TRC Lord of the Glass Desert Ch. 48

Kal and the ferret girl emerged from the crew quarters a few minutes later. Two crew members wrapped a blanket around the woman and shuffled her away to a line of the other slaves. Many of them stared at him warily, and a few showed notable fear. He could hardly blame them. If they heard him and the ferret going at it, he was sure that at least a few thought he was trying to kill the woman. The expressions on a few faces changed as the ferret joined the group and began talking excitedly to a girl she knew about how Kal helped her with her heat.

The crew had been split between Scarlet and Kolas. Kolas oversaw unloading the unwanted cages and directed the ship inspection to make sure it was seaworthy and ready to sail. Scarlet's half was entirely dedicated to taking care of the freed slaves. She had boxed off a small area on the deck to give the girls some privacy as one of Naivoo's squid-girl friends showered them with water as warm as she could muster. They were then directed out of the chill air and into the galley, where the heat from the kitchen could warm and dry them.

"Kal, I need some help, and Ikuno said you have the perfect item inside Ria," said Scarlet as soon as the ferret-girl had been taken away. "We're putting the girls in the galley since it's about the only place that stays warm, but they're beginning to get in Hesta's way, and most of them aren't getting close enough to benefit from the stove's heat."

"She said I could help?"

Ikuno sent him an image of a smooth circular stone that looked like a bowl about four hand-widths wide, one hand-width tall, and bearing an unfamiliar rune on the top. The rock wasn't something that he accidentally picked up but had been in Ikuno's belongings when he transferred them over. Since he had magic and the tent, he had completely forgotten about the stone, which was a shame because Sera probably would have loved lying next to it. Along with the image, the oni explained that the people who lived far beyond The Death Plains made sheds with a small tower inside. They buried these heat rocks under a pile of river stones and then splashed water on the stones to fill the shed with steam. From Ikuno's memory, the people entered these 'saunas' naked or with just a towel and just sat, relaxed, and chatted away from winter's chill.

"It looks like I can help, but I will need a metal pot or something similar from the galley to set it on... Oh, never mind, Ikuno says the stone doesn't get hot itself but heats the air above it. Where do you want me to put it?"

"We'll use the crew quarters. It's the only place big enough to hold all of them in the same room. Also, these stones sound very handy. Do you think you could make us a few?"

"I haven't even seen it yet, but I'll talk with Ikuno and see if that's possible. She's better at that kind of thing."

"Ugh. It reeks of musk and sex in here," said Scarlet as she followed him back into the crew quarters.

"I'm not apologizing."

"You don't need to, but we can't let the girls in here until we've cleared out the air. That girl's musk is affecting me as well, and I'm sure that a bunch of freshly freed slaves don't want to be forcibly aroused any more than I do."

"Good point. Hold the door open and warn everyone away until I'm done."

Since they were becalmed in the waters north of Azumbaho, Kal had been devoting a little bit of his time to learning Aeromancy. He understood the basic concept, but instead of strong magical ropes to push and pull rock, he needed to fan the magic out into large, malleable nets. The nets had to be attuned, so they pushed the air instead of merely passing through it. Unfortunately, his strong affinity for Geomancy meant that the other '--mancys' were that much weaker. At best, he had managed to create a gentle breeze, and Ikuno said that might be about all he'd ever be able to do.

Thankfully, a light breeze was all he needed at the moment. The web of magic spread out from his hands to form a tube pointed toward the door about his height. He then formed a half-dozen angled fins within the tube and started it slowly spinning. The airflow wasn't impressive, but it was noticeable. After a few minutes, he called Scarlet in.

The Commodore stepped inside and sniffed the air before giving her nod of approval, then locked the door behind her and looked at Kal with hunger in her eyes.

"Scarlet?"

"Red," she said, unbuckling her belt. "Where do you think all that ferret-girl musk went when you blew it out of the room? Straight into my face." As she stepped up in front of him, she kicked off her boot and slid one leg free of her pants.

"I am so sorry. I was thinking about clearing the air, not what it would do to you," Kal replied, unbuckling his pants and quickly casting the rejuvenation spell.

Scarlet lifted a leg into the air, which Kal caught behind the knee, and directed his cock into the damp heat of her pussy.

"I hope you don't mind, but I'm going to make this quick," she said. Scarlet placed one of Kal's hands on her shoulder and leaned back before reaching down to swipe her fingers across her clit.

