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From: Nick Walker <chaos_kissed_reborn@yahoo.com>
Subject: {ASSM} {ASS} Narsinia 01 {Quezvax} (MF best oral 1st)
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Date: Sat, 12 Mar 2011 06:10:02 -0500
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Okay, I think I've got it figured out now.



      
<1st attachment, "Chapter01.txt" begin>

--->ADULTS ONLY<---

This document contains explicit content, and is not suitable for minors,
individuals easily offended by adult content of an abstract nature, or anyone
forbidden by law to view such content.

This story, the characters, and the world the story is set in are (C) Quexvax
the Hard to Pronounce 2010-Present.  This is a work in progress.  You are
more than welcome to keep a copy for personal use, but any use that generates
profit or omits this opening message is forbidden.

As for you perverted adults who are bound and determined to keep reading, you
can expect depictions of oral sex and bestiality between a female human and a
male animal in this chapter.

If you feel that this document is worth saving as part of your personal
collection, I only ask for a little feedback, through asstr-mirror.org.  I am a lazy
writer, and need encouragement in order to keep writing.

A special thanks to all my friends who helped me edit and improve upon my
work!

Story codes: (best/F/oral/first)

Synopsis:  A different breed of lycanthrope seeks to manipulate a noble woman to change the country.

Chapter 1

	Vevnan was an oddball for a Narsinian.  She was just past twenty
winters, and showed no interest in any men.  Although, being of the de'Niryl
line, that wasn't too terribly surprising.  Her family was second only to the
King's, having more land, power, and gold than half the kingdom combined.
Even stranger, she had volunteered for the military.  She was the first
person in her family in the last century to serve.  This was quite a feat,
considering the war with Dason had been going on at least that long.  There
weren't daily battles, or even weekly, but there hadn't been peace between
the two countries in any mortal's memory.
	"It's their fault..." she muttered under her breath from her perch, a
couple dozen feet above the ground.  She remembered tracking down a Dason
unit who had pillaged a few outlying farms, taking several months' worth of
food and causing more than enough havoc, though she'd made escaping with
their overstuffed caravan hell, though.  Her fingers drifted up and down her
bowstring at the memory of that long encounter.  In the end, they'd gotten
away with the caravan, but lost a score of men in the process.
	In the back of her mind, she knew they had their own justifications
for the conflict.  'Karial forgive me,' she thought in response to her own
thoughts.  The God of Valor had always been her patron deity.  The other gods
of the Church of the True Gods only occasionally graced her mind.  She
attended church sermons whenever she was available to do so; that wasn't
often, given how much time she spent scouting and remaining out of sight of
Dasoners.  She was far from out of mind of her own military, though, and
reported to them most weeks.
	She inhaled deeply, taking in the general smell of the trees around
her, and the forest floor far beneath her.  Summer was giving way slowly to
winter, and the autumn months were often her favorite.  Of course, that meant
a change in tactics once the majority of leaves had fallen and her little
perches she was so apt at finding no longer hid her from the eyes of the
enemies.  Enemies... they could be anywhere, and likely had their own scouts
out and about.  She'd seen them, dealt with them, and even killed a few.
Most of the time, though, she was content to keep out of sight, reporting
movements, changes in activity, shipments, and even patrol routes of the
Dasoners.
	A few warm rays of sunlight managed to filter down to her through the
canopy above.  She basked in them, sighing quietly and contently.  Her life
was an ever-changing routine.  Every few months, she'd go back to Ghalen, the
capitol, to pretend like she was a normal part of her noble family.  Neither
she nor her family particularly enjoyed the time, but thankfully, she only
had to spend a week there.  The de'Niryl family made most of its fortune
through smuggling operations, which she was aware of, but on the surface her
noble family made its living by managing the country's currency and credit.
	The wind rustled through the dry leaves, most of which were counting
down their final days before they would drop to the forest floor.  It sounded
like there was a waterfall nearby, no matter where one traveled in the
Eastern Woods; at least, until winter hit and there were no leaves to rustle
in the wind.  Winter made the familiar territory seem like an entirely
foreign place.
	It had been a decade since this place had seen the march of a
formation of soldiers.  It was important, she knew, because it was the most
direct route to the northernmost gold in Dason.  Gold, as always, was in
short supply in Narsinia.  It had been explained to her that at one point the
mine and surrounding lands had belonged to Narsinia.  This was the reason
given when she questioned why she had to keep such a close eye on this
region.  Not that she minded the forest itself.  It was cut off from the
sprawling evergreen ranges on the rest of the continent by a small mountain
range, though the peaks were tame and well-known enough to allow an organized
army to march through.  At this point, she knew, her home country was waiting
for Dason to be lax enough in this area to allow a swift capture of the mine
and nearby land.
