Mad King Ulrich's Day

© 2025 Duleigh Lawrence-Townshend. All rights reserved. The author asserts the right to be identified as the author of this story for all portions. All characters are original. Any resemblance to anyone living or dead is purely coincidental. This story or any part thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the expressed written permission of the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a review or commentary.

This story was written in a genre that I absolutely love: Romantasy. I'll be writing more in this genre and I hope you enjoy this offering. It was written for the 2025 Nude Day Contest and it's my first ever entry in that contest.

Mad King Ulrich's Day

The royal convoy was less than a day out from their goal, the mountain chateau of Termagant's Bane, the capitol of the mountainous country of Teurnia. The convoy had been traveling hard for over a week from the elf ruled seaside kingdom of Edhellond, and the team was getting weary. The convoy was composed of four caravans and four cargo wagons. Ten mules were dedicated to pull the cargo wagons and ten horses to pull the caravans. Twelve additional horses carried the mounted guards. There were sixteen guards in all, twelve were human mounted guards in shining bronze armor and four elven guards in their shining chrome steel armor. They were mounted on the royal caravan, stationed on the forward and rear patios. To drive the convoy, there were four coachmen to drive the caravans, four teamsters to drive the cargo wagons, and two wranglers to see to the needs of the mules and horses. Their cargo was several crates of wedding gifts for the royal wedding, three elven ladies-in-waiting, and one elf princess, Rania Haldir, of clan Neithaor. The convoy's purpose was to carry Princess Rania to her fiancé, Prince Lars Ranzau, the future king of Teurnia.

The convoy plodded on through a narrow portion of the Arn River Valley. Unbeknownst to the royal party, far above in the rocks, Teurnian sharp shooters sat poised on the cliff tops above, keeping an eye out for bandits or anyone else that could endanger the royal wedding. Occasionally overhead, a massive golden dragon circled. He, too, was protecting the route of the convoy that was carrying the future queen. When the convoy stopped for the night, a monstrous black dragon circled, looking for bandits and other dangers.

Far below in the convoy, travel was slow because the road was rocky and the bouncing and jostling of the royal caravan displeased Princess Rania. Even though they were slowed to a slow walk, they were well ahead of schedule. They had planned to enter the city on Jeol fifth, but the princess wanted the journey over, so she ordered them to enter the city no later than noon on Jeol second. "The second of Jeol is a holy day in Termagant's Bane, people come from throughout the kingdom of Teurnia to participate. We should refrain from entering Termagant's Bane," said the convoy master.

"Come now," came the soothing voice of the princess from her shadowy corner. "What harm could come to us if we enter the city in the middle of a barbarian festival? We might get a decent meal finally." She said that loud enough for Ulysse, her personal chef, to hear. Lana, Nora, and Olah, the princesses' handmaidens, could almost taste the tang of revulsion that Rania had for this upcoming wedding. The youngest of seven daughters, Rania of clan Neithaor, had become a political pawn and was going to be married to Prince Lars Ranzau, son of King Eric Ranzau, to cement a bond between her homeland of Edhellond (Elf Harbor) and the mountain kingdom of Teurnia.

She was being sold off like cattle, and her anger at the situation was poisoning the air in the royal caravan. It wasn't the fact that she was being married off to a political ally; she knew from childhood that it would be her fate to marry a foreign prince. It wasn't the fact that she was marrying someone she had never met. That's life in the royal courts. She should be happy she's marrying the crown prince because in a few years she will be queen. She should be happy that her future husband was close to her age and not some doddering, moldering, animated corpse waiting for his young, lithe bride. What she's angry with is that she has been ordered by her father to marry the future king of a primarily human kingdom.

She stomped off before her father or anyone could explain the situation. The thought sickened her. To marry a human! Or in the ancient elven tongue, gilthoniel, which literally means animal. Her father, the elven king Arantar Haldir, clearly sold her to these humans to insure the flow of telepta from the mountain mines of Teurnia to the foundries of Edhellond.

Telepta! That mesmerizing magical silver that elves are so in love with, far more beautiful than mithril. It's lighter, stronger, more lustrous than mithril as well. Elves value telepta far beyond the forbidden forests of sentient trees in the far Moonstoke Mountains, or the night-cats that dwell in magical places and speak in poetry.

Rania stewed in her dark corner of the rocking caravan. She was sold for mere metal to a bunch of barbaric apes that had no magic at all. Rania was seething, radiating her hatred of everything human and her disgust with the species spilled over and inundated her handmaidens. Lana, Nora, and Olah were all desperately trying to calm her down, but nothing they tried worked. "I want to bind you to my last request," said Rania. "The moment my marriage to this animal has been completed, kill me."

"Ai ú-vanimë, ar-hime? (why dear princess?)" asked Lana, her senior handmaiden.

"Ná síla lúmenn' mentally, nísilya síla lúmenn' ohtar Edhellond i ambar-háre." (My father's wish has been fulfilled, I will have fulfilled my duty to Edhellond by marrying the beast) said Rania in high elvish.

"Some tea mistress, I made us some tea," said Nora and she held the cup to the dark corner that her mistress has hidden herself for the entire journey. A slender hand covered by an elbow length pink silk glove reached out from the shadow to take the tea and then retracted back into the depths of the small corner. The elbow-length gloves were to prevent the princess from touching something beneath her station, something human. Motion in the darkness showed that Rania was sipping the hot tea. Hopefully, the herbs in the tea would calm her down.

Lana, Nora, and Olah were a rarity in Elvendom, they were triplets. In a society that rarely, if ever, has over two children in non-royal families, Lana, Nora, and Olah were a miracle. They were born to Mistress Aoife, the head of the royal household. The darling triplets were seen as a sign from heaven, a blessing on the Haldir dynasty. They were sweet and well-mannered and as they grew, they became young Princess Rania's playmates. The four little elflings were often seen dashing through the glades and dells of Edhellond, often naked because they were at home in the ponds and pools of the wooded kingdom as much as they were on land or in the trees.

Like most female elves, Lana, Nora, and Olah had straight golden hair, which they wore down past their shoulder blades. Their ears were pointed and only slightly pronounced, and like most elves, they were tall and slim, with trim figures. However, being a princess, Rania's figure is distinct. But she remained tucked in her dark corner so Olah couldn't make fun of their royal sister's figure.

As it grew dark, the convoy stopped for the night and the triplets set about preparing the royal caravan for the night. They began with emptying the chamber pots (the Princess will not be seen squatting by the side of the road!) and airing out linen. The guards were posted and the wranglers and coachmen set camp. Wood was gathered, fires built, and the cooks began to cook their last evening meal of the journey.

"Come out to the fire mistress, it's our last night and the weather is beautiful," called Nora from the front doorway of the caravan.

"I shall see beauty no more," groaned Rania. "Go, celebrate with your friends."

They have been following the River Arn, the gentle waterway that connects the seaside elf kingdom of Edhellond with the human infested mountain kingdom of Teurnia. Their convoy followed the ages old tow path for the mule powered barges up and down river and often the convoy had to pull to the side to let the mules and towrope of a down river bound barge past. Historically, bandits hid in the hills until the current king, his Majesty Eric Ranzau, hid armed guards on random barges heading both upriver and down river, and patrolled the river valley with dragons. King Eric cleaned the Arn river valley of dangerous thieves and bandits and now political emissaries and royalty were able to travel between the kingdoms in safety.

The convoy stopped at a wide park where barges tied up for the night and set up camp. The caravans were arranged in a circle. Each caravan looked like it may house gypsies, externally nothing stood out to proclaim royalty. Large spoked wooden wheels, wooden sided, shingled like a residential building, windows, and shutters that close over the windows, the windows even had curtains inside. From the curved roofs of the wagons extended a stovepipe exhaust from the potbelly stove inside, and at each end was a household door. The princess's caravan is a traveling lady's boudoir, while the other caravans were dormitory coaches with bunks stacked four levels deep.

The evening dinner was a chance to get out and enjoy the early summer air, along with your fellow traveler. Even though the triplets stay inside the caravan with Rania and only come out for dinner, Nora had caught the eye of an elf guard and she couldn't wait until dark when the musicians start to play and the casks of ale are tapped. She had discovered that he knew all the latest human dances.

