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Magick and Mystery

Chapter Two - Questions Asked

(c) Cederwyn Whitefurr

10th October, 2009

All Rights Reserved

Blaze sat in his thickly cushioned chair, which creaked under his weight, and then he threaded his long, sensual tail though the back of the chair then let it drop to the carpeted floor. With shivering paws, Blaze whispered the words of protection over his large workbench. Emerald green runes undulated and wavered around the edge of the workbench, and they flared brightly as Blaze intoned the words that would remove the magicks that protected his workspace. As they faded into the ironwood surface, Blaze carefully cleared aside the alembics and pestles, scraps of velum and burners, to clear a space for a dusty old tome he reverently picked up out of a heavy padded iron bound chest.

Holding it carefully, he blew on it and the dust swirled and transformed into a lecherous demonical imp, that danced and cavorted upon the workbench. As it twisted and gyrated, this imp turned and grasped its ridiculously large member and began stroking itself, leering at Blaze, who rolled his eyes and with a wave of his paw, banished the imp to the abyss. Placing a paw on the ornately carved leather cover, Blaze shivered with repressed emotions. For years, had he sought this particular tome â€" and he had paid a heavy price for it, but to him, it had been worth a hundred times the king's ransom he had paid.

With quivering paws, he opened the book, hearing the crackling leather of the books spine, before he picked up a light feather duster and carefully brushed it over the beautiful illustrations and filigreed words in the book. Turning his head to the side, he sneezed twice, before he settled himself comfortably and began studying this ancient tome of magickal lore. He could feel the power locked within this dusty book, and just needed time, quiet and contemplative thought, to learn the key to unlock its mysteries. Just as he turned the page and began reading, his senses tingled and he closed the book quietly, before he turned to the closed and magically warded door to his study.

*

Cassandra dressed Jess in a flowing sky blue robe, with matching cloth slippers, and bound her hair back in a ponytail. Now, they both stopped outside Blaze's study, and Cassandra nodded and waited. As the door creaked open and Blaze stepped forth, it swung quietly closed behind him, and Blaze looked at the nervous female rat, then at the clean and freshly bathed human beside her. He brushed past them both, and then Cassandra sighed with relief and lightly tapped Jess' hand and gestured for her to follow. Obediently, Jess followed Cassandra, who in turn, followed Blaze into the main audience chamber, where Blaze poured himself a strong alcoholic drink into a deep bowl, then offered one to Cassandra, who politely shook her head.

"Would you care for a drink - Jess?" Blaze asked, as he cocked a golden eyebrow, and then nickered softly.

"How do you â€" " Jess gasped, as her mouth fell open and she stared at Cassandra.

"No," Blaze whispered, as he stroked the edge of the bowl with a claw tip thoughtfully. "Cassandra, my beloved servant, did not tell me. You will find â€" there is not much that can be hidden from me, young one. I know you have lived on the streets for ten years, I know your name, your age, and even â€" "

Jess gasped and slumped unbidden into a chair, and Cassandra's soft gasp of fear went unheard.

"You â€" " Jess murmured, her eyes widening. "How do you â€" I mean...nobody knows â€" "

Blaze nickered again, then smiled and sipped his strong drink and sighed appreciatively. "Yes, Jess â€" or should I call you Jessica â€" your true birth name. I know much about you, including your â€" shall I say â€" predilections for partners?"

Jessica frowned, then blushed deeply and hung her head, then buried it in her shaking hands. "I admit it â€" I admit all of it, I've been known to offer myself, to anyone â€" or anything...for some coin, to buy myself some stale crusts too eat and â€" "

"You have no need to explain yourself here Jessica â€" " Blaze whispered, as he lightly rested a golden furred paw on her shoulder and squeezed tenderly. "Now, I will ask you only once, so I need your honest answer. I will know, if you try to deceive me Jessica, so please, do not insult my intelligence, and your own. I offer you a choice â€" return to the life you know now, or â€" "

"Or?" Jessica sniffled, and then lifted her tear streaked eyes up to stare at Blaze.

"Or â€" you can be forgiven for your crimes you have done, and start a new life â€" as my...apprentice." Blaze told her, as he quirked an eyebrow. "It is your choice. If you decide to leave, I will give you some coin to last you a while, out of kindness â€" but should you steal from me, or my servant â€" I will not be so kind. If you choose to become my apprentice, you will live here, under my law, and obey me explicitly. I will give you shelter, food, a safe and comfortable quarters, and only ask that you address me politely, and obey me."

As Blaze sipped his strong drink again, he waited patiently for Jess' answer. Cassandra looked at Jess, then at Blaze, and her thoughts were well screened from Blaze, as she inwardly frowned. Never had he taken so readily to anyone and her mind questioned wether Blaze was thinking straight on this matter. Cassandra felt no ill will towards this would-be thief, but a part of her felt uneasy and nervous â€" and she remembered the initial meeting. Jess had been caught defenceless, and her natural instinct when she met Cassandra had not been entire unexpected. Yet, later, Jess seemed to be more...accepting of Cassandra, and her gentle caressing of Cassandra's paw hinted that Jess may, if Cassandra asked, be willing to do things, that Cassandra had long ago thought would never happen. Cassandra made up her mind, then and there, that she would speak privately with Blaze later, and knowing him as she did, he would politely listen to her fears and opinion, before answering her questions.

"I â€" " Jess stammered, looking at Blaze, then dropping her eyes.

"If you wish, you may sleep here tonight and ponder your decision. I will not keep you under lock and key, and you are free to leave if that is your wish. Be warned though, that my house is guarded by powerful protective magicks, and I will know, if you decide to try and â€" shall I say â€" liberate, some of my possessions. I pray this will not be the case. Now, I will wish you a good day, and I will leave you in Cassandra's capable paws. She will show you to your quarters, and fetch you lunch if you are so disposed."

