Moonlit Passions

Chapter 5

Enlightenment on the Astral Plane

Kirder lay on the couch, ready for Cassie to work her magic. The velvet drapes were drawn and the only light was the silver glow of the crystal ball.

"You have never been in a brought to the Astral Plain before I presume, dear Kirder?" She stroked her green cheek pensively as she gazed at him.

Kirder had no idea what that even meant. "No man and no lady has ever brought me with them to any mystical place. Astonish me lady. Show me wonders and I will be your humble servant."

Cassie smiled, her brown eyes sparkling. The silvery light lit up her face so that her yellow-green skin actually appeared to glow. "The Astral Plain is another level of consciousness. We can gain insights there that would be too obscure on the Earthly plain. We remain in this room, but we will see things that were, things that are and things which could well be. Most importantly, we share one another's thoughts."

"And I have agreed to it," said Kirder. She certainly kept repeating that last part. Did she have anything more to hide?

Normally Cassie had a penetrating voice, but now she began to croon and he felt very soothed.

"Come with me, my love, to another realm, from where the Moon Goddess herself gazes down. In her light we thrive. Let me succour you as she succours all of us."

He tried to concentrate on her shining face, but felt himself very becoming very drowsy. He felt a sensation of spinning upwards and lo and behold! – He and Cassie stood together in a green field in broad daylight. He took a look around. There was a brightly coloured rainbow arching across the sky. Cassie beamed at him. She was now wearing a very clingy dress of what appeared to be a black silk that caught the sunlight in a curious way, causing it to shimmer.

"So this is the Astral Plane? Not what I expected," said Kirder.

"We are in my memories. There is more – come," she beckoned for him to follow and then she seemed to glide across the field to a wooden barn. A girl sat outside beneath a rainbow coloured parasol. This girl did look familiar. Long red hair, a prettily formed nose and round cheeks and dimples… Oho. He had been so used to seeing Cassie with green skin that it was somewhat surprising to see her as she had appeared with a human complexion. Past Cassie was pale as those with red hair always are, although her cheeks were flushed delicately pink. A foxglove hue. What was she excited about? She was poring over a book although it appeared her mind was not really on it. She was smiling and her eyes were shining. There were strange noises coming from the barn… could it be what Kirder thought? Male voices yelling – gasps of pleasure - Past Cassie gave a little squeal and a writhe of delight. Kirder's eyes widened. He could not tear himself away…

But then the door swung open and two young lads emerged, hair dishevelled and faces flushed. One was fair, the other had ruddy hair, as fiery as Cassie's. Kirder assumed they must be servants of some kind from their attire. Bits of straw clung to them. Why were they holding hands like that?

"Thanks so much for keeping look out, lady," said the fair one. His voice really was unrefined. Definitely a servant although certainly fair of face, with a strong jaw and rosy looking lips. His fine features gleamed with a sheen of sweat. "I knew we could trust you."

"Always Leif," said pale Cassie beaming.

"This young buck could take a turn inside me," said the red headed fellow. Although his face was considerably freckled, he also showed a rather exquisite flush at this moment. He hadn't even had the sense to button his shirt properly! What indecent romp were they confessing to? The three locked arms and left Kirder and green Cassie behind.

"Hold on…" said Kirder, taking a step back. "I think I know what this memory is about and the idea of their sweating bodies locked together in ecstasy is an idea that offends." Kirder's indignation was aroused and he felt himself growing flushed as well. "How dare either lad penetrate the fine form of the other? Just imagine what amount of unguent would be required to slip in deep? Such immorality is unnatural and I am shocked. Not that I judge the kind of friends you keep, lady."

Cassie folded her arms. "Really? Really Kirder? That is your real opinion?" She curled her dark green lip at him.

