Chapter 37: Duel Purpose

I now have an editor, so you all shouldn't need to put up with my typos and poor/dyslexic editing skills anymore. :)

* * *

Kendra felt sleep slowly leave her brain, replaced with the cheerful sound of birds singing. She smiled as she remembered how she had fallen asleep the previous night. Snuggling with Taloni had been wonderful; beyond wonderful and...

She moved her arm to realize that she was alone in the bed.

Instantly, her eyes snapped open and she sat bolt upright to look around. She was still in the guest room in Anthiel's house, and it was light out, but the sun wasn't up yet. The room was decorated in a simple, elegant style that was very cozy. The room's walls were a warm, comforting color and there was a small table with a few chairs around it in one corner.

But she didn't see Taloni.

The only other person on the bed was the still-sleeping Selene, with her mess of caramel-colored hair, which had somehow ended up arranged in portrait-perfect way on the pillow around her. Dear Illuminar in heaven; did she ever not look perfect? Pushing that aside because of concern for the Fey, she leaned up further to make sure that Ethan was still there...

And instantly wished she hadn't.

He was there alright... along with four very naked women who almost oddly weren't being covered with his dragon wings; probably because he was still half in the bedroll. She snapped her eyes shut and leaned back so they were out of sight, her heart rate returning to some semblance of normal now that the Fey girl was accounted for.

She flopped backwards on the bed, and the motion apparently woke Selene because the Brazilian woman started stretching slightly and then opened her eyes.

"Morning." The caramel-haired beauty yawned.

"Morn... morning." The dragon huntress replied with an echoing yawn.

Selene looked around. "Weren't there five women in this bed last night?"

"Yeah, they joined Ethan." She rolled her eyes and pointed towards the foot of the bed.

Selene started to sit up, probably to take a look.

"I wouldn't." The dragon huntress warned. "They chucked their clothes before snuggling with him."

"Of course they did." The Brazilian woman rolled her eyes as she flopped back onto the bed. "So, I guess we're kind of stuck here unless we want an eyeful of something that I don't want an eyeful of."

"Yup." Kendra nodded.

It was funny, this was only the... third? Fourth? Time that she'd woken up in the same room with Selene, but she was already starting to enjoy it. She felt a little bit of kinship with the Brazilian woman since they were both fighters.

It was nice.

"I guess we could turn our backs and slip out." Selene said. "They're still at the foot of the bed?"

Kendra nodded.

"Come on then, I could use a stretch and a bite to eat."

The door to the room was on Selene's side of the bed, so she rolled out of it, turned her back to the foot of the bed and walked sideways to the door before looking back at Kendra. "Coming?"

The raven-haired woman nodded, rolled to Selene's side of the bed, and then followed in the taller woman's footsteps. Together they slipped out, making sure not to open the door wide enough that they would expose Ethan or his wives if someone was on the other side of the door, but no one was.

The house was very quiet and semi-dark, since the sun hadn't risen yet.

"So, this is awkward." Selene whispered. "I always feel weird being in someone's house when they're not up."

"It's how I normally used to do it." Kendra grinned. "Come on, Mirella said she left some snacks in the kitchen."

The dragon huntress led the way to the kitchen. Once they entered, they saw Mirella sitting curled up in an armchair by the window, book in one hand and a cup of tea on the endtable next to her. She was wearing a thick nightgown with a lightweight shawl over it and looked very cozy.

"Good morning." The high elf said with a kind smile as she put a bookmark in her book and closed it.

"Don't stop on our account." Kendra said. "We're just feeling a bit peckish."

"Well then, how about some tea and biscuits while I get breakfast on?" Mirella asked, starting to get up.

"You don't have to." Selene said.

The mahogany haired elf stood and smiled at the two of them. "I know, but I like being a hostess and we so rarely have company. Please, have a seat."

"Well then, thank you." Kendra replied sitting down, and Selene followed suit.

"Why do you rarely have company?" The Brazilian woman asked.

Mirella looked down for a moment before responding. "It's..." She hesitated. "It's because..." She looked up at them with a pained smile. "Would I be a horrible host if I said I didn't want to talk about it?"

"Not at all." Kendra replied, and then dug into her training on smoothing situations over. It comes in handy for an Aldmiri agent, and what she was about to say was even perfectly true. "In fact, as far as I'm concerned, you've already set a new gold standard for a hostess; you are the standard by which I'll judge hospitality in the future."

"Thank you." Mirella beamed, though the pain from the question hadn't completely left her expression yet. "I need to run and get some wood for the cooking fire." She slipped out of the room with a smile, leaving the other two women alone.

"I've rarely met such a nice woman who was so down on herself." Kendra observed.

"Maybe Sarah, but otherwise me either." Selene nodded. "Wounded little birds."

"Huh?"

"There's this story I was reading on an erot--" She paused and blushed slightly before continuing. "I mean, online back on Earth. The main character flew around on a ship rescuing people and fighting the bad guys, and occasionally he would recruit a woman for the crew. However, the woman was almost always someone who had some major trauma that she needed to heal from. The ladies would occasionally refer to themselves as 'wounded little birds'. It's a really good story."

"This is sounding rather familiar..." Kendra observed.

"Maybe superficially, but our ship is named the Argo, not the Invictus; so it's totally different." Selene winked.

"I see what you mean about Mirella though." The dragon huntress continued. "It seems like Ralgar and Anthiel are really good for her." She cocked her head to one side as she thought about it. "I do see the 'wounded little birds' a little bit on the Argo too."

"Oh?"

The raven-haired women nodded. "It sounds like Alana was lonely, Beth not as much, but Taloni was a slave, Rachel was miserable and in the process of having her will broken by the will-breaker ring, I was incredibly lonely, you were stranded here, and Sarah... well, she is demon possessed."

Selene cocked her head to one side. "You don't normally open up and speak your mind this much, do you?"

Kendra thought about it for a moment.

It took a moment for her to realize it, but the Earthling was right. Not so long ago, she would've noticed these things but kept her observations to herself. Now she was sharing them freely without reservation or hesitation.

Interesting.

"I like not having to be so guarded." Kendra finally replied. "I always had to watch every movement and word in my former profession. I don't feel like I need to do that here; I mean with the Argo's crew, and especially Ethan and his wives."

Selene made a thoughtful sound, but didn't say anything. Kendra found herself wondering how much the other woman was keeping in.

* * *

Rachel slowly drifted to the waking world, missing the feeling of Ethan's wing draped protectively over her. It was silly; the thin membrane of his wing provided no protection from anything but perhaps cool air, not even cold air, yet being without it wasn't very fun or comfortable.

However, she did have something almost as good.

Without even opening her eyes, she smelled the fresh, earthy scent of her best friend snuggled up next to her. That had been one of the most unexpected highlights of marrying Ethan; every single morning she and Alana woke up next to each other. It didn't seem to matter where they fell asleep either, they always woke up lying next to each other, and usually snuggled with each other.

Obviously not in a romantic way -- that would just be weird -- but more in a sisterly way; a friendly, comforting way that wasn't arousing or erotic in any way. Nope, not at all. It just wasn't. Not at all...

She sighed.

She heard two giggles and finally opened her eyes to see her two youngest fellow wives crouching over Ethan's groin, apparently trying to wake him up with their lips and tongues. Their husband was laying on his back with his mouth slightly open, a soft, grunting snore occasionally emanating from him.

"What are you doing?" The redhead mouthed to the two blondes.

They both blushed before the Fey answered in a whisper. "Experimenting."

The mage smiled and rolled her eyes; those two could be so amusing. They worked together on his cock, which was sticking straight up and quite hard. They were kissing and licking it tenderly, much like she herself had done right after they'd left Nalatia. She felt her cheeks get warm, but found it hard to look away anyway. She simply couldn't bring herself to think of the sight as 'lewd'; it was just too loving and caring to be considered anything so crass.

The blonde and the honey-blonde worked together for another minute before Ethan groaned slightly in his sleep. She saw his cock stiffen and he started to groan as his eyes blinked open... just in time for Taloni to nudge the tip so Beth could seal her lips over it. Rachel saw the shaft pulse slightly as her husband let out a satisfied growl, and the blonde appeared to be sucking gently. Barely had he finished when Beth expertly slipped him out of her mouth and moved the tip to Taloni without spilling a drop so the Fey could repeat her success.

Now that their husband was awake, Rachel laid her head down on his chest. He put his arm around her as she sleepily watched the Fey lovingly take care of him. Taloni attended to her current mission with the utmost care and devotion, and you could see it all over her face. You could see it all over his face too as he let out another groan of satisfaction while the Fey trembled slightly as he finished in her waiting mouth.

"That was amazing ladies, thank you." Ethan said when Taloni had finished.

The blondes gave each other identical mischievous grins, opened their mouths slightly to show his seed in their mouths, and then closed them and visibly swallowed.

"You're welcome Dominus." Beth grinned. "I liked waking you up that way."

"Me too master; could we do that more often?"

"I will never complain if you do." He grinned back.

Rachel sighed as Ethan gently and affectionately ran his hand over her back.

"May we get up now master?" She asked hopefully. "Beth and I had an idea we wanted to talk about before asking you about it."

"You don't need my permission to get up." He chuckled, then nodded since she had hesitated. "But you have it, now and forevermore."

"Thank you master." The Fey leaned up and gave him a tender kiss on the cheek, which Beth matched moments later. Barely a minute later, the blondes were dressed and the room's occupancy was down to three.

Ethan looked down at Rachel, and the redhead felt her heart flutter slightly.

Damn, how did he do that with a look?

"Morning beautiful." He said softly.

"Morning ugly." She winked back.

He laughed. "I supposed compared to the fine specimens of feminine perfection I sleep with every night, you're not wrong."

Rachel felt her hand moving to cover her birthmark before she'd consciously realized she was doing it.

"Oh, that reminds me; I've been meaning to tell you..." He said as he looked at her shoulder with the birthmark, then he trailed off as he saw her start to cover it. "Rachel, I really don't care that you have a birthmark. It fact, I kind of like it."

"I still find that hard to believe my lord."

He shrugged. "Whether you believe it or not, it's true. You and Alana have the same one, and it's never affected how much I'm attracted to her."

She thought about that for a moment before nodding her head slightly in concession. "I still feel like it makes me... I don't know; ugly or something."

Ethan outright laughed at that. "Rachel, I'm pretty sure you're physically incapable of being ugly."

Suddenly, the redhead felt a warmth in her chest that was completely unrelated to temperature. "Thank you my lord."

"Isn't that right Alana?" He said, looking over the human teen towards the wood elf.

"Ra'el be'uiful." Her best friend mumbled sleepily, which turned into a yawn as she stretched, unintentionally putting every inch of her gorgeous, flawless body on display for both the redhead and Ethan.

Rachel thought that Alana was beautiful; so incredibly beautiful and she definitely had a birthmark. Maybe she herself could be beautiful with one too?

"Speaking of beautiful..." The wood elf trailed off as she looked at their husband's cock, which was still mostly hard and sticking almost straight up. She looked at him. "Did you need some help with that, sir?"

"I don't know, it's an awfully big problem." He said with a hungry grin.

"Well then, I might need assistance." Alana grinned, then looked at Rachel. "I don't suppose you could help me with a big problem, could you?"

Rachel made a mock sigh. "This early? Oh well, I suppose if you really need help..."

Ethan grinned, then quick as a wink he'd slipped out of his bedroll and flipped over on top of the redhead. Suddenly, her breath caught in her throat at his sudden closeness. He raised a hand and slid it up her side and across the side of her breast.

She shuddered and let out a small moan.

He grinned as he continued exploring her body. She liked that. They hadn't been married a whole two weeks yet, but she couldn't imagine being without him. The way he looked at her, the way he touched her, the way he seemed so enamored of her.

She sighed.

As she thought about it, she'd seen similar looks from Alana, but of course they must just be sisterly love. That's all they could be, because of course the lovely wood elf couldn't be attracted to her the way Ethan was.

He leaned down and kissed her, making the thoughts in her head simultaneously scramble in every direction and freeze in place. She was vaguely aware that Alana was next to her while their husband was on top of her, and it was perfect. She reached up and put her arms around his neck, luxuriating in the simple pleasure of holding the man she loved while he was also holding her.

"Could you kiss Alana like that?" She asked when the kiss broke.

Ethan gave a heavy mock sigh. "I suppose if I have to." He was on top of the redhead and the wood elf was next to her, so he turned and the two shared a kiss that was just as passionate and full of emotion as the one she'd just shared with him.

