Honey Wine squeezed Torn’s hand and said, “He’s lucky to have you for a friend.”
“And I’m lucky to have you.” He paused outside their door and kissed her.
Her arms slipped around his neck as he tugged her into his embrace, kicked the door shut behind them, and carried her to the bed.
“Blaze did give us a belated wedding present,” he said between kisses.
“What?”
Torn pushed himself off the bed only to retrieve a small vile of blue glass from his trunk. He uncorked the bottle and sniffed it, then extended it to Honey Wine who held her nose over the vile.
“Umm,” she said. “Nice.”
“Get on your back,” he said.
She purred, “Ohh, I like the sound of that.”
Honey Wine tugged off her clothes, then sprawled naked on her back. Torn removed his own trousers and tunic then knelt at the foot of the bed. He poured some of the oil from the vile into his palms and began massaging it into first one foot and ankle, then the other. Honey Wine’s eyes slipped shut as he rubbed oil into each of her legs, then paused at her groin. She felt his breath blowing soft and warm against her clit before his tongue laved the nub to alertness.
Honey Wine’s eyes opened halfway and she felt her heartbeat quicken, both from the feeling of his tongue and lips on her clit and from the sight of her tall, sinewy husband kneeling between her legs, licking and sucking her where she most loved to be touched.
“Oh, Torn,” she breathed as his tongue dipped into her pussy and swirled before returning to her clit. He tasted the moist folds of her flesh while his hands reached up to cup her breasts. His thumbs circled her nipples to the same rhythm as his tongue circled her clit, and within seconds she came, shaking and jerking beneath him.
Before the last ripples coursed through her body, he covered her, his cock filling her as he claimed her with long, slow thrusts that drove her toward another orgasm.
His hips thrust while his lips and tongue mated with hers and then moved to her neck. Her body heated with pleasure as she neared another climax.
Increasing the speed of his thrusts, he drove into her fast and hard, extending her orgasm and only slowing his motions when the last ripples rolled through her.
Again he reverted to the slow, steady rhythm, and she clung to him, her nipples rubbing against his chest.
“Oh, Torn,” she panted as another climax neared. Her fingers sank into his shoulders and her tongue fenced with his as his movements increased. At the final moment, she tore her mouth from his gasping and clinging to him as his hips lunged into hers.
Through a haze of passion, she began to realize he was a damn good lover – more than enough to literally take her breath away.
As another intense orgasm threatened to hurl her into blackness, she felt him cry out close to her ear. She slid her hands upward and rested them loosely around his neck, feeling the strong column tense and throb as he lunged into her. His fast thrusts didn’t slow this time as he exploded within her, filling her hot, throbbing pussy with his essence.
* * * * *
Two weeks passed with unprecedented speed, probably because Honey Wine knew such a dangerous mission awaited Torn.
Too soon, she stood outside the fortress with Torn beside his saddled black stallion. Rain and Warrant were already mounted and waiting a polite distance from the couple. All three men wore black trousers and shorter black tunics, which allowed more freedom of movement than their traditional knee-length uniforms. She’d seen the dark masks that accompanied their outfits, allowing them to blend with shadows and move undetected throughout the palace. She hadn’t been told all the details of the mission, only that if everything went as planned, they would return early the following morning.
“I’ll be waiting for you,” Honey Wine said.
“I’ll be back.”
His expression was calm, his eyes focused, and confidant, but when he drew her into his arms and held her tightly, she felt his heart pounding against her cheek. She knew how terrified she would be returning to the palace, risking capture, and death in the arena, or worse, by The Lady. Inside, she wept for him, and she prayed to the Goddesses, or the Spirit - whoever listened - to keep him and the others safe.
He kissed her once, then mounted his horse, and led the others toward the wood without looking back.
Honey Wine watched until he disappeared in the trees. When she turned away, she noticed Iris standing behind her looking as concerned as she felt.
Honey Wine knew the young woman’s heart was with Rain.
“They’ll be back,” Iris said.
Honey Wine nodded. They had to be.
“I’m going to study with Blaze for a while. Do you want to come?” Honey Wine asked her.
