Of Hearts Bound Ch. 02

Her simple comment though was something of an understatement. Her clit sang and that harmony radiated outward. She could watch that tongue and feel it and look into those eyes of Neral's. They were nearly predatory. She knew she had a novice, and she wanted show that novice what she could do. It all felt new and strange to the queen, yet somehow right to watch her lick and kiss that clit and tug those lips. She let the feelings flow and build, not that she could have stopped them without stopping Neral and that simply was not going to happen.

"You certainly seem to...get a lot of practice." Her free hand clawed the bed and Neral wouldn't stop. "That's fucking lovely."

Her hips began to buck of their own accord and Neral's tongue chased without mercy and she tittered even as she squeaked while sensations built. "Putting pussies in your mouth so my warrior can work them. Don't think I'll ever...be able to look at you...and not have this image float through my mind. They must love it."

Evaline certainly did. She was torn. Part of her wanted it to last and part of her wanted to succumb. The latter won out with the permission that came with, The night is young. When the apex of sensation struck she slapped her free hand to the back of Neral's head as Neral didn't miss a step and Evaline called out to the Goddess so that the windows rattled.

Coherence came with Neral's lips on hers and the kisses that followed were had, many and ravenous. Evaline liked the taste of herself on the other's lips and the smacks of one pair of pouting lips to another was fun and funny. "I'm guessing you liked that."

"Eh. Passable."

Neral's brows lifted and gave a slow nod with a sly grin. "Ah. If the shrieking was simply so you don't hurt my feelings, I can leave." She even started to lift her body from Evaline's before she pulled her back. "You will not." There was a clear undercurrent of nervous anticipation. "You have things to show me before you go."

Needing no more invitation, Neral brought herself and placed her pussy over Evaline's lips and contended with her own anticipation that came with knowing a willing tongue was close. She sighed as Evaline's hands spread oil upward from Neral's firm stomach to her breasts, her fingers tracing her warrior's scars. Neral's hands went over Evaline's until her words touched Neral's pussy. "Show me what to do. Show me what you like."

The reply was playful. "Yes, my queen."

***

The morning came and the two luxuriated in the first rays of dawn. Neral would go home soon and the ritual that came with preparing Evaline's image for public consumption would begin not long after that, but there was still some time that was just for them. They lay together in the rumpled bed, warm and lazily caressing one another. "Finally Court is right," Evaline said, kissing Neral's shoulder and moved up to kiss the arrow scar on her neck.

Neral closed her eyes, craned her neck and let herself feel it. "Half of them are sure we fuck anyway."

She reasoned it out as the player of Court politics she was."How else could we have ever been such friends or so intimate for so long in the web of Court without trading in every currency available? The only ones who truly think that are the ones that barter with it themselves. This is not about that."

Neral played with that straight blonde hair. "It's not. About what this is, know that I enjoyed last night." She looked at those large breasts with the redness of bite marks still all over the flesh, "I enjoyed it thoroughly and completely and I will cherish it, but if it does not happen again, know that I am fine with it." She would not allow it to ever become a wedge between the two of them or a weapon of Court.

"Honestly, I think I would not be unhappy if this were to happen again on occasion. I must say I liked being with you. I'm not certain I'm attracted to women as you are, but I enjoyed our time and expect I would again, as I find myself still attracted to you."

"Hmm..I'm not sure how to take that. You see me as masculine perhaps?"

"Hardly," she snorted, rolling her eyes and pulling the blanket down to drink her in again. "You are fit, strong, graceful, and beautiful, but you are hardly masculine"

"Just making sure, you understand."

"Of course, my dear." Changing the subject a bit as she ran her fingers along Neral's belly that was still moist with the oil "You will have much to share with that husband of yours."

Neral rolled onto her belly and resting her chin on her forearms as Evaline's fingers played down her back in a gentle massage. She felt good about the night before. "True enough." Her current mood led imagery to wander in front of her mind's eye which Evaline caught. "Goddess, you are like a schoolgirl with her first love. It's horrible."