	A slight, cool breeze contrasted nicely with the warm rays of sun
that struck her from above.  Vevnan stood a few inches above five foot, her
frame slender but well-toned from a life in the wild.  Her skin was tan, as
much from the dirt of the road as the sun.  Her eyes were a deep blue,
standing out against autumn-red hair that she kept tied behind her.  She was
clad in a suit of light leather armor.  It protected her from nicks and
scratches more than anything else, as she rarely engaged in combat and even
rarer still in melee.  Still, it might take the worst out of a hit from a
lucky blow.  Her boots were well-worn and well-oiled.  They fit her feet
perfectly, rising up to her knees, where a pair of long socks made their way
up beneath the skirt of her leather armor.  Her breasts were of moderate
size, marking her as a woman on the occasion that someone caught a glimpse of
her, but not getting in the way of any of her work.
	Vevnan found that, during the daylight hours, the best way to monitor
enemy movements without being seen was to find a convenient perch that
afforded a good view without being obvious.  She pushed her collapsible
spyglass into its more compact form, and then gazed at it with a small
measure of reverence.  It was slightly enchanted, so it afforded a
marvelously clear view of whatever she used it on.  She stowed it carefully
before glancing about with her unaided eyes, realizing that the sun would
soon set.  "Only so long until my pursuer starts the search back up," she
mused.
	She knew she was being followed, but she wasn't certain exactly what
was stalking her.  She figured only that it wasn't human, so it was probably
some sort of predator.  She had no fear of animals, so she approached the
situation with calm calculation.  All she had to do was keep alert, and sleep
lightly.  She was even somewhat anxious to learn about her pursuer.  Instinct
told her that the inevitable encounter would be a welcome break from the
usual drudgery of scouting.  'No,' she thought, 'my job isn't all that bad.
I just look forward to something different.'
	Only the gods that answered the prayers of non-humans knew just how
interesting it would prove to be.
*****************************************************************************
	'How long have we been stalking her?' asked the human.
	'Is it relevant?' the animal replied offhandedly.
	The human had no response.  Quezvax breathed a sigh of contentment as
night settled on the land.  To him, the night was a blanket of safety and
security, knowledge that he had a distinct advantage over most of the
denizens of the world.  To those lacking the sight of evening, the land
darkened.  To him, it was illuminated with a clarity that brought focus.  He
stood up, stretched, and hopped down from the tree he'd been sleeping aloft
in.
	The ground was not his preferred realm, but he would make an
exception for this quarry.  Uncertainty of her balance in the branches while
unconscious, he wagered, was the reason she'd dropped to the ground while the
sun had been making its descent into the West Cardinal Gate.  Even though not
in his most comfortable domain, he made good time in catching up with her.
He moved at an easy pace, quiet as a breeze until he came over a slight slope
and brought her into sight.  From there, he moved with enough stealth to make
a shadow envious.
	'She's attractive, for a human.  She even has a few feline
attributes,' observed the animal.  She had her back to a tree, propped
upright, with a couple boulders to keep her hidden from casual sight.  Casual
sight was beneath the hunter, though.  Her bow rested within easy reach.
	'I'd rather not make us obvious, so I'll just let you take over
here,' quipped the human.
	'While your plan is far from inconspicuous, I think it is a wise
course.'
*****************************************************************************
	Vevnan had invariably been a light sleeper, but tonight she may as
well have been wide awake with her eyes almost closed.  She did not hear the
predator approaching her, but a glint of moonlight on fur had her on her
feet, her bow in hand, and an arrow knocked.  She almost laughed, but instead
smiled, weary of having likely already startled the graceful creature before
her.
	The cat had stopped its stride as soon as she had arisen, though it
was obviously not afraid.  He lifted his head and sniffed the air before
taking a measured step into a pool of moonlight, the pale light shining off
his spotted coat, revealing him for the leopard that he was.  He glanced
around, but kept his ears trained on her, his tail swishing slightly back and
forth.  He did not fear her arrows, though in the back of his mind he was
cognizant that an attack would reveal him as more than her eyes told her.
	Having spent a great deal of time alone in the wilds, Vevnan was no
stranger to animals.  She had even developed a measure of empathy for them,
and sometimes found them somewhat more agreeable than humans.  "You're the
one," she said slowly, her voice soft as silk, "who's been stalking me.  I
shall not make an easy meal, if that's what you're about."  She carefully
reached into a pouch on her leather vest, though, and removed a slab of
jerky, before lightly tossing it to the side of the cat.
	He did not flinch, though he swayed somewhat in the opposite
direction of the offered snack, initially.  Keeping his ears trained on her,
the cat craned his neck down toward the morsel, sniffed it, and then took it,
chewing and swallowing it quickly, his razor sharp teeth glistening with
saliva in the moonlight.  He looked up at her with green orbs, licking his
lips languidly.
	"I somehow doubt you're here to eat me, if you came at me head on,"
Vevnan mused softly, her voice slow.  She gradually set her bow to rest,
though one hand remained near a short sword she kept belted to her hip.  She
did not unbuckle the blade, though, confident in her abilities to deal with
the animal in a non-violent manner.
	The leopard took a few more tentative steps toward her.  He paused a
few paces away, inhaling the air though he knew he wouldn't find anything
new.  At least, he didn't expect to.  'She's in heat,' thought the animal,
and a light purr began to rumble deep in his chest and up his throat.  It
sounded more akin to a growl than a purr one would hear from a smaller
variety of cat.
