Legends of Belariath
Kytara Sung
Child of Fear
A cold bitter wind blew across the rugged foothills of the Icestock Mountains, causing Kytara Sung to shiver violently and draw her thick cloak closer to her. The half-elf mage sighed despondently, watching her breath mist and crystallize in the moonlight as she wondered just what insanity possessed her to be here, freezing her ass off, days away from civilization. She should be back at Unigo, studying with Rincewind on how to overcome her curse. Instead, Kytara was on this idiotic quest on the off chance that it might provide her with a quick solution to her problems. While it had seemed like a good idea at first, her second thoughts about it had already been replaced by third and fourths and now she simply wanted it over with.
A student of the Art, that was what Kytara liked to call herself, though she considered herself far more advanced than a mere apprentice. The Art of Summoning required years, decades of intense training to develop the knowledge and will that was needed to make the necessary pacts with the spirits that inhabited the elemental and astral planes. She once had the ability to summon mighty Efreet and Djinn, but the curse had taken that away from her, her former ties were broken. Now she had to start all over again, but the curse had made matters worse, going far beyond making her a weak mage again.
Standing a little over five feet tall, Kytara wore a large enveloping white cloak trimmed with gold and lined with soft silk. The cloak was designed to completely conceal her form underneath, which, thanks to her curse, she was very reluctant for anyone to see. Not that the half-elf woman was ugly or scarred, the true situation was the opposite. The curse had turned Kytara into an incredibly beautiful young woman, whose body’s sex appeal was so great that she was constantly the target of molestation or abuse.
And that was just a few of Kytara’s problems, it was no wonder she had let herself be convinced by the elven seductress’s Ellena and Enirya to become their slave for “protection”. For surely if she no longer had the power to defend herself, Kytara could easily be captured by a far worse master or mistress. The summoner did have the foresight to stipulate that she could break the slavery contract at any time, which was a good thing. Part of her old self despised the way she was treated and eventually she would remove herself from her mistresses’ service, if she could she could find the courage to do so.
A small polite cough broke Kytara out her self depression, bringing her attention back to that of her current companion who was laying next to her as they waited, as they had done for the last two nights, for their quarry to appear. Ehlanna was probably the most powerful mage in the land with only Rincewind as her equal, and Katarein, the goddess of magic, above them both. Why the sylvan elf lady had decided to help Kytara on her quest, the young summoner had yet to figure out.
Like Ellena and Enirya, Ehlanna was a seductress, a mage specializing in sex magic and mental manipulation. The silver haired sylvan elf was a little bit taller and slimmer than Kytara, though not by much, just a slightly different definition of “perfect”. Though she didn’t have the half-elf’s raw sexuality, she had a manner of elegance and grace, that in a way was just as alluring but made one more awed and cautious than bold and salivating.
“You know,” Ehlanna said in a sly voice, her crystal blue eyes meeting Kytara’s green ones, as she tugged suggestively on her own cloak that covered the leathers she wore, “you would be a lot more warmer if we shared our cloaks.”
“No, I would prefer not,” Kytara replied with a slight headshake, a few strands of chestnut colored hair escaping from the interior of her hood. “We both know where that would lead. This is the last night of the full moon and the end of the White Razorback snake’s mating season. Afterwards I will be lucky to see one after a month of searching. I only have this one opportunity left to catch one of the serpents for Lady Katarein. I would rather not miss it because I was…distracted.”
“Really, as if we would wouldn’t notice its appearance,” Ehlanna said with an amused chuckle as she gestured towards the bait of their trap, a goat tied to stake about thirty feet away from their position, a cluster of rocks overlooking a small depression. Its movements dazed from the Sweet Bliss spell Ehlanna had cast on it. “And I doubt we would do much besides cuddle a little, though maybe those rings of yours would warm you up?”
“Hmmph,” the cloaked summoner responded, not wanting to think of what might be the worst aspect of her condition. As if her uncanny sex appeal wasn’t enough, Kytara’s cursed body was extremely sensitive to stimulation and easily aroused. But the one who cursed her had gone even farther by piercing her with rings in her most intimate places and just for added flavor a chain connecting her nipples together.
By themselves, the rings presence and movements would have done a decent job of keeping Kytara stirred up, but they weren’t ordinary pieces of jewelry. They constantly vibrated and tingled, just enough to keep her nipples and clitoris constantly erect and wanting. This was almost debilitating enough by itself, but the rings would also increase their stimulation whenever Kytara either thought about sex in any way or had gone without it for five or six hours. It was an insidious combination, the curse and the rings, and it took all of Kytara’s will just to live a third of her day normally.
Which was why Kytara wished her sylvan elf companion would stop it with her suggestive innuendo. Even as she was thinking of this, the idea of her body touching her beautiful companion’s whispered through her mind, stirring up urges, causing the rings piercing her nipples and sex to react, vibrating harder, stimulating her ardor. Kytara gasped from the familiar, yet sudden sensation and deliberately forced her mind into recalling one of the most boring lectures she had ever attended at the Academy.
Ehlanna chuckled again, deeper this time, and slid over so that her lithe form was pressed against Kytara’s. Even with the layers of material between them, the half-elf woman could feel her companion’s heat and soft curves, making her thoughts drift, the rings reacting again, increasing their stimulus, making her groan from the intensity of the sensations. This made Kytara mind think of how good it would be to take up Ehlanna’s earlier suggestion, which made the jewelry…
“Damn it! Stop it Ehlanna!” Kytara gasped as she felt a trickle of wetness between her legs. It was this lack of control, the ease at which her body was so easily aroused, that had made her take this quest to begin with. She was cursed with an incredibly sexy, hypersensitive, easily aroused body, which everyone, including as she suspected Ehlanna, wanted for their own pleasure. While Kytara did reluctantly admit to herself that there had been many good times, the total lack of control for someone so used to being in it was intolerable.
“Stop what?” Ehlanna said innocently, as she shifted her body against the half-elf’s. The young mage scowled inside, her indignant anger shouting at her to summon Firehawk and blast that cute grin off the sylvan elf’s face. Kytara savagely shoved the errant thought down, not only because she would never do such a thing to one who was helping her, but also because Ehlanna would likely laugh and spank her because of it.
So Kytara held her tongue and let the sylvan elf seductress tease her, trying to focus all of her concentration on watching the goat and keeping her mind clear of any sexual thoughts. Once again the summoner asked herself why she was doing this and her thoughts drifted back to four days previous, when Rincewind had first told her about the very deadly White Razorback Snake that his employer wanted.