She sighed.

It was good to see.

Eventually their kiss broke and he looked between the two of them. "Don't tell Beth or Taloni, but you two are my absolute favorite older wives."

He winked.

Rachel snort-laughed as Alana sniggered.

"This 'old wife' still knows a few things my lord."

"And I -- being even older -- know even more sir; I'm not ready to be put out to pasture just yet." The wood elf said with a barely concealed smile.

"Really?" Ethan replied to the wood elf with mock skepticism. "And what kind of things would you know?"

"I'm excellent at..." She gave him a sly grin. "...alignment sir."

"Oh?" He raised his eyebrow. "This I must see."

"It would be easier for you to feel... sir." The chocolate haired elf purred, then slipped her hand down between his legs.

Moments later, Rachel felt a large bulbous object brush against her nether lips. She sucked in her breath and then let out a small moan.

"You see sir, I can be useful." Alana said with a wink.

"I suppose I'll keep you around a little longer." Ethan said with mock resignation, then looked at Rachel. "How about you; you want me around you a little longer?"

"Preferably in a little longer, my lord." Rachel breathed, knowing exactly how wonderful she was about to feel.

"Happy to oblige beautiful." He smiled, then leaned down and kissed her tenderly as he pushed forward.

She moaned.

The long moan turned into a sigh of pleasure as he spread her wide, though it was muffled by his lips. She wrapped her legs around him and gently gripped him with her thighs, not wanting him to leave. He slid all the way in and she closed her eyes, luxuriating in the sensation. She repressed a groan as he started sliding out, knowing that he wouldn't leave before sliding in again.

She was wrong.

He slid all the way out.

Her eyes fluttered open. "My lord?"

He grinned. "Now, it's time we see how good you are at... alignment."

It took a moment for her aroused brain to figure out what he meant, and when she did she sucked in her breath. "My lord?"

He grinned, then spoke to his other wife as he looked at the redhead. "Alana, get the weight reduction necklace." The wood elf had brought it with her when they'd left for Gralden two nights ago, and thus they still had it. After instructing her, he then started kissing the redhead's chest and breasts, which completely distracted her.

Not long after, he stopped.

Alana was standing there holding the necklace looking quite confused, but also quite aroused. Rachel could tell because her nether lips looked wet. And that's when the redhead realized she was looking at them.

She blinked.

She had of course seen Alana naked before, and even seen her slit naked before, but she had never really looked at that particular area before. The wood elf was mostly hairless, except for some nearly transparent peach fuzz. It was impossible not to notice the moisture that had collected there, even forming beaded drops in the peach fuzz.

Then Rachel realized where she'd been looking and quickly found other places to look.

Alana's breasts were small but perky and needed no support to stand proudly with no sag. Rachel found herself idly wondering what her breasts would taste like before her view was blocked by Ethan. Their husband picked the wood elf up with one hand -- an easy feat since she was now wearing the necklace -- and lowered her down...

...on top of Rachel.

The redhead had an exquisite view of the brunette's back before a large mass of chocolate brown hair obscured her view. Rachel was 5' 6", and Alana was a full six inches shorter. Their husband had lain the brunette so her hips were level with the redhead's, which meant Alana's head was resting on Rachel's shoulder, and nearly all of her weight was on the redhead. The tiny wood elf's weight was minimal with the weight reduction necklace though, even with all of her weight on the mage's chest.

That was important, because Rachel couldn't think of any reason besides Alana's weight that she would suddenly be short of breath and panting slightly. Yet it couldn't be the weight because she wasn't that heavy. If anything, the weight was comforting. It didn't make much sense to her, but she didn't have much time to think about it.

"Rachel, care to demonstrate your 'alignment' skills?" Ethan asked with a wink.

She gulped.

"Please?" The wood elf asked, clearly wanting it.

Rachel nodded, then reached down. Not being able to see, it took her a moment to find him, and then another moment to line him up with the wood elf's slit. When she did, he smiled at both of them.

Then he pushed.

Alana arched her back and sighed loudly as he slid inside of her. She wrapped her arms and legs around him, tenderly holding him. Rachel could actually feel when he bottomed out in her because she was pushed upwards slightly. He held himself there for a moment, then slid back. Moments later, the wood elf whimpered slightly as he exited her.

Rachel was about to ask what he was doing, when she felt him at her entrance again. Before she could react, he'd started pushing inside of her again. Like before she let out a moan as he bottomed out, and like her best friend she let out a whimper when he left her again.

Moments later, Alana sighed as Rachel felt him bottom out in the wood elf.

Then he retracted.

Alana whimpered slightly as he left, but moments later he entered the redhead again. He bottomed out in Rachel, only to slide out and do the same in Alana. Then he switched again, repeating the process.

He did this again...

And again...

And again.

Back and forth he switched with long, firm, deep strokes; bottoming out in each wife before switching to the other. Alana sighed every time he entered her, and whimpered slightly every time he left. Rachel did much the same, moaning as he spread her and groaning as he left.

"You know," Ethan said as he once again slid out of Rachel and into Alana. He leaned down and whispered into the wood elf's ear as he penetrated her. "I'm covered in Rachel as I slide into you..."

Alana let out a loud, breathy sigh and then arched her back, tensing almost every muscle in her body as she started shaking slightly. Her hands reached down to the floor, clenching and wrapping around the bed roll that Rachel had been lying in, and was now lying on. At the same time, her legs wrapped around him as he buried himself fully inside of her. He groaned, and Rachel assumed that he was depositing his seed at the entrance of her already occupied womb.

For some reason, what he'd said about 'being covered' in her as he slid into her best friend was...

Mmm...

She sighed breathily, not quite able to understand why she liked that so much.

The wood elf started to almost vibrate, and it seemed like she was losing control of her limbs as they flopped down while she opened her mouth in a silent scream of ecstasy. She seemed to be having trouble maintaining her balance and started sliding. On instinct, Rachel reach up to steady her, wrapping both her arms around the smaller woman's lower ribcage and stomach to steady her.

Alana moaned.

Her trembling seemed to increase slightly as the redhead did this, though Rachel didn't understand why.

After nearly a minute inside the spasming brunette, Ethan looked at Rachel. "Your turn."

She smiled. "Thank you my lord."

He pulled out of his first wife, and Rachel felt something warm and wet drip onto her nether lips, almost assuredly from Alana's own. For some reason, the fire in her chest burned just a little brighter after that, and her core felt a bit hotter.

She wasn't sure why.

"Now, I want you to think about something." Ethan leaned down past his nearly insensate first wife to whisper into her ears, though Alana could surely hear as well. "As I slide inside of you, consider that my cock is covered; absolutely soaked with her wetness... and I'll be sliding that inside of you."

She felt him touch her entrance.

"It's almost like I'm pushing part of her into you." He said, let that hang in the air for a moment, and then pushed forward.

Rachel's eyes went wide.

She felt like someone had just taken the small campfire of arousal inside of her and turned it into a raging bonfire in the space of a few seconds. Suddenly, her entire body felt coiled like a spring; a spring which released as Ethan pushed his cock inside of her... his cock covered in Alana's wetness.

It was like a damn bursting.

* * *

Alana felt Rachel's reaction before she heard it. The amazing, beautiful, and wonderful redhead was still holding her around the middle, and her arms tensed as their husband pushed inside of her. The redhead arched her back and clung tightly to the wood elf. Alana looked over her shoulder to see the redhead's eyes rolled back into her head slightly as her eyelids fluttered. She tried to wrap her legs around Ethan while her arms were still holding Alana.

Mere moments later, her entire body shuddered.

She was near vibrating she was shaking so much. The wood elf could see her legs around their husband, and feel her arms tightly around herself. The redhead's breath became ragged; short, gasping breaths interspersed with long moments of silently gasping for air. She sighed and moaned, never loud like Taloni -- though in fairness almost no one was that loud -- but there was no doubting exactly what she was going through.

After about thirty seconds, Rachel's arms began to loosen. It felt like she was trying to keep them there, but also like she had lost a lot of strength in her post-orgasmic haze.

The wood elf looked over her shoulder to see the mage's eyes were closed. She was panting and her lips made a perfect 'O' shape as she did so. They looked particularly red and kissable right now.

Oh Illuminar she wanted to kiss her.

*Sir, please kiss her or I won't be able to stop myself.* She pleaded telepathically.

He gave her a wicked grin for a second before winking and planting a tender kiss on the redhead's perfect lips. Rachel's lips molding to his, kissing him back tenderly.

"Thank you my lord." She whispered when their kiss broke.

"Yes, thank you sir." Alana echoed.

He shook his head slowly. "No, thank you."

They both sighed.

"I have no idea how I reacted that quickly." Rachel mused idly a moment later. "I mean, normally it takes at least some thrusting before I... you know."

Alana grinned slightly at how evasive the redhead could still be when it came to sexual things.

"Yes, I wonder too." Ethan rolled his eyes and shook his head with an amused smile. "Must've been a freak occurrence."

Alana blushed scarlet, knowing exactly what had triggered her own body to go off so fast. Judging by the redhead's reaction to what Ethan had said, it turned the redhead on just as much.

She liked that.

She liked it a lot actually.

Rachel frowned. "What aren't you telling me?"

"My lips are sealed." He grinned at her mischievously.

"Alana?" The redhead turned to look at her, suddenly putting their faces incredibly close, since the wood elf was still laying on top of the redhead, on her back.

"If he won't say, I'll respect his wishes." She replied, thankful that she had an easy out. "But you're incredibly smart Rachel; I know you can figure it out."

"Thank you." Her best friend smiled.

She had a beautiful smile.

They stared into each other's eyes for several seconds, Alana trying to decide if she should allow herself to become lost in their soft blue color. She decided that she should probably look away. Yes, yes that would be best otherwise... She had such beautiful eyes. Despite that, it wouldn't do to keep staring like this, not even with the redhead staring back with a captivated expression.

No...

No, she should stop...

She really should...

"Hi." Rachel said softly.

"Hi." Alana said back just as softly, a contented smile creeping onto her face despite herself.

Several quiet seconds passed, then Rachel spoke again with a grin. "Hi."

"You already said that." Alana pointed out, just noticing tiny flecks of darker blue in Rachel's light blue eyes.

"Well, I'm a bit hungry." Ethan said with a very amused smile, breaking the spell. "Besides, I've heard this conversation before."

He winked as he stood.

Alana blushed scarlet.

"Go ahead my lord." Rachel said, not looking away from her best friend. "I'm... uh, just recovering from... from..." She trailed off and let out the softest sigh as she stared into Alana's eyes.

"We'll rest here for a few minutes, then join you in a bit." The wood elf said, her contented smile growing wider.

* * *

Ethan suppressed a chuckle as he slipped out of the room. Alana and Rachel were adorable to watch together, and thankfully they were becoming more comfortable with each other in the bedroom. Not comfortable enough to tell each other how they felt, but more comfortable. Though, he was pretty sure that Rachel hadn't figured out how much she'd fallen for Alana yet. He shrugged; she'd figure it out eventually.

He mentally kicked himself for getting distracted before telling Rachel about her birthmark, yet again. Rachel had started to cover it and he thought it more important to deal with her discomfort than tell her. Ever since learning that the birthmark meant the bearer was descended from a dragon, he'd been meaning to tell her. However, he kept getting sidetracked when he thought of it when she was around.

He shrugged.

She was busy right now, and he'd remember eventually.

He smelled food as soon as he'd stepped into the hallway and followed the heavenly scent to the kitchen, where His two youngest wives plus Selene and Kendra were sitting. The instant he saw Kendra, he felt his dragon side rise with the urge to drag her back to the bedroom and have his way with her. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and let it out slowly.

*Are you okay?* Beth thought to all of them as Taloni gave him a concerned look.

*I will be.* He replied, concentrating on his breathing and getting control of himself rather quickly. He opened his eyes to seen Selene and Kendra looking at him too.

"Something wrong?" Selene asked.

"Nothing I can't handle." Ethan replied, then looked at the breakfast spread.

It was impressive.

There were eggs, bacon, and sausages; fried beans, tomatoes, onions, and mushrooms, also some buttered toast with marmalade on standby. Plus there was what looked like a tea kettle on the stove. It all looked delectable, especially the bacon, the sausage, and the dragon huntress...

He shook his head to clear it.

