The Missing Dragon Ch. 03

Once that was done with, she walked back to the tent that she shared with Gregory and Algra. Greg hadn't exactly been the most cheery of company recently, not that she could blame him with everything that had happened. Still, she found herself looking forward to seeing him as she ducked under the canopy of the tent. An immediate double-take was necessary when she saw him laid on their fur bed with his gorgeous physician laid beside him. Valise was still naked after their exertion and she was savouring the pleasant little after-shocks of the afternoon's delights.

Janette felt the familiar stab of jealousy upon seeing another woman with him. Even though she'd actively shared other women with him and been a very happy participant in the act, it was somehow different to see him only with someone else. Sure, she'd allowed him free reign when it came to sex, but she hadn't expected the sheer volume of women that had responded. The poor guy had spent high school alone, partly because of her, so she guessed he deserved a little fun. Still, it was slightly troubling to see just how much fun the guy wanted.

Then again, if all of that desire was focused on her, he'd likely never be able to put her down. The thought made her insides quiver in a very nice way and she decided to make her presence known.

"Jeez, Greg, you're like the naughty Energizer Bunny." Janette put her hands on her hips whilst offering him a wry little smirk.

"Gimme a drum, some shades, and reach for your ankles." He gave her a playful wink from across the room as she walked to him. "Where've you been?"

"I was hanging out with Fiona and Lydia." She crawled up onto the bed with the contented pair.

"That sounds fun." A rather naughty glint came into his eyes.

"Easy tiger, it was just a dancing lesson. Though Lydia did end up covered in oil."

"Doesn't she always?" Greg rolled his eyes as if this was typical behaviour of the courtesan.

"Only in your dreams." Janette leaned over him and placed a loving kiss on his lips which he gladly returned.

"I should be leaving, I think..." Valise moved to sit up.

"Hey, don't let me scare you away." Janette offered her a genuine smile.

"Oh it's nothing like that. I'm just not exactly comfortable with..." Valise trailed off into a rather meaningful silence as she looked between them.

"Huh? Oh!" Gregory finally realised that some people might not have favoured being in bed with more than one partner. "Sorry, I guess we've just gotten weirdly used to it."

Janette gave a somewhat sheepish grin highlighted by a pretty blush of her cheeks.

"That's quite understandable. Besides, you two haven't been able to share yourselves for far too long. I expect you'll want some time alone." Valise slipped off of the bed and reached for her dress before sliding it over her head and into place.

"So he's, um, ready to rock 'n roll?" Janette licked her lips and looked down between Gregory's legs.

"I'm not quite sure what that means, but you can enjoy each other again, yes. Just be gentle with him for the present."

"I'm not up to performing standards," Greg added.

"That's good enough for me!" The girl stroked her hand along his chest, finding his scars and gently running her fingertips across the fading welts.

"Then I shall leave you both to your business." Valise gave a little bow of her head.

"Can you find Algra and tell her the good news?" Gregory asked.

"Certainly. I will see you tomorrow, I hope?"

"Count on it."

With that, Valise took her leave and Gregory found himself alone with his red haired beauty again.

"Given what you two must have been up to all day, I'm surprised she didn't walk out of here like a crab," Janette observed.

"Well I'm not at my best."

Janette gave a laugh at that and then lifted herself up onto her knees to un-fasten her bra and slip her panties down her legs. She saw his eyes fix across her body and devour it in a way that only he could. He adored every inch of her and the knowledge that he could have her once again made his length begin to rise up from between his thighs.

"See? Total Energizer Bunny. You never stop." Janette lightly placed her fingertip on the peak of Gregory's rising member and then gently flicked it to the side. It quickly lifted back to point up towards the heavens, highlighting her point in the process.

"Well I have a lot to keep going for, don't I?"

Janette gave him a beautiful white smile framed with her enticing red lips and then cast a leg across his body to assume the position Valise had taken a little while before. Feeling her straddling him and looking over her tight, wondrously proportioned frame, he reached out to grasp her bare breasts. To his surprise, the lovely girl caught his wrists in her hands before he could touch her.

"Now, now, Valise said you shouldn't exert yourself. Doctors orders. So," she leaned forwards to push his wrists down on the furs above his head, "lie back and let me do all the work."

