Okay this started out as something I was just doing for myself for fun. Then I saw that had a Misc. Books section so I figured, 'what the hey?' The sexual content is a little graphic in this chapter and the next. I don't think it's too bad, but I wanted to give everyone far warning. I just hadn't planned on submitting the story to any site so I wrote whatever I felt. I'll be more careful as I write other chapters. As I stated in the summary, it's not essential to have read the Wayfarer Redemption books to read this story. This story is set before any of the books take place when Icarii, Avar, and humans still inhabited Tencendor together. Please review even if it's to criticize something. Reviews really help me write. So remember if you review it will make me very happy. Enjoy! 

The Seneschal Makes a Request

RavenDance SunSoar sat in one of the pools in the Chamber of Steaming Waters easing her aching muscles. Unlike most days she pointedly ignored the admiring stares the Icarii men gave her naked body. She was in no mood for such things today. Her Wing-Leader and sparring partner, SkyDrifter TrueSong, had bested her every time they battled at the Strike Force practice earlier that day. It wounded her pride, and she could already see the beginnings of multiple bruises covering the pale skin of her arms, legs, and torso. She was sure there were more on her back, but she could not see those. The fact that she and SkyDrifter were lovers did not help. She had asked him not to go easy on her because of their relationship when she joined the Strike Force earlier two months ago on the day after her twenty-fifth birthday. He had promised her that he would not, and he had certainly kept his promise. Despite his experience and her lack-there-of, she usually managed to best him at least a few times. Luckily, all Icarii valued courtesy and politeness, and SkyDrifter would not gloat too much. The knowledge that he was one of the most accomplished members of the Strike Force took some of the sting out of her unsuccessful practice. At least she was defeated by an accomplished warrior and not a novice just joining the ranks. Almost in a good mood again, she leaned back in the steaming water, closed her eyes, and relaxed. A few minutes later she heard footsteps approaching. Her eyes remained closed, and she did not stir.

"Sore, my love?" asked a familiar voice. RavenDance cracked one smoky violet eye open and glared up at SkyDrifter's grinning face. But as he lowered himself into the pool beside her, she found the frown sliding off her face. She wasn't all that upset. He had won fairly, and she would just use her defeat as motivation to defeat him next time. Besides it was hard to be angry with someone that good-looking. Unlike her eyes which were dark violet swirled with shades of gray, his were a pure light purple. His pale blonde hair waved slightly. It fell across his left eye at an angle in the front and stopped just short of the nape of his neck in the back. His wingbacks were the same brilliant shade of purple as his eyes, and the underwings were gold. His bronzed skin was pulled taut over the lean muscles of his body.

She turned her head to him with a smirk. "Not as sore as you're going to be tomorrow," she replied. He would find out that she would not back down easily.

He laughed. "You have more potential than most of the new members of the Strike Force, RavenDance," he told her as he leaned back and closed his eyes, "But know that I have no intention of letting you beat me. You have a ways to go yet."

She grinned. "I think you'll find that you underestimate me, SkyDrifter TrueSong," she laughed as she gave his ribs a playful jab, "I will surprise you one day. Soon. And then you will be at my mercy."

"That doesn't sound so bad." He absently reached over and ran his hand down her long midnight black curls. Her hair was a rarity among the Icarii. No other Icarii woman had hair that grew past her neck feathers. RavenDance's cascaded down her back all the way to her hips. She supposed it came from her mother, a human woman she had never met. The rare beauty of it was one of the reasons she was an object of lust among the Icarii men. Although each of the Icarii people was beautiful, RavenDance had always been among the most attractive. Her smoky eyes, long midnight hair, and pale skin made for a stunning vision of loveliness. She had full, pouting, pink lips and perfectly arched dark eyebrows. Her body was often the talk of the Chamber of Steaming Waters. She was slim but with an ample bust and curved hips. Her wings were the same black as her hair, solid except for a touch of gold at the tips.

RavenDance lost all thought as SkyDrifter's hand drifted from her hair to her breast. She wasn't embarrassed that others were there to see them. The Icarii were largely sensual creatures, and this was not a strange way to behave at all in their opinion. A low moan of pleasure rose from her throat but was silenced as SkyDrifter brought his lips down on hers passionately. The kiss was all too brief, and after it he removed his hands from her body, giving her a teasing smile and beginning to wash himself. The smoldering look in his eyes told her that he would finish what he began when they were alone.

