Enchantress Awakening: Part One of the Book of Water (The Elemental Cycle 1) (20 page)

“Penric and Ellie would join me whether I wished it or no.” Caleigh revealed with a laugh. “But I do wish for them to be with me so I would ask that no others be sent in their place.”

“Very well. I shall also send a knight from Sir Edgar’s company to protect you bodily. After what happened in the woods on your journey here I am minded to send some to protect you with magic as well. Vaughn is already set to go, perhaps I should come too.”

“And have us beset with requests for a performance?” Caleigh mocked gently.

“Fair point. Were that Gideon were here but mayhap he also is too well-known now.”

“Rosamund is capable; Vaughn says she is able to perform all the basic battle spells.”

“Yes, then it is settled.”

When the morning came the rain came with it, cold and whipping. Penric and Tamric, the rider assigned to them by Sir Edgar, seemed on the face of it least affected by it being as they were covered in armour and helms to waterproof them. Down in the cart that held the rest of them the water was beginning to gather. Caleigh fought it off as best as she could by turning it to steam when it started to soak her and Ellie through. Rosamund peeked at her curiously from beneath her sky blue hood, all but Ellie and Penric were wearing the colours of the Librarians on this journey. “Are you getting wet through?” Rosamund inquired.

“Of course we are.” Ellie answered. Caleigh agreed with Ellie’s tone yet thought it a strange question to ask in the circumstances. It was then she noticed that neither Rosamund nor Vaughn’s cloaks were holding water. Each drop ran off them as though they were made of leather rather than cloth.

“How do you do that?” Caleigh asked. Rosamund smiled in surprise.

“You’ve learned so much so quickly I had forgotten how small a time you have been learning. Since this is a charm, I had expected you to know it.” Rosamund waved her long wand at Caleigh’s cloak and it too began to repel the droplets as they fell. “Vaughn, why haven’t you taught Caleigh about water charms? She could learn them in a heartbeat.”

“It was never raining inside.” Vaughn replied with a shrug.

“If it is easy for me then I can learn now.” Caleigh volunteered.

“Hmm, it should be easier for you than others. I’m not sure about easy.”

“Course it’s easy for her.” Vaughn interjected. “It has water affinity, ‘tis from her art, she’s a spellsinger and absurdly talented.”

“Then you should show her.”

“That’s not interesting. Tell you what, if you can teach it to her by the time we get to Minerva, I will buy dinner. If I have to take over then you buy me dinner.”

“That’s not fair.” Rosamund protested.

“Go on, Rosamund, we can do it but Vaughn...”

“Yes?”

“You buy dinner for everyone if we succeed.”

“So be it, and if you need my help?”

“I’ll let you see me naked.” Vaughn coughed reflexively and Rosamund’s eyes went wide. Ellie, by contrast, merely laughed and patted Caleigh on the small of the back. “Come on Rosamund, stop gasping and teach me this spell.”

Spells or not by the time they turned off the main road and had followed the narrow winding track to the clearing in the woods to the northeast, the water had managed to find a way into most of their garments. The workshop under a canopy at the rear of the cottage stood idle and smoke rose from the cottage chimney suggesting a most inviting fire was burning inside.

Once the horses and cart were tethered nearby Vaughn led the group towards the front door with a drawn wand.

“I thought this person was a friend.” Caleigh remarked noticing the gesture.

“He is but...there is a rumour about a big nasty beastie rising in the world and...well, it hurts none to be careful.” Rosamund followed suit and readied her wand too whilst Tamric and Penric kept a hand on their sword handles. Vaughn raised his wand with a smile and the sound of ringing bells filled the air. The front door opened with a jolt soon after and the space was filled by the bearded, bald man Caleigh had seen from afar.

“Wizards” He said with a shake of his head.

“Greetings, Aldred. Care to offer some shelter to travellers sodden by the elements.”

“Come on, get inside. Try not to get too much mud on the floor.” From the inside the cottage seemed quite large. There was plenty of room in the main area around the chimney and at least three rooms off to the side. A long table centred this room and from around it stepped a younger man with curly black locks and an honest, open face. “Vaughn, this is my apprentice, Bryn.”

“Glad to meet you all.”

“And whom have you brought with you. Rosamund and Tamric, I know. I do not believe I have met the others.”

“Aldred. Bryn, this is Penric, squire to Sir Marc of Connlad.”

“Ahh, good man.”