* * * * *
“So what reward is she offering for its capture Sir Rincewind?” Kytara asked her current teacher when they were in the library of Unigo, the School of Magic. The half-elf summoner had been invited there to stay as the wizard’s guest, so that he could help her overcome her curse and she to be away from ‘temptations’. So far it had been very frustrating. Along with the curse, Kytara had a geas placed on her, a magical spell that prevented her from talking about the curse or her former life. This made it difficult for anyone to help her overcome it, as she could provide little in the way of clues of how to go about it.
It had been only a few days after she arrived that Rincewind had mentioned that Lady Katarein had posted a quest to capture a rare snake, its habitat located far to the east in the Icestock Mountains. He was at first reluctant to talk about it, apparently concerned for Kytara’s safety. However, Rincewind said was going to be away for a week or so and thought it might be a challenging opportunity for her, a way of developing will and focus, so that the half-elf mage might be better able to control her life.
“Oh the usual fare, training in a spell of one’s choice, a potion to increase one’s ability, that sort of thing,” Rincewind answered with a casual wave of his hand as he directed her in putting away books that they had taken out to consult with concerning Kytara’s ‘condition’. The young summoner’s wind sylphs fluttered about them, hauling books up to the top shelves out of the five foot tall half-elf’s reach. The little air elementals chattering among themselves as Kytara directed them to their tasks, her own hands occupied carrying a big stack of books to the other side of the room.
“Sounds very mundane for the capture of such a dangerous animal,” Kytara replied as she glanced through the book titles so she would know where to put them, sweeping an errant strand of chestnut hair from in front of one of her brilliant green eyes. Unlike her normal behavior, Kytara had the hood of her cloak down; her long hair pulled out and gathered in a loose silken tail that fell down her back to her thighs. This allowed her face to been seen, a wondrous combination of elven and human features, angelic in their quality, combined with exotic dusky skin and slanted green eyes.
Though Kytara knew Rincewind was attracted to this face and the rest of her, the wizard’s strict vow of celibacy kept their relationship refreshingly friendly and professional. It was a most welcome state in Kytara’s opinion. While there were a few others that she got along with well, namely Elthorion whom sometimes helped train her in combat and kyrspeth his slave whom was perhaps Kytara’s closest friend, Rincewind would always remain a little special because they were not intimately involved.
“Oh? Well the special prize she is also offering certainly isn’t,” Rincewind said as he straightened his pointed cap with the word WIZZARD inscribed with sequins across the front. Kytara swore one day she would find a dictionary and beat him over the head with it, every time the half-elf saw that hat it made something in her want to scream. “In fact, it might be something that will help you with your curse.”
“My curse?” Kytara asked, her interest suddenly picking up several notches. She had been wary of taking on such a dangerous task. The white razorback snake had a fearsome reputation. It only appeared after weeks of sleeping in the ground, too slice apart its prey in mere heartbeats, consume the small chunks, and then sleep again. However, if it would result in the removal of this hell that she currently living in, she would make her best attempt, despite the summoner’s fears of failure.
“Well I can’t be sure it will help, but I am pretty confident that you would not be disappointed.”
“Tell me more,” the half-elf said as she continued to put away the books, listening carefully to what Rincewind had to say.
An hour later, Kytara had packed up her few possessions and headed outside, her intent to make her way east to the mining town of Iconium. There she would buy more supplies and equipment for the trip into the mountains itself. One worry was time, even though Kytara was starting early, by the time she walked to Iconium she would only have one night at the most to hunt down one of the snakes. Once their mating season was over it would take too long to capture one. Kytara’s mistresses had agreed to allow her to stay with Rincewind for a month and despite her opinion of them, she would keep her promises and fulfill her obligations. She still had a little pride left.
The other, of course, was how she was going to capture the snake; the beautiful summoner currently had only one attack spirit in her magic repertoire, a small fire elemental named Firehawk, whom Enirya had mockingly called her “pretty little bird”. She had yet to make the necessary pacts so that she could conjure others, or make Firehawk more powerful for that matter. Eventually Kytara would, but it would take time that she did not have.
It was then, as Kytara was mulling over this while she walked out of Unigo’s front doors, that she heard the sound of hoof beats on grass. Looking over, she could a rider approaching on a mare whose coat was purest white. As she came nearer, Kytara could see that it was a small silver haired woman whom she recognized with an inward groan as Ehlanna, the co-owner of the Naked Bird, a clothing shop known for its wide ‘variety’ of clothing, both in and out of bed. Ehlanna was also one of the mages she had earlier consulted with about her problem before she met Rincewind.
Unlike the wizard who maintained a vow of celibacy, Ehlanna was a seductress of considerable skill, whose sex magic made her Kytara’s nemesis. Unfortunately for the beautiful summoner, she fell easily into the range of Ehlanna’s appetites, who delighted immensely in tormenting her under the guise of “researching her unusual condition”. One of the curious aspects of her geas what that when she was really aroused, she would end up talking about things the geas would prevent. The problem for Kytara was she could never remember what she said and had to trust whoever she was with to repeat the words correctly or truthfully.
“Hello there Kytara,” Ehlanna said cheerfully as she rode up.
“Lady Ehlanna, always a pleasure,” Kytara said automatically before she could bite back the words. Being in the woman’s presence made the lithe summoner a little too aware that she wore nothing under her cloak. That had been Enirya’s idea, that hers and Ellena’s little sex toy would wear nothing else. In fact, it had been Ehlanna who had lined the cloak with silk and added slits for “easy access”.
“So this is where you have been hiding at,” the sylvan elf seductress said as her friendly smile slid into a broad grin. “I was curious as to your absence from the Inn. I’m surprised your mistresses allowed you five miles away from their tree house.
“Ellena and Enirya were a bit hesitant at first until I explained to them that I would cancel my slave contract. So we compromised. I will be staying here a month under Sir Rincewind’s tutelage, before making any final decision”
“Threatened to cancel your contract?” Ehlanna asked sounding a little surprised. “What about their protection?”
“Rincewind and the school can provide that for me. He has offered to sponsor my membership.”
“And your other needs?”
“I can take care of it myself.” Kytara answered with a very even tone. They both knew what “needs” meant in this situation. In fact, one of the last commands she had been given was to continue with the morning ritual that all members of her mistresses’ household participated in. It consisted of kneeling on one’s bed, legs spread, and masturbating to orgasm. The fact that Kytara’s curse forced her to do this several times a day was something she was not going to mention.
“I see,” Ehlanna said with snort of amusement and an eyebrow raised knowingly, “Where are you off to then?”
Kytara told the seductress her current plans and quest, in the most boring and tedious manner that she could manage. She was hoping that elven woman would take the hint and leave her to her misery, but unfortunately for Kytara that didn’t happen.
“Hmmmm, sounds interesting and surprisingly convenient. I have business to attend to in Iconium, why don’t we travel together then?
“Wha? Oh alright then Lady Ehlanna,” Kytara responded her offer with some surprise and dismay, muttering to herself, “not that I could stop you anyway.”
