Royal Heart 2

by Nuit du Loup

Ilona was more than a little baffled when opened her eyes to see warm sunlight shining into a room with plastered stone walls. A cool breeze was coming through the open casement and it felt really good on her cheeks. The rest of body felt a little numb and detached and her mind wasn't much better. She felt like she'd just slept off a long day of grueling work.

As she lay there, just staring upwards, she tried to make sense of what was going on. She definitely wasn't in her hut. The last thing she remembered was walking home after eating a great dinner. She'd been walking through the torchlight of the main road and then...

Flashes of memory burst through her mind. She remembered her head throbbing and a feeling of tremendous heat rising up from with in her. She hadn't been able to control her body at all. She definitely remembered the fear and the pain too. But then it all had gone away. All because...her eyes opened wide. She'd kissed a girl!

A muffled sound came from her right. She turned her head to look and just stared. It was the girl! It was the one that she had kissed and she was just lying there, sleeping peacefully with her soft, pink lips slightly parted. And she looked so terribly young. For a moment she felt guilty about kissing a girl so young, even if she hadn't been able to help it. But the kiss, her first, had felt very good. And looking now, the girl was very pretty.

She looked small under the sheets and her honey colored hair framed a delicate looking face with a small nose and mouth as well as smooth unblemished skin that was strangely pale compared to anyone else she had ever seen. The hair looked naturally curly and very soft, much better maintained than hers, and from the sides of it poked just a hint of small ears.

She didn't know how long she stared in captivation of such a pretty sight. Everything inside her wanted to go and touch the girl again. She wanted to kiss those lips again too. They had been so soft. She was sure it would feel just as good as the last time. But she resisted and let the strange girl sleep, merely resting her head on her elbow to observe until she woke on her own.

******

When Kaede rejoined with the world, warm sunlight was bathing her face through an unfamiliar window of arched stone and a cool breeze to counter the sun wafted in to tease her loose hair. For a long time she just laid there like that, not really fully awake yet, but vaguely aware.

She felt odd. Not sick or anything that felt like that. But there was something different; a charge that had not been there previously and it sat deep within her. Her skin seemed to tingle a little too as if with a remembered numbness.

She cast her attention a little more inwards as she'd been taught. As soon as she did so she almost cried out in shock. It had been like staring dead into the sun. Carefully she returned to surreptitiously check out what had taken residence in her mind and body. The inner fire seemed somehow familiar to her and warmly comforting. As she cast her mind a little closer, it seemed to react to her awareness of it. A tendril of liquid fire reached out and caressed her mind-self and a shudder passed through her body. With it came a single name, one that seemed to fill a hole in her existence she had never before been aware of. That name was Ilona.

Speaking the name both aloud in a soft whisper and in her mind, she began to think more clearly. She didn't remember going to bed. She went over what she did know of the previous night. She remembered getting ready to go to bed, and then her father's men had pounded on her door, screaming for everyone to get out into the street on her father's orders. They went downstairs, then she and her maid went outside and ...

She jolted upright, the last memory exploded into clarity. Her right hand flew up and touched two fingers to her lips. That strange girl, the one having some sort of magical attack had kissed her! When those lips touched hers, it had seemed as if the entire world had ceased to exist. All that had mattered were those soft lips. And then the magic had rushed into them and blew all thought into incoherent ramblings.

She knew she should be worrying about the last part, with all the magic and stuff, but all she could think about was the kiss. Brief as it had been, it had felt wonderful. Why had a strange girl's kiss felt so good? She hadn't even been kissed by a boy yet. And for some strange reason, that particular fact didn't seem as important as she normally would have thought it.

She heard a soft intake of breath nearby. Thinking it was just her maid, fallen asleep watching over her after last night, she turned. And promptly froze. There, not two strides from her, watching her from a cheaply made servant cot, was the same girl from the night before.

Her first instinctual reaction was a small flash of wary fear. This was because she had never been alone in the presence of another except for one of her maids or family, at least not since she'd been a tiny child. Even the Guards that were assigned to watch over her were pairs. But the fear quickly vanished, stillborn. It was replaced by curiosity.

Kaede turned fully in the bed and hung her bare feet over the sides. Leaning comfortably on one arm, she cocked her head and studied what she could, which wasn't much. The girl, young woman really, was older than Kaede by several years and was covered almost entirely by a dull blue blanket. But she was turned on her side toward her, giving Kaede a very good look at her pleasant, smiling face.

The girl had darkly tanned skin, like that of the dockworkers she had seen. Her face was strong and yet still very attractive. Dark, charcoal hair that was badly in need of better treatment, hung down in fine strands of uneven length. Thin dark brows framed almond-shaped eyes that were open brown windows of mirrored curiosity. Soft looking lips hung slightly open. And on the girl's forehead were two lines, graceful as if drawn there by a calligrapher that came together and curved around a small ocean-blue Stone. Kaede remembered that Stone from the night before.

Kaede stared for a long time at the lips that had kissed her. It seemed amazing somehow that something a simple as pressing lips together could elicit the response her body had given. "Why was she reacting this way toward a stranger, and a girl, that she had never met before?" she thought confusedly. She recognized the feelings as the same ones some of her older friends back home had described when they looked at handsome men or boys. She had been baffled at the time, wondering why she didn't feel the same, but had discarded those worries as pointless. But now though, she was feeling them toward a girl. It was very odd.

Her eyes scanned over the girl's covered form and she felt an itch of stronger curiosity. As if reading her mind, the girl shifted to get more comfortable and the blanket covering Ilona's body slid far enough aside to give her a clear view of everything. It made her mouth water instantly.

"Whoa," she breathed silently. Inside her chest she felt her heart beating just a little faster. She felt even more confused. Her body was getting very excited by her gazing upon the more mature, naked form of this other girl.

"She is Ilona," she said very softly, somehow certain of this.

Her eyes took in Ilona's body and she felt a nice tingle between her legs, as well a small surge of jealousy. Ilona's body was stunning in her opinion. Ilona looked sturdy and well muscled but not obscenely so at all. She was so tall too. Kaede saw more of the black lines, these looked like frozen tongues of flame that curled up Ilona's arms, upper thighs and on either side of her belly. The jealousy she felt came from the fact that Ilona was clearly very womanly. Her breasts were of a very nice size and very firm, defying gravity with youth, each was capped by a slightly lighter tanned areola and tantalizingly big nipples. And between her long, strong legs was a soft looking tuft of dark, silky looking hair that Kaede felt a desire to run her fingers through.

Kaede felt a moment of inadequacy looking at the sight before her eyes. She was young, short, had little chest to speak of, tiny nipples, and there was only a soft fuzz on her womanhood. As those thoughts intruded, she squashed them angrily. She was only twelve, so when she was this girl's age, she too would be a woman. This was followed by an indignant spike. Who was this girl to make her react like this?

Then she looked at the Stone again. "No!" she screamed silently in her mind. She wasn't an ignorant peasant like these locals. She knew what that stone meant and what this girl was. Understanding of the previous night slammed home. This girl was a true Mage and she, Princess Kaede of Nascio, had bonded to her and in their Kingdom the law was clear.

It wasn't fair. This was not how she had planned her life to go! She was supposed to marry some stupid rich idiot and use her learning and connections support and build the Kingdom. She had planned on controlling her own House one day It was true she might not have actually looked forward much to the marrying part of her future, but at least there she would have had some choice and it would have allowed her to build a family. But now...it just wasn't fair.

******

Ilona watched the other girl watching her and couldn't look away. The eyes watching her were a strange hazel, but they were clear and full of intelligence. When her blanket slipped off during an effort to shift the weight on her arm a little, she had been very surprised at how interested the girl seemed in her naked body. So much so that she didn't move the blanket back to cover her nudity.

No one had ever looked at her the way this girl was. Sure men had made comments and threats about what they wanted to do to her, but this was different, she could tell. The girl was looking at her in open and plain appreciation. There was even a hunger growing in those young eyes.

Ilona had never taken a lover, for doing so would probably have been a death sentence around here. They would have hated her even more for the fact that she enjoyed the bodies of women and not men on top of her supposed witchcraft. She had heard that in many of the cities of the far kingdoms you were free to take whoever you liked as a lover. So maybe this girl had come aboard the king's ship? Did this girl want her the way she wanted the girl?

Then she watched in puzzlement as the girl's face and expression changed rapidly. First annoyance flashed over her pretty features like heat lightning. It was swiftly followed by a glowering anger. The glare lasted for a couple moments, almost long enough that Ilona was on the verge of speaking, to apologize for kissing her since that the only offensive thing she could think of having done, but then the anger collapsed and crystalline-clear tears began to slide down those pretty pale cheeks.

The young girl began to cry. To Ilona's ear it had the tone of frustration. It was an emotion Ilona was very familiar with. The girl covered her eyes with hands propped onto her legs at the elbow and cried quietly.

