Chapter 28 – the Salior and the Student

It wasn't the first boat that Aisha was on, but it still seemed different knowing that this boat was Isabela's. Isabela claimed that the boat was Aisha's too, but the mage didn't dare to believe it.

"I need to get a good crew as well," Isabela sighed in content, while standing in the stern and looking out towards the sea, "people who won't give us trouble." Isabela closed her eyes, feeling the breeze in her hair, the gentle rocking of the waves underneath and the polished wood under her fingers. This is delicious, she thought. She opened her eyes to look at the mage next to her. Aisha was clutching the wood a bit desperately and looking out at the sea with wonder in her eyes.

"Are you okay?" Isabela asked gently, "you seem... tense."

Aisha sighed and turned her back on the water, leaning on the wood and putting her face up towards the sun.

"I'm fine," she replied, "I don't know why I feel so worried. Naishe...sorry, Isabela, are we really going to leave? Are you really taking me with you?" Aisha worried that her questions might annoy the pirate but couldn't help but ask them. To her relief, Isabela mainly seemed amused.

"Will you ever stop calling me Naishe?"

"Don't know," Aisha replied and then changed the subject, "you know, my mother used to love boats."

Isabela looked at her with one eye.

"She would always beg father to take her on the Siren. He wanted his women to stay at home, well you know that. It's ironic really, The Siren's call killed his first wife, and his second wife sailed away with it."

Isabela didn't know what to answer. In all the years they had known each other, they had never discussed Aisha's parents; it was almost taboo between them.

"How did your mother die?" Isabela eventually asked after remaining quiet for a long time.

"Father didn't tell you? She died when he finally gave in and took her on the ship. I don't know the details, but they went away in the morning and she never came back. Pirates, drowning... who knows. Father was so angry, so sad. He was a better person before that, not a good one, but better. Not as cruel."

"I was his slave," Isabela said frankly.

Aisha nodded.

"I know."

They stood in silence for a long time, Isabela looking at the sea and Aisha with her eyes closed and facing the sun. Eventually Isabela stood up and cracked her neck from side to side.

"Should we check out the insides?" She asked, "the captain's quarters at least. I'm planning to be sleeping there from now on."

They went down the stairs from the heightened stern and went through the little door underneath. It had a lock, Isabela noticed approvingly; that would make her sleep so much better. Then she suddenly exclaimed, causing Aisha to almost jump from the sound.

"Seriously! Mustard colours! Something was wrong with the man!" Aisha looked into the cabin, past Isabela and agreed that it wasn't the most tasteful room ever. It was quite large and pompous though; it had a carpet, thick curtains on the windows and what looked like a very soft bed. Every piece of textile in the room was mustard yellow. Otherwise there was a chest, a desk with a chair, crossed knives on the wall and several candle holders. The mage imagined that the room was quite cozy on stormy nights even if everything had a ghastly colour.

Aisha couldn't help but let her mind wander. She imagined, Isabela sitting by the desk on a stormy night, her face concentrated as she studied maps and thought where they should go next. Perhaps with a naked Aisha in the bed, calling for her, wanting her to join her in the bed. If Isabela refused, Aisha could simply stand up, go to Isabela, wrap her arms around the pirate and convince her to leave the maps for something more pleasant to study.

"Did the captain's cabin look like this on the Siren's call?" Aisha asked, a little bit breathless from thinking about her fantasy.

"No," Isabela said, "it had much better colours." She turned to Aisha and laughed at her rolling eyes, "I'm impossible, aren't I?" she asked. Then she pulled Aisha to her body in one swift move.

"You know," her voice dropping an octave lower, "I was thinking that we should check if the captain's quarters are really good for anything."

She turned Aisha's body around and pressed it closer, leaning down and planting several quick kisses over Aisha's lips, cheeks, jaw and forehead.