Neral took the sudden flush of embarrassment in stride. "It's not. To be honest, he is my first love. I walked a line between wanting it and not allowing myself the time to find it. Continue with Danil and, if all goes well, you will have that, too."

There was a pause before, "Maybe your husband could help me with that?"

The tone was cheery but Neral caught the pause. She had heard it enough in her friend to know that something awkward was coming. "How could he possibly help you with that?"

Evaline now seemed as though she now felt as much in unknown territory as Neral. "Might he have something to...help things along?"

Her smile faded a bit, "Like what?"

"I don't know exactly how they work; a spell or a potion or something?"

A lifetime of suppressing fear on the battlefield to help keep her soldiers strong in the face of it was the only thing that kept her from showing it now. She dismissed it out of hand. "He's a healer that knows a few pyrotechnic tricks that he uses at the birthday parties of poor children. He knows all the magic the law allows him to know." Centuries before, a world that didn't understand magic's power and feared it because they did not had set itself on a quest to banish it from the world. Many mages were killed and many more exiled themselves during that reshaping of the world.

In short order though the people realized that magic as medicine far outpaced anything healers could do without it so that limited use of magic was allowed back into practice. To do more than that or party tricks was to invite execution. As such, Neral was supremely unbalanced. One wrong word and she would have to choose between the law and her love. The strategist in her had contemplated her response to that possible outcome long ago. But she wouldn't take those steps until she had to. "What would make you think that he would know?"

Her tone was relaxed, but her words were measured. She was keenly aware of where she was treading. "Because there are always rumors, Neral. There are hints and whispers and there always have been. If you need a healer and there's no money to be had for one, where do you go and what do you do? You can't be expected to do nothing and die. And, when you're facing that, the notion of law is irrelevant. Hang me for this? I'd be dead anyway, that's why I did it to begin with, so I will take my chances and perhaps live."

She went on, "The blade that nearly killed me? The alchemy that made it possible was some of the most complex Healer Cass had ever seen. He was able to be of help when it came to the poison, but it was clear even to him, even then, that Deres knew more...had a working understanding of things that he did not."

Neral turned on her side, facing Evaline. "Science evolves. Magic is its own science even if it twists the rules of a science proper. That he knows more or can make a leap is not evidence that he dabbles in the forbidden."

"No," Evaline agreed, "but it is another hint. And Mareth. After he played his game, lost his head, and his Erette took half his kingdom for it, Bae began to look to the Court of the reformed kingdom to make certain that any holdovers weren't likely to try to retake what they lost fairly, or strike in some other fashion. Records were found before they could be destroyed that showed deep ties between Mareth and these guilds."

"And when I met with the other monarchs to discuss searching for more of that technology of the old world to see to it that it never endangered this one again, I brought up what was found. Let us just say that, after a life in royal politics, I could tell the ones that were genuinely appalled at the notion of dark magics roaming free in the world and those who were just a little too dramatically, defensively so."

She sat up in bed. "So it occurs to me that, if these guilds are indeed real, and I cannot stop them because I invite war with them and incite unrest amongst those that cannot get by without them, and that others have access to such potential weapons and seem to have no fear of using them against me and Erette, I should have some of my own close at hand that I can trust to help defend Erette if need be."

She put her hand over Neral's, squeezing gently, "I trust you more than I trust anyone in the world. I trust him because, as much as I know him now, I know you would not tie yourself to a dishonorable man. If he is what I believe him to be, I need him, if only to be aware of what is possible and to counter anything the others might do. If he is what I believe him to be, I only wish to maintain balance. You know I have no love of war or gaming the other kingdoms. He would be a shield, and only a sword when another has drawn first."

Neral's eyes narrowed slightly and she pulled her hand away "What of gaming me?"

The queen looked as though she had been struck with a clenched fist, "Gaming you?"