Ilona felt a strong wave of protectiveness sweep through her for the girl, and it came out of nowhere. Not really knowing what else to do, she slipped out of her bed, ignoring her nakedness, and crossed to sit next to the other girl. She wrapped her strong arms around the much smaller person and drew her into an embrace. She had little experience in giving comfort to others, but she had seen mothers in the village hugging daughters often enough to think it might work.

Instead the girl just seemed to cry harder and squeeze her tightly with her skinny pale arms. Hot tears fell against her chest. Ilona had no more ideas so she just moved the girl on her lap and hugged her tightly. After a few minutes the unnamed girl quieted and just sat there with her face pressed into Ilona's neck.

"You're very strong," the girl said with absent softness. "That has to count for something."

"Huh?" was all Ilona could come up with for the seemingly random comment.

The girl's face shifted to look up at her. It was still tear stained but a backbone of pride had reformed. "This is all you're fault you know!" it came at Ilona loudly and even the girl seemed surprised by how close to a yell it had been. She continued in a more normal tone. "You have changed everything Ilona. My entire future has been ruined."

"But it was just a kiss," Ilona said in confusion, her lilting accent was a bit strong today. The girl seemed pleased by her voice though because she cocked her head a little at it. "Is there a law where you come from that says you can not kiss a girl?"

"There is no such law," the girl said and she seemed amused for a moment. They stared into each others eyes for a long minute. Ilona forgot again, all about the young age of the girl in her lap and when she saw a something like curiosity in the girl's eyes, Ilona tilted her head up to her own and this time she kissed the girl intentionally.

Their lips came together and Ilona felt a spark of energy flush through her. It made her feel alive like never before. And the lips of the girl were heaven. They were so small and soft. The girl seemed stiff and resistant at first, as if she was unsure of what she was doing, but like ice before a furnace, she melted in her arms. Small fingers clutched tightly at her arms and when the girl's mouth opened for breath Ilona eagerly laid the girl down against the bed and slid her tongue inside. The electrical feeling was still with her, and she felt something powerful and deep inside for the girl beneath her. But she ignored it to focus on the hunger she felt for just the touch the girl.

Beneath her the girl was now hesitantly returning the kisses and Ilona didn't mind at all when a small hand grasped onto one of her breasts and squeezed it experimentally.

But then the girl stiffened and shoved up hard with her arm. Confused at both the girl's rejection and her own strange, strong arousal toward someone so young, Ilona obligingly lifted away, taking her lips off. But as she rose she noticed for a brief moment, a bluish light fog connecting their mouths like a stream.

"See," the girl said in an annoyed and breathy rasp. "It wasn't just a normal kiss. Now stop doing that and get off of me!"

Before Ilona could ask what she meant, the door swung open with no warning and she heard boots thumping on the wooden floorboards. Instinctual and protective panic rushed through her at the thought of being caught so defenseless by any of the village men. Her hand went to her hip in a reflexive grab for a knife she wasn't wearing. Powerful energy seemed to seethe up from within her somewhere and bright blue light limned her body like a second skin that boiled angrily into the air.

Running on an instinct she didn't understand to protect the young girl under her from the neatly bearded intruder, and the old woman with him, she raised a hand up in their direction. The room began to shimmer as a new part of her mind gathered power into her open palm and stray strands of glowing light lashed around aimlessly.

"No Ilona, stop!" the girl cried in a panic of her own. "Oh bleeding hell, what was that damn command they used! Oh!" Ilona felt the girl's hand press over her chest, just below her neck. "Ilona, Seal!"

And with that everything simply vanished. The power that part of her mind had been gathering disappeared as if it had never been and the room no longer seemed to vibrate. The electrical feeling inside her also settled down somewhere deep inside as if going to sleep for the moment. She still glared at the intruders and closed her hands into fists. She could still use those.

There was a tall, older man with a boxed beard and he stood in the doorway, staring at her from a fighter's stance as if preparing to defend himself from her. He wore a ridiculously expensive silk coat and pressed trousers. On his belt was a slim, curving sword. A face peaked around the man and she got a better look at the woman. She was well into her later years and dressed casually in a plain green dress with a white flower pattern. She took one look at them and gasped.

"My Lord!" the woman said in clear disapproval. "Please look aside! This is unseemly!"

It was then Ilona remembered she was bare-assed naked and on top of the younger girl. Since she had already been seen, Ilona calmly got off the girl, grabbed a sheet from her bed, and wrapped it around her in as dignified a manner as she could manage. Never once did she look away from the man who still watched her warily. Then his eyes flicked to the girl who was now sitting up and glowering in displeasure at the man and at Ilona in turns.

"Maybe it was a mistake to put you two together," the man said in a thinking tone.

The girl sniffed, "Father, I don't know why she reacted in that way, but she was clearly trying to protect me from you! Why are you barging in here anyways? You didn't even knock."

"Forgive me for worrying about my daughter," the man said in wry amusement. "We heard some odd noises and decided to make sure that you were both alright after the bonding."

"What are you talking about?" Ilona asked, seating herself carefully so as not to expose herself again to the man. "And who are you all anyways?"

"Who are we?" the girl looked at her in amazed incredulity. "How can you not know who we are after yesterday?"

"If you're saying that you came on the skyship, I still have no idea," Ilona said with an amused snort. She gave the incredibly cute young girl a grin. "I don't like to partake in such foolishness. Unlike the other idiots around here, I felt no need to go and look at a King that I will never see ever again. Besides, the people here don't like me very much and being in a crowd like that might make them think they could get away with something."

"Oh, I saw that," the man said. Laughter showed plainly on his face. Amusement and shock were warring on the girl's face too. The old woman simply smiled. "After the show last night they wanted to kill you. Burn you in fact. As for not seeing the King again, you will be seeing him quite often from now on."

The girl sighed in resigned patience. "What my Father is trying to say, while obviously enjoying himself, is that because of what you are, you will be traveling home with us." She drew herself up a little straighter. "And that last oblique comment was meant to be clever. Ilona, please meet my father, King Darin Verros of Nascio, and I am his third and youngest daughter, Kaede cu'Verros."

Ilona looked in cool appraisal at the man and he gave her a deep, respectful bow. "It is true," he said, giving his daughter a pointed look. He raised a hand and touched a small gold cord wrapping around at his temples. "The crown."

"Okay, so maybe you are the King, good for you," she saw multiple raised eyebrows at her tone. Kings didn't impress her. They were still just men like everyone else. She did like the girl's name though, Kaede was kind of pretty. "Why would I leave with you?" She did want to leave, badly, but not if it got her into something even worse.

"For several reasons actually," the King said, smiling at her again as if he had taken her measure. He leaned casually against the doorframe. "First, because of your use of magic last night, the villagers want you dead or gone. I can't permit murder and I don't have the time or resources to protect you from them here. Second, you are a true Mage and by Kingdom law you must go for training. And lastly, because Kaede is leaving and you are now bonded to her, you wouldn't like being separated from her for very long."

So that really was magic she had used? It made a lot of sense even if she didn't know what they meant by a true Mage. "What does that mean, you said it twice now?" she asked.

"As I said, you are a true Mage which is extremely rare," the King answered. "They always have tremendous power. In Nascio all such individuals must be trained for their own safety and others around them. By law they serve the Kingdom as my Knights along with their bond holder which in your case means Kaede, she will be your Knight-Companion." Ilona made to speak but he raised a quieting hand. "A true Mage requires another in order to release their power. It's like a key for their lock. Only certain people that fit into the Mage's own unknowable criteria can hold their bond and release that lock. No one knows yet how to determine what these are, so it's mostly just random chance. "

"A Mage's powers first develop with the onset of puberty and there are many signs of this on your body. Random spurts of power will cause things to happen, usually in moments of extreme stress. If a mage waits too long to form bond, their ability grows unstable, like yours did, and when they eventually run into a compatible person, it runs wild. Luckily we got Kaede to you quickly; you could have destroyed everything on this island."

"How come no one else has told me this before?" Ilona asked as the understanding of many things clicked into place in her mind.

"As you know, people are leery of magic here. Not even the local healers knew what to look for, though I have corrected this now." the king paused and frowned at Kaede. "Will you stop pouting already? It can not be undone"

"Hey! You didn't just have your whole planned life shook apart!" Kaede said indignantly and a bit petulantly. "I never wanted to be a Knight-Companion. I had a whole future ahead of me!"

"True," the man said in a conceding tone. "But you can't plan your whole life at your age anyway, Kaede. Things always happen. Its one of the primary laws of nature" He grinned and looked at both of them. "Maybe you'll even enjoy things being this way. Your cousin seems to enjoy her Companion greatly. I hear they are even planning to marry next year."

Kaede looked at her father and then over to Ilona. Ilona watched her consider that for a moment and Ilona felt an absurd moment of pleasure when Kaede gave a tiny nod to her and lost a little of her anger.

"So what happens now?" Ilona asked. She had no idea what being a Knight was like, so she didn't have an immediate reason to object to being one. For all she knew it was a perfectly rewarding job or at the very least, better than unloading fishing boats. At the moment it just sounded like her way off this island. And the thought of being with Kaede on a permanent basis didn't sound bad at all if the girl was also willing. She'd didn't want to turn away something that could prove to be very wonderful. And the King didn't seem to mind that his extremely young daughter would be involved with someone Ilona's age, he even seemed to think it was a good thing.

