"Congratulations." The Voice rang out in Raymond's head. "You have acquired fire manipulation through the act of coitus with a maiden of this world. Your power grows. Your quest remains."
The announcement startled Raymond back to his senses. He would never get used to that.
He was laying in the lush grass, naked next to a beautiful woman, sun warm against his skin, seconds from sleep.
He stood and stretched, yawning. Beside him, Alecia rose to her knees, looking up at him.
"Are we setting out now, Master?" She asked in a soft voice.
Ray looked at her, slightly confused. "Ok, that's the second time, why are you calling me 'Master'?"
Alecia lowered her head. "It is the Dragonkin way. I insulted you, then challenged you, and you defeated me, then spared my life.
By law, my life is now forfeit. Either I serve you until I can repay my life debt; or I must take my own life."
Raymond squatted down to look her in the eye.
"Listen, while I respect your sense of honor, I don't do servitude. So, by whatever code of honor you follow, I forgive you of your life debt. I will, however, accept your friendship.
I'd be glad to have you with me, as my ally, on this journey, but only if that is what you want. I will not be your master."
Alecia just stared at Raymond stunned for a moment. All her life she had been told that humans were greedy, selfish creatures.
The only thing they cared about was amassing power and wealth. They enslaved Beastkin by the dozens and did all manner of unspeakable things to them.
They were to be avoided or killed with extreme prejudice.
Yet here was this man, kind, sincere, and handsome, who had actually earned the right to subjugate a Dragonkin and was turning it down. All to offer friendship in its place.
Alecia felt an unusual warmth in her chest, and she smiled.
"Can I still call you master when we sleep together? You seemed to like that."
Ray laughed and nodded.
"Yes, I did, and yes, you may." He stood and helped his new companion to her feet, kissing her.
"Come on, let's go wash in the river before we head to LaSpania."
Alecia grinned mischievously as she put a hand on his manhood.
"Can I wash this for you?"
Ray chuckled again, "If you start messing with that, we might not make it to LaSpaina"
"Fine, if that's what you want." She said in mock exasperation as she sauntered her way to the river, swaying her hips and letting her fingers drag his skin as she passed Ray.
It took every ounce of self-control Ray had to keep from bending Alecia over and taking her in that river.
At the same time, she was making it very clear that was exactly what she wanted. The touching, teasing, flirting, and the sight of her soaking wet body was almost more than he could handle.
After bathing, a short search for Alecia's clothes, and a quick bite to eat, they were finally on the road to Laspania.
It was late in the evening by the time they arrived. The city-state had no walls. All the buildings were made of wood, stone, or baked mud brick.
The evening light gave the city a warm glow like something out of a painting from medieval Europe.
Beastkin of all kinds walked the streets as Ray and Alecia entered. It was peaceful. No one seemed tense or upset, or even in a hurry as they went about their business.
People smiled and laughed loudly. shopkeepers closed up their shops for the day. Children played, chasing each other in the streets. The scene brought a smile to Raymond's face.
A male Naga, blue-skinned, Serpentkin, slithered casually up to the pair. He wore a brown leather sash carrying a shiny five-pointed star along with several medals that glinted in the light.
His voice was relaxed and casual, like welcoming an old friend.
"You must be Sir Raymond; we've been told to expect you. I'm Kwali, the Chief Peacekeeper here in LaSpania. Welcome!"
He grasped Raymond's forearm in a hearty greeting.
"Well met Kwali." Raymond smiled, returning the greeting. "I assume you also know why I'm here."
Kwali shook his head. "Actually, no. The Peacekeepers were told only that you were coming, and to escort you directly to the King when you got here."
Raymond nodded his understanding, "let us make haste then."
Kwali led the way to the King's residence, periodically stealing curious glances at Alecia as they went.
Before Alecia could voice her annoyance at the matter, they arrived in front of what looked like a medium sized circus tent.
