancoth shook his head sending little droplets of water flying through the air, ridding himself of the image. He opened his eyes, not wanting to cheapen the thought of her. A pleasant day dream it was, but he knew it would never be anything more, which is why perhaps he wanted her so badly.

After scrubbing himself clean and spending somemore time soaking and relaxing, he climbed out of the tub, dried off, and went to his bedchamber. Once there, he flopped onto his comfortable bed and pulled the little doll of his ancestor out of his pack. He studied it briefly and set it on the nightstand next to his bed. He then pulled out the orb.

He sat for a long time, losing himself in its fathomless liquidity. The twists and twirls of whatever silvery substance lay just beneath the glassy surface of the orb was truly mesmerizing. Eventually his eyes began to get heavy; a combination of his long journey, the hot relaxing bath, and the hypnotic dance of the mysterious sphere had taken its toll.

Certain that he would soon drop the sphere if he didn't set it down and succumb to his exhaustion, Rancoth placed it on the stomach of the doll. The little stuffed figure curled its appendages under the weight of the sphere, which made it appear as though the doll were hugging it.  Rancoth lay back and started to doze.

Caught in the purgatory between dream and reality, his thoughts drifted to Jurile again. He started to get frustraited with himself as he imagined her infront of him. He hadn't thought about Jurile the whole time he had been on his journey. Why was she suddenly invading his thoughts again now? Was it because she was close again? That he knew she was just outside the tower somewhere? He closed his eyes and shook his head trying to think of someone else.

When he opened his eyes again the image of Jurile was replaced with another female form, just as tantalizing, but far more wicked.

She stood a little over five feet tall with skin the pink color of a woman's vulva. Her back was turned to him, and extending just above the delicate outline of her shoulder blades were a pair of small red bat like wings. Where her spine met the top of her supple round bottom was a long thin tail, tipped with a tuft of midnight black hair which matched the long flowing curls on top of her head.

She looked over her shoulder at him; her deep blood red eyes were without pupils, and outlined with a thin black line that accentuated their beautiful almond shape. She had two tiny little red horns set just below the edge of her hairline. A seductive smile split her glossy red lips, revealing pointed white teeth.

Rancoth's eyes drooped a little, and then closed as he mumbled, "Who told you to come, Elimon?"

A moment or two later he opened his eyes again the succubus had turned to face him, a veil of black smoke still lingering around her. He smiled slightly, as he could now see the folds of her womanly entry, but the enticing look she had moments before was replaced with revulsion. Her voluptuous breasts heaved with fury. "What do you want? You worm-shafted imbecile."

Rancoth rubbed a knuckle in his bleary eyes, and yawned. "What…?" When he could see clearly again, Elimon stood there studying him, her breath shallow as she quickly glanced next to him.

The demon's demeanor suddenly changed again, the enticing look of erotic interest returned to her face once more. She bent forward, allowing her breasts to drop together in a seductive manner as she crawled towards him over the foot of his bed.

I must be dreaming, he thought to himself. Elimon had never shown any interest in him before, preferring to insult his manhood. Not that he had ever cared really; she was attractive and enticing to be sure, as all succubae were. But she was still a wicked demon; however…a dream wouldn't hurt. Would it?

The demon now moved her soft hands with their bright red nails slowly up his legs as she inched closer. "Close your eyes," she whispered. Her lips parted to reveal a long forked purple tongue.

Rancoth did as he was told, allowing the dream to go where it would. He shivered slightly, and goose bumps marched over his body. He felt the dual warm wet tracings of her tongue move up his stomach. Her hot breath played across his almost invisible body hair, sending wave after wave of delicate pleasure coursing through him.

She moved further up his body, drawing the two tips of her forked tongue in little opposing circles around one of his nipples. The unique sensation made his body react in an almost animalistic manner. His erection was immediate and nearly painful in its demand for satisfaction.

Sensing his urgency, Elimon moved her left hand from the bed beside him to tease him. But, as she did she also shifted her weight in a curious manner. Rancoth could feel that she was leaning off to the side, and he peeked out the corner of his eye.

"ELIMON STOP!" he shouted, realizing that this was no dream.

Forced to obey, the demon's right hand stood frozen a hair’s breadth from his mother's sphere.

"Get away from that, and get away from me!" Rancoth commanded. As his face flushed with self-loathing and embarrassment, he pulled his bedding to cover his nakedness.

