Danica Pt. 09

Danica's felt the tingling of wetness building between her legs when the cleric put the bottle on her hip and tilted her head, waiting for an answer. The position showed off her curvy, muscled body quite well. Danica nodded her agreement, blushing when she realized she was staring again. "Yes, let's talk."

The knowing smile spread wide again. "I should imagine your quarters are much more comfortable and private than mine. The better to discuss our coming adventures away from listening ears."

Danica nodded her head, and Cheron fell into step beside her. They returned to the main building, and then to Danica's room. A note there from Celes said that she would likely not return this night, because she planned to stay at the college until very late.

The two women sat down and discussed what Danica had learned at the college, drinking Cheron's wine from two large goblets the cleric pulled from the bag, also too large to have ever fit inside it naturally.

Cheron scowled when they spoke of the undead and Necromancy. Danica knew the overwhelming hatred the Heraklans shared of those foul things, and she had no doubt that the woman's stated intention to destroy them all utterly was heartfelt. Danica also deemed it likely Cheron didn't overstate her abilities against the foul creatures.

They continued to talk and drink, Cheron making some suggestions about the type of warriors they should take with them into the wood. Something slowly emerged in Cheron's eyes and her mannerisms, increasing every moment. The subtle signals held Danica like a fly trapped in amber.

When Cheron leaned across the table and kissed her, Danica responded with the needful passion that had blossomed within her the moment she had first noticed the gorgeous cleric.

Cheron undressed Danica, caressing her body as she did so. Danica shuddered under the woman's touches and kisses, her nipples stiffening and her sex growing wetter by the moment.

Cheron then led Danica to the bed and stood near the edge to undress. Danica's eyes drank in the play of the woman's defined muscles as she stripped off her clothing. Danica's breath came in quick bursts as Cheron revealed her body.

Cheron had firm, round breasts, the nipples and areoles both dark. The hair adorning her mound was trimmed short, and somewhat darker than her blonde hair. Her bare-shaven nether lips caused Danica's mouth to water as she looked at the cleric's perfect folds. To Danica's eyes, Cheron's sex appeared almost more like an artist's rendition of perfection than reality. Wetness glistening between Cheron's slightly parted lips.

Cheron leaned over the bed and lay atop Danica, kissing her passionately. Danica matched the blonde's passion, their hands roaming over each other's bodies.

For long minutes, they kissed and caressed, taking each other's nipples into their mouths and suckling. Cheron then traced kisses down Danica's body and slipped between her now widely parted legs.

Danica loudly moaned in pleasure as Cheron lapped with broad strokes of her tongue, looking up with a sensual, hungry expression, as she tasted Danica's bittersweet juices. She slipped her tongue between Danica's labia, waggling it back and forth the length of Danica's wet lips. She then stabbed her tongue deep inside to lap at the redhead's walls, gathering up the abundant wetness within.

Danica gasped and moaned in pleasure, her hips gyrating, as Cheron lapped and sucked her. She quickly climbed her mountain of pleasure as Cheron slid a finger inside Danica, to spin it in slow tight circles while the fingers of her other hand rubbed Danica's clit with the same slow circling. All the while, her lips and tongue tantalized every inch of Danica's sex.

Danica came in a gushing flood, bringing a wide-eyed expression of surprise and delight to Cheron's face as she drank up Danica's warm flood. Danica writhed and screamed her pleasure as waves of release gripped her body. Cheron slowly eased off the pressure and let Danica settle back down to earth.

Once Danica relaxed, Cheron picked up the intensity of her talented lips and tongue once again. As Danica ground her pussy into Cheron's face, nearing another orgasm, Cheron locked her lips around Danica's clit. She sucked and flicked Danica's throbbing bud with her tongue, quickly stroking two fingers in and out of Danica's depths. Danica exploded into another gushing orgasm only a few moments later.

Cheron slid up Danica's body, and Danica kissed her hungrily, sucking her juices from Cheron's tongue and lapping them from the blonde's face. Their tongues wrangled as they kissed, their breasts pressed together and their legs entwining.

Cheron slid up even farther, and rose up on her knees above Danica. She then lowered her folds to Danica's waiting mouth.