"They should never have come out … of the barn that is… for I take no avid interest in them. Those antics are the kind of thing a vain effeminate fellow such as that Horstman would partake in." The image of the vain effeminate Horstman seemed to rise before Kirder's eyes, he couldn't help it intruding. The idea of his foe squirming on the straw floor of the barn, his silvery hair dishevelled and face flushed aroused Kirder's indignation some more. And what of his prick erect…? Kirder did not even want to think about such things as that rigid manhood glistening and ripe for penetration. "Such fellows cannot be trusted. Fellows like me are the true bastions of morality."

Cassie covered her face with her hands. "Oh honestly…"

Clearly she was loyal to her servants, but he was obviously in the right. "Do you not see the truth Cassie? They should only be aroused by ideas of ladies… erm…" Kirder was at a loss how to proceed. The idea of the sweating naked fellows and Horstman were occupying his thoughts. And their three long pricks… It was their fault, not his. He tried to explain himself. "The only moral copulation is that which takes place between a man and a woman for the purpose of begetting children. A red blooded heterosexual fellow such as myself knows this intuitively."

Cassie c****d her head to one side as she gave him an odd look. The sunlight shone off her green nose and cheeks. Why did she give him that look? She never had before. She brushed her ruddy hair away from her face. "You could be his Majesty's jester with punchlines like those."

What had she found funny? How could he make his meaning clearer? "If I saw those two fellows actually going at it that would show how immoral it is, instead of just telling."

Cassie rubbed her green cheek. "I thought as much. Perhaps a sobering episode would be more instructive first."

The scene around them dissolved in a whirl of colour and sound and now they were in a brightly lit room with a white tiled floor and what appeared to be an infirmary bed. The red headed immoral fellow was there. Kirder had a good look to check that he had had the decency to button up all his clothes this time. It was especially fortunate that he had buttoned his tightly fitting pants and only the tell tale bulge of his manhood beneath was visible! And there were Cassie and Leif on the bed. In this memory, Cassie was as bright green as ever she was. Clearly this memory was more recent. But why was she wearing white robes and why was Leif sitting propped up with pillows? Cassie had placed her slender green hands on his temples and was murmuring softly and indistinctly, her face close to his. Suddenly she spoke aloud: "The hurt is gone!"

"Praise the Moon, Lady, you've healed him," said the red headed fellow. "To think, his pretty face was a wicked mess of bruising before."

"Yes, thank you," said Leif putting his arms around her.

"If anything had happened to you…" said Cassie with a sniff as she hugged him back. "My poor sweet Leif."

Kirder could not fathom why she loved that degenerate servant. Obviously he wasn't interested in her womanly charms and then… he was such a milksop he most likely could not really take the pleasure and pain of a stiff burden in the rear. Kirder breathed hard at the thought.

"Just as well you were keeping watch over us, Lady," said the red headed one. "I knew you would keep your promise to protect us. Us fiery types do stick together."

Alright, what exactly was this about? Kirder had been led to believe that he would spy on their indecency. Surely they would not go at it with a lady in the room? That notion was really improper.

Cassie turned to him. Her brown eyes were bloodshot. She had been crying. "It is my duty to take care of my servants and I take my duty seriously and I have a much more solemn duty to those I love."

"Those men think us disgusting, or what was it that mob called us?" said red head stamping his foot. "As they kicked Leif on the ground?"

Cassie glared at him. "Such things can never occur again, Fritz. I am the Chief Mage now. And I am the mistress here, not father or mother. Any thug or lout would be unwise to incur my wrath. As would anyone who promotes the hobgoblins' arcane nonsense in our kingdom."

Kirder flinched. Now that was a savage indictment against the mob who had attacked Fritz and Leif. The hobgoblins certainly had very severe ideas about morality and yes, Kirder always thought that that was one of the various ways in which they were so cruel. But really, why should Fritz and Leif be the ones to sate their lusts in a frenzied tangle of limbs...?

"The mob wouldn't dare go after the hobgoblins. The hobgoblins kill whoever criticise them," murmured Leif.

Cassie stroked his blond hair. "Bullies are cowards. Cowards attack soft targets. They would not dare antagonise the deadly hobgoblins."