"I missed you," Isabela breathed as she kissed down Aisha's throat, the smaller woman tilting her head upwards, allowing access. She wanted to answer Isabela, tell her how she had missed her as well. How she loved her. But as Isabela continued kissing her way down to Aisha's chest, all Aisha managed to do was to whimper helplessly and reach up to quickly untie the top of her tunic. She again tried to talk but Isabela took her nipple into her mouth and tugged and Aisha felt like her knees might buckle under her. Isabela caught her and held her steady, chuckling at Aisha's demise.

The mage looked up and saw her smirk and as much as she enjoyed simply succumbing and accepting whatever pleasure Isabela was willing to give her, she didn't want this time to be a repeat performance of their last time. She wanted to touch Isabela too. She tried to steady her shaking legs and took a few steps backwards, grasping Isabela's hand and pulling her with her towards the bed.

Isabela, who had been expecting Aisha to fall in her arms, was quite surprised when she felt herself being pulled towards the bed. The pirate was even more surprised when Aisha didn't sit down on the bed but spun the two of them around and pushed Isabela onto the bed. The pirate sat down, and smiled up at the mage, wondering what she was going to do next.

Aisha was still standing up and cradled Isabela's head in her hands, leaning down and pressing her lips against the forehead of the pirate; staying there for a while and just inhaling her scent. Then she leaned back again, searching for Isabela's face and melting at the uncharastical, rather innocent, smile that was plastered on her face.

The mage pushed the pirate back on the bed and quickly straddled her, leaning down and kissing over her throat and chest; nipping with her teeth occasionally but never hard enough to leave a mark. Isabela squirmed a little, more used to being in the opposite position but didn't want to stop Aisha on her enthusiastic discovery. When Aisha bit into her breast through the fabric of her tunic Isabela actually moaned and reached with her hands up to halt the mage just long enough to pull the tunic over her head.

"These too," Aisha said and continued to kiss parts of Isabela's face as the rogue removed the bits of armor she wore, her necklace and boots. Her knives laid discarded on the floor.

Aisha had to stop and look in wonder. She had seen Isabela's body before, but it was as if she could never get enough of the sight. There were a few blemishes and scars that were unfamiliar to Aisha and the mage didn't waste anytime. She latched onto the closest scar on the pirate's shoulder, biting down and then immidiately licking the spot to soothe the sting. Aisha continued kissing down over Isabela's chest and when convinced that the pirate was more than comfortable, she dared to take her nipple into her mouth.

"Aisha," Isabela said, her voice breathless, "what are you doing sweetness?"

Aisha let go of her breast and looked up at her pirate.

"Let me take care of you?"

Isabela seemed to think for a moment, but then reclined her head on the pillow.

"Play as much as you want," she said with a chuckled that turned into another moan as the mage started paying attention to her other breast. Isabela didn't mind letting Aisha have her fun, as long as she could have her fun afterwards. The pirate had to admit though, that it was strange and unfamiliar to just lay back and have her bedpartner take the reins but there was also something very satisfying about letting Aisha take care of her. Maybe because it was just Aisha that was now kissing down her stomach. Isabela had known in abstract what was going to happen but couldn't help but moan in surprise as Aisha reached her goal. Without really meaning to, the pirate spread her legs wider and sighed in content as Aisha hummed in approval and continued her administrations. Release found her quicker than usual, and too soon for the pirate's liking.

After Isabela's legs had stopped quivering, Aisha pressed a peck on top of the patch of black hair. Then she crawled up on top of the bed, placing her head on the pillow next to the pirate's. Isabela had lost her voice temporarily and was just breathing heavily.

"Is that what the elf taught you?" The pirate said when she found her voice, "because if she did, I fully understand why you were so upset to see her leave."

"Isabela!" Aisha said and punched the pirate lightly on the arm, "of course. You don't think you're the only one with tricks up your sleeve, do you?"

Isabela laughed then, feeling happier than she had in years.

"Thank god for that!" She said, "can you take this off?" She fingered the edge of Aisha's tunic. The mage nodded and removed her clothes and bandana as well. Isabela opened her arms and almost purred when she soon cradled a naked Aisha in her arms. She kissed the mark of tranquility.

"So, is it my turn to... return the favour?" Aisha looked up at her pirate, her heart beating happily.

"Yes," the mage said, "if you wish."