After that they set off, Kytara on foot and Ehlanna still on Cloudwing. After a few hours of travel in which the sylvan elf tried unsuccessfully to get Kytara to talk in more than single word phrases, their journey was temporarily interrupted when the half-elf stumbled over a rock and fell, scraping her right arm badly. Wincing, Kytara got up and examined the wound, a five-inch long bloody streak that ran from the middle of her lower arm to her elbow.
“Looks a little nasty,” Ehlanna said as she bent down from her mount to rummage through her saddlebags before pulling out a small flask. “A sip of this healing potion should fix you up, though I should warn you, it will make you quite drowsy.”
“I got it,” Kytara muttered as she began licking the wound with her tongue. Much to her companion’s interest the wound closed, sealing itself, healing until at the last lick there was no evidence of the injury at all. Kytara then reached into her cloak to pull out a canteen of water to wash out her mouth.
“My curse at least has something useful about it,” Kytara bitterly explained as she put the container away. Being able to heal her body without scarring had come in handy on a few occasions when one or more of her lovers got “rough”. However, the way she had to do it was still embarrassing and often led to her licking other areas. Kytara was rather flexible.
“Heh, I see,” Ehlanna replied with a wide grin as she put the healing potion away. She then held a hand down to Kytara. “Why don’t you ride up here with me?
“I would prefer to walk,” Kytara grumbled back.
“It would be quicker and easier.”
“Lady Ehlanna, you know that thanks to Enirya’s command, I don’t wear anything under this cloak. I think riding like that would be, uncomfortable.”
“Actually its quite arousing,” the seductress replied with a knowing wink, “the hard flesh rippling underneath you, massaging your thighs and pressing against…”
“Ehlanna!”
“Hehe, well you can ride sidesaddle then, your cloak would then protect you. Besides if you were to ride with me it speed up our travel time considerably. It would only take us a day to ride to Iconium instead three or even four, that way you would have the full time period to catch your snake.”
“Alright,” Kytara reluctantly agreed, reaching up to grasp Ehlanna’s hand and allowing herself to be hauled up. As she expected, the sylvan elf immediately circled her arms around the summoner’s body, slipping her hands through the slits in her cloak, and hugging Kytara tight against her. This of course made the half-elf’s rings respond, making her cry a little inside but she made no complaint, having been through similar situations too many times before.
“Now I’ve got you where I want you,” Ehlanna said with a suggestive chuckle, tugging gently on the chain hanging from Kytara’s nipple rings, making her companion gasp a bit. “Why don’t you tell me some more about yourself? I understand you can’t talk about your past before you were cursed, but what about right after, when you first realized what happened?”
“I don’t…really like to talk…about that time, it was…very disturbing for me.”
“Why not? Surely it can’t have been that bad?”
“I was raped again and again by over a half dozen orcs,” Kytara reluctantly admitted, her mind pulling up the memories unbidden.
“Ahhh, then you should tell me about it. I have quite a bit of experience in dealing with those issues.”
“Alright,” Kytara said as she began to talk about the first few months of her new life. As she did so, Ehlanna continued with her caresses, playing with her piercings, slowly and expertly working Kytara up, releasing the geases hold on her and the half-elf’s own natural reluctance. The summoner found that after time went by, talking about her experiences did help, though she was still suspicious of Ehlanna’s true motives.
Kytara did however decide to take up something that Ehlanna suggested afterward, that she begin a journal, writing down all of her experiences up to the present. While the cloaked mage wouldn’t admit it was good “therapy” like the sylvan elf said, she did think that it would provide her a tool to overcome the curse. Maybe, by writing everything down she would find a clue she needed.
It was a thought…
* * * * *
“Hmmmm, wake up little one,” Ehlanna said as she nudged Kytara awake from her memory dream. “I think your snake has finally bothered to show up.”
“Wha?” Kytara said trying to figure out when she went to sleep or when she ended up cuddled up against Ehlanna under both of their cloaks. Fortunately, the sylvan elf words woke her up fast and prevented her from being distracted by the other woman’s charms. “It’s here?”
At first Kytara, couldn’t see what Ehlanna was indicating. Her nightvision, while fairly sharp, was not nearly as acute as a full-blooded elf’s, unable to detect the subtle movements in the darkness. Then she noticed a faint churning in the snow around the goat that suddenly exploded in a cloud of ice particles. Kytara gasped in surprise as the white razorback snake made its appearance, a long thin serpent that launched itself in the air as it circled the staked bleating goat.
What followed was quick and vicious, causing a part of the half-elf summoner’s mind to shudder in horror, the other nod in grim admiration at the snake’s deadly attack. Kytara watched wide-eyed as the mist turned red as the snake used the razor sharp blades projecting from its back to dice up the goat’s flesh and internal organs. The blood flew through the air and soaked into the ground in front of her, the sight making her shake a little in revulsion.
After less than a dozen seconds it was over, the flayed skeleton of the goat falling to the ground in a bloody clatter. Kytara winced inside as she saw the eyes of the billy goat flutter, knowing that its brain was still alive, making her very glad the Ehlanna had cast the sweet bliss spell on the animal. Though it was only a beast being eaten by another as part of the natural cycle, she could not but feel horrified by the sight, even though she had seen much, much worse in her former life. Her body was temporarily paralyzed as she watched the snake begin sucking down the little chunks of offal, gradually thickening in its length.
“I believe I shall wait until it’s almost done before putting it to sleep,” Ehlanna idly said as she hugged Kytara, causing the half-elf woman to snuggle back unconsciously. Her thoughts though were dark. She couldn’t help but think of herself in the goat’s place. Sweet Bliss was very hard for Kytara to resist, making her easy prey for anyone who used it on her. The whole situation reminded her too much of why she needed people like Ehlanna and her mistresses Enirya and Ellena to protect her.
“No argument here Lady Ehlanna, a full stomach should keep it complacent for a while,” Kytara said as she began digging through the pockets of her cloak, pulling out a wire lined sack she had purchased to hold the snake securely. Beside her, Ehlanna untangled herself and got up and quietly moved up to the snake. After a quick whispered phrase and a light touch the snake stopped moving. Smirking in grim satisfaction, Kytara got up as well. Swallowing the bile in her throat, she quickly walked over to the limp body, pulling out her second purchase, a set of iron tongs. These she used to pick up the serpent as Ehlanna shifted to stand next to her.
Kytara sighed a bit as she began feeding the snake into the bag, this was so easy compared to the complex plan she had thought up earlier. As much as she hated to admit it, Ehlanna’s magic making what was a rather dangerous endeavor relatively simple and safe. Her summoning school, while useful in its own ways, was lacking in mind affecting magics, a deficiency that was very noticeable in situations like this.