While Lana stayed in the cabin with a morose Rania, Olah and Nora went outside to where the guards, coachmen, and wranglers set up a cheery fire. A recently shot stag, skinned and gutted, roasted on a spit over the fire. The guards laughed as they drank ale and teased the younger guards, who were still learning the ways of men under arms. A flute and a mandolin soon played a merry tune from the seaside of Edhellond, and Olah and Nora were soon dancing with two young guards by the light of the fire.

As dusk settled and the party was preparing to eat, everything went silent. An enormous shadow flew silently overhead, blotting out the darkening sky. "Magic," gasped Rania from her dark corner. "I taste magic." She couldn't mistake that sweet yet metallic twang on her tongue that accompanied any magic being used nearby. Outside, the guards leapt to duty and circled the parked convoy as the dark shadow passed over again, but this time it was lower, and in the twilight's gloom, they could see what it was. The firelight reflected off of hundreds of glossy golden scales as the shadow passed overhead. Dragon!

It passed over the camp silently, then lowered a wingtip and made a sharp 180-degree turn, then brought its chest up, almost standing on its tail before settling down on its four feet. The assembled men, elves, and two elfin handmaidens gasped as the enormous golden beast settled gently to the ground, its golden scales glittering in the firelight. It carefully folded its enormous wings and relaxed and lay down as if to sleep.

The dragon rider, the dracestrian, slid off the resting beast's back and walked up to the dragon's head and patted it like it was an obedient puppy. The dragon snorted contentedly and closed its dinner plate sized eyes and appeared to be slumbering. Happy that his mount was resting, the dracestrian walked up to the line of nervous soldiers and stopped. He was as tall as an elf, but he was clearly human, his skin tanned, his hair black, his ears rounded, and his eyes... not only were they round like a human, but they were also black as coal and not blue or green like most humans in the Mons Sunnah mountains.

The man gestured to the snoozing dragon behind him and said, "Lynne and I come in peace. We carry a message for your mistress from King Eric Ranzau of Teurnia."

A tall, beautiful woman stepped toward the dracestrian. She was lissome and panting from the dances the dragon rider interrupted. Her golden hair was disheveled, and her nipples were erect from an attraction that he interfered with. Her gold almond-shaped eyes and pointed ears gave away her elf ancestry. "You may give me your message. I am Princess Rania's handmaiden, I will pass on the message."

The dragon rider studied the haughty elf and smiled. "Nay, dear Olah, the message I carry is for Princess Rania, I do not have permission to hand it to go-betweens no matter how trustworthy."

"How do you know my name?" gasped Olah.

"Your sister Nora has yet to develop the courage to speak to someone unknown, and your sister Lana will not leave her mistresses side. That leaves you, Olah the strong, to confront an unknown dragon rider."

"And what if I say no?"

The dragon rider smiled, and his smile caused something deep inside Olah to tingle. "Then I will say 'please.'"

"And if I say no again?"

"Then I will say 'pretty please.'"

"Do you toy with me?" demanded Olah.

"No, not at all. You asked me what I would do, and I answered you," said the dragon rider.

"And what if I say no a third time?" snapped Olah.

"Then I leave, and I hope we part cordially. But then, you will be the one that must tell your mistress that you turned away the emissary of her father-in-law."

There was something about the way he said those words that made Olah realize this wasn't some paid messenger, and it shook her to her core. "How do I know you are that whom you say you are?" she asked softly.

"Now that is the question you should ask," he said with a smile. He opened his leather blouson and withdrew a document that was folded neatly and sealed in wax with the royal signet. "If you will present this to your mistress, dear Olah. I will wait here with the guards."

The guards comprised not only human guards but also elves for close physical security of the four female elves. "With me!" Olah snapped to an elf guard who followed her back to the royal caravan. In the dark caravan, she heard Rania moving in her corner. "My lady, a messenger arrived with a message for you and he will give it to naught but you."

"Who is he?" said Rania nervously.

"He gave me this," said Olah, and she handed Rania the sealed parchment.

Rania tried to pry the wax seal off the document, but it wouldn't come off. "Very good, these humans are learning magic," said Rania. A simple spell was put on the seal. It couldn't be removed, only broken, and if broken by someone other than the intended reader, the unintended reader would only see a blank page. She snapped the seal in half and unfolded the page and saw that the document wasn't written in the polished, perfect hand of the royal scribe, or the normally jittery hand of the king himself, but the round flowing hand of... the queen?

My Dearest Rania

I am so anxious to see my new daughter again. I met you on the day of your birth when I was a guest in Edhellond. I was there when you were blessed by the high cleric and I celebrated with your mother, Faelwyn, and your father, Arantar. He told me the child I was carrying would be your husband at the proper time.

Your dear father sent me the message that Lana, Nora, and Olah are coming with you. How wonderful! I cannot wait to see you all. Your new quarters are ready for the four of you.

The messenger that carries this page is well known to me. He will not lie to you. Listen to him, trust he is speaking the truth, then after he leaves, re-read this message. ~

Oh, I am so eager to see you again! I cannot wait to welcome you to the family!

Your Mamil,

Faylith Ranzau nee Rhyenelle

Rania pondered the letter over and over. She had heard that Queen Faylith was likeable and an ally for the elven community, but she used the familiar salutation of Your Mamil. Mamil is the elf word for mommy. And her signature... her maiden name was Faylith Rhyenelle? That's an elf name. And the tilde, ~, a shortcut to tell the knowledgeable that an enchantment was on the page. "I will see this messenger," said Rania. "Remain on guard, I don't trust humans."

"Yes my princess," said Olah and she stepped out on the porch of the caravan. The roof of the caravan extended over the front porch and over the driver's box. She turned around and said to the guards on either side of the door, "I will be back with the human that rode the dragon here. Be on your guard."

"Yes ma'am!" they said as Olah hopped down from the caravan and dashed to the cluster of guards that surrounded the messenger. When she got there, the messenger was entertaining the guards with stories of dragon flight. His hands were simulating the flight of two dragons that were soaring around the sky, weaving and flitting back and forth.

"We dropped in a spiral, like this, and Pendr came back around like this, and we popped up behind him and Lynne rolled like this and nipped his foot and I cried, 'TAG! You're it!'" The gathered guards chuckled at the exciting story, as Olah elbowed between them and stepped up to the messenger.

"The princess will see you now," said Olah. "Follow me. Nora, keep an eye on him."

"Yes nésa." (affectionate term for sister)

"Shouldn't you search me for weapons?" said the queen's messenger as he took off his leather blouson and handed it to a guard.

"Search him!" she ordered an elf guard. The guard patted down the messenger expertly while the other guard searched his leather and lamb skin blouson. When they were done, the messenger pulled the blouson back on and followed Olah to the royal caravan.

"Just because you're not armed doesn't mean I'm not," hissed Nora and she poked him in the back with the tip of her dagger.

"Yes my lady," said the messenger. "Please do not puncture my jacket with your blade, it was my father's before me."

They walked through the camp that overcame its shock of the gigantic dragon and regained its merry spirit, and the musicians started another cheerful song. Nora wanted to return to the dance, as did Olah, but they had the princesses' work to do first. As they climbed the step and entered the caravan, the messenger turned to one of the elf guards and handed him a dagger and said, "Make sure Lady Nora gets this back when we're done."

Nora gasped. She didn't realize that the messenger took her knife. How did he do that? She snatched it from the guard and inspected the knife. The blade was made of polished telepta silver, a metal so mystical that the reflection it shows was not of a different place, but of a different time. You could be seeing a reflection from yesterday, or a reflection from the day after tomorrow. The handle was made from north shore stag horn creating a magical handle that changes color in tune with the emotions of the person the blade was touching. Her full name, Nora Ulavaris, was carved into the handle and glowed in orange letters.

The messenger followed Olah into the caravan and it was dark inside the rolling boudoir. A lantern was lit, but it was backed by a mirror and shining through a lens, so it glared in the messenger's eyes. But he seemed to handle it fine. He bowed deeply and said, "Good evening, my lady. I bring tidings of welcome and joy from King Eric and Queen Faylith Ranzau. They are eager to meet you and can't wait to..."

"What of Prince Lars?" asked Princess Rania. She didn't give him permission to rise, so he remained bowed.

"What of him?" asked the messenger, still facing the floor.

"Is he eager to meet me? Or is he an elf hating bigot like the rest of the males of his species?" snapped the princess.

