Chapter 17 Vidorak
Chapter seventeen
Vidorak
Vidorak woke with a raging headache. After leaving the inn, he’d stopped by the tavern to drink. He rarely partook in alcohol, not enjoying having his senses dulled, but he couldn’t stop thinking about the conversation with his witch.
He had heard of black magic before. It was a whispered topic, not pleasantly discussed amongst the magical races. It was a way for witches to gain power, but at the cost of blood and death. A price, it seems, she felt was worth it.
How many had she killed to gain the power she had? Given the blood that coated his hands, he could hardly judge her. How many times had his uncle ordered the killing of certain humans who wanted to lead militias against the orcs, sometimes in warranted revenge?
He was no different. In fact, he may even be worse. At least she had a purpose, even if a bit twisted.
While he held no judgement, his heart ached for his mate. For how she’d been wronged and hurt to the point of wanting to inflict herself with tainted powers.
Every fiber of his being wanted to fix this, fight her enemies for her, but he didn’t know how. So, he let alcohol dull the turbulence inside him.
When he had finally retreated to the stables for sleep, there were other thoughts that kept him awake. Her answer to his last question.
I thought of getting fucked so thoroughly I would feel it the next day.
His cock twitched, recalling her words from last night. From outside the inn, he could sense that she was in the washroom. But it wasn’t until he’d entered the room that he was met with the scent of her recent release.
I thought of getting fucked so thoroughly I would feel it the next day.
The words replayed in his head, and he wanted nothing more than to give his little mate her wish.
Vidorak found a basin outside the stables and splashed cold water on his face. The cool water did nothing to lessen his headache or his desire. At least he’d woken early, even if it meant being in pain and semi-erect. There was one last errand in Ettera to be done before heading out.
He arrived at the little unnamed weapons shop in the alley behind the brothel. A light bell jingled to announce his presence when he opened the door.
“How can I help—” The shopkeeper turned and registered who he was, then dropped the box he was holding and produced a glowing bow and arrow from below the counter. “Stay back! This arrow pierces through all.”
From an outside glance, the shopkeeper stood no chance. He was much shorter than Vidorak, about an average human male height. While he had a toned body, it was the slender and wiry physique typical of elven folk.
“Relax, Lucan. I am not here to fight.” Vidorak put up his hands, hoping to show he wasn’t much of a threat.
After another moment, Lucan set down the bow and ran his hand through his white-blond hair. Unlike his brethren, he kept his short and messy, reminding Vidorak more of a wolf than of the elegant aura of an elf.
“Look, I’m sorry, V. But I told you the shackles weren’t a sure thing. Magic-nullifying can get messy. Did a lot of your guys die?”
“Nobody died.” Yet. “They worked.”
Surprise flashed over Lucan’s flawless face, then a wide grin broke out. “That’s great! Why are you here then?”
“I wanted to know if you had any more of them. Or any other items of similar capabilities.”
“Why?” Lucan asked but was met with silence. “Alright, keep it to yourself then. To answer your question, no. Not one I’m confident in. Or at least fifty percent confident in,” he added with a rueful smile.
“Are you sure? Because I passed two shops that advertised such items.”
“Ever since the royals banned witchcraft, the market has been flooded with items claiming to nullify, harvest, or create magic. Almost all of it is crap.”
“Except when it isn’t.”
“Exactly. Look, I’ll keep an ear out and let you know.”
Vidorak had known him for almost half his life, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t familiar with his ways. The elf was tricky and could be someone’s best friend while stabbing them in the back. But in this case, Vidorak felt he was telling the truth. The very least for the pure desire for coin.
Vidorak nodded and went to leave the store when the sweet smell of fruit caught his attention. On the counter was a tray of pastries.
“Are those some kind of deadly pastries?” he asked.
“Only to the waistline. Jaison has become quite the baker, and he wanted me to put them out for customers.” Lucan was loyal only to two people, himself and his mate.
“I’ll take four.”
After paying, he left the store and headed back toward the inn to look for Calypso. Jarl Kinar may have the shackles, but Vidorak wouldn’t put it past him to purchase more magic-nullifying items. He wanted to do all he could to prevent Jarl Kinar or others from accessing such weapons.