"Do you want me to move?" he said, rolling his hips.

Scarlet shook her head. "Not until the end," she replied.

The end appeared to be coming quickly as her sex rhythmically squeezed his cock, and her hips began to jerk uncontrollably.

"Now," she panted, and Kal started furiously thrusting up into the woman. With her teeth gritted, Scarlet expelled large puffs of breath as she climaxed but managed not to let a single moan escape her.

"Ria, towel," said Kal as he slipped free and let Scarlet's leg down. The towel appeared in his hand, and he used it to wipe Scarlet's juices from his cock before reaching between her legs and patting her crotch dry.

"Just shove your hand between my legs without even asking," she chuckled.

"Considering what we just did and that you said you want me to father you and Tavorah's babies, I assumed we were a little bit beyond asking permission for things like this."

"You might be right about that."

Kal spent the next few minutes setting up the warming stone as Scarlet situated her clothes. With the flat side up, the stone heated whatever was above it, including air or pots of water. Turning the flat side down revealed a second rune on the bottom which heated the surrounding area, but the stone itself stayed cool. Once everything was working, he and Scarlet fetched the women from the galley and led them to the crew quarters before he went belowdecks to see how Kashka was doing.

The slaves unable to walk were still being tended to by the crew inside their cages. In many cases, the crewwomen were snuggled beneath the blankets with the former slaves, providing much-needed warmth with their own body heat until Hesta had the galley in order and began sending down bowls of broth. Thankfully, very few were still left in the cages as there was precious little manpower, and Kashka still had another full level above this one to work through.

On the far side of the hold, more crew, mostly men, were pushing empty cages toward the opening in the ceiling and preparing them to be lifted out and off of the ship. From where she helped the crew on the maindeck, Ikuno showed him the line of cages on the dock as dockworkers cleared space for the next one.

The freed slaves were understandably wary of the male crew, but the men had been ordered to ignore the former slaves' existence unless asked a direct question. A few of the monster girls approached male crewmembers, but all refused. With all the work to get the ship ready to sail, they just didn't have time.

Kal went belowdecks again since Kolas and Ikuno had things well under control topside, only to run into a parade of women led by Scarlet coming up from the galley. Kashka had just finished freeing the last of the slaves in the lower hold and was making her way to the floor above to start on those cages.

"No wonder our coffers were nearly dry after buying out the contracts," muttered Kal as he came up behind Kashka.

"You should be up on deck watching for any trouble," said Kashka as she opened the cage. With Kal standing beside her, the human woman inside refused to leave through the open door.

"Maybe you're right," he replied, stepping to the side as two of the female crew slipped inside with a blanket and led the woman up to the shower.

"I want you to know I won't be coming back home until late tonight," said Kashka as she moved to the next cage.

"Oh?"

"A few of the men on this ship were especially cruel to these women. Some were killed when we took the ship, but not all of them."

"Going hunting then?"

"No."

"That's not the impression--"

"If I said yes, you'd have to lie if someone asked you about it. And if you knew I was going out hunting and did nothing to stop me, then you would be breaking your word to the men we let go. No, I'm not going hunting, but I won't be home until late tonight."

"This isn't like you," said the mage as Kashka opened the cage and two crewwomen wrapped up the dog-girl inside.

"You don't have my nose, Kal. Some of these women are soaked in fear, and it was a few specific men who were causing it. Letting them live only gives them the opportunity to abuse more women."

"Then why not take the entire crew out? None of them are innocent when it comes to these slaves."

"The men I'm talking about terrified and hurt the women they used. She," Kashka pointed at the empty cage that held the human woman, "was one of them. Another was the man who got the ermine in such a sorry state. Although, his scent isn't associated with fear the way the others were. The men I'm talking about got off on torturing these women. But no, I'm not going hunting."

"Whatever you aren't doing tonight, make sure you aren't seen. It'd be a shame if one of the slave girls ran off and decided to get revenge on some of their former captors."

Kashka nodded in response before going to release the next slave.

As Kal returned to the upper decks of the ship, he felt a brief moment of surprise from Ikuno.

"Is everything alright?" he asked over the bond.

"We have a surprise visitor," Ikuno replied. The mage was a little worried that she wasn't telling him who.

When he stepped onto the maindeck, he saw Ikuno, Scarlet, and Kolas standing beside the gangplank as a familiar voice shouted from the pier, "Permission to come aboard?"