"On behalf of human men everywhere, I wish to extend my apologies. I know the bigots you speak of do exist but personally I do not know any, or they may not have revealed themselves to me," he said, still obediently maintaining the deep bow and facing the floor.

"You still didn't mention the prince," said Rania. "Is he eager to meet me?"

"Very much so," said the messenger. "You are constantly on his mind. He speaks of nothing but spending his days with you, of sharing the kingdom with you and forming an alliance with Edhellond."

"And he does not hate elves?"

"My lady, Prince Lars' mother, Queen Faylith, was raised by Queen Bemere alongside your father Arantar."

"My grandmother... haruni... she raised..." Princess Rania was shocked and at a loss for words. If she had allowed the messenger to stand, he may have seen the confusion in her eyes.

"Yes my lady, so many lives were needlessly lost in the Fifty Year War, so many children became orphans. For penance, elf nobility raised the orphans of dead human nobles, and human nobility raised the orphans of lost elf nobility. Your grandmother is also Prince Lars' grandmother. It's hard to hate your grandmother's race, wouldn't you think?

"But Prince Lars' sisters are so vile to us..."

"Stepsisters my lady. The king's first wife, Isabella, was a poor excuse for a mother and queen. She earned her beheading. The sisters were raised by a nurse who was filled with hate from the war and she poisoned the four girls minds against not only elves but humans of common birth. They are banished from Termagant's Bane and will not be returned unless you summon them."

"The queen said you have a message for me," said Princess Rania, trying to get this conversation back on track.

"Yes my lady."

"And that message is what, Sir Go-between?"

"The message is this, tomorrow is King Ulrich day. It's a very bizarre celebration and the queen and king both thought that..."

"They thought that elves aren't welcome? Is that it? The queen is embarrassed of me?"

"Not at all, my lady! They and the prince believes you will not be comfortable, not without proper..."

"Is that why Queen Isabella was beheaded? For not participating in your silly little celebration?"

"No ma'am, she was fond of King Ulrich's day. Overly fond you might say..."

"You may go tell the queen that I will be there at noon, if not before. I want this wedding ceremony to start immediately on the noon hour. Do I make myself clear?"

"My lady," begged the messenger. "Please listen to me, King Ulrich day is a..."

"YOU ARE DISMISSED, HUMAN!"

"Yes, my lady." The Messenger stood and looked at the corner that Princess Rania was sitting in, and smiled. She thought she couldn't be seen, but he saw her shining silver hair, her very un-elflike full breasts and tight narrow waist. He saw the fight in her silver eyes, and the sudden realization that he could see her. "Tomorrow at noon," he said with a cocked smile, and left.

Lana and Rania sat in shock, staring at the door he left open when he walked out. "What is he?" asked Lana. She saw the flashes of red dancing in those black eyes. Not in the whites, not in the dark brown, almost black irises, but in the pupils. They saw the red flashes that were deep in the back of his eyeballs... and that smile when he left, a smile that said, "kiss my ass."

"I don't know," gasped Princess Rania. "But he wasn't human." She looked back at the letter from the queen and it had become much longer, it went on explaining King Ulrich's day and urged her to spend the day by the river, relax and she would send food and ale for them to relax with, but a cry from the revelers outside told her the dragon with the messenger had left. "Keet!" (shit!) she swore, and she threw the letter at Lana.

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"I am sorry your highness, but animals are not allowed in Termagant's Bane on King Ulrich's day." The chief guard that traveled with her the entire distance from Edhellond to Termagant's Bane and never said a peep to her other than "Yes mistress," was now blocking her entrance to the huge fortress city. He stood at the rear door of her caravan that was parked at the edge of the great draw bridge that leads to Termagant's Bane and spoke to her as she remained in her dark corner.

"Of course you allow animals in there," she said haughtily. "The humans are in there, what's a couple of horses?... What! What is that look for?"

"Nothing, your highness."

"Tell me, damn it!"

"If you were not under Prince Lars protection, I would be required to flog you publicly for speech like that."

"And if I were a human and you heard me slandering elves would you not reward me?" demanded Princess Rania.

"No ma'am, the same penalty applies. The peace between species is of the utmost. You are the only person in the kingdom of Teurnia who can speak like that without fear of the lash thanks to Prince Lars. 'Willy,' he said to me, 'Let her be, she's new, she'll learn.' I am required to let you say any outrageous thing that comes to your mind. No matter how infuriating or stupid... uh... ma'am."

Rania's eyes bugged wide open. "I could have you flogged for that, human!"

"Aye ma'am you probably could, but you still can't bring the horses across that bridge." He pointed to a sign that clearly stated, "No beasts of burden inside city limits until high noon on Jeol third." The sign was signed by the King, Eric Ranzau.

"Why?" demanded the angered elf.

"Hygiene, your highness... ness... ma'am."

"So I must leave my retinue here at the gate to the city because of a silly holiday?"

"No ma'am. Your guards and coachmen are already carrying your luggage to the palace."

"Well, call them back!" demanded Princess Rania.

"Oh, they won't be coming back," said the chief guard. "My lady," he hastily added.

"And why not?"

The guard looked at her like it was the most obvious thing on the entire continent. "It's Mad King Ulrich's day! Uh... yer highness. It starts at the noon hour!"

Just then, the gate on the far side of the draw bridge opened a little bit and two men carrying a sedan chair stepped onto the draw bridge. "Your highness," said one of the bearers.

"Well, a beast of burden is the perfect position for a human," sighed Rania. "And my attendees?"

"My apologies m'lady, but this is the only sedan chair in Termagant's Bane."

"You expect my handmaidens to walk?" Rania nearly screamed.

"I'm sure we can find volunteers to carry them piggyback, yer ladyship," said the chief guard.

Nora giggled but Lana said, "It is fine my lady, we can walk alongside your chair."

"So be it then," groaned Rania. "Just remember your promise," she warned her handmaidens, and she slowly rose out of her corner and stepped out of her caravan.

The remaining guards were stunned. This was the first glimpse of the elf that they had been guarding and protecting for the past full week. She was tall and beautiful, with silver hair that glistened in the late morning sun. She wore a flowing black dress that hung softly from her shoulders and breasts, and with the sun at her back, you could see the exquisite shape of her body. Lush curves, large firm breasts, narrow waist, round hips and firm ass. Her large almond-shaped silver eyes sparkled and her facial features were strikingly cute. She was cuter than her handmaidens, whom the guards all had fallen in love with. To a man they all thought, this is our new and future queen? So beautiful!

The only thing that marred her beauty was her haughty attitude.

They carried Princess Rania across the draw bridge and through the streets of Termagant's Bane and it was clear the mountain fastness was being prepared for a festival. Banners waved in the breeze, garlands of holly and flowers hung from every lamp post, flags hung from cables over the street. The closer they drew to the central palace, the more crowded the streets became, and the more cheerful the crowds became. There were stalls and booths, vendors of all kinds. There were beer tents and wine tents and bands were tuning up here and there.

Princess Rania was recognized by someone and the cheer went up. The people of Termagant's Bane began chanting Rani-a! Rani-a! Rani-a! She wanted to scream, "It's pronounced 'ra-NIA!" but she noticed that a crowd of small children were gathered around her just to watch her pass by. It wasn't just humans, there were elf children, young gnolls, their skin still not rock hard, dwarves, and even seraphs, their wings still tiny. They were playing as a group and not fighting. She wished her father, King Arantar, could see this. This is what he wanted Edhellond to be, a refuge for all species, a place where anyone of peace could feel welcome. The only one preventing that was hard-headed elves, she thought grimly.

"Do you hear that my lady?" asked Lana as she walked alongside her mistress. "They're chanting your name."

"You would think they never saw an elf before," grumbled the future queen.

"There's elves here, they're in the crowd!" called Nora as she waved to people in the crowd.

"Doesn't this sedan chair have side curtains?" muttered Rania as the crowd drew closer to them. "Why aren't our guards wearing armor?" she asked, but nobody answered.

The elves in the crowd were chanting Hmailei Siangpahrangnu! (Our beloved Queen!) and the humans took up the chant. "They love you!" gasped Lana, as small children ran up to the sedan chair and handed Rania flowers they picked for her. Rania was speechless. The children were elf, seraph, gnoll, dwarves and human. Even some fairies fluttered around her sedan chair. A few of the brave ones lighted on the roof of the chair and rode along with the future queen.