Desire overwhelmed Danica. She devoured Cheron's perfect pussy, moaning in delight as she lapped and sucked. Cheron moaned and rocked her hips over Danica's face. Cheron's perfectly pink inner lips resisted Danica's tongue with delightful pressure and stiffness.

Danica kept devouring Cheron, and the cleric soon came with a warbling scream of pleasure, flooding Danica's face with her juices. Danica lapped and sucked hungrily for Cheron's nectar, which flowed from her like a river.

They came many more times on each other's tongues that evening before Cheron finally left to return to her own quarters. Danica drifted off to sleep, still nude and sticky from their lovemaking, and dreamed all night that she continued to share her body with the stunning blonde cleric.

{*****~~o~~0~~o~~*****}

Danica awakened aroused from her dreams, and used her toy to bring on a pair of strong orgasms. She then went and drew a bath, washing away the sticky evidence of her night of passion with Cheron.

Celes returned shortly thereafter. "We surely need to spend some time in the College when we can. Their research, and the swiftness with which they cast devastating magic is astounding."

Danica nodded and related the events of her day, "Brandon agrees with my plan, and he said he will help us select the people we'll take with us. He knows many who reside here well. I believe I found one who should accompany us, a Heraklan Thunder Bringer. Her prowess and magic would be of great help, especially if we encounter the undead or demons."

Celes raised her eyebrows at the connection between Heraklan and she. She thought it went a long way to explain the disarray of Danica's bed. "A cleric of that rank, especially one with the great fighting skills of a Heraklan, would be a welcome addition."

A knock sounded on the door then, and Danica opened it to find Brandon outside waiting. She let him in, and he glanced at Danica's disheveled bed with fascination. He shook whatever he was thinking away and said, "There are some people I'd like you to meet. I snooped around a bit and found out there are a lot of fine warriors still here whose skills I stood in awe of while I was training."

"Let us get ourselves out an' find 'em then, stout warrior," Celes said with a cackling laugh.

They all stood and Brandon led the way out of the main building and onto the training field. Pointing at a woman, Brandon said, "There she is. Janelle is a master of fighting with short sword and dagger combined, and she's even better with a bow."

Danica and Celes observed the woman with light blonde hair, which hung down past her shoulders. Her body was lithe and as taut as the string on the thick-limbed bow she held at the ready before her.

Danica heard a pair of loud reports, like the sound of two pieces of wood smacking together hard, and the woman suddenly sprang into motion. She lifted her bow and set an arrow in a motion so quick and smooth that Danica could hardly believe her eyes. Janelle drew back the bow and fired, quickly setting another arrow and firing again.

The shafts intercepted and shattered two clay balls, which small catapults had hurled skyward. A few seconds later, two more reports echoed, two more arrows fired, and two more clay balls shattered into bits and dust.

The woman lowered the bow with a nod of satisfaction. She let out a loud whistle, and two men from a guardhouse at the corner of the inner wall came out and waved. They returned to their patrol of the walls in an orderly march.

"Ho -- Janelle!" Brandon called out and waved to the woman, who smiled back and waved them over.

"Brandon -- it's been a while. What are you doing back here?" Janelle cheerily asked as she approached. She then glanced at the two women with him. "Oh, you're with our two mysterious wizards, I take it?"

"Yep," Brandon replied. "Going out to do or die, for glory and riches."

Janelle rolled her eyes. "Your clichés are as terrible as your bowmanship, as always. My name is Janelle. I'm an instructor here. I teach the bow, crossbow, short sword, and dagger. None of which Brandon was terribly proficient with, though he became at least passable."

Brandon snorted and chuckled. "Passable compared to you, sure, but I could outfight and outshoot every dog in my twenty."

"True, but as unremarkable as they were, that's not saying much," Janelle retorted with a laugh, drawing another snort from Brandon.

Celes spoke up, saying, "T' big oaf here is thinkin' ye'd be a right useful lass ta have with us in the wood, an' judgin' from yer shot wit' a bow, I'm for thinkin' he's right."

"I'm honored to be considered, and eager to go. These creatures have harried us too long already. We've lost some fine young men, cut down just when they were starting to reach their potential. I'm getting tired of picking off goblins and orcs that venture close enough to the edge of the woods for me to get a sight on them."