"Mori?" Kal asked as he walked over to join Ikuno and the others.

Ikuno nodded to Kolas before he called down, "Permission granted!" then stepped aside for Kal.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, holding out a hand for her as she stepped onto the ship. Instead of a dress, she wore pants and riding gear with a plain green and white shirt that made a vague attempt to match Kal's.

Although Mori wore them well, Kal wasn't a huge fan of the showy dresses worn by most noblewomen. They simply weren't a thing in Telsin. The town was poor, and its people didn't have that kind of money. To him, the simple dresses Perra wore were more appealing, and a close second was the travel garb Mori currently had on. The shirt tucked into her pants accentuated the woman's breasts nicely, and the brown leather pants hugged her bottom in a way Kal wished he had been standing at the bottom of the gangplank as she walked up.

After some quick introductions, Mori said, "I have a few reasons," while clutching his hand to steady herself from the ship's gentle sway. "Since you want to meet my father about the nomads, I thought it would be nice to introduce you. If the plan is for me to take over Runesmith's company affairs in the future, I figured I should meet Scarlet as soon as possible and get a feel for how she runs things. Last, but most importantly, I wanted to see you again."

"That's not all," said Ikuno. "She wants to show you off to her father."

Mori looked confused. "Didn't I say that?"

"No, you said introduce them. But you also want to show off Kal so you can get something you never had with Darrow. Your father's blessing."

"Oy! Yer getting married to her already?" asked Kolas.

"No, but she's a future prospect. I have a woman back home who deserves to become the first Mrs. Runesmith.

"Seems like a mean thing to say with the lady standin' right in front o' ya."

"Perra is Kal's first human lover and the mother of his only son. She's also bonded to Kal in a similar way to Kashka and I," Ikuno explained.

"First human?"

"Ikuno was the first woman I spent the night with. It was either that or become an oni's lunch. Aradelle is the mother of my first child. She's an alarune, so of course she gave me a daughter."

"And he did such a good job his first time that now I follow him around like a lost puppy, waiting for my turn to get some co--"

"That is not how it happened and not what you do," Kal growled.

Ikuno rolled her eyes. "I'm just teasing. I'm certain that everyone here knows our story. At least the important bits."

Mori squeezed Kal's hand. "I'll admit that I do want to show you off to my father, Kal. Even if I have to wait, and I'm not the first, I feel like becoming your wife is something to be proud of."

Scarlet grinned up at Ikuno. "She's good."

"She wouldn't be in consideration for a future wife if she wasn't," the oni replied.

"Since you're here and you have recent experience, help Scarlet with the slaves," said Kal. "Kashka is down in the hold still releasing them, and you're probably more suited for that than hauling rope and scrubbing decks."

"Scarlet stole half me crew. I wouldn't say no to an extra set o' hands," said Kolas.

"Then I'll send one back and let Lady Mori and her maidservant take their places. That way, we each get an extra set.

"Just the one?" Kal asked, peeking over the rail to see Shay standing patiently at the bottom of the gangplank.

"Satah is helping Esk and Pahn manage things back at the estate," Mori explained, waving for her maid to join them.

Ikuno emitted a growl of appreciation as Shay stepped onto the ship. The maid's face flushed pink, and she refused to look at the oni, but her expression told them she wasn't displeased with the blue woman's attention.

"Alright, we all have work to do," said Scarlet. "Back to it."

Mori nodded before glancing over at Kal. "Can I get a welcome kiss?"

Kal drew her into his arms and gave her more than a peck on the lips, but not nearly as long of a kiss as Mori wanted, according to the look on her face when he released her. Mori flashed a triumphant smile at Scarlet before catching herself.

"Aye," said the Commodore with an evil grin, "Be careful with those looks." She leaned in close, "You never know whose leg Kal's seed might be dripping down."

Mori looked sharply at Kal with a hurt expression.

Ikuno clicked her tongue. "You were warned of this at the manor, and nothing has changed. Scarlet and her lover, Tavorah, both claim Kal as an occasional bedmate."

"I know, I know, and I'm sorry. With my former husband, I didn't need to worry about other women or get competitive because he couldn't keep it up long enough to do anything with them."

Kolas guffawed. "The rumor goin' 'round the ships was that his todger couldn't salute. You'd never have known it by listenin' to him. Master Kal, that mage on board The Dauntless when he tried to take The Bitch?"

"What about her?"

