The Dragon's War Read online

  And then there was Lifa, who was now disrobing, an action that absorbed all of Skye’s attention. It did not seem possible, but Lifa was even more beautiful than she remembered. Her breasts were fuller, her skin was radiant, and she glowed with the inner light that had always illuminated her and everyone around her. But now that light was brighter than the sun. She slipped in behind Skye, reaching forward for the scented soap, pressing her breasts against Skye’s back.

  Skye relaxed against Lifa as the High Priestess spread lather over her body. Although Lifa’s actions were not overtly sexual, they were so casually sensual they had an even more pronounced effect. The ministrations were both tender and gentle, yet even the most hardened Ha’kan warrior freely admitted that the Priestess caste were the most dominant members of their society. Skye could not help herself and turned to kiss Lifa, a bruising, longing kiss filled with desperation. And Lifa returned the kiss, her passion igniting. The breasts pressed hard against the muscular back and one lathered hand went to a firm breast while the other dipped beneath the water to work its magic. Skye twisted and turned beneath the skilled hands while Lifa held her tight, still stealing her breath with a kiss. It was not long before Skye’s body released, never breaking the kiss of her lover.

  Lifa at last released Skye from the bondage of that kiss and leaned back, Skye still comfortably in her arms. The two rested for a while, Lifa still languorously washing Skye, when Skye turned to Lifa with an impish look in her eye.

  “Are you tired?”

  “Of course not,” Lifa replied. “Did you forget the stamina required of a Priestess?”

  “I could never forget that,” Skye said, “which is why I would like to move to the bed. I could never hold my breath long enough to do what I want to do here, and your stamina would surely cause me to drown.”

  Lifa laughed and took her by the hand. “Then by all means, let us move. I don’t wish to be the cause of your demise.”

  They both took up soft towels, drying the other, and that act alone was enough to send them back into another embrace. They made it to the bed, the soft, lovely haven large enough for several participants, and collapsed into the deep cushions. Skye was on top and began kissing Lifa everywhere, her eyes, her lips her throat, her breasts, her stomach, and finally down to the softness between her legs where she settled for an extended length of time. And Lifa cradled that beloved head in her hands, marveling at the skill of those lips and that tongue, thinking for the thousandth time what an excellent Priestess Skye would have made had she chosen that vocation. When her body released, it was with an abandon the High Priestess exhibited with few.

  Skye pushed Lifa until she was certain she was fully satisfied, then pulled herself up next to her and lie with her head upon her shoulder. Lifa toyed with her hair, kissing the fair strands still damp from the bath. Sometimes Skye would doze off in the gentle afterglow, but today, although feeling a pleasant lethargy, she was nowhere near sleep.

  Lifa sensed this, and quietly took advantage of the opportunity.

  “You’ve returned at a perfect time. I am still responsible for your sexual development, and very soon you will have to learn something new.”

  Skye raised her head, concerned. “Do you find me wanting?”

  Lifa’s laughter bubbled over. “By the gods, no. Tell me you’re more aware than that.”

  “Well, yes. I just wanted to make certain.”

  “No, this is something entirely new that you just haven’t had the chance to experience.”

  Now Skye was very curious. Her time with the Ha’kan had been a non-stop cornucopia of sexual experience, so she couldn’t imagine what she had missed.

  “You’re going to have to learn how to safely make love to a pregnant woman,” Lifa said.

  Skye felt a surge of excitement. This was a boundless honor. Pregnancy was a rare and revered event in Ha’kan culture. Despite their advanced medical and scientific knowledge, no one was quite certain how reproduction occurred. It was entirely independent of sex and rested solely with the mother through parthenogenesis. This quirk of evolution greatly shaped their culture and society, leading many scholars to propose that their sexual freedom was a direct result of this unique procreation, for neither the reproductive process nor the overt sexuality existed in any other race in Arianthem.

  Although pregnancy was to some extent rare, Ha’kan children were fiercely protected and few were ever lost. Most women had only one or two children, but some were prolific and had several. The race was long-lived and dominant in battle, and with all of these factors together, the population continued to gradually grow.