	The woman before him knew the difference, and quirked a brow.
"What's got you so excited?" she murmured, her hand reaching out slowly as
though she might be fortunate enough to touch fur that looked to be
comparable to silk.
	'She's human,' the human reminded his animal half.  'That means being
in heat won't have her spreading her legs for the first appealing male she
sees.'  Of course, Quezvax could hope.  Certainly copulation would be
preferable to injuring her.
	'With the right course of action, intercourse would be far from
difficult.'  The animal mind had a way of thinking very practically, even if
somewhat morally ambiguous.
	'We will *not* rape her,' the human mind stated.  While he had
allowed the animal half to take control, he could revoke it on a whim.
	Vevnan heard nothing of this silent conversation, though she did note
the animal's hesitation in moving closer.  The woman was far from typical, in
a long line of different respects.  She inched forward while the leopard
seemed distracted by something within; her left hand outstretched lightly,
her right ready to snatch her blade off her belt if she had miscalculated.
	Realizing that their pondering had rendered them momentarily
distracted, Quezvax's eyes snapped back to her, and his head dipped out of
easy reach.  When he inhaled lightly, he was once again reminded of her
pheromones.  His eyes wandered appreciatively up and down her figure, taking
in her visage and committing it to memory.  He would be seeing her a lot in
the coming months, and probably years.  As his eyes moved back down, he
thought he caught sight of something enticing.
	Vevnan watched as the cat crept closer, until she knew he could see
beneath her leather skirt.  This time it was her turn to lick her lips,
stifling a giggle.  "So," she remarked softly, "you've discovered my dirty
little secret.  Consider yourself lucky," she sighed.  Beneath her leather
skirt, her sex was bare and exposed to the open air.  She refrained from
wearing panties of any sort when she could get away with it.  No humans knew
that of her, to the best of her knowledge.  While she enjoyed the feeling of
a cool breeze against her slit, Vevnan had still found no appeal in men; no
man that she had met, at any rate.  Then again, she had never had an animal
interested in her.
	Quezvax sniffed the air again, and then ran his long, sensuous tongue
over his lips, retreating only partially into his mouth, all the while
letting out a rumbling purring sound.  He eased his head up just slightly,
not quite high enough to allow her fingers to grace his fur.  His eyes
lingered a long moment on her appealing nether region, long enough to grant
her a glimpse of his insight, of his waiting desires.  Her face drew his eyes
back up, a look of shameless want evident upon them.
	Vevnan was mesmerized by that visage, caught completely off guard by
the way that a pair of silted green feline orbs could so easily convey a
message of lust.  The strange thing was, for some inexplicable reason, in her
mind it was flattering.  She was shocked when his muzzle moved up further,
aided by a step forward by the leopard, and his long wet tongue ran over the
inside of her thigh, starting on her long sock but ending on bare skin.  The
feeling was electric as much as it was rough, like soaked velvet sandpaper.
She fell backwards, but did not fall far, as her upper back was immediately
pressed to the tree she'd leaned against earlier.
	While Quezvax half expected the woman's legs to snap shut and squeeze
his skull out from between them, he didn't complain when they remained
spread.  His purring redoubled, and he dared to lick up higher, his tongue
slowly gliding up the inside of her thigh.  She must have been responding
well to the vibrations of his thick muscle resonating what started in his
throat and chest, because her scent grew thick and heavy, spurring him on.
His gaze could no longer reach her face, hidden as it was from his
perspective by her skirt, but he could clearly see in the dimmest light of
night her nectar flowing forth.
	"Oh, Gods!" she gasped.  "This can't be happening..." Vevnan's face
flushed with humiliation.  She closed her eyes, blocking out what little she
could see.  She knew that only this predator saw her shame, obviously not
caring, but she felt as though the eyes of the Gods were upon her.  When the
thick, rough tongue started lapping at her most private of places, the
sensation was fantastic, unlike any pleasure she'd ever given herself.
"Karial forgive me," she whimpered, quivering as her legs spread
involuntarily.
	The predator wanted to knock her off her feet into an opportune
position and mate with her like an animal would, but the man had taken over.
He wanted her willing, and that didn't seem so farfetched, now.  He ravaged
her with abandon, his thick tongue spreading her outer lips and slipping in
just slightly with each lap.  'Oh, no,' he thought, she's a virgin.  He could
feel her hymen with each pass.
	She had finally found the courage to touch him back, though in her
current stance she was limited to running her fingers down and through the
fur of his nape.  Silk wasn't as smooth as this creature's fur felt, a
surprise she found delightful.  "What am I doing?" she murmured, to herself
as much as him, while her fingers moved around to let loose the straps and
snaps that held the leather skirt of her armor in place.
	"This is... ung..."  Her words were cut off by a shriek as she hit the
first orgasm someone else had ever given her.  Not realizing what she was
doing, she grabbed the scruff of his neck with one hand and dug her fingers
into his fur, mashing his muzzle into her crotch as she came.