Together the women walked through the gates and to a room behind the stables, which served as Blaze’s herbarium. Even before they reached the open door, the scent of herbs wafted on the air, blending with the scent of horses and leather. Inside, surrounded by shelves of potted plants, the auburn-haired Knight sat at a long, rectangular table mixing medicines. He stood upon seeing the women, so tall his head nearly brushed the herbs dangling from the ceiling.
“Sweet Liquid and the Brilliant Flower.” He smiled. “Welcome to my workshop and sanctuary. Explore and ask. Tell me of your ways and I’ll translate the work of healers from the beginning. They whisper, though not all are wise. Much like us?”
Iris stared at him, blinking, and Honey Wine repressed laughter.
“Stubborn, are they?” Honey Wine asked him. “I guess even spirits don’t want to give up the old ways.”
“I can’t say much.” He shrugged. “They did clear the path for us, after all.
Yet they chatter amongst themselves, one clamors for this method, another for that.”
“What’s this?” Iris asked, picking up a glass bottle and inhaling deeply.
He laughed. “No real value there. A pretty scent. The wives asked for it.
Rose, sandalwood, vanilla, all in glistening little vials. Woman things.”
“Perfume.” Iris smiled, passing Honey Wine the bottle.
She sniffed the lovely floral scent. “This would drive Torn mad,” she smiled.
“May I use some?”
Blaze waved his hand. “Take what you please, both of you. I’ve no use for it.”
For the remainder of the morning, Honey Wine and Iris helped Blaze prepare medicines, then he excused himself to train with the other members of his faction. From what Honey Wine understood of his explanation, there were ten Knights who wore the green sash. They spent most of their time healing, but trained daily in the method of empty-handed fighting in which all of the Knights were proficient. Those of Blaze’s faction trained only for defense, as they loathed violence.
Blaze saw the dead as clearly as he did the living, and he had no desire for the ghosts of those he killed to join the beings who constantly surrounded him.
Blaze’s visions intrigued Honey Wine, and she couldn’t resist asking if he knew what was happening to Torn and his party.
“They work in darkness,” he said. “The spies are formidable. Their work tonight is important. They’re determined to succeed.”
“Will they?”
He smiled sadly. “Forgive me, Sweet Liquid. I can’t always see clearly or so far ahead.”
“Thanks for trying,” Honey Wine said. She was beginning to understand Torn’s friendship with Blaze. Though the auburn-haired Knight was difficult to follow, he was kind. Honey Wine wondered if somewhere a woman existed who could truly understand him. Though Blaze appeared to be content with his spirit companions, Honey Wine knew he must have human needs as well.
Perhaps there was a woman who could wade through his rambling and provide him with the physical and spiritual bond she and Torn shared. She hoped so.
When Honey Wine retired to Torn’s - to
their
- chamber that night, she lay in bed and stared at the ceiling until long after the fire burned down. Had Torn, Rain, and Warrant made it into the palace? Had they captured Timus, or were they dead or imprisoned? More than anything, she wished Torn was lying beside her. She longed to feel his arms around her, hear the sound of his voice against her ear.
If he didn’t come back, she’d return to Sophianna and kill Alva herself.
Surely it would mean her own death, but she didn’t care. Life would never be the same without her strong, gentle, courageous Knight.
Honey Wine wasn’t sure when she finally fell asleep, but her dreams were distorted visions of the dungeon, the arena, and The Lady…
It was still dark when she heard voices in the corridor. She leapt from the bed, tugged on her clothes and boots, and hurried to the great hall. Torn and Warrant stood in the doorway talking with Mage, Blaze, and Mahir. Honey Wine’s heart leapt at the sight of his lean, black-garbed body and smooth, innocent face accented with eyes of innate sensuality and keen intelligence. She whispered thanks to whichever Goddess or Spirit had protected him.
Torn’s eyes riveted to Honey Wine as soon as she stepped into the hall. She noted his expression looked strained in the torchlight. It had been a tense mission.
“Honey Wine.” He held her tightly as she locked her arms around his waist.
“Rain?” she asked.
“He’s preparing Timus for questioning,” Torn replied, and Honey Wine nodded, relieved that all three had safely and successfully completed their duty.