  “That’s wonderful!” Skye exclaimed, “who will be—”

  Skye stopped, for Lifa was looking at her expectantly. Skye’s eyes drifted down to where Lifa rested her hand on her still-flat stomach.

  “You?” Skye said with wonder. “You are with child?”

  “I am,” Lifa said proudly, and Skye now understood Lifa’s newly acquired luminance.

  Skye fairly pounced on her, hugging her tightly, then drew back, concerned.

  “Did I hurt you? I’m so sorry.”

  “And this will be lesson number one,” Lifa said. “You may not treat me like a porcelain doll. Ha’kan women are very resilient when pregnant.”

  Skye grinned. “I’m sure they are.”

  A quiet knock on the door somehow communicated a circumspect intensity.

  “I am guessing that Astrid has told the others. Come in,” she said, slightly louder.

  Dallan and Rika strode in, having themselves cleaned and changed clothes. They could hardly contain their joy, rushing to the bed.

  “Is it true?” Dallan asked.

  “It is,” Lifa said, the pride still in her voice.

  Dallan fairly lifted Lifa from the bed, hugging her tightly. Rika then took her turn at nearly squeezing Lifa to death, then set her gently back down on the pile of pillows. Dallan sat down next to her, and Rika sprawled at the foot of the bed. Lifa took Skye back into her arms and pulled the sheet up around them, not out of modesty but because there was a slight chill in the air.

  “I was just telling Skye she would have a new opportunity for development.”

  Rika grinned. “That’s right. She has not had the pleasure, yet.”

  “You have?” Skye asked.

  “Of course,” Rika said, “we learned the theory of it our third year at the Academy.”

  “You learned more than theory,” Dallan reminded her.

  “Ah, that’s right,” Rika said, relishing the memory. “As did you.”

  “Why am I not surprised?” Skye said. Both Dallan and Rika were so charming, even at a young age, it was likely they received far more “training” than the average Ha’kan.

  Lifa ran her fingers through Skye’s hair. Once again, the Tavinter did not recognize that her own charm put her on level with both the Princess and future First General, and the only reason she had not yet received the training was due to the numerous absences that fate had brought her way.

  “You’re in for a treat,” Rika said.

  “What do you mean?” Skye asked. She had thought the training would revolve around making certain the pregnant woman was comfortable and the child uninjured.

  Both Dallan and Rika deferred to Lifa on the subject.

  “The sexual drive of the Ha’kan woman peaks at two times during her life,” Lifa explained. “One is when she reaches her fourth or fifth decade, and then that lasts for a very long time. The second is when she is with child.”

  “Really?” Skye asked, her eyes wide.

  “Yes,” Lifa said, “we can be insatiable.”

  “I can’t imagine,” Skye said, mulling over this seemingly impossible fact.

  “Kara is already hovering about me,” Lifa said to Dallan. “She has determined to assist with every birth in the capital to prepare for mine.”

  “That sounds like her.”

  “She wanted to be here for your return, but there�
��s a woman giving birth in the market quarter, so she is with the midwife and those closest to the mother.”

  This caused another little tug of a grin on Dallan’s face.

  “What?” Skye asked.

  “It’s one more good reason why you’ve returned to us now.”

  “It’s widely believed,” Lifa explained, “that the child bonds to the mother’s lovers while still in the womb. That the strength of that bond is a direct result of the sexual intensity between the mother and lovers during pregnancy.”

  “Oh,” Skye said slowly. That explained a lot. No wonder Astrid, Gimle, and Senta were as much Dallan’s parents as was the Queen. Ha’kan reproduction was so physically different from other races they did not have traditional families. But they had formed something just as strong, if not stronger. Rika had once revealed that her own mother, a trusted member of Senta’s staff, had been killed when she was very young, but that the Queen had treated her just like a daughter.

