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The Mask Comes Off	By : Samson Category: -Misc Video Games/RPGs > Slash/Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 4984 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the Kingdoms of Amalur intellectual property, nor am I making any money off of this fanfic. Unauthorized duplication of this work is prohibited.

Chapter List
- 9
- 10
- 11
Reunion

The Mask Comes Off
Part III - "Destiny"
By: Jesse Racine AKA Samson
Original Date Written: March 29, 2016

After Hallam the White’s less than compassionate remarks about Miriam, Kelly was quick to stop following him and set out in search of her ejected friend, but Hallam swiftly put a stop to her brash behaviour. Taking the child of dust by the arm, stopping her from racing off on her own before the two of them could exchange their respective knowledge, he calmly asserted “Your friend is perfectly fine, I assure you. She can stand to wait a few minutes. I’ll accompany you until you’re close enough, but first, tell me about this magic you encountered.” Kelly gave him a harsh stare, mouth barely ajar with her heavy, flustered breathing. Eventually, she pulled her arm away from him, but decided that playing nice might’ve been for the best. Anything he knew would’ve been more than she and Miriam had been going off of, at least.

“It wasn’t me, actually. It was my friend. I only know what she’s told me, but I’ve seen the effect it’s had on her, with my own eyes.” Hallam resumed walking, keeping a rather casual pace with the Varani woman. Kelly gave a light shrug, brow faintly furrowed as she explained. Her eyes on the trail ahead, occasionally shifting in his general direction, she said “She says she was in a ruin somewhere, and had found a necklace in a treasure room when a man in a black robe snuck up behind her. She mentioned something about purple lights and hearing voices before falling unconscious, and when she came to, not only was the man and the necklace gone, but, well...Something had happened to her body. She figured magic was involved, and I guess that if someone like you is interested, then her hunch was right.”

“It would seem so. What was the physical effect, pray tell?” Hallam calmly asked, momentarily turning his head to look at her. Kelly subtly arched an eyebrow. Looking over in his direction, she slowly remarked “Err...It seemed benign, if...Slightly embarrassing. She’s not worried about her health, I don’t think it’s much to be concerned about.” “If I’m to help you, mortal, I need to know,” Hallam simply answered, looking over in time to catch her eyes. Kelly’s eyes slowly shifted around. She took in a quiet breath, found a polite way of wording it, and sighed the words out. “...It, eh...Duplicated her genitals. She grew a second penis, and a second pair of testicles. Like I said, it doesn’t seem to be life-threatening, although it’s not the sort of thing you’re used to seeing, every day.”

Hallam raised an eyebrow, was given pause for a moment, then agreed. “...No, I would imagine it isn’t. It is curious, however. It supports part of my ongoing theory, but doesn’t confirm it, entirely.” “Do you have any idea what could’ve caused that? I’ve never heard of an enchantment that could cause sudden growth like that, and on top of that, Miriam isn’t even wearing the necklace on her person - it seems to have left it’s mark on her just by touching it,” Kelly asked. Hallam gave a nod. “Indeed. I’ve heard of chaos magic having wild, unpredictable effects on the bodies of mortals, yet chaos magic is always visible as a very distinct red, not purple.”

“Chaos magic? Like...Niskaru, and such? I thought virtually all chaos magic had disappeared from the Faelands,” Kelly slowly commented, raising an eyebrow. “I used to be an actively serving soldier in the Warsworn, so I know that Niskaru are quite rare, but I had thought that all chaos magic, in general, had more or less faded away,” she added. Hallam lightly shook his head. “Not at all, young one. Ambient chaos magic is still very much present in Amalur, it’s simply receded beneath ground, hiding from the light. It’s in those same dark corridors that creatures of physical chaos often prowl, free to skulk unchecked. As I said, it was simply a theory. Your Warsworn have done an admirable job of containing chaos artifacts and preventing them from falling into the wrong hands, and it might’ve been possible that the necklace your friend found was an undiscovered relic, yet if the magic was purple...Hmm. That’s the odd part, in all this.”

“On top of that, doesn’t chaos magic have a nasty habit of robbing someone of all their wits? I can personally attest to the fact that Miriam hasn’t been turned into an uncontrollable psychopath,” Kelly chimed in. Hallam looked over at a nearby tree as they walked by, commenting “Yes, indeed...As a magic source, it was never intended for mortals or Fae. That your friend went without psychological harm would be a miracle, were she truly dealing with chaos magic. And yet, there isn’t much else I can think of that is both capable of causing such direct change to someone’s physical form, and would so pervasively seep into her surrounding environment...Quite the mystery, indeed.”

“Let me ask you something.” Hallam raised an eyebrow, looking over at Kelly. She was giving him a rather resolute stare, and after a nod, she went ahead and asked “Why are you even interested in all this? I thought the Fae kept to themselves, and didn’t really bother with anything that happens in mortal lives. The way you’re talking, this almost sounds like some scientific riddle you want to crack.” Hallam lightly shook his head. “I have always been interested in events of genuine note, but yes, I suppose you’re right. The majority of my kind don’t much care for anything that happens in your cities or lives, and yet a mortal became invaluable to the survival of the House of Ballads, saved the Court of Enchantments, and even became Wencen’s replacement.”

“It was a mortal who gained Great Nyralim’s blessing. It was a mortal whom High King Titarion proclaimed to be freed from Fate. It was mortals who put a stop to Gadflow and ended the Crystal War. Many of my kind look upon mortals as such transient beings, capable of so little. If that were an absolute, none of the things I mentioned should’ve been possible. The future of my kind is still in question, as is the future of our brothers and sisters in the Court of Winter, but for now, I would say that mortals deserve some measure of respect, if not at least our appreciation. That’s not the only reason I’m interested in this issue, however.” Hallam came to a stop, turning and facing Kelly, prompting the curvaceous Varani to do the same to him, in turn.

He raised his eyebrows, a little. Speaking as slowly and calmly as ever, his voice evocative of a patient father’s, he stated “A wandering member of the House of Ballads visited recently, and described a most curious tale. According to her, a young Almain girl had relayed a tale she was quite insistent was true, involving a talking Crudok whose essence glowed purple, rather than yellow, as it should normally be. The Crudok commanded an army of lesser Fae and razed the girl’s town, sparing only her, simply to hunt after her again, later on. Never in all my long Telling have I ever heard of such a thing, and it’s the only connection I have to what happened to your friend. It’s the only other case of this purple magic that I’ve become aware of.”

“You think this particular Crudok might’ve been touched by the magic, too? More than Miriam, maybe?” Kelly asked, crossing her arms beneath her bosom. “If not acting as the very cause and source of it, yes,” Hallam confirmed, giving a single nod. His brow began to furrow as he explained, his eyes subtly sharpening as he stated “The light all rudimentary Fae creatures give off, in one form of another, is a reflection of their eternal magical essence, their tie to Esharra. Nothing has ever altered that, save for perhaps Gadflow’s red prismere, although such a thing was evidently limited to Fae of the Courts, not mortals or Fae animals. All Crudoks, even the few and far between Greater Crudoks, have an essence that glows yellow, as is most common with Fae creatures.”

