Chapter 15

The Lich

Kaisa for the hundredth time cursed the desert heat as she made her way to the Sentinel Palace. She wished dearly that she could turn around and head to the inn and Sariah's sweet arms. Sighing with both longing and from the oppressive heat she pushed the doors to the palace open and stepped into the slightly cooler air of the palace. As she walked through the first chamber Kaisa noticed that the prince was not at his usual place on the floor. Kaisa sent a silent prayer to Dibella that he was okay. Putting that out of her mind, Kaisa made her way to the throne room and waited for her turn to speak to the Queen. Kaisa didn't have to wait long as soon as Queen Akorithi saw her Kaisa was waved forward ahead of several other waiting nobles. Kaisa smirked at their angry stares as she came before the Queen and curtsied respectfully.

"Were you successful? Do you have the painting?"

"Yes, your majesty, I have it here," Kaisa said handing the covered painting over.

"Did you look upon the painting?"

"As you commanded it, I did not gaze upon the painting," Kaisa lied.

"Excellent, its contents are not meant for those that are not of royal blood," Akorithi said arrogantly.

"As you say my Queen," Kaisa said biting back her true retort.

Before anyone could say anything else the palace shook and a distinctly inhuman roar emanated from below. Looking around, Kaisa found the servants wailing in fear and the guards clutching weapons tighter. Kaisa looked back to the Queen and found her lovely brown skin noticeably lighter in tone than it was a moment ago.

That would be my date calling, Kaisa thought sarcastically.

"My Champion, we have another mission for you," Akorithi said in a voice that was laced with fear.

"I am at your command my Queen."

Kaisa had to look down to hide the smirk that spread across her gorgeous face. This was almost too easy, granted the lich wouldn't be easy but setting herself up to have access was proving almost too easy.

"A great evil has taken over the royal crypt and we fear it may spread to consume the entire palace. We ask that you venture forth and destroy this abomination."

Would you still be calling it an abomination if you knew it was your dear great uncle causing this, Kaisa thought scornfully.

"I will of course defend you my Queen, but I hope her majesty has not forgotten my payment for retrieving most valued painting from the clutches of Wayrest?"

"Yes, you will have your gold!" Akorithi said scornfully while snapping her fingers at a guard.

Kaisa thought she might have pushed it a little to far on that last one but a simple mercenary was her cover and mercenaries didn't do anything for free. If she didn't demand payment, they might start to become suspicious of her. Besides, she needed some way to pay for food, lodging, and the frequent ferries across the bay. In short order the guard approached Kaisa with a purse of a thousand Septims.

"Excellent! I will begin immediately, which way to the crypt?"

"This way my lady," the same guard who handed Kaisa the purse said gesturing to a door off to the side of the throne room.

"Thank you," Kaisa said falling in step with the guard.

Once they got to the door the guard produced a key and unlocked the door and opened it for Kaisa. Kaisa gave the man a nod of thanks and stepped through the door and prepared her weapons.

"Divines be with you," the guard prayed before closing the door and locking it again.

"Dibella's love and beauty is all I need," Kaisa whispered while putting a gloved hand over the amulet resting on her chest.

Kaisa smiled as she felt warmth spreading from the amulet, telling her that Dibella was with her. Glancing at her sword, Kaisa verified that the enchantments she paid out the ass for were working. Kaisa double checked her bow and arrows as well before moving down the corridor that would lead her to the crypt. The enchantments working were absolutely critical if she was going to survive this. Normal weapons would not work against a lich unless she could get close enough to take the head. Kaisa didn't relish the idea of basing her entire survival on that slim bet. Kaisa hoped the lich had raised some weaker friends to test these enchantments on. Taking a stab at the all-powerful lich only to find out the enchantments were worthless would probably spell her death, not to mention be completely embarrassing.

Peaking around a corner Kaisa got her wish in the form of two wraiths floating near the middle of the hall way. Deciding to test her bow first Kaisa lined up her shot and fired, hitting one wraith in the head. The enchantment worked and the magic in the arrow and bow shattered the magic holding the specter together and it exploded in a shower of mist. The second wraith screamed in rage and charged at her flinging spells at her. Kaisa ducked back around the corner and got her sword ready as the wraiths spell took a chunk out of the stone Kaisa was hiding behind. Flipping the sword into a reverse grip, Kaisa stabbed backwards around the corner just before the wraith was about to round it. The enchanted sword stopped the wraith in its tracks and roared in rage before exploding. Kaisa breathed a sigh of relief as she stepped around the puddle of goo that was left behind from whatever the wraith was made of.