  “So,” Dallan said, “my mother has ordered celebrations. Although the Ha’kan need little excuse to rejoice, Skye’s safe return and the pregnancy of the future High Priestess are events worth celebrating. There will be parties, contests, and guests from all over the country. And that will get you warmed up for an even bigger event.”

  “What’s that?” Skye asked as Dallan removed an official looking scroll from inside her tunic. Dallan handed her the scroll. Skye unrolled the parchment and slowly read the graceful scrawl.

  “This is an invitation to the Alfar Ceremony of Assumption,” Skye said in wonder.

  “You are the leader of the Tavinter,” Dallan reminded her, “as well as First Ranger of the Ha’kan. It is only proper that you attend.”

  “Are all of you going?” Skye asked.

  “No,” Dallan said, shaking her head. “My mother must attend because it’s her royal duty, and I must stay behind because it’s mine.”

  There was a trace of disappointment in Dallan’s voice, but it was eclipsed by her delight. “I get to run the country while my mother is gone.”

  “Really?” Skye asked, her eyes glowing at the thought. “And you will be in charge of the military?” she asked, turning to Rika.

  “I will,” Rika said with pride. “Senta will leave behind her Second-in-Command, of course, just in case. But the forces will be mine in her absence.”

  “And Kara will head the Scholar’s caste, and the Ministry will be mine,” Lifa said. “The Queen thought this was a very good opportunity for us to ‘practice,’ if you will.”

  “And ‘tis safest,” Dallan commented, “just in case.” Her countenance darkened at the thought. “Although I’m sure nothing will happen to my mother as long as Senta is with her.”

  “And don’t forget Raine,” Rika said, nudging her friend. “It’s certain she’ll be there, and there’s no safer place than at her side.”

  “That’s true,” Dallan said, breathing a little easier. “And it’s only for a fortnight.”

  “Perhaps I should stay,” Skye said doubtfully. Both options sounded wonderful.

  “You are a head of state,” Dallan reminded her, “and a member of my mother’s staff, so it is appropriate for you to go. Although I admit,” Dallan said, ruffling her hair, “I would not let you go if the trip were any longer. You just got back.”

  “That parting is still months off,” Lifa said, “so let’s enjoy our time together.”

  Chapter 2

  The Ha’kan capital was decorated in dazzling style with colorful streamers, flowers, and banners. The castle courtyard glittered with red and gold armor, pastel gowns, and lovely intricate robes as the communal society came together as one. Skye walked around in a daze of disbelief, unable to comprehend that a great deal of the celebration was for her. It reminded her of the celebration at the Academy many years ago, when the girls’ mothers came to see their offspring, and of course, to see one another.

  She came across a group of women who were a few years older than Dallan and her cohort. All Ha’kan were beautiful, but this group was stunning. They all seemed to know one another and greeted each other with enthusiastic hugs. Skye watched them curiously, for there was something strangely familiar about all of them although she was certain they had never met. Then Lifa came out, flowed toward them, and the greetings were even more passionately enthusiastic. Skye had a sudden attack of shyness and stepped back into the shadows, but Lifa caught sight of her movement.

  “Oh, no you don’t,” she said, laughing, and went to capture the Tavinter. She took Skye by the hand and led her to the group of smiling women.

  “So this is the one we have heard so much about.”

  The woman speaking was a statuesque Scholar, perhaps the largest one Skye had ever seen. Her brown eyes were intelligent and warm, framed with long dark eyelashes that set off splendid features.

  “I am honored to meet you,” Skye said, bowing while her cheeks grew warm.

  “Oh, she is adorable,” said another, the emphasis leaving no doubt that Skye had been a topic of conversation, although Skye was not certain with whom.

  The woman speaking was a Priestess, possessing the provocative, sultry elegance that the truly gifted in the Ministry possessed. The woman next to her was a warrior, but possessed a great deal of the same seductive manner. Skye wondered if they were related. The fourth of the foursome was also a warrior, slighter in frame, winsome, but just as magnetic as her three companions.

