Life of a Dancer 2 - Chapter Nine
As they approached the camp, Axia caught the familiar movement of the assassins surrounding it. She knew that they would not be impressed that she could easily see them, but then again, to her, they lacked any finesse. Kiniro then chucked at her musings, and she sent him a dirty look with the impression of "get out of my head".
Kiniro then sent the message 'Never, its far more fun in there'
Smiling she turned again towards the woods, watching the assassins, still moving within the borders. Turning the cart, Kiniro moved them closer to the camp. As Axia was still watching out the other side of the cart, she then saw some gypsies and minstrels dancing. Children were playing their lutes between them as the gypsies moved between the children. Tapping her toes at the Power cord being played for the children, she closed her eyes as she remembered the last time she and Aldo played that together.
'Axia I am trying to be reasonable, but please stop thinking about your dead husband' he said brows furrowed
"Would you for the love of Porings, get out of my head. If you are going to be poking around in there, we are going to have to set some boundaries. If I think about my husband, I think about him. I had 70 years of marriage to him and I had known him since I was 10 years old. That gives me the right to think about him all I want. You don't like it, you can turn me around and I will never see you again. We are going to be together for a long time, so maybe you should start cutting me some slack." she railed on him, eyes blazing
"Careful, Querida. You keep doing that, and I am going to drag you to the nearest tent, occupied or not." he said leaning over and softly kissing her.
"And who do we have here?" A tall man, lightly armoured appeared from one of the trees and fell to the ground.
"I found her, so you can run ahead." Kiniro said
"Right'o" he said saluting him and running towards the camp.
"And who was that?" Axia said tilting an eyebrow upwards
"One of the scouts." and Kiniro left it at that.
Settling back into the arm of the chair, Axia closed her eyes and felt around the camp. Feeling the whispers of the others as she approached, she wondered if it was a good idea to be this exposed. Hearing her doubts, Kiniro leaned over and kissed her right temple softly. He then whispered "I will always protect you Axia." Sighing, she leaned into his open left arm and allowed her head to fall onto his shoulder as he wrapped his arm around her as then entered into the heart of the camp. As they finally stopped at one of the main tents, he kissed her forehead as he leaned her back. He then moved to the other side to help her out of the cart.
Aurora had already beaten them to the camp and from the dark watched Kiniro fawn over Axia. Eyes narrowing, she twirled around, cape flapping behind her, and entered the main tent of Ryan, their leader. To hide from the men, she had attached herself to Ryan, and endured his advances. It wasn't as if she liked him, but only Kiniro knew her true preference. She really wishes he hadn't interrupted. She hadn't really had a partner in such a long time, and tasting Axia...well, she knew she had to try again. Even if it meant losing her friendship to Kiniro.
Axia and Kiniro then walked inside the tent, and saw Aurora. Axia was shocked to see a female crusader, as even in her time, they were rare. Axia then caught the look of lust in her eyes, and a touch humbled, cast her eyes downward. It wasn't as if Axia was not disgusted by it, her own mother taught her better then that, but she never had the opportunity to ever explore that. Kiniro sensed where her mind was wandering, but attempting to not show possessiveness. He didn't like the fact that she still feels herself a free agent. From what he remembered of what she shared with Aldo, she enjoyed men. Very much. So her feelings of trying it with a female perplexed him. Closing his arm around her, he tried to make it appear that Axia was off the market to Aurora. Grimacing and narrowing her eyes, she slowly sat down on her stand, beside Ryan, as Kiniro knelt before him. Axia did not. Standing regal before him, she asked "So what precisely is this mission that Kiniro tricked me into seeing?"