“No Fae creature has an essence which glows purple, let alone a Crudok, of all things. For that to change, it is no mere cosmetic alteration. If the story is true, then something has altered that creature on a very fundamental level. I suppose part of my curiosity stems from fear, in truth. Fear of the extrapolation that whatever happened to this creature could happen to the Courts, fear that something like Gadflow’s madness could occur, once again. Before that can happen, I’ll be leading my own personal investigation, and the first step is finding the girl who relayed the tale to Iluvia, and see if I can’t glean more details from her, myself.” Hallam’s knitted brow relaxed as he added “I’ve already scried the girl’s location. She’s headed for the Warsworn fortress here in Odarath, not far to the southeast. I would recommend you go there, yourself.”

Kelly raised an eyebrow, uncrossing her arms, cocking out a hip as she held her waist. “Why’s that? I promised to help my friend get help, or at least figure out what’s changed her body.” Hallam slowly looked off to the side, gazing towards his left, her right. “Trust me when I say that you’d be better off avoiding her, as well as other mortals, until I can get to the bottom of this. Your friend has been so thoroughly enriched by this magic that it bleeds out of her like a disease, and while I don’t believe I sense it in you, it very well could begin to affect you, too, if you spend too much time near her. If it behaves in you as it behaves in her, you could spread it to others, as well. I would recommend complete and total isolation for her, and for you, something less severe.”

“Less severe?” Kelly repeated, narrowing an eye. Hallam raised his eyebrows, looking back over at her. “Your Warsworn compatriots are familiar with containing magic that bleeds into the surrounding environs and creatures. They’d know how to accommodate you. If I can get to the bottom of this issue, if I can discover a way to reverse it and free individuals of this pervasive magic, I will personally cleanse your friend and check in on you. Until then, I can only give my recommendation. I cannot force you to do anything, but I would suggest taking as careful and prudent a path as possible. Until then, your friend is, frankly, getting too close for comfort. I’ll leave you to think on my counsel.”

“Hey, but-” Kelly tried to say. Hallam ignored her, floating a foot above the ground as a blue, sparkling magic began to radiate about his form, filling his hands like miniature stars. When he gestured about and thrust his arms downwards, his abruptly vanished with a distinctive twinkling noise, teleporting away in the blink of an eye. Kelly gave an irritated sigh, but a moment later, she became aware of Miriam’s hard footfalls. She looked over and called her good friend’s name, which immediately had the Dokkalfar calling out “Where is he?!”

“He just left, you just missed him,” Kelly answered, a smile growing on her face. The slender Alfar came bursting out from the nearby brush in a huff, a genuinely annoyed look on her face. Throwing her arms out at her sides, she exclaimed “What the hell was all that about? One second we’re talking, the next, I find myself half a kilometer away from the damn place! Did that jerk kick me out, or something?” Kelly gave a little nod, raising her eyebrows. “That’s exactly what he did, hon.” “Why? What crawled up his ass and died?” She indignantly bellowed, eyes wide with outrage. Kelly’s little smile remained unfazed, although she did reach up and absentmindedly thumb the side of her nose, a couple times.

“...It’s not really all that important, babe. He had some interesting ideas on what might’ve happened to you, though. Come on, I have an idea of my own for another good place we could stop at.” “Well...Like what?” Miriam asked, visibly calming down as Kelly walked towards her. As Miriam turned and followed at her side, Kelly mentioned “Shieldring Keep to the south, the Warsworn fortress I was originally stationed at. When I was up for re-enlistment and just decided to, you know, take some time to myself, I left some spare gear, there. They should still have my old armour and pike, along with some other stuff, at my old cot. It’ll be nice to see the old squad, again. Last I heard, they never ended up being shipped to Mel Senshir before the Siege Breaker killed the Balor, so they should all still be alive. At least, I hope they are.”

“Aw, man! We’re gonna be walking all week,” Miriam groaned, shoulders slumping. Kelly smiled. “Oh, boo-hoo. It won’t be all bad. It’ll give me time to explain what Hallam the White thinks might’ve happened to you, and give me some time of my own to try and figure it out...Plus, it’ll give us some time to ourselves.” Miriam’s face immediately lit up. She took in a gasp, but before she could breath a word, Kelly firmly repeated “Some! We’re not fucking around and wasting whole days, again!” Miriam deflated, but still gave a titter. Stepping closer to Kelly, she bumped her side against the other woman’s, mumbling “Well, alright...But, only if you’re my jizz fountain, this week. You drained me dry, on the way here.”

Kelly paused, then swallowed some excess saliva. Uh oh. Raising an eyebrow, she asked “And, uh...H-How often were you planning on getting a drink from this fountain?” Miriam gave another chuckle, easing her arm around Kelly’s waist. She could almost hear the Alfar salivating, already. When Miriam reached over and gave her crotch a pat, the Varani quietly took it, then amiably reached her arm around Miriam’s waist, in turn. She stayed still as the woman leaned in close, her breath warm against her ear as she whispered “It’s your turn, hon. I’m gonna milk those big, brown nuts of your’s until you don’t even have drops, left. I’m gonna suck on that big prick of your’s so often, you won’t even have time to wipe my lipstick off, you little slut.” Miriam chortled at the stirring she felt, under the woman’s skirt. She pressed a kiss to Kelly’s cheek, then eased back. Kelly was grinning. Just what kind of trouble was she in for?

Before Leah could properly get the Warsworn fortress in view, Hallam’s voice abruptly broke the silence from behind her, shocking her so badly that she nearly leapt right out of her own skin. “You must be the Almain girl who saw this talking Crudok. I must speak with you, mortal.” After going days on end without hearing a voice besides her own, to have someone suddenly hail her from behind had Leah’s hand fumbling for her rapier. She barely managed to pull it free before she had turned around, holding it up with a patently obvious lack of experience. Even Leah didn’t look all too confident about what she was doing, judging by the way she kept shifting her hand and adjusting her grip on the thrusting sword.

Hallam didn’t look particularly impressed. His eyes dropped to the tip of the sword, quaking and quivering about from Leah’s shaking hand. Leah barked at him, loudly ordering “Hey! Back off, whoever you are! J-Just, keep away! I have a sword, okay? I’m not afraid to use it!” Hallam’s eyes rose back up to Leah’s. He ignored the warning, either because she simply wasn’t intimidating, or because he knew she was open to reason.. Raising a hand to his chest, he momentarily pressed his palm against himself as he introduced himself. “I am known as Hallam the White, Chamberlain to the Court of Enchantments, and Chancellor to the House of Ballads. I mean you no harm, mortal. Iluvia passed on your tale, and I’ve come to investigate.” Leah’s eyes widened, a little. She looked down at her own weapon, the thin, narrow blade visibly dancing to and fro thanks to her uncertain grip.

