Chapter 14

Visitors in the Night

"Well? Do we do what she wants?", David said as he sat back and pushed his plate away.

"I will.", Lynn said quietly.

Marinae sighed. "It never stops, does it? Always a new mission. Always someone new to help.", she said, more to herself than anyone else. Then a wry smile came over her face. "I have an illness that predisposes me to adventuring. I think I got it from my father."

Weamar looked thoughtful for a while, then nodded, "I'll do it, but I don't like it"

"I'll go, of course.", Marinae interjected. "At the very least it'll build character. I just want someone to remind me, if I get a chance to grab a sword as a souvenir, I want one. It'll look impressive hanging over the bar in the inn I intend to start when I retire when we return from this adventure."

Damon cracked a slight smile at Marinae's comment but it faded quickly. "I can't leave Adederia here.", he said, taking the elf-woman's hand. "And I can't take her into some tomb."

David closed his eye. "Then I guess we should all get some rest. We'll have a long day tomorrow."

"We only ever have long days, David.", Marinae moaned playfully. Then she became more serious. "How are your ribs?"

David pressed a hand against his side. "A little sore but otherwise fine."

Lynn sighed and rose to her feet.

"Next time I'll...I'll shoot at the bear instead of its feet. I'm sorry I caused you to get injured.", Marinae said to David apologetically. Then she turned to Lynn, "It's my fault Eliza's where she is now, too. All because I didn't want an animal to suffer at my hand. Or at the hands of another."

"Impossible to avoid, but a noble aim.", Weamar consoled.

"I like your soft heart.", Lynn said softly. "Tomorrow, we'll make it all better again."

Marinae smiled sadly at Lynn and thanked her. Then she took a glance and the elven servant and was suddenly overcome with homesickness. She fought back her tears and tried not to think about how very far from home she was. The young elf was watching her with a wistful look in his eyes as well. As Marinae rose to leave Jonathan reached towards a lone candle on the long table, wrapped his long fingers around the flame, and whispered something in elvish. The light inside his fist flared for a moment, and when Jonathan opened his hand the flame floated above his palm. With a breath he sent it away. The tiny sphere of flame flitted about like insect. It swirled and danced around each person before floating in the middle of the room.

"This will guide you.", Jonathan said to Marinae. "I should think you'll prefer it to James. His presence can be a bit unnerving."

"Thank you, sir.", Marinae said politely.

Jonathan bowed his head slightly. "It is my pleasure to serve."

The light floated along through the dark corridors casting shadows that slid along the walls. In side passages Marinae occasionally caught a glimpse of movement but could never quite make it out. Marinae briefly thought of stopping to chat with Jonathan, but forced herself to stay silent. It had been a long time since she had seen another elf, but she knew that she shouldn't trust anyone who she met in the castle. As she passed through the chamber lined with armor she noticed that the helmets turned as though they were watching her walk by. When the group finally reached their rooms the flame settled upon an unlit torch which provided enough light to see the room doors.

"So, who else feels like we're being watched?", Marinae asked.

"Constantly", Damon muttered.

"Keep blades at the ready, swords sharp, and an ear and eye open.", Marinae advised

David nodded and sighed. "'Til the morning then."

Lynn walked morosely to her room. Eliza was gone. Lynn tried to assure herself that everything would be alright but she couldn't sleep. She sat on the bed holding her ring, feeling what she could of Eliza through it. Weamar got ready for bed but for some reason he didn't feel tired. Instead he lay down a rested quietly, wondering what he had gotten himself into. Marinae warded her room with a magical alarm spell and kept her crossbow loaded and ready on the nightstand. After an hour or so, just as she was drifting off, Marinae heard a soft knocking at her door. She dragged herself off the bed, wrapped herself in a cloak, and went to answer it with a dagger hidden in her hand. In the flickering torch light she saw the sharp features of the servant Jonathan. She hadn't noticed it at dinner, but Jonathan was very handsome.