The king made a gesture at the still silent old woman; she nodded in response and walked off. "First, you'll get dressed, come downstairs, and eat a nice big breakfast. Then we will assemble everyone together and return to the ship before the villagers decide that lighting you on fire really would be best after all. You can never tell how provincials will think sometimes. Once that is done we'll leave and rejoin the other ships to return to Nascio. Simple."

"Unless we're met by a mob of idiot locals," Kaede said dryly. She gave Ilona the first true, if very small, smile she'd seen on the exceedingly pretty girl. Something inside her itched to hold the girl again and kiss her. "I guess we're stuck Ilona. But this is not they way I wanted my life to go. Understand that. So I'm not very pleased right now."

"It doesn't sound so bad to me," Ilona responded, smiling back widely. Kaede seemed confused by her easy acceptance of the situation, but did nod her acknowledgment of the statement.

Then the maid woman was back with two much younger women that looked much alike with curly brown hair. Each was carrying a set of clothes. "I deeply apologize Lady Ilona, but your clothing was destroyed last night. I purchased a few sets of new ones that should fit; to last you until we return to the Capital. There you will be properly fitted as you should be.

"Uhm, thanks I think," she had never been referred to as 'Lady' by anyone. It was a bemusing experience. "Why are you calling me 'Lady,' I'm not some noble?"

"You are now," Kaede said with sniff. "You think I'd be a companion to a mere commoner? No way! All Knights, regardless of birth, are raised to the nobility. They are rewarded for their service by being given lands or a house when they retire.

Ilona frowned. Kaede seemed to switch back and forth from an intelligent young lady to a petulant noble in swings. Ilona much preferred the former and despised the second. If they were to be around each other from now on, they would have to have an understanding about that.

The first of the women approached her as the old woman shooed the King out of the door. He left with an amused chuckle and shut the door behind the women.

"I can dress myself," Ilona said, when she realized what was happening and what the women coming toward her intended.

"I'm sure you can," the younger woman said with an amused smile. Ilona saw now that she couldn't be out of her twenties. She had a pleasant face and a tight figure. "But this is just a dressing gown so that you can go down to the bath.

"Bath?" Ilona said in wonder. She only took a bath once a month because it such a hassle to haul that much water on her own and the soap was expensive.

"Just put the gown on!" Kaede said in exasperation as she got out of the bed and stood for a moment, stretching herself a little on the floor. Then she gave Ilona a smirk. "It's not as if I haven't seen you naked already."

"I wasn't actually concerned about that," Ilona chuckled. She stood and turned her back toward the young woman, and then she dropped her sheet onto the bed and spread her arms. The woman came up and slid the arms of a soft cotton robe onto her. Then she moved around and with quick professionalism, tied the sash and adjusted the fabric to fully cover Ilona's womanly endowments, though there was still enough of a gap on the slightly too small garment to show some cleavage. She saw Kaede looking curiously at that but the girl quickly turned away when she realized she'd been caught and pretended she had been doing nothing of the sort.

Ilona followed the others out of the room and into a short hallway. She saw unfamiliar men everywhere and a couple of them glanced their way. All were going about whatever business they did for the king. They came to a wide stone stairwell and they descended the smooth steps. She followed them down past the first floor and deeper into what had to be the basement.

The stone landing was cool under her bare feet but it was worn from many prior visits from others. They went down a corridor and passed doorways. One was clearly a pantry and they stepped aside as two women carried various food items in baskets came out and headed toward the stairs. Another was the wine cellar where she saw another set of stairs that led outside for ease of loading and unloading the Viceroy's drink.

The corridor terminated in a circular room with a stepped, sunken floor in the middle. On one side was an enormous iron kettle that sat steaming over a fire. The smoke left through a grill in the ceiling, but the room was extremely hot and had an odor of burned scents. The two younger maids set their burdens of clothing on a wooden rack where towels already lay. They each put on a pair of tough, leather gloves and together they tilted the kettle on its mount and dumped the heated water into the sunken area of the floor. As they did so Ilona spotted a spout in the ceiling were someone could pour water down into the kettle from above. It was a very nice set-up.

"Lady Ilona," the older woman gestured toward the steaming water. Ilona frowned at it. She was far more used to baths were she just scrubbed herself with a wet cloth and some soap.

Sighing, she undid the sash on her gown and one of the women went behind her to take it off her body. That drew another scowl from her. She really didn't like this kind of overbearing service but she decided that complaining wouldn't yield any other results than making these women angry; so she walked forward and stepped way down onto the first submerged step. As the near scalding water went up her skin she let out a soft hiss. It was both pleasurable and painful at the same time.

She then stepped down to the bottom and sat herself on the submerged step as the bath was intended to be used and the water went up to her chest. On the other side of the bath she saw both young maids were undoing the buttons on Kaede's nightgown. They drew it off to reveal a small white undershirt that was also quickly removed. Ilona smiled and feasted her eyes on Kaede's smooth, pale skin and the two small cones of her growing breasts with bright pink nipples. It wasn't often she got a chance to see another girl like this and Kaede was beautiful even at her current youthfulness.

"Will you cut that out?!" Kaede said in chastisement, drawing Ilona's gaze back to her face. Ilona grinned outright when she saw that the girl was blushing brightly from Ilona's appreciation of her petite body. "Honestly, it's not like you don't know what a woman looks like."

Seemingly unconcerned by the words, the two maids drew down the pants of the nightgown and exposed Kaede's thin legs and clean white undergarments. These were a bit lacey and extremely pretty. One maid grabbed the side of the panties and had them at the girl's feet. Kaede quickly walked over and got into the water in an effort to conceal herself from Ilona's interested gaze. But not fast enough. Ilona had gotten a pretty good look at tight looking lips with some tiny golden fuzz above them.

"Gods!" Kaede sighed in exasperation, pouting at Ilona. Only her head was above the water. "Can you please stop staring already? I don't want to be with a girl! Understand me? This is not what I want!"

"Sure," Ilona said noncommittally, relaxing back against the stone in the now very pleasant water. It made it hard to make out Kaede's form, but she could see enough. Then she closed her eyes. "But you're extremely cute though. And I've always looked at girls, not men."

Kaede seemed very intrigued by this and she leaned forward a little. "You have never wanted a man? But you are at least a couple years older than I? I thought was the normal thing. In know I have always planned on having a husband."

"I never felt the inclination," Ilona confirmed with a smile. "But that's another thing that is frowned upon on this island. And yes, I am older than you, I'm sixteen. But I've never been with anyone, and definitely not a man. So I don't think that I mind the implications of what your father was talking about. For me, this is a great improvement on my life."

"What do you think he meant?" Kaede asked.

"That you and I will be together for a very long time," Ilona smiled. "And that I can only use the magic I have when you let me. I am powerful and therefore the law says I have to be controlled. I also have to train and enter service to the King. For this I am rewarded with nobility, and your company and a comfortable retirement in my old age."

"I don't think that last part is entirely correct," Kaede let out a very pleasant sounding laugh. It rang in the small stone chamber. "You and I would be together regardless. It's an instinctual thing that comes with the bonding process. You will have a strong desire to protect me and to remain near me at all times. Being too far for too long will begin to make you edgy and uncomfortable. Its already affecting the way you think about me."

"I see," Ilona said thoughtfully. She didn't really like that something would be affecting her judgment other than her own mind. But didn't dislike the image of herself as a protector; she knew she was strong and quick, and perhaps being such would prove a rewarding experience. "What does the bond holder get out of it, other than having a protector I mean?"

"Back in the way-old days, that was more than enough," Kaede smiled. "The old lords were often only kept alive from their rivals thanks to their Mage. But we also get someone we know can't lie to us; the bond will reveal any such thing that passes our lips. And as my father implied from my cousin who is also a Mage like you, the Mage often ends up as their lover and life partner, though in her case it's with a man."

"Not always?" Ilona asked intently.

"No, not always," Kaede said, her face grew a little troubled. "Some companions rebel and fight against the natural closeness the bond engenders and try to take others as lovers. This almost always ends up being painful. The Mages rarely ever want anyone else as a lover and it always tears at them to know they aren't wanted and to see their holder with any other. A large number of stories and plays have been written about this, and they are always tragedies."

"I see," Ilona said, sobering a little. She'd been so excited in finding a way off the island and the idea that she might have a beautiful, if very young, girl of her own on top of it all. She hadn't thought about what it had truly done to Kaede's life. That had been rude. "Do you have someone you care for already?" she asked.

Kaede snorted. "No, my mother is still busy finding husbands for my two older sisters and a wife for my other brother. My eldest brother is already married. And besides, I'm twelve, much too young to receive proper suitors." She frowned thoughtfully. "Mother is not going to be happy with us Ilona. She would not approve of me being with a woman. She's of the mind that all women need a man to do all the brutish work for them and leave women to tending to the home and family. My life has become so complicated."

