Apologies for long wait- have been on holiday. Still.... no-one seems to notice :-((
It was unusual for Nokigon to feel bored, as he usually had something to do. But as he had been taken out of the hospital nearly three weeks ago, Belthazor had left for Perrigor and he had duelled and defeated many Centrum knights, that was exactly how he felt.
He also was, quite frankly, embarrased. Although he was the once who had killed Nige, his powers of sorcery were too weak to block the shower of Melder poison. Despite the multitude of people that told him that anybody would've been hit by the poison, that the poison was simply too quick for him to block it all, he felt inadequate- something that wasn't helped by his friend saving him for the second time.
So, he flung himself into deep magical training. Soon, he was equal in power to the highest mages- but Nokigon knew that it wasn't good enough. If Nokigon had a flaw, it was pride. And his pride made him set unreasonable expectations for himself.
Take now, for example. He had created avatars of five dragons, and he set himself to defeat them.
He blasted them with fire, and water, and ice, and poison and air itself, but he defeated all but one. The fifth one was too strong for Nokigon, and in rage he terminated the avatar, as the creator could do.
Perhaps luckily for the land around Centrum, which could only take only so many attack from Dragonkin and Magic, Nokigon was summoned to King Sigurd for a new assignment.
*
King Sigurd leant forward and plucked a grape from the bunch on the table. There was just three sitting on comfortable armchairs around the fire, and these were the young King, Nokigon and (Nokigon's heart gave a jolt) Queen Susan, looking almost painfully beautiful in a gown with a low neckline. The two solved their problem by avoiding the other's gaze, and King Sigurd either didn't notice- or pretended he didn't.
"Now, Nokigon, I'm almost certain you shared Belthazor's memory of the events which transpired when you'd been poisoned?"
Nokigon and Queen Susan both winced at this callous reference to such a painful time, but Nokigon smoothly agreed that he had indeed.
"Well, in that case you'll remember the Parvacones. Now, we did some digging into that organisation and we discovered that the Kobolds were in the pay of the Illians." Nokigon nodded; they had guessed as much.
King Sigurd continued; "But what we also found out was that the attack was the Parvacones' idea. You see, they are continuing their attack on the three Dwarven Clans and they did this to appease the Illians, and perhaps even gain THEIR services for their fight. This is unacceptable."
Nokigon knew what was coming. He had to bring a company of Knights and crush the Parvacones, he'd be thanked by the Dwarves and then return home...
"We want you to go there alone and make your way to Clan Bealagh. Your services will be invaluable there, where the defence is weakest."
This was a small surprise to Nokigon, who wasn't used to such Covert operations. However, he stood and bowed deeply.
"It will be an honour, your majesty."
He left quietly, and moved straight for his room in one of the towers. He wanted to pack quickly and be gone in the early lights in the morning.
Yet a few minutes after he arrived in his room, the door opened and a tall and willowy figure slipped inside his room. Nokigon turned around- and caught his breath.
"I just wanted to wish you luck, and to say... stay safe." Queen Susan's voice shook slightly, but she kept her posture proud.
Nokigon slowly walked forwards, until Susan was right in front of him.
"I'm always careful."
Susan laughed gently. It was a rich, beautiful, clear sound. Nokigon's heart ached. "Apart from all of the time."
Nokigon smiled gently, aware of everything about this situation. How it was late. How Susan's breath, coming hot and fast, smelt of oranges and something else, something slightly more spicy. How they were way too close. Impulsively, he took Susan's hand. It was soft, so soft...
"We shouldn't." Queen Susan whispered, but she did not draw away, and then suddenly they were kissing, Nokigon and Susan, kissing, and there was nothing in the world except Susan, the scent of her perfume, his hand on her gown, gently moving to the lacing at the back-
They broke apart. They stared at each other for a long moment, drinking in the sight of the other. For a moment, they were one. Then Queen Susan lifted her chin up and stepped closer to Nokigon.
"I don't care anymore, Nokigon. I love you." His lips found hers again, and pushing thoughts of Sigurd away he gently placed his hand on the back of her gown...
Tweet
The tale of Nokigon
Topic Options
