FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

10 - Reluctant Healing

Iphigenia found traces of the old path at the edge between the forest and the rocky feet of the mountains and the three soon came upon the path leading up the steep side of the nearest mountain. It gradually became narrower and the wind became stronger the higher they climbed. Iphigenia took the lead with Elzbieta behind her and Ulric as last. He looked down over the edge of the path at the ground far below and shivered. 'I can imagine how dangerous it can be. If you're caught in a storm up here you'd probably get a free flying lesson.' He looked up. 'You don't happen to have angry stone giants throwing large chunks of rock at each other here, do you?'

Iphigenia chuckled. 'That's silly. Do you have them in your world?'

'No, just making sure.'

Iphigenia halted at a bend. 'The ledge is damaged here. Pieces of it are broken off and there's lots of loose rocks so be careful.'

They scraped the wall as they continued along the path, avoiding looking down too long at places where they needed to step across missing chunks. Iphigenia was glad to see the path was in better shape further off but a series of sharp cracks above their heads froze her in fear.

Large chunks of stone cracked loose and slid down the slope in an ever louder avalanche. Ulric growled sharp and shifted into scales the second he pushed Elzbieta against Iphigenia and pressed them against the wall under his body.

He grunted as the pieces hit him hard and scraped his back but his scales held. The path underneath their feet cracked under the assault though and they cried out as they fell down along the stream of rocks.

Ulric groaned and with effort pushed several heavy rocks from his back and shook his ringing head. He looked down quickly on Iphigenia and Elzbieta whom he had embraced on their way down. Iphigenia's right lower arm was bent and she quickly held her left hand above it and groaned a chant for healing through her clenched teeth. Elzbieta groaned in pain as she pulled up her right leg and examined her foot with a wrong angle. 'How bad is it!?' he asked.

Elzbieta hissed a breath. 'Broken foot. Don't think other major damage.'

Iphigenia finished her chant and placed her hand close to Elzbieta's foot. 'My arm's broken but I've dulled most of the pain. There's not much more I can do after doing the same for Elzbieta. I don't have enough mana right now.'

Ulric looked around at the rubble and up at the mountain side. 'We're wedged in a crack apparently. And the only way out is climbing up.'

Iphigenia looked up after finishing the healing chant for Elzbieta. 'And we're in no shape to move.' She met his eyes in a serious look. 'We're going to need your healing skill.'

He glanced at Elzbieta, looked up at the climb, and nodded. 'Yeah, I can't think of another solution either to keep us going.'

Elzbieta watched the two. 'What healing skill?'

Ulric coughed and fiddled with his fingers while his ears turned back. 'Well, it's something we found out after we, eh.'

Iphigenia blushed as she put her hand on his arm. 'You've seen his abilities, right?'

Elzbieta thought about them. 'You're talking about his essence of healing? What is that anyway?'

Iphigenia looked up at Ulric and let out an embarrassed giggle. 'Basically, he has a very powerful healing effect when he does a certain thing. At least, as far as we've found out.'

Elzbieta eyes went from Iphigenia to Ulric and back again and her stomach clenched lightly as something dawned on her in her subconscious. She narrowed her eyes. 'What kind of thing?'

Iphigenia let out a giggle again. 'When we have sex. It neutralised a lethal poison in me the first time.'

Elzbieta stared at her. 'He can heal you, through, sex?' she said and the memories of her involuntary intimate experience resurfaced. To fix her foot and get out of the current situation he'd have to do the same with her. For real this time. Her eyes grew large and she reeled back. 'What!? He!? We!? Together!? His thing!? In!? In!?'

Iphigenia nodded. 'There's no other choice but to die out here.' she said and smiled gently. 'Don't worry, it feels very good really and he can be very gentle.'

Elzbieta glared at Ulric. 'It didn't feel very gentle to me!'

Iphigenia gazed at her. 'It didn't, to you?'

Elzbieta's heart skipped a beat and she looked away while clenching the bottom of her body armour. 'I mean, it didn't look very gentle.' she muttered.

Iphigenia leaned closer and a sly smile formed. 'So, you saw us?'

Elzbieta wiped her thigh. 'It just sort of happened by accident when it took so long for you to return and I had to check up on you if everything was all right.'

Iphigenia sat back and smiled wider. 'So you watched the whole thing, eh?'

Elzbieta scratched at a patch of dirt with her fingernail.

'Did you also imagine doing it with him then?'

Elzbieta looked up at her at once and clenched her fists. 'I didn't need to imagine it when I felt him doing everything at the same time as he did you!'

Iphigenia sat silent for a moment. 'You felt him doing it?'

'Yes! All his licking and touching and his fingers and his thing inside me and making me come twice!'

Iphigenia and Ulric stared at each other. He scratched the back of his head. 'Could that be an effect of the familiar bond?'

'I never heard of anything more than being able to talk at a distance before.' she said. 'It must be from the same cause that makes your numbers and all screwed up.' She turned back to Elzbieta who stared at the ground. 'You really felt everything?'

Elzbieta nodded once.

'Wow.' Iphigenia said and looked at Ulric again. 'We were in a threesome and didn't even know it.' she said and chuckled.

Elzbieta glanced at her. 'It's not funny.'