"Sorry...Hey!" Ilona jumped in surprise as one of the young maids knelt behind her and reached down with a rag to scrub the front of her body as the other was moving to do the same to Kaede. The older woman was pouring a flowery smelling soap and bath oil into the water from a small container.

"Relax Ilona," Kaede said soothingly, looking amused despite her situation. "Liana is just washing you. And this is her older sister Amelia. The much older woman there is Nana; she's known me since I was in diapers. All three of them are my maids and attendants."

"Do you take baths like this all the time," Ilona asked in bemusement as she lifted her arms at the woman's silent instruction so they could be scrubbed. It tickled a little when she cleaned her armpits, and it was a bit embarrassing when the woman washed her large breasts and the rough cloth made her nipples, already hard from staring at Kaede's pale nubile form, even harder. She felt her cheeks warm when she turned her head and saw that Liana was looking right down at her body in an open and interested manner and the washing felt a little more like Liana was feeling her up. Now she knew how Kaede felt. "And did Liana by any chance volunteer to wash me?" she asked warily

Her question was confirmed by a pleased spate giggle in her ear from the woman and an open smirk from the maid's sister washing Kaede. Two fingers pinched a nipple playfully, and then the hand continued with the washing.

"I don't doubt she did," Kaede answered, looking like she wanted to laugh at Ilona getting a little of her own back. "Liana is always taking new women as lovers. During our last stop I think she had two at the same time."

"Three," the young maid said, laughing openly in delight. "The third was the mayor's daughter. She was very good and experienced."

Kaede just rolled her eyes as if this kind of exchange was nothing new. "That's why I let her sister wash me, Ilona, Amelia only likes men. And yes, this is how baths usually are at home. We have one big bath for the women in the fortress and another for the men. But they're very nice. Nothing at all like this specifically, though this isn't half-bad either. It's very relaxing. Commoners have smaller bathing rooms in their houses; custom and honor dictates that the women will bath in the water first and then the men."

"It is expected that a princess shouldn't wash herself if she doesn't have to," Nana added matter-of-factly. "And your status is the same as hers now. We bathe her at least twice a week. The other times she does it on her own."

"I just don't like people catering to me," Ilona grumbled. She flushed again as Liana giggled; this time her washing hands had slid between her legs and goosed her sensitive bud. She wanted to take them away when Liana pushed one hand into the crack of her firm, round ass and thoroughly cleaned her nether areas. She'd never known that she could feel like that from that place. "I don't like it when people do things for me that I'm fully capable of doing on my own. I've never let myself grow weak. It would have been a death sentence if I had."

"Idiot, superstitious morons," Kaede said caustically. "Ilona, look, this is just how things are for women of nobility in our Kingdom. Can you at least try to allow it?"

"Liana, cut that out," Amelia said chidingly, she was now carefully washing Kaede's honey colored hair in a loving manner. "Ilona doesn't want you feeling her up like that. And besides, she is Lady Kaede's now, not yours."

"But she's so interesting and very good looking," Liana said, grudgingly moving her roving hands up to clean Ilona's hair as well. She gave Ilona a wide smile. "I really like the darkly tanned skin and these," she reached a hand back to grope one of Ilona's firm breasts, causing her to moan aloud a little, "they're so wonderful. I've always liked girls with decent sized ones. Not huge, but definitely not small either."

"This is so weird," Ilona sighed. This was going to take a lot of getting used to. Especially if she was going to be frisked like this all the time by Liana. It was going to driver her into a horny mess.

"Just ignore her," Amelia said knowingly. "She's always been girl crazy. I try to curb her a little by letting her play with me, but she still gets like this sometimes."

"I thought Kaede said you liked men?" Ilona said in surprise.

"Oh, I do," Amelia nodded. "In fact, I'm currently with a certain Guard Captain. He's quite nice and a very suitable prospect for a husband. But I still dote on my sister for her sake. Otherwise she'll be harassing the other women. And it does feel good when she uses her tongue."

"You have some interesting maids," Ilona commented, looking at the smiling Kaede who was obviously used to enjoying this kind of banter.

"They are fun to be around, and wait till you try Nana's cooking!" Kaede looked to the old woman, now seated on a wicker chair, proudly.

"Anyone can learn to cook well if they are as old as me," the woman said by way of accepting the compliment. But Ilona saw her affectionate smile. It was like an aunt and her favorite niece instead a noblewoman and her head maid.

"You're all set, my Lady," Amelia said, standing and retrieving a towel. Her white-on-blue uniform was still immaculate.

This time Kaede looked stubbornly, right at Ilona, when she climbed out of the deep, stone tub. Her water-slick nudity was mouth wateringly wonderful to look at. Amelia efficiently stroked her dry with the towel, and Ilona saw that Kaede's little pink nipples were as hard as hers were. So she knew Kaede wasn't totally immune to her body either.

Liana finished with her hair and Ilona also exited the water. She wrinkled her nose when she realized that some of the flowery smell was coming from her now. Liana made sure that every inch of her body was dry and Ilona was a little taken aback at the open desire and invitation in the woman's eyes. She was far more used to seeing that from men. Liana sighed in loud disappointment when she was done.

"Here are your clothes Lady Ilona," Liana said, picking up a garment. "They aren't much really."

Not much was the truth. The first was a rather unflattering cream-colored blouse that was a little tight in the chest. Nana thoughtfully ripped a dry rag into a long strip that was tied around her chest to hide her big, hard nipples from view. The next to come were plain white underwear and a long blue skirt. Ilona frowned at that, but put it on. It wasn't as if she would be working at the wharf today anyways, but she planned to find some comfortable trousers soon. Last was a pair of nicely fitting shoes.

"It's so plain," Liana complained to everyone once Ilona was dressed. "Can I please get her something nicer once we get back to Nascio?" She looked at Kaede pleadingly. "Please?" Kaede looked amusedly at Ilona.

"I guess she can," Ilona sighed. She had no fashion sense at all anyways. She'd make a botch of buying herself new clothes that would fit in. "But can I at least request pants instead of skirts?"

"Of course!" Liana said, sounding very pleased. "I know a woman who makes clothes that would look great on you. And she owes me a little favor too so I can get a good discount."

"And how does a seamstress and clothing designer owe you anything?" Amelia said, sounding stern as she helped Kaede into a very attractive yellow dress that left her slim arms bare. The skirt hung to the knees and was pleated. Amelia bent and asked Kaede something and the girl nodded with a blush. Then the maid did up the back.

"I took her oldest daughter to that big dance event two years ago," Liana smiled at the memory. "We had a very nice time together and she also met the rather wealthy young man to whom she is now very happily married. She was pregnant with her first when we departed."

Amelia chuckled and gave Ilona another knowing look, "If you need to find someone or something in the Capital of Nascio, just ask my sister. She has probably slept with a girl that knows what you want."

"Hey! That makes me sound so loose!" Liana said indignantly. "I have standards you know! And there haven't really been that many." She gave Ilona a 'pity me' look. "Really, I just like to talk to people."

"Sure, I believe you," Ilona said and she heard Kaede snort a laugh at the half-lie.

"Great!" Liana smiled happily. Ilona got the impression that Liana was usually in a good mood. At least she was very friendly. "Ooh, this hair! Ilona, we don't have the time now, but you must let me do something with it! This is such a mess! It's too fine and silky to leave it in this tragic state."

Ilona laughed. "I don't mind at all, I just hacked it off to where it is now. I didn't trust enough to let anyone else near me with something sharp. So if you think you can clean me up, I won't say no."

Now that they were dressed, Nana led them all upstairs to the manor's dining room. There were several tables set up and a number of men in soldier's uniforms were eating already. Some gave her wary looks for some reason, but none were hostile. It was such a pleasant change from the local islanders. A smaller group in fancier green on green uniforms all sat together at a small, round table and they all gave her very considering looks as she walked by. Each of them had a strange brass device on their wrists. Amelia she saw gave a smartly dressed man at one table a small smile and wave; must be her Captain since he smiled back and gave a seated bow.

"Why did those guys give me such a weird look?" Ilona asked Kaede quietly as they made their way to the table at the far back of the room where she saw the King and the Viceroy eating eggs and bowls of local fruit. The Viceroy's wife sat next to him and gave them a polite nod in greeting.

A young man approached and met them at the table. He pulled out the two empty chairs across from the King and the Viceroy. Kaede sat in front of her father and Ilona sat in front of the Viceroy. Ilona had never spoken to him before and had rarely even seen him since she didn't really have business around the town center.

"Those were my father's heavy troopers," Kaede explained as she pulled her chair in and adjusted her skirt. Ilona did the same, mimicking the more refined young girl. The same young man, now assisted by the maids brought food. This consisted of a fruit bowl, some cream for them, eggs, and a cup of steaming tea. Ilona goggled at that. She had never had the money for tea or cream. She might have eaten the rest individually, but not together in one meal. Once the man left Kaede finished with, "they were the ones that kept your magic from doing too much damage to the town last night. They looked at you that way because they have a wary respect for that."