Pinning his arms above his head had forced Janette to lean forwards, flattening her soft tits against his chest and lightly rubbing the tip of her nose across his. The position made her quite persuasive and Gregory showed just how much he agreed with her by catching her lips against his in a sizzling kiss that reached all the way down to her toes.

Showing her newfound dancers talents, Janette slowly lifted her hips to arch her back to feel his length slip up between her thighs. She savoured the moment that his cock touched against her silken lower lips. Their kiss deepened when Janette slowly slid herself up until his swollen tip came to rest against her welcoming entrance. A soft little moan escaped her lips in anticipation of what was to come next and then, finally, Janette lowered herself and felt him spreading her open and sinking inside her wet, welcoming folds.

"Oh fuck," Janette breathed the words in a husky whisper after breaking their kiss, "I almost forgot how big you were."

That certainly brought a smile to his face. His length twitched inside her, drawing out a sharp little gasp from the sinfully proportioned girl. She closed her eyes tight and bit down on her lower lip as she took the last of him inside her.

Even on her worst day, Janette was a beautiful girl. Completely nude, with the flush of sex warming her cheeks and her red hair spilling wildly across her face, she looked utterly breathtaking. Her voluptuous breasts began to bounce in time with her movements when she started to ride his searing cock. Her arms lifted up above her head to run through her hair, giving a little lift to her rosy-peaked tits and making her look like some wild, lust-crazed goddess.

Gregory kept his own hands over his head where she had left them. He wanted to reach out and touch her but to do so would have spoiled the incredible sight that she was displaying before his eyes. He felt her take every inch of him inside her with her firm rear bouncing against his thighs on the beat of each second that passed. Her soft little moans provided the soundtrack to the beautiful sight. Half-lidded eyes looked down upon him through long lashes with knowing adoration.

The tide had grown high, ready to spill over and wash her away in that blissful heat. She found that first little burst of pleasure took her by surprise, leaving her shuddering and helpless before her oncoming climax. Her fiery pussy tightened and convulsed around his length, attempting to milk out his own release. Throwing her head back, she moaned his name from her lips and continued to ride him. Each time he plunged into her core he seemed to ignite a chain of ecstasy that blasted through her again and again.

Gregory had yet to reach those heights himself and was instead left to watch in awe as the girl of his dreams enjoyed a crushing orgasm whilst impaled on his length. He'd had quite a few fantasies about Janette Riley over the years, but the real thing was infinitely better than he could ever have imagined.

When she finally put enough pieces of her mind back together, she lifted a hand up to draw her fingertip between her teeth for a moment. Savouring the afterglow, she noticed that Gregory's cock had lost none of its steel and she testingly swivelled her hips atop him.

"You didn't...?" Her finger popped from between her teeth to allow her to lower her hand and cup her own breast.

"No. I've had a busy day. It's alright though, I think you enjoyed that enough for the both of us." He gave her a somewhat conspiratorial wink.

Janette let out a little laugh and he enjoyed bringing a smile to those pretty lips. "I did."

"Well, we've got all night." Greg shifted himself to thrust up inside her, eliciting a quick yelp from the gorgeous young woman.

"No." The voice came from elsewhere in the tent. Both Janette and Gregory turned their heads to see Algra, leaning against the sturdy table.

The orc woman had already shed her little top, leaving her luscious green tits bare in the open air. Her finger was hooked into the side of her little fur skirt, showing a good hint of the gorgeous curve of her hip beneath. She'd obviously arrived back in time to catch the end of their little show.

Both Janette and Gregory found their smiles broadening at the sight of Algra. Janette quickly slid the man out of her and knelt at his side as the beautiful orc warrior stepped over towards the bed to claim her recovered lover once again.

"Looks like I'm not going to get nearly as much rest as Valise wanted." Gregory chuckled as Algra mounted him.

- - - - -

Whilst Gregory was doing his damndest to fulfil his obligations to Algra and Janette, Talina had returned to the courtesans tent to await an imminent visitor.

Rudd, the diplomat to the orc camp from the human kingdoms, appeared shortly thereafter. He wore his traditional purple and black robes of state that had gotten slightly dishevelled over the years of staying with the orcs. The edges of the material had frayed and the colour had faded somewhat. Such robes would only usually be worn during important meetings but without them the orcs tended to think of him as less important, so they had seen a great deal more wear and tear than they should have.