Iphigenia smiled deviously at her. 'But you came twice, you said, so it must have felt good.' Elzbieta said nothing and Iphigenia leaned closer again. 'Did you come when his tongue licked your most sensitive nub and his fingers moved deep inside? And when his hot seed poured inside you? Or was it right away when he slid his thick dick inside you?'

Elzbieta's body reacted to the memory of the pleasure she'd experienced and a warm glow filled her lower abdomen with an itch. She moaned softly in frustration.

Iphigenia sensed her arousal growing and looked at Ulric standing with his back to them. She licked her lips. 'Wolfie?'

He looked back over his shoulder. 'Hmm?'

She smiled. 'You're getting hard, aren't you?' He coughed lightly and she pulled at his arm to turn him around. 'Nice.' she said and stroked him gently with her fingertips from his tip to his balls and back. 'My healing spell won't last long so take me, Wolfie.' She looked at Elzbieta who kept glancing at Ulric. 'I mean, take us.'

He barely dared to look at Elzbieta. 'I'm sorry for what happened. If I had known-'

She cut him off with a wave of her hand. 'Just hurry. I don't want to die here.'

He unbuttoned Iphigenia's breeches and she stepped out of them, and smiled at him when he pulled her close. 'Make me feel better, Wolfie. In both ways.' she said and guided him between her thighs.

She sighed at the splendid heat spreading out inside her when he slowly slid inside, and watched Elzbieta breathing harder and shifting her seat. 'You really do feel the same.'

Elzbieta bit her lip and glanced once. 'Don't look.'

Iphigenia smiled and pressed down on Ulric while tensing her abdomen to squeeze him and hummed in pleasure as Elzbieta's body twitched. 'It's a shame we can't take our time now.' she breathed and kissed Ulric. 'Come quickly in me, Wolfie. I want your seed in me.'

He growled softly and gently pumped his dick inside her while she squeezed to milk him. Her hungry mouth slipped over his and their tongues wrapped together while her body heated up more with her desire.

Elzbieta's gaze kept returning to the glimpse of Ulric's shaft moving between Iphigenia's thighs while she couldn't hold back her hips rocking in the same rhythm and her own arousal getting worse at every deep thrust she sensed inside her. He didn't touch her but he was doing her at the same time as Iphigenia. She moaned softly when more heat flared up inside her but couldn't tell if it was Iphigenia's or her own.

Iphigenia wrapped her good arm around Ulric's neck. 'Oh Wolfie.' she breathed in his mouth. 'Even if you didn't heal me this way you could still fuck me anytime.' He growled and thrust harder inside her and the hit of his hilt against her clit shot electric waves through her lower body. She moaned harder and increased his desire to sow his seed deep in her again. 'I'm tempted to do just that.' he growled and gripped her tight behind.

Elzbieta gasped at the sudden tight sensation on her behind. She moaned while her eyes were glued on the couple next to her and her body wanted more than just the ghostly image of his dick inside her. She groaned again at the loss of control and her forced helplessness but she couldn't stop feeling good with every pulse of heat rushing through her abdomen and the squeezing of her insides around him.

Ulric's arousal reached its height quickly at Iphigenia's hunger for him to come inside her. His balls itched hard for release and his dick lit up with every hit against her depths, and growled louder while his tongue danced around hers.

Iphigenia pressed herself against him and squeezed with every hard thrust inside her. Hips hips buckled and his dick grew stiffer. 'Yes, fill me up, Wolfie. Let it all out in me.' she moaned and trembled in anticipation.

Elzbieta squirmed at the tight sensation inside her and moaned harder while her whole abdomen was on fire. The moment another flash of heat filled her, Ulric growled loud and Iphigenia moaned in ecstasy.

Iphigenia breathed hard and kissed Ulric all over his muzzle while her insides twitched around his throbbing heat. 'That was good, Wolfie. I can feel your gift spreading inside me.

He grinned a little. 'I could almost drown you in gifts.' he growled.

She licked her lips. 'I'd love that.' she said and squeezed him more. 'But now you need to attend to Elzbieta.'

He caressed her cheek and slipped gently out of her. Elzbieta breathed hard and tried not to look at the wet erection and the creamy sheen around its head. Her body squirmed at the knowledge it would embrace it fully and she bit her lip and clenched her fists.

Iphigenia knelt beside her, undid the buckles of her leg armour and gestured with her head to a flat piece of rock next to them. 'You'd best sit on there to keep the weight of your foot.'

Elzbieta nodded and her heart raced when Ulric held her up in his arms and Iphigenia lowered her breeches. 'I'm really sorry about this.' he said and she shook her head. 'Don't say it. Just,' she shivered at the cool air touching her legs and wet mound and the shame of a bloodwolf and the woman he just mated looking at her. That they saw her false leg didn't even enter her mind. 'just do it.'

He sat her down gently on the rock which was at the height of his crotch and held her by her waist. She swallowed and reluctantly spread her legs, even when her abdomen itched to feel his real dick slide inside her. 'Ready?' he asked and she nodded once quickly. He touched her wet slit with his tip and she twitched at the hot touch. He pushed gently and stroked his tip up and down lightly, and she pushed her hips up and forward to help him find her entrance.

She took a deep breath when her insides spread and heat filled her up. 'It's not hurting you, is it?' Ulric asked. She looked at his face and saw genuine concern in it while his ears stood lower, and shook her head. 'I'm all right.' she breathed. 'Go ahead.'