  Then Dallan and Rika rushed into the courtyard and an explosion of greetings and happy reunions commenced, and Skye took the opportunity to take a step back to observe the curious scene. To her surprise, Dallan and Rika were joined by Gimle and Senta, then Astrid gracefully joined the melee of embraces. Finally, even the Queen herself arrived and joined the tumult.

  “Who are these women?” Skye murmured to herself.

  “You don’t know?” Kara said, having slipped up beside her.

  “No,” Skye said, “they all look so familiar, but I’m sure I’ve never met them.”

  “There is a reason they look so familiar,” Kara said. “The tall scholar there, Runa, that’s Senta’s daughter.”

  “Senta has a daughter?” Skye exploded, then covered her mouth as Kara laughed. Skye was thankful the group of women was still so boisterous, otherwise they would have heard her outburst.

  “Of course she has a daughter.”

  “And her daughter is a scholar?” Skye asked in disbelief.

  “Why not?” Kara asked, as if the question were nonsensical. “All Ha’kan are allowed to choose their professions, and unless completely unsuitable, that becomes their vocation. I have never really known anyone to be refused. The slender warrior there, that is Solvi, who is Gimle’s daughter.”

  Skye stared in wonder at the lovely warrior in the embrace of the First Scholar, who did indeed look a great deal like her mother.

  “And the other two?” Skye said, almost afraid to ask.

  Kara gave her a wicked look. “You know who they are,” she said over her shoulder as she went to join the greetings.

  And indeed Skye did know the two women as each hung on the arm of their mother, the High Priestess of the Ha’kan. Astrid kissed both of her beautiful daughters, showing no more favor to the priestess than she did the warrior, for both filled the vast space of her heart. And as the warrior daughter sent Skye a smoldering, knowing glance, Skye realized that she probably took after her mother just as much as her sister, regardless of vocation.

  Skye sighed, realizing there was still so much about Ha’kan culture that she didn’t grasp. And although she had spent so many of the last few years with Dallan and her staff, she knew very little about their lives before the Academy. They had probably known these women most of their lives. She quietly left the inner courtyard.

  Astrid watched her departure, as did her future successor. Lifa started to go after her when she felt a hand on her arm. Eira, Astrid’s younger daughter had stayed her progress.

  �
��Might I?” she asked.

  “Of course,” Lifa said, and her gratitude was genuine. “I’m sure she’s heading for the archery range.”

  “Then I will go keep her company.”

  Dallan had also watched Skye’s departure with concern, and was pleased to see Eira go after her. Eira was one of the best archers in the Ha’kan forces and would provide Skye with a little competition, among other things. And as Dallan took Astrid’s other daughter, Embla, upon her arm, she thought it was perhaps those “other things” that would do Skye the most good.

  Skye walked to the row of bows lining the rack. Many women greeted her as she passed, and she was pleased that names and faces were returning to her. And she was comforted by the fact that those she didn’t recognize probably were from out of town.

  The bows were all wonderfully crafted, but one in particular caught her eye. It was unique amongst the long and short bows on the rack, for it occupied a space somewhere in between. It was longer than a short bow, but not quite as long as the sturdier weapons. Its curve was graceful, again a balance between the two weapons. And its design was different, with a smooth craftsmanship that was distinctly Tavinter. Skye lifted the weapon from the rack and ran her fingers down the surface.

  “This is my bow,” she murmured. It was as solid a moment she had experienced since her memories began flooding back on first sight of Dallan. She smiled to herself. “This is my bow.”

  “That’s a beautiful weapon.”

  Skye glanced up at the loveliness that was Astrid’s daughter, the one who was a warrior.

  “I’m Eira,” she said, extending her hand, and Skye grasped her forearm to forearm in the traditional greeting between Ha’kan warriors.

  “I’m Skye,” Skye said, then blushed. “But I guess you already know that.”

  “Are you going to compete?” Eira said, pointing at the preparations for the archery contest. It was popular for the Ha’kan to fire at small, tarry balls of hay that were launched from miniature catapults as practice. Some targets were already flying through the air, and women were taking turns playfully knocking them down.