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Tales From The Sandsea	By : Nathalia Category: +A through F > Adventure Quest Views: 1294 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own AdventureQuest, it's off-shoot game DragonFable, or any of the associated characters, and no profit is being made.

Chapter List
- 1-Tales From The Sandsea
- 1
Disclaimer: I do not own DragonFable, Adventure Quest, or anything else copy-write to Atrix Entertainment.

A DIFFERENT PAYMENT
Vaneria had not been pleased with her brothers for a while now.
They had acknowledged that baby sister had no intention of being a Hero, and was perfectly happy visiting the library rather than the Quest Master whenever they managed to bundle her on a Griffin and send her to another Town. That still hadn’t stopped them from trying to make her go on Quests, no matter how many times she set her dragon on them.
Their latest effort had been to get halfway through a Quest Chain, until they were sent to get further instructions from Sek-Duat. Vaneria could go for days with no idea of the world around her when she was truly engrossed in a book, and was unaware that they were not, in fact, trying to make up for ruining one of her projects by telling her about a rare book that she might find useful.
Instead, she got to the Sandsea palace, and was promptly sent off on a Quest to deal with a Sandsea Yaga.
Thinking that maybe it was just as a favour in exchange for use of the book, Vaneria did so, and had barely returned before she literally ran into a tall, half-Sand Elf ranger by the name of Zhoom, who only stopped laughing long enough to inform her otherwise.
It was the laughter that made her agree to expose the truth when Sek-Duat became suspicious that Zhoom was a traitor helping the Rebels. Hurt pride, and the sting of being mocked by a man she had held a torch for since the first time she visited Zeri on an archaeological dig and encountered him while he was training another Hero as a ranger, spurred her to a promise to see the mission through.
So, Zhoom thought that she was just a silly little Mage, did he? See how he liked the ‘silly little Mage’ handing him his backside on a silver platter! Or seducing him and making him promise to join the Rebels while she was screwing his brains out.

Vaneria didn’t like going on Quests, but she did know how to use her Mage skills in combat, and would admit that it gave her a bit of a thrill, which explained why she spent most of her leisure time in the Aeris Arena.
Oddly, Zhoom actually looked upset when he saw her outside the Lizardmen fortress. “I had hoped that Sek-Duat XV was mistaken. I had hoped that you would not show up here.”
Hm. Vaneria braced herself, trying to remember what her brothers had been talking about in regards to their earlier Sandsea Quests. “Actually, I’m glad that you DID show up. There’s something that I’ve been meaning to talk to you about.”
She didn’t need to edge around it, since apparently he already knew. “You mean the fact that your family has been working with the Rebellion since you arrived in the Sandsea?”
Vaneria blinked. “You KNEW?”
Zhoom examined his sword with a faint air of smugness. “Of course I knew. You don’t get to be the world’s most dangerous ranger by missing things like that.”
But that didn’t make sense. Maybe there was a hope of convincing him to turn from Sek-Duat. “You could have turned me in at any time! Does this mean that you really ARE working with the rebels?”
Zhoom shook his head. “No, I really AM working for Sek-Duat, but these rebels weren’t much fun until you showed up. You made the hunt more interesting, and you’re a much more attractive target than a bunch of sand-swept old men.”
Was that a compliment, or a statement that she was worth more in gold than a rebel was? “Is that why you didn’t turn me in?”
Actually, he had been hoping that she would try to seduce him into joining the Rebels, and he would pretend to need a lot of persuasion before agreeing. Zhoom had his honour, but he never took a contract unless he could find a way to break it if necessary. He could catch a few more Rebels while Vaneria used her not-inconsiderable charms to try to ‘convince’ him to defect, and then find a reason to break the contract properly. Zhoom tried for a casual shrug. “Partly. The main reason is that I was hired to capture rebels, but apart from working WITH them, you haven’t done anything to deserve a rebel’s fate. It wasn’t worth it, especially when I wasn’t going to get paid.”
If Vaneria paid Zhoom for anything, it wouldn’t be for a fight, and she would rather not pay in gold. The hand not holding her staff rested on a slender, cocked hip. “Does that mean you’re not going to stop me?”
Zhoom laughed. “You wish! NOW I am being paid to come after you. Sek-Duat told me you would be here. Shall we begin?”
Vaneria rolled her shoulders to loosen up and as a temptation, making one last try at persuading him. “We don’t have to do this, Zhoom.”
His eyes flickered down as the shoulder-roll did some very interesting things to her chest. He could think of something he would rather do with her than fighting, but saying so would get him knocked unconscious faster than any battle. “Yes, we do.”

