"Do you not wish to come with me?" Ashiyn asked the woman.
"I would be honored to come with you, my Lord," she replied, her voice as sweet as honey.
"See?" Ashiyn smirked at Soryn. “Just because one foolish woman did not realize what I offer, does not mean they all will be that way.”
“It would be a foolish woman indeed who denied you, great King,” the woman said as she latched onto Ashiyn’s arm.
“Will you at least ask her name?” Soryn implored with a sigh. Clearly, he had more to say, but did not dare voice it in such a public place.
Ashiyn turned his gaze to the woman as they started out into the town together. “Do you have a name? Or shall I call you goddess?”
The woman blushed and giggled, “I am Seraphine, if it pleases you.”
As they made their way through the town, the townspeople bowed low to Ashiyn and cheered for him. Ashiyn glanced to Soryn as he spoke, "I rather like this. It's different than having them cower, but not entirely a bad thing."
"We will make you a hero in no time," Soryn quipped, then ducked his head at Ashiyn's sharp look. "I mean make them think you are, my King."
Ashiyn still gave him a suspicious look. "Take the woman on the back of your bird. I would hate for something so lovely to fall from my obnoxious steed's back."
The woman looked horrified at the idea and gave the winged equine a wide berth as they came up to where the animals were resting.
Illusion let out a loud, terrible snort and made quite the show of prancing and pawing as Ashiyn got onto his back.
"This way," Soryn indicated the griffin who perked up at their approach and watched them with its emerald eyes. He helped Seraphine onto the griffin’s back, then joined her.
Ashiyn watched Seraphine, entranced by her. Women didn't usually have this power over him. He frowned, considering it. Was she some sort of enchantress? He discreetly used his magic to try to detect any in her. While Soryn glowed to his magic-gifted sight now, there was nothing but empty space for the woman was. She appeared ordinary with no magic he could sense. As they rose into the sky to return to the castle, Ashiyn pondered this.
It was night again by the time they returned to the castle. Seraphine seemed a little put off by the Nthir when Ashiyn had them show her to his chambers. He watched her follow them, then turned his gaze to Soryn expectantly. “You have something you wish to say?”
Soryn seemed hesitant and shook his head. “I would not question you, my King.”
“Are you jealous?” Ashiyn asked with a frown. “I do enjoy you, Soryn, but I enjoy women far more. You know that. If you are to be with me, you must share.”
“It is not that, Master,” Soryn mumbled. “I do not want to see you hurt again like the last one tried. It stirred up a wound that has festered for far too long.”
“That is why I need another woman now. To help me momentarily forget the one that I can never purge from my nightmares,” Ashiyn grumbled. “Don’t worry. I do not get attached to them. Marista just caught me off guard with her little display of defiance. This one seems much more willing to please me.”
“Does she please you?” Soryn asked with a raised brow.
Ashiyn grinned just a little at him, pressing Soryn up against the wall. “Oh yes. Would you like to share her? I’m sure she could please you as well. If she does not, I know that I would.”
“Let’s not scare her away on the first night, my King,” Soryn winked at him and slipped away down the hall. “I’m quite sore actually. I would enjoy a night of rest. Go and make her feel comfortable.”
Ashiyn watched Soryn walk down the hall, then made his way to his chambers. Seraphine turned out to be quite a feisty woman. Once they were alone, she was neither shy nor afraid of him like the other had been. Though she treated him with respect, she didn't act like a scared mouse whenever he touched her.
All in all, he fell asleep quite satisfied that night with a beautiful woman in his arms.
When the sunlight poking through his windows finally woke him, though, he found he felt a little empty. He rose and took a nice long bath, then dressed in his armor.
Sihtaar lay in its glass case. Today it looked like nothing more than a very elaborate blade. No sparks crossed over it, and he didn't hear it whispering in his mind. It did not make sense, considering the blade had sucked Rhadamanthus dry a few days ago and feasted on the blood of powerful monsters. It should have been more active than ever. Perhaps it felt as sated as he did.
Seraphine stirred in the bed and rolled over to look at him. "Is something wrong, my King?"
Ashiyn shook his head. "Not at all. I think all is finally right. Get dressed. I will go see if Soryn has cooked us breakfast."
Seraphine nodded, then rose to get dressed.
He lingered just long enough to watch the clothes hide her curvy body. Then he turned and wandered into the halls. He could smell fresh food and, by the time he made it to the dining hall, Soryn was placing it on the table.
"Good morning,” Soryn grinned at him as he set a plate down with a flourish. "I took it upon myself to ask your wonderful Nthir if they could retrieve for us some wild ostrich eggs and a fine boar. They were a little confused and got dragon eggs instead, but the eggs