As they drew near the palace, the crowds roared and Olah cried out in surprise as two dragons glided over their heads and followed the main boulevard to the palace before pulling up and climbing into the sky. The lead dragon was glistening gold, and the following dragon was black and shining as onyx. Rania could see the messenger riding on the golden dragon, but it appeared that the black dragon was riderless. "Doesn't the black dragon have a rider?" she asked the guard that was marching next to her.

"The black dragon is reserved for you, my lady."

Before Rania could respond, she heard Lana laugh, "He will match your wardrobe brethil." It was true, Rania mostly wore black. Rania was about to remind Lana of her promise when they arrived at the palace. It was a luxurious stone building surrounding the keep, the seat of government in Teurnia. From the outside, it didn't look impressive to Rania.

"If you will follow us, your highness," said a guard, and the remaining guards led Rania, Lana, Nora, and Olah into the palace. It seemed odd to Rania that the guards had taken off their breastplates, helmets and breeches and were wearing light linen shirts and trousers. Their assent of the twelve steps was cheered by the crowd, and as they reached the top step, Rania heard a woman shout, "Up here! We're up here!" She looked up and peering over the edge of the roof were King Eric and Queen Faylith. "Come up here!" called the queen.

Inside, they found the palace to be quite lavish. The walls were decorated with the finest tapestries and artwork, marble statues of heroic humans and elves filled the entry hall and they were led up a staircase carved from deep blue lapis lazuli, polished to a glistening sheen and displaying golden flecks. They were guided up three floors, then stepped out on a broad rooftop patio and there to meet them were King Eric and Queen Faylith. "Oh my child, you were as beautiful as you were years ago!"

Rania didn't know what to say. Here was a human woman gushing over her, weren't humans the enemy? Then again, queen Faylith was raised in the royal elven family at Edhellond, and she just found that out today. Couldn't her father, king Arantar, have mentioned that? Then again, with three sons and seven daughters, he had quite a bit to manage.

"I am so pleased to meet you," said King Eric, and he took Rania's hand and bent deep and kissed it, causing the triplets to coo. Rania looked into King Eric's eyes and she saw the same red flashes that she saw with the messenger and she realized this human king wasn't human.

"Here comes Lars," gushed Queen Faylith. "I know you're just going to love him! He's so much like his father."

The two dragons swooped over the crowd one more time, then flared up and landed on the far side of the palace roof. The rider slid off the gold dragon, but instead of laying down, with a bright flash of light, the gold dragon turned into a woman. Her skin was metallic gold and her hair was like a lion's mane and was a dark orange. The black dragon turned into a tall, muscular black man with no hair. They walked with the messenger from yesterday and Rania had a bad feeling about this.

"Rania darling, these are our draconians, Lynne and Pendr, and, of course, you already know Prince Lars.

Rania was mortified. She treated royalty like a servant. She never asked him his name and left him bowing, facing the floor. She first greeted Lynne and Pendr. Of course, she had heard of enchanted dragons who changed to human form and were known as draconians, but she had never met one. "I will be honored to give you flying lessons," said Pendr as he bowed deeply.

Meanwhile, Prince Lars was greeting the triplets. One by one he took their hand and kissed it, then whispered something in their ear, then gave them a kiss on the lips. This wasn't done in Elf society. Kissing was reserved for couples that were near marriage, but not a single one of the triplets protested and eagerly gave him their first kiss. He left them in a giggling cluster as they each held the hand he kissed to their breast. Finally, Prince Lars turned to Rania and took her hand. "My lady."

"I must apologize for yesterday; I was exhausted and in a bad mood. Please forgive me," said Rania. She had never apologized to anyone in her life. It felt odd... it felt cleansing.

"That's quite all right, I understand. I hope those bad moods are a thing of the past." He took her hand and kissed it, and sudden flares of excitement raced from her hand to her heart, where they split up and shot in different directions through her body. Did the back of her hand become an erogenous zone? Then Lars straightened and caught her eyes. She saw the flashing inside his eyeballs, but not just red. This time there were flashes of blue, and yellow and green, along with the flashes of red.

"What are you?" gasped Rania.

He leaned forward and whispered in her ear, "everything you ever dreamed of." He straightened, lifted her chin with a crooked finger, and planted a kiss on her virgin lips. Something caused her brain to pause. It felt like an hour passed as she stared into his eyes, helplessly and wordlessly. Her pussy clenched tight with excitement and her nipples became so hard they ached. Forbidden thoughts raced through her mind. What is this creature doing to her? Twenty hours ago, she wanted to kill him... now she wants to bear his children!

What is he?

In the background, Rania could hear Queen Faylith continue to gush. "Oh how exciting! A King Ulrich's Day wedding! You know dear, there are more weddings on King Ulrich's day than any other day of the year, including New Year and Yule Tide!"

"You'll what?" asked a dizzy Rania. Then she turned to Lars and said, "I ordered my handmaidens to kill me as soon as we are married. I think you should know that."

"I relieved them of their promise," said Lars. "They agreed to be our witnesses. You can't have the bridesmaid kill the bride; it would be in poor taste." Rania turned to the triplets and the three elves were clutching each other and chattering in excitement. "Come, gather 'round my loves," called Lars. The handmaidens Lana, Nora, and Olah gathered close to Lars and Rania.

"Everyone line up!" gushed Queen Faylith, and they lined up in front of King Eric. A dwarf wearing only a smock and holding an artist's paint brush stood off to the side with Lynne and Pendr.

Lars and Rania turned to the king and Eric said, "Rania, do you take Lars to be your husband, to serve him and Teurnia as queen, and the Gods willing, bear Teurnia an heir?"

She suddenly realized that this was it. Her entire life led up to this moment. She would fulfill her oath to her father and to Edhellond, and then her life would be over. "Yes," she said in a tiny voice. She could barely be heard over the crowd below that was cheering and counting backwards for some reason.

"And Lars, do you promise to love and protect Rania, to teach her in our ways and raise your children to love and respect all Teurnians regardless of race or species?"

"I do," said Lars.

"Then, as King and regent of Teurnia, I pronounce you husband, wife, prince, princess, and heirs to the throne. Please kiss and before the gods and the people of Teurnia your union will be sealed."

The cheering of the crowd grew louder as Lars took Rania in his arms. He smiled and whispered something to her, but Rania was terrified. Her first genuine kiss would also be her last as the triplets grew close. Lars was undeniable, she couldn't pull away if she wanted to. Their lips met and her heart surged. She suddenly felt the love he held for her pouring into her heart as they kissed. Below, the crowd went wild and the temple bells throughout the city began a raucous clatter. Their kiss continued, her nipples aching for his touch, for anyone's touch. Her pussy was soaking, her clit tingled, even her anus clamored for attention.

It was all so sudden! She was married before she realized what was happening, and none of the triplets were making a move to kill her! Their lips parted, and Rania clung to Lars and felt desire wash over her for the first time in her life. She looked into Lars' eyes and saw the flashes had calmed and he was smiling peacefully at her. They kissed again and again as the crowds cheered. Never had she wanted someone like she now wanted Lars. Then she saw... over his shoulder...

"Lana? Why are you naked?"

The triplets just giggled and drew closer together. They were all naked! They just smiled and shrugged and clung to Lars and Rania. Lars kissed each handmaiden elf, one after another, and as he kissed them Rania didn't feel jealousy... she felt the breeze. She felt it all over her... she was naked, too! That must mean the poking she was feeling was... She shrieked in shock. Lars was naked as well.

The crowd below was cheering and clapping. Songs broke out as the celebration got underway. "Happy King Ulrich's day darling," said a nude Queen Faylith, and she raised a glass of wine that a naked footman brought her. She was a beautiful woman with large breasts and round hips, but she was naked! Off to the side, the dwarf now held a large artist pallet and was standing at a low easel painting furiously. He was painting Lars and Rania's official wedding portrait at blinding speed from memory. "Dwarves have such great artistic skill, it's a waste that they should enjoy mining more," sighed Faylith.

"Dear, they consider mining a work of art also," said an equally naked King Eric.