The fight was quick, partially because people tend to underestimate a pretty girl with more experience in books than weaponry, and partially because Vaneria fought dirty. Feminine wiles don’t work in pitched battle, but feminine assets can still be distracting. A toss of the hip or bending backward at the right angle, and you almost always had a few second’s opening. Robina had claimed that she was only studying the technique, but…
Six Lizardmen and two Scarabs later, Vaneria ran into Zhoom again, who had somehow managed to get around and block her way. “I told you, Vaneria… I never give up. You cannot escape me.”
In another setting, she wouldn’t be inclined to try, and would have given into the urge for a saucy remark. In a fortress while trying to kill each other, on the other hand… “This is WRONG, Zhoom! You must have some loyalty to the people of the Sandsea! My brother, Mikhail, told me that Sek-Duat hunted your mother’s people, the Sand Elves, into extinction! Fight with me and you can claim revenge for her!”
For a moment, it looked as though she had got through to him, but had hit a nerve along the way. “Revenge is a small and petty reason to fight. My mother taught me the value of a promise before she was hunted down. My contract is as good as my word. I was hired to capture you and the rebels, and I will honour that contract. Now, lay your weapons down and come with me.”
Vaneria let out a breath. “You know I can’t do that. I have to stop Sek-Duat. I have to save the rebels. That was my promise.”
Zhoom nodded. “Then I have to stop you.”

That fight lasted longer, though Vaneria eventually won by virtue of keeping her distance and hitting him with everything she had. Sleeping spells, Fireballs, Energy-bolts, a small wind-storm… if she had learned the theory, Zhoom was the unlucky recipient of the practical. She knelt down and touched his hand. “I’m sorry, but I don’t have a choice.”
Several more Lizardmen after that, Vaneria was in the Fortress proper, and…
…How in the name of the Creator had Zhoom managed to get past her again? There was only one known way through, and Vaneria knew that she hadn’t seen him! Zhoom smirked. “Your skills are even more impressive than I had assumed, but eventually you will tire. Just give up.”
Vaneria narrowed her eyes. “I can keep this up as long as you can… longer, if necessary. I’m going to get that key.”
Zhoom spun his sword in one hand. “I have done battle with some of the strongest beasts and people that Lore has to offer. I have never met my match…”
Vaneria sent him an unkind look. “You’re looking at your match. I’ve beaten you twice now, and you know that I’m stronger than you.”
Zhoom tensed. “It’s not a question of strength, Vaneria. You can’t beat me if I never give up.”
Vaneria really wished that he would just let her pass and leave. She didn’t like hurting people. It was time to try something else before she resorted to throwing herself at him. Zhoom was still holding a sword, after all. “Maybe I’m going about this wrong. Falconreach has several billion in gold. I could probably get you some of it… if you agree to walk away.”
Zhoom raised an eyebrow, obviously tempted. “Did you say several BILLION gold? So, being a Hero of Falconreach pays really well then?”
Not being a Hero, Vaneria couldn’t say, but from the kind of gold her brothers brought home, heck yes. She nodded, and Zhoom looked thoughtful. “Once I have handed you over to Sek-Duat XV, I will have to check it out. They’ll be one Hero short.”
Vaneria pouted. “Drat, I thought I had you there. You’re really serious about this honour thing, aren’t you?”
Zhoom gave her a crooked half-smirk. “Yes.

Vaneria won, but only just, and had to pause to cast a healing spell to stop herself from limping. Drat the bloody ranger!
Speaking of the bloody ranger, he had woken up as she was healing, and they both took off in a dead sprint to get to the inner sanctum first. They skidded to a halt, side by side, as they encountered a lion-like beast. Vaneria closed her eyes. “This day just gets better and better. Who are you and what do you want?”
The Sphinxter bared its teeth. “I am called Sphinxter. Sek-Duat informed me that you would be here.”
Vaneria opened her eyes as Zhoom spoke from behind her. “Forget it. Vaneria is my target. I already have a contract.”
Sphinxter sneered at him. “I don’t think you understand, ranger. I wasn’t sent here to kill the traitor, I was sent to kill BOTH of you!”
Bugger. Zhoom looked furious. “WHAT?”
Sphinxter did not look concerned at their shared outrage. “The emperor of the Sandsea knew that one of you was working for the rebels but didn't know which. So he decided to send you two to battle each other and I was to kill the winner. The time of reseurction is near. Thye mighty Sek-Duat The First will live again and neither of you will live to see it.”
Zhoom was having trouble with a totally different problem, still clearly livid. “Hold on. Do you mean to say that Sek-Duat XV isn't going to PAY me?”
Vaneria fought the urge to roll her eyes at his priorities, but Sphinxter did it for her. “Of course not, he wants you dead! He has no use for the last Sand Elf! He also said you were way overpriced.”
Zhoom narrowed his eyes in fury at a broken contract. “Oh, I AM GOING TO GET PAID, even if I have to take the money from the imperial coffers myself. My contract is void. I will set every rebel that I captured free. Hey Vaneria... ask me again.”
Ask him… oh! Vaneria cleared her throat. “*ahem*... Hey Zhoom... Wanna join the rebels and help me take down Sek-Duat XV?”
Zhoom gave her a predatory grin that sent shivers down her spine, even if it wasn’t aimed at her. “It would be an honour to fight beside you... this time, for real.”

