Chapter Two : Kestian

Kestian could feel the man's erection growing inside of them. His name was David. They had met him at one of the many taverns in the city. This one was a particular favorite of the smith’s and more particularly the armorer’s guild. Before they had brought him back to the temple Kestian had learned that David had grown up on a farm. His father was a farrier and took care of most of the horses within a day’s ride and some of the farther ones too. David liked horses but he soon discovered that more than horses he liked horseshoes. And from there it was a very easy jump to discover that horseshoes were just the beginning and he in fact liked lots of thing made of iron and steel even better than horseshoes and horses. He got himself an apprenticeship with the smith back in his own village and was now nearly finished with his journey and studying with a master armorer here in Corsaña.

There was a lot that Kestian could admire about David. He had been unmonopolizing in conversation but still engaging, warm in his manner and receptive in his energy. He had assumed by what they wore that they too understood something about armor and had used it to make conversation. Kestian had found that this was by no means a guarantee when it came to men. He was strong. Kestian could appreciate that. He had been able to lift them. Kestian had been raised to never be uncomfortable in their body. They were six feet tall and were simply not made for being skinny. Kestian did not mind that they did not get picked up often. There were many ways to make love. All the same it was nice when it happened. Now in bed David was proving quite capable.

They could tell he was close. His breaths were speeding up and he squeezed his hands behind their knees. They rode him harder and faster driving him deeper. He gasped and Kestian felt the result of his orgasm spilling forth inside them. They of course used a barrier and did not need to worry about what might result from his orgasm. They could feel him throbbing against their inner walls. They were so close to extasy as well. They reached down and began to gently circle their clit. David noticed this and with one hand joined them stroking along the folds of their core and with the other squeezed their thigh and then their ass. He moved his hips continuing to thrust inside them until they cried out.

Kestian felt the ecstatic embrace of their goddess as waves of pleasure that radiated from their core and rolled through them. At once they were deeply, primally, carnally, attached to their body and every physical sensation in it, but they were also far above beyond and outside of it. Kestian could feel the radiant power of their goddess filling them. In this sacred act, in this gift from their goddess they had reached for and achieved something great. They collapsed back as the waves of pleasure continued to roll through them.

"Kestian" David's voice called them back, they were more fully in their body now. He leaned on his hands over them.

"Yes, lover" Kestian reached up to stroke his face gently.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"I am ecstatic, and perfect" Kestian said and smiled.

"Is there anything I can do, anything you need?" He asked.

Kestian chuckled "you have given me all that you can give me and it has been wonderful. For more now, I seek my goddess."

He remained leaning on top of them a slight confusion covering his face.

"I will go and pray now." Kestian clarified. "Thank you, again"

"Oh, do I need to leave?" He sat up off of them.

"No you are welcome to stay here and to sleep the night, I will be back if you would like to sleep together. If you would prefer to sleep alone I could go elsewhere." .

"No, I wouldn't push you from your own bed." He said.

"David," Kestian said gently "this bed is scarcely mine. We are in a temple of Valaethira. We have shared this bed in the sacred act of her worship. Tonight, it is ours. But others have and will worship her here as well."

"Oh" David said.

"I must go and pray." Kestian said. "May I return to share this bed with you?"

"I... I would like that" he stammered.

"I am glad to hear it." Kestian said and placed a kiss softly on his lips. "I will return." They pulled a plain blue robe around themself. "There are places where you may bathe if you would like. You need only ask the way, and someone will show you."

"Alright" he said. He still seemed a little shocked.

Kestian smiled at him gently "goodnight, David, and again, thank you." They slipped out the door and headed towards the high shrine. As they went, they could hear the sounds of others engaging in the sacred act. They could still feel the wonderful tender ache between their legs as they climbed the steps and knelt before the alter. They inhaled the thick sent of incense and bowed themself touching their forehead to the floor.

Kestian waited for the guidance of their goddess. They waited for a nudge or a feeling to indicate what they should do and how they should serve. The whisper of uncertainty blew through their mind like a breeze. They just needed confirmation. They just needed to know that their path here was the right one. They needed to know that they were enough and that they were doing enough. The cold stone floor was stark and anchoring. They felt their body and tethered their mind to themself. Their path would be what it had been. Their life as they lived it upheld their oath and was pleasing to their goddess. Kestian took a final clarifying breath and then stood and walked towards the bathhouse of the temple.

The room was warm and steamy. There were few others there at this hour somewhere between late and early depending on where one drew the line. Kestian walked to the wall and pulled the rope for the sprayer head and let the cool water douse them, washing away all that came of the mingling of two bodies. They closed their eyes feeling fully each sensation in their body as they doused themself again.

"I figured you'd be here." A familiar voice said.

Kestian opened their eyes "Egeria.” Kestian’s best friend was a half orc woman. She stood just at five feet due to her halfling mother but had the dark hair, olive skin, and fangish canines of her father.

"You can't be that surprised to see me." Egeria said stepping towards and wrapping her arms around Kestian's waist.

