Soren took the pen back. "After the first battle we'll leave the village behind and our enchantresses will conjure a wall four meters high at the far edge of the battlefield. If we can get enough to join us in the Alliance the ends of the walls can be connected to form a barrier that will keep the enemy from advancing back into the territory." He drew a line on the drawing. "This wall will have twelve watchtowers." He marked them on the drawing. "As we advance we'll continue to move the wall and the fortress." He stopped and looked around. "Does anyone have any additions or changes they want to propose?"
Pelyn stepped forward. "We need to gather all the ships we can get our hands on. If the enemy manages to get behind us and attacks one of the fortresses they need to know they can call for help and we'll come to their aid."
Soren grasped Pelyn's shoulder. "Excellent idea."
"Why are the villages and fortresses so big?" Devyn asked.
Skye smiled. "We don't want to just survive from one battle to the next anymore. We want to have safe homes with trees, grass, flowers and even some small ponds and rivers."
Raina stepped forward with Kenril in her arms. "Oh, I like this idea. I've yearned for a home for so long."
"Me too," Robyn said. "It's time we started living again instead of just existing."
Soren pulled Skye closer to his side. "We need the fortresses to go up at the same time. Do you have a day of celebration or commemoration coming up?"
She nodded. "Yes, in twelve cycles it will be the Eve of the Two Moons. It's when they line up in the southern sky."
"Then, that's when the fortresses and walls go up and the battles begin," Soren said. "Skye and I will contact the enchantress she knows who lives on the west coast. We'll make an alliance then work our way back to this position."
Pelyn and his brothers moved to stand by Soren. Berit joined them and signaled to his warriors. They joined him as he clasped Soren's arm in a warrior's allegiance and agreement.
Berit looked at the other warriors present. "Our ship holds over a hundred warriors. Anyone traveling west is welcome to go with us."
Teryq stepped forward. "My warriors and I will travel with you." Next to him Bellya smiled and sent Soren a sultry look.
"Oh, great," Skye whispered and Soren pinched her bottom in warning and hid his grin when she squeaked in surprise.
Korbyn stood with Willet and Levyt by his side. "I'll take my ship and travel to the east coast. We'll meet back here on the Eve of the Two Moons."
Rilyn and Stefyn stood. "We'll remain here and contact as many warriors in the surrounding area as we can."
Soren called for ale. When they'd been served he said, "This cycle we prepare. At sun's rising we leave." He raised his tankard. "To the alliance."
The warriors held their tankards up and yelled "The Alliance." They chugged the ale then slammed their tankards down onto the tables.
# # #
Later that evening after the plans had been completed and the warriors had trained together for several units Soren walked to the shelter Skye had made for their group. A smaller chamber sat off to one side of the large chamber. Skye stood in the open doorway, beckoning to him before she disappeared inside. On his way across the room many warriors spoke to him, trying to slow him down. He gave them hasty greetings and hurried away until he entered the private chamber and the door closed behind him.
Soft candlelight glowed, revealing a large krystal tub on one side of the room with a small table next to it that held a tray of food and a tankard of ale. The opposite side of the room was taken up by a thick sleeping mat.
Skye smiled and with a wave of her hands his clothes disappeared and the room began to fill with the blue mist. She slowly ran her eyes down his body from the top of his head to the hills and valleys of his abs and lower where she paused for a nano-unit that felt like an eternity. When she raised her eyes to his they burned with desire and the invitation in them sent a heated wave of anticipation through him. He paused for a moment then slid into the tub, sighing with pleasure when the hot water warmed and soothed his aching muscles.
Skye watched him while she searched for his foot and lifted it to the tub's edge. Her eyes remained locked on his while she rubbed bathing gel between her palms until it formed a thick lather. She ran her hands over his foot, pressing her fingers into the aching spots on the bottom before she slid her fingers between his toes. The blue mist moved from him to her, surrounding her.