Making her way down the rather spacious hallway, Kaisa was reminded of her own family's mausoleum. Kaisa's family wasn't buried under their manor however and Kaisa found it odd that the Sentinel royal family did. Kaisa's ancestors were interred into a lovely mausoleum built into the hillside on the west part of the Alierius Estate. Her brother Aydin always found it fascinating unlike herself. Kaisa found the architecture beautiful and was infinitely proud of her heritage but found spending hours in the mausoleum a little on the creepy side. She could study the Alierius family history in the comfort of her study thank you very much.

"Damn I miss home," Kaisa muttered under her breath.

Kaisa heard the unmistakable sound of skeletons shambling around and focused on the here and now. Julian, her dear father always said, think of home and family and keep it close to your heart, its what grounds you, but never at the expense of the moment. Wise words from an infinitely wise man. Slowly creeping ahead Kaisa found three skeletons with rather expensive looking armor and weapons hanging off their thin frames.

"Great, more of the family," Kaisa muttered at guessing the skeletons origins.

Thankfully skeletons were relatively easy to deal with considering they were not very fast and generally pretty stupid. But they could overwhelm in numbers so once again Kaisa opted for her bow. If she could take one or two out at range it would greatly up her chances of walking away unscathed. A preferable outcome considering her impending battle with the lich would most likely end with her injured at best. Pulling back the string Kaisa let the arrow fly and smiled when her aim was true. The arrow struck the first skeleton in the temple and caused the head to go flying off. Instantly the magic holding the skeleton together vanished and the long dead relative of Akorithi fell apart in a shower of bones. The other two began shambling towards her as quickly as possible. Kaisa notched another arrow and shot at the next dear relative but the former royal managed to sort of shamble out of the way. Instead of taking its head off, Kaisa's arrow shattered its left shoulder causing the whole arm to fall off and taking its shield with it. Not the preferred outcome but Kaisa would take it non the less. Dropping the bow again she drew sword and shield as they had managed to shamble rather quickly and were now to close to risk bow and arrow. The one-armed skeleton swung at Kaisa which she easily took on the shield and with no shield of its own could not stop Kaisa's counter. The skeleton fell, cleaved in two by Kaisa's blade. The last skeleton would be slightly more difficult due to it still having all its limbs but Kaisa believed her superior speed and intelligence would see her through. Ironically it proved to be Kaisa's superior strength that was the deciding factor. Kaisa bashed through a hip level swing with her shield and her momentum carried them both into the wall. Trapped between the wall and Kaisa's shield the skeleton shattered. Coffing from the dust Kaisa stumbled away from the cloud. Inhaling Akorithi's relatives was not high on Kaisa's bucket list of things to do before she died.

Kaisa arrived at the last door and opened it enough to peek inside and there he was rising out of his coffin. Three other coffins were already open and empty which Kaisa guessed were lying in pieces behind her.

"Come forth mortal, I can sense your presence," the lich said looking right at where Kaisa was hiding.

Kaisa cursed as she pushed the door the rest of the way open and entered the large chamber. The worst thing about lich's was their intelligence, which made them extremely dangerous. Glancing around, Kaisa noted the locations of pillars, coffins, and other things that would offer her cover once the spells started flying.

"Be in awe for you stand before Karolis!"

Kaisa merely raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow at this while notching an arrow.

"Kneel before me and prepare yourself, you will be the first to sacrifice your life to feed my power!"

"Be honest, you practiced that line didn't you," Kaisa said smirking.

"Insolence!"

"No reason to get angry, its just us two, you can come clean," Kaisa said pulling the string back and sighting down the arrow.

"I will rip your soul from your body!"

"Not if I take yours first," Kaisa said letting the arrow fly while making for the closest cover.

His reply was only a moment later and Kaisa found herself outrunning lightning only inches behind her. Kaisa had no idea whether her arrow struck home or not but that wasn't as important as getting something solid between herself and the lich. Diving behind a pillar she got another arrow ready for her bow.

"Missed!" Kaisa said slowly coming around the pillar looking for the lich.

Junks of the stone pillar chipped off as another bolt struck her cover causing her to duck. Leaning out Kaisa shot her arrow but the bastard floated around his own pillar. Switching to fireballs the lich launched fire at the ground behind Kaisa. The blast knocked her out of cover and Kaisa instinctively used the momentum to roll towards a coffin to get back behind something. Lightning once again chased her for the few seconds that she was exposed but she managed to get behind the coffin before it could take chunks out of her hide. Kaisa popped up and retaliated and managed to catch the lich in the shoulder.

"Ha!" Kaisa said in triumph.

