Chapter 20. Teeth of the Hydra
Sarah looked at Toby and Georgie; she stood in the Gallery watching as Zoan tutored the boys in the art of using a sword. Sarah could see improvement in just a few moments. Zoan waved her to come down as the boys finished up the lesson, and she moved into the area praising how well the students had done. "My goodness Toby, I've not seen moves like that since we watched Robin Hood!" She looked at Georgie, "And you! I had no idea you were so graceful."
Zoan looked at the pair, "Put your blades away, and make sure the equipment is put away properly this time. Don't be in a rush; Lady Sarah will be here when you return." He motioned the girl to join him on a bench as the pair rushed off. "They are doing well, better than I had expected in fact."
"They have a good teacher." Sarah exalted feeling completely at ease with the Hobgoblin.
"Indeed?" He looked at the mortal girl with interested eyes. "You think I'm a good teacher?"
"I do." She readily admitted. "In fact I was wondering if you could do me the favor of refreshing my skills."
"Your skills?" He smirked at her.
Sarah blushed, a soft glow of pink flooding her cheeks. "I use to be pretty fair with a rapier."
Zoan raised a brow. "Ah, were you now?" He stood up and motioned her to follow him to a wall of weapons displayed. "Do you see anything here remotely similar to what you were taught with?" Sarah touched a blade and he took it down to inspect, "Yes, alright." He handed it to her and motioned her to the center of the practice area. "Clear!" He shouted to the boys who moved to the benches. He pulled a blade from the wall like the one Sarah had in hand. "Show me the first position." He commanded roughly. When the girl took her stance, he raised his blade and saluted her, and then advanced toward her with blade outstretched.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Rosalind was not surprised when the King informed her he wished to see how the boys fencing lessons were coming along. His interest in the changeling was to be expected. It mattered not to her where she was with the King as long as she was with the King. He had been warming toward her advances more and more since the moment the Bard had read that strange poem. She knew soon she would be in his bed, she could feel it in her bones. His asking her to join him as he watched the changeling was progress to be sure, and any who happened by would see she was favored in his eyes.
The King moved to the balustrade of the Gallery, and peered down expecting to see his heir practice. He stiffened at the sight of the mortal girl and Prince Zoan entangled in a mock battle with foils. He could hear Toby and Georgie cheering Sarah on. His face hardened as he watched the grace with which Sarah moved to avoid the movements of the Hobgoblin prince. There was no getting round it, Sarah was good.
"How athletic;" Mocked Rosalind in a bored to tears jaded tone hoping it would spurn the man to move on. She could see he wanted to watch and sighed as she leaned on the rail. Watching the little mortal dance about a fencing floor was not her idea of entertainment.
Zoan moved, Sarah countered and they were nearly jaw to jaw. He looked down into her eyes; the fire of passion was beginning to shine in his glorious eyes. "You move like a goblin." He praised, in a dark growl.
Sarah unaware of the passions growing in the opponent, taunted. "I've learned from them in a short time."
Zoan moved again and again she countered. "What have you learned, little human?" There was amusement in his words, and he was clearly enjoying this mock battle.
"Much," She revealed. "I've learned to look beyond what is visible."
The Hobgoblin nodded, "A good thing to learn in Fae Realms, my Lady."
"A good thing to learn in any realm," Sarah corrected.
Zoan spun, thinking he'd take advantage, but was the one surprised when she countered the move with a reversal spin of her own. "Very good, zeggaac!" He praised as he had to spin quickly to avoid the tip of her foil. "I've known warriors who are not so agile."
Jareth felt a hot flame growing in his being. He had heard the word come from Prince Zoan's lips so easily. Zeggaac, he had called Sarah zeggaac, Vixen. Watching her duel with the Prince he could not say the Prince was wrong. But to hear the word come so easily to the Hobgoblin drew a reaction Jareth was not prepared for. It was not unlike the way he felt watching Adrianna embrace and cuddle against Sarah when he had returned her to the breakfast room. His jaw began to ache from the pressure of clenching. And his knuckles were turning white as he gripped the rail before him.
Zoan took a deep breath, "Don't think, and just react." He ordered as he advanced in an attack that was respond to swiftly and dealt with in a counterattack. They danced across the practice area in a violent but beautiful dance of blades flashing and clashing. Zoan was becoming increasingly beguiled. When the session ended, he was visibly aroused. He saluted her in a swift, violent and respectful motion. "Zeggaac Dager," he praised in an invigorated growl.
Sarah, a bit out of breath, smiled. "What does that mean?" her voice was giddy.
"Vixen warrior," the answer came as the King and Rosalind entered the practice area. Jareth looked at the Hobgoblin prince, a silent challenge in his mismatched eyes. "I was under the impression that the boys were having a lesson today."
"Lady Sarah asked me to evaluate her skills, Sire. The boys had finished their lesson and I saw no harm." Zoan answered the challenge with one of his own.
Rosalind looked at the disheveled girl, finding her less attractive than ever. "I can think of better ways to work up a sweat," she commented quietly for just the girl to hear.
"I'm sure." Sarah retorted without batting an eyelash.