Rania looked at her new father-in-law and... he wasn't human! He looked human, but... that enormous... that huge... tail! He had a tail! She whirled to Lars only to find him tickling Nora, who giggled like a school elf, and he had a tail too. At rest it hung down to his knee and was thick, as big around as a steer horn. He turned back to Rania, and she saw his cock was huge also, equally thick as his tail but half as long. "What are you?" she gasped.

"Your father didn't tell you?" asked Lars. He looked hurt, and he turned to his mother, who was raised with Rania's father, Arantar, and was good friends with him. "What happened? Why wasn't she told?"

Queen Faylith shrugged and said, "He decided to let her discover for herself."

"All he told me was that we were a perfect match," said Rania as her eyes roamed up and down his perfect body. Incredibly handsome, solid muscles, broad shoulders, flat stomach, narrow waist, and a really enormous cock. He was any female's sex dream, any human... elf... dwarf... maybe not a fairy, but you never know with those horny little things. Then she gasped... "You're an incubus!"

"Yes, yes I am," said Lars grinning. "Wait... you didn't know?" He looked at his mother. "You didn't tell her?"

"I told Arantar to tell her, but he said, 'with Rania it's best she finds out for herself.'"

"So you can rape me any time you want, you can make me want you against my will, you can force me to love you and I can't do a thing about it," said Rania. "And WHERE ARE MY CLOTHES?"

"First, it's King Ulrich's day," said Lars. "He didn't tell you about that either?"

"I spelled it out in the second part of the note you gave her," said Queen Faylith.

"She didn't read it," said Lana as she hugged Lars from behind. Her hand rubbed over his washboard stomach, getting closer and closer to his cock. "She got mad and threw it at me."

"We don't force you into anything," said Lars. "But if you want something, even subconsciously, we provide it. You clearly wanted someone to love you. The moment I laid eyes on you I fell in love with you because you wanted it so much."

"What about this?" she said as she grabbed his cock. "Is this something I would want?"

Lars looked at her and smiled.

"Well? Do I ..." Rania demanded, then she realized she was gently stroking his cock and was aching to kneel and worship it with her lips and tongue. "Aren't you guys supposed to have a harem of hot females?"

"Yes, we do, it's part of our makeup and can't be helped, otherwise we prowl the city at night, which I promise will never happen with you."

"I will not sleep with a strange female in our bed..." Then a hand bumped into hers. She looked down and Lana was stroking his cock along with Rania, Nora was cupping his enormous balls, and Olah was playing with his tail and she realized that he indeed had a harem, herself and the Ulavaris triplets. "Where is your father's harem?"

"They're still in bed," said Queen Faylith. "They had a hard night," she said with a sly side glance at the king, who sipped his wine innocently.

"So we're going to have a herd of horny little succubae and incubi instead of children?" shrieked Rania.

"That's not how it works," said King Eric. "With an incubus as a father, daughters breed true to their mother, boys breed true to their father. The urges do not kick in until they reach their majority."

"And when did you reach your majority?" demanded Rania as she twisted away from Lars.

"Uh..." Lars counted on his fingers. "Wednesday before last."

"So for the past twelve days you've been prowling the city looking for..."

"You," said Lars as he pulled Rania to him. "I've been looking for and waiting for you."

"It wasn't easy," said King Eric. "He's been training with the guards, flying with Lynne and Pendr, climbing Mount Freehold, anything to keep his mind occupied until you got here."

"Come here," said Lars in a soothing voice. Rania didn't know at the time, but she could come to learn that he wasn't using his mental skills as an incubus to soothe her. He was genuinely trying to settle her nerves by treating her sweetly. "I know it's crazy, I know it's a shock, but the worst part is over. It's all lilac and clover now."

Rania stifled a sob. How did he know that silly old elf saying? "I'm scared," she whispered. "When I get scared I usually turn to bluster and shouting..."

"She does," said Nora.

"She can be really loud," said Olah.

"Are you helping?" snapped Rania. Then she sighed and hugged Lars closer and sighed. "So this is King Ulrich Day... the royal family gets naked and the people have their laugh at our expense?"

"Come here," said Lars, and he led Rania to the edge of the roof. "Take a look at your people."

Rania looked down on the largest, happiest party she had ever seen. People were playing games, drinking, dancing, singing... there were marching bands and magic acts and all forms of entertainment, and everyone was naked. "What is going on?"

"Four hundred seventy two years ago, King Ulric was facing numerous societal issues," said King Eric. "There were riots, fights, death. The poor were forming militias; the rich were hiring gnoll thugs to kill the militia leaders. The fabric of society was being torn apart. King Ulric was not a skilled speaker, in fact he was terrified of his own people, even the ones that supported him."

"But he was a wizard," said Lars. "One of the greatest wizards of all times. He decided that if everyone could see each other as they really are, his problems would be solved. So, on the second day of Jeol, in the year twelve oh five, he cast a great spell over Termagant's Bane, making all clothing disappear."

"He was right, with clothing gone, all pretenses and posturing was gone," said the king. "The fighting stopped immediately. Not being able to tell who was rich and who was poor, the people said, 'screw it' and had a party."

"So, he is a great Teurnian hero," sighed Rania as she leaned back on Lars. She saw the wisdom in Ulrich's plan. Up here on the roof you couldn't tell who was king and who was servant. Only Lynne and Pendr stood out, but they were always naked anyhow because dragons only wear saddles.

"Ulrich? He was a bastard. He was beheaded for many other vile things he did. He was truly mad and he did some horrific things, but he never lifted the spell," said King Eric. "This one spell is his greatest and only accomplishment."

"Aren't incubus wizards? Couldn't you lift the spell?" asked Rania.

"Of course I could, but I won't. Look at them," said Lars as he gestured to the party down below. "Why should I take this away? This is the one day where everyone is equal. You can't tell a homeless peasant from the king."

"They say that clothes make the man," said Queen Faylith. "No, the clothes make a wall for a man to hide behind. Great and lasting friendships are being made between knight and peasant down there right now."

Lars hugged Rania from behind as they watched the party below. As they did, Rania felt something gently nudging her pussy. It slithered against her damp pussy lips and pressed against them as if trying to gain entrance to her womb. She could feel Lars' cock pressing against her ass. His hands were cupping her large, firm breasts. What was going on? She leaned forward and looked down. In shock, she whirled around and glared at Lars. "Your TAIL? Seriously?"

"I'm sorry, it just happens," said Lars weakly, barely audible over the giggling of the triplets.

"I'm new at this," said Rania. "I've never seen a tail before and I suddenly have one knocking on my pistil?" (In elvish society, the polite terms for penis and vagina are stamen and pistil.)

"I'm new at this too," said Lars. "Let's go join the party, I'm getting hungry."

"You children have fun, we have to prepare for the parade," said Queen Faylith as Lars led a reluctant Rania to the staircase down to the ground floor.

"I can't, I'm... round," said Rania. She was embarrassed by her large breasts and wide hips. Elves were slim, with narrow waists and small breasts. They have pointy ears that are prominent. Rania always hated her body. Her ears were small, her breasts were large and round, and her ass was round as well. The only part of her that looked like an elf was her almond-shaped eyes and her tiny waist.

"Many woman would kill for your breasts, and for elves it's a sign of your royal heritage.

"My sisters don't look like this," she moaned as Lars led her through the palace to the main entrance.

"Your sisters are not married to a crown prince. They're marrying rich elves, businessmen, even mine owners. One is married to a human viscount who has no chance of advancement. Didn't your mother tell you about this?"

"No," pouted Rania.

"She did," said Lana. "My princess refused to believe it and blamed her mother." Rania gave Lana a warning glare, which caused Lars to chuckle. They continued to walk naked through the enormous palace, a marvel of human construction and magpie style décor. Paintings and statues filled the halls, glass cases were filled with dishes, drinkware, knives, swords. Full sets of armor lined one hallway as they passed. Occasionally, they would meet a nude servant, and Lars would introduce them to Rania and the triplets.

For the elves, the palace was so different from King Arantar's palace in Edhellond. That palace was created of wood and the décor inside resembled one of the sea elf's sailing vessels. The elf's palace spoke of their sailing skills, while the palace in Termagant's Bane was made from the stones of the mountains that surrounded the fortress.

"I could get lost in here," whispered Olah.