Ryan, not used to fiercesome women, perked an eyebrow up in surprise and a questioning air. Looking at Kiniro, and then looking at the battle ready stance of Axia, he could see why Kiniro had been so enraptured by her. She was precisely the kind of woman he had always wanted as well. A woman that would be a challenge to break. He then glanced at Aurora. He knew, she thought he didn't know her true preferences, but what she didn't realize, was that he was always watching her. He had watched Axia's approach and watched the lust radiate from Aurora. That had confirmed what he had always known. It was time to get rid of Aurora. Faithless women had no appeal to him. He could sense, that given the chance, Ora would try for Axia. Whether or not, Kiniro would allow it, was another matter. Women were nothing to him, and Kiniro still had value. Aurora did not.
"If you are finished looking me over, like a piece of dessert, I would like an answer" Axia said, pulling out her Rapture Rose and allowing it to drape behind her.
"My my my, you are a fierce some Amazon." Ryan said savouring the discourse.
Within her mind, Kiniro had been trying to tell her to shut up, but she purposely closed her mind to him. Unlike him, she had over 100 years to learn how to do that.
"And I am an impatient one. I have better things to do, so start talking, so that I can be on my way." Axia said, slightly flexing the Rose.
"And one that I would not mind in my bed. I'll be you are a fierce one." Ryan said boldly.
At that, Kiniro got up and stood behind Axia. Looking at Ryan, he should have realized he would be very attracted to Axia. He then decided to show where his loyalties now lie, and slid an arm around Axia's waist in a possessive posture. Axia understood why he was doing this, but, at the same time, knew she still had not decided to take Kiniro as her partner for life. She knew he had been made immortal, but that was Lachlan's doing, not her's.
Sensing that it was dangerous to do it, she removed Kiniro's hand and stepped forward before Ryan. Seeing his eyes widen in anticipation, he did not expect what happened
Axia outstretched her wings full force, and created a ball of pure energy, which she held in front of her, tossing it back and forth. "Now, fair guild leader, you were saying something about me being fierce? That is right. I am. I am the chosen Valkyrie, and I am the saviour of this world. Do NOT forget everything I sacrificed for your forefathers. I choose my own lovers, and I BOW TO NO ONE!" Axia said as she rose to the top of the tent and sent forth the orb. It landed within Ryan, and dissipated upon contact.
"Next time you wish to disrespect me, remember I have the power to destroy as well as create life. Such as my gift. If you wish for me to be benevolent towards your cause, you had best remember this." Axia said as she descended back onto the ground and watched a sputtering Ryan try to regain his senses. Kiniro suspected that she may react like that, but never did he expect that she would lose it completely. She then slowly walked out of the tent, still expecting Ryan to cry out to his guards and attempt to attack her. But he allowed her to leave the tent unharmed. She then chose a tent that befitted her, and entered. She then found the room slightly feminine, and decided to make it her room, until Kiniro was finished with the meeting. Now that she had made her presence clear, she felt it was going to be an interesting one, as she slowly opened her mind again and allowed Kiniro in. The first thing she heard was 'I don't believe you did that! Do you have any idea how volatile he is! I was trying to protect you. Don't EVER shirk my possession of you. You are MINE and I will NEVER LET YOU GO.' Kiniro screamed into her mind.
'And don't ever believe because I allow you into my bed, that I am yours. You have not given me a reason you make me want to stay with you for all eternity.' she said as she found a tub hidden in one of the many shields.
As she began to run the tub, as she was feeling slightly grimy from the trip, she then heard the tent flap open, and a very deadly voice "Where are you."
"We are done talking" Axia said as she began to remove her clothing.
Kiniro knocked over the screen in rage. Axia then stood before him completely naked and unafraid. Defiantly, she tilted her chin up at him. "You are going to be the death of me Axi." he said using the pet name that her sisters had used for her that he had found when he poked around in her head.
Allowing him to do this, she stood still as he invaded her mouth, attempting to dominate her. 'You done? My bath is getting cold.'
"Why are you so resistance to me? I can make you happy Axi." he said against her lips
"Because I do not know you. I have known you for less the 48hrs for Angeling's sake. Do you have any idea how strong you come on! Give me some breathing space!" she said as she pushed him aside.
Hurt showed in his eyes, but he deeply bowed to her and closed the tent screen giving her the peace she so desperately needed.