"Nothing you can't handle huh?" Selene raised an eyebrow.

Kendra gave him a piercing look before thinking to him alone. *It's me, isn't it?*

*Yeah, but I've got it under control.* He replied with more confidence than he felt.

The raven-haired woman frowned, but nodded and then went back to her breakfast. He sat down and made up a plate with everything, but it was heavy on the meat. He tucked in with gusto and discovered that it was excellent food; among the best breakfasts that he'd ever eaten.

"This is incredible Mirella, thank you very much." He said to their hostess.

She beamed.

The high elf had just finished the last batch of food when Alana and Rachel joined them. Selene and Kendra had amused expressions on their faces when they showed up, but didn't say anything.

"So first full day in Gralden." He said when he'd finished eating. "Do we have any plans?"

"Actually Dominus, could we visit The Bank's training grounds?" Beth asked.

Everyone looked at her.

"Why?" Ethan asked.

"I was talking about it with Tee, and I think our best chance to make headway with my father is to talk to Heinrich."

"Wasn't he in love with you though?" He replied.

She nodded.

"So then, what makes you think he'd be interested in helping me?" He asked. "You maybe; but me? Guys usually aren't interested in helping the man they lost a girl to."

"Well, yeah." Beth conceded. "But I think we might have a better chance with him than with my father. Besides, if we start to convince my father, then Heinrich might try to sway him back."

He looked around at the other ladies. "Thoughts?"

"Lord Borden won't see reason, so I don't see a problem trying his lieutenant." Rachel replied. "Just make sure you do it obviously and in the open so it doesn't look like you're trying something sneaky."

"That's why we suggested the training grounds master." Taloni piped up. "It's public and he should feel relaxed there."

"It might work." Alana offered. "I mean, he really does seem to care about Beth, so if you can show him that you do too, then he might soften up a little? Maybe?"

Ethan tapped his clawed foot on the floor.

Hmm.

"I suppose we could give it a try." He said after a few moments. "I'm not sure how wise going into the lion's den is though."

Everyone except Selene stared at him.

"An Earth thing?" Beth asked.

He nodded, and then at the blonde's insistence explained the reference. "I just mean there will be a lot of them and only a few of us."

"Actually, it might be better if just you and Beth went." Kendra suggested. "Arriving with your other wives will be a visible reminder, and two people are less threatening than a whole group of us."

"Fair point." He nodded, then turned to Selene. "Anything to add?"

The Brazilian woman pressed her lips into a thin line, wouldn't quite meet his eye, and then shook her head slowly. "I don't know enough to have a useful opinion."

"Okay then, we'll try it." He said to Beth, but made a mental note to ask Selene about how she was doing after breakfast. Something about her reply seemed... off.

Everyone else finished eating a short time later, and they started standing after heaping copious amounts of gratitude and praise on Mirella.

Ethan maneuvered towards Selene while ignoring his dragon side's pull towards Kendra, and he tapped the Brazilian woman on the shoulder. "Hey, got a second?"

"Sure." She shrugged.

"Is something wrong?" He asked when they'd stepped outside the kitchen.

"Nah, I'm okay." She replied. "I'm just feeling a bit out of place that's all; I'm fine."

"You're sure?" He was far from convinced

She nodded. "Yup, thanks for asking though; I'm going to help clean up."

Ethan nodded, but had to resist frowning; she didn't seem okay.

* * *

"Breakfast!"

Sarah jerked awake as the guard slammed the door to the room shut. She looked around the cold stone walls and iron bars of her cell and shivered slightly. It wasn't exactly warm up here, and she didn't really have the clothing necessary to be comfortable. Her fingers and toes felt cold, but at least her core was warm.

She had fallen asleep leaning on lady Ekthros, who was at least wearing thicker clothing and so she would be warmer. Sarah was glad of that, even if she didn't have it too.

She climbed to her feet, feeling stiff after having fallen asleep in an awkward position on the stone floor. There was something that resembled a mattress stuffed with straw, but it had clearly been used so many times that it provided very little cushion or warmth. In addition, it looked like it once was a natural linen white, but was now a dirty gray-yellow color.

She didn't want to know where the yellow had come from.

She stretched and walked the one step to the door where the guard had left the platter. There were two bowls filled with... She wrinkled her nose and her stomach complained at the sight. It was the kind of slop that she used to help her friends feed to the pigs. She reached through the bars to grab them and pull them inside. There was no spoon, and the slop was solid enough that just drinking it wouldn't work too well.

She sniffed it and grimaced.

She knew that she'd work up the courage to eat it eventually since it was her only food. However, she wasn't looking forward to the experience.

She leaned against the wall and slid down to the floor.

She had been hoping that the low point Gabriella had spoken about would be just after she'd attacked Ethan but before he'd talked to her. It was starting to look like that wasn't the case. She thought about how awful that had been, and couldn't imagine something that was worse.

She shivered, and not just from the cold.

She looked up and whispered a prayer. "Dear Illuminar -- blessed be you -- please help me through this. I know you're busy, and I know I've done really bad things, but please forgive me and help me anyway. Please help Lady Ekthros escape; she's been so wonderful to me. And please help Ethan with all you've called him to do. Amen."

She considered asking that Ethan would rescue her, but didn't. She felt like that might be asking for too much. Still, she yearned to see him again and hoped everything was going well with him.

* * *

Beth walked hand-in-hand down the road with Ethan, marveling that it had been over two months -- two months and two days to be precise -- since she had walked these streets while heading towards her wedding reception. It seemed like a lifetime ago. She thought back to how she had been at the time and marveled at how much she had changed.

"Copper for your thoughts." Ethan said.

"Everything here is exactly the same, but I feel so different." The blonde teen replied. "It's like the girl walking these streets two months ago wasn't even me. I don't think I would even recognize myself."

"It has been a long, hard two months." He nodded. "The best of my life, but easily the hardest too." He looked at her and smiled. "And yeah, I married a pretty great girl, but I now have an amazing woman walking beside me."

"Aww." She leaned her head on his shoulder and wrapped her arm around his. Sadly, it wasn't comfortable to walk that way so she lifted her head after only a few steps, but left her arm hooked around his.

"Do you know what you'll say to Heinrich?" He asked after a minute.

"I'm not sure, but mostly I was thinking I would just tell him what happened." She replied, hoping that might work. "He's never been able to stay mad at me, or even upset at me, and I think his hatred of you comes from a place of love. I just need to make him see that you love me and take good care of me, and I'll think he'll... well he may not like you, but he hopefully won't overtly dislike you anymore either."

"It's nice not to be overtly disliked." He chuckled.

She rolled her eyes and they kept walking.

Several minutes later, they arrived at the training grounds. The guards tipped their hats to her as she approached, but seemed apprehensive about the dragon.

"Good morning Lady Beth." One of them said, and she recognized him as one of the regular guards.

"Good morning." She curtsied. "Would it be possible for us to see Heinrich?"

The two guards looked at each other before the second one spoke. "Um, maybe for you. We got the distinct impression that Lord Borden didn't want the dragon in any Bank controlled areas, so..."

"Oh." Beth let her face fall and turned on the charm. "Could you ask Heinrich just to be sure? I mean, he would know and I think he'd want to see me."

The two guards looked at each other again before the first one spoke. "Um, sure; I'll ask."

He departed into the training facility. Beth chatted with the other guard for a few minutes, catching up on town gossip while Ethan mostly stood there looking awkward. The guard kept throwing him furtive glances, and the blonde couldn't tell if he was nervous, scared, or simply awed.

It was hard to tell.

Finally, the other guard came back. "Heinrich says you can enter, but the dragon will need to be under guard and surrender his weapons."

She glanced at Ethan, who shook his head.

Beth sighed, then raised her voice. "Heinrich please; I don't think I need to tell you why he won't drop his weapons... but I will."

She hoped that the threat of her shouting that her father wasn't getting along with her husband -- the prophet of Illuminar -- might help.

It worked.

"Let them through." Heinrich called in a resigned tone from out of sight.

The guards stepped aside, clearly realizing that something wasn't quite right here, and probably not wanting to get in the middle of it. Ethan led her through the small gate and into the training area. Heinrich had a dozen men drilling in the large round training ring, which was surrounded by various buildings, including the barracks. The men in the ring were repeating a specific pattern of thrust with the spears in perfect unison. Knowing Heinrich, they had probably done this a thousand times by now.

Heinrich was in his mid-twenties, and had a full beard which Beth had always thought suited him. A sword was fastened at his side and he wore chainmail from head to toe, partially concealed by a surcoat which carried the emblem of a gold coin. He was over a foot taller than her, and even had had six inches on Ethan. His size wasn't just for show either; he was among the strongest men that Beth had ever seen.

The couple stopped in front of him, and through luck or Heinrich's foresight, they were far enough from everyone else not to be heard if they didn't speak too loudly.

"Beth." He said with the barest hint of a smile, until he looked at Ethan. "Dragon."

"Heinrich." Ethan replied coolly, but not coldly.

Beth opened her mouth, but Heinrich raised his hand. "Beth, don't. I know you came here to try and convince me that he--" he shot a look at Ethan. "--is a good guy. But I simply can't believe that. Not after what your father discovered when questioning him."

The guard captain looked at Ethan and set his jaw. "I don't know if a dragon's compulsion dies with the dragon, but please; put a single toe out of line in Gralden so I can find out."

Ethan growled.

Beth felt her throat getting tight as she grimaced; this already wasn't going well.

"You're too weak to even protect her." Heinrich continued to him. "You said so yourself."

"How. Dare. You." Ethan growled, lowering his stance slightly so that it was more predatory and aggressive. "If anyone harmed a single hair on Beth's head, I would rip him limb from fucking limb."

Heinrich scoffed. "That's the problem; you aren't able to stop someone from harming her."

*He's goading you.* Beth thought to Ethan desperately, then she remembered the conversation with Kyrupto and decided to appeal to his dragon side as well as his human side. *He's goading you to make you lose control; you wouldn't want to lose control because of a human, would you?*

Ethan scowled at the other man for several seconds, his every breath coming out as a growl. Finally, his face twisted into a wicked smile. He stood up into a normal, relaxed position and sneered at Heinrich.

"You know, I really do owe you a debt of gratitude." The dragon said with malevolence written all over his face. "If you hadn't been so careless, Beth would've never been kidnapped and I would've never rescued her or married her. I owe you a great debt of thanks for that."

Heinrich's left hand was resting near his sword's hilt on his left hip. He gripped the hilt and Beth could see him squeezing it until his knuckles turned white. A vein popped out on his forehead and his face went slightly red as he scowled back.

*Dominus, please.* She begged. *You're making this worse, not better.*

He didn't seem to care.

Beth could see a lot more of the dragon than her husband right now, and right now the dragon was on the prowl. His left, non-sword hand lowered until it was resting on the hilt of his sword.

"Try it dragon." Heinrich said. "Please."

*You're letting him goad you, aren't you above that?* Beth asked, trying to talk more to his dragon side than his human one.

The dragon's every breath was coming out as a low growl.

It didn't seem to be working.

*Ladies please; I need help.* Beth pleaded to everyone else.

* * *

Ethan was ready to rip Heinrich's head off with his bare hands. That fucking bastard was trying to take his wife from him, and virtually daring him to attack.

He wanted to.

His dragon side was screaming for him to, and he was losing the battle to resist.

*Sir, please think of our daughter.* Alana's thought to everyone. *Think of what'll happen to her if you lose control; think of what'll happen to all your wives.*

*Master please, you can do this.* Taloni's sweet voice came. *You can hold the dragon back. I believe in you master.*

*My lord, you're playing right into his hands by losing control.* Rachel added.

He heard every word they said, but the dragon wasn't listening. He was having a hard time listening. This tiny insect of a man was insulting him to his face. A puny human insulting a dragon. He wanted to grind this bug into the dirt for the insolence.

*Hey Ethan.* Kendra said. *Do you want to know how to really fuck him up?*

*Kendra!* Alana's mental voice came harshly. *That's not helping.*

*Kendra, that's the last thing he needs right now.* Beth pleaded.

*Kendra, how could you say that!* Taloni seemed incensed.

*Kendra, you really need to--* Rachel began.

The dragon cut her off; cut them all off. *SILENCE!* He thundered to them all mentally, then commanded imperiously. *Kendra, speak.*

*You've got to think what would be the most humiliating to him.* Kendra said. *Challenge him to a duel with training weapons -- not real weapons so he must live with his shame -- and beat him in front of his own men.*

The dragon smiled.