“Thank you Lady Ehlanna, “ she said grudgingly to the sylvan elf. “This wouldn’t be possible without your help.”
“My pleasure Kytara, “Ehlanna smiled back at her. “Though I admit I will welcome the comforts of civilization again. Even that rat hole the humans call Iconium would be welcome, the food was reasonable and the bed was so much more comfortable, especially with your warm little body trembling under mine.”
“Errrrr,” Kytara stammered, her dusky skin blushing under the hood. She remembered quite well what Ehlanna was referring to. While they had slept together ever since they began this journey, that particular night had been disturbing to say the least, not in what happened physically but what Ehlanna had told her about before that event…
* * * * *
After a long day of travel, the two women arrived at their destination. Iconium was a small mining town nestled against the Icestock mountains and one of the last vestiges of civilization before traveling deeper into the range. Though Kytara would only admit that it should be considered ‘civilization’ after much argument. Rough and tough men and the hardened women that served them inhabited it and the presence of two beautiful elf maids caused quite a stir.
Ehlanna seemed to glow with the attention, while Kytara grumbled and withdrew her head farther back into the hood of her cloak, her face flushed with embarrassment over the fact she was wearing nothing underneath it. She knew what they were thinking, which made the rings in her most intimate areas vibrate a bit more, thus encouraging her to continue on with this train of thought. She thought about how it would be like with all of those men touching and taking her right there at the table where she and Ehlanna were eating. The rings reacted to this, buzzing harder, making her gasp and then…
Kytara scowled and shook her head and that made Ehlanna, who was watching her carefully, chuckle in amusement.
“Interesting thoughts?” Ehlanna quietly asked, as she grinned at the quivering half-elf mischievously, “and such a small table too.”
Kytara gave her companion a dark look under the hood, which only made the seductress giggle some more and run a foot up Kytara’s bare leg under the table. This made the summoner’s body shiver in delight, the rings vibrating even higher.
Trying to control her breathing, muttering multiplication tables in her head, Kytara focused on finishing her meal. Inwardly she was cursing all of the elf seductresses that she had somehow gotten the attention of. There was Ellena, who convinced her to become a slave in exchange for protection, Enirya, for forbidding Kytara to drink alcohol or wearing anything other than her cloak, and Ehlanna, for just being…Ehlanna.
By the time she was finally done eating, Kytara could barely stand up, the rings in her sex and nipples vibrating madly, making her muscles tremble, her sex dripping, leaving a stain on the chair. She winced inwardly as she felt a trickle of moisture run down her leg, the movement of the bead causing an exquisite sensation that made her gasp and nearly double over. Mumbling incoherent apologies she rushed to the room they had rented, closing the door behind her. Leaning back against it and breathing heavily, Kytara tried to calm down the raging feelings, only to be interrupted when she felt and heard a knock.
“Kytara, please let me in,” she heard Ehlanna say.
Sighing forlornly, the half elf woman obeyed, swearing at herself for being so weak in this cursed form, unable to stand up to others. She then moved over to the bed and sat on it, hugging herself under her cloak, her body stiff as she continued her eternal war with the feelings churning in her.
“Why? Why do you all do this to me?”
“Do what little one? I didn’t do anything besides rub my foot against you a little, what harm is that?”
“Do not…Do not…treat me like a child! You know exactly what I am talking about! And I am getting tired…tired of you and the others taking advantage of it!”
“Child you are, in many ways,“ Ehlanna replied with a sad smile, “but I do it to help you grow accustomed to the feelings. That way you can learn to act even when you cannot think straight. Until then, you are not safe to be let out on your own.”
How dare she call me that! I know more, experienced more, than she could ever dream of! Kytara growled inwardly, Ehlanna’s words drawing forth a white-hot anger that temporarily chasing away the sexual fog that had been clouding her mind. Her hand formed the gesture needed to summon Firehawk and her mouth parted to speak the words, but stopped. Her rational mind recognizing the futility of her actions and her hand formed a fist instead as she breathed in deeply.
“You see? Even without the rings or the curse you would let your emotions dictate your actions, not until you accept your feelings, and thereby control them, will you finally take your first steps towards becoming your true self. Until then little one, expect to be treated as what you are.”
Kytara sighed again and stayed silent, the damn geas preventing her from saying the truth. The curse had taken away all the power she had before as well, because of both she was nothing compared to her former self, her heart bitter over being reduced to such a level, a pitiful sniveling child, barely able to wipe her nose.
“Let me give you an example from my own life,” Ehlanna said as she sat down on the be next to the half-elf, tugging down Kytara’s hood so that she could lay her cheek next to the summoner’s while holding the girl tightly. “Long ago, when I was quite young. I was on a patrol in my homeland. We were ambushed by a group of goblins and drow during which I froze up in fear and because of it my first love Tolwyn died, taking the blow that was meant for me. Even, then I still remained paralyzed from the horror of his death. If it hadn’t been for the intervention of our patrol leader Ysane I would have been dead as well.
“I learned that one can not afford to let fear rule them. If you have to act, then do so, don't just stand with your gob open wanting to scream, do something, anything!
“This lesson is very important for you Kytara. Right now you are full of fear, fear of being weak, of being embarrassed, of being considered only a toy for others to play with. It rules you, making you think less of yourself and others unjustly. You must learn to overcome this fear, break out of its embrace, and come to terms with it and any other feelings you might have. Then you can do what you believe needs to be done.”
Other feelings! Bah, what does she know! Kytara thought as she let herself be cuddled and undressed. Ehlanna undoing the four clasps that held her cloak closed even as Kytara noted with dry humor that there was only one bed in the room. It was all just the same; just fancy words added in the form of “advice”, while in the meantime her body was used yet again. Her curse though didn’t care, because of it, the part of her that was anticipating what was to come made the rings start vibrating faster again, sending her back down the path that dusky skinned summoner loved and hated.
Kytara’s hands rose up on their own violation, seeking out Ehlanna’s neck and cheek, caressing the petal soft flesh, finding the sensitive areas there. The curse had made her into the perfect sex toy, and a good lover always tried to please her partner. These thoughts burned in the back of Kytara’s mind, making her laugh at the bitter irony of the whole situation. What she was now, she had wished on others, when it was Kytara’s former self who had the power, back then one of her rivals had called her the “personification of lust”, except now it was she who was on the receiving end.
Now Kytara just…just wished…that they would ask, all of the people who had taken advantage of, and pleasure from, her new body, but no one ever did! Whatever protests she might make were covered up by her body signaling others to ignore her words, her quivering form, her steadily growing fragrance, the sound of her moans, everything about her saying, “Yes! Give me more! Play with me more! Love me more!”