Kaisa's triumph was short lived as unbearable heat began spreading from her ass. Looking over her shoulder Kaisa was horrified to find that her ass was literally on fire.

"Son of bitch!" Kaisa said as she frantically swatted her ass in a desperate attempt to put her ass out.

Kaisa growled in anger as the lich's laughter echoed off the walls at her attempts to get her hot ass under control. In her attempts to put out the fire Kaisa lost track of the lich and by the time she realized her mistake the lich was already on top of her. Kaisa tried to roll out of the way but the lich's staff still caught her in the side. Kaisa grunted in pain as she stumbled away and frantically tried to dodge the fireball sailing toward her face. Kaisa barely got her shield up to take the brunt of the fire. The intense heat still washed over her and Kaisa could feel skin blistering. Crying out in pain she scrambled behind a pillar and grimaced as tortured skin screamed as armor rubbed against it. Kaisa had to change tactics because she was losing this fight and losing fast. Kaisa had lost her bow on the other side of the room but that was doing her much good anyway. Struggling to her feet Kaisa contemplated her options as the lich continued to laugh at her. Deciding on a last ditch all or nothing idea Kaisa stepped to her left and flung her shield at the lich like a disk to distract him. Kaisa then charged around the right side of the pillar despite her various injuries protesting the motion. Kaisa's distraction worked as the lich launched lightning at the shield instead of Kaisa. It allowed Kaisa to close the distance and turn the fight into a melee fight. Feinting left and then going right with a horizontal cut, Kaisa completely cut the head off. As raw energy began pouring out of the remnants of the body, Kaisa held the scarab up and watched as the lich's soul was sucked into the tiny crystal. As the last remnants of the lich's soul drained into the scarab the body exploded with a force that threw Kaisa back into the wall. Kaisa slid to the ground in a groan of pain as she fought to stay awake. The last thing Kaisa thought before blacking out was that she better be paid well for this.

The mortal realm slowly came back to Kaisa and she blinked to get her blurred vision to focus. When it finally did the first thing Kaisa saw was Sariah's beautiful face smiling down at her.

"I either had way too much to drink last night or I'm dead and this is heaven," Kaisa said getting into a sitting position.

Sariah simply laughed before leaning down to give Kaisa a smoldering kiss that had Kaisa's heart racing. Without thinking Kaisa pulled the beautiful Redguard on top of her and moaned as that delicious weight settled on her.

"You tell me," Sariah purred.

"Definitely heaven," Kaisa whispered before a hand snaked its way to the back of Sariah's delicate neck and gently guided their lips together again.

Kaisa lost herself in Sariah's essence as pleasure raced through her at feeling Sariah's pleasant weight on top of her and the soft lips dancing with her own. Instinctively hands began to roam and Kaisa drowned in the sweet sounds that she coaxed out of Sariah. One hand found purchase on a firm thigh as the other cupped Sariah's gorgeous ass and pulled, bringing the cores firmly together. The contact had both of them gasping as heat shot straight to their centers and hips instinctively began to grind. If Kaisa wasn't so distracted by the skillful hand currently playing with her breasts she would be blushing by how wet she already was. Any thoughts of that nature were shattered when said hand lightly pinched an erect bud through her shirt before cupping it fully and rolling her breast. Kaisa moaned loudly while arching her back, desperately trying to get more of her breast into those skilled hands.

Suddenly the hands playing her breasts like a fine instrument stilled and the grinding hips making a mess of her undergarments stopped making Kaisa's eyes snap open in alarm. Kaisa found a concerned Sariah looking down at her.

"Are you sure you are up for this? When they brought you in here you were pretty banged up."

"Didn't they say that sex is the best medicine?" Kaisa said running her hands up Sariah's sides causing the dark-skinned beauty to shiver.

"No, they don't say that," Sariah said with amusement dancing in her deep brown eyes.

"Well, I do," Kaisa said pouting

"Are you certain?"

"Yes."

"Then you are wearing far too much clothing," Sariah said while her eyes turned predatory, a look that had heat pooling in her center all over again.

"A sin you are equally guilty of," Kaisa said pulling the headscarf of Sariah head and allowing her beautiful dark brown hair to spill out.

They each undressed each other in a slow intimate dance, each new inch of skin explored with lips and fingers that left each of them a melted mess in the others hands. When they were finally freed from their clothing, Sariah sat back for a moment to drink in a fully naked Kaisa who patiently smiled up at her. Everything about Kaisa was perfect and with a slightly trembling hand Sariah reached out to touch the vision just to make sure what she was seeing was real. Long slender legs led to wide hips and a mouth-watering rear that was the perfect balance between bounce and firm muscle. Hips tapered into a narrow waist that supported perfectly round breasts that were large and so incredibly soft. A slender neck supported a face that rivaled Dibella herself with a soft tapered jawline, full pouty lips, a slender nose, and crystal blue eyes that radiated mischief. All wrapped in a frame that was the perfect balance of firm muscle and feminine curves.

