VII
The amount of Inquisition's agents frisking the city had been higher than ever in the past weeks, and the Dark Brotherhood and other organizations supporting the rebellion had become suspicious. Something unusual was going on, for even the search for Arkail, the Butcher, had been cancelled, as the spies in the streets reported. It meant that the Inquisition was planning something important, and therefore, something devastating. Agents of the Bigot, captured and interrogated by members of the Black Hand, confessed they were looking for a Goblin named Styx, who has been made their top priority target. The reasons for this remained oblivious, since the agents hadn't been told why exactly the Bigot suddenly cared so much for this Goblin and nothing else, and interrogating them further didn't help. Their order had been to find Styx, alive, no matter the cost. Because of that, the leader of the northern Dark Brotherhood, the ancient Dragonelf named Abbyss, asked Styx to stay out of sight a little.
"Dammit Abbyss, don't give me a time-out! It was just a matter of time until our dear Bigot sets his dogs on my track, party pooper that I am to the Inquisition. You know I can handle those assholes, they've always been hunting me", Styx had complained.
"They have, but not the way they do now. So reckless. They must not find you, Styx. I sense danger in that. They seem to be convinced that you are in this particular city, and right now it's too dangerous for you to stay here. I will give you a mission that takes you out of their reach for a while. When they don't find you while turning the city upside down, they'll start looking elsewhere, and it'll be safer for you again. You'll investigate and eliminate Candidus, a torturer. You'll find him in the western prison castle. It is as far away as you can probably get from this city, and so segregated that nobody will expect you to be there. The Inquisition won't look for you in their very own dungeons", Abbyss had said with that certain tone that allowed no backtalk. "You'll get the details later."
"Meh... Ah, shit. Fine. I'll do it."
"Of course you will."
Both reluctantly and excitedly, Styx returned to Maera. Deep inside, he was kinda happy to be sent on a mission into a place that was not crawling with guards that just burned to skewer everything that looked green. The prison castle was keen on keeping things inside, not outside, as nobody wished to get into this madhouse voluntarily. Except him, that is, so it would be easy game. Still, it was far up in the western mountains, secluded and windy, and thinking of the long way to reach it already made him shiver.
Together with Maera Styx prepared his mission, and it was a delight for him to spend some relaxing time with her before leaving.
"A torturer's dungeon? And you couldn't have convinced Abbyss to give you something less... gross to do?", she asked him, rummaging around in a shelf.
"Maera, you know what he's like... I'd never fuck with a Dragonelf, and Abbyss is a demon even when he's not angry. He thinks that there's something seriously fishy with the Inquisition, and when he senses danger, there's a shitload of trouble coming. I'll do it", Styx answered. Maera grinned.
"Don't you say you'd never fuck with a Dragonelf, liar", she teased. Styx laughed, sneaked up on her and gave her a slap on the butt. She threw a cork after him, chasing him away.
"Stop it, Rakash! What are you supposed to do anyway?"
"I have to investigate that Candidus in his dungeon, and find a lost artifact. A magical runestone the Inquisition stole from the mages. Might be locked up in the strong room. I have no fucking idea how to get in one of those things, last time I tried all my lockpicks broke."
"I think I know how...", Maera mused, turning to a shelf full of parchments and scrolls. "Let's see... Icerunes... Weatherspells... Firecharms... Ah, here we are." She picked out a small parchment and handed it to Styx.
"Oh great, a piece of paper! Why did I not think of that? I'll just use it to break the lock, that'll work", he said sarcastically. Maera gave him a punch.
"That's a firecharm, silly. There's a rune on the parchment that will inflame and burn through metal of any thickness as soon as the paper is placed on iron. Just stick it to the door with some spit and you'll have one door less", Maera explained proudly. Styx grinned at her impressed.
"You still keep surprising me, little beauty", he said, leaning in to kiss her. He carefully placed the rolled firecharm in his bag. Together they had already gathered some maps of the western mountain range, an assortment of poisons and potions, some food and a magical device that would point to a source of great energy, a so called thaumatometer.
"I assume the runestone you're looking for will be the most magical thing in the dungeon. This instrument will detect it ", Maera had explained. It was a fish-shaped piece of copper carved with runes and inlaid with a small soulstone, hanging from a chain. It turned and spun like a weathercock as Styx held it up, pointing here and there to Maera's other magical devices. He had carefully stuffed it in his bag.
"And how do you know the Inquisition is looking for you specifically?", Maera asked casually as she continued sorting through her papers.
"Some agent captured by Fox of the Black Hand was quite a chatty fellow. Sang like a bird. Apparently they are really keen on inviting me over", Styx replied.
"And why's that?"