“This is Elwyn...”

“Friend to Caleigh.” Ellie interceded.

“And, of course, Caleigh, our newest scholar at Elevered and the cause of our coming to you today.” Aldred eyed her critically then moved over to a rack by the wall holding a series of wands. Selecting one he came back to Caleigh and let the wand rest on his palm pointed in her direction. Unbidden the wand turned a half circle so that it was then pointed away from her.

“This one is powerful. Looks like Gideon will have a rival, for that matter Tovrik too. Come sit down, Caleigh. I am being most rude. I should like to hear why you came to see me but first shall we all have a tankard of brew?”

“A wise plan.” Vaughn agreed.

With the fire going and damp cloaks set to dry the sound of the rain outside was almost enjoyable knowing that they were out of it and with a frothy ale before them. Aldred planted himself opposite Caleigh and induced her to begin her tale. “I suspect you’ve come to get yourself a wand of some sort. You’re too new for a staff, would be of no good to you yet. I know Vaughn couldn’t have come here for a wand he has quite enough already.”

“What do you mean?”

“Ever looked up his sleeves?” Vaughn pulled back his sleeves obligingly and on the underside of each arm two wands facing opposite directions were secured to an arm brace. “Worry not, that’s a Vaughn thing. Different things work for different folks. One wand is quite enough for most wizards.”

“It is true I wanted to ask about such things but that is not why I came.”

“Oh?” Caleigh proceeded to tell Aldred and Bryn the same tale she had told in Connlad two months ago. Neither of them said aught until she had completed her tale and appeared lost for words even after. Eventually, after much brow furrowing Aldred found his voice. “What do you and Tovrik hope to do about this? What is asked of us?”

“I tell you to do naught. First of all, I thought it fair to warn.”

“I thank thee for that but we go mostly unnoticed here. Only folk from Elevered ever come to us and when we venture out to Minerva we are simple craftsmen.”

“That may change.” Vaughn cautioned.

“Aye, that it may.” Aldred sunk into silence again.

“If you come to Elevered there is a chance you will be safer. There you need not live in secrecy and you will be closer to those you trade with.” Caleigh suggested.

“Aye, that is fine reasoning save for one matter.”

“Namely?”

“This is my home. What do you think Bryn?” Bryn looked up sheepishly.

“I think we should take their offer. There’s no sense in staying by here if we are to be hunted. If war is coming, better to be inside a castle, I say.” Aldred nodded sympathetically at Bryn’s words.

“Well, there you have it. When do you return?”

“We are heading on to Minerva after here and will likely pass by again a few days hence.”

“Then, come to us again when you do and Bryn will go back with you to Elevered.”

“Master Aldred, what about you?”

“This is my home; it is where I shall stay. That is my decision but it is not fair to make you suffer for my stubbornness.”

“Have I disappointed you?”

“Not at all, dear lad.”Aldred said putting his hand on Brian’s shoulder. “Elevered is not so far. I hope to see you from time to time yet.” Aldred turned his attention to the rest of the guests. “Now...who’s for some stew?”

It was still raining when stew was finished and tankards had been filled again. Caleigh alone didn’t partake. Instead she stood under the canopy covering the outside workspace reaching out her arm into the downpour then willing the droplets to bounce off her sleeve as it did her hand. It was easier from here than it had been on the road for the trick was not to resent the rain. “Try with this.” Joining Caleigh outside was Aldred offering her a wand. Caleigh took the wand and pointed to the drenched section of her clothing. “A wand does not grant power, nor does it give skill to the user. It helps direct the flow of energy from, through and away from the source. Who began your training?”

“Gideon taught me my first lessons.”

“Hmm, then I would guess he taught you about the craft of spell casting before he taught you any spells.”

“Yes, he did that.” Caleigh said smiling.

“That is what wands are for; to channel your craft. There is no spell a wizard can do with a wand that he cannot do without.”

“Then they are not needed?”

“Needed? That is for you to decide. Try your spell again.”

“It is too soon.”

“Indulge me.” Caleigh pointed the wand at her sleeve and to her great surprise she found the mental path unblocked much sooner than she had expected.

“Ah ha! The spell failed but...I felt it.”

“So, do you want me to make you one?”

“Very much so!”

“I think I know what you need for now. Take your time in Minerva and I may have it ready for you when you come for Bryn. You may keep that one.”

“You are very kind.”