"Gods you're perfect," whispered in awe.

"You're not so bad yourself," Kaisa said drinking in the beauty above her.

Delicate hands reached up to roll and squeeze Sariah's breasts that had the Redguard arching into the touch and moaning in pleasure. Needing to feel those lips again Sariah leaned down and claimed the softest lips she had ever felt. Kaisa kissed her back with enthusiasm but soon Sariah desired another taste on her lips. Sariah broke off the kiss and smirked when Kaisa chased her fleeing lips. Sariah waited until Kaisa's eyes snapped open in frustration before kissing her way down Kaisa's body. A shutter rippled through Kaisa's body when her core was claimed by Sariah's mouth. Kaisa quickly became a writhing mess as waves of pleasure crashed into her and swept Kaisa away. Kaisa climaxed hard and when Sariah added fingers to the mix Kaisa fell right into a second more powerful one. Screaming Sariah's name, Kaisa shattered as stars exploded in front of her eyes. Sariah gently carried her through it with gentle hands and sweet words. When Kaisa finally came back down from heaven Sariah crawled her way back up Kaisa's body with an all to pleased smile on her face. Still slightly out of breath Kaisa looked into brown gems and another shutter rolled through her. The evidence of her climax still gracing Sariah's face shot a lance of desire straight through Kaisa. When she tasted herself on those lips a groan rolled through her that had her desire flare into an inferno. Skillfully rolling them over, Kaisa smiled down at Sariah and traced her own path down Sariah's beautiful body. Finding her target Kaisa shivered at having Sariah's essence on her lips. Reaching up to cup a dark breast while she drank in Sariah, she watched the Redguard's eyes roll to the back of her head as pleasure overwhelmed her.

"Gods! Kaisa please!" Sariah whimpered as her body spasmed uncontrollably.

Finding her clit, Kaisa assaulted it with firm strokes and watched in wonder as Sariah broke. Wetness gushed and Kaisa greedily drank as the sweet taste on her lips caused another climax to roll through her.

"Gods Kaisa," Sariah panted out of breath.

"Catch your breath dear, I'm far from done with you this night," Kaisa purred before tasting Sariah's sweet nectar again.

Hours later Kaisa watched a sleeping Sariah with a smile. Her body still hummed in the happy afterglow of sex. Needing to feel Sariah's soft skin Kaisa reached out and traced Sariah's dreamy body with her fingers. Sariah purred happily at the soft touch and her eyes slowly fluttered open. When her brown gems settled on Kaisa a happy smile grew across her radiant face. Wanting to feel Kaisa's warmth, Sariah molded herself to Kaisa's body who with a happy sigh wrapped her arms around the Redguard.

"How long was I out?' Kaisa asked after a moment of silence.

Looking up from her resting place on Kaisa's chest, Sariah smiled tiredly at her.

"About a day, you had several burns on your body, nothing that some potions and magic couldn't fix."

"How did you get me to drink the potions if I was out?"

"The lover's way," Sariah said with amusement glinting in her eyes.

"Kinky Redguard, having your way with an unconscious woman," Kaisa said teasingly.

"I'm just glad it didn't leave any scars." Sariah said kissing Kaisa's chest gently.

Kaisa hummed happily at the soft kisses and squeezed Sariah affectionately.

"I've always wondered about that. How I heal so quickly with no scars, I've never even been sick before."

"Truly?"

Kaisa simply nodded as she pondered how that could be.

"I'm glad then," Sariah said laying her head back on Kaisa's chest but still looked up at Kaisa smiling.

Silence descended on them once again as they both just enjoyed being in each other's arms. Eventually Sariah asked the question she dreaded the answer to.

"Where to next for you?"

"Back to the King of Worms, I've got a package to deliver."

Sariah couldn't quite keep the sorrow from her eyes and cursed herself when she saw Kaisa notice it. Wanting to banish the sorrow from Sariah, Kaisa reached down and lifted the Redguard to her waiting lips. Kaisa poured all the affection she had into the kiss and felt Sariah melt into her. When they pulled back Kaisa smiled at seeing nothing but happiness looking back at her.

"In another life, I would have happily been your wife, you know that right?" Sariah said tracing Kaisa's jaw with gentle fingers.

"I do…in another life," Kaisa said holding Sariah tighter.