Cowards? Yes, that mob had been cowardly. Kirder shifted uncomfortably. He could feel the eyes of present day Cassie on him. That intensity of her expression was unnerving. He could not endure it any longer.

"You were right," he admitted. "That pack of bullies were cowards and frauds. They would not protest where they were needed. They would not dare challenge the hobgoblins' immorality. They chose to antagonise the weak instead."

Cassie smiled and nodded. The scene dissolved in a whirl of colour. "Love is love and it is always a force for good. Bottling in our natural feelings only causes them to go sour. The good subjects of his majesty ought to be free to express love in ways that bring them the greatest pleasure."

But again, Kirder felt himself piqued by irritation. Emotional bonds were one thing, but why did these particular servants deserve to consummate their passions for one another in carnal ecstasy, in a delicious tangle of limbs and interpenetration? The thought aroused indignation in him.

Now a new scene around them solidified. Another memory. They were in an antechamber with a marble floor. Cassie was with Fritz and Leif once more.

"Leif does insist on it, Lady," Fritz was saying.

Leif flushed a rosy pink. "It's just that to really get my braveness back… I would feel safest with you watching over us while we do it again."

Now why did he suppose Cassie wanted to hear details of his sordid passions? But Kirder's own ears pricked up attentively.

Cassie's eyes were strangely bright as she gazed back at him. "Oh Leif… yes, for you… yes yes. I do want to be able to take care of you, always."

Well Kirder knew himself to be a hot blooded heterosexual who had no interest in witnessing such a scene! Nonetheless, he followed the lovers and past and present Cassie to a side chamber laden with lavish pink furnishings. Past Cassie was holding a glowing pink sphere in her hands which she threw towards the ceiling. It floated above them, shining with a steady, rosy light. The two of Cassie then sat on ornate chairs gazing at the lovers with avid anticipation, but Kirder forgot they were there… it was the fault of those fellows giving in to their base lust and distracting him, the fault was certainly not with Kirder.

Divested of their shirts, Fritz and Leif knelt facing one another on the pink cushions and locked together in a passionate embrace. Fritz' freckled face pressed against Leif's creamy complexion as they locked their mouths together and then – oh by the stars! They cast aside their pants and their pricks were hard and erect, protruding like poles. Kirder leaned forwards as they gently rubbed their pricks together. Then Leif got down on hands and knees and Fritz squirted an unguent all over his smooth, rounded buttocks which glistened in the pink lamplight.

He stroked his lover's back. Leif gave little wriggles like a cat. "Why Leif, you have skin like silk," whispered Fritz in his ear. Then he pushed his erect manhood into Leif's rear. Leif gave a little gasp and squirm and Fritz withdrew stroking his hair.

"Take me, you raging bull," said Leif, his breathing coming heavy. Kirder knelt beside them his eyes wide. Fritz did take Leif then. Their screams of pleasure resounded throughout the Astral Plane.

Afterwards the pair lay together in the cushions hugging one another. Kirder's excitement had cooled and now he sneered at them. He should not verbally berate them. Cassie was right, it was not brave to do so. But he felt himself superior to them. He would not indulge himself in such base and – and frenzied passions.

Oh now Fritz was sucking on Leif's manhood. Kirder knelt down again.

Cassie's voice broke through his reverie. "Kirder-"

"Coming…" said Kirder, intent on Leif who was making little squeaks of excitement, his legs vibrating.

After the climax of this memory, they awoke again back on the Earth.

Cassie of course could no longer flush, but her eyes were very bright after viewing this memory of hers.

"You see, Kirder? An expression of love that brings so much pleasure can only be good."

"Well…" Kirder's mind's eye flickered between Horstman and then Leif and Fritz as a couple. "I suppose whatever brings your friends joy is the right thing for them. But I am fully occupied with my own tribulations. Foremost is Horstman who is no doubt plotting against me."