"Before the attack, Darrow was stompin' around on deck, talkin' about how he'd put her in iron chains and have his way with her once he was done with The Bitch. The poor bastard was lying through his teeth," said Kolas through barely restrained laughter.

"Given that's what you were dealing with in your first marriage, I suppose I can let this one time pass," said Scarlet. "Kal must seem like a real catch in comparison. However, sometimes a situation arises where Kal is needed, like with me earlier."

"So you really did...?" Mori glanced down at Scarlet's groin.

"Aye, but I was lying about him dripping down my leg. I got a face full of ferret-girl musk and needed some relief. I got my relief, but he didn't finish."

Kolas chuckled. "I oughtta be jealous of all the attention yer gettin', but Hesta's already near too much fer me ta handle. Good luck, Master Kal. It was a pleasure, Lady Mori. I'm sure I'll be seein' ye again soon," he said with a slight bow before returning to his inspection duties. Ikuno left a moment later to help wrestle the empty cages off the ship.

Scarlet looked Mori over and said, "At least you came dressed to work. I'm going to pair you each up with one of my crew to help bring the girls up from the hold. They've been doing this most of the day and will show you the ropes."

"What about seeing my father?" Mori asked Kal.

"Not until the slaves are taken care of and both ships are loaded and underway. Tomorrow at the earliest."

Her face showed her disappointment, but Mori nodded in understanding. She turned to follow Scarlet but stopped and looked back at Kal. "Where are all these women going?"

"To a brothel in town Olvo purchased while I was at the estate. Thiben has it under guard, and we're using it as a staging area for the girls."

"Are you going to make them work there?" she asked, confused. This didn't seem like something Kal would do.

"Make them? Absolutely not. Scarlet would never allow it, even if I wanted to. They will have the option to stay and work. I'm sure that a few of the monster girls will. The rest will be offered other jobs at the brothel, such as kitchen work or cleaning. Those who don't want to work in town will be offered a place to work at the estate. I'm giving them the same opportunities to make the money for their return trip as I did for the slaves at the manor."

"How are you planning to afford all of this?"

Kal flashed her a sinister grin. "With the help of some of the local merchants who are going to start offering up a portion of their profits to keep their darker activities under wraps."

Mori's brow furrowed. "You're going to make a lot of enemies."

"I know, but at that facility, I discovered what a person will agree to when their life is on the line."

"Be careful, Kal, thinking like that may turn you into the very thing you hate."

Kal's menacing grin vanished. "How do you mean?"

"You hate those who used that facility because they were scum. And they were, I don't deny that. But those men saw the women they abused in the same way. They were scum, worthless. I'm only saying that you should make sure your boundaries of who you are willing to treat as less than a person are well defined and set in stone, or over time, it will become easier to throw people into the pool of those whose lives are worthless. Eventually, you'll be willing to kill with little to no reason and become the thing you hate."

"You make some good points, but you forgot something," said Kal, smiling as he pointed at Ikuno, where she helped guide an empty cage across the deck and over to the side so they could lower it to the docks. "She has a thousand years of experience. Kashka was an assassin, and all of my other women have unique perspectives of the world. I trust them to keep me grounded and not lose myself to the power I wield."

Mori looked down. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have doubted you."

"Don't be. I'm not mad, and you brought up some valid concerns. I have more magic at my disposal than most mages will have in their lifetimes," he said, summoning a blue flame in his hand, "And I'm young. At twenty-two summers, there's a lot I don't know and a lot of mistakes in my future. Having such powerful magic at my disposal can make those mistakes deadly. I trust the women in my life to temper my judgment and make me think. Like you just did."

"And you want me to be one of those women?"

"Does that make you want to change your mind?" he asked, dismissing the flame.

"I don't know," said Mori, swallowing hard. "We've only known each other for a few days and you're willing to put that kind of trust in me?" She suddenly broke out into quiet chuckles. "I can't believe you're only twenty-two summers. I thought you were older than me."

"When one of the women you love is over a thousand, a couple of years older than me doesn't matter much. But I haven't put that trust in you yet. That's something we both need to work toward."

"It sounded like you did a moment ago."

"You had a concern. All I did was listen and take it into consideration. I hope that you will bring any similar concerns to my attention in the future. Especially since you're apparently older and wiser."

Mori's mouth hung open in shock. "Older and wiser! How old do you think I am?!"

"I don't know, but you're older than me. Bye!" yelled Kal as he took a couple of running steps and leapt off the side of the ship.