"What a surprise.", Marinae said with a smile. She was expecting Weamar. She was glad that it was someone else. Marinae stepped back and gestured him inside the room.

Jonathan seemed nervous, and glanced down the corridor. "I hope I'm not disturbing you.", he whispered.

"Not at all.", Marinae replied.

Jonathan accepted her invitation and stepped into the room. He ran a hand through his hair and looked around the room. "I tend to forget some people need sleep. It doesn't happen often in this place."

"So, what's on your mind?", Marinae asked.

Jonathan's voice fell low. "It's been a long time since I've seen another one of our kin who wasn't one of the dark ones."

"Are there many of...them…here?", Marinae whispered.

Jonathan sat down on the edge of the bed. "No. But even one is too many. If they heard me say that...", he stopped and looked into Marinae's eyes. "Tell me about yourself. Where did you come from?"

Marinae fought between suspicion and sympathy for the young elf. On one hand she felt that he could be here to gather information for his boss. On the other he might be as homesick as she was.

"Far to the north.", Marinae answered. "Darkon, the city of Neblus"

"Is it beautiful, like you?", Jonathan asked.

"Bluh...uh...it's a lovely place.", Marinae said awkwardly. She was taken aback by his forwardness. She hoped the torchlight wasn't showing her ear tips going pink. "I used to go for long walks in the woods near there."

"I'm sorry. I've been here for so long.", Jonathan apologized. "Yours is the first fair face I have seen in an age. Nor have I seen the forest in as long, only cold stone."

"I'm sorry to hear that. I don't think I would last long in a place such as this.", Marinae replied.

"And now someone so beautiful as you comes into my life. I'm overwhelmed.", Jonathan added.

Marinae summoned up some of her courtly manners and simply accepted the compliment. She convinced herself that she would be polite and that would be that.

"Thank you.", Marinae said clearing her throat. "How did you come to be here?"

"I was taken captive by the Talons. Kendra saved me.", Jonathan replied.

His story was starting to make sense. Marinae began to relax, but then Jonathan said something that she did not expect at all.

Jonathan leaned forward and whispered to her. "I want to come with you."

For a moment Marinae just sat there stunned. Her head was spinning. She wanted to say yes right away but she held back. "We would have to discuss it as a group.", she said as dispassionately as she could. "I don't lead them and I can't speak for them. You do realize that trust will be an issue?"

Jonathan looked away as though Marinae's words were a physical blow.

Marinae squirmed and quickly added, "I don't mean to hurt your feelings, but you have to understand us, Jonathan. With all that we've been through, trusting new people doesn't happen quickly. We trust one another because we've worked side by side for more than a year."

"I'll do anything to help. I want to earn your trust.", Jonathan pleaded. "What must I do?"

Marinae pondered for a moment, then she replied, "I won't wish to disturb them tonight, we've had a rough journey getting here. I expect that we will be here for at least another night. I will discuss it with the others and maybe bring you in to talk to them tomorrow night."

Marinae thought to Rambis. "Sense anything unusual about him? Or is he just an elf?"

Rambis sniffed the air. "He smells like an elf to me."

"Tell them I'll do anything to join you.", Jonathan said hopefully.

"I hope we can help you escape.", Marinae said smiling.

Marinae and Jonathan heard slow and heavy footsteps pace along the corridor outside the room. They echoed with the sound of metal on stone. The sound rose and faded in a matter of a couple minutes.

"Do they always do that? The footsteps, I mean.", Marinae asked.

Jonathan looked at the door. "Yes. They patrol the halls looking for anyone who isn't supposed to be there.", Jonathan replied. Then he lowered his voice. "I saw a young boy get caught by them once. He was new and had become lost. Perhaps what happened to him was a mercy. Better than living in this place."

Marinae felt herself falling for the young elf. She fought the feelings and tried to stay serene. Then she hoped the silence in the room wasn’t as awkward as it felt.

Jonathan looked down at his hands. "I should probably go.", he said.