"It's a good thing I brought them along!" the King said, popping a cream covered strawberry piece into his mouth. "It's hard to think of every scenario I might encounter on a trip like this, but I'm glad I thought to bring two squads. Especially since we left the Volage behind to deal that little pirate problem."

"What pirates?" Ilona asked. She'd heard some of the islands out here were even less reputable than this one.

"Over on the Isle of Tenshu," the King answered. "Seems they hijacked a schooner a couple years ago and have been using it to raid the shipping that passes by them. Trade ships stopped going there so their raids have been sweeping far enough to annoy their nearest neighbors who ratted them out to us. I dispatched one of the four skyships I brought to sink them."

"Sink?" she asked. She cut off a generous piece of egg and ate it.

"Piracy is a capital crime," Davin elaborated. "Those caught are immediately put to death. My orders were to find the ship, watch it, and if it engages in piracy, blow it out of the sea."

Ilona nodded. You couldn't be lenient with that sort. There was no point in imprisoning them. They would just be a drain on society and they were unlikely to ever reform. And she'd heard what they did to people they caught. Sometimes just being put to death was a lenient penalty for them.

"Are you feeling alright now?" the Viceroy asked her, his voice was creaky with his extreme age.

"I suppose I am," Ilona answered. "I barely remember anything anyways."

"That's probably a good thing," the man's wife commented. "There's quite a mess out there."

Ilona wondered what she was talking about. But then she remembered that she had awoken stark naked. She didn't remember taking her clothes off and the maid had said they were destroyed. Her cheeks heated as she ate a cream covered raspberry. Just how many people had seen her nude?

"I'm just sorry I have to cut my visit so short," the King said to the Viceroy a little later. "I planned to stay for a full ten-day, but things have taken a turn. I think my staying here any longer would only cause unrest."

"You're probably right about that," Emelio said sadly. "But it was an honor that you visited anyways."

Ilona soon discovered to her dismay that her breakfast was gone. It seemed criminal in her mind that food so good could be eaten so quickly. She cheered herself with the thought that she would likely eat many more such meals for as long as she remained with Kaede.

The remnants of the meal were being cleaned up and the soldiers were all getting themselves organized when one of the finely dressed troopers approached the King's table. Ilona saw that there was a clean, white, silken rope looped at the right shoulder of his uniform. All present looked at him curiously. He was in his later middle years and his face looked worn from vast experiences. He bowed once in respect to his King and then to Ilona's surprise, to her.

"My Lady," he reached and unlaced something from his sword belt. Her eyes widened when she recognized it as the large, curved knife she had always carried on her since her parents' deaths. "I believe this fine blade is yours."

"It is," Ilona said, taking the knife in its old, leather sheath. The hilt felt comfortably familiar in her hand. She didn't currently have a belt to tie it too, so she decided to hold onto it until she was aboard the ship and had a berth.

"May I ask how it is that you have one of the old trooper blades?" the trooper asked.

"This is Captain Miles," the King said by way of explanation as to who he was.

"It was my father's," Ilona said with a shrug. "I do not know where he received it. But I do know he always carried it."

"Then your father was a former trooper," Captain Miles said with certainty. "And to have kept the blade he would have left the service with honor still held. He tapped his own belt and she saw a large knife there, but the crest on the hilt was different than on hers. "I'm thankful I could return it to its rightful owner. Good day milady." He gave them all another small bow. Then he returned to his men and they all filed out of the room.

"Daughter of a Royal Trooper," King Davin said thoughtfully.

Ilona just shrugged again. "Sorry, I had no idea. I was only eleven when he and mother died in the fire."

"You've lived on your own since you were eleven?" Kaede said, seeming both impressed and horrified for her.

"I survived," Ilona said with a smile. Surviving had been difficult and at times dangerous. It was not a life she would wish on anyone or recommend.

"Well," Davin said, standing up. "We may as well get on the road. Kaede, you and Ilona need to stay close to me. The Guard will be around us as usual, but both of you need to keep an eye out in case somebody throws something."

"They'll throw fish guts if they throw anything," Ilona said in distaste. Kaede gave her an entirely different look of horror this time and she grinned. "It's a favorite way of casting an insult around here. Nothing smells quite as bad as rotting fish pieces."

"Good to know!" the King laughed. For a King, Ilona thought the man was entirely too cheerful. Kings in stories were always dour old men.

They all headed towards the foyer of the manor and met up with the small crowd of gathered Guardsmen. Each man had a polished chest piece of armor on now and a saber on their belt. The ones that looked like officers were affixing strange magic devices made of brass like all the troopers wore on their wrists.

In the middle of all that hoopla was where the King placed himself, Kaede, Ilona, the three maids, and an old man Kaede said was the King's steward. When all the officers declared their squads' readiness, the Captain and another officer opened the main door of the manor. Through the doorway Ilona could see the troopers standing in a semi-circular cordon.

The exit from the building was extremely orderly and the royal party was secure at all times. But when they finally exited into the already scorching midmorning sun, Ilona gasped aloud. A short distance from the door they were exiting was a sizable crater and the buildings around it had large amounts of visible damage done to them. One even looked to have fallen entirely.

"Did I do all that?" she asked.

"Yes, that's what happens when a Mage's magic runs wild," Davin answered. "But no one was hurt; everyone in this area had already left their homes to see what was going on. I left plenty of funds to help with the repairs and rebuilding with the Viceroy."

Ilona didn't get any more chances to look at the damage because they were already moving at a quick pace through the island town. There were plenty of people about at this time of day so they had an audience the entire way down to the waterfront. A number of them called out rude things, but no one threw anything yet.

It stayed that way until they got to the ramp to the wharf. The dockworkers had seen the procession coming and had gathered together. When they got close enough for the soldiers to yell for them to clear the way, Ilona's prediction proved true. Several men used partially filled wooden troughs to sling a reeking hail of fish remains toward them.

Ilona cringed at the coming attack of offal, but two of the troopers in the lead raised their device mounted arms. Ilona saw a light shine from each of those things when the men wearing them shouted something. The fish pieces suddenly shot back in the direction they had come and the dockworkers scattered in surprised horror.

The soldiers never slowed and they plowed onwards. Another small group of soldiers were guarding the entry ramp to the now floating skyship. The ship itself was much larger than Ilona had thought it had been when she saw it in the air and on the side was the name in golden script: Shiraz. By itself it took up an enormous amount of the available dock spaces. It took several minutes just to walk down its length to the ramp. At that point the escort joined ranks with the waiting Guards and they formed a protective corridor for their charges to walk down.

Ilona was in the middle behind Kaede but in front of the maids and the steward. As was his due, the King boarded first. Ilona was slightly amused to see that Kaede was uncomfortable walking over the wooden bridge between wharf and ship. For Ilona, who had been on and around boats for half her life, it was nothing at all.

She was unnerved however by the size of the crowd that was gathering along the village's shore. Unlike the King's arrival, these people looked and sounded very unhappy. Ilona wondered if the elderly Viceroy would be alright after they left.

She stepped off of the ramp and into a large chamber lit both by sunlight from the hatchway and feylamps that seemed to be growing out of the wooden bulkheads. Some of the soldiers were forming up in neat blocks to one side, but Ilona followed Kaede and her father through another hatch and into a well lit corridor of living wood. They stopped at a crossway.

"Kaede, Ilona, I need to go and speak to the Admiral and the ship's Captain. You're safe aboard the ship now so I must leave you for the moment. Kaede, quarters are already filled, so I think it would be best if Ilona berthed with you."

At first Kaede grimaced, but then after looking toward Ilona, her expression was apologetic and conflicted. "I suppose that is a good idea father," she said. "I need to get used to Ilona being around. So we may as well start getting better acquainted now."

"Good," he nodded toward the maids, "ladies." And with that he turned and continued on in a quick, purposeful stride. The steward followed behind like a shadow.

"So," Ilona said after a long pause, "where to?

"Our quarters," Kaede said with a resigned sigh.

The young girl looked her in the eyes in a considering way. Then she turned and led them all down the cross corridor. They went up a level via a set of narrow stairs, and then traveled down a significant portion of the ship's length. Not once did Ilona see a single seam in the wood. Kaede turned them down a corridor that dead-ended at a door. Kaede opened this and they entered a small cabin that was only about twice the volume her hut had boasted.

Reminded of her belongings, she asked about them.

"Oh, some of the soldiers retrieved your chest from your cabin and all of your other belongings," Nana said, sounding as if she thought she should have explained this earlier. "I believe I heard some of the Guards that went, were quite impressed by your traps. Your things were loaded into the ship stores somewhere. I'll make sure they leave with us when we reach the Capital."

Satisfied, Ilona turned back to regard the room. It was only small rectangular chamber, but a view-port let in a generous amount of sunlight. On one wall was mounted a feylight, but it was currently dark. A clothes chest sat against another wall and against the wall with the window was a very small, single-person bunk; in all, the cabin was pretty bare. Ilona placed her knife on the dresser for safe keeping.

"Are we sharing that bed?" Ilona asked. She liked the soft look of the mattress. But she doubted the two of them would fit in it comfortably.