Rosalind became rigid; unused to repartee from the insufferable mortal who'd rejected the King before his own court.
Jareth had heard the comments from each young woman, but ignored them. "And your evaluation was Zeggaac Dager?"
Zoan could have backed down; he could have done so and saved face. Why he didn't he was never sure of after. "Indeed. She is Zeggaac Dager and more." There was a sexually aroused growl in the back of the Hobgoblin's throat. He bowed to the girl, raising the hand holding the foil still. "Muukuukec Duugec."He growled placing his lips to the back of Sarah's hand as he went to his knee.
Jareth looked at him in displeasure and roared in Goblin, "Huukhaagec or daan Huukec Mec!"
Zoan rose to his feet, in his eyes was still a silent challenge, but the king had made it clear. He had claimed the girl as property of the Goblin King, in a roar that could not be ignored. The Hobgoblin Prince could not blame the King for wanting to keep the human girl to himself. He bowed to the King with a raised brow.
Jareth looked at Sarah, "The Princess is looking for you." He grabbed Rosalind roughly as he turned and walked away.
Zoan leaned down to Sarah, "Best go to Princess Adrianna." He advised, feeling a bit sorry for the Fae woman being dragged away. He drew in one last breath of the mortal girls scent, and longed for a chance to have a taste of her. He called to the boys. "Come, I'll show you some of the wonders of the Goblin Realm."
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Breanna had witnessed the display, had seen her son react with anger and with jealousy to the attentions given the mortal by the Goblin Prince. She had heard her son lay claim to Sarah, and smiled. He was already on the brink; it would not take more than a gentle nudge to send him over the brink and into oblivion. She had watched his beautiful eyes, so much like hers, become white hot coals as he watched the mortal dance with the sword. His reaction had been the same as the one he'd had when Adrianna had embraced the girl, aroused jealousy. His sexual tensions could have been cut with a knife. From the reaction of Lady Rosalind, Breanna was sure they were not lovers, not yet.
Only one person in the Kingdom could have the answers to the questions she had on the crystal holding her son's passion and heart. Quietly she transported herself to the garden and sought out the old Tutor who had schooled her son. She found him sleeping in an arbor, one that brought back fond memories for her. The hat took notice of her first and shot up to attention.
"Go away, you evil witch!" He hissed at her.
"Now is that any way to greet an old friend?" Breanna asked saucily.
"Friend, you are no friend to me, or to this sleeping fool." The Hat declared. "You nearly destroyed him; will you not be happy until you finish the task?"
The High King's daughter ignored the pleas of the hat and moved closer, gripping the beak of the bird she whispered in the old man's ear. "Wake up, I have need of you."
Whether it was the suggestiveness of the words, or the scent that was Breanna's alone, the old tutor awoke with a start, and his face showed displeasure. "You!" he spat out, pulling back into the chair. "Be gone vixen."
Breanna smiled, mockingly. "I see you remember me, how nice." She released the beak of the bird from his hat. "Now, old friend, we're going to have a little chat."
"Not in this lifetime or the next." The old tutor huddled in his chair. "I've nothing to say to you, Daughter of the High King."
"Go away and leave us alone." The bird begged.
"Not until I get the answers to my questions." She warned, she turned her attentions on the old man. "And you know how persuasive I can get."
A lump gathered in the old man's throat, he nodded, remembering the last time the High King's daughter had wanted something. "What do you want?"
Breanna smiled, serpentine she moved closer to the old one, almost undulating. "Tell me about the encasement spell Jareth used."
The lump forgotten, the eyes of the old man widened to horror. "No. I will not betray my King."
"Of course you will," Breanna simpered. "If you don't tell me what I want to know, I'll take off all my garments and dance naked all over you…and announce to the High King that it was your idea, old friend."
"Have mercy," Begged the tutor, wringing his hands. His eyes already focused on her body and the delights he'd known of her.
"Give me what I want, and I'll give you what you desire." She promised.
"My life won't be worth the spit in this hat if I do." He moaned.
"Your life won't be worth spit if the High King finds out you and I had been mad lovers during the time you tutored my son." She reminded him.
He moaned recalling hours of pleasure in the bed of the High King's daughter. "Mercy, Princess, have mercy…don't ask me to betray the King."
"Don't think of it as betrayal," Breanna whispered as she slid like a serpent into the lap of the old man who moaned as she let her body find his arousal. "Tell me what I need to know."
He shuddered, twitched and lost the battle as her body began to rub slowly over his. "I'll tell you what ever you want to know." He moaned at last. He began to tell her of the encasement spell and its draw backs. He told her he had warned the king of the dangers of keeping the spell active. He told her of the King's concerns.
"So already the spell is weakening?" She asked.
"Yes." The old one nodded, feeling pained at his betrayal.
Breanna kissed his brow, "Old friend, thank you." She slid from his lap and watched him pull into himself. "What I do, I do for the good of the King." She said.