She carefully began sheathing the rapier, having to stare down at her scabbard and carefully guide the tip into the mouth of the sheath. “Oh. S-Sorry, I had no idea! I’m really sorry, I hope I didn’t offend you, er...My lord?” “No titles are necessary, Hallam is quite enough. What’s your name, mortal?” A faint click arising as Leah pushed the rapier all the way into place, she looked up at him and took her hand from her weapon, approaching with her arm extended. “Uh, Leah, sir. Leah Bruin. I’m a native to these parts. Sorry for pulling my sword on you, I’ve been travelling for days, and I’ve barely seen anybody, this whole time. You kind of surprised me. The roads are dangerous right now, I almost thought you were another Brownie.”

Hallam glanced down at her hand and, instead of shaking it, bowed his head in greeting. Leah looked down at herself, as well. She subtly wiped her hand on her shorts, then gave a little bow, of her own. Hallam’s unfeeling eyes remained locked on her’s in an unblinking stare as he brought her up to speed on the situation. “I wasn’t aware that the territory was any more dangerous than usual. Iluvia, a member of the House of Ballads, returned to us to inform us of a most peculiar tale that you relayed to her, one about a Crudok capable of speech, one whose eyes glowed purple.” Leah gave a nod, her lips briefly pressing together in a little grimace. “Yeah, uh...It happened a long time ago. I was just a kid when it happened.”

“How can you be certain that you remember correctly, in that case?” Hallam bluntly asked. Leah blinked. Slowly turning her head towards the side, her eyes remained locked on his. Lightly raising her eyebrows, her mouth hanging open a crack, she firmly insisted “No offence, but you don’t forget something, like that. I’ve been trying to forget, ever since then.” Hallam finally blinked. “Well then, what precisely happened?” Leah gave a little sigh, putting her hands to her flared hips. She dropped her chin a little, staring down at the ground. “...There used to be a village around these parts. I’m not completely sure where, I was too young,” she started off with. Hallam gave a nod of understanding.

“One day, something happened. We were attacked, and I think I was the only survivor. When I went outside, I found myself face-to-face with this giant Crudok and an army of these gray-furred Brownies-” “Wait, gray? Not brown?” Hallam interrupted, blinking. Leah raised an eyebrow, glancing up into his eyes as she nodded. “Yeah, just like I said, gray. I’ve seen a whole bunch of them all over Odarath, ever since this all started. That was, uh...A week ago, maybe. If you walk around enough, you’re bound to find one, yourself.” Hallam’s eyes drifted off to the side. “Why? Does that make a difference?” Leah asked, her eyes going keen and alert. Hallam quietly remarked “Yes, I would say so, but go on with your tale. My apologies for interrupting. What happened next?”

Leah sighed, her eyes going downwards, again. “Well, the Crudok talked to me, then. It told me to run away, and that I’d survive, but...That it’d find me again, some time later, and finish what it had started. Well, that’s not the precise wording. It mentioned Fate, and how nothing can ever escape it. It made it sound like it was my destiny to be killed by it, and that there was nothing I could do about it.” Hallam’s mouth hung open, a crack. His brow furrowed, a touch, as he closed his mouth, his eyes drifting off to the side as he gave a pensive hum. He crossed one arm over his chest and brought the other hand to his mouth and chin, pacing off to the side. Leah watched him with interest, hurriedly pressing him to explain. “What, why’s that a big deal? Are you a Fateweaver? Is it my destiny, f-for that thing to kill me?”

“That’s not what’s intriguing to me, mortal. What’s intriguing to me is that this new magic would be able to affect a Fae creature...This entire dilemma is an enigma.” Hallam quietly stated, pacing back towards her. Staring into her eyes, he laid it all out on the line for the mortal, stating “Brownies with gray fur are a very distinct variant of the norm, which originate from the far eastern border of Klurikon, near the very edge of the Faelands with the Almain kingdom of Fortenmar, just beyond. They’re the Court of Winter equivalent to our own brown-furred variant. For them to be coming en masse this far into the Court of Summer’s domain is...Like many things these days, evidently, unheard of. Although, Brownies are, by nature, subservient, and might follow a creature powerful enough over great distances.”

“The Crudok that wiped out my village,” Leah firmly asserted, her brow furrowing deep. Hallam didn’t react to confirm or deny the concept. He simply continued his train of thought, almost vocalizing his thoughts aloud as he commented “Just minutes before, I was relayed a different tale from a Varani woman about a Dokkalfar who had been touched by just such a purple magic, and had, in fact, been saturated by it, which caused it to slowly seep out into her surroundings. I can’t yet discern the origins or nature of this magic, but I find it prudent to be cautious of it. I don’t sense it in you, however, so this affected Crudok must not have marked you with it. Very curious...One case resulted in a bodily transformation, while another resulted in...Development of sentience? In what manner did the Crudok speak?”

“Uh...Well, it didn’t sound stupid, if that’s what you mean,” Leah mumbled. “It came across pretty smart, to me. Smart enough to track me down, apparently. It talked, just like either one of us. A week ago, I was still at my family’s farm, arguing with one jerk brother or butting heads with my parents about the clothes I want to wear. When I heard that Brownies were all over the place, going crazy and attacking everyone in sight, I ran away. I was hoping the Warsworn might be able to protect me, even if it means signing on with them as a soldier,” she added. Hallam gave another pensive nod. Dropping his arms, he muttered “Development of sentience, development of critical thinking and higher reasoning skills...Unheard of.”

Hallam took in a breath, then slowly sighed it back out. Leah could tell by his tone of voice that he was ready to depart and investigate whatever leads he felt she had managed to give him. “Very well. Thank you for the additional details, you’ve given me much to ponder, in this...Most unusual dilemma. If the roads are as dangerous as you say, I would encourage your decision to take shelter with the Warsworn. Not many mortals remember this, but the Warsworn were the greatest Niskaru hunters of Amalur in their heyday, and were staunch opponents of all things dark and chaotic. Even with their dedication to opposing the Tuatha Deohn in the Crystal War, and the resultant losses they faced, they’re nonetheless a force to be reckoned with.”

“You’re minutes away from them, and if you have nowhere else to go, you should be quite safe, there. I’ve recommended others head for the keep as well, although for different reasons.” Leah gave a nod, commenting “Well, alright. I hope what I said can help, somehow. If you can stop the Crudok, I can’t tell you how thankful I’d be.” “I can only promise to investigate this phenomenon,” Hallam bluntly, and noticeably noncommitally, stated. A moment later, he had teleported away from her in the same fashion that he had from Kelly, levitating a foot above the ground before vanishing with a twinkle, his aura of magic disappearing in the process.

Leah blinked a couple times, brushing the back of her hand against her nose as she turned and continued on her way. That had been an unexpected development, but if any good came of it, it’d be a weight off of her shoulders. A minute later, she had broken through the thick of the stout trees and emerged next to an old ruin, little more than broken walls, devastated columns, and overgrown stone floors. Across from her, on the other side of a spacious dirt road leading into neighbouring Glendara, was a breathtaking sight: massive Shieldring Keep, the furthest west bastion of the Warsworn, in the Faelands.