"Good evening, my dear." Rudd greeted Talina with a slightly wobbly wave. This was to be expected as the man hadn't undergone a single day of true sobriety since his arrival at the camp. "I understand that young master Gregory wanted my assistance?"

"He did," she lied, "but he is forced to attend other matters right now and he bid me talk with you in his stead."

"Oh? What matters must be so important as to take up his time I wonder? They must be truly urgent. I did recall the voice of the Lady Strongblood vehemently agreeing with him as I passed through the camp though. So I trust he's making progress." Rudd's eyebrows lifted and his eyes twinkled playfully in the candlelight.

Talina suppressed the urge to frown. Did he ever stop!?

Instead, she reached out for her trump card. A bottle of fine imperial red wine that Bolut had brought back from his last trip into the empire. The sight of the bottle emerging from within its cloth container immediately caught Rudd's attention and he involuntarily licked his lips. At least she knew her audience.

"Well, he did insist I give you this in order to make up for his absence. Will you speak with me?"

Rudd blinked and then his face split with a wide grin as he moved forwards and settled himself down in the cushions opposite her. She poured them a chalice of wine each and they clinked together before Rudd quickly took a long, slow sip. The rich flavour of the wonderfully aged red liquid warmed his tongue with a hint of spice before smoothly pouring down his throat, leaving only a swift desire for the next sip.

"That is certainly a taste of home. I thank you for it." He lifted his chalice to her good health.

"Thank my master instead."

"Ah yes, how is he? I sent my own physician to see him shortly after the unfortunate event but he came back looking slightly pale and perplexed a little later. The golden haired woman must have quite a touch."

"That she does. My master recovers well."

"Good. His position with the orcs could benefit many. We need their warriors with us in the north and the tensions down here between the orcish peoples and my brothers of the south-eastern kingdom are getting downright volatile. If the orcs pull back from the great battle, I doubt that we will be able to keep the demon horde from breaking our lines." Rudd took a notably deeper gulp of the wine.

"Are things truly that bad in the north?"

Rudd's eyes widened and Talina saw the fear that had nestled there. It was old. Old and festering.

"I travelled there once. Before I was sent down here. I saw the fighting with my own eyes. The black-orcs, the blood of our people, the fire and ash. I haven't since been able to sleep a night since without my good friend here to keep me company." He reached for the wine bottle and gave it a cheerful shake before filling up his chalice once again.

"But the Empire has great strength, does it not?"

"Perhaps. That's certainly what I'm supposed to say. Still, when I think of our chances all I see is the chaos I saw in those few days, and all I can think is that whatever we are doing up there, it certainly didn't seem like winning."

Silence reigned between them in the moments that followed. Talina had heard of what blazed in the north and Rudd's assessment of the situation was troubling.

"And how can my master help?" Talina finally asked.

"The divide between orcs and humans harms both. There is bad blood there that lingers still in the minds of both races. Part of the problem is the lack of contact. The orcs stay here in Embervine or travel directly north. What people don't know, they tend to fear, and the enemy has become highly talented at kindling that fear. Many in the empire look on the orcs as animals. They are too far away from the great battle and they think themselves safe. They think that their own power and place is more important than what goes on in distant lands. Rindall Folgrath, the High Lord of Uldrin, hates the orcs. He believes that Embervine is rightfully his and he fans the fires of discontent with the orcish peoples wherever he can get a chance. Gregory is in a unique position to act as a bridge between the two peoples. If he can prove himself as a true orc, then they will listen to him as an equal. If he proves himself honourable before them, then they will see a human can be honourable. The orcs are a simple people, this will be enough for them to see that humans can be trusted. Then, Gregory could act as an ambassador, quelling the discontent stirred up in Uldrin. Humans will listen if the words are spoken by one of their own. Someone who knows how to deal with them."

Talina didn't bother to suppress the frown this time and she lifted her hand to cradle her forehead for a few moments. Clearly, they had more problems on their hands than just dealing with a saboteur in the camp.

"You will tell Gregory nothing of this," she spoke with a cool firmness that was such a shift from her initially warm and cordial tone that it made Rudd flinch slightly.

"You don't understand, if we cannot somehow-" Rudd fell silent as Talina raised her hand and looked upon him.

