Message-ID: <31987asstr$997805403@assm.asstr-mirror.org> Return-Path: <dcrimsonp@nym.alias.net> X-Original-Message-ID: <20010814025637.25837.qmail@nym.alias.net> From: Crimson Dragon <dcrimsonp@nym.alias.net> Subject: {ASSM} Repost: Inverness - Torchbearer (8/11) (FF, fantasy) Date: Tue, 14 Aug 2001 12:10:03 -0400 Path: assm.asstr-mirror.org!not-for-mail Approved: <assm@asstr-mirror.org> Newsgroups: alt.sex.stories.moderated,alt.sex.stories Followup-To: alt.sex.stories.d X-Archived-At: <URL:http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/Year2001/31987> X-Moderator-Contact: ASSTR ASSM moderation <story-ckought69@hotmail.com> X-Story-Submission: <ckought69@hotmail.com> X-Moderator-ID: gill-bates, kelly Inverness is a land of magic. We all live there, in some sense. This story is the continuation of "Magical Encounters" and "Autumn Equinox" that I wrote in the past and can be read on my website. If you didn't enjoy them, then you probably won't enjoy this one either. In a break from tradition, I've switched main characters. I'm sure Janey won't mind. This story is fiction. Hear that? Fiction. Those that can dispute that statement, won't. In a further break from tradition, this story is rather long. As such, I decided to break it into eleven parts for posting. Rest assured that all eleven parts are written, and will be posted, but I will only be releasing them about one a week. Real life intrudes sometimes. I want to thank Mike Ink, especially, for providing invaluable assistance, once again, in editing and proofing the story. Sorry MInk, this one was a long one, but I appreciate the effort. Even so, I must take responsibility for any errors in the text. If it's wrong, most likely it was pointed out and I ignored it. Comments, and questions, are always welcome at dcrimson@yahoo.com. Offers for fast money and pictures of Britney naked, are far less welcome. Please don't redistribute or repost this work in any format without written permission from the author. As usual, this story contains scenes with erotic imagery. This may include depictions of nudity, female-female sexuality, outdoor settings, group sex, and all sorts of other wonderful activities that may offend the moral minority. I have no idea what the moral minority would be doing reading anything here, but consider yourself warned. On the other hand, my descriptions of human sexuality aren't nearly as graphic as some around here. We are all blessed with an imagination, and sex is much more than slippery hydraulics. At least to my characters it is. And so, if you are looking for detailed descriptions of pussies and penises, there are many "stories" lurking about that can do that. Consider yourself warned. And for the rest of us, on to the story, - Crimson (dcrimson@yahoo.com) http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/Crimson_Dragon/www http://members.tripod.com/files/Authors/Dr/wwwagon_Of_Crimson ======================================================================== Inverness [FF, fantasy] - Part VIII - Torchbearer Crimson Dragon ======================================================================== (c) Copyright February 2001 - All Rights Reserved ======================================================================== "It's time," Mercury whispered. Alison sighed, rising to her bare feet. She was surprised to see that Mercury was wearing clothing: a bright pink shirt and blue cut-off jeans. Her feet were bare. Sondra wore a gown of shimmering white that reminded Alison of a Roman toga. Mercury laughed as Alison rose. "What? I look ridiculous," Alison murmured. Her fingers toyed with the neckline of the evening gown that Crimson had bestowed upon her. Mercury shook her head. "You look stunning. Honestly." "I'll be out of place." Sondra touched Alison's bare shoulder for a moment. "Alison, there will be people dancing naked tonight, including her," Sondra nodded towards Mercury, who stuck her tongue out in response. "You will hardly be out of place." She paused for a moment. "Sweetheart, you're the Torchbearer." "Huh?" Mercury laughed again, addressing Sondra. "She didn't tell her. That infernal creature." "He said that I didn't have to wear it," Alison said. Sondra shook her head. "I'm sure that you don't. Doesn't change the fact that you will bear the torch. She chose you, that's why you get the dress." "Dress? Torch?" "Someone's got to light the fire..." <---===***===---> The voices were closer and louder as they moved through the courtyard. The grass had been a welcome change to the rough stone of the castle floors. Mercury waved to the people they passed; all wore smiles, most wore some bright clothing. An excitement encompassed everyone as the girls moved towards the drawbridge. Alison could feel eyes tracing her black dress, tracing her movements. Once again, rough wood appeared under Alison's feet as the sounds of their steps echoed over the water of the moat. She glanced upwards, expecting the harsh sounds of a challenge, but none were forth-coming. Alison broke from the others, leaning forward onto the rail. She stared down towards the blue tinged waters of the moat. Further down the way, a laughing couple splashed happily on the far bank. As she watched the turquoise water below, a small dark creature with a sleek coat swam lazily out from below the drawbridge. Alison gasped quietly, but the animal seemed docile enough, and it was far enough away that it