He took a deep breath, held it, let it out. “I no longer command The Just Alliance. Someone take the Link. I’ll talk to you later.”
Tithian took control of the Link, and Mark dropped out of it altogether.
He was still personally holding his limit in power, and controlling almost every bit of raw power in the district. Ideas started to fire off in his mind.
Understanding had given him power, power had given him more understanding, which had given him more power, and now he suddenly grasped the next level of understanding.
‘There it is. The key to becoming a god.’ he thought in profound amazement. ‘I know how to achieve the next order of power. From there, the process would be unstoppable.’
He looked down at the small, warm form of the elf he loved so much cuddled against his chest, her face covered in tear tracks, her face slack with exhaustion. Then his view of her blurred as his own eyes filled with tears, and he softly kissed her cheek.
“I don’t want it.” he stated aloud. “I’m not ready for divinity.”
He released some of the power he was holding by heating the air for kilometers around a tiny bit, and withdrew his collecting field to the areas surrounding Zarkog and himself. The rush of thoughts trickled away with the excess power, but he still remembered the last great understanding he had reached.
“A strange choice, refusing deification.” Visinniria chuckled as she appeared beside him. “Understandable though, considering your youth. And you can still take the last steps any time you wish. Though I certainly hope you plan on doing so in time to help deal with the greater demons.”
“I don’t even want to think about that right now.” Mark said with a slow headshake.
“Again, understandable.” the elven goddess of war grinned as she considered Zarkog’s broken body.
“You know, he’s going to die in about half a minute if you don’t let him have some power.” she idly commented. “It’s your choice, but he’s not without potential, and he might be useful.”
“I suppose you’re right.” Mark tiredly nodded. He flew down as he carefully transferred Talia to his left arm. Even in her sleep, she was still tightly gripping his portable Truthstone in her right hand. He gently pried it from her fingers as he reached the ground, cast the question and the Compulsion into it with most of his remaining power, and slammed it against Zarkog’s ankle with all of his natural human strength.
The gargantuan dragon was shivering all over from his agonizing pain, and barely noticed the further insult of the blow, but he shuddered and spasmed powerfully from the energies of the Compulsion and the binding vow.
“Childish.” Visinniria giggled. “But…”
“I know, understandable.” Mark nodded with a slight smile as the Marking of The Just Alliance colored Zarkog white, with the blue emblem of the Truthstone placed on his front and back, the two of them large enough to cover most of his torso.
Mark withdrew his energy field from around Zarkog, who managed to cast Healings on himself before he passed out.
Mark’s four companions landed around them, triumphant but subdued by the experience, and by the presence of the goddess.
“Will he live?” Mark asked, without much apparent interest in the answer.
“He’s Healing.” Visinniria judged. “He won’t be walking or talking for a few days, not with that jaw and that hip, but he’ll eventually pull himself together.”
“Fine.”
They stood there staring at the fallen foe for a long minute before Mark spoke again.
“So, I take it that you and the other gods will keep your word. You’ll rejoin the world as citizens and swear Osbald’s Oath on the Truthstone?”
“We will, but not yet. We think such an occasion deserves to take place at a great public event. We do still have the egos of gods, after all. I’m sure your comrades will have a ceremony and celebration of your victory, once things have settled down a bit. We’ll make our appearance then, swear on the stone and declare for The Just Alliance, and help toast your triumph.”
“Ah. Okay.
“Say, do you think you could let me feel your aura? I could really use that right now.”
“For the Six of Hilia and my beloved Ria, I could do that.” Visinniria smiled, and her aura shone forth from her like a shower of contentment and well-being. “And for my favorite weapon, my favorite elf, and my favorite man, I can do better than that.”
With that she leaned close over Talia and brushed a stray blond lock back from the sleeping princess’s forehead.
As Visinniria touched her skin, Talia awoke, feeling completely content and refreshed, and gazed up at the divine elf. “Goddess.” she smiled, and nodded in greeting.
“Hello Talia.” Visinniria smiled in return. She lowered her head, and their lips met in a kiss. When she straightened, Talia was grinning in giddy bliss.
Then Mark was graced with the elven deity’s kiss. For a moment his passion was fired to the burning point. He ran the fingers of his right hand up into her luxurious mane of red curls and held the back of the goddess’s head firmly, so he could return her kiss hungrily and hard. Then his ardor magically cooled, and he released her as she gently pulled away, and he was left with a wonderful feeling of happiness and pleasure.
“Ahhh.” he sighed in contentment, then turned to his companions.
“You are the finest friends anyone could ask for.” he told them. “We really did achieve a great victory today. Thank you for everything.
