Chapter Three: The Fire

There was a fire, that was what Kya remembered first.

Her caravan had made camp early, settling onto the bank of a river so that they could wash and replenish their water reserves before beginning the next leg of their journey.

Usually they would press on until the sun had fully set, then make camp wherever was most convenient at that time, but ahead of them was the driest stretch of desert that they would need to traverse so it only felt right to tackle such a challenge with a refreshed mind.

They should just have continued on as usual, maybe if they had then they would have been spared from their ultimate fate.

“How much further?” Kya had asked Farris, the caravan master, just earlier that same day. A rugged man with a spirit far too joyous for such a tedious line of work, she’d paid him to drive her wagon so they’d spoken often throughout the trip.

“Two days more, three at the most,” he’d said, swatting absent-mindedly at a fly that had been pestering him for the past hour. “The waste ahead of us is the final hurdle, it stretches all to the coast. Once we clear it, our journey is over.”

“A shame,” she’d said, muttering under her breath.

“Oh? Ten days ago you were saying that you couldn’t wait to reach the port, what changed?” Farris’ words had been laced with lighthearted mockery, a knowing grin plastered across his face as he spoke. He’d turned then to face Kya who was actively adjusting the wide brim of her hat to hide her face, though the caravan master had seen her blushing nonetheless.

“What can I say, I’ve grown accustomed to life on the road,” she’d told him, just barely managing to keep her voice steady and clear.

“Has it? I never would have thought that that was possible. You still look a little too fancy to be a wayfarer, what with your fancy clothes and all.”

“How is this fancy? I’m wearing the same thing as everyone else!”

“Not by choice,” he’d reminded her. “If it weren’t for me, you’d still be a prime target for bandits. I bet they would love to see you in that loose, flowy gown of yours; the purple one with the long sleeves.”

“Why specifically the purple one with the long sleeves?”

“Because that’s the one that looks best on you,” he’d stated with a smile. “That blue dress isn’t bad either, mind you, but I think purple suits you best.”

“Is that so? I guess that I’ll have to take that as my cue to purchase some more purple pieces once we reach some proper markets.”

“Will I get to see you in these new dresses?”

“If you play your cards right,” Kya had told the rugged man, a shy smile playing on her lips despite herself.

“Really? I guess that I’ll have to take that as my cue to pay for those dresses myself,” he’d said, grinning like a fool as he leaned back in his seat.

Kya at first had refused to face the man. She felt his gaze resting upon and already that was enough to make her cheeks burn in such a way that the sun above was envious, yet soon enough she found herself giving in to her lust and locking more than just eyes with the caravan master.

Perhaps it was merely the fire by which they had basked, but he had tasted of smoke, sharp and sweet and strong. It was a taste that Kya remembered well.

With his back against the wheel of her wagon, she’d straddled his lap, placed there by firm hands that now wandered the length of her hips. He’d then gripped her sides, just enough to make her wince without hurting her, and pulled her in closer.

“I was wrong, you don’t need some fancy dress to look gorgeous,” he’d murmured into her ear, causing her heart to flutter just as a series of tender kisses were placed along her collar. Kya had felt her head swim, a lone thought emerging from the fog that urged her to slip down between Farris’ legs.

She’d fumbled with his braided belt for a painfully long moment, her fervor causing her to abandon her usually poised demeanour. A gentle hand caressing her cheek was what had finally managed to steady her hands, though it only further quickened her pulse. Farris’ eyes, locked onto hers, had put Kya into a trance as his belt at long last came loose. Without breaking away from his gaze she dipped low, tugging his trousers down to his knees to plant a kiss on his second head.

Farris had begun to breathe heavily by now, never once daring to blink or glance away as Kya stole a second taste, then a third, and a fourth. Time after time she savoured the virile flavour without ever planning to cease her carnal feast.

The minutes had flashed by in what felt like an instant. The sounds of lust had been breaking the silence of the night as their shadows merged into one. Eventually Farris had groaned and gripped her hair tight, unable to contain himself any longer.

Kya had broken free from his grip for a single moment, just long enough to whisper a **** plea before eagerly returning to her meal. Her dessert came swiftly, though she allowed herself less than a second to enjoy such a treat. She gulped heavily, urging out every last drop before releasing her new lover from her clutches at long last.

“Where’d a lady like you learn to do all that?” Farris had asked, chuckling between heavy breaths. Even with the red and orange hues of the fire acting as camouflage, Kya had been able to see just how flustered he had become. With a chuckle of her own she leaned in to give his cheek a soft peck.

“Wouldn’t you like to know,” she’d teased, shifting to sit by his side. With her head on his shoulder, Kya had stared into the dancing flames of the fire. Farris was the first to drift to sleep, exhausted as he was following their private adventure, though it wasn’t long before sleep had overtaken Kya as well.

There was a fire, that was what Kya remembered second.