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"All land east of the Nordra!" GoldFlight SunSoar, Talon of the Tencendor, gripped the arms of his throne as he leaned closer to the three Brothers of the Seneschal. They and the other representatives of the newly declared Achar had just made one of the most absurd demands he had ever heard. "That is not in my right to give, nor yours to take," he continued more calmly, "That land belongs to the Avar people. You could not practice your Way of the Plough there. It is a land of forests. Why…."

The Brother, Adanac, cut him off, "We will cut them down! Destroy the filthy magic you and the Avar have put there! Rid the land of your abominable enchantments!"

"Witches!" another Brother hissed quietly.

GoldFlight was appalled. Never before had he witnessed such animosity to the Icarii and Avar that these people displayed. It was an effort for him to remain cool. "As I have said it is not…."

"We will have our freedom!" Adanac interrupted again passionately, "We will be free of your rule. By Artor, we will! Remember this day, GoldFlight SunSoar. Achar is yours no longer." And with that he wheeled around and stormed out of the chamber. The others followed on his heels.

GoldFlight slumped into his throne and stared blankly at the wall over his steepled fingers. The land of Tencendor had been united for so long that when the humans had declared their loyalty to the god Artor and taken up the Way of the Plough that he had thought nothing of what it might mean for the already shaking alliance that his people, as well as the Avar, shared with them. Now they wanted all the land east of the Nordra for their own separate nation, Achar. He could not- would not- give that to them. No, not unless he wanted to let them destroy all the magic and beauty in this world. His eyes narrowed in determination as he thought. He would not succumb to their wishes without a fight. After all, he had command over the Strike Force. What did they have? The humans would be defeated.

The door opened and his wife, StarGlory, walked in. She looked beautiful in her flowing robes of crimson that matched her wingbacks. Her golden curls stopped at her neck feathers. A level pale green gaze stared at him.

"What was that, my husband?" she asked in a light but firm voice. She would brook no nonsense today, and he did not feel like crossing her. She was one of the most powerful Enchanters living, and had a temper like wildfire. The Enchanter blood had passed to his third child, a daughter they named EvenStar. She was only seventeen, but already she showed signs of becoming even more powerful than her mother.

GoldFlight had three children, each by a different mother. His son, HoverWing, was the eldest at thirty-three. He would be Talon after GoldFlight's death. His mother had been BlueFeather SunSoar, a beloved cousin. She had disappeared mysteriously four years after the birth of their son. He grieved the loss for over a year, but always he knew that he must go on. Rather than taking another wife for his second child, he had found a strong, beautiful, raven-haired, human woman named Calera and was instantly consumed with an overpowering need for her. After he bedded her the first time, she became pregnant. GoldFlight had visited her all through her term, but after the babe was born he left her. They both knew that they could never be. She would grow old and die, while he would remain young for another 400 years. They agreed it was best he take the baby- a daughter- and go back to his home in the Minaret Peaks. That was how he got his second child, RavenDance. After his father passed and he became Talon, he married StarGlory. A year later, she had borne him EvenStar.

With a jerk, he came out of his nostalgia and told her of what had passed between the Acharites and himself.

StarGlory laughed, though it sounded forced. "I do not think we have anything to worry about," she replied with a dismissive toss of her hand, "They cannot defeat the Icarii. They have no major battle force. We do. How will their farmers with their pitchforks fare against the Strike Force, I wonder?"

GoldFlight laughed with her. She was right. Of course she was.

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RavenDance cried out in ecstasy as SkyDrifter once again took her to the brink of madness and back. She relaxed the pressure of her hands on his chest and saw the little indentions her fingernails had left there. Panting, she rested her head on his shoulder. There was no need for her to hold herself up. His strong wings cradled her in a loving embrace. He always held her in his wings when they made love so his hands were free to rove over her body. They had flown to her rooms as soon as they were finished in the Chamber of Steaming Waters. Before the door had clicked shut behind them, SkyDrifter had had her pressed against the wall, already working on the fastenings of her robes. He was a skilled lover, far more experienced than her as he was nearly 100 and she only twenty-five, but he looked no older than she. He always left her satisfied.

"SkyDrifter," she sighed against his mouth as he kissed her. She had been to bed with a few other Icarii men, but she was closer to SkyDrifter than any of them and enjoyed him the most. He seemed to prefer her over the other females too. It was understood between the two of them that they would be married soon, probably when RavenDance finished her initial five year training in the Strike Force.