posed no real danger. Seemingly without direction, the swimmer found its way to the near bank directly under the castle ramparts. There, in the shadows, a blonde girl in shimmering white stood, her back touching the stone of the wall. She smiled as the tiny animal slowly climbed from the turquoise with an almost imperceptible splash. The girl bent, running her hand over the fur that somehow was no longer wet. With a silent touch of her lips, the creature morphed into a man, like the proverbial frog turning into Prince Charming. With a bow, the man swept the girl, giggling, into his arms. Alison blinked, but the man remained, kissing the girl cradled in his arms. She didn't think the man had seen her watching, but with a grin and a wave, he called to the trio on the drawbridge. "You're wearing clothes?" he asked. Mercury, from a short distance behind Alison replied. "Shouldn't you be still wearing fur until moonrise, Mink?" The man blushed for only a moment. "And miss this? She kissed me. You know the rules." "Yes, I suppose that I do," Mercury murmured. The mink turned back to the girl in his arms with another kiss. As Alison watched, the couple faded into the shadows, or perhaps they had melted into the air. She was quiet for a few moments, and she could sense Mercury and Sondra waiting patiently behind her. Then she sensed the slow movement behind her of bare feet on wood. "Wish I had a quarter," she mumbled as Mercury and Sondra joined her, one on each side. "No money, here. Don't need it," Mercury sighed. "Well, unless you count the play stuff for the girls that like playing night walker games." Alison turned and stared. Mercury laughed a little. "Relax. Everyone has fantasies. Even you." Alison blushed, and turned back to the water. It flowed forever under the bridge. She was about to rise when a light, warm roundness filled her right palm. She gasped, prying open her clenched fingers to stare at the quarter within. Instead of a familiar moose, the coin featured a dragon silhouetted by a rising moon. "How?" "One of the authors is watching," Mercury murmured, "or heard you." Alison looked about, even glancing up at the abandoned ramparts above the drawbridge. Then she glanced down at her gown, which was still intact. Mercury, as if reading her mind, spoke. "Relax. Malinov is in the library by now, and none of them will use their X-ray vision on you. I promise." Alison looked sideways at Mercury, then down at her breasts, making Mercury laugh. "They can't...they don't..." "They can, but they won't." Alison shook her head. "Make a wish," Sondra whispered. And she did. The quarter sank slowly beneath the surface of the moat, catching the underwater luminance as it tumbled through the water. Mercury and Sondra linked arms with Alison, and the girls' footsteps echoed off the far edge of the bridge. <---===***===---> The carpet of pine needles was warm and soft beneath her bare feet. Crickets chirped as they passed, and even a cicada marked their passing with a cry. They had passed nobody as they moved swiftly through the darkened forest. Alison wondered how Mercury and Sondra could find their way through the darkness, but after they had deftly guided her around various small trees, she relaxed and allowed them to ferry her towards the clearing. Alison gasped as she stepped out from the cover of the trees. A large clearing stretched from the entrance path. Sondra and Mercury released her arms, allowing her to take two steps forward. A large raised stage covered the far side of the clearing. Banquet tables ringed the clearing, piled high with food and jugs of liquid. Lights, bright, but not electric, hovered near the treeline, casting a bright glow across. People of all shapes, colours, and sizes stood quietly around the edge of the clearing, seemingly with their eyes glued to Alison. Her eyes finally stopped against an enormous pile of wood and brush, which lay stacked within a ring of stones dominating the view. "Wow," she breathed. She turned slowly, acutely feeling the pine needles beneath her feet. Couples and single people filed in slowly behind her, waiting quietly. As she turned, a large, but familiar, shape materialised in front of her, an old torch flickering in his paw. She looked up, a smile gracing her lips. "CL!" The big man grinned, holding out the torch for her fingers. "How?" He bent and gently kissed her cheek. "Later," he whispered to her. He held out the torch to her again. "Crimson said you might need this." Suddenly, Mercury was at her ear, whispering urgently. "Like I told you. Okay?" Her lips kissed Alison's ear. Alison struggled to calm the butterflies flitting about in her stomach. She curtsied, smiling at the familiar bartender. As she rose, her fingers grasped the wooden handle of the simple torch. She glanced around. Everyone was watching her. She turned to Mercury. "I can't. I abdicate. You..." Mercury smiled. "You ain't the Queen, thank your lucky stars. You can't abdicate. Go light the blessed thing before I starve to death." She gently pressed a finger below Alison's throat. Alison inhaled deeply, and turned. She lowered her eyes, not looking at the audience. The distance seemed to stretch on forever, but at last her bare feet stopped at the circle of stones. She raised her eyes. The magical lights dimmed, perhaps at the touch of an unseen finger. She sighed, wishing that she had known that she would be standing here. "Happy