"You ass!" she shouted after the laughing mage as he slowly drifted to the dock. Huffing with annoyance, she turned around to find Shay waiting for her. "Where's Scarlet?"

"She said you and Kal seemed to be having a private moment and left," the maid replied. "Before we go. I'm curious, Milady, what was your answer?"

"Answer to what?"

"If you changed your mind about wanting to marry him. You seemed upset."

"I wasn't upset, I was happy. He didn't dismiss or belittle me. He didn't get mad even though I know what I said would have upset most men. And he genuinely listened to what I had to say as if I were already one of his women. If anything, he just made me want him more."

He has that connection with the other two. What if they were telling him what to say?"

"We weren't," said Ikuno as she approached them between wrangling cages. "Moments like that, we don't listen in unless he asks. Even if he does ask, we only keep him from saying something extraordinarily stupid." She turned to the Mori's maid. "Miss Shay, I'd like to request your company tonight in my quarters aboard The Scarlet Bitch. Kal assured me that no harm would come to Lady Mori. I called him a liar. I expect your Mistress to be walking funny tomorrow morning," the oni chuckled.

Shay blushed bright red and looked at Mori.

"No one in this city is safer to be with than Kal. Don't worry about your duty. Accept if you want to," said Mori.

Shay looked up at Ikuno and said, "Yes!" with far more enthusiasm than she intended, then managed to get even redder in the face.

"I'm eagerly anticipating your company," purred the oni before addressing both of them. "I last saw Scarlet over by the showers. She's probably looking for your partners."

---

Extra lanterns hung from the masts, and a makeshift table of cargo boxes and planks had been constructed on the deck. Atop the table, Hesta had laid out an impressive spread for supper that took a large portion of the day to prepare. The crew of The Perdition and most of the Scarlet Bitch's crew stood around with plates of food, chatting as they celebrated the addition of another ship to the fleet and a job well done freeing and tending to the slaves. Tomorrow, the crew would spend the entire day loading the ship for its maiden voyage as a merchant vessel.

When the conversation started to wind down, Scarlet grabbed two tankards and knocked them together to get everyone's attention.

"Most of The Perdition's crew have seen Kolas stomping around today, acting like this was his ship. Well... it's not.

"For those of you who may not know. Kolas was the Captain of The Dauntless, Roka's ship. He was Captain when The Dauntless's owner tried to take back The Scarlet Bitch. But while the ship's owner was an idiot with a useless, tiny cock, or so we've heard, Kolas was smart and told his men not to join in the fighting.

"We captured The Dauntless and The Gazelle and took Kolas and his crew prisoner. Now, we had a problem."

Scarlet began pacing up and down the table as she continued her story. "We had three ships, one running a skeleton crew, the other shorthanded, and the third's crew were prisoners. So, we made a deal with Kolas. We'd combine our crews and split them among the three ships. He was put in charge of his former crew with the understanding that there would be no tolerance for disobedience. Raising a hand to The Scarlet Bitch's crew or refusing an order came with a death sentence.

"Imagine my surprise when the first person to toss a man overboard was Kolas himself."

"I told ye then that his life wasn't worth mine."

"That you did," said Scarlet, raising her tankard in his direction before continuing. "But it showed me that he was serious about his position. When we reached port, Kolas stayed on. He became a tutor for Captain Ratt as she was promoted from Bosun directly to Captain and caught the eye of a particular cook. I'm sure have a few of The Bitch's crew cursing him for that right now.

"Since Kolas became a part of the crew, he has demonstrated to myself and Master Kal an exemplary performance of his duties, a willingness to take risks for the sake of the crew, and embraced the merger of men and monster girl crews--"

"Hajin!" Ikuno called out.

"That's right. Try to spread the word around that some monster girls are calling themselves by the Azum word for 'hybrid.' But back to Kolas! He embraced sharing a ship with monster girls and left behind his mindset as the Captain of a slaving vessel.

"But The Perdition is not his ship, and I think it's time we change that. Kolas, step forward."

Those closest to Scarlet backed up to let Kolas stand in front of her.

"Kneel," she said, then looked around as the crowd murmured. "This isn't for anything special! The man's just too damn tall!"

"Ye had me worried fer a second," said Kolas as he slowly dropped to one knee.

"I should have done this with Roka when I gave her The Dauntless."

Kolas chuckled. "She might've still been taller than you."