Kaede, who had been silently letting her take in the cabin, gaped. "I hadn't even thought about that!" she looked at the bunk in dismay. She said something more under her breath, but not low enough that Ilona didn't hear it. "I'm not ready to share a bed yet! I'm not prepared at all! And we'd be so close!"

Ilona smiled. Kaede may be less than pleased that they would be sleeping very close together, but Ilona was not. She was looking forward to being in contact with the girl again. And on the practical side, this bunk looked a lot more comfortable than her old bed. Her craftsmanship had been less than amazing there due to a lack of funds for good materials.

"Is there going to be anything you will need?" Nana asked.

"Ilona?" Kaede asked politely, sounding a bit preoccupied.

"I think I'm good," Ilona answered.

"Then no," Kaede said to the maid.

"Then we shall take our leave as well for now," Nana said respectfully. "We have your things to put back in order." She curtsied and drew the younger maids out with her. Ilona noted that Liana seemed to be a little disappointed to leave them already, but she smiled when Ilona gave her a smiling nod in appreciation for what she had done so far. That left her and Kaede alone in the sparse cabin.

Now that they were alone again, Ilona felt a little awkward. She wanted to say something to the princess, but she couldn't think of anything that wouldn't sound stupid. And she wanted to avoid looking like a fool for as long as she could.

"Does this truly bother you? My being here I mean," Ilona asked, after several silent minutes passed. "I can sleep out in the open on the deck at night. I've don't that before. And if I'm a bother I won't force myself into your company, I've had enough of that from men that I would never wish to do so to you."

The younger girl turned fully to face her and stared as if in deep thought. Then she moved several paces and seated herself onto the bed with a deep sigh. "Sit, please," she gestured next to her in invitation. Then she clasped her hands in front of her, her elbows on her knees.

Ungainly in the unfamiliar skirt, Ilona went to the indicated place and sat. She made sure to give Kaede plenty of space so as not to put any kind of pressure on her.

It took a moment for Kaede to begin speaking, but Ilona was patient. "Ilona," Kaede said in a soft tone. "The events of the last day and this morning have made me incredibly confused and troubled. I have felt things today that I never have before, and in complete honesty, I am afraid. Before this all happened, my only immediate plans were to go home and resume my studies until I was old enough to marry. What you represent was never a part of my reality."

She paused to wet her lips. "The bond between us will and has already changed us. I never felt what I did in the bath before, and I don't know if I want that. I have always envisioned myself with a noble husband and a proud family one day, not desiring the beautiful women I shared a bath with and to behave like I did."

"That's what disturbs you?" Ilona asked.

"I don't know what it does!" Kaede said in distress, sitting up straight in frustration. "Before today, I have shared the bath at home with dozens of women, and never before was I even interested in looking at their bodies. But today I had to fight myself not to look at yours and even then I failed."

"And that's not even all of it!" Kaede said roughly, frustrated tears were leaking now. "I don't even know what is going to happen to me!" She cast a fierce look at Ilona. "You aren't the only one who will have to train from now on. The law binds me as well. Then after that, what? I have no idea! I never thought I'd be a Knight-Companion, so I never bothered to see what it is they even do! I want my old life back!"

Ilona saw that Kaede's hands were shaking. The girl seemed terrified that her whole planned out life had just been ripped away by one chance event. She had been comfortable and happy living in the expected path. Ilona felt suddenly guilty. Kaede had been living in her own world only to be dragged away.

"Is there a way to sever the bond," Ilona asked calmly.

"What?" Kaede said in confusion.

"Can the bond be broken?" Ilona repeated.

Kaede hesitated, and then spoke softly. "It has been done before, but usually the Mage goes mad, their power goes wild and their magic eventually tears them apart. The only time it has been performed was to execute Mages for capital crimes their companion was innocent of."

Ilona grimaced. That certainly sounded unpleasant. "Kaede, if you truly wish it, I will allow myself to be so severed," she said it in all seriousness. Kaede turned her head to look at her. "It was only chance that brought us together, but the most guilt is mine. I really don't want to die you understand, and I think this life with you could be nice, but I would risk it if you wanted."

Kaede looked horrified and her already pale skin went a little white. "No! Ilona...No! That's not what I want either! I don't hate you or bear you any malice. As you say, it was simply chance. I cannot consign you to a horribly bloody and painful death simply for that. I just wish that...it had never happened at all."

"What about me then?" Ilona asked. "Does my company bother you?"

Kaede shrugged. "I only just met you. My experience so far is limited to waking up with you in my bedchamber and sharing the bath with you. The time in the bath was more pleasant than I expected it to be, but..."

"But what?"

Kaede sighed again. "It's the way you look at me. Normally father would never allow someone that gazes at me like you have been to remain in my presence without supervision regardless of gender. But now he seems to see it as part of the package of our bond, as if my age no longer matters. But to me...it's still strange. The only experience I have with someone like you is Liana and she has never shown an interest in my youthful body at all. She likes women, not girls. Yet in the bath I saw the burning desire in your eyes."

"Sorry," it was Ilona's turn to shrug and feel chagrined. "I like what I like. You aren't the first girl I have found attractive. But I have never seen anyone more so. I am aware that the bond thing you and your father have described may be affecting that judgment, but I don't think so. I'm pretty sure that even if I saw you like I have today before this happened that I would still find you stunning."

"That's what I'm talking about," Kaede said. "I am aware of how I look and I am used to being called pretty or cute. Usually I just ignore those comments because most of them are empty. But I know you speak the truth. It also kind of bothers me that when you look at me with that hunger, and I can feel myself reacting to it. Like at the end of the bath. I have never flaunted my body until you came along."

Ilona thought silently for a moment, and then leaned back comfortably on her arms as she spoke. "Kaede, I understand what you're saying. I have no intention of forcing anything on you, least of all my physical attentions. But let me say this. I want to get to know you. I want to see if you and I could have something together. For me, this is the ultimate possibility, as if every prayer I have ever had about leaving my home has come true. I would never mar it by doing anything you didn't want." She smiled warmly and she saw Kaede seemed a little calmer. "So can I ask one thing? Have you ever looked at a man or boy back home like you have me?"

Kaede looked thoughtful for a moment. "Actually," she said slowly, "not at all. I thought about that earlier, after I had just woken up and saw you naked. I never really got what the other girls were talking about. And my sisters' comments about men had always baffled me. But I didn't think about girls or women either."

"Does being with me seem repulsive?" Ilona asked. "I won't be insulted if you do because I'm used to that attitude."

"No, not at all! You look amazing!" Kaede said, apparently even surprising herself with her vehemence since she paused briefly before continuing. "But doesn't it bother you that I'm so young?"

"Not at all," Ilona smiled as she repeated Kaede's words. "Besides, you won't always be young and this is a lifelong commitment for us. But I do like how you look now."

Kaede gave her a thoughtful look again. "What is it really like to be with a girl?" she asked.

"Hah!" Ilona laughed. "Kaede, remember please, I've already told you that I have exactly zero experience with anyone because of the people I lived with. The only experience I do have is with my own hands. I'm just as new to this on a practical level as you are."

"So we'd both be learning as we went?" Kaede asked, looking her in the eyes. She seemed less bothered by the idea now.

"Yes," Ilona responded, not looking away.

Kaede's eyes looked her body over really slowly. Down and then back up to her eyes again. "Well..." she said slowly. "It was kind of nice this morning when you held and kissed me. Your arms were very strong and comforting. Would it always be like that?"

"Better I hope!" Ilona chuckled. She noticed that Kaede's mood was rapidly improving. So she decided to take a small risk. She moved over a little closer so that she was sitting almost right against Kaede. At first Kaede tensed up reflexively, but when she realized that was all Ilona was going to do she relaxed again. She even leaned into Ilona's side a little bit.

But then the moment was shattered as the ship suddenly gave a sharp lurch and Kaede almost fell right off of the bed. But Ilona grabbed her arm and turned the fall into a tight swing that ended with Kaede being cradled across her lap, looking up into Ilona's surprised face. Ilona found that in this position, Kaede was surprisingly light and that she enjoyed holding the girl like this.

Kaede though, looked momentarily stunned. But then she realized it was Ilona's arm under her back and Ilona's hand holding her in place on her side and she found that the touch was very pleasant. She stared up into Ilona's eyes for a long while. Then the ship gave another, softer jolt and began to move. Ilona just held her tighter.

"Would you like to go and watch as we depart?" Kaede said, still not breaking their eye-lock.

Ilona smiled, she knew Kaede was trying to say without bring rude, to let her go for now. She lifted Kaede up so that she sat sidesaddle across Ilona's lap. Ilona kept her arm hold for a moment, but did let it drop. She expected Kaede to stand immediately, but all the younger girl did was to take a deep breath and then turn to look questioningly in Ilona eyes. She remained right where she was with one hand holding herself still on Ilona's knee.

"I think I would like that," Ilona answered and smiled wider. "But you are going to have to show me the way."

