The Merciless Alpha(erotica)

Kathra’s brow furrowed. Why such magic failed for the shadow elves, or their slaves, was beyond her understanding. Even magic items that they captured that functioned perfectly for hundreds of years prior failed within days of use by her people. Ya’av taught that such magics were forbidden to them by the supposed ‘Great Father’ of the elves as punishment for following the Ya’av, the Great Queen, when she was cast out. Reason said that was impossible, she’d studied the elements within the control of the gods, and only Great Ya’av could theoretically block such magic, but that was preposterous.

Kathra’s gaze settled again on her worthless daughter. She needed to find a way to get rid of the cunt. All Clee’Amura was useful now was potentially breeding, but why would she let her daughter receive of the seed of an elven male when there were such more fit shadow elves to breed? The only other value she potentially had would be as a political pawn, but what fool would receive a slave daughter of a ruler when other payments were available? No one held enough power to even make such an exchange a theoretical possibility.

Kathra spat on the worthless slave. Clee’Amura was so accustomed to such treatment she didn’t even flinch.

Such deliberations were worthless, all Kathra could do was figure out how to conquer the world, feed her people and secure her position among her people and in Ya’av’s favor.

“Send word to the Matriarchs of the High Houses. In one month’s time, I expect twice the normal offerings of soldiers for the extermination of the Wood elves. Any who fail to meet my demands will have their rations halved.” Kathra snarled and one of the messengers hidden behind the pillars in her throne room, ran to do as asked.

I am surrounded by incompetence. Kathra seethed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next morning, we broke camp.

True to their word, Flendreir, Nauveir and Ulamir were ready to go, despite their reduced rest to keep watch.

Risavis surveyed the forest floor around our camp as we ate our dried fruits and meats for breakfast.

“Well, the forest has learned to respect your power, Master Thomas. Not even the most imposing of dire beasts came within a hundred paces of our camp.” She reported.

“Wait, how do they even know we fought the dragon?” I demanded.

“Nature watches and nature learns.” Risavis shrugged. “Beyond that we merely are speculating. Are the animals of our forest more intelligent due to the influence of the leylines? Are the gods of nature watching over their flock? Have we underestimated the intelligence of animals? Who can say?”

I guess I could accept that.

Narusil walked among the sisters, swirling a hand in the air and uttering a single phrase. Finally she reached me.

“May I prepare you for the day?” She requested.

“What exactly are you doing?” I wondered.

“Oh, it is a simple spell, on the tier of the light spell I taught you yesterday. A novice level spell. It enables one to clean clothing, or an individual. It is used to keep our soldiers clean while they are going to war. It keeps body odor in check, and helps keep sickness and discomfort to a minimum.” She explained.

“That seems really complicated.” I admitted, “How is it a novice level spell?”

Narusil laughed, “Well, because what I actually do is tell the garment, or the skin, to remember the last time it was clean and return to that state. I would teach you the spell, so you could do it yourself, but… After what happened yesterday, I’m a little scared to try it outside of a controlled environment.”

I shrugged. “By all means then. Clean away.” I told her and spread my arms.

“Ra meian val somir.” Narusil intoned, swirling her hand in a rising swirl in front of her body.

There was a strange almost static that started at the soles of my feet and as her hand rose it swirled up my legs, over my torso and over my head. I felt like I had just gotten out of the shower.

“Strange, your face appears to have resisted the spell.” Narusil murmured, touching the stubble on my chin.

“Oh, that’s not dirt. That’s hair.” I explained.

“Hair? On your chin?” Narusil marveled.

“Here, let me fix it.” I told her, and drew the dagger from my waist.

I’d shaved with stranger things before. I closed my eyes and went by feel. The razor sharp edge shaved me better than a straight razor. It took me just a few minutes. Feeling clean and shaved was good. The itching on my chin was gone.

“And your people perform this ritual often?” Tavorwen chuckled.

“Yep. It’s either that or grow hair on my chin and groom it.” I affirmed, ” And I don’t like the way having hair growing on my chin itches.”

Narusil cast the spell again, banishing the trimmings of my beards.

Having taken a few minutes to shave, the elves were all waiting on me.

We headed out. Seeming to make good time, able to take a direct route, only making detours around the trees directly in our path.

“Is it just me or are we moving faster today?” I questioned.

“We are.” Tavorwen concurred.

“Risavis doesn’t seem to have to lead us around so many obstacles.” Creadean agreed. “It’s as if the forest is making way for us.”

We still had to rest. The elves’ endurance could only be pushed so hard, and we wanted to be capable if anything should happen.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

Shortly after midday, we emerged from the forest. Looking beyond the forest as it curled and extended further, but the further south the forest stretched, the smaller the trees got. To the east, the mountain range Tavorwen and I had to trek through to get from the temple where I’d been summoned stretched down toward what appeared to be a coast line. The sweeping treeline swept west for a short bit, then curved back to the east stretching out of sight.

“It’s beautiful.” I breathed as the beauties of this world stretched out before me.

“What? The plain of Clathreir?” Tavorwen asked, her eyes viewing it critically. “I suppose it has its charm.”

“Let’s move a few furrows away from the forest, then I can prepare to scry to the north to find a suitable teleportation site.” Narusil suggested.

I gazed once more over the sweeping view and we headed down the descending terrain toward the coast. This world was so untouched, and there was so much to be learned and experienced here. My conviction to defend it grew and I shifted the rifle on my shoulder. I’d probably have to kill more to keep this world safe, but it would be worth it.

We walked down toward the coast for two more hours, the easy slope giving us an easy walk. Then Narusil called us to a stop.

“Alright, this should be far enough.” Narusil declared. “Give me some time to see if I can detect anyone watching us, and then I’ll try and find us a good spot to land.”

We all sat as Narusil found a comfortable spot and sat, uttering the strange words of magic and making hand signs as her eyes stared into the distance. Her owl landed on the leather guard on her shoulder, its talons stopped by the guard from harming her shoulder.

I sat down with Risavis and scratched Irsivir behind his ears with her. The great wolf’s fire was surprisingly soft. The base of his ear seemed like the right place to scratch.

“You are good.” Risavis stated quietly.

“What do you mean?” I asked, confused.

“Irsivir… He doesn’t let just anyone touch him.” Risavis explained. “He tends to bite people who try to touch him, but he knows I am good… and now he has decided you are good too.”

The way the wolf lay with his eyes closed, but his muscles, not fully relaxed, made me very glad that he seemed to like me.

“You didn’t think to mention that before I tried to pet him?” I muttered.

Risavis shrugged, “If he was going to bite you, I had faith you wouldn’t be stupid enough to keep reaching.”

I’d seen the size of his teeth and there was something to what she said. If he started baring those fangs at me, I would have definitely walked away.

“Do you truly believe we can do enough to make Kathra fear us?” Risavis asked.

“I just want to make her realize her actions have consequences.” I explained. “She struck at me in my home, and I intend to return the favor.”

“She knows her actions have consequences.” Risavis stated. “She just doesn’t care about what those consequences are. The Betrayer clouds her eyes.”

“The Betrayer… the goddess of the shadow elves, right?” I recalled from the conversation with Driveal.

“Yes. She sought to overthrow the Great Father. He won and when the Betrayer was cast out she took what were then called the Night Elves with her. She starves them, pits them against each other, and has sought to drive love, kindness and understanding from their hearts so that they will be perfect soldiers that one day she may return and overthrow the Great Father as she once failed to do. Now it seems her efforts may be succeeding.” Risavis confirmed, scratching under Irsivir’s chin.

“She starves them? Can’t they just use magic to make food, like the cabinet in my kitchen?” I wondered.