"It’s not as though we schedule these things." Kestian said and leaned their head towards Egeria and kissed her deeply. Kestian had met Egeria when they had come to Corsaña and begun their work at the Gilded Vine. Egeria had been in the city for longer and as a priestess of their goddess had been quite happy to welcome Kestian to their new home.

"And yet they happen so often," Egeria said "let's get in the water"

She took Kestian's hand and led them to a large tub of steamy water set in the floor. They both stepped in and Kestian put their arm around Egeria pulling her close.

"So who did you worship with tonight?" Egeria asked.

"His name is David he's a journeyer smith."

"Oh a smith, and where did you find him?"

"The Bridge and City."

"So an armorer then?"

"How insightful."

"And how was he?"

"Earnest, good conversation, diligent, an sarcasm radiating from her voice like heat from a campfire.

"Ria." Kestian chastised.

"Have you been with our goddess tonight?"

"Yes"

"Did he send you to her?"

"Worship is a tandem activity."

"So by your own effort then."

"You're being mean." Kestian said with a little splash.

Kestian sighed. Egeria slipped from under their arm and stood in front of them in the water looking smug and defiantly up into their face.

"Sit on the edge." She said.

"What?"

"Sit on the edge of the tub."

"Ria it's not necessary."

"Kest" Egeria's hand reached down between their thighs. "It absolutely is"

Kestian felt an anticipatory shudder run through them.

"Now sit on the edge." Egeria smiled.

Kestian lifted themself up onto the edge of the tub. "Good" Egeria said and spread their knees wide. She trailed kisses from their knee in towards their inner core and nipped gently at their inner thigh.

Kestian took a sharp intake of breath.

"Do you like that?" Egeria asked.

"You know I do." they responded.

Egeria smiled and gently slid a finger up and down their opening as she kissed from their other knee inward. "You do like this." She whispered against their skin. She slid two fingers inside them and began to stroke.

Kestian moaned.

Egeria scooped one of their leg up on to her shoulder and began to kiss and suck around their center, stroking their lower lips with her tongue.

"Ria" Kestian shuddered taking panting breaths.

Egeria slid another finger inside them and began thrusting and twisting as she sucked their clit.

Kestian could feel their orgasm building in them. Every inch of their body felt tingly, taught, and alive with anticipation. Their world narrowed to just this room, just this tub, just this moment, just two bodies, just two souls. Kestian's orgasm came over them like a great wave crashing on the beach surging past the mark left by others enveloping and toppling everything in its path. They were suspended in an eternal instant of ecstasy and rapture. They lived in that wonderful sparkling void with no regard for the passage of time. Kestian felt Egeria pull them back into the water. The warmth of the bath was mellowing and soft. They leaned their head back and felt Egeria rest her head on their shoulder.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

"Thank you." They said when the ecstatic pleasure had receded and they were again able to speak.

"It is absolutely and distinctly my pleasure." Egeria replied.

Kestian tilted her chin up with a finger and kissed her. They lingered there together in the warmth of the bath.

"We should probably both get some sleep." Kestian said after a moment.

Egeria sighed "I suppose falling asleep in the bath is a bad idea." She said stretching.

Kestian climbed out of the bath first and offered Egeria a hand to pull her out. Kestian held her in their arms a moment and looked down at her with a mischievous smile.

Egeria met their gaze "what?" they asked.

"You've given me a gift and I've done nothing for you." Kestian said.

"You're the one who said we needed sleep." Egeria replied.

"Maybe the sleep can wait a little more."

"Sleep can always wait." Egeria went on tip toe and cupped her hand behind Kestian's head to kiss them. Kestian returned her kiss and lifted her legs around their waist. They began to trail kisses down the delicate line of her jaw and neck to her shoulder. Egeria hmmed with pleasure and gripped her fingers in Kestian’s hair. They both heard a soft pop and a tiny scroll of paper appeared in Egeria's hand.

She groaned.

"What is it?" Kestian asked.

"A note from someone." She leaned in and unfurled the tiny roll of paper behind Kestian's head. "Oh no" she gasped.

"What is it?" Kestian asked as they put her down.

"It’s Flora, she says her barrier failed."

"Is she alright?"

"Alright enough to be able to cast to send this but..." Egeria seemed to be weighing a decision "I’m going to go see her."

"Shouldn't there be another cleric there tonight?"

"Bessio is on tonight but you know how she gets when she has to use second line precautions."

"And you know how Fernando gets when we work on our days off." Kestian said.

"We're not guild members how could it possibly get him in any trouble?"

"You know how he is about rules and our contracts say two days off."

"You hate having to take days off"

"And yet I do because I love my job."

"She's asked for me I need to go to her. Even if Bessio has already seen to whatever she needs."

"Alright" Kestian put a hand on her shoulder "I’ll go with you."

"You don't have to."

"It is three hours past midnight I’m not letting you walk all the way back on your own."

Egeria sighed "Thank you Kest."

"Ria, of course. Now let's get dressed we've got places to be."

Kestian walked quickly back to their cell to dress and gather their things. David was asleep in the bed. Kestian was able to get into their first layers of clothing stealthily enough, but armor, even just pieces of it, did not lend itself to silent dressing or movement. David stirred and lifted his head up from the bed. "Kestian?" He asked "where are you going?"