"I love your hair," he murmured as he buried his face in her curls. As with all the other Icarii, her hair was an object of fascination to him.

"And I love your body," she laughed playfully, running her hands down the front of his muscled torso. She loved the feel of his warm naked flesh under her hands. Reluctantly, she left the shelter of his wings and walked to her window, unembarrassed by her nakedness. "What do you think the humans wanted with my father?" she asked, suddenly thoughtful.

She felt SkyDrifter shrug as he moved to stand beside her. "What does it matter to us what the humans do?" he said scornfully, "They can be no threat to us."

It was RavenDance's turn to shrug. "You're probably right," she agreed. With a sigh, she walked to where he had discarded her robe on the floor. She picked up the light violet colored garb and began to dress. "But still, I must go ask my father. I want to know." SkyDrifter shook his head with a small grin and began to put on his clothes also.

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GoldFlight was in the throne room talking with his wife and son- who had entered only a moment before- when the door opened a third time to admit his half-Icarii, half-human daughter, RavenDance. Her midnight black curls were slightly more disheveled than usual and her skin was a little flushed. GoldFlight felt a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. No doubt she had been with SkyDrifter. The Wing-Leader was lucky to have caught such a prize as his daughter. She was desired by many. His younger brother, CrimsonStar, lusted after her more than most, but so far RavenDance had not showed much of a steady interest in him. It was not odd among the Icarii that CrimsonStar should desire his niece. Incest was quite common, especially among the SunSoars. GoldFlight would give his whole-hearted consent for them, two of the people he loved most, to be wed if RavenDance ever expressed a desire to do so. But she was still young and needed to explore some and indulge herself in all the pleasures of the flesh before settling down with one roost-mate. She looked positively gorgeous today with the radiance of her afterglow. Her loose flowing robes of violet accented her eyes. Despite the fact that she had long hair and all together more of her mother's physical appearance, her Icarii blood ran stronger than that of her human. She would have the Icarii longevity.

HoverWing grinned at her, his boyishly handsome face lighting up. He had inherited his father's copper colored hair and violet eyes. His wingbacks were solid gold. "I hear that SkyDrifter didn't show you any mercy this afternoon, sister," he said conversationally. HoverWing often did things like this to goad his sister. GoldFlight shook his head slightly. The boy should know better by now. RavenDance had always had a fiery temper, and when her older brother went too far she would not hesitate to try and teach him a lesson. Luckily, her previous lovemaking seemed to have put her in a better mood, for she replied with a slow reminiscent smile:

"He made up for it." Her voice was dreamy and her eyes slightly glazed as she remembered the passion. GoldFlight's brows climbed to the top of his head. SkyDrifter must have done very well. He wondered if he would be planning a wedding soon. RavenDance spent most of her free time either making love with or practicing at weapons with SkyDrifter. Until a little over a year ago neither of the two young- SkyDrifter was older by almost 75 years, but he looked and acted his daughter's age- Icarii had not had one certain sexual partner, both flying wherever their passions took them. But then it had changed. The two were nearly inseparable. GoldFlight was slightly disappointed that RavenDance would not choose his brother. They would have made a good match, but SkyDrifter was good too. He would balance her flighty temper and frequent thoughtlessness with his easygoing attitude and good sense.

RavenDance shook herself out of her state of wonder and continued haughtily, "I was not concentrating well today. SkyDrifter will learn that I am not always so easy an opponent." GoldFlight couldn't keep the grin from his face. SkyDrifter would definitely have his hands full with this one.

HoverWing crossed his arms over his chest and raised an eyebrow. "If you're so good," he said challengingly, "Then try to best me in an archery match."

RavenDance's brows drew together angrily, and she opened her mouth to speak- shout would probably be more accurate- but the door opened to admit EvenStar. Although not as beautiful as RavenDance, his third daughter was lovely. Her hair was a soft brown color; it curled to the nape of her neck. She had the same piercing green stare as her mother. Her wide but attractive mouth always seemed to want to smile. She wore one now. "What news from the humans, father?" she asked him.

"That is what I originally came here to find out!" exclaimed RavenDance angrily as she glared at her brother, "But HoverWing has rudely kept me from doing so!"

"Calm down, my daughter," GoldFlight commanded gently. She chewed her lip with the effort of keeping her mouth shut but she managed. "It is nothing, but I will tell you all what happened. The Brothers of the Seneschal…."