*Oh, and if you really want to humiliate him, do it exclusively as Ethan.* Kendra continued. *He trained Ethan remember? Can you think of anything more humiliating than being beaten by your own student in front of your own men, without the dragon even helping? He'll never live it down.*

The dragon smiled wickedly as Ethan felt control start returning.

That was a suggestion he could live with.

* * *

Kendra moved the dresser so it was no longer blocking the door to the bedroom and opened the door. All of Ethan's other wives except for Beth were standing there open mouthed as they all felt Ethan slowly returning to normal.

"Um, I'm sorry?" Alana said sheepishly.

Kendra reached up and touched the jelly in her hair, which had been deposited there when the wood elf had thrown a bit of half-eaten crumpet at her in retaliation for her suggestion.

"You do know that's what I did for years, right?" Kendra said to the assembled ladies. "Getting dragons to do things they didn't want to do was kind of my thing." She looked at Alana and Rachel. "You both remember me goading Ethan into fighting in The Arena right?"

The pair nodded.

"Did you really think I was trying to make things worse?" The raven-haired woman asked.

"Well, it certainly seemed like it at the time." Rachel grimaced.

"Yeah, well; next time please think first and air-ram second; even the weak ones hurt." The dragon huntress winced as she touched her side, which had hit the wall when the redhead had pushed a weak-ish air-ram at her to stop the conversation; hence her hiding in the bedroom.

"I will, I promise." The redhead said, and she wasn't meeting her eye.

"Thank you for helping master." Taloni said. "And I'm sorry I didn't trust you."

"I forgive you; all of you." The dragon huntress said replying to their various apologies. "You all forgave me for a lot worse."

Beyond them, Kendra could see Selene and Mirella looking down the hallway leading to the bedroom with looks of extreme confusion on their faces.

"So..." The Brazilian woman frowned. "...what was that all about?"

* * *

Beth waited with bated breath for Heinrich's response to Ethan's suggestion of a duel.

"I'd love a chance to pound you." Heinrich grinned wickedly at her husband. "Weapons of war, or weapons of peace?"

"Huh?" He frowned

"Sharps or blunts?"

*Blunt weapons, please Dominus.* She thought to him urgently, almost begging. She was glad to feel that he was mostly Ethan again because he would be fine with blunts; the dragon would almost assuredly want sharp weapons.

"Blunts." Ethan said after a moment. "I'd hate to leave Lord Borden without his right-hand man."

The blonde breathed a sigh of relief.

"Of course." Heinrich scoffed, then turned to a nearby guard. "Bring my helmet and practice sword, and get this dragon a spear and whatever training armor we have that'll fit him."

"No need." Ethan said with a toothy grin that wasn't pleasant. "I have my own."

Heinrich scoffed again. "Where? I don't have the patience to wait while you get them."

"You won't have to wait long." Ethan replied. Then he lifted his arms and spread his feet just slightly.

Beth grinned, knowing what was coming.

It would be epic.

She'd seen him summon his armor many times by now, and it always made her want to drag him into the bedroom it was so impressive. He still needed some kind of emblem on his armor, but merely watching it fly to him and attach itself would be enough to intimidate anyone.

At least, she hoped.

Moments later, Heinrich looked over Ethan's shoulder and squinted slightly. "What is...?"

Seconds after that, Ethan's armor arrived. Every single piece flew onto him and latched on, transforming him from a normal dragon into a heavily armored one in mere seconds. The pieces that attached to his front overshot slightly before turning and clamping to his body. Even though she'd seen it many times before, it was still incredibly impressive.

She looked around at the various guards who had been milling about the training area. Every one of them had stopped and stared. One of them had been smoking a cigar; it fell out of his mouth as he stared and he had to scramble to catch it.

Even Heinrich stared.

Then he blinked.

Ethan did one of those work-out-the-kinks kind of stretches, probably to showcase the armor. Beth bit her lip and reminded herself that there were other people around; now wasn't the time to jump on him, wrap her legs around his waist and go to town.

* * *

Ethan clicked the last piece or armor into place and looked around with a satisfied smile. Everyone was staring. Most were staring slack-jawed and the rest had wide eyes.

Even Heinrich.

The large man recovered first, locking eyes with Ethan as he unbuckled his sword belt and tossed it to a nearby guard. Another guard ran up and offered the guard captain a helmet and training sword that looked a cut above the other training swords.

"You still don't have a training weapon." Heinrich pointed out.

"You sure about that?" Ethan asked as he deactivated the sticking enchantment on the straps that held his real sword's scabbard, so it dropped into his hands. He turned to Beth. "Could you hold this for me please angel?"

"Absolutely." She said with hooded eyes as she took it, and then thought to him. *But I'll need to be 'held' later as compensation...*

*Looking forward to it.* He looked her up and down, undressing his youngest wife with his eyes. Then he remembered that Heinrich was watching and did it again.

He turned towards the large man and raised his hand into the air as he felt his training sword draw close. Moments later it landed in his hand with a satisfying 'smack' sound that could be heard around the area. He gave it a flourish and then let it hang loosely at his side.

"Shall we?" He asked the guard captain.

"That's not a spear." The other man replied.

"No, it's not."

Heinrich shrugged, then called out loudly. "Clear the arena

Everyone scrambled out of the area at once, including Beth. The arena was a thirty foot wooden circle in the center of the courtyard that formed the fighting area. Ethan was of course very familiar with this arena, having spent nearly two weeks drilling in it before his marriage to Beth.

As he thought back to his early lessons, he realized something. Serif had been teaching him a completely different style than what he'd learned here.

Totally different.

Heinrich's style had focused on simple, direct moves that present a definite threat to be countered, as well as excellent counters to various attacks. As he thought about it, he realized that everything that Serif had taught him was significantly more efficient. Where Heinrich's style had somewhat rigid lines between attack and defense, Serif's blurred those lines, making every attack part of a block, and every block part of an attack. Serif's form also made more extensive use of parries.

Hmm.

Interesting.

He found himself wondering if Serif's style was more potent than Heinrich's. Now that he'd had a chance to think about the differences, he thought it might be. That wasn't even taking into account that 'the Serif' had been the one teaching it.

He was looking forward to comparing the two.

"Standard unarmored rules?" Heinrich asked.

"Works for me." Ethan nodded.

Scoring with unarmored rules was very simple: strike a limb and the opponent must stop using it; strike the torso or head and you win. You could also win by forcing your opponent out of the ring. It simulated combat without armor, since combat with armor was a little harder to judge.

Heinrich walked forward to a few feet from the center of the training circle, and Ethan walked so he was opposite him. They were both out of measure, meaning each was too far away to offend the other with his blade without closing the distance.

Heinrich looked at one of the guards at the edge of the ring. "Signal the start."

The guard waited several seconds, then cried out in a loud voice: "Ready... Begin!"

They started circling one another.

Ethan shifted his stance slightly to resemble what he'd learned from Heinrich, and brought his sword into a low guard that both Heinrich and Serif had taught him. He had learned a lot about fighting swordsmen from the guard captain, but even more from Serif. He wanted to avoid revealing how much he'd learned from the Argo's crewman for as long as possible to retain the element of surprise.

Heinrich adopted a high guard and appeared to be scrutinizing Ethan's stance and blade. Ethan recognized his guard position and the attacks that could easily be launched from it. He altered his weapon's position slightly to better counter them. His opponent noticed, and made a similar subtle shift of his own.

"You're not using a spear." Heinrich pointed out. "I thought you would have, given your experience with it."

"Sometimes it good to let go of things you've liked for a long time." Ethan replied, flicking his eyes towards Beth for barely a moment before returning them to his opponent. "Sometimes it's better for all involved."

The guard captain took a measured step forward, but was still out of range.

Ethan sized up the larger man.

Heinrich had about half a foot on him and probably outweighed him by at least fifty pounds of bone, sinew, and muscle; maybe a hundred pounds. However, their swords were of similar length. Ethan's was a true war sword for him, but with Heinrich's greater stature, his blade looked like any normal longsword in its owner's hands.

Heinrich took another small step forward and Ethan realize he was attempting to gain ground, forcing Ethan towards the edge to limit his maneuvering options. Ethan narrowed his eyes, and then took a small step forward, putting him just barely outside of measure, daring his opponent to strike.

He did.

Heinrich took a swift step forward and brought his blade down in a hard, fast stroke designed to overwhelm his opponent's defenses with its speed and strength. However, it wasn't a clumsy cut, as he maintained perfect form and didn't overcommit.

Ethan took a small step to the side and brought his own blade up into a hanging block, using his enchantment-augmented strength to stop the blow. The edges of the swords -- blunt though they were -- bit into each other slightly causing a bind and preventing them from easily sliding against each other.

Ethan twisted his sword's point toward Heinrich and then rotated his blade ninety degrees along its long axis until the training sword's relatively dull edges disengaged, ending the bind. Then Ethan drove his sword's point forward towards Heinrich's torso.

That's when Ethan's enhanced reflexes kicked in and he saw his mistake.

Heinrich had been waiting for that.

The larger man twisted his own sword, using the base of his blade to deflect Ethan's tip even as the larger man's tip came slicing down towards Ethan's forearm. Ethan rotated his sword just barely in the nick of time, using the side rings on his hilt to defend his forearm from the incoming strike as he disengaged.

TING!

The sound rang out, announcing to everyone how close an exchange that had been. Damn, he really needed to practice with the longsword more. Heinrich was good, and only Ethan's enhanced reflexes and strength-enhancing armor had allowed him to defend in that exchange.

The guards around the arena cheered, no doubt for how well Heinrich had handled that exchange.

Hmm.

Time for a change of strategy.

*You can do it Dominus.* Beth said directly to him. * I know you can.*

*Thanks.* He replied, but didn't say anything more; he needed to concentrate and consider his options.

He could of course try jumping over the man and attack from above. Even Serif sometimes had trouble defending against those kinds of attacks because he was so unused to them. However, he didn't feel like that would be the way to go. He considered using his sword to its full potential, switching between sword and spear forms. However, he wasn't ready to reveal that publicly yet. He could use his wing claws, but something told him that would be considered cheating.

No, he wanted to beat Heinrich on his own terms.

Hmm.

That's when an idea occurred to him. It was a bit nuts, and would be a little dangerous in a real fight, but maybe in this one... He shifted his sword into a middle guard, getting his sword into position. Then he moved closer and attacked with a descending cut, leaving a small opening that a thrust could take advantage of reasonably well.

Heinrich took the bait.

The guard captain raised his sword into a hanging block to deflect the incoming strike, and at the same time thrust out, driving his sword's tip towards Ethan's torso. Ethan reacted, using his enhanced reflexes to time this just right. He shifted his grip on the hilt, temporarily letting go with his right hand and moving the side ring up to intercept Heinrich's point.

Bullseye.

The tip of his opponent's blade slipped through the ring guard and Ethan pushed his sword up until a good foot of Heinrich's blade was in the center of Ethan's ring guard, then he jerked down with his left hand, binding Heinrich's blade on the side ring of his sword. Then he grabbed his crossguard with his right hand and levered it up, binding Heinrich's blade even harder.

The guard captain hadn't been expecting that...

...but he recovered quickly.

The larger man took a hand off of his own sword and made to grab Ethan's right hand. He jerked his hand away, loosening the bind. Unfortunately, that allowed Heinrich to grab Ethan's sword hilt. With only his weak hand on his sword and thus having no leverage because of the position, he lost the battle for control it. Heinrich jerked it out of his hands, tossing Ethan's sword behind him and far outside the arena.

Ethan jumped back, now weaponless.

He briefly considered summoning it back to his hand immediately. Heinrich had apparently forgotten that he could summon it since he had tossed it out of the ring instead of retaining control of it. Summoning it back might make for an excellent surprise attack, and it certainly wouldn't be the first time he'd won a fight that way.

Heinrich grinned wickedly, then started forward to attack.

Ethan backpedaled, summoning his sword as he did so. Heinrich didn't see it coming, and it slammed into the back of his leg. Unfortunately it was only the hilt and not the blade, and he was wearing chainmail so it didn't have much effect. Ethan made a huge leap into the air over Heinrich using his powerful dragon legs and enhanced strength. He almost overshot, but landed near the opposite edge of the ring, sword in hand.

Heinrich whirled around, his chainmail clicking as he did so. "That's lucky twice beast; there won't be a third time."