With the threat of death by Sphinxter claws gone, Zhoom was angry again. His concept of honour, and broken trust, combined with losing the very flattering bounty on the pretty Mage, put him in a very bad mood. That the Mage in question was calmly sitting nearby with a book in her lap while she recovered her strength, tapping a pencil on the corner of her mouth as he paced and ranted and she considered what to write next, did not help. “Aren’t you upset about this at all?”
Vaneria shifted position, crossing her legs. “Of course I am. I just don’t think that shouting about it will do any good, and I’m not taking it personally.”
He spun to glare at her, but his eyes didn’t stay on her face. Vaneria’s robe was very lightweight, thanks to the heat of the desert, and draped easily, outlining slender, shapely thighs. A gust of wind lifted the hem for a moment, revealing equally firm calves above her sensible half-boots.
But the wind made him look up, and the suddenly hazy horizon heralded a sandstorm. It looked like they wouldn’t be going anywhere for a while. He pulled the younger woman to her feet. “There’s a storm coming, we need to find better shelter.”
Vaneria looked up and said something vile, swiftly picking up her cloak and pack as they hurried further into the temple.

Zhoom would never have lowered himself to rape a female rebel, no matter how attractive she was, but even the Desert Roses, as they were politely called, would not service anyone in Sek-Duat’s service, and especially not one who was responsible for the capture of so many fellow villagers. Since figuring out that the pretty Mage was a rebel, Zhoom had given serious consideration to edging around his contract. He could capture her, she could seduce him into lowering his guard and escape while he was recovering, meaning that he would have to hunt and capture her again. It would probably never happen, but he could always dream.
Which was, in fact, what he was doing now. A small globe of light hovered over a book that she was writing in, all of her attention focussed on the pages. In the flickering shadows caused by the small light that was their only illumination, Zhoom leaned against a wall and watched her, letting his mind wander. A lock of dark hair escaped from the hood she wore, and she tucked it back as Zhoom’s imagination took off.
Long, dark hair spilled over her shoulders as she opened the front of her robe, giving him a proper view of the breasts he had been noticing for the past several days. Zhoom traced his fingertips over them as Vaneria fumbled with his belt. He knelt down to remove his pants properly, grabbing the hem of her robe on the way back up.
She gave a squeal as he bunched the cloth at the small of her back, pushing her closer against him, one strong thigh between hers, pressing firmly against her centre. A tap to the back of Vaneria’s knee brought her tumbling backwards onto her cloak, which she had spread out to sit on, and Zhoom followed her down. He could be slow and gentle later, but right now, he needed a good, hard fuck.
Vaneria gasped as he plunged inside her, wrapping one leg around the ranger’s waist and gritting her teeth through the temporary pain. Her eyes fluttered closed as his lips traveled down to her neck, one arm sliding beneath her hips...
Vaneria had finished writing and taken the philosophical view that since they weren’t going anywhere until the storm died, she might as well rest up. Curled up on top of her cloak, eyes closed and breathing evenly, made Zhoom wish he could go somewhere private to take care of a growing problem.
Vaneria spooned against him, whimpering as he entered her from behind. His mouth was on her neck, her shoulder, a sensitive spot just below her ear. Zhoom moved slowly, and she begged him to go faster, to take her harder. He was happy to oblige.
She yelped as he reached for her exposed breasts, and he smirked against her shoulder blade. His erection was generous inside her, his skin warm as he moved, gaining in speed and force until her entire body jerked with each thrust.
There was a muffled crash from outside, barely audible over the shrieking wind that raged outside. Vaneria started, but did not wake, and Zhoom relaxed, lying down himself as his fantasy becoming more detailed. Becoming very explicitly detailed, in fact.
The howling storm beyond the walls drowned out their cries as he spread her out onto the sand and she raised her hips to meet him. He claimed her lips and plundered her mouth. Her nails dug into his shoulders and biceps as she clenched around him. He thrust harder into her welcoming body, nearing the edge of his control, one arm supporting him as his free hand found her breasts.
Vaneria screamed into his mouth, thrashing beneath his powerful body as he drove her to the brink of ecstasy. He had a reputation for being relentless, and he lived up to it, never slowing in his ceaseless ravaging of her slender body as she lay beneath him, helpless before the onslaught. Zhoom pounded into her as she came hard, sheathing himself entirely as he found his own release, tension draining from both their bodies.
He pressed a final kiss to her neck and rolled off her. Vaneria propped herself up on one elbow, breasts still revealed as she leaned over to kiss him properly, her gentle eyes warm and affectionate. Zhoom wrapped his arms around her, and she settled into his hold as he drifted off to sleep…
… and woke abruptly as someone shook him, tackling the unknown person to the ground.
It was Vaneria, very carefully not moving while she waited for him to gain his bearings and remove the dagger from her neck. Their bodies were pressed closely together, and for a moment Zhoom flashed back to his dream from earlier, seeing himself inside her, above her, pillaging every part of her. He froze and tried to gain control, before hastily standing up before she could feel the evidence for herself. “Sorry about that.”
Vaneria stood and brushed herself off. “It’s no problem. I should have been more careful trying to wake you.” She turned to lift her pack. “The storm has stopped, so we’d best get back before Sek-Duat starts wondering why his pet isn’t back to report our deaths.”
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A/N: This can be considered a part AU, part side-story of my DragonFable fic ‘The Hero Who Didn’t Want To Be’, which can be found on Fanfiction . net, if you’re interested.
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Tales From The Sandsea