"I wish you wouldn't.", Marinae said abruptly. Then she calmed herself. "Umm, be careful, okay?"

Jonathan stood up slowly and stepped towards Marinae. He touched her arm softly. "And you do the same."

Marinae wondered why it suddenly seemed hot in her room. Jonathan's hand lingered almost too long. He let go, went to the door and listened. When it was clear he opened it and looked back. "Goodnight Marinae. Sleep well."

"Goodnight.", Marinae said, hoping that he would change his mind about leaving, but he did not.

After Jonathan left Marinae started pacing. "Well this won't complicate matters at all! Nooo.", she thought to herself. Rambis rolled onto his back and laughed his sweet kitty laugh. Marinae gave her cat a black look, muttered a few Elvish swear words, and threw herself into the bed. She tried to stop thinking about Jonathan but she couldn't. And she definitely couldn't get to sleep.

Another hour went by and there was a knock at David's door. David got out of bed quickly, having only been half asleep anyway, grabbed a dagger, and held it behind his back. Slowly, he opened the door.

Lynn was standing on the other side. "I don't want to be alone.", she whispered.

David stepped back and set the blade on a nearby table. Lynn walked over and sat on the edge of the bed.

"She's gone.", Lynn whispered, sobbing.

David closed the door behind her. He watched Lynn for a moment before following her. He sat down and placed an arm around her shoulders.

Lynn went limp in his arms. "Hold me.", she said.

Weamar was still awake in the next room and he could hear David's door open and close. "At least no one else is sleeping, either.", he mused.

David drew Lynn close and gently stroked her hair. "We'll get her back. Whatever it takes."

Lynn stared into his eyes. Hers were full of yearning and despair. She said nothing. David looked back at her. He was filled with hesitation. His lips strayed close to hers.

"I...", David began.

Lynn closed her eyes and hoped that David would kiss her.
 

Weamar couldn't hear anything anymore from next door. He lay in bed resting quietly. Then he noticed movement in the corner of the ceiling. It looked to be a large spider, about the size of a grown man's hand. Its legs were thin and the body large and hairless. It began to lay down strands of silk in the corner, preparing to build a web. Weamar kept an eye on it. He hoped that watching it would help him get to sleep.
 

David's lips brushed Lynn's just barely. Lynn didn't pull away. She held her breath, waiting. David's breathing grew shallow. This was something he had looked forward to since the day she left his village so long ago. He couldn't believe that his dream was about to come true. He wondered if Kendra had given him his wish already. Here Lynn was, soft and warm and sitting next to him. He cupped her face in his hands and finally gave in, kissing her deeply. Lynn melted in his arms and kissed back softly. She caught her breath when he pulled away.

"David.", she whispered.

"Lynn.", he whispered back.

Lynn got up slowly and stood before David. She gently opened her robe, lifted if off her shoulders, and let it drop to the floor. Her nude body yearned for his touch.
 

The spider, having laid out the basic structure of its web, began filling in the trap lines. The motion was almost hypnotic, but Weamar was not easily hypnotized. The spider trundled around and around until the trap lines were complete, making a web roughly a yard in diameter. The spider moved to the center and sat for a moment. Then the arachnid started plucking at the webbing with its forelegs. Each pull created a low vibrating tone. Weamar wondered if he could reach the spider's mind, and what it might say.
 

David gasped. His gaze wandered over Lynn's skin and he slowly reached out to her.

Lynn sighed. "Touch me.", she whispered.

David's fingertips touched her stomach. He flattened his hand against her flesh and slid it along her ribs. That hand was followed by his other hand which slid to Lynn's other side. They then moved upward to cup her breasts. David leaned forward and placed a kiss on her chest in between.

Lynn held David's head and moaned. "You don't know how long I've wanted this.", she breathed.

David's hands squeezed and massaged Lynn while his mouth kissed and suckled her. In due time, he reached around and drew his fingers down her back while placing a row of kisses down her chest and stomach. Lynn pushed David gently back on the bed and covered him with her body. Her lips kissed his and her hands pulled off his clothes. David lay back and continued to touch Lynn. His skin, covered in scars, was soon bare.
 