The great architecture, a veritable castle, had been crafted from a mixture of sandy brown and ash gray brick. It created a jagged silhouette against the golden evening sky with it’s numerous tall towers, the ramparts of which stood like the arches on a king’s crown. The sealed entrance, blocked with a shut gate, had been fashioned from a rich, maple-coloured wood, reinforced around the frame with a cobweb of ebony metal. On either side of the gate, and all over the grounds before the keep’s entrance for that matter, stood the proud azure and ivory banner of the Warsworn, erected atop wooden standard-bearers. The organization’s standard reflected it’s storied history, depicting a blue wyrm wrapping itself around a spear up to the very tip, a golden shield standing behind it’s head.

There was no quick, direct way to the keep entrance. Standing atop but a small hill with a wide open expanse directly between the keep and the rest of Odarath, the exceedingly large channel leading towards the gate had been cut down to size by numerous sharpened log walls, preventing a horde from simply charging the gates. Instead, they’d need to head to either side and rise a short flight of stone steps, both of which were presently, and therefore presumably at all times, under guard by more than a few knights. Leah couldn’t help but smile with relief at the grand sight, but it was short-lived.

At first, she couldn’t have felt more at ease that her journey was finally over and respite was in sight, but then, she again considered her old complaint: why hadn’t the Warsworn gone out and dealt with the bona fide army of Brownies, prowling scant miles, if not kilometers, beyond their front door? Clearing her throat, she started off across the dirt road, trying to think of what she would say, trying to imagine what the inside of that grand keep might look like. Who should she ask for? Should she ask for anyone? Would she be able to just walk right in? What if they refused to shelter her? Was it really the right idea, joining them for succour? Would it even be necessary?

She had to push herself, just to toss aside the concerns. What was she getting so worked up, for? It wasn’t like her to feel so down, on something. Of course they’d take her in! They weren’t just going to throw her to the wolves, that’s silly. Everything would turn out great, even that Fae had suggested she go to the Warsworn for aid. As she made her way towards the nearest set of cleanly crafted steps, her eyes roamed the helmeted figures standing rigid at the top, their steel armour glimmering with polish under even the weakening sunlight. Each had a tall spear standing in their right hand, the length of the weapons formed from a pale yellow metal, the jagged heads crafted from a dull gray iron.

None of them stopped her, spoke to her, or even seemed to acknowledge her as she made for the front gate. It wasn’t until she were right up against the gate, looking around for some way to open it, that one of the soldiers finally paid attention to her. She turned around as she heard his armour rattle and clang, the man tapping the blunt end of his spear down against the floor with every step up the stone stairway. “Excuse me, ma’am. Were you looking to place a bounty?” Leah gave a friendly smile and briefly raised her hand in greeting. She twisted her hips and grabbed the handle of her rapier, showing off her weapon as she cheerily said “Well, to be honest, I was thinking of joining, actually.”

The other soldier standing guard at the foot of the stairs barely turned his head to the side. The one standing before Leah seemed conflicted for a moment, breathing out “Well, uh-” Leah gave a little shrug, the warmth on her face fizzling away with a sense of distressed sincerity. “I need help, honestly, and I was kind of hoping to talk to someone who would hear me out. But, if I had to, I’d be willing to join, if it meant protection. Don’t worry, I’m not in trouble with the law, or anything. If I had the coin, I’d definitely know a certain something that could do with dealing with. In fact, that what I wanted to talk to whoever’s in charge here, about. Odarath has a big problem, right now.”

The soldier seemed a tad uncomfortable, judging by the way his rigid posture began to waver. Slowly, he remarked “Well...I can let you inside, ma’am, but I can’t promise that you’ll be allowed entry into the Warsworn, although I can tell you right now, we’ve been hungry for nonstop recruits every since the beginning days of the Crystal War, and we haven’t replenished our ranks, yet. Between you and me, I guess most people are still getting warfare out of their systems, and aren’t even thinking of mercenary work. I can’t promise you’ll be given any sort of asylum, though, regardless of whatever trouble you’re in. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of us doing that sort of thing before, at least not here at Shieldring Keep.”

Leah just smiled again, shrugging. It was worth a shot, wasn’t it? The soldier stepped to the side and approached a circular lever that Leah had entirely failed to notice, embedded into the stone wall of the fortress. As he pulled and cranked it around, metal clinked and strained, and slowly, the gate began to rise, pulled upwards by a network of chains and pulleys inside the fortress walls. Finally, once the gate had risen high enough, Leah thanked him and stepped inside, prompting one of the guards inside to slowly rotate another crank, easing the gate back down. Aside from that, however, none of the guards paid any attention to her, leaving her to walk the halls by herself.

Leah looked around with internalized gasps, her healthy sense of amazement filling her fit to bursting with wonder at the fabulous architecture surrounding her. She stood in a hallway with a circular room lying before her, a rather thick column of light billowing down onto a stone statue she wasn’t near enough to make out, just yet. The ceiling was monstrously high, almost impossibly so, prompting the young Almain to marvel at how the architects could’ve ever actually built the fortress with their own hands. The windows on either side of her were stained a deep, berry blue, dimming the light washing over her to a comforting intensity. On the floor of the hallway were several large, square shaped rugs, designed with repeating patterns in a blue and white that matched the institution’s noble banner.

Ebony braziers were lit on either side of the hallway and in a ring around the room ahead, with large puddles of oil acting as fuel for the torrential flames, providing the extraordinarily spacious fastness with additional light and warmth. Once Leah had crossed the hallway and entered the circular room, she couldn’t help but twist and turn around, looking all over the place like a child entering a Gnome’s candy shop, for the first time. The grand stone statue in the center of the room, illuminated by a large circular window in the center of the domed ceiling so very high above, depicted a man in a fearsome set of armour, a war hammer as tall as he standing in his right hand, his left arm upraised to display the severed head of some ghastly creature.

Leah couldn’t even begin to hazard a guess at what monstrosity the head had belonged to, but the bisected jawbone was a less than comforting sight. Now that she was close enough, Leah noticed that there was what appeared to be a metal throne at the base of the statue, although it went unoccupied, for the time being. More lit braziers and clay pots, as well as sealed urns, circled the perimeter of the grand chamber, and copies of the central statue had been placed towards the left and right hand sides, flanking the tall doorways leading to other areas of the fortress. A third passageway stood on the far side of the chamber from her, behind the grand statue of the hero, which was flanked on either side by immense displays bearing the standard of the Warsworn.

Leah had barely gotten her observations out of her system when she heard someone approaching her, just in front of her. She looked down just as a man with the most ridiculous facial hair she had ever seen in her entire life, a thick pair of stark-white muttonchops, spoke up in a dignified, nasally tone, asking “Yes, miss? My name’s Idwold Freward, at your service. How may I help you? Were you here to sponsor a bounty? If so, I can help you.” Leah looked down at him, letting her eyes run from his white ponytail to his big nose, then his gold-trimmed steel armour, and finally to the handle of a greatsword sticking up past his shoulder, the weapon secured to his back with what looked to her like a great big leather belt, fastened about his torso from over his breastplate.