"True," said Scarlet before raising her voice again. "Kolas! For your hard work aboard The Scarlet Bitch, dedication to Master Kal's vision of human and hajin working side by side, your assistance and support in bringing up new leadership, and in recognition of your past experience, I bequeath... no, I return to you the rank of Captain."

"Aye, Commodore Scarlet. Havin' been appointed as Captain under the Runesmith Trading Company, I solemnly swear I'll support and do my duty to the Company and Master Kal, and to protect the Company's property n' interests to the best o' me ability. I accept this duty of me own free will."

"That was a lot more formal than what I was expecting," Kal whispered to Kashka, Ratt, and Mori standing beside him.

"We didn't have any formal training, remember? This may well be something every Captain does when they get promoted," Ratt replied.

Scarlet looked equally surprised but quickly regained her composure.

"Captain Kolas, I hereby appoint you as the Captain of the merchant ship Perdition."

"Thank ye, Commodore, it's an honor," he replied, and the combined crews erupted in cheers and applause. A few of The Bitch's original crew stayed quiet, but that was to be expected. Not everyone could forgive a former slaver.

"Now stand up and say a few words to your crew," Scarlet said through the din.

Kolas got up slowly and raised his hands before making a motion for everyone to quiet down.

"Commodore Scarlet told me to say a few words, but I feel like there's a more pressin' issue. Perdition is the name of a slavin' vessel, not a merchant ship. Master Kal, I ask that ye give the ship a new name, one more suited to its new purpose."

Everyone turned to look at Kal all at once.

Not expecting to suddenly be the center of attention, Kal looked around nervously before saying, "Um... I know we talked about renaming the ship, but since it arrived, I've been too busy to even think about a new name. It's your command now, Kolas. Do you have any ideas?"

The new Captain stood there, lost in thought for a few seconds. His silence gave Hesta the chance to come over and take his hand. He looked down at her with a soft smile before speaking.

"Some o' ye were delivered from slavery," he said, looking around at the gathered crews. "Some o' ye were delivered from poverty and livin' in the slums. Some o ye..." he shot a few pointed looks at the newer crewmen The Bitch had taken on. "Some o' ye were just delivered from havin' an empty coinpurse and sleepin' alone. And some o' ye, meself included, were delivered from becomin' fish food. I... By rights I shoulda been dead when the Dauntless was captured. Instead, I was delivered into a new ship, with a new crew and a woman who... well, if she doesn't love me, she at least tolerates my presence." Kolas paused as a chuckle ran through the crews. "Master Kal, I believe this ship's new name should be The Deliverance."

"Scarlet?" Kal asked.

"I have no objections."

"Do any among the crew have any objections to naming the ship Deliverance?"

"As long as there are no canoes and banjoes involved, I'm fine with it," Ikuno sent over the bond.

"Banjoes?" he asked, confused. He didn't even know what a banjo was.

"Never mind," she replied with a mental chuckle.

Kal scanned the gathered men and women one last time before saying, "I like it, and I approve. I'll have Olvo draw up the paperwork tomorrow morning and leave getting the name on the stern repainted to you."

"Thank ye, Master Kal."

As if by silent command, the crews surged around, Scarlet, Hesta, and Kolas, congratulating the new Captain on his promotion and commission.

---

Kal and Mori walked with those returning to The Scarlet Bitch after the festivities on The Deliverance finally wound down. They parted with Ikuno, Shay, Kashka, and Ratt at the end of the dock where The Bitch was moored. Kashka said a few words to Ratt before running toward the city and vanishing into the shadows. Once she finished her hunt, the cat planned on joining Ratt for the rest of the night instead of returning to the house. Shay couldn't stop blushing and fidgeting as they bid Kal and Mori goodnight.

The oni informed him through the bond that the maid's restlessness had a lot to do with a smooth wooden toy nestled deep in Shay's sex with instructions to not let it slip free unless removed by Ikuno. The oni then increased the challenge by forbidding the maid from wearing undergarments beneath her skirt.

Kal and Mori chatted about the party, Kolas's promotion, and what might happen tomorrow with her father as they walked back to the house. When they rounded a corner and the house came into view, Kal saw Mori frown in the dim light of Silvermoon's magical street lamps.

"Remember what I told you? Alya received frequent beatings for being unable to satisfy Darrow, and she was never a threat to your position. In the same fashion, I want both of you to become my women in the future, but I'm only considering you as a future wife."