"I think it's gone beyond consideration," Danica said, drawing nods of agreement from both Brandon and Celes. "Your skill with that bow would be of great use in the woods I think," Danica finished.

"She may as well be a damn elf too. She vanishes the moment there's more than a shrub for her to hide behind. She climbs like a squirrel, and leaves not a trace of her passing. You can chase her into the woods -- ten feet behind -- and lose her instantly. Next thing you know, she's stickin' an arrow between your feet from the branch of a tree, thirty foot up."

"I've been in the wood since the monsters appeared. I didn't go far because there are too many magical traps. Normal traps set by man or monster I don't fear. Traps wrought of magic I can't see, can't disarm, and can't avoid set my teeth on edge," Janelle said with a scowl.

"We kin be fixin' it so's ye'll be safe from them as best we're able. Don't ye doubt we'll get ye in there where yer bow can take its toll on the beasties." Celes winked as she finished.

A wide smile spread across Janelle's face when she heard that. "Am I the first, or are there others who have been singled out to join you?"

"There's only one other thus far," Danica explained, "A cleric of Heraklan."

"Cheron," Janelle guessed, receiving a nod from Danica that told her she was right. "I was going to suggest her. Her magic is strong, she's a terror with that mace of hers, and her healing skills are second to none. Heraklan is surely strong in that woman." Janelle then turned to Brandon, "Bear?" she asked and cocked her head.

Brandon nodded and smiled.

"Bear teaches unarmed combat, rough and tumble fisticuffs and wrestling. He can break a man in half with his bare hands, or bend iron bars over double. He carries a two-handed war hammer that can shatter boulders and take down fair sized trees when he swings it. He can move quietly for a man so big. He would surely be a welcome source of strength," Janelle explained.

"Let's go find him," Brandon said.

"He'll be working on that spot that was nearly breached in the Southeastern wall," Janelle noted, and motioned for them to follow.

They found the man known as Bear hefting huge stones into place for a mason to fit into a weak spot in the wall. He was closer to seven feet than six, with arms as big around as most men's legs. He had almost boyish features that belied his massive form. He smiled wide and pulled his massive war hammer from a harness on his back to slap it across his palms when asked to join them on their task, "Long have I waited to test my hammer against ogres and giants. It seems I might get the chance. Have you talked to Venaru?"

Brandon shook his head. "Not yet, but I was planning on getting to him."

Janelle described the mentioned man, "Venaru teaches open handed fighting. He's the only man who's ever tracked me when I was trying not to be found, and one of the few who's ever come on me unawares. He could kill half a dozen armed men with well-placed blows if he was dropped in their midst naked, and he's a walking armory. If he were to empty out every one of the weapons he carries at any given time onto a table, it would likely cover it."

Bear joined them in their search, and they soon found Venaru. He was of Eastern descent, his skin the telltale olive tone of the Easterners. A man of few words, his body seeming almost like a taut spring, forever poised and perfectly balanced to spring into action immediately.

Venaru fell into pace with the expanding group, and they went in search of Brandon's next suggestion, which had drawn approving nods from the group.

Griffith Ironmaul was a dwarf, and all too eager to join in attacking the creatures of the woods that were his race's ancient enemies. He was short, stocky, powerfully built, and his long black beard bristled as he smiled wide when asked to join them. A masterfully crafted and perfectly balanced axe, well notched from over a century of use, hung strapped across his back.

Griffith was quick to suggest another of his race, and they located Feros Stoneshanks in the main building where the clerics who tended the wounded and injured did their work. He was a powerful fighter, an excellent marksman with a crossbow, and strong in the power of his god, Terrax. Save for his blonde hair and beard, he could have been a physical twin to Griffith -- to anyone but another dwarf. Cheron was also there, using her powers of healing to treat the sick and injured.

"An' so we are ten then," Celes announced. "The War Wizard Terran 'as already said 'ell come whether we're askin' him or not, an' his spells will prove a fine help I'm thinkin'."

"It would seem my suggestions were unnecessary," A voice from behind the group said.

