Head to town on foot

Duncan sets out on foot toward the town, all the while bemoaning how difficult his life had become. For many years he labored under the assumption that when he reached 18 years of age his life would improve. At last, he would be viewed as a man, instead of a boy, and he would finally be in firm control of his life.

What a joke that turned out to be! He started his new life as an adult by being taken to a room filled with books and informed that he would spend the next few years doing little more than reading all of them. Next, he made the company of a notorious trickster named Felixia, who delighted in insulting him and getting him into horrible scrapes. She talked him into abandoning his studies, and that resulted in his tutor seeing the truly bizarre image of the Queen, dressed as a dominatrix. As if that weren't enough, Felixia transformed him into a girl, passed him off to his own brother an island girl who should be deflowered, and then told that dolt of a stable boy that he was a nymphomaniac who couldn't wait to rut with him!

Since that time he has had to hide from sex-crazed dwarves and endure being poked, prodded, and terrified by a creature that will be fuel for Duncan's nightmares for years to come. Now, to top it off, he has no horse and is tired, hungry, and hot!

Duncan added new items to his list of woes with almost every step. He stopped and looked up at the sky. The sun was burning hot and bright, and there was still no sign of the town. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and was about to add "left to die of thirst and heat exhaustion" to his list of complaints when he heard one of the most welcome sounds he could have imagined: the sound of moving water.

Duncan followed the sound past a row of bushes and found himself standing in front of a small river. The water looked and sounded so inviting that he wasted little time stripping his clothes off for a refreshing swim.

As he removed his pants, he gave a small cry of surprise. Only then did he remember that Felixia had given him "a little gift" when she changed him back to a male. For the first time that day, Duncan felt a genuine sense of appreciation for Felixia. He wouldn't have put it past her to change his penis into a three-headed snake or even make it burst into flame like a torch. Instead, he realizes that the gift was a few extra inches of length.

Despite Felixia's incessant goading about his penis size, Duncan was actually rather pleased with himself. While no monster by any means, his 6.5-inch cock was more than suitable for anything he -- or anyone else -- needed doing. But it is no 6.5-inch member between his legs now. In astonishment, he carefully examines his new equipment, which looks like it will easily top at least 10 inches when fully erect. Suddenly his day seems much better, and he wades into the water with a renewed spirit.

As Duncan bathes and cools down, he resists the urge to do more "hands-on" exploration of his new and improved body part. He had always prided himself on not needing to resort to masturbation since he was a young teenager. The supply of ready, willing, and able beautiful females has always been plentiful. Truth be told, however, he was sorely tempted to give it a try right now; he didn't know if it was his imagination or some side effect of Felixia's magic, but his cock seemed extra sensitive, and the sensation of the rushing water was quite enjoyable. Perhaps here, in the solitude of this quiet place, he might give his tool a test drive.

It is at this moment he realizes with a start that he is not nearly as alone as he thought. A reflection of light downstream catches his eyes, and he is astonished to see a young woman. Like Duncan, she is bathing, and also like Duncan, she is quite naked.

The woman appears to be unaware of Duncan's presence. She appears to be Duncan's age or perhaps a year or two older. She has long brown hair that hangs down half-way down her back, where it meets the water and spreads out on the current. He guesses that if she wasn't standing in the water, her hair would come down to her hips. Her fair white skin shines with the reflection of the sunlight off her wet body. Her breasts are firm and untouched by age or gravity, and Duncan is mesmerized by the water dripping off her perky nipples.

The woman turns in Duncan's direction to draw her hair together and wring out the water. As she does she sees Duncan and lets out a startled cry before ducking into the water, with only her neck and head visible.

"I'm sorry," says Duncan. "I did not mean to intrude on your privacy! I did not know anyone else was here!"

The woman looks at Duncan warily and appears unconvinced by his words. "So you say," she says. "How is it I have never seen you in these parts before, yet you conveniently show up at a time like this?"

Duncan smiles. "I might ask you the same thing," he said. "From my perspective, I am minding my own business, taking a refreshing swim, and you choose this particular moment to show up here."