He nodded and slowly slid his dick back and forth to let her get used to the real thing. Iphigenia sat back and hummed in pleasure at that same sensation inside her. 'Oh wow. So this is how it feels.' she breathed. 'Wolfie, you're really fucking us both at the same time.'

He growled low at the excitement of hearing it and pressed a little harder against Elzbieta. She moaned softly and grabbed Ulric's elbow as more physical pleasure spread throughout her body and she gave up on resisting the inevitable.

Iphigenia moaned more and her abdomen tensed to squeeze the image of Ulric's dick sliding in her. She watched Elzbieta getting hotter at her Wolfie's attention and realised she loved it. If Elzbieta didn't want to be taken often by him she'd have to find a way to convince her.

Ulric sensed the desire to come deep into this elf beauty growing despite guilt nagging at the back of his head. He growled deeper and thrust harder inside her, and was glad she at least squeezed tighter around him.

Elzbieta breathed harder while waves of tingling warmth drifted through her. She let her body take control and her hips pushed her mound and clit against his tight and furry body with each thrust. Moans escaped her and the good feeling of being taken by him could no longer be ignored.

Iphigenia felt her excitement rapidly rising and rocked her hips with each firm thrust inside Elzbieta. 'Ohhh.. Wolfie.. You're pushing me over the edge again..' she moaned and tensed at another hit inside her.

Elzbieta sensed her limit coming up and involuntary squeezed down harder on him while she moaned and breathed hard and grabbed his chest fur. Nothing mattered to her anymore but reaching the climax she deserved.

Elzbieta squirming and moaning was enough to illicit several hard thrusts until his hips buckled and lost to the pressure in his balls and dick. He exploded with a loud growl and soaked the elf woman's depths with bloodwolf's seed in another unnatural act.

The flash of heat in their depths took both women to the darkness of ultimate pleasure and they tensed and sagged when their minds went blank. Elzbieta fell forward into Ulric's embrace as throbbing shot the rest of his burning seed in her. A strange peaceful sensation spread out from her insides and she buried her face into his neck.

***

Elzbieta woke up and for a few moments had no idea where she was or what happened until she realised the warm and soft sensation she snuggled was Ulric. She pushed herself up on her elbow and he greeted her with a warm smile. 'How are you feeling now?' he asked.

She blushed and looked away. 'I, don't know?'

'You don't feel any pain though? Your foot looked normal again.'

She looked at her foot. 'Oh! Yes! No, it doesn't hurt.' She carefully moved it around and wiggled her toes.

He smiled. 'I'm glad it worked.' he said and a stir on his other side turned his attention to Iphigenia. 'You okay, Iphi?'

She smiled sleepily and kissed him. 'Of course, Wolfie. Thank you.'

He squeezed her lightly in his embrace. 'No, thank you.'

Elzbieta sat up and looked at the pile of broken rock just outside the low overhang they had slept under. 'Oh no! Our gear, weapons, food!'

Ulric tapped her back and pointed behind her. 'I found the weapons and most of our gear and food.'

Elzbieta looked back and saw the sword she had received lying there safely. She let out a deep breath and placed her hand on his chest. 'Thank you.'

'I'm glad it wasn't lost. I wouldn't know what to tell you if I hadn't found it.'

She smiled softly at him and Iphigenia stretched. 'Time to have a bite and see if we can get out of here then.'

11 - Kaui

Ulric climbed up first to see if it was relatively safe and if there even was a way back to the path in the first place. 'We can go back up there.' he said when he returned.

Elzbieta looked up at where he had climbed. 'You could have just called us up.'

He shook his head. 'I'm following you. I'm not taking the risk you might lose your footing and fall down. I can at least catch you and perhaps break your fall.'

Iphigenia smiled and kissed him. 'You're too sweet.'

He smiled a little. 'You both may be tough in a fight, but I still feel I need to protect you from unnecessary risk as a man's duty.'

After the climb they followed the narrow path until it widened a little again, and stopped at a large crack that had taken away several metres. 'Crap.' Iphigenia said. 'I can't jump that far.'

Elzbieta hummed as she looked down. 'I'm not that good either.'

Ulric pondered and stretched. 'Maybe.' he said and bolted at the gap. He cleared the jump and grinned wide as he looked back. 'Easy! I'll take you on my back!'

He jumped back to the girls and grinned again. 'Who wants to take the first ride?'

Elzbieta watched the distance. 'I don't know.. Are you sure you can with the extra weight?'

Iphigenia jumped on his back. 'Then I'll go first and show you he can.' she said and hugged him tight around his neck. 'This okay, Wolfie?'

'No problem.' he said and turned towards the gap. 'Here we go!'

Iphigenia heart jumped and felt like flying for a moment as they crossed over, and she kissed him again after she got off. 'That was kind of fun.'

He chuckled. 'Maybe next time I'll take you for a run.' he said and jumped to the other side again.

Elzbieta felt tense on his back as she held onto him. 'I'm not too heavy, am I?'

'Light as a little girl.' he said and ran off.

Elzbieta grabbed his fur tighter and squealed the moment he jumped, and reluctantly released her grip after landing on the other side. Her heart was racing and she took a deep breath while the trembling of her body faded. Iphigenia grinned. 'Easy.'