"He has just tried to prove himself and nearly got broken in half in the process. I'll not have you slamming the weight of the world down on his shoulders on top of it all. When he recovers fully and if he decides to continue with the provings, to eventually earn his place in one of the war packs, then we shall speak of this again."

Rudd started to argue, but then fell silent with a long sigh of breath.

"What can I do to help?" he asked.

"I seek the one who set the mad boy free. I have kept to myself here and I do not know the workings or opinions of the orcs as well as I would like. I'm doing what I can to remedy that but I need to know who might wish Gregory ill."

Rudd took the question along with another drink of wine whilst he pondered his answer. The length of time it took him did not make Talina hopeful in the slightest.

"Ulag is known for his hatred of humans, but he is not known for subtlety. I think if he wanted to harm Gregory then he would have simply challenged him and killed him. Other than he, there are orcs in favour of withdrawing their people from the north. Chief amongst them is Elder Wren Stormbane. Yet most of these orcs have nothing truly against humans, they just think that orcs should take care of orcs and if the humans can't stand alone then that is their weakness."

"I see. In that case, I thank you for your time." Talina lifted herself to her feet and offered a small, but respectful bow that obviously stated their meeting was over.

Rudd reached out and took up the wine before taking a swig directly from the bottle. Then he stood and offered her a graciously over-the-top and slightly wobbly bow before turning to take his leave.

When he was gone, Talina balled her fists in frustration and her mind rang out with a silent scream. She had hoped that Rudd would solve her problems, not pile on several more. Still, she now had two names, and names were always good places to start.

Ulag and Wren.

She had one last person to see before the night was over. On swift feet, she slipped out of the courtesan's tent and silently strode through the camp. It didn't take her long to find the dwelling of Valise. Her tent was old and had been patched up quite a few times over the years, contrasting the immaculate and elegant vision of the woman herself. Before Talina entered the tent, she heard the soft little humming coming from inside and felt a little of the new weight in her heart lift away.

Pulling back the canopy, she saw Valise sat amidst her own furs. A bowl of warm water and soap was bubbling before her folded legs. She was completely nude with her hair tied back to allow her to wash her slender figure with a fresh sponge. Talina's arrival caught her attention immediately and Valise's eyes widened with surprise at the sudden entrance. She wasn't exactly used to visitors.

"Talina! You could have announced yourself." Valise dropped the sponge and lifted an arm to cover her bare breasts.

"I wanted to see what you were humming about." Talina took no heed of the woman's chiding and slipped inside to crawl across the furs to settle herself lounging before Valise.

"It was nothing." Valise reached for her long, white dress and pulled it over her head.

"Oh? Because I think that you've spent the day enjoying my master. I can smell him on you."

Valise's cheeks flushed pink and she involuntarily took a deep breath, partially out of curiosity and yet also out of an innate desire to catch the scent of her lover once again. She found only the smell of her own perfume, however and looked into Talina's wicked eyes before frowning.

"You cannot smell him on me."

"Oh yes I can! You smell of fire, fresh earth, and new love. You're his through and through."

Valise rolled her eyes but said nothing of the accusation.

"I've come to ask you a question." Talina's tone grew serious and she lifted herself to sit upright opposite the woman.

Valise's brow quirked with interest. "Well, I'm here for the asking, my dear."

"Do you know who might have taken your potion?"

"If I did, then don't you think I might have mentioned it by now?"

"No. Not if it was only a whisper in your head. You're used to being alone and lonely people don't trust others when it's only whispers they've got to offer. I, on the other hand, have come to value those whispers immensely. So, do you know who might have taken your potion?"

Silence followed.

"Valise?" Talina pressed.

"I remembered, a little after it had happened. An orcish smith had come to me days before looking for the same concoction. He said he was a friend of Torren's. He'd come asking if I could make him a vial of the potion to help him dislodge some partially rusted metal filings he'd found so he could melt down the good parts. I made it and gave it to him for free in the hope that he might spread the word and I might sell more. But that was over a week before Gregory even entered the camp and the potion itself does not last for long. It's ability to corrode metal fades within days. I made some more, hoping to sell it. One of the vials had gone missing when I checked after the boy had escaped. I swear that I had no hand in it, but it was definitely my potion that did the deed."