"Yes master," she said obediently, moving to stand at the foot of his bed. Her eyes were downcast, and her hands nervously stroked her tail.

"Master? What do you mean master? You never call me that."

Elimon shook her head. "A mistake, I'm sorry. I didn't realize--I am yours to command master." She looked up before lowering her gaze once more.

"Why are you acting so strange?" Rancoth asked. He then shook his head violently. "You know what, never mind. Just return to your realm."

A wicked smile traced across Elimon’s face. "You don't even know, do you?" She threw her head back, and an eerie howling laugh split the air as she vanished in a puff of smoke.

Rancoth quickly took the sphere off his nightstand and locked it inside one of the drawers. He doubted anyone in the castle would try to take it, but wasn’t about to take further chances. Seeing that it was now already early evening, he started getting ready for diner.

"Ah, there he is," Grecrum said as Rancoth entered their private dining room. He had changed into his favorite teal robe and had put his long dirty blond hair in a tight ponytail at the base of his neck. "Did you sleep well?" Grecrum asked.

"Um…” Rancoth hesitated, still embarrassed by his encounter with the succubus. "I had a rather strange--no, make that a disturbing dream. That's all." He took his seat next to Grecrum and across from Dorbin.

The little Dwalish man had also bathed, and had left his facial hair free from its usual braid. Dressed in a black tunic and leggings he looked refreshed, and he was studying Rancoth rather closely.

Rancoth's cheeks reddened slightly under the scrutiny. He cleared his throat before asking what he missed of their conversation.

"Well," Grecrum said. "I was just telling Dorbin how pleased Dal'Asaid was to know that the two of you brought the necklace back to Tower City safely. Unfortunately, something pressing has come up in our friend's continent to the south, and he will be unable to come and retrieve the sacred item for some time." Grecrum’s brow furrowed. "Perhaps indefinitely."

"But, I thought it was vital to his people's spiritual well being," Rancoth said confused and concerned. "What could possibly be so important that it would keep him from coming to get it? Especially after he was so adamant that it be retrieved?"

Dorbin nodded. "That's what I asked," he said.

Grecrum sighed and looked from one man to the other, "To be honest I'm not sure. He didn't say and I wasn't about to delve deeper without his permission. Our relationship has been tenable at best." His eyes had lingered a fraction of a second on Rancoth at this last statement.

The ensuing awkward silence was only avoided by Sahrisa's timely entry. The pretty plump woman was wearing a low cut pale green dress, and she tittered happily as she summoned each of their diner orders. She stayed to briefly flirt with Grecrum before taking her leave.

The three of them sat in silence for a while as each of them sampled Sahrisa's flawless creations. Dorbin had grease dripping down his chin from his roasted turkey leg. Grecrum smiled as he spooned in mouthfuls of his potato and cheese soup. Rancoth enjoyed the taste of his cheese- covered flat bread with tomatoes and garlic.

After wiping his face with a napkin, Rancoth finally spoke. "So, why don't we just take the necklace to them?" he said, pointing at Dorbin and then jerking his thumb back towards himself.

"The lad’s got a point. And, like I said earrlierr he did well with the Illineas prroblem," Dorbin added.

Grecrum placed his spoon in his bowl and sat back in his chair. He set his elbows on the armrests studying both men for a moment. "Rancoth has proven himself to be an apt diplomat. Patrina spoke very highly of him, and how he helped with the giant.

"And Dorbin, your opinion means a great deal, you dole out praise almost as often as it rains in the desert. Additionally it would probably bolster relations further with the Ray'Deeant Elfkin if Rancoth were the one who not only retrieved their sacred object, but also delivered it. Very well. Dorbin, I assume you will be going along again?"

Dorbin took another bite of his meal before answering. "Surre. Why not? But I want to finish that prroject we werre talking about earrlierr." He took a pull of his ale.

Grecrum nodded. "Of course, and quite appropriate I think. I'll inform Dal'Asaid that it will be a week or so before you get underway."

Rancoth smiled despite being tired from the last trip.

"This time," Grecrum added, "I would like you to have a phase shifter take you at least as far as Big Miss River. You can take a boat south from there that would probably be the fastest route at any rate. It's too bad really that former Arch Mage Perlew is no longer alive," Grecrum said as he resumed eating his dinner. "Did you know that he could reportedly shift over two hundred fifty miles at a time?" he asked.