Chapter 114 – Wild Night
Baron Aymon Highfrost was definitely feeling more than a little intrigued by young Pureheart at this point. Cristina had prepared him for the realities of her entourage, but seeing a dragon in the flesh was still exhilarating, especially when they went into her [Spiritual Retreat] and the Lesser Frost Dragon, Frostmaw, returned to his full size, along with the Dire Hellhound, Rastran. Along with having a Demontouched Angel and Lesser Balor in her company? There wasn’t a noble anywhere on the continent who had such a varied group of retainers.
Of course, the fact that the Angel and all the human members of her group had gained the Demontouched ‘template’ when they hit Tier 2 suggested that the rumors of the Baroness’s demonic heritage were indeed true, and more than just a genetic legacy from a defector a couple generations back, as some had suggested. Despite being uncommon, templates were well-understood by scholars. They were almost like sub-races, like how a Frost Drake and a Fire Drake were two subraces of Drakes, but a template extended beyond racial boundaries. A template like Demontouched would only come about in one of two ways, either through a blood connection to demons, or through constant and intense contact with demons. Since the likelihood of all the humans in her group having demonic heritage was low, and the likelihood of an Angel having it even lower, that left only contact with a demon. Which meant there was much more to Pureheart than she let on.
Some would distrust the Baroness for that kind of connection to the Demons. The Theocracy would certainly want her dead, if it came to light. This was even more true, considering that the Baroness’s minions, other than the Demontouched Angel, had hidden the templates behind a [Greater False Appraisal] spell. If he hadn’t had his great-grandfather’s [Cloaked Signet of Greater True Appraisal], he would never have seen it.
That said, Aymon was a prudent man. He cared far less about what heritage someone had, and more about what they did with it. That was the way in Highfrost. When you are surrounded by dangers and there is work to be done, fools who could not set aside their prejudices were a liability to the survival of the whole.
And Pureheart made it very hard to hate or distrust her. There was a natural draw to her. Not just sexual, though Aymon had been intensely aware of her beauty and the sensual grace with which she moved since they first started talking. He knew it had to be the combination of a high Charisma, and several stacking skills and abilities. Possibly passive ones. The rumors that there was succubus or incubus blood in her family tree might be more fact than just jealous or starstruck individuals commenting on her beauty.
Thankfully, he had the Stoic One title, which primarily kept him from being overwhelmed by bad situations, whether they be in dealing with a crisis or the chaos of the battlefield, but it also dampened the effect of social skills and charms upon him. Adding in the [Commander’s Resolve] and [Fighter’s Focus] skills, which further defended him from enchantments, illusions, and manipulation, and he was able to keep a clear head, if only just. The fact that he was affected as deeply as he was, though, suggested that Pureheart was incredibly powerful, even for a Tier 2.
Still, it was a little difficult to think about that at the moment, as the two of them relaxed in a luxurious private hot spring bath inside the [Spiritual Retreat]. They were both naked, and Aymon was very, very aware of how exquisite the Baroness looked. He’d had more than his share of dalliances, of course. Without a Baroness, it was expected that he would have a mistress or two, since the barony needed an heir. However, none of the women he’d been with had the sheer sexual magnetism Pureheart did when she stepped into the bath.
Aymon cleared his throat, and said, “Lady Pureheart—”
“Alis,” she said, smiling. And what a smile! “I think, when we’re alone like this, we can drop the titles. Don’t you think so, Aymon?”
The way she said his name as she moved next to him sent his blood rushing away from his head. But his title still allowed him to speak, thankfully. “Alis, then. And though I greatly admire the view, it may cause rumors to sprout if we spend too long in the bath together, no? I would not want to damage your reputation, or cast doubts upon your heir, whenever you find a partner.”
“Oh, don’t worry about that, Aymon,” Alis said, her fingers gripping his shaft lightly, as her breasts pressed against his arm. “I am more than capable of dealing with rumors. After all, I’m very open about the fact that I enjoy being with my companions. And as for my eventual heir? I don’t think you need to worry about that. After all, you’re not a dragon, are you?”
Aymon groaned as she began stroking him with her fingers. Even so, the reality of what she said was clear, even if she hadn’t said it directly. She couldn’t have any child of his right now, because she already had a dragon’s issue inside her. “D-dragon? Then, you mean, that Frostmaw?”
“Oh, I’ve enjoyed Frostmaw, too. But the dragon I’m talking about is actually the Lesser Flame Dragon, Ilbanth the Firelord.”
Aymon’s mind shorted out for a second, and not just from Alis’s breath against his ear. “Th-the final boss of the Dragonskull Caves, right? I knew that you challenged and conquered the dungeon, but surely—” His words cut off as Alis shifted her position, getting into his lap, and trapping his length, already at full staff, between their bodies.