“And now I think we’re due for some real sleep, with nothing but normal dreams. You’re officially off duty. Feel free to get some rest or have some fun, whatever you prefer, and we’ll see you at the next Assembly meeting. As long as it’s not for at least twenty hours. Now get down here and give us a hug.”
The dragon and unicorn couples shrank to the size of ponies, and The Six huddled together in an affectionate and tearful embrace.
Ria manifested at Visinniria’s whim. “Why don’t you join them?” the goddess smiled. “It’ll be good for you. You don’t have to move or anything.”
Ria suddenly smiled in her stiff, folded-arm posture. “Thank you, My Lady.” she psionicly murmured, and drifted over to The Six, who affectionately welcomed her into their group hug. And while her skeleton remained as rigid as steel, this one time she was not insubstantial, instead her hair and skin were as soft and warm as any woman’s, and her sense of touch as sensitive.
When the moment finally felt right to end their embrace and step back, Equemev said; “I love you all, as much as my own brothers and sisters. I know we all feel that way.
“We’ll see you later.”
Then she and Silaran were gone, followed a moment later by Povon and Kragorram.
Visinniria then graced Ria with her kiss, though of course Ria made no move to return it. Still, her pleasure was apparent in her voice when it ended.
“I love you, My Lady. Thank you.”
“I love you as well. Farewell till next time, which will be soon.”
Ria disappeared.
“Well, I guess we’ll be going too.” Mark said. He gazed downslope at the nearby city, where healers, damage control teams, and the forces of The Just Alliance were hurrying about their work.
“I was hoping I could accompany you.” the red-headed deity giggled mischievously.
“Oh?”
“Yes. I’d like to thank you both for everything you’ve done.”
“Oh. You mean, ah… In the elven way?” Mark stammered, unsure he was understanding her correctly.
“In the elven way, for the lives all of my people, which you have most likely saved. That’s a lot of gratitude.” she giggled again like a teenage girl, and drifted up to hug them both with warm affection. “Well? It’s not an offer that comes along every day, you know.”
“Uh, sorry, I was just boggled by the idea of sharing lovemaking with a goddess. Of course we accept, and we’re very honored to do so.”
“I know, but then, so am I.”
An hour and a quarter later, they lay sprawled about on the huge bed in their cottage in blissful lethargy.
“That was… Heavenly.” Talia murmured.
She started to cast a cleaning spell, but Visinniria blocked her.
“Excuse me?” Talia asked in surprise.
“The mastery is in the details, my fine disciple in the pleasurable arts.” Visinniria smiled, and tickled the other with one of her red curls. “A light layer of moisture feels pleasant right now, don’t you think?”
“I do.” Talia agreed as she gracefully executed a luxurious stretch. “But that’s only now, while it’s fresh, and in a minute it’ll be stale and cold.”
“True, and so you would clean it if we were finished, but I don’t think we are finished. In which case, one might cast a spell to ensure that it retains the perfectly pleasant scent, freshness, temperature, and volume of a freshly broken sweat. Like this, you see how that was done?”
“I do! I bow to your wisdom, my goddess. Even if Mark does not bow. So to speak.”
“Ah, he does not. He must remain unfulfilled, which would explain why he is refraining from showering us with compliments, as one might expect.”
Mark remained unmoved, laying in boneless relaxation on his back, his limbs sprawled, still breathing hard to get his wind back while staring blankly at the ceiling.
Talia reached over with a toe to tickle his ribs.
“Huh?! What?!” he gasped in surprise as he bounced away from her reach.
“What are you thinking, my love?” Talia giggled.
“Just… re-living the experience. I saved it in a Reading.” he mumbled, obviously still distracted.
“Why bother, when you can simply enjoy it again?” the goddess teased.
“Huh? Sure, then I can save it again too!” Mark eagerly grinned.
“There is one who might join us, one who longs to be with you two more than any others, but who fears to intrude on your moments of private celebration. One who sits alone, wracked with lonely longing, and who was critical to your victory today.”
“Ah. I can guess who you mean.” Talia giggled. “And it will be nice to have her by for a… visit.
“Oh Alilia? Would you care to come by the cottage for a while? We have a surprise for you.”
In the cavern in Kellaran’s most distant moon, two female Senior Draconian Healers sat vigil with the Eldest, feeding his Levitated body a slow trickle of power to ensure its continued gradual recovery and monitoring it closely. Meanwhile Quewanak’s astral projection chatted with them, and they had not failed to realize that the visible spirit of the Eldest was flirting with them outrageously. The two were as close to adolescent giggling as it was possible for two venerable dragons with eons of experience to be.
Suddenly a quiet voice spoke behind them, a voice that was incredible, even for a dragon. “Let me help you young girls with that.” it said, and suddenly the Eldest’s body was as recovered as it would have been after another twenty years of their care. It was healthily muscled and a dark shiny green, and the skin and bone had grown back over the brain injury.
