Crag (16 page)

Lily nodded.

He looked amused. “You pick lofty friends. He’s second in command.”

“Have you ever seen him?”

Crag shook his head. “Not yet.”

“I’m curious to look at him. See what kind of a man married Honey Wine.”

“What’s wrong with her?”

“Nothing. She’s very nice. Forceful, but nice. Did you know she was once a guard? You think our relationship was impossible, you should hear how she and Sir Torn met.”

“You’ll have to tell me all about it,” he said, rolling her onto her back and kissing her throat.

She laughed, clutching his shoulders as his beard tickled her skin. “Keep this up and I won’t be coherent.”

In answer, his mouth covered hers. His tongue tickled the roof of her mouth and stroked the soft, moist flesh inside her cheeks. Lily explored his mouth and caressed his nape.

When the kiss broke, they held each other's gaze for a moment before shedding their clothes. Crag stretched out beside her and pulled her naked body close to his. Their limbs entangled and Lily sighed, loving the sensation of his hard, hair-roughened legs against her smooth ones.

She kissed the pit of his throat and ran her tongue over his collar bones while massaging his chest. He felt so hard and powerful, yet the quickening of his heartbeat and the soft moan of desire deep in his chest reminded her that he was flesh and blood. Passion weakened and invigorated him the same as her. She had power over his strong, virile body and could make him gasp and writhe. Pleasuring him thrilled her.

She slipped down his body, covering his chest and abdomen with kisses. Her tongue traced each of his ribs and teased his navel. Sliding her arms beneath his thighs, she buried her face between his legs. She licked his balls, her lips gently tugging at the soft, hair-dusted flesh.

"Lily," he sighed, threading his fingers through her hair. In spite of his easy stroking, she sensed the tension building in his body and nearly smiled.

She ran her tongue around the base of his cock then licked every inch of it. As she lapped and laved, his rod thickened and glistened with her saliva. His breath rasped when she took the head between her lips and sucked vigorously. The fingers stroking her hair tensed, though he never grasped her too hard. She knew it must have been difficult as his passion increased. His belly clenched and his buttocks tightened. She gripped the base of his cock, holding it steady in her mouth as his hips thrust.

"Oh, yes, Lily! Ah!" he panted. "You're going to kill me!"

She grinned as well as she could around his cock. Her pussy felt hot and drenched. Her belly tightened with desire, all from arousing him.

Running her tongue along the ridge beneath his cock head, she cupped his balls and squeezed. He groaned, a sound of delightful agony. Suddenly he pushed her away. She gazed at him, noticing flames of desire in his eyes as he tugged a pillow to the center of the bed. Grasping her waist, he gently placed her on her back, her buttocks on the pillow. He knelt between her legs and entered her with a long, slow thrust.

Lily's eyes slipped shut and she arched her head back, her fingers stroking her own nipples as he thrust. One of his hands held her hip while the other covered her clit and rubbed. His thumb circled her engorged little nub, and Lily gasped, her body surging against his.

"You're so beautiful, Lily," he panted. "I could never grow tired of touching you, looking at you…"

"I love you, Crag," she murmured, lost in sensation.

Both his hands grasped her hips as his thrusting increased. Lily's body tensed, striving for fulfillment. A few more fast, steady thrusts and she exploded, her pussy clenching and pulsing around his cock. Crag drew a sharp breath as he came, lunging into her heated body.

Though lost in the sleepy, contented haze following her climax, Lily felt him slip from her and tug the pillow from beneath her bottom. He dragged her close to his chest as he lay on his side and kissed her hair.

"I love you, Lily," he murmured before they both drifted to sleep.

* * * * *

The day of the dubbing ceremony finally came. Crag spent the morning training with the other Knights and apprentices. Honey Wine, also a trained healer, brought Lily to the herbarium where they helped Sir Blaze with his mixtures, powders, and teas. As dusk neared, Blaze brought Lily a new black tunic with a circle of red thorns embroidered around a ruby on the chest.