She pulled Ehlanna down to her and kissed the silver-haired woman passionately, their lips brushing against each other before pressing together. Their tongues snaked out into each other’s mouth and danced against each other. Kytara’s saliva, tasting like sweet wine, mixed in with Ehlanna’s and she drunk it down greedily, burning its way down her throat, igniting her passion and making her blood boil.
The worst part about Kytara’s current situation was that she liked Ehlanna, much more than many of the others who had sought to put the cursed half-elf under their “protection”. The seductresses condescending attitude sometimes pissed her off, but at least Kytara sensed that Ehlanna possessed a bit more than the usual concern for her wishes. The mage could have just as easily prevented Kytara from going on this quest instead of traveling along on the whimsical excuse of “having business that way”. So what was wrong with this? Why not just enjoy the wondrous sensations Ehlanna was beginning to stir up in her? What was there to be afraid of?
It doesn’t matter any more, not now at least, the half-elf thought and she sighed deep inside and relaxed, letting the curse and her current lover have their way with her.
“Just relax,” Ehlanna whispered, as if reading Kytara’s mind, breaking of the kiss to lick her way up to chestnut-haired girl’s ear. “Do not let your fear rule you…”
“Yesssss,” Kytara hissed in response, her answer becoming an almost incoherent gasp from the exquisite feeling of Ehlanna’s skilled tongue against her baby smooth skin. The tingling vibrations from the rings echoed in response, increasing in their speed, making Kytara’s breath to quicken. Her natural fragrance, a tantalizing blend of jasmine, spices and must grew more apparent. Its effect making the half-elf’s head swim and her lust burn brighter, knowing that Ehlanna was experiencing a similar response, increasing both women’s arousal.
Kytara kissed along Ehlanna’s neck and shoulder, licking off the sweat starting to form there, relishing its taste as her hands began to roam more insistently across the sylvan elf’s supple body. There they found the ties and fastenings to her lover’s traveling leathers, peeling the material from the skin and flesh Kytara sought underneath. She wanted to, needed to, touch her companion, her soft mouth seeking out Ehlanna’s again, kissing her with all of her ardor. Slowly she let herself go with that kiss, her worries and fears washing away, as the tide of pleasure swept through her, gradually building in power and rhythm.
There was only the NOW, Kytara’s universe consisting only of herself and Ehlanna and she wanted to keep it that way forever…
Meanwhile, the seductress’s hands were busy with their own magic, Ehlanna’s fingers brushing lightly up Kytara’s flanks, tracing multiple streaks of sensation upwards until they found and encircled the half-elf’s generous breasts. The blue-eyed elf slowly worked her way inward, pressing a bit into the soft flesh of Kytara’s bosom, occasionally tugging on the chain hanging between the summoner’s nipple rings, sending sharp spikes of delight radiating from her erect nubs and spreading throughout her quivering body.
Her heart pounding, her breath coming faster, Kytara felt herself almost overwhelmed by the sensations, her toned legs spreading outward, her hips lifting so she could grind her folds, now dripping with arousal, against Ehlanna’s thigh. Her own hands reaching up between them, finding her companion’s rapidly hardening nipples, pinching and rolling them, making the sylvan elf’s own breathing increase it’s pace to match hers.
“Oh, you are good Kyt,” Ehlanna breathed as her eyes closed for a moment to relish the pleasure Kytara was giving her, her own fingers finding their way to the half-elf sensitive nipples, playing with her hard nubs, flicking the rings, obviously delighting in the way the beautiful summoner moaned from her touch. Kytara gasped something incoherent in response, not really caring right now, the rings in her sex and nipples were buzzing madly now, tingling against Ehlanna’s skin, and making the wave in her grow gradually higher.
Kytara could feel Ehlanna’s lips begin to trace their way down from her face to the smooth slope of her neck, licking and nipping delicately at the dusky skinned half-elf’s flesh adding to the symphony of delight that was building up to its crescendo deep within her. At the same time, Kytara’s trembling body moved on its own, one of her hands continuing to touch and caress the silver-haired elf’s breasts and nipples, the other leisurely making its way down her lower chest and stomach. Meanwhile, Kytara had wrapped one her slender legs around Ehlanna’s lithe body, rubbing it against her companion’s flesh, creating additional feelings for them both.
“Aaahhh,” Kytara gasped as Ehlanna’s lips had finally reached the upper part of her left breast and began circling it with kisses, following the trail blazed earlier by her fingertips. The hand that was there gave the nipple ring one last playful tug before sliding down and back behind the half-elf’s lush form, stroking down along her spine before coming to rest on one her buttocks. Kytara shuddered as Ehlanna gripped her there, kneading the firm flesh, pulling her upward to increase the pressure of Kytara’s sex against her thigh.
The moments that followed seemed to stretch out oh so agonizingly slowly as Kytara’s mind followed the path of Ehlanna’s mouth, wanting desperately for the feel of the sylvan elf’s lips, teeth, and tongue on her nipple, the piercing in its flesh making her believe that the tip of her breast was vibrating in anticipation. Then finally the hot mouth was there, kissing the quivering flesh lightly, teasingly, making Kytara thrust her chest upward, trying to push the nipple past Ehlanna’s lips, the movement making her withdraw her folds from where they had been pressed against, making the half-elf almost growl in frustration.
“Ehlanna,” Kytara gasped out, her mind barely coherent enough to speak the word, the half-elf’s lust filled eyes seeking out Ehlanna’s. Her hand on her companion’s stomach had reached the elven woman’s pelvic region, sliding over the flesh there, even as the wave inside of her was peaking, almost at the edge of sending her crashing down, but not quite there yet.
“Yes Kyt?” Ehlanna answered as she lick with just the tip of her pink tongue across the smaller woman’s nipple, knowing what she was doing was driving the beautiful summoner mad with desire. The hand on Kytara’s buttock sliding down and reaching between the half-elf girl’s thighs, which were now slick with Kytara’s essence. Gathering, the moisture up on her fingers, Ehlanna then moved them back up between the summoner’s cheek’s, pressing one of the digits against the opening of Kytara’s anus.
“Ahgh…stop…gasp…teass…,” the dusky skinned woman almost gurgled, her sentence lost in the sublime pleasure of Ehlanna’s forefinger worming its way up her rear. Meanwhile, her beautiful tormenter continued to tease and play with her nipples, the other hand’s fingers seemingly fascinated by Kytara’s rings and the chain that hung between them. Ehlanna’s tongue meanwhile continued with the little flicks while maintaining just a light pressure of her hip against the half-elf’s cunt and hardened clit.
“Stop wha…Oh!” Ehlanna started slyly to say only to suddenly shudder as Kytara’s hand found her wet sex, stroking and caressing the silken petals before finally slipping a finger deep inside the tight channel. The sylvan elf gasped as Kytara began pumping the digit in her, stirring her finger around at the end of each thrust, the palm of her hand pressed up against Ehlanna’s erect clit, “Aaaah…well…little one, if you keep this up I just…ahhhh….might….grant you your wish.”