Leah gave him a friendly smile and a little wave, cheerily answering “Hi, there. My name’s Leah Bruin. I wasn’t actually looking to post a bounty, I’m sorry to say. Um, if it’s not too much trouble, could I talk to whoever’s in charge, around here?” Idwold’s brow visibly furrowed at her attitude, which he clearly interpreted as irreverent. Before he could speak, however, she continued, her own brow furrowing back at him with confusion. Momentarily shutting one eye, she glanced off to the side, adding “...Because, um, I spent days walking here, and I ran across a whole mess of gray Brownies, and it sounds to me like they’ve been attacking people like crazy all over Odarath, and I was just wondering why the Warsworn haven’t been doing anything about it...Sir. No disrespect intended.”

Idwold’s brow unknit itself in an instant, the man’s eyes drifting off to the side. He answered with a slow, ponderous tone, stating “Ah, yes, well, it isn’t my station to say, one way or another. I believe our Castellan, Tine Delfric, is already aware of the situation, and is still assessing it. I’d normally advise you to bring it up with him, as he’s usually always available to speak with visitors. However, he departed from Shieldring Keep just a few days ago in order to host a summit with the other Castellans and highest-ranking members of the Warsworn, and isn’t expected back for another couple of weeks.” At first, his tone made her eyes narrow, but when he mentioned how long Delfric would be gone for, her jaw dropped and her eyes bugged out. “Another couple of weeks?” She blurted out. “Can’t I talk to anyone else? I can’t stress how important this is, man!”

Idwold lightly shook his head, raising an eyebrow. “I’m afraid nobody else has the authority for what it sounds like you’re asking for. Tine Delfric is our Ancient of War, and is on top of that this keep’s Castellan - only he has the authority, here, to order out anything more than squad. If you’re concerned about traders being attacked on the roads, you could always post a bounty, and if you don’t have the gold, I suppose you could always try to convince a Pledgeshield of your cause. If there’s no recompense involved, however, I’d pass on the idea, myself.” “But, there’s a Crudok out there, ordering an army, looking for me!” Leah blurted out, quickly growing flustered. She had come all this way, and this obstinate stuffed shirt was going to turn her away just because she had shown up on the wrong day?

Idwold held his hips, briefly looking down at his feet as he took in a sharp breath and quickly sighed it back out. Raising his eyebrows high, he looked back up at her, a subtly condescending tone in his voice as he remarked “...A Crudok is looking for you...I suppose the young ones do have the wildest imaginations. Well, listen, young lady, I’m sure that whatever was chasing you ran far, far away, the moment it realized you were coming to this keep. If you’re in some other kind of trouble, I can’t help you if you just make up stories.” Leah almost lost her cool, her face swiftly going pink with rage. Yet, as tempting as it was, before she could loudly insist that she was telling the truth, her mind abruptly shifted to a different solution.

Putting on a convincing smile, she chuckled and sheepishly said “Eh heh, I-I guess you’re right, it’s probably run off, by now. Well, is there any way I could stay here, for a little while? I’d even be willing to join, if I had to. I don’t mind, if it keeps a roof over my head and a bed under my back. I think I’d make a great soldier.” She lightly pushed up her shoulders and turned her head to the side, a little, letting him see more one side of her face than the other, hoping it was a feminine enough pose that he’d be caught off-guard. She even turned her knees inwards, a little, believing it would make her look all the more harmless, and thus, worthy of accommodation.

Idwold simply arched an eyebrow and, with a noticeable attempt at avoiding offence, coolly quipped “You? A Hireling?” Leah raised her eyebrows, a big, bright smile growing from ear to ear across her face. Pointing at her midriff, exposed between her tube top and short shorts, she remarked “Are you kidding me? Look at me. I have washboard abs! Of course I could be a soldier, if I really wanted to. I’m in great shape, I’ve spent nearly my whole life on a farm! I can handle some training, just tell me what to do, man!” Idwold gave a blink, staring into her eyes for several long, tense seconds before he finally looked down at the sword handle, by her side. “...You know how to use that thing?” He tiredly asked.

Leah glanced down at her rapier, then back up. “Y-Yeah. Uh, definitely. Yes. Sir.” She nodded, smile intact. Idwold looked up into her eyes, one eyebrow still raised. After a couple moments, he tiredly said “...Very well, you’re a Hireling, now. That means you’re an associate member of the order. It doesn’t amount to much, and thus, you are not entitled to much.” He raised his head back up, drawing in a breath, sighing as he spoke. “Cots in the common quarters, to the north, are for Pledgeshields and above, so you don’t qualify for a bed. Nothing stops you from going home, at any time. The forge, as well as the commissary...If you were interested in purchasing and wearing actual armour, which I suppose you can’t, if you don’t have the gold for a bounty...Are in the east wing of the fortress.”

Leah grinned and held her shapely hips, enthusiastically asking “Great! So, how do I rank up? A bed’s, uh, kind of a priority, right now.” Idwold’s eyes slowly rose up, then went to the side as he turned his head, looking over his shoulder. Even though it was apparent he had barely resisted the urge to roll his eyes, she didn’t let it ruin her relief at being accepted. He pointed at a wooden billboard standing nearby, covered over with nailed pieces of parchment and flanked on either side by candles atop tall metal rods. “A Hireling ranks up by taking on bounties and proving their mettle, as well as their honour, through conflict. The jobs aren’t often the most glorious, but they’re nonetheless important, and it earns the order, as well as you, coin.”

He turned back to look at her. “Once you’ve earned enough accolades, someone will notice, and you’ll be given your first promotion. But, er...Please, don’t take this the wrong way, I offer this advice out of the goodness of my heart...” He leaned in a little, raised both eyebrows, and quietly remarked “Don’t even think of trying to take any bounties until you’ve at least gotten yourself a suit of armour. My advice? Go out in the front yard and practice your fighting skills on the dummies we have. I can tell just by the way you wear your belt that you don’t have the first clue about swordplay.” Leah’s by then genuine smile quickly withered, her good spirits thoroughly doused as his words scraped harshly across her ego. Her chin dropping, he was already walking past her as she mumbled “Oh, uh...Okay...Thanks...”

Nearly a week passed by. Without a bed to rest her head inside the keep, Leah made do like she had during her trip to keep, sleeping out under the stars just outside the keep’s front gate. Leah never heard talk of the Brownies or the Crudok, but at the same time, she failed to see any of them emerge out in the open near the keep. Knowing that there was a squad of guards keeping watch over the keep’s gate at all times, and thus watching her at all times, gave her a sense of relative peace she hadn’t felt since the family farm. Occasionally, a Fae owl took residence in a nearby tree and stared at her, but beyond that, her week was a lonely one.