Kaede matched her smile briefly and then finally stood. She adjusted her mussed skirt as Ilona also rose. As she did so Ilona made another silent vow to find some decent trousers because as much as she like Kaede's soft giggle when she almost tripped, she didn't want to repeat the act very often. Eventually she was going to fall onto her face if she wasn't careful.

"You really haven't worn a dress before, have you?" Kaede asked in amusement. They crossed back to the door.

"No, a skirt would have gotten me killed working on the fishing boats. That and I've been saved twice from being raped by the fact they had to try and get through my pants. That gave me a chance to hurt them and drive them off." She left out that one of those men was now a cripple since she had sliced the tendons in his legs with her knife.

Kaede led them down one of the main corridors that ran the entire length of the massive ship. All along the ceiling she noticed now what looked like veins or plant roots, but small blue flecks of light seemed to flow along them.

"That is the levitation system," Kaede answered with a proud smile when she asked about them. "They run everywhere and spread the magic out evenly. Other kingdoms use big and bulky lift pods, but knock one out and you've taken out a massive amount of their lifting capability and speed. A hit on this ship does immensely less damage to vital systems. It does take a long time to grow a ship this size though."

They maneuvered through sailors going about the business of the ship, earning curious glances along the way. They came to a ladder that was painted white to match the wood and went up a narrow shaft. Kaede gestured for her to climb.

"Don't trust me not to look up your skirt?" Ilona laughed as she adjusted her own skirt so that she could do as she was asked.

"I know you'd look," Kaede said, smiling back a little. "But I don't want you falling off of the ladder while doing so."

Ilona scaled the ladder upwards, passing by access openings on the way from a couple of the upper decks. It at last ended at a horizontal hatch. Ilona rotated the well oiled wheel and the two locking bolts retracted into the door. Shoving it up and open, she clambered out onto a top surface deck. At first she thought it was a small garden, but then she realized that all along the railing of the platform that ringed the command tower of the ship was covered with leafy green branches that grew directly from it.

"Ooph!" Kaede finished her own climb and Ilona offered her hand to help her rise. Kaede accepted it with a small blush on her pale cheeks. When she was on her feet, they made their way around the tower until they looked out across the cove to the retreating island. "Just in time!" Kaede smiled.

"In time for what?" Ilona asked, carefully leaning on the railing. Leaves rustled all around her. Kaede took a place right next to her.

"For take-off, what else?" Kaede laughed. "I think you'll like it. I've seen it dozens of times, but I still enjoy it." Ilona liked this side of Kaede. At the moment she seemed almost childishly playful.

A bell rang throughout the ship in warning. And then Ilona felt it. Deep within the vessel, a thrumming built and grew. In the water around them, she could see what looked like streamers and bands of light, glowing like phosphorescent tails or wings. Then the ship began to rise.

It was entirely smooth. If she hadn't been looking at the water dropping from beneath them she wouldn't have known it was happening. When the bottom of the ship left the water, a gleaming stream of droplets rained behind the stern, producing a beautiful rainbow effect. Then the ship began to really pick up speed and as their velocity rose, the wind streaming by increased as well. Ilona watched in fascination as the island that had been her home since birth, quickly grew smaller and smaller. It was being swallowed by the larger blue vastness of the ocean.

"Look over there," Kaede pointed off to the left. Way out in the middle of the open water, massive shadow forms could just barely be made out under the surface. One shadow grew even bigger and then her mouth opened in astonishment as a creature that had to be almost half the size of this ship leaped out of the water in an arc, only to land with an enormous splash.

"Is that a real whale?" she asked. She had heard of them and some of the more foolish fishermen had tried to hunt one. But she had never seen one. The closest were the dolphins that liked to trail along any fishing boat hoping to get a few treats. They always did since sailors considered dolphins to be good luck charms. A ship without them was considered to be under a bad omen.

"I spend a lot of time up here," Kaede said with a small smile. "The voyage times between some of the islands were long. I like looking out on the world from above like this. It's also a nice place to read. But the trip home will be quick by comparison to the inter-island passages."

"Why's that?" Ilona asked curiously, still watching the pod of whales swimming off into the distance.

"We made this our last stop for a reason," Kaede explained. "The island of Caelus sits under one of the Dragon Lines. Do you know what those are?"

"Sure," Ilona shrugged. "They are the lines of nature's power. There are the Dragons of the Earth, and the Dragons of Heaven. The Dragon Lines of Heaven lay like a net over the world and the Earth ones run under the surface."

"Right!" Kaede nodded. "What this ship is going to do is fly into the heart of the Dragon Line. Using specially designed magic for the purpose, we are going to travel at speeds that would normally be impossible. We'll travel the three thousand miles home in just over twenty days."

"Twenty days!" Ilona felt shocked. She had been prepared for a voyage of many months.

"It will take us almost a full day to really get up to full speed, but once we are, we just cruise right on home," Kaede sighed. "I really miss home."

Ilona didn't really blame the girl. Being separated from the rest of your family, friends and life for over a year must be hard. The ship continued to rise higher into the air and a flock of some kind of seabird flew alongside for bit. Ilona saw their curious, beady bird eyes trying to make sense of the big white thing that was intruding upon their skies. Then they all banked to one side and dove out of sight.

Wanting to get a little more comfortable, Ilona stepped back a little and sat down against the tower wall. She adjusted her skirt as she laid out her legs before her and leaned back to look through the gaps in the railing. She couldn't look down at the wide open sea, but she was still intrigued by the clouds that were drawing ever closer and the wind was nice as it rushed by.

Kaede gave her a considering look, and then moved over and sat down next to Ilona on her right side. She sat close enough that their arms were touching. Ilona reached over a little to stroke the back of Kaede's hand softly. Together they just sat there watching the sky go by. At one point, one of the other ships came into sight. It was moving to match this ship's heading at about ten miles away and closing.

They continued to watch the two ships maneuver into position for a long while. Ilona thought it was all fascinating. And she was enjoying Kaede's closeness. The younger girl had slowly and surreptitiously leaned into her and didn't twitch when Ilona put her arm around her.

"You know, this really is kind of nice," Kaede said softly, barely heard above the wind. Somewhere in the distance, a banner cracked. Kaede laid the side of her head against Ilona, right against the side of her breast. She heard the girl take a deep breath and close her eyes. "You do feel good."

"Thank you," Ilona smiled broadly. She brought her arm up a little and stroked her hand through Kaede's soft hair. It felt smooth between her fingers and Kaede let out a small sigh.

"See, this is what I don't understand," Kaede said, not stopping Ilona's actions. "Why am I enjoying you touching me like this when Amelia did the same thing when she washed me and I thought nothing of it?"

"Maybe it's just a matter of perspective," Ilona said, guessing. Kaede had far more learning than she did, despite the age difference so she hoped she wasn't making an idiot of herself. "You know that my touch isn't as innocent as hers. You know that I want to make you feel good and she just wanted to clean you."

"Hmmmm, maybe," Kaede didn't sound convinced.

"Think about it," Ilona continued. "Why don't you want Liana washing you?"

"Because I know she'll feel me up and try to get me into her bed?" Kaede said with a soft laugh. "But I think I get what you mean. Because I know Amelia's touch is nothing sexual at all, only professional duty and a sisterly love, it makes it less stimulating. It's a mental thing?"

"Just so," Ilona agreed. She curled her hand around the side of Kaede's head and stroked along the delicate curve of her tiny ear. Kaede let out a small gasp and then snuggled a little tighter. Ilona loved the feel of the girl rubbing her face against her breast.

"That feels really good!" Kaede said in a surprised tone, and she opened her eyes and saw exactly where her face was. She blushed furiously, but she didn't pull away. "Can you do that some more?"

"Sure," Ilona stroked the ear some more, occasionally grazing it with her fingernail. When she did that, Kaede's little hands would clench tightly. She thought it was really adorable. As they continued, Kaede closed her eyes again and Ilona gazed admiringly at her small, fine featured face.

"Ilona?" Kaede said, after a while had passed. She sounded a little dreamy.

"Hmm?"

"I just need to hear you say it plainly, and I don't mean any insult by this. But, can I trust you? I'm coming to like you, but I just need your word."

Ilona smiled. She didn't feel any insult at all by the question. So she lowered her hand, stroking Kaede's cheek in passing, to touch under her chin. She slowly tilted Kaede's face upwards and the girl opened her eyes questioningly. Ilona lowered her own face and gave Kaede a feather light peck on her small lips. "Kaede," she said, entirely serious. "I, Ilona, swear on our bond, to never do you harm, through malice or misdeed. I promise to always protect you and to be there whenever you want me. My life now rests alongside yours. This I swear. So shall it be."

At the climax of her oath, a searing burst of pain flashed from where the Stone in her forehead lay and warmth rushed through her body. She looked at Kaede and they both knew that the magic of their bond would hold her to the oath. Ilona was a bit staggered by it, but she would not fail what she had sworn.

"Ilona!" Kaede was looking at her in amazement. "Do you realize what you just did?"

"Swore my life to yours?" Ilona smiled.