Kytara’s only response was to add another finger as her eyes rolled back a bit, her body starting to tense up under Ehlanna’s as she worked her companion up even as the seductress kept her quivering just on the edge of climax, holding Kytara off until finally, eons later she was there with the half elf. Ehlanna’s mouth engulfed Kytara’s begging nipple, sucking hard on the flesh and ring, her teeth nibbling, her tongue flicking the surface hard. Meanwhile, she picked up Kytara’s hips by the now two fingers shoved up deep in the summoner’s ass, allowing the gasping half-elf to work her sex into a lather against Ehlanna’s hip.
Brightness exploded somewhere deep with Kytara’s being, the wave in her reaching its highest peak before suddenly crashing down as the symphony reached its triumphant climax. The half-elf groaned loudly as her form started to convulse and shudder against Ehlanna’s, her hand in Ehlanna’s sex sending her companion into orgasm as well, the two women crying out as they pleasured each other lustfully, each wanting their mutual ecstasy to last forever. It didn’t, but that didn’t mean they didn’t stop trying; the night stretching onward until finally Kytara and Ehlanna cuddled up against each other in a deep exhausted sleep.
* * * * *
Now that had been intense, Kytara thought as she recalled the night and the following morning. Only a few lovers had been able to match Ehlanna’s enthusiasm and skill. When she woke up the next day, the summoner had sat up in the bed staring at the elf’s sleeping form for almost fifteen minutes as she tried to sort out the previous events. She then had gone to perform her morning “ritual” in privacy, the masturbation session making her feel even more ashamed than usual, making her wonder what it was about Ehlanna that effected her so.
After she was done, Kytara cleaned herself and her cloak using summoned water sprites to thoroughly wash and suck back up the water, leaving her and the garment fresh and dry. The half-elf summoner then exited the toilet to meet up with Ehlanna who was just waking up. Over breakfast they discussed Kytara’s quest and it came to no surprise that the seductress offered to continue traveling with the cloaked girl. At first Kytara refused, but after hearing her rather complex and dangerous plan for capturing a snake, Ehlanna became more insistent offering a much more simple and safer proposal.
At least the goat had been my idea, the green eyed half-elf grumbled to herself.
Kytara’s reminiscence of the previous days events was suddenly shattered when the ground erupted around her and Ehlanna. Ice particles and chunks of earth flew up, clouding the area, making Kytara curse and drop the sack. She then heard Ehlanna cry out in pain next to her and something long and white streaked past her face, a razorback snake!
Whirling around, Kytara saw dozens of the white streaks circling around them. A sudden sharp pain in her arm and the sight of blood soaking through Ehlanna’s dress made her realize the incredible danger they were in. They had only moments to react before they would be cut to ribbons.
“To the rocks!” Ehlanna commanded as she chanted and shot out a green stun bolt from her palm, exploding into a cluster of snakes, scattering them from the concussive force, and opening a pathway for the two women. Kytara didn’t argue, running right behind Ehlanna, her billowing cloak rapidly shredding as the snakes slashed into it. Fortunately, its enveloping folds protected her from serious harm, the snakes aiming for her “outer surface”.
Still, by the time the reached the nearby rock outcropping, Kytara’s arms and legs were covered with her blood. Though she felt a little woozy, the pain was more annoying than debilitating. Ehlanna, though was in much worse shape, clutching a wound at her side, her limbs scored by crisscrossing slashes.
“When I say go, you will run as far and as fast as you can. I will follow you after I distract them. We will meet back at the cave,” Ehlanna said in tone that brooked no argument. Kytara swallowed and nodded, barely able to contain her rage and frustration. This was her quest, her responsibility; she should be the one who stays. Or more logically, they both should fight off the snakes together, then they might have a chance against the snake nest. Yet, who was she to argue? After all, she was just a weak girl who was only good at being a sex slave and little else.
“Now go!” Ehlanna shouted as she stepped in front of Kytara and sent another stun bolt into the snakes as they charged the two women. The half elf summoner did so, scrambling over the rocks as quickly as she could, the sounds of Ehlanna’s magical attacks already fading behind her.
The war inside Kytara’s mind was far from over though. She hated herself for being so weak. She resented Ehlanna and the others for taking advantage of it. At the same time she worried over the elven seductresses fate. She was obligated to Ehlanna for her help, not to mention saving her life. Yet, she would be lying if she did hold any measure of affection for her, or that matter many of the others that had “used” her.
The question was what did she want? Did she want her old life back, to hold in her hands the power to destroy towns or dragons? With that power she could take her vengeance on the one who cursed her and the others who abused her helpless state. She would be her own person under no one’s command, in fact she could make those weaker give the respect and service that she deserved just like before she was cursed. And yet…
Being a slave had a certain amount of attraction as well. She was cared for, with no real responsibilities, all she had to do was obey and accept her lot. It was such an easy path to take. Kytara would not have to worry about regaining her power, just relax and enjoy the pleasures of her cursed body, which in a way would no longer be cursed. It was almost a blessing and being weak would no longer matter.
What to do?
Suddenly, something inside her screamed a warning and Kytara barely managed to dodge to the side as a snake streaked through the space where she had just been. The cloaked mage tumbled across the rocks, banging her legs painfully, before managing to get to her feet. Turning to face the snake, she felt herself trembling in fear, knowing that her magic was too weak to defend herself, this having been beaten into her over and over again. The despair swept through her until the words that Ehlanna had chided her with earlier burned through her mind.
“If you have to act, then do so, don't just stand with your gob open wanting to scream, do something, anything!”
“FIREHAWK! Obey your blood oath to me and come forth, I call upon you in the name of Kytara Sung!” the half-elf shouted and twisted her hand in a mystic gesture, completing the summoning. There was a brief flash of light as her elemental guardian appeared over her left shoulder. Immediately, Kytara commanded it to attack, sending the flaming bird towards her foe.
Screaming its battle cry, Firehawk shot across the distance between them, the white serpent strangely twisting in mid air to intercept the spirit. At the moment of contact the elemental exploded in a small blast of fire that burnt and sent the snake spiraling backward. Snarling savagely, Kytara summoned Firehawk again and attacked, blackening the white serpents body and slamming it to the ground, its skin bubbling as its blood and internal fluids boiled out.
“Hah! How is that for a pretty little bird!” Kytara grinned with grim satisfaction as she felt some of her old confidence come back. Spinning around, she ran back the way she came. To hell with everyone and everything, including her curse, she was going to do whatever it took to do what she wanted, including enjoying her life. If that wasn’t enough then so be it, at least she tried!