"You probably will, but there's always people here to help," said Lars as they stepped out the front door to the cheers of the nearby throngs. They descended the twelve steps, all four elves huddled together and drew close, hiding behind Lars. Lana, Nora, and Olah clustered around Rania, hiding her from the crowd. "Come on, they want to see their future queen."

"They can see plenty as it is. They can see that I have silver hair," snarled Rania.

"They can see it's her natural color," snickered Olah, which caused Rania to yelp and press herself against Lars' back.

They soon met an old woman, bent with the weight of decades. Her small breasts lay flat against her chest, and wearing only a purse on a shoulder strap. She stepped up to Lars and said, "Is this the new crown princess, your majesty?"

"Yes she is," said Lars. "Princess Rania, this is Nana Peacock. Miss Peacock, this is Princess Rania, and her ladies in waiting Lana Ulavaris, Nora Ulavaris, and Olah Ulavaris."

"Sisters! How darling!" said Nana.

"Triplets," said an extremely nervous Lana.

"I've never met triplets before," said Nana as she shook hands with the nervous elves. "I must be off. It was good to see you Sir Lars, give my best to your parents."

"Will do ma'am."

"Who was that?" whispered Rania.

"Nana? She's a retired seamstress. She had a shop down on Moonstone Street. She lives in a cottage up the Arn river valley but she comes into town every year for King Ulrich's day."

"Did she work for the palace?" asked Rania.

"Oh no. She made farm clothes, did repairs on tears and such, and made paper dresses for Ulrich's Day."

"Paper dresses?" asked a shocked Olah.

"Paper dresses, shirts and trousers. Your clothes were going to disappear, so why wear something fancy?" said Lars. "Most people wear their old torn up ratty old clothing just to get rid of them, many wear only old rags, the upper classes wear paper dresses and suits."

"If she didn't work for the palace, how did you meet Miss Peacock?" asked Olah.

"Like many of my other friends, we met on King Ulrich's day."

"Can people talk to you like this any other day of the year?" asked Nora.

"Yes they can, but they don't," added Lars sadly. "I'm dressed up like a fancy prince because they want me to, and they're afraid to approach me. That's why King Ulrich's Day is so important to me. I get to talk to our people."

As they moved through the crowd, more and more people came up to Lars and chatted. It was normal everyday talk. They talked about the weather, about sports, about mining futures. Little girls wanted to meet the princess, and little boys wanted to meet Lynne and Pendr. How often do you get to say hello to a dragon?

They walked up a street that was lined with vendors and the vendors each wanted to give them something for free, meat on a stick, a flagon of ale, a small meat pie. Lars warned the four elves, "These are our people, we are here for them, they are not here for us. We take nothing from them, instead we give them what they need, do you understand?"

The triplets nodded, surprised to hear that coming from a royal, but Rania was raised by an extremely arrogant old harpy who despised the common folk. She looked confused, so Lars showed her. He turned to the stall keeper and said, "Tobar, give us..." he counted up four elves, plus two dragons in human form, and four guards and himself. "... we need four fruit pies, seven meat pies and eleven skins of wine."

Tobar handed the pies to Lars and a guard. They gave the fruit pies to the elves and the meat pies to the guards, dragons, and Lars. Then he handed out the wine skins, one to everyone. "There you are my lord, it's on me," said the stall keeper cheerfully.

Lars gave Tobar a disapproving look. "How long have I been coming here Tobar?"

"Since we were both lads it were!" said Tobar cheerfully.

"And have I ever walked away with a free pie?"

"Just that once my lord. And the queen gave you a true whooping, she did!" said Tobar happily. "But oi still try to show your highness my charity."

"You can give my granddaughter flowers at my funeral Tobar," and he handed Tobar a silver and two gold coins, or fifty dollars, in the common count.

"That's too much my lord!"

"Save it for the flowers," and off they went, drinking wine from the skins and occasionally refilling the wine skins at a festival tent, always paying over the protests of the vendors.

"Why don't you take their gifts?" asked an utterly confused Rania. She got some of her fruit pie on Lars' shoulder and licked it off, causing Lars to gasp.

"Because if we take gifts from a vendor who is clearly making a profit, other vendors will get the idea that it is expected. What happens when the eleven of us stop at a vendor that is barely making a profit? If we take eleven pies and eleven wine skins from him, maybe his children don't eat that night. No, I don't want that on my conscience."

"Lars," said Rania softly. "Have you always been like this? Fair and giving to the commoners?"

"Oh no, I was a wild brat, the only heir to the throne, I was untouchable. I thought I owned all of Teurnia and everyone owed me an easy living."

"What happened?"

"You heard Tobar. Mom caught me by the tail and whooped me good, then she dragged me to every vendor I visited that day and made me apologize and pay them back plus interest. Then she introduced me to the orphan children of parents that died in mine accidents..." Lars started to tear up. "On my birthday I had my party at the poor house where they were living. When I turned ten I was allowed to make my first royal decree, and I forbade family mining, husbands and wives, fathers and sons were not allowed to work in the same shaft."

They walked along in silence for a while, and Rania stopped trying to hide behind Lars. She was walking next to him, which was embarrassing at first because she was on full display and she thought everyone was looking at her. The young female elves of Teurnia came up to her and begged to touch her breasts. "They're so beautiful!" the young elves gasped.

"I... uh... it's something that happens in my family, an enchantment. It's so the royal babies I carry will be... um... they'll be..."

"It's sea elf magic," said Lars, and the young elf girls nodded and ran back to their families full of questions about sea elves, sea elf magic, and boobs.

Everywhere there was music, and most of the songs were cheerful, and everywhere the lads with their flagons of ale or skins of wine lubricating their voices were singing of Mad King Ulrich. The favorite was the Ballad of Mad King Ulrich. The verse was sung slowly and sadly by the minstrel, and many revelers sang along sadly:

In castle high on windswept peak,

Ruled Mad King Ulrich, bizarre and bleak.

His crown askew, his socks mismatched,

His schemes absurd, and all half-hatched.

He once declared, "Let cheese be law!

All crimes absolved with gouda slaw!"

The court, confused, could scant agree

But Ulrich's word was royal decree.

Suddenly everyone joined in for the happy, rollicking chorus:

Chorus (sang joyfully)

Oh gather ye round, ye rabble and knaves,

Let's toast to the boldest who's cheated the graves!

He's galloped through fire, through battle and fog,

Mad Old King Ulrich — the pride of the bog!

Verse (slow and sad)

He knighted geese in golden mail,

Sent ferrets off to sea to sail.

He banned the color purple twice,

Then married toast. (It wasn't nice.)

He'd host grand balls with ghostly guests,

Where chairs wore capes and stools wore vests.

He'd toast the moon with jam and tea,

And duel reflections, best two of three.

Chorus

He's banned in three kingdoms, two inns, and a shed,

And one haunted bakery (for reasons unsaid).

He's slept in a moat, in a tree, and a pie,

And once tamed a griffin... just by blinking one eye!

Verse

His generals fled. His jester cried.

His horse led coups (and nearly tried).

Yet through the madness, loud and clear,

He built a moat, 'twas filled with beer.

They say he ruled for fifty years,

On diet made of wine and cheers.

'Til one bright morn, he rode away,

To chase a squirrel he swore was fey.

Now Ulrich's gone, just vanished, poof!

A legend lost in courtly spoof.

But sometimes, when the cheese wheels roll,

We think of him... and fear the toll.

Chorus

So fill up yer flagons and bellow his name,

Mad Old King Ulrich — the toast of the game!

May his tales be all merry, his debts be forgot

For he's mostly a legend... and definitely hot!

When they were finished, the triplets were laughing and applauding. "You let them sing about your ancestors like that?" demanded Raina.

"Well... Ulrich was a human so he wasn't related to me, and what he did was much worse than what they sang," said Lars. "Much of that history is hidden from all but royal historians."

"Give us one sire!" called one of the revelers.

"Come on sire! Show off for the ladies!" called another.

"Sing! Sing! Sing! Sing!" chanted the merrymakers.

"Ok, ok, hang on," said Prince Lars finally, and he turned to the lute player. "Do you know Oceanus and Tethys?" When the player said that he was familiar with the old ballad, Lars said, "Let's do it sweet and slow." He turned to face Rania and held her hands as he sang.

In moonlit woods where starlight plays,

Fair Rania walks at close of days.