Ethan laughed, sounding much more confident than he felt. "What makes you think it was luck?"

Then it occurred to him.

He'd been going about this all wrong.

His advantage was his dragon physiology which enabled his enhanced reflexes. Heinrich might be more experienced, but Ethan could react faster. If he could get the guard captain in a situation where reaction time was the deciding factor, he could win.

He could do that.

He charged.

Heinrich took a step or two forward and then readied himself, adopting another high guard to counter Ethan's low guard. Once Ethan had closed to within measure, the guard captain struck, snapping his sword down with incredible speed.

Ethan's enhanced reflexes triggered.

Time seemed to slow as he saw the blade whip down towards him. He waited a fraction of a second, then began his defense. He rotated his sword into a hanging block and pushed it upwards into Heinrich's strike with all his might as he took a step to his left. Then in a feat that would've been impossible without his enhanced reflexes, he rotated his blade at the last possible moment -- just before the blades met -- to parry with the flat instead of the edge. Heinrich's blade was descending vertically, Ethan's coming up to meet it at a 45 degree angle.

The blades met with terrific force.

Heinrich's great size and strength met Ethan's magically enhanced strength, and the result was as impressive as Ethan had hoped. The guard captain's blade rebounded strongly to the side while Ethan's own blade was pushed down. But since he'd used a hanging guard, that was perfect. He levered his sword forward into a strike that impacted Heinrich's thigh, the metal training sword making a dull thud and a clinking noise against the chainmail.

Now came the hard part.

Heinrich had already twisted his sword around for a return blow. The trick wasn't hitting your opponent; the trick was hitting him without getting hit yourself. Ethan watched carefully, using his enhanced reflexes to observe where Heinrich was aiming his counterblow. It appeared to be a level swing aimed towards his torso, and he almost reacted to block such a strike.

Fortunately, he waited a fraction of a second longer and saw through the charade; it was supposed to look like a level blow, but with the way his hips and arms were twisted he was going to go low. Ethan dropped his left hand off his sword and pulled it straight back into a low block just as Heinrich changed the direction of his sword, intending to hit Ethan's leg.

CLING!

Their blades impacted, stopping his attacker's blade barely an inch before it would've impacted his own leg. Ethan immediately disengaged and took a few steps back.

The arena was dead silent.

*I knew you could do it!* Beth thought to everyone.

*It's not over yet.* He replied, raising his sword to a middle guard. *A wounded animal is more dangerous.*

*But that would've taken off his leg.* Beth said.

*This is standard unarmored fighting rules, not real life. Plus, he could magically seal the artery so he wouldn't bleed out, which is what the rules are supposed to simulate. I need to hit the other leg, or both arms, or hit the head or torso to win.*

Heinrich picked his 'injured' leg off the ground to simulate the wound, as the rules dictated. He stood on one foot and glared at Ethan. "Who's your new sword master?"

Ethan resisted imitating the voice of Wesley in the Princess Bride by replying 'No one of consequence', and instead opted for something a bit more neutral. He tightened his grip on his sword and took a measured step forward. Heinrich shrugged and raised his own sword into a neutral middle guard, still standing on one foot.

*What now?* Beth asked.

*Well, I have an advantage because I can control the measure.* He replied. *I can move in and out of his reach while he isn't nearly as mobile. However, he could try a kamikaze style strike which is really hard to defend against if your opponent is willing to settle for you both 'dying'.*

*Kamikaze?*

*A suicidal attack where you know you're going to die and do it anyway.* He explained, having forgotten that 'kamikaze' was a Japanese word that she wouldn't know.

*You could simply throw your sword repeatedly my lord.* Rachel suggested from afar, probably guessing the duel's current state from his conversation with Beth. *That way you never need to expose yourself and you could call it back to your hand. Even if he catches the handle, you can call it back which should pull him off balance.*

*Yeah, but I get the feeling they would consider that poor sportsmanship.* He replied. *If I'm going to win, I want to do it on their terms.*

He had seen Heinrich fight 'without' a leg before, and he was good at it. He never over-committed or over-swung enough to push him off balance. But despite that, it wasn't very hard to win against a mostly immobile opponent if you were careful.

Hmm.

He had the upper hand and everyone knew it.

Ethan glanced around and could see it on the faces of every onlooker. They all sparred often and knew the score. In fact, some of them looked anticipatory. He had a nearly sure win here if he was careful, and everyone knew it; even Heinrich himself must know.

But then his eyes lighted on Beth and he found himself wondering: what was the real battle?

Hmm.

As he thought about it, he realized that he'd been going about this all wrong. Sure, fighting Heinrich and beating him would boost Ethan's own ego and status, and would humiliate Heinrich too, but was that the point? Is that what he was really here to do?

No.

The point here wasn't a duel; it was reconciliation and showing Heinrich that he could take care of Beth. He'd already proved the latter, now he needed to pursue the former.

That had to be handled differently.

*Beth, tell me about Heinrich.* He thought. *What's he like? What does he value? What does he hate?*

He glanced at her, and she looked confused but nodded. *Um, he spends a lot of time around my father and so has little patience for dishonesty of any kind. Likewise he values fair play. Um, he hates most wine but likes beer and mead. Um, he's pretty big, and so he has no tolerance for bullies or people who pick on someone who's weaker that they are. Uh... He really values it when people are direct.*

Hmm.

*Okay, thanks.* Ethan nodded, an idea forming his head. He turned and walked to the edge of the arena's circle, looked directly at Heinrich, and stepped over the line.

He had just lost the match.

* * *

*Wait, so master just purposely lost the match?*

*He did.* Beth replied, still feeling a bit stunned at the strange turn of events.

*Why master?*

*Because I didn't come here to beat Heinrich in a duel.* He replied. *I came here to convince Heinrich that I'm not the kind of man who would take advantage of Beth. That I care about her, that I'm not compelling her, and most especially that I'm not like all the other dragons out there. Can you think of anything that's more un-dragon like than purposely losing a match I could easily win?*

*Good point.* Alana thought back. *Although, I'd love for you to beat him because he was such an ass. Actually, I'd love to be there to see it.*

*Agreed.* Rachel echoed, then added in mischievous tone. *Groin shots count right?*

*Ladies.* Ethan shook his head.

*Please don't, he wants to have children.* Beth thought to them, not sure if she should be appalled or amused. *He's really not a bad guy, just protective of the people he cares about.*

*I can't fault him for that.* Ethan nodded, looking at Beth.

The blonde could see much fondness and love in his eyes as he looked at her, and -- as his mother apparently said -- it 'made her heart happy'.

She realized that she was smiling as Heinrich walked up to her with an odd, confused look on his face. "What's his game?" He asked, glancing at Ethan who was walking over to them.

"He cares about me more than winning." Beth replied simply.

"Hmm." Heinrich tapped his finger on the hilt of his training sword, clearly both confused and thinking.

Beth smiled wider.

She could see that Ethan purposely losing the match had been the last thing that he had been expecting. It certainly was a very un-dragon like thing to do, and as her father said 'talk is copper, actions are gold'. The guard captain seemed to be reconsidering.

"I would speak with you two alone." Heinrich finally said gruffly.

Beth looked at Ethan, who nodded and said. "Sure."

* * *

Selene frowned as all of Ethan's wives went silent and were looking at each other, eyes slightly unfocused at regular intervals. Their telepathy was getting really annoying. Even Kendra was in on it, and she technically wasn't one of his wives. That left Selene as the only one who was out of the loop.

She hated that.

"Um, what just happened?" The Brazilian woman asked.

The ladies quickly filled her in.

"That was probably a smart move." She said once they had finished. "That would make any reasonable person rethink his opinion of a dragon."

Rachel nodded. "Yeah, I'm just glad he got his dragon side under control during that duel." She glanced at Kendra. "Sorry again."

Kendra shrugged. "No harm, no war."

The Brazilian woman couldn't help but smile at the Ten Kingdom's version of 'no harm, no foul'. However, she found herself wishing that she didn't feel so much like an outsider in this lovely group of women. She didn't mean 'lovely' in the sense of physical attractiveness -- though they were lovely that way too -- but more in the sense of who they are as people. Their character and personalities were just lovely.

She wasn't sure that she was.

As she looked around at the incredibly kind and caring women, she wondered how she would really measure up to them in a fair and unbiased comparison. Physically she would do well. But in every other way... in the ways that really mattered...

Hmm.

She wasn't so sure.

They were such lovely women and she wasn't sure that she was. For the first time in her life, or at least since she'd hit puberty, she felt like the least attractive girl in the room. Again not physically, but in the ways that really mattered: character and personality.

She didn't like that.

Not one bit.

* * *

"Why did you throw the match?"

Ethan looked at Heinrich as he asked the question, then around at his office. It wasn't large and it was just off the training area. It was also quite spartan with only a desk, two chairs, and weapons rack. Otherwise it was unadorned. For some reason, that seemed to suit the man. He seemed like a rugged fellow with simple and spartan tastes, and the office matched that personality.

"Why did I throw it?" Ethan repeated the question. "Because I care more about Beth's relationship with her father than I do about beating you in a duel. It's as simple as that."

The guard captain looked at him for several seconds before replying. "Has Beth ever told you about the few dragon hunts that I've been on?"

Beth's eyes got wide and Ethan felt some shock over their bond. "You've been on a dragon hunt? How did I not know this?"

"Perhaps your father didn't want you to worry." Heinrich shrugged. "The thing about dragons is that -- quite besides being wholly without mercy or compassion -- they possess a primal cunning that's unmatched among the mortal races."

"But Ethan isn't like that." Beth said with conviction. "He's really kind and caring, and he always wants to help people."

He felt his heart swell at his youngest wife's heartfelt defense of him.

"I would like to believe you Beth, I really would." Heinrich replied. "But that's rather like saying a cobra was born without venom, or a fish without fins; it's in their nature."

"But I wasn't born a dragon." Ethan countered. "I was born a man."

The look that Heinrich gave him in response reminded Ethan of how a parent might look at a child whose face and hands were covered in frosting and crumbs while the child insisted that he hadn't just stolen a piece of cake.

"It's true." Beth said. "Did my father never tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

"The story of how I came to be in the Ten Kingdoms." Ethan replied.

"You weren't born in the Ten Kingdoms?" Heinrich raised an eyebrow. "Where then? The barbarian lands?"

"No." He shook his head. "Let me give you the short version of how I came to be in the Ten Kingdoms."

He did.

Not in full detail, but a quick summary.

Heinrich listened without comment until he had finished. When he had, the guard captain set his training sword down on the weapons rack, walked to his desk, and sat down behind it. He stroked his beard for a moment before speaking. "So, you were born a man, came to this world against your will via dark magic, and have been trapped in a dragon's body ever since?"

"That's pretty much the size of it." Ethan replied.

"I still don't fancy a man's chance against a dragon's will." Heinrich finally said. "Dragons are legendary for their iron and indomitable will. I don't believe a man's will could ever keep a dragon's in check, which would seem to be confirmed by your temper; it changes nothing."

Ethan glanced at Beth, trying to decide how much to say.

There was definitely truth to Heinrich's words, yet they did know how to keep the dragon in check; to keep its will from overpowering him. However, that wasn't something that he wanted to disclose to just anyone, especially not Lord Borden's right-hand man.

"There is a way to tame the dragon; to calm him and have Ethan in control." Beth finally said.

"Oh?"

Ethan nodded. "There is. I had my dragon side under control for a couple weeks until Lord Delmar's men captured me."

"How?" Heinrich asked.

Ethan and Beth looked at each other, and he could tell that she was at least as reluctant to tell him as he himself was. Maybe more so.

"Hermy, I don't think we should say." The blonde replied, and Ethan remembered that 'Hermy' was a nickname that she'd used for him before.

"And why not?"

"Because..." She looked at Ethan. *I can't lie to him; I would feel just awful.*

*Then don't. Give him a reason that's true, even if you don't give him the whole reason.*

The blonde teen looked back at her childhood friend. "Because knowing how to tame the dragon would also mean you'd know how to unleash him. Given how my father is right now..." She shook her head. "I don't want to put you in a position where he asks a question that you don't want to answer."

"Fair." Heinrich made a thoughtful sound and stroked his beard again. "But that puts me in the position of having to take your word for it. Dragons are notoriously crafty, and Beth might be being compelled. You see why it might be hard to take your word for it."

"Fair." Ethan echoed him.