	In her head were only stars for several long moments.  When she came
back to the world, she realized that she was on her hands and knees, her
skirt almost fully undone.  "I'm not doing this," she said with a laugh that
half sounded like she was crying, a few tears of confusion escaping down her
cheeks.  In spite of herself, she finished removing the lower portion of her
armor and raised her hips, not knowing what she expected of an animal.
	'What does her virginity matter?' the animal wondered.  The cat
wandered a slow circle around her, sniffing at her exposed and ready sex from
this new angle.
	'Her first time is supposed to be something special,' the human mind
grumbled in reply.  He stood behind her and stared into heaven, his member
having long ago protruded from its sheath.
	"Hurry," she whined, not hearing the inner dialog of the creature
that was about to mount her.  Her hips swayed back and forth just slightly,
her own nectar glistening on her hot haven.  "Before I realize what I'm
doing..." she murmured, not realizing the beast had ears keen enough to hear
anything short of her thoughts.
	'This would qualify as something special' the animal assured him.
Quezvax moved up to take advantage of her willing posture in a fluid,
graceful motion.  His furred underbelly passed over her rump, contrasting
with the sudden impalement of his shaft into her depths.  He broke her
barrier of purity in his first thrust, wasting no time in bringing about a
sharp spike of pain to the woman.  She gritted her teeth and bore it well,
letting out scarcely more than a whimper.  The leopard held himself inside
her, kind enough to give her a long moment to adjust to the permanent change
to her body.
	Vevnan didn't recall exhaling, but suddenly she took in a huge gulp
of a breath, starving for oxygen.  The sudden movement set the leopard into
motion, the adjustment over.  His jaws were around the back of her neck,
holding her down and in place.  She cried out but did not struggle, knowing
she was well past the point of no return in her ultimate sin.  His hips
started hammering into her with abandon.  The finely tuned form of an
efficient killer was on top of her, all of his raw power focused into intense
carnal motion and want.
	She inhaled in ragged gasps, her body being sent beyond sensations
she ever thought she would know.  Vevnan felt pain from the barbs of his
member, but it was overwhelmed by desire and pleasure, her depths plumbed
like she would never have imagined.  She felt the animal breathing up her
scalp and down her neck in a similar fashion, small lacerations his teeth
inadvertently left stinging slightly.  She vaguely wished she'd taken off all
of her attire, one hand grasping at her own breast through the stiff leather
and squeezing as hard as she could, while the other held her up against the
assault of the animal.
	The entire time that Quezvax copulated with the woman, she wished it
would never end while pining for the climax she knew was fast approaching.
The animal could feel her inside, slick with wanton lust and gripping at his
manhood in anticipation.  He responded with another growl and thrust harder,
faster, deeper until he could feel the peak of pleasure just beyond his realm
of sense.  He let everything go but her, his tongue slavering over the back
of her neck as he finally released within her, exploding into the
all-consuming nothingness where everything is perfect.
	Vevnan felt the animal's seed shooting into her once sacred, now
sullied depths, and it threw her beyond reality.  She screamed, but heard
nothing more than the panting and growling of her mate.  Her inner walls
gripped and milked his girth, delaying his return to the present while she
joined him.
	The Gods only knew how long they remained still, but neither of the
mortals cared.  It was an eternity neither would forget.  When time
interrupted them, he leapt backwards off her, raking her now-sore inner folds
with his barbs.  She groaned and slumped to the ground, her face blank, her
mind not ready to process what she had just done.  Quezvax walked slowly
around to look her in the eyes.  The expression he wore was one she would
ponder many times.  The cat somehow looked pleased, apologetic, worried,
excited and confused all at once.  His eyes were the most haunting part,
however.  His eyes, when he looked at her like that, while his pupils were
still slits, looked human.
	Vevnan's hips slumped to the ground, fresh seed streaming from her as
she let exhaustion overtake consciousness.  She would not recall her dreams
that night.
*****************************************************************************
	Vevnan awoke to the sound of birds chirping above her, unconcerned
with the human so far below them.  Her head was pounding, but as she pushed
her upper body off the ground with her hands, the throbbing in her head
subsided.  She took a deep breath, reminding her of the forest she was in.
The sun cast a few warm rays through the trees down to her, but the cool air
still made her shiver.  She recalled leaning back against a tree for a light
sleep before... Her eyes flew open wide as she remembered what had happened the
night before.
	With a groan, she rolled over and glanced down at her bare hips and
thighs.  There was a dried mess between her legs, and she knew beyond doubt
that the incident had not been a dream.  She stared down at herself, somewhat
shocked with the realization of exactly what had transpired.  She reached
down gingerly, and found that her sex throbbed lightly.  With two fingers she
spread her outer lips, and the great cat's seed oozed out.  She was certainly
sore down below, but there was also a sense of satisfaction, even though she
knew she was no longer a virgin.
	She shook her head with a measure of disgust, sighing heavily.  She
finally pushed herself up onto shaking legs, but quickly regained full
control of herself before surveying her surroundings.  She was right where
the incident had happened.  When her fingers brushed the leather skirt before
she picked it up, her fingers remembered the feeling of the silken fur of the
animal she'd mated with.  The leather gave no similarity in feeling, but she
remembered none the less, and it made her shiver.