"Mm." Cassie was gazing into his eyes with that penetrating expression that seemed like she could see right into him. "Perhaps he should come on the quest with us, so he cannot plot against you? It will help with your journey to fulfilment."

"You are wise as ever Cassie. But there is one other who must come. Tek. He is the one who knows most of the dastardly arch-fiend. He is our most important ally. Not like that feeble and effeminate Horstman." There was a flapping outside the window. "Ah, talk of the demon and he will appear." Tek often seemed drawn to a place where others were discussing him.

Cassie welcomed him into her tower quarters again and he alighted beside the table. "Tek. We must help Kirder fulfil his ultimate goal in life. A vital part of this is defeating the greatest and most dire enemy of all. The diabolical Sschlangg. Will you join us?"

"Most assuredly, Lady," piped Tek, gazing up at her with his great golden eyes.

"Then accompany us on a journey to the Astral Plane. We must begin by finding out what is most important about our enemy."

And so they journeyed into Tek's memory via the Astral Plane. Tek warned them that the memory in question was of Sschlangg's original conference for the demonic invasion eastward.

After a sensation of swirling through the Astral Plane images and bright lights came into sharp focus. They were in a vast cavern lit up by jewel bright people… monsters? They stood around a great strone table which glowed with a light that coalesced into a map of the desert east of the mountains. And the creatures gathered around it were all the colours of the rainbow and more. Some were beautiful, some were beautiful but terrible, others were simply strange looking beings as far as Kirder was concerned, but his gaze was irresistibly drawn to a terrible, shadowy figure. Kirder could not look at him directly. The very air around him seemed warped. His outline writhed and distorted constantly like a multitude of snakes. He was made of fire and shadow. And yet Kirder was aware of his terrible eyes that burned with a hellish fire.

"It beginsss!" A terrible hissing voice seemed to lance through Kirder's mind. Demons can converse in thought. This is how Tek remembered it as he lay prostrate on the cavern floor before his terrible master.

Sschlangg pointed an elongated talon at the map of the desert. "We will sstorm the feeble flessshcarrierss with full forccce. I persssonally will lay wasste to their outpossst. They do not desserve the chancce to ssurrender! They will not know what hass sstruck them. Who agreess?"

Answering thoughts came back from the demons surrounding the table.

"I agree!"

"We agree."

"And us."

"Come now, you mussst not have fear. Do not agree out of craven terror. Debate the isssue. Quessstion my judgementsss. Only then can we function as a unit."

Sschlangg's hiss had taken on a wheedling tone.

One of the demons glided forward. He had the head arms and torso of a handsome young man, albeit shockingly purple all over, but his legs seemed to trail away into purple vapour.

"As a matter of fact I deplore the idea of attacking the humans without giving them the chance to surrender first. That is my honest opinion."

"Ssssso!" Sschlangg's tone was triumphant. "You disssagree? I get to desstroy you!"

Sschlangg pointed a talon at the handsome demon and a stream of fire and darkness streamed forth tearing him asunder. The other demons murmured in terror as their fellow was dissolved to purple vapour.

"Anyone elssse have an opinion?" No one else did. "Thosse that do are foolish like my jesster."

Kirder noticed Tek was trussed up on the cavern floor with ropes of darkness. Sschlangg sent a bolt of dark energy lancing at him. Tek writhed on the floor.

"That iss funny," Sschlangg mused. None of the other demons disagreed. "Now we advancce easst. Victory is inevitable. It hass been decreed that whilsst I rule, we get unlimited opportunitiess to invade until we ssucceed. As long as I rule. Thisss has been prophesisssed by the Moon Goddesss."

Tek's shrill voice sounded in Kirder's ear. "There can be no mistaking his evil intent, Master Kirder. Sschlangg will return. Unless he is deposed he will overrun this fair kingdom in the end."

"The other option is open. We can overthrow Sschlangg. I am sure we can. I once feared my ambition was hopeless, but now I have two such wonderful friends, the odds are greatly improved." He felt Cassie slip her slender hand into his."My quest must now begin."