“Would you accompany us, Honey Wine?” Mahir asked. “Your presence could prove helpful.”
“Of course,” she said.
“Lets get on with it.” Mahir glanced at Torn and Warrant. “Then you both should get some rest. We have much planning ahead of us.”
As the others filed out of the hall, Torn and Honey Wine shared another brief embrace.
“I missed you so much.” She kissed his earlobe, then his mouth.
“I missed you too.”
“Was it difficult?”
He shook his head. “Just tedious. Your maps were perfect. We were in and out in half an hour. If the rest of our plans go as well, the Entertainment will end. Forever.”
They walked across the courtyard and up the steps to the fortress’s highest tower. Timus sat in a chair in the center of the round, torch-lit room, Rain’s hulking form shadowing his face. Honey Wine noted Timus wasn’t tied, but stared warily at Rain. His eyes locked with Honey Wine’s as soon as she entered the room with Mahir and Rain, Warrant and Blaze following behind them.
“You bastards abducted her too!” Timus snapped.
“I wasn’t abducted,” Honey Wine said. “I’m here of my own free will.”
Timus laughed humorlessly. “I always knew you were too self-righteous for your own good, Honey Wine, but I never suspected you were a traitor. And a fool. You think he cares about you?” Timus nodded in Torn’s direction. “He’s just using you to get what he wants. Once these…
Knights
…get information, he’ll toss you aside.”
“That might prove difficult seeing that we’re married,” Honey Wine said.
Timus’s eyes widened in surprise, then narrowed. “It doesn’t matter.
Whatever you want from The Mistress, you won’t get it. She’ll raise armies against you. She has allies. When this Order is destroyed, you’ll die with them.”
Honey Wine shook her head. “You’re delusional, Timus. Have you served in that dungeon so long that you think Alva is the most powerful ruler in the world?”
“I know how powerful she is.” Timus held Honey Wine’s eyes. “So do you.
Whatever you want from me, I’ll never give. No matter what kind of torture you inflict upon me, nothing would be worse than the Mistress’s punishments should I betray her.”
“We don’t use torture,” Mahir stated, “but you will tell us what we want to know.”
Chairs lined the walls, and the Knights sat in them, facing Timus from every direction.
“We want the location of the arena and the date of the next Entertainment,”
Torn said.
Timus’s eyes focused on the wall in front of him, his jaw set.
“You weren’t cruel, Timus,” Torn continued. “You never abused your authority as a guard like most of the others did. I don’t think you agreed with the Entertainment any more than Honey Wine.”
Still, Timus refused to speak.
“His fear deadens his tongue,” Blaze said quietly. “Fear of the thorns of agony.”
Honey Wine’s eyes met Torn’s, and she murmured, “The Lady’s needles?”
Torn didn’t speak, didn’t move, except for his eyes which switched from her to Timus, glowing like strange jewels in the torchlight.
“Tell us what we need to know, and you’ll be protected,” Mahir said.
Timus snorted with sarcastic laughter. “You couldn’t even protect two of your own from us.”
“This is going to be a long day,” Warrant muttered so only Honey Wine heard. He folded his arms across his chest and sank deeper into his chair. “We have methods of extracting information and could learn all that he knows in moments, but Mahir prefers to have cooperation.”
As the day wore on, Timus refused to speak. Honey Wine sat, forcing her eyes to remain open as dusk approached. She’d scarcely slept the night before, and Torn, Rain, and Warrant were nearing three days without sleep.
Finally, Mahir turned to Blaze and sighed. “He’s yours.”
“Sensible,” Blaze muttered, withdrawing a vile from his cloak. “Potion of truth. Elixir of honesty will clear his mind and assist us. The liquid of –”
“Just give it to him already!” Rain snapped at Blaze who turned his wide blue eyes to Honey Wine and shrugged.
“Keep that poison away from me!” Timus leapt from the chair as Blaze approached. He flew at the auburn-haired Knight, fists flying. Blaze’s stances shifted almost imperceptibly, and each of Timus’s blows pummeled air. Rain and Torn grasped Timus and held him in the chair while Warrant and Blaze forced the potion down his throat.