	She took a long minute to fasten and buckle the stray piece of armor
back into place.  Once it was in place, it did well to hide the evidence of
the previous night's deed from a casual observer, but she could still feel
the warm fluid making its way down her inner thigh.  It was a disgusting
sensation, but still somehow fed the inexplicable feeling of satisfaction.
She hated herself for such feelings.
	After she was armored once again, it didn't take long for her to find
her bow and the single arrow she'd had ready initially.  Holding both like a
familiar extension of herself, she headed to the west and slightly north
toward the stream she knew snaked its way into the vicinity.  She scaled a
sturdy tree and surveyed the area, making sure there was no one nearby.
	She stayed up there for a while, half hoping she would catch sight of
the creature that had taken advantage of her.  Even if Vevnan saw him, she
wasn't certain what her reaction would be.  It was so strange, she mused,
that a wild animal could woo her, while dozens of strong and handsome men had
never made her heart beat any faster.
	Eventually she dropped back to the ground, her hands working to first
remove her boots and socks, then the lower half of her armor.  She also
dropped her backpack onto the dry bank.  Naked from the waist down, she
stepped into the frigid water and quickly set about cleaning herself off.
Given how cold it was, she didn't feel like wasting time; even so, she found
herself absently spending more time than necessary cleaning between her legs,
one finger stroking numerous times over her hard clitoris.
	Flushing with embarrassment, she finished up before pulling a
traveler's blanket out of her backpack and swiftly drying off.  As she
toweled off the water, she couldn't help but think of the cat, and how much
smoother his fur had been against her skin.  "I must be crazy," she murmured.
She had pleasured herself in the past, though refrained from doing so
frequently based on principals set forth by the Church.  She never thought of
any particular man, though.  The image of what pleased her was always
indistinct, unknown; some faceless hero she had come to pine for.
	She redressed her lower half, her lack of undergarments her little
bit of constant pleasure that seemed to help keep her normal sexual needs at
bay.  Her dirty little secret was that one thing so many lusted for was
almost always exposed to open air.  Still, perverted though it might make
her, she had never fancied a man she had met.
	She checked her equipment as she typically would in the morning
before heading back toward where the incident had happened.  Vevnan glanced
down at the ground, seeing the disturbances on the ground where she and the
animal had been at the same time.  She realized she was wet thinking about
the encounter, her heart beating faster than it should have.  She attempted
to trace his steps away from the scene while calming her breathing.
	Men, she thought, should make her feel the way she did, not an animal
out of its natural habitat.  She tried to call to mind the most handsome men
she'd seen, from the bachelor prince who was the heart throb of many noble
women to the athletes who put on displays of physical ability with bodies
they spent their lives perfecting.  Human men could certainly have their
appeal, but she knew that they would all have their own agendas, and they
would all seek to subjugate her as if she was some prize to be won.  Her mind
drifted back to the leopard, though, and she could feel her own warm nectar,
and perhaps even some leftover semen, dripping down her thighs.
	Thighs quivering, she sighed heavily and leaned against a nearby
tree.  She let her eyes drift back to the ground, where she saw the paw
prints that had marked the animal's passage.  She followed them with her eyes
until they passed out of sight.  She stared at the last print she could see,
as if he might be standing there still, but invisible.
	Finally she pushed herself back to her feet and followed the tracks,
only momentarily surprised when she found that they stopped dead, no cat to
be found.  She knelt down for a closer look at the last few prints where it
was obvious the cat had jumped almost straight up.  Casting her gaze skyward,
Vevnan found there was a plethora of sturdy low branches about fifteen feet
off the ground.  Re-examining the last prints made it clear the leopard had
made a standing leap.
	"He must have some powerful muscles in his hind legs," she murmured.
Her voice seemed somehow out of place in the otherwise placid forest.  Her
thighs quivered once again as she recalled from experience just how powerful
the animal's hind legs were.  Again, she pushed thoughts from her mind and
stood, wandering around the few trees.  Finding a hold low enough to pull
herself up, she managed to make her way through sturdy branches to where she
supposed the cat had landed.
	She could see from scratches on the bark where he had made his way
into the trees, but it was difficult to tell from there.  Had he stayed on
the ground, she could have tracked him half way across the Known World.
However, up here, she wasn't so certain.  "Damn it all to the Face of the
Sun!" she spat.  "What happened was wrong.  I shan't let it happen again."
	Making up her mind as such, she dropped branch by branch back down to
the ground.  She headed back to the areas she was supposed to be keeping a
careful eye on, and resumed her job.  That was something she could focus on
easily enough, but she often caught her thoughts drifting in the wrong
direction.
*****************************************************************************
	Vevnan was surprised a week later when she caught sight of a man
approaching from the north.  She could bring to mind no reason why anyone
would be headed this way.  Even her contact with the army didn't travel so
far.  She normally had to make her way toward the pass to meet with him at
scheduled times.  Nonetheless, a man was headed south, his course bringing
him within a hundred yards, she gauged.