He put himself in the other man's shoes and could see it. If someone tried to tell him that Havorleth, Kyrupto, or Drousin could be caring, noble, or selfless, he wouldn't have believed it. It would make sense that they would assume the same of all dragons. It was stereotyping, but that seemed a part of human nature regardless of the planet or how little he liked it.

Heinrich regarded him intently for several seconds, then lifted his hands and steepled them together. After several more seconds, he looked at Ethan. "I would like to speak to Beth alone, if you would permit it."

He looked at her.

*Please Dominus?* She thought to him. *I might be able to get through to him better without you here, and you can remain just outside. He'd never hurt me.*

"Very well." Ethan nodded, then looked at Heinrich while speaking to his wife. "Beth, I'll be right outside if you need anything."

Heinrich inclined his head slightly; he knew the score and why Ethan wanted to stay close.

* * *

Beth watched her husband leave, wishing that her oldest friend trusted him.

Alas...

She sighed and turned towards Heinrich. "You want to make sure I'm okay, like you always did."

He nodded, and once the door had closed he seemed to relax a bit. The corners of his mouth suddenly flicked upwards instead of downward in something that resembled the beginnings of a smile. Well, maybe a grin. Not even a full grin, but possibly the beginning of one.

"You don't need to worry about me." She continued. "He takes really good care of me."

"How could he, with four other wives?"

"Only three." She corrected him. "And I wouldn't be parted from them for the world."

He raised his eyebrow.

"It's true." She smiled. "After that dreadful conversation with father yesterday, who do you think I went to for solace?"

"The architects of your misery?" He looked skeptical.

She shook her head. "They aren't though. True, I wasn't thrilled initially; but Alana, Taloni, and Rachel are the best women I've ever known. They're so kind, and sweet, and caring; especially Taloni. She and I have gotten pretty close."

"Your father says that doesn't happen in a polygynous marriage."

"I can't speak about other women's marriages, but mine is a high point of my life."

Heinrich frowned.

"Let me put it this way." Beth said. "If an angel from Illuminar came down and appeared to us both, telling me that if I continued traveling with Ethan I would be dead within the month unless I left him forever, I would still travel with him."

Heinrich's frown deepened.

"It's true." She said. "I know it sounds silly, but I mixed my soul with his when we bonded. I absolutely hate being away from him. It happened once while he was captured and I barely slept a wink."

"You've known him barely over two months." Heinrich countered. "These are the passions of a youthful teen, and they might fade. He already must've grown tired of you if he has taken so many other wives so quickly."

"No, actually it's the opposite." She replied. "He married Alana while he thought I was dead, and because a Luminar in Arcanum came to us saying that Illuminar himself had said they were to be married."

"And you were there?" He asked, clearly thinking Ethan had lied to her about this.

Beth gave him a look. "I can feel my husband's emotions Hermy; even right now. I don't think he could lie to me even if he wanted to."

He still looked skeptical, and his frown deepened still further.

"He married Taloni on accident, bonding with her while he was unconscious." She continued, then added at his look of incredulity. "I think it was the dragon's instincts that caused it. And Rachel, well he donated some deep mana to keep her alive after we removed the will-breaker ring that Lord Delmar had given her."

Heinrich suddenly stood, looking stern. "That's a very serious accusation, and one that shouldn't be made without proof."

"Which is why we don't go around telling people, but I thought an old friend could handle it." Beth countered.

He grimaced, but nodded and sat back down. "Continue."

"Rachel was forced to bond with him to save his life; Lady Ekthros had hit him with a kill spell that brushed someone else first, draining nearly all of Ethan's deep mana. If Rachel hadn't bonded with him, I would be a widow right now."

"So, he hasn't been seducing women or forcing them to marry him?" Heinrich asked after several seconds.

"Dear Illuminar in heaven!" Beth exclaimed. "What could've possibly given you that idea?"

"He's a dragon." He replied simply.

Beth wanted to disagree, but that was the reputation of dragons. Well, not so much the seducing part, but taking women by force was the usual way that dragon had behaved for a long time.

"He's not like that." She said, sitting down in the chair on the other side of his desk. "His homeland doesn't even allow men to take multiple wives. He only agreed to it begrudgingly because he had bonded to Taloni and was already married to Alana."

"You should explain this to your father." Heinrich said after several seconds.

"We were going to tell to him yesterday, but that conversation..." She shook her head. "Well you were there; he didn't really give us a chance to explain."

He inclined his head in concession.

For several seconds he just looked at her, a thoughtful frown on his face. He tapped his fingers on the desk several times as he scrutinized her, then stroked his beard once more.

"What?" She asked.

"You look happy." He finally said. "With him."

"I am."

"It might not be real." He pointed out. "He might be compelling you to be this happy."

"He isn't, but there's nothing you could do about it even if he was." She pointed out. "I really want my father to understand, and to not hate my husband. Please, would you tell him what I've told you? He won't listen if I say it; you know how he always steers the conversation; I'll never be able to get all this out."

Heinrich hesitated.

"Please Hermy?" She asked again. "I would really appreciate it, and I'm not asking you to try and convince him of anything; just tell him what happened and what I told you. Please?"

He stared at her for several long moments before nodding and saying with a heavy sigh. "He'll ask anyway, so very well."

"Thank you." Beth smiled at him. "You've always been a good guy, and I'm grateful."

Heinrich smiled; a small smile, but a real one. "Did I ever tell you how I met your father?"

"No, how?"

"He caught me trying to pick his pocket when I was about six."

"What?!" Beth's jaw dropped. "He hates thieves."

"I know." He nodded. "But he looked at me after he'd caught me and said that I could either spend the rest of my life stealing and eventually come to a bad end, or I could go directly to his training grounds right now and that he would teach me how to make an honest living." Heinrich smiled, probably recalling them memory. "And then he let me go, turned, and walked towards the training grounds without another word."

"Oh."

He looked at her. "Your father is a good man; stern, but good. Don't judge him too harshly."

The smile slide right off of the blonde's face. "That's hard when he tried to murder my husband and one of my fellow wives." She glared at him, suddenly remembering that he most likely had been in on the plan. "Did you know?"

"Know what?" He raised an eyebrow. "As far as I'm aware, your father hasn't tried to murder anyone."

She took a deep, calming breath. "The vault that first night. He sent a dragon into a vault full of gold, knowing full well that Ethan would never want to leave, and that the guards would have to kill him to get him out. And then he sent in Alana afterwards to try and convince Ethan to leave, even though virtually every dragon ever would've killed anyone who tried that."

"And yet none of that happened." Heinrich pointed out as he shook his head. "They both left and both are alive and well. Do you really think your father would be that sloppy if he wanted to kill someone?"

"Well, no." She admitted.

"And yet your mind immediately went to murder. Perhaps you underestimate how good Lord Borden is at judging a man's character, and perhaps he knew how it would play out."

Beth shook her head. "No, I don't... I don't think--"

"Or perhaps." Heinrich said, interrupting as he leaned forward and steepled his hands together. "Perhaps it was a test to ensure that you didn't marry a bad husband. If he left willingly, then he was different from other dragons and could be a good husband. If he didn't leave willingly, then he wasn't different and would've been killed by the guards, so you would've been free to marry another." He locked eyes with her. "Your father is a good man, and don't assume he had murderous motives."

"And what about him sending Alana in to get him out?" She countered. "The odds of her surviving were minuscule; you can't say that he--."

"I can." Heinrich interrupted again. "Ultimately, he left because Lord Borden sent the wood elf in. That saved his life, so how can you ascribe poor motives to your father for that?"

"Uh..." Beth hesitated.

What he'd just said made sense, but it still didn't feel right. He certainly could be right -- and she desperately wanted him to be right -- but she wasn't so sure.

What if he was?

Then she frowned as the alterative reasserted itself.

What if he wasn't?

* * *

"That still doesn't make it okay." Ethan pointed out as he and Beth walked back towards Ralgar's house after her meeting had concluded, and she had just finished relaying its contents.

The blonde didn't reply, so he continued. "I completely understand wanting to test someone who might marry your daughter. Hell, I'd do it. But a test that involves murder is over the line; way over the line."

"Yeah..." Beth's shoulders slumped as she walked, which made a stark contrast to her usually excellent posture.

"That said." Ethan continued. "Heinrich might be right and maybe -- just maybe -- your father wasn't quite as... as 'murdery' as we originally thought. So that's good... I suppose."

"Is it really?" She looked at him with a slightly hurt expression, though he was pretty sure she wasn't feeling hurt by him.

He grimaced. "Not really, but sort of? Intentional murder seems worse than murder just being a side effect--" He stopped. "Wait a second, why the hell am I defending him on this?"

"I was wondering that too." She had a pained but slightly amused smile on her face.

He shook his head and they walked in silence for almost a minute.

"I'm sorry it's turning out this way." He finally said. "I wish I could wave a magic wand and fix all of this."

Beth glanced at him. "What's a 'magic wand'? I thought you didn't have magic on Earth."

He explained the concept and she shook her head. "It's amazing the misconceptions that your world has about magic."

"Fair." He nodded. "At least your mom came around though. And it sounds like Heinrich might be more willing to believe you."

"Yeah." She said somberly. "I want to see Charles too. Do you think we could before we leave?"

"That's fine with me, but your father might object to me being there when you do see him."

"Yeah." She sighed then looked up at him. "Can we go back to the Argo--" Her face fell. "I mean, back to Anthiel's house? I'd really like to see my fellow wives."

"Sure." He nodded, wishing that he could do more to help.

* * *

Selene thought the afternoon had passed rather slowly. Beth's depressed mood seemed to have spread to everyone else, including their hosts. Alana, Taloni, and Rachel had been commiserating with the blonde half the afternoon, and her mood appeared to have risen slightly. However, it wasn't exactly cheerful in Ralgar's living room.

Selene had spent a chunk of the afternoon playing Pente with Ethan, Kendra, and Ralgar, but none of them were very enthused about it. The Brazilian woman was pretty sure that Ethan and his wives were spending a lot of time consoling Beth telepathically, since occasionally Ethan would go over to her without warning and give her a hug, or sit with her for a bit before returning to the game.

Overall, everyone seemed very 'blah'.

It wasn't until late afternoon that something happened to shake things up. Selene had just finished asking Mirella if there was anything she could do around the house to help -- for the tenth time -- when someone knocked on the door.

Mirella looked at Anthiel. "Are we expecting company?"

The gorgeous high elf shook her head.

Ralgar looked at the door for a moment as Mirella headed for it, then he spoke. "Miri, let me get this one."

She nodded, looking a bit confused. Ralgar rose, walked to the door and opened it.

It was Lord Borden.

He was standing there in an impeccably tailored suit with an unreadable expression. Behind him was another man who looked much older. He was perhaps late fifties or early sixties, though in good shape. He wore much looser clothing and had a wide-brimmed hat on his head. It wasn't pointy, but it seemed like it should be. Something about him reminded Selene of a younger version of Gandalf from the Lord of the Rings, or a few other wizards she'd seen on TV and in movies.

She cocked her head to one side.

Actually, he bore a passing resemblance to an older version of Benedict Cumberbatch, who played Doctor Strange in the Marvel movies.

"Lord Borden." Ralgar said, then snapped to attention and gave him a crisp salute.

"At ease Admiral Kiarien." He replied.

Ralgar returned to a more normal posture. "Can I help you Lord Borden?"

"If possible, I would like to speak to my daughter. I believe that she is staying here."

Ralgar looked at his guests and raised an eyebrow. Ethan looked at Beth for several seconds, then at his other wives, then finally at Lord Borden. At that moment, Selene would've given a lot to hear how that telepathic conversation went.

"What did you want to say?" Ethan finally asked.

"Please come in." Ralgar said, opening the door wide for the two men.

They came in, though neither took a seat and Selene notice they remained rather closer to the door than one might normally expect guests to.

"I wish to speak to my daughter." Lord Borden replied to Ethan. "Alone."

"Anything you want to say to me, you can say in front of my husband and fellow wives." Beth replied instantly.

"Anthiel, Mirella." Ralgar called his two wives. "I do believe we were about to go work on that project in the back yard."

Selene smiled; that was tactful of him.

Their hosts exited, though Ralgar gave Ethan a significant look that the ex-FBI agent took to mean 'if you need us, we'll be nearby' before he left.

Lord Borden looked at the six women assembled. "I thought he only had four wives."