None of the Warsworn ever seemed intent on socializing with her, and conversations ceased if she attempted to approach anyone. At first, Leah hadn’t been quite sure what the cause of it all was. After all, she had spotted a few of the men looking at her, especially whenever she was passing them by. Leah eventually realized, however, that she shouldn’t take it personally. After all, they were all Pledgeshields, genuine members of the order, while she was just a Hireling, little more than a mercenary to an order of professional mercenaries. However, as she spent her hours outside, having mock battles with armour-clad dummies and trying her best to become familiar with her rapier’s strengths and weaknesses, she couldn’t help but notice that nobody ever came out to tutor her.

No soldiers offered her wisdom. Nobody in the upper ranks offered to train her, or even so much as oversee her education. Not even the soldier who had first told her that the order had been desperate for recruits came to encourage her, ultimately leaving her entirely alone to her own devices for days on end. Leah was quick to push those thoughts aside, telling herself that her isolation was simply a case of nobody having the time to tutor her, yet when combined with the silent treatment the rest of the soldiers had been giving her, she couldn’t help but get the nagging sensation that she wasn’t truly wanted around the keep. She tried not to let it bother her, but it didn’t take long after that suspicion first reared it’s ugly head in her mind that she began to feel discouraged. Feeling crestfallen quickly became feeling dejected, but she told herself that as long as she was safe from the Crudok, feeling like an irritating outsider was tolerable.

It wasn’t long after that point that Kelly and Miriam finally arrived at Shieldring Keep, having made the long trip from the northern House of Ballads to the southern fortress in about the same length of time it had taken for Leah to arrive from the Bruin farm. Over the course of their journey, they had had more than a couple run-ins with the gray Brownies that were ostensibly the heralds of Leah’s intelligent Crudok, and were they, themselves, quite ready to attest to the fact that Odarath was veritably overrun with the berserk little fiends. Normally, a Brownie on it’s own was fairly shy, and wouldn’t risk trying to attack something so much bigger than it, but these gray ones had no such bashfulness, and would throw themselves at humans and elves alike, seemingly without any regard for their own safety.

Their injuries had taken up the last of their potions a couple days ago, and the two of them were more than relieved to have shelter coming into sight. Kelly, still an official Shieldsister, herself, had promised Miriam a place to rest for a couple days, and the Dokkalfar, weary from the road, had been very vocally looking forward to a warm bed, ever since then. As the two of them made their way up the main road crossing just before the fortress, Kelly glanced over onto the platform, noticing the unarmoured figure practicing her thrusts at an old straw dummy, covered over in half a suit of rusty steel platemail. All it took was a moment or two for Kelly’s brow to furrow in excitement. Aloud, she bluntly remarked “...I’d recognize that ass anywhere.”

“Hm?” Miriam hummed, raising her eyebrows as she turned her head. Kelly started grinning nice and wide, showing off her pearly white teeth as she quickened her pace. Miriam, meanwhile, slowed down, eyes widening as she spotted where Kelly’s eyes had landed. Oh, wow. Her brow sank, while her lips puckered up. A girl with an ass like that had no business wearing such tight little shorts, not unless she was trying to signal loud and clear that it was for more than show. Was that the girly-boy Kelly was so stuck on, these days? Miriam glanced to the side, then grinned and quickened her pace, jogging after Kelly with a giggle.

When she reached the base of the stairs, a soldier there immediately noticed her, his posture relaxing as he quietly exclaimed “By Mitharu, is that you, Kellier?” Kelly came to a quick stop at the base of the steps, raising her eyebrows. Miriam, too, came to an abrupt stop, unused to hearing Kelly’s full name being spoken aloud. “Aesa?” Kelly asked, a smile rapidly growing across her face. “Aesa Alfarrin, is that you, you old backstabber?” The guard broke out into a bit of laughter, his grin barely visible under his steel helmet. Miriam watched somewhat vacantly as Kelly threw her arms around the man, his free arm going around her waist as he hugged her back.

The man clapped her over the back after a moment, and the two released each other. Grinning, Kelly clapped him over the chest with the back of her hand, shifting her weight to one foot as she remarked “What, they got you on front door guard duty, now? Who’d you piss off?” Aesa gave a dry chuckle. “Funny. Remind me, how many times were you ordered to polish every spear and suit of armour for the squad, again? Insubordination sure is costly.” Kelly held her hips, narrowing an eye as her grin grew even wider. Before she could find a suitable retort, he continued, his tone noticeably shifting. “It has nothing to do with punishment. We’re still undermanned, at Shieldring. I’m not sure what’s done it, but we haven’t seen an honest-to-gods new recruit in...A couple months, now, I think. Not a single new person.”

Kelly’s grin faltered. She let go of her hips as he added “A lot of people have been talking. Most think it’s that people are just weary after those Tuatha bastards. The Crystal War lasted ten whole years, and thousands of people were sent off to Mel Senshir, just to die. I don’t think people are much interested in anything that could cost more lives, right now. People are probably just starting families and trying to, you know, move on. Have children and try to be happy.” “Urgh, who in their right mind wants kids? Horrible little terrors, they are,” Miriam snidely remarked, out of the corner of her mouth. Kelly and Aesa both gave her a quick glance, but otherwise didn’t respond to the unnecessary comment.

“I get what you mean, Aesa,” Kelly quietly said. After a moment’s silence, she took in a little sniff and said “Well, I’m sorry to say that I’m not back to re-enlist, officially. I’m still doing a bit of wandering and living, myself. But, I was planning on sticking around for a couple days, hopefully talk to Delfric about the state of Odarath. I think I speak for everyone living in the territory when I say that it’s all of a sudden turned into a Jottun’s cloaca, thanks to a whole mess of Brownies that’re terrorizing the roads.” Aesa gave a harsh sigh, his shoulders slumping until even his pauldrons shifted downwards. “We know,” he remarked.

Kelly and Miriam both raised eyebrows. “Then why haven’t you done anything? We never saw any of you Warsworn on the roads,” Miriam was quick to question. Aesa slowly looked over at her, just as slowly answering “...Because, like I said a minute ago, we’re still undermanned, and none of the other keeps have been able to spare men for reinforcements. Tine Delfric’s quite aware of the issue, trust me, but we don’t have the men, and I suppose he isn’t quite so sure, just yet, that the issue’s a real threat to the entire realm. Still, he left to have a summit with the other Castellans and highest-ranking Warsworn over a week ago, so maybe he’s discussing it, with them.”

Looking back over at Kelly, he added “Maybe checking to see if they have new men they can send our way, I don’t know,” with a little shrug. Kelly raised an eyebrow, peeking past Aesa’s side. She stood up on her tippy-toes, hoping to catch a glimpse of Leah, but couldn’t hope to see even a lock of the bodacious trap’s strawberry red hair from the bottom of the steps. Under her breath, she muttered “...You sure you haven’t gotten any new recruits? Because I could’ve sworn I saw someone practicing their sword on your training dummies, as I was walking over.” At that Aesa gave another shrug. Kelly could see him roll his eyes, under his helmet. Somewhat flatly, he remarked “Oh, right. I had forgotten. Leah.”

