Destiny (36 page)

With a ghost of a smile, the Elf girl’s dark brown eyes watched me closely as her small mouth worked the meat for several minutes. Leaning forward she pressed her soft lips against my own, firmly pushing the food into my mouth as her dreads splayed across my chest while the scent of wild blossoms filled my senses.

For a moment, I froze at the shared intimacy that passed between us, before weakly swallowing the sustenance without question. She touched my body with a familiar ease like I was some lost lover. Almost as if she knew me on some deeper level, but the thought slipped away a second later as my hunger returned with a vengeance. I was starving. Thankfully without hesitation the Elf girl continued feeding me the entire bowl, her lips lingering longer with each pass.

Although this primitive level of care was unneeded in most places on Earth, on Irlendria this was how many healers cared for the injured or sick. Even so, by the time the bowl was empty, there was more kissing going on than actual feeding, which wasn’t something I’d ever heard of healers doing from my studies.

I know I should have questioned what was happening or at least wondered about the why, but like any other male, all that I could think about was the burning heat rising up inside of my loins. It was my first kiss. Even weakened as I was my body responded to the tender pull of those urgent lips without hesitation; the intensity momentarily wiping away all thought. I’d never felt desire like this before in my entire life.

Maybe it was the near death experience or simply the emotional trauma from everyone I’d lost, but with everything I’d been through the “why” didn’t seem important at that second. There was no question that the Elf girl had saved my life and obviously that of Frostbrand and Starfire. How could I turn down her simple request?

I’m not saying it wasn’t hot, because it was. It was just the whole experience was outside my normal realm of understanding. Not that there’d been much of a choice in the matter, but then again maybe that’s how things like this went.

Either way, no matter how intense the make-out session was becoming as soon as the food stopped flowing I was done. Almost before I realized what was happening my eyes began closing of their own accord. A moment later, I felt those same small hands pull a thick fur over our bodies as the Elf girl once again rested her head against my chest before the darkness overtook me.

***

Location Irlendria / Startüm Ironwolf:

The next time I became conscious of my surroundings again, I realized the agony that had been tearing at my soul apart was all but gone. Even though I lay motionless, I could tell my body was still very weak. Hearing movement nearby, I groggily opened my bleary eyes looking towards the sounds.

For a long second my mind failed to comprehend what I saw as my mouth gaped open in surprise. It was dark again, but the flickering light from the fire gave off more than enough light for me to see what was happening. Possibly a more accurate statement would have been to watch the action that was going on. Whoever the Centaur was from the battle by the river, she definitely knew the Wild Elf. Lip-locked the way they were it was obvious they were more than friends.

Casual sex had never been an option for me. Not because Paladins were prudes or that Ukko frowned on the sexual promiscuity of his religious warriors. It might sound like an odd question to ask, but it was amazing how many times the subject was brought up by new converts. Probably because so many religions on Earth had issues with sex and intimate relationships between unwed men and women. Most just automatically assumed Ukkodians would have similar hang-ups. I’m sure my own lack of intimate relationships caused some of the confusion, but that wasn’t a Ukko thing. I’d just never been interested in sex one way or another while growing up, but now watching the scene before me, it was like I couldn’t look away.

“He wakes!” The sharp hiss made my blood turn cold. For a split second, I felt like a teenager caught peeking into some girl’s bedroom window. The Centaur’s angry black eyes suddenly bore into me as the Elf girl untwined herself from the filly’s arms. Hurrying to my side, the Elf girl began pulling me into a propped-up position while speaking over her shoulder.

“Nessa, can you bring the bowl of meat that mother prepared?”

Obviously irritated the Centaur rose to her hooves in one smooth motion as my breath caught in my throat. Embarrassingly my eyes focused on the bounce of her impressive breasts. From the scars that marked her body, there was no question that she was a warrior. Forcing my gaze away from her bare chest, I studied the color of her lean and heavily muscled body. Except for the roan-colored mane of hair flowing from her head and down her back, her skin was completely white. There was something important about the color, but whatever it was my mind couldn’t seem to recall the forgotten memory as she angrily clopped towards the tent’s flap.