“Yes, well, Tovrik is very rich. Ha,ha.”

“May I ask you something between us?”

“By all means.”

“Who is Tovrik?”

“Ah, now that is a deep question and quite broad too. What do you really mean?”

“Earlier you said I was powerful, maybe a match for Tovrik.”

“I believe so.”

“So you have some idea of Tovrik’s full power.”

“Ha, ha. You read much of what is not said. I fathom you are not the unworldly young thing you seem to be.”

“I am unworldly, and I know far less than people imagine.”

“Yet you listen where others more fond of their cleverness would simply wait for a turn to speak. This makes a person more worldly than they realise.”

“And you avoid answers in your praise.” Caleigh observed wryly.

“Mayhap I can guide you better if you share your thoughts.”

“I think Tovrik is no jester. I think he is somehow linked to Caerddyn.”

“I think you are right.”

“Yet you tell me no more.”

“More I cannot tell. Tovrik has spent most of his days with Secret Keepers, does this not tell you something?”

“Have you known many of his power?”

“That depends on the measure you take. Wizards grow more powerful with age, experience and learning but, if you mean to judge by raw talent for magic then I would say six times in my life.”

“So there are other powerful wizards out there? How might we find them?”

“Three you have found already. Given time and the right encouragement one day Gideon will be at Tovrik’s level.”

“And the others?”

“Be not hopeful. One came by near fifty years ago and looked near death then. The other two would almost certainly be your enemies and I shall not speak of them now.”

“What of the other of the three?”

“The other is you.”

21. Minerva

Once the group set off from Aldred’s cottage the rain began to ease though the air remained soggy for the rest of the way to Minerva. The road descended into a valley amongst the hills and where these hills curved away from the river they caught their first sight of Minerva, with its distinctive stone heart. Of all the towns in Sommerwold, Minerva retained most of its original Senatian character. Where Crowbridge was a level wooden dwelling Minerva climbed high in shades of grey, honey brown and white, most particularly around its famed bath houses in the very centre of the town, which was where the party was headed.

Vaughn directed them to guest lodgings nigh to what was once the water temple around which the city was founded. Everything was new and exciting to Caleigh and Ellie. Neither of them had ever been to any settlement so large before. Unlike in Crowbridge or Connlad here was the sense you could step out into the street and lose yourself in the environs. After stabling their horses Vaughn returned to the party with a sickened look.

“What goes ill?” Caleigh asked.

“Err...you see...the last time I was here I was entertainment and it was just myself...and now there are six of us and...well...it’s a fair bounty of coin to stay here. More than I had reckoned, that’s for sure.”

“Have you paid?”

“Not yet, I thought I’d ask the rest of you what you thought.”

“Bring me to the landlord.” Caleigh commanded with sudden confidence. Vaughn obliged and promptly she was before a sweaty man of middle-age who made no attempt to hide his obvious glances at Caleigh’s cleavage. She, for her part, did not bat an eyelid. Vaughn, on the other hand, did raise an eyebrow noticing Caleigh’s charisma charm totally enveloping the landlord. Quite quickly the price for their stay was reduced until it was only at Caleigh’s insistence that they paid anything at all. Vaughn was only slightly less shocked than he was after they agreed to the price and walked away.

“That was almost frightening. Why did you pick that fee?”

“I sensed how he felt at each price. He will neither lose money nor rob us now.”

“You’ve come a long way.”

“Can we speak no more of this. I am not overly fond of myself for what I just did.”

“Caleigh, you did the right thing.”

“Please, Vaughn.”

“Very well, I shall say nothing more on the matter.”

A short time later they headed into the tavern area of the lodgings where they were greeted by the thick waft of ale and loud throb of conversation the moment the door swung open. Caleigh had forgotten what it was like to be exposed like this. In Elevered there seemed to be some control. Perhaps it was all the enchantments that suppressed it from the outside or perhaps it was study that suppressed it from within. Either way, there Caleigh did not feel so afflicted by the desires of others. Outside of that comfort she was swiftly reminded to an extent not far short of the hall of Crowbridge. Talk turned to food and for a moment Caleigh was distracted from her worries.

“Speaking of food, I think the matter of our wager slipped our minds.” Vaughn reminded.