	She checked the sky before moving unheard from branch to branch until
she set herself up with the sun behind her.  She knocked an arrow and waited
patiently for the stranger to fall into what would be an ambush.  When he was
close enough for her to distinguish his features, she was rather surprised by
what she saw.  He was around six foot even, with hair that could only be
described as dull silver.  He wore his hair long and loose, flowing out
behind him.  His skin was pale, almost white, making him look almost like a
wayward ghost.  Vevnan lacked previous encounters with such spirits, but she
was certain he was not of their ilk.  His eyes were green, being the
prominent feature on a face with a soft, but somehow long look to it.  He was
clad only in a pair of hemp pants that fit him well, tied at the waste with a
length of rope.  The garment was clean, but excessively worn.  His frame was
thin, but not gaunt.  His feet were bare.
	The scout observed all of this while he made his way past at an
urgent pace.  When his back was to her, she gasped at the sight of a pair of
wide scars on either side of his spine that ran from just below his neck to
his mid back.  Her sharp intake of breath seemed to catch the stranger's
attention, as he paused suddenly, glancing around nervously.  When he didn't
see her, he put his hands together in a strange fashion before chanting quiet
words that made no sense, yet somehow screamed of power.
	At this point, Vevnan drew back her bow string with the arrow and
aimed it for the man's head.  "There's an arrow trained on you, and from this
distance I shan't miss," she called out to him.  Even as she finished the
sentence, he finished his chant, signified by an aura of intangible energy
extending from him and brushing past her.  "Any more words beyond me, and you
shall depart for the next isle," she growled loudly.  She knew he had cast a
spell, and as such he was dangerous.  The woman was not about to let him cast
another that could harm.
	The figure turned toward her and raised a hand to keep the sun out of
his eyes.  He was denied a clear image of her, but her eyes narrowed when he
saw his hands.  His fingers did not look injured, yet they sported no nails
of any sort.  He inhaled deeply, and then sighed with a mix of relief and
resignation.  "You're a predator of sorts, but not of the variety with a
malevolent bent.  I only wish to pass unhindered, and out of your lands."
	"You're not human," she remarked coolly, the arrow still held at the
ready.  "You don't belong here," she continued, "and I cannot allow you to
pass, on risk that you carry knowledge to the enemies of the Kingdom of
Narsinia."
	The inhuman man lowered his offsetting hand and allowed her a full
look at his visage.  He stared at her as much as he did into the sun.  "The
only knowledge I take from this land is thus:  Narsinia is a xenophobic
country that murders what it cannot subjugate and enslaves what it can.  It
is believed that I fall into the latter category, and as such my heels have
been hounded for half more than a week."  He heaved a heavy sigh and dropped
his view to the ground, his head shaking slightly.  "I am no threat to you,
or your country.  I only pine to live free, not as a beast of burden."  The
tone of his voice dropped to one of exhausted resignation.  "If I must decide
between enslavement and death, I shall take the latter."  He kept his eyes
upon the forest floor and raised his arms until his palms were just higher
than his head.
	Vevnan absorbed what the creature had to say, her fingers gradually
allowing the feathers of the arrow to move closer to the shaft of the bow,
until, without realizing it, she no longer threatened him.  It was the first
time in her life she could say that she had been moved by someone not of her
country.  The leopard, whom she encountered a week ago, did not count in her
mind.  She knew enough of her home to know that only one syndicate would hunt
down anyone for a reason other than justice.  She had no taste for that
family.  Only the De'Farenths dealt in living commodities, as they preferred
to refer to slaves.
	"Alter your course to the south east," she snapped, not entirely
pleased with herself for letting what could easily be an enemy pass.  "Stay
off the road you find until it leads you into Dason.  By Karial, don't allow
me to regret this decision, or my life's purpose shall shift to hunting you."
	A gentle smile played upon lips that were too accustomed to frowning.
His face was nearly radiant as he gave a light bow.  "My deepest gratitude,
M'Lady.  My name is Deslen.  May Gaia smile upon you for this."  He turned
and swiftly retreated to the south east.
	Vevnan watched Deslen until he went beyond sight before she slipped
carefully down to firm ground.  She knew the bounty hunters wouldn't be far
behind their quarry.  She checked what tracks the man left.  Oddly enough,
they were nearly non-existent.  It would take a skilled tracker indeed to
pursue him.  "What were you, Deslen?" she murmured softly to herself.  She
smoothed over what few signs she did see of his passing, and glanced to the
sun to gauge the time.  "Two hours at most, if they're still trailing him,"
she said with a smirk.
	The woman decided not to linger in the same location.  Her earlier
estimation was almost dead on.  A party of six men emerged into sight, their
attire suggesting nobles adapted to being out and about.  They were armed
with both traditional weapons and non-lethal ones: man catchers, nets, and
bolas.  She had found a comfortable tree to lean against while they
approached, three of them keeping a close eye out for signs of their prey.
She did not bother waving to them when they hailed her, but let them approach
unhindered.  Had she not a plan in mind, she would have worn open disgust and
contempt for them.
	"Greetings, Scout," one of the men hailed once within earshot.  He
had his black hair cropped short, and wore a goatee well trimmed.  "We're
certain a very valuable creature has passed through here recently.  Perchance
you've caught sight of him?" the man asked as he approached.