"He does, but I'd like Kendra and Selene to stay. They're..." Beth hesitated. "They're becoming good friends and I trust them."

"Very well." Lord Borden said after several seconds.

"Why did you bring Valten father?" Beth asked, then turned to everyone else. "He's father's court mage and is very powerful."

Ethen growled low in his throat and moved himself between the mage and the women.

"I don't trust him." The lord replied looking at Ethan. "I thought this was better than a dozen bank guards."

"Father, he has a name." Beth replied firmly.

Selene let the conversation fade into the background as she looked at Valten; Lord Borden's court mage. He was a bit shorter than Lord Borden and seemed to fade into the background a bit, which is exactly what the Brazilian woman noticed. He seemed purposely inconspicuous, and ironically, that stood out to her.

The mage was looking at each person in turn, and his gaze seemed more focused on each one than you might ordinarily suspect. But shortly after he focused his gaze on someone, a muscle in his cheek twitched like he was displeased with something. Valten would be a terrible poker player.

Finally the mage settled his gaze on her.

Almost instantly, the hairs on her arms stood up and she had the sudden urge to run from the room, or maybe tackle him in self-defense. Her palms got sweaty and her mouth went bone dry. She didn't know what it was, but every fiber of her being was screaming at her. Her head started to ache slightly, and she suddenly felt like she was being watched.

Not visually though.

It was that 'sixth sense' feeling you get when you feel like someone is watching you, but can't figure out who or from where. Whatever that sense was, it was going off like a five-alarm fire.

What the hell?

For some reason, Ethan came to mind, but strangely so. It was like if someone told you not to think about pink elephants; suddenly the only thing that comes to your mind is pink elephants. This was like that. The thought was almost intrusive. She felt like someone had just said 'don't think about how Ethan treats his wives', and so that's what wanted to come to her mind.

She instantly started thinking about her martial arts and running through some kata them in her head. She wasn't sure why, but it was an instinctive defensive reaction; though she had no idea what she was defending herself from.

That's when her headache got worse.

She groaned.

She leaned forward and put her hands on her head. God, she would've killed for some Advil right about now.

"Are you okay?" Kendra asked from next to her on the couch.

That's when Selene realized that only a few seconds had passed, even though it felt like minutes.

"My head is killing me." She tried to say, but it came out slightly mumbled. Intelligible, but mumbled. She suddenly found it hard to sit up straight and the room began to spin slightly.

She blinked.

Then something happened.

For the briefest moment -- a tiny, almost miniscule moment of time -- she could see herself. She'd never had an 'out of body' experience before, and wasn't sure that's what this was. But for the briefest moment, she saw herself from the front, like she was standing in front of herself, about where Valten was, and looking at herself.

Then the moment ended and the room spun.

* * *

Kendra watched Selene as she started to go limp, and her eyes rolled back into her head a bit. She frowned. Sudden onset headaches, eyes rolled back, and slightly garbled speech. She'd seen this before.

She jumped up, put her hand on her sword, and looked directly at Valten. "Stop messing with her head right now before I remove yours."

The mage looked at her and she felt it.

The mage must have some telepathic skill because he was subtly prodding her mental defenses, probably looking for a weakness. She knew that everyone else in the room had mental defenses because they had connected to Ethan's psychic network...

Everyone except Selene.

The Brazilian woman had no mental defenses because Rachel was still teaching her the basics of magic and so she wasn't at that level yet. She hadn't even managed to move her mana around yet, so she certainly hadn't constructed mental defenses.

"I mean it, stop." Kendra commanded, tugging at her sword slightly and exposing an inch of blade to show that she was serious.

Valten raised a hand towards her, which was about the mage equivalent of raising a crossbow into a ready position. It was threatening, but not aggressive...

...yet.

Suddenly, her view of him was blocked by a mass of grey scales. Ethan was suddenly in between the mage and herself, and his primal side was on full display. His teeth were bared and his claws out; his stance was low and ready to pounce. He was no longer a sweet man, he was a predator on the prowl and -- judging by his stance and body language -- a defender who was guarding her.

Her breath caught in her throat.

Was he defending her?

Actually defending her?

Ethan growled at the mage, and it reminded her of a rabid dog ready to pounce.

"Let me make one thing perfectly clear." The dragon's voice was quiet and deadly as he spoke to the mage who had threatened her. "If you harm a single hair on Kendra's head, I swear I'll tear you limb from fucking limb."

His voice was quiet and low; soft and deadly.

She'd heard that threat before.

That exact same threat.

That exact tone.

That exact...

Her jaw dropped.

That's what Ethan had said to her all those weeks ago outside of Havorleth's lair. He'd threatened her with that exact same tone and threat, only that time he had been protecting Alana. He was now showing the same level of protectiveness over her as he did for...

She blinked.

Why?

She pushed it out of her mind to concentrate on the situation at hand. She could think about it later -- and she would at great length -- but now there were more pressing concerns. There was a tense standoff for several seconds before Lord Borden raised his hand and indicated that Valten should lower his. The mage hesitated a second, then slowly lowered it. There was an awkward silence as Ethan relaxed slightly, but only slightly.

"What did you do to Selene?" Beth asked, standing up and looking rather more like her husband's dragon side than usual.

Valten looked at Lord Delmar, who gave a small nod, and then the mage looked at the blonde. "I was trying to confirm the story that you told Captain Heinrich."

"You're a telepath." Rachel said. It wasn't a question.

Valten nodded.

"Where did you find a telepath?" Alana breathed to Lord Borden as Beth's mouth fell open.

"He owns The Bank." Kendra pointed out, almost shaking her head at the fact that she hadn't realized this before. Of course he had a telepath. It made so much sense that she wondered why she hadn't guessed it before.

She should have.

The dragon huntress continued. "Telepaths are extremely rare and expensive to hire, but not unheard of. Lord Borden has the coin, and I can see how having a telepath on your side would be a great asset."

"He has been." Lord Borden confirmed.

"And you attacked Selene?" Beth stared at him. "Why would you do that?"

"I didn't attack her, I just tried to read her mind." The mage replied. "She reacted... strangely, and in a way no one ever has before." To his credit, the mage did actually look confused, like Selene's response was indeed abnormal and he hadn't been expecting it.

Beth was staring daggers, and this might've been the first time that Kendra had seen such fire from the girl.

Quite possibly in response to the teen's gaze, Valten spoke again. "I had no intention of hurting her, and she should be fine in a few minutes."

The dragon fixed Lord Borden with a death stare that would've made a lesser man flee in terror. "You had him try to read my mind, and the minds of my wives."

It wasn't a question.

The lord hesitated, then nodded.

"Get. Out." Ethan growled in a calm but deadly tone. "Get. The fuck. Out."

"I'm not leaving until I've had my say with my daughter."

"Get out father." Beth echoed, taking an aggressive step forward and balling up her fists. "You can't come in here and attack my friends, and you sure as hell can't try to murder my husband and Alana, and then think I'm okay with it."

"Murder your--" Lord Borden began with a raised eyebrow like he was confused.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about father." Beth clenched her fists so tight that her knuckles were white and her voice was trembling, but she was clearly trying to maintain some semblance of respect in her voice. "You sent Ethan into the vault knowing full well that something bad would happen. I bet you thought he wouldn't leave and the guards would have to kill him, or that he'd kill Alana when you sent her in after him, and the guards would kill him for that."

Her father's eyes narrowed, though Kendra couldn't get a good read on exactly why. She couldn't tell if he was offended at the suggestion or guilty of it.

He stared at his daughter for several long seconds before he spoke, but not to her. "Valten, we're leaving."

The mage opened the door while Lord Borden scrutinized Beth.

"You are definitely my daughter." He said, the corners of his mouth twitching upwards slightly in what looked like the precursor to an amused smile. Then he followed Valten out the door without another word, closing it behind him.

The resulting silence was deafening.

"He is just... He's being so..." Beth's face was red as she clenched her fists again. "He's such a..." Beth made a sound somewhere between a growl, a groan, and cry of frustration.

"Yeah." Kendra nodded.

The dragon whipped around and looked her in the eye. There was an expression on his face that she couldn't place; hunger maybe. He'd been half dragon before Lord Borden had left, and he looked near full dragon now. He licked his lips as he looked at her, his eyes roving up and down her body as a wide, predatory grin split his face. He took a step forward, and Kendra tried to take a step back, but she couldn't.

She couldn't move.

She tried to blink, but couldn't.

She tried to look away, but couldn't.

She summoned all of her willpower to look away from his compulsion, but couldn't. Her body simply wouldn't obey her mind. It didn't matter how much she applied her will; it wasn't enough. She was trying to figure out what he was feeling when she remembered that she didn't need to guess; she could know. She opened up her mental defenses just enough that she could see his emotions.

Whoa.

Suddenly a feeling like she'd never known washed over her.

She suddenly felt incredibly warm; almost hot. She felt her breath catch as she suddenly felt a bit lightheaded. She could feeling this burning, glowing, powerful aching need buried somewhere deep inside of her, but it really wasn't coming from her.

It was coming from him.

It made her entire body come alive with the strange, warm, tingling sensation that seemed especially attracted to her nether lips and breasts. She could feel something like hunger from him that was making her body respond in ways that she never felt before, and it was nearly overwhelming.

She slammed her mental defenses shut.

Whatever that powerful feeling was, it was incredibly distracting. Ethan took a predatory step towards her, still eyeing her body.

"Ethan!" Alana shouted.

The dragon barely reacted because he was too intent on his prey: Kendra herself.

The dragon huntress found herself in a situation she'd never been in before; she couldn't react. Sure dragons had tried this on her before, but it was always easy to resist. But with her being bonded to Ethan, apparently resistance was futile.

"Master no." Taloni pleaded loudly. "Someone will see her and you wouldn't want that right?"

The dragon growled and faltered slightly. Out of the corner of her eye, Kendra saw all of Ethan's other wives get fierce looks of concentration as they stared at him.

The dragon kept her gaze captive for several more seconds until she felt the strength of his compulsion begin to wane. After several more seconds, she was able to tear her gaze away.

Moments later, the door through which Ralgar, Anthiel, and Mirella left flew open, and the three elves burst through it. Ralgar and Anthiel both holding short swords and enchanted leather shields, though Mirella was unarmed and hiding behind them looking scared.

"We're okay." Alana said quickly. "I shouted to break Ethan out of 'dragon mode'."

The high elves breathed a collective sigh of relief and lowered their weapons.

"I hate my dragon side." Ethan growled, the aforementioned object of his disgust still apparent in his tone.

"Selene." Kendra said, and they all turned to the gorgeous caramel-haired woman who was still barely conscious on the couch.

* * *

Selene pressed her eyelids shut as the world finally stopped spinning. She was pretty sure that she'd blacked out there for a minute, but not totally sure; maybe she'd just come close.

"Selene? Selene can you hear me?" A masculine voice said from nearby. It sounded like...

"Ethan?" She asked, but it came out as a mumble.

"Thank Illuminar." A feminine voice said from close beside her.

Kendra maybe?

'What happened?" The Brazilian woman asked, only peeking through her eyelids as her head beat like a bongo drum. They explained as she sat up, her head pounding with every movement.

"Damn, now I feel sorry for anyone who ever met Professor X." She winced.

Ethan chuckled, but it was only half-hearted and she noticed that he was looking at anything but Kendra.

Interesting.

"I can't feel anything wrong with you." Taloni said. "Hopefully that means you'll feel better soon."

"I wouldn't object." She nodded, then wished she hadn't as the movement made her headache flare up.

"I'll get you some tea which should help." Mirella offered.

Thankfully, Selene felt her headache slowly get better over the next few minutes. Mirella's tea helped it go from a sharp, piercing pain to a dull, aching one.

Eventually it stopped hurting enough that she felt like talking again. "So, that was a psychic attack huh? Why weren't you all affected?"

"We all have mental defenses." Ethan explained. "We created them since it's part of how our telepathic network operates."

"Can someone teach me?" She asked. "I really don't like the idea that someone could read my thoughts."

"I'd be happy to and it's not hard, but you'll need to be able to manipulate your mana first." Rachel said.

"Fuck." Selene groaned. "I've been trying for what feels like weeks."

"Would you like some help with that?" Mirella asked. The hostess hadn't left her side except to make the soothing tea.

"Yeah, but frankly that's just one more thing I suck at." The Brazilian woman replied, trying and mostly failing to keep the bitterness out of her voice.

Everyone -- especially the Argo's crew -- looked at her.