The inside of the tent was the picture of opulence. That floor was laid out with luxury rugs and lavish pillows. There were tables overflowing with exotic fruits and decadent pastries.
Everything was either edged in gold or inlaid with precious jewels. The air was thick with the scent of incense and perfumes.
Topless dancers of many different Beastkin races writhed and rolled their bodies around the room.
Near the far wall, on a luxurious couch covered in gold and jewels, a figure lounged, being serviced by several half-naked women. A guard rushed over next to him and spoke in hushed tones.
The man sat up and fixed his sharp gaze on Raymond. He stood and walked over slowly, appraising Raymond as he made his way.
He was a massive figure, over seven feet tall. He body held the definition of one the once rippled with muscle but had fallen to the trappings of luxury and decadence.
He had the face of a lion with the sharp eyes of an eagle. He had a large, wild, blond mane that fell about his massive shoulders.
His hands were the size of baseball mitts and ended in wicked claws, his feet were eagle talons.
On his back were dark brown wings that covered nearly his full height when folded and a lion's tail that ended in the same brown feathers.
"Welcome friend." His voice deep and melodic like cello music. "I am Gabriel, King of LaSpania. You must be the Legendary Hero, summoned to save us all."
His words carried a hint of mockery. "Well, you certainly look the part. And you have brought with you Alecia, The Third Princess of the DragonKin Clan. Is she a gift?"
Raymon looked at Alecia with a raised eyebrow as if to say, "we'll talk about that later."
He inclined his head respectfully to the King.
"My Lord, while Lady Alecia is certainly a treasure, she is not a gift. She is my travel companion for the foreseeable future. I have come here, humbly, to ask for help.
I have been told the Beastkin have been reluctant to join the fight against the Necro-king. I have come to see what it would take to secure your aid."
King Gabriel nodded and turned to a nearby table, pouring three jeweled goblets of honey mead. He handed one to each of his guests and had chairs brought for the three of them.
"You must be from another world if you don't know the history at play here." He said, sipping his cup.
"Look around you. Outside this tent the Beastkin are united and happy. We have enjoyed two decades of peace under my rule, protected by the Green Dragon.
Each race has their own thriving settlement where they enjoy almost full autonomy, yet many still choose to live here in the capital.
Even my ladies that you see in here came on their own accord. We live in peace, in harmony with nature.
I will not shatter that peace, put everything we have built at risk to fight on behalf of the Humans."
"That sounds an awful lot like prejudice."
Raymond threw a glance at Alecia who was quietly hiding her face in her cup.
"It is." Gabriel said matter-of-factly, "But, like I said, you're missing a lot of history. This kingdom was once just a series of refugee camps.
I used to be a gladiator, born into captivity. Before that, humans would hunt and capture us. They would keep us in cages and sell us as slaves.
Labor, fighting, sex, experiments, whatever they didn't want to do themselves, that was our lot. My kind, the Gryphons, were once revered as highly as the Dragons are now.
Somehow the Humans got it in their heads that our blood would make them powerful. They hunted us to near extinction.
The very young and the very old were taken to Moscus and made to fight in the Arena. Revolt led to war; war always leads to death.
I led us to victory, to independence, to peace. These days, I trade and make nice with the Humans, but I do not forgive. I will not aid them in their war."
Raymond nodded. The story sounded all too familiar. He could definitely relate.
"My liege." He began slowly. "While I sympathize with your position, more than you can know, please hear me out.
This war is not about borders or kingdoms. It's not about race, culture, or ideology. Ideals like justice and vengeance don't even come into play here.
The Necro-King is leading an army of the dead across the continent. Moscus has fallen. Every being that lived there now bolsters his army further.
He won't stop with the Humans. He won't stop with the Elves. He will not stop until he rules a world full of corpses.
Respectfully my Lord, what will become of your history, of your peace, when the dead, when death, marches on your kingdom?
I was summoned to this world for this fight, but I cannot win it alone. None of us can.
The only way any of us stand a chance, is if all of us stand together. The living versus the dead."