Kaede stared at her for a long moment and Ilona saw wetness shimmering in those hazel eyes. She knew she had said the right thing because Kaede slowly rose up. The kiss this time was long and soft. Each of them cupped a cheek on the other and Kaede turned to lay herself more fully onto Ilona. When they separated, Kaede laid her head just above her right breast while half astride her with her eyes closed. Ilona just wrapped arms around and held her.

"I think I could fall asleep here," Kaede said after a moment. "Maybe this really won't be so bad."

"I won't mind if you do want to sleep like that, but you might wake up feeling stiff," Ilona said. "And thank you for the kiss."

"It just felt right all of a sudden," Kaede giggled. "But I can't sleep here. We have to go back inside before the ship enters the Dragon Line. We'd get blown off otherwise."

"Should we head back to our cabin?" Ilona asked.

"Yeah," Kaede sighed. "Can I lie like this some more when we get there? I think I might get addicted to laying on you."

"You can do whatever you want," Ilona smiled gently. Now that Kaede seemed to have reconciled herself, she was being very cuddly. "I'll go at whatever speed you're willing to go."

"Even though you're probably dying to touch me in other ways?" Kaede drew back and giggled hard in great amusement when she saw Ilona's failing attempt to hide the truth of that. "Ilona!"

"Sorry," Ilona said, laughing a little herself. "That's just how I am."

"I know," Kaede's smile was still a very amused one. "Maybe it will be a lot of fun being with you. Can you kiss me again?"

Ilona responded to the request by fully lifting Kaede astride her legs so that she sat on her thighs with her skirt spreading wide. And then she leaned down and forward again to meet Kaede's questing lips. They kissed for a very long time, with each of them exploring and learning. Ilona stroked Kaede's back with one hand and her sensitive ears with the other. Kaede used one arm to steady her, but the other rubbed on Ilona's firm stomach.

Kaede's breathing increased and Ilona got her to open her mouth a little by spreading her own lips. Ilona slowly extended her tongue, just grazing Kaede's mouth with it. A sharp moan from the girl said that she liked it, so Ilona pushed further to find Kaede's tongue. When she found it, she slid the tip of hers up and down Kaede's and they both groaned. And then they needed a breather, so they separated, each gasping for air.

"Did that still count as kissing?" Kaede asked woozily, she put both hands behind Ilona's neck, clasped hands and used Ilona to hang back that away. Ilona saw that a slight sheen of sweat had arisen on the girl's face and her skin was very flushed. Her own breathing was quick and she could feel the hardness of her nipples straining for attention along with the burning heat between her legs. Kaede was simply beyond amazing.

"Yes, that was still kissing," Ilona responded, smiling happily at the young girl in her lap. "Why? What did you think we were doing?"

"I don't really know," Kaede said in wonderment. "I mean, my whole body is tingling and wanting me to do things my mother definitely wouldn't approve of me doing. Actually, she'd already be having a fit if she saw us kissing like this."

"But your father seemed like he didn't mind at all," Ilona asked.

"That's because he knows full well that there really isn't a choice in the matter. He knew we would end up like this regardless of what he said and he didn't feel a need to fight the inevitable. My mother however is a different story. She'll fight." Kaede gave a small squirm of her legs as if to adjust herself.

"Feeling a bit heated?" Ilona asked cheerfully.

"More than a bit," Kaede admitted, stopping her side-to-side movements. "I've never felt like this before, but I know what it means and its kind of bothering me not to do anything about it. I'm all itchy and wet down there."

"Lean forward against me again," Ilona instructed to the princess. She wrapped an arm behind to draw Kaede forward to rest against her chest. Kaede allowed her to do so without any fuss until their chests were together and Kaede's chin was just over her shoulder. "Let me take care of you. I promise you'll like it."

Kaede didn't say anything in protest, so Ilona slipped a hand under her skirt and onto her skinny thigh. Kaede tensed briefly, but relaxed again as Ilona stroked up and down her smooth skin. Ilona enjoyed the feeling for a moment and then drew her hand upwards.

"Kiss me Kaede," she said, "now."

Kaede pulled her head around and just as their lips touched; Ilona cupped her hand over Kaede's damp, lacey panties. Kaede gasped into their kiss and then groaned loudly as Ilona rubbed firmly up and down over her cloth covered slit.

"Ilona, what are you—"

"Shhh," Ilona silenced her. "Please just me to do this for you Kaede. Have you never touched yourself for pleasure?"

"I never felt a need to," Kaede moaned out. "I...heard about doing it...from my sisters, but I never felt...the desire to do it."

Ilona smiled, she would be the very first to bring this kind of pleasure to the girl. It felt incredibly special to do so. "Just relax, and kiss me."

Kaede resumed the passionate kissing, though her gasping frequently interrupted it. But Ilona didn't mind. She was greatly enjoying the feel of hot wetness on her fingers as they stroked along a tightly closed womanhood. As the wetness continued to increase, she sped up the strokes to match. Eventually Kaede could no longer kiss her because she was hugging her too tightly and moaning very loudly. Her entire small body was trembling as her first ever orgasm rose within her.

When she came, just as Ilona pressed on her clit for the first time, Kaede jolted on her lap and shivered violently. Her arms became vices and she let out a long rasping breath with her eyes shut tight. Between her legs, Ilona felt a hot flood coat her fingers and knew she would have a wet spot on her skirt. But she continued rubbing until she felt Kaede slacken and gasp for air.

When Kaede relaxed and hung loosely against her, Ilona removed her hand from the girl's crotch. She raised it up and right before Kaede's stunned, watching eyes, she licked them clean. Ilona moaned and almost came herself from the faintly sweet taste. Kaede simply stared in amazement for a blissful couple of minutes.

When she regained the ability to speak, Kaede's voice was small. "Ilona, that was...I don't even know what. I thought you were never with anyone before?"

"I never have been," Ilona confirmed. "I learned what I just did on you from doing the same to myself for the last five or seven years. Did you like it?"

Kaede, her body still pink and flushed from her intense orgasm, buried her face into Ilona neck and smiled. She held Ilona tightly again as if she was afraid to let go. "Ilona," her voice was returning to its normal lightness. "That was simply amazing! It was kind of scary at first, feeling my body respond like I've never felt it do before, but as soon as I remembered it was you making me feel that way, it just felt really good. So good I couldn't even think after that. Then I thought I was going to pee on you, but every nerve in my body seemed to explode instead. If I hadn't been laying on you, I think I would have fallen right over."

"So I take that to mean that you liked it," Ilona laughed.

"Yes, I did," Kaede gave Ilona another of her pleasant giggles. "It was just like you promised. Was that what sex feels like?"

"I think that could be called a precursor," Ilona responded. "That was just my fingers through your clothes. But it was your first orgasm ever, so that probably helped make it special."

"Well, you did solve my problem," Kaede laughed. She drew back again to look at Ilona directly. She also looked at Ilona's hand. "What did I taste like? I know enough from talks with Liana to know that wet stuff came from me."

"It has a very ephemeral sweetness," Ilona said truthfully. "Does it bother you that I did that?"

"No, I was just curious," Kaede shrugged. She looked downward at Ilona's body with a thinking look on her face. Then she moved a hand down slowly, setting it down high near her right shoulder. She glanced once to Ilona's eyes, and then with a fiercely determined look, she lowered the hand down over Ilona's breast. Ilona let out an involuntary sigh when that hand gave a gentle, experimental squeeze.

An excited sparkle seemed to appear in Kaede's eyes and she smiled happily. She adjusted her seating on Ilona's lap, and then brought her other hand down until she was groping a breast in each hand. For Ilona's part, Kaede's massaging hands felt wonderful.

"I...take it, that you like them?" Ilona said, her breathing was getting a little heavy.

"I've actually wanted to touch them all morning!" Kaede answered with joy in her voice. "They feel so nice. Now I know why Liana looked so excited in the bath and I'm kind of jealous she got to you first. I can't believe I was afraid of this."

"If it makes you feel any better, I'm all yours," Ilona told her. She hissed from a sharp jolt of pleasure. Kaede had nudged the rag under her blouse aside to play with her hard nipples. Her response made Kaede giggle and do it some more.

"All mine?" Kaede leaned forward, putting her head between both breasts as she continued to fondle them. "That makes me kind of happy inside you know; that I have someone of my very own. Maybe I never really needed a husband, just someone like you."

"That's certainly nice to hear!" Ilona laughed. She had just hugged her arms around Kaede again when the ship lurched in a sudden acceleration and banked hard enough into a turn to make them almost fall over onto the deck of the platform. Just as they were both looking around in confusion, something flashed past on the portside of the ship with a loud boom.

"What's going—"

Ilona cut off as the ship's bell and a loud horn sounded from beneath them. When both went silent, Ilona looked to Kaede to ask what those meant, but stopped when she saw the girl's face was white with fear.

"Kaede!" she yelled into the girl's face and Kaede blinked back at her in renewed attention. "What's going on? What's wrong?"

Kaede suddenly pressed herself even closer as if for protection. When she spoke it was in a harsh whisper.

"Ilona, the ship is under attack!"