“To cloak the
Jagged
Peak
,” he said.

She ran her hands over the black silk. Crag’s uniform, the clothing of a Knight.

Blaze excused himself to prepare for the ceremony that would take place after dark in the training field behind the fortress.

She brought the uniform to Crag’s room – the room they’d share after marriage – and sat on the bed, her stomach fluttering at the thought of the dubbing. If she was this nervous, she could scarcely imagine how Crag felt.

The door opened, and he stepped inside. Having just come from the field, he wore trousers and a black vest – a common training uniform. The black material clung to his body with sweat, and moisture beaded his muscled arms. His hair was tied at his nape, but several damp locks curled against his forehead. His blue eyes glistened as he looked at Lily and smiled. He had the most adorable smile, and she was still unaccustomed to seeing it so often. Since leaving
Tanek
, smiling had been easier for both of them.

“Blaze sent this for you.” She held the uniform out to him.

He glanced at it, placed it on the bed, and grasped her shoulders, kissing her deeply. She stepped closer to him, locking her arms around his neck, pressing her body so tightly to his that she felt moisture from his flesh seep into her cotton tunic. Late that night, they would share this room – this bed – as husband and wife. Lily could scarcely wait.

“I’ll be leaving soon for the ritual bath before the ceremony,” he said. “I won’t be able to see you again until after the dubbing.”

“Then we’ll be married?”

“Sir
Mahir
has arranged to marry us in his private study once the feast is underway.”

“This is so exciting, a dubbing and a wedding all in one night. Are you nervous?”

He shrugged, but she sensed he was a bit unsettled.

“I love you,” she told him.

“I love you, too.” He brushed a kiss across her forehead just as several sharp knocks sounded on the door.

Two Knights, green sashes about their waists, stepped inside.

“Jade, Court.” Crag nodded to the lanky red haired and the shorter, blond Knight in succession.

“We’ve come for him,” Jade said seriously, though his green eyes glistened with humor.

“Oh, yes,” said Court, stroking his blond beard, “he’s ours from now on.”

Smiling, she clasped Crag’s arm. “I hope you gentlemen don’t mind sharing him.”

“With such a beautiful lady?” Court bowed deeply. “We’re honored.”

“Congratulations are in order for you both.” Jade winked at her. “Sir Blaze has allowed you the next two days off, Crag, due to your new marital state.”

“Sounds fine to me.” Crag glanced at Lily, and they smiled at one another.

“Let's go.” Jade held the door for Crag who picked up his uniform and stepped into the corridor. “We have to get you washed, dressed, and ready to be dubbed.”

“And married,” added Court.

“Lady,” both Knights said in unison, bowing politely from the neck.

“I’ll see you after the ceremony.” Crag glanced over his shoulder at Lily. Her own longing reflected in his eyes. She could have kissed Blaze for awarding him the next few days off.

* * * * *

As a fiancée of one of the newly dubbed Knights, Lily was allowed to stand in the front row closest to where the ceremony would take place.

Again, rows of a hundred Knights on either side formed a pathway at the head of which stood Sir
Mahir
, a gray-haired man of mid-height with wizened aqua eyes. To his left was Sir Blaze and to his right, a very tall, black-haired man, smooth-shaven and handsome, with a slight overbite that lent him a look of youthful innocence. Lily guessed he was Sir Torn, Honey Wine’s husband.

Onlookers stood behind both rows of Knights. There were hundreds of men, women, and children waiting to watch the dubbing. The apprentices, soon to be Knights, stood single file at the end of the pathway. Forty men were to be dubbed that day, yet only one would wear the green sash: Crag.

Lily watched with anticipation as the first thirty men passed. Finally it was Crag’s turn to walk down the pathway. As she watched him approach Sir
Mahir
and kneel, offering the leader the sword sheathed about his waist, she felt an incredible wave of pride and admiration. Crag had put such effort into his training and would be a wonderful Knight. He had changed — battled his own demons and won.