Kytara stopped suddenly when she realized the sounds of Ehlanna’s fight were gone. Without that to guide her, the vast moonlit landscape seemed endless, her mad flight not giving her any landmarks to go by. Scowling, she scanned the area, listening intently. Nearby she could hear something scraping against the ground. Looking down the half-elf could see the white razorback snake that she and Ehlanna had captured earlier, slithering sluggishly out the bag and down into a hole in the ground.
What luck! Kytara thought as she reached down to grab the serpent by the sack. She could pull it out and stun it with the hilt of her dagger. Then once she had it secured in the wire lined bag she could take it back to Unigo without any problems, and get the help she needed from Katarein to remove her curse. However, before she could finish her task, she heard a painful moan a short distance away and her blood suddenly froze. It was Ehlanna.
For a moment, she stood there as time seemed to slow down, the conflicting feelings rising up once again. She had a choice, she could capture the snake and thus provide a means of lifting her curse, but would risk Ehlanna dying in the time it took her to do it. Or, she could let it go and help the one whom she saw as the worst of the lot of those who wanted Kytara to accept the curse and just use her for their own perverted ends.
Ehlanna, the one who saved Kytara’s life, the person whose words had helped her overcome her self-doubt and fear, she was going to let her die? Kytara laughed at herself as she let go of the sack and the snake, and moved quickly towards the sound. True, she always fulfilled her obligations; she owed the Sylvan elf too much. More importantly though, was the simple fact that Ehlanna was Kytara’s friend, and she would be damned if she was going to let the seductress die through her own selfishness and inaction.
Well maybe next year snake!
Kytara was thinking this just as she rounded a corner of rock, gasping a little as she made out a ghastly battlefield in the moonlight. Bodies of the snakes were everywhere, scores of them, some cut apart by Ehlanna’s dagger, others knocked unconscious by her magic, and others battered by bloody rocks that lay strewn among them. In the center of it all was a very still and pale form, lying limply on the ground in a pool of slowly expanding crimson.
The hesitant summoner started forward only to suddenly stop. More movement to her left attracted her attention and Kytara saw that not all of the snakes were dead. At least four were alive, having been likely recovered from whatever magic had stopped them from joining the attempted feast, and were now coming back to finish Ehlanna off.
Still time, but what to do? Kytara thought to herself as she tried to work up a plan. She could kill one or two, but the rest would likely overcome her. Then the memory of her previous battle blossomed in her mind and she had an idea, smirking as she summoned Firehawk again. Almost immediately the snakes turned towards her, confirming Kytara’s suspicion that they hunted by heat. Before they charged, Kytara commanded Firehawk to fly past them low to the ground, drawing them off, which made the half-elf laugh a little from the bitter irony of the ease of the tactic.
“No time to waste now Kytara,” the summoner said to herself as gestured again, calling forth an earth elemental into existence under Ehlanna, the gray four-foot tall humanoid picking up her limp body, cradling the sylvan elf in its arms. Moving quickly, Kytara commanded it to follow her so she could take Ehlanna to a safe spot to treat her wounds. Along the way she examined the worst of her companion’s injuries, a deep slash in her side and another on her thigh, not to mention the numerous shallow cuts crisscrossing her body, fortunately her clothing staunched some of the blood loss, preventing immediate death.
Grimacing slightly, Kytara leaned on the elemental for support and bent her head down to lick at the worst of Ehlanna’s injuries. Like before with her scrapped arm, her saliva stopped the bleeding and eventually sealed up the gash. The cloaked mage then moved down to Ehlanna’s thigh, her curses “gift” working its healing magic on the critically wounded elf. The effort was draining, causing the half elf to stumble as her legs nearly gave out. Spitting out clotted blood, Kytara raised a hand to wipe the gore from her face, only to realize that her hand was covered with her own blood as well.
“Oh damn!” she gasped, as the ache of her own injuries and blood loss suddenly hit her, this time enough to cause Kytara to fall to her knees, before collapsing painfully onto her face. As she laid there stunned, she heard the clip clop of hoof beats approaching. Looking up she saw Ehlanna’s elven mare Cloudwing approaching.
“Heh, heard your mistress’s call eh?” Kytara chuckled, still woozy from her fall. Slowly, agonizingly, she got back up, using her earth elemental for support. Panting heavily, the half elf stumbled over to the white horse and gripped onto the saddle, patting her side in appreciation, “Take us to a safe place please.”
Cloudwing whinnied and began walking, pulling and guiding Kytara along with her, her elemental servant carrying Ehlanna faithfully following, as they moved through the night. Sometime later, they arrived at the cave where they had camped the last two nights. Kytara directed her servant to set Ehlanna down on the bedding before thanking and dismissing it, the rocky form crumbling away and vanishing. Kytara then rustled through Ehlanna’s belongings, pulling out the healing potion the sylvan elf had shown her a half a week ago. Wary about her companion’s warning that it caused drowsiness, she took a sip, letting its warmth run through her.
That little bit was almost too much as Kytara nearly passed out, but the half elf marshaled her will and stayed awake, moving over to Ehlanna. There she carefully fed half of its contents down the sylvan elf’s throat, doing her best not to spill the precious liquid. Afterwards, she lit a fire in the pit they had dug for that purpose and disrobed shivering in the cold air as she laid her tattered cloak over Ehlanna and painfully crawled in with her. Finally, Kytara took the healing potion and downed the rest of its contents, the warmth suddenly became a soothing fire that burned away her hurts and gently lowered her into the darkness.
* * * * *
"Wake up little one"
Kytara mumbled in reply sleepily, gradually waking up to the sound of Ehlanna’s voice, blinking her eyes open she could see the alive, but still haggard face of the sylvan elf, smiling down at her in that familiar condescending manner.
"Don’t call me little one, I’m not a child damn it,” Kytara muttered angrily, still a bit groggy, “I know far more than you ever would."
“That may well be so, in another life,” Ehlanna said softly, her eyes blinking in apparent shock of hearing the world-weary bitterness tinge the half elf’s words. “But the one you have now is different. You have to learn your lessons again."
Kytara sighed hearing this and nodded back. Ehlanna was right, she had to assume that she was going to be stuck in this form for a long time, and if so she did have much to learn. Turning her head back to look up at her she said, "I know this, but it is so very hard to accept..."
"I am always here if you have need of me,” Ehlanna replied as she smiled reassuringly, her voice different than before, more respectful, and Kytara wondered what brought on the change. “Lessons must be learnt by you, I cannot hold your hand, it is you who must learn to fly."
"Flying, now that is something I haven't done in a long time,” Kytara said as she closed her eyes and chuckled as she remembered flying, her wind elemental StormMaiden picking her up to send her streaking through the air, ”though that is not quite what you meant is it?"