"Witch!" the hat cried after her as she turned to go.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Adrianna was in the great hall when Sarah joined her. "Come quickly, Sarah." The Princess hastened. When the girl was within arms length the Pink Princess reached for her and pulled her along the floor to the center, "Look up!" she ordered the human, she then watched the expression on Sarah's face change to wonderment. "Isn't it spectacular?" Adrianna crooned in the girl's ear, "Too special not to share with someone." The Pink Princess closed her eyes and rubbed her temple against Sarah's. "Someone special…like you, my Sarah."
Sarah felt arms go about her, the embrace was personal, intimate, but not quiet sexual. She told herself the Fae were more demonstrative, more free in expressing their likes and dislikes. Looking sideways she saw a look of tranquility on Adrianna's lovely face. How like the pictures of the perfect Fairy Princess Adrianna was, Sarah could not help but be fascinated by and fond of her.
Beautiful eyes opened toward Sarah, and the Fae Princess breathed her in. "I feel like dancing," She intoned.
"There's no music." Sarah said as the girl began to sway and pulled Sarah into her bizarre eccentric undulations.
"We will make our own music." The Princess crooned in a breathy voice much deeper than the one she commonly used. She began to hum sensually as she mesmerized the mortal girl. Her hands slid over Sarah's shoulders and arms. She smiled as the afternoon light poured into the space from the wide windows. "We'll dance in a shower of sunlight!" boasted the Princess. "Bath in the rays of light, my sweet mortal, alone with me," The provocative Fae girl begged with longing in her eyes, her voice and her movements.
Sarah felt a dizziness that she'd never felt before, and a pull that filled her with longing almost as powerful as the Princess. She raised hands into the sunlight, mimicking the movements of her Fae counterpart.
Jareth, a level above them, stood like a statue, his blood pounding in his veins as he watched his perfect Fae Princess and his mortal vixen dance in the rays of light. He found it hard to breath. He wanted to turn, look away, but could not. He was glued to that spot, eyes watching, body wanting. They were fully dressed, but he could see their bodies as clear as if they were naked before him. The dance between the two young women was filling him with unbridled lust and desire. He closed his eyes, backed away from the rail and kept moving back until the cold stone wall welcomed him. He pressed his back to the wall until the cold quenched the fever of his skin.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Breanna from her vantage point saw the King, she saw the girls dancing and she smiled. The plan was working. "Before a fortnight has passed you my son will be love's willing slave once more." She blew a kiss on the wind the direction of her child.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Dinner was a tense affair, Jareth was somber and silent. Rosalind having been asked to dinner watched her host for a hint of what he was thinking. Adrianna sat blissfully watching the King.
"Jarikins…" She got his attention with her breathiness. "Could I have some minstrels?"
"Minstrels?" He repeated blinking as if coming out of a daze. "I'm sorry, what?"
"Minstrels," She teased, "You know musicians…"
Rosalind looked at the Princess suspiciously, wondering what the younger Fae of Royal blood was up to; "Musicians?"
Giving a sideways glance to the older woman, Adrianna looked back to her husband. "May I?"
"What do you need minstrels for, my dear?" He questioned as he raised his goblet of wine to his lips.
"To dance with Sarah," She said and watched him spit his wine out. "Is there a problem Jarikins?"
Jareth rose to his feet, "Excuse me." He bowed to the ladies and exited the dinning room.
Rosalind folded her napkin, placed it on the table and frowned. "What game are you playing at here little girl?" Her voice was cold and harsh to the Royal.
Adrianna looked at her with mild interest. "Game, Lady Rosalind?"
The redhead pursed her lips. "Game, Princess." She didn't hide her sarcasm or her feelings of dislike for the girl. "Whatever it is, you're not going to like the end results."
Intrigued Adrianna leaned back, "Really? How fascinating, that you, a mere woman of the gentry would caution me, a Royal." She still held some of her childish voice. "One might ask you what you're playing at, Rosalind."
Rosalind sipped the wine before her, then looked at the Princess with what she felt was an authoritative expression. "It's no secret you know, that you and the King are not abed."
"I was not aware that is had to be." Adrianna replied blithely. "I was also under the impression that what happens betwixt King Jareth and I is our business."
"He's a very powerful man, Princess. With powerful appetites, for which I can personally vouch," Rosalind boasted.
Adrianna smiled coolly. "Yes, I was told your husband advanced his career by placing you in the King's bed at one time. Is he looking for further advancement?"
Cold eyes of sea foam looked at the Princess. "My husband and I do not dwell together any longer."
"Pity," Adrianna sighed. "So you are planning on advancing your own status by whoring with the King?"
The Fae woman curtly cut her off. "Being the King's mistress is not whoring it up, little girl."
"It is if the King's wife does not approve, and believe me…I don't approve of you." Adrianna stood up, "I think you should cut short your stay with us this time."
"Perhaps I should ask the King what he thinks." Rosalind shot at her as she neared the exit.
The perfect Fae Princess turned her face a mask of pity. "Rosalind, have you not noticed that the King has eyes for no one save the pretty little mortal?"
Rosalind stood up and slammed her fist to the table. "And you approve?"
"Most assuredly, in fact… I'm hoping he'll share." The younger girl licked her lips suggestively and departed, leaving the redhead fuming.