Neral rolled away, rising fluidly to collect her slip, putting it on as she spoke, "Is that what the night was, to soften me so that I might say or do something to affirm what you believe?" For years, in the dark of night she had contemplated all the potential results of her husband's true nature coming to light coming to light in any fashion and virtually all of them filled her with numbing dread, from watching him hang, to fleeing her home, family, and life to continue to share her days with Deres, Bryana, and Khylen in peace.

Her head shook briefly but rapidly, her blonde hair appearing to wave as a result, "No, Neral. No. Please don't think that." She felt as though things were spiraling from her control. "Everything I told you as to why I wanted to do this," she began, looking down at the rumpled blankets, "to be with you is so. I thought that to bring it up here and now..."

"You thought what," Neral snapped, looking for her clothes, "that you would get an advantage?"

"Have I ever played our friendship for gain that way, Neral?"

She tamped down her fear and anger in the smallest of ways at the knowledge that Evaline had never done so. The terms of their relationship had been set early. Neral demanded to be treated honestly and Evaline had never strayed from that. In many ways, Evaline was like another sister. Indeed, it had always bothered her for that alone to maintain the secret, no matter how necessary.

Seeing that slight relent, Evaline continued. "I thought to bring it up here and now because to ask you to confirm what I believe I know because I thought it...fair. I know that for you to answer is...baring yourself to me. Things seemed... more equitable this way. Surely you have thought of all the ways you could use last night." She moved quickly so as not to reignite anger. "Not that you would. I know that you wouldn't, and I know that you have no real interest in Court politics, but you are as skilled as I am if need be. You know how."

And she did.

"I haven't lied to you. Aside from all of that, Deres is close enough to the Royal House now that if I exposed him as you fear, Court would question my fitness and so would the people as mage hysteria gripped them. I could claim that he cast a spell upon me or something, but it's not like that would make things any better for me."

Neral looked around as she contemplated her next step. The room was huge, but the walls still felt uncomfortably close. She took stock of their years of friendship and the ruler that she was and leaped. "He is a good man, Majesty. I don't know how much of the old stories of the evils of magic and those that wielded it is true and how much is victorious history written to justify what happened so long ago...but he is a good man, Evie. If he were anything like the stories... He is a fine husband and father."

Evaline looked into her eyes and she didn't need Neral to say the words. The truth in her eyes that came with the words mixed with a hint of fear was confession enough and it spurred Evaline to unburden herself further. "I know how you look at him. I know how little Khylen beams at the sight of him. It is how I always wished I could have looked at Father."

Evaline moved herself to the edge of the bed. "And I...ask for a potion or spell or anything like that because, Neral," the deep sigh did nothing to lessen the weight upon her chest, "I know that, in matters of love, I am an utter failure, and I know that will not change with Danil no matter how much I would wish for it to."

Neral saw Evaline's eyes begin to mist and her heart ached for her friend. She returned to the bed and sat next to her. Putting her arm around Evaline and squeezing, she was about to do her best to dissuade her of that, but Evaline saw the look in her friend's eyes and looked to the floor instead. "It is so, Neral. My 'relationships' generally last until a newer young man shows up. My only examples were parents who, while they did not live in hate, were never what one would call warm or loving to one another. I grew up seeing Court marriages far worse, but even young I knew that it could and should be better. Your mother's and a few others in Court; they were example enough so that I've always known what a marriage should be and know enough that it will never be me."

"I know myself, Neral. I will become my mother. At the first problem I will snipe and cut at him with the skill of a master swordsman. He will eventually snipe back, or stand up, or ask me to stop and I will take it as a dare because I am better at it than he is and I am queen and how dare he. I'll hurt him and he will hurt me in defense. We will both end up miserable and, while we are bitter to one another, our children will see and carry it with them."

Neral paused. "You seem to have given it a great deal of thought."

"For many moons now, Bootsie." She grinned at the thought of him before it faded with another wave of melancholy. "The worst part is that I like him. He is a kind, quiet, decent soul. He has a backbone, but he doesn't attempt to rule from behind me."

Neral chuckled, giving her a squeeze. "He has a backbone?"