"Hah, who knows what's going on in our dear Bigot's scatterbrain? Maybe they've simply come to the conclusion that I'm the biggest pain in the Inquisition's ass, and want to get rid of me."
"Have you been especially busy pestering them, lately?", Maera wanted to know, turning around.
Styx frowned. "Nah, not really. I mean, not more than usually."
"Then why the sudden interest in you?"
"Dunno. They're absolutely nuts, don't forget that."
"I... Styx, I want you to be very careful, you hear me?", Maera said with a sudden tone of worry in her voice. Styx turned to face her and saw how anxious she looked. "I don't like this. Something about this gives me the chills."
"Don't worry, beautiful, I'm a professional! Nah, don't gimme that sad look. Listen Maera, it might be a little tricky here and there, but I'll be back in no time and it's gonna be fine. You even gave me that fish-o-meter, how's anything gonna go wrong if I have one of those?", Styx said, hugging her. Maera smiled.
"You're right. I know you are the best, but somehow I have a bad feeling about this... Promise to take great care and come back soon, will you?", Maera asked him.
"I promise", Styx answered. He embraced and kissed her, and after that Maera seemed more relaxed. Nonetheless, Styx felt that Maera was worried for him, and so he did his best to comfort her. He knew he had to concentrate on this mission, for it would be very challenging even for him, but somehow he also felt a little anxious leaving Maera behind. He didn't want to leave her. He told himself to stop pondering and focus on what he had been ordered to do. One did not disobey Abbyss, by the way. Furthermore, the thought of being able to give a fucking torturer a taste of his own medicine promised to be a hell of a lot of fun. Still, Styx's survival instinct told him that this time, there was something different... Maybe he just didn't like the thought of having to spend his nights lonely, without Maera's warm curvy body beside him for so long. The wearing nightmares he had had over the troubles with Roderick had vanished, and he felt much more rested. The angry voice inside him had remained silent so far, especially with Maera being there for him to fill his days and nights with her presence again.
Styx pushed his thoughts away and continued gathering his equipment. When the sun went down, he and Maera ate supper together after having prepared everything for his departure, and ended up cuddling on her bed. The cuddling soon turned into hungry kisses and quick breathing, and shortly after they were both naked.
"Kiss me", Maera whispered with wide eyes, and Styx leaned over to do so. Maera was lying in front of him, with the Goblin on top. Styx did as she had asked him, and kissed her on the lips. Surprisingly, she put a finger to his mouth to stop him. Styx tilted his head, looking puzzled.
"Not there", Maera said with a seductive smile. Styx let his ears droop in confusion for a second. She glanced down her glistening body meaningfully, and he complied. He kissed her slender neck, her breasts with the tiny drops of sweat that had collected between them, her soft belly, slowly working his way down to her curvy wide hips. When Styx reached her abdomen area, he hesitated, not sure how to proceed.
"Have you never done this before?", Maera asked with an amused smile.
"Well, I've tried, kind of, but I've never really liked it, to be honest... Humans are gross, you know…", Styx answered carefully. "I don't like their smell and taste." Maera laughed.
"But I'm a Dragonelf, stupid! How do you like the taste of my skin? The taste of my tongue?", she asked.
"Better than any mead, beautiful", Styx replied grinning.
"You'll love it, I promise. Please, Styx...", Maera whispered, moving her legs apart a little more. Styx decided to give it a try. He kissed the soft insides of her thighs and smiled when he felt her tremble as he let his tongue glide across her skin. He slid one hand between her legs and carefully parted her lips, feeling strangely hungry as he watched. Every part of Maera was so delicate and beautiful, also her womanhood, which was a little more pinkish than the rest of her body, just like the tips of her long ears. Her skin was wet and glistening. Slowly, Styx put his face closer to the centre of her heat. Maera smelled quite nice there, so he fought back his hesitation and ran his tongue over that sweet spot. The effect was impressive.
Maera arched her back and moaned in sudden arousal, her hands clutching the blanket they lay on. Styx smiled and tried again, which made her moan with pleasure once more. Encouraged, he licked and kissed her womanhood, the soft skin around that area and especially the sensitive spot in the middle.
"And? How do you like it?", Maera asked, her breaths short and quick.
"Hmmm... tasty", Styx replied with a wide grin. He continued to hungrily run his tongue over her womanhood, gently sucking her sweet spot, careful not to hurt her with his sharp teeth. While he did so, he stroked her hips and thighs, and she caressed the area behind his ears with one free hand. He dipped his tongue into her sheath to taste her deeper, savoring the hot wetness inside her. Styx had to admit that Maera tasted delicious, and feeling her tremble and hearing her moan turned him on more than he could say. His had swum with arousal and his loins were so tense that it almost hurt, yet he didn't want to stop. Every stroke of his tongue made her moan wantonly, driven wild by his tongue's dance. Styx could have kept on kissing her between her thighs forever, but soon Maera reached her climax. Trembling, she bent her back and dug her fingers into the blanket, moaning with ecstasy while Styx continued licking her wetness. When she had come, Styx stopped and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, grinning widely.
