Unexpected Guest

Having hit a dead end with his own progress, Ahsch went to help his girls with their own practice. Or, more accurately, he went to help his twin - Mahat's 'stats' would grow with his, and he didn't have much of anything to contribute to her actual skill-based training.

Ariin, on the other hand, he could assist in several ways. To start, he provided some resistance for her Throughput training - using Spirit String, he pushed a large rock against her Windwall, forcing her to channel more mana into the Throughput cost of increasing the wall's deflective properties. It was an overall simple affair for him, so he busied himself admiring her nude, lithe, glistening body, as her magical exertions caused her to sweat.

"It's not fair," she grunted.

"Oh?"

"You're barely even trying, but I'm working so hard I'm soaked, and I don't even have a show!"

Ahsch grinned sadistically. "If you can complain that much, clearly you're not trying hard enough!" he teased, and pushed the rock even more. But a few minutes later, when they called a break to the practice, he did reward his twin by slipping a couple fingers into her soaked cunt, massaging her G-spot while his thumb gently circled her clit. After reducing her to a whining, dripping mess, he gave her pussy a few firm pats, then had his Thrall clean his fingers of her juices, which she did with lewd gusto.

Laughing, and giving her a smack on the ass, they got back to practicing. This time, the worked on her Mana Density, which was more challenging than Throughput; since many spells could be 'channeled' using Throughput, that particular stat was relatively simple to grow, since the mage only had to try and **** more mana through the spell. Other stats, like Density, were more complicated, as their involvement in a spell tended to be passive, often determining the raw power and dispel-ability of the of the spell.

Luckily, spells weren't the only way mages could interact with their mana - moving the mystical essence around on its own was also an option, though one with few practical applications, aside from powering enchantments. However, by compressing some of his own mana to a point just past the density of Ariin's, Ahsch could create the perfect target for her to try and break - either with spells which were powered by Mana Density alone, or by trying to crush the blob of mana with her own raw mana.

Again, after she had trained for a good hour or so, the Dominant Mage rewarded his sister with his attention, this time pinching and rolling and pulling and otherwise playing with her nipples until she was panting, her petite chest thrust into his groping hands, while she ground her ass against his half-hard cock. Another spank, and they went back to practicing her Throughput.

It was shortly before dinner when the trio returned home to an odd sight - four horses stood outside the house, with two knights in armor keeping watch over them. Upon seeing the group, one of the knights jogged over, her focus on..."Are you Ahsch?"

Using Mage Sight - which he had activated the moment he saw the knights - the hrafthi glanced over the taurine woman who had approached and the man who was still with the horses. Tier Two both. "Why do you ask?" was his curt response.

The woman frowned, annoyed. "I ask as a servant of the royal family of the Kingdom of Stars. Are you Ahsch?" This time, there was an edge to her voice as she asked the question.

Be ready, the Dominant Mage warned his familiar. "I am."

There was a flicker of relief across the knight's gaze. "Good. Lady Celes has been recalled to the capitol, and she insists that you accompany her."

This time it was the boy's turn to frown. "'Lady Celes?' I'm not familiar... rather, I know who that is, but I don't _know _her, and I couldn't imagine a royal out here..."

The door to the house opened before the knight could respond, and Michlas stepped out. "Because a scion of the royal family does not simple gallivant across the Kingdom under her real name," he said, a hint of amusement in his voice as he approached. "Lady _Kira_siel Celes insisted on seeing the Canyon, convinced that it wasn't a Primeval Demesne - though I think her opinion has changed on that detail."

Ahsch's eyes widened while his throat went bone dry. Kira... was Kirasiel Celes? A member of the royal family? Cousin to the King? And he...

Relax, Master, or they'll be suspicious! Mahat reprimanded. They don't seem to be arresting you, so I doubt Kira told them about what happened between you.

Ahsch could feel how pale he must look, but took a deep breath and **** his tensed muscles to relax. "I did not realize..." he cleared his throat, tossing away the pointless sentence. "May I ask _why _her Ladyship wishes for me to accompany her?"