Evaline shared the little laugh. "When something truly matters to him, yes, otherwise he's happy to defer. That actually makes things easier for me. He isn't attempting to be the power behind the throne and if he takes a hard position I give it more weight simply because he wouldn't speak up otherwise."

"I ask you for your help because I will ruin it. I'm...begging for your help because I will ruin it. If there is some way...some magic so that I don't succumb to my worst nature I would be forever in his debt and yours. I accept that it's the coward's way out, but I would rather be a happy coward than one that lives in fear of herself spoiling something that could be wonderful if I weren't the woman that I am."

"I did not game you, Neral. I wouldn't because the cost would be far...far too high. I've played it out already. Give me what I want or I will whisper to others and let them sow seeds of suspicion. In short order his life, and yours, would become untenable at best and you know that. Rather than endure that, I would have what I want, but I would have lost my friend. We know that too, don't we?"

Neral didn't respond because there was no need as the bitterness washed over her at the very thought. Their lifetime friendship would have fallen to dust. If Neral could have continued as leader of the combined forces of Erette at all, she was uncertain, she'd have the will to do it. It would become something...empty and a soulless thing, like she was simply part of a machine despite her drive to duty. Their friendship helped them both do their jobs to the best of their ability.

That wasn't even touching on her broken heart at losing one so close to her. "It wouldn't even stop there," she said plainly.

Evaline agreed. "Cross a line and it's a simple matter to keep on walking." She sighed, "Well, I can take heart in the fact that I do at least have some integrity."

Neral knelt before her queen, not unlike all the times that she had in the past. "What of Danil?"

"Some integrity, Neral. I take some solace in that he would be stuck with me until I divorced him, and I wouldn't, almost regardless of circumstance, to avoid the scandal that would ensue, not the least of which that would come with my tacit admission that I cannot maintain a real relationship. I would be seeing to his happiness as much as my own."

She gripped Neral's strong hand as though it were a lifeline, which, in some ways it was. "I once called you the sister I wish I'd had and that is true. Tell me no and...I will take it and accept that you have more integrity than I. And I told you the truth about Deres. I could use his skill to counter these other mages if need be. I only know that if they exist to the extent that evidence suggests they may, they cannot be completely ignored anymore."

Neral took in the look in Evaline's eyes and pondered for long moments the totality of their friendship from the first moment she bowed to she who would be queen when she was old enough to count her age with the fingers of one hand to this moment after a lifetime together and what it all meant to her. Then she thought of what it meant for Evaline to bare herself in such a way. She thought of what it meant for Evaline to beg anyone, even Neral."

She trusted and she leaped.

"Even if there were things I kept from you?"

The corner of her lip turned up. "Kept from me for obvious reasons. And I know my General. If you felt I had to know I would have known and then would have hoped I would understand why you kept it from me. I do, Bootsie. Will you help me? Please? Is there a way?"

"I will speak to him, Evie. But there is a way, I'm sure of it. She knew for the simple fact that she had willingly surrendered to a spell of love herself, but there was no reason for that to be shared.

Evaline's eyes closed and she exhaled long and slow as a few tears escaped as she did. "Thank you, my friend. I can never repay you." She took her right hand back and placed it firmly to the back of Neral's neck, pulling them closer and kissing her deeply. There was deep affection coupled with sheer contentment, now having a future she could look forward to in no small measure because of her friend.

The kiss was interrupted by a knock at the door. Their lips separated, thin lines of spittle breaking as they did so. Neral saw her smile and it pulled one from her as well. They both knew who it likely was. "You are terrible," she teased.

"Should I?" Evaline bit her lip in a coy look as though she were asking for permission to pull a grand prank, which she sort of was.

"You know you want to."

The grin turned wicked. "I do. But you can say no and the door stays closed."

A girlish giggle escaped Neral and she rolled her eyes towards the ceiling with a groaning sigh. "To the depths with it. Do as you please, Evie."

The queen all but beamed. "Thank you for this, too," she said quietly before she rose her voice once again nearly in song. "Come in."