Chapter 16 Amarhuk （Rook）
AMARHUK (ROOK)
“Fuck me,” Izzy mumbled with a roll of her eyes.
Given how Princess Saldrea had reacted to seeing her and Izzy’s own reaction, I had a feeling the two of them had met, and it hadn’t gone well.
Koarthandris, Saldrea’s dragon guard took a step toward Izzy. “I’ll take care of her,” he growled. Saldrea stopped him with a hand on his massive chest.
Take care of her? What had Izzy done?
Fuck.
I glanced at Svokol, my master.
It was clear from his glower that he didn’t like this extended interruption, but there was no way in hell he’d speak out against Saldrea.
Dwarves had a place of privilege in society.
Their kind had once been elves, before voluntarily leaving the surface to dwell amidst stone and metal in deep caves thousands of years ago.
But surface elves still outranked them and Saldrea was the second most powerful elf in the land and no one wanted to risk her wrath.
“No… I’ll take care of this,” Saldrea said with a vicious grin.
Fucking hell.
I didn’t want to step in, but if I didn’t, I feared for what would happen to Izzy.
“Perhaps that could wait till after class, El Tyrianel Saldrea?” I suggested with a forced smile, trying to placate the princess.
She glared at me, a look that promised pain.
“She’s an exile, she doesn’t know our ways!” I tried again. But I was stepping aside even as I did, hoping I hadn’t gotten in too deep.
“Stop trying to help,” Izzy hissed at me. “You’re making me sound like an idiot.”
“You are an idiot,” Saldrea said as if it were obvious. Then she sighed. “But… I can be lenient,” Saldrea said as she sauntered over.
I’d never once heard of her being lenient.
“I’ll give this ignorant abomination one chance to earn my forgiveness… if she licks my boot and apologizes.”
I looked at Izzy. She might not know it but that was probably the best offer she was going to get. Warring emotions played over her features: pride, fear, incredulity, then finally resignation.
“Fine! Whatever. Let’s just get this over with,” Izzy said with a sigh.
Thank The Sacred Fire!
Saldrea made her way over to us, then with elven enhanced speed and strength, she slapped Izzy so hard, Izzy collapsed to the ground.
Izzy grunted in pain, mouth bleeding.
Saldrea smiled viciously.
Izzy spat out blood and started to roll over when Saldrea kicked Izzy’s stomach, rolling her onto her back.
Izzy gasped, eyes wide with surprise and pain.
“Stay there,” Saldrea said. “The top of my boot is too good for you, lick the bottom!” Then she stepped on Izzy’s mouth.
Izzy gave a muffled scream, eyes going wider, as Saldrea ground her boot down on Izzy’s already broken face.
“This is your place,” Saldrea said with vehemence. “Under my boot.” She stepped back and smiled victoriously. “Now I want to hear you say it!”
Izzy’s face was a bloody mess, her eyes burning with livid hatred. She rolled over to spit out more blood, her beautiful, full lips split and bleeding.
“My place,” Izzy hissed, “is under your boot.” The words were slurred through her broken mouth.
Given how furious she looked, I hadn’t thought she’d say it, but her sense of self-preservation must have kicked in.
“Good!” Saldrea said, her demeanor shifting instantly to sweet kindness. “Glad we agree.” She turned to Svokol. “Sorry for the disruption this insignificant slut caused,” Saldrea said and walked back to her seat.
I knelt and offered a hand to help Izzy up, but she swatted it away and got up on her own, grunting through the pain.
“Let me help,” I hissed. I didn’t have much in the way of healing, but I’d learned enough to help with minor wounds. “I can heal you,” I whispered.
Izzy paused and sighed, then nodded as she sat on the floor.
I touched her forehead gently, since I needed skin to skin contact, and whispered a healing spell. A broken nose and the many cuts on her lips mended. As well, a split on the inside of her cheek knitted together. That was the limit of my powers, but it seemed to help her.
“Thanks,” she huffed. Then she let me help her up. She was still in pain, that kick to her stomach had to hurt.
Svokol glared at us as I guided Izzy to the front row, where a few seats were available… right in front of Saldrea.
“No!” Izzy hissed when she saw where we were headed. “There has to be another spot!”
“Sa Brown, I suggest you shut up and take a seat before I have you thrown out for disrupting my class,” Svokol grumbled. Dwarves were not known for their forgiving nature. My master wasn’t a bad guy, once you got to know him, but he really didn’t like disruptions to his schedule.
“Sit, please!” I begged Izzy as she looked around. But all the other students knew of Saldrea and had sat anywhere but in front of her leaving only a few seats in that first row available. Izzy must have seen there were no other seats and grudgingly headed for a spot.
Svokol continued the class as I helped Izzy into her seat. She winced and groaned as she sat down, confirming her stomach still bothered her.
I sat next to her.
“Turns out, I’m your assigned T.A. for this class,” I whispered as she got out a clunky looking human computer and set up her things. “I can help you a bit, if you need it.” I suspected she would.
“Just be quiet and let me take notes,” she hissed.
She still hadn’t forgiven me for turning her in.
I didn’t blame her.
And it was probably for the best since we’d both made it clear that first night that neither of us wanted a relationship.
As an incubus, I might have sex with the same woman a few times, if she was really something, but monogamy wasn’t my thing.
I guessed Izzy was the same. The fact that we were roomies now, sharing a bathroom, might make that a bit awkward, but we were both adults, we could handle ourselves.
Not that I’d turn down another round with Izzy, because she’d been spectacular. She’d tested my limits that night, and when she’d finished me off in her mouth… well I’d thought only succubi could work a cock like that.
But that was clearly not what Izzy wanted, so I’d let her be. Even if thoughts of that night had been creeping into my mind far too often over the last day.
I had to get up and help another student and one point and when I returned, Izzy was surrounded with pebbles. Saldrea was pelting her using her earth magic.
Izzy trembled with rage, trying hard to concentrate on the lesson.
I felt for her, I did.
My own childhood hadn’t been pleasant. At age ten I’d left home to start my training for the Urval defense force.
Since I was part salmaeri and they were the front-line warriors of the lower realm, I’d had no choice.
Pain and exhaustion had been my only companions for six years, till I’d seen my first battle with the pyrkai and distinguished myself.
That’s when Svokol had chosen me for his retinue and taken me from the lower realm, bringing me here to Seial.
But as much as I could sympathize with Izzy, there was nothing I could do for her. I had even less power and sway in this world than Izzy herself would, once she’d realized her full potential.
I could only watch and commiserate.
And that burned me more than the fires of Urval ever had.