"Thank...you." Jess whispered quietly.

Blaze gave a courteous bow, then turned and walked back into his study, closing the door behind him.

"Well!" Cassandra murmured her eyes wide. "That was...unexpected. He's never taken to someone so quickly. I genuinely think he likes you."

"Why? I'm...no one special â€" " Jess sighed, then glanced at Cassandra.

Cassandra chuckled delicately, then took Jess by the hand and led her to the kitchen where they prepared a light lunch. Cassandra settled for some goat cheese and a bowl of cool water and a small loaf of crusty bread. Jess tucked into a cold lamb roast with fresh vegetables, several cups of lightly fermented honey mead and assorted cheeses and sweet cakes and rolls. Cassandra ate delicately, cutting her food into small pieces and chewing them well, whilst Jess are voraciously, like a condemned person at their last meal. Finally, an hour later, Jess pushed away her plate and groaned with pleasure.

"Cassandra â€" have you, I mean â€" can I ask you..." Jess blushed, and then coughed lightly into her hand.

Cassandra raised an eyebrow inquisitively, as she nervously wrapped her long, muscular tail around her waist and began petting it. "Have I â€" what?"

Jess blushed even harder, and then her words rushed out in a breathless gasp.

"Have you and â€" you know â€" ever..."

Cassandra frowned, then blinked as she realised what Jess meant. "No â€" I mean, that's not to say, I have not fantasized â€" about what he'd be...you know!"

Jess and Cassandra both laughed quietly, and Jess reached across and tenderly picked up Cassandra's paw, then turned it over. Cassandra watched with interest, and stifled the shiver that threatened to run up her spine.

"As..." Jess began, then bit her tongue and lightly traced over the pale paw pads on Cassandra's paw. "He...said â€" he knows I've...been with â€" "

Cassandra nodded then shyly, she reached over with her other paw and laid it on Jess hand, feeling the human trembling. Squeezing Jess' hand tenderly, Cassie smiled as innocently as she could, knowing her sharp incisors often unnerved those not used to seeing them.

"You did â€" what you did, not for pleasure, or love â€" but for money to keep yourself alive. I don't hold that against you Jess, and neither will Master Blaze. Yet, do you mind â€" if I ask you something?"

Jess giggled nervously, then nodded slowly, as she reached over and picked up a wedge of goats milk cheese and bit down on it.

"Have you â€" I mean...you've obviously experienced â€" encounters with others, and that's none of my business to ask and bring up painful memories, but did you â€" you know â€" have you ever laid...with one like me?" Cassandra asked, as she squeezed Jess's hand gently.

"Truthfully â€" " Jess sighed, then shivered and closed her eyes. "I've met â€" a few of your kind before. I've...bedded mares, humans, numerous canines â€" on some occasions â€" the...non-human-like type..."

Jess's voice caught in her throat, and Cassandra squeezed her hand lightly, and then pet it tenderly.

"I'm...sorry for asking you â€" please accept my apologies." Cassandra whispered.

Jess sniffled, then dried her eyes with her palms and smiled nervously. "Its â€" alright Cassandra, you did not know, and honestly â€" I'm...very seriously thinking of accepting...his...offer."

Cassandra nodded once, then picked up the bowl of warm honey mead and sipped it, her eyes closing in pleasure as she felt the sweet alcoholic liquid running over her long tongue and down her throat.

"Master Blaze â€" whilst never â€" you know, showing an interest â€" of that nature towards me, has been a kind, gentle and generous master to me for many years. I do not think I could have asked for a nicer creature to serve." Cassandra sighed, then pet Jess' hand again. "I think however â€" you...have his attention, if you know what I mean."

Jess stared then laughed shyly. "He wouldn't â€" I mean, me and â€" him? He's a â€" "

"A stallion, yes â€" believe me, he's quite some stallion I might add, as I've washed his back on the odd occasion, when he's requested it." Cassandra blushed herself, her whiskers trembling, as she bit back the laughter that bubbled up in her throat. "I mean â€" he, I'm sure, would be extremely gentle if he took one of us as his partner."

Jess squirmed, as she pondered what it'd be like, lying in a soft bed, feeling those powerful furred legs wrapped around her and him taking her into his arms and making slowly, sensuous love with her. As if reading her mind, Cassandra nodded and pet Jess' hand gently. "Trust me â€" you're not alone in wondering what it'd be like â€" me? I would...could not...go through with it, as...well â€" it would not be at all pleasant. Anyway, come with me â€" and I'll show you to your chambers, and get you settled shall I?"

In his study, Blaze gazed intently into the crystal ball that lay on its triangular stand, and he saw and heard through its magick, what had transpired between these two young females. His eyebrow quirked up, then a shiver rippled through him, as he thought over Jess' comments about him bedding her. It had been many, many years since he had taken a female into his bed. When he had felt the need, his paws had always served him capably well â€" and he closed his eyes and leant back in his chair, feeling the faint stirring of desire forming in his mind. He promised himself one thing, if Jess accepted, he would hold back on his feelings for her, until she was certain â€" then he swore silently, he'd do all he could to make her happy â€" and if that meant bedding her, then so be it.

With a soft wicker of pleasure, Blaze moaned and shivered again, then leant back over his workbench and licked a claw tip, before he pinched the flame of the beeswax candle between two fingers â€" and plunged his study into almost perfect darkness, the faint glow of the workbench runes gleaming brighter and brighter as he closed his eyes â€" then began to dream.

~ To Be Continued ~