	Vevnan cocked her head to the side, giving the man a sidelong glance.
"Creature?  I haven't seen such, though I did see a pale skinned man pass
nearby," she remarked casually.
	The man's face predictably lit up.  "Aah!  That would be the one that
we seek."  He paused, then chuckled and shook his head.  "Pardon my lack of
manners.  We've been after this thing for over a week.  My name is Elron
De'Farenth, and I must say it is a pleasure to meet one as beautiful as you.
Surprised I am that Muriel has not taken you.  Perhaps you could expedite our
search with some information?"
	Vevnan forced a convincing smile at the bounty hunter.  "I'm afraid
Karial got to me first."  She was not in any way attracted to the man; if
anything, she was repulsed.  It was his job as much as his demeanor that she
found disgusting.  "I did happen to see the man you're after, however he was
out of range of bow when I caught sight of him, and moving at a quick pace."
	"Which direction did he go?" the man asked, his companions looking
eager behind him.
	Vevnan smiled mischievously, her tongue darting our over her lips.
"What sort of bounty is being offered for this one?"  She had no intention of
giving them accurate information, and taking advantage of them would be icing
on the cake.
	Elron grinned.  "A smart one, eh?  I can't very well fault you for
that.  I tell you what, fifty coppers for all you can tell us."  He snapped
his fingers behind him, and one of his toadies pulled out a money pouch from
his backpack and counted out fifty coppers before carefully handing the coins
off to the leader.  "I'm sure time is of the essence in this hunt."
	Vevnan eyed the coppers.  Normally, she would have left them on the
ground for a hapless peasant to find.  Money was never something she found
herself in need of, given her family.  She kept that to herself, though.
"Fair enough," she finally said in a pleasant tone.  "He headed to the
southwest," she explained, her arm extending to point in to the exact path
she intended to lead them.  "There's a path not far off that he probably took
to.  If you're swift, you'll likely catch him."  She relieved the man of the
coppers and slipped them into a side pouch on her backpack.
	"A dozen thanks," the hunter replied, and quickly departed, breaking
into a hustle with the rest of his entourage.  Vevnan watched them until
they, too, were out of sight before giggling to herself.
	"Good hunting, boys," she said softly.  She turned and headed to the
north.  The group would easily find the trail, as well as a fortified Dasoner
encampment after a mild distance.
	On her way out of the territory she'd been scouting for months, she
glanced over her left shoulder toward the setting sun.  She had enough time
to make it to her rendezvous point for her scheduled meeting with her
commander.  She set a brisk pace for herself, intent on making it before
nightfall.  The moon has recently made its ascent through the North Cardinal
Gate, and was climbing into the sky.  The pale, pleasant face was waning and
giving way to the dark half of the heavenly body.  It drew her gaze for a
while as she traveled, giving her a sense of serenity.  She shook her head as
she realized the odd effect it was having on her.  "Can't say it's been a
boring week," she admitted aloud.  "Too bad most of it shan't be reported,"
she muttered under her breath.  A light breeze passed air beneath her skirt
and over her slit, reminding her of how the week began.  She quickly buried
those thoughts.
	She reached her destination as the last rays of light from the sun
vanished, and the sounds of night were starting to settle about the land.  No
one was there, which was not unusual.  Nonetheless, she knew better than to
be late, on the off-chance someone was waiting for her.  The tree that marked
the rendezvous point was ancient, and by all accounts should have been dead,
but the high branches still sported leaves.  The trunk was a good six feet
across, though hollow at the ground.  She pulled an arrow from her quiver and
waved it about the hollow to clear any spider webs that might be inside, then
reached up and felt around the upper reaches of the hollow until she found
the scroll case she knew would be there.
	Vevnan extracted the scroll from its case and read it quickly in the
dying light.
	*Leave your weekly report here and depart on the morrow for Ghalen.
Your family has requested your presence for the fall festivals.  A temporary
replacement will arrive tomorrow mid-day to take over your duties for the
duration of your absence.  Gods' speed and best of luck to you.*
	Vevnan couldn't help but laugh aloud at the last part of the message.
Her commander knew how she detested time among her family.  The latter
thought dragged a sigh from her before she rolled up the scroll and headed
further north to a cave that marked the beginning of the mountains that
served as the northern border of the Eastern Woods.  She knew this cave well.
	She thought she caught a glimpse out of the corner of her eye of
something moving in the trees, but quickly dismissed it after gazing
carefully at her surroundings for several minutes.  She turned back to the
cave, which had an earthen smell to it without being dank.  She stripped off
her pack and found a comfortable spot to lie down to sleep for the night.
*****************************************************************************
	Vevnan awoke with the dawn, her eyes gradually opening until she
sprang to life, first pulling out a pen and ink to write out a hasty note for
her commander.  She sealed it in the case before packing up her things.  She
returned it to the great tree and hid the scroll case in the same place,
confident that it would remain there until the one it was meant for happened
by.