Ulric stretched. 'I just hope we won't have to do more stunts like this on our way. It's dangerous enough as it is.'

He groaned later when the path narrowed to about the width of a foot for a short distance. 'I'd rather deal with jumping.'

'If we lean back against the wall we can pass.' Iphigenia said as she put her hand against it. 'It's slanted enough.'

He looked at Elzbieta who gave a nod. 'All right. But I'll have to move sideways on my toes.' he said and looked down on his large canine feet. 'These are not made for tightrope walking.'

Iphigenia took the lead as the lightest, with Elzbieta next and Ulric last. If for some reason the rock cracked under his weight he wanted the girls safely ahead. The cold wind kept quiet enough to belay fears of a gust pushing them from the ledge and step by slow step they continued.

The rock cracked and crumbled under Elzbieta's foot at her step. She cried out and tried to grip the wall but Ulric quickly held her up by her chest. Her heart raced and she probed the next step before putting her foot down. 'Are you okay?' asked Iphigenia and Elzbieta nodded quickly. 'I'm okay.' she said and looked at Ulric. 'Thank you.'

'Never mind. Let's get to the other side quickly.'

She nodded again and they shuffled carefully further with no more surprises. The path became wider again and they let out deep sighs of relief as they sat down to take the load of their shaking legs. Iphigenia watched Elzbieta adjust her false leg. 'Such a shame though. I had a tiny hope Ulric could have healed that too.'

Elzbieta checked the armour on her leg. 'I don't think anything will ever restore what I lost.' she said and smiled softly at Ulric. 'I'm already grateful for healing my foot, thank you.'

He looked down and pulled at his fur. 'No need, it was my pleasure.' he said and clamped his mouth. 'I mean not as in the pleasure of doing it with you while you didn't want to but for helping you although in itself it did feel good to do it with you because it was an honour you let me but I do feel guilty-'

Elzbieta blushed and looked away. 'I understand. There's no need to apologise.'

He sighed and flattened his ears. Iphigenia pulled food from her pack and chuckled. 'How about another bite while we're sitting here anyway?'

The path gradually went down again later and after a while the broad view of the landscape opened up before them. It wasn't a land scorched and overshadowed by evil dark clouds spewed from a single volcano at the centre as he had prepared for. It looked normal with forests and fields of grass and a small lake and everything. He might even think it boring if he'd been a native. 'So, where to go from here?'

Elzbieta peered at the horizon. 'I heard there's a large city at the centre of the country. That would be the most likely place to pick up information.'

'All right, that'll be our new destination then.'

***

They travelled along the quiet land keeping to the cover of trees as much as possible and by the time night fell they stopped once again for a rest. Ulric adjusted slowly to the rhythm of sleeping a few hours several times during the long days and nights and he didn't mind the night being bright enough from the reflections of the moons and the wide planetary ring that it looked more like a black and white movie shot at daylight. He had only slept for a short time and carefully slipped away from Iphigenia's hold on him and Elzbieta who surprisingly had moved with her back against him at the last couple of rests.

He walked to a nearby small stream trickling pleasantly across an edge of boulders for a quick refreshing dive when he picked up a faint yell which sounded female. Other crude voices and laughter sounded and was familiar enough to recognise as orc. He hurried towards the noise when he heard the female cry out again. If what he thought what was happening was true, he'd not hold back this time and rage filled his chest.

He only needed a split second to assess the situation when he reached the source of the ruckus. Two pig faced orcs held down a young female orc whose clothing had been ripped off and a third orc sat on his knees with his leather breeches down between her legs as he forced them apart. The first two didn't notice the bloodwolf's presence until the third orc was slammed aside with a furious loud snarl.

Their eyes went wide instantly as the black and red spined creature turned its red glowing eyes towards them, and their horrified shouts were silenced fast by spiked fists crushing their throats.

Ulric finished each one off with two slams in their faces and leaving nothing put a bloody pulp in place. He breathed through his clenched teeth and watched the dead orcs for a moment to be sure they were, then turned towards the plump woman.

She had curled up against a thick tree and trembled in fear with her head held tight between her arms. Her erratic breathing was barely louder than her pounding heart to Ulric's ears. He picked up her clothing and saw it had been a simple dress with the front now torn in two. She flinched when he covered her naked body.

Stepping away from her he noticed a toppled cart with a woolly cow trying to get free from the reins and sighed. Acting gently now wouldn't be very convincing after the mess he made.

'Wolfie!' shouted Iphigenia as she came running with Elzbieta. 'What happened!?'

'Bunch of orcs tried to rape her.' he said and gestured at the huddled orc behind him. 'But now I frightened her and her ride.'

She glanced at the small carnage and sighed. 'Yeah, no surprise there.' she said and placed her hand on his chest. 'Elzbieta and I will take care of it. Don't worry.' He nodded and she approached the snivelling orc clutching her dress around her. 'Hey? Can you understand me?'

The orc glanced sideways at her from between her dark blonde long curls.

Iphigenia held out her open hands. 'We're not here to harm you.'

The orc glanced at Ulric standing away and watching Elzbieta calm down the cow by talking softly and stroking its neck.

Iphigenia smiled gently. 'Don't worry, he's really a friendly guy. The ones assaulting you just made him very angry.' She chuckled. 'He's the kind to be very protective of women.'