They gaped, then spun as one to see who had done this wonderful thing.
They gaped again as they recognized Amirgath the Quicksilver, First God of Draconians.
“Greetings. Could I have a private moment with Quewanak?” he politely asked. “I assure you, he will be quite safe in my company. I’ll call you back before I leave, if he still needs your professional care then. If not, perhaps he will contact you for more personal care at some other time.”
“Uh, Certainly, uh…”
“Amirgath will do.” he nodded. “And I would appreciate it if you refrained from mentioning my appearance here until after the official announcement of the ending of the Withdrawal, which will occur some time tomorrow. After that… Well, after that I will be permitted to openly consort with mortals again, like any other citizen. You are both such lovely young females, and I would be pleased to share a social occasion with you some time, if you would welcome it?”
“Uh, I would, Amirgath!” the copper stammered as her scales veritably rippled in bashfulness. “The memory of your virility has not been forgotten by the females of your people!” She disappeared in embarrassed pleasure right after her last syllable.
“I would as well!” her friend blurted, then she too was gone.
“Ahhh, it’s been a long time since I seduced a mortal female.” Amirgath said, with the equivalent of a thoughtful grin.
“It’s been longer for me, far longer, and I saw those two first, you poacher!” Quewanak laughed. “And thank you for the Healing.”
“I have not healed you. What I have done is far closer to accelerating time around your form, allowing your natural recovery to proceed more quickly in this timeframe.
“But with the withdrawal undone, I can heal you. I know you fear that any major disturbance of your condition may cost you the unique capabilities you’ve developed over forty eons of slumber, but I am here to tell you that it is not so. If you allow me to heal your brain injury, you will enjoy the use of all your old abilities, and your new ones as well, with far greater facility than you ever have. And if you allow me to heal the rest of your lingering injuries and wake you, you will be even more capable. You will be unable to refrain from allowing your awareness to expand considerably, and you will instantly know what Prince Mark has realized. You will be able to take the step that he has postponed.
“I told you that the chance would come, and this is it. I strongly suggest you take it. The demons will be here soon enough, and who knows what could happen then? This chance may no longer be available.”
“I see. And what would I do then, do you think?”
“Well, you might join me at the celebration of the gods.”
“You are celebrating? Am I mistaken in remembering that you were with the faction that lost?”
“I was. But understand, my friend, the withdrawal was not something any of us wanted to do, it was something we felt was necessary. And besides, the celebration of The Faction For Change is a fine one, and they were enjoying themselves immensely. So we thought; what the hell. There is no use in being sore losers. And as I was just realizing, the new circumstances do have their benefits.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” Quewanak laughed. “So? What are you waiting for? I can’t wait to taste real prey again! So to speak! I think that the prey at a celebration of the gods can hardly be considered real!”
“You won’t be able to tell that it’s not, my friend, I assure you!” Amirgath chuckled as he cast his Healing. “Pay close attention now, you’ll want to have the clearest memories possible of your last moments as a mortal, and your ascension to divinity.
“Now awake and rise up! The Pantheon of Kellaran salutes Quewanak, The Draconian God of Dreaming!”
Mark awoke, and tiny hands were covering his eyes. A lithe and warm little form was laying on him on top of the covers, his arms lay by his sides, and her feet were lightly holding his wrists to the bed.
“Guess who?” the most familiar voice murmured playfully, and her lips met his in a lingering kiss. It was slightly different this morning, somehow, and his arousal grew rapidly.
“Mmmm, good morning Love.” he moaned, and slipped his wrists free to hug his arouser.
He was shocked to discover by feel that she had four arms.
“Wha?!” he exclaimed as he suddenly sat up.
The hands fell from his eyes amidst an explosion of feminine laughter, to reveal twin blond elves spilled onto the bed before him.
“Aaaahaha! We got you good!” Dalia brayed in hilarity as tears rolled down her cheeks. “Talia was laying on my back and Levitating to hide her weight! Your fine location sense has let you down, you handsome fool! You didn’t know it was me you were kissing!”
“Ah, Mark, your expression is priceless!” Talia laughed, wiping her eyes of tears repeatedly.
“Fine, you got me.” Mark admitted, then grinned. “So, are you two going to finish what you started, or are you just teasing me?”
“Oh, I suppose we can spare an hour or so, but then we have to go for breakfast.” His mischievous wife nonchalantly decided. “It’s a formal breakfast, and we wouldn’t want to be late, as there are a few guests coming to say good morning and whatnot.”
“Oh, I imagine there are. Now come here, and get what’s coming to you.”
“I hear and obey, My Prince!”