"No, it isn't, although flying itself is fun,” Ehlanna said with her own chuckle as she shook her head, “I just meant you have to be able to look after yourself, learn things the hard way and not get frustrated at all the pitfalls you will find."
Kytara sighed again and sat up, wincing a bit when the chain hanging from her nipple jangled, sending little spikes of pleasure through her always erect nubs, making her snort, "A LOT of pitfalls indeed, still you are right Lady Ehlanna, I have to accept my lot for now, yet grow strong enough to stand on my own.
“I don't want this,” she continued as she fingered her collar, “to be a permanent part of me, despite its attractions."
"I would suggest an object lesson,” he companion smiled back a bit painfully, “but I feel like I have been trampled on by a horde of Trolls"
"Oh? That’s too bad,” Kytara replied with a grin, a mischievous feeling blossoming in her. It was a different yet not unwelcome emotion, making Kytara chuckle inwardly, “I was hoping you could join me in my "morning ritual". If I am stuck this way, I might as well at least enjoy and quit denying that I don't."
“Does this ritual involve fingers?"
"Well that is the primary method" Kytara chuckled her mirth and a little lust growing as her rings responded, making her shiver a little. She wiggled her fingers in front of Ehlanna's face, before kneeling in front of her with her legs spread, exposing her pierced sex.
"Only if you want me to,” Ehlanna looked back at Kytara with a serious expression on her face, “I would deem it an honor to assist."
Kytara looked back her eyes wide with surprise at those simple words. Ever since the curse had been placed on her, everyone she had met had just taken what they wanted from her, never asking. Because of the curse, they always assumed it was what Kytara wanted them to do, her body constantly sending off signals that she was open and available. Ehlanna’s words, the simple asking of permission, struck a chord deep within her, making her almost choke up inside, instead she suddenly leaned forward to kiss Ehlanna passionately on the lips.
"This is my mistress's tradition they have pressed on me,” Kytara said as she broke off the kiss, resting her head against Ehlanna’s, “that every morning I pleasure myself before going on with the day. For a long time I have resented it, a constant daily reminder of my new condition. Only if I am to accept myself as I am for now, then I should do it in the spirit of what I have learned, to enjoy life...and I would not be pleased if the one who joins me in it feels like she is going to fall over!"
Ehlanna threw her head back and roared with laughter, only to suddenly double over, "Ow, damn, that hurts! Don't make me laugh, my head is splitting."
Kytara laughed back and winced a bit, her own injuries still healing after last night's near disaster.
"Ouch, that’s a good point...maybe we should just lay here for a bit."
“So long as you lie in my arms," Ehlanna said with a smile.
"Gladly,” Kytara said as she laid back, pulling Ehlanna down with her to snuggle under the covers of the bedding, "shame about that snake though, maybe next year Katarein will want one."
"Hmmm, mayhap yes,” Ehlanna chuckled ruefully, “Just ask someone to help ... ah, I invited myself, didn't I?"
“Yes you did, “Kytara replied, playfully squeezing one of Ehlanna’s buttocks.
"Ahhhh,” Ehlanna gasped with a little shiver, “You keep doing that and you'll end up not needing to do your ritual for a week at least.”
"And both you and I wouldn't be able to move for a week afterwards,” Kytara laughed back, the rings buzzing in her, but thankfully not enough for her lose control completely, “As it is I can barely keep my hands off you. Still, the full moon is gone now, the snakes will not be coming out till next year, we would have to spend weeks perhaps months before we might spot one.”
Ehlanna smiled back, "We could always wait here and let the others find our desiccated bodies locked in an embrace."
Kytara's only answer was her laughter, which quickly turned into several painful complaints, causing Ehlanna to chuckle back and wince, much to both women's amusement…
* * * * *
Sometime later, after Kytara and Ehlanna had rested and used their respective healing magics to remove the last of their injuries, the two women prepared for their departure. They gathered their supplies and equipment together, packing up their campsite before trekking back to Iconium.
On their weary way back to home a quiet rustling caught their attention. Lifting a finger to her lips, Ehlanna called for silence and slipped off Cloudwing’s back. Treading quietly, her soft boots silent on the rocks, Kytara watched curiously as Ehlanna warily approached the side of the track until she stopped at a small crevice.
What is it that she is looking for? Kytara thought to herself as the sylvan elf knelt and peered inside the crack. Ehlanna then shook her head and chuckled wryly which caused Kytara to raise an eyebrow quizzically. Her companion then turned her body sideways and reached into the crevice, a broad grin on her face. Ehlanna grunted as she forced her shoulder deeper into the crack, searching for something with her fingers.
Suddenly the elf mage’s eyes opened wide and her mouth dropped open in a silent scream as she yanked her arm out of the crevice. Kytara cocked her head as she watched the events unfold in a state of bemusement as it looked like her friend’s arm lengthened when she pulled it out of the crack, her mind thinking that Ehlanna’s sleeve couldn’t possibly be that long…
The half-elf felt her own eyes widen as she realized that the long sleeve was a white razorback snake, it’s fangs biting deeply into Ehlanna’s hand.
“Get it off me!” Ehlanna screamed as she started hopping around, waving her arm about. With a sudden clarity of purpose, Kytara leapt from the elven mare and in a fluid movement pulled her dagger out of the folds of her cloak, gliding over to the suffering elf.
“Keep very still, and hold your hand out.” Kytara said as Ehlanna gave her savior a baleful look and with a grimace held the snake enwrapped hand out. The summoner reversed her dagger and struck the snake on the head with the pommel. The look of relief in her companion’s blue eyes confirmed that the serpent had stopped it’s ravenous chewing, both knowing how lucky they were that the snake didn’t protrude its sharp fins and cut them both up.
“It must have been half asleep,” Kytara muttered in a little wonder as she once more reversed the dagger and pried the jaws of the snake open, its weight making it slip off to flop onto the rocks at their feet.
“You little…” Ehlanna gasped and made to give the snake a healthy kick as she waved her bitten hand, then broke into fits of laughter. “I think we have found you your snake little one.”
Kytara joined her, chortling away heartily and for once not minding being called by that most hated title. The sight of her friend jumping around, waving the snake around like a crazed ribbon dancer was a memory she would cherish for a long time. Laughing and smiling to each other, the two women carefully secured their prize and made their way triumphantly back to Iconium and eventually to Unigo.
THE END (for now)
Authors Notes:
A big hug and thank you to Ehlanna for helping me write Kytara’s first story for Belariath, I hope all of you reading enjoy it. I would appreciate any comments you have on this and any other stories I might write in the future. I also wanted to point out that Kytara’s magic, while it is portrayed as being different here and in TLI than how most mages use magic, uses the same game mechanics and rules as any other mage. For example, her summoning Firehawk to attack the snake would have been just the same as casting the Fire Bolt spell. It just looks different!