The orc lowered her shoulder a little. 'But he's bloodwolf.'

Iphigenia smiled and nodded. 'It's a long story but he's not what he seems.' she said and held out her hand again. 'He's Ulric, our elf friend is Elzbieta, and I'm Iphigenia.'

The orc glanced at Ulric and Elzbieta once more, then took Iphigenia's hand and stood up on shaky knees with her help. 'I'm Kaui.'

'So, what happened before our Wolfie put an abrupt end to it? Why are you out here anyway?'

Kaui looked down and pulled the remains of her dress tighter around her. 'I was sent to gather plants for the master. He ordered a guard to come along for protection and he took along two of his friends saying it wouldn't otherwise be much fun for him to hang alone out here. While I worked they started drinking and became rowdy, and then they wanted me to join them and said I should be part of the fun and started groping me and-' Tears rolled down her cheeks.

Iphigenia gently hugged her. 'You're safe now. Ulric made sure they can't hurt you anymore.'

Kaui nodded slightly and wiped her tears with a corner of her dress.

Elzbieta came up. 'The cow's calm again and Ulric righted the cart.'

Kaui looked up at her. 'Thank you.'

Elzbieta smiled gently. 'I'm just glad nothing worse happened.'

The three went up to the cart where Ulric stroked the calm cow's neck to Kaui's surprise. Elzbieta grinned slightly. 'It's an elf ability to sooth animals.'

Kaui glanced up at Ulric and pulled a little on her dress. 'Thank you, for saving me.'

He growled a little and wagged his tail once, and Iphigenia said 'He says he's just happy to have been able to stop another bad thing from happening, and didn't mean to scare you.'. She chuckled. 'And also that cute girls shouldn't just go with anyone to a lonely place like this.'

A shy smile formed on the orc girl's face and she blushed.

'Anyway, are you good to go home now?' Iphigenia asked. 'There's not some trouble you'll need to go through to get there?'

Kaui shook her head. 'I'll manage, but what about you? You're in orc territory here.'

Iphigenia nodded. 'We're trying to find the demon lord's castle for a special reason and were hoping to get a clue from someone here who might have connections. We'd be grateful if you don't tell anyone about us. Just tell the part of the truth where the others were killed by a terrible beast.' She chuckled when Ulric drooped his ears and winked at him. 'They don't need to hear why him becoming terrible was a good thing.'

Kaui nodded, pondered for a moment, and looked at Iphigenia. 'Maybe I can help. The master's an influential alchemist and he might know more. I could smuggle you into the city and hide you at his place. It's huge and there's lots of places where no one comes.'

Iphigenia looked at Elzbieta and Ulric. 'We'd be one step further.'

Ulric nodded. 'It would save us from figuring out how to get in and where to start.'

'It's as good as anything we could do for now.' Elzbieta said.

Iphigenia smiled at Kaui. 'Thank you, that would help us a lot.'

After Ulric had ran back to their camp to retrieve their gear the four of them rode the cart towards the city. Ulric smelled something that made rotten eggs feel embarrassed and wrinkled his nose when he picked up the wooden box it came from. 'What's in here? It's disgusting.'

Kaui chuckled after Iphigenia told her. 'It's the leaves from Sweetweed.'

He raised an eyebrow. 'What's sweet about this?'

'The flower of the plant is very sweet and to protect itself from being eaten the leaves smell and taste repugnant. But they have good properties for some potions.'

He put the box far away to the back. 'They'd better well be damned good potions.'

She chuckled again. 'It'll also help to get you past the guards.'

'Are you learning to become an alchemist?' Elzbieta asked.

Kaui nodded. 'But I'm not really an apprentice. I just pick up things while I'm serving as a maid. I'm not allowed to become one but the master uses me for tasks such as this that require some knowledge.'

'Why aren't you allowed?' Ulric asked.

Kaui sighed. 'I'm just a low class slave. Only higher class free people can become alchemists.'

He grumbled low. 'Ridiculous.'

'I have no family and no other place to go to, so it's the best I can get in life.'

***

It was barely light again when the wide orc city came into view. The top floor of a few houses and dark brick towers stuck up above the high stone wall surrounding the city. 'Is this the capital?' Ulric asked.

Kaui nodded. 'Garkan. It has protected many generations from enemy forces. The group of roofs and towers in the middle is where our lord resides. The master's house is the sharp roof further to the right and close to the wall.'

Just outside of the view from the large gate into the city Kaui halted the cart between trees and pulled out a tarpaulin. 'Hide underneath this.' The three laid low with some sacks and branches between them and Kaui gave Iphigenia the box with Sweetweed. 'In case the guard wants to see underneath.'

Iphigenia nodded. 'I hope not. For his sake and ours.'

Kaui drove on and a large guard blocked her way. His frown radiated his displeasure at pulling guard duty and he stepped up to the side of the cart to look inside. 'What's this?' he grunted.

'Supplies for master Barkan.'

He pushed and pulled at loose bags and a pile of branches, grabbed the edge of the tarpaulin and reeled back the moment the stench hit him. 'Wargh! What did you pick up!?'

'Oh! I must have forgotten to close the box with Sweetweed properly and it opened when I rode over a large rock. Sorry!'

He held his nose and breathed through his mouth as he waved her to go on. 'Damned alchemist and his concoctions! Get out of here!'