“Yes, you are right. I did promise.” Caleigh went to the sash of her robe and to everyone’s amazement began to unfasten it. Her hand came up from the loosened sash and collided with her goblet of wine spilling it over Vaughn’s trousers. He leapt back from his seat and then looked with incredulity as the wine simply ran off the material onto the floor leaving no stain. His eyes turned to Caleigh’s other hand previously concealed beneath the table and in it she held Aldred’s wand pointed directly at his trousers. Rosamund began to laugh and soon the whole table joined in, including Vaughn.

“We were talking about food, I recall.” Caleigh said innocently. “Fortunate that you have all that spare coin now, Vaughn, is it not?”

“Very well done, Caleigh. Very well done, Rosamund.” Vaughn conceded.

In the event, the trial of the Minerva tavern was not as bad as Crowbridge. Men did approach but rumours that they were Sir Edgar’s people deterred as many as the lean arms of Penric and Tamric. The rest, Vaughn persuaded to retire without resorting to magic. This was not to say Caleigh was unaffected and worse was to come. Bedtime was no relief no sooner had Caleigh laid down on her mattress than images of a hundred couples in congress flooded into her brain in an unending assault. There it did not end every man in the tavern who stroked himself thinking of Caleigh appeared before her eyes and unknowingly shared their stimulation with the object of their fantasies. Her mind reached far beyond the tavern and in this town of thousands a thousand desires sparked within her.

Desperately trying to find some focus, Caleigh turned her thoughts to her friends. Moments later, she was looking out into a room that was not hers, through eyes she knew well though they were not her own. Down the lengths of Penric’s torso she saw his cock, hard and quivering being freed from his loincloth and there straddled about his thighs was Ellie, naked and glistening with the first drops of sweat. She closed her fingers around Penric’s member and pumped it up and down slowly. Caleigh felt it too, like his cock were her own. There was something thrilling about it but it was nothing compared to the moment Ellie brought her cunt down on the throbbing shaft. At once Caleigh was Penric, pushing into her best friend and also Ellie feeling the stiffness parting her lips and filling her from inside.

It was too much, her mind felt stretched to breaking point and her sex burned to the point it was almost painful. She reached her hand down to her crotch and sparks and flame flickered before her leaving burnt moth holes in her night dress. Almost in a state of panic, Caleigh held her hands outward, watching in horror as rings of hot air flashed with yellow-orange tongues. 

Leaping out of bed she concentrated a shield spell around her fingers. The air rippled and the flame dispersed leaving a trail of smoke where she moved. Somehow Caleigh knew this would not be the end of it. The thoughts and desires momentarily forgotten in her panic rose in her mind again and with them she could feel her temperature begin to rise once more. All she could think was to get into the cool air outside and away from anything that could catch light.

In the corridor outside her room a maid caught sight of her stumbling against the wall. “Are you in trouble?” Caleigh looked round and seeing herself through the other girl’s eyes, sweat-drenched and panic-stricken, she tried to compose herself.

“No, no trouble.”

“Are you sure? It looks like you’re having a bad night. Sometimes our guests find a bath help ease their aches and pains. Ours isn’t as grand as those by the temple but I could run you one if you wish.” Caleigh quickly made deductions, baths have water, water cools fire, bath good.

“Yes! I think that would help greatly.”

“Seeing as it’s so late it might take a while to make it warm enough...”

“No, worry not. Cold water is perfect.” The maid looked at her dripping brow and feverish face.

“Are you sure you are well?”
“I will be once I am in the bath.”

“Very well, I’ll fill it at once.”

The bath was not a wooden tub such as Caleigh was used to but sunken rectangle of polished stone amid a tiled floor with room enough for her to stretch out with her legs and both arms to their fullest extent and still have some left over. At first the cold water was a shock to the skin, it wasn’t long however before the heat coming off her body had turned it tepid. Penric and Ellie were still fucking, she could feel, as were four others within the lodgings and many more in the streets and houses beyond. No matter how hard she tried what they were feeling reverberated within her too. The water rose through lukewarm to hot and unlike when she had learned to make steam there was nothing controlled about this magic working through her. Each pore of her skin radiated heat, rising in great bubbles and breaking on the surface like broth in a cooking pot. Steam too had begun to rise in earnest though whether this was from that spell or whether it was part of the same magic it was as hard to tell as it was to see beyond the veil of white that coated the air.

“
Desist
”, “
temperate
” a voice spoke into the room. Caleigh felt hands about her shoulders lifting her from the water sloshing about her face. “
Vaporise
”. Caleigh coughed issuing forth a gout of cold air from her mouth, nose and throat. “Speak to me Caleigh!” It was Vaughn’s voice.

