Cerric spoke the power and authority of the god, though he noticed a slight difference in his voice when discussing different subjects. When speaking of matters that concerned Cerric more than Kroma, something about his tone seemed less threatening, even though Dakar could feel the magical link that connected him to the god, slowly draining his power and peering into his mind. It was unnerving and it had made him fearful that he, like the other members of the priesthood, was entirely at Kroma's mercy, but the god had made it clear that he did not begrudge him power. Dakar also did not miss the fact that the subject had changed, and he remained curious at what the god might be searching for, but he let it go. There was nothing to be gained in raising the ire of a god.
"Dakar," Cerric said. "Tell me of the war with Kandara."
"I dispatched mages to meet up with our troops shortly after the ceremony. They will report soon with details, but our advanced forces should have breached Kandaran territory. We expected the Kandarans to guard the passes but there has been little resistance thus far."
"Interesting," he said, and Dakar once again heard the distinctive rumble of the voice of the god. "Kandara is a mighty land, rich in minerals and dark magics. It has been many years since I have set foot upon it. Perhaps we should visit the front, to oversee the war directly."
"We have made arrangements for a royal escort to leave at your pleasure, your highness."
"Where is my queen?" Cerric said, his voice that of a man and not a god.
Calexis had been sequestered there since the wedding ceremony, awaiting the moment when she and the god-king consummate their vows, and she had been frustrated that Cerric, under the influence of the god, had almost completely ignored her.
"I believe she is in the royal chambers, awaiting your pleasure," Dakar replied.
"Good. It has been far too long since I felt the press of flesh and am in the mood for some sport, and some wine before we travel."
The rumbling power in his voice had returned and Dakar wondered what might be in store for the Xallan Queen, whether she would receive the attentions of a man or a god.
*****
The Maramyrian wine was weak and Calexis wondered if it had been watered. A servant replenished her cup as quickly as she drained it while she luxuriated in the steaming waters of the bath, hoping the heat and the wine would relax her. She had married the king of Maramyr and all that remained was to consummate the ceremony and by Xallan law, she would become the queen of both lands, an empress. The only problem was, Cerric had disappeared, neglecting his duty to finalize their marriage by giving her the pleasure she was due. Of course, Calexis had not expected the ritual of the mage priests to result in her new husband apparently being possessed by a god, so she had made an effort to be patient, but such was not one of her strengths and her anticipation was only piqued by the thought of coupling with a being of such power.
She felt it almost immediately, like the energy in the air during the rise of a storm, the power that emanating from Cerric filled the space around him and it excited her. Her own powers, which had changed with her Darga transformation, had become more instinctive, more animalistic in ways, and her senses had become more attuned to many things, especially the power of the god who was now her husband. She felt his approach, hot and powerful like the flows of molten rock that spewed from a broken mountain, radiating power from just below its jet black surface. The door opened and Cerric entered. Calexis tracked him with her eyes as he walked toward her, his gaze fixed upon her, smoldering with a fire she recognized. He stood behind her, looking down at her exposed body, spread out beneath the surface of the water and she tilted her head back to look up at him.
"Is my husband finally ready to take his lady wife?" she asked, unable to suppress the slight note of
"Dakar," Cerric said. "Tell me of the war with Kandara."
"I dispatched mages to meet up with our troops shortly after the ceremony. They will report soon with details, but our advanced forces should have breached Kandaran territory. We expected the Kandarans to guard the passes but there has been little resistance thus far."
"Interesting," he said, and Dakar once again heard the distinctive rumble of the voice of the god. "Kandara is a mighty land, rich in minerals and dark magics. It has been many years since I have set foot upon it. Perhaps we should visit the front, to oversee the war directly."
"We have made arrangements for a royal escort to leave at your pleasure, your highness."
"Where is my queen?" Cerric said, his voice that of a man and not a god.
Calexis had been sequestered there since the wedding ceremony, awaiting the moment when she and the god-king consummate their vows, and she had been frustrated that Cerric, under the influence of the god, had almost completely ignored her.
"I believe she is in the royal chambers, awaiting your pleasure," Dakar replied.
"Good. It has been far too long since I felt the press of flesh and am in the mood for some sport, and some wine before we travel."
The rumbling power in his voice had returned and Dakar wondered what might be in store for the Xallan Queen, whether she would receive the attentions of a man or a god.
*****
The Maramyrian wine was weak and Calexis wondered if it had been watered. A servant replenished her cup as quickly as she drained it while she luxuriated in the steaming waters of the bath, hoping the heat and the wine would relax her. She had married the king of Maramyr and all that remained was to consummate the ceremony and by Xallan law, she would become the queen of both lands, an empress. The only problem was, Cerric had disappeared, neglecting his duty to finalize their marriage by giving her the pleasure she was due. Of course, Calexis had not expected the ritual of the mage priests to result in her new husband apparently being possessed by a god, so she had made an effort to be patient, but such was not one of her strengths and her anticipation was only piqued by the thought of coupling with a being of such power.
She felt it almost immediately, like the energy in the air during the rise of a storm, the power that emanating from Cerric filled the space around him and it excited her. Her own powers, which had changed with her Darga transformation, had become more instinctive, more animalistic in ways, and her senses had become more attuned to many things, especially the power of the god who was now her husband. She felt his approach, hot and powerful like the flows of molten rock that spewed from a broken mountain, radiating power from just below its jet black surface. The door opened and Cerric entered. Calexis tracked him with her eyes as he walked toward her, his gaze fixed upon her, smoldering with a fire she recognized. He stood behind her, looking down at her exposed body, spread out beneath the surface of the water and she tilted her head back to look up at him.
"Is my husband finally ready to take his lady wife?" she asked, unable to suppress the slight note of
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