"I've tried a bunch of times, but I still can't feel my mana." She said to Mirella, hoping that everyone would take the hint and not ask about her previous comment.

"I had that problem for a long time too." The mahogany-haired elf replied kindly. "It turns out, I just needed a bit of a shift of perspective."

"Oh?"

She nodded. "Everyone told me how they picture mana, and it was always a static picture. Like a pond, or a goblet full of water, or other things like that. But that didn't help me because I don't see it that way. Mana is ever-moving and flowing and until I looked for that, for flowing mana, I couldn't feel it."

Selene looked around at everyone, and they all had gotten contemplative looks on their faces. Almost as one, they all closed their eyes -- probably to check their mana -- and then they opened them again and nodded thoughtfully.

"Now that Mirella has mentioned it, she's right." Ethan said. "I see it like a cloud that gets more dense the more mana I have, eventually getting completely liquid. But it is constantly swirling. Huh." Then he smiled and said in a passable Obi-Wan Kenobi impression. "It surrounds us, it penetrates us; it binds the galaxy together."

She chuckled.

"Try it." Mirella encouraged. "Look for the mana flowing within you instead of looking for something static, and see if that makes a difference. It did for me."

She did.

Selene closed her eyes and repeated some of the exercises that Rachel had given her to find her mana, only this time looking for something flowing instead of something static. It had never worked before, but this time she saw something... or felt something? She was trying to pay attention to anything inside of her that was moving while doing the exercises.

Then she saw it.

Or maybe felt it?

And now that she'd seen it, she couldn't un-see it. She wasn't sure how she'd missed it before. There was a river running through her. Not a river of water, but something that resembled water. It wasn't moving fast or quickly, but it was moving in a circular pattern. It was always flowing or falling, and yet never arriving; like an infinite staircase.

It also had a pattern to it.

Like a river winding its way through a canyon or gorge, her 'mana river' appeared to have a complicated maze-like pattern to it. She didn't recognize the pattern, but there definitely was one. The pattern also seemed to be... she wasn't sure; solidifying maybe? It was like the pattern in the mana river was hardening into the pattern that she had seen.

"I feel it." She smiled at everyone, ending on Mirella. "Thank you so much."

The high elf beamed. "You're welcome."

The Brazilian woman looked around at everyone. "So, why does it flow in a pattern like that?"

Rachel raised an eyebrow. "Pattern?"

"Yeah." Selene nodded. "My mana seems to flow in an intricate pattern that's... it's... it's hard to describe." Then at everyone's confused expression she added: "Your mana doesn't have a pattern of some kind?"

Everyone looked at each other confused and then they all paused, many closing their eyes, almost certainly to check their mana. After several moments, they all opened their eyes and either shook their heads or responded in the negative.

"Really?" Selene asked, suddenly feeling she was failing at yet another thing. Why did her mana have a pattern and no one else's mana did? Was something wrong with her? She felt like her life had come apart at the seams ever since meeting Ethan, and felt like she was a failure at everything since coming to the Ten Kingdoms.

"That's really interesting." Rachel cocked her head to one side. "I never heard of that before."

"I know I've read something about it before, but I don't remember... hmm. I wonder why." Beth mused, though she still occasionally clenched her fists and glared at the door through which her father had recently left.

Selene sighed and then shook her head. "I need a drink."

"Would you like me to get you some water?" Mirella asked.

"I was thinking something stronger."

"I'm afraid we only have some fine wine." Ralgar said. "It's excellent on the tongue, but less suitable for your purpose."

"There are several taverns in town." Kendra pointed out. "But are you sure that's a good idea?"

"No." She conceded. "But it sounds appealing."

"Can I come?" Beth asked, flopping down on the couch.

"You're not twenty one." Ethan pointed out.

Beth shrugged. "Why would that matter?"

"There's no minimum age to drink alcohol here?" Selene asked.

"No, why would there be?" The blonde replied.

"Oh, there is where we come from." Ethan replied.

"Why?" The blonde asked.

"To prevent kids and immature teens from getting drunk and doing stupid things." Selene replied, noting the irony that that's exactly what she wanted to do right now.

"Oh, well I definitely don't want to get drunk." Beth frowned. "Tee was telling me about this 'copper mage' drink that she says is really good, and I'd like to try it."

"I'm not sure that's a good idea." Ethan said.

"Please Dominus." The blonde asked. "I promise I'll eat a full meal first and only have the one drink. I'd love to try something nice after the day I've had."

Ethan hesitated.

"It might not be a bad idea." Alana suggested. "I'll go too, since obviously I'm not going to drink."

"Plus, Europe has had a lower drinking age forever and I think they have less of a problem with alcoholism than the States do." Selene added. "Don't make it a taboo or forbidden fruit, and people are less likely to overindulge."

"I'd be happy to make a meal that'll mostly absorb the alcohol if she eats it first." Mirella offered.

"Okay, but I'm coming with you." Ethan said after hesitating for several seconds, then he looked at the blonde. "One drink; no more."

"Yes Dominus." She smiled and nodded.

Selene was glad for a very different reason. Taverns had alcohol, and she was ready to ingest an unhealthy amount of the stuff.

"Beth's very popular here, so you won't be able to drink in peace." Anthiel said. "However, how about a fashion-oriented disguise gem to make her hair look like it's a different color? That should be enough to keep her anonymous, and I have one."

"You do?" Ethan raised his eyebrow.

"Yes." The gorgeous high elf replied. "It's been here in Gralden and not on the Argo, but one does tend to pick up useful things after having piloted airships all over the Ten Kingdoms for decades. It can only change hair color, but that's all you need."

"They make disguise gems that only affect hair color?" He asked.

"They're all the rage with wealthy, fashionable ladies." Beth explained. "You can make your hair look like it's any color, or various color combinations without dye."

"Oh, I suppose that makes sense." He nodded, then looked at the Argo's pilot. "Thank you; it'll be nice not to be mobbed."

"Yes, thank you." Beth said, then looked at their three hosts. "All of you. You've all been so wonderful, especially you Mirella."

The entire Argo crew echoed those sentiments.

Ralgar gave Mirella a fond look, put his arm around her waist, pulled her close in an affectionate way, and planted a tender kiss on her the top of her head.

The mahogany haired elf beamed.

* * *

*I can't get used to seeing Beth as a brunette.* Alana thought to everyone as herself, Ethan, Selene, and the fake brunette slid into a booth in a local tavern. Not being bonded to the blonde, she couldn't see through the disguise gem and it was frankly weird to see Ethan's youngest wife with brown hair. Her appearance hadn't changed besides that, but it was a huge change.

*Yeah, it was weird.* Taloni agreed from back at Ralgar and Anthiel's house.

"What can I get for you and your family?" The waitress asked Ethan.

It took Alana a moment to realize what they probably looked like. Being short, everyone tended to think that she was younger than she actually was. Beth looked younger than her actual age, while something about Selene's demeanor and bearing made her seem older than she actually was. Plus, Ethan was sitting next to the caramel-haired beauty, while the brunette and the fake brunette were sitting across from them. Add to that the fact that Ethan's disguise gem form had brown hair, and the wood elf had to admit that they probably looked like Ethan and Selene were a married couple and Alana and Beth were the kids.

A smile crept onto her face.

Beth gave her a grin as her eyes twinkled.

Selene didn't look amused. "Whiskey on the rocks." She said before Ethan could speak.

"Just water for me." Ethan said.

"I'll just have some cider." Alana added.

"I'd like to try a 'copper mage'." Beth said.

The waitress looked at Ethan for confirmation on the fake brunette's drink before nodding. "Coming right up."

"I hope to God that I don't look old enough to be your mother." Selene said to the two other women once the waitress had left.

Ethan was silently cracking up.

"You don't... mom." Alana winked.

"Mother it's okay, it happens at your age." Beth added with barely suppressed laughter.

The Brazilian woman sighed as the corners of her mouth drooped slightly and she flopped her head on one of her hands. Moments later, her shoulder slumped.

"Selene, I hope you know that you're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen." Alana said kindly. "We tease, but frankly you're the prettiest woman on the Argo by a huge margin."

Selene cracked a half smile. "Thank you."

A comfortable silence fell over the table, but it wasn't long before Beth scowled and looked in the direction of her father's house.

"Still mad?" Alana asked.

"You bet your ears I am." She huffed. "My father is being such a--" She stopped, then hung her head.

"Hey." Ethan said softly, and slid his hand over to rest on hers. "I wish I could fix it for you, but since I can't, just know that I'm here for you."

"As am I." Alana agreed.

"You're a pretty awesome girl." Selene added. "You've done a whole ton of cool shit that I'm frankly pretty jealous of."

"I have?" Beth lifted her head and cocked it to one side. After a moment she nodded slowly. "I guess I have."

"Here are your drinks." The waitress said as she returned and set them down on the table. "You all let me know if you need anything else."

"Will do." Ethan said.

Alana marveled that while the waitress had gotten the order correct, she'd managed to put most of them in front of the wrong people. Once she was gone, Ethan grabbed the drink he'd ordered from Beth, who grabbed the drink she'd ordered from Alana, who grabbed hers from Ethan.

"Well, at least she didn't get everyone's wrong." Selene rolled her eyes, picked up her drink and took a large swig of the whiskey. "Ahh; that hits the spot."

Alana looked over at Beth as the faux-brunette took a small sip of her drink.

She frowned slightly, then took another sip. "It's not bad. The heat and coolness together is..." She took another small sip, then thought to everyone. *I think I like it. Not sure I'd want it very often, but I like it.*

*I'm glad.* Taloni replied.

"Well?" Selene asked the blonde after taking another swig of her whiskey.

"Oh, I was just telling everyone that I like it, but I'm not sure I'd want it very often."

Selene shrugged.

They sat there mostly in silence for several minutes. No one said much, as Ethan seemed preoccupied and Beth kept glancing towards her father's manor house with a sullen expression.

*Are you okay?* The wood elf thought directly to her husband so her fellow wives couldn't hear.

*I feel like shit about Kendra.* He replied after several seconds, but didn't elaborate.

*Oh?* She finally replied.

*Yeah, and I know I need to apologize, but I just don't feel up to talking about it now.* He chugged his water and then said aloud. "Damn, I should've gotten something stronger."

Selene offered him her glass, which was nearing empty.

"Nah, with the dragon I definitely shouldn't add alcohol."

Another several minutes of awkward silence occurred while the rest of the tavern went on with their usual business. The wood elf took to turning her ears to other conversations around her, given the relatively subdued mood of everyone at her table. It wasn't long before her ears perked up at a conversation happing at a not inconsiderable level of volume nearby.

"Them fuckin' things is just beasts." A man said, and he had the look of an airship deckhand. "Nearly had to leave without the shipment cause of them."

"Why don't the emperor just wipe 'em out?" His drinking buddy asked.

"They is up in the mountains, and so he claims he'd lose too many troops to ambushes and shit." The first man replied. "But it's perfectly fine to leave them miners to die, long as he gets his steel."

"Dying is bad, being eaten alive is worse." The second man growled as he shook his head. "Fuckin' orcs."

Alana looked at Beth, whose mouth was already a thin line.

Ethan growled quietly and low in his throat.

"Five bucks says they're talking about the miners that the pegged-leg fellow asked us to help." Selene said, finishing her whiskey and raising her hand to call the waitress again. "We should be down there helping."

"Oh, we will be." Beth said as she clenched her jaw and looked in the direction of her father's manor house. Alana had never seen her so calmly and resolutely mad before. There was a bit of fire on the blonde that wasn't usually there.

"Oh?" Selene raised an eyebrow, clearly jonesing for another drink.

"Yes." Beth said firmly. "I'm going to have a talk with my father tomorrow morning. And for once, he'll be the one who doesn't enjoy the conversation."

TO BE CONTINUED...

* * *

Yes, I included a TSM reference. :) Tefler's story is actually part of what inspired me to take up pen and ink again after a long hiatus from writing (unpublished) fiction. I submit new chapters on the last Wednesday of every month, so the next chapter will be submitted on September 28th. It usually drops 2-3 days later after the review process, so probably Sept 30th or Oct 1st. See you then!

I'd like to extend a very special thanks to two of my patrons, one of whom didn't want to be credited by name. So "Anonymous" and Joseph: thank you so much for your support. I really appreciate it.

STORY TAGS: dragon, magic, medieval, elf, teen, romance, virgin, cuckquean, harem