They turned to find the Commander standing in the doorway. "I could not have made better suggestions than those choices you have already made. This fine group of men and women is, in fact, exactly who I would have suggested for the mission. There are a few others I might put forth, but for now I believe you have found a rather perfect mesh of talents."

"We should discuss our plans," Danica suggested. "The idea Celes, Brandon, and I have been working on will require the aid of your assistance to make it work."

"I shall send for Terran then, and we shall adjourn to my war room," the Commander replied.

{*****~~o~~0~~o~~*****}

Celes introduced Terran to the group when he arrived. He was Justarius' younger brother, and could very well have passed for the older man's clone. Only his youth and hints of a ruggedly handsome quality set him apart from Justarius.

The discussion that followed lasted long into the night. The plan Danica had developed evolved and expanded through the input of those present, becoming a series of stealthy and deceptive strikes meant to lower the morale of the creatures, turning them against one another.

The first order of business for the group was to set up in the old fortress, which was near the woods and strong enough to defend if necessary. In order to avoid detection while entering the fortress, Celes and Terran teleported them all there. The living quarters of the castle were well furnished and supplied, as those who stood as 'defenders' during siege training might spend days within. Terran provided a portal that could transport the group back and forth between the fortress and the College if necessary.

They each took their own rooms, save the two Dwarves who shared a room by their own request. Terran provided a magical item called a Dark Fire, and placed one in each of the Fortresses fireplaces. The Dark Fire provided heat, but produced no smoke or light. This aided in concealing their presence in the fortress from prying eyes in the woods.

The group quickly grew comfortable around each other, learning each other's quirks and mannerisms as they spent time together. They took time to practice acting as a fighting group on the training grounds, their specific group masked by others doing the same while they trained.

Over the course of the next month, they set their plan in motion as they learned how to best compliment each other in battle, and in companionship. Danica spent much time in her lab, and amongst the smiths. She needed durable items such as rings and pendants to house her enchantments and she didn't feel comfortable practicing work in metal with such urgency. Thus, the smiths endured her casting spells as they worked on the things she wanted.

Danica enchanted rings of Spell Turning for each member of the group. The Dwarves wanted naught to do with magic, but gave in when Danica explained what she planned to proved to protect them, and Feros said he couldn't duplicate all the effects with his clerical spells. She likewise created pendants that dulled the power of illusions, rings of invisibility and silence, and bracelets with the power of greater illusion upon them.

Celes and Terran spent most of their time scrying the woods as best they were able. The pair watched for something very specific, the perfect time to make their first strike. The activity in the woods increased as time went on. Celes indicated that another attack -- and thus their opportunity -- was fast approaching.

An exhausted Danica distributed the fruits of her magical labor to the members of the group exactly one month and one day after their initial meeting. The hour was quite late when Danica finished explaining how the items worked to everyone, and each went to their beds soon after. Only Griffith, who was to stand first watch, did not immediately turn to his quarters and his bed.

Danica walked through the darkened halls toward her quarters somewhat later than everyone else, having returned to her room in the main building and back to her rooms in Zoraster's complex. She'd decided to pick up some clothing that would grant her a free range of movement, while protecting her from the briars and other hazards of the woods.

She was surprised to see Janelle knocking quietly on Cheron's door, dressed in casual clothes -- something unusual for the blonde archer. Danica's room was right next to Cheron's, and she paused in the darkness at the end of the hall when she saw Janelle illuminated in the faint moonlight coming from a nearby window.

When Janelle entered Cheron's room, Danica continued on to her own. Danica had noticed something odd between the two women, and Cheron's crooked smile when she dodged questions about it confirmed Danica's own observations as more than her imagination. Janelle always seemed just a bit edgy and uncomfortable around Cheron and Danica. She didn't let it show, her control weakening only when one or both of them were alone with Janelle.

Danica considered for a moment, and finally decided it would be for the best if she learned what she could. Any sort of tension between members of the group could be dangerous when they went into action together. She cast a spell of clairaudience and clairvoyance, then watched and listened.

Janelle sat down her drinking goblet. "The wine is wonderful. I would really like to know why you asked me to come see you tonight though," Janelle said, looking somewhat nervous and uncomfortable.