The Door

Chapter 11- Spelltongue

“Good,” Captain Muschi purred, then, turning to me, she introduced herself and her lieutenants, “Greetings. I am Captain Tiefe Muschi, and these are my lieutenants, Opimus Culus and Lisse Chatte. Now, if you don’t want your virtue taken by them or me, or any of my crew, I suggest you stick close to Bel’Sheathe here. Understand?”

“Yes, Madam,” I replied, and as soon as I spoke, I felt my heart thump and something roil in my belly before coming out of my mouth with my words.

“Good,” Captain Muschi said in a purr as she ogled me again, suddenly even more interested than before.

Lieutenants Culus and Chatte also smiled predatorily while Lieutenant Culus’ eyes opened wide in surprise and Lieutenant Chatte sighed and took a step toward me.

“What is your name, man?” Captain Muschi asked, “So that I may write you down in the log.”

“Captain!” Lieutenant Culus gasped, “Beware! His words hold magic in them. He is a Lingua Incantatrix! A Spelltongue!”

“My name…” I started to say, but Captain Muschi stepped back and drew her cutlass with an expression of fear and determination.

“Quiet, male! Or I will run you through where you stand!” Captain Muschi roared angrily, then she turned her glare on Bel’Sheathe and growled, “What is this treachery, Bel’Sheathe? You dare bring a Spelltongue onto my ship? You would give him to the Queen?”

Even Bel’Sheathe looked startled and had taken a step away from me whilst glaring as if I had purposefully misled her.

“You didn’t know?” Captain Muschi continued to growl.

“No.” Bel’Sheathe hissed as she shook her head. “I didn’t know. I’ve felt nothing from him this whole time.”

“Please!” I begged, “I…”

“Do not speak!” Captain Muschi growled, “Or I will slay you where you stand!”

“No! Wait!” Bel’Sheathe said as she regained her composure and looked at me and the giant antler slung over my shoulder and dragged in the sand behind me, “If he were a threat, then Ma’halanorn would have killed him himself, but he didn’t. Instead, he gave the Outworlder a mighty gift.”

“Ma’halanorn?” Lieutenant Culus gasped.

“Outworlder?” Captain Muschi hissed in wide-eyed surprise as she ogled me up and down once again.

“Yes,” Bel’Sheathe confirmed as she came and stood beside me, “I shouldn’t have said that. You three will forget you heard it.”

“Do not presume to command me, Princess,” Captain Muschi said as she looked from me to Bel’Sheathe and back, “You say he is an Outworlder. Lieutenant Culus says he’s a Spelltongue. I assume the great antler he is dragging is from Ma’halanorn? What has he done, slain the king of the forest?”

“He is an Outworlder,” Bel’Sheathe said softly as she looked from the Captain to her Lieutenants, “A fact I expect you to keep confidential until I’m able to hand him over to the Queen.”

“Bringing a human Spelltongue within shouting distance of the Queen might be considered treason,” Captain Muschi argued. “How do you know you’re not under his influence?”

“I just know,” Bel’Sheathe replied.

“Opimus, are you immune to the human’s magic?” Captain Muschi asked.

“I think so,” Lieutenant Culus replied, “Mostly. His use of magic was rudimentary and weak. However, if he gets stronger…”

She left the implication hanging.

“Then this is what we will do,” Captain Muschi growled, “The human is under arrest. He will be kept isolated in Lieutenant Culus’ room, and she will attend to his needs. He will surrender his weapons, armor, and any other belongings. You can keep them with you, Princess. Also, the human is not to speak as long as he is on my ship. If he does, I will cut his throat and throw him overboard myself.”

“Fine!” Bel’Sheathe agreed, “I think you’re being paranoid and hyperbolic, especially since I have vouched for him as well as Ma’halanorn, but okay.”

“What is his name, Bel’Sheathe?” Captain Muschi asked.

“Orwen Scott,” Bel’Sheathe answered.

Captain Muschi noted my name in her log and didn’t bother to look up as she commanded, “Take him into custody, Lieutenant Culus. He will reside with you for this trip in your cabin. Make sure he does not speak.”

“Yes, Captain!” Opimus replied as she stepped forward and gestured at me and commanded, “Drop the antler and all your gear.”

Hissing in anger, I dropped the base of the antler. It was far too heavy to actually carry. I dropped my shield and then removed my backpack. Lastly, I removed my belt and dropped my sword and gun, then stood there.

“Armor and clothes too,” Lisse growled, “Can’t have you sneaking any weapons on board we don’t know about.”