"That's twice that's happened today. How did you know what I was thinking?"

"It shows on your face. If you're sleeping with me tonight, understand Alya will be joining us as a lover, not as a servant. Although, she tends to play the role of servant in bed anyway."

"I've disliked and distrusted her ever since my former husband bought her."

"It's time to let that go. I have a challenge for you. When we get inside, copy everything she does."

Mori cast a doubtful look at him. "Everything?"

"Yes."

"I don't know if I can do that."

"Do what you can. Tonight is for enjoying each other's company, not for testing limits. But I believe it will help you understand how she thinks and why she's not a threat to you."

"I'll try," she said as they came up to the front door.

"Master!" Alya shouted from upstairs when he announced his arrival, then came running down the steps two at a time. The moment she saw Mori, the fox's eyes widened in fear, and she veered into the dining area before cautiously peeking out from the doorway.

"Come out, Alya. Mori won't hurt you."

"Mistress doesn't like me, Master."

"Mori thought you were trying to come between her and your former master."

Alya's face scrunched up. "Ew. No."

Beside Kal, Mori burst into laughter. "I understand that feeling. Sleeping with my late husband was disappointing at best and disgusting at worst. Alya, come over here please."

The fox glanced at Kal for assurance before stepping out from the doorway.

Mori took Alya's hands in hers. "I wasn't actually envious of what you did with my husband. I disliked you then because rumors of him sleeping with you instead of me turned into my servants questioning if I was unworthy of Darrow's affection. It didn't help that I was sleeping with a few of the male staff as the rumor of you and him was floating about the estate."

"That's very different from your reaction back at the manor."

"After we first saw the house, I had to do some digging in my head as to why I disliked her so much. I quickly realized it wasn't jealousy. I may have complained that Crowell hadn't touched me in years, but really, the less I had to sleep with him, the better. After searching my feelings, this was the reason I came up with, and I think what I said is true."

"Mistress doesn't hate Alya?" the fox asked, glancing down at where Mori held her hands.

"No, and I had no right to hate you back then as well. But our situations have changed. My husband is dead, and you have a new master, this one of your own choosing. Kal wants me to take over his business dealings once Scarlet feels I'm ready. That means I will be spending a lot of time in Silvermoon, and you and I will be spending a lot of time together. And if you can forgive me for how I treated you in the past..." Mori stepped to the side, still holding Alya's hands, and shot a suggestive look at Kal, "I can think of a fun way to start things off."

Alya's eyes lit up. "Oh! Yes, Please!"

---

Mori asked Kal to lie on the large master bed, then pulled the fox girl to the foot of the bed and said, "Strip me, slowly."

Alya began removing Mori's clothes at a languid pace as Mori switched between poses that both made it easier for the fox to take her clothes off but drew Kal's attention to her bust and bottom. Mori loved the feeling of Kal looking at her bare body. His gaze was like the touch of a feather, and her nipples tingled and hardened under his stare. It felt like the lightest of fingertips brushing over her rear when she turned away from him for a moment. When his eyes rested on the puffy pink lips of her sex, she could feel herself get wetter.

Mori wondered what it would feel like to bend over in front of him and spread her sex open so he could see inside her. Would she get the same tingle if he were to look upon the entrance to her womb, her most sacred and private place? The thought made her shudder despite being certain she could never do something so wanton and brazen.

Then she remembered Kal's challenge. She hadn't really forgotten it, but the thoughts running through her head had distracted her. Once Alya had removed her last article of clothing, folded it, and set it to the side, Mori had the fox take her place.

Alya didn't have any experience being sexy and seductive, and Mori coaxed the girl into a pose and told her to hold it as she began removing the maid's clothing. She quickly realized how unbalanced they were when it came to clothing. Mori had worn boots, socks, panties and a brassier, pants, leggings, a shirt and an undershirt to ward off the cool fall weather, and a light leather vest for the trip to Silvermoon. Mori undid Alya's belt and lifted the long tunic to find the fox nude underneath.

Instead of moving on immediately now that they were both naked, Mori directed Alya through a series of poses similar to the ones she had used to grab the mage's attention. Though her movements were awkward and unrefined, Mori could easily see and smell that the fox was enjoying Kal's gaze almost as much as Mori had.

When the fox had been put fully on display for her master, Mori led her over to the side of the bed and let Alya climb on first. Kneeling on the bed, the fox seemed unsure what to do.