“What happened?”

“You were swallowing water.”

“Was I? How did you get here?” She asked dopily.

“I couldn’t sleep and went looking for you. The maid told me you’d gone for a bath and looked very ill. Forgive me for barging in but I could see there was magic at work and I wanted to make sure you were not in peril.”

“Forgive you? It appears that I should thank you. I might have died, I couldn’t control it.” It was only then that Caleigh realised she was naked and at that point she neither had the energy or inclination to cover herself. “Well, it seems you won your prize in the end without winning the wager.” Vaughn looked at her uncomprehendingly for a moment until her too appeared to realise that she was unclothed and what she meant by the prize. In quick time he also realised that her charisma charm was still in effect and was wrapping around his undershirt and drawers.

“Well, as much as I appreciate that, I’d rather you didn’t nearly drown for me to see it.”

“I’m not drowning now.”

“That’s true.” Vaughn averted his eyes from her.

“You need not look away.”

“I think I’d better.”

“Why? You want to look, I can feel it. I can feel your manhood stirring at the thought. So look.” Vaughn obeyed and took in her full form with his eyes then defensively held up his wand forming a barrier between himself and the charm.

“Do you not like my breasts?” Caleigh asked.

“Your breasts are magnificent, the best I have ever seen; you are magnificent in every way.”

“Then why do you fear to look, why do you hesitate from touching? I know you want to.”

“For the simple reason that you are in the throes of an enchantment.” Vaughn pointed his wand on Caleigh, “
desist
”. The charm dissipated and the glazed look that had been present prior vanished from Caleigh’s eyes. With an effort she sat up and hugged her knees close.

“That was kind.”

“Will you be fine now?”

“I doubt it.” Caleigh said wearily. “It doesn’t come from within.” As if to illustrate the point charm vapours immediately passed through the walls drifting towards Caleigh. Vaughn stood and waved his wand about her forming the same barrier around her as he had around himself.

“Is it always like this?”

“Tonight is bad.”

“I should leave you alone, then. I doubt I could turn away another touch of your charm.” Caleigh put her hand on Vaughn’s thigh to stop him moving.

“Vaughn, I say this as Caleigh and not as someone enchanted, I fear worse if you leave.”

“I am not sure I can fight off this magic all night.”

“There is another way.” Caleigh said moving her hand from his thigh to the bugle in his drawers and squeezing with her fingers. “If you want to help, make me come!” She linked fingers with his wandless hand and drew it to her quim.

“Are you sure?” Caleigh nodded and wove his fingers between her lower lips and encouraging them deeper. Vaughn needed no further encouragement, kissing her face, neck and shoulder with feverish delight while she squirmed over his hand. After all the sensations of the night thus far she came swiftly and at once knew there was much more to come. She forced herself to her feet in an embrace of arms and tongues and spoke with urgency.

“Your room.” With that she led away up the stairs leaving her clothes back in the bath room. Briefly Vaughn stood, leaning on his doorway, utterly dumbfounded. Before him was this vision of beauty a pretty, innocent-looking face atop this wondrous curvy frame with its rounded hips and slender waist beneath those huge, full and enormously shapely tits that bounced and swayed about her chest with impatient energy. He joined her at the bedside and his drawers hit the floor at once releasing his prick at its absolute fullest.

Caleigh took it with her hand and gently ran her fingers around the head, smiling broadly at the feel of Vaughn’s pleasure. Still holding on she backed onto the bed and knelt upright so that she loomed above him and placing her hands on his shoulders kissed him from above then broke off with a smile. Her full bosom was at Vaughn’s eye level and she followed his gaze there. Smiling again she put her hands below each globe and proffered them to him. Without hesitation he kissed each hard nipple in turn, sucking and licking them while squeezing the other with his hand. “Ohhh, yes.” Caleigh whimpered. “Come here.” She bid leaping off the bed and guiding Vaughn round so that he sat upon the bed and she upon his lap. Planting her feet either side of him she lifted her hips and descended over his shaft meanwhile pulling his head to her breasts. “Fuck me and suck me.” As uncomfortable as this was they were able to hold this pose long enough for Vaughn to burst inside her and even after while they lay flat on the bed he kept sucking Caleigh’s near-sore nipples until she came for the third and last time.