Michlas sighed sympathetically. "Damned if I know, but she can be quite... stubborn when she wants to. We have no grounds to **** you to comply, but I imagine that she won't take it too well if you refuse."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning she'd probably find a way to annoy you enough that you wished you'd have come with us."__

Ahsch swallowed, not liking the sound of that. "She's not here now, is she?" he asked, looking past man towards the house, where another had come out and joined the man with the horses... and where the hrafthi's entire family was watching, intrigued and worried.

The bodyguard shook his head. "No, she's back at the inn, preparing to depart at dawn. But she was insistent that we make every effort to convince you to come with us. To that end," he cleared his throat, his tone taking on a more official cadence. "As you risked life and limb to protect and, according to the Lady Celes herself, intervened in her defense against a goddess, you are entitled to a significant reward, to be presented by the Head of House Celes." Michlas relaxed, the more formal announcement made. "Suffice to say, if you accompany us back, you should expect to receive a substantial boon from House Celes - wealth, land, a title... the possibilities are vast, given the importance of her Ladyship to the House."

Ahsch stared, dumbfound. "Did... Lady Celes didn't suggest that, did she?"

The man seemed about as bemused by the situation as the hrafthi felt. "When I pointed out that you may not desire to... travel so far away from home," Ahsch could feel the 'with Kira' that Michlas left unspoken, "her Ladyship was quick to suggest a reward for protecting her. Which is admittedly... not the most in keeping with her character."

Ahsch didn't need to be a genius to read between the lines. Kira - Kirasiel - didn't really care about rewarding him, she cared about bringing him along to the capitol. For what reason was unclear. It was possible that she wanted to get him to her place of power before springing a trap, killing or confining him before he could do anything against her with his control - limited though it was - over her. Michlas and the knights wouldn't need to be in the know for that to work either. But at the same time, such a scheme felt... wrong for her. She was brash, direct. Subtlety and guile seemed quite unlike her.

But if not to punish him in some way for his actions - either during their exit of the Canyon, or the night before - then for what possible reason did she want to take him along? Or maybe the trip was, in and of itself, a punishment? Could she not simply relay the events to the Head of House Celes, suggest an appropriate reward, and have it delivered by some footmen? Why waste her royal time when she could keep up an appearance of gratitude without inconveniencing anyone? Why, specifically to inconvenience Ahsch, of course!

It seemed petty, but nothing else really seemed to fit. Drag his ass halfway across the country, give him some money, then kick him out and send him home - and without the escort either. And 'petty' might as well have been Kira's middle name.

Ahsch sighed. "How long would this take?"

"The journey itself will probably take two or three weeks, maybe less as recent... developments in the capitol demand Lady Celes' presence as soon as possible. As for the actual presentation of your reward, depending on the nature of said reward, it could be anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days. The return trip would be your pace to set."

The hrafthi nodded, expecting as much. Though the bit about developments in the capitol was unusual - though it could explain why Kira was being recalled at all. Must be serious, he considered.

I think you should go, Mahat carefully suggested. If it is a trap, we're prepared for it, and it's not like you can actually be harmed by any knight or mage. If it is a proper reward, well, anything Michlas mentioned would be useful in some way or another, and we'd have two weeks to consider something to request in exchange for any of what he said. The risk is relatively low, and the benefits could be great.

I still don't like it, the Dominant Mage responded. It just doesn't feel right.

"Would anyone else be able to go with him?" Ahsch turned sharply at his sister's voice.

Michlas hummed thoughtfully. "Unfortunately, you couldn't bring your whole family. I understand Mahat is his familiar, so she would, of course, be able to come with. But past that, we could maybe accept one or two others?"

"Well, if my brother is going, then so am I," the petite hrafthi declared.

"If you can accommodate two more, then I feel I should join as well." Both the twins gaped as their mother strode forward, head held high. "I should like to see my son's reward, and it has been some time since anyone of the family has been to the capitol."

The bodyguard nodded. "Of course, miss. I understand. Of course, that all depends on Ahsch." Over a dozen pairs of eyes, from the knights, to his family, to those closest to him, landed on the hrafthi boy as Michlas reiterated the question at hand.__