What was wrong with me? It was like I couldn’t stop ogling every female I saw!

With one last angry glare, the Centaur left the tent as I tried not to stare at the nearly nude Elf girl that suddenly plopped into my lap. Still only dressed in a loincloth, she straddled my legs pressing a wooden bowl to my dry lips. “Drink.” Seeing my nose quiver at the terrible odor she smiled fiercely. “I know it smells horrible. It tastes even worse, but it will help your body heal. Now drink!”

For a moment, I thought about arguing, but that made little sense. If they’d wanted to poison me, they wouldn’t be working so hard to keep me alive. Not that I had any choice in the matter as the bowl was suddenly upended into my mouth. Grimacing, I gulped the foul tasting liquid down until the bowl was empty. Almost immediately a warm heat began spreading throughout my emaciated body as the Elf girl’s slim arms immediately wrapped around my neck. Leaning forward without hesitation, she pressed her lean body against my chest kissing me softly. Without conscious thought my hands ran up her muscular thighs, thankfully stopping just short of her loin cloth as I spoke in a hurried rush with my voice cracking from disuse.

“Whoa, time out for a second. What do you think you’re doing?” Seeing the surprised look on her face, I suddenly felt self-conscious as we both became aware of my body’s obvious reaction to her nearness. Stuttering, I tried a different track. “You don’t need to do this. I mean, you don’t even know me?” Before she could answer the flap whipped open as the Centaur came striding back into the tent. Taking one disgusted look at us, she tossed a large bowl to the Elf girl before storming back out with a flick of her tail.

Giving me a playful smile, the Elf girl adjusted her hips to slide more fully onto my groin as she began feeding me. This time, she let me chew my own meat as she spoke in her musical voice. “Nessa is an old friend.” Seeing my raised eyebrows she blushed slightly. “Well more than just friends, but that was a long time ago. I was just explaining to her why there couldn’t be anything more between us when you woke up.”

She said that matter-of-factly like the explanation should have been obvious. Unfortunately, it didn’t help to explain anything about what was going on. Grandsire had covered the various Elven Clans and their ways during our lessons, but he had only limited knowledge of the Wild Elves and their animal companions. I knew that most of their tribe had been devastated protecting the Great Forest during the Battle of Daeron. Dying by the thousands they’d held back the Tuonellians Hordes long enough for the Alliance to come to the Elves rescue, but doing so had almost destroyed the Clan. Nearly one in twenty hadn’t survived the battle. Afterward the Wild Elves had pulled back from the rest of the world, so little was known of their ways.

Seeing my confusion, the girl continued explaining. “You saved our lives by the Otso River and in doing so stopped an invasion that would have killed many of my tribe had they been caught unaware by the Tuonellian deception. The Clan owes you Skuldir Líf. It is my honor and duty to repay the life debt owed by my people.”

For a surreal second, it felt like the blood suddenly froze in my veins as my voice hardened in barely controlled rage. To say that I was angry would have been an understatement. During my time on Earth, I had ran into many cultures that paid their debts with the lives of their women and children. It was as if these members of their society were considered less than human, but mere property to be traded without a second thought or concern like cattle. In each culture the name was different, but ultimately the practice was the same. Always for the honor of the family or the tribe and approved by society at large or condoned by the ruling religion, but slavery none the less.

“Your clan owes me nothing for my help. There is no debt that needs to be repaid.”

Bowing her head, the Elf girl spoke without hesitation. “None the less, my life and that of Argus, my Wenci brother, is yours.”

Sitting up, I shoved the Wild Elf from my lap speaking harshly. “I am a Paladin of Ukko. To accept such payment would go against every principle my God stands for. I do not sanction slavery, nor do I tolerate the practice in my presence.”