With silver eyes and voice like streams,

She dances softly through my dreams.

Her smile, more warm than morning dew.

Her gaze, a spell I never knew.

Though stars may fall and ages flee,

My heart will ache for she and me.

There was another verse, but it was forgotten when completely unbidden by his incubus magic, Rania brought her lips to his and they kissed, sweet and long. The crowd cheered as their future king and queen kissed, surrounded by three darling elves.

<><><><><>

As the sun set, the crowds grew decidedly older. The children and their parents went home for the evening, and the party really started. The songs grew bawdy, and the laughter filled the night air. Not only did they sing about Mad King Ulrich but someone named Oliver Klozeoff, who, according to the ballads, was King Ulrich's head knight.

They danced, and they sang, and Rania realized why beasts were banned from Termagant's Bane. If they were allowed, dancing barefoot in the cobble stone streets would be messy. Even the hounds were kenneled and chained.

They watched magicians and acrobats performing in the torch lit streets, and at one point, Lynne and Pendr changed into their dragon form and flew over the reveling crowds. They moved from square to square, and a different show was being held in each. As they watched the entertainers that came from all over the continent to perform in the nude, Rania realized she was growing to trust Lars' touch. She felt safe when his hands were on her shoulders. She was secure when his arms were around her, even if his tail was rubbing her pussy. She turned in his arms and glared at him. "What are you doing to me?"

"Doing?"

"How are you enchanting me?" she demanded. "Yesterday I was asking my handmaidens to take my life the moment we were married, and now..." She sniffed and her eyes filled with tears, "Now I fear our life together will not be near long enough. Where does this enchantment come from?"

Lars pulled Rania close and, as the merrymakers danced around them, Rania cried on his shoulder. "From? My lady, it comes from us. The gods found each of us the match, not the match we desired, but the match we needed. Yesterday I was planning to take you across my knee the moment we were married yet now I have fallen for my beautiful elfling. My queen."

As Lars and Rania kissed, one of the guards, a new hire, was in utter amazement at Lars' words to Rania. He leaned over to his partner and whispered, "Damn! He's good."

"Aye, take notes laddie. A better lesson ye shall never receive," said the other guard in his dwarvish brogue.

The shadows deepened, and the sky grew black. A large parade of bands and merry makers circled the city. They carried torches and lanterns and on the royal coach pulled by twenty carousers was King Eric, Queen Faylith, and six of the most beautiful women Rania had ever seen. She was shocked to see that two of Eric's harem were elves!

There was entertainment of other kinds happening. Sex was everywhere. In the corners and in the open, couples overcome with passion (and ale) were screwing. In the area of town furthest from the palace, almost every lamp post had a woman clutching it for support as her husband or paramour drilled her from behind. As they made their way back to the palace, they met the two elf guards that so captivated Nora and Olah. Olah whispered something in Rania's ear and Rania asked Lars if it would be all right for them to leave with the two guards.

"Of course."

"But they're part of your harem."

"It's King Ulrich's Day, things are different today," said Lars, and he gave Nora and Olah a sweet kiss that almost changed their minds. "Just be back to the palace for breakfast."

"And us?" asked Rania as she scraped her fingernails up and down Lars' chest. "What is in our immediate future?" It was clear the cries of passion that filled the air around the city were getting to her.

"I want to make our wedding night special, so the queen prepared a special place that an elf would love." He led them back to the palace where the party outside the palace entrance was still going strong, although a lot raunchier. There was a blowjob contest happening on a temporary stage across the street, and couples in the audience were playing along with the girls and guys on stage. They mounted the twelve steps to the palace, then Lars turned to the guards and the draconians. "Thanks guys, I know it's late but you can have the rest of the night."

"Yes sir!" shouted the guards, and they dashed across the street to see if the contest needed more competitors.

Lars led Rania and Lana through the main palace to the inner courtyard where a forest was grown around the keep, the central building in the courtyard. "The purpose of the forest is twofold, one is to slow and hamper any invading force, and the other is for pure enjoyment." He led them on a path that followed a babbling brook through the forest. The path and brook were illuminated by glowing mushrooms that lined the path. "I grew up here, I learned my woodcraft from my nanny, Vespera."

"Vespera, that's an elf name," said Rania. "Your nanny was an elf?"

"That one was. I also had a dwarf nanny, a spriggan, a seraph, a gnoll, a human, a succubus, even Lynne and Pendr had a turn helping to raise me. Queen Faylith was so impressed with her upbringing in your grandfathers court she decreed that any future king of Teurnia must have an upbringing shaped by representatives of his people."

"My nanny was a bitter old hag who hated everyone," said Rania sadly.

As they walked, they passed trees of such rarity and beauty that the elf maidens were astonished. Even though they were raised as seafaring elves, they still had their love of the forest. Fairies fluttered around them, tiny naked female figures with large breasts and fluttering wings that glowed different colors as they passed.

"What do male fairies look like?" asked Rania. "I've never seen one."

"Silly," said Lars. "The males are brunette."

"What?" laughed Lana, and she looked at a pair of fairies that fluttered in front of her, holding hands. Sure enough, one fairy had long neon green hair, the other was brunette. The green-haired fairy pointed to her partner and squeaked, "She's a he." And they zoomed off into the woods.

"Here we are, the perfect end to a long day," said Lars and he led them to a natural pool whose water steamed. Nearby was a natural artesian fountain that sprayed water into the air and fed a small pond. Between the two pools was a huge silver barked tree with a staircase circling the trunk and heading up into the branches. "This pool is a natural hot springs, over there the artesian fountain is perfect to cool off after soaking in the hot spring." They eased into the hot spring and relaxed in the hot water, the heat soothing the aching muscles. "What do you think of Mad King Ulrich's Day?" Lars finally asked.

"I am still overwhelmed," said Rania.

"It was so chaotic... but it was so cheerful," said Lana. "Nobody made fun of each other, I didn't see a single fight."

"Even the elves were nice," said Rania, who was quickly beginning to dislike the way her own species acts. She saw the portly chatting with the statuesque, she saw the elderly and infirm laughing and drinking with the young and vigorous. She saw dwarves buying elves another drink, something you would never see back in Edhellond. And as the night grew dark by the flickering light of the torches, she saw dwarf maidens riding the cocks of huge gnoll warriors. She saw human women swallowing elf cock, she saw an elf maiden taking a Lycan cock doggy-style (how else?) and a human in her mouth and as they came, they all howled at the moon. She saw a lamia (a female vampire) and a succubus locked in an energetic 69 while an elf stroked his cock and watched. Even the sky was filled with seraphs and cherubs making love as they flew locked together. Most important, everywhere was smiles.

"You can see why we wanted you to wait. It's overwhelming even for those who know what to expect. My mom said it took years for her to get used to it after being raised in court in Edhellond. It happens every year, preparations start back in Junuary and it's a huge money maker to the people of Teurnia."

"What is everyone going to do tomorrow?" groaned Lana as she eased deeper into the healing waters.

"Sleep, rehydrate, apply salve," said Rania.

"Exactly," said Lars. "Tomorrow is Queen Regina day, a day of rest for Teurnians, and a travel day for out-of-towners."

"Who is Queen Regina?" asked Lana.

"She was King Ulrich's wife. He forgot she was there, so in anger she left with the treasury and her accomplice. When King Ulrich was put in prison she agreed to return the treasury and to testify against him in his trial if they would seat her accomplice on the throne. A day to return to normal after the insanity of King Ulrich day is named after her."

"Is that how an Incubus became king?" asked Rania. "Was her accomplice an incubus?"

"That's the official story, but some say that somewhere after Queen Regina came a queen of negotiable faithfulness who gave birth to an incubus son, and she was able to hide his tail from the king," said Lars.

"Is that true?"

"Who's to say?" said Lars as he felt two hands on his cock and another hand cupping his swollen balls.

"I need to get out, I'm getting hot," gasped Lana.

"Let's go into the tree," said Lars, and he helped the elves out of the hot spring and led them up the stairs that circled the silver tree trunk. As they climbed, he felt hands on his sensitive tail. "Interested?" he asked.

"I don't know, could you... you know...?" asked Rania, who was suddenly shy.

"Make love to you with my tail? If you would want to, sure."

"At the same time?" she blurted out, then blushed.

"Oh, did you see something tonight that captured your imagination?"