A groan of pleasure left his lips as she massaged the muscles in his legs, gradually moving her hands to his hip. A slender finger slid over his belly and circled his navel. He scooted up and his cock poked up from the water. She ran her finger over it, drawing a deep breath from him. Her lips curved in a small smile before she slid her hands away and used them to cup water and rinse the lather from his skin. When she was satisfied his skin was free of gel she lowered his leg into the water, lifted his left foot and repeated the process.
Soren closed his eyes and relaxed until he felt the water shift around him. He opened his eyes just in time to see Skye's bare belly and breasts pass by as she lowered herself into the water and straddled his lap.
The water level lowered to his waist as the air around them began to shimmer with the heat from his body. Skye dribbled gel on his chest and ran her hands over it in swirls until she formed a thick lather. She spread it to his shoulders then traced her fingers over the muscles of his chest and belly. She glanced at him and sighed with pleasure before she returned to her task. Two fingers slid around his nipples then down again and again. She pressed harder and ran her hands up to his shoulders, massaging the muscles there before she soothed both hands down his right arm to his hand.
She ran her thumbs over the calluses on his palms then entwined their fingers and stretched his fingers apart. His fingers relaxed and the entire weight of his arm rested in her hands while she massage his hand then lowered it into the water and moved on to his other arm.
She maintained the temperature of the air and water while she bathed him. Finally, she slid around behind him, lathered her hands again and washed and massaged the muscles of his back, shoulders and neck. The longer she touched him the more relaxed he became until with a final sigh he leaned back against her with his head resting on her shoulder.
She ran her hands down his chest and hugged him. Neither of them spoke although their minds were linked and they both knew what the other was thinking and feeling. It was the first moment in their lives together that they were in total accord and one. True mates, forever.
After several micro-units some of the tension returned to his muscles and his weight lifted from her. But Skye wasn't ready for him to separate from her yet. She slid around him, straddled his lap again and rested her weight on his chest. She nuzzled his neck then slowly began planting small kisses on his neck and face until her mouth hovered over his.
She stroked his shoulder, neck and the back of his head while she brushed her lips over his. He responded with a soft kiss but before he could take control she moved her lips to his bottom lip, sucked on it then traced the sharp angles of his top lip with the tip of her tongue and pulled away.
Dark aqua eyes met darkened teal eyes, searched for a response and found it. She lowered her mouth to his and gave him dozens of soft kisses before she increased the pressure. He opened to her when she brushed her tongue over the seam of his lips, seeking entry. His tongue brushed over hers, and gradually, stroke by stroke, they explored each other until he tried to capture her mouth.
She pulled back, shook her head then clasped his head with her hands and held him still while she nibbled on his bottom lip. When he responded she stroked her tongue over his mouth then nipped his top lip.
Soren slid his hands around her waist and jerked her against him until her breasts pressed into his chest.
She covered his face with small kisses drawing a shiver of pleasure from him. Her fingernails slid over his head while she moved back to his lips and kissed him passionately then sweetly again.
Soren's fingers slid into her hair, holding her captive while he kissed her. She allowed him to take control for a short moment before she pulled away and moved her lips to his ear. She nipped the lobe then stood, stepped out of the tub and walked a few feet away.
Tiny droplets of water sparkled over her beautiful body then ran in rivulets down her back, over her lush buttocks and slender legs to her feet. She beckoned him with a smile over one shoulder and he stood and stalked toward her.
"Is this more unfinished business, little heart?" He crowded her, forcing her to step back. Her foot caught the edge of the mat and she began to fall but he caught her and slowly lowered her as he came down over her. Before he could get comfortable she twisted until she was on top then planted her hands on his shoulders.
"This is new business, warrior." Skye wiggled down until she was on her knees between his feet. With a small smile she leaned down, stroked a line across his foot with her fingers and followed the line with her lips. A kiss here and a nibble there left a map of sensation on his body as she moved up to his hips. She brushed a kiss over the head of his cock and heard him draw in a deep breath so she did it again, and again.