"As part of my apology, you can have the first turn," Mori explained.

Alya nodded, then scooted down Kals legs and took him in her mouth for a few seconds before knee-walking up and straddling his cock. The fox let out a long moan as she sank down on the mage's shaft and wasted no time getting into a steady rhythm.

"In a hurry, Alya?" Kal chuckled.

"Trying to finish quickly so Mistress can have her turn."

"Slow down, enjoy yourself," said Mori. "I've watched Kal leave three women in an exhausted heap and have the energy to go a few more hours. I was one of those women. Even if you make him climax, he will have some left for me."

"Woe be me if I ever lose the ability to cast magic," said Kal. "I'll leave behind a trail of disappointed women."

"I don't think you could ever disappoint me, Master," said Alya as she slowed the rolling of her hips.

Kal beckoned Mori forward and had her snuggle under his arm as they watched the fox rise and fall on his cock.

"Once the jealousy is out of the way, it's surprisingly exciting to watch you pleasure another woman," she said after a few minutes.

"Ikuno says it's pride that her man can satisfy more than one woman."

"I'd have to agree," she said, playing with his chest hair as the fox began to speed up.

"Just so we're clear. We already had our goodbye lovemaking. I'm thinking of all this as just a bonus. I wasn't expecting to see you for a couple of years, not a couple of days," said Kal, then grunted as the rise and fall of Alya's sex on his shaft started to get to him.

"I understand, and I feel the same way. I nearly didn't come because I didn't want to look desperate."

"I'm glad you did. If nothing else..." Kal released Mori and brought the arm she was resting on over her head so he could grab the fox's hips. "I'm glad I was here to see you two were going to get along."

"Yes, Master!" Alya panted as he began driving his cock up into her pussy. In a handful of seconds, the fox's body went rigid, but Kal was too close to slow down.

Mori moaned in his ear, "That's it, lover. Pour your seed deep into your little servant girl's cunt."

Kal's eyes darted to Mori's face for a fraction of a second before he squeezed them shut and arched his back as he came, lifting Alya off the bed. The fox-girl yipped in surprise as she tried not to tumble off the cock hilted inside her. When his body dropped back to the bed, Alya instinctively caught herself, and Kal's prick slipped free, sending the last two spurts into the air, where they landed on his belly. The fox wasted no time and slid down his body to lick up the pearly fluid just as the second orgasm from the cum in her pussy roared through her body. Still trying to do her duty, she weakly lapped at Kal's cock as her body shivered in the throes of her climax.

Mori reached down and pointed Kal's prick toward the fox's mouth, then grabbed the base of the shaft and slid her fingers upward, squeezing any remaining seed into the girl's mouth.

They lay like that for a few minutes as Alya nursed Kal's cock, and they both caught their breath. Mori shifted around on the bed, and Alya finally released the mage's prick with a pop. She then grasped the base and held his half-hard cock upright as Mori threw a leg over Kal and lowered her hips until the lips of her sex brushed his cock.

"Two years is going to be a long time to wait for this," she said with a moan as she sank down on him with a shudder. She knew about him changing size to fit his partner, but it still amazed her how he filled her completely and perfectly, as though his prick molded itself to fill every crevice and fold inside her.

Ikuno said that the spell only changed the size, not the shape of Kal's prick. But in moments like this, Mori wondered if the oni was telling the truth.

"Then it's a good thing that you made up with Alya, said Kal. I know that Satah and Shay have pleasured you in the past, but Alya has a much longer tongue." He lifted her off his cock and held her hips up. A moment later, Mori squeaked as Alya's tongue slipped inside her sex. It felt like the tongue swirled around inside her before withdrawing and doing it again.

"Alya is new to making love to another woman, but Ikuno and Kashka both sang her praises last night."

"I can see why," said Mori through gritted teeth. She let the fox continue for a moment before wiggling free of the hands supporting her. She reached between her legs and directed his cock back into her waiting pussy. "Since monster girls love a man's seed so much, why don't we give her something that tastes even better."

"I like that idea," said Kal as he grabbed Mori by the hips and began thrusting up into her.

The next few years were going to be a lot more tolerable with Alya around. She removed Kal's hands from her hips and held them in hers. The mage straightened his arms so she could use him for support as Mori began dropping her hips, burying his prick to the hilt each time she came down.

Yes, she would miss the feel of him filling her sex. But she was going to miss making love like this, staring into his eyes so much more.