Looking up at me incredulously the Elf girl rose to her knees. “You would discard my people’s gift after they have come to the aid of you and your charges?”

My anger gave me the strength to rise shakily into a crouch as the tattoos on my skin began to glow red, lighting up the insides of the tent with heavy shadows. “I would fight to the death before accepting such a gift. Your Skuldir Líf has been paid in full. You are free to do as you please.”

“You say that I am no one’s slave and am free to do as I please?”

Already the exhaustion from my energy discharge was beginning to take its toll on me. I had no idea why the Rök runes tattooed into my skin had activated, but in doing so, they had used up the minuscule pool of energy that had built-up while I’d slept. Logically I knew it wasn’t the Elf girl’s fault, but that of her people’s. Still the whole idea rubbed me wrong. Forcing myself to calm down I spoke firmly.

“Yes, I free you to live as you please.”

Grinning happily the girl excitedly jumped into my arms, easily pushing me down into the sleeping furs as she straddled me once again. “Good, then I choose to serve you!”

Needless to say, the argument didn’t end there. We argued well into the night, but it’s hard to stay angry when a beautiful naked Elf keeps throwing herself at you. Then again, I was always pretty stubborn. Just ask my Grandsire. Not that I’d ever had problems saying no before now, but, this time, it was different. Something about the Elf girl tugged at my heart.

The discussion ended up being much more intense and completely different than what I had initially expected. The Elf girl’s name was Enelya Tasartir. As a spirit shaman of the Wild Elf Clan, she had very distinct ideas of what was right and wrong. In her own words, she explained what had occurred when we first met. During the time I’d been communing with the Great Forest, a connection had formed between us. At the time, it was the only way the spirits could awaken me. The link was completely different than what I shared with the twins, nor did it function like her connection to Argus either. It was something altogether different. For that brief moment, Enelya had connected to me at the level of the spirit, capturing the very essence of my soul. The experience marking her with the love she now held for me.

Even on Irlendria, the spirit shamans were unique unto themselves. From what I remembered of my lessons about the Wild Elves, unlike the magic that fueled a wizard or sorcerer, a shaman’s power came from the life force of the world around them. Their abilities were derived from communing with the oneness of the universe. Following a path called “The Way,” they began learning at a young age how to use their power to manipulate the world around them. The one specific thing I did remember was that the eldest were supposed to be able to commune with the dead. The point had stood out in my mind at the time as being a pretty cool ability. Unfortunately the rest of whatever Luthar had taught me so long ago was gone, but at least, it gave me a context to somewhat understand her cultural perspective.

Enelya was here in part due to her belief in the concepts of Skuldir Líf. From our discussion, I realized it was not the practice of slavery as I had initially thought it to be. If anything, it was a personal decision to give one’s life in the service to an individual the Wild Elf deemed worthy of their honor. The belief was more complex than just the simple repayment of a life for a life. It was the ultraistic concept of giving one’s life for the greater good. Akin to a samurai offering his life to a master he deemed worthy of his honor or a soldier giving their life in defense of their country. Only this conviction, I would learn a short time later, ran even deeper than those simplistic comparisons.

With one word Enelya had trumped our argument and opened my mind. The definition of love was such an elusive concept. For me, it was something I’d always believed would never be a part of my life. Perhaps because of this simple belief the word had always held a certain mystery for me, drawing me like a moth to a flame. Throughout my travels on Earth, I’d studied its effects on the numerous humans I’d encountered while teaching the word of Ukko. From my observations, there was no one true meaning that fully encompasses the ideals of that simple word. Although physical attraction certainly played its part, love didn’t mean lust. I had heard a theory promoted by some human scientists that believed love was simply a set of chemical responses to animal pheromones within the brain, but that didn’t encompass the numerous forms of love I’d witnessed. True love was so much more than a set of chemical reactions. It was the self-sacrifice to take the pain of another, it was the willingness to protect the ones you loved with your life, it was a connection and sharing at the level of the soul, it was all of these things and yet so much more.