He grasped her head and held her still for a moment then released her. She took that as permission and licked his cock from the tip to his balls then nibbled her way back up where she took the head into her mouth.
Skye applied her tongue to the sensitive tip, gently lashing it before she sealed her lips around it and kissed and sucked on it. Soren groaned and shoved his hips upwards. Her lips slid down the shaft a few centimeters. She paused for a nano-unit then licked around it as she slid her lips up to the head and back down.
The entire time she kept her hands busy, running them down his legs then back up over his body to his shoulders. Now she scratched her nails down his chest and belly to his cock. She wrapped her hands around the girth of his cock and pumped them up and down as she continued to pleasure him with her mouth.
The sound of his harshly indrawn breathes and restless groans filled the room. He clasped her shoulders and tried to pull her up. She resisted and slid her tongue over the slit of his cock while she cupped his balls and felt them draw up closer to his body. With a final swipe she released him then slid up his body. She impaled herself on his cock and the blast of pleasure from his mind to hers threw her into an intense orgasm. She threw her head back and gasped his name as she wiggled and panted and extended the pleasure.
He grasped her waist and held her down while he pumped up into her, hard and fast. Another orgasm rippled through her and he came. The blue mist thickened then began to fade.
"Soren," she breathed his name in wonder. "My love. My mate."
He stroked his hands over her back and pulled her against him. "Sleep now."
Ten cycles later they'd visited and made alliances with six of the seven enchantresses Skye knew. They arrived at the seventh enchantress's village during a battle with the Crimeryns.
Soren landed the ship a kilometer away from the village and they began to make their way toward the sound of the fighting.
"Lalyn knows we're near," Skye told Soren through their mind link.
He acknowledge her just as they left a crevice in the boulders and entered a small clearing. Immediately they were assaulted by dozens of white krystal shards. Some hit the rocks and shattered but several small shards cut into their faces, leaving behind stinging cuts.
Skye immediately conjured a wall to protect them then provided them with krystal while she healed their wounds.
Soren grabbed her and pulled her back through the shadows cast by the towering rock walls of the crevice. At the other end he, Skye and Berit went to the left while Pelyn, and his two brothers went to the right.
They searched for another way to reach the village and finally found one when the sound of fighting became louder. They stepped out of the protection of the rocks and shrubs and found a lone warrior and his mate fighting for their lives. The enemy surrounded them and gradually closed in, tightening the circle around them.
"That's my friend, Lalyn and her mate Magnys," Skye said.
"We'll go right," Soren said. "Stay behind me Skye."
Berit moved to the left and they both began casting krystal.
Soren found a group of closely spaced enemies and threw several small shards of dark krystal. It shattered behind them and small slivers penetrated their clothing and dug into them. Immediately they fell to the ground and writhed in pain.
He didn't wait around to see them die. Instead he continued to move around the battlefield, looking for and finding groups of the enemy. He cast dark or white krystal depending on whether he could throw it without hitting the enchantress and her warrior mate.
He caught a glimpse of Berit on the other side of the clearing as he took out two enemy warriors. The krystal he threw hit its mark every time and Soren took a nano-unit to admire his new brother's skill.
His communication device activated and he heard Pelyn's voice. "We've engaged the enemy and need more white krystal."
Soren passed on the request to Skye and added another request for himself and Berit. He held his ground, forcing the enemy warriors to attack him. As soon as they did he released a barrage of dark krystal and they fell. Little by little he, Skye and Berit took out the advancing enemy and moved closer to Lalyn and Magnys.
When they reached them they took up positions back to back. Soren studied the ambush and realized that the enemy had not had time to choose the field of battle. A fact that gave him and his group the advantage until a large group of warriors entered the clearing, hesitated for a moment then joined the battle against them.
Pelyn and his brothers followed behind them and the enemy slowly realized they were now caught in a trap of their own making. The intensity of the battle increased as the enemy tried to fight their way free to no avail. Within a few micro-units the last Crimeryn warrior fell and the battle ended.