She gives a small smile. "Perhaps... But I happen to live near here, and unless I have a neighbor who has remained unknown to me, you do not."

"Fair enough," says Duncan. "I am a stranger in these parts, but I promise you I bear you no ill will. I am a traveler, and I have gotten parted from my horses. I was just making my way into town and thought I would take advantage of this opportunity to refresh myself."

"You are headed into town? To Feelfow? Why, you are a fair distance from there. Without a horse, you will not get there before nightfall!"

Duncan's spirits sink. He must have gotten turned around and has wasted this time going in the wrong direction!

"And this is not a safe place to be after dark, Stranger," says the woman. "There have been strange happenings here of late, and I would not be out after dark, even if I were not a woman."

"Strange happenings?" asked Duncan. "What do you mean?"

"Perhaps this is something we should discuss when we are somewhat better attired," she responds. "If you would be so good as to turn around and remain turned around, I will make myself a little more presentable for polite company."

Duncan grins, thinking that she looked quite presentable before she ducked down, but he obediently turns around and resists the very strong temptation to sneak a peek as he hears her splash ashore.

"You may look now," she says, after a few moments. "And my name is Cassandra, by the way."

"A pleasure to meet you, Cassandra. My name is Duncan. I trust it is not only safe to look, but also safe to emerge from the water, myself?"

She laughs and says, "It is, Duncan. I shall dignify you with privacy and avert my gaze!"

Duncan can't help but wish she would look, so he can show off his impressive new piece of anatomy, but decides he must play it slow. He reasons that this young woman does not know he is a prince, and he does not know anything about her background. While he unquestionably plans to work his charm on her, he does not wish to frighten her away if he comes on too strongly at first.

Several minutes later, a cooler and cleaner -- if a wee bit damper -- Duncan is dressed and approaches Cassandra. "Now that we are both decent, tell me what you mean about strange things happening here."

Cassandra looks at Duncan appraisingly, considering how much she can say and how much to trust him. Making up her mind, she says, "You are in need of shelter for tonight. I am quite serious when I say you should not be out after dark around here. Come home with me. My father and mother will gladly give you dinner and shelter for tonight."

Duncan's hopes rise at the invitation and the thought of food. His hopes are somewhat dashed when he hears Cassandra talk of her father and mother. "So much for any hope of trying out Felixia's gift," he says to himself. To Cassandra, however, he smiles and says, "That is most kind. If you are sure it will not be an imposition."

"Not at all," she assures him. "We live just over this rise."

As she leads Duncan to her home she explains the situation. "People have been reported as missing throughout this land. For nearly a year now we have been hearing reports; sometimes it is someone who does not return from a journey. Other times they disappear while right outside their homes at night. My parents are old and frail, and they are sick with worry just to allow me to stray this far from home at midday."

"And you have no indication as to the fate of these missing people?" Duncan asks.

"None. Oh, there are rumors, of course. Most of those who are missing are men, and so the old wives say there is a roving band of succubi wandering around, seducing these men and killing them by draining them of their sexual essence."

"If you gotta go, that's the way to go," thinks Duncan, but holds his tongue.

"Others say it is a roving band of dwarves, **** and pillaging anyone they encounter," she continues.

"I saw a band of dwarves," offers Duncan. "Last night... a foul lot they were, too."

"Indeed?" says Cassandra, hopefully. "Perhaps tomorrow you can go into town and report this to the constable? This may be what the authorities need to know in order to stop the terror. But alas, here we are..."

With that, the couple arrives at a modest wooden cottage. Cassandra opens the door and calls out, "Mother! Father! We have a guest!"

Duncan enters the cottage and is greeted by the welcome smell of baked bread and other delicious scents coming from the woodburning stove. Standing in the kitchen is an elderly woman, apparently at work making dinner. Sitting at the table is an elderly man, who appears to be in the middle of drinking a cup of tea.

Duncan steps forward to introduce himself, only to remember Felixia's warnings about keeping his identity under wraps. And yet, as he looks at this family and considers the kindness being shown to him and the fear they have about the lawlessness in the area, he wonders if it wouldn't be best to simply let them know who he is.