Kelly grinned, again. Thank the gods, the girly-boy was safe and the two of them had finally crossed paths, again! She glanced at Miriam and gave her a wink, but when Aesa continued, Kelly’s glee withered. Aesa rather bluntly and unapologetically stated “She showed up about a week ago, and she hasn’t gone away, ever since then. Rumour has it she demanded to speak to old Delfric so that he’d do something about those Brownies, and said a Crudok was chasing her. Pah, yeah right. She wasn’t even wearing armour when she showed up, and she said she wanted to be a soldier. You believe that? Apparently, she’s just after a bed. Disgraceful.”

Kelly’s brow slowly furrowed in confusion. She blinked a couple times, shifting her weight to the other hip as she held her hips. “Whoa, hold up, a second. Back that up. She said a Crudok was after her?” Aesa tilted his head to the side, although his helmet prevented him from doing it too far. “Yeah. Sounds like a drunken nighttime blunder making someone afraid of a deer, if you ask me. Rumour also goes Idwold only told her she was a Hireling, but that he was only really saying it to make her go away. I, uh...I kind of feel bad for how she’s been treated, especially since she can’t seem to take a hint. Nobody’s going to tell her to just leave, but nobody has the heart to tell her that she’s not cut out to be Sworn to War, either. I don’t think she does, either, but everyone’s just been ignoring her and wasting her time. It’s been a bit cruel.”

Kelly didn’t answer. She knew it’d probably bruise Leah’s feelings to hear it, but she had to agree with the man. Still, that wasn’t much of an excuse - during the Crystal War, the order had been so desperate for reinforcements to send out to Klurikon that new recruits had gotten barely a week or two of training before they were off to Rathir. To passive-aggressively deny Leah a chance was shameful, to say the least. When Kelly said nothing, Miriam piped up. An empty-headed smile on her face, she quipped “Ya know, I might not look very strong, but I can whip around this greatsword of mine like it was a twig. Just because she doesn’t have the polish of a real soldier, doesn’t mean you can’t make use of her.”

Aesa barely glanced at her, then seemed to simply ignore her. He reached out and clapped the back of his gauntlet to Kelly’s stomach, quietly saying “Hey, look...I know what’s on your mind. Yeah, it’s...It’s embarrassing, the way the girl’s been treated. She’s greener than the grass of Dalentarth, but weren’t we all, at some point? But...I guess it’s a case of nobody being in the mood to handle it, what with us being stretched thin. She’s the first person knocking on our door for more than patronage on a job in weeks, but nobody seems to want to help her train. At least we’ve kept her fed.”

Kelly shook her head, looked up to his eyes, and, with just a hint of indignation, asked “Why hasn’t any of the more experienced soldiers stepped up and overseen her training, at least? She’s alone over there, for crying out loud! You never train alone, it’s one of the first things we’re taught!” “I know that, but...” Aesa sighed. He looked down, shook his head, and met her eyes, again. Again, he cut straight to the heart of it, commenting “...I think she just made a bad first impression. I mean, she shows up in skimpy clothing that, uh...Ahem, left little to the imagination, demands to speak to Delfric, so the story goes, and then doesn’t even know how to use her sword, properly. She’s just some local farmgirl, looking for a place to stay. I think most just want her to go back home.”

“She walks around the place, trying to chat with people, and...She’s just a Hireling, and not even that, if the stories are to be believed. She’s not really one of us, at least not yet. She’s an outsider, and one who turns a lot of heads, wherever she goes. Part of me doesn’t blame Idwold for not taking her seriously and hoping she’d just leave, but she’s been sleeping outside the keep for a week, now. Somebody should’ve taken her seriously and tried to whip her into shape by now, but everyone’s been too busy with their own work, trying to do as many jobs as they can and bring in as much coin...Heck, I might’ve even taken her under my wing, myself, if I had had the time. No doubt the bounties coming in will start dealing with these Brownies, though, and if they’re as bad as you say, maybe I should give them a look.”

Kelly sighed and nodded. “I get it, she’s as green as a Murghan’s gills. She doesn’t know how to conduct herself like a soldier, so nobody respects her as one. You know, I didn’t act like a soldier, either, when I first came here. I still don’t, most of the time. Doesn’t mean I can’t fight, or don’t take pride in the order.” Aesa gave another shrug, passing his spear to his other hand. Giving a helpless sigh, he remarked “Well, at least she’s safe here, if she’s really running from some kind of trouble. At least nobody’s lacked the pity to try and take that from her. Still, again, I admit, it isn’t right that she’s just been left alone the whole time that she’s been here. Training herself isn’t going to get her far, and nobody’s stepping up to help her. Since you’re here, uh...”

Kelly nodded, looking intently into his eyes. Matter-of-factly, she remarked “That’s exactly what I was going to say, next. If nobody’s going to step up, then I will.” She glanced off to the side, sighed through her nose, and started smiling, again. She clapped him on the chest again, then finished off with “Well, it was good seeing you again, Aesa. Since I plan on sticking around for a couple days, you, me, and the squad should get together and have some drinks, catch me up on what I’ve missed.” Aesa chuckled and agreed, remarking “Sure, Kellier. I’ll let the boys know you’re back in town. See you around.” Kelly smiled and, as she walked past him with Miriam, leaned over and whispered into her friend’s ear “Let me do the introductions, I’m sure you’ll like Leah, too.”

Miriam gave a shrug, a blank smile still lingering on her face. Kelly smiled from ear to ear as she reached the top of the stairs, eyes locking on Leah’s unmistakable silhouette. With hips like that, it could be nobody else, she was certain. Leah was wearing different clothes than the last time she had seen her. Instead of that tight dress she had had on, she was wearing a little tube top with a pair of shorts so small, the back of Kelly’s old thong was visibly sticking up, peeking out over the top as the strings clung to her hips.

Kelly wanted to grin and put her forehead to her palm at the same time. Sexy as hell, putting that enormous, jiggly ass on display, but definitely not the kind of thing one wears while petitioning to be accepted as a knight. No, she wouldn’t be surprised if Leah had made a horrendous first impression, but that should’ve just spurred some indignant veteran into making an honest soldier out of her. She approached Leah from behind, watching the girl clumsily thrust her rapier at the training dummy, barely containing her grin as she teasingly asked “You sure you even know how to use that thing? Because it sure doesn’t look to me like ya do, hon.”

Leah was quick to turn around, eyebrows high as her eyes lit up. She still had to look down and hold her scabbard as she clumsily sheathed her blade, stumbling over her own tongue as she blurted out “Kelly! By Mitharu, I...Gods, w-what’re you doing, here? Thank the gods the Brownies didn’t get you, too! It’s so good to see you, again!” Kelly’s eyes briefly widened with glee when she noticed Leah’s not-so-flat chest. Clearly, those piercings she had picked up had been no fakes. Leah had filled out a little in the two weeks or so that they had been apart, and now, the girl’s tube top showed off the rather clearly defined shapes of her new buds, both big enough fill someone’s palm. She still had a long way to go if she wanted to have cock-masseuse tits, but at least her figure wasn’t quite so pear-shaped, now.