Solstice," she whispered. She closed her eyes and tossed the torch upwards. When she opened her eyes, she watched the torch spiral flawlessly onto the top of the pile far above. As the flames began to lick at the fuel, a deafening roar from a thousand voices swept her senses. As the cheering swept past its crescendo, Buddy Holly issued from unseen speakers, singing about the Day-ay-ay That I'll Die. People slowly surrounded the bonfire, dancing and laughing and cheering. In the middle, the heat warming her skin, Alison slowly bent her head. <---===***===---> She felt like a barbarian eating with her fingers, but she swore that the food tasted better than any that she'd tasted before. Unknown sauces coated her fingers as she ate as daintily as she could. Mercury, beside her, laughed easily as someone, probably CL, related yet another off-colour joke. As Alison dropped the latest bone to her plate, she absently sucked at her fingertips to clean the worst of the sauce from them. Mercury smiled at her, gently guiding Alison's fingers to her mouth. Alison closed her eyes as Mercury's tongue slipped over her skin. When she re-opened her eyes, CL was watching her with a bemused expression on his face. "I...you know that I..." Alison stammered, distracted by Mercury's laugh. Alison flushed and made to rise to her feet. CL reached across the table, gently motioning her back to the bench. "Alison, dear, I won't tell anyone. I promise." The big man managed to keep a solemn look on his lips. Alison lowered herself back to the bench, self-consciously licking the back of her hand. CL grinned and reached to the end of the table. He lifted a huge jug as though it weighed nothing. The goblets weren't made of glass, or metal, but a dark hardwood that reminded Alison of cherrywood. CL filled four to overflowing, and then passed one each to the three girls, and then placed one in front of himself. Sondra leaned over and whispered a warning. "Don't drink it as fast as he does, or we'll be picking you up off the floor." Alison nodded, lifting the goblet to her lips, carefully tasting. "Mead!" she cried. CL nodded in response, tilting his own cup upwards and draining it in one swallow. Mercury shook her head at the feat and daintily sipped her own. The liquid was significantly stronger than that of the bar, but it was recognisable. She turned to CL. "How?" she asked. "We bring some when we cross." He looked puzzled. "No, not the mead," she shook her head almost in frustration. "How are you here?" CL shrugged. "Shouldn't bartenders be here?" Mercury scowled at the big man. "Quit teasing her." CL sighed. "I know how to brew mead, and I like showing up here once in a while. Needs law and order, don't you know? And besides, I write a little." Mercury scowled at him again, and then turned to watch the revellers dancing around the fire with wistful eyes. "Like Malinov?" Alison muttered, then made the association with a shiver. "See-El..." The big man grinned, only to lose the grin in response to the frown appearing on Alison's face. He turned to Mercury for help, finding little. "Malinov made me flash him, apparently on your orders." See-El laughed. "Made you? Can you be made to do anything, Mercury?" Mercury lost her battle to control her grin. She nodded. "Sometimes." "I told Malinov to watch for spammers." "He thought we were spammers." "Never, m'lady. Never." "Will you be going back with me?" Alison asked quietly. "Perhaps." See-El looked at Alison for a moment, and as if reading her mind continued. "We all have to go back, eventually." Alison shook her head slowly and raised her cup back to her lips. The mead was sweet and intoxicating. <---===***===---> (c) (2001) Crimson Dragon http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/Crimson_Dragon/www http://members.tripod.com/files/Authors/Dr/wwwagon_Of_Crimson - = - - = - - = - - = - - = - This story carries the codes: (FF, fantasy) The code, "FF," means that two adult women have sex with each other. The other code "fantasy," means that the story takes place in a fantasy-type realm -- and as far as I know, it isn't a standard code, or at least it's one with various meanings. These story codes may be used, in general, to help you decide what other stories that you might want to read. While the codes don't necessarily conform to my particular style or writing, and don't necessarily reflect what my stories encompass -- I use them rather loosely to code my stories, for obvious reasons -- they may be useful for choosing other stories with a particular theme. You really ought to check out the following for a more complete explanation: http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/Uther_Pendragon/www/code/scfr.htm The Story-Code FAQ for readers. - = - - = - - = - - = - - = - -- Pursuant to the Berne Convention, this work is copyright with all rights reserved by its author unless explicitly indicated. +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | alt.sex.stories.moderated ----- send stories to: <ckought69@hotmail.com> | | FAQ: <http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/faq.html> Moderator: <story-ckought69@hotmail.com> | +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Archive: <http://assm.asstr-mirror.org> Hosted by Alt.Sex.Stories Text Repository | |<http://www.asstr-mirror.org>, an entity supported entirely by donations. | +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+