Chapter 5

Never, in all the long millennia of my life, has anyone drawn my blood.

The unconscious female has not just peaked my interest, she has my full attention. I look around the quiet field. The surviving villagers cower in the town square, staring at me with terrified eyes. The mess that was the rifleman lay like the pulp of red grapes. A small breeze picks up the ashes of the foolish woman and dances with them.

The mysterious swordswoman moans in her sleep. Something deep in me stirs at the sound, it's been quite some time since I've heard a sound like that. I study the human closer. Yes she has quite fine features and, though it is damp with sweat, her hair is a dark golden brown.

Arousal takes me by surprise, she has a sumptuous figure that is both curvaceous and firm. Strong legs can be clearly seen through the tight trousers. Her bust was hidden within her arming jacket, though it was easy to guess that it was well developed. Fantasies of debauchery played through my mind like a circus.

I jerked back to myself. It is one surprise after another with this woman, never had I experienced such lust since I first married. Even with Libidine they were not this strong. This woman was uncanny.

I caught myself staring at her chest again and snapped away, I need to leave this place. Though, her mysterious power troubles me. I must find its source, and destroy it. I pondered the situation until an idea struck me.

I'll have to bring her.

Smiling at such a perfect solution, I used a whisper of power to raise her unconscious form from the ground. Her hair hung in drapes the swayed in the eddies of power. I prepared to step away when another idea came to me. I smiled again and turned to the remains of her fallen comrades. The womans ashes were rather scattered but easy for me to reassemble, the man wouldn't even be a challenge.

With a small effort I restored the woman's body and plucked her soul from the After. The spirit shrieked as it was thrust back into the pain of living. The man was eager to resume life, though he glared at me all the while.

He had some balls. Amusing.

Both gasped as life filled their chests, twitching and stirring as they reacquainted with themselves. I watched their struggles, trying hard to suppress my laughter. The man roused himself first, jolting awake with hacking coughs.

"Welcome back to Life." I said with a grin.

"Who... are... you?" he said between coughs.

I merely smiled at him and stepped through into my bedroom. The dark space greeted me with warmth. I set the woman down on my bed, her grubby clothes soiled the satin immediately. Unconcerned I waved my hand and cleaned the sheets, changing her clothes into something more suitable for a woman.

Making sure she'd be asleep until I returned, I dropped down to the throne room. A tall man with light grey wings was waiting below the dais.

"Father." Lucian greeted me with a bow.

"My son," I came down and embraced him, then stepped back to examine him, "how fares the western front?"

"As planned, sire. The rebellion will be quelled within the hour."

"Good, and your mother?"

He shuffled his feet with discomfort, "She still wishes me to wed Lady Kilara's daughter."

I chuckled and led him to a small table I summoned. A servant brought ale and food while we caught up on the last decade. I laughed at his exploits, and scolded his mistakes. Praised his accomplishments and cautioned him against folly and overconfidence.

He was quite interested to hear about the captive woman, "Father, are you certain it is safe to keep her so close to you? An enemy such as her should not be left unguarded."

"She is no threat," I reassured him "the injuries she sustained will keep her under for some time yet. As well, there is no way down from my chambers without wings or some other such power of flight."

Lucian nodded with my descriptions, finishing off the last of his ale. We sat in silence while the food was polished off. I watched my son during this time, his hands shook slightly, his face was perspiring. My eyes narrowed.

"What troubles you, Lucian?" I ask

He shifts several times before clearing his throat to answer.

"Mother wishes to come visit."