Kaui continued and drove through the streets until she led the cart into a walled off backyard enclosed between the main building and a stable and storehouse. She pulled the tarpaulin away when they were out of view inside the stable and Ulric jumped out and ran off into a corner. Iphigenia chuckled while hurling sounds echoed through the stable. 'I could use my healing ability to mask the worst for Elzbieta and me, but it had no effect on his sensitive nose.'

Kaui nodded and glanced at the low tail twitching behind a low wooden wall. 'I feel sorry for him to have to endure it.'

'He's tough, don't worry.' Iphigenia said while Elzbieta brought a bucket of water to him. 'We're at your master's house now?'

'I'll take you to one of the rooms filled with unused old books and furniture. You should be safe in there.'

Ulric returned while wiping his muzzle. 'Next time I'll pretend to be dead. Then I won't have to actually die from that stench.'

Kaui walked them through the stable to a side wing of the house. 'We'll go through the kitchen and go up the back stairs.' she said and opened the kitchen door. She froze at the sight of her master.

Barkan looked up from the book he held and stared at her with black eyes set deep into his thin orc face. 'There you are.' he said and shut the book as he watched her. Ulric and the girls had pressed themselves to the wall behind her to hide. 'What happened to you?'

Kaui fiddled with the dress tied close with a rope. 'An attack by a demon wolf. The guard was killed.'

Barkan stared for a moment at her. 'Did you get what I wanted?'

She nodded quickly.

'Tidy up and bring me my tea.' he said and left.

Ulric gnashed his teeth and Iphigenia placed her hand on his chest. 'Ignore him.'

'He didn't even ask if she was okay!'

Kaui sighed. 'Don't mind it, I'm used to it.' she said and carefully led them up creaky wooden and narrow stairs.

12 - Treachery

The room several floors up under the attic was full of books in cases and stacks, various furniture like chairs, small tables and dressers, and assorted junk you might see after a few generations storing things that might come in handy one day, all complete with the standard accessories of dust layers and cobwebs. The stale air hit Ulric's nose and he sneezed loud. 'After stench comes dust. My poor nose.'

Kaui gestured at a grimy small window. 'You can open that for some fresh air.' she said. 'I need to go because the master gets upset when I keep him waiting.' She looked back before closing the door. 'I'll be back as soon as I can.'

Ulric fumbled with the stuck window lock, opened it with a little force and took a deep sniff from the outside air. 'That's better.'

A shout from nearby brought him to full attention. 'Kaui!' he growled as he rushed out into the attic passage, and stormed through a door at the other side after a crash sounded.

He stared at the naked plump body of Kaui who held a brush in her hand, then turned around quickly. 'Uhh, you all right?'

She snatched a blanket from her bed to cover her front while Iphigenia and Elzbieta arrived. 'I was just startled by a big spider and bumped a jar onto the floor trying to catch it.'

Elzbieta folded her arms and frowned at Ulric. 'What's with you and walking in on naked women? Really!'

'I just thought she was in trouble.' he said and she pushed him out the door. 'She's fine so no need to embarrass her any longer.'

Kaui looked at Iphigenia. 'He does that all the time?'

Iphigenia chuckled. 'So far. I can't tell if it's lucky or unlucky for him.' she said and picked up the pieces of the jar. 'At least it wasn't while he was aroused this time.'

Kaui gasped. 'He did that!?'

'Yeah, it happened the first time with both me and Elzbieta.' Iphigenia said and grinned. 'Mind you, after the initial shock it was quite a sight. Maybe you'll get to enjoy the experience too.'

Kaui blushed at the image that came to mind. 'I, I couldn't!'

Iphigenia placed the shards on a free spot on Kaui's dresser. 'Just kidding.' she chuckled. 'We'll see you when you're done.'

Kaui hurried dressing after Iphigenia left, and went down to fix tea.

***

By the time Kaui returned to the attic, the three had found usable seats and a salon table and had settled into a corner near the window. 'The master will be studying for some time now so I'm free to help you.'

'So,' Iphigenia said. 'what can you tell us about your lord here and his house?'

Kaui sat down in the seat meant for her. 'Lord Humanus has been ruling over this country since the previous one died in an attack by humans years ago. He's very hard to speak to because there are always soldiers and one or more of his advisers with him. And his house is tightly guarded.'

Ulric grumbled and Iphigenia nodded. 'Any place or time he's alone?'

Kaui shrugged. 'Not that I've heard of.'

Ulric grumbled a remark and Elzbieta stared blankly at him. 'Bedroom? You're going after men as well?'

He quickly shook his head and Iphigenia sniggered while Kaui looked confused. 'He's right though.' Iphigenia said. 'The only places he'd likely be alone is the bath and the bedroom.' She looked at Kaui. 'Unless he has a woman?'

Kaui shook her head. 'We haven't seen him with any since he became lord. Rumour has it he's aiming for someone to strengthen his position later.'

'Then first we need to figure out how to get inside.'

'As the master makes various potions and other things for the lord, I can get inside pretty easily.' said Kaui and hummed in thought. 'There are a couple of windows at the back where you could enter unseen but they're several floors up.'

Ulric stretched and retracted his legs and Iphigenia smiled at him. 'That might not be a problem if we take a rope ladder with us.' She looked at Kaui again. 'We'll go when it's dark again.'