"David. I'm sorry somethings come up, minor emergency, I need to walk my friend home."

"This isn't your home?" He asked sleepily.

"No, not exactly."

"Where do you live then?"

“I'm at the Gilded Vine."

"Where's that?"

"How long have you been in Corsaña?"

"About two months now."

"It’s on the street of orange blossoms. Ask your master, she may know where to find it."

"Can I--can I see you again?"

Kestian smiled and knelt down next to the bed. They gently tucked David's sleep tossed hair behind his ear. "I would be happy to see you and to worship with you again. Now, go back to sleep" they kissed him then rose, grabbed their bag and their sword, and walked out the door.

Egeria was waiting for them just outside.

"He didn't know about where we live?" She asked.

"Eavesdropping is a nasty habit Egeria" Kestian said as they buckled on their sword belt.

"But you didn't tell him?"

"I told him about the goddess. That is the more crucial part."

"But he didn't even know where to find it. Two months in the city and he doesn't know about the pleasure district." They stepped together out on to the street.

"He’s a journeyer I imagine he is busy." Kestian said.

"I know for a fact that you have turned away more green eared apprentices than you can keep track of he can't be that busy."

"There is nothing wrong with being ignorant of a city’s pleasure district in the same way that there is nothing wrong with being intimately aware of one." Kestian said "and as I said before, with him I did see the goddess."

"I'll take your word for it" Egeria continued to tease.

"Well forgive me if I don't see how one could turn away half the world when it comes to worship."

"Taste." Egeria said with a bark of laughter.

"Ria." Kestian sighed but they were smiling too.

"Well sounds like you lovely ladies are having a lovely evening." A man said as he emerged from the shadow of an alley.

"We are" Egeria said. Kestian put their hand on the small of her back to gently urge her more quickly forward.

"Seems a shame to keep such a lovely evening all to yourselves." The man said, two more men walked out of the next alley ahead of them. "Why don't you share the evening with us?"

"No thank you, we have business elsewhere." Egeria said and continued forward. The two that had stepped out of the alley blocked their path.

"I think you'll find ladies that whatever business you have can wait. And that you will be giving your evening to us, or we'll be taking it." The first man walked up from behind them now flanked by two more.

Kestian looked around at the men. There were five of them. They did not appear to be especially well armed or armored. Kestian felt they had the odds on their side but even if they hadn't the man had made his intention plain. His threat was an affront to their goddess, one they could not abide.

"You should not have said that." Kestian said as they drew their sword and flourished it over their head. Kestian called on the inner radiance of their soul. A nimbus or light shown about them and glowed from their sword. "So," they stood ready "which one of you shit eating rapists is going first."

The two flanking the first man immediately turned and ran.

"I guess it’s you." Kestian said and swung at him. He clumsily dodged out of the way to avoid their blow. He drew a knife from his belt "fucking bitch" he said, and lunged at them. Kestian stepped easily to the side letting him bowl into his companions on the other side. Kestian turned to face the men and Egeria quickly got behind them.

"Glad I came with you?" Kestian asked.

"Oh I'm always glad when you come with me." Egeria said "quite separately from that I enjoy the safety you provide and to watch you work."

Two of the men rushed at them. Kestian swung their sword low. One of the men managed to stumble out of the way, the other they cut deeply across the thigh. The one who had managed to dodge grabbed the other and began retreating back down the alley.

Kestian advanced on the last man, the apparent leader.

"You didn't have to make this difficult." He spat. He lunged at them again. Kestian caught him by the neck and used his momentum to pin him against the wall.

"I didn't have to make it difficult? Is that honestly what you said?" Kestian asked. The man pawed uselessly at their hand and arm trying to get free.

"You and how you corrupt the sacred act are an offense to my goddess and I am her justice and her wrath. I could end you here and now." Kestian could feel their rage burning inside of them and beginning to glow from their eyes.

The man spat in their face and sliced across their arm with his knife.

Kestian let go of his throat taking a step back.

The man tried to stab them but Kestian pivoted out of the way and then knocked him across his head with the pommel of their sword. The man sprawled on the ground with an ugly gash on his head.

Kestian wiped the spit from their face.

"Are you going to finish him?" Egeria asked.

Kestian nudged him with their boot. "He is out cold. To kill him now would be dishonorable and would not serve our goddess’ justice." they mumbled. They wiped their sword on their sleeve and sheathed it. Their glow receded.

"You're hurt" Egeria said.

"I'm fine." Kestian replied.

"Kest" Egeria said. She pulled the holy symbol she kept around her neck from beneath her clothes and placed a hand over the gash on Kestian's arm. "The goddess you serve so well, heals you." She said. The holy symbol glowed and the wound on their arm closed.

"Thank you Ria" Kestian said.

"Oh course." Egeria said. "We both serve the goddess. Now let's get home. That was a lot of excitement and who knows what the night still has in store."

The rest of their walk turned out to be uneventful and the pair of them reached the well lit and fragrant streets of the pleasure district just half an hour later. On their way they passed a notice board where Kestian saw one poster that caught their interest. A circus was coming to town.