He was licking his fingers after eating two of the pastries when he heard shouts echoing nearby. It was usual for fights to break out in Ettera, but it was rather early for such a ruckus.
The noise radiated down one of the side streets, and he turned to see his flaming-haired witch with her hands on her hips arguing with a merchant. Her red-eyed crow was flittering around her menacingly, acting as her guard.
Without another thought, he changed course.
Calypso didn’t notice his approach as she continued her threats toward the unfazed merchant.
“Six silver coins!” she exclaimed. “I could get half a dozen rings for two silver coins in Solar City!”
“Then get them at Solar City.” The merchant snatched away his rings and put them back in the basket with the others. “There have been a lot of weddings lately, so supply is low.”
“Supply will become nonexistent when I burn down your whole stall.” Calypso leaned forward threateningly.
It was time to intervene, because while the merchant didn’t look worried, Vidorak knew she was serious. He quickened his steps in their direction.
Before his witch could make good on her promise, he pushed the food into her hands. “Eat this.”
Then he turned to the merchant, who clearly possessed a death wish. “How much did you say for the ring?”
“Like I told this madwoman, it’s six silver coins for one ring.”
Vidorak handed him the coins and took the ring. Then he led a sputtering Calypso away from the market.
“That man completely swindled us!”
“That’s how it goes in Ettera. Why do you need the ring?” He frowned at the uneaten food and nudged her hand up toward her mouth.
“Not that it’s any of your business, but I want to contact my sisters.” She took a bite and lifted her eyebrows. “This isn’t bad.”
“You need the ring for a spell?”
“I’m just going to write a letter,” she answered between bites. “The ring is a bribe for the pigeon that will deliver it. They are a surprisingly covetous sort for shiny things.”
The normally silent black bird cawed in agreement.
“Is that why this one helped you?” Vidorak looked at the odd bird.
“No, this one just had the misfortune of meeting his final resting place near where I was tied up.” Her eyes looked sad as she said that. “There’s a loophole with the shackles. My black magic worked once it left my body, and I could resurrect this one.”
That explained the eerie red glow of the crow’s eyes. “Some might consider it lucky to be brought back to life.”
“They would be wrong.” She broke off a chunk of the pastry and held it out for the black bird. “Thank Vidorak for the pastry and you can get another piece.” The crow gave another sharp caw, and Calypso broke off a second portion.
Asking why an undead bird needed to eat was on the tip of his tongue, but he thought better of it and remained silent. With an amused shake of his head, he left her to write her letter and bribe the local pigeons while he got the horse and their things together.
When they set off toward the Vestrahorn mountains, she elected to sit behind him on the horse, which he begrudgingly agreed to. He enjoyed wrapping his body around hers for protection, but it was probably better she didn’t rub against his aching cock the whole time.
Ettera was the last point of civilization before reaching the mountains.
The terrain became more and more desolate as they left the town behind.
The tall trees of the forests they’d traveled through for most of their journey were long gone.
Here was only brush and prickly plants whose sole purpose was survival.
Even the sun abandoned this place. Endless thick clouds blocked all sunlight the moment they left Ettera, and the atmosphere became colder.
There were no noises from the forests here, no birds chirping or wolves howling.
There was an occasional blurring at the edge of one’s vision of a small snake or creature scurrying along.
“Is this place always this inviting?” Calypso commented.
“This is a good day, actually.”
He looked over his shoulder to find her studying the wasteland. “Your clan really should resettle.”
Something about the simple way she said that, as if it never occurred to them to do that, brought up a brief chuckle.
“You were likely a child at the time, but there was an orc settlement in the Silver Forest for a short while. The hope was to move the mountain clan down there. Things did not go well, unfortunately.”
She hummed in agreement. “Things rarely go well when dealing with humans. Let me guess, they didn’t take too kindly to orcs being their new neighbors?”
He nodded. “It was strained at the beginning, but my father felt things were improving as long as we kept a peaceful presence.”
“Your father?”
He hadn’t meant to mention him. It was too painful for his mother to discuss, and his name had become taboo in the clan. He had faded into the background only to be brought up by his uncle as a cautionary tale.
“My father was chieftain at that time and believed in the settlements. He felt that segregating ourselves in the mountain would hurt us. Not just with resources, but with our place in the realm. Our kind does not have the best reputation.”