***

Elzbieta looked up at the windows at the back wall of the lord's house from a dark alley. 'You sure you can jump that high?'

Ulric grinned. 'Jumping with you girls on my back was easy enough that I think I can jump four floors up.'

Iphigenia put her hand on his back. 'Just don't hurt yourself when you don't make it and fall back down. I'm not sure I can heal you well enough.'

He smiled softly at her. 'Don't worry, I can shift to armour for protection thanks to Elzbieta.'

Elzbieta blushed. 'I didn't really give you anything. It just happened.'

'Still, I only gained this after you became my familiar.'

Elzbieta blushed harder. 'Shush! Don't say it!'

One of the windows opened and Ulric looked up. Kaui looked down from it and waved quickly with a dim lantern for him to jump up. He pulled at the knotted rope coiled around his shoulder and chest and tensed his whole body. 'Time to reach for the sky. Or window, in this case.'

Iphigenia and Elzbieta peeked around the corners of the alley to make sure no one was around and gave him the clear signal. He took a short sprint through the alley, jumped towards the front of the wall, and launched himself up at the open window with a short growl.

Kaui gasped and stepped back quickly when the bloodwolf came up fast at her. Her heart raced as Ulric landed in the window frame and grabbed it tight. He grinned at her. 'I could have won in the Olympics.' Kaui looked puzzled at him and he shook his head. 'Never mind.' he said and uncoiled the rope. There was nothing to tie it to and he coiled it twice around his arm before waving to Iphigenia and Elzbieta to come up. They climbed up while Ulric braced one foot against the window and Kaui kept an eye out on the street.

A soft clink of metal caught her attention and light shining away to one side made her heart race again. 'There's a guard coming!' she hissed. 'He'll see them before they're up here!'

Ulric concentrated on them. 'Hold on! I'll pull you up!' he said and they gripped the rope tight while he pulled quickly.

Iphigenia jumped from the window as soon as she reached it but Elzbieta's foot snagged it and tumbled forward. Ulric grinned as he lay on his back with her on top. 'Careful.'

She blushed again. 'Thanks.'

Kaui hauled up the rest of the rope and closed the window before the guard could see it. 'Quiet now. Even if there are few inside, we can still get caught by a servant or guard.'

'Any idea on where the lord is now?' asked Iphigenia.

'I overheard a servant saying he was in his study and I believe it's somewhere at the back here.'

Ulric pricked up his ears. 'I'll listen for sounds of someone coming while we search the place.' he said.

Iphigenia nodded and turned to Kaui. 'You'd better go back before they catch you with us.'

She shook her head. 'I'll help you. I can distract while you go hide if needed.'

Iphigenia smiled a little at the determined look in Kaui's eyes. 'All right. We'll rely on you then.'

The four moved silently through the wooden corridors and went down floor by floor, Ulric listening and sniffing at doors that might be where the orc lord's study was until he held up his paw at one. 'It's faint but I can hear voices.' he said and carefully opened the door.

The dark room inside held cases full of paperwork and scrolls covered in dust. Faint light shone from the floor in one corner and they gathered around a crack between two floor boards wide enough to see the pig lord at his desk underneath.

Iphigenia spoke to Elzbieta and Ulric in her mind. 'He's talking to someone in the common demon language.'

'You understand it?' asked Ulric.

She nodded. 'I picked up enough over the years from people who also know it.' She looked down at Lord Humanus leaning back in his seat. 'I'll translate as best as I can.'

'So what are you suggesting?' Humanus asked of his guest.

'I think it's time a band of humans are seen around the area. Maybe even attack something close to the village.' the guest said and Iphigenia heard he wasn't orc, but couldn't make out what race instead.

Humanus hummed and drummed his fingers on the desk's surface.

'Or do you want them to focus their attention on the tax they're paying?'

'I'll talk to the head of the merchants, we'll see if we can arrange for a cart or two with expendable goods and men to be in the area.'

The ruffle of cloth and creak of a chair sounded. 'Good. We'll speak soon. There's something I have to confirm in the meantime. It seems a human, an elf, and a tame bloodwolf are travelling together in search of the demon lord.'

Iphigenia, Elzbieta, and Ulric stared at each other. 'They know about us!?' Elzbieta said while Humanus bellowed out a laugh. 'What nonsense is that!?' he said.

'It does sound like a drunkard's tale but it came from a usually reliable source so I have to check it out.'

'Have fun with that then. Even if it was true, only a few know of where the demon lord resides so they'll never find him.' Humanus said and the study's door opened and closed.

Iphigenia gestured to go back up and they hurried silently to the back room where they had entered. 'We were going to be found out sooner or later.' Ulric said.

'True, but this was way faster than I'd expected.' Iphigenia said.

Elzbieta folded her arms and frowned. 'One of the goblins must have warned someone.'

'Or someone at Winter City.' Ulric said.

She looked at him. 'Why would they tell any demon? That makes no sense.'

Iphigenia looked at Kaui biting a fingernail and frowning. 'What is it?'

Kaui looked up. 'I don't like what I heard about an attack by humans.'

'I wonder what they meant too.' Elzbieta said. 'It sounded like they have humans working for them, but who would?'