"I saw an elf and she was riding on a human, and at the same time a lycan had his stamen in her ass. She was clearly enjoying it."

"She was enjoying it a lot," added Lana, who saw the same thing.

"That's a little advanced," said Lars, "but we can work our way up to something like that."

They found themselves on a luxurious platform with an enormous bed, a small dining table set for five and no walls, but it had handrails around the edge. There was a roof suspended over the platform in case it rained, but with no walls, it was completely open to the elements. "It's like home," gasped Lana as she and Rania climbed onto the bed. It was big and comfortable, big enough for all five of them when Nora and Olah return.

Lars stood at the foot of the bed and watched as Lana and Rania writhed on the silk sheets. "Why are you just standing there?" asked Lana.

"He's an incubus, he needs to be invited into your bed," said Rania with a wicked smile. "He has to stand there all night long and watch us make love to each other."

"Mistress!" sighed Lana as Rania kissed her breast and began kissing her way south.

"Are you watching my prince?" asked Rania as she kissed her way down to Lana's pussy. "This is how elf girls learn to satisfy their future husbands." She kissed and licked the gold patch above Lana's pussy. "We can't teach you to please us until we know what we like." Her mouth closed over Lana's pussy and the young elf began to groan and sigh.

"Ai! ná le, aníron síla lúmenn' pistil ú-chebin!" cried Lana.

Lars knew enough common elf (Quenya) to understand that Lana just said "Oh yes my lady, lick my pussy" in a context of love. If it had been in a context of playfulness, he would have hopped in and joined them, but the way Lana spoke, this was genuine passion. (That whole thing about an incubus needing to be invited into bed is just a rumor. Incubi love to watch, so they don't mind waiting if something worth watching was going on.)

Lana's cries became babble as Rania continued to drive her to heights of passion the triplet had never dreamed of. They were both already highly sexed from walking through the evening city-wide sex romp and a day of exhibitionism. Lana's flat stomach rippled in waves as her princess drove her to a mind shattering orgasm. Wave after wave of sexual release washed over the young elf maiden, her cries echoed through the royal forest.

It became too much for Lana and she pushed Rania away and curled up in a ball and shuddered as her orgasm shook her slim body. Rania turned over and saw Lars climbing on the bed, and she scooted herself away from him. "I didn't invite you to join us," she gasped.

"Not verbally, no," said Lars. "But I can hear your heart calling to me."

"My heart's lying," she said, but Lars was on the bed now and was massaging her poor sore feet. She hasn't walked that far barefoot since she was a child.

"Your feet are so beautiful, small and delicate," said Lars, and he raised her foot to his mouth and began to suckle on her tiny toes. Rania gasped at the sudden sensation. She never realized that her toes were that sensitive. "Tomorrow we ask the royal cobbler for his master creation, silver sandals to match the hair on your head... and elsewhere."

"Stop," gasped Rania as Lars kissed his way up her leg.

"Is that what you really want? I can leave you alone with Lana."

"Damn you," gasped Rania as Lars began kissing her leg again. "It's not fair. You only ask the questions you know the answer to." Lars didn't respond, but he chuckled silently as he kissed her soft, sensitive inner thigh. He gently kissed upwards until he reached her inner hip, then switched to her left hip and began kissing his way down her sensitive inner thigh. Reaching her knee, he reversed course and kissed his way up her leg, this time adding little licks to each kiss.

When he reached her hip, he planted a delicate kiss on her pussy, then switched to her right hip. He could feel her warmth and smell her excitement, but Lars can play games as well as any elf. Back and forth he went, up one thigh and down the other, worshiping that silky smooth skin on her inner thighs. She pretended to ignore him, but he knew better. The sensations he was causing tore at Rania's calm demeanor. Her hips were moving gently in frustration and whenever he planted a kiss on her 'pistil' he heard a tiny whimper.

He continued his delicious torture, driving the beautiful elf princess out of her mind. As he drove her to the edge of madness, his flickering black eyes were locked with her almond-shaped silver eyes while he pleased her. He watched as her hands were drawn to her large, firm breasts. She pinched her nipples and stretched them out as far as pleasurable. He saw her hands squeeze her breasts, and Lana joined her and began nipping at her erect nipples.

Finally, after what felt like forever, when Lars grew near her pussy, he heard a strangled cry come from Rania and she grasped his head and held him at her pussy. "Ná síla lúmenn' omentielvo!" (Lick me) she cried in informal Quenya Elvish.

"Aiya lúmenn' omentielvo, aníron." (Whatever you desire, my lady) said Lars in horribly accented Quenya Elvish, and he began feasting on her fragrant pussy. She smelled of morning flowers and her moisture reminded him of the artesian fountain.

For her part, Rania was babbling in Elvish and Teurnian as Lars gorged on her pussy. He licked and suckled her clit gently, then enthusiastically, even comically. One finger eased into her pussy as he licked, and she squealed in excitement. As she neared her climax, he added a second finger, then a third. Her mind was completely out of touch with her body and her surroundings. It was so good! Even better than any of the triplets, if that were possible. He was as sweet and gentle as they were, but he would then change to bold and masculine. The difference was incredible and with a scream, her orgasm crashed over her more powerful than any other. She planted her feet on the mattress and her hips rose off the bed, driving her pistil into his mouth. Only her head, shoulders, and feet touched the bed. Her hands held his head in place as she came, shuddering and screaming, her body at the mercy of the waves of sheer rut that passed through her.

Finally, she came down from her climax, and Lars did something she was secretly terrified of. He quickly got between her legs and eased his enormous cock into her vagina. Her eyes shot wide open and her jaw dropped as he pushed inside of her. She could feel herself being stretched wide and her internal organs being pushed aside as he slowly pressed into her. She sank her ass back to the bed, but he continued to push into her. Her mind screamed, 'Take it out!' but her mouth said, "Yes!" Soon she felt his pubic hair pressing against her and the head of his cock nudging her cervix. She wanted to beg him to take it easy, to wait until she was ready, but her mouth betrayed her again and said, "Fuck me."

Lars was surprisingly gentle, easing in and out of her pussy, his cock strumming an elf maiden that was already stoked to the boiling point from the city wide orgy. Her legs raised of their own accord and her ankles crossed at the small of his back, and she began to spur him on with every thrust. Her arms wrapped around him and their lips met as he fucked her, his tongue fucking her mouth in time with his thrusts.

They fucked for what seemed like hours, enjoying the bliss of their mating. Rania soon started to cum again and as she tightened up in pre-orgasmic excitement, her royal pussy clamped down on the cudgel that so delightfully pounded her to a mind shattering cum. As Rania shrieked her joy, Lars felt Lana's hands exploring his balls, tail and ass. As she pressed her finger against his ass, he went wild, fucking Rania heroically, adding fire to a glorious orgasm, their bodies slapping together joyfully. As she shrieked in pleasure, he came with a roar and spilled his seed deep into her womb. The future queen clutched her prince as waves of passion shook her body. The waves of pleasure shook her to her core until she went limp.

The sound of water burbling and crickets chirping greeted Rania as she came to. Her head was on Lars' shoulder and she was cuddling him and Lana, her mind spinning with the pleasure he rang from her body. "Oh my god!" she gasped.

"Which god?" asked an amused Lars.

"All of them! I never thought it would be like that... Lana stop kissing me!"

"A thousand pardons my lady, but I thought you were dead!"

"She's ok darling," said Lars as he caressed the terrified elf's cheek. "When your time comes, I'm sure you'll find the experience to your liking."

"But I'm... afraid..." said Lana in a tiny, terrified voice.

"Don't worry," said Rania. "When Lars uses his incubus magic, you'll be fearless and demanding more! You saw me, and it was my first time!"

"It was my first time too, my lady. I was so nervous I forgot to use any magic at all," said Lars.

"What are you saying?" demanded Rania, her haughty nature threatening to return.

"That was all you my darling, we were magic free and relying on our own feelings to guide us."

"Are you saying that I really do love you? That you didn't enchant me?" demanded the elf princess.

"Yes, that's exactly it."

Rania snuggled down next to Lars and gave him a sweet kiss. "Good, I really don't like magic all that much anyhow."

Together, the three of them snuggled in their treetop love nest, dreaming of the future and planning what they were going to tell the two missing members of their troupe.