	Vevnan had no desire to meet her temporary replacement, so she made
haste for the pass that would lead her toward Narsinia's undisputed
territory.  While walking the mountain paths, she was denied the warmth of
the sun until it rose high enough to peek over the mountains.  Once she felt
it, she was grateful, and the spring in her step renewed, munching on some of
her remaining rations as she went.  She almost thought she would make it
through the pass without running into the other scout.  Disappointment
creased her features when she saw a man stopped to rest, leaning against a
boulder that marked the exit of the pass.  She slowed her pace only slightly
as she approached.
	The man before her was unfamiliar, and his attire immediately ruled
out the possibility of him being her replacement.  He was dressed for travel,
but the quality of his clothes marked him as less than nobility.  Still, he
obviously had more wealth at his disposal than a typical peasant.  The middle
class in Narsinia was almost unknown.  He appeared to be unarmored, though a
rapier was sheathed at his hip, which was unusual for a woodsman.  His hair
was a brown tangle that stopped just above the collar of his long sleeved
shirt, and his face looked to have been recently shaven.  Green eyes observed
her approach, and a friendly smile pulled at his lips.  He waved to her
casually while pushing himself from the boulder to his feet.  He was a
handsome man by most any measure, but Vevnan paid his looks little mind.
"Good morning, M'Lady.  You seem anxious to get somewhere you don't wish to
be."
	Vevnan flushed, a scowl wrinkling her features.  "Where I go is my
own business, sir.  If you're to speculate on the business of others, perhaps
you should lay your own bare."  She was annoyed at having met anyone more
than him in particular.  She was already beginning to stress over having to
deal with her family, and there was a week yet before she would arrive.
	"My sincere apologies if I have offended," he said, a shamed look on
his face as he gave a light bow.  "My name is Quezvax, and at the moment I am
serving as a cartographer of sorts."  He approached her carefully, a hand
extended with the palm up.  "On occasion the pursuit of exotic animals
strikes my fancy.  I don't suppose you've seen any as of late?"
	A shiver traced her spine at the mention of exotic animals, and once
again her thoughts drifted involuntarily back to the incident.  "I find that
such animals are better left alive.  Too many think beauty best hangs upon
their walls."  It was her true sentiment toward the subject.  She had never
been a fan of sport hunting.  She did not let her hand into his, offered
though it was in a gentlemanly fashion.
	"My Dearest Lady," he said softly, "your words do me no justice.  I
would not intend to hunt rare beauty for my wall, or any other's."  He smiled
sincerely at her.  "I find glimpses of that which does not wish to be seen
grant the most worthwhile inspiration for my sketches.  They seldom fetch
more than a few meager coppers, but I make them for myself."  He finally let
his hand drop when she declined giving her own.  "My work is finished, so I
turn now for Ghalen.  What of yourself?  Does chance have us upon the same
path?"
	His words somehow seemed soothing, and they certainly improved her
initial perception of the man.  "My name is Vevnan.  I am indeed bound for
Ghalen, and I'd not mind your company along the path, though I confess I
travel on foot at a tempo most find uncomfortable."  She offered him a smile
that was, for once, not forced.  She gave a polite half bow before setting
off down the path she knew would take her to the main road bound for the
capitol.  She glanced over her shoulder and nearly stumbled when she found
him right behind her, his footsteps virtually ethereal, quiet as they were.
	"My apologies, Lady Vevnan," he said with a red face.  "I'm a bit too
accustomed to going unnoticed.  I've been alone with my thoughts too long,
perhaps, and my thoughts need not hear me to know where I am."
	She couldn't help but find herself amused by his words and apparent
antics.  "If you suffer an affliction of the mind, I can recommend a priest
who can cure such for the mere price of gratitude," she offered.  Her stride
was wide and quick, but graceful.  She did not appear to be in a rush, in
spite of her quick pace.
	Quezvax glanced to the trees on one side of the path, then the other,
a chuckle upon his lips.  "The only affliction I suffer is a general lack of
taste for most people," he said somewhat glumly.  "I don't mean to pry, but I
still can't help but think that you go where you do not wish to be.  If I may
be bold once again, what distaste have you for Ghalen?"
	She only shrugged as they walked briskly down the path, her eyes
glancing up at the moon that had dared show its face during the day.  "My
presence has been requested.  It's purely ceremonial.  Valuable though they
are, I'd dispense with my family if it'd not bring shame upon them."
	Quez quirked a brow as he strode now beside her.  "You're of a noble
family, then?" he read into her words.  "I should not be surprised that your
noble bearing is not merely natural grace.  Would it be accurate to guess you
fall under the arm of the De'Tezjun family?"
	Vevnan sighed softly and shook her head.  "Nay, I wish I was so
fortunate.  The De'Tezjuns are indeed honorable and very capable, but I fall
under a different family.  Let it rest when I say that my family was quite
surprised when they discovered my martial interests."
	"Fair enough," her newfound companion yielded with a sigh.  "Forgive
me if I hold out hope yet that you'll trust me enough to grant such insight
during our journey, though."  He grinned mischievously.  This was going
better than he expected.
	"If you can keep up," she smirked.
<1st attachment end>


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