'It's a typical strategy in my world by the powerful to distract people from what you're doing.' said Ulric. 'Keep their attention on something else, usually another group of people to hate. He's living up to his name.'

Iphigenia looked at Kaui. 'Any idea where that village could be?'

Kaui shook her head. 'No, but usually when merchants leave they buy a supply of items for the road from the master. We can find out through that.'

'Good. We could prevent the attack from happening and expose the treachery of the lord.'

The others agreed and they prepared to leave through the window. Ulric coiled the rope around his waist and let down Iphigenia and Elzbieta while the street was clear. Kaui kept an eye on them until Ulric tapped her shoulder and pointed at the door. She made sure the light of the lantern didn't shine at the door before listening at it, and cringed at footsteps coming closer. She gestured at Ulric to be silent.

The footsteps halted near the door for a moment and she held her breath while her heart pounded hard. The footsteps continued and she let out a silent deep breath. She returned to Ulric and nodded before looking out the window and receiving the next scare.

A cursing orc ran down the street chasing a dog. 'My hat, you filthy mutt!'

Iphigenia and Elzbieta held on tight as they hung halfway down the wall and Kaui pat Ulric's arm quickly to stop him lowering the two, creating a small cloud of dust that had gathered in his fur at the archive room. It tickled his nose and he scrunched and shook his muzzle to stave of the inevitable. His sneeze was as loud as could be expected from a bloodwolf.

The dog let go of the orc's hat and ran further down the street while the orc picked it up and grumbled as he wiped the dirt from it, right underneath Iphigenia and Elzbieta.

Kaui hurried to the door to check if the one who passed earlier had heard the sneeze, and almost bumped into it when it opened. A grim looking guard frowned at her. 'What are you doing here?'

'I,' she began and looked back quickly at the frozen pose of Ulric, hiding the arm gripping the rope behind his back and leaning forward in an attacking pose with the other. 'I was looking into the stuffed bloodwolf for master Barkan. He might be interested in obtaining it for his studies. The thing's so dusty it made me sneeze.'

The guard peered down at her. 'You sneezed that loud?' he said and stepped closer to Ulric, who strained to hold the rope.

Kaui gripped her dress. 'You don't think he's the one who sneezed, do you?'

The orc looked at the bloodwolf's eyes which were fixed on him. A cold chill ran down his spine and he took a step back. 'He looks alive.'

The orc on the street put on his hat and fumbled in his pocket, pulled out a pipe, cleaned it, stuffed it with tobacco, and lit it. 'Damned dog.' he grumbled as he looked down the street.'

'It's the light.' Kaui said. 'But he looks alive enough to make you think he could pounce and rip you apart at any moment.'

The orc nodded. 'A cousin of mine was killed by a bloodwolf once. Pieces of him were all over the place.' he said and backed away far enough to the door before turning away from the eyes he could swear were following him. He hoped he wouldn't get nightmares later. 'Finish your business quickly.'

'I will.' Kaui said as she watched him go down the corridor. She closed the door and leaned back against it with trembling legs and let out a deep breath. Ulric grabbed the rope with his other paw and gestured at the window. 'Ah!' she said and hurried to check on Iphigenia and Elzbieta. The orc at the street looked up a bit at the bright night sky, blew a puff of smoke, and strolled back to where he came from. As soon as he disappeared from sight she gestured at Ulric to continue letting Iphigenia and Elzbieta down.

'We're safe.' said Iphigenia when they stepped onto the ground.

Ulric collected the rope and Kaui looked at him. 'How are you going back down?'

He grinned at her as he coiled the rope around him again and gestured at the window.

'You're just going to jump!?'

He nodded.

'But you might get hurt even when you could jump this high!'

He shook his head, stepped into the window frame, and out again. Kaui gasped as she rushed forward to look down, and watched as he jumped away from the wall, bounced off of the opposite building, bounced once more from the wall beneath her, and landed safely on all fours in front of the alley. She sighed, closed the window, and hurried down to meet up with the others a few streets away and return to master Barkan's home.

***

'I think I know where the ambush will happen.' said Kaui as she brought up a meal for the three half a day later. She laid out a map on the salon table and pointed at the symbol for a village. 'Penrata, near the canine beastfolk border.'

Iphigenia swallowed a spoonful of stew. 'It's so far from human territory, how could they even get there without being seen?'

'Probably by keeping low like we did.' said Ulric. 'How sure is she that it's this place?'

'Pretty sure.' Kaui said after Iphigenia asked. 'The one who came to buy supplies mentioned taking old stuff there for apparently no reason.'

'Expendable.' said Elzbieta.

'When will they leave?' asked Iphigenia.

'In less than a quarter day.'

Iphigenia stood up. 'Then we have no time to waste. Can you smuggle us out again?'

Kaui nodded and soon enough she rode her cart towards the city gate with the three hidden in it again. The same unhappy guard at the gate as before saw her coming and waved her through quickly this time.

Inside the forest she halted and the three stretched their legs after crawling out of hiding. Iphigenia smiled at Kaui. 'Thanks for everything, you've been a great help. We'll follow the carts and fight whoever tries to attack.'

Kaui nodded and waved as they set out on the parallel route Kaui had drawn on a map for them. She looked at the city, sighed, and looked back at the group disappearing between the trees. She bit her lip for a moment after climbing onto the cart, then spurred the cow on to ride home.

###