“I do not do anything I am ashamed of, Aymon,” she whispered. “And there are many alchemical concoctions that can be made from a Dragon’s fluids. As a Mind Sorceress, and now a True Enchantress, I had a unique opportunity to subdue the dragon temporarily. I had a skill that should have protected me from any ‘problems’, but it seems as though the Firelord had skills designed to counter ones like mine.”
Whatever he was about to say flew out of his head immediately as Pureheart lifted herself up, and then sank down upon him, engulfing him in her heat. Combined with the sensation of those luscious breasts pressing against him, the feeling of her round ass under his hands, and her purr of satisfaction in his ear? He could die now and count himself a lucky man indeed. For the first time, he found himself quite envious of another noble’s slaves. If they got to experience such bliss all the time? It would almost be worth losing his station and his freedom. Almost. But it would be a close thing.
“Mmm. Good boy, Aymon.” Her words were like honey in his ear as she began to ride him, taking her pleasure. “So nice and hard for me.”
When morning came, he found himself in an unfamiliar bed, naked beneath the sheets. He felt refreshed, in a way he had not believed possible for a man his age. Oh, teenagers always bounce back quickly, but he was no longer so young. What had happened?
And then, it came to him. Last night, in the bath. He and Alis had traded stories about fighting monsters and dealing with the normal troubles of running a barony. But his gaze had fallen to Alis’s curves, and she was not shy about allowing him to sample the goods. Especially since she already had a dragon egg growing inside her, so it wasn’t like she could get more pregnant. Not that he tried to stop her from having her way with him. He was many things, but he would not turn down a willing woman offering herself to him, when he had no wife at home, and there were no threats to himself or his people at hand.
And what a time it had been! Alis had been tireless, and insatiable. But she was Tier 2, and it was said that those who rose to such a level could literally fight continuously for over a day, at need, so it didn’t surprise him that she wasn’t running out of stamina, even as they moved from the bath to a bedroom. The fact that he was still able to perform, after the seventh time she drained him, could only be put down to her using some skill on him. Not that he cared. Last night was one of the better nights he’d had, ever.
At some point, Alis must have allowed him to sleep. But this wasn’t the same room they’d moved to, after leaving the bath. Had she carried him? Or gotten one of the retainers to do it? And speaking of which, he noticed that he was not alone. Two other beds were in this room, and his six retainers were split between the two, three in each. They were all naked, curled up against each other, and looked to be sleeping off what must have been a wild night for them, as well. Which would cause some interesting stories, since Cristina was in one bed, with two of his men curled up with her, and Maysant, Cristina’s bodyguard (couldn’t have a man guarding the lady seneschal during vulnerable moments, after all), was in the other, with two of her subordinates. And then he noticed the card tied to his dick with a ribbon. Thankfully, he was able to remove the card, and get dressed, before his retainers awoke. More to the point, before Cristina awoke!
Aymon,
If you’re reading this, then you are awake, and hopefully in time to keep any of your men from having an awkward conversation with their Baron. Don’t worry, they just got to experience what Tier 2 beer is like. Unfortunately, a weak Tier 2 beer hits a Tier 1 person like Dwarven Firewhiskey on an empty stomach. My healer made sure they will live, though they will likely pray for death when they wake, either from embarrassment, or the hangover. Perhaps both. And she gave both women the [Maiden’s Salvation] potion, so the chances of any unexpected children complicating matters in your household should be low enough, unless one of your men has the skill to block the effect.
At any rate, it would be irresponsible of me to let you continue on the way to the capital with your escort less than ready. My healer will give them the proper treatment once they’ve had a bit of time to fret. She says it is a proper lesson on not making assumption about drinks made for those with different constitutions, and on why one shouldn’t try and outdrink a dragon.
Once you and yours are ready, come out to the fire. If you’re willing, we’ll get some breakfast in you, and then we’ll head off together. Or you can head out earlier, if being seen with me is such a chore.
--Alis
Aymon had to laugh. The young baroness had played him, and his entire party, and did it in such a way that he found himself hoping there would be other nights to ‘collaborate’ with Alis, before they headed back to their own lands. But now, he needed to wake his Seneschal.
He clapped his hands, the gauntlets he wore as part of his normal armor amplifying the sound. “Oy! Cristina! You done giving praise to Videa, yet? And what about you lot? Some guards you are!”
The mad scramble that resulted, as the six woke, tried to rise, cursed their fate as their heads warned them of their stupidity, collapsed back to bed, only to realize their situation, and then tumbled out of bed, all six bare assed and falling all over each other? Absolutely priceless. Aymon did not get nearly enough chances to tease Cristina like this. And he’d long ensured that his guards knew a bit of banter was fine, in private. If the well-trained, well-armed men around him liked him, that was much better for his long-term health than if they were only loyal because they didn’t have anywhere to go after they put the knife in his back, so they waited, instead.
And none of them needed to know how he’d spent his night, right?