Sir
Mahir
spoke in a calm, cultured voice. “Do you swear to uphold the sacred vows of our Order: to render help to those who need it, to protect the weak, to abstain from the pleasures of the flesh until entering the sanctity of marriage, and to respect all life?”

“I swear,” Crag stated without hesitation, his deep voice resonant in the quiet field.

“From this day forward, you are one with our Order. You and yours are entitled to our protection.” Sir
Mahir
touched the sword to Crag’s neck. Lily noted that unlike many who kept their eyes lowered, Crag’s blue eyes remained fixed on Sir Torn.
Mahir
continued, “Arise, Sir Crag, and join your brothers.”

“Sirs,” Crag said, still kneeling, his eyes sweeping
Mahir
, Blaze, and Torn. “I relinquish my sword and all weapons, save my own hands which will be used only for defense.”

Crag offered up his sword which would be mounted on the wall of the great hall along with the swords of all those who wore the green sash. Lily realized that, as he did this, she held her breath. Slowly, she released it.

Sir Torn took the sword from Crag, and Sir Blaze stepped forward, a smile on his lips as he placed a green sash around Crag’s waist and tied it twice.

The auburn-haired Knight embraced Crag before allowing him to take his place with the newly dubbed behind
Mahir
.

When the ceremony ended, the crowd broke and made their way back to the fortress where food waited in the great hall.

Lily approached Crag and hugged him. “I’m so proud of you.”

He kissed the top of her head. “I have to find Sir Torn. He’s the one.”

She raised an eyebrow. "The one?"

“The one who saved my life.”

“You won’t have to wait long. Here he comes with Honey Wine. I asked them to witness our wedding.”

“Congratulations, Sir Crag,” Honey Wine said.

“Thank you, Mistress.” He bowed, using her formal title, but again his eyes were fixed on her husband. “Sir Torn, I never got the chance to thank you for saving my life.”

“Saving your… I’m afraid I don’t understand.”
Torn’s
sapphire eyes narrowed in confusion.

“I didn’t think you would.” Crag smiled. “In a village called
Trententine
, I’d been fighting for
Zaltana
and was wounded. You not only saved my life, but inspired me to become a Knight.”

“Apparently I did well.” Torn nodded. “You’ve made Blaze happy, and I have no reason to doubt you’ll continue to bring exemplary service to our Order.”

“I had to thank you, Sir.”

Torn smiled. “You’re welcome.” He glanced at Honey Wine whose arm was linked with his. “Now, I believe we have a wedding to witness.”

Crag smiled at Lily and took her hand as they made their way to the fortress.

In the great hall, the smell of pungent smoke from the hearth and torches lining the walls mixed with fragrant incense, cooking meat, fresh bread, sliced fruit, and sweet pastries. Everyone stood solemnly until Sir
Mahir
motioned for the festivities to begin.

The sound of laughter and conversation echoed through the stone walls, reaching as far as the corridors leading to
Mahir’s
private study. Books filled the walls of the round, windowless room. A wooden table, also covered with thick leather volumes, stood in the center of the floor, scattered with worn rope rugs.

Blaze already waited there, smiling. “A perfect day twice as magnificent for you.”

“Yes.” Crag held Lily’s hand tightly.

Sir
Mahir
entered, followed by Torn and Honey Wine.

“Thank you for agreeing to this, Sir,” Crag told
Mahir
.

“It means so much to us,” Lily added.

Mahir’s
blue eyes, stern yet kind, held hers as he offered a smile. “The marriage of one of ours is considered as sacred a ceremony as a dubbing. You’ve agreed to share your lives – no simple decision.”

“Particularly when one has decided to marry him.” Honey Wine pointed a teasing thumb in
Torn’s
direction.

“Still angry because I beat you at that little archery challenge this morning?” Torn grasped his wife’s hand. “Perhaps I should have let you win.”