Kelly chortled, holding open her arms for a hug as the trap hurried towards her. Miriam watched with a little smile as the shorter Almain threw her arms around the Varani’s mid section, and with Kelly almost a full head taller than Leah, the smaller girl’s face was nearly buried into Kelly’s expansive cleavage. The two of them squeezed each other tight, but as they released each other, Kelly was quick to kick it up a notch. Miriam grinned as the Varani reached her arms down lower, planted both hands over Leah’s protruding bubble butt, and started kneading her through her shorts, pulling the girl’s hips over until they were in a full-body embrace. Leah gasped, her eyes widening just a little, but the gasp morphed into a sigh as Kelly leaned in, locking her lips to Leah’s.

Leah, her arms between Kelly’s, reached up and held the woman near her elbows, her eyes slowly closing as Kelly invaded her mouth, swirling her tongue about the younger girl’s. Kelly kept it brief, but insistent, ensuring to get a good taste of Leah before patting her over the rump, feeling her jiggle against the confines of her tight shorts. She found the rear of her old thong, pinched it, and gave it a few little tugs, teasing the Almain one final way before withdrawing. She slipped her hands away, her tongue away, and, finally, closed her lips into one last saliva-slick kiss, a big, pleased smile on her face as she eased her head back. Leah simply had this dreamy look on her face, and judging by the firm lump poking against Kelly’s thigh, the girl was happy to see her, too.

“Just so you don’t forget,” Kelly explained. “We’re still the best of friends, babe.” “I never forgot,” Leah quickly answered, a little breathlessly. As they let go of one another, she looked over at Miriam and, all at once, appeared to realize exactly how public Kelly’s display of affection had truly been. Her face slowly started going as red as her hair as her eyes drifted off to the side, roaming over the two guards standing near the front gate, staring straight ahead into the distance. They had probably seen everything, but thankfully, they couldn’t see the clearly oblong shape that had grown inside her shorts. Kelly made it worse by openly looking down at Leah’s chest, offering a single nod as she murmured “Hey, look at you, growing out some boobs. Those piercings work fast, eh?”

“Y-Yeah, heh heh. I noticed them first working before I even got here,” Leah sheepishly answered, smiling with a quiet, excited exhale. Kelly grinned as an idea brewed in her head. If a little kissing had gotten Leah going, how randy could Kelly get her to act? “Well, go on, then. Let’s see ‘em. Give us a flash, hon.” Leah’s eyes widened, drifting off to the guards, not too far away. Kelly wasn’t joking. She gave a timid mumble, face burning as she looked back over at the two women before her. Their grins were so big. They seemed so excited, was it really just because of her? She didn’t even really have anything to show off, yet! To call it embarrassing would be an understatement, but if that’s what they really wanted, then...

Leah looked down and raised her hands, slipping her tube top up until it rose to her collar bones, the thin noodle straps bunching up, over her shoulders. The cool air swirling against her exposed buds was too much of a contrast from her warm tube top, and instantly, her pierced nipples were standing as firm as they could with excitement, rising up just a little more. In her peripheral vision, she could see their leers become even more intense. Leah had a hard time looking up and meeting either one’s eyes, simply hanging her head down, a little, as her ears burned. She half expected one of them to reach out and touch her, but neither of them ever did. Kelly gave an approving coo, lightly nibbling on her lower lip. Not as quietly as Leah would’ve liked, she appraised the shamefaced trap, remarking “Mmf...Not too shabby, Leah. Those tan lines are fucking sexy. The piercings look great on you.” Looking over at her Alfar friend, Kelly asked “What would you call her? A B-cup? Not a C-cup just yet, eh?”

The Dokkalfar smiled from ear to ear, reaching and holding her chin. Turning her head to the side, she insightfully answered, just as loudly as Kelly had been speaking. “Hmm. Yep, a B-cup sounds about right. Little jiggly handfuls, just enough to fill your fingers and press your palms into. She’s getting there, though. Not far from a little C-cup. Gotta say, those black piercings really stand out against how pale your skin is, they look great. You’re a sexy little thing, ain’t cha?” Leah gave another wordless mumble, unable to find her voice, for a moment. Once her tongue was untied, her voice warbled, but she softly answered “U-Uh...Thank you...” Kelly chuckled, then reached out and pulled Leah’s tube top down, herself. Leah just stood there and allowed Kelly to do as she pleased, lifting her arms, a little, to give the Varani an easier time.

“We’re just teasing, hon. But, it’s good to see that the piercings were working,” Kelly warmly said. Leah gave a shy murmur, still too red-faced to make eye contact. When Kelly withdrew her hands, Leah adjusted the fit of her top, getting it comfortable front and back. She slowly looked up and glanced back and forth between them, her voice a tiny squeak as she said “...A couple weeks ago, I wouldn’t have had any problem, with that. I mean, nobody cares about seeing anyone’s flat chest. But, I-I guess I’m shy about them, now that I’m growing.” Miriam gave a carefree wave with her hand, dismissing Leah’s bashfulness. “Oh, you’ll get over it, babe. The bigger they get, the more you show ‘em off, the more confident you’ll get. It won’t be such a big deal, anymore.”

Kelly raised her eyebrow, looking over at her friend. She reached over, planted her hand on Miriam’s shoulder, and casually said “Well, I’m really glad to see you, hon. I’m glad you’re safe, things really aren’t great around Odarath, right now. But, we’re together again, and that’s what counts. Let me introduce you to another friend of mine, here. Leah, this is Miriam. Her and I go back, a bit.” Kelly swept her hand away from Miriam and lightly held it out to Leah, adding “Miriam, this is Leah, the girl I told you about.” Miriam reached out her hand and, with a knowing smile, coyly remarked “Hi, babe. Kelly’s told me so much about you.”

The choice of words made Leah’s face flush a vibrant red, all over again. Miriam and Kelly looked sidelong at each other, wide smiles on their faces. Oh, they had talked loads about everything that had happened. Not to worry, however, Leah’s secret was safe with them. Leah reached out and daintily shook Miriam’s hand, lightly holding the other woman’s fingers. Kelly leaned in just a little and, with a wink, whispered “She can be your friend, too, if you want!” Leah’s eyes went wide, again. She glanced up into Kelly’s eyes with incredulity, then looked away. She was too embarrassed to even look in Miriam’s direction, now. Kelly, Farrah, and now Miriam? How many people was she going to fool around with before she finally went all the way?

(Author's Note - Hey, guys! Good news, I was on a roll while writing and ended up doing a solid twenty thousand words, or so:). I knew I wanted to do a sex scene, and I knew it’d end up being a long one, so I kept at it until it was complete. Everything said and done, I ended up getting enough work done for two complete chapters. So, here’s this chapter with theories on the magic flooding Miriam as well as the Crudok, and tomorrow, I’ll be immediately posting a second chapter, which includes a scene where Leah finally loses her virginity to Kelly. I hope you guys enjoy reading these two chapters even half as much as I enjoyed writing them:)! If you did, consider leaving me some feedback to let me know, it’s very encouraging. Come back tomorrow, there’ll be more to read:D!)
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The Mask Comes Off