Maera, eyes dreamy and breathing heavily, opened her arms for him to hug her. Styx leaned over her, propped up on his elbows, bringing his face next to hers.
"I'm so hard right now...", he whispered, kissing her ear. Feeling her climax in this completely new way had left him bursting with desire.
"I want you inside me, Styx", Maera whispered back with hungry eyes. He quickly entered her, kissed her, moved with her. Maera crossed her legs behind his back and received his thrusts, licking his neck. She rolled her hips, adapting to his movements, moaning again and purring in his ears. Her glistening skin smelled so heady and sweet it drove Styx wild, and the taste of her wetness on his lips added to that, making him growl quietly with lust. It didn't take him long until he climaxed as well, moaning raucously. His world fell to pieces but for Maera under him, and he felt only her and her lust and her sharp nails scratching his back as she came again.
The two lay on top of each other, trying to catch their breath. Styx knew he wasn't going to see her for a long while, and the more he enjoyed their time together. Sleeping in the back of some wet dungeon with one eye open and his ears pricked was the fucking opposite of the comfort he was experiencing now, and he intended to make the most of it. Styx buried his face in her hair and inhaled her scent. He wanted to separate himself from her, but she held him back.
"No. Please, stay like that, stay inside me", Maera whispered softly, her eyes all drowsy. Styx complied. He stayed joined with her, pulling a blanket over their bodies with his free arm to let her snuggle up to him and hold her close. He felt the wetness of her hips and a warm trickle run down one of his legs, his seed probably, while drifting in and out of consciousness. Soon, Maera's breathing became slow and regular as she lay sleeping between his sinewy arms. Styx blinked down at her messy hair, barely able to think, satisfied and tired as he was.
Before Styx had met her, he reflected drowsily, having sex was nice for him, but more or less something to fulfill a need he had, that presumably all beings had, the need for some carnal satisfaction. It sure was fun here and there, but afterwards he had felt worse than before in most cases, mainly because of the lack of people that were willing to go to bed with him, and also because Styx tended to quickly get annoyed by people in general. Whereas the first time he had shared a bed with Maera, it had felt different. Special, sort of. She actually wanted him to be close to her, and appreciated everything he said and did. Every time they had sex he found he got more devoted to it, and he caught himself enjoying it even more than the times before.
Will you please stop this sentimental bullshit? It's disgusting, the familiar voice piped up suddenly. Styx made a face. It was like hearing his own thoughts running loose, and he fucking hated it when that happened. He really needed some sleep.
She's giving me something I've never known I needed. It's… just nice, Styx told himself to calm down. Thoughtfully, he watched Maera sleep, her curvy silhouette under the blanket close to him, her peaceful face. He stroked her lips with one finger, which didn't wake her up, but made her mouth curl into a small smile. Despite himself, he had to grin, his heart beating faster.
Rakash, you fucking idiot! You got a mission to think about rather than her ass!
Shut up, Styx thought firmly. In a way, the voice from the depth of his mind was right. Having his head in the clouds while thinking about Maera would only help getting him distracted, and distraction meant a knightly broadsword in his face. Sure, he was more than happy that she was safe from that asshole Roderick again, but still this mushy stuff was strange and stupid and he wouldn't have anything of it. He forced himself to lie down, concentrate on his mission and fell asleep soon after.
Styx woke with the breaking dawn. He gathered his gear and the bag with the poisons, the thaumatometer and papers, grabbed his dagger and made for the window. Outside, a member of the Dark Brotherhood in black and red leather armor was waiting on a huge grey griffin to take him to the torturer's castle far in the west. Before Styx went outside, he hesitated shortly. He went back to the bed where Maera was still asleep. He thought about waking her up to say goodbye once more, but she looked so peaceful that he didn't. Besides, he would see her again in a few weeks, maybe even earlier. They could talk again when he was back. He had to concentrate on that Candidus. He quickly snatched one of the strips of cloth that Maera used to tie back her hair from her desk, stuffed it in his belt, bent over her and softly kissed her on the forehead.
Styx left through the window, climbed on the back of the griffin and as the beast spread its huge grey wings and the morning wind tugged on his hood, he grinned with anticipation. Even though, he felt a little sad when he thought of Maera and that he had to leave her.
No.
He shook his head and signaled the other assassin to start. He would only see her again if he didn't fuck up, so it was in both their interests if he stayed grounded. He had to focus, just focus on the mission. Styx departed, not looking back.