Sneering at her, I glared at the lieutenant. If the lady was going to be a b***h then she wouldn’t get any respect from me. Then I cut my glare to Tiefe, who was smirking at me as if I were a prime t-bone steak. Lastly, I cut my glare to Bel’Sheathe, who was looking at me with an apologetic expression.

“Go…” I started to growl. However, before I could say another word, in a blur Lisse’s cutlass was resting on my shoulder and against my neck.

“Do not speak!” Lisse hissed savagely, “You are a prisoner until the Queen decides your fate! Spirit of the Forest and Princess be damned, if you utter a single sound without my Captain’s permission to do so, and I will cut your tongue from your mouth!”

I ground my teeth in anger, but I didn't speak.

“Now,” Lisse hissed as she stepped in and put her cute, blue, turned-up nose to mine and glared at me with her big golden eyes, “Strip off your armor and clothes or I will cut them off of you!”

With angry jerky moves, I complied until I stood there in front of them all completely naked, and much to my humiliation, I was fully erect!

“Well,” Tiefe chuckled in amusement, “Isn’t that a nice surprise. Careful, ladies, he’s bared his sword at us.”

Opimus barked a laugh, Lisse grinned broadly, while Tiefe and Bel’Sheathe smirked. The world seemed to thump in time with my heartbeat.

Thump-thump!

Thump-thump!

Thump-thump!

I could feel something building inside me. Something powerful. Something angry. It built and built and built, but then I thought about these women and how they must feel about me—a human, the enemy, and the fear they must have for their safety, and my temper cooled. Not a lot, but a little. Enough for me to smile bitterly as I growled at them and put my fists on my hips in a superhero pose, but I didn’t speak. Tiefe raised an eyebrow, then motioned Opimus toward me.

“Take him to the ship, Opimus,” Tiefe commanded. “He’s under your supervision until we dock at Rookhaven.”

“Yes, Captain!” Opimus answered with a snap salute. The daemonae woman then strutted over, threw her arms around my waist, pulled me close, and then heaved and jumped into the air all at the same time. Her flame-red wings caught the air, and we rocketed into the sky!

Despite their commands to not speak, and much to my chagrin as a man, I screamed, “Bloody hell!”

Everyone laughed, then Opimus’ grip loosened around my waist, and my body slid a little down hers. My scream went up several octaves from fear to sheer terror. I was so embarrassed! Then, she tightened her grip again, and my head was suddenly crushed between her great heaving breasts, all while Opimus laughed riotously!

We flew high into the air, over the masts of the ship, and then Opimus performed a graceful landing. A landing I did not even see because she dropped me the last couple of feet, sending me careening across the deck!

“Holy f*****g hell!” I cursed as I rolled to my feet.

“Not another word,” Opimus purred as she strutted across the deck toward me, exuding s*x appeal and danger at the same time, “Not until we are safely within the confines of my room.”

I sneered, but I kept my cool and my tongue. I looked around and found women everywhere. Some were young while others were old. Each one wore a sash and a belt at their natural waists, cinched tight and steel rings sewn into them at various places so they could tie off when in rough seas. Aside from the belts and sashes they wore, not a stitch of clothing. There were a few men and boys as well, and they wore the same thing and not a stitch more. They all looked at me. They sized me up, and then turned back to their duties.

“They know better than to put their noses in other people’s business,” Opimus said, “Not that we do anything to dissuade curiosity. However, most ships' crews are not looking for attention themselves, and so give none if possible to others.”

When I didn’t reply, she smiled as she looked me up and down. She assessed that nothing was broken, and so led the way into the ship and down a narrow hallway to a room I assumed was hers. She opened the door and motioned for me to precede her into the small galley-sized room. There was a small wardrobe, two built-in single-wide bunk beds, and a small desk that doubled as a nightstand with a short stool tucked underneath.

“Sit,” Opimus commanded after following me into the narrow room and closing the door.

I did as commanded and was rewarded by getting to watch as she removed the little bit of clothing she was wearing. First, the belt with her weapons went into the wardrobe. Then her silver waist chain and green silken loincloth. Lastly, the silver rib-hugging underwire along with the transparent green silk bra and silver choker.

Once she was naked, she stood before me with only a dagger for self-defense and explained, “I am a daemonae seductrix. Your magic will not affect me. For all intents and purposes, I am immune to someone as unskilled as yourself. Now, lie back; I am going to bed you and guarantee that you and your magic will never harm me.”

For my first time in this world, I wasn’t sure this daemonae woman was who I wanted to do it with. However, it seems I don’t have a choice. So, lying back on the bed, I relaxed and smiled bitterly. Opimus isn’t the first woman I’ve f****d who thinks she’s in control of the situation just because she’s on top.