"What are you waiting, hunting for?", Weamar said to the spider. To his surprise he got an answer.

"Drink that flies. Drink that crawls.", the spider replied.

"Much about in this place? You look well fed.", Weamar asked.

"Yes.", the spider replied.

"If I see any, I'll try and scare them your way.", Weamar answered, trying to be helpful.
 

Lynn felt her way down David's body, tracing his muscles and scars until she came to his cock. She kissed the tip, licked around it, and then took as much of it into her mouth as she could, sucking it gently. Then she slowly pulled her mouth off of it, kissed it, licked it, and swallowed it again. Moaning softly, David laid his head back and closed his eyes. Lynn repeated her motions over and over again, trying to take more and more of David inside her. David breathed quickly, his hands clenching the bedding when Lynn's mouth passed over his most sensitive spots. Lynn kept moving her head up and down until she could take him all the way into her mouth without gagging. Then she quickened her pace.
 

"A dark wind follows you.", the spider said to Weamar.

"I hear. I would stop it if I can.", Weamar answered.

"The wind blows from the south. It smells of silver fur.", the spider said. "Sons of the moon. They come to make deals with the Lady."

"Do they walk on four legs, or two, like me?", Weamar asked.

"Yes.", the spider answered.  Weamar wondered if it understood the question.

"Both?", Weamar asked.

"Yes.", the spider answered.

"A very dark wind.", Weamar replied, deep in thought.

"It calls out for blood.", the spider said. A shiver went up Weamar's spine.

Near the wash basin Weamar noted a fat fly crawling around. Weamar decided to thank the spider for its help and began shooing the fly towards the web. The fly darted away from his hand and buzzed around the room, bumping repeatedly into the wall. It flirted ever closer to the spider's web. Weamar diligently chased the fly towards the web. Finally the fly made a wrong turn and slammed into the sticky webbing. The vibrations immediately sent the spider into action. It raced down the web and attacked the fly, injecting it with its venom. It then wrapped the unfortunate insect in a shroud of white silk. Weamar watched it for a while and then wondered if that was what Kendra had in mind for him.
 

"Oh Lynn.", David moaned.

Lynn moved her hips around and lowered herself onto David's face. She sucked him faster and tickled his balls. David wrapped his arms around her hips and accepted what she offered with blind passion. Lynn took David in and out of her mouth, stopping only to gasp, cum, and beckon him to make her cum again. David obliged by licking and mouthing her with increased vigor. His strong hands kneaded her thighs and ass.

Lynn finally pulled her mouth away from David's cock. "Oh yes, oh yes! Fuck me, fuck me now!", she called out, loud enough for anyone nearby to hear. "I want to feel you inside me."

David grabbed Lynn, rolled her on to her back, and quickly moved into position. Unable to restrain himself, he sank inside her completely and began to thrust in and out. Lynn wrapped her legs around David's waist and begged him to fuck her harder. David supported himself with his arms and fell into a deep and steady rhythm. In the rooms on either side of them Weamar and Marinae could hear what was going on. Weamar listened carefully to make sure that neither David or Lynn was in danger. Marinae agonized, imagining she and Jonathan doing the same thing.

Lynn reached down and rubbed her clitoris. "Yes! Yes! Fuck me! Fill me with your cum!", she cried.

David cast his head towards the ceiling and arched his back, thrusting hard into Lynn. Through clenched jaws he grunted and groaned while he unloaded himself into her. He continued sliding in and out, savoring the sensations. Eventually he collapsed atop her and softly kissed her neck.

"Oh yes. Oh yes.", Lynn said over and over as she writhed and came as well. "That was so good."

David kissed Lynn softly and slipped out of her. He fell on his back and closed his eyes. Lynn kissed him softly and laid beside him.

Just before drifting off to sleep David whispered, "I love you."

Kiri smiled and told him that she loved him too.